CP 152/30 1558/9 Feb 3: Letter Lord Paget to Sir Thomas Parry & Cecil

From Waalt

Cecil Papers Volume 152 Folio 30 HMC Volume 1 Page 51 Number 567 Haynes Page 207 Number 184

[Transcribed by Samuel Haynes]

3 Feb 1558. Lord Paget to Sir Thomas Parry and Sir William Cecill

I COMMENDE me hartely unto youe. And do send youe herwithall two Deuises for the Amendement of the Monies, the one of eleven Ounces fine, at five Shillings; the other of ten Ounces, at four Shillings, which I haue beaten out with Baptist. If the Quein's Highnes thinke good that the Devise of five Shillings take Place, the Burthen wilbe the greater to her Subiects; and onles there be great Circumspection used, that the Money may be staid from being caried over, the best shalbe conveyed awaye, and the worste remaine here: And if there be in this Poinct good Digilence used, the Gaine wilbe greate, and the Money herof made, but of the same smalnes, that the Silver Moneys, coigned in the Quein's Highnes Tyme that now is, in Quein Maries and King Edward's Tyme, be, that is, fifteen Grots to the Ounce; and the Aungell being brought to his right Standerd, that is to say, to twenty two Caratts fine, wilbe worth ten Shillings. If the Standerd of ten Ounces fine, at four Shillings the Ounce please her better, then she shall have lesse Gaine a great deale, as appearethe; and peradventure the Moneys may so fall out, that she shalbe but a Saver, or at the lest, a litle Gaigner: Mary, her Subiects shalbe lesse grieved, as dothe appeare by their lesse losse in the Decrye. The Money that shalbe coinged for Ireland shalbe of better Vallew, as I take it. And all your Moneys in England, bothe Grots, Twopencs, Pence, and Halfpens, shalbe of one Standerd (for I am sure youe will coigne no more Testons) and there shall goo but twelve Grots to the Ounce, whiche wilbe faire and large Pieces. Bumsted's Devise I like in no wise, and I beleve (if youe send not for him) he will come no more to youe, seing that he is driven from the piking out of the Money, for he is not hable to do it. One Thing I must geve youe warning of, to enforme her Majestie, that if this Matter be not kept so secret, as, besides her Majestie herself, and four or five of her Counsaillors at the moost, there be no Creature living, made privy to it, or that maye be in any suche Place as to heare the Talke of it, marvaillous great Inconvenience will follow it. The Qwene that ded is, did appoincte, with the Consent of certaine of her Counsaille, in the Presence of the King her Husband, my Lord of Ely, Mr. Englefield, Mr. Peter, Mr. Baker, and an other, to take the Charge of this Matter hoolly in all Poincts; and were contented before their Counsaill, and their Counsaill before them, that we shuld kepe from them the Day of the Decrying, till the very Day before it shuld be decryed. The King of Spayne went over and came never here sins: I went to the Baines, having no great liste to medle; and other Men were as careles for the calling upon it in myne Absence: And so the Mater was dashed. If youe send me Word at what Dayes, and what Sommes of Money the Parliament House hath agreed to give to the Qwene for Subsidy and Fiftenes, then will I let you knowe more. If the Qwene's Majestie amend the coigne universally, there shall groo therby a great Commodite to her, and the Realme; and also the greatest Honour and Reputacion in the World, that ever came, not only to any Princesse, but at any tyme to any King of this Realme. I thinke good, for such Consideracions, as at our next meting I shall declare unto youe, that they of the Mynte have warning to coigne but litle Silver, and to coigne as moche Gold as they can, and to kepe the same Gold still in their Handes. And thus ceassing to trouble bothe youe and my self with any more Mater. Fare youe hartely well. From my House this 3d of February, 1558. I pray youe remember my Sutes. Your very Frende, William Paget.

To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Parry, Knight, Elect, of the Order and Treasurer of the Quene's Ma-jestie's most honorable Houshoulde, and Sir William Cecill, Knight, hir Highnes chief Secretary.