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FACSIMILE OF ONE OF THE CELY LETTERS, DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1480. No. 37.
- - - - - -
- - - - - - - - -





INTRODUCTION
THE Cely. Papers, from which the following Letters, Bills and
Memoranda are a selection, were found some years ago amongst
the Chancery Miscellanea preserved in the Public Record Office,
together with a portion of the Darrell, Stonor, Johnson and
Fanshawe collections. Of these, the Darrell Papers were used by
the late Mr. C. Long for the purpose of his articles on Wild Darrell
in the ‘Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine.’ They, with some
Stonor and Cely Papers, were preserved at that date in a portfolio
amongst the Tower Miscellaneous Rolls (No. 458). As a con-
siderable body of additional Chancery correspondence was brought
to light by Sir Henry Maxwell Lyte, the present Deputy Keeper,
these scattered papers were placed in their proper position amongst
the Mediaeval State Papers, where they form the latest portion of
the new series of “Ancient Correspondence.’ The Letters and
other documents here printed form only a part of the voluminous
mass of Cely Papers. Many long and intricate accounts, many small
notes of Sales, and some letters of no interest have been omitted.
Of the letters included, many are trivial, and some of the notes
on sales or on exchange are comparatively of little interest. They
form, however, a fair sample of the rest. Some of the unprinted
documents are badly damaged by damp and time.
It is to be regretted that the Series of Letters is not continuous.
They extend from 1475 to 1488, but are more frequent in 1480,
1481, and especially in 1482. In 1483 there is the very interest-
ing, but obscure, reference to the revolution which set Richard III.
vi THE CELY PAPERS.
upon the throne. Otherwise the politics of Flanders are of more
interest to the writers than those of England.
The Cely family, the writers of these Letters, were mer-
chants of the Staple doing business in London, in the latter part
of the fifteenth century. The family was, perhaps, Cornish in
origin, but at this time they owned land in Essex at ‘Brytys
Place, later called Bretts, in Alveley, or Aveley parish, Essex.
The head of the family was Richard Cely, who died either quite
at the end of 1481, or very early in 1482. He was alive and
well in November 1481, and his death is referred to in January
1482. His three sons were Richard, Robert and George.
Richard was fibe eldest son He administered his fathor's
estate after his death, set up his ‘twmbe,” and resided at ‘Brytys
Place.’ It is not clear if Robert or George came next. Robert
appears as being in London and writing business letters in 1477,
when George was at Calais, the usual post of a junior member
of the firm. But Robert, as we shall see, was a ne'er-do-well, who
dropped out of the business altogether, and was befriended by
George with more generosity than wisdom, in Richard's judgment,
in a way which rather suggests that George was the elder.
We hear of a John Cely, who, writing to George, speaks of my
sister, your aunt ; whence we should suppose he was old Richard's
brother, though George also calls him cousin. Old William Cely
is also mentioned—perhaps another brother of the elder generation.
After old Richard's death, a William Cely is the agent in Calais,
not a brother to Richard and George ; he writes to them as his
masters. He was presumably a cousin, son to old William or John.
One William Maryon is also, apparently, a member of the firm, or
at least accustomed to act with them. He was godfather to
Richard the younger. He has a nephew,” Robert Eyryk, who was
George's godson, as we gather from himself. He prays George to
be ‘my god godfader’ in a certain matter, that is, of lending him 40l.
without security. “Nihil for the xl"of Robert Erykkes, notes George.
