2 others, how the Lord Rivers, Sir 3 Anthony his Son, and others, have won Calais, by a feeble affault made at Sandwich by Denham, Efquire, with the number of eight hundred men, on Tuesday between four and five o'clock in the morning. But my Lady Duchefs is ftill again received in Kent. The Duke of York is at Dublin, ftrengthened with his Earls and Homagers as ye fhall fee by a bill. God fend the King victory of his Enemies, and rest and peace amongst his Lords. I am right heartily heavied for my poor wife for the forrow fhe taketh; and muft leave her and her country; I fhall nothing take from her more than a little spending money, till better may be. And the bleffed Trinity keep and send you health. Written at London hastily the Monday after I departed from you, 1459-10. ? William Botoner, called Wyrcefter, was born in or about 1415, 3 H. V. had several appointments under Sir John Faftolf, (who died on St. Leonard's day, 6th of November, 1459, aged above 80 years,) to whom he was Executor, and was not dead in 1480, 20 E. 4. Pl. 11. No 24. VOL. I. Bb LET LET T ER XLUJJ. To his Right Worshipfull Broth'r John Pafton be this Pre A delyv'ed. FTER dewe recomendacon' had, Please you to wete that we cam to London uppon the tewyfday by non' nexft aftr our dep'to' fro Norwich and sent our men to inquyre aft' my Lord Chaunceler and Maift' John Stokys and Malmesbury. And as for my Lord Chanceler he was dep'ted fro London' and was redyn to y Kyng ij' dayes er we were come to London, and as we understand he hasted hym to ye Kyng by cause of my Lord Ryv's takyng at Sandwyche, &c. (Then follows a long Account of private Business, which is here omitted.) 2 As for tydyngs my Lord Ryv's was brougth to Caleys and by for the Lords wt viij** torches and there my Lord of Salesbury reheted hym callyng hym 3 Knaves fon that he fchuld be fo rude to calle hym and thefe oy' Lords traytors, for they schall be found the Kyngs treue liege men whan he fchuld be found This bold Plan, for surprising the Admiral, and taking his Fleet, was laid by the Earl of Warwick, &c. at Calais, and executed with fuccefs by Sir John Dinham, at Sandwich, in January 1459. Lord Rivers and his Son when Prifoners, being only rated by the Lords, fhews in them great moderation; as the cruelties ufually exercised on Prifoners of confequence in the civil wars of thofe ferocious times would have warranted their immediate execution. Laurence Booth, Bishop of Durham. a t'yto', LETTER XLVII. To his right worshipful Brother, John Pafton, be this Letter A delivered. FTER due recommendation had, Pleafe you to wete, that we came to London upon the Tuesday by noon, next after our departure from Norwich, and fent our men to enquire after my Lord Chancellor, and Mr. John Stokes, and Malmesbury. And as for my Lord Chancellor he was departed from London, and was rode to the King two days ere we were come to London; and as we understand, he hafted him to the King, because of my Lord Rivers being taken at Sandwich, &c. (Then follows a long Account of private Business, which is here omitted.) 2 As for Tidings, my Lord Rivers was brought to Calais, and before the Lords with eight score torches, and there my Lord of Salisbury rated him, calling him; 3 Knave's Son, "that he fhould be so rude to call him, and these other Lords "Traytors; for they fhould be found the King's true Liege men, when he should be found a Traytor, &c." 2 Richard Widville, Lord Rivers married Jaquetta, Daughter of Peter of Luxem burg, Earl of St. Paul, and widow of John, Duke of Bedford, by whom he was Father to Elizabeth, the widow of Sir John Gray, and afterwards Queen of Edward IV. the now Earl of March, by whom he was created Earl Rivers, &c. He was beheaded in July, 1469, by the Lancaftrian Mutineers, in Northamptonshire. 3 The word Knave appears, by this expreffion, at this time to have been used in a bad fenfe. a t'yto', &c. And my Lord of Warr' reheted hym and feyd that his fader was but afquyer and broute up w' Kyng H'rry the ve and fethen hymfelf made by maryage and alfo made Lord and that it was not his p'te to have fwyche langage of Lords beyng of the Kyngs blood, and my Lord of Marche reheted hym in lyke wyfe, and St. Antony was reheted for his langage of all iij Lords in lyke wyfe. 4 It', the Kyng cometh to London ward and as it is feyd rereth the pepyll as he com' but it is c'tayn ther be comyffyons made in to dyv's fchyres that ev'y man be redy in his best aray to com whan the Kyng fend for hem. It', my Lord Roos is com fro Gynes. No more but we p'y to J'hu have you in his most m'cyfull kepyng Amen. Wretyn at London the munday next aft' seynt Powle day. Yowr Brod, 5 willpam Palton. Paper Mark. Cap and Fleur de Lys. Pl. VIII. No 4. 4 Sir Anthony Widville, afterwards Lord Scales and Earl Rivers, was beheaded by the tyrannic order of Richard III. at Pontefract, on the 13th of June, 1483. LET. And my Lord of Warwick rated him, and faid "that his "Father was but a Squire, and brought up with King Henry V. "and fince made himself by marriage, and also made a Lord "and that it was not his part to have fuch language of Lords, "being of the King's blood." And my Lord of March rated him in like wife. ; And Sir 4 Anthony was rated for his language of all the three Lords in like wife. Item, the King cometh to London ward, and as it is faid rereth [raifeth] the people as he come; but it is certain there be commiffions made into diverfe Shires, that every man be ready, in his beft array, to come, when the King fend for him. Item, my Lord Roos is come from Guifnes. No more, but we pray to Jefu have you in his most merciful keeping. Amen. Written at London the Monday next after St. Paul's Day. Your Brother, London, Monday, 29th of January, 1 Autograph. Pl. 11. No 21. 5 WILLIAM PASTON. LET |