John Bocking to Sir John Fastolf

LETTER XXXVIII.

To my Maist^r Fastolf at Castre in haste.

LYKE it yo^r maist^rship to wyte that as for tidings the
     ¹ Counsell is the fornone at y^e blake Frires for y^e ease of
resortyng of y^e Lordys that ar w^t inne y^e toun and at aft^rnon’
at the white Frirers in Fletstrete for y^e Lordis w^t owte y^e toun
and all ying shall come to a good conclusion w^t God is g’ce
for y^e Kyng shall come hidre yis weke and y^e Quene also as
some men sayn and my Lord ² Buk and ³ Stafford w^t hire and
moche puple.

     My Lord of ⁴ Caunt^rbury takith grete peyne up on hym daily
and will write un to yow y^e c^rteynte of suche tidings as falle
and shuld have doon or yis tyme saf for yat he wolde knowe
an ende of y^e matt^r.

     Oy^r tidings here ar none sauf my Lord of Excestre is displesid

y^t y^e Erle of Warwyk shall kepe y^e see and hath y^rfore rec^d
yis weke m^l li. of y^{e 5} Hanup’e.

     The messenger was on horsbak whanne I wrote yow yis
bill and y^rfore it was doon in haste and our Lord J’hu kepe
yow.

     Writen at London y^e Wednesday aft^{r 6} Midlenton.

     And my Lord of Caunt^rbury tolde me yat ye ⁷ ffrenche men
have ben before yow, and y^t ye shotte many gonnes and so
he tolde all y^e Lords I have desirid hym to move y^e Counsell
for refreshing of y^e toun of Yermowth w^t stuff of ordnance
and gonnes and gonne powdre and he seid he wolde.

                                                                Yo^r humble S^rvaunt,

                                                                                       ⁸ J. Bokking.

 8 ? by 4 ?.

   London,
                  Wednesday, 15th of March,
                  1457-8, 36 H. VI.

 This and the preceding Letter give us an account of those Noblemen, who came to
London in consequence of the King’s Letters, requesting their attendance, in order to
establish a reconciliation between both Parties.

     ¹ It appears that each Party had a separate Council, the Lords who were Friends to the
King, being lodged without the City, meeting at the White Friars; and those in the
Duke of York’s interest, being lodged within the City, at the Black Friars.

     The reason given is—their mutual convenience; the real one perhaps, political;
though as the meetings were held at different times of the day, the Lords of each Party
might be present.

     Hollingshead says, that the King’s Friends met in the Chapter House in Westminster.

     ² Humphrey Stafford, Duke or Buckingham, was skin in the battle of Northampton,
in 1460, where he commanded with the Duke of Somerset.

  ³ Henry Stafford, Earl of Stafford, grandson to the Duke of Buckingham, succeeded
him in 1460; and was the principal instrument in raising Richard III. to the Throne;
but afterwards plotting against him, he was obliged to retire from Court, and conceal
himself; when being treacherously betrayed, he was taken and beheaded without any
form of trial, in 1483.

     ⁴ Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal, lived 51 years after
his first consecration to the Bishoprick of Worcester, during 32 of which he filled the See
of Canterbury, and died very old in 1486. He appears here in the character of a good
man, using all his endeavours to forward the reconciliation.

     He was a Friend and Correspondent of Sir John Fastolf.

  ⁵ The Hanaper was the Office where the King’s Treasures were kept, and was at this
time, I believe, another name for the Exchequer.

     ⁶ The first Sunday in Lent happened in the year 1457-8, on the 19th of February,
and Midlent Sunday on the 12th of March.

 ⁷ During the year 1457, the French made several attempts upon our Coasts, but
without much effect.

     ⁸ John Bokking, was one of Sir John Fastolf’s Household, and the impression on the
Seal appears to be a Goat. Pl. III. N^o 33.

LETTER XXXVIII.

To my Master Fastolf, at Caister, in haste.

LIKE it your Mastership to weet, that as for tidings, the
     ¹ Council is, the forenoon, at the Black Friars, for the
ease of resorting of the Lords that are within the town; and, at
afternoon, at the White Friars in Fleet-street, for the Lords
without the town; and all things shall come to a good conclu-
sion with God’s Grace; for the King shall come hither this
week, and the Queen also, as some men say, and my Lords
² Buckingham and ³ Stafford with her, and much people.

     My Lord of ⁴ Canterbury taketh great pain upon him daily,
and will write unto you the certainty of such tidings as fall;
and should have done ere this time, save for that he would know
an end of the matter.

