Gregory's Chronicle: 1451-1460

The Historical Collections of a Citizen of London in the Fifteenth Century. Originally published by Camden Society, London, 1876.

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'Gregory's Chronicle: 1451-1460', in The Historical Collections of a Citizen of London in the Fifteenth Century, (London, 1876) pp. 196-210. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/camden-record-soc/vol17/pp196-210 [accessed 17 March 2024]

1451 – 1460

Ande the same yere, on Candylmas daye, the kynge was at Cauntyrbury, and whythe hym was the Duke of Excetyr, the Duke of Somersette, my Lorde of Schrofuysbury, whythe many moo othyr lordys and many justyces; and there they helde the cessyons iiij dayes, and there were dampnyde many men of the captayne ys men for hyr rysyng, and for hyr talkyng a gayne the kyng, havynge more favyr unto the Duke of Yorke thenne unto the kynge. And the dampnyde men were drawe, hanggyde, and quarteryde, but they were pardonnyde to be buryde, bothe hyr quarters of hyr bodys and hyr heddys with alle.

Ande at Rochester ix men were be-heddyd at that same tyme, and hyr heddys were sende unto London by the kyngys commaundement, and sette uppon London Brygge alle at one tyme; and xij heddys at a nothyr tyme were brought unto London at (fn. 1) sette uppe undyr the same forme, as hys (fn. 1) was commaundyd by the kyng. Men calle hyt in Kente the harvyste of hedys. Will. (fn. 2) Gregory Skynner, Warter Anno xxx°.

Gregory Skynner, Mayre of London Warter Anno xxx°.
Phylyppe

An that yere come a legat from the Pope of Rome with grete pardon, for that pardon was the grettyste pardon that evyr come to Inglonde from the Conqueste unto thys tyme of my yere, beyng Mayre of London, for hyt was plenar indulgens. And at every chathydralle chyrche of Inglonde, and every abbay of name, and pryory, hadde in hyr placys confessorys assygnyd to hyre confessyons, and to a soyle them of hyr synnys a pena et culpa. And in every toune and cytte there that thys pardon was pupplyscyde, and confessors i-namyd, were the stacyons assygnyd unto the penytentys to goo on pylgermage to offyr hyr prayers unto God, and noo thyng ellys; and thoo men that were confessyd gaffe mony unto the Pope to mayntayny hys warrys agayne the Turke, that was fulle cruelle unto Crystyn men, and thoroughe thys londe of Ingelonde every man was fayne to do and gyffe aftyr hyr pouer. And that yere the Pope put that hethyn hounde and fals tyrant to a grete rebuke, and slayne moe of hys Turkys then Mlpersons of grete dygnyte of hyr contre, &c.

Mayster Fyldynge, Mayre of London Ric. Lee Anno xxxj°.
Ric. Alle

That yere hyt was competent welle and pessabylle as for any rysynge a-mong oure selfe, for every man was in cheryte, but sum what the hertys of the pepyl hyng and sorowyd for that the Duke of Glouceter was dede, and sum sayde that the Duke of Yorke hadde grete wronge, but what wronge there was noo man that darste say, but sum grounyd and sum lowryd and hadde dysdayne of othyr, &c.

John Norman, Mayre of London John Walden Anno xxxij°. (fn. 3)
Thomas Coke

Ande that yere there was a batayle at Synt Albonys by-twyne Kyng Harry the VI. and the Duke of Yorke, and thys batayle was the weke be-fore Whytte Sonday. And Kyng Harry was in harnys hys owne propyr person, and was hurte with the shotte of an arowe in the necke. And the Duke of Yorke brought hym unto London as kynge and not as a presener. The Erle of Wyltschyre bare the kyngys baner that day in the batayle, for he was at that tyme namyd but Syr Jamys Urmon; (fn. 4) and thys sayde Jamys sette the kyngys baner agayne an howse ende and fought manly with the helys, for he was a feryd of lesynge of beute, for he was namyd the fayryd knyght of thys londe. And with yn a lytyl whyle aftyr was made the Erle of Wyltschyre.

