THE CELY PAPERS - PART V

Addressed: To the worshippful George Cely merchaunt of the staple dwellyng in Marke Lane so it dd.
Londz.

1. ^{Dalton's mother lived at Leicester. Perhaps Jone was his wife.}
2. ^{Packhorses, the more usual method of carrying goods.}

126

This and the following Letter belong to 1487, a year of the appearance of the Sweating Sickness possibly referred to in the latter. The two Letters are about the same date.

Riught welbelovyd brother I recomend me unto yow & and to my syster hyt ys so that her ys Dodlays mane the bochar of Eschepe and I hawe p^d hym aull the mony that I hawhe zeyt I how hym xxxiij^s iiij^d wheche I pray yow pay hym and send me a nobyll be Tomas Wade the iij oxsyn for the margett comys to xxxv^s that ys xv^s xx^d a paye at my comyng a Wednysday I wantt a lyttyll fardell w^t ij craddyll clothys a tyn basson w^t oder geyr zeffe hytt hapyd to be layd yowr bott I troste hytt wylbe saffe I wndyrstonde be Adlynton at Mydwyntter ys com God ryd ws of hym. Send me a byll of yowr mynd I pray yow.

B. e. xiij

De hac litera allocatur per auditorem vj^s viij^d

B. e. xiij

Memorandum quod scrutetur bene pro istis xxxiij^s iiij^d solvendis et inquiratur utrum solvantur per Georgium Cely vel non.

Addressed To my brother George Cely.

On the Dorse: Broder I recomawnd be unto yow and to my.

127

Ruight welbelovyd brother I recomend me unto yow and my syster in as hartty whysse as I can Syr I hawe ressayvyd a letter be Adlynton he brynges you the same I wndyrstond hyt ryught welle &c. I longe for to heyr how ze havhe pwrwhayed for Wylliam Mydwynter zeffe I had spockyn w^t yow er ze zeyd to London whe myght a made a c^li w^t my brother Awheray Syr I pray yow macke hym a byll in bothe hour namys of hys mony to pay hym at Brogys as ze & he cane agre for he had never the byll at ze tecke me ze remembyr whe hade xl^li at howr comynge and I hade xx^li more wheyr of zeyde xij^li and mor for carryayge of wholl I pray yow macke hys byll of lx^li ster: Syr I whowde awysse my syster & yow to com agayne into Essex for I wndyrstonde thay dy sor in London.

Addressed: Unto my brother George Cely at London in Martte Lane.

On the Dorse:

