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 11 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 Merchants in manner & form as is aforesaid. And in the first five Indentures the summ & sureties are named but in the four last they are not named. The summ named is usually 500li.

In the Indenture made Anno 2 Elizab. mention is made that the Vnder Treasurer of the Mint hath found sureties before the Queen in Chancery in 100li 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 now joynd 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 her or his Majesty in Chancery that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queen or King & to the Merchant in manner and form as is above said

In the Indentures of An     Iac II & An 1 Gul III made to Mr Neale who was expensive & in debt & by indirect means insinuated himself into the Office, there is a covenant that the Master shall find such Borrows & Sureties in their Majesties Court of Exchequer in such summ as the Commissioners of the Treasury or High Treasurer of England for the time being shall approve of that pain thereof he shall make gree to their Majestys & to the Merchant according to the said Indenture; & after the passing of the first of those two <406r> Indentures he did find sureties in 15000li but after the passing of the second he found none.

Qu. 1. Ought the Master of the Mint upon his first beginning to receive the Merchants Gold & Silver & the Queens money or Bullion to find sureties that he shall make gree to the Queen & to the Merchant or ought he to do it when the Indenture of the Mint is agreed upon & begins to pass the seals or when he makes oath to it in Chancery or should he be then bound upon oath to do it afterwards, & where ought he to find sureties.

Qu. 2 For making sure that the Master doth find sureties is it not fit to mention in the Indenture that the Master hath 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 the breach of such Covenants as do not create a debt & an Oath for the Observance of them & no mention in any Indenture of finding such sureties & some of the covenants depending on covenants made to the Master.