^{page 40 note a} Robert Plumpton, esq. eldest surviving son of Sir William Flumpton, kt. was knighted in Hoton-field beside Berwick, 22 Aug. 1482.

^{page 40 note b} Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, was Wardens of the East and Middle Marches in 1480; in which year, upon its being signified that, notwithstanding the cessation of arms, the King of Scots had invaded the English Marches, he was commissioned by the King to muster all able-bodied men, & (See Collins's Peerage, tit. Percy Marl of Northumberland.)

^{page 40 note c} Wressle-castle, near Howden in the east riding of Yorkshire, was built by Thomas Earl of Worcester, and was a favourite residence of the Percies.

^{page 41 note a} Joan, daughter of Thomas Wintringham, of Knaresborough, gent, second wife of Sir William Plumpton, kt. survived her husband, and was living 19 Oct. 12 Hen. VII. 1496.(Chartul. No. 785).

^{page 41 note b} Sir William Plumpton, kt. died 15 Oct. 20 Edw. IV. 1480.

^{page 41 note c} Sir John Quixlay, chaplain, was with Richard Plumpton appointed by the official of York, 10 Jan. 1480–1, to take the inventory of the effects of Sir William Plump. ton, kt. who had died intestate. (Chartul. No. 628.)

^{page 42 note a} Leckonfield, near Beverley, where the Earls of Northumberland had a manor-place.

^{page 43 note a} From the time of the death of Sir William Plumpton, the succession of Sir Robert Plumpton to the estates of his father had been disputed on behalf of the heirs general, one of whom was married to the son of Master Bryan Roclife. A reference to the crown for arbitration had been agreed upon in the reign of Edw. IV., which was rendered ineffectual by the death of that monarch. There was now a desire to proceed further, and the matter was for the present settled by an award of Richard III. dated 16 Sept. in the first year of his reign. (See Memoirs.)

^{page 44 note b} Edward Plumpton, gentilman, had letters to act as general attorney for Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. dated 4 Jan. 1 Ric. III. 1483–4. (Chartul. No. 729.) Prior to which date he had a rent out of Nether Studley, given to him and Agnes his wife by Sir Robert Plumpton, which he entered into a bond to release, 10 Dec. 1483. (Ibid. No. 728.) He was a younger son of Godfrey Plumpton, (brother of Sir William Plumpton, kt. Sir Robert's father) who was living 26 Sept. 1483. (Ibid. No. 723). His father married Alice Wintringham, sister of Dame Joan Plumpton, by whom he had Sir Richard Plumpton, chaplain, his heir, also a correspondent of Sir Robert Plumpton. Alice, the wife of Godfrey Plumpton, had become a widow before 20 July, 1 Hen. VII. 1486. (Ibid. No. 737.)

^{page 44 note a} This letter was written on the very day on which the Duke of Buckingham first openly appeared in arms at Brecknock against King Richard III., and gives us some interesting information respecting his proceedings, as to his seeking to make partisans in the county of Lancaster, in aid of his attempt. But the King at this time was secure in the allegiance of the powerful Earl of Derby, and of his son George Stanley, Lord Strange, to whom the writer was secretary; the approach of the latter, with ten thou-sand men, doubtless mainly contributed to the dispersion of the Duke's forces, and the crushing of his rebellion.

^{page 44 note b} George Stanley, Baron Strange of Knockyn, died 15 Dec. 13 Hen. VII. 1497.

^{page 45 note a} John Polleyn of Knaresborough, esq. son of John Polleyn the elder, gentleman.

^{page 45 note b} George Tankard, gentleman, was brother of William Tankard, ancestor of the Tancreds, Baronets, of Boroughbridge, com. Ebor. He was a witness to a deed, 15 Dec. 20 Edw. IV. 1480. (Chartul. No. 708.)

^{page 46 note a} The writer of this letter was, it appears, a brother of the House of St. John of Jerusalem at Clerkenwell, and of the family settled at Allerton Mauleverer, in the county of York. Sir John Mauleverer, his brother, is said in the pedigrees of the family to have married a daughter of Banks of Newton in Craven, by whom he had a son named Thomas, whose wife was a De la River of Brandsby, com. Ebor.; and a daughter Grace, married to John Pullan, of Knaresborough, esq.; but this and the following letter add considerably to the genealogies of the family, hitherto in print, in furnishing us with the names of the writer himself, and those of his nephews Halnath and Robert, sons of his brother William. Sir Thomas Mauleverer, knt. was a feed-man of the Earl of Northumberland in 1486, and contracted for the marriage of his son Richard to Joan, daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton, knt. 20 May, 7 Hen. VII. 1492. He died before 2 Sept. 11 Hen. VII. 1495, leaving Elizabeth his wife surviving. (Chartul. No. 763 and 779.)

^{page 46 note b} Nicholas Ward was a younger brother of Sir Christopher Ward, of Gevendale, com. Ebor. knt.

^{page 47 note c} Sober Hill is the name of two farm-houses in the township of Newby-Wiske, near Northallerton.

^{page 48 note a} 10 Dec. 1 Hen. VII. 1485.

^{page 48 note b} The roll of parliament for 1 Hen. VII. it is presumed, is defective, as no memorandum of the prorogation, spoken of in this letter, is to be found in tbe printed copy; but a petition of Margaret Agard, daughter and heir of Geffrey St. Germayn, refers incidentally to its reassembling on the xxiii of January, which numerals we should perhaps here read instead of xxvii. The Chancellor's notification of the King's marriage is therefore unrecorded, and the date obtained from this letter becomes a valuable acquisition to the historian.

^{page 50 note a} The act of resumption of all patents, &. from the xxxii^rd year of Hen. VI. to the ii^d of August 1 Hen. VII. is on the printed copy of the Rolls of Parliament; but its extension to the iii^d of January is not recorded.

^{page 50 note b} This act is on the Statute Roll.

^{page 50 note c} Jasper Tudor, created Duke of Bedford, 27 Oct. 1485.

^{page 50 note d} In its present defective state this act is not found on the Parliamentary Roll.

^{page 51 note a} William Plumpton, bastard son of Sir William Plumpton, kt.

^{page 51 note b} Haverah Park was a royal chase in the liberty of Knaresborough, and parcel of tie duchy of Lancaster, of which the Earl of Derby was at this time seneschal in the North parts.

^{page 51 note c} The Lord Strange. (See Letter LXII.)

^{page 51 note d} John, Earl of Oxford, had a capital manor at Lavenham, com. Suff.

^{page 51 note e} In the year 1486, Easter day fell on the 26th of March, at which time the King was sojourning at Lincoln, being then on a progress towards the north parts of the kingdom; but he had reached Nottingham before the end of the week, and was yet there when this letter was written. (See an account of this progress in Lelandi Collectanea, vol. IV. editio alt era, p. 185.)

^{page 51 note f} Sir William Stanley, Lord Chamberlain.

^{page 52 note a} The Earl of Northumberland is doubtless the lord to whom the writer alludes, he being then with Court at Greenwich.

^{page 52 note b} Sir Alexander Lee, rector of Spofforth, is the person here spoken of. (See Letter LXXV1I.) Plumpton was in this parish.

^{page 52 note c} Sir Richard Tunstall, kt. Steward of the honour of Pontefract.

^{page 52 note d} Sir John Hart, rector of the church of St. Martin in Micklegate, York, from 1476 to 1519.—(Drake's Eioracum, p. 472.)

^{page 53 note a} The knights to whom this brief notification was made by the Earl of Northumberland were his feed-men, receiving his wages. When King Henry VII. made his progress into the north parts in the first year of his reign, the Earl met him by the way in Barnsdale, a little beyond Robin Hood's stone, with thirty-three knights of his feed-men, besides esquires and yeomen.—(Lei. Coll. vol. IV. p. 185.)

^{page 53 note b} Sir William Ingleby, of Ripley, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note c} Sir William Beckwith, of Clint, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note d} John Gascoigne, esq. uncle to Sir William Gascoigne, of Gawkthorp, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note e} Sir Randall Pigot, of Clotherholm, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note f} Sir William Stapleton, of Wighill, com. Ebor. kt. He died 16 Dec. 1503.

^{page 53 note g} Sir Piers Middleton, of Middelton, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note h} Sir Christopher Ward, of Givendale, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note i} Sir Thomas Malliverer, of Allerton, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 53 note k} John Hastings, of Fenwick, com. Ebor. esq. afterwards Sir John Hastings, kt.

^{page 53 note l} John Rocliffe, of Cowthorpe, com. Ebor. esq. afterwards Sir John Rocliffe, kt.

^{page 54 note a} Sir Thomas Brian, kt. Chief Justice C. P. Writ tested at Westminster, 20 Sept. 1486.

^{page 54 note b} Lord Percy, eldest son of the Earl of Northumberland, to which title he succeeded 28 Apr. 1489.

^{page 54 note c} Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick, then a prisoner in the Tower.

^{page 55 note a} This letter shews Sir Robert Plumpton to have succeeded his father in the offices of bailiff of the burgh, and Custos of the castle, of Knaresborough under the Earl of Northumberland.

^{page 55 note b} The field of Stoke had been fought upon the 16th of June immediately preceding the date of this letter.

^{page 56 note a} William Calverley, esq. of Calverley and Esholt, com. Ebor. Agnes, daughter of Sir John Tempest, knt. was living his widow in 1489; their eldest son was of the same name as his father. It appears from the pedigree in Thoresby, that Amice, sister of William Calverley, esq. was the wife of a Mr. Robert Baildon, 24 Hen. VI. The John Baylton here mentioned was doubtless their descendant.

^{page 56 note a} The days of truce for the meetings of the great commissioners of the East and Middle Marches were fixed, by the treaty of 1483, to be held on the first of December at Reading-burn; and as warden of the West and Middle Marches, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, was the first of the Conservators of the truce agreed to at London, to commence from 3 July 1486, and to continue for three years.

^{page 57 note a} William White was mayor of York in 1491.

^{page 58 note b} Sic, sed lege Robert Hancock. He was mayor of York in 1488.

^{page 59 note a} The manor of Hassopp, com. Derb. had been let by Sir William Plumpton kt. and Robert Plumpton, esq. his son, to Stephen Eyre, esq. for the term of twelve years from Michaelmas 1479, and indentures were sealed between the parties 1 Feb. 19 Edw. IV.—(Chartul. No. 695.) The date of the letter is prior to 9 Jan. 4 Hen. VII. 1488–9, when the lease was renewed by Dame Joan Plumpton, and Sir Robert Plumpton kt. to Katharine Eyre, late the wife of the said Stephen Eyre.—(Ibid. No. 751.)

^{page 60 note a} Robert Lenthorpe, of Leventhorpe in the parish of Swillington, com. Ebor esq.

^{page 60 note a} William Scargill, of Thorpe-Stapleton, com. Ebor. esq., (Seepreceding letter and postea.)

^{page 61 note a} Newbrough, or Newburgh, a township in the parish of Coxwold, com. Ebor. was the site of a priory for Canons regular of the order of St. Augustin, which was endowed with lands in the parish of Spofforth, of the fee of Mowhray, their founder.

^{page 61 note a} This summons was sent on the Saturday immediately preceding the day of the riot at Cocklodge, in which the Earl of Northumberland was slain, being Wednesday, the feast of St. Vitalis, 28th of April, 1489. For his services in suppressing this com-motion, Sir Robert Plumpton was in this same year (30 Oct.) thanked by King Henry. (See the letter of Hen. VII. in the Memoirs.)

^{page 62 note a} John Darneton, abbot of Fountains from 1478 to 1494. (And see note to Letter XVIII.)

^{page 63 note a} Thomas Wymbersley, Abbot of Kirkstal from 6 April 1468 to 1498.—William was the name of the eldest son of Sir Robert Plumpton, and it was to him that the abbot bad probably stood godfather.

^{page 63 note a} Sir Stephen Hamerton, of Hamerton and Wigglesworth, com. Ebor. kt. succeeded his father Sir Richard in 1480, and married Isabel, half-sister of Sir Robert Plumpton. (See Memoirs) He died 16 Hen. VII. 1500–1.

^{page 64 note a} Arkendale, in the parish of Knaresborough, had been given to the abbey of Lilleshull, com. Salop, by Hilaria Trusbut in the reign of Hen. II. with housebote and haybote in the woods of Kirkdighton and Ingmanthorp. (Mon. Ang. vol. I. p. 146^b.) She was the wife of Everard de Ros. Sir Robert Plumpton, as was usual with men of worship at the time of writing, acted as steward for the abbey.

^{page 64 note a} Robert Walkingham, of Plumpton, was living 1 Dec. 1483. (Chartnl. No. 724.)

^{page 65 note a} The Earl of Shrewsbury (George) wrote himself to Sir Robert Plumpton from Aehby on the 8th of July, in behalf of Dame Joyce Percy, who was then attending on his wife, in respect to certain lands purchased by Sir Robert Percy; her late husband, to which Sir Robert Plumpton laid claim.—This letter was one of the twenty-six, of which the transcripts formed that portion of the Towneley MS. which has been torn off (see Introduction); but it is one of the few letters of this correspondence which were copied by Dodsworth from the MS. in 1633. (Vol. CXLVIII. Bibl. Bodl.) Sir Robert Percy was probably of Scotton, near Knaresborough, where a family of the name was at this time settled.

