immediat search than the distance his Majesty is now at will allow For supplying whereof his Majesty intending that the said matter should be exactly enquired into and tryed by a special Commission Therefore his Majesty having granted a Commission under the Great Seal to certain Commissioners with full power to them to call and cite before them all the Officers and Servants of his Majesties Mint-house and any other person whatsomever who can give information of and concerning his Majesties Mint Coynage or Bullion or what relates thereto and to make exact search and tryal of the fineness of his Majesties Money and of the due observance of the Rules whereby his Majesties Standart is secured and that by such methods and in such manner as shall seem most expedient to the Commissioners and to imploy such persons in the same as they shall judge knowing in that matter And likewise to examine the manner of receiving his Majesties Bullion the quantities thereof how the samen is exacted from the Merchants and payed to the Officers of the Mint and what Emoluments do thereby arise to the Crown and what are the due Sallaries and Perquisites belonging to the Officers and Servants and to examine what observance hath been kept in these matters in time past since the time of his Majesties Royal Grand-father King James the Sixth of ever blessed memory his removing of his Court from this Kingdom into England to this present time and to take tryal of any abuses that hath crept in during that time As likewise to examine the quantities of all kinds of Moneys Silver or Black Money Coyned since his Majesties happy Restauration to his Royal Government and to make inquiry into the fidelity care and diligence of the respective Officers and Servants in the Mint-house the priviledges belonging to all and every one of them and how they relate one to another and for that effect that the Officers and Servants in the Mint give exact obedience to the Commissioners and to exhibite and expose to them as they shall be required their Registers Journal Books Books of Receipt and Accompts all Contracts and Warrands which are in their custody relating to the said Office and to produce their Pix and to make Trial and Essays or to permit others imployed by the Commissioners to make Essays and Trials when and how oft the Commissioners shall appoint And the Commissioners are required to proceed in that matter with exact diligence and to make a full report of the whole matter to his Majesty that he may declare his Royal Pleasuâ—e thereupon And in humble obedience to his Majesties Royal Commands the Commissioners having met and called before them all the Officers of the Mint here present the Lord Haltoun and the Lord Justice-Clerk his Son who are conjunct Generals of the Mint being then in England and having examined the other Officers that were present upon several things relating to the Mint and having required them to produce all the Registers Commissions Compts and other Papers of the Mint that might any ways clear their diligence and faithfulness in their respective offices as to the Bullion fineness and weight of the Coyn and what quantity of Copper-money had been Coyned accordingly they produced some Accompts and Papers but declared that the Lord Haltoun one of the Generals had taken up from them most of all the Records Registers and Accompts of the Silver and Copper Coyn and by the confession and acknowledgment of the other Officers and the Papers produced there did appear several abuses to have been committed by the Officeâ—s of the Mint whereupon the Commissioners waited for the Generals return from England expecting a full and ingenuous account from him of all things relating to the Mint And so soon as he returned he being called before the Commissioners and desired to inform upon Oath as the other Officers had done concerning the matters of the Mint in place of giving any formal answer he gave in a Representation alledging that the Commissioners could not make inquiry in any matter relating to the Mint because he had exonerations from the King as to the Copper Coyn and a Discharge as to the fineness of the Silver Coyn and if any errors were committed by him in his Office he was secured by his Majesties Act of Indemnity in July 1679. And that any Crime committed in relation to the Mint did fall under that Clause of the Act of Indemnity by which all such are Indemnified as had maleversed in any publick station or trust or were lyable to any pursuit for any cause or occasion relating to any publick administration and refused to declare upon Oath concerning the particulars relating to his Office Upon which he was desired to Depone but pretended that he did not know how far it might reach or what it might import and that no man was obliged to Depone as to his actings in any publick