A brief discourse showing the causes of the controversies between the Warden and Master of the Mint

A brief Discourse shewinge the causes of the Contrauersies growen betwene the warden and mermaster worker of the mynte

First the nowe warden and mermaster were bothe suters for thoffice of mermaster & worker /

Eche of them offred a price for ferminge of the mynte /

The wardens first offer was to allowe to her matiemajestie for coynage xxch for gold and viijd for siluer the pounde wghtweight and he to saue the whole remedies wherby is plaine that somuche of the remedies as was not speciallie reserued to her matiemajestie was euer the memaninge of the suter in all his sutes and offers to be to him ytthat sholde haue the office and that at the same tyme the warden thought it no matter againste conscience or the com̄on weale or her heighnessse due proffitt to haue him self the whole remedies /

This was then thoughte so large an offer as no other man wolde reache unto /

The mermaster offred the same price it was accepted & her matiemajestie pleased that he sholde haue the office before any other /

The warden tolorablie offred a greater price wchwhich he saide he mente but uppon suche conditons as he wolde haue sett doune yf the Auditores had not willed the contrarie wherwthwith the L: Treasurer was offended /

The mermaster ꝑteiningeperteininge that greater offer to procede of mallice & to be a demise to driue him from the bargaine agreed to giue what soeuer the warden offred bicause of her gracious benivolence her matiemajestie willed that Lonyson geuinge as an other wolde sholde haue the prefermente /

Here the mermaster humblie priaeth due consideration of ytthat wchwhich followeth

First the forme of the wardens sute & offer & his meaninge to haue had not onelie the whole remedies where the nowe mermaster hathe but the one half but also diuerse other speciall proffitte wchwhich he mente by secret meanes to reape to his oune use as in preferringe him self alwaies to the first paiemente & in oftene retornes of his owne bullion then other Subiecte sholde haue had by wchwhich & other meanes he might easelie haue brought the whole trade of bullion into his owne hands as herafter us shewed /

Secondlie the wardens conscience wchwhich is speciallie to be noted that if he might haue had thoffice colde quietlie haue taken all these & other proffitte of thoffice to him self wchwhich nowe he supposeth in his concience re due to her matiemajestie /

Thirdlie the Auditores priuise to the wardens sute and seuerall offers and what moued him to winke at so greate a discomoditie as the warden therin offred to her matiemajestie for it is probable that if the warden might haue had thoffice at his first offer it had ben to him C £ yearlie more proffitable then it is nowe to the master /

But all their deuices and pruposes were presented by her matiemajesties grantinge the office to the mermaster /

The wardens furder practices for his speciall proffitte /

The warden beinge still desirouse to atteine yethe saide speciall proffitte & ꝑtelypertely to execute his mallice againste the mermaster practised diuerse waies to bringe one of these two thinge to passe viz either to procure the office from the mermaster to him self or to enter into suche pacte and compositons wthwith the mermaster as might yeilde him those extraordinarie proffitte aswell as if thoffice had ben in his oune hands /

After her matiemajesties first grante of the office to the mermaster & before the full ꝑfitingperfiting therof the warden agreed wthwith the mermaster yf he tolde yett thoffice allowinge for coynage ijs vjd golde and xch siuer to change offices and to make upp the mermasters fee C poundes yearlie /

After obteyninge of the office for the same allowance the mermaster offred the warden to accepte the saide bargaine of exchange The warden then refused it bicause there was allowed to thoffice the proffitte of the whole remedies wchwhich still maketh it plaine that the wardens concience wchwhich the Auditoers good favourecolde1 colde haue allowed to him self the whole remedies wthwithoute grudginge who since for zele and conscience haue denied to the mermaster the half remedies althoughe they knewe it was euer the meaninge of bothe theire sutes and of the masters contracte wthwith her matiemajestie

Afterwards when the warden had thus gon from his owne agremente wthwith yethe mermaster and yet neuerthelesse had used diuerse policies and vehemente ꝑsuasionspersuaions to obteinte the office to him self and faylinge of all these meanes to get his purpose he fell to other practices for his proffitt /

He charged the mermaster that he prosmised him to make upp his fee C£ a yere wchwhich althoughe indede he did not yet bicause he might wronge him diuerse waies he was contented for a tyme so longe as he thought good to graunte it and paied him accordinelie for a whole yere xliiij £ vijs vjd howe beit the warden was not therwthwith satisfied but from tyme to tyme urged the mermaster to things inconveniente /

At a nother tyme he wolde haue had the mermaster to receiue his Spanishe moneyes unmolte at the full price and to stande to all waste & meltings and other losses wheunto yf the mermaster wolde haue agreed the warden wolde haue siffred him to receiuw and melte Spanishe moneyes as it alwaies hathe ben accustomed wthwithoute first meltinge it for takinge thassaies onelie wchwhich nowe he denieth the mermaster pretendinge it to be for her matiemajestie and subiecte proffitt in truthe can be no proffitt to her matiemajestie at all but a doble charge & losse to the mermaster and a greate hindrance to the subiecte /

