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ORIGINAL LETTERS,

ENGLISH HISTORY;

XCJfEBOCs ROYAL LETTEBS:

FROM AUTOGRAPHS Di THE BRITISH MUSEUai,

OXE O* TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. ^♦/C* \

WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,

HENBY ELLIS, F.R.S. Sec.S.A.

KEKFZA or THK XJurCfCmiPTS ly THE BBITUU MUSECM.

SECOND SERIES.

IX FOUK VOLUMES.

VOL. L

LONDON :

PRINTED FOR

HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL-MALL EAST.

MDCCCXXVn.

1 ii^ti

.Mmm

HIS MOST SACRED MAJESTY

^ KING GEOEGE THE FOUETH,

^"^^ THIS

SECOND SERIES OF LETTERS

ILLVSTHATIYB OF

ENGLISH HISTORY

IS DEDICATED WITH ALL HUMILITY

BY
HIS MAJESTY* S MOST LOYAL,

AND DEVOTED SUBJECT AND SERVANT,

HENRY ELLIS.

British Museum.
April 23^ 1827.

riiaiHaMMHMHHMMBMaHMHMP

PREFACE.

The Object of the Letters here presented to the
Reader has been explained in the Preface to the former
Series.

It may be sufficient to add generally here, that the
Combination of the Whole, exclusive of historical in-
terest, aJSbrds a more complete Succession of Specimens
of the English Language, during the Reigns to which
the Letters relate, than will be found in any other
Work.

In this Series, the Portions of History which are
iUustrated, except in one or two particular cases, differ
entirely from those which received explanation in the
former Volumes. New events are introduced ; and
new secrets of State unravelled.

In point of time, the Correspondence is brought
lower : and in «ome rf the Reigns, at periods in which

sije>;i> ' ^

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

ILLUSTBATIVE OF

ENGLISH HISTORY;

INCLUDIKa

NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS:

FROM AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM,

AND /^*««-4 .Ui^^

ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. ^♦/C* ^T**

WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,

HENRY ELLIS, F. R. S. SecS.A.

KEEPER OF THE MAKUSCBIFTS IV THE BRITISH MUSEUJL

SECOND SERIES.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON :

PRINTED FOR

HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL-MALL EAST.

MDCCCXXVn.

PREFACE.

The Object of the Letters here presented to the
Reader has been explained in the Preface to the former
Series.

It may be sufficient to add generally here, that the
Combination of the Whole, exclusive of historical in-
terest, ajSbrds a more complete Succession of Specimens
of the English Language, during the Reigns to which
the Letters relate, than will be found in any other
Work.

In this Series, the Portions of History which are
iUustrated, except in one or two particular cases, diflFer
entirely from those which received explanation in the
former Volumes. New events are introduced; and
new secrets of State unravelled.

In point of time, the Correspondence is brought
lower : and in «ome rf the Reigns, at periods in which

PREFACE.

The Object of the Letters here presented to the
Reader has been explained in the Preface to the former
Series.

In this Series, the Portions of History which are
iUustrated, except in one or two particular cases, diflfer
entirely from those which received explanation in the
former Volumes. New events are introduced ; and
new secrets of State unravelled.

In point of time, the Correspondence is brought
lower : and in «ome rf the Reigns, at periods in which

vni PREFACE.

the Editor found a Scarcity of Letters, he has intro-
duced in the smaller type Contempobaby Memoibs.
Relics of this description are always valued by the
Historian ; nor is the Editor inclined to think that the
more general Reader will repent his pains, should he
peruse Giovanni Michele^s Report to the Doge cmd
Senate of Venice upon his Return ^om Englcmd in
1557, The Official Account of the last Moments qfimz
Queen of Scots, Sir Gilbert TaJbofs Narraiive
of the Venetian Offeb of Assistance to King
Chables the Fikst, or Fatheb Huddleston^s
Account (hitherto concealed though printed) of the
Catholic Death-bed of Kivg Chables the Second.

The Editor has some little fear that he may b«
censured for spreading his Comments more diffusely
in this, than upon the Letters of the former Series ;
but he trusts that in many instances he has developed
Truth ; and, it may be, no where with greater success
than in his Observations upon the Life and Character
of Thomas Cromwell, the Minister of Henry the
Eighth, who in reality was neither on honest man, nor
the grateful friend of Wolsey.

The Bringing of the Second Sebies of these Let-
TEBS within the reach of Memory, is perhaps another
step of boldness ; but the Events and Characters difr-

F££FAC£. IX

cussed in them, are not likely to ^ve pain to any one
alive. To the departed Statesman we have a
right to use the words which Innocent the Fourth
dreamt he had heard from bishop Grosteste, ^^ Surge,
miser, et veni ad judicium,^

CONTENTS.

VOL. I.

LETTER PAGE

I. Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin to the Prince

of Wales, upon the breaking out of Owen
Glyndowr's Rebellion 1

II. Griffith ap David ap Griffith to Lord Grey of

Ruthyn, in defiance of his power 5

III. The Prince, afterwards King Henry the Fifth,

to the Keepers of the Marches of Wales, upon
his burning the two Residences of Owen
Glyndowr 10

IV. The Constable of Dynevor Castle, entreating

for assistance against Owen Glyndowr • • • . 13

V. Second Letter from the Constable of Dynevor

Castle 15

VI. Richard Kyngeston, archdeacon of Hereford,

to King Henry the Fourth 17

VII. John Skydmore, to John Fairforde Receiver

of Brecknock 19

VIII. The Mayor and Burgesses of Cairleon to those

of Monmouth, upon the defeat of a part of
Owen Glyndowr's Army by the Lord of Carew 21

IX. Sir Edmund Mortimer to his Tenantry, an-

nouncing his coalition with Glyndowr 24

X. Henry of Scharisbrec, Lieutenant of Conway

Castle, to William Venables of Einderton,
Constable of Chester, and Roger Brescy. . • 30

XI. William Venables of Kinderton and Roger

Brescy, to the King, upon the capture of
the Constable of Harlech Castle 31

Xll

CONTENTS.

LXTTSB
XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XT.

XVI.
XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXXI.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

PAG£

William Venables and Roger Brescy to the
Eing^ upon the second Assault of Caernar-
von Castle by Owen Glyndowr and the French 33

Reynald of Bayldon one of the Keepers of
Conway to William Venables, Constable of
Chester, and Roger Brescy 35

Henry of Scharisbrec to William Venables and
Roger Brescy, that Owen Glyndowr was
likely to get possession of Harlech Castle • • 37

Henry Prince of Wales to his Father King
Henry the Fourth upon further successes
against the Partizans of Glyndowr • . 38

Richard Earl of Cambridge to King Henry
the Fifth, a Letter of Confession 44

Richard Earl of Cambridge to King Henry the
Fifth; sueing for mercy after his con-
demnation • 48

Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham, to King
Henry the Fifth, upon the King's money^
jewels, &c. deposited in the Church of
Durham • 50

Letter to King Henry Vth in behalf of the
Lord Fumyval Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 53

The Comptroller of the Castle^ and the R^ent
of the Constablery of Bourdeaux, to King
Henry the Fifth, A. D. 1419 64

John Alcetre to King Henry the Fifth, upon
the progress made in building a Ship for the
King at Bayonne, A. D. 1419 67

John de Assheton to King Henry Vth. a Letter
of Ijitelligence, written apparently about
A.D. 1419 72

Sir William Bardolph to King Henry the Fifth,
relating to the Government of Calais 74

T. F. to his Fellows and Friends in England,
from Evreux, A. D. 1420. 76

Heretong Clux to King Henry the Fifth, upon

CONTENTS.

XUl

LETTER

XXVI.

XXVII.
XXVIIf.

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXI.

XXXII.

XXXIII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXKVI.

XXXVII.

PAGE

the Emperor Sigismund's setting out to re-
press the Hussites in Bohemia 79

Richard Knygtle and Rohert Whitgrave to
King Henry Vth. from Harfleur^ respecting
his Treasure 83

Sir Hugh Luttrell to King Henry the Fifth. . 84

Letter of the Tenants of L<Mrd Powys respect-
ing the capture of Sir John Oldcastle 86

Richard Clifford bishop of London^ to King
Henry the Vth. concerning an intended Em-
bassy to the Pope 89

Thomas Hostel to King Henry the Sixths for
alms 95

Sir Thomas Rokeby to Humphry Duke of
Gloucester^ A.D. 1423, respecting his Cove-
nant of military Service with King Henry
the Fifth 96

King Henry the Sixth to his uncle John Duke
of Bedford 99

Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester to King
Henry the Sixth, requesting leave to go en
Pilgrimage 101

William Warbelton to the Duke of Gloucester
and the Council, claiming the reward for
taking Jack Sharpe 103

Letter of Warrant from King Henry the VI th.
to the Bishc^ of Bath, his Chancellor, in
1441, concerning the exile of Eleanor
Duchess of Gloucester . . « • . 105

John Earl of Oxford to King Henry the Sixth,
requesting a Licence for a Ship, of whidi
he was owner, to carry Pilgrims lio

Thomas Canynges and William Hulyn, sheriffs
of London, to King Henry the Sixth, pray-
ing remuneration fcxr their expences in dis-
posing of the bodies of Mortimer and other
traitors, after the rebellion of 1450 112

XIV

CONTENTS.

LETTER
XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

XL.

XLI.

XLII.

XLIII.

XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.

XLVII.

XLVIII.

XLIX.

PAGE

Richard Eail of Salisbury to one of his Re-
ceivers, to pay money to his Poulterer in
London 116

The chief Persons in the County of Kildare
to Richard Duke of York, Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, A. D. 1454, giving an Account
of the condition of the Country 117

Richard Duke of York to the Earl of War-
wick his nephew, agreeing that a Servant
of his may attend the Earl one year as
Marshal of Calais 1^4

King Edward the Fourth's Letter of Privy
Seal to Thomas Cooke one of the Aldermen
of London, A. D. 1462 126

The Duke of Clarence and the Earl of War-
wick, from France, to the Commons of
England 132

Letter of Protection from the Duke of Cla-
rence for the lands and tenants of the Lord
Moimtjoy, in Derbyshire, A. D. 1470 139

King Edward the Fourth to the Keeper of his
Privy Seal, after his return to the Throne,
for Letters patents in reward of William
Gould, a butcher 140

King Edward the Fourth, concerning the re-
payment of Money to the Bishop of Aber-
deen and James Shaw 142

Richard Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Rich-
ard the Third, to ... . to borrow
Money , 143

King Edward the Fifth, under the direction
of his Uncle, to Otes Gilbert, Esq. com-
manding him to receive Knighthood at the .
expected Coronation 147

King Richard the Third to Sir Ralph Hast-
ings knt. Lieutenant of the Castle of Guisnes 150

King Richard the Third to the Lords of his

CONTENTS.

LI.

LIII.

LIV.

LETTER PAGE

Council, A. D. 1483, upon the arrival of an
ambassador from Isabella Queen of Spain . 152
The Queen of Spain to King Richard the

Third 154

The Lord Dynham to the Bishop of Lincoln,
Lord Chancellor, announcing the death of
Louis Xlth. of France; the yielding of

Utrecht, &c 156

Lii. King Richard the Third to John Russel Bishop
of Lincoln, previous to his advancing against

the Duke of Buckingham, A. D. 1483 159

King Richard the Third to his mother, the

Duchess of York. A. D. 1484 161

King Richard the Third to his Chancellor,
to prepare a Proclamation against Henry

Tudor and other rebels his followers 162

Lv. King Henry the Seventh to the Lord Dynham

and Sir Reginald Bray, concerning money

to be provided for two of his Ambassadors . 167

Lvi. King Henry the Seventh to the Under-Trea-

surer of England, concerning the charges

of the Scottish ambassadors 169

Lvii. King Henry the Seventh to the Treasurer and
Chamberlains of his Exchequer, for the
payment of money to Persons attendant on

his son Prince Arthur 170

Lviii. King Henry the Seventh to the Treasurer and
Chamberlains of his Exchequer, for pay-
ment of money to the Attendants on the

Lady Margaret 171

Lix. King Henry the Vllth to the Treasurer and
Chamberlains of the Exchequer, for various

payments. A. D. 1491 172

LX. Answer to the Challenge of the Four Knights,
at the Justs held in honor of the birth of a

Prince, in 1511 179

Lxi. Dr. William Knight to Thomas "Wolsey the

XVI

CONTENTS.

LXIV.

LXV.

LETTER PAGE

King's Almoner^ A. D. 1512^ concerning the

afikira of Nararre 188

LXii. Dr. William Knight to Thomas Wolsey the
King's Almoner. A. D. 1512. Further ad-
vices from Navarre 194

Lxiii. Doctor Knight to King Henry the Vlllth.
upon the King of Arragon's truce with
France; and proposing the restoration of
the King of Navarre. A. D. 1513 303

Sir Robert Wingfield to KingHenry the Vlllth.
r^orting the Victory of Novara 210

Sir £dwaid Howard^ Lord Admiral^ to King
Henry the Eighth^ upon the State of the
King's Fleet. A. D. 1513 213

Sir William Fitzwilliam to Cardinal Wolsey :
a naval deqiatch 222

O'Donnel^ the Iri^ rebels to King Henry
Vlllth. exculpating himself 224

Cardinal Bainbridge to K. Henry the Vlllth.
a Letter of Intelligence ; Uie {Nractices of the

French at Rome 226

Lxix. Charles Earl of Worcester to Cardinal Wolsey :
detailing the particulars of an audience fitxn
Louis the Xllth. previous to the marriage

with Mary of Engknd 233

Lxx. The Earl of Worcester and Dr. West to
King Henry the Eighth. A fragment only.

A.D.1514 239

LXKi. The Earl of Worcester to Wolsey, giving the
King of France's reasons ibr the return of

Lady Gmldford 243

Lxxii. The Duke of Suffolk iind the other Ambassa-
dors in France to the King, giving an ac-
count of their Negociations, the Coronation

of tile Queen, &c 247

LXXII I. Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to Wolsey.
The Queen of France crowned. Albany's

LXVI.

LXVII.

LXVIII.

CONTENTS.

XVll

LXXIV.

LXXT.

LETTER PAGE

intention to go to Scotland. The Justs

finished 255

Louis the Xllth. of France to King Henry the

Eighth^ expressing his contentment S60

Isabella of Arragon^ Widow of Frederic King
of Naples^ to the Queen of France^ imploring
assistance for herself and her sons^ Ferdinand

and Alphonso 263

Lxxvi. Thomas Lord Dacre and Dr. Magnus to King
Henry Vlllth. upon Queen Margaret's de-
livery of a daughter. A. D. 1515. 265

Lxxvii. Letters Patent of King Henry the Eighth for
a charitable collection towards the relief of

Prisoners in Barbary. A. D. 1515 268

Lxxviii. William the IVth. Duke of Bavaria to King
Henry the Eighth^ recommending Wolfgang
Bichart^ who had perfected an '' Opus Mu"

sicale" 271

Lxxix. Margaret Queen of Scotland to Lord Dacre in
answer to the charge that she had written to
the French King for the return of the Duke
of Albany ; acknowledging it and pleading

her necessities. A. D. 1520 276

Lxxx. Lord Thomas Dacre to Queen Margaret; a
Letter of reproof; sent to her by the Laird

of Barrow. A. D. 1521 279

Lxxxi. Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey, concerning
a new Book of Martin Luther^ and the

King's zeal against Luther 286

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey upon the

Affairs of Scotland 289

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, chiefly
detailing the transaction of business with the

King ••• 292

Lxxxi V. Margaret Archduchess of Savoy to Dr. Knight,
the English Ambassador at her Court, an-
nouncing the news of the Victory of Pavia 296
VOL. I. SEB. 2. b

LXXXII.

LXXXIII.

XVlll

CONTENTS.

LETTER PAQB

Lxxxv. Sir John Russell to King Henry the Eighth,
on the Duke of Bourhon's disposition ; with
further particulars of the Emperor's Victory 997
Lxxxvi. Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey, with the
News of the French King's imprisonment
at Pizzigitone ; The Duke of Albany's mo-
tions ; &c 303

Lxxxvii. John Clerk, bishop of Bath, to Cardinal Wol-
sey, upon the state of Italy as affected by the

Battle of Pavia 305

Lxxxviii. The Bishop of Bath to Cardinal Wolsey, upon
his negociations with the Emperor's Ambas-
sadors at Rome; Money paid to them, &c. 317
Lxxxix. Sir John Russell to Cardinal Wolsey, concern-
ing the French King, and the Emperor's

other prisoners 324

xc. Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. Peace con-
cluded between the Emperor and Francis

the First 399

Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. The arrival

of Francis the First at Bayonne. 1526 .... 331
Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. Reports an

Audience from Francis the First 333

Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. The Affairs
of Italy. Francis the First has a fall from

his horse 337

xciv. Louis lid. of Hungary to King Henry the
Eighth, entreating assistance against the

forces of Solyman the Magnificent 341

xcv. Ferdinand of Austria to Herman Archbishop
of Cologne. The news of the Battle of
Mohatz • 344

xci.

XCII.

XCIII.

LETTERS

THE REIGNS OF

KING HENRY THE FOURTH

AND

KING HENRY THE FIFTH.

The Letters of the Reign of HENRY the FOURTH, with which
this Volume opens, relate entirely to Owen Glyndowr^s Rebellion. They
are in number fourteen, and are, with one exception, new to History.

That they should have remained to long in the Cottonian Library
unnoticed, must excite surprise.

Several of these are from Constables of Castles, and show not only the
mode of keeping the fortresses of that time, but the nature of the Warfare
which was waged against them.

The Welsh hated Henry the Fourth for his ill usage of King Richard
the Second. They had furnished Richard with troops in his contest
with the Nobles ; and remained unshaken in their fidelity to him as long
as they believed him to be alive.

Of the Letters of the Reign of HENRY the FIFTH, there are Two
more curious than the rest: one concerns the State of Ireland in 1417;
the other from John Alcetre at Bayonne, in 1419, details the pn^jess
made in building a Ship of very extended dimensions for the King.

Henry the Fifth was the first of our Monarchs who saw the advantage
of maintaining Ships for the purposes of War, distinct from the mer-
chants^ Vessels.

ORIGINAL LETTERS,

ETC.

LETTER I.

Reginald Lord Grey ofRuthm to the Prince qfWcdes,
upcm the breaking out of Owen GJyndowr's Rebellion.

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOF. F. III. fol. 70. Orig.'\

*^* Ldand, in his Itinerary, has given in few words the pedigree of
Owen Glyndowr, with his relationship to King Henry the Seventh':

*•*• Uuelin ap Jorwarth Droyndon, Prince of all Wales, had Ghifith.
Orifith had Uuelin. Lluelin had Catarine his heir. Catarine had Elea^
nor. Eleanor had Helene and Catarine. This Helene was mother to
OWEN GLINDOURE. Catarine had Meredik. Meredik had Owen.
Owen had Edmunde earl of Richmond and Gasper earl of Pembroke.
Edmunde had Henry the Seventh." *

The time of the birth of Gljmdowr is uncertain ; some placing it in
1349, others in 1354. Holinshed says, *•*' strange wonders happened (as
men reported) at the nativity of this man ; for the same night he was borne,
all his father^s horses in the stable were found to stand in blood up to
their bellies." •>

Walsingham tells us that Owen Glyndowr was bred in an English Inn
of Court, that he was an esquire of the body to King Richard the Second,

*• Lei. Itin. vol. v. fol. 46.

<> Holinshed* p. 62i. The original of this passage is in Walsingham.

VOL. I. SER. 2. B

2 QBI^INAL LETTERS.

and one of the fe% who remahied in the suite of that Monarch when he
was taken prisoner in Flint Castle. After Richard's death, Owen became
for a short time esquire to the earl of Arundel. At this time he had re-
tired to his estate in Wales, where his property lay contiguous to that of
the Lord Grey of Ruthyn, who claimed and unjustly seized a portion of
it. Glyndowr petitioned the Parliament for redress ; but Henry espousing
the cause of Lord Grey, Owen was unsuccessful. Leland says, that upon
this occasion the bishop of St. Asaph cautioned the Parliament not to
despise Owen^ lest the Welsh should rise ; but the advice was treated
with a sort of national contempt. *■

Another act of treachery upon the part of the Lord Grey threw Owen
into open revolt. He withheld the Letter of summons for Owen to at-
tend the King in his Scottish expedition, till it was too late to join the
rendezvous. Owen excused himself from the shortness of the notice ; but
the Lord Grey represented him as disobedient. The King went to Scot,
land, and Owen, who found he had incurred the king's displeasure, either
arranged his plans, or joined in those which the Welsh had formed, for a
rebellion.

Upon Henry's return, the Welsh were rising in arms ; and Lord Grey,

whofle aacestora had received Ruthyn with a view to the protection of the

frontier, was ordered to go against them. It seems to have been at this

point of time that the Letter which immediately follows was penned. It

was apparently written in the month of June, A.D. 1400. Lord Grey

expresses himself strongly in it upon the difficulties of the task imposed

upon him : but it is remarkable that he makes no personal mention of

Owen Glyndowr : neither is Glyndowr named in Henry the Fourth's first

Proclamation against the rebellion of the Welsh, dated Sept. 19, 1400,
iHcn. IV.b

A Chronicle compiled by one of the Chaplains of King Henry the
FifUi, of which two copies are preserved in the British Museum, ^ speaks
of the Welsh as rising in anns, and afterwards choosing Gljmdowr for their
chief. This, it is probable, was the fact. The earl of Arundel, to whom
Glyndowr had become an esquire, personally remained firm to the King.
Glyndowr seems to have been chosen on account of his descent.

» " Anno D. 1400 factum est Parliamentum London. Ad hoc venit Audoenus de
Glindor Wallicus* qui fuerat armiger comitis Anmdel* conquerens quod dominus
Gray de Ruthine quasdam tenras suas in Wallia usurpavit : sed contra dominum
Gray nil profecit. Episcopus de S. Asaph consuluit in Parlamento quod non omnino
pneftitum Audoenum contemnerent« ne forte Wallid insurgerent : at illi in Parla>
mento dixerunt m de scurris nudipbdibub non eurart," Lei. Collect, torn. i.
p. sio. Henry the Fourth himflelf» in one of his Letters, speaks of (be Welsh as
" de petit reputaeion,**
^ Sm Ryiner« torn. viii. p. 159. « MS. Il«g. 18. C. I. and MS. Donat ITTS.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^ 8

Right heigh and myghty Prynce, my goode and
gracious Lorde, I recomaund me to you as lowly as I
kan or may with all my pouer hert, desiryng to hier
goode and gracious tydynges of your worshipful! astate
and welfare, which I prey to allmyghty Grod as goode
mot thei be as ye in your gracious hert kan best deuyse
un to the plesaunce of God and of you. And gracious
Lorde pleseth hit un to your heigh astate to witte that I
have resceyued our liege Lord es prjnre seal with your
oun worshipful! lettres to me sent, commaundjrng me un
to see, and to apees ^ the misgouemance and the riote
wich ye heiren that is l)egunnen heer in the marches of
North Wales. Pleseth unto your gracious lordshipe to
witte that I have do my power, and woU doo fro day today
by our liege lord es comaundement and by youres, but
my gracious Lorde, plese hit you to witte that ye with
avise of our liege lord es coimsaile most gifFe me a moore
pleyner commyssioun then I have yit, to taken hem in
the Kynges grounde, other in the Erlea ground of the
March, other in tlie Erles of Arundele, ^ or in any
lordes grounde of North Wales ; and by the feith that
I owe un to my ligeaunce I shall trewely do my power
to do our liege lorde the Kyngea commaundement and
youres : but worshipful! and gracious Lorde jre most
comaunden the kynges ofBcers in every cuntree to do
the same. Also, my gracious Lorde, ther lieen many

^appeaser
*> Castel Dinas Bran, in liie ne'^kbourhood of Glyndowrdy. was the fortress pos-
sessed by the Earl of Arundel in Denbighshire.

B %

4 ORIGINAL LETTERS-

Officers, sume of our liege lord the kyng es lond, sume
of the Erles of the Marche es lond, sume off the Erie
es londe of Arundele, sume of Powise lond, sume of
my lond, sume of other lord es londes heer aboute,
that ben kynne un to this meignee that be rissen. And
tyll ye putte thoo officers in better governance, this
cuntre of North Wales shall nevere haue peese. And
if ye hadde tho officers under your governance, thei
koude ordeyn remedy, wherthrogh thei sholde be taken.
And, gracious Lorde, plese hit you to witte that the day
that the Kynges messager cam with the Kynges lettres
and with youres to me, the strengest thiefe of Wales
sent me a Lettre, which lettre I send to you, that ye
mo we knowen his goode wyll and gouvemance, with a
copie of an other lettre that I have send to hym agayn
of an Answare. And also, gracious Lorde, I besech you
lowely that ye wolde vouchsaufe to giffe feith and cre-
dence to a pour squyer of myn, Richard Donn, of that
he shall enfourme you of by mowthe touchy ng tydynges
of this cuntree ; and that ye wolde take to you our liege
lordes counsaile and ordeyn other remedie for hem then
we been of powere for to do, other elles trewely hitt
woU be an unruely Cuntree within short tyme. My
gracious Lorde I kan no more write at this tyme, but
God that is our elder sovereigne gife you long lyve
and well enduFyng. Written at Ruthyn the xxiij day
of June.

REGINALD DE GREY

S' de Ruthyn,

OKI6INAL LETTEBS. 5

If the Letter which is pasted at the back of Lord Grey's be that which
he alludes to as written by " the strongest thief in Wales^'** that personage
must have been Griffith ap David ap G^riffith, one of Glyndowr's most
strenuous partisans. His epistle, indeed, is of a barbarous character, and
breathes more of savage warfare than of chivalry: but such was the
general feature of Gl3mdowr*s campaigns. The conclusion of this Letter
will serve as a sufficient specimen. ^^ And there as thou bearest upon us
that we sholde ben in purpose to brenne and sleyen men and horses for
thy sake, or for any of those endinant to thee, or any of them that ben
the King's trew liege men. We was never so m]rs avised to work again
the King ne his laws, which if we did were high treason : but thou hast
had false messages and false reporters of us touching this matter, and that
shall be well known unto the King and all his CounciL Furthermore,
there as thou knowledgest by thine own lettre that thy men hath stolle
our horses out of our Park, and thou recettour of them, we hope that thou
and thy men shall have that ye have deserved. For us thinketh though
John Welle hath done as thou aboven has certified, thinketh that that
shold not be wroken toward us. But we hope we shall do the a privy
thing ; a rope, a ladder, and a ryng ; high on gallows for to henge. And
thus shall be your end3mg : and he that made the be ther to helpyng : and
we on our behalf shall be well willyng : for thy Lettxe is knowledging.
Written," &c

In consonance with the same feeling, we have another Letter from
Griffith ap David ap Griffith ; the whole of which is here laid before the
reader.

LETTER II.

Griffith ap David ap Griffith to Lord Grey ofRuthyn^

in defiance of his power,

[ms. cotton, cleopat. f. III. foL 72. OrigJ]

WoRSCHiPFULL Lord I recomande me to zou and to
zour lordschip, and I wold pray zou hertli that ze
wold her' how the fals John Wele serued me, as al

6 ORIGINAL LETTEAS.

men knoyn wel. I was under the protexion of Mered
ap Owein, he sende to me be trety of my cosynes
maester Edward and Edward ap Dauid, and askyt
zyf I wold cum in and he wold gete me the Kings
chftter, and I schuld be maester forster and keyshat
in Chirke is lond ; and other thinges he behizt me the
qwich he fulfully t not. Afterward he askyt me qwether
I wold go ouer see with hym, and he wold gete me my
charter of the Kynge, and bringe me to hym sounde
and saff, and I schuld haue wages as muche as any
gentilman schuld haue that went with hym ; and ouer
this he seide befor the byschop of Seint Assaph, and
befor my forsaede cosynes, that rather then I schuld
fael he wold spene of his own godde xx. marke. Her
apon I trust, and gete me ij. men, and bozt armery at
all pees, and horses, and other araement, and come to
Oswestre a nyzt befor or thei went ; and on the morw
ther after I send Piers Cambr the reseuor of Chirke is
lond, thryes to him, for to tel him that I was redy.
He saed that I schuld speke no word with him ; and
at the last he saed that he hade no wages for me ; and
that he hade al his retenev; but bade me go to
S^. Ric. Kakin^ to loke qwether he hade nede of me.
With the qwych I had neuer ado nor no covenande
made, for I wold a gon for no wages with hym ouer
see, but for to haue my charter of the Kyng and sum
leujang that I myzt dwel in pees and in rest. And
this, as a wytnes of S**. Ric Lakyn and of Strange, I was

* f. Lakin ; as below.

OBIGINAL LETTEHS. 7

redy and wylly for to a gon with hym hedde he be
truw. He come and saed priuely to S^ Ric. and to
Straunge (qd. he) her is Gruffuth ap David ap Gruffuth
in this town, and has no sauecondyt but in Chirke is
lond; and ze mown take hym and ze wolle; and a

gode frende comq and told me this ; and I hert this
and trust me thens in al the haste that I myzt ; and
so I was begyllyd and deseyued of that fals wele as
al men kjioyn welle. And so I hade no leuyng worth,
qnowth no werche, but take my leuyng as gode wolle
ordeyn for. And as I herd ther ben taken ij horses
of zour men that wem pyte in zour parke, thoo horsys
I wod qwer thei ben ; but for no hatered that I hade
to zou or zour lordschip thei wem taken, but my men
toke ham, and bozt ham of hem. And hit was told me
that ze ben in purpos for to make zour men bran and
sle in qwade soeuer cuntre that I be, and am sesened^
in. With owten doute as mony men that ze sleu and
as mony howsin that ze bran for my sake, as mony
wol I bran and sle for zour sake; and doute not I
wolle haue both bredde and ale of the best that is
in zour lordschip. I can no more, but Gode kepe
zour worschipfull astate in prosperite. Iwrettin in
grete haste at the parke of Brinkiffe^ the xj day
of June.

From

GRUFFUTH AP DAVID AP GBUFFUTH.

* seiseined.
>> Perhaps Brynkir near Penmorfa, in the parish of Dolbenman in Caernarvon-
shire, among the mountains.

8 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

The Chamberlain of Caernarvon appears, at this time, to have furnished
the King^s Council with a better outline of what was going on in Wales,
than Lord Grey ; though it is remarkable that, in the first instance, he
likewise makes no mention by name of Owen Gl3mdowr. The original
of the Paper of Intelligence which the chamberlain of Caernarvon com-
municated, is preserved in the same volume with the Letters : it shows too
that the Welsh held some communication at this time with the Scotch.

'^ This is the Credence by mouth, that is to say howe John Salghall
conestable of Harglagh certefied and warned by lettre to the Chamberlejm
of Camarvane howe that a gentell man of Walys that most knowe and
pryneise was with Med ap Owyn in grete specialte, warned hjnn of an
accorde nnade betwene the same Med and men of the Owt Yles and
of Scotland, throgh lettres in and owt, as he enformed hym,^ that they
sholden come a lond and aryve at Abermowth and Eve betwix this and
midsommer neghst with her power; and that the same Med shold
prively do wame his frendes to make hem redy with hors and hameys
aga3m the same tjnne; for which wamyng the same gentell man dar
noght passe the toun of Harglagh &c. And likest hit semeth to be
soth be cause of the governance of the Walsh p^le, for they selleth her
catell, and byeth hem hors and hameys, and sume of hem stelleth hors,
and sume robbeth hors, and purveyen hem of sadles, bowes, and arowes,
and other hameys, &c. And recheles men of many divers cuntries
voiden her groundes and her thrifty governance and assembled hem in
dissolate places and wilde, and maken many divers congregaciones and
mee3mges pryvely, thogh her counsaile be holden yet secrete firo us,
wherthrogh yong peple are the more wilde in governance." »

A Proclamation, dated May 28th, 1401, in the second of Henry the
Fourth, names Glyndowr and other rebels as assembling in the Marches
of Caermarthen.

Adventurers now flocked to join the standard of Glyndowr : Welsh
labourers from every quarter of the kingdom, and Welsh scholars from
the Universities. There is an original Paper on this latter circumstance,
which fully corroborates the notice in the Rolls of Parliament. ^ This
also is preserved in the same Volume. A copy of it will be acceptable,
at least to the Welsh Antiquary :

'' Howel Kethin bachiler of the lav, duelljmg in Myghell Hall at Ox-
enford:

'' Maister Morres Stove of the Collage of Excestre at Oxenford :

*' Jev' Cloghith scoler, duell3mg en Teusvikes In at Oxenford:

^' Maister David Leget Brith, duellyng in Teusvikes In at Oxenford.

'* John Lloid duelling in Cattestrete in Seint Marie entra . .

" Johan Pole sais that Howel Kethin forsaide schuld have counseUled

• MS. Cotton. Cleop. F. IIL fol. 119 b.

>> Rot Pari. 3 Hen. IV. 1400—1401. torn. iii. p. 457.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. V

Griff, ap. Jen' sckaier, that duelled undir Brejrthin, to go till Owein and
duell with him, and for to become his mon. Also he sais that Maister
Morees Stove was with Owein this somer last ypast. Also he sais that
Owein send after Maister David Leget be him, that he schuld com till
hjnn and be his man. Also he sais that Griff, ap Jevan forsaid told him
that John Lloid assured him be his trowth t^at he schuld com to hjnn
in to Wales for to be com Oweins man.

'^ I mong all othir things he confessed that he was y send be Owein for
these clerks forsaide in to Englond, for to bryng hem to him in to Wales.

" Also he sais that Jank3m Tyby of the North country bringthe lettres
owte of the Northe contre to Owein as thei demed from Henr. son Percy." *

The subsequent history of Lord Grey of Ruthyn may be here glanced
at. His capture by Gl3mdowr, his imprisonment, and his ransom, are
matters of general History known to most readers; though the circum-
stances of his capture are differently told. Some, both Welsh and
English writers, affirm that a marriage with one of the daughters of
Glyndowr was a principal condition of his liberty. ^ This statement is
perhaps untrue. ^ It would be remarkable indeed if both Gl3mdowr's
prisoners had' married his daughters: for the same is related of Sir
Edmund Mortimer. <* Nor did Lord Grey of Ruthyn die, as has been
also stated, in confinement with Glyndowr : " for he served King Henry
the Fifth both in his wars in France and with his fleet, and lived to the
19th of Henry the Sixth. ' The largeness of his ransom, however,
crippled his means as a baron of the realm : this is expressly stated by
Hardyng in the unpublished Manuscript of his Chronicle which he pre-
sented to King Henry the Sixth :

" Soone after was the same Lord Gray in feelde
Fyghtyng taken and holden prisoner

By Owayne, so that hym in prison helde

Tyll his raunson was made and fynaunce cler
Ten thousonde marke« and fully payed wer.

For whiche he was so pore than all his lyfe.

That no power he fiad to wttrr ne atryfe**

* Cleop. F. iii. fol. 64. b.

t> So Fabyan, edit. 1811. p. 670. Lei. Collect, torn. i. p. 486, firom an old Chro-
nicle. Rapin, Hist. Engl. edit. it32. vol. i. p. 491.

c Dugdale in his Baronage, vol. i. p. TIT. gives him two wives, without naming
the daughter of Glyndowr. *• This Reginald," he says, " had two wives ; via.
Margaret the daughter of William Lord Ros, and Joane daughter and heir to
William Lord Astley." Had Lord Grey married a daughter of Glyndowr, he would
hardly have been called upon for a ransom. Such an alliance could only have had
identity of Interest for its motive.

d Vita Ric. H. per Mon. Evesh. A. D. 1402. " Eodem anno dominus Edmundus
Mortimer, circa festimi S. Andreas Apostoli, filiam prsedicti Owyni Glyndore de-
sponsavit maxima cum solennitate."

• See Fabyan, p. 5T0. Hall, last edit p. 28. Thomas's Memoirs of Owoi Glen-
dower, 8V0. Haverfordw. 1822. p. 86.

f Dugd. Bar. torn. i. p. tit.

10 OftlOINAL LXTTSE0.

LETTER III.

The Prince, qfierwards King Henry the Fifths to ihe
Keepers of the Marches (^Wales^ upon his burning
the two Residences of Owen Glyndowr.

[m8. cotton, cleop. f. ni. foL 117 b> Orig,'\

•jj* That Heniy the Fifth, when Piince, was deeply engaged fai the
war with Wales, is a fexX well known to History: * but that he went in
person, at the yery opening of it, to Glyndowrdy is new. We hare here
his own account of the expedition.

Internal evidence fixes ^e date of this Letter to the year 1401 or 1402.
Henry the Fourth, in the month of July in the latter year, made the
first of his three expeditions against the Welsh ; ^ and the advaniied attack
appears to have been made by his son.

The Prince informs the Keepers of the Marches of Wales, of Glyn-
dowr's intended inroads into England ; that hearing of his vaunts, that
'' he wi^d to come to hattle with the English^''* he had sought hhn in
his home*; and had burnt both his Residences, his ^ principal mansion**
at Saoherk, and his other at Glyndowbdt.

Saghem was, no doubt, the same place which the Welsh bards called
Stcharth, the description of which by Jolo Goch, one of Glyndowr*8
bards. Pennant has quoted as a description of Glyndowrdy. '

Lfeland says, that ^' Owen Glindour had a place in Yale, upon the
North side of De, cauUid Raoarth, five mile above Dinas Brane:**
this was probably the place which is called Saghem in the Piinoe't
Letter.

The traces of Glyndowrdy, in 1778) disappointed Pennant, who found
the vestiges of the House smalL The moat was very apparent ; but the
measurement of the area inclosed, was no more than forty-six paces by
twenty-six* A note in the last edition of Pennant's Tour says, many of
the vestiges have been since ploughed up, or otherwise destroyed. The
Vale called Glyn-Dwrdwy, or the Vallqr of the Dee, extends about
seven miles.

• Th. Elmham Vita Henrid V. ed. Heame, p. 8.

<> A/D. M.ccccn. *' Rex Anglis ante festuni Aasumptionis Sancte Marie, ool-
leetis exercitibus, profectiu est in Walliam ad penequendum Owenum de Glendor,
Bed nihil prof uit tantiu armorum strepitus, cum Wallicus in nota latibula se recepit*
quin potiCis (ut putatur) arte magica, regem pend perdidit cum exerdtu quam du-
eebat, per pluvios, niTe«« et grandines (ut ere(Utur) arte diabolica eondtj^as." T. Wal-
slngh. Hist. edit. 16T4. p. 407.

« Tour in Wales.

OEieiNAL LETTERS. 11

Depar le Prince
Treschiebs et tresentierraent bien amez, Nous vous
salvons tressouvent de notre entiercuerjcn vous merciant
treschierement de la bone consideracion quele vous avez
a la bosoignes que nous touchent en notre absence ; et
vous prions tresefiectuousement de votre bone et amy-
able continuance, come notre fiance est en vous. Et
endroit des nouvelx par decea, si vous vuillez savoir,
entre autres, nous estions nadegaires enfourmez que
Oweyn de Glyndourdy fist assembler son pouair d'au-
tres rebelx de ses adherentz a grand nombre, purposant
pur chivachier, et aussi combatre si gens Englois lui
voudroient resister de son purpos, et ainsi il se avantoit
a ses gens ; per quoy nous prismes nos gens et alasmes
a une place dti dit Oweyn, bien edifie, que feu son prin-
cipale mansion appelle Saghem, la ou nous supposasmes
de lui avoir trove sil voussit avoir combatu en manere
come il disoit ; et a notre venue illoeques, nous ne
trovasmes nul home, einz nous fismes ardre toute la

Tratulaiiott'

Very dear and entirely well beloved, we greet you much from our whole heart*
thanking you very dearly for the attention you have paid to every thing needful that
concerned us during our absence ; and we pray of you very earnestly the continuance
of your good and kind disposition, as our trust is in you. By way of news that
have here occurred, if you wish to hear of them, we have among other matters been
lately informed that Oweyn de Glyndourdyhas assembled his forces, and thoseof other
rebels adhering to him, in great number, purposing to commit inroads, and in case of
any resistance being made to him by the English, to come to battle with them, for so he
vaunted to his people : wherefore we took our forces and marched to a place of the said
Oweyn,welI-built, which was his principal mansion , called jSaghem, where we thought
we should have found him, if he had an inclination to fight in the manner be had said ;
but on our arrival there, we found nobody ; and therefore caused the whole place to he
burnt, and several other houses hear it belonging to his tenants. We thence marched

12 OBieiNAI. L£TT£mS.

place, et fJusieurs autres maisoDs la eDtour de ses
tenantz. Et puis nous eDsHascaes droit a soa autre place
de Gljndourdy, pur lui querer iUoeques^et la nousfismes
ardre un beau logge en son pare, et toute la paiis la
entour. £t ncHis nous loggeasmes la delies toute ce noet,
et c^rtainz de noz gens issarent illoeques en la paiis, et
pristerent un grand gentil de la paiis qi feu un des
chieiteyns du dit Oweyn, li quel c^Brist cynk c^itz livres
pur scHi ranson pur aTotr eu sa vie, et d'^aToir paie
la dit somme dedeinz deux semaignes ; nepurquant ce
ne feu accepte, mes il avoit la mort ; et diverses autres
de ses compaignons que furent prisez «i la dit joumee
avoient le mesme. £t puis ce nous enalasmes en le
Commote Dedimyon en . . . de Merionnyth et
illoeques nous fismes ardre une beau paiis et bien
enhabite; et dilloeques nous enalasmes en Powys, et

setee de vitail pew chivaux en

Gales, nous fismes noz gens carier aveignes ove eulx, et
nous hostasmes per . . . urs. £t pour vous ^ifourmer
plus au plein de ceste joumee, et de touz autres nouvelx

TranslatUm,

straight to his other plaee of Glyndowrdy, to seek for him there.aDd we causeda fine
lodge in his Park to be destroyed by fire, and laid waste all the country around. We
there halted aD the night, and certain of our people sallied forth into the country,
and took agcntleman of theneighbouriiood who was one of Hie said Oweyn*s dkioT-
tains. This person olfered fire hundred pounds foe his ransom, to preserve his
hfe, and to be attowed two weeks for the purpose of rabing that sum <rf' money ; but
the offer was not accepted, and he received death, as did several of his eumpanioos
who were taken the same day. We then proceeded to the Commote of Edeymkn
in MerioDethshire, and there laid waste a fine and populous country ; thence we
went to Powys, and there being a want of provender in Wales fcnr horses, we made
our people carry oats with them, and pursued our march. And in order to give yoa
lull intdbgence of this mardi of ours, and of every thing that hasoemrxed here, we

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 13

par decea de present, nous envoions pardeversliotre tres-
chier escuier John de Waterton, a qi vuillez adjouster
ferme foye et credence en ce qil vous reportera de notre
part touchant les nouvelx desuisdites. Et notre Seigneur
vous ait toudys en sa sante garde. Donne soubz notre
signet, a Shrouesbury le xv. jour de May.

Translation*

send to you our well beloved esquire John de Waterton* to whom you will be pleased
to give entire faith and credence in what he shall report to you touching the events
above mentioned. And may Our Lord have you always in his holy keeping. Givai
under our Seal at Shrewsbury the I5th day of May.

LETTER IV.

The Cofistable ofDi/nevor Castle, entreating Jbr
assistance against Owen Glyndowr,

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. foL 111. OHg.']

*^* This and the succeeding Letter seem to have been addressed to
the Receiver of Brecknock ; and by him communicated to the King's
CounciL

The First gives us no exalted notion of the Constable's courage. '' A
siege is ordained at the Castle that I keep, and that is great peril for me."
" Y writ in haste and in dread."

From the Second we gain more important information. It acquaints
us of the extent of force with which Gl)mdowr moved in his inroads.
When assailing D3mevor Castle, according to the calculation of his
own adherents, he mustered eight thousand and twelve score spears,
" such as they were."

The Welsh Castles, it must be observed, at this period, were not ex-
tensively garrisoned. There is a Paper in old French, in the Volume
from which these Letters are taken, of the very time of Glyndowr's re-
bellion, which furnishes in few words the actual state of many of them.

14 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

At Conway, John de Mascj was constable of the Castle : he had fifteen
men at anns and sixty archers with him : 39«* 2d. were allowed to main-
tain this fortress per day, amounting in the year to £T\4, 15«« I0d»
Caernarvon had John Bolde for its constable, with twenty men at arms
and eighty archers : the annual maintenance amounted to £900. 6«. 8d>
Crukkith Castle had Roger de Accon for constable, with six men at arms
and fifty archers : annual maintenance £416. lis, 2d. Hardelagh had
Dycon le Mascy for constable, with ten men at arms and thirty archers :
yearly maintenance £389. 6s. 8d. These were the Castles iii North Wales
belonging to the Prince; the total of their charges amounting to £2421.
3f . 4d, Denbigh Castle belonged to the Earl of March, and had been
granted to Henry Percy : Beaumaris also belonged to Henry Percy, with
the Isle of Anglesea. Of these Castles, Mons'. de Rutland, with thirty
men at arms and a hundred and twenty archers, kept Denbigh, at an
annual expense of £1672. I8s. 4d. : John de Pulle, with fifteen men at
arms and a hundred and forty archers, kept Beaumaris, at the yearly ex-
pense of £988. lOs. lOd. The Castles which belonged to the Prince as
Chamberlain of Chester were Rudhlan and Flint. Of Rudhlan Henry
de Conewey was constable, who kept it with nine men at arms and forty
archers, at an expense of £422. lbs. lOd. Of Flint, Nicholas Hauberk
was constable, with four men at arms and twelve archers : expense £146
per annum. *

In none of these Castles was there such a f<»rce aa could at any time
venture upon a sally.

DuEE frende i do zow to wetyn that Oweyn Glyn-
dour, Henri Don, Res Duy,^ Res ap Gr. ap Llewellyn,
Res Gethin, han ywon the town of Kermerdyn, and
Wygmor constable of the Castell hadd yzeld op the
Castell of Kermerdyn to Oweyn ; and han ybrend the
Town, and yslay of men of town mor than 1. men ;
and thei budd yn c purpos to Kedweli ; and a Seche^
ys y ordeynyd at the Castell that i kepe, and that ys

» MS. Cotton. Cleop. F. III. fol. 128.

t* The execution of " Rice ap Die," probably the same person, in the llth Hen. IV.
-will be hereafter mentioned. See the note in p. 44.

« be in. J Si^re.

ORIGINAL LKTTEBS. 15

gret peril for me, and al that buth wydde ine ; for thai
han y mad har^ avow that thei well al gat haue owss ^
dede th^yn. Wher for I prei zow that ze mil not
bugilc ous,b that ze send to ous^ warning wyth yn
schort time whether schuU we have eny help or no ;
and bot ther bn ^ help comig e that we have an answer,
that we may come bi nizt and stell away to Brechnoc ;
cause that we fayly th vitels and men, and namlich men.
Also Jenkyn ap LI. hath y zeld op the Castell of Em-
lyn wyth fru wyll ; and al so William Gwyn, Thomas
ap David ap Gruff' and moni gentils bun ^ yn person
wyth Oweyn. Warning erof I prei that ze send me
bi the berer of thus s letter. Farydd well yn the nam
of the Trinite. Y wryt at Dynevour, yn hast and yn
dred, yn the fest of Seint Thomas the Martir.

JANKYN HANABD

ConstaMe de Dynevour.

LETTER V.

Second Letter from the Constable ofDynevor Castle.

[MS. cotton*. MTJS. BRIT* CLEOF. F. HI. foL 123 b. Orig,\

DuBE frynd, y do zou to wyt3n:ig that Owejnl was in
porpos toKedewelly, and the Baron of Carewe was that

* their. ^ us. <: boggle ? ' ^ bMU.

• eoming. ' been. c this.

16 ORTGIXAL LETTERS.

day comyng wyth a gret retenu to ward Seint Cler,
and so Oweyn changed is purpos and rode to zens^ the
Baron ; and that nyzt a logged hym at Seint Cler and
destruid al the Contre about. And a tysday they weryn
at Tretys al day ; and that nyzt he logged hym at the
town of Locharn, sex myles out of the town of Kermer-
dyn ; thys purpos ys zef so that the Baron and he a
cordyth in tretys, than a tomyth a zein to Kermerdin
for hys part of the godes, and Res Duy is^^ part ; and
mony of thes gret maistres stont^' zet in the Castell of
Kermerdyn, for they havenot y made her<^ ordinance
whether the Castell and the Town schall be brend or
no, and ther for, zef ther is eny help comyng, hast
hem with al haste toward ous for they mowe have
godes and fytelles plente,for every ch hous is full aboute
ous of her pultre, and zet« wjm and hony ynow in the
Contre, and whet and ben, and al maner vitelles. And
we of the Castell of Dunevor had tretys of ham Mon-
day, Tywsday, and Wendysday, and now a woU or-
deyn for ous to have that Castell for ther a castyth to
ben y serkled thince, for that was the chef plas in old
tymQ. And Oweyn ys moster a Monday was, as they
seyyn hem selvyn, viij. Mill, and xij**. spers, such as
they wer. Other tidyng y not now, bot God of Hevene
sene^ zow and ous from al enemyes. Y wrytyn at
Dynevor this Wednesday in hast.

•agaimt »»hig. 'stop. J thoir. tyet. 'send.

OEIGINAL LETTERS., 17

LETTER VI.

Richard KyngesUm^ archdeacon of Hereford^ to King

Henry the Fourth.

[m8. cottok. cleop. f. in. foL 121 b. Orig.^

*^* The reader has now a Letter before him, partly in French and
partly in English, from Richard Kyngeston, archdeacon of Hereford.
From another Letter in the Collection, which is also partly in Frendi
and partly in English, it appears that he was likewise Dean of St. George's
Chapel at Windsor ; though he is not usually recorded as such in the Lists
of Deans. His eagerness for the arrival of the King in Wales by forced
marches, is expressed in his postscript, with an earnestness which is almost
ludicrous. According to Le Neve's Fasti Ecdesise Anglicame, he ceased
to be archdeacon of Hereford, by resignation, in 1404. '

From the words '^ en votre comencement'* in this Letter, it is clear
that it must have been written at an early period of the Welsh war.

NoTEE tresredoute et soverein Seigneur le Roy, je
me recomande humblement a votre hautesse come voire
petite creature et continuel oratour. Et notre tresre-
doute et soverein Seigneur le Roy, vous plese a savoir
qe de jour en autre y vienent Lettres de Gales conte-
nantz Lettre illeoques par queles vous pVez entendre
qe toute la pais est perdu sy vous ne venez le plus

Translation,

Our most redoubted and sovereign Lord the King, I recommend myself humbly to
your Highness as your lowly creature and continual orator. And our most redoubted
and sovereign Lord, please you to know that firom day to day Letters are arriving
from Wales, contaixdng intelligence by whldi you may learn that the whole country

VOL. I. — SEB. 2. C

18 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

hastifment. Sur quoy vous plese vous taillor devers noz
parties ave toute le poer qe vous poez enchivachant si
bien de noet come de jour pour salvacion des parties.
Et vous plese a savoir qe il est graunt vergoigne, si
bieti come per de qe vous perderez ou suflrez estre per-
duz le pais, en votre comencement, qe voz nobles aun-
cestres ount gaignez, et pour sy longe temps peisible-
ment tenuz ; car les gentz parlont tresmalvaisement.
Et j'envoie a votre noblesse la copie d'une Lettre qu'est
venuz de John Skydmore ycest matin. Notre tresre-
doute et soverein Seigneur le Roy, je pry a luy tout-
puissant qil vous ottroie tresbonne vie et sainte, oue

grant haste

victoire de voz enemys. Escr. en chaste a Herford Je
viij^. jour de Juyll.*

Votre petite creature

RICHARD KYNGESTON

Ercedeakne de Herford.

Trantlathiu

is lost* if you do not go there as qvAdk as possiUe. For which reason may it please
you to prepare to set out with all the power you can muster, and march day and night
for the salvation of those parts. And may it please you to reflect that it will be a great
disgrace as well as loss, to lose or suffer to be lost, in the beginning of your reign, a
country which your noUe ancestors have won, and for so long a time peaceably pos-
sessed. For people talk very imfavourably. And I send to your Highness the copy
Of a Letter which came from John Scudamore this morning. Our Host redoubted
and soverdgn lord the King, I pray to the Almighty that he may grant you a happy
and holy life, frith victory over your enemies. Written in haste, great haste, at Here<
ford, the 8th day of July.

Your lowly creature,

RICHARD KYMOB8T0N,

Archdeacon ofHeretfi>rd»

» The other Letter, mentioned in the Introduction to this, finishes in a similar
manner: *' Escript a Hereford en g. tre^grant haste a trois de la clocke apres noone
le tierce jour de Septembre"— •• Treste se nought to no Lieutenaunt.*'

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 19

And for Godes love, my lyge Lord, thinkith on zour
self and zoure astat, or bemy » trowthe all is lost elles ;
but and ze come zoure self with haste all other wolle
folwin aftir. And ot^ on Fryday last Kermerdyn town
is taken and brent, and the Castell zolden<^ be Ro.
Wygmor, and the Castell Emelynis y zoldin;c and
slayn of the toune of Kermerdyn mo thanne 1. per-
sones. Writen in ryght gret haste on Sunday ; and
y Crye zow mercy and putte me in zoure hye grace
that y write so schortly ; for, be my trowthe that y owe
to zow, it is needful].

LETTER VII.

John Skydmore^ to' John Fairforde Receiver of

Brecknock.

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOF. F. UI. foL 120. Oftg^l

WoRscHiPFUL SiE, y recomand me to yow ; and
for as meche as y may nouzt spare no man from this
place awey fro me, to certefie neyther the King ne my
lord the Prynce of the myschefs of this ^ Countrees
abouute, ^ ne no man may pas by no wey hennes, y
pray yow and requere yow that ye certefie hem ^ how al

• by my. '' <?«• note. c yielded.

•> these. 'about. fthem.

20 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Kermerdyn schire, Kedewely, Camwaltham, and Ys-
kenyn ben sworyn to Oweyn yesterday, and he lay to
nyzt was yn the Castel of Drosselan, with Rees ap
Gruffuth ; and ther y was and spake with hym upon
truys, and prayed of a saufconduy t » under his seal to
send home my wif and hir moder and thair mayne,^ but
he wolde none graunte me; and on this day he is
aboute the towne of Kermerdyn, and ther thenkith to
abide til he may have the Towne and the Castel ; and
his purpos ys from thennes into Penbroke schire, for
he halt ^ hym siker ^ of al the Castell and Townes in
Kedewelly, Gowerslonde, and Glamorgan, for the same
cuntrees have undertake the seges of hem til thei ben
wonnen. Wherfore wryteth to Sir Hugh Waterton,
and to all thilke that ye suppose wol take this mater to
hert, that thei exite the Kyng hederwardes in al hast
to vengen hym on summe of his false traytors the
wheche he hath overmeche chereyschid, and do rescowe
the Townes and Casteles in these countres for y drede
fulsore^ ther be to fewe trewe men in hem. Y can no
more as nowe ; but pray God help yow and us that
thenken to be trewe. Written at the Castel of Car-
reckeiien ^ the v. day of Juil.

Yowres

JOHN SKYDMORE.
To John Fairforde,
Resceyor of Brekenok.

• safe conduct. ^ company, train. • holds.

<> sure. • full sore. t Carreg Cenneu.

ORIGINAL LfiTTEES. 21

LETTER VIII.

The Mayor and Burgesses of CairUon to those y
Monmouth^ upon the defeat of a part of Owen
Glyndowr's Army by the Lord of Carew.

[ms. cotton, mus. bbit. cleof. f. III. foL 116. Orig.]

*«* This Letter is curious on two accounts. It acquaints us with the
defeat of a portion of Gljmdowr's forces by the baron of Carewe ; a fact
unknown to our Historians ; * and it details a conference between Owen
Gljrndowr and one Hopkin ap Thomas, whom he held to be ^^ master of
Brut," as to what should be his fate hereafter. Master of Brut means
skilled in the prophecies of Merlin, whose vaticinations form a part of
the Brut of Qeofbej of Monmouth.

Henry the Fourth and Gljrndowr were both worked upon by ancient
predictions ; and each, it is probable, sought the type of the other in
those numerous prophecies which our ancestors, in the thirteenth, four-
teenth, and fifteenth centuries, were so fond of considering as in a state
of progressive accomplishment.

By the {>arties who met at the house of the archdeacon of Bangor,
Henry the Fourth was quoted as the moldewarpe accursed of God ; ^
while Gl)mdowr, Sir Henry Percy, and Sir Edmund Mortimer, were
represented as the dragon, the lion, and the wolf, which should divide
the realm between them. Such, says Hall, was '^ the deviation, and not
divination, of that mawmet Merlin." The sequel of Gl3mdowr's history
shows that Hopkin ap Thomas of Gower was not infallible as a seer.

The baron of Carewe mentioned in this Letter must have been Ni-
cholas Carewe of Carewe Castle in Pembrokeshire.

Fenton, in his History of that County, p. 249, says that Carew was
one of the royal demesnes belonging to the Princes of South Wales, and
with seven others was given as a dowry with Nesta, daughter of Rhys ap

» A defeat of Glyndowr by the lord of Powys is mentioned in a Letter of Sir Henry
Percy to some bishop, dated from Denbigh, June 4th, without year. MS. Cotton.
Cleop. F. III. fol. 2T. Sir Henry had made an expedition to *' Catheridrys." He had
then not amiounced his defection.

b " Talpa, ore Dei maiedicta, supcrba, misera, et turbida."

^ ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Tewdar, to Gerald de Wind«or, who was appointed lieutenant of those
parts by Henry the First, on the outlawry of Amulph de Montgomery*
His eldest son William succeeded him in the possession of this Castle as
lord thereof, whose son Odo gave Redbard, near Carew, to the Knights
of St. John at Slebeck. His son William was the first who took the
name of Carew, whose descendants for many generations enjoyed it, till
Sir Edmond Carew mortgaged it to Sir Rhys ap Thomas, to enable him
to go on the expedition to Therouenne, where he was kOled by a cannon
baU. The estate was again granted in fee by King Charles the First to
Sir John Carew, a descendant.

Gretyng to yow our gode frendes and worschipful
burgeis of Monemouthe, we do yow to understonde of
tydynges the weche we have yherd of Owein Glyn-
dor, that is to wete of Lettres under seel the wheche
were y sende to us by the Capteyne of the towne of
Kadewelly ; and in the Lettres wer y wrete words that
ther was a day of batell ytake by twyxt the worthy
Baron of Carewe and Owein Glyndor ; and we do
yow to understonde that thys day of bataill schuld
have be do the xii. day of Jule ; and the nyzt be fore
that thys bataill schulde be do, Oweyne wes y purpos
to have yvoidede ym to the Hull azeinward; and for
he wold y wete whar his wey wer clere y nowe to passe,
zyf he hede nede, to the Hull, he sende vii. C. of his
meine^ to s^jrche the weyes, and thes vii. C. menne went
to serche thys weyes, and ther thys vij. C. menne were
y mette with the barons menne of Carew, and I slay

up everychone that ther was nozt on that sc

. . . alyve; and thes words buth ^' y do us to understonde

* many. t be.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 23

that it is sothe with owte lesyng. And flForthermor we
do yow to understonde that Oweine the ........

es in the ton * of Kairm^hen he sende after

• Hopkyn ap Thomas of Grower to come and speke with
hym upon trewes ; ^ and when Hopkjm come to Owein,
he piede ^ hym, in as meche as he huld hjrm maister of
Brut, that he schuld do hym to understonde how and
what maner hit schold be falle of hym ; and he told
hym wittliche that he schold be take with inne a bref
t3n[ne ; and the takyng schold be twene Kayrmerthen
and Gower ; and the tak3mg schold be under a blak
baner: knowelichyd that thys blake baner scholde
dessese hym, and nozt that he schold be take undir
hym. No more con^ we say to yow at thys tyme,
bote buthe glad and mery, and drede yow nozt for we
hopethe to God that ze have no nede. And we do
yow to understonde that al thys tydyngs buth^ sothe
with oute doute.

Per LE Maiee <§: les Burgeis
de Eairlyon.

• town. •» truce. « prayed.

«• can. • be.

24 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER IX.

Sir Edmund Mortimer to his Tenantry^ cmnouncing
his coalition with Glyndowr.

[ms. cotton, cleof. f. III. foL 122 b. Orig,]

*^* This Letter lends its ud to the correction of an error into which
the greater part of our Historians have fallen from the fifteenth to the
eighteenth century.

Walsingham, Hall, Stowe, Dugdale in his Baronage, Rapin, Hume,
and others, have uniformly represented Edmund Earl of March to have
been taken prisoner by Owen Glyndowr, while, in fact, he was at that time
of tender age and a prisoner to King Henry the Fourth. Pennant in his
Tour in Wales, Coxe in his Monmouthshire, Malone in his Notes on
Shakspeare, and Dr. Sayers in his Disquisitions, have all noticed the error.

The person opposed to, and captured by 6l3mdowr, was, in reality
Sir Edmund Mortimer^ the uncle of the Earl of March. The battle
in which he was taken prisoner, was fought near Melienydd in Radnor-
aihire,*^ Jime 12th, 1402. Henry the Fourth subsequently refused him
permission to pay a ransom ; the consequence of which was that he joined
Glyndowr. The present Letter announces to his tenants his entrance into
the league.

Treschiers et bien amez vouz salue mielx souvent,
et vous face a entendre que Owejm Glyndor ad moeue
une querelle la quelle est tielle, qe si le Roy Richard

Translation,

Very dear and well beloved* I greet you much, and make known to you that Owen
Glyndowr has raised a quarrel, of which the object is, if King Richard be alive, to

* Dugdale says, " upon the mountain called Brynglase, near Knighton in Mele-
nyth.** Bar. torn. i. p. 150.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 26

soit en vie de luy restorer a sa coronne, et sinoun qe
mon honore Neuewe q'est droit heir al dit coronne ser-
roit Roy d'Engleterre, et qe le dit Oweyn avoreit son
droit en Gales. Et je veiant et considerant qe la
dite querelle est bone et reisonable ay assentee de
outrement estaier en la dite querele, et Taidere et
ma3mtener, et par la grace de Dieu a bon fyn, Amen :
Vous empant chierement de cuer qe vous voillez moy
aider qe mon dit querele soit bonement achivee, et
d'altre part voillez favoir qe les Seignories de Melle-
nyth, Werthrenon, Raydre, Comot de Vdor, Arwystly,
Keveilloc, et Kereynon sont ore tarde venuz en nos
ma3nis. Pourquoy vous unqore emp'^e qe vous ne facez
ascun joumay a mes dites terres, ne nullez damages a
mes ditz tenantz, et vous eux deliverez vitailles sur
certeyu resonable p'ce come vous voillez qieo ferray a
vous le mesme, et de cestes moy voillez mander re-
sponse. Treschiers et biens ames Dieux vous doyve

Translation.

restore him to his Crown, and if not, that my honoured nephew, who is the right
heir to the said Crown, shall be King of England, and that the said Owen will assert
his right in Wales. And I, seeing and considering that the said quarrel is good and
reasonable, have consented to join in it, and to aid and maintain it, and, by the grace
of God, to a good end. Amen ! I ardently hope, and from my heart, that you will
support and enable me to bring this struggle of mine to a successful issue. I have
moreover to inform you that the Lordships of Mellenyth, Werthrenon,* Ruydre,i> the
Commot of Udor, <= Arwystly,*^ Keveilloc, and Kereynon, are lately come into our pos-
sessicm ; wherefore I moreover entreat you that you will forbear making inroad into
my said lands, or to do any damage to my said tenantry, and that you furnish them
with provisions at a certain reasonable price as you would wish that I should treat
you : and upon this point be pleased to send me an answer. Very dear and well be-

• Withereinton. »» Raidrey. «: Comothoyder. <* Ewias Lacy ?

S6 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

grace de bien fair al comencement et vous amesne a
bon fin. Escr. a Mellenyth le xiij. jour de Decembre.

ESMON MOBTEMER.

A mes tresch. et biens ames
Mons^ Johan Greyndor^ Howell
Voug"ni^ et touts les gentielx et
comunes de Raydenor et Pres-
hemde.

Translation,

loved, God give you grace to prosper in your beginnings, and to arrive at a happy
issue. Written at Mellenyth, the I3th day of December.

EDMUND MORTBMBR.

To my very dear and well beloved M.
John Greyndor, Howell Vaughan, and all
the gentles and commons of Radnor and
Preshemde.

There are two circumstances connected with this Letter particularly
deserving of remark. One, that Sir Edmund Mortimer appears doubtful
in it whether King Richard the Second was alive or dead. The other,
that when speaking of the division of the Kingdom, he makes no mention
of the share which was to fall to the Percies.

Opinion certainly wavered, at this time, as to Richard's positive fate;
though conjectured, it was not known. There can be no doubt that the
Proclamation of Henry the Fourth against the Inventors of false Reports,
dated at Westminster, June 5th, in this very year, was intended to satisfy
those who continued uncertain. It states that rumours had been hinted
to the ears of the foolish that King Richard, his last predecessor, was still
alive in Scotland, and that he was coming with the Scots to invade the
realm; whereas, in truth, the said Richard was dead and buried:
'' quod dominus Ricardus nuper Rex Anglias, ultimus praedecessor
noster, adhuc vivit in ScotiOf quodque in manu forti, ac vexillo protenso,
veniet una cum Scotis in dictum r^^um nostrum, ipsum, et nos, ac ligeos
nostros protinus invasurus, cum in ret veritaie prcefatus RICARDUS,

sit MORTUUS et SEPULTUS." •

Upon the omission of the Percies, we have only to observe that Sir Ed-
mimd Mortimer's Letter is dated December the 14th, and that the tri-

* Rym. Feed. torn. viii. p. 261. C'laus. 3 Hen. IV. p. 2, m. 13 d.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 27

paztite Indenture of Partition was not finally agreed upon till toward the
middle of the next year. The negotiation for the partition of the King,
dom seems to have originated with Mortimer and Glyndowr only. The
battle of Shrewsbury was fought on July 21st, 1403.

The Manuscript Chronicle already named, compiled by one of the
chaplains to King Henry the Fifth,* gives the particulars of the final Treaty
signed at the House of the archdeacon of Bangor more amply than they
can be found elsewhere. The Severn, the Trent, and the Mersey, were
to shut in Owen's territory ; while the Perdes were to have not only all .
that was North of Trent, but Leicettershire, Norihamptonikire^ War~
t^ickthircj and even Nobfolk. Sir Edmund Mortimer (not the ne-
phew whom he speaks of in his Letter,) was to content himself with

^ the remainder. The expectation declared in this Treaty that the con.
tracting Parties would turn out to be the persons spoken of by Merlin,
who were to divide the Greater Britain, as it is called, amongst them,
corroborates the story told by HaU. The whole passage is here sub-
mitted to the reader's perusal : the words are evidently those of the Treaty.
'^ Hoc anno Comes Northumbriae fecit legiam, et confederationem, et
amidtiam cum Owino Glendor et Edmundo de Moituo mari, filio quon-
dam Edmundi Comitis Marchiae, in certis articulis continentibus formam
quae sequitur et tenorem. Primo quod iidem domini, Owinus, Comes, et
Edmundus, erunt amodo ad invicem conjuncti, coufoederati, uniti, et
ligati vinculo veri foederis et verae amicitiae, certaeque et bonae unionis.
Iterum quod quilibet ipsorum dominorum honorem et commodum alio
volet et prosequetur, ac etiam procurabit dampnaque et gravamina quae
ad unius ipsorum notitiam devenerit, per quoscumque alicui ipsorum in-
ferenda, impedient bona fide. Quilibet quoque ipsorum apud alium aget

* et fadet ea onmia et singula quae per bonos, veros, et fidos amicos, bonis,
veris, et fidis amicis agi et fieri debent et pertinent, firaude et dolo cessan-
tibus quibuscumque. Item si et quotiens aliquis ipsorum dominorum
sdverit vel cognoverit aliquid gravaminis sive dampni procurari sive
jnooaginari per quoscumque contra alium, ipse aliis, quam citius commode
fieri poterit, ea significabit, et ipsos de et super hoc adjuvabit,ut ad versus
malicias hujusmodi, prout ei visum fuerit, sibi valeat providere. Solliciti
quoque erunt quilibet ipsorum dominorum impedire dampna et gravamina
praedicta bona fide. Item' quilibet ipsorum dominorum in tempore
necessitatis, prout decet, juxta posse, aUum adjuvabit Item si dispo-
KEKTE Deo apparent prcefatis Dominis ex procesm temporis, quod ipsi
sunt ecedem personae de quibus Propheta loquitur, inter quos begimek

» MS. Sloan. Brit. Mus. 1T76. fol. 43 b. Another Copy of this Chronicle occurs
MS. Reg. 13 C. I.

38 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

BniTAXViM Majoris dividi deheat et partiri^ tunc ipsi laborabunt et
quilibet ipwxrum laborabit, juxta posse, quod id ad effectum efficaciter
perducatur. Quilibet quoque ipsorum contentus erit portione r^ni prae-
dicti sibi ut infra scribitur limitata, absque ulteriori exactione seu supe.
rioritate quacunque, ymmo quilibet ipsorum in portione bujusmodi sibi
limitata lequali libertate gaudebit. Item, inter eosdem Dominos unani-
miter conventum et concordatum existit, quod pnefatus Owinus et haere-
des sui babeant totam Cambriam sive Walliam, sub finibus, limitibus,
et bundis infrascriptis, a Leogrea quae vulgariter Angliam nuncupatur, di«
visam ; viz. a man Sabrino sicut flumen Sabrinum dudt de mari, de-
scendendo usque ad borialem portam dvitatis Wigomiae, et a porta ilia
directe usque ad arbores fraxineas in lingua Cambriensi sive Wallensi
Ouuene Margion vulgariter nuncupatas, quae in alta via de Brigenorth
ad Kynvar ducente crescunt ; deinde directe per altam viam, quae vetus
sive antiqua via vulgariter nuncupatur, usque ad caput sive ortum flu-
minis de Trent, deinde directe usque ad caput sive ad ortum fluminis
Meuse vulgariter nuncupati, deinde, sicut illud flumen ad mare ducit,
descendendo infra fines, limites, et bundas suprascriptas. Et praefatus
Comes Northumbriae habeat sibi et haeredibus suis comitatus infira-
'scriptas, viz. Northumbr. Westmorland. Lancast. Ebor. Lincolniam,
Notyngam, Derb. Stafford. Leycestr. Northampton, Warwic. et Nor-
ffolch. Et dominus Edmundus habeat totum residuum tocius Angliae
integre sibi et successoribus suis. Item quod pugna, riota, seu discordia
inter duos dominorum ipsorum, quod absit, oriatur, tunc tertius ipsorum
dominorum, convocato ad se bono et fideli consilio, discordiam, riotam,
seu pugnam hujusijiodi debite reformabit; cujus laudo sive sententiae
discordante bujusmodi obedire tenebuntur. Fideles quoque erunt ad de-
fendendum regnum contra onmes homines, salvo juramento ex parte praa-
fati domini Owini illustrissimo Principi domino Karolo Dei gratia Fran-
corum Regi, in ligea et confederatione inter ipsos initis et factis praestito.
Et ut prsdicta onmia et singula bene et fideliter observentur, ipsi domini
Owinus, Comes, et Edmundus, ad sacrum corpus dominicum quod per-
severant jam oontemplans et ad sancta Dei Evangelia per eosdem cor-
poraliter tacta jurarunt praemissa, omnia et singula, sicut posse eorum,
inviolabiliter observare, et sigilla sua altematim praesentibus in testimo-
jiium apponi fecerunt.**

The variance between the Perci^ and King Henry the Fourth, is re-
presented by Hardyng to have originated in three causes : in their own
-refusal to give up certain prisoners of rank who had been taken at the
battle of Homildon ; in the Ejng*s refusal to let Sir Edmund Mortimer
pay a ransom; and in an interview between Sir Henry Percy and

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 29

Glyndowr, which had excited the King's particular jealousy. * Speaking
of Sir Henry Percy, Hardyng says,

- '* The Kyng hym blamed for hi toke not Owen,

When he came to him on his assuraimce ;
And he aunswered then to the Kyng again.

