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Letters Written to Sir William Plumpton, Who Died 20. Year of K. Edward The Fowrth.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2010

Abstract

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Type
Plumpton Correspodence from Sir Edward Plumpton's Book of Letters
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1839

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References

page 1 note a Henry VI.

page 1 note b Edward Earl of March took the title of Edward IV. 4 March 1460–1.

page 1 note c The battle of Towton field or Saxton field was fought on the twenty-ninth of March following, being Palm Sunday, whence it was sometimes called Palm Sunday field. Sir William Plumpton's eldest son was among the slain.(See Memoirs.)

page 2 note a 27 Jan.

page 2 note b See Madox's Exchequer for the mode of passing an account at the Exchequer, and as to a Sheriff being apposed by the Barons upon the summonce of the Pipe. Sir William Plumpton had been Sheriff of the county of York in 1448, and of Nottingham and Derby in 1452.

page 2 note c Sir William Plumpton obtained his letters of general pardon and release, 5 Feb. 1461–2; wherein, among other designations, he is styled “nuper vicecom. com. Ebor. mil. alias nuper vieecom. com. Nottingham et Derb. chiyaler.” (Vide Chartul. continent, evidentiasfamilies de Phimpton, No. 551.

page 2 note d The estreats out of the Exchequer, sent to the Sheriffs to be levied, were sealed with green wax.

page 3 note a Bryan Rocliff of Cowthorpe, com. Ebor. (See Memoirs.) He was made third Baron of the Exchequer, 8 May, 1 Edw. IV. and therefore in condition to show service to his client at the time of writing.

page 3 note a The nature of the variance spoken of in this letter may be collected from the evidences in the Plumpton cottcher book. A writ of appeal had, it seems, been brought by “Thomasyn, late the wife of Henry Perpoint, sometyme of Holme, esquire,” (whose son this Henry was) against “Robert Grene, late of Plompton beside Knaresburgh, in the county of York, gent.” of the death of the “ said Henry Perpoint, sometyme her husband, in the shire of Nottingham;” and, on the other hand, a counterwrit had been sued by “Richard Grene, of Plompton, nevewe and heir of John Grene, late of Plompton,” (which John was brother-in-law to Sir William Plumpton, and serving as his steward) against “John Perpoint, late of Rodmathwaite, in the county of Nottingham, gent, and others,”1 of the death of his " said uncle John Grene, in the shire of York.” These homicides had been committed in am affray on Papplewick-moor in Nottinghamshire 35 Hen. VI.; and 10 Feb. 37 Hen. VI. 1458–9, the same parties had agreed to abide by the award of Sir John Melton, knight, John Stanop, esq. and Richard Elingworth, counsellor, arbitrators chosen on the side of Perpoint, and of Sir William Vernon, knight, William Babington, esq. and Richard Neel, counsellor, on the side of Plumpton, with John Viscount Beaumont for umpire. The civil dissensions probably prevented the final settlement of the variance at that time. Then came the proposal contained in this letter of Sir Richard Bingham, but which was not acceded to, as the final award was subsequently Blade pursuant to a bond dated 24 May, 2 Edw. IV. It is in the sole name of Biohard TUnghum, “one of the King's Justices of the bench,” and bears date “on Friday on the morne after the ascension of oar lord,” 28 May, 1462. (Chartul: No. 552.)

page 4 note b Sir John Markham, made chief justice of the King's Bench, 1 Edw. IV. removed 8Edw. IV.

page 4 note c Henry Pierpont of Holme Pierrepont, esq. son of Henry Pierpont, esq. and Thomasyn, daughter of Sir John Melton, knight.

page 4 note d Sir Richard Bingham, knight, a justice of the King's Bench and the writer of this letter, was of Middleton, com. Derb. and agreeably to the custom of the time, calls Sir William Plumpton his cousin, inasmuch as his son Richard Bingham, junior, Who is named in the letter, had married Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Rempston, knight, uncle by the half-blood to Sir William Plumpton.

page 5 note a Hustings, the court for causes in the City of London.

page 5 note b JohnPlumtre of Nottingham died April 1471.—See Thoroton for an account of this family.

page 5 note c A defendant was to be called in court five times before judgment of outlawry could be given.

page 6 note a Richard Illingworth, made Chief Baron of the Exchequer 10 Sept. 2 Edw. IV. 1462.

