[Sidenote: 1452 / [APRIL]]
Be hit knowen to alle the Kyngs trewe liege peple, the cause of our
comynge in to this contre ys, by the comandement of the Kynge our
soverayn Lorde, for to enquer of suche gret riotts, extorcyons, oryble
wrongis and hurts as his Highnesse ys credybyly enformyd ben don in this
contre, and to know in serteyne, by yow that knowe the trowthe, by what
persone or personys the seyde gret riotts, extorcions, oryble wrongis
and hurts be done. Wherfor we charge yow alle, on the Kyngs behalve our
soverayne Lorde, that ze spar neyther for love, drede, ne fer that ze
have to any persone of what estat, degre, or condicion he be, but that
ze sey the soth by whome suche offences be done, and that ze spar no man
that ze knowe gilty; and be the feyth that we owe to our soverayn Lorde,
they schal be chastysid after ther desert, and hit reformyd as lawe
requyrith.
Also hit ys opunly puplysschid that serteyne servaunts of the Lord
Scales schulde in his name manasse and put men in feer and drede to
compleyne to us at this tyme of the seide hurts and greves, seynge that
we wolde abyde but a schort tyme her, and aftir our departynge he wolde
have the rewle and governaunce as he hath had affore tyme. We lete yow
wete that nexst the Kynge our soverayn Lord, be his good grace and
lycence, we woll have the princypall rewle and governance throwh all
this schir, of whishe we ber our name whyls that we be lyvynge, as ferre
as reson and lawe requyrith, hoso ever will grutche or sey the
[contrary[259.1]]; for we woll that the Lord Scales, Sir Thomas
Tudenham, Sir Mylis Stapylton, and John Heydon have in knowleche, thowh
our persone be not dayly her, they schal fynde our power her at all
tymes to do the Kynge our soverayn Lord servyse, and to support and
mayntene yow alle in your right that ben the Kyngs trewe lige men. For
hit may non ben seyde nay, but that her hath ben the grettest riotts,
orryble wrongs and offences done in thise partyes by the seide Lord
Scales, Thomas Tudenham, Mylis Stapilton, John Heydon, and suche as ben
confedred on to theym that evir was seen in our dayes; and most
myschiffe throwh ther maliciouse purpose lyke to have fallyn amonge the
Kyngs trewe liege peple now late at Norwiche, ne had we better providid
therfor. And also that God fortunyd us to withstande ther seyde
malicious and evill disposid purpose.
Wherfor makith billiz of your grevance, and come to us, and we schal
brynge yow to the Kynges presence our selfe, whos presence wyll be her
in all the hast with the mercy of God, and see the reformacion ther of
his owyn persone.
[Footnote 258.2: [From Fenn, iii. 248.] The intended royal visit
to Norfolk mentioned in the end of this proclamation appears to
tally best with the date of April 1452, when, it will also be
seen from the letters following, the Duke of Norfolk was at
Framlingham, hearing complaints from the gentlemen of Norfolk.]
[Footnote 259.1: Indicated by Fenn as illegible in MS.]
[[by whome suche offences de done _text has “be done”_]]
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