Nine memoranda concerning the farm of the tin mines in Cornwall and Devon survive in Oxford's hand from 1595 to (probably) 1599. See also Tin Mine Letters.

Return to Oxford's Letters Index.

[=69] BL Landsdowne 86[/66], ff. 169-70: undated.

First, when I offered to make it £10 thousand, my Lord of Buckhurst offered £7000. His other offer was, if her Majesty should lend £3000, then to yield her yearly, after the first year, £10,000.

He is fallen from £7000 to £4000.

The considerations.

First, for that the tin mines may fail and yield some years less tin than other.

Then, if the country people upon stubbornness should take a discontentment and refuse to work, having now other means to live upon tillage and fishing.

Further, that he must give the tinners for their tin as they have at this present, which is £29 or £30 the 1000 lb. weight.

Again, the Pewterers must have the same price they have still.

Last of all, the Genoese, Venetians, Florentines to have their liberty granted them by the statute.

For these reasons, if I take it not, he is to have it at £4000 more price than her Majesty's custom, which makes her custom £7000 yearly. Whether for these reasons also I may not abate £2000 which I offered before these exceptions, paying her Majesty £5000 (which is a £1000 more than is offered) and so to make it 8000, bearing the hazard and adventure of all these doubts.

[=70] Cecil Papers 25/76: ?9 March 1595.

The tin which is spent in the realm is about 300 thousand lb. weight, & for this her Majesty hath 40s custom upon every 1000 lb. weight.

The tin which is transported out of the realm is esteemed to be about 700 thousand lb. weight, and for every 1000 lb. weight hereof her Majesty is to have £3 custom.

Upon every hundred lb. weight of tin which is transported there is 20d imposed.

So that her Majesty's custom of that which is spent within the realm is £600.

Of that which is transported £2100.

And the imposition £583.

Summum Totale

£3283 6s 8d.

The quantity of tin being no more, yet her Majesty may make thereof a greater gain if it shall please her to make the same her own commodity. For whereas by her rates it appeareth that there is 700 thousand lb. weight of tin yearly transported, if her Majesty at every coinage shall buy the tin into her own hand, paying the country after the rate of £25 the 1000 lb. weight, which is after 50s the 100 pound weight, then shall she sell at £35 the 1000 lb. weight, which is after the rate of £3 10s the hundred, & this is rated at the easiest, to make it clear of question.

And for that the whole sum of 700 thousand lb. weight of tin comes not in but at two coinages in the year, therefore her Majesty's stock needeth to be the less wherefore, presupposing her Majesty is to buy the half of 700 thousand lb. weight of tin at £25 the thousand, she is for this to lay out in stock £8750.

Her Majesty buying, then, at £25 and selling at £35 the 1000 lb. weight of tin gaineth £10 in every 1000 lb. weight.

So that for 350 thousand pound weight of tin, being bought & sold as is said before, her Majesty gaineth at every coinage £3500 sterling.

So that within 3 coinages, her Majesty hath gained £10500, and her stock wholly returned into her hands, and out of this gain a stock to proceed, and so yearly forever after to make at both coinages £7000 rent.

And herein her Majesty doth but that by her officer (whomsoever she shall appoint) which 3 or 4 engrossers do yearly, laying their stocks together, to the great hindrance of her Majesty and the realm, for in monarchy the wealth of the prince is the riches of the commonwealth and yet, being drawn into some one, or few, men's hands savours of a monopoly which her Majesty, by taking it into her own hands, doth prevent and remedy.

This way therefore doth make her Majesty's revenue of her tin mines to rise to the sum yearly by custom, imposition of the 20d, and the taking of the commodity into her own hands, £10283 6s 8d.

The suit which I do most humbly crave of her Majesty and desire your Lordship's favour therein to further.

That, whereas by the statute made anno viij Henrici 7th caput xviij, it was enacted that no tin nor lead should be transported out of this realm into any parts beyond the seas except only to the town of Calais, upon pain of forfeiture of the double value of the merchandise so carried or conveyed to any other place than to the staple of Calais;

Save only the merchants of Genoa, Venice, Florence, etc., to be shipped in the ships, galleys, carracks and other vessels, to bring the same into their countries in manner accustomed;

Saving also the burgesses of the town of Berwick;

And whereas a licence is granted to one Martin for transportations of tin which, being not diligently looked into, her Majesty loseth very near half the custom due to her for the same for want of entering the just weight, as will be proved by comparing the weight from the coinage with the weight entered to be transported;

May it therefore please her Majesty to grant unto me a licence solely and only to transport the said commodities of tin and lead, and to no other. I will not only yield to her Majesty £500 a year for a yearly rent, but will also take better care to see the just weight entered, whereof her Majesty's customs shall be better answered than hitherto they have been.

[=71] PRO SP12/252[/49], ff. 96-7: 4 June 1595.

My Lord of Buckhurst offers her Majesty £4600 for the pre-emption & transportation of the tin.

Carmarden's reasons why it is better for her Majesty to accept of my Lord of Buckhurst's offer than to take the imposition of a noble upon the hundred.

First.

1. If there be 15 hundred thousand pound weight, three hundred thousand lb. must be left for the realm, so there remains but 12 hundred thousand, which yields her Majesty but £4000, so that hereby she leeseth £600.

2. If there be 12 hundred thousand lb. weight (three hundred thousand set apart for the realm), her Majesty shall have £3000, so that she leeseth then 16 hundred pounds a year.

3. If the merchant stranger shall refuse to buy in respect of so great an imposition, then her Majesty shall have nothing, and so leese all.

His conclusion therefore is that it is better for her Majesty to accept my Lord of Buckhurst's offer.

Mine answers.

1. To the first I make two exceptions: first, to the supposition which he maketh doubtful, being certain; then, to the number which is spent within the realm, I affirm [ ] not to be half so much.

