this time she was often wont to hear her voices. Asked to say by whose advice she put on men's dress, she refused several times to answer. At last she said that she would not laden any man with this; and she several times changed her answer. She also stated that Robert de Baudricourt made those who took her swear that they would convoy her well and safely, and Robert on parting with her said: "Go, go, and let whatever good can, come of it". She also said that she well knew that God loved the Duke of Orleans; and that she had had more revelations about him than about any living man, save him whom she called her king. She said, too, that she was obliged to change her own dress for a man's. She also said that she believed that she had been well advised. She said that she sent letters to the English before Orleans telling them to raise the siege, just as is set down in many letters which have been read to her in this town of Rouen, save for two or three words in them; for instance, "yield to the Maid" should be "yield to the King". These words also occur there which were not in the original letters, "body for body," and "head of the war". Joan further said that she went to him whom she called her king 2 without hindrance, and when she reached the town of Ste. Catharine de Fierbois she was sent to Chinon, where he whom she called her king was. She reached this place about noon and lodged in an inn; and after dinner she went to him whom she called her king who was in the castle. She also said that when she entered his chamber she knew him from the rest by the revelation of her voice. And she told her king that she wished to go making war against the English. Asked if when the voice disclosed the king, there was any light in the place: she answered: "Pass on ". Asked whether she had seen an angel above her king: she answered: " Spare me, pass on ". Still she said that before her king gave her a charge she had many beautiful visions and revelations. Asked how the king regarded the revelations and visions: she answered: "I shall not tell you this. This is not to be answered you; but send to the king himself and he will tell you." 1 Charles, Duke of Orleans, son of Duke Louis who was murdered in Paris, 23rd Nov., 1407. 2 Charles VII. Joan also said that the voice promised her that as soon as she came to her king he would receive her. She said that they on their part well knew that the voice came to her from God, and that they had seen and known her voice, stating that she was confident of it. She further said that her king and several others had heard and seen voices coming to her; and Charles de Bourbon with two or three others were present. She moreover said that there was no day when she did not hear this voice, and that she stood in great need of it. She said that she had never asked from her voice any other final reward except the salvation of her soul. She further confessed that the voice told her to remain at the town of St. Denis in France; and she had wished to remain there; but they had led her out against the will of this master. Nevertheless if she had not been wounded she would not have retired; and she was wounded in the trenches before Paris after she had gone there from St. Denis; but in five days she was healed. She confessed that she had directed an attack, called in French skirmish, before Paris. And when she was questioned whether that were a feast day : she answered that to the best of her belief it was. Asked if she approved of this: she answered: "Pass on ". After these things had been thus transacted, because it seemed quite enough for one day, we, the said bishop, postponed the trial until Saturday next following, at eight o'clock in the morning. 46. A PROCLAMATION OF RICHARD, DUKE OF York (1452). From the moment that Richard, Duke of York, became a political leader he was opposed to the Beauforts; first to the Cardinal, and later to his nephews John and Edmund, successively dukes of Somerset. The odium of losing France fell on the court party, and in the winter of 1452 York determined, under cover of popular discontent, to strike at his rival, the then Duke of Somerset, Edmund. At the beginning of February he sent a letter from Ludlow Castle to the burgesses of Shrewsbury, in which he accused Somerset of inefficiency and of plotting against him. He still professes himself a loyal subject of Henry VI.; no claim is based on his genealogical tree; and his friends are simply asked to help him in pulling Somerset down. The enterprise failed, and York, after a reconcilation with the king on 10th March, promised that in future when he wanted redress he would proceed according to law. SOURCE.-Historical Letters. Ed Sir H. Ellis. London, 1824. First Series, vol i. p. 11. Right worshipful friends, I recommend me unto you; and I suppose it is well known unto you, as well by experience as by common language said and reported throughout all Christendom, what laud, what worship, honour and manhood, was ascribed of all nations unto the people of this realm whilst the kingdom's sovereign lord stood possessed of his lordship in the realm of France and duchy of Normandy; and what derogation, loss of merchandise, lesion of honour and villainy, is said and reported generally unto the English nation for loss of the same; namely [especially] unto the Duke of Somerset, when he had the commandance and charge thereof: the which loss hath caused and encouraged the King's enemies for to conquer and get Gascony and Guienne, and now daily they make their advance for to lay siege unto Calais, and to other places in the marches there, for to apply them to their obeisance, and so for to come into the land with great puissance; to the final destruction thereof, if they