<B SHILLING>

[^LETTERS AND PAPERS OF JOHN SHILLINGFORD, MAYOR OF EXETER 1447-
50. EDITED BY MOORE, STUART A. CAMDEN NEW SERIES 2. 1871/1965.^]

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 3>
[} [\II. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS AT EXETER. DRAFT LETTER.\]
}]
   Worthy sires y grete yow well alle; doyng yow to understonde
that y rode fro Excetre on Fryday and cam to London on Tywysday
by tyme at vii atte cloke; and ther sithenys have full bisily
labored to make an answere to the articulys. The cause of so
longe taryng yn makyng of the answers hath be for right grete
bysynes y=t= Alisaunder Hody hath hadde aboute his awne maters;
netheles by the avys of Alisaunder Hody and Dowrisshe and Roger
Rawly, [\they\] beth made as may be yn so shorte tyme, trustyng
to God that al the substance ys comprehended ther ynne, so that
what tyme
<P 4>
hit is amended, corected and made by avys of counseyll to be
right well; of the whiche answeris so shortely made y sende to
yow ij. copies, oon to be send to the Recorder yn hast yf hit
may be for shortenys of tyme, &c., that other copy to abide w=t=
yow, prayng yow Thomas Cook most specially w=t= the lu tenaunt,
callyng to yow William Noble, Coteler, Druell, and other wham ye
seme is to be don, and that this answer be sadly over seyn; and
yf eny thyng be ther yn to myche or to litell yn substance to
sette the penne to sadly [\ORIGINALLY to sette to the penne
sadly\] . This don y pray yow to calle be fore yow atte halle
[\in my name ERASED\] the substance of the comminalte, praynge
every of tham yn my name and chargyng tham yn +te most streytest
wyse yn the Kynges byhalf to come to fore yow yn haste for the
tydyngs that y have sent home to yow; and that ye wysely declare
to fore tham these answers; so that they sey manly yee and nay
yn suche poyntes as yow thynke to be don, &c. and +t=t= +tey
wyll abide by +t=e= answers yn all wyse, and that labo=r= and
spekyng be before to that entent. This don y pray yow that y
have a gode man sende to me yn hast.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 4>
[} [\III. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. LONDON, OCT. 30TH, 1447.
DRAFT LETTER.\] }] 
   Memo=d= that on Monedey next before the feste of Seynt Luke
the yere of the regne of the kyng that now is xxvj (Henry VI.)
<P 5>
Richard Druell, William Speere and Henry Dobyn w=t= ham rode
oute of Exceter to London-ward for nedes of the cite, that is to
seye to kepe the dey of apparence atte xv. of Seynt Michall as
the cite was bounde to, as hit appereth by a bounde
condycionell, havyng w=t= ham sufficiant power and the comyn
seell and xl s. of John Shillingford, Mayer, and xx s. of John
Germyn, for their coustages; and so departed the seyde Monedey
yerly. And as tochyng the seyde xl s. w=t= xl s. more that the
seyde John Mayer payed to Trevylian, he was payed ayen by the
feloship of the collecte mony to the plee, &c. How the seyde
Richard Druell and William Speere spedde when they came to
London hit appereth yn a sedule by the sayde Richard Druell and
William Speer therof made, remaynyng w=t= the [\seyde\] Rychard
Druell. Forthermore as tochyng the goynge of the seyde John
Shillyngforde, mayer, he was all redy for to ride the seide
Monedey: varians y moved bytwene hym and the seyde Richard
Druell, nerthelez better accorde hadde by mene of Thomas Cook,
Richard Druell w=t= other held his wey, and the seyde mayer
abode at home yn to a tuysday next after Seynt Luke is dey for
settyng of the kynges dyme, comyng of Trevylian, and other grete
maters toching the cite, and yn especiall to have the feloship
togeder, a sadde communicacion to be had or his departyng, the
whiche communicacion myght not be had before Saterdey next after
Seynt Luke is dey for this cause that the grete part of the
feloship was at Calston is fayre, and thoo that war at home, as
Upton, Coteler and Pope, were syke on theire beddes; and for
alle these causes the mayer abode at home so longe, and all that
tyme he kepte his iij. hors yn stabill every dey redy to ride to
hym grete coste. The tuysday he rode and w=t= hym William
Hampton and John Fagot. On Wendysdey at nyght they came to
Sheftesbery and there mette w=t= Richard Druell, whiche made
reporte of his gode spede and grete laboure at London, as hit
appereth yn his sayde remembrance, and that on the beste wyse.
The Saterdey next ther after the mayer
<P 6>
came to Westminster sone apon ix. atte belle, and ther mette
w=t= my lorde Chaunceller atte brode dore a litell fro the
steire fote comyng fro the Sterre chamber, y yn the courte and
by the dore knellyng and salutyng hym yn the moste godely wyse
that y cowde and recommended yn to his gode and gracious
lordship my feloship and all the comminalte, his awne peeple and
bedmen of the Cite of Exceter. He seyde to the mayer ij. tymes
"Well come," and the iij=de=. tyme "Right well come Mayer," and
helde the mayer a grete while faste by the honde, and so went
forth to his barge and w=t= hym grete presse, lordis and other,
&c. and yn especiall the tresorer of the kynges housholde, w=t=
wham he was at right grete pryvy communicacion. And therfor y,
mayer, drowe me apart, and mette w=t= hym at his goyng yn to his
barge, and ther toke my leve of hym, seyyng these wordis, "My
lord, y wolle awayte apon youre gode lordship and youre better
leyser at another tyme." He seyde to me ayen, "Mayer, y pray yow
hertely that ye do so, and that ye speke w=t= the Chief Justyse
and what tyme that ever he will y woll be all redy." And thus
departed, &c. The Soneday abowte viij. atte clokke y came to
Lambeth, and w=t= me Dowrissh and Speere to myte and speke w=t=
my seyd lord. We mette and spake w=t= hym yn the ynner chamber,
he at that tyme beyng right bysy goynge yn to his closet. And
w=t= right gode longage and gode chere yn godely wyse exscused
hym that he myght not speke w=t= ous atte that tyme for grete
bysynes, and comaunded ous to come ayen the morun. Y, mayer,
prayed hym of oo a worde at that tyme and no more, y seyyng that
y was enfourmed that he was dysplesed of my late comyng, and yf
he so were, y bysoghte hym to hire myne excuse grete. He seyde
"Nay;" but that y was come yn right gode tyme and well come, and
at his departyng yn to his closet he seide, "Mayer, wolde God ye
hadde made a gode ende at home." And y seide, "Wolde God my lord
that we so hadde, and God y take to recorde y have done my due
dilygent part therto, and that yn tyme y truste to God ye shall
well knowe; for y have right meny thyng to enfourme yow
<P 7>
of yf y hadde tyme." He seide "Well, mayer," and bade me come
ayen that same dey afternone, and so departed, &c. Y was by the
Styward and meny other of the housholde full fayre y bede to
abide atte mete, ne never hadde better chere of my lorde ne of
the houshold then y hadde atte tyme. Netherlez y exscused me and
wold not abide as for tyme. And so went over the water to Temple
to Bluet, &c. and so went w=t= Bluet, Dowrissh, Speere and y to
the chief justice and comyned of meny thynges w=t= hym. He is
like as y conceve to have the grete rule yn this mater, for my
lorde Chaunceller seide, as hit is aboveseid, that he wolde
attende when the justyse wolde, the whiche y seide to the
justyse. The justyse seyde he wold be aredy at his callyng. And
as y conceve by dyvers wordes that they have comyned of a rule
yn this mater; what ever hit be y can not wyte as yet. God eve
[\FIRST WRITTEN yeve\] grace hit be gode, and so y truste to God
that hit be. That afternone y went ayen to Lambeth to my lord
after his commaundement aboveseid and when y come thider to hym
yn to his ynner chamber, there was myche peeple, lordes and
other, my lord Tresorer, under Tresorer, the pryvy seel, land
dyvers abbottes and pryours, and meny strangers aleyns of other
londys. And then came yn the Duke of Bokyngham, and ther was
grete bysynes at that tyme, hardly alle men were bede to avoyde
that chamber saaf the lordes. Nerthelez y awayted my tyme and
put me yn presse and went right to my lorde Chaunceller and
seide, "My lorde y am come at youre commaundement, but y se
youre grete bysynesse is suche that ye may not attende." He
seide "Noo, by his trauthe and that y myght right well se." Y
seide "Yee, and that y was sory and hadde pyty of his grete
vexacion." He seide "Mayer, y moste to morun ride by tyme to the
Kyng, and come ayen this wyke: ye most awayte apon my comyng,
and then y woll speke w=t= the justise and attende for yow, &c.
Y seide, "My lorde, y woll do after youre commaundement," and
prayed hym of hys gode and gracyous lordship of oo worde more,
yf he were enfourmed
<P 8>
by worde or by wrytyng of eny thyng that y have do or seyde or
governed me yn eny wyse at home sithen the last terme my
departyng fro hym other wyse then to his plesure and after his
commaundement. He seyde right hertly "Nay," but that y hadde
governed me at home yn the most best and godely wyse and therfor
he oowde me grete thanke, and seide hertely that y sholde have
Goddes blessyng and his therfor, &c. And so departed, &c.
