My very good Lord,
If your meaning be only that the
Alderman should go down to join with Middleton, whose journey in my opinion is
to small furtherance of her Majesty’s service, then I think as your Lordship that
it is not so convenient for an Alderman to be sent for if it be to enquire of
the quantity of Tin, whereupon as the matter is now, it is not to be so much
stood upon, since her Majesty might have had with less trouble, a more perfect
intelligence, and with less charge here at home by perusing the Books of the
Exchequer, the receipts of Sir Frances Godolphin’s, and conferring them with
the Merchants books, which have used the trade, at what prizes they bought and
have sold this four or five years past.
But if the main and chiefest point
is to be had in consideration, which is that her Majesty be not put by the benefit
of this year, then I am wholly of the opinion, that in a matter of such
importance, no man too good for to serve her Majesty and the more experienced
& practiced in the cause the meeter to be employed.
And if your Lordship stand in doubt
of the contentment in the Country, then it is easy enough for your Lordship to
be resolved.
Since the last year both the Country,
and ^company of pewterers^ made an agreement and gave assent unto 24l
the thousand.
And then they had reason as the
case stood with them. For Tin within this 18 months was as good cheap, as it
was forty years ago, by the means of five or six merchant engrossers, who kept it
at a low rate, for their gain a dozen years, yet now have put it up, for the letting
of good causes which should take effect.
Wherefore if her Majesty give
them 20s more, which is 25l or 26l or 40tie marks, which
will content them, to be assured yearly, & may have two or three thousand
pound at five or six in the hundred at the Agents’ hands, putting in good
assurance, which money will cause the quantity to be great, by means they shall
want no money to set their people on work. Then there is no let but her Majesty
may make her benefit this summer; so there be sent with speed someone to stay
the sale till St James’s tide, in which time the Agents and such others may go
to accomplish the cause.
As for your Lordship’s mistaking
of the putting of the Coinage to St James’s day, it is no putting off, for it is
the very day, by order of the stannary, whereby her Majesty shall rather reform
a late abuse brought in by the engrossers, then seem to innovate.
My intent is no more but that
there might be a couple of Agents and such others this summer appointed to take
in the Tin for the Queen's use at the prices above said. And they to sell it but
as it is now worth in London, very near four pound a hundred which is near 40l
a thousand, and makes of every two thousand three. The quantity of Tin being worth
near forty thousand pound, makes very near three score thousand pound which is
20tye thousand l gain.
Now my Lord I leave to your judgment
whether ten thousand pound a year be better to the Queen then four. And yet
such a bargain for the Agents and others, as few merchants can attain unto, who
make greater adventures for less gain. This 15 June 1595.
Your Lordship’s to command.
(Signed) Edward Oxenford
Addressed (in Oxford’s hand): To
the right honorable my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer of England [seal]
Endorsed: 15 June 1595; Tin; Earl of Oxford to my lord
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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