LETTERS FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 487 



have given his majesty an account of those things wherein 

 I have received his pleasure from your lordship by this 

 letter which I send open. 



Good, my lord, once again have care of your health; 

 and learn what Card anus saith, that more men die of cold 

 after exercise, than are slain in the wars. God ever keep 

 you. 



Your Lordship s true and much devoted Servant. 



Nov. 21, 1616. 



A Letter from his Majesty to your Lordship, touching 



the Business of the Mint*. 

 Right trusty and right beloved Counsellor, we greet 



you well. 



Before your letters came to us, we had been informed of 

 the pains and diligence you had shewed in our service, 

 which we take very graciously at your hands, and thank 

 you for it, desiring you still to continue in the course 

 whereinto you have made so good an entrance, and have 

 taken the right way of examining the business. And, 

 whereas, you give your opinion of the Mint, we have thought 

 fit to remember unto you the usual form which we have 

 ever used in matters of consequence, that when you have 

 taken the laborious part upon you in examination of the 

 business, we first here report of the whole proceeding, before 

 we give our resolution thereupon. And, therefore, until 

 we hear the report of it in particular, we cannot conclude 

 with you. As for the point of the stay of commerce, we 

 agree with you in opinion thus far, that you call three or 

 four of the aldermen whom you shall think fittest, and 

 assure them, in our name, that we see no likelihood or 

 reason of raising our coin, for ought we have yet heard, but 

 rather of the contrary ; and that the raising of the value of 

 the coin will be the last course we shall take, when we see 

 no other means left ; for which we yet see no cause, and, 

 therefore, the stop of money is needless. As for the com 

 mittee, we think it fit that they should continue to meet, 

 until we have brought the business to such ripeness, that 

 by the report thereof, at our return, we may perfectly un 

 derstand every particular. 



Given at our Court at Newmarket, 

 this 4th of December, 1618. 



Addit. MS. 5503. fol. 96. 



