Wiltshire Loan on Privy Seals. 203 



4. " 7A« Council's Letter to Sir John Thynne, to certify the ' hahilitie of 

 Mr. Scrope.' 18 Dec, 1570. 



After our very harty commendacions. Where Richard Scroope of Castle 

 Combe ia that countie of Wiltshire Esquier was heretofore by the Queene's Ma>'». 

 Letters under her Privie Seale appointed to lende the some of Fiftie Pouudes : 

 Forasmuche as he alleadgeth to be unLable to furnishe the sayd money, and for 

 the justifying thereof hath sent unto us a certifficatt addressed unto you from 

 three of the Justices of the peace of that Shire, whereby they testefy his inhabilitie 

 toperforme that which is required at his hands. Wee have thought meete, reposing 

 a speciall trust in you, to require you to signify unto us what you knowe or can 

 certaynely learne of the said Scroopes habilitie or insufficientie to lende the sum 

 of hym required, to th' ende that uppon knowledge thereof wee may take such 

 farther ordre in that behalf as shal-be convenient. And so fare you well. Froni 

 Hampton Corte the xviij"' of December 1570. 



yo'. loving freends 



W. HOWAED. R. Letcestee. 

 F. Knollts. W. Ckcill. 

 To our very loving frende 



S'. John Thynne Knight Collector of 



the Lone in the Countie of Wilts." 

 5. " The Queen to the Earl of Fembroke, Lord Lieut, of Wilts, and Sir 



John Thynne. 17 May, 1571. 

 Elizabeth R. By the Quene. 



Right trustie and right welbeloved Cosin, and trusty and welbeloved. We 

 greete you well. Where the last yere we did direct to sondry our loving sub- 

 jects within that County our Letters under our privy Seale, by the which we did 

 then severally require of them to lend us certen sommes of money for the space 

 of one whoU yere, which at that time we well hoped might by us he repayed 

 according to the severall times the same shuld be payable. And so the same 

 shuld have ben if otherwise we had not ben constrayned since that time to have 

 defrayed great sommes of our treasure for the payment of the charges growen 

 by reason of the late rebellion in the North, and for other extraordinary affaires 

 concerning the honor and defence of our Realrae as well by sea as by land : 

 Now, perceaving that we cannot conveniently before the end of Michaelmas 

 Terme next make payment to any that hath lent to us any such sommes of 

 money, and yet not dowting of the good will of our said subjects but that for 

 these respects they wilbe content to forbeare payment for such a time as vij 

 monethes is. Do require you both to use all good meanes either by your Letters 

 or by your conference with the parties that have so lent to us any money as for 

 the reasons aforesaid and at our request they wilbe content to forbeare the de- 

 mands of their money from the day the same is or shal be due for the space of 

 vij moneths. At which time or before, you may assure to them an undowted 

 payment ; for so have we fully determined by advyse of our Counsel! to per- 

 forme the same. And as we have cawse to think very well of them for their 

 readiness in their payment but specially and much more of such as made spedy 

 payment upon their lirst receipt of our Letters, So shall we continue and in- 

 crease our good opinion of them that shalbe content to forbeare their demand 

 as afore is mentioned. Of all which we pray you to give them knowledge as 