might prevail, and to put the land in their subjection, which God defend. And on the other part it is to be supposed it is not unknown to you how that, after my coming out of Ireland,1 I, as the King's true liegeman and servant (and ever shall be to my life's end) and for my true acquittal, perceiving the inconvenience before rehearsed, advised his Royal Majesty of certain articles concerning the weal and safeguard, as well of his most royal person, as the tranquillity and conservation of all this his realm: the which advertisements, howbeit that it was thought that they were full necessary, were laid apart, and to be of none effect, through the envy, malice and untruth of the said Duke of Somerset; which for my truth, faith and allegiance that I owe unto the King, and the good will and favour that I have to all the realm, laboureth continually about the King's highness for my undoing, and to corrupt my blood, and to disinherit me and my heirs, and such persons as be about me, without any desert or cause done or attempted on my part or theirs, I make our Lord Judge. Wherefore, worshipful friends, to the intent that every man shall know my purpose and desire for to declare me such as I am, I signify unto you 1 In September, 1447, York was sent to Ireland as Royal Lieutenant with a commission for ten years. He remained there not quite three. that, with the help and supportation of Almighty God, and of Our Lady, and of all the Company of Heaven, I, after long sufferance and delays, [though it is] not my will or intent to displease my sovereign Lord, seeing that the said Duke ever prevaileth and ruleth about the King's person, and that by this means the land is likely to be destroyed, am fully concluded to proceed in all haste against him with the help of my kinsmen and friends; in such wise that it shall prove to promote ease, peace, tranquillity and safeguard of all this land and more, keeping me within the bounds of my allegiance, as it pertaineth to my duty, praying and exhorting you to fortify, enforce, and assist me, and to come to me with all diligence, wheresoever I shall be, or draw, with as many goodly and likely men as ye may, to execute the intent above said. Written under my signet at my castle of Ludlow, the 3rd day of February. Furthermore I pray you that such strait appointment and ordinance be made that the people which shall come in your fellowship, or be sent unto me by your agreement, be demeaned in such wise by the way, that they do no offence, nor robbery, nor oppression npon the people, in lesion of justice. Written as above, etc., Your good friend, R. YORK. To my right worshipful friends, the bailiffs, burgesses and commons of the good town of Shrewsbury. 47. A MARRIAGE NEGOTIATION IN THE FIfteenth CenTURY. (1476 or 1477). Domestic correspondence is so rare before 1500 that the Paston Letters are considered a treasure. Otherwise they would not be entitled to great praise. The Paston family owned estates in Norfolk, were persons of consideration in their neighbourhood and took part in current politics. The letters which different members of the connection wrote extend in time from Henry VI. to Henry VII., and in subject from household minutia to questions of state. They fall short in wit, in learning and in personal dignity, but are a mine of information for the social state of England during the Wars of the Roses. As an instance of their sordid tone the bargaining over a marriage between John Paston and Margery Brews is selected, SOURCE.-Paston Letters. Ed. James Gairdner. London, 1875. Vol. iii., p. 167. Dame Elizabeth Brews to John Paston. Right worshipful cousin, I recommend me to you, etc. And I sent my husband a bill of the matter that you know of, and he wrote another bill to me again touching the same matter; and he would that you should go to my mistress your mother, and essay if you might get the whole £20 into your hands, and then he would be more glad to marry with you, and will give you an £100. And, cousin, that day that she is married, my father will give her fifty marks. But and we accord, I shall give you a greater treasure, that is, a witty gentlewoman, and if I say it, both good and virtuous; for if I should take money for her, I would not give her for a £1000. But, cousin, I trust you so much that I would think her well bestowed on you, and you were worth much more. And, cousin, a little after that you were gone, come a man from my cousin Derby, and brought me word that such a chance fell that he might not come at the day that was set, as I shall let you understand more plainly, when I speak with you, etc. But, cousin, and it would please you to come again what day that you will set, I dare undertake that they shall keep the same day; for I would be glad that, and my husband and you might accord in this marriage, that it might be my fortune to make an end in this matter between my cousins and you, that each of you might love other in friendly wise, etc. And, cousin, if this bill please not your intent, I pray you that it may be brent [burned], etc. No more unto you at this time, but Almighty Jesus preserve you, etc. By your cousin, DAME ELIZABETH BREWS. Dame Elizabeth Brews to John Paston. Cousin, I recommend me to you, thanking you heartily for the great cheer that ye made me and all my folks, the last time that I was at Norwich; and you promised me that you would never break the matter to Margery until such time as you and I were at a point. But you have made her such advocate for you, that I may never have rest night nor day, for calling and crying upon to bring the said matter to effect, etc. And, cousin, upon Friday is St. Valentine's Day, and every bird choseth him a make [mate], and if it like you to come on |