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Dec. 6.
London. |
64. Sir Wm. Wynter and Michael Lok to Sec. Walsyngham. Have been a long time about the second proof of the ore, the furnace not great enough to bring the work to the desired perfection, and yet they find every ton of ore will yield 40l. in gold. Have tried divers manners of working by sundry men, but cannot “say assuredly” until the furnaces be made. Much time and money spent, yet their expectation not satisfied. Conferences with Jonas [Schutz], who they find very honest and true, and “the perfectest workmaster in this art of his profession;” he says the ore now proved is poor in respect, of that brought last year, and of some brought this, “and of that which he knoweth may be brought the next year;” but promises to deliver half an ounce of fine gold out of every cwt. at the least, and leaves his reward to the Queen, desiring it may be made sure to him during life by letters patent. Jonas warrants the charges of working will be under 10l. a ton, upon forfeiture of his pension; he will repair to Court, then to Bristol to see Frobisher about erecting the work–house and furnaces. The probable charges tinder 200l. Recommends Robt. Denham as able to do good service, whatsoever should happen to Jonas. [Two pages. Indorsed, “6th Dec. 1577. From Sr. Win. Wynter and Mr. Michael Locke touching North–west ore, what Jonas promiseth to do, and that the same shall yield.” DOMESTIC. Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 8. Cal., p. 570.] |
| Dec.? |
65. Four proofs of ore brought from the North–west by Frobisher. “The great proof of the black ore” alone remains, the gold being attached to the paper by sealing–wax. [One page. Indorsed “Proofs of Frobisher's ore.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No 9. Cal., p. 570.] |
| 1577? |
66. “Note of the charges requisite for the trial of one ton of the North–west ore.” Men's wages, coals, wood, lead, and other expenses are estimated at 5l. 5s. [Half a page. Indorsed, as above. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 10. Cal., p. 571.] |
1577.
Dec. 13. |
67. Michael Lok to Sec. Walsyngham. All the water–mills near London have been viewed, but will not serve for various reasons; those at Dartford thought good for the purpose: the bearer, Mr. Frobisher, will certify all particulars. Frobisher and Lok have had large talk with Burcot, but find his demands far out of reason; Jonas, to whom they give the preference, not willing to join with him. Walsyngham should write letters to Mr. Bertie, husband of the Duchess of Suffolk, to send up Sebastian, a Dutchman, and also for Hendrik, the Dutchman: these two men Jonas requires. Awaits his resolution where the work–houses are to be erected. [One page and a quarter. Indorsed “13 Dec. 1577. To Mr. Sec. Walsyngham from Mr. Lok,” with an abstract of the letter. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No 12. Cal., p. 571.] Incloses, |
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i. “Note of conference with Dr. Burcot” To be chief master of the works, and to deliver half an ounce of fine gold at least for every cwt. of ore, free from all charges, except for building, instruments, and working tools. To have a pension of 200l. per annum for life, 20s. a day for diet when either he or his deputy is at work, a letter reward when the mines prove better, and a gratuity of 50l. [Three quarters of a page. Indorsed, as above. Ibid., No. 12. I.] |
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II. “Dr. Burchard Kraurych (?) articles and conditions to serve in the fining of the North–west ore or any other minerals.” [Two pages and a half. Indorsed, as above. Ibid., No. 12. ii.] |
| Dec. 20. |
68. Petition of William Vaughan for compensation for wheat and malt mills, on Her Majesty's farm of Bygnoures in Dartford, and for a lease of them in reversion for twenty–one years, they being thought “very meet to serve such purposes as Her Majesty intendeth them for” [to melt the ore brought home by Frobisher.] [One page and a quarter. Indorsed, “1577. The demands of Wm. Vaughan for the mills at Dartford.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 14. Cal., p. 571.] |
| Dec. 20. |
69. John Baptista Agnello to Sec. Walsyngham. Report upon his trial of the ore brought from the North–west by Capt. Frobisher. [One page. Italian. Indorsed, “20 Dec., 1577. From Giovanbaptista Agnello: trial of the metal.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 15. Cal., p. 571.] |
