More letters from Margaret and Henry

HENRY V. AND HENRY VI. 67 

XXXIX. 

A LETTER FROM THE KING TO THE LADY STRANGE. 

I CONCEIVE that the lady, to whom this letter was addressed, may have been 
Elizabeth, relict of Richard Baron le Strange or Strange of Knockyn or Cno- 
kyn, in Shropshire. Baron le Strange married, as his second wife, Elizabeth 
daughter of Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough, and died 9th August, 
1449 (27 Hen. VI.), leaving his widow and an infant son.* Supposing this to 
have been the lady, I have no means of ascertaining the circumstances under 
which the letter was written. 

BY THE KlNGE. 

RIGHT dere and welbeloved, we grete you well. And late you 
wytt that we have understand by the repute of our welbeloved ser- 
vant Stevyn, Knight of our Chamber, whom we late sende unto you 
with oure lettres, how ye have not fully executed our desyre con- 
teyned in the same lettres ; wherof we marvaill gretly , consideryng 
our said wrytyng, and that we have often writen unto you, in sem- 
blable caas, fore this tyme. For which cause, and that ye shulde 
closely understande, that our said writyng was of our singler desyre ; 
we write eftsones unto you, desyryng and hertely prayynge you that, 
withoute firther delay, ye put our said desyre in effectuell execution ; 
latyng you witte that, for the hasty expedicion therof, the brynger of 
thies shall delyver unto you letters of protection, in suche cas accus- 
tumed to be made; and, in thaccomplisseing of this our entent, ye 
shall deserve of us right good thank, and have us the rather enclined 
to shew unto yow the favor of o r good grace, in tyme to come. 
Yeven, etc. 

To the Lady Strange. 



Dugd. Bar. i. 66. 



68 LETTERS DURING THE REIGNS OF 

XL. 

A LETTER FROM THE KING TO THE EARL OF NORTHUMBER- 
LAND. 

THIS not wholly impartial letter was addressed to Henry Percy, second 
Earl of Northumberland, grandson and heir to Henry the first Earl, who was 
killed at Bramham Moor, "2nd of the Calends of March," 8 Hen.- IV. (1406-7), 
and son of Henry Percy, the famous Hotspur, who was slain at Shrewsbury, in 
July 1403. In 1455 he was killed at the first battle of St. Alban's fighting on 
the Lancastrian side, and was buried in the abbey.* 

BY THE KlNGE. 

EIGHT trusty and welbelovyd Cousyn, we greet yow well ; and late 
yow wite, that it is doon us to understand, how that all matier of 
variance hanging betwix cure welbelovyd Thomas Ilderton, Squier, 
on the oon partie, and William Bertram, Squier, on the other parjie, 
be compromised unto youre arbitrement, by the full wille and assent 
of theym bothe. And, for asmoche as we desire, for thease and 
welfare especially of the said Thomas, that the saide matier shulde 
not passe yo r handes undetermined ; we pray yow hertely, that ye 
duely examine and understand the trouth in that partie, and ther- 
upon, after god and goode conscience, sette a final ende in the same ; 
shewing therin, at reverence of us and contemplacion of this oure 
writing, unto the saide T. al thease and favor that ye goodly maye, 
as fer as right and goode conscience wol ; wherinne ye shall doo 
unto us right good pleasir. 

To therl of Northumberland. 



XLI. 

A LETTER TO THE LORD ZOUCHE. 

WILLIAM, fourth Lord Zouche of Haringworth, in the county of Northamp- 
ton, died 3rd November, 1415 (3 Hen. V.), leaving a son, William fifth Lord 

Dugd. Bar. i. 281 a. 



HENRY V. AND HENRY VI. 69 

Zouche, his son and heir, aged thirteen years. He died 8th January, 1469 
(8 Edw. IV), possessed of many manors in different parts of England, of which 
eight were in the county of Northampton/ 

BY THE KYNGE. 

RIGHT trusty, etc. Lattyng you wytt that we be enfourmed 
that oon of yo r servants called Nicholas B., with other his servants 
and adherents, hath, in riotouse wyse, assaulted our liegeman and 
tenant T. W. of the Countee of Northt n , and grevously hurt 
hym, and maymed oon of his servants called N., and maymeth 
theym daily, ayenst our lawes and paix in our said Countee. And, 
for asmoch as ye be o r Justice of our paix in o r said Countie, to 
whoom hit perteyneth to refourme all such mysgovernance and riotts, 
and especially in such personnes as be to you wards; We therfore 
write unto you, at this tyme, praying you, and also charging you, that, 
attending to youre deute in this behalf, ye see and ordeyne that the 
said B. and his servants kepe surely oure paix ayenst the said T. 
and his servants, from hensforth, and, for their moe surete, ye do the 
said B. and his servants to be bounden to us, under suertie conve- 
nable, to kepe oure paix, ayenst oure people, and specially ayenst the 
said T. And that ye faill nott herof, as we trust yow. Yeven, etc. 

To the lorde Zouch. 



XLII. 

A LETTER FROM THE KING TO 



SIR WILLIAM OLDHALL was a valiant soldier, who had distinguished himself 
in France, and he was a partisan of the House of York. I think it very pro- 
bable that he was Chamberlain to the Duke of York. If this was so, the letter 
would be addressed to Richard Duke of York while he was Regent of France, 
and would be dated somewhere about 18 Hen. VI. 1440.t> 

* Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 692. Inq. p. mortem 7 Edw. IV. n. 53. 

b Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 159; and see Memoir of Sir W. Oldhall, Archseol. xxxvii. 
p. 335. 



70 LETTERS DURING THE REIGNS OF HEN. V. AND HEN. VI. 

BY THE KING. 

RIGHT trusty and Right entierly welbeloved Cousyn, we grete 
you hertly well. And, for as moch as we, by oure letters, have espe- 
cially desired our trusty and welbeloved knyght Sir William Old- 
halle, your Chamberlayn, to comme in hasty wise unto oure presence, 
to thentent that, in the treete that is now at hand to be made betwix 
us and o r uncle of France, he, being here with us, may advyse us 
and oure Counseill, in such things as shalbe occurrent and touche 
our Reaume of France, and Duchie of Normandie; as he that of 
reason shulde have moost perfite knowlege in the same, considering 
his longe abode with you there, and of yo r Counseil ; We pray you that, 
for o r wele, ye spare his service for a tyrne, sending hym unto us in 
all haste that ye goodly may. And that ye fail not herinne, as ye 
wol do us pleasir. Yeven under o r Signet, etc, at W. the xxx. .etc. 



LETTEKS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 



THE writer of the following letters and fragments of letters, seventeen in 
number, was unquestionably Thomas Beckington, one of the most famous 
English churchmen of the 15th century, at this time Secretary to King Henry 
the Sixth, and subsequently Bishop of Bath and Wells. They were written, 
for the most part, in the summer of 1442, when Beckington was on the eve of 
embarking for Bordeaux, with Sir Robert Roos, on a mission to John the 
Fourth, Count of Armagnac, to negotiate a marriage between the King and a 
daughter of the Count. A very interesting Journal of this embassy, by one of 
Beckington's suite, has been published by Sir Harris Nicolas, from a Latin 
manuscript in the Ashmolean Museum. a The journal enables me to correct 
the dates of some of the letters, and the letters are an addition to, and ampli- 
fication of, the earlier part of the journal. They throw light, moreover, on the 
state of mind in which Beckington proceeded on his embassy, and show how 
little expectation he had of a favourable issue. They are curious also, as 
giving a glimpse of the mental characteristics of the writer. 

Letters 1 and 3, and perhaps 8, and the skeleton letter 17, were addressed to 
William de la Pole at that time Earl (subsequently Duke) of Suffolk. The D uke of 
Suffolk was accused by the Commons in 1450 (inter alia) of having given private 
information to the King of France of this very embassy to Guienne, thus pre- 
venting a match to which he is said to have been opposed. His banishment 
and murder at sea are well known to all readers of English history. 5 

a Ashm. MSS. No. 789. This is a very curious volume, the whole of which was written 
in the 15th century. It formerly belonged to Charles Boothe,who was bishop of Hereford 
from 1516 to 1535. He placed it in the office of his registrar, there to remain "absque 
alienatione ejusdem;" but how he became possessed of it, or how from him it came to the 
hands of Elias Ashmole, who bequeathed it with many other MSS. to Oxford, does not 
appear. Beckington's Registrum Privatum begins at fo. 147, and ends at fo. 359. It is 
chiefly taken up with the journal of the embassy to Guienne, but it also contains letters to 
and from divers personages of rank, intermingled with common business forms. It has, 
in truth, much the appearance of a precedent or common. place book. Most of the letters, 
but not all of them, are in Latin. I am informed by my friend M. Francisque Michel 
that the part of the journal relating to Bordeaux was translated into French by M. 
Gustave Brunet, and published among the Actes de 1'Academie Royale of that town. 

b There is a somewhat long but interesting account of William de la Pole Duke of 
Suffolk, and of his family, which was originally from Kingston-on-Hull, in Dugdale's 



72 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 

Letter 1 seems to have been written from Sutton Courtenay, a village in 
Berkshire, not far from Abingdon, on the south bank of the Thames, of which 
place Beckington was rector.* It was written, the 9th June, 1442, which was 
the day Beckington left Sutton for Great Bedwin.* Illesley (probably East 
Ilsley) lies south of Sutton, towards Donnington in Berkshire. Donnington 
and Ewelm (the latter in Oxfordshire) both belonged to Lord Suffolk, in right 
of his wife. Langley is a hamlet of the parish of Hampstead Norris, Berk- 
shire, not far from East Ilsley, on the direct road from Donnington to Ewelm. 
J. B. seems to have been, either a friend of, or an attendant on, Lord Suffolk, 
with whom Beckington met on the 9th of June, as he was riding in the direction 
of Donnington. The language of this letter is profoundly humble, and the 
piety, with which it closes, would be more edifying, if there were not strong in- 
dications, in the correspondence, of the writer having an assortment of pious 
phrases, to be used, with variations, as occasion might require. Letter 2 was 
written to John Noreys, from Great Bed win, in Wilts, the 12th June, 1442, d on 
which day Beckington left Bedwin for Devizes. 6 John Noreys held the posts 
of esquire of the body to the King, first usher of the Chamber, master of the 
Wardrobe, and sheriff of the counties of Oxford and Berks in 36 Hen. VI. 
(1458). He resided at Yattenden in Berkshire, where, in 1447, he built v the 
manor-house. He is also said to have built that very picturesque old manor- 
house, now a farm-house, called Ockwells or Ockholt, near Bray. He died at 
Yattenden 1st September, 1466 (6 Edw. IV.), and was buried in the aisle of 
Bray Church.' Letter 3 is addressed to Lord Suffolk, and was written from 

Baronage, vol. ii. p. 180 to 189. See a note to Letter ix. of the Paston Letters, vol. i. 
p. 33. See also Index to Journal, p. 127. He married Alice, daughter and heir of 
Thomas Chaucer (son of the poet), who had been first married to Sir John Phelip, knight, 
and secondly to Thomas de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, who was killed at Orleans in 
November, 1428. She survived all her husbands, and died 9 June, 1475 (15 Edw. IV.), 
and is buried at Ewelm. These letters throw no light on the question whether Suffolk 
really gave information to Charles VII. respecting this embassy. See Journal, xlvi. 
xlvii. xlviii. They show, however, that the ambassador was in intimate communication 
with the earl, up to the time of his own departure for Guienne. 

a Harl. MSS. No. 6952, fo. 135. The old rectory -house, then a private residence, was 
standing in 1813. Some of the old windows still remained. (Lysons' Berks, p. 213.) 

b The MS. says the 20th day of June; but I believe this to be a mistake of the copyist. 
(Journal, p. 1.) Letter 1. 

d The MS. says " xviii. June;" but this is clearly a mistake. e Journal, p. 2. 

f There was another John Norreys, of whom William of Worcester records that he was 
attainted of treason and hanged at Tyburn, 7 Edw. IV., 1467. (Lib. Nig. Scacc. vol. ii. 
p. 516, Hearne's edition.) 



LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 73 

Bed win, on the 12th of June. The contents of this and of the preceding 
letter, and also of Letter 4 to James Fenys, are the same. All three were 
written the same day, from the same instructions, by the same scribe. Letter 
3, however, contains a very early mention of Eton College, which was founded 
in 1441, a year before the date of the letter. 

Letter 4 was addressed to James Fenys or Fiennes, at this time esquire of 
the body to King Henry the Sixth and a knight. He had valiantly served in 
France under Henry the Fifth, and had been sheriff of Kent in 1437 (15 Hen. 
VI.), and of Surrey and Sussex in 1439 (17 Hen. VI.). On the 3rd March 
1446-7 (25 Hen. VI.), five years from the date of this letter, he was summoned 
to Parliament. Three days later, by assent of the Peers, he was advanced to 
the dignity of a baron, by the title of Lord Say and Sele, being descended 
through his mother from the Lords Say. Lord Say and Sele was suspected of 
being concerned in the murder of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester in 1447. 
In that year he was made Constable of Dover, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 
and Constable of the Tower; and, on the 30th October 1449 (28 Hen. VI.), 
he was constituted Lord Treasurer. He was murdered by Jack Cade in 
Cheapsidein 1450. a Letter 5 is addressed to Sir Edmund Hungerford, the sur- 
viving son of Lord Hungerford, and was written from Debise or Devises 
(which is about sixteen miles from Great Bedwin) on the same Tuesday, the 
12th of June 1442. The journal records the meeting of Beckington with 
Lord Hungerford on that day. 5 The letter requests Sir Edmund Hunger- 
ford's good offices with the King; and, the King being that day at Bedwin, c it 
is probable that Sir Edmund was also at Bedwin. He does not appear to 
have been at home the day before. d This letter was probably sent by Mr. 
Ralph Legh and John Water. 6 The jocular allusion in the letter to an inroad 
made, the day before, by Lord Hungerford and his companions " my Lord of 
Salisbury and my Lord Moleyns," on Sir Edmund's cellar, is curiously balanced 
by the very next entry in the journal, which is as follows, "xiii. (June) 
Wednesday, dined at Beckington, whither the Lord de Hungerford sent two 
flagons of wine in bottles." f Some account has been already given of Walter 
Lord Hungerford.s He left two sons, Sir Robert, who succeeded his father, 

a Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 245; Banks, Dorm, and Ext. Bar. vol. ii. p. 471. 

b Journal, p. 2. c Ibid. 

d Sir Edmund Hungerford resided at Down Ampney, an estate on the borders of Wilts 
and Gloucester, not far from Cricklade, settled on him by his father. Of his mansion here 
there is still remaining a handsome gateway flanked with turrets. Sir Edmund Hungerford 
died in 1484 (Hungerfordiana, pp.14, 102, 103; Wiltshire Collections, 4to, 1862, p. 411.) 

e Journal, p. 2. f Journal, p. 2. S Supra, p. 35, 

CAMD. SOC. L 



74 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 

and Sir Edmund, to whom this letter was addressed. Sir Edmund married 
Margaret daughter of Edward Burnell, of an ancient family in Shrop- 
shire. 1 This, it is presumed, is the lady mentioned in the letter. Lord 
Moleyns was son and heir to Sir Robert, second Lord Hungerford, and grand- 
son to Walter the first Lord. He married (1441) Eleanor, daughter and heir 
to Lord Moleyns, and was summoned to Parliament, in 1445, as Lord Moleyns. b 
" My Lord of Salisbury " was, probably, William Ascough, who was Bishop of 
Salisbury from 1438 to 29th June, 1450, when he was murdered at Edyngdon, 
Wilts. 15 From Devizes the ambassador, on the 13th of June, proceeded to 
Beckington, and slept at Wells, where, on the 14th, he was installed " in the 
choir for his prebend." d The same night he slept at Glastpnbury, supping, it 
appears, with Nicholas Frome, the then abbot of that famous monastery (who 
lent him a horse),* and, on the 15th, he arrived atTaunton.f Letter 6, written 
to the King, the next day, the 16th June, either from Sir Edward Hull's house, 
at Enmore, a village in Somersetshire a few miles from Taunton, or from 
Taunton itself, informs us, that, " ynne the wey towards Taunton," Beckington 
heard of Hull being at Enmore, and 'that he sent a servant (whom the journal 
mentions to have been Thomas Chamberlain) to him with a message, " be nyght 
tyme."* On the same 16th June, Beckington (as appears from the journal h 
and the letter) dined with Edward Hull, at Enmore, where (the letter says) he 
was entertained with " right greet and notable chere," and where he- had a 
conference with his host, on the state of Guienne. The upshot of this confer- 
ence was that Beckington wrote to the King (as already stated), and that Hull 



Hungerfordiana, pp. 8, 14. 

b Ibid. 10. The summons to Parliament, in 1445, was three years later than the letter. 
But, as, in the letter, Lord Hungerford 's grandson is called Lord Moleyns, it would seem 
that he bore that title from the time of his marriage. Robert second Lord Hungerford 
adhered faithfully to the House of Lancaster. He died in 1458, and was buried in Salis- 
bury cathedral. His widow Margaret, daughter and heir to William Lord Botreaux, 
survived until 1477 : this lady founded Hungerford Chapel in Salisbury cathedral, which 
has vanished. She, too, was buried there. The third Lord Hungerford (Lord Moleyns) 
deemed it prudent to side with the House of York, but afterwards endeavouring, in 1463, 
to restore Henry VI., he was tried and executed. He was buried " with his fathers." 
His wife, who survived him, and married Sir Oliver Manningham, knight, was buried at 
Stoke Poges in Bucks. From them are descended, through a daughter, the Earl of 
Huntingdon and the Marquis of Hastings. (Hung. pp. 10, 38.) 

c Fasti Ecc. Ang. vol. ii. p. 003; Wiltshire Collections, 4to. 1S62, p. 351. 

A Journal, p. 2. Ibid. f Ibid. 

* Ibid. h Ibid. 



LETTERS OP BISHOP BECKINGTON. 75 

proceeded to Windsor, where he was on the 23rd June. a The letter from the 
King, entered in the journal, b appears to be in answer to Letter 6. For infor- 
mation as to Sir Edward Hull, see a memoir of him by Sir H. Nicolas (Journal, 
Ixxii.) Letter 7 to John Stafford, Bishop of Bath and Wells and Lord Chan- 
cellor, was written on the same day (from Taunton apparently) as the Letter 6 
to the King, and it contains much the same information; but, in addition, Beck- 
ington, for the first time, confesses an apprehension, that his embassy may be 
" nowt or litel fructueux" an apprehension fully justified by the result, as 
detailed in the journal. On Sunday (17th June) Beckington remained, the 
greater part of the day, at Taunton, but slept at Tiverton.c On the 18th he 
arrived at Exeter, where he remained until the 25th of June. d Letter 8 was 
written from Exeter, the 21st of June, and seems to have been intended as a 
form of a letter to Lord Suffolk, and also to some other personage or personages, 
who are not named. The private directions to the scribe are curious. Beck- 
ington received much hospitality while at Exeter, but on the 21st June he 
appears to have dined alone at the inn. e I fear the cuisine may not have been 
first rate, which would account for the desponding tone, in which, in this and in 
Letter 10, he speaks of Exeter being "in the lande of wildernesse wher as ben 
feme and fiefes I now (enow), and good ale non or litell." It is therefore 
satisfactory to learn, from the journal, under the date of 21st June, that " to- 
day a buck was sent from Tiverton to his Lordship."' 

Letter 9 is addressed to William Ascough, Bishop of Salisbury, and was 
written (it may be presumed) from Exeter. It contains the news that the 
King had had a letter from " Maister Vincent," informing him that Pope 
Eugenius the Fourth had endowed the King's College Royal of Eton with 
" large and greet licences and indulgences," and that the King had sent him 
(Beckington) a copy of the letter, by John Felton. " Maister Vincent " was 
Vincent Clement, an ecclesiastic, at this time at Rome as agent for the King.e 
It is doubtful whether he was an Englishman, or an Italian. 11 The object of his 



Journal, p, 5. b Ibid. pp. 4 and 5. e Ibid. p. 3. 

d Ibid. p. 3. e Ibid. ' Ibid. 

K He was sent as ambassador to France, and also to the Pope, by Henry the Sixth. (Harl. 
MSS. No. 6963, fo. 91.) Vincentius or Vincent Clement is repeatedly mentioned in the 
Collection of Beckington's Letters, which is in the Archbishop's library at Lambeth. He 
is also frequently mentioned in Beckington's Registrum Privatum, at the Bodleian. 

h Pope Eugenius IV., in a letter of 28 May, 1442, calls Vincent Clement " suldiaconus 
nosier.'''' (Reg. Priv. fo. 167.) The King adopts this title (Lamb. MS, fo. 82) , but calls him 
his " nuncius " (ibid. fo. 52, tergo}> and his "faithful and beloved orator" 'ibid. fo. 82). 
He also says that he was brought up and educated at Oxford (ibid. fo. 80). Gas> 



76 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 

mission to Rome was to obtain certain indulgences for the King's new College 
of Eton, and in this he was successful,* though not without difficulty. 11 Vin- 
cent Clement was a favourite with the King, and, after his return to England, 
but not, so far as appears, immediately, had much church preferment heaped 
upon him. c He did not, however, attain to the Bench. He died in 1474. 

Letter 10 was written to Sir John on the 21st of June. It contains 

nothing important, but in it Beckington repeats his lament as to the bareness and 
desolation of Exeter. Letter 11 is addressed to "Maister J. Somerseth" d from 
Exeter, and was dated previously to the 24th of June, for it adverts to Sir 
Robert Roos (who arrived on the 24th) not having yet joined him. The six 
remaining documents are merely (what may be called) skeleton letters, ad- 
dressed to the King, the Duke of Gloucester, Cardinal Beaufort, the Cardinal 
of York (Kempe), the Lord Chancellor, and the Earl of Suffolk. They are 
curious only as showing how many pious and devout expressions the writer 
could muster, especially when addressing a Cardinal. 

coigne says he was called " the unwonted doctor ' ' (doctorem insolentem) because his 
degree of D.D. was conferred, when he was only in deacon's or subdeacon's orders, by 
royal mandate. (Diet. Theol. and see Life of Pecock, p. 14.) Archbishop Parker certainly 
thought he was an Italian. He calls him " quidam Romanus. (Parkeri Antiq. p. 434.) 

The Bull is to be found in Huggett's MS. Hist, of Eton, vol. ii. p. 171. (Sloane MSS. 
No. 4840.) 

b He appears to have met with impediments, for there exists a letter addressed to him 
(by Beckington, as I conceive) exhorting him to prosecute his mission "with manly cou- 
rage " (virili animo), and plying him with arguments, which appear to be drawn from 
Ovid's Trislia. (Lamb. MS. fo. 52tergo.) 

c His preferments were as follows : Rector of St. Martin's Vintry from 1439 to 1444 
(Newc. Rep. vol. i. p. 422), Prebendary of Hereford in 1451 (Fasti E. A. vol. i. p. 
526), Prebendary of Lincoln 1452 (F.E.A. vol. ii. pp. 214, 234), Archdeacon of Wilts 
1457-8 (Ibid. vol. ii. p. 630), Prebendary, Chancellor, and Treasurer of Lichfield (Ibid, 
vol. i. pp. 582, 584, 630), Archdeacon of Huntingdon (Ibid. vol. ii. p. 51), and Arch- 
deacon of Winchester (Ibid. vol. iii. p. 26). 

d I have tried in vain to identify this John Somerset. I have examined all the autho- 
rities cited by Sir Harris Nicolas (Journal, p. 126), and many not cited by him, and am 
utterly unable to decide, whether he was a layman or an ecclesiastic. Thomas Baker, in 
his letters to Hearne, (Appendix to Elmham's Life of Henry the Fifth, p. 350) certainly 
supposed John Somerset, the King's physician* and Chancellor of the Exchequer, to have 
been a layman. Beckington's friend was a married man (Journal, p. 95). Nevertheless 
John Somerset is described seven several times in the fifth volume of the Rolls of Parlia- 
ment as a " clerk." The evidence is so contradictory that I am driven to suppose that 
there were two persons of the same name, living at the same time, and both employed 
about public affairs. 

f 



LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 77 

XLIII. (1). 

A LETTER TO THE EARL OF SUFFOLK. 

MY right noble and most singler gracious good lorde, I recom- 
mend me unto youre noble and trusty lordeship in the moste 
humble wise that I can or may. And, how be it that I sent, as 
yesterday, unto Illesley, and beyonde, a servant of myne, for to have 
knowlaige of youre departinge or abiding at Donyngton, to th'entent 
that I might have come and take my leve of youre saide goode lorde- 
ship, and my right good and gracious lady youre wif ; which my 
servant, enquering theruppn, was enformed (and reported unto me) 
that ye shuld have abiden at the said Donyngton unto this day, and 
this day first removed ; wherupon I pourveyd me redy this day to 
ride, and, as I was comminge unto yow warde, I met with J. B., which 
certified me that he brought youe yeseday [yesterday] unto Langley 
to mete, and my said lady in youre felaship. After whos enforma- 
cion, I was as sory, and am, as I may welbe, considering the art [i.e. 
narrow] space and straitnesse of tyme, which wol no suffre me now to 
retorne towards Ewelm, ther to take my saide leve; for, as this day, 
my maister Roos wol redely [readily] be at Salisbury, and so daily 
passe [onwards] til he come to the see side ; whom I purpose, by Godd's 
mercy, to overtake in the waye, as sone as I goodly may. Wherfore I be- 
beseche youre noble lordeship to holde me excused, at this tyme. For, 
certainly, if I comme unto yow there as ye be now, I cowde not mete 
with hym at oure tyme assigned. And, furthermore, I lowly besech 
yow, that I may be, in the moste lowly wise, recommended unto my 
said ladies good grace, for whom I, as her cbappellayn, daily shall 
praie, during my lif, as I am high bounden so to do. And that ye, 
of youre more habundant grace, wol be my good and gracious lorde, 
in myn absence, as hit hath liked yo re saide good lordeship to be ever 
before this. My right noble and most singler gracious good lorde, I 
beseche owre holy Saviour to have youe ever in his gracious kepinge 



78 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 

and send yow thaccomplisshements of all youre desire, with prospe- 
rite and lif longe enduryng, Writen at S[utton] the ix day of etc. 
[June]. 

