_To my right trusty and welbelovyd Henry Spilman, Thos. Seyve, John
Seyve, James Radclif, John Brampton the older, and to eche of them._
[Sidenote: 1471 / MARCH 19]
Trusty and welbeloved, I comende me to you, lettyng you witte that I
have credible tydyngs that the Kyngs gret enemys and rebellis,
acompanyed with enemys estraungers, be nowe aryved, and landyd in the
north parties of this his land, to the utter destruction of his roiall
persone, and subversion of all his realm, if they myght atayne; whom to
encountre and resiste the Kings Highnesse hath comaunded and assigned
me, under his seall, sufficient power and auctorite to call, reyse,
gader, and assemble, fro tyme to tyme, all his liege people of the shire
of Norff., and other places, to assiste, ayde, and strenght me in the
same entent.
Wherfor, in the Kyngs name, and by auctorite aforesaid, I straitly
charge and command you, and in my owne byhalf hertly desire and pray
you, that, all excuses leid apart, ye, and eche of you in your owne
persones defensibly araied, with asmony men as ye may goodly make, be on
Fryday next comyng at Lynne, and so forth to Newark, where, with the
leve of God, I shall not faile to be at that tyme; entendyng fro thence
to goo foorth with the help of God, you, and my fryndes, to the recountr
of the said enemyes; and that ye faill not hereof, as ye tendre the
weele of our said sovereygne Lord, and all this his realme. Written at
Bury, the xix^th day of Marche.