| Dec. 24. |
70. Names of the Adventurers of both the voyages made by Martin Frobisher to the North–west, in 1576 and 1577, with the amounts subscribed by each and the “cessement.” The names and the amounts subscribed differ materially from those abstracted under date of 7th July, 1577. Michael Lok's stock is increased to 1,000l.; Lords Burghley, Sussex, Warwick, and Leicester, Sec. Walsyngham, Sir Lionell Duckett, Thos. Randolphe, Anthony Jenckynson, Edmond Hogan, and Mathew Fyeld, have also each added to their adventure; Sir Thos. Gresham subscribes 200l.; Frobisher, 1001.; Secretary Wilson and Julius Cæsar, 50l. each; and Thos. Owen, Dr. John Dee, and Eleazar and Gersom Lok, 25l. each; which makes up the sum received for the two voyages to 5,150l., of which 800l. was spent for the first, and 4,350 for the second; besides 198l. paid for the mines and 1,044l. “paid for men's wages of the ships come home.” [Two pages. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 35. Cal., p. 573.] |
| 1577. |
71. Copy of the preceding. Indorsed, “1577. The names of the Venturers with Mr. Frobisher:_Auditors, Sir Wm. Wynter, Mr. Thos. Randolphe, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Fylde._Commissioners, Sir Wm. Wynter, Mr. Thos. Randolphe, Mr. Dyar, Mr. Younge, Mr. Furbisher, Mr. Lok.” [Two pages. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 39. Cal., p. 573.] |
| 1577. |
72. Another copy of the above, with the exception of the two last items paid for mines and men's wages. [Two pages. Indorsed, “The names of the Adventurers of the North–west voyages.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 38. Cal., p. 573. |
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73. Copy of the preceding, with this difference only, that the “cessement” for wages is set down at 975l., instead of 1,030l. [Two pages. Indorsed, “1577. The names of Venturers for North–west parts with Mr. Furbusher.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 37. Cal., p. 573.] |
| 1577. |
74. Names of the Venturers in the first and second voyages for Cathay, &c, which have paid. The name of the Lord Keeper (Sir Nicholas Bacon) has been afterwards inserted, as having paid 100l.; the names of Mr. Brocket, Mr. Doddington, and John Somers do not appear in the foregoing lists, and those of Phillip Sydney, Dr. John Dee, Gersom Lok, and Christopher Andrewes, severally set down in the preceding lists, do not appear in this, although the total paid for the two voyages, 5,150l., is the same. [One page and a half. Indorsed, “The names of Venturers in the first and second voyage to Cathay.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 42. Cal., p. 573.] |
| 1577. |
75. Michael Lok's private memorial of labour and expenses for the first and second voyages of Martin Frobisher to discover the Northwest passage. Twenty–five years' study and travail to satisfy his knowledge. 1,000l. spent in books, maps, charts, instruments, and gifts to men for conference. 2,300l. disbursed, out of which 475l. was subscribed, but “not paid until the ships returned, and is not yet all paid,” by Lord Treasurer Burghley who ventured 50l., Lord Leicester 100l., Sir Thos. Gresham 100l., Dr. Wilson 50l., George “Wynter 50l., and Simon Boyer, Rich. Owen, Julius and Thos. Cæsar, and Eleazar Lok 25l. each. [One page. Indorsed, “Mr. Lock's privat memorial.” See ante, 26th May, 1577. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 30. Cal., p. 572.] |
| 1577–1600. |
76. Minute that Sir Fras. Drake begun his voyage, and two years after arrived at Ternate, with which King he made a treaty of commerce, freighted his ship with cloves and presented Queen Elizabeth with a ring from that King as a pledge of the treaty. 1582: Fenton, captain of the Bonadventure, with the Leicester ketch and two small vessels, succeeded him [Drake]. 1586: Capt. Anguish succeeded, with five ships. In 1589: Chydley and Paul Wheele, with three great ships and two ketches. 1590: Sir Jas. Lancaster and Capt. [Geo.] Raymond, with three stout merchantmen; Hawkins and Capt. Wood, succeeded them. And in 1600: Sir Jas. Lancaster continued the navigation and commerce, for some years intermitted in those parts, with four ships. [Minute. Corresp., East Indies, 1613, March 23.] |
