Draft indenture for the Edinburgh Mint, requiring conformity with London practice and allowing apprentices to be sent to London for training
This Indenture made the day of in the ninth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith +c And in the year of our Lord 1710 Between our said Sovereign Lady the Queens most Excellent Majesty of the one part + Iohn Montgomerie of G{illeg}iffan Esquire of the other part Witnesseth that whereas our said Sovereign Lady the Queen by her Letters Patents under the Great Seale appointed by the Treaty of Vnion to be kept in Scotland bearing date the twenty second day of Iune 1710 for the considerations therein mentioned Did give and grant unto the said Iohn Montgomerie the Office of Master and Worker of all her Maties. moneys both of Gold and Silver within her Maties. Mint at Edingburgh in the room and place of George Allardes Esquire deceased To hold the said Office for and during her Maties. pleasure, with all wages fees salaries allowances proffitts perquisites powers priviledges and advantages whatsoever thereunto belonging, and in as ample manner as the said George Allardes or any other heretofore held and enjoyed the same.
And whereas by the Act of Vnion it is provided that the mint in Scotland shall be under the same Rules as the Mint in England And for that end it is necessary that an Indenture be made and executed on his part for and concerning the making of the several sorts of money of Gold and Silver and for payment of the several Officers of the Mint and for other matters and things relating thereto and to the execution of the said Office as are hereinafter mentioned with alterations and additions if any shall be thought fitt and directed by her Majesty for the better management and carrying on of that service.
<82v>Now this Indenture witnesseth that for and in consideration of the Covents. + agreemts. hereinafter contained on the part of the sd. Iohn Montgomerie Our said Sovereign Lady the Queen of her especial grace certain knowledge and meer motion Hath given granted ratified and confirmed, and doth by these presents give grant ratifie and confirm unto the sd. Iohn Montgomrie the said Office of Master and Worker of all her Maties. moneys both of Gold and Silver within her Maties. Mint in the city of Edinburgh and elsewhere in that part of her Maties. said Kingdome of Great Brittain called Scotland together with the Fee or yearly pention {sic} of sterling to be paid by quarterly payments at four Terms in the year Candlemas Whitsonday Lammas + Martinmas yearly by even and equal portions out of such moneys as (in and by an Act of Parliament made in England in the eighteenth year of the Reign of his late Matie. King Charles the second and continued by another Act made in the twenty fifth year of his sd. Maties. reign. Both which were revived and continued by an Act made in the first year of his late Matie. King Iames the seconds reigne and again by another Act made in the fourth year of his late Matie. King William and the late Queen Mary, and after by an Act made in the twelfth year of the reign of the said late King William, and further continued by an Act made in the seventh year of her present Matie. Queen Anne intituled an Act for continuing the former Acts for incouragemt of the Coinage +c and for making provision for the Mints in Scotland) are allowed to be issued yearly out of her said Maties. Exchequer for the Fees or salaries of the Officers of the Mint or Mints, and towards the providing maintaining and repairing of the Houses Offices and Buildings and other necessaries for assaying melting down and coining during so long time as the sd. Acts of Parliamt. shall bee + continue in force.
<83r>And after the said Acts of Parliamt. shall cease and be void, then the said Fee or yearly pention {sic} to be paid out of such other moneys + in such other manner as shall by any Act or Acts of Parliament hereafter to be made to be appd. or allowed to be issued out for the Fees or salaries of the officers of the Mint or Mints, and in default of any such allowance or appointmt. to be hereafter made by Parliamt and during such time or times as there shall hereafter happen to be no such allowance or appointmt. made by authority of Parliament, the said Fee or yearly pention {sic} of sterling to be paid unto the said Iohn Montgomrie out of her Maties. allowance for Coinage of gold or silver moneys or other her Maties. proffitts of the Mint or Mints or such other part of her Maties. Revenue as her Matie. shall direct.
And our Sovereign Lady the Queen for ye considracons aforesd. hath also given granted and confirmed, and by these presents doth give grant and confirm unto the said Iohn Montgomrie all Edifices Buildings gardens and other proffitts priviledges Franchises + immunities belonging to the aforesd. Office To have hold and enjoy the said Office of Master and Worker unto the sd. Iohn Montgomrie, and to exercise the same by himself or his sufficient Deputy or Deputies for whom he will answer, And also to hold and enjoy the said Fee or yearly pention {sic} or sume of sterling together with the said Houses Edifices buildings gardens profitts advantages priviledges, Franchises Liberties and immunities for and during her sd. Maties. pleasure in as full and amply manner to all intents and purposes, as the said George Allardes deced or any other person or persons did or at any time heretofore might or ought to hold and enjoy the same.