Also he requested for his owne bullion brought into the mynte to haue had his moneyes deliuered him againe by wghtweight payinge the mermaster onelie iijd uppon the pounde wghtweight & in consideraton therof he offred to discharge the mermaster of the foresaide xliiij£ vijs vjd a yere and so if he might haue had the benefitt of the wghtweight als the shew to him self wchwhich nowe he pretendeth to be her matiemajesties there had neuer any other tryall ben procured or moned as nowe there is ~~cont~~ contrarye to the forme of the Indenture /

Also he wolde haue had his owne bullion deliuered & paimente to be made of his moneyes before other men sayinge bicause he was the hed officer he oought to haue fauore and that it had alwaies ben so used and tolde no waye be preiudicial to the mermaster the mermaster answered that such delings caused Stanleye to be complained of and therfore he must deale wthwith all men indifferentelie neither myght he doe it in equitie soe that the Couenante of his Indenture were to the contrarie wheruppon the warden semed to be offended /

Then he wolde haue growne to a nother compositon that if the mermaster wolde haue paied him his moneye presentelie uppon euery coynage he the warden wolde haue clered all other mens bills at xiiij dayes eande yf there were not moneyes coyned of there owne sufficiente by wchwhich means he sholde haue had two or thre retornes for other mens one and so wthwithin short tyme haue had the whole trade in his owne hands To this after longe debatinge the mermaster answered that if the warden colde gett the comitells warant for the mermasters discharge and the consente of them that used to bringe bullion into the mynte he wolde doe it and not otherwise wherwthwith the warden was offended and from thenceforthe he and the Auditor sought wrongefullye to molleste the mermaster for wchwhich cause he surseased the paimente of the forefaide anuitie of xliiij£ vijs vjd /

The warden beinge dismissed therof and ꝑceivingeperceivinge no likelihod to obteine his other desires then followed such tones of open mallice as hath ensued viz

First he exhibited to the L: Treasurere a bill of speciall articles wherin he supposeth that by the tenore of the Indenture he is to take upp all ꝑffittsproffitts to her heighenesse upe other then onelye xviijd for euery pounde wghtweight of golde and viijd for siluer wchwhich he saithe the mermaster is to haue for makinge the moneyes and beringe all waste and expence wherin he sheweth what conscience he bereth towards the mermaster for he knoweth or safelie maye knowe that this allowance is not aboue C iiijxx £ a yere at the most and that the mermasters waste and expence is C C £ a yere at the leaste

Then he complaineth againste the mermaster for challenginge the proffitte risinge by the meltings for puttinge allaie to the bullion wthwithoute sufferinge the warden to see it for puttinge his oune siluer to meltinge wthwithoute assaie taken therof and for not sifferinge the Teller to tell the moneyes concluding that he taketh all these to be contraye to theffecte of the saide Indenture and that many other matters were nedefull to be ordred by of these he praieth his Lordeshipps prefect order /

To these Articles the mermaster ꝑticularlieparticularlie answered referringe him self therin to be indyed by the tenore of his Indenture prayinge to enioye yethe benefit of her matiemajesties graunte accordinge to righte as by his saide answers appereth /

Shortelie after the warden wthwith thaduice of the Auditor diuded yethe mermasters patente & Indenture into xlij Articles settinge doune obiections againste yethe mermaster almoste uppon euery Article wherin are also Iterated yethe former Articles /

And at the foote therof the warden draweth the whole patente & Indenture in to thre princepall pointts or questions / viz /

The first is that where by former Indentures all maner proffitte haue ben reserued to the printe whether any thinge be comprised in the saide patent and Indenture to take the same from the Quene nowe and what and howe muche it is that is taken awaie /

Secondlie whether her matiemajestie notwthwithstandinge the trialle mentoned in the Indenture maye not make any other triall that she will beinge iuste and trewe tryalle / &c /

Lastelie whether yethe mermaster wthwithoute yethe Quenes warant maye ꝑhibitprohibit or hinder suche tryall /

All wchwhich obiections princepall pointts and questions the mermaster at alrge hathe answered and suffitientelie disproued at the foote of euery obiection in suche wise as nothinge hathe ben therunto replied

These foresaide matters beinge answered and put to silence a newe deuice was framed againste the mermaster to make a shewe of those greate proffitts wchwhich the warden and Auditor had then sofore enformed the L: Treaserer to growe indirectelie to the mermaster wheruppon his honor willed the Auditor to sett donne a reconinge howe those proffitte grewe and and theruppon the Auditor drue his deuice and reconinge in effecte as followeth /

First he saieth an example of a pounde wghtweight of xjoz fine siluer and one ounce of Allaie deliuered by M. D: to the mermaster wherof the Auditor supposeth the mermaster beringe yethe waste maketh}Lxs. v d And that those ⟐Lxs vd wthwith vjd ob paide by M. D: to yethe mermaster for ijd wghtweight of fine siluer wantinge of the full standerd is togethers in the mermasters hande}Lxs. xjd. ob Whereof he paieth to M. D: but Lxs. And so supposeth that M. D: moneyes lacketh and the mermaster hathe of the same pounde wghtweight and vis ob aforesaide the waste borne as a foresaide}xjd. ob. wchwhich afterwarde in the distance is saide to bexijd. ob. Whereof due to her matiemajestievjd.  And to the mermaster for his half remediesixd.  To this the mermaster answereth and proueth by plaine example that the saide xijd ob supposed to be lackinge in M. D: moneyes made of his pounde wghtweight and vjd ob a fore saide is no more but}ixd. 

