Richard, Earl of Salisbury, to Viscount Beaumont

LETTER XXXVI.

^a To the Right worshipful and with al myn hert rigt entierly
welebiloved Broye’ the Viscount Beaumont.

RIGHT worshipful and with al myn hert right entierly
     wele bilovede Brothre I recomaunde me unto yow and for
somoche as by the Kings moste noblez l’rez brought me late by

Hagreston oon of ye Gromes of his Chambre, I am desirede to
come unto his Highnesse to London, wherunto for suche gre-
vous diseas and infirmitees, as it hath liked oure Lord to visit
me with, wherof Robt Danby can at large declare unto yow, I
can ne mowe dispose me, without feynyng, by the trouth I
owe unto the King but y^t therby I doubt not, I shulde not
rekever, daies of my lyfe suche hurt, as by the reason of y^e
said diseas, wolde grow unto me, the which hath right fervently
and sore holden me in many div’sez bihalvez, so y^t sith my last
comyng frome London, I had not by y^e space of vj daies togidiez,
my helth.

     Wherfore brothre I pray yow with al myn hool hert, y^t it
like yow to cal tofore yow, the said Robt Danby and to take of
him y^e vray trouth in y^e premissez, and y^rupon to bee my
goode and tendre moyen, as by yo^r wysdome can best bee
thought convenable, unto the Kings goode grace, for thexcuse
of my nown comy’ng, p’yng yow hertly to c’tifye me by
comers bitwen suche tidings as ye shal have in thos p’tiez, with
othre your good pleas^r to bee p’fourmed at my power as
knoweth oure Lord, to whom I biseche, to ever have yow in his
blissed p’teccon and keping.

     Wryten at Shirrifhoton the xxiiij day of Januar’.

     Yo^r trew brodir wīch prayth you herttely to excuse me to y^e
Kings Heghnesse.

                                                    ² R. Salisbury.

 11 ¾ by 6 ½.       

  Sheriff Hutton, Tuesday, 24th of January,
           1457-8, 36 H. VI.

 This Letter requires some previous explanation from our English History, before it
can be properly understood.

     The Duke of York, in 1456, having not yet openly asserted his right to the Crown;
the Queen’s Party, though informed of his intentions on that head, could not take such
steps, as if his designs had been more apparently avowed.

     The King however, in the summer of this year, sent Letters to the Duke, and to the
Earls of Salisbury, and Warwick, requiring them to meet him at Coventry, on matters
of State.

     They were suspicious of the Queen, however they set forwards, but either on the
road, or at their arrival, their Emissaries informed them, that they were in danger;
whereupon they immediately separated and departed.

     Foreign Affairs, during the greatest part of the year 1457, kept both Parties rather quiet,
but in January, when domestic disputes were again ready to break out, endeavours were
used for a reconciliation, and the King wrote, with his own hand, Letters to the Duke of
York, and his Friends, requesting them to repair to London, in order to have all matters
amicably and sincerely adjusted.

     This Letter, from the Earl of Salisbury to Viscount Beaumont, seems to have been
written in answer to that received by him from the King, and sent to the Earl by one of
his Highness’s Grooms of his Chamber.

     It appears by this Answer, that the Earl was fearful of putting himself (at least till he
had consulted his Friends) into the King’s and Queen’s Power, and therefore feigns
himself very sick; but at the same time he seems conscious that his sickness will not be

believed to be so bad as he had represented it, by the particular care he takes to express
himself concerning it.

     Not content with this representation, he likewise refers his Lordship to another Person
to vouch the truth of it, not indeed to Hagerston, the King’s Messenger, who brought
him the Letter, but to one Robert Danby; and I think it may be concluded, that had
his illness been real, he would have thought that his word and honour as a Nobleman
would have been a sufficient confirmation of the truth of his assertion.

     His fears however, were certainly well grounded, considering the snare he had escaped
when last summoned; but it may be supposed that, on a meeting or consultation between
him and the Duke of York, it was determined that they would both attend.

     All our Historians agree that they came, though accompanied with armed followers;
and the next Letter written by William of Worcester, and dated 1st of February, mentions
these Noblemen as then arrived; so that very soon after sending away this Letter, the
Earl must have altered his plan.

     In consequence of this attendance, a public and specious reconciliation took place,
about the latter end of March, or the beginning of April; and in a procession to St. Paul’s
Church, the Earl of Salisbury went hand in hand with the Duke of Somerset, immediately
before the King.