And whereas by the aforesaid Acts of Parliament it is amongst other things provided that no moneys leviable or payable by the same shall be applied or converted <83v> to any other use or uses whatsoever other than defraying the charge or expence of the Mint or Mints and of the assaying melting down wast + Coinage of Gold and Silver and the encouragemt. of the bringing in of Gold and Silver into the sd. Mint or Mints there to be coined into the currant Coins of this Kingdome Nor should any of the sd. moneys be issued out of ye Exchequer but by order or warrant of the Lord Treasurer + Vnder-Treasurer or Commissionrs. of the Treasury for the time being, to the Master + Worker or Masters + Workers of her Maties. Mint or Mints for the time being, and mentioning that they are for the use + service aforesd. to be kept in her Maties. Office of Receipt in the sd. Mint or Mints under the Keys of the Master + Worker Warden and Comptroller for the time being + issued out thence from time to time according to the manner and course of the Mint or Mints respectively.
And in regard the payments + disbursemts. of the said Mint formerly paid out of the Duties arising by the twenty fourth Act in the 2d. session of Parliamt. in the first of his sd. late Matie. King Iames the seventh{illeg} made in Scotland dated the fourteenth day of Iune 1686 are by the aforesd. Acts of Parliament appointed to be paid out of the moneys arising by the same Acts of Parliamt. Wherefore our said Sovereign Lady the Queen doth by these presents ordain + appoint that the sd. Master and Worker shall receive out of her Maties. Exchequer from time to time all such moneys as are appointed to be paid unto him by the said Acts of Parliamt. for defraying the charges or expences of the Mint or Mints, and of the assaying, melting down, wast and coinage of Gold and Silver, and the encouragemt. of bringing in of Gold and Silver into the said Mint there to bee coined into the Current Coines of the Kingdome of Great Brittain
And that the said Master and Worker shall upon his Accompt yearly to be made of his Receipts, paymts. charges and disbursements before the Barons of the Exche for the time being, have full allowance and defalcation and discharge of and for all such sume and sumes of moneys as he shall truly pay and disburse according to the directions hereafter in these prsents express'd
And the said Iohn Montgomrie doth by these presents covenant undertake and agree to and with our Sovereign Lady the Queen to make her Maties. money in manner + form following That is to say to make four sorts of money of Crown Gold.
One peice {sic} which shall be called the ten shilling peice {sic} running for ten shillings sterling and there shall bee Eighty nine of those to the pound weight Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the twenty shilling peice {sic} running for twenty shillings sterling, and there shall be forty four of those and one ten shilling peice {sic} or the weight of a ten shilling peice {sic} in the pound wt. Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the Forty shilling peice {sic} running for Forty shillings sterling, and there shall be twenty two of those and one ten shilling peice {sic} or the weight of a ten shilling peice {sic} in the pound wt. Troy.
And one other peice {sic} which shall be called the five pound peice {sic} running for five pounds sterling and there shall be nine of those wanting one ten shilling peice {sic} or the wt. of one ten shilling peice {sic} in the pound weight Troy.
And that every pound weight Troy of all the moneys of Gold aforesd. shall hold in number and be in value 44£. 10s. and shall be in fineness at the trial of ye same 22 Carrats of fine gold and two Carratts of allay {illeg}inevery pound wt. troy ye which standd. aforesd. of 22 Carrats of fine godl and two Carrats of allay in every pound weight Troy Our Sovereigne Lady the Queen doth will ordain and establish by these presents to eb the right Standard of her Majesties moneys of Crowne Gold.
And the said Iohn Montgomrie shall have and receive the sume of for the Coinage of every pound weight of gold money to be by him detained and kept for the paying bearing + sustaining all manner of wasts provisions necessaries and charges coming arising and growing in and about the coining of her Maties. said gold moneys by the Mill and Press out of the moneys to be paid and payable to him as is hereafter expressed.
But because the said moneys of Gold may not continually be made according in all things to the right standard But per adventure in default of the said Master + Worker it shall be found sometimes too strong or too feeble by too much or too little in weight or in fineness or in both Our sovereign Lady the Queen doth will and command that when the sd. moneys of Gold shall be found at the assay before the deliverance too strong or too feeble all only in weight or all only in fineness or on both the sixth part of a Carrat in the pound weight of Gold and no more, the which sixth part in that one or the sixth part in that other or the sixth part in them both shall bee called Remedy for the said Master That then that money shall be delivered for good, so always that the same default happen by Casualty otherways not But if default bee found in the same money in weight or in fineness or in both over the sixth part of a Carratt which is called Remedy as aforesaid, then the deliverance shall cease and that money shall be challenged + adjudged less than good and to be new molten and recoined at the cost of the sd. Master till be it put to point as money deliverable.