station or in relation to his Office And the Commissioners having considered the Representation and grounds thereof it did appear by the perusal of the Exonerations as to the Copper Coyn that they did only relate to Six thousand Stone which was allowed by the Acts of Parliament and Council to be Coyned within the time contained in the Warrands and Prorogations mentioned in the Exonerations and therefore was not an Exoneration as to what more Copper was Coyned than the quantity contained in the Warrands to which they particularly relate And as to the Discharge in relation to the fineness of the Silver Coyned from July 1664. to December 1673. years The Commissioners declared they would make no inquiry of the fineness of the Money Coyned the time mentioned in the Discharge further than to inform his Majesty by what appears to the Commissioners that the tryal then made in Scotland to have been very insufficient as to the fineness As likewise there was no mention at all made in that tryal of the sufficiency of the weight which was al 's material as the fineness And as to the Act of Indemnity the Commissioners were of the opinion that this being a tryal and inquiry for his Majesties Information the Act of Indemnity could not hinder them to proceed in the inquiry that they might inform his Majesty of the state and condition of the Mint and of the abuses committed by the Officers thereof the Act of Indemnity being only granted to these that had acted in or against the publick Government of the Kingdom and not for deeds of malversation in any particular or peculiar station which had no connexion with or relation to the troubles and disorders in the Countrey in matters of Government For as the Act of Indemnity cannot be extended to Crimes committed by Sheriffs Baillies Commissars their Deputs and Clerks nor to abuses malversations and breach of trust committed by Customers Collectors his Majesties Cash-keepers or any others intrometters with his Majesties Revenues if they shall imbazle the Kings Rents and not make a full accompt nor
the Kingdom and for advancing his own Revenue arising by the Mint did allow a certain sum yearly as a stock for buying in of Bullion from time to time which might have been exchanged ten or twelve times in the year as was in use formerly to be done yet notwithstanding that Stock of Money has not been at all Imployed by which the Country has been extreamly prejudged and the King defrauded of the benefit that would have arisen thereby if the Bullion had been imported and exchanged as it ought to have been according to His Majesties appointment and the time that should have been so profitably imployed in Coyning of Bullion has been mispent in Coyning great quantities of Copper-money to the great prejudice of the Liedges at home and to the hurt of Trade and Commerce abroad and albeit that stock of Money was not imployed in manner as was appointed yet the Generals and the Master did exact yearly from the King the interest thereof as if it had been imployed Secundo His Majesty after the example of His Royal Predecessors having designed for the advancement of the Union Trade and Commerce between the two Kingdoms that the Money Coyned in both should be of alike weight and fineness And for that effect in the year 1662. caused frame an indented Silver Standart Plate of Sterling fineness and secured with His Majesties Seals a part whereof was sent hither to be keeped as the Rule whereby to make Essays of the fineness of the Silver in all time coming Nevertheless it appears That all the Money of this Kingdom since that time has been designedly Minted far below the fineness of that Standard Plate Neither has there ever any use been made thereof since it came hither and as for the remedies in fineness only allowed in cases of Casuality and no otherways the Officers have combined not only to work upon but even below them and by paction to divide the profits arising from thence amongst themselves when indeed they were obliged to compt to His Majesties Thesaury for every such Grain of Remedy in fineness wrought upon under the true established Standard By this it is evident That the Generals who should chiefly have been concerned for the King's interest has malversed in their Offices that the King has been defrauded of a considerable sum which would have thence accresctâ—d to him and that the Master and Wardens have concurred to persist in debasing the fineness of the Money of this Kingdom for their own advantages And albeit it be contrair to Law and the Nature of all Mints that any Silver Money should pass the King's Irons without an Essay thereof first taken that it may be found of fineness deliverable Yet it appears by the Books of Meltings and Printings and several Depositions that a great part of the Coyn of this Kingdom under the pretence of