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| Feb. 19. |
82. Dr. Burchard Kraurych (?) to Sec. Walsyngham. Has molten a cwt. and a lb. [of the North–west ore]. Wishes to show him the proofs to save his credit and his own honesty, and to appoint the day to bring him to Deptford, and give him countenance in the first enterprise, that the workmen and the Commissioners may hear their determination, and see what he has done and can do before them all; “if you do not go I will not go.” Esteems his honor's credit as much as his own life. Cannot ride without a horse litter; solicits a visit to his house an hour or two before they depart, to show him the pattern of the melting house and the assays. [One page. Indorsed, “19 Feb. 1577. Mr. Doctor Burchart to Mr. Sec. Walsyngham, touching the North–west ore.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXII., No. 44. Cal., p. 584.] |
| Feb. 21. |
83. Dr. Burchard Kraurych (?) to Sec. Walsyngham. Perceives by his letter that he cannot come, so sends by the captain the silver and gold of a lb. and a cwt., and pledges his credit and honesty to bring at least twenty times as much out of every ton. Begs him to show the proofs to the Queen, and that the captain may be speedily set forth again with such teaching and instruction as Burchard has given him, “for if he shall not go speedily and specially now this year it will be the worse that ever came to England.” Wishes the ore to be brought from Bristol to Deptford, and Walsyngham to visit the place where the melting house shall stand. Hopes to see him shortly. [One page. Indorsed, “21 Feb. 1577. From D. Burcotte, with a proof how much gold and silver a pound and a hundred weight yieldeth, which he will warrant to hold throughout the whole ore.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXII., No. 53. Cal., p. 584.] |
| Feb. 21. |
84. “A declaration of the value of the North–west ore, both for gold and silver, by proofs thereof made by Dr. Burcott,” certified by Robt. Denham, the fire–workman, and the only man admitted to be present. The proof of the lb. weight of ore is 21 grains in silver and 3 grains in gold, which, per ton, would be 98 oz. of silver at 5s. 2d. the oz., and 14 oz. of gold at 59s. 8d. the oz., equal to 67l. 1s. 8d. The proof of the cwt. is 2½ oz. 1 dwt. 6 gr., and 14½ dwt. in gold, which, per ton, would be 51 oz. 5 dwt. and 13½ oz. of gold, equal to 53l. 10s. 3d. [One page. Indorsed, as above. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXII., No. 52. Cal., p. 584.] |
| Feb. 27. |
85. Dr. Burchard Kraurych (?) to Sec. Walsyngham. Is informed that Walsyngham and the rest are displeased with him, as though he had made a false proof. Will stand to the contrary to death and life. Has done it with his own hands, and can do it again. Denham melted down the last quarter. The “detymente” has been ten years in his house, and was his invention to melt it the easier and the sooner. The exclamation against his honesty is without cause. Begs, to clear himself, to have two hundred weight of ore brought to his house, and two honest men to see it roasted and carried to the Tower, where he will mend Jonas' furnace, or make a new one, and melt and purify the ore before them. Proposes that Walsyngham and Sir Win. Wynter be the men, and Denham the workman. If he does not prove it truly, “then take my body and goods to your own pleasure.” Neither Jonas nor the captain, nor any of their confederates, shall come near him. “If Jonas had any cunning it had long since appeared, therefore he shall learn nothing of me until it be known that I am a perfect master above them all.” Begs him to appoint a time. [One page and three quarters. Indorsed, “Feb. 27, 1577. From D. Burcott, touching his cunning and offer about trying the ore.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXII., No. 61. Cal., p. 585.] |
| Feb. |
86. “The doings of Jonas Schutz in the new mines of gold.” Details of his proceedings from January, 1577, in the trial of the ore brought from the North–west by Martin Frobisher, to 18 Feb., 1578, “when it succeeded very well in presence of the Commissioners.” All the doings of Jonas were done openly, and Frobisher carried the secrets thereof to Dr. Burcott, whose doings were known to none but himself. Also the doings of Dr. Burcott from Nov., 1577. Reflections upon his ignorance; he confesses to having made more than forty trials of the ore in different ways, whereas Jonas has made but six proofs, and “those after the order of the great works.” [That which is most material has been already abstracted in the previous correspondence. Six pages. Indorsed, “What Jonas hath done in the matter of the ore, also what Dr. Burcott hath done in that matter,” and underneath, “B. A little bundle of the trying of the North–west ore by Dr. Burcott, Jonas Schutz, and Baptista Agnello.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXII., No. 62. Cal., p. 585.] |
| Feb.? |
87. Memoranda by Lord Burghley [concerning Martin Frobisher's third voyage to the North–west]. That Jonas [Schutz] may have 100l. pension. Ships to be sent for 5,000 tons weight [of ore]; a miner to dig half a ton a day. Number of tons that one, two, or three hundred miners can dig in a month. Wages for the miners. Freight at 3l. a ton. Burchard to make a proof of the weight of the ore in the Tower. The names of Sir Wm. Wynter, Humphrey Lock, Frobisher, Dee, Edm. Hogan, Rich. Yonge, Hump. Cole, are noted. Palmer to be allowed as an officer. Wm. Umfrey to be used. [One page. Indorsed, “A Memorial touching the North–west passage.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXIX., No. 46. Cal., p. 573.] |
| Feb.? |
88. “Proportion of the charges for a third voyage to the Northwest to fetch 2,000 tons of ore, and to victual and keep 100 men there for eighteen months.” Total amount to be disbursed for the ships, wages, freight, &c., 20,836l. 13s. 4d., and so remains clear 39,163l. 6s. 8d. For victualling and wages for 100 men, 4,800l., who will get in 2,000 tons of ore which shall yield 20l. the ton clear. [Two pages and a half. Indorsed, as above. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXIV., No. 1. Cal., p. 589.] |
1578.
Feb.? |
89. “Names of such gentlemen and others as went the first and second voyages with Martin Frobisher into the land now called Meta Incognita, lately discovered by him to the north–west, and now in consideration of their service to be received in as Adventurers [for the third voyage] gratis,” with the amounts. The gentlemen are,_Edward Fenton, 100l.; Gylbert Yorke, 50l.; George Best, 50l.; Rich. Philpott, 50l.; and 25 each to Henry Carew, John Dee, Mathew Kyndersley, Edmond Stafford, Wm. Tanfield, Thos. Chamberlain, Fras. Brakenbury, Edward Harvey, Abraham Linche. Denis Setle, Robt. Kyndersley, Henry Kirkman, Luke Gwido, Vice–Admiral at Meta Incognita. The masters of ships and others, Christopher Hall, 50l.; and 25l. each to Charles Jackman, James Beare, Andrew Dyar, Nicholas Chancellor (having been both the voyages), Richard Coxe, Nicholas Counger, that took the man, Thos. Boydell, and James Wallis, maimed by the country people. [One page. Indorsed, “The gentlemen's names to be received in as Adventurers.” DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXIII., No. 50. Cal., p. 589.] |
| 1578. |
90. “Note of the entertainment to be allowed to Capt. Fenton and others which shall inhabit there,” in the new land Meta Incognita. Fenton to have, per month, 10l.; Geo. Best, 5l.; Rich. Philpott, 5l.; and Luke Ward 5l.; two lieutenants, 2l. 10s. each; two ensigns, 2l. each; all the rest of the gentlemen 1l. 10s.; soldiers and mariners 1l. 6s. 8d. each, per month. [Half a page. Indorsed, as above. DOMESTIC, Eliz., Vol. CXXIII., No. 51. Cal., p. 589. |