   Nota that Druell and Speere is beyng afore dide gode, for
they dide theire part yn the most best wyse.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 8>
[} [\IV. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. LONDON, 2 NOV. 1447.\] }]
[\THE ORIGINAL OF THIS LETTER AND PART OF THE DRAFT ARE EXTANT;
THE WORDS IN BRACKETS ARE FILLED IN FROM THE DRAFT.\]
   (Worthy Sires, as yn the other letter &c. y grete yow w)ell
alle. Yn the whiche letter y wrote to yow that y hadde a dey to
<P 9>
appere before the lordis for (oure mater the Fridey next ther
after; and for as moche as) my lord Chaunceller bade the Justyse
to dyner ayenst that same day for (oure mater, seyyng that he
sholde have a dys) of salt fisshe; y hiryng this, y didde as me
thoght aughte to be done, and by avys (of the Justise and of
oure counseill, and sende) thider that day ij. stately
pikerellis and ij. stately tenchis, for the whiche my (lord
Chaunceller cowde right grete thank)ys and made right moche
therof hardely; for hit came yn gode seson, for my lordis (the
Duke of Bokyngham, the Markis) of Southfolke and other,
Bysshoppis divers dyned with my lord Chaunceller tha(t dey. But)
as touchyng the laboure and spede of oure mater that day, hit
was by my seide lorde ajorned over yn to the (morun) Saterdey
for these causis that a grete disputacion was be fore my lorde
yn his chapell at Lambeth for pre(chyng of) Bysshoppis. And the
seide lordis that same Friday were there at diner. And the
Justise came not there that day; but the same Friday after mete
y was with the Justise by longe tyme and yn gode leisure to
comyne of oure mater. Y fynde hym a gode man and well willed yn
oure right, and like to have the grete rule of the mater, as yn
the other letter. And he bade me move of some gode meene to ende
the mater. Y seide ayen, savyng his commaundement, y cowde no
skyll theryn ne to speke ne move of menys, ne hit was not my
part so to do; for hit wolde seme if y so didde, that y hadde
doute of oure right, where y have right none, but we woll dwelle
and abide thereapoun and go no ferther; but if eny man wolde
move of eny meene, hit was my part to hire and so to reporte,
&c. But furthermore y seide that fro ij. thyngis w=t= oure gode
will we wolde never departe; that the churche and cimitere, as
that they calle synt Stevyn is fe, is parcel of the cite and
ever hath be and shall be; and that we have a vyw and alle that
to belongeth, and they right none, ne never hadde ne shall have
but
<P 10>
ever w=t= ynne the jurisdiccion and under the correccion and
punysshment of the cite, &c. He seide that they claymed a viw
and that they hadde used moche thyng, &c. and he seide hit was
aunsion demene. And y seide nay, and proved hit by Domesday, and
so were on grete argamentes by longe tyme, to longe to write:
all hit was to tempte me w=t= laghynge chere. Y seide they hadde
no more but sympell Court Baron, if they so hadde. He seide that
every man myght have of his awne tenantis and aske no man no
leve, &c. Y seide how sholde they have more; they have no olde
grauntis of kynges, ne clayme none allowance yn Eyere, ne
instrument to do punysshement of that that longethe to a lete.
He seide hit was a fe called of olde tyme. Y seide yee, as suche
fees as beth ther on towne, and reherced hym of vij. and that
alle were parcell of the cite: and among other y rehersed hym of
Seynt Nicholas fe. He seide lete the Bisshoppis fe be as Seynt
Nicholas fe is. Y seide, if hit pleased hym, nay, hit myght not
be so; for Seynt Nicholas fe, y called Haroldis fe, is graunt of
olde kyngis and confirmaciouns, &c. He seide the Bisshop hadde
the same. Y seide nay that I never knyw ne sigh, and if that
they so hadde, lete hit be shewed and but hit be answered hit
sholde ende the mater. Then he moved of divers menys and
abstynance of arestis. Y seide when the last grete debate was of
the suburbis w=t= oute Este yeate, of whiche debate he was cause
of an ende by a recompense, atte ende of whiche mater hit was
desired for to have an abstynance, but none y graunted but under
this fourme, that the Maier that tyme beyng, and every man that
hadde be Maier and like to be Maier, promysed on his feith to
forbere of arestis on the Churche for certyn ouris, alle that
they myght godely, and sithenes hadde they no cause resonable to
complaine; and y seide this was a grete thynge as me thoght. He
seide nay for that that sholde be attis tyme sholde be do by
writynge for a perpetual pees. Then he asked of me of this mene;
if we wolde absteyne us and forbere of arrestis of alle men of
habite servantis familiars knawed without any fraude generally.
Y seide, if hit
<P 11>
pleased hym, nay; for hit was better the last terme before this,
that we sholde forbere of arrestis but yn tyme of doyng of
divine servys of men of habite, servantis familiars and theire
Baillyffs knawed, &c. and of alle other as on Sent Paull is
Chirche at London. He seide hit was soth, and asked ayen if we
wold forbere and absteyne and be recompensed therfor, and we to
have the viw and alle that longeth therto generally, as well on
the fe as, &c. and so to make arrestis w=t= ynne the fe, as y
conceved hym, and to forbere alle other arrestis w=t= ynne his
tenementis of the seide fe and to be recompensed &c. and the
Bisshop to have his courtis of his awne tenantis and to holde
plees of gretter somme thenne [\+ten IN DRAFT\] Court Baron xl
s. and spake of xl. marke. Apon this mene he stiked faste, and
thoghte [\+toughte IN DRAFT\] hit was resonable and ever asked
of me divers tymes what y wolde seye therto, all as y conceve to
tempte me, and to concente to a mene, &c. and then y seide "My
lorde, if hit please you, ye shall have me exscused to answere,"
&c. for thogh me thoght that hit were a mene resonable y dar not
sey yee, thogh y have power, for the mater toucheth a grete
comminalte as well as me, and so that y dar not seye yn to tyme
that y have spoke w=t= my felowship at home: and y seide, "My
lorde, for as moche as y conceve right well that this mater, if
hit ende attis tyme, hit is like to ende by a mene, hit is my
part to hire and to reporte, &c. but be the mene never so
resonable to conclude with yow, thogh y have power ynogh, y
beseche yow of youre gode lordship to have me exscused therof yn
to tyme y have be at home with my felowship, or of tham here
with me vj. or vij. for other wyse woll y never conclude with my
gode will," &c. He seide ayen,"Ye didde theron as right a wise
man," and so departyd, &c. The morun Saterday y came to
Westminster to kepe my day as hit is aboveseid. Y spake with my
lorde Chaunceller. He adjorned hit over yn to Soneday, and
afterward fro Soneday yn to Moneday; for the Justises dyned with
the Maier of London that Sonday. The Moneday y maier,
<P 12>
Bluet, Hody, Dourissh, Germyn and Speere with me come to Lambeth
to my lord, and ther was at that day atte dyner with my lord the
ij. chif justises, and so we appered before them; and for oure
party advers Kys, Hengston, More, Wode and Wolston. My lord hym
self furst moved the mater to the Chif Justises, so that the
Chif Justise seide the mater stondeth thus: that as to the
compleyntis of the Bisshop Deane and Chapitre, hit is answered,
repplyed and rejoyned, and as moche do therynne as may be do;
and as tochynge the compleyntes of the maier and comminalte, the
whiche them semeth grevous, beth not yet answered, and them
semeth, &c. My lord Chauncellor therwith sodenly went right to
the justises bothen, and called to hym Nicholas Ayssheton at
that tyme beynge there, and leide theire iiij. heddis negh to
gedder and comyned to geder right privyly a grete while, and
alle as y conceve and as hit proved afterwardis that the
answeris to oure articulis not to be spoke of. After that my
lorde toke his cheire and the justises sate with hym, and bothe
parties with theire consell kneled before. My lord asked how we
last departed and therapoun stomped a grete while. My lord asked
the bokis. He seide that his were on Kent is warde. He asked of
oure party advers theire bokis: they wolde be knawe of none yn
no wyse. And y mayer, seide yes, with moche more therto, &c. and
how my lordis commaundement was at London, and aggrementis at
home yn the chaptry hous, that oure articulis sholde be answered
or we proceded any ferder, y praynge my lorde that so, &c. My
lord was loth therto and the justises bothe. My lorde seide
furste merily of Vaspasianus. And y seide that that was no mater
of oure compleyntis, but y putte yn to prive [\prove IN DRAFT\]
what the cite was of olde tyme; and then my lord seide some what
strangely and sharpely that oure articulis many were maters of
noyse and desclaunder, and forto answers them hit wolde be cause
of more
<P 13>
grucchynge and yvell wyll. And y seide, "Yf eny suche be, lete
tham be leide apart, and tho that beth substancialle grete and
grevous to us, and somme cause and begynnyng of alle this
debate, lete tham be so answered:" and y reherced iij. yn
especiall, oone of the Dyme, another of the feloun that toke the
bysshoppis fe, and afterwarde of the churche, and the coroners
ylette, &c. and of the toure on the bisshoppis gardyn, &c. The
chif justise seyde as tochynge the articulis of bothe parties,
that there were maters amendis to be made to ayther party, and
that were longe to do, and that hit myght be don as well after
as before, and that he hadde sey somme of oure articulis ij. in
especiall, oone of the Deme, another of the feloun aboveseide;
and seide that us semed that they were grevous to us. Whereapoun
my lord spake of the bokis to us ayen; and y seide that my bokis
were alle redy. And my lord bade to leye ham forth; and so we
didde the articulis. They were but litell y radde ne take kepe
to. Thenne as touchyng the deme, Hengston seide that he wolde
right well that the deme were payed with us, as hit aughte to
be, and hath be of olde tyme; but we didde not so, but sette hit
and called none of the bysshoppis tenantis to us. Y saide nay,
and made a longe rehersall therof fro kyng Edwardis tyme ynto
this dey, how and under what fourme hit was don of olde tyme,
how sithenes, and how now, and how late they sette with ynne
tham self, and kept the mony and yet kepeth, and that sholde be
well y proved. My lorde seide that as touchynge the settynge we
were alle most accordyd theryn. Then seide Hengston lightly as
touchynge settynge and kepyng of the mony of the deme, hit shall
be sone answered; he menyng of Upton is tyme y wote right well,
as y seide to yow at home. Y seyde to Hengston as lightly ayen,
"As sone hit sholde be repplied and truly with the grace of
god." Then my lord asked furste of that other party if they
hadde full auctorite and power and wolde consente to menys: and
they seide anone with
<P 14>
gode wille, yee for theire part. My lorde asked of me, Maier, if
we wolde the same. Y seide as touchyng the power we hadde
sufficiant and y nogh; as touchyng to menys, y bisoghte hym of
his lordship that y myght go apart to comyne with my felowship
and oure conseill there at that tyme; and so y didde, and yeaf
an answere. Hody hadde the wordis of power as above; and as
touchyng the menys with this condicion that oure articulis were
answered, that we wolde aggre to suche menys as they lordis
wolde rule us to. Then hit was no more at that tyme but the
articulis most be answered; and as loth as they were to answere,
and hadde no bokis as hit is abovesayde. Then they aggreed ham
to bryng yn the answere the morun. Y seide they hadde seide
dyvers tymes that they hadde olde charters, evidences, and
munymentis to ende the mater; and y seide if they so hadde to
bryng ham yn, and but they were answered to ende, &c. Hengston
seide moche and strongely because y seide they hadde suche
charters. Y seide yee, and avowed hit well they seide so. He
seide that they hadde olde recordis, &c. and y saide as above.
