To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich._
Ryght worchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys, that on ethes ye shalle reede it.
As on Monday] nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London, that on Thorsday before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to Caleys ward, &c.
And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master badde hym, 'Welcom, Traitor,' as men sey; and forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday next folwyng.
Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke to be delyverd to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.
And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.
Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.
Forther I wotte nott, but this for is that yf the proces be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.
Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer also, &c.
Sir Thomas Keriel at the battle of Formigny, tho is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij. ml. Englishe men slayn.
Mathew Gooth with xvc. fledde, and savyd hym selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. ml. Frenshe men and more, &c.
I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have yow all yn his kepyn.
I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and wyfe, &c.
James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.
Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.
By yowr wyfe.
W. L.
To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich._
Ryght worchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys, that on ethes ye shalle reede it.
As on Monday] nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London, that on Thorsday before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to Caleys ward, &c.
And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master badde hym, 'Welcom, Traitor,' as men sey; and forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday next folwyng.
Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke to be delyverd to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.
And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.
Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.
Forther I wotte nott, but this for is that yf the proces be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.
Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer also, &c.
Sir Thomas Keriel at the battle of Formigny, tho is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij. ml. Englishe men slayn.
Mathew Gooth with xvc. fledde, and savyd hym selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. ml. Frenshe men and more, &c.
I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have yow all yn his kepyn.
I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and wyfe, &c.
James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.
Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.
By yowr wyfe.
W. L.
To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich._
Ryght worchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys, that on ethes ye shalle reede it.
As on Monday] nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London, that on Thorsday before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to Caleys ward, &c.
And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master badde hym, 'Welcom, Traitor,' as men sey; and forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday next folwyng.
Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke to be delyverd to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.
And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.
Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.
Forther I wotte nott, but this for is that yf the proces be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.
Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer also, &c.
Sir Thomas Keriel at the battle of Formigny, tho is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij. ml. Englishe men slayn.
Mathew Gooth with xvc. fledde, and savyd hym selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. ml. Frenshe men and more, &c.
I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have yow all yn his kepyn.
I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and wyfe, &c.
James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.
Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.
By yowr wyfe.
W. L.
To my right worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich._
Right worchipfull sir, I recommend me to you, and am right sorry of that I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bill with sorwfulle terys, that on ethes you shalle reede it.
As on Monday] nexte after May day there come tidings to London, that on Thorsday before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes of Kent full nere Dover with his two. shepes and a litel spynner; the qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid men unto Calais ward, to knowe howe he should be resceyvyd; and with him mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng on him, and by hem that were in the spyner, the master of the Nicolas had knowlich of the dukes coming. And whanne he espyed the dukes shepis, he sent forth his bote to wait what they were, and the duke him self spakke to hem, and said, he was be the Kyngs commandment sent to Calais ward, etc..
And they said he most speak with [here/her] master. And soo he, with two. or three. of his men, wente forth with hem in [here/her] bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master bade him, 'Welcom, Traitor,' as men sey; and forther the master desired to wait yf the shepmen woldde hold with the duke, and they sent word they would not in no wise; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday next folwyng.
Soom sey he wrotte much thenke to be delivered to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He had hes confessor with him, etc..
And some sey he was arreyned in the sheppe on [here/her] manner upon the appechementes and found gylty, etc..
Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembered Stacy that said, if he might eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his heart faylyd him, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and in the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the greet shippe in to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe bade him ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd with, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be greets circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wait what to do, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe do.
Forther I wotte not, but this for is that yf the proces be erroneous, let his concell reverse it, etc..
Also for all your other maters they slepe, and the freer also, etc..
Sir Thomas Keriel at the battle of Formigny, tho is take prisoner, and all the legge harneyse, and abowte 3,000 Englishe men [killed/slain].
Mathew Gooth with 1,500 fledde, and savyd him selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and had 10,000 Frenshe men and more, etc..
I pray you let my mastras your mother knowe these tydyngis, and God have you all in his kepyn.
I pray you this bill may recommend me to my mastrases your mother and wyfe, etc..
James Gresham has written to John of Dam, and recomaundith him, etc..
Written in great haste at London, the v. day of May, etc..
By your wyfe.
W. L.
To the honourable John Paston, at Norwich.
Beloved Sir, My best wishes, and I am very sorry for what I have to say, and have so washed this short note with sorrowful tears that you will scarcely be able to read it.
On the Monday after Mayday there came news to London that on the Thursday before, the Duke of Suffolk had come to the coast of Kent near Dover, with his two ships and a small vessel. He was sending that vessel with some letters to certain of his trusted men in Calais, to find out how he would be received there. And he met a ship called Nicholas of the Tower, and other ships with it, and from those that were in the smaller vessel, the master of the Nicholas knew that the Duke was coming. When he saw the Duke's ships, he sent across his boat to find out who they were. The Duke spoke to them himself and and said that he was going to Calais by the King's command.
They said he would have to speak with their ship's master. So he, with two or three of his men, went with them in the boat to the Nicholas , and when he arrived, the master said to him,"Welcome, Traitor" - so they say - and then the master wanted to know if the sailors would stand by the Duke, and they sent a message saying that they certainly would not, and so he stayed on the Nicholas until the Saturday.
Some say he wrote many things to be delivered to the King, but no-one knows for certain. He had his confessor with him.
Some say he was tried on board the ship unilaterally because of the accusations and was found guilty.
Also he asked the name of the ship, and when he heard it, he remembered Stacey had said that if he could escape the danger of the Tower, he would be safe, and then his courage failed him, for he thought he had been tricked, and in the sight of all his men his was taken out of the larger vessel into the boat. There there was an axe and a stock, and one of the most ignorant men on the ship told him to lay down his head, and he would be fairly dealt with, and die by the sword. Then he took a rusty sword and struck off his head with a dozen strokes, and took off his russet gown and his velvet mailed doublet and laid his body on the sands of Dover. Some say his head was put on a pole beside it, and his men put on to the land roughly and in secret. The Sheriff of Kent is keeping watch on the body and has sent his Under-Sheriff to the judges to find out what to do, and also to the King to find out what he wants to be done.
I don't know anything more, but if the process was in error, let his lawyers reverse it.
As far as all your other affairs are concerned, everything is quiet, including the friar.
Sir Thomas Keriel was taken prisoner at the Battle of Formigny, and all the armour, and about three thousand Englishmen were killed.
Matthew Gough, with 1,500, fled and saved himself and them. Peris Brusy was in command, and had 10,000 Frenchmen and more.
Please let my mistress your mother know this news, and God have you all in his keeping.
Please give my regards to my mistresses, your mother and wife.
James Gresham has written to John of Dam, and recommends him.
Written in great haste at London on the 5th of May.
By your wife,
W.L.
