-Lettre du 26 septembre 1561 (de ?) : « [f.107v, line 6] Which done, I opend unto him [Cecil] the matter of the medalles, at length, and showed again unto him. He lyked well your L. diligence in seking to know the Validitie of them, and allowed of Vergetius remembrance. He lyked the peices very well but was not skilful of their antiquitie or newnesse but said he would harken for some cunning body to inform him better of them. But cannot yet beleeve that it is ӕs corinthium, and thought (?) they wer, and said the matter was not wrong the more to be wayeth. He said he hath seene them in gold, silver, and brasse but not in this metall, if it be ӕs corinth. He said, that the price was very wrong and thought that the merchant was like to have his wares retourned, than so much money for it.Then I told him that your myslyking of the piece: your L. was of advise that some good wordes of thanks were writen to Vergetius, and some devise found, that he might not percyve that her mat would stick for 600 Δ. to have such a thing of price, but that either she had them already, or had conferred them wth other peeces that are of ӕs corinthium, and, well assured that these are not of it, or some such other devise, as your mat shall think meete. Mr Secretary said that it shall be so, if her mat refused them. » [f.108r, line 27] Then she percyving something under my cloke, (which was the box wt the medales) her mate asked me, what I had there: I declared the matter at good length as I had done to Mr Secretary. She wondred at Vergetius diligence, and thereby suspected what his parte was therein. And quoth she, if they be of that price: I will tell him that I have the very same already, and I think I have in deede, marry, they be in silver. But because it is now late, quoth she (as it ws past xj) I will see them to morrow. And then be with me againe that I may peruse them all severally. [f.108v] Which I failed not to be. And bringinge the gilt box (for I best thought behynd (?) ) she lawed well to see them so dayntily handled and curyously layde. And in deede I had taken them out of the pegs (= ?) and layde them in order in the box, in the holes made for that purpose, and coveryed them wt an other piece of crimson velvet (?vellen = vellum?), besyde the crymson satin that he gave me. Then she looked on them all and cald their names, and scannyd out as many of their devises as her mate and I could decipher. And having so done: she badd me leve them wt her, till she had spoken to Mr Secretary. And then she wold think upon the matter. Which I did. The next day which was Thursdaye Mr Secretary told me that he had enquyred for one to consider them. And that he wold have them touched, to know truly the mettall. marry that he could yet have of none that could such skyll, and therefore willed me to leave them wth him, till such one might be found. And that they shuld be sought, from any mans touching. Which I did. And so it yet remayne no one conclusion in that matter. Saving that as forward as I can percyve that her mate myndeth not to have them for your pryce, I have dyvers tymes told Mr Secretary the draught (?) and bond that hangs upon their sending back to the merchant, or that money wthin the tyme. Which he saith shall not be neglected. Thus have the medalles ben handled, and more laughed on, than mynded to be bought. Saving that Mr Chaloner saith, that he could be content, if he was a rich man, to gyve 100 Δ for them, who thinking they are good and Antique. And yet sometyme dubting of the matter wherfore considering what coining may then as now aboynd in countrefaiting. » (Original Kew, The National Archives, SP 70/30 f.107, at 107v and 108r-v ; voir Burnett 2020).
