The money problems of Charles, Prince of Wales
The money problems of
Charles, Prince of Wales
When Charles II visited Jersey for the first time in 1646, as Prince of Wales, he was short of money
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The money problems of Charles II, when Prince of Wales in Jersey, have not been discussed by former local historians.
Bill of Credit
Even before he had arrived in Jersey, Lord Jermyn (the Governor of the Island) in a letter from Paris, dated 13 April 1646, to Sir Edward Hyde, had attempted to get a Bill of Credit. The Governor promised to accept bills of the Prince of Wales to the value of 2000 pistolles (£l,600). Jermyn’s letter is endorsed by Hyde.
The question can be asked: Were these bills ever drawn or honoured? The answer must be in the negative as it is supplied by Hyde in a letter to Sir Edward Nicholas: “The Prince not having £l0 in the World, they lent him 1500 pistolles (£l,200) for his support and expense.
There is, however, an element of dubiosity in the precise meaning of the pronoun 'they'. Did it connote the States or the Royal Court? Or, was the money obtained by public taxation or by a loan?
It could not have been obtained by the first, for during Charles' visit, the States only met once, on 2 May 1646, and there is no reference either to any contributions being made to the Prince or of a loan being issued.
Thus, there seems every possibility that this £1,200 was raised by An prunt (emprunt) aux nom du roy. (A loan in the King's name) which Sir George had floated in the King‘s name (Charles I), or by the enormous fines he had imposed for “all that". The words tout cela are cryptic and may refer to the monies collected for the maintenance of the Prince of Wales.
Charles' generosity to others
Charles, like many others who have been temporarily embarrassed, was very generous with other people’s money, for Chevalier records five occasions when he parted with some:
- On the occasion of the Grand Review of all the troops in the Island on 29 April 1646, he
gave 600 livres tournois (£50) to be divided among the island companies and 300 livres (£22.50) to be divided among the companies commanded by Sir George Carteret and Sir Philippe de Carteret.
- When the States ordered the repair of the Tower of St Aubin’s Fort, Chevalier tells that
Charles gave 50 pistolles (£40).
- The Prince and his Council were determined to send relief to Castle Cornet in Guernsey, then
the only part of that Island which held "for the King". Chevalier says that the Prince had sent some pistolles to hand over to the soldiers there, because a long time had elapsed since they had received any money. (The most decrepit soldier at Cornet Castle received 2½ pistolles (£2.00) as his share) thus encouraging them to continue in their loyalty to the King as now they could pass away the time more cheerfully in playing with their money, and thus avoid being bored.
- On Sunday l7th, Charles and his Lords went to the Parish Church of St Helier for
Holy Communion. Chevalier tells how the Prince's Paymaster “dropped a handful of silver" in the plate; Chevalier could not have seen how much had been “dropped in", otherwise, he would have told us, so meticulous was he in minor details.
- The Prince and his Council ventured on sending provisions to Castle Pendennis, near
Falmouth, which was then being besieged by the Parliamentarians. “There was on the boat a large quantity of pistolles which the Prince and his Lords were sending to pay the soldiers therein, as they had been a long time without having received any pay.” Unfortunately, the boat was captured by the Parliamentarians, so the soldiers at Pendennis were deprived of their pay.
Trinity mint
Colonel William Smith minted gold and silver coins at La Guerdainerie in Trinity from dies brought from England, but later it was discovered that counterfeit coins had been uttered. Chevalier tells the story of this counterfeiter:
- Several persons, who had brought their silver plate when they had left England, finding the mint not satisfactorily working, were reduced to straightened circumstances and compelled to sponge
on each other
As a result of requests from Henrietta Maria, mother to Prince Charles, living at Les Sts Germains, Charles had to leave Jersey for France. In order to do this journey with his suite and his luggage filling four or five ships, money was required.
Lord Culpepper, writing to Sir Edward Hyde from Les Sts Germains on 9 June 1646, said he trusted “ he will get 400 pistolles (£320) from Sir George Carteret ”, but unfortunately, the sequel is not known.
- Sale of Crown lands: 2024 article on action taken during Charles' second visit in 1649 to obtain the money he desperately needed
