Impeachment of the Duke of Suffolk - Medieval Family Life

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Title

Impeachment of the Duke of Suffolk

Reference

Add. 34888, ff. 36-39

Date

7 February 1450

Library / Archive

Transcript location(s) in printed volume(s)

Gairdner, Vol II, item 101; Fenn, Vol III, Henry VI item 17

Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume III' (1st transcript)

LETTER XVII.

To the King oure Sou^rayn lord,

SHE WETH and pitevously Compleyneth youre humble
trewe obeisantes Comunas of this youre nobile Reaume in
this youre p^rsent p’lement by yo^r high Autorite Assembled for
the seurte of yo^r moste high and Royall p^rsone and y^e welfar of
this yo^r nobile Reaume and of yo^r trewe liege peple of the
same That Will’m de la Pole Duke of Suff. late of Ewelme in
the Counte of Oxenford falsly and treyterously hath ymagined
Compassed purposid forethought done and cōmytted diu^rs high
grete heynous and horrible treasons ayenst yo^r most Roiale
p^rsone youre Corones of yo^r Raumes of England and Fraunce
your Duchice of Guyan and Normandie and youre holde en-
heritaunce of yo^r Countee of Anjoye and Mayne the estate and
dignite of y^e same And y^e onnu’sall wele and p’sp’ite of all yo^r
trewe s’bgettes of Raunnes and Counte in man^r and forme
ensewyng.

First the seid Duke y^e xx^ti Day of Juy¹¹ the xxv yere of youre
blissid regne in youre Citee of london in the p^rich of Sepulcr in
the ward of faringdon infra ymagynyng and p’posing falsly
and t’yterously to distroy yo^r moste Roiall p^rsone And this yo^r
seid Realme thenne and ther t’yterously excited Councelled
p’uoked and Comforted the Erle of ¹ Donas of Orli-
aunce Bertrande lord Pressigny maist^r Will’m Cusinet enemys to
you Sou¹ayne lord and other yo^r enemeys subgettes and ambassi-
ato’s to ² Charles calling hem selfe king of Fr’unce your grettys
Adu’sarie and enemey to move Councell ster and p’uoke the
same Charles to come in to this yo^r Realme to leve reise and
make open werr ayenst yo^r sou’ayne lord and alle this yo^r Reaume
w^t a grete puissaunce And Arme to distroy yo^r most Roiall
p^rsone And your trewe s’bgettes of the same Realme to the
entente to make John sone of ye same Duke of this yo^r seid
Realme And to depose you of your heigh regalie therof the
same Duke of Suff’ hauyng thenne of yo^r g’unte the ward and
manage of Margarete Doughter and heire to John late the Duke
of Som^rset p’posing here to marey to heis said sonne p’sumīg
and p’tendyng her to be nexte enheritable to the Corone of this
yo^r Realme for lak of issue of you sou’ayn lord in Accomplisshe-
ment of heis seid t’ytours p’pose and entent Wheroppon the
same Duke of Suff. sith ye tyme of heis Areste hath do the seid
Margarete to be maried to heis seid Sonne.

It’m the seid Duke of Suff. being most trostid w^t you and
prevyest of your Councell of fullong tyme p’pensing y^t yo^r seid
grate Enemeye And Adu’sarie Charles schuld Conquerr and gete
be power and myght yo^r seid Realme of Fraunce Duchies and
Countee the xx^ti Day of January the xvij yer of your regne at
Westm’ in yc shir of Midd’ And diu’s othir tymes and places
w^tin yo^r seid Realme of Engeland falsly t’yterously by sotel menes
and ymaginacyons for grete corrupcion of good taking of
money and other excessyf p’mises to him made by Charles Duke
of ³ Orliaunce your enemye coūcelled and stered of hym selfe
only yo^r heighnesse to enlarge and deliue’ out of p’son the same
Duke of Orliaunce enemye to you sou’en lord And to y^e most
victorious noble prince of blyssid memory the king youre fadir
whom god assoile takyn be hem p’sonere to thentent y^t ye seid
Charles Calling hym self King of Fr’unce schuld recoue’ gete
and haue be false Conqueste and other desayvabile menes ayenst
you yo^r heirz And successo’s yo^r seid Realme of Fr’unce Duches
and Counte be the wyle subtill Councell might and ayde of the
seid Duke of Orliaunce Notw^tstanding that be y^e late wylle and
ordinaunce of yo^r seid fadir for diu’s thingis moveyng his
grete wysdome contrary ther of was avysed and declared by
wiche Councell and stering only of ye seid Duke of Suff. y^e
seid Duke of Orliaunce was soberd at his liberte to dep’te of
of this youre Realme to the p^rtee of Fr’unce afore wich dep^rter
the first day of May ye seid xvij yerr of yo^r regne at london in
y^e parich of Sent Martyne in y^e Ward of Farindon infra y^e
same Duke of Suff. trayterously adherent to y^e seid Charles
calling hym selfe kyng of Fr’unce then and ther falsly and
t’yterously counseild coumforted stered and p’uoked ye seid Duke
of Orlyaunce to excite and moeve y^e same Charles calling hym
selfe Kyng of Fr’unce yo^r grete enemeye And adu’sarie to make
and Reyse open Werr ayenst you in yo^r seid Realme of Fr’unce
And Duchie of Normandy to Conquer And to opteyn falsly be
force myght and other menes ayenst you your heiriz and suc-
cesso^rs yo^r seid Realme of Fr’unce and Duche of Normandy
vppon wich Adherence Councell and Counfort of ye seid Duke
of Suff. ye seid Charles calling hym selfe Kyng hath made open
werr a yenst you in your seid Realme of Fr’unce and hath it at-
trochid vnto hym And ye most p^rty of yo^r Duchie of Normandy
And takyn p’sony’s ye ful nobile lordys and Coragyouse Knytys
y^e Erle of ⁴ Schrouesbery and y^e lord ⁵ Faconberge w^t many
othir Nobles and people of yo^r trewe leiges to ther likly fynall
ondoing your gretest disheritaunce and ou^r grete lamentable losse
that euer comē a for this to you or ony of yo^r ful Noble p’genito’s
or to your trewe subgettes.

