Draft of MINT00055(a) (Mint 19/1/411-2)

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In the Indentures of the Mint made Anno. 37 Edw. III, An. 46 Edw III, An. 1 Hen. VI, An 2 Edw IV, An. 1 Rich III, An. 24 Hen VIII, An. 1 Edw. VI, An. 2 Edw. VI, An 1 Mar. I mention is made that the Master and Worker hath found Sureties before the King in his Chancery that he shall make gree to the Merchant in manner & form as is aforesaid. And in the first five Indentures the summ & sureties are named, in the four last they are not named. The summ named is usually 500li.

In the Indenture made An. 2, Elizab: mention is made that the Vnder Treasurer of the Mint hath found sureties before the Queen in Chancery in 1000li that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queen & to the Merchant

In the Indenture made An. 3 Eliz. it is said that the Master & Worker hath bound himself in 500li & found sureties in other 500li that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queen & to the Merchant. The Queen is joyned with the Merchant because she recoyned the money of her Predecessors

In the Indentures made An 14 Eliz. An 2 Iac. I, An. 3 Iac I An 10 Iac I An. 2 Car. I An. 12 Car II An. 22 Car. II mention is made that the Master & Worker hath found sureties in the summ of 2000li before his Majesty in Chancery that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queen or King & to the Merchant in form & mannerin manner & form as is aforesaid.

The Commissioners for Mr Slingsby gave securitybond in 2000li a piece in the Exchequer before they took the Oath of Office.

In the Indentures of An. 1 Iac II & An. 1 Gul. III made to Mr Neale (who was expensive & in debt & by indirect meanes insinuated himself into the Office, {sic} there is a Covenant that the Master & Worker shall find such Buorrows & Sureties in their Majesties Court of Exchequer <410r> in such summ as the Commissioners of the Treasury or High Treasurer of England for the time being shall approve of that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to their Majesties & to the Merchant according to the said Indenture. &And after the passing of the first of those two Indentures he did find sureties in 15000li but after the passing of the second he found none.

Q. 1 Ought the Master of the Mint upon his first beginning to receive the Merchants Bullion & the Queens money to fi{illeg}nd Sureties that he shall make gree to the Queen & to the Merchant, or ought he {illeg}to do it when immediately before he makes Oath to the Indenture of the Mint or should he be then bound upon oath to do it afterwards, & where ought he to do it.

Q. 2 For making sure that the Master doth find sureties is it not fit to mention in the Indenture that the Master hasth found sureties so that an Indenture may not be sealed to him till he hath found them.

Q 3. Ought the Master to find sureties to observe all the Covenants of the Indenture there being other punishments proper for such Covenants as do not create a debt & an Oath for the Observance of them & no mention in any Indenture of finding such Sureties.