^{page 66 note a} Coxwold, a parish-town in the immediate vicinity of the priory of Newburgh or Newbrough.

^{page 66 note b} Sir Robert Oughtred, of Kexby, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 66 note c} 23 April.

^{page 67 note a} Follyfoot, in the parish of Spoffortb, was in the lordship of Flumpton.

^{page 68 note b} Pannall, now a parish-town, was in the forest of Knaresborough.

^{page 69 note a} The award bears date 1 June, 4 Hen. VII. 1489. (Chartul. No. 756)

^{page 70 note b} In the Plumpton coucher book (No. 757) is a copy of a grant from Sir Robert Plump ton, Kt. to Ralph Hauh, gent, of an annuity of fire marks out of the manor of Hassop, dated 12 July, 5 Hen. VII. 1490, witnesses, Robert Eyre, John Roklay, and Thomas Meverell, esqs.

^{page 70 note a} In the Plumpton coucher book (No. 755) is a copy of a receipt from Richard Harpur, receiver-general of the King's rents of his Duchy of Lancaster, for £9. 3⁸. 2d. had of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. for the farm of the mills of Knarsbrough, parcel of the said Duchy, by the hands of Edward Plumpton, dated 8 March, 5 Hen. VII. 1489–90.

^{page 71 note b} 3 May, the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross, called St. Elline day. (Vide postea, Letter CXXI. note^d). This namefor the feast has escaped the observation of Sir Harris Nicolas, in his admirable Chronology of History. (LardnerU Catinet Cyclopedia. New Edit. 1838.)

^{page note 71 c} Ax, qucere if the mill-dam. See Bloun's Law Dictionary, sub voee Hatches or Hacches.

^{page 72 note a} Sir William Beckwith, kt. one of the feed-men of the Earl of Northumberland, (see Letter XIV.) was dead before 19 Aug. 11 Hen. VII. 1496, when Elizabeth, his relict, released to Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. and his heirs, all right and title in the lands of which their father, Sir William Plumpton, kt died seised. (Chartul. No. 782.) See also Letter V, note^c at page 6.

^{page 73 note b} As it is impossible to distinguish with certainty between the undated letters of Henry the fourth Earl, and those of his son the fifth Earl of Northumberland, in every instance, I have inserted several consecutively in this place, though there can be no doubt that this letter is to be attributed to the father. The son was born 13 Jan. 1477–8, and had a special livery of his lands in the thirteenth year of Hen. VII. before he had fully attained his majority; his letters will therefore date from after the year 1497–8.

^{page 74 note a} This Mary Gascoigne may have been the daughter of Ralph Gascoigne, esq. who had, it seems, been possessed of a house in Plumpton, the fine of which was parcel of the evidence of William Middelton in 1502. (Vide Letter of Sir William Gatcoigne, it. postea.)

^{page 75 note a} It appears from this and the following letters, that Sir Robert Flumpton was steward of the manor of Spofford under the Earls of Northumberland, as his father had been before him.

^{page 75 note a} Thomas Middelton, married to a sister of Sir Robert Humpton, has a brass to his memory in the church of Spofforth, with this quaint epitaph:

With humble prayer I beseech thee

That this scripture shall here or see

To say De profundis if you letterd be

For the soules of Jone my wife and me

Thomas Middleton sometyme man of law

Under this stone am laid full lawe;

If thou be unlearned and cannot reed

For our soules and all christen soules med

Say a Pater Noster and Ave and a Creed.

Above was the shield of Middleton of Stokeld impaling Plumpton. (Dugdale's York-thire Arms, MS. in Coll. Arm. And see Letter XII.)

^{page 77 note a} The County of Durham was in common parlance called the Bishoprick.

^{page 78 note a} John Fawkes of Farnley, com. Ebor. esq. Steward of the Forest of Knaresborough, living 10 Hen. VII. 1494–5. (See Pedigree of Fawkes in Thoresby.) In a north window of Knaresborough Church was the coat, Ar. a [mascle] sa. and a woman kneeling by it. Underneath, Dame Mary Faukes. (Dods. MSS.vol. CLX.fol.186.)

^{page 79 note a} Ralph Nevill, of Thornton-bridge, in the parish of Brafferton, near Topcliffe, esq.

^{page 79 note b} Sir William Gascoigne, kt. father of Master Gascoigne here named, and to whom Letter XXVI. p. 34, is addressed, had had in his life time the custody of the castle of Knaresborough under the Earl of Northumberland. At his death, the son was under age, when his wardship may have devolved upon the Earl, his uncle; but from this time, 4 Mar. 2 Hen. VII. 1486, Sir Robert Plumpton acted as deputy for the Earl, and had the custody of the castle of Knaresborough: at least, the contents of the letters next following imply that such was the fact.

^{page 79 note c} Sir John Whixley, chaplain. (See note to letter II.)

^{page 80 note d} Richard Greene, esq. was with Nicholas Middilton and Robert Haldynby, esqrs. and Richard Plumpton, clerk, a co-feoffee of the manor of Sir Robert Plump ton, kt. lying in Hassop and Rouland, com. Derb. 15 Sept. 12 Hen. VII. 1496.

^{page 80 note a} William Tankard, otherwise Tancred, was, it seems, at the date of this letter, bailiff of Boroughbridge, parcel of the liberty of Knaresborough, in which Sir Robert Plumpton had jurisdiction, and where the disputed lands lay.

^{page 80 note b} Newby, in the parish of Topcliffe.

^{page 80 note c} Soul-mass-day, NOT. 2.

^{page 80 note d} She was, it seems, the wife, of Richard Greene above named; and from the con-tents of the letter, appears to have claimed as of her inheritance the land of William Aldborough, by reason of the: sen's illegitimacy.

^{page 82 note a} Nicholas Middelton, of Stokeld, com. Ebor. esq. living 12 Hen. VII. 1496. (See Letter L. note ^d.)

^{page 82 note b} William Arthington, of Arthington, in the parish of Addle, com. Ebor. esq.

^{page 83 note a} Watton, in the east riding of Yorkshire, where was a priory of Gilbertines.

^{page 84 note a} Robert Greue, groom of the pantry to King Edw. IV. had a grant of the office of Bailiff of Burghbrigge, in the county of York, for terme of his life, 8 Sep. 2 Edw, IV, 1462 (Rot. Part. V. 593 b.); and was probably the same person as was concerned in the affray upon Papplewick Moor 35 Hen. VI. and described of Plumpton, near Knares-borough. (See note to Letter III.p. 3.)—Robert Greene, who married Isabel, sister of William Tankard, of Boroughbridge, and was of Newby, I presume to have been his grandson, son of Richard and Elizabeth Green, and the writer of this letter.

^{page 85 note a} Son of Sir Richard Aldburgh, of Aldburgh, com. Ebor. kt. and Agnes Plumpton, his wife.

^{page 85 note a} The words between brackets are in paler ink, their place having been at first left blank. We should probably read, Miles Willesthorp was with me, for the words at-tempted to be decyphered which had puzzled the copyist.

^{page 85 note b} Sir Thomas Mauleverer, of Allerton, knight-banneret, died before 2 Sept. 11 Hen. VII. 1495, leaving Elizabeth his wife executrix, and a son and heir Richard, married to Joan, daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton. (Chartul. No. 799.)

^{page 86 note c} At Overton the abbots of York had their chief country residence. Over this word is written in the pale ink Wreton.

^{page 86 note d} William Sever, alias Seveyr, elected Bishop of Carlisle, 11 Dec. 1495.

^{page 86 note a} Sir Thomas Wortley, of Wortley, com. Ebor. was a knight of the King's body to Edw. IV. Rich. III. Hen. VII. and VIII. and traditionally reported to have been a man of principal power and consequence in his neighbourhood. (See Hunter's Hattarnshire and South Yorkshire.) This letter is a corroborative proof of the influence attached to his requests.

^{page 87 note a} These four were Edward Frank, Henry Davy, John Mayne, and Christopher Swan, who about the first day of December, v^th yere of the reigne of King Henry VII. at London, had communication with one Thomaa Rothwell, otherwise called Thomas Even, late of London, priest, how they might take out of the King's ward Edward the Earl of Warwick, John abbot of Abingdon supplying money for the purpose; and afterwards, viz. on the xx¹ day of Decembre, in the said v^th yere, conspired to com-pass their design at Abingdon, for which acts they were attainted of high treason.—(See Rolls of Parliament, vol. VI. p. 436 b, where the printed text, besides having in one place vi^th yere for v^th yere of the King's reign, is also wrong in the day of the month of December, which should be the X^th, calculating by the date of their execution, as ascertained by this letter.) The herald, whose valuable memorial of the ceremonies at Court in the early years of the reign of Hen. VII. has been printed by Hearne in the Collectanea Lelandi (vol. IV.) notes that, “the Abbott of Abyndon and Harry Swan, and oder, wer attaynt of Treson in that Parlement, and Edward Franke, Harry Davy, Taileur of London, and ............ were beheded at Tourhill.”

^{page 88 note b} This information has doubtless reference to the renewal solicited of the leases granted to Sir Robert Plumpton by the deceased Earl of Northumberland, whose office of Constable, Steward, and Master Forester of the castle, lordship, and forest of Knaresborough, had only been a grant for life, though afterwards reconferred upon his successor, when he was out of ward.

^{page 88 note c} Nicholas Leyenthorp, esq. was Receyvour of the Honours of Pountfrett and Knaresburgh, an office held by patent. (Rot. Part. 1 Hen. VII. vol. VI. p. 341 i.)

^{page 88 note d} Master Hemson, otherwise Empson, afterwards Sir Richard Empson, kt. the well-known tool of Henry VII.'s legal extortions, had it seems, even at this period, attained to considerable eminence in the practice of the law, a knowledge which he afterwards perverted to such unworthy purpose. of this celebrated individual much interesting matter will be found in the subsequent letters, and in the Memoirs of the family of Plumpton, prefixed to this volume of correspondence.

^{page 88 note e} George Stanley, Lord Strange. Hale was a manor of the Earl of Derby, in the county of Chester.

^{page 89 note a} “Lord Strange brought with him to the field of Stoke a great Host, enough to have beaten all the King's enemies, only of my lord his father's, the Earle of Derby's folks, and his,” writes a contemporary annalist. (Lel, Coll. edit. ult. vol. IV. p. 213.)—Edward Plumptonhad, it seems, with his servant, ridden in this company.

^{page 89 note b} Latham Hall in Lancashire, the well-known seat of the Earls of Derby.

^{page 90 note a} Lady Delphes. The family of Delves were owners of the manor of Crakemarsh, com. Stafford, in which place the Plumptons had inherited lands by descent from the Foljambes. Sir John Delves, kt. was slain at the battle of Tewkesbury, 4 May 1471, and lies buried in the church of Wibbenbury, com. Cest. under an alabaster tomb, having effigies of a man and his two wives, with the epitaph, Hic jacet Johannes Delves miles et Elena uxor ejus, necnon Johannes Delvet armiger, films et heres predicti Joh'is, &. The son here named had been beheaded after the battle of Tewkesbury, and was one of the few attainted in the following Parliament for being present at that field, by the name of John Delves, late of Uttockeshater, in the county of Stafford, esq. By his wife, eventually the heiress of Babington, of Chilwell, com. Nott. he had left only daughters; so that when the attainder was reversed, 22 Edw. IV. 1482, the heirs males, as well as the heirs generals, of the said John Delves, and every person feoffee to the use of them, or any of them, were expressly declared to be restored by the act to their original status, save only that the manor of Apedale, which had been granted by letters patent to James Blounte, esq. (15 Edw. IV. 1475), was to remain to him and to his heirs male. This same gentleman, afterwards Sir James Blount, kt. married one of the daughters of John Delves, esq. in whose right, as coheir with Ellen, wife of Robert Sheffield, of Butterwicke, in com. Line. esq. he had possession of Crake-marsh, but of which some part was at this time yet held in dower by Lady Delves, the second wife and relict of Sir John Delves, kt. the grandfather. The manor of Doddington in Cheshire passed to the heirs male, and is the seat of the present representative of this branch of the family.

^{page 91 note b} Sir Guy Fairfax, kt. one of the Justices of the King's Bench, had his place at Steeton in the Ainsty, com. Ebor.

^{page 91 note c} This and the following dates are ascertained from a letter of the 6 Nov. 1500, (vide postea) in which the suit respecting Wolf-hunt-land in Mansfield Woodhouse, com. Nott. is spoken of as having been pleaded ten years ago, which reference carries us back to 1490; and the renewed mention of the “great snow” warrants the conjecture, that the severe winter, when the wild fowl fled away from the frozen meres of Lancashire to the sea, was the one which is marked by the date of this letter.

^{page 92 note a} This relates to the suit concerning Wolf-hunt-land in Mansfield Woodhouse, adverted to in the preceding letter. It was parcel of the lands of the Foljambes, and so called from its being held by the service of winding a horn, and chasing the wolves in the forest of Shirwood.

^{page 93 note b} The Earl of Northumberland was then in his thirteenth year.

