Response to MINT00017 (Mint 19/1/198-9).

<194r>

To the Rt. Honble the Lord Comrs. of his Majties Treary

Wee the Warden and Master Worker of his Majts. Mint. Having Received from your Lordspps. a Refference dated the 4th. day of August last, upon the Memoriall of Mr. Ionathan Ambrose, hereunto annex't. wherein he Proposes to have Three half pence ꝑ pound for the first Melting down of the Plate; Wee take this Opportunity humbly to lay before your Lordspps. that the Master and Worker of the Mint, did always Melt downe all silver and Gold brought thither to be Coyned, and did therein Employ such person or persons as he thought fitt for the doing thereof; being bound by the Indenture of the Mint to perform that service, and is answerable for all Loss and Miscarriage that may happen in the doing thereof. And therefore humbly

Prays that he may Employ the persons that do it as formerly, and is willing to Undertake the sevll. Meltings of the Clipt money at 3 farthings the pound, and on such other Condicons as are at present allowed for the same, and to Undertake the first Melting down of the plate, at one penny ꝑ pound, and the Refineing (since the Quantity is like to be Great) for what's done in London at 11 pence ꝑ pound, but for what's done and to be done in the Countrey, he humbly dos crave the present allowance of 12 pence ꝑ pound, He having all along paid the same Price, and for paying the said Ionathan Ambrose for the Plate he already has Melted, and the Refineing thereof wee humbly leave it to your Lordspps. how, and what rate to direct. And we further presume to Represent to your Lordspps. an Inconvenience, we Conceive has arisen by wording the Warrant under his Majts. signe Manuall for the distribucon of the 14 pence ꝑ pound allowed by an Act of last sessions for makeing the money, whereby it is directed that 9 pence ꝑ pound (part of the 14d.) should be paid to the Corporation of Moneyers, Whereas by the Indenture of the Mint 8d. ꝑ pound and no more is directed to be paid them for their service and the additionall penny, was only to be paid and allowed them as a Bounty from his Majtie., so long as the Warden, Master, and Controller, or any two of them, whereof the Warden to be one, should perceive the moneys well seized, Blanched, and Coyned, and a due proporcon of small money made, and the sd. services not having by them been well and duely performed, as an Inducement for the future, and to make them well seized, Blanch, and Coyne, the silver money, and in all things for the future, to act as they ought, We Conceive it Convenient that in the next Warrant to be signed by his Majtie. for Coyning either the Clipt money or Plate in pursuance <194v> of any Act of this Sessions, that the giving the Penny to the Monyers may be only Condiconall, as tis by the Indenture, and that if they doe not Deserve it, the same money to be saved to the Crown.

Is. Newton

Tho Neale

December ye 10th 1696