_To my maister, John Paston, in hast._
[Sidenote: 1461 / APRIL 4]
Please you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngs as my Lady of York hath by
a lettre of credens, under the signe manuel of oure Soverayn Lord King
Edward, whiche lettre cam un to oure sayd Lady this same day, Esterne
Evyn,[267.1] at xj. clok, and was sene and red by me, William Paston.
Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld,[267.2] and uppon the
Munday[267.3] next after Palmesunday, he was resseved in to York with
gret solempnyte and processyons. And the Mair and Comons of the said
cite mad ther menys to have grace be Lord Montagu[267.4] and Lord
Barenars,[267.5] whiche be for the Kyngs coming in to the said cite
desyred hym of grace for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace. On
the Kyngs parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and Lord Scrop sore hurt; John
Stafford, Horne of Kent ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford, William Hastyngs
mad knyghts with other; Blont is knygth, &c.
Un the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord Nevyle, Lord Welles,
Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord Scales, Lord Harry, and be supposyng the Erle
of Northumberland, Andrew Trollop, with many other gentyll and comons to
the nomber of xx.^ml. [20,000].
Item, Kyng Harry, the Qwen, the Prince, Duke of Somerset, Duke of
Exeter, Lord Roos, be fledde in to Scotteland, and they be chased and
folwed, &c. We send no er [_no sooner_] un to you be cause we had non
certynges tyl now; for un to this day London was as sory cite as myght.
And because Spordauns had no certeyn tydyngs, we thought ye schuld take
them a worthe tyl more certayn.
Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can telle you. And Jesu
spede you. We pray you that this tydyngs my moder may knowe.
Be your Broder,