The chaptaynys of thys fylde undyr the Duke of Yorke was the Erle of Warwyke, the Erle of Saulysbury. And in that batayle wer slayne the Duke of Somersett, the Erle of Northehomerlonde, the Lorde Clyfforde, with many moo othyr, bothe of gentylle men and yemen. And the kynge lete alle thys mater be in a dormon a grete and a long tyme aftyr, as ye shalle hyre, for hyt was noo seson to trete of pesse, for sum were welle contente and sum evylle plesyd, but at the laste the pepylle sayde that the Duke of Somersett was worthy to suffer that dethe by so moche that he brought Kyng Harry at Claryngdon be-syde Saulysbury and there he toke hys grete sekenys.

Wylliam Marowe, Mayre of London John Jonge Anno xxxiij°. (fn. 5)
Holgrave

Here was the rysynge and wanton reule of [t]e mayre and the mercers of London a-gayne the Lombardys. The Lombardys were so yntretyd that they were fayne to voyde the Cytte of London, ande many of them come to Sowthe Hampton and unto Wynchester for to be an habyte there. And they toke grete olde mancyons in Wyncherter for terme of lyffe, and sum but for yerys, and causyd the londe lordys to do grete coste in reparacyons, and when alle was don they come not there, and that causyd grete loste unto the londe lordys.

Also sum of the Lumbardys were take ande put in warde, and the comyn talkynge ande noyse was that they shulde nevyr be delyveryd butt contynue in perpetualle preson.

Also that yere a thyffe, one Thomas Whytehorne, was take in the Neweforeste be-syde Beuley and put yn preson at Wynchester. And when the day of delyverans com he appelyd many trewe men, and by that mene he kepte hys lyffe in preson. And thoo men that he appelyd were take and put yn stronge preson and sufferde many grete paynys, and was that they sholde confesse and a-corde unto hys fals pelyng; and sum were hongyd that hadde noo frende shyppe and goode, and thoo that hadde goode gate hyr charters of pardon. And that fals and untrewe peler hadde of the kynge every day j d. ob. And thys he contynuyd al moste iij yere, and dystryde many men that were sum tym in hys company. And at the laste he appelyd on that outerly sayde that he was fals in hys appelynge, and sayde that [he] (fn. 6) wolde preve hyt with hys hondys, and spende hys lyfe and blode a-pone hys fals body. And thys mater was fulle dyscretely take and hyrde of bothe pelerrys parte, and of the defendente ys parte also. And a notabylle man, and the moste petefullyste juge of al thys londe in syttyng a-pon lyffe and dethe, toke thys sympylle man that offeryd to fyght with the peler, ande fulle curtesly informyd hym of alle the condyscyons of the fyghtyng and duelle of repreffe that shulde be by-twyne a peler of the kyngys, fals or trewe, in that one party, and by-twyne the defendent, trewe or false, in that othyr party. For in cas that the peler prevaylyd in that fyght he shulde be put in preson ayen, but he shulde fare more better than he dyd be fore tyme of fyghtynge, and be i-lowe of the kyng ij d. every [day] (fn. 7) as longe as hit plesyd the kyng that he shulde lyf. For in prosses the kynge may by the lawe put hym to dethe, as for a man sleer, bycause that hys pelyng, fals or trewe, hathe causyd many mannys dethys, for a very trewe man schulde with yn xxiiij howrys make opyn to be knowe alle suche fals hyd thyngys of felony or treson, yf he be nott consentynge unto the same felowschyppe, undyr payne of dethe; and thys peler ys in the same cas, wherefore he moste nedys dy by very reson. Thys ys for the pelers party.

