Report on the warden's duties
To the Rt. Honoble: Lawrence Earle of Rochester Lord High Trear of England
The Commissioners for executing the office of Master and Worker of his Mats. Mint doe humbly represent to your Lopp the state and duty of the office belongeing to the warden of the said Mint according to his late Maties Indenture under the greate Seale of England which are as follows (vizt)
Where the Monyes are to be kept in the office of the Mint, The warden to have a Key
One Indented Piece of Gold, One Indented Piece of Silver to remaine with the warden of the Mint to try the Monyes of Gold and Silver coyned in his Mats Mint in fineness thereby
The warden to receive from the Master and Worker or Comrs. for the Master and Worker the Monyes for quarterly paymts. of the fees and salaries of the severall and respective officers payable by him of which belonges to himself 400l. ꝑ ann and 40l for a clerke besides two houses one for himselfe and another for his clerke.
The warden to keep a Ledger Booke to enter and Record all such Bullion of Gold and Silver as from time to time shall be brought into the Mint
The warden to have a Key where the Bullion is locked up after received
The warden to keep a melting Booke declaring the Quantitie and Finenesse of all manner of Gold and Silver and Allay melted with the Report of Every Assay called the Pott Assay
The warden to Oversee the Assayings, Meltings &c
The warden to be present at the weighing and Pixing the Monies.
The warden to be present at the putting the Monyes into the Pix Box and to keep a Key
The warden to be present when the Pix is tryed at Westminster.
If the Money be found Worse than standard upon the Assay to be recorded by the warden and if found better than standard to doe the same.
The warden has Power to take up Gravers Smiths &c And if need requires to punish such Gravers Smiths &c upon Neglect of duty
The warden to give his attendance upon every Saturday
The warden to account yearly
Monyers and other Workmen to doe theire duty when required by the Warden
<13v>The warden to Pay Sallaries and Diet
The warden to Provide two Pyles of English weights One to be sent into Scotland the other to be kept in the Mint in England
Two Pyles of Scotts weights one to be kept in the Mint the other to be sent into Scotland
The warden to know the Secrecie of marking the Monyes on the Edges.
The warden to Swear the Inferiour workemen who are entrusted with the marking of the Money on the Edges.
None to live in the Mint without the wardens Knowledge
Clerke of the Irons to give an accot of his Dyes to the warden.
Gravers not to worke but in the Mint by the appointment of the Warden
Monyers for default to be punished by the warden.
And may it please your Lordshipp Haveing considered the whole matter of the office of warden of the said Mint according to the Practices of the Indenture aforesaid Wee doe finde the said office to be of use to his Maties service. All which Wee doe humbly submitt to your Lordshipp Dated at the Mint the 23 of Febr in the first year of his Maties Reigne. 1684.
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<14v>Commissioners of the Mint their Report to the Lord High Trearr of England Considering the duty and office of the Warden of the Mint
Coppy 23. febr. 1684
Begining of 85 Sr Ph Floyd Begining of 86 Dr Wynn about. August 86.
Source
MINT 19/1/13-14, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK23 February 1684 [= 1685], c. 629 words.