William Botoner to Sir John Fastolf

365

ABSTRACT¹

WILLIAM BOTONER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF

     You shall know the governance here on Paston’s coming to you better than
I can write. The King is gone to Berkhamstead, ‘and it is said my Lords
Somerset, Exeter, Clifford, and Egremont, that rode upon Thursday last to
the King, they come again to London; and the Lord of Northumberland is
come to the King at this time after the Lords’ departing out of London with
3000 or 4000 people, as it is said, but all toke (?) to a good peace, and re-
conysances made to keep the peace in great sums till Michaelmas, that in the
mean time to make a throw peace final by means of all the Lords.’ John
Vyncent of Bentley was at the Priory of Lewes in Sussex this week, and says
that sixty sail of Frenchmen were sailing before the coasts, keeping the sea.
The Lord Fauconberg is at Hampton with his navy. Edmund Clere of the
King’s house has heard from a soldier of Calais that Crowmer and Blakeney is
much spoken of among Frenchmen. ‘The King’s safe conduct is not holden
but broken, as it is voiced here, and that will do no good to merchants till it
be amended.’ Figs and raisins are dear at 18s. the croc (?), ‘wherte’ at 10s.
the qr., malt 5s. Remains here awaiting for the com[ing of your] officers of
Castlecombe to bring up your money. Expects to send £40 by Master Paston.
. . . . (Mutilated at the bottom; date lost.)

     [The King was at Berkhamstead in the end of June and beginning of July 1450;
also on the 3rd March 1453 (from Reading, whither he returned immediately); also
in February and March 1458 (from 20th February to 13th March). This letter must
have been written in February 1458.]

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¹ [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 274.]

1458(?)
[FEB.]