Syr Thomas Howes hathe ben ryght besy thys weke at Blofeld, in wrytyng and lokyng uppe of ger, and John Russe hathe ben with hym ther the moste parte of alle thys weke, and thys day was Robert Lynne ther with hym; what they have do I wote nat, but I schal wete if I may.
It was told me that Syr Thomas desyryd of John Russe to make hym a new inventory of Syr John Fastolffs goods. John Russe myght not be spoke with yit, for the letter that he shuld a wretyn, whych ye sente me word of.
Item, it is tolde that the Dwke of Suffolk[106.1] is kome home, and owthyr he is ded, or ellys ryght seke, and not lyke to eskape; and Syr John Howard is kome hom; and it is seyd that the Lord Skalys[106.2] and he have a comyssyon to enquer whye they of this contre that were sent for kame not hastylar uppe afftyr they wer sent for. It is reportyd that the Kyng is gretly dyspleasyd ther with. At the reverence of God, arme yowr selve as myghtyly as ye kan ageyn yowr enmyes, for I know verrayly that they wyl do ageyn yow as myghtyly as they kan with all ther power.
It is told me that Syr Thomas shal kom uppe in haste, and othyr, suche as he kan make for hys partye.
Also for Goddys sake be war what medesyns ye take of any fysissyans of London; I schal never trust to hem be cause of your fadr and myn onkyl, whoys sowlys God assoyle.
The blissyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng, and sende yow helthe and good spede in all yowr materis. Wretyn in haste, on the Fryday next befor Sceynt Bernabye. By yowrs, M. P.
Alle the jentylmen of thys contre that went uppe to the Kyng ar contrmaundyd, and ar com hom ageyn. It is told me that Rowse of Suffolk[107.1] is ded. If John Gayn myght have any releese of his sone, if it myght do hym ese, it wer a good torne for hym.
[105.2] [From Fenn, iv. 176.] The commission to Lord Scales and Sir John Howard mentioned in this letter seems to have reference to a proclamation dated the 11th May 1464, by which all men between the ages of sixty and sixteen were ordered to attend the King. The date is confirmed by the reference in the postscript to the death of ‘Rous of Suffolk,’ for Reginald Rous of Denington died in 1464. (See Weever’s Funeral Monuments, p. 782.)
[105.3] Constantine Dalby was instituted to the Vicarage of East Dereham in 1451, and was succeeded in 1458 by Robert Sheringham.
[106.1] John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.