THE CELY PAPERS - PART IV

92

Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij

Ryght worshyppffull Syr afftyr dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschypp Forther more plese hit yowre masterschypp to understond that I hawe receyved an letter from yowre masterschypp the whych I have redd and well understonde and as for tydynges here we have non but gode yett but that we loke afftyr the Kyng at Dower schorttly and my Lordd Chamberleyn lokyth all way when he schall be sent for. Furder more Syr plese hytt yow to understond that I hawe soled all yowre felles that leye in the howse nexte Bondmans to master John Johnson and hys fellowys of Dellff¹ f[or] xiiij nobulles the c. and hallfe redy mony in honde the rest at Colde martt and passce nexte ensewyng they be nott delyverd Syr they desyre to borrow x or xij^li therof tyll Balyng martt but I wolde nott graunte hem but I sayd thys unto them I lokyd aftyr yow w^t in ij or iij days and yff yow wold do so myche for them as to graunte hem that I was content or elles I wold hawe the hole ton halffe at Callys &c. Item Syr I hawe receyed yowre gere of John Wyxstons man all sawe an towell whych John Dalton tellyth me that master John Wyxston hadd nott but he hath hit hymsellffe and wyll delyver hit. Syr as for youre lyve lode ys nott yett cleryd but the warddysman hath sen yowre yowre lyve lode and entyd hit in her bokes and w^t in thys ij days yowre evydensse most be schewyd affore the comyschoners I hawe them styll by me for John Parker praye me soo for to do for he sayd hit was so best and most redyest for when they come to that warde they schall be send for &c. No more unto yowre masterschyp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the iiij day of Julle.

per youre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull master George Cely merchaunte of the Stappell off Caleys beyng at Breges sot it dd:

^Delft.

93
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght Worschyppffull Syrs After dew recommendaschon I lowly recommend me unto yowr masterschyppis. Furder more plese hyt yowre masterschyppis to understond of syche tydynges as we hawe here at Calys hytt ys so that the town of Ary¹ ys geven up to the Frensche men and anoder castell w^t in a dowche myle off Sent Thomers² be the menys of treson acordyng as hit specyfyeth in my toder letter and the Frensche men purposyth to be at Gravenyng³ and they be nott lettyd w^t in thys ij days and lesse and ther comys every day from Sent Thomers to my Lord Chamberleyn⁴ help and rescew owte of Ynglond and my lord hath promsyd hem that they schall lacke no men not vettel wherfor we loke afftyr here that ther schall com a fellyschypp owte of Ynglond schorttly &c. Item Syr w^e fere here that ther well be schrode passage to thys Balling martt and yff the Frensche men hawe Gravenyng as men fere they schall hawe bytt for they hawe all the passaygys to hit redy &c. No more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow and all owre frenddes Wrytten at Callex the last day of Jowll.
yowr servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull master Rechard or George Cely merchauntes of the [stapell] of Callez at London in Martt Lane so hit dd.

^Aire.
^{St. Omer.}
^Gravelines.
^{Lord Hastings.}

94
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worshyppffull Syr afftyr dew recommendaschon I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschypp Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to understond that I hawe told all yowre felles that remayned yn Callez [thys de]¹ yowre departyng from Calles and there ys of hem ij M^l iij^c xij felles yn all wherof schuld be lx felles off my godfaders Wylliam Maryons as he wrote unto me and of yowres ther be ij M^l lij felles and so hit comyth even owte w^t yowre boke here wherfor I pray owre masterschypp to refforme the som of the felles in the endenter &c Item Syr plese ytt yow to wytt that yowre yonge horsse ys sore apayard syns yowre masterschypp departyd from Calles for he wull ete noo mete yett but grasse and grene tarys for hardd mette he wyll non and he ys but bare yn plyght I can nott thynke that hee may be laboryd schorttly but grett sorell ys in good plyght God sawe hym but I suppose he wyll not be solde here &c Item Syr plese hytt yowre masterschypp to understondd that I hawe nott receyved yowre poll axe whych shulde come from Brege nott yett I askydd Wylliam Dalton of hytt at hys comyng home and he tellyd me hyt was not comen to Bregys all the whyle he wus ther &c Syr oder tydynges hawe we non here but that the Dewke of Burgeyne lyeth styll at Ypurs² with a grette oste and as for the Frensche men hytt ys sayd here thaye hawe vetellys and mannyd the town of Ary³ and the remnante be gon backe agayne as hytt ys sayd here no more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Almyghty Jhesu hath yow yn hys blessyd kepyng Wryten at Cales⁴ the iij day of Auguste
per yowr servante
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull master George Cely marchaunte of the Stapell of Calles at London yn Martt Lane se hit dd:

^{Crossed out.}
^Ypres.
^{The French took Aire this summer, by the treachery

of the commandant, the Sire de Cohen, who afterwards entered

the French service.}
^{Corrected from 'London.'}

95

This letter is the private communication, on perhaps very confidential business, sent at the same time as the business letter which follows. This is to George Cely; the latter to the firm.

Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worschypp Syr afftyr dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschypp Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to understond that thys day we hawe schyppys bothe yowre horsse and I hawe delyverd Joysse v^s x^d ffl. for Almans costes here as hallff passage and brege money &c. And for hys costes yn Ynglond xx^s ster: acordyng to yowre wrytyng &c. Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to be enformyd that Margery commaundith her unto yowre masterschypp and sche tellyth me sche schulde hawe rayment as a gowne and oder thyges agaynest her chyrchyng as sche hadd the toder tyme wherof sche prays yow of an answer Item Syr John Dalton desyreth to have ij romes yn yowrre stabull and he wold pay for hit and he tellyd me he wold wryte to yow for the same but Joysse tellyd me that yowre masterschypp hadd grauntyd hym the stabull and the howsse at hys comyng agayne to Calles for to occupye hit and yowre masterschypp to hawe yowre rome at howre comyng &c. Syr pray yowre masterschypp of an answer of thys &c. Syr as for yowre oder stuffe I schall send hytt unto yowre masterschypp be on of the wollers &c. No more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytton at Calles the xiij day of Auguste.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull master George Cely merchaunt of the Stappell off Calles at London in Mart Lane soo hit dd:

96
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worschyppffull masters affter dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys. Furder more plese hit yowre masterschyppys to understond that thys day I receyved an letter frome yowre masterschyppys wherein ys wrytten the numbyr & poyse of yowre woll and the tale of yowre fellis whych ze hawe schyppyd at London thys flete and the namys of every schypp &c. Item Syrs I understond be the sayd letter that yowre masterschyppys woll hawe yowre wull howssyd in yowre howsse be the est wache howsse¹ and yowre felles in yowre howsse by sent Nycolas chyrche² whych at the ryvyng alond shall be howssyd acordyng &c. Furder more plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to understond that master leffetenaunt and diversse of the felleschypp hathe hadd comenyng w^t my lord Chamberleyn³ and the Kynges Consell for the payment of thys hallffe zerys wagys and I understond they wull be payd xxvj^s viij^d for the pownd and they wull hawe noo noder money than nenyng grottes at iiij^d ob. le styc Syr I understond the goode that comys nowe from London & Ypyswiche most paye partt of the same payment Syr hyt woll be a shrode losse to receyve the nenyng grottes at v^d and paye hyt in to the place at iiij^d ob. &c. Item plese hytt yow to understond that I am nott payd for none of yowre warauntes of xv^s of the pownd nott yett but hytt ys comaundyd be Courtt that every man that hath any warantes of xv ^s of the pownde moste be browght in to the Court the nexte Courte day and ther the Court to fynde syche menes that all the warantes schall be payd owte &c Syr as for tydynges we hawe non here for very sarten but that the Frensche men lyeth styll in garysons apon the borders and gadryth and encresyth dayly as hytt ys sayd and as for the Dewke of Borgayne hytt was sayd he was a thys syde Ypur⁴ w^t a grett ost of men and schuld abe at Sent Tomers⁵ or thys tyme but we here nott of hym yett some men sey he ys gon back agayne &c no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the xiij day of Auguste.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard & George Cely merchauntes of the stapell off Calles at London in Martt Lane soo hit dd:

^{The East Watch House, a tower on the east side of

Calais walls.}
^{St. Nicholas Church (now demolished), at the corner

of Millgate Street and Penny Street, next the Mint, Calais.}
^{Lord Hastings.}
^Ypres.
^{St. Omer.}

97
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worschyppffull Syrs afftyr dew recommendaschon I lowly recommend me unto yowr masterschyppys furder more plese hit yowr masterschyppes to be enfformyd that thys day the xvj day of Auguste the wull flete came to Callez bothe off Lundon and Ypysweche yn saffte thanckyd be Godd and thys same day was partt londyd and hytt rysyth fayer yett thanckyd be Godd &c. Syrs oder tydynges hawe we non here but that cam owte of Ynglond don upon the scottes² I understond they come but slowly on and the Frensche men lyeth styll yn garysons upon the borders &c no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you Wrytten at Calles the xvj day of August.
per yowr servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes of the stappell off Callez at London yn Martte Lane see hit dd.

