The Duke of Suffolk to John Paston

LETTER IV.

To or trusty and welbeloved John Paston ¹ Sheriff of Suff’ and Norff’.

The Duc of Suff’

RIGHT welbeloved we grete you well And for asmuche as
     the King o^r Sov^reigne Lord hath late addressed his Let-
ters of Comission undre his seale unto us, reciting by the same
that his highnesse undrestondith certayn his rebells associate to
his old Enmys of Scotlond, entending not only to trowble his
peax, the nobles and subjects of this Realme to destroy their
goods and possessions to spoill and reward at thair lib’ties.
But also the lawes of this lond and holy chirche to subvert.

     Our said moost drad Soverayn Lord, as a Cristen Prince
² . . . . . . . . . . . his said Enmys and Rebels to resist hath
assigned and comaunded us to do all man^r . . . . . . . . . . . and others
defensible able to labo^r as well Archers as Hobbyllers, to come
before us and charge them . . . . . . . . . . . armed and arayed ev^ry
man aftre his degre and power to attend uppon his p’son and
uppon us to do him s^rvice in defence as well of the Chirche,
as of the said Nobles and subjects of this Realm against his
said Enmys and Rebels. We therfore wull and in our said
Sov^reigne Lords name straitly charge and comaunde you that
in all possible hast ye do this to be p’clamed. And that all
man^r men able to do the King s^rvice as well Knights Esquiers
and Gentlemen, as Townships and Hundreds, as well w^tin
franchesse and lib’tes as w^tout w^tin the Counties of Suff’ and
Norff’ And that they be charged to be redy at all tymes uppon
an howre warnyng and ordered according to the last Comission
afore this, to attend uppon his Grace and uppon us to do him
s^rvice whatsoever they shalbe comaunded, not failing herof as ye
wull answer at yo^r. p’ile Goven at ³ Long Stratton the xx
day of October.

    And forthermore that ye yeve credence unto o^r s^rvūt this
Bringer, as this same day we receyved the Kings cōmission at
iiij aftre none.

                                                                    ⁴ Suffolk, yo^r Friend.
            Paper Mark,
     The Letter P, and Quaterfoil.
             Pl. XIII. N^o 3.
            11 ½ by 8 ½.

          Long Stratton,
            Wednesday, 20th of October,
            1484, 2 R. III.

    This being an original Proclamation signed by the Duke of Suffolk, in obedience to the
King’s Commands, I have inserted it.

     And the Paper Mark being similar to that on the paper which contained the Copy of the
Proclamation, dated the 23d of June, 1484, 2 R. III. shows that that Copy was taken at
the time from the Original.

    ¹ John Paston, Esquire, was Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk on the accession of
Henry VII. he most probably therefore entered upon that office at Michaelmas, 1484,
2. R. III. this Letter being dated on the 20th of October.

    ² The Letter is defective in those places where dots are used.

    ³ In Norfolk.

     ⁴ John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, &c. he died in 1491. Pl. VII. N^o 3.

LETTER IV.

To our trusty and well beloved John Paston, ¹ Sheriff of Suffolk
and Norfolk.

The Duke of Suffolk.

RIGHT well beloved, we greet you well; and forasmuch
     as the King our Sovereign Lord hath late addressed his
Letters of Commission under his Seal unto us, reciting by the
same, that his Highness understanding certain of his Rebels,
associate to his old Enemies of Scotland; intending not only to
trouble his peace; the Nobles and Subjects of this Realm to
destroy, their Goods and Possessions to spoil, and reward at their
liberties; but also the Laws of this Land, and Holy Church to
subvert.

