|b_Christ_Church_Letters._A_volume_of_mediaeval_letters_relating
|b_to_the_affairs_of_the_Priory_of_Christ_Church_Canterbury,
|b_ed._J.B._Sheppard,_M.R.C.S.,_Camden_Society_NS_19_(1877).
|b_{Note:_Some_remarks_are_unbybed,_since_they_are_not_sequential.}



|p1


|r_{V.-JAMES_CORNWALLLIS,_CHIEF_BARON_OF_}
|r_{THE_EXCHEQUER_OF_IRELAND,}
|r_{THE_PRIOR_OF_CHRIST_CHURCH.}
|r_{(Circa_1430.)}


|r78
Right worschupfull and my full reverend Lord y recommend me
to your graciouse Lordschip as y best can or may, desyryng no thyng
more than to wete of your worschupfull wellfare, the whiche y
pray Alle myghty Godde contynue and encrece in excellent pros_perite 
after the desyres of your owyn gentyll hart. -- And as touchyng
your anuite of Tynterne in Irlond: lyke hit yow to wete that y
have y-hadde right grete labour about the pursuyt of hit, and grete
cost also, and y wote well hit hath y-cost the Abbot of Tynterne
more than he schall wyn by all the anuyte thes two yere; for
trewly y hadde him at the outlary tyll My Lord of Ormond maket
me to withdrawe my suyt from him, and my said Lord hath resceved
of the said Abbot in your name XXti marc, and the said Abbot hath
fonden seurte to pay me other XXti marc by Ester next comyng,
the wheche with the grace of Godde schall be y-send to you as sone
as es possible; that hit may come to your presence in soche forme
that ye with the grace of Godde schall hold you content. And as
touchyng the remenent that es y-ren of your anuyte sith the tyme
of your acquytaunces y wote well that the Abbot wolle pay no more
till he have acquytaunce under the same seale that ye sende him latest;
for if ye remembre you, ye sende to me two acquytaunces, every of
ham of XXti marc. And as touchyng the remenent that es y-ren
sith, ye most send a nother acquytaunce under the same seall, and
that most be done in haste, for the Abbot wolle be right well payed
to lay that excuce for him, that your attorneys here have none
acquytaunce to discharge him anent you in tyme comynge. Also
my graciouse Lord y pray you that ye wold be gode Lord to the
berer of this lettre, the whiche es proposed to Romeward, with the
grace of Godde, for certeyn matters touchyng my grete avayle, and
that ye would tendre him in his nedes, yf ought he  have ado in
your partes, as ve wolle that y schall do you service in tyme comyng



|p2


for in gode feith your gode Lordschip yschewed to him may do
me a grete plesaunce as hit were done to my person. And if ther be
eny thyng that y may do to your plesaunce commaunde me your
wille, the whiche Our Lord knowith y ham and ever schall be redy
to performe by my poer. And the holy Trinite but have you in
his blessed kyepyng. Ywrit at Dyvelyng the first Monday of Lent.
Your man James Cornwaleys, Chef Baron of the
Eschekker of our Lord King in Irlond. 

To the right Worschupfull and full Reverend
Lorde William Prior of Canterbury.


VI. -- DOM. JOHN ELHAM TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
       |r(Circa_1430.)

|r79
Wurschypful and reverent fadyr in God, lykyth yow wete that
I have payed to the Abot of Feversham the hole summe whyche
that I reseyvyd of yow; that is xlj li. xij s. j d. ob., wherof I schulde
a restreynyd lv s. for Pagham, wheche schulde a be restreynyd be
the handys of John Wodnesbergh wardeyn of Oxynford as Dan
Thomas Golstone can yeue yow informacion, but, for as moche as
the Abot cam fro yow be a tokyn that I schulde resceyve an C
marks of the Duches of Clarens, that I schulde delyver hym the
hole summe a for sayd.
Also I have spokyn with William Haute for the mater the whyche
tha ye sente on to me, and he wol a paye,a and thankyth yow wyth
al hys herte that ye wulde wouchesaf that ye wulde do so moche
for his sake; for it hath euyr be hys ful wyl and his entent her a
fore, by sumenys b for to an had hym wyth yow long her afore, but
he durst nout for tendyr age; and al so he knewe nout his wyl;
and, for as moche as it is hys dyssyr he hath levyr that he be wuth
yow and serve God in that place, yif he myte or cowde, thanne in
ony place in Ingland, aftyr Lord or Lady or eny a stat. And more
I schall telle yow by mouth her aftyr. And as touchyng to yowre
mater. of Cheyham: the Wednysday aftyr Seynt Brysis day be avys



|p3


of John Bamborough we schul be at Sparwefeld, wuth the south
wardeyn of Marteyn Halle and on man of hyr counsayl, for to
knowe and se here ful intent and what they wul dyssyre; and gyf
we myth falle to sum conclusyon; for we se that Ferby wuld reule
al aftyr hys intent, and nouth he rulyd withoute oure gret hurte,
and as we feleth of thys mater I schal sende yow more declaracion
in schort tyme. And as for youre evidens of Lathyndon, whiche
were to-for youre counsayl, and to-for the counsayl of the Lord
Hongyrford, as moche as I have in mynde was, ferst, the knoppyd
bok, and a lytyl thykke row hok, wheche bok Thomas Goldston
hath, and olde chekyrollys, the wheche ben markyd wuth red wax
atte the same plase ther that it makyth mensyon of Lathyndon,
also a lytyl rolIe of all yowre manerys and fefermes wheche that I
have myself; and gyf I se that they wyl geve ony atendauns, and
sette a day for to make an ende withowte ony more varyauns, I
schal sende yow word in al haste. Also I have spoke wuth my
Lord Cardinall for thys last navage of the Portys, wheche is askyd
of yow for Bekysbourne, wheche is haldyng of the port of Hastyng,
vij li. for to tymys; and hym semyth that is to gret a summe for
that place alone, wherfore he wulde that it were knewe what Has
-tyng is set to paye, for scheppys men and dayis ben seth at certeyn.
Ferthermore I touchyd to hym yowr gret distresse and lak of money
for defaute of payment of yowre fermys; for, as I told hym, the
wardeyn of yowre maners cowde nouth in al hys warde resceyve
vijxx li., whrer upon he wundryd sore; and for thys causys I tolde
hym that ye haue put away yowre masounys. And thanne he
touchyd to me the costys of hys plase and the summe the whyche
ye wrete on to hym, the wheche summe he sayth he wul ordayn
fore in a schort tyme. Al s0 ye sente to me in wrytyng be Thomas
Doyly for a bale other ij of almaundys and resonys, of currauns a
kylderkyn, or elles a festekyn, gyf so were that they were at the
same prys as they were whanne the wardeyn was at Lundon: and
so they ben as yet, but it wyl nout be longe, as I am informyd



|p4


privyly, wher upon ye may be avysyd where ye wyl have it or
non, and how moche; and as it lykith yow sende me word. Also
I can gete no cloth of cullour aftyr the sample wethe that ye sente
to me be Thomas Doly and as touchyng to Horsfold, we ben coun_selyd
that we schul no thyng stere to the tresorer in to tyme that
the schereve hath mad his a counte. And as for the patent that ye
have founde ondyr the kyngys sel, John Bamborough, gyf it lykyth
yow, he dissirith for to seth, and ther up on to take good avyse.
Also my Lady Tatryshale recomendith here to yowre gracious lord_shyp 
and grete kindchip that ye schewe on to hyr dayly; also sche
prayith yow that ye wulde sende here an ansswere of the lettere
the wheche sche sent last on to yow. No more at thys tyme but
Almyty Good have yow in hys blyssyd grace and governauns.
Wretyn at Lundon on Seynt Brysis day hastely and on a vysyd.

Be your owyn obedyauncer,

JOHN ELHAM.

Reverendissio in Xpo Patri et Dno. Dno.
Willo, Priori ecclesie Xpi. Cantuar.


VII. -- THE ABBOT OF S. AUGUSTINE`S TO THE PRIOR 0F
CHRIST CHURCH, CANTERBURY. (15th cent.)

|r77
My dewte beyng presupposed, I commend me unto your father_hod,
hertely desyring yow that yff ye do send any scolers be a new
eleccion to Oxford after Easter, to show yowr favour to one off
yowr subjects whos father is my servant, namyd Rychard Knygthe,
so that he be as abyll as other of your subiects as to lernyng with
good behavyour. I do nott this off my sylffe, but only be the
labour of my servant, which whold fayn haue hys son preferryd;
wherfore I desyr yow to do yn ytt as ytt shall please yow, withowte
any answer therof made to me be wrytyng, but only att your plesur,
and so Jhesus preserve yow.

Be yowr beedman JOHN Abbot
    off Saynt Austens.



|p5


VIII. -- COPIA LITTERAE DIRECTAE WALTERO WHYTTON DE
HIBERNIA A PRIORE EXXLESIE XPI. CANT. (1432.)

|r88
Worshipfull frend we grete yow hertyly well, thankyng you
specyally of your diligence and frendly bysynesse whych ye have
doon for us and for our chyrch at all tymys, as for our dute of our
pencion of xiii marc to be rescevyed of the Abbot of Tynterne yn
Yrland, and for the dute of the arrerages of the same pencion, of
the summe of wych our fader the Abot wolde noght have no
reherseyl yn hys acquittaunce wych we sende yn to hym undyr our
convent sel. Ye have a part of an endenture undyr our seel and
we anothyr undyr your seele whych make expresse declaracion be
yerly calculacyons of the same, yer be yer. Nevyr the less yf our
fadyr the Abot and hys brethryn of Tynterne yn Yrland can or
may among hem self fynde, whenne they have maad here serch
among here munimentys as they wrogth unto us that they wolde
do, leyth us have trewe and clere declaration of here agrement of
the summe wych ys due aftyr here own rekenyng, alleyyng and
seavyng for hem sufficient dyscharge of eny payment wych oghte
to be alowyd of us, and we scal do unto them al that evyr we
oghte of ryght and favour to be doon, and al the favour that we
may, our ryght of our Church only savyd. And whanne we have
ful wrytyng and full informacion her off, be wrytyng enselyd be
seyd Abot, we scal do so to hym that they scal have cause to praye
for us her aftyr, and yf they wol preserve the promys wych they
have maad unto us noght fern ago be lettyr, and to you as ye
wrytyn be your lettyr directe unto us noght fern ago, beryng the
date of wrytyng at Weysford the xviij day of September last passyd,
and make you payment of xxvj marc, be an acquitaunce whyche
we sende you undyr our covent seel, in party of payment of the
arrears of the sayd pencion, and sende the forsayd wrytyng and
suerte to fulfill this promys lyk as they have profyryd; thenne, this mater thus governyd, we wold that ther be no more sute ne



|p6


variaunce doon to our fader the Abot as for this thyng, but cese
our sute and lete hym sytt yn pees. And as towchyng your
olligacion of x li., wych ys redy yn our kepyng and yn saaf warde,
dowtt you noght ther off, and for such costys as we have don and
had for us yn Yrland, and aboute the sute ayens the forsayd Abot
for our avayle and recuryng of our ryght, sendyth us the parcele
of the same expenses and of othyr dictes and promyses maad unto
you for your labour and the xxvj marc, havyng therof and retaynyng
with yow the sume of the parcell of your sayd expenses and dutes,
and the brynger of the sayd xxvj marc with the sayd parcell shall
have lyvere of your sayde obligacion. And as to your desyr to
have a newe warant of us for theyse causys above rehersyd, hit
nedyth noght as our counsayl enforme us. We scal and wele
ratifye and conferme hit at this tyme by this our lettyr and our
seel. And remembre you well that the bylle endentyd of the
arrers of the same pencion, maad betyxte you and us, of the date
of regne of our Soverayn Lord the Kyng the xij day of April the
viij yer of hys regne, makyth mencion of the somme of the arrers
of thys pencion xliiij lb. viij d. of whyche we sende to yow afor
thys tyme acquitaunce of xij lb., wych aquitaunce ye sende ham
ayen wyth owte any maner payment, and so the fyrst somme
abydyth hol of xliiij lb. viij d. and that was of the date in festo
Annunciacionis Beate Marie Anno Dni. M.CCCC.XXIX, and sythenys
byth ronne iij yer mor at the feste of the Nativitie of Our Ladye
last passyd, that ys to seyn Anno M.CCCCXXX, M.CCCCXXXI, Anno
M.CCCCXXXII, so that the somme of all the arrears in hool drawyth
to the somme of alle the yeres passyd afore the date of this our
present lettyr, drawyth to lxx lb. viij d., of whyche somme we
sende you acquitaunce of xviij lb. vj s. viij d.; and x li. we have
resceyvyd be your handys at ij payments, and so as be our
rekenyng they owe us at the date of the wrytyng of this lettyr
xliiij li. xiij s. besyde and above the acquitaunce of xvij lb. vj s. viij d.
wyche we sende yow at Trynite tyme. And as towchyng eny
other lettyr sende be yow to us afore this tyme, ther cam noon to



|p7


oure handys, and therfore and for noon othyr cause we sente yow
noon answer afore thys tyme, for we wyste nevyr ther of. And
we praye yow to recommende us and alle oure bretheryn to our
specyall Lord the Erle of Ormond, and to our guode frend James
Cornewallys, prayyng hem of guode wyl, tendyrnesse, and favour
to us and to our sayd Chyrch, as they have doon alway afore thys,
and to have us excusyd atte thys tyme that we wryte nat to hem
because of our grete bysynesse that we have, and ryght gret haste
of the brynger of thys lettyr. And Al myghty God have yow in
hys grace. Wrytyn at Caunterbury ryght hastyly the xj day of
December
Be your owyn frend WILLIAM Priour
of Crystyschyrch of Caunterbury in England.

