To my lovinge frend Sir/ Jhon Leveson knight my/ deputie Leutenant/
That her Ma[jes]ties pleasure ys to make/ ploy of the ....... of the 300/ men ....... ....... appoy[n]ted out of/ this countye/
That the iron masters shalbe/ bond tyll michaelmass next a 1000li a peece in the surety of/ in 100li a peece. 17th octob[er]/ 1590/
[end first page]
[second page]
Sir. I have aquaynted my Lo[rd] Chan[cello]r with your le[tte]r con/ cerninge the order to be taken, with such as cast Iron/ ordinance <gr and the names of Furnaces> who thinke yt fytt that the parties them/ selves should be bound in a 1000li band accordinge to the condic[i]on wherof you send me a copie to be in force/ but tyll Michaelmas next, And evirie of their surt/ tis in a 100li a peece duringe the same tyme w[hi]ch/ bands I praye you to take with expedic[i]on And so/ to returne them by ........ .viii/
I have also receaved your le[tte]r together with Sir Thom[a]s/ Scott and Sir Thom[a]s Sands knights touchinge your/ beinge at maydestone, for the effectinge of her ma[jes]t[y]s/ good pleasure in levyinge <of> 300 men to be imployed/ in her ma[jes]t[y]s Service, w[hi]ch your ......... and [illegible]/ my lords do take in ....... good part/
I have thought yt good to let you knowe, her Ma[jes]tie/ hath altered her mynd touchinge the levyinge of them, therefore you may make staye therof. And yet I could wishe you to make some fewer dayes tryall/ of their wyllingnis to be so imployed, that when/ ther shalbe needed of any such Service their wyll/ illingnis may be knowne to them ....... [illegible] <by> the [illegible]/ effect. I have wryten to Sir Thom[a]s Scott and Sir Thom[a]s Sands knights w[hi]ch I send you here with/ ......., ......... I praye you to se send to Sir Thom[a]s Sands/ accordinglie. I daylie look for the certification of your/mustere on ....... yet I have not receaved the thyngs in your gen/ rall le[tte]r you make menc[i]on of the sendinge therof/
And so I comyt you to god. From the court this/ xvjth at nyght. 1590/
Your lovinge friend/
Cobham/
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(with permission of South Staffordshire County Council)
D593/S/4/28/15
Lord Cobham writing to Sir John Leveson
Nicholas Myller
Watton
Thomas Barham
Catelyn
Clarke
Byng
Sir Thomas Sands
Sir Thomas Scott
Sir John Leveson