1. ^{Molands, George's Essex property.}

128

Ryght worschyppppffull Syrs and my reverent masters aftyr all dew recommendacyon precedyng I lowly recommend mee unto yowre masterschyppes Fyrdyr more plese hytt yowre masterschyppes to understond that I hawe receyved of John Delowppys uppon payment of the byll the whych ys sent to me be Adlynton but iij^c li fl: wherof I hawe payd to Gnyott Strabant iiij^xxiiij^li vj^s. vj^d fl: Item I hawe made yow ower be exchaunge w^t Benyngne Decasonn lomberd an c iiij^xx nobulles ster: payabull at usuance I delyverd hit at xj^s ij^d ob. fl. le nobull hit amounteth--c^li xvij^s vj^d fl: Item I hawe made yowre ower be exchaunge yn lyke wysse w^t Jacob van de Base iiij^xxix nobulles & vj^s ster: payabull at London at usaunce yn lyke wyse I delyverd hit at xj^s ij^d fl. for every nobull ster: hit amounteth fl.--l^li fl. and the rest of yowere iij^c le. remayns styll by me for I can make yow over no more at thys seson for here is no moo that wyll take any mony as yett. And mony goyth but nemyng grotes, crownys, Andrew gylders & reynysche gylders and the exchaunge toyth ever the lenger warsse and wars Item Syr I send yow enclossyd yn thys sayd letter the ij fyrst letters of the payment of the exchaunge above wrytten Benynge Decasonns letter ys dredctyd to Gabryell Defuye & Petyr Sanly Geneways & Jacob van de Base ys derectyd to Anthony Corsy & Marcy Strossy spaynardes yn Lomberd Strete yee schall here of them &c. Item Syr John Lowppys long sore aftyr yowre comyng that he myght mak a bergeyne w^t yow for yowre wulles he desyryth to hawe ij sarplers to prove hytt bee tyll yowre masterschyppes come he sayth yee schall be to far owte of the weye w^t owte yee gree & bergeyne togeder Syr hytt ys well don that ye tak yowr markett betyme for diversse consederacions &c allsoo the margett wax very slack here &c. Item Syr plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe sold yowre felles to Joacob Gyesbryghtson & John Doo of Dellf sum vij^c the res. . . reffewce prys le c xvj nobulles v^s ster: summ xxxix^li. . . the whych to be p^d be a byll of ther handdes yn thys bam . . . Item Syr as tochyng the iij^c li. fl. receyved be me now of be Joh[n Lowpys] I hawe wrytten hytt uppon the byll bye me scy. . . how be hitt John sayth be hys boke thys byll ys p^d owte & mor to ffor he sayth ther was p^d yow in Ynglond be Allvard uppo the same byll the vj day of Apryll clvj^li xvij^s vj^d fl. besyde the l^li ster: tak up of Alverd at x^s ix^d but he sayth at yowre comyng yee and he schall close that rekenyng And Syr I promysyd hym to a delyverd hym ij sarplers of yor wull tyll yowr comyng and he schuld mak mee a byll payabull at yowre plessyrs for the same at the pryce of the place but Syr I can nott hawe yowre wull yett awarddyd for I hawe doo cast owte a sarpler the whych ys poyntyd be the lefftenaunte to be casten owte to wardd the sortt by as the ordenaunce ys now made that the lefftenaunte schall poynt the warddyng sarplers of every mans wull the whych sarpler that I hawe casten owte ys n^o xxiiij and theryn ys found be Wylliam Smyth paker a lx myddyll flessys and hyt ys a very gruff wull and soo I hawe causyd Wylliam Smyth prevely to caste owte anoder sarpler n^o viij for thys last sarpler ys fayr wull I nowzth and therfor I muste understond how many be of that sortte and the nombyr of the [sic] for they must be pakkyd agayne hytt ys a very reddleyr and grett flesys &c. Item Syr yff yowre masterschypps hawe p^d yowre marke of the sarpler I pray yow send me the warant from the solyster that hytt myght be deductyd uppon yowre custom & subsede here &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppes at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve & kepe yow and all yowres long yn goode helth and prossperyte for allmyghty God resettythe sore here yn Callez and the marchys w^t thys grett plage of syckness¹ that rayneth I beseche of Hys mercy to serce hytt Wrytten at Callez the xij jor de September.

Syr the brynger of thys letter ys John Saunders.

Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyrs Richard and George Cely merchauntes of the stappel of Callez at London yn Martt Lane so ytt dd:

1. ^{Was this the sweating sickness, the disease peculiarly fatal to Englishmen?}

129

Ryght worschyppffull Syr and my reverent mastyrs aftyr all dew recommendacion precedynge I lowly recommend mee unto yowre masterschyppes Fydyr more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe receyved yowr letter datyd at London the fyrst day of September be the tenour ther I understond yowre masterschyppes hath tak up be exchaunge of John Raynold mercer lx^li ster: payabull the xxv day of thys month & of Deago Decastron spaynard odyr lx^li ster; payabull the xxvj day of the same month the whych schall be both content at the day and as for mastyr Lewys More lomberd ys p^d and I hawe a byll hys atorney ys a wranglyng felow he wold non odyr mony but nemyng grotes &c. Item Syr I understond be yowr sayd letter that yowr masterschyppes hath receyved noo wrytyng from mee syns Addlynton was here wherof I marvell for I wrate ij letters to yow whyle I was at Bruges specyfying the divers matters of Flaunders the ton was sent from Callez be Jamys Jarfford mercer the toder be Peryman pakker of Clyfte¹ wulles he ys logyd at the Crosse Keye² Syr I hawe ben at Callez thys ix days and abowte the latter endd of thys weke I purpose to Brugewardde agayne and I leve Thomas Colton & Roberd Hubberd atorneys tyll I come and I schall leve w^t Thomas Colton vj^li fls: for yowre masterschypp yff ye com and as for yowre black box I leve hytt w^t Thomas Graunger Syr as for goyng to Flaundyrs ys goode I nowyth as yett but all the jebardy ys yn comyng home for and yff owre men of war take ther fyscher as I feyr they wyll ther wyll be many Englysche men stoppyd yn Flaundyrs and allsoo the towne of Donkyrk ys nott content and that wee schall well know yff soo be that they mete w^t any merchauntes of substaunce and Syr as for a lettyr of atorney under the stappell sell I can hawe non w^t owte I bryng a letter of atorney from yowre masterschypes owte of Inglond for yowre masterschypes hath been at Callez diversse tymes syns I was entryd yowr atorney wherfor yowr presence hath deffetyd that entre and a lettyr of atorney ys nedfull now at thys tyme. Item Syr receyved of John Saunders a letter wheryn enclossyd ij letters of payment one of Benygne Decason derectyd to Gabryell Desurte & Peter Sauly genovo. . . conteynyng lx^li ster: Item Anoder letter of Jacob van de Base derectyd to Anthony Corsy & Marcy Strossy spaynarddes conteynyng xxix^li ster: &c. Item Syr yowre wull ys awarddyd be the sarpler that I cast owte last &c. Item Syr this same day yowre masterschypp ys alectyd & apoyntyd here be the Courtt oon of the xxviij the whych schall asyste the mayer of the stappel now at thys parliament tyme where som ever hytt be holden and to labore sarten matters for the place wherof ys ynstruccyons sent to the mayer be wryttyng &c. Item Syr I send yow enclossyd yn thys letter a byll of the copy of John Delowppys boke of syche parcelles as he sayth he hath p^d to see yff yowre rekenyng and hys agree. No more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xviij jor de September.

