oin, the
assembly warmly opposed it, as a dangerous encroachment on their
constitutional rights; and a bill was brought in for regulating the
value of coins, which was interrupted by the governor, who claimed that
power as belonging to the royal prerogative. He issued a proclamation,
in 1683, raising the value of crowns, rix dollars, and pieces of eight,
from five to six shillings, half pieces to three shillings, quarter
pieces to eighteen pence, and the New England coin to one shilling,
declaring money at this rate a lawful tender, except for the duty of two
shillings a hogshead on tobacco, the quit-rents, and other duties
payable to his majesty, and for debts contracted for bills of exchange.
His own salary and the king's revenues were, in this way, in a period
of distress, exempted from the operation of the act, a proceeding
characteristic of the reign of Charles the Second, in which official
energy was mainly exhibited in measures of injustice and extortion.

The ringleaders in the plant cutting were arrested, and some of them
hanged upon a charge of treason; and this, together with the enactment
of a riot act, and making the offence high treason, put a stop to the
practice.[334:A]

FOOTNOTES:

[332:A] The number of half-armed train-bands, in 1680, were 7268 foot
and 1300 horse--total, 8568.--_Chalmers' Annals_, 357.

[332:B] Chalmers' Annals, 355.

[332:C] Hening, ii. 481, 492.

[333:A] Hening, ii. 561.

[334:A] Chalmers' Annals, 340; Hening, iii. 10.

CHAPTER XLI.

1683-1688.

Persecution of Robert Beverley--Plots and Executions in
England--Culpepper returns to England--Spencer, President--
Culpepper is displaced--Succeeded by Effingham--Beverley,
found guilty, asks Pardon, and is released--Miscellaneous
Affairs--Death of Charles the Second--Succeeded by James the
Second--Beverley again Clerk--Duke of Monmouth beheaded--
Adherents of Monmouth sent Prisoners to Virginia--Instructions
respecting them--Death of Robert Beverley--Despotism of James
the Second--Servile Insurrection prevented--Virginia refuses
to contribute to the erection of Forts in New York--Commotions
in Virginia--Effingham's Corruption and Tyranny--He embarks
for England--Ludwell dispatched to lay Virginia's Grievances
before the Government--Abdication of James the Second.

THE vengeance of the government fell heavily upon Major Robert Beverley,
clerk of the h