Also we praye yow recommende us un to our worschipful fadyr,
the Abbot of Tynterne and alle our breheryn, sayyng un to hem
on our behalfe, that we proposyd to have sent hem an answer of
here lettyr; but trewly ther hath be and ys wyth us so gret bysy
nesse that me myght have no tyme because of the hasty goyng of
the brynger of thys lettyr, but be the nexte comer from Yrlond we
scal sende hem an answer such as we truste to God scal plese hem.


IX. -- THE EARL OF ORMOND TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH
       |r(Circa_1435.)

Reverent fader I grete yow well with all myn herte, letynge yow
wyte that I have wrytten to yow oftentymes aboute your pensyon
that ye shold have here of the Abbay of Tynterne, which pension
ys yn grete trouble, and many delayes made ageyns hit hy thabbote
and the covent of the said Abbay; for they ben rigte subtiele peple.
And one of the delayes ys thys; they seyn, for as moche as your
acquytance specifies of parcell of a gretter summe due unto you
before tyme, whiche parcell yf they schall pay hit wold bynd ham



|p8


to pay also the gretter summe therefore me semes that hit were
best for yow to make iij or iiij acquytaunces, every of ham of
x marcs, of xij marcs, or elles of xij li. as ye se fit he to don,
nothynge rehersyng the said grete summe, but the said parcell to be
receyved yn party of payment (of) a certeyne pension which ys due
to yow of the said house to be paied. And that the said acquy_taunce 
be sende hidder to me, and what money that may be gete
of ham I wolle sende hit to yow; and yf ther be ony thynge that
I may do to your plesir, yn this mater or yn ony othe, that ye wold
lete me have wytynge therof and I wolle do hit with all myn harte.
Prayynge yow that ye and all your brethren and myn there wolde
have me yn mynde, and praye for me, as my full truste ys on yow,
and Almygty God your worship preserve yn goodnes. Wrytten at
Kilkenny the viij day of November.

Jamys le Botiller,
Erle of Ormond.

To my reverent fader Prior of Crists_chirche
of Cantirbury.



|p9


XIII. -- KING HENRY VI. TO THE PRIOR AND CHAPTER OF
CHRIST CHURCH. (1452.)

By the King.

Trusty and welbeloved in God we grete yow we, and forasmuche
as our metropolitan churche of Canterbury with you stondith nowe
destitute of a fader, John of goode memorie, your last Archbishop,
after the disposicion of oure Lord nowe callyd unto his mercy: We
considering aswel the preeminence and grett worship of that See, as
the gretnesse of the full chargable cure that belongyth therunto, and
wolling hit therfor to be purveied of suche a fader as to the worship



|p10


of oure Lord, sad rieul of the said See and of all the subgectts that
therto longem, and also for the commune wele of this our royaulme,
and moost of all of you as might be moost convenable and accord_ing 
to the same, After grete deliberacion had in that hehalve with
the Lords of oure Counseille, and especial with suche as ben of our
blode, be fully (determined) and utterly concluded to have the
Moost Reverend Fader in God the Cardinall and Archbisshop of
York, oure Chaunceller, before al other preferred to the said churche.
Knowing verely of grete and long experience the said Mooste Reve_rend
Fader to he mooste worthy and able of any within this our
said royaulme so to have rieul of the said churche. And albe hit
we declared late unto suche of your brethren as ye late sent unto us
for oure licence to procede to your free election oure entente on this
behalve, wolling hit to he declared unto you be theym more at
arge; yet nevertheles we write unto you these oure right special
lettres, praieng and exhorting you in as diligent and desirous wise
as we can, that ye, taking good consideracion to the premisses, and
also that he being born of his nativite not ferre fro you and as he,
that in his tender age in grete part was brought up amonge you,
hath at all dayes had the the said churche in grete reverence, and
the ministers therof in hove and tendernesse, ye, at suche tyme as ye
shal so procede to your said election, have the said moost Reverend
Fadir singulierly recommended doing him with oon voice to be
postulate to the same. Latyng you wete that we have writen our
right special lettres as wel to our Holy Father the Pope as to the
College of Cardinalls, by the which we have desired so specially the
translacion of the said Moost Reverend Father unto the said churche
of Canterbury, and for suche reasonable grete and urgent causes, as
we holde for certain we shal opteyne withoutt any difficulte the
good conclusion, with effect of our desire in this partie. Over this,
we desire and wol that ye yeve ful feyth and credence unto our
trusty and welbeloved Squier Henry Vavasor, Husshier of our
chambre, in that he shal seye unto you in oure behalve concerning
the said matier; wherin ye shall do unto us right good and singulier



|p11


pleasir. Yeven under our signett at oure Manour of Sheene the iiij day of Juyn.

To our trusty and welbelobed in God the Priour
   and Convent of our Metropolitan Chirche and
   Monasterie of Caunterbury.


XIV. -- EDMOND LICHFIELD, APPARENTLY A CHAPLAIN OF THE
ARCHBISHOP, TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH. |r[Circa_1465.]

|r22
Righte Reverende fader in God and my singuler good Lorde.
After dewe recommendation, so hit is that I am enformed that your
good Lordship hath knowleg of the high displeasure that the Kings
good grace toke aunempst my Lorde and us his servaunts for that
my Lady Duches of Burgunde was not seen to, as by way of some
goodly gyfte to have be gyven un to her, at her laste beyng with
my Lord. And certaignely lykewise as ye wer enformed so hit
was, insomoche as the Kings said grace hadde ryghte large language
in the same. As now his grace is wel appeased and content, and
was right mery with my Lorde and so departed. The specialte of
this mater I have showed un to my trusty and welbehoved Sir
Robert Barton ys chapleyn, the whiche, yif hit may please you,
shall declare un to you all the conveiance of the matier; to whom I
pray you to bee good Lorde, and un to me also. And we shal not
faile to be your faithful and trewe chapleyns and servitors, as know_eth
God, who ever have you my perfite good Lorde in his blessed
tuicion. Scribbled at Knoll by the hand of your said chapleyn.
My Lorde I write this matier un to you, for I am sure that ye
enjoye my Lords well and that ye in lyke wyse be sory for his hurte
either of his name or fame or other wise.
EDMOND LICHEFELD

To the Right Reverende fadre in God my
Righte especiall good Lorde, my Lorde
the Prior of Cristechirche of Caunterbury.



|p12


XV. -- THE VICAR OF BERSTED TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH (1465.)

|r62
Humbly besechith your pouer Chapeleyn and continuall oratour
Thomas Walton, Viker of the parissh church of Bersted, for that the
parissh ther by longe continuaunce ys falle in decay, and by diverse
meanes gretly enpoveryesed, so that diverse places in the same
parissh, suche as ij or iij of theym were used to he worth to the
Curat there xx s. by the yere, stande nowe voyde and be not worth
to hym in thies dayes iij s. iiij d. in the yere. In so moche that the
costes and charges of reparacion of the seid vikerage, costes and
wages also in mete drynk and clothyng of his servaunt by the yere
to the value of xl s., forthwith costs uppon the Deen in thyme of
visitacion, with all suche other charges as perteyneth to his seid 
chyrch clerely considered and acquited, the residewe of the verray
valoure of the seid chyrch and vikerage extendith scarsly to the
sume of v mark by the yere. And where as he was used to have
the chapell of Bognore ther to in peas hoole to hym self for to serve,
so myght he lyve, but than he sange twyse uppon the day,
the which was ageynst conscience; but sithen hit hath be devyded
bitwene the chantry prest of Pagham and hym, by the labour and
gret favour of Maister Eyon Deen of Pagham, wherby your seid
pouer oratour and chapeleyn ys put to poverte and set in grete dis_tresse.
Please hit therfor your moste gracious Lordship to provyde
for me of sufficient lyvyng to the chirch of Bersted, so that y may
leave the laboure to Bognore, and abide uppon Bersted nowe in
my gret age and debilite, for the love of God and yn the way of
charite.

To the Right Reverent and Worshipfull fader
in God the Priour of Christischurch in Caunterbery.



|p13


XVI. -- JOHN SCOTTE TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
        |r[Probably_1470.]

|r54
After all humbill recommendation, plese hit you to wite, ther
were two prests brought certeyn godes to Apuldre in to on Bour_mannys 
hous, and, for divers suspecte causes, I causid the said
goods to be arestid as goods wayvid; wich arest was made on
Saturday last passid by a servant of myn, by your fermour ther,
and an other tenant of youris. So hit is nowe on of the prests ys
come for the goods, and tellyth that he and an other prest were
dwellyng at Whytstapill as laye men, beside the church, and ther
had two women with heem, and ther dwellyd almost twelf monthis.
On of heem was calld Thomas Inno and the other Richard Inno,
and both dwellyd in on hous. The on of the wemen and here
childe dyed incontinent after ther comyng ther, ald they saye
nowe they repentid heem sore, and have bene at this pardone at
Canterbury, and nowe be in here prests araye, and nowe be in
servise both at Bekkele, beside me in Sussex; the trowth ther of
shall be provyd er tomorowe at nyght. Wherefore I praye yow
to sende to Whitstapill and knowe yef ony souch two men dwellyd ther or no, and yef the woman be yet ther, and yef hit be trew that
they late dwellyd ther, repent heem of here myslyvyng, dele nowe
as prests, and intende so to continwe. Y trow ther be no cause to
kepe here goods from them. All wich matteris l report me to
your discretion and consciens, and owre (Lord) kepe yow. Wrytyn
the xj daye of October. Sir ye nedid to write to Apuldre how the
goods schall be disposid, for hit ys houshold gere all. And that
ye wold geve credens to this berer 
Yowre man JOHN SCOTTE.

To my goode Lord and Master Prior
of Cristchirch of Canterbury.



|p14


XVII. -- JAMES SCHERLOKE OF WATERFORD TO THE PRIOR
OF CHRIST CHURCH |r[Circa_1470.]

|r30
Ryghte Reverent and worschipfull I recomaund me unto yow,
and ther as y hawe a ferme of yow of your landis in this contre and
of the anuyte that the Abbaye of Tyntern, her wyth in this the
said coutre, oghte yerly pay yow. Certifyng yow that I have com_pounyd 
with the Abbod and covent of the said Abbaye of Tynterne
duryng my terme to take a parsell of the said land for the said
annuyte that ys on to you of olde dew, and they to observe all such
covenauntes be twyxe your predecessors and thers, of olde tyme
made, as in the evidences be twyxte them made hit doth apper.
And the penalte ys yff they or ther successoures wyll note observe
the covenauntes forsayd duryng my terme, that I other my assignes
may entyr in all ther lands and to dystrayn for all the arerages to
yow of olde beyng be hynde, and all soo for the annuyte of xiij
marks yerly duryng the sayde terme; when that I hade no remedye
be for but by a wrytt of annuyte, in as moch as the feffement by
your predecessors to them made in fe is wythoute enye clause of
dystresse. And yff hit plese yow that my Lorde of Ormonde
scholde receyve the vj li. that I moste paye yow yerlye, hit wer to
me a grete eyse, for the awentyr of the se. And I have sende to
you by Richard Koode, that was Drope ys man of London, iij. li. for
Candimas terme laste paste. And I pray yow that therof I may
hawe al aquyttawns, and off the premisses al awnswar. And I
propose myself to be wyth yow anon after Kandilmas. My service
ys att your commawndement The Trenyte precerve yow. Wrytten
at Watford the xviij daye of November.
JAMES SCHERLOKE.