Hereunto the Auditor replieth and the mermaster rewyneth as by their seuerall bookes apprereth

Uppon this the ꝑtiesparties ioyned Issue and by comanndemente of the L: Treasurer and iointte consente of the ꝑtiesparties artesmen were appointed and sworne on bothe sides to trye the truthe and finde the error in this controuersie and to gelde upp their seuerall oppinions to mermaster Osborne and mermaster Humfrey who were also appointed to reporte those sworne mens doinge to his Lordeship and by full consente and agremente of bothe parties M. D: pounde wghtweight of xjoz fine siluer and xxd wghtweight of allaie charged to the pott and the fire was admytted to reforme from the fyre xjoz jd wghtweight fine and in wghtweight but xjoz xixd wghtweight /

The sworne men theruppon trauailed to acquit theire charge in that behalf & Examynininge the whole matter in controuersie uppon the false obiectionings or reconinge they reduced the same into two questions the one uppon the wghtweight onelie and the other uppon the finesse onelie wchwhich after they had thorowly considered and digested they gaue upp their seuerall verdicte as followeth /

The verdicte of Robert Broune & Andrew Palmer sworne one the Auditorrs side / And so we finde of thexample aforesaide that M. D: lacketh of his pounde wghtweight and of the vjd ob in moneye wchwhich he deliuered the mermaster as mermaster Auditor hathe trulie saide}xijd ob

wchwhich we are ꝑswadedperswaded that we can proue to be trewe for any thinge ytthat can be trulie alledged to the contrarye /

The verdicte of Richard Rogers and Thomas Kelinge sworne on the mermasters side / And so we finde that M. D: lacketh of his pounde wghtweight of xjoz fyne and vjd obdeliuered to the mermaster as afore saide but}ixd. a.

And so accordinge to thexample abovesaide admytted by mermaster Auditor & mermaster Lonyson M. D lacketh of his pounde wghtweight deluered but ixd a as mermaster Lonyson saithe and not xijd ob as mermaster Auditor hathe saide /

These seuerall verdicte beinge thus deliuered to mermaster Osborne the xxth of Auguste 1574 / the matter hathe euersince bene suspended an no Indyemente geuen on the one side nor on thother since wchwhich tyme the mermasters Indenture beinge newlie deuided into Lxij Articles he was com̄anded to sett downe his oppinion and construction uppon euery Article wchwhich he hathe ꝑformedperformed accordingly and hathe deluered the same to the L: Treasurer expectinge to here what wilbe saide to the contrarie /

And whiles the mermaster hathe ben continually occupied to answer their querilous deuices his aduersaries at the mynte namelye the warden and Assier haue not forgotten any Iniurye that from the beginge myght be offred to yethe mermaster /

Thassaier for his ꝑteparte missereportinge diuerse assaies to the mermasters greate hindrance and beinge taken wthwith the mauer and warned therof hathe neuerthelesse continued his abbuse /

The warden for his ꝑteparte suffringe and allowinge the same and procuringe warrante some to couer his defaulte some to intrude into the mermasters office contrary to her matiemajesties grannte and Indenture and contrarye to antient order and custome /

The coynage hathe ben diuerse tymes staied by the warden wilfulnesse especiallie of late by the space of seuen weke togethers / her matiemajestie Loseth for euery month wherin no coynage is at the least}Cx£.

The merchants are therby occasioned to transeporte their bullion or to conuerte it to other uses wherby the state is verry muche hindred /

The mermaster by his meanes is greatelie sclaundered & the faulte laide onely in him /

Wherfore he moste humblie besecheth that Iustice maye be spedelie don ytthat plaine truthe maye be preferred before subtill practices /

The first complainte of the warden exhibited againste the mermaster And the mermasters answers to the same /

Warden /First it appereth to the saide warden by the tenor of thindenture that yethe mermaster worker is to haue for the makinge of the moneyes of golde onelye xvijd onlie i8d for gold & 8d for siluer for working waste & ꝑuisyonprouisyonfor euery pounde wghtweight and viijd for euery pounde wghtweight of the siluer moneyes and he to beare all waste and expence and that all other proffitte are to be taken by the saide warden to her matiemajesties use /

Master / Art. ꝫ.To this the mermaster answereth that this worde (onelye) is of the wardens owne additon onelye and not incerted in any plate of theindenture where the mermasters allowance (onlye) he in lendenter: (met ꝑoll ensertfor coynage is mentoned for althoughe the xviijd for golde & the viijd for siluer be allowed to the mermaster for his charge of workemanshipp and waste &c / yet it followeth (for) working his waste & entend (towards) qer reserue not that therfore he is not to haue any other com̄oditie growinge to him by reason of his office for then he sholde lose by the excersise therof wellnere M £ yerelye bicause that the saide allowance of xviijd and viijd is not aboue M iiijxx £ a yere at the most and his waste and expence C C £ a yere at the leaste / neither dothe it appere by any article of the Indenture that the warden is to take upp all other proffitte to her heighnesse use but the plaine worde of theindenture be that the warden shall take upp all proffitt belonginge to her matiemajestie And therfore other then suche proffitte as are refered to her matiemajestie by thexpresse worde of the Indenture the warden is not to take upp nowe, more more then other wardens heretofore haue don wchwhich haue had the like authoritye by the like worde in other mermasters Indentures: For if it had ben mente that her matiemajestie sholde haue had generallye all ꝑffiteprofitte sauinge yethe saide xviijd and viijd as the warden supposeth the same other ꝑffiteprofitte wold generallie haue ben reserued to her heighnesse by the Indenture but they be not nor it was neuer mente that her matiemajestie sholde haue generallie all other proffitte and therfore those wchwhich were mente her matiemajestiesholde haue were expreselie reserued by the Indenture and those onelye the warden is to take upp to her heighenesse use and none other nor otherwise /