And also the said Master hath undertaken and by these presents doth agree and undertake to and with our sovereign Lady the Queen to make eight manner of moneys of silver that is to say.
One peice {sic} which shall be called the Crown running for five shillings sterling and there shall be twelve of those + two shillings in the pound weight Troy.
<85r>One other peice {sic} which shall be called the Halfe Crown running for two shillings and six pence Sterling and there shall be 24 of those and two shillings in the pound weight Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the shilling running for 12d. sterling and there shall be 62 of those in the pound weight Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the half-shilling running for 6d. sterling and there shall bee 124 of those in the pound weight Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the Groat running for 4d sterling and there shall be 186 of those in the pound weight Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the half-sixpence running for three pence sterling and there shall be 248 of those in the pound wt. Troy.
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the Half-Groat running for 2d sterling, and there shall bee 372 of those in the pound wt. Troy. and,
One other peice {sic} which shall be called the Penny running for one penny sterling and there shall be 744 of those in the pound wt. Troy
And every pound wt Troy of the moneys of the silver aforesd. shall be and hold in number as aforesd. and be in value 3£: 2s. sterling and shall be in fineness at the trial of the same 11oz: 2dwts. of fine silver and 18dwts.. of allay, which 11oz: 2d of fine silver and 18dwts. of allay in the pound wt. Troy aforesd. is the right standard of moneys of silver of Great Brittain.
And be the said Master bound to make all the moneys of Crowne Gold and Standard silver aforesd. agreable in fineness to the respective indented triall peices {sic} made by the direccon of her sd Matie. in the sixth year of her reign, Which sd. Indented trial peices {sic} do now remain in the seven several places hereinafter mentioned That is to say One Indented peice {sic} of Crowne <85v> Gold and one Indented peice {sic} of Standard Silver in her Maties. Treasury within this Kingdome of Great Brittain to try the moneys of Gold + silver from time to time coined by the sd. Master + Worker of her Maties. Money for the time being in fineness thereby, the like with the Warden of the Mint within the Tower of London for the time being to try the moneys of gold and silver from time to time coined in her Maties. Mint there in fineness thereby As also to try the gold and silver Bullion brought there if any difference shall happen to arise between the Master + Worker of that Mint + the Bringers in of the same, The like with the Master + Worker of the said Mint to make the sd. moneys in fineness thereby; The like with the Wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths within the City of London in Goldsmiths Hall for the trial of their plate + other works aswell of gold as of silver in fineness thereby The like in her Maties. Exchequer of Scotland And the like with the Warden of the Mint at Edinburgh for ye time being to try the moneys of gold + silver from time to time coined in her Maties. sd. Mint at Edinburgh thereby As also to try the gold and silver bullion brought thither if any difference shall happen to arise between the sd. Master and Worker of that Mint and the bringer in of ye same and the like with the sd. Master or Worker to make the sd. moneys in fineness thereby.
And the sd. Iohn Montgomrie shall have + receive the sume of to be by him taken for the Coinage of every pound wt. Troy of silver moneys for the paying bearing and sustaining of all manner of wasts provisions necessaries + charges coming arising + growing in + about the coining of her Maties. Crowns, half Crowns shillings + sixpences of silver moneys by the Mill + Press out of the moneys to be paid and payable unto him as is hereinafter expressed [And the sd. Master shall out of the allowed to him as aforesd. + reced by him for every pound wt. Troy of the money of silver pay from time to time unto the Moniers ye sume of {illeg} pence for the making of evy pound wt Troy of the sd. silver monies by ye Mill + Press according to ye undertaking + agreemt. of the said Moniers with the sd. Master + Worker.]
And our Sovereign Lady the Queen doth by yse prsents order + appoint that the said Master and Worker out of the moneys to be paid to him as aforesd. shall pay or cause to be paid yearly unto the severall respective Officers of the sd. Mint by quarterly payments their fees + salaries according to the allowance + appointmt. mentioned in a schedule hereunto annexed.
