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a, . _. gQ ^^ ^j^.^ present I came unto this town of Antwerp in

safty : wheras I found neither Jasper Schetz, nor the Fug-

gers factor, being at Brussels, and looked for to morrow at

the farthest, being the 21st day : with whom I shal treat

according to such commission as the Kings Majesty hath

given me : wishing at this time, that it may please God to

send me such good succes, as that the Kings Majesties ho-

nor and credit may be nothing touched. For that it shal

be no smal grief unto me, that in my time, being his Ma^

jesties agent, any merchant-strangers should be forced to

forbear their mony against their wills : which matter from

henceforth must be otherwise foreseen, or els in the end the

dishonesty of this matter shal hereafter be wholly laid upon

my neck, if any thing should chance of your Grace, or my

L. of Pembroke, otherwise than wel ; for that we be aJ mor-

tal : which matter I do not doubt, if God send you life,

you will foresee in time. Wherin I wil advertise you my

poor and simple advice at large.

But ere that I do procede any further in this matter, I

shal most humbly desire your Grace to pardon me of my

writing; for that this matter toucheth the Kings Majesties

honour and credit ; which I am bound by my oath to main-

tain and keep: as also the very love and obedience I do

owe imto you, putteth me clean out of fear to write unto

you this my ful mind at large. For it may please your

Grace to understand, that at my coming home I brought

with me two bargains, for to discharge the Kings Majesties

debt, due the 20th of August, amounting to the sum of

56,000Z. as also of an overplus to remain in the Kings

hands for the service of a year: and that was, I offered

52,000/. in ready mony after the rate of 12/. upon the hun-

dred for a whole year. And therewith the Kings Majesty

OF ORIGINALS. 485

should have taken Manuel Ryssis jewel ; which I offered

once to you for 8000/. with another diamont of the value of

lOOOZ. which jewel I shewed to the Council at Alltham, be-

ing there my Lord of Wiltshire, my Lord Darcy, my Lord

Warden, Sir John Gates, and the there reck-
oning the jewels to be worth nothing, were they never so

perfect or orient. Secondly, I offered them a bargain from

the Fugger for the prolongation of 25,000/. and to have

taken 5000Z. in fustians : which also did not like them ;

saying that there was no other remedy, but that the Fugger

and the Schetz must forbear with the Kings Majesty at this

time; and that they would have them prolonged for an-

other year, without taking any merchandize or jewels.

Which matter did not a little abash me, considering how

things heretofore hath been used. For as your Grace doth 14/

right wel know, when the Kings Majesties father did first

begin here to take up mony upon interest. Master Stephen

Vaghan being his agent, he took his fee-peny in merchan-

dize, either in jewels, copper, gunpowder, or fustians. And

so the matter hath past ever since in taking of wares, when

the Kings Majesty hath made any prolongation, imtil the

charge therof was committed unto me. Wherin I travailed

to the utmost of my power, and, by the means of my friends,

I found the means to serve the King with 20,000/. without

taking any jewels or merchandize, as your Grace best

knoweth. And to be plain with your Grace in this matter,

I was fain to give forth mine own [word] that this mony

should be paid at the just day, or else the Kings Majesty

could never have had it.

Since the which time it is not unknown to your Grace,

that the world is wonderfully altered here by reason of

these wars. For that the Emperor hath taken up the most

part upon this bourse of Antwerp; which hath made a

mervailous scarcity of mony. Wherin consideration ought

to be had ; as also the formal bargains heretofore made in

taking the fourth peny in ways : which thing I wil insure

your Grace I have utterly abhorred it. For that lay in my

power, having none other shift at this present, nor could
lis

486 A REPOSITORY

find none other ways at this present to serve the Kings Ma-

jesties turn : which offers did nothing Uke the Kings Ma-

jesties Council, saying, that there was none other remedy

but that the King must prolong the debt of the Fugger and

the Schetz for another year, or for six months at the least.