page 6 note b John Earl of Worcester, Lord Tiptoft and Powis, was Lord Treasurer at this period. He is stated to have married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Greyndour, of which name of Greindour, or Graindorge, there was a family of some consequence in Craven, whose heir-general was Nesfield of Flasby, a manor acquired by this match. The intermarriage with the family of Beckwith may therefore have been on the part of the wife's relatives; any how a near affinity seems to be indicated by this letter.

page 6 note c The Eschetour of the county of York, 2 Edw. IV. was Thomas Beckwith of Clint in com. Ebor. esq. whose eldest son and heir apparent William had married Elizabeth daughter of Sir William Flumpton before 26 Jan. 34 Hen. VI. 1455–6. At that date Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Beckwith, who is stated in the pedigree of the family to have been a coheir of Heslarton, was living, and lands in Hawnby, Filey and Muston are named in the settlement upon the marriage of their son William Beckwith. By the same deed Sir William Flumpton was bound to pay a certain Bifln by annual instalments for his daughter's portion, and from a subsequent letter it would seem that xii, parcel of this sum, had been kept back, probably on the ground of his daughter not having issue male, it being one of the conditions of the bond that all payments should thenceforth cease, upon her dying without having any such alive. (Chartul. No. 541.)

page 7 note a Sir William Plumpton had about this time been confined on a false charge of carrying on a treasonable correspondence with the fugitive Lancastrians. (See Memoirs.)

page 7 note b John Nevill, Earl of Northumberland and Lord Mount ague, between whom and the Earl of Warwick the estates of the House of Percy were divided, after the accession of Edward IV.

page 7 note c Thomas Beckwith. (See note to Litter V.)

page 8 note d Edward Goldesburgh, third Baron of the Exchequer in 1484. The writer of the letter apparently alludes to the then projected match between Richard, eldest son and heir apparent of Thomas Goldesburgh of Goldesburgh, com.. Ebor. esq. brother of Edward Goldesburgh above named, and Alice, one of the daughters of Sir WilHatn Plumpton. The father's bond for the marriage bears date in 1465. (Set ???.)

page 8 note e “Robert Ros' son,” with whom and another daughter of Sir William Hampton a match had previously miscarried, was Thomas, eldest son of Robert Ross, of tngmanthorp, com. Ebor. esq.

page 8 note f Margaret Rocliffe, the wife of John Rocliffe, eldest son of the writer, was granddaughter of Sir William Plumpton. Her feofment on marriage (dated 26 Nov. 3 Edw. IV. 1463) had, it seems, been kept secret from Henry Suthill, esq. who in Feb. 1463–4 contracted for the marriage of the other co-heir.

page 8 note g The date of this letter was probably the Friday next preceding Christmas (Yule) day, which in 1463 fell on a Sunday. The manor seat of the Roucliffes was at Colthrop, otherwise Cowthorpe, a parish-town in the upper division of Claro, com. Ebor. The church there was built by this Brian Roucliffe, and in the choir on a flat stone are the effigies in brass of him and his wife, bearing betwixt them the model. It was consecrated in 1458; and he died 24 March 1494.

page 8 note h From the time of the marriage of his son with the grand-daughter of Sir William

page 9 note a The phrase per album breve ought perhaps to be understood of a bribe given to Horberey, acting as attorney on behalf of the minister of the house of St. Robert at Knaresborough (at this date Robert Boulton), for the staying of these writs.

page 9 note b Thomas Holden and William Hanworth were with William Husworth, William Rute, Christopher Craven, Richard Dryver, Richard Warter and John Ripley, freres and brethren of the house of St. Robert, John Cock and William Barker, indicted and outlawed during these suits by Sir William Plumpton. (Chartul. No. 573.)

page 10 note a Chapman of Stamford. (Videpostea, Letters VIII. and IX.)

pate 10 note b Joan Lady Ingaldesthorp. (Vide posted, Letter X. note b.)

page 10 note c Pake, quære if intended for Hugh Pakenam or Pagnam, whose letter is among the correspondence, No. X.

page 10 note a Robert Boulton, minister of the house of St. Robert near Knaresborough. See Letter VII.

page 10 note b Sir John Mauleverer of Allerton, com. Ebor. kt.

