* * * The Last yere I shewyd yor goode lordeshipe a Platte that was drawen howte for to make a goodely Bursse In Lombert strete for merchaunts to Repayer unto I doo suppose yt wyll coste ij ml_l_ and more wyche shalbe very beautyful * * and allsoo for the honor owr soveragne * * ther ys serteyn howssys in the sayd * * longyn to Sir George Monnocks and excepte * * maye purchesse them the sayd Bursse can [not] be made Wherefor yt maye please yor good lordshipe [to] move the kynges highnes to have his most gracious lettyrs [di]rectyd to the sayd Sir George Wyllynge and allsoo [co]maundynge hym to cawsse the sayd howssys to be [so]led to the Mayer and Comminaltye of the City of London for suche prices as he dyd purches them for and that he fawte not but to accomplyshe hys gracious commaundement the Lettyr must be sharply made for he ys of noo jentyll nature and that he shale gyffee Further credens to the mayer I wyll delyver the Lettyr and handyll hym the best I can, and yf I maye obtayngne to have the sayde howyssys I dought not but to gather oon ml_l_ towarde the buildynge or I departe howte of myn office ther shale lacke noo goode wylle In me. And thus or lorde preserve yor goode lordshippe in prosperous helthe long to contynew. At London the XXV daye Juylly. No. 37. Letter from King Henry VIII to Alderman Monoux desiring him to part with certain property whereon to erect an Exchange. Dated Chichester, 13 August [1538]. Journal 14, fo. 124. By the Kynge Trusty and welbelovyd we grete you well. And where as we under stande that ye have certeyn howsyng and tenementes abowt lombard strete in our Citye of london whiche ar veray mete and expedyent for certeyn intended purposes to the weale and commen furtherance of merchauntes and entrecours of the same wtyn that or Cytye lyke as or trusty and Ryght welbelovyd servaunt Sr Rychard Gresham maior of the same and other hys brethern there can declare unto you Forasmoche as we tender moche that theyre good mynde and purpose in that byhalf may take effect And not dowbtyng but beyng brought up there ye have a good zeale and affeccõn to the same we have therfore thought hartely to requyre you that nowe shewyng the same ye woll nowe vouchesave at or intercessyon to bestowe upon suche a common weale and furtheraunce so moche of yor sayd howsyng as shall nede for thaccomplysshement of the same freely and frankely Or at the least wt so reasonable an agreament indelayedly to be made betwene you and the sayd Gresham as they maye have cawse to thynke that ye want no good affeccõn towardes the sayd cytye And also that ye have suche good respect to our requisicõn herein as apperteigneth Assuryng you that yor gentle confirmite so to doo shalbe by us thankfully accepted and remembred accordyngly Yeven under or signet at or citye of Chichestre the xiij daye of August. No. 38.