Silver called Chizle Heads Sweeps and Scrapes has been melted and Printed without the presence or knowledge of the Essay-master or any Essay thereof taken which furnished opportunity to the Officers to Coyn at what rate they pleased And as His Majesty at the time foresaid established the fineness of His Coyn in manner mentioned so did He with no less consideration determine the true weight thereof and for that end caused adjust four Piles of Weights fitted for the Denominations usual in both Kingdoms two whereof were sent hither and the other two keeped at the Tower of London all exactly marked for their security and ordained to be the common Rule for the Silver Weight of both Kingdoms Nevertheless it appears that one of these Pyles being the proper Weights of Scotland the like being reserved in the Tower of London after it came hither was keeped up by the Generals without giving order to make use thereof for some years until the Master in the year 1680 apprehending he might be questioned for using the Dean of Gilds Weights of Edinburgh when the King's Weights were in the Mint-house Did of himself without order adjust his own Weights by that new Pyle and caused the Work men to work accordingly But the Generals not pleased therewith commanded him to deliver up both these new Pyles that came from London and the old Weights he had rectified thereby to the Wardens to be set aside and no more used and caused make a new Set of Weights for his greater gain to be adjusted at the sight of David Maitland their Deput according to the Dean of Gilds Weights of Edinburgh which are far different from the New Pyle of Weights sent hither by His Majesty for the common Rule of Weight Neither did they exhibit the King's Warrand for receiving that Scots Pile of Weights and making use thereof to the Master before the year 1682. as appears by the Double of the Warrand produced and Attested by the Lord Justice-Clerk one of the Generals And thus they used and changed the Weights at their pleasure contrair to His Majesties Order The common Law and the Laws and Acts of Parliament of this Kingdom By which It is Statute That no person should use different Weights and that the users of false Weights shall lose their whole Goods and Gear and the same to be intrometted with for the King's use and as to the Remedies of Weight which are allowed only as the other Remedies of fineness in cases of casual Accidents and no otherwise The Wardens have so far transgressed that they constantly Troned the Pieces according to the Remedies under the just weight and by this means designedly rendred the King's Money to be light as they had by the like Artifice debased it in its fineness whereby the King was frustrat of the Profits which should accresce to him by the Grains of remedies of Weights under the just proportion for which the Officers were obliged to count in Exchequer but shared the Profits thereof amongst themselves the Merchants were also abused in delivering their Bullion at the Mint-house where they were forced always to give it by the Dean of Gild's Weights of Edinburgh which are heavier than the Scots Troy weight by two Unces and a half every Stone weight whereby they were discouraged to import the same They have also been constantly payed for their Bullion by â—ale whereas they ought to be payed by the Kings Coyn in the Ballance if the Mint were rightly regulated which would prove the only sure Check to secure the Sâ—lver Coyn from any abuse in its due proportion of weight which accordingly ought to have been done by the Law before the Act of Parliament in the year 1669 As also the pieces of Coyn reserved in the Pixe ought to have been keeped whole whereby some Trial even that way might have been had of the just weight but it has been a corrupt Custom to cut these peices that no means might be left to cognosce upon the Silver whether it be weighty or light Tertio By the Laws and Acts of Parliament of this Kingdom the Coyners
Copy of a Pape Presented in the Year 1681. to the then DUKE of YORK VVhilst He was in Scotland Entituled Considerations on the Scots MINT And of a Commission granted under the Great-Seal in the year 1682. by King Charles the Second for Tryal of the Mint and of the Reports made thereon Together with the Copies of His Majestes several Missive Letters containing His Approbation and further Determination thereanent Faithfully Transcribed from the Originals EDINBVRGH Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to Their most Excellent Majesties anno DOM. 1691. Considerations upon the Scots Mint IN the 1 Par. K. Ja. 1. holden at Perth anno 14â—4 Act 28. It is Ordained that our Money be of equal weight and fineness to the Money of England K. Ja. 2. and the following Kings did so likewise But K. Ja. 6. more particularly in the 2 d year of his Reign over