Item the warden and assaie mermaster are charged by the Indenture to kepe Warden / a lieger booke of the meltinge of all bullion of golde & siluer put to leger booke of melting meltinge wthwith a reporte of the wghtweight price and finesse therof that her matiemajestie might more dulie haue yethe proffitte of yethe same as yethe saide warden taketh it /

Master /That the warden and thassaie mermaster are charged by thindenture to kepe one lieger booke of wghtweight price & fynesse of bullion brought to yethe mint booke of the meltinge that is not so for the Lieger booke is to conteine the wghtweight price and finesse of all maner bullion brought to the mynte wherin the meltinge are not once mentoned And her matiemajestie by thindenture is not to haue any proffitte of meltinge other then those that rise by the pott assaie nelie For the due gaininge of wchwhich proffitte the warden is to kepe a melting ils st agarder untill melting booke and not the saie mermaster as the warden mistaketh it /

Warden / Contraye to the saide two Articles the saide mermaster challengeth to him self the proffitte arisinge by the meltinge And wheras he useth to put shall b ꝑfire del melting an allaye of copꝑcopper or otherwise at his pleasure to the bullion assaied at the full standred yett he wull not in any wise suffer the warden to see or be priveye to the saide allaye neither to haue to doe or to haue any ouersight aboute the meltinge So neother the saide Lieger booke can be trewlie made nor the proffitte wchwhich her matiemajestie ought to haue by yethe meltinge dulie required by the directed meane /

Master / The proffitte of the meltinge are ꝑcellparcell of those proffitte wchwhich are due to the mermaster for the causes mentoned in his answer to the first article / And b wchwhich shall b ꝑcell del mermasters ꝑfite touchinge the priuetie and ouersight wchwhich the warden wolde haue of thallaie and meltinge the mermaster saithe that no suche thinge is appointed to the warden by the Indenture / But the meltinge and meltinge howses is onelye yethe mermasters charge and office bicause he onelie is to beare all waste and Losses that maye happen by the meltinge / Neither is the true makinge or kepinge of the Lieger booke nor the due requiringe of her matiemajesties proffitte hindred therby For all things ~~that~~ wchwhich the Lieger booke is to conteine ought alwaies to be entred before the bulion be deliuered to the meltinge / And her matiemajesties ꝑffittsproffitte by the meltinges wchwhich is her half remedie in finesse is to be required and safelie to be knowen by and accordinge to the pott assaie after the bullion is molten and not before nor otherwise /

Warden Spanishe mon melt wthwithout assay. Item the saide mermaster useth also ~~useth~~ often tymes to put his owne siluer to meltinge wthwithoute assaie taken therof and will haue yethe finesse therof entred uppon his owne exporte onlye /

master /The mermaster useth not to put any of his owne siluer to meltinge wthwithoute assaie taken therof excepte Spanishe moneyes onelie & spanishe moneyes haue alwaies ben accustomed to be recoined into the munte for standred siluer the fynesse knowen & allowedwthwithoute first meltinge them for takinge thassaies wchwhich custome being ꝑhibitedprohibited wilbe greate damage aswell to her matiemajestie as to the merchannte For yf the mermaster (onelye for takinge thassaies) shalbe forced to melte the Spanishe moneyes brought to the mynte to be solde the waste and charge that groweth by the the wghtweight the warden entrythe same meltinge must be abated in the price geuen to the merchante for that the mermaster by reason of the same meltinge cannot geue so greate a price as otherwise he might doe / yf the mermasters reservinge or buyinge Spanishe moneyes yf they may not be allowed wthwithout meltinge the merchmerchannte must haue the if the merchmerchannte can not sell them at so gppd price at the mint he will sell to the goldsmythe or be discoraged to bring ymthem shalbe forced to melte them for takinge the assaies the merchannts before he deliuer them to the mynte must also be forced to melte them for takinge like assaies / yf the merchannts maye not deliuer them to the mynte wthwithoute suche meltinge then for takinge the assaies (wherof he hathe no skill) it wilbe a meane to driue him from the mynte and enfore him to sell them ell where better cheape rather then to melte them to at suche charge / And so the mermaster by metlinge them shalbe put from his trade of buyinge for the wchwhich he mvst haue C C £ in stocke and the merchannte by meltinge them shall also be put from his gretest gaine wherby he is moste incouraged to trafficke for bullion and bringe them to the mynte Therefore this meltinge of Spanishe moneyes onelye for takinge thassaies is bit a deuice of the warden to driue the mermaster from buyinge Spanishe moneyes of the merchannte when he wolde sell them to the mermaster for redie moneye at the beste price and also to driue the merchante from deliueringe them at the mynte when he wolde be contente to farrye the tyme of coynage for his moste avanntage / And thus by color of gaine pretended to her matiemajestie by meltinge the Spanishe moneyes onelye for takinge thassaies the whole trade shalbe driuen from the mynte to the goldesmithe who maye also conuerte them into place the moste gaine whereof shall come to yethe warens purse bicause he buyeth more spanishe moneyes then all the reste of the goldesmithes / And so there shall not so muche moneyes be coyned as otherwise there wolde be wherby her matiemajesties reuenewe shalbe greatelie diminished and the merchannte thereby verry muche hundred / And where the warden saithe that the mermaster will haue the fynesse entred uppon his oune reporte onelye that is not so for the warden seeth and knoweth the wghtweight of all the Spanishe moneyes brought to the mynte entreth the same into his Lieger booke accordingelie as he dothe all other bullion and the price and finesse of Spanishe moneyes hathe alwaies ben vallued at a certaine rate wchwhich is knowen aswell the to the warden as to the mermaster / Againe the warden alwaies hathe jad the Lieger booke in his owne custodie wherin he hathe & maye enter the wghtweight price and finesse of all maner of bullion (not as the mermaster will) but at his owne pleasure / Therfore thoughe the mermaster wolde yett he cannot haue yethe finesse entred uppon his owne reporte onelye wthwithoute the wardens consente and agremente /