     ¹ The direction of this Letter from an avowed Yorkist is very particular, and being
written to a Nobleman in Office about the King’s Person, and a strict adherent to the
House of Lancaster, the friendly address may justly be suspected of wanting sincerity; but
both these Noblemen being Knights Companions of the most noble Order of the Garter,
this brotherly mode of address was usual.

     This Viscount Benumont, was slain in the battle of Northampton, sought July
1460, and was the first of that title by patent in England.

  ² Richard Nevile, Earl of Salisbury, father of the Earl of Warwick, was a principal
promoter of the Duke of York’s pretensions; he was a Nobleman of great Character, and
of consummate Prudence and Abilities, but being taken Prisoner at the battle of Wakefield,
in December 1460, he was beheaded.

The conclusion (from the words ?Yo^r trew, &c.”) and Signature of this Letter are
written by the Earl himself, the other parts of it by his Secretary. Pl. 1. N^o 10.

     The Impression of the Seal is defaced.

LETTER XXXVI.

¹ To the Right worshipful, and, with all mine heart, right
entirely well beloved Brother, the Viscount Beaumont.

RIGHT worshipful, and, with all mine heart, right en-
     tirely well beloved Brother, I recommend me unto you;
and for so much as, by the King’s most noble Letters, brought

me late by Hagreston, one of the Grooms of his Chamber, I am
desired to come unto his Highness to London.

     Whereunto for such grievous disease and infirmities as it hath
liked our Lord to visit me with, whereof Robert Danby can at
large declare unto you, I can ne mowe (nor may) dispose me
without feynyng (feigning), by the truth I owe unto the King;
but that thereby I doubt not, I should not recover days of my
life, such hurt, as by the reason of the said disease, would grow
unto me; the which hath right servently and sore holden me in
many diverse behalves, so that sith (since) my last coming from
London, I had not, by the space of six days together, my health.

     Wherefore Brother, I pray you with all mine whole heart, that
it like you to call tofore you the said Robert Danby, and to take
of him the very truth in the premises; and thereupon to be
my good and tender moyen (mean), as by your wisdom can best
be thought convenable unto the King’s good grace, for the ex-
cuse of my not coming; praying you heartily to certify me by
comers between, such tidings as ye shall have in those parts,
with other your good pleasure to be performed at my power, as
knoweth our Lord, to whom I beseech to ever have you in his
blessed protection and keeping.

     Written at Sheriff Hutton, the 24th day of January.

               Your true Brother, which prayeth you heartily
                              to excuse me to the King’s Highness,

                                                                  ² R. SALISBURY.

 11 ¾ by 6 ½.       

  Sheriff Hutton, Tuesday, 24th of January,
           1457-8, 36 H. VI.

 This Letter requires some previous explanation from our English History, before it
can be properly understood.

     The Duke of York, in 1456, having not yet openly asserted his right to the Crown;
the Queen’s Party, though informed of his intentions on that head, could not take such
steps, as if his designs had been more apparently avowed.

     The King however, in the summer of this year, sent Letters to the Duke, and to the
Earls of Salisbury, and Warwick, requiring them to meet him at Coventry, on matters
of State.

     They were suspicious of the Queen, however they set forwards, but either on the
road, or at their arrival, their Emissaries informed them, that they were in danger;
whereupon they immediately separated and departed.

     Foreign Affairs, during the greatest part of the year 1457, kept both Parties rather quiet,
but in January, when domestic disputes were again ready to break out, endeavours were
used for a reconciliation, and the King wrote, with his own hand, Letters to the Duke of
York, and his Friends, requesting them to repair to London, in order to have all matters
amicably and sincerely adjusted.

     This Letter, from the Earl of Salisbury to Viscount Beaumont, seems to have been
written in answer to that received by him from the King, and sent to the Earl by one of
his Highness’s Grooms of his Chamber.

     It appears by this Answer, that the Earl was fearful of putting himself (at least till he
had consulted his Friends) into the King’s and Queen’s Power, and therefore feigns
himself very sick; but at the same time he seems conscious that his sickness will not be

believed to be so bad as he had represented it, by the particular care he takes to express
himself concerning it.

     Not content with this representation, he likewise refers his Lordship to another Person
to vouch the truth of it, not indeed to Hagerston, the King’s Messenger, who brought
him the Letter, but to one Robert Danby; and I think it may be concluded, that had
his illness been real, he would have thought that his word and honour as a Nobleman
would have been a sufficient confirmation of the truth of his assertion.

     His fears however, were certainly well grounded, considering the snare he had escaped
when last summoned; but it may be supposed that, on a meeting or consultation between
him and the Duke of York, it was determined that they would both attend.

