| In the British Museum new list (No. 98) this is given as unpublished, the authorities being misled no doubt by the printer's error, that caused "YE" to appear in Boyne's book, whereas his MS., I am informed, distinctly reads "THE." The following extract was there given from the Corporation books of Weymouth under date 6th November, 1669: "that the deputy Maior be pleased to lay out Ten pounds in farthings for the Town's use, with the inscription, 'A Weymouth farthing for the Poor,' with the Town Arms." Mr. Moule, in his "Catalogue of the Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Borough Records," ed. 1883 (v. 62, p. 144), gives the following note relative to the issuing of this token: "Order to lay out £10 on minting farthings 'for the Towne's use and profitt for the poore,' the 'superscription' to be 'a W. ffarthing' on one side, and on the other 'ffor the poore,' with the Town's Arms. Nov. 5, 1669." In Ellis's "History of Antiquities of Weymouth" (ed. 1829) occurs the following extract, in greater detail, from the corporation records, fol. 328: "Att a full Hall held on Friday, the fifth daye of Novembre, 1669, 21 Car. II. Regis, Also yt ts agreede uppon, Thatt Mister Deputie Maior bee pleased to laie outt Tenn pounds in ffarthynges, for the Townes use and profitt of the Poore, the superscription on the one side to be 'A Waymouth Ffarthyng,' and on the other syde, 'For the Poore,' with the Towne Armes." Mr. Ellis adds that they must also have issued another, having on the obverse "A Weymouth Farthing for the Poor, 1669," and on the reverse "The Town Arms." He is not right in his supposition, however, for there was only one town-piece issued, and that in the form here given, the specific instructions of the Corporation simply not having been carried out. |
