Draft of MINT00270 (Mint 19/2/139)

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To the R^t Hon^ble the Lords Comm^ers of his Maj^ts Treary

May it pleas.^e yo^r Lord^ps

The great value put upon French & Spanish Pistoles in England has made them of late flow plentifully hither above all other Sorts of Gold, especially the French Pistoles w^ch are better sized and coyned and less liable to be counterfeited and by consequence of more credit then y^e Spanish. For Pistoles pass amongst us for 17^s 6^d a piece whereas one with another they are worth but about 17^s 0$\frac{1}{2}$^d 17.^s 1d at y^e rate that Guineas of due weight and allay are worth 21.^s 6.^d. And if\the/ allowance be made for the lightness of our Silver monies wearing, yet Pistoles will be worth but between 17.^s 2^d and 17.^s 3^d/In France by y^e late and Edict \of May last/ a Lewid Pistole \(whether markt or not markt)/ passes for foure Ecus wanting 12 sous that is doe a {illeg} 17.^s 2.$\frac{8}{17}$^d an Ecu passes for 68 sous as a Pistole whether (markt or not markt) for 13 livers or 4 Ecus wanting 12 Sous recconing an Ecu worth 4^s 6^d according to y^e reputed\reputed/ p|P|ar {illeg}\of/ Exchange. And so much {illeg}\may/ Pistoles may be worth here if allowance be made for the lightness of o^er money by wearing\

|3$\frac{14}{17}$ Ecus| About four years ago by the English putting too great a value upon Scotch money y^e\the/ Northern borders of England were filled w^th y^t money and Scotland w^th ours, the Scots makeing about 8 or 9 p^r cent ꝑfitt by the Exchange untill yo^r Lord^ps were pleased to put a Stop to the misschief. The case being now y^e same (but of much greater consequence) in the reputed par of y^e\course of exchange/ Exchange between English money and Pistoles, w^ch runs\by where the reputed Par was{illeg}\running/ at least/ 3^d or 4^d in a Pistole too high in the course of Exchange to y^e Nations loss\to the nations loss/ We therefore\therefore/ thought it our duty humbly to represent it to yo^r. Lord^ps in order to such a remedy as yo^r. Lord^ps shall think fit. // We presume also to lay before yo^r. Lord^ps that by reason\another \great/ misschief w^ch needs a remedy, For/of dangerous consequence\/ of The great demand of \forreign/ Silver for Exportation in Trade \has raised/ the price of Bullion Exceeds\above/ y^t of Silver monies 3^d or 4^d & Sometimes 6^d or 7^d p^r ounce, whereas monies ought to be of as great or greater value then Bullion by reason of y^e workmanship and certainty of y^e Standard. a|A|nd this high price of Bullion has not onely put an end to y^e coynage of Silver, but is a great occasion of melting down and exporting what has been already coyned |the running down of forreign coyn by private Artificers giveing them opportunity to mix our own {illeg}\in private for y^e Merchant faciliating the mischief & the dependance upon bare oaths faciliating the mischief/|. All w^ch is \we represent w^th//is\ most humbly|e|y|| Submission|tted| to yo^r. Lord^ps consideration and\judicious consideration &/ great wisdome.                                         M

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All forreign \silver/ monues virgin silver & Spanish barrs brought to y^e Mint shall be there registred & melted into Ingots & y^e Ingots at y^e discretion\choise/ of y^e Importer either coyned or marked with one or more\one or more a/ mark{illeg}|s| provided by y^e M^r & W^r for that purpose. And the weight of y^e monies so coyned out of \And all Spanish barrs brought the mint/ And at y^e request of the Importer the Master \out out of a Book/ shall give him an Indented Ticket certifying           {}AsThe weight of the monies coyned out of forreign silver monies, virgin Silver or Spanish Barrs shall be registred & weight of y^e monies \{illeg}/ coyned \out by/ out |y^e| \said/ forreign Silver [monies Virgin Silver or Spanish Barrs,] \or out of Spanish barrs/ w^ch Ticket shall be indented & cut of out of a book in w^ch the same shall be entred.

The Master Ingots so marked \\Ingotts so markt &/ Forreign monies in specie & Spanish Barrs & Virgin SIlver & Ingotts marked as above/ may be either exported \from London/ or sold to Goldsmiths or other|s.| Artificers \or Merchants/ But Ingots not \{illeg}/ marked may not be exported nor bought or sold (except Spanish Bars|r|s,) but shall\m{illeg} shall/ be coyned if brought to y^e Mint.

\All monies so/ The Merchānt upon producing\delivering/ the Mint certificate\Ticket to the\the/ Customer house Officer/ may \within a year after the {date}/ export so much English silver monies by weight as are conteined in affirmed in y^e conteined in the said certificate\mentioned therin/ & y^e Officer\Customer/ shall enter y^e same in a Book & file y^e Ticket. And \to check y^e Merchant/ the Master shall montly send to y^e Custome house a list of |all| the summ{illeg}|s| of money coyned {illeg} out of forreign silver \as above mentioned/ for w^ch he has granted Tickets.

Forreign monies Spanish Barrs & Virgin Silver \& Ingots stamp/ may be freely exported i Specie, but being once melted in England \elsewhere then in his Maj^ts Mint/ they shall not be exported except afterwards exported {illeg}

All silver monien|s| exported whether by (not excepting pocket money) |1$\frac{1}{2}$d 1$\frac{1}{4}$ 1| Shall pay          p^r tat\ounce/ y^e c|C|ustome house for \or towards/ the charge of coynage\coyning the same/. [And all uncoyned Silver exported Shall pay     0$\frac{1}{4}$^d. p^r oz tat y^e Custome house for encouragment of coynage.] Which Duties\payments/ shall be kept apart fw^th y^e d|D|uty \already/ granted for encouragement of coynage & therewith paid into y^e Excheq^r & thence imprest to y^e M^r & W^r for y^e same uses.

Penalties upon them that counterfeit y^e Mint Mark or y^e Mint Tickets or ship silver to be exported unlawfully \or without paying y^e duty/, or buy or sell unmarkt Ingots, |or counterfeit virgin silver coursery it ought to be in|

No \Gold or/ silver \(except\other yⁿ/ pocket money {illeg}already allowed)/ to be exported out of Ireland except into England. And \upon/ notice of all such exportations to be \monthly/ sent from y^e Custome house in Ireland to that in London for enquiring after y^e same.

The Master