Richard Crowmer to Sir John Paston

LETTER XXXVI.

To my right especyall and syngler good Maist^r
          Ser Iohn Paston knyght thys lett^r be delyv^red.

WURCHIPFULL Ser I recamaund me on to you. Maist^r
Balyffs with alle myn Maist^res of the Town of Yermouth
thankith you hartilly and trusty˜g faythfully of yo^r ayde and
comford at neede and if any suche cause happith with us
they woll feythfully send you word in all the hast possyble
up on the syght of the Shippis. Ser ferdermor ther is a
Ship of o^r town came hom fro˜ Seint Iohn of Amyas and he
seyth that on Seint Thom˜s day ther came to Seint Wallrens
in Normandie an hoye of Dorderyght with viij horsis with
many saddills and brydills ther in wer viij or ix Englysh
men the wiche toke the Shipps boat and went on land at
Staplis and arn a renne awey up in to the Cuntre, and the
Admirals Depewty sesonyd the Ship and hors and all that
they found ther in to the kyng o^r Sov^rayn Lords beheoff and
the Duche men were leyde in pryson this is a mater of
trowth for Willm Carr of o^r town maryn^r and od^r of our
town see this doo˜ in deed. And as for the Shipps with the
Kyngs Rebellars they be forth out of Chambyr westwards
Whyd^r they be thei can not sey but the Duchemen seid to
Willm Carr that they trustid on one man shuld help them
with many men these is suche tydyngs as the Amyas men
brout hom.

     Ser if it woll please yo^r maist^rship that ye myght have
leyser I desyre and pray you to come sporte you and to see
how weell we have appareld and furnyshid o^r town I would
be right gladd and I trust to Almyghty God that it wold
please you^r maist^rship right weell and with yo^r betyr advyce
we woll doo˜ more to our power that knowith God the
wiche Lord p^rserve you.

     Wretyn at Yarmouth on Relyk Sonday.

                                        By y^r Seruant ROBART CROWMER.

8½ by 11½.

     On the receipt of the former letter, it appears that Sir John Paston had pro-
mised his help and assistance, if wanted, to the Town of Yarmouth.

     We have here further accounts, such as were brought to Yarmouth, of Per-
kin Warbeck’s proceedings.

     The inhabitants seem to have bestirred themselves, and fortified their town in
a manner to prevent any invasion by surprise.

     Robert Crowmer had been one of their bailiffs in 1489 and 1490, and was so
again in 1497.

     Relick Sunday is the third Sunday after Midsummer day, which in this year
fell on the 12th of July.

     Autograph, Pl. xxx. No. 14.

LETTER XXXVI.

To my right especial and singular good Master, Sir John
Paston, Knight, this Letter be delivered.

WORSHIPFUL Sir, I recommend me unto you.

     Master Bailiffs, with all mine Masters of the Town of
Yarmouth, thank you heartily, and trusting faithfully of
your aid and comfort at need; and if any such cause happith
[happeneth] with us, they will faithfully send you word, in
all the haste possible, upon the sight of the ships.

     Sir, farthermore, there is a ship of our town come from
Saint John of Amyas, and he saith that on St. Thomas’s day
there came to St. Walerens, in Normandy, an hoy of Dorde-
ryght [Dort], with eight horses, with many saddles and
bridles; therein were eight or nine Englishmen, the which
took the ship’s boat and went on land at Estaples, and are
run away up into the country; and the admiral’s deputy
seized the ship and horses, and all that they found there,
into the King our Sovereign Lord’s behalf; and the Dutch-
men were laid in prison. This is a matter of truth, for
William Carr of our town, mariner, and others of our town,
saw this done indeed. And as for the ships with the King’s
rebellers [rebels], they be forth out of Cambyr westwards;
whither they be they cannot say, but the Dutchmen said to
William Carr, that they trusted on one man should help
them with many men.

     These is [are] such tidings as the Amyas men brought
home.

  Sir, if it will please your Mastership that ye might have
leisure, I desire and pray you to come and sport you, and
to see how well we have apparelled and furnished our
town, I would be right glad; and I trust to Almighty God
that it would please your Mastership right well, and with
your better advice we will do more to our power, that
knoweth God, the which Lord preserve you. Written at
Yarmouth on Relick Sunday.

                                            By your Servant,

                                                                        ROBERT CROWMER.

       Yarmouth,
 Sunday, 12th July.
      1495. 10 H. vii.

     On the receipt of the former letter, it appears that Sir John Paston had pro-
mised his help and assistance, if wanted, to the Town of Yarmouth.

     We have here further accounts, such as were brought to Yarmouth, of Per-
kin Warbeck’s proceedings.

     The inhabitants seem to have bestirred themselves, and fortified their town in
a manner to prevent any invasion by surprise.

     Robert Crowmer had been one of their bailiffs in 1489 and 1490, and was so
again in 1497.

     Relick Sunday is the third Sunday after Midsummer day, which in this year
fell on the 12th of July.

     Autograph, Pl. xxx. No. 14.

1060

ROBERT CROWMER TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To my right especyall and syngler good maister, Ser
John Paston, Knyght, this letter be delyvered.

WURCHIPFUL ser, I recomaund me on to you.
     Maister Balyffes, with alle myn Maisteris of the
     town of Yermouth, thankith you hartilly, and
trustyng feythfully of your ayde and comford at neede; and
if any suche cause happith with us, they woll feythfully send
you word in all the hast possyble, up on the syght of the
shippis.

     Ser, ferdermor, ther is a ship of our town come horn from
Seint John of Amyas, and he seyth that on Seint Thomas Day²
ther came to Seint Wallrens,³ in Normandie, an hoye of Dor-
deryght, with viij. horsis, with many saddilles and brydilles;
ther in wer viij. or ix. Englysh men, the wiche toke the
shippes boot, and went on lond at Staplis,⁴ and arn renne a
wey up in to the cuntre. And the Admiralles Depewty
sesonyd the ship and hors, and all that they found ther in,
to the Kyng our soverayn Lordes behooff; and the Duche
men were leyde in pryson. This is a mater of trowth, for
William Carre of our town, maryner, and oder of our town,
see this doon in deed. And as for the shippes with the
Kynges rebellars, they be furth out of Cambyr¹ westwards;
whyder they be, thei can not sey, but the Duche men seid to
William Carre that they trustid on one man shuld help them
with many men. Thes is suche tydynges as the Amyas men
brout hom.

     Ser, if it woll please your maistership that ye myght have
leyser, I desyre and pray you to come sporte you, and to see
how weell we have appareld and furnyshid our town, I wold
be right gladd, and I trust to Almyghty God that it wold
please your maistership right weell, and with your betyr
advyce we woll doo more to our power, that knowith God,
the wiche Lord preserve you.

     Wretyn at Yermouth, on Relyk Sonday.²

                        By your servaunt,                   ROBART CROWMER.

     ¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter refers to the dispersion of Warbeck’s
fleet after the attempt at Deal. It would appear, as Fenn remarks, that on receipt of
the preceding letter Sir John had promised aid to the town of Yarmouth, for which
promise they here return thanks. The handwriting of this letter is the same as that
of the last.

     ² The Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas Apostle, 3rd July.

     ³ Qu. St. Vallery?                                            ⁴ Etaples.
 

  ¹ The point called the Camber, near Rye.

     ² Relic Sunday is the third Sunday after Midsummer Day, and fell on the 12th
July in 1495.

JULY 12

1495

JULY 12