And as for tydyngs in theyse partyes, the Frenche Keng leyzth at sege at Seynt Omers, on the one side of the town a myle of, but he hath no gret ordenaunce ther; and they of the town skyrmysh with them every day, and kepe a passage halff a myle with oute the town; and the French Keng hath brenned all the townys, and fayre abbeys, that were that way aboute Seynt Omers, and also the cornes weche ar there. And also, as yt ys seide for serteyn, the French Keng hath brenned Cassell, that ys myn hoold Lady of Burgeynys[297.1] joynttor, and all the countre there aboute, whereby she hath lost a gret part of her lyvelod; and that is a sherewed tokyn that he menyth wel to the Keng, howur suffereygn Lord, when he intendyth to distroye her.
Morover Sir Phylep de Crevekere hath takyn them that were in Fynys with inne this iiij. dayes to the noumbre of xiiij. personys, and the remnaunt where fled, and he had them to the French Keng, and he hath brentte all the place, and pulled down the towre, and a part of the wall, and disstroyed yt.
And as yt is seid, yf the French Keng can not gete Seynt Omers, that he intendyth to brenge his armye thorwe theyse marchys into Flaundres; wherefore my lord hath do brokyn all the passages excep Newham bryge, weche is wached, and the turne pyke shette every nyght. And the seide French Keng with inne these iij. dayes rayled gretely of my lord to Tygyr Pursevaunt, opynly byfore ij. hundred of his folks; wherefore yt ys thaught here that he wold feynde a quarell to sett upon thys town, yf he myght gete avantage. And as I understonde, the Emperorys sone[297.2] ys maryed at Gaunte as this day; and ther cam with hym but iiij. hundred horse, and I can here of no moo that be comyng in serteyn; and in mony he brengyth with hym an hundred thowsand dokets, wheche is but a smalle thyng in regard for that he hath to doo. Wherefore, I fere me sore, that Flaundres will be lost; and yf Seynt Omers be whonnyn, all is gon, in my conceyt. Never the lesse they say there shuld come gret powere after the Emperorys son; but I be leve yt not, by cause they have ben so long of comyng.
And I pray you to recomaunde me unto Sir Tyrry Robsert, and that yt plese you to lete hym knowe of your tydyngs, and Hour Lord have you in His kepyng.
At Calais, the Sunday next after Hour Lady the Assumpsion. Your, E. Bedyngfeld.[298.1]
[296.1] [From Fenn, ii. 250.] The events referred to in this letter prove that it was written in the year 1477.
[296.2] Between £5 and £6 English, and equal in value to upwards of £20 at this present time, apparently a great price for a hobby.—F.
[297.1] Margaret, sister to Edward IV., widow of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.
[297.2] Maximilian, son of the Emperor Frederick, married Mary, daughter and heir of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.—F.
[298.1] Edmund Bedyngfeld married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Scot, Comptroller of Calais, and was created a Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Richard III. He was highly in favour with Henry VII., who paid him a royal visit at Oxburgh, in Norfolk, which fine seat he built. He died in 1496.—F.