     Other tidings here are none, save my Lord of Exeter is

displeased that the Earl of Warwick shall keep the Sea, and
hath therefore received this week 1000l. of the ⁵ Hanaper.

     The messenger was on horseback when I wrote you this bill,
and therefore it was done in haste, and our Lord Jesu keep you.
Written at London the Wednesday after ⁶ Midlent.

     And my Lord of Canterbury told me that the ⁷ Frenchmen
have been before you, and that ye shot many Guns, and so
he told all the Lords.

     I have desired him to move the Council for refreshing of the
Town of Yarmouth with stuff of Ordnance, and Guns and Gun-
powder, and he said he would.

                                                      Your Humble Servant,

                                                                       ⁸ JOHN BOKKING.

 8 ? by 4 ?.

   London,
                  Wednesday, 15th of March,
                  1457-8, 36 H. VI.

 This and the preceding Letter give us an account of those Noblemen, who came to
London in consequence of the King’s Letters, requesting their attendance, in order to
establish a reconciliation between both Parties.

     ¹ It appears that each Party had a separate Council, the Lords who were Friends to the
King, being lodged without the City, meeting at the White Friars; and those in the
Duke of York’s interest, being lodged within the City, at the Black Friars.

     The reason given is—their mutual convenience; the real one perhaps, political;
though as the meetings were held at different times of the day, the Lords of each Party
might be present.

     Hollingshead says, that the King’s Friends met in the Chapter House in Westminster.

     ² Humphrey Stafford, Duke or Buckingham, was skin in the battle of Northampton,
in 1460, where he commanded with the Duke of Somerset.

  ³ Henry Stafford, Earl of Stafford, grandson to the Duke of Buckingham, succeeded
him in 1460; and was the principal instrument in raising Richard III. to the Throne;
but afterwards plotting against him, he was obliged to retire from Court, and conceal
himself; when being treacherously betrayed, he was taken and beheaded without any
form of trial, in 1483.

     ⁴ Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal, lived 51 years after
his first consecration to the Bishoprick of Worcester, during 32 of which he filled the See
of Canterbury, and died very old in 1486. He appears here in the character of a good
man, using all his endeavours to forward the reconciliation.

     He was a Friend and Correspondent of Sir John Fastolf.

  ⁵ The Hanaper was the Office where the King’s Treasures were kept, and was at this
time, I believe, another name for the Exchequer.

     ⁶ The first Sunday in Lent happened in the year 1457-8, on the 19th of February,
and Midlent Sunday on the 12th of March.

 ⁷ During the year 1457, the French made several attempts upon our Coasts, but
without much effect.

     ⁸ John Bokking, was one of Sir John Fastolf’s Household, and the impression on the
Seal appears to be a Goat. Pl. III. N^o 33.

366

JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF¹

To my Maister Fastolf, at Castre, in haste.

    LYKE it your maistership to wyte that, as for tidings,
       the Counsell is, the fornone, at the Blake Frires, for
       the ease of resorting of the Lordys that are withinne
the toun; and at afternone at the White Frirers in Fletstrete,
for the Lordis withowte the toun; and all thing shall come to
a good conclusion with God is grace, for the Kyng shall come
hidre this weke, and the Quene also, as some men sayn, and
my Lord Buk,² and Stafford³ with hire, and moche puple.

     My Lord of Caunterbury takith grete peyne up on hym
daily, and will write un to yow the certeynte of suche tidings
as falle; and shuld have doon or this tyme, saf for that he
wolde knowe an end of the matter.

     Other tidings here are none, sauf my Lord of Excestre⁴
is displesid that the Erle of Warwyk shall kepe the see,
and hath therfore received this weke m^l. li. [£1000] of the
Hanupere.⁵

     The messenger was on horsbak whanne I wrote yow this
bill, and therfore it was doon in haste; and our Lord Jesus
kepe yow.

     Writen at London the Wednesday after Midlenton.

     And my Lord of Caunterbury tolde me that the Frenche
men have ben before yow, and that ye shotte many gonnes;
and so he tolde all the Lords. I have desirid hym to move
the Counsell for refreshing of the toun of Yermowth with
stuff of ordnance and gonnes and gonne powdre, and he seid
he wolde.

                                  Your humble servaunt,

                                                                                        J. BOKKING.

     ¹ [From Fenn, i. 154.] This letter relates to the temporary reconciliation effected
between the Lords of the opposite parties in the spring of 1458.

     ² Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.

     ³ Henry Stafford, Earl of Stafford, grandson of Buckingham, who succeeded him
in the Dukedom in 1460.

     ⁴ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter.

     ⁵ The Hanaper of Chancery.

1458
MARCH 15

1458
MARCH 15