Addressed: To my ryght worschyppful master George Cely merchaunt of the stappell of Callez at London yn Martt Lane soo ytt dd:

On the Dorse, in a different handwriting (Rich. Cely's?):

Item the seid William hath paid to the Attorney of Master Lewys de More his dutee & receyvid his bill.
Item delyverd to William Cely--

• a letter of payment of Benygne Decason conteynyng lx^li
• a letter of payment of Jacob van de Base conteynyng xxix^li xix^s iiij^d

1. ^{Probably Clive Cleeve, or Bishop's Cleeve, in Gloucestershire.}
2. ^{A house called 'Causkey,' probably the Cross Keys, stood at the corner of St. Nicholas and Great Friar Street, Calais.}

130

Ryght worschyppfull Syr and my reverent mastyrs afftyr all sew recomendacion preceding I lowly recomend me unto yowr masterschyppes Fyrdyr plese hytt yowr masterschyppys to understond that the world ys here nowe very caswell for ther ys many wayns laden w^t Englysche mennys gooddys now arestyd at Ostend & at oder dyversse placys & noo gooddes may passe throw as yett noo ways for Englysch men hath taken many of ther fyscher men whych causeth here a grett rombur but wee understond as many as hath sengler safcondutes ther gooddes schall be delyverd & lett pass throw but as for the generall they wull nott obeye for they anull hytt saying that the Englysche schyppes forffetyd hytt when they departed owte of Selond¹ they beyng under arest wherefor the generall standyth in non affecte and soo many as be here havyng noo sengler safcondute ar in jeberdy wherfor Syr I pray yow that I may hawe in as goodely haste as may be yowr letter atorney under seall autetyc that I may be yn asewerte be the menys of yowre safcondute as yowre aturney for safcondutes ar now put yn ure &c Item Syr as for yowr mony I hawe made ower as yett but xxx^li ster: with John Etwell mercer at a xj^s & iij monthys thys rombur causyth that noo man dar charge here no more as yett & as for heryng I hawe ben at Cam² diversse tymes the roue ys at ix^li x^s & yett non to gett yn regard but ther ys wrack I nowzth & viij^li the last & soo ther ys a schypp at Sclewce³ that goyth to Callez callyd Rumbold Wylliamson wherein I hawe leyd yow iiij last heryng iij wrack & on rooue the wrack cost viij^li & the roue ix^li the whych I trust to God schall come full well to Callez for Syr James Tyrrell⁴ hath gooddes in the same schyppe &c. Item Syr ther ys a grett rombur at Gaunt the cheyff of the town be com & fledd to Bruges I fere mee Gaunt wyll be Frensche schortly &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppes at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Bruges xxix^th day of October.