Warden / Item where her matiemajesties seller ought to sell the moneyes for yethe directer answeringe of the proffitte of the shere to her heighnesse use the for telling of moneyes for better answering the shere mermaster will not suffer that but dothe it by his owne men affirming the proffitte therof to be his and not her matiemajesties all wchwhich the saide warden taketh to be contrarie to theffecte of the saide Indenture /

Master And where the warden saithe that the Tekker ought to tell the moneyes for the ꝑfiteprofite of yethe shere answered & not by telling no mention of a teller in thendenter. the directer answeringe of the proffitte of the shere (that is not so) for there is no menton made of the teller to tell the moneyes in thindenture / But contrarelie it appereth by the Scedull annexed to thindenture that yethe tellers office beinge amongste many other office expreselie appointed in yethe Tresurers Indentures is nowe to cease and it is leste oute of this mermasters Indenture as an by the scedule his office to cesse office suꝑfluoussuperfluous and not nedefull to be used Therfore althoughe the mermaster appoints his oune seruannte to thell the moneyes and will not suffer the teller to tell the same he dothe thering nothinge contrarie to the effecte of his Indenture as the warden mistaketh it / And as for her matiemajesties proffite of the shere wchwhich is her half remedie in wghtweight it is not to be answered by tellinge the moneyes at the tower but accordinge as it shall fall oute upon the truall of the pixe before her matiemajesties comitell as it is Lymitted in the saide Indenture/

Warden And althoughe there be many other matters nedefull to be ordred when as any establishemente shalbe made for all things yett in the meane tyme the saide warden moste humblye praieth your LOrdeshipps order in theis matters as moste nedefull to be had presentelie for asmuche as othersie her matiemajesties good seruice maye be gretely hindred in the premisse /

Master / And where the warden saithe that there be many other matters nedefull to be ordred &tc The mermaster steth it shall appere to your honores that by his default there be not many matters nedefull to be ordred neither that the good seruice by him is hindred Besechinge also yoer honores order that by cauvelle and quarrelle he be no longer letted from doinge suche seruice as he ought to doe but that he maye viuye the bennefit of her heighenesse grannte accordinge to her mermasters good intente and meaninge wthwithoute any furder troble by these or any other there deuices under pretence of good seruice where there is indede no suche good seruice by them mente to be don /

A brief discourse shewinge at what rate the Subiecte deluereth his bullion of Siluer to the mermaster what he receiveth againe for the same what remeineth to her matiemajestie and to the mermaster by resen at therof and howe the same remainder is deuided and disposed & what inconneuience maye growe by makinge the moneyes full standerd /

The Subiecte deliuered to the mermaster euery pound wghtweight of his bullion at xjoz ijd wghtweight fine wchwhich is the standerd & also he paieth for coynage of euery suche pounde wghtweight}xviijd The Subiecte receiveth againe of the mermaster for yethe saide £ wghtweight deliuered and the xviijd paied}Lxs Yf those Lxs wage a full pounde wghtweight & be of xjoz ijd wghtweight fyne then the subiecte lacketh of the pounde wghtweight he deliuered and the xviijd he paied to the mermaster for euery pounde wghtweight coined but onelie the saide}xviijd Of wchwhich xviijd her matiemajestie receiveth xd and the master receiveth viijd and so is paide the saide}sviijd The saide xd the warden receiueth to her matiemajesties vse wchwhich yf xxxM £ wghtweight be yerelye coyned amounteth to xijC. L. £ a yeare whereof the paeieth for fees diett &c. CCCL.£ and so remaineth declare to her matiemajestie}iv.C £. a yere /

Here it is conveniente to sett doune what the mermasters charge onelye aboute the coynage of the saide moneyes amounte to yerelye and haue the same maye be answered and allowed /

