SACKVILLE, Thomas, 1st earl of Dorset (?1536-1608). Poet and administrator.
Letter Signed ('T Dorset'), ½-page folio with the recipient's name ('Sr Vincent Skinner') at the foot, Dorset House, 21 May 1604. Authorising a further payment of two hundred pounds to Lord Spencer to bring to a total of 'Nyne hundred three score and nyne pounds fourteene shillings and two pence' the amount he will have received to defray his expenses.

'Sr Vincent Skynner whereas uppon an order dated the third of this instant May for paim[en]t of Nyne hundred three score and nyne poundes fourtene shillings and two pence unto the R[ight] h[onourable] the Lo[rd] Spencer for his dyetts posting and transportacons going and returning unto and from the duke of Wirtenbridge in the p[ar]tes of Germaine, there hath ben hether paed only seaven hundred threescore and nyne poundes foureteen shillings and two pence, cause Sir William Bowyer to paie unto the said R ho. the Lo Spencer the some of two hundred poundes more in full paim[en]t and satisfaccon of the said order: and of the whole some therin contained. So fare you well ffrom Dorset house this xxith of May 1604. Yr loving ffrende / T Dorset''

Lord Spencer (Sir Robert Spencer, 1570-1627, described by Oxford DNBas 'politician and sheep farmer' was created Baron Spencer of Wormleighton in 1603) and was at this time reputed to be the richest man in England. He had been sent to Germany as an ambassador to invest the dukme of Württemberg with the Order of the Garter (although, according to ODNB 'nothing came of this'.

With a conjoint second leaf bearing early and contemporary endorsements. Pencilled number at the head.
[No: 26208]