He might not so kepe his affiaunce.

To shame hym self withe suche a variaunce.
The Kyng blamed hym for tiis prisoner
Th' Erie Douglas, for cause he was not there.

And saied he should hym fette but he hym sende.

Sir Henry sawe no grace for Mortimer
His wife's brother ; he went away imkende

To Berwyk so, and after came no nere.

Afore the! mette at Shrowesbury in fere ;
Wher then thei faught for cause of his entent.
He purposed had Mortimer his coronemenfi'

Leiand, in his Collectanea, quotes a passage from another Chronice,,
which describes some more minute particulars of the opening of the quar-
rel between Sir Henry Percy and the King :

'' Comes Northumbrian petiit ab Henrico rege pecuniam sibi debitam
pro custodia Marchis Scotias. Cui rex respondit, ^ Aurum non habeo ;
aunim non habebis.' Venit similiter filius comitis, Henricus Percy, qui
sororem Edmundi de Mortuo man, captivi in Wallia, habebat in uxorem,
rogans r^em ut permitteret Edmundum redimi de proprio: cui Rex
respondit ' quod cum pecunia regni non fortificaret inimicos suos contra
se.* Henricus Percy dixit, ^ Debet homo sic se exponere periculo pro
vobis et regno vestro, et non succurretis ei in periculo suo ?* £t Rex
iratus dixit, ^ Tu es proditor. Vis ut succurram inimicis meis et regni ?*
Cui Henricus, ^ Proditor non sum, sed fldelis ; et ut fidelis loquor.* Rex
traxit contra eum pugionem. ^ Non hie,' dixit Henricus, ^ ted in
CAMFO,* et recessit" «

» An early notice to the King's Council, of presumed intercourse between Hotspur
and Glyndowr, has been already mentioned in p. 9.
k Hardyng's Chronicle, 4to. Lond. 1812, p. 360, 801.
c Lei. Collect, tom. i. p. 812. Ex Paralipom. slve Derelictis ab autore Eulogii.

so ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER X.

Henry of Scharishrec^ Lieidenant of Conway Castle,
to Wmiam Venables of Kinderton Constable of
Chester J and Roger Brescy,

[mS. COTTOir. MU8. BRIT. CLEOF. F. III. foL 40 b. Orxg,^

*^ Henzy Shazesbrok, Esq. occurs in the muster roll of the 3d of
Henry the FifUL, as furnishing two horsemen beside himself in the expe-
dition to France.

This and the four succeeding Letters were probably written about
1 404. Stowe, under that year, says, ^' All the summer Owen Olendouerdew
and his Welshmen rob, bume, and destroy the countries adjojrning unto
them. He tooke many captives ; and slew many Englishmen. He laid
flat certain castles, and some he kept for his own defence." *

Ryght worschipful Sirs I comand me to zow lawly,
dissyryng euirmore to here of zoure worschipe, the
whyche I. pray to God euyrmore encrese. Worschepful
Sirs if hit lyke zow to wete the abot^ of Conway has
send wort to some of the godmen ^ of the ton & to me,
how that ther ame comyn vi Schippis owte of Fraunce
in to Llene w* wyn & specery ful ladyn. Wherfore,
worschepful Sirs, wold ze voche saue^ to send word to
my lord or to his consayl therof, if thai wil oght ordayn
for hom; for worschepful Sirs, vs thynke that and
thay wer takjm hastyly hit wer grete profyt, in a gret
abayschynge to oure enmyes. Worschepful Sirs, the

» Annales, p. 330. edit. 1681. t> abbat.

«■ good men. <» vouchsafe.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 31

Holy Gost kepe zow in hon's. Wrytyn at Conwey the
xxvj day of Feuyrzer.

Be HENR. OF SCHARISBREC '

Levteiiant to Sir John
ofBolde at Conway,

LETTER XI.

William Venahles ofKinderton and Roger Brescy^ to
the Kingy upon the capture of the Constable of
Harlech Cattle.

[ms. cotton, cleop. p. III. foL 39 b. Or%g,'\

Tresexcellent et tresredoute Seigneur liege, nous
recomandons a votre Excellencie oue toutz maneres
services et subjections. Et pleise a votre roial Ma-
gestee entendre que ycy lundy darrein passee a haut
nuyt Roger de Bolton receivor de Denbiegh nous
envoia parole par un vallet que le Conestable de Har-
delagh en Northgales et deux valletz ovesque lui sont
pris par les Gales et amesuez a Owejm de Gl3nidour,
et que le Chastell est en grand peril que Dieu pour sa

Translation,

Most excellent and dread sovereign Lord, We recommend ourselves to your
Excellency in all manner of services and subjections. And may it please your Royal
Majesty to be informed that on Monday last, in the dead of night, "Roget de Bolton,
receiver of Defibigh, sent us word, by a servant, that the Constable of Hardelagh in
North Wales, and two servants with him, have been taken by the Welsh and car-
ried to Owoi de Glyndowr, and that the Castle is in great jeopardy, which God in

82 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

mercie la sauve. qar a ce qil nous ad certifie y ne sont
paas deinz mesme le Chastell forsc^ cynk hommes
Engleys et bien entour xvj. hommes Gales. Paront
pleise a votre treshaute Excellencie, par avis de votre
tressage Conseil, eut ordeigner remedie tiel que pleiser
soit a votre trespuissant Seigniorie. Et la haudsme
Trinitee, notre tressouveraigne et tresredoute Seigneur
liege, vous ottrois prosperitee et la victorie de touz voz
enemys oue bone vie a long durer. Escr. a Cestr. le
XV. jour de Janver.

Voz poueres lieges et subgitz,

WILLIAM vENABLEs dc Kindcrton

& ROG. BRESCy.^

Translation,

his mercy avert ; for according to what he gtates, there are in the Castle no more
than five Englishmen and about sixteen Welshmen. Wherefore may it please your
high Excellency, by the advice of your wise Council, to ordain sudi remedy as shall
be most pleasing to your most puissant Lordship ; and the high Trinity, our most
soverdgn and most redoubted liege Lord, grant you prosperity and victory over all
your enemies, with a happy life long to continue. Written at Chester the I5th day
of January.

Your himible lieges and subjects,

WILLIAM VSNABLB8 of Kinderton,
and ROOSR brescy.

» William Vbnablks was the second son of Hugh baron of Kinderton. He was
constable oS Chester castle, and deputy-warden of the Marches of Wales. His elder
brother Sir Richard Venables, baron of Kinderton, being wounded and taken pri-
soner wast with Sir Thomas Percy and several others, beheaded by King Henry the
Fourth after the battle of Shrewsbury. See Walsingh. edit. 1572. p. 411.

Of the Bbbscy family, an accoimt will be found in Ormerod's Hist* of Cheshire,
vol. iii. p. ITS.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 33

LETTER XII.

William Venables and Roger Brescy to ike King^ upon
the second Assault gfCaemanrvon Castle by Owen
Glyndowr and the French,

[ms. cotton, cleop. f. III. foL 39 b. Or%g,'\

Trespuissant et tresredoute Seigneur liege, nous
nous recommandons a votre tressouvereigne Seigrieur
oue toutz maneres honeres et reverences. Et pleise
a votre roial Magestee entendre que Robert Parys le
puisne Conestable du Chastell de Caemarvan nous ad
certifiee per un femme, a cause qil navoit homme ascun
qi osa venir, ne homme ne femme null ose ascun lettre
porter pour les rebelles Gales qe Oweyn de Glyndour
ouesque les Fraunceys et tout son autre poair se tail-
lent d''assailler les ViUe et Chastell de Caemarvan, et a
comniencer le jour de la fesance dicestes ovec esgynes,
sowes, et laddres de tresgrand longure, et ne sont mie

Translation,

Most puissant and redoubted li^e Lord, we recommend us to you sovereign Lord
in all ways respectful and reverend. May it please your Royal Majesty to imder-
stand that Robert Parys the deputy constable of Caernarvon Castle has apprised us
through a woman, because there was no man who dared to come, for neither man
nor woman dare carry letters on account of the rebels of Wales that Owejrn Glyn-
dowr, with the French and all his other power, is preparing to assault the town and
castle of Caernarvon, and to begin this enterprise with engines, sowes,* and ladders

» William of Malmesbury speaking of the engines which were used by the cru-
saders at the siege of Jerusalem, in 1099, says " There was one which we call the
Sow, the ancients Vinea ; because the machine, which is constructed of slight tim-
bers, the roof covered with boards and wicker work, and the sides defended with
undressed hides, protects those who are within it, who, after the manner of a sow,
proceed to undermine the foundations of the walls." Sharpe's Will. Malmesb. p. 441.

VOL. I. SER. 2. D

34i ORIGINAL LETTEES.

deinz mesmes les Ville et Chastell en tout outre xxviij.
hommes defensibles, q*est trop petit force, qar y sont xj.
de les meillors hommes qestoient la dedeinz al darrein
assege illeoques fait ore mortz, ascuns des plaies qils
avoient a temps d'assaut a eux fait, et ascuns de pesti-
lence, siq^ les ditz Chastell et Ville sont en grand peril
sicome le portor dicestes vous savera enformer par
bouche, a qi pleise a votre hautesse doner ferme foi et
credence, qar il sciet vous enformer de tout la veritee.
Et luy toutpuissant Dieux vous ottrois, notre tres-
redoute Seigneur liege, prosperitee et bon exploit en-
tres touz voz affairs. Et pleise a votre hautesse re-
garder un lettre enclos dedeinz cestes quele Reignald
de Baildon un des Gardeins de la Ville de Conewey
nous envoia buy ce jour, touchant lestat de votre
Seignorie de Northgales. Escr. a Cestre la xvj. jour
de Januer.

Voz poueres lieges

WILLIAM vENABLEs de Kyndertofi

& BOG. BRESCY.

Translation.

of great length ; and in the town and castle there are not in all more than twenty-
«ght fighting men, which is too small a force ; for eleven of the more able.men who
were there at the last siege of the place are dead ; some of the wounds they received
at the time of the assault, and others of Ae plague ; so that the said castie and town
are in imminent danger, as the bearer of this will inform you by word of mouth, to
whom your Highness will be pleased to give full faith and credence, as he can inform
you most accurately of the truth. And may Almighty God grant to you, most re-
doubted Lord, prosperity and success in all your undertakings. And please it to
your Highness to look at a Letter, here enclosed, which Reginald de Baildon, one
of the Keepers of the town of Conway, has sent us this day, concerning the state of
your Seignory of N<nrthwales. Written at Chester the 16th day of January. Your

poor lieges

wiLiiiAM VSNABLS8 of Kindertotit

and HOOKR brbscy.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 36

LETTER XIII.

Reynold of Bayldon one of the Keepers of Conway to
WiUimn Venables, Constable of Chester ^ amd Roger
Brescy,

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. foL 39. Orig,]

Worshipful Sirs I recomaunde me to zow with al
my herte; doyng zow to wndirstonde that al Caer-
naruan shire purposin hem in al the haste that thae
mae for to go into th^ yle of Anglesey for to haue owte
al the men & al the catel there, & for to br3aig hit
with hem into the mowntens, leste Englishemen shulde
be refreshitte therwith. Also the Frenshemen makyn
al the ordenaunce that thae mae or can for to assaele
the towne of Caemaruan in al the haste that thae mae,
knowyng wel that the towne is more febil nowe then
hit was the laste tyme that thae were before hit ; for-
asmuche as a hepe of the beste that were in Caemar-
uan that tyme/ bene god betaghte sethin, and as hit
semeth to me hit were nedeful that thae hade helpe in
haste tyme. Ferthirmore hit was done me to witte
this same dae be a mon of Eryketh for certen, that
William Hunte Constabil of Hard^lagh, opon teisdae
that laste was, cam owte of the Castel for to trete with
the rebell withowte any ostage laede in for hym. And
that the same tyme Robin of Holond, and othir with

36 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

hym, the wheche toke Jankyn Euor, laede honde opon "
the same William & lad hym awae, & two zemen with
hym ; one, Jak Mercer, & that othir Harry Baker.
And what thae did with hem I connot sae at this tyme. -
Also Fevian Colier is full seke, gif he be on life ; And
mony of the sowdiors bene dede there of the pestelence, '
and sum drevyn owte amonge the rebell, and sum gone
into Englond, and sum slaene in the wae toward Eng-
lond. But Sir Lewes & the remenant of the sowdiors
kepyn the Castel welynogh yet. Also wil ze witte
that the sowdiors there tokyn the keis of the Castell
from the same constabil for sum thinges that thae
fonde with hym ; and tokyn him to Fivean & to sir
Lewes for to have hem in kepjmg al this qwarter of a
zere gone. Wherfore I beceche zow hertly that ze
wil sende warnyng to my lord in al the haste that ze
mae wel, towching the maters before saede, so that my ^
lorde mae be aviset whatte is best to do thereof. Also
dure sirs I dar sae to zow in councel that I durste lae
my hede that and there were two hundret men in
Conowey, and two hundret in Caemaruan, abiding -
there from condilmesse in til the feste of saynt Ph. and
Jacob, that the commuyns of Caen'shire woldyn cum to
pees, and pae hor duitis to my lord as wel as evir thae ^
diddyn ; and zif hit be tariet til sumyr hit wil not be
solightly, for then the rebell mae lie withowte, & so
thae mae not nowe. Also I have herde my selfe mony
pf the gentilmen & of the commyns of M'yonnyth

OHIGINAL LETTERS. 37

shire & of Caern^shire swere that al men of the for-
saede shirs exepte fowre or five gentilmen & afewe
vacaboundis, woldin faene cum to pees so that Englishe-
men were lafte in the cuntre for to helpe to kepe hom
from mysdoers, and namely for to cum into the cuntre
whil the weddir were colde. And hit semeth to mony
men hit were bettyr that suche a cimipany were in the *
cuntre for to make leve^ of my lord is dette, & for to
take hor wagys of the same dette, then for to lette the "
rebell haue al. More con J not write at this tyme,
but Grod that is heuen king have zow in his holy
kepyng. Writtyn in hast at the ton of Conowey the
settirdae nexte aftyr the feste of the Epiphanie.

Zor poure servant

EEYNALD OF BAYLDON

(me of the Keperz qfCcmowey,

LETTER XIV.

Henry of Scharisbrec to William VenabUs and Roger
Brescy, tJmt Owen Glyndowr was likely to get pos-
session of Harlech Cattle.

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. foL 40 b. Orig,]

WoiiscHEPFUL Siris if hit like zow to wete ther is a
lytil mon w* Hawel Vaghan that was takyn when the

levy.

38 OKIGINAL LETTEES.

constafoull of Hardlagh wos takyn, & is sworne to
A wyn^ agaynis his will, & he has sendys vs word priuyly
how his may sty r has word for soche that Awyn^ has
byen at Hardlagh & is accordit with all the men that
ame theinne save vij, for to have dilyverance of the
Castell at a certayn day for a certayn some of gold, &
the day is in ryght hasty tyjne hot he wot not when, &
bot if hit be ryght sone ordaynt fore hit is lost & so is
all the countre ther aboute. Worschipful Sir, wil ze
vouchesafe when ze hau oversen this, to send hit to my
maystir Sir John of Bolde, and makis ordinance as zo
thenke be to do. Worschipful Sirs the holy Trinite
kepe zow. Wrytyn in grete hast at Conway the xxvi
day of feuyrzer.

Prom

HEKR. OF SCHAEISBREC.

LETTER XV.

Henry Prince of Wales to his Father King Henry the
F(mrth wpon farther successes against the Parti-
zans of Glyndowr,

[ms. cotton, cleop. f. III. foL 59. OrigJ]

*^* The driginal of this Letter was printed by R3aner,^ and imper-
fectly translated by Mr. Luders in his Tract on die early life of Henry
the FifUi ; who from misunderstanding two words in it, conceived that
there was an omission of a sentence.

■ Owen. *» Feed. torn. viii. p. 390.

' ORIGINAL LETTERS. 39

Cane, in his History of England, vol. ii. p. 665, speaking of Henry
the Fourth's expedition into Wales in 1405, after his return from
Northumberland, thus notices the Victory mentioned in the Letter.

'^ Prince Henry, his eldest son, had paved the way for his success, by
a considerable victory, which he had gained in the b^inning of this year,
on March 11th, over Griffith, the eldest son of Owen Gljrndourdwy ;
who had sent him with an army of eight thousand men into Glamorgan-
shire. They had come to an engagement at Mynydh Pwlwellin, near
Grosmont in Monmouthshire : and Griffith, after a sharp action, had been
defeated, with the loss of eight hundred of his men slain on the spot, and
about as many more, himself one of the number, taken prisoners. Among
the 'dead bodies was found one, whidi much resembled Owen, and this
gave occasion to a current report that he was slain : but it appeared after-
wards to be the corpse of his brother Tudor, who was so very like him,
that they had been often taken for one another, and were hardly to be
distinguished, but by a wart which Owen had over one of his eyebrows.
The report, however, disheartened the Welsh exceedingly : and the people
of Glamorgan made their submission; except a few who repaired ta
Owen, when they had intelligence of his being alive." *

MouN tresredoubte et tressovereign Seigneur et
Piere, le plus humblement que en mon cuer je scey
penser me recomande a votre roiale Majestee, humble-
ment requerant votre graciouse benison. Mon tres-
redoute et .tressoverein Seigneur et Piere, je supplie
vraiement que Dieu monstre graciousement pour vous
son miracle en toutes parties, loez soit il en toutes ses
oeures ; car mescredy, le xj. jour de cest present moys

Translatioiu

My most redoubted and most sovereign Lord and Father in the most humble
manner that in my heart I can devise I recommend me to your royal Majesty, hum-
bly requesting your gracious blessing. My most redoubted and most soverngn Lord
and Father J, I sincerely pray that God will graciously show his miraculous aid toward
you in all places; praised be he in all his wprks ; for on Wednesday the eleventh of

» Carte has not named his authority for these particulaxs: he probably quotet
Wynne.

40 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

de Mars vo6 rebelx des parties de Glomorgan, Mor-
gannok, Uske, Netherwent, et Overrent, feurent as-
semblez a la nombre de oyt Mil gentz par leure
aoonte demesne. Et s'en alerent le dit mescredy, par
matyn, et arderent part de votre Ville de Grosmont
dedeinz votre Seigneurie de Monmouth et Jennoia.
Tantost hors moun trescher cousin le Sire de Talbot,
et mon petit meigne de mon hostel, et a eux assemble-
rent vos foialx et vaillans chivalers William Neuport
et Johan Greindre, lesqueux ne feurent q'*un tres
petit povoir en tous : mes il est bien voirs que la Vic-
toire n^est pas en Ja multitude de poeple, et ce feut
bien monstre illeoques, mes en la puissance de Dieu.
Et illoeques, par Taide de la benoite Trinitee, voz
Gens avoient le champe, et vainquerent tous les ditz
rebelx, et occirent de eux par loiall aconte en la champ
a leure revenue de la chace aucuns dient viij C. et
aucuns dient Mil, sur peine de lour vie ; nientmeins,
soit il Tun ou Tautre, en tiel aconte, je ne vuille pas
contendre.

Translation,

this present month of March your rebels of the parts of Glamorgan* Morgannok,
Usk, Netherwent, and Overwent, assembled to the number of eight thousand men
according to their own account. And they wait on the same Wednesday, in the
morning, and burnt a part of your town of Grosmont within your Lordship of Mon-
mouth and Jennoia. Presently were out my welbeloved cousin the Lord Talbot and
the small body of my household, and with them joined your faithful and valiant
knights WiUiam Newport and John Greindre, the which formed but a small power
in the whole : but true it is indeed that Victory is not in the multitude of people, and
this was well proved there, but in the power of God. And there, by the aid of the
Idessed Trinity, your people gained the field and vanquished all the said rebels, and
slew of them by fair account in the fidd, by the time of their return from the pursuit,
some say eight hundred others a thousand, being questioned upon pain of deatii :
neverthdess whether it were one or the other I will not contend.

ORIGINAL LETTKBS. 41

Et pour vous enfomier pleinement de tout ce^t fait,
je vous envoie une homme de credence en ce cas, mon
loiall serviteur, le pourt or decestes, qui feut a le fait
et fist tresagreablement son devoir, si comme il fait a
tout temps. Et tiels amendes Dieu vous a ordenne
pour Tarsure de quatre maisons de votre surdite Ville :
et prisoners ne feurent pris forsque un, qui feu un
grant chieftejm entre eulx, luy quel je vous voudroie
avoir envoie, mes il ne poet chivacher uncore a son aise.

Et touchant la gouvemance quele je me propose
afiPaire apres cestes, plese a votre hautesse adjouster
ferme credence a le portour de cestes en ce qu'^il mon-
strera a mesme votre hautesse de ma part. Et pri a
Dieu qu'^il vous sauve tousdys en joie et honneur, et
moy doynt pour vous solacer en haste avec autres
bonnes nouvelles.

Escrit a Hereford le dit mescredy deinz nuy t. Votre
treshumble et obeissant filz

HENEY.

Au Roy mon tresredoute et ires
souverein Seigneur et Piere.

Translation,

And to inform you fully of all that has been done, I send you a person worthy of
credit therein my faithful servant the bearer of this letter who was at the engagement
and performed his duty well, as he has always done. And such amends has God
ordained you for the burning of four houses in your aforesaid town : and of prisoners
were none taken except one, a great chieftain among them, whom I would have sent
to you but that he is not yet able to ride at ease.

And concerning the governance which I propose to make after this, may it please
your Highness to give confident credence to the bearer of these in what he will lay
before your Highness on my part. And I pray God to keep you always in joy and
honour, and to grant me shortly to comfort you with other good news.

Written at Hereford the said Wednesday at night. Your most humble and obe-
dient son

HBNRV.

To the King my most redoubted and most
sovereign Lord and Father.

42 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

SpCH are the Letters, hitherto, with one exception, unknown, which
illustrate the History of Owen Gljndowr.

The genius of this extraordinary chieftain has been already mentioned
9S adapted more to rapine than to regular warfare. One instance only
occurs in these letters in which he used military engines when besieging
a fortress. The mischief which he did to WaJes in the short period of
fifteen years was incalculable.

Leland, in his Itinerary, has recorded a few instances of his depreda-
tions. " Montgomericke, deflorischid by Owen Glindour." • " Radenor
partely destroied by Owen Glindour, and the voice is there that, an he
wonne the Castel, he tooke a thre score men that had the garde, and
causid them to be heddid on the brinke of the Castel yarde."'' At
Comehere abbey, ^^ all the Howse was spoiled and defaced be Owen
Glindour.'* ^ u ipj^g people about Dinas did bume the Castel there that
Oene Glindour shuld not kepe it for his fouteres.**<^ '^ The toun of the
Hay within the waulles is wonderfully decaied. The mine is adscribed
to Oene Glindour.'' « Beside these, the towns of Cardif, Abergavenny,
Grosmont, Usk, and Pool, the bishop's castle and the archdeacon's house
at Llandaf, with the cathedrals of Bangor ^d St. Asaph, were all, either
in part or wholly, victims of his rage. The List might be much aug-
mented by turning to our Historians. '

Previous to the revolt of the Percies, Henry the Fourth's own warfare
against Glyndowr was remarkably unsuccessful : so much so, that his
failure was universally ascribed to the arts of witchcraft :

*' The King had never but tempest foule and nine.
As long as he was ay in Wales grounde ;
Rockes and Mystes, Winds and Stormes, oertaine
All men trowed Witches it made that stounde." s

• Leland, Itin. vol. v. fol. 8. >> Ibid, and vol. yiL p. i. fol. 3T.

c Ibid. foL 16. <> Ibid. foL 69. « Ibid. fol. T2.

t At Cardif, as we are informed by Leland from an ancient chronicle, Glyndowr
burnt the whole town, except the Street in which the Franciscans dwelt: '* quern,
amore fratrum cum Conventu stark permisit. Cepit insuper Castrum, et de-
struxit, multasque divitias ibi repositas abstulit. Et cum Fratres Minores peterent
ab eo libros suos et calices, quos in Ccutro deposuerant, respondit, * Quare posuistis
vestra bona in Castro ? 8iea retinuUaetU apud vos, salva vobis fuisaent* " Lei.
CoHectan. torn. ii. p. 818. From a previous passage it should seem that the Francis-
cans were at least suspected of contributing money to support Glindowr's cause.
A. D. 1402. *' Fama publica erat' Fratres Minores misisse magnam sumnuuaok pe-
cunise Audoeno Glindour, ut in Angtiam veniret,** The Franciscans had been long
fovourable to the cause of Richard the Second. That monarch, in his last distress,
had assumed their habit as a disguise.

c Hardyng's Chron. edit 1812, p. 860. So Walsingham, ed. 1674, p. 40T. A. D.
1402. " Rex Angliae ante festum assumptionis S. Marise, collectis exerdtibus, pro-
fectus est in Walliam ad persequendum Owenum de Glendor, sed nihil profuit
tantas annonun strepitus, cum Wallicus in nota latibula se recepit, quiu potius
(ut putatur) art emagica rboxm pene perdidit, cum cxensitu quern ducebat, per
pluvias, nives, et grandines (ut creditur) eu^e diaboiica concUatM.**

0&I6INAL LETTERS. 48

The Monk of EveBham, speaking of HemT's aeeond ezpedidon, flays,
that he coukl never find Gljndowr : ^^ Ipsum :nxo Olyndor nee vidit,
nee ubi esset aliquid audivit." •

The tacdcks, however, whidi suited the savage fastnesses of Wales
were no longer either profitable or expedient when Henry was really to be
met by a powerful combination in the field. Olyndowr missed the cri-
tical moment. Had he joined his forces to those of Sir Henry Percy at
the battle of Shrewsbury, there seems ground to believe that Henry the
Fourth must have been defeated. <>

Owen tried to repair the oversight by introducing French auxiliaiies,
who arrived sometime in 1405, and for a while upheld his cause ; but,
though successful, they found little to be gained by remaining in a ra-
vaged country. They left him to drag his war out upon his own re-
sources. <^

The remainder of 61yndowr*s life was distinguished by few exploits.
He maintained his resistance without being really formidable. At one
time he certainly struck a panic into England. From the MS. of the
Historia Aurea of John of Tinmouth, in the Library of Corpus Christ!
College, Cambridge, we leam that the following miserable hexameter
was inscribed upon the wall at the end of the Monk*s Choir of St.
Alban's Abbey :

" Christe Dei splendor^ supplico tibi destrue Gleendor." <>
Oljmdowr's death is usually placed in 1415.

> Vita Ric. II. ed. Hearne.

i> There ia a very curious Letter in old French, in the volume which has been 80
often quoted, from Sir John de Stanley to King Henry the Fourth, dated July 30th,
probably in 1406. It seems to have been written after the King had had some
success against the Welsh, an account of which he had communicated to Sir John at
Lathom House, in Lancashire. From it we leam that Glyndowr had summoned his
Parliament, not at Melenyth but at Harlech,, and, at that time, formed the hope
of coming to a Treaty. He says, upon the day on which the King's Letters arrived,
David Whitmore and Jevan ap Meredith, two of the most considerable persons of
the County of Flint, came to him to talk upon the news of Wales : *' Et auxi ils
mont dit coment Owen de Glendoredes ad somone un Parlement de present a
Hardelaoh Ion serront quatres des plus svffimnts persones de checun Comote
parmy tout Gales soubz sa obbeisance esteantz, et auxi tres redoute Seigneur les dita
David et Yevan mont dit qen taunt qils puissent savoir a celle temps que le dit Owen
meisqil poet estre seure a son dit Parlement d'avoir trop fort poueir et graunde eide
hors de Fraunce, il soy purpose d'envoier a vous trespuissant Seigneur apres celle son
Patlement avauntdit, pour un trkitk ; et mesmes lez David et Yevan sont ales
au dit Parlement pour cut savoir tout le purpos et exploit d'icelle et de moy reen-
contrer al Countee a tenir le marsdy proschien en Cestre pour moy eut certifier tout
la verite et pourpos de dit Parlement." He signs himself '* Votre simple bacheler, si
vous pleise, John, de Stanley." No treaty was, however, entered into.

» In 1406 the Frcndi made a slighter attempt to assist Glyndowr, with six and
thirty vessels, the greater part of which were shipwrecked in a storm. Glyndowr's
treaty with Charles the Sixth of France is printed in Rymer, from the Cottoniau

MS. Titus A. III.
d In the 8th Hen. IV. the people of South Wales were ordered by proclamation to

44 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

At Corwen, the next stage beyond Llangollen on the road to Bangor
Ferry, the head of Glyndowr is still the sign of the principal inn ; and
its environs abound in traditions of the most marvellous kind relating to
him. At Rug also, a mile from Corwen, the seat of CoL Salusbury, his
knife and da^er are shewn, preserved in one sheath. Numerous, how-
ever, as are the traditions relating to Oljmdowr in this district, they are
confined to it In other parts of Wales, particularly in the south, nothing
is either known or remembered of him beyond the facts established by
history.

LETTER XVI.

Richard Earl of Cambridge to King Henry the Fifth,

a Letter of Confession,

[m8. cotton." vesp. c. XIV. foL 39. Orig.]

*^* Richard of Conjmgsburgh, second son of Edmund of Langley
Duke of York, was high in the favour of King Henry the Fifth, who, in
the second year of his reign, created him Earl of Cambridge. The next

return to their desolated posscasions. Pat. s Hen. IV. p. i, m. 6. T. R. apud Westm.
8 Maii. Rymer's unpubl. Collections, MS. Donat. Mus. Brit. 46d8.

From a Roll of the second year of Henry the Fifth it appears that in the lOth
Hec. I Vth. John Lord Fumival, who went at that time with two hundred men toward
Carnarvon, was stopped at Shrewsbury, John Weole, Esquire, the constable of the
castle and town of Shrewsbury, shutting the gates against them in favour of Glyn-
dowr. Rym. Collect ut supr. 4599, art. 80.

In the iith Hen. I Vth. 1400, an action of some extent must have taken place, since
in October that year ^e following Welsh prisoners were received at Windsor Castle.
Ho. ap Jevan ap Howell, Walther ap Jevan Vethan, Rys ap Jevan ap Rys, Jevan
Goz ap Morgan, David ap Tudor, Rys ap Meredyd, Madok Berg, Jenkyn Backer,
David ap Cad, and Thomas Dayler. Rym. Foed.tom. viii. p. 699. Claus. 11 Hen. IV.
m. 87 .18 Oct. In the same year, says Leland, " Rise ap Die, an esquier of Wales,
and a supporter of Owen Glendowr, was taken and hanged at London." In this year
also the Officers of the Marches of Wales entered into a truce with Owen, which the
King refused to confirm. Rym. Feed. torn. viii. p. 611. Pat. 11 Hen. IV. 33 Nov.

In the 12th Hen. IVth. we have the King's Letters to Richard Gray of Codnore,
constable of Nottingham Castle, to deliver to the constable of the Tower of London
GryflT. ap Owein Glendourdy and Owan ap GryflT. ap Ricard, his prisoners, dated
2lst March ; with another Letter to the constable of the Towei to receive them.
Rym. impubl. Collect. MS. Donat Brit. Mus. 4690, art. 100. from Glaus. 12 Hen. IV.
m. 18.

In the 18th of Hen. IVth. we have the King's licence to John Tiptoft seneschal of
Brecon, and William Botiller receiver of Brecon, to treat with Owen for the ransom
of David Gamme. T. R. Westm. 4 Jun. 1412. Rym. Feed. tom. viii. p. 768.

OEIGINAL LETTERS. 45

year, A. B. 1415, while the King was mustering his forces at South,
ampton preparatory to an expedition against France, he was accused of a
treasonable conspiracy, indicted, convicted, and beheaded. The following
Letter was his confession ; that which succeeds it, his later supplication
for life: but neither had any effect upon Henry. The conspiracy to
which they relate was the first spark of that flame which, in the course of
time, consuthed the two Houses of Lancaster and York. Richard Earl
of Canibridge was the father of Richard Duke of York, and the grand-
father of King Edward the Fourth.

This, and the succeeding Letter of the.Earl of Cambridge, have been
given by R3rmer : but the Editor still thought the insertion of them de-
sirable here, on account of their connection with other Letters, which
will be given in the reign of Edward the Fourth,

My most dredfuUe and sovereyne lege Lord, lyke
to yowre hynesse to wete touchyng the purpose cast
ageyns zowre hye estat. Havyng ye Erie of Marche
by his aune assent, and by the assent of myself, Wher
of y most me repent of al worde ^ thyng, and by the
acord of the lord Scrop and Sir Thomas Grey, to have
hadde ye forseyd erle into the lond of Walys wyth
outyn yowre lycence, takyng upon hym the sovereynte
of zys lond; zyf yondyr manis persone wych they
calljni kynge Richard hadde nauth bene alyve, as y
wot wel yat he nys not aly ve, for the wyche pojmt i
putte me holy in zowre grace. And as for ye forme of
a proclamacyon wych schulde hadde bene cryde in ye
Erie name, as he^ heyre to the Corowne of Ynglond
ageyns zow, my lege lord, calde by auntreu^ name
Harry of Lancastre usurpur of Yngland, to the entent
to hadde made the more people to hadde draune to

» worldly, »» the. «^ untrue.

46 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

hym and fro z<J^ of the wych crye Scrop knew not of
by me, but Grey dyd, havyng wyth the erle a baner
of ye Armes of Ynglond, havyng also ye coroune of
Speyne on a palet, wych, my lege Lord, is one of zowre
Weddys, for ye wych ofiTence y put me holy in zowre
grace. And as for ye p'pose takjm by Unfrevyle and
Wederyngtoun for ye br3aigyng in of that persone wych
they namyd kyng Richard, and Herry Percye oute of
Scotland wyth a power of Scottys, and theyre power
togedyrs semyng to theyme able to geve zow a bataylle,
of ye wych entent Sir Thomas Grey wyst of, and i also,
but nauth Scrop as by me; of ye wych knawyng i
submytte me holy into zowre grace. And as for the
takjmg of zowre castelles in Walys, Davy Howell made
me be host, so there were asteryng in ye north ; of ye
wych poynt i putte me haly in zowre grace. And as
touch3mg the Erie of Marche, and Lusy hys man, they
seydjm me both yat the Erie was nauth schreven of
a great whyle, but at all hys confessours putte hym in
penaunce to clayme yat yey callydd)ni hys ryth that
wod be that tyme that every iknew, heny thyng yat
ever to hym longyd

Of ye wych poynttes and artycles here befor wretyn,
and of al odyr wych now ame nauth in mynde, but
treuly as oft as heny to m3ni mjmde fallyn i schal
deuly arid treuly certefye zow ther of, besekyng to
zow, my lege Lord, for hys love yat suffyrd passyoun

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 47

on ye good fryday so have zee coflfpassyoun on me
zowre lege man, and yf heny of thes persones whos
names ame contenyd in zys bylle, woldyn contrary ye
substaunce of yat i have wretyn at zys tyme, i schalle be
redy wyth the myth of God to make hyt good, as zee
my lege Lord wille awarde me.

The particulars of the Earl of Cambridge's Indictment are in the
Rolls of Parliament, vol. iv. p. 64. in Latin. The Lansdowne MS.
Num. I. art 27, contains the substance in English, apparently abstracted
from the Record in the time of Queen Elizabeth : with the following
observations at the end.

'^ It dothe not appere in all this Indytemente anye Treason by any acte
otherwise then by conspyracye in wordes, and as touchinge the deathe of
the kinge and his bretheren the same semeth to be gathered uppon the
circumstances of the mattiers and thinges conspyred and devised to have
bene done, whiche yf they had bene so attempted and executed yt wolde
but tende to the destruccion and deathe of the kinge and his bretheren.
And why the compassinge of the deathes of the kinges bretheren shoulde
be adjudged Treason may be thoughte straunge, for although Thomas
duke of Clarence, the eldest brother of the three, and, for that the kinge
had then no child nor was ever maryed, was his heire apparante, yet that
ys not conteyned within the Statute of 25 Edw. III. where the ymagyn.
inge of the death of the kinges eldest sonne and heire ys declared to be
Treason, not makinge mencion of anye other yonger sonne of the kinge
nor of anye the kinges bretheren. But jrt semeth that Statute ys largely
expounded and that th*e]dest brother of the kinge, by equitye of the same
Statute, may be taken in place pf the eldest sonne of a kynge where there
ys no sonne, and so the Judges in those dayes dyd take the same Statute
and dyd so expounde yt'

»♦

48 OEIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER XVII.

Richard Earl of Cambridge to King Henry the Fifth ;
sueingjbr mercy afier his condemnation,

[mS. cotton. VESPAS. F. III. foL 7' Orig,^

Myn most dredfuU and sovereyne lege Lord, i Ri-
chard York zowre humble subgyt and very lege man,
beseke zow of Grace of al maner offenses wych y have
done or assentyd to in heny kynde, by steryng of odyr
folke eggyng me yer to, where in y wote wel i have
hyll offendyd to zowrie Hynesse ; besechyng zow at the
reverence of God yat zow lyke to take me in to the
handys of zowre mercyfuUe and pytouse grace, thenk-
jmg zee wel of zowre gret goodnesse. My lege Lord,
my fulle trust is yat zee wylle have consyderacyoun,
thautha yat myn persone be of none valwe, zowre hye
goodnesse wher God hath sette zow in so hye estat to
every lege man yat to zow longyth plenteousely to
geve grace, yat zow lyke to accept zys myn symple
reqwest for ye love of oure Lady and of ye blysf uUe
Holy Gost, to whom I pray yat yey^ mot zowre hert
enduce to al pyte and grace for yeyre^* hye goodnesse.

* though. •» they. e their.

ORIGINAL LETTflBS. 49

Processes, in early times, where the necessity of getting rid of a
courtier was thought to exist, were short Some were even more sum-
mary than that against the Earl of Cambridge. The Cottonian Manu-
script Julius F. yi. fol. 80. contains some Proceedings in a Parliament
held at Leicester in the 2d of Hen. Vth. concerning the reversing of the
attainder of the Earl of Salisbury, who, by an oversight of the Commons,
was not tried till after his execution. For the details of this remarkable
fact the reader may consult the Rolls of Parliament, voL iv. pp. 17, 18-

In the Harleian Manuscript 5805, fol. 323. is a representation of Ri-
chard of Coningsburgh Earl of Cambridge from a window, now gone, in
Canterbury Cathedral; put up about 1414. Probably this is the only
Portrait of him known. On his surcoat over his armour, are the Arms
of France and England : 1 and 4. France ; 2. 3. England ; a bordure of
Leon; and a label of the Dukedom of York. A chaplet of roses and
crosses on his head.

There is a muster roU of the Army of Henry the Fifth in this his first
Voyage to France, preserved among R3rmer's unprinted Collections in the
British Museum, which must have been taken at Southampton, as the
Earl of Cambridge occurs in it, with a personal retinue of two knights,
fiflty-seven esquires, and a hundred and sixty horse archers. The Duke
of Clarence brought in his retinue one earl, two bannerets, fourteen
knights, two hundred and twenty-two esquires, and seven hundred and
twenty horse archers. The Sum of the Roll includes 2536 men at arms ;
4128 horse archers; 3771 foot archers; thirty-eight arblesters; 120
miners; twenty-five master gunners; fifty servitor-gunners ; a stufier
of badnets ; twelve ^ armourers ; three kings of arms ; Mr. Nicholas
Colnet, physician, who brought three archers ; twenty surgeons ; an im-
mense retinue of labourers, artizans, fletchers, bowyers, wheelwrights,
chaplains, and minstrels. The total of the fighting persons amounting
to 10731. These were the men who gained the field of Azincourt.

VOL. I. SER. 2. E

50 OEIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER XVIII.

Thomas LangUy Bishop of Durham^ to King Henry
the Fiflhj v/pon the King's money^ jewels^ Sfc.
deposited in the Church of Durham.

[ms. cottok. yesp. f. XIII. foL 29. Orig,]

*«* Thomas Langley, afterwards Cardinal, was consecrated Bishop
of Durham August 8th, 1406. He died July 8th, 1457. His designa-
tion of himself as Priest of Durham, was one frequently used by Bishops
in early times. A Letter to King Henry the Eighth will be hereafter
given, in which the Bishop of London stiles himself '^ your symple Priest
and Bedeman." In Latin the Bishops often stiled themselves, in the
same manner, '^ ministri." '

The mention in this Letter of the death of the Prior of Durham ascer-
tains its date. John de Hemingburgh Prior of Durham died in 1416.
He was succeeded in that office by John de Wessington, who is likewise
alluded ta ^

The main subject of this Letter deserves a short comment. No chest
or other instrument, containing gold, silver, or jewel, charter, muniment^
or other evidences, which '' fiad been left to keep," were to be re-
moved till the new Prior had been spoken to.

In a Note of Cardinal Beaufort, printed in the former Series of these
Letters, it wto shewn that hi* wealth was in his coffers locked and sealed.
The Monasteries however, as in this instance, even in times considerably
earlier, were the safest places of deposit Toward the dose of the
twelfth century the Jews of St Edmondsbury placed their treasure in
the Abbey there, under the care of the Sacrist« *^ Stowe tells us that when
Henry the Third seized the wealth of Hubert de Burgh earl of Kent, in

• In a charter printed in the new edition of Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 308
Robert bishop of Bath calls himself " Robertus Bathon. ecd. minister.** Cardinal'
Langton, also, in an Instnunent in which he recites and publishes Pope Honorius's
Bull in favor of the Cistercian Order in 1326, stiles himself in a similar manner *' S.
permissione dlvina Cantuar. Ecdesise minister humili*, totius Anglise Primas, et
Sacrae Romanse Ecdesise Cardinalis." Cart, antiq. HarL 76 A. 14.

^ Compare Wharton, Angl. Sacra.

• See Jocelyne de Brakelond's Chron. MS. Harl. 1005. fol. 188.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 51

1232, he found it placed in deposit with the Master of the Temple in
Fleet Street.* MHien Sir Sampson Foliot died, in 1284, it appeared
that he had deposited his riches in the Abbey of Oseney near Oxford.^
Sir John Fastolf also, in the reign of Henry the Sixth, as we learn from
the Inventory of his wealth, out of 2643/. of ready money, kept more
than 2000/. in the Abbey of St. Benet Hulme.

Nor were Monasteries places of deposit for money only. From an
entry in the Chartulary of Garendon Abbey in Leicesteniiire we learn
that that Monastery was a depositary for the title deeds of at least one of
the neighbouring lords. ^' Memorandum quod die Sabbati proxima ante
festum Potentianae Virginis, anno Domini Millesimo CCC.xxvii"'". Ed-
mundus deEssheby senescallus domini Henrici de Bellomonte, etRicaidus
Deryng clericus ejusdem domini, ceperunt de bursaria de Oerendonia
omnes cartas quae fuerunt domini Hugonis de Spencer de manerio de
Lutzborowe, videlicet duas cist as plekas; et eas secum, de Domo
praedicta, portaverunt ad opus domini Henrici.***^

SovEEEYN Lord, with als ^ meke and entier hert as
I kan or may I recomande me to youre roial Majeste,
to the whiche plaise it to wite that on Monday at nyght
last passet I have receyvet youre fulworschipfull Let-
tres, by the tenure of the whiche it hath liket yow to
let me wite how ye be enformed that with inne youre
Churche of Duresme, under the warde of two monkes
of the Churche, and the last Priour that ded is, and of
a man that is clepet Mydeltone, ther shulde be certein
thyng that to yowe apperteneth, as it is more specialy
writen in yowre said Lettres.

The whiche youre Lettres by me receyvet and un-
derstanden the said Monday atte nyght, I have on

» Survey of Lond. edit 1608. p. 402.

i> R^. Pecheham, archiep. Cantuar. fol. 90T b.

« Chartul. Abb. Garendon, MS.^amd. Brit. Mu8. fol. 2S.

^ as.

5S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Tysday in the momyng orde3met a sufficient persone,
that with your message and tho enformer that come
with hym, is goen in al godely hast to youre said Kirk
of Duresme, ther to charge on your behalve the Priour
that now is, that out of the said Churche ne Priory be
not remweta ne delyveret no kist ne othir instrument
that may cotene^ gold, sylver, or juell, chartre, muni-
ment, or othir evydences that ther has bene left to
kepe, til the forsaid Prior and I may speke to gedir ;
and more to that matire have I noght mow do<^ as yet,
but als sone as I may more do ye shall have, wityng
therof. As of ty thyngs ^ I kan no nothir write but
suche as by myn othir Letteres I send yow by the
berer of thes. Soverein Lord, the Holygost have yow
in his kepying. Writen atte Pontfrect, this Thoresday
in the momyng.

Youre humble Freest

of Duresme.

To
Our Soverainge Lorde
the Kynge.

• removed. »» contain. c more done. «« tidings.

OBIGINAL LETTERS. 53

LETTER XIX.

Letter to Kinge Henry Vth in behalf of the Lord Fur-
nyval Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

A.D. 1417.

[mS. LAK8D. 418. foL 85. OUT OF THE WHITS BOOK OF THE EX-
CHEQUER BURNT IN SIR FBAUNCES ANGIERS CLOSET AT JACOB
NEWMANS, ANNO I6IO.]

*«* The Annals of Ireland in tlie earliest period of its history are ob-
scure ; nor are we acquainted with the details of its first connection with
England.

Giraldus Cambrensis is wrong when he states that, till the thne of
Henry the Second, Ireland had remained free from foreign incursion. *
We have Bedels authority for its invasion by EgMd king of Northumber-
land, in 684 : and though the Charter which represents our Edgar as
monarch of Ireland is usually considered spurious, yet other charters of
unquestioned authenticity, of a date but little later, recognize its formule;
and we have coins both of Ethelred the Second and Canute, minted at
Dublin.

That the Conquest of Ireland was long an object of ambition with the
Kings of England cannot be doubted ; and it is remarkable that it should
have been planned by Henry the Second at the moment of his mounting
the English throne. His compact with. Pope Adrian the Fourth for the
ireduction of Ireland, is stiU preserved in R3rmer, in a Latin Letter firom
the Pontiff.

Like the formation of the Domesday Survey, the receipt of this Letter
was considered as an epoch by the English. An original charter of J(^
Earl of Ewe is extant, which concludes with these remarkable words :
'* Haec autem concessio facta est Wincestriam eo anno quo verhum foe-
turn est de Hibemia conquirenda, Hanc vero cartulam magister Mo-
bertus fecit anno liiii. ab incamato Domino.** ^

But Henry could « take no advantage of his grant till 1172, when
having procured two additional Bulls from Pope Alexander the Third,
one addressed to himself the other to the Kings and Princes of Ireland,
he entered upon the Invasion, and then followed the submission of the
Irish. Henry landed at Waterford Oct. 18th, 1172, whence he pro-
ceeded to Dublin and received the homage of the chieftains.

John, son of Henry the Second, when Lord of Ireland, established

' " Ab omni alienarum gentium incursu libxra permansit et inconcussa.**
k Cart antiq. Harl. Brit. Mus. 83 C. 25.

t!$4 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Courts of Law, the jurisdiction of which was to extend to the limits of
the English pale: die territory so designated forming the counties of
Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Lowth, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork,
Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. In what remained, which composed
about two thirds of the Kingdom, the English influence was only nominal.

On the intermediate History of Ireland, between the time of John and
Henry the Fifth, we have no occasion to comment here. The wars of
Edward the Third slackened the activity of the English rule, and opened
the way to those revolts which by detaining Richard the Second in Ire-
land at a critical moment, proved his ruin. It may suffice to say that
Ireland in the reign of Henry the FifUi was as wild in its country and as
rude in its inhabitants as in the reign of Henry the Second. The English
pale, as will be iseen in the present Letter, was little more than a garrison
of territory.

It may be curious to mention here that a band of sixteen hundred
native IrUh armed with their own weapons of war, " in mail, with darts
and ska3mes," under the lord of Kylmaine, were with Henry the Fifth at
the Si^e of Rouen. They kept the way which came from the forest of
Lyons. Hall says, they *^ did so their devo3rre, that none were more
praised nor did more damage to their enemies."*

The Lord Fumivall mentioned in this Letter, was Sir John Talbot of
Hallamshire, afterwards earl of Shrewsbury, so conspicuous as a warrior
in the reign of Henry the Sixth. He was made Lieutenant of Ireland in
the 1st of Henry the Fifth, and received the title of Lord Fumivall by
courtesy through his wife. She was the eldest of the two daughters of
Sir Thomas Nevil, who had married Joan the sole daughter and heiress
of William the last Lord FumivalL His exploits in Ireland seem wor.
thy of record. He maintained an able government on scanty means.
His income for that purpose amounting to little more than two thousand
six hundred pounds a year.^

RiGHTE excellenle, righte gracious, and our righte
redoubt and righte soveraiyne leige Lord, Wee doe
recomend us unto your high royall Ma^^. soe humbly
and obediently as any leige men may doe, in any man-
ner, unto there soveraigne and redoubted leige Lord ;

* See Hall, new edit. p. 83.

i> " HiBN. Johanni domitio de Furny vail locumtenenti Hiberniae pro salva custodia
cjusdem axxxo. die Januar..anno secundo usque primum diem Augusti prox. sequen.
per dimidium aniium 1833/.^. scf." MS. Cotton. Cleop. F. iii. fol. 141.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 5$

especiallie, and above all other earthly thinges desiringe
to heare and to knowe of the gracious prosperitie and
noble health of your renowned person; the same beinge
soe gracious and joyous newes as any can imagine or
thinke to the principall comforte and especiall consola-
tion of us and all your faythfull subjectes ; and namely
of us which are continuinge in a lande of warr, en-
vironed by your Irishe Enimies and English Rebels in
pointe to be destroied, if it weere not that the soveren
ayde and comforte of God and of you our gracious
Lord, did altogeather releve us. And righte excellent,
righte gracious, and righte redoubted and righte so-
veraigne leige Lord, forsoe much as the h5.* lord
the Lord of Fumyvale your faythfull subjecte and
Liueten^ute of this yo^. lande of Ireland was purposed
to departe from your land and to repayre to your high
presence, to sue for his payment which to him is be^
hinde, for the safe keepinge of this your lande ; and
wee, consyderinge the great destruction and disease
which hath come unto this lande by his laste absence
from us, and eschuinge greater that may come and are
likely to falle uppon the same if he shoulde be absente
at this presente tyme, wee have requested him in the
behalfe of you our soveraigne Lord, and have suppli-
cated unto him on our owne behalfes to attend heare,
and not to departe, for the safetie of this yo^ lande
and of yo''. faythfull leiges in the same ; and wee to

• honoured.

56 OEI6INAL LETTERS.

write for him to your gracious person for his recom-
mendacions for the greate chardges, laboures^ and tra-
velles, by him had and sustained in theise partes, and
that he mighte have his said payment to the safety of
the same your landes, and of your faythfull subjectes
therin; wheruppon, our righte soveraigne Lorde, if
it please you, wee doe signifie unto your Royall Ma^"*.
and to others to whom it shall appertaine, the great
laboures, travels, and endevoures made by your said
Lifetenaunte heere after his firste arrivall in this land
untill his laste rapaire to yo^. highe presence, and of
other, after that, by him done. Firste your said Life-
tenaunte, takeingunto him the advise of your Counsell
on this side, and of other lords temporall, knightes,
esquires, and other good commoners, made many
greate jemies and hostinges uppon one of the strongest
Irishe enimies of Leynstre, called CMore of Layse, a
great cheefetaine of this Nation, by beinge in his con-
try for six dayes and nightes twice, which was not done
before in our tyme, and takeinge his cheefe place and
goodes, buminge, forrageing, & destroyinge all his
contry, his come, and his other goodes, and buminge
and breakinge certaine of his castles called the Castle
of Colyndragh and the Castle of Shenneigh, and res-
cuinge diveres English prisoneres there, beinge wthout
pa3ringe raunsome, and woundinge and killinge a
greate multitude of his people, and made such ware
uppon him that he was forced againste his will to

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 57

make peticion to have yo^*. Peace by indenture, and to
put his Sonne in pleadge into the handes of your said
Livetenauntc, to keepe the peace safely, and to. amende
that wherin he had offended againste your faythfull
subjectes ; and more over to serve & travel! with your
saidLivetenaunte uppon his waminge againste all Irishe
enimies Sz Englishe rebelles at his commaundement; soe
that by meanes thereof the said CMore come \¥ith two
battayles, one foote & on horse, to serve uppon a stronge
enimie k a cheefetaine of his nation called Mac Ma-
hon, the distance of forty leagues from the partes o£
Layse, and he beinge with the same yo^. Livetenaunte,
& under his safe conduit, and in ayde of him in the
foresaid contry of Layse two other great cheefetaines
of theire nations of Leynstre wth. theire people. That

is to say O Bryun and O Rale shame and over-

throwe of the warr against him may be continued which
God graunte : and the said O Ferall and O Rale doe
still contynue pedciones to enjoy your peace. And
alsoe he roode againste Mac Mahone a greate Irishe
enimie and a powrefuU cheifetaine of his nation in
the partes of Uluestre adjoynin^e unto the County of
Louth, and him did strongely invade longe tyme by
diveres laborious hostinges and jomeyes, some on foote,
by sixteene leagues, and bumte & destroyed one of
his cheife places, with all his townes & corne aboute,
& wounded & killed a greate multitude of his people,
untill hee must of force yealde himselfe to your Peace

58 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

& deliver divers English prisoners wthout ransome,
which he and his people have taken, and that he un-
dertooke by indenture to travell with the same your
Leiuetennant agaynst whatsoever enimie or rebell, upon
his warning, in such sort that hee sent Manus his brother
with a great multitude of their people to serve uppon
that sayd Oc Conor which is forty myles & more from
their country; & also he rode agaynst O Hallon a
greate cheiftayne of his nation and Irish enimie in the
same partes of Ulster, & warred soe strongly upon him
that hee was compelled by force to yeeld himselfe to
your peace, and undertooke to ride agaynst all Irish
enimies & English rebells at his pleasure, in such sort
that he did serve with three hundreth men & more
uppon the forsayd Mac Mahonne ; & after that disloy-
ally rose up agayne in warres & distroyed your fayth-
fuU leiges; and presently your sayd Leiuetennant
theruppon ordeired divers great jomeys upon him in
his country, where he burnt, forraged, & destroyed
many therof & wounded & killed many of his people,
& cutt a greate place thorrow a longe wood, in breadth
of two leages or more, thorow terror of which thinge
hee dayly made suplication to have peace, & putt in his
hostages for the safe keeping therof, & theruppon the
greate CNele pretendinge himselfe to bee Kinge of
the Irish in Ulster, And O Neleboy sonne to M^.
Qwenous, M^ Gwere, O Dowenell, greate & powerfull
cheifetaynes of their nation, & divers other Irish eni-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 59

mies, hearing of the cutting of the same place & of the
damage & distruction done also to the sayd O Hanlan,
& doubting the like to be done to them by your Leife-
tenaunt, sent to him to have peace & to doe him ser-
vice, & also to serve wth. him upon all other Irish eni-
mies & English rebelles; & also he caused in many
places every Irish enimie to serve upon the other, which
thinge hath not beene scene by longe t3mae in theise
partes untill the coming of your Leiuetenant aforsayd ;
and he hath accomplished divers other jorneis & la-
bours for the sayd releife and comfort of your faythfull
leiges on this side the sea, and in especially at the
making herof, in repay ring & mending of a bridge called
the bridge of Athy, sett in the fronture of the borders
of the Irish enimies of Laies, for the safe keeping
wherof he hath erected a new tower upon the same for
a warde to putt therwith a greate fortificawn aboute
the same for resistance of the sayd enimies, to the great
comfort & releife of the English & greate over-throw
of the Irish enimies ; by which bridge your faythfull
leiges were oftentimes prayed ^ & killed, but now your
sayd leiges, both their & els where, may suffer their
goods and cattels to remayne in the feilds day & night
wthout being stolen, or sustayning any other losse, which
hath not beene scene here by the space of these thirty
yeares past, God bee thanked & your gratious provision.
And now after this upon Munday in the Whitson

■ preyed.

60 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

weeke, att Lasenhale in the county of Dublin, Morice
O Keating cheifta3me of his nation, traitor 8s rebell
to you our gratious Lord, for the great feare which he
had of your sayd Leiftenaunt, for himselfe & his nation,
yeilded himselfe to the same your Leiuetenant without
any condicion, with his brest agaynst his swords po3mt
& a cord about his necke, then delivering to your sayd
Leiftenant without ransome the English prisoners
which he had taken before, to whom grace was graunted
by indenture, & his eldest sonne given in pleadge to
bee loyall leiges from thence forwarde to you our so-
veraigne Lord. Wee humbly beseeche your gratious
lordshipp that yt would please you of your especiall
grace to thinke upon your said land, & in the workes
of charitye to have mercie & pitty upon us your poore
leiges therof, who are environed on all sydes in warre
with English rebells & Irish enimies to our continuall
destruction & sorrow, & alsoe to have your sayd Leiue-
tenaunt as especially recomended to your soveraigne
Lordship for the causes aforsayd, &more over to provide
soe gratiously such a sufficient payment for him that
he may make himselfe stronge inough to resiste the
malice of your enimies on this side the sea, & his soul-
diers able to pay for their vittals & other thinges which
they toke of your faythfuU leiges for the saftye of your
land aforsayd, & of your poore leiges therin, consider-
inge our redoubt leige Lord that yf your forces be tiot
here alwayes soe strongly mayntayned & continued

0BI6INAL LETTERS. 61

wthout being deminished, your Irish enimies & En-
glish rebells yf they may espie the contrary, although
they have putt in hostages & are otherwise strongly
bound to the peace, yet they will rise agayne unto
wars, which is a prfvie Conquest of your land aforsayd.
And furthermore the mony which your saydLeiftennant
doth receive of your gratious Lordshipp for the safe
keeping of this your land is soe little that yt doth not
sufScfe to paye so much unto the soldiors as is likly to
mayntayne your warrs heere by a greate quantitye, by
reason wherof they can pay but litle for any thinges
taken from your sayd leidges for the sustenance of
them & their horses, which is to the importable chardges
of your leidges & perpetuall destruction of them yf they
be not gratiously succored & releved by your gratious
lordshipp in that behalfe ; & moreover wee beseeche
your gratious Lordshipp to have yo^. sayd Leiuetenant
especially recomended unto you for his greate conti-
nuall labours k costes which he hath borne Sz; sustayned
about the deliverance of the Karle of Dessemond, who
was falsly & deceatfuUy taken Sz deta3med in prison by
his unkle, to the greate distruction of all the contry of
Mounstre, untill now that he is gratiously delivered
by the good & gratious government of the same your
Leiftenant. In witness whereof wee your faythfuU &
humble leiges the bishopp of Eildare, the gardeins of
the spirituallities of Ardmaghe, the abbot of the House
of our ladie of Fr3mae, the abbot of the House of our

6S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

ladie of Kenleys, the abbot of the House of our lady of
Balkinglase, the abott of the House of our ladye of
Beckty, the abbot of the House of our ladie nere Deve-
lin, a the abbott of the House of our ladie of Novan,
the prior of the House of St. Fetter of Trime, the prior
of the House of our lady of Louth, the prior of the
House of St. Leonards of Dondalke, the prior of the
House of St. John of Reulys, the prior of the House of
oiu* lady of Colp. the prior of the House of our lady
Urse of Droghda, the prior of the House of our lady
of Dyveleck, the prior of the House of St. Johns of
Droghda, the prior of the House of St. Lawrence of
Droghda, the prior of the House of our lady of Conall^
the prior of the House of St. Johns of Naas, the prior
of the House of St. Johns without Newgate of DeueUn,
the prior of the House of the Trinitye in Deuelin, the
prior of the House of Fowre, the prior of the House of
God of Molingare, the prior of the House of our lady
of Trystemagh, the archdecon of Kildare, the arch-
decon of Priell, Thomas Lenfant barron of Atherde,
Richerd Nugent barron of Delbin, Matt. Huse barron
of Galtrym, Thomas Mareward barron of Skryn,
Edward Ferrers knight, John London knight, the
maior & balifes of the CiUe of Dublin, the Comons of
your towne of Droghda, the Commons of Dondalke,
the Commons of Atherdee, the Commons of Kenlys, the
Commons of Tryme, the Commons of Athboy , the Com-

• Dublin.

0BI6INAL LETTERS. 63

monsof Naas, the Commons of Clsme, the Commons of
Tresteldermot, the balifes of Louthe, the sherife of
Dublin, the sherife of Eyldare, the sheryfe of Priell, &
the sherife of the Crosse of Meth, Christopher Plum,^
James Uriell, John Fitz Adame, Robert Bumell, Wil-
ham of Tynbegh, Robert White of Killester, Thomas
Talbott of Malahede, John Clinton of Kepp, Chris-
topher White, Henry Drake, Walter Plunke, John
Taff, Robert Heiron, William Rath, John Clynton of
Drumchasshell, Walter Congagham, Thomas White of
Priell, Mathew Tanner, John Heyron, Thomas Rath
of Croffkill, Walter Ley, William Deveros, Andrew
Tuitt, Robert Bet, John Fitz Richard, John Dillon,
Richard Lyneham, George Fay, John Beery, Symon
London, Richard Talbott of Mith, John Dardits of
Gryll, W^^. Fitz Wi»m, John White of ConaU, Wil-
liam Heron, Mories Welsh, Nicholas Gaberd, Patrick
Ley, Walter Harrold, William Welsh, Gylbaugh,
Nicholas Brown, Patrick Flatesbury, John Eustace of
Newland, Edward Ewstace, Thomas Penckeston, Ri- ,
chard Fitz Ewstace, William White of the county of
Dublin, Nicolas Gawarry, John Drake, Robert Gallan
of Dublin, Thomas Cusack of Dublin & Lucas Dow-
dalle of Dublin Esquires, have put our Scales. Dated
the syx and twentieth day of June in the fith yeare of
yo'. gratious Reigne.

There is one fact in the History of Ireland which has not often been
adverted to by the English Historians, and to which it may not be quite

64 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

iirdative to call the attention of the reader, when speaking of the former
condition of that Country. It is that at a period even earlier than the
Norman Conquest Ireland was the greatest, as prohahly the nearest mart
for English slaves. Malmesbury in his Life of Wulfstan bishop of
Worcester has given a minute account of this extraordinary traffic. For in
those times, and long before, when any person had more children than he
could maintain, or more domestic slaves than he chose to keep, he sold
them to a merchant, who disposed of them in Ireland, Denmark, Italy,
or elsewhere, as he found most profitable. The people of Bristol were
the chief carriers in this trade as far as it related to Ireland. Malmes-
bury says that young women were frequently taken to market in their
pregnancy that they might bring a better price.* The Ecclesiastical
Council of Armagh, held in II7I9 passed a resolution to liberate English
slaves.

LETTER XX.

The Comptroller of the Castle ^ and the Regent of the
Constablery ofBourdeauXy to King Henry the Fifth.

[ms. donat. mus. bbit. 4602, art. 35. from ms. cotton, calig. b. v.]

*^* Among the more curious Volumes which formerly existed in the
Cottonian Collection, were the Manuscripts, Caligula D. v. and Caligula

« The whole of Malmesbury's Account deserves the reader's perusal :
'* Vicus est maritimus Brichstou dictus, a quo recto cursu in Hibemiam transmit-
titur, ideoque iUius terras barbariei accommodus. Hujus indigense cum cseteris ex
AngUI causSL mercimonii sspe in Hibemiam annavigant. Ab his Wlstanus morem
vetustissimum sustulit, qui sic animis eorum oocalluerat* ut nee Dei amor nee R^s
Willielmi hactenus eum abolere potuissent. Hon4nes enim ex omni Anglii ooemptos
majoris spe quaestfiffi in Hiberniam distrahebant; andllasque pri&s ludibrio lecti ha>
bitas jamque pra^inantes venum proponebant Videres et gemeres concatenatos
fuuibus miserorum ordines et utriusque sexCis adolescentes ; qui liberali formft,
state integHl barbaris miscrationi essent ; ootidie prostitui, cotidie venditarL Faci-
nus execrandum, dedecus raiserabilej nee belluinl affectus memores homines, neces-
situdines suasj ipsum postremd sangutnem suum servituti addicere. Hunc tarn
inveteratum morem et a proavis in nepotes transfusum Wlstanus, ut dixi, paulatim
delevit. Sciens enim cervicositatem eorum non facile flecti, sspe circa eos duobus
mensibus sspe tribus mansitabat ; omni Dominicft eo veniens, et divinae praedica-
tionis semina spargens. Quae aded per intervalla temporum apud eos convaluere ;
ut non solum renuntiarent vitio, sed ad idem faciendum caeteris per Angliam essent
exemplo.** Malmesb. de Vita S. Wlstani Episc. Wigom. cap. xx. AngL Sacr.

ORIGINAL LETTERS^ 65

D. VI. ; the former almost entirely, the latter in part only, destroyed in
the Fire at Westminster in 1731. The first of these was intitled, in
Smith's Catalogue, '' Transacta inter Angliam et Franciam a primo
annoR. Henrici V. ad annmndecimum quartum R. Henrici VI. :" the
second, '' Transacta Inter Angliam et Franciam ab anno 1485 ad A.D.
1518." Fortunately, many of the more important Letters included in
their contents were transcribed among the Papers prepared for, but not
inserted in Rymer's Foedera. From these Transcripts, this, and some
other Letters have been copied in the present Collection.

MosTE hy and moste myzty Prynce and oure sove-
raine lige Lord, We zoure humble liges and servitours,
with all subjection and humilitee We reicomend us to
zoure roial Majestee. To the wyche like for to wyt
that we have resseyved zoure roial Lettres the xij.
day of this present Month ; in the wyche ze charged
me Robert Holme zour humble servant and govemour
of zoure Office of the Conestablerie at Bourdeaux,
that y schold ordeyne certeyn sommes of the revenuz
of zoure Castel for eche of thilke persones that schold
come to zoure roiall presence raisoniablely aftyr thair
estates. And to the complement * of zoure said charge
zoure Conseill and we have doon owre entier peyne
and diligence. Bot treuly the revenuz of zoure said
Castel at Bourdeux ben so pore and of so litel valour ^
that the too^ parties of the charges ordinaries may
nouzt be paied ; and that is bycause of the gret
franchise and other donacions roialx of zoure patry-
monye zeven by zoure roialx progenitours, the whilk

* completion, fulfillraent. >> valure, value. « two.

VOL. I. SER. 2. F

66 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

God assoill, as zoure roiall Majestie schal be more
playnly enformed at alle tymes that hit be plesyng to
zoure Hynesse to comande us.

And more oure moste hy and most myzty Prince,
like unto zoure roial Majestee to wyt, that we hav
zeven certein credence to Bernard Augeryn clerc of
zoure Consell at Bourdeux, berer of this Lettre ; to
whom like unto zoure Hynesse to zeve audience ; and
that ze comand hym to enforme zou treuly of the estat
of this Contre, and alleso of the governance of zoure
Officers in this^ parties whilk am^ proffitable for zou.
Other tythandsc we can nouzt write at this tyme to
zoure roial Majestee, but we byseche God Almyzty
that he have evremore zoure roial persone in hys
kepyng with encrece [of] all manere of Honours, after
that zoure noble and roial hert desires.

Wry ten in haste at zoure Citee of Bourdeaux the
xx*^ day of Marche.

Zoure himible liges and servitours

J. BowET Conf^'' qfzour Castel ofBord,
and
ROBERT HOLME Regent of the Constdblerye

cf Bourdeux.^

• these, are « tidings.

' A note in an old handj says ** The King received this ' Letter* at Vernon,
9 April, 1419."

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 67

LETTER XXI.

John Alcetre to King Henry the Fifths v/pon the pro-
gress made in building a Ship for the King at
Bai/onne, A. D. 1419.

[ms. donat. mus. bbit. 4902, art. 45. from MS. cotton, calig. d. v.]

*«* The Kings of England, in the eleventh, twelfUi, and thirteenth
Centuries had occasionally large Fleets under their command, but they
consisted of merchant ships only, gathered from the different ports of
England, or hired from foreign countries ; those of England on such
emergencies being pressed with their crews into the King's service.

In 1304 the largest ship of war in England, according to Dr. Henry^
had a crew of only forty men ; and in the iieet of Edward the Third at the
Siege of Calais, in 1346, the complement of each ship upon an average
must have been under twenty men.»

Henry the Fifth, as will presently be seen, was the first of our Kings
who established a permanent navy.

The following Letter from John Alcetre details minutely the progress
of certain workmen at Bayonne in constructing a vessel of considerable
size, which the King had ordered to be built. Bayonne was then the
last town in the Duchy of Aquitaine.'^ The Mayor and Corporation had
contracted with the King for the completion of this Vessel within a cer-
tain time ; but the writer of the Letter thinks it could not be ready, and
that it would take even four or five years to finish. The Ship, as the
timbers had been laid down, was a hundred and eighiysia; feet in lengtJi,

From a passage in a rhyming Pamphlet written in 1433, printed by

Hakluyt, intided « The Libel of English PoUcie," it appears that

Henry the Fifth built other large ships :

'* And if I should conclude all by the King
Henrie the fift, what was his purposing.
When at Hampton he made the great dromons
Which passed other great Ships of all the Commons ;
The Trinitie» the Grace de Dieu, the Holy Ghoet,
And other moe, which as now be lost."