To the first.

For that he now supposeth if there be 15 hundred thousand, I say from himself he knoweth it to be 15 hundred thousand, & therefore he doth not well in this supposition. And first I prove it by his own assurance to me, and after by the report which he should have made, or hath made, to my Lord Treasurer, unless he hath dealt very dishonestly both with her Majesty and myself, & if he now goes from it then I will prove it by them that know it better than himself. And if there be 15 hundred thousand (as he supposeth and I shall prove), and that two hundred thousand be not spent within the realm, then is there to be thought 13 hundred thousand to be transported which, at a noble a hundred, comes to £4333 and one noble, so that here my Lord of Buckhurst is but £260 and thereabout over the reckoning, to answer which overplus the merchant stranger who pays double custom is not reckoned, which makes to her Majesty a bigger gain than the Lord of Buckhurst hath offered.

Besides, whereas his offer may be a great disquietness and a great indemnity to the two shires of Devonshire and Cornwall, as also to the English merchant who buys it, now the imposition doth not impeach none of the shires nor the merchants, but it is to be raised by strangers in foreign countries, who makes us pay greater taxations upon commodities of lesser value.

The second.

The second point differs only in number, not in reason, from the first, so that this answer above is for them both.

The third.

This reason is as much to say as, when cloth was at 14 pence, and now at a noble, there is more cloth sold now than before and so, in like case, in wines at 10 groats a tun & now at 4 mark, there is as much drunk as was then, besides a taxation of drawing of wines throughout the realm. Thus you may see what weak reasons may be given to weaken a good cause when men are not willing that good causes should take effect for her Majesty.

And here an end for this comparison of Carmarden's between the impost and my Lord of Buckhurst's offer.

But it is also necessary that, sith your Lordship would know the secret of this bargain of tin, whereas Carmarden hath set down but two ways for her Majesty to consider of, there is a third of more importance than them both to be advised on, which is the value of the tin, which may be worth Devonshire and Cornwall 40 thousand pound a year.

[That is bought at 50s the hundred, and sold for five pound the 100.]

Being bought at £25 a thousand, which is 40s in a thousand more than the Merchants have given any time this 14 year, saving the last year that they put it up on purpose.

If her Majesty do appoint an agent, he buying at £25, he may sell it for £50 the thousand, which gives gain a thousand for a thousand; for 40 thousand, 80 thousand.

[Ye buy for £3 and sell at £4 10s the 100.]

Buying at £30 a 1000, and selling for £45 the thousand, he makes of his 40 thousand, 60 thousand pound, that is, 20 thousand pound gain.

[Ye buy for £3 and sell for £4 the 100.]

Buying for £30 a 1000, and selling for £40 a thousand, he gets 10 thousand.

It is at this price now, without any profit to the prince, but only for the singular gain of the buyer.

So it will bear the two first prices when her Majesty shall have her price out of it, with greater reason than now, the Queen having nothing.

Now her Majesty, seeing the gains to be 20 or 40 thousand pound a year, as the agent shall in discretion make it, I put it to your Lordship's consideration whether it were not convenient that her Majesty should have one in Cornwall, another for London, lest one of them should die, the gains rising to that value.

But now to the comparison of this to the impost and my Lord of Buckhurst's offer.

1. If my Lord of Buckhurst pay but £4600, then the ager by the first hath 35 thousand £400 gain; here what her Majesty may reasonably demand, I leave to your Lordship.

2. If he make 20 thousand pound gain, paying (which is as little as ever he will make), paying her Majesty but £4600, he gains 15 thousand £400 to himself, a great gain for a subject.

3. For the third is £5400 gain, her Majesty being paid her £4600, being sold as it is, when her Majesty hath no commodity at all.

Note that all customs and other duties are not impeached by these bargains, but every man pays his duty to her Majesty as though this had never been spoken of.

Finis.

I pray, my Lord, pardon my scribbled hand. I have been this day let blood, that I could not write so plain as else I would have done for your better ease, & forsomuch as this way seemeth most profitable for her Majesty, I shall crave that Roberts, by your Lordship's, may have the agentship for Cornwall, putting in for his 20 thousand pound (which is the half of the value) such sureties as are not to be misliked, for that two men's assurances is better than one, if her Majesty shall like to proceed.

NOTE: TEXT IN SQUARE BRACKETS APPEARS IN THE MARGIN IN THE ORIGINAL.

[=72] Huntington Library EL2335: undated.

The effect of the Pewterers' suit, with what loss & hindrance to her Majesty concerning her commodity which she may make of her tin mines.

The Suit

That her Majesty would bestow upon some person, to the benefit of 500 poor people which shall be thereby set a-work, a halfpenny upon every pound, which halfpenny is not raised of the subject but the stranger, and therefore her Majesty may the rather give it.

Another reason, that all the strangers of foreign parts have raised their commodities to us, & therefore good reason that her Majesty should raise her commodities also, and especially of this which, being one of the richest in her realm, yet hath none other price than it had forty years ago.

How these reasons make for her Majesty and, in not advisedly granting the suit, how prejudicial.

It is well known that her Majesty's custom groweth by the commodities which are carried out of her land, and such as are brought in. Of the commodities which goeth out, there is not a more richer than this of tin, if it shall please her Majesty to look with good consideration and advice of faithful counsel therein. Which thing hath been amply and in sundry particularities set down to her Majesty yet, as it seems, not so considered of and examined as were fit in a matter of such importance, for that those were the arbitrers & judges that sought to themselves the commodity, and had authority so to confound it with counterfeit objections that her Majesty should not understand it, or so to suppress it that, at their opportunity and best advantage, when her Majesty least thinks thereon or looks into it or hath forgotten the very substance thereof, they may carry it away which, at this time, in this suit of bars they have done, for having suppress [sic?] it till they thought her Majesty had forgotten it and that there was none ready to put her in mind, now they have revived the same and urged it to her with all haste that may be. But now I will show how unfit it is that her Majesty should yield unto this matter.