The mermasters charge of waste and expences &c onelie aboute the coynage of the moneyes ouer and before the vijd ob. paide to the moneyers is yerelye DCCLxxviij£ vjs viijd wherof receivinge onelye the saide ob wchwhich is but the Lxij£ xs aforesaide he is in surplusage of charge yerelye }DCCxv.£ xvjs. viijd

wchwhich surplussage of charge mvst nede be dorne & allowed to yethe mermaster either by her matiemajestie the subiecte or the moneyes /

4 Yf her matiemajestie shall beare it her saide yerely reuenewe ~~wchwhich~~ wchwhich is nowe DCCCC£ a yere declare as is aforesaide mvst then be abated the saide DCCxv£. xvjs viijd and so shall remaine so her matiemajestie but}Ciiijxx.v£.xvj.s.viijd

Yf the Subiectes shall bere it they mvst geve somuche more for coynage /

Yf neither her matiemajestie nor the subiectes shall bere it, it mvst of necessetie betaken from the moneyes /

Yf if be taken from the moneyes theire stricte standerd of wghtweight ā finesse mvst nedes be abated wchwhich hathe ben and maye be done as followeth / viz /

Yf Lxs maye but xjoz xixd wghtweight & of xjoz jd wghtweight fine then the subiecte lacketh the saide xviijd wchwhich he paied for coynage and also the moneyes Lacke jd wghtweight in wghtweight & jd wghtweight in fynesse in vallue vjd a wchwhich wthwith the saide xviijd is}ijs. a Of wchwhich ijs.a. her matiemajestie receiveth the saide xd and the mermaster viijd as a fore saide to gethers xviijd and also the mermaster receiueth the saide jd wghtweight in wghtweight and jd wghtweight in finesse in vallue vjd a wchwhich vjd a wthwith the viijd a foresaide is to gethers xiiijd . receiued by the mermaster for euery pounde wghtweight coyned wherof he paieth to the workemen vijd ob and then remaineth wthwith the mermaster towarde his charge vjd ob a wchwhich vjd.ob. yf. xxx.M wghtweight a yere be coyned amounteth to for the mermasterDCCCLiij£. xvs A yere /

A nother reckoninge of Lxs wayinge xjoz. xviijd wghtweight & of xjoz fyne the subiecte payinge xviijd for coynage /

Yf Lxs maye but xjoz xviijd wghtweight and of xjoz fyne then the subiecte lacketh the saide xviijd wchwhich he paied for coynage and the moneyes lacke ijd wghtweight in wghtweight and ijd wghtweight in finesse in vallue xijd ob wchwhich xijd ob wthwith the saide xviijd is}ijs. vjd ob. Of wchwhich ijs vjd ob her matiemajestie receiveth xd and the mermaster vijd as aforesaide and also the mermaster receiueth ijd wghtweight in wghtweight & ijd wghtweight ob wthwith xijd ob wthwith the viijd aforesaide is xxob receiued by the mermaster wherof is to be answered to her matiemajestie for her half remedyes xjd a and to the workemen vijd ob.a wchwhich vjd ob a is xxxC wghtweight a yere be coyned amounteth to}DCCCxjliij£. xvs a yere Here it is to be noted that her matiemajesties half remedies beinge vjd.. is wthwith the xd aforesaide xvjd.. for euery pounde wghtweight coyned wchwhich yf xxxC £ wghtweight be yerelye coyned amounteth for fees diette &tc CCCL.£ and then remaineth to her matiemajestie declare}Mvj.Ciiijxx j.£ vs whereof / If the moneyes sholde be made at full standerd there mvst be abated not onelye her half remedies wchwhich amounteth yerelye to DCCiiijxx. j£. xvs but also the mermasters surplusage of charge aforesaide viz. DCCxlviij£. vjs. viijd wchwhich to gether is xv.Cxxx£ xxd wchwhich beinge deducted oute of the saide xvjC Lxxxj£ Vs then remaineth there to her matiemajestie of all the Reuenewe of the mynte but}CLj£. iijs. iijd a yere /

Nowe it followeth howe when and in what maner is to be answered the foresaide vjd. . ꝑcellparcell of the foresaide xijd ob for her half remedies in wchwhich and finesse when it is not in the moneyes

As concerninge the ijh wghtweight in wghtweight & ijh wghtweight in finesse lackinge in the moneyes wchwhich is the whole remedies limited by the Indenture viz the xijh ob remayninge in yethe mermasters charge as afore saide in the last reconinge when yethe bullion molte is founde at the potte assaie but xjoz fine then the mermaster is to answer her matiemajestie by accompte for her eī remedie in fynesse lackinge in euery pounde wghtweight of the same bullion iijd a And when the moneyes in the pixe are founde by thassaie made before the comitell that euery lvs doe waye but xjoz xviijd wghtweight in wghtweight then the mermaster is to answer her matiemajestie by accompte for her half remedie in wghtweight lacking in euery pounde wghtweight of the saide moneyes iijd wchwhich is to gether vjd. . ANd for the other vjd. . the mermaster is not to be accomptable nor to be charged but may receiue the the same towarde his charge aforesaide & is answered the saide}xijd. ob.