^{page 93 note c} Robert Blackwall was son of Richard Blackwall, of Blackwall, com. Derb. who by a lease dated 28 Aug. 1489, held Flagg House in the same county, for a term of twelve years from 25 Mar. 1490, under Sir Robert Plumpton. This lease was renewed to Robert Blackwall, gent, [to hold for another term of twelve years after the ending of the former in 1602,] by Sir Robert Plumpton, let. 19 Sept. 1499, with a clause that he should retain ten shillings out of the rent for his fee previously granted. (Chartul. No. 798.)

^{page 94 note a} David Griffith, one of the council of Thomas Earl of Derby, and executor of his will (dated 26 July and proved 9 Nov. 1504), held Haveray Park, in the honour of Knaresborough, by virtue of a patent at this date. The Earl of Derby had held the office of chief steward of the duchy of Lancaster, north of Trent, of which the honour of Knaresborough was parcel, from 1 Hen. VII.

^{page 94 note b} Bastard son of Sir William Plumpton, kt.

^{page 94 note c} Sir Henry Wentworth, of Woodhouse, com. Ebor. kt. was at the date of this letter High Sheriff of Yorkshire, and then stationed at Knaresborough to keep the peace of the disturbed districts.—(See the following Letter.)

^{page 95 note a} The King, before returning to keep the feast of Whitsuntide, (7 June 1489,) at Nottingham, from the progress on which he had set out to quell the Yorkshire insurgents, “established in the northe parties the Erie of Surrey, Sir Richard Tunstall, and Sir Henry Wentworthe.” (Lei. Coll. vol. IV. p. 247.)—The absence of the latter from his post at Knaresborough at the date of this letter was, it seems, justly to be feared, not-withstanding a year had passed since the dispersion of the malcontents; and in fact, in the second year of the Earl of Surrey's government, ther was an insurrexion inthe west part of the countrey, with whom the said Erie with the helpe of the Kynges true subgetts fought in the feld at Akeworth besides Pomfrett. (See monumental inscription of the Earl of Surrey at Thetford, Weaver's Funerall Monuments, p. 386.)—At this field Sir Robert Plumpton was present, as we learn from the following letter, another of the torn off series, but of which a second copy has been preserved in Dugdale's York-shire Arms. (MS. in Coll. Arm. p. 105 b.)

To my worshipfull Cousin, Sir Robert Plumpton, knight.

Right worshipfull Cousin, right hartelie I contend me unto you; and whearaa I am enformed that a servant of yours had a gelding of myne, which I lost on the feild, I desyre and pray you that my servant, this bearer, may have a sighte of him, and yf the said geldyng be myne, that then ye will cause him to be delivered unto my said servant, as my singular trust is in you, whome our Lord have in his blessed safeguard. Written in the castle of Sheriff-hutton, the 6th day of Maye. Cosen, I have some proofe that your servant Robert Beck hath my gelding; one knoweth him well, told it me. I pray you, Cosen, fail not to send me the geldinge with the hand.

Your loving cozen,

Thomas Surbey.

The date of this letter is 6 May, 7 Hen. VII. 1491, and on the 28th of that month Sir Robert Plumpton was honoured with the following gracious letter from his sove-reign.

To our trusty and welbeloved hniyht, Sir Robert Plumpton.

Trusty, &. For the good and agreeable service you did unto us in this last commotion of our subiects in our county of Yorke, wee can (give ?) you our foil speciall thanks, and shall not forget the disposition you have beene of in that behalfe, &. Wee therefore, intending to provide for the time to come, desire you that forthwith, and by as wise wages as yee can, yee put yourself in a surety of your meniall servants and tennants, and to know assuredly how many of them will take your part in serving us according to your and their duties foresaid. When yee have demeaned the matter in thus wise, which wee would that you did as above with all diligence, then we pray you to certifie our cozen, the Earl of Surrey, of the number of such assured men, &. Dat. Shene 28 Maii 7 H. 7. (From a transcript in Ch. Towneley's MSS. taken from Sir Edward Plumpton's MS. when entire.)

The well-read historian of Hallamshire has remarked, that the Earl of Surrey's inscription is perhaps the only memorial of the second Yorkshire insurrection; the proof from these letters of its historical exactness may therefore be strongly urged to shew the value of the correspondence now given to the public by the Camden Society. The battle of Ackworth is, moreover, further ascertained to have been fought in the spring of the year 1491.

^{page 98 note a} William Plumpton, of Kirkby Overblars, com. Ebor. gent, afterwards, by deed obligatory dated 1 Oct. 6 Hen. VII. 1490, submitted himself to the award of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. with the advice of his council, Thomas Middleton and others, in regard to all matters in dispute between him and Sir Robert. (Chartul. No. 759.)

^{page 98 note b} Sic, sed lege 1490.

^{page 98 note a} Palings, palicea. The persons who had the care of them were called Palessers. According to the award of Sir Robert Plumpton, given at Plumpton 22 Nov. 1490, and made in. pursuance of the bond of William Plumpton, late of Kerkeby Orblaes, bastard, the latter was to pay 30⁸ sterling, received for the herbage of Haweray in the yeare 6^th Hen. VII. and 20⁸ owing to the palessers of Haweray for the same term. (Chartul.No. 761.)

^{page 98 note b} Sir Randolph Pigot, of Clotherholme, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 99 note a} David Griffith was, it appears from this letter, brother of Agnes, the first wife of Edward Plumpton, and through this connexion the latter probably got placed in his situation of secretary to Lord Strange.—See also Letter VI. as to his reception by his kinsmen in Lancashire.

^{page 99 note b} This lease is transcribed in the Plumpton Coucher-book, No. 758, and purports to be between David app Griffith of the one party and Sir Robert Plompton, knight, of the other, whereby the office of the keeping of Haverey Parke, with the herbage and pannage, &. was granted for the term of six years to the latter, at a rent of viii^;li to commence from lady day next coming; Sir Richard Langton and Sir John Langton, clerk, being sureties in 20;^li for the performance of the covenants on the part of Sir Robert; the date, 26 Aug. 6 Hen. VII. 1490.

^{page 99 note c} Sic, ted lege Griffith.

^{page 99 note a} In the windows of the choir of the church at Mansfield Woodhouse, com. Nott. was this painting and scroll; “a man with a shaven crowne kneeling, a booke open before him.”—Blakewall unite Magistrorum. (MS. of Gervase Hollis, Bibl. Harl. N. 6829.)

^{page 100 note a} See note^a to Letter LXIII.

^{page 101 note a} William Scargill, of Thorp Stapleton, esq. was father of Sir Robert Scargill, kt. who lies buried under a splendid tomb in the church of Whitkirk.—(Whitater's Loidii et Elmete.)

^{page 102 note b} Dale Abbey, in the county of Derby.

^{page 103 note a} It was not till the month of October in the year 1492, that Henry VII. sat down before Boulogne, and on the 20th of that month, 8 Hen. VII. Geffrey Townley, servant to Sir Robert Plumpton, paid 8^li to William, abbot of Whalley, to be delivered to Dame Fr. Gryfin. (Chartuh N^o. 766.)

^{page 103 note a} Brother-in-law, ^quare if the Lancashire family of that name.

^{page 103 note a} Hayrah or Haverah Park, where cattle were agisted.

^{page 104 note b} William Markinfield, esq. brother of Sir Thomas Markenfield, of Markenfield-hall, near Ripon, com. Ebor. kt. who died in 1497. He is named in the will of his nephew Sir Ninian Markynfield, kt. dated 1 Oct. 1527, proved 5 July 1528.

^{page 104 note a} See note^b Letter LXXVII.

^{page 104 note b} Thomas Darrel of Sessay, com. Ebor. esq. son of Sir George Darrell, kt. and Margaret Plumpton.

^{page 105 note a} The fragment in Hearne, to which reference is made in note^e, Letter X., after mention of the warning given to Edward IV. by the serjeant of his minstrels of the project of his enemies to seize upon his person, when he was in the North in the month of September, A.D. 1470, breaks off with this unfinished sentence; “And sodeinly upon that came one Maister Alexander Lee a priest—” This personage was, it seems, rector of Spofford in 1493, in which year, 12 Jan. 1492–3, died John Sherwood, Bishop of Durham. In the Coucher book is copied a receipt from Thomas Tay lor, chaplain, one of the factors of Master Alexander Lee, rector of the parish church of Spoford, acknowledging payment by Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. of 26s. 8d., the whole sum of the tithes of Plumpton, and dated 1 Feb. 1493-4. (Chartul. No. 770.) It is therefore probable that he had some preferment in the diocese of Durham, which was the occasion of his non-residence.

^{page 106 note b} I suspect that Coverley should be read Cholmley, and that the name is a mistake of the copyist in 1613. Richard Cholmley was in fact one of the guardians of the bishoprick of Durham after the demise of Bishop Shirwood, his appointment bearing date 11 April, 8 Hen. VII. 1493. (See Surtees' Durham.)

^{page 106 note a} Spittle in the Street, com. Lincoln.

^{page 107 note a} “We have rest,” that is to say, no bucks were to be killed out of the stock in the park at Ryther in that year.

^{page 107 note b} Ralph Ryther of Ryther, com. Ebor. esq. atatias 40, 6 Hen. VII. 1490, when he succeeded to the family estates. He died 2 April 1520, being then a knight.

^{page 107 note a} Warcop, in the county of Westmerland.

^{page 108 note a} John Swale of South Stainley, com. Ebor. esq. ancestor to the Baronets of that name. Follyfoot is a hamlet in the parish of Spofforth.

^{page 109 note a} Thomas Hawkesworth, of Hawkesworth, com. Ebor. esq. vixcit 8 Hen. VII. (See pedigree in Thoresby's Ducat us Leodiensis, 2nd edit. 1816, p. 173.)

^{page 111 note a} Stanton Hall, a manor belonging to Sir Robert Plumpton, in the county of Derby, of the lands of the Foljambes.

^{page 112 note a} Sir William Gascoigne, kt. nephew to Dame Agnes, wife of Sir Robert Plumpton, appears to hare enjoyed considerable influence at court by reason of his near relation-ship to the Earl of Northumberland.

^{page 112 note b} Richard Pox, Bishop of Durham, Lord Privy Seal in 1495.

^{page 112 note c} William Siver or Siveyer. See a letter from him ante No. LVIIT.

^{page 113 note a} William Siver or Siveyer, Abbot of St. Mary, York, had been elected bishop of Carlisle, 11 Dec. 1495.

^{page 113 note b} Scrooby in Nottinghamshire.

^{page 113 note c} Thursday, 7 Jan. 1495–6.

^{page 113 note d} Sir George Tailbois of Kyme, com. Line. kt. married to Elizabeth Gascoigne, niece of Dame Agnes Plutnpton.

^{page 113 note e} Collyweston was the residence of Margaret, the King's mother, countess of Richmond and Derby. Edward Plumpton was in the service of Lord Strange, son of the Earl her husband.

^{page 114 note f} David Griffith.

^{page 114 note g} Stamford is in the immediate vicinity of Colly-weston.

^{page 114 note a} Richard Fox, Bishop of Durham, Lord Privy Seal.

^{page 115 note b} Sir Robert Blackwall, clerk, Master in Chancery. (See note ^a Letter LXX.)

^{page 115 note a} Richard Fox, Bishop of Durham.

^{page 117 note a} Sir John Tong. (See Letter XCIII.)

^{page 118 note b} John Rocliffe of Cowthorpe, esq. afterwards Sir John Rocliffe, Kt.

^{page 118 note c} Brother John Kendal, Turcopolier of Rhodes, was the commissary and deputy of Pope Sixtus IV. throughout the globe, in aid of the expedition against the Turks A.D. 1480, tenth of his pontificate. To those who should contribute to this object, he had authority from the Holy See to grant faculties to their confessors in reserved cases, together with plenary indulgences; and for that purpose had with him printed forms on parchment, to which he affixed his seal. One of these to Dame Joan Plumpton has been copied into the Cartulary (No. 699), and as attention has been drawn to this personage from his having been the subject of the earliest contemporary English medal in existence, its perusal will probably gratify the curiosity of the reader, and I have given a transcript of it below. See also the remarks of Sir Frederic Madden concerning these forms. (Arclunolog. vol. XXVII. p. 172, note ^g.) The medal is engraved in Pinkerton's Medallic History of England, 4to, 1790. Sir John Kendal succeeded Sir John Weston as Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Clerken-well, but the exact date is not ascertained; the earliest discovered is the year 1491. He occurs ten years after, and is stated to have died in November, 1501.