     All our Historians agree that they came, though accompanied with armed followers;
and the next Letter written by William of Worcester, and dated 1st of February, mentions
these Noblemen as then arrived; so that very soon after sending away this Letter, the
Earl must have altered his plan.

     In consequence of this attendance, a public and specious reconciliation took place,
about the latter end of March, or the beginning of April; and in a procession to St. Paul’s
Church, the Earl of Salisbury went hand in hand with the Duke of Somerset, immediately
before the King.

     ¹ The direction of this Letter from an avowed Yorkist is very particular, and being
written to a Nobleman in Office about the King’s Person, and a strict adherent to the
House of Lancaster, the friendly address may justly be suspected of wanting sincerity; but
both these Noblemen being Knights Companions of the most noble Order of the Garter,
this brotherly mode of address was usual.

     This Viscount Benumont, was slain in the battle of Northampton, sought July
1460, and was the first of that title by patent in England.

  ² Richard Nevile, Earl of Salisbury, father of the Earl of Warwick, was a principal
promoter of the Duke of York’s pretensions; he was a Nobleman of great Character, and
of consummate Prudence and Abilities, but being taken Prisoner at the battle of Wakefield,
in December 1460, he was beheaded.

The conclusion (from the words ?Yo^r trew, &c.”) and Signature of this Letter are
written by the Earl himself, the other parts of it by his Secretary. Pl. 1. N^o 10.

     The Impression of the Seal is defaced.

361

RICHARD, EARL OF SALISBURY, TO
VISCOUNT BEAUMONT²

To the right worchipful and with al myn hert rigt entierly
welebiloved Brother, the Viscount Beaumont.

RIGHT worshipful, and, with al myn hert, right entierly
     wele bilovede brothre, I recomaunde me unto yow.
     And for somoche as by the Kings moste noblez lettrez
brought me late by Hagreston, oon of the gromes of his
chambre, I am desirede to come unto his Highnesse to Lon-
don; wherunto for suche grevous diseas and infirmitees as it
hath liked oure Lord to visit me with, wherof Robert Danby
can at large declare unto yow, I can ne mowe dispose me,
without feynyng, by the trouth I owe unto the King, but that
therby I doubt not, I shulde not rekever, daies of my lyfe,
suche hurt as, by the reason of the said diseas, wolde grow
unto me, the which hath right fervently and sore holden me in
many diversez bihalvez, so that, sith my last comyng frome
London I had not, by the space of vj. daies togidiez, my
helth.

     Wherfore, brothre, I pray yow, with al myn hool hert, that
it like yow to cal tofore yow the said Robert Danby, and to
take of him the vray trouth in the premissez, and therupon to
bee my good and tendre moyen, as by your wysdome can best
bee thought convenable, unto the Kinges goode grace, for
th’excuse of my nown comyng; prayng yow hertly to certifye
me, by comers bitwen, suche tidings as ye shal have in thos
partiez, with othre your good pleasir to be perfourmed at my
power, as knoweth oure Lord, to whom I biseche to ever have
yow in his blissed proteccion and keping.

     Wryten at Shirrifhoton, the xxiiij. day of Januare.

           Your trew brodir, wich prayth you hertely to excuse
                me to the Kings Heghnesse.

                                                                                     R. SALISBURY.

¹ On comparing this letter with the last, the person here referred to would seem to
be Justice Yelverton. Mr. Poulett Scrope, however, in his privately printed History of
Castlecombe (p. 277), says it was Sir Richard Bingham, whose daughter Joan Stephen
Scrope had by this time married. It is quite possible that Fastolf sent a similar
message to Bingham by Scrope, and to Yelverton by Paston and Howes.

  ² [From Fenn, i. 146.] Fenn considers this letter to have been called forth by the
summons sent by the King to the Lords of both parties to come to London, in the
beginning of 1458, with a view to a reconciliation. On this view, the excuse of
illness given by Salisbury is, of course, a mere pretence, and, moreover, was not
adhered to, for within a week after it was penned Salisbury actually was in London
with a company of 400 horse and 80 knights and squires (see Botoner’s letter of the
1st February). This sudden change of tactics on the part of the Earl seems to me
hardly probable, and I see no reason why the letter should not refer to a genuine ill-
ness upon a different occasion. Nevertheless, as there is no positive evidence on the
subject, I leave the date suggested by Fenn, with a query, on which the reader may
use his own judgment.

1458(?)
JAN. 24

1458(?)
JAN. 24