To the Right Honorable Sir John Paston, Knyght, be this delyverid.
Right reverent and honorable, after the ordre of all diew recommendacion had, I recomaunde me un to your maistership. Sir, it is so that John Talyour of Brytcham, debite [_deputy_] in your office of Th'admirallite, was with me this mornyng to have myn advyce in this mater folowyng, the whiche is this.
There was taken ageyns Thornham, in the Kynges streeme, leyng ij. fadam and an halff depe upon the see, a whalle fyssh, by Thornham men labouryng all nyght on Sunday nyght last was, and so have slayn it, and brought to lande; upon the whiche your said debite hath ben ther as yister day, and seysed my lordes part therof; wherof the puple was glad it shuld so be. Than John a Lowe was there, and he seyd to your debite that he wold have the Kynges part in this wise, that the Kyng and my lord shuld part the halff. Sir, the lawe cyvylle seyth thus, 'If any fyssh ryall be founde on the se, that is to say, _whalle, bales, sturgion, porpeys, or gra[m]peys_, that my Lord Admyrall shall have the halvendele,' &c.
I thynke my lord[116-1] hath the Kynges prerogatyff upon the see, the whiche I remytte to your discrecion, &c.
Sir, by lyklyhode, without ye take hede and send thedir som of youres, my lordes part shall be litill. It is a greet fissh and a ryall; your debite sheweth me it is xj. fadam and more of length, and ij. fadam of bygnes and depnes in the mydde fyssh.
Sir, remembre what ye have to do; there came not suche a casualte in your tyme of your office, &c. Wherfore this, by th'enfourmacion of your sayd debite, cause me to wryte un to you this sympill bille, praying you to pardone me of the writyng, for it was don in hast; and this bille I sent to Willyam Brykkes your servant, to Matelask, by masse tyme, to brynke it to you. And this day they purpose to breke it. Do hereyn now as it please you, and Allmighti God have you and all youres in Hese kepyng; besechyng you that this symple bille may recomaunde my pouer wiff un to your maistershipp.
Wretyn on Candilmas Day, in hast, at Welles.
Your,
T. GRIGGES.
To the Right Honorable Sir John Paston, Knyght, be this delyverid.
Right reverent and honorable, after the ordre of all diew recommendacion had, I recomaunde me un to your maistership. Sir, it is so that John Talyour of Brytcham, debite [_deputy_] in your office of Th'admirallite, was with me this mornyng to have myn advyce in this mater folowyng, the whiche is this.
There was taken ageyns Thornham, in the Kynges streeme, leyng ij. fadam and an halff depe upon the see, a whalle fyssh, by Thornham men labouryng all nyght on Sunday nyght last was, and so have slayn it, and brought to lande; upon the whiche your said debite hath ben ther as yister day, and seysed my lordes part therof; wherof the puple was glad it shuld so be. Than John a Lowe was there, and he seyd to your debite that he wold have the Kynges part in this wise, that the Kyng and my lord shuld part the halff. Sir, the lawe cyvylle seyth thus, 'If any fyssh ryall be founde on the se, that is to say, _whalle, bales, sturgion, porpeys, or gra[m]peys_, that my Lord Admyrall shall have the halvendele,' &c.
I thynke my lord[116-1] hath the Kynges prerogatyff upon the see, the whiche I remytte to your discrecion, &c.
Sir, by lyklyhode, without ye take hede and send thedir som of youres, my lordes part shall be litill. It is a greet fissh and a ryall; your debite sheweth me it is xj. fadam and more of length, and ij. fadam of bygnes and depnes in the mydde fyssh.
Sir, remembre what ye have to do; there came not suche a casualte in your tyme of your office, &c. Wherfore this, by th'enfourmacion of your sayd debite, cause me to wryte un to you this sympill bille, praying you to pardone me of the writyng, for it was don in hast; and this bille I sent to Willyam Brykkes your servant, to Matelask, by masse tyme, to brynke it to you. And this day they purpose to breke it. Do hereyn now as it please you, and Allmighti God have you and all youres in Hese kepyng; besechyng you that this symple bille may recomaunde my pouer wiff un to your maistershipp.
Wretyn on Candilmas Day, in hast, at Welles.
Your,
T. GRIGGES.
To the Right Honorable Sir John Paston, Knyght, be this delyverid.
Right reverent and honorable, after the ordre of all diew recommendacion had, I recomaunde me un to your maistership. Sir, it is so that John Talyour of Brytcham, debite [_deputy_] in your office of Th'admirallite, was with me this mornyng to have myn advyce in this mater folowyng, the whiche is this.
There was taken ageyns Thornham, in the Kynges streeme, leyng ij. fadam and an halff depe upon the see, a whalle fyssh, by Thornham men labouryng all nyght on Sunday nyght last was, and so have slayn it, and brought to lande; upon the whiche your said debite hath ben ther as yister day, and seysed my lordes part therof; wherof the puple was glad it shuld so be. Than John a Lowe was there, and he seyd to your debite that he wold have the Kynges part in this wise, that the Kyng and my lord shuld part the halff. Sir, the lawe cyvylle seyth thus, 'If any fyssh ryall be founde on the se, that is to say, _whalle, bales, sturgion, porpeys, or gra[m]peys_, that my Lord Admyrall shall have the halvendele,' &c.