* See Letters of April 18 and 20, 1482,
INTRODUCTION. vii
The whole family and their connexions were continually
passing backwards and forwards between England, Calais and
|Flanders, except old Richard, who at the date of the Letters
confined his journeys to England. It was the business of one
junior member to superintend the business in Calais, and to travel
thence, with more or less peril in time of war, to the various marts
in Flanders. In England there was need of frequent journeys to
buy wool and fells, generally down to Gloucestershire. The
mention of the family is hardly complete without adding their
trusty servant, Joyce Parmenter, whose name suffers peculiar
indignities from the cacography of his betters, and becomes Goos
sometimes. Parmenter was, no doubt, an Essex man ; it is an
Eastern Counties name,
There is no trace in the Letters of any connection with Staple
Inn in Holborn. The London residence and place of business of
the Celys was in Mark Lane. Their wool was weighed for the
assessment of custom and subsidy at the Leadenball. Mark Lane
is indifferently spelt Mark, Marke, Martte, Marthe or the Martt.
Mark is a corruption, no doubt. ‘The Mart’ also existed in
Calais and at Bruges, and elsewhere in the Netherlands. It is near
the river and under the shadow almost of the Tower that we must
place the centre of the English wool trade, not in a distant suburb.
We can even settle approximately in what part of Mark Lane
they lived. The northern half of Mark Lane is, or was, in the
parish of All Hallows, Staining; the southernmost quarter, about,
in that of All Hallows, Barking. The remainder is in that of
St. Olave's, Hart Street ; and this was the church to which the
Celys gave offerings, though they conceal the fact by writing of it
as ‘Sent Tolowys scryssche.” They lived, therefore, probably
rather south of the middle of Mark Lane.
Richard Cely, jun., who wrote ‘Sent Tolowys, also writes
sent Telen’ and sent Tanys’ for St. Helen and St. Anne's, and
buys “a nox’ for sixteen shillings.
Nevertheless, with many eccentricities of spelling, Richard, jun.,
viii THE CELY PAPERS.
and George write and spell better, and use better English, than
their father, Richard, or than most of the casual correspondents
whose letters are included. The spelling is usually fairly
phonetic, but certain passages of evidently careless writing
and omission of words defy any but conjectural emendation.
Perhaps the worst writer of all is Sir John Weston, the Prior of
the Hospitallers. Only one letter of his is printed. References
to him are very numerous. He, ea;-officio premier baron of England,
seems to have usually resided on his Essex estates close to the
Celys. To them he is ‘My Lord, though their land was not held
of him. It is significant of the state of society that they had coats
made of his livery. It extends our view of the evil, against which
Henry VII. set himself successfully, to find well-to-do merchants
becoming the dependents in that way of a nobleman, and to see a
quasi-spiritual peer providing a following, as any Neville or Stafford
might have done. Tiveried retainers of this stamp were worth a
hundred grooms or yeomen, being as times went distinctly rich men.
The Merchants of the Staple, the corporation to which the
Celys belonged, were the most notable trade association of
England. From the time of Edward I., after an abortive attempt
by Edward III. to let trade find its own channels, English
Governments successively pursued the policy of establishing
Staples for the sale of English produce, forcing export trade ºto
certain centres of distribution. In 1863 the only Staple for the
chief English goods was fixed at Calais; ‘no wools, skins, worsteds,
cheese, butter, lead, tin, coal or grindstones’ were to be exported
from England, except to Calais. The Staple was removed several
times from place to place: it was re-established in England, it was
removed to Calais again, then back to England, and finally
established at Calais in 1423 (2 Hen. VI. c. 4). By statuſes
3 Edw. IV. c. 1, and 4 Edw. IV. c. 3, the Staple at Calais was con-
firmed. All staple produce, wool, fells, lead, tin, &c., were to paśs
directly from England to Calais. From the four northern counties
Richmondshire and Northallertonshire, they were to go
JO



INTRODUCTION. ix
Newcastle, and thence to Calais only. The Merchants of the
Staple were practically incorporated by the Ordinance of the
Staple, the joint work of the Council in 1353 and the Parliament
of 1354, embodied in 27 Edw. III. cc. 21 to 28. A mayor and two
constables were to be chosen yearly in every staple town, ‘having
knowledge of the Law-Merchant, to govern the Staple.” Correctors
were to be appointed to make and record bargains, two merchants
aliens were to be chosen as associates in judgment to the mayor
and constables, and six mediators in questions between buyers and
sellers. All other town franchises were to give way to those of
the Staplers. ‘We will, grant and ordain that all the said things
be firmly kept and holden, in all points, notwithstanding franchise,
custom, privilege, exemption, judgements or other grants made to
Cities, Boroughs, Towns, Commonalties, people of the Five Ports,
other Ports, or any other singular persons whatsoever. . . .