Hengston honged sore to have a lete and a grete courte, and y
traversed hym ever, and seide to hym moche thynge, and yn
especiall that they never hadde instrument, and reherced what
that belongeth to a lete. Hengston seide but litell therto, but
made wyse as thogh hit were yes; but Wode seide that they hadde
olde wrytinge to have hit, and spake no more at all that tyme.
Hengston seide openly that Radeford and he hadde communicacion
at home of this mater, and were well negh accorded; and my lord
seide, "Wolde god hit hadde be so," and yet "Wolde hit were so,
for oure discharge." Y, Mayer, seide y knywe well and was spoke
to of suche a communicacion; but what the privyte and the menyng
was y myghte not knowe, and yf y hadde hit sholde have be never
the werce but the better; and so we departed, stondyng a
<P 15>
fer fro my lorde, and he asked wyne and sende me his awne cuppe
and to no moo. Y wende right to my lord ayen before them alle,
and spake with my lorde prively a grete whiles of divers maters,
and among other of thys blynde entrety that Hengston spake of, y
seyynge to my lorde verily that this blynde entrety growith of
my lorde of Excetre as y supposed. Wherfor and for as moche as
Hengston seide yn his presence that Radeforde and he were negh
accorded: y bysoghte my lorde, as me thoght his part was, and to
ende the mater the rather to knowe of the communicacion, &c. My
lorde seide y moved hym right well and sholde have goddis
blessyng and his, and seide he wolde do so, &c. and so we toke
oure leve and departed fro my lord and my lordis alle. My lord
at this tyme didde me moche worsship, and openly yn the
communicacion aboveseyde commended me for my gode rule at home,
and yn especiall for the grete favo=r= that y have do to men of
the churche, hongyng this debate; and furthermore he of his awne
mocion yn the communicacion aboveseid spake openly of the letter
that he send home to the bysshop by me, seiyng these wordes,
"Maier, apon the communicacion that y hadde with yow here y send
home a letter by yow to my brother of Excetre, the whiche y
hoped sholde have do moche gode and cause of spede the rather
ende of the mater." Y seide, "My lorde, that is true, and y have
do my due diligent part therto, after youre commaundement by my
trauthe." Y seyde more to Kys these wordis, "Kis, ye seide to me
at home that y didde and seide moche thynge more there then my
lorddis commaundement was, sey ye here be fore my lorde what hit
was; and y truste to God and my lorde is gode lordship that my
lord will avowe me on alle thyng that y didde and seide." My
lorde sate stille a while, and Kys knelyng spake never a word,
and thus passed over. Hengston among the maters abovesayd seyde
moche more than is above writyn as touchyng the towre that stont
on the bysshoppis gardyn, seiyng that that towre stode upon the
bisshoppis grounde, and the bisshop
<P 16>
sum tyme hadde his prison yn that towre, and that we repaired
hit never, as is write on oure articulis: atte last hit was
seide by their party that parcell of the towre stode upon the
bisshoppis grounde as hit appereth openly there; they menyng by
a wall and kernellis stondynge withoute the towre and thiknys of
the towne walle, toward the bisshoppis gardyn and annexed to the
towre and towne wallis, &c.
   The morun tuysday al Halwyn yeven y receyved the answeris to
oure articulis at Westminster of the whiche y sende yow a true
copy, yn the whiche articulis as hit appereth they have spatte
out the uttmyst and worste venym that they cowde seye or thynke
by me; y blessed be God hit is nother felony, ne treson, ne
grete trespas, and thogh hit hadde be, so they wolde have don,
and werce yf they cowde: but as for trawthe of the mater that
tocheth me, meny worthy man stondeth on the same cas and have do
moche werce than ever y didde, thogh that be to me none exscuse.
As touchyng the grete venym that they menyth of my lyvyng, y may
and purpose be at my purge, as y may right well apon my sawle of
alle wymmen alyve excepte oone, and of hire righte a grete
while; therfor y take right noght by and sey sadly (\si recte
vivas\) , &.c. and am right mery and fare right well, ever
thankyng God and myn awne purse. And y liyng on my bedde atte
writyng of this right yerly, myryly syngyng a myry song, and
that ys this, Come no more at oure hous, come, come, come. Y
woll not dye nor for sorowe ne for anger, but be myry and fare
right well, while y have mony; but that ys and like to be scarce
with me, considerynge the bisynesse and coste that y have hadde:
and like to have: and yet y hadde with me xx li. and more by my
trauthe; wherof of trauthe not right moche y spende yet, but
like &c. Constre ye what ye will. Item, Thomas Montagew sholde
sende me xj li. and odde mony as he wote well and can telle
yowe: and y supposed that John Germyn sholde [\ORIGINALLY
wolde\] have broght to me all most x li. all this of myne awne
gode; wherof
<P 17>
cometh to me no peny. Wherfor y sende home to yow attis tyme
William Hampton, berer of this writyng, for this cause most
specially that ye, how that ever ye do, sende me xx li. yn hast,
as ye wolle the spede of youre mater and welfare of the cite, y
not shamed but pleased attis tyme; and that ye faill yn no wyse,
mervaillyng moche, for as moche as y departed fro yow with oute
eny mony of youris, that ye ne hadde sende to me sithenesse some
mony by Germyn, Kyrton, or some other man, &c.
   Forthermore as tochyng the seide answeris, y pray yow that
they be well redely avysely and distinctely over radde and the
substance of them right well understonde, and most speciall the
furste articule, the whiche ys most and right harde to answere,
and that oure Recorder have knoweliche of all thyng that y have
write home yf he be here as y suppose attis tyme, and but yf he
be, to sende home to hym in hast; so that y have youre conceyt
witte and entente to repplye to the seide answeris, and to the
furste most specyally, whiche is derke to my conceyte as yet;
but y truste to God hit shall be right well with youre gode
enformacion and helpe therto: to whiche entent y sende yow a
rolle yn the whiche is conteyned copies of Domus Dey, copy of
Eyris, of charters and other thynges that is necessary to be
seye yn makyng of thes repplicacions. Y can no more attis tyme,
but y pray you to be not wery to over rede hire and se all the
writyng that y have sende home to yow attis tyme; and yf ye be,
no mervaill thogh y be wery, &c. and God be w=t= yow. y-writen
at London yn alle Sawlyn day afore day yn hast. Item, y pray you
to sende me the blak rolle whiche shall be delyvered to yow by
Thomas Montegow, by William Hampton berer of this writyng, the
which is a man true ynogh as y truste and suppose and hath
borwys for his office, lete them be pryvy to, yf yow, that hit
is to be do.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 18>
[} [\V. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. LONDON, SAT. 11 NOV. 1447.
