William Lomner to John Paston

LETTER X.

To the ryght Worchipfull John Paston at Norwich.

    RYGHT worchipfull S^r. 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 the^r come tydyngs to
London that on thorsday before the Duke of Suff’ come unto the
¹ Costes of Kent full nere Dower with his ij Shepes and a litel
Spynn^r the qweche Spynn^r he sente with c^rteyn Lett^rs to c^rteyn
of his trustid men unto Caleys warde to knowe howe he shuld
be resceyvyd and with hym mette a Shippe callyd ² 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 forth his bote to wete what they were
and the Duke hym selfe spakke to hem and seyd he was be the
Kyngs comaundemēt sent to Caleys ward, &c.

     And they seyd he moste speke with here mast’ and soo he w^t ij
or iij of his men wente forth wyth hem yn here bote to the
Nicolas and whanne he come the mast^r badde hym Welcom
Traito^r as mē sey and forth^r the maist^r 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 yn the Nicolas
tyl Sat^rday next folwyng.

Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke to be delyu^rd to the Kynge
but thet is not verily knowe, he hadde hes Confesso^r with
hym &c.

     And some sey he was arreyned yn the Sheppe on here man^r
upon the ³ appechementes and fonde gylty &c.

     Also he asked the name of the Sheppe and whanne he knew
it he remembred ⁴ Stacy that seid if he myght eschape the daung^r
of the Towr he shuld be saffe and thanne his herte faylyd hym
for he thowght he was dysseyvyd, 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 hys hedde and he shuld be
fair ferd wyth and dye on a swerd and toke a rusly swerd and
smotte of his hedde withyn ⁵ halfe a doseyn strokes and toke
awey his Gown of russette 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 his men sette on the londe be grette
circōst^unce and preye and the Shreve of Kent doth weche the
⁶ body and sent his Unde^r Shreve to the Juges to wete what to
doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.

     Forther I wotte notte but this fer is y^t yf the p’s be erroneo^s
lete his concell reu^rse it &c.

     Also for alle yo^r othe^r mat^rs they slepe and the ffree^r also, &c.

S^r. Thomas ⁷ Keriel is take p’son’ and alle the legge harneyse and
abowte iij m^e Englishe men slayn.

     Mathew ⁸ Gooth with xv^c fledde and savyd hym selffe and hem,
and Peris Brusy was Cheffe Capteyn and hadde x m^e frenshe
men and more, &c.

     I prey yow lete my mastras yo^r mode^r knowe these tydyngis
and God have yow all yn his kepyn.

     I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my Mastrases
yo^r Mod^r and Wyfe, &c.

     James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam and recomaun-
dith hym, &c.

     Wretyn yn gret haste at Lond, the v day of May, &c.

                                                                        By yowr Wyse,

12 by 8 ½.

                                                                                  W. L.

Paper Mark.
     Cap and Fleur de Lys.
             Pl. VIII. N^o 4.

London,
             Tuesday, 5th of May,
             1450, 28 H. VI.

 ¹ Some of our Historians say that he put to Sea from the Coast of Norfolk.

 ² This Ship belonged to Bristol in 1442, 20 H. VI. and was a great Ship with Fore-
Stages, and carried 150 men.

³ Impeachments by the Commons; this shows that these Ships were sent out on
purpose to take him, &c.

     ⁴ Prophecies in these times were generally believed, and being always ambiguously
expressed, had a greater chance of sometimes being fulfilled.

     King Henry IV. from one of these ambiguous Prophecies believed he was to die in
Jerusalem.

⁵ A most cruel manner of putting him to death.

     ⁶ His Body was taken from Dover Sands, and carried to the Collegiate Church of
Wingfield, in Suffolk, where it lies interred under an Altar Tomb, in the Chancel,
with his Effigies in Armour, painted, gilt, &c. carved in wood, lying on it. It is
remarkably well exeouted, as is that of Alice his wise, likewise, which lies at his right hand

⁷ He was taken Prisoner at the battle of Fourmigni, fought on the 18th of April,
1450, where he defended himself with great bravery. He was beheaded by Queen
Margaret’s order, after the 2d battle of St. Alban’s, in 1460.