It’m wher the seid Duke of Suff. late was on of yo^r Ambassi-
to^rs w^t othir to youre seid Adu^rsarie Charles calling hem self Kyng
of Fr’unce he above heis instruccion and power to hym be you
cōmittyng p^rmised to ⁶ Reyner King of Cesile And Charles
⁷ Daungers heis brothir your grete enemeys y^e deliu’aunce of
Maunce And Mayne w^tout y^e assent andvyse or knowyng of
other your seid Ambassito^rs w^t hym thenne accompanyd And
theroppon after heis comyng in to this Realme from the same
Ambassiate in p^rformīg of heis seid p’myse he falsly and t’yter-
ously for grette rewardes and lucre of good to hym yeuen by yo^r
enemes caused the seid Reyner and Charles Daungers to haue
deliu^raunce of Maunce and Mayne aforeseid to yo^r ou^r grete dis-
heritaunce and losse irrep^rable enforsing and enrychyng of your
seid enemes and grettest mene of the losse of yo^r seid Duche of
Normandye and so was y^e seid Duke of Suff. falsly and t’yterously
adherent aidant and Confortant to yo^r grete enemeys and
adu’saries.

It’m the seid Duke of Suff. being reteyned w^t you in yo^r
wages of werr in your seid Realme of Fr’unche and Duchie of
Normandye And therby strostid be you and alle your councellers
to knowe y^e p’uite of yo^r Councell ther And y^e p’uiaunce of yo^r
Armes y^e defence and keping of yo^r townes Forteresses and
places sieges p’veaunce and ordinaunce of Werr in y^e same p^rties
for you to be mad knowyng all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p’uite and being adherent
to yo^r seid grete enemeye calling hem self kyng of Fr’unce
hath eften and many diuers tymes falsly and t’yterously discouerd
and openned to hym and to heis Capytaynes and Conducto^rs
of heis Werr your enemes y^e p’uite ordinaunce and p’uision of
yo^r seid Councell p’ueaunces of Armes defence keping townnes
forteresses places Syeges and ordinaunce werby yo^r grete adu^r-
sarie and enemeys haue geton and takyn be y^e menes of this is
treason and falshode ful many lordchepes townnes Casteles for-
tesses and places w^tin yo^r seid Realme of Fr’unce and Duchie
of Normandie and letted yo^r Capitaynes of yo^r Werres to con-
quer keppe and acheve yo^r rithfull enheritaunce ther.

It’ y^e seid Duke of Suff. beyng of yo^r grete p’uey Councell
and w^t you best trostid knowyng the secrenesse therof And of
this yo^r Realme y^e xvj day of Juyll y^e xxv^ti yerr of yo^r regne at
london in the parich of sent lau^raunce Pulteney in y^e ward of
Sandewyke strette and at othir diu’s tymes and places falsly and
t’yterously beyng adherent and ardant to y^e seid Charles calling
hem selfe King of Fr’unce yo^r grete enemeys y^e seid xvj day
and in y^e parich of Sent laurence aforseid openned declarid and
discouered to y^e seid Erle of Danas Bastard of Orlyaunce Ber-
trand lord p’sigin Maist^r Will’m Cosinet yo^r enemeys s bgettes
Ambassiato^rs and Councellours to y^e seid Charles calling hem self
king of Fr’unce the p’uitees of your Councell aswell of this
your Realme for y^e comyn wele of y^e same as for y^e gou’nauns
and ordinaunce for y^e conquest cons^ruacion Saufgard tuycyon of
your seid Realme of Fr’unche and Duchie of Normandy at y^t
tyme being in your in handys as be the seid Charles calling hem
selfe kyng of Fr’unce, And armes goton and takyn out of yo^r
handes.

