THE ANSWER OF The Corporation of Moniers in the Mint, at the Tower of London, to two false and scandalous Libels printed at London, and lately come forth without date. THE FIRST ENTITLED, The humble Representation of Peter Blondeau, as a warning touching several disorders happening by Money illfavouredly coined, and the only means to prevent them. THE SECOND ENTITLED, A most humble Memorandum from Peter Blondeau. Which not only intends maliciously to sandal Us the Corporation of Moniers, of the Commonwealth of England: But also most falsely to imprint in the hearts and minds of all People in Christendom, and more especially the good People under the obedience of the Parliament of England; That (by Us the Corporation of Moniers) the Moneys of this Commonwealth, both for Gold and Silver, are not justly made, according to Our Indenture. Set forth to undeceive all the good People that have seen or read the said Peter Blondeau's false and scandalous Libels. PRINTED for the Corporation of Moniers. 1653. A Letter from Master Thomas Violet, to Master John Benfeild, Clerk of the Corporation of Moniers in the Tower of London. SIR, THIS day came unto my hands a false and scandalous Libel put in print, against the Moniers and Officers in the Mint; Truly, if you value your good names, and to be esteemed honest men, these Pamphlets must have a Reply: I am privy to all the transaction of this business, and know there are more lies than lines in his Libels. I was desired by Sir James Harington and the Committee of the Mint, to attend them in the management of the trial between M. David Ramidg and this Blondeau, I never met with so impudent a lying fellow in my life as this frenchman is; I told the master of the Mint, Doctor Gourdon this day at Westminster, that it was a shame to all the officers that such a fellow should be suffered to proceed as he did, and no legal course be taken with him. If this business be looked into seriously, it strikes at the reputation of greater men than any officers of the Mint (even against the State:) For, if what the Frenchman asserts prove true, than he seems to charge the State with neglect of Justice upon the officers of the Mint who (without dispute) are in a Praemunire by the law of this Nation: If it prove false; then his design is, To blast and dishonour the Common-wealth's-Mint, now in this conjuncture of time when he sees there is likely to be great quantities of silver coined. Truly M. John Benfeild, it hath been, and is, by my means that your Mint now goes, otherwise your Irons might still have continued rusty: I am confident there is abundance of malice in blasting and abusing the State's Mint at this time, therefore I pray make the Provost and the rest of your fellows acquainted with this Letter; I love you all so well, that if you desire this Mounsieur should receive an Answer to his Libel (as I conceive you are necessitated to it) I shall do you the best service I may; and do at present hold fit that you make your humble addresses to the Council of State for liberty to repair your Integrity and Honour, by the just rule of the Common-Law; for doubtless these Pamphlets, dispersed into the hands of the ignorant multitude, must needs possess them, according to his suggestion, That the Parliaments money coined in the Tower, is not so fine nor so weighty as formerly in King James' and King Charles' times, they not knowing how exactly the Mint is ruled, both for the Fineness, and just weight of the moneys: These truths appearing to a Jury (which are most obvious to all Artists & divers others) doubtless they will give you ample Reparation: All this (well known to me) I shall make as apparent to the world; as freely as formerly I have acted any thing for you, which was ever gratis; though to my vast expense both of money and time: And if I shall for my services done receive no satisfaction from the State, I shall never expect any from any of you, but Remain your loving Friend THO. VIOLET. Jan. 25. 1652. The Corporation of Moniers Answer. MAster Tho. Violet, our Company of Moniers thank you for your Letter dated the 25 of January 1652. We desire you to be pleased to give an Answer to Blundue the Frenchman's scandalous Libels concerning the Moniers, and on their behalf to vindicate our just Cause to the Commonwealth, against those scandalous lying pamphlets, and in so doing you will very much oblige your very loving friends, and servants. Simon Corbet. Prov Michael Garnett. John Benfeild. Henry Perin. Daniel Benfeild. Walter Taylor. Ric. Warner. John Taverner. Abram Hunt. David Rammag. John Warner. Nathan Marsh. Simon Corbitt. Garnett Corbit. Vall. Nicholson. Hen. Lewis. John Butterfield. Edmond Dawson. Nic. Hares. John Shout. William Dawson. Robert Gascoigne. George Taverner. Richard Johnson. Stephen Holton. Edward Heward. James Boone. Richard Sternell. Sir, here are all our fellows that are at present in the Mint, But the rest (being in the Country) shall give you hearty thanks and ever acknowledge themselves bound unto you for your favour and great pains in this particular, to our Corporation, in stating the whole proceed in this business to the World which we had for several days before the right honourable The Committee of Council of State for the Mint, you attending that business by Order of the said Committee. John Benfeild Clerk. Jan. 27. 1652. The humble Representation of Peter Blondeau, as a Warning, touching several disorders happening by Money illfavoredly Coined, and the only means to prevent them. THE Coin which is unequal in bigness and unhandsomely done, is easily clipped, and not perceived to be so: Most part of that which is currant now is clipped, and will be yet more and more; and your Honours will perceiv what wrong it doth to the State and Public, when you shall go about to remedy it; Such a man shall have a 100l. sterl. in so many pieces, who yet will find but 70 or 80 by the weight; and the longer you defer the remedy, the worse the disease will be, as it was seen in France, when almost half was lost upon the Coin. That disorder is grown to such a height, that even in that Mint, as things are now carried there, they do coin the money with such inequality in the weight, that I can exhibit some shillings which weigh not full five pence, and others that weigh near upon eighteen pence, and have been so coined. And that is the cause why some men do pick out the heaviest pieces to transport out of the Land, and do give some what per cent. to cull out the heaviest Coin from among the rest. And I have been informed that some Officers & Workmen of the Mint have followed that way, as some of them have even confessed before the Committee for the Mint: and that was the cause why they made it so unequal, not only on pretence for a quicker expedition, but also that they might reap a double profit, to the prejudice of the Public. Likewise there be some Goldsmiths, Refiners, Gold and Silver Wyer-drawers, and Gold-laiers, and other people, who do pick our the heaviest coin to melt it, so that it remaineth only within the State for Commerce, the counterfeited, clipped or lightest money. The common people, specially who do spend their money little by little, when they have some falls coin or light, they cannot put it out, but are forced to sell them to their loss to the Goldsmiths or others, and often those that buy them do pass them among others, in payment of greater sums, so that they return again to the people, who bear all the loss and trouble, which is worthy of consideration and compassion. Some do answer, that if there be any falls coiners or clippers of money, they ought to be hanged: but I say, first they must be known and taken; and yet when all is done, such as have lost by the falls or clipped coin, are not reimbursed of their loss. For avoiding these disorders, the money ought to be adjusted piece by piece, equal in bigness and weight, so that the number requisite be also found in the pound both of gold and silver. And for that end it is requisite that an Officer be appointed in the Mint, whose charge be to weigh the money piece after piece, when it is finished, and in case he finds any unequal or unhandsomely made, he might reject it, and give it to be melted again upon the charges of the Undertaker of the Mint, thereby to oblige him to be so much the more careful. And for to hinder the connivance of the Officer appointed for to weigh the said pieces, who might happen to juggle with the Undertaker, another Officer shall be appointed, to whom any of the people that shall find any of the new coined pieces lighter than they should be, might repair within convenient time, who shall change the said light