Robert Wenyngton to Thomas Daniel

Add. 43491, f. 7

25 May 1449

Gairdner, Vol II, item 90; Fenn, Vol I, Henry VI item 53

LETTER LIII.

To my Reverend Mayster Thom’s ¹ Danyell Squier for the ² Kyngs
body be thys L’r delyverd in hast’.

MOST Reu’end Mayster I recomaund me on to yowr
graceus Maysteschup ever deseryng to her of yowr wur-
schupfull ustate the whyche all myghte God mayntayne hyt and
encrse hyt on to hys plesans, Plesyng yow to know of my well-
fare and of all yowr men at the makyng of thys l’r we wer in
gode hele of body I blessyd be God.

Mo over Mayster I send yow word by Ravly Pykeryng of all
maters the whyche I be seche yow yeve hym credens as he
wyll enforme yow of all, so sur I be seche yow in the reu’ens
of God that ye wyll enforme owr Sou’ayn Lord the Kyng of
all maters, that I send yow in thys lett’ lyke as I have send
a lett’ to my Lord Chaunseler and to all my Lordys by the
sayd Pykeryng the whyche lett’ I be seche yow that ye take
and delyver to my Lord and all my Lordys by yowr awne
handys and lete the sayd Pykeryng declare all thyngs as he
hath sayn and know^t.

Furst I send yow word that when we went to see we toke
ij Schyppys of Brast comyng owte of Flaundrys and then after
ther ys made a grete armyng in Brytayn’ to mete w^t me and my
Felyschyp that ys to say the grete Schyp of Brast the grete
Schyp of Mo leys the grete schyp of Vanng w^t other viij
Schyppis Bargys and Balyngers to the nu’ber of iij m¹ men
and so we lay in the see to me w^t them.

And then we mette w^t a flote of a C grete Schyppys of
³ Pruse Lubycke Campe Rastocke Holond Selond and Flandres
betwyte Garnyse and Portland and then I cam abord the Admi-
rall and bade them Stryke in the Kyngys name of Englond
and they bade me Skyte in the Kyngys name of Englond,
and then I and my Feleschyp sayd but he wyle streke don the
sayle that I wyld over sayle ham by the Grace of God and God
wyle send me wynd and wether and dey bade me do my wurst
by cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale that they scornyd
w^t me. And as God wuld on fryday last was we had a gode
wynd and then we armyd to the nu’ber of ij m¹ men in my
Felyschyp and made us redy for to over sayle them and then
they lonchyd a Bote and sette up a Stōdert of Truesse and com
and spake w^t me and ther they were yolded all the hundret
Schyppys to go w^t me in what Port that me lust and my Fe-
lawys but they faothe w^t me the day before and schotte atte us a
j^ml Gonnys and Quarell owte of nu’ber and have slayn meny of
my Felyschyp and meymyd all soo.

Wherfor me thyngkyt that they have forfett bothe Schypps
and Godys at owr Sou’ayn Lord the Kyngys wyll Besechy’g
yow that ye do yowr parte in thys mater for thys I have
wrytyn to my Lord Chaunseler and all my Lordys of the Kyngs
Counsell and so I have brofte them all the C Schyppys w^t in
Wyght in spyte of them all and ye myght gete leve of owr
Sou’ayn Lord the Kyng to com hydder hyt schall turne yow
to grete wurschup and profett to helpe make a poyntement
in the Kyngs name for ye sawe never suche a syght of
schyppys take in to Englond thys C wynter for we ly armyd
nyght and day to kepe them in to the tyme that we have
tydengs of owr Soverayn and hys Counsell ffor truly they have
do harme to me and to my Feleschyp and to yowr Schyppys
more ⁴ ij m^{1 li} worth harme and therfor I am avesyd and all my
Feleschyp to ⁵ droune them and slee them w^t oute that we hase
tydyngs from owr sou’ayn the Kyng and hys Counsell and
therfor in the reu’ens of God come ye yowr self and ye schall
have a grete avayle and wurschup of yowr comyng to see a
suche syght for I der well sey that I have her at y^s tyme all the
cheff Schyppys of Duche lond Holond Selond and Flaundrys
and now hyt wer tyme for to trete for a fynell pese as ffor that
partyes.