Frater Johannes Kendal Tuicipeierius. Rhodi, ac commissarius a sanctissimo in Christo patri et domino nostro, domino Sixto, divina providentia, Papa quarto, et vigore literaram suarum, pro expeditione contra perfidos Turcas, Christiani nominis hostes, in defensione Insulse Rhodi, et fidei Catholicse, facta et facienda, concessarum, ad infra, scripta per universum orbem deputatus. Delectse nobis in Christo, Dormnse Johannce Flompton, salutem in domino sempiternam. Provenit ex tuse devotionis affeotu, quo Romanam ecclesiam revereris, ac te huic expeditioni sanctee et necessarise gratum reddis et liberalem, ut pelitiones tuas, illas prresertim quse conscientise pacem et animse tuse salutem respiciunt, ad exauditionis gratiam admittamus. Hinc est quod nos, tuis devotis supplicationibus inclinati, tibi ut aliquem idoneum et discretum prsesbiterum secularem, vel euiusvis ordinis regularem, in tuum possis eligere confessorem: qui confessione tua diKgenter audita, pro commissis per te quibusvis criminibus, excessibus et delictis, quantumcunque grayibus et enormibus, etiamsi talia fuerint propter quse sedes apostotolica sit quovismodo merito consulenda, miectionis manuum in episcopum vel superiorem, ac libertatis ecclesiastics offense, seu conspirationis in personam aut statum Romanes Pontincis, vel euiusvis offense mobedientiee aut rebellions sedis ejusdem, ac prsesbitericidii casibus duntaxat exceptis, in reservatis semel tantum, in aliis vero non reservatis totiens quotiens fuerit opportunum, debitam absolutionem impendere, et poenitentiam salutarem iniungere, ac omnium peccatorum tuorum de quibus corde contritus et ore confessus fueris, semel in vita, et semel in mortis articulo, plenariam remissionem et indulgentiam, auctoritate apostolica tibi concedere possit, dicta auctoritate, qua per ipsius sedis literas, sufficienti facultate muniti, fungimur, in hac parte indulgemus. In quorum fldem has literas nostras, sigilli nostri appensione munitas, fieri iussimus atque mandavimus. Dat visesimo secundo die mensis Aprilis, anno Domini MCCCCLXXX ac pontificates prsefati sanctissimi domini nostri, domini Sixti Papse quarti, anno decimo.

(699. Deed. Copied on tuesday the 13 of februarii, 1626, having then a seal.)

^{page 120 note a} At Great Ribstone, in the parish of Hunsingore, near Knaresborough, and at Mount St John, in the parish of Feliskirk, north riding of Yorkshire, the Knights Hospitallers of St. John had commanderies. A John Tong was mayor of York in 1477, so that the writer of this letter was probably his son, to whom at his birth Sir Robert and Lady Plumpton had stood sponsors. We learn, from the preceding letter and elsewhere, that he was nephew to Sir John Kendal, prior of St. John's, Clerkenwell, the chief house of the Order in England, and in the list of burials in the Priory Church are the names of William Tong, Margaret Tong, and Isabel Tong, the first being also a brother of the Order. In the volume of the Archseologia referred to in the proceding note, Sir Frederic Madden has printed a curious document, which purports to be the confession of one Bernard de Vignolles, dated at Rouen, 14 Mar. 1495–6, and wherein he accuses “Sire Jehan Quendal, grant prieur de 1'ordre de Saint Jehan de Roddes, Sire Jehan Thonge, son nepveu, pareillment chevallier du dit ordre,” and others, of treasonable designs to compass the death of the King by necromancy, and Of entertaining a correspondence with Perkin Warbeck, and wishing for his establishment on the throne. (Vol. XXVII. p. 205.)

^{page 120 note a} We have in this letter the first intimation of the scheme hatching by the too celebrated lawyer, Empson, the infamous tool of Henry's rapacity, to oust Sir Robert Plumpton from the lands, which should have been made secure to him by the award of King Richard III. The progress of the suit will be traced with interest in the series of letters which follow, and which step by step reduced the unfortunate knight to such straits, that at the commencement of the next reign we find him a prisoner in the Counter, and depending on his son's bounty for subsistence. He had, however, the satisfaction to live to witness the tragic end of his once all-powerful adversary.

^{page 121 note b} Richard Empson, esq. was chosen speaker of the House of Commons in the Parliament that met on 17 Oct. 7 Hen. VII. 1491 (Rot. Parl. VI. 440); and was one of ti e serjeants-at-law, chosen by act of Parliament to be feoffees for the King of his Duchy of Lancaster, 19 Hen. VII. 1503, in which year he was knighted. (Ibid. 522 and 537 b.)

^{page 121 note c} Sir John Suttell, or Sotehill, of Stoke Faston, or Stockerston, com. Leic. kt. who had married Elizabeth, grand-daughter and one of the heirs at law of Sir William Plumpton, kt. was then lately deceased, he having made his will in July 1493, and it having been proved 7 Oct. 1494. His eldest son was named Henry, and at his death a minor, as he was inward to his mother 11 Hen. VII. 1495–6, (History of Suffolk, p. 436, note^e fol. 1838,) the same year as the date of this Letter. Dame Elizabeth Sotehill survived to 21 September, 22 Hen. VII. 1506, when she died, leaving her twin granddaughters, her infant heirs. She and her husband were buried at Stockerston, in the south aisle of the church, the chapel of the Lords of Stockerston. “On the floor of the south aisle,” says Mr. Smith, writing in the year 1747, “close by the last (monument) towards the south wall, inlaid in brass, were the figures of two per-sons, the man in armour, and both in a posture of prayer; at his feet the figures of eight sons, at hers of two daughters; inscription round the edge quite gone. Over his head, O pater in celis, me tecum pascere velis. D'ne miserere, &. From her mouth a label, Nos preciius matris salvet sapiencia patris. Over their heads, their arms; quarterly, 1 and 4, Sotehill; 2 and 3, quarterly, Boyvile and Murdac, impaling, quarterly, her coat, 1 and 4, Plompton of Plompton, Ebor.; 2 and 3, Foljambe of Kenalton, Co Nott. This impalement identifies the parties; and moreover, another manuscript recites an invocation for prayer for the soul of John Sotehill who died in 1493, which was then in glass in the same church. (See Nichols's Leicestershire, Vol. II. p. 823.)

^{page 121 note d} Sir William Gascoigne of Gokethorp, kt.

^{page 122 note e} 16 Sept. 1 Ric. III. 1483. For the particulars of this award, see Memoirs.

^{page 122 note a} The feofment of Sir William Plompton, of Plompton, com. Ebor. kt. of his manors and lands in the counties of Nottingham, Derby, and Stafford, under which Richard Fawberg had the legal estate as surviving feoffee, was dated 1 Jun. 4 Edw. IV. 1464. The conveyance by the latter here spoken of, was made before 2 July, 15 Hen. VII. 1500, of which date is the letter of attorney to William Saucheverell and William Sanderson from Robert Bubwith, clerk, and Richard Burrow, chaplain, who claimed under it, to take seisin in their names. (MS. Add. 6698.)

^{page 123 note b} Sic, sed lege Easton, the name of the seat of Sir Richard Empson in the county of Northampton. (See Baker's Northamptonshire, Eastou-Ntston.)

^{page 125 note a} The names endorsed were apparently the friends of the lady, who intended to communicate with Sir Robert Plumpton upon the proposed settlement. A plan for their mystification is curiously developed in the next epistle of Edward Plumpton.

^{page 129 note a} Sacomb, com. Herts, had been a manor belonging to the family of Holt. By deed bearing date 11 Sept. 8 Hen. V. 1420, and sealed in red wax, with a seal of arms, comprising in the scochen of the same a chevron and three squerells scehine (seiant), Richard Holt, clerk, brother and heir of Hugh Holt, of the county of Northampton, Esq. gave the said manor, with the advowson, to Sir Robert Babthorp, Kt. together with certain lands in Staunton and Epcomp, in the same county; to hold for life, with remainder in tail to Ralph Babthorpe his son and Katherine his wife, and the heirs of their bodies; and in default, to the right heirs of Sir Robert. Witnesses Thomas Bishop of Durham, Robert Tirwhit, John Leventhorp, John Hotoft, John Fray, and others. (Chartul. No. 791.)

^{page 129 note b} Sir John Hastings, of Roxby, com. Ebor. kt. had married Elizabeth, or Isabel, daughter and heir of Sir Ralph Babthorp, of Babthorp, com. Ebor. kt., and in her right had possession of the manor of Sacombe, com. Hert. She dying without surviving issue, between the years 1489 and 1496, the reversion of this inheritance of the Babthorpes came to Isabel, daughter and heir of the next brother of Sir Ralph Babthorpe, called Robert in the pedigree, after the death of Sir John Hastings, who was tenant by the curtesy of England. This lady was contracted to marry William, eldest son of Sir Robert Plumpton, 11 May, 11 Hen. VII. 1496, before the ensuing feast of St. Michael, she being then under seventeen years of age and in ward to her uncle, William Babthorp of Osgodby, com. Ebor. esq. (Chartul. No. 781.) The object of the visit of Edward Plumpton was therefore to prevent waste on the part of Sir John Hastings, which would be prejudicial to his young master, the expectant heir ⁱn right of his wife.

^{page 130 note c} Thomas Kylborne, yeoman, sold some property in Plumpton to Sir Robert Plumpton and William Plumpton Ms son 28 Jan. 17 Hen. VII. 1501–2. (Chartul. No. 806.)

^{page 130 note a} The feast of the Holy Name of Jesus was kept on the seventh of August, and that of the Transfiguration on the sixth, the former being solemnized with an octave or Utas. Manuscripts containing the office of the Church appointed for each feast were doubtless what were sent to the chaplain by the writer of the Letter.

^{page 131 note b} John Ellis of York. (See Letter CII.)

^{page 131 note c} Notwithstanding the terms of the agreement made between Sir Robert Plumpton and William Babthorpe of Osgodby, when the marriage of kabel Babthorpe was contracted for, whereby provision was made for assuring to the latter and his heirs, “all those lands, tenements, and hereditaments with their appurtenances in the parish of Hemingburgh, Midleton-upon-the-Would, North Cave, Hundsley, Loftsome, and Wistow in the county of York, and in Colby in the county of Lincoln, with their appurtenances, as also certain closes in Selby called the Hates, in satisfaction of all those lands, tenements, and hereditaments with their appurtenances which wear or be intailed to any of the name of Babthorp, his anchestors, or to the heire male of any of their bodies, without let or interruption of the said William Plompton and Isabell, or any other son of the said Sir Robert, husband to the said Isabel], and theire of the said Isabell, for ever;” it'appears that now William Plumpton and his wife sought to dispossess Babthorpe of these lands in right of her claim as heir general. The father and son were thus singularly circumstanced; the right to the estates of the one depending upon his making good his title as heir special, and to his wife's inheritance of the other, upon his proving that there was no bar to the descent to heirs general.

^{page 131 note d} Robert Constable, Serjeant-at-law. Joan, his daughter and heir, married Thomas Rokeby, of Mortham, com. Ebor. esq.

^{page 131 note e} Lammas Assize was the assize held in the months of August and September.

^{page 131 note f} Mrs. Mauleverer was the eldest daughter of Sir Robert and Dame Agnes Humpton.

^{page 132 note K} John Pullan was the writer of this letter; the subscription has been accidentally omitted in the MS. (See next Letter.)

^{page 132 note a} Master John Kingsmill, Serjeant, called 10 Sept. 1496.

^{page 132 note b} Chantry in the chapel of St. Margaret at Elton, com. Derb.

^{page 135 note a} William Eleion of Selby, com. Ebor. esq. son of John Elson who died 14…1509, and has a monumental inscription in the abbey.—(Burton. Man. Ebor. p. 410.) He afterwards married a daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton.

^{page 135 note a} Healaugh, a parish town in the Ainsty, com. Ebor.

^{page 135 note b} Henry Lord Clifford and Westmoreland, inherited Malton, com. Ebor. from his mother Margaret, daughter and coheir of Henry Bromflete, Baron Vescy.

^{page 135 note c} Kirk-Dighton, near Plumpton.

^{page 136 note a} Kirkby-Wharfe, a parish town in the liberties of St. Peter and of Pontefract. Sir Ralph Babthorp, father of Dame Isabel Hastings, died seised inter alia of two messuages and forty acres of land in Kirkby, held of the King as of his duchy of Lancaster. (Esc. 5 Hen. VII.) With Waterton it was at this date held in dower by Margaret, widow of Sir Ralph Babthorp.

^{page 136 note b} Sir John Hastings, kt. was deceased before 16 Nov. 20 Hen. VII. 1504, when by their deed of that date William Plompton, esq. and Isabel his wife bestowed the office of bailiff of their manor of Savacum, com. Hert. on Edward Oglethorp. (Chartul. No. 823.)

^{page 136 note a} John Saint Andrew of Gotham, com. Nott. esq. the writer of this letter, was succeeded by a son of the name of William, who married Margaret, daughter of John Aston of Haywood, com. Stafford, esq. by his wife Elizabeth Delves, on or before 16 Hen. VII. 1500–1. (Thornton's Notts. Ato. 1797, vol. I p. 40, and Clifford's Tixall, p. 147.) This letter of the father for his son's disposal in marriage, shows how absolutely a matter of bargain all such contracts were. Here, there is a question between two gentlewomen, and the father has no objection to two strings to his bow; so that the friends of tbe one are to be made acquainted with the offers of the friends of the other gentlewoman, and then I presume the highest bidder would be sure to speed best.

^{page 138 note a} This and the following letter were apparently written in the year of the great plague in England, 15 Hen. VII. 1499.

^{page 138 note b} Many, meny, or meiny, a family. (See Hallamshire Glossary, by Rev. J. Hunter, App. p. 155.)

^{page 138 note c} The feast of St. Oswald was kept on the fourth of August.

^{page 138 note d} Robert Leventhorpe of Leventhorpe-Hall, in the parish of SwiMngton, com. Ebor. esq.

^{page 138 note a} German Pole, the writer of this letter, married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton, in the lifetime of his grandmother Elizabeth Pole, who was a party to a pair of indentures between her and Sir Robert Litton, kt. bearing date 28 Nov. 10 Hen. VII. 1495; for the fulfilment of the articles of which contract, she gave bond to Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. 28 Aug. 15 Hen. VII. 1499. (Chartul. No. 797.) A subsequent letter, written by her to Sir Robert Plumpton, indicates that these indentures had reference to an assignment of lands in jointure to her grandson, German Pole, and his wife, Anne Plumpton. (Vide posted, Letter CXXVIII.) The bond was probably signed about the time of the consummation of her son's marriage, and I ascribe this letter to the same year, 1499, from the mention made of the pestilence at Plumpton.

^{page 139 note b} William Plumpton, eldest son of Sir Robert Plumpton.

^{page 139 note c} John Pole of Redburn, com. Derb. was the father of German Pole; he, as well as his wife Jane, daughter of John Fitzherbert of Etwall, com. Derb. esq. died in the lifetime of Ralph Pole, the grandfather of the writer, before 7 Hen. VII. Their marriage covenant bore date 14 Aug. 13 Edw. IV. 1473, and German Pole their son was aged nine years 25 July, 8 Hen. VII. 1492. (Esc. 8 Hen. VII. n. 23.)

^{page 139 note d} Thornton-bridge, in the parish of Topcliffe.

^{page 139 note e} Margaret Plumpton, married in the following year to Arthur Eyre, esq.

^{page 139 note f} Eleanor Plumpton. (See the letters concerning her marriage, postea.)

^{page 139 note g} Ralph Nevill of Thornton-bridge, esq. and Ann his wife, daughter of Sir Christopher Ward of Givendale, com. Ebor. kt. John Nevill was his brother.

^{page 140 note h} He was probably owner of the house at Ripon, under whose roof the younger branches of the family of Plumpton had sought a shelter from the plague, then raging in the vicinity of their own home.

^{page 140 note a} Margaret Plumpton, who was at this date contracted to marry the eldest son of the writer. (See Letter CXI. postea.)

^{page 142 note a} [Anno Domini M.iiiicxcix. In thys yere, the xvi day of November, was areyned in the Whyte Hall at Westmynster the forenamed Parkyn and iii other,” is the simple advertisement of Fabyan. Hall has, “and so he, beyng repulsed and put backe from all hope and good lucke with all hys complice and confederates, and Jhon Awater, Bometyme Mayor of Corffe in Ireland, one of hys founders and hys sonne, were the sixten day of Novembre arreyned and condempned at Westminster.” Hall here uses the word founders apparently in the sense of fautors, i. e. partisans, but the names of the father and son conjointly arraigned with Perkyn Warbeok are unrecorded. As the trial was before Sir John Sely, Knight Marshal, and Sir John Turbervile, Marshal of the Marshalsea (Rot. Parl. vi. 367), the offences charged must have been the attempt to break out of the King's ward, and treasonable practises committed out of the Realm.

^{page 142 note b} These were Astwood, Bluet, and others, who had assisted Perkyn Warbeck in making his escape. The day of their trial was Monday Nov. 18.

^{page 142 note c} Thursday 21 Nov. 1499.

^{page 142 note d} In the MS. this list of the Peers who sat in judgment upon the Earl of Warwick is very incorrectly copied: thus, in the names Deyngham, Daubeney, and Dacre, the initial letter is changed into a B, and for Zowch we read Rowch.

^{page 143 note e} This title of Lord of Saynt Johns must be intended to designate the Prior of St. John's, as there was no other Lord of Parliament bearing the title at this period. As a military order, the knights of St. John were not, it seems, affected by the usual restriction upon ecclesiastics against deciding upon matters of blood.

^{page 143 note f} Richard Beauchamp, Lord St. Amand, corruptly written Sentmound. (Vide Rot. Par}, vi. 245 b, 273 b.)

^{page 144 note a} Robert Eyre of Padley, com. Derb. esq. had covenanted to grant the marriage of his eldest son, Arthur Eyre, to Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. for 250 marks; he to be matched with Sir Robert's daughter, Margaret, for whose keep fifty shillings were to be henceforth allowed out of each instalment. A receipt for twenty marks, parcel of this sum, bears date 4 Aug. 15 Hen. VII. 1500, (Chartul. No. 800.)

^{page 145 note a} Robert Hastings, esq. and William Dalyson of Laghton in Lindsay, com. Line, gent, submitted their differences to the arbitration of Sir Robert Plumpton, Sir John Hastings, knights, and Nicholas Mydleton, esq. 23 Sept. 13 Hen. VII. 1497. (Chartul. No. 790.) He was probably a younger brother of Sir John Hastings, who under Dams Margaret Babthorpe had acquired lands and rents at Kirby-Wharf.

^{page 145 note a} Edmund Denny, made fourth Baron of the Exchequer 6 May 1514.

^{page 146 note b} Sir Ralph Langford, of Longford, com. Derb. kt.

^{page 146 note c} John Ormond, of Alfreton, com. Derb. esq. obiit 1507.

^{page 146 note d} William Zouche, of Morley, com. Derb. esq.

^{page 146 note e} Sir William Bulmer, of Wilton, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 146 note f} Sir William Ingilby, of Ripley, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 146 note g} Sir Walter Griffith, of Burton Agnes, com. Ebor. kt.

^{page 146 note h} Sir Humphrey Stanley, of Pipe, com. Staff, kt.

^{page 146 note i} John Newdigate, called Serjeant, 18 Nov. 1511.

^{page 146 note k} Sir William Mering, of Mering, com. Nott. kt.

^{page 147 note a} Sir Walter Griffith, High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1501.

^{page 147 note b} Sir Ralph Longford, High Sheriff of Nott. and Derb. in 1501.

^{page 147 note c} John Aston, esq. High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1501, afterwards Sir John Aston, kt.

^{page 147 note d} Ralph Saucheverell, of Hopwell, com. Derb. esq.

^{page 147 note e} William Sewer, Bishop of Carlisle and Abbot of St. Mary, York.

^{page 147 note f} Perdon, i. e. per donum, by which plea the land was claimed under a gift special. (See Letters LXIII. and LXIV.)

^{page 148 note g} German Pole, son-in-law of Sir Robert Plumpton.

^{page 148 note h} Robert Lytton, esq. Under Treasurer of England in 1493, afterwards Sir Robert Lytton, kt. is probably here indicated by “my master:” the debt was owing for the marriage of the daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton to German Pole in 1495, in which contract Sir Robert Lytton had an interest. (See Letter CVIII. note ^a)

^{page 148 note i} The name of Sir Robert Blackwall, clerk, is found among those appointed to be receivers of petitions in the Parliaments 1 Richard III. 7, 11, 12, and 19 Henry VII. (See Letters LXIV, note ^c, and LXX, note^e.)

^{page 148 note a} Coly-Weston, com. Northampton, where the King's mother resided.

^{page 148 note b} John Gascoigne, esq. brother to Dame Agnes Plumpton, wife of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. and uncle to Sir William Gascoigne, of Gokethorp, com. Ebor. kt. from see next Letter.

^{page 149 note a} Sir Christopher Ward, kt. of Givendale, com, Ebor. He married Margaret daughter of Sir William Gascoigne, kt. sister to Dame Agnes Plumpton, and aunt to the writer of this Letter. He died 14 Hen. VIII. (Esc. 14 H. 8. n. 68.)

^{page 149 note b} Thomas Lawrence, son-in-law of Sir Christopher Ward. By his wife Margaret he had no issue.

^{page 149 note c} Ralph Nevill of Thornton-bridge, com. Ebor. esq. married Anne, another daughter of Sir Christopher Ward, kt. j both were deceased before 14 Hen. VIII. (Esc. ubi supra.)

^{page 149 note a} Tockwith (Ainsty) parish of Bilton, com. Ebor.

^{page 150 note a} Sawar, qutere whether the writ to the sheriff was so called, because of the clause si fecerit te secururn?

^{page 151 note a} Empson is here meant.

^{page 151 note b} The fines levied upon persons who had not taken up their knighthood, was one of the extortions in which Empson was an active agent for the crown. By partially favouring individuals, he secured their services when empannelled as jurors for the trial of the assise against Sir Robert Plumpton.

^{page 151 note c} William Eleson, esq. (See Letter CHI. note K)

^{page 151 note d} Sir Robert Plumpton and Sir William Plumpton, knights.

^{page 151 note e} See Memoirs for what relates to the clandestine marriage of Sir William Plumpton and Joan Wintringham, his second wife. This lady was living 19 Oct. 12 Henry VII. 1496, when she passed some copyhold lands in the court at Knaresborough to her son, before Thomas Cogbill, the bailiff of the liberty, (Chartul. No. 785,) but was dead in the following year, 1497, when by reason that Sir Robert Plumpton had given for the repose of her soul the twentieth part of a ducat to the re-building of the greater hospital at St. Jago de Compostella, her name was to be associated with all those prayed for by that community, with a share in all spiritual indulgences according to the tenor of the bulls of Popes Innocent VIII. and Alexander VI. (Chartul. No. 788.) The informalities attending her marriage required atonement, and in the Chartulary are copied numerous certificates of the Indulgences which her husband and herself bad obtained in return for alms bestowed on different religious communities both at home and abroad. Dodsworth, among his Church Notes, has the following memorandum: “Knaresborowgh Church, 28 Sept. 1622. There is a quire in the south side called Plumpton's quyer, which belonged to a house in the town called Wintringham Hall.” (Dodsw. MSS. in Bibl. Bodl. CLX.fol. 186.) The same antiquary has also preserved to us this description of a painted north window then remaining in the same church. “A man in ar. kneeling, on his breast b. 5 fusells in fesse or, (Plumpton); his wiefe behind him, on her breast the former coat paled with ar. a (inescocheon) ent. an orle of martletts, g. (Wintringham); under, Oratepro a'i'a........Plumpton et etiam pro a'i'a d'n'i Wil'mi Plumpton gni istam..........anno.......Qu'rly. b. 5 fusells in fesse or, and sa. a [bend] ent. 6 [escalops] or, (Foljambe); paled with it, an [inescocheon] ent. 9 martletts in orle, g.” Dodsworth appears to have either overlooked the escallops on the fusells, the distinguishing charge in the coat of Plumpton, or they had become imperceptible from lapse of time.

^{page 152 note f} Sir Richard Plumpton, chaplain, is probably here intended.

^{page 152 note g} Cross week was Rogation week, and the cross days the three days, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the feast of Ascension, or Holy Thursday.

^{page 152 note h} This letter was in a tattered state when copied by Sir Edward Plumpton, 21 April 1613. The two sentences here printed as a postscript are written in the margin of the page of the MS. and at the foot of the letter is added, “muc h is omitted becaus it is riven.”

^{page 152 note i} John Yaxley and Thomas Frowyk, Serjeants, called 10 Sept. 1496. Richard Brook, counsellor, called Serjeant 10 Nov. 1511. The following is a copy of Serjeant Yaxley's retainer, (Chartul. No. 802,) “This bill indented at London the 16 day of July, the 16 yeare of the reigne of King Henry the 7^th witnesseth that John Yaxley, Sergent at the Law, shall be at the next Assisea to be holden at York, Nottin. and Derb. if they beholden and kept, and their to be of council with Sir Robert Plompton, knight, such assises and actions as the said Sir Robert shall require the said John Yaxley, for the which premisses, as well for his costs and his labour, John Pulan, Gentlman, bindeth him by thease presents to content and pay to the said John Yaxley 40 marks sterling at the feast of the Nativetie of our Lady next coming, or within eight days next folowing, with 5^H paid aforehand, parcel! ofpaiment of the said 40 marcks. Provided alway that if the said John Yaxley have knowledg and warning only to cum to Nott. and Derby, then the said John Yaxley is agread by these presents to take onely xv^H besides the said Su aforesaid. Provided alwaies that if the said John Yaxley have knowledg and warning to take no labor in this matter, then he to reteine and hold the said 5^H resaived for his good will and labor. In witnesse herof the said John Yaxley, seriant, to the part of this indenture remaining with the said John Pulan have put his seale the day and yeare abovewritten. Provided also that the said Sir Robert Plompton shall beare the charges of the said John Yaxley, as well at York as Nottingham and Derby, and also to content and pay the said money to the sayd John Yaxley corned to the said Assises att Nott. Derb. and York.

“(Copied the 5 of October 1627, having a seal.)

26li. 13s. 4d.

^{page 153 note a} See Letter C. note ^d.

^{page 154 note a} Robert Plumpton of York, was another of the bastard sons of Sir William Plumpton, kt. and brother of William Plumpton of Kirkby-Overblow, gent. (See Letter XXVIII. note ^d). The land and tenements la; at Ockbrook, com. Derby, and the deed by which they were held has already been brought under notice in Letter LXVII.

