[Sidenote: 1491 / APRIL 6]
Ryght trusty and ryght welbelovyd cousyn, we grete yow well, &c. In that
we desyer all the dogers [_fishing smacks_] of thos partes schuld have
our licens to departe in the viage towardes Islond, as they have ben
accustommyd to do yerly in tyme passyd, and that ye woll undertak they
shall have with them no more quantites of graynes then woll only suffice
for ther vitallyng and expensis; we late yow witte that owr fully
interly belovyd cousyn the Kyng of Demarke hath showyd and compleynyd un
to us by dyverse his letters, that when our subjectes come to the seid
Islelond, beyng in hys obeissiance, they stelle, robbe, and exstorte his
subjectes ther ageynse ryght and conciens. Wherfore, the seyd doggeres
fyndyng sufficient surte be forne yow, such as ye will answer unto us,
that they shall not have with them no graynes mo then shall only suffice
for ther vitallyng, nor odyr thyng woth them that ys for bedyn, and that
also they shall not in goyng, comyng, nor in ther beyng at the seyd
Islond, take noo thyng but that they treuly pay or agre for, and frendly
entrete our seyd cousyns subjectes withowth eny robbyng or exstartyng
them in there bodyes ner goodys; we be content the seyd doggeres make
ther viages thedyr at ther libertes, eny our wrytyng or comandment mad
in to the contrary nat withstandyng; and ellys we woll that our
restraynte of ther thedyr goyng stond styll in his strenthe and vertu.
Yovyn ondir our signet, at our maner of Shene, the vj^th day of Aprile.
* * *
JOHN VER, Erle of Oxynford, Gret Chambyrleyn and Admirall of Ynglond,
Viscount Bulbek, and Lord Skalys, to all them that this present writyng
shall see or here, gretyng. And for asmuch as I late have recevyd the
Kyng our Sovereyn Lords letters, beryng date the vj^th day of this
monyth of Aprile, accordyng to a copy of the same, signyd with myn hand,
wiche my ritht trusty servant, John Rowe, Marchall of my Admyralite,
hath for to showe;
Know ye that I, the seyd Erle and Admirall, have assygned and deputyd my
seyd servant to see our seyd Sovereyn Lordes lettyrs pleynly executyd
acordyng to the tenure of the same, and by thys present wrytyng have
yevyn to hym full autoryte and pouer to put undyr arest all such
doggeres as be dysposyd to mak the viage towardes Islond, to such tyme
as they have fownd surte afor me, accordyng to owr seyd Sovereyn Lordys
comandment, for ther demenyng in the seyd viagys.
Yovyn under myn signett and signee manuell the x^th day of Aprile the
vj. yere of the reygne of our seyd Sovereyn Lord Kyng Hery the vij^{th}.
[Footnote 136-3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
[[our seyd Sovereyn Lord Kyng Hery the vij^{th}.
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