Lord Burghley Concerning Baines and
Marlowe's Activities in Flushing,
January 26, 1592
ADDRESSED: TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY LORD OF BURGHLEY LORD Treasurer of England.
Right Honorable
Besides the prisoner Evan Flud, I have given in charge to this bearer my anciant twoe other prisoners, the one named Christofer Marly, by his profession a scholer, and the other Gifford Gilbert a goldsmith taken heer for coining, and their mony I have sent over unto yowr Lo: The matter was revealed unto me the day after it was done, by one Ri: Baines whome also my Anciant shal bring unto yowr Lo: He was theyr chamber fellow and fearing the succes, made me acquainted with all. The men being examined apart never denied anything, onely protesting that what was done was onely to se the Goldsmiths conning: and truly I ame of opinion that the poore man was onely browght in under that couler, what ever intent the other twoe had at that time. And indeed they do one accuse another to have bin the inducers of him, and to have intended to practis yt heerafter: and have as it were iustified him unto me. But howsoever it hapned a dutch shilling was uttred, and els not any peece: and indeed I do not thinck that they wold have uttred many of them: for the mettal is plain peuter and with half an ey to be discovered. Notwithstanding I thowght it fitt to send them over unto yowr Lo: to take theyr trial as yow shal thinck best. For I wil not stretch my commission to deale in such matters, and much less to put them at liberty and to deliver them into the towns hands being the Queens subiects, and not required neyther of this sayd town I knowe not how it would have bin liked, especially since part of that which they did counterfet was Her Ma: coine. The Goldsmith is an eccellent worckman and if I should speake my conscience had no
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