It’m suth y^e mat^r first moeved of y^e conuencyon of trewes
and pees by twenne you and your seid grette enemeye Charlys
callyng hem selfe Kyng of Fr’unche Wheroppon by grete dib^ra-
cyon ye by the Advyse of yo^r Councell haue send many solempne
Ambassato^rs to y^r same Charles for y^e god of pees to be hadde
be twyn you and this yo^r Realme and yo^r s’biettes in yo^r Realme
of Fr’unche Duchie of Normandye and othir places vnder yo^r
obeysauns and y^e same Charles and heis subgettes y^e seid Duke of
Suff. being next and grettest of yo^r Councell havyng knowlach
of y^e power and auctorite comytted to alle yo^r Ambassiato^rs send
in this be half hath deseyvabely and t’yterously by heis lres and
messages discou’ed and opened to yo^r seid grete enemeye Charlys
calling hym self Kyng of Fr’unce alle ynstrucciouns and infor-
maciouns yeven to yo^r seid Ambassato’s afore y^e comyng in to
Fr’unce werby the effectuale concord and trewes y^t schuld haue
folowed of suche Ambassiat by twynne both y^e seid Realmes
and s’bgettes haue take non effectualle conclusyon but by his
fals fraudelent traiterous werkes dedes and deceyvable ymagyna-
cyons yo^r grete enheritaunce seygnyouries lordshippis townes
Castell forteresses and possessions in yo^r seid Realme of Fr’unche
and Duchie of Normandye by cause of heis false messages send-
yngs and wrytyngys haue be takyn by rest and getyn fro you
be yo^r seid enemeys Jn proof of y^e wich treson ye seid Duke of
Suff. sittyng in yo^r Councell in y^e Stere Chambre in yo^r pales
of Westm^r seid and dedarid openly be for y^e lordis of yo^r
Councell ther being y^t he had his place in y^e Councell hows of
y^e French Kyng as he had ther and was ther as wel strostid
as he was here and couth remeve from y^e seid French Kynge y^e
prevyest man of heis Councell yf he wold.

It’ whan in this your Roialme ful oftyn tymes p’uicyon hath
be mad for diu’s Armes to be sent in to your seid Realme of
Fr’unche Duches of Normandy And Gyand y^e seid Duke of
Suff. by y^e instaunce and meenes mad to hym be yo^r seid ene-
meys and adu’sareys for grette outeragyous yestes and rewardes
of them takyn trayterously hath restrayned and vtt^rly lettyd y^e
passage of such Armees in fauo^r and Supporte of yo^r seid
enemeys.

It’ y^e seid Duke of Suff. as yo^r Ambassato’s by twene you
and Charles callyng hym self Kyng of Fr’unche in fortefyeng of
hem and enchresing of his myght hath not comprised in trewes
taken in yo^r p^rty y^e Kyng of ⁸ Arregon yo^r old Allye and frend
nother y^e Duke of ⁹ Breten but sufferd and causid y^e seid Duke
of Bretayne to be compremysid of y^e p^rty of the seid Charles as
his s’bget frende and allye wherby ye have ben est’unged from
y^e god leffe and assistence of y^e seid King of Arregon and therby
and be othir on trewe and falce coniectours of y^e seid Duke of
Suff. y^e seid Duke of Breteyn is become yo^r enemeye and
¹⁰ Gyles of Breten his Brothir y^e wiche is and of long tyme
hath ben yo^r trewe and welvylled man and s^rv’nt put in gret
dures of p^rcon and likely to be potte to y^e Dethe or distroid for
his trewe feith and welle y^t he hath to you.

And of alle tresons and offensys in alle theis seid Arteculys
specyfied and conteyned we yo^r seid Comens accuse and empeche
y^e seid Will’m de la Pole Duke of Suff. and pray y^t this be
enacte in this yo^r high Courte of p^rlement and theroppon to
p^rcede in this your high Courte of Parlement as y^e mat^r And
caas aforseid requireth for y^e Surete and welfar of yo^r most
Roiale p^rson And savacyon of this your Realme, &c.

This being an authentic Copy of the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against the
Duke of Suffolk, taken at the time, I thought them too curious not to be laid before the
public, though the purport of them may be found in several of our Histories of that period.

These Articles were exhibited in the beginning of February, 1449-50, when the Duke
was committed to the Tower, where his confinement was but short; as, upon the ad-
journment of the Parliament to meet at Leicester in April, he then appeared there in his
usual post, as prime Minister.

I cannot help taking notice of the words of the last sentence of the first charge,
“Wheruppon the same Duke of Suff’ fith y^e tyme of heis areste hath do [that is, bath
“caused] the seid Margarete to be married to heis seid Sonne.”

From these words it plainly appears that the Duke immediately upon his arrest caused
the marriage between his Son and the Lady Margaret to be solemnised.

I do not find that any of our Historians mention this as a matter which actually took
effect, but only as a matter which the Duke had in contemplation, the Lady at this time
being only eight or nine years old. Moreover had this marriage been then really solem-
nized, it must have affected not only the legitimacy of the Duke’s children, but also the
legitimacy of the Lady Margaret’s Son, Henry VII. as John, Duke of Suffolk (the
person here mentioned as her husband) lived till 1491; and she married Edmund Tudor,
Earl of Richmond, and by him had her Son Henry, (afterwards Henry VII.) about 1455.

The renowned Lady Margaret here mentioned, was the only daughter and heir of
John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, grandson of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. She
married Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond, by whom she was the Mother of our King
Henry VII. After the decease of this Earl she was successively the Wife of Henry
Stafford, younger Son of Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, and Thomas Stanley, Earl
of Derby; after which last marriage she engaged herself in a vow of celibacy, and spent
her time in prayer, alms giving, and founding Colleges. She died in 1509, when about
70 years old.

If the Reader wish to examine the several charges here brought forward, he is referred
to the Historians, who treat of the transactions of the period above mentioned; I have
here produced to him an authentic Copy of the several Articles upon which, with their
assistance, he will be enabled to form his own opinion.

The Copy in my possession is thus endorsed,

“ Coūpleyntys ayens the Dewke of Suffolk.”

