Three partial holograph drafts of a letter reporting the tests of Charles Brattell and Catesby Oadham for the post of assay master (two other candidates not having appeared): Brattell is judged the better candidate
& by Tertullian De carne Christi sub finem & by Cyprian.
To the most Honble the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer Lord High Treasurer of great Britain
May it please yor Lordp
The Ecu of Rome 5. 1. The Iudio of Florence 6∟08 6∟15 The lire of Florence {illeg}9∟{illeg}22
The lire of Genoa 105. The Iulo of Rome 6∟107. The lire of Rome 9∟16.
The lire of Millain 7∟91. The Philip of Millain 55∟4
According to your Lordps Order Mr Brattel & Mr Oadham have made some assays of gold & silver before us, & we are humbly of opinion that Mr Oadham Brattlel is the better Artist. Mr Kemp & Mr Cumberlege have not desired a triall waved the triall
According to your Lordps Order of ye 2d Instant upon the Petition of Mr Catesby Oadham, [that we should cause a tryall to be made before us as to this qualifications for the place of Assaymaster of her Majts Mint]directing us tothat we should cause a trial to be made before us by him & also by the rest of the Petitioners to yetheir qualifications for the said Office who have been referred to usof Assaymr of her Matys Mint whose Petitions have been referred to us (if they desire it;) & yt we should then make our Report to hisyor Lordp wch of them we conceive to be the best & fittest most expert & fittest person for that implymt We have caused such a tryall to be made between Mr Cha Brattel & Mr Oadham & humbly conceive Mr Brattle to be the more expert & fitter person for that Imployment. Mr The rest{illeg}other Petitioners upon notice have not desired a tryal.
According to yor Lordps Order of ye 2d Instant upon the Petition of Mr Catesby Oadham for a tryal as to his Qualifications for ye Office of place of Assaymr of the Mint, signified to us by Mr Harleys Letter of 2d instant, that we should cause a trial to be made before us by him & also by the {illeg}rest of the Petitioners for ye said Office whose Petitions have been referred to us (if they desired it,)as to their qualifications for ye Office of Assaymr of her Mats Mint; & that we should then make our Report to yor Lordp wch of thepm we conceived to be ye most expert & fittest person for that imploymt: We have caused such {illeg}a trial to be made between before us by Mr Ch: Brattel & Mr Oadham, {illeg} humbly conceive Mr & Mr to be the more expert & fitter person for that imploymt. The other Petitioners upon notice have waved a tryal.
In the
Source
MINT 19/1/93, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UKc. 10 April 1713, c. 452 words.