LETTER XXJU. Unto my worshipfull and welbeloved Cofyn John Pafton be this R IGHT worshipfull and entierly welbeloved Sir I recommaunde me unto you defiring hertly to her', of your welfar'. 2 I Furthermor' lettyng you wete as for fuch tydinges as we have here fuch thre Lordes be dede the Duke of Somerset the Erle of Northombrelonde and the Lord 'Clyfford and as for any other men of name I knowe noon fave only Quotton of Cammbrigefhir'. As for any oy Lordes many of theym be hurt and as for Fenyngley he lyveth and fareth well as fer as I can enquere, &c. And as for any grete Multytude of people y' ther was as we can tell ther was at moft flayn (x) vi fcore. And as for the Lordes The Account in this Letter refers to the first Battle of St. Alban's, which Rapin fays was fought on the 31st of May, 1455, 33 H. VI. but which all our other Historians place on the 23d of May. This Letter certainly fixes it before the 25th (Whitsunday) therefore it was most probably fought on Friday the 23d. Hiftory informs us that Humphrey Stafford, Earl of Stafford, and eldest Son and Heir of the Duke of Buckingham, died of the wounds he received in this battle, when this Letter therefore was written, he was not dead. And we are told by our Hiflorians that the King loft 5000 or 8000 men, though Hollingshead thinks it should be only 800, whereas this Letter fays only Six feure, how this Unto my worshipful and well beloved Coufin, John Pafton, be this Letter delivered in baste. R IGHT worshipful and entirely well beloved Sir, I recommend me unto you, defiring heartily to hear of your welfare. 2 Furthermore letting you weet, as for fuch Tidings as we have here, fuch [these] three Lords be dead, the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Northumberland, and the Lord 'Clifford; and as for any other men of name, I know none, fave only Quotton [Cotton] of Cambridgeshire. As for any other Lords, many of them be hurt, and as for Feningley he liveth, and fareth well, as far as I can enquire, &c. And as for any great Multitude of people that there was, as we can tell, there was at most flain 5 (ten) fix score; and as for the this prodigious difference in numbers can be reconciled, I own I cannot form any conjecture. Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerfet, &c, he was fome years Regent of Normandy, and in this Battle commanded the Royal Army. Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had been a favourite with Henry V. and continued a loyal and faithful Subject to his Son Henry VI. when flain he was about 60 1 years of age. 3 Thomas Clifford, Lord Clifford. • William Quotton or Cotton, of Land'wade, in Cambridgeshire, was Vice Chamberlain: to Henry VI. In the Original Letter the x is ftruck out, and vj placed after it in the fame line. Lords Lordes that wer' w' the Kyng they and her men wer pilled and fpoyled out of all their harneys and horfes and as for what Rule we shall have yit I wote nett save only ther be made newe certayn Officers. 6 My Lord of Yorke Conftabil of Englande, my Lord of 7 Warweke is made Captayn of Calyes, My Lord Burgchier is made Treaforer of Englande and as yit other Tydinges have I none. And as for our foverayn Lorde thanked be God he hathe no grete harme. No more to you at this tyme but I pray you send this Lettyr to my Maistresse Pafton when ye have fene hit, preyng you to Remembre my Syftir Margrete ageyne the tyme y' the fhal be made nonne. Written at Lamehith on 9 Witfonday, &c. Lords that were with the King, they and their men were pilled [plundered] and spoiled out of all their Harness and Horses; and as for what Rule we shall have yet I weet not, fave only there be made new certain Officers. 8 My Lord of York, Constable of England; my Lord of 7 Warwick is made Captain of Calais; my Lord Burgchier is made Treasurer of England; and as yet other Tidings have I none. And as for Our Sovereign Lord, thanked be God, he hath no great harm. No more to you at this time, but I pray you fend this Letter to my Mistress Pafton, when ye have seen it; praying you to remember my Sifter Margaret against the time that she shall be made a Nun. Written at Lamehith [Lambeth] on 9 Whitsunday, &c. By your Cousin, 10 JOHN CRANE. Lambeth, 25th of May, 1455. 9 Whitsunday in 1445 fell on the 25th of May. 10 The Family of Crane flourished at this time in Norfolk and Suffolk, See Letter xi, Pl.. 111. N° 29. LET LETTER XIU. To Will'm Worcester be this L're delyvred in haft. R. I recomaunde me to yow and as for tydyngs ye may 2 leche of but that the Kyng the Quene and the Prynce remeven to Hertford to morwen w' ought faute, myn Lord York to the Fryres at Ware myn Lord 3 Warwyk to Hunefdon the Erle Salyfburye to Rye and there they shall abyde to tyme the 'p'lem't be gynne. The Duk Buk is come inne and fworn that he fhalbe rewled and draw the lyne w' theym and ther to he and his Brethern ben bounde by recony faunce in notable fum'es to abyde the fame. The Erle of Wylts fent to the Lordes from a place of his called Peterfeld a L're defyring to know if he shuld come and a byde. This Letter, written in the beginning of June, gives a plain narrative of the State of Affairs refpecting both Parties, immediately after the first battle of St. Alban's, which was fought on the 23d of May, 1455. William Worcester, the Son of William de Worcester, and Elizabeth, he Daughter of Thomas Botoner, was born at Bristol, about the year 1415, 3 H. V. was educated at Oxford, &c. at the expence of Sir John Faftolf, Kt. with whom he afterwards lived at Caifter in Norfolk, and to whom he was Efquire, Hiftorian, and Executor. He fometimes styled himf. William Botoner, and at other times William Botoner, al's Worcester. He |