The defendaunte ys party ys, as that nobylle man, Mayster Myhelle Skyllyng, sayde ande informyde the defender, that he and the peler moste be clothyd alle in whyte schepys leter, bothe body, hedde, leggys, fete, face, handys, and alle. Ande that they schulde have in hyr hondys ij stavys of grene hasche, the barke beynge a-pon, of iij fote in lenghthe, and at the ende a bat of the same govyn owte as longe as the more gevythe any gretenys. And in that othyr ende a horne of yryn, i-made lyke unto a rammys horne, as scharpe at the smalle ende as hit myght be made. And there why[t]e they schulde make hyr foule batayle a-pone the moste sory and wrecchyd grene that myght be founde a-bowte the towne, havyng nothyr mete ne drynke whythe, bot both moste be fastynge. And yf hyr frowarde wepyn ben i-broke they moste fyght with hyr hondys, fystys, naylys, tethe, fete, and leggys; hyt ys to schamfulle to reherse alle the condyscyons of thys foule conflycte; and yf they nede any drynke, they moste take hyr owne pysse. And yf the defendent sle [t]at pelcrs, fals or trewe, the defendent shalle be hangyde by-cause of man sleynge, by soo moche that he hathe i-slayne the kyngys prover, for by hys meny the kynge hadde mony of suche as were appelyd, and that mony [t]at rosse of hyr stuffe or goodys [t]at they hadde was put to [t]e kynge almys, and hys amener dystrybutyd hit unto the pore pepylle. But the kyng may by hys grace pardon the defendent yf he wylle, ys (fn. 8) the defendent be welle namyd and of competent governaunce in the toune or citte there at hys abydyng ys; but thys fulle seldon sene by cause of the vyle and unmanerly fyghtynge. And by reson they shulde not ben beryd in noo holy sepulture of Crystyn mannys beryng, but caste owte as a man [t]at wylfully sleythe hym selfe. Nowe remembyr thys foule batayle, whethey ye wylle doo hyt or noo. And bothe partys consentyde to fyght, with alle the condyscyons that long there too. And the fendent desyryd that the juge wolde sende unto Mylbroke there that he dwellyde, to inquere of hys gydynge and of conversacyon. And alle the men in that toune sayde that he was the trewyste laborer in alle that contre, and the moste gentellyste there with, for he was a fyscher and tayler of crafte. And the peler desyryd the same, but he was not a-bydynge in no place passynge a monythe. And in every place there as inquesyscyon was made men sayde, "Hange uppe Thome Whythorne, for he ys to stronge to fyght with Jamys Fyscher the trewe man whythe an yryn rammys horne." And thys causyd the juge to have pytte a-pon the defendent.

The maner of fyughtynge of thes ij poore
wrecchys by-syde Wynchester.

The peler in hys a-rayment ande parelle whythe hys wepyn come owte of the Este syde, and the defendent owte of the Sowthe-Weste syde in hys aparayle, with hys wepyn, fulle sore wepynge, and a payre of bedys in hys hond; and he knelyd downe a-pone the erthe towarde the Este and cryde God marcy and alle the worlde, and prayde every man of forgevenys, and every man there beyng present prayde for hym. And the fals peler callyde and sayd "[t]ou fals trayter! why arte [t]ou soo longe in fals bytter be-leve?" And thenne the defendent rosse upe and hym and sayde, "My quarelle ys as faythefulle and alle soo trewe as my by-lyve, and in that quarelle I wylle fyght," and with the same worde smote at the peler that hys wepyn breke; and thenne the peler smote a stroke to the defendent, but the offycers were redy that he shulde smyte no more, and they toke a-way hys wepyn fro hym. And thenn they fought to gederys with hyr fystys long tyme and restyd hem, ande fought agayne, and thenn restyd agayne; and thenn they wente togedyr by the neckys. And then they bothe with hyr tethe, that the lethyr of clothyng and flesche was alle to rente in many placys of hyr bodys. And thenn the fals peler caste that meke innocent downe to the grownde and bote hym by the membrys, that the sely innocent cryde owt. And by happe more thenne strengythe that innocent recoveryd up on hys kneys and toke that fals peler by the nose with hys tethe and put hys thombe in hys yee, that the peler cryde owte and prayde hym of marcy, for he was fals unto God and unto hym. And thenn [t]e juge commaundyd hem to cesse and hyr bothe hyr talys; and the peler sayde that he hadde accusyd hym wronge-fully and xviij men, and be-sought God of marcy and of for-gevenys. And thenn he was confessyd ande hanggyd, of whos soule God have marcy. Amen.