But because the sd. monies of silver cannot continually be made in all things according to the right Standard, in as much as sometimes in default of the sd. Master + Worker it may be made too strong or too feeble by too much or too little in weight or in fineness or in both Our Sovereign Lady the Queen doth will that when the sd. monies of silver upon the assay before the delivery be found too strong or too feeble all only in weight or all only in fineness or in both by two pennywts. in the pound wt. Troy aforesd after the old Computation of 20 pennywts. in that one, or two pennywt. in that other, or two pennywt. in them both shall be called Remedy for the Master, that then such monies to be delivered for good, so always the same default do happen by Casualty, otherwise not; But if default be found in the sd. moneys in weight or in fineness or in both over the sd. two pennywt. in the pound Troy aforesd. Then ceaseth deliverance of the sd. money, and the same to be challeng'd less than good, + at the Costs of the Master to be newly molten + recoined till it be put to point as moneys deliverable, as aforesaid.
And our sd. sovereign Lady the Queen willeth agreeth and granteth by this Indenture that the sd. Master + Worker for the time being do + shall receive aswell her Maties. own Bullion of Gold + Silver as the Bullion of any other person or persons wtsoevr. repairing to her Mint with any Bullion of Gold + Silver aforesd. to be coined into the moneys before mentioned by weight Delivering to the parties bringing in the same Bullion, Bills testifying the weight fineness and <86v> Value thereof together with the day and order of its delivery into the said Mint, and within as convenient time as may be, deliver the same again to our sovereign Lady the Queen for her Bullion, + the other parties or their Attorneys delivering the same Bills by the same weight according to the value of the said Bullion at such time + in such manner + form as in this present Indenture is limited and appointed.
And our Sovereign Lady the Queen doth will and command by this Indenture that the sd Warden and the Counterwarden or Comptroller of her Maties. Chief Clerk + Clerk of the papers for the time being shall enter and record in several Leidger Books all such Bullion of Gold + silver as from time to time shall be brought into the sd. Mint, The which Entry shall comprehend ye weight fineness + value of the said Bullion, the parties name that brought it, and what day, And after the sd Bullion of gold + silver shall be received + the assays thereof made reported + entered into the sd. Leidger Books, the same Bullion shall be forthwith put into a Chest or Room, and the Chest or Room shall bee locked with three keys, Whereof one Key shall remain with the sd. Master or Worker, + one other of the Keys shall remain with the said Warden or Wardens or one of them for the time being And one other of the said Keys shall remain with the sd. Counterwarden for the time being and there shall continue untill such time as the same de deliver'd to the making of moneys
And the said Warden and Counter Warden + likewise her Maties. Clerk shall also keeping severall Books of melting, Declaring in the same the Quantity and fineness of all manner of gold and silver + allay put into the melting wth the report <87r> Of every assay called the Pott assay, and the same Books shall remain in their several Custodies to charge the Master with all And the said Books shall monthly be subscribed + figured by the sd Wardens or one of them and the Master and Counterwarden. And the said Assaymaster of our Sovereign Lady the Queen shall keep one Book of all such Bullion of Gold + silver as shall be brought into the said Mint whereby the quantity and fineness may appear with the report also of the assay of every several pot comonly called the pott assay Which pott assay shall be made of some Ingott of the said Bullion to be taken by ye sd Warden Counterwarden + Assaymaster or any two of them after the pot is cast out.
And if any person or persons happen to bring into the Mint any manner of gold or silver nigh to the Standard aforesd. then the Master shall receive it for the value accordingly, so as the charges to make it agreable in fineness to the several standards aforesd. be born + sustained out of the revenue arising to her Matie. by vertue of the aforesd. Acts of Parliamt.
And our said Sovereign Lady the Queen doth by these presents give full power and authority unto the sd. Master + Worker from time to time to put such privy Mark or Marks upon the Edges or Flatt sides of the sd. gold and silver moneys to be coined as aforesd. as he the sd. Master shall judge most safe + convenient for the sd. moneys + from time to time to alter + change such privy mar{illeg}k or marks according as he shall judge the same most convenient and necessary so that the sd. Mastr. + Worker may from time to time know and discover which of gold + silver amongst other be made by him + which not.
And the sd. Warden or Wardens + Counter Warden or Comptroller or their Deputy or Deputies shall oversee and survey the said assaying melting sizing + making of the said moneys of gold and silver at all times + in all places, and shall indeavour and procure that the sd. moneys and every of them be made and perfected <87v> According to the true intent of this Indenture + the charge committed to them [And they shall also see + procure that be Ballances and weights bee always amended and put to point from time to time when they shall need so that no default be found in them to the hurt of her Matie. or her people
And whereas two Piles of Standard english weights lately made and printed with a Rose Crown'd + Thistle Crown'd whereof twelve Ounces English do equal twelve Ounces four pennywts. and nine grains Scottish do remain the one of them by Bill indented in the hands of the General of the sd. Mint and the other with the Warden of her Maties. Mint in the Tower of London; The sd General shall produce the sd Pile in his custody and make it forth coming to the sd. Master Warden + Counter Warden or Comptrolr at all times and on all occasions as they shall require it + have use for the same.]
