_To our right honorable and especyall good maister, Ser John Paston,
Knyght, this letter be delyvered in hast._
[Sidenote: 1495 / JULY 11]
Right wurchipfull ser, we recomaund us onto your good maistership,
sertefyeng you that Robart Albon of Yermouth with many more of our
neybors, this Saterday arn comen hom from Caunterbury. And Robart Albon
hath spokyn with the English captayns of the Kynges rebellys ther, part
of theym that arn takyn; and Robart Albon and his company seith that
ther wer takyn and slayn to the noumbre of vij^xx., wherof were v.
captayns, iiij. of them he named, oon Mounford, Whyght, Belt, and
Corbett: he coude nott telle the fyfft capteyns name. And they told hym
that they have apoynted to have a town of strength, for they wold an had
Sandwich, and the countre had nott a resistid them. And so Belt seid on
to Robart Albon he wyst weell that he was but a deed man, and for
asmoche as he wist that he was of Yermouth, he shewid hym that they woll
have Yermouth or they xall dye for it, as Robart seyth to us.
And this is a mater of trewth, and therfore we desyre and pray your good
maistership, that we may have your myghty help of ayde and socowr, and
that it woll please you to comon with Maister Mayer of Norwiche, to meve
hym of hys sokour, but in especyall that we may have your maistership
amongs us, with suche strength of your good councell, as your
maistership shall thynk most best for the Kynges pleasur, and for the
sewyrtye of us alle; for we putt us in devyr to furnysh the town with
all that we can doo, for we know noon oder but that they may be here by
possybylyte this nyght or to morow att nyght at the ferdest. No more to
you, but Jesu preserve you.
Wretyn at Yermouth, in hast, this Saterday, the xj. day of July.
Be your owyn, the Balyffes of Yermouth,
with our Brethern and
Comons of the same Town.
[Footnote 153-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter refers to
the attempt of Perkin Warbeck at Deal, where a number of his
followers landed on the 3rd July 1495, and were all either killed
or taken prisoners by the people.]
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