Report on wardens since 1672 with commendation of Newton as the first not to treat the post as a sinecure

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To the Worp^ll. Isaac Newton Esq^r. Warden of his Ma^ts: Mint w^thin y^e. Tower of London.

Thomas Fowle one of the Clerkes of y^e sd Mint humbly presents to your worp as follows

That since his coming to the Mint w^ch was about y^e. 20^th. of Iuly. 1672. S^r. Anthony S^t. Leger then Warden of the Mint came very seldom to the place and did not anythin of service more then to come and Ask how the Affaires of the Mint were and that was all & soe went his way.

After him one S^r. Thomas Wharton Knight of the Bath and his sonn phillip men of plentifull fortunes joyntly was Warden, who sometimes came to the Mint and asked a few Questions relating there unto and did some Business and to little or no more purpose then the former

Succeeded them did one S^r. phillip Floyd a very Ingenious Gentleman a Civilian by proffession, one of the Clerks of the Councill and one of the secretarys to the then Earle of Danby Lord high Treasurer of England, who as Warden) {sic} Assisted the Officers of the Mint in sev^ll: Affaires proper for the Wardens to the Lords of the Treasury who succeeded the sd Earle of Danby and continued soe for y^e. space of a twelve month & then dyed.

Next to him came one Doctor Owen Wynn

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A learned Civilian and Cheife {sic} Secretary to the Earle of Sunderland whose Attendance was frequently and Diligent and very servicable in his station & not long after his present Maj^ts. Accession to the Crown relinquished his Employm^t.

His successor was one Benja^{e} Overton Esq^r. who came from beyond sea w^th. his Ma^ty: as was reported, who came sometimes to the Mint & did some business now and then in a Transitory Manner and then went his way, who having his Ma^ts. favour was made a Comissioner of the Customes and too left his Wardens place here.

And now at present yourself in the Office of Warden, w^ch. if I may be so{d}|e| bold to say and w^ch. submission I question not but wee shall find you fair to Exceed the rest for the good & priviledges of the Mint \more/ then all your predecessors.

It is further humbly shewn unto you that in the time of S^r. Anthony S^t leger (the first Warden of the Mint since my being here) made his Sonn Anthony S^t. Leger Esq^r. who was Ensigne to S^r. In^o Robinson his Deputy and there being some who did worker or belong to the Mint Emprisoned for Debt and that w^thin y^e power of S^r. In^o: Robinson Application <22r> was made to this Ensigne S^t. leger and Deputy to the then Warden his father) {sic} for preserving the priviledges of the Mint|)| {sic} and to sett him at liberty; w^th sd Ensigne S^t. Ledger and Deputy Warden went to S^t. In^o Robinson his Cap^t and Leuitenant {sic} of the Tower and demanded the prisoners Liberty, who reused to grant it whereupon the sd S^t. Leger told S^r. In^o. Robinson that he had nothing to doe w^th. any thing that belonged to the Mint of that nature and would have him out whether he would or no and soe by Virtue of his power as Deputy Warden and priviledges of the Mint sett him at liberty

From whom y^e. said Fowle had this particularly it being soe long since) {sic} has forgot. but is sure he had it from such a hand that Credit may be given to it

Iames Hoare Esq^r. late Compt^r: of the Mint {deced.} was a very Indi{r}ious man, and tho but of few wordes would appeare very much for the priviledges of the Mint, being sometimes free in discourse w^th. the sd Fowle ( {sic}would often be talking to him concerning the priviledges of the Mint & upon an Occasion told the said Fowle what papers between King Charles the second and S^r. In^o: Robinson saying S^r. Iohn you have nothing to doe w^th. the <22v> Mint altho it be w^thin the Tower between the beating of the Travally in y^e. Morning & y^e Taptoo at Night, which said Relation the sd Fowle had from the sd Compt^rs: own mouth or nere to this Effect.

Henry Slingsby Esq^r deced late Ma^r. and Worker of the said Mint a man of great parts & understanding would not admitt the priviledges of the Mint in the least to be infringed or Warders to come w^thin y^e.Mint by Virtue of their places to doe as they doe now but would & did in a civil way permit them to come sometimes but not otherwise as aforesaid

S^r Thomas Wharton (S^r Anthony S^t. leger's successor) upon application made to him by a Credit^r of M^r. Dallows for that purpose gave leave to y^e sd. Creditor to Arrest him w^th.out ever asking or taking to his advise therein any of the Officers of the Mint, which he ought to have done according to the Constitution and Customes of the same, who lay in prison w^thin the Tower by the space of three weekes. this the sd Wharton did by Virtue of his power as Warden, which by the then Officers of the Mint (espetially by the Compt^r.) was <23r> lookt upon as a rash and Inconsiderate Act of his lenging much to the Weakning the priviledges of the Mint

The said Fowle coming late one Night to the Tower having been upon y^e Compt^rs business) {sic} was Arrested and carried to the poulty counter, and being unwilling it should be known lay there that and the Night following and acquainted the Compt^r. therew^th. who thereupon sent for the party aforesd and asked him how he durst venture to arrest me that was soe much Concern'd in the Mint w^thout first asking the Officers of the Mint leave, what other wordes passed between them the said Fowle knoweth not, but soe much he had from y^e. parties own mouth, and further Found by his own relation that if he brought me not presently to the Compt^r. he should stay and beare me Company, whereupon the aforesd part was mighty earnest to gett me out and if I mistake not came along w^th. me to the Comptroller whereupon all things were presently after settled