¹ John Bastard of Orleans, Count of Dunois, a natural Son of Lewis, Duke of
Orleans, and natural brother to Charles, was born in 1402; he acquired great renown in
the French wars against the English, and died loaded with years, honours, and wealth
in 1470.

² Charles VII. King of France, was born in 1402, and died in 1461.

³ Charles, Duke of Orleans and Milan, born in 1391, was taken prisoner at the battle
of Agincourt, in 1415, and continued in England as such till 1440, when he was released;
he died in 1465.

⁴ John, Lord Talbot, our famous general in the French wars, was created Earl of
Shrewsbury in 1442. He was a prisoner in France from 1428 to 1432, and slain at
Chastillion in 1453, when above 80 years old.

⁵ William Neville was created Lord Falconberg, in 1429. He commanded the Van
at the battle of Towton, in 1461, and was soon after created Earl of Kent, and died in
1463.

⁶ Renatus, Duke of Anjou, &c. Father of the Queen of England, here called King of
Sicily or Naples, he died in 1480.

⁷ Charles of Anjou, Duke of Maine, was born in 1414, and died in 1472.

⁹ Alphonso V. King of Aragon, died in 1458, aged 64.

⁹ Francis I. Duke of Bretaign, was born in 1414, and died in 1450.

¹⁰ Egidius or Gyles, his brother, was Lord of Chantore: he died in 1450.

The above was written on two
whole Sheets of paper, each

11 ¾ by 17.

                     Paper Mark,
             Q? some kind of Flower.
                      Pl. XXI. N^o 9.

Transcript from John Fenn, 'Original Letters, written during the reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III…. Volume III' (2nd transcript)

LETTER XVII.

To the King our Sovereign Lord,

SHE WETH and piteously complaineth your humble true
obeisant Commons of this your noble Realm, in this your
present Parliament, by your high authority assembled for the
surety of your most high and royal Person, and the welfare of
this your noble Realm, and of the true liege people of the
same, that William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, late of Ewelm,
in the County of Oxford, falsely and traiterously hath imagined,
compassed, purposed, forethought, done, and committed, divers
high, great, heinous, and horrible treasons against your most
royal person, your Crowns of your realms of England and
France, your Duchies of Guyenne and Normandy, and your
old inheritance of your Counties of Anjou and Maine, the estate
and dignity of the same, and the universal weal and prosperity
of all your true subjects of realms and counties in manner and
form ensuing.

First, the said Duke the 20th day of July, the 25th year of
your blessed reign (1447) in your city of London, in the parish
of Sepulchre, in the Ward of Faringdon infra, imagining and
purposing falsely and traiterously to destroy your most royal per-
son, and this your said realm, then and there traiterously excited,
counselled, provoked, and comforted the Earl of ¹ Denas (Bastard)
of Orleans, Bertrand, Lord Pressigny, Master William Cusinet
enemies to you sovereign Lord, and other your enemies, sub-
jects and ambassadors to ² Charles, calling himself King of
France, your greatest adversary and enemy, to move, counsel, stir,
and provoke the same Charles to come into this your realm to
levy, raise, and make open war against you sovereign Lord,
and all this your realm with a great puissance and army to de-
stroy your most royal person, and your true subjects of the same
realm to the intent to make John son of the same Duke (King)
of this your said realm, and to depose you of your high regality
thereof, the same Duke of Suffolk having then of your grant the
ward and marriage of Margaret, Daughter and heir to John,
late the Duke of Somerset, purposing her to marry to his said son,
presuming and pretending her to be next enheritable to the
crown of this your realm, for lack of issue of you sovereign Lord,
in accomplishment of his said traitor’s purpose and intent,
whereupon the same Duke of Suffolk sith the time of his
arrest hath do [caused] the said Margaret to be married to his
said son.

Item, the said Duke of Suffolk being most trusted with you,
and priviest of your counsel of full long time prepensing [pre-
meditating] that your said great enemy and adversary Charles
should conquer and get by power and might your said realm of
France, Duchies, and Counties the 20th day of January, the
17th year of your reign (1438) at Westminster, in the shire of
Middlesex, and divers other times and places within your said
realm of England, falsely, traiterously, by subtle means and
imaginations, for great corruption of good, taking of money,
and other excessive promises to him made by Charles, Duke of
³ Orleans your enemy, counselled and steered of himself only,
your highness to enlarge and deliver out of prison the same
Duke of Orleans, enemy to you sovereign Lord, and to the

most victorious noble Prince of blessed memory, the King your
father, whom God assoil! taken by him prisoner, to the intent
that the said Charles, calling himself King of France, should
recover, get, and have by false conquest, and other deceivable
means against you, your heirs and successors, your said realm of
France, Duchies and Counties by the wile, subtle counsel, might,
and aid, of the said Duke of Orleans.

Notwithstanding that by the last will and ordinance of your
said father, for divers things moving his great wisdom, contrary
thereof was advised and declared, by which counsel and steering
only of the said Duke of Suffolk, the said Duke of Orleans
was soverd [suffered] at his liberty to depart of of this your
realm to the parts of France.