As for the defendent was pardonyd of hys lyfe, leme, and goodys, and went home; and he be-come an hermyte and with schorte tyme dyde.

Mayster Canyngys, Mayre of London Raffe Verney A° xxxiiij°. (fn. 8)
Stewarde

That same yere the Lorde Egramounde brake owt of Newegate with many othyr men.

Geffray Bolayne, Mayre of London Reyner Anno xxxv°. (fn. 9)
Edwar

Ande thys same yere at Covyntre there was made a pesse by-twyne the Duke of Somersett Harry, and the Erle of Saulysbury, and the Erle of Warwycke, for the dethe of hys fadyr Duke of Somersette, that the Duke of Yorke put to dethe at Synt Albonys. And thys tretys was made at Covyntre, in the holy tyme of Lentyn, by the mene of Kyng Harry the VI. And alle that holy tyme of Lentyn there myght noo mane (fn. 10) man that shulde preche by-fore the kynge, but that he shulde shewe hys sarmon in wrytyng, were he docter or other, in so moche the lordys woldys A B C wolde assygne what he schulde say, as for any thynge that longyd unto the comyn wele, and yf he passyd hyr commaundement he schulde lese hys costys, and goo as he come, withowte mete and drynge. But a becheler of holy devynyte come to that cytte, and whenn he come to preche by-fore the kyng, as Maystyr Wylliam Saye, Dene of Poulys and Dene of the kyngys chapylle, hadde desyryd and asygnyd, A B C axyd hys name, and hys name was Mayster Wylliam Ive, at that tyme beyng at Wynchester in Wycham ys college. And A B C sayde that they moste nedys se hys sarmon and hys purposse, that he was a vysyd to say by-fore the kynge the Sonday nexte comynge. And he fulle goodly toke them hys papyr; and they seyng and redynge hys papyr, commaundyd to leve owte and put a way many troughtys. But that same Mayster Wylliam Ive sayde but lytylle, but whenn he come to pulpyt he sparyd not to sayd the troughthe, and reportyd by-fore the kyng that A B C made the sarmonys that were sayde fore, and not thoo that prechyd, and that causyd that [t]e men that prechyd hadde but sympylle sarmons, for hyr purposse was alle turnyde upsodowne, and that they hadde made love days as Judas made whythe a cosse (fn. 11) with Cryste for they cyste ovyr the mane. The grete rewarde that he hadde for hys labyr was the rydyng of viijxxmyle yn and owte for hys travayle, and alle hys frendys fulle sory for hym. But qui veritatem dicit caput fractum habebit, &c. And that same yere alle thes lordys departyd from the Parlyment, but they come nevyr alle to gedyr aftyr that tyme to noo Parlyment nor conselle, but yf hyt were in fylde with spere and schylde.