To my lorde of Suff. 



XLIV. (2). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO JOHN NOREYS. 

EIGHT trusty and my right entierly welbelovyd, I recommende 
me unto (yow) with all my hert ; And, for as moche as I trust to 
God that ye wol be right plesed to here of my spede, namely in this 
matier that I go fore, I write unto yow at this tyme, and so pur- 
pose to write, from tyme to tyme, as, ofte as messagiers may be hadde. 
Latting yow wite [that] this day I take my jorney, from this my pore 
place of Bedswynde, towards the see, and, by Godd's mercy, I shall 
holde my jorney so forth dayly, unto the tyme that I comme unto 
the see side, fro whens I purpose to write unto yow suche matiers 
as shall fall in the mene tyme. And, firthermore, I pray yowe, 
that ye wol, in the most tendir wise, recommende me unto the King's 
most high and noble grace ; and that ye wol, in myn absence, con- 
tinue yo r good love, which I have ever before this tyme founde 
stedfast, stable and redy, to my wele and worship. And I shall 
treuly preye for yow, as yo r chappellayn, as I am greetly bounde to 
do, whil I live. Writen at Bedswynde the xii day of Juyn. 

To John Noreys. 



XLV. (3). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO THE EARL OF SUFFOLK. 

MY right noble and most singler gracious good lorde, I recom- 
mend me unto yo r ful noble and good lordeship, yn the most humble 



LETTERS OP BISHOP BECKINQTON. 79 

wise that I can or may. And for as moche as I trust to God that 
ye wilbe right well plesed to here of my spede, namely in the mater 
that I go fore, I write unto yow at this tyme, and so purpose to 
write, fro tyme to tyme, as oft as messagers may be hadde, latting 
yow wite, that this day I take my jorney, fro this my pore place 
of B., towards the see side, fro whens I purpose to write unto 
yow suche matiers as shall fall in the mene tyme. And firther- 
more I pray yow that ye wol, in the most tendre and lowly wise, 
recommende me unto the King's moost high and noble good grace, 

and also unto the provost and a of the holy and devout King's 

college of oure Ladye of Eton, beseching [them] to prey for me, and 
that ye wol now, in myri absence, continue yo r good and trusty lorde- 
ship, which I have before this ever founde stedfast, stable, and redy, 
to my wele and worship. I shall treuly prey for youe as youre 
owne Chappelleyn, and as I am greetly bounde to do, whil I lyve. 
To my Lorde of Suff. 



XLVI. (4). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO JAMES FENYS. 

MY right worshipfull and best beloved fader, after due recommen- 
dacion, and yo r faderly blessinge; Please hit yow to hereof jmy spede 
in this matier that I go fore. I write unto youre good faderhod, at 
this tyme, and soo purpose to write, fro tyme to tyme, as ofte as 
inessagiers may be had. Lating yow wite that this day I take 
my jorney, fro my pore place of B., towards the see, and, by Godd's 
mercy, I shall hold dayly forth my jorney, unto the tyme that I 
comme unto the see side, fro whens I purpose to write unto yowe 
suche matiers as shall fall in the mene tyme. And furthermore et cet. 
ut supra-, and that ye wol now, in myn absence, be my good fader, 

My endeavours to decypher the word here omitted, and those of the experts to whom 
I have submitted it, have wholly failed. 



80 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 

and have especially in continuance yo r kindenesse of love, which I 
have founde unto this day stedfast and redy, to my wele and worship. 
And I, youre humble sone, shall preye for yow, whil I lyve, as I 
have greet cause so to do, etc. 
To James Fenys. 



XLVII. (5). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO SIR EDMUND HUNGERFORD. 

MY right trusty and right entierly welbelovyd maister, I recom- 
mend me unto yow, and late yow wite, that, this day, I overtoke my 
lorde youre fader at Debise, which is in good hele (blessid be oure 
Saviour !) and sendeth yow his blessinge. And, firthermore, my 
saide lorde told me, that, on moneday last passed, my lorde of Salis- 
bury and he and my lorde Moleyns visited my lady youre wif at 
whom [home] at youre place, which is in good hele, and they soo 
tasted yo r wynes at that tyme, that, I truste to God, yf ye have meny 
suche visitacions, youre wynes shall nother soure, nor stande base, for 
defaulte of drynkers. Other tithings I have non to write unto yow 
at this tyme ; but I besech yow that, in the most lowly wise, ye wol 
have me recommended unto the high and good grace of oure souve- 
raigne lorde the Kinge, et cet. 

Yo r prest and Chapellyn, T. B. 

To Sir E[dmund] Hungerford. 



XLVIII. (6). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO KING HENRY VI. 

MOST gracious and inost Christian prince, 'oure moost doubted 
souvreigne lorde, after moost humble recommendacion made unto 



LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 81 

youre Roial Mageste, please hit to youre high and noble grace to 
wite, that, in my jorney towards the see side, in this youre ambas- 
siade that hit hath liked youre highnesse to send me, ynne the wey 
towards Taunton, I herde tidings of the commyng of my Maister Hull 
from the countre [of Guienne] . After which tidings, I immediately, be 
nyght tyrne, send a servaunt of myn unto hym, praying hym to tarye 
so litell tyme, on the morowe, that I myght comme unto hym, and, 
by cornmunicacion, understande the disposicion of the contrey that 
he commeth fro. And, so is it, souvreigne lorde, that, for the wele of 
yow and of yo r ambassiade, he abode, unto this day, unto tyme that 
I comme fro the seid Taunton unto his hows; where, at the reverence 
of yo r highnesse, he hath do me right greet and notable chere, for 
the which I, as yor most lowly servant, beseche youre high and 
noble grace to thank him. And, for as moche as I fele, by his re- 
porte, that the couiitrey to the which we shulde passe, by yo r high 
commandement, is not in such disposicion as yo r highnesse hadd 
supposed that hit had be, in the tyme of my departing, I, yo r trew 
chapelleyne and servant, beseche yo r high and noble grace, that hit 
may please yo r said high and noble grace, that I may have full know- 
lege of yo r entent, what 1 shall firther doo, in as brief tyrne as hit 
may b'esey [be easy] unto youre saide noble grace to be doon ; for, as 
for my personne, soo it be to the wele of yow, souvreigne lorde, (the 
which I knovve verraly is, and moost be, the wele of us alle youre 
trew subgetts,) I dar sette as fer in jepardy as eny of youre pore 
clerks, trustyng, in al wise, to have good spede by youre good 
merits. Albe hit that I, a sinfull creature, have no cause to truste 
upon my owen. Most high and moost Christian Prince, oure most 
doubted and souvreigne lorde, I beseche oure Saviour ever to have 
yow in his gracious keping, and send yow as good lif and as longe 
as ever hadd Christian prince in erthe. Writen at, &c. 

Yo r mooste humble creature and pore Chappelleyn, 

T. B. 

To the moost mighte and most Christian Prince, oure most doubted 
and souvreigne lord the Kinge. 

CAMD. SOC. M 



S2 LETTERS OF BISHOP BKCKINGTON. 

XLIX. (7). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR. 

EEVERENDE Fader in God, and my most singler and gracious 
good Lorde, I recommend me unto you, in as lowly wise as I can or 
may. And, please it yo r good lordeship to wite, that, in ridynge 
towards T., I hard of the late arriving and commynge of my Maister 
E. Hull. Wherupon I, desiryng to have knowlege of the disposi- 
cion of the coimtrey that he commeth fro, sent unto hym a servant 
of myne, by nyglit tyme, praying hym not to departe from his hows, 
unto tyme that I might have communicacion with hym. And so it 
is that, this day, right timely, I rode from Tawnton unto his place, 
and have hadd there communicacion with him at large, by the which, 
as fer as I fele, this ambassiade, in which my M. (Master) Roos 'and 
I be sent, at this tyme, shulde be nowt or litel fructueux; and nathe- 
les the jepart of owre persounes, which as for myself peradventure is 
of litell charge, shuld be right dangereous, on lese thanne other pro- 
visions and meenes be hadd, before the tyme of oure passage; as I 
doubte not ye shall understand more at large, by the reporte of the 
said E[dward] H[ull]. Wherfore I beseche youre good and gracious 
lordeship, in the which I have right singler and special affiance, 
that I may have sone and hastely knowlege what I shall 'doo, and 
whether, by th'advis of the King oure souvreigne lorde, and yow, 
and other my lords of his Counseil, I shall holde forth jorney, or 
returne. So that by me the Kinge may be as litel charged as may 
be possible. To the which, I take God to record, I shall, with all 
myn herte, entende. And I pray almighte God ever to have youre 
good and gracious lordeship in his holy and blessed saufgard, and 
send yow youre noble hert's desire, with lif longe enduring. Writen, 
eta. ut sup. T. B. 

To the Chaunceller of England. 

/ 



LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 8i> 



L. (8). 

A FORM OF LETTER FROM THOMAS BECKINGTON TO THE 
EARL OF SUFFOLK AND TO OTHERS. 

RIGHT noble and my most singler and faithfull trusty Lorde, L 
recommend me, etc. And please it yow to wite, tliat I, youre true 
servant and clerk, have be this two days here in the lande of welder- 
nesse, wher as ben feme andfiefes I now and good ale non or litell* 
abiding continuelly the commyng of my Maister Roos. And now I 
purpose to take my jorney towards the see side, and abyde hym theire. 
Of the cummyng of E. H. and of suche tidings as he bringeth, which 
semeth me no thing comfortable, I suppose ye have good and perfitc 
[knowledge] by this tyme God of his mercye sende us grace to 
have good hasty spede of oure message that we be sent ! And send 
yow, my most singler lord, right good lif and longe, and all the 
blessed and noble desires of yo r hert. Writen, etc. at E[xeter] the 
xxi. day of Juyn. 

I beseche yow as tenderly as I can or may, of youre good and 
gracious continuance of oure most trusted lordeship, now namely yn 
myn absence \_Dno Suff. usq. ibm. " perfite knowlege by this tyme," in 
predicto stilo tuo sit,] and therfore I surcesse to write therinne. My 
right gracious lord, yf there be eny thing that I can or may do in the 
parties to the which I am now disposed to passe, I preye youre seid 
lordeship to late me have writing, for hit shalbe to my greet glad- 



a The ambassador seems to have thought this a very merry conceit, for he has repeated 
it in a subsequent letter, I understand from my friend, Mr. Carew of Exeter, that, 
within living memory, fern abounded much more in the neighbourhood of Exeter than it 
now does. I am told that the reputation of Exeter for ale has never stood and does 
not now (although much improved) stand high. As to the word " fiefes," I have tried 
in vain to ascertain its meaning; and I am compelled to desist from the attempt. I must 
content myself with remarking, that the word is correctly copied from the manuscript; 
and that the whole sentence wears somewhat the appearance of a proverb. 



84 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECK1NGTON. 

nesse to fulfille yo r commandement. Beseching firther as tenderly 
as I can or may, etc. And God of his mercy, etc. 

Yo r trew clerk and perpetuell bedman, 

T. B. 



LI. 

THOMAS BECKINGTON TO THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY. 

RIGHT reverend Fader in God, and my most singler and faithfull 
good Lord, I recommend me unto yo r trew and trusty good lordeship, 
as lowly and as hertely as I can and may, and I thank vow right 
entierly of youre good lettres, writen unto me, for yo r wel-belovyd 
J. P. ; in which riiatier I shall so do my parte, that, I trust to God, ye 
shall wel mowe understande, that I am in full will to execute and do 
al suche as may be to youre plesance, as I am high bounden so to 
do. Furthermore, please hit youre good lordeship to wite, that oure 
holy fader Eugeny hath granted unto the King, for his college roiall 
of oure Lady of Eton, his bulles of large and greet licences and indul- 
gences, as by a letter send from Maister Vincent, wherof the King, 
of his high and noble grace, sent me a copye by John Felton, unto 
this straunge and uttermast parties of England, wherof I send yow 
within these a copie, hit may appere, more openly, unto yo r good 
lordship. My right gracious lorde, yf there be eny thing that I can or 
may do, in the parties to which I am now disposed to passe, I pray 
yor seid lordship to let me have witing, for hit shalbe myn greet 
gladnesse to do and performe all suche things that maye be to yo r 
pleasure. And I beseche yow, as tenderly as I can or may, to have 
yo r good conty nuance of yo r goode lordeship no we, namely in myn 
absence, etc. Yo r treue clerk and chappleyn, 

T. B. 

To the Bisshop of Sar. 



LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 85 

LIL (10). 
THOMAS BECKINGTON TO SIR JOHN . 



RIGHT cntierly welbelovyd and my right trusty Maister, After 
due and hertely recommendacion, please it yo r good maistership to 
wite, that I have ben this ij. dayes'here in the lande of wildernesse, 
wheras be feme and fiefes Inowe, and good ale non or litell, abi- 
dyng contynuelly the commyng of my maister Roos. And nowe I 
purpose to take my jorney towards the see side, and abide hym 
there. My right trusty Maister, if ther be eny thing that I can or 
may do, in the parties to the whiche I am nowe disposed to passe, I 
praye youre seid good maistership to late me have witing, for hit 
shalbe to me greet gladnes to fulfill yo r commandement. Beseching 
yow firther, as tenderly as I can or maye, of yo r goode contynuance 
of yo r right trusted maistershipe nowe, namely in myn absence, etc. 

To'. T. B. 

To Sir John, etc. 



LIII. (11). 
THOMAS BECKJNGTON TO MASTER JOHN SOMERSET. 

MY right welbeloved and entierly trusted Maister, After due re- 
commendacion, beying nowe in the uttermost parties of this world, 
and abidyng my M. Roos, which, as I suppose, is taried for the 
dawngrous tydyings that my M. Hull hath reported unto the Kinge, 
which as I suppose ben not unknowyn unto yow, touching the greet 
jepart in passyng unto the countrey that we be sent unto, beseching 
youe, consideryng the matier that we be sent forth fore, which 
shulde be not or litell fructueux, as in my conceyt, withoute hasty 



86 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 

remedy be hadde in that behaf, ye wol sture [stir] and call upon my 
lords of the King's Counsaill, to pourvey such remedye in this partie, 
in all goodely hast, as yt maye be to the King's pleasure, and the 
wele of us all ; and that ye wol, in the most humble wise, recom- 
mende me unto the King's moost high and noble grace, etc. 

Yor chappelleyn, T. B. 
To Maister J. Somerseth. 



LIV. (12). 

A SKELETON LETTER FROM THOMAS BECKINGTON TO THE 

KING. 


MOOST christen and most gracious Prince, oure most doubted 

souvreigne Lorde, After oure most humble recommendacion, please 
hit yo r high and noble grace as for tidings from this youre contrey 
of Guienne to wite that, etc. \_Conclusio, " moost christen and 
moost gracious, etc." ut sup. et in a/.] 

Litera missa Kegi per Dfios Roos et Secret, a Burdegolia. [Bur- 
digala Bordeaux.] 



LV. (13). 
LITERA MISSA PER D'NUM D. SECRET. Duci GLOUC. 

RIGHT high and mighte Prince, and my right doubted and gra- 
cious Lorde, After right lowly recommendacion, please hit yo r high- 
nes, as for tidings from this contrey, which wold God were better 
than I may with trouthe at this tyme to write, to wite that, etc. 
[Conclusio, "Right High," etc. ut supra. Almyghte God send 
yow contynuell welthe and worship in erthe, and, after, everlastyng 
joye and blysse in hevene. Writen at B., etc. 



LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKINGTON. 87 



LVI. (14). 

LlTERA MISSA CARDINALI ANGLLE. 

MOOST Eeverend Fader in God, and my right gracious and sin- 
gler Lord, After devout and humble recornmendacion, in my moost 
lowly wise, please hit yo r gracious lordship, as for tidings from this 
contrey to wite that, etc. 

[Conckt&io, u Moost Reverend, etc." ut supra.] The High Fader 
of all mercye, and of all comfort, send yow longe goode helth and 
strength e, boothe goostely and bodely to his honnor and plesaunce, 
and yo r perpetuell joye. Writen, &c. 



LYII. (15). 

LlTERA MISSA CARDINALI EBORACENSI. 

MOST worshipfull Fader in God, and my right singler Lord, After 
due and devout recornmendacion, in the most tender wise, that I can 
or may, please it yo r moost reverend fadership, as for tidings from 
this contrey, to know that, etc. \_Conclusio, " Most, etc. ut supra, 
the high Fader of Hevene longe contynue yo r worship and welfare 
after the most blessed desire of youre noble herte."] Writen, etc. 



88 LETTERS OF BISHOP BECKI^TGTON. 

LVIll. (16). 



LlTEKA MISSA CANCELLARIO ANGL. 

EIGHT Keverende Fader in God, and my moost special and gra- 
cious lorde, I recornmende me unto yo r trewe and trusty lordeship. 
And as for tidings of this cuntrey, please hit yow to wite that after, 
[ut in aliis] . 



LIX. (17). 

. -- 

LlTERA MISSA COMITI SlJFF. 

MY right noble and moost singler good Lord, After humble and 
due rec^mmendacion, please hit yo r good lordeship to wite that, etc. 
[ Conclusio ut in aliis] . 




Of either sex, who doth not now delight 
To wear the daisy for Queen Marguerite ? 

DRA-STON. 



LETTEKS OF MAKGAKET OF ANJOU, 



LX. 

A LETTER BY THE QUEEN TO R. KENT. 

I HAVE been unable to discover anything relating to Thomas Shelford, or 
"oon Hall of Larkfeld," but, as Larkfield is in Kent, I presume that the family 
of Hall was of that county. There are indeed, in Hasted' s History of Kent, 
traces of the name. From "our cousin of Suffolk" being mentioned, I con- 
clude that the letter may have been written between 1445 and 1450, when the 
Duke of Suffolk was chief minister. Of Robert Kent all I can find is, that a 
person of that name is mentioned in the Paston Letters in 1459 as having been 
a spiritual lawyer." 

BY THE QUENE. 

WELBELOVED, wegrete, &c., and late yowwite that our welbeloved 
servant Thomas Shelford, whoom, for his vertues, and the agreable 
service that he hath don unto us herbefore, and in especial now late 
in the company of our cousin of Suffolk, we have taken into oure 

a Paston Letters, vol. iii. p. 353. 
CAMD. SOC. N 



90 LETTERS OF 

Chambre, tlierc to serve us abowte our personne, hath reported unto 
us that, for the good and vertuous demening that he hath herd of a 
gentil woman beyng in your governance, which was doghter to oon 
Hall of Larkfeld, he desireth full hertly to do hir worship by wey 
ofmariage, as he seith; wherfor we desire and praye you hertly 
that, setting apart all instances or labours, that have or shalbe made 
unto yow for eny other personne what so ever he be, ye wol by all 
honest and leafull menes be welwilled unto the said mariage, 
entreting the said gentil woman unto the same, trustyrig. to Godd's 
mercye that it shalbe both for hir worship and availle in tyme to 
come. And if ye wol doo yo r tendre diligence to perfourme this 
oure desire, ye shal therin deserve of us right good and especial 
thanke, and cause us to she we unto you therfore the more especial 
faver of oure good grace in tyme tp come. Yeven, etc. 
To R. Kent, 



LXI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE PARKER OF WARE. 

THE Earl of Salisbury named in this letter was Richard Neville son of Ralph 
Neville, Earl of Westmerland. He married Alice sole daughter and heir of 
Thomas de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, who was killed at the siege of Or- 
leans in November 1428, and in her right became Earl of Salisbury. This 
Richard Neville was father of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, popularly 
called the King-maker, who was killed at Barnet, in 1471. Richard Neville 
the elder was the husband of Alice de Montacute before her father's death in 
1428, and assumed the title of Earl of Salisbury immediately after that event, 
but the patent of his creation is dated the 4th May, 1442. a Up to 1455 (33 
Hen. VI.) this Earl remained faithful to the House of Lancaster ; but in this 
year he sided with the Duke of York, and was present with the Yorkists at 
the battle of St. Alban's, the battle of Northampton, and the battle of Wake- 
field. At the last battle he was taken prisoner, and immediately beheaded. 
This letter was written between 1445 and 1455. 

/* Dugd. Bar. i. 302. 



MARGARET OF ANJOU, 91 

BY THE QUENE. 

WELBELOVED, for as mocli as we knowe verreily that our cousin 
tlierl of Salesbuiy wolbe right well content and pleased that, at our 
resorting unto o r castell of Hertford, we take o r disporte and recrea- 
tion in his parke of Ware; we, embolding us therof, desire and pray 
you that the game there be spared, kepte, and cherisshed for the 
same entent, .without suffring eny other personne there to hunte or 
have shet [shot or shooting], cource, or other disporte, in distroing 
or amentissment [diminution] of the game abovesaidj until [such] 
tyme [as] ye have other commandement from our said cousin in that 
bihalf. As we trust you, etc. 

To the Parker of Ware. 



LXII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ABBESS OF SHAFTESBURY 
RESPECTING THE PROMOTION OF HER CHAPLAIN, MlCHAEL 
TREGORY. 

MICHEL or Michael Tregury, Tregory, Tregoire, or Tregore, was a native of 
St. Wenn in Cornwall, a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, a Principal of 
several Halls successively that stood near that college, and, in 1434, a Proctor 
of the University . a The letter was probably written in March 1447, b and 
addressed to Edith Bonham, who was Abbess of Shaftesbury from 1441 to 
her death in 1460. c Before the Reformation the patronage of the rectory of 
Corfe Castle belonged to the Abbess of Shaftesbury; but, when the abbey was 

a Hist, and Antiq. Oxon. (Gutch) iv. (Fasti) p. 45. 

b The English marriage of the Queen took place in 1445, and Edmund Beaufort, 
Marquis of Dorset, was created Duke of Somerset in 1448. The only vacancy of the 
bishopric of Lisieux (see the letter) between these dates was occasioned by the death of 
Pasquerius de Vaux in July 1447. This prelate had been secretary and chaplain to the 
Regent Duke of Bedford. Tregory may have been recommended, but Thomas Basin 
succeeded to the vacant sec. (Gallin Christiana, torn. xi. p. 795.) 

c Dugd. MOD. ii. 474. 



92 LETTERS OF 

vacant, the right of presentation was in the Crown. The house of Beaufort, 
however, when lords of the manor of Corfe Castle, twice contested the right, 
but without effect. 11 It is to this the Queen alludes when she informs the 
abbess of her title being "like to be laboured by our cousin the Marquis of 
Dorset." The subject-matter of the letter is somewhat obscure. The name of 
Michael Tregory is not to be found in the list of the rectors of Corfe Castle," 
nor does it occur in the catalogue of the bishops of Lisieux. It is said, how- 
ever, that King Henry the Sixth entertained a special respect for him ; 
and he is designated by Anthony Wood as having been u the ornament of the 
university." 4 Another author states him to have been " a man of great wisdom 
and learning." 6 Michael Tregory was one of the earliest of the rectors of the 
University of Caen, founded by Henry the Sixth in 1431. f He was chaplain 
to Queen Margaret ; Archdeacon of Barnstaple, in the diocese of Exeter, in 
1445 ; h and, finally, in 1449-50, Archbishop of Dublin. He died at his manor 
of Tallaght, in December 1471, and was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral. 1 

BY THE QUENE. 

DERE and welbeloved in God, we grete you well; and albe it that, 
at oure reverence and prayer, ye presented not long agoo our right 
welbeloved clerk and chapellein Maist. Michel Tregoire unto the 
parsonage of Corfcastell, wherof we thanke you; yet nevertheles, for 

Hutchins's Dorset, i. 296. b Hutchins, i. 297. 

u Gallia Christiana, torn. xi. p. 795. d Hist, and Antiq. Oxon. (Gutch) iv. (Fasti) 45. 

e Cotton's Fasti Eccles. Hib. ii. 16. 

f See an article entituled " Le College des Droits de 1'ancienne Universite de Caen," 
by Jules Cauvet, member of the Antiquarian Society of Normandy, vol. xxii. (Series 3, vol. 
ii. p. 484.) Chroniques Neustriennes (Dumesnil), p. 332; and Gallia Christ, torn. xi. 427. 

S Harl. MS. 6963, fo. 84. This is extracted from Gascoigne's Diet. Theolog. 

h Fasti Eccles. Anglic, i. 406. 

1 Fasti Eccles. Hib. ii. 17.. For a memoir of Michael Tregury, which, however, is in- 
accurate in ascribing to Henry V. the founding the University of Caen, see Davies 
Gilbert's History of Cornwall, vol. iv. p. 138; and Gent. Mag. vol. ci. p. 197, et seq. In 
both these works a plate is given, representing the tomb of the archbishop, round which 
was the following inscription : 

Jesus est Salvator meus. 
Prsasul Metropolis Michael hie Dubliniensis 
Marmore tumbatus, pro me Christum flagitetis. 

The cover of the tomb was found, under rubbish, in St. Stephen's chapel in St. Patrick's 
Cathedral, and preserved and set up b/ Dean Swift, A.D. 1730. 



MARGARET OF ANJOU. 93 

many reasonable causes, yo r presenting is not put in execution ; for 
sone [there] upon oure saide chapelein was by my lord's writing recom- 
mended unto the Bisshoprick of Leseux [ Lisieux] ; and so oure said 
chappellein eschewing principally the hurte of yo r title, that was 
like be gretly laboured by oure cousin the Marquis of Dorset, and 
also his owne grete costs and expenses in defens therof, hath 
laboured the parsonne of Corf, for more ease, to resign frely the said 
chirch, so that it is come to lapse; wherfore we praye yowe hertly 
that ye wilbe unto o r said chappellein binevolent and good lady as to 
souffre hym to come in by the bisshop by wey of lapse, sith it is unto 
yo r title no hurt nor prejudice at this tyme and at nexte avoidance, 
which, we trust shalbe in hast, by the promocion of o r said chappel- 
lein ye may dispose it thanne in observing and keping yq r right; 
wherinne we shall the rather for our said chapellein sake have you 
in tendre remembrance of o r good grace. In which thing, etc. At 
Plesse the 1 1 day of Marche, etc. 

To thabbesse and Convent of Shaftesbury. 



LXIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THOMAS FOREST, EXECUTOR 
OF JOHN FOREST, LATE DEAN OF WELLS. 