» The following was the equipment of the ship, which in 1406, T Hen. IVth. car-
ried Philippa, his' sister. Queen of Doimark, Sweden, and Norway, to her home.
Two guns, forty pounds of powder, forty stones for guns, forty tampons, four
touches, one mallet, two fire pans, forty pavys, twenty-four bows, and forty sheaf
of arrows. Rym. Feed. torn. viii. p. 44r.

t> It continued in the hands of the English from the year 1165 to 1468.

F 2

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

The Shipfl of the King and those of the Commons are here distin-
guished ; the aoTAL kavt, from the vessels which were supplied hy
the sea-ports, or hired ahroad.

The entire List of Henry's own Ships, m the fourth year of his reign,
is preserved among the Proceedings of his Council. They consisted of
three Vessels of the greater size, three Carracks, eight Barges, and ten
Balingers or smaller Barges.*

In a document of the antecedent year, among the same Proceedings of
Council, we have the pay of the Officers and Sailors of the King*s great
Ships, employed in keeping the narrow seas. The Admiral received for
a quarter of a year and thirty-nine days* service, wages for fifty men at
arms at xij<*. per day each ; and for a hundred and fifty howmen, at vj<*. a
day each ; making a total of ^12/. 10«. For the wages during the same
time of four masters of respective ships, and two hundred and fifty mariners,
the former at vj''. a day, and the mariners at iij^, he received 819/. b*.^

The name of dromoks given in the '' Libel of English Policie** to
^e great ships of Henry the Fifth, requires explanation. The term was

• " LBS NOHIS DSS NIEF8 BT VB8SBAUX DU ROY.

" Cttstodia
Maris."

La Trinitee,

Le Seint Espirit,

iij. CarrakeSj

Le Nicholasj

Le Katerine«

Le Gabriel,

Le Thomas,

La Marie,

Le Roode Cog^

La petite Trinitee,

ij. autres,

Le George,

La Ave,

Le Gabriel de Hareflieu,

LeCiacehere,

Le James,

Le eigne,

Le petit Johan,

Le Nicholas,

ij. autres.

Grand* Niefi.

>. Batgts,

>- Baiingers*

BfS. Cotton. Cleop. F. iii. fol. 152 b.

" Admirallo domini Regis super salva custodia maris pro vadiis
1. horoinum ad anna, quolibet ad xij<i. et d. sagittar. quolibet ad
yj<'. per diem, a festo Nativitatis Sancti Joh. Bapt. acddente
xxiiijto. die Junii anno tertio usque ad festum omnium Sanctorum
prox. sequen. per unum quarterium et xxxix. dies, 813/. 10«.

" Et pro vadiis iiij". magistrorum et cd. maflnarioruih pro qua-
tuor navibus super custodia Maris per tempus prsdictum, quolibet
magistro ad vj<). per diem et quolibet marinark) ad i^<>. per diem
^ per tempus prsedictum, 819/. 5*,**

Ibid. fol. 141.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 69

of a date much earlier than the fifteenth Century, and seems to have been
borrowed from the Saracens. It meant Ships of the largest size and
strongest construction. The famous Ship which was taken by King
Richard the First near the Port of Aeon, and which contained no fewer
than fifteen hundred men, is so named by Matthew Paris. '' Navis
qusedam permaxima, quam dbomukdam appellant, missa a Saladino
fratre Salaadini Soldano Babylonise, de avitate Baruch, immensis re-
ferta divitiis. £rat in ilia ignis Gnecus, serpentumque ignotorum pluri-
ma vasa plena ; et bellatores mille quingenti. ** *

Most excellent, most hiest, myghtiest Prynce and
most Soverayne Lord, all maner of low supjection
afore sayde. Lykyth yt to youre ryall Majeste to
wete the governance and the makyng of youre Shippe
at Bayon. At the makyng of this Letter yt was in
this estate, that ys to wetyng xxxvj. strakys^ in h3rth
y bordyd, on the weche strakys byth y layde xj.
bemys ; the mast heme ys yn leynthe xlvj. comyn fete,
and the heme of the hameron afore ys in leynthe xxxix.
fete, and the heme of the hameron by hynde is in
leynthe xxxiij. fete; fro the onemost ende of the
Stemne in to the Poste by hynd ys in leynthe a hon-
dryd iiij'"^, and vj. fete; and the Stemne ys in hithe
iiij'^. and xvj. fete ; and the Post xlviij. fete ; and the
Kele ys in leynthe a hondryd and xij. fete : but he is
y rotyt,^ and must be chaungyd.

Also lykyth yt to youre ryall Mageste to wete that
yowre Shippe wolle nat be redy at the terme that they
have by hote^ yow ; and, by that y can se, nat this

> Mat. Par. Hist. edit. 1684, p. 136. ^ stretchers or stretching pieces,

c rotted. ^ promised.

70 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

iiij. or V. yeres hereaftyr. For the Mayre and his
consortes havyth y rendyd yowre size'^ iiij ^ of the lb
at yowre grete dampnage, and hare^ profyte : for yt is
worth iij.^ so muche as they payth. Therfore like as
y have wrete to yowre ryall Mageste here afore, for
and all the money that corny th of yowre syze^ schold
go to the Shippes workys, yowre Shippe wold be sone
a redy, and zit of that litill somme that youre syze^ ys,
y rendyd, fore they takyth therof to f hare owne use.
And in this degre yowre workys of yowre Shippe mow
nat gon forthe, and by eny thyng that y can se they
woUe lefe of the makyng of yowre Shippe in short
tyme, but yf ye make othyr ordynaunce therto.

Allso lyketh yt to yowre ryall Mageste to wete that
they mow nat excuse ham^ by Bord ne Tymbyr, for
they mow have y now in the Contrey, as gode as eny
may be; and as touchyng to Carpenters they mow
have y now yf they wolde, but they leten ham<^ go
where they wollyth.

Allso lykyth yt to yowre ryal Mageste to wete that
y mote nat knowe of no costages ne dispensys, ne yn
what maner yowre money ys by sette,^ but y lyke as
ham selfen^ lust. And y levyng dll myne occupacyons
besy me, and travayle me abowte the makyng of ydwre
Shippe.

Most excellent, most hiest, mightiest Prince and

• absixc. i> their. * i. e. thrice. <* them. * beset. ' themselves.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 71

most Soverayne Lord, Almyghty Jhesus have you in
his kepyng.

Wrete at Bayon the xxv. day of Averell,

By youre pore supjecte and trew

lege man

JOHN ALCETRE.

The following very curious Letter, preserved in the Cottonian Manu-
script Vesp. C. XII. fol. 127, from an English agent in Spain to one of
the Chancellors of Henry the Fifth, forms, in part, a comment upon that
of John Alcetre ; and seems to have heen written somewhere near the
same time. It shows that the desire of Henry the Fifth to have vessels
of a large size was not unnoticed hy the Spaniards, who appear to have
offered to him several, particularly t^ Carracks, one of which is de-
scribed as of a tonnage equal to fourteen hundred^ and the other to ten
hundred boats. The Carrack is supposed to have obtained its name
from its capacity for carriage. Du Cange says, '*• Caarica, Caricoj
navigii species, navis pneraria, Gallis Vaisteau de chargey unde forte

nomen."

'^ Worchepfiul and reverent Sir, y conomande'^ me to yow in that y can
or may. Lyke you to wete tythjmges^ off thys Contre. At the mak3mg
off thys Lettre the Kjmg of Arragon holdeth h3r8 Parlament in the regne
off Valenc*, lyche as ys the maner off the Contre. And as late tyme
passyd ther cam here a knyt Sir Emond Torrelles, with iiij. galeys armed,
out of Prowenc* ; <^ and y wente to the Consell, seyyng to hem, off the
ben Vaylenc' that the K3mg off Engelond, and off the pes that ys be
twene the remes, askjmg off hem that they scholde areste hem and tarye
hem; for y seyde that yff they com up the cost off Engelond noyse
scholde be gret that the Catalans werred a yen the Kyng, hyt myht tume
to gret hevjmesse and chong' of hertes ; seyying with th3rs wordes hou
gret tresure hyt ys to the Hous off Arragon to haff lyge ^ and fr^chep
with the Kjmg off Engelond. They tok thys wordes to gode entent, and
sente to the K3mg Mons^ Bdeg Berdes3m, rehersyng thys wordes be for
seyd. The Kyng and hys Consell a sented well that the " scholde hie arest ;
but he ne londed not, and as they ansewerd me hyt was a yenes the wille off
the l^ynge and off al the Reme, for the wychy asked off hem that they

• commend.^ »» tidings. • Provence. ^ league. • they.

72 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS.

wdd wryte to the Kynges Consell, esqusyng hem that h3rt was not her
well, in saffyng of x^e saff condytes be twe the tweye Kinges. Thys
Letties y myht haffe yfie y wolde aske hem.

^' Alsso lyke you to wete, that y haff sent you Lettres off thys mater
beforetyme, that yff hy t lyke the Kyng he may haffe here x or xij Galeys
armed, or mo ; for as hy t h3rs told me that ther ys wrete lettres to Barssy-
lon for to hafie on off ther capytaynes into Engelond, ffor to make
confirmation of th3rs matier. Akso, yff be plessyng to the Kyng, ther
be twey new Camkas of makyng at fiartholem, die on of xiiij.C botts
that other off x.C. botts. He may hafie hem yff hyt lyke hym. Alsso
Mons'* Petro de Lima ys in Penysoula as a man that fewe speke off.
Other tythynges be non at thys tyme; but I preye you beth gode
ma3r8ter and frend to my wyff and chyldren : and yff ther be eny servyse
that y may do to yowre lykyng, y am redy with all that y can ; and y
prey to the Holy Trinyte kepe you body and soule, and saff oure Kyng
and all hys. Wrete at Valenc* the xxiij. day off JulL

Par tout vostre

TOMA **

LETTER XXII.

John de Assheton to Kvng Henry Vth. a Letter of
Intelligence^ written apparently about A, D. 1419.

[ms. donat. bait. mus. 4603, art Jl,from calio. d. v.]

To oure Souverain Lord the King.

MosTE hegh and myghty Prince, moste dowtewyse
and soverayne Lorde, I zoure humble man and ser-
vaunt me recomaunde loghlye unto zoure hegh and
worshipfull Astate.

Moste hegh and myghty Prince, Kke zow to witte
that I am enfovumet that after that the Erie, of
Aumarlle and the Frenssh men that weren with him
were departed out of the Mounte, and ,hadde taken

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 73

with thaim the Tresour that ther was ; in departynge of
this good emonge thaim ther fel gret debate, and was
gret fighte, and that thay kepe this good emonge thaim
selven and bien avysed to sende the Dolfyn no parte
therof. And . . . er y . . . Cappi"*". of the Mounte,
on hegh the Bastarde of Osbute, and be nethe in the
Toun ys the Baron of Byars, John Payneil, Guillaume
de la Lisseme, and John de le Hay ; and abofe and
benethe, as I am lered, ther passes not an C. men of
defence, and thair Cisteme in y- qwich yair water is
wonte to be kepped ys brosten, so that for lakke of
water and of wode thai myght abide noon, gret dis-
tresse and sege were layde aboute thaim.

Also the Abbot of the Mounte has sent for safe
condute for to come to zour obeysshans ; and the wyf
of Mayster Raoiil Le Sage has a safe condute for to
come with Mayster Raoul when that he comes on his
Ambassate,^ and I wayte after thaim evere day.

Also the Bretonnes that bien at the Sege of Saint
Urstheaux were fallene upon with the Erl brother of
Pentever, and ther was taken and slayn an C. of his
men with the Bretonnes; and as zet we here no
styrrynge of the Frenssh Men to Constantin Ward ;
and brigauntez were never so fewe in thoo partyez.

And I am lered that Pyket and his wyf bien fl oghen
out of Aungers unto the Rochell, for feer of the Dol-

• Ralph de Sage was employed as an ambassador to Britany in 1420. Rym. Feed,
torn. X. pp. 2, 4, 8.

74 omiGrNjjL lette&s.

fyn ; for he hade sende to Aungers for to have arested
Pyket

And in Aungers ys no stuffe of Men of Armez as
I am lered, save a l(mely of the burgeysez ; and the
Cuntre ys so stroyet in y ^ Dolfyns Men and the Soottes,
that evere man that comes of thoo coostez says he
yrkes right sore with thair lyf and desyren to be at
zoure obeysi^ns.

Moste Hegh and Myghty Prince most doutewyse
and soverayne Lorde, the blessed Trinite have zow
in his kepinge and send zow the Victorye of zoure
Enemys.

Writen At Costaunce y" xv. Day of Junii.

Zoure humble man & servaunt

JOHK OF ASSHETON.

LETTER XXIII.

Sir William Bardolph to King Henry tite Fifths re-
lating to the GovemmeTU (^Calais.

[ms. cottox. vesp. xm. fd. SI. Orig^l

*^* Sir WiQiBm Bardolph was in the train of Henry the Fifth when
he was captain of Calais in the xeign of his father.* In the 4th of
Henry Vth. Sir William Bardolph had the keeping of the Castle of Sand-
gate in Picardy. ^ In the next year we find him Lieutenant of Calais* ^
The Cottonian Manuscript, Calig. D. v. formerly contained a Letter of
his, in French, to the Coundl of Henry the Fifth, giving a wretched

• RoUcs Fran?, i. a07. *- Rot Gaaoon. 4 Hen. V. ro. 14. Oct. 9.

< MS. Cotton. Galba B. i. art. 134, ia6« 138, 183.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 75

account of the wants and arrears of the Garrison of Calais, dated Not.
12th, 5 Hen. Vth. he speaks of ^^ la grande meschevouse necessite,
hideus, piteus noisse, et dolereuse murmure, quell continuelment, de jour
en jour, se aient par descha entre nous humbles lieges et poures souldeiers
du Roy notre tres redoute soverain Seigneur, pour la grand importable
disaise et grevousse pouverte que nous sustiennons, en deffaidte de pak"
ment de not gaget ore de ces deux ant id patteetJ*^^

Among the Norman Rolls of the 6th of Hen. Vth. there is one which
indicates that he had a character for severity. '' De potestate commissa
Willielmo Bardolf militi, ad suspendendum omnetper coUum qui falsd se
extraxerunt ab exercitu Regis." •»

The Letter here prefaced, is a fair specimen of a Oentleman^s style in
the reign of Henry the Vth.

My most i dowtyd gracious sovereygne liege Lord,
al so lowly an mekly as in ony wise I can or may I
recomaunde me un to zowr hy nobil and gratious
Lordschip, un to the qwiche please yt to understonde,
that in as myche as the govemaunce of the Frynche
party her has ben and ys, duryng the abstinence of
werr of viij. dayys weynyng in to thys tyme, mer-
veylous & wndirfuUy unstabil in diverse wise, to gret
hyndryng and harm of zowr liege puple, qwiche wer
to longe and to combrous to declar zow be writyng
with owtyn I cowde better endyte. I beseche un to
zowr seyd Lordschip that in tho maths ^ and other
towching governaunce of this zowr Town and Marchis,
that yt plese zow to her, sey, and speke in that party
zowr servaunt Jon Hunden brynger of this Letter.
Aftir the articlys qwiche I have deliveryd hym, wretin
with myn owne hand, and them graciowsly consyderyd

» MS. Doiiat. Mu8. BriU 4601. art. 141. *> Rot. Norm. 6 Hen. V. p. 2, m. 8.

« the!>c matters.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

be zowr hy noblesse, I may therupon have word, be
the same Hunden, of zowr goode plesaunce, qwow» I
chal be govemyd; and my most i dowtyd gracious
sovereygne liege Lord, no more write I at this tyme
un to zowr hy Wyamesse,^ but that I beseche Al
rayghty God ever to have zow in hys holy kepynge,
and zeve zow ryght goode lyf and longe parfet helthe
of body, and victory of zowr enemys, for his goode
Grace. Wretyn at zowr town of Caleys upon Corpus
Christi day.

Zowr owne powr
soget

W. BABDOLPH.

LETTER XXIV.

T. F, to his Fellows and Friends in Engia/tid, Jrom

Evreux, A. D. 1420.

[m8. dokat. mus. B&iT. 4601, art 156, from the cottonian ms.

CALIG. D. v.]

*^* There is an Instrument in Rymer^s Fcsdera, torn. ix. p. 701,
from the Norman Rolls, 6 Hen. V. p. 2, nu 23. dated 28 Feb. 1419.
'^ de confirmatione Tractatus cum Dauphino super colloquio per-
SOKALI, Teste Rege apud Castrum Rothomagi," to which in all pro-
bability one part of this Letter alludes. The '^ Rule Regent," saith the
writer, ^^ hadi broke the surety abovesaid, and made the King a beau
NIENT." None of our Historians appear to notice this occurrence.

welle beloved

Felous & Freendys I grete yow welle, dowyng yow

• how. b Highness.

OKIGINAL LETTERS. 77

to understond that al be hit that the Dolphin, Regent
of France, made grete instance by hys ambassiatours,
sondry tymes, for to have hadde personele speche w*
the K)aig for the good of pees betwene bothe Reaumes ;
and at the last the Kyng grantyd hys desir for to do so
yn sum covenable place betwene Evereux and DreWys,
as the ambassiatours of bothe parties myghten have
accordet apon; and that that aforsaide personele
metyng shulde have be do the iij Smiday of Lent, at
hys owne desir and instance made therfore ; makyng
seuretee by hys othe and hys lettres y seeled therapon
to kepe that day. The forsaide Rewle Regent hathe
broke the seuretee abovesaide, and made the Kyng a
beau nient:^ so, that ther may none hope be hadde as
yette of pees. Grod putte honde therto when hys wil
ys. Cirtes alle the ambassadors, that we dele wyth,
ben yncongrue, that is to say, yn olde maner of
speche in Englond, " they ben double and fals:**'
why th whiche maner of men I prey God lete never no
trewe mon be coupled with.

And so nowe men suppose that the Kyng wil fro
henys forthe make werre yn France ; for Normandie
is alle hys, except Gysors, Euere, the Castelle Gay-
lard,b and the Roche. The whiche shulle ben sette a
werke yn hast for to leme to do as other have done,
beter than they be by mony foold.

> This is, in £act, an Italian phrase : he made the King a hello niento. He made
hira a cypher : he stultified him.
»» The Castle of Galiard was subsequently surrendered to the Duke of Exeter.

78 OKlGINAl' LKTTEBS.

More write y not at thys tyme ; bote y prey yow ye
prey for us that we may come sone, oute of thys un-
lusty soundyours lyf, yn to the lyf of Englond. And
Crist have yow yn hys holy kepyng.

Wrete at Euereux the Monday next byfore Passion
Sunday. Y have wrete to yow oft tjrme yn the Seege
tyme of Rouen^^ and sethe^ the yeeldyngtherof ; bote
y note whether my Lettres alle come to yow or no.

T. F.

One of the last sentences, ^^ More write I not at this time, but I
pray ye pray for ns that we may come soon out of this unlusty souldiers
life iuto the life of England,'* forms an energetic comment upon the
hardships endured by the soldiers in Henry the Fifth's campaigns. The
common people in England, too, showed some discontent at the glory
which the King and his army were in search of. The Donation Manu- •
script in the Museum, 4601, art. 232. contains the following copy of
^^ an Information against one Glom3mg for words spoken by him in
September 1419, relating to the Siege of Rouen :

'' Raulin Kyrkeby of Sandewych shipman, and William Buryman of
£rt3mgdon, witnessyt and lecordyt that Harry Glomjmg haberdasher
axyd of the same Raulyn where the King of Ingelond lay ; and the for-
sayd Raul3m ansuerde and seyde that he lay atte Sege before Roon.
^ What doth he there,* seyde the forseyde Harry ? ^ for and y wpre there
with iij. M* men of armys,' seyde the same Harry, ^ y wolde breke his
Sege, and make hem of Roon dokke hys tayle.* And fordermore he
sayde that he vere not able to abyde there, were hit that the Duk of

* This notice of the Siege of Rouen, aflfordB an opportunity of commenting upon
a short passage of Monstrelet. That 'writer says that when Henry the Fifth misde
his entry into Rouen Jan. I9th« 1419*90| " he was followed by a page mounted on a
beautiful horse, bearing a lance, at the end of which, near the point, was fastened a
Fox's brush by way of streamer, which aflRxded great meitter qf remark among the
wise heads.**

Elmharo, and Stowe after him, give the explanation of this. In 1414, Henry the
Fifth " kept his Lent in the castle of Kenilworth, and caused an arbour to be planted
in the marsh there for his pleasure, amongst the thorns and bushes, where a Fox
before had harboured : which Fox nm killbo, being a thing then thought to
prognosticate that he should expel the crafty deceit of the Frbncm King."

b since. " know not.

ORIGINAL LETTE&S. 79

Borgoyne kepte his enemyes fro hym. And he seyde thy» wordys atte
Ertyngdon, in the house of the forseyde William Burgman, a raorwe
after Seynt Mathew the Apostel, the sexte yere of owre Lorde the Kyng
that now ys, that God save.*'

Upon the back of the original of this Information, a memorandum is
made, that upon the 24th of October following, the said Glomyng, for
uttering these words, was committed by the King's council to the prison
of the Fleet.

LETTER XXV.

Heretcmg Cliuc to King Henry the Fifth, upon the
Emperor Sigismund^s setting out to repress the
Hussites in Bohemia.

[ROTT. ANTIQ. COTTpK. BHIT. MVS. XIII. 30. OrigJ]

^^* Heretong, Hortang, or Hortank van Clux, from his name was a
Fleming. An Inspeximus of the Ist of Henry the Fifth announces him
as a knight, and states that he had served with King Henry the Fourth
in Wales.* The Cottonian Manuscript Vespas. F. i. fol. 2. contains
King Henry the Fourth's Instructions to him and John Stokes, dated
at Windsor, March 2d, 1411, when they went ambassadors to Sigismund
as Eling of Hungary. In 1414 he was sent again to the Court of Sigis^
mund, and was in the same year with King Henry the Fifth in France ;^
he was afterwards sent as minister from England at different times to the
King of Arragon, the Princes of Almaigne, the Hanse Towns, and the
Genoese.^

The mention of Sigismund's succeeding to the Crown of Bohemia upon
the death of his brother Wenceslaus, fixes the time of writing the present
letter either to the end of 1419, or the beginning of 1420, when Heretong
Clux was agam the resident at his court.

Sigismund had had the crown of Hungary from 1386 ; and became
Emperor in 1 4 1 0. The world has been long acquainted with his treachery
to Huss. After Huss's execution, while the Council of Constance at which

• Rym. Feed. torn. ix. p. 44. >> Ibid. pp. 155, 856.

c Ibid. pp. 410, 412, 41S, 605.

80 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

he presided was stfll sitting, he repaired to England; and was received
there with every honor due to the first Sovereign of Europe. His recep-
tion, indeed, was of so flattering a kind that, as we gather from the pre-
sent Jietter, he entertained the wish to visit it again : but the Hussites kept
him employed. The words of the Letter as they r^ard the feeling of
Bohemia are remarkable. The power of the barons against him was
great, '^ but ihe greatest power was of the commonebs.*' Puttor says
that Sigismund undertook no less than six campaigns against the Hussites
without effect. They were headed by the memorable Zisca. Sigismund
did not obtain the quiet possession c^ Bohemia till 1436 ; and he died at
Znaym Dec 9th, 1437. »

The last mention, which occurs in Rymer*s Fcodera, of Heretong Clux
is in the 18th of Hen. Vlth. when he was sent upon an embassy from
Engiland to the Emperor and the Archbishop of Cologne.>>

The same Roll which contaons this Letter preserves the Form for
Sigismund's Reception in England in 1416, and an original Order of the
Coundl of Henry the Fifth, signed by its different members, for giving
rewards to his ambassadors.

MosTE worshippful and reverende Lorde I recom-
maunde me iinto zour graciouse Lordschip, and os^
touching Lebard'^s message wilk^ he brohte to the
Emperor, I have sped hym in all the haste that I myht,
so that the Emperor hase fiilfilde all zo^ desire os ^ of
that Message. And if it like zo*^ graciouse Lordschip
for to knaw of my govemaunce sen tyme that I sei\t
zow laste worde be mayster John Stokes be muthe^
and noht be letter : and also a fore be the Provinciale
Diprant, and Hans of Serwse be letter also : and after
mayster Johan Stokes ^ wasse gone, the Emperor sayde

* See Putter's Developement of the Constitution of the Germanic Empire, transl.
by Domford, vol. L p. 881. Art de verifier les Dates, Fol. Par. tom. iL ITST. p. 462.

k Rym. Foed. tom. x. p. 769. (= as. <> which. • mouth.

' John Stoke, Stokes, or Stokys, LLD. is mentioned in numerous onbassies from
King Henry Vth. See Rym. Feed. torn. ix. pp. 419, 481, 550, 626, 627, 628, 682, 646,

654. 716. 786.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 81

me planley that I sulde noht gone frome hym un to
tyme that I sulde wyte wedir he myhte come to zow
this somer or noht ; and ther opon he base halden me
all way un to this tyme. And now I knawe well he
may noht come, for this cause, that many of the grett
lordis of Beheme that ware swome of his Counsell sen
that his Brother dyde, and hade his livere, han required
hym for to late hem halde the sayme beleve that thei
ben in, the qwilk Articls [and] Letter I have closed in
this Letter qwilk thei have sente to the Empror : and
ther opon he sent hem worde that rader » he wolde be
dede or he wolde susten hem in thare Malesse : and
thei hane ansferd hym agayne, that thei will rether^
dye than gon^ frome thare beleve. And like zour
graciouse Lordschip for to knawe that ther is a grete
power of hem, bothe of Lordys, Kny ths, and Squiers,
bot the grettiste power is of Communers : and therfore
the Empror gederse all the power that he may, for to
gone in to Beheme opon hem : and knawse no nother,
ne noman thet is a boute bym, bot that he is lyke to
have a grete batell with hem : and therfore the Empror
base charged me habyde and see a nende, lyke os^
he dyde qwen he wente oute of Hungare a ganes the
Turkys. And therfore I be seke zow of zour graciouse
Lordschip, alslauley and als mekely os^ any poure ser-
vaunt may don un to his Lorde, that ze be noht dis-
plesed of my long habydyng frome zow ; for I think

• rather. ^ go. ' as.

VOL. I. SEE. 2. G

8S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

for to come unto zow in a shorte tyme be the grace of
Gode, and bringe zow redy worde of all maner thing
qwilk I kane noht wryte unto zour graciouse Lordschip
atte this tyme ; for I wold noht byde so longe frome
zow, savyng that I here suche tydans that all zour
frendis be glade therof, of zow and zoure werres, wham
God save and kepe alle way from evell. Writen atte
Swines atte departyng of the Empror goynge in to
Beheme in the feste of Sa3ntt Vitale martir.

Be zour poure Servaunt

HERETONG CLCX.

Serenissimo Principi Henrico^
Francis Angliseque Regi^ et Do-
mino Hibemiffi^ Domino meo me«
tuendisdmo.

Dr. Chandleb. informed the Society of Antiquaries, February 5th,
1761, that in the Public Library at Edinburgh was preserved the origiilal
Protest of the Bohemian and Hungarian Lords against the breach of faith
by the Council of Constance, in imprisoning and burning John Huss and
Jerome of Prague, contrary to the safeguard given to Ihem by the Em.
peror for their appearance at the CounciL

By the kindness of Dr. Jamieson, the Editor is enabled to state that
this dociunent is still preserved in the Library of the University of Edin-
burgh. The names of the protesting Lords and Gentlemen are all written
round the margin, and the Seal of each person impressed on a cake of wax
annexed by a label to the respective name. Of the mode in which this
deed found its way to the archives of the University no account can be
given.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 88

LETTER XXVI.

Richard Knygtle and Robert Whit^rave to King
Henry Vth.Jrom Harjkur^ respecting his Treasure.

[MS.DONAT. MUS. BHIT. 4600. art, 114./rOmMS. cotton. CALIO.D. v.]

*^ Monstrelet describing the suirender of Harfleur to Henry the
Fifth, Sept 26th. 1415, says, ^' In regard to the wealth found there, it
was immense, and appertained to the King, who distributed it among
such as he pleased.'* The Letter, however, here presented, could not
have been written before 1420. The wealth it mentions was upon the
point of being removed to Rouen.

Stowe, under the year 1419, 8a3rs, that after the Siege of Rouen was
over, King Henry '^ to relieve this oppressed City, ordained it to be the
chief Chamber of all Normandy, and ordained his Exchequer^ his trea-
sury, and his Coinage to be kept in the same.*'

Most soverayne and gracious Lord ; and hit lyke
zow to wete, we ben in Harfleu whith zoure goode ;
that is in Gold coyned xxx.m.^U in Sylver coyned MM.^i;
and in wegges of silver drawyng by estymation to
halfe a tonne tyght : and other sertejme godes of zoure
Chapell, of zoure Warderobe, and of zoure Housold :
the wheche we dar not remewe* unto the tyme we
have comaundement from zow how we shall goveme
hit, wheder by water or by londe, and how we shal be
condyt^ to Rone.^ And Criste for his mercy save
zow, kepe zow, and spede zow.

Wryten at Harfleu, xix'h. day of May.

Zoure servauntes, bichard knygtle

and ROBARD WHITGREVE,d

Countours of zoure Receyte.

• remove. *> conducted. • Roum.

<> Robert Whitgreve occurs as one of the Tellers of tiie Exchequer in England
loih. Hen. V. 1422. Rym, Feed. torn. x. p. 215.

84 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER XXVII.

Sir Hugh, LutireU to King Henry the Fifth.

[m8. donat. mus. bbit. 4602. art 118. from the cottonian ms.

CALIO. D. v.]

*«* Sir Hugh Luttrell, the writer of this Letter, was the Lieutenant
of Harfleur, in which office he occurs in 1419 ; * though the contents of
this Letter fix its date to the 8th Hen. V. A. D. 1421.

Sir Hugh was of Minehed in Somersetshke. In 1399 Ist Hen. IV^^.
he was in the suite of Peter Courtney captain of Calais : and, in 1402,
was twice employed by Henry the Fourth in negociations with France.
In 1404 he held the Office of Mayor of Bourdeaux. ^

Wel, excellent, and myghtyfiill Prince, my re-
doubtabel and souverain Lord, I zowr meke and trewe
lige^ recommande me imto zowr heye and soveraine
noblesce as mekely as I can or may. Unto the whyche
lyke, to wyte, that wyth all lowlynesse, I have y re-
ceyved zowr worshipfuU Lettres the whiche of zowr
benigne Grace ze have enclyned zow to sende unto me;
not having reward imto my simplenesse of my persone,
but to the exaltation of zowr heye discretion ; in as
much as I am unworthy therto : be the which I have
undurstonde that the Creatour of all thyng, of hise
heygh pourveance, hath used zow in herte to bryng
zow unto the conclusion of perpetual pes betux ^ the

• Rym. Foed. torn. ix. p. 874. >> See the Norman and French Rolls.

« liege. •» betwixt

ORIGiNAL LETTERS. 85

two Remes that ever owt of mende of ony Cronicles
han ben in discention, schewyng zow fortune to con-
clude and bring at an ende that noo man kynde myght
hyr biforeahave i wroght : thankyng God wyth meke
herte that he hath i send unto me that grace to abyde
that tyme for to seye hyt, as for the gretist gladnesse
and consolation that ever come unto my herte: not
dredyng in my self that he that hath send zow that
grace in so schort a tyme, schal send zow moch more
in tyme comyng. And as towchyng my simple per-
sone, zif zoW lyke to wy te, at the makyng of this Let-
tre I was desesed of my persone be the hond of owr
Creatour, in so moch that I may not excerce mjme
Office as my will were, as zowr trewe knyght S^ John
Colville and Master Pierres your phisician^ schuU
enfourme zow more playnely than I may write unto
zow at this tyme ; for in this sith ^ in the baiUiage of
Caux, ne in the march of Picard, blessed be God, ther
ys no steryng of none evyl doers, saf ^ byonde the
river'e of Sayne, toward the basse of Normandy of cer-
tains brigaunts.6 And when God of hys grace fowch
saf to bryng me owt of hise prison, I schal gouveme
me in the exercise of myn office at zowr worship, and
as I am i hold for to doo.

And as towchyng my worshipfull lord the Duke of

* here before..

»> Piew or Peter de Alcobasse, whose services as Physician were rewarded 1* Hen.
VI. with a prebendal stall at Windsor. See Ryin. Foed. vol. x. p. aes.
time. <* save. * brigands.

86 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Bedford zowr brother, atte hys arrivayl I rood agayn
hym to the Kyef de Caux, and told hym the poverte
of this Countre. Wher uppon he gouvemed hym and
all zour men in hise company in swych maner, that all
thyse countre blesseth hym and hyse meyny in swych
wyse, that I have ihad noo complainte of ham ef tir hyse
partyng. Wherfore, be my simple discretion, he ys
thankworthy, the which I remete unto zowr hygh
discretion.

More can not I say at this tyme ; but I pray unto
God of hys grace encresce zow in worship, prosperite,
and perfit joye, and send zow good lif, and long lastyng.
I write at zour town of Harefleu the vj^^, of June.

Zowr meke lyge

HUGH LUTTRELL.

A treshault et tresexcellent
Prince notre tresredoubte et tres-
souverain S*". le Roy de France et
d'Engleterre.

LETTER XXVIII.

Letter of the Tencmts of Lord Powys respecting the
capture of Sir John Oldcastle,

[cLAUS. 88. HEX. 5. m.24. don, ms. donat. mus. bait. 4602. art, 179.]

*^* The circumstances attending the execution of Sir John Oldcasde,
in 1418, as a follower of Widiffe's doctrines, are, no doubt, known to

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 87

most of the readers of this Work. They would not have heen even
alluded to here, had not a Letter occurred which at least settles a discre-
pancy, if it does not correct an error in some of our Historians. Even the
judicious Lingard says, ^' In the Rolls, the capture of Oldcastle seems to
he attributed to Lord Powis ; but Heame has published a Writ, dated
Dec 1st. in which it is expressly asserted that he was taken by Sir
Edward Charlton."*

The fact was, as we learn from the following Letter, wntten by the
very persons who took Sir John Oldcastle, that Sir Edward CharUon
and Lord Powis were the same person. It is evident too that the Lord
Powis had the reward conceded to him personally, which the King had
offered for the apprehension of Sir John, and agreed privately to satisfy
the claim of his tenants.

Sir John Oldcastle as appears from Pat. 5 Hen. V. m. 10. dors, was
first secured in Pole, that is Powis Castle, whence he was brought to
London before the Council.

We Jevan and Gruffuth, sones of Gruffuth ap Je-
van ap Madoc ap Gwennoys, of Powys Londe, gen-
tilmen, Hoel ap GrufHth ap David ap Madoc, and
Dero ap Jevan ap Jorum ap Ada of the same Lond,
zemen, ^ tenauntz to sire Edward Charletoun knyght
Lord of Powys, and takeres of Sir John Oldcastell, that
was myscreant and unboxom^ to the lawe of Gt)d, and
traitour convicte to oure gracious Soveraigne Lord and
his Henry kyng of Englond aftyr the conquest the V*^.
thonken c our said Soveraigne Lord in as lowely wyse,
and with as hole hert as we in oure simple manere con
deuyse, that hit hath hked him of his gracious goode-
nesse for to remembre his notarie proclamation made
thorgh his Roialme by his hie commaundement of the

» Tit. Liv. Heame« p. 219. »» yeomen. * thanking.

88 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

guerdon and reward by his hie diseression appoynted
to hym that mizt have that fortune and grace to ben
takers of the said John Oldcastell, for the which guer-
doun and reward oure said Lord of Powys, by the gra-
ciouse governance and assent of oure said Soveraigne
Lord, hase compownyd with us and fynaly accorded, so
that we and every ch of us ben fully satisfied and agreond,
after oure owne desire and plaisir, in pleyn accom-
plisement and excusation of the Proclamation aforsaide;
of the wych guerdoun and rewarde we hold us fynaly
agrent * and content for evermore.

In witnessyng wherof to this oure present Letters
we have ysette oure Scales in the hie and noble presence
of oure said Soveraigne Lord, and also of the hie and
myghty Prince the Due of Gloucestre brothir unto
oure Soveraigne Lord byforsaid, and also of Umfray
Erie of Stafibrd, John Lord Fomyvall, and of othir
mony mo worthy and gret, of diverses degrees, at that
tyme they beyng present. Y made at Shrosbery the
iiij**^ day of March the yere of oure said Soveraigne
Lord the viijth. b

Sir John Oldcastle's execution was attended with circumstances of
unusual barbarity. He was burnt, suspended by chains from a gallows.

» agteant, agreed.

b Then follows the endorsement,

" Et Memorandum quod pnedicti Jevan et GrufiUth fil. GruJBTuth ap Jevan ap
Gwenuoys de Powys land, geutilmen, Hoel ap Gr*. ap David ap Mad. et Dero ap
Jevan ap Jorum ap Ada, de Powys land, vmerunt coram Johanne de Talbot Domino
de Foumyvall apud Watlesburgh, vicesimo die Aprilis anno praesenti, virtute Brevis
Domini Regis, dedimus potestatem eidem Johanni ac Abbati beati Petri Salop,
direct!, et in filaciii Cancellar. ejusdem Domini R^^ig de hoc anno residentis, et re«
cognoverunt scriptuni prsedictum et omnia coutenta iu eodem in forma praedicta."

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 89

Till burning became a more freqnent punishment for heretics, the mode
appears to have varied. In one instance, in the reign of Henry the Fourth,
the sufferer was inclosed in a cask. Prince Henry, afterwards King Henry
the Fifth, was present at the execution, and hearing the wretched lowing
of the victim in the barrel, ordered the fire to be drawn away and the
cask to be opened, offering the half dead suflferer his life and a daily
allowance of threepence from the Exchequer, if he would recant. The
heretic refused. He was again inclosed in his cask, and consumed. The
details of this singular execution are given in the note below from Wal-
singham.* Henry the Eighth and Queen Mary chained their sufferers
opoily to a stake.

LETTER XXIX.

Richard Clifford bishop of London^ to King Henry the
Vth. concerning cm intended Embassy to the Pope.

[mS. cotton. BRIT. MUS. CLEOP. £• II. foL 359. Orig.'\

*^* Richard Clifford was translated from the See of Worcester to
liondon, Oct 13th, 1407. He died Aug. 20th, 1421. In 1417, he was,
with several other English bishops, at the Council of Constance. The
date of this Letter is fixed to the last year of the bishop's life, dame Joan
North, mentioned in it, being in that year consecrated Abbess of Syon.^

Syon, it will be remembered, was oi the foundation of King Henry the
Fifth, in 1414.

» It was in the year 1410. He says, *' Facto Parliamento Lmidiniis, sub diebus
Quadiagesime, quidam laicusi arte fober, dum pertinadter defeadit banc haeresim,
qudd videlicet non est corpus Christi quod sacramentaliter tractatur in Ecdesia, sed
res quaedam inanimata^ pejor bufone vel aranea, quse sunt animalia animata, nee
veilet opiniopem istam deserere, traditus est judicio seculari. Cumque dainnatus
esset, et in Smithfdd includsnous dolio, dominus princeps Hoiricus (R^;i8 primo-
genitus) qui tunc afl^it« ad eum accessit, consuluit, mouuit ut resipisceret: sed
n^Iexit (perditus nebulo) tanti Principis monita, et elegit potiiis se comburenduni,
quam sacramento vivifioo deferre reverentiam. (iuapropter nohio incluoitur,
affiigitur a devorante flammat muoitqub miterabiliter inter incendiam : damore
cujus horriUli dominus Princeps motus, jussit ignis materiam ab eo subtrahi^ardormn
longius amoveri. Consolatur pend mortuum, promittans nunc etiam victurum se,
et oonsecuturum veniam, ac singulis diebus vitse suae (si recipisceret) de fisoo r^o
tres denarios perceptunim, sed miser (refocillato spiiitn) respuit tantae dignationis
oblationem, (non dubiimi quin maligno spiritu induraturus). Quamobrem jussit
dominus Princeps eum itxbum bxcludi dolio, gratiam nuUam consecuturum de
re^quo, unde contigic qu6d illic ad favillas ursit ardalio> miseralnliter mortuus in
peccato suo." Edit. 15T4. p. 421.

b MS. Cole, Brit. Mus. vol. xxvii. foL 214 b.

90 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Ryght excellent and most Cristene Prince and gra-
ciouse lige Lord, I youre symple preest and bedeman
recomaunde me to youre roial Majeste as lowly as I
kan or may, desiryng alwey with al myn herte to here
glad and graciouse tydyngges of. the hele and good
speed of your graciouse persone, and of alle my lordy s,
and of alle othere that ben in youre honorable servise ;
the whiche God of his grete grace kepe in hele, joy, and
prosperite, with victory of alle youre enemys as youre
Hyghnesse kan best devise. Thankyng yow lowly
with al myn herte of the grete grace that it liked youre
seyd Hyghnesse to do to me, now late foryevyng me
graciously the eschapes of the clerkes convictes out of
my prison of Storteford. And for I suffise not to
thanke yow fully ther of, I beseche God Almyghty that
he thanke yow ther that it may be most profitable to
yow bothe of soule and body. Ryght excellent Lord,
it liked to youre seyd Hyghnesse not longe agon to
wryte to me youre symple preest, that it was youre will
that I scholde made me redy for to wende with othere
certeyn persones in youre honorable Ambassiate to oure
holy fadir the Pope, of the whiche matire I have alwey
sitthe abyde, and redy with Goddys grace schal be at
alle tymes to obbeye youre noble comaundementys, as
youre worschipful knyght sire John Colvyle, berere of
this lettre, kan schewe to youre seyd Hyghnesse. And
also ryght graciouse Lord, like it yow to weten that, on
Sunday the fyft day of May, I was at youre Hows of

0BI6INAX LETTERS. 91

Syon, and there confermed the eleccions of dame Jhone
North abbesse, and of sire Thomas Fyschbume, my
welbelovyd cousyn, confessour of youre seyd Hows ;
and that same day I blessyd and stallyd the forseyd
abbesse; the whiche personesItruste,by Goddys grace,
schal moche profite in that place in that holy company
bothe of men and of women, the whiche God of his
mercy graunte. And graciouse lige Lord like it to
youre seyd Highnesse to lete me wete youre graciouse
will, by sum that cometh_hyder, touchyng my goyng,
to the whiche will I schal alwey with Goddys grace
lowly obbeye. Right excellent and most Cristene
Prince and graciouse lige Lord, the holy Trinite have
yow ever in his kepyng, and sende yow alwey gloriouse
victory of alle youre enemys. Wryten in hast at
London the xx^^. day of May.

Youre symple preest and bedeman,

RICHARD Bysshop of London,

LETTERS

THE REIGNS OF

HENKY THE SIXTH

AND

EDWARD THE FOURTH.

The Letters which have occurred to the Editor of these Volumes of
the leigns of HENRY the SIXTH and EDWARD {he FOURTH,
are comparatively few ; though several wUl be found amongst them which
lend no ordinary light to History. This eventful period, thougkremoved
from us scarcely more than three Centuries, is still among the darkest
on our Annals. Its records are confused, mutilated, and disjointed.
They who wrote History in it, had no talents for the task; and there was
a ferocity abroad among the partizans of both the rival Houses, which
prevented many frdm even assembling the materials of History.

Of Mabgabet of Anjou, the Queen of Henry the Sixth, no Letters
have occurred : though it is probable that some must exist, either in
English or French. The (»ly memorials of this remarkable woman to
be found in the British Museum, are, a Book which was presented to her
by Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, and the original Minutes of the Agree-
ment for her ransom, signed by Louis the Xlth, in 1475. The Book is
ornamented with a limning of the presentation of it to her and the King,
and has her device the marguerite^ or daisy, frequently repeated on its
margins, with the following Sonnet addressed to her by the Earl of
Shrewsbury, at the bottom of the first leaf:

" Mon seul desir

Au Royet Vous,
Et bien servir
Jusqu'au mourir.

Cesachenttous.
Mon seul desir

Au Roy et Vous."

The Agreement for the ransom of Margaret of Anjou, dated Oct 2,
1475, stiles her simply " Dame Marguerite, fille de Roy de Secille, a
present detenue par le Roy d'Angleterre, et par son ordonnance em-
peschee." Baudier states that this unfortunate heroine died of grief in
1482, in the parish of Dampierre near Saumur, at the house of Francis
de la Vignolle seigneur de Moraens, who had been one of the chief
officers in the household of her father King Rene. She was buried in
the magnificent tomb of her father, but without any epitaph or inscrip.
tion peculiar to her : but what was wanting to her honour in this respect,
he addsy was in some measure supplied in a different way ; for every
year, upon the feast of All Saints, the chapter of St Maurice, after
vespers of the dead, made a semicircidar procession about the tomb, and
sang a Svhvenite for the Queen.* This custom, the Editor is assured,
was continued till the breaking out of the French Revolution.

* Baudier's Hist of the Calamities of Margaret of Anjou Queen of England.

8* Lond. 1T8T« pp* 191 1 192.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 95

LETTER XXX.

Thomas Hostel to King Henry the Siocth^Jbr alms.

[m8. dokat. b&it. mus. 4603. art. 100. a.d. 1422.]

*«* A Letter from a wounded Soldier, who had fought at Azhicourt,
to the Council of his Sovereign, for the King was then an in&nt, has a
claim upon the feelings of the generous.

At that period hospitals for decayed soldiers were unknown ; standing
armies not having been established, the soldier's character was not distinct
from that of the citizen ; when disabled- in war, his only resource was the
receipt of alms.

Of Thomas Hostel it is probable no other memorial now exists.

The taking of the Carracks, mentioned in this Letter, occurred at the
relief of Harfleur in 1416. Haid3mg the chronicler, who was likewise
there, has a chapter '' Of the battle of the Seine, and of the Carracks
there taken in the Sea afore the mouth of Seine." Hall speaking of this
Engagement, sa3rs, '' After long fight the Victory fell to the Englishmen,
and they toke and sunk almost the whole Navy of France, in the which
were many ships, hulks, and carracks, to the number of five hundred, of
the which three great Carracks were sent into England."

To the Kyng oure Soverain Lord
Besechith mekely youre poure liegeman and hum-
ble horatour Thomas Hostell, that in consideration
of his service doon to your noble progenitours of ful
blessid memory Kyng Henrj the iiij^*^. and Kyng Henri
the fift, whoos soules God assoille ; being at the Siege
of Harflewe, there smy ten with a springolt * through
the hede, lesing his oon ye,^ and his cheke boon broken ;

* The springolt was a dart, thrown from the Espringal* and had brass plates* in-
stead of feathers, to make its flight steady.
»» eye.

96 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

also at the BataiHe of Agingcourt, and after at the
takyng of the Carrakes on the See, there with a gadde
of yren his plates smyten in sondre, and sore hurt,
maymed, and wounded ; by meane whereof he being
sore febeled and debrused, now falle to greet age and
poverty ; gretly endetted ; and may not helpe himself;
havyng not wherewith to be suste3med ne releved but
of menes^ gracious almesse; and being for his said
service never yit recompensed ne rewarded, it plese
your high and excellent Grace, the premises tenderly
considered, of your benigne pitee and grace, to releve
and refresh your said pouere Oratour, as it shal plese
you, with yoiu* most gratious Almesse at the reverence
of God and in werk of charitee ; and he shal devoutly
pray for the soules of your said noble Progenitours,
and for your moost noble and high estate. '

LETTER XXXI.

Sir Thomas Hdkeby to Humphry Duke of Gloucester^
A, D, 14^. respecting his Covenant of military
Service with King Henry the Fifth.

[ms. donat. b&it. mvs. 4603. art* 12L]

*«* Written IndentuTes of military Service are of frequent occunrenoe
in the reign of Henry the Fifth ; and show the manner in which an Army
was raised and kept together for a foreign expedition.

• mens.

ORIGINAL XETTERS. 97

Contracts were made by the Keeper of the Privy Seal with difierent
Xiords and GFentlemen, who bound themselves to serve with so many men
at arms and so many archers for a year, reckoning from the day on which
they first mustered in the field. The pay, or security for its amount, was
directed to be delivered to the contracting parties a quarter of a year in
advance : and if all was not actually paid at the beginning of the fourth
quarter, the engagement was to cease.

From the Letter here copied, it should seem that upon the part of the
Crown, in Henry the Fifth's reign, the latter portion of the covenant was
not elways rigidly fulfilled.

To the hyghe and myghty Prince the Duk
of Glouc. Protectour of Ynglond, and the
right wyse and discrete Counseyl of our
Lord the Kyng.

Besecheth your humble servaunt Thomas Rokeby
knyght, that ther he has ben withholde and of retenue
for a yere wyt the full worthy and noble Kyng Henry^
fader to our soveraigne liege Lord that nowe ys, in his
viage into hys Realme of France & Normandie, the
yer of his regne the iiij*. als it, be* hys endenture
made, betwix the forsayd noble Kjmg and the forsayd
Thomas Rokeby, pleinli appiers; and his forsayd
retenu for the yer forsayd pleinly execute and fulfellid,
and so forth be comandement of the forsayd ful noble
Kyng his service and devure continued fro yere to
yer, unto four yer was nere spendid and passid, als it
be a certeins endentures made also betwix the forsayd
Kyng and the forsayd Thomas Rokeby pleinly ap-

» by.
VOL. I. SER. 2. ' H

98 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

piers; for the whilk time a gret part of the wagez
of the forsayd Thomas is beh3mde and nowth* payd
hym to gret hynderyng and annentifyng^ : hot if your
graciouse Lordshippis and help in this mater to him
be shewyd, lyke it to zour wyser discretions and gra-
ciouses Lordshippis, to comande the Tresorer and Ba-
rons of the Chekerc of our Lord Kyng to here his
Acompt in this matere and certifie yow of the end of
the forsayd Acompt : and aftre that to ordeigne that
the forsayd Thomas myght be agreed of the areragez
of his forsayd wagez als reson and conscience askys in
discharging of the forsayd ful noble Kyng, and for the
dede of Charite.

The request of this Letter was complied with. On the 15th of May
1423, the Goundl directed their warrant to the Treasurer of the Exchequer
to ascertain the amount due to the Petitioner, whose dahh was satisfied
upon the 18th.

Indentures of foreign military service were of a date much earlier than
the fifteenth Century. Among the Cottonian Charters ^ there is a short
deed of Agreement, in old French, of Adam de Gesemue with Prince
Edward, afterwards King Edward ^e First, in 1270, to go with him to
the Holy Land and remain with him one year, the Prince giving him for
the service of himself and suite six hundred marks.

In domestic war, upon invasion or rebellion, the process was shorter.
The King addressed his letters of summons to his military tenants, and
to the sheriffs of counties. An array was made, and all met upon a fixed
day at a rendezvous. The absentees, as in the instance of Owen Qlyn-
dowr, were considered disobedient subjects.

a nought. ^ thwarting, or going against.

« exchequer. * Cart, antiq. Cotton, xxix. 65.

ORTGTNAL LETTERS. J^^^^ ^'^^^'y

LETTER XXXII.

King Henry the Sixth to his uncle John Duke of

Bedford.

[ms. don at. BRIT. Mus. 4603. art, 112.]

Right trusti and most beloved Uncle we grete
yow wel with al our herte, and signifie unto yow as for
your consolation that at the tyme of the writing of
these, thanked be God, we were in perfite hele of per-
sone, tristing to our Lord that as we desire in sembla-
ble wise ye so be.

And for as moche as we and our Counsail hier been
acertained, as wel be the effecte and evidence of your
werkes as be the credible reportes and writinges
maad unto us and to our said Counsail, fro tyme to
tyme, of the singulier diligence and the ful notable
service thatye do on unto us in gouvemance of oure
Reaume of Fraunce, as wel as of our Duchie of Nor-
mandie, we thanke our Lord therof and yow as hertily
as we kan, willing and also praying yow alwey to con-
tinue evyr fro wel to better, as we ne doute in no wise
with the Grace of oure Lord, but that ye so wol : and
considering that in acomplishing of your desire we send
now unto yow the B. of L. ^ also oure diere and wel-

"^ Bishop of London.

' H 2

100 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

beloved cosin the Erila Marshal, and the Lord Wilby,
with notable puissaunce of yis oure Reaume of Eng-
lond.

We desire and pray yow, at thaire comyng unto
yow, ye receyve and demene hem, and also ordeine
hem to be tretid and demenyd benyngly and favorably,
so that they ne have no resonable cause of grutching,
greve, nor complaint, but that thay and thaire fela-
ship have cause to rejoise hem and contente hem of
thaire comyng unto yow in our servise, and that as
wel thay as other of oure sugites hiere take therbe^
corage and wille to goon thither at al tymes when
oure behoof shal asshid.

And as towardes oure bel Uncle of Excestre, whom
oure Lord now late visitid with seknesse, blessid mote
God be, he is rekiveryd and with his Grace shal be
with yow in al goodly haste; whoom and other that
we send now unto yow to assiste yow, as for the tyme,
in Counsail, we pray yow goodly and elFectuelly to.
hiere in swiche thinges as thay shal avise yow of, fro
tyme to tyme, for the worship of God, the goode of
us and of yow, and of oure Reaumes and Duchie
abovesaid ; willing also that ye geve faith and credence
to that that the said Bishop of London &c. shal say
on to yow on oure behalve : and Almyghty God &c.
Yeven at Westmynstre the xv. day of May.

• Earl. * thereby.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 101

LETTER XXXIII.

Henry Beaufort Bishcp qfWmchester to King Henry
the Sixths requesting leave to go on Pilgrimage.

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. £. III. foL 30 b. OHgJ]

*^ This Letter was evidently written after the termination of the
quarrel between the Bishop and Humphry Duke of Gloucester, in
1426.

Philip Morgan bishop of Ely, whose signature appears to it as one of
the Lords of the Council granting its request, received the temporalities
of his See on April the 22d in that year ; and Beaufort, at the beginning
of the next, was created cardinal.

It seems probable that upon the reconciliation at the Parliament of
Leicester, when each party took the other by the hand, the Bishop, seeing
how little chance there was at that time of supplanting the Protector's
power, turned his thoughts to the fulfilment of his early Vows of
Pilgrimage.

The arrival of the Cardinal's hat, however, induced him to defer them
again. He re- assumed his haughty tone ; *■ and finding himself placed
under the more immediate protection of the Papal See, called and signed
himself the Cardinal of England ; ^ thougli his real title was that
of Cardinal of St. EuteUut,

The Council, as the signatures at the bottom of the Letter show, gave
him leave to take his journey ; and were probably disappointed that he
did not pursue it.

•

» The intemperate Letter which brought the Duke of Bedford from France, to ad-
just the quarrel between the Bishop and the Protector, is printed both by Fabyan
and Hall :

** Right high and mighty Prince, and right noble and, after one, levest earthly
Lorde, I recommende me unto your Grace with all my harte. And as ye desire the
welfare of the Kyng our sovereigne Lorde, and of his realmes of England and of
Fraunce, and your owne weal with all yours, hast you hither: for, by my truth, and
ye tarry long. We shall put this lande in ajupatdy with a fbldb, suche a brothkb
YOU HAVE HBRE ; God make hym a good man. Var your wisedom knoweth that the
profite of Fraunce standeth in the welfare of England."—** Written in great hast at
London the last day of October, by your true servaunt to my lifes ende,

** HENRY WINCHESTER."

- ^ This was his signature also, in public Instruments.

lOS ORIGINAL LETTERS.

To the King my Souverain Lord.
Besecheth youre humble chappellain Henry
Bisshop of Winchestre, that forasmuche as he standeth,
and longe hath stande bounde, under a vowe of cer-
tain pilgrimages beyond See, havyng of the said pil-
grimages right greet charge and conscience, forasmiche
as he hath long differred to parfourme them: con-
sidered, yif hit like youre Highnesse, youre said hum-
ble Chapellains long continuance in youre service,
which his intencion hath ben att alle tymes too doo
with al trouthe and diligence to his littel poair. Like
it youre noble Grace, by the advis of youre Counsail,
to graunte youre licence unto youre said humble Cha-
pellain, he, att his owen fredam and libertee, by suf-
fisaunt warrant to be maad hym therupon unto youre
Chauncellor by your Lettres of privie Seal, for to
mowe passe the See in parfourmyng of the said avowe,
and that att such tyme and place, and with such
resounable felauship as hym shal good thinke and
necessarie.

(Signed below J

JOHAN. H. GLOUCESTER. H. CANTUAR.

J. ebor. Ca/nc, t. exet. t. dunelm. p. elien.
J. bathon. hungerfobd. typtot. cromwel.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 103

LETTER XXXIV.

William fVarbelton to the Duke of Gloucester and
t/ie Council^ claiming the reward for taking Ja^k
Sharpe,

[CA&T. ANTIQ. COTTON. BRIT. MU8. IV. 24.]

*^ The Persecution of the followers of Wicliff continued in the
reign of Henry the Sixth.

Fabyan, in his Chronicles, under the year 1431, says, '' Soon upon
Easter, the Lord Protector was warned of an assembly of Hereticks at
Ab3nidon ; wherefore he sent thither certain persons, or rode thither him-
self as some writers affirm, and there arrested the bailif of that Town
n^ned William Maundevyle^ a weaver, the which was appointed for a
captain of the said hereticks : and for to draw the people unto him, he
changed his name, and called himself Jak Sharpe cf Wygmoris lande
in Wales. But after he was examined, he confessed to have wrought
much sorrow against Priests, so that he would have made their heads as
chepe as sheeps heads, so that he would have sold uL for a penny, or x.
after some writers. And the same season were taken many of his com-
plices which were sent unto divers prisons. And the said Jak Sharpe
was, for his offence, drawen, hanged, and headed at the forenamed town
of Abyndon^ upon the Tuesday in Wliitsun week ; and his head was sent
to London, and there pight upon the bridge : and the other of his fautors
were put in execution in divers places and countries to the terror of
other." »

Stowe, who has followed Fabyan^s account nearly in the same words,
in his Annals, adds the positive assertion that the Duke of Gloucester
went against these hereticks in person. <>

» Fabyan, Chron. edit. 1811, p. 603.

k Annals, edit. 1593, p. 601. This Insurrection is also mentioned in Leland's
Collectanea, torn. i. p. 491.

104 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

To the high and mighty Prince my lord

of Gloucestr, and to all the lordes of the

Counseil.

Besechith William Warbelton esquier, that hit

like yo^* Lordshippes to be remembred of a Proclama-

cion made on the Kyngs behalf, be the advis of his

wise Counseill, for the taking of Jak Sherp, and of the

bille casters and kepers, and more over to have in

knowelech that the Thorsday at even next before

Whitsonday, the said suppliaunt be his frendes was

enfoormed howe that oon William Perkyns, which

called hym self Jak Sherp, was withdrawe into a cer-

ten place in Oxenford, and of whom the saide sup^

pliaimt lete you have knowelech before the saide pro-
clamacion; wherefore the ^sdd suppliant incontenent,
the same nyght, sent his servaunts to the Chauncellor
of Oxenford and his commissarie, and also to the
baiUifs of the same Towne, chargyng hem on the
kings behalfe to putte the said William Perkyns under
arest, and kepe him saufly, without baile or maunprise,
unto the Kyng, be thadvis of you my Lordes, had
other wise purveied for his deliveraunce : be the which
sendyng, the saide William Perkyns that same nyght
was aYest, and kept til execucion was doon of hym
after his desert : for which cause, as well as for other
labours and costes that he hadde to help cese the riot
that was like to a growe in that behalfe, in as much as

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 105

lay to his symple power, humblely besechith yo^ gra-
ciouse lordshippes to ordeyne hym a rewarde after yo^
wise discrecions like as you semeth he hath deserved.

H^re follow, in their respective hands- writing, the names of the Lord»
who were sitting in Ck>uncil when the letter was received :

" H. GLOUCESTRE. H. CANTUAR.

S. DUNELM. J. ROFFEN. W. LINCOLN.

J. EBOR. CANC. .

J. NORFF. J. BATHON.^

and at the back is an Order for a reward of twenty pounds to be given
to Warbelton :

'' xxix<>. die Novembr. A^. x^ apud Westm. concess. fuit infrascripL
suppl. warant. Thes. Camerar. de solvendo sibi xx^^ virtute pr . . al
fact ex causa infrascript. presehtibus dominis infra scriptis.*

♦»

Here we have no mention of William Mandeville the bailif of
Abingdon. On the contrary, Jack Sharpens true name is stated to have
.been William Perkins : and he was taken, not at Abingdon, but at
Oxford. The truth of Warbelton's narrative of this Insurrection must
be considered more authentic than Fabyan*s, since even the Protector
himself (of whose going against the Insurgents nothing is said) signs at
the head of the Council for the reward.

William Warbelton, the writer of this Letter, was made constable of
the Castle of Odiham in Hampshire in 1457**

LETTER XXXV.

Letter of Warrant from King Henry the Vlth. to the
Bishop of Bath, his Chancellor, in 1441, concerning
the exile of Elea/nor Duchess of Gloucester.

[ms. lansd. BRIT. MTJS. NUM. 1. art, 33. Ortg,^ ^

*,* Fabyan and Stow supply the best preface to this Letter. " This
xix*i» yere," says Fabyan, " began murmur and grudge to break at

» Pat. 35 Hen. VL p. 2,

106 O&IGINAL LETTERS.

laxgBj diat before had been kept in mewe, atwene posooB near abiMt
the King and his unde the famous Humphry duke of Gloucester and Pro-
tector of the land ; again whom divers conjectures were attempted afar,
which after were set near to him, so that they left not till they had
brought him unto his confusion. And first, this year, dame Eleanor
Cobham, whom he was too familiar with or she were to him married, was
arrested of certain points of treason, and thereupon by examination con-
vict, and lastly demed to dwell as an outlaw in the Isle of Man, under
the ward of Sir Thomas Stanley knight : and soon after were arrested as
aiders and counsellors of the foresaid duchess, master Thomas Southwell
a canon of St Stephen's chapel at Westminster, master John Hum a
chaplain of the said duchess, and master Roger Boljoigbroke a man ex-
pert in necromancy, and a woman called Margery Jourdema3me sumamed
the witch of Eye beside Winchester : to whose charge it was laid that
these four persons should, at the request of the said duchess, devise an
image of wax like. unto the Eling, the which image they dealt so with,
that by their devilish incantations and sorcery they intended to bring out
of life, little and little, the King's person, as they little and little con-
sumed that image : for the which treason and other, finally they were
convict and adjudged to die : but master Thomas Southwell died in the
Tower of London the night before he should have been judged^on that
mom ; as in the next year following shall be declared."*

Stowe says, " The 9'^ of November dame Elianor appeared before the
Archbyshop and other, in the chapel of St Stephen Westminster, and
received her penance which she performed.

^^ On Monday the 13*^. of November, she came firom Westminster by
water, and landed at the Temple bridge, from whence with a taper of
waxe of two pound in her hand, she went through Fleete streete, hood,
less, save a kerchief, to Pauls, where she offered her taper at the high
altar. On the Wednesday next, she landed at the Swan in Thames
street, and then went through Bridge street, Grace-church street,
straight to Leaden-hall, and so to Christ Church by Aldgate. On Fri.
day she landed at Queen-hithe, and so went through Cheape to Sajrnt
Michaels in Comhill, in form aforesaid. At all which times, the Mayor,
Sherifis, and crafts of London received her and accompanied her. This
being done, she was committed to the ward of Sir Thomas Stanley,
wherein she remained during her life ;" first '^ in the castle of Chester,
having yearly a hundred marks assigned for her finding. In the 22d of
Henry the Sixth she was Removed to Kenilworth." ^

* Fabyan's Chron. edit 181 1. p.ei4. ^ Stow, Ann. edit. 1632. p. 382.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107

By the King.
Reverend Fader in Grod, right trusty and right
welbeloved we grete you wel. And for asmoch as we
have ordeined oure trusty and welbeloved knight Sir
Thomas Stanley, countroUour of oure householde, to
have the keping of Alianore Cobham late called Du-
chesse of Gloueestr, and, accompanied with certain per-
sonnes of our householde, to lede hir into the parties of
Chesshire, where as she shal abide. We wol and charge
you that under oure Seel, being in youre warde, ye do
make oure Writtes and Commissions in deue fourme,
as many and such as the cas shal require, for the Shi-
refs of the shires that she shal passe thourgh, and for
other personnes of the same shire, as many as shal be
thought necessary, to be away ting and assisting unto
the conducting of hir; and that ye charge them that
shal lede liir forth, that thei lette not, for sekenesse or
ony dissimulacion of hir, to carie hir thedir as we have
appointed. And that ye faille not herof as we truste
you. Yeven under our Signet at our manoir of Shene
the xix. day of Januer.

'^ Mem. quod ista Utera liberata fiiit Cancellai. AngL apud Wegtm.
xx<>. die Januar. anno infrascripto exequent."

The treatment of *•*' Dame Eleanor Cobham'* as she was called, con-
vinced the Duke of Gloucester that his influence had declined. Grafton
says, he '^ took all things pacyently and said little.''

The death of the Duke of Gloucester at St. Edmundsbury, in 1447, is
one of the numerous problems of our History.

108 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

A Manuscript Roll in the Cottonian Collection * gives the names of
those of his retinue who were seized and imprisoned. The reader will
probably wonder to see so many Welshmen amongst them, but, by
the Inquisition taken after his death it appears that the Duke died
seised of the castle and lordship of Pembroke, of the castles and lordships
of Tenby and Ejlgaran, of the commots of Estrelawe, Treyne, and Seyn-
dere, and of the castle and lordship of Uanstephan, all in the march^
of Wales. ^

'' These ben the I^ames of the Duke of Glowcett'rs maynye<^ that wer
taken at Bery and sent into dy verse places to preson ;

'' Sir Henr. Owgan,

- to London.

Thomas Harbert, .
Thomas Wjrryot,
Griffith ap David ap Thomas,
Yevan ap Jankyn, LL.

Jankyn Thawe, \

Jankyn Loyde Wogan, l to Barkamstede.

John Wogan, J

William Wogi^i,

Evan ap Jankyn ap Rise, \- to Redyng.

WilL ap John ap David ap Th. Lloyd,

Will. Wogan,

Will, ap Thomas son of Robert ap Ryse, )- to Ledys.

Henry Wogan,

Alon appe Meredith ap Philip Madock,

Ries app DD. app Tljpmas, ^ to Northwicfa.

Thomas Jankyne appe Ries,

Oven Don, \

Hugo Gunere, V to Wallyngford.

Hugo Bennooth, j

John E3rvon, \

Walter BurthuU, Ito Gilford.

Hugo ap Thomas, J

John app Ries, 'k

Ric. ap Robert, V to Southehampton.

Will, ap John, J

• Rot antiq. Cotton. II. 38. b esc. 35 Hen. VI. n. 36.

« The suite, or train, which attended him.

I to

J, I to

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 109

Bavid ap Thomas, \

Hug. ap Thomas, L m to the Kings Benche.

Griffith ap Nicollasson, J

Sir Robert Wer, \

Sir Roger ChamberleyD, V to Brystowe.

Sir Jchn Cheyne, J

Richard Middelton, ^

Henr. ChechiUey, f^o Wynche.tr.
Arteys, i ^

Richard Nodam, ^

Morgan, ^

Bokeland, V to Notyngham.

Melbom, )

Bassyngbom, ^

Wyele, J- to Northampton."

Shaffeld, J

Fabyan, having mentioned the interment of the Duke of Gloucester at
St. Albans, says, '' And when this noble Prince was thus interred, five
persons of his housholde, that is to say. Sir Roger Chamberlayne knight,
Myddelton, Herbarde, and Arthure, esquires, and one Richard Nedam
yeoman, were sent unto London, and there arraigned and judged to be
drawn, hanged, and quartered ; of the which sentence, drawing and hang-
ing were put in execution : but when they were cut down to be quartered,
the marquis of Suffolk there being present, shewed the ELings charter for
them, and so were delivered, to the great rejoicing of the multitude of the
people there being present.** *

Of the particular charge against Herbarde, called Thomas Harbert in
the List of Names above, see the Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium,
p. 290 b.

• Fabyan, Chron. edit isil. p. fll9> >

110 OHIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER XXXVI.

John Earl of Oxford to King Henry the Sixth, re-
questing a Licence for a Ship, of which he was
owner, to carry Pilgrims.

[ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 4609. art. 78.]

*^* We have here an instance, in the fifteenth Century, of a nobleman
engaging in the speculations of trade : for, strange as it may sound. Pil-
grims, at this time, were really an article of exportation. Ships were
every year loaded from different ports with cai^oes of these deluded wan-
derers, who carried out with them large sums of money to defray the ex.
pences of their journey. One historian assures us that licences were
granted by King Henry the Sixth, in 1434, for the exportation of no less
a number than two thousand four hundred and thirty three pilgrims to
the same place of destination as the Earl of Oxford's ship, the Shrine of
St. Jam£s of Compostella. The gain to the owners who carried
such numbers could not have been smaU,

To the King our Soverain Lord.
Plese hit unto your Royall Mageste of your grace,
especiallie to graunt unto John Erie of Oxford, owner
under God of a Shipp called the Jesus of Orwelle,
that the said Shipp, without any fyn or fee to be paid
unto you, may have licence, in the worship of Grod and
of Saint James, to make the furst viage unto St. James,
with als many persones as therinne woUe thiderward
take their passage. Consideryng that by cause of the
losse of another Shipp, which never made Reys in lak
of power and strength, the said Erie hath don upon

ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill

the said Shipp gret cost to make it the 'more able to
doo you service; and to withstand your enemyes in
tyme of nede.

The following indorsement shows that the Licence was obtained t
" Donne a nr*e Palais de Westm. le xxviij. jour de Feveier, Tan,
&c. xxiij/'

The real or supposed body of St. James was discovered at Compostella,
in Gallicia, in 797 ; u^ became almost immediately an object of pil-
grimage.

In the twelfth century we find several instances of visitors from
England. Brompton gives a particular account of Henry the son of
Henry the Second^s proposal to go there, to escape his father's super-
intendance : and in another page he mentions Henry the Second's own
preparations for a similar visit. Dugdale, in his Baronage, notices Ber-
tram de Verdon*s pilgrimage there in the same reign. John of Gaunt is
said to have been numerously attended to Compostella in 1386, when he
claimed the crown of Spain : and we find the fashion of visiting St. James's
Shrine continued till far in the reign of Henry the Eighth.

The Harleian Manuscript 433, folL 171, 171 b, 172 b, 174. contains
numerous Commissions of Ships to go to St. James in the 1st of Richard
the Third. One owner, Thomas Rogers, had a Hcence for four ships at
once. But at this time, we find no Noblemen named as owners.

From the name of the Saint the pilgrims to Compostella were called
Jacobites. The journey was enjoined to some as a punishment, and
then the pilgrim carried iron shackles with him ; but in most cases it was
voluntary ; and the devotees in many instances united trade with their
devotion.

