and Walcote's with the Appurtenances in Little Snoring, in the County of Norfolk, as our great truft is unto you. And God have you in his keeping. Given under our Signet, at our Caftle of Sandal, the 19th day of Auguft. Sandal Castle, 19th of Auguft, He married Cecily, Daughter of Ralph Nevile, Earl of Westmoreland, and Sifter to Richard Nevile, Earl of Salisbury, Father of the Earl of Warwick. The Signature is copied from one fubfcribed to an Indenture between him and Sir John Faftolf, on depofiting fome Jewels with Sir John for a Loan of Money, dated at Fodringey, 18th of December, 1452, 31 H. VI. Pl. 1. No 4. LET To oure right trufli and welbelovid John Pafton efquier. R The Ducheffe of Norff'. IGHT trufti and welbelovid we grete you hertili weel and for as muche as it is thought right neceffarie for divers caufes y my Lord have at this tyme in the p'lement suche p'fones as longe unto him and be of his menyall 'vaunts wherin we conceyve yo' good will and diligence shal be right expedient. We hertili defire and pray you that at the contemplacion of thise oure L'res as our special truft is in you ye wil geve and applie yo' voice unto our right welbelovid Colin and S'vaunts John Howard and Syr Roger Chambirlayn to be Knyghts of the Shire exorting all fuche othir as be your wisdom fhal now be behovefull to the good exployte and conclufion of the fame. And in yo' faithful attendance and trewe devoyre in this partie ye fhal do unto my Lord and us a fingler' pleafir and caufe us herafter to thank you therfore as ye shal holde you right weel content and agreid with the Grace of God who have you eve' in his keping. Wreten in Framlyngham Caftel the viij day of Jun'. 11 by 7. LET I have placed this and the following Letter together, as they both contain instructions from the Nobility, for returning Perfons of their Nomination as Knights of the Shire. We have here a true picture of the dependency of the Houfe of Commons on that of the Lords. Neither LETTER XXII. To our right trusty and welbeloved John Pafton, Efquire. R The Duchefs of Norfolk. IGHT trufty and well beloved, we greet you heartily well; and for as much as it is thought right neceffary for diverse causes, that my Lord have at this time in the parliament fuch perfons as belong unto him, and be of his menial Servants; wherein we conceive your good will and diligence shall be right expedient; we heartily defire and pray you, that at the contemplation of thefe Our Letters, as Our special trust is in you, ye will give and apply your voice unto our right welbeloved Coufin, and Servants John Howard, and Sir Roger Chamberlayn, to be knights of the Shire; exhorting all fuch others as by your wisdom fhall now be behoveful, to the good exploit and conclufion of the fame. And in your faithful attendance, and true devoir in this part, ye shall do unto my Lord and Us a fingular pleasure, and cause us hereafter to thank you therefore, as ye fhall hold you right well content and agreed with the grace of God, who have you ever in his keeping. Written at Framlingham Caftle, the 8th day of June. Neither of the Letters have any Date of the Year. Autograph of Ellenor, Duchefs of Norfolk, Query. Pl. 11. N 16. ་ R LETTER XXJJJ. To Owr Welbeloved John Pafton. IGHT welbeloved I grete yow well and as towchyng for Tydyngs I can none favyng that my Lord of Norff' met wt my Lord of York at Bury on thursday and there were to gedre til ffriday ix of the Clokke and than they dep'ted and there a Gentilman of my Lord of York toke unto a Yeman of myn John Deye a Tokene and a Sedell of my Lords entent whom he wold have Knyghtts of the Shyre and I fende you a Sedell closed of their Names in this fame Lett' wherfore me thynkith wel do to p'forme my Lords entent. Wretyn the xviijo day of Octobr at Wynche. The Contents of this Letter plainly point out to us, that the Election of the Members of the House of Commons, even for Counties, was in this distant age influenced by the great and leading men of the time. We have here the cleareft evidence that Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, at their meeting at Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, determined who should be returned Knights of the Shire for the County of Norfolk, and fent their Inûructions accordingly. John R LETTER XXIII. To our Well beloved John Pafton. IGHT well beloved, I greet you well; and as touching for Tidings I can none, faving that my Lord of Norfolk met with my Lord of York at Bury on Thursday, and there were together till Friday 9 of the clock, and then they departed; and there a Gentleman of my Lord of York took, unto a Yeoman of mine, John Deye, a Token and a Sedell [Schedule] of my Lord's intent, whom he would have knights of the Shire, and I send you a Sedell closed [Schedule enclosed] of their names in this fame Letter, wherefore me thinketh (it) well done to perform my Lord's intent, &c, Written the 18th day of October at Winch. OXENFORD. County of Norfolk, Sir WILLIAM CHAMBERLAYN. Winch, in Norfolk, 18th of October. Before 1455. HENRY GREY. John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, at this time, feems to have been a Friend to the Duke of York, this Letter therefore, must have been written previous to the Duke's professed defign upon the Throne; for in that Contest, the Earl fided with the House of Lancaster, and being taken, was beheaded in 1461, the first year of Edward IV, when he was about 55 years old. He married Elizabeth, the Daughter and Heir of Sir John Howard, knight, who had poffeffions at Winch, in Norfolk. Pl. 1. N° 8. The Names of the two Candidates to be elected, are written on a Schedule, or frip of paper, which is fastened to the Original Letter by a piece of wax, |