[Sidenote: 1458(?) / [FEB.]]
You shall know the governance here on Paston’s coming to you better than
I can write. The King is gone to Berkhamstead, ‘and it is said my Lords
Somerset, Exeter, Clifford, and Egremont, that rode upon Thursday last
to the King, they come again to London; and the Lord of Northumberland
is come to the King at this time after the Lords’ departing out of
London with 3000 or 4000 people, as it is said, but all toke (?) to a
good peace, and reconysances made to keep the peace in great sums till
Michaelmas, that in the mean time to make a throw peace final by means
of all the Lords.’ John Vyncent of Bentley was at the Priory of Lewes in
Sussex this week, and says that sixty sail of Frenchmen were sailing
before the coasts, keeping the sea. The Lord Fauconberg is at Hampton
with his navy. Edmund Clere of the King’s house has heard from a soldier
of Calais that Crowmer and Blakeney is much spoken of among Frenchmen.
‘The King’s safe conduct is not holden but broken, as it is voiced here,
and that will do no good to merchants till it be amended.’ Figs and
raisins are dear at 18_s._ the croc (?), ‘wherte’ at 10_s._ the qr.,
malt 5_s._ Remains here awaiting for the com[ing of your] officers of
Castlecombe to bring up your money. Expects to send £40 by Master
Paston. . . . . (_Mutilated at the bottom; date lost._)
[The King was at Berkhamstead in the end of June and beginning of
July 1450; also on the 3rd March 1453 (from Reading, whither he
returned immediately); also in February and March 1458 (from 20th
February to 13th March). This letter must have been written in
February 1458.]
[Footnote 126.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 274.]]
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