[Peter Blondeau was employed by the Commonwealth to coin their
money. After the Restoration, November 3rd, 1662, he received
letters of denization, and a grant for being engineer of the Mint in
the Tower of London, and for using his new invention for coining
gold and silver with the mill and press, with the fee of L100 per
annum (Walpole's "Anecdotes of Painting").]

which are very neat, and like the King. Thence the King to Woolwich,
though a very cold day; and the Duke to White Hall, commanding us to come
after him, which we did by coach; and in his closett, my Lord Sandwich
being there, did discourse with us about getting some of this money to pay
off the Fleets, and other matters; and then away hence, and, it being
almost dinner time, I to my Lord Crew's, and dined with him, and had very
good discourse, and he seemed to be much pleased with my visits. Thence
to Mr. Phillips, and so to the Temple, where met my cozen Roger Pepys and
his brother, Dr. John, as my arbitrators against Mr. Cole and Mr. John
Bernard for my uncle Thomas, and we two with them by appointment. They
began very high in their demands, and my friends, partly being not so well
acquainted with the will, and partly, I doubt, not being so good wits as
they, for which I blame my choosing of relations (who besides that are
equally engaged to stand for them as me), I was much troubled thereat, and
taking occasion to deny without my father's consent to bind myself in a
bond of L2000 to stand to their award, I broke off the business for the
present till I hear and consider further, and so thence by coach (my
cozen, Thomas Pepys, being in another chamber busy all the while, going
along with me) homeward, and I set him down by the way; but, Lord! how he
did endeavour to find out a ninepence to clubb with me for the coach, and
for want was forced to give me a shilling, and how he still cries "Gad!"
and talks of Popery coming in, as all the Fanatiques do, of which I was