To yowe Ryghte Worshypfull the Priowr
and Tresereres of Crist Cherch of Can_
torbury 
-- soit done.



|p15


XVIII. -- JAMES SHERLOKE OF WATERFORD TO THE TREA_SURERS
          OF CHRIST CHURCH.  |r[Circa_1470.]

|r31
Ryghte worshepfull Sirs, after most hertely recommendacion
wyth my service. And ther as I have a ferme of yow of the
annuyte that Tynterne ought paye you yerely, for the which
I compowned with them to have a certayne tethyng yerely therfor,
hit is soo that Maister Gilbard Talbot, att his beyng nowe in this
lande, hath seisied in the said tethynge and in all other landys
and tethyngs that Tynterne hath of your gyfte, pretendyng his
aunsetryes to be founders therof, wher in dede Hervye Momorthe
is foundour Wherfore I avite you to communien wyth the gentyl_man,
and that he [ye?] wrytt on to the Senciall here of the Counte
Weysforde for the discharge of his clayme, for that that he doth on
to your cherch ys disheritaunce, the which I think that ye wold
noght suffire. And yf he will not with fairenes so do, ye maye
complayn on to the kynge ther on for your rygte, for faithfully he
doth you wronge. And that ye wrytt yourselfe on to the Bisshope
of Fernys for the exploit of your matire; and I will doo my part in
this lande for your churchis rygte. And the said gentilman hath
solde the tethyng that I had of Tynterne for your annuyte, and
hath resevyd all redy payment therfor, and of hym ye maye have
hit agayn by rigte. And by his doyngs I can note be paied of thes
ij yere laste paste of the fermiours that had the tethynge of me before
for x li. a yere. And I hawe send to you syne Halowntyd vj fyne
mantles and iiij li. waxe. And whate ye hawe resevyd sythen my
departyng fro you, send me by wryttyng, and aunswere of the
premisses. And whate wryttynge ye sende that hit be sende to
Wyllyam Lombarde in Bristowe, las then ye hawe one that wyll
come hidder straghte. The Trinyte conserve you. From Watforde
on Seynt Thomas is daye.
Per your owen
JAMES SHERLOKE

To the rygte worshipfull Treserers of Criste
Church of Cantorbury -- soit done.



|p16


XXI. -- SIR JOHN FOGGE TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1474.]

|r57
Worshypfull Sir, I recommend me unto you. Please it you wit
that I have beyn at Westwell and taken a view of your dier, the
which draw to the number of an hundred and one, wherof ther
beth xj dier of antelers. Sir I have taken such direction ther as I
trust to God shall please you. William your Parker abidith still,
but I have sett a counteroller uppon him, by his owne agrement at
his cost and charge, and I dowte not ther shall nether great game
nor small game be taken away without I shall have knowliche of
the same. Sir, for lak of dier it must now be forboren unto the
tyme that more Raskell may grow, for I se it never so pore in my
daies, but I trust to God be your rule and myne oversight it shall
sone growe uppe ayene. Many other thyngs I have to speke with
you in the same mattir, the whiche ye shall knowe at oure nexte
metyng. Forthermo I have had Clement Wodeward and Cullyng
togeder, and ther bokes varieth not but ij s. and odd money, to
the whiche bokes except the odd money he is agreed to gader
Sir, as for Cullyng I cannot see that he will stall any dayes of his



|p17


payment but it be in your presence, and whan I come fro London
ayene and it plese you to come over I shall wait upon you. Sir,
also that ye will remember to send for your hogges which be in
your parke, for in good feith and they goo ther still till All
Halowentid all your fawnes will die, for they have wroted the wode
over and over, the which shuld be the chefe sustentacion for your
young dier in wynter; and if this be not remembred in hast it will
be the distruccion of your parke; for the pawynag was but lytell
and it is done for vij daies agone. And Allmyghty God Preserve
you. Writtyn at Asshetyford the xix day of October.

Your owne
JOHN FOGGE, knyght.

To the right worshipfull Sir Pryor of Cristschurch
in Canterbury be this delyvered.


XXII. -- SIR JOHN FYNEUX TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH (1474.)

|r58
My Lord, after your departyng atte Alyngton y and Nethersole
comynid togedyr of the delyng theer of theym of Wallond, and
what might be doo all thynges considered; and wee been agreed
that I shall bee with Maister Fogge homward, and tell hym of the
delyng after his departer, and tell hym myn advyse theryn; and
Nethersole will ryde to Maister Gilford and mete with Roger Brent
theer this nyght or to morowe, and comyn wyth theym to fele their
opynyons, and to desire Roger Brent to bee at Assheford on Tues_day,
and then to conclude what shall bee don. And wee conceyve
it shall nat nede you to bee ther, for wee thynke that yee have been
agreable and appliable to every thynge for the weell of the matier, as
farre as it hath bee desired of you by the Commyssioners; and yf eny
other thynge come to your mynde in the mene season that ye wolde
have spoken of, plese it yow to sende worde to Assheford on Tuesday
by tymes, for we wolde spede as moche as we myght to some certen



|p18


ende while my Lorde Cardynall is in the countre; for we thynke
the matier toucheth the Commysioners so nygh that they most
bryng it to some other ende for their owne worship. Writen atte
Bilsyngton the first day of September.

By youre servant,

JOHN FYNEUX.

To my Lord Priour of Cristeschirche this
letter be delyvered in haste.


XXIII. -- ROBERT HILL TO WILLIAM SELLYNG PRIOR OF
CHRIST CHURCH. (1474.)

|r41
Reverend and my right special gode Lord and Master, after due
and herty recommendation, please you to calle to your remembraunce
your schedule obligatory of your own hand subscribed, by you and
Dan. Rahynold Goldstone, of the date of the xixth day of October
the yere of our Lord God MCCCCLXIX, by the which ye owe me
for a sauf condute, that I purchassed for you and the said Goldstone
of the Constable of Fraunce, the somme of xxxvij scutes the prise
of every scute iiij s.; amounting to the somme of vij li. viij s. And
for the costs and expensis in suying the said sauf condute vj scutes,
after the said price of iiij s. the scute. Summa for the said sauf
condute with the costs viij li. xij s. Preying you to paye at this
tyme the said somme unto my gode frend John Wardropper, this
berer. And in so doing he shal deliver you your said schedule
obligatory with all other lettres requisite to this said matter, as wel
the lettres of your predecessour John late Priour of Cristischurch,
whom God pardon, as other; by the whiche ye shall mow under_stand 
that for your pleasure I have forborn my money more than
this vj. yers, which I vouche right well, sauf trusting to you that I
shall not fail to be paied therof at this tyme. And in so doing yf
enything that I may do for you or that holy place. Cristsischurch ye



|p19


may commaunde me as yow owne, and I shalbe redy to the per
-forming therof with a right gode hert, by the grace of God, whom,
reverend and my right special gode Lord and Master, I besech to
graunt you right gode lefe and long. Writen at Gr(ra)vysend the
xxiijth (sic) day of November.
By yours redy to your commaundement,
and gode pleasure,
ROBERTE HILL.

To the Reverend and my right special gode
Lord and master the Priour of Cristis_church
in Canterbury, &c.


XXIV. -- THE PRIOR OF ST. MARY'S COVENTRY TO THE PRIOR
OF CHRIST CHURCH.  |r[Circa_1474.]

Right wurshpfull and reverent fader in God, I recommende me
unto you, certyfying you that I have made examination of the
miracle that was shewed in this contrey, which ye sende to me for
to enqueyre of by Sir William Catesby Knight. And for the cer
-tente therof, I sende hit to you under a notarye signe and also my
seale lyke as I have examyned hit. And as for the moore verying
of hit, the same persone that was with you at Caunterbury for ye
same miracle, purpooseth, with the grace of God to be theer ayen
with yow by Myghelmas next comyng to veryfye and testyfye y
same. Moore over fader, the said Sir William Catesby enformed
me that ye merveled greetly of dysmyssing of a broder of myn,
which, as I understond, should be som tyme in Oxenford. The
trowth is thus: Dan. Richard Blake, for some tyme beyng in Oxon
-ford, whiche ye knewe as I suppoose beying at hoome in our
monastery, unknowen to me sued for a capacite his conversation
beyng not vertuos nor good excityng other to the same. And
when I had very certente of hit I moved hym to the contrarye, and
he woll have made condicions with me which I wolde not be
agreabull to. I know his condicions such my conscience to be



|p20


saved, rather to departh with hym than to kepe hym stylle, in soo
moche as he had opteyned a capacite, and be councell, saying that
he was sure of an annuell service, dysmysed hym from congre_gacion.
Yf he haue gyven you an other sinystre enformation I
pray you hertly lett me haue knolech in wrytyng, that I may answer
therto; and, the trowth knowen, I truste ther shall be noo fawte
fownde in me. With the grace of Ihu who have you ever in his
most blessed governaunce. Written at Coventre the last day of
Juny.
THOMAS Prior of the Cath. Church
of our Lady of Coventre.

To the right worshpfull and reverent Father
in God the Prior of Cristechurch in Caun_terbury.


XXV. -- PRIOR WILLIAM SELLYNG TO DAN. THOMAS HUMFREY. |r[Circa_1475.)

Brother Chapelen, I wrot unto yow late that ye scholde make redy
xiij li. vj s. viij. d. for your cosyn Jon Methale of Romne, yt ys so
now that I have receyvyd of hym the valu of xviij li. sterlyng,
whyche y suppose wylbe spendyd her with mor. I have promysyd
hym that he schall receyve of yow the seyd xviij li. in gode sterlyng
money. Y pray yow to make schyft that he may be payd redyly,
for he trustyth to have yt so that he may employe yt at bartylmew_feyr,
wherynne y wolde for nothyng that he wer deceyvyd, as God
knawyth, who have you in kepyng. 
Fro Caleys xxj Augusti. 
W(ILLIAM) S(ELLYNG)
P(ri)our.

To my brother Dan. Thomas Humfrey, Monke
of C'stcherche in Canterbury.



|p21


XXVI. -- DOM. REYNOLD GOLDSTONE TO PRIOR SELLYNG.
|r[Circa_1476.)

|r14
Reverent and worshypfull fader in God, I lowly commend me
un to yow, praying yow to remembre that Geferay the waxchaun_deler 
be at London on Sonday at nyght next following, for, and he
apper not personally on Munday next at the Kynggs Bench afore
the Juggs hyt wyl cost yow xx noblysse. Also I pray yow to send
me word whedyr I shall pay Townysende and Vyncent Vinche theyr
fees, and howe moche. The jurye ys passyd by twyxt the ij gentyl_men 
and the elder ys condempnyd xl li. in damage and xx li. in
costs. Wrytyn in hast on Seynt Julyan day.
Your chapelayn
D. REYNOLD GOLDSTON.

To hys reverent and worshypfull Fader in
God the Prior of Crystes churche in
Caunt'bery.


XXVII. -- DOM. REYNOLD GOLDSTONE TO PRIOR SELLYNG.
|r[Circa_1476.)

|r15
Reverent Fader in God I mekely commend me un to your fadyr_shyp 
lettyng yow      . knowlech that on Symon and Jude
day M. Twheyts and I shall ryde to the kyng       Essex, for
the certyfycate ys made in the chauncerye. Also yow shall know
       and yow will lese x li. You may have xxx li. delyvered
to yow in redy money. Remembre your self well, for yf they bey
a jewell worth xl li. fasshion and all other, and yow shall sell that
jewell a geyn, yow shall not have xxx li. Therfore I pray yow send
me word in all hast ageyn what answer I shall geve in thys matyer.
C'st kepe. Wrytyn in hast at London, the xxvj day of October
Your chapleyn
D. REYNOLD GOLDSTON.

To the reverent Fader in God the Pryor
of Crystschyrche in Caunt'bery.



|p22


XXYIII. -- DOM. REYNOLD GOLDSTONE TO PRIOR SELLYNG.
|r[Circa_1476.)

|r16
Reverent and worshypfull Fader in God, I lawly commende to
yow. Please hyt yow to know that I have spedde diverse of your
matteres, as many as may be spede thys terme. A Wedenysday
we shall be at the barre for Robert Martyn, chaundeler, causys, and
a Thursday Mayster Fyneux and I entend to take the barge at vj
a clok in the mornyng, and to be with yow a Fryday at none with
Godds grace. I have receyved xxx li. in party of payment thys day
and your jewell in savegard tyll wee have more. You shall lak
c s., and thank God hyt ys so, as I shall tell yow whan I com home.
Barnewell fysshemonger ys deed and beryed thys day. M. Lang_ton 
ys ryd to the kyng; ther ys a grete cownsell thys day be gon at
Gylford. I pray yow let the horse com for me by tymes. M.
Fyneaux wyll have me ley with hym on Thursday at nyght at
Lynstede. I trust to God to bey feed bett' chepe than by mark.
Of all other matyers I shall tell yow whan I com home, with Godds
grace; who kepe yow. Wrytyn in hast at London the xv day of
November. 
Yowre Chapleyn, 
D.REYNOLD GOLDSTON.

To the reverent fader in God the Prior
of Crystschyrche in Cant'bery.