Mayster Skoot, Mayre of London Raffe Gosselyn Anno xxxvj°. (fn. 12)
Nedham

Ande thys yere was done a grete jornaye at the Blowre Hethe by the Erle of Saulysbury ande the Quenys galentys. And that day the kynge made vij knyghtys, fyrste, Syr Robert Molyners, Syr John Daune, Syr Thomas Uttyng, Syr John Brembly, Syr Jon Stanley, Syr John Grysly, and Syr Rychard Hardon; and v of thes knyghtys were slayne fulle manly in the fylde, and many men of yemonry soore hurte, and a fulle nobylle knyght, the Lorde Audeley, and Syr Thomas Hamdon, knyght, was the getynge of the fylde, and Thomas Squyer and Counteroller of the Pryncys house fulle sore hurte. And [the] (fn. 13) batayle or jornay lastyd alle the aftyr none, fro one of the clocke tylle v aftyr non, and the chasse lastyd unto vij at the belle in the mornynge. And men were maymyd many one in the Quenys party. There were in the Quenys party v Ml., and in that othyr party v c, a grete wondyr that evyr they myght stonde the grete multytude not ferynge, the kynge beyng with yn x myle and the quene with yn v myle at the castelle of Egyllyssale. But the Erle of Saulysbury hadde ben i-take, save only a Fryer Austyn schot gonnys alle that nyght in a parke that was at the backe syde of the fylde, and by thys mene the erle come to Duke of Yorke. And in the morowe they founde nothyr man ne chylde in that parke but the fryer, and he sayde that for fere he a-bode in that parke alle that nyght. But in the mornyng, by-twyne the fylde and Chester, Syr John Dawne ys sone that was at home in hys fadyrs place hadde worde that hys fadyr was slayne; a-non he raysyd hys tenantys and toke by-syde a lytyl towne i-namyd Torperlay Syr Thomas Nevyle, Syr John Nevyle, and Syr Thomas Haryngdon, and brought hem unto the castelle of Chester, ande there they a-boode tylle the batayle of Northehampton was done, &c.

Also alle that seson the Erle of Warwyke with sowdyers of Calysse were comynge unto the Duke of Yorke, and he come ovyrwharte Colsylle be-syde Covyntre, and the Duke of Somerset whythe hys men rode a-longe thoroughe the towne, and yet non of hem mette whythe othyr as hyt happyd, or by lyckely hode they wold have made a newe fraye. Ande the same day Androwe Throllope consayvyd that the Erle of Warwyke was goyng unto the Duke of Yorke and not unto the kynge, and utterly for-soke hym and come unto the kynge and was pardonyd; and that made the duke fulle sore a-frayde when he wyste that sum olde soudyers went from hym unto the kynge, &c.

Wylham Hewlyn, Mayre of London Plomer Anno xxxvij°. (fn. 14)
Sokker

Ande thys same yere there was a grete afray at Lodlowe by twyne the kynge and the Duke of Yorke, the Erle of Salusbury, the Erle of Warwyke, the Erle of Marche. The Duke of Yorke lete make a grete depe dyche and fortefyde it with gonnys, cartys, and stakys, but hys party was ovyr weke, for the kyng was mo thenn xxx Mlof harneysyd men, by-syde nakyd men that were compellyd for to come with the kynge. And thenne the duke fledde fro place to place in Walys, and breke downe the bryggys aftyr hym that the kyngys mayny schulde not come aftyr hym. And he wente unto Irlonde. And there he taryd tylle the jornay was endyd at Northehampton. And he (fn. 15) made newe grotys of a newe kune in Irlonde; in on syde of the grote was a crowne and in that othyr syde a crosse. And there he made many newe statutys, and hys yong sonys were sende by yende the see unto the Duke of Burgayne, and they were fulle welle ande worschypfully ressayvyd.

The Erle of Saulysbury, the Erle of Warwycke, the Erle of Marche, Syr John Wenlocke, alle thes come unto Devynschyre to Syr John Denham, and alle thes by the conveynge of Syr John Denham; and they bought a smalle vesselle in that contray, an they were conveyde unto Garnesey, ande from Garnesaye unto Calys, for fere of dethe that they sayde was ymagenyde by the kyng and hys lordys, and of hyr owne housolde mayny for hyr dystruccyon, by the counselle and consent of King Harry the VI. Thes lordys departyd owte of Ingelonde on Synt Edwarde ys evyn, Synt Edwarde bothe kynge and confessoure, the xij day of October, (fn. 16) and they taryd at Calys xxxvj wekys. But the Erle of Warwycke come unto Sondewyche, and there he toke [t]e Lord Ryvers with hys ladye, the lady and Duchyes of Bedforde, (fn. 17) and brought hem to Calys, for he was commaundyd to have londyd at C[a]lys by the kynge, but he was brought there sonner then hym lekyd.

