The Leeds Mace,

Made by ARTHUR MANGEY, 1694; and

Clipping Tools

Supposed to have been used by Mangey.

NOTES ON THE MACE, THE CLIPPING TOOLS, AND MANGEy.

Extract from The Corporation Plate and Insignia of Office of the Cities and Corporate Towns of England and Wales. Vol. II., p. 492–3. (G. Llewellyn Jewitt, F.S.A., and W. H. St. John Hope, M. A. Published by Bemrose & Sons, 23, Old Bailey, 1895.)

"The Insignia include a great mace, two mayoral chains, and the common and other seals.

"Both the charter of 1626 and that of 1661 empower the election of two sergeants-at-mace, who may carry gilt or silver maces with the royal arms.

"The present mace is of silver-gilt, and measures 4 feet 8 inches in length. It is of the usual late type, with crowned head encircled by the royal badges, each between the initials of William and Mary, and surmounted by the orb and cross. The shaft is divided by flattened knots adorned with acanthus leaves, into one long and two short sections, which are chased throughout with spirals of flowers. Just below the head are four slender brackets. On the foot-knop are engraved the borough arms, and above them 'BURGUS DE LEEDS.' Also, 'THO. DIKSON MAIOR' and 'MARMEDUKE HICK 2 MAIOR." On the opposite side to the borough arms are the letters 'G BRIT.' Round the edge is also the name of the maker: 'Arthur Mangey de Leeds fecit 1694,' to whom the treasurer was ordered on November 3rd, 1694, to pay the sum of £60 115. for making the mace."

"On January 24th, 1713, the following curious order was made. touching the mace:—

Agreed and Ordered that the Inscripcon put upon the Bottom of the great Mace belonging to this Corporacon, by the direction of Mr. Alderman Barstow, when Maior, shall be oblitterated and defaced soe as to be made Illegable. And that for the future noe

1 Thomas Dixon was mayor in 1671-2, and again in 1693-4. Marmaduke Hick was alderman in 1656, and mayor in 1666-7, 1681-2, and 1694–5.

2 Mangey was tried and convicted two years later for clipping and forging the current coin of the realm, and was hanged at York for the offence on October 3rd (should be October 2nd), 1696.

3 James Wardell, The Municipal History of the Borough of Leeds (Leeds, 1846), page 63.

4 Jeremiah Barstow was mayor in 1706-7.

Р

devise, writeing, or Inscripcon shall be put upon the said Mace without the consent and direction of a Court of Maior, Aldermen, and Assistants first had.'1

"On the 8th of March, 1728, it was ordered that the mace supplied to the Corporation by Mr. Arthur Monjoy should be re-gilded, and the old silver mace sold to defray the expenses thereof. The work was performed by Mr. Isaac Hancock, whose bill amounted to £15 135. 5d., and the old mace was ordered to be sold to him at the rate of five shillings per ounce. Another coat of gold was given to this Badge of Office in 1771, in addition to which it has recently undergone a complete repair.'

12

Of the old silver mace sold in 1728 nothing is known.

CLIPPING INSTRUMENTS

at present in the Museum of the Philosophical Society, Park Row, Leeds.

These shears are supposed to be those used by Arthur Mangey for clipping coins. They were found in 1832 in the false roof of a house in Briggate, the property of Mr. Liddle. See Leeds Mercury, June 9th, 1832.

NOTICES OF ARTHUR MANGEY,

or members of the family Mangey, Mountjoy, or Mange are found in the following extracts from the Leeds Parish Church Registers :

Baptisms.

1690. Born Nov. 29th; baptised Dec. 11th. Mary, daughter of Mr Arthur Mange, Bridgegate, bapt. domi.

1692. Born Nov. 23rd; baptised Dec. 15th. Susanna, daughter of Mr Benjamin

Mountjoy.

1694. Born April 4th; baptised April 26th.

Mr Arthur Mange, of Bridgegate.

