where to kepe any navie. What good goith yerely oute of this londe to the enrichyng of the adversarie partie for paying of saufconduitts, which all shall sease if this werk goo forth. The Kyng also shall not than nede to purveie att his so grete charge as he doth now for the kepyng of the see, whereunto neyther the subside, ne tonnage, nor pondage can suffice and it were moche more then it is, the Frenssh navie beyng so myghty, and maynteigned in manere as it hath be this yere, though he had the Esterlyngs reconsiled unto this lande ageyn, whereof the Kyng is put in good trust and hope. Many gentilmen, as well yonger brothers as other, myght there be worshipfully rewarded, and inhabite that londe for the sure garde of the same; the men of werre, that had none other purveaunce, to be sette in garisons and lyve by thair wages, which ells were like to contenue the mischef in this lande that they do nowe. And be it well remembred, how that it is nat wele possible, nor hath ben seen since the Conquest, that justice, peax, and prosperite hath contenued any while in this lande in any Kings dayes but in suche as have made werre outward. Example by Kyng Henry the First, Henry the Secunde, King Richard the First, Henry the Thirde for the tyme he werred oute, Edward the First, and Edward the Third, Henry the fifthe usurpour, and Henry the Sixth which also usurped. Which last Henry in his daies, notwithstandyng his simplenesse of witte, stode ever in glorie and honour while the werre was contynued by yonde; and, that left, successively all fell to decay. Right so it happed in olde daies at the Citee of Rome; for after that Cartage was clerly overthrowen and distroied, the residue of the world obeying the Romanys, they nat havyng werre with any contre outwards where thay might sett thayr warrely purpose in ocupacion, fell amongs thaim self to suche division

and inward battaille, that finally they were brought to ruyne and desolacion. Therefor in avoidyng fram this lande the contynuance of that perill and myschief, seeing besides whate grete avauntage and profittez, of liklynesse may enswe to the same by entryng into the werre of Fraunce, if thoportunitie of this season be taken and entended, whereof the like was never seen be fore nor shall mowe of liklyhode be had hereafter; it is thought to our Soveraigne Lord and his co(u)nsell that this matiere aughte to be pondred and peysed with all diligence above all other; for if it shuld so happe, as God forbede, that thies princes whiche be entred so ferre in this werre, callyng upon the Kyng to come and chalenge his right, promittyng thaire aide and assistence, shuld nat atte this tyme be effectuelly herde, but stand in their owne quarell allone, oon of three thyngs must nedes enswe; either thay to bee enforced to fall att appointment with the seid Lowes; or elles to contynue the werre in thair owne names; or, if thair necessite were suche, to calle uppon some other princes to chalenge the corone of Fraunce ageinst the seid Lowes; whereyn, in cas they prevailed, no dowte but it must nedes be thought it myght nat redunde to oure wele, but rather gif thaym cause, after that thai be relinquisshed of this lande, to bee right extreme enemyes and adversaries to the same; for a gretter enemy may no man have than he may make hym self of his frend. And if in the seid cas of contynuyng of werre with the seid Lowes of Fraunce, the Kyng for lack of assistance nat adjo[i]g[n]ing hym selfe therunto,1 the Dukes of Burgoigne and Bretaigne shuld happe to be overthrowen and discomfett, and the French Kyng have the victorie, it is no dowte but [in] after tyme the seid Frenshe Kyng and his successours shuld be more

1 theyinto, MS.

myghty for Englisshmen to dele with than thay have been in yeres here before, consyderyng the grete landes and riche lordshipps whiche shuld falle unto their hondes by the overthrowe and discomfett of the seid two Dukes, bi the whiche [the] adversarie(s) might and power soo encresed, seeyng that the myght of Denmark and Scottland is unied bi alliaunce to the same, it were like that nat oonly all sure passage, and entre cours of marchandise in especiall exercised in the parties of the seid Duke of Burgoigne, whereby the people of this reame have bee entre enriches and prospered hiderto, shuld incontinent be withdrawen fram tham and utterly ceasse; but also this lande, so envirouned of myghty adversaries, destituee of his olde frends, stande in grete(r) dowte and perill than ever it did before; for the which to be eschewed, a seure and an honourable remedie, if the premysses be well weyed and attended, may be purveied and had, to the grete honour and glorie of our Soverain Lord, the assured peas, and filicite of his liege people and subgietts. Wherefore William Alynton, and ye Sirs presentyng here the comminalte of this lande, sith ye have herde now and well understanden by what moyen the parfit peas of this reame may be moost honourably and assuredly recoveryd; with what myghty puissances, whereof the like was never offred, the Kyng for his conquest of Fraunce may be fermely served, aided, and assisted, by princes straungers; what ineffable triumphe, glorie, welthe, and richesse may growe thereby unto the Kyng our Soverayn Lord, his Noblesse, his true Subgietts; what dishonour, ymportable charges, and irreparable1 damages may enswe if this soo oportune season be nat attempted and used, but suche inestimables offered refused; like it you therefore to considre the knyghtly courage, grete proesse,

