Master of the Mint

After 4th March 1461 William Hastings 1st Baron Hastings [aged 30] was appointed Master of the Mint and Lord Chamberlain.

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th September 1662. Dined with me Sir Edward Walker [aged 51], Garter King of Arms, Mr. Slingsby [aged 41], master of the Mint, and several others.

In 1667 Henry Slingsby [aged 46] was appointed Master of the Mint.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th July 1667. The Master of the Mint and his lady, Mr. Williamson, Sir Nicholas Armourer [aged 47], Sir Edward Bowyer, Sir Anthony Auger, and other friends dined with me.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th July 1670. I accompanied my worthy friend, that excellent man, Sir Robert Murray [aged 62], with Mr. Slingsby [aged 49], Master of the Mint, to see the latter's seat and estate at Burrow-Green [Map] in Cambridgeshire, he desiring our advice for placing a new house, which he was resolved to build. We set out in a coach and six horses with him and his lady, dined about midway at one Mr. Turner's, where we found a very noble dinner, venison, music, and a circle of country ladies and their gallants. After dinner, we proceeded, and came to Burrow-Green [Map] that night. This had been the ancient seat of the Cheekes (whose daughter Mr. Slingsby married), formerly tutor to King Henry VI [NOTE. Possibly a mistake for Edward VI since John Cheke was tutor to Edward VI]. The old house large and ample, and built for ancient hospitality, ready to fall down with age, placed in a dirty hole, a stiff clay, no water, next an adjoining church-yard, and with other inconveniences. We pitched on a spot of rising ground, adorned with venerable woods, a dry and sweet prospect east and west, and fit for a park, but no running water; at a mile distance from the old house.

John Evelyn's Diary. 2nd December 1674. At Mr. Slingsby's [aged 53], Master of the Mint, my worthy friend, a great lover of music. Heard Signor Francisco on the Harpsichord, esteemed one of the most excellent masters in Europe on that instrument; then, came Nicholao with his violin, and struck all mute, but Mrs. Knight, who sung incomparably, and doubtless has the greatest reach of any English woman; she had been lately roaming in Italy, and was much improved in that quality.

John Evelyn's Diary. 20th July 1678. I went to the Tower [Map] to try a metal at the Assay-master's, which only proved sulphur; then saw Monsieur Rotière [aged 47], that excellent graver belonging to the Mint, who emulates even the ancients, in both metal and stone; he was now molding a horse for the King's [aged 48] statue, to be cast in silver, of a yard high. I dined with Mr. Slingsby [aged 57], Master of the Mint.

John Evelyn's Diary. 20th November 1679. I dined with Mr. Slingsby [aged 58], Master of the Mint, with my wife [aged 44], invited to hear music, which was exquisitely performed by four of the most renowned masters: Du Prue, a Frenchman, on the lute; Signor Bartholomeo, an Italian, on the harpsichord; Nicholao on the violin; but, above all, for its sweetness and novelty, the viol d'amore of five wire strings played on with a bow, being but an ordinary violin, played on lyre-way, by a German. There was also a flute douce, now in much request for accompanying the voice. Mr. Slingsby, whose son and daughter played skillfully, had these meetings frequently in his house.

In 1699 Isaac Newton [aged 56] was appointed Master of the Mint.