-3.

Ther ben many En'mys azens Yermowth and Crowmer and have don moche harm and taken many Englyfch men and put hem in grett diftreffe and grettely rawnfommyd hem and the feyd Enmys been fo bold that they kom up to ye lond and pley'n hem on Caft' fonds and in other plas' as homely as they were Englysch men, Folks ben rytz for' afred y' they wel don' moche harm yis Som, but if y' be made rytz grett purvyans azens hem..

Other tydy'gs know I non at yis tym.

The blyffeful T'nyte have zow in his kpy'g. Wretyn at Norwyche on Seynt Gregorys day.

111 by 9.

Yowrs,

+ M. P.

3 Party at home ran fo high at this time, that the Coafts were neglected, and foreign Enemies fuffered to commit depredations with impunity.

LET.

There have been many Enemies against 3 Yarmouth, and Cromer, and have done much harm, and taken many English men, and put them in great distress, and greatly [heavily] ransomed them; and the faid Enemies have been fo bold that they come up to the land and play them on Caifter Sands and in other places, as homely as [as much at their eafe as if they were Englishmen; Folks be right fore afraid, that they will do much harm this Summer, but if [unless] there be made right great purveyance against them.

Other tidings know I none at this time; the blissful Trinity have you in his keeping.

Written at Norwich, on Saint Gregory's day.

Norwich,

St. Gregory's Day,

Thursday 12th of March,

1449, 28 H. VI.

Yours,

4 MARGARET PASTON.

4 Margaret, wife of John Pafton, Efq. was daughter and heir of John Mawteby,

Efq. She died in 1484. Pl. 11. N° 25.

LET

LETTER JE.

The Copie of a notable L're written by the Duke of Suff' to his Sonne giving bym therein very good Counfeil.

M

ว

Y dere and only welbeloved Sone I beseche oure Lord in Heven ye maker of alle the world to bleffe you and to fende you eu' grace to love hym, and to drede hym to ye which as ferre as a Fader may charge his child I both charge you and prei you to fette alle your fpirites and wittes to do and to knowe his holy. Lawes and Comaundments by the which ye shall w his grete m'cy paffe alle y grete tempeftes and troubles of yis wrecched world, and yt alfo wetyngly ye do no thyng for love nor drede of any erthely creature y' shuld difplefe hym. And ye as any Freelte maketh you to falle be fecheth hys m'cy foone to calle you to hym agen wt repentaunce fatisfaccōn and contricon of youre herte never more in will to offende hym.

Secoundly next hym above alle erthely thyng to be trewe Liege

The following Pedigree of John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, the Son of the Writer of this Letter, is taken from a letter of John Pafton, Esq. to his Cousin Margaret Pafton, dated Saturday, and written between 1460 and 1466, 1 and 6 of E. IV. having for the paper Maik a Bull.

Irem, as for the Pedegre of ye feyd Dewk, he is Sone to Will'm Pool, Dewk of "Suff', Sone to Mychell Pool, Erl of Suff', Sone to Michel Pool, ye first Erl of Suff' "of the Poles, mad by Kyng Ric feth (fince) my Fader was born.

"And ye feyd furft Mychell was Sone to on (one) Will'in Pool of Hull, whech was a "worfchepfull man grow be furtwne of ye world, and he was furft a Murchant and aft' a Kenygth and aft' he was mad Baneret."

man

LETTER IX.

The Copy of a notable Letter, written by the Duke of Suffolk

M

2

to his Son, giving him therein very good Counsel.

Y Dear and only wellbeloved Son, I beseech our Lord in Heaven, the Maker of all the World, to blefs you, and to fend you ever grace to love him, and to dread him, to the which, as far as a Father may charge his child, I both charge you, and pray you to fet all your fpirits and wits to do, and to know his Holy Laws and Commandments, by the which ye shall, with his great mercy, pass all the great tempefts and troubles of this wretched world.

And that, alfo weetingly, ye do nothing for love nor dread of any earthly creature that should displease him. And there as [whenever] any Frailty maketh you to fall, befeech his mercy foon to call you to him again with repentance, fatisfaction, and contrition of your heart, never more in will to offend him.

Secondly, next him above all earthly things, to be true Liege

William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk, fucceeded his Brother Michael, flain at the Battle of Agincourt, in 1415, as Earl of Suffolk; he was Prime Minifter, and Favourite of Henry VI. and Queen Margaret; was created in 1443, 23 H VI. Marquis, and in 1448, 26 H. VI. Duke of Suffolk. He was banished by the King, at the infigation of the Commons, &c. and murdered on the Sea, on the 2d of May, 1450, 28 H. VI.

He married Alice, widow of Thomas de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, and Daughter and heir of Thomas Chaucer, Efq. of Ewelme, in Oxfordshire, and Grand-daughter of Geoffery Chaucer, the celebrated Poct.

2 John de la Pole (after his Father's Murder) Duke of Suffolk, &c. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and Sifter of Edward IV. He died in 1491, 7 H. VII. and was buried by his Father at Wingfield in Suffolk. F

VOL. I.

man

man in hert in wille in thought in dede unto yo Kyng oure alder most high and dredde Sou'eygne Lord, to whom bothe ye and I been fo moche bounde too, Chargyng you as Fader can and may rather to die yan to be y contrarye or to knowe any thyng y' were ayenfte ye 3 welfare or p'fp'ite of his most riall p'fone but y' as ferre as youre body and lyf may ftrecthe ye lyve and die to defende it. And to lete his Highnesse have knowlache y'of in alle y hafte ye can.

Thirdly in ye fame wyfe I charge you my Dere Sone alwey as ye be bounden by ye com'aundement of God to do, to love to worshepe youre Lady and Moder, and alfo y' ye obey alwey hyr com'aundements and to beleve hyr councelles and advises in alle youre werks ye which dredeth not but shall be best and trewest to you. And yef any other body wold ftere you to y contrarie to flee y councell in any wyfe for ye fhall fynde it nought and evyll.

Forthermore as ferre as Fader may and can I charge you in any wyfe to flee ye cōpany and councel of proude men, of coveitowse men and of flateryng men the more especially and myghtily to withstonde hem and not to drawe ne to medle w hem w' all youre myght and power. And to drawe to you and to your company good and v'tuowfe men and fuch as ben of good conu'facon and of trouthe and be them fhal ye nev' be defeyved ner repente you off, moreover nev' follow youre owne

3 This very particular advice to his 8on, fhows his fears for the King's personal safety at this time.