John Russe to John Paston

Add. 43489, f. 17

1462

Gairdner, Vol IV, item 531; Fenn, Vol I, Edward IV item 14

LETTER XIV.

To my right honorabyl and w’shypfull Maist’ my Maist’ John Paston.

PLESE yōr W’shypfull Maistership to wette, her is a Ship of
Hith wyche seith that John Cole cam from the west cost
on wednysday last past and he seyth that the fleet of this londe
met w^t lx seile of Spanyards Brettenys and Frenshemen and
there tok of hem I wherof xij shyppys were as gret as the Grace
de Dewe, and there is slayn on thys partyes the Lords ¹ Clynton
and Dakyr and many Jentilmen ² juve and othyr, the nombre of
iiij^ml, and the seid Spanyards were purposyd w^t marchaundise
in to Flaundres, my Lord of Warwyks shyp the Mary Grace
and the Trenyte hadde the grettest hurt for they were formost,
God send Grace thys be trew on thursday last past at London
was no tydings in s’teyn where the flet was nor what they had
doon and therfore I fere the tydings the more.

Itm S^r. as for tydings at London ther were arystyd be the
tresorer xl seyles lyeng in Temse wherof many smale shyppis
and it is seyd it is to carye men to Caleyse in all haste for feer
of the Kyng of Fraunce for a Sege and it was told me secretly
there were CC in Caleyse sworn contrary to the Kyngs well,
and for defaute of there wags and that Qwen Marget was redy
at Boleyn w^t myche sylver to paye the soudyers in cas they
wold geve here entresse, many men be gretly aferd of thys
mater, and so the tresorer hath mych to do for thys cause.

Itm S^r. as for tydings out of Ireland ther were many men
at London at the ffeyre of the contres next them of Ireland,
and they sey thys iij wyks cam’ there neythyr shyp nor boot out
of Irelond to bryng no tydings and so it semyth there is myche
to doo there be the Erle of ² Penbrook, and it is seyd that the
Kyng shuld be at London as on satyrday or sonday last past,
and men deme that he wold to Caleyse hym selfe, for the Sou-
dyors are so wyld there, that they wyll not lette in ony man
but the Kynge or my Lord Warwyk.

Othyr tydings the were come to London but they were not
p^blyshyd, but John Wellys shal abyde a day the lenger to know
what they are, no mere un to you my right honōable Maist’ at
thys tyme but Jh’u send yow youre herts desyre, and amende
hem that wold the cōtr’y.

Your bedman and contywal s’uaunt,

9 by 9.

John Russe.

1462, 2 E. IV.

Paper Mark,
      Vine Branch.
           and
    Bunch of Grapes.
         Pl. X. N^o 2.

This appears to contain the report of the day, relative to the Transactions of the Fleet,
which was sent out towards Brittany, in 1462, but which seems to have had no founda-
tion, at least no material one, as our Historians make no mention of such an engagement,
nor does the Writer (Pl. v. N^o 18.) himself give much credit to the report. It however
authenticates the truth of a fleet having been sent out at that time.

¹ John, Lord Clinton, revolted from Henry VI. about 1459, and joined the Duke of
York’s Party, on which account his Lands were confiscated, and himself attainted, but

on the accession of Edward IV. he was restored to his Estates and Honours, and soon after
joined in commission with the Earl of Kent, Sir John Howard, &c. for the safe keeping
of the Seas, when landing in Brittany with 10,000 men, they won Conquet with the isle
of Rhée. He married Elizabeth, Daughter of Richard Fynes, Lord Dacre, and died in
1464, aged about 54 years; the report therefore of his death here mentioned was cer-
tainly premature, as was that likewise of Lord Dacre.

² This word is doubtful in the Original.

2 Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, was in Ireland, endeavouring to procure assistance
for the deposed King Henry, his half-brother.

LETTER XIV.

To my right honourable and worshipful Master, my Master
John Paston.

PLEASE your worshipful Mastership to weet, there is a
Ship of Hythe, which saith, that John Cole came from
the west coast on Wednesday last past; and he saith, that the
Fleet of Ships of this land met with 60 sail of Spaniards,
Bretons, and Frenchmen, and there took of them 50, whereof
12 Ships were as great as the Grace de Dieu; and there is
slain on this part the Lords ¹ Clinton and Dacre, and many
Gentlemen ² ................ and others, the number of 4000; and the said
Spaniards were purposed with merchandise into Flanders; my
Lord of Warwick’s Ship, the Mary Grace, and the Trinity, had
the greatest hurt, for they were foremost. God send grace this
be true. On Thursday last past at London was no tidings in
certain, where the fleet was, nor what they had done, and
therefore I fear the tidings the more.

Item, Sir, as for tidings at London, there were arrested by
the Treasurer 40 sail lying in Thames, whereof many small
Ships; and it is said, it is to carry men to Calais in all haste,
for fear of the King of France for a Siege; and it was told me
secretly, there were 200 in Calais sworn contrary to the King’s
weal; and for default of their wages; and that Queen Mar-
garet was ready at Bologne with much silver to pay the soldiers,
in case they would give her entrance; many men be greatly
afraid of this matter, and so the Treasurer hath much to do
for this cause.

