ENGLISH GOLDSMITHS.
23
whole house and consuming it, was scene all the city over, whereby many of the King's jewels were burned and more imbeselled (as was said)."
(Stow.)
1545.
Lawrence Warren, goldsmith. Assay Master "
Mint
to the
Cambii, Cunagii et monete, Canterbury." He must have been accused of some malpractices in his office, having received a general pardon under the great seal for offences against the Mint " late Assay in the time of Henry VIII, in which he is styled in this year.
Master." Sir Williajii Sharrington, of Durham House, Master 1548-50. of the Mint, third, fourth, and fifth Edward VI, and Vice-Treasurer of the Mint at Bristol, was indicted before the Lord Mayor, and convicted on his own confession of having counterfeited, in the Mint at Bristol, 12,000 pounds of coins resembling the Testons, without any warrant from the King, and against his Royal prohibition also of having defrauded the King in clippings and shearing of the coins, making the same thereby too light, and converting the same to his own profit, to the amount of i^4,ooo at the least and for falsifying the indentures and books. He was attainted of treason, and This counterfeiting of the money was all his lands, etc., forfeited. supposed to have been done at the instigation of the King's uncle, the Protector, Sir Thomas Seymour, the Lord Admiral, to enable him to carry on his treacherous designs. Sharrington received a pardon under the great seal in third Edward VI, and was afterv/ards restored in blood by an Act passed third and fourth Edward VI. His house in Mark Lane, a stately mansion, was bestowed by the King on Henry, Earl of Arundel, who made it his residence. Sir Thomas Gresham, a merchant and goldsmith of 1550. great renown, son of Sir Richard Gresham, who was King's Exchanger in the reign of Heniy VIII. He carried on business at the sign of the Grasshopper, No. 68, Lombard Street, the site of Messrs. Martins' banking-house; the original sign was in existence so late as 1795, but disappeared on the erection of the present building. He founded the Royal Exchange, opened by Queen Elizabeth Janu;
;
ary 23, 1 571. He also founded Gresham College, which he endowed with six professorships with ^^50 a year to each. This great goldsmith died in 1579, and was buried in St. Helens' Church, BishopsThe bulk of his wealth was found to consist of gold chains. gate. Gresham was present at the first council held by Queen Elizabeth at Hatfield, and was received with marked favour; she promised him, if he did her none other service than he had done to King Edward,
and Queen Mary, her late sister, she would give him as much land as ever they both did. The characteristic reply was an exposition of his financial views " An it please your Majesty her late brother,
:
your realm into sych estate as heretofore it hath been first, Your Highness hath none other ways, but when time and opportunity serveth, to bring your base money into fine, of eleven ounces fine, and so gold after the rate; secondly, not to restore the steel yard to their usurped privilege thirdly, to grant as few licenses as you can; fourthly, to come in as small debt as you can beyond seas;
to restore this
;
;