1

which purfued this matter; if he were in London, he could give good information upon this matter.

I pray you write to me how my matters do, and of fuch novelties as ye have there, and our Lord have you in his keeping, Written at Caiftor hastily, the 5th day of February, in the 34th year of King Henry VIth.

LETTER XXIX.

To the right worshipful, and my right entirely well beloved Sir

R

IGHT worshipful, and my right entirely well beloved, I

greet you right heartily well; Thanking you fpecially, and in full hearty wife, for the very gentle good nefs that ye fhewed unto me at all times, praying you of good continuance.

of the epiftolary ftyle of writing, and of the mode of fpelling, at the period when it was written; which must have been between 1451 and 1459; as in the former year thes Writer became Archbishop, and in the latter Sir John Faftolf died.

Sir John Faftolf, was a valiant Soldier in the wars in France; he built a noble Manfion at Caifter, near Yarmouth, in Norfolk, wherein he lived in great fate and magnificence, and departed this life on the 6th of November, 1459, aged above 80 years,

And

And as touching fuche matiers as ye fente unto me fore I trufte to God verraly infomuche as the Rule is amendid heer and the wedder waxeth feefonable and pleasante to fee you in thife p'ties within fhort tyme, at whiche tyme I fhal cōmune end demeene unto you in fuchie wife, that ye fhal be right wele pleasid.

And as for the matier cōc'nyng my Lord of ' Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye but that ye fhal finde me hertly welwillid to doo that I can or may for yaccomplefshm' of youre defire as wel in that matier as in other like as your f'vaunte John Bokking berer hereof can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve, to whom like hit you to yeve feith and credence in this p'tie, And the bliffid Trinitee have you ev'laftingly in his keping. Written in my Manoir of Lamehith the xxvj daie of March.

111 by 5 L

Your feithfull and trew,

Th. Cant.

This may apply either to fome change in the Administration; or only in the management of the house.

3 There was no Duke of Bedford between 1435 and 1470. This must therefore relate to fome matter which had formerly paffed between Sir John Faftolf, and John Plantagenet,

2

And as touching fuch matters as ye fent unto me, for, I truft to God verily, infomuch as the Rule is amended here, and the weather waxeth seasonable and pleasant, to see you in these parts within fhort time; at which time I fhall commune and demean unto you [act towards you] in fuch wife, that ye shall be right well pleased.

And as for the matter concerning my Lord of 3 Bedford, thinketh not contrary, but that ye fhall find me heartily well willed, to do that I can or may for the accomplishment of your defire, as well in that matter as in other like, as your Servant John Bokking, Bearer hereof, can clearlier report unto you on my behalf, to whom like it you to give faith and credence in this part; and the Bleffed Trinity have you everlastingly in his keeping.

Written in my Manor of Lamehith [Lambeth] the 27th day

Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, and Regent of France, who died in 1435; perhaps it related to the Ransom of the Duke of Alençon. Sir John ferved long under him in France.

LET

LET TER XXX.

To my right worshipfull and my mooft beft beloved Lord Fadre my Lord Beaumont'.

R

IGHT worshipfull and my mooft beft beloved Lord

Fadre, I recomaunde me unto youre good Lordship, please it yow to wit, I have confayvid yo' writyng right well and for afmoche as ye defure the Stiwardship of Baggeworth for youre wilbeloved Thom's Everyngh'm which y trowe verely be right a good and a feithfull gentilman. How be it my Lord youre defure shall be had in all y' is in me; and at ye instaŭnce of yo* Lordship y by thavife of my Counceill fhall gyf it hym in writyng undre fuche fourme as fhall please yow, wheryn y wold be glad to doo y' at might please youre good Lordship, p'yng yow right hertly ye wold be myn especiall good Lord and Fadre in all fuche as ye can thynk fhuld growe to my worship or p'fite any wife as my fynguler truft is mooft in yow.

in

And y alwey redy to doo yowe f'vyfe with Goddes g'ce who have yow my right worshipfull and my mooft beft beloved Lord Fadre ev' in his bleffid kepyng.

Writton at Roy'fild Gray the xxiiij day of Juyle, &c.

Fury'more

This Let er, though it contains no historical or memorable Event, exhibits the duti ful ftyle of a Son to a Father, and on that account deserves to be read; it was written between 1455, when John fucceeded his Father William, as Lord Lovell, and 1460, when Lord Beaumont was flain.

John

LETTER XXX.

To my right worshipful, and my most beft beloved Lord Father, my Lord Beaumont.

R

IGHT worshipful, and my most best beloved Lord Fa

ther, I recommend me unto your good Lordship; please it you to weet, I have conceived your writing right well, and forasmuch as ye defire the Stewardship of Baggeworth for your wellbeloved Thomas Everingham, which I know verily, be right a good and a faithful Gentleman. Howbeit, my Lord, your defire shall be had in all that is in me; and at the inftance of your Lordship, I, by the advice of my Council, fhall give it him in writing, under fuch form as fhall please you; wherein I would be glad to do that, that might please your good Lordship, praying you right heartily, ye would be mine efpecial good Lord and Father, in all fuch as ye can think should grow to my worship, or profit in any wife, as my fingular truft is most in you, and I alway ready to do you fervice with God's Grace, who have you, my right worshipful, and my moft beft beloved Lord Father, ever in his blessed keeping.

Written at Rotherfield Gray, the 24th day of July, &c.

Furthermore

John Lord Lovell, married Jane, Daughter of Viscount Peaumont, and at length Heir to her Brothers William and Henry, who both fucceeded to the title, but died without iffue. Pl. 1, No H.

Lord