BOOK these two great princes, her majesty and Spain, than yet there hath been any liklihood of. J. 79 Hereupon in summer I entred my secret unto her majesty for two years leave to seek mine own aventure by service. Which in the end obtained by honourable friends. By the same means I obtained her majesties letters of the 15th of January, 1574, unto the commendador, testifying her majesties desired liking unto the service intended; and assured, that my offers, sent by the bearer of her said majesties letters, with the conditions being accepted by the said commendador, the same should on my part with all sincerity be performed. And thus mych until the 19th day of January, 1574. There resteth now for me to make my offers of service, with the conditions, unto the commendador. Which offers will of his part be either refused or accepted. If refused, then the matter is at an end; and her majesties uttered good conceipt of me in this resteth without spot or blemish, &c. But if the commendador do accept the conditions, then shall I be as able as willing, and both able and willing to perform the same. Then follow the conditions. Lane's letter to Dr. Wylson in Flanders. I requested him, as my singular good lords, my lord treasurer, my lord of Leicester, and my lord of Warwick had addrest their honourable letters in my favour unto him: and to move him to take knowledge of my offered service against the Turk unto the commendador: so also, that it would please him, at my poor request, to take some favourable regard unto it. And that as Mr. Dygby was directed unto him with the conditions of contract, so it would please him to countenance those, especially such as concerned a sort of allowance of four things, &c. Number XLII. BOOK I. A true certificate and perfect note of fees and duties paid heretofore, and now be paid at this present, for citations, and all other ecclesiastical instruments, concerning my [i. e. the bishop of Norwich's] consistory court. FIRST, every citation for writing and Item, Every personal decree likewise 8d. 8d. 8d. 8d. 11d. 3d. too much. Not many 12d. 4d. too much. years agon 2d. 4d. but 4d. b Nothing before. ⚫ Nothing Sentences, examinations of the parties principal, or of wit- before. nesses, are used as they have been heretofore. dItem, Every institution 12s. 4d. d Now 28. more for writing, and before nothing. e Of late time used. Nothing before. Item, For certificate of any agreement Nothing before. Number XLIII. Sir Thomas Smith, and the earl of Leicester, to the lord treasurer Burleigh, members of the society of the new art, for transmuting iron into copper: Medley, the chymist, undertaker. WEE have now commoned with William Medley, mer- Int. MSS.D. vailling why he stayeth here, and goeth not down to the T. Smith, works. He layeth excuses, part for wanting of mony to cret. D. reg. mil. a se Elizab. BOOK defray his charges here, and part too, for his charges in I. tryals making, now these two years and more, and his build ings and vessels, 4007. allowed him. Of which 150l. wee had once commoned for his vessels, housing, and casting up of 80 earth, and other such necessaries, which the society shall receive of him. Whereof I, sir Thomas Smith, was content that the 1007. which I have already payd for him to Mr. Jobson, should be part; and going in hand with the work, I was always content for such portion ratable as my lords do contribute, to allow of and give an acquittance for it. Or if each partner do contribute an 1007. to redeliver the obligation, wherein Mr. Dier standeth bound to me for the whole. I, the earl of Leycester, have given already to sir John Hybbord one 1007. and also order to him for iron, cask, and lead, to the setting forward the work. He saith, that your lordship was content that part of your mony should go to the payment of the said vessels, and the rest you would send to sir John Hybbord; who should have the chief charge of provisions, for all things necessary for the work, and of disbursing of mony by accounts. The which to keep at the works, I, sir Thomas, have sent down a trusty man; and will send also down part of sir Homfreys [Gilbert] mony out of hand, to pay the workmen he shall find there; and will send the rest after. For I long to have it go in hand without delay: and will take order, if I can, to hear every fourteen days what is done. Other notes we have sent here to your lordship to have your advice therein; especially in such as we have not yet ascertained. Or if there be any other thing that you think meet to be considered, we pray you to write unto us. And so we commit your lordship to Almighty God. From Richmond, the 7th of March, 1574. W. Burleigh, Your loving friends, Who writ his name to this letter, to R. Leycester. BOOK I. Number XLIV. Sir Thomas Smyth to the lord treasurer Burleigh; upon the same business. That they might once know whether the gain of this new art would answer the charges. MY very good lord, yesternight I wrot to your lord-Ubi supra. ship, and sent such matters as past here betwixt my lord of Leicester, Mr. Medely, and me. I see he makes no hast, but seeketh to tary: and now would amuse himself here about the Jewes conclusion. I am still of mind, that the Gentiles were wise in their sacrifices, when the priests called ever and anon, Hoc age. For they love to be always aliud agentes; either they deceive themselves, or other men. I would we had once set orders and accounts, what this new art will do. Eight days of March be now past. Sir John Hybbord's man now at Killingworth. And therefore my lord, and your lordship and I, writ to him, to take the charge in hand. If he be either gon from thence, or will not take the charge, then is there another excuse, subterfuge, and delay. Yet if Medley will go down, and begin so well as he can, with that which is there, 150l. which my man shall carry, will set the work going, till we shall truly be certified what can be done in a week or a month. For if there be not so much made as shall be on a day when he hath more lead and iron, yet there may be so much, as we may know what proportion of charge is to the proportion of gain; and what hope we may conceive. And if sir John Hybbord do accept the charge, and do provide the iron, lead, and cask for my lord of Leicester, yet in the mean while may the workmen do somewhat: and my man to attend upon them, and keep the book: and so 81 that time not altogether lost. While the new iron and lead be brought, the melting furnace may be made, the bellows brought, and set in place, &c. Your lordship shall do well to call upon Medely, that he make no more delays. Before, all was that his name was not in the book; therefore he procrastinated, he dis I. BOOK sembled, he would not teach his cunning. Now all the world knows it. Sir John Perot hath a whole discourse of the whole maner of that work in writing. My lord Mountjoy hath gotten one of Mr. Medeley's chief workmen to him. Divers in that country, it is told me, know the earths, and the working of it. And yet we do nothing. I would I might go down my self, and surely I might, for any good I do here. In less than eight days, I would be certified my self, and certify your lordships. My man shall shew your lordship what maner of acquittance I require of sir John Hybbord. For the like sir Homfrey had of me; penned by a lawyer before. And it is reasonable one Irishman standeth still in an agony: but rather like to quail. Yet that is irresolute also. Thus I bid your lordship most heartily farewel. From Rychemond, the 8th of March, 1574. Your lordships always at commandment, T. Smyth. MSS. Burghlian. penes me. Number XLV. Mr. John Dee to the lord treasurer: offering to discover to the queen where treasures of gold, silver, &c. were hid in the bowels of the earth. RIGHT honorable and my singular good lord: whereas of late your honour very favourably used me, considering your marvaillous scantness of leisure from very weighty matters and public; I am now therefore most humbly to render thanks to your honour. Since which time I have some days attended at London, hoping for your lordship coming thither. And on Friday last perceiving your honour to be almost in a readiness to ride towards the court, ere I could get to London too, &c. Therefore finding your lordship at all times of usual access for suitors, so fraught with matters of more importance, than any of mine can justly be deemed, I thought good, with your lordship's leave and favour, thus by writing to enjoy one hour of your lord |