Volume Vi Part 36 (1/2)

Wretyn at Yermouth, in hast, this Saterday, the xj. day of July.

Be your owyn, the Balyffes of Yermouth, with our Brethern and Comons of the same Town.

[Footnote 153-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter refers to the attempt of Perkin Warbeck at Deal, where a number of his followers landed on the 3rd July 1495, and were all either killed or taken prisoners by the people.]

1060

ROBERT CROWMER TO SIR JOHN PASTON[154-1]

_To my right especyall and syngler good maister, Ser John Paston, Knyght, this letter be delyvered._

[Sidenote: 1495 / JULY 12]

Wurchipful ser, I recomaund me on to you. Maister Balyffes, with alle myn Maisteris of the town of Yermouth, thankith you hartilly, and trustyng feythfully of your ayde and comford at neede; and if any suche cause happith with us, they woll feythfully send you word in all the hast possyble, up on the syght of the s.h.i.+ppis.

Ser, ferdermor, ther is a s.h.i.+p of our town come hom from Seint John of Amyas, and he seyth that on Seint Thomas Day[154-2] ther came to Seint Wallrens,[154-3] in Normandie, an hoye of Dorderyght, with viij. horsis, with many saddilles and brydilles; ther in wer viij. or ix. Englysh men, the wiche toke the s.h.i.+ppes boot, and went on lond at Staplis,[154-4] and arn renne a wey up in to the c.u.n.tre. And the Admiralles Depewty sesonyd the s.h.i.+p and hors, and all that they found ther in, to the Kyng our soverayn Lordes behooff; and the d.u.c.h.e men were leyde in pryson. This is a mater of trowth, for William Carre of our town, maryner, and oder of our town, see this doon in deed. And as for the s.h.i.+ppes with the Kynges rebellars, they be furth out of Cambyr[155-1] westwards; whyder they be, thei can not sey, but the d.u.c.h.e men seid to William Carre that they trustid on one man shuld help them with many men. Thes is suche tydynges as the Amyas men brout hom.

Ser, if it woll please your maisters.h.i.+p that ye myght have leyser, I desyre and pray you to come sporte you, and to see how weell we have appareld and furnys.h.i.+d our town, I wold be right gladd, and I trust to Almyghty G.o.d that it wold please your maisters.h.i.+p right weell, and with your betyr advyce we woll doo more to our power, that knowith G.o.d, the wiche Lord preserve you.

Wretyn at Yermouth, on Relyk Sonday.[155-2]

By your servaunt,

ROBART CROWMER.

[Footnote 154-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter refers to the dispersion of Warbeck's fleet after the attempt at Deal. It would appear, as Fenn remarks, that on receipt of the preceding letter Sir John had promised aid to the town of Yarmouth, for which promise they here return thanks. The handwriting of this letter is the same as that of the last.]

[Footnote 154-2: The Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas Apostle, 3rd July.]

[Footnote 154-3: _Qu._ St. Vallery?]

[Footnote 154-4: Etaples.]

[Footnote 155-1: The point called the Camber, near Rye.]

[Footnote 155-2: Relic Sunday is the third Sunday after Midsummer Day, and fell on the 12th July in 1495.]

1061

ELIZABETH, d.u.c.h.eSS OF NORFOLK, TO SIR WILLIAM KNIVET AND OTHERS[155-3]

_To my ryght entyerly and welbelovid frendes, Sire William Knevette, Sire John Paston, Sire Robert Clere, Knyghtes, the Kynges Attorney, Phelippe Calthorpe, Richard Suthwell, Squyers, and to yche of theym._

ELIZABETH, d.u.c.h.eSSE OF NORFFOLK.

[Sidenote: 1495 / SEPT. 14]

Right entyerly welbelovyd frendys, I comaunde me to you. And for as moche as I understande that Sire Harry Grey, that is the verry owner and possessioner of the maner of Ketryngham, is nowe in gret age, and as it is seide, of right seekely disposicion, and that after his decea.s.se the right and t.i.tle therof shall of right belonge to my right welbelovid servaunt Thomas Martyn, and his nevewe and heyre of blood, and his eyre therof by reason of entaylys:--What the seid Sire Harry entendith to do therin, I knowe not, but it rennyth in reporte, that he is in purpose to disherite the seid Thomas Martyn therof, contrary to all right and good conscience. In eschuenge wherof, I desire and pray you as hertely as I can, that it wull leeke you to be so good maistyrs to the seid Thomas as, by your wisdams and discrecion, the seid Sire Harry, by you or some of you, may be moved of conscience and of kyndenesse to his blood to have regard to the seid right, and not to do eny thyng that shuld be disheryson to his seid nevewe, and to have the more tender consideracion to your mocion, for that the seid Thomas is to dyverse of you of kynne and aliaunce, and to many other gentilmen within the shere in leeke cas.

And for the consideracion that I have, that the seid Sire Harry and Thomas his nevewe, were of my lordes nere blode, whoes soule Jesu pardon and a.s.soyle, it were to gret a pete to see hym by disheryson to falle to penury and poverte, wher by your good exortacion in consideracion of the premissis, and mo odir by your wisdamys to be remembred, in the lif of the seid Sire Harry suche inconveniences may be better remadyed; wherin ye shall not only do an almas dede, and a gret pleasir to G.o.d, but also to me for that blodes sake a singuler pleasir, and cause me heraftir therather to considir thynge that shall concerne your resonabill pleasir, with G.o.ddes grace, Who ever kepe you.