Saving in other things to the Prelates, Dukes, Earls, Barons and
other Lords, their Fairs, Markets, Hundreds, Wapentakes, Leets,
Jurisdictions, Courts, Franchises, and Privileges, and all other
things to them pertaining in the places where the Staples be.’”
So long as the Staple was occasionally fixed in English towns
the rights of lords in fairs might clash with the privileges of the
merchants. When, as for a time under Edward III., it was fixed
in Flemish cities, local rights could not be overridden. But there
were no fairs or franchises in Calais which could interfere with
the control of trade there by the Staplers. There was a corporation
in Calais apart from them. We learn in the Letter of February 24,
1483, that aldermen of Calais who are also freemen of the Staple
have been compelled by the Court of the Staple to give up one
position or the other. But the functions of the municipality must
have been purely parochial. The royal authority in Calais, apart
from trade matters, was vested in the military offices of the
Captain of Calais and his Lieutenant. The Court of the Staple
drew to itself all civil business in which Staplers were concerned.
* Ordinance of the Staple.
X THE CELY PAPERS.
A recognisance ‘in the nature of a Statute Staple, upon real
property in England was executed in the Calais court. Spiritual
cases were, of course, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop's court.
Calais was attached to the See of Canterbury. But it was
practically only the royal authority, and royal licenses granted to
individuals for special trading, which overruled the administration
of the Staple. Royal convenience was, of course, the most obvious
cause for the fixing of Staples anywhere.” So much of the royal
revenue was drawn from the subsidy on wool and wool fells that the
convenience, and probably the profit, of the Exchequer were con-
cerned in concentrating the trade. Half the price of wool at Calais
was commonly paid in bullion, which was supposed to be recoined in
the Mint at Calais. Practically, it appears clearly from the Letters,
passim, that foreign money circulated there. It appears (Letter,
May 8, 1478) that the soldiers were not always paid in sterling.
One great item of royal expenditure was the payment of the
garrison at Calais. The garrisons of Calais and of Berwick, when
in English hands, were practically the only standing military forces
kept up by the Crown, and the collection of revenue in Calais was
a convenience for paying the soldiers; which (Letter, May 8,
1478) seems to have been done sometimes directly through the
merchants. Possibly also, the price of wool being somewhat
increased by its transport to Calais, the subsidy, of so much a sack,
did not appear to the merchants so large a proportion of the cost
as it would have done if levied in the country of origin. We find
the Celys paying, or owing, such sums as 981. 48. 11d. and
75l. 13s. 13.6. for Customs and subsidy.
From the Letter of July 11, 1480, it appears that the Custom
and subsidy was paid in the first instance by the Fellowship of
the Staple, and repaid to them by individual merchants. This was
* The incorporation of the merchants was perhaps intended to strengthen m
King's power of negotiating with them for grants of money, apart from the rest of
the commonalty. They formed almost a separate estate of the realm, and, as was
the case with the clergy, the Crown could offer them privileges in return for
subsidies behind the back of the Parliament. - !
INTRODUCTION. xi
an obvious convenience to the Exchequer, which dealt directly with a
wealthy corporation, instead of with the several individual members.
But other reasons also governed the policy of the establish-
ment of staple towns generally. We are inclined to see in them
a grievous hindrance to trade, and a certain means for raising the
price of goods. But trade, apart from Staples, was in the nature
of things not free in the Middle Ages.