DRAFT LETTER.\] }]
   I grete you well alle, doyng yow to understonde that y am at
London as y have write to yow afore this tyme, &c. and as
touchyng the laboure and spede of oure comyn mater sithen y
wrote last to yow, y was at Lambeth with my lorde on Sonday next
after alle Halwyn day and spake with hym at gode leisure and yn
gode tyme and well disposed. Among other thynges y asked [{...{]
at dey and how we sholde be demened to brynge yn oure
repplicacions, he seyde "Come the morun Monedey [{...{] the love
of god," Y seyde the tyme was to shorte, and prayed hym of
Wendysdey; y enfourmed hym [{of t{]he grete malice venym that
they have spatte to me yn theire answeris as hit appereth yn a
copy that y sende to yow of. My lorde seide, "Alagge alagge, why
wolde they do so? y woll seye right sharpely to ham therfor and
y nogh," and commaunded me to bryng the answeris to hym the
morun at Westminster, and that he wolde amende hit w=t= his awne
hondis, &c. and so y departed, and mette w=t= hym that morun yn
the escheco=r= chamber, and as sone as ever he saw me a ferre,
he called me to hym and asked the seide answere, and he rased
hit as hit plesed hym w=t= his owne handys, oure party advers
w=t= theire counsell beyng present and yvell plesed and payde
therwith, and my lorde was to tham right sadde ne wolde hire ham
speke no worde, but spake to the chif Justyse Fortescu and
prayed hym to be w=t= hym that morun atte mete to comyne of oure
mater, and yeaf no dey to that other
<P 19>
party ne to me to be there and so departed. The morun tuysdey y
came to my lorde at Westminster ayen and asked yf he wolde
commaunde me eny thyng to do that dey, he seide yee, to be w=t=
hym that after mete to comyne as hit is aboveseide. Y seide, "My
lorde oure repplicacions beth not yet alle redy ne mygh not be
for shortenesse of tyme thogh y sholde dye therfor, and yet y
hadde waked nyghte and dey." He seide hit was right yvell y do
yf hit myght otherwise have be, and commaunded me not fealle but
kepe my dey, that after mete: and so y didde and with me
Dourissh and Speare, and for that other party Kys, Hengston,
More, Wode, and Orcharde, a greet barre. Furste my lorde asked
how we departed laste. Hit was seyde apoune the answerys of the
Bysshop, Deane, and Chapitre, put yn and we to replye. Y seyde,
"My lorde, oure repplicacions beth not yet fully redy bot anon
to oon and that oon almost as hit appereth here aredy to shewe."
My lorde and the Justyse seyde no force to shewe and ryght meny
resons why. Y seyde yes, and made resons sympelly as y cowde; so
hit was graunted that y sholde bryng ham yn, &c. My lorde seyde
that he wolde sende for the bokys that y have write to yow of yn
Kent ys warde: then he bade that other party goo a part and
comyned w=t= my seyde felowship and me nigh by an oure, and he
was right mery and comyned meny dyvers maters bothe of disporte
and sadnesse: furste of dysporte of Bysshop Stafford ys tyme
when my lord was there, and among other y spake to my lorde yn
dysporte of the arest of S=r= Thomas Gogh and of Hugh Luccays
atte Denys place, and what favo=r= y had do and had no thanke
and of other thyngys as come yn to my mynde. He cowde telle us
how Germyn toke the churche +te day of eleccion, &c. Y seide
[{...{] therof a disporte, and that Germyn putte his fynger yn
his ye and wepte, also y t [{...{]e most sadly wyse. Atte last
fyll to mater of sadnesse, and they spake of Goddys hous Seynt
Peter ys churche of Excetre, and my lorde spake of his house,
his halle, and the Justyse the same, how
<P 20>
loth they wolde be to make arestys theryn, and seyde that seynt
Peter ys churche was Goddis hous and his halle, &c. and made
meny resons to bryng yn abstynce of arestys. They were answered
as God wolde geve us grace. Douryssh didde well his part;
nerthelez all the longage bot hit were the lesse was by twene my
lorde Chaunceller the Justyse and me. My lorde Chaunceller wolde
that y sholde myve of menys. Y seyde, savyng his commaundement,
that y cowde not theryn; hit was not my part: and then he hym
self and the Justyse moved of menys dyvers, and atte the laste
my lorde moved of this mene to forbere arestys of alle men of
habyte and theyre servantys, famylyars, and bailliffs, withynne
the churche and cimetere at alle tymes, &c. Douryssh acquytted
hym well, and leyde meny myschyffys, &c. Y seyde therto also as
y cowde sympelly, and then y reherced to hym of the last accorde
of the suberbys withoute Esteyeate and what abstynance was of
courtesy y graunted at that tyme, &c. y conceyved that my lorde
wolde move of no nyre mene and then y seyde to hym thus: "My
lorde, y beseke you of youre gode lordship to have me exscu
[{...{] to move or aggre to eny mene [{...{] y have speke with
my felowship at home or they here with me." Tham thoghte y seyde
reso [{...{] hadde right moche longage of the Bysshoppis fe, and
specyally of the vyw and of the Bysshoppis Court what court he
hadde and sholde have: here of was right moche longage and reson
prove and contra. Y hilde myn awne. Y hadde maters y nogh, &c.
My seyde lordys bothe seyde that thay hadde olde recordys and
evydences to prove their content. My lord hym self spake derkely
of right olde charters the whiche y as ever have supposed right
well; so y said, "My lorde, y have hurde of suche thyngis, bot y
sawe hit never, praying yow yf eny suche thyng be, that they may
be shewed and seyn, and bot yf hit maybe answered ellys so to
make an ende," &c. My lorde conjoured me to make an ende of this
mater and yf y so didde y sholde be cronycled. Y seyde, "My
lorde, y have don my
<P 21>
part as y truste to God ye shall knawe and wolle reporte as fer
as y can may and thar do after youre commaundement." Y conjoured
my lorde ayen and seyde these wordys, "My lorde, ye beth lorde
under hevyn, excepte the kyng, that the Cite of Excetre have
most feyth hope and truste theryn, and have fulle power to make
an ende, bysekyng you and as y dar requyre yow, se the ryght and
lete hit never passe yo=r= hondes bot so to make an ende," and
made us go a part and called that other party. They were with
hym bote ryght a litell while and called us yn ayen, and bade
that other go apart, and seyde to us that they hadde comyned
wyth that other party, and they seyn moche that they woll abyde
apoun theire right, and shewe theire forseyde evydence to prove
hit. Y seyde, "My lorde," as y have aboveseyde, &c. My lorde
seyde, "Mayer, ye seye right well, and so we woll do and
precede," and so we all departed (\sine die\) , &c. Bot sythenys
y have be w=t= my lorde dyvers tymes and now have a day, and
that other party to be before my seide lordis the morun Sonedey
apon the makyng of this letter; they to shewe ther evydences as
y suppose. What they meneth that they woll abyde apon theire
right and shew theire evydence constre ye. Gode and gentell
longage and shere y have of that other party, and that they will
abyde the rule of the lordys, &c. and that the lordys purpose to
make an ende, &c. bote y fere therof bot the courte be so hard
against us, therfor to speke wyth the nywe shyrf y sette hit
grete wysedome so hit be by soche a mene as be knowe noght fro
us for drede. Certe hit be seyde that that ys the cause of the
breche, &c. for they have labored strongly and sayeth nay, &c.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 22>
[} [\VI. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. LONDON ?NOV. OR DEC. 1447.
DRAFT LETTER.\] }]
Worthy siris y grete yow well alle; doyng you to understonde as
touchyng the laboure and spede of oure mater that Dourissh and
Speere hadde be w=t= my lord on Soneday next before my comyng
and hadde ther right gode chere of my lord and other and right
[{...{] so spedde there yn the beste wyse at +t=t= tyme as the
mater stondeth, and yn especyall as tochyng the commaundement
the whiche y reported at home, nywe bondis to be made and
enseled at home to entrete yn to Candel masse and lenger yf +te
parties myght so accorde to breve the mater to the lordis
hondis; and that we myght not accorde therof to be remytted to
the lordes and they so to make an ende; of the whiche
commaundement my lorde remembred hym right well therof as well
as the Chif Justise, and my lord avowed me well therof and was
right well pleased of all my laboure at home y-reported to hym
by Thomas Dourissh and Speere yn the beste wyse, my lorde seyng
of me that y was never worthy to be called, that y was a godeman
wyse and well do my part, after his commaundement attis tyme and
shold have goddes blessyng and his, and whan that ever y come to
be well come to hym, as the seide Dourissh and Speere reported
to me; and also they spake to hym of a sute like to be take by
+te B. D. and C. &c. My lord answered bot litell therto at that
tyme, bot bade ham to awayte apoun hym that morun at Westminster
and so departed. Ayenst whiche tyme the seide Dourissh and
Speere right wysely ordeyned counsell Yong
<P 23>
and Beef, and so came yn before my lord Chaunceller the morun
Moneday, and nywe moved hym w=t= moche longage as tochyng the
sute aboveseide. My lorde seyde he myght not werne tham +te
comyn lawe, bot he seide right feith fully and sadly he wolde
consell ham the contrary and commaunded to awayte apon hym and
+te Chif Justise beyng togeder. A rule to be sette, &c. And so
departed and stont yet.
