Letter concerning the memorial of Jonathan Ambrose
To the Rt. Honoble. the Lords Comrs. of his Maties. Treary
Wee the Warden and Master Worker of his Majties. Mint, Having received from your Lordpps. a Refference dated the 4th. day of August last, Vpon the Memorial of Mr. Ionathan Ambrose hereunto Annex'd wherein he proposes to have Three halfe pence ꝑ pound for the First Melting down of the Plate; Wee take this Opertunity humbly to lay before your Lordpps. That the Master & Worker of the Mint, did alwayes melt down all silver and gold brought thither to be coyned, and did therein Employ such person or persons as he thought fitt for the doeing thereof being bound by the Indenture of the Mint to performe that service, and is answerable for all Loss and Miscarriage that may happen in the doeing thereof, And therefore humbly
Prays that he may Employ the persons that doe it as formerly, and is willing to undertake the severall meltings of the Clipt money at 3 farthings the pound, and on such other Condicons as are at ꝑsent 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 whats done in London at 11d. ꝑ pound, but for what's done and to be done in ye Country he humbly does crave the present allowance of 12d. ꝑ pound, he having all along paid the same price, And as to the said Ionathan Ambrose we humbly lay before your Lordpps. that ye Coynage Duty is not sufficient to Defray the necessaries of the mint at this time, And therefore submitt it to your Lordpps. Direccons how and at what rate he shall be paid for the Plate he hath already melted and refined. And we further presume to Represent to yor Lordpps. an Inconvenience we Conceive has arisen by wording ye warrant undr. his Majties. signe Mannual for the Distribucon of ye 14d. ꝑ pound Allowed by an Act of Last Sessions for making the money, whereby it is Directed that nine pence ꝑ pound (pt of ye 14d.) should be paid to ye Corporacon of monyers, Whereas by the Indenture of ye 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 <210v> from his Matie, So long as ye Warden, Master Worker, and Comptroller or any Two of them whereof ye Warden to be one should perceive the moneys well sized, blanched, and Coyned, and a due proporcon of small money made, and the said Service not having by them been well and duely performed, As an Inducemt. for ye future, and to make them well size, Blanch and Coyne, the Silver money, and in all things for the Future, to act as they ought, We Conceive it convenient that in ye next Warrant to be signed by his Majtie. for Coyning either ye Clipt money or Plate in Pursuance of any Act of this Sessions, that ye giving ye Penny to ye monyers may be Only Condiconal, As it is by ye Indenture, And that if they doe not Deserve it, the same money to be saved to ye Crowne.
Is. Newton
Tho Neale
Source
T 1/41.48, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK10 Dec 1696, c. 563 words.