The insecurity of roads, even in peace time, the greater
insecurity of the seas, illustrated continually in these Letters, the
frequency of wars, the existence of local privileges, tolls and
restrictions, rendered any unprotected trade very irregular and
uncertain. Fraudulent trading and dealing, the recovery of debts,
the settlement of any personal disputes between merchants, were
more easily dealt with if merchants were incorporated, and did
their business only in certain places. Specially, their persons and
goods were far more easily defended. Africa and the South Seas
afford abundant illustrations of the mischief done by irresponsible
private traders in those days. Though England and Flanders in
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were not quite on a level
with the Niger territory and New Guinea, yet they were prob-
ably rather nearer to the former in social conditions than they
were to the England and Belgium of to-day. Restrictions of
individual liberty are the natural penalty of an imperfect civilisa-
tion, and the imperfectly civilised, in the fourteenth or any other
century, usually admit it. It does not appear that the establish-
ment of the Staple was contrary to the general wishes of the age.
Very stringent regulations were made to guard against fraud
in the packing of wool, or in its description. No grower of wool
was to mix earth, hair, sand, or other rubbish with his wool." No
collector of wool was to suffer any wool to be packed outside the
* Hodie, the burrs in wool, are the great difficulty to the manufacturer.
Messrs. Harmel Frères, and Holden of Rheims and Bradford, have adopted a
‘ burring' machine, which partly overcomes it, but carelessness, much more fraud,
in allowing foreign matters to be mixed with wool, very seriously damage it. See
Burnley, History of Wool and Wool-combing, p. 96, &c. -
xii THE CELY PAPERS.
limits of the county from which it came, or, in the case of York-
shire and Lincolnshire, outside the riding or part of the county to
which it belonged. He was to be sworn in before the Exchequer to
exercise his calling uprightly, and was to seal each package with a
Seal appointed by the Crown, in such a manner that the package
could not be opened without breaking the seal. The collectors of
Customs in the various ports were to make entries in their books
of the names of merchants shipping wool, its quantity and descrip-
tion, and were to return the entries within a month to the Lord
Treasurer. Wool taken to Calais in or before the February of any
year, and remaining unsold by April 6 following, was classed as
old wool. We must remember that it must have been shorn in
the previous summer; none would be cut in autumn or winter.
The great winter shipping was, in fact, of fells (skins with the wool
on them) of sheep killed in the autumn. In the absence of root
crops and of winter feed of any kind, a great slaughter of cattle,
large and small, took place at or before Martinmas. The flesh was
salted down for the winter.
One sarpler of such old wool was to be sold with every three of
new, but such old wool was to be inspected in Calais, and no buyer
was to be forced to pay more for it than for new of the same kind
or county, nor more than it was valued at on first coming to
Calais. If any fraud were discovered in connexion with this old
wool, it was to be adjudicated upon by men appointed by the
Captain or Lieutenant of Calais, but not by the same men who
had been concerned with its prior valuation.
No merchant, or clothmaker, accustomed to buy wool of only
one place or quality was to be compelled to buy another kind.
But a merchant accustomed to buy various kinds was to be com-
pelled to buy old wool of the kinds he usually bought, if it remained
unsold in the market, subject to an examination of the quality.
At Calais royal officers (commissarii) were appointed to exercise
a general superintendence over the working of these rules, and the
conduct of packers, clerks of the Customs, and others. They were,
INTRODUCTION. Y xiii
moreover, charged with the inspection of all wool brought to
Calais, in order to see if it were properly described and labelled in
England; and they employed two skilled packers, sworn to a faith-
ful discharge of their duty, who were to examine, repack, reseal,
and describe all packages.
# Finally, the same commissarii were to make a report to the
Treasurer and the Barons of the Exchequer upon the wool brought to
Calais, which would serve as a check upon the report of the Custom-
house officers in England. If any official were caught in delin-
quency, his punishment was to be such as to be a warning to others.