Wherewith I declared before them of the Council, that this

matter touched the Kings Majesties honor and credit ; and

that hereafter if the Kings Majesty should have need of

mony, he should not find it, if they would thus fish the

merchants against their wills ; knowing that my friends the

Schetz had need of their mony : wherin your Grace must

have a consideration and earnest respect thereunto. For

truly my poor experience is, better it were for the Kings

Majesty to leese as much mony as he oweth, than his credit

should be touched in this matter: praying to the living

God, that I niay never se that day. And to be plain with

your Grace in this matter, according to my bounden duty,

verily if there be not some other ways taken for the pay-

ment of his Majesties debts, but to force men from time to

time to prolong it, I say to you, the end therof shal neither

be honorable nor profitable to his Highnes,
In consideration wherof, if there be none other ways

taken forthwith, this is most humbly to beseech your Grace,

that I may be discharged of this office of agentship. For

otherwise I se in the end, I shal receive shame and discre-

dit therby, to my utter undoing for ever: which is the

smallest matter of al, so that the Kings Majesties credit be

not spotted therby, and especially in a strange country ;

wheras at this present his credit is better than the Empe-

rors; which I pray to the living God long to continue. For

now the Emperor giveth 16 per cent, and 3'et no mony to

be gotten, &c.
Also, this is to give your Grace to understand, that the

Kings Grace hath given me another commission, to com-

mon for the prolongation of the sum of 43,000/. and his

148 Majesty is content to take 6000/, in fustians, at such prizes

as he hath heretofore taken them, upon condition that his

Majesty may transport and sel these fustians, wheras he

OF ORIGINALS. 487

shal think good. For that heretofore in al his bargains

made with the Fugger, his Majesty was bound to sel them

in England.
Further, I must treat with Jasper Schetz, that so far

forth as he is content to prolong the 10,000?. due to the

20th of November for six month, that then the Kings Ma-

jesty would pay the 12,00OZ. due to the 20th of this present

month, betwixt this and the 20th of November, allowing

them interest for the same time. So that they shal not so

soon come to this town, but I shal be in hand with the Fug-

ger and the Schetz ; and shal bring their answer my self to

the Kings Majesty and you with al the expedition I can

make : praying to the living God, I may bring this pro-

longation according to the expectation of the Kings Ma-

jesty, and his most honorable Council. And then I do not

doubt, if that my poor simple advice may be heard and

take place, I do not mistrust, but in two years to bring the

Kings Majesty wholly out of debt: which I pray God send

me life to se that day.

And for the accomplishment of the same, my request

shal be to his Majesty and you, to appoint me out weekly

12 or 1300Z. to be secretly received at one mans hands;

so that it may be kept secret, and that I may therunto

trust, and that I may make my reconing therof assuredly.

I shal so use this matter here in this town of Antwerp,

that every day I wil be seen to take up 2 or 300Z. sterling

by exchange. And this doing, it shal not be perceived,

nor it shal not be no occasion to make the exchange fal.

For that it shal be taken vip in my name. And by these

means, in working by deliberation and time, the merchants

turn also shal be served. As also this should bring al mer-

chants out of such suspicion, whom doubteth nothing to

pay of the Kings debts ; and wil not stick to

say, that ere the payments of the Kings debts, it wil bring

down the exchange to I3

that day.
So that by this you may perceive, if I do take up every

day but 200/. per diem, [it wil] amount in one year to

I i 4

488 A REPOSITORY

72,000/. and the K. Majesty oweth here, at this present,

108,000/. with the interest mony that was prolonged after

this time. So that by these means, in two years time wol be

compassed according to my purpose set forth ; as also by

this means you shal neither trouble merchant adventurer,

nor stapler, nor merchant stranger, &c.