^{The occupation of Edinburgh by the Dukes of Gloucester

and Albany. Not the recovery of Berwick, which only capitulated

on August 24th.}
^Brabant.

98
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worshyppfull master after dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppis Furder more plese hit yowre masterschyppys to understond that on the xx day of Auguste was redd yn cortt a letter that cam from Syr Wylliam Stocker and diversse of the fellyschypp howe that the Kynge wull have ij M^l pownds for the syrplyssage of all soyche wulles and felles that hath ben schyppyd from the vj day of Apryll last past tyll the vij day of October nexte and for the whych he wull have made vj oblygaschons payabull at vj monthys and vj monthis the stic conteynyng v^c marke to the whych the fellyschypp hath agreydd here be courtt that ther shall be made vj oblijigaschons under the stapell seal ijj payabull yn Feverell next and the toder thre payabull yn Auguste nexte after that &c. Item plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that all they that were before in the wagys of master Robard Radclyfe porter of Callez be putt owte of wagys and warnyd to voyde the town be fryday nexte com and as for BOtterell he shall owte of preson and all that were ther yn for the same mater and they all be warnyd to voyde the town of Callez and the marches wyffe children and goddes be Fryday nexte com payn of deth for the whych I trow Botrell woll nott dyshease yow for yowre howsse neebeuger &c no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu hath yow in hys kepyng Wrytten at Callez the xx day of August.
per yowr servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntys of sta[pell] of Callez at London in Martt Lane be hit dd:

99
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worschyppfull masters after dew recommendasyons I lowly recommend me unto your masterschyppys Furder more plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that all yowre woll ys howssyd drye and thanckyd be God ye have none that ys sore broken and as for yowre felles I have serchyd hem and told hem ower and ye have all yowr tale and ther ys none of hem that ys hurtt w^t burnyng but ther ys a ij c rent w^t the londyng and the howssyng whych shall be made as schortly as I can &&c. Item plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that on Monday last was Robard Hobner was at Bregys and he sayth the same day he sawe the Dewke of Burgeyne deperte owte of Bregys but w^t x horsse in to Selond for they of Gaunte and of Bregys wyll nott graunt hym syche thynges as he askyth for the Dewke askyth noo thyng of them but mony and he wyll take syche men w^t to goo uppon the frensche men as plesyd hym but the Gaunteners and they of Bregys wyll nott zeve hym for the whych he departyd into Selond¹ but I understond the frensche men lyeth styll in garysons appon the mar[ches] and encrece daylie w^t new men owte of hye Fraunce &&c no more unto youre masterschyppys at this [tyme] but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the xxiij day of Auguste
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rychard and George Cely merchantes of the stapell off Calles at London in Mortt Lane [be thys] dd:

^Zealand.

100
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worshypfull masters after dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto youre materschyppys. Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to be enformyd that the xxviij day of Auguste hyt was agreydd here be Courtt that eny man that hadd any goods comun from London or Ypyswyche w^t thys flete schall bryng in hys bylles of costom and subsede of sayd goodes as that day sennyght payne of xij^d off the pownde and that we moste make ij bylles yche of hem of the hallfe the ton payabull the xix day of October nexte and the toder payabull the xx day of Feverell nexte and we moste make a byll of xx^s of the sarpler made payabull at Plesyr whych shall be sent ower to Inglond and wrytten upon won of the bylles rehersyd &c. Forder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that master leffetenaunt and syche of the fellyschypp as were apwoyntyd be the Courtt hath agreyd w^t my lordes¹ chamberleyn² and the kynges consell what mony we shall paye for costom and subsede to the payment of thys hallfe zeyrs wagys fyrste we shall pay xxvj^s viij^d for the pownde sterling and these be the goldys and whyte mony that followyth that ys apoynttyd for the payment as they were corrant afore the doches dyedd fyrst:--

the new crowne.... ....at v^s the odle crowne at v^s iiij^d

the lewe.... ....at vj^s viij^d the Andres gylden at iiij^s vj^d

the ryder.... ....at v^s viij^d the gylhellmus at iiij^s

the salew.... ....at v^s vj^d and ij or iij oder goldes after the same rate

the olde nobull.... ....at xj^s and the nemyng grotes at iiij^d

the Ryall.... ....at xiij^s iiij^d and the old sengull plack at ij^d ob

And as for and oder goldys and oder sylver they wyll non &c. No mor unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the xxix day of Auguste.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppfull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes [of] the stappell of Callez at London in Martt Lane be this dd:

^{Four words erased here.}
^{William, Lord Hastings.}

101

Ryght worshyppfull Syr after dew recommendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschypp furder more plese hett yowre masterschypp to be enformyd that Margere[t] ys dowghter ys past to Godd hytt was berydd thys same daye on whoys sowle Jhesu hawe mercy Syr I onderstond hytt hadd a grett pang what sycknesse hyt was I can nott saye &c Item Syr Bottrell ys departyd owte of Calles and ys yn Inglond and thys day hys wyff goyth to hym w^t all her stuffe and they be comaunded that they shall nott come w^t in the town of Callez as long as my lord chamberleyn¹ ys lefftenaunte of Calles &c. no more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Callez the xxix day of Auguste.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppfull master George Cely merchaunte off the stapell off Callez at London in Martte Lane se hit dd:

^{Lord Hastings.}

102
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worschyppffull masters affter dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys furder more plese hit yowre masterschyppys to be enfformyd that I have receyved a letter from yowre masterschyppys be Wylliam Daltons man whych I hawe redd and well understond and I schall do all thynges acordyng to hyt as nye as I can and for yowre chamberynge that was at makyng at Bregys when Andryan yowre oste was at Calles I delyverd hym mony to paye for the makyng of hyt and he hath sent hyt to Callez reddy and I hawe receyved of hyt every thyng acordyng to yowre remembraunce sawe the cortens be stayned but on the ton syde and ther ys no demy corten but they be all hole that ze may slycte whych ye thyncke best and as sone I can have any schypp that come to London I shcall send hytt unto yowre masterschypp &c Syr for the gosse hawke I can gett non here yett for all that come to Calles my lordd Chamberleyn¹ beyth hem upp and they be any thyng wurth &c. And as for yowre man that ze delyverd yowre mony to for hawkes I here nott of yett &c Furder mo more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to understond that here ys an ordynaunce made be all the fellyschypp the laste courtte day [that all the wull and]² that we schall receyve from that day forward redy mony yn Calles and xxvj^s viij^d fl. for the pownde ster: mony as hytt was corrant affore the Dowches of Borgayne dyed for all wull and fell that shall be sold at Calles from hens forwardd but therof the town of Laythe and Dellffe³ schall paye but hallffe yn hondd at Calles at xxviij^s viij^d the mony as hytt was corrant affore the Dowches a Borgeyn⁴ dyed and the rest a vj monthys and vj monthys at xxviij^s the pownd mony as hytt ys corant at the martt &c Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe born ynto the plase yowre bylles of Costom and subsede whych be abelyd yn courtt and I hawe born yn yowre byll off xx^s of the sarpler made paybull at plesur amountyth xxxv^li x^s ster: and hytt ys wrytten uppon yowre last byll payabull the xx day of Feverell as all oder mens ys yn lyke case and the bylles of xx^s of the sarpler schall be sent ynto Inglond to the lolyster schorttly &c and as for yowre byll of costom & subsede that ys payabull the xx day of October hit amountes lxxix^li xiij^s v^d ob ster: whych moste be purveyd ffor agaynest thys payment yn thys nexte martt for the mony the whych I schuld a receyved owte of the plase for yowre warrantes of xv^s of the pownde I can hawe but xiiij^li fl. yett for hytt hawe be spoken of in Courtt and ther be dyversse that be yn casse lyke as yew and the Courtt sayth they can tak noo derecschon for hyt tell hytt be grown yn tresory for the whych they saye ys moste forbere a seson &c no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the iij day of September.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull masters Rechard & George Cely merchauntes of the stapell aff Callez at London yn Martt Lane se hit dd:

