William Botoner to Sir John Fastolf

Add. 43488, f. 40

1 February 1458

Gairdner, Vol III, item 364; Fenn, Vol I, Henry VI item 37

LETTER XXXVII.

To my Ryght Worshypful Mayst^r S^r. John Fastolf.

RYGHT Worshypfull S^r. and my ryght gode Maist^r I
recomaund me to yow yn my full humble wyse.

Please yow to wete as to Nouveltees here both Christofr Bar-
ker wryteth to you more along.

The Kyng came the last weke to Westm^r. and the Duk of
¹ Yorke came to London w^t hys oune housole onlye to the nōbre
of cxl hors as it ys seyd, the Erle of ² Salysburye w^t iiij ^c hors
yn hys companye iiij^xx knyghts and sqwyers.

The Duke of ³ Som^rset came to London last day of Janyver
w^t ij^e hors and loggyth wythoute Temple barre, and the Duc of
⁴ Excestr shalle be here thys weke w^t a grete Felyshyp and strong
as it ys seyd.

The Earle of ⁵ Warwyke ys not yhyt com because the wynde
ys not for hym.

And the Duke of Excest^r takyth a grete disples^r that my Lord
Warewyke occupyeth hys office and takyth the charge of the
kepy’g of the see uppon hym.

It’m as for tydyng of beyend see I hyre none certeyn but
that the Frensh Kyng shulde hafe maryed hys Dought^r to the
Kyng of ⁶ Hungerye, whych had the descomfytur uppon the
Turks, and the seyd Kyng ys decesed wythynne thys vj wekes
or the spouselle was made, but he ordeyned or he dyed that the
frensh Kyngs Dought^r shuld be named Qwene of Hungerye
duryng hyr lyffe.

Rygt. Worshypfull S^r. I beseche the blessed Trinite hafe yow
yn hys gouv^rn’ce.

Wrete at London the fyrst day of Feu’zer A^o 36 R H vj.

Moreover, please you to wete that Williā ⁷ Canyngs the
m’rch’unt wryteth an aunsuer of your l’re.

I trust it shall be the bett^r for your wrytyng.

My Broy^r p’mytted me a certeyn som’e when I maryed and I
shall hafe it of my Sust^r yff I may.

Yo^r hūble s^rv’tte,

⁸ W. Botoner, bit Worcester.

11 ½ by 8 ½.

Paper Mark,
Bull’s Head and Star.
Pl. VIII. N^o 2.

London,
Wednesday, 1st of February,
1457-8, 36 H. VI.

The first part of this Letter to Sir J. Fastolf, mentions the holding of some Courts,
and some other law matters of no consequence, wherein Yelverton Fylengley and others
were concerned; I have therefore omitted that part, and began it where the account of
public Transactions commences.

¹ Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, slain at the battle of Wakefield, in 1460.

² Richard Nevile, Earl of Salisbury, taken Prisoner at the battle of Wakefield, and
beheaded.

³ Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, an active Commander in the French Wars, was a
steady Lancastrian, and being made prisoner at the battle of Hexham, in 1463, was there
beheaded by order of Edward IV.

⁴ Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter, married Anne, Sister of Edward IV. but always

adhered to the House of Lancaster. After the battle of Barnet, in 1471, he took the
Sanctuary at Westminster; from whence he privately escaped abroad, where he lived in
great poverty and distress. It is said that his body was found in 1474, upon the sea
shore, on the Coast of Kent.

⁵ Richard Nevile, Earl of Warwick, had been appointed Admiral of the Channel, &c.
he was a turbulent and factious Nobleman, and was stain in the battle of Barnet, in 1471,
fighting against Edward IV. The Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury were come,
and the Earl of Warwick was coming to London, at the invitation of the King, in order
to effect a general reconciliation; these as well as the Noblemen in the King’s interest
were allowed armed followers.

⁶ Ladislaus V. succeeded as King of Hungary, in 1444; being only five years old,
when Huniades the Regent defeated the Turks.

He died by poison in 1457, in the 18th year of his age, being then on the point of
marriage with Magdalen, a Princess of France, and Daughter of Charles VII.

⁷ William Canyng was a great and rich Merchant at Bristol, and the Person who, in
the supposed Rowley’s Poems, is mentioned as his Patron.

⁸ William Botoner alias Worcester, was born about 1415, 3 H. V. and was alive in
1480, 20 E. IV. Pl. II. N^o 24.

LETTER XXXVII.

To my Right Worshipful Master, Sir John Fastolf.

RIGHT Worshipful Sir, and my right good Master, I
recommend me to you in my full humble wise.

Please you to wete, as to Novelties here being, Christopher
Barker writeth to you more along (at large.)

The King came the last week to Westminster, and the Duke
of ¹ York came to London with his own Household only, to the
number of 140 Horse, as it is said; the Earl of ² Salisbury with
400 Horse in his Company, four score Knights and Squires.

The Duke of ³ Somerset came to London (the) last day of
January with 200 Horse, and lodgeth without Temple Bar.

And the Duke of ⁴ Exeter shall be here this week with a great
Fellowship and strong, as it is said.

The Earl of ⁵ Warwick is not yet come, because the wind is

not for him; and the Duke of Exeter taketh a great dis-
pleasure that my Lord Warwick occupieth his office, and taketh
the charge of the keeping of the Sea upon him.

Item, as for tidings of beyond Sea, I hear none certain, but
that the French King should have married his Daughter to the
King of ⁶ Hungary, which had the discomfiture upon the
Turks; and the said King is deceased within this six weeks,
ere the Espousal was made, but he ordained ere he died that
the French King’s Daughter should be named Queen of Hun-
gary during her life.

Right worshipful Sir, I beseech the blessed Trinity (to) have
you in his governance.

Written at London the first day of February, in the 36th
year of King Henry VIth.

Moreover, please you to weet that William ⁷ Canyngs the
Merchant writeth an answer of your letter; I trust it shall
be the better for your writing.

My Brother promised me a certain sum when I married, and
I shall have it of my Sister if I may.

Your Humble Servant,

⁸ WILLIAM BOTONER, called WORCESTER.