Edward Plumpton to Sir Robert Plumpton

LETTER LXVI.

To the right honorable my singuler good master, Sir, Robart Plomp-
ton, Knight.

    In my most humble wyse I recommend me unto your master-
ship, and to my singuler good ladys. Late ye wrote to me a letter,
the which I received upon Whitsonday at nyght, touching the
departing of Sir Henry Wentworth; and incontinent upon yt, I
toke a bote, and went to Grenewich, and shewed the matters to
my lord of Derby; and he appoynted me to attend uppon him
unto he spake with the King, and so I did; the Kings grace
will in no wyse that Sir Henry Wentworth departe from your
country, a as more at larg I shall send you word in hast, when
I have more sure messinger. Sir, I pray you shew to my ladys
that Byrd of Knasbrough spake to me for certaine things to send
them; and he cold cary none, for he went to Hales and many
other pilgramages. Wryte in a byll such things as they wold
have, and send to me. Sir, ye have a faythfull frynd and servant
of Davy ap-i-Kriffith, but I marvell that ye sent not the mony at
Pentycost. I am douted that he vary from his grant, ther is so
great labor made to him for Havarey. Notwithstanding his letter
send to you in the favor of Wm. Plompton, I am through with
him affor my lord of Derby, that ye shall occupie, and put and de-
pute under your whosoever ye wyll, at your pleasure; and so shall
your indentures be made, ye observing all covenauntes. And ever
your owne to my pore Power, as knoweth our Lord, who your
good mastership, and my good ladys, with all yours, preserve.
From London, crastione Corporis.
                                            Your most humble servant,
          (11 June 1490.)                                            ED .PLOMPTON.

    a The King, before returning to keep the feast of Whitsuntide, (7 June 1489,) at
Nottingham, from the progress on which he had set out to quell the Yorkshire insur-
gents, " established in the northe parties the Erle of Surrey, Sir Richard Tunstall, and
Sir Henry Wentworthe." (Lel. Coll. vol. IV. p. 247.) ?The absence of the latter from
his post at Knaresborough at the date of this letter was, it seems, justly to be feared, not-
withstanding a year had passed since the dispersion of the malcontents; and in fact, in the
second year of the Earl of Surrey's government, ther was an insurrexion in the west part
of the countrey, with whom the said Erle with the helpe of the Kynges true subgetts
fought in the feld at Akeworth besides Pomfrett. (See monumental inscription of the
Earl of Surrey at Thetford, Weaver's Funerall Monuments, p. 386)?At. this field
Sir Robert Plumpton was present, as we learn from the following letter, another of
 

the torn off series, but of which a second copy has been preserved in Dugdale' York-
shire Arms. (MS. in . Coll. Arm. p. 105 b)

To my worshipfull Cousin, Sir Robert plumpton, knight.

    Right worshipfull Cousin, right hartelie I comend me untro you; and wheras I am
enformed that a servant of yors had a gelding of myne, which I lost on the feild, I de-
syre and pray you that my servant, this bearer, may have a sighte of him, and yf the
said geldyng be myne, that then ye will causer him to be delivered unto my said servant,
as my singulat trust is in you, whome our Lord have in his blessed safeguard. Written
in the castle of Sheriff-hutton, the 6th day of Maye. Cosen, I have some proofe that
your servant Robert Beck hath my gelding; one knoweth him well, told it me. I pray
you, Cosen, fail not to send me the geldinge with the hand.

                                                                                          Your loving cozen,
                                                                                                   THOMAS SURREY.

    The date of this letter is 6 May, 7 Hen. VIII. 1491, and on the 28th of that month
Sir Robert Plumpton was honoured with the following gracious letter from his sove-
reign.

To our trusty and welbeloved knight, Sir, Robert Plumpton.

    Trusty, &C. For the good and agreeable service you did unto us in this last commo-
tion of our subiects in our county of Yorke, wee can (give?) you our full speciall thanks
and shall not forget the disposition you have beene of in that behalfe, &c. Wee
therefore, intending to provide for the time to come, desire you that fothwith, and by
as wise wages as yee can, yee put yourself in a surety of your meniall servants and
tennants, and to know assuredly how many of them will take your part inserving us
according to your and their duties foresaid. When yee have demeaned the matter in
this wise, which wee would that you did as above with all diligence, then we pray you to
certitie our cozen, the Earl of Surrey, of the number of such assured men, &c. Dat.
Shene 28 Maii 7H.7. (From a transcript in Ch. Towneley's MSS. taken from Sir
Edward Plumpton's MS. when entire.)

    The well-read historian of Hallamshire has remarked, that the Earl of Surrey's inscrip-
tion is perhaps the only memorial of the second Yorkshire insurrection; the proof
from these letters of its historical exactness may therefore be strongly urged to shew
the value of the correspondence now give to the public by the Camden Society. The
battle of Ackworth is, moreover, further ascertained to have been fought in the spring
of the year 1491