Item, Sir, as for tidings out of Ireland, there were many
men at London, at the Fair of the countries next them of Ireland,
and they say, this three weeks came there, neither Ship nor boat
out of Ireland to bring no tidings; and so it seemeth there is
much to do there by the Earl of ² Pembroke; and it is said,
that the King should be at London as on Saturday or Sunday last
past, and men deem that he would to Calais himself; for the
Soldiers are so wild there, that they will not let in any man but
the King, or my Lord Warwick; other tidings there were
come to London, but they were not published; but John Welles
shall abide a day the longer to know what they are. No more
unto you my right honourable Master at this time, but Jesu
send you your heart’s desire, and amend them that would the
contrary.

Your Beadman and continual Servant,

JOHN RUSSE.

9 by 9.

1462, 2 E. IV.

Paper Mark,
      Vine Branch.
           and
    Bunch of Grapes.
         Pl. X. N^o 2.

This appears to contain the report of the day, relative to the Transactions of the Fleet,
which was sent out towards Brittany, in 1462, but which seems to have had no founda-
tion, at least no material one, as our Historians make no mention of such an engagement,
nor does the Writer (Pl. v. N^o 18.) himself give much credit to the report. It however
authenticates the truth of a fleet having been sent out at that time.

¹ John, Lord Clinton, revolted from Henry VI. about 1459, and joined the Duke of
York’s Party, on which account his Lands were confiscated, and himself attainted, but

on the accession of Edward IV. he was restored to his Estates and Honours, and soon after
joined in commission with the Earl of Kent, Sir John Howard, &c. for the safe keeping
of the Seas, when landing in Brittany with 10,000 men, they won Conquet with the isle
of Rhée. He married Elizabeth, Daughter of Richard Fynes, Lord Dacre, and died in
1464, aged about 54 years; the report therefore of his death here mentioned was cer-
tainly premature, as was that likewise of Lord Dacre.

² This word is doubtful in the Original.

2 Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, was in Ireland, endeavouring to procure assistance
for the deposed King Henry, his half-brother.

531

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my right honourabyl and worshypfull maister, my
Maister John Paston.

PLESE your worshypfull maistership to wette, here is a
ship of Hith, wyche seith that John Cole cam from
the west cost on Wednysday last past; and he seyth
that the fleet of shippis of this londe met with lx. seile of
Spanyards, Brettenys, and Frenshemen, and there tok of hem
1. [50], wherof xij. shyppys were as gret as the Grace de Dewe;
and there is slayn on thys partyes the Lords Clynton² and
Dakyr,³ and many jentilmen juve (?)⁴ and othyr, the nombre
of iiij.^ml. [4000]; and the seid Spanyards were purposyd with
marchaundise in to Flaundres. My Lord of Warwyks shyp,
the Mary Grace and the Trenyte, hadde the grettest hurt,
for they wer formost. God send grace, thys be trew. On
Thursday last past at London was no tydings in serteyn where
the flet was, nor what they had doon, and therfore I fere the
tydings the more.

Item, sir, as for tydings at London, ther were arystyd be
the tresorer xl. seyles lyeng in Temse, wherof many smale
shyppis; and it is seyd it is to carye men to Caleyse in all
haste, for feer of the Kyng of Fraunce for a sege. And it
was told me secretly there were CC. in Caleyse sworn contrary
to the Kyngs well, and for defaute of there wages; and that
Qwen Marget was redy at Boleyn with myche sylver to paye
the soudyers, in cas they wold geve here entresse. Many
men be gretly aferd of thys mater, and so the tresorer hath
mych to do for thys cause.

Item, sir, as for tydings out of Ireland, ther wer many
men at London at the feyre of the contres next them of
Ireland, and they sey thys iij. wyks came there neythyr shyp
nor boot out of Irelond to bryng no tydings; and so it
semyth there is myche to doo there be the Erle of Pembrook.¹
And it is seyd that the Kyng shuld be at London as on
Satyrday or Sonday last past, and men deme that he wold
to Caleyse hym selfe; for the soudyors are so wyld there, that
they wyll not lette in ony man but the Kynge or my Lord
Warwyk.

Othyr tydings the were come to London, but they were
not publyshyd; but John Wellys shal abyde a day the lenger
to know what they are.

No mere un to you, my right honourable maister, at thys
tyme, but Jesu send yow youre herts desyre, and amende hem
that wold the contrary.

Your bedman and conty[n]wal servaunt,

JOHN RUSSE.

¹ [From Fenn, i. 262.] This letter was evidently written not very long after
No. 529. The fleet mentioned here and in that letter is that referred to in the
preliminary note to No. 518, p. 41, Note 1.

² John, Lord Clinton. The rumour was false, as he was summoned to Parliament
in 1463. Nicolas supposes he died about 1465.

³ Richard Fynes, Lord Dacre of the South, who was Lord Clinton’s father-in-law.
He did not really die till 1484.

⁴ This word, Fenn says, is doubtful in the original MS.

¹ Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, half-brother to Henry VI.

1462