^{Lord Hastings.}
^{The words between the brackets are crossed out.}
^{Leyden and Delft.}
^{The Duchess Mary.}

103
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiijij
Ryght worshyppffull masters affter dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschypys furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understondd that I hawe cast owte a sarpler of yowre wull n^o xij and the ..ft packer comend hit grettly be the whych hytt schall be awardyd the nexte marte day and I hawe sett all yowre felles redy for to presse &c Item Syr plese hit yowre masterschyppys understondd that here ys noo gosse hawkes to gett for all that comyd my lord Chamberleyn¹ bye hem upp &c here hath come diversse hawkes but they be so dere that no man byeth hem but my lordd they be at iiij nobulles v nobulles an hawke &c Syr oder tydynges hawe we non here yett but Allmyghty Jhesu hath yow yn Hys blessyd kepyng Wrytten at Callez the viij day of September.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard Cely & George Cely merchauntes of the stapell at Callez at London in Mart Lane see hit dd:

^{Lord Hastings.}

104
M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worshippfull masters affter dew recommendatyon I lowly recommend me unto yow masterschippys furder more plese hyt yowre masterschipp to understond that yowre felles be sell and pressyd at xiiij nobulles the c but as for yowre woll I as nott zett waeddyd but hyt schall as schortly as I can &c Furder more plese hit yower masterschyppys to understond that we have tydynges hew that the Frensch men hath goten the cyte off Lewke and sclayne the boschoppe of Lewke¹ and we have tydynges of how nowe men of the londde of Lewke w^t the helpe of Braboners² hathe broken upp all the burgys betwyxte Fraunce & them And hath bes[ey]gyd the town off Lewke agayn and lyckly to recover the town agayne &c. Furder more plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to understond that we have tydynges here that the town off Gauntte & the town of Bregys is at the feryaunce betwyxte hemsellfe in so mekyll that they off Gaunte hath sent to the Inglysch naschon and to Dutch naschon & Bregys commaundyng them to sett styll and doo her merchaundys and entermete w^t noo party payne off that woll come thereof &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Callys the xij day of September.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worchyppffull masters Rechard Cely and George Cely merchauntes of the stapell at Callez at London in Martte Lane do hit dd.

^{Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège, murdered by

William de la Mark, the Wild Boar of the Ardennes, 1482. The

murder was evidently by common rumour attributed to French

incitement, and was looked upon as a step in the interests

of Louis XI. for the embarrassment of the Burgundians, a view

popularised by Sir Walter Scott in Quentin Durward,

where he deliberately misplaces the murder and connects it

with different circumstances, in 1468, when a false report

of the murder is recorded by De Comines. The Bishop was the

fifth son of Charles I., Duc de Bourbon and d'Auvergne. He

was first-cousin and brother-in-law to Charles the Bold, but

nearly as closely connected to Louis, for his elder brothers,

Jean II. and Pierre II. de Bourbon, married respectively the

king's sister and daughter.}
^Brabanters.

105

Ryght reverent and worschupful Syr y reytecomand me unto you desyryng to here of yowr wellefare Furder morre I thank yow of the grette cher that ye dydde me at my laste beyng wytthe yow Syr y made a bargyn wytthe you at that sesyn the wycche I wolyde y hadde sleppyd the wylys for theke costemerys that y trosty[d] moste for to asowyld them and y trostyd that y solde nott abowte ther wolle aboffe xiij^s viij^d a tod & now ye y con at bey ther woll honder xiiij^s & xiiij^s & vj^d a tod the pryse ys that y bey at aboffe that I solde you ryght mycche & to recckyn the reffys y salle lesse be my trothe a nobell or x^s in effry S.² & as my trothe helpe me and they moste haffe reddy money bey and bey they that helpe werr wonte to leffe in my honde moste parte of ther money nowe they moste nedys haffe halle ther money & now y moste troste to your cortesy & y prye you consedyr thys well as ye may have my sarfys and I moste trooste to yow that I may haffe the ij c^li that ye sayd y solde nott haffe hytte tyll Nowhembyr I praye as hartely as y cane that ye make hytte reddy wytthe in f xiiij dayys haffter Myhelmas or helse I hame hottely samyd for I made myselfe neffyr so barr wytthe howte money and therfor I pray yow that ye mak hytte reddy no morr to you at thys tyme botte Jhesu kepe you Wrettyn at Norchelacche¹ the xx daye of Septembyr.
Bey Wylliam Mydwynter.
Addressed: Thys letter be delyvyrt to Rychard Cely in London in Marte Lane.

^Northleach.
^Sarpler.

106
Rychard Cely the younger Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Riught whell belovyd brother George I recomend me wnto yow w^t aull myne hartte informeyng yow that I hawhe yowr zeunge horsse at London and I hawhe spokyn w^t the beste cossars and smytthys in Semthe fellde and thay gewhe me cowncell to lette hym ron in a parke tyll Hallowtyd and then take hym wpe and ser hym and lette hym stand in the dede of Whyntter and let ron the next somer and then he schawll be sawhe whell he ys hors no mor to yow at thys tym Jhesu kepe yow Wryt at London the xxvj day of Septemby.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
I schawll seke the scwreste plas in Essex for yowr zewnge hors and I pray yow remembyr an hawke
Addressed:A my whell belovyd brother George Cely merchand of the stapell at Calleys or the martte be thys dd:

107
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worschyppfull Syr after dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowr masterschypp furder more plese hit yowre masterschypp to understond that Joysse and yowre horsse cam to Calles the Wedensday nexte after ze departyd from Callez all in safte thanckyd be Godd &c Syr as for any merchauntes strangers or hollonders ther cam non syn ze departyd &c. Syr ze shall receyve of the bryngger herof a letter derectyd to yow from master Rechard &c. Syr I hawe sent ower yowre letter yn to Inglond that ze lefte here but hit was v days after ze departed fyrst here was noon passage no sonner the wynd was so contrary and the see soo trublys passage was hallfe see ower wnys or twyse and was fayne to come to Callez agayne &c Item Syr yowre masterschyp most remember to bryng home w^t an c vj^li fl. for to paye yowre costom and subsede &c Syr the begynyng of thys next weke I pourpose that Joysse shall come forward w^t yowre horssys toward yowre masterschypp &c. no more unto youre masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Callez the last day of September.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppfull master George Cely merchaunte of the stapell at Callez he beyng at the martte see hit dd:

108
Rychard Cely the younger Anno Jhesu M^liiij^xxij¹
Riught whelbelovyd brother I recwmende me harttely wnto yow informeyng yow that howr mother and whe ar in good heyll thankyd be God and so we truste that ze hawhe byn at Raylay and gewyn them iij^s iiij^d and now whe hawhe day of doyng of howr homayge tyll Myhellmas nexte cum. Syr I send to you Wylliam Mydwynttys letter clossyd in thys letter I whotte not how to anser hyt and howr fathers towmbe ys a settynge wp and howr heyme ys heyr for mony and thys day I departte in to Cottasowlde and how sone thay wyll cawll apon for the xx^s of the sarpelles I cannot say I am at my whyttys end w^thowte yow cwmfortte Syr I hawhe put yowr zewnge gray hors in Thondyrlay Parke² and ther he has pastyr I now and ther are byt iij horse goynge in aull the parke and ze muste pay the parcar for hys paster iiij^d a wheke and I hawhe promysyd hym a now and I trwste that he wyll se whell to yowr hors and make yow sportte at yowr cwmyng he ys a man of master Mongewnbres³ no mor to yow at thys tyme Jhesu kepe yow Whryt at London the iij^de day of Octobur.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
I pray yow sende me whryttyng in as schortte spas as ze may.
Addressed: Unto my brother George Cely merchand of the stapell at Calles or the martte so dd.

