Notes for MINT00159 (Mint 19/1/228-9)

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The manner of the Tryall of the
Pix.

His Majesty or his Councill appoints the time and place for ye Tryall of ye monys in ye Pix: the time is usually about a month after 'tis ordered, & ye Place in or near ye Star chamber.

The Ld. High Chancellr. sends his Letter to the Wardens & Company of Goldsmiths to return, to returne him ye names of an able Iury for that Tryall

The returne of ye names being made to his Lop he sends his Warrant by his Serjeant at Arms, or Serjeants deputy to summon ye Iury by their names, to meet at the time & place appointed for ye Tryall.

On the day appointed, the Pix-boxes are brought and plac'd on a Table, about nine in ye morning, by ye care of the Officers of the Mint.

About tenn, the King if he pleases, & the Ld. Chancelr. & other Lds. of the Councill appointed by ye King, take their places at ye table aforesaid, the Officer of the Mint, Exchequr. & the Iury of Goldsmiths attending.

Then the Ld. Chancellr. calls to his Serjeant at Arms for his Warrant for summoning ye Iury, & appoints the same to be deliverd to the Remembrancers deputy, who attends with a Copy of an Oath to be given to ye Iury

The Pix-boxes are opened by ye Officers of the Mint and ye Gold & Silver monys therein poured upon the Table

Then the Ld Chancelr. causeth the said Oath to be administred to the Iury: Which being done

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The Ld Treasurer or Lds. Commissrs. of the Trery or Chancellour of ye Excheqr appoint the standd. Troy weights, & the Indented tryall-pieces of His Majtys Crown Gold monys, & standd. sivler monys kept in the Trery of the Exchecqr. to be deliverd for ye use of ye Iury: And the Ld. Chancellr. examines ye Tryall-pieces, by ye like Indented tryall pieces, kept by ye Warden of ye Mint.

Then the Ld. Chancellr. or in his Absence ye Chanclr. of ye Exchecqr. gives ye Iury in charge to make tryall of ye Gold & Silver monys in ye Pix by ye standds. of his Majtys Trery, according to ye Rules sett-down in ye Indenture of ye Mint; which are to doe it carefull by fire, by water, by touch, or by weight, or by all, or by some of them, after ye most just & exact manner that can be; it being a Business of a very publick concern.

Then the Ld. Chancellr. appoints ye Iury, when & where to attend his Lop. wth. their Verdict, And then he departs with ye rest of ye Lords.

When ye Iury present their Verdict, the depty. of the Remembrancer attends to read it, and keeps it, when tis read.