The Cottonian Manuscript Vesp. F. iii. fol. 25 b. contains an original
Letter from John VI. Duke of Britany, to King Henry the Fifth, re-
questing the release of some Pilgrims who had been taken with a Vessel
which was going to St. James, dated Nantes, December 31st, 1416.

lis OST6IKAL LETTERS.

LETTER XXXVII.

Thomas Ccmynges cmd WiUiam Hulyn, sheriffs of
London, to Kmg Henry the Sixth, praying re-
mtmeration for their expences i/n disposing of the
bodies of Mortimer and other traitors, after the re-
bellion of 1450.

[ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 4610. art. 176.]

*«* The Rebellion of the Commons of Kent, in 1450, is enlarged upon
by most of our Historians, though none of them seem to be quite certain
of the real name of the Captain.

Hall and Grafton, in speaking of the traitor Cade, say, he was entised
to take upon him the name of John Mort ymeb, although his name
was John Cade : * Fabyan, that ihe Commont named him Mortiiia|r and
cosen to the Duke of York, though of most he was named Jak Cade : ^
Leland, that he was an Irishman who named himself Mortimer : ^ and
Stowe, that his name was Cade, though by some called John Amende*
all : ^ while a roll of the time of Henry the Sixth, in the Cottonian
Library, at the end of a list of the persons indicted for this Rebellion at
Rochester, sajrs he was otherwise called '^ Mr. John Aylmere, phy-
sician,*' and that he had wedded the daughter of an esquire.*

> Halle, Chron. edit 1548, fol. 159. Grafton, p. flio.

<> Fabyan, edit. 1811, p. 622.

c Lei. Collectan. torn. L p. 495. from a manuscript Chronicle.

i Annals, edit. 1682, p. 888.

• " These ben the Namys that were indicted at Rowchester afore the Cardynall of
York, Bysshop of Canfbury, and the Duke of Bokyngham, dec. in the feste of the
Assumption of our Lady & festo Laurencii Anno r. r. Henr. xxixo.

" John Sutton de Dudddey in com. Staflford, alias diet. John Sutton miles de
London.

" John Trevdioun nuper de London Armig.

" John Say nuper de London Armig.

" Alicia de la Poole nuper uxor Willielmi Poole Due. de Suff. nuper de Ewelme
in comitat. Oxn.

" Johannes Polsf(nd nuper de London armig.

" Thomas Kent de London gentyllman, alias diet. T. K. dericus ConsilU domini
Regis.

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 113

It is net unworthy of observation that the rebels of this period expected
popularity from connecting their Insurrections with any name belonging
to the House of York. Jack Sharp was of WtgmoreU land in Wales :
and Jack Cude was a Mortimer^ the cousin to the Duke of York.

Fabyan, noticing the death of Cade, and the bringing of his body to
Southwark, says, '^ Upon the morrow the dead corps was drawn through
the high streets of the city unto Newgate, and there headed and quartered ;
whose head was then sent to London Bridge, and his four quarters were
sent to four sundry Towns o^Kent." According to the present Letter,
and we must take it as authentic, one quarter was ddivered to the con-
stable of the Hundred of Black-heath, and the others to the Cities of
Norwich, Salisbury, and Gloucester, where, it may be presumed, rebellion
had either risen, or was expected. *

To the Kyng oure Souveraygn Lord.
Besechen mekely youre pouer Lieges, Thomas

'* John Penycok nuper de London armig.

" Thomas Hoo de Hastyng in com. Sussex miles of ... .

" R^hialdus abbas Sancti Petri Gloucestrise of. . . .

" Jaoofeus Fynys domiuus de Say.

" T. sitenley miles.

" Edmund Hongurford of ... .

** William Minors armig.

** Edmund Hampdene miles.

" John Hall armig. •

'* Thomas Daniell armig.

'* Thomas Thorpp gentUman.

" John Blakeney gentilman.

" Dn*s Johannes Forskow of . . miles.

** Johannes Gargraon.

** Walt Harp EpQs Norwic.

*• Rich. Nevile Dominus de Ry vers.

'* Robert Manfeld armig.

" Maister John Somers.

** Edward Grymston armig.

** Willas Booth Episcopus Cestrie.

" Johannes Stanley armig.

** Palsmer.

*• Tressam.

" Fraumpage. Hampton esquier Rest

*' Gryswold. Gargrave in the Towr.

*' This was the name of the Capteyne of Kente John Cade alias diet Mr. John
Aylbmbrb Jfysy99yon : and he was gayly be seyn in skarlet, and wedded a tquier
dowghter of Taundede"

» One Robert Ponynges* late of Southwark, is named in Pat. S6^ Hen. VI. p. s,
m. 12. as having officiated in the capacities of sword-bearer and carver to the traitor
and tyrant John Cade.

VOL. I. SER. 2. I

114 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Canynges and William Hulyn late Shireffes of youre
Citee of London^ to concidre that wher as by your
commandement diverse and severell writte§^' have be
directed unto them undre youre Grete Seall com-
mandyug hem such tyme as they occupied the seyd
office by oon of your seyd writtes, to send and del3rver
a quarter of oon Nicolas Jakes atteynt of high Treson
to the Maire and Bailliefs of youre Citee of Chichestre
in the Countee of Sussex ; and by another of the said
writtes to send and deliver another quarter of the seyd
Nicolas Jakes to the Bailliefs of Roochestre in the Shire
of Kent; and another to Portesmouth; and other
quarter to Colchestre. And by another of youre sayd
writtes to send and delyver the heed of oon Thomas
Cheyny, feyning him self an heremite, cleped Blew
berd,a atteynt of high treson, to the Maire and
BaiUiefes of youre Citee of Canterbury. And by an-
other of youre sayd writtes to sett up a quarter of the
sayd traytour cleped Blewberd upon a gate of Lon-
don, and to send and delyver another quarter of the
same traytour to the Sheriefes of youre Citee of Nor-
wich, and to send and delyver two Qther quarters of
the same traytour to the Wardens of youre V. portes,
or to their Lefilenauntes. And by another of your said
writtes to drawe the body of another traytour callyng
him self John Rammesey wyne drawer, and to send

* Stowe, in his Annals, calls him Thany. He says, " The 9^. of Febniary Thomas
Thany, otherwise called Blewbeard, a fuller, was taken besides Canterbury for
raising of a rebellion, who was hanged and quartered."

OEIGINAL LETTERS. 115

and delyver a quarter of hym to Stamford, and an-
other quarter of him to Covyntre, and another quarter
of hym to Newbury, and another quarter of hym to
Wynchestre. And also by other severell youre writtes
commandyng them to sett up iij. severell heedes of the
persones abovesayd upon London Brugge. And by
another of youre seyd writtes to do drawe the body of
a grete traytour namyng him self Mortymer uppon
an hurdull by the stretes of your Citee of London, and
his head to set on London Brugge. And by another of
your seyd writtes to send and delyver a quarter of the
seyd traytour called Mortymer to the Constables of
the hundred of Blakheth. And by another of youre
seyd writtes to send and delyver another quarter of
the seyd traytour called Mortymer to the Maire and
Shireffes of the Citee of Norwich. And by another to
send and delyver another quarter of the same tray-
tour to the Maire of the Citee of Salesbury. And an-
other quarter of the same Traytour to the Bailliefs of
the Towne of Gloucestre. The which youre high com-
mandements by youre sayd late Shireffs were duly
execute to there grete charges and costes, and especially
for there cariages of the quarters aforsayd, and the hed
of the same Thomas Cheyny ; for and by cause that
vnneth any persones durst nor wolde take upon hem
the caridge of the seyd hed and quarters for doute of
her ly ves. Plese hit therfore un to youre Higbnesse to
commande your gracious letters of Pryvy Seall to be

116 ORIGINAL 'LETTERS.

directed to the Tresorer and Barons of your Eschekker,
. commandyng them that in th"* accountes that the seid
Thomas and William ben to yeld unto you by cause
of ther office, they allowe unto them of the feerme of
the same youre Citee,and of the Countee of Middelsex,
and of the issues, profitts, and comodites comyng and
growyng of the seyd your Citee of London and of the
Coimtee of Midd\ all such sommes of money as that
they and eyther of them, or any for them or in ther
name accountyng for them, wol make feith, that hath
be by them and eyther of them spend and paid for and
aboute the extention of your commandements above-
seyd, and of everich of them, and your seyd besechers
shall pray to God for you.

Endorsed,

^' De mandato Regis per avisamentum sui Consilii apud Westm.
xxviij. Junii Anno xxix.**

LANOPORT.

LETTER XXXVIIL

Richard Earl of Salisbury to one of his Receivers^ to
pay money to his Poulterer vn London.

[ms. cotton. VESPASIAN F. XIII. foL 37* Ortg^l

Richard Erl of Salisbury to John Musgrave one
of bur Receivors of di^erses of our Lordeshippes,

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 117

]andes, & tenementes, in the South parties gretinge. We
wol & charge you that of the issues & revenues of the
same commyng, ye pay to John Kellet of London,
pulter, fourty Shillinges for diverses vitail of hjm
takyn, for the expensez of our houshold halden at
London in the moneth of Januar. last past, and thifi
present moneth of Feviare, by warrant of thies our
Lettres. Writen under our Signet at London the xvij**^
day of Fevyere, the yere of the reign of king Henry
Sext sith the conquest, xxx.

B. SALISBURY.

LETTER XXXIX.

TTie chief Persons in the County ofKildare to Richard
Duke of Yorkj Lord Lieutencmt of Ireland, J. D.
1454. giving an Account of tfie condition of the
Country.

[from the obio. among th£ cottonian charters.]

*^* Stowe says, that in 1449 there '' began a new rebellion in Ireland,
but Richard Duke of York being sent thither to appease the same, so
assuaged the fury of the wild and savage people there, that he wan such
favor among them as could never be separated Ax>m him and his lineage."

In 1451, he left Ireland to prefer his title to the Crown of England,
still retaining his Lieutenancy.

In justice to the Duke of York it must be stated, that the Acts which
were passed in the Parliament of Ireland under his administration, re-
flect Uie greatest credit on his memory.

118 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Right hye and myghty Prince and cure right
gracious lorde, Richard Duke of Yorke, we re-

■

comaunde us unto you as louly as we can or may;
and please youre gracious H3aies tobe advertised that
this lande of Irland was nevir at the poynt fynaly tobe
destrued sethen the Conquest of this lande^ as it is
now, for the trew liege people in this parties dar ne
may not appier to the Kyngs oure said soverayn lordes
Courtes in the said lande, ne noon other of the trew
liege people ther, to go ne ride to market Tounes, ne
other places, for dred to be slayne, take, other spouled
of thar godes ; also the mysrule and mysgovemaunce
had, done, and dayly contynued by dyvers gentlemen
of the Counte and youre liberte of Mith, the Countes
of Kildare and Vriell, and namly of a variance had
betwix therle of Wiltesshire lieutenant of this said
lande and Thomas fitz Morice of the Greraldynes for
the title of the maners of Maynoth and Rathmore in
the Counte of Kildare, hath caused more destruccionne
in the said Counte of Kildare and liberte of Mith
within shorte tyme now late passed, and dayly doth,
then was done by Irish ennemys and English rebelles
of long tyme befor ; and is likly tobe fynall destruc-
cionne of the said Counte of Kildare and liberty of
Mith. For Henry Bonyn knyght, constituted Tresurer
of the saide lande under the grete Seall of the said
lande, assemblyng with hym Edmund Botiller cosyn
germayn to t|;ie said Erie of Wiltesshire and William

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 110

Botiller cosyn to the said Erie, with thur sequele, of
the which the moost partie was Irish ennemyes and
English rebeUes came into the said Counte of Kildare
and ther brant and destrued dyvers and many Tounes
and paroche Chirches of the trewe liege people, and
toke dyvers of them prisoners and spouled them of
ther godes. And after the departyre of the said Henry
and Edmund, the said Wylliam, abydyng in the said
Counte of Kildare, by the avice and consaill of the
said Henry and Edmond, did so grete oppressionne in
the said Counte of Kildare and in the Counte and Li-
berie of Mith, that vij^. Tounes and more which was
well enhabite in the feste of Seynt Michell lass passed
been now wasted and destrued. And for asmuch as
thes parties so destrued, with alytell partie more that
remayneth not destrued, in the said Counte of Kildare,
is the dayly sustenaunce of the Cite of D3ruelyn, and
the destruccionne of hit is like tobe the fynall destruc-
cionne of the said Cite, and the destruccionne of the
said Cite wilbe cause of the destruccionne of the said
lande, which 'God defend. The Maire and Comens of
the said Cite wrote dyvers tymes unto the right reve-
rend ffader in God John archiebisshop of Ardmagh
depute lieutenant to the seid Erie of Wiltesshire to
have this remedyed : and at har » instance the Kyng
oure said Soverayne lordes Consaill here, wrote to the
said depute lieutenant for dyvers of thes oppressionns

* their.

". >*

120 ORIGINAL L£TT£BS*

and mysgovemaunc^ that they shuld be remedyed,
and he remedyed them not* Also the said William
Botiller after this destruccionne so done assessed upon
smale Villages and Tounes in the said Counte and
Liberte of Mith, and in the said County of Kildare,
certeyn summes of money to be reryd accordyng to hy&
wyU, be cause of which he and his men rered in dy vers
of the said villages grete and notable summes of money
and in dyvers villages toke all the plow-bestes and
other bestes of the said villages, and the moost suf-
ficiaunts husbandes, and held tham his prisoners, and
ostages ther, to that ende that they shuld make fyne
and raunson with hym ; upon the which matere the
said Maire and Comens compleyned also by mouth
to the said Depute, and ther upon he ordeyned no re-
medy. And for asmuch as all this mysrule done by
the seid Henry, Edmond, and William, by statutes
and lawes made in the said land as well in the tyme of
oure said soverayn lorde as in the tyme of hys noble
progenitoures, is treyson, and also who fwever of the
trewe liege people here, knowyng such mysrule, wold
not aryse to arrest such mysdoers, shulii ,be demed fe^
lones, the lordes and gentles of the Counte of Kildare
consyderyng the emynent myscheve and ffynall de^
struccionne of the said Counte, and also the desola-
cionne of the said Cite, desired the seid Maire and
Comens to come into the said Counte of Kildare to
put away the said William with his sequele and td

'.*

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 121

abride all this mysruk; upon the which they went
with the said lordes and gentles, and, by the grace of
Gk)d, avoided all the said mysrule out of the said
Counte. Also please your Hynes tobe advertysed
that the said Wyllyam BotiUer, Nicholas Wogan,
David Wogan, and Richard Wogan, came with dy-
vers Irish ennemys and EngUsh rebelles to the Castell
of Rathcoffy^ ther, as Anne Wogan sumtyme wyffe to
Oliver Eustace, then be)mg the Kynges widue,* was
dwellyng, and brant the yates of the said place, and
toke hir with them and Edward Eustac^, son and hire
to the said Olyver, and sonne and heire apparant to
the said Anne, and of the age of viij. yeres, and yit
holdeth them as prysoners, and toke godes and catals
of the said Anneis to the value of v.C. marks. Also
the said Henry with agrete multitude of people, armed
in manere of were,^ came to Osbornestone in the said
Counte, an ther toke and enprisoned CristofreFlatesby,
and destrued and wasted the said Toune, and toke all
godes and catals of the said Cristofre to the value
of C^'.

Besechjmg youre gracious remedy and help upon
all thees materes; and for asmuch as thees materes
been trewe and that it wold please youre Hynes to
yeve faith and credence to thes premisses. We Nicho-
las Priaur of the Hous of Conall, Edward fitz
Eustace knyght, Portreves and Comens of the

«' disposable in marriage by the King, zd, b war.

12S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

NoMS^ PoRTBEVEs and CoMEi^s qfClaue^ William
FiTz Eustace, Cbistofbe Flatesby, Nicholas
Sutton, Walban fttz Eustace, Cbistofbe fitz
Eustace, Patbik fitz Mobice, James Lang,
Phelip Bbytt, Robebt fitz Eustace, John
Sauuere, and John White, have put to this oure
Seales. Written at the Naas the xxiij. day of Januery
the yere of the reane of the King oure Soverayne lord
that now is xxxij^, .

The Hadeiah Manuscript num. 433. foL 265 b. contains the '^ In-
strucdons given by Richard the Third to his Counsellor the Bisshop
of Enachden, to be shewed on his behalf to his cou83m the Bail of
Dessemond and other nobles and gentiles of his land of Ireland,*' in the
first year of his reign. He adverts in them to the government of his
father the Duke of York.

'' Furst, where the said Bishop hath enfourmed his said Grace of the
good toward diposidon and herty desire that the said Erie hath for to doo
him pleasur*& service to his power, as fdthfuUy and humbly as any
other of the Kinges subgiettes, the said Bisshop shall on the kinges be-
halve thanke him ; shewing that aswde for the noblesse of bloode as
remembring the manyfold notable service and kindnesse by the Earle's fadre
unto the famous Prince the Due of York the kinges fader, at diverse
seasons of grete necessite in thoos parties, to his gret jeopardies and
charges doon, causeth the Kinges Grace to accepte and recdve him in. the
tendre favor of the same, trusting of his cont]muaunce.

'^ Also he shaU shewe that albdt the fadre of the said Erie, the King
than being of yong age, was extordously slayne and murdred, by colour
of the lawes within Irland, by certain persones than havyng the go-
vemaunce and rule there, ayenst all manhode, reason, and good con-
science ; yet notwithstanding that the semblable chaunce was & hapned
tithen, within this Re3rme of England, aswde of his brother the due of
Clarence, as other his nigh k3mnesmen and grete frendes, the Kinges grace
alweys cont3muath and hath inward compassion of the deth of his said
fadre, and is content that his said cousyn now Erie by all ordinate

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1^

meanes and due couise of the lawes, when it shall lust him at any tyme
hereafter to sue or attempt fbr the punysshement theieo£

'^ Also the Kinges Grace woll that tile said Bisshop have auctorite for
to take in the kinges name, of the said Erie, his othe of ligeaunoe as other
lordes have doon here within ihis his Reyme, after the fouime here en-
suyng. *> I, A. Erie of Dessemond become tme and Mthfiill liegeman unto
my soverayn Lord Richard the iij<i«. by the grace of Ood king of England
and o£ Fraunce and lord of Irland and to his heires kinges of England,
and to him and tfaeim my feith and treuth shall here during my lyf
naturall, and with him and in his cause and quarell at all tymes shall
take his partie, and be redy to leve and dye ayenst all erthly creatures,
and utterly endevour me to the resistence and suppressing of his enemyes,
rebdles, and traitors, if shall any knowe, to the uttermost of my powor,
and no thing concele that in any wise may be hurting to l^s noble and
roiall persone ; So helpe me Ood and tfaise holy evangelyes/

'^ Also, the said Bisshop shall shewe unto the said Erie the Elinges
gret plesur touching his dealing or entring into any mariage with any
blood without th^advise and knowlage of his Grace ; considred that the
same with all celerite entendeth for to ordei3me and provide in that be-
halve for his said cous3m in suche wise and of suche noble blode as shall
redounde to his weele and honnor, and of all his ftendes and kjmnesmen,
trusting that the said Erie woll remembre the same and utterly applie
him therunto.

'^ Also the said Bisshop, upon perfite understanding that the said Erie
shalbe of hoole entencion and promise to his powair to perfourme the
premisses, and over that, utterly to dispose for many consideradons con-
cemjmg the Kinges high pleasur and entent, for to renounce the wering
and usage of ike Ibisshe abraye ; and from thensforth to geve and
applie him self to use the maner of th'apparel for his persone after the
EnglUhe guysCy and after the fasshon that the Kinges Grace sendeth unto
Mm by the said Bisshop aswele qfgownes^ doubkttes, hosen^ and bonettes,
and soo folowingly in tyme comjrng, as the caas or chaunge of the said
fasshion shall require ; that than the said Bisshop shall deliver unto his
said cousjm, in most convenient place and honnorable presence, the
Kinges lyvree, that is to wite a coler ofaoUi of hit BEviSE ' and other
apparell forsaid for his persone.

^^ Also, above all other thinges, he shall shewe unto the said Erie that
the Kinges Grace in no wise woU oure hooly modre the Churche to be
wronged, deroged, or prejudiced, neither in liberties, fraunchies, grauntes,
custumes, or any other spirituell emolumentes belonging to the same, but

* Richard the Third's Cognizance, or Device, was a White Boar appended to a
Collar of Roses and Suns. Such a collar andxlevlce is still seen upon a monitmental
figure, supposed to be a Kevil, in Brancepeth Church in the county of Durham.

124 ORIGINAL LETTEES.

that his said cous3m shall maintene, assiste, and support it in every be-
halve, as justice and right lequiereth. And, over that, to see that no
maner robberjrs, spoliadons, oppressions, or extordons be suffired to be
committed amongst any of the Idnges subgiettes of thoos parties, of what
astate, degree, or condidon soever they be ; and in caas any happen to be,
to see them so offending utterly to be punyssed according with ^e
Kinges luwes. And that the said Erie shall, by all weys and meanes of
pollyde, see and provide that by the passage of the commune high wayes
there the kinges subgiettes may be assured to goo and passe without
robbing and unlawful letting : so that the said Erie according to the
Kinges grete trust, and also to his gradouse demeanjmg here in this
Reyme of England, may appere and be named a veray Justicer, aswele
for his propre honnor and wde, as for the Common wde of thoos
parties, &c"

LETTER XL.

Richard Duke of York to the Earl of Warwick his
nephew J agreeing that a Servant of his may attend
the Earl one year a^ Marshal of Calais,

[ms. cotton. VESPASIAN. F. xiii^ foL 35. . Orig.'l

*^* The date of this Letter must be fixed to 1455. Stowe, speaking
of the Parliament which began at Westminster July 9th that year, says,
^' In this Parliament was the I>uke of York made Protector of the
realme : the Earle of Salisbury was made Lord Chancellor, and had the
Great Seal to him delivered; and the Eabl of Waxwjck was made
Captain of Calais and the territories of the same. And thus the rule of
the realme rested in the Duke and Chancellor, and sll the warlike affiures
remained principally in the Earl of Warwick. And so amongst them it
was agreed, that King Henry should still reign in name and dignity, but
ndther in deed nor in authority ; not minding to destroy him, least they
mought suddenly provoke the fury of the common people against them,
because that of the common people he was for his holiness of life and
abundant clemency much favoured and highly esteemed."

The Offiders of Calais were, 1. The Deputy or Captain $ 2. The UioH

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 125

Marshall; a The Comptroller; 4. The Lieutenant of the Castle;
6. The High Treasurer; 6. The Vice Treasurer; each having his suite
of soldiers and attendants.*

Right worshipful! and my right entierly welbe-
loved nepveu, I recommaunde me unto you cer-
tiffyeng you that I have receyved by the bringer
herof youre gentil Lettres writen at your manour of
Colyweston the vij'^ day of this present monneth;
wherby I understonde that ye stande destitut and
unpourveyed of a Marshall within the town of Calyis

and that for the good lordship affec-

cion that for my sake ye owe and bere unto my servaunt
Walter Blount squier, ye desire me to geve him leve
to be witholden with you as your Marchall in the said
towne. Wherunto please it you to wite that for di-
verse my matiers, wherin I thought to have occupied
this yere my said servaunt, I might nat goodly forbere
him ; neverthelesse right worshipfull nepveu, the greet
necessite whiche I conceyve by youre said lettres that
ye have unto a Marshall at this tyme, and that I am
and ever wol be glad to do any thing that in me myght
lye to do unto your desire honour and pleasir, I have
graunted unto my said servaunt for the accomplishes
ment of youre desire leve and licence to do you service
in the said oflSce of Marshal as for a yere. During
whiche tyme hit may please you to purvey you of an

* See the Cottonian MS. Append. xxvUi. fol. 13.

126 ORIGINAL LKTTEBS.

other, and that yere expired to geve my said servaunt
for the consideracion abovesaid your licence to retoume
agen into this lande, as my trust is that ye soo well doo.
Right worshipfuU and my right entierly welbeloved
nepveu I beseche oure Lord evermore to have you in
his blessed keping. Written at my Castel of Mon-
gomery the xv day of Octobre.

Your trew kynsman,

R. YORK.

To the right worthipfuU and
my right entierly welheloved
Nepveu th'erle of ^Varwyke.

LETTER XLI.

Kmg Edward the Fourth's Letter of Privy Seal to
Thomas Cooke one of the Aldermen of London^
A. D. 1462.

[harl. MS. 543. fol. 146. from a copy ik the hakdwritiko of

JOHN STOWE.]

*^ Stowe in his printed Annals, makes the following allusion to this
Letter: ^< The 27th of March, 1462, King Edward went northward so
far as Stamford, where he was informed that King Henry had procured
the Frenchmen and Scots to enter this land ; in resisting whereof King
Edward sent his Privy Seal through England, to move them to give a
certain sum of money, which ihey granted liberally.**

Edward the Fourth, upon his first succession to the Throne of England,
took great pains to bring the Pope on his side. He even sent a statement
of his genealogy to Rome. The Pope*s Letter in answer will be found
in the note below.*

• ** Edwardo Regi AngHce apostolicam benedictionem.

Reccpim significavit se guberna-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1S7

Edward by the grace of Grod kynge of England
and of Fraunoe, and lorde of Ireland : to owr trust!
and welbeloved Thomas Cooke aldannan of owr Citie
of London gretinge. Forasmoche as we by divers
meanes bene credebly enformed and undarstand for
cert yne, that owr gieate advarsary Heniy naminge
hym selfe Eynge of England by the malicious counseyle
and exitacion of Margaret his wife namynge hir selfe
Queene of England, have conspired) accorded, ccm*
eluded, and determined with owr owtward enemyes
aswell of Fraunce and of Scotland, as of othar dyvars
contryes, that owr sayde outward enemyes in greate
nombar shall in all haste to them possible enter into
this owr Realme of England, to make in the same such
cruell horible and mortall warre, depopulacion, rob»
berye and manslawghtar, as here before, hath not bene
used amonge Cristen people : and with all wayes and
meanes to them possible to destroye uttarly the people,

tionem Regni Angliae adepUm eue ad ohJui

per Hneam rectam te scribi* devenlsM» ut <n notula tua

oxNKALooiJB qttam ad nos misisti continetur. Congnitulamui tiUB Serenitetl qua
Dei benignitate ad tanti Regni fastigium sit evecta : oonfldimuique pntdentia tua,
equitate, et consilii magnitudine regnum ipsum bene et paciflce, ac ad honorem Del
et Christiani populi salutem gubernatum iri quod nobis qui regnum pr«dletum
pnecipua cantata prosequimur, et in ipso pacem et quietem vigere percuplmui gra-
tissimum erit. Cetenim perplacet nobis fllialis et prompta oblatio tua per quam
scribis te nostrum et Sedis apostollcse devotissimum filium fore nobisque obedientiam
daturum* non dubitamus hsc ex zelo et laudibili mente proeedere. Proinde Sere-
nitati tuse benedicimus, eaque noe in omnibus quncum Deo poterimus semper ad
placita paratos oflFierimus. Dat. Romse apud Sanctum Petrum anno Ineamatkmli
Dominies Millesimo cccc"*". sezagesimo primo« undeciroo kk. Aprilis Pontiflcatus
nostri anno quarto.

O. DM rUBNCASi

Carissimo in Christo Alio
Edwardo Regi Anglise illustri.**

MS. Cotton. Domit A« ix. fol. 14.

128 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

the name, the tonge, and all the bloud englyshe of this
owr sayd Realme : Insomyche l|iat in the seyde con-
spiracye, amongs othar things it is agreed and accorded
by owr sayde adversary Henry, moved thereto by the
malicious and subtill suggestion and enticynge of the
sayde malicious woman MargaiPet his wyfe, that in
case they shall and may performe this theyr malicious
and email purpose, which god defend, that then hir
Oncle called Charles.de Angew with the Frenchmen,
shall have the domination rule and govemaunce of
this owr Realme abovesayde. And ovar this, amonge
othar wicked and detestable things attempted in this
party by the sayde Henry and Margaret his wyfe, to
the entent that owr sayde outward enemyes of Fraunce
and Scotland shuld rathar condesend and applye them
to theyr malicious entent, and to the distruction of
this land, the same Henry owr advarsary hath graunt
and sent unto owr advarsary Lewes-de Valois, namynge
hymselfe kynge of Fraunce, a renountiacion and relese
of the ryght and title that the Corowne of England
hathe unto the Realme and Crowne of Fraunce, and
also to the duches and counties of Guisnes, with theyr
marches and appurtenaunces : and ovar that hath
graunted to the same entent to the Scotts, not onely
the towne and Castle of Berwike, but also a greate
parte of this owr Realme of England, which things
above rebersed, well and diligently consydered, it
openly appearethe that the sayde Henry and Margaret

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 129

his wyfe bene not onely to us but also to all this owr
Realme, and all owre trewe liege people of the same,
mortall and moaste cruell enemies; We entendinge
with all owr might and powere to resiste the greate
crweltie and malicious purpose of owr sayde adver-
sarye and enemies, and therein in nowise to spare owr
person, body, or goods, neythar to refuse any advan-
ture, jepardy, or perell, for the tuicion and defence of
this owr Realme and owr trwe subjects of the same,
desyre and pray yow in the moaste speciall wyse that
ye imediatly upon the recepte of these our lettars,
make to be called and assembled before yow all the
howsholdars and inhabitaunts within yowre Warde, as
well citizens as forranors, and declare unto them the
abovesayde malicious, furious, and cruell entent of owr
sayde advarsarye and ennemyes. And ovar that, on
owre behalfe, exhorte, indwce, and hertly praye them
with suche gentle langwage and words of benyvolence
as shalbe thowght to yow behovefull, that they for the
defence and surtie of them selfe and of all this land,
and in the shewinge of the greate and orible mischeves
and inconveniences above rehersed, woll at this tyme,
in this greate and moaste urgent necessitie, shewe effec-
tually and in dede theyre good wills, zeale, and affec-
cions that they beare unto us, to the comone weale of
this land, and prosperytie of themselfe. And that
into the relevinge and supportacion of the greate
charges, expenses, and costes, that us must of necessitie

VOL. I. SER. 2, K

1^30 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

dailie beare in this partie, theye and evariche of them
woU graunt unto us, of theire goodnes and frewill, some
certayne some of money, suche as they shall mow beare
withoute theyre hurte and grevaunce, lattynge them
wete for certayne that we have wele in owre fresehe
and tender remembraunce the grete and manyfolde
charges that they before have borne ; and that yf we
might byeny meane otharwise doo, we wolde not at
this tyme eny thinge desyre to theyr charge. Trustinge
nevarthelesse so moche in theyr good disposicions and
discrecions, that they well not suffar wilfully all this
Realme and themselfe to perishe, and uttarly be de-
stroyed : consyderinge namely that we desyre nothinge
of them by way of ymposition, compulcion, or of pre-
cedent or example there upon hereafter to be taken,
but all onely of theyr humanitie and good wills.
Trustinge in the infinite goodnes, grace, and rightwisl
nes of allmyghtye God, which here before in just bat-
tayl by victory, and ccaifusyon of our enemyes, hathe
juged and declared openly and in dede for owr right
and title, that yf owre trewe and faythefull subjects
woll at this tyme doo theyr parte and apply them
beny volently to owr desyre in this behalfe, we shall for
owr parte semblably so behave us, and so from all suche
perils and mischevs preserve and defend them and all
this land, that within fewe dayes they shall have cause
to thinke that they nevar herebefore bettar bestowed,
besett, or spended any money. And ovar this for

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 131

yowre direction and more speedy execution of this
mattar, we send unto yow certayn Instructions here
within closed, desyringe and right specially prayeng
yow that ye, accordynge to the same, woU diligently
and effectually labour and entend to th'accomplysh-
ment of owre desyre in this behalfe ; and that ye faile
not so to doo as ye desyre the wellfare, prosperitie, and
sewrtie of us, yourselfe, and all this Land. Yeven
undar owr prevy Scale at owr towne of Starapford, the
xiii. day of marche, the second yere of owr reigne.

The following detached paper preserved among the Cottonian Char-
ters,* from the mention of the Siege of Donstanburgh in it, must have
been written in the 2d £dw. IVth. when the Duke of Somerset had fled
to Hen. VI. immediately before the battle of Hexham, by a Yorkist.

^^ My Lord of Warwick lieth in the Castel of Warkworth and with
hym the Lord Crumwell, the Lord Grey Cotnore, and my Lord Wenloh ; ^
at the Siege of Awnwyk lieth my Lord of Kent, my Lord Herry, my
Lord Scalys, and many other knizts and squiers ; and at the Siege of
Donstanburgh lieth the Lord Fitzhew, and the Lord Scrop, and the Lord
Greystok, and the Lord Powes ; at the Si^e of Bamburgh, the Erie of
WoTcestr, the Lord Mountagu, the Lord Strange, and the Lord Say,
the Lord Grey of Wylton, the Lord Lumley, the Lord Ogill. In
Awnwyk Oastell is the Lord Hungerford, Sir Thomas Fyndem, and Sir
Robert Whitingham, and with them the number of v. or vj .C. Frenshmen ; ^
and in the Castell of Dunstanburgh is Sir Richard Dunstall, doctor
Moreton, Sir Philip Wentworth, and with them a vj. or vij.C. In the
Castell of Bamburgh is the Duke of Somerset, the Lord Roos, and Sir
Rauf Percy, and with them to the noumbr of ij. or iij. hundred. Our
men be in all by estimacion bytwen xxx^^ and xl^7. thousand, without the
King and his host."

It is curious, as showing the positions of the rival parties in 1463*

» Cart, antiq. Cotton, xvii. 10. * Wenlock.

c So Leiand from a manuscript Chronicle : " Syr Peers le Brasile« the great
warrior of Normandy, cam to help Queen Margaret with French men, and xx.M.
Scottes, and to remeve King Edwardes men from Alnewik sige.** Collectan. torn. i.

p. 490.

132 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER XLII.

The Duke of Clarence cmd the Earl of Warwickyfrom
Fra/nce, to the Commons ofEnghmd.

A. D. 1470.

[m8. harl. 643. foL 169b. in john stowe's handwbitiko.]

•^^* Stowe, in his manuBcript Collections, has given from contempo-
rary authority,

" The Maner and Gwidynge of the Erie of Warwick at
Aungiers from the xv*!*. day of July to the iiij^i*. of August,
1470, which day he departed from Aungiers."

^' First, by the meane of the Kynge of Fraunce, the sayd Erie of
Warwick purchased a pardon of the Queue Margarete and of her sonne.
Secondly, by the sayd meane was treated the marriage of the seyd Quenes
Sonne cfdled Prince of Wales, and th'Erle of Warwicks second daughter.
Thirdly, there, was appoynted upon his passage over the sea into England
with a puissaunce.

'' Touchinge the first pojmt, the sayd Quene was right dificyle, and
showed to the Kynge of Fraunce, being present the Due of Gwion and
many other, that with the honor of her and her sonne, he ne she might
not, nor could not pardon the seyde Earle, whiche bathe bene the greatist
cawses of the fall of King Henry, of her, and of ther sonne, and that
never of owr owne corage she ne mighte be contented with hjrm, ne par-
don Yiyrci.

*' Item the seyde Quene schewed to the Kynge and other aforeseyde,
that it sh'uld be thinge greatly hurting and prejudiciall to the Kynge
Henry, her, and her son, to pardon e the seide Earle of Warwick, ne to
take party with hym. And over this, that the Kynge Henry, shee, and here
sonne had certayne parties and frinds which they myght lyghtlye leese by
this meanci and that shuld be a thinge that greatly might greve them,
and do them more harme and hynderaunce than the seyd Erie and his
alies might bringe or beare unto them profite or advauntage. Wherefore
she besought the Kjrnge that it would please hym to leave off, or further
to speke or laboure for the sayde pardon, amy tie, or aliaunce aforeseyde.**

u Xh*£xcuse and Aunswere of th'Erle of Warwicke unto
Quene Margarete, &c. in these two Articles folowinge.

«( Th*Erle of Warwick, all these thyngs herd, sayde unto the Quene
that he confessed well that by his conducte and mene the Kynge Henry

ORTGTNAL LETTERS. 133

«nd she were put out of the Reahne of England ; hut, for an excuse and
justification thereoff, he shewed that the Kjmge Henry and she by theyr
false counseyll had enterprised the distruction of hym and his frinds in
body and in goods, which he never had deserved agaynst them. And
h3an semed that for suche causes, and the great evill will that they have
showed hym he had a rightwyse cawse to laboure theyr undoynge and
destruction, and that therein he had not done but that a nobleman
outrayed and disperred owghte to have doone. Also he sayde ovar that,
and well confessed that he was cawser of the upsetynge of the Kjngs of
England that now is, but now, seyinge the evill termes that the Kjmge
hathe kept h3n[n, and cast h3an out of the realme, and, asmoche as he
hathe bene with h)naa in tymes passed, now he wilbe as fare contrarye
and enemy unto h3rm here aflar : besechinge there the Queue and the
sayd Prince that so they wolde take and repute h3rm, and forgyve hym
that in tyme passed he had done and attempted agaynst them : offeringe
hymself to be bounden, by all maner wyse, to be their trewe and fayth-
full subjecte in tyme to come, and upon that he would set for surety e
the Kjmge of Fraunce. Where unto the sayde Kjmge then being present
agreyd hjonself to be surtye for all the premises with good will, praying
the sayde Queue, that, at his requeste she wbulde pardon the sayde Earle
of Warwick, showinge the greate lov^ that he had unto hjrm, and that
he was bounded and beholden to the seyde Erie more than to any other
man, and therefore he wolde do as moche and more for hym thenne for
any man lyvinge."

" The Earles of Warwick and Oxenford pardoned of Queue
Margarete, and of her sonne Prince Edward.

^' And so the Quene, thus required by the Kyng, as it is seyde,
counseled also by the servants of the Kynge of Secile hir fader, aftar
many treates and metjmges, pardoned th*Erle of Warwick, nd so did
here sonne also. And after that they pardoned th*Erle of Oxenforde
being with th^Erle of Warwick; to whome the Quene seide that his
pardone was ease to purchase, for she knewe well that he and his frendis
hed suffered muche thinge for Kinge Henry's quarreUs.''

^^ Towchynge the manar of the Trete of Marriage bitwene
the Prince and th'Erle of Warwicks second dowghter, withe
th*answere of Quene Margarete.

'^ Towchinge the second poynt, that is of mariage, trew it is that the
Quene wolde not in any wise consente thereunto for ofier shewinge, or
any maner request that the Kynge of Fraunce myght make her. Some
tyme she seyd that she sawe never honor ne profit for her, ne for her
sonne the Prince. In other she ledged that and she woulde, she shuld
finde a more profitable party, and of a more avauntage with the Kynge of

134 ORIGINAL LETTEES-

England, And in dede, she shewed unto the Kjmge of Fraunce ft
Lettar which she seyd was sent hir out of England the last weeke, by
Vie ivhich was qffered to her sonne my lady the princes ; * and so the
Quene persevered fifteen dayes or she wold eny thynge intend to the seyd
Treatie of Marriage, the whiche finally, by the meane and conducte of
the E3mge of Fraunce and the counsilors of the Ejmge of Sicile beinge
at Aungiers, the sayd maryage was agred and promised ; presente the
Kjrnge of Fraunce and the Duke of Owine, by meane of certayne articles
here aftar foUowinge.*'

" The Othe of th'Erle of Warwick at Aungiers swome to
Kjnge Henry.

" First the Earle of Warwick sware upon the verrey Crosse in Seint
Mary Churche of Aungiers, that, without chaunge he shall alwey holde
the partye and quarrell of Kynge. Henry, and shall serve hym, the
Quene, and the Prince as a trewe and feythefuU subjecte owith to serve
his sovereigne Lord.

" The Othe of the Kynge of Fraunce, and of his brother,
and of the Quene Margaret.

'^ Item the Ejmge of Fraunce, and his brother, clothed in chanons
robes in the sayd churche of Seynt Mary, sware that they shulde helpe,
beare, and susteyne to theyr powere the sayd Earle of Warwick holdinge
the seyde qwarrell of Henry. And aftar this, the seyde Quene sware
and promysed fro henseforthe to entret the sayd Earle as trewe and feyth-
full to Kynge Henry here, and the Prynce : and for the dedes passed,
never here aftar to make h3mi reproche.

^^ Item, in treatinge the forsayde marrege, it was promitted and ac-
corded that aftar the recoverye of the Realme of England for and in the
name of tbe seyde Kynge Henry, he holden and avouched for K3mg, and
the Prince for Regent and Govamcnr of the sayd Realme, my Lord of
Clarence shall have all the lands that he had when he departed out of
England, and the duchie of Yorke, and many other, and th'Ede of War-
wick his, and othar named in th^appoyntment."

'^ Towchinge the tyme whene the Manage shalbe put in ure.

'' Item that from thens forth the seyde dowghtet of th'Erle of War-
wick shalbe put and rema3me in the hands and kepinge of Quene Mar-
garet, and also that the seyde marriage shal not be perfyted to A'Erle of^

» Elizabeth, eldest* and at that time the only daughter of Edw. I Vth. was bom at
Westminster, Feb. 11th, 1466. She was first intended to be the wife of George
Nevil Duke of Bedford ; then promised to the Dauphin of France; here she is stated
to have been offered to Piinoe Edward son of Henry the Sixth ; she was next courted
by King Richard Hid.; and, at last, married to King Henry the Seventh. See
Sandf. p., 417.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 13S

Warwick had bene with an army over the Sea into England, and that
he had recovered the realme of England in the moste partie therof, for
the Kynge Henrye. Many other pojmts were spoken of in the seyde
Tretie of Mariage which were ovar longe to put in writinge.

'^ The Ayde of the Frenche Kynge, for the passage of
th'Erle of Warwick into England.

'^ Towchinge the poynt conceminge th'Erle of Warwicks passage,
trewthe it is that th*£rle every day gave to understand, and yet dothe
to the Kynge of Fraunce, that he hath Lettars often from Lords of Eng-
land conteynyng that assone as he shalbe londed there, he shall have
moe then l. M^ fighters at his commaundement ; wherfore the seyde
Earle promysed the K3mge that yf he wold helpe hjrm with a fewe folk,
shipps, and money, he shall passe over the sea without any delay, and
upon this his words and promyses to the Kynge, he hath spended and
dayly spendythe great sommes of money for enterteyninge the state of
h3rm and his, and besyd that hathe helpen in victuale for his shipps of
Ixvj M^ scuts, content of ij. M^ franke archers, &c.*'

The original of Charles Duke of Guienne's engagement to assist Henry
the W^. Queen Margaret and Edward Prince of Wales, approving also
of the marriage of the Prince with the Earl of Warwick's daughter,
signed by himself, at Angers, July 30th, 1470, is still preserved in the
Cottonian MS. Vesp. F. iii.

The daughter of the Earl of Warwick here mentioned, was the Lady
Anne. She imitated her father's changes. The widow of Prince Ed-
ward became the Queen of Richard the Third.

George duke of Clarence and lord of Richemond,
and Richard earle of Warwyke and Salisbury, Greate
Chambarleyne of England and Capitayne of Calais, to
the worshipfull, discrete, and trwe Commons of Eng..
land gretynge. It is we dowte not notarily and openly
knowne unto you all, how uncurtasly that in late dayes
we have bene entreated, takyn, and accepted for the
trwe hertes, tendar zeaJes, loves and affections that Grod
knowith we have evar borne and entend, before all
things erthly, to the weale of the Crowne and the ad-

136 OttlGINAL LETTERS.

vauncynge of the Comon Weale of England ; and for
reprovinge of falsehodd and oppressyon of the pore
people ; God and owr dedes our Judge. Estraunged
also therefore from our frinds and lyvelede not litle,
and from the land and naturall place of our birthes, by
the falsse meanes and subtill dissimulations of suche
certeyne covetows and seditious persons as have gieided
and bene about the estate Royall of the Realnie, whiche
have evar had a more particuler respecte to theyr owne
syngular and insatiable covetise, and to the magnifienge
of theyr frinds and adherants, then they have had to
the majestie Royall, or to the things publique of the
trwe comonaltie of the sayde Realme ; as dayly and
howrlye is now by theyr dedes proved amongs you by
experience, to the greate hurt, empoverishinge, and the
uttar destruction of yow and the Realme, like to be
aliened and governed by streyngers and outward na-
tions yf the seyde covetows persons may rule as they
have done; and never lyke to be recovered without
gods helpe; the moast lamentable and pitious thinge,
to be abhored with every trewe christen man dredinge
god or lovynge the weles of his Realme and his neygh-
hours, that evar was. We, therefore, establysshid
and stedfastly perseveringe in owr olde customes,
beringe and havynge faythefully toward the seyde
Crowne and comon weale of England as fervent zeale,
love, and affection as evar we had, aggrudgynge of
the greate enormyties and inordinate ympositions,

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 137

contrary to lawe and all good customes, newly layd
upon yow, and also greatly sorowinge and abored of
the cruall and detestable tirany, the vengeable mour-
dar and manslawghtar reignynge amonge yow. Where-
fore we entend, by the grace of Grod, and the helpe of
every well disposed man, in right shorte tyme, to put
us in deboure ^ to the uttermoste of owr poweres, to
subdwe and put undar falshod and oppressyon ; chastice
and punishe the seyde covetows persons in perpetual!
example to all othar; and to set right and justice to
theyr places, to se them equally ministred and indiffer-
ently, withoute mede or drede, as they owght to be,
and to reduce and redeme for evar the sayde Realme
from thraldome of all outward natyons, and make it as
fre within it selfe as evar it was heretofore. And for
the furtheringe and more perfecte performinge hereof,
we call first to owr ayde, helpe and assistaunce of Al-
mighty God, his blessed Mothar and glorious Virgyne
seynt Marye, with all the hoole company of Heaven ;
secondly the blessed and holy martire Seynt George
owr patrone, and every trwe englyshe man dredinge
God, lovynge his realme and the wele of his neygh-
bours ; and thirdly we shall for owar discharges in that
behalfe, bothe agaynst God and Man, put us in owre
uttarmoste devoure » that we can or may : and there-
upon jeopard bothe owr lyves, bodyes, and goods. In
witnes whereof, to this owr writinge we have putte owr
signctts, and subscribed it with owr owne hands.

• devoir ; dutv.

138 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Stowe adds the following memorandum at the end of his transcript :
'^ The whiche letar ahove wreten, dyvers copies were made and set
upon the Standard in Chepe, upon the stulpes on London hrigge, and
upon dyvars^diurche dores in London, and in othar places of England,
before the oominge in and landinge of the seyd Duke and Earle owt of
Fraunce, to the enlarginge of Kynge Henry out of the Toure of London,
and to the upsett]mge of hjnn agajrne unto his estate and dignitie royall
in the tyme of Richard Lee grocer, then beinge Maior, the which toke
downe the seyde lettars, and would not suiTar them to be openly knowne
nor sene to the comons."

In another page of the same Volume, Stowe has preserved a copy of the
King's Letter to Clarence and Warwick upon the receipt of this : among
the ^^ matters of great poise*' in it, he, no doubt, included the marriage
of Edward son of Henry the Sixth with the daughter of the Earl of
Warwick.

^* Brothar we bene enformed how ye have labored, contrary to naturall ,
kyndnesse and duty of liegeaunce, dyvars mattars of greate poyes, and
also how Proclamations have bene made in yowr name and owr cosyne
of Warwike, to assemble owr liege people, no mention made of Us.
Furtharmore, lettars myssyves sent in lyke manar for lyke cawse. How
be it, we will not forgete that to us apperteynithe, and that is to call yow
to yowr declaration in the same, and to rescey ve yow therunto yf ye will
come, as it fittith a liege man to come to his sovereigne lord in humble
wyse : and yf ye so do, ind3rfference and equitie shalbe by us well remem-
bred, and so as no resonable man, godly disposed, shall mowe thinke, but
that we shall entreate yow accordinge to your nyghnes of bloud and owr
lawes. Wherefore, owre disposition thus playnly to yow declared. We
woll and charge yow, upon the feithe and trewthe that ye naturally owe
to beare unto us, and upon payne of yowre leigaunce, that ye, departynge
yowr felowshipe in all haste, aftar the sight of this, adresse yow to owr
presence humbly and measurablye accompanyed, and so as is convenyent
for the cawse aboveseyde ; lettjmge yow wite that yf ye ne do soo, but
eoniynewe the unlefull assemblye of owr people in perturbation and con-
tempte of owr peax and comandement, we must procede that we were
lothe to doo to the punishment of yow, to the grevous example of all
othar our subjects. Upon the whidi yf ther foUowe eny effiisyon of
Gristian bloud of owr subjects of this owr Realme, we take God and owr
blessed Lady, seint George, and all the Seints in Heven to owr witnesse,
that ye be onely charged with the same, and not We.

" Yeven, &c.

'^ To owr brothar Clarence ; and the
lyke Letar (mutatis mutandis) to the
earle of Warwyke."

OBIGIKAL LETTEftS. 199

This Letter U again followed by the Prodamatlon whidi waa mwumI
by the Duke and Earl upon their landing; the form of the safe-
conducts which they granted; and the Articles of advertisement sent
by the Prince to the Earl of Warwick his father-in-law to be shewn to
King Henry, for establishing a new Cdundl and Houshold ; the latter
upon a reduced scale. The following is the last of these articles:
^^ Item, for asmoche as the Kynge is now in great povertie, and may not
yet sustayne th'expences of so greate an howshold as he kept sometyme,
nor he is yet purveyed of vessell and othar hostilments of howshcM ho-
norable and convenyent for hjrm, and also his costis now upon establysh^
ment will be gretar than any man can certaynly esteme, it is thowght
good that it will please his Hyghnesse to forbeare all tills first ytste the
kepinge of his worshipfiill and greate Houshold ; and be in all that tyme
in suche a sure place or places as his moaste noble Grace can thinke best
for his helthe and plesaimce, with little people, and without Fe8am3m9e
and tak3mg agejme in all that yere of the servaunts of his olde howsold,
but suche as necessitie shall cawse hym. For yff he take within that
tyme any of them, the remenaunte will grudge for theyr absence ; and
also tho that be thus taken will not leve importune sute to have unto
them all theyr old fellowshipe, which shalbe noyfuU, and great noye to
hymselfe and to all tho that shalbe about hym for that yere.*'

LETTER XLIII.

Letter of Protection Jrom the Duke of Clarence for
the lamds and tenants of the Lord Mountjoyy in
Derbyshire, A, D. 1470.

[ms. laksd. BRIT. MTJS. 1236. foL 1. Orig.l

G. CLAEENCE.

George Due of Clarence and Lorde of Richemond,
to alle parsones thees presents hering or seeing greting.
We wolle and upon pain of deth charge you in our
Souverain Lordes name King Henri the Sexte that ye

140 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

ne noon of you of what degre or condicion soo ever
ye bee presume, atempte, or bee so hardy to spoile
or robbe the Maners of Barton and Elveston in the
Countie of Derb. aperteynyng to the Lorde Mounte-
joie ne noon of his servaunts, fermors, ne tenaunts ther
or ellss where or any of thaim, ne vexe, troble, or hurt
thaim, or any of thaim in bodees or goodes meovable
or unmeovable contrary to our saide Souveraiii lordes
lawes and his peax, as ye wolle eschewe the punicion
of the said lawes. Yeven under our Signet at London
the XX vj. day of October.

LETTER XLIV.

King Edward the Fourth to the Keeper of his Privy
Sealy after his return to tlie Throne^ Jbr Letters pa-
tents in reward of William Gould^ a butcher,

[ms. donat. bhit. Bffus. 4614. art, 108. bag. edw. iv. bund. 1.

Na29.]

By the King.
Right reverend fadre in God, right trusty and
welbeloved, We grete you well ; lating you wit that
for the grete kyndnesse and true hert that oure wel-
beloved William Gould, citezen of London, bocher,
shewed unto us and unto oure derrest wife the Quene,
in our last absence out of this oure Roialme, every

OKIGINAL LETTERS. 14t

weke, than yeving unto hir for the sustentacion of hir
houshold half a beef and ij. motons; and also aftir
oure Feld of Tewkysbury, at her being in the Towre,
brought C. oxen into a medow beside our said Towre
for the . . lling ^ of the same, wherof the Eentishmen,
and other at tymes, oure rebells, shipmen, toke of the
saide bests 1. and ledde away , . . an to his great
hurt and damage, We have yeven and graunted unto
the saide William, in recompense of his said hurts, and
for other causes us moeving, our Letters of licence,
that he by himself, his factours, or attorneys, maye
charge a Ship called the Trynyte of London, of the
portage of xxx. ton or within, in any porte or place
of this oure Roialme, with oxe hids, ledde, talowe,
and alle other merchandises, except staple ware, and
the saide Ship, so charged and defensibly araied for
the defense of the same, with suche a maistre and
nowmbre of mariners as the saide William, his factours
or attornes, shall name unto you in oure Chancerye, to
goo out of this oure saide Roialme into what parties
by yonde the Sea it shall like him or theim; and
there to discharge and recharge the same Ship with all
maner goods and merchandises leefull ; and retoume
into this oure saide Roialme, and all other places under
oure obeissance : and so to discharge and recharge the
saide Ship, with the saide goods, wares, and mer-
chandises, and goo and com as often as it shall please
him or theim, during oon hoole yere, without any lett

» killing.

14^ ORIGINAL LETTERS.

or impediment of us or eny of oure officers and minis-*
tres ; paing unto us therfore all maner costumes, sub-
sides, and duetees unto us for the same due and ap-
perteynyng, any act, statute, ordinance, provision,
or restraint hadde or made into the contrarye not-
withstanding. Wherfore we wol and charge you that
undir oure Piive Scale, being in youre ward, ye do
make herupon our Letters to be directed unto oure
Chancellor of England, commaunding him by the same
to make herupon our Letters Patentes undir oure
Great Scale in due forme, and thies our Letters shal
• be your warrant. Yeven undir oure Signet at our
Palois of Westminster the xxiiij. day of Feverier
of our reign.

FREMAN.

To the reverend fadre in God our
right trugiy and welbeloved the
Bishop of Rochester^ keper of our
Prive Seale.

LETTER XLV.

King Edward the Fourth^ ccmceming the repayment
of Money to the Bishop of Aberdeen and James
Shaw,

[ms. cottok. vesp. f. III. foL 9 b. Orig.^

*«* The real object of this Letter is obscure. Thomas bishop of
Aberdeen had a safe conduct to come into England Sept 13. 13th
Edw. ly.* The Lord Lovd was, at this time, the King's Treasurer.

•Rot 13 Edw. IV. m. 10.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143

XV. £.

As touching the repaiement of C. marc, to the
bisshopp of Abyrdene and to James Shaw for the
composicion made with the lord Luf, the King hath
ordeigned that a Lumbard, or some other sufficient
persone or persones resiant within England, shalbe
bounde to the said Bisshopp and James in the said
somme, to be paied by the first daye of Novembre next
to come, at the ferrest, to such as the saide Bisshopp
and James wol assigne to receyve the same, be it for
the responsion of the Commandeur of Torfischyn in
Scotland to the Rodes by the Lord of Sainct Johns in
England, or othrewise, as the said Bisshop and James
Shaw wol ordeigne.

XV. E.

LETTER XLVI.

Richard Duke of Gloucester ^ afterwards Richard the
Thirds to , . . ' . to borrow Money,

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 10. Orig,'\

The Due of Gloucestre. a
Right trusty and welbeloved We grete you wele.
And forasmuch as the Kings good Grace hathe ap-

» These words are in the Duke's hand. ed.

144 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

poynted me to attende uppon His Highnesse into the
North parties of his lande, whiche wolbe to me gret
cost and charge, whereunto I am soo sodenly called
that I am not so wel purveide of money therfore as
behoves me to be, and therfore pray you as my specyal
trust is in you, to lend me an hundreth pounde of
money unto Ester next commyng, at whiche tyme I
promise you ye shalbe truly therof content and paide
agayn, as the berer herof shal enforme you : to whom
I pray you to yeve credence therin, and showe me
such frendlynesse in the same as I may doo for you
herafter, wherinne ye shal find me redie. Writen at
Risyng the xxiiij^^* day of Juyn.

R. GLOUCESTR.

(A Postscript endrdy in the Duke*8 hand adds)

Sir I say I pray you that ye fayle me not at this
tyme in my gretfe nede, as ye wule that I schewe yow
my goode lordshype in that matter that ye labure to
me for.

LETTERS

THE REIGNS OF

RICHARD THE THIRD

AND

HENRY THE SEVENTH.

VOL. I. SER. 2*

Of the Letters of the reign of RICHARD the THIRD here laid
before the reader, the chief are the King^s own : but even in these there
is a darkness and a mystery inconsistent with upright deeds. The im-
pression which they make is bad : and leads us to suspect' that future
discoveries, whatever else they may develope, will do little to retrieve the
character of Richard the Third from the odium so concurrently passed
upon it by those who lived in his time.

The disquiet of Richard*s mind, his doubts, his apprehensions, his
distrusts, are all visible in the documents of his last year, though some-
times attempted to be concealed under smooth and cringing expressions.

The Instructions which he gave-to " the Commissioners in every Shire"
for raising forces against the Earl of Richmond, begin

" Furst, that they, on the Kings behalf^ thanks the People for
their TRUE and lovyng disposicion shewed to his Highnesse the
last yere^ for the suertie and defense of his moost royal persone and of
this his Realme, against his rebels and traitors ; exhorting them so to
continue." Next, to review the persons raised, " and see that they be
able men, and wele horsed and hemeysed, and no rascal, and to endeavour
them to encrease the nnmbre by theire wisedoms and policies, if thet
CAN." I^astly, ^^ to shewe all Lords, Noblemen, Captains, and other,
that the King's noble pleasure and commaundement is, that thet/ truely
and honorably all manner quarells, grudges, rancors, and unkyndnesse
layed aparie, attend and execute the Eling's conunaundement, and every che
be LOVING and assisting to othre in the Kinge's quabelles
and CAUSE."*

This is the language of a King who feels weak in the affections of his
subjects.

The few Letters in this Volume of the reign of HENRY the
SEVENTH, are Privy Seals. Other Letters of this Reign are not
numerous in English.

* See the Harl. MS. 433. fol. 274.

ORIGINAL LETTERS* 147

LETTER XLVII.

Kmg Edward the Fifth, under the direction of his
Uncle, to Otes Gilbert, Esq, commanding him to
receive Knighthood at the expected Coronation.

[ms. habl. BRIT. Mus. 433. foL 227*]

*«* Similar Letters to this appear to have been sent to forty-nin^
other persons, amongst whom were the Lord Ormond, the Lord Stourton,
the son and heir of the brd Bergavenny, the Lord Ghrey of Ruthen, the
son and heir of the lord Gobham, and Henry Colet alderman of London.

Trusty and welbeloved we grete you wele ; and by
th'advise of our derrest Uncle the Due of Gloucestre,
Protector of this our Royaume, during our young Age,
and of the Lords of our Counsel!, we write unto you
at this tyme, willing and nathelesse charging you to
prepare and ffumishe yourselfF to receive the noble
Order of Knighthode at our Coronacion ; whiche by
Godd's grace we entende shalbe solempnised the xxij^
day of this present moneth at oure Palays of West-
minster, comaunding you to be here at oure Toure of
London iiij. dayes afore oure said Coronacion, to have
comynycacion with oure Commissioners concemyng
that mater ; not failling herof in any wise, as ye entende
to please us, and as ye woll answer. Yoven, &c. the
v^h. day of Juyn.

Otes Gilbert squier.

148 OftlGlKAL LETTERS.

The Volume from which this Letter has been cq)ied, contains various
Papers and Documents issued at the beginning of the reign of Richard
the Third as King : and amongst them the following Instructions to the
Lord Montjoie, master John Cooke archdeacon of Lincoln, and Six
Thomas Thwayts knt. in answer to a Letter of the Lord D3mham ^' late
direct to the Kings Grace as Protector of England."

" The first Article remembred the Othe which they of Calais, per-
fe3rnyng to any of the thre Jurisdiccions ther, incontynent, upon knawlage
of the deth of King Edward the iiij*^, whome God assoill, conmien unto
them, made holy togedyr upon a booke, to be true unto King Edward
the V*'>. his son, as to their liege Lord ; and to kepe the towne, castell,
and marehies of Calais truly to him, and to suffre no man with power to
entre into the same, except the King's persone, or the Lord Hastingf
then being the King's Lieutenant

'' As to that Article, it shall move besids that how be it suche Othe
of ligeance was made sone upon the deth of the said King Edward the
iiij'''. to his sone, not only at Calais but also in diverse places in England,
by many gret Astats and Personages being than ignorant of the verraye
sure and true title whiche oure soverajm Lord that now is. King Richard
the iij***:, hath and had the same tyme to the Cproune of England. Thai.
Othe not withstandyng, now, every good true Englissheman is bounde,
upon knowlage had of the said verray true title, to depart from the first
Othe so ignorantly gyven to him to lehom it apperteyned not, and ther«
upon to make his Outhe of ncwe, and owe his service and fidelitie to him
that good lawe, reason, and the concorde assent of the Lords and Com-
mons of the Royame have ordeigned to rdgne upcm the people, which is
oure said Soverayn Lord King Richard the iij^'^ brother to the said King
Edward the iiij'''. late decessed, whome God pardone: whose sure and
true title is evidently shewed and declared in a bill of Peticion which the
Lords spirituelx and temperelx and the Commons of this Land solemplye
porrected unto the Kings Highnes at London the xxvj*' day ofJuyn.
Whereupon the Kings said Highnes, notably assisted by well nere all the
Lords spirituell and temperell of this Royaume, went die same day unto
his Palais of Westminster, and ther in suche roiall honi^able appareilled
within the gret Hall ther toke possession, and declared his mjmde that
the same day he wold b^yn to reigne upon his people, and from thens
rode solempely to the Cathedrall Cherche of London, and was resseyved
ther with procession, with great congratulacion, and acdamacion of all
the people in everyplace, and by the wey that the King was in, that day.
The copie of the which Bill the King will to be sent unto Calais, and ther
to be redd and understanded togeder with thise presents, desiring right
efFectuousIy all maner persones of the said thre Jurisdictions, what astat,
degre, or condicion that they be of, and also them of-Guysnes and

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 149

Hammes, to make their feithes and othes to him as to thair soverayii
Lorde, like as the Lords spirituelx and temperelx, and many other noble,
men in gret nombre, being in England, frdy and of goode hert have done
for their parts. And that the said Towne of Calais, all Castells, and
Fortress being within the said Marches they will saufly kepe unto the
behoove of oure said Soverajm lord King Richard the iij**®. and them not
to deliver to any persone but by his conomaundemente only." •

The reader will observe that the Lord D3mham, in answer to whom
these Instructions were sent, was one of the Lords who in the Parliament
chamber, in the 11 ^^ Edw. IV^^. had subscribed and sworn to be true to
Prince Edward, the King*s eldest son. ^ Who can wonder that Lord
Djmham afterwards joined the Earl of Richmond? In the !•* of Heni^^
the Seventh he was constituted one of the Privy Council, and Treasurer
of the King's Exchequer. He died in the \T^ Hen. VII*'*.

There is a Memorandum too, in the Harleian Volume already quoted,
a part of which only has been printed by Mr. Sharon Turner.

'^ M<i. that I Richard by the Grace of God King of England and of
Fraunce, and Lord of Irland, in the presens of you my Lords spirituell
and temporell, and you Mair and Aldermen of my Cite of London, pro-
mitte and swere verho regio upon these holy Evangelies of God by me
personelly touched, that if the doughters of dame Elizabeth Gray late
calling her selfF Quene of England, that is to wit Elizabeth, Cecill, Anne,
Kateryn, and Briggitte, woll come unto me out of the Sanctwarie of
Westminster and be guyded, ruled, and demeaned after me, than I shall
see that they shalbe in suertie of their lyfis, and also not sufire any man.
ner hurt by any maner persone or persones to them or any of theim or
their bodies and persones, to be done by way of ravis^ement or defouling
contrarie their willes, nor them or any of theim emprisone within the
Toure of London or other prisonne ; but that I shall put theim in honest
places of good name and fame, and theim honestly and curtesly shall see
to be founden and entreated, and to have all things requisite and neces-
sary for their exibicion and findings as my kynneswomen ; and that I
shall do marie suche of them as now ben mariable to Gent^men bom,
and everiche of them geve in mariage lands and tenements to the yerel^
valewe of cc marcs for term of their lyves ; and in likewise to the other
doughters when they come to lawfull age of mariage if they lyff. And
suche gentilmen as shall happ to marie with them I shall straitly charge,
from tyme to t3rme, lovyngly to love and entreate them as their wiflfe and
my kynneswomen, as they woll advoid and eschue my displeasur.

" And over this that I shall yerely fromhensfuifth content and pay, or
cause to be contented and paied, for th'exhiblcion and finding of the said

• MS. Harl. 433. fol. 288. >> Claus. ii Edw. IV. in dorse, mt }.

150 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

dame Elizabeth Gray during her natoraU liff at iiij. termes of the yere,
that is to wit at pasche, midsomer, michihnasse, and christenmesse, to
John Nesfelde, one of the tquiers for my body, for his finding, to attende
upon her, the summe of dcc. marcs of lawfuU money of England, by
even portions ; and moreover I promitte to them, that if any surmyse or
evyll report be nuide to me of them, or any of them, by any persone or
persones, that than I shall not geve therunto faith ne credence, nor ther-
fore put them to any numer ponysshement, before that they or any of them
80 accused may be at their lawfiill defence and answer. In witnesse
whereof to this writing of my Othe and Promise aforsaid, in your said
presences made, I have set my sign manuell the first day of Marche the
first yere of my Reigne,"*

These, it must be owned, are singular documents.

LETTER XLVIII.

King Richard the Third to Sir Ralph Hastvngs Tent.
Lieutenant of the Castle ofGuisnea.

[ms. habl. BRit. Mus. 433. foL 239.]

By the King.
Trusty, &c. We woll and desire you that ye
yeve full feith and credence to our trusty Servants
Robert Bradboury, Robert AUerton, Hugh Bage, and
Thrustayn Hatefelde, in suche things and newes as we
have commaunded iha,ym. to shewe unto you on ova
behalve : which by you herd, we pray you to disclose
to suche of oure subgetts as be under your rule in our

* MS. Harl. ut supr. foL 308 b.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 151

Castell there, as by your wisdom© shalbe thought most
according, and of their disposicions, which we trust
verraily wolbe with oure pleasure. We desire you
furthwith, in all hast possible, to accertayn our right
trusty and welbeloved the Lord Mountjoye, Sir Tho-
mas Thwayts, and maister John Gooke our Commis-
sioners at Dover, whome we have Ccorged^ ther to abide
your Answere ; and that had, to addresse them over
unto you fully instructed of our ferther mynde and
pleasur in every thing concemyng the same. Faill ye
not the premisses, as ye woll do us speciall pleasur.
Yoven under our signet at our Cite of London the
xxviij^. day of Juyn.

S^ Rauff Hastings knight
Lieutenant of our Castell of
Guysnes.

An entry in the Manuscript, very soon after this Letter, acquaints us
that Sir Ralph Hastings was dismissed horn his charge.

He was brother of the Lord Hastings who was beheaded by Richard
the Third ; and had been much favoured by King Edward the Fourth in
grants of lands.

* charged.

1512 ORIGINAL LETTEB9.

LETTER XLIX.

King Richard tJie Third to the Lords of his CouncHy
A, D. 1483, np(m the arrival of an ambassador
from Isabella Queen of Spain.

[ms. habl. bbit. mus. 433. foL 235 b.]

*4(* Preceding this Letter, in the Harleian Manuscript, are the in-
structions, in Latin, of Oranfidius de Sasiola, the Queen of Spain's enYoy^
dated August the 8th, 1483 ; after which it is said,

^^ Besides these Instructions geven in writing by this Orator, he shewed
to the Kings Grace by mouth, that the Queue of Castell was turned in^
her hart fro England in time past, for the unkindness the which she took
against the ELing last deceased, whom God pardon, for his refusing of
her, and taking to his wife a widow cS England ; for the which cause
also was mortal war betwixt him and the Earl of Warwick, the whidi
took ever her part to the time of his death. And therefore she^ moved
for thise cause against her nature, the which was ever to love and favour
England, as he said, she toke the French Kings part, and made leagues
and confederations with him.

^' Now the King is dead that shewed her this unkindness, and, as he
said, the French King hath broken four principall articles appointed,
concluded, and sealed betwixt him and the King of Castell and hur :
wherfore she now returning to hir natural kind and disposition, desireth
sudi things to be appointed and concluded betwixt these two reahnes,
England and Spain, as ye may understand by these Instructions of her
said Orator.

^' Another cause which moved her to depart from Ae King Louis, was,
that she had a grant of the Queen of Navaire to have hur daughter and
heir for the Prince of Castele her son, if the consent of King Louis might
therein have been had : and for so mu<^ as he by no maner meane wold
be thereunto agreable she taketh a gret displeasure with him, and desireth
by all meanes to her possible to make these Alliances and Confedenitions
with the Kings good Grace, as be shewed in thise Instructions."

The first part of this statement is fiilly corroborated by the English
Historians.*

» See Hall's Chron. edit 1548. foil. cxcii»b. cxciii. Grafton's Conttn. of Hardyngj,
Col. iiij. LeL Collect, torn. i. p. 600. &c.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 153

Lingaid has taken no notice of thi^ n^odation for the hand of
Isabella ; and he treats the subsequent negociation for a marriage with
Bona of Savoy as a fiction.* But even this is motioned by foreign
writers, as well as our own.^

BY THE KING.
MY LORDS, *

We grete you hertely wele, latting you wit that
yesterday come to us hider an Oratour of our cousine
the Quene of Hispana, with lettres and open credence
also, the which he shewed before us wherupon the
Lords of our Counsell here, by oure commaundement,
have had communication with the said Oratour upon
anctorite or commission yeven unto him in that be-
halve, the which as We suppose he hath noon other-
wise than by instruction and commandement of his
ipaisteres ; wherein he saith he might have had gret
and large, bot she saith her worde shuld be as sure
and stable as any other auctorite by Commission.
Natheles suche credence as was uttered to us by the
said Oratour, he hath delivered in writing signed with
his hande, the Copie whereof we sende unto you, to
the^ntent we may have your good advertisments what
is ferther to be doen in this mater. Also the said
Oratour hath ben demaunded as in the Amite and
Lieuge c late taken betwixt the King our brother late

• Hist. Engl. 8*. edit vol. v. p. 257.

^ See Guicheron, Hist Genealogique de la Royale Maison de Savoye, torn* L
pp. 532, 583. who dates it in 1464.

• League.