THOMAS FOREST is mentioned in the second codicil to the will of Cardinal 
Beaufort, as Master or Keeper of the Hospital of the Holy Cross near Winches- 
ter. John Forest, Dean of Wells, "broken down by age," died 25th March, 
1446.* Nicholas Carent, LL.D. the Queen's secretary, was elected Dean by a 
majority of the Canons, 22nd August, 1446, and confirmed by Thomas Becking- 
ton, Bishop of the diocese, before Delabere, the King's great almoner, pre- 
sented his bulls and the King's letter. The episcopal registers at Wells do 



a Senectutefraclus. (Anglia Sacra, 588.) This John Forest built the library of Lincoln 
College, Oxford, an. 1-136. Antiq. Oxon. (Gutch) iv. 2-17. 



94 LETTERS OF 

not recognize Delabere as having been Dean,* and therefore, perhaps, it is that 
the Queen speaks of John Forest as " the last incumbent." Delabere became 
Bishop of St. David's in 1447, and then Nicholas Carent was advanced to the 
Deanery. The Queen's letter was probably written in 1447. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we suppose vereily that it is wele 
knowen unto youre wisdom that oure right welbelovyd clerc and 
Secretary Maister N[icolas] C[arent], Dean of Wellys, ought of law, 
right, and good conscience to be recompensed for the reparacion of 
the deanry with the goods of the last incumbent there, to whome ye 
be executor, as it is said, We, havyng consideracion unto the good 
service that oure said secretary doth unto us dayly, and unto the 
ryght and dewte longyng unto hym in this mater, desire and 
praye yow hertely, that, at reverence of us, and the rather by con- 
templacion of this oure prayer, ye wil have oure said secretary 
towards yow, in contenting him of his said reparacion, especially 
commended, shewing him suche binevolence and favor that he may 
finde yow so frendly disposed and tretable that, by yo r good dili- 
gence, oure seid secretary may have no cause in yo r defaulte to pour- 
vey him of other remedie, as we trust yow. In which thinge ye 
shal not mo we ownly desserve of us right especial thanke, but do us 
also right good and singler pleasir, and cause us to have you therfor 
in right tendre remembrance of oure good grace in tyme comyng. 
Yeven, etc. at etc. 

To Maister Thomas Forest, executor of John Forest. 



a But the Bull of Pope Nicolas V. raising Delabere to the see of St. David's describes 
him as Dean of Wells. (Anglia Sacra, 589.) This may, however, have been a convenient 
untruth (of which there are other instances) to cover the fact of the last Pope (Eugenius 
IV.) having been foiled in his attempt to force Delabere on an unwilling chapter. 



MARGARET OF ANJOU. 95 



LXIV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE MASTER OF ST. GILES IN 
THE FIELDS BESIDE THE CITY OF LONDON. 

THE Hospital of St. Giles was founded in 1 117 by Matilda or Maud, daughter 
of Malcolm King of Scotland, Queen of Henry the First of England. It was 
built for the reception of forty lepers; and she gave sixty shillings a year for 
each leper. The hospital was dedicated to a Greek saint (St. Egidius) called 
St. Giles of the Lepers ; and it continued, in nourishing circumstances, until the 
dissolution under Henry the Eighth. The site of the hospital was a little to 
the west of the present church, and St. Giles's pound was somewhat west of, 
but opposite to, the spot where Meux's brewhouse is now built.* 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. and for asmoche as we be enfourmed that oon 
Robert Uphome, of the age of xvii. yere, late querester [chorister] 
unto the moost reverende fader in God our beal uncle the cardinal, 
(whom God assoile,) atte his college at Winchestre, is now by Godd's 
visitacion become lepour; we desire therfore and praye you, sith he 
he hath noon other socour ne lyvelode to lyve upon, but oonly of 
aulraesse of cristen peuple, as it is saide, that, at reverence of our 
blessed Creatour, and in contemplacion of this o r prayer, ye will 
accepte and receive hym into yo r hospital of Seint Giles, unto such 
findinge and lyvelode as other personnes ther in suche cas be accus- 
tomed to have, as we trust you. In which thinge ye shul not 
oonly do a right meritorie dede to Godd's pleasir, but deserve also of 
us right especial thanke, etc. 

To the Maister of Seint Giles in the feld besid the Cite of London. 



Dobie's Hist, of St. Giles, &c. pp. 6, 7, 8, 9. 



96 LETTERS OF 

LXV. 

A LETTER FROM QUEEN MARGARET TO DAME JANE CAREW. 

THIS curious letter was written between 1447 and 1450, and was addressed to 
Jane the widow of Sir Nicholas Carew, lord of Carew. a Jane Courtenay, daughter 
of Sir Hugh Courtenay, and Philippa his second wife, who was a daughter of Sir 
Warine Arcedekne, became, by the death of a sister under age, sole heiress to the 
families of Courtenay of Haccombe and Arcedekne, and was, before she was 
fourteen years of age, married to Sir Nicholas Carew. b She had the disposal 
of seventeen manors, and this circumstance was probably not overlooked by 
Thomas Burneby, " sewer for our mouth," when he induced his royal mistress 
to write this letter on his behalf. The Queen was herself barely twenty at the 
time, whereas Lady Carew was at least thirty-six. The widow was not of a 
temper to succumb to a royal mandate of this kind, c nor did she, for she sub- 
sequently married Sir Robert Vere, brother to John twelfth Earl of Oxford. d 
She bore five sons to Sir Nicholas Carew, and to Sir Robert Vere one son, which 
son was subsequently 15th Earl of Oxford. Lady Vere survived both her 
husbands. 6 Of Thomas Burneby all I can discover is that he was a legatee 

a Sir Nicholas Carew died 3 May, 1447 (25 Hen. VI.) De la Pole's Devon, p. 130. 

b The marriage took place in 1424 or 1425. See Inquisition taken at death of Sir 
Hugh Courtenay (3 Hen. VI.) Calendar of Inq. P. Mortem, at the College of Arms, 
3 Hen. VI. MS. vol. i. p. 335. 

c She quarrelled with her eldest son by Sir Nicholas, and disinherited him, dividing 
her lands between her other children. (Harl. MSS. No. 1196, fol. 152, 153; and Carew's 
Survey of Cornwall.) 

d The licence of Lacy, Bishop of Exeter, for the second marriage, bears date 5th Oct., 
1450. (Bishop Lacy's Register, vol. iii. p. 350.) 

e I have to thank Mr. W. H. Pole-Carew of Antony, and especially Mr. John Carew 
of Exeter, both descendants of " Dame Jane Carew," for particulars, very kindly furnished 
me at my request, relating to their ancestress. She founded five distinct families, three 
of which remain to the present day. I have received from Mr. John Carew the following 
curious document, the original of which is in the muniment rooai of Haccombe, from 
which it appears that the lady was a widow for the second time in 4 Edw. IV. (1464) : 

" This Indenture, made the xx th day of June, the iiii th . year of Kyng Edward the 1111 th . 
betweene Nicholas Gosse, William Godde clerkys, and Harry Drewe, on the one partie, 
and Jane y 4 was the wyif of Robert Veer, knyght, of the other partie, Witnessith y* the 
said Nicholas, William, and Harry grauntith by this present indenture to the said Jane 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 97 

under the will of Cardinal Beaufort ; a that he was, with a great many other 
officers of the Household, exempted from the operation of an act of resumption 
passed in 1 450 ; b and that he steadily adhered to the House of Lancaster, and 
accompanied the Queen to Scotland in 1461. c He was probably a native of 
Devon, for I find that there is a place called "Burneby " in that county, which 
gave name to a family still existing at the beginning of the seventeenth century. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT dere and welbeloved, We grete you well; and, for as 
mocli as oure trusty and welbeloved Squier Thomas Burneby, sewer 
of our mouth, aswel for the greet zele, love, and affeccion that he 
hath unto yo r personne, as for the womanly and vertuouse gover- 
nance that ye be renowned of, desireth with all his hert to do yow 
worship by wey of marriage, bifore all creatures lyvyng, as he saith; 
We, desiryng th'encres, furtherance, and preferring of oure said 
squire, for his manyfold merits and deserts, as for the good service 
that he hath don unto my lord and us, and yet therin dayly 
continueth, praye you right affectuously, that, at reverence of us, 

that hit shall be lawfull to hir duryug her lyif to entre into the manor of Haccombe, and 
in the housyng there to herbre and loigge atte all such sesons as shall please hir, and also 
to entre in the deere parke there, there to enchase, hunt, kylle, and bear away the deere 
wythyn the said parke at all such tymes as shall plese hir duryng hyr lyif; and also to take 
yerely duryng hir lyif frute growyng upon this said maner resonably att hir plesure for 
hir expenses and hir houshold, withoute makyng of any syder therof. Furthermore, the 
said Nicholas, William, and Harry grauntith by this present writyng to the said Jane the 
advowson of the churche of Haccombe aforesaid, in the counte of Devonshire; to have 
and to hold the said advowson to the said Jane duryng hir lyif. In witnesse of the which 
the said parties to this present writyng indentyd chaungeably have putte to their selys the 
day and year abovesaid." 

To this deed three seals of red wax are attached. Nicholas Gosse, at this time (1464) 
a Prebendary of York (Fasti E. A. vol. iii. p. 197), was afterwards, in 1469 and 1484, 
Chancellor of Exeter. (Ibid. vol. i. p. 419.) Why Lady Vere was not to make cider does 
not appear; and it might not be thought respectful to her memory to inquire into the 
matter too curiously ! 

* In the second codicil to the cardinal's will, which bears date the 9th April, 1447, occurs 
the following bequest : "I bequeath to Thomas Burneby, page to my lady the queen, xx. u 
and a cup of silver-gilt." (Testamenta Vetusta, vol. i. p. 255.) b Rot. Parl. v. 193a. 

c Paston Letters, vol. i. p. 247. d De la Pole's Devon, p. 347. 

CAMD. SOC. O 



98 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

ye will have oure said squire towards liis said mariage especially 
recommended, inclynyng you to liis honest desire at this tyme; the 
rather by contemplacion of this oure praier, wherin we trust verreily 
ye shul mo we pourvey right well for yo r self, to yo r greet worship 
and hertsease, and cause us to have yow both in suche tendernesse 
and faver of our good grace, that by reason ye shul holde you right 
well content and pleased; and how ye thinke to be disposed to our 
pleasir in this partie, ye will acertein us by the bringer of these. As 
our singler trust is in yow. Yeven, etc. at Eltham, the, etc. + 
To Dame Jane Carew. 



LXVI. 

A LETTER FROM THE KING TO THE QUEEN. 

BY THE KYNG. 

EIGHT dere and right entirely bestbeloved wyf, we grete you 
hertly. And, for as moche as We, of oure grace especiall, have 
granted unto John Barham x oks for tymbre, to be taken in yor 
outwods of Kenelworth, of our yefte, We therfore desire and praye 
you that ye wol see that the said John may have delyverance of the 
said oks, after th'entent of oure saide grante. And thise oure lettres 
shalbe unto you sufficient warrant, and full discharge of eny em- 
pechement of waste, in this partie. Yeven, etc. the yere of oure 
reign xxvii [1449]. 

To our right dere, etc. wyf the Quene. 



LXVII. 

i 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE CORPORATION OF LONDON, 
TOUCHING INJURIES DONE TO HER TENANTS OF ENFIELD. 

manor of Enfield formed part of the dower lands of Queen Margaret 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 99 

granted to her by Parliament.* I have not found that the City had any claim 
to exercise acts of ownership at Enfield. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete you wele. Lating you wite 
that, albeit that it hath pleased my lord's highnesse to take oure 
tenants of Enfeld into his proteccion of any maner taking \_sic~], as 
it appereth by his grant therof under his signet; yet, nevertheles, 
summe of yo r officers, havyng no rewarde [regarde] therto, unad- 
visely toke fro day to day the horses of our said tenants, into [unto] 
greet contempte of my lord's proteccion, and to oure displeasir. 
Wherfore, we pray you that at reverence of us ye will geve in 
comandement unto all yo r officers t'obeie my said lord's proteccion, 
suffring our said tenants to leve in quiet and rest in that bihalf. 
So that we have no cause to pourvei other remedie in yo r defaulte, 
as we trust you. In which thinge ye shul mowe deserve of us 
right especial thanke therfore in tyme commyng. Yeven, etc. at 
Windesore, the, etc. 

To the Mair and Aldermen of the Cite of London. 

To the Shirefs of the Cite of London, and to either of them. 



LXVIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF 
CANTERBURY. 

THE archbishop to whom this letter was written was probably either John 
Stafford, who was Archbishop from 1443 to 1452, or John Kempe, who held 
the same post from 1452 to 1454. Both these prelates were Lords Chancellors. 
I find recorded in a parchment book at the Duchy of Lancaster Office that 
John Reignold " Yoman Ussher de nostre Sale dans nostre hostel " was 3rd 
October, 13 Hen. VI. (1435), made porter of the Castle of Monmouth. Most 
likely he was the same person with John Reignold named in this letter. 

* Rot. Parl. Y. 118a. 



100 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT Reverend Fader, etc. And for as moche as we under- 
stand by a supplicacion presented unto us by John Reignold, yoman 
of my lord's hall and oures, how that oon John Audeley, a squier of 
youres, hath wrongfully put hym out of certein lyvelode apper- 
teyning unto o r said servant of right, with many other dyvers 
vexacions and troubles, as in the said supplication closed within this 
ye may see more pleinly. We desire therfore, and pray you hertly, 
that, the said supplication by you diligently seen and deuly examined 
of the trouth, ye will, at reverence of us, after god trouth and good 
conscience, sett a good quiet and rest betwix theym in that behalf, 
havyng our said servant after his honest desire in the seid supplica- 
tion especially recommended. Shewing him therin th'ease, faver, 
and tendernesse that ye goodly may, so that he may fynde yo r good 
lordship the better disposed to a good and final conclusion in v this 
mater by contemplacion of this our praier. As our singler trust is 
in yow. In which thing ye shul, etc. 

To the Archebisshop of Canterbury. 



LXIX. 

FROM THE QUEEN TO THE KEEPER OF APCHILD PARK. 

ABFIELD or Abchild is an estate in the parish of Great Waltham, Essex, and 
it is probable, therefore, that it was part of the Queen's dower lands, as parcel 
of that manor. It is only a few miles from Fleshy. The letter is dated 28th 
August, 1449. 

BY THE QUEENE. 

WELBELOVED, we wol and expressly charge you that, for certein 
consideracions moving us, our game within our pare of Apechild, 
wherof ye have the sauf garde and keping, ye do, with all diligence, 



LETTERS OF MAHGARET OF ANJOU. 101 

to be cheresshed, favered, and kept, without suffryng eny personne, 
of what degre, estat, or condicion that he be, to hunte there, or 
have course, shet, or other disporte, in amentising oure game above 
said, to th'entent that, at what tyine it shall please us to resorte thedre, 
yo r trew acquital may be founden for the good keping and replenish- 
ing therof, to th'accomplissement of o r entencion in this partie. 
And that in no wise ye obeie ne serve eny other warrant, but if hit 
be under our signet, and signed with o r owne hande. And if eny 
personne presume t'attempte to the contrarie of the premisses, ye do 
certiffie us of their names; and that ye faill not herof, as ye will 
eschew our displeasure, at yo r perill, and upon forfaiture of the 
kepyng of o r said park. Yeven, etc. at Plasshe, the xxviii day of 
Auguste, the yere, etc. xxvii. 

To the Keper of o r Parke of Apechild or his Depute there. 



LXX. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE EXECUTORS OF 
CARDINAL BEAUFORT. 

CARDINAL BEAUFORT left nine executors to his will, which is dated 20th 
January, 1446.* This letter is addressed to only three of them, who were 
probably the acting executors. Of these Richard Waller is described by the 
Cardinal as "Master of my household." The Archbishop of York was John 
Kempe, who was elected Archbishop of York 8th April, 1426, appointed a 
Cardinal 18th December, 1439, and Archbishop of Canterbury in 1452. b The 
" Earl of Dorset," who, in the will, is described as " my nephew the Marquess 
of Dorset," was Edmund Beaufort, third son of John Beaufort, eldest natural 
(but legitimated) son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Bwinford, and elder 
brother of Cardinal Beaufort. Edmund Beaufort was created Duke of Somer- 
set 31st March, 1448. The Cardinal died llth April 1447. The letter 
cannot have been written later than March 1448. The foundation of the 
Queen's letter to the executors, at the instance of Piers Preston, yeoman of the 

Testam. Vet. p. 249. b Fasti Ecc. Ang. vol. iii. p. 110. 



102 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

Crown, was the following clause in the Cardinal's will : "I will that the residue 
of my goods not disposed of be applied to works of charity and pious uses, 
according to the discretions and consciences of my executors; such as relieving * 
poor religious houses, marrying poor maidens, succouring the poor and needy, 
and in other similar works of piety, such as they may most deem will tend to 
the health of my soul." a The expression in the letter " for the merit of our 
said uncle's soul," seems to refer to the last words of this clause. 

BY THE QUENE. 

MOOST worshipful Fader in God, cure right wel beloved cousin, 
right trusty and welbeloved, we grete you well; and, for as moche 
as my lord's servant and oures, Piers Preston, yomanne of the 
Crowne, hath leten us wite that oon W. Frutes and Agnes Knoghten, 
poure creatures and of vertuous conversacion, pourposyng to leve 
under the lawe of God in th'ordre of wedlok, have made togedre a 
lawfull contract likly by thaire discrescions to be of sad [serious] and 
commendable reule, if they were put forth and releved by 'some 
aulmes at this tyme. Wheruppon my said lord's servant and oures 
right humbly hath besoght us that it wolde please us to have theym 
towards you, in seying unto theym of aulmes of the goods of our 
beal uncle the cardinal, on whose soule God have mercy e, especially 
recommended. We, atte instance and humble supplicacion of oure 
said servant, and in especial the meritorie in relevement of the said 
pore creatures of so vertues pourpos and laudable entencion, as it is 
reherced, desire and hertly praye you that ye wil, atte reverence of 
us, and for the merit of oure said uncle's soule, have theym in such 
tendernesse and faver, in departing with them of the said aulmesse, 
that they may perceive thise oure lettres unto theym vailable. And 
that thei fare the better by contemplacion of this oure praier, as our 
full trust is yn yow. In which thing, etc. At W. the xviii. day 
ofM. 

To th'archbishop of York, Cardinal, Th'erle of Dorset, and Kic. 
Waller, Executoures of our Oncle late Cardinal of England. 



Testam. Vet. 251, 252; and Cassan's Lives of Bishops of Winchester, vol. i. p. 258. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 103 



LXXI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ABBESS OF BARKING, 

IN ESSEX. 

CATHERINE DE LA POLE, niece to William Earl, Marquis, and Duke of 
Suffolk, was Abbess of Barking or Berking, an ancient and well endowed 
nunnery of the Benedictine order in Essex, from A. D. 1433 to A. D. 1473. 
There can be no doubt that it was to her this letter was addressed. This lady 
had at one time under her care Edmund and Jasper Tudor, sons of the Queen 
dowager Katharine of Valois by her second husband Owen Tudor. b Robert 
Osberne was a squire in attendance on King Henry the Sixth, in 1454, c and, as 
appears from this letter, his secretary ; but I have not found, any trace of his 
ever having lived in the county of Essex. 

BY THE QUENE. 

DERE Cousine and right welbeloved in God, We grete yow wele; 
'and, for as moche as oure welbeloved Kobert Osbern, squier, and my 
lorde's servant in th'office of his secretary, is inhabited nygh unto 
yow, and is yo r tenant, as he seith ; desiryng to do yowe service and 
pleasure, and therto hath and soo purposeth to be disposed with all 
his hert, we praye youe Cousyn, affectuously, that, considerynge his 
will [and] sette purpose, ye wol, as wel therfore, as at the reverence 
of us and this oure instance, be unto hym good and favorable ladye, 
in his honest desires and resonable offers, and shew unto hym and 
unto his wif the tendre binevolence of yo r good ladyship, in suche 
wise as they may fynde this oure writing unto thayme vailable, for 
oure sake, and at oure contemplacion, as we therfore may have cause 
especially to thank yow. Yeven at, etc. 

To th'abbesse Berking. 



Dugd. Mon. i. 436, 437. b Rymer, x. 828. 

Proc. of Pri. Co. vi. 224. 



104 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF AN.TOIL 



LXXII. 

LETTER OP THE QUEEN, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SIR JOHN 
MONTGOMERY, KNIGHT, HOLDS LAND OF HER IN ENFIELD, 
AS TENANT IN CAPITE. 

IF the Sir John Montgomery mentioned in this document is the same person 
who is referred to in the introduction to the next letter, the Queen's signet 
must have been put to it on the 22nd day of November, 1448, a but a short 
time before his death. The post mortem inquisition of Sir John Montgomery 
does not mention any lands at Enfield, b nor have I been able to find that any 
part of the parish of Enfield is called " Goldyngesfeld," unless " Gongsfield" be 
a corruption of that name. c 

MARGARET A, Dei gratia Regina Angliae et Franciae, et Doraina 
Hiberniae, omnibus ad quos presentes literse pervenerint, salutem. 
Sciatis, Nos vicesimo primo die Octobris ultimo praeterito, a^pud 
"Waltham Crosse, recepisse, de prasdilecto milite nostro Johanne 
Montgomery, fidelitatem, pro quadam parcella terrae vocata Gold- 
yngesfeld, infra dominium nostrum de Enfeld, quam de nobis tenet 
in capite, per servitutem supradictam. In cujus rei testimonium 
presentibus signetum nostrum fecimus apponere. Datum apud 
Eltham, mensis Novembris die vicesimo secundo, anno regni me- 
tuendissimi Domini mei regis Henrici Sexti vicesimo septimo. 



MARGARET, by the grace of God Queen of England and France, and lady of 
Ireland, to all to whom these present letters shall come, health. Know ye that 
we, on the 21st day of October last past, at Waltham Cross, received the [oath 
of] fealty of our dearly beloved knight John Montgomery for a certain parcel 
of land called " Goldyngesfeld," within our lordship of Enfeld, which he holds 
of us in chief by the service aforesaid. In testimony whereof we have caused 
our signet to be put to these presents. 'Given at Eltham the 22nd day of 
November, in the year of the reign of my most dread lord King Henry the 
Sixth the twenty-seventh (1448). 

* The 27 Hen. VI. began 1 Sept. 1448, and ended the 31st August, 1449 (Nicolas). 
b Inq. P. M. 27 Hen. VI. No. 36. c Robinson's Enfield, i. 75. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF AN.TOU. 105 



LXXIII. 

FROM THE QUEEN TO THE KEEPER OF FALKEBORNE PARK, 
OR HIS DEPUTY THERE. 

ELIZABETH daughter to William Lord Say, and heir to her brother John 
Lord Say, (who died under age in 1382-3, 6 Rich. II.), was born in 1366. 
She married, first, Sir John Fallesley, or de Falvesle, a knight of Northamp- 
tonshire; secondly, Sir William Heron; and died 8th July, 1399 (23 Rich. II). 
Both her husbands were summoned to Parliament as Lord Say, in her right ; 
and Sir William Heron, who survived her, continued to be summoned by the 
same title up to his own death, in November, 1404. Previously to his death 
Sir William Heron married, as his second wife, Elizabeth, sister of Ralph Lord 
Sudeley, and widow of Sir Henry Norbury, This lady, on her second mar- 
riage, was called Lady Say, and was "Dame Elizabeth the Lady Say," men- 
tioned in this letter. After the death of Sir William Heron, she married, 
thirdly, Sir John Montgomery. Sir John Montgomery, who was the owner 
of Falkeborne, amongst other estates in Essex, was at one period Privy Coun- 
cillor to John Duke of Bedford, and is the first-named on a list of the gentry 
of Essex returned by certain commissioners in 1433-4 (12 Hen. VI.) a His 
marriage with Lady Say must have taken place not later than 1431, as their 
second son, Sir Thomas Montgomery, was born in 1433. Sir John Montgo- 
mery died in 1448-9. His wife, by what an English historian calls " a far- 
fetched courtesy ," b was allowed to retain the title of Lady Say, until her death 
in 1464. In her will, which is in the British Museum/ she speaks of 1 " her 
place at Falkeburne," and desires to be buried in the Priory of Erdbury in 
the county of Warwick, where, she says, " the bones of her ancestors rest." 
This refers to that priory, which was of the Augustinian order, having been 
founded by a Ralph de Sudeley in the reign of Henry the Second.* The 
Queen's letter is dated at Pleshy, (which is not more than nine miles west of 
Falkeburne,) and was probably written very shortly after Sir John Montgo- 
mery's death. Lady Say was mother to a Sir Thomas Montgomery, who, a 
a very distinguished man, was of so pliant a mind, that he managed to be in 
favour with Henry VI., Edward IV., Richard III., and Henry VII. He died 

a Fuller's Worthies, p. 337. > Morant, ii. 116. 

c Lansd. MSS. No. 860 B. fo. 107, and Coll. Topog. iii. 106. 
d Dugd. Bar. i. 428; Monast. ii. 565; Antiq. Warw. 1074, 1075. 
CAMD. SOC. P 



106 LETTEKS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

llth January, 1494. A daughter of Lady Say, Alice Montgomery (she had two 
daughters of the same name), married John Fortescue, a great-nephew of Sir John 
Fortescue, Lord Chief Justice, and author of the De laudibus legum Anglia.* 

BY THE QUENE. 

WELBELOVED, For as mocli as oure dere and welbeloved dame 
Elizabeth the Lady Say hath granted us to have our disporte in hir 
park of Falborne, at what tyme it shall please us to resorte thedre, 
and in to this cuntrey; We wol and charge you, that the game there 
be faveured, cherisshed, and kepte, without suffryng any personne, 
of what degre, estat, or condicion that he be of, to hunte there, or 
have cours, shet, or other disporte, in amentising the game above- 
said, without an especial coinmandement of us or of the said Lady 
Say ; and that ye faill not herof in no wyse. Yeven, etc. at Plasshe 
the xxx. day of August, the yere, etc, xxvii. 

To the Keper of Falborne Park, or to his depute there. 



LXXIV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE DUKE OF EXETER. 

