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Calendared in NC, 7: 411 (no. X.616) (but this gives the misleading impression that Fowle still was under arrest at the time of writing).
Lists precedents for the Mint's privileges to have its officers exempted or released from arrest. An account of Fowle's own recent arrest on unspecified charges [curfew-breaking?], from which he was released after two days through the comptroller's intervention.
To the ll.r. Warden of his ts:
Mint the.
Thomas Fowle one of the Clerkes of esd
humbly presents to your rp
That since his coming to the Mint che.th.
of Iuly. 1672. r.t. Leger then Warden of the
Mint came very seldom to the place and did not any
thin of service more then to come and Ask how
the Affaires of the Mint were and that was all & soe went his way.
After him one r.
of the Bath and his sonn phillip men of plentifull
fortunes joyntly was Warden, who sometimes came
to the Mint and asked a few Questions relating
there unto and did some Business and to little or
no more purpose then the former
Succeeded them did one r.
Ingenious Gentleman a Civilian by proffession, one
of the Clerks of the Councill and one of the secretarys
to the then Earle of Danby Lord high Treasurer
of England, who as Warden
of the Mint in ll:
Wardens to the Lords of the Treasury who succeeded
the sde.
space of a twelve month & then dyed.
Next to him came one Doctor Owen Wynn
A learned Civilian and
Earle of Sunderland whose Attendance was frequently
and Diligent and very servicable in his station
& not long after his present ts.
the Crown relinquished his t
His successor was one Benja e Overton Esqr.
who came from beyond sea th.ty:
reported, who came sometimes to the Mint &
did some business now and then in a Transitory
Manner and then went his way, who having
his ts.
Customes and too left his Wardens place here.
And now at present yourself in the Office
of Warden, ch.
and ch.
shall find you fair to Exceed the rest for
the good & priviledges of the Mint
your predecessors.
It is further humbly shewn unto you
that in the time of r.t leger (the
first Warden of the Mint since my being here)
made his Sonn Anthony St. Leger Esqr. who was
Ensigne to r.o Robinson his Deputy and
there being some who did worker or belong
to the Mint Emprisoned for Debt and that ther.o: Robinson Application
t. leger and Deputy to the
then Warden his father
of the Mintand to sett him at liberty; thsd
St. Ledger and Deputy Warden went to St. Ino Robin
son his t
the prisoners Liberty, who reused to grant it where
upon the sdt. Leger told r.o. Robinson that he
had nothing to doe th.
Mint of that nature and would have him out whether
he would or no and soe by Virtue of his power as
Deputy Warden and priviledges of the Mint sett him at
liberty
From whom e.
it being soe long since
it from such a hand that Credit may be given to
it
r. late r:deced.tho
few wordes would appeare very much for the
priviledges of the Mint, being sometimes free in
discourse th.sd
to him concerning the priviledges of the Mint & upon
an Occasion told the said Fowle what papers between
King Charles the second and r.o: Robinson
saying r.th.th
beating of the Travally in e.e
at Night, which said Relation the sd
had from the sdrs:
to this Effect.
Henry Slingsby Esqr decedr.
of the said Mint a man of great parts & understand
ing would not admitt the priviledges of the Mint
in the least to be infringed or Warders to come the.
doe now but would & did in a civil way permit
them to come sometimes but not otherwise
as aforesaid
rrt. leger's
successor) upon application made to him by a r
of Mr. Dallows for that purpose gave leave to esd.th.
taking to his advise therein any of the Officers of
the Mint, which he ought to have done according
to the Constitution and Customes of the same, who
lay in prison th
weekes. this the sd
power as Warden, which by the then Officers
of the Mint (esper.
lenging much to the Weakning the priviledges of
the Mint
The said Fowle coming late one Night to the Tower
having been upon ers
carried to the poulty counter, and being unwilling
it should be known lay there that and the Night
following and acquainted the r.th.
who thereupon sent for the party aforesd
asked him how he durst venture to arrest me
that was soe much Concern'd in the Mint th
first asking the Officers of the Mint leave, what
other wordes passed between them the said Fowle
knoweth not, but soe much he had from e.
parties own mouth, and further Found by
his own relation that if he brought me not
presently to the r.
beare me Company, whereupon the aforesd
part was mighty earnest to gett me out
and if I mistake not came along th.
the Comptroller whereupon all things were
presently after settled