And the said Counter Warden or Comptroller as Surveyr. of the meltings shall take care of his Duty in surveying of the meltings aforesd. and shall keep a Book containing the weight of such gold and silver as shall be molten from time to time with the allays put into the same And when the sd. moneys be coined and compleat, the said Master and Worker and Warden or Wardens and Comptroller or Comptrollers shall put them into a Chest or room locked with three keys Whereof one shall remain with the said Master, one wth. the said Warden and the third with the sd. Comptroller or Count{illeg}erwarden untill such time as proof and triall be had of the said money and paymt. be made to the Bringers in of the said bullion accordingly Which proof shall be had + made before deliverance of the said moneys And shall be made in prsence of the said Master and Worker Warden or Wardens and Comptroller or Counter warden by her Maties. Assaymaster for the time being, the same assay to be taken aswell of the fineness as of the weight by such quantity + after such sort as be agreed upon by the said Warden Counter Warden and Assaymaster.
And after the said moneys of Gold and silver bee assayed and proved for good as is aforesd. before any deliverance be of the whole sume, A portion of the said moneys shall be taken and put into a Box by the said Warden or Wardens or by their Deputy or Deputies in the prsence of the said Master or his Deputy and the Counterwarden or his Deputy: Whereof the Assay shall be made before our Sovereign Lady the Queen from time to time or such of her Councell as have beene accustomed or shall be appointed by her Matie. at Westmr. or elsewhere it shall please her Matie. or her Councell to appoint That is to say for every Iourney weight of Gold not exceeding fifteen pound wt. two peices {sic} Whereof one to bee for the Pix and the other for the assay And out of every Iourney of silver moneys containing sixty pound wt, two peices {sic} at least The one moiety thereof to be for the Pix and the other for the assay And they shall be insealed wth the seale of the sd. Master Warden + Counterwarden + the sd. Box shall be shutt with four Keys, whereof one key shall abide with the General, one with the Master, one with the Warden or Wardens and the fourth with the Comptroller or Counter-Warden, Which Pix shall remain in a Chest or room as is aforesd. And upon reasonable warning thereof given, it shall be opened from time to time before our sovereign Lady the Queen or such of her Councell as shall be by her Matie. appointed at Westmr. or elsewhere it shall please her Matie. or her sd. Councell to appoint; and in presence of the sd. Master + Worker Warden or Warden and Counterwarden or Comptrollr. there shall be assays made aswell of the fineness as of the weight of the sd. moneys of gold and silver in the said Box after the most just manner as can be thought of to be made, by fire, by water, by touch, or by weight, or by all or by any of them To the end that if the said moneys of Gold + silver be found and proved good and covenable after the Covents. orders and agreements aforesd. the sd. Master <88v> To be quiet excused and discharged agt. her sd. Matie. and all her people unto that day And then the sd. Master at his will to have Letters Patents of our Sovereign Lady the Queen under the proper seale of Scotland to be made for his acquittance specifying the said assays to be made and found as aforesd. without fee therefore paying, For the making which Letters Patents these presents shall be a sufficient warrant and discharge to the Keeper or Keepers of the said Seale for the time being without any further or special warrant to be issued out for the same.
And if it shall be found by the assayes, that the pound weight throughly {sic} tried answereth not the full standard in fineness as aforesaid, but shall be worse + yet within the remedies aforesd. the lack thereof shall be entered on Record by the said Warden or Wardens + Counter Warden or Comptroller or such as they shall thereunto appoint and a true accompt thereof shall be made to her Matie. + the same fully and wholly to be answered to her Matie. without any proffitt or Commodity to grow unto any other person or persons for the same Saving always that in case by the assay it shall be found that the same moneys of gold and silver do pass at any time the sd. standards or any of them so as the same be better in fineness or in weight or in both, than in is appointed by the standards and yet within the remedy, then so much thereof to be entered of Record and hold place to the sd. Master in ye charge which he shall have when any lack shall be found by the sd. assays under the standards aforesd.
And if it shall happen in the said moneys of gold and silver or either of them upon either of the just assays as shall be made of the abovesaid Boxes in manner aforesd. be it in weight or in fineness any default be found without the said Remedies ordained for the said Master as is abovesaid or any of them The said Master shall make fine and Ransome to her said Majesty at her will.
