Response to MINT00017 (Mint 19/1/198-9).

<194r>

To the Right Honourable the Lord Commissioners of his Majesties Treasury

Wee the Warden and Master Worker of his Majestys Mint. Having Received from your Lordshipps a Refference dated the 4th. day of August last, upon the Memoriall of Mr. Ionathan Ambrose, hereunto annex't. wherein he Proposes to have Three half pence per pound for the first Melting down of the Plate; Wee take this Opportunity humbly to lay before your Lordshipps that the Master and Worker of the Mint, did always Melt downe all silver and Gold brought thither to be Coyned, and did therein Employ such person or persons as he thought fitt for the doing thereof; being bound by the Indenture of the Mint to perform that service, and is answerable for all Loss and Miscarriage that may happen in the doing thereof. And therefore humbly

Prays that he may Employ the persons that do it as formerly, and is willing to Undertake the severall Meltings of the Clipt money at 3 farthings the pound, and on such other Conditions as are at present allowed for the same, and to Undertake the first Melting down of the plate, at one penny per pound, and the Refineing (since the Quantity is like to be Great) for what's done in London at 11 pence per pound, but for what's done and to be done in the Countrey, he humbly dos crave the present allowance of 12 pence per pound, He having all along paid the same Price, and for paying the said Ionathan Ambrose for the Plate he already has Melted, and the Refineing thereof wee humbly leave it to your Lordshipps how, and what rate to direct. And we further presume to Represent to your Lordshipps an Inconvenience, we Conceive has arisen by wording the Warrant under his Majestys signe Manuall for the distribution of the 14 pence per pound allowed by an Act of last sessions for makeing the money, whereby it is directed that 9 pence per pound (part of the 14d.) should be paid to the Corporation of Moneyers, Whereas by the Indenture of the Mint 8d. per 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 from his Majestie, so long as the Warden, Master, and Controller, or any two of them, whereof the Warden to be one, should perceive the moneys well seized, Blanched, and Coyned, and a due proportion of small money made, and the said services not having by them been well and duely performed, as an Inducement for the future, and to make them well seize, Blanch, and Coyne, the silver money, and in all things for the future, to act as they ought, We Conceive it Convenient that in the next Warrant to be signed by his Majestie for Coyning either the Clipt money or Plate in pursuance <194v> of any Act of this Sessions, that the giving the Penny to the Monyers may be only Conditionall, as tis by the Indenture, and that if they doe not Deserve it, the same money to be saved to the Crown.

Is. Newton

Tho Neale

December the 10th 1696