1458(?)
[FEB.]
You shall know the governance here on Paston’s coming to you better than I can write. The King is gone to Berkhamstead, ‘and it is said my Lords Somerset, Exeter, Clifford, and Egremont, that rode upon Thursday last to the King, they come again to London; and the Lord of Northumberland is come to the King at this time after the Lords’ departing out of London with 3000 or 4000 people, as it is said, but all toke (?) to a good peace, and reconysances made to keep the peace in great sums till Michaelmas, that in the mean time to make a throw peace final by means of all the Lords.’ John Vyncent of Bentley was at the Priory of Lewes in Sussex this week, and says that sixty sail of Frenchmen were sailing before the coasts, keeping the sea. The Lord Fauconberg is at Hampton with his navy. Edmund Clere of the King’s house has heard from a soldier of Calais that Crowmer and Blakeney is much spoken of among Frenchmen. ‘The King’s safe conduct is not holden but broken, as it is voiced here, and that will do no good to merchants till it be amended.’ Figs and raisins are dear at 18s. the croc (?), ‘wherte’ at 10s. the qr., malt 5s. Remains here awaiting for the com[ing of your] officers of Castlecombe to bring up your money. Expects to send £40 by Master Paston. . . . . (Mutilated at the bottom; date lost.)
[The King was at Berkhamstead in the end of June and beginning of July 1450; also on the 3rd March 1453 (from Reading, whither he returned immediately); also in February and March 1458 (from 20th February to 13th March). This letter must have been written in February 1458.]
[126.1] [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 274.]
[366]
JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[127.1]
To my Maister Fastolf, at Castre, in haste.
1458
MARCH 15
Lyke it your maistership to wyte that, as for tidings, the Counsell is, the fornone, at the Blake Frires, for the ease of resorting of the Lordys that are withinne the toun; and at afternone at the White Frirers in Fletstrete, for the Lordis withowte the toun; and all thing shall come to a good conclusion with God is grace, for the Kyng shall come hidre this weke, and the Quene also, as some men sayn, and my Lord Buk,[127.2] and Stafford[127.3] with hire, and moche puple.
My Lord of Caunterbury takith grete peyne up on hym daily, and will write un to yow the certeynte of suche tidings as falle; and shuld have doon or this tyme, saf for that he wolde knowe an end of the matter.
Other tidings here are none, sauf my Lord of Excestre[127.4] is displesid that the Erle of Warwyk shall kepe the see, and hath therfore received this weke ml li. [£1000] of the Hanupere.[127.5]