The day of my departing from this land
Your true and loving father
Suffolk.
THE MURDER OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK (May 5, 1450).
Source.—Paston Letters, vol. i., No. 93.
Right worshipful Sir,
I recommend me to you, and am right sorry of that I shall say, and so washed this little bill with sorrowful tears, that on these ye shall read it.
As on Monday next after May day there come tidings to London that on Thursday before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the coast of Kent full near Dover with his two ships and a little spinner; the which spinner he sent with certain letters to certain of his trusted men unto Calais wards, to know how he should be received; and with him met a ship called Nicolas of the Tower, with other ships waiting on him, and by them that were in the spinner the master of the Nicolas had knowledge of the duke's coming. And when he espied the duke's ships, he sent forth his boat to know what they were, and the duke himself spake to them, and said, he was by the King's commandment sent to Calais wards, etc.
And they said he must speak with their master. And so he, with two or three of his men, went forth with them in their boat to the Nicolas; and when he come, the master bade him "Welcome, Traitor," as men say; and further the master desired to know if the shipmen would hold with the duke, and they sent word they would not in no wise; and so he was in the Nicolas till Saturday next following.
Some say he wrote much things to be delivered to the King, but that is not verily known. He had his confessor with him, etc.