page 10 note c Henry Snthill esq. was bound to pay for the marriage of the grand-daughter and heir apparent of Sir William Plumpton a certain sum by instalments, the first of which became due 24 June, 1464. Suthill was married to the only daughter of John Boyvile of Stockfaston, or Stockerston, com. Leic. which property was inherited by Iris issue; he was himself a younger son of Gerard Suthill of Redburne, com. Line, (a shoot from the ancient stock of Soothill in the parish of Dewsbury, com. Ebor.)and was at this time following the profession of the law, from which he appears to have derived considerable wealth, so as to enable him to contract for the heiress of Plumpton.

page 11 note d Richard Bingham the younger.—See Letter III

page 11 note e Geoffrey Dawne was probably of the family of Daw.ney of Cowick, com. Ebor. but the connexion with the writer and the lady P, in whose service Isabel Grene was at this time, has not been ascertained.

page 12 note a William Husee was at this time a counsel learned in the law; made Serjeant 9 June 1479, Chief Justice of the King's Bench 7 May 1482.

page 13 note b Thomas Middelton, son-in-law of Sir William Plumpton.

page 13 note c Thomas Eyr, citizen and draper of London, and Elizabeth his wife, late wife of Nicholas Yeo, late citizen and alderman of London, acknowledge to have received of Sir William Plumpton, knight, by the hands of Brian Eouclif, ten marks in part payment of a larger sum, 10 May, 5 Edw, IV. 1465. (Chartul. No. 567.)

page 13 note d The manor of Nesfield, com. Ebor. had been settled in jointure upon Margaret Plumpton at the time of her marriage with John Koclif, the son of the writer, but Sir William Plumpton bargained to retain the issues for five years from 26 Nov. 1463, the date of the contract.

page 14 note a Sir Henry Vavasour of Hazelwood, in com. Ebor. knt. high sheriff in 1470.

page 14 note a John Pakengharu, treasurer of the cathedral church of York from 1459 to 1477, in which year he died. See his monumental inscription, Drake's Ebor. p.499.

page 15 note b Joan Lady Ingaldesthorp, relict of Sir Edmund de Ingaldesthorp, who died 2 Sept. 1456, and sister of John Earl of Worcester. Her daughter was married to John Nevill, Earl of Northumberland, and after 1469 Marquis Montague.

page 15 note c William Lord Hastings, Lord Chamberlain to King Edward IV.

page 15 note d Hugh Pagnam was probably an ancestor of the family connected with the county of Kent in the reign of Edw. VI., when a Hugh Pakenham owned jure ux. the Moat in Ightham. His correspondence with Sir William Plumpton apparently had for its motive the urging on a declaration of marriage to the lady named Mistress F. S. on whom Sir William Plumpton had made a favourable Impression. This letter will therefore have been written before the secret marriage of Sir William had been divulged in 1468. Mr. Rocliffe's labour to “Lady Inglestrop,” spoken of in Letter VII. was, it may be conjectured, simply with a view to the obtaining a place in the household of that great lady for Mrs. Isabel Marley, a niece of Sir William Flumpton, as we find her residing with the “ Lady Ingolshorp,” and greatly bounden to her at the date of this letter.

page 16 note a Thomas Scarborough was of Glusburne in Craven.

page 16 note b Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, held Topcliffe with the other manors and lordships of the Percies in Yorkshire, from 1461 to 1469, when Henry Percy was restored.

page 17 note a Godfrey Greene was probably of the family of Grene of Newby, com. Ebor. which was allied to the Middeltons of Stockeld, and of which place was John Grene, who married Joan, sister of Sir William Plumpton. —(See Memoirs.)

page 17 note b Lady Stapleton was Isabella, daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Rempston of Bempston, com. Nott. kt. and relict of Sir Bryan Stapleton of Carlton, com. Ebor. kt. who died 3 Edw. IV. leaving Bryan his son and heir a minor.

page 17 note c Sir Thomas Burgh or Borough of Gainesborough, corn. Line. kt. ancestor of the Lords Borough.

page 17 note d George Nevill, Archbishop of York.

page 17 note e Sir James Harrington of Brierley, com. Ebor. kt. Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1467.

page 17 note f Sir John Conyers of Hornby, com. Ebor. kt.

page 17 note g Sir Robert Constable of Flamborough, com. Ebor. kt. Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1467.