I writ no more to yow at y^s tyme but all myghty J’hs
have yow in hys kepyng. I writ in hast w^t in Wyght on
Soneday at nyght after the Ascencon of owr Lord.

By yowr owne s’vant,

11 ? by 13 ?.

Robt. Wenyngton.

          Paper Mark,
         A Pair of Scales.
            Pl. IX. N^o 16.

                 Isle of Wight,
                 Sunday
                 H. VI.

This Letter must have been written in the reign of Henry VI. but in what year I
cannot say; it contains a curious historical Anecdote, greatly to the honour of the Com-
mander of the Ships. Pl. III. N^o 38.

Thomas Daniel, Esq. had a grant of the Constableship of Rising Castle, in Norfolk,
dated the 8th of September, 1411, 27 H. VI. he was afterwards made a Knight, and
married Margaret, Daughter of Sir Robert, and Sister of Sir John Howard, afterwards
Duke of Norfolk.

He was attainted in 1461, 1 E. IV. but restored in 1474, 14 E. IV.

² An Esquire of the King’s Body, was an Officer of great trust, lodged near, and
during the night, all messages, &c. were delivered by him in person, to the King.

³ These were great Marts for Trade.

⁴ I cannot tell whether this, in the Original Letter, is 2000 or 30001.

⁵ It seems contrary to all rules of war or humanity to drown or slay Prisoners of war,
after they have surrendered.

LETTER LIII.

To my reverend Master, Thomas ¹ Daniel, Esquire for the
² King’s Body, be this Letter delivered in haste.

MOST reverend Master, I recommend me unto your
gracious Mastership, ever desiring to hear of your wor-
shipful estate; the which Almighty God maintain it, and in-
crease it unto his pleasance (pleasure.)

Pleasing you to know of my welfare, and of all your men, at
the making of this Letter, we were in good health of body,
blessed be God.

Moreover Master, I send you word by Ravly Pikering of all
matters, the which I beseech you give him credence, as he will
inform you of all, so sure I beseech you in the reverence of God,
that ye will inform our Sovereign Lord the King of all matters,
that I send you in this Letter; like as I have sent a Letter to my
Lord Chancellor, and to all my Lords by the said Pickering;
the which Letter, I beseech you that ye take and deliver to my
Lord, and all my Lords by your own hands, and let the said
Pickering declare all things as he hath seen and known.

First I send you word that when we went to sea, we took
two Ships of Brest coming out of Flanders; and then after,
there is made a great arming in Britayne to meet with me and
my Fellowship, that is to say, the great Ship of Brest, the
great Ship of Morlaix, the great Ship of Vannes, with other
eight Ships, Barges, and Balingers to the number of 3000 men,
and so we lay on the sea to meet with them.

And then we met with a Flote (Fleet) of an hundred great
Ships of ³ Pruse, Lubeck, Campe, Rostock, Holland, Zealand,
and Flanders, betwixt Guernsey and Portland; and there I came
aboard the Admiral, and bad them strike in the King’s name of
England, and they bade me go skite (shite) in the King’s name
of England; and then I and my Fellowship said, but we will
strike down the sail, that I will oversail them by the grace of
God, and God will send me wind and weather; and they bade
me do my worst, because I had so few Ships and so small, that
they scorned me.

And as God would, on Friday last was, we had a good wind;
and then we armed us to the number of 2000 men in my Fel-
lowship, and made us ready for to oversail them; and then they
launched a Boat, and set up a Standard of Truce, and came and
speak with me, and there they were yeilded all the hundred
Ships to go with me into what Port that me list and my Fellows;
but they fought with me the day before, and shot at us a 1000
Guns, and Quarrels out of number, and have slain many of my
Fellowship, and maimed also.