     ⁸ Query, if the brave Matthew Gough, who was afterwards slain in Cade’s Rebellion,
fighting on the Citizens’ Part, in July 1450. at the battle of the bridge.

     The conclusion of this Letter puzzled me for a long time; at first I thought that the
word Wyfe might be read Neif or Servant, but the W was too much like all the others
in the same Letter to warrant that reading.

     I think it may be thus explained.

     On looking over this Collection of Letters, I found fome subscribed W L, and others
Will^m Lomner in the same hand.

 But then this difficulty occurred, how could W L or Will^m Lomner be the Wife of
John Paston.

     On examining some of the Letters of Margaret Paston to her husband, and which
were subscribed “Be your Wife M P.” I found them written in the same hand as
those signed W L, and Will^m Lomner.

     I guess therefore, that being used to write sometimes for his Mistress to her husband
John Paston, he now in his hurry instead of concluding “By your Servant W L,” as
some of his Letters do, he wrote by mistake, By your Wyfe W L. Pl. II. N^o 26.

     The Family of Lomner had property both at Mannington, and Wood Dalling in
Norfolk; at the latter Town, his Son William built a castellated Mansion.

LETTER X.

To the right worshipful John Paston, at Norwich.

      RIGHT worshipful Sir, I recommend me to you, and am
          right sorry of that I shall say, and have so washed this
little bill with sorrowful tears, that uneths (scarcely) ye shall read it.

     As on Monday next after May day (4th May) there came
Tidings to London, that on Thursday before, (30th of April)
the Duke of Suffolk came unto the ¹ Coasts of Kent full near
Dover with his two Ships and a little Spinner; the which
Spinner he sent with certain Letters, by certain of his trusted
men unto Calais ward, to know how he should be received; and
with him met a Ship called ² Nicholas of the Tower with other
Ships waiting on him, and by them that were in the Spinner,
the Master of the Nicholas had knowledge of the Duke’s coming.

     When he espied the Duke’s Ships, he sent forth his Boat to
weet what they were, and the Duke himself spoke to them,
and said, he was by the King’s Commandment sent to Calais
ward, &c. and they said, he must speak with their Master; and
so he with two or three of his men went forth with them in
their Boat to the Nicholas; and when he came, the Master
bade him, Welcome Traitor, as men say.

     And further the Master desired to wete if the Shipmen would
hold with the Duke, and they sent word they would not in no
wise; and so he was in the Nicholas till Saturday (2d May)
next following.

Some say he wrote much thing to be delivered to the King, but
that is not verily known.

     He had his Confessor with him, &c. and some say, he was
arraigned in the Ship on their manner upon the ³ Impeachments
and found guilty, &c.

     Also he asked the name of the Ship, and when he knew it, he
remembred ⁴ Stacy that said, if he might escape the danger of
the Tower he should be safe, and then his heart failed him, for
he thought he was deceived.

     And in the sight of all his men, he was drawn out of the
great Ship into the Boat, and there was an Axe, and a Stock, and
one of the lewdest (meanest) of the Ship bade him lay down his
head, and he should be fairly fought with, and die on a Sword;
and took a rusty Sword and smote off his head within ⁵ half a
dozen strokes, and took away his Gown of Russet, and his
Doublet of velvet mailed, and laid his Body on the Sands of
Dover; and some say his Head was set on a pole by it; and
his men sit on the land by great circumstance (q. by great numbers)
and pray.

     And the Sheriff of Kent doth watch the ⁶ body, and (hath)
sent his Undersheriff to the Judges to weet what to do; and
also to the King (to know) what shall be done.

     Further I wot not, but thus far is it, if the Process be erroneous
let his Counsel reverse it, &c.

     Also for all the other matters, they sleep and the Fryar also, &c.

Sir Thomas ⁷ Keriel is taken Prisoner and all the leg harness,
and about 3000 Englishmen slain.

     Matthew ⁸ Gooth (q. Gough) with 1500 fled, and saved him-
self and them. And Peris Brusy was chief Captain and had
10,000 Frenchmen and more, &c.

     I pray you let my Mistress your Mother know these tid-
ings, and God have you all in his keeping.

