Holograph copy extract from Robert Brackenbury's indenture of 20 July 1483 showing that the master found securities before the indenture was signed, with notes on ten other precedents for this order of procedure dating back to the fourteenth century

<395r>

In the Indenture made in the 1st year of Rich III Iuly 20 with Robt Backenbury Esqquire are these words. And fourive covenants abovesaid well & truly to be held & performed on the partie of the said Maister and that he shall bear him towards our said soveraign Lord the King & his people in the same Office well & covenably & that he shall make gree to the King the said Master hath made bodily Oath afore our said Soveraign Lord the King in his Chanchery, & bindeth him his heires & Executors to the same our Soveraign Lord the king by these presents. And for more sirety to make gree to the Merchants of that that to them belongeth of gold & silver which he shall receive by manner as is abovesaid while he shall be in the said Office the foresaid Master hath found Borows afore our said Soveraign Lord the King in his Chancery, that is to say Sir Rauf Ashton Knight William Tunstal Esqquire John Hoton Esqquire John Kirkby of London Goldsmith John Snoring of London Fishmonger which have undertaken for the said Master that is everych of them upon peyn of Clb that he shall make gree to the Merchant as is aforesaid the which summ of C℔ everych of the said Borows by himself hath granted to be levied of their lands & tenements good, & chattels to thuse of our said Soveraign Lord the King in case it be duly proved that the said Master doth the contrary thereof.

The like clause word for word is in the Indenture made 23 Feb. in the 11th year of Edward the 4th between the King & William Lord Hastings, excepting that there were seven sureties each in 100li. The like clause in the Indenture made 4 Nov. 1 Hen 6 to Sir Gyles Dawbency, there being 5 sureties for 500li.

In the Indenture 16 May in the 24th year of Hen. 8, between the King on the one part & Sir Martin Bowes & Ralph Rowlet Esquire on the other part it is said that the masters have found sureties or Burrows afore the King to make gree to the Importer, but the summ is not named.

The like clause is in the Indenture made 16 Feb. 2 Edw. 6 to Tilsworth for Canterbury. Tis said the Master hath found sureties but the summ is not named.

The like clause is in the Indenture made 15 Apr An 1 Edw 6 to Sir Martin Bowes & five others for the Mint in the Tower. Tis said that they have found sureties but the summ is not named.

In the Indenture made 11 Iune An 7 Edw 6, made to Egerton, the Oath is mentioned but I find now mention of Sureties.

In the Indenture made 20th Aug. An 1 Mariæ ot Tho Egerton Tho Stanley Will Billingsley & John Mundes there is the like clause. Tis said they have found Sureties for making gree to the Merchant but the summ is not named.

In the Indenture made 9 Dec. An 3 Eliz. to Tho Fleetwood Esqquire, tis said that the said That for more surety to make gree to the Queen & to the parties of that that belongeth to them of moneys which he shall receive by & in manner as is aforesaid while he shall be in the said Office. The aforesaid <395v> Thomas Fleetwood hath bound himself his heirs & Executors to our said Soveraign Lady the Queen in her Chancery in the summ of five hundred pounds & also hath found Burrowes & Sureties afore our Soveraign Lady the Queen in her chancery aforesaid in the summ of other five hundred pounds that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queens Highness & to the parties as is aforesaid.

In the Indenture made 8 Novemb Ano. 2do Elizabethe to Tho Stanley Esqquire as Vndertreasurer of the Mint in the Tower & to other ins other Offices, it is mentioned that for more surety to make gree to the Queen & to the Merchants of that that belongeth to them of Gold & Silver which he shall receive by & in manner as is aforesaid while he shall be in the said Office the foresaid Vndertreasurer hath found Burrowes & Sureties afore our Soveraign Lady the Queen in her Chancery aforesaid in the summ of one thousand pounds that upon pain thereof he shall make gree to the Queens Highness & to the Merchants as is aforesaid.

In the Indenture made the first of March An. 37 Edw. 3 tis mentioend that Henry de Brisele had given surties in 1000 marks for the Mint at Paris.

In the Indenture made the 20th May An 46 Edw 3 tis mentioned that Berdet de Malepitys had found sureties in 600li to make gree to the Merchant.