Wherefore methinketh that they have forfeited both Ships and
Goods at our sovereign Lord the King’s Will.

Beseeching you that ye do your part in this matter, for this
I have written to my Lord Chancellor, and all my Lords of the
King’s Council; and so I have brought them, all the hundred
Ships, within Wight (the Isle of Wight) in spite of them all.

And ye might get leave of our sovereign Lord the King to
come hither, it shall turn you to great worship, and profit, to
help make our appointment in the King’s name, for ye saw
never such a sight of Ships taken into England this hundred
winters; for we lie armed night and day to keep them in, to
the time that we have Tidings of our Sovereign, and his
Council; for truly they have done harm to me, and to my
Fellowship, and to your Ships, more than ⁴ 2000l. worth (of) harm.

And therefore I am advised, and all my Fellowship, to ⁵ drown
them and slay them, without that we have tidings from our
Sovereign the King, and his Council; and therefore in the reve-
rence of God come ye yourself, and ye shall have a great
avail, and worship for your coming to see a such sight, for
I dare well say, that I have here at this time, all the chief
Ships of Dutchland, Holland, Zealand, and Flanders, and now
it were time for to treat for a final Peace, as for these Parts.

I write no more to you at this time, but Almighty Jesu have
(you) in his keeping.

I write in haste within Wight, on Sunday at night after the
Ascension of our Lord.

By your own Servant,

ROBERT WENYNGTON.

11 ? by 13 ?.

          Paper Mark,
         A Pair of Scales.
            Pl. IX. N^o 16.

                 Isle of Wight,
                 Sunday
                 H. VI.

This Letter must have been written in the reign of Henry VI. but in what year I
cannot say; it contains a curious historical Anecdote, greatly to the honour of the Com-
mander of the Ships. Pl. III. N^o 38.

Thomas Daniel, Esq. had a grant of the Constableship of Rising Castle, in Norfolk,
dated the 8th of September, 1411, 27 H. VI. he was afterwards made a Knight, and
married Margaret, Daughter of Sir Robert, and Sister of Sir John Howard, afterwards
Duke of Norfolk.

He was attainted in 1461, 1 E. IV. but restored in 1474, 14 E. IV.

² An Esquire of the King’s Body, was an Officer of great trust, lodged near, and
during the night, all messages, &c. were delivered by him in person, to the King.

³ These were great Marts for Trade.

⁴ I cannot tell whether this, in the Original Letter, is 2000 or 30001.

⁵ It seems contrary to all rules of war or humanity to drown or slay Prisoners of war,
after they have surrendered.

90

ROBERT WENYNGTON TO THOMAS DANIEL²

To my Reverend Mayster, Thomas Danyell, Squier for
the Kyngs Body, be thys letter delyverd in haste.

        MOST reverend mayster, I recomaund me on to yowr
             graceus maystreschup, ever deseryng to her of yowr
             wurschupfull ustate, the whyche All myghte God
mayntayne hyt, and encrese hyt on to hys plesans: Plesyng

yow to know of my wellfare, and of all yowr men, at the
makyng of thys letter, we wer in gode hele of body i blessyd
be God.

Mo over, mayster, I send yow word, by Rauly Pykeryng,
of all maters, the whyche I be seche yow yeve hym credens, as
he wyll enforme yow of all; so, sur, I beseche yow, in the
reverens of God, that ye wyll enforme owr Soverayn Lord the
Kyng of all maters that I send yow in thys letter, lyke as I
have send a letter to my Lord Chaunseler and to all my
Lordys by the sayd Pykeryng; the whyche letter I beseche
yow that ye take and delyver to my Lord and all my Lordys
by yowr awne handys, and lete the sayd Pykeryng declare
all thyngs as he hath sayn and knoweth.