     I pray you (that) this bill may recommend me to my Mis-
tresses your Mother and wife, &c.

     James Gresham hath written to John of Dam and recommend-
eth him, &c.

     Written in great haste at London the 5th day of May, &c.

                                                                    By your Wife,

                                                                               WILLIAM LOMNER.

12 by 8 ½.

Paper Mark.
     Cap and Fleur de Lys.
             Pl. VIII. N^o 4.

London,
             Tuesday, 5th of May,
             1450, 28 H. VI.

 ¹ Some of our Historians say that he put to Sea from the Coast of Norfolk.

 ² This Ship belonged to Bristol in 1442, 20 H. VI. and was a great Ship with Fore-
Stages, and carried 150 men.

³ Impeachments by the Commons; this shows that these Ships were sent out on
purpose to take him, &c.

     ⁴ Prophecies in these times were generally believed, and being always ambiguously
expressed, had a greater chance of sometimes being fulfilled.

     King Henry IV. from one of these ambiguous Prophecies believed he was to die in
Jerusalem.

⁵ A most cruel manner of putting him to death.

     ⁶ His Body was taken from Dover Sands, and carried to the Collegiate Church of
Wingfield, in Suffolk, where it lies interred under an Altar Tomb, in the Chancel,
with his Effigies in Armour, painted, gilt, &c. carved in wood, lying on it. It is
remarkably well exeouted, as is that of Alice his wise, likewise, which lies at his right hand

⁷ He was taken Prisoner at the battle of Fourmigni, fought on the 18th of April,
1450, where he defended himself with great bravery. He was beheaded by Queen
Margaret’s order, after the 2d battle of St. Alban’s, in 1460.

     ⁸ Query, if the brave Matthew Gough, who was afterwards slain in Cade’s Rebellion,
fighting on the Citizens’ Part, in July 1450. at the battle of the bridge.

     The conclusion of this Letter puzzled me for a long time; at first I thought that the
word Wyfe might be read Neif or Servant, but the W was too much like all the others
in the same Letter to warrant that reading.

     I think it may be thus explained.

     On looking over this Collection of Letters, I found fome subscribed W L, and others
Will^m Lomner in the same hand.

 But then this difficulty occurred, how could W L or Will^m Lomner be the Wife of
John Paston.

     On examining some of the Letters of Margaret Paston to her husband, and which
were subscribed “Be your Wife M P.” I found them written in the same hand as
those signed W L, and Will^m Lomner.

     I guess therefore, that being used to write sometimes for his Mistress to her husband
John Paston, he now in his hurry instead of concluding “By your Servant W L,” as
some of his Letters do, he wrote by mistake, By your Wyfe W L. Pl. II. N^o 26.

     The Family of Lomner had property both at Mannington, and Wood Dalling in
Norfolk; at the latter Town, his Son William built a castellated Mansion.

120

WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON¹

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 Monday² nexte after May day there come tydyngs
to London, that on Thorsday³ 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 Saturday⁴ next folwyng.

Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke [thing] 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 fer (?) is that yf the proces
be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.

     Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer¹
also, &c.

     Sir Thomas Keriel² is take prisoner, and alle the legge
harneyse, and abowte iij. m^l. [3000] Englishe men slayn.

     Mathew Gooth³ with xv^c. [1500] fledde, and savyd hym
selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde
x. m^l. 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 re-
comaundith hym, &c.

     Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.

                                                          By yowr wyfe.¹            W. L.

     ¹ [From Fenn, i. 38.] The date of this letter is perfectly determined by the events
to which it relates.

     ² 4th May.                         ³ 30th April.                               ⁴ 2nd May.

     ¹ An allusion to Friar Hauteyn’s suit or Oxnead.

     ² Sent to France to carry succours to the Duke of Somerset, but defeated and taken
prisoner at the battle of Fourmigni, 15th April 1450.

     ³ Matthew Gough, a celebrated captain in the French war.

    ¹ This singular subscription Fenn believes to have been owing to a momentary
forgetfulness on the part of the writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of
acting as Margaret Paston’s secretary in writing to her husband.

1450
MAY 5

1450
MAY 5

1450
MAY 5