page 18 note a The news communicated by Godfrey Grene in this letter furnishes some additional historical information to fill up the meagre outline of the events of the time, as given in the chronicles. To begin with the “remarkable fragment” printed by Hearne in the same volume with “ Sprotti chronica,” p. 296; it is there narrated, “this viith (lege viiith) yere Margarete sustir unto King E. bifore saide departid frome the King, and rode thurgh oute London behynde the Erie of Warwicke, and rode that nigt to Stratforde Abbay, and from thens to the se syde, and went into Flaundres to Brugis, where she was maryid with grete solempnite. And within short space aftir, thois astates, as the duchess of Northfolke with othir, retournid in to Englond, in whois Company were ii. yong geatihnen, that one namid John Poyntz, and that othir William Alsford, the which were arestid bicause in the tyme of the forsaide mariage they hadde familiar communication with the duke of. Somersett and his complicis there, in the which they were bothe detectid of treason: whereuppon one Richard Steris skinnar of London with thois ii. were behedid att the toure-hill the xxi. day Of Novembre.” This extract is from a contemporary and well-informed writer, and accords with the news in the letter, save that the day of execution is spoken of in the latter as being Monday before St. Andrew day, i. e. 28 November (instead of Monday se'nnight, 21 November) and the name Steris (or Staires. Rot. Parl. vi. 292 b) is written “Sr peirs,” an error no doubt of our copyist in 1612. In Fabyan is this notice of the events of the year 1468, 8th Edward IV. “This yere, and xxi. day of Novembre, a servaunte of the Duks of Exeeter, named Richard Sterys, after his jugement, was drawen thorughe the cytie unto the Tower Hylle, and there parted in ii. pesys, that is, the hede frome the body. And upon the daye followynge, two persones beyng named (the one) Poynys and that other Alforde, were drawen westwarde to Tyborne, and there whan they shulde have been hanged, there chartours were shewyd, and so preservyd.

“And about this season or soon after, was the Erie of Oxenforde, which before tyme was taken by a surmyse in ielosy of treason, awaytyd for and arrestid, and after delyvered.” (Fab. Chron. London, 1811, 4to. p. 657.)

The surmise of treason against the Earl of Oxford was not without cause; for, on the 18th July, nine days after the marriage of Margaret "to the Duke of Burgundy, we find him writing to Sir John Paston, Knight, from Canterbury, to order him three horse harness, as though it were for himself, together with two standard-staves, and concluding his letter in these words, “I trust to God we shalle do right well.” But the Earl's fortitude appears to have failed him upon being committed to the Tower; “it is said he has confessed myche thinge,” writes Sir William Plumpton's correspondent. Of his accomplices, Htingerford and Courtenay were executed; “and this yere,” to use the words of a contemporary writer, “was Syr Thomas Hungreford, Knight, sunne to the Lorde Hungreforde, and Henry Curteney of right Erie of Devenehere, behedid at Salisbyre;” the others here named were, with the Earl, restored to grace.

page 19 note b Robert Danby, Chief Justice C. P. in 8 Edward IV. 1468, a Knight in 1471.

page 19 note c Sir John Mauleverer of Allerton-Mauleverer, com. Ebor. kt.

page 19 note * Chron. ap. Lei. Coll. vol. i. part 2, p. 500. It is stated by Dugdale that Sir Thomas Hungerford was seized and tried for his life at Salisbury on Monday preceding the feast of St. Hilary, 8 Edward IV. when he had judgment as a traitor, and suffered next day. But according to the record he was arraigned with Courtenay on Monday next after the feast of St. Hilary, i. e. 16 January 1468–9, for treason charged to have been committed on the 21 May, 8 Edw. IV.; and it was on the next day that, after a trial and conviction by jury, both were sentenced to execution. (Vide Rot. Parl. vi. 306 b.) Henry Sotehill was attorney for the King on the occasion.

page 20 note d Sir Thomas Tresham, of Rushton, com. North”, kt. a zealous Lancastrian, beheaded at Tewkesbury in 1471.

page 20 note e Sir John Marney, of Layer Marney, com. Essex, kt. ancestor of the Lords Marney.

page 20 note f Sir Edmund Hungerford, kt. was great-uncle to Sir Thomas Hungerford, Knight.

page 20 note g Sir Robert Ughtred of Kexby, com. Ebor, kt.

page 21 note a William Plumpton, bastard son of Sir William Plumpton, Kt. (See Memoirs.)

page 21 note b William Marley, it is presumed, was nephew to Sir William Plumpton, son of Richard Marley and Alice Plumpton. Isabel Marley was their daughter. (See Letter X.)