ASPEDEN or Aspenden Manor, on the Rib, between Westmill and Bunting- 
ford, Herts, came, early in the 15th century, to William Berkeley, whose only 
daughter and heir, Elizabeth, married Ralph Jocelyn, esq. Alderman of Lon- 
don, and third son of Geoffrey Jocelyn of Sawbridgeworth in the same county of 
Herts. Ralph Jocelyn held this manor in right of his wife, and resided there 
in 1434 (12 Hen. VI.), when he was returned as being able to dispend 10/. 
per annum, "which was a fair estate in those days." He appears to have been 
afterwards (1458) sheriff, and (1464) Lord Mayor of London. b Whether 



a Morant, ii. 116. The Fortescues sold Falkeburne in the 17th century to the Bullocks, 
the present owners. Neither at Falkeburne Hall, which is a strikingly fine old mansion, 
nor at the church, unless possibly in an ancient window near the pulpit on the north side, 
is there any trace of the Montgomery family. 

b Chauncy's Herts, vol. i. pp. 32 and 243. 



LETTERS OF MA11GAKET OF ANJOU. 107 

" Ralph Josselyn, draper of London," who was disseised, was the alderman, 
seems doubtful. The letter was certainly written after 1445. I incline to 
think that the nobleman to whom it was addressed was John Holland, created 
third Duke of Exeter in 1443, and who died (according to Sir H. Nicolas) in 
1446," or (according to Dugdale), 1447. b The letter may, however, have been 
written to Henry his son, the fourth duke. I find no connection between 
Aspeden Manor and any Duke of Exeter. Henry tlje fourth duke was dan* 
gerously wounded at Barnet, fighting on the Lancastrian side, and lay untended 
on the field from 7 A.M. to 4 P.M.; he recovered, however, and fled beyond sea, 
where he lived in great poverty. De Comines relates that he saw him in such 
great distress that he ran barelegged after the Duke of Burgundy, begging 
his bread, for God's sake. He was at length, in 1473, found dead in the sea 
between Dover and Calais, though it was not known how he got there. Tho- 
mas Sharnborne, the Queen's squire, was of a very ancient family in Norfolk, 
of which Spelman has written the history in Latin. Thomas Sharnburne mar- 
ried Jomona Cherneys, a lady in attendance on Queen Margaret.' 1 Sharn- 
burne, which appears to have belonged to the family, is a village near San- 
dringham, in the north-western part of Norfolk, not far from the sea. I sus- 
pect that it was this " Thomas Sharnburne " who is mentioned, under the name 
of " Sharinborn," as bearing a message from the Queen to Elizabeth Clere ; 
and perhaps also he was the sheriff of Suffolk against whose conduct at a 
county election the Duke of Norfolk petitioned the Council in 1454. f 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT trusty and right entierly beloved Cousyn, We grete, etc. 
And for as moch as our trusty and welbeloved squier Thomas Sharn- 
borne hath do us to be enformed, how, albeit that his cousin Eauf 
Josselyn, draper, of London, was wrongfully disseised of the Manoir 
of Aspedon in Hertfordshire, and theruppon an enquest late passed 
with hym, affermyng his trewe title and right, as, of verrey trouth 
and law, they ought to do, as it is said ; yet, nevertheles, th'adversaries 
of the said Eauf, seing that they may not, by right ne la we, opteine 
thaire entente ne wrongfull purpos in this partie, have enfeifed you 
in the said manoir, uppon hope and truste to be supported by you in 

Syn. Peer. vol. i. p. 224. *> Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. pp. 80, 81. 

c Prince's Worthies of Devon, p. 503. d Spelman 's English Works, p. 198, 

Paston Letters, vol. i. p. 69. f Acts of P. C. vi. 183. 



108 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

thaire injurious entencion in that behalf; We, knowyng verreily 
yo r good and naturale disposicion towards the faver and tendernesse 
of trouth and justice, desire and praye you, the rather sith o r said 
squier is by negh possibilite heritier to the same manoir, ye will, at 
reverence of us, be so good lord unto the said Josselyn, that he may 
be suffred t'enioie and possede his said right without eny interrupcion 
or meddlyng, by yo r supporte to the contrarie ; soo that he may fynde 
in effect thise our lettres unto hym vailable, as our full and singler 
trust, etc. Which thing, etc. Yeven, etc. 
To the Due of Excestre. 



LXXV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE BAILIFFS, ETC. OF HER 
MANOR OF GREAT WALTHAM. 

THE manor of Great Walthara (Chelmsford hundred), Essex, was part of the 
estates of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, Essex, and Northampton, 
which came to Henry the Fifth by partition. From him it descended to his 
son, and it is included in the duchy of Lancaster. Morant calls it a " noble 
manor." Great Walthain is about three miles S.E. of Fleshy. 

A CLOSE LETTER. 

MARGARETE, by the grace of God, Quene of England and of 
France, and Ladye of Ireland. To our baillives, fermors, or other 
occupiers of our manoir of Greet Waltham, in the countie of Essex, 
that now is, or for the tyme shalbe, greting. For as much as we of 
our especial grace, the ix day of October, the xxvii yere of my lord's 
reigne, have granted, by oure letters patentes, unto our trusty and 
wellbek>ved squier Thomas Sharnborne xx 11 of sterlings, to be taken 
of our manoir of Greet Waltham, in the countie of Essex, every yere 
at the fests of Ester and Michelmasse, by evyn porcions, by th'andes 
of oure baillives, fermors, and other ministres or occupiours of our 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 109 

said manoir, as in the said letters patents it appereth more pleinly; 
We wol and charge you that, the said letters patents by you seen, 
ye do, thereupon, after the cotinue [contents, contenii] and purport 
of the same letters, paie unto our said squier the said xx 11 yerely, at 
the times above prefixed ; receivyng of oure said squier letters of 
acquittances, witnessing the payment which ye doo to hym ; by the 
which letters and these presents we wol that ye have due allowance 
in your accompts. Yeven, etc. at our castell of Plasshe, the xx th 
day of August, the yere of, etc. xxvii. [1449.] 

To our baillives, fermors, or other occupiours of our Manoir of 
Greet Waltham in the countie of Essex, that now be, or for the 
tyme shalbe. 



LXXVI. 

FROM THE QUEEN TO THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 

THOMAS Lord Camoys of Broadwater (Sussex) K.G. died 28th March, 1421 
(9 Hen. V.) His eldest son Richard had died before him, leaving an infant 
son, Hugh, and two daughters. The infant son died early in the reign of 
Henry VI., and the barony of Camoys remained in abeyance between the two 
daughters, and was not revived until 1839, in the present Lord Camoys. But 
Thomas Lord Camoys left also a second son, Sir Roger Camoys, who, in 
the 22 Hen. VI. (1443-4), was taken prisoner in France, and, it is said, was 
there detained in great misery . a It app'ears that Sir Matthew Gough, b a brave 
Welsh knight, who was " a man of great wit, and much experience in feats of 

a Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 768 b, and Segar's Baronage, MS. (at the College of Arms) 
fo. 208. The name of Sir Roger Camoys does not occur in the Camoys Peerage Claim. 
I conceive that Sir Roger Camoys, who would have been the next male heir, had the 
peerage not been in abeyance, was called Lord Camoys, by courtesy. 

b This valiant leader, who was, at one time, governor of Lisieux, in Normandy, 
figures in the French chronicles, sometimes as " Mathago " (Hist, de France par Henri 
Martin, vol. vii. p. 331); and sometimes simply as "Go" (Basin, vol. i. p. 227). 
He was an ancestor of Richard Gough the antiquary. 



110 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

chivalry, the which, in continual wars, had valiantly served Kings Henry the 
Fifth and Sixth, in the parts beyond the sea," a negociated Lord Camoys's ran- 
som, and to that end pledged himself that a large sum of money b should be 
paid on a certain day. As a further and, as it probably was deemed, a better 
security, the Earl of Northumberland gave his " obligation " or bond for the 
same purpose. The Earl failing to pay at the day, Sir Matthew Gough, and 
perhaps Lord Camoys also, were in peril ; hence the Queen's letter. After 
giving so many proofs of valour abroad, Sir Matthew Gough perished ignobly 
in 1450 in what is called the Battle of London Bridge, against Jack Cade. 
This letter was written between 1445 and 1450. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and right welbeloved Cousyn, We grete you well, 
lattyng you witte that, upon truste and seurte of yo r obligacion, 
wherinne ye were bounden, as we be enformed, unto our welbeloved 
squier Mathew Gogh, in two thousand salut}, for the finance of the 
lord Camoys, we were the rather inclined and benevolent to desyre 
o r said squyer, by o r lettres, to do all his peyne and diligence for 
delyverance of the said lord. At whos instance and request o r said 
squier toke upon hym to ley his selee [sele ?] in this mater. And it 
is now soo, that he hath acerteened us that the day prefixte of yo r 
payment is past and ronne; so that the charge lyth now upon hym, 
and must neds be droven by justice t'answear that to hymself, and 
likly, in yo r defaulte, to be dishonoured and rebuked for ever; the 
which we suppose ye will take right nigh to hert, in especiall sith 
he was brought in thereto by yor mene. Wherfore we desire and ex- 
horte you, upon yo r worship, that, in all goodly haste, ye do content 
yor said summe, in savyng o r said squier harmeles, so that we be no 
more called upon, in lake of yo r devoir, and trew acquitall, in this 
partie. Yeven, etc. at Windsor, the viii. day of March. 

To th'erl of North. 



Hall's Chronicle, p. 222. 

b 2000 salute. The salut was a gold coin of the value of 25 shillings. (Paston Letters^ 
vol. iii. p. 261.) See also Leblanc, Traite Historique des Monnoyes de France, pp. 288,' 
294, and 298. 

r 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. Ill 

\ 

LXXVII. 

FROM THE QUEEN TO THE MAYOR AND SHERIFFS OF LONDON. 

AT the time at which this letter was written the Cordwainers had only lately 
been incorporated. Maitland says this took place in 1410, a Seymour in 1439. b 
This letter must have borne date after 1445, as that was the year of the 
Queen's marriage. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TKUSTY, etc. We grete you well; lettyng you wite that John 
Lory, oure cordewaner, is so occupied in our service, other while in 
his craft, and other while in comyng towards us, at such tymes as 
we shall have nede of his crafte, and send for hym, that he may not 
appere and attend in enquests, in the cite of London. Wherfore we 
praye you, that duryng the tyme that he is in such wise oure servant, 
ye will not suffre hym to be empanelled, but therein sparing hym at 
reverence of us, so that he be no more vexed, -ne empeched, in that 
behalf. As we truste yowe. In which thing, etc. Yeven, etc. the 
1 1 day of November. 

To the Mair and Shirefs of London. 



LXXVIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO JOHN SOMERTON, ONE OF 

THE CUSTUMERS OF SOUTHAMPTON. 

MARMADUKE LUMLET, Bishop of Carlisle, was Lord Treasurer during 
the year 1447-8 ; therefore this and the next letter were written in that 
year. c The Queen's dower settled on her at her marriage was valued at 

ft Hist, of London, p. 1244. b Survey of London, vol. ii. p. 378. 

c Parliamentary Paper X. prefixed to Pad. Hist. vol. i. 



112 LETTEKS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

3,666Z. 13*. 4d per annum, of which 1,000/. was charged on the customs of 
the port of Southampton. It would seem from these letters that the payments 
from this source were sometimes in arrear, and perhaps it was for this very 
reason that, at the end of the year 1447, it was agreed at the Parliament held 
at St. Edmundsbury to commute the money payments for lands parcel of the 
duchy of Lancaster.* Sir John Wenlok, although now Chamberlain to the 
Queen, and advanced to the rank of a Knight of the Garter by King Henry 
the Sixth, subsequently sided with the Yorkists, and was attainted by the Par- 
liament held at Coventry 38 Hen. VI. (A.D. 1460). He was present with King 
Edward IV. at the battle of Towton Heath, and was raised by him to the 
peerage ; but, following the fortunes of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, he 
again changed sides, fought at Barnet, and was slain at Tewkesbury. b 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. We desire and praye yowe, and also exhorte yow 
and require yow, that, of suche money as is dewe unto us, at Michel- 
masse terrae last passed, of oure doyer [dower] , assigned to be paied 
of the custumers of Suth [Southampton] by yo r handes, ye will do 
yo r peyne and diligence that we may be contented and paied in al 
hast. And of the day of yo r payement ye will acerteine by writynge 
oure right welbeloved knight Sir John Wenlok oure chamberlayn, 
which knoweth in what wise the said money must be emploied and 
bestowed in all possible hast; and that ye faile not herof as we 
truste, and as ye thinke to stande in continuance of the favor of 
oure good grace, and t'eschewe oure displeasure. Yeven, etc. 

To John Somerton, oon of the custumers of Suth. 



LXXIX. 

A LETTER BY THE QUEEN TO MARMADUKE LUMLEY, BISHOP 

OF CARLISLE. 
BY THE QUENE. 

EEVEREND fader in God, etc. We grete, etc. desiryng hertly 
and praying yow that ye doo write yo r lettres unto J. Somerton, oon 

a Rot. Parl. v. 11 8 b. b Dugd. Bar. ii. 264. 



LETTERS OT? MARGARET OF ANJOU. 113 

of [the customers of] Suthampton, yevynge him stretely in com- 
mandement to paye and contente us of oure money dewe unto us at 
Michelmasse last passed, of oure dower, assigned to be paied of the 
customs of Suthampton ; which we must paye, in all possible hast, 
for suche causes that lyen us right nigh to hert; havynge th'exploit 
herof in suche recommendacion and favor, that we may cause to cun 
yow therfor right especial thanks; as oure full trust, etc. At W. id 
supra. 

To the Bishop of Carliel, Tresorier of England. 



LXXX. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE MAYOR AND CORPORATION 
OF SOUTHAMPTON. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved. For asmuch as our welbeloved Kobert 
Bedale, [who] desireth to do you service in th'office of Waterbailif, is 
Serjeant of Southampton; to the which, as we be enformed, he is 
right hable and sufficiant, as wel in his trouth and discrecion as in 
other cunyng ; We, at instance and supplication of certein our 
servants attendinge right negh aboute oure personne, desire and 
pray you therfore, that, at reverence of us, ye will have the said 
Robert to the said occupacion especially recommended, and admitte 
hym thereto, before all other; as we truste you. In which thing, 
etc. At Wynds[ore,] the etc. 

To the Mair and his brethern of Southamton. 



CAMD. SOC. 



1 14 LETTERS OF MARGAKET OF ANJOU. 



LXXXI. 

A LETTER FROM QUEEN MARGARET TO THE WIFE OF A MAN OF 

HIGH RANK, THANKING HER FOR ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO 

GEORGE ASSHEBY, CLERK OF HER SIGNET, AND REQUESTING 
HER FURTHER BENEVOLENCE. 

THE reference in this letter to the death of the Duke of Gloucester shews 
that it was written after 1447, in February of which year the. Duke died (or 
was murdered) at Bury St. Edmund's. It may have been addressed to Alice 
Duchess of Suffolk, granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer, whose husband was 
at this time chief minister ; or to Alianore Duchess of Somerset, whose husband, 
Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, succeeded to the Duke of Suffolk, on 
his murder, at sea, in May 1450. a George Asheby appears to have been in the 
service of the Duke of Gloucester, and was at this time "clerk of our signet." 
He was a poet of some note. He wrote, amongst other works, a moral poem 
for the use of Henry Prince of Wales, intituled " On the Active Policy of a 
Prince," which is still extant amongst Bishop Move's MSS. at Cambridge, No. 
492. The author is said to have completed this poem in his eightieth year. b 
George Asheby died 20th February, 1474, and is buried at Harefield, Middle- 
sex, where the family was settled as early as 147l. c The Ashebys resided at 
an ancient mansion in that parish called Breakspears, still existing." 1 The 
letter was probably written between 1447 and 1454. 

BY THE QUENE. 

DERE and welbeloved, we grete you well. And it is reported 
unto us, that atte reverence of us, and for the service that our ser- 
vant George Asheby, clerc of oure signet, standeth in with us, ye, as 
mene to yo r husbande, have hadd [him] in right good faver and 
tendernesse, towards expedicion of payment of his wages deue unto 
him by the Due of Glouc. that last died ; wherof we thanke you 
hertly, praying you right affectuously that ye wil continue so forth 
yo r binevolence and good disposicion to th'exploit of his agrement 
in this partie. As we, etc. at P. &c. 

a Dugd. Bar. ii. 189 a. b Ritson, Bibli. Poet. p. 43. Warton's Eng. Poetry, iii. 80. 

c Collect. Top. et Geneal. v. 125, et seq. and 210. 

d For a description of this ancient mansion see Gent. Mag. Sept. 1823. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 115 

LXXXIL 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE DUKE OF SOMERSET. 

EDMUND BEAUFORT, Marquess of Dorset, was created Duke of Somerset 
31st March, 1448 (26 Hen. VI.), and lost his life in the first battle of St. 
Alban's in 1455. I conceive this letter to have been written to him between 
the years 1450 and 1454, when he occupied the post of chief minister. 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT trusty and right entierly beloved Cousyn. we grete you 
well ; desyring and praying you that, in suche things as oure dere 
and welb. servant, Marguerite Stanlowe, oon of oure gentilwomen, 
shall have for to do towards you, ye will atte reverence of us have 
hir towards you especially recommended, helping, furthering, and 
supporting hir, with all th'ease, faver, and tendernesse that ye goodly 
may by right and trouth, demening [i.e. managing for] hir in such 
wise, that she may have cause to reporte unto us of yo r good dis- 
posicion towards hir at this tyme, to th'accomplissement of our en- 
tencion in this partie. As we truste, etc. 

To the Due of Somerset. 



LXXXIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO HER WARDROBER. 

THIS letter being addressed to the Wardrober, and dated the 10th Decem- 
ber, 1449, was probably intended for Richard Wellden, who served the Queen 
in her great wardrobe, under Robert Rolleston, clerk, for eighteen years and 
more, and who on this account is exempted from the operation of an Act of 
Resumption of 28 Hen. VI. (1450). a 

a Rot. Parl. v. 188. 



116 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

BY THE QUENE. 

WARDEROBER. We wol and charge yow, that, unto oure welbe- 
loved Squier Lewis ap Med, ye do deliver iii yeards of fine russet cloth, 
and ii yeards ditto of blacke saten fugury (figured ?J, to be taken of 
oure ycft. And this bill, signed with oure hand, the x day of De- 
cembre the yere of my lord's reigne xxvii, shalbe youre warrant. 



LXXXIV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF 
CANTERBURY. 

FROM the contents of this letter it would seem to have been addressed to the 
Archbishop of Canterbury in his capacity of Lord Chancellor; but, as v there 
were three Archbishops of Canterbury (John Stafford, John Kempe, and Tho- 
mas Bourchier) succeeding each other as Lords Chancellors between the years 
1443 and 1455, it is impossible to say to which of them the supplication of 
William Dorset was sent. I have found at the Record Office the name of 
"William Dorset" in a bill addressed to Lord Chancellor Stafford; but there 
is nothing to shew that he was the " William Dorset " named in this letter. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT worshipfull fader in God, etc. And for asmoch; as oon 
William Dorset hath presented unto us a supplication, complaynyng 
him of divers injuries and disheritances doon unto hym and his 
wyf, as in the same supplication closed withinne thise ye may see 
more pleynly ; We desire and pray yow, that, the said supplication by 
yow seen, ye will pourvey therupon such remedie, as fer as in yow is, 
that the seid William may have al that to him rightfully belong 
in that mater; havyng him towards yow the more tenderly recom- 
mended atte reverence of us and by contemplacion of this oure 
praier; as o r singler trust in yow. In which, etc. 

To tharchbisshop of Cant. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 117 

LXXXV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE DUCHESS OF SOMERSET. 

EDMUND BEAUFORT, Duke of Somerset, grandson of John of Gaunt, was 
first-cousin of King Henry V., and first-cousin once removed of King Henry 
VI. His wife was Alianore, one of the daughters and coheirs of Richard Beau- 
champ, Earl of Warwick.* The duke was the last English governor of Nor- 
mandy, and, in that capacity, surrendered to the French, in 1450, Cherbourg, 
the last place held by the English in that country. In the same year occurred 
the murder of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, to whose power in the 
ministry and credit with the Queen the Duke of Somerset succeeded.!* He was 
successful in quelling Jack Cade's insurrection, and retained his post of chief 
minister until 1454, when Richard Duke of York (who was beginning to aim 
at the Crown), having, in consequence of the King's illness, been appointed 
Lieutenant of the kingdom, he was sent to the Tower. Soon, however, on the 
King's partial restoration to health, he regained his liberty, and his former 
power. He terminated his career at the first battle of St. Alban's on the 22nd 
May, 1455. c He was buried in the abbey . d This letter was probably written 
between the years 1450 and 1454, when Somerset was at the head of affairs. 
That such a letter, requesting the " mediation " of the wife of the minister 
with her husband, that effect might be given to a royal grant, should have 
been deemed requisite or fitting, may perhaps be taken as some proof (if any 
were wanting) of the truth of the remark of one of our chroniclers that the 
King was " a ruler not ruling." 6 I can find nothing further relating to Robert 
Edumnde, nor have I met with the Letters Patent granting to him the three 
hundred and threescore franks. f Calculating according to the rule laid down 
by Mr. Hallam, the grant to Robert Edmund would be worth in our money as 
much as 230Z.& 



a Dugd. Bar. ii. 124. b Hume, vol. in. pp. 177, 188; and see p. 114, ante. 

c Hume, vol. iii. p. 200. d Weever's.Fun. Mon. p. 573. 

Hall, (26 Hen. VI.) 

f The frank, a very ancient coin in France, was struck by Henry VI. as King of that 
country. Diet, des Origines (Franc), p. 601. See also Ruding's Annals of the Coinage, 
vol. ii. p. 399, and vol. iii. supplement, part ii. plate xiii. 15; Leblanc, Traite Historique 
des Monnoycs de France, pp. 257, 298. 8 Middle Ages, chap. ix. part ii. 



118 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT dere and right entierly welbeloved Cousine, we grete 
you hertely well. And for asmoche as it hath liked unto my 
lord's highnesse to graunte unto our wel [beloved] squier, Eobert 
Edmunde, the some of iii c . iii xx . franks, as in my said lord's lettres 
patents it apperith more plainly; wherupon my lord writith, at this 
tyme, unto oure cousyn yo r husband, for the special recommendacion 
of oure said squier in this behalf; we desire and hertly pray yow, 
that, atte reverence of us, ye will, by yo r good and tendre mediacion, 
shew herin such diligence to th'accomplissement of my lord's en- 
tencion, that oure said squier may rejoisse [enjoy] my said lord's 
graunt, and the rather by contemplacion of this oure prayer ; as oure 
full trust is in yow. Wherein ye shull mowe desire [deserve] of us 
right especial thanke, unto oure greet plesaunce, at this tyme. 
Yeven, etc. at Windesore, etc. 

To oure Cousine the Duchesse of Somerset. 



LXXXVI. 

A LETTER TO THE DUKE OF SOMERSET. 

EDMUND BEAUFORT Duke of Somerset having been chief minister from 
1450 to 1454, it is probable that this letter was written to him between those 
years, John Viscount Beaumont, the first nobleman who bore the title of 
Viscount in England,* and E.G., a firm Lancastrian, was slain at the battle 
of Northampton, 10 July, 1459 (38 Hen. VI.) b He was a legatee under the 
will of Walter Lord Hungerford, dated 1 July, 1449, of "a cup of silver with a 
cover bordered with gold, and on it a knob of gold ; with which cup the most 
noble Prince John Duke of Lancaster was often served, and in which he did 
use to drink so long as he lived." Lord Hungerford speaks of Lord Beau- 
mont as lineally descended from the Dukes of Lancaster. Sir H. Nicolas 
shews that -he was descended from the Earls of Lancaster. d 

Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 54. b Ibid. 

c Test. Vet. 259. <> Ibid. n. 2. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF AN.TOU. 1 19 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin, we grete you 
full hertly and often tymes well. And for asmoch as my lord 
writeth his especiall lettres unto you, desiryng affectuously, for cer- 
tein consideracions comprised in the same, our cousyn the Viscont 
Beaumont, to be recompensed and seen unto after his estate, and 
after the quantite of lyvelod that he hath lefte in the counte of 
Manor [Maine ?] , like as in the said lettres it more pleynly appereth. 
We therfore havyng respecte both unto my said lord's writyng, and 
also unto the great chierte that he hath our said cousin in, pray you, as 
hertly as we can, that, as well at the reverence of my lord as at 
contemplacion of us and this oure writyng, ye will ordeine and see unto 
the recompensacion of the same oure cousyn, after my lord's desire 
and entent, and soo we may have cause to thanke you. Yeven, etc. 

To the Due of Somerset. 



LXXXVII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE BISHOP OF NORWICH. 

THE Bishop of Norwich, to whom this letter was addressed, was Walter Le 
Hert, de Hart, Lyghard, or Lyhert or Lyghert, who is said to have been a 
Cornish man, and confessor to the Queen. a He presided over the diocese of 
Norwich from 1446 to 1472. b Edmond Clere, the Queen's squire, was son of 
John Clere of Ormesby in the county of Norfolk. He is often mentioned in 
the Paston Letters, and wrote one of the most interesting letters in that very 
curious collection. 

BY THE QUENE. 

KEVEREND fader, etc. And for as moche as our squier, Ed- 
mond Clere, desireth to have his cousin T. S. sergeant of Norwich, 
by the grant of the Mair, Aldermen, and Commonaltie of the Cite 
of Norwich ; We, havyng consideracion thei wol be gretly reuled 

a Gasc. Theol. Diet. b Fasti Eccl. Angl. ii. 467. c Paston Letters, vol. i. p. 81. 



120 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

and demened by you in this partie, as it is said, pray you right 
liertly that, in accomplissernent of our said squier's cntencion, in this 
mater, yc will have the said T. towards yo r good lordship especially 
recommended, and do such dilligence, by all goodly meenes, that 
the said citizens wol, at yo r request, in contemplacion of o r letters at 
this tyme, admitte the seid T. unto th'occupacion abovesaid. As 
our singler, etc. Yeven, etc. 
To the Bisshop of Norwiche. 