Also, there is another matter, which I would were al in

the Kings hands, and that is lead: which now is worth

here 8Z. Flemish. So that if it standeth with the Kings

Majesties plesure, for the which to make a proclamation, or

els to shut up his custome house, that no man to convey

out any parcel of lead five years day, upon forfeiture of life

and goods, it shal not only cause the merchants to sel their

lead there again good cheap, but it shal make it fal at the

peckes; wheras there be fodders molten above three or

four thousand, as I found ; and now selleth for Ql. 13*. 4f/.

the C. at Hul; which is a goodly matter. Wherfore the

King shal make a staple therof ; and he shal cause it to

rise, and to feed them here as they shal have need therof

from time to time. Which thing must be don out of hand,

so that there may be none sent hither by the merchants that

1 49 be of merkets : which wil be an occasion to

make it fal here. And this doing the Kings Majesty shal be

a great profiler therby, as to you may appear.

And by these means your Grace shal receive much ho-

nor, and al those that be now of the Council, in keeping his

mony within his realms, as also in bringing him out of debt,

that his late father and the late Duke of Somerset brouo-ht

him in ; which al the world doth right wel know therof.

And also your Grace shal do his Majesty such service as no

Duke in England, to the renown of your house for ever.

For verily I say to your Grace, if this mony shal be pro-

longed upon interest, it wil be a marvelous great hindrance

to his Majesty. Therfore it behoveth your Grace most

earnestly to prevent this matter in time, if it be possible.
Now and it please your Grace, if this matter of lead doth

like you, this is most humbly to require, if there be any re-

straint made according to my writing, that it may please the

OF ORIGINALS. 489

Kings Majesty to grant me pasport to transport three hun-

dred fodders of lead, which I have bought of Mr. Beau-

mont and others, as your Grace right wel knoweth. Wherof

as yet I have received but forty fodders of Mr. Beaumont.

Wherin I shal desire you to move him in my behalf, that I

may have my lead delivered me out of hand. For that it

may please your Grace I have sold the aforesaid lead to my

friend the Schetz, to convey it him at the cost, and charge,

and adventure at Hamburgh, at 14s. the ways; and twelve

waye maketh a fodder.

Certifying your Grace, that this day I have had perfect

news from Hamburgh, that I have a ship lost with an hun-

dred fodder of lead, which cost me 1000/. wherof I have as-

sured 600/. so I do leese clear 400/. Most instantly requir-

ing your Grace of your abundant goodnes, to help me

forthwith to the 1052/. which the Kings Majesty hath

ought me this eight months, as your Grace best knoweth.

For verily I am in great need therof. And partly at this

time my honesty and credit lyes theron. So God help me,

as at my coming home I shal declare to your Grace this my

necessity more at large.
Then follow news out of Germany and France.
-Not mistrusting, ere the year goeth about.

to save the Kings Majesty 20,000/. in the payment of his

debts, if I may be credited. Wherin I shal not let to for-

sake my own trade of living, for the better serving of his

Majesty, as knoweth who preserve your Grace in health

with encrease of honor. From Antwerp, the 21. Aug. 1552.

At your Graces commandment during life,
Thomas Gresham, mercer.
It may please your Grace to do my most

humble commendations to my good

Lord Pembroke.

490 A REPOSITORY

150 D.
Dr. Cox to BuUinger ; concerning the review of the book of

Prayers and Sacraments.

Charissimo in Christo fratri D. Henrico BuUingero,

ecclesice Tigu?'incB antistitl, Ric. Cox.

Exarcbiv. ETSI nihil est alicujus momenti, charissime in Christo

eccies.Ti- fj-ater, quod ad te iam scribam, tamen Joannem hunc nos-

trum snie uteris ineis ommno dnnittere nolui : lo quod ipse

quoque segerrime tuhsset. Quod ad sincerae rchgionis nego-

tium attinet, benedictus Dominus Deus, cujus jubar mirifice

nobis indies afFulget. Jam iterum pubhearum precum ri-

tum, atque etiam sacramentorum ipsorum immutavimus; et

ad normam verbi Dei expohvimus. Sed acerbas istas Chris-

tiana? disciphnas institutiones, cane pejus et angue, odimus.