If any merchant transgressed, his wool was forfeited to the king.”
The precautions appear ample. But that wool was misde-
scribed, that it was adulterated, that it was sometimes practically
bought in England, not at Calais, amply appears from the Letters.
The Staplers, our writers among them, of course complained of
bad times. The wars in France of the fifteenth century, and the
consequent insecurity of the seas, the wars between Burgundy and
France, and the civil wars in England, all hit them severely. In
spite ºf the often repeated fiction that the Wars of the Roses were
hurtfº only to the nobility and their retainers, the consequent
lawlessness and state of insecurity must have interfered with the
collection of the staple produce in England. The prosperity of
graziers and sheep farmers was not promoted by the march of
armies, especially of the Lancastrian border thieves. This trouble,
however, was over when these Letters begin. The produce gathered
in England was paid for by bills due at six months, usually. To
Honour these the merchants had in turn to receive the money due
tº them from the foreign buyers, and there often were delays in
their payments, which affected the payments in England. The
vs. ... tºely Letters show us continually how the principals in London
depended upon consignments from Calais for money to satisfy their
º'otswold wool dealers. The rate of exchange abroad between
$nglish and foreign coinage was another fruitful source of trouble,
* - - * Rymer, xii. 80, &c.
xiv. - THE CELY PAPERS.
But at the period when the Letters were written, from the latter
part of Edward the Fourth’s to the earlier part of Henry the
Seventh's reign, it appears that the Celys, at all events, were pro-
sperous men. They own land, they buy hawks and horses, they
give rich presents, they turn over 2,000l. worth of wool a year, and
negotiate with rich gentlemen for their daughters in marriage.
The Spanish wools had not yet come into serious competition with
the English in the markets of Flanders, and in political affairs it is
only the Flemish civil wars, and the progress of French aggression,
which give them real cause for uneasiness.
The great customers for the wool at Calais were, of course, the
Netherlanders. Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, Mechlin, Middleburgh, and
Delft seem to have been the places whence the principal dealers
came to the Celys. The Venetians and Lombards—the Florentines
are once named also-did some trade. But the real market was
Flanders. The political relations, therefore, of England with the
Flemish towns, or with their nominal rulers, not always by any means
allied parties, became of the highest consequence. It is scarcely
too much to say that our relations with Flanders were the dominant
influence in English foreign politics for the whole of the fifteenth
and most of the sixteenth century. -
Calais, the gate of English trade with Flanders, was itself a
Flemish town in origin. Baldwin IV. of Flanders, overlord of
Boulogne and Guines, had begun the port in the early part
of the eleventh century, when the decay of the harbour of
Wissant, the Roman Portus Itius, the ancient harbour of that
coast, had become serious, from the encroachments of the
sand. But it was not till 1228 that Philip, Count of Boulogne,
fortified Calais, and turned it from a village into a walled town
with a castle. It was in the county of Guines, which had passed:
from Flanders to the direct overlordship of France, under Philip'
Augustus. This king's natural son Philip married the heiress of
Boulogne, and the overlordship of Guines was granted to him,'
In 1282 Guines was bought by the French Crown, but was
INTRODUCTION. - XY
regranted to the descendants of the original counts, to be
held of the Crown directly. In the fourteenth century the
inhabitants of Calais were notorious for their piracy in the
Channel, and it was, perhaps, chiefly with a view to the security
of the seas that Edward III. made such efforts for its reduc-
tion. But once in English hands, settled by English people, and
made an English town, its advantages became obvious as a part of
the defences of the Channel and a port of communication with
Flanders. It was easily defensible on the land side, from being
surrounded by marshes which were readily laid under water. It
was the best harbour, though not a first-rate one even then, east
of Cape Grisnez and west of Ostend, in the days before the port
of Dunkirk had been improved. It was rather less dangerous of
approach, from Sandbanks, than any of the Flemish ports to the
eastward, Ostend included. It was accessible from Dover or Hythe
in the prevailing south-westerly Channel winds, when the square-
rigged mediaeval ships, which could sail with the wind abeam, but
would have had great difficulty in beating to windward, could not get
past Grisnez to Ambleteuse, Wimereux, or Boulogne. While an east
or south-easterly wind, which would keep the Cinque Port ships at
Sandwich or Dover in harbour, would allow ships of war to get out
from Calais and to run down or across the Channel. Calais had a
subsidiary use as a gate of entrance into France. Edward invaded
France by it in 1855 and 1359, and John of Gaunt marched from
Calais to Bordeaux in 1872. But the invasions of Edward's
reign as often proceeded directly to Normandy, as Henry V.