^{Sic; an error for 1482.}
^{Thundersley, in Esssex, near Rayleigh.}
^{Sir Thomas Montgomery.}

109
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght worshyppffull Syr affter dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschypp furder more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to understond that John Tate whych shall be lettenaunte off the stapell ys come to Callez &c Syr for as any alys off wull or fell I hawe made non syn yowre masterschypp departyd for here cam noe merchauntes straungers syns wherfor yowre masterschypp most remember for yowre costom and subsede yn the martte &c. Syr as for all houre thingges here doyth well but as for the wull flete off London ys nott comon yett I understond be men that come thens they be nott all poynttyd upp yett and wheder master Rechard schyppyth any felles or nott at thys tyme I wott nott &c. Item Syr I hawe delyverd Joysse for hys expens for the horssys & himsellff vj^s ix^d fl. &c. Item Syr plese hit yow to understond that my lordd chamberleyn¹ gooyth over ynto Ingelond w^t yn day or twayne w^t all hys howssosld mayne &c no more unto yowre masterschypp att thys tyme but Jhesu kepe. Wrytten at Callez the vj day of October.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Syr ze schall receyve off Joysse iiij qwarters & ij slevys of yowre black gowne and a blacke bugge furre to the sayd gowne.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull master George Cely merchaunte of the stappell at Callys at the martte be thys delyverd.
On the dorse, in a different handwriting:

Of Jacob Wylliamson and hys felles

C xxiij.... iiij^s iiij^d for.... ....xxvj^{fls. xiij>lisup>s}

Item j ryallys xiiij^s vj^d ².... ....xxix^s

Item an phellypus.... ....iij^s iiij^d fls.

Item iij palkes.... ....xxvj^d
Summa.... ....xxviij^li vij^s vj^d fls.

Item iij nyme grottes.... ....xiiij^li fls.

Item ij^d ob.... ....xxx^s

Item iij pensshe.... ....xx^s

Item xxij Andre v^s.... ....v^li xj^s fls.

Item xvj Rydars vj^s iiij^d ³.... ....xxxviij^s

Item ij crownes v^s viij^d ....xj^s iiij^d

A Rynyshe and ij^d.... ....v^s

ij postlates ij^s viij^d.... ....v^s iiij^d

An dawethe.... ....iiij^s

ij arnowldes ij^s iiij^d.... ....iiij^s viij^d

ij parttes of one fallewe.... ....iiij^s j^d

An pesse of gowld of.... ....xx^d

----ij^d ob.... ....xx^d

of vj lepesse.... ....xiiij^s

in v^d ob.... ....v^s vj^d

in v^d.... ....x^s xviij^d

v Summa.... ....xxviij^li vij^s vj^d fls.

Item in v^d lepesse.... ....v^li fls.

Item of iij^d.... ....xx^s

Item in vj le pesse.... ....xij ?

Item in ij^d ob.... ....viij^s

Item xviij hettrytus iiij^s iiij^d.... ....iij^li xviij^s

Item v rynyshe iiij^s x^d.... ....xxiiij^s iiij^d

Item rydars.... ....xij^s viij^d

An falewe.... ....vj^s ij^d

An davyd.... ....iiij^s

ij Andreus.... ....x^s

An Rynyshe.... ....iiij^s x^d

An.... ....xvj^d

Item in v^d ob.... ....xxviij^s vij^d

Item in ij^d ob.... ....xxxv^s

Item in Ryallys.... ....xxix^s

In grottes.... ....iiij^s v^d

Summa.... ....xviij^li xviij^s vj^d fls.

Summa totall.... ....lxxv^li xiij^s vj^d fls.

Item iiij^xx xvj Andreus vs.... ....xxxiiij^li fls.

Item And Andreus.... ....v^s

Item.... ....xx^d

Summa.... ....xxiiij^li vj^s viij^d fls.

Summa totallis.... ....C.

To be done hevyr y go hens to feche my xxv^li x^s of Flords to hawe in my byllz of Nicholas hout to make xx ster: at the syght.
In another handwriting:
Per Clays my sarvant.
John de Bott of Barow an hoggeshed w^t this token.

^{Lord Hastings.}
^{Should be ij ryallys.}
^{Should be vj Rydars.}

110
Rychard Cely the younger Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Ryght whell belovyd brother I recomend me unto yow informeyng yow that thys day I resavyd a letter frome yow whryt at Andewarpe the fyrste day of Octobur the qweche I do well wnderstond and am sory that the war ys so grett in that partte ys at Hollandars may not cwm dowyn I hawhe beyn at Chepyng Nortton and sett awll thynges in good whay and w^t my naym John Cely and he has gatheryd xvj sacke of fayr wholl and now heyr ys cwm Wylliam Mydwyntter byt I spake not wyth hym zeyt how that I do w^t hym I chawll wryt to yow in my nexte letter howr mother ys at Bryttes zeyt myny thankyd be God the Kyng ys at the Towr and hys lordes in cwnsell dayly I pray God send ws a myrry whorllde hyt ys ruyll for a mane to scharge hym far now a days for I heyr of none ottyrans zeyffe I may departe fayr frome the bargen w^t Wylliam Mydwytter that ze and I made I wyll do my beste me thynke hyt wyll be whel done for goude detturs ar sclow payars &c. I wndyrstonde be Robard Eryke that ze hafe ij fayr hawkes I whowld fayne that ze whoullde spede yow into Ingelonde whe longe sor for yow Bayard yowr hors dos whell and as for yowr zenge gray hors ronys in as good an parke as any in Essex as Levynge the bryngear of thys letter can informe yow Syr ottes be deyr and so us aull othyr corne. I hawhe resavyd yowr hangynge of yowr schamber from Wylliam Cely. No more to yow. Jhesu kepe yow. Wryt at London xvij day of Octobur.
per Rychard Cely.
Ze mwste remembyr to by canvase to packe in.
Addressed: Unto my riught whell belovyd brother George Cely merchand of the stapell at Calleys or Bregys so dd:
On the Dorse: xix letters & billes of Anno iiij^xxij.

111
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxij
Right worschyppful Syr after dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschypp furder more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to understond that the xviij day of October Joysse and yowre iij men cam to Calys w^t my hawkes all yn safete thanckyd be Godd and I have receyved from youre masterschypp to be the sayd Joysse an letter the whych I well understond and accordyng to youre letter at the next passage they schall goo owyr w^t youre hawkes &c. Syr the wull schyppys be com to Callez all save iij whereof ij be yn sandwiche haven and oon ys at Oste end¹ and he hath cast ower all hys wull owyrburdd Syr ze have no wull nor fell come at schyppyng wherfor I am the gladar for wull and fell ys passyng fowle araid at thys tyme &c. Syr as for the Caye that zede to London whein yowre chamberyng was not reffelyd on the see but an noder schypp that zede w^t hym was ryffylyd w^t Flemynges for the Caye that hadd yowre chamgeryng in hath ben at London and dyschargyd and ys come to Callys agayn ledyn w^t wu[ll] &c, Syr my lord chamberleyn² ys ower ynto Inglond and ther was at Dower to abyde hym v^c men all yn whyte gownys to bryng hym home &c. No more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Wrytten at Calles the xix day of October.
per youre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George Cely merchaunte of the stapell at Callez at the marte be hit dd.

^Ostend.
^{Lord Hastings.}

112
Jhesu
Ryght worschipffull Syr I recomand me unto yow ever more dessyeryng to her off yower wellfare and I thanke yow Syr hertely off yowr gret labors that ze have done for me os [sic] brynyng my ij oblygacyons of the Stapyll to Cales and I pray yow Syr hertely to send me word whowe that ye have done w^t them whedyr ze have ressayvyd my mony off tham or not and yff ye have not ressayvyd hyt at the comyng of thys letter to yow that ye wyll do so myche for me to ressayve hyt and I had had my oblygacions at the marte dyverys men of your place wolde have gyffyn me Flemmyche mony for tham xxvj^s vj^d flemmyche for the pound John Hatfeld was on and oder dyverys but I had lever yowr masterschipe had them than any oder man that I knowe of yowr plase and Syr yff ze have ressayvyd the mony of them ouder in your custum or in scheyhe mony os the plas payis owt that se wyll kepe my oblygacions styll in yowr handys and yff they be full content & payd and late the colectors can sell them for I muste delyver tham to the same man that owyd tham than I and I knowe not whow myche mony that I have ressayvyd of tham tyll I se the oblygacions and that ys causse that I wryt to yow of tham and I besche [sic] yow sir and yff ye have not ressayvyd my mony of tham that ze wyll ressayve hyt and do so send me the oblygacions in all the hast be the next soore man that comys for I muste delyver my rekeyng up to tham to hym that owys tham that knowys Jhesu who have yow in hys blyssyd kepyng Amen. At London the xvj day of November last passyd and I besche [sic] yow Syr of an answer of thys letter in all haste.
By yowr sarvand
Harry Bryan.
Addressed: To my ryght worschipfull Gorge Cele marchand of the stapull at Calles thys letter be delyverd.

113

Probably written in 1482, when war was considered to be imminent with France.

