Draught of an ACT concerning the Mint.  
OUR Sovereign Lord Considering, That by the Act of Parliament 1686, Entitled Act anent an humble Offer to His Majesty for an Imposition upon certain Commodities for defraying the Expense of a free Coinage, and other Matters relating to the Mint: The forsaid Expense of a free Coinage, and several Matters relating to the Mint were indeed settled, but neither so perfectly nor so fully as experience hath since discovered; But that there is still need and place for a farther Regulation. Doth therefore with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament, Statute and Ordain, that notwithstanding it be Recommended by the said Act to the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council, to try by some of their Number every Journal of Coin by itself dictinctly, and that twice every year. viz. In the month of July and December yearly: yet seeing the forsaid distinct trial of every Journal hath been found both a Tedious and Superfluous Labour, and is not practised any where else; It shall be Leisome for the said's Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council to make the said Trial by such of their Number as they shall think fit, not of every Journal of Coin by itself distinctly; but by taking and making Trial of any one or more single Journals as they shall think fit: And then to cause Melt down in one Mass or Lignat the rest of the Journals to be at that time Tried, and to take an Essay of the Mass so Melted down as said is which shall stand for the whole, but Prejudice always to the said's Lords of Council, to make distinct Trials of the hail foresaid Journals as they shall see cause: As also still Recommending to them the exact Trial of all matters relating to the Coinage at the for said two times above specified in manner mentioned in the said Act. And farther, for the better ascertaining of the Fineness of the Coin, His Majesty with Advice and Consent for said, doth hereby Ordain, that not only the Principal or Counter-warden be present at the taking off all Essays: but that there be a Plate of Silver of the true Standard fineness made by the, Essay-Master at the sight of such as the Lords of Privy Council shall think fit to Appoint, which Plate duly made and Marked, one half thereof shall be put in the hands of the Clerk of Exchequer for a Proof of the general Essay, and the other half in the hands of the Principal or Counter-warden: that all the Pot and Pix Essays may be thereby Made and Examined.