Vohimus esse fihi, quin et hseredes etiam, sed virgam ex-

horrescimus. Excita nos, id est, optimates nostros, per spi-

ritum qui datus est tibi, ad disciphnae studium, qua sine

(dolens dico) anferctur a nobis regnum Dei, et dabitur genti

Jacientifructum ejus.

Sed unum est, mi Bullingere, quod penitus edoceri per-

cupio. Lego in Ubro tuo De C(X?naDomini, in quinta decade,

haec verba, " Quoniam non est pubhcusvel generalis coetus,

" quandoquatuor vel quinque cum a?gro communicant, nihil

" dicunt qui aiunt apud aggros coenam instrui posse, si ahi

" quoque simul coenent." Quod si, coacto pubhco coetu, trcs,

qiuituor aut quin(|ue tantum ex muUis centenariis (aHis omni-

bus recusantibus) pcrcipere vchnt sacramentum eucharistifv,

annon, ahispraesentibus, aut e templo discedentibus, id facere

Hceat ? Cur erjro a^jrrotus hoc beneficio fraudabitur ? De hac

re plenius instrui exopto, cum per otium tibi vacaverit. D.

Jesus te nobis diutissime conservet incolumem ad Christ!

gloriam et Ecclesiae sua? aedificationem. Windesorae An-

glorum. V". Octobris, 1552.

Tuus in Christo frater,
Ric. Cox.

OF ORIGINALS. 491

E. 151
Thomas Barnabe, a merchant, to Sir William Cccyl, secre-

tary of state. Upon his great and large experience, he

propounds to him certain ways to distress the French.
To the right honorable and his special good master Sir

William Cecyl, secretary to the Kings Majesty.

AFTER my most humbliest commendacions unto your MSS.Ceciu.

mastership, yt shal please you to be advertysed, that I have

been of late with the commyssioners of Fraunce, that be here

com, the which is Monsr. Aubery, lieutenant civil of Parys,

and Monsr. du Val, advocate for the King, of Newhaven,

Homfleut, and Harfleut ; the which be right honest gentle-

men, and speke wel, and say, that they are not alonely sent

to common with us, as the people maketh report of them,

but to make restitution. And one of them also said unto

me, that our people be very desirous here to have war with

them, and that we should not fynd the realm of Fraunce

after the sort that we did for sixscore yeres agone, when we

did conquere yt. For he said, that then the Duke of Nor-

mandy, and the Duke of Brytayne, and the Duke of Bur-

goigne, were al three agaynst the French King, and now y t is

knytt al to one realme : and that we may se what great hurt

Ave have don them with the warrs, that my Lord of Northfolk

and my Lord of Suffolk, and the Kings Majesty have don,

and what towne we can show, that we do hold : but only

have spent out al our riches, and destroyed a great nombre

of subjects, and left al our mony in Flanders, Heynou, and

Artous, to the utter destruction of our realm. The which

I answered hym agayn to my simple witt, that I have had as

moch experience in France, or in those parties, as moch as

any man in the realm of England, and was marry ed there

for xxxviii yeres agone: and since I have had save con-

duits of the Kings Majesty ; wherupon hath growen great

suits, and to my utter undoing. So that I dare be bold to

say, that there is never a port, haven, or bay, betwene Bou-

loigne and Bourdeaulx, but I know hym. And as for the

492 A REPOSITORY

realm of France besyde, I ought to know yt ; for I have

ben xxviii viages in France in post for the Kings Majesty,

and contynuallie there al the while that my Lord of Win-

chester and Master Wallop were there ; and likewyse by my

Lord of London and my Lord Pachetts days. And some-

what I gathered there amongst them : for I think there

were few men that was sent so many tymes to the Council

privily for by-matters as I was : for the embassadours went

never to the Corte but for the Kings privy affaires, but

always y t was my chance to be sent for every mans matters.

Wherfore there was nother the chancellor, nor the cardynal

of Lorrayne, nor the cardinal of Parys, nor the admyral,

nor the cunstable, which hath continewed longest in favor,

but I have knowen them al.