Jhesu
Ryght reverent syr and my specyall good frend y recommound me unto you forder mor plessed you to wete that y have ressayved a lettere from you wreten at Calles the xij of November the whyche letter I have red and well understond that ye have ressayved a letter from me wreten at London the ix day of November yn wyche letter I wrote a clausse of youre horsse the wyche y understond ye taked sor at yowre stomak Syr yn good fayth y am sory therfor for and y had west that ye would a taked so sor y would nott a wreten so unto yow nat and y schuld agette therbey xx nobelys but ye schall understond watt caused me so forto wryte unto yow syr ye wrote unto my master that ye sophased be lyklyhod yt schuld be war and yeff yt so be yt schuld be war ther schuld be gret rydyng and mekell ado abowte Calles and yeff ye be well horssed I feyr me that soche sowdyerys as ye be aquyted wyt all schulld causse you for to put yowre body in a venter and yeff ther com any thyng to yow hoder wysse then goode in good faythe a grette parte of my mastys gey in thys world wayrer y do syr thys caused me in good fayt for to wryte so unto you as y dod for y know well and ye have no good horss they woll natt deseyer yowtte of the toune syr in good faythe my master yower fader neder my maytres yowre moder moder [sic] knowe no thyng of my wrytyng and yn good fayth ye shall understond that I wrote not so unto yow for no spyte nedor for no hewell well that I have to yow but for grat love for in good faythe savyng my master owre fader and youer broder Rechard in good faythe ther ys no man in Inglond y would do so meche for and that ye schuld know and ye had ned and that caused me to be do bould to wryte so to you the wyche i would yt had be unto the wylys ye taked so as ye doo no more unto you att thys tyme but the Trenyte have you in His kepyng Wreten at Alverley¹ the xix day of November.
par Wylliam Maryon.
Addressed: Unto George Cely merchant of the Stapull at Calles thys letter be delyverd.

^Alveley.

114

This is the only document, we cannot call it a letter, in the collection, which deals with the violent revolutions of the English Court during the period covered by the correspondence. The style is so guarded as to be very obscure, but the date is clearly fixed as between the death of Hastings on June 13, 1483, and the creation of Lord Howard as Duke of Norfolk on June 28. It is also evidently before the assumption of the crown by Richard III. on June 25. The fear for the life of the king, Edward V., is ominous of the future; but the writer, George Cely, by the hand, or of his informant, Sir John Weston, is still uncertain how the revolution may turn.
Ther ys grett romber in the reme, the scottes has done grett [sic] yn Ynglond,¹ schamberlayne,² ys dessesset in trobell the chaunseler³ ys dysprowett and nott content the boshop of Ely⁴ ys ded yff the kyng⁵ God saffe his lyfe wher desset, the Dewk of Glosetter⁶ wher in any parell, geffe my lorde prynsse⁷ wher God defend wher trobellett, yf my lord of Northehombyrlond⁸ wher ded or grettly trobellyt, yf my lorde Haward⁹ wher slayne
De Munsewr Sent Jonys Summa. (The rest of the page torn off.)
On the Dorse:¹⁰

The Som of Nycolas Brystall hys patryshon
---of bothe oblygacyons amuntes.... ....xxxj^li viij^s vij^d ster:
Item thys amountes in lf. at xxvj^s le pound.... ....xl^li xvij^s j^d fl.

Item Nycolas Brystallys partyshon of bothe
---oblyggacyons amountes unto... ....xxxj^li iiij^s vij^d ster:

Item ytt amountes in fl^s at xxvj^s le pound.... ....xl^li xj^s xj^d fl^s.

The rest of bothe oblygacyons amountes unto.... ....x^li viij^s j^d

Item I must pay unto Hary Bryan at
---Synysyon marte be an byll of my hond
---for his wharrant and the rest of his
---oblygacyons.... ....l^li fl^s.

^{On January 12, 1483, the Duke of Albany had re-opened

treasonable communications with England, which resulted in a

treaty on his behalf, and on that of the banished Earl of Douglas,

signed in London on February 11. A recrudescence of Border warfare

resulted, but what damage precisely is referred to here does

not appear.}
^{Lord Hastings, executed on June 13.}
^{Not Dr. Russell, Bishop of Lincoln, the actual Lord

Chancellor, but Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York, who had

been deprived of the Great Seal in May, and who was arrested

when Hastings was killed.}
^{Morton, Bishop of Ely, afterwards Archbishop, Chancellor

and Cardinal, arrested when Hastings was killed.}
^{Edward V.}
^{Richard III.}
^{The Duke of York.}
^{Henry Percy, created Earl of Northumberland in 1470,

when John Neville surrended the Earldom in exchange for the

title of Marquis of Montagu. Northumberland was fully in the

confidences of Edward IV. and Richard III., but probably betrayed

the latter at Bosworth.}
^{John Lord Howard, created Duke of Norfolk on June

28, 1483. Killed at Bosworth.}
^{The first three lines crossed out.}

115
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
Ryght worschyppffull Syrs and my specyall goode mast[er]s affter all drew recommendacyon hadd I lowly recommend me unto you Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppts to understond that I sent unto yowre masterschyppys at the ostes be George Reed servaunte w^t my lordd of Sent Jonys ij letters oon derectyd to master Rechardd the toder to yowre masterschypp the whych I understond be my goddfader Maryons wrytyng that the sayd letters at that tyme were nott receyved wherof I marvell grettly &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understonde that Gyessebryght wan Wynsbarge hath ben here at Callez lattly but he bowght noo wull but he was here for matter that he hadd to doo yn owre Courtt and I spake w^t hym and I askydd hym wheder John Delowppys hadd wrytten to Petter Bayle & delytte lyke as he promysyd me to doo and Gyesbryght sayd that he hadd wrytten to Petter Bayle to delvyer yowre masterschyppys as myche mony as he myght spare and allsoo John Delowppys sayd unto Gyesbryght that he wold make ower amyche mony thys matter as schall content the hole some of yowre bylles trustyng that yowre masterschyppys wyll doo them as grett plesser yn tyme to come &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understondd that oon Tewsday the ij day of December hytt was agreyd her be Courtt that bylles of xx^s of the sarplers payabull at plessur of the gooddes that cam last from London and allsoo of that ys come now from Boston schall be sent ower to answer syche charges as ben grown yn Inglondd and Syr yff the bylles of plessur come ower I schall content yowr byll but whedder thes bylles schall com ower or nott zett wee can nott tell yff we paye the hole costom here I can send ower noo mony as yett I hawe payd hallffe yowr costom here all redy and hallff my godfader Maryon's and I hawe taken Rechard Parker John Parkers son of Callez for to receyve yn thys martt all syche specyalltes of yowrs payabull yn thys martt fyrst oblygacyon of Allbryght Allbryght son & Cleys Peter son and ther fellowys containing xxxij^li ster: Item a byll of Jacobb Gyesbryght son and Jacob Harman son whyche I lent them to paye at thys martt containing xiij^li ster: and the byll of Crystower of Collyus & Peyrs Joye containing x^li fl. whych he wyll receyve and bryng w^t hym home to Callez to answer the rest of yowre costom &c. Item Syr plese hyt yow to understond that the alowaunce ys come ower to Callez wherby [I] shcall recayve uppon yowre custom & subsede yowr condyte mony iij^s iiij^d ster: of the sarpler whych ze paid yn Inglondd and alsoo the ij^s viij^d ster: of the sarpler whyche we payd here to John Narsbye &c. Item Syr plese ytt yow to understond that Boston flete ys come to Callez all yn saffte thanckyd be God save the Battowll whych ys yett behynd and Joye hathe yn an C. sarpelles wull & fell and they here noo thynge of her here yett I pray Godd send her well hover &c. Item Syr plese hytt yow to understond that here ys a veryaunce fall betwyxte owre oste Thomas Graunger and the fellyschypp of owre logyng for Thomas Graunger promysyd ys at hys comyng yn to owre logyng that we schyld paye noo more for owre burdd but iij^s iiij^d fl. a weke, at the hye tabull and ij^s viij^d at the syde tabull and nowe hee sayth he wyll have noo lesse than iiij^s a weke at the hye tabull and xl^d at the syde tabull wherfor the fellyschypp here wyll departe yn oder logynges som to oon plase and som to anoder Wylliam Dalton wyll be at Robard Torneys and Rafftemyngton and master Brownys man of Stannford schall be at Thomas Clarkes and so all the fellyschypp departes sawe I wherfor I lett yowre masterschyppys hawe knowledge that ze may do as hytt schall lyke yow best No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow. Wrytten at Callez the v day of December.
per yowere servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes ofteh Stappell at Callez at London in Martt Lane soo hit dd.

