And as touchyng th’eleccion of Shirefs, men wene that my Lord of Canterbury shall have a gret rule, and specyall in our countre.
I can no more, but Almyghty God send us as his most pleaser is.
Wretyn al in hast, the Saterday next after Seint Edwards day. Your Servaunt, James Gresham.
[107.1] [From Fenn, i. 24.] This letter is assigned by Fenn to the year 1449, but the true date is 1456, as will be seen by the footnotes.
[107.2] See [p. 84, Note 5].
[107.3] Wager of law was an ancient process by which a defendant cleared himself in an action of debt. He gave sureties that on a certain day he would ‘make his law,’ then took oath that he did not owe the plaintiff anything, as alleged, and called eleven compurgators to swear they believed him.
[108.1] Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards Cardinal.
[108.2] William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, was appointed Chancellor in Archbishop Bourchier’s place on the 11th October 1456.
[108.3] John Talbot, second Earl. He was appointed Treasurer on 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen. VI., p. 1, m. 16.
[108.4] John Brown.—See William Wyrcestre’s Annals under the year 1468.