Furst, I send yow word that when we went to see, we
toke ij. schyppys of Brast comyng owte of Flaundrys; and
then after, ther ys made a grete armyng in Brytayne to mete
with me and my felyschyp, that ys to say, the grete schyp of
Brast, the grete schyp of the Morleys, the grete schyp of
Vanng, with other viij. schyppis, bargys, and balyngers, to
the number of iij. m^li. [3000] men; and so we lay in the see to
me[te] with them.

And then we mette with a flotte of a c. [a hundred] grete
schyppys of Pruse, Lubycke, Campe, Rastocke, Holond,
Selond, and Flandres, betwyte Garnyse [Guernsey] and Port-
land; and then I cam abord the Admirall, and bade them
stryke in the Kyngys name of Englond, and they bade me
skyte in the Kyngs name of Englond; and then I and my
feleschyp sayd, but [unless] he wyll streke don the sayle, that I
wyld over sayle ham by the grace of God, and God wyll send
me wynd and wether; and dey bade me do my wurst, by
cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale, that they scornyd
with me. And as God wuld, on Fryday last was, we had a
gode wynd, and then we armyd to the number of ij. m^l. [2000]
men in my felyschyp, and made us redy for to over sayle
them; and then they lonchyd a bote, and sette up a stondert
of truesse, and com and spake with me. And ther they were
yolded all the hundret schyppys to go with me in what port
that me lust and my felawys; but they faothe with me the day

before, and schotte atte us a j. m^l. [1000] gonnys, and quarell¹
owte of number, and have slayn meny of my felyschyp, and
meymyd all soo. Wherfor me thyngkyt that they haye forfett
bothe schypps and godys at our Soverayn Lord the Kyngys
wyll. Besechyng yow that ye do yowr parte in thys mater,
for thys I have wrytyn to my Lord Chaunseler² and all my
Lordys of the Kyngys Counsell; and so I have brofte them,
all the c. [hundred] shyppys, within Wyght, in spyte of
them all.

And ye myght gete leve of owr Soverayn Lord the Kyng
to com hydder, hyt schall turne yow to grete wurschup and
profett, to helpe make owr a poyntement in the Kyngs name,
for ye sawe never suche a syght of schyppys take in to Englond
this c. wynter; for we ly armyd nyght and day to kepe them,
in to the tyme that we have tydengs of our Soverayn and hys
counsell. For truly they have do harme to me, and to my
feleschyp, and to yowr schyppys more [than] ij. m^l. li.³ worth
harme; and therfor I am avesyd, and all my feleschyp, to
droune them and slee them, withoute that we hafe tydyngs
from owr Soverayn the Kyng and hys counsell. And therfor,
in the reverens of God, come ye yowr self, and ye schall have
a grete avayle and wurschup of yowr comyng to see a suche
syght, for I der well sey that I have her at this tyme all the
cheff schyppys of Duchelond, Holond, Selond, and Flaundrys,
and now hyt wer tyme for to trete for a fynell pese as for that
partyes.

I writ no more to yow at this tyme, but All myghty Jesus
have yow in hys kepyng. I writ in hast, within Wyght, on
Soneday at nyght after the Ascencion of owr Lord.

By yowr owne Servant, ROBT. WENYNGTON.

¹ William Paston.

² [From Fenn, i. 208.] On the 3rd April 1449 royal letters were issued in
favour of Robert Wynnyngtone of Devonshire, who was bound by indenture to do
the King service on the sea ‘for the cleansing of the same, and rebuking of the
robbers and pirates thereof, which daily do all the noisance they can.’—Stevenson’s
Letters and Papers illustrative of the Wars of the English in France, i. 489.

¹ See p. 101, Note 3.

² John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury.

³ Fenn says the reading of the original is indistinct, and he could not determine
whether £2000 or £3000 was meant.

1449
MAY 25