First, that her Majesty should raise a halfpenny on the pound, the reasons are set down before (& very good), so that it be known what this halfpenny amounteth, what it induceth, & wherein it may prejudice.

If the memories be looked into what quantity of tin is yearly transported out of this land, at the least there appear ten hundred thousand blocks. A block by ancient custom oft to be 250 lb. weight (wherein also is to be remembered that the pound there is 20 oz. to the pound), but now by use there are few blocks cast under 300 and 400 lb. weight commonly, and so mounting to 500, 600 and 700 lb. weight. These blocks, being transported by the Merchant, when he hath bought his blocks, howsoever the wind serves or his provision of shipping requireth haste, yet must he stay the casting of these blocks into bars, for which also he must pay a halfpenny in the pound.

Now then, it is to be considered what her Majesty hath given (this suit cannot be less worth than ten thousand pound, by that time I have disclosed every particular), and to consider what it induceth.

This halfpenny thus raised to the benefit (as it appears, to the benefit) of the Company of Pewterers, sith her Majesty hath had so good a consideration of her poor subjects, it is reason also that she benefits herself, and therefore if she will (as she may without any reason to the contrary) raise the other halfpenny, then some one nobleman or other whom it shall please her Majesty to bestow it on may yield her some £300, £500, or perhaps a £1000 a year for the same, to have it in farm, which is very much for so small a matter, and it is better for her Majesty to have something than nothing.

This being thus obtained, if the other halfpenny among the Pewterers be worth ten thousand pound, then this halfpenny is as much more.

Now how he gains, and what, to whom her Majesty granteth the suit.

First, upon the first halfpenny.

The first halfpenny is but an inducement, in respect of the getter, to the second halfpenny, yet of this first halfpenny yields him no small profit for, the suit being gotten, he that hath it calls for the Masters and Wardens of the Company and tells them such a suit he hath gotten for their benefit, but yet he doth look also for some commodity to himself. Therefore it is agreed that five of them, or six, of the most substantial whom he pleaseth to nominate shall have this commodity unto them, paying to him quarterly £500 or a £1000 during the time of the grant, yea, besides, shares also they were bound to pay, as to Sir John Fortescue, my Lord of Buckhurst's son, Carmarden, Mr George Gifford and many more, yearly payments of £100, £50, some £300 during the grant, by which appeareth the commodity, and if they can give thus much out, it is to be thought they have as much or more for themselves. And it is here again to be remembered how they buy tin 20 oz. to the pound and sell after 16 oz. the pound, whereby they raise their gain the easilier, as hereafter in more convenience shall be showed.

Now this commodity drawn from the first halfpenny [ ] whereof her Majesty knows not that he hath anything (or, at the least, made believe but some small consideration), then he seeks to bring the other halfpenny on, & carefully puts her Majesty in mind to consider herself and to raise it to another halfpenny, which is but a penny in the pound (which is nothing, sith tin is sold now as it was forty years ago et cetera), and for this he will give her some such sum as hath been said before, which obtained, he hath then this halfpenny whole to himself, paying her Majesty a very small matter, and so good a share in the other as may be a good revenue for any baron in England.

To conclude, therefore, I am now come to show what prejudice this is to her Majesty. First, she gives away, under colour of this lesser part, the most part of the commodity which she should make of her muneral [sic?] matter of tin (which is called the great suit), for these two halfpennies import not less, I am sure, than ten thousand pound a year which, being given away, how will those Merchants, or whosoever should farm the commodity, be ready to undertake it when her Majesty beforehand hath clipped ten thousand pound thereof, yea, I believe twenty? They that take it must, at the least, lay out in stock 20 or 30 thousand pound, which they will never do when they shall pay out the custom of the penny. To them that shall farm it, also, it is a great hindrance to their traffic to be driven to stay casting it into bars. By this, in the end, may be seen, under the pretence of the little suit, they have gotten (if her Majesty suffer it to pass) the great, which service to bring only to her Majesty was it I desired to do her.

It is no marvel that they have put her Majesty out of conceit with the great when, under the pretence of this small, they can carry it so cunningly that they will juggle it so clean out of her Majesty's fingers as she shall never have any sense or feeling thereof.

And, further, which is to be advertised, how much is her Majesty abused in this, that she is made believe she relieves 500 poor people of her subjects, whereas indeed she benefits 5 or 6 of the richest sort and nothing at all the poor. And this is the reason: the workmen, they work under these Masters of the Company and have their day's hire, week's or month's accordingly. It is the Master that buys the tin and, after it is wrought into bars & ligots, that makes his advantage thereof; the servant or his labourer hath no more than he had before, his day-wages and allowance.

So, too, a Warden of the Pewterers and a few Masters of the Company (whose faces her Majesty never saw, who never did her or the commonwealth service or are able) shall have the fortune to be infinitely benefited and enriched by her, & I, that only desire to make it known unto her what a ruin and manifest loss unto the great matter of tin it is, how she gives away to others that shall never thank her for it sith they have gotten it by their own cunning and industry, not by her intention or liberality, shall neither have thanks or acceptance. For if she knew it were the great matter (from which herself hath been discouraged by calling it an innovation and taxation to the subject), and that none would undertake to deal in it, it was so dangerous, now that she should sensibly perceive how themselves have gotten it from her, and make 20 thousand pound a year thereof, and no exclamation or any that grieve or complain, I am sure she will repent and dislike. But thus it is, and so must be, if she let her gift proceed.

Time will not give leave to set down every particularity, wherefore I will refer it to other remembrances if her Majesty shall dispose to hear them.

*Remembrances concerning the casting blocks of tin into bars or ligots.

[=73] Huntington Library EL2336: undated.