did afterwards, or marched from Guienne. With Flanders as an
ally, which was usually the case in our serious French wars, the
English did not really need Calais as a base of operations.
As a consequence of these wars Calais became isolated from
France altogether. By the Treaty of Arras, in 1435, between
Philip of Burgundy and Charles VII., when the former left the
English alliance, Boulogne and the county of Artois were ceded
to him, in full sovereignty, for his life. Thus the town and terri-
&
xvi THE CELY PAPERS.
tory of Calais became entirely cut off from the immediate
neighbourhood of the French territory, and were surrounded by
the possessions of the Duke of Burgundy. The Duke certainly
intended to round off his dominions by its acquisition, and imme-
diately undertook operations against it. The motives of the
Flemings, if not of the Duke, are revealed by a letter under the
Privy Seal, sent to the city of Salisbury, and preserved in the
City Book or Register called Ledger A. 1."
The English Government told the citizens that they had sure
information from Ghent that the Flemish towns had agreed to
help the Duke to take Calais, on consideration of certain con-
cessions at home, and on consideration that no Englishman should
be allowed to sell any English cloth at any mart in the dominions
of the Duke ; and that the wool in Calais should be freely divided
among the Flemish towns, without the Duke or his officers sharing.
If these were the genuine demands of the Flemings, they say a
good deal for the development of the English cloth-making,
which clearly competed with the Flemings in their own markets.
But the immediate plunder of what wool might be in Calais would
have been a poor compensation to the Flemings for a possibly
lasting breach with England. The exact articles of agreement
made in Flanders were translated as follows by the English
Government for the benefit of their people :-
Second Article: ‘Yº non Englishman shal be suffrid to selle non
Englissh cloth at non mart wythinney” lordshipes of y” seid
Duyk.’
Fifth Article: ‘Yº yº Tounes of Flaundres haue yº Wollys of
Calys departid among hem withoute lettyng of hym or his
officers, yf yey mowe gete yaym.’
See reference in the Salisbury book, as above. Surely the last
clause of the fifth article was added by the English translator
However, the attempt on Calais was unsuccessful, and without
* Salisbury Ledger A. 1, fo. 105 3.
INTRODUCTION. xvii
a prospect of making this conquest any immediate cause for
hostility on the part of Burgundy against England ceased. A
truce for three years between England and Burgundy ensued in
1439, which was renewed in 1442. The permanent interests of
England and of Flanders, bound together so closely by trade,
resumed their sway. Philip was much more anxious to keep his
turbulent Flemish towns in good humour than to aid his nominal
liege lord in turning the English out of Normandy and Guienne.
But the consequence of the new political arrangements was that
Calais ceased to be for England a place of arms in France. It
became a fortified depôt of goods in Burgundy, whence trade was
carried on with Burgundian subjects.
The French Crown, always anxious to readjust the almost
ruinously hard bargain by which in its extremity it had purchased
the withdrawal of Burgundy from active co-operation with England,
still cast longing eyes on Calais. Its acquisition would have
strengthened France and injured both England and Burgundy.
