Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 3, volume 4, page 37, edited by Henry Ellis, 1846
Above: Queen Elizabeth I of England, painted either by William Segar or George Gower.
The letter:
A pryvat Memoryall for Wm. Herle of chardg gyven to hym by ye Q. Ma:ty.
ELIZABETH R.
Where yow have one other instruction signed by vs, contening the maner of your proceding in procuryng ye expedition and suerty for recovery of all our armor and mvnition remayning at Hamburgh, Breame, and those marityme parts, our pleasure is that therein ye shall doo your endevor as tyme shall serve you. But our speciall chardg to yow is to procure a bargayne for ye borowyng of a mass of mōny to the somme of iiij.xx or jC. thowsand pownds sterlyng, and to paye for the interest therfore for the space of one yere not above vj. in the hundred. And if yow can not obteyne so great a somme, yet if ye can obteyne a somme above iij. or iiij.xx thowsand pownds vppon such a reasonable interest, we shall allow of your service. And if yow can not obteyne ye interest under vj. for the hundred, than yow maye stay concludyng for any bargayne, and if the interest be not above vij. in the hundred, than to suspend the conclusion therof in such sort, as we may within ij. months accept it or refvse it, and therof other to certefy vs by lettres, or els to retorn your self.
For your manner of proceding herin, ye shall vse the best pollecy that yow can, not to appere that your comming is for that purpoose, vntill you haue found good towardnes in the matter, and than for your authorite to make such a bargayne, yow may at your discretion show your Com̄ission signed and sealed by vs.
For the tyme and place of delyvery, we desyre to haue the mōny if it cold be possible by ye end of August at Antwerp, if not, to haue it in Janvary next at Antwerp. If that can not be, but we must nedes receave ye mōny there in Hamburgh or in Holsatia, than is ye bargayne to be made conditionall, that ye interest shall not begyn, but from ye daye yt we shall haue it in our shippes. And therein ye bargayne must be considered, yt other we must haue it delyvered before ye end of September, or els not before April, beeing the transportation by sea in wynter tyme is dangeroose.
Yow shall for ye assurance of repayment offer ye same bonds yt all other ye merchants of Antwerp and Augsburgh have, which is a bond of ours vnder our Great Seale of England and ye bonds of ye Citee of London vnder there comen seale, both which ye maye covenant to delyver vnto them at such tyme as ye shall accord to receave the monny.
Fynally yow shall vse all your conning to make ye interest easy, and to make ye bargain so conditionall, that we maye haue power vppon knowledg from yow, to accept or refuse, wherin we meane certenly to vse good expedition.
With modernised spelling:
A private memorial for William Herle of charge given to him by the Queen's Majesty.
ELIZABETH R.
Where you have one other instruction signed by Us, containing the manner of your proceding in procuring the expedition and surety for recovery of all Our armour and munition remaining at Hamburg, Breame, and those maritime parts, Our pleasure is that therein ye shall do your endeavour as time shall serve you. But Our special charge to you is to procure a bargain for the borrowing of a mass of money to the sum of IV.XX or IC. thousand pounds sterling, and to pay for the interest therefore for the space of one year not above VI. in the hundred. And if you cannot obtain so great a sum, yet if ye can obtain a sum above III. or IV.XX thousand pounds upon such a reasonable interest, We shall allow of your service. And if you cannot obtain the interest under VII. for the hundred, then you may stay concluding for any bargain, and if the interest be not above VII. in the hundred, then to suspend the conclusion thereof in such sort, as We may within II. months accept it or refuse it, and thereof other to certify Us by letters, or else to return yourself.
For your manner of proceding herein, ye shall use the best policy that you can, not to appear that your coming is for that purpose, untill you have found good towardness in the matter, and then for your authority to make such a bargain, you may at your discretion show your commission signed and sealed by Us.
For the time and place of delivery, We desire to have the money if it could be possible by the end of August at Antwerp, if not, to have it in January next at Antwerp. If that cannot be, but We must needs receive the money there in Hamburg or in Holsatia, then is the bargain to be made conditional, that the interest shall not begin, but from the day that We shall have it in Our ships. And therein the bargain must be considered, that other We must have it delivered before the end of September, or else not before April, being the transportation by sea in winter time is dangerous.
You shall for the assurance of repayment offer the same bonds that all other the merchants of Antwerp and Augsburg have, which is a bond of Ours under Our Great Seal of England and the bonds of the City of London under their common seal, both which ye may covenant to deliver unto them at such time as ye shall accord to receive the money.
Finally you shall use all your cunning to make the interest easy, and to make the bargain so conditional, that We may have power upon knowledge from you, to accept or refuse, wherein We mean certainly to use good expedition.
Notes: Breame = Bremen.
needs = necessarily.
Holsatia = Holstein.
other = otherwise.
both which = both of which.
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