Copies of two broadly similar petitions requesting a hereditary post in the Mint at £1,000 p.a. in perpetuity in exchange for revealing his new coining method John Rotherham c. 736 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Before 15 October 1721, c. 736 words. Privy Council MINT 19/1/490, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/490 Before 15 October 1721 English Clerical Hand MintClippers, Coiners and Embezzlers Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott
490

To the King's most Excellent Majty.Majesty in Council

The PeticonPetition of IJohn Rotherham of Barnet in Hartforshire GentGentleman.

Most Humbly Sheweth

That on yethe 2d Iuly 1725 Yor.Your Petr.Petitioner prresented to Yor.Your most sacred MajteMajestie a PeticonPetition humbly setting forth That YrYour Petr.Petitioner had long considered yethe many Inconveniencyes wch.which arise from Counterfeiting yethe Currant Coin of yethe Kingdm.Kingdom & It wou'd very much conduce to yethe Honr.Honour & Interest of YrYour Sacred Maty:Majesty & yoryour Realms if yethe ꝑpernicious practice were prreventetd

For yethe affecting whereof Yor.Your Petr.Petitioner has wth.with much study pains & long Experience in yethe Nature of Metals found out an effectuall Methods &to put yethe same in Execucontion he is ready to propose a sufft.sufficient Fund or Fund to support yethe Charge wth.without affecting Land or Trade.

Yor.Your Petr.Petitioner Therefore most humbly prays ytthat his said PeticonPetition may be Read in Council, & ytthat YrYour most Sacred MajtieMajestie will be graciously pleas'd to Constitute him Controuler or Inspector of yethe Dyes, That Post being necessary for Executing and Prreserving his Sector, yryour Petr.Petitioner humbly Hopes will not be deny'd him As also to settle One Thousand pounds ꝑper AnnAnnum on him & his Heirs for ever Vpon Condition he ꝑperforms wtwhat he proposes to make full proof of. And he most humbly Prayes That yethe Controuler, Mastr.Master Worker, Mastr.Master Melter, & Mastr.Master Engraver of Yor.Your Mats.Majestys Mint Office may be also prresent to make wtwhat Objections may Accrew to them wchwhich he undertakes to AnsrAnswer. Or ytthat YrYour Petr.Petitioner may have YrYour Mats.Majestys leave to go wthwith his Secret to any Forreign Country.

And YrYour Petr.Petitioner shall every pray &c

A true Copy — Temple Stanyon

To the King's most Exellt:Excellent Maty:Majesty in Council

The PeticonPetition of IJohn Rotherham of Barnet of Hertford Shire Gent.

Most humbly Sheweth

That YrYour Petr.Petitioner has long consider'd yethe many Inconvenciencyes wchwhich arise from yethe Currant Coin of yethe Kingdm.Kingdom being Counterfeited, & ytthat it wou'd very much conduce to ytthat Honr.Honour & Interest of YrYour Sacred MajteMajestie & YrYour Realms if the Counterfeiting thereof was prrevented.

For yethe Effecting of wch.which YrYour Petr.Petitioner hath wth.with much pains study & long Experience in yethe Nature of Metalls found out an Effectual Method whereby also to render yethe Currant Coin far more durable than now it is.

For all Goldsmiths Iewellrsers & other Workers in Gold by reason of such Duty on all their ready made Goods will be apt to keep less Stock or Quantity of Wrought Gold & Silver by them, than they us'd to do wch.which will occasion yethe Mercht.ant Importing Gold or Silver to send most of it to yethe Mint to be Coin'd rather ynthen want a quick retunreturn, & so will by ytthat means Increase Our Coin, & ytthat fair Dealers if they rightly manage yethe Working part will make greater Advantage in Trade then before — Besides if all Goldsmiths Iewellers & Workers in Gold had a penalty laid on ymthem who would work Gold of less Value than 4li. ꝑper Ounce, or Iewellrs.ers yethe 3li – 15s as well as on such who work Silver of less Value than sterling, It wou'd not only advance the Royall Revenue, but prrevent very great Imposiconstions on yethe Subjects as well as be a means to keep our Gold & Silver at Home, And yethe Benefit to yethe Publick will be proportionable to yethe Wrought Silver, & wt.weight falls short of yethe Expence for Coinage, he has an addicontionall Funds ready to Supply yethe Same, & if not large enough another ytthat will raise Ten Millions in one Year wth.without Charging yethe Land or Barshening the Publick Trade Excise Customes &c.

YrYour Petr.Petitioner Therefore humbly prays YrYour Sacred Maty.Majesty wou'd be graciously pleas'd to referr yethe Examinacontion of yethe several Makers herein before set forth in Ordr.er to yethe leaving an Act of Parlmt.Parliament in such manr.ner as YrYour Maty:Majesty in YrYour great Wisdm.Wisdom shall think fitt. And ytthat if yethe same be found absolutely necessary & of Great Vse and Advantage & also a great Honr.Honour for YrYour Maty:Majesty & YrYour Kingdms.Kingdoms YrYour PetrPetitioner may have suitable Encourgmt.Encourgment and a Rewd.Reward as desir'd in his formr.er peticonpetition Condictionally if he ꝑperforms yethe same; Or else YrYour Mats.Majestys leave to go wth.with his Secret to any Forreign Country

And YrYour PetrPetitioner shall ever Pray &c

AtrueA true Copy Temple Stanyan