LXXXVIII. 

FROM THE QUEEN TO MASTER W[ILLIAM] S[CROOP]. 

THIS and the following letter are placed together as referring to the" same 
matter ; in the MS. they are separated. Gretham or Greatham Hospital is a 
very ancient foundation still existing in the county of Durham. William 
Scroop or Le Scroop was Master from 1451 to 1463, a and also Archdeacon of 
Durham. 6 Robert Neville, fourth son of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmer- 
land, by Joan of Lancaster, a daughter of John of Gaunt by Katharine Swin- 
ford, was Bishop of Durham from 1437 to 1457. c He was first-cousin once 
removed to King Henry VI. and is said to have been of a peaceful and bene- 
volent disposition, a lover of religious peace and retirement. The King was 
his guest, for several days, in 1448; and seems to have had great satisfaction in 
his visit. I presume the letters to have been written soon after 1451. Of 
Richard Chester I find nothing connecting him with the diocese of Durham. 
Richard Chester is described by Bishop Beckington as S.T.P., and the King's 
"faithful and beloved chaplain." In 1440(19 Hen. VI.) he seems to have 
been sent on a mission to Pope Eugenius IV. d In 1448 he was prebendary of 
Fiona Parva in the diocese of Hereford ; and he seems to have exchanged that 
dignity with Elias Holcote or Holcoat, prebendary of Twyford in the diocese 
of London. 6 I have found nothing further with regard to him. These letters 

* Hutchinson's Durham, vol. iii. p. 96. b Fasti Eccl. Angl. vol. iii. p. 304. 

c Surtees, vol. i. Ivii. 

d Beckington's Letters, Bibl. Lamb. MS. fo. 49, 78, and 79. 

e Fasti Eccl. Angl. vol. i. p 522/ 



* LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 121 

seem to imply a claim on the part of the Crown to appoint a Master of the hos- 
pital. The list of the Masters published by Surtees and Hutchinson shows 
that the royal claim failed, but a notion has prevailed that at one time the 
Crown had the right." 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. For as mocli as we be en formed that, ayeinst all 
law, trouth, and good conscience, ye occupie the hospital of 
Gretham, longyng of right unto my lord's clerc, and our maister 
R. C.; we wol and exhorte yow that, if it so be, that thanne ye doo 
make due restitucion of the seid hospital, with his goodes, unto o r 
seid clerc, or ellcs to ccrtiffie, etc. 

To Maister W. S. 



LXXXIX. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE BISHOP OF DURHAM. 

BY THE QUENE. 

WORSHIPFULL FADER, etc. And we suppose verreily that it is 
clerely in yo r remembrance how that now late we wrote unto yow 
for the recommendacion of my lord's clerke andtmres Maister R. 
Chestre unto the restitucion of thospital of Gretham, and his goods, 
longyng unto hym there of right, as it is said. Wherin as yet ye 
have not accomplissed oure entencion, to our greet merveil. Wherfore 
we praye yow eftesones that ye suffre oure said clerke to rejoyse 
[re-enjoy] his said hospital, with the seid goods, as right, law and 
good conscience requiren; or elles to certifie us the cause in 
writing, whie ye wil not, nor ought not, so to do of right. As ye 
desire to stande in the favor of oure good grace in tyrne commynge. 
Yeven at W. the etc. 

To the Bisshop of Duresme. 

* Hutchinson, vol. iii. p. 303. 
CAMD. SOC. R 



J22 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

xc. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE LORD BOURCHIER. 

HUMPHREY DE BOHUN, Earl of Hereford, Essex, and Northampton died the 
17th of January 1372, leaving as his co-heirs two daughters, Elianor married 
to Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, sixth son of Edward III. (who 
was inveigled from Fleshy by Richard II., and murdered at Calais), and Mary 
married to Henry Earl of Derby, afterwards Duke of Lancaster and King 
Henry IV." Henry IV. was nephew to the Duke of Gloucester, and thus 
nephew and uncle were brothers-in-law. Anne Plantagenet, eldest daughter of 
Elianor Duchess of Gloucester, married first Edmund de Stafford, Earl of 
Stafford, who died in 1403, and secondly Sir William Bourchier. Being her 
mother's only child, she inherited an undivided moiety of the Bohun estates. 
The other moiety was vested in King Henry V. as representing his mother, 
Mary de Bohun, Countess of Derby. Sir W 7 illiam Bourchier was made Go- 
vernor of Dieppe, and (10th June 1419) Earl of Eu in Normandy, by King 
Henry V. He died 1420-1, leaving three sons, of whom the eldest was 
Henry. This Henry Earl of Eu was employed in France during the reign of 
Henry VI., and, from 5th July 1435 (13 Hen. VI.) to 13th January 1445 
(23 Hen. VI.), (but never afterwards) was summoned by that title to Parlia- 
ment. From the 14th December 1446 (25 Hen. VJ.) to 23rd May 1461 
(1 Edw. IV.) he was summoned as Henry Viscount Bourgchier. a A partition 
of the Bohun inheritance took place in 1421 between Henry V. and Anne Plan- 
tagenet, then Lady Bourchier, and in this partition Walden fell to the King, b 
As Queen Margaret was not married until April 1445, this letter cannot have 
been written earlier than that year. On the 29 May 1454 (33 Hen. VI.), 
Lord Bourchier was made Lord Treasurer ; but, having married Isabella, sister 
of Richard Duke of York, aunt to King Edward IV., he afterwards sided 
with the Yorkist party, and was present, with the Earls of March and Warwick, 
at the battle of Northampton in July 1460 (28 Hen. VI.). He was created 
Earl of Essex by King Edward IV. on the 18th March 1461 (1 Edw. IV.), 
and on the 22 April 1471 (11 Edw. IV.) was again, constituted Lord Trea- 
surer. He died 4 April 1483 (23 Edw. IV.). 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and welbeloved Cousyn, We grete yow well, and, 
sith it is soo that certein matiers hangyng in debate, travers, and 

a Dugd. Bar. ii. 129, and Nicolas. b Morant, vol. ii. p. 547. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 123 

controversie betwix cure tenants of Walden and oon Nicholas 
Browne and John Chowne, be put in ordinance, award, and 
arbitrament of yow and of yo r counseil; We, desiryng a final 
conclusion thereof, to rcste and quiete of oure said tenants, pruye 
yow hertely that ye will, atte reverence of us, prefixe and set 
a day to mete with oure counseil, and ther to dispose yow 
t'abide and attende upon the determinacion of all the grevaunces 
compromitted in maner above reherced, havyng oure seid tenants 
towards you in suche favor and tendernesse recommended, for oure 
sake, that they inaye fyndc, in effecte, that ye be unto thcym goode 
lorde, to th'accomplissement of oure entencion in this mater; and 
the rather by conteraplacion of this oure prayer, as our full truste is 
in yow. In which, etc. at W. etc. 
To the Lord Bourgchier. 



XCI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE OFFICERS OF THE KING'S 
PORTS, RESPECTING ANTONY HEWET OF ROME. 

MY endeavours to learn something of Antony Hewet of Rome have been 
utterly fruitless. 

MARGARETE, etc. ut supra, and to other the officers of my lord's 
ports whom apperteyneth, greting, Know ye that we have yeven 
in commandement unto Antony Hewet of Rome for to bring unto 
us certein silver vessels, jewels, rings, and other things of pleasaunce, 
for yeres yifts, and other disports. Wherefore we praye yow that, 
sith the said goods bene oures and to oure use, ye will suffre the 
said Anthony to passe with the said goods, withoute takinge there- 
fore eny custume, and that without eny lating, empechement, or dis- 
turbance in eny wise ; as we truste yow, and as ye thinke to do us 
pleasir. Yeven, etc. 



124 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

XCII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ABBOT OF ST. OSY. 

THE Prior of Chich or St. Osyth's, to whom this letter was addressed, was 
John Deeping, who had been Prior of St. Botolph's, Colchester, and who was 
elected Prior of St. Osyth's in Essex the 4th of April 1434. He appears to 
have held his post until 1480, when he was succeeded by John Newton. a The 
monks were of the order of St. Augustine. There are still considerable re- 
mains of the conventual buildings. 1 * What connection Humfrey Hayford had 
with St. Osyth's does not appear. He was a very distinguished member of 
the ancient and honorable Company of Goldsmiths ; several times warden ; 
sheriff in 1467; and in 1477-8 Lord Mayor. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved in God, we grete you wele. And for 
asmoch as we be enformed that ye wrongfully vexe, trouble, and 
disease oure welbeloved servant and goldsmyth, Humfrey Hayford, 
by feined accions of trespas, ayeinst al right and good conscience, as 
it is said; We therfor desire and praye yow, and also exhorte and 
require you, that, serchinge yo r conscience after God and trouth, and 
calling unto yo r remembrance what dishonor it shulde sowne unto 
you that bene a member of chirche in doing the contrarye, will a 
atte reverence of us, demene you in suche wise, that no thing be 
attempted eyeinst oure said servant otherwise than feith, equite, and 
good conscience requiren in this behalf, so that he have no cause to 
compleyne unto us for lacke of right in yo r defaulte, as we trust yow. 
Yeven, etc. at Windesor the iii day of Feverer. 

To th'abbot of the monastre of Saint Osy. 



a Dugd. Monast. vi. 308. b Ibid. 309. 

c Records of the Goldsmiths' Company, passim; and Maitland, vol. ii. pp. 1195 and 1203. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 125 



XCIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO NICHOLAS STRAUNGE OF 
ISELDON (ISLINGTON), RESPECTING THE MARRIAGE OF HIS 
DAUGHTER KATHERINE. 

I regret to be unable to find anything relating to Nicholas Straunge, 
Katherine Straunge, or T. Bugdon. I cannot therefore assign any date to 
this curious letter. 

BY THE QUENE. 

W [ELBELOVED] , For asmoche as we have under stande, by cer- 
tein cure servants right negh attending about oure personne, how, 
albeit that T. Bugdon hath, nowe late, made a lawfull contracte 
with Katrine yo r doghter, and hertly desireth to do hir worship by 
wey of marriage, aswel for his deute and lawful contract as for the 
great zeal, love, and affeccion that he hath unto hir personne, 
bifore all creatures levyng, as it is said; yet ye, of wilfulnesse and by 
sinistre excitacion, not havyng regarde unto the said contract, wol 
not applie you, ne condescende, unto the said mariage, ne yeve 
therto yo r benevolence ne assent, but rather induce yo r said doghter 
to the contrary e, ayeinst God, the chirche, and al trouth, (as unto 
us is reported,) to oure greet merveil. We therfore desire and 
praye yow, and also on God's behalf exhorte and require you, if it so 
be, that thanne ye incline you to th'accomplissement of the mariage 
without seeking eny formal delay or empediement, otherwise thanne 
right lawe and good conscience asken and requiren in this partie ; 
demenyng herin in such goodly wise that the said T. may, atte 
reverence of us, be unto you especially recommended, and fare the 
better, by contemplacion of this oure prayer. As we trust yow, etc. 
Yeven, etc. at P. the iii. day of May. 

To Nich. Straunge of Iseldon. 



126 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 



XCIV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO EDMOND PYRCAN, SQUIRE. 

THE manor of Hertingfordbury, in the county of Herts, formed part of the 
Queen's dower.* I can discover nothing relating to either Edmund Pyrcan or 
William Southwode, the Queen's bailiff. 

By THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, We late yow wite, that we be en formed 
that ye wrongffully vexe, trouble, and menace to bette and sle Wil- 
liam Southwode, oure bailyffof oure lordeship of Hertingfordbury; so 
that he dar not, for drede of dethe, abide in oure saide lordship, and 
attende upon oure service there, as his dewte is; unto greet hindring 
and derogacion, as wel of oure said bailiff, as of oure right and dewte 
there, as it is said. Wherof we merveil gretly. Wherfore we wol, ex- 
horte, and require yow, that ye suffre oure said bailiff to leve at home 
in rest and peas ; without vexing, diseasing, or attempting any thing 
ayeinst our said bailiff, or the lest [least] of oure tenants there, 
otherwise thanne right, trouth, and good conscience asken and 
requiren. And in case ye finde yow agreved ayeinst any of oure 
seid tenants there, yf ye will compleyne yow unto us, or oure 
counceil, ye shul be remedied, as the case justly requireth. And 
that ye fail not herof, in no wise, as ye desire to stande in the 
favor of oure good grace, and t'eschewe oure displeasir, at yo r peril. 
Yeven, etc. at oure manoir of Plessy the first day of Marche. 

To Edmond Pyrcan, squier. 



XCY. 

A LETTER OF REPROOF FROM THE QUEEN TO SIR JOHN 
FORESTER, KNIGHT. 

THE manor of Hertingfordbury, mentioned in the last letter, had devolved 
to the Crown under Edward the Third, by whom it was conveyed to John of 



Kot. Parl. v. 118. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 127 

Gaunt. It has ever since continued in the Duchy of Lancaster (Chauncy, p. 
272). I can find no trace of any Sir John Forester as connected with this 
manor, although the name is by no means unknown in the county of Herts. 

BY THE QUENE, 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, We late now wite, that, this same day, 
ther have be bifore us a greete multitude, both of men and women, 
our tenants of oure lordship of Hertingfordbury, compleyning them 
that ye have, and yet be, dayly, about to destroie and undo them 
for ever; in so ferth forth that ye have do many of them to be wrong- 
fully endited, nowe late, of felonye, before the crowner, by yo r owne 
familier servantes and adherents, not knowyng the trouth of the 
mater; and many of theym ye do kepe in prisonne, and the reme- 
nant of oure tenants dar not abide in theire houses or fer of deth 
and other injuries, that ye dayly do them; and al by colour of a 
ferine that ye have there of oures, that, as it is said, for yo r owne 
singler lucre, ye wrongfully engrose towards you al oure tenants 
lyvelode there; not ownly unto grete hindering and undowyng of 
oure said tenants, but also unto grete derogacion and prejudice of 
us, and of oure said lordship; wherof we mervel greetly; and, in 
especial, that ye that be jugge [judge] wold take so parceably 
[peaceably] the wrongfull destruccion of oure said tenants. Wher- 
fore we wol, and expressly exhorte and require yow, that ye leve 
yo r said labors and besinesse, in especial ayeinst us and oure said 
tenants, until tyme that ye have communed and declared you in 
this mater before us; and that, the meene while, ye do sufFre oure 
tenants that be in prisonne to be mainprissed, under sufficient 
seurtie; and the remenant of oure tenants, giltlesse, that be fled, for 
fere of yo r destruccion, may come home unto oure said lordship. 
And if eny of oure tenants have offended ayeinst the lawe, oure 
entent is that, the trouth knowen, he shalbe peynfully punysshed, 
and chastised, as the cas requireth. And howe ye thinke to be 
disposed therin ye will aserteine us, by the bringer of thise, wherto 
we shall truste ; as ye desire to stande in the tendre and faverable 



128 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

remembrance of cure grace therfor, in tymc comyng. Yeven, etc. 
at Wynds. the etc. 

To John Forester, Knyght. 



XCVI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE DEPUTY OF THE KEEPER 
OF THE PRIVY SEAL. 

THE Secondary or Clerk of the Pipe or Great Roll of the Exchequer, is the 
officer whose duty it is to enter all accounts and debts due to the Sovereign 
delivered and drawn out of the Remembrancer's office on the Great Roll. 
(Cowell.) 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty, etc. And for as rnoch as we be enformed that my 
most doubted lord hath, nowe late, granted unto W. the office of 
Secundarye of the Pipis in th'escheger, after the continue and 
pourport of his lettres, of suffisant warant, to yowe directed in this 
partie; we, therfor, desire and pray that, in accomplissement of my 
said lord's grant in this partie, ye wil, at reverence of us, have the 
seid W. towards you especially recommended; shewing hym, in the 
sealing his lettres of privie seal, th'exploit and good expedicion, 
with al the favor and tendernesse, that ye goodly may, and the 
rather by contemplacion of this cure prayer. So that the seid W. 
may fare the better, and perceive in effect thise oure lettres unto 
hym fructuouses and vailable, as we trust yow. In which ye shul 
mowe desserve of us right especial thanke, unto our greet plesaunce, 
in tyme comyng. At or M. of P. the iii day of M. 

To M. T., depute unto the worship full, etc. Keper of the Prive 
Seal. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 129 



XCVII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ABBOT AND CONVENT OF 

RAMSEY. 

THE patronage of Barton-in-the-Clay in Bedfordshire was formerly in the 
Benedictine Abbey of Kamsey in Huntingdonshire. The Abbot, to whom this 
letter was addressed was unquestionably John Stowe, who held his office from 
1436 to 1468. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved in God, We, etc. And for as moche as 
Maist. Ric. Here, parson of Barton in the cley, in the diocese of 
Lincoln, is in will to resigne his said benefice, to th'entent that o r 
welbeloved Sir David Robert shuld have the said benefice, of your 
yefte ; we desire, therfore, and praye you that, the said resignation 
so don, ye will, at reverence of us, have the said Sir David to the 
said chirch especially recommended, and grante hym therof yo r 
lettres of protection, under youre covent seall, in deu forme; and 
the rather by contemplacion of this our prayer, as we trust, etc. 
In which thyng, etc. 

To th'abbot and covent of Ramesey. 



XCVIII. 

A LETTER FROM (MOST PROBABLY) THE KING TO THE PRIOR 
OF SAINT MARY OVERIES. 

So far as I have had any means of judging, I should say that none of the royal 
letters of recommendation were successful. The present letter forms no ex- 
ception to the rule. Robert Stillington, for whose " great cunning, virtues, and 
priestly demeaning," the writer of this letter vouches, does not appear on the list 

CAMD. SOC. S 



130 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

of the rectors of St. Mildred in Bread Street.* I incline to think that cunning 
(in the modern sense) was a marked characteristic of this churchman. He was 
Fellow of All Souls, Chancellor of Wells, Archdeacon of Taunton, Prebendary 
of York under the Lancastrian government, and Dean of the King's Chapel, 
Dean of the College of St. Martin's-le-Grand, Archdeacon of Berks, Archdea- 
con of Colchester, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and finally Lord Chancellor 
under the Yorkists. He held the latter office from 1468 to 1473. b He was in 
high favour with Edward the Fourth, temporized with Richard the Third, but 
was accused of treason by Henry the Seventh, for lending, as has been supposed, 
some assistance to Lambert Simnel. Either on this account, or on account of 
the strong part he had taken against the King before his accession, he with- 
drew for safety to Oxford. The Chancellor of the University, however, delivered 
him up, and he was imprisoned at Windsor, where he died, in 1491.* He was 
buried in the cloisters at Wells. The patronage of the church of St. Mildred 
(which was burnt in the great fire, but rebuilt,) was formerly in the convent of 
St. Mary Overies, Southwark. The name of the prior to whom this letter was 
addressed was probably Henry Werkworth, who was elected in 1414, and died 
in 1452.< 

T [RUSTY], &c. we grete yow well, And for asmoch as we be 
enformed that the paroch chirch of Saint Mildredes in Breed- 
strete, within your citee of London, beying of yo r patronage, is like 
to voide, withinne shorte tyme, by decesse of hym that is now 
possessor of the same ; we therfore, consideryng the grete cunyng, 
vertues, and preestly demenyng of o r welbeloved M. K. Stillyngton, 
desire and hertly praye you, that, at the reverence of us, and con- 
templacion of this our especial writyng, ye wol have hym unto the 
said chirch, whannsoever hit shall nexte voide, before all other 
especially recommended, yevyng feyth and credence unto our W. N., 
brynger of these, in suche thing as he shall sey.e unto you touchyng 
the same mater. Wherinne ye shall do us right good pleasure, etc. 

To the Prior of Saint Mary Ovories. 

Newc. Rep. vol. i. p. 499. 

b From this period must be deducted the short restoration of Henry VI. (1470-1). 
Hardy's Catalogue, 52, 53. 

c Fasti E. A. vol. i. p. 141. d Dugd. Monast. vi. 169. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 131 

XCIX. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO JOHN GODWYN. 

I HAVE been unable to discover anything respecting John Godwyn. I find 
that there was a Hugh Godwyn one of the Yeoinen of the Crown in 1450. a 
From the contents of the letter, John Godwyn appears to have held much the 
same office as one John Spryngwell, whose duties were denned, in 1446, by the 
following curious instrument : " De providendo equos pro Regina. Rex dilecto 
sibi Johanni Spryngwell de Attelbrugge (Attleborough) in coniitatu Norffol- 
cise, salutem. Scias quod constituimus et ordinavimus te ad coursers, palefre- 
dos, somerhorses, hakeneys, et alios equos, pro equitatione et alio usu caris- 
simse consortis nostrae Reginae Anglise necessaries et opportunos, ubicunque 
inveniri poterunt, tarn infra libertates quam extra, (Feodo Ecclesise dumtaxat 
excepto,) pro denariis nostris in hac parte prompte et rationabiliter solvendis 
capiendum et providendum, juxta formam ordinationum et statutorum in hac 
parte editorum, etc. In cujus, etc. quamdiu nobis placuerit duraturas. Teste 
Rege apud Westm. 15 die Martii. Per ipsum Regem" (Rymer, xi. 125). 

BY THE QUENE. 

WELBELOVED, for as moche as we understand that there is a 
mare in that (sic) countrey that [is] right covenable, and according 
to o r en tent and purpose; wherof our secretary communed with 
you, in that behalf; We wol and desire you that ye, aggreing with 
the owner of the said mare, as reason wol, ye do sende or brynge 
hir, with hir colt, unto us, in all goodly haste ; and that ye faile not, 
etc. 

To John Godwyn. 



c. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR, 

THE office of Protonotary or Prothonotary of the Court of Chancery was a 
very ancient office, as indeed this letter attests, and appears to have been for- 

Rot. Parl. v. 192b. 



132 LETTEKS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

merly held by one of the Masters. The duties of the office are enumerated at 
p. 29 of the Report of the Commissioners for examining into the duties and 
salaries of the officers of the Court of Chancery, printed by order of the House 
of Commons, 6th June, 1816. The Commissioners further state, that the then 
holder of the office "had been appointed in 1792, but that he had never been 
Called upon to execute any of the duties of his post, or any other duties what- 
ever." They then say that he has certain fees and emoluments, to which he is 
still entitled " on performing the duties to which they are attached/' After 
so damaging a report, it seems strange that the office should not have been 
abolished until 1833. I am not aware of any records in the Court of Chancery 
which would enable me to say who " Maister J.C., late clerke and familiar ser- 
vant of oures," was; and I can only conjecture that the Chancellor may have 
been either Archbishop Stafford or Archbishop Kempe. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT reverend ffader in God, etc., Desiryng and prayipg you 
hertly, that, albeit that we suppose, verreilly, that ye be good and 
special lorde unto o r welbeloved Maister J, C., late clerke and 
familiar servant of oures, ye will nevertheles, the rather atte re- 
verence of us, and for our sake, have hym towards the faver of yo r 
good lordship especially recommended ; shewing hym th'exploit and 
expedicion of his pursuit towards you for th'office of protonotarie of 
the chauncellerie, that my lord hath granted hym, as in my lordes 
lettres of warrant it appereth more at large; so that he may fynde, 
in effecte, th'accomplissement of my lord's entencion and oures in 
this behalf, as we truste yow. In which thyng ye shall mowe do 
unto us right grete plesaunce. Yeven, etc. atte Wyndesor the xxx 
day of M. 

To the Chaunc. of Englond. 



CI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO SIR JOHN BOURCHIER, KNIGHT. 

SIR JOHN BOURCHIER, K.G., fourth son to the Earl of Ewe, married Mar- 
gery daughter and heir of Richard Lord Berners, and was summoned to Par- 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 133 

liament 33 Hen. VI. (1455) by that title. He was at the first battle of St. 
Alban's in 1455, on the Lancastrian side; but afterwards took part with the 
Yorkists, and was Constable of Windsor Castle under Edward IV. He died 
16th May, 1474, and is buried at Chertsey. This letter was written between 
1445 and 1455. I have found nothing relating to Thomas Downe or Thomas 
Hery, " Groom of our Chamber." 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and welbeloved, we grete you well. Lating you 
wit, that we wrote, now late, unto oon Thomas Downe, exciting 
hym to delyver unto o r welbeloved servant Thomas Hery, grome 
of our chamber, certein evidences, longyng unto hym of right; 
which our request he is redy to accomplisse and perforate, so that 
ye will therto assente, as it is said. And it is so, as we be en- 
formed, that, at our instance and prayer, by our lettres now late 
adressed unto you in this partie, ye be right well disposed and 
binevolent unto o r said servant in this mater. Wherof we thanke 
you right hertly; and sith it is so that th'expedicion herof resteth 
oonly in yo r trew acquitail, we desire and hertly praye you, that, 
on the faver, tendernesse, and frendship thatt ye have be gonne for 
our sake to shewe to our seid servant, ye will continue forthe to the 
hasty conclusion therof, in such wise, that, without delaye for eny 
sinistre suggestion, he may have delyverance of his said evidences, 
and fele in effecte brief exploit and accomplissement of our request, 
at reverence of us, and by contemplacion of this our prayer; as our 
singler trust is in you. In which thinge ye shull not oonly deserve 
right especial thanke, to our greet pleasure, but also cause us to have 
you, the rather, in tendre remembrance of our grace, therfor, in 
tyme comyng, etc. 

To our knyght Sir John Bourgchier. 



134 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

Oil. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE PARK- KEEPER OF FLESHY. 

Fleshy in Essex, " castell de Placeto," formerly, and for centuries, the abode 
of the Lords High Constables of England, is a village about eight miles N.W. 
of Chelmsford, now only remarkable for the vestiges of its ancient castle. 
Many were the vicissitudes undergone by its princely owners f but the most 
striking event recorded in its annals is the treacherous visit of Richard the 
Second to his uncle, Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, the sixth son 
of Edward the Third, which resulted in the Duke's violent death at Calais. 
This, one of the last and worst acts of King Richard's reign, has been most 
graphically recorded by Froissart. The arrest and murder took place in 1397 ; 
the treacherous King was deposed, and died, in 1399. In the reign of Henry 
the Fifth, the castle, manor, and park of Pleshy became vested . in the 
Crown, by partition of the estates of Humfrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, 
Essex, and Northampton, between the King and a grand- daughter of the Earl, 
and has ever since been parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster. (See Gough's 
History of Pleshy.) 

