one of Harcourt's men fmote him in the back with a knife ; men wot [know] not who it was readily; his Father heard (a) noise, and rode toward them, and his men ran before him thitherward; and in the going down off his horse, one, he wot not who, behind him fmote him on the head with an edged tool, men know not with us, with what weapon, that he fell down, and his Son fell down before him as good as dead; and all this was done, as men fay, in a 7 Pater nofter while.

And forthwith Sir Humphrey Stafford's men followed after, and flew two men of Harcourt's, one Swynerton and Bradshawe, and more be hurt, fome be gone, and fome be in prison in the jail at Coventry.

;

And before the Coroner of Coventry, upon the fight of the Bodies, there be indited as Principals, for the death of Richard Stafford, Sir Robert Harcourt, and the two men that be dead and for the two men of Harcourt's that be dead, there be indited two men of Sir Humphrey's as Principals; and as yet there hath been nothing found before the Juftice of the Peace of Coventry of this riot, b. caufe the Sheriff of Warwickshire is dead, and they may not fit unto the time there be a new Sheriff; and all this mifchief fell becaufe of an old debate that was: between them, for taking of a Diftrefs, as it is told.

And Almighty Jefu preferve your high Estate, my special Lord, and fend you long Life and good health.

"Ears dull, quarter a red Onion downeright and boyle in the Oyle of Olive, while one "may fay three Pater nofters."

N. B. The words in the copy of the original Letter with Dots over them are imperfect. in the original, the paper being chafed.

2.

Written:

LET T``E R I.

To the right worshipful and with all myn herte right entirely belovid Brother the ViscounteBeaumont.

R1

IGHT worshipful and w' all myn herte right entierly be

loved Brother I recomaunde me to you Thenking right herteli youre good Brotherhode for youre gode and gentill L'res the whiche it hath liked you to fende unto me nowe late and like it you to knowe I p'feeve by the tenōr of the seid L're youre gode defire of c'tein Dubete that I owe unto you. In gode feith Brother it is fo w' me at this tyme I have but easy ftuffe of money w'inne me, for fo meche as the feifon of the

yer

This Letter has no date of the year, but it must have been written after 1444, 23 H. VI. in which year the Earl of Stafford was created Duke of Buckingham, and most probably before the breaking out of the civil war, as the Duke makes no complaint of the Distreffes of the times, but only mentions that season of the year, as not fo convenient for him to procure money.

The Sentiments contained in the Letter are those of a juft man, and a man of honour, wishing to discharge his Debt at the time appointed, and which as he could not do in money, he performs by fending an Obligation which he had from another, upon which Lord Beaumont might receive his Demand.

The

17

To the right worshipful, and with all mine heart right entirely

R

I

beloved Brother, the Viscount Beaumont.

IGHT worshipful, and with all mine heart right entirely beloved Brother, I recommend me to you, thanking right heartily your good Brotherhood, for your good and gentle Letters, the which it hath liked you to fend unto me now late; and like it you to know, I perceive, by the Tenor of the said Letter, your good defire of certain Debt that I owe unto you.

In good faith, Brother, it is fo with me at this time, that I have but eafy ftuff of money within me, for fo much as the season

The Direction and Addrefs of those Letters, which are written from one Knight of the Garter to another, fhew us, that in this age they esteemed one another as Friends and: Brethren united by that most noble order, whofe Institution directs that the Knights Companions fhould be "Fellow's and Brethren united in all Chances of Fortune, Copart"ners both in Peace and War, affiftant to one another in all serious and dangerous Tranfactions, and through the whole courfe of their Lives, faithful and friendly one "towards another."

The Letter itself is written by the Duke's Secretary, but the Conclufion and Signature are by his own hand, and it is most probably the only Original Letter extant of this Great Peer.

VOL. I.

D

of

yer is not yet growen fo that I may not plefe youre seid gode Brotherhode as God knoweth my wille and entent were to do and I had it.

Nev'theles and it like you I fende you bi my Sonne Stafford an obligacion wherof of late tyme I have refcevid part of the Dubete therinne comp'fid, the refidue of whiche I prai you to refceve bi the feid obligacion and that I may have an acquitance y'of and to yeve credence unto my feid Sonne in fuch thing as he shall say unto you' gode Brotherhode on my behalve.

Right worshipfull and w' all myn herte right entirely belovid Brother I befeche the bliffed Trinite p'fve you in Honōr and p'fp'ite.

Writen at my Castell of Makestok the xvij day of Marche.

11 by 6.

Paper Mark.

A Bull's Head and Star.

Pl. VIII. N° 2.

Yowre trew and feyfull broder

1 H. Bukingh'm.

LET

"John Beaumont, was created Viscount Beaumont, in 1439, 18 H. VI. being the firft nobleman who bore that title by patent in England. He was a faithful adherent to the King, and was flain in the battle of Northampton, in July 1460.

2 Humphrey Stafford, Earl of Stafford, &c. was created Duke of Buckingham, in 1444, 23 H. VI. His Mother was the Lady Anne, only Daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, youngest fon to Edward III. He was firm in the intereft of his Sovereign, and loft his life in the battle of Northampton, in July 1460, where he jointly commanded. with the Duke of Somerfet.

His

of the year is not yet grown, fo that I may not please your said good Brotherhood, as God knoweth my will and intent were to do, and [if] I had it.

Nevertheless and [if] it like you, I fend you by my Son Stafford, an Obligation whereof, of late time, I have received part of the Debt therein comprised; the residue of which I pray you to receive by the faid Obligation, and that I may have an acquitance thereof, and to give credence unto my faid Son in fuch thing as he fhall fay unto your good Brotherhood on my behalf.

Right worshipful, and with all mine heart right entirely beloved Brother, I befeech the bleffed Trinity, preserve you in Honour and Profperity.

Written at my Castle of Makestock, the 17th day of March.

Your true and faithful Brother,

2 H. BUCKINGHAM.

Makestock Caftle,

in Warwickshire,

17th March.

Between 1444, and 1455; 23, and 3 H. VI.

His Son Stafford, mentioned in this Letter, was moft probably Humphrey Earl of Stafford, who was wounded at the first battle of St. Albans, in 1455, and of which wounds he foon after died; if fo, it undoubtedly afcertains the date of this Letter to fome period between 1444 and 1455.

The Signature is remarkable for having the initial B of the Title, included within the initial H, of the Chriftian name. Pl. 1. N° 5.