<89r>Also the said General Master + Worker Warden + Counter Warden or any of them as often as need shall require shall and may take up as many Gravers to grave Irons at her Maties. price and also as many Smiths workmen + Labourers and other necessaries for and towards the making of the sd. Irons and moneys aforesd. and the doing of all manner of business within the Mint as to the sd. General Master Warden + Counter Warden shall seem needfull to have In which taking of such Gravers Smiths Workmen + Labourers + other necessaries Our sovereign Lady the Queen doth will and command by this Indenture all Mayors Sherriffs, Bayliffs, and all other Officers that they to the sd. General Master Warden or Wardens + Comptroller or Counter Warden aforesd. + to his or their Deputy and Deputies therein be assistt. aiding helping and fortifying as to right doth belong. And our Soveriegn Lady the Queen doth will + grant by these presents that it shall be lawfull to + for ye sd. General Master Warden or Wardens, Counter Warden or Comptrolr. of her Maties. sd. Mint at all time such & many of the sd. Ingravers, Smiths, Workmen + Labourers as by their discretions be not of good bearing in their Offices and Labours to punish put out avoid and amove like as to the General or Master Warden or Wardens or Comptroller shall seem meet according to right and for her Maties. weale.
And be the said Master bound and holden to receive all manner of gold and silver brought to the Mint after the very value, that is to say every parcell in its degree one to the more, another to the less, after the quantity it shall appear by the assay to be better or worse than ye standard And if the sd. Master + the Merchant which bringeth in the said gold and silver may not accord between them of the true value, her Maties. Assaymastr. to that deputed in the presence of the sd. Master Warden or Wardens + Counterwarden or Comptroller ought + shall try the truth in that part + the sd. Mastr. shall thereupon receive ye same + stand thereafter charg'd in manner as it belongeth.
<89v>And be the said Master or Worker Warden or Wardens and Comptroller held and bound to give their attendance at the said Mint, every Wednesday in the week, and such other days as shall be by ym appointed and agreed on for the receipt of all such Bullion as shall be brought into the sd. Mint + for the delivery out of the coined moneys.
And her sd. Majesty doth grant and confirm by these presents that the Officers of the Mint shall at all times hold have and peacebly enjoy all places houses grounds aswell builded as unbuilded within the sd. Mint which heretofore have been called reputed or taken for ye Mint without medling let or disturbance wtsoever. And he the sd. Matie. doth grant + confirm by this Indenture unto the aforesaid Officers and to all other Officers and Ministers of the Mint the Charters + Franchises to them before this time granted after the effort and purport of the same Charters.
[And also our Sovereign Lady the Queen doth will yt the said Moniers Workmen and all other Ministers of the Mint shall be ready to do their work at all times without denial when they shall be warned by the said Warden or Wardens Master or Comptroller upon pain of losing their Franchises and bodies to Prison Also that all the gold and silver that the Mastr. shall deliver to the Moniers to be coined as aforesd. shall be in clean plates and delivered by weight And the sd. Moniers to make and coin the same into Moneys and then deliver the same again to the master in clean peices {sic} proportionably by the same weight + if any thing lack of the same weight at any time of deliverance, they to pay and content unto the sd. Master for the same at every deliverance at the Ballance and sod done the Master to pay ym the wages that belong to them.]
And for the Covenants agreemts. grants + prmisses aforesd. well and truly to be holden + performed on the part of the said Master and that he shall beare himself towards her Matie. and her people in the said <90r> Office well and Covenable and that he shall make Gree to her said Majesty, the Master hath made bodily Oath before the Barons of her Maties. Exche + bindeth himself his heirs + Executrs. to her Matie by these prsents And for more surety to make gree wth the Queen + with the Merchants of that belongeth to them of the gold and silver which he shall receive by + in manner as aforesd. while he shall be in the said Office The aforesd. Master hath found Burrows + Sureties afore our Sovereign Lady the Queen in her Exchequer in the sume of And that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queens Highness + to ye Merchts. in manner and form as is aforesd.
And the said Master doth covenant promise and grant to and with her said Matie. from time to time to bring into the said Mint convenient and sufficient supplies of Gold and Silver and make full payments and deliverance of all manner of moneys with all convenient speed, according to the sd Acts of Parliamt. for the proffit of her Majesty her heirs and Successrs. and the ease of the people & that he will make such deliverance within the space of {illeg} the receipt of the Bullion to be ceased And the said Master doth convenant promise and grant to + with our sd. sovereign Lady the Queen to bear pay and sustain all maner of wasts provisions necessaries and charges coming arising and growing in and about the coining of her Majties Gold and silver moneys respectively by the Mill and Press according to the allowance in that behalfe made by her Matie. by this prsent Indre. And the said Master shall be holden + bound to bring or cause to be brought all the Gold and silver that he shall receive by colour of his Office into the Mint to be molten and made into moneys for help + increase of the moneys for her Maties. proffitt and ease of her people, without sale aliening or putting it to any other use Excepting all such healing peices {sic} seals and Medalls of Gold and silver as shall be made for her Majesties use or by her Majties. commands.