Martha, daughter of

Extract from the Rolls of the Chamberlains of York Minster, quoted by Surtees Society, 1858, vol. xxxv. The Fabric Rolls of York Minster, page 139:

"1673. To Mr Mangey for platinge ye vergers silver rods, besides ye old silver, 4l. 2s. 6d. To George Haynes for ye irons for them, 55. To Mr Mangy for tipping, gilding, and engraving the horn, 47. 5s.

Arthur Mangey, of Leeds, goldsmith, the father of Thomas Mangey prebendary of Durham, and a writer of some little note.

The celebrated horn of Ulphus, which had been rescued from destruction by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, and which he restored to the minster. A brass plate, the work of Mangey, bears an inscription which gives an account of its fortunes."

An account of Mangey's end and Trial at York will be found in the following article.

1 Wardell, page 70.

2 Wardell, page 72.

Trial at Vork for Counterfeiting'

Of Mr. ARTHUR MANGY, of Leeds, Aug. 1st, 1696.

Transcribed from a MS. Book presented to the

Society by Mr. ALDERSON-SMITH,

and annotated by Mr. CHAS. MILNER ATKINSON, M.A.

The Arraignment Tryall and Condemnation of Arthur Mangy of Leeds in the County of York goldsmith for Counterfeiting the Currant Coine of this Realme (who upon full evidence) was found guilty of the said high Treason before my Lord Chief Baron Turton on Saturday the first Day of August 1696 and received sentence the same night and accordingly was executed at the common place of execution on Friday the second day of October following.

Die Sabati primo Augusti Anno Regni Regis Willielmi
Tertii Octavo Annoque Domini 1696.

The Court being sat proceeded in this manner—

CLERK OF ARRAIGNMENT.-Cryer make proclamation.

CRYER. All manner of persons that have anything more to do att this generall Assise of Nisi prius Oyer and Terminer and generall goal delivery, draw near and give your Attendance.

CLE OF ARR-Sett Mr. Arthur Mangy to the Barr (which was done). Arthur Mangy hold up thy hand thou stands indicted in the

1 See Old Yorkshire, 1st series, vol. iii., p. 200, for an article by Jewitt, and see Wardell's Municipal History of Leeds, pp. 63 and 64.

2 CRYER. -"All manner of persons," &c. This and the next proclamation "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" etc are still to be heard daily at the Assizes in almost identical terms. "Nisi prius," referring to the commission to justices of assize in connection with civil matters, so called from a writ commanding the jury to appear at Westminster on a certain day of the following term, “Nisi prius justiciarii domini regis ad assisas capiend: venerint." This they were sure to do during the vacation. "Oyer and Terminer," referring to the commission directed to the judges, &c., by virtue whereof they may "hear and determine" treasons, felonies and trespasses. The judges at assizes sit by virtue of five several authorities, i.e. the Commissions of Assize (orginally relating only to ejectments), Oyer and Terminer, Nisi Prius, General Gaol Delivery and as Justices of the Peace. The Queen's Counsel are still included in the commission of Oyer and Terminer.

3 CLE: OF ARR.-" Hold up thy hand," &c. Formerly the accused was not allowed to plead until he had held up his hand which was in the nature of an

County of York by the name of Arthur Mangy late of the town of Leeds goldsmith for that thou the fear of God in thy heart not having nor weighing the duty of Allegiance to the King, but being instigated by the Devill treasonably, traiterously, and against the known laws of this Realme, our Soveraigne Lord the King his crowne and dignity, didst coyn twenty pieces of money' of mixt mettall in imitiation of the currant coyn of this Realme commonly cald Shilling. How sayst thou Arthur Mangy art thou guilty of this high treason whereof thou stands Indicted or not guilty. MANGY-Not guilty.

CL: OF ARR.-How wilt thou be try'd.2

MANGY.-By God and the Country."

CL: OF ARR.-God send thee a good Delivery. Cryer make proclamation.