And her matiemajesties eī remedies is not otherwise to be answered bicause the Indenture saithe Article / 20. E. 33. that if it be founde by the saide assaies viz of the pott &tc and of the boxe &c that the pounde wghtweight throughely tryed answer not the full standerd by that it shall passe thone half of yethe saide remedies Lymitted in either of the saide standerds the Lacke therof shalbe entred of recorde and a theme accompte shal therof be made o somuche of the saide lacke as shall passe the saide one half the saide remedie &c and the same fully wholye to be answered &c wthwithoute any com̄oditie to growe to any other ꝑsonepersone for the saide &tc /

And further the saide Indenture saithe Article. 21. e. 34. sauinge alwaies &c that if by the saide assaies it shalbe founde &c that they doe passe &c the one halfe of the saide remedie lymitted &c that then it be entred of recorde and golde plate wthwith the saide mermaster in the charge wchwhich he shall haue when any lacke shalbe founde &c

Here it is to be noted therfore that if by the tryalle afore saide it shalbe founde that in the bullion or moneyes there be nothinge lackinge of her matiemajesties eī remedies in wghtweight or finesse then her matiemajestie is to be answered no proffitt of the remedies / Bicause that somuche of the saide wghtweight or fynesse as shalbe founde by the saide assaies to be in the bullion or moneies shall not be answered to her matiemajestie by accompte / As yf the pott assaie shalbe founde to be xjoz ob wghtweight fine wherby the moitie of her matiemajesties eī remedie in finesse is in the moneyes then the mermaster is to answer her matiemajestie by accompte but onelye the other. ob. wghtweight / Yf lxs be founde by thassaie of the pixe to waye xjoz xviijd wghtweight eī whereby the moitie of her matiemajesties eī remedie in wghtweight is in the moneyes then the mermaster is to answer her matiemajestie by accompte but onelye thother ob wghtweight viz jd ob in moneyes So that yethe mermaster is not to be charged for any more but so muche as shall lacke of her matiemajesties eī remedies in wghtweight and finesse of the bullion or moneyes accordinge to yethe forme prescribed in thindenture /

And it is also to be noted that if by the saide tryalls it shalbe founde that there be in the bullion or moneyes any more then her matiemajesties eī remedies in wghtweight or finesse the same shall holde place viz it shall answer the lacke of her matiemajesties like eī remedies wchwhich shalbe founde by the saide tryalle of the same moneyes at any other tyme wherby it appereth that notwthwithstanding thexpresse Limitation of the certaine standred wthwithoute the wchwhich no moneyes or bullion can be orderlie made that yett it was euer mente in the mermasters bargaine ytthat the moneyes wthwithoute offence might be made lesse then full standered by the whole remedies the mermaster answeringe the half remedies to her matiemajestie in forme a foresaide / And also that it was euer the meaninge of the bargaine that the mermaster sholde alwaies haue the full bennefitt of thother half remedies by waye of deteines when no ꝑteparte therof was in the moneyes and by waye of holdinge plate or defaltacon when any ꝑteparte therof is in the moneyes wchwhich the mermaster thinketh will not be denyed /

What Inconuenience maye growe by makinge the moneyes at the full standerd

First consideringe that all the moneyes heretofore made aswell in the tymes of kinge Edwarde the vjth kinge Philip and quene Mary as also in the tyme of the Quenes matiemajestie that nowe is wchwhich were lymitted and appointted to be made at the full standred viz xjoz ijd wghtweight fine as one neuer thelesse for the moste ꝑteparte made under there fullestricte standrerd yf therfore the moneyes from henceforthe sholde be made at their full standerd it is to be loked for that they will from tyme to tyme be culled hourded upp and transeported in Lieu therof we shall receive and haue the continuall use onelie or chefelye of the saide Lighter & baser moneyes /

Secondelie if the moneyes be made at full standerd the price of bullion must nedes be abated wherby yethe trade of bringinge bullion into this realme will decaye and so consequentelye her matiemajesties revenew will diminishe/

Thirdelie the moneyes beinge made at the full standerd are the redice not onelye to be culled and transeported as before is saide but also to be conuersed into other uses wherby onelye the merchante and strangers maye be inriched to the henerall preiudice of the com̄on weale /

In tymes paste diuerse holsome lawes were ordered ꝑhibitingeprohibitinge aswell the meltinge as also the transeporteinge of suche moneyes as for their wghtweight and finesse were like to be transeported or conuerted to other uses but howe those Lawes haue ben obserued oer presente scarcetie of those richest moneyes dothe verry well declare /

Moreouer it is neither nedefull nor com̄odious to oer publique weale to haue the moneyes made at the saide full standered so fareforthe as they be made wthwithin the remedies lymitted by thindenture & respected onelye for their curantie for wchwhich cause moneyes are chefelie made and not for the priuate com̄oditie that otherwise maye be gotten by transeportinge or conuertinge them to any other use /

The Subiecte wthwith Lcs wayinge but xjoz xviijd wghtweight and beinge but xjoz fyne maye buye here in this realme as musthe & as good com̄ditie (bullion) onelye excepted as he can doe wthwith Lxs wayinge xijoz of xjoz ijd wghtweight fyne /

