[Footnote 149.2: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 223.]]
I recomaund me unto your good maistership; and as for tidings, Arblaster come home to my Lord[150.2] on Munday, at sopertyme; and my Maister Danyell[150.3] is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent, and Arblastr seith he hath made me his undirstyward.
And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord Beamond[150.4] hath it, and the Lord Rivers[150.5] Constable of Inglond.
As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tudenham had a joynte patent with the Duke of Suffolk,[150.6] which, if it be resumed, Sir Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed therof.
My lord wole not to Leicestre.[150.7] My Maister Danyell desireth yow thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by tymes.
Wretyn in hast at Wynche,[150.8] the xiij. day of May.
I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your wyf, for my mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fully conquered my lady sith ye went, so that I haf hir promisse to be my good lady, and that she shall help me by the feith of hir body.
[Footnote 150.1: [From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn vaguely assigned to the latter part of the reign of Henry VI., may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The mention of Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier than 1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke in 1448, and at a later date than the 13th of May. The reference to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to have been long after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from Monday being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future, that the letter was written on a Wednesday. Had it been on a Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been spoken of as ‘yesterday’ or Friday as ‘to-morrow.’ Now, the 13th of May was a Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in this letter are, therefore, those consequent on the fall of the Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as will be seen by a foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester.]
[Footnote 150.2: John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.]
[Footnote 150.3: Thomas Daniel. --_See_ p. 80.]
[Footnote 150.4: John, Viscount Beaumont.]
[Footnote 150.5: Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th May 1448; afterwards earl.]