XXIX. -- DAN. THOMAS HUMPHREY, WARDEN OF CANT. COLL.
OXON. TO WILLIAM SELLYNG, PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1476.)

|r51
Most worshypfulle and syngler fadyr, yn most lowly wyse, as my
dewte ys, y commende me to you; certyfyyng your fadyrhode that y
receyvyd the xix day of January your lettyrs, yn whom y ondyrstod
that ye wyllyd y schulde say your sermon on Scher Thursday,



|p23


which by Goddes grace I woll do. Y ondyrstode forthermore that
ye entendyd to have me yn offyce with you at home yn your
church, and that, for the grete love and trust ye have yn me.
Treuly fadyr I am redy yn all that I may or can to do yow servyse;
nevertheles, sum ther be that undyrstond your entente, that thenk
hytt nott accordyng that I schuld leave the offyce that I am yn as
yett, for dyvers consyderacions they have; whych y schal enforme
yow when y come to our fadyrhode. Yff so be ytt lyke yow that
y schal stand the offyce with yow at home, y beseke you that y
may have suche stuffe and apparell as y have at Oxford, and your
fadyrhode geve me aftyr the decese of Dan. W. Chychele; on whose
sowle Cryst have mercy -- for savyng your bettyr reformacyon (sic),
ytt wer accordyng, as me semyth, that he that schuld occupy such
al offyce as y ondyrstond ye thenk to put me to, that for som ac_queyntance 
and strangerys as be lykelyhode he schall have, that he
had an honest chambyr and accordyng with relygyon honestly to
be apparelled. As ytt please yow how y schalbe demenge her yn so
schall hytt please me, God to wytnesse, who have [you] yn kepyng
euer. Amen. Fro Oxford xxiij day of Jan.
Be your Chapleyn
DAN. T. HUMFREY.

To my worshypfull and reverent fadyr the
Priour of Crystys Church yn Caunter_bury 
be thys delyvyryd.



|p24


XXXI. -- AN AGENT AT ROUEN TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1477.)

My Lord, I recomend me unto yowre good grace. Plese you to
wyt that I have delivered to your servant viij pipes of wyn, of the
contre of Sawm[ur?] and Tornen, that the Kyng of France my



|p25


soverain Lord (hath) ghyfin yow. Also my Lord Nicollas youre
servaunt desyred me to wrytt unto youre Lordship of (h)is dym_mengh 
in the Court of Fraunce when he was here last for the said
wyne, for cause that I was ther that tyme and loggyd in a howse
toghedyr; werfore my Lord I certifye yow, be the sawl of my hody,
that he did (h)is devoyr honestly and wyssly and dylligently, thro
the wosship of yow and all yowre hows. And he had that tyme
brocght wrythings from yow he showld have be sped of the said
wynes aftyr youre enthent, for y was present whan the Kyng spoke
to hym, and also Master Moreau the King's steward in goodly
wys, for justly he is wordy for tho have greath thank and reward
for ys labour and dilligence. Also my Lord, as I onthyrstand,
he was puthen in blasme for certaine letters of youre privileges
which that he showld have puth to pledge here for certaine money
that he showld have borwh uppon (them). I promise yow my
Lord, by the faid that I owe to Ihu., that he dyd nevyr so, as y
have be certifyed here be a man of great worship that had the said
lettres in kepyng, that he was nevyr desyred for to lend no money
in no manner weys, and sso my Lord certifie yow all this for
trowth. My Lord, I pray yow that ye pardon me that so homelly
I writt to you, and that ye will thake me for oone of yowre
servaunts here afthir, an to command me yowre plesyr for to full
fil, to the plesur of God, the which have you ever mor in is keping.
Wrytt at Roen the xxiiij day of Fevr. by the hand
of youre servaunt
THOMANS SCALES.

To my Lord Prior of Christ Church of
Canterbury.



|p26


XXXIII. -- DR. THOMAS LANGTON TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH (1478.)
Jesus.

|r47
My Lord, I commend me to your good Lordship. I am not yet
acerteyned whether I shall [or] may, have ony leyser to attend the
sermon at the Convocation or no. The Kyng hath assignyd my
Lord of Norwich, my Lord of Senct Jamys, and me to comyn with
thambassadors of Spayn in such matters as thai be com for, the
which be reght weghty. If I wer sure that your Lordship attend
to the drawyng of it I shuld com to say it in x   days, if your
Lordship labour in it. If I may have leyser to say it your Lordship
shal do me right gret worship, if I say it not, yit your Lordship



|p27


shall not leese your labour, for in the meane season ye shalbe ver_tuusly 
ocupyed, as ye be ever; and yf it do no servyse at this tyme
it shall at a nother If I take it on hand, furthwith I will send on
to yow. My Lord went yisterday to the Knoll; but I spake not with
hym at his departyng, but as I understond he hath not assignyd it
to noman, nor he is not certen of me. I trust Master T. Smyth
shalbe       ryd and so delyveryd. Ther be assignyd certen
Lords to go with the body of the Dukys of Clarence to Teuxbury,
where he shall be beryid; the Kyng intendis to do right worship_fully 
for his sowle. On Tewisday last passid my Lord of Excytyr
gafe me the tresurership in his church of Excyter; as I am credibely
infourmyd, it is worth by yer, all charges borne, lx li. I pray God
send yow your wyn sune and suerly home. Please it your Lordship
commend me to Master Supprior, and to al my masterys your
brethren. This day the Parliament shall fynyssh. On Saturday at
London at viij of the clok.
Your own,
T. L.

To the Right Reverend fadre in God my Lord
Prior of Chrychyrch at Cantyrbury.


XXXIV. -- A LONDON CORRESPONDENT TO PRIOR SELLYNG AT
CANTERBURY (1478).

|r11
After all dew recommendacyon plesyth your Lordshyp to under_stond 
I have spokyn with the frenssh bysshop at Westmynster, wher
as he may not be wyth yow at this Ester, but wyll send unto yow a
letter be a man of his own; and also wyll be wyth yow or that he
passe over se; and proposyth to be a brothyr of yowr Chaptor; and
as for a pype of wyne, he wolde not for hys bysshoperech receve
noon of yow. Also, Ser, ther ys a man of hys that bare yowr letters
and the copye of yower patent unto the kyng of fraunce, sayde unto
me, that the kyng of fraunce askyd wheder that he had any tokyn
of Seynt Thomas delyveryd hym fro your [Lordshyp's wis]dome,



|p28


made as he mygth wer hit on hys hatt in worsshyppyng of Seynt
Thomas, the whiche wer to hym a gret p[leasure. What shall be]
don in this I remyt to yowr Lordship. Also as to Master Selynger,
he was departyd owt of London er I came; also whan I understode
that Mast. Doctor Langton had take hys leve of the kyng, I besyd
me fast to speke wyth hym, wher as I found hym with the Mast. of
the Rollys, and dyd myn erand to the Mast. of the Rollys; also me
thowth that Doctor Langton was not verry mery in his sperytts;
and as wher I demaundyd hym dyverse questions what was best for
me to do, he answeryd me that he was but sory that ye wer departyd
fro so moche of yowr wyn, that he cowd nothyr wold desyr non of
you; notwythstandyng I herd hym say that the bysshope of Exceter,
to whom he is moche be holden to, that hath gevyn hym a benyfyce
of an c marks, desyryd Mast. Langton to bye for hym ij hoggshedds
of claret wyn: wher as I herd Mast. [Langton] say that he wold that
(he) wyst wher he mygth have good claret wyn for hym, so that he
had payd therfor. What is to be don I repos [all this in] yowr
Lordshyp. Also, for I understond that he was destytute of hors,
wher as I have made me so bold over yowr Lordshyp (I) have dely_veryd 
[my own] hors unto hym to bryng hym to Canterbury, and as
for an hors that he was proposyd to borow for hymsylf in London, I
promysyd hym that [he shold] be conveyed hom again be the menys
of yowr Lordshyp, wher with he held hym well content. Also, Ser,
I have word of Kyngg your [man that the] Kyng will pay but vj li.
for a ton. Also I have not yet spokyn wyth my Lord of Norwyche,
nothyr wyth non of the Lords, for I was abydyng Mast. Doctor
Langton to attend upon the delyverey of the wynes. Also my Lord
Howard saylyd befor Doctor Langton, as he can enforme [yow].
And blyssyd God have yower Lordshyp in hys kepyng. Wretyn
in hast withowt leser. 

To my syngler and specyall good Lord [The
Priour] of Crysts Chyrche of Cant'bery be
[these letters] delyveryd.



|p29


XXXV. -- THOMAS BULKLEY TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH |r[Circa_1478.) 

|r4
Reverent fadre in God, my right bountevous good Lorde, I re_commend 
me unto your good Lordeship and 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 re_mayn 
accordyng like as I have shewed your Lordslhip. I have
viij li. vj 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
I can not yet be hole in body, yet I trust in God to see your Lorde_ship 
this Cristemasse. Also my Lorde kings good Grace shall entre



|p30


London this day and be loged at Poules in the plas for ij dayes
and then he cometh to you and so forthe. I beseche you to pardon
my rude writyng, for in trouthe I wrote not so muche seth I was
with your Lordeship, and feblenesse wil not suffre me to write no
more at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite save you and kepe you
myn especiall goode Lorde, and graunt me grace of bodyly helth
that I may doo service accordyng to my goode will. Written at
Westminster on Seint Kat`yn day,
By your humble servant,
THOMAS BULKLEY.

To the Rev'nd fader in God myn especiall
good Lord the Prior of Crists Church
of Canterbury.


XXXVI. -- JOHN FAWNE TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH
|r[Circa_1479.)

J. h. s.

|r1
Ryght Reverent and my speciall good Lord, I recommaunde me
unto yowre Lordship, desiryng to here of youre good helth, pros_peryte 
and welfare, and I wold a sene yowre Lordship or thys but
my wyff hath ben sore syke. Sone after thys tyme I truste yn God
to se yowre Lordship, and moreover I understond by Nicolas Grevell
of Sandwych yowre butler hath ben ther and hath seen such wynes
of myn as ben ther. I hold me pleasid that yowre Lordship take
whate yow wyll a iiij. or v. ton or what it please yow; as for the
price yowre Lordshiip and I shall agree well I nowgh when I se
yowre Lordship next, by the grace of God, which kepe yow.
Wretten at London the vijth day of Aprell.
By yowre servaunt,
JOHN FAWNE,
Vyntner.

To the Right Reverent and my speciall good
Lord the Prior of Xpschurche of Can_torbury 
this letter be deliveryd.



|p31


XXXVII. -- THE SAME TO THE SAME. |r[Circa_1479.)

Jhus.

|r2
Ryght reverent and worshipfull fadir yn God I recommaunde me
unto you, and doying yowre Lordship to undirstond that I send
yow, by Richard Lulle of Faversham, a pipe of claret wyn,
a hoggished of white wyne and j butt of wyne Greke. I wolde have
send yowre Lordship a nother butt of wyne Greke, save I undir_stode
at my comyng home that Barnewell, fisshemonger, had redy
for yow at the key a butt of Malvesey, and therfore I send yow
but j butt. The cause of schippyng ther of or our servaunt come
to se the ladyng therof ys by cause here ys now but oo ship of
Lulls, and the other ship when he comyth he ladyth no thyng here
but goith streyt from hens to Medway ther to lade muskills. Yff
ther be any service here I may do for yowre Lordship redy to my
power at all tymys. The Holy Trinyte haue yow yn his kepyng.
Wretten at London the xvjth day of June.
By youre owne,
JOHN FAWNE,
Vyntner.

To the Ryght Reverent and worshypfull
fadir yn God prior of Xpuscurche
of Cantorbury this be deliveryd.


XXXVIII. -- SIMON GODARD TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH. (1479.)

|r80
Moost honourable and worshipfull I recommende me unto your
lordship, and as for your byll that ye delyueryd me, hit ys to sopose
that hit was made for the innyng of your merssh, and neuer for no
owte marke ne bounde for any tryell of your seid merssh, for hit
accordyth nothyng therto except bitwene the Pech and Kent-marke



|p32


that devydith the ij shyres for I make owte iiijxx roddes fro the Pech
to Sussexward, and I sopose that wall acorde to the tryall betwene
Kent and Sussex or not fer of; but from the Keteflete to the Pech,
or ayen the Pech ledyng bi the marke that devydyth Kent and
Sussex, ther ys more then an C roddes, and therfor I sopose whan
that mesure of wall was taken they made theire markes and boundery
atte other places, and take not all the lenght, neither all the brede,
but to be made in such places as the they thought hit moost necessarie
at that tyme. Wherfore I am avysed as yet in your behalf to say,
that your merssh extendith fro the Keteflete as Kent and Sussex
devidyth, and that every man that hath ther any knawlech or undir_standyng
woll say the same, till they come ayens the Pech, and
then fro the seid Kent and Sussex marke unto the Pech, the which
I sopose wooll a corde to your iiijxx rodds. And yif your Lordship
woll that I shall say or do any otherwise in this werke, I beseke
your Lordship of a lettre atte leste wey, and my servise shall ye have
as I am ever bounde to do, and hertely. Your pour bedewoman
my wif recommendeth her unto your Lordship, hertely thankyng you
for your venyson. Jhu. preserve and kepe you. Fro fairefield the
next Tewysday after Seynt Anne. Anno regni Regis Edwardi iiij=ti=
xviijø.