<90v>And the said Master and Worker shall accompt yearly before the Barons of the Exche or such other person or persons as her Matie. shall appoint And the sd. Accompt so to be made and taken by the said Barons of the Exchequer or by any other of the said person or persons specially appointed by her Matie. for the same being stated and his Debt determine{illeg}d and his said Accompt fully answer'd to her Matie. the said Master and Worker upon suite to the Keeper of the proper seale for ye time being shall have Letters Patents of her sd. Matie. under the said seale for his Acquittance, without fee therefore paying For the making of which sd. Letters Patents these presents or ye Inrollment thereof shall be a sufficient Warrant and discharge to the Keeper of the sd. seale for the time being wthout any further or more speciall warrant to be sued out for the same.
And the said Master and Worker is hereby appointed and authorized out of the moneys reced or to be received by him upon or by vertue of the sd. Act for encouraging of Coinage aforesd. to retain and keep in his own hands yearly the sume of aswell for the Fees + salaries due to himself as also for the paying + discharging of the several and respective Fees and salaries of the several and respective Officers of the Mint + the Clerks in the said schedule mentioned to bee payable by the said Master and Worker according to the distribution and apportionment mentioned in the said schedule.
And our Sovereign Lady the Queen doth hereby order and appoint that the General Mastr. Worker Warden and Comptroller of her Maties. said Mint that hereafter shall be + their respective Deputies <91r> Shall and do before his their or any of their being admitted into the knowledge of the invention of rounding of her Maties. moneys and marking of the Edges of them with Letters or Grainings or either of them take an Oath before the Barons of the Exche for the time being who are hereby respectively authorized to give the same not to reveal or discover to any person or persons wtsoever the said new invention of rounding the moneys + marking the edges of them with Letters or Grainings or either of them directly or indirectly unless her Matie. her heirs or successours shall otherways command and direct the same. And her Matie. doth hereby likewise order + appoint, that all such Workmen that shall be trusted or employed in the making or using the said Instruments for rounding the moneys and marking the monies upon the Edges as aforesaid shall likewise take an Oath before the General of the Mint for the time being who is hereby authorized to administer the same accordingly not to reveal or discover to any person or persons whatsoever the said new invention of rounding the moneys and marking the Edges of them with letters or Grainings as aforesd. or either of them directly or indirectly in part or in whole.
[It is hereby likewise strictly commanded and enjoyned by her said Matie. That [neither the Provost or any of the Moniers of the sd. Mint their Apprentices or servants do or shall at any time after the date hereof presume to vend pay or distribute any peice {sic} or peices {sic} of her Maties. coined moneys either of gold or silver untill the same shall be delivered by them according to the course of the Mint into her Maties. Office of Receipt there and duly assayed and pixed upon pain of forfeiting their Franchises + Bodies to Prison. And further that] no person or persons do live or inhabit wthin her Maties. said Mint without the knowledge or approbation of ye General Mastr. Worker Warden + Comptrollr. of the Mint for ye time being Except such Officers Workmen [Moniers] + Ministers of the said Mint and such other persons as have right thereto.
And her said Matie. doth by these presents also will and ordain That the Counterwarden or Comptrollr. of the Mint for the time being shall deliver upon Oath taken before one of the Barons of the Exche a Roll which shall be called the Counter Wardens or Comptrrs. Roll containing an Accompt of all the gold + silver Bullion and allay melted And of all the Gold and silver moneys coined monthly in the said Mint.
And the said Master or his Deputy shall pay unto such Officers or Workmen that shall be employed in making of several gold and silver peices {sic} round before they are sized and for the marking the edges of them with Letters or Grainings the sume of for every pound weight Troy of gold moneys, and ye sume of in every pound weight Troy of the said silver moneys as also for the making labour and expences therein.