By her Majesty's having the pre-emption of tin or any other commodity in her realm.

By her tin she is to raise her commodity to herself.

Pre-emption
By
Imposition

Against her pre-emption (a thing not to be denied), there is no more to be said, only this to satisfice and clear the imposition in augmenting the five groats to ten.

A thing by them intended, very well known to myself, & would in time pass, as by experience your Lordship sees. For no doubt, the suit of the Pewterers once granted (as it had been now and many times heretofore had it not been opposed against), it induceth the raising of a halfpenny to her Majesty and after, consequently, the ten groats. For if your Lordship do well conceive my notes which I have sent you, you may observe that the Merchant, by his allowance of twenty pound weight more to the hundred (which is six score pound weight), gains ten shillings and tenpence, sith tin is sold ordinarily in the realm & London for sixpence halfpenny, wherefore, though they seem in show that hardly they would be brought to ten groats, yet indeed they both desire it and intend it, after this manner I have set down. And not without reason sith, by the gain they have of that ten shillings and tenpence, it is easy for them to spare out of it the ten groats &, besides, her Majesty's own commodity, by the number of so many impositions, serves for an obscurement to the great (which by no means they would have known or that her Majesty should look into). But, her Majesty taking the pre-emption, all these shifts are taken away for, her Majesty making the tin her own commodity, there is no such allowance in the weight, but it cometh clear unto herself, so that by the pre-emption only that is saved and her Majesty gaineth thereby eight thousand five hundred pound more and above the custom of five groats. And in my notes I did not set it down as a thing done, but intended, informing her Majesty that, it and the other being given away by her Majesty, how thereby, when she would at any time hereafter look into her prerogative, it would be too late, and so may be a great hindrance.

The other, for imposition for twopence, the commodity being her Majesty's, she may raise the price and sell it as she shall think best. And sith the Merchant, in transporting the tin out of the realm into Syria and Turkey, make two, three, and oft four shillings a pound of tin, there is reason for her Majesty, being a commodity yet unraised, to impose twopence, which in four shillings gain they may very well allow her, and this twopence toucheth no whit the subject sith it is paid by foreigners, for the Merchant raiseth it there again.

If the Merchants, upon an obstinate opinion, hoping to discourage her Majesty, should stand with her, she hath three bridles to retain them with.

First, their own necessity for, tin being one of their chiefest lades, they cannot spare it. Secondly, there is a statute (I take it, in Edward the III's time) that, for such a quantity of tin transported, the Merchant oft to bring in such another quantity or proportion of gold bullion and deliver it into the Tower. It is so long ago that I did peruse that statute, thinking this matter had been no more to be revived, that till I look it over again I cannot certainly set it down, but (for that in that your Lordship knows better) I thought it not amiss to put your Lordship in remembrance thereof. They have no doubt incurred the danger of this statute and, although her Majesty perhaps will not take the advantage of the forfeiture, yet it is no small bridle to insolent and obstinate persons, to range them unto reason.

The third is, that it is not of necessity that her Majesty, having taken the pre-emption of tin, that she must sell it to them, but if they will seem, as it were, to contrast with her Majesty, she may sell it to the Genovese & Florentines, who will no doubt double, if she will, the custom, for the stranger in every commodity payeth double custom.

But what, they will make a number of objections which have all been fully answered over and over again, and so long as her Majesty will give ear, and give them credit in it that hope to share it among themselves, she shall never find an end.

But most of their objections, if they be observed, will be found in the particulars aforenamed which all, by her Majesty's pre-emption, are put to silence. What her Majesty thinks of the imposition of twopence I know not, but this I am sure, the same reasons which moved her to grant the Pewterers their suit have in them much more force for herself.

But, as the grant goes, it is far greater than ever I thought they durst have presumed for, by having it to them and their success, and so the sharers with them from them again, to them and their heirs, hereby her Majesty's prerogative for that commodity, methink, is given away from the Crown.

Where all the tin they find not brought to the coinage is given them absolutely, and the Merchant put by, have they not herein done the same for themselves which I would exhort her Majesty to do for herself? The coinage lasteth for certain days and times of the year only during the weighing and stamping but the tin is digged out of the mine in the time of vacation, where these Pewterers, now riding down with their stock, will buy up and agree with the tin master at the mines and, thus being bought up, will, by virtue of their grant, bring it to the stamp so that, whereas I desire her Majesty should turn out the Merchant, so she doth, but in that I crave she should do it for herself, she hath given it to the Pewterers. A halfpenny indeed, which, to the uttermost (according to the rate by which I make the account), comes to two thousand five hundred pound but, by this large manner of grant, it is a nemo sit, and it is apparent that they have obscurely included in their grant the very pre-emption.

As for the caveat in the end, I will say little, but by it a starting-hole is left for a good excuse if ever hereafter the absurdity in yielding to so great a guile should come in question.

[=74] Huntington Library EL2338: undated.

The tin which is yearly transported come to twelve hundred thousand pound weight and some threescore thousand over as, being cast into blocks, doth plainly show, for every block being three hundred and fifty pound weight, and three thousand six hundred blocks, it comes to the same number of pound weight which is transported.

The tin which is spent in the realm comes to a fourth part, at the least, which is three hundred thousand pound weight.

So that the whole quantity of tin is fifteen hundred thousand pound weight.

This tin is bought up by the Merchant (as shall appear to your Majesty by the yearly memorials of the coinages which I have sent you in a schedule by itself) most commonly at twenty, two and twenty, and three and twenty pounds in money for a thousand pound weight of tin.

