_Richard, Duke of York, his Peticion to Kyng Henry for the punyshement
of Treytors, &c._
[Sidenote: 1450]
Please it your Hyghnes tendirly to consider the grett grutchyng and
romer that is universaly in this your reame of that justice is nouth
dewly ministred to such as trespas and offende a yens your lawes, and in
special of them that ben endited of treson, and other beyng openly
noysed of the same; wherfore for gret inconveniens that have fallen, and
grett is lyke to fallen her after in your seid reame, which God defende,
but if [_unless_] be your Hyghnesse provysion convenable be mad for dew
reformacion and punyshment in this behalf; Wherfore I, your humble suget
and lyge man, Richard, Duke of York, willyng as effectually as I kan,
and desiryng suerte and prosperite of your most roiall person, and
welfare of this your noble reame, councel and advertyse your excellent,
for the conversacion [_conservation_] of good tranquillite and pesable
rewle among all trew sogetts, for to ordeyn and provyde that dewe
justice be had a yenst all such that ben so endited or openly so noysed:
wher inne I offre, and wol put me in devour for to execute your
comaundements in thes premises of such offenders, and redresse of the
seid mysrewlers to my myth and power. And for the hasty execucion herof,
lyke it your Hyghnes to dresse your letteres of prevy seale and writts
to your officers and ministres to do take, and areste all soch persons
so noysed or endited, of what astatte, degre, or condicion so ever thei
be, and them to comytte to your Tour of London, or to other your
prisons, there to abyde with outen bayle or maynprice on to the tyme
that they be utterly tryed and declared, after the cours of your lawe.
[Footnote 177.2: [From Fenn, i. 64.] The MS. from which this was
printed by Fenn was doubtless the copy of my Lord of York’s
‘bill’ which William Wayte sent to John Paston, as mentioned in
the end of the last letter.]
144