page 22 note c Kinalton in com. Nott. a seat of Sir William Plumpton, kt. which came to him from the Foljambes.

page 22 note a The writ of venire facias against Robert Bolton, the minister of the house of St. Robert near Knaresborough, and his fellow canons Richard Dryver, William Rute, John Malle, and William Usworth, for fishing in the ponds of Sir William Plompton, Knight, at Plompton, on the 20th day of February, 3 Edward IV. 1463–4, and taking breams, pike (dentrices), tench, and roches, sent by Godfrey Grene with this letter, was returned unexecuted by the sheriff in the following Hilary Term, by reason of the time being too short; and another was issued, returnable in Easter Term. —R. Danby apud Westm. 12 Feb. 9 Edw. IV. 1469–70. The parties ultimately bound themselves (10 May 1471) to refer all matters in dispute to arbitration; for which purpose Robert Roos, of Ingmanthorp, and Lawrence Kighley were chosen on the part of Sir William Plumpton, and Robert Gascoigne and Thomas Clapeham on the part of the minister, who made their award on Saturday after the Ascension day, 11th Edward IV. 23 May, 1471. (Chartul. No. 571 and 573.)

page 23 note b Serjeant Guy Fairfax, called in 1464, was made King's Serjeant 28 April 1468.

page 23 note c Miles Willesthorp, of Wilsthorp, com. Ebor. esq.

page 24 note a The suits against the dwellers in the forest, spoken of in Letter XV. denote that Sir William Plumpton held at this time the appointment of Chief Forester of the forest with that of Custos of the castle of Knaresborough, which same offices he had also held in the reign of Hen. VI. and from whom he had had a grant of the latter for the term of his life.

page 25 note b Great Timble, in the parish of Fewston and liberty of Knaresborough, was one of the Tills of the forest.

page 25 note c Stub, a timber-tree.

page 25 note d John Warde is named with others in Letters Patent bearing date at Westminster, 29 Apr. 6 Edw. IV. (Rot. Parl. v. 596 b.)

page 25 note a Thomas Wade of Knarysburgh, yeoman, a zealous Yorkist, convicted of treason, as an adherent of the Earl of Lincoln on the fourth of June, 2 Hen. VII. 1487, and attainted 19Hen. VII. 1503. (Rot. Parl. vi. 545.)

page 25 note b John Nevill, Earl of Northumberland (from 27 May 1464 to 25 Mar. 1470), Lord Montagu, and Warden of the East Marches. He was likewise President of Yorkshire.

page 26 note a Richard Duke of Gloucester, made High Constable of England 29 Feb. 1472, resided at Pontefract as chief Seneschal of the King's Duchy of Lancaster in the North Parts, and by virtue of his office leased to his beloved Sir William Plompton, knight, the ferm of the corn mills of Knaresborough and the new mill of Bilton, together with the office of bailiff of the burgh of Knaresborough, for the space of twelve years, rendering for the first xx marks, for the second xlvis. viiitf., for the said office of bailiff xlvis. viiiaf.; which deed bears date 29th September, 12Edw. IV. 1472 (Chartul. No. 584). The lordship of Spofford, in which parish Plumpton lay, belonged to the Earl of Northumberland, who had there a manor-place with a park.

page 27 note a Sessay, a parish town in the wapentake of Allertonshire, was the residence of the family of Darell, of whom Sir George Darell, knight, died 8 Edw. IV. 1466, having married Margaret, daughter of Sir Wffliam Plampton. The application of the Earl of Northumberland, on behalf of his servant, for the office of bailiff, makes it probable that Sir William Plumpton had then the wardship of the heir of Sir George Darell.

page 27 page b Henry Percy, restored to the earldom of Northumberland in 1470, and to the estates of the family in Yorkshire, was the fourth Earl of the name.

page 27 note a Sir Richard Aldborough, kt. married Agnes, daughter of Sir William Plumpton, and was dead 16 Edw. IV. 1476. (Esc. de eod. arm.)

page 27 note b The family of Ilderton were “of that ilk” in Northumberland, near Wooller.

page 28 note a Robert Birnand, of near Knaresborough, esq.

page 28 note a 8 Sept.

page 29 note a William Nesfield, esq. was of Flasby in the parish of Gargrave in Craven.

page 29 note b Richard Banks, of Cold Newton or Bank Newton, in the same parish, esq. This match with Nesfield is omitted in the pedigree of the family of Banks inserted in Whitaker's History of Craven.