And in those years wherein you shall see higher prices, then was it raised by the Merchants themselves, either to take occasion, by buying dearer at home, to raise the price more commodious to themselves abroad unto strangers or, when they feared that your Majesty, considering the richness of this commodity, by your prerogative was like to take the pre-emption to yourself and so make it your own as, for example, in this remembrance of years it appears in three coinages (which was at that time when first I enterprised to reveal this commodity unto you, the year 1595, and the first coinage in midsummer, anno 1596) they raised the prices to thirty-one pound ten shillings the thousand. These years they sold tin in Turkey at eight pound the hundred, and so they do continually every year, except some years they carry so great a quantity as they make a glut, as they term it, whereby they are fain to abate their prices and sell it for seven pound ten shillings, and seven pound, but then they recompense this abatement with the prices to us of such commodities as they return. But so soon as they found that your Majesty did not go forward at the very next coinage in the same year (anno 1596), at the Michaelmas coinage they brought it down to twenty-four pound ten shillings. The next year (some fear conceived again of your Majesty's proceedings), they raised it to twenty-six pound but, since delivered of that doubt, they have diminished at every coinage the price so that this year (if the doubt again be not renewed), I know they are determined to set the price at two and twenty pound the thousand pound weight, agreeable to the most common prices of former years.

I will therefore account to your Majesty the commodity, what it comes unto and what benefit it will be to you, after the rate of fifteen hundred thousand of tin, containing the whole sum both of that twelve hundred thousand pound weight which is transported, as of that three hundred thousand pound weight which is spent at home.

And for the price, I will take that whereto the Merchants of tin and the country have agreed and, by contract, giving counterbonds one to the other, have already gladly consented. This was done when the Company of Pewterers first commenced their suit for the halfpenny in the pound for casting the tin into bars.

And the reason wherefore this was done was to have easier passage in their suit, knowing that when they could show the consent of the country and the agreement of the Turkey Merchants the suit would seem more reasonable, as a thing profitable for the whole realm, setting many poor people of your Majesty's a-work to the number of three thousand persons.

But where the serpent lay hid in the herb they never thought should be perceived for, whereas they pretend it should nourish three thousand poor people which hereby should be set a-work, I can assure your Majesty it is but the work of threescore persons which the Company useth in several places, as in some, twenty, in other ten, and fifteen, and as the conveniency of places requireth. And for the general benefit to your realm, it is contrary, for the whole commodity runs to five or six which are the Master and Wardens of the Company and, as for the detriment which it importeth to your Majesty, concerns your whole profit which is to redound unto you by this commodity.

For in granting them a halfpenny a pound for casting into bars all such tin as shall be transported, your Majesty gives them eight and twenty hundred pounds of year which your Majesty with great facility may put into your own coffers.

In granting to them, their heirs and successors, that they shall have the authority of setting the prices and that none shall buy before them without their leave, in this you grant away for that commodity your pre-emption which by prerogative, without contradiction, is your own, whereby hereafter, when your Majesty may be certainly informed how great a commodity you may make it unto you, then it will be too late, having barred and excluded yourself by this, your grant to the Pewterers, to make any profit thereof if so you should be disposed.

In granting them their desire in buying to continue the usual price which is now, by this they shall pull from your Majesty four thousand pound a year, so that the very suit of the Pewterers harm your Majesty and hinder you six thousand and three hundred pound a year.

And now I have given your Majesty the knowledge thereof, I will by account, as plainly as I can, and briefly, set down what commodity this matter of tin may be raised unto, to the intent when you see it plainly proved and set down, that it cannot be contradicted, then your Majesty may proceed according to your pleasure.

If your Majesty take the pre-emption of this commodity, then (as the very Merchants, Pewterers themselves, and all such as have obscured from your Majesty this matter have confessed and must acknowledge again upon the truth) that your Majesty, buying at four mark the hundred, and selling at four pound, you gain in every hundred pound weight four nobles.

In every block of three hundred and fifty pound weight, four pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence.

In every hundred blocks, four hundred threescore six pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence.

In a thousand blocks, four thousand six hundred threescore six pounds and thirteen shillings, fourpence.

In three thousand blocks, fourteen thousand and one pound.

The six hundred blocks, moreover, are two thousand, eight hundred pounds.

The three hundred thousand pound weight which is spent in the realm is four thousand pound.

The whole sum, then, is twenty thousand, eight hundred pound.

But I see no reason why your Majesty should buy at four marks the hundred sith the tinners, to have four and twenty pound certain every year for one thousand pound weight of tin, have gladly and willingly consented to the Merchants and Pewterers, thinking it a great happiness to have a certainty, being above the ordinary price. If to the Merchants, then, they have so willingly assented, how much more willinger doth duty and love bind them to accept it from your Majesty?

To buy, then, as hath been set down afore, for four marks the hundred, is after six and twenty pound and a noble the thousand.

To buy after forty-eight shillings the hundred weight is twenty-four pound the thousand pound.

Then your Majesty selling at four pound the hundred, as you did before, it is forty pound the thousand.

In which forty pound is gained sixteen pound de claro.

The country hereby hath his twenty-four pound for the thousand pound weight.

And to the Merchant, whether her Majesty pays four marks or eight and forty shillings, it is all one, for he, howsoever, is to pay after four in the hundred, buying it of her Majesty, being now made her own commodity, which is a rate that they themselves have allowed and offered to be administer in if the suit of Pewterers might go forward.

But if it may be so easily borne upon such a condition, it may be as well without it, for it is not fit a society of Pewterers should be partners or sharers with the prince.

So that, by this way, in every hundred is gotten thirty-two shillings.

In every thousand, sixteen pound de claro.

Then the pre-emption of fifteen hundred thousand pound weight yields clearly to your Majesty's coffers four and twenty thousand pound in money.

And this is upon the tin as well spent within the realm as that which is transported, wherefore twopence imposed more upon that which is transported, which is twelve hundred thousand pound weight of tin, comes to ten thousand five hundred pound of money more.

The whole sum, then, which your Majesty may make of this commodity is four and thirty thousand five hundred pound a year more than your Majesty hath had hitherto.

