No. 46.

Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the City, desiring that Sir Thomas Gresham might be discharged from serving the offices of Mayor, Alderman and Sheriff. Dated Westminster, 7 March, 5 Eliz. [1562-3].

Journal 18, fo. 137.

Trustie and welbeloved we gret you well; And wheras our faythfull servante S^r Thomas Gresham knighte is one of the citizens and fredome of o^r citie of London, and by reason therof maye perchance hereafter be called upon or elected to serve in the office of maio^r alderman or shref w^thin our saide citie of London or countye of Middlesex. Forasmuche as the same S^r Thomas Gresham not onlye in tymes past hathe ben employed in o^r service about our weightye affayres in the partyes of beyond the sea concerninge the state of o^r Realme, But also hereafter duringe his lif muste and shalbe employed aboute o^r like weightye affayres in o^r service concerninge the state of oure realme from tyme to tyme as our pleasure shalbe to appoynte. These ar to signifye unto you that those & other speciall consideracõns us movinge our request and expresse pleasure is that at yo^r nexte comen assembly or comen counsayle daye to be holden w^thin our saide cittye ye do cause it to be fyrmely and perfectley ordered and of recorde emongest yon regestred by an absolute acte of comen counsell that o^r saide servante S^r Thomas Gresham from hensfourth duringe his life shalbe free and clerely discharged of and from the saide offices of maio^r, alderman and shriff afore mencõned and of and from every of them and not at any tyme to be elected or charged w^th the same offices or any of them. And that ye fayle not herof as ye tender o^r favo^r. And of yo^r procedinges in observacõn of this our request, that ye do furthwith after yo^r nexte comen counsell daye assertayne us by writing from you to the intent we maye have consideracõn of the same as shall appertayne. And sowe bidd you fare well from o^r palace at Westminster the vij^th daye of Marche in the fyveth yere of our reigne [1562-3].