Ande Duke Harry of Somerset was i-commaundyd to goo to Gyon, and soo he dyd, and fulle manly made sautys to Calys, ande ranne byfore Calys almoste dayly, and many a men were hurte by hym and hys men.

Ande thes fore sayde lordys sende letters unto many placys of Inglonde howe they were a vysyde to reforme the hurtys and myschevys ande grevys that raynyd in thys londe; and that causyd them moche the more to be lovyde of the comyns of Kente and of London; and by thys mene the comyns of Kent sende hem worde to ressayve hem and to go with hem in that a-tente that they wolde kepe trewe promys, and as for the more parte of thys londe hadde pytte that they were attaynte and proclaymyd trayters by the Parlement at was holde at Covyntre.

Also that same yere the Duchyes of Yorke com unto Kyng Harry and submyttyd hyr unto hys grace, and she prayde for hyr husbonde that he myght come to hys answere and to be ressayvyd unto hys grace; and the kynge fulle humbely grauntyde hyr grace, and to alle hyrs [t]at wolde come with hyr, and to alle othyr that wolde com yn with yn viij dayes. And after viij days to done [t]e execusyon of the lawe as hit requyryd. And many men, bothe knyghtys and squyers, come whythe Syr Water Deverose, in hyr schyrtys and halters in hyr hondys, fallynge by-fore the kynge, and alle hadde grace and marcy bothe of lyffe and lym.

The mysrewle of the kyngys galentys at Ludlowe, whenn they hadde drokyn i-nowe of wyne that was in tavernys and in othyr placys, they fulle ungoodely smote owte the heddys of the pypys and hoggys hedys of wyne, that men wente wete-schode in wyne, and thenn they robbyd the towne, and bare a-waye beddynge, clothe, and othyr stuffe, and defoulyd many wymmen.

The Duchyes of Yorke was take to the Duke Bokyngham and to hys lady, for they two ben susters, and there she was tylle the fylde was done at Northehampton, and she was kept fulle strayte and many a grete rebuke.

Alle soo thes for sayde lordys come agayne unto Sondewyche the xxj day of June nexte folowyng. And the comyns of Kente and there welle-wyllers brought hem to Lundon, and so forthe to Northehampton. And there they mete with the kynge and foughte manly with the kyngys lordys and mayny, but there was moche favyr in that fylde unto the Erle of Warwycke. And there they toke the kynge, and made newe offycers of the londe, as the chaunceler and tresyrar and othyr, but they occupyde not fo[r]the-with, but a-bode a seson of the comyng of Duke of York owte of Irlonde. And in that fylde was slayne the Duke of Bokyngham, stondyng stylle at hys tente, the Erle of Schrovysbury, the Lord Bemond, and the Lord Egremond, with many othyr men. Ande many men were drownyd by syde the fylde in the revyr at a mylle. And that goode knyght Syr Wylliam Lucy that dwellyd be-syde Northehampton hyrde the gonne schotte, and come unto the fylde to have holpyn [t]e kynge, but the fylde was done or that he come; an one of the Staffordys was ware of hys comynge, and lovyd that knyght ys wyffe and hatyd hym, and a-non causyd hys dethe.