154 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

decessed, and Henry the King of Hispayne, the which
the said Oratour promiseth shalbe renewed and con-
firmed betwixt us and the King and new Quene of His-
payne, in like forme as was betwixt them. And if it
shall seme you this mater be for our wele and honor,
than we pray you, our Chaunceler, the said Amite
made in our name and sealed with our Seale be sent
to us in goodly hast ; for the which, upon a bill therof
sent to us, ye shall have good and suffisaunt warrant ;
and that Barnard de la Forssa if [he] be not passed
the See, be sent for to come unto us in goodly hast, to
th'entent he may practise thise maters in Spayne.
Youen under our signet at the Castell of Warrewik,
the ix^h day of August.

To the Lords of our Counsell
at our Cite of London.

LETTER L.

The Qmen of Spam to King Richard the Third.

[ms. haul. BRIT. Mus. 433* fol. 236. ]

*^* Isabella, then Queen of Castile, was married to Ferdinand King
of Arragon at Valladolid, Oct 18*^. 1469, privately, in the House of
John de Bivero. *

MuY esclareado Rey nfo muy caro et muy
amado primo. Nos la Reyna de Castilla, de Leon,

* See Lewis de Mayerne Turquet's Hist, of Spaine. fol. Lend. 1612. p. 81T> Cu-
rita Anales de la Corona de Aragon, Par. ii. lib. 18. sub an. -

ORIGINAL LETTEES. 165

de Arragon, de Secilia, etc. vos enbiamos mucho
saludaz como aquel que mucho amamos et preciamos,
et para quien querviamos que Dios diese tanta vida,
salud, et hourra, quanta vos mesmo deseays. Facemos
vos gober que nos enbiamos a vos al bachiller de Sasiola
del nostro Consilio, el qual de nostra parte vos fablara
algunas cosas, muy afectuosamente vos rogamos le
dedes entera fee et creencia. Muy esclareadoRynostro,
muy caro et muy amado primo, dies nostro Senor to
dos ipsos vos aya en su proteccion et recomienda. De
la abeas de Sancto Dominicho de la Calcada a scie
dias de Junjo de Mcccc.lxxxiij.

YO LA EEYNE. »

Al muy esclar's a do Rey de
Yngladeffa nr'o muy saro^ et
muy amado primo.

The following Translation accompanies this Letter in the manu-
script:

'' Right excellent King our right dere and right entierly beloved. We
the Quene of Castile, Lyons,** (it should be Leon) '' Arragon, and Sicile,
&C. sende you many gretings, as to him that we gretly love and prayse,
and him to whome we beseche God to grant as moche l3rff, helthe, and
honeur as your selff desires. We lat you wit that we sende unto you the
Bachillier of Gasiola, of our Counsell, which on our behalve shall shewe
you certain things, prayng you of afiectuouse m3mde unto hjrm therin to
geve feith and credence. Right excellent King, our right dere and right
entierly beloved cous]ru, our Lord God alweys have you in his protection
and recommendacion. From th' Abbey of Seint Dom3myk of Calcada,
the vjt\ day of Juyn A^. 1483.

To right excellent King of England, our
right dere and right entierly beloved.**

■ " I the Queen." This was the Spanish mode of affixing; the royal signature to
documents of state. Charles the Fifth signs a Letter of credence sent to Q. Catherine
of Arragon, his aunt, in 1523, MS. Cotton. Nero B. VII. fol. 41, " Yo el Rey."

^ caro.

156 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS.

LETTER LI.

The Lord Dyriham to the Bishop of Lincoln^ Lord
Chancellor, cmnouncing the death of Louts Xlth.
of Fram^ce; the yielding of Utrecht , S^c.

[ms. haul. 433. fol. 233 b.]

^^ Lewis the Eleventh is usually stated by the French Historians to
have died August 30th, 14^. Mezeray says August Wi^\ The Lord
D3mham places his death, in this Letter, on the 25th of August.

My special! good Lord, I recommaunde [me] to
your good Lordship. Please it the same to knowe that
I sent worde unto the Kings Grace, by Blenc Rose, ^
of the deth of the Frenshe King within ij houres after
the thidings come to me as I herd. How be it I was
not then in certain as I am nowe. He died the xxv-*
day of August at aftemone; on whose soule I pray
God have mercy. And what direction shall be take
therupon his decease with the Dolphyn, and that
Bealme, it is not yet knowen. This I here say, the
Lord Disquerdes is in the handes of the gret Lords of
Fraunce, the Due of Orliaunce, and other. I trust
within few daies to know more ; and as I here fro tyme
to tyme I shall sende worde unto the Kings Grace,

* White Bmc, a herald^ or pursuivant so named.

OllIGINAL LETTERS. 157

and to yow my Lord, which I am sure ye will shewe
unto my Lordes of the Counsell ther.

Also the Due of Austriche &c. hath wonne Utright,*
by appoyntementes such as yo^ Lordship may under-
stand by a copie that I send yow herewith. Gaunt ^ is
offered, as I here for certeine, and such as were the
gret doyers in Burgis,^ and the chieff labourers of the
Peax with Fraunce be goen with all their goodes to
Gaunt, b for fere of the Due; and all the comones of
the Contre greitly rejoysshe therof. There is a gret
brute an the Duk of that they will set upon Picardie
to get it againe to enlarge theire frountiers ; which I
pray God sone may take effect, for in myn openion
it shuld be gretly for the wele of that toune and
marches &c.

Also my Lord upon this departing of the Frensshe
King, how it shall stande with the Kings pleasure and
you my Lordes of his Counsell that we shall deale for
making of sauf Conductes this fisshing season if any
be asked, I wold fayne understand, because the werre
is open between bothe Roialmes. I have much ado
to kepe men still in peax here, for they wold fayne be
in hand with the Frenshmen. How be it, I trust that
mater shall not be attempted till the Kings pleasure
be knowen therein, or unto the tyme occasion be geven
by them by lande as it is daily seen by water.

My Lord it is thought here that the King shuld

• Utrecht. '' Ghent. « Bilges.

168 ORIGIKAL LETTERS.

have a Navie upon the See, to shewe Iiimself as a
King, to rule and kepe his stremes betwixt this and
Dover ; and that suche folkes as shall be sent unto the
see may have a strait charge upon their lyves that
they nether robbe ne spoill any of the Ejngs frendes ;
and namely of the Due of Austriche contrees, and
Breta3me; for if they fall enemys unto us, and no
gretter suertie had betwixt the King our Soverayn
Lord and them, it shall not be good for this Towne
and Merches, considered of likelihode what pour the
Due shall be of nowe upon this victorie of Utright
which is thought a gret thing here.

Also I here say that he is chosen Ejng of Rome,
and Emperour comen downe to Collougne to crowne
him, to thentent he shuld be Emperour after him.
Thise be all the tidings that I here speke of, or that I
knowe of for certaine, which I pray yow to shewe
unto the Kings Grace, to whome I have not written at
this passage. Also that it may like your Lordship to
gif knowlege unto my good frende maister Pieres
Puissaunt of the same tydings.

DYNHAM*

To my most speciall good Lord
my Lord fiisshop of Lincolne^
Chaunceler of England.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 159

LETTER LII.

King Richard the Third to John Russel Bishop ofLin^
coin, previoiis to his advancing against the DuJce of
Buckingham, A, D, 1483.

[from the original amoxo the records in the tower of

LONDON.]

By the King.
Right reverend Fadre in God, right trusty and
welbeloved, we grete you wele, and [in] most hertiest
wyse thanke you for the manifolde presents that your
servaunt on yo^" behalve have presented unto us at this
oure being here ; which we assure you we toke and
accepted with good hert, and soo we haveJ cause. And
whereas we, by Godds grace, entende briefly to avaunce
us towards our rebelle and traytour the Due of Buk-
ingham, to resiste and withstande his maliciouse pur-
pose, as lately by our other Lettres we certifyed you
our mynde more at large ; for which cause it behoveth
us to have our grete Sele here. We being enformed
that for such infirmitees and diseases as ye susteyne,
ne may in your persone to your case conveniently come
unto us with the same : wherfor we desir and nathe-
lesse charge you, that, forthwith upon the sight of theis
ye saufly do the same our Grete Sele to be sent unto

160 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

US, and such of th''offic'* of our Chauncery as by your
wysedom shalbe thought necessary; receyvyng these
our Lettres for your sufficient discharge in that be-
halve. Yeven undre our signet at our Citie of Lin-
coln the xij. day of Octobre.

[Then follows, in the King's own hand- writing,]

We wolde most gladly ye came yourself yf that ye
may, and yf ye may not we pray you not to fayle, but
to accomplyshe in all dyllygence our sayde comawnde-
ment to sende our Seale incontenent upon the syght
heroff, as we trust you, with suche as ye trust, and the
OlFycers pertenyng, to attend with hyt; praying you to
assertayne us of your Newes. Here, loved be God^
ys all well and trewly determyned, and for to resyste
the malysse of hym that hadde best cawse to be trewe,
th'Duc of Bokyngham, the most untrewe creatur
lyvyng, whom with Gods grace we shall not be long
tyll that we wyll be in that partyes, and subdewe hys
malys. We assure you y** was never false traytor
better purvayde for, as this berrer Gloucestr^ shall
sheue you.

ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 161

LETTER LIII.

King Richard the Third to his mother , the Duchess

ofYorlc. ^.JD. 1484.

[ms. harl. 433. foL 2 b.]

MADAM, '

I RECOMMENDE me to you as hertely as is to me
possible ; beseching you in my most humble and effec-
tuouse wise of your daly blissing to my sjmguler com-
fort and defence in my nede. And, Madam, I hertely
beseche you that I may often here from you to my *
comfort. And suche Newes as ben here my servent
Thomas Bryan this berer shall show you ; to whome
please it you to yeve credence unto. And, Madam, I
beseche you to be good and graciouse lady to my lord
my Chamberleyn to be your officer in Wilshire in suche
as Colingboume had. I trust he shall therein do you
good service, and that it please you that by this berer
I may understande youre pleasur in this behalve. And
I pray God sende you th'accomplisshement of your
noble desires. Written at Pountefreit, the iij^. day of
Juyn, with the hande of

Yo^ most humble son,

EICAEDUS REX.

CoLYNGBOURN mentioned in this Letter, was, no doubt, the William
Colyngboum who was executed upon Tower Hill for his celebrated

VOL. I. SER. 2. "^

162 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

rhyme in derision of Richard and his Council. Fabyan says, he died
" to the compassion of much people." He is mentioned in Rymet^s
Foedcra, to have been serving in the wars in France in 1475 as an Esquire.
Foed. tom. xi. p. 845.

LETTER LIV.

Kinff Richard the Third to his Chmicellor, to prepare
a Proclamation against Henry Tudor and other
rebels hisjbllowers.

[ms. donat. mus. BRIT. 4616. art. 98. ex BUKD. INJFRA TmuEL

LOKD. temp. Ric. III. N. 28.]

Right reverend fader in God, right trusty and
right welbeloved, we grete yow wele, and wol and
charge yow that under oure Greate Seale, being in
your warde, ye do make in all haist our lettres of Pro-
clamation, severally to be directed unto the shirrefs of
everie Countie within this oure Royaume, according
to the tenure hereafter ensueing.

" Forasmoche as the King oure Soverain Lorde
hathe certaine knowledge that Piers Bisshop of Ex-
cestre, Jasper Tidder sone of Owen Tidder calling
himself Erie of Pembroke, John late Erie of Oxon,
and Sir Edward Widevile, with other diverse his re-
bells and traitours disabled and attaynted by authoritie
of high Courte of Parliament, of whom many been

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 163

knbwen for open murdrers, advowters, and extor-
tioners, contrarie to the pleasure of God and against
all treuthe, honour, and nature, have forsaken thair
naturall countrey, taking theim furst to be under the
obeissaunce of the Due of Britaigne, and to him pro-
mised certain things which by hym and his Counseill
were thought thinges to gretly unnaturall aftd abomi-
nable for theim to graunte, observe, kepe, and per-
fourme ; and therfor the same utterly refused. The
said Traitours seeing that the said Due and his Coun-
seill would not aide and succour theiin, nor folow
their weyes, prively departed out of his countrey into
Fraunce,^ there taking theim to be undre th''obbeisance
of the Kings auncient ennemie Charles, calling him-
self King of Fraunce ; and to abuse and blynde the
Commones of this said Royaume, the said Rebeles
and Traitours have chosen to be their Capitayne
oon Henry Tidder son of Edmond Tidder son of
Owen Tidder, whiche of his ambitious and insatiable
covetise incrocheth and usurpeth upon hym the name
and title of royal estate of this Roialme of Englande,
wherunto he hath no maner interest, right, title, or
colour, as every man wel knoweth ; for he is descended
of bastard blode both of the fader side and moder
side ; for the said Owen, the grandfader, was a bastard
borne, and his 'moder was doughter unto John Due of

• For a comment upon this passage of the Letter, the reader may refer to Hall's
Chronicle, edit, 1548. foil. xlv. b. xlvi.

M 2

164 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Somerset, sone unto John Erie of Somerset, son unto
dame Kateryne Swynford, and of her m double ad-
voutrow goten ; wherby it evidently appereth that noo
title can or may be in hym, whiche fulley entendeth to
entre this Royaume purposing a conquest : and if he
should atcheve this false entent and purpose, every
mannys lif, livelood, and goods shuld be in his hands,
libertie, and disposition : wherby shuld ensue the dis-
heriting and distruction of all the noble and worship-
full blode of this Royalme for ever. And to the re-
sistence and withstanding wherof, every true and na-
turall Englisheman born must lay to bis handes for
his own suertie, and well*, and to the entent that the
said Henry Tidder might the rather eschewe his said
fals entent and pourpous by the aide, supporte, and
assistence of the Kings said auncient ennemye of
Fraunce, hath covenaunted and bargayned with hym
and with all the Counseill of Fraunce to geve . . and
relesse in perpetuy te alle the right, title,, and clayme
that the Kings of England h^ve had and mighte to
have to the Gorone and Royaume of Fraunce, to-
gidder with the Duchies of Normandye, Angeoye
and Maygne, Gascoygne and Guyenne, the Castelles
and Townes of Caleys, Guisnes, Hammes, with the
merches apperteignyng to the same, and to ,dessever
and exclude the armes of Fraunce out of the armes of
England for ever. And in more prove and sheweing
of his said pourpose of conquest, the said Henry Tidder

OHIGIXAL LETTERS. 165

hath geven aswele to divers of the Kings said enemyes
as to his said rebelles and traitoures, the Arch-
bisshoprekes, Bisshopriches, and other dignities spi-
rituel, and also the Duchies, Earledomes, Baronies,
and othre possessions and inheritaunces of Knights,
Esquires, Gentlemen, and othre the Kings true subgets
within this Boialme ; and entendeth also to chaunge
and subvert the lawes of the same, and to enduce and
establisshe newe lawes and ordinaunces araongs the
Kings said siibjiettes. And over this and besids the
alienations of all the premisses into the possession of
the Kings said ancient enemyes, to the gretest au-
geutisement, shame, and rebuke that ever might falle
to this lande, the said Henry Tider and othre the
Kings rebells and traietours aforesaid, have entended
at thair cummyng, if theye can be of powair, to doo
the moost cruell murdres, slaghters, robberies, and dis-
herisons that ever wer seen in any Cristen Royaume.
For the whiche and othre inestimable daungieres to
be eschewed, and to the entent that the Kings said
rebells, traitours, and enemyes may be utterly putt
from their said malicious and fals pourpose, and soon
disconfited of their enforce to lande, the King pure
soverayn Lorde desireth, willeth, and commaundeth
all and everych of the naturel and true subgiets of this
his Royaume, to call the premisses into their myndes,

and like good and true Englisshemen to

thaym self with all their powairs for the defense of

166 OEIGINAL LETTEES,

theim, thair wifs, children, goodes, and hereditaments,
agenst the said malicious purposes and conspirations
whiche the said auncient ennemyes have made with
the Kings said rebelles and traitours for the fynal de-
struction of this lande as is aforesaid. And oure sayde
soverayn Lord, as awelewilled, diligent, and couragious
Prince wol put his royal persone to all . . . . .
and payne necessarie in this behalve for the resistence
and subdueing of his said ennemyes, Tebelles and
traitours to the moost comfort, wele, and suertie of
all his true and feithfull liegemen and subgiettes ;
and over this oure said soverayn Lorde willeth and
comaundedi all his said subgietts to be redy in their
moost defensible arraye, to doo his Highnesse service
of Werre, whan they by open proclamation or other-
wise shall be commanded so to do forthe resistence of
the Kings said rebells, traitours, and enemyes." And
thise oure Lettres shall be your suflBcient waarant in
that behalve,

Yeven under pure Signet, at oure Castell of Not-
yngham, the xxi day of Juyn the secund yere of our
reigne.

To the right reverend fader in God
our right trusty and right welheloved
the Bisshop of Lincoln our Chaun-
cellour of England.

Anothek Letter to the Bishop, directing a similar Prpdaination to
be prepared, dated December 3d in the same year, occurs in the Harleian
Manuscript 433. fol. 273 b.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 167

LETTER LV.

King Henry the Seventh to the Lord Dynham and
Sir Reginald Bray, concerning money to be pro-
videdjbr two of his Ambassadors.

[ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 4617* art, 42.]

*»• This, and the four Letters which follow, are Privy Seals of King
Henry the Seventh.

This concerns the Embassy of Sir Edward Poynings and Dr. Warham
to the Court of Burgundy, and gives us a sample, in one passage, of the
King*s economy.

The next orders the payment of the charges and expenses of certain
Scottish Ambassadors during their abode in England.

The third and fourth, in the sixth, year of his reign, concern the wages
of the persons to whose care his infant children were intrusted.

The fifth, among other rewards, directs ten pounds to be given to two
Spaniards, who brought over from Ferdinand and Isabella certain female
Moors, '' Women ^ Saracens," as they are called, apparently for the
King^s inspection. Stowe tells us, in his Annals, of another exhibition
to King Henry the Seventh, of the same kind, in 1502, of three men who
had been brought from the new discovered islands in America by Se-
bastian Cabot.*

By the King;

XI. £V.

Right trusty and welbeloved, and trusty and right
welbeloved, We grete you wel. And in asmoche as
we have appointed our ful trusty servants Sir Ed-
ward Ponyngs and Doctor William Warham oure
Counseillors, to goo on oure Ambassad to oure cousin

*■ Stovvcj Annales, edit. 1631. p. 483.

168 OEIGINAL LETTEES.

th'Archeduc of Burgoine, it behoveth theym to have
for their costs : and therfor We have appointed, for the
said Sir Edward, thre pound by the day whiles he
shall be absent, the rekenyng of the day to begyne at
his departing out of oure Citie of London to the see^
ward ; and to have in hand and redy money for thirty
dayes, which amounteth to the some of foure score and
ten poundes sterlings.* And the said Doctor William,
twenty shillings by the day after the same rekenyng,
and to have for thritty dayes thritty poundes in hand.
And soo in caas they be languer in our Ambassad,
then XXX. dayes, that then they have their allowances
and payments after the rate of the dayes and iommes
abovesaid. Understanding of the same Doctor War-
ham where the money iSy that was appointedjbr hym
when he shulde last have goon unto our said Cousin^
and did not : and theruppon to deale with hym as the
caas shall require* But howe soever ye doo, see ye
that they be despeched accordingly as it is abovesaid,
and that without tarying or delay ; as oure very trust
is in you. Yeven undre oure Signet at oure Castel of
Kenelworth the v^^ day of July.

To our right trusty and wel-
beloved the Lord Dynham oure
Tresourer of England, and our
trusty and right welbeloved knight
for our body Sir Raynold Bray
chancellor of our Duchie of Lan-
castre, our Counseiliours.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 169

LETTER LVI.

King Henry the Seventh to the Under-Treasurer of
Englandy concerning the charges of the Scottish
ambassadors.

[ms. i]|onat. BRIT. Mus. 4617* art. J6,from brev. hen. vii. an.. . n. 5.]

By the King.
H. R.

Trusty and right welbeloved we grete you wele,

and wol and charge you that incontment, aftre the

sight herof and by vertue of the same, ye delivre to the

hands of cure trusty and welbeloved squier William

Fyssher, Cofferer of oure Houshold, the summe of

twenty thre pounds four shillings and ten pens sterlings,

to thentent that he with the same may content and sa-

tisfie the charges and expenses of the Ambassadours of

Scotland during their abode here, according to oure

appoinctement in that behalve. And wee shal see that

a^ongs other things ye shal have due and juste allow-

aunce of the said summe as right and reason require.

And therfore faille ye not herof as we specially trust

you. Yeven undre oure Signet at oure manoir of

Shene the xxiij day of Marche.

To oure trusty and right wel-
beloved Counsaillour, Robert Lit-
ton our Undre-treasourer of Eng-
*land.

170 OttlGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LVII.

King Henry the Seventh to tlie Treasurer and Cham-
herlains of his Exchequer ^Jbr the payment of money
to Persons attendcmt on his son Prince Arthur*

[ms. donat. BRIT. MU8. 461 7* ait 108./rom brev. hek.vii. an. 6. n. 26.]

Henry by the grace of God King of Englond and
of Fraunce, and Lord of Irknd, to the Tresourer and
Chambrelains of our l^schequier greting. For as-
moche as the summe of twenty markes sterlings resteth
due unto oure dere and welbeloved dame Elizabeth
Darcy lady maistres unto oure derest Son the Prince,
and fyve markes sterlinges unto oure welbeloved
Agnes Butler and Emlyn Hobbes rokkers of oure
said Son, that is to say to every of theim xxxiij. s. iiij. d.
for their wages of the half yere ended at Estre last
passed ; We, willing their spedy contentacion in that
behalve, wol and charge you that of oure Tresour being
in your warde ye content and paye unto theim, or to
their deputie in their names, the summes aforsaid, with-
oute any prest or charge setting upon theim or any of
theim for the same, and thies oure letters shal be your
Warraunt. Yeven undre oure Prive Seel at oure ma-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 171

noir of Grenewiche, the xxvij^^^ day of May the sexte
Yere of oure Reigne.

BELL.

. .The same Volume which contams this Letter, preserves another, art
-41, from Brev. 1 Hen. VII. n. 10. directing an annuity of twenty
pounds a year to he granted to Philip ap Howel, and Jane hit wife
" sumtyme oua Nobice."

LETTER LVIII.

King Henry the Seventh to the Treasurer and Cham-
berlains of his Exchequer J for payment ofmxmey to
tlie Attendants on the Lady Margaret,

[ms. donat. brI/T. mus. 4617. art 90, from bbev. hen. vii. an. 6. n. 30.]

Henry by the grace of God King of England and
of Fraunce, and Lord of Irland, to the Tresourer and
Chamberlains of our Eschequier, greting.

. Wher ther is due unto our welbelovede Alice Davi,
norce to our derrist beloved doughter the lady Mar-
garete, the summe of fyve pounds ; to Anne Maylande
thirty thre shillings and four pens, to Margarete Trough-
ton thirty thre shillings and four pens, rockers to the
same our daughter ; and to Alice By wymble, hir day
wife, thirty thre shillings and four pens ; amounting in
all to the sumc of ten pounds by reason of their wages

17^ ORIGINAL LETTERS.

for an half yere ended the xxij ^ day of the moneth of
May last past, whiche we have appointed to be paied
by your handes. We, desiring them to have hasty con-
tentation of their wages aforesaid, woll and charge yow
that furthwith upon the sight herof, ye, of suche our
tresour as remaigneth in your keping, deliver to the
bearer of thies presents to their behouf, the said summe
of ten pounds and every parcell therof, without any
prest or othre charge to be sette upon theim or any of
theim in that partie. And thies our Letters shalbe
your sufRsaunt warrant and discharge in that behalve.
Yeven undre our prive Seel at our manoir of Grene-
wichc, the xxix^'i day of Juyn the sixt yere of our
rcigne.

N. PURDE.

LETTER LIX.

King Henry the Vlltli to the Treasurer and Cham-
berlains of the Exchequer^ Jbr various payments,
^.2>. 1491.

[ms. donat. 4617. art. 98. /row brev. hen. vii. au. 6. n. 36.]

Henry by the grace of God king of Englond and
of Fraunce, and Lorde of Irlande, to the Tresourer
and Chambrelains of our Eschcquier grcting.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 173

We wol and charge you that of oure tresour, resting
in your warde, ye deliver unto the personnes herein-
named thies summes of money herafter folowing.
Furst, unto Loveles of Calays the. summe of ten
markes: item, to two Spaignards, servantes to oure
cousin the king of Romaynes, the summe of xl.
markes : item, to a Spaignard, that brought the women
Sarrasynes unto us from oure cousines the King and
Queue of Spaigne, the sume of ten pounds : item, to
the servants of Piers Eggecombe that brought unto
us two prisoners, fyve markes : withoute prest or other
charge to be sette uppon theim, or any of theim, for
the same. And thies our Letters shalbe your warrant
and sufHsaunt discharge anempts Us at all tymes in this
partie. Yeven undre our prive Seel at oure manoir
of Grenewiche the xi*^^^ day of Juyll the sext yere of
oure reigne.

N. PURDE.

It would have gratified the editor of these Volumes, could he have
discovered any Letters of Henry the Eighth written during his younger
years while Prince: hut the search for these has heen fruitless. These
is one, however, preserved among the Latin Letters written to Erasmus,
upon a suhject which did his feelings honor, and which the reader will
prohahly not dislike to see transplanted here.

Philip King of Castile, in the beginning of 1506, going with his
Queen from the Netherlands to take possession of their Throne, was
driven by a storm to England ; where, during a residence of three months
Henry the Seventh endeavoured to obtain favourable concessions from him,
whilst the Prince established a friendship which was thought likely to be
lasting ; '^ but Philip died, soon after his arrival in Spain, of a fever, Sept.

* A Narrative of King Philip's entertainment by King Henry the Seventh* at
Windsor, when he was invested with the Order of the Garter, is preserved in the
Cottouian MS. Vespasian C. xii. with copies of the Treaties which the two Sovereigns
entered into.

174 • ORIGINAL LETTERS.

IS*** 1506. A short time after, the following Letter was addressed to
Erasmus by Prince Henry ; in the latter part of which he has deplored
the death of Philip, to use Erasmus's own words, " non minus amanter
quam eleganter,^*

" PaiNCEPS HeNRICUS DeS. EraSMO VIRO UNDECUNdXTE DOCTIS-

SIMO, S.

'.' Jesus est Spes mea,

" Tuis plurimum sum litteri^ affectus, disertissime Erasme, quippe
quae et venustiores sunt quam ut raptim videantur exaratae, et luddse
simplicesque magis quam quae ab ingenio tam solerti prsemeditatae judi-
centur. Fit enim, nescio quo pacto, ut quae ab ingeniosis elaborata, de-
ditiore depromuntur opera, plus pariter afiectatae secum afferant difficulta-
tis: nam dum tersiori studemus eloquio, subterfugit nos danculum
apertus ille darusque dicendi modus. Sed tua isthsec Epistola quantum
yenustate poUet, tantum etiam sua perspicuitate liquet, ut prorsus omne
punctum tulisse videaris. Sed quid ego tuam laudare paro facundiam,
cujus per totum terrarum orbem est nobilitata scientia? Nihil queo
equideifi in tuam laudem effingere, quod tam consummata isthaec erudi-
tione satis dignum sit. Quare tuas laudes omitto, de quibus sileie satius
puto quam nimis parce dicere.

" Rumorem illimi de morte Castellani Regis, mei fratris penitus pe-
nitusque desideratissimi, longe antequam ex tuis litteris oppido invitus
acceperam : sed eum utinam aut serius multo aut minus verum ad nos
fama tulisset ! Nunquam ^m, post charissimae genitricis mortem, nun.
tius hue venit invisior : et parcius, ut verum fatear^ huic litterarum parti
iiavebam, quam earum singularis postulabat el^antia, quod cicatricem,
cui caUum tempus obduxerat, reMcare visa est. Verum quas superis
sunt visa, mortalibus rata haberi fas est. Tu vero perge, eaque nobis
litteris significa si qua sunt istic nova, sed jucundiora. Deos fortunet
quaecunque memoratu digna acciderint Vale. Ex Richemundia, 17
Januarii."»

* Erasmi Epist. fol. Lugd. Bat. 1T01. Pars ii. -epist. ccccIL col. 1840* This is
usually considered the best edition of the Letters of Erasmus : but it is right to
caution the Engli^ reader that the dates of such Letters as refer to English Literature
and History are not always to be relied upon. A Letter, for instanbe« which describes
the accession of Henry the Vlllth. has the date of 1497 ; while another in which the
name of bishop Latimer occurs has the date of 1617.

LETTERS

THE REIGN OF

HENRY THE EIGHTH.

LoBO Hebbebt, quoting the History of the Council of Trent re-
specting Henry the Eighth, says *•*• his education was accurate, being
destined to the archbishoprick of Canterbury, during the life of his elder
brother Prince Arthur ; that prudent King his father choosing this as
the most cheap and glorious way for bestowing of a younger son. For
as he at once disburthened his revenues and the public from the charge
incident to so great a person, so he left a passage open to ambition ;
especially ever since Eugenius the IVth. had declared the place of a
Cardinal above all other in the Church."

The theological part of Henry*s education, was, no doubt, serviceable
to him in the changes of a later period ; but the reader will be astonished
to learn that it had its effect at an earlier time than is usually supposed.
The Cottonian manuscript Tiberius E. viii. contains the Ceremonial
for his Coronation, prefixed to which is the Oath of the Sovereign altered
and interlined by his own hand ; one part especially indicating that
Henry looked to something like supremacy in the Church of England,
at the very outset of his reign.

The following is the Oath in its original form :

'' The Othe of the Kings Highnes.

'^ This is the Othe that the King shall swere at his Coronation, that
he shall kepe and mayntene the right and the liberties of Holie Churche
of old t3na[ie graunted by the rightuous Cristen Kings of England : and
that he shall kepe all the londs, honours, and dignytees rightuous and
ire of the Crowne of England in aU maner hole, without any maner of
mynysshement ; and the rights of the Cro¥me, hurte, decayed, or lost,
to his power shall call agayn into the auncyent astate ; and that he shall
kepe the peax of the Holie Churche, and of the Clergie, and of the
People, with good accorde; and that he shall do in his judgements
equytee and right justice, with discretion and mercye ; and that he shall
graunte to holde the Lawes and Customes of the Realme, and to his
power kepe them and affirme them which the folk and people have made
and chosen ; and the evill Lawes and Customes hollie to put out ; and
stedfaste and stable peax to die people of his Realme kepe, and cause to
be kept to his power."

The Oath, as altered, stands thus :

^^ The Othe of the Bangs Highnes at every Cormaiion,

'' The King shall t?ien swere that he shall kepe and mayntene the-
lawfull right and the libertees of old tyme graunted by the ryghtuous
Cristen Kings of Englond to the holy Chibche off Ingland nott
prejudyciaU to hys JurysdyctUm and Dignite ryaU^ and that he shall
kepe all the londs, honours, and dignytees rightuous, and fredonunes of
the Crowne of Englond in all maner hole, without any maner of

mynysshement, and the rights of the Crowne hurte, decayed, or lost, to
his power shall call agayn into the auncyent astate ; and that he shall
indevore hymselfe to kepe Unite in hU Gleugye and temporell tub-
jectt; and that he shall accordyng to his consiens in aU his judgements
mynystere equ3rtie, right, and justice, shewyng wher is to be shewyd
mercy; and that he shall graunte to hold the lawes and approvyd cus-
tomes of the Reahne, and lawfuU and nott prejudidall to hys Crowne or
ImperiaU duty, to his power kepe them and affiime them which the
noblys and people have made and chosen with his consent ; and the evill
Lawes and Customes hoUie to put out ; and stedfaste and stable peax ^
the people of his realme kepe and cause to be kept to his power, in that
whych honour and equite do require.**

A Fac Simile of this Oath, with the King's interlineations as they
stand in the manuscript, forms the Frontispiece to the present Volume.

Jt is probably not unknown to most of the readers of this Work, that
whenever the Council of the Senate of Venice sent an ambassador to a
foreign Country, in former times, they ordered him to study and report
to them upon the circumstances of the State to which he was sent,' its
geographical condition, population, wealth, and various relations ; with
all that he could learn of the personal characters, not only of the Sovereign
but of the principal members of his Court. <^

The following was the description which Sebastiano Giustiniani, the
Venetian resident in England in 1519, gave to the Council of the Pre-
gati, of the person and manners of King Henry the Eighth.

'^ His Majesty is about twenty-nine years of age, as handsome as
nature could form him, above any other Christian Prince ; handsomer
by far than the King of France. He is exceeding fair ; and as well pro-
portioned in every part as is possible. When he learned that the King
of France wore a beard, he allowed his also to grow ; which being some-
what red, has at present the appearance of being of gold. He is an ex.
cellent musician and composer; an admirable horseman and wrestler.
He possesses a good knowledge of the French, Latin, and Spanish lan-
guages ; and is very devout. On the days in which he goes to the chace, he
hears mass three times ; but on other days he goes as often as five times.
He has every d^ service in the Queen's chamber at vespers and com-
pline. He is uncommonly fond of the chace, and never indulges in this
diversion without tiring eight or ten horses. These he has stationed at the
different places where he purposes to stop. When one is fatigued, he
mounts another ; and, by the time he returns home, they have all been
used. He takes great delight in bowling, and it is the pleasantest sight

» See Foscarini deUa Letteratura Veneziaiuij p. 460. n. t98.
VOL. I. 5ER. 2. N

in the world to see him engaged in this excercise, with his fair skin
covered with a beautifully fine shirt He plays with the hostages of
France, and it is said that they sport from six to eight thousand ducats
in a day.* Affable and benign, lie offends no one. He has often said to
the Ambassador, he wished that every one was content with his condi-
tion. ' We are content with our Islands.' He is very desirous of pre-
serving peace ; and possesses great wealth." ^

This seems the Character to which Henry the Eighth was really inti-
tled in his earlier years ; and it is corroborated no where more frequently
than in the Letters of Erasmus and his friends. The business of the
Divorce seems to have first roused the more angry passions of his nature.
Wolsey perceived, and felt them, as we learn from the description of his
Master which he gave, in his last moments, to Sir William Kyngeston.
^^ He is sure a Prince of a royal courage, and hath a princely heart ; and
rather dian he will either^ miss or want any part of his will or appetite,
he will put the loss of one half of his realm in danger. For I assure jou
I have often kneeled before hkn in his privy chamber on my knees, the
space of an hour or two, to persuade him from his will and appetite : but
I could never bring to pass to dissuade him therefrom. Therefore, Mas-
ter Kingston, if it diance hereafter you to be one of his privy counseU, as
for your wisdom and other qualities ye are meet to be, J warn you to be
well advised and assured what matter ye put in his head, for ye shall
never put it out again.'* *^

Erasmus has comprised the state of England under Henry's dominion,
six years later, in a single sentence. '^ In Anglia omnes aut mo&s susm
tuHty aut METUS contraxiV^^

* It is not impossible but that Lord Herbert may allude to this very dicumstance.
Speaking of Henry's various Exercises he says, " Together with these he used some-
times Tennis and Dice ; at which certain Strangers used to play with him ; till finding
their cheatings, at length he chased them away." Hist, of Henry VIII*. p. IS.

b Compendio della Relation de cl>>». Sebastian! Giustiniano proc. e cavalier ddUa
L^ation d'Inghilterra, havuta nel Consiglio de Pr^atis alii x. Octohre, lfil9. Th«
original was communicated to the editor by B. H. Bright, Esq.

e Cavend. Life of Wolsey, Singer's edit. vol. i. p. S2l.

* Erasmi Epist Lugd. Bat. fol.lTOS. torn. ii. col. 1519.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 179

LETTER LX.

Answer to the Challenge of the Four KnightSy cut the
JiLSts held in honor of the birth of a Prince^ in 1511.

[cart. harl. aktiq. 83 h. 1.]

*^* Hall the chronicler has been remaikably minute upon the re*
joidngs which took place on New Year*s Day 1511, when Katherine of
Airagon produced a Prince to Henry the Eighth. Having described the
pigeant which was devised upon the feast of the Epiphany following,
Hall says,

^' Shortly after, and before the Queen's churching, the King rode to
Walsingham. The Queen being churdied or purified, the King and
she removed from Richmond to Westminster, where was preparation for
a solenm Justs in the honor of the Queen, the King being one, and with
him three aids : His Grace being called Cure loial^ the Lord William
Earl of Devonshire called Bon voloire. Sir Thomas Knevet named Bon
espoir. Sir Edward Nevil called Valtaunt desire^ whose names were set
UPON A GOODLY TABLE, and the table hanged in a tree curiously
wrought, and they were called Let quater Chivalert de la Forrest
Salvigne ; these four to run at the tilt against all conmiers ; with other
certain Articles comprised in the said Table/'

The Table here described is in reality the present Letter. It is pre-
served among the Harleian Charters, and is on vellum ; on the left ^de,
rising from the lower comer, a green tree is represented, ornamented
alternately with roses and pomegranates; upon which, one above an-
other, hang the Shields of the Bang and his Aids. The first or upper-
most is the King's, it bears a heart and the letter L in gold joined by a
true-love knot, upon a field gules and azure quarterly, for Coeur loiaL
The second shield, azure, bears the letters V. D. joined by another knot
in gold ; this was Sir Edward Neville's. The third, the Earl of Devon.
shire's, has B. V. and the knot in gold. The fourth. Sir Thomas Kne-
vet's, has J. P. and the knot ; Joyous panser being substituted in the
actual Tablet, for Hall's Bon espoir. The Signatures of the King, and
of the answerers of these Justs appear at the bottom, in their own hands-
writing. Wlien Hall speaks of the names of thes? knights as ^^ set upon

180 OJliaiNAL LETTERS.

a goodly Table, and the Table hanged in a Tree," he alludes to the
Ornaments round this Letter. The plaster, which still adheres to the
back, indicates it to have been fixed against the wall at the entrance of
the Lists.

Be it knowen to all men, that whereas certaine Let-
ters have bene sent and directed unto the moost high
noble and excellent princesse the Quene of England
and of Fraunce, from her right dere and best beloved
cousyn Noble Renome Quene of the Royalme named
Ceure noble, having knowledge of the good and gra-
cious fortune of the byrthe of a YONG PRYNCE that
it hath pleased God to send to her and to her make ; *
which is the moost joye and comfort that mought be
to her and to the moost renomed Royalme of England;
considering the vailliantenes, vertues, and expert no-
bles, ^ which highly aboundeth in her moost derest
cousyn the King of the same, hath sent iiij knyghtes
borne in the Roialme of Ceure noble, whose names
foloweth ; that is to say, Ceure loyally VaUiaimt de-
syre, Bofie vaJoyr, and Joyou9 panser, to accomplishes
certaine feats of Armes, which at the instaunce and
desire of the said Princesse hath goten and opteyned of
the King our soverain lord licence to fumysshe and
accomplishe thise Articles folowing.

And forasmoche as, after the order and honor of
Armes, it is not lefuU for any man to enterprise armes
in soo high a presence withoute his stokke and name

> husband. ^ noblesse.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 181

be of nobles descended; in consideracion, thise iiij
Knightes be of soo ferre and straunge parties, they shall
present theymself with theyr names portered^ in theyr
shyldes.

Item, thise iiij Knightes shall present themself in the
feld at the palays of Richemount, or elleswhere it shall
pleas the Kinges grace, at the tyme of Candelmas next
or nigh therupon, in barneys for the Tylte, withoute
tache or breket, wolant pece on the hede, rondell on
the garde, reste of advantage, fraude, deceyt, or any
other malengyne.

Item to every Comer shalbe ronne syx courses, pro-
vided alwey, if the comers be of soo grete nomber
that they cannot resonably be answered for one day,
it shall be lefull for the iiij chalengers to enter the
felde the seconde daye, and soo to answer all the comers
to the full nomber, be served of suche as be noble of
name or of armes and withoute reproche.

Item, all speres to be garnished and brought to the
felde at the provision and charges of the Chalengers,
of the which speres the answerers alweys to have the
choyce.

Item, if it happe any man, as God defend, to' kyll his
felowes horse by wey of foule ronnyng, he shalbe
bounde that soo doth to gyve the hors that he rydeth
on to his felowe, or the price of the horse soo kylled,
at the discrecion of the Juges.-

• pourtrayed.

182 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Item, who stryketh his felowe beneth the waste, or
in the sadell, with full course, by wey of foule ron-
^y^gy ^^ shalbe disallowed of ij speres before well
broken.

Item, who striketh his felowe uncharged and disgar-
nysshed of his spere, shalbe disallowed at the discre-
don of the Juges.

Item, who breketh his spere above the chamell to
be allowed ij speres well broken, after the olde cus-
tume of Armes.

Item, who breketh his spere morne to mome, to be
allowed iij speres after the custume of Armes.

Item, who breketh moost speres is worth the pryse.

Item, who striketh doun hors and man is better
worth the prise.

Item, who striketh his felowe clene oute of the sadell,
is best worth the pryse.

Item, if any gentilman chalenger, or defender, br^ke
a staff on the tylt, to be disallowed a staffe.

Item, it is the pleasure of the King our moost dradde
Soverain Lord, that the Quenes grace and the ladies,
with the advice of the noble & discrete Juges, to gyve
prises after their deservynges unto both the parties.

Item, that every gentilman answerer doo subscribe
his name to the Articles.

Item, it is the humble request of thise iiij Gentilmen,
that if in theyr articles be comprised more or lassc
then honnor or curtesi requireth, ever to submytte

ORIGINAL LKTTEES.

183

them to the Quene and the Ladies, and they alweys to
adde and mynysshe at theyr noble pleasures.

At Westminster the xij^** day of February the ij^e
yere of our Soverain Lord King Henry the eight.

HENfiY a.

The fiiTSt daye.

Rychard de Gray,
Thomas Cheyny,
William Par,
Robert Morton,
Richard Blunt,
Thomas Tyrell,
S^ Rowland,
Cristoffer Wyloughby

The ijde. daye.

Thomas Howard Charles Brandon

Henry Stafford erll of A/VTiyllsyre Edmund Howard

Loenard Graey
Lord Marquis. John Grey Ric. Tempest

S' Thomas Boleyn. Henry Guilford Thomas Lucy
John Melton Gr3rfFyth Don.

Hall's Description of the Pageants thus devised for the 12^^ and IS***
of February 1511, are singularly characteristic of the feats of Arms whidi
marked these days of Ghivaky.

*' A place in tiie Palace was prepared for the King and also the Queen,

I <■ —

184 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS.

richly hanged, the inner part with doth of gold, and the outer with rich
doth of arras. These Justs began the 13^^ day of February. After
that, that the Queen with her train of ladies had taken their places, into
the palace was conveyed a pageant of a great quantity, made like a foiest,
with rocks, hills, and dales, with divers sundry trees, flowers, hawthorns,
fern, and grass, with six foresters standing within the same forest, gar-
nished in coats and hoods of green vdvet, by whom lay a great number
of spears. All the trees, herbs, and flowers of the same forest were made
of green vdvet, green damask, and silk of divers colours, satin and
sarcenet. In the midst of this forest was a Castle standing, made of
gold, and before the castle-gate sat a gentleman freshly appardled,
making a garland of roses for the prize. This forest was drawn as it
were by strength of two great beasts, a lion and an antebpe; the lion
flourished all over with damask gold, the antelope was wrought all over
with silver of damask, his beams or homes and tusks of gold : these
beasts were led with certain men apparelled like wild men, or wood,
houses, their bodies, heads, faces, hands, and legs, covered with green
silk flushed. On dther of the said antdope and lion sat a lady richly
apparelled : the beasts were tied to the pageant with great chains of gold,
as horses be in the cart. When the pageant rested before the Queen, the
forenamed foresters blew their horns. Then the device or pageant opened
on all sides, and out issued the foresaid four knights, armed at all pieces,
every of them a spear in his hand on horseback, with great plumes <m
their heads, their basses and trappers of doth of gold, every of them his
name embroidered on his basse and trapper. On the other part with great
noise, as well of trumpets as of drums, entered into the fldd the ead of
Bssex, the lord Thomas Howarde, with many other dean armed, their
trappers and basses all of crimson satin embroidered with branches of
pomegranates of gold, and posies, with many a fresh gentleman riding
before them, their footmen also wdl appardled : and so the Justs began,
and endured all that day.

^' The morrow, being the 13^^ day of February, after dinner, at time
convenient, the Queen with the ladies repaired to see the Justs; the
trumpets blew up, and in came many a nobleman-and gentleman richly
apparelled, taking up their horses; after whom followed certain lords
apparelled, they and their horses, in cloth of gold and russet tinsd;
ktiights in doth of gold and russet vdvet ; and a great number of gentle-
men on foot, in russet satin and yellow ; and yeomen in russet damask
and ydlow : all the nether part of every man*s hose scarlet ; and ydlow
caps. Then came the King under a pavilion of doth of gold and purple
vdvet embroidered, and powdered with H. and K, of flne gold ; the
compass of the pavilion above embroidered richly, and valanced with flat
gold, beaten in wire ; with an imperial crown in the top of fine gold ; bis

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 185

basses and trapper of doth of gold fretted with damask gold, the trapper
pendant to the tail ; a crane and chafron of steel ; in the front of the
chafiron was a goodly plume set full of musers or tremhling spangles of
gold. After followed his three aids, eyery of them under a pavilion of
crimson damask and purple, powdered with H. and K. of fine gold, ya-
lanced and fringed with gold of damask : on the top of every pavilion a
great K. of goldsmith's work. The numher of the gentlemen and yeomen
attendant a foot, apparelled in russet and yellow, was a hundred and
sixty-eight Then next these pavilions came twelve children of honor,
sitting every of them on a great courser, richly trapped and emhroidered
in several devices and fashions ; where lacked neither hroidery nor gold-
smith's work, so that every child and horse, in device and fashion, was
contrary to other, which was goodly 'to hehold.

'^ Then, on the counter part, entered Sir Charles Brandon, first on horse-
back, in a long robe of russet satin, like a recluse or a religious person,
and his horse trapped in the same suit ; without drum or noise of min-
strelsy ; putting a bill of petition to the Queen, the effect whereof was,
that if it would please her to licence him to run in her presence, he would
do it gladly ; and if not, then he would depart as he came. After that
his request was granted, then he put off his said habit, and was armed at
all pieces, with rich basses, and horse also richly trapped ; and so did run
his horse to the tilt end, where divers men on foot apparelled in laisset
satin awaited on him. Next after came in alone young Henry Guilford,
esquire, himself and his horse in russet doth of gold and doth of silver,
dosed in a device, or a pageant made like a castle or a turret, wrought of
russet sarcenet fiorence, wrought, and set out in gold with his word or
posey ; and all his men in russet satin and white, with hose to the same,
and their bonnets of like colours ; demanding also licence of the Queen
to run, which to him granted, took place at the end of the tilt Then
came next the Marquis Dorset and Sir Thomas Boleyn, like two pilgrims
from Saint James, in tabards of black vdvet, with palmers' hats on their
helmets, with long Jacob's staves in their hands, their horse trappers of
black vdvet, their tabards, hats, and trappers set with scollop shells of
fine gold and stripes of black vdvet, every stripe set with a scollop shdl ;
their servants all \A black satin, with scollop shells of gold in their
breasts. Soon after came in the lord Henry of Buckingham earl of
Wiltshire ; himself and his horse apparelled iii doth of silver, embroi-
dered with a posey, or his word, and arrows of gold in a posey, called La
maison du refuge^ made of crimson damask, broidered with roses and
arrows of gold ; on the top a greyhound of silver, bearing a tree of pome-
granates of gold ; the branches thereof were so large that it overspread
tlie pageant in all parts. Then entered Sir Giles Gapdl, Sir Rowland,
with many other knights, richly armed and apparelled. And thus began

lA ■*■ ^**c ■; *.

186 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

the Justs, which was valiantly achieved by the King and his aids, among
whom his Grace attained the prize. These Justs finished, every man
withdrew, the King was disarmed, and at time convenient he and the
Queen heard even.song ; and that night all the Ambassadors supped with
the King, and had a great banquet. After supper, his Grace with the
Queen, lords, and ladies, came into the White Hall, within the said
palace, which was hanged richly ; the Hall was scaffolded and railed on
all parts. There was an interlude of the gentlemen of his chapel before
his Grace, and divers fresh songs : that done, his Grace called to him a
great man, or a lord of Ireland called Odonell, whom in the presence of
the said ambassadors, he made knight : then the minstrels began to play,
the lords and ladies began to dance.

" And in the most of this pastime, when all persons were most attentive
to behold the dancing, the Eing was suddenly gone unknown to the most
part of the people there, unless it were of the Queen and of certain other.
Within a little while after his departing, the trumpets at the end of the
Hall began to blow. Then was there a device or a pageant upon wheels
brought in, out of the which pageant issued out a gentleman richly ap-
parelled, that showed, how in a garden of pleasure there was an arbouf
of gold, wherein were lords and ladies, much desirous to show pleasure
and pastime to the Queen and ladies, if they might be licensed so to do;
who was answered by the Queen, how she and all other there were very
desirous to see them and their pastime. Then a great doth of arras that
did hang before the same pageant was taken away, and the pageant
brought more near: it was curiously made and pleasant to behold : it was
solemn and rich, for every post or pillar thereof was covered with frise
gold : therein were trees of hawthorn, eglantines, rosiers, vines, and other
pleasant flowers of divers colours, wiUi gillofers, and other herbs, all
made of satin, damask, silk, silver, and gold, accordingly as the natural
trees, herbs, or flowers ought to be. In whidi arbour were six ladies, all
apparelled in white satin and green, set and embroidered ftill of H. and K.
of gold, knit together with laces of gold, of damask; and aU their gar-
ments were replenished with glittering spangles gilt over. On their heads
were bonnets all opened at the four quarters, overfrised with flat gold of
damask ; the orrellettes were of rolls wreathed on lampas douck hollow,
80 that the gold showed through the lampas douck; the fassis of their
head set full of new devised fashions. In this garden, also, was the
King, and five with him, apparelled in garments of purple satin, all of
cuts with H. and K. every edge gandshed with frised gold, and every
garment full of posies, made of letters of fine gold in bullion, as thick as
they might be, and every person had his name in like letters o£ massy
gold. The first Cuer loyall; the second Bone volure ; in the third Botie
sspoier ; the fourth Valyaunt desyrc ; the fifth Bonefoy ; the sixth Anwure

OETGINAL LETTERS. 187

loyall. Their hose, caps, and coats, were full of posies and H. and K. of
fine gold in bullion, so that the ground could scarce appear, and yet was
in every void place spangles of gold. When time was come, the said
pageant was brought forth into presence, and then descended a lord and
a lady by couples, and then the minstrels, which were disguised, also
danced, and the lords and ladies danced, that it was a pleasure to behold.
'^ In the mean season the pageant was conveyed to the end of the place,
there to tarry till the dances werc finished, and so to have received the
lords and ladies again ; but sadicMly the rude people ran to the pageant,
and rent, tore, and spoiled the pageant, so that the Lord Steward nor
the head ofiicers could not cause them to abstain, except they should
have foughten and drawn blood ; and so was this pageant broken.

^' After the Ring and his companions had danced, he appointed the
ladies, gentlewomen, and the ambassadors to take the letters of their
garments in token of liberality, which thing the common people per-
ceiving ran to the King, and stripped him into his hose and doublet, and
all his companions in likewise. Sir Thomas Knevet stood on a stage,
and for all his defence he lost his appard. The ladies likewise were
spoiled, wherefore the king^s guard came suddenly, and put the people
back, or else as it was supposed more inconvenience had ensued. So the
King with the Queen and the ladies returned to his chamber, where they
had a great banquet, and all these hurts were turned to laughing and
game ; and thought that all that was taken away was but for honor and
largess ; and so this triumph ended with mirth and gladness. At this
banquet, a shipman of London caught certain letters which he sold to a
goldsmith for 3^ lis. 8d, by reason whereof it appeared that the garments
were of a great value.

^ After this great joy came sorrowful change, for the young Frincey
which was bom upon new year's day last past, upon the 22d day of
February, being then the even of Saint Matthew, departed this world at
Richmond ; and firom thence was carried to Westminster^ and buried.*'

The original Roll of the Tournament here described, splendidly il-
luminated, is still preserved among the Manuscripts in the Herald's Col-
lege ; and is one of the most magnificent relics now remaining of its kind*
It is engraved in a reduced size in the Vetusta Monumenta of the Society
^f Antiquaries, vol. i. plates xxi. to xxvi. inclusive.

188 OKICINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXI.

Dr. William Knight to Thomas Wolsey the King^s
Almoner^ A. D. 1512, amceming. the affairs of
Navarre.

[mS. cotton. BfUS. BBIT. VESP. c. I. foL 79*» Or%g.\

•#• Katherine de Foix Queen of Navarre was married to John d' Al-
bert Count de Perigord, Limoges, and Dreux, in the month of June
1484 ; he, as her husband, being allowed to reign in her right.

John d' Albert, however, embroiled his country in the quarrels of
France and Castile, till, in 1512, Ferdinand the Catholic, without any
declaration of war, overran his dominions in a few days ; and, having
offered terms which could not be accepted, dispossessed both him and
Katherine.

John d* Albert's queen is said to have told her husband what was per-
haps true ; that, had she been John and he Eultherike, they had lived
and died King and Queen of Navarre.

England having joined the ^' Holy League" for the extinction of
Schism and defence of the Roman Church, was, at this time, in alliance
with Spain, and allowed the conquest of Navarre, in the hope of ensuring
Tier own conquett of Guienne. Of the Army which she sent to Spain,
under the command of the Marquis of Dorset, some curious particulars
will be found in this and the ensuing Letter ; such as lead us almost to
consider it a fortunate circumstance that it was not brought into action. .
Stowe says, ^' The Englishmen, for the most part, were victualled with .
garlike, and drank hot wines, and eat hot fruits, which procured their,
blood to boil in their bodies, whereby they fell sick, and died, more than
eight hundred persons. In the end, many promises being made by the
E[ing of Spain, and none performed, the Englishmen embarked, and
landed in England in the month of December. The King of Spain
seemed to be sore discontented with their departure, affirming that if they
had tarried till the next spring, he would, in their company, have invaded
France." *

Henry the Eighth, in the Letter which he wrote from Terouenne to

■ Stowe> Ann. edit. 1631* p. 400.

ORIGINAL LETTERS* 189

James the Fourth of Scotland, the delivery of which was prevented by
the fight at Flodden, reminded hun of the fate of John d' Albert '^ And
yf the example of the King of Navarre be3mge excluded firom his royalme
for assistence gy ven to the Frenche Kinge cannot restrayne you from this
unnaturaU dealynge, we suppose ye shall have lyke assistence of the
sayde Frenche Kynge as the Kyng of Navarre hath nowe : who is a
Kynge withoute a realme, and so the Frenche Kynge peaceably suiFereth
hjm to contjrnue, whereunto good r^ard should be taken." *■

Myne especyall good Mastre, aftyr my moost her-
tiest recommendation, pleasyth it your mastership to
understand that the K3mgs armye is yet besides
Fountrabie; the Armye of the Spagniards hath takyn
Navarre, the King and the Quene beth fledd into
Bierne which is parte of the Kyngdome of Navarre,
but yt lyeth beyond the mowntaynys in playne contre
toward Fraunce. Thei write that as soone as thei have
fortified the Contre thei will joyne with oure Armye
and folow th'entreprise of Guyen. Yt was allwaiys
thowzt by the Kyng of Arragon, as he saide, that
withowte the assuraunce of Navarre we cowde not pre-
vaile in Guyen, and that he sware, as largeli as any
nobleman myzte, that all that he dyd attempte or
ymagine was for the furtheraunce of our entreprise.
His grace had sent to the archebischop of Burdeos with
many grete offers to see if he cowde wynne hym ; he
is brother unto Mons^. du Kendall, which is one of
the noblest of Gascoigne, and of them, as the Kyng
saiyth, that favorith rather oure mastyr than the
Frensh King. Item the saide King hath sent the

• HaU, Chron. edit. 1548. Hen. VIII. fol.xxxi.

190 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Prioure of Sci. Spiritus besydes the poorte of Saincte
Adrian with his bulks of Indulgence into Guyen, and
hath fownde the meanys as I herd the saide priour
saye that the bishop of Bayone, and the bishop of
Acus, which is within vij. leges of Bayone, had com-
maunded all such goostli fadyrs as shryveth, bi reason
of the forsaide Indulgens, that thei shulde shew thair
goostli Children that our holi father the Pope hath
assoyled them of their oothys made unto the Frensh
King, by reason that thei were his vassals, and avisynge
them to recognise the Kings Grace of Inglond for
their rightful! Soveraigne. And bi these meanys and
other meny, lyke the Kyngs Grace of Arragon woU
shew that he is fully mynded, with all his power and
studye, to help oure entreprise. The bishops above
namyd have laboryd to the Popis Oratoure that
he myght make intercession for them, that thei be
not deprived of thair benefices; and thei say thei
will helpe in this entreprise ; but if God gyve us the
Contre I thynke yt shal be expedient that the Kings
Grace have sum such as he may trust, and specialli
in Bayone, thoz yt be but small in valew, for, it
passyth not a thousand ducats at the moost, and here-
aftyr yt shalbe so myche the lesse worthe, because we
have destroied and burnyd mych in the Contre, bothe
contrarie to our statutes, and hynderaunce to oure
voyage.

Owre armyeJyyth contynualli idyll, and doith erthli

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 191

nothing but fede and slepe, by reason whereof cum-
my th mych inconvenience ; for late daiys ther was a
grete bend* of th'armye that schewid opynli that thei
wolde serve no more under viij^. a daye, which was
lyke to have caused grete troble in the boost ; but yt
was pacyfyed, and oon suffred deth for the same ; and
now there is many bends that say they will retume
home at Myghelmas and thei shulde dy therefore ; and
all this cummyth ex nimio otio. We practysed nevyr
sith oure cummyng how we shuld behave us in warris,
as all other men doyth, and as all that evyr I redd of
have doone, specialli when the Armye is unlernyd and
hathe not scene the feets^ of warre. We moustre
nevyr at no payment ; and of a suyrte dyvers of our
men beth slayne, and meny otherwaiyes dede, and
sum stolne away. We folow nother owre Instructions
nor Statutes ; and I see hitt rather dayli wax wurs
then amend. Meny of oure Cownsell may suffer no
cownsell, wherfor yf it wold like yow to be so good
Mastyr unto me as fynde the menys that the Kings
Grace myght be good and graciouse unto me, and that
I myht cum home, youre Mastership shulde bynde me
so mych that I shuld nevyr be able to deserve hitt.
There is no thing that moveth me to desyre this but
fere of inconvenience that may grow upon the pre-
misses, because of my dewtye and fervent love that I
ow unto the Kings Grace. I write this unto your

» band. >» feats.

19S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Mastership, beseking the same to have respecte and
regarde how ye discovyr this, for it myzt soone cost
me my life in this cumpanie. Thei have me suspecte,
because dyvers of them comynd, and I answerd as
ferre as I diirst ; allso because thei see that the Kings
Grace sent me a lettyr.

Syr, I beseke your Mastership let me know simi of
your pleasur by my servant, whom I send especialli
for the same cause ; and hereafter if itt fortune your
Mastership to write agat caute^ for I see that thei loke
in dyvers mennys lettyrs, and peraventur wold likewise
in myne if I were not present. A good meanys to
know the trowthe of suche things as is before writyn
were to gyve in commandement to John Style secretli
to write the trowthe of like things, yf he have not
doone hitt or this tyme.

Syr, I have bene syth my cummyng bothe with the
Kyng of Navarre and with the Kyng qf Castell to my
grete coost and charge, beseking your Mastership to
have me for recommendyd unto the Eyngs Grace,
whan ye shall see the tyme ; and so doyng, his Grace
shall have a faithfull servant of me, and your Master-
ship a trew bedeman during my life.

I beseke your Mastership excuse me to my Lord of
Wynchester, that I write not unto hym at this tyme.
Youre Mastership may comunycat with his Lordsliip
asmooche of my lettyr as shall be your pleasur. We
have had lettyrs after the premisses writyn from the

ORIGINAL LETTERS^ 193

Kyng of Arragon which shew^th that the Kyng of
Navarre hath fully offerd hymself to abyde svicho
bonds as the King of Arragon will demaunde.

And he demaundeth to have all the townys and
castell and full governaunce of Navarre tyll suche
tyme as Gascoigne and Guyen beth coriqueryd. Allsp
that suche lands and possessions as hath bene with-
holden in tymys past from the Lord Mareshall of Na-
varre, item from the Erie of Saincte Stephans and
the Lord John Beaumont, be fully restoryd. Item
that for the assuraunce of the premisses the Prince of
Navarre be delyvred unto the Kings grace of Arragon.
Item that yf the Kyng of Navarre ayde or help the
Frenshmen in doyng any displeasur against the Realme
of Arragon, with his subgetts of Bieme, directe aut in-
directe, sentiet etjhtebitur se, Itajadendoy inddisse in
crimen lesce Majestatis.

These bethe the Articles that the Kyng of Arragon
demaundeth of the King of Navarre ; the which if he
agre unto, we shall immediatli goo to Bayone ; yf noo,
as soone as the Duke hath taken Allambure, Maya,
and Saincte Jhoan au pie de la porte, which beth iij
fortressis of Navarre upon the Frensh syde, then im-
mediatli wee shall joyne.

These premisses moost be pondred by the Kings
Grace and his moost noble Cownsell. A grete parte
pf oure cownsell taketh this delyng impacientli, but

VOL. I. SER. 2. o

194 OftlCIKAL LETTERS.

what shall be expedient yt moost be determjmed with
yow.

Syr, I beseke your Mastership remembre my pe-
tition before, yf ye love me, as my trust is. Jhon
Style shewith me that he writeth meny things at this
tyme very plainly and expedient to be knowen. Thus
the blessed Trynyte preserve your Mastership From
Founterabie the v*^. of August.

Your faithful] and assured to the
uttermoost of his power

WILLIAM KNYGHTE.

To the right honorable M.
Thomas Wolcy Almonere to the
Kings Grace of £nglond.

LETTER LXII.

Dr. William Knight to Thomas Wcisey the Kvn^^
Almoner. A. D. 1612. ' Further advices front
Navarre.

[ms. cotton, vesf. c. I. foL 81; Orig.}

Myne especiall good Mastre after my moost faertiesi
recommendacions, pleasith it your good Mastership to
understand that the xxviij*. of August yt was rea-
sonyd in owre Cownsell who were moost expedioit to

OHIGINAT. LETTERS. 195

be sent unto the "Kings grace to excuse oure retoure
into In^nd : Where my Lord Marquise and all the
Lords mynded William Kyngstoon and me to go, but
S^ William Sands and a few of his secte were in the
contrarie opynyon of me ; and this was his reason ; he
saide yt was not unknowen to them all that your
Mastership was the ^ownde of all this myschefe, and
that he was assuryd that I was in your favoiu: ; allso
that this was the tyme that I went upon my promo-
cion ; wherefore if I went I shuld peraventur make
sum reasons unto the Kings Grace by your advise,
which myght gyve occasion to oure ferther abode here.
This reason notwithstanding, it was determynd bi the
Lords that Kingstoon and I shuld doo the forsaide
message ; whereupon immediatli we had oure Instruc-
tions delyvred and toke our ship at Saincte Se-
bastian. Aftyr we continued oon the Seeys vj. daiyes
in grete tempest, so that with grete and long tribula-
cion we recovred the saide Porte of Saincte Sebastian,
and there we had knowlege that there were Lettyrs
cum owte of Inglond : wherefor we returned to my
Lord Marquise to know parte of the Kings pleasur,
and of hym I receyvid a lettyr from the Kings Grace
and another loving lettyr from your good Mastership,
bothe op3nid. I herd allso the lettyr that the Kings
Grace sent unto the Lord Marquise and all the Lords
and Captains, which puttyth me in grete pensifhe«
when I remembre the small regarde that dyvers made

196 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

unto the saide lettyr. At the same tyme letters camt
from the King of Arragon that his Armye taried foi'
ourys at Saincte Jhon Pie de la Porte, where of a
suyrte thei be at this tyme.

Upon the Kyngs letters and the King of Arragon
oure Cownsell assembled at Renteria, whei*e my Lord
Broke and his retynew lyeth ; where I requyred them
all to regarde acording to thaire dewty the Kings com-
maunedement. Item th'^endenturs that thei had sealid
unto the Kings Grace. Ovyr this I laide suche Articles
of the tretise^ before them as was expedient for the
mater. Furthermore, as nere as I cowde, I laide dyvers
inconvences and displeasurs that myght ensue bi oure
light departing. Whereupon, like a noble man, my
Lord Howard said that in case he might have a meteli
cumpanie with him he wolde endujrr this Wyntyr
Warre, and gladlier he wolde dye for the hpnoiu: of
bis Master, the Realme, and himself, than contrarie to
the Kings eommaundement, with rebuke and shame,
retume into Inglond. Whill this was reasonyd, oon
departyd owte of the chambre and sbewid my Lord
Broks retynew that my Lord Howard and I wold have
them contynew in this Warre. Whereupon, withowte,
the comynalte dyd withstond, thei were like to goo into
Bieme. Soo that immediatli the People arose^ and said
that what soevyr hfe were that wolde contynew in oure
opynyon, suyrli thei wold slee hym, and so was I thre-

• treaties^

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 197

tynd in djrvers placys. The Answer of the Cownsell
at that tyme and the behavyr of the peple, my Lord
Howard and S^ Mores Barkley which were both of
oon mynde can best shew at tliair cummyng ; Thowz
meny things be as fer owte of order, and the Kings
XJrace as unlovingli oon^ sum partise served, as evyr
wias so noble a Prince; yet S'. in my symple opynyon
this tyme requyreth grete dissymylacion, which was '
nevjrr moore necessarie ; for I promesse yow in my
mynde here be meny light meen. Yt shall not nede that
I write any more largeli, for here dy vers have begoh
to impute unto other the cause of this ungoodli de^
partur, and this Contre spekith grete shame thereof.

Syr, aftyr the Cownsell at Renterie, William King-
stoon and I returned unto the seeys and likewise, as
we were before, bi torment of the seeys we were conb-
pelled to recovre a Havyn ; soo that now I have shewid
my Lorde Marquise that I am not able to enduyr the
«eeys, and that I entend to tarye in the Kyng of Ar-
ragons Courte tyll sommyr. The trouthe is I am lothe
4:o bring this message unto the Kings Grace: I beseke
God itt mai be my fortune to bring that mai be more
pleasaunt. And where oure departure and the absti-
nence for this Wynter of Warre shall gyve grete com-
modite to the Frensh King, to breke the lege betweene
sum of the Kings confederation and hym, which un-
dowztid shal be attemptid ; considred allso that these
Warres thus begoon can not thus ende withowte losse

>OII.

198 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

of honour and other proficte ; furthermore remembring
that all Kings and noble men that shuld accomplishe
thair grete entreprises, moost dayly be ascertaigned
how other grete powers doyth determe, bi which
meanys the Kings Gracb'crf Arragon, oon of the wisyst
«nd moost expert Princys this day lyving, hath olv
icigned ^fyvers grete Kyngdoms. Therefor I beseke
your Mastership in whom lyyth all my confidence, yf
ft be thowht that I be mete to doo my Mast^ any
servyce, that I may have sum commaundement wher
to occupie my self this W3mter to his honour and
•pleasur, whethre it be here or any parte of Italye, or
other place of Cristindome, to whom L shall doo as
iaithfull and trew servyce as ev)rr dyd poure man to
his Prince^ and the best beiddes that I can. And in
case that I h^ve any like commaundement yt moost
please you to be soo good master unto me that I may
have Slim ccmvenient thing of his Grace for m3me ex-.
penses, ibr, as your Mast3rrship knoweth, I have litle
to lyve on, and that litle that I have, bi such oiseasions
as I have, I spend and wast daily, as now of iate vi&-
tailes upon the seeys have coost me beyond xx nobles,
and all lost fai reason of the salt watyr ;* besidesy in all
besynes, as rydingin poost or otherwaiys, I am allwaiys
oon, and nevyr have had recompenoe, nether yet deared
any, nor hereaftyr wold if I were able to doo the Kings
grace good servyce with that Utle that I have. S3rr at
the reverence of God lay nothing to any mannys chxtge
bi reason of my letters, or otherwaiys bi my meanys,

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 199

for if ye shulde, I shulde be had sqspecte ; for it is
imagyned that I make your Mastership prevy to meny
moo things than I doo. Ye shall know the trowthe
of all that I write, and mych more, bothe of my Lord
Howard, of Mr. Hatticlif and Bichemount haraulde,
which can shew yow of all the besynes of Navarre and
of the towardnes of the Spagniards in owre entreprise,
and with what besynes thei have passyd thaire Art!-
liarie the grete mountaynys ; with other things d3rvers,
which when thei be herd, I fere owre excuses will not
be graciousli herd. Ovyr this the King of Arragon
se)aig the obstinate mynde of our communyss requyred
the Noble men to tarie, saijmg that the name of th'en-
glishemen shuld be sufficient for our entreprise, for hiss
Grace had men inowghe, and withoute he can as ao-
cessorie, he might not medyll, for thentreprise was
owrys. Butt we regardyd that as we dyd other things ;
and sythins y t was my fortune to bie oon of this Cown-
sell, which I have repentid a thousand tymys because
of mennys willfull mynds, yet your Mastership per-
ceyvid a.t all t3niiys bi my Letters that oure conclusion
had no liklihood of goodnes. But how evyr yt be, the
Kings Grace moost be comfortid, for his Grace hath
obteignyd the chieife parte of his purpose, which was
the delyveraunce of the Ghirch from the cruel perse-
cution of the Frenshmen. Allso bi oure beyng here
the Kingdom of Navarre is assured for us, withoute
which we cowde nevyr have prevailed in th'entreprise

SOO ORIGIKAL LETTERS*

of Guyen ; nother thowz we had prevailid we cowde
have contynued if the Ijf avarres had bene oure enny-
mise. Ovyr this his Grace hath obteigned the title of
* The mooste Cristyn K)aig ;' and I assure your Mas*
tership in my mynde this jomey hath gyvyn so grete
light to cownsell the good Ordre of an Armye, that
yt had not beene expedient, for twise the money that is
spent, but that thei had beene here and returned with-
oute meting of the puissaunce of thair ennymise. My
reason is this, owre ennymise beth men of long oonty-
nuance yn Warres, full of policie, and were prive to
all owre dedys ; and we clene contrarie. Besides this,
we nevyr exercised oure self to kepe oure arrays, nor
to other feete,^ in so myche that when oure Englishmen
went into Fraunce thei wolde evyr be dyvydyd, that
if a small power of the Frenshmen had cum on them
thei had bene marrid. I say not this on myne owen
opjrnion, thowh it be necessarie, butt I know bi expe-
rience sith I cam hethre, that Englishmen hath suffred
rebuke bi like folye. Besides this, in the Kyngs pro-
visions of Victails, His Grace was untrewU servyd.
Item, in th^Ordonances I herd S^ Henr. Willugby
say, that, among eight thousand bowys thei fynde not
tw6 hundred sufficient ; likewise in othre things; which
all may be amendyd, or we be put in daunger of ouref
ennymise bi the misorder of the same. S)nr how evyr
this mater passyth, at the reverence of God, help that

> feat.

riM^iMiitaBi*

ORIGINAL LETTERS, 201

all may be forgotyn for this tyme, for if any reproche
shuld be laide to any oon man, he shall putt hit of to
sum othre, and so to meny which might engendre be-
synes that at this tyme is not expedient. Here I
have sent your Mastership a lettyr that Edward Hat-
ticlif sent me, wherebi ye mai perceyve sumwhat, and
more ye shall know of hym at his cummyng. And S^
for the syngler good faithe and love that I ow, asmoche
to your Mastership as to any man l3rving, foresee and
remembre all maters ; for suyrli there hath been of the
grete men of Inglond that have saide that the begyn-
nyng of this Warre cam of your Mastreship, unknow-
ing to them ; and that yf the saide warf e had not good
and acceptable ende, that yt wolde be laide unto your
charge. Syr pardon me in that that I am playne, my
trew hert and mynde byndeth me thus to doo; for
rather I shall forsake the Realme during my life, than
I wolde see your Mastyrship suffte displeasur for like
cause.