Therfore in respecte of there currauncie whethere Lxs waye xijoz of xjoz ijd wghtweight fine or but xjoz xviijd wghtweight ofxjoz fine it is all one to yethe Subiecte but in respecte of the charge that must growe for the makinge of those moneyes wchwhich if her matiemajestie will not beare the Subiecte must beare as before is saide that wolde be to the Subiecte a greate inconvenience for then he muste paye the vallue of the remedies more for the coynage of Lxs beinge of the full standerd then for Lxs wantinge the remedies of the full standerd and yet as before is saide in respecte of currauncie the one Lxs to him is no better then the other /

Again yf euery Lxs sholde wante the full remedies viz ijd wghtweight in wghtweight and ijd wghtweight in fynesse of there full standerd yett to the subiecte it is in discomoditie bicause so longe as they remaine moneyes he loseth nothinge therby and to her matiemajestie it is a comoditie bicause the one half of those remedies helpeth to bere the mermasters charge aforesaide and thother half or so muche therof as is not in the moneyes is answered to her matiemajestie accordine to thindenture for thencrease of her reuenew in maner & forme as is before declared /

The mermasters answer to the wardens Informacon exhibited t the right honorable the Lords of her matiemajesties privey Councell Comissioners appointed to here & determyn mynt causes

Right honorable the moste & greatest matters exhibited against the mermaster in yethe wardens Infromacon are alreddy sufficyently anwered and disproued and the residue are frivilous, yet that the untruthe aswell of his Informacon as of his Estemate maye the more euidently appere, the mermaster hathe thought good to compare the reconninge of them to gether, and briefely to collecte the chef & principall pointe that may seeme to haue moued the warden exhibit the same / First in his Estemate he saithe that the mermaster unlawfully ympayreth the moneyes: Secondly in his Informacon he saithe that the mermaster changeth the matter of the Standerd: Thirdly that the mermaster iniuriousely & wrongfully taketh the Subiecte goode from them, And fouerthely that the ymbeseleth the golde & siluer from the coyne, & so wrongfully & unlawfully taketh & conuerteth to his owne use a number of thousande, as in the same Estemate & Informacon is expressed: And under collore herof all the cauells haue ben supported, wherof yf any one had ben true, it were sufficyent to conuince the mermaster: But yethe warden to make the mermasters proffite seeme hge, and these pretended causes seeme the greater and more odious, hathe gon so farre from the truthe, as he apparantly discouereth his mallice, & manyfestly disproueth hiim self in his owne reconynge, as followeth / For

The wardens Informacon is lesse then his Estemate by M iiijx.iiijxx. Viij£ ijs vd. ob.{In his Estemate he reconeth that the mermaster in ꝑfitteprofitte & by unlawfull ympayringe the moneyes, hathe taken declared in two yeares}MlMlMlMl C.C.C.C.x£. xixs. ob In his Informaco he saithe, the Subiecte payeth xjs & more for coynage of the pounde wghtweight of golde, & ijs vjd for Siluer: By wchwhich reconynge, (yf it were true) yea though the mermaster take the whole remedyes, yet it amounteth to in two yeares declare butMlMl DC.C.C.C.xxij£. xvjs. vijd

But that bothe these reconynge are manyfestly untrue, it is evidente, for thone retheth aboue the whole remedyes, and thorther reacheth to the whole remedyes, at neither of wchwhich rates moneyes can be made, wthwithoute certaintye of fyne & rannsome / And the moneyes them selves Disproue both: For they appere to be made verry neere the halfe remedyes: Againe yf all the moneyes geuerally were made at the whole remedyes, it colde not be chosen, but that the tryalls wherby her matiemajestie is to be answered, wolde fall owte accordingly: And then. her matiemajestie must haue the moitye thereof, So that the mermaster cannot in any wise haue the whole remedyes: All wchwhich proueth euery waye, that neither of both the wardens reconynge can be true /

Seinge then that yf the moneyes were made at the whole remedyes, the mermasters proffite amounteth but to MlMl.ixC xxij£ xvjs vijd, and that her matiemajesties half remedyes must be deducted, wchwhich is MlMl.xxiij£ ijs vjd: And also deducting DCxix£ ijs ixd, wchwhich the warden in his Estemat reconeth to little for the mermasters waste & charge then it followeth by true accompte, that there remayneth to the mermaster in two yeares, (thoughe somuche be coyned as the warden saith) but}CCiiijxx.£ xjs. iiijd.

There appereth aswell the untruthe of the wardens Estemate as of his Informacon, wchwhich beinge so manydestly disporued, the mermaster hopeth that these & the rest of his cauells shall haue credit accordingly: And that the mermasters reconynge is true, wthwithin little more or less, he is reddye to depose uppon his othe, yf the warden will likewise sweare that his reconninge be true, wherfore the mermaster moste humbly prayeth, that yor honorbhonorable will forbid the warden, thus continually to preferre nue informacons of purpose to molleste the mermaster, by settinge newe collors uppon olde quarrells, or ells that the mermaster be not compelled to answer any more the wardens Informacons, excepte suche as he shall exhibit uppon his othe And the mermaster accorindge to his bounden entye, sgall daily praye for yor ꝑsperousprosperous & honorable estates, linge to continewe /