LETTER XUJJ.

To my ryth worchepfull brodyr John Pafton the elder Sone of John Pafton efquyer be thys delyu'yd in haft.

R

YTH worchepfull brodedyr, I recomaunde me to yow. Plefyt yow to wet y' as thys day we had tydyngys her that the Scottys wyll come in to Inglend w' in vij days aftyr the wrytyng of thys lettyr for to rescue these iij caftellys Alnewyk Donfamborowe and Bameborowe, whyche caftellys wer befegyd as on yesterdaye and at the Sege of Allnewyk lythe my Lord of * Kent and ye Lord Scalys and at Donfameborow caftyll lythe the Erle of 'Wyrcetyr Syr Rafe Grey, and at the caftyll of Bameborow lythe the Lord * Montagwe and Lord 'Ogyll and othyr dyu's Lordys and Gentylmen that I knowe not and ther

is

We have in this Letter a most accurate and interesting Account of the Noblemen and others, employed in the Sieges of three Castles on the eastern shore of the County of Northumberland, taken by Queen Margaret, and now in the poffeffion of the Adherents and Friends of Henry VI.

We are informed, whence they received their Victuals and Ordnance, and of the foldierlike care and attention of the Earl of Warwick, who commanded the Forces of King Edward.

We may here observe that though the Troops were hired for a certain time, yet though that time was expired, they durft not leave the Camp and return home; for if they did even get away by stealth, yet if difcovered and taken, they would be feverely punished. Others who had not obeyed the King's Orders, and attended him in perfon, would likewise suffer severely, unless they made proper excuses for their absence; and the Wri ter of this Letter kindly offers his Services from his connexion with men of consequence about the King to have their excuses admitted.

We

LETTER XVII.

To my right worshipful Brother, John Pafton, the elder Son of John Pafton, Efquire, be this delivered in bafte.

R

IGHT worshipful Brother, I recommend me to you.

Please it you to weet, that as this day we had tidings, how that the Scots will come into England within seven days after the writing of this letter, for to rescue these three castles, Alnwick, Dunftanborough, and Bamborough; which Caftles. were befieged, as on yesterday; and at the Siege of Alnwick lieth my Lord of Kent and the Lord Scales, and at Dunftanborough Caftle lieth the Earl of ' Worcester and Sir Ralph Grey, and at the Caftle of Bamborough lieth the Lord Montague and the Lord Ogle, and other divers Lords and Gentlemen, that I know not; and there is to them out of Newcastle

3

We here also see who were moft in the Royal Favour.

2

Thefe Sieges were undertaken, our Hiftorians fay, foon after the Battle of Hexham, which was fought and won on the 15th of May, 1463, by King Edward, but according to this Account they were not undertaken till near eight months after.

The Castles of Bamborough and Dunstanborough were foon taken, but that of Alnwick, being relieved by the Scots, the Garrison marched out, probably, by treaty.

William Neville, Lord Fauconbridge, now Earl of Kent.

2 Anthony Widville, Lord Scales, afterwards Earl Rivers, was beheaded at Pontefract,

in 1483. •

3 John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, Lord Treasurer and Lord Constable of England, was beheaded in 1470.

* John Neville, Lord Montague, and afterwards Marquis, was flain in the battle of Barnet, in 1471, fighting against King Edward.

5 Lord Ogle, of Ogle Castle, in Northumberland.

VOL. I.