Addressed: To my worshyppfull mastyrs Rechard & George Cely merchauntes of the Stappell of Callez at London in Martt Lane

1. ^Zealand.
2. ^{Perhaps Cadsand.}
3. ^Sluys.
4. ^{Sir James Tyrrell, a trusted servant to Edward IV., Richard III., and Henry VII. Executed 1502 for conspiracy with the Earl of Suffolk, and alleged to be guilty of the murder of Edward V. and the Duke of York.}

131

Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my reverent mastyrs afftyr all dew recommendacion precedyng I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppis Fyrddyr more plese hytt yowre masterschyppis to understond that I am comon to Callez yn saffte thanckyd be allmyghty Godd for I was never yn soo grett jebardy comyng owte of Flaundyrs yn my lyffe for men awarre lyinge be the waye waytyng for Englysche men & alsoo I and my cumpany was arestyd ij days at Dunckyrke¹ but for Syr Jamys Tyrrells sak wee were lett goo & soo syr the world goyth marvyllyusly in Flaundyrs now for hytt ys open warre betwyxte Gaunte & the Kynge of the Romayns & syr as for makyng over of yowre mony syns thys trubull begonn I cowde nott mak over a peny savyng an xlviij^li st: wherof I schall send you the bylles at the nexte passage but Syr John Delowppis schewyd mee at my departyng that I schuld wryte unto yowr mesterschyppis to understond wheder there schall be any jebardy to bryng warys owte of the est partyes yn to Ynglond now from hensforth or nott as he supposyth that acte of the contrary schall be put yn susspence for dyversse causys wherfor syr he avysyth yow to bestowe yowre mony yn grosse warys now betymys at thys Barow martt yn sych warys as yowre mastyrschyppis thynckyth wyll be best at London wheder hytt be in madder wax or fustyans but I trow hytt for yore masterschyppis & schyppyd hyt yn spaynysch schyppis yn hys owne name for John Delowppis & hee ar purposyd be bye as myche madder to send yn to Ynglond and yff soo be that hit fallyth to puffe ther wyll be goode doon uppon madder yff hytt be bowght betymes & John Delowppis sayth yff yowre masterschyppis wyll he wull bestowe yowre mony as well as hys owne & he sayth that that ys the best ways to make over yowre mony for the exchaunge ys ryght nowght. No more unto yowre mastyrschyppis at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xix day of November.

Addressed: To my ryght worschyppffull mastyrs Richard and George Cely merchauntes of the Stappell of Callez at London yn Mart Lane.

1. ^Dunkirk.

132

Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my reverent mastyrs aftyr all dew recommendacion hadd I lowly recomend me unto yowr mastyrschyppys &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre mastyrschyppys to understond that I sent unto yowr masterschyppis be Wylliam Smyth wull packer a letter where yn was enclossyd ij letters of payment the whyche I truste yee hawe receyved & syr as for all oder thynges ys as yowr mastyrschypp lefftte whych I thyncke ye schall nott repent for I fere me of Flaundyrs hytt staundyth marvelyusly w^t Bruges for the worschyffull merchauntes of the town hadd lever than myche goode they were owte of the town for they loke every owre when the comens of the town schall ryse and rewle agaynst the Romayns kynge for they hawe ben upp onys or twyse allredy but they hawe ben pesyd be fayr menys and the kynge lyeth styll yn Bruges and wold hawe the gydyng of the town but the Comyns wyll nott suffur hym and soo he hath sent Phelypp Mounsyr¹ & the byschopp of Luke³ they ben taken prisoners & leyd yn the castell of Slewce & lyeth styll there and hath doon thys iij wekes and not lyckly to come schorttly w^t they mych mony for ther rannsom. Item Syr my lordd of sent Jonys⁴ comaundyth hym harttly unto yowr masterschyppys & he sayth he longe sore to see yow and hys mynd was for to aben yn Ynglond long or thys but the Danys⁵ ar on the see & every day afore Callez hawen wherffor hee dar nott aventure to take passage Syr my lord sayth he marvell that ye wryte hym noo letters he sayth had noo word from yowr mastyrschyppis syns he departed owte of Ynglond wherfor he feryth hym yee schuld tak som displesyr w^t hym or w^t som of hys. Item Syr thys same day ys oon com from Bruges and he sayth ther ys an ymbassett sent from Bruges & from Ipur⁶ unto Gaunte for to make the pesee betwyxte the Kyng of Romayns & them whyche ys thowzte they schall conclude & that doon ther schall an imbasett com from thens yn to Ynglond yn as possybull hast as may be to make a goode pese as I trust to Godd schall be who ever preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xxij day of Janevere.

