The Duke of Buckingham to the Viscount Beaumont

Add. 43488, f. 8

1442-1455

Gairdner, Vol II, item 65; Fenn, Vol I, Henry VI item 5

LETTER V.

To the right worshipful and with all myn herte right entierly belovid
Brother the Viscounte ¹ Beaumont.

RIGHT worshipful and w^t all myn herte right entierly be-
loved Brother I recomaunde me to you Thenking right
herteli youre good Brotherhode for youre gode and gentill
L’res the whiche it hath liked you to sende unto me nowe late
and like it you to knowe I p’seeve by the tenōr of the seid L’re
youre gode desire of c^rtein Dubete that I owe unto you. In
gode feith Brother it is so w^t me at this tyme I have but easy
stuffe of money w^tinne me, for so meche as the seison of the

yer is not yet growen so that I may not plese youre seid gode
Brotherhode as God knoweth my wille and entent were to do and
I had it.

Nev^rtheles and it like you I sende you bi my Sonne Stafford
an obligacion wherof of late tyme I have rescevid part of the
Dubete therinne comp’sid, the residue of whiche I prai you to
resceve bi the seid obligacion and that I may have an acquitance
y^rof and to yeve credence unto my seid Sonne in such thing as
he shall say unto you^r gode Brotherhode on my behalve.

Right worshipfull and w^t all myn herte right entierly belovid
Brother I beseche the blissed Trinite p’s^rve you in Honōr and
p’sp’ite.

Writen at my Castell of Makestok the xvij day of Marche.

Yowre trew and feyfull broder

11 ½ by 6. ² H. Buhingh’m.

Paper Mark
A Bull’s Head and Star.
Pl. VIII. No 2.

Makestock Castle,
    in Warwickshire,
    17th March.
    Between 1444, and 1455; 23, and 34 H. VI.

This Letter has no date of the year, but it must have been written after 1444, 23 H. VI.
in which year the Earl of Stafford was created Duke of Buckingham, and most probably
before the breaking out of the Civil war, as the Duke makes no complaint of the Distresses
of the times, but only mentions that season of the year, as not so convenient for him to
procure money.

The Sentiments contained in the Letter are those of a just man, and a man of honour,
wishing to discharge his Debt at the time appointed, and which as he could not do in
money, he performs by sending an Obligation which he had from another, upon which
Lord Beaumont might receive his Demand.

The Direction and Address of those Letters, which are written from one Knight of the
Garter to another, shew us, that in this age they esteemed one another as Friends and
Brethren united by that most noble order, whose Institution directs that the Knights
Companions should be “Fellows and Brethren united in all Chances of Fortune, Copart-
“ners both in Peace and War, assistant to one another in all serious and dangerous Tran-
“sactions, and through the whole course of their Lives, faithful and friendly one
“towards another.”

The Letter itself is written by the Duke’s Secretary, but the Conclusion and Signature
are by his own hand, and it is most probably the only Original Letter extant of this
Great Peer.

¹ John Beaumont, was created Viscount Beaumont, in 1439, 18 H. VI. being the
first nobleman who bore that title by patent in England. He was a faithful adherent to
the King, and was slain in the battle of Northampton, in July 1460.

² Humphrey Stafford, Earl of Stafford, &c. was created Duke of Buckingham, in
1444, 23 H. VI. His Mother was the Lady Anne, only Daughter of Thomas of
Woodstock, youngest Son to Edward III. He was firm in the interest of his Sovereign,
and lost his life in the battle of Northampton, in July 1460, where he jointly commanded
with the Duke of Somerset.

His Son Stafford, mentioned in this Letter, was most probably Humphrey Earl of
Stafford, who was wounded at the first battle of St. Albans, in 1455, and of which wounds
he soon after died; if so, it undoubtedly ascertains the date of this Letter to some
period between 1444 and 1455.

The Signature is remarkable for having the initial B of the Title, included within the
initial H, of the Christian name. PL. I. No 5.

LETTER V.

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

RIGHT worshipful, and with all mine heart right entirely
beloved Brother, I recommend me to you, thanking right
heartily your good Brotherhood, for your good and gentle
Letters, the which it hath liked you to send unto me now late;
and like it you to know, I perceive, by the Tenor of the said
Letter, your good desire of certain Debt that I owe unto you.

In good faith, Brother, it is so with me at this time, that I
have but easy stuff of money within me, for so much as the season

of the year is not yet grown, so that I may not please your said
good Brotherhood, as God knoweth my will and intent were to
do, and (if) I had it.

Nevertheless and (if) it like you, I send you by my Son
Stafford, an Obligation whereof, of late time, I have received
part of the Debt therein comprised; the residue of which I pray
you to receive by the said Obligation, and that I may have an
acquitance thereof, and to give credence unto my said Son in
such thing as he shall say unto your good Brotherhood on my
behalf.

Right worshipful, and with all mine heart right entirely
beloved Brother, I beseech the blessed Trinity, preserve you in
Honour and Prosperity.

Written at my Castle of Makestock, the 17th day of March.

Your true and faithful Brother,

² H. BUCKINGHAM.

11 ? by 6. ² H. Buhingh’m.