Complaint about encroachments on Mint jurisdiction Isaac Newton c. 332 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 20 July 1715, c. 332 words. Treasury

Printed in NC, 6: 235.

Hatton Compton, Lieutenant of the Tower, has placed the Earl of Oxford under guard in the comptroller's house without authorisation from the Mint officers. This is contrary to the statutes exempting the Mint from military jurisdiction and sets a dangerous precedent. Followed by a holograph draft of MINT00320 (Mint 19/2/210).

 MINT 19/3/407, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/3/407 20 July 1715 England English Holograph Unknown Hand MintRights and Privileges of the Mint MintCorrespondence Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott Will Scott finished transcription

To the RtRight HonbleHonourable the Lords CommrsCommissioners of the TrearyTreasury

May it please yoryour LordpsLordships

The Mint is a place not subject to any military power but is immediatelydirectly under the King & Council & Counthe LdLord Treasurer or CommrsCommissioners of the Treasury & its own Officers. And by the Indentures of the Mint & on order of K. Charles II no persstangersstrangers can be lodgelive or lodge in the Mint without leave of the Officers of the Mint, & by an Order of K. Charles II all strangers were turned of out of the Mint & prohibited to live there any more without the leave of the LdLord Treasurer & Chancellour of the Exchequer. bBut notwithstanding these Orders Constitution General Compton the Leieutenant Genera of the Tower has brought the Earle of Oxford into the House of the Comptroller of the Mint, & there put a guard upon him, as if that house was & by consequence the whole Mint was under his jurisdiction.

My Lords, the safety of the Coynage depends upon keeping the Mint out of the hands of athe military powerGarrison, & the safety of Prisoners depends upon keeping them in a legal custody under the jurisdiction of their keepers And I am humbly of opinion that not only that the Prisoner be removed into a legal custody bu but also that something be done which may hinder this invasion of the Mint from being drawn into president hereafter.

All wchwhich &

Mint Office Iuly 20. 1715

I. Newton

Wheras Moyder [have upon the Assay in weight & fineness been found worth but one pound seven shillings & seven pence farthings & by reason of their being a forreign coyn have bee[the Receivers] being recoined into Guineas produce but one pound seven shillings & seven pence farthing & by reason have & of the charge of recoining them, they have been brought down to one pound seven shillings & six pence: this is to give notice that

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