And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master badde hym, ‘Welcom, Traitor,’ as men sey; and forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday[146.4] next folwyng.
Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke [thing] to be delyverd to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.
And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.
Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.
Forther I wotte nott, but this fer (?) is that yf the proces be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.
Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer[147.1] also, &c.
Sir Thomas Keriel[147.2] is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij. ml. [3000] Englishe men slayn.
Mathew Gooth[147.3] with xvc. [1500] fledde, and savyd hym selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. ml. Frenshe men and more, &c.
I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have yow all yn his kepyn.
I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and wyfe, &c.