pieces, but shall give a pence more for each piece so brought to him as a reward to the bringer, all which shall be put to account to the said Officer appointed for the weighing. But that cannot be done except the money be coined after my way, that is, marked on both sides, and upon the brims, else the Weigher might pretend it had been clipped and made light since it went out of his hand. And the money being so coined after my way, besides the removing of the aforesaid inconveniences, it would raise or increase the Exchange by about 10 per Cent. to the advantage of this Commonwealth. It is also requisite to maintain the standard or goodness of the Coin, that it be permitted to any Goldsmith, Refiner, or other whomsoever, to make essay of the currant money: and in case it be not found of the due standard or goodness, they shall be allowed to bring back to an appointed Officer the essay and the rest of the piece, to be there tried again before the Commissioners and the Trier of the Mint; and if it be found, that the said Coin be not of the due goodness, the Discoverer shall be rewarded at the charges of the Trier, that he may have a due care, that no Coin come out of his hands, but such as shall be of a due value, and according to the order of the STATE. An answer to several objections formerly made against Peter Blondeau his way of Coining the money. I Have affirmed in my Proposition, that my invention will prevent the counterfeiting, moulding, clipping, or any way altering the money, which I do yet offer to maintain and make good. And whereas some men do object, that as soon as the way I use shall be made public, than it may be counterfeited. To that I answer, first, That the Invention needs not to be made public; But if it be the pleasure of the State, the Engines wherewith the brims are marked, may be kept secret among few men, who shall be sworn to keep it, and not to reveal it to any. Secondly, I answer, That though they be made public, the Engines that are used therein are so big and heavy, being between 1 and 2000 l. weight, and so difficult to be made, and afore they are perfected aught to go through so many hands, that the great expenses requisite thereunto, will dissuade any one to undertake, the rich not being willing, and the poor being unable to lay out so much money for an uncertain profit; besides the hazard of being discovered by the privity of so many men, through whose hands the Engines ought to pass before they are serviceable. Which affords me a third answer, That the Engines employed being so great as aforesaid, they do require a very large room, and a great number of men to work about them, & consequently no private man can undertake the same without being instantly discovered. Whereas the money that is Coined with the hammer, requiring but an hammer and two stamps, which can easily be hidden and carried in a man's pocket, it is most easy to counterfeit the same, and that secretly, yea any man that can grave can make himself with very little cost whatsoever is requisite to Coin with the hammer: all which is prevented, as aforesaid, by my invention. Some do reply to that, That the money Coined by the hammer cannot be easily counterfeited, because of the nois that ought to be made in the stamping, which doth not happen in the press or mill. I answer, That every Gun-smith or Lock-smith, or any other that makes use of some big Vice, can with two small stamps Coin the money in the said Vice without any nois, by pressing the same at several times: but if they were put to mark all the pieces at one stroke, as in the said Blondeau's invention it ought to be, than it is impossible to do it without strong and heavy Engines, as aforesaid. Some do object that it can be moulded: but to this I return no answer, for it is a thing known to all understanding men in the way of moulding, that it is absolutely prevented by my invention. To object that it can be clipped, is no less absurd than to say, the sun is dark, or the fire cold; and therefore I pass over that objection, because it cannot be clipped without taking away the letters or marks that are about the brim, which would easily be discerned. Some do object, That it can be washed or otherwise altered: To this I answer, That I have diligently inquired and studied with great expenses all the ways of washing, and made several experiments of them, I can boldly say, I know as much therein as any man, and can wash both gold and silver several ways with an extreme dexterity, and therefore I may certainly affirm, that it is impossible to take never so little from a piece so coined by washing, but will take away its lustre and polishing, and spoil the work, which is most neat and delicate, so that the grossest man, and most unskilful, can easily perceiv, that it looks as if it had been moulded; besides, that the ingredients that are requisite, and the charge necessary to bring again together the gold or silver, will cost more, or as much at least, as the profit of washing may come unto; Therefore I do conclude that no body will undertake it. The money coined merely at the Mill can be made with very small Engines, but that which is propounded by the said Blondeau, cannot be coined without a great many big and heavy Engines. Lastly, whereas some have objected that several persons afore me have bragged of their invention to make very handsome coin: and yet having put the State to above 15 or 1800. l. charges, could not succeed. For removing of that scruple, I do offer to make upon my own charge as many Engines and Instruments as will coin weekly 1500 or 2000 l. Provided I may have also the use of such Engines as are already made; whereby it shall appear that I can do what I offer. I do not desire to have the Bullion in my custody or disposal, but I will only meddle with the working of the gold and silver as it shall be delivered unto me by the Melter, approved of by the Essayers, and put in the hands of the workmen, who shall be such as the State might intrust them; and shall be preferred by the Commissioners of the Mint, whom I shall teach my way of working, and shall reasonably pay them. Among the opposers of my way of coining are the Master of the Mint, the Officers and the Workmen of the same, and their friends; as also some Goldsmiths and others, who sometimes use to bring Bullion into the Mint to be coined: Some of them having told me, that there would be no encouragement for those that should bring their Bullion into the Mint, if it was coined exactly equal in the weight: meaning by that encouragement the choice of the heaviest pieces to melt them again, which doth bring them a very great profitâ–ª it being observable, that as the coining goes now, instead of 62 shelings that are to be coined in each pound weight of silver, they coin usually 64 or 65 shillings, which comes to the benefit of those that bring the Bullion, and turneth to the prejudice of the Public: And as aforesaid, it is that which they call the encouragement. Above two years since, the honourable Council of State being desirous to remedy all the disorders in the Mint, thought good I should repair into England. Since that time the Officers and Workmen of the Mint have made their utmost endeavours to find out my Invention, which they could not attain unto, although the Master of the Mint hath had in his hands my Patterns above nine months together: Besides that the workmen of the Mint entreated the Committee, that I should be commanded to make a new trial here, hoping they should be able to discover my secret; Accordingly I did it, but they could not come to their end, only they made some few pieces after the old manner, which is not ready and expeditious, nor fit for the Mint, as themselves have confessed before the said Committee for the Mint: And therefore a further time was granted them to endeavour the finding out of the invention, and to make their Proposition; But all this while they could do no other thing but to bring every day new tales to amuse the State. The Master and some Officers and Workmen of the Mint, and some other persons have told me, that the State pays 14 pence for the coining of a pound weight of silver, after the way hitherto used in the Tower, and 8 shillings for the pound weight of gold; and payeth besides the graving of the Stamps. But I do offer to make the money after my way; viz. marked on both sides, and upon the edge or thickness of the brim, according unto the Patterns I have made here lately by Order, which are in Sir James Harington's hands, for the same price of 8 shillings for the pound weight of Gold, and for 16 pence for the pound weight of Silver. The State affording to me and paying