Reasons for the imposition of the halfpenny.

First, this commodity hath never been raised, but as it was in the time of Henry the Seventh, so stands it at the same price, and it is to be considered that two shillings then was as much as fourteen shillings now and so, proportionably, twopence to fourteen pence.

Secondly, by the example of other commodities, as cloth was at fourteen pence a cloth, custom outwards, and it was put up to the subject a noble, to the stranger a mark (this was a commodity wrought, and tin is unwrought, yet carried out of the realm, paying but five groats custom); wine was at twopence a quart, and now is at eightpence; sugar at a groat a pound forty years ago, and now it is at twenty pence, yet cloth, wine and sugar as easily sold and as fast bought at this present as then.

Thirdly, the twopence is not raised on the subject but the stranger who, if he may have our tin at these rates, and our lead, he hath it better cheap than we have the wines, if we should pay but a groat a quart, and the sugar at twelve pence a pound.

Fourthly, in consideration of the great gain the Merchant maketh of this commodity, sith in Turkey he selleth it for eight pound the hundred, wherefore her Majesty may well impose this twopence (which cometh but to sixteen shillings and eightpence the hundred, where he gaineth eight pound) and he, being raised here may, at his pleasure, raise it there again upon the Turks, whereby her Majesty hath gain, the Merchant no loss, nor the subject cause to be grieved.

Fifthly, by comparison, if cloth being at fourteen pence a cloth was put up to the subject at a noble, and to the stranger at a mark, being a commodity wrought, then tin, being a commodity unwrought, may well be put up a groat to the subject, and this twopence more may be imposed upon the Merchant which transports it, and the groat is not full so much, for in thirty-two shillings which is gained in the hundred, it wanteth sixteen pence of a groat in a pound. So that the tin which is now bought at sixpence farthing unwrought, and eightpence wrought, may well be raised to ninepence or tenpence after the examples afore laid down, and all other commodities consequently.

This being therefore known unto your Majesty, if you have any intent to benefit yourself, then have you the choice of two ways whereby to effect the same, & that is either by pre-emption or imposition.

Pre-emption requireth a stock, which either must be made out of your own coffers, or be taken up in allowing ten in the hundred for the same.

The first draws in with it a charge by reason of the carriages, porters, keepers of books and such other difficulties as are appurtenant.

The second hath these difficulties also, besides the interest money which must be allowed.

The last way, therefore, I take to be best for your Majesty, which is the imposition, for that it is the easiest, readiest, and most gainful.

And sith the end of either way is all one, that way which doth best effect that end I take to be preferred.

By pre-emption, therefore, if you buy it at four and twenty pound the thousand, which is eight and forty shillings the hundred, your Majesty gains in every hundred, as hath been said, two and thirty shillings, in every thousand, sixteen pound.

The same you gain by imposing two and thirty shillings upon the hundred, and so it is all one, and comes to one effect, but the first way is less profitable by the deductions. This way comes clear without any diminution of the sum of four and thirty thousand and five hundred pound, as before set down, and it maketh not tin full a groat dearer than it is, but may be very well sold and bought for ninepence or tenpence a pound, according to tract of other commodities which have been raised. And the Merchant that transporteth may very well pay his twopence upon every hundred weight, which is but sixteen shillings and eightpence in every hundred weight, which they sell for eight pound to the stranger, and if it be raised to them here at home, they can raise it so much more to them abroad.

[=75] Huntington Library EL2344: "this tyme of Easter".

Her Majesty's tin which is yearly transported out of the realm (by the most favourablest rate) is xii hundred thousand pound weight, after which is this account made.

Her Majesty allows at the beam to the Merchant twenty ounces to the pound, which is six score pound to the hundred. Through all England beside, tin is sold for sixpence a pound, and sixpence halfpenny.

Upon every hundred weight the Merchant pays five groats custom, so that by the twenty pound overplus (to the hundred of five score) he pays her Majesty her custom of five groats and gains, in every hundred, eight shillings and fourpence.

Her Majesty taking the commodity wholly into her own hand gains this eight shillings and fourpence (for she buying up the commodity for herself, there is no reason for the Merchant to have that allowance), and her Majesty selling to him after sixteen ounces to the pound gains yearly hereby five thousand six hundred pound more and above her custom that she hath.

The Merchant buying his tin here for sixpence the pound sells beyond the seas for two, three, and four shillings the pound, as in France, Italy and Turkey; the nearer to us they carry it, the cheaper they sell it, the farther off, the dearer.

If, then, thus taking the commodity into her own hand, her Majesty please to impose twopence on every hundred, and make it eightpence a pound, it yields her ten thousand pound.

The whole year's profit of tin, after this rate, is bought up for thirty thousand pound. But, for that there is four coinages in every year, her Majesty is not to use for stock more than a fourth part, so that seven thousand or nine thousand pound may suffice for the stock if every coinage fell out proportionably, that is, three hundred thousand pound of tin at a coinage. But for that it is at some coinage more plentiful and at some other more scant (though at the year end it fills up the complete number of xii hundred thousand), to prevent and be provided for such uncertainty, ten or twelve thousand pound may serve for stock.

The necessity of the stock is this. The masters of the mine tins are constrained to keep a multitude at work upon the mines, for which cause they are forced, and have used, to borrow money of the Merchants beforehand, paying sometime eight for the hundred, and ten on the hundred, sometime more or less, as they can get it of the Merchant.

Whereby the Merchant makes a great commodity, for he is not paid back his interest in money but in tin, and at such price as he list to set down at the coinage whereby, through this necessity of money to furnish the charge of the pioneers which work in their tin mines, the Merchant holds the master of the tin-work (which is always in his debt by this occasion) in such bondage that at times of the coinage they rate low or high the price of tin as it pleaseth them.

