Response to a petition from Anthony Redhead [former master of the Norwich Mint] against unjust and over-long imprisonment

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To the Rt Honble Sidney Lord Godolphin Lord High Treasurer of England.

May it please yor Lordp

In obedience to yor Lordps Order of Reference of Iuly 3 upon the annexed Petition of Mr Anthony Redhead late Master & Worker of the Mint at Norwich, we have considered the matter and humbly represent that ye Petitioner for a debt of above 3300li due to the Treasury of that Mint had an Extent in And taken out against his body & goods by Mr Neale about Michaelmas 1699 & was thereupon committed to Prison in Ludgate (as he represents) where he hath continued ever since. That we do not know what private engagements there were between Mr Neale & the Petitioner upon the setting up of that Mint nor how poor the Petitioner is. tho he hath been frequently represented us unable to pay the debt it seems to be poor. When he was first imprisoned the Officers of the Mint believed that he had money but it doth not appear to us that he hand. And But considering that he hath lain long in prison & that his estate if he hath any doth not appeare to us we beleive it very reasonable that he should be set at liberty so soon as it can be done by a due course of law method. ButFor if her Majty sets him at liberty she discharges Mr Neale & his security from the debt. The Petitioner was {illeg}Mr Neale's Prisoner & to set him at liberty belongs to Mr Neales Administrators (whenever there shall be any) & to his & security & yet if they set him at liberty they discharge him of the debt. And on order to his opinion weIn order{illeg} {illeg}to his liberty we are humbly of opinion that the Accts of the country Mints wch lye in the Auditors hands be dispatcht wth all convenient speed & that Mr Neales security do attend the passing of them And when it appears how recconings stand between her Majty & them, we shall be ready to advise with the Queens Councisel about the next step for bringing things to an issue

All wch is most humbly submitted &c