1643-4 CHARLES I YORK MINT HALFCROWN

York was Charles I's 'second capital', and after being forced to leave London early in 1642 he made his way there, arriving on 19 March. Until the middle of August his court was based at York or Beverley, whence he directed operations against the port of Hull. The establishment of a mint at York was being planned long before the outbreak of formal hostilities. Nicholas Briot, the king's engraver, was summoned to York by a letter from Secretary of State Edward Nicholas dated 6 May in connection with Briot's proposals concerning currency standards.7 A letter of 30 May notes that Briot had fallen ill; it does not press him, but on 21 June, Secretary Nicholas ordered Briot to York forthwith 'et vous avertir qu'avez mener avec vous les Roues et toutes autres sortes d'instruments requis et necessaires pour icy battre de la Monnoye que S. ma'te aura occasion d'ordonner dez que vous serez arrive'. Shortly after, arrangements were made for Sir William Parkhurst, warden of the Mint, to advance Briot the money necessary for his journey. On 15 July, these plans received a severe setback when a ship carrying Briot's equipment and personal baggage was held up off Scarborough by one Captain Stevens, who seized the equipment on the grounds that no authority had been given for its removal. Meanwhile on 7 July, David Ramage, a member of Briot's staff, was paid £85 10s. for the provision of 'several instruments for the two Mints at York and Shrewsbury