This mischief the masters of the tins mines shall be delivered of (if it please her Majesty) for her stock employed to that use shall furnish the tin master to keep his men at work, ever beforehand having his necessity served by her Majesty's stock, giving her five pound in the hundred and paying it in tin, as he did the Merchant.

And whereas these tin masters some three years sithence accorded gladly with the Merchant for four and twenty pound price the thousand of tin, to have it forever certain, her Majesty shall give them five and twenty pound for every thousand pound of tin, so the country, sith to the Merchant they consented for a less certainty, to her Majesty, in reason & duty, they are not to contrast for a greater [ ] certainty.

The Merchant have wonderfully abused her Majesty by this usurped and encroached authority they have gotten into their hands, for when her Majesty would look into this commodity, & to see what stock were sufficient to employ that the whole commodity might redound to herself, then the Merchant, to blind such as she employeth in such causes, straight at their pleasure raise the price of tin to such unreasonable rate that her Majesty is thereby discouraged, & by this and such-like means they keep the great commodity of the tin unknown of purpose to benefit themselves. But these deceits and others which I could [ ] explain to her Majesty are of no importance to hinder her if she list to take it to her own hands and, turning out the Merchant, make it her own commodity and then, only by this way which I have set down, by the eight shillings and fourpence gained, as I have said before (which is £5600 a year), by the twopence imposed (which is ten thousand pound a year), for the interest of her stock (which is, if it please her, twelve thousand or ten, six hundred or five hundred pound a year), she advanceth her custom, more and over that she hath, sixteen thousand two hundred pound or sixteen thousand one hundred pound a year (as it shall please her to make her stock either ten or twelve thousand pound).

To conclude.

If, then, her Majesty suffer this suit of the Pewterers to pass, she may evidently see she overthrows this great commodity, for which she hath the same reasons to encourage her that they which friend the Pewterers' cause allege, as your Lordship and her Majesty can better conceive than I need to express farther.

And as it is much against her Majesty's profit to let the Company of Pewterers, under such colourable shows, to go away with this gain picked, as it were, out of her purse, so is it the rather to be rejected sith it encourageth and draweth on other of the like nature, all prejudicial to her Majesty. Thus now your Lordship hath (in a rude hand and with a rough account, as short as I could devise to contract a matter so intricate) the state of her Majesty's tin, what commodity is in her power to make it, what means to raise it, and with what small stock she may accomplish it. The reasons to exhort need to be none other than is made by them that persuade her in the behalf of the Pewterers, for if they be strong for them, they are more forcible for her Majesty.

If your Lordship confer this advertisement with that which I sent you this morning, and that report of Mr Middleton's, your Lordship may inform yourself perfectly.

That which I sent this morning did err in the halfpenny, for there I did set down for every halfpenny, five thousand, where I should have set down but two thousand five hundred, so that both halfpennies come but to five thousand pound.

I am very glad your Lordship looks into it, and it is a great encouragement to me for that I know you will not be carried either with partiality or affection, but that which shall be most serviceable for her Majesty, you will favour and further (and so far I desire your Lordship to stand my friend in this as you shall see I do rightfully and truly inform her Majesty), and suffer it not by cunning, authority, or subtle means to be suppressed, that others in time, under devised pretences, may steal away her Majesty's profit. And for that I am to send to her Majesty the like of this [ ] certificate tomorrow, & that I know she will have speech with your Lordship, I shall desire your Lordship to help her rightly to conceive it, for I know her opinion of this great commodity hath been mightily discouraged, and so long as she will be altered with every trifling objection, so long she shall never have it as she desires. But if she will resolve and presently give order that no tin be sold to any Merchant at this coinage, but to herself or assigns (if the coinage be not already past, for about this time of Easter is one of the chiefest coinage; or if it be, against midsummer or Michaelmas coinage to take the order), she shall see how easy a thing it is and profitable for her Majesty for, as I remember, Easter and Michaelmas be the greatest coinages.

*The whole effect of the tin cause.


[If it be favour to rate it lower than it is to deceive.]

[£5600
2500
_________
8100
The halfpenny makes it £8100.]

[Which is but one halfpenny more than the Pewterers' suit imports, for one halfpenny they have, & other they would have her Majesty take, & tin is sold for sixpence halfpenny, so that her Majesty imposeth but one halfpenny more in raising it to twopence.]

[Her Majesty hath been informed still that there must be forty thousand £ stock.]

[But furnishing one quarterage satisficeth the whole, being presently filled up again with the sale of the tin, & so, quarterly, it follows.]

[By the demand of 40 thousand, her Majesty may perceive the rate of tin is greater than this here set down.]

NOTE: TEXT IN SQUARE BRACKETS APPEARS IN MARGINS IN THE ORIGINAL.

[=76] Huntington Library EL2345: undated.

A brief note concerning her Majesty's commodity of tin.

There is transported out of the realm, one year with another, twelve hundred thousand pound weight of tin.

The Merchant that buys at the beam is allowed twenty ounces to the pound. He sells after sixteen ounces to the pound. He pays custom five groats upon every hundred. So that in every pound he gains four ounces, which gain dischargeth his custom. The rest he hath liberty to make his own profit.

To make this her own commodity, as her Majesty may, it would be a great increase, and not less than ten thousand pound a year to her coffers which, being neglected, is gotten from her by mean persons which greatly enrich themselves.

But forsomuch as this great matter is condemned to obscurity sith there hath been too much revealed already, there is a device to draw the same, under titles and mean shows, into the hands of other private persons which, seeing the gain these Merchants make, mean either to share with them or to translate it from them to themselves, both, notwithstanding, concurring in this, to discourage her Majesty from looking into it & (rather than her Majesty should, by knowing the true profit thereof and the right way to raise it) share it among them. To bring which to pass, it hath been cunningly plotted to distinguish the whole suit into three branches, making every branch seem another suit and of another nature, although tending to one purpose, to distribute among themselves the commodity which of right is due and fittest to her Majesty. These branches, then, are only to be set afoot masked and visored, so that they in no wise seem children of the first whereof I have spoken.

