Your true and loving father
+Suffolk+.
THE MURDER OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK (+May 5, 1450+).
=Source.=--_Paston Letters_, vol. i., No. 93.
+Right worshipful Sir+,
I recommend me to you, and am right sorry of that I shall say, and so
washed this little bill with sorrowful tears, that on these ye shall
read it.
As on Monday next after May day there come tidings to London that on
Thursday before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the coast of Kent full
near Dover with his two ships and a little spinner; the which spinner
he sent with certain letters to certain of his trusted men unto Calais
wards, to know how he should be received; and with him met a ship
called _Nicolas of the Tower_, with other ships waiting on him, and by
them that were in the spinner the master of the _Nicolas_ had knowledge
of the duke's coming. And when he espied the duke's ships, he sent
forth his boat to know what they were, and the duke himself spake to
them, and said, he was by the King's commandment sent to Calais wards,
etc.
And they said he must speak with their master. And so he, with two or
three of his men, went forth with them in their boat to the _Nicolas_;
and when he come, the master bade him "Welcome, Traitor," as men say;
and further the master desired to know if the shipmen would hold with
the duke, and they sent word they would not in no wise; and so he was
in the _Nicolas_ till Saturday next following.
Some say he wrote much things to be delivered to the King, but that is
not verily known. He had his confessor with him, etc.
And some say he was arraigned in the ship on their manner upon the
impeachments and found guilty, etc.
Also he asked the name of the ship, and when he knew it, he remembered
Stacy that said, if he might escape the danger of the Tower, he should
be safe; and then his heart failed him, for he thought he was deceived,
and in the sight of all his men he was drawn out of the great ship in
to the boat; and there was an axe and a block, and one of the lewdest
of the ship bid him lay down his head, and he should be fair fared
with and die on a sword; and took a rusty sword, and smote off his head
within half a dozen strokes, and took away his gown of russet, and his
doublet of velvet mailed, and laid his body on the sands of Dover; and
some say his head was set on a pole by it....
And the sheriff of Kent doth watch the body, and sent his under-sheriff
to the judges to know what to do, and also to the King what shall be
done.