likewise for the melting or casting into Plate the gold and silver, and the graving of the Stamps. And I shall oblige myself not only to pay the Workmen, but also to maintain at my own charges all the Engines and Instruments; to bear the charge of the second melting and the waste of the clippings: and generally all other expenses about the Coin. A most Humble MEMORANDUM from Peter Blondeau. Concerning the offers by him made to this Commonwealth for the coining of the Money, by a new Invention, not yet practised in any State of the World; the which will prevent counterfeiting, casting, washing and clipping of the same. Which Coin shall be marked on both the flat sides, and about the thickness or the edge; of a like bigness and largeness, as the ordinary coin is: and will cost no more than the ordinary unequal Coin, which is used now. SInce it hath been the pleasure of the Parliament and of the Council of State, to pass some Orders in relation to the preventing of the counterfeited and clipped money, now dispersed in England, Scotland and Ireland, he makes bold, yet with submission, to present the following particulars, containing, besides the said offers, First, the reason why the coin of this Commonwealth is clipped and light, so that few pieces are to be found weighing their true weight; As also the reason why so much falls coin is now dispersed. And secondly, the only way to remedy the said inconveniences, and to settle a good and constant order in the Mint. As to the first, the reason of the said abuses is because the money coined with the hammer is so easy to be counterfeited, and with so few Engines and so little expenses, that thereby the falls coiners are encouraged and their number increased. And the daily experience to this day showed, that seldom or never any falls coiners have been discovered by the nois of the hammer. Another reason is, because the money coined with the hammer, cannot be made exactly round, nor equal in weight and bigness, and is often grossly marked, and hath many other faults, which gives a great facility to the falls Coiners to counterfeit and mould it; as also to the Clippers to clip it: It being very hard to discern between a clipped piece, and one not clipped. Besides, abundance of coin is made too light even at the Mint: The said Blondeau himself hath received some shillings (which he shown to the Committee for the Mint) which weighed some five, some six, and some seven pence only; as to the contrary, he received some that weighed seventeen, yea and eighteen pence, both of them made so at the Mint: Which inequality occasions several Goldsmiths and others, who receiv the money from the Mint, to cull or pick out the heaviest pieces to melt them; and after them, others do again cull or pick out the heaviest of them that are left, to transport them beyond Seas; so that only the light, the falls and the clipped money remain's within the State, which turns to the great ruin and destruction of Commerce, and undoeth those poor people, who spend their money little by little; for having some counterfeited or clipped pieces, they cannot put them off, but are forced to sell them, with loss, unto the goldsmiths and others who can spend them among other moneys, or trade therein, and sell them again to the Cash-keepers of the Treasurers, Bankiers, Merchants and others, who make them pass afterwards among other moneys; so that they return again into the hands of the poor. The reason why the workmen of the Mint do make the coin thus unequal in weight, and do not keep the true weight, is because it is sooner done. Besides, the said workmen may coin sometimes their own silver, or may treat with those that bring their Bullion to be coined, because they do not render the coin by tale, but by the pound, and so still there be more pieces in number then there should be in a pound. And the money so coined being distributed out of the Mint, the officers themselves, and the workmen of the Mint do cull or pick out the heaviest pieces to melt them again, as they themselves have confessed before the said Committee for the Mint. And that is the thing which among themselves they call the mystery or secret of the Mint, and which is the cause, that by themselves and by their friends, they make use of all their joint power and credit, and will lay out all their estate, and leave no stone unmooved to hinder the changing of the way of coining the money. As to the way of remedying those inconveniences, and settling a good and constant order in the Mint, it cannot be done but by the way propounded by the said Blondeau, by marking the coin, not only on both the flat sides, but also upon the thickness or the edges. The coin made after that way, cannot be clipped without taking away the marks that are about the thickness, the which would be easily perceived. Besides, the pieces will be of an equal bigness and largeness; the half-crown of the ordinary weight and bigness, the shilling and other pieces accordingly; and so equal among themselves, that it will be impossible to take the less thing from any of them, but it will show less than the rest, and so will become not currant. They cannot be altered by washing or any other way, but they will lose their bigness and glass, so that a blindman will easily feel it. The ordinary coin marked only on both the flat sides, can be moulded, as the experience do show by the great quantity of falls coin moulded, which is currant now: but when it is marked on the thickness or edges, the marks about the said edges can no way be moulded. And though they could, yet in that case they ought to be filed after round about, specially in the place where it hath been cast, to take away the superfluous metal; which fyling cannot be done without spoiling and taking away the said marks about the edges, and consequently made easily known not to be currant. The money ought to be adjusted piece after piece, equal in weight, both Gold and Silver. And for that end, it is requisite that an Officer be appointed in the Mint, whose charge should be to weigh the money piece after piece when it is finished; and in case he finds any piece unequal or unhandsomely made, he ought to reject it and give it to be melted again, upon the charges of the undertaker of the Mint, thereby to oblige him to be so much the more careful. And for to hinder the connivance of the Officer appointed to weigh the said pieces, who might happen to juggle with the Undertaker; another Officer may be appointed, to whom any of the people that shall find any of the new coined pieces lighter than it should be, might repair within a convenient time, who shall change the said light pieces, all which shall be put to account to the said Officer appointed for the weighing: But that cannot be done except the money be coined after the said Peter Blondeau's way, that is, marked on both sides, and upon the edges; else the Weigher might pretend it had been clipped and made light since it went out of his hand. And the money being coined after the said way, besides the hindering or removing the aforesaid inconveniences, it will raise or encreas the Exchange by about ten per centum, to the advantage of this Commonwealth. It is also requisite, to maintain the standard or goodness of the coin, that any Goldsmith, Refiner, or other whomsoever be permitted to make essay of the currant money; and in case it be not found of the standard or goodness, they might be allowed to bring back to an appointed Officer, the essay and the rest of the pieces by them tried, to be there tried again before the Commissioners, and the Trier of the Mint; and if it be found that the said coin be not of the due goodness, the discoverer shall be rewarded at the charges of the Trier, that he may have a due care, that no coin comes out of the Mint but such as shall be of a due value, and according to the order of the State. The Council of State being willing to prevent the said disorders, was desirous to have the money of this Commonwealth well coined; and therefore having seen the patterns of coin made after a new Invention by the said Blondeau, and having treated by Letters about the quantity of pieces that could be coined in a week, and what they might cost; the said Council caused the said Blondeau, the Inventor of that way of coining, to come to London, to treat with him by word of mouth, and to agree about the price of coining the money of this Commonwealth after his way. He being then arrived at London the 3. of Septemb. 