Richarde Lee, Mayre of London John Lambard Anno xxxviij°. (fn. 18)
John Flemmyng

Ande thys same yere the Duke of Yorke come owte of Yrlonde, and londyd at the Redde Clyffe in Loncaschyre, and hys lyvery was whyte and brewe in hyr clothyng, and i-brawderyd a-bove with fetyrlockys. And thys he come forthe towarde London; ande [t]en hys lady the duchyes met with hym in a chare i-coveryd with blewe felewette, and iiij pore coursserys ther-yn. And so he come to Habyngdon, and there he sende for trompeters and claryners to bryng hym to London, and there he gave them baners with the hole armys of Inglonde with owte any dyversyte, and commaundyd hys swerde to ben borne uppe ryghte be-fore hym; and soo he rode forthe unto Lundon tylle he come to Westemyster to Kyng Harrys palys, ande there he claymyde the crowne of Inglonde. Ande he kepte Kynge Harry there by fors and strengythe, tylle at the laste the kynge for fere of dethe grauntyd hym [t]e crowne, for a man that hathe by lytylle wytte wylle sone be a feryd of dethe, and yet I truste and bee-leve there was no man that wolde doo hym bodely harme. But the lordys entretyd that Kyng Harry shuld rejoyse the crowne durynge hys lyffe, and aftyr hys lyffe that the crowne sholde returne unto the dukys ys (fn. 19) hayrys as hyt requyrythe by that tytylle, and here uppon they were swore to ben faythefulle and trewe unto Kyng Harry. And alle so that hyt shulde [be] (fn. 20) graunte treson to them that spake any evyr (fn. 21) by the Duke of Yorke or hys wyffe, or any of hys chyldryn. And alle the lordys grauntyd there to, and soo hyt was proclaymyd in London and in many placys of Inglond. And that the for-sayde duke shulde have owte of the crow[n]e yerely to hys expence, for hym and hys hayrys durynge Kyng Harrys lyffe, x Mlmarke in mony. Thys a-cordement was made the laste day of October.

And that same nyght the kynge remevyde unto London a-gayne hys wylle, to the byschoppe ys palys of London, and the Duke of Yorke com unto hym that same nyght by the torchelyght and toke a-pon hym as kyng, and sayde in many placys that thys ys owrys by very ryght. Ande thenn the quene hyrynge thys she voydyde unto Walys, but she was met with be-syde the Castelle of Malepas, and a servand of hyr owne that she hadde made bothe yeman and gentylman, and aftyr a-poyntyd for to be in offysce with hyr sone the prynce, spoylyde hyr and robbyde hyr, and put hyr soo in dowt of hyr lyffe and sonys lyffe also. And thenn she com to the Castelle of Hardelowe in Walys, and she hadde many grete gyftys and gretely comfortyd, for she hadde nede there of, for she hadde a fulle esy many a-boute hyr, the nombyr of iiij personnys. And moste comynly she rode by-hynde a yonge poore gentylle-man of xiiij yere age, hys name was Jon Combe, i-borne at Amysbery in Wyltschyre. And there hens she remevyd fulle prevely unto the Lorde Jesper, Lorde and Erle of Penbroke, for she durste not a byde in noo place that [was] (fn. 22) opyn but in pryvatt. The cause was that conterfete tokyns were sende unto hyr as thoughe that they hadde come from hyr moste dradde lorde the Kyng Harry the VI.; but hyt was not of hys sendyng, nothyr of [his] (fn. 22) doynge, but forgyd thyngys, for they that brought the tokyns were of the kyngys howse, and sum of [t]epryncys howse, and sum of hyr owne howse, and bade hyr beware of the tokyns, that she gave noo credans there too; for at the kyngys departynge fro Covyntre towarde the fylde of Northehampton, he kyste hyr and blessyd the prynce, and commaundyd hyr that she shulde not com unto hym tylle that [he] (fn. 22) sende a specyalle tokyn unto hyr that no man knewe but the kynge and she. For the lordys wolde fayne hadde hyr unto Lundon, for they knewe welle that alle the workyngys that were done growe by hyr, for she was more wyttyer then the kynge, and that apperythe by hys dedys, &c.