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Ordnance,

8

is to hem owt of newe caftyll ordynans I nowe bothe for the Segys and for the feld in cas that ther be ony feld takyn as I trow ther' fhall none be not yet for the Scottys kepe no promes my Lord of Warwyk lythe at y caftyll of Warcorthe but iij myle owt of Alnewyk and he rydyth dayly to all thes caftelys for to ou'fe the fegys and if they want vataylys or any othyr thyng he is redy for to p'uey it for them to hys power, the Kyng comandyd my Lord of 7 Norfolk for to condyth vetaylys and the ordynans owt of new caftyll on to Warcorthe caftyll to my Lord of Warwyk and fo my Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr John Howard Syr Will'm Peche Syr Rob' Chamberleyn Rafe. Afcheton and me Calthorp and Gorge and othyr for to go forthe w the vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord of Warwyk and fo we wer w my Lord of Warwyk w y ordynans and vytalys yeft'daye the Kyng lythe at Durham and my Lord of Norfolk at new caftyll we have pepyll I now her In cas we abyd her I pray yow p'uey y' I may have her more mony by Crystmas evyn at the fertheft for I may get leve for to fend non of my wagyd men home ageyne, ne man can get no leve for to go home but if they ftell a wey and if they myth be knowe they fchuld be fcharply ponyfchyd mak as merry as ye can for ther is no. Jop'te toward not yet and ther be any Joperte I fchall fone fend yow word by the grafe of God, I wot well ye have more: tydyngys then we have her but thes be true tydyngys.

Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly ponyfchyd for be

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, flain in Barnet field, in 1471

7 John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk,, died in 1475+

caufe

Ordnance, I know, both for the Sieges, and for the Field, in case that there be any field taken, as I trow there fhallinone be not yet, for the Scots keep no promife. My Lord of Warwick 6 lieth at the Castle of Warkworth, but three miles out of Alnwick, and he rideth daily to all these Cafles, for to oversee the Sieges; and if they want victuals, or any other thing, he is ready for to purvey it for them to his power. The King commanded my Lord of Norfolk for to conduct victuals, and the ordnance out of Newcastle unto Warkworth Caftle to my Lord of Warwick; and fo my Lord of Norfolk commanded Sir John

Howard, Sir William Peche, Sir Robert Chamberlayne, Ralph Afcheton and me, Calthrop, and Gorge, and others, for to go forth with the victuals and ordnance unto my Lord of Warwick, and fo we were with my Lord of Warwick with the victuals and ordnance as yesterday.

The King lieth at Durham, and my Lord of Norfolk at Newcastle; we have people enough here. In cafe we abide here, I pray you purvey, that I may have here more money by Christmas Eve at the fartheft, for I may get leave for to fend none of my waged men home again; no man can get no leave for to go home, but if they fteal away, and if they might be known, they shall be sharply punished; make as merry as ye can, for there is no jeopardy towards not yet, and there be any jeopardy, I fhall foon fend you word by the grace of God. I wot [know] well ye have more tidings than we have here, but these be true tidings.

Yelverton and Jenney are like for to be greatly punished, for Sir John Howard, afterwards the first Duke of Norfolk, of that name.

cause they came not hedyr to the Kyng they ar. morkyn well I nowe and fo is John Bylyngforthe and Thom's Playter wherfor I am ryth fory, I pray yow let them have wetyng therof y' they may p'uey ther excufe in haft fo that the Kyng may have knowlage why that they come not to hym in ther one p'fonys let them come or fend ther excufe to me in wrytyng and I schall p'uey that the Kyng schall have knowlage of ther excuse for I am well aqueyntyd w' my Lord 9 Haftyngys and my Lord Dakarys whyche be now greteft abowt the Kyngys perfon and alfo I am well aqueyntyd w' the yonger Mortymere Fererys Hawte Harpor Crowmer and Bofewell of the kyngys howfe.

pray yow let my Grandam and my cofyn Cler have knowlage how that I defyryd you to let hem have knowlage of the tydyngys in thys letyr for I promyfyd for to fend them tydyngys I p'ay yow let my modyr have cnowelage how y' I and my felawscep and your Seruūntys ar at ye wrytyng of ys lettyr in good hell blefyd be God.

I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys lettyr and of the todyr lettyr y' I fent to my modyr by Felbryggys man and how that I p'ay bothe hym and my modyr lowly of her blyffygys, I pray yow that ye wole fend me fome lettyr how ye do and of yo' tydyngys w' yow for I thynk longe that I her no word fro my modyr and yow I pray yow y' thys bill may recomand me to my Syftyr Margery and to my Maftres Jone Gayne and to all gode Maftyrys and felawys w'in Caftyr I fent no lettyr to my fadyr nevyr fyn I dep'tyd fro yow for I kowd get no man to

William, Lord Hafyngs, beheaded in 1483.

London