1649. the said Council bestowed on him 40. l. sterling, and the late Mr. Frost, than Secretary to the said Council, told him before witnesses, that if the State could not agree with him about the price, and that therefore he should be necessitated to retire himself, the State would indamnifie him for his journey, both coming and returning, and for the time he should have lost, and would bestow on him such a present, that he would return satisfied. A while after the said Council of State ordered the Committee of the Council of State for the Mint to hear the said Blondeau's Proposition, and report it to the said Council. The Committee for the Mint accordingly took into consideration, whether the said Blondeau should be admitted to coin the money of this Commonwealth; and having debated it, they resolved and approved that he should be admitted thereunto, provided his coin and his Proposition should be advantageous to the State. Afterwards the said Committee having seriously considered and examined all the circumstances of the way of coining propounded by the said Blondeau, and having heard all the objections that could be alleged against it, both by the Master, Officers and Workmen of the Mint, or by any other of those who appeared in the business; upon debate of the whole, the said Committee concluded and Voted, that the said way of coining propounded by the said Blondeau, was better, more advantageous and more honourable for the State, then that which is used now in this Commonwealth. The Master, the Officers and the workmen of the Mint told the Committee, it was not likely the said Blondeau had done himself, the pieces sent by him to the Council of State. Besides, that it was an old Invention, which they knew themselves, and that such pieces were only made for curiosity, with very long time and great expense, and that it was impossible, that that way might be used about the ordinary coin, which is thin. They desired that the said Blondeau might be commanded to make a trial of his skill by making some other pieces, and that they would do as much as the said Blondeau. Therefore the said Committee ordered both the said Blondeau and the said workmen to make their patterns and propositions respectively; and that he that would make it with most advantage to the State, should have the Employment. At the time appointed the workmen brought to the Committee some pieces made after the old way, which is known to them, and some big pieces of silver stuffed within with copper; but they had drawn on Propositions. Likewise the said Blondeau brought in about 300 pieces, some half-crowns of the ordinary weight and bigness, some shillings, sixpences, and some Gold pieces, and presented his Proposition, which having been reform according to the pleasure of the said Committee, it was received and accepted of by the whole Committee, who ordered it to be reported to the Council of State, according to the order of the said Council. The said Committee having then taken into consideration the big pieces of Silver at the outside, and stuffed within with copper (made with the Engines that are at the Tower) and well understood that the said pieces, because they are made of several pieces at the top one of another, will give no sound, so that a blind man can easily discern that they are falls; and having weighed the long time and great cost required for coining of each piece; because they are made of 4 pieces, namely one of copper and one of silver, at the top, another underneath and one about, the which ought to be adjusted and sodered together, besides several other fashions, which cost more than the price of the lawful pieces; having also considered the great and heavy Engines, and great number of tools and of men required for making of one piece, the great charges for the Engines and tools and several other things required for making of those counterfeited pieces, they acknowledged that it would be enough to dissuade any one from undertaking it; the rich not being willing, and the poor being unable, and that though they should undertake it they could not do it without being discovered. Besides, that the money coined after the way of the said Blondeau, was so thin, that it cannot be so counterfeited. Whereupon it is observable, that the said workmen of the Mint, although they made use of the great and heavy Engines, that are in the Tower, yet for making of some Tools they had need of, and for the other charges of coining about a dozen of pieces, they made then for a pattern, have spent 100 l. st. as he that pretends to have laid out the money hath said before witnesses. Afterwards, another Order was given by the said Committee, and some time limited to the said workmen, to draw and present their Proposition for coining of the money marked upon the thickness or edge, as that of the said Blondeau is; But after the expiration of the long time demanded by them, they brought such a Proposition, that the said Committee having read it over and over, could not understand it, nor the sens of it; and even those that brought it could not explain it; whereby it was apparent to the said Committee, that they were not able to make their Proposition good, much less to coin the money after that way; which they avowed themselves before the said Committee. Yet they entreated the Committee to allow them the time of some months more to find, if possible, the new invention, and that the said Blondeau's Proposition should be communicated unto them, upon which they might frame their own. They further demanded that the said Blondeau and the Graver, should have order to bring in all the pieces made by the said Blondeau for a trial, with the stamps or dices used for making of them: All which was granted them, upon that condition, that if within the time allowed them, they could find out the means to coin the money after the said Blondeau's way, and that thereupon he should be sent back, he should be indamnified, which was agreed by all. But they could never find out the said new Invention for coining the thin and weak pieces after that way with expedition requisite. Yet for all that, they made their Propositions, which are in the hands of the Chairman of the Committee, as are also the said Blondeau's Proposition and patterns, about a year and a half since, to be reported by him to the Council of State. The Workmen of the Mint have given to understand that they are 200 poor families, which are maintained by the work of the Mint; which is besides truth. For some Officers of the Mint have told before witnesses, that formerly their Corporation was at the most of 40 Masters, and that at this time they are hardly 30 Masters, who are all rich, have lands or houses, and other ways of maintenance, without the work of the Mint. And that when they had much money to coin, they were wont to hire some journiemen, giving to some 18 pence, to some 15 to some 12 for half a day's work. Besides, in case the State admits of the said Blondeau to coin the money after his way, and the workmen be willing to work after the said way, he will oblige himself to teach them and pay them a reasonable price. The said Blondeau doth not intent to have the Gold nor the Silver in his custody, but only the charge of working the same, by such persons as the State shall be pleased to admit thereunto. He shall not have the power to admit any one to the work of the Mint, without the consent and approbation of the State. Nor will not have the keeping of the dices or stamps, but they shall be entrusted in the hands of such as the State shall admit to work. In a word he doth generally submit to whatsoever the State shall think reasonable. Only he prays to consider, that 1. The exact equality that will be effected by this way and invention of the said Blondeau, will hinder and avoid all the known corrupt Practices about coining. 2. The charge of the State concerning the same, considering all circumstances, will be less then in the old way; and the honour of this Commonwealth much the greater, in having their moneys coined in perfection, above, or beyond any other State now known. 