page 29 note a There were two kinds of appearances before the quinto escactua to avoid an outlawry, viz. an appearance in deed, that is, to render oneself, &c. and an appearance in law, that is, by purchasing a supersedeas out of the court where the record was.

page 31 note a Sir John Pilkington, one of the knights of the king's body. (2da pars Pat. 13 Edw. IV.)

page 31 note b Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had obtained Letters Patent from the King, granting him the offices of Constable, Steward, and Master Forester of the castle, lordship, and forest of Knaresborough, within the County of York. (Rot. Parl. vi. 344 b.)

page 31 note c Sir William Plumpton had had a grant of the keeping of the castle of Knaresborough for the term of his life in the reign of Hen. VI. (Rot. Parl. vol. v. 347 a.)

page 32 note d The quarrel between Plumpton and Gascoigne probably had its origin in the latter having been appointed to have the custody of the castle of Knaresborough by the Earl of Northumberland, to the exclusion of the former, and regardless of his right in virtue of the grant of King Henry the sixth. In the Chartulary is a bond from William Gascoigne of Gokethorpe, esq. to keep the peace towards Sir William Plumpton and to refer all matters to the arbitration of the Earl of Northumberland. The instrument is dated 27 Oct. 11 Edw. IV. 1471. (Chartul. No. 576.)

page 32 note e Office of Bailiff of the Burgh of Knaresborough. (See note to Letter XVIII.)

page 33 note e William Gascoigne, esq. was brother-in-law to the Earl of Northumberland, having married Margaret the Earl's sister.

page 33 note f William Lord Hastings, Lord Chamberlain.

page 34 note a The date of this letter is prior to 30 Edw. IV. 1480; at which time William Gascoygne of Gawkthorpe, com. Ebor. esq. the brother-in-law of the writer, Henry fourth Earl of Northumberland, was already a knight. Sir William Gascoigne died 4Mar. 2Hen. VII. 1486 (Inq. virtut. officii, 11 Jun. 4Hen. VII. Ebor.), leaving his son William under age. To Dame Joan Grastock, the executrix of his will, William Ryther acknowledges to have received (8 April, 9 Hen. VII.) ten marks, six from Sir William Ryther his father, and four from herself. Sir William Gascoigne, the son, was in his twentieth year, 4 Hen. VII. 1489, and then a knight. (Chartul. No. 750.) One of the daughters is named in the will of her maternal ancle, the Earl of Northumberland, dated 17 July, 1485; “Also I will that my nelee Eilzabeth Gascoigne have to her marriage c markes.” (See abstract of the will, Coll. Top. et Gen. vol. ii. p. 65.) She married (in 1494) George Talboys, son and heir of Sir Robert Talboys, Lord of Kyme and Redisdale; the same who is spoken of as Mr. Talbose in a subsequent letter. John Gascoigne and Ralph Gascoigne, esqrs. were brothers to the Sir William Gascoigne who died in 1486; Dame Agnes Plumpton, and Dame Margaret Ward, his sisters. Of these we find mention in the present correspondence; a pedigree (MS. Add. 5530, f . Clx.) adds Elizabeth and Joan, said to have died unmarried, and Humphrey who died young.

page 35 note a Thomas Rotheram, Bishop of Lincoln, made Lord Chancellor, 1475.

page 35 note b 18 November.

page 35 note c Guy Fairfax, King's Serjeant. (See note to Letter XV.)

page 35 note d Richard Pigot, called Serjeant 7 Nov. 1464.

page 35 note e William Colow, called Serjeant 9 June 1479.

page 36 note a For the grant of Stuteville, see Memoirs.

page 37 note b Memo Paschæ, the month or quinzaine of Easter, i. e. the eight days preceding and the eight days following Easter day. It commenced 7 April in 1476, the year this letter was written.

page 38 note c The contract for the marriage of Robert Plumpton, only surriving legitimate son of Sir William Plumpton, with Agnes, sister of William Gascoigntjf Gokethorp, esq. was signed 13 July 1J Edw. IV. 1477, and serves to fix the date of this letter to the month of April in the preceding year.

page 38 note d Robenett or Robert Plumpton was a bastard son of Sir William Plumpton, and was usually distinguished from his legitimate younger brother by the epithet of senior.

page 38 note a Idle in the parish of Calverley, liberty of Pontefract, a lordship belonging to Sir William Plumpton.