^{page 155 note a} To spur, to ask. See the Hallamshire Glossary, by the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S, A. Land. Pickering, 1829.

^{page 155 note b} Henry Collumbell of Derley, com. Derb. esq.

^{page 155 note a} Sir John Sotehill, the husband of Dame Elizabeth Sotehill, was at this time deceased, and his name is here improperly introduced through the inadvertence of the writers. Master Anthony Clifford was, it seems, the attorney for Dame Elizabeth Sotehill in these matters, but the legal estate and right of entry had vested in Robert Bubwith, clerk, and Richard Burrow, chaplain, by conveyance from Richard Fawberge or Fulbarne, the surviving feoffee of the original settlement, alleged to have been made by Sir William Plumpton, kt. in the fourth year of the reign of Edward IV. (See Letter XCV. note ^a.)

^{page 156 note b} Kinston Place, anciently Cheniston, in the parish of Radcliff-upon-Soar, com. Nott. was at this time a seat of the Babingtons; “and a very fair house they had there,” says Thoroton.

^{page 157 note a} By letters bearing date 2 July, 15 Hen. VII. 1500, Robert Bubwith and Richard Burrow constituted William Saucheverell and William Sanderson their attornies, to take possession of the manors of Edensor, Derley, Stanton, and Pillesley, com. Derb. and of Combridge and Crakemarsh, com. Stafford, which they had by force of the feofment made by Richard Fawberge to them and their heirs. (See Letter XCV.)

^{page 158 note a} Wingfield, in Derbyshire, a capital manor of the Earl of Shrewsbury.

^{page 158 note b} 24 June.

^{page 159 note a} William Rossell, a younger brother of John Rossell of Ratcliff, com. Nott. esq.

^{page 159 note b} This suit had been brought in the names of Robert Bubwith and Richard Burgh, clerks, against Sir Robert Plumpton, let. for the recovery of the manor of Kinalton, com. Nott. and was tried before John Vavasor, Justice of Common Pleas, and John Fisher, Serjeant, Justices pro hoc vice, at Nottingham, at the Lammas Assizes, in the year 1501, when the verdict passed for the Claimants. Whereupon Sir John Rocliff and Margaret his wife, and Elizabeth Sotehill, widow, demised the said manor to Sir Richard Empson, kt, for the term of his life, who, besides this reward for his maintenance, further procured, about 20 Hen. VII. 1504, his daughter to be married to the heir of Dame Elizabeth Sotehill.

^{page 159 note c} Sir Nioholas Byron of Colwick, com. Nott. kt. obiit 13 Jan. 19 Hen. VII. 1503–4.

^{page 160 note d} By an indenture made 24 July, 10 Hen. VII. 1495. Sir Robert Plumpton leased the manor of Kenalton, “from the feast of the Invencion of Holy cros, called St. Elline day, next coming unto the end of ix yeares,” to John Willymot for 22^H yearly rent. The latter was to furnish to Sir Robert Plumpton meat and drink for his servants, and provender for twenty horses, for the space of four days, twice in the year, and if he abode for a longer space, then to pay three farthings for horse litter and hay for a day and night, and 1/12d, for going at grass in the summer time for a week. Sir Robert and his servants were also to occupy the hall, chambers, bakehouse, brewhouse, kitchen, and stable belonging to the said manor, at his coming there, and in his absence the said John to occupy the hall and the chambers at the overend of the hall, with all other houses of office; the tenant was moreover to find meat and drink for the stewards and receivers of Sir Robert Plumpton coming on business. (Chartul. No. 778.)

^{page 160 note e} William Turvile of West Leke, com. Nott. esq.

^{page 160 note f} Sir Thomas Babington of Kinston, com. Nott. kt.

^{page 160 note g} Sir Henry Willoughby of Wollaton, com. Nott. knight banneret.

^{page 161 note a} In the year 1501 the feast of St. Bartholomew (24 Aug.) fell on a Tuesday, the Saturday next after would therefore be the twenty-eighth, and the Monday following the thirtieth of August.

^{page 161 note b} Sir Robert Flumpton had brought a cross action in the name of his feoffees, Thomas Lindley, John Swale the elder, Richard Kyghley, John Alleyn, clerk, and William Iindley, against Sir John Rocliff, kt. and Margaret his wife, and Elizabeth Sotehill, widow, for lands in Edinsour and Fillesley, which lands had been awarded to the heirs general by Bang Rich. III.; and by the King's writ, tested at Westminster 4 Aug. 16 Hen. VII. 1501, John Vavasor and John Fissher were appointed Justices for the trial of the same, in the county of Derby. A similar suit was instituted for the recovery of the manors of Garsington and Steeton in Yorkshire, which, by a writ of the same date, Humphrey Conyngesby and James Hobert, Serjeants, were appointed to try before them as Justices at York. The attachment has, however, reference probably to proceedings in Chancery on the part of Sir Robert Flumpton, by reason of the parties not appearing under the subpena. (See Letter CXXII.)

^{page 162 note c} Robert Eyre of Padley, died 13 Nov. 19 Hen. VII. 1504, when Arthur his son and heir was of the age of twenty-three years. (Esc. 28 Jan. H. 7, n. 253, pars 1.)

^{page 163 note a} The writer of this earnest letter was Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir Reginald Moton of Feckleton, com. Leic. kt. who died in 1445, and widow of Ralph Pole of Radbume, co. Derb. esq. who died 31 May, 1492. (Vide Letter CVIII. note ^c.) German Pole was her grandson, and in the letter mention is made of money paid to “my nephew;” which epithet (as in the Latin from which it is derived) equally designated s nephew, the son of a brother or sister, and a grandson. His wife is in like manner “my nose,” or “my cousin;” and the remittance for schooling shews her to have been yet of such tender years as not to have left the paternal roof. German Pole was, however, with his wife in Derbyshire in 1502, before he had fully attained his age. (Vide Letter CXXXII.)

^{page 164 note a} II Nov.

^{page 164 note b} To the attempt on the part of the lessors of the plaintiffs, Rocliffe and Sotehill, to eject Sir Robert Plumpton from his manor of Plumpton, a forcible resistance had been made by him and his servants, and a riot had ensued in which his servant, Geffrey Towneley, appears to have lost his life. (See Memoirs.)

^{page 164 note a} 2 Nov. All Souls-day, otherwise “Soulemas day.”

^{page 164 note b} Sir John Towneley of Towneley, com. Lancast. kt. born 1473, died 1539. The kinsman here alluded to was doubtless Geffrey Towneley, whose name has occurred more than once in the correspondence; and of whom the last memorandum in the Cartulary is to the effect, that David Griffith had received of Gefferay Towneley, servant to Sir Robert Plompton, knight, ix^H for his fee of Hawwarrey parke, at Leyrpole, 5 Oct. 14 Hen. VII. 1498. (Chartul. No. 795.) It is presumed that he lost his life in the riot adverted to in the preceding letter.

^{page 165 note a} By deed bearing date 7 May, 17 Hen. VII. 1502, John Ingilby, esq. as the heir of, or gnrviving feoffee in some settlementmadeby Sir WilliamP lumpton in the reignof Edw. IV. conveyed his eBtate in the manors of Plumpton, Idill, Steveton, Garsington in Craven, and little Studley, near Ripon, to Robert Bubwith, clerk, and Richard Burgh, chaplain, to which Thomas Ros, Richard Goldsbrough, John Acclome, and James Ros, esqs. subscribed as witnesses (Clutrtul. No. 818); and at the assizes held at York in the month of September in that year, the parties thus enfeoffed had recovered the manor of Plumpton against Sir Robert Plumpton. (See Memoirs.) It was now sought to discover error in the proceedings, and at the same time application was made for Sir Robert Plumpton to be appointed a Knight of the King's Body, in order that he might have in the meanwhile the privilege of being protected against civil process and arrest.

^{page 165 note b} Thomas Frowyk, Chief Justice C. P. Writ tested 30 Sept. 18 Hen. VII. [1502]. Obiit 17 Oct. 1506, buried at Finchley. Dugdale in his Origines Judiciales has made the year of his appointment 1503, by a mistaken calculation of the Annus Domini corresponding with the regnal year of Hen. VII.

^{page 166 note c} Sir Robert Lytton, kt. Under Treasurer of England.

^{page 166 note d} Richard Fits-James, Bishop of Rochester. Appointed 17 May, 1497.

^{page 166 note c} Edward Vaughan, Treasurer and: Prebendary of St. Paul's. Appointed Bishop of St. David's 13 Jane, 1509.

^{page 168 note a} Cowthorpe, the seat of Sir John Rocliffe.

^{page 168 note b} Ragman, a word derived from Rag, to rate or reproach, Isl. raega, to accuse, and here applied to signify the paper to which the accusing or complaining parties had set their names. This word may yet be traced in the cant expression, round-robin, which, I apprehend, is simply a corruption of round-ragman. Bully-rook, in Shakspeare's Merry Wives of Windsor, should be read Bully-rag. (See BrocketVs Glossary of North Country Words, voce Rag. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 8vo. 1825.)

^{page 168 note c} That is to say, my son has levied a distress upon some of the cattle in their leas, meaning thereby the pastures which were not common.

^{page 168 note d} Goldsborough lies on the opposite side of the river Nidd, facing Plumpton; of this place, Sir Richard Goldsborough, kt. was at this time owner.

^{page 169 note a} Dame Elizabeth Sotehill or Sutell, widow, died 21 Sept. 22 Hen. VII. 1506, leaving her twin grand-daughters, Joan and Elizabeth, daughters of Henry Sotehill, her son, her cousins and next heirs, and then in infancy, having only completed their first jear on the feast of the Ascension of our Lord last past, 21 May, 1506. (Esc. 22 Hen. VII. n. 102.)

^{page 170 note a} Thomas Savage, Archbishop of York. Translated from London 12 April 1501. Ob. 2 Sept. 1507.

^{page 171 note a} Thomas Meryng was one of the Collectors of the tenth granted to Henry VIII. in the fourth year of his reign; his receipt for 21. from Robert Smith, constable of the vill of Plumpton, bears date 18 Oct. 4 Hen. VIII. 1512. (Chartul. No. 857.)

In Dodsworth's MSS. in the Bodleian library is a transcript of a letter from Sir Robert Plumpton addressed to his wife about this time, soliciting money, and stating that his suit was not yet gone into. (Dodsw. vol. cxhiii.f. 62-63.)

^{page 172 note a} Thomas Everingham of Rockley, com. Ebor. esq.

^{page 172 note a} Brian Palmes, junior, son of Guy Palmes, Serjeant-at-law, called 18 Nov. 1511.

^{page 173 note a} First Sunday in Clean Lent, or Quadragesima Sunday, fell on the fifth of March in 1503-3.

^{page 175 note a} By deed, bearing date 6 Aug. 18 Hen. VII. 1503, John Vavasour of Newton, esq, released to William Plompton, esq. all the right and title he had by reason of any feof, ment made by Sir William Plompton, kt. grandfather of the said William, to his father in Plompton, Folefote, Idill, Girsington, Braem, Stotheley, and Steton. (Chartul. No. 821.)

^{page 175 note b} Henry Ughtred of Kexby, com. Ebor. esq. afterwards Sir Henry Ughtred, kt.

^{page 175 note c} Anthony Ughtred, made Knight Banneret at the battle of Spurs.

^{page 175 note d} See an account of the proceedings relating to this fine in the Memoirs.

^{page 176 note a} It appears from this letter of their son, that Sir Robert and Lady Plumpton were both at this time in London, soliciting the King's interference.

^{page 177 note b} See Letter CIII. note ^a.

^{page 177 note a} Sir Reginald Bray, Knight Banneret and Knight of the Garter, one of the chief counsellors of King Henry VII. made his will 4 Aug. 1503, whereby he appointed Master Richard Empson, one of his executors; an intimacy which fully justifies the advice here given to Sir Robert Plumpton to make an exception to his being chosen. The will was proved 28 Nov. 1503. (Testamenta Vetusta, vol. ii. p. 446.)

^{page 177 note b} Sir John Mordaunt of Turvey, com. Bedf. kt. King's Serjeant. Will dated 5 Sept. and proved 6 Dec. 1504. (Ibid. p. 463.)

^{page 178 note a} Combridge, in the parish of Rowcester, com. Staff, and Crakemarsh, near Uttoxeter, in the same county.

^{page 178 note b} Sir John Rodiffe.

^{page 178 note c} Preston, servant to Sir William Gascoigne, kt. (See Letter XCVIII.)

^{page 180 note a} Sir Robert Sheffield of Butterwicke, com. Line. kt. (Set Letter LXIII. node ^a.)

^{page 181 note a} This was a writ of attaint to examine the judgment given by the jurors at the Assize, in order to its being reversed; but it was discontinued, and Sir Robert Plumpton had a precept “To Our trusty and welbeloved Sir William Conyers, Sheriffe of our county of Yorke, &c. that hee serve noe writs, precepte or other writeings upon Sir Robert Plumpton Knight of our body or his servants,” and another to Sir Christopher Ward and Sir William Calverley, Knt. “that William Plompton, son and heir of Sir Robert, peacably inioy the Lordship of Flumpton and Idle and the rents,” &c. Dat. Colly Weston, 16 July. (Towneley MS.) Sir William Conyers was Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1503.