I thynke my lord[116-1] hath the Kynges prerogatyff upon the see, the whiche I remytte to your discrecion, &c.
Sir, by lyklyhode, without ye take hede and send thedir som of youres, my lordes part shall be litill. It is a greet fissh and a ryall; your debite sheweth me it is xj. fadam and more of length, and ij. fadam of bygnes and depnes in the mydde fyssh.
Sir, remembre what ye have to do; there came not suche a casualte in your tyme of your office, &c. Wherfore this, by th'enfourmacion of your sayd debite, cause me to wryte un to you this sympill bille, praying you to pardone me of the writyng, for it was don in hast; and this bille I sent to Willyam Brykkes your servant, to Matelask, by masse tyme, to brynke it to you. And this day they purpose to breke it. Do hereyn now as it please you, and Allmighti God have you and all youres in Hese kepyng; besechyng you that this symple bille may recomaunde my pouer wiff un to your maistershipp.
Wretyn on Candilmas Day, in hast, at Welles.
Your,
T. GRIGGES.
To the Right Honorable Sir John Paston, Knyght, be this delyverid.
Right reverent and honorable, after the ordre of all diew recommendacion had, I recommend me un to your mastership. Sir, it is so that John Talyour of Bircham, debite [_deputy_] in your office of Th'admirallite, was with me this mornyng to have [mine/my] advyce in this matter folowyng, the whiche is this.
There was taken ageyns Thornham, in the King's streeme, leyng two. fadam and an halff depe upon the see, a whalle fyssh, by Thornham men labouryng all night on Sunday night last was, and so have [killed/slain] it, and brought to lande; upon the whiche your said debite has [be/been] there as yister day, and seysed my lordes part thereof; wherof the puple was glad it should so be. Than John a Lowe was there, and he said to your debite that he would have the King's part in this wise, that the King and my lord should part the halff. Sir, the law cyvylle said thus, 'If any fyssh ryall be founde on the se, that is to say, _whalle, bales, sturgion, porpeys, or gra[m]peys_, that my Lord Admyrall shall have the halvendele,' etc..
I thynke my lord[116-1] has the King's prerogatyff upon the see, the whiche I remytte to your discretion, etc..
Sir, by lyklyhode, without you take hede and send thedir som of youres, my lordes part shall be little. It is a greet fissh and a ryall; your debite sheweth me it is xj. fadam and more of length, and two. fadam of bygnes and depnes in the mydde fyssh.
Sir, remembre what you have to do; there came not suche a casualte in your time of your office, etc.. Wherfore this, by th'enfourmacion of your sayd debite, cause me to write un to you this sympill bill, praying you to pardone me of the writyng, for it was done in haste; and this bill I sent to Willyam Brykkes your servant, to Matlaske, by masse time, to brynke it to you. And this day they purpose to breke it. Do hereyn now as it please you, and Allmighti God have you and all youres in Hese keeping; asking you that this simple bill may recommend my pouer wiff un to your maistershipp.
Written on Candilmas Day, in haste, at Welles.
Your,
T. GRIGGES.
For delivery to the Right Honourable Sir John Paston, Knight.
My honoured Sir, respected master, allow me to address you. John Taylor of Bircham, deputy in your office at The Admiralty, was with me this morning to get my advice on the following matter.
Next to Thornham, in the King's water two and a half fathoms deep, a whale was taken by Thornham men who laboured all last Sunday night, killing it and bringing it to the shore. Your deputy was there yesterday and took my Lord's portion of it, and the people were happy about it. Then John a Lowe was there, and he said to your deputy that he would have the King's part, with the King and my Lord sharing my Lord's half. Sir, civil law says: “If any fish deemed to be Crown property is found at sea – that is to say whales of different kinds, sturgeon, porpoises or seals – my Lord Admiral shall have the half part.”
I think my Lord has the King's prerogative on the sea, and I remit the matter to your discretion.
Sir, it is likely that unless you take notice and send some of your men there, my Lord's part shall be very small. It is a great fish and Crown property: your deputy showed me that it is eleven fathoms and more long, and two fathoms wide and deep in the middle of the fish.
Sir, remember what you have to do; nothing like this has happened in your time of office; and so the information of your deputy has led me to write this simple letter, asking you to forgive the writing, for it was done in haste; and I sent this letter to William Brykkes, your servant, at Matlaske by Mass, so that he can bring it to you. They are intending to cut the fish up today. Do as you please, and Almighty God have you and all yours in His keeping; I beg you that this simple letter may cause you to look kindly on my poor wife.
Written on Candlemas Day in haste at Wells.
Your
T GRIGGES