   Furthermore y do you to understonde y come to London on
tuysdey, so +tt y wolde have be w=t= my lord +tt same dey tymely
y nogh afore mete; bot I taried and yet tary because of +te buk
horn +tt was boght or y went and forth before at Stoklond or y
departed fro home as Germyn, that never legh, tolde to me verily
w=t= grete othis; the whiche came not yet, me to right grete
anger and discomfort by my trauthe, and the cause +t=t= hit was
boght for myche like to be lost; for hit hadde be a gode mene
and order after spekyng and communication aboveseid, the buk
horn to have be presented, and y to have come there after, &c.
and so to have sped moche the better: but now hit is like to
faille to hyndryng. And so y have helpe ynogh abakward and but a
litell forthward as hit at alle tyme proveth and appereth. Y
pray you specially to thanke moche t[{...{] gentill Germyn
(\Quasi duceret euge euge\) (^Germyn^) of his governaunce attis
tyme, (\id male gaude\) Germyn. Nothelez [\I know\] right well
he woll ascuse hym right well by thike fals harlot his carioure,
and the carioure yn like wyse by the seide Germyn, and so I may
say (\ait latro ad latronem\) and (\inter scabella duo anus
labitur humo\) . Cristes curse have they bothe, and seye ye amen
(\non sine merito\) , and bot ye dar sey so, thynke so, thynke
so. Also y charge Germyn under rule and commaundement of J.
Coteler my lutenant, +t=t= he do that he can do, braule, bragge
and brace, lye and swere well to, and yn especiall +t=t= +te
stretes be right clene and specialle the litell lane yn the bak
side be nethe the flessh folde yeate, for ther lieth many oxen
hedes and bonys that they be removed away for the nonys ayenst
my comyng as sone as y may by cokkis bonys.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 24>
[} [\VII. SHILLINGFORD TO ONE OF THE BISHOP'S COUNSEL. 14 DEC.
1447. DRAFT LETTER.\] }]
   Right worshipfull sir, y recommaunde me to yow. Like yow to
be remembred of the speche and communicacion +tt was late
betwene yow and me at Westminster before my lorde Chif Justise
and also what he seide and how that y conjured yow and ye
conjured me ayen, and alle to the best entent to alle parties as
y hope to God, trustyng that ye buth and woll be the same man as
there, or better yf ye better may, and y the same after my
sympell power by my trauthe: apon the whiche communicacion as y
seide to yow that y wolde, and as ye seide my part was to spake
with my lord Chaunceller, &c. and afterward Maister Rogger Kys
and y were before my two seid lordis to knowe of a rule and a
departyng home, &c. Whas rule and commaundement as y conceved
was this, to make and ensele nywe bondis yn to Candelmasse next
comyng, and lenger yf the parties wolde at oure comyng home; and
yn the mene tyme to entrete at home to shorte the mater to their
hondes; and that we myght not accorde therof, they to make an
ende, the whiche hath ever be my will and laboure y take God to
wytnesse, and yet shall be. Wherapon y consideryng the rule and
commaundement of the lordes and the entent of +te communicacion
betwene yow and me abovesaide, y sende to yow at this tyme
praying yow to considre the same, with more that hit is bot a
short and a bysy tyme consyderyng the grete parties and maters,
with the circumstance and grete and longe communicacion that is
like to be. Wherfor y pray yow to prefixe place day and tyme as
ye woll resonabilly, and that as sone as ye may godely, the
rather the levere, and ye shall be all redy and wyth alle
<P 25>
thoo that longeth to be there, for oure party un failled; so
that noo cause of tarying shallbe founde yn oure party with the
grace of God: praying yow the same, &c. for ye may fully conceve
+tt my felows and y wold fayne have a gode ende and pees, prayng
you to applie yo=r= god will and favo=r= to the same. And how
hit may please you to do in +t=s=, y pray you to s[{ende{] hit
me yn writyng and alle shall be well w=t= +t=e= grace of God,
whiche have yow yn kepyng. Amen. Writen at Exeter the thursday
(next) after Sent Lucie.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 25>
[} [\VIII. SHILLINGFORD TO DOWRISH. EXETER, WEDNESDAY, EVE OF
ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE, DEC. 20, 1447.\] }]
   Right Worshipfull ser, y recommaunde me un to yow; doyng yow
to understonde that as touchyng the grete maters yn debate by
twene my lord the Bysshop of Excetre the Deane and the Chapiter
ther, and the Maier and Comminalte of the seide Cite, the whiche
maters at London this last term passed, by comaundement of the
lordis ys put yn rule as hit appereth by a letter the whiche y
have sende to William Hengston, wherof y sende to yow a copy; as
well as of dyvers other bullis of supplicacions by the seide
Maier and
<P 26>
Comminalte y putte yn be fore the seide lordis. The whiche
copies all y pray yow avysely to over rede and well understonde
after the commaundement and rule aboveseide. And after the gode
will, prayer, fourme, effecte, desire, and entent of the seide
Maier and Comminalte comprehended yn the seide letter and
bullis, to applie your gode will and to do your tendre and
diligent labour to helpe to make a gode ende, and that all my
feloship and y pray yow right hertly. And yn especyall that ye
be oon of thoo pryncipall endifferently to entrete ther ynne
that most gode may do ther yn, and with yow Radeforde and
Hengston, and so that William Beef be oon with yow by your
speciall meene to be brogh yn, for pleasur and the better to
ende the mater hardly with the grace of God. Ye may constre
moche thyng &c. bot this aboveseide thus don, y dowte noght, bot
truste to God verily to have a gode ende and pees with the grace
of God, whiche have yow ynh is kepyng. Amen. Writen at Excetre
on Wendisdey yn the vigill of Seynt Thomas the Apostell.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 26>
[} [\IX. SHILLINGFORD TO THE BISHOP. EXETER, 24 DEC. 1447. DRAFT
LETTER.\] }]
   Right Worshipfull and Reverend Fader yn God and gode lorde, y
recommaunde me un to your right gode and gracyous lordship.
Please hit your gode and gracious lordship to have yn knowliche
<P 27>
as tochyng the grete maters yn variance betwene yo=r= right gode
and gracious lordship the Deane and Chapiter of yo=r= Cathedrall
Churche of the Cite of Exceter and the Maier and the Comminalte
of the seide Cite, the which maters by yo=r= menys so labored un
to the highnesse of our soverayn lorde the Kyng was broght yn
and so by longe tyme hath honged and yet hongeth yn compremys be
fore the lordis. The whiche by the seide lordis this last terme
as y conceyved thus ruled, and commaunded nywe bondis to be made
and enseled to entrete yn to Candelmasse and lenger yf the
parties myght so aggre and accorde at their comyng home; and yn
the mene tyme to entrete at home to shorte the mater to their
hondis, and that we myght not accorde therof they to make an
ende; and that by longe tyme hath be my lorde Chauncelleris
commaundement as y knawe right well, and as hit proveth and
appereth by a letter by hym late to yow sende, the whiche letter
he this terme avowed well for myn excuse your conseill beyng
present, and as y seid yn yo=r= presence yn the Chapetry hous of
yo=r= Cathedrall Churche of Excetre. The whiche rule and
commaundement the seid Maier and Comminalte fully aggreed ham
for their part and were all redy to fulfille hit at London and
so buth yet her at home, and shall be yn all wyse, or eny other
resonable entrety that may be moved or stured or by yow
commaunded, so hit be knowed to the pleasure of my seid lords
aboveseid, praying yow and yo=r= parties and yow most specially
of your gode and gracious lordship to yeve your gode will and
applie yo=r= favo=r= to conforme to the same; considryng verily
that we wold right fayne have a gode ende with yow as lawe,
right, reson, and gode consience requiren, with all favo=r=
desired resonable that by our part may be shewed or don, and to
that is called your fe, most specially bysekyng yo=r= gode and
gracious lordship to be amytted therto, for hit was never our
will to putte that yn debate ne to despute the right therof, but
as we have be forced therto by yo=r= Articulis of Complayntes
and other actes of the same, or elles to lese our rig[\ht\] ,
&c. Also hit was never known ne seide bot that the seide fe was
a thyng by him self, and the seide Churche and Cimitere
<P 28>
another thyng by him self, as ye have supposed and claymed and
allegged by two the furst divers articulis therof made yn your
furst articulis of compleynts, withoute that yo=r= Cathedrall
Churche and Cimitere be parcell of the seid fe or annexed
therto, as hit is and shall be well proved by evident writyng,
witnesse, and other wyse. But now late this last terme ye have
supposed and leyde the seid fee Churche and Cimitere to be
conjoyntly contrary to yo=r= furst clayme, as hit openly
appereth yn your furst articulis of yo=r= provys to have a
colo=r= to the seide Churche and Cimitere by the seide fe, &c.,
as hit is right well conceyved, and therto ye have aleyed for
yo=r= prove the boke of domysdey, the whiche is no prove, and
that we have and shall comytte yn to the grete wysedomys of the
lords abovseid. But we truste to God, savyng yo=r= gode
lordshippe, the same boke shall prove our entent as hit is
proved and pleynly appereth yn our furst answer to the seide
same articule of y=r= provys. The whiche with meny other thyngs
shall be redy to be shewed before yo=r= gode lordships yf hit
please you. But what conclusion that ever ther folwe we trustyng
to God to have yo=r= gode lordship, we woll be demened
resonabilly with all favo=r= to the pleasur of your gode
lordship as hit is aboveseid, and of the seid fe most specially,
ever besekyng you and as we dar requyr you that ye woll applie
yo=r= blessed favo=r= and benyvolence to the gode ende and
appeasynge of this mater, after the will, desir, forme, effecte
and entente of dyvers bullis of supplicacons by us y put and to
be put yn be fore the lordes of this mater, of the whiche bullis
I sende to you copies by the berers of this my pore writyng,
whiche copies please hit yo=r= gode and gracious lordship at
yo=r= leysure to over se and fully conceyve, the rather to have
a gode ende as we truste to God: and like you to knowe that y
have write to Copleston and Hengeston and y spoke with Radeford
of this maters for myn exscuse to be reported above be fore the
lords, so that no cause of taryng shall be founde yn our party,
but ever all redye, &c. Bysekyng you of yo=r= right gode and
gracious lordship, as y have my lord Chaunceller, to have me
exscused of myn non comyng to you
<P 29>
as my dute hath be and is. Considryng verily if y myght knowe
[{...{] lordships pleasur and commaundement therto, the whiche y
wolde full fayne knowe and come grete joye and comfort to alle
your puple and gostly children of the Cite of Exceter and me
most specially; and how hit may please your gode lordeship to do
and commaunde us yn the rule and commaundement of the lords
aboveseide to have yn knowliche by the berers of this my symple
writyng at yo=r= pleasur. Please yo=r= gode and gracious
lordship to have yn rembrance that I and all the Comminalte of
the seide Cite ben your gostly children and yo=r= men at yo=r=
commaundement and ever shall be by Godd's mercy, whiche preserve
yo=r= gode and gracious lordship and yo=r= blessed faderhed yn
his high mercy. Writen at Exceter the xxiiii day of Decembre.