116
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
The complaints of the Flemish merchants recorded in this letter seem to have been met by the conventions concluded between Richard III. and the two opposing governments in the Netherlands, that of Maximillian and that of the Flemish towns in September and October respectively, 1484. Rymer xii. 248, 249.
Ry[ght] worschyppffull masters after dew recommendacyon hadd I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that Wyllykyn John Delowpys man ys here at Callez and hath schewyd me that John Delowpys dydd wryte unto Peter Bayle & Delyte to speke w^t yowre masterschyppys that [John] Delowppys myght hawe all yowre Cottes walles that remaynyth here at Callez and paye yow for hytt in Ynglond as he hath don yn tymes past and soo Wyllykyn sayth that Peter Bayle hath wrytten unto John Delowppys that he hath spoken w^t yowre masterschyppys for hym and how that yowre masterschyppys answeryd Peter Bayle and I schuld be demenyd lyke as yowre masterschyppys wrote me wherfor Wyllykyn sayth that John Delowppys prayd me that I wold se[ll] no more of yowre Cottes wull tell yowre masterschyppys wrate me of the same matter and I hawe answereyd hym agayne I wold kepe noon for hym but take the markett as hytt comyth w^t owte yowre masterschyppys wrytyth me the contrary for I tellyd hym he hath nott deservyd yn payng of the last to hawe resspyte of thys but he sayth to me hytt schall be schorttly payd &c. Item plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that her ys come to Callez whych ys purpossyd to come ynto Inglond sarten merchauntes of Flaunders the whych sarten of the goddys belongyth unto that was taken yn the schyppys that were browght yn to Sandwyche hawen at the seson the Kyngges goode grace was theyr¹ wherfor the sayd merchauntes hath browght a letter from the yong Dewk Phellypp and the councell of Flaunders derectyd unto the mayer and fellyschypp of the stappeul at Callez desyryng them to wryte unto the Kynges good grace that he wyll be faverabull unto hys sewgyettes and that hys goode grace wyll see they may hawe restytyschon of ther gooddes that ys taken be hys sewgeyttes lyke as he hath don yn hys londd of Flaunders dyschargyd the Kynges sewgettes and mad hem restytyschon of ther goodes and soo thes merchauntes comyth ower to Ynglond and schall hawe wrytyng from the fellyschypp of the stappel here to the Kynges good grace and allsoo to the mayer of the stappull for to labour for them yn ther matter &c. Item Syr plese hytt yow to understond that the Councell of Flaunders hath lett crye yn every towne to be redy in harnesse as sone as the towne bell rynggyth and allsoo he that wyll take wages to enter hys name to the Regent² for to w^t standd the Dewk Maxymeliyans for they sey. . . because he hath gooten ij townes of Flaunders. . . edy & styll lyeth but as for as wee know here they wyll hawe pese w^t Inglond &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the x day of Fevere
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Item Syr here beth dyversse merchauntes of Bruges and they hawe bowght myche wull and they hawe ben in handd w^t me for yowre cottes wull butt I can sell them none w^t owte they maye hawe passe day of payment as they hawe of oder men wherfor hytt ys to thyncke they put noo mystruste yn Flaunders.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes of the Stapull at Callez at London in Martt Lane soo hit dd.

^{Richard III. was at Canterbury January 12, 1484.

He probably visited Sandwich about the same time, but there

seems to be no other record of it.}
^{This must be Anne de Beaujeu. The Flemish Towns were

in close communication at the time with France, their nominal

suzerain. See Kervyn de Lettenhove, Histoire de Flandre,

Livre xviii.}

117
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
Ryght worschyppffull masters affter all dew recommendacyon I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe sold yowre iij Thowsand ij^c and oodd felles of Cottessold whych cam w^t the last flete for xiij nobulles the c to Claysse Peterson and Wylliam Ardson of Dellffe¹ Syr they be nott zett all delyverd but as sone as they be delyverd I schall send yowre masterschyppys the rekenyng of hem &c. Item plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that Gyesbryght van Wynsbarge ys com to Callez and soo he hath spoken to me to wytt yff I hadd any wrytyng from yow of the matter that Peter Bale spoke to yowre masterschyppys of and I tellyd hym naye lykewyse as hytt ys that I hawe noo wrytyng from yow natt lattly wheroff he sayd he marvellyd never the less he desyryth to hawe the rest of yowre Cottessold woll and he wold make me a byll in the name of John Delowpys and hymsellfe of the hole som of mony and the wull schuld draw made payabull at plesur and yowre masterschyppys schuld chese wheder ze wold be payd in Inglond or here yff yow wold hawe ytt in Ynglond ze schuld be payd w^tin ij monthys or less yff ze wyll be payd here ze schall be payd be Ester and schorttlyer and zeff yowre masterschyppys wyll hawe hytt soo and I answeryd hym agayne that I myght nott sell non to noo man w^towte redy mony nor wyll nott w^towte yowre masterschyppys commaunde me to doo than he sayd he trowyd I schuld have wrytyng from yow schorrtly for that matter for he sayd he supposyd yowre masterschyppys were content plesyd or elles schall be shorttly for he saythe he hath sent ower lattly to Peter yn bylles iijc^li sterlyng and now w^t thys passage ij^li sterlyng Syr I thyncke he menys trewly for he sayth yff ze misse truste hym he wyll sett yow in asewerte how that ever the world goyth &c. but as for Flaunders I thynke they wyll nott breke w^t us but Syr ther be sarten banyschyd Englysch² men that be oon the see hath taken v or vj sayle of Spaynardds ladyn w^t wyne comyng yn to Flaunders &c. Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that ther ys an ordynaunce made here be Courtt for the alldor men of Callez whych be free men of the stappell how th[er] they schall lewe ther alldermanschypp and all oder jurdycyons in Callez be a day exprest and be only of the stapull or elles be crossyd the plase and soo oon. Saterday last was they all were comaunded to be at Courtt uppon payne of ther hinusse and soo all thes that ther names heraffter followyth were there at Court fyrst John Chawley, Harry Achamber, Thomas Bennett, Alyn Reddman, Romenett Desall, Wylliam Fethyan, Robard Brugham, Wylliam Muston, John Derman, And ther the leffetenaunte schewyd unto them how that the fellyschypp fownd them grewyd w^t them becawse they were sworne fyrst unto the stapell and browght upp theyr and syns sworne unto the jurdyccyon of the towne and observe that yn many thynges contrey the welth of the plase wherfor ther ys an ordynaunce made they schall come in and schow hem as fre men of the plase and forsake ther alldermanschypp and jurdyccyon of the town or elles yff they wold nott they schuld schewe hytt theyr and they schuld be dyschargyd of ther fredome of the stappell and soo they promysyd all theyr for to dyscharge them of ther town and take hem oonly to the fredome of the stapull sawyng only twayne Romenett Desall and Wylliam Fethyan whyche beythe crossyd the plase &c. Item Syr I beseche yowre masterschypp to remember to send ower the pampelett that I schall make my rekenyng bye that I myghte clere hytt &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xxiiij day of Feverell.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Item Syr my master Rechard wrate me that I or Joysse schuld purvey for onyon seedd of Sent Thomas Syr hytt ys soo wee can gett non for hytt ys at xx^s a pownde.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes of the stappell at Callez at London in Martt Lane soo hitt dd.