^{page 182 note b} John Frobiser resided at Doncaster. See an account of the family in Hunter's South Yorkshire.

^{page 184 note a} William Stockdale was abbot of Kirkstall from 20 Dec. 1501, but died before 3 Dec. 1509, when William Marshal was elected his successor, the vacancy after whose death was filled up 21 July 1528.

^{page 185 note a} Sir Ralph Ryther of Ryther, com. Ebor. High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1504, 19-20 Hen. VII. William Norvanvill, or Normanvill, was his Under Sheriff. See the letter of Dame Agnes Plumpton, inclosing a copy of the above, to Sir Robert Flumpton in London, which follows.

^{page 187 note a} Thomas Darcy de Darcy, Chl'r, was summoned to Parliament 17 Oct. 1 Hen. VIII. 1509, the same year in which William Lord Conyers had also his first summons upon record. The latter, it is known, bore the title of Lord Conyers in 1506, and now the evidence of this letter, that Sir Thomas Darcy was a Baron in 1504, makes it more than probable that both these noble personages sat in the Parliament which assembled on Thursday, 25 Jan. 19 Hen. VII. 1503–4, and that the writs of summons are lost. Moreover, the Herald whose diary of the ceremony of the interment of King Henry VII. on the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of May 1509, is printed by Hearne, (Lelandi Collectanea, vol. IV. p. 303) likewise calls him “the lord Darcye, beinge Captayn of the Garde;” so that it is certain he had the title before any summons for the new Parliament in that year was issued.

^{page 189 note a} In the Collegiate Church or Minster at Ripon, an ancestor of Sir Robert Plumpton had founded at the altar of the Holy Trinity beyond the high altar, a chantry, which it appears from this letter was screened from the rest of the church and under lock and key. At the foot of the page in the MS. is written, words are omytted bycause they are ryven out.

^{page 191 note a} Dame Elizabeth Pole had numerous offspring by Ralph Pole or de la Pole, her husband, who died 31 May, 7 Hen. VII. 1492. Her eldest son John married Jane daughter of John Fitzherbert, of Etwall, com. Derb. esq. but both died in the lifetime of Ralph Pole. (See Letter CVIII.) Their son German was heir to his grandfather, and the custody of his lands during his minority had been granted to Elizabeth Pole, widow, and Thomas Pole, which latter was a merchant of London. This letter will therefore have been written after he attained his majority in 1504, when it became a question whether his grandmother was to continue still to occupy the family mansion at Radburn. Elizabeth Pole in this letter calls her grandson, zon, and his wife, daughter, instead ef nephew and niece, or simply, cousin, as in her former letter; but it is evident from her subscribing herself “sister,” that she here writes in loco parentis, and uses the expressions of affinity suitable in this regard.

^{page 192 note a} Randal Mainwaring of Carincham, com. Cest. esq. married Margaret, daughter of Ralph Pole of Radburu, com. Derb. esq. (See pedigree of the family in Ormerod's Cheshire.)

^{page 194 note a} Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. married his second wife, Isabel Neville, about 18 Sept. 21 Hen. VII. 1505, and we know that his first wife, Agnes Gascoigne, whose death is here referred to, was living as late as 10 July, 1504; (See Letter CLIV.) so that this letter will have been written in the intervening year.

^{page 194 note b} Henry Ardern was probably a younger son of the family of ihat name settled at Park Hall, near Birmingham, com. Warwick; but I am unable further to identify him, or to state which of the daughters of Sir Robert Plumpton he-married. His connection with the Poles would seem to indicate that the match with Randal Mainwaring had been broken off, and that he married Eleanor Plumpton, then residing with her sister Mrs. Pole.

^{page 195 note a} The heading to this legal opinion in-the MS. appears to be wholly irrelevant to the subject matter of it. The places there named I presume to be the hamlets of Holme, Lynacre, Hackingthorp, Troway, and Bramley in Derbyshire; and that under the name of Chesterfield Padenhale is denoted the place of which there is this record in the Domesday survey of the manor of Newbold, to which Chesterfield was only a berewick. “Soke. In Greh, erst and Padinc four oxgangs of land to be taxed; it is waste.” (Vide Domesd. 272 b., l.)

^{page 195 note b} Cui in vita is a writ of entry which a widow hath against him to whom her husband alienated1 her lands or tenements in his lifetime. For the grounds of the title set forth by Sir Robert Plumpton, see Memoirs.

^{page 196 note c} During the remainder of the reign of Henry VII. the influence of Sir Robert Flumpton, now a Knight of the King's body, and of his friends at Court, was, it Seems, sufficient to counteract the measures of Empson, at least so far as to be permitted to retain possession of Flumpton and the Yorkshire estates, notwithstanding the verdict against him at the assize. (Vide Inq. post mortem Eliz. Suthell liierat. Cur. 12 die Februarii anno 22 Hen. VII. per manus Richardi Emson militis pro manerio de Kenalton et terris in com. Nott. et 11 die Decemiru ........ per manus Ric'i Bunney per ........... Emson pro manerio de Plumpton, com. Ebor.) The estates in Derbyshire had been in possession of the feoffees to the use of the heirs general since the eve of the feast of St. Michael 17 Hen. VII. the year of their recovery by assise before the Justices. See a compotus of Edward Browne, bailiff and collector of rents there for the use of Richard Burgh and Robert Bubwith, clerks, from the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 19 Hen. VII. to the same feast in the following year. (MS. Add. Brit. Mus. 6698.)

^{page 197 note a} Edith, wife of Ralph Lord Nevill, eldest son and heir apparent of Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland, was daughter of Sir William Sands, of the Vine, com. Hants, kt. by Edith, daughter of John Cheney, of Shirland, com. Derb. kt. Her husband died in the lifetime of his father, before 12 July 13 Hen. VII. 1498, at which time his father was likewise dead; for the death of his son, says Leland, so affected the Earl his father, that he quickly followed him to the grave, dying at the seat of his son-in-law William Lord Conyen, at Hornby in Richmondshire, in the church of which parish he lies buried. (See Lel. Itin. vol. I. f. 80.) His widow, at the date of this writing, had become the second wife of the ill-fated Lord Darcy of Templehurst, whom Henry VIII. in the first year of Ids reign, probably by reason of this marriage, made steward and surveyor of all the King's lands beyond Trent, during the minority of her son. (Orig. 1 Hen. VIII. rot. 62, at cited byDugdale.) That there was other issue of the marriage of Ralph Lord Nevill with Edith Sands, beside Ralph, fourth Earl of Westmoreland, and an elder brother, buried at Brancepeth, who died young, is evinced by this letter, though hitherto unnoticed by genealogists. Dame Isabel Plumpton, their daughter, was married to Sir Robert Plump ton, of Plumpton, com. Ebor. kt. about 18 Sep. 21 Hen. VII. 1505, for by deed of that date, the latter conveyed to Sir William Sands, kt. (afterwards the first Lord Sands), Sir John Rainsford, kt. Sir John Norton, kt. Edward Rainesford, esq. Thomas Ratclife, gent. Thomas Pigot, esq. Richard Mauleverey, esq. and William Croft, chaplain, all his lands and tenements lying in the vills and fields of Knarsbrough, Matheloftus near Knarsbrough, Heuby, Elthwatehill near Harwode, Ripon, Acton, Spopherd field, and Arkendon, in the county of York; which feoffees settled the same premises the day but one following upon Sir Robert Plumpton, of Plumpton, kt. and Isabella his wife, and either of them, the longer liver. (Chartul. No. 825-6-7.)

^{page 199 note a} This letter from the grand-daughter of a mighty Earl of Westmoreland feelingly exhibits the straits to which she and her husband were now reduced. No lands of the ancient inheritance of the Plumptons and Foljambes could be sold, where the title of all was impeached, or if a purchaser presented himself, it was only upon obtaining a collateral security fixing lands purchased by Sir Robert Plumpton in his own lifetime, or which had come to him under another title, as through his mother; unless indeed some substantial person could be found to become bound for their peaceable enjoyment. Thus John Slingsby the younger, esq. bought, 10 Oct. 20 Hen. VII. 1504, lands in Studley Roger of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. and William, his eldest son and heir apparent, but with a condition annexed, that Richard Mauliverey, esq. and Walter Baildon should be at the same time enfeoffed by the vendors in lands in Wetton and Huby near Harwood, to be conveyed to the purchaser, “if the said lands in Studley Roger be recovered from the possession of the said John Slingsby.” (Chartul. No. 823.) Of the annoyances to which Germayn Pole, who bought the lands at Combridge in Staffordshire, was subject, his letters which follow bear testimony. To make head against the expenses of this protracted straggle with the more legal claims of the heirs general, the rents of such tenants as did not yet refuse to own Sir Robert Plumpton as their landlord were forestalled, and the wood on the estate was felled. But this last resource failed him: the dealers held back in order to drive an usurious bargain with a necessitous man. The sum of 3_s. 4d. was, it seems, all that could be mustered on the present occasion; meanwhile, the store-rooms at Plumpton were empty and the season of Lent was approaching, when the usage of the time made it a sin to taste flesh, and therefore needful to lay in stock-fish and other like provision. Well might Lady Plumpton tell her husband “we are brought to begger-staffe;” ere long she became with him the inmate of a gaol. (See Memoirs.)

^{page 200 note a} Could this have been the land in Rybston field, of which Lady Hampton speaks in the preceding letter? If so, the attempt to sell it appears only to have added to the Knight's misfortunes in drawing down upon him the wrath of the rector of his parish, and the displeasure of the powerful Earl of Northumberland. (See next Letter.)

^{page 203 note a} Temple Hirst in the parish of Birkin, com. Ebor. the seat of Lord Darcy.

^{page 203 note b} Dorothy Flumpton had, it may be presumed from the context of this letter, been placed in some menial situation in the household of Lady Darcy, which the young lady did not think meet for her rank. The Lady Darcy was mother of Sir Robert Plumpton's then wife, and hence perhaps the motive for her step-daughter being so bestowed. (See Letter LIX. note^a.) I may here remark that among the usual authorities for the genealogies of the extinct Baronage of the kingdom great discrepancy is apparent respecting this lady and her connexions. Dugdale writes the name Elizabeth, citing as his authority MS. J. 3 in Offic. Arm. fol. 71 b, and affirms she died 22 Aug. 1529, and was buried at the Friars Minors in Greenwich, Collins copies Dugdale, but makes her the first wife, ex stemmate. It is, however, certain that both George Darcy and Arthur Darcy, sons of her husband by a former wife, daughter of Sir Richard Tempest, of Giggleswick, in Ribblesdale, com. Ebor. kt. had reached manhood before 6 Hen. VIII. 1514, when they were co-feoffees with others for the uses of the marriage settlement of Sir Marmaduke Constable, the younger, and Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas Lord Darcy; which marriage had been contracted for in the preceding year by Sir Marmaduke Constable, the elder, of Flamborough, kt. and Sir Robert Constable, his eldest son, father of the younger Sir Marmaduke, in consideration of the sum of 800 marks, given with her by her father. (Petition of Sir Robert Constable, 5 Eliz. Archer's MS. p. 168, penes W. Constable Maxwell, de Bveringham, com. Ebor. Ar.) Banks and Edmondson recite the wives la their proper order, but, as well as Dugdale, whom they follow, take no notice of her having been first married to the Lord Nevill, and upon his authority adopt the name of Elizabeth. But in a MS. Baronagium Angliæ by Wm. Smith, Rouge Dragon, anno 1597, now in the possession of Lord Stourton, under the title of Sandes, she is rightly named Editha, and her two husbands, Ralph Nevill and Thomas Lord Darcy of Templehurst, are both mentioned, the only error being the addition of the title of Earl of Westmoreland to the name of her first husband. It was, moreover, no doubt in compliment to her that one of the daughters of George Lord Darcy was named Edith, afterwards the wife of Sir Thomas Dawney of Cowick, com. Ebor. kt. The proof of this second marriage of Edith Lady Nevill is otherwise interesting, as establishing the near degree of kindred which existed between the last unfortunate Earl of Westmoreland and the infamous Sir Robert Constable, who sought to betray him to Queen Elizabeth. (See Sadler's State Papers.) Her daughter, Dame Isabel Plumpton, survived her husband Sir Robert Plumpton, and was 10 Mar. 20 Hen. VIII. 1528-9, the wife of Lawrence Kighley of New Hall, near Otley, esq. (See Memoirs.)

^{page 204 note a} This is the only notice I have met with of Edmund Plumpton; he probably died unmarried in his father's life-time.

^{page 205 note a} Christopher Bainbridge, Archbishop of York, appointed proctor for King Henry VIII. at the Papal See, 24 Sept. 1509. He died in the Holy City. (See Drake's Eboracum.)

