My very good Lord.
I do not know how my Lord of Buckhurst
does proceed with her Majesty for that which she expects to be made of her Tin.
But it may be, that it falls out, as I have thought, that he would as hardly
bring in his undertakers as myself, which if it be so, & her Majesty, and
your Lordship will like of this which I do here write, I will neglect no
diligence that may do her majesty service.
The undertakers are to be either
those which have already the trade in their hands, or such strangers as upon
good consideration will be soon willing to farm so good a commodity.
When they which are now the
present engrossers did verily think that her majesty would have nominated me to
the farm of this commodity then lest I should agree with other strangers, I
found determined to agree with me, saying they rather would command then be
commanded. But when they found that her Majesty stood in suspense, and that my
Lord of Buckhurst was to have it at a lower rate than myself, then they hung off,
from both, for they said if we agree with any of them before it be granted,
they must accept conditions such as we shall give them. If we stand out until it
be granted, then for that they must pay so great a rent to her Majesty they
must of necessity seek us, whereby we shall be able to make our bargain as we list.
Another occasion which is an
especial let to her Majesty’s purpose is, that there is a suit which hath bene
of long time motioned, for the pewterers, that they might have a second melting
and casting of the Tin into Bars. This suit, by reason so many rivers run out of
it, has many friends, and all these are enemies to the great matter, for, say
they, it swallows this up.
But this suit, if her Majesty does
grant it, is called a little suit, but so little it is as whosoever shall undertake
the great, loses 3 or 4 thousand pounds a year thereby. Then how is it possible
that they can give so much to her Majesty as she looks for.
First seeing they must lay out 40
thousand l stock, and then pay to her Majesty four thousand pound,
moreover then her Custom, further to him who shall obtain the farm some 2 or 3
thousand. This they cannot perform, if her Majesty shall pass before or except
hereafter the suit of the Pewterers.
But if it will please her Majesty
to nominate me, for the Preemption and transportation, and be content to give
me time, to make my Bargain, that they shall not see that I am constrained by
necessity to depend upon them, and to make a hasty bargain, I do not doubt only
to get her Majesty the 4 thousand pound which is offered, but to get for myself
2 or 3 thousand pound more, which to compass in her Majesty’s name, I find by
no means they will be brought, and as it seems they allege great reason therefore.
And if they give me assurance,
afterward when the same shall be turned over to her Majesty, they being already
bound cannot refuse it.
And further it is to be thought if
in the little suit of Bars they can provide for themselves so well, they may be
as good husbands to her Majesty in the great.
Also since the Merchants have dealt
so frowardly to cross her Majesty, if it shall please her upon the grant to me
to deal somewhat roughly with them, in the matter of transportation, for that
they cannot and ought not to transport but to Calais, and now in this month and
next when they have laded their tin, to make a stay, as a thing forfeited, it
will make them the more greedy to come to Composition. this 13th of April 1595.
Your Lordship’s to Command
(signed) Edward Oxenford
Addressed (in Oxford’s hand): To
the right honorable and my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer of England. [seal]
Endorsed: 13. April 1595; Earl of Oxford
Also at Virtual Grub Street:
- Shakespeare and Thomas North. April 5, 2021. “It might have been more of a surprise if North had not been advanced after one or another fashion.”
- On Shakespeare and Drinking Smoke. January 4, 2021. “The debate raged for some time: Had Shakespeare smoked pot? Tobacco? Both?”
- On the Question “Who knew Edward de Vere was Shakespeare?” December 14, 2020. “But was the word going around that his wife, the Countess of Oxford, conceived two children in his absence?”
- A 1572 Oxford Letter and the Player’s Speech in Hamlet. August 11, 2020. “The player’s speech has been a source of consternation among Shakespeare scholars for above 200 years. Why was Aeneas’ tale chosen as the subject?”
- Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
- Check out the Letters Index: Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford for many letters from this fascinating time, some related to the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
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