^Delft.
^{Possibly refugees from the late attempt of the Duke

of Buckingham and the Earl of Richmond. Certain Breton ships,

which had sailed with the latter in his abortive invasion, had

taken refuge in Flemish ports and were committing piracy. Englishmen

may have manned some of them. MS. Harleian. 1632.}

118
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
Ryght worschyppffull masters after all dew recomendaschon I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppes Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I have receyved a letter lattly from yowre masterschyppys beryng date the vij day of Fevere be the tenor wherof I understond that Peter Bayle hath ben w^t yowre masterschyppyes for that John Delowpys myght have the rest of yowr Cottes wull and how that yowre masterschyppys that grauntyd hym w^t that ze may be payd of the oon hallff at London betwyxte thys and Ester and the rest w^tin iiij monthys after the delyverey of the sayd wull c. Syr hytt ys soo that Gyesbryght and Wyllykyn beth here and thys letter that yowre masterschypp sent unto me was hadd to Bruges w^t sarten letters of John Delowpys and so John Delowpys sent hyt heder agayne and a letter to Gyesbryght and Wyllykyn how that Peter Bayle wrote unto hy[m] how that he hath a promyse of yowre masterschypp lyke as ze have wrytten in yowre letter to me but I sayd unto them that I hawe promysyd the wull before to anoder man but newer the lesse I hawe taken a goddes peny of hem acordyng to the pryce of the place and when hytt ys wayedd they shall mak a byll in John Delowppys name and Gyesbryght of the hole sum of mony that the wull schall drawe unto & the byll made payabull at London at yowre plesor and allsoo Gyesbryght hath promysyd me that hyt schall be payd be Ester the hole sum at the farthest Syr I hope hytt ys sewer I nozth for they ar fast men and allsoo that Peter Bayle hath promysid to content yowre masterschyppes howsom ever the world goys and allsoo I thyncke Flaunders wyll nott breke w^t us for we putt hem in noo missetruste here for ther ys noo man here that sellyth new wull butt hytt schall be Ester mart or hee schall have hys mony &c. Item Syr yowre masterschypp wrytyth me that I wrate yow nott whatt mony I receyvedd for the iij sarpplleres wull I sold unto Wylliam Kenett Syr hytt was all in menyng grottes sawe xxiiij^li ster: in carowlles whych I schall send ower unto yowre masterschypp yff yee wyll that I schall soo doo And I trow I schall gett more yff ze wyll hawe more &c. Item Syr plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to understond that the Dewk Maxymelyanys ys in Flaunders wyth mych pepull and he hath sarten townys in Flaunders submyttyd ynto hym and as on Tewsday the xxv day of Fevere he was w^t a thousand horsys at Bruges gattes² hawen &c. Item Syr plese hytt yow to understond that I hawe sold to Claysse Petterson and hys fellowys of Dellff3 yowr cottes felles that cam last and they hawe cast ower iiij^xx refewsse felles and the rekenyng of the sayd felles ys on the toder syde wrytten no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve and kepe yow Wrytten at Callez the xxix day of Fevere.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.

Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
Md: the xxviij day of Fevere anno ut suppra sold per me Wylliam Cely in the name of my masters Rechard and George Cely to Claysse Peterson, Wylliam Ardson, John Wylliamson, Deryck Johnson of Dellff iijM^lj^ccl Cottes pell prys le c xiiij nobulles sterlyng.v

Argent... ....cxlvij^li ster:

Item to be receyved in redy mony on hallff sum.... ....lxxiij^li x^s ster:

Item Lent them be an oblygacyon to pay the xx day of August next ensewyng.... ....xxxvj^li xv^s ster:

Item lent them to be anoder oblygacyon payabull the xx day of Fevere neste.... ....xxxvj^li xv^s ster:

Item Syr as for the lxxiij^li x^s ster: whych I schulde a receyvedd in hondd I hawe receyvedd therof but xx^li x^s ster: in nemyng grottes and crownys and the rest ys liij^li ster: whych I lent them be a byll of her hond to paye at passe for they browght but lyttull mony heder w^t hem becausse of trubblyng be the waye w^t soudears of Mexymelyanys but the men ar sewer I nowzth they have bowghte here abowe xvjM^l felles at thys tyme.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely marchauntes of the Stapell at Callez at London in Martt Lane soo hitt dd.

^{See Kervyn de Lettenhove, Histoire de Flandre,

Livre xviii.}
^Dunkirk.
^Delft.

119
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
Ryght worschyppffull Syrs and my specyall good masters affter all dew recommendacyon I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder more plese ytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I sent unto you at the last passage be oon Roger Kynton a letter conteynyng the rekenyng of the sale of iij M^ll j^cl peltes sold to Claysse Peterson and hys fellyschypp Item I sent unto yowre masterschyppys at the sayd passage be oon John Clyffton a letter of the sale made to John Delowpys and Gyesbryght van Wynsbarge of ij sarppeller & a poke fyne Cottes and I sent unto yowre masterschyppys closyd in the same letter a le[tter] of payment of the John Delowpys and Gyesbryght payabull at Ester ne[xt] conteynyng ccxlij^li xvij^d ster. &c. Item Syr oder sales I hawe made non zett but I trust I schall doo schorttly here hath ben Hollo¹. . . ys myche adoo betwyxte the Dewk Maxymelyanys and sarten townys of Flauners the Dewk hath ben affor Bruges wherfor Gaunt and Bruges and oder townys of Flaunders be afferdd of hym for they kepe strayght watche and wardd in every town dayly and they of Bruges hathe beheddyd v or vj of the dwellars of Bruges that toke Dewk part but noo man saythe nor doythe nothyng to noon Englysche man but that they may resorte too and froo as they have doon in tymes past sawvyng only men ben afferdde of Frensche men for they hawe taken ij Englysche men comyng from Bruges betwyxte Donckyrk and Gravenyng² on ys John Eston and the toder ys oon Jamys Robard Stockers man. Item Syr on Fryday last past on Richard Awrey that was master of my lord Denmanis³ schypp zede forthe a warfare in a schypp of hys owne and toke in merchauntes and sett them alond at Dower and at Dower toke in passage to Calles wardd agayne and as he cam to Callez wardd ij men of warre of Frensche mett w^t hym and fawght with hym and theyr he was slayne and diversse moo of hys company they saye viij or ix persones oon whos sowlles Jhesu hawe mercy. And so on Fryday affternonne the Frensche men browghte hem into Donkyrke hawen and Wylliam Vryerley ys in the same schypp and diversse londd men moo what they ar I can nott tell yow Item Syr understond that schyppyng ys begon at London Syr I pray God. . . may be ynowghe schyppys to pay thys hallff zeyrs wages that ys [dew] at the vj day of Apryll nexte for that most be payd all off [thys] schyppyng for here ys nothyng toward hytt and allsoo [a grett] partt of the prest mony that was prestyd yn october to pay the flete w^t most be repayed of the same for mych of hytt ys oons past but yowres ys repayd wher ffor Syr all syche goodes that comyth now at thys schyppyng moste paye sole costom at the ryvall of hytt &c. Furder more plese hytt yow to understond that Roger Wyestan of Laysetter⁴ ys chosen leftenaunte for the next seson affter thys man and he to be here at Callez be the last day of Apryll &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xvij day of Marche.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchaunts of the stappell at Callez at London in Martt Lane Soo hit dd.

^{Hollanders, probably.}
^{Dunkirk and Gravelines.}
^{Vide Letter of March 25, 1484.}
^Leicester.

