JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER

xlviii

(4) The 3ferk, 13s. 4d. Scots, was raised in value by
James vi. to 1 Sid. sterling, to make it interchangeable with
English money. He coined none after his accession to the
throne of England, and probably intended that no more
should be coined. But the merk had too strong a hold in
Scotland, and half merks were struck by Charles i., and
various multiples and parts of merks by Charles n. at the
old issue value of 13s. 4d. the merk. On the other hand, in
1651 Parliament icryed up' the 12s. Scots piece-equal to
the English shilling-to one merk and in 1625 the Britain
crown or 31. Scots piece is officially described as known as
the five merk'piece,' though its issue value was only five
shillings. This illustrates the confusion and uncertainty of
the relative value of coins, of which parenthetically two other
examples may be given. On 20th June 1673 Lauder notes
the receipt of his yeaes salary as one of the assessors for the
burgh, 1 being 150 Ib, Scots, which is about 229 merks,'
whereas with the merk at 13s. 4d. (the standard value),150 Ib.
is exactly 225 merks. In the same way he constantly states
the same salary indifferently at 1501. Scots or £12 sterling,
whereas 1501. Scots ought to have been equai to ~12, lOs.
sterling.

(5) Shillin~: LamIer applies the name without distinction
to the English shilling, 12s. Scots piece, which at page 80
he calls our shilling, and to the shilling Scots. The context
generally shows which he means.

(6) Groat. Lauder's groat is the English groat of four
pence, sterling. The groat Scots of less value had not been
coined for 0. century.

(7) PcnnJ. As in the case of the shilling, Lauder uses the
name indifferently for English pence and pennies Scots, but
more often English.

Such coins as testoons, placks, bodles, bawbees and turners,
do not appear in his accounts, but some of them are casually