   By yo=r= awne servant and bedman,
   J. Shillyngford.

<Q SHI 1447 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 29>
[} [\X. INSTRUCTIONS FROM SHILLINGFORD TO HIS DEPUTY. 24 DEC.,
1447.\] }]
   After the recommendacion had yn the most godely wyse, ye
shall seye to my lord that the Maier yeveth yow yn commaundement
to seye, that my lorde Chaunceller greteth hym well and sendeth
hym the letter, bysekyng hym of his gode lordship avisely to
overse hit: wherapon as ye suppose after the entent of the
letter that ye most speke myche more with him, also bysekyng him
of his gode lordship
<P 30>
atte reverence of my lorde Chaunceller to yeve leyser and
attendence therto; seyyng also that hit is the Maier is part to
have come hym self with the letter and exscuse, &c., and then
how dangerous hit was to make eny worthy man to come to hym att
tyme for strange chere at Clist, &c., and that the Maier
exscused hym ayenst my seide lorde Chaunceller to brynge the
letter, &c., and promytted to sende of the most worthiest as he
hath, &c.
   Item, that ye commende my lorde Chaunceller yn the most beste
and trusty wyse, and that hit is his commaundement and other
lordes, and longe tyme hath be, that we sholde entrete at home,
the whiche hath be the Maier is grete laboure the grete part of
all this yere, and myghte noght be excepted therto, and so he
hath reported before the lordes as well as the furst coming to
hym to Clist to seke his gode lordeship and pees for his
exscuse: and yet the Mayer and the Cite now aswell as before
this tyme by commaundement of the lordis and by their awne gode
wyll prayeth and desireth that the matter myght be disclosed
before his gode lordship, the Maier, the Recorder with other of
the Cite at his pleser beyng present, trustyng to God verely al
for the best, and myche the rather and the better to have a gode
ende as lawe, reson, and right gode conscience requyren, he to
fele alle the maters, and so as ye suppose to be his awne juge,
and ende myche of the maters by his awne conscience, we knawing
his blessednysse and gode conscience, &c. Forthermore, ye shall
seye as for the Maier wher my seyde lorde hath seide, and sende
hym word that he is not the man that he wend that he had be, the
which worde is to hym right hevy, and seith that he shall fynde
hym the same oo man and same true man as he hath be, and so he
trusteth to God he is take and knawe among the lordes above; but
thogh he and other labor for the right of the Cite w=t= true
menys as he hath do and none otherwise as hit shalbe well
proved, hit is no cause, &c., they beth sworn therto as he is to
the right of his benefice. Make ye myche of this matter and of
the deme suying, and of the short chere at Cliste, and the gode
chere that the Maier had yn his Closet, bryngyng Coteler
<P 31>
to his gode grace, y yet praying the same yf y may be herde, and
that ye desyre his gode leysur now, and but yf ye mowe now to
come to hym ayen.

<Q SHI 1447 HWEBBER>
<A H. WEBBER>
<P 33>
[} [\XII. H. WEBBER, PRIEST, ON BEHALF OF THE BISHOP, TO THE
RECORDER (?). CHUDLEGH, 28 DEC. 1447.\] }]
   My right reverend trusty and singular maister, after dewe and
entierly recommendacion with all worship and reverence, my lord
the Bysshop of Excetre, of whas commaundement y write un to you
at this tyme, thanketh your kyndenesse of your gode and well
conceyved letter that ye sende unto hym on Sonday last passed,
the whiche day sone apon that he receyved your letter he
receyved a long and right a diffuse letter y send to hym by the
Mayer of Excetre remyttyng my seide lord in the same yn to a
long rolle of supplicacions by hym made ther a fore, yn the
whiche letters ye as yn youre by the enformacion of the seyde
Mayer, and the seide Mayer as yn his letters conceyved, atte
laste terme that hit was appoynted by my lord of Canterbury and
the two Chyf Justises, that the maters be twene my seide lord
and the Deane and the Chapitre of his Churche of Excetre and the
seyde Maier and the Comminalte of the said Cite hongyng sholde
be entreted here at home yn this vacacon, with other larger
words of the same in the Mayer's letters comprehended. Trewly,
S=r=, what the departyng and how at the laste terme was a fore
my seid lord the Chaunceller and the seide Justises my seide
lorde was a fore and is fully enfourmed therof. Notheles for as
moche as ye fynde the seide Maier and his feloship of the Cite
disiderable and aggreyng a communicacion to be hadde after the
effecte that ye commyned with my seid lord sum
<P 34>
tyme at Excetre, and yn maner so the seide Maier writeth hym
self to my seid lord, with maters of pretens contrarye articulis
and other allegauncies and remissions yn to meny diffuse
supplicacions, seyng furdermore that he hath writen to John
Copleston and William Hendiston for the same communicacion to be
hadde for the gode ende and peasyng of the seide maters, of the
whiche my seide lorde seith that hit pleaseth hym that a
communicacion myght be hadde yn haste, and he woll do the seide
John Copleston and William Hendeston to be at Excetre with other
as well of the Chapitre is counseill as of his awne atte next
session of peas. So that the seide communicacion be no longe
delaye to hyndryng of his Churche and of his right, for trewly
he woll noo long delayes theron, bot to do his avail whan he
shall se his tyme. And yf hit so be that ther shall be y-offered
suche weyes that may be to the gode ende and peasying of the
seide maters withoute hertyng and delayng of the right of his
Churche, he woll applie hym self therto with gode will: and
where ye wrote yn to my seide lorde that he moved to yow that
William Hendeston and ye a certyn day limited by yow and by my
seid lord for to commune for the gode ende to be hadde yn the
seide maters, and he kepte not his day, my seid lord seith that
ye knowe well by certefyyng of right worthy men that he myght
not be there at that day for certyn causes that they certefied
yow therof resonable. Notheles sone apon he came to yow and ye
and he communed to geder, the whiche communicacion was be case
and litell fruite theron. And he seith that sith he came home
from Courte he communed with yow of dyvers maters, bot ye moved
noo thyng of the seide maters. And therfor my seide lord
supposed ye wolde noo more therof. Notheles my seide lord, seyng
your gode will, whiche ben of counseill with his Churche, wyth
hym, and with the Maier of later date, thanketh yow hertely of
your gode letter and also the Maier for his godeley letters, and
with the grace of God John a Copleston and William Hendeston and
other, as hit is aboveseid [^IN THE EDITION TWO DOTS ABOVE THE O
IN aboveseid^] , shall be a redy to commune with yow under the
<P 35>
fourme as hit is aboveseid to the effectuall gode ende with oute
grete delay, for trewly y ther sey yow secretely, on grete
truste that y have founde yn your person ever, my seid lord woll
not be long delayed yn noowise, as y veryly conceyve by hym, and
therfor y wolde for the reverence of God and ease of the pore
puple and for your grete worship that ye myght be cause of the
gode ende and peasyng of the seide maters. And yf y myght se
that hit myght take effectuall and a spedefull ende, y sey yow
feithfully y shall do my part truly therto with the grace of
God, the which have yow ever yn his gracyous kepyng, and my seid
lord praied yow that ye wolle notise his wyll aboveseid to the
seid Maier and to such other as your worthy and appreved
discrecion semyth best for be don. Y-write at Chuddelegh the
xxviii day of December.
