To my Lovinge frynds/ Mr Robert Bynge/ And Mr William Clarke/
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[second page]
for the vewe/ of furnaces/ & ordnance/
After my Harty commendacions unto you. Herewith y[ou]/ shall receave a let[ter] wrytten unto me from my Lords of her/ Ma[jes]ty[s] most honourable previe Counsell whereby you may/ perceave that their Lordships have thought meete that/ an exacte vewe should be taken aswell of All the nombre/ of furnaces w[i]th in the Countie of Kent and all so the/ nombers of the severall kyndes of peeces of cast Iron/ ordinance that are in every of them nowe readie made/ and a true inventorie made what every one of them/ hath And that the names of the saide furnaces, And/ the chief workemen appertayninge to them should be by/ you in her ma[jes]ty[s] name charged to forbeare to cast/ any more suche peeces of iron ordinance untill they/ shall receave expresslie direction from their Lordships/ And withall for their better assurance thereof their/ Lordships doo requyre that bounds shalbe taken/ of the saide owners and workemen in the sunne of two/ hundred pounds the peece for the dewe performance/ of that summe as by their lord[ship]s saide let[te]r more a[s]/ beinge it may appiere unto you. These are to [illegible page damaged]/ And requyre you to take the paynes to see their Lordships/ direction in this behalfe [illegible] [illegible] [illegible page damaged]/ expedicion as conveniently you may And [illegible]/ have of your dooing therein together with the [illegible page damaged]/ And their bounds with you shall take that I may/ satisfye their Lordships accordingly & hereunto I/ charge you to have some speciall care as my hope/ is you will So fare ye hartely well From /[illegible] Court at Greenew[i]ch the fourth of/ novemb[er] 1588
Your lovinge frynde
Cobham
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(with permission of South Staffordshire County Council)
D593/S/4/28/2
William Clarke
Lord Cobham
The document is difficult to read being written by a secretary as a file copy. The document has sustained an amount of damage leaving some words illegible.