Addressed: To my right worschyppfull mastyrs Rechard and George Cely merchauntes of the Stappell of Callez at London in Martt Lane do ytt dd:

1. ^{Philippe, fifth son of Louis I. of Savoy, who succeeded as Philippe II. in 1496 and died in 1497. In his younger days, being without any lands, he was known merely as Philippe Monsieur, and served both France and Burgundy.}
2. ^{Liège. Jean IX. de Horn, who succeeded the murdered Louis de Bourbon.}
3. ^Sluys.
4. ^{Sir John Weston.}
5. ^{There had been more or less maritime war with the Danes, partly owing to disputes about the Iceland trade. Peace was formally concluded in 1489 (Rymer, xii. 374).}
6. ^Ypres.

133

Ryght worschyppffyll Syrs and my reverent mastyrs aftyr all dew recommendacion precedyng I lowly recommend me unto yowre mastyrschyppys Fyrdyr more plese hytt yowre mastyrschyppes to understond that I hawe receyved yowre letter datyd at London the xviij day of Jenyvere the whych I doo well underston and as tochyng John Delowppys I hawe wrytten hym acordyng to the tenour of yowr letter but the ceson ys syche at Bruges now that noo man there hath noo leyser to goo abowght any thynges perteynynge merchaundyse for viij dais longe the gates of Bruges were schytt & noo man sufferyd to com yn nor owte & evyr syns Candyll messe evyn all the comoners of Bruges hath ben yn harnesse & kepe the markett place & they hawe sett the Kyng of Romayns owte of hys place & put all hys men from hym & kepeth hym under ward but they saye they wyll doo hym noo bodyly hurtt and they hawe taken diversse that were rewlers abowte hym whych men thyncke they hawe or schall suffer deth & many of hys lorddys ben fledd and the cheyffe rewlers of Gaunte be com to Bruges and soo they wyll playnly hawe pese w^t Fraunce and to be under the abesaunce of the Kynge of Fraunce yff the town of Bruges wold be agreabull to the samee but as yett they be nott agreed amongyst hemsellfe wherfor they hawe sent ynto Braband & ynto Holond & Selond that everyche of thes contreys doo send to Bruges serten wysemen w^t full auctoryte of ther contrey for to coomen & talke w^t the Gauntnersse & them and thay maye take syche wayes & conclucion amongyst them as they can dryve be reson moste benyffycyall for them & ther contreys but they ar utterly determenyd that the Romayns Kynge schall rewle noo longger amongyste them for all redy they hawe dischargyd all the old wytt¹ of Bruges for the whych was sett yn be the Kyng and made a new wytt and they seye that they wyll hawe the quoynz² sett doun agayne and soo they of Bruges sayth all schall be well schorttly but hytt ys onlyckly the imbassettors that schuld acomen yn to Ynglond beth fledd to Slewce. Item Syr I hawe receyved anoder letter from yow datyd at London the x day of Fevere the whych I hawe well understond and as tochyng makyng over of mony at Bruges be exchaunge or oder wayis of conveyaunce yn redy mony or fyne gold ther can be none tell thys hete be over for every man ys yn harnesse yn the markett place and soo ys John Delowppis & Gomers Desers bothe. And Syr as for the payment of the nexte halffe zere ys wages at the vj day of Apryll I truste & putt noo dowttes yn hytt. Yowre wulles schall be owte of the town or any purveyaunce or provysion schalbe made for payment therof for John Delowppis man ys here at Callez redy to receyve hytt as sone as he heryth they be at a conclucyon at Bruges wythyn viij or x days wee schall knowe at the uttrest what weye they of Bruges wyll take for they hawe denayed them of Gaunte diversse of ther desyrys &c. Syr the saynges ys that the quoyns schall be sett down at Bruges & yff it soo be hytt were best yowre mastyrschyppes taryed yn makyng ower of yowre monys for hytt ys now at to owtreages losse the ryall ys wurth xx^s fl. & all oder goldds after the rate and as for new grottes ar wurth vij^d a pese yn Bruges now &c. Syr w^t the next passage I schall wryte yowre masterschyppys syche newes as I can here &c. No more unto yowre mastyrschyppis at this tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xix day of Fevere.

Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyrs Rechard & George Cely merchauntes of the Stappell of Callez at London yn Martt Lane so ytt dd.

1. ^{Magistracy. See Introduction.}
2. ^{Cunnagium, mint.}

134

Ryght worschyppffull Syr and myn especyall good mastyr w^t all dew recomendacion had I umbly recomend mee unto yowr good mastyrschypp, Fyrdyr plese hytt yowre good mastyrschypp to understond that I have receyved be Thomas Graungers servaunte your letter datyd at London the ij^th day of Marche the whych I hawe well understond and as towhyng the matter betwyxte yowr mastyrschypp & Sybson I hawe nott as yett spooken w^t John Hubbard theroff but w^t yn thys ij days I wyll goo to Guynesse¹ & speke w^t hym therfor and I dowght nott all the favour that hys mastyr and hym both can doo yn that matter or yn any oder agaynst hym I know hytt well yowr mastyrschypp schall hawe hytt and syr for the quetaunce that Sybson made to Wylliam Strycke of Sentrycasse² I hawe nott yett seyn hytt but I spake w^t Stryck hys wyffe here at markett and sche sayd her husband hathe a quytaunce of Sybson the whych I schall see whan I com theder wheroff I schall send yowr mastyrschypp the copy schorttly and tydynges how ze schall spede yn that matter. Syr as for tydynges owte of Flaunders they contenow styll yn myscheyff lycke as I hawe wrytten yow yn my last letter be on Thomas Spycer of the north contrey save on Satterday last was beheddyd at Bruges the lordd Dugell & moo ys lyk to be schorttly they surmysyd a matter uppon John Delowppys but he hath stoppyd them w^t mony & soo syche men as beth of any substaunce yn Bruges feryth thys rekenyng and diversse of them stelyth dayly aweye and goyth to Myddelborow³ yn Selond for they fere the end wyll be nawght whych I pray allmyghty Jhesu amend hytt whoo evyr presyrve yow Wrytten at Callez the xij day of Marche.

Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyr George Cely merchaunte of the Stappell of Callez at London yn Martt Lane soo ytt dd:

1. ^Guines.
2. ^{St. Tricaise, now St. Tricat, in the Calais Pale.}
3. ^{Middleburgh in Zealand.}

135

1. ^Delft.
2. ^{Possibly Kingsey, in Buckinghamshire, not far from the sheepwalks in the Chilterns. The manor belonged to the Marneys of Essex.}
3. ^Delft.
4. ^{Balling Mart, or Bammys Mart. See Introduction.}

136

F.1

The first viage of the Margaret of London was to Selond in the yere of our Lord God M^liiij^ciiij^cv. The secunde to Caleis and the thrid to Burdews¹ ut videt.

M^d to se the pursers accomptes of the seide viages.G. Cely.

F.2

M^d that heyr after aperythe the reckenyng of howr costes doyn be me Rychard Cely, George Cely & Wylliam Maryon as well for ryddyng, byeng of aparrell w^t awll odyr costes as the byeng of a schype latt cawllyd the Margett of Penermarcke² bohutt John Burdeycke marrener of Penermarcke in Bretten as be passeltz aperrythe mor playnely

F.8

Maryon

F.9

Seland Viage.

Change of handwriting:

Wylliam Maryon.

Change of handwriting:

In the same handwriting as F. 9.

F.13

The paymentes of the marynars of the Margett.

1. ^Bordeaux.
2. ^{Penmarche, in Bretagne.}
3. ^Ospringe.
4. ^Southampton.

1. ^{Sittingbourne.}

5. ^Gravesend.
6. ^Erith.
7. ^Purfleet.
8. ^Ibid.
9. ^{Perhaps, accommodation.}
10. ^Ibid.
11. ^Bordeaux.
12. ^{Altered from xjs viijd.}
13. ^{Sic, but perhaps, Black bollys, or Black bowls, drinking vessels, were meant.}
14. ^{Altered from vli xijs ijd.}
15. ^{Altered from xxs ijd.}
16. ^{Altered from vjli iijs vd.}
17. ^{Thames Street.}
18. ^Erith.
19. ^Bordeaux.
20. ^{This entry is crossed out.}
21. ^{Altered from viijli xviijs iiijd.}