   By your owne Prest,
   H. Webber,
   dwellyng with the Bysshop of Excetr.

<Q SHI 1448 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 35>
[} [\XIII. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. LONDON, 2 FEB. 1447-8.
DRAFT LETTER.\] }]
   Right worthy siris, y grete yow well; doyng yow to
understonde that on Candlemasse yeve y receyved a letter y send
to me by Harry Dobyn, whiche letter yn my sympell conceyt y yn
alle thynges have well understonde, and y am and was before that
letter fully remembred of all thynges that is comprehended
theryn, as specially of Stokewode, as well as more of the
entrety some tyme moved by Sir William Bonevill, and of the
communycacion ther
<P 36>
upon hadde at London, and specially yn the Cloyster at Paulys,
the right grete of the parties, with theire conseille, and moche
other puple beyng present; what was comyned, moved, stured,
desired, and by whom; how hit was procured and shortly throwen
of; how hit was conceyved, reported, and take there and ellis
where, and what yvell wyll, waywardnys, and unkyndnesse was
assigned, and what was promysed and what was do therfore, ye
knowe right well, and Richard Druell specially: some wherof ye
and y commyned therof the last hole day of my beyng at home at
Exceter yn my parler; constre ye alle thynges what y mene. What
is to do furthermore y can not yet be redely avysed by conseill,
bot y most doe as y se the mater woll be ruled, and as y can,
may, and dar do, eschewyng variance, breche, throwyng of, and
yndyngnacion specially, and so y shall by the grace of God,
whiche have yow yn his kepyng. Amen.

<Q SHI 1448 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 36>
[} [\XIV. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. 3 FEB. 1447-8. ORIGINAL
AND DRAFT. THE WORDS IN BRACKETS ARE FILLED IN FROM THE DRAFT.\]
}]
   (Worthy siris, y grete) yow well alle, doyng yow to
understonde that the bukhorn came to me bot on Candelmasse yeven
(afternone somewh)at better late than never, whiche bukhorn was
presented to my lord on Candelmasse day by the (morun. How hit)
was presented y-take, and what thankys and better thankis y nogh
therfor Harry Dobyn can telle (yow of some)what by mowthe. That
day was y
<P 37>
at Lambeth with my lorde at masse, and offered my candelle (to
my lord is) blessed hond, y knelyng adoun offeryng my candell.
My lord with laghyng chere upon me seide hertely, "Graunt mercy,
Mayer," &c. That same day y abode there to mete by my seide
lordis commaundement; (y mette) with my lorde atte high table
ende comyng to meteward, and as sone as ever he saw me he (toke
me) fast by the honde and thankis ynogh to: y seide to my seid
lorde hit was to symple a thyng considryng his astate to seye
onys graunt mercy, bot yf y hadde be at home at this faire he
sholde have had better stuf and other thynges, &c. Y went forth
with hym to the myddis of the halle, he stondyng yn his astate
ayenst the fire a grete whiles, and ij bisshoppis, the ij Chif
Justises, and other lordis, knyghtes, and squyers, and other
comyn puple grete multitude, the halle fulle, alle stondyng a
far apart fro hym, y knelyng by hym, and after recommendacion y
moved hym of oure mater shortly as tyme asked, and yn especiall
of the ij Chif Justises beyng there, bysekyng hym or their
departyng to calle ham to hym for oure mater; he seid hertly
with right godewill, and prayed God that ther myght be right a
gode ende; and y thanked hym and seide with his gode lordship we
were almost thurgh and at an ende, y seyyng also by these menys
"My lord, y have herd yow seye that ye and the ij Chif Justises
of a rule of the Churche and Cimitere were negh accorded." He
seide hertely, "Yee for gode." Y seide, "My lord, as touchyng
the fee Radford and Coplestone beth nigh accorded at home,
whiche two accordis y knowe we buth alle most thurgh:" the
whiche seyyng alle he toke on the best wyse and was well pleased
therwith, and so departed fro hym at that tyme. Mete y doun, my
lord toke his chamber, the astatis and other with hym. Y put me
yn presse and to my lorde and spake with hym right a grete
while, so that he called the Justises to hym and moved of oure
mater. Y wolde have seide, &c. the Chif Justise toke upon hym to
seye, &c. and seide moche thyng for oure part, and quytte hym a
gode man to us.
<P 38>
Furst he reherced how we were broght yn be fore tham by the
Kynges commaundement, how we wolde have be dysmyssed and
discharged fro tham, and be atte comyn lawe and myght not, and
how hit hath be labored ayenst us duryng the tyme of this
entrety, so that ther is a Shirf y made and the contrey embraced
ayenst (oure) entent and thus we stode at myschif, &c. The other
Chif Justise seide well therto also, and my lord toke hit
(welle) seyyng, "Hit may not be so; assigne ye a tyme the
parties to be called, a rule to be sette, so that hit shold be
amendyd:" and so departed as for more communicacion of oure
mater. Afterward y spake with the ij=de= Chif Justise there a
grete while, to whom oure mater myche was rawe. He understode
and toke my seyyng and ynformacion (yn the moste) beste wise,
and so seid therto for oure part. (After this we toke our leve,
and y yn my leve takyng seyyng (these) wordis, "My lord, have
mercy and pyty apoun that pore Cite, Jesus (\vidit civitatem et
flevit super eam\) ;" also bysekyng him to yeve me leve to sywe
to his gode lordship to have the mater refourmed as hit is
aboveseide; he seide y sholde be right welle come what tyme that
ever y come, and so departed thens and stonde this day, &c. That
nyght right late Harry (Brok) broght me a copy of a recorde
whiche y sende to yow, to the whiche recorde with avys of
conseill y thyng bolde(ly to) appere forthwith this terme, &c.
and y hope hit shall be right well as the cas stoondeth, and
better than hit was desired and like to have be atte last
entrety at home, with the grace of God, whiche have you in his
kepyng. Writen at London the morun after Candelmasse day.
   By John Shillingford, M' of Excetre.
[\INDORSED.\] After makyng of this letter y receyved a Copy of a
writte ayenst John Hulle, as h(ere folowyth).
<P 39>
[^LATIN OMITTED^]
[\ADDRESSED.\] To John Coteler, lutenant, Thomas Cook, John
Germyn, Walter Pope, Richard Druell, and other, this letter be
delyvered, &c.

<Q SHI 1448 JKEMP>
<A JOHN KEMP>
<P 41>
[} [\XVI. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY TO THE BISHOP OF EXETER.
LAMBETH, 16 FEB., 1447-8,\] }]
   Ryght Worshipfull and wyth all my herte right welbeloved
Brother, I grete you well full hertly. And suppose ye be well
remembrid howe that matier whiche longe tyme hath abiden yn
travers bitwixte yow, your Brethren and myn, your Deane and
Chapitre of yowre churche of Excetre, and the Mayer and the
Comminalte of the same, by speciall comaundement of the Kyng was
commytted and putte to the rule of the two chief Justises and
me, wheryn as God knowyth they and I have laboured long tyme,
and specially the last term yn our effectuall wyse for the gode
of pease and sure conclusion to growe therof, bryngyng the
matier by daylie labour to grete ripenesse the soner therby to
have concluded theryn: And for as moche as we myght not
approchyng the ende of the terme further labour theryn, hit was
comyned and desyred nywe bondis to be made and enselid at home
by bothe parties unto Candelmasse last passed trustyng the
matier to have be comyned and yn partie entreted at home. And as
nowe we wold have preceded theryn to somme gode conclusion; and
the matier is attained at large yn the comyn lawe: We praye yow
as yet that, notwithstondyng havyng consideracion the seide
Mayer and Comminalte have att all tymes and yet ben as they
seyen redy to obey and abide all entrety, yow like to putte the
matier to take soner effectuall ende by entrety and
yntercommunicacion than by rigour of the lawe. And yf ther be
eny poynte of grete difficultee or travers, the seide Juges and
I woll putte to owr labour to the remedy
<P 42>
and redresse therof with all our hertis and power. And almyghty
Jhesu have yow ever yn his keeping. Writen at Lamehithe the xvj
daye of February,
   J. Archebysshop of Caunterbury.

<Q SHI 1447 JKEMP>
<A JOHN KEMP>
<P 42>
[} [\XVII. THE CHANCELLOR TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE.\] }]
   Worshipfull and right welbeloved Frend, - Y grete yow well,
and doute not ye be well remembred of that mater whiche hath
longe tyme abiden yn travers betwixte my Brother of Excestre the
Deane and Chapitre and the Maier and the Comminalte of Excetre,
wheryn ye for your part have hadde grete laboure; y pray yow,
considryng the mater is attainyd at large in the comyn lawe not
likely by that mene to be ended lightly, as your wysedom knowyth
well, yow like at this tyme yn your beyng ther to move and
enduce my seid Brother and alle parties to putte the mater yn
entrety at home, trustyng as me semyth fully wyth more charite
and lasse coste the mater to take sonner ende by that mene than
by processe or rigour of lawe withoute your dysplase. And
almyghty Jhesu have yow yn his kepyng. Writen, &c.