Be your owen servant
SIMON GODARD:

Tradatur Dno. Priori Ecclesie Xi. Cant.


XXXIX. -- RICHARD SELLYNG OF CANT. COLL. OXON. TO THE
PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH CANTERBURY. |r[Circa_1480.)

|r36
Moste reuerent fader in Cryste, I wyth all dew obedyence comende
me unto yow. And wher as ys soo as I undirstonde that ye shulde
be informed that I shulde have made meanys and wrytyn unto my
Lord the Byshoppe of Norwyche, he to have labouryde unto yow
that l myght goo to lawe, I certyfye youre faderhode that I never
sende lettur unto hym, nothyr of that matir nothir of noon othir. I



|p33


never also made meanys unto hym for any mater, but yf hytt wer
by this meane. I brake myn herte unto a certen kynnysman of hys,
namyd Master John Playforde, felaw of Alsowle College, which ofte
tymys vysytyth me; shewyng unto hym my defaute and smalle profett
that I hadde in Arte; shewyng also what hertye desyr I hadde to
goo to Lawe for savyng of myn own worshippe; and thorowe this
peraventure he myght have solyste my Lorde of Norwyche to helpe
me unto my hertys desyre. Othir meanys I never made. Neverthelesse
all thaw hytt be soo that I never soo labouryd, nothir durst labour,
unto hym to make suche meanys for me, yett my herte and desyre
unto this faculte ys nevyr the lesse oonly for thys cause, that I per_ceyve 
that I lytyll or noght profett in Arte, whych yf I shulde con_tynue 
in hytt shall growe unto my grette dysworshyppe, and I am
nowe yn uttur dyspeyre of hytt. Wherfore I beseke your goode
faderhode, yn whom undyr God and Hooly Seynts ys my most syngler
and hoole truste, that ye will be my goode tendyr fader in this case,
and that hytt may please yow to sett me unto Lawe as sone as hytt
shall please your Faderhode. I have had, I thanke your Fadyrhode,
a long prose yn Arte, and the season is in a maner but lost, whych
ys sorowfull to my herte to remembre, and my oonly comfort ys to
remembre, yf hytt shall please you that I may goo to Lawe, that
such smalle cromys as I have gedryd in Arte shalle sumwhat fede me
in Lawe. And yf hytt please your fadyrhode to sett me to Lawe I
shall thorough Goddys helpe applye suche labour and dylygence to
have hytt, that men shall have no cause to say that I wolde goo to
Lawe to shadowe my trowantyse fro my felyshippe. I shall, as nye
as I canne, redeme suche tyme in Lawe as I have lost in Arte, by
the grace of God; who ever preserve, and kepe you ever, Amen.
At Oxforde the xiiijth daye of Jully.
Your chylde of obedyence and novyce,
DAN. R. SELLYNG.

Suo reverendissimo in Xpo. Patri Priori Ecclesie
Cristi Cantuarie tradantur.



|p34


XL. -- KING EDWARD IV. TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH:

By the King.

77
Trusty and welbeloved in God we grete you wele, and for
asmoche as we understand by credible reporte made unto us that
ye owe good wille and favour unto youre welbelovd Thomas Wade,
we desir and pray you to contynue in the same, and the more
benevolently at thinstance of theese oure lettres; wherinne ye shall
do unto us ful good pleasir. Yeven under youre signet at oure
Monastery of Syon the ixth day of.Juyll.

To our trusty and welbeloved in God the Priour
of oure Monastery of Criste Churche within
oure cite of Canterbury.

XLI. -DRAFT LETTER FROM PRIOR SELLYNG.TO RICHARD
DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. (1483.)

|r12
My lord, plesyt your grace to undyrstande that yestyr day I receyvid
a letter fro the same by the whyche I undyrstonde that your plesur
and desir was that the benefice of Allhallowyn in Lombard Street,
whyche shall now be veyde by the promocion of mastyr Thos. Lang_ton 
un to the byschopryche of Sent Davyys, scholde be grauntyd un
to S(ir) William Bevley Dene of your chapell. My Lord, yt ys so
that *(what tyme the seyd was last voyde all thys day I have waytyd
upon your grace) if I myght have founde (the mene to have spokyn
wyth your grace) your grace at lesyr I wolde have schewed un to
yow [myn excuse by worde] my mynde by worde, but by cause I Can
not I most a cordyng to your [lettyr] commandement schowe yt
[un to yow] by wrytyng. Plese yt ther. for your gracyose Lorschyp
to knawe that what tyme the seyd benefyce was last yoyde the kyng
on whose sowle God have mercy, and also the Quene, wrot unto me



|p35


and my brethryn for the promocion of Mast. Thomas Brent un to the
same benefyce. Whyche ys a gentylman born in our cuntre, and
all the nobles of our cuntre desyryd of me the same; but by cause
Mastyr Thomas Langton was unto us a syngular henefactor we
[grauntyd the seyd benefyce] laboryd un to the kyngys grace and
the Quene to be content that Mastyr the seyd Thomas Langton
scholde have yt [for that tyme] wher to bothe the Kynge and the
Quene wer agreyd, wyth a condycion that the forsayd Master
Thomas Brent myght have yt at the next vacacion, whych was
grauntyd in our chapter solenly by me and all my brothryn; and
so we plesyd the Kyng and the Quene and the nobles of our contre
for that tyme; and now, aftyr the Kyngs deth, we have renewyd
the same graunt; whyche promys, if yt had not be made afor the
receivyng of your letters, we wolde have been glad to [have] per_form 
[yd] your desir and commandement, as we schalbe in tyme
comyng at the next vacacion of the same benefyce, or any othyr of
our collacion, as God knawyth, who have your gode and graciose
Lordschyp in hys blyssyd kepyng to the comfort of all thys reme
of England.

To the most hyghe mygthy and noble prynce
my Lord the Duke of Glowcestyr Protector
of England.

XLII. -- DOCTOR THOMAS LANGTON, BISHOP OF ST.DAVID`S,
TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.(1483.)

|r55
My Lord I recommend one to yow, &c. If ther hap to be ony
shippis at Burdeaux at such tyme as your wyne yt shalbe clear
shippyd, the Kyng wil for no thyng graunte licence to yow, ne to
non other, for to ship your wyne in a straunger. If ther be non
Ynglyssh shippis, ye may well in that cace ship yo#ur wyne yn a
straunger; ther ys no law ne statute ayeyn it, and so by thadvyce
of the chef juge, Sir Fayreford Vavasor, Sir Jervas Clifton, and
Medcalf you nedys no licence; and so thai all shewyd the law. In



|p36


this matter this ys the conclusion : in oon cas yow nedys no
licence; in the other the Kyng wil noon raunte. The Kyng
hath at this tyme ij messengers with his cosin of France. If thai
bring home good tithings I dout not but the Kyng will wryte to
his said cosin as specially as he can for your wyne; if he have no
good tythings yow must have paciens; but how so ever it shal be
send Smith your servant for your wyne, for I dout not but ye shal
have it this yer. I pray you do so mych for me to take your
servant iiij li. or els pray master supprior to do it, to such tyme
that y shal com to London, and pray your said servant for to by
me ij tun of wyne with it, and bring it home with yours. I trust
to God ye shal here such tythings in hast that I shalbe ah Ynglissh
man and no mor Walshe-Sit hoc clam omnes. The Kyng of
Scots hath sent a curteys and a wise letter. to the Kyng for [h]is
cace, but I trow ye shal undirstond thai shal have a sit up or ever
the Kyng departe fro York. Thai ly styI at the siege of Dunbar,
but I trust to God it shalbe kept fro thame. I trust to God sune,
by Michelmasse, the Kyng shal be at London. He contents the
people wher he goys best that ever did prince; for many a poor
man that hath suffred wrong many days have be relevyd and helpyd
by hym and his commands in his progresse. And in many grete
citeis and townis wer grete summis of mony gif hym which he
hath refusyd. On my trouth I lykyd never the condicions of ony
prince so wel as his; God hathe sent hym to us for the wele of us
al neque     voluptas aliquis regnat
Our Lord have you in his kepyng. I wold as fayn have be con_secrate 
in your chyrch as ye would have had me your
T. LANGToN. 

It shal be wel do that your servant bryng a certificate from the
Mayr of Burdeaux that ther was no sheppis ther of Ynglond at
such tymes as he ladyd your wyn.

To my Lord the Prior of Cryschyrch
of Canterbury.



|p37


XLIII. -- KING RICHARD III. TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1484.)

By the King.

67
Trusty and wellbeloved in God we grete you well. Acertayning
you, that owre trust and welbeloved knight for our body Sir Rauf
Assheton hath shewed unto us howe that Sir John Fogge, amonge
many writings and evydences, delivered unto your keping certaine
evydences concerning the lands belonging unto our said servaunts
weif, and with you yet remayne: Wherefore we wool and desire
you, that whansoever our said Servaunt shal come or send unto you
for the saide evgdences ye wille deliver them hoolly, without any
delaye or contradiccion in that behalf; as ye aught to do of right.
Not failing hereof in any wise, as ye entende to please us, and wol
avoyde the damages of oure lawes if ye do the contrarie. Yeven
under our signet at our Citie of London the ix day of December.

To oure trusty and welbeloved in God the
Pryour and Convent of onr Monasterie
of Christschurche within our Citie of
Canterbury.

XLIV. -- ROBERT BON TO JOHN ROCHEFORD, BEDELL OF
BOCKING. (1483.)

J h s .

|r50
Ryth worschepefull and trusti: I comawnde me to yow, praying
you that ye wille receyve Thomas Sendell as yowr servaunt and
fermour in yowr melle at Bokkyng, that Thomas Yngraham schulde
have hadde; for his promyse was that the seyd Thomas Sendell
schulde have yt, and up on thys wan they wer a greyd and a cordyd
Thomas Sendell com to yow, and, as I undirstonde, ye wer not
plesyd that he was ther; but I praye yow that ye will receyve hym
till that Geffrey Bukkewell and I come to yow, be thys tokyn, that



|p38


I seyde to yow what I seyde with my mowthe, and knokkyd my
hand on my mowthe, and seyde to yow, that I seyd with my mowthe
I will upholde yt. And yf the melle stande still we will pay for the
ferme, and the nexte wheke we will be weth yow, with the grace of
God, be weth you ever, Amen. Wretyn at Erlyscolne the Saturday
nexte after Seynt Mihell the Arcangill. Anno regni Regis Ricardi
tercii primo.
Be yowr ROBERT BON.

To his welbelovyd John Rocheford Bedell
of Bokkyng be this delyveryd in haste.

XLV. -- ROBERT THORPE TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH:
|r[Circa_1485.)

|r85
Honourabill and ryght worschypfull sere, I recommawnde me to
your good Lordschyp, desyryng of All myghty God to here of your
wellfare, wyche I pray God ever preserve to hys plesur and yowrys.
Sere, the cawse of my wrytyng to yowr. Lordschyp at this tyme ys
to lete yow wndyrstond that I have receyvyd a bylle of yowrys, to
me direct, whyche Dowgter Pekenham delyveryd to Foorthe of
Hadlegh, and, Sere, whan I sey yt I merveylyd gretly ho informyd
yowr Lordschyp that I schuld a straynyd ony of the parsonage
tenawnts for divers mercyments. Sere, of my feyth they wold make
yt seyntwary that non of the kygngs leche pepyll schuld have now_thir 
lawe nor reson of them be the meyntenawns of the forseid
Dowghtor Pekynham. Sere, where as they have ben amercyed for
grevows fawts in them foundyn, sen I cam on to my offyce of my
feyth I nevyr, ner non of my servaunts never streynyd non of the
forseyd parsonage tenawnts, ner nevyr had of them ld nor ob-worth,
but I have for born them for Dowghter Pekenhams sake. But I see
well now I have of hym never the mor thanke, but, Sere, the gret
cawse that he oweth me evyll wyll ys for Seynt Thomas ryght and
yowrys; for he seyd pleynly to me at Myhylmesse last was he woold
pay me no rent no lenger, and wyth owgte I coude schewe hym



|p39


better evydens than he wyst well ye had. And I answerd and seyd,
Sere, I have syche books and evydens as othyr Baylyes have had
before, wherfore, I seyde, Sere, I pray you now pardone me yt schall
nat be lost in my tyme; and he seyd ageyn to me he trust I schuld not 
longe abyde in my offyce and he myght helpe me owhte. And so
I undyrstond well that he berth me sore at herte, but yet I trust
to God to dwell by hym. Sere, anothyr cawse ther ys of v marc
whyche I gave hym for the makyng of a maryage for a good frend
of myn, and wythyn xiiij dayes after, he went and ressceyvyd thys
reward ageyn of the party aforseyd; and thanne I thowght I myght
well aske hym my mony a geyn and so dyd. And, Sere, ther ys
another cawse, with many and dyvers othyr whyche I schall schewe
yowr Lordschep and truly prove that he is nowthyr worschypfull nor
vertuows. But, Sere, anothyr thyng was don and that was this:
On Wyllyam Smyth of Hyham, a curteys merchawnt, had lente
a payre of schermanns schers for to days to on Thomas Scher_man,
and ther upon promysed the forseyd Wyllyam to apayd
for them as the wer a greyd, and, Sere, the forseyd Thomas hath
kept the seyd scheres this v yer and more and nevyr wol paye
1d nor penyworth for them; wherfor the seyd Wyllyam Smyth desyryd
me, and specyally labooryd me dyvers tymys and oftyn, that I wold
commaund sum servaunt of myn to serve an axyon upon the seyd
scherys, and so at the last I bad a servaunt of myn go serve an
axyon, and soo dyd. Sere, with in v or vj dayes after comyth on
Saundyr Carter to me, a servaunt of the forseyd Dowhtor Peken_ham,
and seyd to me, Sere, o my feyth and my trowthe I destreynyd
the scheers many dayes a go for my masterys hows ferme; wherfore
he prayed me hertyly for hys masterys sake that he myght have
them a geyn, and so I gave credens on to hym and chargyd my ser_vaunt 
to delyver them a geyn, and so,Sere, thys ys all the cawse
and mater he hath on to me. And,Sere, I trust God to sende to
Seynt Thomas and yowr good lordschyp on Myhelmasse. No more
to your lordshyp at thys tyme, but All myghty Jhu have yow and



|p40


all yowr Convent and all yowrs ever in hys blyssyd kepyng. Amen.
Wretyn at Hadlegh 
on Seynt Margyts Evyn last past.
By yowr Bayly and trewe servaunt,
ROBT. THORPE of Hadlegh.