Consequently in the days of need for the House of Lancaster, when
the policy of the dethroned dynasty was chiefly directed by a
French queen, in 1462, Louis XI. supported Margaret of Anjou
on condition of receiving Calais.” The Lancastrians had actually
given up Berwick to the Scots the year before. Only their want
of success prevented the surrender of Calais to the French. But
the aims of the French drove the Duke of Burgundy perforce
upon the Yorkist side. Philip the Good was married to Isabella
of Portugal, a granddaughter of John of Gaunt, but his successor
Charles made a treaty with Edward IV. in 1467, and in 1468
married Edward's sister Margaret. His aid enabled his brother-
in-law to invade England and recover his throne in 1471, over-
coming the Warwick-Lancaster combination, which was supported
by Louis XI.
* According to De Comines, Louis always had in view the possibility of recover-
ing Calais, but on his deathbed warned his son not to attempt it. He knew that
it would, if attempted, make England the active ally of Burgundy.
a 2
xviii THE CELY PAPERS.
Everything seemed to point to a continued close alliance
between Charles and Edward. Charles was working, in blunder-
ing fashion, for the restoring of the ‘Middle Kingdom,’ reaching
from the North Sea to the Alps, and meanwhile for the acquisition
of all that he could get on the Somme, or on the frontiers of the
T}uchy of Burgundy. Edward's enemies were still supported by
Touis, and the English kings had never formally laid aside their
absurd claims to the French Crown, nor their legal claims to lands
in France. But herein lay one cause of difference between
England and Burgundy. By the treaty of Peronne, in 1468,
Charles had acquired the county of Ponthieu, which England
claimed. Other English claims were far too extensive to suit the
policy of Charles; and Edward, on his part, was probably states-
man enough to know that if England and Burgundy, combined
together, made great conquests in France, Burgundy would not be
content to let England take the lion's share. His real interest
was the strengthening of his throne in England, and the Burgun-
dian alliance was useful to him so far as it imposed a check upon
France, and upon the malcontents whom France might support.
That Burgundy and the English market in Flanders were in
danger from French invasion scarcely appeared credible before
1476.
But whatever his ulterior designs might be, Edward in 1473
began apparently serious preparations for a great invasion of
France, in conjunction with the Duke of Burgundy. In 1473,
1474, 1475, a Parliament, completely under the King's influence,
voted tenths and fifteenths, and in the second year an additional
sum of £51,000. The King also raised money by Benevolences.
In 1474 he concluded an alliance with Charles for the deposition
of Louis XI. In 1475 he crossed from Dover to Calais with the
finest army which an English king had ever led into France: 1500
men—at arms with mounted attendants, 15,000 mounted archers,
and foot soldiers besides. The Duke supplied him with 500 scuts,
vessels from Holland and Zealand suitable for transport ; but it
INTRODUCTION. xix
nevertheless took three weeks to convey the whole expedition to
Calais. An advance into France was only possible through the
Burgundian territory, and the Duke himself came to welcome his
ally. He brought, however, no army with him. His troops had
suffered heavy losses in his unsuccessful attack on Neuss, and the
bulk of the survivors were pursuing other objects in Lorraine.
He probably meant the English to fight the French King for him.
Edward had no intention of doing anything of the kind. Louis,
for his part, had no intention of fighting if he could help it. He
bought off Edward. Seventy-five thousand crowns down, a pay-
ment of 50,000 crowns a year—which the French called a bribe
and the English a tribute—procured Edward's retreat. The treaty
of Pecquigni stipulated for a peace between the kings for nine
years and the marriage of Edward’s daughter Elizabeth with the
Dauphin. Edward had probably secured all the objects which he
had proposed to himself. He had made a demonstration of his
power as a make-weight in the contests of France and Burgundy ;
he had strengthened his dynasty by the French treaty and had
filled his pockets. The proceedings were not glorious nor honour-
able, scarcely dignified, but all legitimate objects for the crown
and realm of England were really secured. In September of the
same year (1475) Charles made a truce with Louis for nine years
at Soleuvre. He turned to push his schemes in Lorraine; and
Louis, truce or no truce, continued his steady policy of stirring up
enemies against him.