120
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiij
The note at the end of the sale on March 24, 1483, and the reference to the coming agreement with the Flemish towns about arrests, which was concluded in September 1484, makes it certain that this Letter should be dated 1484. It is on the first day of the year, O.S.
Ryght worschyppffull and my specyall goode masters after all dewe recomendacyon had I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Forder more plese yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe sold iij M^l of yowre Cottes pelt wherof ij M^lv^c beyth of yowre vij M^l felles schyppyd at the portt of London the x day of Junn Anno iiij^xxiij and the rest ys of yowre v M^l iiij^c pelt schyppyd at the portt at London the xxiiij day of Jowll Anno iiij^xxij &c. Syr, I wold fayne a sold moo new felles w^t all but I Knowde nott for ther ys grett plenty of old felles in town iij old agaynest on new and allsoo the vij M^l pelt schyppyd in Jun Anno iiij^xxiij were sorre blemeschyd as brent yn schyp bothe tymes as they were schyppyd twyse &c. Syr the reknyng of the sale of the forsayd sale of iij M^l peltes her affter in thys letter ys conteynyd &c. Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that thys day owre Lady Day all the fellyschypp we. . assembled yn the hall and ther was my lord Dennam¹ and master Donsta, and master Marschall w^t oder of the Councell that be made free of the stappell now late and soo theyr the old mayer was dyschargyd and ther was putt in aleschan of the new mayer Syr Wylliam Stocker master Yorck and Master Wymbythe and soo Syr Wylliam Stocker ys choosen mayer of the stappull for the yere forthe &c. Furder more Syr plese hytt yow to undersond that Gysebryght van Wynsbarge ys com to Callez and soo hee hath taken schew to bye wull and hytt ys soo that my lord lefftenaunte of the town of Callez as thys day sent for my master leffftenaunte of the stappull schewyng unto hym in thys wyse how that sarten town dwellers in Callez hath ben at Bruges and hath bowghte wyne and oder merchaundyse the whyche ys arestyd att Newportte² for syche goodys that Englysche men hathe taken be the see belongyng unto men of Oostendd³ and other plases of Flaunders wherfor my lord schewyd unto the leffetenaunt how that thes men that hath her goddes soo arestyd at Newportte desyryth to hawe lysens to rest Gyesbryght and oder merchauntes of Bruges that be here for plege for the gooddys that ys soo arestyd at Newportte but master lyefftenaunte answeryd my lordd agayne to be the avyce of the fellyschypp and sayd unto hym that in thys wyse yff soo be that Gyesbryght schuld be arestyd here and trublyd hytt schuld causse a grett inconvenyens to the stappull for Geysbryght and his fellow be the men that doth gretter fett of any marchauntes that camyth heder for the goodes that they hawe bowght here thys zere drawyth abowe xxv M^l ster: wherfor uff they schuld be stoppyd ther wold come noo moo merchauntes heder the whych schuld cause a grett stopp and yff merchauntes straungers myght nott resortt heder that men myght make sale of her goodes they cowde make noo payment unto the soudears of ther wages and allsoo schuld cause men to londd agayne syche gooddes as they were yschyppyng w^t all and allsoo hytt was answeryd my lordd in thys wyse how that ther ys an entercourse made betwyxte the Kyng of Ynglond and the londd of Flaunders in Dewk Phyllyps days⁴ and syns confermyd be dewke Charllys and syn that confermyd be Dewk Marymelyanys how that any merchaunde of Ynglonde beyng free of stappull may goo sayff and a gonne sayff into Flaunders bothe hys body and gooddes at all tymes w^towte any interrypcyon for any hurttes doon to any man of Flaunders be see or lond be Englysche men and in lykewyse all merchauntes of Flaunders or of theke partyes comyng to Callez warde to bye stappull marchaundyse schall goo free and some free w^towte any interypcyon in lykewyse. And thys entercourse ys entryd in the stappull Regester of old tyme w^t the whyche my lordd ys well content w^t that the stappell wyll send ij sadd men of the fellyschypp unto Gaunte to the Councell of Flaunders to know wheder they wyll abyd be that entercoursse or nott and soo sarton men schall be apoyntyd to goo to Gaunte w^t wrytyng under stapell seall for to know an answer &c but Gyesbryght ys at hys lybbarte and he byeth wull here as he hath don in tymes past &c. Item Syr I have made wrytyng whych yowre masterschyppys schuld a herdd or thys tyme but ther hath noo passage goon thys xiiij day &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez on owre Lady Day Anuncyon
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Md: the xxiiij day of Marche Anno iiij^xxiij sold per me Wylliam Cely in the name of my masters Rechard and George Cely to Gyesbryght Henryckson Jacob Gyesbryghtson Cornelys Arnoldson Deryck Jacobson of Dellff iij M^l cottes pelles prys le c xiiij nobulles sterlyng.

Argent........cxl^li ster:

Item the oon hallff Amountes lxx^li ster:

Wherof I receyvyd in redy mony xxxiij^li vj^s viij^d ster:

And lent them be a byll of her hond to paye at Sensyon marte nexte xxxvj^li xiij^s iiij^d ster:.... ....lxx^li ster:

Item lent them be an oblygacyon to pay the xxiij day of September next.... ....xxxv^li ster:

Item lent them be annoder oblygacyon payabull at Cole martt nexte.... ....xxxv^li

Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes of the stappull at Callez at London in Martt Lane soo hytt dd:

^{Sir John Denham, Lord Denham of Dynham, Privy Councillor

to Edward IV. and to Henry VII., made Lord Treasurer by the

latter.}
^Nieuport.
^Ostend.
^{Rymer, xi. 140}

121
Jhesu M^liiij^ciiij^xxiiij
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and myn specyall goode masters after all d[ew] recommendacyon I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder more lettyng yowre masterschyppys hawe knowlegge th[at] I hawe receyvyd a letter lattly from yow beryng date the xj day of March be the tenour wherof I understond that yowre m[aster]schypis hathe receyved ij letters from me conteynyng the twoo sallys made. . . . Claysse Peterson and the toder to John Delowpys and allsoo that yowre masterschyppys hath receyved John Delowpys letter of payment &c. Item Syr I sent unto [yow] thys passage be Raff Lemyngton a letter conteynyng a sale made the . . . day of Marche to Gyesbryght Henryckson &c. Item Syr I understond [be] yowre sayd letter that yowre masterschyppys be purpossyd to. . . now at thys tyme xx sarpllers wull Syr yf ze cowde hawe goode schyppys. . . were nott yll don and yowre masterschyppys schyppyd somwhat more. . . be well forschyd w^t mony here for to pay the Costom and subsede allsoo Syr I thynck as far as my symppull reson geyff me hytt ys more sewer schyppyng now than schall be hereafter for dyversse c. . . &c. Syr as for old Henleys wyddowe sche hath ben sowyr syk a grette whylw but sche ys yett allive and sche fortune to dye I schall send yow wordd as schorttly as I can &c. Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I wrate yow a clawse yn the letter that Raff Lemyngton bryngyth yow how that the lefftenaunte and the fellyschypp here hath hadd comenycacyon w^t my lor lefftenaunt of Callez for the entercourse betwyxte Ynglond and Flaunders and soo my lordd ys owre goode lordde yn all matters and soo oon Satterday the xxvj day of Marche the fellyschyp here apoyntyd v persones of the stappull to goo as ymbassutt for the stappull to Dewke Phyllyp and hys councell of Flaunders and thes men be poyntyd to goo Thomas Amerys, Constabull, Robard Addlyn, Wylliam Bentham, Wylliam Dalton, John Ynge, and on Tewysday nexte they schall departe theder warddes and they schall hawe power of my lordd and allso of the stappuell under seall to have comenycacyon w^t the concell of Flaunders and to conclude yf they can to gett a sawegard under the seall of Flaunders that noo merchaunt of the stappull schall be trybyllyd yn Flaunders for any male fett doon be any oder englysche man to any person of Flaunders w^t owte hytt be for tresspasse be hym son and yn lyke wyse my lord lefftenaunte of Callez schall gewe a sawegard to all merchauntes of Flaunders comyng to Callez to bye stappull merchaundyse that noo man schall doo nor saye to them nor her gooddys at Callez nor yn the merchesse for noo male fett doon by any Flemynge to any Englysche man w^t owte hytt be for tresspasse be himsellfe¹²¹ⁿ¹ Item Syr plese hytt yow to wytt that I send unto yowre masterschyppys be the brynger of thys letter whoo is name ys James Jarfford atorney for Steven Gybson mercer of London cellyd yn a canvas bagg xxiiij^li ster: wherof ys yn carowlles grottes xxiij^li ster: and iij Angelettes wrappyd yn paper xx^s &c. Item Syr plese hyit to under than hytt hath plesyd the fellyschyp to chese Thomas Noneley and me collectors for thys quarter ensuyng &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xxvij day of Marche.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters Rechard and George Cely merchauntes of the stappull at Callez at London yn Martt Lane soo hitt dd.

^{This was arranged, separately, with both Maximilian

and the Council of Flanders in the following September. Rymer

xii., 248, 249.}

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Ryght worschyppffull Syrs & my specyall goode masters Affter all dew recomenacyon hadd I lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe sold to Adryan Wylliamson & hys fellows of Layth¹ xv^c of yowr Cottes felles schyppyd in Jowlle Anno M^liiij^ciiij^xxij whych sale ys conteynyd here after in thys letter Furder more lyke hytt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that I hawe receyvyd a letter from yow beryng date the second day of Marche and in the same letter the nomber and wayght of yowre wull schyppyd at thys tyme and allso in the sayd letter yowre warant of xx^s of the parplar conteynyng xxvij^li ster. Item Syr I hawe receyvyd anoder letter from yowre masterschyppys beryng date the ij day of Aprell the whych I hawe redd and well understond and acordyng to yowre sayd letter I schall demene mysellfe that schall be to yowre plessur of the whych I schall wryte yow in my nexte letter more at large &c. Furder more Plese hytt yow to undersond that thys day the x day of Aprell the wull flete came to Callez all in saffte thanckyd be God ther be Frensche men on the see but they sturryd nott at thys seson and wee knowe noon oder wyse here but wee schall hawe warre be lond w^t Fraunce thys somer &c. Syr I wold awrytt yowre masterschyppys of moo matters by my space was but schortt and the passage tarryd nott but zede att the same tyde that hytt came from Dower but I schall wrytt yow more at large w^t the nexte passage &c., No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez le x day of Aprell &c.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.

Md: the iiij day o