[Footnote 323.3: [From Fenn, i. 140.] The year in which this
letter was written must be that of the mayoralty of Robert
Sturmy at Bristol, as shown in p. 324, Note 2. It certainly
could not be 1457, Fenn’s date, as Lord Cromwell died in January
1456.]
[Footnote 324.1: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He
was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the 15th March 1455
(Patent, 33 Henry VI., p. 2, m. 20), but on the 29th May
following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry,
Viscount Bourchier (_Ib._ m. 12). But this letter, which is
dated in July, cannot be in 1455; indeed, we have positive
evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the
manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above? It is just
possible--though not likely, as Wiltshire was a
Lancastrian--that his appointment may have been enrolled in the
wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the
15th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve
the difficulty best:-- ‘The Lords that be appointed to keep the
see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also: the
Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.’ John Tiptoft, Earl of
Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the 11th February
1454.--See _Rolls of Parl._ v. 238.]
[Footnote 324.2: The name was printed by Fenn ‘St’myn’,’ and in
the modern version on the opposite page, ‘St. Myn.’ Robert
Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453-4. It was probably
this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of
which disaster there is the following notice in the MS.
Calendars of Bristol:-- ‘Mr. Robert Sturney [_alias_ Sturmey],
who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the
Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much
wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be
planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa
in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he
arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and
imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good
the loss; so that they were charged with £6000 indebted to Mr.
Sturney.’ --Seyer’s _Memoirs of Bristol_, ii. 189.]
[Footnote 324.3: ‘The said town,’ it would appear, did ‘do her
part’ on the occasion; for besides this ship fitted out by the
Mayor, Bristol subscribed £150 to a loan raised by the Duke of
York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may
appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London
itself only subscribed £300, and Southampton, which was the next
largest contributor, only £100, while Norwich and Yarmouth
contributed the latter amount between them.--Seyer’s _Bristol_,
ii. 188; see also _Rolls of Parl._ v. 245. We must remember,
however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times
their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison
with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his
native town.]
[Footnote 324.4: Robert Poynings. --_See_ p. 154, Note 3.]
[Footnote 325.1: ‘Many a good man’s heart he hath.’ --We should
have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his
modern version, gives the following most extraordinary
rendering:-- ‘Many a good man is hurt (_that_) he hath.’]
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