Great-Britain Did by a written Ingagement bind the Mint-masters of both Kingdoms to the precise observance thereof King Charles the 2 d. soon after His happy Restauration renewed the same Order and for that end caused with great care prepare a great square Silver Plate of exact Sterling fineness to be the Rule and Pattern whereby to Try all Coyned Money or Goldsmiths Work of Silver in either of the Kingdoms thereafter This Plate of Silver so framed was divided in four equal parts whereof one was committed to be preserved in the Thesaury of England another to the Mint-house at the Tower of London a third to the Thesaury of Scotland and the fourth to the Mint-house at Edinburgh all the four having the King's Seal stamped upon the corners and cutted asunder by way of Indenture for the greater Security The Standard for the Money and Silver-plate then determined for both Kingdoms called Sterling fineness is expressed in England to be eleven ounces and two penny fine which is understood thus the pound is divided in 12 ounces and every ounce in 20 penny weight of these 12 ounces 11 integral parts and a fraction to wit 1 10 part of the 12 th ounce must be pure Silver and the remnant part of the fraction being 9 10 parts is allowed to be Copper for making up of the total The allowance of remedy for the fineness is 2 grains over or under in the pound But in Scotland this Standard sterling fineness is called eleven denier or penny fine out of the fire which is neither so good nor so significantly expressed as the manner of England not only because of the difference betwixt the common Weights of the two Kingdoms but apparently rather to keep up the matter in a Mystery that it should not be easily understood The Remedy of fineness also allowed in Scotland is two grains over oâ— under upon the pound Amendments fit to have been added as to fineness 1. That the Denomination of the fineness had been expressed in precise intelligible Terms common to both Kingdoms 2. That the same species of Coynes had been also appointed to be Printed in both with one and the same Inscription differing only in placing of the Arms for distinctions sake to have prevented many inconveniencies 3. That the Silver pieces reserved in the Pixis to be the Tryals of the fineness of every several Journal should have put to the Essay at least every year before persons of Trust and Understanding in that affair 4. That all Melting or Coyning of current Money without Licence therefore granted had been discharged under severe certifications 5. That an Essay-Master had been placed at Edinburgh over all the Goldsmiths in the Kingdom for Trying and Marking their Work and for whose fidelity sufficient Security should have been entered as it is in Goldsmiths-Hall London For want whereof there is not one piece of Plate of Sterling fineness wrought in this Kingdom to the great dishonour of this Nation Considerations upon the Weight As His Majesty established a Rule for the Fineness so did He cause adjust the Weights for all His own current Silver-Money according to the extrinsick value put upon the same observing the fineness before-mentioned for this end He commanded four Pales of Weights to be made of alike size equal one to another and equally divided as He had done the four indented Plates for the common Rule of fineness The Remedy in Weight allowed for the greater peices of Coyn being 3 grains and for the lesser 2 grains over and under And ordained an ounce of Silver Sterling fine to be raised 2 pence English more than the extrinsick value thereof had formerly been and so to pass at the rate of 5 ls 2 d English and all other Weights to pass at Rates proportionally thereto And the ounce of pure Silver without allay called Silver Refined from the test to be worth 5 ls 9 d English and the other greater and lesser Weights to be valued accordingly Amendments fit to have been added as to Weights 1. That the common Scots Troys pound and ounce which are lighter than the English by the difference of 4 penny Weight and 9 grains or 105 grains in the pound and by 8 grains and 18 units English in the ounce might both be brought to an equality 2. That the Troys Weights of both Kingdoms less than the ounce should not only be equal but also have a like numbers of Fractions in which they are divided to make our reckonings the better to agree 3 That the Denominations of all the Weights under the ounce should be the same for in England they reckon Penny Weights grains units droits periots and blanks unequally divided in 20 and 24 parts alternatively and in Scotland by demers grains primes seconds thirds and fourths equally divided each of them in 24 parts 4. That the only exact check upon the Weight of current Money should be that the Mint-master always deliver the King's Coyn to the Merchant for his Bullion by weight and