Sere, I send yowr Lordschyp knowleche that Master Warden
delyueryd me a copy of a deede of serteyn rente schuld longe to
yowr Hows with in the Cete of Norwyche, the whyche copy of yowr
deede berth no date. Yf yt lyke yow to sende a copy of the deede.
and the date in the same, I trust to God I shall bryng yow good
tydyngs and sertayne of yt, but, Sere, as for the manor of Norwyche
that yowr offcer had never had holdyt, hoys name ys Wylliam
London. He hath nat the grownd, but I have inqweryd so ferr
that, and I have the date of your deede, I trust to God to preve in
hoys hands the grownd hath ben ever senys, from on owner to a
nothyr. Jhu preserve yow.

To my Lord Prior off Cristcherche in Caunterbury.

XLVI. -- ROBERT THORP OF HADLEIGH TO THE PRIOR OF
CHRIST CHURCH. |r[Circa_1485.)

|r56
Ryght worchypful Sere and my good Lord, I recommende me
on to yow, certyfyeng yow that where in late dayes Robert Cold_hakyr,
yowre servaunt and bayleff of yowre towne and lordschyppe
of Hadley, hath sent yow in wrytyng, informyng yowr Lordschyppe
that I, to hys gret rebuke and specyally to debarre and set apart
yowr fermes and thys gret payment of Ester terme, sculde meve
and excite yowre tenawnts and your inhabitants with inne your
seyd town not to content nor pay Coldhakyr ther rents. Sere,
plese ye your Lordschyppe to undyrstonde hys enformacion ys con_trary 
to the trewthe, and that knowyth oure Lord God and all.
yowr seyd tenawnts, wyche to prove trewe I wyl be bowndyn in an
C li., and moreover to brynge for my testificacion xx selys of the



|p41


moste substancyall personys of your seyd town to declare my trowthe
in the same. But my Lord yf yt lyst yow to take no dyspleser to
undyrstonde the wery trewthe, what ys the cawse he kepyth hym
self in save gard, and hathe kepyd hym self secret for a seson; I
certyfye your Lordschyppe, for a wery trewthe, he hath mad a dede
of gyfte of all hys goods mefable and [im]mefable, and an obliga_cion 
of xl li. up on the same, accordyng to hys dede, and the dayes
roune ij or iij; with many moo gret and dyverse accions to import_able 
be all lykenesse-God remedye yt. Thys consyderyd in your
ful worschypful, sad, and provyd consyderacion, I pray yow hertly
to be my good Lord,and, in all sesonys with Godds grace, I am
and xal be to yow and on to all yowrs yowre owne in what sum
ever ye wyll commaunde me, and that knowyth owre most mercy_ful 
Lord, ho have yow, my good Lord, evermor in hys blyssyd
tuicion. Amen. From Hadley the iijde day of May.
Be yowre owne to hys power,
ROBT. THORP,
Gentylman.

To my Lord the Pryour of Crystcherche
in Cantyrbury.

XLVII. -- THE KING (HENRY VII.) TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST_
CHURCH. 
|r[Circa_1486.)

By the King.

|r26
Trusty and welbeloved in God I grete you well. And forasmuch
as Richard Nonnyngley was lately appointed by our right trusti
and welbeloved counseillor the Lord Dynham owre treasurer
of England and Robert Litton under-treasurer of the same to receyve
of you by endenture the subside of lands and goods to us granted
and paiable within our countie of Kent, promitting to our said
treasurer to have payed a thousand pound to our right trusty and
welbeloved counseiller the Lord Daubeney, lieutenant of our town
and marches of Calais, which is nat by hym performed,to the



|p42


damage of our said lieutenant and great jeopardie of our said town:
wherupon we have by our other letters charged the said Nounyng_ley 
to deliver ayen unto you such money as he hath receyved of
you, and noo further to intromitte in that behalve. We therfore
desire and pray you to receyve ayen of hym all the same money,
and that ye delyver it with all the residue of the same subsidie, as
it cometh to your hands, unto Thomas Cancellora this berer, servant
to our right trusty counseillor the Lorde Daubeney, to the use of
the same our counseillor, for mainteynyng of our crewe at Calais
and other great charges there; making betwixt you and the said
Thomas billes indented affirming the said deliverance. And these
our lettres with the counterpart of the same shall be your sufficient
discharge in that partie. Yeven undre our signet at our Castle of
Windesore the xvij day of Juyn.

To our trusty and welbeloved in God the Priour
of the monastery of Cristchurch at our Citie
of Canterbury.

XLVIII. -- PRIOR SELLYNG TO THE BEDELL OF BOCKING.
|r[Circa_1488.)

|r7
John Rochford I grete yow wel, and wheras hyt ys apoynted
bytwene my Lord of Essex ys councell and us, that we shold shew
evydence unto them at Halstede, ther syttyng upon the audyt on
Mondav next comyng, concernyng suche rent as we aske of hys
landys that he holdyth at Stystede, that ys to sey xxiiij s. by yer
du unto our maner ther, y send yow now the copyys of our seyd
evydences, prayyng yow to take the labour to be ther upon the
seyd Monday next comyng, and the fermor of Stystede wythe yow,
havyng also hys rentall to be schowyd unto Master Plomer of my
seid Lordys councell, and unto othyr as he wyll advyse; and yf
they make any questyone wher the landys scholde lye wherof the
rent is askyd, ye may answer, acordyng to the evydencys, that the
a This name, being partially obliterated, is doubtful.



|p43


rente moost growe owte of all the landys whiche my Lordys pro_genytors 
had in Stystede the xxviijth yere of King Edward the iijde.
Yf they have purchchased any landys wythynne Stystede sen that
yere, whyche my Lordy's councell kan shew, such land is not
chargeable unto the rente. Yf they have not purchasyd syth that
tyme, all the land whyche my Lord hath wythynne Stystede is
chargeable to the seyd rente. Also if olde Bolthede be lyvying he
can telle of thys mater. God have yow in kepyng. Fro Canter_bury 
the vijth day of December.

W.S.
Priour of Crystcherche at Canterbury.

Unto our trusty and well belovyd Jon Rocheford
Bedyll of Bockyng.

XLIX. -- JOHN ABBOT OF ABINGDON TO DOM. RAYNOLD
GOLDSTONE A MONK OF CHRIST CHURCH. (1488.)

45
Rigth wurschipfull brothyr, y recommend me unto yow and pray
you that, with licence of my Fader and youris, ye wyll send me an
honest horse for myselfe unto the town is end. Y am looth to ryde
into the cytey among all these asstatis with Rochestyr hakeneyys.
All so y pray yow recommande me unto my Father and youris.
Fro Sidyngbourne the xij day of Aprill.
The Lord JOHN Abbot of Abindon.

Unto my rygth well belovyd brother Dan. Ray_nold 
Goldstone, Bacheler of Divinyte, and
brother of Crystischurch in Canterbury.


L. -- To DoM. THOMAS HUMFREY, ONE OF THE TREASURERS OF
CHRIST CHURCH. |r[Circa_1490.)

42
Worshipfull Sir, I commaunde me unto your. maystership, etc. Sir,
Huntman ys fader sendith his son Laurence j paire schetts, j blanket,
j twybill, ij wymbles, j plane, j sawe, and as for your cloth I under_
ston 



|p44


ye recke not howe cors hit be. It shall be made of the woll
that I have as fyn as can be, but it schalbe for you best to have it
dyed of cloth then in woll and much bett chepe, and the colour,
right faire. And Jhu kepe you.
By your own
THOMAS.

To Dan. Thomas Humfrey, onee of the Tresorers
of Crischerche in Caunterbury.


LI. -- DOM. THOMAS HUMFREY, WARDEN OF THE MANORS, TO
THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH. |r[Circa_1490.)

|r83
Worschypfull fadyr, on Thursday laste y recevyd a lettyr from your
fadyrhede wher ye desyryd to undyrstond what T. Revyll thowgth
yn the serchyng of the recordys yn the Comyn Place. He thenkyth
ytt ryght expedyent foi divers causys. On ys that T. Hobard seyd
to Robert Brent on Seynt Mathewys day at Monkysyllegh, opynly
yn the church ther, that the writt wherby he had the warrant of the
Steward of Bury to a rest Adam shalbe retornable yn the Comyn
Place at the begynnyng of thys terme. Whych schuld not be yf the
orygynall wer had owt of the Court of Bury. Also yf such franchesys
wer to the Church of Bury the schereve of that shyre and hys offycers
schuld, by ofte puttyng owt of such, playnly know ytt, but neythyr
the schereve nether eny of hys officers which wer of our councell yn
our matter ther could certyfy us of eny such lyberte or franchesy;
wherfor T. Revyll thenkyth that ther ys no such franchesy to that
chyrch. Y Pray you that ye wold ynquire of Nethyrsole whether
yt be nedeful that he, yn ys own person, that delyveryd the privy
seale make certificat tho the Kyngys Attorney or no. Yf ytt be
nedefull Robert Brent most be att the Kyngys Councell att Quyndene
of Seynt Myghyll; so he be hygh us wythowte fayle to be for the
seyd cause. Mem. that ye remember to take by for the lordys of the
Kynggs Councell suerte of the pees of them for me, whych of my
conscyens fer [fear] them of my lyfe but y schuld demene myself



|p45


lyke a man of warr a geyn relygyon. Ytt wer rygth accordyng as
me semyth, yf ytt mygth be, that ye toke lykewyse suerte of them
for sum secular servaunts of yours. Also that ye take an axyon a
geyns them for lettyng of your servaunts. Also to take an axyon
a geyns Nyclas Hobard for huntyng and dystroyyng of your game
at Monkysyllegh. Also ytt ys so that, as y undyrstand, ther schalbe
grete labour to me for to have to ferme the copyhold whych ys yn
your name sesyd at Monkysyllegh; wher for yf eny labour be made
to you for Hobardys party ye may say, yf ytt please yow, that ye
suppose y have lett ytt to ferme. Att Mepham we haue delyveryd
the ferme ther to John Ou`ny with all such stor as ys conteynyd yn
the byll yndentyd of the stor delyveryd to W . . . . . , except the
stor of whete, barle, otys, pesyn, and tarys. Also such stuff as was
lefte yn the custody of Ric. Dent, and was nott appraised, as ytt
apperyd by an odyr byll that y had off your fadyrhede, y haue of
them but [doubtful] answers safe of a pott of brasse and of a few
shelvys. I have chargyd hym that he schall dressh and delyuer no
graynys owt of the barnys ther unto the tyme ye be contentyd of
hys dewte. He ys a greabyll therto, and seyth that att my nexte
comyng hedyr yn thys progress he wyll fynd suffycyent suerte.
Richard Dent shall overse the bernys that no thynge be carryed owt
of them safe such as y and he be appoynted, whych passyd nott x
quarter of whete, and ij of barle. Y send yow by the brynger hereof
the byllys that y had of yow of Meopham. As for Sowthchyrch we
have joynyd John bailly and Beale togedyr, and T. Revyll and y
saw the stor of kine and of schepe, bothe yn Sowthchyrche and
Canve, delyveryd; but ytt was so that Master Mountgomery dynyd
att Prittlewell the Fryday after my departyng fro your faderhede,
and T. Revyll and y feryd he wold have sent for us and entretyd us
undyr sume meanes to abrokyn our entente ther; wherfor the seyd
Fryday we departyd thens toward Meopham, att the desyr of Baker
and of Ball, and so y hope ytt schalbe ryght well. Ytt ys so that
Balle labouryd for to plese your Lordschyppe, but as for Norton he
wold nott apper, he yntendyth not well, as y am ynformyd, wherfore



|p46


me semyth ytt wer well don to sewe hym for John Machyll hys
dewte, for by hys fals delayys the dett of John Machyll ys so mych.
Also remember to sewe Richard Freman thys terme, and also Richard
Godfrey, which have ever be false to me yn ther promysses of pay_ment.
Y pray yow that the byllys of Meopham wych y send yow
may be ther at my nexth comyng thedyr. As for the stor of foddyr
att Meopham, ytt ys writyn yn the baksyde of a byll whych y send
yow. Y beseke yow to thanke T. Ledys and Cristall Cottman, for
they have delt very honestly and wysely and manly at Meopham
in such maters as ye sent them theydr for. And Jesus save yow;
y beseke yow to pray for us, and that ther may be a colecte for us
at chapter-masse dayly.
Fro Clyve 3ø October,
By your Chapleyn,
DAN. T. HUMFREY.

