LETTER X.

M. this is the confeffyon of xvj frenfheme wt the Maftyr takyn at She's sm' ye iij wek of lent.

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IGHT Worshipfull Sr. I recomaund me to you and lete

you wytte yt I have be at Shiryngh'm and examyned ye frenfhmen to ye nombre of xvj w' ye Maist. And yei telle ye ye Duke of Som' is in to Scotland and yei fey y Lord Hungyrforthe was on monday laft paffed afore Sheryngh'm in to Scotland ward in a kervyle of Depe, no gret power w' hym ne wt ye seid Duk neyther. And yei fey yt ye Duk of Burgoyn is poyfened and not like to recou'e and as for powers to be gadered ageynft our weelfare yei fey y' fhulde come in to 'Seyne CC gret 3 forstages owt of Spayne from y 4 Kyng yre and CCC Shippes from y Duk of 5 Bretayne w' y navy of firaunce, but yei be not yet affembled ne vitayll yere p'veyd as yei fey ne men, And yo Kyng of 'ffraunce is in to Spayne on pilgrymage w' fewe hors as yei fey what ye p'pofe is yei can not telle certeyn, &c. In haft at Norwich.

I have given this as the contents of a paper, which accompanies the two foregoing. Letters, but how far they merit any regard I cannot pretend to fay. The Writer feems to doubt the truth of many of the aflertions, as he adds to aloft every one of them "as they fay."

It relates to the return of the Duke of Somerset, &c. from France into Scotland, to join Queen Margaret, and must have been written in or about 146:.

The

LETTER X.

Memorandum. This is the confeffion of fixteen Frenchmen with the Mafter, taken at Sharringham (in Norfolk,) the third week of Lent.

IGHT worshipful Sir, I recommend me to you, and let

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you weet, that I have been at Sharringham and examined the Frenchmen, to the number of fixteen with the Master; and they tell, that the Duke of Somerset is into Scotland, and they say the Lord Hungerford was on Monday last past afore Sharringham into Scotlandward in a Kervel [Carvel] of Diepe, no great power with him, ne with the said Duke neither. And they say that the Duke of Burgoyn is poifoned and not like to

recover.

And as for powers to be gathered against our welfare; they say, there should come into Seyne 200 great 3 forstages out of Spain from the 4 King there; and 300 Ships from the Duke of 5 Bretagne with the Navy of France, but they be not yet affembled, ne victual there purveyed, as they fay, ne men. And the King of France is into Spain on Pilgrimage with few horfe as they say; what the purpofe is, they cannot tell certain, &c.

6

In hafte at Norwich.

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, was flain in 1477.

A River in France.

Large Ships were Ships with foretages, or forecastles.

Henry IV. King of Spain, died in 1474.

5 Francis II. laft Duke of Bretagne, died in 1498.

Lewis XI. King of France, died in 1483.

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The Kyng of Fran's hath comitted the rewle of Bordews on to the marchaunds of the to, and the 7 browd tha be therin to be at ther wages, and like as Caleys is a Stapole of wolle here in England fo is that made ftaple of wyne.

John Fermer prefon feyth on John Gylys a clerk yt was w the Erle of Oxforthe wych was fome tym in Kyng Herrys hows was a prevy Secretary w the Erle of Oxforthe, and if any wryty'g wer mad' by the feyd Erle the feyd Gylys knew ther of in this gret maty'rs.

81 by 41.

This word is imperfect in the Original Paper, perhaps it means they bruit.

LETTER XJ.

To my right trufti and welbelovid ffrend John Pafton Efquier.

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IGHT worshipfull, and myn enterly welbelovyd frend I recomaund me un to you hertely thankyng you of your gret p'fent of ffisch and of the felyfhipp that my Cofyn your fonne shewid unto me att Norwiche p'pofyng be the grace of God to def've it un to you in tyme to come in fuch place as I may do for you.

Defiryng you specyally wher as a Tenut of myne of Lavenham called John Fermor is fefid and areftid w'in the Towne of Yermowth be cause he dwellid with the Erle of Oxonfords Son and p'pofid to have paffid the See wou lycence, and ftond

The King of France hath committed the rule of Bordeaux unto the Merchants of the town and the 7..... ... that be therein to be at their wages; and like as Calais is a ftaple of wool here in England, fo is that made a staple of wine.

John Fermer prifoner faith, one John Giles a Clerk that was with the Earl of Oxford, which was fome time in King Harry's House, was a privy Secretary with the Earl of Oxford; and if any writing were made by the faid Earl, the faid Giles knew thereof in this great matter.

Norwich,
March

2 E. IV.

1461-2,

LETTER XI.

To my right trusty and well beloved Friend, John Pafton, Efquire.

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IGHT worshipful, and mine entirely well beloved Friend, I recommend me unto you, heartily thanking you of your great Present of Fish, and of the Fellowship that my Coufin your Son fhewed unto me at Norwich, propofing by the grace of God to deserve it unto you in time to come, in fuch place as I may do for you. Defiring you specially, whereas a Tenant of mine of Lavenham, called John Fermor, is seized, and arrested within the Town of Yarmouth, because he dwelled with the Earl of Oxford's Son, and propofed to have paffed the Sea without license, and ftandeth out of the conceit of much people, I would

defire

yth out of the conceyte of much peple, I wold defyre you, that ye wold wryte to the Baylyffs of Yermouth to delyu' the feid John Fermor to my f'vnt John Brenerigg bryng' of this, with an officer of the feid Towne to be caried un to the Kyngs Caftell of Ryfing at my coft, ther to be examynid of certeyne Artycules which I may not disclose til I have spoke with the Kyngs Highnes, praying you to wryte to the feid Bayliffs that I shall be her fuffifant Difcharge ayenft the Kynge.

Defyryng yow to geve credence to the bryng herof, as my verray truft is in yow.

Wretyn at Lavenham the xxvth day of Marche.

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Your trew and feithfull frend, havyng no blame for my gode wylle,

11 by 6.

John Wykes.

Ufsher of the Kyngs Chambr'.

LET

This Letter appears to have been written the year after the Acceffion of Edward IV. as in the February preceding this Letter John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Aubrey his Son, were beheaded.

The Informations then given might probably make it neceffary to have many of their Dependants and Servants taken into cuftody and detained in prison.

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