John Berney to John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode

LETTER VI.

To the Worshipfull John Paston and Wyll’m Rokewode Squyeris
and to eu’ych of them.

   RIGHT worshipfull Cosynes I recum’aund me to yow
     and for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that
Sir Myles Stapylton knyght w^t other yll dysposed p’sones defame
and ffalsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas Denys the Crown’
and how that I intend to make Insurexyōes contrari unto the
law. And that the seyd Stapylton ffer’ymore noyseth me w^t
gret Robries, in whech defamacyoēs and fals noysyngs the seyd
Stapylton, and in that his saying he is ffals, that know^t God, &c.
And for my playn acq’tayll yf he or any Substancyall Gentylman
wyll say it and avow it, I say to it contrari. And by lisens of the
Kyng to make it good as a Gentylman. And in this my
playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords that the
seyd Stapylton, &c. makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs Re-
belyones lying in wayte to mord’r me. And in that I may
make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x day of July A^o RR
E iiij i^o.

                                                                    John Berneye.

           12 by 4 ½.

     Remēbre to take à wryht to chese Crown’es in Norff.

    10th of July, 1461, 1 E. IV.  

     We have here the unhappy condition of a Nation harrassed by civil dissensions pointed
out. Each party will commit Crimes, of which, at any other time, the very name would
shock them, and accusations of the most horrid offences will be continually preferred by
one party against the other.

     Private Duelling was unknown here at this period, and long after; the King’s Licence
for a Combat was necessary to be obtained; this procured, the Combat proceeded pub-
licly: in all matters of Treason, the vanquished Party was immediately executed.

     The Stapyltons were a family of consequence in Yorkshire, &c.

     John Berney was of an ancient family in Norfolk, then situated at Witchingham, the
deseendants of this family were raised to the rank of Baronet in 1620. Pl. v. N^o 15.

    LETTER VI.

To the worshipful John Paston, and William Rokewode, Esquires,
and to evereach (each) of them.

   RIGHT worshipful Cozens, I recommend me to you; and
     for as much as that I am credibly informed how that Sir
Myles Stapylton knight, with other ill-disposed persons, defame
and falsly noise me in murdering of Thomas Denys the Coroner;
and how that I intend to make Insurrections contrary unto the
law; and that the said Stapylton farthermore noiseth me with
great robberies, in which defamations and false noisings the
said Stapylton, &c. in that his saying, he is false, that know it
God. And for my plain acquital, if he or any substantial
Gentleman will say it, and avow it; I say to it contrary; and
by licence of the King to make it good as a Gentleman. And
in this my plain excuse, I pray you to open it unto the Lords,
that the said Stapylton, &c. make great gatherings of the
King’s rebellions (Rebels) lying in wait to murder me; and in
that I may make open proof, &c. Written in haste the 10th
day of July, in the 1st year of the reign of Edward IV.

                                                                   JOHN BERNEYE.

12 by 4 ½.

     Remember to take a Writ to choose Coroners in Norfolk.

           10th of July, 1461, 1 E. IV.

 We have here the unhappy condition of a Nation harrassed by civil dissensions pointed
out. Each party will commit Crimes, of which, at any other time, the very name would
shock them, and accusations of the most horrid offences will be continually preferred by
one party against the other.

     Private Duelling was unknown here at this period, and long after; the King’s Licence
for a Combat was necessary to be obtained; this procured, the Combat proceeded pub-
licly: in all matters of Treason, the vanquished Party was immediately executed.

     The Stapyltons were a family of consequence in Yorkshire, &c.

     John Berney was of an ancient family in Norfolk, then situated at Witchingham, the
deseendants of this family were raised to the rank of Baronet in 1620. Pl. v. N^o 15.

467

JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON AND
WYLLIAM ROKEWODE¹

To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode,
Squyeris, and to everych of them.

RIGHT worshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow.
     And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that
     Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed
persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas
Denys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurex-
yones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton
ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defama-
cyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his
saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn
acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and
avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to
make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus,
I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton,
&c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in
wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff.
Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij.
primo.                                                         JOHN BERNEYE.

     Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.

¹ [From Fenn, i. 236.]

JULY 10

1461
JULY 10