To the Rygth worschypfull Fadyr the Priowr
of Crystyschyrch in Caunterburg be thys
delyveryd.


LII. -- MASTER MONTGOMERY TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1490.)

|r53
Right worshipfull Sir, I recommend me unto you. And where
as ye be not onremembered that ye have spoken to me for a certayn
rente of xxxv s. be yere for a place of myn called Fenney, hit is soo
that I must hawe a certayn rente of yow of v s. be yere out of a
parcel of Bokkyng Halle to my seid place [belonging], which hath
be behind this xxxvj yere onpayed, and hit is as grete reasons that
I have my rente as ye yours. I have as fayre evidens to shewe for
me as any man hath; wherfor if hit please you to sette that oon to
that other, clere un to this day, I woll be redy to paye my dutee
herafter, soo that I may be allowed v s. yerly for my rente. Your
servaunte Freman hath be with me for the seid mater, and I have
tolde hym myn advice. I wer lothe that there shuld be any troublej



|p47


therfor, herafter he shall be contente wel and trewly of your rente,
soo that I may be allowid v s. for my rente. I pray you that hit
may be soo. Fro my pour howse the iijde day of June.
Your obt.
MOUNTGOMERY.

To my Lord the Priour of Crychurch in Caun_turbury 
be this lettre delivered.


LIII. -- CARDINAL MORTON TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1490.)

|r64
Brother Prior, I recommaund me unto you. And so it is that it
hath pleased the Kyngs good grace at my sute and humble peticion,
to pardone twayne of the iiij men that shuld be put yn execucion
now at Canterbury. Wherapon I have wryten at this tyme unto
the shiref, desiryng hym, accordyn to the Kings mynde and pleasur
yn that behalf, to delyver unto you suche twayne of thaym as ye
shall chose and name. Wherfor I pray you to name and take unto
you suche twayne of thaym as have done leste effence unto the Kyng
yn this behalf, and wher ye thenk moost accordyng that pitie be
shewed yn this case, after your discrecion apon suche knowlege as
ye can hastely gett. And that ye do salvely to be kept the said
ij persones, by you so chosen and named, till ye know my further
mynde on thar behalf. From Lamehith the first day of December.
Your brother,
JO. CARlis. CANTUAR.

To my brother the Prior of Christschurche yn
Canterbury.


LIV. -- THE KING (HENRY VII.) TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH. |r[1491_probably.]

By the King.

25
Trusty and right well beloved in God we grete you well. And
bee advertised that certain honourable persones be comyng towards
us in Ambassade from our dere cousin and broder the King of



|p48


Romaynce, and wol hastely make thair discent at Dover, bringing
with thaym for us the liveree of Toison Dor, whiche shalbe to us
right acceptable. Wherfor we, considering your wise and manerly
conduct, pray you that, for the hounour of us and this our reame,
ye wol at thair comyng toward you receive, and with curteys(e)
there entreteigne thaym for thre dayes or therabouts. Wherby ye
shall right singlierly please us. Yeven under our signet at our
manour of Greenewiche the xiiijth day of July.

To our trusty and right Welbeloved in God the
Priour of our Monastery of Christ Church
within our Citie of Canterbury.


LV. -- JOHN GERONA TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
(1492.)

|r65
|r<Latin> Reverende Pater, per binas litteras carissime Paternitati vestre
scripsi, et per alteras earum missi copiam trium commissionum
obtentarum per Prepositum de Wyngham contra capitulum ecclesie
vestre. Hic vir sub marte natus, quia ad alia quam civilia bella
aptus non ad illa, usque ad mortem continuabit. Copiam processus
cause ibidem agitate, quam ex Anglia misistis, magister Johannes de
Giliis ad presens in manibus suis ad illam videndam habet, et illam,
postquam idem magister Johannes viderit, ego videre curabo. Non
cessit vir in causam ipsam procedere, et cum fletibus suis omnes
hujus curie officiales ad sui miserendum inclinare. Ex Urbe xxij
Februarii 1492.
E. R. p. v. Servittor JO. GERONA.

Reverendo Patri Dno. Willelmo Selyng Priori
ecclesie Cantuariensis suo uti majori honor_ando
Londoniis |r<\Latin>



|p49


LVI. -- JOHN LANGDON, WARDEN OF CANT. COLL. OXON.TO
THE PRIOR OF CANTERBURY. |r[Circa_1493.)

|r86
Worschypfull Fadyr in God I commende me on to yow wyth
due reverence and obedyence. I receyvyd late lettrys from your
fadyrhod, by the whych I undyrstonde that your fadyrhode schuld
thynk me to have been neclygent yn ij thyngys specyally. Oon ys
that I remembryd nott the Wardeyn of Manerys, at the last Warde,
off the rent to have been payed to the Howse of Godstowe. Forsoth,
albeyt that yt vaylyd nat to speke of that mater at that tyme, for as
moche as he cam nat to Oxford, and soo he cowde nat speke with
the rent gaderer of the place aforeseyd, with out hom he cowde not
make noon eende, yet whan we came to hym to Newinton I movyd
yt on to hym, and hee seyd we schuld comyn ther off or hys
departyng; but aftyr I herd no mor ther off, for thow I had be
ryght besy to have callyd upon yt, I knew that yt cowde nat
profyte to come to ony ende. Secunde: Your fadyrhode thynkyth
me neclygente, as I parceyve, that I have nat purveyd for you
Dunse upon the iijde off sentenceys, fortsoth as my feleschyp can
testyfe, as yn thys case I have doon my dylygence to my power,
for nat allonly myn own sylf have dylygently enquiryd for that
mater for your fadyrhode, but also I desyryd my feleschyp many
tymys that they schuld spye for that wyrke to gete yt for you; but
forsoth ther came noon ther off to be sold with us syth that I came
fro Canterbury att what tyme ye gave me charge to purvey oon
for you. And I Can nat thynke yt lykely that ther shall come ony
moo of them yn prentys, as be that I her off them that selle such
bokys, and soo I have sent you worde by wrytyng diverse tymys,
yff your fadyrhod remembyr ytt, or ellys yff the leaevys came on
to yow. Anodyr cause of my wrytyng at thys tyme ys thgs; I
have had trobyl late with sum off the breederyn that be suggerners
with us, specyally with them of Peterburgh, whych, and ye re_membyr,
by ther ongoodly demenyng yn Dan. Will. Chichele ys



|p50


dayes went fro us to Glowcetyr College, and syth they wer takyn
ayen to us yn Dan Thomas Umfrey hys dayes. And now they be
as frowardly dysposyd or wurse than evyr they wer. Ytt wer to
longe to wryte on to yow the processe of ther gydyng, therfor what
they have doo and propose to doo I have commyttyd onto my
feleschyp to enforme you, specyally to Dan Robert Eastry. The
seyd brederyn of Peterburgh be now at home at ther monastery,
and shall be tyll Myhelmasse, wherfor I pray yowr fadyrhode to
write on to ther Abbot, desyryng hym to geve them charge, yff
they schall come ayen to us that they be gydyd as scolerys schuld
be, for they be noo studentys. And also, that wurse ys, they begin
to sett all men at debate, and specyally odyr suggerentys a yens us.
I pray your fadyrhod to have me excusyd that I wryte noon odyr
wyse on to yow, for I have been syke soo that I myght nat kepe
my study, nothyr write on to yow as I wuld have doon. I h c.
preserve yow to that ys best. Wretyn att Oxford the iij day of
Septembyr.
Suus filius,
JOHANNES LANGDON.

Prehonorando in Xpo. Patri ac Domino, Domino
Willelmo Priori ecclesie Xpi. Cautuar.


LVII. -- RICHARD HAWTE TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Not_later_than_1494.]

|r33
My Lorde, hit is so that I haue spokyn with the Kynge as
touchynge the purches that ye knaw of, and he is as well content
to go thrue ther with as ye can devyse, and hath charged me to
dryve the bargen as well as I can, and he wol pay for it this adaye.
Sir, here hath bene with me Jhn. Martyn and he hath promysed to
do as moche there yn as yf the matter were his owne, and withyn
thes fortynyght I shall haue an answere, and seyth, yf there can be
getyn yn Kent a thynge of lyke valeu he doutes not put the matter
shall be spede, for the parte ys wery to dwell yn Essex and sell it



|p51


he will. Also I sende to Batyle to Horne, for to go with me for
the sale of the land, but he is yn that cace that he dare not com yn
the Courte, and therefore [I purpose] to be with him tu morow be
tymes. And hyt ys so that I have aspyde that the Park of Ongar
holdith . . . . . . . by knyghts servyse and I trow he never sewed
leverey, yf hit be so the Kynge shall haue . . . . . . . . . . . At
your comyng to London I shall shew ou all. Item. Hit is so
that I have spokyn with Mast . . . . . . . for your rent, and he is
content that ye shall haue it from hens furthe yf his councell thinke
(hit his) deute to pay. I haue bene with his councell and they have
sene your rentall, and yf ye can shew that ye haue ben payde
accordynge to your clayme ye shall regoyse hit, and so we haue
apoynted Isham to examine that matere at the Lordshepe, and as
he certefy so shall you take good spede. All so I have shewed
Plommer your evydens, and he thinks them right good and fayre,
and at my Lords next audyte here, whiche shall be with[in] x dayes,
he trusteth ye shall have suche answere as ye shall be plesed. Sir,
I pray you hy you here as sone as ye may, for I departe a Monday
next coming, and I wolde speke with you or I went passynge fayne,
And Jhu preserve you for his mercy. Wrettyn at Westmynster
this Wenysday.
Your Servaunt,
R. HAWTE.

This letter bears no address, but on the back are
some memoranda in the handwriting of
Prior Sellyng.


LVIII. -- DRAFT LETTER FROM PRIOR SELLYNG TO ARCH_
BISHOP 
MORTON. |r[Circa_1494.)

|r39
Most Reverent father in God and my most singler gode Lorde,
after all due recommendation and humble obediens, please it the
same to understonde, that Master Surveyor and I have communed
with John Wastell your mason, berer hereof, to perceyve of hym
what forme and shappe he will kepe in reysyng up of the pynaclys



|p52


of your new towre here. He drew unto us ij patrons of hem. The
on was with doble fineall withowte croketts, and the other was with
croketts and sengle fineall. Thys ij patrons please yt your gode
Grace to commaunde the seyd Jo. Wastell to draw and shew hem
unto you, and uppon the sycht your good Grace shew hym your
advise and pleasure whyche of them ij, or of any other to be divised,
shall contente your gode Lordshyp to be appoynted. And further_more,
if your gode Grace wolde require the seyd Jo. Wastell so to
do, I thinke that he mygth so provide that this pynacles may be
finished and acomplyshed this nex somer folowing, the whiche, if it
myth be so, than your toure owtwarde shuld appere a werke perfite.

No address.


