38. Tampering with Juries and Elections The accomunder Henry VI Master Paston, we commend us to you, letting you know that the Sheriff is nought so whole as he was, for now he will show but a part of his friendship. And also there is great press of people, and few friends, as far as we can feel it. And therefore be ye sadly advised whether ye seem best to come yourself, or send, or, etc., for we will assay in as much as in us is to prevail to your intent. And yet, if it needed, we would have a man to give us information, or show evidence after the case requireth. Also the Sheriff informed us that he hath writing from the King that he shall make such a panel to acquit Lord Moleynes. And also he told us, and as far as we can conceive and feel, the Sheriff will panel gentlemen to acquit the Lord, and jurors to acquit his men; and we suppose that it is by the motion and means of the other party. And if any means of treaty be proffered, we know not what mean should be to your pleasure. And therefore we would fain have more knowledge, if you it were to do. think No more at this time, but the holy Trinity have you in his keeping. Written at Walsingham, in haste, the second day of May. By your true and faithful friends, 1451, 2 May. DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY AND WHITE. TO MY WORSHIPFUL MASTER, JOHN PASTON, SQUIRE. My worshipful master, I recommend me to you; and I thank you that it pleaseth you to take such labour for me as ye do. My servant told me ye desired to know what my Lord of Norfolk said to me when I spake of you; and he said in asmuch as Howard might not be, he would write a letter to the Under-Sheriff that the shire should have free election, so panying letters are taken from The Paston Letters, a colletters and lection of papers mostly written by or to the Paston family in Norfolk members of during the early six fifteenth and teenth centuries. They throw much light on the social conditions which mainly con- Wars of the Sadly consider After according as. Howard was objected to because he had no land in the county; and John Paston was put forward. Inclined to. I.e. honour. that Sir Thomas Todenham were not, nor none that was toward the Duke of Suffolk; he said he knew ye were never to him ward. Ye may send to the Under-Sheriff and see my Lord letter. Howard was as mad as a wild bullock; God send him such worship as he deserveth. It is a evil precedent for the shire that a strange man should be chosen, and no worship to my Lord of York, nor to my Lord of Norfolk to write for him; for if the gentlemen of the shire will suffer such inconveniences, in good faith, the shire shall not be called of such worship as it hath been. Written at Intwood, this Wednesday next after Saint John, in haste. Your servant, JOHN JENNEY. 1455, 25 June. Paston Letters (edited by J. Gairdner, London, 1872), I, Nos. 155, 250. Spelling modernized. By JOHN STODELEY. This letter, although apparently having no connection with the Paston family, was found among the Paston Letters. It gives a good view of the beginning of the factional strife of York and Lancaster under the weak rule of Henry VI. 39. The Beginning of Strife (1454) As touching tidings, please it you to know that at the Prince's coming to Windsor, the Duke of Buckingham took him in his arms and presented him to the King in goodly wise, beseeching the King to bless him, and the King gave no manner answer. Nevertheless the Duke abode still with the Prince by the King; and when he could no manner answer have, the Queen came in, and took the Prince in her arms and presented him in like form as the Duke had done, desiring that he should bless it; but all their labour was in vain, for they departed thence without any answer or countenance, saving only that once he looked on the Prince, and cast down his eyes again, without any more. Item, the Cardinal hath charged and commanded all his servants to be ready with bowe and arrows, sword and buckler, crossbows and all other habiliments of war, such as they can meddle with, to wait upon the safeguard of his person. Item, the earl of Wiltshire and the Lord Bonvile have caused to be cried at Taunton in Somerset shire, that every man that is likely and will go with them and serve them, shall have 6d. every day as long as he abideth with them. . . . Item, Thorpe of the exchequer articuleth fast against the Duke of York, but what his articles be it is yet unknown. Item, Tresham, Joseph, Daniel, and Trevilian have made a bill to the Lords, desiring to have a garrison kept at Windsor for the safeguard of the King and of the Prince. . Item, the Duke of Somerset's herberger hath taken up the lodging that may be gotten near the Tower, in Thames street, Mart lane, Saint Katherine's, Tower hill and there about. . . all of insanity. Archbishop Kemp of Canterbury. Descended from John of Gaunt, and leader of the Lancastrian party. This was be fore York was made Item, the Queen hath made a bill of five articles, desiring these articles to be granted; whereof the first is that she desireth to have the whole rule of this land; the second is that she may make the Chancellor, the Treasurer, the Protector. Privy Seal, and all other officers of this land, with sheriffs and all other officers that the King should make; the third is that she may give all the bishoprics of this land, and all other benefices belonging to the King's gift; the fourth is that she may have sufficient livelode assigned her for the King and the Prince and herself. But as for the fifth article, I cannot yet know what it is. Item, the Duke of York will be at London justly on Friday next coming at night, as his own men tell for certain, and he will come with his household meynee, cleanly beseen Ie. comand likely men. And the earl of March cometh with him, pany. Richard's but he will have another fellowship of good men that shall be at London before him. . . . The Earl of Salisbury will later Edward be at London on Monday or Tuesday next coming with IV. Head of the Neville, bro- Richard of Richmond and Pem broke were of the king. Warwick the Kingmaker. seven score knights and squires, beside other meynee. The Earls of Warwick, Richmond and Pembroke come with the Duke of York, as it is said, every each of them with a goodly fellowship. And nevertheless the earl of Warwick will have 1000 men awaiting on him beside the fellowship that cometh with him, as far as I can know. And as Geofhalf-brothers fry Poole saith, the King's brothers be likely to be arrested at their coming to London, if they come. Wherefore it is thought by my Lord's servants and well wishers here that my Lord, at his coming hither shall come with a good and cleanly fellowship, such as is likely and according to his estate to have about him; and their harness to come in carts, as my Lord of York's men's harness did the last term, and shall at this time also. And over that, that my Lord shall have another good fellowship to wait on him and be here afore him, or else soon after him, in like wise as other Lords of his blood will have. . . . The Duke of Somerset hath spies going in every Lord's house of this land; some gone as friars, some as shipmen taken on the sea, and some in other wise; which report unto him all that they can see or hear touching the said Duke. And therefore make good watch, and beware of such spies. The mayor and merchants of London, and the mayor and merchants of the staple of Calais, were with the Chancellor on Monday last passed at Lamhithe and complained on the Lord Bonvile for taking of the ships and goods of the Flemings and other of the Duke of Burgoynes Lordships, and the Chancellor gave them none answer to their pleading; wherefore the substance of them with one voice cried aloud, "Justice, justice, justice!" whereof the Chancellor was so dismayed that he could nor might no more say to them for fear. Paston Letters (edited by J. Gairdner, London, 1872), I, No, 195. Spelling modernized. 40. The Battle of Towton (1461) Now is the Rose of Rone grown to great honour, And blessed be the time that ever God spread that flower! Between Christmas and Candelmas, a little before the Lent, Upon a Shrove-Tuesday in a green mead This poem was com posed by a Rone, i.e. Roughly speaking, the north and west were Lancastrian, while the south and east sup ported the house of York. The second battle of St. Albans was fought on Shrove-Tues. day, Febru The northern men, they made their boast when they had ary 17, 1461. done that deed, "We will dwell in the south countrie and take all that we need; These wives and their daughters, our purpose shall they Then said the Rose of Rone," Nay, that work will I forbede." For to save all England was the Rose of Rone's intent, |