3. The said Blondeau came to London about 3 years and a half since, and hath no other employment here, but to attend the pleasure of the State. White-hall the 14. June 1651. Mr. DAVID RAMADGE, THese are to authorise you, to make some patterns as broad as a shilling, a half-crown, a twenty shillings piece of gold, in a mill; and if you can do it with letters about the edge, or other ways, according to Queen Elizabeth's patterns of mill-money, or any other models or pieces you are to make, That so the Committee of the Mint may see your several pieces, and thereupon consider what is fittest to present to the Council of State, for the more handsome making of the moneys for the honour of this Commonwealth. James Harington. Tho. Chaloner. IN obedience to this Warrant from the abovesaid Right honourable Gentlemen of the Committee for removing the Obstructions of the Mint; David Rammage, our fellow monier, (by order of our whole Corporation of Moniers) did make his Trial of skill, who should best work a Pattern or Model, according to the warrant aforesaid, whether we the Corporation of Moniers, or the said Peter Blondeau. And whereas the said Peter Blondeau had falsely affirmed to many people, That his several pieces of coin presented by him to the Committee for the Mint no man in the world could make the like but himself; David Rammage, at the request of our Corporation, did make several Pieces and Models within the Mint of the Tower of London more exactly with Letters about the edge, than any pieces which Peter Blondeau presented to the Committee, which Pieces are still remaining to be seen and judged in the hands of the right honourable Sir James Harrington Chairman of that Committee; And whereas Blondeau the french man vapored and stood so much upon the gloss and tincture of his moneys, viz. half-crowns, shillings and sixpences, which the said Peter Blondeau did falsely and traitorously make out of the Mint, of the just weight and motto of the Commonwealth's money, contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Nation, having fraudulently silvered over the said Plates with fine silver to abuse ignorant people; the said cheat was discovered by the most knowing and right honourable gentlemen Master Allen, and Master Cornelius Holland, formerly Warden of the State's Mint, and both of them now of the Council of State; and at that very time we made it our most humble Request to the right honourable the Committee of the Mint to take notice, That the said Pet. Blondeau had committed Treason, in traitorously making half-crown pieces, shillings and six-pences of the coin of the Commonwealth of England, in a private house in the Strand, contrary to the laws and statutes of this Nation, out of the Mint, not having an Act of Parliament or a Commission under the great seal of England to do it; for which fact the said Peter Blondeau ought to suffer as a Traitor by being hanged drawn and quartered: Whereupon the right honourable the Committee of the Mint presently sent Messengers and seized on all the said Peter Blondeaus Instruments and Tools, in the Strand, and sent them to the Tower, where they remain at this day, in safe custody, with us in the Mint. Now followeth the several Proceed before the honourable Committee for the Mint, viz. To the right Honourable Sir James Harrington, one of the Council of State, Chairman for the Committee of the Mint. The humble Proposition of the Provost and Moniers of the State's Mint in the Tower of London. 1. THat whereas some people desire to have the moneys made by the mill for the future, and that your Honours did bid David Rammage, one of our fellows, to set down the lowest rate that we could aford to make the moneys of gold and silver of this Commonwealth, as fair and beautiful as the present Lewis and Cardeques, and all other coins of the French Nation are at this day made. 2. Whereas we have 9 d. per pound weight Troy, for working the present money by the hammer, We do undertake, for ourselves and our Company, to make fair mill-monie for 12. d. the pound weight Troy, and to make it as fair as any moneys currant in Christendom. 3. Whereas we have 2. s. 5. d. for the making of one pound weight Troy of gold, and the State hath 15. s. for the coinage; We will undertake for our Company, to make fair mill-gold, as fair as the gold coins in France for 5. s. the pound weight, if it be the State's pleasure that they will have it so made. 4. That whereas we are an ancient Corporation and Company, settled by charter for many hundred years, and in all ages faithfully discharged our trust, and never any blot lay upon us either for embasing the coins, or for not accounting to the State for every grain of gold and silver that ever came under our charge; We do humbly hope to have so much Justice that we shall still be employed in the service of the State, in regard it is the livelihood and subsistence of above two hundred Families, when the Mint is full of work, and in regard we undertake to do it as exactly as any Frenchman in the world, and at a cheaper price than the French man hath offered, and you may be assured that we shall discharge all or any trust that shall be put into our hands, by the just dealing you have in all ages received from us. We having since this Parliament many times in our own custody two or three hundred thousand pounds, and have accounted for it to a penny, to the State. Sir, we value the keeping of our Reputation in this point, as much as we do our lives; & therefore humbly hope our fidelity and sufficiency to do what we undertake, shall not be put into the scale with a Frenchman, we being willing and desirous to put it to the trial between David Rammage our fellow Monier and the French man, if the State please to command us. Simon Corbet, Michael Garnet, Tho. Brooke, John Benfeild, Henry Perryn, Hen. Rowe, Richard Johnson, Will. Dawson, Will. Tavernor, Tho. Young, David Rammage, John Corbett, Walter Taylor, Nath. Marsh. 28. Febr. 1650. THe eight of May 1651. The right Honourable the Committee for the Mint did order us the Moniers to make our trial the State's Arms as upon 20. s. piece, the motto about the edges, Truth and Peace; the same in silver for a half crown, the motto about the edges, Truth and Peace, and some of the same pieces to have a graining about the edges without motto, and to present them the third of July 1651. to the right Honourable Sir James Harrington, being Chairman for that Committee. In obedience to this order, we the Provost and Moniers were at about sixty pounds charge in the making the trial, for which we are humble suitors for our satisfaction, and the said pieces remain in the custody of the Honourable Committee of the Mint; And we humbly leave it to the judgement of the Honourable Committee, whether the letters about the edges of gold and silver pieces, presented for and in the behalf of us the Provost and Moniers of the Mint, did not far exceed the Frenchman's; (the pieces are still to be seen.) And before any determination of what the State would conclude on; Peter Blondeau a French man hath dispersed a false and scandalous Paper both at Westminster and at the Exchange in London and beyond Seas, in dishonour of the moneys of the Nation; and charging the Officers and Moniers of the Mint with making money contrary to their Indenture; a charge so false and scandalous, that hath enforced us the Provost and Moniers to reprint the said Blondeau's Paper, and to give a short answer to the untruths and absurdities in it: And we humbly submit what we say to all Artists and knowing men in Mint business, whether the French man hath not declared in his printed Paper a great many untruths, with a great deal of impudence and ignorance. And we most humbly desire what we here say, to have the truth of it examined by the right Honourable the Committee for the Mint, and that their Honours would be pleased to give us such reparation as shall be by their great wisdoms thought fit, And it shall oblige us ever to pray for their Honours, if they will give us leave to vindicate ourselves in such a way as is agreeable to the Common-Law of this Nation. The Provost and Moniers Answer to the Objections of Peter Blondeau is, THat the moneys made by the Moniers are upon their delivery out of their Office viewed by the Warden, Master-worker and the controller and the Assay-master, and both weighed, assayed for weight and fineness of all the moneys, and examined by them, and several pieces taken out of every journey of silver, which is 30. l. weight, and a journey of gold 15. l. weight, which pieces are put into a Box sealed with several Seals, commonly called the Pix-Box, and formerly once every year, and now, when the State please, examined both in the say and fineness and in the weight, that it all be made equal; and this is done upon the oaths of twenty four men, that are Artists; (formerly in the Star-chamber) And if the moneys do not fall out to be good and just, both in fineness and weight, than we and all the Officers of the Mint are in a praemunire. And this trial hath ever been held; and (under favour of our superiors) we humbly conceive, is the strictest and exactest of any Mint in Christendom. And we do with all humility justify and affirm the money of gold and silver delivered out of the Tower of London, the most exact for the weight and fineness in the world. And of the truth of this, for the honour of sterling moneys of