Edward Plumpton to Sir Robert Plumpton

39 Edward Plumpton to Sir Robert Plumpton, 18 October [1483] (No. 191,
     p. 127)

The most humble & due recomendations premysed, pleaseth your
mastership to recomend me vnto my singuler good lady your moder, &
my lady your wyfe, humble praying your good mastership to take no
displeasure with me þat I sent not to you afore this, as my duty was.
People in this country be so trobled, in such comandment as they haue
in the kyngs name & otherwyse, marvellously, þat they know not what
to doe. My Lord Strayng¹ goeth forth from Lathan vpon Munday next
with x ml men, whether, we cannot say. The duke of Buck: has so
many men, as yt is sayd here, þat he is able to go where he wyll, but
I trust he shalbe right [p. 128] withstanded & all his mallice, & else
were great pytty.² Messingers comyth dayly both from the kings grace &
the duke into this country. In short space I trust to se your mastership.
Such men as I haue to do with be as yet occupied with my sayd lord.
Sir, I find my kynsmen all well dysposed to me. If your mastership wyll
command me any service, I am redy & euer wilbe to my lifes end,
with þ grace of Jhesu, who euer preserue you. Wrytten at Aldclife
vppon St Luke Day.

Your seruant                                  Ed: Plompton^a

Endorsed: To be right honorable & worshipfull Sir Robt Plompton knight
these be deliuered

     ^a Appended: Copied pe 6 of May 1613.

     ¹ Edward Plumpton was secretary to George, Lord Strange (d.1503), eldest son of
Thomas, Lord Stanley (d.1504), created earl of Derby 27 Oct. 1485, GEC; B. Coward,
The Stanleys, Lords Stanley and Earls of Derby 1385–1672 (Chetham Society, 3rd ser., 30, 1985),
13, GEC.

     ² Henry Stafford, 2nd duke of Buckingham (exec. Nov. 1483) was in rebellion against
Richard III. Lord Stanley’s 2nd wife Lady Margaret Beaufort was implicated, Michael
K. Jones and Malcom G. Underwood, The King’s Mother (1992), 147; M.K. Jones, ‘Richard
III and the Stanleys’, in R. Horrox (ed.), Richard III and the North (University of Hull
Studies in Regional and Local History, 6, 1986), 40, 49n. There was uncertainty as to
whether Lord Strange was responding to the king’s summons or to the duke’s appeals,
M.J. Bennett, The Battle of Bosworth (1985), 48.

LETTER VI.

To the right honorable and worshipfull my singuler good master,
Sir Robart Plompton, knyght, these be delivered.a

    The most humble and due recomendations premysed, pleaseth
your mastership to recomend me unto my singuler good lady your
moder, and my lady your wyfe; humble praying your good mas-
tership to take no displeasure with me that I sent not to you afore
this, as my duety was. People in this country be so trobled, in
such comandment as they have in the Kyngs name and otherwyse,
marvellously, that they know not what to doe. My lord Strayngb
goeth forth from Lathum upon munday next with x ml. men,
whether we cannot say. The Duke of Buck: has so mony men, as
yt is sayd here, that he is able to goe where he wyll; but I trust
he shalbe right withstanded and all his mallice: and els were great
pytty. Messengers commyth dayly, both from the Kings grace
and the Duke, into this country. In short space I trust to se
your mastership; such men as I have to do with, be as yet occu-
pied with my sayd lord. Sir, I find my kinsmen all well dysposed
to me; if your mastership wyll comand me any service, I am redy
and ever wylbe to my lifes end, with the grace of Jesu, who ever
preserve you. Wrytten at Aldclife, uppon St. Luke day.
                                                    Your most humble servant,
          (18 Oct. 1483.)                                              ED. PLOMPTON.

    a This letter was written on the very day on which the Duke of Buckingham first
openly appeared in arms at Brecknock against King Richard III., and gives us some
interesting information respecting his proceedings, as to his seeking to make partisans in
the county of Lancaster, in aid of his attempt. But the King, at this time was secure
in the allegiance of the powerful Earl of Derby, and of his son George Stanley, Lord
Strange, to whom the writer was secretary; the approach of the latter, with ten thou-
sand men, doubtless mainly contributed to the dispersion of the Duke's forces, and the
crushing of his rebellion.

    b George Stanley, Baron Strange of Knockyn, died 15 Dec. 13 Hen. VII. 1497.