The description given by Shakespeare of Pleshy (Richard II. Act 1, Sc. 3) 
may have been applicable in his own day, but could not have been so at the 
time of which he wrote. Pleshy was certainly inhabited for half a century 
later. Many of Queen Margaret's letters are dated from her manor of Pleshy, 
and even now the name of " The Queen's Garden " attaches to a space, on 
which are some fine trees, lying between the rampart, now called "the Mounds,** 
and the church. Pleshy is well worth a visit. 

BY THE QUENE. 

WELLBELOYYD, we wol and charge you, that, unto our well 
belovyd servand Bob 1 Penall, or unto the brynger of these in his 
name, ye do delyver a bucke to be taken within oure fforest, or 
grete parke, of Plashe of our gefte ; any comandment yeven to yow 
notwithstanding: and these our lettres shall be unto yow therein 
sufficiant warant. Yeven und r oure signet, at Chestre, the xvi. day 
of August, the year of my lordes reign xxxiiij to [1456]. 

To oure welbelovyd the keper of oure parke of Plashe, 
or elles to his deputee there. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 135 



GUI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO MASTER GILBERT KYMER, 
CHANCELLOR OF OXFORD AND DEAN OF WYMBORNE MINSTER. 

GILBERT KYMER was a person of considerable note in his day. He was edu- 
cated at Durham (now University) College. He took the degrees of LL.B., 
A.M. and Ph. Mag. and M.D. a He served the office of Proctor in 1412 and 
1413. b In 1424 we find him Physician to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 
in 1427 Dean of Wymbourne Minster, and Treasurer of Salisbury. He was a 
Prebendary of Wells and Gillingham, Rector of Fordyngbrigge, of St. Mar- 
tin's Vintry, London (in 1434), and, in 1449, Dean of Salisbury.*: When the 
Chancellorship of Oxford was an annual or biennial office, he was eleven times 
chosen to fill that post, viz. in 1431, 1432, 1433, and from 1446 to 1453, both 
years inclusive.* 1 It was during the period last referred to that he received 
the Queen's letter. It could not have been earlier, as Margaret was not 
Queen until 1444-5. Of the names of the clergy of Wimbourne Minster, at 
this period, too few have been preserved to enable nie to say what may have 
been the effect of this letter. 6 Kymer inscribed to Duke Humphrey, in 1424, a 
curious medical treatise, intituled "Diaetarium de Sanitatis Custodia." f He 
appears to have died the 16th May, 1463, and was buried in Salisbury Cathe- 
dral. In one of the windows of the south aisle, under the figure of a person in 
a gown was the following inscription : " In imaginem Doctoris Kymer, Medici, 
quondam Cancellarii Oxon, et postea Decani Sarum. 

O Sancti Medici, medico mihi ferte juvamen, 
Ut suimnus medicus mentis mihi det medicamen ; 
Quo, sine fine, salute poli post perfruar. Amen."s 

a Hist, and Antiq. Oxon. (Gutch), iv. App. 44. Diaetarium de Sanitatis Custodia, Bibl. 
Sloane, 84 f. b Ibid. (Gutch), iv. App. 40. 

Ibid. 51; and Newc. Rep. i. 422. 

d Ibid. 54 and 51 ; and Hutchins's Dorset, ii. 535 a. Hutchins, ii. 538 a. 

f Warton's Hist, of English Poetry, vol. ii. p. 266 (ed. 1840). Warton says Kymer was 
physician to the King, but this seems not to be warranted by authority. Hearne, in his 
Preface to the Lib. Nig. Scacc. xxxiii. mentions Kymer; and, at pp. 550 and 551, gives 
certain excerpta from the Digetarium, which are remarkably curious. Hearne quotes from 
a MS. formerly belonging to Sir Hans Sloane, which is now in the British Museum. 

Hutchins, ii. 535 a; and Hist, and Antiq. Oxon (Gutch) iv. Appendix 51. No trace 
of this inscription is now to be seen. 



136 LETTERS OF MARGARET OP ANJOU. 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT trusty and welbeloved, etc., lating you witt, that we have 
certein right good and notable clerks, of grete fame and vertueux 
disposicion, attending in o r service, as yet by us unpromoted, and 
destitute of benefices. We, havyng knowelech that there is like, in 
shorte tyme, to voide a prebende in the ministre [minster] of 
Wymborne, longyng unto yo r yefte and collocacion, as patron 
therof, as it is said, desire, and hertly praye you, that ye wil grante 
us the nexte prebende that first shall voide there, for to avaunce 
therwith oon of o r said clerks. Wherinne trusteth verreilly ye 
shul not mowe oonly pourvei right well for the wele and worship 
of yo r said prebende, to God's pleasance; but also cause us to have 
you in tendre remembrance of o r good grace therfore, in tyme 
corny ng. And how ye thinke to please us in this mater, ye will 
acerteine us by our well [beloved] the bringer of thise, etc. 

To Maistr. Gilbert Kymer, chan. 



civ. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO ALL SEARCHERS, CUSTUMERS, 
AND KEEPERS OF PORTS, &c. 

THE Queen's mother mentioned in this letter was Isabella of Lorraine, wife 
of Rene d'Anjou, and titular Queen of Sicily. Isabella died 28th February 
1453, aged only forty- three. 

MARGARETE, by the grace of God, Quene of England and of 
France, and Lady of Ireland. To all serchers, custumers, kepers 
of ports, and to all other my lord's officers, sendeth greting. And, 
for as moche as oure welbeloved servant W. A., chappelleyn unto 
oure right entierly welbeioved moder the Quene of Sicile, pur- 
posing to passe over the see towards oure said moder; We desire 
and praye yow, that, in his seid passage, ye wilbe frendly, favorable, 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 137 

and wel willed, with al th'ease and favor that ye goodly maye, 
without eny empechement or interupcion to the contrary. As 
we truste yow. Yeven at P. the xx. day of Marche the yere of my 
lord's reigne xxv. 



cv. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE KEEPER OF SHENE PARK, 
OR HIS DEPUTY THERE. 

IT is said in Manning's History of Surrey (vol. i. p. 409) that Edward the 
Third built a palace at Shene (now Richmond). He died there 21st June, 
1377. Anne of Bohemia, the first Queen of Richard the Second, also died 
there, 7th June, 1394, and this event caused the King to take such a disgust 
to the place that he ordered the palace to be pulled down. It was rebuilt, 
however, by King Henry the Fifth. Manning says that he had found no trace 
of Henry the Sixth having been at Shene (ibid. 410). This letter, however, 
shows that both King Henry and Queen Margaret did resort thither, at any 
rate for hunting. I have no means of fixing the date of this letter. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, For as moche as we suppose that, in 
short tyme, we shall come right negh unto my lord's manoir of Shene, 
we desire and praye you hertly that ye will kepe ayeinst our re- 
sortinge thedre, for oure disporte and recreacion, two or iii. of the 
grettest bukkes in my lord's pare there, saving alweyes my lord's 
owne commandement there in his presence. As we trust, etc. 

To my lord's squier and ours, J. B., keper of Shene Parke, 
or his depute there. 



CAMD. soc. 



138 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOL-, 

l 



CVI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE BISHOP OF EXETER. 

THERE can be no doubt that this letter was addressed to Edmund Lacy, 
Bishop of Exeter, who held the see from 1421 to 1455; a but in what year 
written, or to whom it refers, I am wholly unable to say. 

BY THE QUENE. 

REVEREND fader in God, etc. And for as mocli as we desire 
th'encres, furtherance, and promocion of our welbeloved clerc, 
Maister N., as well for his vertues, merits, and clerkly governance, 
as for his famows and clene livyng, with the goodly disposicion that 
he is renomed of, praye you right hertly that, at reverence' of us, 
ye will have our said clerc to the nexte benefice, accordyng-to his 
degree, that first shall voide in your yeft and disposicion, especially 
recomendet. Wherinne we truste verreily ye shall mowe purvey 
right notably for the wele and worship of yo r said benefice, and 
Godd's pleasance. And doubt not but of us ye shall mowe deserve, 
in accomplissement of our entencion in this partie, good and es- 
pecial thanke, unto o r right great and singler pleasance. Yeven, 
etc. at N. the xxviii day of March. 
To the Bishop of Exeter. 



CVII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ABBOT AND CONVENT OF 
PETERBOROUGH, PATRONS OF THE LIVING OF COTTINGHAM. 

PETERBOROUGH, alias Medeshamsted, was a Benedictine abbey founded A.D. 
655. The abbots were admitted to Parliament under Henry the Third, and 

Fasti Ecc. Angl. vol. i. p. 374. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 139 

became mitred about A.D. 1400. The monastery was dissolved, and the church 
made a cathedral, by Henry the Eighth." Cottingham in Northamptonshire 
belonged to the monastery down to the Dissolution, but the name of Stanham 
does not occur amongst the incumbents during the 15th century . b It would 
appear, therefore, that the Queen's candidate did not succeed. The name of 
the abbot to whom the letter was addressed must have been Richard Ashton, 
who governed the monastery from 1438 to 1471.* 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. And for asmoche as we be enformed that the 
parissh church of Cotyngham is voide, or like withinne shorte tyme 
to voide, wherof ye be patrons as it is said; We, therfore, havyng 
consideracion aswell to the vertues, merits, and clerkly governance, 
as for the famows and clene lyvyng that oure welbeloved Sir Henry 
Stanham is renomed of, desire and hertely praye you that, atte re- 
verence of us, and contemplacion of this oure especiall writyng, ye 
woll have hym unto the said chirch whensoever it shall nexte voide, 
before all others especially recommended. Wherinne we truste ver- 
reilly ye shall mowe purvey right notably for the wele and worship 
of yo r said benefice, to Godd's plesaunce. And doubt not but of us ye 
shall mowe deserve, in accomplissement of our entencion in this 
partie, good and especiall thanke. 

To th'abbot and covent of Peterborgh. 



CVIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE MAYOR, BAILIFFS, AND 
COMMONS OF COVENTRY. 

COVENTRY was constituted a corporation in 1345 (18 Edward III). The first 
mayor was elected in 1348 ; e the first sheriffs, who had previously been called 
bailiffs, were appointed in 1450. f I have not seen any list of the recorders, 

* Tanner, Northamptonshire, xxvii. 

b Dugd. Mon. i. 364; Bridges's Northamptonshire, ii. 299. 

c Dugd. Mon. i. 361, 363. 

d Dugd. Warw. vol. i. p. 140. * Ibid. 147. ' Ibid. 142, 148. 



140 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

nor is the office of recorder mentioned by Dugdale. The Queen's coronation 
took place in 1445, and, from the bailiffs (not the sheriffs) being mentioned, 
this letter must have been written between that year and 1450. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete you wel. And for asmocli as 
we be enformed that the recordership of the cite of Coventre is 
like within shorte tyme to be voide, unto your disposicion and 
yefte ; We, desiring th'encres, firtherance, and preferring of oure wel- 
beloved T. Bate, aswel for his suffisiant of cunnyng and habilite 
thereto, as in especial for the humble instance and prayer of certein 
oure servants right negh attending aboute oure personne, pray yow 
right hertly that, atte reverence of us, sith it is oure first request of 
you after our coronacion, ye wil have the seid T. unto the said 
occupacion of recorder, when it shall nexte voide, bifore al other 
especially recommended, as our ful trust is in you. In which thinge 
ye shal not mowe oonly to do us greit pleasir, and deserve of us 
especial thanke, but also cause us to have you in remembrance of 
oure good grace therfore, in tyme comyng; and of yo r good dis- 
posicion to our pleasir in this matere ye will acerteine us by the 
bringer of thise. Yeven at P. the vi. day of Marche. 

To the Hair, Baillifs, and good Communes of the City of Coventre. 



CIX. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE STEWARD OF HER LORD- 
SHIPS OF HASELEY AND PERITON. 

THE manors of Great Haseley and Piryton, Periton, or Pirton, formed part 
of the lands granted to Queen Margaret on her marriage by way of dower. 
(Rot. Parl. v. 118a.) They lie between Wallingford and Thame, and are both 
in Oxfordshire. 

BY THE QUENE. 
TRUSTY and welbeloved. For asmoch as we be enformed that 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 141 

our manoir of Haseley and Periton neden of reparacion, we desire 
and praye you that such reparacion as shall be necessarie in that 
partie ye will do make by the wodesale of our beches in our wode 
of Kelingrigge and Holme wode, as it apperteinet unto you by vertue 
of yo T office of cure steward there; so that, in yo r defaulte herof, we 
take no hurt ne prejudice in tyme comrnyng. As we trust yow, etc. 
To D. B., Steward of oure lordship of Haseley and Periton. 



ex. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO ROBERT HIBERDON. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, for asmoch as we be enformed that ye 
have the crafte and cunnyng to make [train ?] blode hondes in the 
best wyse ; We desire and praye you that ye will, att reverence of us, 
take suche diligence and peyne upon you as for to make us two 
blode hondes to oure use, kepyng theyin sauffly and semly, under 
yo r drawing, reule, and demenyng, until tyme that we do send for 
theym ; and that ye faile not herof as ye desire to do us pleasir, and 
to stand in the faver of our good grace therfore in tyme comynge. 
At Windesore, the xvi day of August. 

To Kobert Hiberdon. 



CXI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE CUSTUMERS OF THE 
PORT OF BOSTON. 

CUSTUMERS for the town and port of Boston, Lincolnshire, were appointed 
as early as A.D. 1255;* but I have found very slight mention made of Boston 

History of Boston, by Pishey Thompson, 1820, p. 30. 



142 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

during the reign of Henry the Sixth. The grant to John Wenhain, the Queen's 
servant, and his wife, has not been preserved. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. And for asmoche as it hath pleased my lord's high- 
nesse to graunte unto John Wenham x marcs in mariage with his 
vvif, duryng tkeire lyves, to be taken yerely in the port of Boston 
by thands of the Custumers there for the tyme beyng, as in their 
lettres patents therof unto theym made it appereth more pleinly ; We, 
havyng consideracion unto the good service that our said servant 
hath don us, and yet daily therin continueth, desire and pray you 
that, at reverence of us, ye will have hym in his payment of the said 
annuitie, after the continue of my said lord's grant, especially recom- 
mended ; and for yo r tyme to shew hym therin th'ease and faver that 
ye goodly may, so that he may fjnde in effect thise, etc. unto hym 
effectuelx and vailable. As we truste yow. In whiche thinge, etc. 



CXII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO JOHN STANLEY, SQUIRE. 

THE manor of Edgarslei, Adgarseley, Agardsley, Aggresley, or Aggersley, 
on the edge of Need wood Forest, in the honour of Tutbury in Staffordshire, 
not far from the junction of the Dove with the Trent, formed part of the dower 
lands of Queen Margaret.* At this distance of time it would be vain to attempt 
to ascertain the cause of the Queen's displeasure against William Chatterley, 
yeoman of the crown ; b nor can I satisfactorily discover who John Stanley, squire, 
was, but I incline to think that he may have been a John Stanley, eldest son of_ 
Sir John Stanley, and who was groom of the bedchamber to the King in 1439.<= 
From a book to which I have been allowed access at the office of the Duchy of 
Lancaster, I gather that, somewhat before the middle of the 15th century, a 
John Stanley was connected with the honour of Tutbury, but in what capacity 
is very doubtful. I find also a John, otherwise called Jenkyn, Stanley, squire, 

a Rot. Parl. v. 118 b. b Rot. Parl, v. 183. c Seacome, pp. 64, 65. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 143 

Usher of the chamber, as to whom, in 1451, a petition was presented to the King 
by the Commons that he, amongst many others, might be removed from the royal 
presence.* It would seem, from a notice in the Archaologia, that, in 1452, some 
dire disaster befell William Chatterley, yeoman of the crown, but of what 
nature does not exactly appear. h This and the following letter were probably 
written between 1445 and 1452. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, We late you wit that we write at this 
tyme unto Chaterley charging hym that he come no more into eny 
of o r places and parkes in that countrey, nether to hunte ne serve 
no warrant in any wise. Wherfore we praye yow that ye delyver 
him yo r lettres in this partie, seing, as fer as in yow is, that he com 
into non of o r places that ye have governance of under us in that 
countrey. As we trust, etc. 

To John Stanley squier. 



CXIII. 

A LETTER TO W. CHATERLEY, YEOMAN OF THE CROWN. 

BY THE QUENE. 

WE merveile gretly that ye durst presume upon you, ayeinst our 
writing unto you in that mater, for to come into o r parke of Aggres- 
ley, there distroing our game, where we were disposed to have che- 
risshed you in yo r disport in our other places ; wherfore we expresly 
charge yow that from hennesforward ye com into noon of oure 
places and parkes, nether to hunte ne serve warrant, without yo T espe- 
cial commandement in that bihalf, at yo r peril. For thus it pleasith 
us to be doon. 

To W. Chaterley, Yoman of the Croune. 



Rot. Part. v. 216 a. b Archfeol. xxix. 326. 



144 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

CXIY. 

A LETTER TO SIR JOHN DENHAM, KNIGHT. 

THIS letter was written between 1445 and 1458. "Our knight, Sir John 
Denhain," was probably a Sir John Denhamof Hartland, in North Devon, who 
served in the wars in France in the eighth and fourteenth years of Henry VI., 
and died in the thirty-sixth year (1458) of the same King. a The family is 
amongst the most ancient in Devonshire. Sir John left a son, also a Sir John 
Denham or Dinham, who was 28 years old in 1458, and who, " out of love to the 
Earl of March," became a decided Yorkist. He was raised to the peerage by 
King Edward IV. Nevertheless he was in favour with King Henry VII., and 
was made Lord High Treasurer in the first year of his reign. Prince in his 
" Worthies of Devon " says : " This noble lord was advanced, further yet, to 
the high honour of a Knight of the Garter, and from that, we hope, to heaven, 
in the seventeenth year of King Henry the Seventh, aet. 72." b I have not 
found anything relating to John Asshe, to whom Sir John Denham owed four- 
teen guineas " for diverse vitailles." 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, &c. And forasmoche as we be enformed that there is 
by yow dew unto our welbeloved John Assh the some of xiiii 11 
xiiii 8 for diverse vitailles taken unto your use, as it is said ; We praye 
yow, considering the necessite that he is in, ye will, at reverence of 
us, have him to the payment of his seid dewte [duty = debt] especi- 
ally recommended, shewyng hym herin th'ease, favours, and tender- 
nesse that ye goodly maye, to th'accomplissement of our entencion 
in this partie, so that he may fele in effecte these oure letters, as we 
truste yow. In which things, etc. Yeven, etc. 

To our knyght Sir John Denham. 



Dugd. Bar. i. 514. Collinson's Somerset, vol. ii. p. 362. 
Prince, pp. 298, 299, 300. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 145 



cxv. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO CERTAIN OFFICERS AND TE- 
NANTS OF KICHARD PLANTAGENET, DUKE OF YORK. 

IN 1380 Richard the Second granted the bailiwick of the hundred of Roch- 
ford or Rachford in Essex to Alberic de Vere, tenth Earl of Oxford, for life, with 
remainder in fee to Edmund Langley, Duke of York, fifth son of Edward the 
Third, and the King's uncle. Edmund Langley succeeded in 1400, and, dying 
in 1402, the estate came to Edward Duke of York, his eldest son. On the death 
of Edward without issue at Agincourt (1415), where he commanded the van, Phi- 
lippa his widow, daughter of John Lord Mohun, held the third part in dower. 
The duchess married secondly Robert Fitz waiter, and at her death (1432) Roch- 
ford came to Duke Edward's nephew and heir, viz. Richard Plantagenet, eldest 
son to Richard Earl of Cambridge, who was second son to Edmund Langley, and 
who was beheaded at Southampton for treason in 1415. Richard Piantagenet 
was father to King Edward the Fourth. Thus Rochford, on the accession of 
that sovereign, was reunited to the Crown.* The manor of Clements was so called 
from a family of that name. b In 1440 Philip Clement enfeoffed in this estate 
Robert Dacre and John Breton, who granted the reversion after Philip's death 
to Henry Fylongley and others.* Amongst the others, however, the Close Roll 
(which I have examined) does not name either John Stoughton or Alice Ar- 
nold, nor can I find any trace of these persons. There was a family of Stough- 
ton or Staughton near Guildford in Surrey ; d but I am unable to identify the 
John Stoughton named in this letter with any member of that family living in 
the fifteenth century. This letter must have been written after 1 445, and pro- 
bably not later than 1450. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, etc., of the good faver, frendship, and 
supportacion that ye have shewed unto our wel[beloved] servant and 
squier John Stoughton, and Alice Arnold, his cousine, touching 
thcire possession in the manoir of Clements, with th'appurtenances, 

" Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. pp. 155, 157, 158. Inquis. post mortem, 3 Hen. V. and 10 Hen. 
VI., and Morant's Hist, of Essex, vol. i. p. 268. 

b Morant, vol. i. p. 290. Rot. Claus. 19 Hen. VI. 

* Harl. MSS. No. 1562, fo. 58 b; Manning's Surrey, vol. i. p. 171. 
CAMIX SCO. U 



146 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOTJ. 

in Essex, we thanke you right hertly, praying you so forth to con- 
tinue helping, furthering, and assisting them with all th'easc, faver, 
and supportacion that ye goodly may by right; so -that thei may 
finde thise oure lettres unto them effectuel and vailable. As we 
trust you, etc. 

To Kichard Clifton, John Kokeley, John Baker, and to all other 
officers and tenants of our C[ousin] the Due of York, in his 
hundred of Racheford, and to everyche of them. 



CXVI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE LORD FERRERS OF GROBY. 

SIB EDWARD GREY, son of Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthyn, married Eliza- 
beth, granddaughter and heir of William Lord Ferrers of Groby, in Leicester- 
shire. By this marriage the estates of that family, including Stebbing in Essex, 
which had belonged to them ever since the Conquest, came to Sir Edward 
Grey. Sir Edward thereupon took the title of Lord Ferrers of Groby, and 
was summoned by the same title to Parliament in 1446. 27 Hen. VI. He died in 
1457, leaving a son, Sir John Grey, who was the first husband of Elizabeth 
Woodville, afterwards queen to Edward the Fourth. Sir John Grey, who had 
been created Lord Lisle, was killed at St. Alban's in 1460, fighting for Henry 
the Sixth. The Queen speaks of " our lordship " and of " our tenants," but 
I have been unable to discover what claim she had to the manor of Stebbing. 
The letter was written between 1445 and 1457. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and welbeloved, We grete you well. And foras- 
moch as we be enformed that yo r baillif of Stebbyng wrongfully 
vexeth, troubleth, and oppresseth oure tenants of our lordship of 
Stebbing, aswel in usurping and breking oure franchise there as in 
other grevous wise; We therefore desire and praye you, and also 
exhorte and require you, that ye do yeve in commandement unto 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 147 

yo r said bailiff for to cesse of his Said vexacions and oppressing, and 
put him in suche reule that oure said tenants may leve in rest and 
peas, so that they have no cause to compleine ayeine unto us for lak 
of remedie in yo r defaulte ; as ye thinke to stande in the faver of oure 
good grace, and t'eschewe our displeasir at yo r peril. Yeven etc. 
the etc. 

To the Lord Ferrers of Groby. 



CXVII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN IN AID OF LETTERS PATENT OF 
SAFE-CONDUCT GRANTED TO GUILLE ALANY, MASTER OF 
A SHIP OF BRITANNY CLEFT THE JENET. 

A SAFE-CONDUCT was a security given by the Prince, under the great seal, for 
the quiet coming into and passing out of the. realm. (Cowell.) By 15 Hen. VI. 
c. 3, all safe-conducts were to contain the name of the grantee, of the ship, of 
the master, and the number of the mariners, with the portage. These particu- 
lar letters patent do not appear to have been preserved, but many of the same 
kind are to be found in Rymer. 

MARGARET, by the grace of God, etc. To all maner admiralles, 
capitains, lieutenants, custumers, serchers, kepers of ports, maiers, 
shirefs, baillefs, constables, and al other my lord's officers and trewe 
liege peuple, gretinge, And for asmoche as it hath liked my lord's 
highnesse, of his especial grace, to graunte his lettres patentes of sauff- 
conduit unto Guille Alany, maister of a shipp of Britaingne of portage 
of fifty tonne, clept the Jenet, to come into this reaume with certeine 
wyne for oure use ; We pray yow hertely that unto the seid Guille, 
and unto his mariners, after th'effecte and pourport of my said lord's 
lettres of saufT-conduit, ye wilbe welwilled, frendly, and faverable, 
without sufFring them to be greved, interupt, or empechet to the 
contrarie ; rather by contemplacion of this oure praier, as we trust 
yow, and as ye thinke to do us pleasir. Yeven, etc. the yere of my 
lord's reigne xxvii. 



148 LETTERS OF MAKGAUET OF ANJOU. 

CXVIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THOMAS BROWN, SQUIRE. 

THE Parliament which met at St. Edmondsbury, the 10th Feb. 1447, con- 
firmed an exchange which had been made of the Queen's revenue, charged on 
the Customs, for other lands settled on her for life. 8 It is probable that it is to 
this arrangement that this letter refers; it would therefore bear date some time 
in 1447 (25 or 26 Hen. VI.) It was on the second day of this Parliament that 
Humphrey Duke of Gloucester was arrested by Viscount Beaumont, the Lord 
High Constable. His death, which popular suspicion attributed to the Queen 
(who was scarcely eighteen at the time), Cardinal Beaufort, and the Duke of Suf- 
folk, occurred a few days later. See, on this head, note Ivi. to Lord Brougham's 
History of England and France under the House of Lancaster. At this time 
Marmaduke Lumley, Bishop of Carlisle, was Lord High Treasurer^ Thomas 
Brown, under-treasurer, was a member of the Inner Temple.* He appears to 
have been a native of Warwick, and to have died in 1468. d 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT trusty and wellbeloved, we grete you well, Lating yow 
wite that we be credible enformed, what diligence, faithfull labor, 
and hertly love ye have shewed us in our maters; and, in especial, 
now late, in our assignement of the custumes of Southampton ; for 
the which we thinke us greetly beholde unto yow ; and cun you 
therfore right good and especial thanke; 6 trusting fully that, in 
suche things as ye shall mowe have [be able] for to do towards us, 
we shall have you, after your deserts, in tendre remembrance of our 
grace therfore, in tyme commyng. Yeven, etc. at Windesor the 
x th , etc. 

