Royal Maundy in England dates back to the 12th century, with the first distribution known from records was that of King John at Knaresborough, North Yorkshire in 1210. The gifts changed over time from clothing and other such alms for the poor to silver coinage presented in a leather purse. Each recipient at the service is given a white purse with green strings and a red purse with white strings with legal tender in place of the clothing allowance, and a white purse with red strings containing the Maundy money, numbered coins equal to the monarch's current age.