| The following order relative to this token appears in the Corporation books of the borough, and was agreed upon at a common hall, held 22nd August, 1667, and is here given in the abridged form adopted by Boyne: "August 22nd, 1667. Moses Durell, Mayor, disbursed the sum of Ten pounds for copper money, with the stamp of the Town Arms on them, and the inscription 'For the Mayor of the Town and County of Poole,' and received in farthings (four to the penny) nineteen pounds and four shillings, to be passed in exchange betwixt man and man as current money, until it be prohibited by his Majesty's order. If not prohibited, the Mayor shall transfer to his successor the sum of nine pounds four shillings in current moneys or the same farthings." This order is given at greater length in Hutchins (i. 14), in which appear the names of Peter Hall, Mayor, and eleven others as being present. The order is also mentioned in Sydenham's "History of Poole" (ed. 1839, pp. 135, 136). According to the list of Mayors, however, given in Hutchins (i. 33), Peter Hall was mayor in 1655 and 1664, and Robert Cleeve in 1667. See note to No. 94. ante. The arms on the token do not quite represent the full armorial bearings of the Corporation of Poole, which are: barry of eight, sable and vert, over all a dolphin naiant argent; on a chief of the third, three escallops of the first. These arms were confirmed in 1579 by Robert Cooke, Clarencieux, and are allusive to the maritime situation of the town, and its patron saint, St. James, whose symbol was the scallop-shell (Hutchins i. 21). The registers of St. James's--the parish church of Poole--date from the earliest period, namely, 1638; but the first volume containing thsoe up to the year 1653 is in such a condition from age, damp, and, it is said, fire, that it is practically indecipherable, and is now kept in a tin case, being consequently of no value for reference. The next volume, on vellum, dating from 1653, is in capital preservation, and commences in a handwriting of unusual excellence for that period. |