no otherways and so the Officers of the Mint can never so much as work upon the Remedy Nor is the Warden and Counter-warden Weighing and Troning of every piece a sufficient check to keep the Money at the due Weight as experience teaches Observations and Queries 1. Why has there never tryal of our Money been made as to the fineness by the Pattern of that indented Plate sent to us from His Majesty for that purpose nor any use made of these Pales of Weights fitted and brought hither to examine the justness of the Weights of every several species which ought to have been done yearly at least 2. Wherefore is the Inscription upon our Money of Mag. Brit. Franciae c. always used upon King James the 6 th and King Charles the 1. their Coyns now of late changed to Scotiae Angliae Franciae c 3. Why is there not an accompt called for yearly of the Bullion Imported according to the form prescribed in our Law or of the Money received for it and of what quantity of Coyn is stamped therefore 4. How
to any other person in publick Office not relating to the publick Government of the Kingdom so neither can it be extended to crimes and abuses committed by the Officers of the Mint For albeit these may be accounted publick Offices in some respect yet they are but privat stations in respect of the Offices that concerns the publick Government of the Kingdom As also the Act of Indemnity bears an exception of all privat Crimes and such-like as never used to be comprehended under general Acts of Indemnity And it appears by the late Act of Indemnity past in the Parliament in the year 1662. That all Crimes not relating to the late troubles are excepted and particularly the Accompts of all such persons as have intrometted with any of his Majesties Revenues and all other publick Money for which they had no other Warrand or Assignment for their own privat use and for which they had not duely compted and received Discharges thereof from such as pretended to have authority for the time to do the samen and all other former Acts of Indemnity made by his Majesties Royal Predecessors are only in relation to the publick troubles that hath been in the Countrey but not at all to any Crimes or malversaâ—ions that hath been committed by the Kings Officers in their private stations not relating to the publick administration in the Government or to the troubles and disorders of the Countrey and therefore the said Act ought not to be extended to the abuses and malversations committed by the Officers of the Mint far less to debar and preclude his Majesty from tryal and inquiry that his Majesty being informed thereof may give order for better regulating of the Mint and remeeding these abuses in time coming And as to that pretence alledged by the Lord Hatton That he could not be oblieged to Depone upon any thing relating to the Mint because he does not know how far it does reach or what it might import the Commissioners were of the Opinion that this being a matter of Tryal and Inquiry he ought to give Information upon Oath concerning things relating to the Mint and Coynage that was committed to his Trust as the other Officers of the Mint had already done and whatever might be the import thereof he was only desired to give his Oath upon these particulars relating to himself if he was truly innocent and had not malversed in his Trust which is no more but a purgatory Oath that he might purge himself of these Abuses and Malversations which by publick Fame and other Evidences were presumed against him and which was most consonant and agreeable to the common Law and the practise of other Nations and the Laws and Practique of this Kingdom both in Church and State in the like cases especially where the samen is done for His Majesties Information As to the particulars upon which he was desired to give Information upon Oath Relating to the other Officers of the Mint he was only desired to Depone upon the best of his knowledge which was no more but an Oath of Credulity which no man in reason ought to refuse and which is appointed by an express Act of Parliament That all Persons should Declare and Depone upon Oath their knowledge of any Crimes against the Publick Laws under very severe punishment especially seing all the rest of the Officers of the Mint did freely Depone upon all these particulars except the Lord Justice-Clerk conjunct General who was here present only the Lord Hatton makes use of the Act of Indemnity and refuses to Depone And as to that pretence That he was not obliged to Depone in any thing relating to his Office it was frivolous for as every man in Publick Trust is obliged to give his Oath That he shall Faithfully discharge his Trust at the entry to his Office So likewise ought he to give his Oath upon any thing relating to his Office at any time thereafter when ever he is required by his