England, all the great Merchants both English and Strangers of London can certify what we say to the State, in this particular, to be true. That it is true, much clipped English moneys are passed in payment, which hath much increased since these wars, which if there were a Law to have it cut in pieces, the abuses practised by some men would for the future be prevented. And whereas much light moneys pass abroad, and the weightiest is melted, this comes not through any fault of the moniers, for they are bound to make all their monies at sixty two shillings the pound weight, with the remedy of 6. d. the pound weight under or over. Now when sterling sylver is as it hath been at 3. l. 3. s. the pound Troy, some people we conceive have melted down the currant coins of this Nation; which ought strictly to be prevented; For if the Market will give more for silver than the money is coined at in the Tower, till that be prevented, and the Laws revived against it, and to set the price of silver, as it is in other countries, as you may see in Mr. Thomas Violet's book, the rule for all the great Mints in Christendom, not to exceed their Mints: While this be done the moneys will be culled and weighed, and the Mint will be obstructed; for if the State allow the Mint to give but three pounds for sterling the pound weight Troy, and no more, and to coin it and deliver sterling in money at three pounds two shillings the pound weight Troy, and there shall be a market amongst several people in this Nation that will give three pound four shillings, and three pound three shillings, and three pound two shillings six pence sterling, the Mint will not be set on work, but also your own current coin will be culled and melted, as we humbly conceive hath been, and so the stock of this Nation will be wasted and decayed. And this abuse comes not by the unevenness of the coining of the money, as this most ignorant fellow Peter Blondeau affirms, but by the unevenness of the raising of the price of silver for particular men's gains, to the damage of public; and this is the true reason why the Mint doth not go, and is humbly presented by us to the honourable Committee of the Mint, to rectify. There is one great and scandalous falsehood by Peter Blondeau charged upon the moniers of the Mint, That whereas we ought by our Indenture to coin the money at sixty two shillings the pound, we coin it at sixty four shillings or sixty five shillings, And this is that the Goldsmiths and other Traders into the Mint call their encouragement, as Blondeau in his Paper doth falsely allege. Truly this showeth the ignorance and impudence of Blondeau: He may have skill in making a Jack for a Kitchen, but none in Mint business. We have served the State from our infancy, and every year had our trials made in the strictest manner before the Lords of the Council, and upon the oath of a Jury of twenty four men, cleared every year in the Star-Chamber; And in the compass of five years, for this Parliament, coined this Commonwealth about six millions of silver from 1640. to 1645. And upon our trials afore several Committees of Parliament, by a Jury of Artists, all cleared, That our money was good according to our Indenture, both for the weight and fineness, and we have cleared our account to a penny for about twenty five millions to the State within thirty years; which we humbly hope the right Honourable Committee of the Mint will consider, and value us at such a rate, as, under favour, our just dealing hath deserved. Whereas Blondeau saith, That the Officers and Workmen of the Mint have made their uttermost endeavours to find out this Invention, which they could not attain unto, and every day brought new tales to amuse the State, and made some few pieces after the old manner, and doth boldly and traitorously affirm, he the said Blondeau can wash both gold and silver several ways with great dexterity; And that he hath diligently studied, with great expenses, the ways of washing coin. Truly we the Provost and Moniers of the Mint wonder at his impudence that he dares say so, knowing how penal the Law is in England, brag of such a Mystery, that in all Countries to put it in practice is death: It may be for that reason of his skill, in washing coins, Peter Blondeau run out of France into England. If he confess he studied this rare Art to wash coin with extreme dexterity, and made several experiments in England, by his own confession: Then we humbly say, he is fit for Newgate then to be employed in the Mint of this Nation. We are humble suitors to the Honourable Committee of the Mint, for to take these our humble Propositions into consideration. We have made the moneys both gold and silver with letters about the edge; And the letters about the edges of the pieces we made, are more fair and exacter than Blondeau's pieces. Blondeau by his first Proposition to the Council of State did demand fourteen shillings the pound weight for gold, and twenty pence the pound weight for silver. Our patterns are in the right Honourable Sir James Harrington's hands. We have delivered in several patterns of coins with a double graining, and to be exactly rounded; which we can afford for ten pence the pound weight silver, and three shillings the pound weight gold by the way of the hammer; And we have delivered in a Proposition, to bear all charges, saving for coining Irons, at fourteen pence for silver, and four shillings for gold, by the hammer. We are humble suitors to the right Honourable the Committee of the Mint, That their Honours would speedily inquire out the obstructions of the Mint, provide remedies by good Laws, and employ such in trust as have skill and will to find out the offenders; If this be done the Mint will flourish again, and till this be done, in all humility we say, the State will have little or no silver or gold coined in the Mint; If men can make more of it to sell it to transport then to make it in coin, experience shows private men will dispose of their gold and silver at their best market, for their private profits, though it be to the loss of the Commonwealth. All which we, with all humility, submit to the right honourable the Committee of the Mint, to settle such rules in the Mint as may be most advantageous for the Nation. And we shall pray, etc. 18 Novemb. 1651. Simon Corbet. Prov. John Benfeild. Henry Perrin. John Warner. David Rammage. John Corbet. Abram Hunt. Vall. Nicholson. Nathaniel Marsh. William Taverner. Walter Taylor. William Maynard. Andrew Colman. Simon Corbet Jun. Daniel Benfeild. John Butterfild. Edward Hawerd. Thomas Garnett. William Shanbrooke. Richard Johnson. Michael Garnet. John Pollard. Robert Gascoigne. Joseph Sanders. James Boone. Thomas Young. Richard Collard. George Collard. Thomas Russell. Thomas Brooke. Richard nichols. Hen. Lewis. Edmond Dawson. Steven Hauton. John Weatherly. Hen. Rome. Tobias Maynard. THIS is a true and perfect account of every days proceed before the right honourable the Committee of the Council of State, as will appear by our original Papers left in the hands of the right honourable sir James Harington, chairman for the Committee of the Mint. Since which time, that is to say, about the month of January 1652. the before named Peter Blondeau, seeing he escaped so long without punishment, and without our calling him to a legal account, both for his first libel and for his counterfeiting of shillings, sixpences and half-crowns which the said Peter Blondeau falsely and traitorously caused to be made at a private house in the Strand, contrary to the known Laws and Statutes of this Nation, not having a Commission under the Great Seal of England: For which offences we humbly desire the State, that we may file an Indictment against the said Peter Blondeau; or that we may have the said Peter Blondeau to run the gauntlet once about the Mint; where if he ever could run it twice we would give him leave to libel against us all the days of his life after: Or that we may have leave to commence our suit at the common Law against the said Blondeau for both his libels. This last libel of his which appeared to the world in January 1652 being the most impudent nonsense and lies that ever was printed in English, is almost all answered by what hath been said before; yet something must be said. We begin with Blondeau's first reason of the abuses in the Mint. He saith it is by reason the money is coined by the hammer, that thereby the false Coiners are encouraged and their number increased; whereas we will make infallible proof, that if the State make their money in a mill, we will make such an Engine that a Porter shall carry it about the streets under his arm, and coin money as he goes along, and no body shall hear him. And we must put in remembrance Peter Blondeau what became of the coiner that made mill-monie in Queen Elizabeth's time: The Queen and her Council liked very well the way of making mill-monie within her Mint in the Tower of London: But when she knew, and had it proved, that this Mounsieur that coined her mill-monie in the Mint, did also at the same time counterfeit and make mill-monie out of the Mint, all his friends in Court could not save him, though he had many, as Blondeau may have; but according to the strict rules of the Laws of this Nation, he was condemned to death, and did suffer execution as a false traitor, by being hanged, drawn and quartered, and his quarters parboiled. Good mounsieur Peter Blondeau, if you should be so served your french carcase would make more Ramish broth than a Goat: Have a care, for you will come under the consultation of your twelve Godfathers for what you have done already. 