Volume Ii Part 43 (1/2)
I pray yow, therfore, that ye wole write to me your disposicion how ye purpose to be demened, and how I shal take yow for th'execucion of the Kyngs Comission, and the pupplik wele of all the s.h.i.+re; and aftir that that ye write to me, so wole I take yow, latyng yow wete that I were lothe to labour ferther but if I wist that the Commons shuld be easid as G.o.dds law wold; and if ony errour grow, the defaute shal not be founde in me.
I pray yow more over to gif credence to the berer her of, and the Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wynch, the second day of January.
THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.
[Footnote 203.2: [From Fenn, iii. 106.] As this letter was written in the year that John Jermyn was Sheriff of Norfolk, the date must be 1451.]
[Footnote 203.3: _See_ page 161, Note 3.]
168
THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[204.1]
_To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolff, Knyght._
[Sidenote: 1451(?) / JAN. 2]
Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele, and pray yow to be right sadly advysed of the contynue of a bille of instruccion closid her ynne; and therupon, as I trust yow, to comon with suych my Lords of the Kyngs Councell as be present now at this tyme, in especiall my Lord Chaunceller, and that ye wole send me instruccyon agayn of their avise, and how I shal demene me. And the Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn at Wynch, the second day of January.
THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.
[Footnote 204.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, which is dated at the same place and on the same day as the preceding, was probably written in the same year also.]
169
JOHN BOCKING TO WILLIAM WAYTE[205.1]
_To William Wayte._[205.2]
[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 2]
Rith feithful and welbelovyd brother, Wiliam Wayte, I comaunde me to yow as the lord may to his tenant, praying you effectualy to recomaunde me to my singuler G.o.de mayster and yours, excusyng me that I write not to hym, for I dar not envolde me in the same. And as for tydyngs her, I certifye you that all is nowght, or will be nowght. The Kyng borweth hes expense for Cristemesse; the Kyng of Aragon,[205.3] the Duc of Myleyn,[205.4] the Duc of Ostrich,[205.5] the Duc of Burgoyn[205.6]
wolde ben a.s.sistent to us to make a conquest, and nothyng is aunswered, ner agreed in maner, save abydyng the grete deliberacon that at the last zall spill all to G.o.der, &c.
The Chief Yistice[205.7] hath waited to ben a.s.sauted all this sevenyght nyghtly in hes hous, but nothing come as yett, the more pite, &c. On _oyr and determiner_[205.8] goth in to Kent, and Commissioners my Lord the Duc of York, Bouchier, my mayster,[206.1] that will not come there, _de prodicionibus_, &c., but Kent praeth hem to hang no men when thei come.
Other tydyngs as yett can I non tell you, save Ulveston is Styward of the Mydill Inne, and Isley of the Inner Inne, be cause thei wold have officz for excuse for dwellyng this tyme from her wyves, &c. Sir T. T.[206.2] lost hes primer at the Tour Hill, and sent his man to seche [_fetch_ (?)] it, and a good felaw wyshed hit in Norffolk, so he wold fetch hit there, &c. Men ween that Norffolk men wer hardier thanne thei be.
G.o.d graunte, and at the reverence of G.o.d help too that an outas[206.3]
and clamour be made upon the Lord Scalez,[206.4] preying hym for well of the c.u.n.tre, neyther susteyn ner help hym ner Heydon in no wyse, and that ye crye upon my mayster and yours that he obeye not the syrcorar [_certiorari_] as yett, as ye may se be hes lettre from my mayster, rudely and in hast be me endited, of which I pray excuse, &c. And pray Blake[206.5] to do Swafham men sey sum what to the matier.
I wote well T. and H.[206.6] wil not come there at this tyme, as it is verily reported, &c. _Mitte sapientem, &c._ Brayn and I shalbe with you on Sat.u.r.day nest at evyn, with the grace of Jesu, to whom I be take you.
In hast, at London, the ij^de day of Januar.
By
J. BOCKYNG.