William Elleson to Sir Robert Plumpton

129 William Elleson¹ to Sir Robert Plumpton 12 February [1498/9] (No.
        140, p. 85)

Right worshipful Sir, I recomend me to you. By your letter I understand
William Babthorp will haue a nisi prius at this next assizes.² Sir, it is
necessary for you to get a copy of the panel, & then to enquire if any
of them, or if their wyfes be sybb or allied to William Babthorp, and
yf any cause in them bee wherby they may be challenged. And also to
make labor to them that they appeare not, or els to be faourable to
you, according to right, & enform them of the matter as wel as ye can
for their consciences. Sir, for Mr Kingsmel,³ it were wel doon that he
were with you, for his auctority & worship, for he may speke more
plainly in the matter then any counsel in this country will, for he
knowes the crafty labor that hath been made in this matter; & also he
will not let for no maugre. And yf the enquest passe against you, he
may shew you summ comfortable remedy. For I suppose with good
counsel you may haue remedy. But, Sir, his comming wilbe costly to
you.⁴ Sir, I purpose, with the grace of God, to be at Knaresburg upon
Tewsday next coming, & if ye be there, or any for you, I shall shew
you more of my mind. No more, but God perserue you & further
treweth. Written the 12 day of Februar.

By your servant at his litle power     William Eleson^a

Endorsed: To his right worshipful master Sir Robart Plompton kt be this
deliuered

     ^a Appended: Copied 19 April Munday 1613.

     ¹ Possibly an older half-brother of Sir Robert’s daughter-in-law, Isabel, née Babthorpe.
He and Sir William Gascoigne were nominated by Sir Robert to treat for him during
the trial of Bubwith & Burgh v. Plumpton at York assizes in Sept. 1502, Stapleton, 218n;
250; CB, 824; App. II, 64.

     ² The case appears to have been heard at York assizes in the Michaelmas term, 1499,
BL, Add. MS 32,113, fols 230-234v; 142.

     ³ John Kingsmill (d.1508), called sergeant 1495, king’s sergeant 1497, JCP 1508. Noted
for his high fees, E.W. Ives, ‘The Reputation of the Common Lawyers in English Society,
1450–1550’, University of Birmingham Journal, vii (1960), 152; Idem, CL, 123, 467; Idem,
’The Common Lawyers of Pre-Reformation England’, TRHS, 5th ser., xviii (1968), 145,
157.

     ⁴ There were several challenges to proposed members of the jury on the ground of
consanguinity, BL, Add. MS 32,113, fols 233–233v.

LETTER CIII.

To his Right worshipful master, Sir Robert Plompton, kt. be this
delivered.

    Right worshipful Sir, I recomend me to you. By your letter I
understand William Babthorp will have a nisi prius at this next
assizes. Sir, it is necessary for you to get a copy of the panel,
and then to enquire if any of them or of their wyfes be sybb or
allied to Wil. Babthorp, and yf any cause in them bee wherby
they may be chalenged. And also to make labor to them that
they appeare not, or els to be favorable to you according to right,
and enform them of the matter as wel as ye can for their con-
sciences. Sir, for Mr. Kingsmel, it were wel doon that he were
with you, for his auctority and worship; for he may speke more
plainly in the matter than any counsel in this country will, for he
knowes the crafty labor that hath been made in this matter, and
also he will not let for no maugre. And yf the enquest passe
against you, he may shew you summ comfortable remedy, for I sup-
pose with good counsell you may have remedy; but, Sir, his coming
wilbe costly to you. Sir, I purpose with the grace of God to be
at Knaresburg upon tewsday next coming, and if ye be there or
any for you, I shall shew you more of my mind. No more, but
God preserve you and further treweth. Written the 12 day of
february.

            By your servant at litle power,
    ( 12 Feb. 1498-9.)                WILLIAM ELESON.^a

    ^a William Eleson of Selby, com. Ebor. esq. son of John Elson who died 14. .-1509,
and has a monumental inscription in the abbey.?( Burton. Mon, Ebor. p. 410.)
He afterwards married a daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton.