Thomas Denyes to John Paston

LETTER XL.

To my Maist, Paston.

I Recomaund me unto your good Maist’ship, and as for tidings
     Arblast’ come home to my Lord on mu’day at sop’tyme
and my maistr Danyell is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre
by yonde Trent, and Arblastr seith he hath made me his Un-
dirstyward. And as for the Chamb’leynship of Inglond the Lord
Beamond hath it, and the Lord Rivers Constable of Inglond.

     As for the Duche on this side Trent S^r. Thomas Tudenh’m
had a joynte patent w^t the Duke of Suffolk, which if it be resum-
ed S^r. Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed theeof.

     My Lord wole not to Leicestr. My Maist^r Danyell desireth
yow thedir. I shall ride thiderward on friday by tymes.

     Wretyn in hast at Wynche the xiij day of May.

     I p’y yow to thynk upon my mat’ to my mastresse yo^r wyf
for my mastresse Anne for in good feith I haf fully conquered
my Lady sith ye went so that I haf hir p’misse to be my good
Lady and that she shal help me by the feith of hir body.

                                                                                Yo^r. Svñt,

                                                                                         ¹ Denyes.

11 ? by 5 ?.          

Winch, 13th of May,
               145 —, H. VI.

 I have given this Letter as containing several promotions to offices in the State, but I
cannot ascertain the Date. It must have been, I think, in the latter part of the reign of
Henry VI.

Sir Thomas Stanley died in 1458 or 1459.

     He was succeeded by his Son Sir Thomas, who, in 1461, was created Lord Stanley.

     ¹ Autograph. Pl. III. N^o 35.

                                                       LETTER XL.

To my Master Paston.

I Recommend me unto your good Mastership, and as for Tid-
     ings, Arblaster came home to my Lord on Monday at
supper time; and my Master Daniel is Steward of the Duchy
of Lancaster beyond Trent, and Arblaster faith, he hath made
me his under-steward.

     And as for the Chamberlainship of England, the Lord Beau-
mont hath it, and the Lord Rivers (is) Constable of England.

     As for the Duchy on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tudenham
had a joint Patent with the Duke of Suffolk, which, if it be
resumed, Sir Thomas Stanley hath a bill ready endorsed thereof.

     My Lord will not to Leicester. My Master Daniel desireth
you thither. I shall ride thitherward on Friday by times.

     Written in haste at Winch, the 13th day of May.

     I pray you to think upon my matter to my mistress your
wife, for my mistress Anne, for in good faith, I have fully
conquered my Lady since ye went, so that I have her promise
to be my good Lady; and that she shall help me by the faith
of her body.

                                                                      Your Servant,

                                                                                   ¹ DENYES.

  11 ? by 5 ?.          

Winch, 13th of May,
               145 —, H. VI.

I have given this Letter as containing several promotions to offices in the State, but I
cannot ascertain the Date. It must have been, I think, in the latter part of the reign of
Henry VI.

Sir Thomas Stanley died in 1458 or 1459.

     He was succeeded by his Son Sir Thomas, who, in 1461, was created Lord Stanley.

     ¹ Autograph. Pl. III. N^o 35.

123

THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON¹

To my maister Paston.

      I RECOMAUND me unto your good maistership; and as
          for tidings, Arblaster come home to my Lord² on Mun-
          day, at sopertyme; and my Maister Danyell³ is Styward
of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent, and Arblastr seith
he hath made me his undirstyward.

     And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord
Beamond⁴ hath it, and the Lord Rivers⁵ Constable of
Inglond.

     As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tuden-
ham had a joynte patent with the Duke of Suffolk,⁶ which, if
it be resumed, Sir Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed
therof.

     My lord wole not to Leicestre.⁷ My Maister Danyell
desireth yow thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by
tymes.

     Wretyn in hast at Wynche,⁸ the xiij. day of May.

     I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your
wyf, for my mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fully
conquered my lady sith ye went, so that I haf hir promisse to
be my good lady, and that she shall help me by the feith of
hir body.

                                                       Your servant,            DENYES.

     ¹ [From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn vaguely assigned to the latter
part of the reign of Henry VI., may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The
mention of Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier than
1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke in 1448, and at a later date
than the 13th of May. The reference to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to
have been long after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from Mon-
day being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future, that the letter was written
on a Wednesday. Had it been on a Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been
spoken of as ‘yesterday,’ or Friday as ‘to-morrow.’ Now, the 13th of May was a
Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in this letter are,
therefore, those consequent on the fall of the Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as
will be seen by a foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester.
     ² John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.     ³ Thomas Daniel.—See p. 80.

     ⁴ John, Viscount Beaumont.

     ⁵ Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th May 1448; afterwards earl.

     ⁶ William de la Pole.—See p. 80, Note 2.

     ⁷ Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May 1450.

     ⁸ A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King’s Lynn, in Norfolk.

1450
MAY 13

1450
MAY 13