The first branch is, and thought fittest to begin withal, is this suit now moved in the behalf of the Pewterers, which is this, that it will please her Majesty, to the benefit of that Company, to restrain that no tin should be carried away out of the land but that it should first by the Pewterers be cast into bars and lingots and, for that, to be allowed a halfpenny in every pound.

Now then, this suit, made so little, is to be considered if it be so or no. Twelve hundred thousand pound weight carried out of the land pays twelve hundred thousand halfpennies to the Pewterers. This comes to five thousand pound a year.

Then is induced the second branch that, sith her Majesty hath been so beneficial to her subjects for their relief, she hath reason also to remember herself, & therefore, if it shall please her to take the other halfpenny, and impose a penny on the pound, which is not gathered from her subjects but from strangers & foreigners, a small thing, then he that moves it (or for himself, or friend) will give her Majesty for the same some three or four hundred pound, which is something to her coffers. She hath nothing of the other halfpenny. This small suit is in equal proportion with the former, and importeth also other five thousand pound, by the same reckoning.

This induceth another of the consort to his part and branch, and that must be thus, that whereas her Majesty hath raised her customs upon every other commodity through the realm except this of tin and lead, sith it is one of the greatest commodities that she hath, and that tin bears but the same price now which it did forty years ago, she may with great reason, whereas she is paid but five groats custom for every hundred pound weight of tin, raise it to ten groats, and he will be, if it please her, her farmer for it, giving her as it shall please him to offer (more for his own commodity than her Majesty's), as they before in the other two branches, fellows to this. And this is two thousand and one hundred pound.

The reasons why her Majesty should pass these three branches, I confess, are to be allowed, but yet not in that manner, for by this her Majesty is brought to give that she knows not, to enrich others and defraud herself. Now, therefore, I do affirm it that this suit, thus branched (being every one allowable by themselves) to the commodity of private persons, retired to the first suit again which hath been laid asleep, it were much more reasonable for her Majesty to wake it herself and to take the whole commodity of tin into her own hands having now, by these small suits, discovered how to raise the great, for it is no more but, as they divided the great into parts to shadow the profit, so for her to gather the parts into the whole and, by their means, to raise it to the full and entire commodity of herself.

So if her Majesty imposeth the ten groats upon the hundred pound weight, the penny on every pound, she sees how then he had reason that proffered ten thousand pound a year. And if these, her subjects, may so reasonably do it, why should it be made so difficult and obscure for her Majesty? And this which they disjointed into parts is no more than the whole commodity of the tin which, by these blinders, they would rob it from her Majesty, for her assigns (whosoever she shall please to appoint) must have authority to impose the ten groats on every hundred, and the penny on every pound weight of tin that shall be transported. So th'effect is all one, but not the manner & purpose, for their intent is to profit themselves, and this which I do is to advance it to her Majesty, without any respect (but if any, by reward, not deceit). And therefore in duty I do inform her Majesty, that she may see how she doth utterly maim the great matter to herself (if ever she shall hereafter have intention to make it her own commodity) by giving passage unto these inferior suits.

*A brief information concerning the matter of tin.

[=77] Huntington Library EL2349: undated.

[By this it appeareth that, for 23 years, most ordinarily tin was sold at twenty-three pound the thousand, one year with another.]

Now at three coinages it is brought to thirty-one pound ten shillings, and it is thought that at the next coinage it will be thirty-three pound a thousand of tin.

They have no reason to do this but only to cross her Majesty and that three or four engrossers might keep this secret gain still in their hands, of which engrossers Taylor the alderman is one, the father-in-law to Middleton, whom her Majesty hath employed in this service to be the better informed.

Wherein is to be noted that Roberts, Alderman Catcher's son-in-law, for that reason was in a manner objected against, although it cannot be denied that he is both a sufficient and honest man and, which is chiefly to be respected, all his motions were for her Majesty's profit.

The tin this year proves to be in greater quantity than it hath been this forty year, whereby her Majesty may see by these delays which are procured (after the rate of forty thousand pound laid out, as I set it plainly down), what she hath lost, & at this time, as the year falls out, it is not forty thousand pound that will buy up the tin.

Sith then the quantity of tin is so much, which shows they did not well to discourage her Majesty that made it so scarce & that there is no need why this commodity which this 23 years hath stood at a reasonable price, now, when her Majesty offered three pound more in certainty than ever yet they had of ordinary, to be raised.

Her Majesty, as well as they which are the engrossers, that raise it up to ten pound the thousand, which is twenty shillings the hundred, for their advantage, for her own profit may raise it to half thereof, which is five pound the thousand & ten shillings the hundred.

If her Majesty shall impose ten shillings on the hundred, that is, five pound the thousand, my suit is that her Majesty will let me be her farmer [ ] paying five thousand pound a year to her for the same.

If her Majesty shall set, both upon tin and lead, ten shillings on the hundred of tin and forty shillings on every fother of lead, I desire to farm them at six thousand pound a year.

And upon this imposition (whereby her Majesty may cross them justly that have hindered her), the price of the tin falling again, I will give over my patent, finding her agents of good value & sufficienty, such as she shall not refuse, to perform that office of agenty in all sorts as I have informed her Majesty heretofore. So that, although her Majesty be crossed for this year of that commodity which otherwise (considering the great quantity of tins the mines do yield) she might have had, yet by this means she may this year have six thousand pound thereof, and if the bargain of agenty shall be more profitable, the tin by this means brought down, my patent shall cease and I will have in a readiness agents sufficient, and not to be excepted against, which shall effect that which her Majesty is to look for.

NOTE: TEXT IN SQUARE BRACKETS APPEARS IN MARGIN IN THE ORIGINAL.