[Sidenote: 1454 / MARCH 31]
Right wurchepfull and my right especiall Lord, I recomaund me to your
gode Lordshep, besechyng your Lordshep that ye take not to displesauns
thow I write you, as I here say that Agnes Denyes, be the meanes of your
Lordshep and of my Lord the Cardynall,[306.3] hos sowle God assoyle and
forgeve, was set in preson, beyng with child--which, and the sorough and
shame there of, was nygh her deth--and yet dayly is vexed and trobled,
and her servauntes in like wyse, to the uttermest distruccion of her
person and godes. In which, my Lord, at the reverens of God, remembre
sche was maried be you and be my meanes, be your comaundement and
writyng, and draw therto full sore ageyn her entent in the begynnynge;
and was worth v.^c. [500] marc and better, and shuld have had a
gentilman of this contre of an C. marc of lond and wele born, ne had be
your gode Lordshep and writyng to her and me. And this considered in
your wise discrecion, I trost, my Lord, thow her prisonyng were of
oderes labore, ye wuld helpe her; and if she be destroyd be this
mariage, my conscyens thynketh I am bownd to recompense her after my
pore and sympill power. My Lord, ye know I had litill cause to do for
Thomas Denyes, savyng only for your gode Lordshep. Also, my Lord, I know
wele that Water Ingham was bete, the mater hangyng in myn award, right
fowle and shamefully; and also how the seid Thomas Denyes hath, this
last terme, ageyn your nobill estat, right unwysely demened hym to his
shame and grettest rebuke that ever he had in his lyve. Where fore it is
right wele do his person be ponysshed as it pleaseth you. But this not
withstondyng for Godds love, my Lord, remembre how the gentilwoman is
accombred only for yowr sake, and help her; and if aught lyth in my
power to do that that myght please yowr Lordshep, or cowde fynde any way
for Water Ingham avayll and wurchep, I wull do it to my power; and the
rather if your Lordshep support the jentilwoman, for I know the mater
and that longe plee is litill avayll, and every thyng must have an ende.
I have told my brother Mathew Drury more to enforme yowre Lordshep than
I may have leyser to write for his hasty departyng. Right wurchepfull
and my right especiall Lord, I besech All myghty God send you asmych joy
and wurchep as ever had any of my Lords yowr aunceters, and kepe you and
all yowres. Wretyn at Norwich the iiij. Sonday of Lent.
Yowre servaunte to his powr,