1 irrepaple, MS.

and disposicion of our Soverain Lord the Kyng, whoos good Grace will eschewe payne, perell, ne jeopardie, for thaccomplisshment of the premisses; and therupon, in shewyng that ye bere towards hym and to the welthefulnesse of this his lande, ye will calle unto your remembraunces how lovyngly and kyndly the Comons of this lande have served and holpon before tyme as well thair Soverayne Lordes, his most noble progenitours, towards thair conquest in Fraunce, as other(s), usurpours uppon his corone here, whan noon such offres were made by any so myghty princes and lords estraungers; and will also remembre how grete fame and renoumme, with grete honour, welthe, and richesse, in suche werres aforne for suche conquest maigenid,1 the nobly(s) of this lande, and also your fornefaders have purchased, and that the noblisse and ye now beyng, of this werre and conquest to be intended of liklyhode shall nowe purchase like fame, renommee, welthe, honour, and richesse; and thereupon to aide atte this tyme our Soverayne Lord in his ample forme, as the subgeitts of [this] reame have aided and assisted the seid progenitours and usurpours; so that he shall nowe thereby aichewe and accomplissh the fructuous effecte of his seid conquest, which the Kyng thorughly entendeth to execute withyn as breve tyme as he may convenably, with the grace of Almyghty God and the lovynge assistance of you his true subgietts.

1080.-TO THE REV ND FADER IN GOD MYN ESPECIALL (1474.) GOOD LORD THE PRIOR OF CRISTS CHURCH

OF CANTERBURY.

Reverent fadre in God, my right bountevous good Thomas Lorde, I recommend me unto your good Lordeship and

Bulkley to the Prior

1 1 mainteignid?

Church.

of Christ after speciall desire of your welfare please it you to haue in knowlege I have hadde this terme som besiness to doo for divers causes as foloweth. First for your

xxj.

whiche I receyved of you.

And over that, as I tolde your Lordeship and also left worde with Master Warden, over and above my rescept they wolde charge yow with xxix. li. and odde money, for the whiche I have made due serche in the schequer to your charge and cost, as I hereafter shal shew your Lordeship, and send you a clere bill as ys said may be abyden by, which bill duely examyned with your registre, yf the remanet be true I wolde know, and I shall chaunge your taillies upon the same. For, an I ne were there, had taillies passed oute upon the same to your hurte, the whiche God forfend I beying present. My Lorde, I thinke in my mynde that these parcells in surcharge have been discharged before this tyme by peticion, and the courte &c. is gredy and lothe to lose any of thaire duetees. Wherefore, my Lorde, I beseche you to send me notice of the certentee, and if it remayn accordyng like as I have shewed your Lordship. I have viij. li. viij. s. viij. d. in ij. taillies of your remaynyng, whiche shalbe set on yourself if it so be. And also, my Lord, the excepcions of the courte for your wynes hath put your Lordeship to cost and charge and that largely this terme, but now it is clere past in the porte of London. Trustyng in my mynde it hadde soo done in times past, but the custumis have been laches, and the courte delayous, &c., nevertheles, my Lord, (I) truste in that courte ne in other shall noo thing passe to hurte you and I may know it. Howbeit, my Lorde, I have been absented this terme many times, for God knoweth I can not yet be hole in body, yet I trust in God to see your Lordeship this Cristemasse. Also my Lorde kings good Grace shall entre London this day and be loged at Poules in the palas for ij. dayes, and then he cometh to you and so forthe. I beseche you to pardon