CRYER.-Oyez, Oyez, Oyez. All manner of persons that can inform his Majesties Justices of Nisi prius, Oyer and Terminer and generall goal Delivery, the Kings Councill, the Kings Attorney, or the Kings Sollicitor of any Treasons, Felonies Misdemeanors or breach of pease against Arthur Mangy prisoner att the Barr let them come forth and they shall be heard for now the prisoner stands upon his delivery.

CL: OF ARR:-Call the Jury. You the prisoner att the Barr those good men that you shall hear call'd and personally appear are to pass betwixt our Soveraigne Lord the King and you upon

appearance. "Being instigated by the Devill. . . .

crowne and dignity." Similar injurious references to the devil were always to be found in indictments within the memory of many men still living.

Cf.: All in breach of the peace-moved by Satan's malignity,

"And in spite of King James and his crown and his dignity." Ingoldsby Legends, "Witches' Frolic.” 1"Didst coyn twenty pieces of money," &c. Counterfeiting the gold and silver coin of the realm had long been High Treason (25 Edward III., st: 5, c. 2). This statute was not repealed for nearly 500 years, i.e. not until 1832 (2 and 3 William IV., c. 34, s. 1).

2 CL: OF ARR.—"How wilt thou be try'd?" This question was in ancient times very material, as the accused might be tried in one of three several ways. viz. by "jury," by "wager of battel," or by "ordeal." It had, however, lost much of its significance at the end of the 17th century, as the two latter modes of trial were rapidly becoming obsolete.

3 MANGY." By God and the Country." .e. by jury. When a prisoner pleads not guilty at the present day the Clerk of the Peace still marks the indictment "Puts," i.e. "puts himself upon his country." If the accused elected to be tried "by God only" he was exposed to trial by "ordeal" (the water ordeal apparently for bondsmen and rustics, the ordeal by fire for those of better condition).

4 "Good Delivery." This should, it would seem, be "Good deliverance."

tryall of your Life and death if therefore you will challenge them1 or any of them your time is to challenge them as they come to the book to be sworne.

Then the Jury was sworne and the Prisoner challenged some Leeds men, at last those whose names are as follows were sworne :-

his cause.

CLE: OF AR.-Arthur Mangy hold up thy hand, which he did. You gentlemen of the Jury looke upon the prisoner and hearken to He stands indicted in the county of York by the name2 of Arthur Mangy aforesaid, in the Indictment and against the forme of the statutes in that case made and provided upon this Indictment he hath been arraigned and thereunto hath pleaded not guilty and for his tryall hath put himselfe upon God and his Country, which country you are, you are to enquire whether he be guilty of the high treason whereof he stands indicted (in manner and form as he stands indicted) or not guilty, if you find him guilty you are to enquire what goods and chattels, Lands and tenements he was possessed of att the time when the high treason was committed or att any time since, if you find him not guilty you are to enquire whether he fled for it, if you find he fled for it you are to enquire of his goods and chattels as if you had found him guilty, if that you find him not guilty nor that he fled for it you are to say so and no more and hearken to ye evidence.

1 CL. OF ARR.-"You will challenge them," &c. The privilege of peremptory challenge was allowed in all capital cases. The right still exists. At the time of the trial of Mangy the accused might challenge twenty of those summoned on the jury panel without assigning any reason for his objection. Mangy apparently challenged some Leeds men on the ground of local prejudice.

"You

2 CL: OF ARR.-"Arthur Mangy hold up thy hand," which he did. gentlemen of the Jury looke upon the prisoner and hearken to his cause. He stands indicted in the county of York by the name, &c. In this address the Clerk of Arraigns acquaints the jury with the nature of the charge preferred, and the issue which they are called upon to determine. A very similar form of words is still in use, although the direction to enquire as to the lands and chattels of the prisoner (in the event of a conviction) is no longer given. This enquiry was formerly necessary for the determination of questions relating to the forfeiture of the criminal's property.