ELIANOR, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[143.2]

_To my right worshipfull and right entierly welbelovid cousin, the

Viscount Beaumont._

[Sidenote: 1444-1460]

Right worshipfull and right entierly welbelovid cousin, I comaunde me to

you with alle my herte, desiring to here, and verile to knowe of your

worshipfull estate, profite, hele and good prosperite, the whiche I

beseche our Lord Jesu ever to mayntene and preserve in alle worship, to

his plesaunce, and to your herts ease.

Please it you, cousin, to witte that your welbelovid servaunt, Roger

Hunt, and a servaunt of my moost dred Lord my husbond, on William, yoman

of his ewry,[144.1] have comend to gedre, and been fully thorgh and

agreed that the said William shall have his office, if it may please

your good Lordship. Wherfore, cousin, I pray you, as my speciale truste

is in you, that ye will, at th’instaunce of my proier and writing,

graunte by your lettres patents to the said William the forsaid office,

with suche wages and fees as Roger your said servaunt hath it of you;

trustyng verile that ye shall fynde the said William a faithfull

servaunt to you, and can and may do you right good service in that

office.

And, cousin, in th’acompleshment of my desire in this mater, ye may do

me a right good pleaser, as God knowith, whom I beseche for His merci to

have you ever in His blessed gouvernaunce, and send you good lyfe and

long, with muche good worship.

Writen at Framlynham, the viij^th day of Marche.

ELIANORE, the Duchess of Norfolk.

[Footnote 143.2: [From Fenn, i. 194.] Here we have another

letter, of uncertain date, addressed to the same person as the

last. The year when it was written is quite immaterial, but must

have been between 1444, when John Mowbray, the writer’s husband,

was confirmed in the dignity of Duke of Norfolk (which had

belonged to his grandfather in the time of Richard II.), and

1460, when Viscount Beaumont was slain at the battle of

Northampton.]

[Footnote 144.1: An officer who had charge of the table linen,

etc.]

383

The Paston Letters, A.D. 1422-1509. Volume 3 (of 6) New Complete Library Edition · 第 243 / 419 题