Then the Quene havynge knowelechynge of thys praty whyle sche sende unto the Duke of Somersett, at that tyme beynge in Dorset schyre at the Castelle of Corffe, and for the Erle of Devyschyre, and for Elysaundyr Hody, and prayde hem to com to hyr as hastely as they myght, with hyr tenantys as stronge in hyr harnys as men of warre, for the Lorde Rosse, the Lorde Clyfforde, the Baron of Grestocke, the Lorde Nevyle, the Lorde Latymer, were waytyng a-pon the Duke of Excete[r] to mete with hyr at Hulle. And thys mater was not taryd but fulle prevely i-wrought; and she sende letters unto alle hyr chyffe offycers that they wold doo the same, and that they shulde warne alle [t]o servantys that lovyd hyr or purposyd to kepe and rejoyse hyr offysce, to wayte a-pon hyr at Hulle by that day as hit a-poyntyd by hyr. Alle thes pepylle were gaderyd and conveyde so prevely that they wer hole in nombyr of xv Mlor any man wolde be-leve hyt; in so moche yf any man sayde, or tolde, or talkyd of suche gaderyng, he shulde be schende, and sum were in grete donger, for the comyn pepylle sayde by thoo that tolde [t]e, troughthe, "Ye talke ryght ye wolde hit were," and gave noo credens of hyr sayynge. But the laste the lordys purposyd to knowe the trough[t]e. And the ix day of December nexte folowyng the Duke of Yorke, the Erle of Salysbury, the Erle Rotlond (he was the Duke of Yorke ys secunde sone, one the beste dysposyd lorde in thys londe), and Syr Thomas Haryngdon, whythe many mo knyghtys and quyers and grete pepylle with hem, and soo departyd owte of London towarde Yorke, &c.

Ande the same yere, the xxx day of December, the Duke of Exceter, the Duke of Somersett, the Erle of Northehomberlond, the Lorde Roos, the Lorde Nevyle, the Lorde Clyfforde, with many mo lordys, knyghtys, squyers, and gentyllys, and the commyns of the Quenys party, met with the Duke of Yorke at Wakefylde, and there they made a grete jorney a-pon the Lorde and Duke of Yorke, and toke hym and the Erle of Saulysbury, the Erle of Rutlond, and the Lorde Haryngdon, and Syr Thomas Nevyle, and Syr Thomas Haryngdon, and many mo knyghtys were take a slayne by syde alle the comyns. But thys good Duke of Yorke with hys lordys a-fore sayde loste hyr heddys; God have marcy on there soulys, for they loste in that jorneys the nombyr of xxv C men. And in the Quenys party were slay but ii c men, &c.

Footnotes

  • 1. So in MS.
  • 2. The Christian name "Will." is added by a somewhat later hand. The date "1451" is also added in the margin in a hand decidedly more modern.
  • 3. What is recorded under this year, viz. the battle of St. Alban's, really took place in the thirty-third year of Henry VI., but the mayor and sheriffs of that year are omitted, and all the remaining years of this reign are wrong numbered, that which is called the thirty-third year being really the thirty-fourth, and so on.
  • 4. Sir James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. The writer is wrong in saying that he was made Earl of Wiltshire after the battle. He was created Earl of Wiltshire in 1449, and succeeded to the earldom of Ormond in 1452.
  • 5. Should be "xxxiv." See page 198, notea.
  • 6. Omitted in MS.
  • 7. ys. So in MS. for "if."
  • 8. Should be "xxxv." See page 198, notea.
  • 9. Should be "xxxvj."
  • 10. So in MS.
  • 11. kiss.
  • 12. Should be "xxxvij." See p. 198, notea.
  • 13. Omitted in MS.
  • 14. Should be "xxxviij." See as before.
  • 15. herepeated in MS.
  • 16. This is really the date of the breaking up of their camp at Ludlow, not of their leaving England.
  • 17. Jaquetta, widow of the Regent Bedford. She was the daughter of Peter of Luxemburg, Count of St. Pol, and soon after her first husband's death married Sir Richard Woodville, who was created Baron Rivers by Henry VI. in 1448, and Earl Rivers by Edward IV. (who was his son-in law) in 1466.
  • 18. Should be "xxxix." See page 198, notea.
  • 19. So in MS.
  • 20. Omitted in MS.
  • 21. evil.
  • 22. Omitted in MS.