2. The next false and scandalous lie is, That the said Peter Blondeau himself hath received some shillings which weighed some five pence, some six pence and some seven pence only. We say that may very well be; for those that hid can find: He hath counterfeited the currant money of this Nation. And by his own confession, That he hath diligently inquired and studied, with great expenses, all the ways of washing of coins, and made several experiences of them, he the said Peter Blondeau can boldly say, he knows as much therein as any man, and can wash both gold and silver several ways with an extreme dexterity. These are Peter Blondeau's own words: A gallant character for the greatest villain and traitorly false coiner in the world: He cannot take up a higher title of being a perfect Rogue, than this Peter Blondeau hath taken upon himself in his own printed Papers: And if he will do the favour to show us any such five penny, six penny or seven penny shillings, we will lay him in Newgate till he discover the Coiners; for we disclaim ever making any such money: We do not know what Peter Blondeau hath done where he hath counterfeited money in the Strand: he may as lawfully make light shillings there as weighty. And that's our answer to this false scandal. Thirdly, We further say, If any Goldsmith furnish to transport, money, either gold or silver, cull and adulterate the money, as no doubt but some daily do, it is a shame that a Law for the discovery and punishing of them is not passed the house of Parliament We are sure of it that there was a certificate some years passed to the Parliament and Council of State, under the hands of Master St. John's warden of the Mint, Sir Robert Harlow master worker, and master Cogan controller, 20 Decem. 1652. after several day's consideration, presented to the honourable Committee of the Navy; and then our head officers could do no more, it was not in their power to make the Law, they could but inform the Parliament as we now do. We understand the Bill hath been twice read in the House, and is kept as yet from being made an Act; if it were passed the House, the deceits and knaveries of some Merchants, goldsmith's and others, would come to the view of the world, the Mint in the Tower of London would flourish, and transporting Treasure would be stopped; and till this Act be passed, the stock of Treasure in this Nation will be wasted, and insensibly destroyed. We could say more, but refer you to a Letter in this book that sets forth all the abuses and damages the Commonwealth suffers by transporting and culling gold and silver. We humbly desire that after 13 years soliciting the Parliament, this good Act may pass the House, the Nation hath lost millions of Treasure in not passing this Act, we know what we say to be true, and some aught to be called to an account for hindering it so long. The Officers of the Mint in the Tower of London, whose names are hereunder written, in pursuance of the directions of the Honourable Committee of the Navy, in relation to their Order dated the third of December present, do humbly conceive, and Certify as followeth. THat to prevent great abuses practised upon the coin and bullion of the Nation, which is transported out of the Nation; as also to prevent the culling and melting down the currant Money of the Nation, and for the discovering of such as have offended, to be brought to Justice, to deter others from acting the like abuses for the future, do humbly conceive, That according to the Precedent of the 14 Rich. 2. cap. 12. a Commission be granted to make inquiry through the Realm, of such as had conveied the moneys of England out of the Nation, and to make enquiry after all such as melt and cull out the heavy currant money, contrary to the Statute of the 4 Hen. 4. cap. 10. none to melt the currant silver coins of the Nation, upon pain of forfeiture four times the value. That 2 Hen. 6. cap. 12. It is ordained, that neither the Master-worker of the Mint, nor the Changer for the time being, neither sell nor cause to be sold, nor alien to no other use; but apply the same wholly to coin according to the tenor of the Indenture of the Mint, made between the King's Majesty and the Mint, to declare by Ordinance, That what Goldsmith or Changer shall buy gold or silver, and convert it to any use to transport, shall forfeit the value. To declare by Ordinance, that according to the 5 and 6 Edw. 6. cap. 19 an Act touching the exchange of gold and silver, That whosoever gives more for gold and silver than it is or shall be declared, shall suffer Imprisonment by the space of a year, and make fine at the pleasure of the State. The Mint cannot be employed, nor the transporting treasure stopped, if some course be not speedily taken to discover these great abuses. And already, almost all the gold is transported out of the Nation, and the silver followeth it apace, as is prudently insisted upon in the late Petition of the Citizens of London to both houses of Parliament. We humbly conceiv, that the making of this discovery throughout the Nation, of such as have, or shall transport gold and silver into parts beyond the Seas, and of such as have or shall melt down the currant gold and silver coins of the Nation; or have, or shall buy gold and silver at above the price of the Mint: (the practice of which abuses, if not timely prevented, is likely to bring speedy destruction to the Trade of this Kingdom; which is presidented anno 4 Rich. 2. c. 2. when the Nation found the same mischief as we now suffer under, by transporting of treasure. And anno 5 and 6 Edw. 6. cap. 19 by giving for gold and silver above the price of the Mint.) As it will be a service of great importance to the Public affairs, and bring great advantage to the Trade of this Nation, so it will draw with it a very great charge. Which if Master Watkins will undertake, he will deserve highly to be encouraged: nevertheless, we humbly submit the premises to the Wisdoms of this Honourable Committee. John St. John, Warden. Robert Harlow, Master. Henry Cogan, Comptr. December 20. 1647. Fourthly, the said Peter Blondeau hath charged us that we the moniers of the Mint may sometimes coin our own silver, or may treat with those that bring their bullion to be coined, and so make more pieces in number then there should be in a pound, and that the workmen of the Mint do cull and pick out the heaviest pieces to melt again, as themselves have confessed before the said Committee of the Mint, and that is the thing which amongst themselves they call the mystery or secret of the Mint. To this we say, master Peter Blondeau, you will gallop so fast that in the end we believe you will knock your head against the gallows; We do all of us jointly and severally say, That never any of us, the corporation of moniers, ever coined any of our own moneys either gold or silver, or ever had any treaty with any manner of person either Merchants or Goldsmiths that ever brought in gold or silver into the Mint, to make more pieces in number then there ought or should be in the pound weight, according to the strict rules of our Indenture, & we do appeal to all the Goldsmiths, and others now living, who have been yearly of the Jury for the trial of the Picks of the moneys both gold or silver, in the Star-chamber, whether ever we were charged, or any of the said Jury ever imagined upon any one or all their trials of the moneys of this nation, that such things were ever acted or done by us the Moniers of the Mint, or any one of us; and we are all severally ready to depose every one for himself, that such things never entered into the heart or imagination of any of us, to act or do, much less for any one of us, to confess before the right