To T. Browne, squier. Under Tresourer of Engl. 

Parl. Hist. vol. i. p. 382. b Parl. Paper prefixed to vol. i. of the Parl. Hist. 

c Paston Letters, vol. i. p. 25. d Lib. Nig. Scacc. (W. WYRC.) vol. ii. p. 519. 

e "And cun you therfore right good and especial thanke, and give you, etc. thanks." 
This phrase is to be found twice in the Canterbury Tales. See the Knight's Tale, 1810, 
and 3066. It is equivalent to Einem Dank wissen, Saper grado, Savoir gri; and u'Stvcti 
(Herod, iii. c. 21) has the same meaning. 



LETTERS OF MARGAUET OF ANJOU. 149 



CXIX. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR, 
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 

THIS letter must have been written between 1445 and 1454; during which 
period the Great Seal was held by two archbishops of Canterbury (John 
Stafford and John Kempe) in succession. I cannot determine to which of 
them it was addressed. Queen Margaret was probably not very well informed 
as to what appertained, or did not appertain, to a Court of Conscience ; nor, 
judging from the specimens of early bills in Chancery, published by the Kecord 
Commission, was the jurisdiction, during this century, very clearly denned. 
If the Richard Rede named in this letter was the same Richard Rede who 
figures as defendant in a suit of Westowe v. Rede, mentioned in the Calendar 
of the Proceedings in Chancery temp. Hen. VI. xxii., and the allegations con- 
tained in the Bill in that suit were true, Richard Rede, " my lord's servant and 
cures," was not a remarkably good character. 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT reverend, etc. And for asmoche as we be enformed that 
oon John Goldston, as borrowe a for my lord's servant and oures 
Ric. Rede, is arested in the c[ity] of London, by an obligacion 
pretended to be due, where our said servant is redy to declare and 
prove that the said obligacion is not dewe, ne of right and con- 
science ne peny ought to be paied, as he saith; We, consideryng 
that this mater longeth unto the court of conscience, desire and 
hertly praye you that ye will call this mater bifore yow, and grante 
unto o r said servant a corpus cum causa in this partie ; shewing unto 
or said servant, at reverence of us, the faver, tendernesse, and good 
lordship that ye goodly may. So that he may perceive, by contem- 
placion of thes our lettres, that he be defended from all such 
injuries and wronges purposed ayeinst hym, and he t'atteine, by yor 
help and supportacion, unto all that to hym rightfully apperteineth, 
with brief expedicion in this behalf; and in cas that ye may not, 

* borrowe is an old word for pledge, surety, bail. It is to be met with in Chaucer, and 
in the Robin Hood Ballads. 



150 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

with your ease, attende unto the conclusion of this mater, that 
thanne ye will yeve in commandement unto the Clerk of the Holies 
t'accomplisse our entencion abovesaid, without remitting his mater 
out of yo r hands, if in eny wise it may goodly be doon, as our singler 
trust is in yo r good faderhode. In which thinge, etc. At Eltham 
the, etc. 

To th'archebishop of Canterbury, Chancellor of England. 



cxx. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO SIR EDMOND INGOLDESTHORPE, 
KNIGHT, TOUCHING HENRY CHEVELE A SERVANT OF HIS. 

I AM unable to fix the date of this letter. It was, however, written before 
1456-7 (35 Hen. VI.) as Sir Edmund Ingoldesthrop or Ingoldesthorp died in 
that year. He had large possessions in Norfolk, Cambridge, and Essex, and 
also in London and Middlesex. He married Joan, sister of John Lord Tiptoft, 
Earl of Worcester, who was beheaded by King Henry VI. in 1470. a Sir Edmund 
Ingoldesthorpe's will, dated 9 Aug. 1456, is still extant. In it the testator 
expresses a desire to be buried at Burgh (Burrough Green) in Cambridgeshire. 
It is worthy of notice that Sir Edmund Ingoldesthorpe's will is witnessed by 
" Henr. Chevele" no doubt the " servant " said to have disseised " Thomas 
Gale and Isabell his wife." b Ashdon is in Freshwell Hundred, Essex, not far 
from Saffron Walden. 6 Sir Edmund Ingoldesthorpe left Isabell his sole 
daughter and heir, who married John Neville, Marquis of Montacute, K.G. 
John Neville was son of Richard Earl of Salisbury, and brother to the great 
Earl of Warwick. Both brothers were killed at Barnet in 1471. d 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, etc. And for as moch as we be en- 
formed that oon Henry Chevele, a servant of youres, unjustly and 

Coll. Topog. viii. 76. Robinson's History of Enfield, ii. 16. 

b Coll. Topog. iii. 104. 

c Ashdon has ten other names, for which see Morant's Essex, ii. 538. 

d Blomefield's Norfolk, v. 1283. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 151 

ayenst al right lawe and good conscience, holdeth a certein place 
and lande in the towne of Asshedon, within the counte of Essex, 
appertenyng of right unto oure welbeloved Thomas Gale and 
Isabell his wif, by the decesse of Eichard Wilwes, late brother unto 
the said Isabell, unto greet hindring, prejudice, and derogacion of 
o r said servant and his wyf, as it is said ; We therfore desire and 
praye you that, if hit so be, ye will thanne, att reverence of us, leying 
aside all parcialite, withoute eny comfort or supportacion-yevyng 
unto the seid Henry, suffre oure said servant and his wyf peasably 
t'enjoie and occupie the seid place and land, and to have all that 
to hym [them] rightfully apperteineth in that behalf. So that he 
[they] may finde yo r binevolence and trewe acquital in suche wise 
disposed, that they may atteine unto their right, and have no cause 
to compleyne ayeine for lacke of justice. As we truste yow, etc. 
Yeven, etc at Eltham the, etc. 

To Sir Edmond Ingoldesthrop, kn l . 



CXXI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO MASTER PIERS STEWKELEY, 
WARDEN OF THE COLLEGE OF MAIDSTONE. 

THERE was a college for secular priests at Maidstone, founded by Archbishop 
Courtenay, in the early part of the 15th century.* It succeeded an hospital 
of a much more ancient date. There are said to be still very considerable 
remains of this college. b I have been unable to find any list of the wardens ; 
and I have been equally unsuccessful in discovering any trace of Thomas 
Mowsherst and his family. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete you well. And of the goode 
frendship, binevolence, and tendernesse that ye have shewed unto 
our servant Thomas Mowsherst, and unto his fader and moder, we 

* Tanner's Notitia, Kent, xxxviii. b Dugd. Monast. viii. 1394. 



152 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF AN.TOU. 

thanke you hertly, praying you that in suchc things as thei or cny 
of theym shall have for to do towards you, ye wil, at reverence of 
us, in continuance of yo r good disposicion,' have him towards you 
especially recommended, helping, furthering, and supporting theym 
as fer as ye goodly may, by right, trouth, and good conscience, the 
rather by contemplacion of this our prayer. So that they may 
fynde that they fare the better, and linde these oure lettres unto 
they me fructuose and vailable, as we trust yow, etc. Yeven, etc. 
To M. Piers Stewkeley, Warden of the College 
of Maydeston, and to R. G. 



CXXII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO WILLIAM GASTRIK OR 
GASKRYK, PROPOSING A MATCH BETWEEN HIS DAUGHTER 
AND THOMAS FOUNTAINS, YEOMAN OF THE CROWN. 

IN Vincent's MSS., preserved at the Heralds' College, No. 150, p. 220, is a 

pedigree of Rigate, who married the daughter and heiress of William 

Fountaynes. Of this marriage there was issue one daughter, Juliana, who 
married William Gascarick or Gaskryk,* and had a son, William Gaskryk, who 
is described as " dominus de Middle Soylls infra villam de Killingholm." This 
William Gaskryk I believe to have been the person to whom this letter was 
written, and he had an only daughter Elizabeth, who inherited his property. 
It appears then that the families of Fountains and Gascarick or Gaskryk were 
connected. I think, therefore, that it may fairly be concluded, that it is to 
these two families that the letter has reference. I have been unable to identify 
Thomas Fountains, Yeoman of the Crown ; but, it certainly appears that, not- 
withstanding the letter " tenderly wreten " by the King, and " affectuously " 
enforced by the Queen, he was not successful in "his honest desire" to do the 
lady " worship by wey of mariage."* She, who is described in the pedigree as 

In the Calendar of Inquis. post Mortem, vol. iv. fo. 189, 17 Hen. VI. No. 45, is 
an inquisition relating evidently to one of the same family, but who is named Edmund 
Gastryk. From the inquisition itself, however, which I have seen, it is plain that the 
right name is Gaskryk and not Gastryk. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 153 

daughter and heir of William Gascarick, is stated to have married Henry 
Boothe of the county of Lincoln. Henry Boothe appears, from the pedigree, 
to have been a son of Thomas Boothe of Barton (probably Barton -on-Humber), 
and nephew of William Boothe, Archbishop of York, who died in 1464.* This 
is the only date that occurs in the pedigree ; and from it, and from the fact 
that the Queen was married in 1445, I conclude that the Queen's unsuc- 
cessful letter was written a few years later than the last-mentioned date. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbelov%d. For as much as our wel[beloved] 
servant Thomas Fountains, yoman of my lord's crown, as wel 
for the womanly and vertuous governance that yo r doghter is re- 
nowned of, as for the greet zeal, love, and affeccion that he hathe 
unto hir personne, before all creature lyving, desireth, with all his 
hert, to do hir worship by wey of mariage, as he seith ; Wherupon 
my said lord hath tenderly wreten unto you for his recommendacion 
in this bihalf, 'whiche we suppose vereily that ye have clerely con- 
ceived, and well emprinted in yo r remembrance. We, desiryng also 
th'encres, wele, and furtherance of my said lord's servant and cures, 
to th'accomplissement of my said lord's entencion in his honest 
desire at this tyme, aswel for his many and greet vertues and 
good condicions, and also for the good and trewe service that he 
hathe doon unto my said lord and us, and yet therin dayly con- 
tinueth, pray right affectuously that, at reverence of us, sith yo r 
doghter is in youre reule and governance, as reason is, ye will yeve 
yo r good assent, binevolence, and frendship t'enduce and t'excite 
yo r seid doghter t'accepte my said lord's servant and oures to hir 
husband, to the good conclusion and tendre exploit of the said 
mariage, as o r full trust is in you. In which thing ye shull mowe 
doo us right greet plesance, and cause us to have you and y oures, 
in suche things ye shul mowe have for to doo towards us in tyme 

* William Boothe had been Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. Gascoigne,'in his 
Theological Dictionary, calls him " the unworthy Bishop of Coventry," and says, further, 
that he " was neither a good grammarian, nor knowing, nor reputed virtuous, nor a graduate 
of either university." Boothe was, at one time, Chancellor to the Queen; p. 156, post. 
CAMD. SOC. X 



154 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

comyng, in such tendre remembrance of oure good grace, that by 
reason ye shul holde you well content and pleased by Godd's myght; 
which have you in his blessed keping. At our manoir of P. the etc. 
To William Gastrick. 



CXXIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THOMAS BAWLDE, SQUIER. 

WALDEN, Essex, came to the Crown by partition of the estates of Humphrey 
de Bohun, tempore Hen. V., and is parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, For as moche as we be enformed 
that, at the citation and stering of certeine personnes not welwilled 
unto John Browne, oon of our tenants of our lordship of Walden, 
ye sue against al trouthe and good conscience our said tenant by an 
obligation of a greet some not deu, as it is said, putting hym wrong- 
fully to greet trouble, vexation, and losse, likely to be his utter 
undoing for ever, without summe pourveiance of remedie be the 
sonner had unto hym in this matter; We, willyng that our said 
tenant may leve in rest and peax, and in quiet from suche oppres- 
sion and injurie, and to ministre indifferently to all parties justice 
as the cas requireth, desire, praye, and exhorte you that ye will, at 
reverence of us, put th'examination of your said suit to us and to our 
counseil, where we shall, by good deliberation and ad vis, see that 
ye shall have al that rightfully belongeth unto you in that behalf; 
and, the meene while, that ye will leve and surcesse of your suit, by 
contemplacion of this our prayer, demenyng you herein in such 
wise, that we have noon other cause thanne to have you in favor of 
our good grace therfore, in tyme commyng. And how ye thinke to 
please us in this mater ye wil acertein us by the brynger of thise, wherto 
we shall truste. Yeven, etc. at P[leshy] the xxiij day of May, etc. 

To Thomas Bawlde, squier, etc. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 155 

CXXIV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 

THE nobleman to whom this letter was addressed was John Mowbray, third 
Duke of Norfolk, who was confirmed Duke in 1444, and who died in 1461. a A 
remarkable speech of his in Parliament against Edmund Beaufort, Duke of 
Somerset, is referred to by the editor of the Paston Letters as having been 
pronounced in 1450 or 1453." Sir Robert Wingfield of Letheringham, 
Suffolk, is also referred to, and not creditably, in the same correspondence. 
Sir Robert's will has been preserved. It is dated 6th October, 1452, and in 
it mention is made of his five sons, John, Robert, Thomas, William and 
Henry . d He probably died in 1454, as the will was proved in that year. The 
letter was written between 1445 and 1454. 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and right entierly welbeloved cousyn, We grete 
yow wele. And for asmoch as our trusty and welbeloved knight 
Sir Robert Wyngfild and his sonnes have right humbly besoughte 
that it wold like us to write unto you, desiryng you that, atte oure 
instance, ye wold admitte them to come unto yo r presence, there 
to here theire declaracion upon certein matiers that ye fynde yow 
agreved and displeased in as yet; We, havyng consideracion unto 
the good and acceptable service that oure said knyght and his sonnes 
have done unto us, aswel beyonde the see to theire greet charges, 
labores, and costs, as on this side, and yet oure said knight therm 
dayly continue th, desire and praye you that, atte reverence of us, ye 
will have theym towards yo r good lordship, after th'entent of theire 
humble request, in this partie especially recommended, and shew 
therm the more tendernesse and faver, by contemplacion of this our 
prayer, so that they may fynde in effect thise oure lettres unto them 
vaillable, and fare the better, to th'accomplisshement of oure enten- 

Nicolas. b Paston Letters, vol. iii. p. 109. 

c Ibid. vol. i. p. 5 n. d Test. Vet. 275. 



156 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

cion in this partie, as we trust you. In which thing, etc. Yeven, 
etc. at Eltham the xvi day of Ffr. 
TotheDucofNorff. * 



CXXY. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE BISHOP OF CHESTER, 
HER CHANCELLOR. 

WILLIAM BOOTHE, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, the prelate here called 
Bishop of Chester, was Chancellor to Queen Margaret. The Bishops of Lich- 
field and Coventry were occasionally styled Bishops of Chester. Chester was 
not actually created a bishopric previously to 1542. 

BY THE QUENE. 

WORSHIPFULL Fader in God, etc. For asmoch as my'moost 
doubted lord, of his especial grace, hath granted unto John Barham 
x oks for tymbre, to be taken in our outwods of Kenelworth, of his 
yefte ; whereuppon my said lord hath desired and prayed us, by his 
lettres under his signet, that we woll see that the said oks be deli- 
vered unto the said John, after th'entent of his said grante, the which 
lettres he woll to be unto us sufficient warrant and full discharge of 
eny empechement of waste on this partie ; We therefore woll and 
charge you that, under our great seal, bey ing in yo r warde, ye do a 
warrant directe unto the keeper, charging, etc. to deliver, etc.* 

To the Bishop of Chestre our Chauncellor. 



CXXVI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE LORD* CHANCELLOR, 
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. 

THIS letter may have been addressed to John Stafford, John Kempe, or 
See Letter LXVJ, 98 ante. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 157 

Thomas Bourchier, all Lords Chancellors and Archbishops of Canterbury. 
The last of these prelates was Lord Chancellor from 7th March 1455 to llth 
October 1456. John Wygram or Wygryme was of Merton College, a proctor 
at Oxford in 1428, in 1456-7 a prebendary of Lincoln, and in 1458 a canon 
of Windsor." The reader will note the singular custom adverted to in the 
letter. 

EIGHT Reverend Fader, etc., We grete you well, latyng you 
witt that we be enformed that our welbeloved clerk M. John 
Wygram, a prest of my lord's chapell, brought you my lord's offryng 
on the twelfth day, for the which, as we understond, there is a 
laudable custume that the brynger of the offryng shall have the first 
benefice that shall voide withinne th'extent; wherefore we praye 
you to call it unto yo r remembrance, and have herin our said clerc 
for o r sake the more especially recommended, as we truste you ; and 
our lord, etc. 

To th'archebisshop of Cant. Chauncellor of England. 



CXXVII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO SIR JOHN .STEWARD. 

TH?RE was a Sir John Steward, sheriff of London in 1457, b but, whether he 
was the person to whom this letter was addressed, or how he was connected 
with Hardington or Harlington in Middlesex, does not appear. The name of 
Lovell, however, is intimately connected with that parish. Before 1474 the 
manor of Harlington, otherwise Lovell's, became vested in the Lovells, from 
whom it derives one of its names, and it continued in that family until 1558. 
The letter was probably written between 1445 and 1457. c 

BY THE QUENE. 

RIGHT trusty and well., We, etc. desiring and praying you, that 

Fasti Ecc. Ang. vol. ii. p. 142; vol. iii. pp. 387 and 481; Fasti Ox. (Gutch) 43; and 
Ashmole's Antiq. Berks, vol. iii. p. 250. 
b Maitland, p. 1202; Fabyan, 631. 
c Lysons's Env. Lond. vi. 126; and Newc. Repert. vol. i. p. 631, 632. 



1 58 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

in such things as John Lovell shall have for to doo towards, touch- 
ing his suit to the manoir of Hardington in Middelsex, wherof he 
hath just and lawfull title, as it said, ye wil, at reverence of us, have 
hym towards you especially recommended ; considering that the re~ 
covre of his said right resteth greetly in yo r helpe and socour, as it 
is said, ye wil, by wey of charite and aulmesse, to the pleasance of 
Almighte Jesus, do such diligence, as fer as ye may after god trouth 
and good conscience, that he may atteine, by yo r good faver and sup- 
portacion, unto his right and deute in that bihalf. As we trust you. 
Wherin ye shul mowe not only deserve of God right greet merite, 
but of us also right especial thanke therfore in time commyng. 
Yeven, etc. at Wind, the, etc. 
" To Sir John Steward. 



CXXVIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO JOHN GEDNEY, CITIZEN AND 

ALDERMAN OF THE 'ClTY OF LONDON. 

FROM the length and urgency of this letter, the Queen, or more likely one of 
her suite, seems to have had much at heart the appointment of Walter Brigges 
as under- sheriff. I am unable to say whether or not the Queen was successful. 
John Gedney had represented the city in 1414, and served the office of mayor 
twice, viz. in 1427 and 1447. In 1444 he married the widow of Robert Large, 
who had been mayor in 1439, " which widow (says Stowe) had taken upon her 
the mantle and ring, and the vow to live chaste during life, for the breach 
whereof (the marriage done) they were troubled by the Church, and put to 
penance, both he and she." John Gedney was buried in the church of St. 
Christopher, which stands (or stood) near Threadneedle Street.* 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. ' And for asmoche as Waultier Brigges hertly 
desireth to do you and the citee service, in th'occupacion of under 
sherreive in the countie of Midd., wherto he is right able and suffi- 

Newcourf's Repert. vol. i. p. 322. 



LETTERS OF 'MARGARET OF ANJOU. 159 

sant, as wel in his trouth, discrecion, and cunnyng, as in other 
pollice, sadnesse, and good governance, as it is said; We, havyng 
consideration unto the premisses, with his merits and deserts, and 
in especial at instance and supplicacion of certein oure servants 
attending right negh aboute oure persone, to whom the seid W. is 
cousine, as we understande^esire and pray you hertly that, at re- 
verence of us, ye will have the said W. unto the seid occupacion, as 
fer as in you is, right tenderly recommended ; and doo therin such dili- 
gence, t'excite and sture all such personnes citezeins of the seid cite 
of London, that by yow and the commonaltie there shulbe elit 
shireves for this nexte yere commyng, t'accepte and admitte hym, 
for oure sake, to the seid occupacion of under-shereve in the countie 
abovesaid ; havyng th'expedicion of this matter so tenderly to hert, 
that we may verreily knowe the continuance of the binevolence and 
good disposicion that ye have be of towards us, and oure request 
hirbefore, to accomplissement of oure entencion in this mater, wherof 
we thanke you. And that he may finde thise oure lettres unto 
hym effectuelx and vailable, as our singler trust is in you. In 
which thing ye shull not oonly do us right greet pleasure, and 
deserve of us especial thanke, but cause us also to have you in 
tendre remembrance of our good grace, therfore, in tyme comyng. 
Yeven, etc. 

To John Gedney, citezein and alderman of the cite of London. 



CXXIX. 

A LETTER BY THE QUEEN TO JOHN JOYSE, SQUIRE, STEWARD 

OF ASHBOURNE. 

THE Ashbourne mentioned in this letter is the fine village of that name in 
Derbyshire. It is in the Honour of Tutbury, and was included in the 
Queen's dower lands. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY, etc. We desire and pray you, if eny oure lettres pa- 



160 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

tents be shewed unto you for th'office of baillif of Asshebourne, 
grante unto Nich. Cokker, ye will, at reverence of us, have him 
towards you especially recommended, suffryng [him] t'occupie and 
enjoie the seid office, after th'effecte and purport of oure lettres pa- 
tentes to hym granted, in that bihalf. As we truste you, for thus 
it pleaseth us, etc. 

To John Joyse, squier, Steward of Asshebourne. 



cxxx. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF 

CANTERBURY. 

\ 

THIS letter was written to either Archbishop Stafford or Archbishop 
Kempe ; but the date cannot be recovered. 

BY THE QUENE. 

EIGHT worshipfull fader in God, etc. Lating you wite, that, at 
oure instance and request, my most doubted lord hath now late 
granted unto a poore widowe, Alice Marwarth, certein pardon, as by 
a bill therof signed with my said lord's hand, which we send you 
sealed under oure signet, by a servant of oures, ye may se more 
pleynly. Wherfore we desire and hertely pray yow that, at re- 
verence of us, ye wil have the seid widowe in expedicion and de- 
liverance of hir lettres patents in youre partie especially recom- 
mended, with such tendernesse and faver that she, upon the socour 
and trust of oure moene [mean] -that she putteth in us, may per- 
ceive good and brief exploit, to th'accomplissement of my lord's 
grant in this behalf. As our ful trust is in you. In which, etc. 
Yeven, etc. at W. the xxvi of M. 

To th'archebisshop of Canterbury, Chauncellor. 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 161 

CXXXI. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE SHERIFFS OF LONDON. 

THIS letter, and the two next following letters, seem to belong to the year 
1450. They relate to Alexander Manning, and are addressed, the first to the 
sheriffs of the City of London ; the second to the sheriffs that next shall be, of 
the City of London; and the third to the Mayor of the City of London ; and, in 
them all, the Queen strongly recommends Alexander Manning for the office 
of Keeper of Newgate. That office was then, and is now, in the gift of the 
sheriffs of London. There is nothing to shew that these letters were suc- 
cessful; but there is incontestable evidence that Alexander Manning, who 
had been Keeper of Newgate, had greatly misconducted himself in his office ; 
and that he had, in consequence, been deposed by the lord mayor and aldermen, 
who passed a resolution, that he should not thereafter be readmitted by any 
future sheriffs of the city to occupy or exercise the office aforesaid, i.e. of 
Keeper of Newgate, in any manner howsoever. It is difficult to say whether 
this resolution preceded or followed the Queen's letters ; but, from her having 
addressed not only the then existing sheriffs, but the sheriffs " that shall be," 
there seems some reason to suppose that the resolution was specially directed 
against this act of royal interference. It is not improbable that Alexander 
Manning, who was accused of " negligent custody of the prisoners " under his 
care, "to the great disturbance of the city," was, in some way, connected 
with the dangerous tumults caused by Jack Cade and his followers, which 
had, within a few weeks only, been quelled. 4 

I have, by the kind permission of the Corporation of the City of London, had access 
to their journals; and in Journal v. folios 48 and 51 I found the two following entries: 

Oct. 7, 29 Hen. VI. 1450. On this day it is considered by the mayor and aldermen 
abovesaid, that Alexander Mannyng, late Keeper of the gaol of Newgate, by reason of 
his negligent custody of the prisoners of the aforesaid gaol, &c. to the great disturbance 
of the city, shall be committed to the prison there, until it be otherwise advised, and 
shall lose his office aforesaid, &c. (Jour, v, fo. 48.) 

Nov. 5, 29 Hen. VI. 1450. On this day it is considered by the mayor and aldermen 
abovesaid, that Alexander Mannyng, late Keeper of the gaol of Newgate, who, by reason 
of his negligent custody of the prisoners of the gaol of the Lord the King aforesaid, and 
other his manifold defaults, was, by the consideration of this court, removed from the office of 
keeper of the same gaol, &c. shall not hereafter be readmitted, by any future sheriffs of the 
city, to occupy or exercise the office aforesaid, in any manner howsoever. (Jour. v. fo. 51.) 

CAMD. SOC. Y 



1 62 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOTT. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we suppose verreily that it is clerely in 
yo r remembrance howe that, now late, for certein consideracions and 
grete instance, we wrote unto you for the recommendacion of Alex- 
andre Mannyng unto th'office of keper of Newgate, longyng unto yo r 
disposicion, as it is said; wherin as yet oure said writing hath take 
noon effecte ne expedicion, unto oure greet merveil ; wherfore we 
desire and praye eftesones, right affectuously, that, at reverence of us, 
ye wil accepte and restore the said Mannynge ageine unto the said 
office, withe suche tendernesse and faver, that he may perceive thise 
oure lettres unto him avvailable, to th'accomplissement of oure en- 
tencion in this partie. In which thinge ye shul, etc. Yeven, etc. 
at P., etc. the xxiii day, etc. 

To the Shirefs of the Cite of London. 