^{page 206 note a} Sic, sed lege Bothe. Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. and William, his son and heir apparent, were bound in a statute merchant to Sir John Bothe, of Barton, in com. Lane, kt. and Hamelett Harington, of Hayton-hay, com. Lane. esq. in a £100, to indempnify them against Morgan Williams, citizen of London, who had advanced this sum upon their security, which instrument bears date 1 Jan. 1 Hen. VIII. 1509-10. (Chartul. No. 833.) This debt was not acquitted till 9 May, 8 Hen. VIII. 1516, when it was agreed that costs should be awarded according to the judgment of Sir Robert Sheffeild, knight, counseler to our Lord the King, and of Master John Veesy, clerk, Dean of the King's chappell. (Ibid. No. 847.)

^{page 207 note a} The feast of the translation of St. William, Archbishop of York, was kept on the Sunday next after the Epiphany. In the year 1515, 6 Hen. VIII. the Epiphany, or Twelfth Day, fell on a Friday.

^{page 208 note b} King Henry VIII. Aug. 22, in the first year of his reign, granted to Sir William Perpoint, knight, of Holme, com. Nott. the custody of Joane and Elizabeth Southill, and their marriage. (Rot. Pat. pars l^ma. 1 Hen. VIII.) He had also, July 24, 2 Hen. VIII. the custody of the lands and tenements which were Henry Sothills and Elizabeth Sothills, widow, as long as they remained in the King's hands. (Ibid, pars 2^da. 2 Hen. VIII.) At the same time Sir William Pierpoint married Joan, the widow of Henry Sotehill, and the mother of these twin sisters, his co-heirs; she, it has been mentioned, was the daughter of Sir Richard Empson, kt. who towards the close of the reign of Henry VII. had been made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. (See Thornton's Notts, edit. 1797, vol. i. p. 176.) The wardship and marriage of Joan, the eldest co-heir, was subsequently purchased by Sir Marmaduke Constable of flamborough, com. Ebor. kt. conjointly with his fourth son, John Constable, esq. afterwards a knight, who eventually married the lady, and resided at Kinalton. He died 13 Eliz. 1571, leaving issue by her three daughters: 1. Anne, the wife of George Babington, esq. in her right of Kinalton, by whom she had no issue, and secondly, of Sir Anthony Thorold, of Marston, com. Line. kt. whose only daughter by her became the wife of George, son and heir of Sir Gervase Clifton, of Clifton, com. Nott. kt. and carried the representation of the ancient house of Plump ton, together with the estate at Kinalton, to the family of that surname; 2. Cecilia, first wife of William Bevercotes, esq. and secondly, of Clement Oglethorp, esq. She had issue by both husbands, and upon the partition of the land which was the Lady Jane Constable's, late of Kinalton, com. Notts. by virtue of an indenture bearing date 28 Mar. 19 Eliz. 1577, between Cuthbert Bevercotes, esq. of the one part, and William Oglethorp, esq. of the other part, the moiety of the lordship of Clifton (Steton?) was assigned to the former, and the moiety of the lordship of Idel to the latter. (MSS.ofJ. C. B. in Coll. Arm.) 3. Catharine, without issue. Elizabeth, the second of the daughters and co-heirs of Henry Sotehill, was married to Sir William Drury, of Hawsted Place, com. Suff. kt. of whose descendants a full and detailed account will be found in the History of Suffolk, “Thingoe Hundred,” lately published by my esteemed friend, John Gage, esq. Director S. A. who since the demise of his brother, the late Robert Joseph Gage Rookwood, of Coldham Hall, in Stanningfield, com. Suff. esq. without surviving issue, has, upon succeeding to the estate, assumed also the name of Rookwood. (Hist, and Antiquities of Suffolk, p, 428, London, 4to. Bentley, 1838.)

^{page 210 note a} Sir William Fairfax, Justice of the Common Pleas, eldest son of Sir Guy Fairfax, of Steeton, com. Ebor. kt. Chief Justice of the King's Bench, died 6 Hen. VIII. 1515. Only three of the arbitrators here named signed the final award, John Earnly, the King's Attorney-general, being the fourth. (See Memoirs.)

^{page 211 note a} The award had been made 27 Mar. 6 Hen. VIII. 1515, and in it the lands at Combridge in Staffordshire were not specified; bnt an agreement was subsequently come to by the parties, 12 Nov. 17 Hen. VIII. 1515, to refer to arbitrators the proofs eoncerning the lands called Comrig, in the county of Stafford, and the question whether the advowson of the chantry of Ripon, in the county of York, was appurtenant to the manor of Plumpton, in the county of York. (Chartul. No. 845.) The result was in favour of Germayn Pole, and the lands purchased at Combridge continued to be the property of his descendants, as appears by the escheats.

^{page 214 note a} Sir Alban Pole was a younger son of Ralph and Elizabeth Pole, probably in Holy Orders.

^{page 214 note a} Joanna, only child of Henry Redman, son and heir apparent of Edward Redman, esq. lord of a moiety of Harewood, com. Ebor. was five years old in 6 Hen. VIII. when her grandfather died. (See Pedigree in Whitaker's Loidis et Elmete.)

^{page 215 note a} William Fairfax, twin-brother with Sir Nicholas Fairfax, of Gilling, com. Ebor. kt. sons of Sir Thomas Fairfax, of Walton, com. Ebor. kt. by Anne, daughter of Sir William Gascoigne, of Gawkthorpe, com. Ebor. kt. and the Lady Margaret Percy, and sister to the writer of this letter.

^{page 215 note b} Arthur Eyre, son and heir of Robert Eyre of Padley, com. Derb. esq. was contracted to marry Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. before 4 Aug. 15 Hen. VII. 1500.

^{page 216 note a} Margaret, daughter of Sir William Gascoigne of Gawkthorp, com. Ebor. kt. by Ms wife Joan, daughter and heiress of Sir John Nevill, of Althorp, com. Line, kt. wife of Sir Christopher Ward of Girendale, com. Ebor. kt. and sister of Dame Agnes, wife of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt.

^{page 216 note b} Sir Christopher Ward died 14 Hen. VIII. 1522. (Esc. 14 Hen. VIII. n. 68.J when it was found that Margaret the wife of Lawrence, (then sine prole,) Joanna wife of Sir Edward Musgrave, kt. ætatis 23 annorum, Catharine, wife of Walter Stirkland, esq. æt. 22, Johanna, wife of John Constable, esq. twin with the last, and Anne, wife of Ralph Nevill, (who with her husband were then both dead,) should have been big daughters and heirs.

^{page 217 note a} This suit must relate to the forcible possession retained of Plumpton in the reign of Henry VII. after recovery by assise at the Common Law. Sir Robert Plumpton was now, it seems, made a debtor to the King for the rents and profits received during this intrusion, till he was again in by due course of law.

^{page 217 note b} The dispute with Babthorpe. (See next Letter.)

^{page 217 note c} Cardinal Wolsey obtained these powers from Rome by bull dated Dec. 22, 1516. Rymer's Fædera, tom. XIII. p. 578.

^{page 218 note a} It has been asserted in a preceding note, but upon insufficient grounds, that William Eleson or Elson, the writer of this letter, whom William Plampton calls his brother in Letter CXLII. and who here addresses Mrs. Isabel Plumpton as bis sister, had eventnally married a daughter of Sir Robert Plumpton, the above modes of expression being supposed to indicate that he was the brother-in-law of the parties. That there was no such connection, when the Letters inserted at p. 134–5, and p. 163, were written, is manifest from their address and subscription. Now of these letters, one is ascertained to have been written 12 Feb. 1498–9; the next is of later date; while the third cannot have been sent before the month of October or November in the year 1502; subsequently to which date, and to the date of William Plumpton's Letter, viz. on the 12 Apr. 1504, he is named by Lady Plumpton, but not as “my son,” a distinction to which if he was entitled no mother-in-law would have omitted in a familiar letter of the time, when affinity and relationship in a much more remote degree were so respectfully cherished. To explain the connection between the parties, we must therefore have recourse to other evidence. In the Visitation of 1584 by Glover, Robert Babthorpe, the father of Mrs. Isabel Plumpton, is represented to hare married a wife named Katharine, and from a tricking of a coat of arms, sa. a cinrou engrailed or, a line is drawn appropriating it to her. Archer, as cited by Burton from Smales, p. 124, corroborates Glover, and adds that she was daughter of —— who died in 1461. (See Pedigree of Babthorpe in Burton's Mon. Eboracense, p. 437, note^b.) The above coat Edmondson assigns to the family of Hagthorpe, a local name derived from a vill in the same township as Babthorpe, viz. Brakenholme cum Woodal, in the parish of Hemingbrough; and I find a Thomas Hagthorpe de Brakenholme, a witness to a deed of release from Alice Keighleston to Ralph Babthorpe, esq. dated 10 Jan. 17 Hen. VI. 1438–9. (Towneley MSS. G. 24.) Robert Babthorpe must necessarily have died before 11 May, 1496, when the representation of the Babthorpes had vested in his daughter Isabell or Elizabeth as heir general, then in her seventeenth year; (see Letter XCLX. note^b.) and upon comparing the date of his daughter's birth with the age of Ralph his elder brother, who was found to be 22 years old when his father died, 6 Edw. IV. 1466, (Esc. de eod. anno.) it may be conjectured that he was about thirty when he married. It is also certain from a comparison of dates and circumstances,, that William Eleson was many years the senior of Mrs. Isabel Plumpton, for we find him in 1501 esteemed a lawyer of such approved counsel, as to be considered the fittest person to investigate the complicated evidence supporting the title of Sir Robert Plumpton to the estates claimed by the heirs general. (See Letter CXIX.) From these inferences I draw the conclusion, that Katharine, wife of Robert Bttbthorpe, daughter of —— Hagthorpe, had had a first husband, and that William Eleson of Selby was the issue of such marriage, and brother in half blood to Mrs. Isabel Plumpton. On a stone in the north aisle of the abbey church of Selby, near the font, was inscribed, Hic jacet Joh. Elson, qui obiit 14…1509, who, if the date be correct, was probably another brother, and not father of William Elson, as heretofore assumed in the note to Letter CIII. Of other issue, mention will be made in a subsequent note.

^{page 219 note b} The manor of Babthorpe was held of the Bishop of Durham.

^{page 219 note c} Christiana, the widow of William Babthorpe of Osgodby, remarried William Bedell, esq. and survived to 8 April, 31 Hen. VIII. 1540, as appears from the register of Sepulchral Inscriptions existing temp. Hen. VIII. in the church of the Grey Friars, London. “Christiana Bedell, uxor Willelmi Bedell, armigeri, et filia Henrici Suttell de Stockfaston, de com. Leicestrie, armigeri. Ob. 8 Apr. 1540.” (See Coll. Top. et Geneal, vol. V. p. 289.)

^{page 219 note d} William Babthorpe, son of WilHam Babthorpe of Osgodby and of Christian Sotehill or Suttell, (erroneously described as a daughter of Mr. John Soothill in the pedigree of Babthorpe in Burton,) was yet a minor, 29 Apr. 2 Hen. VIII. 1510, when Thomas Babthorpe, clerk, provost of the Collegiate Church of Hemingbrough, bound himself in the penal sum of £100 to William Plumpton, the obligation to be void “if the said Thomas Babthorp and William Bedell, during the nonage of William Babthorp, should keep the award of Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcy, and Sir Marmaduke Constable, knight, (late) Sherif of Yorkshire, arbitrators indifferently chosen by the parties, of and upon the right and title of the manor of Babthorpe and the lands and tenements in Brackholme and Hemingbrough, which the said William claimeth in the right of Isabel his wife, and of the lands in Watterton, iu the county of Lincoln, which the said Thomas claimeth in right of the foresaid William Babthorpe, now being under age, the award to be given before the feast of St. Michael the Archangel next ensuing.” (Chartul. No. 835.)

^{page 220 note e} William Crouch, the Escheator in the county of York, testifies by deed that on Friday, 3 Apr. 21 Hen, VII. 1506, he had given quiet seisin and possession of the manor called Babthorp, with its appurtenances, in the county of York, and of the manors or vills called Brakenhome, Estofte, Selby, and Hunigsley, in the same, to William Plumpton, esq. in right of Isabella his wife, cousin and heir of Isabella Hastings, late wife of Sir John Hastings, kt. according to the precept in a writ dated 13 Feb. last past to him directed. (Chartul. No. 828) J But before the date of this letter the opposite party had, it seems, regained possession, and the manor was now in the occupation of William Bedell in right of his wife as her dower. The place, therefore, here alluded to mast have been Waterton, in the Isle of Axholme, to which a counter claim had been set up in the title of the heir male.

^{page 221 note a} The dispute between “William Plompton and Isabel his wife” of the one party, and “William Babthorp, gent, and Anas [Agnes] his wife, of the other party,” concerning the ancient estates of the family of Babthorpe in Yorkshire, was continued till after the death of Sir Robert Plumpton, kt. his father, for by bond dated 3 May, 16 Hen. VII. 1524, it was agreed to refer all matters to the arbitration of Sir Lewis Polard and Sir Richard Broke, kts. two of the King's Justices of the Common Pleas, and to Sir William Gasooigne, kt. Treasurer of the right reverend father in God, Thomas Lord Cardinal, Legate of the See of Rome, Archbishop of York, Primate and Chancellor of England, and to Ralph Swillington, Attorney to our Sovereign Lord the King. (Chartul. No. 855.)