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Auction: 17020 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 819

Autographs
Arthur Gregory
1594 (26 June) letter on laid paper to Vincent Skinner, Auditor of the Receipt, giving the bearer authority to receive an annuity due to the writer, "Sr, By reason of my attendance I am constrayned to imploy this bearer to receive mt Annuities of xx li which I pray you give debenter for. And so with my duty I take my leave. From my houde in Whit Chappel ..". Photo

Arthur Gregory worked with Walsingham in his spying activities. In his Seething Lane office, Walsingham maintained a group of code-breakers, headed by Thomas Phelippes, who deciphered and translated coded despatches. When an enemy message had been decoded, it would be resealed by the skilled forger of seals, Arthur Gregory, and slipped back into the enemy network to go on its way. The work had to be done quickly, to avoid suspicion arising from any delay.

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Sold for
£190