[Footnote 99-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter and that
which follows were written during the period of Lambert Simnel’s
rebellion. The rebels were at this time in Ireland, but they soon
after invaded England, and were defeated at the battle of Stoke on
the 16th June 1487. Francis, Viscount Lovel, took part in the
movement, and is supposed to have perished in the battle, or
shortly after it.]
[Footnote 99-2: John Ratcliff, Lord Fitzwalter.--_See_ Campbell’s
_Materials for a History of Henry VII._, i. 92, 241.]
[Footnote 99-3: Probably the Earl of Oxford.--_See_ next letter.]
[Footnote 99-4: Sir William Boleyn, of Blickling, had been made a
Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Richard III. He died in
1505.--F.]
[Footnote 99-5: Sir Henry Heydon, of Baconsthorp, Knight, had been
steward of the household to Cecilia, Duchess of York, and died in
1503.--F.]
[Footnote 100-1: Sir Edmund Bedingfeld was made a Knight of the
Bath at the Coronation of Richard III. He was likewise in high
favour with Henry VII., who paid him a royal visit at Oxburgh, in
Norfolk. He died in 1496.--F.]
1015
[THE EARL OF OXFORD?] TO SIR EDMUND BEDINGFIELD[100-2]
[Sidenote: 1487 / MAY (?)]
Where as I understonde by your late wrytyng un to me, that ye have ryght
well endevyrd you to th’execusion of the Kynges comission and
comawndment, in preparyng your selffe with the jentylmen and other of
the contre, to be redy to do the Kyng servyce, whyche I have shewid un
to the Kynges Hyghnes, so that hys Grace ys ryght well content and ryght
thankfully acceptyth the same, understondynge the ryght good myndys and
dysposyschon off you and off other jentylmen there towardes hys Grace.
How be yt, hys Hyghnes wull not as zytte put you to ony further labur or
charge, for somoche as hys rebellys and enemyes be in to Irlande;
neverthelesse hys Grace wull that the contre be redy at all tymis to do
hys Hyghnes servyce up on resonabull warnyng; for so moche as the Kynges
Grace intendythe to make provysyon to sende an armi in to Irlonde in
haaste, nat knowyng as zytte whether that ye, and other aboute you shall
be desyird to bere ony charge there to or no. And where as yt ys
mervellyd that ye had not the Kynges comysshon, under hys gret seall,
I send yt to you with thys my wrytyng, wyllynge you nat to precede
further to eny execushon theroff tyll swyche tyme as ye have other wise
in comawndment, alwey thankyng hertyly the jentylmen, and all other for
ther good wyllys towardes me.
[Footnote 100-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. from which this
letter was printed was evidently the copy of a letter, which was
enclosed in the preceding. Fenn supposes with great probability
that the writer was the Earl of Oxford, but the MS. being only a
copy, there is no signature attached. Commissions of array were
issued on the 7th April 1487 for the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk,
and Essex, with special instructions for repairing and guarding
the beacons for fear of an invasion. The Commissioners for the
County of Norfolk were John, Duke of Suffolk, John, Earl of
Oxford, John Radcliff, Lord Fitzwalter, and fifteen others, among
whom was John Paston.--See _Patent Roll_, 2 Hen. VII., p. 2, m. 6,
_in dorso_.]
1016