Afore which departure the 1st day of May, the said 17th year
of your reign (1439) at London, in the parish of St. Martin, in
the Ward of Faringdon infra, the same Duke of Suffolk traiter-
ously adherent to the said Charles, calling himself King of
France, then and there falsely and traiterously counselled, com-
forted, steered, and provoked the said Duke of Orleans to excite
and move the same Charles, calling himself King of France,
your great enemy and adversary, to make and raise open war
against you in your said realm of France, and Duchy of Nor-
mandy, to conquer and to obtain falsely by force, might, and other
means against you, your heirs and successors, your said realm
of France, and Duchy of Normandy, upon which adherence,
counsel and convort [q. comfort] of the said Duke of Suffolk, the
said Charles, calling himself King, hath made open war against
you in your said realm of France, and it hath attroched [attracted]
unto him, and the most part of your Duchy of Normandy, and
taken prisoners the full noble Lords and courageous Knights,
the Earl of ⁴ Shrewsbury, and the Lord ⁵ Falconberg with many
other nobles and people of your true lieges, to their likely final
undoing, your greatest disheritance, and our great lamentable
loss that ever come afore this to you, or any of your full noble
progenitors, or to your true subjects.

Item, where (as) the said Duke of Suffolk late was one of your
Ambassadors with others to your said adversary Charles, calling
himself King of France, he above his instruction and power to
him by you committing, promised to ⁶ Reyner, King of Sicily,
and Charles ⁷ D’aungers his brother, your great enemies, the
deliverance of Maunce and Mayne, without the assent and advice
or knowing of others your said Ambassadors with him then ac-
companied, and thereupon after his coming into this realm from
the same Ambassiate, in performing of his said promise, he
falsely and traiterously, for great rewards and lucre of good to
him given by your enemies, caused the said Reyner and Charles
D’aungers to have deliverance of Maunce and Mayne aforesaid, to
your over great disheritance and loss irreparable, enforcing and
enriching of your said enemies, and greatest mean of the loss of
your said Duchy of Normandy; and so was the said Duke of
Suffolk falsely and traiterously adherent, aidant and consortant to
your great enemies and adversaries.

Item, the said Duke of Suffolk being retained with you in
your wages of war, in your said realm of France and Duchy
of Normandy, and thereby trusted by you and all your coun-
sellors to know the privity of your counsel there, and the pur-
veyance of your armies, the defence and keeping of your towns,
fortresses, and places, sieges, purveyance and ordinance of war
in the same parts for you to be made, knowing all in private,
and being adherent to your said great enemy, calling himself
King of France, hath often and many divers times falsely and
traiterously discovered and opened to him, and to his captains,
and conductors of his war, your enemies, the privity, ordinance,
and provision of your said counsel, purveyances of arms, de-
fence keeping, towns, fortresses, places, sieges, and ordinance,
whereby your great adversary and enemies have gotten and taken
by the means of this his treason and falsehood full many Lord-
ships, towns, castles, fortresses, and places within your said
realm of France, and Duchy of Normandy, and letted your
captains of the wars to conquer, keep, and atchieve your right-
ful inheritance there.

Item, the said Duke of Suffolk being of your great privy
Council, and with you best trusted, knowing the secreness
[secrecy] thereof, and of this your realm, the 16th day of July,
the 25th year of your reign (1447) at London, in the parish of
St. Laurence Pulteney, in the ward of Sandwick street, and at
other divers times and places falsely and traiterously being adhe-
rent and aidant to the said Charles, calling himself king of France,
your great enemy, the said 16th day, and in the parish of St.
Laurence aforesaid, opened, declared, and discovered to the
said Earl of Danas, Bastard of Orleans, Bertrand, Lord Pressigny,
Master William Cosinet, your enemies, subjects, ambassadors
and Counsellors to the said Charles, calling himself King of
France, the privities of your council, as well of this your realm
for the common weal of the same, as for the governance and
ordinance for the conquest, conservation, safeguard, tuition of
your said realm of France and Duchy of Normandy, at that time
being in your hands, as by the said Charles, calling himself
King of France, and armies gotten and taken out of your hands.

Item, sith the matter first moved of the convention of truce
and peace between you and your said great enemy Charles, call-
ing himself King of France, whereupon by great deliberation ye
by the advice of your council have sent many solemn Ambassates
to the same Charles for the good of peace to be had between
you and this your realm, and your subjects in your realm of
France, Duchy of Normandy, and other places under your
obeisance, and the same Charles and his subjects, the said Duke
of Suffolk being next and greatest of your Council, having
knowledge of the power and authority committed to all your
Ambassadors sent in this behalf, hath deceivably and traite-
rously by his letters and messages discovered and opened to your
said great enemy Charles, calling himself King of France, all
instructions and informations given to your said Ambassadors
afore the coming into France, whereby the effectual concord and
truce, that should have followed of such Ambassate between
both the said realms and subjects, have taken none effectual con-
clusion, but by his false, fraudulent, traiterous works, deeds, and
deceivable imaginations, your great inheritances, seignories, lord-
ships, towns, castles, fortresses, and possessions in your said
realm of France and Duchy of Normandy, because of his false
messages, sendings, and writings, have been taken by rest, and
gotten from you by your said enemies.

In proof of the which treason the said Duke of Suffolk, sitting
in your council in the Star Chamber in your Palace of West-
minster, said and declared openly before the Lords of your coun-
cil there being, that he had his place in the Council house of the
French King as he had there, and was there as well trusted as
he was here, and could remove from the said French King the
priviest man of his council if he would.

Item, when in this your realm full often times provision hath
been made for divers armies to be sent into your said realm of
France, Duchies of Normandy and Guyenne, the said Duke of
Suffolk, by the instance and means made to him by your said
enemies and adversaries for great outrageous gifts and rewards of
them taken, traiterously hath restrained and utterly letted the
passage of such armies in favour and support of your said
enemies.

