Note 153.1 — THE PASTON LETTERS Henry VI (continued 3)
Reading edition
[From Fenn, i. 54.] This letter was actually written in the year 1465; but as the circumstances to which it relates belong to the year 1450, and are connected with the memorable insurrection of Jack Cade, we have thought it right, as Fenn did, to place it under the earlier year.
153.2 Jack Cade and his followers encamped on Blackheath on the 11th June 1450, and again from the 29th of June to the 1st July. Payn refers to the latter occasion.
153.3 Sir John Fastolf (who is dead at the date of this letter) left Paston his executor, as will be seen hereafter.
153.4 Jack Cade.
154.1 Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. During the civil war which followed, he adhered to the House of Lancaster, though he married Edward IV.’s sister. His herald had probably been seized by Cade’s followers, and pressed into their service.
154.2 Sir John Fastolf had a residence in Southwark.
154.3 Robert Poynings, who, some years before this letter was written, had married Elizabeth, the sister of John Paston, was sword-bearer and carver to Cade, and was accused of creating disturbances on more than one occasion afterwards. He was slain at the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th Feb. 1461.
Final sentence added by editor in Errata; see also note 135.1 in Volume III.
155.1 ‘A kind of mixed grey woollen cloth, which continued in use to Elizabeth’s reign.’—Halliwell.
155.2 A brigandine was a coat of leather or quilted linen, with small iron plates sewed on.—See Grose’s Antient Armour. The back and breast of this coat were sometimes made separately, and called a pair.—Meyrick.
155.3 Milan was famous for its manufacture of arms and armour.
155.4 ‘Skye or bluish grey. There was a kind of cloth so called.’—Halliwell.
155.5 Budge fur.
155.6 ‘Frieze. A coarse narrow cloth, formerly much in use’— Halliwell.
155.7 The battle on London Bridge was on the 5th July.
156.1 Fenn gives this name ‘Rosse’ with two long s’s, but translates it Rochester, from which I presume it was written ‘Roffe’ for Roffensis. The Bishop of Rochester’s name was John Lowe.