152 And as for the constable, somewhat I can say of hym. I

think he be one of the doblest and dissemblingst gentlemen

that is in the world : for there is no more assurance of his

word, than to hold an ele by the tayle ; but wil speke fair,

and promise fair, and work the contrary. And besyde al

this, I promyse you of my fayth, he is as popish as 1 am

English, and always hath been : for the which my Lord of

Winchester nor Mr. Wallop did not hate hym. For I do

know yt. For I was sent divers viages by my Lord Crum-

wel, and perceived how the matter went : for the which they

sayd both of them, that I was my Lord CrumwePs spy ; and

so 1 am assured that they told the cunstable one day. But

1 cared not, for I had the King my masters procedings

hanging in myne eyes. And as Paul sayeth, / am that

I am.
God knoweth my poor hart, how moch I do tender the

wealtli and prosperitie of myne own nation, and that I am

sory, from the bottom of my hart, to think that they of

France accept us to be gross-natured people and covetous.

And they have sayed unto me or now, that yf wee had never

so rank or malicious war with them, they know how to buy

us for mony : the which methinketh were a strange thing.

Howbeyt that was seen by my Lord Cardynals days ; for he

hymself toke iiii hundreth thousand crownes to make peace

OF ORIGINALS. 49S

betwene tlie Frenchmen and us : the which then was not a

lyttel spoken of in France,

I would wishe to God, that we did know our own strength

and power, and what ports, bayes, and havens we have, that

other reahiis have not. It is not unknown but in al France

be barred havens, and yet by reason that they maintain their

fishing and their theving, there is more maryners in one

towne there, then is here from the lands end to S. Michels

mount. I have sene come out at one tyde in Diep five

hundred and five botes, and in every bote ten or twelve men :

the which was a marvelous matter to se how they be main-

tayned by fyshing, and what riches they get by the sea, and

how tliey mayntain their towns and ports. And as for us,

let us begin at Sandwich and go to Dover, Hyde, and

Hastings, and to Winchelsea, and se how they go down for

lack of maintenance, and in a maner no mariners in them :

which is for lack of good policy to set them a work. Which,

Sir, yf yt please the Cowncel to understand those things

that I wil show you, they shal set 6 or 7000 maryners a

work more than there is, in that thing, that France can lyve

no more without, than the fysh without water ; that is to

say, Newcastle coals : which without that they can neither

make stele-work, or metal-work, nor wyer-work, nor gold-

smith-work, nor gunns, nor no maner of thing that passeth

the fier. And as for them, ye shal se in peace tyme iii or

iiii score ships of Normans and Brytons at ones, as soon as

theyr fishing is don ; and as they be departed cometh as

many moe. So that I occupying save-conduit in France,

have bought coles at Newcastle for two shillings and two

pence a chauldron, and for thirteen nobles have sold them

again in France. Also the vice-admiral of Normandy,

Monsr. Du May, and the Vicounte of Diep, have prayed me

to bring in Newcastle coles, and I should have any other

maner of commodyte that they had within the realm, whe-

ther yt were poldavis for saylis, or any other thing.
Now may you se what a commodyte is this smal thing to 1 53

this realm. So that me semeth, yf the Kings Majesty would

take in these coles into his own hands, and let no other ships

^494 A REPOSITORY

but English ships, fetch them at Newcastel, and so to bring

them into Kent, and make a staple in such place as should

be thought necessary, you should not onely set a wonderful

sort of maryners a work, but also yt shal be a great strength

to the realm, and specially to the cuntry of Kent; the which

is very lene of men by the sea syde, consydering the pre-

mysses aforesayd of the going down of the towns. Also it

is not unknowen but that the French King hath taken the

salt into his own hands, and hath gruntiers in every town to

sel yt to his profyt. Now may you way, that the one ys

vittayll, and the other is fuel. Also, it is but reason we

should avance our own commodyte as wel as they do theyrs,

to maintain our own subjects withal. Also I would wysh,

that there should nother fuel nor vittayl go out of the realm,

but upon English bottomes.
Moreover, I have sene go out at one tyde out of Rye,