LIX. -- KING HENRY VII. TO THREE WEALTHY SUBJECTS.
|r[Circa_1496.)

By the Kyng.

|r68,_69,_70
Trusty and welbeloved we grete you well, and for the revengyng
of the grete cruelte and dishonour that the Kyng of Scotts hath
done unto us, our roialme, and subgietts of the same, as our Com_missioners 
in our Citie of Canterbury where ye be inhabited shall
schewe unto you at lengthe, We lateley in our grete Councyell, of
Lordes Spirituall and Temporall, of Juges, Serjeaunts in the Lawe,
and of others some hed wysemen of every citie and goode towne of
this our lond, have at their instaunces and by theyr advyses deter_myned 
us to make by see and by lond ij armees royall for a sub_stanciall 
warre, to be contynued uppon the Scotts unto suche tyme
as we shall invade the realme of Scotlond in our owne person, and
shall have with Godds grace revenged their grete outrages done
unto us, our realme, and subgietts forseid, so and in suche wyse as
we trust the same our subgietts shall lyve in rest and peas for many
yeres to com. The Lordes and othres of our seid grete Councell,
consyderyng well that this seid substanciall warre can not be borne



|p53


but by grete somes of redy money, have preested unto us every of
thaym for his parte grete somes of money, contented beside that we
of our self have avaunced oute of our owne coffres. Yet natheles
fourthy M1 poundes more, as our seid Councell hath cast it, must of
necessitie be borrowed and avaunced in redy money of othres our
lovyng subgietts for the furniture of this matier. And because, as
we here, ye be a man of goode substaunce, we desire and pray yow
to make lone unto us of the som of xl li., wherof ye shall be un_doubtedly 
and assuredly repayde in our Receipt at the feste of Seynt
Andrewe next comyng, without eny maner your cost or charge for
the same. This money must be broughte to our Receipte, and there
receyved by the Tellers of the same, athisside the Feste of Candel_mas 
next comyng withoute eny further tracte or deIay. Of whom
ye shall take oute a bille of mutuum for your true and juste repa_yment 
therof. It shalbe in your libertie, after ye have oones gon
thorough with our seid Commissioners, to whom we pray you to
yeve full and fast credence in this caas, whether ye woll com or
bring the same your self, or elles send som trusty frend or servaunte
of yours to delyver it before the seid Candelmas at our seid Receipt
and to bryng to you the seid bille of mutuum; or elles of trust your
seid lone to be delyvered to the Commissioners, and they to bring
the seid bille for mutuum for your indempnitie in that behalf. This
is a thing of so grete weight and importance as may not be fayled
and therfore fayle ye not therof for your seid parte, eftsones, we
pray yow, as ye entende the gode and honour of us and of this our
roialme, and as ye tendre also the wele and suretie of your self.
Yeven under our signet at our paloys of Westminster this first day
of Decembre.

No address, but on the back of each letter in an
obscure corner is a memorandum; "C li
Cant." in two examples, and "Xl li Cant."
in the third.



|p54


LX. -- ELIZABETH, QUEEN OF HENRY VII., TO THE PRIOR OF
CHRIST CHURCH. (1499).

By the Quene.

|r71
Right trusty and welbeloved in God we grete you well, and wher
we of late by our other lettres desired you to graunte unto us the
disposicion of the churche parochiall of Alle Saynts in Lombard
Strete within my Lords citie of London, whansoever the same shuld
next happen to be voyde by the decesse of Sir Marques Husy,
late incumbent thero: Wherupon it liked you, of your loving and
kynde mynde, to gaunt unto us by your writing# that we shuld
have the said benefice at our libertie, to name therunto suche oon of
our chaplayns at the next vacancy therof as shuld best please us;
for the whiche in our right herty wyse we thank you: It is so, as
we be enformed, that the said Sir Marques is latelg departed oute of
his transitorie lif unto the mercy of God, wherby the said benefice
is now voyde. Wherfore we desire and pray you, that in perform_yng 
your said promise, ye will do send unto us the presentacion
under your convente seale of the said benefice, with a blanke space
in the same, to thentent we may name therin suche oon of our chap_layns 
as we shall think convenient for to be of abilitie to have the
charge of the cure ther. This our desire we veriallg trust ye will
accomplissh; wherby ye shall largely deserve our especial thanks, to
be remembered accordingly in any your reasonable desires concern_yng 
the wele of you or your place herafter. Yeven under our signet
at my Lords citie of London the vjth day of Juyn.

To our Right trusty and welbeloved in God the
Prior of the monastery of Crists Church at
Canterbury.



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LXI. -- THOMAS MOTTON IN LONDON TO THE PRIOR OF
CHRIST CHURCH,CANTERBURY. |r[Circa_1499.)

|r17
Right reverende and my most special gode Lorde, I commande
me unto your gode Lordship as humble as I can. Pleaseth the
same, I have shewed unto my master all suche matters as your
Lordship commanded me to labour at London at this tyme, and
have showed un to hym haw it is not your ease ne pleasur to come
to London at this tyme. Neverthelesse your counseill here thynke
it were right necessare to have you here as hastely as ye godely
may, for certeyn matters whiche can not be done without your
presence. As for your letter to my Lorde Howard, it is not yet
delyvered, ne your counsell here thynke it shulde not be un to they
here whether ye come to London or noo. My Lorde, I have made
all the serche that I can here for the outlarie of Richard Lyford,
whiche I can not fynde, for I am sure there is no processe of outlarie
here ageynst hym. The Clerke of the Pease of Sussex is not yet
commen to London, but he wolbe here this weke, as his sonne telles
me, and when he commeth I shall serche with hym for the said
outlarie yf he bryng hys callandre to London as all Clerkes of the
Pease use to doo, then I shall fynde it if it be there, and yf he
bringe not his seyd callendre with hym, then I beseche your Lord_ship 
to send word, yf ye come not your self, what schalbe ferther
done therin; whether that I ride into Sussex to make serche there
or noo. As for the matter betwixt your Lordship and Maister Poult.
he is aggreed to abide the rule of Maist. Hawte and my Maister, and
suche ende as they wole make when they have seen his evidences
he seith he woll abide. I thynke we shall have an ende therin, for
they tarie for nothyng but Pults. evidences, whiche he hath sende
for. I have spoken with Lokenton the wex chaundler in West_minster 
concernyng the courte of Clyve, and he seth he hath goten
you a gode fermour therfor, whoo is, as he seyth, a sufficient man,
and is a grocer of London,dwellyng at the syne of the Crane in



|p56


Chepe side, and wool fynde you suyrte sufficient within London.
Your tenant at the Kyngs Head in Chepe can enform your Lord_ship 
of the seid grocer and of his abilite, for he knoweth hym right
well. Maister Kebell is not comyng to London as yet, and as for
all your other matters that your Lordship entrusted me in, I shall
endevour me to spede theym as hastely as I can; and my servyce is
and shalbe at your commaundement, as knoweth oure Lorde,
whoo I beseche ever to preserve your gode Lordship.
Writen at London the xxvij day of January.
Your humble servant,
THOMAS MOTTON.

My Lorde, I understode your Lordeship that I shulde not take
any writt ageynst theym that caried away the godes of Ric. Lyford
without that I coulde fynde that he wer outlawed, and if he wer
not outlawed, I understode that there shulde non action be taken ageynst theym, and so it is in myn informacion. Yf your Lorde_ship 
woll have writts ageynst theym let the brynger. . . . . . .
and it shalbe done.

To the right Reverend and my speciall gode
Lorde, my Lorde Priour of Cristchirche
in Caunt`bury.


LXII. -- DOM. EDWARD BOCKYNG, CUSTOS OF CANT. COLL.
OXON. TO DR. THOMAS GOLDWELL OF CHRIST CHURCH.
|r[Circa_1510.)

|r46
Ryght Reverent and moost intirely beloved, Sir Doctor, as hartely
I can or may possybull have me commended unto you, and innolesse
manner do thank you off all kyndness shewde to me and to my
company, and off your grete cost in that behalfe att your last beyng
with uss. Syr, as now I have no specyall matters to you, but thatt
hit shall lyke you to take the payne in the delyveryng off our
lettres, and also to speke to my aucyon Chychele off the service I



|p57


spoke to you att your beyng with uss, and in eny casse he send me
worde theroff, that I and they be not dysapoynted. Newys I know
noon wurth wrytyng, but thatt I and all my company be in good
helth, thanks be to God; who ever preserve you; and I pray you
hertely to have commended unto all my frends as ye know, and
thus ever fer you well. From Oxford the xxvth day of September.
Be your lover to his poure,
DAMP. EDWARD BOCKYNG.

Honorando viro Domino Thome Goldwell Sacre
pagine Professori dignissimo Doctori.


LXIII. -- THE LORD OF THE MANOR OF THANNINGTON TO THE
TREASURERS OF CHRIST CHURCH, CANTERBURY. (1500.)

Ihus.

|r13
Masturs Tresorars, I recommend me un to yowr good mastur
chyppys in the most harthste wyse that I can thyncke, ever mor
gladly to her of yowr good welfarys, the whiche I bescheche Allmyty
Jhu to contenewe to hys plesure and to yowre owne hartty desyre.
Furdermore Masturis I pray yow for to pay to Wyllyam Whytte
the goodman of the Flowre-the-lyce within the hy strete of Canter_bery 
vj s. xj d. for quytrent that ye pay to the Manor of Tanyngton,
the whyche was payabull att Mykelmas lastpaste, and the seyde
Wyllyam schall delyver yow a quyttance of my owne hande and
sele. No moe to yowe at thys [tyme] but that I shall pray to
Allmyty to have yow in hys kepynge. Amen. Wretyn at London
the xxij day of October Aø domini XVC.
By yowr lover
WYLLYAM ATKINS,
lorde of Tanyngton.



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LXIV. -- THE KING [HENRY VII.] TO THE PRIOR OF CHRIST
CHURCH, AND TO THE MAYOR OF CANTERBURY. (1505.)

By the King.

|r27
Trusty and welbeloved in God, and trusty and welbeloved,
we grete you well. And wheras John Alkoke, of that our Citie of Can_terbury
goldsmyth, was lately by our commaundement attached,and 
sent unto us upon certain matiers and causes allegged against
hym, and therupon ye toke unto your hands and saufkeping all the
stuf and goods unto hym belonging, unto suche tyme as ye might
have knowledge of our pleasyr in that behalve: soo it is that the
said John hath founde good and sufficient suertie before our counsaill
to answer at all tymes when he shalbe called unto the said matiers.
Wherfor we wol and commaunde you that furthwith, upon the sight
of these our lettres, ye restore againe unto the said John all his said
stuf and goods, without any part therof deteignyng or withholding,
and thise our lettres shalbe your discharge in that behalve. Yeven
under our segnet at our manor of Richemount the xijth day of Juyn.
The xxti [year of our] Raign.

To our trusty and welbeloved in God the Prior
of our Monastery of Christ Church in our
Citie of Canterbury, and to our . . . . . ..
. . . . Maior of the same.


LXV. -- RICHARD FITZ JAMES BISHOP OF LONDON TO THE
PRIOR OF CHRIST CHURCH. |r[Circ._1510.]

My good Brother, in ryght herty wyse y commende me on to
yow, so desiryng you to be good Lorde and fader on to the Wardon
and Felows of Merton College in Oxforde. So itt ys, your officers
and servants of West Cheyam in Surrey have lately distraynede and
imparkyd the sayde Wardons catell and his tenantys of Maldon,
for comynyng in the comyn of Sparowfylde; I trust, byside your
knowlyge and wyll. I pray you to geve credens on to my brother
and felow mastir Doctor Sawnder, this berer, sume tyme felow of
the sayde College as y wasse, in this behalfe, which y trust shall



|p59


inform you and your consciens the clernes of this matter, as shall
mor playnly apper when it shall kume in thexamination of wyse
men. And both the wardon and felows of the sayde College and
y shall truly pray for yow and your holy monastery to Our Lorde
for your long conservation in his service. From Fulham hastily
the xjth day of June with the hande of your olde trulover and
bedman. RIC. LONDON.

To the right honorabyll and my dere Brother in
God the Prior of Cristys Church in Caun_terbury 
be this byll delyverde.


LXVI. -- PRIOR GOLDSTONE II. TO DR. GOLDWELL. (1512.)

|r8
Brother Doctor, I commend me hartely unto yow, and certify
yow that on Wodnesday last past I recevyd from yow ij lettres by
one that called hymself Master Smyth, and so ye called hym in
your wrytyng, to whiche, as I perceyve by the same, ye wer much
bounden for hys kyndness. In the whiche lettres ye desire to know
my mynde wheder ye shuld come home or not. Verily, Brother
Doctor, as to that I certify yow that bothe I and also our brethren
here wold all be right glad to see you at home, and think every day
three till ye come, and so of this our mynde I wolde have sent yow
knowlege or this tyme yf I might have had a convenyent messenger;
but I thought alwey that you wold have byn at home or this tyme,
seing the world so jeobardous as it is nowe. Wherfore I wold that
yow, with our Brother Doctor Gyllyngham, shuld adresse your selfe
homeward as shortly as ye convenyently may. As for newys her I
knowe non at this tyme worth writing. My Lord Archebisshop is
not here at this Easter, he is at Knoll. And thus ever fare ye well.
From Cauntrebury, on Easter evyn. A=o=. dni. 1512.
Your brother, THOMAS,
Prior of Christchurch at Cantb.

Viro religioso Thome Goldwell, Monacho ecclesie
Christi Cantuarie in Anglia, Sacre Theologie
Doctori, in civitate Lovaniensi.

In Universitate Lovaniensi.