Report on wardens since 1672 with commendation of Newton as the first not to treat the post as a sinecure
To the Worshipfull Isaac Newton Esqr. Warden of his Majestys Mint within the Tower of London.
Thomas Fowle one of the Clerkes of the said Mint humbly presents to your worship as follows
That since his coming to the Mint which was about the 20th. of Iuly. 1672. Sir Anthony St. 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 Sir 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 Sir 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 Assisted the Officers of the Mint in severall Affaires proper for the Wardens to the Lords of the Treasury who succeeded the said Earle of Danby and continued soe for the space of a twelve month & then dyed.
Next to him came one Doctor Owen Wynn
<21v>A learned Civilian and Chiefe Secretary to the Earle of Sunderland whose Attendance was frequently and Diligent and very servicable in his station & not long after his present Majestys Accession to the Crown relinquished his Employment.
His successor was one Benja{e} Overton Esqr. who came from beyond sea with his Majesty 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 Majestys 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, which if I may be soe bold to say and which 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 Sir Anthony St leger (the first Warden of the Mint since my being here) made his Sonn Anthony St. Leger Esqr. who was Ensigne to Sir Ino Robinson his Deputy and there being some who did worker or belong to the Mint Emprisoned for Debt and that within the power of Sir Ino: Robinson Application was made to this Ensigne St. leger and Deputy to the then Warden his father for preserving the priviledges of the Mint to sett him at liberty; with said Ensigne St. Ledger and Deputy Warden went to St. Ino Robinson his Captain and Lieutenant of the Tower and demanded the prisoners Liberty, who reused to grant it whereupon the said St. Leger told Sir Ino. Robinson that he had nothing to doe with 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 the said Fowle had this particularly it being soe long since has forgot. but is sure he had it from such a hand that Credit may be given to it
James Hoare Esqr. late Comptroller of the Mint {deceased} was a very Indi{r}ious man, and though but of few wordes would appeare very much for the priviledges of the Mint, being sometimes free in discourse with the said Fowle 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 Sir Ino: Robinson saying Sir John you have nothing to doe with the Mint altho it be within the Tower between the beating of the Travally in the Morning & the Taptoo at Night, which said Relation the said Fowle had from the said Comptrollers own mouth or nere to this Effect.
Henry Slingsby Esqr deceased late Master 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 within theMint 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
Sir Thomas Wharton (Sir Anthony St. leger's successor) upon application made to him by a Creditor of Mr. Dallows for that purpose gave leave to the said Creditor to Arrest him without 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 within the Tower by the space of three weekes. this the said Wharton did by Virtue of his power as Warden, which by the then Officers of the Mint (especially by the Comptroller) was 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 the Comptrollers business 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 Comptroller therewith who thereupon sent for the party aforesaid and asked him how he durst venture to arrest me that was soe much Concern'd in the Mint without 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 the parties own mouth, and further Found by his own relation that if he brought me not presently to the Comptroller he should stay and beare me Company, whereupon the aforesaid part was mighty earnest to gett me out and if I mistake not came along with me to the Comptroller whereupon all things were presently after settled