Majesty or any having Commission for that effect And if it were otherwayes that a person in Publick Office should not be obliged to Depone concerning his actings in that Office then any man in Publick Office might commit the greatest Abuses Malversations Injustice Oppressions and all other hainous Crimes without control providing he could do it privatly that it could not be otherways proven but by his own Oath and that would invite men in Publick Trust to commit all Acts of Malversation and Injustice imaginable if they were not obliged to Depone upon their Actings in that Office and purge themselves of any Crimes that may be laid to their charge For these Reasons and in obedience to His Majesties Royal Commands by His Commission The Commissioners having proceeded to the Tryal and Inquiry and considered the Depositions of the Master and other Officers and Servants of the Mint and the Books Papers and other Evidences adduced It did appear First That albeit His Majesty and His Royal Predecessors Have always had a special care to provide Bullion for increasing and maintaining of the Stock of Coynage in the Kingdom and that it is expresly provided by Act of Parliament That the Goods and Merchandise imported by the Merchants should pay so many ounce of Bullion or otherways pay twelve shilling Scots for every ounce in place thereof the Generals and Master of the Mint being ordained to Import the Stock of Bullion themselves and Coyn the same for His Majesties use And albeit there has been considerable Sums of Money payed by the Merchants to the Officers of the Mint in place of Bullion there has been but a small quantity of Bullion Imported by them and in place thereof great quantities of the Money current in the Kingdom has been melted down to the great prejudice of the Leidges and contrair to many express Acts of Parliament By which it is Declared That in respect Silver and Gold put in the Fire to be made Bullion to other new Money is diminished wasted and destroyed in the Translation by the Fire and incurs great skaith in hurt of the King and all his Liedges Therefore it is Statute That neither Silver nor Gold that bears Print and form of Coyn be any ways melted or put in the Fire by the King's Coyners without special licence of the King but all Gold and Silver that is Coyned and haâ— Print to be observed and holden whole among the King's Liedges as he ordained it to have course and the contraveeners of the Law to be punished with the Confiscation of the half of his Goods for the first and of his whole Goods for the second fault And likewise the Generals and Master of the Mint have divided amongst themselves the benefit of the twelve shilling Scots payed in to the Mint by the Merchants and so have failed in their Trust to advance their own privat gain As also His Majesty out of his Princely care for the good of his Subjects increasing of the Money in
of black Money without warrand are punished with Death And albeit His Majestie since his happy restitution was pleased to allow Six Thousand Stone of Copper to be Coyned at two several limited times Yet notwithstanding it appears by the Depositions of the Wardens the Accounts and other Evidences adduced that there has been Twentie Nine Thousand and six hundred Stone Coyned whereas there was only six Thousand Stone allowed So that there was twenty three Thousand and six hundred Stone of black Money coyned more than was allowed by the Warrands which is an infinite Prejudice to the Kingdom And whereas the Generals should have stopped the further coyning of Copper-Money so soon as the quantity allowed by His Majesty to be coyned at every Journey was exhausted Yet notwithstanding the Generals did allow and ordain the Officers to go on in the coyning of more Copper-Money after it was made known to them by the Master that the quantity of Copper allowed by His Majesty to be Coyned was exhausted and they also received the half of the Profits arising from the superplus that was coyned more than was allowed by His Majesty Quarto The Coyn of this Kingdom being lately cryed up and there being a considerable quantitie of Bullion lying in the Generals and Masters hands The whole Profit of the Exaltation being Five per cent which did belong to the King It appears that the Generals did acclaime the Benefit of the one half of the Exaltation from the Masters as a perquisit due to them albeit it truely belongs to the King and which did amount to a very considerable Sum. Quinto Albeit by the Common Law and several Laws and Acts of Parliament of this Kingdom It is statute that if any Judge or Minister of the Law take Buds or Bribes they shall lose their Honour Fame and Dignity and their moveable Goods to be confiscat deprived of their Offices and punished in their persons at his Majesties Will Yet notwithstanding the Lord Hatton