Syr, I beseke your Mastirship that I may have
knoVlege of your .pleasur touching myne abode here,
or other where to remove, for I will not determe but
upon an answer of the Kings pleasur ; and withowte
I have hitt at the retume of this Ship, which ys payde
for her retoure, I can not say when I shuld here from
your Mastership. The bringer hereof, which is son
in law to Jhon Style, retumeth againe yf any com-
maundement cum. Howbeyt I think th'Armie will

902 OfilGINAL LETTEEB.

departe long or his cummyng, for thei beth provyded
<tf Shippes, and the bisquett is ahnoost bake, so that
within viij. or x. daiys I thinke thei wilbe redy to
ship yf the wjmde serve. I mervaile that this tyme
of the yere thei will aventure the Kings tresore upon
the seeys for dyyers inconvences; and I have herd
them say, that, if thei see any commodite thei will
land in Britaigne. Sumtyme thei say thei will kepe
the course that they made hetherwarde, and so I
dowzt wher^ipon thei will rema3me. Methynketh it
were well doone that Syr Edward Howard met with
them, for the more salvegard of the Sings tresore.
The Flete of Fraunce is grete ; there went in August,
owte of the Havyn of Breste, xlvij.' Shippis to the
borders of the west Contre of Inglond ; and xv. in to
Irelond. Item xv. into Galice and x. remaynyd to
kepe the coost of Britaigne. The xlvij. be retumyd
to Brest, the rest be abrode ; and sythins there beth
cum vj. galeys from Italie, which laye abought Galice
wde vj. weks, and were nev)rr countred witball; thei
have brought, as yt is saide, as gay artilliarie owte of
Italie as there was none in all Fraunce. A Knyzt
of th'drdre of Saincte John is thaire Capitayne the
Spaynysh Flete shewid themself att Fountrabye owre
lady day thassumpcion, and aft3nrward departyd, so
|;hat nevyr syth3nas we herd of them. The comyn
-opynyon is that thei be adjoyned with th^english Fleete.
Syr I fere me that I am tedious with this lo^g

■p

QRIGIVAL LETTERS.

ims

writing, but I trust my good myride shall cause to be
acceptable that dtfarewaiys myght be tediouse. And
soo I beseeke your Mastership to conty&ev my good
Master, thus Jhs preserve yow. From the towne of
Saincte Sebastians the wj. of Octobre.

By the hand of your assured
bedeman,

WILLIAM KNY4^HT.

LETTER LXIII.

Doctor Knight to Kmg Hemy the Vlllth, upon the
King of ArragtyrCs trvce with Frcmce; and pro-
posing the' restoration of the King of Navarre,
A. D. 1513.

[ms. cotton, vesp. c. I. fol. 86. Orig.]

Pleasyth yt your Highness to understond, that
the King of Arragon cont3aiueth in his purpose to
observe the treuys, that beth late taken betwene the
Frensh King and hym, as straightli as yf thei had
bene made upon good grownde and reasyn. And
where yt was soo that newys were broughte unto this
Courte, upon Sayncte Marks day, that your Gracis
royall Armye by the seeys had discomfetied the
Frensh flete ; y t append bothe by thair countenances

204 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

here that the saide victorye contentyd not thayr
inynde ; and by thair other demenure, for thei dyd
asmoche as lay in them to contrarie and destroye the
fame of the sayde newys and victorie, as Don Petro
BeUs de Guyvarra I dowht not will shew right shortli
unto your Grace. Ovyr thys, aftyr the fame of the
saide newys where we laboured instauntly unto his
Grace for Domyngo de Losa, whose movables beth
excheted for selling of a Carrack unto your Highnes,
contrarie unto the Statutes of this Contre, We fownde
his Grace so sore moved with the selling of the said
Carrack, that yt apperid that he was grevid that his
shippes shuld be parte of th'occasion of the saide vie-
torie, for before the forsaide tydings were broughte,
his Grace gave unto us allwaiys comfortable aunswere
in the saide cause, and promised to put a remedie in
hytt, soo that yowr Highnes and your moost honorable
Cownsayle may forsee and put remedy yf the King of
Arragon wolde entende aftyr his cautelous manier the
revoking of suche his Shippes as beth in your Grads
wagis. The forsaid newis were so joy full unto us
your Gracis subgetts here, that we desired of the Ejng
of Arragon to know what certaynte he had thereof,
which aunswerd that he did know nothing thereof;
but, aftyr thre daiy^, when the same dyd more largeli
encrease, he shewid unto us that he was enformed owte
of Fraunce that the Frensh King gave in expresse
cojnmaundement to the Capitains of his Navye, that.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 205

in case thei were not able to have the ovyrhand of
th'englishmen, that thei shulde rather fyer thmre owen
shippes then suffre them to be taken; wherein his
meanyng was, bi all that I cowde perceyve, that if
there were any shippes distroied of the Frensh Flete,
that yt was doone by them self, because of the com-
maundement of thair King, and not by your Gracesi
royall Armye. And for because we wolde understand
yf by any new occurrents the King wolde varye from
the treuys, we therefore, meny tymys and oftyn, have
beseched his Highnes to remembre the greate love
that your Grace hath borne unto hym, and what
charges, right nere importable for your royall Reame,
hath ensued, withowte profite or honour, by folowing
of his cownsell; but all this notwithstanding, his
Grace is fynally determyd straightli to observe the
saide treuys ; nevertheles he aunswerid us, at oon tyme,
that he wolde doo all that he was bownde to doo ; but
he spake hit in suche maniere and countenance, that
yt semyd that he thowht hym not yn any maner meane
bownde unto your Grace. At oon othre season, he
aunswerid that he might send his Armye in Italye
into Burgoigne; and, saving the treuys, help your
Grace by that parties: but this woordis beth aftyr
th^olde manier, for yf he were so entendyd, yet the
yere wolde be ovyrgone or an Armye myht passe so
ferre Contres. He hath saide also that he might make
warre in Bierne, but suyrli and yt like your Highnes,

806 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

under your Graces correction, that shuld not be profits
able for your Hyghnes; for Bieme extendith under
the mountaynys of Navarre allmoost from Bayone to
Arragon ; and by suche he wolde put your Grace be-
twene hym and his ennemise. And thus besides that
he hath evydently brought your Grace into mervelous
greate bes^es, and hath doone extremely hetherto,
contrari^Qg all bondes that myht be made betwene
Cristen Princes, yet he desysteth not from his ac-
coustomyd cautelis, 1)ut suyrle conceyvyth in his
m3aide greattyr myschiefe, yf yt be, as some.saiyth,
that dare speke prively th'opynyon of divers that fa-^
voreth thair naturell Prince, ys, that it shuld be the
greattist joye unto the King of Arragon that ev3rr
fortunyd unto hym, if the Prince of CasteU were dis-
ceased, for soo he might be suyr to contynew Gover-
nour of CasteU in manier during his life. At the
- cummyng of King Philip into this contre, the King of
Arragon was as yt was thought uncourtesly entreatid,
because he was commaundyd to avoyde this Beame
within the space of xx. daiys ; and yt is thought that
yt was not doone withowte thadvise of your Graces
dere fadre of most noble memorye. And whether he
feryth that the Prince waxith to ripe in age, or that
he remembreth those olde injuries^ or that he wolde
discuyra the mariage betwene the Prince and my Lady
Marye, I know not ; but your Grace may suyrlie

* dissever.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. g07

yma^ne that he is not wele disposed. The Yonger
Soon of King Philip is but xi. yens olde ; borne in this
Contre ; and in mouche greate manier resembleth the
King of Arragon.

And where your Grace hath lateli receyvyd greate
injurie under the dissymyld cownsell of the King of
Arragon, which exhorted your Grace to these greate
and dowtfull Warris, which dyd hit for none othre
consideration but as your Grace now doyth evydently
see ; therefor I shall beseke your Highnes moost hum-
bly to pardone me of that that I write of trew mjnide
and servyce that I am bownde to ow unto your Grace,
syth the King of Arragon is determyd allwaiys in tliat
that shal be agaynst good conscience. Yf th^Em^
perour and your Highnes determe and conclude that
yt were expedient that the late King of Navarre be
restored unto his Kingdom at suche tyme as yt shal
be thought expedient by your Graces, as he that hath
not oflfendyd othre* of your Graces, and as he that
is wrongfully depryved of his Kingdoome, I am of
thopynyon that th'Emperour wolde be in this begyn-
nyng right easeli enducyd to graunte thereunto ; and,,
so moche the rathre, because the King of Arragon ad-
joyneth Navarre with his Arragon; and not amcmg
the multitude of titles that belongeth to Castell. Thu»
your Grace shulde deserve of God to restore to his
right hym, that were wrongfuUi deprived. Ovyr thi»
I thynk the saide late King wolde be glad to com-

» either.

SOS ORIGINAL LETTERS.

pounde with your Grace to pay as he mighte a greate
parte of the charges that your Grace made in these
parties. Allso yt were a greate meane to die geting
of Guyeen, in which the saide late King myht doo
mouche by oon meane or othre ; as, for to be restored
there shulde be no thing requyred bi hym possible to
be doone, that he wolde not gladli enforce hymself to
doo. And yf the King of Arragon shuld be requyred
to retume to his Kingdoome of Arragon he shuld not
be the best neyghbour that your Grace myht have in
Navarre, for he myght ovyrloke Guyeen at his plea^
sure. Furthermore y t shuld be a notable monition for
£vyr to all Cristyn Princes to kepe and observe thair
lawfull promesses, or to thynk that thei mygt shortli
lose, that bi suche unlawfull meanys they dyd gete ; as
by this example, yf yt cum to passe. Suyrly, in my
poure mynde, yt shulde be great avauntage unto your
Grace for the preservation of Guyeen that suche a King
were in Navarre, that yf he wolde not be good for your
Grace upon pure love, yet that he might fere to rebell
for sum other consideration, as the late King of Navarre
by reason of suche Lands as he shall holde of your
Grace in Guyeen shulde not dare but to be loyal, which
as I have herd say usyth these termyse oftyntymys:
* The Kings Grace of Inglond hath caused me to lose
my Reame, and I trust his Grace shall help to restore
me agayne.**

The vijt*^. of May, and it please your Highnes,
tydings cam from Italye that the Venetians had entred

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 209

lege a with the Frensh King so that thei entende to
djrvyde Lumbardie betwene them in this maner^
that the Venetians shall have all the land that they
wer wont to hold in that parties excepte Cremona,
by reason whereof the King of Arragon hath shewed
unto us that he will send ovyr immediatli moo men of
warre; and sum saiyth, that he will send ovyr the
greate Capitaine. The King of Arragon seyth that bi
reason of this lege^ th'Emperour, of all liklihood, will
fully entre with your Grace, and that waieth greatli
in his stomak; he beseketh God that th'^Emperour
may employe suche tresour as he hath recejrvyd of
your Grace in suche manier as yt may be profittable
for your Highnes. I can not percejrve but that he
thynketh contrarie ; and undowted he hath doone his
best, as your Grace doyth evidentli see, to have lefte
your Highnes soole and alone in all these Warris ; as
by takyng of the treuys, by covering of the same, and
lettyng of our lettres that your Grace were not ad-
vertised in tyme, allso by that that he saieth that the
saide treuys was made by thadvice of th'Emperour,
which of all liklihood will now appere othrewaiys. But
undowtid, as your Grace entendyth not but the re-
coverye of your evydent ryghte, so Allmighti Jhu
shall send yt unto your Highnes, with the moost ho-
nour that evyr cam to Cristen King, for the which as
my dewty ys I daili pray, and shall doo during my

• league.
VOL. I, SER. 2. f

210 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

life. Thus the Holy Groost send your moost noble
Grace comforte. At Valledolide in Castell, this xij*.
of Maye.

Your moost humble subgeet
and chapelain,

WILLIAM KNYGHTE.

LETTER LXIV.

Sir Robert Wingjield to King Henry the Vlllth, re^
portiiig the Victory of Nova/ra,

[MS. COTTON. 6ALBA. B. III. foL 83. OHg,^

*^* Guicciardini, speaking of the Victory x>f Novara, uses these me-
morable words. ^^ Ritornarono i vincitori quasi trionfanti, il di mede-
simo a Novara, et con tanta fama per tutto*l mondp, che molti havevano
ardire, considerato la magnanimita del proposito, il dispregio evidentis-
simo della morte, la fierezza del combattere, et la felicita del successo,
preporre questo fatto quasi a tutte le cose memorabili, che si leggono de
Romani et de Greci.*' Hist d'ltaL edit 1569. p. 555. See also Paulus
Jovius, and Planta*s Hist, of the Helvetic Confederacy, vol. ii. p. 98.

Pleasyth youre Grace to undyrstonde that the
xii ^1 of this present moneth I wroot unto you my last
lettyrs from the town of Estlynge, conteynynge such
matter as I was ware of at that tyme; and I trust it
is weell in youre Graces consideration, that, whilst I
have no postis at my comaund, thoow I do my dwte in
wrytynge & spende monney to send my lettyrs to th'
Emperours postmastir, yet there maye be oother delaye
in the aprochinge of my sayde lettyrs to youre gratious
handys thanne I woolde. ^ And also that now in jour-

OBIGIKAL LETTERS, ^11

neyinge I am seldom in the place where newes ary ve,
my knowlege is in manner a daye afiltyr the feejrre, to
advertyse youre Grace with the fyrste, which incon-
tennente must be sufiyrde paciently duryng the while
that th'Emperour isjoumeyinge. Nevjrrthelesse because
I knowe weell that the ij'^^ or iij^^^ knowlege of good
tydyngges be nott so welcom as the fyrste, yet me
semyth the confyrmation of good tydyngis ought to
be right wdcome, and therefore thoow these shall
com late, yit I had lever youre Highnes blamyd the
premysis thanne ony lachessness in me ; and also I am
seure that M. Loys Marreton, which hath comodite to
knowe newes, faylyth nott to my Lady of Savoye, &
from thence to youre Grace I doubt nott but youre
dylygent servaunt Thomas Spynelly maakyth . • .
postis to rynne.

Syr this momynge there be newes comyn to this
town that the dwke of Meleyn with the Swyssers have
surprysyd the Frenche arme,» & clerly slayn all the
Almeyns, & takyn the lordys of Tremoyle and Jhon
Jamys of . . . with many oothir Prysoners*

Sagramour' the viscounte, which was entyrde in to the
City of Meleyn, was there slayne with many othir of his
bende aftyr the forsayde ovyrtliroowe of the Frensche
arme was knowin. I trust that or it be long, there
shalbe some good tydynges of some acte done by th^
Emperours arme^ and the Vice Roy agaynst the Vene-

» army.

212 ORIGINAL lette;rs.

tiens; & soone afftyr that th'^Emperours viij JM. Swyssirs
which hath ben now sumwhat flesschid at this entyr-
pryse, shall passe the mountyns in to Dolphynye,
where th'Emperour hath apoyntyd a thowsand horsys
to mete w* theym, and soo it is to be trustyd veryly
(the premyssis weell concidyrd) that youre Grace shall
now have all the avauntagis and moo thanne aperyd
the last yere ; thoow it was thought by many experte
folkes that the sayde avauntagis had ben harde to have
be recovyrid. But such is God, and bettyr; which
only is the heed of youre entyrprise, and hath gevyn
the nobyll courage and hardynes to electe of youre sylf
the coste, travell, & joupperde to atteyne the honnor
and glory that must nedys folow of same, and in my
conseyte withoughte fayle the parfecte recovere and
ateynynge the Crowne of Fraunce w* the grettest hon-
nor & treumphe that evyr was harde or sene. God
and say nt George toborows whom I beseche to preserve
youre Grace in prosperous helthe, w* longe lyffe, to his
pleasyr. Wretyn at the town of Bruxsellis in Swabe?
the xiijt^ daye of June 1513, by the hande of youre
humbyll and most boundyn serv'^nte.

WYNGFELD, K.

Syre w^ these I sende unto youre grace the Copie of
a letter the Swyssers wroott unto me.

> Brucksal, in Swabia.

OKIGJNAL LKTTJ5RS. 213

LETTER LXV.

Sir Edward Howard^ Lord Admiral^ to King Henry
the Eighth^ upon the State of the King's Fleet,
J.D.151S.

[ms. cotton, calio. d. vi. foL 101. Orig,]

*^* It is unfortunate that this curious document is so much mutilated
as to be, in some parts, quite unintelligible.

Sir Edward Howard, the writer of it, feU a victim to his temerity in
the harbour of Brest, in the very year in which he penned this Letter.

The Regent, the largest vessel in ^e English Navy, commanded by
Sir Thomas Knyvet, had been burnt in 1512, in a contest with the
French fleet under Primauget, when Sir Thomas Knyvet lost his life.
Sir Edward Howard made a vow to revenge the death of his friend, and
fell himself in trying to accomplish it

Plesith your Grace to understand that the Sater-
day in the mornyng after your Grace departyd from
your Fleet, we went downe to have goon in to the deps,
but or we cam at the danger off the entryngg in to the
depps callyd Gyrdelar hed, the wynd feeryd, ^ owt of
the west north west in to the est north est, wherfor we
were fayn to goo to an ancre for that day. And the
i^me mornyng that I cam toward the depps I com-
manded a . . ^ off the smal shippes as wold goo the next
way to the Downes, to get them over the landes end,
and .-. . . went that way both the newBarkes,theLesard,
the Swalow, and an viij moor off the smal Shippes.

• veered. '■ all ?

214 ORfGINAL LETTERS.

The resydew kept with us thorow the depps : and, Sir,
al Palm Sondey we steryda not, for the wynd was
heer with us at est by sowth, whiche was the rygth
curse b that we shuld draw to d . . . On mondey the
wynd cam west sowth west, which was very good for
us, and . . we slept it not, for at the begynyng oflF the

flood we wer al under sayle. And

first settyng off

slakyng wher the Kateryn Fortaleza saylyd very weel

Al suche shippes as maad sayl even

to gydder with her onys a quarter off a

.,..,. iij myl saylyng your good shipp the Flowr
I trow off al shipps that ever saylyd rekenyng . . .
. . every shipp, and cam within iij speer length off
the Kateryn, & spak to John Fie . . . Peter Seman, &
to Freman master, to beer record that the Mary Roose
dyd feche her at the to . . . best way and the Marys
wurst way, and so. Sir, within a myle saylyng left her
an flyt . . at the steme ; and she al the other saving
a V or syx smal shipps whiche cut o . , the forland
the next wey. And Sir then our curs^ chanched^
and went hard uppon a bowlyn . . the forland ^ep
the Mary Roose, your noble shipp, fet the Mary
Greorge, the Kateryn prove a back th . . . lord
Ferys hyryd, the Leonard off Dertmowth, and som
off them weer iiij long myle afor m .... or ever I

> stirred. ^ course. c changed.

OKIGINAL tETTEES, 215

cam to the forland. The next shipp that was to
me, but the Sovereyn, was iij myl behynd; but the
Sovereyn past not half a myle behynd me. Sir
she is the noblest shipp off sayle . . . gret shipp at
this howr that I trow be in cristendom. A shipp of C
tone wyl not be soner at her . . abowt then- she . Whea
I came to an ancre I called for pen & ynk to mark
what shippes ... to me for thei cam al by me to an
ancre. The first next the Mary Roose was the Sove-
reyn, then the Nycholas, then the Leonard of Dert-
mowth, then the Mary Georg, then the Herry of
Hampton, then the Anne, then the Nycholas Montrygo
called the Sanche . . • . de Garra, then the Kateryn,then
the Mary ... Sir one after another. Ther was a
fowle tayle betwen the Mary Roose, and the aftermest
was the Marya de Loretta. And the Crist was one off
the wurst this day ; she may beer . . . sayl, no mor may
the Kateryn ; I trust we shal remedy her wel inowgh
that she shal felaw with the best. Sir she is over laden
with ordenauns, besyd her hevy toppes, which ar big
inowgh for a shipp of viii or ixC. a Sir we had not ben
at an ancre at the forland but the wynd . . . upp at
the norther burd so stryvably that we cowd ryd no
lenger ther withowt gret danger, .... we weyd to get
us in to the Downes thorowgh the GowUs. And when
we wer in the myddes, betwen the brakks & the God-
wyn, the wynd ferd ^ owt agayn to the west sowth west,

• eight or nine hundred Ion. •» veered.

S16 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

wher we wer feyn to mak with your gret Shippes iij or

iiij tomys, and God knoweth row chanel at

low water. As we took it, the Sovereyn and the Mary
stayd a quarter off a myle off the Goodwyn sandes and

the Marya de Loretta offerd her off it and

was fayne to goo abowt with a for wynd bak

where that she lyth I . . . .

. . . fechen the Downes with many tomys, and tbankyd

beGod Downes at an ancre in safte.

And I pray God that he send our vital sh

for in cristendom owt of one realme was never seen such
a fleet a .... . with our Barkettes com to us that the
first fair wynd that cometh we mygth be doying . . .
.... saw never poor men so in corraag to be doyng as

your men bee. I besech your Grace myscon-

tent that I mak so long a matter in writyng to yow,
and off no mater off substance, but that ye commanded
me to send your Grace word how every Shipp dyd saQ;
and this same was the best tryall that cowd be, for we
went both slakyng & by a bowlyn, and a cool a cors &
a bouet in such wyse that few shippes lakkyd no water
in, over the lee wales ; Sir the shippes off Bristow be
her with me. I assur yowr Grace gorgeas shippes for
ther burdon, one that Antony Poynges is in uppon a
ix'^^. and another of viij^^. and another of vij^.a I had
not spoke when I wrot this letter. I understand thei
lak vital ; I have writton to Master Amener^ for itt and

• Nine« eighti aiid seven secret ^ Master Alxaonex, that is Wolsey« '

mtm

OBtGINAL L£TT£RS. 217

for the maryneres. Your Grace must command Mas-
ter Amner to mak a warrant to Ble ... to deliver to
Hopton CQ. hemes a for them, which shall send it down
in the vytall ..... no mor news to writ to your Grace

as att this tyme, but that the next fair wedd . . . •
lye heer in the Downes, I wyl send furth your ij new-
barkes the Lysard ..... . . barges the Baptyst off

Herwyche, to play up and down betwen Dover & Ca-

leys purchas wyl fal in ther handes that we

mygth have some news therby owt off . . . Sir for
Gt)des sak hast your Consell to ^end us down our vitall,
for iff we shall lye long the . comon voys wyl roon th*t
we lye & kep in the Downes, & doo no good but spend
mony & vitall. And so the noys wyl ron to our shames,
thow your -Grace know well that we can no otherwys
doo withowt we shuld leve our vitall & felaws behynd
us. I remit al thys to the order off your moost noble
Grace, whom I pray God preserve from al adversite,
and send yow as much victory off your enemys as ever
had eny off your noble Ancetry. Writton in the
Mary Roose by your moost bownden subject & your
poor Admerall.

EDWABD HOWABB.

To the Kynges noble Grace from
the Admerdl.

• qu. harness.

^18 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

The Reader will not be displeased to have three Papers introduced
here as appendages to the present Letter, which aiford a complete View
•f the State and Condition of Henry the Eighth's Navy in the 17^^. and
IS*'*, years of his reign.

They are preserved among the Rolls and Charters which formerly be-
longed to his own Library, marked 14 B. xxii. xxiiL xxiv.

'^ Here aftur ensuethe the Names of all the Kings Schipps, aswell
that rydethe within the Portte and Haven of Portsmeth as thoo that
rydethe witiiin the Ryveie of Themmys, the xxij^. daye of Octobie in the
xvij***, yeer of owre moste drade Soveren Lorde Kinge Henry the viij**».

The Oabryell Rotall, of the tonnege of DCC. tonnes; and of
the age of xvj. yeies.

The Maute Rosse, of the tonnege of vC. tonne ; ande of the age
of xiiQ. yeres.

The Petub. Pokgab-SET^ of the tonnege of CCCxL tonnes ; and of
the age of xiiij. yeres.

The John Baptiste, of the tonnege of HijX^. trnmes ; and •£ age
xiij. yeres.

The Orette Barke, of tonn^e CC. tonnes ; and of age xij. yere.

The Lbsssb Babki, of the tonnege of Clx. tonnes ; and of age xij.
yere.

The Mart James, of tonnege CClx. tonne ; and of age xvj. yere.

The Mart Oeobi^e, of tonnege CCxl. tonnes ; and of age xv. yeses.

The Mart akd Johne of the tonnege of ij.C. tonne ; and of age
iiij. yeres.

The Primerose, of the tonnege of Clx. tonne ; and of age ij. ytaeek

The Minion, off the tonnege of Clxxx. tonne ; and all newe.

The Mattdelen of Depforde, of the tonnege of Cxx. tonne; and
off the age of iij. yeres.

The Katerne Barke, of the tonneg of C. tonne ; and of age Uj.
yeres.

The Mart Impereall, of tonnege Cxx. ; and a£ age too ]ici&

The Barke of Bullen, ^ of the tonnege of Ixxx. tonne ; and of the
age of xiiij. yeres.

The Trinite Henrte, of the age of vj. yeres ; and of tonnege
jiij."^. tonne.

The Barke of Murlesse,** of tonnege of Ix. tonne; and neiro
made.

The SwEPSTAKE, of the tonnege of Ixv. tonne ; and iij. yere olde.

The SwALOWE, of the tonnege off Ix. tonne; and newe made.

The Ortfftn, of tonnege off Ixxx. tonne; and of age xiiij. yeres.

The Grett Sabra, of the tonnege of fyftye tonnes ; and iij. yere olde,
» Bologne. b Morlaix.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^9

The Lessere Sabra, of the tonnege of xl. tonne ; and of age iij.
yeres.

The John of G renew yche, of the tonnege of L tonne ; and of xij.
yere olde.

The Prisse^ taken by Thomas Sperte, of the tonnege of tiiree fRX>re
tonne ; and of age xv. yeres.
. The HuLKE of the tonnege of Clx. tonnes ; and of age iij. yeie.

The Mart Otlforde, of the tonnege of Clx. tonne ; and of age
oon yere."

'^ An AbstraCte of the Daily Chlirges for the Kymgs Shipps yet re-
majoiyng the xvj. day of November in the xviij. yere of his Reigne.

The Henry 1 ^^' wages of viij. marynen her kepers, every moneth

Grace a Dieu r^^*^ *^^" vitailles iiij". vj". viij**. that is in the yere

* J accompting xiij. monethes in the yere ^^K xixS viij*'.

The M AR-r 1 ^^ wages and vitailles of viij . maryners her kepers,
nrkflv > every moneth iiijW, xij^. viil**. that is in a like yere

^'''^' i IxH. iiij-. VUJ".

Item more for vj. cables that she must consume
every yere, by estymadon xlij".

-,, CL ^ 'I Item for waees and vitailles of x. maryners her

The Gabriell i ^i, h — va t i u

jj V kepers, every moneth v". xuj. iiij°. in a lyke yere

j Ixxiij". xiij". iiij''.

Item for viij. cables that she must consume every

yere by estymadon iiij**.".

T?ie Peter 1 For wages and vitailes of vj* maryners kepers, every
Pomeoarnard. J moneth iij". xij. That is in a lyke yere xlvj". xvj*.

Item more for vj. cabulls that she must consume
every yere by estymadon xlij^.

Tfie Great 1 ^°' wages and vitailles of iiij. marjmers her kepiers,
•p > every monethe xlvj". viij**. That is in a lyke yere

J XXX". vj". vuj<*.

Item more for vj. cabuUs that she must consume
yerely by estimacioh xxx".

Th£ i^EHsE 1 ^°' wages and vitailes of iij. maryners her kepers,
T| V every moneth xxxvj". viij<*. That is in a lyke yere

j xxiij". xvj". viij'*.

Item more for iij. cabulls that she must consume
every yere by estymadon xx".

» Prixe.

2S0 O&IGIKAL LETTEllS.

The OREAT ) ^^ ^*8;®* *"^ vitailles of oon maryner her keper.
Galley. {-every moneth x«. iiij^. That is in a lyke yere vj»,
j xiiij". iiij**.

The Mary ) ^^ wages and vitailles of oon maryner her keper,
George ?• every moneth x«. iiij''. That is in a lyke yere vj".
• j xiiij*. iiij^i.

Item more for ij. cabulls that she must yerdy
consume x".

The Kateryk ) ^^ wages and vitailles of oon mariner her keper,
Galey {-every moneth x«. iiij**. That is in a like yere vj".

} xmj*. mj''.

Item for ij. cabulls that she must consume yerely
by estimacion vj". xiiij*. iiij**.

The Swepe- ) ^®' wages and vitaUles of oon maryner her keper,
{-every moneth x*. iiij<». That is in a lyke yere vj".
j xiiij-. iiij^i.

Item more for ij. cabulls that she must consume
by estymacion vj". xiiij". iiij**.

For wages and vitailes of oon mariner her keper,
The SwALOWE. J- every monethe x«. iiij'*. That ys in a lyke yere vj".

}

xmj'. nij^.

Item more for ij. cabulls that she must consume
yerely by estymacion vj".

Sum of wages and vitailles every moneth xxv". vj'*. That is in the
yere of xiij. monethes CCClxxv". vj". vj'*. And of the Cabulls every
yere by estjrmadon CCxliij**. vj". viij**.

Sum total v«.lxviij". xiij*. ij"*.

And more othir twoo Ships called ihe Mykeon ■ and the Mary
GiLDEFORD be not yet comen from Burdeux, wherfore the charges in
kepyng of theym is not here put in.

Also more for mayntenjrng of the great Ships Dock at Portesmouth,
and calkyng of alle the said Ships, yt cannot be nerly extemed."

'^ Hereafter insuyth certejm Articles wherein is oonteynyd asweH the
state, maner, and what case the Kjmg our most Sovereyn Lords Shypps
be nowe, in as of and for the costs and charges that our seyd Sovereyn
Lorde sustejoiyth and yerly ys atte for them.

• Mignon.

tt.

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

221

** The Harry grace de Dewk rydyth at Norflele^
wher as she spendyth yerly ij.C". in wogys and V3rttel8;
and more then ij.C". and above in cabuUes, caboUetts,
and haulsers, oon yere with an other. And as we thyxdu
the myght be a dokk at Eryth made for hyr for yj.C. ,
wherin she myght be brought and kepte nye a fiote both
a full See and lowe water, and at her ease and more suer - Uij.C".
then where she ys : and oons within thys v. yere there
must a Dok be made for hyr to calke and serche hyr under
water, and then shall the sayd Dok cost as muche in maner
as yt shall doo nowe; and the charges aiforeseyd not
mynyshyd ; whyche wylbe in v. yere ij. thowsand pound
besyde the adventur of foule wether and the sse . • .J

" TJie Gabryell ryall, the Kateryn Fortune, ^
the JoHK Bapt yst, the Barbera, the Mary Gloria,
the Mary John, ifU Mary George, and the vew
Barke, they spende yerly in wages and yyttell a Cxxxvj*^
x^. and they spende in cabuls, cabullets, and haulsers, at
the lest as muche more ; whyche Sh3rpp8 ar good for mer-
chandyse to goo into Spayne, Levant, Bordeowse, Ysland,
and Flaunders, yi they myght be sett a warke, and yf not
our seyd Sovereyn Lorde shall within fewe yerys loose his
seyd Shjrpps and charges alForeseyd, except they be new
kalkyd and trpnmyd . J

• ij.Clxxiij".

*' The Greate Galey, the Mary Roose, tJte Peter
PouNGARNETT, the Great Barke, the Lesse Barke,
ahd the ij. Robarges '■ whych vij. Shjrpps spende xxxix'^.
whyche Shypps be good for the werrys, or els to be kept
for our Sovereyn Lordes pleasure, and yett they must be
kalkyd, ther overlppys, summer castels, and dekks, shortely
after Marche

" Whyche Shypps by fore that they were brought in to
the Dok where they be nowe, stode the Kyngs Grace in
charge of vij.C. marke, within a lyttyl more or lesse, every
yere.

" The Sovereyn, the Greate Nycholas, the \
Mary Jamys, and the Harry of Hampton, all they I
must have an newe makjoig or they do the Kjoigs Grace j-
ony servyce ; whyche Sh3rpps spende noo ^yng but them I
selfF." ^

» Row barges.

XXXIX

22^ ORIGINAL LETTERS.

The Royal Manuscript in the Muaeum, 14 B. xxviii. pieservea the
charges of the King^s Navy for a month, for thirty-six Ships, then at
Portsmouth, in the 3lBt Hen. VIII. amounting to 1425/. 0#. lOd. The
number of Seamen was 1613. Each shi^ had a certain number of dead
iharei allowed, according to its complement, varying from six to twenty,
one in different ships, at five and six shillings a share.

LETTER LXVI.

Sir WiUiam FUzwilliam to Cardinal Wolsey : a fiaval

despatch,

[ms. cotton. VESPASIAN F. xiii. foL 137 b. OrigJ]

*^* There is nothing in this Lettea to fix its date with precision ;
though it is probable that it was written in 1522, when Sir William
FitzwiUiam) being recalled from his embassy in France, was commanded
to sea, with a strong fleet, to secure the English merchants.*

This able Commander was one of the chief ofiicers of ^e fleet which
was sent against the French in 1513, in which year he was knighted.
In 1520 he was made Vice-admiral ; and in 1523 Admiral of the Engilish
fleet. In the 21st Hen. Vlllth. he subscribed the articles which were
exhibited against Wolsey. In the 28th Hen. Vlllth. bemg knight of
the garter, treasurer of the household, and chancellor of the duchy of
Lancaster, he was constituted Admiral of England, Wales, Ireland,
Normandy, Oascoine, and Aquitaine : and in the following year became
Earl of Southampton. He died in 1542.

Please it your Grace to understande, that, on
tewesday I cam a boorde the Peter, in verrey fowle
weder ; which hath contynued ever sythens fowler and
fowler, in such wise, that in my lif I have not been in

• See Stowe's Annates, edit. 1631. pp. 6U, 5 is.

ORTGINAX LETTERS. 993

worse weder. And ever the wynde at South west,
soo stragnably, that we can here noo Sayle to lye by :
and yf we shulde goo to the See there were no re-
medye, but goo with Flaunders, at the next. But
assoone as God shall sende weder any thing mete for
men to goo to the see, I shall slowe no t)rme. And
at my commyng hider, ner as yet, I fynde but ix
Sayles, besides the Passengers and boottes of Rye;
for neyther the Ships bee come from by North, ner
yet the Ships that bee in Zelland, ner noon from
Portesmouth, ner also the Ships oute of Thames.
Howbeit I suppose the new Barke, and the Angell of
Deptford, bee come to the Forland.

As for newes I have noon to sende. your Grace as
yet, but I beseche your Grace, not oonly to cause
Weldon to hast hider the vitailles, for lenger then
Fryday we have noo vitailies here, but also that I
maye have a Commission, for here is oon man, which
kylled an other, and diverse other mysordres be-
sides. Also please it your Grace as yet I spake
for no wages for my self, howbeit yf it bee the kinges
pleasor I shall serve hym without wages ; I am right
wel contented soo to doo. And yf it bee his pleasor
I shal have wages, gyve me what yt shall please you.
Mr. Pointz hath vj. s. viij. d. the day, Mr. Wyndeham
had X. s. the day, and Sir Edward Haward had xx. s.,
as the blessed Trinitie knowith, who ever have your
Grace, in his blessed tuycion. Written in the Downes

2S4 OSTGINAL LETTERS.

the xxix th. day of July, by your servaunt to the best
of my power.

WYLLIAM FYTZ WYLLIAMS.

LETTER LXVII.

(TDonnel, the Irish rebels to King Henry Vlllth.

eoccylpatvng himself.

[m8. cotton, vespasiak. f. XIII. foL 144 b. Or%gJ\

*^* The O'Donnels of the North of Ireland were a powerful family
in the reigns of Henry the Seventh and Henry the Eighth. One of
them, probably the writer of this Letter, has been already mentioned,
from Han, as receiving knighthood at the Justs which Henry the Eighth
held at Westminster in 1511, in honour of the birth of a Prince.

The intercourse which -was carried on between the O'Donnds and
James the Fourth and James the Fifth of Scotland gave Henry the
Eighth some uneasiness. The O'Donnd of the present Letter, who, it
is believed, was Odo the son of Odo Odonnd, seems to^have been sensi-
ble of it.

After all due and moste humble recommendacions^
please it youre Grace to cawes the Letter that y do
sende unto your Hyghnes by this youre servant and
subjecte, Pers Yonge maryner and master of the
Mawdeham of London, dwellynge at Reelef ^ besides
London, to be rede in the presence of youre Grace.
Also y beseche youre Grace to here the saied Pers to
speke in my behalf, and to hime gew^ credence for

• RadelifTe. *> giv^

■ 'V.

OHIGINAL LETTERS. 225

myn excus, whiche in my mynde y nedede not for any
offence that ever y dude against youre Highnes, but
only for the murmor that hathe beu for my goinge into
Skotlande, unto whiche y thinke youre Grace have
taken no credence. And that it wolde pleas youre
noble grace to cawes youre gracious mynd to be write
unto me, in and for the causes that y have write unto
youre Highnes; and allso of suche as the saede youre
subject Pers, afor write, shall shewe youre Grace ; and
efter youre writynge had, y shall endewoyre myself
the best y can or may unto my power for the honowre
of youre Highnes ande the welthe of this pore Lande,
by the helpe of God ho^ ever encreas the prosperite
of youre moste wictorious and Royall estat. Writ in
Maner of Dongall, the xij. day of Janywer, the yere
1514.

Youre humble servant,

O DONAILL.

• who.

VOL. I. SEE. 2.

9.96 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXVIII.

Cardinal Bainbridge to K, Henry the Vlllth, a
Letter of Intelligence ; the practises of the French
at Rome,

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. II. foL 77- Orig.]

*^* In the former Series, the Editor of these Volumes, in commenting
upon the mysterious death of Cardinal Baynbrigge at Rome, in 1514,
quoted a few lines of a Letter ^m the Cardinal himself to King Henry
the Eighth, whidi Bishop Kennett had transcribed among his own ma.
nuscript Collections; and which certainly afforded ground to suspect
that Sylvester de Oiglis who then held the bishoprick of Worcester, and
who resided at Rome, was at least hostile to the Cardinal (with whom
he was supposed to act) in politicks^ if he did not instigate his murder.
The original of that Letter, which was thought to have been burnt, has
been since discovered, and is now laid before the reader entire.

Pleas itt your Grace att sundrie tymes hertofore
I have writen unto the same the demenours of sundrie
parsons that of dutie shulde in worde and deade be
your Graces trewe and faithful! subgiettes, whiche me
semyde shuld have been lokide uppon, and hath
hedretowardes been litill regardide by your Graces
most honourable Consaill. Albeitt, during the tyme
of myne aboode here in this Courtt, I noder can ne
woU desiste to signifie unto your Highnes suche thynges
as I shall perceve that be dissonantt owder^ to your
Graces honour or welthe of your Realme. If my

» either-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 227

writing shall be regardid by your Grace and your
saide moste honourable Consaill I shall be verrey glad ;
if nott I shall moste humblelie besiche your Highnes
t accept my goode mynde, and to remembre here aftur
that as your trew and faithfuU subgiett I dide my
dutie in that behalf. As touchyng my Lorde of
Worcestre your Graces Oratour of late tyme, his Se-
cretary, uppon the dirke nyght, was mett comrayng
furthe of the Franshe Kings Oratours housse, the
Busshop of Marsilia, with a torche light borne be-
hynde hym ; and wher his way towardes his Masters
housse lay straightlie by my gattes, he wentt oon odre
way homewarde by a secret bake layne, a goode space
from thence; hereof is trewe and honeste recorde.
The said Fransh Oratour is knowne manifestlie to-
wardes your Grace and Realme as greatt enymye, as
of his power is any odre within the Realme of France.
Your saide Oratour doithe use contynually the com-
pany of the Protectour of France, bdith in the Citie
and also in vynes and garthynges* withoutt the Citie,
boithe by day and nyght, wherof right honourable
men, your Graces frendes, haith att sundrie tymes
advertised me; and that he is more familier withe
hym then with any Cardinall of Rome. Itt is per-
fitlie known unto every Englishman within this Citie
that hath bene in company with your saide Oratour,
that noo thyng can be more odiouse unto hjnoa then to

« Vineyards and gardens.

228 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

here of any prousperous succession of your Graces
causes, or for to here ony honour spoken of your
Realme or subgiettes. What soo ever haith been
shewide here concemyng your Graces honour ower^
by writing from Englonde or odre places uppon your
moste noble actes and victories obteignyde ayamste
your enymes, he hath boith oppenlie and secretlie my-
nyshed itt by his wordes to th''extremitie of his power ;
this thynge is here manyfeste boithe to Englishemen
and odre. Your said Oratours Secretary shewide unto
a right credible person that his master, with the said
Protectour of France, did trihumphe and maike goode
chere togedre, using thies wordes ^ Latt thies barbarous
people of France and Englond every oon kill odre
what shuld we care therfore, soo we have their money
to maike merye withall here. Noo force of the Reste.^
Sundrie Cardinals, .and monye odre grett men also,
haith shewide me that they marvaill your Grace woU
use suche oon infamyde person to be your Oratour,
who is namyde here universally the Falsarie Oratour
of Englonde. I doubt nott butt that som o^ your
Graces Consaill woll say unto your Highnes that I
doo speke this uppon malice, as perauenture they have
saide hertofore, when I have likelie writen ayanste
odre ; and that I was mean to bryng hyra into Rome
in Pope Julis^ days. Also that I sollicitide the Popis
Holines that nowe is to admytt hym to the rowme of

* either*

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 229

your Graces Oratour, using hym conjunctlie with ihe
in your Graces causes unto nowe of late, and that I
have aunswerd your Highnes by letters by us boith
subscribide, thinking therby that of moche lesse con-
gruence I may thus writt ayanste hym. Verralie I
may nott say unto your Grace that I here towardes
hym any grett favours ; and that partlie for his un-
trouthe shewid towardes my self which I truste be nott
unknown unto your Grace and your most honourable
Consaill ; for wher in all my letters sentt unto your
Grace I uside boithe his knowlege, advise, and sub-
scription, he dide procure thynges of your Highnes
by his own writinges without owdre my knowlege,
consentt, or subscripcion, tho all I had like auctoritie
as he had, whiche butt oonlie for my trouthe and di-
ligence, knowne here in your Graces causes, hade been
to my moste extreme dishonour. Albeitt I bere hym
moche lesse favour for his untreuthe towardes your
Grace and Realme, whiche I dalie perceve more and
more. What soo ever I wrott ayanste odre men here-
tofore, I assure your Grace I wrott unto the same the
verray trouthe and no thyng els. Itt is of trouthe I
brought hym into Rome in Pope Julis days oonlie at
your Graces desire and commandementt, which was in
maner to my infyny te labours and busines. Att whiche
tyme, soo God be my help. Pope Julie shewide me
expresslie that (tho for your Graces saike, and partlie
at my desire, he was contentid to suffre hym com to,

280 OBIGIXAL LETTEBS.

Rome as a private person, never to be in office thare, ne
auctoritie,) he shulde undoubtidlie within short space
serve owdre your Grace or me or boithe as untreulie
as he hade doon hjrm* His Holines shewide the same
to th^ambassadour of Arragon in myne absence, as the
fiaid Ambassadour shewide me. I doo perceve the
saide raonicion somdeall commyne to passe. I pray
God that heraftur itt be noo warsse. In like maner I
movide the Popis Holines that nowe is for his admis*
sion as your Graces Oratour by your saide commaund-
mentt, and soo long as I see hym diligaitt in your
saide causes, perceving in hym noo untrouthe ne
suspicion, I uside hym accordingUe, and maide of hym
like reapportt unto your Grace But aftur that nott
oonlie by reapport of mony men, butt also that many-
festlie I percevide the contrarye, I nodre have soUici-
tide your causes with hym ne sufFnde hym to subscribe
my letters ne (your Grace nott offendide) I never in-
tende to doo during my lyve. Wherfore nott with-
standing ony evill will that I here towardes hym, uppon
my faith and trouthe I doo writt noo thing aganste
hym butt oonlie verray trouthe, and whiche that is
owdre manifeste or probable ; and wher latelie I shewide
unto the Popis Holines the letter from your Graces
Ambassadours my self sool, nott calling your said Ora-
tour ther unto, tho all itt was directide unto us boithe,
wherof I sentt you aunswer from his saide Holines ac-
cording to his commandmentt, verralie I soo dide oon-

OUIGINAL LETTERS. 231

He for the causes premiside. As touchyng the Breve
super nomine Christianissimi Regis, wherof I sentt
unto your Grace a Copie of long tymes passide Mdth
the Popis pleasour, also how he was contentide to'writt
your Grace withe the same stile in all his Breves that
he shulde directt unto you after that he knewe your
Grace shulde be contentide therwithe and that he wer
advertiside from you in that behalf, I doo gretlie mer-
vale that I never sithens had worde of your Graces
receving therof ne your forsaide pleasour ; by cause I
never couthe see your saide Oratour contentide with
thobtentt of the said Breve, ne that labour shuld be
made for speciall confirmacion therof, (whiche he ever
reaputide in maner as impossible to be gotten,) I can
therfore moche rather conjectour that by some crafty
waye he haithe been barr that your letters shulde com
unto my haundes for that intentt. If your said letters
have commyne unto his haundes oonlie, then I thinke
verralie he haithe sollicitide the matier rather aftur his
own apetite then for your Graces honour. Your Grace
shall receve with thies presenttes a letter directide unto
the same for my Lorde the Cardinall of Swices ais
Sedunen. I doo perceve by his sundrie letters latelie
sentt unto me that bothe his saide Lordship and his
contrymeji contynuythe perseverantlie in their goode
and perfitte myndes towardes your Highnes and your
moste blisside and honourable interprise, whiche I shall
besiche the blisside Trynitie to make fortunate, with

232 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

the prousperous preservadon of your moste roiall
and highe estate. From Rom6 the xx*** day of May
M.D.xiiij.

(Postscript entirely in the Car(linal*s hand.)

I doute not bot your Grace one your accustommat
wiesdome dothe persave what trought,love, and kyende-
nes is founde in strangers as wel touerts your Highnes.
as other of your subjectes in thees your grete affaires
and interprises, and that frome the highes degre unto
the loueste : thus I shall beseche Almyghty Jhu to
preserve the sayme and that it may be my fortone to
see your grace and feyde the sayme wher te good
memorij of Pope Julij wishit I shulde. Rome ut
supra by your mooste humble subjecte and beedman.

CHRI. EBORUM, CARDINALIS ANGLIiG.

To the Kings Grace.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^33

LETTER LXIX.

Charles Earl of Worcester to Cardinal WoUey : de-
tailing the particulars of an audience Jrom Louis
the Xllth, previous to the marriage with Mary of
England,

[ms. cotton, calig. d. VI. foL 19fJ.]

*^ From this and a succeeding Letter, we learn that the proposal for
an Interview with Henry the Eighth, between Ardres and Guisnes, of
which so much has been said in the former Series of this Work, was first
made in 1514, by Louis the Xllth. The amatory feelings of Louis
the Xllth., in his old age, are not unamusing.

Myne especiall good Lord, I humbly recomaund
me unto you, and according to your last lettre that
plesid you to sende me, datid at Sittyngbome the
xxvij^*^. dale of Septembre, I have this daye, at a good
leyser and a lone, spoken with the King, wiche gave
me good and longe audiens. Furst I shewid him at
lenght of the Ambassadours of Arongs ^ saieng, and of
his desires and offurs ; also of the Kinges Graces aun-
swer theruppon ; of the wiche aunswer I assure you
he wes veray glad and well contentid, and badde me
to ascertayne the King his good and kynde brother,
that he had and wolde gif the said King of Arogon

*■ Aragons.

234 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

scmblable aunswere, as he hadde shewid my felowes
and me before: and in lyke maner to the Emprour
and the Prince of Castell ; whansoever they send to
him, as he is credafely enformed that they woU shortly
doo. And he suare by the God that he belyvid on,
that he wold nowder medle nor conclude amytee, nor
entree in leage by waye of mariage or otherwise, with
any Prince leving,'^ till he hadde spoken with the King
my master and hadde his advyse and counsaill in the
same : and soo he desired me to write and a^^isare the
Kinges Grace. And if this promyse to me made con-
tent not his said Grace, he wold make hym any bonde
that he wold ; but his word shuld be assure as any
bonde in the world. Over this he shewid me that the
said King of Arogon sent him a blanke seall to put in
what he wold, and he send it him ageyn and aun-
swerd that he wold not medle with him but as is afore-
said. Moreover he said, that whansoever the Kinges
Grace wol have the nombre of men that he is bonden
by the treatie to have, he shal have them, and asmany
more if it be his pleasur to serve his Grace ayenst any
Prince leving, » noon reserved nor exceptid. And this
word he rehersid me iij. tymes, and badde me not to
faille to advertise his Grace therof ; and moreover he
said the Kinges Grace shuld name and appointe the
chief Leder and Captayne whom he wold, owther in
Englond or in Fraunce ; and he that wold disobeye

• ]iving.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 235

his commaundement, beyng his subgiet^ he shuld dye
for at a shameful! dethe. Also, he saithe that whille
he levithe, he wol doo nothing that may be to the hurt
or displesour of the Kings Grace ; nor leve the amy tie,
consideracion, and hertie love that is betwixt them, for
all the Princes leving.a My Lord I assure you this
word he spake as hertely as ever I saw any man speke.
After all this comunycacion, he askid me whan the
Kinges Grace and he shuld see and speke togeder,
and wher, for nowe ther wes nothing that he soo sore
desired, and for that cause he wold not goo further
than Pares or x leges abought, till he knewe the King
his brothers plessour. I aunswerd him es my fellowes
and I hadde aunswerd afore ; but he desired me that
I wold wryte to the King his brother that what tyme
that he wolde appointe, the wynter ones passed, he
wolde not faille ; and jdso that he desireth him to ap«
pointe the place andi> therof that he might be ascer-
taynede that he may make preparacion for it, and alsa
to have theryn further comunycacion. As fore^ as I
can percey ve, he wold fayne it were in some of these
Townes of Picardye, or else betwixt Bolayne and Ca-
leis, if the Kinges Grace will not come to some of his
Townes in these parties, or in Normandye.

I shewyd hym that I wolde not faille to ascertayne
the Kings Grace of his m)nide. As touching Jane
Popyncourt I wold a shewid him the billes signed, but

• living. <> So in the MS, : and time? bo. c f^.

236 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

in no wise he wold here more spiking of her, and de^
sired me as I lovid hym to speke nomore of her ; for
Jie wold she were brente, for my felowes and I hadde
shewid hym inowe of hur evill life. Moreover he said
that ther shuld never man nor woman be abought his
Wife but suche as shuld be at hur contentAcion and
plessour ; and that he spake for the said Jane, it was
at the sute and desire of my Lord Longevile, as he
tould me and my fellous before ; for he tould hym that
the Quene lovid and trustid hur above all the gentil-
women that she had abought hur : but if the King
made hur to be brent he shall do but well, and a good
dede.

My Lord I assure you he hathe a mervelous mynde
to content and plees the Quene, and synse he herd of
hur londing, wiche was this morneng, ther is nothing
•can displees him ; and is devysing new collers and
goodly gere for hur. Ther was in his chambre but
my Lord of Pares, Robertett, and the Generall, and
I, wher he shewid me the godeliest and the richest
«ight of Jowelles that ever I sawe. 1 wold never have
bilevid it if I hade not seen y t ; for I assure you all
that ever I have seen is not to compare to Ivj^. great
peces that I sawe of dyamonds and rubyes, and vjj.
of the grettest perles that I have seen, besides a great
nomber of other goodly diamonds, rubyes, balais,
and great perles ; and the worste of the seconde sorte
of stones be preysid and^coste ij^- ducates. Ther is

ORIGINAL LETTERS.

237

X. or xij. of the principall stones, that ther hathe ben
refusid, for oon of them oon honderd thousand du-
cates. And whan he hadde shewid me all, he said
that all shulde be for his wife. And another coffer
also was ther that was full of goodly gyrdelles, col-
lers, chenys, braslettes, bedes of gould, and other
dy verse goodly jewelles: but merely ^ lawghing he
said. My Wife shall not have all at ones, but at
dyverse tymes ; for he wold have many and at diverse
tymes kysses and thankes for them. I assure you he
thynketh every ower a daye till he sethe hur ; he is
never well but whan he herethe speking of hur. I
make no doubte but she shall have a good lyfe with
him, with the grace of God.

My Lord I have made him your humble recom-
mendacionsy and well at lenght shewid him all your
mater according to your Letter ; wheruppon he aun-
swerd me that the Letter that was sent was unknowing
to him, and soo said Robertett before me. But at
Pares it was made by the Counsaill and avise of the
Parlement for the mayntejoieng of his right of his
Souveraynte of Flanders. And his mynde was nor
never shal be to do that thing that shuld be to your
hurt or displesour, but to do that in hym is to do you
honour and prouffite ; and that if God gife hym life
ye shall knowe, for he repute you for oon of his spe-
ciall loveng frendes, and desirethe you to take noo dis-

* merrily.

238 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

plesor of that Letter, for in no manor of wyse he wol
suffre in that mater nor other to be doon contrarye
your wille : and moreover said, that, if ye wol, he wol
make the Electe to leve all his title and right to you,
for the mater is yet in his handes ; and tlierwith tx)ke
me by th'^ande, being present Robertett and the Ge-
neral!, and said that he knewe well that I lovid you,
therfor he put the mater in my handes ; if I wold saie
that ye wold have it, ye shuld have it ; and badde me
do theryn as I wold ; for soo it shuld be : of the wiche^
his saieng I hartely thankid hym in your name, and
aunswerd hjrm, that, of his good, kynde, loveng, and
favorable mynde that he bare you, with other good
wordes, as well as I cowde speke, that I wold avertise
you therof ; and than he said he wold wryte you a
Letter wiche he wold I shuld sende you ; but he in*
nowise woll wryte to my Lady, for he saithe he wol
not wryte to hur that he knowithe lovithe him not.
And this was the aunswer that I had.

My good Lord I am sory that I can do no better
in the mater, but what ye wol that I shall further do
in yt I pray you that I may be ^vertisid therof, and
in that and all other your causes to the uttermost of my
power I shall fulfill youre mynde, with the grace of
God ; whom I pray to have you, m3me especiall good
'Lord, in his blessid kepyng. Wrettyn at Abevill the
iijde. daie of Octobr.

My Lord as I was abought to close this letter the

ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^9

Generall sent me a Letter to sende you, wiche is an-
nexed unto this lettre, also Robertett sent me word
that he hathe sent you the Kinges Lettre that I shoold
a sent to you, and a lettre of his owen to you, pakked
in a packet of letters whiche he hathe sent to Mareny
bailly of Senlys : wich letters I make not doubte but
they wol come to your handes.

Assured yours to rny power,

C. WORCEST.

LETTER LXX.

The Earl of Worcester and Dr. West to King Henry
the Eighth, AJragnient only. A. D. 1514.

[mS. cotton. BRIT. MTJS. CALIG. D. VI. fol. 199.]

He gaf us right herty thanks, sayeng that we did
hym the moost singulier plaisor that we coude do;
and soo we departed for that night, for it was som*
what late.

Item, the said Monday in the momyng,a all thyng
was performed according to the ^d appointement, and
the Matrimony was solemnised by the Cardinall of

» Oct. 9th.

2i0 OUtGl^AL LETTERS.

. . . . , .a which songe the highe Masse. TheQuene
that day kept her state apart in a Chaumber with
certen Princesses at her table ende, and all th^am-
bassadours dyned in a Chaumber with the Due of
Bretaign. The residue of lordes, ladyes, and gentil-
women dyned in the greate Chaumber. And that
same day the Kyng gaf her a marvellous great pointed
diamond, with a rubye almost two unches longe,
without foil, which was estemed by som men to ten
thousand marcs.

Item, on Tuysday, the Kyng gaf her a rubie two
unches and an half longe, and as bigge as a mannes
fynger, hangyng by two chaynes of gold at every end,
without any foil; the value wherof few men coude
esteme ; and the same day we dyned with the afore-
said Due of Bretayn at his logyng, wher we wer right
honorably feasted and entretayned ; and after dyner,
he withdrew us in to a Chaumber apart, and ther he
shewed us toguedre his good mynde towarde your
Grace and the Quene your suster, according as we
have in our former letters writen to your Highnesse,
with soo good wordes and soo herty affection, that it
moved all the herers as we doute not but the Lordes
at their comyng hom wole shewe your Grace : for he
desired them that sithens the Erie of Angolesrae might
not com to your presence to beyre therle of Angolesmes
hert to you, which he said shuld be yours dur3nig his

* a blank in the original, bd.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 241

lyf, and ye shuld never make werre with any Prynce
christened, but if his Maister wold gyf hym licence
he wold be at your Grace is comaundement with all
his power^ with many other good and herty wprdes
which we doute not but the Lordes wole at large de-
clare to your Highnes ; and at aftir none we rode to
the Court, and there went to communicacion with the
Cbunsell upon suche matiers as we had in charge, as
well for the deliverance of the Juelles, Plate, Stuff, and
other thynges which is performed according to th*'in-
structions ; as also to knowe the state of the Queue and
the noumber of the persones that shuld remaign with
her in service, and with what wages or pension they
shuld be entertayned ; wherein they aunswerd us that
they wold speke with the Kyng in those matiers, and
shew us his plaisour the next day, Wednesday.

Item, Wednesday, the Kyng gaf the Quene a great
Diamont a tablet, witha great rounde Pearle hangyng
by it; and every day he gaf her also Rynges with
stones of greate estimation : and the same day we dined
with the i)uc of Alanson, and at aftemone we rode to
the Court and comoned with the Counsell of the afore-
said matiers ; wherin such determinacion was taken as
we doute not but the said Lordes wole shew your
Grace at lenght. They shewed us also, the same
tyme, that the Kyng wold departe the morrowe, Thurs-
day; and soo he shewed us hymself, wherfor the Lordes
seyng that all thynges wer perfited according to their

VOL. I. SER. 2. R

S42 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

instructions, thought good to take their leyf that
night, and soo they did.

Item, forsomuch as ther was a generall clause put
in the last Instructions, that all thVmbassadours shuld
retume agayn from Abbevill and goo no farder, we
therfor, willing to fulfill your Graces commaunderaent,
and doutyng wheder we that had speciall comaunde-
ment of your Highnesse, aswell by mouth as by our
Instructions, to sollicite the brief Coronacion of the
Quene, and also to be present at the same, shuld re-
turn home, which we wold gladly have doon if it might
have stonden with your plaisure, or elles shuld remayn
according to your Graces former comaundement, com-
moned with my Lord of Norfolk and other of your
Graces Counsell here, desiryng theyra to shew us if
they coude your plaisure in that behalf. And the said
Lord of Norfolk said that we shuld doo according to
your said former comaundement ; and that the generall
clause extended not to us, but to theym that came at
that tyme with the Quene ; and therfor, according to
your Graces comaundement and their advise, we shall
endevor us for the acomplisshement of the same to the
best of our powers, and from tyme to tyme ascertaign
your Grace of such newes as shal be occurraunt here.

Item, this Friday, my Lord of Norfolk and other
lordes and gentilmen, depart from this Town toward
your Highnesse. The Frenshe Kyng maketh sein^
blaunce as he wold depart every daye, but yet he lyeth.

OKIGINAL LETTEES. 24S

still ever excusing hym by his goute. The ^Quene is
continually with hym, of whom he maketh asmuch, as
she reporteth to us herself, as it is possible for any man
to make of a Lady. And thus Jhesus have your moost
noble Grace in his blessed tuition. Wrjten at Abbe-
vile the xiijth. day of October

By your moost humble servantes
and subgiettes

'. C. WOECESTR.

NI. WEST.

LETTER LXXI.

The Earl of Worcester to Wohey^ giving the King of
France'' s rea^misjbr the return of Lady Guildford.

[mS. cotton. BRIT. MUS. CALIG. D. VI. foL 201. Or%gJ\

*J* The dismissal of " Mother Giildeford*' as she was stiled, with
nearly the whole of the female retinue of the Queen of France the mom-
ing ^ter her marriage, has already been detailed in the former Series ^ of
these Letters by the Queen herself. From this Letter it appears that the
person meant was the Lady Guildfoad: and we have here the King's
reasons for insisting upon her departure.

Myne especiall goode Lorde, I hertely recommaund
me unto you. The ij^^^ daye of this present monethe
I receyved your letter dated at Eltham the xxij*^ daye

• Vol. i.pp. 115, IIT.

R 2

244 OEIGINAL LETTERS.

of October, by the wiche I perceyve and knowe the
Sjng my Soverain Lordes mynde and plessour what I
shuld do touching the retorne of my Lady Gilford.
Also what your mynde is that I shuld do for your
mater of Toumay. My good Lord, as touching the
retorne of my Lady Gilford, I have doon to my power
and in the best waye that I cowde to the Frenche
King ; and he hathe aunswerd me that his wife and
he be in good and perfaite love es ever any two crea-
tures can be, and bothe of age to rewle them selfe, and
not to have servantes that shuld loke to rewle him or
hur. If his wife nede of counsaill or to be rewlid, he
is able to do hit ; but he was sure it was never the
Queues mynde nor desire to have hur ageyn, for assone
as she came a lond, and also whan he was maried, she
began to take upp6n hur not oonly to rewle the Queue,
but also that she shuld not come to hym but she shuld
be with hur ; nor that noo Lady nor Lord shuld speke
with hur but she shuld here hit ; and began to sett a
murmure and banding amonges Ladies of the Court :
and than he sware that ther was never man that better
loved his wife than he did, but or he wold have suche
a woman abought hur, he hadde lever be without hur ;
and he said that he knewe well whan the King his
good and loveng brother knewe this his aunswer, he
wold be contentid ; for in nowise he wold not have hur
abought his wife. Also he said that he is a sekely
body, and not at altymes that he wold be mery with

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 245

his Wife to have any strange woman with hur, but oon
that he is well acquentid withaU, afore whom he durste
be mery ; and that he is sure the Quene his wife is
content withall, for he hathe sett abought hur nowder^
lady nor gentilwoman to be with hur for hur Mas-
tresj but hur servantes, and to obbeye hur comaunde-
mentes. Uppon which aunswere, seing he in no wise
wold have hur, I aunswerd him agein soo that he
was content, and soo I make noo doute but the Einges
Grace wold be, for the aunswer was well debated or I
gave hit, es his Grace and you shall knowe at my
comyng, wiche I trust shal be shortly ; for I purpose
to departe homward the xij^^ day of this moneth : for
all the charge that my felous and I, and also that I
was chargid with my good Lord of Suffolk and my
Lord Marquis, wol be doon and concluded asmocheas
can be at this tyme, within this iij daies. Es touching
your mater of Toumay, I did sende you from Abe-
ville the Letter directed to my Lady of Savoye ac-
cordinge to your desire, also the Electe was coniaunded-
not further to medle nor noon of his Officers ; and in
lyke wise ther was a Letter sent to the Frenche Kings
ambassadour at Rome noo further to medle ageinst
you, and uppon your said last letter I have spoken to
the said King according to your desire, and he is well
content' to. recompence the saide Electe and hathe
comaundid the said tresourer Robertett and the Ge-

• ncilhcr.

246 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

nerall of Normandye to speke with the President of
Parlement, fader of the said Electe, to aggree for the
said recompence ; wiche they wold doo without fawte
this day or to morowe at the furthest : and also ther

shall goo another Letter to his Ambassadour to Rome ;
and the said King badde me to sende him word that
without faille the said Electe shall make al suche releas
or writing as ye can desire for your suertye therof.
Or ever I deperte I woll knowe a perfaite ende theryn,
and after the advyse and counsaill of master Dean of
Wyndesore I wqII cause to be made writing, if he
thinke that any may be made, for your suerjtie, before
ye sende to Rome ; or else I woll order the mater soo
that at altymes whan ye wol sende for them that ye
shall have theym. My good Lord, the King here
hathe desired me to write to you that he hertely desirs
you that in his name ye desire his good brother and
cousin, if God sende hym a sonne, that he may be
godfader as he was last ; for in soo doing he shall do
hym a right great plessour. And he wol sende a good
and honorable personage to be ther ageinst the Queues
del3rver^nce, to represent his personne, and to do the
acte in his name ; also the said personne shal have auc-
torite to speke, commie, and conclude for ther m.eiyng,
and of other secrett maters. And of this he desires
you that he may be ascertayned of his good brothars
mynde and plesier be your writing ; for assone as he
hathe aunswer he woll dispache his said ambassadour.

OKIGINAL LETTEE8. ^7

My Lord the Frenche Quene tould me that she loved
my Lady Gilford well, but she is content that she
come not, for she is in that case that she may well be
without hur, for she may do what she woUe. I pray
God that soo it may ever contynue to his plessour,
whom I pray to have you, myne especiall good Lord,
in his blessid keping. Wrettyn at Saint Denyse the
vjth daie of November.

Assurly yours to my power

C. WORCESTER.

Myue especiall good Lord my
Lord Archebusshop of Yorke.

LETTER LXXIL

The Duke of Suffolk and the other Ambassadors in
France to the King^ giving an account of their
Negociationsy the Coronation of the Queen^ <S*c.

[mS. cotton. BRIT. MU8. CALIG. D. VI. foL 203. Orig,\ ■

Please it your Grace, Sir, the last day of October
the Kyng and Quene came to Sainct Denys, and send
to Parys to us the Tresourer Robertett, prayeng us to
remayn there the furst and seconde day of November
for the great Solemnitie of the Feastes of Alhalowes
and All Soules, and on Friday the third day of No-

248 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

vember he prayed us to com to Sainct Denys aforesaid,
and then my Lord of Suffolke and my Lord Marques
might deliver there your moost honourable letters and
shewe their credence, which the Frenshe Kyng wold
be glad to here, and then we shuld also know his de-
terminate mynde as well for the Coronation of the
Queue as for her Entre into Parys. Ths said Friday
aboute x. of clok we came to Sainct Denys according
to the said appointement, and imediately we wer sent
for into th^ Abbey, and conveyed into a chaumber
wher we dyned ; and after dyner we wer brought into
the Kynges presence, wher after your moost herty
recommendations and deliverence of your moost ho-
norable letters by my said Lord of SufFolke in due
forme made, the Lordes, according to their instructions,
gaf thankes, aswell for the honorable recevyng and
metyng of the Queues Grace at her furst arryvaill at
Bolayn, and specially in his own person at Abbeville,
as also for the lovyng and honorable entertayneng of
her ever sithe, and for the good recuoil^ doon to your
Ambassadours late beyng with the Queue at Abbevile
aforesaid.

Item, they shewed hym that by your ambassadours
letters, that wer here befor, your Grace understode how
well mynded and desirous he was for th^Enterview to
be had, betwixt your Highnes and hym ; and therfor
to thVntent that he might understand that ye wer

» regale, welcome.

0EI6INAL LETTERS. 549

of no lesse mynde towards the* same then he, your
Grace had geven speciall comaundement to theym
and to my Lord Chaumberla3m, and us that wer here
bjfor, to commune, treate, and conclude of the tyme
and place most convenient for the same ; and also of
the maner and form therof, and with what noumbre
either partie shuld com. And as touching this point, he
hertely thanked your Grace, sayeng that his Counsell
shuld forthwith goo with us to comune therupon : and
after som comunication had with his Grace for the
Quenes Coronacion, which he said shuld be upon Son-
day folowing, and th'Entree into Parys upon Monday,
we wer brought into the Due of Longuevilles chaum-
ber, wher was the Cardinall of Pree, the said Due of
Longuevile, Mons^. Bussaige, the Tresourer Rober-
tett, and the Generall of Nomiandie ; and after som
comunication had there, we made overture of the said
metyng to be at your Town of Calys, persuading, by
all reasons that we coude devise, that place to be
most convenient therfor. Howbeit they wold in no-
wise agree therto, sayeng that it was not convenient
for divers consideracions, and specially the weyknes
of their Maister considred. They said they trusted
that your Grace wold not desire hym to labour so
fare ; and after som replication to the same, we lefte
that matre undertermyned, and fell to Comunication
of the tyme, and astouching that poynt, forsomuch as
Esterday fallethe the viij th day of April, the nigh-

2B0 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

nesse of the said Feast and your passaye over seye
oonsidred, we thought it might not be before the msS^
of the said Monyth, wherunto they wer somwhat agre-
able for that t3rme ; and therwith they fell into comu*
nication agayn of the place, de8ir}mg us to make over-
ture of some other place ; and seyng that they wold
in nowise agree upon Calys, we made overture of
Sainct Peters, sayeing that that was the furdest place
that we had in Commission to treate upon, to th^entent
we might the rather induce theym to condescend upon
the same ; and albeit they wer not contented with that
place, yet they said they wold comune with the Kyng
bothe of the place and tynie by us mensioned, and
know his pleasur, and therupon commune with uis
agayn, and at this poynt we departed for that tjrme.