   The bishop of Canterbury unto the lord Cheff Justice for an
intrety to be had.

<Q SHI 1448 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 50>
[} [\XIX. SHILLINGFORD TO THE CHANCELLOR. SOON AFTER 13 MARCH,
1447-8. DRAFT LETTER.\] }]
   Please hit your gode and gracious lordship to have yn your
blessid remembraunce as touchyng the grete matiers yn debate
betweene the right reverend fader in God and blessed man in him
self and my right gode lord yn tyme hath be and yut throgh your
gracious lordship I truste to God shal be, Edmond Bisshop of
Exceter, the Deane and Chapitre of the same, and the Mayer and
Cominalte yo=r= owne puple and poore bedemen of the seid Cite of
Excetre, how hit pleased yo=r= gode and gracious lordshippe this
same terme of Seynt Hillary to write a lettre unto my seid lord
the Bysshop of Excetre, to have the seyd matier yn trete at home
as hit was bi your lordship comaunded at Mighelmasse terme,
whiche lettre ye yeve me yn special comaundement to bere my self
to my seid lord of Excetre; after which comaundement I toke hit
apoun me and so did, where, through favoure of yo=r= gode
lordship, I ferid wel, had gode chere, and was yn the best wise
right wel come, and al thing comprehendid yn yo=r= lettris yn
ful godely wise take, obeyed, assent, and agreed. Radford and
Copleston to be at Excetre to trete yn the matyer; and so thei
were at tyme of assises, at whiche tyme S=r= Richard Neuton,
chief Justise of the Comun plece, called the parties before him,
and the seid John Copston and N. Radford, and there he hardly
did indifferently his true tendre and diligent labo=r= and parte
for the gode appesyng and welfare of bothe parties yn the seid
mater, after the effect and extent of y=e= blessid lettre fro
your lordship to him send by me.
<P 51>
Whereapon day was assigned on Wensday next after Passion Sonday
[{...{] the seid Copleston and Radford to intrete of this mater;
at whiche day the seid Copston and Radford, and I the seyd
Mayor, with my felowship, were at Kyrton before my seyd [{...{]
Bisshop of Excetre, my lorde of Devonshire at that tyme beyng
present. And there and at that tyme a reule was mouthid and had
accordyng to the forme of a condicion of an obligation, whereof
I have send to yo=r= lordship a copy yn this lettre, to whiche
bothe parties at that tyme aggreed and assentid ham, a special
communication had before with the seid justise by me the seyd
[{...{] my counseil and felowship; trustying to God and to yo=r=
gode lordship to have right a gode ende. And, yf noe, ever to
resorte to your gode lordship accordant to the kynges
comaundement, by Goddis mercy, whiche preserve yo=r= gode
lordship in his high mercy.

<Q SHI 1448 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 65>
[} [\XXV. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. (?)APRIL 1448. DRAFT
LETTER.\] }]
   Worthy sirs, y grete yow well alle, doyng yow to understonde
that y was at Wyndesore to London wardis on seynt George is day,
and there taried almost all that day, and cowde not hyre ne
knowe
<P 66>
there of noo thyng comprehended yn the letter y sende home to
yow by William Duke, ne of none other thyng, bot all ther as
well as hit was wont to be, and as y suppose with laboure and
other thyng that longeth therto, yf men wyll better may be. The
Wendisday y came to London, where was moche longage of oure
comyn mater, and specially of this laste grete entrety at home,
how hit was broken up, and for right litell thyng, and all yn
oure defaute. Thus hit was y seid that accorde was hadde here at
home by the seide entrety, that the Bisshop sholde have his fee
churche and cimitere parcell of the same, as he claymeth
generally, and generall municion yn the churche, we to have
right noght to don ne make none arestis withynne his fee, bot yn
the cimitere to make arrestis, excepte of the Bysshop and his
mayny, chanons, and alle men of habite, and for we wolde noght
aggre bot to have power to arreste chanons men servants
familiars withynne the cimitere, was only cause of brekyng up of
the seide entrety. Y of purpose mette with S=r= John Wolston, of
wham y suppose growe all this untrue longage, and asked hym, &c.
He seid every word, and that the accorde was suche as hit is
aboveseide, with more that ther was writyng therof, and by what
menys y write, by the hondis of John More, yn presence of my
lord of Devonshire, atte Blak Freris at Excetre, all redy to
shewe; y seide if any suche writyng were knowe and proved by my
seide Lorde and the other arbitrous, we moste nedys and with
right gode will wolde abide hit, or any other reporte that they
wolde make. This same day Wendisday, as sone as y was come to
towne ayenst mete tyme, my lord Chaunceller send for me yn hast.
Y came to hym in Lambyth, wher y founde the ii Chif Justises of
purpos moche y suppose: of wham alle and specially of my lord y
hadde right gode chere, never better, and right well come yn the
best wise. Y spake with my seide lord and the Justises, apart
fro my Conseill, a grete whiles. They moved me to knowe of the
entrety and departyng at home. Y prayed my lordes
<P 67>
to have my Conseill to seye for me. He graunted hit to me. S=r=
John Wolston was yn the utter chamber, and wolde come noo nyre,
and for as moche as Hengston was not there hit was enjorned over
yn to the morun at Westminster, yn the Escheker Chamber, wher
Hengston reported to my seid lord as S=r= John Wolston hath as
hit is aboveseid, excepte of writyng. Y answered and seide y
knywe noght therof, nee of noo such accorde, ne cowde make noo
reporte, and asked of hym what knowliche he hadde of that he
reported. He seide as he herde hit reported. Y asked of wham. He
seide the comyn voys of the Cite. Y seide of none bot of soche
as were of theire part, and by tham self. Y seid forthermore
that y was enformed by S=r= John Walston ther beyng present that
ther was writyng of that reporte, as hit is aboveseide.

<Q SHI 1448 JSHILLINGFORD>
<A JOHN SHILLINGFORD>
<P 67>
[} [\XXVI. SHILLINGFORD TO HIS FELLOWS. (?) 24 MAY, 1448. DRAFT
LETTER.\] }]
   Worthy siris, ryght feyne ffrendis and ffelows, y grete yow
well alle, doyng yow to understonde that on Wendisday next after
Corporis Christi day, as ye knowe right well, after vj atte
clokke yn the mornyng y rode oute of Exceter to London warde;
the Saterdey next ther after at vij atte clokke by the mornyng y
came to London, and so to Westminster, and ther mette with my
lord Chaunceller, he beyng yn right grete bysyness; as sone as
he sawe me seyde right hertely, "Mayer well come," and toke me
by the honde, and made me right gode chere, and so departed fro
hym at that tyme. That day y hadde right grete bysynesse: furst
y went yn to the Escheco for oure mater of Exmouth, and there y
spedde spede can and may spede resonabylly well. That day on
Westminster halle y mette
<P 68>
with S=r= John Wolston, and other of oure [\and\] theire
conseill, of wham alle y hadde gode chere, and as they seide
that y was right well come. Afterward y spake w=t= the chif
Justis S=r= John Fortescu, goyng w=t= hym homward, and hadde
with hym right muche gode longage and wordis of comfort. After
this y spake with the chif justice S=r= Richard Nuton, thankyng
hym of his favo=r= the last terme, &c. He, a full gode man,
seide he wolde do for me what he myght godely. That day y
comyned w=t= oure conseill of oure maters, and hadde wordis of
gode comfort to spede right well. That day after none y wold
have be at Lambeth w=t= my lord, bot y came not there because
that Wolston was there that day. The morun be tyme y came to my
lord, and hadde hym at right godd short leyso=r=; to wham y
recommended you all to hym yn the best maner that y coude,
thankyng hym of his gode lordship, &c. praying contynuance at
this tyme specially, and to helpe that we myght have a gode ende
by doyng after the kynges commaundement, for elles we most to a
triall, and that were harde. He seide, "God hit forbede, then
sholde ye never love, and that were pyty," and he seide he woll
speke with the Chif Justise Fortescu, and +ten another rule, &c.
Y thanked hym and seide, "My lord, they take grete boldenesse of
ij thynges, oon of truste of the Shirf, another apon the lawe, y
truste to Gode other wyse than they shall fynde hit." Also y
seide to my lord that we hadde be yn debate by dyvers tymes,
almost by tyme of viij=xx= yere, and that y coude never knowe
fynde ne rede that we ever toke a sute ayenst tham, but ever
stonde yn defence, as a bokeler player, and smyte never, and
that y hadde to seye fro you to hym that we were fully avysed,
with leve of his gode lordeship, onys to smyte, takyng a sute,
for we hadde meny and dyvers causis, and they hadde none, bot
that we wold no thyng do bote that his gode lordship hadde know
liche of, for we wold attempte hym yn no wyse. He thanked and
seyde that he coude not blame us. Y seide, "My lord, thus we
most beare, serve and defende," that not with stondyng that, we
woll be all redy at all tyme to obeye the kynges commaundement
and his.



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