No. 32.

Letter from King Henry VIII to the City desiring 300 men for the service of the Navy against a threatened invasion of England by the King of France. Dated Greenwich, 30 Jan. [1512-13].

Journal II, fo. I.

Trusty and welbeloved we grete youe well. And forasmoche as we have perfite knowleage that o^r enemye the Frenche kyng hathe prepared a strong navye furnysshed w^t men of warre to entre and lande in diverse parties of this o^r realme in this nexist moneth of Februarij for to brenne slee robbe and distroye all that they may overcome. We entendyng to prevent his conspired malice and to defende o^r reame and subgiettes from all suche invasions by strength of a navye to be shortly sett to the see. Wol therefore & commaunde youe that almaner excuses utterly sett a parte ye furthw^t upon the sight hereof doo prepaire and arredye the nomber of ccc able persones sufficiently harneysed to serve us on the see so that they be here at Grenewiche by the xv^th day off Februarij nexist commyng at the farthest any o^r former lettres wrytinges to contrary notw^tstondyng and that in the mean season ye do send unto us some persone to receyve money for jakettes and conducte money and that ye faile not hereof as ye tender our hono^r the suertie & defence of this o^r realme and woll annswer therefore unto us at their utturmost perill. Yeven under o^r Signet at o^r mano^r of Grenewiche the xxx day of Januarij.