Intitled oute of the redde booke to proue that by the contente thereof the wardens were not to ouerse the masters meltinge

The redde booke
pag. 6. Artic. 19.What soeuer is refeined for thexchange of any pounde beyonde that which sholde be refeined of the bullion were of sufficient allaye all that is to be deliuered to the master to amende the same allaye
The Exposition
By this Article the master only is to amende theallaye which cannot be don withowte meltinge and no mention is made of the wardens ouersight therin whereby it appereth that the warden is neither to see the amendement of thallaye nor the meltinge thereof
The Redde booke
pag. 8. Artic. 22.And this clippinge or cuttinge of the money is to be don at the masters com̄andemente by certaine workemen appointed for the moneyes by whome it is also prepared by meltinge and workinge and by disposinge the same into plates as is expediente &c
The Expositon
By this Article the master only is to appointe certaine workemen for the clippinge cuttinge & makinge of the moneyes by whome the remeltinge workinge and disposinge therof is to be done at the masters com̄andement and no ouersight at all appointed to the warden therin
The Redde booke
pag. 9. Artic. 23.Incidently it is to be knowen that two officers are necessary in euery mynte that is to saye thoffice of the master of the moneyes and thoffice of the warden or key of the same / To the master of the moneyes belongeth the knowledge of bullion and silver and the buyinge & allayinge of the same & all maner dispositon of the moneys & also the gouernance rule {restremete} & direction of the workers & moneyers in those things which in thexecution of the same office are required of no man maye they be more conveniently ruled and {restremed} of him / To the warden or key of the moneys belongeth the coininge and knowldge of assayinge and tryinge of all other things wherby the suffityentye of the moneys maye be tryed and knowen and yf the warden be ignorante therof let him haue some one in his place meete for this purpose &c And after coynage fynished he is also bounde to keepe the same moneyes with all dilligence and that they be not carried or conveyed oute of his custody by any meanes untill by due and convenient truall they shalbe deemed &c
The master and wardens office distinguishedThe Exposititon
By this Article the distinction & direction of the masters & wardens office is suffityently explained wherby it appereth that thallayinge of the bullion received by the master which cannot be withowte meltinge and all maner of disposition of the moneyes is only belonginge to the masters office & therfore nedeth no further exposition
The Redde booke
pag. 9. Artic. 23Thassayers to deliuer the moneyes when it is founde meete and beinge not meete or tonenable to reprove it & sende it again to the meltinge house to be amended at the masters charge and yf neede require to be remolten & newe made
pag. 10. Artic. 24.But yf the problems be greate as yf it differ much from moneys deliureable then yf it cannot otherwuse be amended if shalbe molten as moneys refused and at the cost of the master of the same moneys it shalbe coyned & wholy amended
pag. 11. Artic. 25.But yf the defaults be verry greate as yf it differ muche from moneys delivreable then the same moneys shalbe molten when it cannot be otherwise amended / And at the coste of the same master of the moneys it shalbe coyned & wholy amended
The Expositon
By these thre Articles the moneyes defective are to be remolten and amended at the masters charge only which proueth the masters authoritye and charge in the meltinge wherin the warden sholde specially haue had the ouersight yf by his office he sholde haue had any ouersight of the masters meltinge at all
The Redde booke
pag. 18. Artic. 49.And by the Same mēt that the changer receiveth sholde moneyes in thexhange by the same mēt he shall deliuer it to the moneyers to be molten / And yf the changer shall buye any grose siluer he maye take {illeg} of euery pound &c and shall deliuer the same grosse siluer to the moneyers by the same mēt that be bought it to be molten &c
The Expositon
By this Article the changer was to deliuer bothe the olde moneys & the grosse siluer to the master to be molten but there is no menton made of any gaine to growe to the kinge or ouersight to the warden of that meltinge
The Redde booke
pag. 18. Artic. 49.And yf thexchanger shall buye any grosse siluer which is not fyne by his estemaion and the moneyers will not receive the same siluer by estemaion the changer shall make the same siluer fyne by the fyer viz melte it so that yf any gaine shall growe therby it shalbe the kinge & Earles
The Expositon
Which worde doe Explaine of what meltinge the kinge was to receive profitt viz only for thexchange es meltinges / But that the kinge had any gaine or the warden any ouersight of the masters meltinge there is no menton made in all the redde booke wherin the masters meltinge beinge so many tymes spoken of and the wardens ouersight neuer mentoned it is an evidente profe that the warden was not accustomed to ouerse the masters meltinge/

And {thus} much to proue by the redde booke that the warden hathe not ben accustomed to haue ouersight of the masters meltinge/

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Professor Rob Iliffe
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