R

To

LETTER

UJ.

my Ryght Wurchepfull Cofyn John Pafton Efquier.

IGHT worchepful Cofyn I recomaunde me to yow thankyng

yow as hertyly as I kan for my selff &c. and specially for yat ye do so moche for Oure Ladyes Hous of Walfyngh'm which I truft v'yly ye do the rather for y grete, love yat ye deme I have yerto, for trewly if I be drawe to any worchep or wellfare and difcharge of myn Enmyes daunger I afcryve it unto Our Lady. Preyng yow y'fore yat ye woln ben as frendly to Oure Ladyes hous as I wote well ye have alwey ben, and in especyall now yat I myght have of yow the report certeynly be your Lett of yat that Naunton your Cofyn informyd yow and told yow be mouthe of all mat's tow chyng Oure Ladyes hous of Walfyngh'm,

For me thynkyth be yat I have herde be Oure Ladys preft of Walfyngh'm if I understode weel yat mater yat it shuld do moch to the gode fpede of the mater, and dought yow not our Lady fhall quyte it yow and here poer P'our here aftyr as he may &c, Preying yow alfo Cofyn and avyfyng for the cafe of us both and

of

In 1440, Willian Yelverton, Son of John Yelverton, by Elizabeth, Daughter of Richard Read, and widow of Robert Clere, was appointed King's Serjeant, and in 1444, a Juftice of the King's Bench, and in 1460 he was created a Knight of the Bath. This Letter therefore was most probably written before 146c, as had it been written after that time, he would have figned himself Knight as well as Juftice. Pl. 11. N° 14.

2

The

R

LETTER VI.

To my right worshipful Coufin, John Pafton, Efquire.

IGHT worshipful Coufin, I recommend me to you, thank

ing you as heartily as I can for myself, &c. and especially for that ye do fo much for Our Lady's Houfe of Wallingham, which I truft verily ye do the rather for the great Love that ye deem I have thereto; for truely if I be drawn to any worship or welfare, and difcharge of mine Enemies' danger, I afcribe it unto Our Lady.

Praying you therefore, that ye will be as friendly to Our Lady's Houfe as I wote know] well ye have alway been, and in efpecial now, that I might have of you the report certainly by your Letter of that, that Naunton your Coufin informed you, and told you by mouth of all matters touching Our Lady's House of Wallingham; for methinketh by that I have heard by Our Lady's Prieft of Walfingham, if I understood well that. matter, that it should be much to the good fpeed of the matter,. and doubt you not Our Lady fhall quite [requite] it you, and her poor Prior hereafter as he may, &c.

Praying you alfo Coulin, and advising for the ease of us both,

and

The Image of our Lady of Walfingham, in Norfolk, was in thefe days, and had been for ages, particularly reforted to by all ranks of people, from the King to the Peasant, by foreigners as well as natives; and was held in the highest veneration for the various miracles, &c, afcribed to her..

We

of our frendes and of many other yat ye be at London be tymes yis t'me and if we fpede well now, all well all y's yere aftir for I knowe v'yly y' was nevyr made grett' labour yanne shall be made now and yerfore I pray to Our Lady help us and her bliffid Sone which have you in his holy kepyng.

Wreten at your poer place of Bayfeld on Sent Fraunces day in haft.

We must not therefore wonder, in this enlightened age, that a Judge, bigotted to his religion, and the credulity of the times, fhould afcribe not only every fortunate event which befel him to the influence of our Lady of Walfingham, but likewise attribute his escape from every danger which had threatened him, to her protection.

This famous and wonder-working Image was however, in 1538, 30 H. VIII. brought to Chelsea, and there burnt.'

Thomas

and of our Friends, and of many other, that ye be at London by times this term, and if we speed well now, all well all this year after; for I know verily there was never made a greater labour than fhall be made now, and therefore I pray to Our Lady, help us, and her Bleffed Son, which have you in his holy keeping.

Written at your poor place of Bayfield, on Saint Francis's day, in haste.

Your Coufin,.

WILLIAM YELVERTON, Juftice.

Bayfield,

in Norfolk,

St. Francis's Day,

4th October.

Between 1444, and 1460.

Thomas Hunt was Prior of Walfingham, from 1437, to 1474.

The impreffion on the wax with which this Letter is fealed is a Cinquefoil, having fome

motto, (which I cannot make out) round it.

There is a braid of twine about the Seal. Pl. xiv. N° 1.

LET

LETTER UJJ.

To the right worshipfull and myn efp'iall maister John Pafton efquyer in haft be this deliv'ed.

A

FTER al due recomendacōn like it you to wete yat ye

day of yo' 'Affi'e is die Lune p'x poft tres feptiānas fti Mich'is, whiche is on Moneday come vij nyght at whiche tyme I troft ye wole be here or ellis can I do lytell or nought yre

inne.

As touchyng yo' mater ageynft Gunnore y' dwelleth in lawe I have spoken to Lyttelton and comuned whym yre in but it is not yet spoke of atte barre.

יין,

Gunnore hath waged his lawe of yat he haa'de his day to wage it of, &c.

As touchyng yo' iffues at Wentworth fute it is ijs and it was retourned er I come here, my maift' Faftolfs Councel taketh heed y'to, &c.

As for tydynges my Lord 3 Chaunceler is difcharged in his ftede is my Lord of Wyncheftre.

And my Lord of 4 Shrewisbury is Treforer and Broun' of yo' Inn is Undertreforer if ye wold fende to hym to g’unte you ye namyng

This Letter must have been written on the 18th of October, 1449, if the account of the Chancellorship in Godwin's Catalogue of the Bifhops may be depended upon. Lawrence Booth too would not have been styled only "Maister," if he then had had any higher title from his Preferments, which he foon after enjoyed, and yet the accounts of the nobility, &c. feem to bring it forwarder than the year 1449.