Item, Sonday the v.th. day of November, the Quene
was crowned^ and bifore she came to the Churche, the
space of an hour, Mons^. de Mombrancy^ came to my
Lord of Sufiblkes logyng, wher we were all toguedre,
and desired us to come to the Church, to take up our
places ordened for us or the presse came, and soo we
did. The said place was ordened at the on ende of
the Quere, on the right side of the highe aulter, right
afore the place wher the Quene shuld be ano3mted ;
and within an hour after she came in, accompanyed
with a great companye of noblemen and ladyes ; the
Due of Bretaign led her, and bifore her came the Due

« Montmorency.

ORIGINAL LETTEES. 261

of Alanson, the Due of Bourbon, the Due of Lon-J
guevile, the Due of Albany, the Due df Bourbon Is
broder, the Countie of Vaundon, and the Countie of
Sainct Poll, with many other noblemen and ladyes, in
soo great noumber that it were to Ipnge to write it,
and also we cannot obtayn the knowlege of theym all.
And furst the Queues Grace knelld bitbre the aulter
in a place prepared therfor, and there the said Cardi-
nail of Free anoynted her, and after delivered her the
Scepter in her right hande, and the vierge of the
hand of Justice ^ in her lyfte hand ; and after that he
put a ryng upon her fynger, and fourtly he sette the
Crown on her hed^ which doon, the said Due of Bre-
taign led her up a stage made on the lyfte side of the
aulter, directly before us, where she was sette in a
chayr undre a throne, and the said Due stode behynde
her holding the Crown from her hed to ease her of
the weight therof ; and then began the highe masse
songen by the said Cardinall, wherat the Queue offred,^
and after agnus she was houseld, ^ and, masse doon,
she departed to the Palays, and we to our logyngs to
our dyners. Howbeit, bifore our depart^g, the tre-
sourer Robertett desired us to com agayn aftCT djmer,
and then we shuld know the K3mges plais^ upon our
said matiers.

Item, immediately after dyner we came to the Duo
of Longueviles Chaumber, wher we founde the said

* The virga, or rod of justice. »» L e. reeeived the sacrament

25S OEI6INAL LETTERS.

Cardinal!, the Due of Longueville, Mons**. de Tre-
mcnlle, the Busshop of Parys, Mods\ de Piennez,
the treasourer Robertet, and the Generall, and after
som comunication we fell agayn to reasonnyng of the
said tyjne and place, and at last they smd that the
Kyng had appointed Mons^ de Piennez that knew the
cuntrey to be ther presente, and to name some place,
indifferent wher the said place might be, and he named
Arde or some place betwixt that place and Guysnes,
wherunto we wold not agree, but oonly stake upon
Sainct Pieters ; and with that they withdrewe theym
apart and counselled togueder a good season, and then
they came to this poynt that your Grace shuld come
to your Town of Dover ther too rema3m, and the
Frenshe Kyng to Bolayn, and to send Comissioners
afore on bothe parties to view a ground upon the
lymyts of your Marches, betwixt Arde and Guysnes,
or elles betwixt Bolayn and Calys, moost mete for
your said Metyng and Entervieu ; and to agree aswell
upon the same, as also upon the noumber that shall
come with bothe parties, for it is to be supposed that
they that shuld vieu and see the grounde shuld better
appointe the said place and noumber according to the
daunger of the same, then they that wer there and
knew not the said ground ; and of thils their overtinre
they prayed us to ascertayn your Grace, sayeng that
it was the Kyng their maisters mynde, and more over
to desire your Grace that the said Interview might be

OEIGINAL LETTEES. 253

as nighe the begynnyng of the monyth of April as
your Grace might conveniently, forsomuch as he en-
tendeth to send his armyee over the Mounts in Merche,
for the recovery of his right of Ast and MiUayn, and
folowe theym hymself assone as he might, as fare as
Grannoble,^ because he wolde be nighe theym, which
they said he wolde in nowise doo till he had seen your
Grace ; wherof they desired us t'ascertayn your High-
nes, trusting tliat ye wolde therfore the rather hast the
matier, lest by reason of his longe taryeng his enter-
prise this yere might be of small eflTect ; for the heats
of the yere comyng upon his men of armes, might doo
nothyng, and after som reasonnyng with theym, we
drewe our self apart aild debated the matier amongest
oureself ; and forsomuch as they said it was the Kynges
resolute mynde, and therby your Grace shuld have
more avantage as we thought then the Frenshe Kyng,
we agreed to ascertayn your Grace of this his mynde
at their instaunt desire, and soo we departed and went
to the Quenes chaumber.

Item, Monday the vjth. day of November, the Kyng
departed aboute vij. of the clok in the momyng to
Parys, and the Quene departed aboute ix. of the clok,
and dyned at a Village two myles oute of Parys ; and
at after none she made her entree into Parys aforsaid
with greate solemnitie; but the company of noble men
and other was soo greate, and she was soo often mette,

• Grenoble.

S54 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

furst by the Provost of the Merehauntes with the garde
of the Town bifore hym, second with the Provost of
the Justice and the Counsell of the Town, third with
the Chaumber of Accompts, fourth with the President
of the Parliament, fifth with thUniversitie, and divers
other which wer to longe to write, that it was vj. of
clok at night or she came to the Palays, wher she did
lye all night ; and ther was a right greate bankette.
Tuyseday, the next day, she dyned at the said Pa-
lays, and at after none came with greate triumphe to
Tumelles where the Kyng is loged ; also on Sonday
next, by the grace of God, the Justes shall begynne.
And thus Jhesus preserve your moost noble Grace.
Writen at Parys, Tuyseday the vijti^. day of No-
vember,

By your most humble subgiettes
and servantes,

CHARLYS SUFFOLK, T. DORSETT, C. WORCESTER,

T. nOCWRA,
NI. WEST.

To the Kynges Grace.

OBIGINAL LETTEES. , 2S5

LETTER LXXIII.

Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to WoUey. The
Queen ofFra/nce crowned. Albamfs intention to go
to Scotland. The Justs finished.

[mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CALIO. D. VI. fol. 160*. Orig.\

Myne owne good Lorde, I recommend me unto
you; and so it is that I have receyved your Letter
writen at Grenewiche on AUe Soulen daye, the ij^<*.
day of Novembre, wherby I perceyve that the Kinges
Grace was well contented with my writing. My Lord
this Letter shall be to advertise you of alle suche
thinges as I can know sjms my last writing, the whiche
was the iij^^. daye of Novembre. My Lorde so it is,
that on the Sonday after the writing of my last letter,
the Queue was crowned right honorably ; and at after
noon we and the Frensh Kinges Counsaill went to-
geder, and determyned according as we wrote unto
the Kinges Grace yn a lettre. My Lord syns the
writing of that letter, the Duke of Albany came to my
lodging, and saide that he was come to speke with me,
and that it was the King his maisters mynde that he
shulde breke with me of a mater ; and I said that I
wold be content to here what the King his maisters

S56 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

pleasure was by hym, or by any other body ; and so,
apon that, he began, and saide that the Einges mynde
was that he shulde goo into Scotland, and that he
trusted that his going shuld doo good, for he entended
to reduse theym of Scotland to be contented to take
such a Peas as shuld be for the King my maisters ho-
nour, and for the suertie of the children ; and because
that there shuld be no suspecion, he had maryed, and
he wold leve his wife in Fraunce, and also he wold
come by the King my maister, and wold retorne assone
as he myght possible, for he must goo over the Moun-
tayns ; with many othre wordes. And so whanne I had
herd hym alle that he wolde saye, I shewed unto hym
that I had no commyssion to medill of suche maters ;
and thenne he said that the Frensh King wold speke
with me in the mater ; and I said that and his Grace
did, I wold make his Grace suche an answere that his
Grace shuld be content : and so, syns, I herd no more
of the mater. How be it, my Lord Chamberlayne
and Doctour West shewed me, that the Frenshe Kinges
Counsaill had bien in hand with thaym upon the going
of the said Duke ; and, apon that, we and they toke a
conclusion to advertise the King therof in all haste ;
and if so were that the Frenssh King wold be in hand
with me, I shuld doo alle that is in me possible to let
his going ; and I ensure you I woll doo soo, for I pro-
myse you he entendith not well as fer as I can per-
ceyve. My Lorde as touching the othre bus)mes se-

ORIGINAL LETTERS. . 267

Crete, I woUe goo in hand therewith in all the haste I
can ; because I wolde come awaye, praying you that
I have no more busynes to let me ; for I ensure you I
have many thinges to shew the King that I will not
write.

My Lord it was soa, that three daies before my
Lord Chamberlayn went, the Quene shewed to me
and to my Lorde Marques divers thinges, the whiche
we woll shew you at our comyng; wherby we per-
ceyve that she had nede of some good friendes about
the King ; and so we called my Lord Chamberlayne,
my Lord of Saint John's, and Doctor West, and
shewed them parte of the mater ; and we shewed unto
them that we thought it best that we shuld sende for
my Lord Longuevyle, the Busshop of Saint Paules,
Robert Tete, » and the Generall of Normandy, and
shewed unto theym that the Quene had sent for us
and desired us that we wold send for theym, and
desire theym on hir behalfF and in the name of the
King oure maister, that they wold be good and loving
to hir ; and that they wolde g3rve hir counsaill frome
tyme to tyme how she myght best order hir selfF to
content the King, wherof she was moost desirous;
and in hir shuld lak no good wille ; and bicause she
knew well they were the men that the King loved and
trusted, and knew best his mynde, therfore she was
utterly determyned to love theym and trust theym, and

• Robertet.
VOL. I. SER. 2. S

258 0KI6INAL L£TTE!ES.

to be ordred by thair Counsaill in all causes, for she
knew well that thoes that the King loved must love hir
best, and she thejnn : and so we did. And whenne we
had shewed the3rm all this on the Quenes bihalff, they
were very well contented, and said that they wold
make reporte unto the King what honorable and
lovyng request she had made, the whiche they said
wold content h3rm very well. And they thankid hir
Grace for hir good mynde toward thaym, and said
that they wold doo in every thing hir request, and to
accept and take hir as theire Soverain Quene, and to
counsaill hir on every behalff to the best of thair
powers to doo the thing that shuld pleas the King
thaire maister. Of which maters they have promysed
us to assure unto hir Grace whansoever it shal be hir
pleasure; and within thies ij daies our entencion is
to bryng theym unto the Quenes Grace according to
our comunicacion and appoyntment. My Lord at the
writing of this letter the Justes were doon, and blissed
be Grod alle our Englissh men sped well, as I am sure
ye shall here by othre. And thus I comjrt you to the
Holy Ghoost whoo ever preserve you. Frome Parise
the xviij day of Novembre

by your assured

CHABLTS SUFFOLKE.
To my Lorde of Yorke.

QEIGINAL LETTEltS. ^9

Thc Justs so emphatically alluded to at the dose of this Letter, re»
quire a short comment

Polydore Vergil insinuates that at the time when Henry the Eighth
created Brandon Duke of Suffcdk, he had the intention of making him his
brother-in-law.

The French, when the Duke accompanied the Princess Mary to be
Queen of France, shewed an extreme jealousy of him ; and if some of
our writers may be credited, they would have been very glad to have de*
molished both him and others ; him {larticularly, as will be seen in the
following passage from Hall ; though '^ blessed be God'* says the Duke,
'' all our English men sped welL*'

Having described the Entry into Paris, Hall tells us, *^ On the monov
began the Justs, and the Dauphin with his aydes entered^the field ; the
apparel and bardes were cloth of gold, cloth of silver, and crimson velvet,
kanteled together all in one suit. They shewed themselves befine the
King and Queen who were on a goodly stage, and the Queen stood so
that all men might see her, and wondered at her beauty, and the King
was feeble, and lay upon a eouch for weakness. Then «ntered the
counter-part by a rail, for cumbering the place. These Justs continued
three days, in the which were answered three hundred and five men of
arms, and every man ran five coulftes, and with sharp spears; divert were
slain, and not spoken of. The English lords and knights did as well as
the best of any the other. At the Randon and Toumay, the Duke of
Suffolk hurt a gentleman that he was like to die. The Marquis struck
Mounsire Grew, an Albanoys, with his spear, and pierced his head-piece,
and put him in jeopardy. The Duke of Suffolk, in the tourney, over-
threw a man of arms, horse and man ; and so dyd the lord Marquis an-
other ; and yet ihe Frenchmen would in no wise praise them. At this
Tourney the Dauphin was hart*in the hand) so that he could not perform
his chalenge at the barriers, and put one of his ayde in his room. The
next day after began the Fight at the Barriers, and because the Dauphin
was not present, the Duke of Sufit^ and the Lord Marquis DorSet that
day begun the field, and took the barriers with spears in hand, abiding
all comers. The Dauphin brought a man secretly, which in all the
Court of France was the tallest and the strongest man, an4 he -was an
Alma3me, and put him in the place of an other person, to have had the
Duke of Suffolk rebuked. The same great Alma3me came to the barrs
fiercely, with his face hid, because he would not be known, and bare his
spear to the Duke of Suffolk with all his strength, and the Duke him re-
ceived, and for all his strength put him by strong strokes from the bar-
riers, and with the but-end of the spear Htrake the Alnoayne that he
staggered ; but for all that the Almayne strake strongly and hardly at
the Duke, and the judges suffered many mo strokes to be foughten than

S60 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

were appointed ; but when they saw the Almayne red and stagger, thed
they let fall the rail between them. The Lord Marquis Dorset, at the
same time, even at the same barre, fought with a gentleman of France
that he lost his.spear, and in manner withdrew. When the rail was let
fall, these two noblemen put up their vizors and took air. And then
they took swords with point and edges abated, and came to the banrien,
and the Almayne fought sore with the Duke, which imagened that he
was a person set on for the nonce, but the Duke by pure strength took him
about the neck, and pomeled so about the head, that the blood issued out
of his nose, and then they were departed ; and the Almajme was conveyed
by the Dauphin lest he should be known. Then two noblemen of
England, that day, fought valiantly divers feats, and the Frenchmen
likewise nobly them defended ; but it happened the Lord Marquis
one time to put, for his ayde, his youngest brother called the Lord
Edward Grey of the age of nineteen years, and to him was put a gentle*
man of France of great stature and strength, to th* entent to pludL him
over the barrs, but yet the young Lord was of such strength, power, and
policy, that he so stroke his adversary that he disarmed him, all the face
bare.

'' Thus was these enterprises finished to the laud of all parties, and th^
Englishmen received much honor, and no spot of rebuke, yet ^ley wer&
privily set at^ and in many jeopardies.** •

LETTER LXXIV.

Louis the Xllth ofFrcmce to King Henry the Eighth^

expressing his contentment.

[MS. COTTON. CALIO. D. VI. foL 146. Orig,\

MoN bon Frere, Cousin, et Compere, a vous tres-
affectueusement, et de si bon cueur que faire puisy

» HalU Chron. edit. 1648. Hen. VJII, fol. xlix.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 261

me recommande. J'ay par ce porteur votre Officier
d^Armes re9eu les Lettres que m'avez escriptes du
ix™e de ce moys, et par icelles entendu le plaisir que
vous avez eu d''entendre par mon Cousin le Due de
Suffort de mes nouvelles, et le contentement que j'ay
de la Royne ma femme votre bon seur, laquelle s'est
jusques icy conduycte et conduyt encores joumelle-
ment envers moy de sorte que Je ne sauvoyr que
grandement me louer et contenter d'elle ; et de plus
en plus Taymer, honnorer, et tenir chiere, parquoy vous
pouez estre seur que ma voulonte est et sera a jamaiz
de continuer, et la traicter en toutes choses par fa9on
quelle sen contentera et vous pareillement. .

Et auregart du recueil et bonne chiere que mon dit
Cousin de Suffibrt vous a dit, que je luy ay faicte et
dont vous me merciez, il n'est nul besoingj mon bon
Frere, Cousin, et Compere, de ce me faire merciz ;
Car je vous prie croyre que oultre ce que je S9ay le
lieu quil tient a lentour de vous, et lamour que luy
portez, ses vertuz, meurs, ho nestete, et bonnes condi-
cions meritoient quil feust honnore et recueilly trop
mieulx quil na estre toutesfoiz pour honneur de vous,
je luy ay fait la meilleur chiere que possible ma estre.

Au surplus en tant que touche les matieres secrectes
desquelles icelluy mon Cousin de Suffort m'^avoit
parler, et sur lesquelles je luy avoye fait response
telle quil vous a declaree par mes Ambassadeurs que
j^ay depeschez et envoyez devers vous, vous en auez

862 OlIGINAL LETTE18.

peu entendre plus auant, vous. priant tresaffisctueuae-
ment apres les avoir ouyz y prendre resolucion et d^oelle
m^advertir le plus tost que faire se pourra, pour seloa
cela me gouvemer et conduyre, et cependent en en-
suy vant oe que par vos dites lettres vous me mandez.
Je tiendray les choses en suspens sans y prendre au-
cune conclusion, vous advisant que a bonne et mauvaise
fortime je vueil vivre avecques vous, et non seulle*
mcnt entretenir la bonne amytie et allience qui est
entrc vous et moy faicte et juree comme sauez mais
icellc inviolablement garder et observer le plus tost
Taugmenter et accroistre que la diminuer, esperant
que vous ferez le semblable de votre part Priant
Dieu sur ce point mon bon Frere, Cousin, et Compere
quil vous ayt en sa saincte gard. Escript a Paris le
xxviij jour de Decembre.

Votre loyal Frere, Cousin, et bon

Compere

LOTS.

A mon boa Frere et Compere^ le
Roy d'Angleterre.

ORIGINAL LETTBaSk 96S

LETTER LXXV,

Isabella of Arragon^ Widow of Frederic King of
Naples J to the Queen of Fram^ey imploring assist^
ancefor herself and her sons, Ferdinand and Air
phonso.

[ms. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 60. Orig,^

*^* Although no superscription appears to this elegant Letter, there
can be no doubt to Tvhom it was addressed. The alhision in it to the
affliction of her whose husband was styled Chrittiauiitimuty and who is
earnestly solicited to recommend to her brother, either by Letter or when
they met, the case of Isabella and her chil4ien, undoubtedly points at
Mary Queen of France.

The resignation of the Crown of Naples by King Frederic in 1501,
when Louis the Twelfth and Ferdinand of Arragon had united to divide
his dominions between them, is an Event well known to History : a9
well as that Louis and Ferdinand, though they had concurred in making
the conquest, differed about ^ partitian of it.

Frederic retired to France, where he was allowed to reside in the duke-
dom of Anjou, upon a pension of thirty thousand ducats. He died at
Tours, Nov. 9^^ 1604.

After his death, Isabella, who was his second wife, was ordered to
quit France with her children. With the whole of her wanderings we
are unacquainted : *' Ego et fiilil mei— patria et ImperiQ dejectt.»mendi-
cantibus quamsimili, totam ferme Europam, tot annoi, nullis certis se-
dibus peragramus infelices." She retired first to Sabioneta in Lombardy,
to her sister Antonia, who was manied to Francisco Gronzaga; and fdfter-
wards to Ferrara, whence the present Lettier is dated, and where both she
and her younger son Cassar, who is not mentioned by name in this Lettei^
died. Isabella died in 1633.

His proxime decursis temporibuB, notum factum «9t
mihi quanta humanitate et cl^ooeatia Alfonsum filium

S64 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

meum Infantem de Aragonia f ueris prosecuta ; quod
etsi regio more fieri consuevit, tamen pietati tuK
maxime qua felicissima domus tua semper claruit,
merito illud ascripsi. Sperabamque cum conjugis tui
Christianissimi favore ac natu, turn vero te nostra in-
commoda miserante, maximam calamitatum mearum
partem, ac natorum meorum, quamprimum minui
posse, ac molliri. Sed rerum humanarum volubilitate
plane deceptus, miserandus homo continue afflictatur.
Cujus rei Ego et filii veri testes esse possumus, qui
patria et Imperio dejecti, miserabiliter, mendicantibus
quam simiUimi, totam ferme Europam, tot annos,
nuUis certis sedibus peragramus infelices. Jure igitur
ipsius Regis obitum moeremus, tectunque deflere libet.
Superest tamen ut memores simus conditionis hu-
manae, qua infirmius ac inconstantius nihil esse vi-
detur; quamobrem ego, et ipsi filii mei, omni con-
solatione indigentes, rogamus te, etiam ac etiam, ut
prudentiam tuam, regiamque fortitudinem, non oblita
acerbitatem tanti casus qu£e te decet sapientia mitiges,
fortique animo feras. Et quoniam dare patuit ut
praedictum est, erga filium meum dementia tua pre-

camur te ut cum scribas ad serenissimum Regem
fratrem tuum, aut si quando ilium te convenire et
alloqui contigerit, ei nos diligentissime velis commen-
dare, prsecipue ac seorsum Ferdinandum Aragonium
primogenitum meum, qui ut scire te credimus inno-
center in vinculis habetur, ipsumque Alfonsum solita

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 26S

dementia foveas rogo. Vale Domina mea, nostri
memor, quibus interdum etiam ad vitam necessaria
utinam habere liceret. xi. calen. Aprilis. Ferraria.
Mo. D. XV.

E. M^. V. obsequentissima

InfeUdssima Ysabella •
DE Abagonia..

LETTER LXXVI.

Tlwmas Lord Dacre and Dr. Magnus to King
Henry Vlllth, upon Queen Margaret's delivery
of a daughter. A. D. 1515.

,[m8. cotton, calig. b. VI. foL 110. Orig,]

*^* This Letter relates to the birth of Margaret afterwards Countess
of Lenox, the mother of Henry Lord Damley, and the grandmother both
of James the First and Arabdla Stuart.

There is something arrogant if not contemptuous in it The
writers thought it quite unnecessary to send a special messenger to the
ELing to announce his sister's safety after her delivery : and though they
mention the christening as taking place the next day after, they omit all
notice of the name which had been given to the child. Margaret was out
of favour at this time. They merely asked his Grace's Pleasure, that they
might ^' motion and move her accordingly."

Pleas it your mooste noble Grace to wete, that the
thride daye nexte and ymmediatly after the date of
our Letters laste sent unto your Highnes by pooste^

S66 OEIGINAL LSTTSE8.

beyng the viij^^ daye after that the Quene of Soottet
your 8U8ter came and entred into this your Realme,
her Grace was delivered and brought in bedde of a
fare younge Lady, and, with suche convenient pro-
visions as couthe or mought be had in this baron and
wyld ^ountrey, was cristenned the next daye after;
and every <thmg done accordingly as apperteigned to
the honor of the same, the soden tyme, by Groddes
provision so chaunsed, well considred. Gladde wold
we have bene to have advertised your said Highnes of
the Queues said delyveraunce, but our causes here
were so intriked with miche combre and busjmes, as
herafter ensewing it doth appere, that we couth not
ascertane your Highnes of the same till this tjrme,
oonles we shuld have sent up a poste piurposely for
the Queue's said deliverance, whiche we thought was
not gretely requisite but if there had bene furthre
matier touching your causes to have bene sent up unto
your Highnes.

Forsomuche as the Quene is lyeng here is uneasfidi
and costelye, by occasion of farre cariage of every thing,
we be mynded to move her Grace to remove to Mor-
peth, assone as convenyently she maye after her Grace
have sought the Churche and be purified. It may
like your Highnes to signifie your mynde and pleasur
unto her said Grace how ye think ye woll have her

OEIGINAL LSTTXES. 867

further to be ordored that we may modon and move
her accordingly.

Sir Christofer Garveis came to Morpeth imme-
diatly upon the Queue is delyveraunce and by our
advice hath contynued there with suche stuff as your
Grace hath sent to the said Quene your sifter, till
Sondaye laste paste, whiche daye he delyyered your
Letter, and disclosed your credence, gretely to the
Queue's comforte. And for somiche as the Quene
lieth as yet in childe bedde, and shall kepe her cham-
bre these thre wbokes at the leiste, we have advised
the said Sir Christofer Garvds to remaigne at Mor«
peth till the Quene is comyng thidder.

And then her Grace may orden and 'prepare every
parte of the said stuf after her pleasure, and as her
Grace semeth moste convenient. And Almighty God
have youe our mooste dradde Soveraigne Lorde in
his mooste blessed preservadon. At Harebottell the
xviij**^ day of October.

Your humble subjectes
and servantes

THOMAS DACBE.
T. MAGNUS.

Unto the Kinggs mooste
Noble Grace.

S68 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXVII.

Letters Parent of King Henry the Eighth Jbr a cha-
ritable collection toward the relief of Prisoners in
Barbary. A. D. 1515.

[mS. DOKAT. BRIT. MUS. 4619. ART. 93. FAT. 7* HEN. 8. P. 2. M. 23.

PRO JOHANNE HOPTON.]

*«* The Brief, as it is usually called, or Letters patent for a charita-
ble collection,- is of ancient standing in England : and, in earlier times,
was a more efficient remedy for misfortunes than at present.

A remarkable Letter of this sort occurs in the Donation Manuscript
in the Museum, 4614. foL 106. as early as the reign of Edward the
Fourth. It is a Licence to Sir Manuel Jagubin citizen of Constantinople,
*' of the housholde of the Emperour of Orekes, and of his Gounsaill, that
he for his redempcion and of his wife and children, which at the subver-
sion of the said Citie were taken prisoners by the cruel Turke, may gadre
within this our Realme the charities and almes of suche of our subjectes
as to the same intent wiU departe with him of their goodes."

Other protections for gathering of alms, to persons who had suffered
by fire, in the first of Richard the Third, occur in the Harleian Ma-
nuscript 433. foil. 148 b. 151.

The piratical States of Barbary arose only at the beginning of the
sixteenth Century, so that it is probable that this Letter, us far as the
redemption of slaves is concerned, is one of the earliest of its kind.

Henry by the Grace of God Kyng of Englond
and of Fraunce, and Lorde of Irelond, to all Arche-
bisshoppes, Bisshoppes, Dukes, Marquesses, Erles,
Barons, Knyghts, Squiers, and all other oure true
and lovyng subjectes of this our Reame of Englond,

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 269

or others resiaunte within the same, good Cristen
people, thies oure letters herying or seyng gretyng.
Where our Ship lately called the Criste beyng
freighted into Levant with wolles and other mar-
chaundises, by oure trusty and welbeloved subjectes
John Aleyn, Hugh Cloptoii, and Richard Fermour,
of oure Citie of London marchauntes, was, in her
saillyng beyonde the. straites upon the costes of Bar*
bary, encountred and sett upon by certeyn Foystes
and Galeys of the Mores and Infideles, ennemies ta
Cristes feith, where, after long conflict bitwene them^
and diverse slayne of bothe parties, by the great mul-
titude of the same Infideles all the Christen men
beyng in oure seid Ship, except the nombre of xxx^L
persounes, were slayne and murdred; and the same
our Ship, and Cristen Men in her, was taken and
conveyed to a Citie called Touneges^ in Barbaric^
and there she and all the goodes in her confiscate;
and the seid Cristen men put into great captevitie and
thraldome remayning prysoners in irons, and havyng,
as we be credibly infourmed for there susientation
but brede and water, and yet scante therof to sus-
teygne there pore living, to the great heyynes and
discomforte as well of them and their frendes as all
other good true Cristen people. In consideration
whereof, and for asmoche as we doo verailly thynk
it were thyng moost meritorious to redeme the seid

» Tangier, anciently called Tinjia.

870 OBIGINAL LBTTEES.

Cristen prysonners oute of th'ondes of the seid In«
fidelesy we late you wete we have auctorised and gyven
licence, and by thies presentes we auctorise and geve
licence to oure trusty and welbeloved servaunte John
Hopton, gentilman hiussher of oure Chambre, that he
by hymself or his deputie or deputies, havyng thies
oure lettres; or the verey copie of them made by a
Notary under his signe, and subscribed by the said
John Hopton, maye aske, geder, levie, and receyve
of all maner personnes within this oure seid Reame,
of what degree or condition soever they or any of
theym be, all suche summes of money as they of their
charities, good dispoacions, and frewylls, woU geve
towards the relief and redem3mg of the seid Cristen
men oute of the thraldome and captivitie of the seid
miscreantes and infideles, at all tymes frome the daie
of the makyng hereof durjmg the space of thre Yeres
then next and immediatly ensuying. Wherfor we
woll and desire you, and natheless commaunde all
you and every of you not onely permytte, and suffer
the seid John Hopton, and his seid deputie or de-
puties, to use and enyoie the hole effecte of this oure
auctorite and licence, but also that in execution of the
same ye be to hym and them favoryng, aydyng, and
assistjmg, and puttyng therunto youre good and cha-
ritable helpyng handes, whereby we doute not ye
shall not onely do thjoig moche to the pleasure of
God, and thencreace of youre merittes, but by the

OBIGINAL LETTKHS. 871

same ye shall ministre unto us right acceptable and
thankfull pleasure. In witnesse whereof, &c.

Yeven under oure Great Seale at Otford the xiiij.
die Augusti.

Per ipsum Regem et de clat. &c.

LETTER LXXVIII.

William the IVth, Duke of Bavaria, to King Henry
the Eighth^ recommending Wolfgam,g Richart, who
had perfected an " Opus Musicale.^

[ms. cottok. vxsf. f. III. foL 99. Orig.\

*«* Sir John Hawkins in his History of Musick, vol. ii. p. 533, says it
is somewhat remarkable that Mosley in his Introduction to Harmony has
taken no notice of our Henry yill*^ as a composer of Music. £rasmu8
relates that he composed offices for the Church; Bishop Burnet has
vouched his authority for asserting the same ; and there is an anthem of
his for four Voices, ' O Lord the maker of all things,* in the Books of
the royal Chapel, and in the Collection of Services and Anthems pub-
lished by Dr. Boyce, which every judge of Music must allow to be ex-
cellent. *• It is true that in a Collection of Church Musick, intitled
< The first Book of selected Church Musick, collected by John Barnard,
one of the minor canons*of the Cathedral Church of St Paul,* and pub-
lished in the year 1641, this Anthem is given to William Mundy, but
the late Dr. Aldrich, after taking great pains to ascertain the audior of
it, pronounced it to be a genuine composition of King Henry VIII*\
The fact is, and there is additional evidence of it existing, not only tiiat
Henry understood Musick, but that he was deeply skilled in the art of
practical composition ; for in a collection of Anthems, Motets, and other

• It b also in Dr. Tudway's Manuscript Collection, marked H. R«

S72 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

church offices, in the hand writing of one John Baldwin of the choir of
Windsor, a very good composer himself, which appears to have been
completed in the year 1591, is a Composition for three voices, with these
words, *• Henricus Octavus,* at the beginning ; and then ' Quod * Henricas
Octavus,' at the end of the Cantus or upper part : ' Quam pulchra es et
quam decora*.*'

The HarleianMS. 1419, A. foL 200, contains the List of Henry the
Eighth's Musical Instruments remaming at Westminster, '' in the chardge
of Philipp van Wilder," in an Inventory of Groods taken at the different
Palaces immediately after the Elings death.

They consisted of Five Pair of '^ Double Regalles,'* ^ two of them bear,
ing the King's Anns and Queen Jane's : thirteen pair of '' Single Re-
galles ;" numerous pairs of ^' Virginalles" both single and double ; ^ two
pair of " Claricordes ;" ** nineteen " Vialles" great and small ; * *' Item,
four Gitterons' with four Cases to them, they are cauUed Spanishe
Vialles;" two Oitteron pipes of ivory tipped with silver; "Item,;diij.
Gitteronne pipes of woodde, in a bagge of leather, they are called C5r-
nettes ; « a Gitteron and a Lute in a case together ; Flutes innumerable,
some of Ivory tipped with gold and enameled black ; a Case with ten
flutes in it caJled Pilgrim staves ; Crumhomes ; ^ Recorders, great and

* t. e. Quoth.

>> Rkoallks— A«/;xii, a small portable organ, with one row of pipes. A double
R^al was also portable, but had two rows of pipes. Mersennus (Harmonie Vniver-
aellej says in one place, that the stop vox humana took the name of Regal : in another
he describes the Harmonica, and calls it a Regal. There can be. no doubt, however,
that the above is the correct definition. There is even yet a *' Tuner of the Rogala"
in the Royal Household, whose business it is to tune the organs in all the Chapels
Royal.

* YiROiNALLBS. The Virginal was that whkh afterwards took the nameofSpinnet*
and differed from it only in shape. The Spinnet was triangular ; the Virginal oblong*
like our small piano-fortes.

<> Claricordes. The Claiichord is described by Kircher, in his Mtuurgia Uni-
versalie, as a Virginal. Luscinius throws something like strips of doth over the
strings, to damp their sounds, and render the instrument more fit for the use of a
tranquil Convent. That the Virginal and Clarichord were similar to Spinnets— or, in
fact, to small harpsichords— appears from the description given of them by Lusciniui*
{Mtuurgia, seu Piajiia, MuHca, 1686, p. 9.) ** Omnia haec instrumenta habent plectra
(sic enim ilia vocant) chordas diversis in locis contrectantia :" dec.

« V1AL.LB8— Ftofo, comprehending under this term both large and small. A Cheti
of Viola was a set of instruments, comprising a treble, tenor, and base Viol : or what
we now denominate, a Violin, Viola, and Violoncello.

f Gitteron. Cittern, or Guitar ; not of the Spanish kind, but such as was in use
in England about 30 years ago. The Gitteron Pipes which are mentioned, are believed
to have been pipes or flutes by which the Guitar was accompanied.

K C0RNETTE8. Comet, a bent pipe, yielding a harsh, powerful sound. There were
treble, tenor, and base Comets : the latter Mersennus exhibits in the exact form of
our modem Serpent.

J» Cru&ihorn. This was a treble Cornet: Jcrum signifies, in German, bent.

OEIGlNAt LETTERS, S73

small, some of Ivoiy, and some of walnut tree ; * one great base Recorder
of wood; a pipe for a taberde; nine Shalmesj^ a Bagge pipe with
pipes of Ivory, the bag covered with purple velvet ; two fair pair of new
long Virginals made harp.fashion<: of Cipres, with keys of ivory, having the
Kings arms crowned, and supported by his Grace's beastes within a
garter gilt, standing over the keys ;" a Flute and " two Phiphes <* of blacke
Ibonie ;*' other flutes of glass ; various '' short Instruments called Dul-
ceners ;" « and a litde Venice flute ; ' with « sondrle Bookes and SkroUes
of Songes and Ballattes.**

Two of King Henry the Eighth's own Music-Books, ornamented in
the superbest manner of his time, are still preserved among the Royal
Manuscripts in the Museum. One, MS. Reg. 8 G. vii, on the first page,
has the Badges of the King and Katherine of Arragon richly illuminated
beneath the Royal Arms. The other, marked 2 E. xi, was written in
1516. This also has the Royal Badges, with the Marguerite or
daisy and the Maby^oW, in honor of his sisters.

Music was an accomplishment by which Henry the Eighth's courtiers
recommended themselves. Polydore Vergil says of Richard Pace "»!»•
sicus et facetus incredibiliter animum Regis delectabat." Wolsey saw
the fascination, and despatched Pace upon a foreign Embassy. ^

Henry the Eighth's children, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth, all played
upon the Lute and Virginals.

* Recorders. The Recorder was a small English Flute« or Flute a bee, and an-
swers precisely to our Flageolet. The Base Recorder was^ according to Kircher«
analogous to our bassoon.

^ Shalmbs. The Shawn was the base Comet.

c Virginal, harp-fashion. This was an upright instrument. Mersennus gives the
figure of one, which Sir John Hawkins calls an upright Harpsichord. But the
former copied nearly the Clavieimbalmn of Luscinius, which is only a Spinnet, or
Virginal, having the strings placed vertically.

d Phiphks. Fifes.

• DuLcsN BRs. Dulcimere. Lusdnius gives a cut'of one, which he names the Haek-
bret. It is an instrument still to be seen in toy-shops, consisting of a few strings
stretched over an oblong box, and struck by two sticks. It must have been of con-
siderable dimensions in the time of Lusdnius ; for he says " ignobile fiSt," on account
of the loudness of its sound.

f The Venice Flute is an Instrument which seems to be imknown to all the writers,
on Music.

For the explanations here given of the different kinds of Musical Instruments
formerly in use, the Editor has been indebted to the kindness of William Ayrton, Esq'.

g " Pacseus enim vir bonse frugi, in senatu regio recte consulebat, item optime
moratus, literatus, muaicus et facetus, incredibiliter regis animum delectabat, i. quo
in rebus etiam gravioribus lubenter audiebatur. Atqui quanto Principi charior fiebat,
tanto ei inimidor erat Volsaeus, qui apud r^em primus omnino ferre volebat, atque
idcirco hominem specie ejusmodi obeundarum legatiouum, longissime ab Henrico, a
domo, a patria abfuturum enixa curaba't." Polyd. Vei^. Augl. lib. xxvii. p. 65. edit
Lug. Bat. 1661.

VOL. I. SER. 2. . T

S74 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Illitstbissime Rex, domine et affinis plurimum
observandef salutem et felicitatem maximam, sese
quoque deditissimum &c. Volfgangus Richart qui
olim illustri Priacipi et domino Domino Alberto Pa-
latino Reni superioris et inferioris, Bavarise Dud, ge-
nitori nostro charissimus fuit, et a nobis non minus
diligitur, cujus opera cum in aliis tum potissimum
in rebus bellids usi fidem singularem ac praedpuam
disciplinse militaris peritiam facile perspeximus. Is
cum Opus Musicale quoddam artis suae regiis oculis
visendum exhibuisset, quam humaniter exceptus, quam
liberaliter ac magnifice tractatus fuerit, nobis exposuit.
Praeterea significavit se perquam benigno sermone ac
honestis qonditionibus invitatum fiiisse, ut vestrae illus-
trissimae dominationi suam locaret operam, necque ei
tum per voluntatem sed facultatem defuisse, quod quae-
dam opera imperfecta et inelaborata habuisset, quas
sibi, antequam in Angliam proficisceretur, illustris
Princeps Christoferus Marchio Badensis, excolend^ lo-
cavisset, et ad ea perficienda a vestra regia dominatione
discessisse; nunc autem perfectis operibus omnino
decrevisse suum ad vestrarum lUustr. dominationum
maturare reditum. Sed cum is, ut supra diximus,
nobis plurimum dilectus, tum propter singularem ejus
modestiam atque observantiam, tum quod fortis ac
manu promptus existit in re militari, qui etiam delec-
tum militum facere, exercitum ducere, et adem more
nostro instruere optime teneat, dignum existimavimus.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. £75

egregiis et singularibus virtutibus prseditum, vestra?
Celsitudini commendare ; eum igitur vestrse illustr.
dominationi plurimum commendamua ea commenda^
tione quae potest esse diligentissima. Quicquid enim
vestra Regia dominatio beneficii in eum contulerit, id
erit nobis gratissimum : nee diffldimus pro omni ob-
sequendi genere totis viribus se diligentissimum obse-
quiosissimumque prsestituruni. £tsi nobis nulla un-
quam commentatio cum illust. dominatione vestra
fuerit, attamen humanitatem, mansuetudinemque ves-
tranim, tum ex Oratore vestro tum etiam ab omnibus
audivimus praedicari quare, eidem V. illust. Dn. nos
plurimum commendamus. Quae nostra Operai pro ar-
bitrio uti potest, sicuti forte ex Oratore cui montem
et animum nostrum declaravimus, explorata habuistis.
Valeat vestra Regia Excellentia. Dat, in oppido nos*-
tro Monacen. pridie Idus Januarii, Anno Cbristianift-
simi partus 1 516.

Dei gratia Wilhelmus Palatinus Reni

superioris et infei^ioris, Bavarian DuXf &c

VILHELMUS PUX BAVABl^E &C.

per numum propriam*

Illustrissimo Principi Doinmo
Henrico Francise, Anglisque
Regi, inclito Domino et affini nostro
plurimum observando.

T 2

^6 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXIX.

Margaret Queen of Scotland to Lord Dacre in an-
swer to the charge that she Jiad written to the
French King Jbr the return of the "Duke of AU
ha/ny ; acknowledging it and pleading her necessi-
ties. A. D. 1520.

[mS. cotton. CALIGULA B. II. fol. 195. Ortg. ENTIRELY IK aXHEEK

MAROAItET*8 HAND.]

My lorde Dakare, I commend me hartly to you,
and vit ze that I hafe resajnred your vrytenn fre Jon
Sympson your sarwand and onderstandy te it at length ;
and vhare ze remember me in your vrytenn of my
labor and dessyre made on to the Kjrnges Grace my
brothar, ahd to my lorde Cardynall, and thyr Cownsal,
apon sundery consideraciones to tliem declared, and spe-
cyaly for the well and surti^of the Kyng my Son, and
for the recover3mg of my autorite of thys Realme and
Tutrixship of the Kyng my Soon, according to the test-
ment of the Kyng my housband ; and that the Due of
Albany than being in to Scotland shuld be removed in
to Fraunce again, and not retoume in to Scotland;
My lorde all that I dyd tha3rr I thout for the beste,
as the Kynges Grace my brothar and hys Cownsel
knawes ; for I trastyd that the Lordys of thys rawlme

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 277

and I shuld hafe agryed veil, and I to hafe broukyt

passably my nawn as thay are bownd to doo be thayr

vry tenes and sellyes ; » and than thay myght not have

no cause to excusse them to the dwke. Howbeit I am

not the betterar, for I vasse never se ewel awnsuard nor

obayd of my landyes as I am sen my last comyng in

to Scotland, as I hafe ofton tymes vr^'^en both to the

Kyng my brothar, and to my lorde Cardynall, and

You. Howbeit I gat ne remedy, and I dyd schaw you,

my Lorde, in my vrytengs, that I dyd vryt to you

vylke ze haflPe, ^ that and I gat not shortly helpe that. I

most doo what the Dwke and the Lordys of thys

rawlme vhol hafe me to doo ; for I have nen here that

vyl helpe me of my complaynt, nor doo me justys; so

that I may not lyf to my honowr ; and my lyfeng is

here, I man cast me to plesse thys raulme; allsvay,

my Lorde, whare ze vryt to me to knaw gyfe I have

send ony vryteng to the Kyng of France for the fur-

dryng of the Dwke of Albany's comyng in to Scotland,

my Lorde thayr whas a letar vryten in to Frence to

the Kyng of France from me be the specyal dcssyr of

the Dwke and the Lordys, vysche I myght not deny ;

for thay sayd it vas for the veel of the Kyng my Soon

that and ze var in a nothar Rawlme vhare ze schuld

lyf your lyfe, ze vould doo that ze myght to pies

them soo that thay schuld not have eny mystrust of

• writings and seals. ^ which you have.

278 ORIGINAL BETTERS.

you ; and soo most I, for and I schuld refws to have
yryten vhan I vas desyrd, the Dwke and the Lcmlys
vhold haf thowt that I had stopyd hys oomyng, and
tha}rr throw I myght get ewel ; and thus I trust my
lord that the Kyngs Grace my brothar, and my lorde
Cardynal, vyl remember as I stand in thys rawhne.
And in laste vryteng that I hat from the Kyng my
brother he commandyd that I schuld doo no thyng that
the Lrordys myght have ony ocassyon to oomplayne of
me, yysche I trust I hafe don. My Lord I pray you
to rememb}rr that I dyd vryt to you, I vas at syche a
pownt that I most a layd my j wellys for fawt of mony,
for I am not awnsuerd of no part of my lifeng; and
had not bene the Cowntrowlar Robart Barton I had
bene schamyd or now, for I haf not to fynd the ex-
penssys of my hous, and I am as sobar as can be.
And sopoB it be ewel to me, it is dyshonor to the
Kyngs Grace my brothar as veel as me. Bot the on-
kjmdnes that I fjmde doth me more ewel nor ony thyng
in the varld, for I see veil what pownt that ever it
stand me on, I vyl get no helpe bot fajrre vourdys.
My lord ze most pardcm me that I vryt so scharpe, for
it towchys me nere : and God kype you. At Edjm-.
browh the fowentyn day of Jwly

your frend

MARGARET R.

To my lord Dakre.

ORIGINAL L5TTSR8. ^9

LETTER LXXX.

Lord Thomas Dacre to Queen Margaret ; a Letter
of reproof; fient to her by the Laird of Barrow.
A, D. 1621.

[ms. cotton. cal)o, b. VI. fol. 329. b.]

*«* The boldness of Loid Thomas Dacre in the Affidra of Scotland
has been mentioned in the former Series of these Letters* The reader is
now to see him in the character of a man charging his Sovereign's
sister with misconduct toward her husband ; and reminding her ^^ what
dishonorable bruits were spoken of Her Grace in Scotland."

Madame, in most lauly ^ise I recommende m^ unto
your Grace. And where as by my writing sent unto
youe by my servant William Hathrington, I advertised
your Grace of the King my Soverain, your broders,
high pleasure, thWecte wherof was that his Highnes is
righte sory that your Grace is not aunsweried of your
dueties according as it is paste in contracts betwii^t his
Highnes and the King your Son and his Coup3eill, npt
doubting (if ye lose not your owne matier youf e self)
but ye shalbe by meanes of his Grace recompensed of
your hool dueties with th^arreragi^s. Wherunto your
Grace made none aunswere but only l)y worde of
mouthe, which was right displ^asaunt to bis said
Highnes. Wherefore at this tyme I sende unto your

^80 ORIGINAL LETTEES.

Grace my servaunt the lard of Barrow this berer,
whome I know ye truste, and is an old servaunt of
yours, whom I have ordeigned to declare unto your
Grace certein credence, beseching your Grace to geve
unto h}rm favorable audience, and as ferm credence
as ye wold do unto my self. For, upon my con-
science, I wold be as glad to do unto your Grace
pleasure and service as any subject that my said
Soverain your broder hath within this. his reame, as
knoweth the holy Trinite &c. At Harbottell the yj***
daye of Marche.

Instructions yeven by Thomas lord of Dacre
to his trusty and welbiloved servaunt the lard of
3errow Jhr his remembraunce^ to be shewed and
declared unto the Queues Gra^e of Scotland, At
Harbotell the vjth day of Marche.

Furste ye shall shew unto her Grace, that inasmoche
as it is appointed and agreed that certein grete per-
sonnages shall cum up in ambassade from the Kinges
Grace her son, autorizate by consente of the thre
estates of his Realme, to comune, treate, and conclude
of good peax, or of further prorogation of the treux,
it is thought good by the Kinges Highnes my Sove-
rain, her broder, that her Grace shew and declare in
what things as she is greved, as well of her disobey-
saunce as of the arreragies of conjunctefee to that

ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^1

purpose, or any conclusion be had of the peax, that
her Grace may be provided fore and aunswered
according to suche^promisse and contracte as were
made unto her Grace (at her laste entre into Scot-
land) betwixt the king my said Soverain and the
King her son under his great Seal, by consent of the
Due of Albany and of the thre estates of his reahne of
Scotland.

Item ye shall shewe unto her Grace that the said
Due of Albany holdes her with fare wordes under
color ; and by dissimulation causeth her Grace to be
aunswered of a parte of her dueties; to that purpose
that she shuld not lay it unto his charge that her
Grace is not answered of hier said dueties, forbicause
that his hand (as tutor) is set to the Book of Con-
tracte of her laste entre into Scotlande, made under
the grete Seal, that her Grace shuld be obeyd and
aunswered of her conjunctefee, and restored to all her
bagges, jewelles, and moveable goodes to her Grace
apperteignynge.

Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, that it is
thought that the said Due of Albany, under color,
holdethe her with fare wordes and promisses, wherby
that her Grace shuld not be provided fore in this new
Peax if it fortune to be taken, and what perill and jeo-
pardie it is to her if her Grace shuld not be provided
fore in this said Peax, I refer that to her discretion.
And also the said Due chalengethe the iiij^ parte of

S82 OBJ6IXAL LXTTXE8.

her canjuttctefee to be his enheritaunce, that is to say
th'ISrldome of Marche, and is reabled » to the same by
acte of parliament, wherof his fader was atteynted ;
which may be well knowne unto her Grace if she woll
not be blynded.

Item ye shall shew unto her Grace that it is
thought marvellous that she shuld here so grete favor
unto the Due of Albany seing her Grace is requeste
made unto the king my Soveraigne lord, and labour
made to my lord Cardinalles Grace to move his
Highnes, that the said Due shuld not cum into Scot-
land, aswell for the suretie of the king her sonne as of
herself; seing the subdein departure of the prince
her son, and that incontinently after the said Due
proclaymed hymselfe Prince of Scotland; and that
also the said Dukes fader tooke upon hjrm and usurped
to be king ageinst his elder broder, being King, and
in the tyme of his usurping made diverse knightes.

Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, that I doubt
not but it is in her remembraunce that the King her
husband (whose soule god pardon) in his tjrme wold
never take the said Due as Due of Albany, forbicause
of the pretense that his fader made to the Crowne of
Scotland.

Item ye shall shew unto her Grace that it is cumyn
to the knowlege of the King my said Soverain, that
her Grace is departed from my Lord of Angus her

> rc-abled.

O&IftlNAL LSTTXE9. 28S

husband, contrary to all good order and th'aggreament
made betwixt her and my said lord by the good and
vertuous fader ffi*er Henry Chadworth ; and also the
comune brute rynnethe that her Grace departed from
Edinbrugh by night, and there was met without the
Towne by Sir James Hamylton being dedely enmy.
to my said lord of Angus and by hym conveyd to
Lithgow.

Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, that it standeth
not with her honor to leve her husband by counseill
of any man, and as it is thought by counseill of the
said Due of Albany, geveing her Grace faire wordes
and promisses, under color wherof her Grace woll be
deceived at liength, which peraventure woll shortely
appeare, and then it woll be hard to be amended.

Item ye shall say unto her Grace to call unto her
remembraunce how the King my late Soverain Lord
her fader of noble memory (whose soule god pardon),
maried her Grace into Scotland for that purpose to
have a perpetuall Peas, and that the issue of her bodie
shuld be King of that realme, wherby and bireason of
the nerenes and proximitie of blood betwixt my said
Soverain that now is, and her said issue, a perpetuall
peax shuld grow : and now to leane to that counseill
that by all liklihode is not good and prouffitable for
the continewance of the same, what hurte and reproche
shall cum of therof I refer to the wisdome and discre-
tion of her Grace.

S84 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, the keping that
the King her son is in is right susspectious, seing that
her Grace cannot cum at hym but with a few persons
with her : and that his pers(»i alonly is in the keping
of the said Due, except that every quarter ones there
Cometh a Lord to have the name therof : and aswell
his Scholemaister, as all other persons that ar officers
about hym, ar of the said dukes appointeing, and not
of the Lord is that is above ^ hym which attendeth his
quarter.

Item ye shall say unto her Grace, to call unto her
remembraunce of wherof she is cumyn, and of what
Howse, and that there is few Scotts men that woll
yeve unto her fruitefull counseill, but onely for their
singulare weal and pruffit ; wherfore, good it were to
take summe regarde to suche as be naturally borne to
geve her Grace good counseill, and to lye all dissimu-
lation apartc, and to remembre what dishonorable
brutes ar spoken of her Grace in Scotland, in the
leving of her said husband and folowing the advise of
suche as finally may, and of liklihode shalbe her de-
struction, bothe in Jbme and otherwise^ which cannot
stonde with the pleasure of God nor with the King

my said Soverain's honor. ^

Item, finally ye shall shew unto her Grace that in
thus ordering herself in the premisses, neither regard-
ing her ownc honor, the suretie of the King her son^

• i. e. over.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. S85

ne yet of her said husband or of her self, her Grace
may not loke for any favor at the King my said Sove-
raines hand ; for it is thought she is sore abused under
color of fare promises whiche be but illusions; and
finally shall bring her Grace in the displeasure of Gt)d
to her dishonor and undoing at liength.

There are other Papers in the Scottish Conespondeuce, which speak
in terms still plainer of Margaret's infidelitj.

In the Instructions and Commission for my lord of Dunkeld to
be shown to the King's Grace of England on behalf of the Earl of Angus
his kin and friends, (MS. Cotton. Calig. B. vi. foL 204 b.) we find

^' Alsua we think and knowis by Experience that the Quene by evill
and senistre counseill is mekill indinet to the pleasure of the Duke in a}
maner of thingis ; and ar never sundrie, but every day to gidre owther
forrowe nowe * or aftre, and, as it is supposed, he is indendit a divone be-
twix the Erie of Angus and the Quene."

In the opinion upon these instructions, '^ under the correction of ihe
King's Highness *' given by Lord Dacre and signed by Aim, he sayfe,

'' As unto the fourth article, it is of trough as I am credeably enforme^
by myn Espials which I have ther. And moreover the said Quene has
caused laubor be made by diverse persons to th'Erle of Angus to be con*
tent with a divorce ; and he shall have for his good will therunto the fo-
rest of Etrik, parcel of the Comuntt fee, which is to the value of xij C.
marcs Scotts by yere. And I, heryng herof, has shewed to the said Erie
such persuasions that I have him bodely sworn upon the holy Evangelistii
that he shall never consent thereunto without my advise.

'' As imto the fifth article, it is trough as it is allegied by the said
Lords, as I know by m3ni Espiall : and over that ther is merveillous
grete Intelligence betwene her and the Duke aswele all the day as miche
of the night. And in maner they sett not by who knowe it And if I
durst say it for fere of displeasure of my Soverain^ they ar over
tekdre ; wherof if your Grace examyn the busshop of Dunkeld of his
consciens, I trust it will shew the troughe.'

• before noon.

>»

S86 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXXI.

BicJuzrd Pace to Cardinal Wolsey^ concerning a
new Boole of Martin Luther, and the King's zeal
against Luther.

[mb. cottok. vitell. b. iy. foL 96L Orig,'[

Pleas itt your Grace at myne arivall to the Kynge
this momynge, I founde hym lokynge uppon a boke
of Luthcrs, and hys Grace schewde unto me that it
was a newe werke off the sayde Luthers. I lokydde
uppon the title theroff and perceived bi the same that
itt is the same Boke put into pr3nite, whyche your
Grace sende unto h3rm by me wretjm. And upon
suchc disprayse as Hys Grace dydde yeve unto the
sayde boke I delivrydde the Popis BuUe and hys
Bryffe broght in my charge opportune, and with thp
whyche the Kynge was well contentidde : here at
lenght schewynge unto me that it was verraye joyose
to have thys tydyngis from the Popis Holynesse at
suche tyme as he had takyn uppon hym the defynce
off Christis Churche wyth his penne, affore the re-
cepte of the sayde tydyngis ; and that he wull make

an ende off hys boke wythin thiese and

desyrynge your Grace to provide that wythinne the

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 287

same space all suche as be appo3mtide to examine
Luthers boks maye be congregated to gedre ffor
hys Hynesse percevynge : and bi suche thyngis and I
declarydde unto hym be the Popis bryffe that thys
matier requirithe hasty expedidon, wull take the more
payne for to make an ende therin the soner, and is
condescendydde and agreable to every thynge de-
syrydde by your Grace ; that is to saye to wry te hys
lettres to th'Emperor and the Princes Electors, and to
sende also suche a person with the same as schalbe
seen most meate for that purpose ; and to sende hys
Boke not oonly to Rome, but also into Fraunce and
othre nacions as schall appere convenient So that all
the Churche is more bounde to thys goodde and ver-
tuxe Prince for the vehement zele he beiith unto the
same, than I can expresse.

As touchinge the sayde Brjrffe hys Grace is sin^
gularely well contentidde therwyth, and rede itt every
worde at hys secunde masse tyme, and aftre dyner
schewede the same unto my Lordes off Canturburye
and Duresme wyth greate prayse and laude theroff.
As to the sayde Bulle hys Grace schewede hym selfe
verraye well contentidde wyth the cummynge off the
same ; howebeitt as touchynge the publication theroff
he sayde he wolde have itt well cxaminydde and di-
ligently lokyd to a ffore itt were publyschydde.
Hereunto I answered sayynge that your Grace, my
lorde off Canturburie, my lorde off Duresme, wyth

288 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

othres by your Grace appoyntidde, schulde acoom-
plysche hys mynde therin, and that your Grace wold
nott publyshe the same unto suche tyme that ye
hadde made hys Highnesse priveye therunto. My
lorde of Duresme wolde have cummyn unto your
Grace, but the Kynge wolde not suffer hym so to
doo, but commaundydde hym to tarry here for
th^examinacion off certajoie things off Bukkynghams
servantes. My sayde Lorde sendith unto your Grace
a Lettre wretyn bi the Kynges commaundment to
suche as schall see to the .... ^ of the sayde Duks
house durynge hys a ^

And thus Jesu preserve your Grace in longe and
continuall prosperitie. Wretyn at Grenwiche thys
xvj off Aprile by your Graces most humble faythfuU
servant.

Syr Richarde Weston signifieth unto your Grace
that the Kynge doith well approve suche things as
you communydde wyth hym thys mom3mge.

•charge? k/. absence.

0BI6IKAT. LETTERSr. S89

LETTER LXXXII.

Si7^ Tfiom'as More to Cardinal Wolsey^ upon the

Affairs of Scotland,

[ms. cotton, calig. b. VII. fol. 67. Orig.\

Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised
that I have presented and redde un to* the King's
Grace your honorable Lettres directed un to myselfe
and written the xvij^^ day of September, wherby his
Highness very greatly rejoyced the valiaunt acquytaill
and prosperouse successe of th'erlis of Anguish and
Arren against theire enemyes and the disturbours of
the peace and quiet of Scotland, dayly devising such
entreprises es shold if they mought have obtajoied
theii'e entent and purpose have extended in conclusion
to the great parell and jubardy ^ of the young Prince
his Nephieu, not without sum busignes and inquiete-
nes also to this Realme. Wherfore his Highnes m^ch
approveth your Grace''s moost prudent device con-
cemyng the said erb's, to be entreteyned with sum
good advise and counsaile to be geven un to thejnn
for such good, vertuouse, and politique orAev to be
taken and used by theym for the good bringing uppe

■jeopardy. •
VOL. I. SER. 2. U

S90 OEIGIXAL L£TTXES.

of the yonge King to the weale and suertie of his
noble persone and commodite of his Realme, that he
and his reahne may herafter be glad and dayly more
and more dehte and rejoice in theire late good chaunce
and victorie agaynst theym that late were assembled
agaynst their King present in the feld. And the
King's Highnes thinketh that sith the said Erlis have
now sufficient open profe that the archbishop of Saint
Andrewis putteth all his possible power to procure
their destructi(»i, and to rere brcnlerie, warre, and re-
volution in the Realme to the no little perell of the
yong King theire maister, it were good that they were
advised in this their victorie so substantially to pro-
vide for the saufgard of their King and themselfsy by
th'efiectuall rejnressing of theire adversaries, that the
said Archebisshoppe and his adherents in eny tyme to
cum shold not be able either by craftie practises to
deceive theym, or open rebellion to distresse theym ;
but without eny trust or credence to be geven to the
blandishing of the said Archbishoppe which this adp-
verse chaxmce shall peradventure dreve hym to use
for the while, with purpose and entent of revenging
whan he may fynde occasion, they provide and se ao
substantiall ordre taken for the surtie of the King, the
Realme, and theymself, that uone evil wede have power
to spring uppe to high. And thus mych the King'*s
Highnes hath commaunded me to wright un to your
good Grace concernyng this mater, geving to your

Grace his moost affectuouse thanks for your diligent
advertisement of those good tidings, with your labor
taken in the Lettre by your Grace devised in his
name to the Chauncellor of Poile. His Highnes also
thinketh that it were neither honorable to his Grace
nor to the French King that th^Emperors embassiators
shold be detaigned in Fraunce : and it semeth to me
that the Kings Grace somwhat dowteth whither he be
there deteigned agaynst his will or not : but his Grace
greatly alloweth, and thanketh Yours in the solliciting
0f his enlarging. I remitt unto your Grace the Let«
tres of M^ Magnus and Sir Christofer Dacre; and
shall in lyke wise send un to your Grace the Lettre
to the Chauncellor of Poile as sone as the Kings Grace
shall have signed it. As knoweth our Lord, whose
goodnes long preserve your good Grace in prosperouse
helth and honor. At Stony Stratford the xxj. day of
Septembre.

Your Grace^s humble Orator and

moost bcninden bedeman

THOMAS MORE.

9&i ORIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXXIII.

Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wokey^ chiefly detaXL
ing the transaction ofhvMness with the King,

£m8. cottox. oalba. b. VI. ifoL 210. Orig."]

Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised
that yesterday in the momyng I received from your
Grace your honorable Lettres wrytten un to myselfe
dated the xix*** day of this present moneth, and ^dth
the same as the lettres of congratulation, with the
minute of a Lettre to be wrytten with the Kings owne
hand to th''Emperor, and th^instructions to the Kings
Ambassador there, as also those Lettres which your
Grace received from Maister Secretary, with the Let-
tres by your Grace also devised for the expedition of
the Gentlemen of Spruce :» which things with dili-
gence I presented furthwith unto the Kings Grace
the same momyng, and to th^entent that his Grace
shold the more perfaitely perceive what weighty things
they were that your Grace had at that tyme sent un
to hym, and what diligence was requisite in th'^expe-
dicion of the same, I redde unto his Grace the Lettres
which it lyked your Grace to wryte to me. In which

• Prussia.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 99S

it mych lyked his Grace that your Grace so well
alowed and approved his opinion concemyng th'over-
tures made by the French King un to th'Emperor,
After your Grace''s said Lettre redde, when he saw
of your Grace's own hand that I shold diligently sol-
Hcite thVxpedicion of those other things, for as mych
as your Grace entended and gladly wold dispatch the
premisses this present Soneday, his Grace lawghed,
and saied " Nay by my fayth that will not be, for this
is my removing day sone at New Hall. I will rede
the remanaunt at Night.*" Wheruppon after that his
Grace was cummen home hither and had dyned,
beyng vj. of the clokke in the nyght, I ofFred myselfe
agayn to his Grace in bis owne chambre, at which
tyme he was content to signe the Lettres to th'Em-
peror, and th'other Lettres for th^'expedicion of the
gentilmen of Spreuce, putting over all the remanaunt
.... day in the momyng. Wheruppon at my part.^
ing from his Grace yisternyght I received from your
Grace a Lettre addressed unto him, with which I
furthwith retomed unto his Grace in the Queny's
chambre, where his Grace redde openly my lord Ad-
miralls Lettre to the Queny's Grace, which marvel-
ously rejoiced in the good newis, and specially in that
that the French Kyng shold be now toward a tutor,
and his realme to have a governor : in the communi-
cation wherof, which lasted abowt one howre, the
Kings Grace saied that he trusted in God to be theyre

S94 ORIGINAL LSTTBR8.

governor hym selfe, and that they ahold by thya
meanys make a way for hym aa King Richard did for
hia father. I pray God if hit be good for his Grace,
and for this reahne, that than it may preve so, and
ellis, in the stede therof I pray Grod send his Grace
one honorable and profitable peace.

Tliis day in the momyng I redde unto his Grace
as well th^nstructions moost politiquely and moate
prudently devised by your Grace and therto moost
eloquently expressed^ as all the lettres of M'« Se-
cretary sent unto your Grace; to whom as well for
your qpedy advertisement in the tone, as for your
great labor and payn taken in the tother his Grace
geveth his moost hartie thanks. In the reding of
thMnstruction among thMncommoditees that your
Grace there most prudently remembreth, if th^Em-
peror shold leve the stat of Myllayn up to the French
King, the King''s Grace saied that th^Emperor shold
bysidis all those incommoditees sustajoi a nother
great dammage, that is to witt the losse of all his
frendis and favorers in Italy without recovery for ever,
which shold be fayn to fall hooly to the French K3mg i
uttrely dispayring that ever th*Emperor leving the
Duchie when he had it, wold after labor therefore
whan he had lefte hit. Which consideration his Grace
wold have planted in to th'^iiistructions with his awne
hand, saving that he saied your Grace could, and so
he requyreth you to do, bettre furnish hit, and sett hit

ORIGINAL LETTERS. S95

forth. As towching M»*. Secretary's lettres his Grace
thinketh as your Grace moost prudently wryteth, that
they do but seke delayes till they may se how the
world is: wherein he mych alloweth your most pru-
dent opinion that they shold be with good rownd
wordis to theire embassador, and other quykke wayes,
prykked forth. And for as mych as your Grace toch-
eth an ordre that no Venicians shold be sufficed to
shipp eny of theyr goods owt of the realme, and that
it is now schewed un to his Grace that one Deodo a
Venician is abowt to shipp gods, pretendjmg hymselfe
to be denison ; which his pretence, whith^4t be trew
or not his Grace knoweth not ; and also thinketh that
he shall under the colour of his owne send owt of the
realme the goods of others his cuntremen ; -fqr which
causis his Grace requyreth yours to have a respect
therto and cause hit to be ordered as to your Graces
wisedom shalLseme expedient. For as mych as the
Kings Grace hath not yit written of his awne hand
the minute to th'^Emperor which I delivered his Grace
in thys momyng, therfore I suppose that this l^tre
wrytten this present Soneday the xxj. day of Septem-
bre in the nyght can not be delivered, to the Post till

to morow abowt As knoweth our Lord who

long preserve your Grace in honor aod helth,
Your humble orator and moste boundeu

beedman

T90MAS MORE*
To my Lord Legats good Grace.

296 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

LETTER LXXXIV.

Margaret Archduchess of Savoy to Dr. IS^nightj the
English Ambassador at her Courts announcing the
news of the Victory qfPavia,

[m8. cottox. oalba. b. VIII. foL 107* Orig.]

*«* The Victory of Pavia vas the suhject of two Letters in the
former Series of this Work. But the Editor feels that he did not entirely
dispose of his suhject ; an event so very memorahle has something of a
claim upon the reader's recurrence.

J)', Augustin who had heen Wolsey*s, and was afterwards the King's
physician, visited 'Pavia in 1532, in company with Mons'. de Velly the
French King's ambassador, purposely to ^^ see and view the places where
the French King was taken ; which places'* he says, ^^ bee so defect and
devastate, that they do represent rather war and battaUl at this time pie-
sent, then at any time passed."

The following was the Note by which the News of the Victory was
announced by Margaret archduchess of Savoy, the aunt of Charles the
Fifth, to the English Ambassador at her Court.

Mons'^. L'Ambassadeur
Nous avons ce matin, ung peu avant notre disner,
receu les meillieurs nouvelles du monde d'*Ytalie, as-
savoir comment il a pleu a Dieu donner a TArmee de
TEmpereur victorie de ses ennemys, et que le Roy de
France est prisonnier, xiiij M. de ses gens tuez a la
bataille, et tout le surplus defFaict et prins sans quil
en soit nulz eschappez. Et vous cuydant icelles com-
muniquer a vous envoie en vostre logis duquel esdts

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 297

naguieres party pour malvies comme Ton nous a dit
ou nous cuydions aussi aller, mais ces nouvelles nous
en ont retarde pour ce jour. Et combien que presup-
posons desia en soies averty neantnien si bons en avons
nous bien voullu escripre ces deux motz. Et demain
que nous trouverons aud' Malines vous dirons le sur-
plus vous avertissant que iionobstant que deux gentil-
hommes Tung de Mons^. TArchiduc mon neveur, et
Tautre du Due de Milan soient passez en diligence en
Angleterre pour en avertir le Roy. Si en avons nous
aussi escript a noz ambassadeurs pour en avertir le dit
S' . Roy et Mons^ le Legat. Etant » Mons^ I'Am-
bassadeur notre S '. soit garde de vous. De Bruxelles
ce vj". de Mars M. V. xxiiij.

MARGUERITE.

Nous ne partirons jusques apres
demein d'icy af&n de demein rendre
graces et louanges a Dieu de ces
bonnes nouvellis.

LETTER LXXXV.

Sir John Russell to King Henry the Eighth, on the
Duke of BourborCs disposition; with further parti-
culars of the Emperor'* s Victory.

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. VII. foL 77. Orig."]

Pleasith your Highnes to understande that I
from my lorde Cardinall wherin was

» «c. en attendant.

t08 OAiaiKAL LETTEES,

mentioned that your Highnes pleasure was that I
shuld repaire unto the Duck of Bourbon, to th'^entent
that I shuld advertise your Hignes and his Grace how
al the affaires here doth succede. I had ben here
with the said Ducke longe since, but that the Ducke
of Albany who pretended to go to Naples lay in my
way, and his company sparckled thereaboutes, so that
I could not passe. Neverthelesa whan I herde that
the battail was geven, I in dil . • .by post did re*
paire hither, thinking yt necessaire oone . • • be
nere the saied Ducke at this tyme. I finde hym
fermely prefixed to follow his interpriae against the
Frenche King, and never better willing ; saying that
if your Highnes woU, he woll sett the crowue of
Fraunce on your hed, and that shortly; and that
there may more be doon now with a hundreth thow-
sande crownes, for th** optaining of that, than before
might have ben doon with five hundreth thowsande ;
by cause the King with the most part of all the
nobles and captaynes of Fraunce be taken and slayne.
Wherefore his desier is that yt wol plaise your High-
nes to fomish pajrment for twelve thowsande fotemen
and five hundreth men of Armes for too monnethes,
which amounteth unto too hundreth thowsand crownes :
and he hym self wol fornish the saied Army of pay-
ment . • one moneth at his being in Fraunce.
With which company he woll repaire and passe to
and thorough Dolfine . . . that by Scavoye and

0BI6IVAL LETTXEJi. 899

Bourgoigne he can nor may carry none Artillery out
of Italye. If your Highnes please that he marche in
to Fraunce, he sayeth he wol trust to your Highnes
and to no man> elles, for if contributions be made to
be paied by the Viceroy or others in those parties,
he sayeth thei woll handle hjm as thei did at his
being in Provence. And rather than he wold take
and sufire suche dishonor as he did there, he had lever
be dede. Notwithstanding, he sayeth, he woll observe
and kepe all suche promessis as he hath made to your
Highnes and to the Emperor, to the uttermost of his
powear. In case he wold pass by Bourgoigne, he
wotteth not how to have artillery to follow and mayn«
taine his saied interprise, oneles your Highnes might so
deale with th^ Arscheduke that be wold be contented
to let hym have artillery with monytion in a towne
called Brisack, within the countie Ferrat, where he
hath good store, if he graunte thereunto. Men must
be levyed there for the conveyance of the same in to
Bourgoigne. Wherefore Mons^ de Bourbon sayeth
that good yt w^e your Highnes shuld demaunde of
th^Emperor to have eertaine pieces of the artillery here
won of the Frenchemen, which is in good redines
alredy ; and so to passe with the same thorough DoL
fine. Yf yt please your Highnes this be doon, he
pretendith to have those men with hym which alredy
hath betyn the Frenchemen, and rekening the same
a greate advauntaige for they be greatly drede in

800 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

Fraunce, he desiereth to know where and to what
parties your Highnes wol repaire with your Army, to
th' entent that if case requere he may joyne with you ;
and thinldth that youre owne person shall doo muche
in this affaire. Further Mons^. de Bourbon sayeth
that in this case diligence wold be used ; considering
the late overthrow that the Frenchemen hath had here
in Ytalye, and that also they in Fraunce cannot sd
shortly be provided to resiste again ther enhemys ; for
whan the too Arraes be there, they shall have no laisor
to make no provision, and also they be very evill pro-
vided of good capitaines.

