[Sidenote: 1485 / OCT. 20]
Right welbeloved, we grete you well. And for asmuche as the King our
sovereigne Lord hath late addressed his letters of comission undre his
seale unto us, reciting by the same that his highnesse undrestondith
certayn his rebells associate to his old enmys of Scotlond, entending
not only to trowble his peax, the nobles and subjects of this Realme to
destroy, their goods and possessions to spoill, and reward at thair
liberties, but also the lawes of this lond and holy Chirche to subvert.
Our said moost drad soverayn Lord, as a Cristen Prince, . . . . . . . .
his said enmys and rebels to resist, hath assigned and comaunded us to
do all maner . . . . and others defensible able to labour, as well
archers as hobbyllers,[90-1] to come before us and charge them . . . . .
armed and arayed, every man aftre his degre and power, to attend uppon
his person, and uppon us, to do him service in defence as well of the
Chirche as of the said nobles and subjects of this Realm, against his
said enmys and rebels.
We therfore wull, and in our said sovereigne Lords name straitly charge
and comaunde you, that in all possible hast ye do this to be
proclamed:--And that all maner men able to do the King service, as well
knights, esquiers, and gentlemen, as townships and hundreds, as well
within franchesse and libertes as without, within the counties of
Suffolk and Norffolk, and that they be charged to be redy at all tymes
uppon an howre warnyng, and ordered according to the last comission
afore this, to attend uppon his Grace and uppon us to do him service,
whatsoever they shalbe comaunded, not failing herof, as ye wull answer
at your perile. Goven at Long Stratton, the xx. day of October.
And forthermore, that ye yeve credence unto our servaunt this bringer,
as this same day we receyved the Kings commission at iiij. aftre none.
SUFFOLK, yor frende.
[Footnote 89-2: [From Fenn, ii. 326.] John Paston was Sheriff of
Norfolk in the first year of Henry VII., and entered on his duties
at Michaelmas 1485. This letter therefore is of that year.]
[Footnote 90-1: Light horsemen.]
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