[Footnote 121.2: [From Fenn, i. 146.] Fenn considers this letter
to have been called forth by the summons sent by the King to the
Lords of both parties to come to London, in the beginning of
1458, with a view to a reconciliation. On this view, the excuse
of illness given by Salisbury is, of course, a mere pretence,
and, moreover, was not adhered to, for within a week after it
was penned Salisbury actually was in London with a company of
400 horse and 80 knights and squires (_see_ Botoner’s letter of
the 1st February). This sudden change of tactics on the part of
the Earl seems to me hardly probable, and I see no reason why
the letter should not refer to a genuine illness upon a
different occasion. Nevertheless, as there is no positive
evidence on the subject, I leave the date suggested by Fenn,
with a query, on which the reader may use his own judgment.]
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