Item, the said Duke of Suffolk as your Ambassador between
you and Charles, calling himself King of France, in fortifying
him and encreasing of his might, hath not comprised in truce,
taken in your party the King of ⁸ Arragon, your old Ally and
friend, neither the Duke of ⁹ Bretayne, but suffered and caused
the said Duke of Bretayne to be compremised of the party of
the said Charles, as his subject, friend, and ally, whereby ye
have been estranged from the good love and assistance of the said
King of Arragon, and thereby and by other untrue and false
conjectures of the said Duke of Suffolk, the said Duke of Bre-
tayne is become your enemy, and ¹⁰ Gyles of Bretayne his
brother, the which is, and of long time hath been, your true
and well willed man and servant, put in great duress of prison,
and likely to be put to the death or destroyed for his true faith
and weal that he hath to you.

And of all treasons and offences in all these said articles speci-
fied and contained, We your said Commons accuse and impeach
the said William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and pray that
this be enacted in this your High Court of Parliament, and
thereupon to proceed in this your High Court of Parliament,
as the matter and case aforesaid requireth for the surety and
welfare of your most Royal Person, and savation [salvation] of
this your Realm.

From these words it plainly appears that the Duke immediately upon his arrest caused
the marriage between his Son and the Lady Margaret to be solemnised.

The Copy in my possession is thus endorsed,

“ Coūpleyntys ayens the Dewke of Suffolk.”

² Charles VII. King of France, was born in 1402, and died in 1461.

³ Charles, Duke of Orleans and Milan, born in 1391, was taken prisoner at the battle
of Agincourt, in 1415, and continued in England as such till 1440, when he was released;
he died in 1465.

⁵ William Neville was created Lord Falconberg, in 1429. He commanded the Van
at the battle of Towton, in 1461, and was soon after created Earl of Kent, and died in
1463.

⁶ Renatus, Duke of Anjou, &c. Father of the Queen of England, here called King of
Sicily or Naples, he died in 1480.

⁷ Charles of Anjou, Duke of Maine, was born in 1414, and died in 1472.

⁹ Alphonso V. King of Aragon, died in 1458, aged 64.

⁹ Francis I. Duke of Bretaign, was born in 1414, and died in 1450.

¹⁰ Egidius or Gyles, his brother, was Lord of Chantore: he died in 1450.

The above was written on two
whole Sheets of paper, each

11 ¾ by 17.

                     Paper Mark,
             Q? some kind of Flower.
                      Pl. XXI. N^o 9.

Transcript from James Gairdner, 'The Paston Letters, A.D., 1422-1509, New Complete Library Edition, Volume II'

101

IMPEACHMENT OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK⁵

To the King oure Soverayn Lord.

      SHEWETH and piteuously compleyneth youre humble
          trewe obeisantes Comunes of this youre nobile reaume,
          in this youre present Parlement, by your high autorite
assembled for the seurte of your moste high and royall per-
sone, and the welfar of this your nobile reaume, and of your
trewe liege peple of the same, that William de la Pole, Duke
of Suffolk, late of Ewelme, in the counte of Oxenford, falsly
and treyterously hath ymagined, compassed, purposid, fore-
thought, done, and commytted divers high, grete, heynous,
and horrible treasons ayenst your most roiale persone, youre
corones of your raumes of England and Fraunce, your duchiee
of Guyan and Normandie, and youre holde enheritaunce of
your countee of Anjoye and Mayne, the estate and dignite of the
same, and the universall wele and prosperite of all your trewe
subgettes of raumes, [duchies] and counte in maner and in
forme ensewyng.

First, the seid Duke the xx^ti day of Juy^ll the xxv. yere¹ of
youre blissid regne, in youre citee of London, in the parich of
Sepulcr, in the ward of Faringdon infra, ymagynyng and
purposing falsly and treyterously to distroy your moste roiall
persone, and this your seid realme, thenne and ther trayter-
ously excited, councelled, provoked, and comforted the Erle
of Donas² [bastard]³ of Orliaunce, Bertrande, Lord Pressigny,
Maister William Cusinet,⁴ enemys to you Soverayne Lord,
and other your enemeys, subgettes and ambassiators to Charles,⁵
calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grettys adversarie and
enemey, to meve, councell, ster, and provoke the same Charles
to come in to this your realme, to leve, reise, and make open
werr ayenst you, Soverayne Lord, and alle this your reaume
with a grete puissaunce and arme to distroy your most roiall
persone, and your trewe subgettes of the same realme, to the
entente to make John, sone of the same Duke, [King] of this
your seid realme, and to depose you of your heigh regalie
therof; the same Duke of Suffolk havyng thenne of your
graunte the ward and mariage of Margarete, doughter and
heire to John, the late Duke of Somerset, purposing here to

marey to heis said sonne, presuming and pretendyng her to be
nexte enheritable to the Corone of this your realme, for lak
of issue of you Soverayn Lord, in accomplishement of heis
seid traytours purpose and entent, wheroppon the same Duke
of Suffolk, sith the tyme of heis areste, hath do the seid
Margarete to be maried to heis seid sonne.

Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being most trostid with
you, and prevyest of your councell of fullong tyme, prepensing
that your seid grete enemeye and adversarie Charles schuld
conquerr and gete be power and myght your seid realme of
Fraunce, duchies, and countee, the xx^ti day of January the
xvij. yer¹ of your regne, at Westminster, in the shir of
Middlesex, and divers othir tymes and places within your
seid realme of Engeland, falsly, trayterously, by sotel menes
and ymaginacyons, for grete corrupcion of good, taking of
money, and other excessyf promises to him made by Charles,
Duke of Orliaunce,² your enemye, councelled and stered of
hym selfe only, your heighnesse to enlarge and deliver out of
prison the same Duke of Orliaunce, enemye to you Soveren
Lord, and to the most victorious noble prince of blyssid
memory, the king youre fadir, whom God assoile! takyn be
hem prisonere, to th’entent that the seid Charles, calling hym
self king of Fraunce, schuld recover, gete, and have be false
conqueste, and other desayvabile menes ayenst you, your
heirz and successors, your seid realme of Fraunce, duches
and counte, be the wyle, subtill councell, might, and ayde of
the seid Duke of Orliaunce.

Notwithstanding that be the late wylle and ordinaunce of
your seid fadir, for divers thingis moveyng his grete wysdome,
contrary ther of was avysed and declared, by wiche councell
and stering only of the seid Duke of Suffolk the seid Duke of
Orliaunce was soverd [suffered] at his liberte to departe of this
youre realme to the partee of Fraunce.

Afore wich departer the first day of May the seid xvij.
yerr¹ of your regne, at London, in the parich of Sent Martyne,
in the ward of Farindon infra, the same Duke of Suffolk,
trayterously adherent to the seid Charles, calling hym selfe
kyng of Fraunce, then and ther falsly and trayterously coun-
seiled, coumforted, stered, and provoked the seid Duke of
Orlyaunce to excite and moeve the same Charles, calling hym
selfe kyng of Fraunce, your grete enemeye and adversarie,
to make and reyse open werr ayenst you in your seid realme
of Fraunce and duchie of Normandy, to conquer, and to
opteyn falsly be force, myght, and other menes ayenst you,
your heiriz and successours, your seid realme of Fraunce and
duche of Normandy, Uppon wich adherence, councell, and
counfort of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Charles calling
hym selfe kyng, hath made open werr a yenst you in your
seid realme of Fraunce, and hath it attrochid unto hym,
and the most party of your duchie of Normandy, and takyn
prisonyrs the ful nobile Lordys and coragyouse Knytys, the
Erle of Schrouesbery¹ and the Lord Faconberge,² with many
othir nobles and people of your trewe leiges, to ther likly
fynall ondoing, your gretest disheritaunce, and oure grete
lamentable losse that ever comen a fore this to you, or ony of
your ful noble progenitors, or to your trewe subgettes.

Item, wher the seid Duke of Suffolk late was on of your
ambassitours with othir to youre seid adversarie Charles, calling
hem self kyng of Fraunce, he, above heis instruccion and
power to hym be you committyng, promised to Reyner,³ King
of Cesile, and Charles Daungers,⁴ heis brothir, your grete
enemeys, the deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne, without
the assent andvyse or knowyng of other your seid ambas-
sitours with him thenne accompanyd; and theroppon after
heis comyng in to this realme from the same ambassiate, in
performing of heis seid promyse, he falsly and trayterously,
for grette rewardes and lucre of good to hym yeven by your
enemes, caused the said Reyner and Charles Daungers to have
deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne aforeseid, to your over
grete disheritaunce and loss irreparable, enforsing and en-

rychyng of your seid enemes, and grettest mene of the losse
of your seid duche of Normandye; and so was the seid Duke
of Suffolk falsly and trayterously adherent, aidant, and con-
fortant to your grete enemeys and adversaries.

Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being reteyned with you in
your wages of werr in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie
of Normandye, and therby strostid be you and alle your coun-
cellers to knowe the privite of your councell ther, and the
purviaunce of your armes, the defence and keping of your
townes, forteresses, and places, sieges, purveaunce, and ordi-
naunce of werr in the same parties for you to be mad,
knowyng all [such] privite, and being adherent to your seid
grete enemeye, calling hem self kyng of Fraunce, hath eften
and many divers tymes falsly and trayterously discoverd and
openned to hym, and to heis capytaynes and conductors
of heis werr, your enemes, the privite, ordinaunce, and pro-
vision of your seid councell, purveaunces of armes, defence
keping, townes, forteresses, places, syeges, and ordinaunce,
werby your grete adversarie and enemeys have geton and
takyn, be the menes of this is treason and falshode, ful many
lordchepes, townnes, casteles, fortesses, and places within your
seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie, and letted
your capitaynes of your werres to conquer, keppe, and acheve
your rithfull enheritaunce ther.

Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk beyng of your grete Privey
Councell, and with you best trostid, knowyng the secrenesse
therof and of this your realme, the xvj. day of Juyll the
xxv^ti yerr¹ of your regne, at London, in the parich of Sent
Laueraunce Pulteney, in the ward of Sandewyke [Candewyke]
Strette, and at othir divers tymes and places, falsly and
trayterously beyng adherent and aidant to the seid Charles,
calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grete enemeys, the
seid xvj. day, and in the parich of Sent Laurence aforeseid,
openned, declarid, and discovered to the seid Erle of Danas,
Bastard of Orlyaunce, Bertrand, Lord Presigni, Maister
William Cosinet, your enemeys, subgettes, ambassiatours and
conncellours to the seid Charles, calling hem self king of
Fraunce, the privitees of your councell, aswell of this your
realme for the comyn wele of the same, as for the governauns
and ordinaunce for the conquest, conservacion, saufgard, tuy-
cyon of your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandy;
[whereby the great part of your said realm of France and
duchy of Normandy]¹ at that tyme being in your in handys,
as [should be, is] be the seid Charles, calling hem selfe kyng
of Fraunce, and [his] armes goton and takyn out of your
handes.