CXXXII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE SHERIFFS THAT NEXT 
SHALL BE OF THE ClTY OF LONDON. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete you well. And for asmoche as 
our welbeloved Alisaundre Manyng desireth to do yow service in 
th'office of keping of Newgate, to the which, as we understand, he is 
right hable and suffisant, both in his trouth and discrecion and also 
in his governance, like as, for the tyme that he occupied it herbifore, 
he was founden of good bering and of sad disposicion, as it is said; 
We, atte instance and supplicacion of certein oure servants right 
negh attending about our personne, desire and hertly pray you that, 
atte reverence of us, ye will have him towards you especially recom- 



LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 163 

mended, and, at Michel masse nexte commyng, t'admitte him to 
the said office; as we truste you. In which thing, etc. At W. 
the, etc. 

To the Shirefs that nexte shalbe of the Cite of London. 



CXXXIII. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF 

LONDON. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete, etc. And for asmuch as our 
welbeloved A. Manyng desireth to do service in th'office \ut supra 
usque " recommended,"] exciting and stering the shirefs that shalbe 
for the nexte yere, to admitte him to the said office at Michelmasse 
nexte commyng, after th'entencion of oure writyng unto theym in 
that bihalf ; as we truste yow. In whiche thing, etc. Ut supra, etc. 

To the Mair of the Cite of London. 



CXXXIV. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN, RECOMMENDING DAME MAUD 

EVERYNGHAM TO BE PRIORESS OF NUNEATON. 

THE reader will not fail to observe the double address of this letter " To 
the Sub-prioress of Nuneaton," and "To the Master and Brethren of, etc." 
At first one might suppose this to be a mistake of the transcriber, but this is 
not the case. 1 find that the Priory of Nuneaton in Warwickshire, which was 
founded by an Earl of Leicester in the reign of Henry the Second, was of the 
order of Fontevrault (Fontis Ebraldi), " wherein, besides the prioress and nuns, 
there was for some time a prior also, perhaps with men, as usually in the foreign 



164 LETTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 

houses of this order."" I have sought in vain for a list of the prioresses of this 
house, and am therefore unable to ascertain the date of this letter. I should 
judge, however, that it was written certainly not earlier than 1445, and, pro- 
bably, not later than 1455. At the Dissolution, the site of the priory was granted 
by 32 Hen. VIII. to Sir Marmaduke Constable; and at the present day scarcely 
a vestige remains of this religious house. 

BY THE QUENE. 

DERE and welbeloved in God, we grete you well, and we suppose 
verreily that it is clerely in yo r remembrance how that we have now 
late writen unto you for the recommendacion of our right welbeloved 
Dame Mawde Everyngham to be accepted and elited for yo r priouresse 
there, what tyme ye shall nexte be destitute of a priouresse ; and it is 
nowe soo that we understand that yo r priouresse is passed to Godd's 
mercye ; wherupon my most doubted lord writeth unto yow, at this 
tyme, right especially for the recommendacion of the said Dame 
Mawde unto th'eleccion of yo r priouresse there. Wherefore we 
desire and praye you eftesones that, in accomplissement of my 
lord's request and oures in this partie, ye will have the same Dame 
Mawde in yo r nexte eleccion right tenderly recommended, and 
chese hir to be yo r priouresse and governour, by consideracion 
of hir many vertues, religiouse governance, and good fame, that she 
is renomed of; and the rather by contemplacion of this oure prayer ; 
as oure full truste is in yow. In which thing ye shul, etc. Yeven, 
etc. 

To the Suppriouresse of None Eton. 
To the Master and Brethern of, etc. 



Tanner's Notitia (ed. 1788), Warwickshire, x. 



LP;TTERS OF MARGARET OF ANJOU. 165 



cxxxv. 

A LETTER FROM THE QUEEN TO THE ABBOT AND CONVENT OF 

BYLAND. 

BYLAND ABBEY was in Yorkshire, in the Archdeaconry of Cleveland, at a 
short distance N.W. of Rievaulx. The adjoining district is called Bilsdale ; but 
I have not found any spot near at hand called Belderdale, nor have I been able 
to discover any John Dacres apparently answering to the Queen's squire of 
that name mentioned in this letter. The list of abbots of this religious house 
during the fifteenth century, preserved by Dugdale, is extremely scanty. 

BY THE QUENE. 

TRUSTY and welbeloved in God, we grete yow well; and, for as- 
moch as oure trusty and welbeloved squyer John Dacres desiretli 
the ferme of Belderdale, which he hath now of you, to have for x 
yere after his termes therof expired, we therfove desire and pray 
that, att reverence of us, ye wil have oure said squyer in accomplisse- 
ment of his entencion in this partie especially recommendet, shewing 
hym th'ease, faver, and tendernesse that ye goodly may, and the rather 
by contemplacion of this o r praier, so that he may fynde in effect 
thise oure letters unto hym vailable ; as we trust, etc. Yeven, etc. 
at Eltham, the, etc. 

To th'abbot and Covent of Biland. 



166 A MAHOMETAN MANIFESTO. 

CXXXVI. 

A MAHOMETAN MANIFESTO. 

FOR want of a better name I have called this document a Mahometan Mani- 
festo. It can scarcely be other than a parody, and not a very extravagant 
parody, of the style of an Eastern potentate of the mediaeval period when 
addressing a prince of the West. In Monstrelet (vol. v. p. 175, ed. Buchon,) 
there is a letter, said to be written by the Sultan of Babylon to all Christian 
princes, very similar in tone to this. The only note which the editor deems it 
necessary to subjoin is "JZ est aise de reconnaitre la faussete de cette lettre." In a" 
modern History of Cyprus I have met with two letters, under the date of 1456, 
not wholly unlike the present. See Histoire de 1'Ile de Chypre sous les Lusig- 
nans, par Louis de Mas Latrie, vol. iii. pp. 73, 74, n. 5. See also Goldsmith's 
Citizen of the World, Letter CXX. " On the Absurdity of some late English 
Titles." 

I BALTHASAE, by the grace of Mahownd, Kyng of Kyngs, Lord 
of Lords, Sowdane of Surrey [Syria], Emperour of Babilon, Steward 
of Hell, Porter of Paradice, Constable of Jerusalem, Flour of all 
the World, and Cosyn to the grete God. And yf ye luste to witte 
why that I arn Kyng of Kyngs for I have under my proteccion 
xxxviii. kyngs crowned; and [why that] I am Lord of Lords, I am 
Sowdan of Surrey , and Emperour of Babilon for I wedded the Empe- 
rour is doghter, the whiche was eyre to hyre fader. Then, why that I 
am Porter of Paradice, where that no man can come yn with owte 
my licence for I kepe the stremys and the waters that rennys to 
Paradice. Why that I am Steward of Hell for I have dominacion 
of mawments and wiked spirits, and certeyn clerks with in my 
remys that may bryng theym downe to me in whate likenes that I 
will have theym. And why that I am Flour of all the World for 
I may well say that I have in my keping that all cristen people 
beleveth on, for that is to witte the holye crosse that yo r Lord died 
on; the whiche may not be gotten with owte my licence. And why 
that I am Cosyn to the grete God for I am a cristen man, as ye be 



A MAHOMETAN MANIFESTO. 167 

in Englond. For usyng of lollarye I myght not abide in Englond, 
and then I wente to Kome, and from Eome to Rodes, and I [was] 
perverted to the Sowden in feythe; and, for by cause that I was a 
personable man, I was putte to the Sowden his howse, and ther I 
was madeussher of his hall, and steward of his londs; and then dyed 
the Sowden, and I wedded his wife; and died she, and I wedded the 
Emperour is doghter of Babilon, and his heyre, and thus became 
Sowden of Surrey ; and then I send gretyng to yo r kyng of Englond 
and of Fraunce, and to Edward Prince of Wales. And, yf he will 
wed my doghter, I will become cristen man, and all my regions and 
my reames; and they that will not converte with me shalbe brent. 
And I will giffe with my doghter viii myllions of gold, and paye 
within v Sondays. And I shall delyver hym the holye crosse that 
yo r Lord died uppon, and the spere that stroke hym to the herte, 
and mony other relikes that I have in my kepyng ; and shall make 
hym Emperour of xviii. kyngs londs. 



INDEX OF NAMES, ETC. 



Abingdon, Abbot of, 46 

Alany, Guille, 147 

Alderly, 65 

Alexander, 4 

Alisaundre (the Lumbard), 33 

Alopo, Pandolfello, 8, 11 

Anderby, 33 

Anjou, Rene d', 136 

Ap Med, Lewis, 116 

Aragon, Ferdinand King of, 

7,8 

Arcedekne, Sir Warine, 96 
Arnold, Alice, 145 
Ascough, William (Bishop of 

Salisbury), 56, 74, 75 
Ashmole, Elias, 71 
Ashton, Richard, 139 
Assheby, George, 114 
Assh, John, 144 
Audeley, John, 100 

Babyngton, William, 59, 60 
Baker, John, 146; Thomas, 

76 

Balthasar, Sultan of Syria,! 66 
Barham, John, 98, 156 
Barnwell, William, 63 
Basin, Thomas, 91 
Bate, T. 140 
Bawlde, Thomas, 154 
Beauchamp, Alianore, 117 ; 

Margaret, 64 ; Richard, 15, 

21, 34, 63 
Beaufort, Edmund, 91, 101, 

114, 115, 117, 118, 155; 

Joanna, 29 ; John, 101 ; 

Henry (Cardinal), 2, 48, 

49, 50, 52, 76, 93,97, 101, 

148 
Beaumont,Viscount, 1 1 8, 1 1 9, 

148 

CAMD. SOC. 



Beckington, Thomas, 57, 71, 

72, 73 to 88 
Bedale, Robert, 113 
Bedford, Duke of, 1 6, 34, 35, 
36, 37, 42, 47, 49, 50, 51, 
52, 105 

Bennington, Thomas, 61 
Berkeley, Elizabeth, 63, 106 ; 
James Lord, 63, 64, 65; 
Lady, 65 ; Thomas Lord, 
63; William, 106 
Bermondsey, Abbot of, 53 
Berners, Margery, 132 
Bertram, William, 68 
Bohemia, Anne of, 137 
Bohun, family of, 61 ; Alia- 
nore, 122 ; Humphrey de, 
108, 122; Mary, 122 
Bokeland, Richard, 1 6, 1 7, 30, 
34, 35, 36, 41, 42, 45 ; 
Joan, 16 

Bonham, Edith, 91 
Bonner (Bishop), 53 
Boothe, Charles, 71 ; Henry, 
153 ; Thomas, 153; Wil- 
liam, 153, 156 
Boteler, Sir Ralph, 58 
St. Botolph's, Prior of, 124 
Botreaux, William Lord, 74 
Bourchier, Sir John, 132, 
133; Lord, 122, 123; Tho- 
mas, 1 1 6, 1 56 ; Sir William, 
122 

Bourgh, John, 58, 59 
Breton, John, 145 
Brigges, Walter, 158 
Britany, Duke of, 35, 42 
Browne, John, 154; Nicho- 
las, 123; Thomas, 148 
Bugdon, T. 125 
Bullock, family of, 106 



Burgundy, John the Fearless, 
Duke of, 17; Philip Duke 
of, 17, 19, 47, 107 

Burneby, Thomas, 96, 97 

Burnell, Edward, 74; Mar- 
garet, 74 

Bussh, Guy, 16, 17 



Cade, Jack, 73, 110, 161 

Cambridge, Richard Earl of, 
145 

Camoys, Thomas Lord, 109 ; 
Hugh, 109 ; Richard, 109; 
Sir Roger, 109 

Canterbury, Archbishop of, 
100, 160 

Carent, Nicholas, 57, 93, 94 

Carew, Dame Jane, 96, 98; 
John, 49, 83 ; Sir Nicho- 
las, 96 

Cauvet, Jules, 92 

Chamberlain, Thomas, 74 

Charles VII. (King of France) , 
35, 72 

Chatterley, William, 142, 143 

Chaucer, Alice, 72, 114; 
Geoffrey, 1 14 

Cherneys, Jomona, 107 

Chester, Richard, 66, 120,121 

Chevele, Henry, 150 

Chichester, Richard, 49, 50 

Chowne, John, 123 

Christopher, Thomas, 49. 51 

Claydon, John, 25 

Clement, Vincent, 66, 75, 76, 
84 

Clement, family of, 145 

Clement, Philip, 145 

Clere, Edmond, 119 ; Eliza- 
beth, 107; John, 119 



170 



INDEX OF NAMES, ETC. 



Clifford, Richard, 26 
Clifton, Richard, 146 
Ciopinel, 19 
Cobham, Lord, 25 ; Reginald 

Lord, 67 

Cokker, Nicholas, 160 
Constable, Sir Marmaduke, 

164 

Conyers, Sir William, 22 
Corario, Angelo, 8 
Courtenay, Sir Hugh, 96 ; 

Jane, 96 ; Philippa, 96 
Courtney, Archbishop, 151 
Crisacre, John, 59 
Croix, De la, Thomas, 17, 18, 

19, 20 

Currance, John, 44 
Curteys, William, 59, 60 

Dacre, Robert, 145 

Dacres, John, 165 

David, King, 4 

Deeping, John, 124 

Delabere, John, 57, 58, 93, 
94 

De la Pole, Catherine, 1 03 ; 
William, 71 

Denham, Sir John, 144 

D'Eresby, Robt. Lord Wil- 
loughby, 43, 44 

Dorset, Earl of, 101 ; Mar- 
quess of, 92, 101,115; Wil- 
liam, 116 

Drewe, Harry, 96 

Edmunde, Robert, 117, 118 

Edward IV. 145, 146 

Edwards, family of, xv. xvi. 
xvii. &c. 

E. L. B., 48, 50, 51 

Elizabeth, daughter of Lord 
Ferrers of Groby, 146 

Elmham, Thomas, 76 

Essex, Earl of, 122 

Eu, Earl of, 122 

Eugenius IV. (Pope), 66, 75, 
84, 94 

Everyngham, Dame Maude, 
164 

Exeter, Duke of (John Hol- 
land), 107 ; Henry, 107 

Falconer, Thomas (Lord 
Mayor), 25 



Fallesley, Sir John, 105 
Falvesle, de, 105 
Feiton, John, 75, 84 
Fenys, James, 73, 80, 81 
Ferdinand I. King of Aragon, 

7, 9 
Ferrers, Edward Lord, 146; 

William, Lord F. of Groby, 

146 

FitzLewis, family of, 34 
Fitzwater, Robert, 145 
Forest, John, 57, 58, 93, 94 ; 

Thomas, 93, 94 
Forester, Sir John, 127, 128 
Fortescue, John, 106; Sir 

John, 106 
Fountains, Juliana, 152 ; 

Thomas, 152, 153; Wil- 
liam, 152 

Frome, Nicholas, 74 
Frutes, W. 102 
Fulthrop, 43, 44, 45 
Fylongley, Henry, 145 



Gale, Isabell, 150, 151 ; Tho- 
mas, 150, 151 

Gascarick, Gaskryk, Gastrik, 
Elizabeth, 152; William, 
152, 153, 154 

Gascoigne, Thomas, 53 

Gaunt, John of, 10 1 

Gedney, John, 158, 159 

Gilbert, Robert, 61 

Giles, Carles, 47, 48 

Gloucester, Humphrey Duke 
of, 64, 73, 114, 148 

Godde, William, 96 

Godwyn, Hugh, 131 ; John, 
131 

Goldston, John, 149 

Gosse, Nicholas, 96, 97 

Gough, Sir Matthew, 109, 
110 ; Richard, 109 

Grey, Sir Edward, 146 

Grey, Sir John, 146; Regi- 
nald, Lord of Ruthyn, 146 

Grysacre, James, 58 



Haccombe, family of, 96 
Hallam, Robert, 7 
Hastings, Marquess of, 74 
Hayford, Humphrey, 124 



Hearn, Thomas, 76 

Hende, Thomas, 51 

Henley, Thomas, 54, 55, 56 

Henry V. I, 17, 21, 24, 61 ; 
Henry VI. 35, et passim 

Here, Richard, 129 

Hervy, John, 7, 9 

Heron, Sir William, 105 

Hery, Thomas, 133 * 

Hewet, Antony (of Rome), 
123 

Hiberdon, Robert, 141 

Holcote, Elias, 120 

Holland, John, 107 

Horkesley, John, 60, 61, 
62 

Hull, Sir Edward, 74, 75, 81, 
82, 85 

Hungerford* Lord, 118; Wal- 
ter Lord, 35, 73 ; Sir 
Edmund, 73, 74, 80; Sir 
Robert, 73, 74 ' 

Huss, John, 7 N 

Ilderton, Thomas, 68 
Ingoldesthrop, Sir Edmund, 
150, 151; Isabel, 150 

Jacket, 65 

James I. King of Scotland, 29 

J. B. 24, 26 

Joanna 2nd, Queen of Naples, 

8 
Jocelyn, Geoffrey, 106; Ralph, 

106, 107 
John, Lowis, 34, 35, 36, 37, 

42 
John IV. Count of Armagnac, 

71 
Joyse, John, 160 

Kempe, John, 76, 99, 116, 

149 

Kent, R. 89 
Ketterick, John, 7 
Knoghton, Agnes, 102 
Kymer, Gilbert, 135, 136 

Lacy, Edmund, 49, 138 
Ladislas, King of Poland, 8 
Lancaster, Joan of, 120 ; 
Prince John, Duke of, 118 
Langley, Edmund, 145 
Large, Robert, 158 



INDEX OF NAMES, ETC. 



171 



Lavington, Thomas, 14 
Legh, Ralph, 73 
Le Hert, Walter, 119 
Lewis VIII., King of France, 

34 

Leyot, Richard, 28, 29 
Lisle, Lord, 146 
Lorraine, Isabella of, 136 
Lory, John, 111 
Loundey, Jankyn, 51, 52 
Lovell, family of, 157; John, 

158 
Lumley, Marmaduke, 111, 

112, 148 

Luna (de), Peter, 7, 9 
Luxemburg, John of, 17 
Lyndwood, William, 25 

Makyn, John, 20 

Malcolm, King of Scotland, 
95 

Mandeville, Geoffrey de, 60, 
61 

Manning, Alexander, 161, 
162, 163 

Manningham, Sir Oliver, 74 

March, Earl of, 144 

Marche, Jacques de la, 8 

MARGARET OF ANJOU 

Is desirous of marrying 
her servant Thomas Shel- 
ford to the daughter of Hall 
of Larkfield, 89 

Prays that the game in 
Lord Salisbury's park at 
Ware may be preserved for 
her recreation, 90 

Prays the Abbess of 
Shaftesbury to be " good 
lady " to one of her chap- 
lains, 92 

Prays the executor of a 
late Dean of Wells that he 
will agree with the present 
dean, her secretary, about 
dilapidations, 93 

Prays a leper, late chor- 
ister of Cardinal Beaufort, 
may be taken into St. Giles' 
Hospital, 95 

Proposes to Lady Carew 
to take as her second hus- 
band Thomas Burneby, her 
squire, 97 



Margaret of Anjou 

Prays the City to suffer 
her tenants of Enfield to 
live in quiet and rest, 98 

Prays the Archbishop of 
Canterbury to set a good 
quiet and rest between 
John Reignold Yeoman of 
the King's Hall and John 
Audeley, one of his squires, 
100 

Charges the keeper of 
Apchild Park strictly to pre- 
serve the game there, 100 

Prays the executors of 
Cardinal Beaufort, "for the 
merit of our said uncle's 
soul," to relieve with part 
of his goods W. Frutes and 
Agnes Knoghton, " poor 
creatures of virtuous con- 
versation purposing to live 
under the law of God in the 
order of wedlock," 102 

Prays the Abbess of 
Barking to be "good and 
favorable lady " to Robert 
Osbern, one of her squires, 
103 

Acknowledges Sir John 
Montgomery her tenant in 
capite, 104 

Charges the keeper of 
. Falborne Park strictly to 
preserve the game there for 
her alone, 106 

Prays the Duke of Exeter 
to be good lord to Ralph 
Josselyn, cousin to Thomas 
Sharnborne, one of her 
squires, 107 

Charges the bailiffs, &c., 
of her manor of Great 
Waltham to pay 20 yearly 
to Thomas Sharnborne, 108 

Prays the Earl of North- 
umberland to pay money 
to her squire, Sir M. Gough, 
110 

Prays that her cord- 
wainer, John Lory, rrfay be 
exempted from attending 
inquests in the city while 
in her employ, 1 1 1 



Margaret of Anjou 

Prays John Somerton, a 
custumer of Southampton, 
to pay money due to her 
as part of her dower to Sir 
John Wenlok, her cham- 
berlain, 112 

Prays the Lord Treasurer 
to command Somerton to 
make the last-mentioned, 
payment, 112 

Recommends Rob.Bedale 
to the office of water-bailiff 
at Southampton, 113 

Thanks a lady of rank 
for se'rvice done to George 
Assheby, clerk of her sig- 
net, and requests her fur- 
ther benevolence, 114 

Requests the Duke of 
Somerset's favour to Mar- 
guerite Stanlowe, one of 
her gentlewomen, 115 

Commands her ward- 
rober to deliver russet 
cloth and black satin to 
one of her squires, 1 1 6 

Prays the Archbishop of 
Canterbury, as Lord Chan- 
cellor, to do justice to W. 
Dorset, 116 

Prays the Duchess of 
Somerset to aid her squire, 
Robert Edmund, to get a 
grant of money given him 
by patent, 118 

Prays the Duke of So- 
merset to see that Viscount 
Beaumont be recompensed 
for lands he has lost, 119 

Prays the Bishop of Nor- 
wich to use his interest in 
favour of a relation of 
Edmond Clere, her squire, 
with the Corporation of 
Norwich, 119 

Exhorts William Scroop 
to restore the Hospital of 
Gretham to Richard Ches- 
ter, " my Lord's clerk and 
ours," 121 

Prays the Bishop of Dur- 
ham to the same effect, 
121 



172 



INDEX OF NAMES, ETC. 



Margaret of Anjou 

Prays Lord Bourchier 
that he will procure the 
determination of matters 
in dispute between her 
tenants of Walden and two 
other persons, 122 

Prays the King's officers 
to let Anthony Hewet of 
Rome pass without paying 
duty, as being in her ser- 
vice, 123 

Prays the Abbot of St. 
Osyth to befriend her well- 
beloved servant and gold- 
smith Humphrey Hayford, 
124 

She reproves Nicholas 
Straunge for not assenting 
to the marriage of his 
daughter Katrine with T. 
Bugdon, and prays him to 
agree to the same without 
delay, 125 

Requires EdmondPyrcan 
squire not to "vex, trouble, 
menace to beat and slay " 
Wm. Southwode, bailiff of 
her lordship of Herting- 
fordbury, 126 

Requires Sir John Fores- 
ter, knight, not to destroy 
and undo her tenants of 
Hertingfordbury, 127 

Prays the Deputy of the 
Keeper of the Privy Seal 
that he will aid one "W. in 
procuring the office of 
Secondary of the Pipe in 
the Exchequer, granted to 
him by the King, 128 

Prays the Abbot of Ram- 
sey to confer a living in 
Bedfordshire on Sir David 
Robert, 129 

Desires John Godwyn to 
buy her a mare, 131 

Prays the Lord Chan- 
cellor to bestow the office 
of Prothonotary of the 
Chancery on a "familiar 
servant" of hers, 132 

Prays Sir John Bour- 
chier, knight, to favour 



Margaret of Anjou 

her servant Thomas Hery, 
133 

Charges the keeper of 
her park at Pleshy to de- 
liver to her servant Robert 
Penall, a buck from " her 
forest or great park" there, 
134 

Prays Dr. Kymer, Chan- 
cellor of Oxford, to provide 
for one of her clerks at 
Wimbourne Minster, 136 

Prays the officers of the 
King's Ports to show fa- 
vour to a Chaplain of her 
mother the Queen of Sicily, 
136 

Desires the keeper of 
Shene Park to keep for 
her "two or three of the 
greatest bucks in my lord's 
park there," 137 

Prays the Bishop of Exe- 
ter to prefer her " well- 
beloved clerk, Master N.," 
138 

Prays the Abbot of Pe- 
terborough to prefer her 
" well-beloved Sir Henry 
Stanham to the living of 
Cottingham," 139 

Prays the Corporation of 
Coventry to prefer her "well 
beloved T. Bate" to the 
recordership of that city, 
140 

Prays her steward of 
Haseley and Periton to see 
to the repairs of her manor 
there, 140 

Prays Robert Hiberdon 
to make two bloodhounds, 
141 

Prays the custumers of 
Boston to see to the pay- 
ment of x. marks to John 
Wenham "in marriage with 
his wife," granted by the 
King, 142 

Charges John Stanley 
squire not to allow William 
Chaterley, yeoman of the 
Crown, to hunt in any of 



Margaret of Anjou 

her parks, and commands 
W. C. himself to the same 
effect, 143 

Prays Sir John Denham 
to pay a debt to John 
Assh, 144 

Prays officers of the Duke 
of York to aid her " servant 
and squire, John Stough- 
ton, and Alice Arnold, his 
cousin," touching their pos- 
session of the Manor of 
Clements, 145 

Requires Lord Ferrers of 
Groby to command his bai- 
liff of Stebbing not to op- 
press her tenants, 147 

Prays the officers of the 
King's ports to be aiding 
and assisting Guille Alany, 
a Breton master mariner, 
147 

ThanksT. Browne,Under 
Treasurer of England, for 
his " diligence, faithful la- 
bour, and hearty love," 
shown in her matters, 148 

Prays the Lord Chancel- 
lor to show ' favour, ten- 
derness, and good lordship' 
to John Goldston as bor- 
rowe for Richard Rede, 
" my lord's servant and 
ours," 149 

Prays Sir Edmond In- 
goldesthrop, Knt., that he 
will support certain persons 
against a servant of his 
who has disseised them, 
150 

Prays the Warden of 
Maidstone College that he 
will help, further, and sup- 
port her " servant Thos. 
Mowherst," 151 

Prays William Gastrick 
" right affectuously" to be- 
stow his daughter on Thos. 
Fountains, yeonaan of the 
Crown, 153 

Exhorts Thos. Bawlde, 
squire, to leave to her and 
her council a dispute be- 





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