London and the Kingdom - Volume 3 / A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.

by Reginald R. Sharpe

Letter Book K, fo. 292b.

Right Worshipfull and right entierly welbeloved sirres I recommende me unto you in þe moste herty wise. Puttyng you in knowliche þat I have receved yo^r lettres direct unto me by Roger Tonge yo^r comon clerc in þe whiche I have understande not onely yo^r grete trouth to þe king our aller sovereigne lord and to this his Reaume but also I see and cleerly understand yo^r worshipfull coraige special love tendernesse and affeccõn þat ye bere to his highnesse and to þe defence prosperite and wele of this his Land to my special reioysing and conforte for þe whiche I thank you all as entierly as it is possible to me so to doo. I am certeyn that þe kinges highnesse will yeove you a grete Laude & speciall thankinges & alle the land hath cause to do þe same. Your worshipfull Demeanyng in this case and in this tyme of so straite necessite shall be an example to all þe land aftre I besiche you right hertly to contynue yo^r saide goode & worshipfull entent to yo^r perpetuell laude & worship hereaftre. In suche tyme as I shall come next to þe kinges high presence & to thassemblyng of þe lordes of his land I shall not forgete but I shall remembre open and declare yo^r worshipfull demenyng at this tyme. And where as I have ever be wele willyng to þe wele of þe cite afore this tyme by occasioun of this yo^r so thankfull demeanyng ye shall have me. Doutelese ever heraftre more redy & right glade to doo suche thinges as may be to þe welefare honer and prosperite of þe same. And how be it þat this may be thought a burthyn and a charge for þe season I doute not but þe goodenesse of almyghty god shal encrece you þe more for this so meritory a werk in tuicioun & defence of þe land and in eschewing of inconveniences happely muche gretter than as yet ben knowen. Furthermore I pray you to yeve feith & credence to suche thinges as þe said Roger shall open unto you in my behalf. And þe Holiegoste have you alwey in his guydyng. Written at Waltham þe v^th day of Septembre.

No. 23.

Letter from the Earl of Kendal, Lord Scales & others in the Tower to the Mayor asking why war was being made upon them. No date [circ. July 1460].

Journal 6, fo. 250b.

Sirs it is yo^r saying that ye be the kinges trew liegemen and soo be we wherfore we wul desire of you to wite the cause why ye make us werre. And that we may understande how ye may joyne your sayinges and youre dedes togiders, And also what shuld bee the cause that ye take prisouners and we shuld nat defende us ayenst you and of this abovesaid we pray of you an answer for we cast us no more to accomber you w^t oure writing, &c.

No. 24.

Reply to the above. No date.

Id. ibid.

Like it your lordshipps to understande and with for certain that according to oure sayn ... we have ever bee, nowe we bee, and ever will bee the kinges treu subgettes and hum ... liegemen. And where ye by youre bill desire of us to wite þe cause why we mak ... you werre, &c. Therto we answer and seye that ye and your ffelesship have began and made no werre by diverse assault shetyng of gonnez and otherwise by the which the kinges treu liege people aswell the inhabitauntz of this citee men women and children as oþer have be murdred slayn maemed and myscheved in sundry wise. And soo that þat hath be doon by us is onely of youre occasioun in oure defence. And suche as we take for prisouners been for the attemptatz occasiouns and assaultz by theym doon as aforesaid in breche of the kinges peas, and for dispoillyng of the kinges treu people of their vitaillz and goodes without due contentacõn or paiement hadde in that behalve contrary to good equite and all lawe, &c.