Item, suth the matier first moeved of the convencyon of
trewes and pees by twenne you and your seid grette enemeye
Charlys, callyng hem selfe kyng of Fraunche, wheroppon by
grete diberacyon ye, by the advyse of your Councell, have
send many solempne ambassatours to the same Charles for the
god of pees to be hadde be twyn you and this your realme,
and your subjettes in your realme of Fraunche, duchie of
Normandye, and othir places under your obeysauns, and the
same Charles and heis subgettes, the seid Duke of Suffolk
being next and grettest of your Councell, havyng knowlach of
the power and auctorite comytted to alle your ambassiatours
send in this be half, hath deseyvabely and trayterously by heis
lettres and messages discovered and opened to your seid grete
enemeye Charlys, calling hym self kyng of Fraunce, alle
ynstrucciouns and informaciouns yeven to your seid ambas-
satours afore their comyng in to Fraunce, werby the effectuale
concord and trewes that schuld have folowed of suche ambassiat
by tywnne both the seid realmes and subgettes, have take non
effectualle conclusyon, but by his fals, fraudelent, traiterous
werkes, dedes, and deceyvable yma gynacyons, your grete
enheritaunce, seygnyouries, lordshippis, townes, castell, for-
teresses, and possessions in your seid realme of Fraunche and
duchie of Normandye, by cause of heis false messages, send-
yngs, and wrytyngys have be takyn by reft, and gotten fro you
be your seid enemeys.

In proof of the wich treson the seid Duke of Suffolk,
sittyng in your Councell in the Stere Chambre, in your pales

of Westminster, seid and declarid openly be for the Lordis of
your Councell ther being, that he had his place in the Councell
hows of the French kyng as he had ther, and was ther as wel
strostid as he was here, and couth remeve from the seid French
kynge the prevyest man of heis Councell yf he wold.

Item, whan in this your roialme ful oftyn tymes provicyon
hath be mad for divers armes to be sent in to your seid realme
of Fraunche, duches of Normandy and Gyand, the seid Duke
of Suffolk, by the instaunce and meenes mad to hym be your
seid enemeys and adversareys for grette outeragyous yeftes
and rewardes of them takyn, trayterously hath restrayned, and
utterly lettyd the passage of such armees in favour and supporte
of your seid enemeys.

Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk, as your ambassatours by
twene you and Charles, callyng hym self kyng of Fraunche, in
fortefyeng of hem and enchresing of his myght, hath not
comprised in trewes, taken in your party the Kyng of
Arregon,¹ your old allye and frend, nother the Duke of
Breten,² but sufferd and causid the seid Duke of Bretayne to
be compremysid of the party of the seid Charles as his subget,
frende, and allye, wherby ye have ben estraunged from the god
loffe and assistence of the seid King of Arregon, and therby
and be othir on trewe and falce conjectours of the seid Duke
of Suffolk, the seid Duke of Breteyn is become your enemeye;
and Gyles³ of Breten, his brothir, the wiche is, and of long
tyme hath ben, your trewe and welvylled man and servaunt,
put in gret dures of pricon, and likely to be potte to the
dethe or distroid for his trewe feith and welle that he hath
to you.

And of alle tresons and offensys in alle theis seid arteculys
specyfied and conteyned, we your seid Comens accuse and
empeche the seid William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and
pray that this be enacte in this your High Courte of Parlement,
and theroppon to procede in this your High Courte of Parle-
ment, as the mater and caas aforseid requireth for the surete
and welfar of your most roiale person, and savacyon of this
your realme, &c.

⁵ [From Fenn, iii. 62.] These are the articles of impeachment exhibited against
the Duke of Suffolk, as printed by Fenn from a contemporaneous copy among the
Paston MSS., endorsed ‘Coumpleyntys ayens the Dewke of Suffolk.’ Another copy
will be found in the Rolls of Parliament, V. 177. The day of the Duke’s impeach-
ment was the 7th February 1450. ¹ A.D. 1447.

² John, Count of Dunois, one of the most renowned warriors of the times. He
was a grandson of Charles V. of France, a natural son of Louis, Duke of Orleans, and
half-brother of Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was prisoner in England.

³ Blank in Fenn. ⁴ Cousinot. ⁵ Charles VII.

¹ A.D. 1439. ² Charles, Duke of Orleans.—See p. 46, Note 3.

¹ John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, the great hero of the French wars, slain
at Castillon in 1453.

² William Nevill, Lord Fauconberg.

³ René, Duke of Anjou, father of Queen Margaret.

⁴ Charles of Anjou, Count of Maine.

¹ A.D. 1447.

¹ These words are omitted in Fenn, and are supplied from the Rolls of
Parliament.

¹ Alfonso v., King of Arragon. ² Francis I., Duke of Brittany.

³ Giles of Brittany, the duke’s brother, who was murdered in April 1450, after
having been kept four years in prison by the duke.

1450
FEB. 7