And further more [because the Provost + Company of Moniers and Workers of the money may bee encouraged to do their Duties well in the making sizing blanching and coining of the gold and silver moneys as also for the making] upon every hundred pounds weight of silver moneys hereafter to be coined, the said Master shall make one pound weight and a half or eighteen Ounces in the Quantities or species following vizt. in pence half an Ounce, in twopences three Ounces, in threepences six Ounces + in Groats eight Ounces and a half, {sic} [Our sovereign Lady the Queen for the consideracons aforesd. is gratiously pleased + hereby contented and by these presents doth give power and authority to the Master + Worker of ye Mint for the time being that so long as the Warden of the Mint and he the sd. Master and Counter Warden or Comptroller or any two of them whereof the said Warden to be one, shall perceive the sd. moneys to bee well sized blanched and coined by the performance of the said service in small moneys, the said Master shall pay to the aforesaid Provost and Company of Moniers one penny by Tale of every pound weight of all the <92r> Silver moneys to be made and coined by force of this Indenture over and above the ordinary peice {sic} of allowed them, whereof the Master shall have allowance upon his Accompt by vertue of ye presents at all times hereafter without any other or more special warrant. Provided also taht the Moniers having the gold and silver delivered unto them in clean Ingotts fit to be wrought shall make and deliver seven twelfth parts of the same in money so that there be but five parts in twelve scissell.]
And our sovereign Lady the Queen doth hereby will and command that the Queens Clerk, as Clerk of ye Irons for the time being do keep a true accompt of all the blank Dyes for the coining of the gold and silver moneys, which shall from time to time be delivered to the Chief Ingraver or Ingravers of her Maties. Mint for the time being And also fo all the blank Dyes which shall be sunk or stamped by the said Graver or Gravers, and of all the Dyes which after sinking shall be made fit for use + hardned. And the said Graver and Gravers is and are hereby likewise injoined monthly to return unto the said Queens Clerk as Clerk of the Irons all Dyes as shall from time to time be faulty and worn by using in the said Mint or otherways to be defaced in the presence of the Master Warden and Comptroller of the said Mint and not otherwise And the said Queens Clerk as Clerk of ye Irons is hereby further enjoyned to give an Accompt to the sd. Master and Warden and Counter Warden as he shall thereunto be required by them of what blank Dyes have been delivered unto the said Graver or Gravers or sunk by them or hardened by the Smith And what faulty and worn out Dyes have been returned by them to be defaced, as also what others are remaining in yr hands that a just accompt may be kept of the same.
And that the said Gravers shall not work or make or grave any Punchions Matrices Dyes or stamps for the making or coining of any money of Gold and silver <92v> But only in such houses or places in her Maties. said Mint as shall be thereunto assigned by the aforesd. General Master Warden and Counter Warden.
And for the more exact sizing of Gold and silver Coins to be made by the Mill and Press + reducing of them to a greater exactness and equality in weight It is hereby ordered commanded and appointed by her Matie. That the Counterpoises of the several + respective gold and silver herein mentioned be made lighter yn their just weight according to their proportions foll. That is to say that two grains be taken from the Counterpoise of the Crown, one grain from the half Crown, half a grain from the shilling and a quarter of a grain to be taken from the Counterpoise of the sixpence of silver moneys And that two grains be taken from the Counterpoise of the five pound peice {sic} one grain from the Forty shillings peice {sic}, half a grain from the twenty shilling peice {sic} and a quarter of a grain from the Counterpoise of the ten shilling peice {sic} of gold And her Matie. ordains that no peice {sic} or peices {sic} of the said species be made lighter yn their Counterpoises.
[And our sovereign Lady the Queen doth hereby command and enjoyn the Provost and ye rest of ye Moniers of the Mint with their respective Apprentices duly to attend her Maties. service in the present way of coining as need shall require both morning + afternoon and too work in such Tasks and so many hours every day, Sunday only excepted as shall be thought fit and appointed them by the sd. Master according to ye labour of their respective Tasks and the length of the days And in case the sd. Provost and Fellows or any of their Apprentices shall wilfully neglect or refuse to attend and do their Duties accordingly Then the Warden Mastr and Counter Warden or Comptroller of the Mint for the time being are hereby required + authorized to proceed against every the sd. persons offending and to expell remove or otherwise punish them and every <93r> Of them as in reason and justice they shall think fit for her Majesties service according to the ancient powers and Authorities of right belonging to them.]
And her said Majesty doth hereby further declare her pleasure to be that these presents + the agreements therein contained shall be of force and have continuance only during her Majesties pleasure any thing in these Presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding
in wittness whereof to one part of these present Indentures remaining with our sd. Sovereign Lady the Queen, the said Iohn Montgomrie hath set his hand and seale And to the other part of these present Indentures remaining with the said Iohn Montgomrie Our said Sovereign Lady the Queen hath caused her privy seale appointed to be kept in Scotland to be affixed Given the day and yeare abovewritten
<93v>A Schedule.
Source
MINT 19/3/82-93, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UKAfter 25 July 1710, c. 8,159 words.