Report on country mints' accounts

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To the right Honble. ye Lds. Commissrs. of his Majties Trery – the Humble representation of the Officers in the Mint in ye Tower

Sheweth

That at the setting-up of ye 5 Country Mints Wee appointed such officers & Clerks as were thought necessary for ye carrying-on ye Coynage of those places.

That in pursuance of Yr. Lopps verball Order, We have payd those severall persons such sum̄s of mony as were necessary for erecting ye severall buildings, paying salaries, & other Incidents of ye severall Mints out of the mony Imprested to ye Master & Workr. for ye use & service of the Mint.

That being now upon making-up our Accts. Wee find likewise that in Decembr. 1696°. Yr. Lopps were pleasd to imprest to the Master & Worker 2000£s. in tallies of pro. with Yr. Lopps verball order to dispose of ye. same the best Wee could, upon which Wee were then forced to allow 45Ls. pr. Centm discount, & lost thereby 900£s.

Wee further presume to lay before Yr. Lopps that ye. business of ye Mint upon ye. extraordinary Coynage having been very great; Wee have not bee able to make an Yearly Acct. as ye Custom was, but are now ready to state the whole together, to this present time, & to pass it in Audit.

Wee therefore humbly beseech Yr. Lopps that You would be pleasd to issue out such Warrant to yor Auditor of his Majties Imprest as Yr. Lopps shall think fitt, that Wee may be allowed in our several Accots. ye severall sum̄s of mony Imprested for ye Country Mints, ye 900Ls lost on ye 2000£s tallies of pro. ye severall summs payd for the buildings & repairs inof this Mint, & yt Wee may be admitted to pass the severall yearly Accts. in one, by reason they are so entangled one year with another, yt it is not possible dto distinguish them

All which Wee humbly submitt to yr. Lopps

great wisdom

Tower Mint Office
    Decembr. 1698.