137

F.1

R torneys whyffe
Thomass Whode

the steward Gynus
Relkes
Syr R Goodman

1. ^{These two words crossed out.}
2. ^{'vjd' is crossed out.}

138

1. ^{Written below 'Summa totallis ijciijli xijs jd fl.' crossed out.}
2. ^{The 'xiijs iiijd' inserted.}

139

Item the xxiiij day of Augost I Handrew Hawesse have sowle unto Jorge Cely the wholl howsse w^t the zerde appon the northe syde and to hys stabull an the sowthe syde and ij tenauntrys cowmyng to hys ij howssys of me before bowght the bredythe of the wholl howsse of the norhte syde and on the sowthe syde from the corner howsse an zenst the est whache howsse to the nythe tenauntry in the ternyte lane.

143

Robard Cely, Wylliam Maryon, John Lynd, Rychard Cely, George Cely, Charlys Vyllacys, Raffe Lymyngton and Rychard Awode, Wylliam Cely and Thomas.

1. ^{Sic. It should be xxiiijs viijd.}
2. ^{Allowing eleven persons, not ten as above, Rychard Whode's share, including the wayne, would amount to about ijs xd. But four of the rest only paid ijs xd between them.}

144

Item herafter apperyth that mony I p^d for frayght in the name of my fadyr Rychard Cely as affter aperythe be dyvars parcellz.

Item the iiij^th day of Augost be me in the name of my fadyr Rychard Cely unto James Hollond master of the Blythe of London for the frayght of ij sarpler vj^sviij^d, Summa xiij^s iiij^d premage ij^d. Summa. . .

1. ^{Corrected from 'Robard More.'}
2. ^{Millhall, on the Medway.}
3. ^{Corrected from 'vjd'.}
4. ^{Bradwell in Essex.}
5. ^{Malling in Kent. The parish touches the Medway; but it might be miswritten for Halling.}
6. ^{Walberswick, in Suffolk.}
7. ^{Milton, in Kent.}
8. ^Rotherhide.
9. ^{Brightlingsea, in Essex.}
10. ^Ibid.
11. ^{Malling, in the Medway, probably; see above.}

145

Here folowyng ar the parcels of receiptes and paymentes of me William Rogers to the use of my maister George Cely merchaunt of the Staple of Caleis in the monthes of March, April and May in the yere of out Lord God M^lcccciiij^xxviij the thrid yere of the regne of King Henry the vij^th that is to sey:

1. ^{Elorn in Bretagne.}
2. ^{Bourgneuf in Bretagne.}
3. ^{Machecoul in Bretagne.}
4. ^{Le Conquet in Bretagne.}
5. ^{The accounts of the 'Brittissh child' are wrong.}
6. ^{Crossed out.}
7. ^Ibid.

146

This Letter, with no date of the year, may have reference to the alleged poaching adventure of the end of 1481, but George Cely was not involved in that.

Ryght trusty and welbelovyd frend I recommaund me unto you acertynyng you sent your departyng ther hath ben labour mad ayenst you and your brother for the mater ye knowe but my fortune was to be by my lorde whan it was questian and I rememberyd my lord wiche had forgotyn the sayd mater and so after my rememberaunce my lord mad suche arnswere as shal be to your plesure in so muche as my lord hath promysid his singuler good lordshipp unto you and youre brother all men receyvid and yn anythyng els he cawdo for you or your brother he wulbe your good lorde. And to my power I schall be your frend duryng my lyfe. Fellow George I require you bespeke me xij dosun payre of loven¹ glovis of the mark of iij and iiij dosun of the mark of ij. I must within thys viij dayes send you wurd to pray you to ley owte mony for vj horharnese for my lorde of Cokyngham²and I shall paye you for it at Calis I pay [sic] you send me wurde how ye wuldo for me in thes maters by the next that comyth to the wiche tyme I schall thynk long to as knowith Jhesu who have you in his keping. From Calis the ij day of May w^t the hand of your tru loving frend

Addressed: To my ryght hertly belovyd frend George Cely merchant being at Bruges be thys letter delyverd.

On the Dorse: Item my xij dosun payre of glovis
Item iij stykkes of tarny sateyn or els vyelett sateyn of Bruges.