     Our said most dread Sovereign Lord, as a Christian Prince
² . . . . . . . . . . . his said Enemies and Rebels to resist, hath
assigned and commanded us to do all manner . . . . . . . . . . . and
others defensible able to labour, as well Arches as Hobbellers to
come before us and charge them . . . . . . . . . . . armed and arrayed every
man after his degree and power, to attend upon his Person, and
upon us, to do him service, in defence as well of the Church,
as of the said Nobles and Subjects of this Realm, against his
said Enemies and Rebels. We therefore will, and, in our said
Sovereign Lord’s name, straitly charge and command you, that
in all possible haste ye do (order) this to be proclaimed: And that all
manner (of) men, able to do the King service, as well Knights,
Esquires, and Gentlemen; as Townships and Hundreds, as
well within Franchises and Liberties as without, within the
Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk; and that they be charged to
be ready at all times, upon an hour’s warning, and ordered
according to the last Commission afore this, to attend upon his
Grace and upon us to do him service, whensoever they shall be
commanded; not failing hereof, as ye will answer at your peril.

     Given at ³ Long Stratton, the 20th day of October.

    And furthermore that ye give credence unto our Servant this
Bringer, as this same day we received the King’s Commission
at four in the Afternoon.

                                                         ⁴ SUFFOLK, your Friend.

 Paper Mark,
     The Letter P, and Quaterfoil.
             Pl. XIII. N^o 3.
            11 ½ by 8 ½.

          Long Stratton,
            Wednesday, 20th of October,
            1484, 2 R. III.

    This being an original Proclamation signed by the Duke of Suffolk, in obedience to the
King’s Commands, I have inserted it.

     And the Paper Mark being similar to that on the paper which contained the Copy of the
Proclamation, dated the 23d of June, 1484, 2 R. III. shows that that Copy was taken at
the time from the Original.

    ¹ John Paston, Esquire, was Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk on the accession of
Henry VII. he most probably therefore entered upon that office at Michaelmas, 1484,
2. R. III. this Letter being dated on the 20th of October.

    ² The Letter is defective in those places where dots are used.

    ³ In Norfolk.

     ⁴ John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, &c. he died in 1491. Pl. VII. N^o 3.

1006

THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO JOHN PASTON²

To our trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Sheriff of
Suffolk and Norffolk.

THE DUC OF SUFFOLK.

     RIGHT welbeloved, we grete you well. And for asmuche
         as the King our sovereigne Lord hath late addressed
         his letters of comission undre his seale unto us, reciting
by the same that his highnesse undrestondith certayn his rebells
associate to his old enmys of Scotlond, entending not only to
trowble his peax, the nobles and subjects of this Realme to
destroy, their goods and possessions to spoill, and reward at
thair liberties, but also the lawes of this lond and holy Chirche
to subvert.

     Our said moost drad soverayn Lord, as a Cristen Prince,
...................... his said enmys and rebels to resist,
hath assigned and comaunded us to do all maner ......................
and others defensible able to labour, as well archers as hob-
byllers,¹ to come before us and charge them ......................
armed and arayed, every man aftre his degre and power, to
attend uppon his person, and uppon us, to do him service in
defence as well of the Chirche as of the said nobles and subjects
of this Realm, against his said enmys and rebels.

     We therfore wull, and in our said sovereigne Lords name
straitly charge and comaunde you, that in all possible hast ye
do this to be proclamed:—And that all maner men able to do
the King service, as well knights, esquiers, and gentlemen, as
townships and hundreds, as well within franchesse and libertes
as without, within the counties of Suffolk and Norffolk, and
that they be charged to be redy at all tymes uppon an howre
warnyng, and ordered according to the last comission afore
this, to attend uppon his Grace and uppon us to do him
service, whatsoever they shalbe comaunded, not failing herof,
as ye wull answer at your perile. Goven at Long Stratton,
the xx. day of October.

     And forthermore, that ye yeve credence unto our servaunt
this bringer, as this same day we receyved the Kings com-
mission at iiij. aftre none.

                                                                            SUFFOLK, yor frende.

     ² [From Fenn, ii. 326.] John Paston was Sheriff of Norfolk in the first year of
Henry VII., and entered on his duties at Michaelmas 1485. This letter therefore is
of that year.

     ¹ Light horsemen.   

1485
OCT. 20

1485
OCT. 20