The Emperor thought to have come and assailed
the Frenche King his camp in the momyng betymes,
every of them having a white shert upon his hamoiz ;
whereof or yt wer midnight, the said Frenche king was
advertised, and so camp * owt of his camp in to the
playne filde and ordayned his battle the same night.
So that wheere the Emperors thought to have set upon
them being encamped, they founde them in array and
goode ordre, marching towardes them, having wel
for . . pieces of Artillery which did muche hurt.
The French king layeth, now, fault in his Suyses, for
that he hath . . b the battail ; saying that they did
not ther part as they shuld have don. His Launce-
knightes fought very well against ther owne nation on
th' Emperors side. Richarde de la Poole was the^:

• came. i- not ?

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 301

capitaine, who was slayne there . , . also fewe of
them seap^. Besides this of xiiij*'. men of Armes
whiche he had there, ther escaped not past iiij . ^
but wer taken and slayne. Yt is sayed here that ther
was slayne in the felde twelve thowsandie men, besides
divers that werr drowned in the Tyz3m fleing, which
be founde dayly, and of greate nomber. There was
taken prisoners ten thowsande men, and the most part
of them wer men oif werr; and the other rascall,**
to whome Mons^ de Bourbon hath gevyn passportes.
And hath bounde the, gentilmen, and the capitaines,
by ther othes, that they shall make no werr nor bere
hamoiz in Fraunce against no man this twelve
monnethes; and the other men of werr for five
monnethes; and the residue for thre monnethes.
And as for the greate personages that be taken,
yt is agreed betwene Mons"". de Bourbon, the
Viceroy, and the Marques of Piscara, that none of
them shalbe as yet put to no raunsome, nor until they
know further of th' Emperors pleasure and your
Highnes in that behalf. Of th^ Emperors part there
was not lost past xvC. men, or nere there aboutes.
They geve Mons^. de Bourbon a greate praise, and
sayeth that he did very mannely the same day. And
that he was one of the causers that thesaied battail
was wonne ; for if he had not ben, there had ben no
battail gevyn, but a treuse taken which shuld not have

• iiij»« ? ^ common people.

302 . OBIGIVAL LXTTSB8.

ben nether honorable nor profitable to th^ EmperfMr,
to your Higfanes, nor to hjrm.

The saied Duke sayeth that now is the tyme, and
that shortly your Highnes may if you accomplish the
saied dukes demaunde before rehersed^ optayne all
your right and inheritaunce which the Frenche king
hath ; and nevet so wel as now. He sayeth that he
declareth not this for the recouvery of his owne there,
but considerith well that your Highnes may now have
by peace some part of your right, and dowteth not but
by the same peace he shalbe restored unto his. This
notwithstanding, he thinketh yt best, seing that yt so
may be, to take and ynjoye aswell all as some. And
this ofire that he maketh he sayeth it is onely to do
your Highnes service and to helpe you to recouver
your right in accomplisshihg al suche promesses as he
hath made unto your Highnes beforetyme.

This hath ben as greate a Victory as hath ben sene
this manny yeres ; for of all the nobles of Fraunce be
scaped no more but mons^. D'^Alazon, and but a fewe
Frenche men scaped besides them that werr within
Myllan. The Spaniardes after the battail wonne pur-
suyd and chased the Frenchemen almost a hundreth
myles, killing and slaying them without mersi.

I wold have writtin unto your Highnes or this
tyme, but I tarry S«*. Gregorys » goyng, who doth
optayne a sauf conduct to passe . • thorough

• Shr Gregory Casalis.

ORIGINAL LETT£BS« 803

Fraunce on post with the Popes imbassadour, where-
fore he shall the shortlyer be there. Notwithstanding
for the more . . . » I do send a post unto your
Highnes with the duplicate of these my said Lettres
who goyth by Alemaignie, for feye lest S'. Gregoris
sauf conduit shall not serve hym. I doo send your
Highnes herein closed the names of the greate per-
sonages with other capitaines that be . • and slayne
as fer as is knowen yet. And thus God preserve
yo^. Highnes, and send your Highenes good life and
long. Writtin at Millan the xi^ day of max;he
your humble seibgiet and servant

J. RUSSELL.

■1

LETTER LXXXVI.

Richard Pace to Cardinal Wclsey^ wiih the News (^
the French Kiii^s imprisonment at Pixssigitone ;
The DvJce of Albany's motions ; ^c.

[MS. COTTON. VITEZJ. B« FII. loL SS. Ortg.'l

Please it your Grace, these ten dayes and ten
nightes I have lyen in a eontynuall fevir at the mercy
of God. The same is nowe decreassyd, and the phe-
sitions do put me in firme hope of my lif ; but I ame
so over throwen and in feblyd, that thoughe I shall by
the helpe of God recovre my helthe, yet I shall never

• surety ?

304 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

be able to ryde up and downe as I have done in tyme
past. In consideracion wherof, in moost humble &
lowly maner I desire your Grace to obtayne licence of
the Einges Highnesse for me to reatoume home after
soo long travayles & paynes by me sustaynyd in out-
ward parties; which I wolde not refuse also now to
do, if it were to me possible.

The Frenche king is conductyd into the Castel of
Pizigatone, corny ttyd to the custodie of the Capitayne
Alarcon a Spanyard, a verraye sadde man. He hathe
with hym for the savegard of the said king two hun-
drethe men of armys and opn thowsand and . . iijC.
fotemen Spaniardes.

The duke of Albany goetHe up & done, no man can
tell whither. He drawithe' towardes the Port of Civita
Vech wherby it apperithe that he wull stele awaye by
see into Province y . . . naye. Richard de la Pole
as I understond was slayne at the battayle. Other
occurrantes at this tyme I have none wurthy of lettres.
But, Jhesu presei've your Grace in long helthe & con-
tynuall prosperitie.

Wrytyn at Venice the xijth daye of Marche. By
your Graces humble and faythefuU servaunt

RI. PACE.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 305

LETTER LXXXVII.

John Clerk J bishop qfBath^ to Cardinal Wciseyi upon
the state of Italy a>s ctffected by the Battle qfPavia*

[MS. CdTTOK« TItSLLII/d B. Vii. foL 84. Orig*^

*«* The reader need hardly be ififbnned that the Pope at thi« tioae
was Clement the Seventh ; who, previous to. his taking the Papal Chair,
had been known as the Cardinal de MedicL His Pontificate was through-
out conducted by a feeble and yacillating policy* It was marked by two
events not easily forgotten ; the sacking of Rome, and the abolition of
the papal authority in England.

The Venetians and Flotentyns seyng them selves
nowe in the discretion of the Imperialles^ whome they
have nott best intretttyd, be in a grett fear, and ther->
for they nott only arme them selfe, butt also hathe
bein vehemently in hande withe the Fope that he shold
doo in lyk6 maner, md have m . • • a description off
grett and highe matters with his Holynes, as his Ho-
lynes shewid unto me ^ . » • to take no mannys ry^t
f rome hyme, butt to mayntayn and defend ther own ;
and that iff the Imperialls wold demand any thjrng off
theym it myght boldlye be answeryd them, that they
shold noth}mg have. The effect is that the Pope, the
Venetians, the Florentyns, the Duke off Ferrare, the
Signoryes off Senys, Luke,» and Mantua, withe other
mean powaris off Italye, shold make a Lygge^ for the

» Lucca. »» League:

VOL. I. SEE. 2.- X

306 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

defence and libertys off Italye ; wherin they rekyn that
the Duke off Mylan wold att lenghe, wjien tyme shold
be, gladly enter, who as they rekon is nowe, and so
is lyke for yeres to contynewe, in no lesse captjrvyte
than the Frenche Kyng. Yt is rekonyd that amongst
them, they shold make well ij thowsand spers, and
XV thousand Swecis, » and as many moo footmen off
Italions as shold be thowght necessarye; wherin
ther cane as they say lake no nombyr, for to this
purpose viz. for the liberation off Italye, wher as
in any other occasion they may make on, in this oc-
casion they shall make iij. In this*discription it is
dyvisyd, fyrst, as I sayd, to have the Duke off Mylan,
who hathe in his handes the castell off Mylan and the
castell of Cremona ; whiche be^he thynges off most
importance in that Duchie. The Pope shold be con-
ientyd to surrender unto hyme the Cites off Parma
and Pleasance, ^ and have as moche pention or cense ^
for the same as he now hathe. The Duke of Ferrare
shall have his investiture in Modina and Begid, and

paye therfor in redye monye ducattes ; and it

is ment that the Pope shold have the realme of Na-
plis, whiche dowghtles will easly no . • be obteynyd.
Theys thynges be heir divisyd by the Frenche fac-
tion and the Venetians, and they have ben in hand
withe the Pope very vehemently in this mater, shew-
3mg hyme that this is the verye way whiche he shold

■ Swisses. b Placentia. c public rate.

0EI6IKAL LETTERS. 307

take, bothe for his honor, surtye, and the libertye oflp
Italye, whiche elles shall be totallye in subjection off
Spanyardes, being barbarose and ounresonabyll, and as
odybyll peopyll unto this nation as any cane be.

At soche tyme as the Popis Holynes declaryd unto
me this Dyvyse, I shewid His Holjnies that I dyd nott
dowght butt that off his great and highe wisdome^ lie
dyd consyder ryght well that His Holynes was nott
in any soche case that he sliold nead to take onye
soche waye for his surety, for seing that His Holynes
had don nothyng but that myght be well justifyed.
His Holynes should butt, qucmtum ad se oMinei, op^
time sperare de Cesare: specially, that I knewe the
Kynges Highnes wold nott suffre that his Holjmes
shold be in any maD«r off wise oncoragyd, as towchjrng
the Venetians. I sayd his Holynes knew well e nowghe
they had offendyd ; and ther offence was butt a monye
mater, wherin his Holynes myght be a mean for
theyme ; and, percase they wold nott be ordjrryd, I
say<f good reason wold his Holynes shold forsake them.
And as towchyng this Discription and Dyvyse a fore
sayd, albe it it semyd nowe to have a fa3rr face, and
a semblance off good successe, as the maters now stood ;
the Imperialles being so fare behynd hand withe ther
armye, and havyng so lytyll att this present tjone for
the mayntenance theroff; yet (I sayd) I dowghtyd
nott butt that His Holynes did ryght well consydyr
the manye fold inconveniences that might ensewe

' x2

308 OBIGINAL LETTERS.

therebye: for albe it by this ways peraventur the
Iknny in Lombardye shold be att a staye, and in some
agonye and perplexite for a season, yett ther shold be
no,dowght butt that the Emjperor and other Princes
wold never geve upe the mater soo, butt wold
shortlye nott onlye restore this army, butt so renew
and enforce the same, with the presence off ther owa
parsons yfF neid should be, that iij. soche po wares as
Italye is shold nott be abuU to resist them : and per-
case they shold resist, yet wher as His Holynes hathe,
to his grett lawde, hetherto sowght peace, rest, and
qwietnes betwen Cristen princes, specially heir in
Italye, this shold be the ways to make for a long
season^ mor cruell and universall warre than was ever
«eyn : so that the warres past shold nott be comparyd
to the warres to come, for theys warres to come shold
be universall off all Italye agaynst all the . . .
besydes forthe, and fynally what shold chance it* in
Goddes hand, who being indifferent, (I sayd) th . .
was no dowht what lykliod shold be for the . ' . .
partye agaynst the lesse. I showid His Holjoies allso
that percase, agaynst all lykliod, the powares of Italye,
withe the helpe off his Holynes, shold be able to kepe
the Emperor owt off Italye ; yett that shold be most
for His Holynes is purpose, for His Holynes being y
excludyd frome the helpe and poge of other Princes,
shold nott, a mongst theys selfe same powares off It^
Jye, be in the best case ; and therapon putt his Holynes

ORIGINAL letters; 309

in remembrance howe the Venetians hatha in tymys

past encrochyd upon the londis of the Churche, with-

oldynge from the same by force the Cites of Imola and

Ravenna and other in Romania, the duchies off Fer-

rare, Modina, and Regio, the Bentivollis, Bononia, and

heir bye the balions in Peruse, and in dyverse other

Cites and Signoryes belongyng unto the Churche ; ne

the Churche was never habyll to subdewe them, butt

was ever in contynewall busynes, inqwietnes, and warre,

unto soche tyme as other Princes layd to ther handes,

by Pope Alexander is days, Julii is, and synst : and

shewyd His Holynes that the Pope off Rome was never

lyke a Pope tyll he had the concurrence off other

Princes, wheroff whan so mevyr His Holynes shold be

totally pryvyd, I sayd, ther was no dowght butt that

shortly after ther shold be fownd manye ryght mean

powars in Italy that wold plume his fethers, and nott

sett a grott» by hyme; specially the Venetians ; off

whom His Holynes bwght off all men to be ware, for

ther powar shold gretly incresse by this ways; and

by that that is passyd in other Popis days, men may

easlye see what they will attempe agayn whan they

shall see ther tyme.

His Holynes sayd that he sawe the inconvenience
that myght folowe by this ther Dyvise many maner
off ways; and thankyd God who had putt hyme in
mynd nott to folowe the same. And so sty 11 Hit
Holynes p^rseverthe in mynd to enter whatt L> gg»^

• groat. b League.

810 ORIGINAL LSTTEBS.

SO mever shalbe thowght best to the Kynges
and the Emperore.

Notwithstondyng my thowght. His Holynes dyd
declar unto me the Discription and Dyvyse a forsayd,
to the intent I shold wryght unto your Grace what
was proponyd, and wherunto His Holjmes myght have
consentyd to the impechement off your affayres ; to
the intent youe shold conne hyme the mor cause he so
dyd nott. I thowght allso to advertysse your Grace
heroff, to the intent that percase the Emperor nott
nowe in this grett fortun and prosperyte know frome
whens, after God, the sayd prosperyte and fortun
commythe, and deall withe the Eynges Highnes in fill-
fyllyng his promesses acordynglye, your Grace shold
knowe what is myndyd and intendyd heir in Italy and
wherunto the Popis Holynes myght easlye be browght.
Your Grace apon the Emperors unkynd demeanor
myndyng the same, assuryng your Grace that in myn
opinion ther is nothyng that staythe the Popis Holjrnes
in the nott enteryng off this Lygge » off . . . butt
onlye the hope and trust whiche' he hathe in the
Kynges Highnes to be mean that this Victory in every
behalfe, concemyng the maters off Italye, shalbe mo-
deratly usyd.

As for the maters off France, it shold seim that his
Holynes rekonythe not gretly howe youe determyn
them, it is trowghe that by way off dyvyse. His Hcdy-
ncB sayd unto me latlye, owt off purpose, theys wcardes

• League.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 311

exempli gra . . they . . . pro bono pads make
the Frenche Kynges sone Kyng of France, and deputt
hyme a portion as small as they wold : taking the rest
as they cowd agree : so that by Hys Holynes meanyng,
he wold have a Kyng in France styll, butt so plumyd
that his cooportionars and other his neighburs myght
l3rve in rest by hyme withowt charge ; and by this
dyvisse Kyng Franceys shold end his myserabyll lyffe
in capty vyte ; the whiche thyng His Holynes spake
butt by the waye off dy vysse, showyng hyme selfe off
nothyng more desyros than that theys cruell warrs
myght shortlye, by on means or other, take some good
end.

I do comfort His Holynes styll, all that I cane,
that the Emperor wilbe nowe more att his devotion
than ever he was : and that the Kynges Highnes and
your Grace wilbe mean that it so shalbe. I ame
allso mean betwen the Imperialles and His Holynes
that they shall make demonstration unto His Holynes
acordynglye, shewyng them the jeopardys and incon-
venientes that maye ensewe at this present t]rme by
ther contrary demeanor. And I doo nott dowght butt
your Grace will make demonstration in this case unto
the Popis Holynes, acordjmg to his good mynd ever
borne towafdes youe, and to the faythe and trust he
hathe ever had in youe, the whiche demonstraticMi
showid in soche tymys as theys be, cannott be forgot-
tyn herafter.

The Ajchibishope, off Capua is retomyd hether

312 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

agayn syns the conflict, and showid me that your Grace
reputithe hyme a Frenche mane, and that that wold ye
nott doo yff ye knewe how the Frenche men hathe
evyll intreatyd hyme : and . . . hyme in France,
nott in prisone, butt a huntyng . . . ga)mst his
will ij. monythis : whiche he say the . . a pastynm
wherunto he was never accustomyd in the . cloys^ir*
Yfl^your Grace wold witsaffe to wryght iij. wprdes to
the sayd Archibishope shewyng hyme, whatt so mever
hathe ben wry tyn, yowe doo take hyme for the Kynges
faythfull servant and your lovare, your Grace shold
gretlye comfort hyme. The Datarye and he may^
doo all: and therfor it shalbe well don to entertayn
hyme, for the Popis nuntio ther wryty the styll manye
mad maters : and of every word your Grace spekjrthe,
makythe tcmquam ex musca elephantem. Ifi* orators
wold they myght apon lyke occasion fyll nowe and
then pap)rr lefis : I for my part thynke it nott neces-
sarye : and to saye the trowgh I have nogrett occasion
so to doo. The Popis Holynes was ons determynyd
to have sent the Datary to the Emperore, and the
Bishope oS Worcettor to the Kynges Hyghnes, butt
syns his mynd is changyd, and determynyd to send to
neyther, unto soche tyme as his Holynes shalbe reso-
lutly^ determynyd what he wyll do apon every par-
ticulare poynt. Which thyng he saythe he cannott
well doo, tyll he shall have word a gayn frome the
Emperor; that don, he wyll send unto bothe reso-
lutlye and perfectlye instructyd parsons. My lord ofl*

ORIGINAL LETTERS. • 313

Worcettor was on his jomey as fare as Bononye befor
he was contremandyd. I have obtaynyd hjme lycens,
att his desyre, to goo see the Kynges Highnes, your
Grace, and his bishopriche,^ in hope that he will doo
as myche for me att his commjmg unto youTvGrace^.
imd so he goythe forthe in his jomaye fayr and soft-
lye, and nott makyng speid, for he hathe no com-
mission as yett.

The Duke of Albanye hathe ben evyll handelyd heir
-i, mongst the CoUonysys, who hathe had manye skyr-
moshys withe hyrae, and causyd hyme to flye frome
place to place, and moche a doo he hathe had to scape ;
part off his men war drevyn hard to Rome gattes, and
slayn ij.C. off them within a myll off the town, and
many folowd and persewyd in to Rome hard to the
Popis palace, and off them takyn prisonars within a
stonys cast off the same palayce ; wherat the Pope was
very evyU discontentyd. And I assure your Grace,
had it nott been, that the Pope hathe respect, by cause
he is within the londis off the Churche by the Popis
sufferance, and in a maner withe saffe conducte and
promesse off saffe goynge and commyng as the Em-
perors men hathe, I thynke he had bein the Kynges
Highnes prisoner this daye. Wherin I have sparyd
no labors ne . . . . tion, ne other settyng for-
wardes as well to the Popis Holynes ; showyng unto
his Holynes that he sh ... so gretlye pondyr the

> Jerome de Ghinucci had the temporalities of the See of Worcester granted to him
Feb. 20th, 1523. He was deprived in 1534. Le Neve, Fasti Ecc]. Angl. p. 298.'

314 OBIOINAL LETTERS.

duke of Albanye, who nowe, . . . the maters off
France being m dekaye, was nott be takyn but as an
abject parson : as allso . . . the Colonysis offer-
yng them larg sommys off monye yff they delyverd
fayme me. And I assure your Grace they have som^.
whatt yexid hjnme and his men, butt the Pope thynk-
ythe he cane doo no lesse than helpe to save the DidLe
for the cause a bowe sayd, by cause he maiyd hb
kynswoman;^ and so the sayd duke by the Popis
meanys, hathe lycencyd his footmen and manye off hkl
men off army s. . . . rest shall take shippyng att
Civita Vetula her, and so in to France, yff the Em-
perors armye at Jean, beynge wamyd theroff, do nott
stope hyme by the waye. The sayd Duke is bare off
monye ; he sent hether latly to borowe on C. ducattes
off a freind off his, and sped nott. Thus owr lord
be thankyd, the Kynges ennymys on every syde be
puny shed : a domvno Jbctum est istud, et est mircLbile
An ocidis nostris.

At this present tyme I come frome the Pope, wher
I lemyd nothyng butt that his Holynes^shold have
advise (howbeit off no certentye) that Madame the
Frenche Kynges mother, is determynyd to goo her
selfe to the Emperore ; partlye to move, as mother, the
more pyte in her sonnys calamyte; partlye by cause
she thynkythe her selfe most best skyllyd to handyll
and treatt this mater with the Emperor. His Holynes

« John Duke of Albany married Anne de la Tour, eldest daughter of John de la
Tour Comte d'Auvergne. Her sister Maddeinc de la Tour married Lorenzo de
Mcdlci« duke of Urbiuo.

ORIGINAL LETTSmS. 815

sayd, that he thowght the mater had neid off other
helpe, than off womens tearis. This the almyghty
god preserve your Grace. Att Rome the » daye

off Marche.

Post scripta.

At this present howir I have receyvyd your Grace is
Lettres off the xxiiij off Februarii, concemyng particu-
lar maters off certayn prelattes of Scotlond, wherin I
diall speke withe the Popis Holynes; and procure
withe diligence, that they maye have ther full intent
acordyng to your Grace is desyre. As towchyng the
Bishope off.Dunkell is mater, I have wrytyn unto
your Grace theroff in my last Letters, and I ame a
howght to gett the fryar heir somwhatt off the Pope
for your sake, that he may resigne the pention he
hathe assignyd hyme apon the bishopriche off Dunkell.

Off the Archibishope of Saynct Andrews I have
spokyn so moche evyll all redye, that I ... go
studye howe I maye nowe convenientlye speke w . . .
notwithstimdyng I ame glade your Grace hathe recom
.... hyme, for the Duke of Albanye latlye was de-
mandyd . . on, whome he toke for his freind, what
he wold do nowe as the World was thus tumyd ; he
answeryd that he wold in to France, wher he cowd
nott lake an honorabyll interteynment in this grett
scarcy te of nobyll men and grett capitans ; and after
that w . . demandyd a gayn what he wold doo iff that

• The date of the month is left blank in the orig. Edit.

316 OEiaiNAL LETTERSi

intcrtcynment shold fayll hyme, as peraventure it
myglit ; then the sayd duke sayd he wold in to Scot-
lond, wher he sayd he had frdndes, and rekonyd the
Archibishope off Saynct Andrews to be on off the
cheiff. But it shold seim now that he makythe his
rekonyng a mysse, and so I will showe the Pope ; and
I am sure his Holynes wilbe ryght well contentyd
withall, and make soche demonstration in the sayd
Archibishopis cause that he shall ryght well knowe
that he farythe nothyng the wars^ for the Kynges
Highnes and your Grace is recommendation : so, that
the sayd Archibishope shall have gretlye to esteim the
same. The Bishope off Dunkdl his servant is come ;
and I doo the best I cane to helpe and assist hyme in
his masters causes, acordyng your Grace is command-
ment. I have allso receyvyd the Kynges Letters in
recommendation off the Bishopriche of Murraye and
the abbay off Paslaye. The Kynges letters for the
Archibishope off Saynct Andrews I have not yett re-
ceyvyd, and, a mongst a grett nomber off Scotyshmen
heir in the town, heir is non that hathe any commission
frome the sayd Archibishope, but favorithe rather the
Archibishope off Glasco his adversary.

This the Almyghty God preserve your Grace. At
Rome the xix day of Marche

Your Grace is humbyll chapleyn and
bedman,

JO. CLEEK.

• worse.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. , 817

LETTER LXXXVIII.

The Bishop of Bath to Cardinal WoUey^ upon his
negociutions with the Emperor^s AmbassCidors ai
Rome ; Money paid to them ; S^c. *

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. VII. fol. 102. Orig,]

Pleasythe your Grace to understond that the
xxviij*^ day of Marche I receyved your Grace is let-
ters off the vj^^ off the same; and folowyng the tenor
off your Grace is sayd letters, I have spokyn withe
the Emperors Orator heir, and have showyd them off
this new commission now made by the Kynges High-
nes and your Grace for ther necessites, in the best
and most ampill maner that I cowde ; extendyng the
Kynges benivolence and good mynd towardes them
and the Emperors aiFayres heir in Italye, and what
provision was made for them to have holpyn them in
ther extremite. Wherin I assure your Grace they
gretly rejoysyd, and rekonythe that whan ye shall have
had knowlege off the successis in Lombardye (as att
the tyme off the wrytyng off your sayd letters it semithe
that yow had nott) yow will then make dowtlesse forth
demonstration as the case shall reqwyr. Now that
batayll is strykyn withe soche a glorioss and memora-

318 ORIGINAL LETTERS*

byll Victorye, specially apon theys your Grace is last
letters, my thynkythe I cane doo no lesse than delyver
them, as moche as in me shalbe, the kynges monye ;
and therfor I have apojmtyd them to take upe xxiii
Mil. crowns heir off the marchantes in Rome that re-
ceyvyd the kynges monye ; and that at soche pryce as
the sayd orators shall agre them selfs withe the mar-
chantes and they be stond to the losse, as, withe myche
adoo, they be content so to doo. They shall have
myche adoo to have it off the sayd marchantes, for the
marchantes demand all ther letters off exchange whiche
your Grace hathe reteynyd ther, and nott sent hether,
I have offyrd to hjnd my selfe that the sayde letters
shalbe sent hether agayn by a daye, or elles qwitances
sufficient for the same ; and I thynke my band shalbe
acceptyd. Therfor it maye lyke your Grace to send
hether agayn, withe the fjrrst, all the sayd lettres off
exchange for mjn indempnite, or elles that qwitances
may be mad by master Wyat acordyngly. The Kynges
hole monye being heir in the handelyng of the Torke-
pliar^ and. Syr Jhon Rossell is xlvj Mil. crowns off
the Sonne and odde. Off this ther remaynythe sty 11 ij
Mil. and odde in S}nr Jhon Rosselles handes, who is
nott heir, and I knowe well he iiathe spent a grett part
theroff; for he shewid me he hathe had no nother
monye to spend. Ther is in Fermars handes, viij Mil.
crowns; and in my Lord off Seynct Jhonis x. Mil.

» Turcuplar.

ORIGINAL LETTERS, S19

crowns ; and in my handes ther is yett iij Mil. crowns ;
and on Mil. I desyryd your Grace myght be accompty d
unto me apon my dietts : for the other ij Mil. I sent
you bylles, wherby they myght be recoverd off my
father in Inglond. The whiche sommys to gether,
with the xxiij Mil. crowns a for sayd, make upe the
holl some ofFxlvj. Mil and odde. Wherfor ther shalbe
delyverd unto the Emperors agents heir, who have
speciall commission frome the Viceroye to receyve it,
fyrst the xxiij Mil. crowns that is heir in Rome in the
marchantes handes, and the ij Mil. crowns part of the
iij. Mil. that is in my handes, that makythe xxv. Mil.
crowns of the sonne. I have writen to Master Secre-
tarye to delyver them ther in Venyce xx Mil. crowns
of the Sonne more. So that they shall receyve in the
holl xlv Mil crowns off the sonne. As I doo thynke
your Grace reconythe that xlvj Mil. crowns off the
Sonne makythe 1. Mil. other crowns, and so I have
shewyd the Imperialls, that they shall receyve 1. Mil,
crowns after this maner, savyng on Mil, whiche I sayd
unto them is, withe more, spent in sendyng the sayd
monye upe ; and I assure your Grace they b^ ryght
well contentyd to take this in this maner ; and gevithe
the Kynges Highnes ryght harty thankes therfor.
Your Grace wrytythe that we shold make them 1. Mil.
crowns, and as I do take the crown, so we shall ; or
att the lest wisse nyghe therunto. I thowght it best to
kepe me within the bandes off my commission ; for iff

320 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

thcr sholbe ony fawt that ways, it maye sone be
amendyd and so cowd it nott iff we shold exceid ; be-
sydes that the Emperors agentes be nott nowe in soche
grett extremite thankyd be God, for this Lyge now
latlye made betwen the Pope, the Kynges Highnes,
the Emperor, and other. The Imperialles shall shortly
recey ve large sommys off monye, and albe it I have no
perfect knowlege theroff, for theys maters war treatyd
ad partem^ and nott comprisyd in the articles expressly,
for the mor honestye: yett by secreatt meanys, and
many provabyll conjectors I do understand that the
Pope and the Florentyns shal pay on C. Mil. ducattes,
the Venetians on C. and 1. Mil. ducattes, the duke off
Ferrar on C. and 1. Mil. ducattes, the Citeis and ter*
ritoryes off Mantua, Luke,» Senys, Grenua, Saluce,
Monteferratt, att the lest on C. Mil. ducattes amongst
them ; and besydes this they have in sondry Citees in
the duchie off Mylan, syns the Victorye, large sommys
off monye, att the lest a iij or iiij score MiL ducattes ;
and dayly ther comythe in more to them ; whiche is
CCCCC. Mil. ducattes and above, besyd the Emperors
own monye, that syns the Victory hathe, and shalbe
shortlye receyvyd. And for this, by cause ther neces-
site is nott nowe so grett, I stode in grett dowt whether
it war best to del3rver theym ony part off the Kynges
monye or nott ; but nove after the receyt off your
Grace sayd letters, I have resolvyd my selfe to lett

• Lucca.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 321

them have it, partlye by cause my thynkythe it is
gretlye aperteynyng to the Kynges honor that his
Highnes shold kepe his promess ; partly allso that theys
nobyll and valiant capitans may have the better corage
to do the Kyng servyce, percase his Highnes shall
intend any farther interpryse, whiche saye opjoilye
that they will not take enterprise mor apon them, apon
the Emperors promese onlye, but iff they have the
Kynges Highnes promesse to the same. The Em-
perors armye for the most partye lyethe in the terri-
toryes off Parma and Plesance ; a and ther have etyn
and distroyid syns the Victorye, as the Pope saythe, to
the valew of CC. Mil. ducattes all redy, and iff they
shold so long contynew, the sayd territoris shold be
destroid for ever, as his Holynes saythe : and therfor
his Holynes, supposyng that some reformation shold
be herin, the Lygge ^ wons^ made, hathe therfor callyd
a pon the Imperialles for the accomplyshment theroff ;
and so the sayd Lygge ^ was concludyd bet wen his Ho-
lynes, the Emperors, and the Kynges agentes, the fyrst
daye off this monythe, accordyng unto soche articles
as I doo no we send unto your Grace ; whiche doo nott
in all wordes agree withe the articles concludyd, butt
ther is no grett difference, specially in maters concem-
yng the Kyng, who is namyd as principall contrahent,
mor for a mutuall reputation on every syde, then that
other confederates, or elles his Highnes can take ony

• Placentia. ^ league. « once.

VOL. I. SEE, 2. Y

32S ORIGINAL LETTERS.

other grett particulare benefytt therby. The Kynges
Highnes hathe an honerabyll part and memorye in the
same Ligge » withowt charge, and therfor I dyd accept
it, thowghe I have no commission ; therfor your Grace
maye fornyshe me theroff att your pleasure, for all the
commissions hetherto sent be but ad tractandum de
pace et treuga cum Rege Franciae. There be allso many
particular poyntes betwen the confederattes for the
payment off monye, and for the maters of Italye,
whiche ther expreslye war nott spokyn off, for the on
off them wil nott have it knowyn what the other doithe,
and therfor be treatyd with the particulars a parte ;
for the Emperors agentes shryvythe and shavithe theys
Potentatis off Italye. Heir was many greatt crakes a
whyU, butt nowe be low e nowghe. The Emperor
shall recover dowtles nowe large sommys off monye,
nott reconyng that that nowe he shall yerlye have off
the Duchie of Mylan, the whiche thyngs in treatyng
withe the Emperor in many matters may be browght
in consideration, as I dowht nott butt your Grace dothe
consider.

I was yesterdaye withe the Popis Holynes, and ther
I had withe roe the Scottyshe solicitors in the maters
wherin your Grace hathe wrytyn unto me in tymys
past, and his Holynes gave them verye gratiose au-
dience and very good resolution in all ther maters, de-

' * league.

ORIGINAL LETTERsr. 333

claryng untx) them howe ferventlye the Kynges High-
nes had wrytyn in thos maters, and how that for bis
sake they shold have the favors possibyll as towchyng
the Bishope of Donkelme is matter. I am sure his
solicitor dothe nowe wryght unto hyme, as towchyng
the Archibushope off Seynt Andrews mater : the Popis
Holynes is very harde in revokyug off the Bishope off
Glasco is exemption, for whome the Kyng of Scottes,
agaynst the Archibishope off Seynt Andrews hathe
wrytyn very ferventlye to the Pope, as your Grace
shall see, by the copy of the letter whiche I doo nowe
send your Grace ; besydes that the Scottyshmen heir
saythe that the sayd Archibishope had misordyrd
hyme selfe in a newe conspyracye agajoist the Kjmg
and the Q wen, and that maky the me staye my sewit
to the Popis Holjmes for hjnoae, tyll I heer more from
your Grace. The Popis Holjmes att this tyme willyd
me to make his ^)eciall reoxnmendations unto your
Grace, saying that all his trust is in yowe. Whierfcw
it may lyke your Grace to use styll some demonstra-
tion withe good wordes to his agent ther withe yowe^
that it maye appeir that I have don my message. I
assur your Grace that soche 'demonstrations witdie good
wordes spokyn by your Grace, ben to ther great com-
fort heir, and be ryght thankfully takyn. The Duke
off Albanye toke 8hypp3nig thi . • .» weike in "to

• this last ?

Y 2

824 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

France wardes. This the Allmyghty preserve yoiir
Grace from Rome the vj^*» day off April.

Your Graces most humbyll servant
and chaple3m

JO. CLERK.

To my lord L^ttb good Grace.

LETTER LXXXIX.

Sir John Ricssell to Cardinal Wolset/y concerning the
French King^ and the Emperor^ s other prisoners.

[ms. cotton, vitell. b. VII. foL 119. OrigJ]

Pleasithe your

Bourbon and the viceroy hath ben at Pischiketon where
the Franche King is, for the sending forth of the ....
and also to inlarge the Prince of Orrenge M*" S'= . . . .
de Pry and the bisshop of Altheume for the space of
.... monnethes, so that they in the meane season
might make appojoitement for ther rannsomes: and
that he the sa . . . . wold give liberte in like maimer
to the Countie S^ Pol, M^ de Rochepott, and M' D'Al-
beny, with others; whereunto the Frenche king an-
swered that he in that matter wold write unto his
mother, and that if she therewithall wer contented he

ORIGINAL LETTERS. S25

thereunto wold agre. But he said he wold not assure
them of that. Upon this M**. D'*Albenny and M*". de
Ro . . . .a is goon in to Fraunce to porchase ther
deliverance.

As toching the sending of the Frenche king in to
Naples, whereof I in my former lettres have certified
your Grace, although they wer there for that matter
partly well , . dayes, yet therein is nothing doon, for
sometymes the Viceroys advise was to kepe hym stil in
Pischiketon, sometyme to bringe hym to Myllan, and
sometyme to Na . . .^ Wherewith the ducke of Bour-
bon was evel contented .... that he the said Duke
cam his way and left the said Viceroy there.

I ensure your Grace that the Frenche king hath to
muche his libertie, for that so manny messingers are
suffred to come and goo betwene hym and his Mother;
by reason whereof he is acertaigned of all there
doyinges in Fraunce, and gevith his advise aswel as
though he were there present. Further, the prisoners
here be souffred to goo home paying ther raunsome.
I have spoken with the Viceroy in that matter, who
sayeth that he cannot doo other but that they that hath
taken them must nedes deliver them for to have mon-
ney. Mons^. de Bourbon hath likewise spoken unto
the said Viceroy diverse tymes concemyng that ; and
is not very wel contented with hym, aswel for suche
sufFeraunce as also for that he intreateth h3rm not wel,

• Rochepolt. »» Naples.

326 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

saying that he doth not use suche padence

Sir, they mervaile muchc here that they have no
worde from your Grace synse the Battaile was given :
and it is fered here that the King wol not follow his
interprise of Fraunce because the tyme is so ferr spent.'

The Emperor hath sent to the duke of Bourbon iij
or iiij t3rmes synse the battail was gevin. The said
Ducke of Bourbon wold have or this tyme goon in
to Spayne, & there to have fomisshed his marriage,
saving onely that he is desierous to performe all suche
promesses as he hath made to the King and th^ Em-
peror in tymes past. Here he lyeth at greate cost and
charge, for his Howse costith hym a hundreth crownes
a day. And thus Jesus preserve your Grace in long
lif and continuall prosperite. Writtin at Myllan the
xjt*i day of May.

your humble servant

J. RUSSELL.

The first news of the Victory of Pavia led Henry the Eighth to in-
dulge a hope that an opportunity would now he afforded him of recover-
ing some part of those territories in France which his ancestors had been
possessed of. As late as May 14'^, 1525, we find John Clerk bishop of
Bath, the English minister at Rome, writing in the following terms to
Wolsey :

'^ At the first audience now upon these your Ghrace*s last Letters, after
the Kings Highnesses and also your Orace's most lowly and humble re*
commendations, the sum and effect of such declaration as in your Chrace^s
name I made unto his Hol3naess is, first, how the Kings Highness now
in no wise wold pretermit this great occasion, and that both the Emperor

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3S7

and also His Highness were determined to invade France, for the recovery
of their rights, and to remove the K3mg that nowe is, with ail his succes-
sion, from the Inheritance of France, w?ierewith U teemed that Almighty
God had shoxoed such great signs and occasions for the said French Kings
demerits^ tJiat they might not neglect them without Almighty Ood's
HiOH DISPLEASURE, as that thing whereby should ensue the long
desired Peace, ever likely to endure betwen Gristian Prynces, to the ex-
termination and total destruction of Christ's enemies, and exaltation of
Christ's faith ; declaring furthermore unto His Holjnaess that the Slings
Highness and your Grace's desire was that His Holyness would vouch-
safe to concur with you, and lay his helping hand unto so holy a puij^ose,
to the intent it might be the more easily brought to pass ; shewing on
your Grace's behalf that yf His Holiness will set rest and peace between
Christian Princes, according as every man thinketh he is bound to do of
duty, his Holiness must now take this way ; for by the French Kings
restitution, were he never so well plumed, his ambition and insatiable
wit, unto hid Holiness not unknown, is soche, that doubtless upon some
quarel or occasion immagined, if other should lack, he would never be in
rest till he had recovered all again."

The Pope was solkited at least to join by money in the Invasion of
France ; but he resisted every entreaty. Francis, in the meantime, was
unexpectedly carried prisoner first to Naples, and then to Spain ; although
he ^^ used all the ways and policies he could devise to remain within
the Duchy of Milan." •

Pace in a Letter to Wolsey from Venice, dated June the 14'^. says,
" The French King and the Vice Roy took shipping at Genua the xxx***.
day of the last month, and sailed from thence to a place named Port
Fyne distant from Genua thirty or forty miles, but, as I understand by
sundry Letters they are both returned again near unto Genua where are
lately arrived six French gallies voide, ^ which by the Vice Roy's com-
mandment are furnished and armed with Spaniards: whereupon it is
thought that the said French King shall be conveyed into Spain, and
then to treat and conclude some appointment with the Emperor; never-
theless the said Emperors ambassador resident here hath shewed unto me
that he hath word from Naples that the said French Kings lodging is
prepared there. The truth hereof shall shortly appear. Some men say
that the said French gallies are come for the defence of the Kings person
against the Moors, of whom a strong army was discovered in the sea at
his being at the said Port Fyne." «

• Pace to Wolsey, June 3^ 1625. MS. Cott. Vitell. B. vii. fol. 149.

»» Empty.

<" Pace to Wolsey* from Yen. 14^ June, ut supr. fol. 156.

3S8 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

The Biflhop of Bath, in a Letter to Wdlsey from Rome, dated June
20th, shews that Francis, whatever was his dismay, assumed an air of
something more than gaiety upon the journey. He says, '^ I wrote imto
your Grace of the French Kings departure from Oenna the iz*^. of this
present in to Spainwards, accompanied with six of his own gaUies.
Since that time ben other Letters come from Genna concerning his said
departure, and some further particulars of his journey, vii. that he
arrived at a place called Nissa the tenth day, and there tarried a frdr
wind the xi^^ and aU the xii^. which xii^^ day, at night, he departid
thens with a right good wind, and by all conjectures taken upon the
continuance of that wind he should be long or this time arrived in Spain.
While he was at Nissa came unto him certain Knights of the Rhodes, and
in the name of that Religion saluted him, and desired him to remember
in what case the Religion stood in, and to be good unto the same. It
should seem that he took upon him then like a Prince ; and with as hi^
and as glorious words as might become any great Prince he made unto
them very large promise, not only of that he would do for the Religion
himself, but also of that he would move and cause the Emperor to do.
Unto whom he said he went for to redress, order, and conclude his own
affairs, and willed the said Knights that in any wise ihey should send
one with him, for he doubted not but he would set their matters at some
good end with the Emperor. This the French Elings demeanor here
with these Knights of Rhodes, semeth unto me no matter worthy to be
written unto your Grace, were it not that the Pope*s Holiness and diven
of his Coundl did greatly tax and mark the said demeanor; sajring that
either the said French King is right well assured of the Emperor, or else
he useth great presumption and temerity, being in captivity, to use him-
self afler that manner." *

Pace says, ^^ Please it your Grace, th*Empcfors ambassador resident
here bath advertised me that the French King about the xvii^. day of
the last month arrived to the port of Barcelona in Spain ; and that the
Vice Roy of Naples intended to retain him there till he had commission
from the Emperor concerning the said French Kings landing, and that a
great Parliament was assembled in those parties for that purpose." ^

Francis was first placed in a castle in the Kingdom of Valencia, a pre-
ference which gave offence to the Castilians.

The captivity of Francis the JPirst would, of itself, form an intercsting
Memoir; but it is sufficient for the present purpose to show that it
soon excited alarm and jealousy in the mind of Henry the Ei^th, who,
finding the balance of the European states no longer preserved, gave up

• MS. Colton. Vitdl. B. vii. fol. 160.

^ Letter to Wolscy, July 13th, Ibid. fol. 176 b.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3S9

his dreams of conquest, and at once assumed an air of fiiendship ht the
man whom he had before represented as marked ly the finger of the
Almighty for his demerits.

The followmg despatch fipom the Bishop of Bath to Wdlsey, dated
Rome, July the 12th, declares the change in another Interview with the
Pope.

'^ After my most humble recommendations, it may please your Grace
to understand that I have received your Letters of the 14th of June, and,
taking master Gregory with me, went unto the Popes Holiness, and de.
dared imto him the continue of your said Letters, as well of the King's
displeasure taken with the Emperor for his unkind demeanor, as also of
the towardness was in the Song's Highness to conclude with France such
reasonable conditions as should he by them offered^ and that to as lahoe
MANNER AS NEEDED ; which I thought I might now boldly do, not need-
ing to fear or doubt any thing in the Pope's Holiness, who hath now too far
disclosed his own counsel to us to doubt ours ; and I assure your Grace
his Holiness was glad that the Kings Highness opinion and yours did
agree with his and the wiser mens here ; and said that your Grace had
wisely and profoundly considered and pondered the state of the Affaires
as they now stand." •

Henry the Eighth now became anxious to restore Francis; whose
liberation will form the subject of the two succeeding Letters.

LETTER XC.

J9r. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. Peace concluded
between the Emperor and Francis the First.

[ms. cotton, calig. d. IX. foL 145. Orig,^

Pleasyth yt your Grace to understande that sythe
the departure of Master Thesaurer from hens the
whiche was the xx^^\ daye of Januarii, hathe be no

• MS. Cotton. Vitell. B. vii. fol. ns.

8S0 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

newys of certeynte. On Sonday last past wer com-
manded general processyons to be made through all
the Cyte to praye Gk)d to send good tydyngs ; for of
long tyme my Lady Regent had no worde oute of
Spayne from the K3mg : and, as jrt was the comon re-
porte, all wayes and passages wer stopped that no mes-
senger shulld come into Fraunce. This daye I harde
saye that ther was a messenger come out of Spayne ;
wherfore I went uppe to the Courte to have spoken
with Madame, the which I couUd not doo by cause
she had take a medycyne, and kepyth her chamber ;
and so hathe don syth Madame d^Alangon came home.
Wherfore I went to the Chancellor, the whiche shewed
me that in trothe ther was come oute of Spayne a ser-
vante of the Pry nee of Orenge, the whiche ys come for
the dely veraunce of the sayd Prynce. And he sayth
that the Peace ys concluded betwyxt th'Emperour and
the French Kynge, and that the Kjoig shall mary the
lady Elyen . . And allso sayth that Mons^ Memo-
rancy^ ys in the way commynge oute of Spayne; the
which bryngeth with hym the trewth of all this matters,
and in what maner they be concluded. Allso the sayd
messenger brought a Letter to th'Emperours ambassa-
dour here, Mons"*. de Prat, the whiche hathe shewed
his Letter to Madame. Thes things not withstandjmg,
the Chauncellor tollde me they gyve no credence to
thes newys, for they have be often tymes dyscejrved

» Montmorency.

OBI6INAL LETTEES. 881

^7 8^^ lyght credence to newys that cam by
estraungers. Yf they be trewe, the trust shortly to
have confjnrmacyon of them by theyr awne messengers.
Howbeyt the Chauncellor bad me, yf I woUd wryte
to your Grace, that I shold wryte this newes of his
mouthe. After this I went to Mons^ Robertet the
whiche oonfyrmed all things that Mons^. Chaunceller
had toUde me: and ferthermore promysed me as
seme as, any certeynte of trouth ys come, I shall be the
fyrst that shall have knowlege therof, for to shewe your
Grace with dylygence the state of things. In the
meane tyme I have in gret hast wryte this to your
Grace tyll that we have tydjugs of more certejmte.
Thus Jhesus preserve your Grace. From Lyons in
hast the xxiij. of Januarii with the hande of your most
bownden servaunte and poore bedeman.

(Signature gone.)

LETTER XCI.

Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wdlsey, The arrival of
Fram^is the first at Bayonne, 15^6.

[cALiG. D. IX. foL 171. Orig.'l

Pleas hyt your Grace to undyrstond that the xv
day of March very late in the evyning by torch lyght

SSfi OBIGINAL LETT£RS.

my Lady Regent com into Baiona and was receyvid
with grete trimnphe of gunshott. On the morow
aftyr dyner I spake with hyr, and sche des3rryd me to
have paciens for ij or iij days, sche was in suche grete
anxite for the sendyng forth of the Dolfyn and hys
brodyr, and for grete desyre to see the K3mg hjrr Son,
that sche cowd attend to no odyr thyng. But sche
assured me that as son ^ as the Kyng was comm, Mons''
Joachyn schuld be dispeched yn to Englond. The
xvij**i day the Dolfyn and his brodyr war delyvered in
to the hands of the Spaniards apon a brygge on the
ryver Callyd Handay, bytwix Fontraby and Seynt
John de Luce, and by twyxt ij. and iij. of the clock
the same day, the Kjoig was receyved in to Baiona
with muche schotte of ordinance. Withowt the towne,
a quarter of a myle, I was accompanyd with the
Chansler and many odyr spiritual men by the com-
maundment of my Lady, and ther a bode the commyng
of the Kyng; and aftyr that the Chaunsler hadde sa-
luted the Kynge, he schoyd to hym that I was the
Orator of England ; the Kyng toke me in his armys,
whom I saluted in this maner : * ChHsticmissime Rex,

* ex parte serenissimi Regis Anglm, Defensoris Fidei,

* Domini mei potentissimi. Ego congratulor tuce Ma-
^jestati in suum regnum salvo reditui : plura dicturus

* loco et terdpore magis oporiunis,'* His Grace with
very favorable countenans seyd, how he wold more at

• soon.

OKI6INAL LETTERS. 333

large speke with me, and he wold never forgete the
goodnesse that he had founde in the Kyngs Hyghnes.
At my next commyng to hys presens I schal make
humble commendacions of your Grace behalf, for
Mons^ Joachyn told me that whan he spake with hym
by the way, he seyd he was so much bound unto your
Grace that he wold honor yow as hys fadyr durjmg
hys lyff. And so seyd that the seyd Mons**. Joachyn
schuld be in al hast dispeched in to England, the which
schalbryng with hym all thyngs concemyng the Trety
of 'Peace with ratificacion of the Kyng's oone hande ;
and also al the secrete of the Peace concluded with
th'Emperor. At whos commyng I schol wryte more
at large yf any thyng worth the wrytyng comm to my
knowlege. Thus Jhesu preserve your Grace. From
Baiona in haste the xviij. day of March 1526. W*!*
th'ande of your most boimd servant and beydman.

LETTER XCII.

Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wohey. Reports an Audience

from Francis the First.

[ms. cotton, calio. d. IX. fol. 172. Oriff,]

Pleasyth yt your Grace that after I had closed

3S4 0BT01NAL LETTERS.

my Letters to send to your Grace and the currer was
redy to sett fortliwarde, the King charged Mons''.
Vaulx that he shuUd send forthe no man tyll that His
Grace had spoke with me, and commaundyd Mons^
Joachin to bring me to His Grace at iij. of the clocke
at aftre none oh Passion Sonday ; at which hower I
gave attendaunce. His Grace was so long occupyed
in the Cownsell that y t was passed v. of the clocke or
that I coullde speke with hym. His mule was brqght
forthe to ryde on solace. Notwithstanding he sent
Monsi*. Vaulx for me ; and at my commjmg in to the
chamber to hym His Grace embrased me in his armes,
and excused hym sellf that he had made me to tarry
so longe, and toke me by the hand and led me to a
wyndowe. And brefly I shewed His Grace that I
had commaund from my soverejme Lorde the Kinge
of England, with cordyall commendatyons, to salute
him at his arryvoll, and to rejoyse and congratulate
his retome into his Reallme with lyberte : of the
whiche the Kinge my Lorde was as glad of as any
Prynce christned, with all kynd oblations of amytie,
amore, and benevolence, wherin he myght do to him
pleasure. I added also that I had in commaundment
to put his Grace in mynd, and to exhorte him not only
to confirme, approve, and ratyfye all suche acts and
dedys as wer done in his absence with Madame
Lady Regent his mother, butt allso that he in his owne
persone, according to the contracte made, shulld with in

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 336

certejm tyme reiterate and renewe them accordingly.

His Grace woUd suffer me to speke no more, but sayd,
Mons^ Ambassadour, I knowe well the good mynd
of my kinde brother of England, whom, after God, I
thanke of my liberte. He hathe done at this tyme in
my captivite suche an acte by the whiche he hathe
gatte eternel memory of glorye, and bownden me
ever, and all myne, to do him servyce. And I ad-
sure youe that after I had seyne hjrm and spoke with
him, yf he ben no gentylman nor I nother, he was so
affectionate that I woUde have doone him servyce.
And howebeyt that ther was war moved betwixt us,
I know right well yt was but cerymonyusly doon ;
for yf he woUd have warred in dede, I shuUd have
fellt yt grevouslyer and much sorer. And yt wolld
never sinke in . , my hart but that he loved me.**

Then said Mons^ Joachin, * Sir I doo knowe right
well that often tymes when in his counsel! yt wa6
communed and disputed to make war, his Grace
ever defended your parte. And I assure your Grace
that yf his Highnes had ben borne of the same modre
that ye wer, he couUd not more studiously nor more
affectionatly study forth youre lyberte and honorable
deliverance then he hath done. I am a necessary
wytnes, for I have harde his Grace often tymes speke
more then I coulld other thinke or desier.'' The

King answered and said. He knewe all thes things

well, trusting that yf God gave them towe lyf they

336 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

shuld have a great saying with all Princes Christiane ;
and he trusted well that the Kings Grace shuUd be a
gretter eyde and conforte to the redemption of his
sonnes, the whiche wer gone in to Spayne, then ever
his sonnes shuUd have to have redymed him, whom
his kinde brother of England had redemed to liberte.
And as touching all suche things as wer concluded in
his absence with Madame his moder, he wyll not only
approve, ratyfye, and confyrme, but with the blode of
his body mayntene. * And yf my brother of England

* can study any other way to make them strong, I wyll

* surely performe yt.'

After this I made humble commendations and
congratulations in your Grace^s name. The Eange
a^iswered that he knewe well all this goodnes cam
of your Grace, and of the good disposition of his
kind broder, and, that while he lyved he wolld honor
your Grace, and take youe for his father; and that
he wolld doo no thing with oute the advyce and
counsell of the Kings Highnes and your Grace, as ye
shuUd fullyer knowe by Mons^ Joachin, whiche shuUd
be depeched within thes ij. dayes to your Grace, with
all things, bothe secrets, and allso concerning this
Amyte betwixt th'Emperour and him. He tollde to
us certeyne secrets the whiche th''Emperour spake to
hym at his departing, and desiered me and Mons*".
Joachin we shuUde never speke them, wherfore I do
not put them in wry ting, for Mons^. Jochin wyll shewe

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 337

them by mothe to your Grace when he commyth to
your presence. I beseche your Grace I may here
from your Grace what I shall doo here. Yt ys said
the Kinge will kepe his Ester at Burdeux. Thus Jhesu
preserve your Grace. From Bayona the xix^**. daye of
Marche.

This momyng Mons^ Joachin hathe shewed to me
ij. Lettres of the Kings one^ hand, one to the King's
Highnes, one other to your Grace ; ^ the which he
sendyth by this Post, for he shall make hastyer spede
then Mons^ Joachin maye, and yt wyll be ij. dayes or
that he maye be depeched here.

By your most bownden servaunt and dayly bede-
man, the xix*^. day of March 1526.

JO. TAYLOR, Archid. BucJC.

To my Lord Cardinalls Grace,

LETTER XCIII.

Dr, Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. The Affairs of
Italy. Francis the First fuis ajalljroni his horse.

[ms. cotton, calio. d. IX. fol. 219. Orig,]

Pleasyth yt your Grace that syth the departing

• own.

<> The burnt remains of that to the Cardinal are preserved in the same Volume with
the present letter, fol. 174. It finishes * * vous pryant avoyr de votre coste ceste ferm«
credence en moy, et que vous me trouverez tousjours votre byen bon amy

" Franooys.**

VOL. I. SER. 2. Z

338 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

of Mr. Cheyny from hens, the whiche was the xxvij*.
of Mali, lyttell occasion iiathe be to wryte to your
Grace. The v^^. Jaye of Junii Mons^ President of
Roan cam to the Kinge at Angulisme, the whiche was
very welcom to the Kinge, and allso to my Lady.
And towe dayes contynually he was other wyth the
Kinge or wyth my Lady, and made suche good rela-
cyon of the King" Highnes and of your Grace that
they coulld not be sacyate to talke with hym. The
viijth. daye I went to the Court, the Kinge caused me
to stande at his chaire boUe while he dyned ; and at
after dynner toke me to the wyndowe, and with af-
fectionate hart and a joyouse countenaunce tollde me
that the President had broght hym suche tydings from
his brother the Kinge our Master and your Grace that
hym semed perfytely to known bothe your kynde harts,
and pleyn assurement of all suche things as had ben
spoke of and reported of the King'*s Highnes and your
Grace ; and said he woUd doo his trewe devour and
intent to maynteyn and encrease and strenght this be-
gone Amyte. For he sayd havyng trewe and feyth-
full amyte with the Kings Grace he caryd not for all
the worlld. And he trusted that by Moretts commyng
thider your Grace schulld be well assured of his mynde
and intent. Every man that commyth from those
partyes make so hyghe and good report of the K}mgs
Highnes and your Grace that yt ys gret confort and
joye to me to here yt.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 339

Ther-ys one called Villars, the whiche was prisoner
in the Tower. He hathe bothe to the Ejnge, to
Madame, and to the great Chauncellor in every place
schewyth of the gracyouse goodnes and lyberalyte of
the Kinge and highe wysedome of your Grace, and in
lykewyse the Hostages, the whiche be com her, that
all the worlld ys afiectionat nowe and laudynge of
his felycyte, that yt hathe suche 5tj Kynge and such
counsell.

I assure your Grace ther hathe ben with me Ce-
cilians, Neapolytanes, Allmaynes, and Italyanes, all
praying to God that the Kinge of Yngland myght
[be] theyr Lorde and Kynge. And doughtless yf

ther wer as cofers as hathe ben,a the Kings

Highnes myght facy , . . beLordeofallthe Worllde.
And nowe here ys published by the Popes Nuntius that
the King our master hath given towerds the succors of
Hungary ayenst the Turke a C. scuts, so that every
man merito gyvyth to his Grace . . . name Drfensor
Fidei^ to the gret reproche of th'Emperor, the whiche
sufFeryth his owne syster to be in so gret daunger of
capty vyte of the Turks.

Here yt ys sayde that the Vicoroye shall shortly de-
part ay en in to Spayne, rum bene contenius. The last
tyme I spake wythe the Kinge he had spoken with
the Viceroy, the whiche presented a successor few
Mons^. de Pratto. And allso one other gentylman

• An allusion probably to the time of Henry the Seventh. Edit.

Z %

340 ORIGINAL LETTERS.

brought lettres from th'Emperor in the favor of one
the whiche was the Duke Burbon's servand : for the
fame was in th'*Emperours Court that . . was taken in
Fraunce goyng into Italy. The Kinge tolld he gave
this answer, the Viceroye being present, that he had
knowelege of such ones passage into Italy, wherfore
he made streyght commandement that in no wyse he
shuUd be suffred to passe ; yet one, for Inker of money
lett him passe. The Kinge hathe caused him to be
hanged: and said to the messenger that cam from
th'Emperour, * Ye maye well perceyve what I woUd

* have don with hym yf he had ben take, that have
f caused hym to be hanged that lett hjnoa escape.** And
sayd ferther to the messenger, ^ Segnior, I thinke ye

* have some other gretter errand, than that suche a

* man shulld for the cause of so vyle a person take

* suche labors.' Ha:c ex ore Regis. The Popy's
Nuntius toUde me that the Kinge said to hym that he
was sory that he had suiFred Don Hugo de Monchado
to pass into Italy.

Ferthermore the bi^\ daye of this Moneth, the
Kinge goinge a hunting, his hors fell, and, couytyng*
in the fall to hellpe and save him selfF, fell on his lefte
arme, the whiche, betwixt th'elbowe and the wriste, the
small bone was put out of joynt, and the wryst of the
hand allso, the whiche was great parell of brekyng of
his arme. But thanked be God, no daunger of lym

» desiring.

ORIGINAL LETTERS. 341

nor lyffe. The Fisicians kepe well the ^ue from His
Grace, that ther ys no daunger.

The xj^h, daye I visited His Grace and spake with
him, and he shewed me his hand gretly swollne and
inflate. A lyttell he myght move his fingers, and
trustyth within x. or xii. dayes to be well to labor :
he slepyth and etyth well withoute any ache or
trouble; blessed be Jhesu; who preserve. your Grace
in good hellth and prosperyte. From Angoulesme the
xijth. of Junij. By your chappleyn and most bounden
bedeman

JO. TAYLOR,

Arch. ofBuck^.
To my Lorde Cardinars Grace.

LETTER XCl^.

Louis IP. of Hungary to King Henry the Eighth^
entreating assistcmce against the forces qfSdyman
the Magnificent.

[ms. cotton, vesp. p. III. foL 86. Orig,^

*^* The fate of Hungary was long foreseen by Louis the Second.
There are no less than three Letters in the Cottonian Collection from
him to Henry the Eighth, all in Latin, in different years, announcing
the threatened condition in which he stood. In one, dated firom Buda,
June 30th, 1521, he says, '' Hostes quotidie appropinquant, et piocul-

84S OBIGINAL LITTEB8.

dubio antcqaom h« LiteraB ad Majestatem yestiam penrenerint no8 et
regna nostra inyadent Iterum atque itenim Majestatem yestram rogamus
laboranti Rdpublics Christianae, et oonsilio et auxilio, dum licet suc-
cnnat** •

In the second, dated from Posen, Feb. 5th, 1524, he states that the
Turk finding his empire safe toward the east, had now determined to en-
large it on the side of Europe, and meditated the reduction of Hungary.
^' R^;num nostrum Hungariae primo statim Vere eo animo ac proposito
inyadere et aggredi statuit, ut tot annorum pnedis, yastitate, caedibus,
vexatum, attritum, exhaustum, jugo suo teterrimo (quod Deus omen
ayertat) possit subigere. Scepe sumus apud Sedem Apostolicam et
Pbivcipes Chbistianos testati, qxtantula sint nostiub yxkes
cum TuRCA&UM coUatoB potentia." — ^'Hortamur itaque Majestatem
yestram, et rogamus per omnipotentis Dei nomen, per Christi Redemptoris
nostri charitatem, per yinculum Religionis ac Fidei communis, per pri-
yatas quoque necessitudines, per omnia jura quae Reges Regibus, Amicos
Amicis jungunt et conciliant, ne patiatur (quod in se est) Regnum Hun-
gariae, non postremum nee otiosum Christianitatis membrum, ab hoc
corpore diyeUi."**

The third Letter is that which is here laid entire bef(»e the reader ;
written two months ana«ight days before the battle of Mohatz.

LuDOvicus Dei gratia Rex Hungariae et Bohemiae,
&c. serenissimo et potentissimo Principi Domino Hen-
rico Angliae et Franciae Regi, &c. Principi Hibemiae,
&c. Amico nostro charissimo salutem et prosperorum
successuum amorisque assiduum incrementum.

Serenissinie Princeps, amice noster charissime, cum
Majestas vestra ex creberrimis litteris nostris jam satis
clare intellexerit, Turcae contra nos et hoc regnum
nostrum adventum, pericula Christianitati universae,
si quid nobis (quod Deus avertat) contigerit, immi-
nentia, Supervacaneum esse arbitramur ea rursus re-
censere, quae creberrime Majestati vestrae signiflcavi-

• MS. Cotton. Vesp. F. i. fol. so. <> Ibid. fol. 74.

ORIGINAL L£TT£BS. 343

mus, Caesar ipse Turcaruma abest jam a Nandor Alba
itinere trium aut quattuor dierum; nihil moratur;
veniet contra nos et hoc regnum nostrum cum omni
sua potentia ; cui quam simus impares, propter vires
nostras plurimum imminutas, Majestas vestra et ex
Uteris et ex Oratoribus nostris jampridem intellexit.
Omnis spes nostra sita est in auxilio Majestatis vestrae
et aliorum Principum Christianorum, sed potissimum
in vestra Majestate ; quod nisi afFuerit, citissime actum
de nobis et hoc regno nostro esse putamus. Quare
rogamus.et obtestamur Majestatem vestram per im-
mortalem Deum, per salutem reipublicae Christianae,
velit sine mora nobis, hoc praesenti periculo laboranti-
bus, subsidio et auxilio quo potest subvenire, et quidem
citra omnem moram, nam frustra nobis postea auxi-
Hum feretur, dum hostis potentia in viscera hujus regni
nostrr penetraverit. Vestram Majestat^n felicissimam
valere optamus. Datum Budae, xxj. mensis Junii,
Anno domini m.d.xxvj. regnorum nostrorum praedicto-
rum anno decimo.

LUDOVICUS EEX,

manu propria.

The event of the battle is told in the succeeding Letter, in Oeiman ;
for the Translation of which the Editor is indebted to his fidend Charles
Konig, Esq.

• In the MS, U is Tucarum.

344 ORIGINAL LETTfiBS.

LETTER XCV.

Ferdifumd of Austria to Herman Archbishop qf
Cologne. The news of the BatUe ofMohatz.

[ms. cotton, vespas. f. I. foL 17* Chrig,'\

Dem hochwirdigen Fursten Hem Herman
Ertz bischofen zu Colen des Heiligen Romischen
Reichs durch Italien Ertz caiitzler vnd Churfur-
sten Hertzogen zu Westvalen vnd Engem Vnserm
besundem lieben freundt.

HocHwiBDiGER Churfurst vnnser lieb vnd sonndere
freuntchafflt zuvor, besonnder lieber Freundt Wit
fuegen Eur lieb. mit beswertem vnnd betruebten ge-
miiet zuvememen das Vnns gestem zu vnnser ankunfft:
hieher von vnnser Niderostereichischen Re^erung aine
post zuekhumben ist in der wir verniimen haben, das
vnnsers heiligen Christenlichen glaubens Erb veindt
der Tiiranisch Turckh vnnsem lieben Hem vnd Swa-

Trantlation,

Unto the right reverend Prince my Lord Herman, Archbishop of Cologne,
Lord High Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire through Italy, Elector and
Duke of Westphalia and Engem« Our singular good friend.

Right reverend Elector, in the most friendly wise we greet you well, signifying
unto you, with sad and heavy heart, that yesterday at our arrival here, a post has
reached us ftom our Lower Austrian dominions, by which we liave received com-
munication that the hereditary enemy of our holy Christian fiaith, the Tyrant Turk, is

0KI6INAL LETTERS. 34S>

gern den Kiinig zu Hungem mit seiner Khuniglichen
wirde Kriegsvolckh geslagen vnd abgesygt baben solle*
Wie aber solche Slacht ergangen, wo sein Khiinigelich
wirde in derselben belieben* vnnd hinkommen ist, das
moegen wir noch nit wissen, seyen aber allstiindt ainer
andern post, Got wolle das Sypesser^ dan wie obgemelt
seye, gewertig. Solichs zaigen wir E. L^ auss sonnderen.
hohem vertrawen an, der zuversicht e. 1. vnd ander
Christenliche hertzen, werde des mit gedachter KU-
niglichen wirde, vnnd vnns ain sonnder fireuntlichs
mitleiden haben, vnnd sich solche des Thurckhen that
vnd absiegung der gestalt behertzigen lassen wo der-
selb Turckh solchen seinen erlangten Sig, noch disen
herbst vnnd winter, oder auf den Frueling weiter nach
zugeen, vnnd auf Hungem vnd vnnsere Nideroster-
reichische Lande, mit der that zu handeln vndersteen
wiirde, das E. 1. neben andern Churfursten fursten vnd
Stenden des Reichs fur sich selbs, gedachte Khiinigk-
liche wirde vnd vnns mit statlicher hilff nit verlassen

Translation.

bruited to have beaten and conquered our dear Lord and brother-in-law the King
of Hungary with his royal army. But of the place where such battle was fought, and
likewise touching the fate of the King's Grace we have not yet received advertisements
Howbeit we look hourly forward to other tidings : God grant they shall be gladder
than the first. This we signify to your good Grace from singular high confidence,
trusting you and other Christian hearts will have especial friendly compassion with
his said Grace and us, and will mind the Turk's exploit and victory so fjEir« that, if
the said Turk should further pursue his victorious career this autumn or winter, or
in the spring, and boldly invade our Lower Austrian dominions, your good Grace»
together with other Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire, will not forsake the

gcblieben. ** sie besser. c E\x&c Liebden,

846 ORIGIVAL LETTEIS.

werde, wie wir, to es die nott die wir doch e. 1. nit
vergunen, erfardem solte, nit weniger xnit gutem
Hertzen vnd gemuet, nach vnserm yermiigen thun
woken. Dan E. L Erre und wolfart zusdien vnd die
in bestendigen wesen zuerhalten, ist Vnns ain sonndere
freud. Geben zu Innspnigg am Sibenndai tag Sqp^
tembris Anno D. 1686^.

Post scripta haben Wir ain andere Poet entphangen,
die laider Innenhalt, das die Slacht auf den netm vnd
zwentzigsten tag August) negstvergangen gewisalichen
beschehen, vnd die Eunigkliche wirde von Hungem
darinnen verloren, also, das man noch nit wissea mag,
ob dieselbig in leben oder umbkomen ist. Danimb das
Kunigreich Hungem sambt Vnseren Niderosterrichi-
schen Landen^ in hoechster geferlicheit steet, was tnef-
fenlichen grossen schreckhen nun solches der Christen-
heit pringen soil, das hat E. 1. als des verstendig
zuermessen. Bitten daruf dieselbig zum hechsten, sy
woUen obgemelter massen bedacht sein Vnns mit hilff

Translation.

King's Grace and ourselves, but grant their princely succour. The like are ouisdTes
in a readiness, with good heart and mind to do according to the best of our power, if
necessity, as we no wise wish, should require it. For to behold your good Grace'ii
honour and weal, and to preserve the same in constant int^^ty, is a right particular
pleasure to Us. Given at Inspruck, on the 7th day Septembris, A. D. isseio.

Postscripta. We have received another despatch, the whidi we grieve to say ooii-
taineth, that the Battle chanced on the nine and twentieth of August last passed, and
WM lost by his Grace of Himgary ; neither is it yet known if the King's Grace is still
alive or killed. Wherefore the realm of Hungary, together with our Austrian doad-
mons are brought into great jeopardy ; and what terrour and ruin will fall to Christen-
dom thereby, your good Grace's wisdom doth right well understand. We tliereforc

OBIGINAL LETTERS. 847

vnd sonderlich etiichen Puchsen maistern, vns diesel-
bigen auf vnnser ferer erfordem zuzuschicken, nit
zuerlassen.

E. lieb. besonder fnmdt,

FEBDINAND^

Ferenberff.

Trantlation.

beieedi you most serioiuly to call thja to mind, and in likewiae not omit to soid Us
the succour aforesaid, and specially divers arquebuss-masters, such as may from
time to time be required.

By your good Grace^s loving ftiend«

fxroinamd'

Ferenberg,

The contest on the part of the King of Hungary was a rash one. A
contemporary Account of the Battle preserved among the Cottonian
Manuscripts, ^ states that twenty-five thousand men were opposed to two
hundred and eighty thousand. '^ Gopis Regis tam equitum quam pedi-
tum, Gompntatis auxiliis et stipendiariis, ad summum xxv. milia erant.
Ex adverso Princeps Turcorum tam equitum quam peditum, computatis
navalibus militibus, habebat ducenta et octoginta milia." The 27tfa
and 28th of August were passed in skirmishing. The battle itself was
en the 29th. The flower of the Hungarian nobility and nearly the whole
army were slain. The following was the List of some of the more eminent
perisons killed in it which was sent to the Emperor Charles the Fifth ; it
follows Ferdinand's Letter in the Cottonian Manuscript.

Item the Bishop of Warden.

The Bishop of Funffkirchen.

The Bishop of Rabb.

The Affi Tanoosth.

Sardiani Dunbrosth.

Corlatzki.

Setzi Thanwisth.

Onsorg Ferentzs.

Tahrzon Niclaus.

* Nero B. xi. fol. 27T.

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Full text of "Original letters, illustrative of English history; including numerous royal letters; from autographs in the British Museum, and one or two other collections"

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