Imatges de pàgina
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ORIGINAL LETTERS.

L EL TER XXJJJ.

To my ryght reu'end and worchepfull Modyr Margaret Pafton dwellyng at Cafter be thys delyu'yd in haft.

R

YTH reu'end and worchepfull Modyr I recom'and me on

to you as humbylly as I can thynk defyryng most hertly to her of you' welfare and herts efe whyche I pray God fend yow as haftyly as eny hert can thynk Ples yt yow to wete y' at the makyng of thys byll my brodyr and I and all ou felawshep wer in good helle blyffyd be God As for the gydyng her in thys contre it is as worchepfull as all the world can devyse it and ther wer neu'' engly she men had fo good cher owt of Inglong that eu' I herd of.

As for tydyngs her but if it be of the fest I can non send yow savyng yt my Lady Margaret was maryd on Sonday last past

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at

We have in this Letter a moft curious and authentic Account of the Marriage of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, with Margaret, Daughter of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and fifter of Edward IV. and of the fubfequent Diverfions exhibited at Bruges in honour of it, written by John Pafton, (Pl. 1v. N° 12.) an eye-witnefs, who, with his Brother Sir John Pafton, Knight, attended in the Retinue of the Princefs.

The

EDWARD
ED W ARD IV.

LETTER XXIII.

To my right reverend and worshipful Mother, Margaret Pafton, dwelling at Cafter, be this delivered in hafte.

RIGHT reverend and worshipful Mother, I recommend

me unto you as humbly as I can think, defiring most heartily to hear of your welfare and heart's ease, which I pray God fend you as hastily as any heart can think.

Please it you to weet, that at the making of this bill, my Brother, and I, and all our Fellowship, were in good heele [health], bleffed be God.

As for the Guiding here in this Country, it is as worshipful as all the world can devife, and there were never Englishmen had

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fo good chear out of England, that ever I heard of.

As for Tidings here, but if [unless] it

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be of the Feast, I can

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The Defcription here given affords us an high idea of the Splendour of the Court of the Duke, and of the Politenefs of the Courtiers.

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This is the opinion of a true Englishman.

2 Margaret Plantagenet, Sifter of Edward IV. according to this Account, was married on Sunday the 3d of July, 1468, 8 E. IV. For a more particular History of this Princefs and the Duke, the Reader is referred to the Defcription of the Plate wherein they are both reprefented.

at a towne yt is callyd the Dame iij myle owt of Brugys at v of the clok in the mornÿg and fche was browt the fame day to Bruggys to hyr dener and ther fche was receyvyd as worchepfully as all the world cowd devyfe as wt prefeffion wt Ladys and Lordys beft befeyn of eny pepyll that ever I fye or herd of many Pagentys wer pleyed in hyr wey in Bryggys to hyr wel comyng the beft yt eu' I fye And the fame Sonday my Lord the 4 Bastard took upon hym to answere xxiiij knyts and Gentylmen wt in viij dayes at Joftys of pefe and when y' they wer anfweryd they xxiiij and hym felve fchold torney w othyr xxv the next day aftyr whyche is on monday next comỹg and they that have joftyd wt hym into thys day have ben as rychely befeyn and hymfelve also as clothe of gold and fylk and sylvyr and goldfmyths werk myght mak hem for of fyche ger and gold and perle and stanys they of the Dwkys coort neythyr Gentylmen nor Gentylwomen they want non for w owt y' they have it by wyfhys by my trowthe I herd nevyr of fo gret plente as

ther is.

Thys day my Lord 5 Scalys juftyd w' a Lord of thys contre but not wt the Bastard for they mad promyse at London that non of them bothe fhold never dele w othyr in armys but the Baftard was on' of the Lords y browt the Lord Scalys in to the feld

3 A City and Port Town in Flanders.

Anthony, Count de la Roche, called the Baftard of Burgundy, was a natural Son of Duke Philip the Good, by Johanna of Prulles, famous for his wit, courage, and polite accomplishments. He was born in 1421, and died in 1504.

Anthony Widville, or Woodville, Lord Scales, &c. and afterwards Earl Rivers, Son of Sir Richard Widville, by Jaqueline of Luxemburgh, Duchefs Dowager of Bedford,

on Sunday laft paft at a Town that is called The Dame, three miles out of 3 Bruges, at five of the clock in the morning; and she was brought the fame day to Bruges to her dinner; and there she was received as worshipfully as all the world could defire; as with proceffion with Ladies, and Lords, best beseen of any people, that ever I faw or heard of. Many Pageants were played in her way in Bruges to her welcoming, the best that ever I faw; and the fame day my Lord, the Bastard, took upon him to answer 24 Knights and Gentlemen, within 8 days at Jufts of Peace; and when that they were answered, they 24 and himself should turney with other 25 the next day after, which is on Monday next coming; and they that have jufted with him into this day, have been as richly befeen, and himfelf alfo, as cloth of Gold, and Silk, and Silver, and Goldfmiths work, might make them; for of fuch Gear, and Gold, and Pearl, and Stones, they of the Duke's Court, neither Gentlemen nor Gentlewomen, they want none; for without [unless] that they have it by wishes, by my truth, I heard never of so great plenty as here is.

This day my Lord 5 Scales jufted with a Lord of this country, but not with the Bastard; for they made (a) promise at London, that none of them both fhould never deal with other in arms; but the Bastard was one of the Lords, that brought the Lord

ford, and Brother of Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV. was born about 1441, and became the most distinguished Warrior, Statesman, and most learned Gentleman, of his time. In the 7 Edward IV. he challenged and vanquished the Baftard of Burgundy in a grand and folemn Juft in Smithfield; at which time the promise mentioned in this Letter was made. This accomplished Nobleman was beheaded at Pomfret, in June 1483, by the command of the Protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Scales

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