one of the Generals did in the year 1679 being then Thesaurer Deput and one of the Commissioners of His Majesties Thesaurie and Exchequer as appears from what is deponed by the Master by Writs and other pregnant presumptions take from the Master of the Mint the Sum of six hundred pounds Sterling to procure allowance and payment of the ballance of his most unjust and exorbitant Accompts from the Exchequer preceeding the year 1674 relating to the Mint and Coyn stating the King Debitor to him in Fourtie four Thousand pounds Scots which he as General of His Majesties Mint was obliged to comptrol having special Trust and a Sallarie from His Majesty for that effect By which Accompts it likeways appears that the Lord Hatton as General received payment of three years Sallarie from the year 1660 to the year 1664 Albeit there was no Money coyned preceeding that time beside an hundred and fifty Guinies of Gold given to the Duke of Lauderdale and fifty pounds Sterling to John Kirkwood his Servant upon that same accompt as the Master has Deponed And further the General did again most grosly exact his Sallarie for the same years out of His Majesties Excise and so did get double payment of his Sallarie for the same years albeit in reason there was none due In respect there was no Coynage or Overseeing the Mint for these years Sexto Albeit by the Common Law and several Laws and Acts of Parliament of this Kingdom it is Statute That if any Officer be negligent and culpable in the execution of his Office he is to be punished in his person according to the quality of his Crime at the Kings Will And albeit the Generals by their Gifts and Offices were appointed to Comptroll the other Officers of the Mint and had power to hold Courts and to punish Delinquents and notwithstanding they did know that the Counter-Warden who is Check to the Warden did not attend his Office and that the Under-Officers of the Mint were negligent in keeping of Compt-Books Registers of the Coynage and many other things relating to their Offices and that they had committed many abuses and done many deeds of Malversation yet the Generals of the Mint did not hold Courts to punish them but were Sharers with them in the benefit arising by their Abuses and Malversations And the better to palliat the Abuses that they might not be discovered and that it might not be known what Profit and Advantage the Generals and other Officers of the Mint had made all this time past the Generals did take up all the Compt-Books Registers and other Papers belonging to the Mint from the Under-Officers which were all Abstracted except two Leafs relating to the last Copper-Journal which had been torn out of a Book and were delivered to the Commissioners by the Counter-Warden Septimo Albeit by the Common Law and Laws of all Nations the eliciting and extorting of Bonds and Sums of Money especially by a superior Officer from these in Office under him is manifest and gross Oppression and severely Punishable yet notwithstanding the Generals of the Mint did vex and threaten John Falconer the late Warden to call him before His Majesties Privy Council unless he would grant a Bond to Al. Maitland Counter-Warden for the Sum of Twelve Thousand Merks upon the account of the third of the Remedies that were alledged to be due to him since his entry to his Office who never attended the same which Remedies did truely belong to the King yet notwithstanding the Warden was necessitat to grant Bond for Eleven Thousand Merks and grant a Discharge of a Thousand Merks that was due to him of his Fees and albeit the Bond was taken in Alexander Maitland's name yet it appears to have been to the Generals behove they having caused use Diligence upon the Bond and put the Warden in Prison where he was detained while he was necessitat to Compone and Transact the same with the Generals for the Sum of Seven thousand Merks which was payed and imployed for their use and behove It is not easie to make an exact Accompt of the Profits arising to the Generals Masters and other Officers of the Mint from these Abuses which certainly will amount to vast Sums But to conclude far within bounds it appears by an Accompt given in under David Maitland's Hands Deput and Trustee for the Generals that Twelve thousand four hundred and fourty three Stone of Copper did pass the Irons in the last Journal the printed value thereof accompted by them amounts to Two hundred ninety four thousand four hundred and fifty five Pounds Scots and compting the Stone of Copper at a Merk the Pound which was more than they truely payed for that Copper in cumulo amounts to one hundred and twenty eight thousand Pound so that there remains of free Profit to the Officers in the Mint one hundred sixty six thousand four hundred and fifty five Pounds Scots Money whereof the one half was altogether