Page "belles_lettres" Paragraph 1261

Stratford's petition to the queen declared that two great fires had burnt two hundred houses in the town, with household goods, to the value of twelve thousand pounds.

The chancellor of the Exchequer wrote on the petition: `` in myn opinion it is very resonable and conscionable for hir maiestie to graunt in relief of this towne twise afflicted and almost wasted by fire ''.

The queen agreed on December 17, a warrant was signed on January 27, and the Exchequer paid Quiney his expenses on February 27, 1598/9.

He listed what he had spent for `` My own diet in London eighteen weeks, in which I was sick a month ; ;

my mare at coming up 14 days ; ;

another I bought there to bring me home 7 weeks ; ;

and I was six days going thither and coming homewards ; ;

all which cost me at the least 20 pounds ''.

He was allowed forty-four pounds in all, including fees to the masters of requests, Mr. Fanshawe of the Exchequer, the solicitor general, and other officials and their clerks.

If he borrowed money from Shakespeare or with his help, he would now have been able to repay the loan.