Henry VI to Sir William Plumpton

3    Henry VI to Sir William Plumpton, 13 March 1460/1 (No. 1, p. 151
      CB 611)

By the King R[ex] H[enricus]. Trusty and wellbeloued we greete you
well, and for as much as we haue very knowledg that our great trator
the late earle of Mearch hath made great assemblies of riotouse and
mischeously disposed people; and to stirr and prouocke them to draw
vnto him he hath cried in his proclamations hauok vpon all our trew
liege people and subiects, theire wiues, children & goods, and is now
coming towards vs. We therfor pray you and also straitely charge you
that anon vpon the sight herof ye with all such people as ye may make
defensible arraied come vnto us in all hast possible wheresoeuer we
shall bee within this our realme, for to resist the malitious entent and
purpose of our said trator. And faile not herof as ye loue the seurty of
our person, the weale of your selfe, and of all our trew and faithfull
subiects.¹ Geuen under our signet at our cyty of York the thirtenth day
of March.^a

Endorsed: To our trusty and welbeloued knight Sir William Plompton

     ^a Marginal note. 1 letter. Ano 1612, copied 8 December.

     ¹ The death of Sir William’s son and heir, William, probably on the field of Towton,
29 March 1461, was to have far-reaching consequences for the family. He is last recorded
as living 19 Feb. 1460/1, CB, 547.

                                                LETTER I.

        To our trusty and welbeloved knight, Sir William Plompton.

    By the King. R. H.a Trusty and welbeloved, we greete you well,
and for as much as we have very knowledge that our great trator,
the late Earle of March,b hath made great assemblies of riotouse
and mischeously disposed people, and to stirr and provoke them
to draw unto him, he hath cried in his proclamations havok upon
all our trew liege people and subjects, thaire wives, children, and
goods, and is now coming towards us, we therfore pray you and
also straitely charge you that anon upon the sight herof, ye, with
all such people as ye may make defensible arraied, come unto us
in all hast possible, wheresoever we shall bee within this our
Realme, for to resist the malitious entent and purpose of our said
trator, and faile not herof as ye love the seurty of our person, the
weale of yourselfe, and of all our trew and faithfull subjects.
Geven under our signet at our Cyty of York, the thirtenth day of
March.c
        (13 March 1460-1.)

    a Henry VI.

    b Edward Earl of March took the title of Edward IV. 4 March 1460-1.

    c The battle of Towton field or Saxton field was fought on the twenty-ninth of
March following, being Palm Sunday, whence it was sometimes called Palm Sunday
field. Sir William Plumpton's eldest son was among the slain. (See Memoirs.)