_A la Reyne D’Engleterre [en] Escote._
[Sidenote: 1461 / AUG. 30]
Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to
your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by
the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent
from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in
a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng
you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles[306.2] deth, whom God assoyll,
and howe we sta[n]de arest [_arrested_], and doo yet; but on Tuysday
next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn
germayn.[306.3] His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all
our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord
of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,[306.4] and my felowe
Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where
we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said
Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to
bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Canse, and Monsieur
de la Mot.
Ma dam, ferth [_fear_] you not, but be of gode comfort, and beware that
ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,[307.1] by the See,
till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure
there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for
God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed,
Th’erll of March[307.2] is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy
thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be
delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by
the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you
peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and
to send you that your Highnes desireth. Writen at Depe the xxx^ti dey of
August.
Your true Subgettes and Liege men.