1. ^Louvain.
2. ^{Perhaps Buckingham.}

147

Ryght wyrschypfull sir I recommend me unto you as hartely as I can. Letyng you wnderstond that I resavyd a letter from you wherin ze wrotte for your mone I pray yow that ze take it to no dysplesour for I insure you hever tyll Syr Wylliam com hom I wend ze had ben contentt of Sir John Dyebotes I haw send hym wrytyng under formum that ze sall be contentt in all the hast posybyll w^towt fawll & I pray yow that ze wyll caws hym to hawe a letter send to hym wyche sall be bownd & sellyd w^t your letter & affter the syzht of the byll I wot well ze sall not fawte of your mone and at my goyng I sall make syche amendes as ze sall holdyn well contentt wyche tym salbe ryght schortly be the gras of God who preserv you. At Caleis on the viij day of Maye.

Addressed: To the ryght wyrschypfull George Selye merchand dwelyng in Marke Lane in London.

148

My ful trusty frende I recommaund me to you. I have recevved your kynd and lovyng letter and well understande alle thynges therynne contened whereof thanke you and for youre good and trewe hert. I am and shal be youre dettor of as gode atorne agayne another tyme and trustith therto trewely. I sende you by John Twaselton this berer xij^li fl. in setillers at iiij^s iiij^d. I pray you to take it in gre and any thing that I cane do unto ples ye shall fynde it redy by Godes grace who ever preserve you. Writton at Guysnes¹ the laste day of October.

Addressed: To my ful good frende George Cely.

1. ^Guines.

149

Both Thomas and John Dalton address the Celys as brothers. Thomas Dalton's reference to his ship and his 'prisoners' looks like what is now called piracy.

Brother Jorge I pray you as my speciall trust ys in you that ye wyll remember me for to pay to Wylliam Norton of London, draper, for me xl or l^li what ye may spare me but for xij or xiiij dayes for I owe hym iiij^xx li. of the whyche he hathe a byll of my hande for I loke yevery day for tydynges owte of Holand for my schypp & my prisoners, & brother, this payment lyeth my pore onestie apon wherfore I beseche you to remember me as my speciall trust ys in yow above all others & by thes my hanwryteng I promes yow to answerr yow at yewre pleseur what ye delyver the seyd Wylliam.

On the Dorse: A remembrans of Thomas Dalton.

1. ^Delft.
2. ^Leyden.

150

The following Letter is placed separately, having been already published in an article in the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' September 1881. The Dean of York was Richard Andrews, LL.D., installed as Dean January 1451-2; resigned June 2, 1477; died before November 5, 1477. His will was proved on November 5.

Ryght wel belouyd brother. I recomaunde me hertelly to yow. Farthermore, pleese yt yow to wette that I heve ressayvyd from yow a lettar wrette at Calles the xxx day of Octobar. In the weche letter were closyd iiij letteres of paymentte, werof ij ben dyrect to Rychard Twenge, Mercer of London; bothe lettars contayinge lij^li Item, allsso ij lettars of paymentte dyrecte to John Cowlarde, mercer, contaynynge both xx^li. The days ben longe. I care for nowthynge save butt for my fellmen of Barneslay Strette,¹ for thay wyll be nedy and call faste on me for mony er Marche be paste. Brother Gorge, I pray yow speke scharply to John Raunse of gynys² for the ferme of Sentercasse,³ for Wyll^m. the parsson ys man ys att London, and cawlthe faste on me for money; and alsso I honderstonde that zee haue lentte to the plasse for me xx^li. I moste preste here at London x^li & hour father xx^li. Yt ys a scherewde werke--God amende yt. Item brother as apon the Sonday afore the datte of thys letter my brother Rychard Cely & I wer at Pollys Crosse to here the sarmon; and ther we herde forste word that howr uncull the Dene of Yorke ys passyd to God: and the prechar prayyd for ym by name. And ther sate that tyme c bochoppys at Pollys Crosse. No more to yow at thys tyme; bott howr lorde kepe yow. Wrette at London the xix day of November.

A George Cely, merchande of the Staple at Calles, thys be delyvered.

1. ^{Barnsley, St. Mary, Gloucester, on the road between Cirencester and Burford.}
2. ^Guines.
3. ^{St. Tricaise or St. Tricat.}

Part I: Introduction with Footnotes and Appendix I & II | Part II: Letters 1 through 50
Part III: Letters 51 through 91 | Part IV: Letters 92 through 124
Part V: Letters 125 through 150

Transcription and HTML markup by Judie C. Gall. Additional formatting by Tina Cooper.