out, though, of course, they searched all the labourers; but, having
reason to doubt him, they did, by threats and promises, get him to
confess, and did find L7 of it in his house at one time. The other of one
that got a way of coyning money as good and passable and large as the true
money is, and yet saved fifty per cent. to himself, which was by getting
moulds made to stamp groats like old groats, which is done so well, and I
did beg two of them which I keep for rarities, that there is not better in
the world, and is as good, nay, better than those that commonly go, which
was the only thing that they could find out to doubt them by, besides the
number that the party do go to put off, and then coming to the Comptroller
of the Mint, he could not, I say, find out any other thing to raise any
doubt upon, but only their being so truly round or near it, though I
should never have doubted the thing neither. He was neither hanged nor
burned, the cheat was thought so ingenious, and being the first time they
could ever trap him in it, and so little hurt to any man in it, the money
being as good as commonly goes. Thence to the office till the evening, we
sat, and then by water (taking Pembleton with us), over the water to the
Halfway House, where we played at nine-pins, and there my damned jealousy
took fire, he and my wife being of a side and I seeing of him take her by
the hand in play, though I now believe he did [it] only in passing and
sport. Thence home and being 10 o'clock was forced to land beyond the
Custom House, and so walked home and to my office, and having dispatched
my great letters by the post to my father, of which I keep copies to show
by me and for my future understanding, I went home to supper and bed,
being late. The most observables in the making of money which I observed
to-day, is the steps of their doing it.

1. Before they do anything they assay the bullion, which is done, if it be
gold, by taking an equal weight of that and of silver, of each a small
weight, which they reckon to be six ounces or half a pound troy; this they