On encroachments since 1660 by soldiers of the Tower on property assigned to the Mint. In particular, they have demolished the house of the smith [Thomas Sylvester] (probably with his connivance) and begun building a new one. Sentries continue to be posted within the Mint despite two cases of sentries being caught stealing silver. Request a clear ruling on boundaries, suspension of the building work, control over the Mint gates, and the expulsion from Mint territory of all people not connected with it.||[See also the related memorandum to the Treasury of 16 June 1699, possibly a variant draft of this, in PRO, Works 3/1, ff.12v-13r (printed in NC, 7: 410-11 and The Wren Society Report, 18 (1941), 151-2).]