Honourable the Committee of the Mint, that ever any such villainy was ever done or acted by any of our fellow Moniers. And we most humbly desire the right Honourable Committee for the Mint, or any one of them, to give either all of us, or any one of us a charge (if this which Peter Blondeau the french man saith we confessed before the Committee to be true) if the said right honourable Committee clear us; then we humbly desire, we may have liberty to commence our suit at Common Law against this Peter Blondeau, and we make no question, but a Jury will give us full reparation. Fifthly, Whereas Peter Blondeau saith, The money ought to be ajusted piece by piece when it is finished: This ignorant fellow ought to know every journey of gold and silver is examined by the sworn Officers, the Warden, the Master, the controller, the Assay-Master, & out of every journey of gold or silver, there are several pieces taken and put into the pix box for a years trial; and the money both gold and silver both for fineness and weight exactly tried to see that it be according to our Indenture before the money either gold or silver is paid forth to the subjects; And that this is true all people that ever traded in the Mint know; and it is the most perfect and exactest trial of any Mint in Christendom: And this we do justify to all the world to be a certain truth. Sixthly, That whereas the said Peter Blondeau saith, That he made some three hundred pieces, some half crowns of the ordinary weight and bigness, some shillings, six pences, and some gold pieces, and presented his Proposition, which having been reform according to the pleasure of the Committee, it was received and accepted of by the whole Committee, who ordered it to be reported to the Council of State: We answer, that we never knew any such order, nor never heard any of the right honourable Committee say so much as the said Blondeau falsely affirms; But at the same time, upon our humble Petition of setting forth the treasonable action of the said Peter Blondeau in presuming traitorously to coin the currant moneys of the Nation in a private house in the Strand, the said Committee ordered presently, That all his coining tools and irons then remaning in the Strand, should be presently secured and seized, and sent into the Mint in the Tower; which was done accordingly, and there they remain at this day. We humbly desire as aforesaid, to have leave to indict the said Peter Blondeau, as we have formerly said, for his treasonable coining of money out of the Mint, he not having an act of Parliament or Commission under the great seal of England for the doing of the same. Seventhly, whereas the said Blondeau hath printed, That for the making of some tools for the coining of about one dozen pieces for a pattern, they have put the State to one hundred pound sterling charge; We answer, That we followed the strict Letter of our Warrant from the honourable Committee of the Mint, both for the motto and weight; and though we presented but a dozen pieces, yet with those tools we made (if commanded) we can print many thousands, and for truth of the premises view our Account following attested under our hands. The Account of the Moniers of the Commonwealths Mint, upon the trial with Peter Blondeau the Frenchman, about the making of moneys in July, August and September, one thousand six hundred fifty one. Inprimis in fitting of tools and instruments for the work 50. l. o. s. o. d. In Gold and Silver for making of the trial 11. 04. 03. Expended by the Moniers at several times, when they waited upon the Committee of the Mint in the trial 26. 14. 02. In all 87. 18. 05. And the honourable Committee for the Mint promised the Moniers for their exact working of the silver money, after six months, for the silver a penny upon the pound weight, which comes to 12. l 16. s. 7. d. And for gold six pence upon the pound weight, which comes to 06. 09. 00. total 107. 04. 00. Mr. THO. VIOLET, WE do desire you on behalf of the Moniers to prefer our petition to the right honourable the Committee for the Mint, for allowance for our trial with the frenchman, and for an allowance for a penny in the pound weight for silver, and six pence in the pound weight for gold, as their Honours promised us after six months, and in so doing you will very much oblige your very loving friends to serve you; the 8. of Decemb. 1652. Simon Corbet. John Benfeild. Val. Nicholson. Richard Johnson. Walter Taylor. Henry Perrin. Robert Grave. Eightly, Whereas Peter Blondeau saith, That the Committee having read over all our Propositions, could not understand them or the sense of them; and even those that brought them could not explain them; whereby it was apparent we were not able to make our Propositions good. To answer this great untruth, we are now necessitated to print all the Papers we humbly presented to the right honourable Committee, and leave it to the world to judge; and we with all humility humbly leave it to the right honourable Sir James Harrington the Chairman of the Committee, to examine whether he had not all these Papers now printed, delivered unto him according to the several dates put down by us the Corporation of Moniers in the State's Mint, about two years since. Ninthly, Whereas Peter Blondeau saith, That our Corporation is now but of thirty Fellows or Masters, who are all rich and have lands or houses and other ways of maintenance without the work of the Mint; and when the State hath much money to coin they were wont to hire some journeymen at 18. d. 15. d. and 12. d. for half a day's work. To answer to this great untruth, We can speak it with a great deal of grief, that almost twenty of our Fellows are fallen to so great decay, that both themselves and families are brought to great distress and poverty for want of employment in the Mint, they all of them having been bound Apprentices for the least seven years to this Trade, and having no other calling or way to get their living but only upon the mystery and way of making of moneys: many of them that are fellow Moniers having no other subsistence then what we of the Corporation amongst ourselves collect for them, to keep them from starving: And that this is true, we can produce hundreds of witnesses; and many of us find it to our insupportable charge, we thinking ourselves bound in conscience not to see any of our fellow Moniers perish for want of food and clothes. Here follows the true list of Fellows and Workmen and Laborers employed in the Mint 27. Jan. 1652. and some times we employ four times as many Laborers, viz. The names of the fellow-Moniers belonging to the Commonwealth of England's Mint, in the Tower of London, the 27. January 1652. 1 Simon Corbet Provost. 2 Tho. Robinson signior. 3 Mich. Garnet. 4 Tho. Brookes sen. 5 Tho. Garnet. 6 John Benfeild. 7 Henry Lewis. 8 John Pollard. 9 John Butterfeild. 10 Andrew Coleman. 11 Chr. Wilson, 12 Nic. Harris. 13 John Shoncke. 14 Edw. Dawson. 15 Hen. Rowe. 16 Hen. Perrin. 17 Valen. Nicholson. 18 Stephen Hawten. 19 Wm. Dawson. 20 Gabriel Benfeild 21 Tho. Robinson jun. 22 Rich. Nichols. 23 Edw. Maynard. 24 Rich. Collard. 25 Robert Gascoign. 26 James Day. 27 John Weatherly. 28 John Warner. 29 Ja. Boone. 30 Wm. Taverner. 31 Wm. Shambrooke. 32 Tho. Young. 33 Rich. Johnson. 34 Walter Taylor. 35 John Corbet. 36 Edw. Heward. 37 Geo. Taverner. 38 Garnet Corbet. 39 Nathaniel Marsh. 40 Wm. Serby. 41 Joseph Sanders. 42 Wm. Maynard. 43 Robert Graves. 44 David Ramage. 45 Edw. Worldly. 46 Simon Corbet Jun. 47 Geo. Callard. 48 Daniel Robinson. 49 Daniel Benseild. 50 Rob. Asp. 51 Abram Hunt. 52 Wm. Young. 53 Toby Maynard. 54 Tho. Brooks Jun. 55 Tho. Russell. 56 Tho. Anderson. 57 Rich. Warner. 58 Rich. Sternell. 59 John Taverner. The names of the Laborers belonging to the Commonwealth's Mint in the Tower of London, the 27. Jan. 1652. and at work, and all in the Moniers pay. 1 Nicholas Muriel. 2 John Mathewes. 3 Jo. Lucke. 4 Wm. Smyth. 5 Jo. Prince. 6 Ja. Sparks. 7 Rob. Baldwin. 8 Ja. Bernald. 9 Tho. Fulham. 10 Jeffry Tedsell. 11 Henry Freeman. 12 Samuel Freeman. 13 Robert Watts. 14 Geo. Ellet. 15 Edw. Thede. 16 Hen. Peacock. 17 Joseph Rowland. 18 Edw. Airs. 19 Isaac Taylor. 20 Philip Anderkin. 21 John Feild. 22 Wm. Gunn. 23 John Gable. 24 Edw. Jones. 25 Tho. Browne. 26 Jo. Langly. 27 Fran. Cave. 28 Wm. Page. 29 Tho. Emes. 30 Tho. Blunt. 31 Wm. East. 32 John Pookey. 33 John Michael. 34 John Ramzy. 35 Wm. Ludlow. 36 Tho. Horton. 37 Rich. Hopkins. 38 Rob. Wilkinson. 39 Wm. Price. 40 John Shelley. 41 Tho. Floyd. 42 Wm. Blaygrave. 43 Rich. Cletherwell. 44 Rob. Cave. 45 Wm. Hazelwood. 46 Edw. Derby. 47 Fran. White. 48 Rob. Finch. 49 Tho. Collumer. 50 Wm. Atkins. 51 Wm. Hall.