Holograph account of errors in the Exchequer and Mint weights of 1588 and 1707 and the unused Scottish weights of 1607

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/1/132-3, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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- Revision History
  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
    - Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
  - 15 January 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
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<132r>

The \two/ standard Piles of \English Troy/ Weights \kept/ in the{illeg} Excheq^r & Mint were both made in the year 1588, & are of the same weight, excepting that the Mint Pile is about a grain heavier then the Excheq^r Pile. The Scotch Pile mak|d|e in y^e year 1607 \has been kept without wearing &/ is lighter then the English Pile by 9^oz. 6^{dw^t}. 16^gr, as it ought to be.^✝ The new \Pile/ made 1707 & stamped w^th the rose & thistle crowned is about 3 $\frac{1}{2}$ grains heavier then y^e excheq^r Pile & 3^gr heavier then the Old Mint Pile. {In} \In/ Th{is}|e| new\Mint/ Piles the small weights are in exact proportion w^th the great ones. \+/ The old Mint Pile {ought}\is to/ be kept \used kept/ as a standard \only/ to try the new +|&| the new used as a standard to {mak} ty the Bell weights.

⁺ In the Exchequer Pile the outmost weight is too light by 12 grains the outweight but one t{illeg}|o||o| heaving by 9 grains

⁺ The outmost weight of the Exchequer Pile is 12 grains lighter then the outmost weight of the mint Piles & the outmost weight but one \of y^e Excheq^r Pile/ is 9 grains heavier th{a}|e|n then the outmost weight but one of the Mint Pile. The ounce weight & half ounce weight of the Excheq^r Pile are each of them $\frac{1}{4}$ grain lighter then y^e like Mint weight. |{illeg}| The rest of y^e Excheq^r weights equal the correspondent Mint weights w^thout any sensible difference. {illeg} \Where the weights differ/ The error|s| is|are| in y^e Exchequer weights. For the {illeg} greater {& smaller mint} weights are in proportion to the samller, {illeg} in the Mint Pile, but not in the Excheq^r Pile. For in the Excheq^r {illeg}|P|ile the outward weight is a penny weight lighter then then y^e rest \remainder/ of the weights within it, & the outward weight of this remainder is 9^gr heavier them \all/ remainder {illeg}of the weights within it. \But in y^e Mint Pile the outward weight equals the summ of the inward {weights} in the ends within a grain or 2/ The new Pile made \this year/ 1707 & stamped w^th the rose & thistle crowned is \about 3 $\frac{1}{2}$ ^gr/ heavier then the Excheq^r Pile & 3^gr {&} heavier then the Old Mint Pile. \In the Mint Piles the small weights are in Proportion to the great {illeg}/ This old \Mint/ Pile is now to be kept as a standard \only/ to try the new \Mint Pile/ & the new {illeg} is to be used as a standard to try the Bell weights. The weights in the new Mint Pile are in exact proportion to one another.

<133v>

These are to will & require you forthwith {illeg}|u|pon receipt hereof to summons & warne all & every the persons hereunder written