The lower half of a document, signed T. Buckhurst, to Mr Skinner, ordering payment of a bill for sea victuals and sailors' wages. Also signed by William Treffry and John Rashleighe, and dated 30 December, 1598.

MANUSCRIPT. SACKVILLE, Thomas.

Published by 1597, 1597

About this Item

20 x 15cm. The first line reads 'Sea victualls for xxviii dayes for xlv saylers for the Ships…', and those mentioned are Gallant, Benjamin and Saylswift. Reference is made to 'biskitt' at 1lb per man per day; 'beife' for 12 days at 2lbs per man per day; for three pilots, three stewards, and 36 'saylers' wages, 10s to each man the month. The bill would have been paid by the Crown to private shipowners. There are a number of research notes with the document, including one from the National Maritime Museum, which states that on the 1st July 1598 the 'Benjamin' was shipping provisions to Ireland 'for Her Majesty's Service'. It also records that in 1598 John Rashley is noted as owner and captain of the ship 'Frances' of Fowey and owner of a pinnace the 'Christopher', which were voluntary ships paid by the Queen for service in the Armada Campaign. William Treffry was evidently a man of some importance in Fowey. He and Sir Francis Godolphin can be seen in 1598 examining English seamen who had been in Spanish service with regard to military intelligence. Vincent Skinner was an officer of the Exchequer, and was knighted in 1598. Thomas Sackville, 1536-1608, Baron Buckhurst, 1st Earl of Dorset. He was a statesman, serving as Lord High Treasurer from Burghley's death in 1598 until his own death in 1608. In 1586 he was selected to convey to Mary, Queen of Scots, the sentence of death confirmed by the English Parliament. In addition to his political career, Sackville is remembered for his literary contributions. With Thomas Norton, he was an author in 1561 of the first English play to be written in blank verse, Gorboduc, which deals with the consequences of political rivalry. He also contributed to the 1563 edition of The Mirror for Magistrates, with the poem Complaint of Henry, Duke of Buckingham. Sackville's first important literary work was the poem Induction, which describes the poet's journey to the infernal regions, where he encounters figures representing forms of suffering and terror. He died suddenly at the council table, having apparently suffered a stroke, referred to as 'a dropsy on the brain'. His funeral took place at Westminster Abbey, and he is buried in the Sackville family vault at Withyham Parish Church, East Sussex. PLEASE NOTE: For customers within the UK this item is subject to VAT at 20%.

Seller Inventory # 103026

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The lower half of a document, signed T. Buckhurst, to Mr Skinner, ordering payment of a bill for sea victuals and sailors' wages. Also signed by William Treffry and John Rashleighe, and dated 30 December, 1598.
• Publisher: 1597
• Publication Date: 1597
• Seller catalogs:
  • box one