In 1476 a rapid and startling change came over the politics of
Western Europe. Events move faster in the nineteenth than in
the fifteenth century, but the effect of the collapse of the military
power of the French Empire in a month in 1870 scarcely made a
more profound and sudden impression than the successive defeats
of the Duke, within a few months, by the Swiss and other Germans,
at Granson in March, at Morat in June, and finally at Nancy,
where he was killed, January 5, 1477. The great check on French
power was suddenly removed, and a girl was left to hold iogether
|XX x THE CELY PAPERS.
as best she could the disjointed dominions of the late most
formidable prince in Europe. A great part of those dominions
almost at once fell into the hands of Louis, and the preservation of
the Netherlands from French influence became again a pressing
subject for English care.
French and Imperial fiefs held by the young heiress of Bur-
gundy were at first indiscriminately seized by Louis. Subsequently
knowing that he could not hold all, he prudently surrendered some
of the latter, but he kept every French fief which by force or
treachery he could win. The county of Boulogne and most of
Picardy and Artois passed into his hands in 1477, and Calais
became again nearly surrounded by territory immediately under
the French Crown. Flanders itself was an ancient appanage of
the Crown of France. The Gantois practically held their Duchess
a prisoner, murdered her ministers, and dictated her policy. They
were scarcely likely to throw themselves knowingly into the hands
of Louis, but by their action they were contributing to the general
break-up of the Burgundian dominions, which might well result
in the acquisition by France of a real supremacy over Flanders,
which would be fatal to English commercial interests. The occa-
sion seemed undoubtedly to call for a vigorous English interposition
in aid of the Duchess.
But Edward was no longer the enterprising warrior of Barnet
and Tewkesbury. Idle and voluptuous habits had undermined his
energy. His court was divided by the factions of his brothers' and
his wife's parties. The inglorious end of the great expedition of
1475 perhaps rendered another great effort difficult to manage.
He suggested a marriage between the Duchess Mary and his own
wife's brother, Earl Rivers. But the greatest heiress in Christen-
dom would not agree to a match with a parvenu, and so the chance
of enlisting the strongest interest about the King in favour of war
was lost. Touis’ ‘tribute still continued to arrive, and he did
not spare bribes among Edward’s courtiers. So though the
promised steps for the marriage of the lady Elizabeth with the
INTRODUCTION. XXi
Dauphin were not taken, England continued merely to negotiate
and to be fooled.
One Englishwoman, the dowager Duchess Margaret, ‘myn
howlld Lady’ of the Celys’ Letters—she was about thirty-two –
exerted herself vigorously in her step-daughter's cause. Her first
idea was a marriage between Mary and her own brother Clarence.
When this appeared to be considered impossible by all parties at
the English Court she exerted her influence elsewhere.
Already, before the death of Charles the Bold, a negotiation
had been set on foot for a marriage between his heiress and
Maximilian of Austria, son of the Emperor Frederic. The dowager
Duchess warmly espoused his cause. The young lady herself
despatched an emissary to the Emperor and his son at Frankfort,
and affirmed that in her father's lifetime she had already accepted
the Archduke as her future husband. They had never met, and
when they did it appeared that Maximilian could speak no French
and she no German. But Maximilian in his youth was well fitted
to engage her real affection. He was shifty and unstable, always
in want of money, and, like the proverbial empty bag, unable to
stand upright ; but he had in him a touch of romance and knight-
errantry, and was not without noble aspirations. A marriage
with a rich heiress was attractive to himself and to his avaricious
father, and a marriage with a damsel in distress appealed to his
feelings of chivalry and adventure. He was not yet twenty. The
JFlemings were sensible that an alliance with the imperial over-
lord of half the Burgundian inheritance was a safeguard for them
against French aggression ; the dowager Duchess supported the
scheme, and the marriage was hurried on. