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British Library, Lansdowne Manuscripts

BL MSS La 74, 10 part

[Transcribed by Dr Caroline Bowden for the project The Health of the Cecils]

[19 Nov 1593 Anthony Radcliyff to Lord Burghley]

Maie it please your Lordshipp I had long ere this according to my dutie certified your Lordshippe of my poore opinion of tharticles which your Lordship sent unto me to consider of but that I could not onvenientlie gett together (by reason of the infeccion) such as are experienced in the makinge of Aquae Vitae & vinegar; havinge therefore travayled with them, and had theyr opinions diverselie, this I find, that the matter was longe since moved to be reformed by a parliament as a matter whereof the misusinge causeth great inconvenience the coppie whereof I doe herewith send to be seene by your Lordshipp. And nowe havinge had conference with the best & substantialest men, it is true that they whoe doe make it for the moste parte of good beere & ale could be contented all other makers were debarred by some good means for the more exact makinge thereof, but they whoe are pore & fynd more sweete by makinge it of weaker beere or ale or of worse stuffe noe doubt will repine at asnie newe graunt to restraine them, for when by inquyrie I did seeke to understand howe it came to passe that soe manie bought theis hoggewashe & dreggs of the coolebacks I was toulde that it was onelie the feltmakers & weavers till at laste I fynd in deede that even theis distillers of Aqua Vitae & vinegar makers doe ingrosse it upp and with it worke scarcellie in theyr howses and soe utter it or happelie mixe with it weaker beere where the best & strongest is fittest to be used for the subject. I doe therefore right honorable send your Lordshipp some particular notes as I have collected them and for the further digestinge of the suite I referre the same to your lordshipps good consideration, for if the parties that nowe shall have the brewing of this beereger & aleger shall not putt in good bond to amend the faulte and be tyed to sell theyr beere at such reasonable pryses as now & heretofore the beste hath bene sould the abuse will remaine all one or rather worse, and therefore withowt further presumption to meddle in these points confessing that I have found such abuses therin as requyre reformation . . . . [more]

[f.21 contains requests incl. Aquae vitae and aqua compositae should be made from wine and wine lees. Others mainly to do with the trading and trading standards.]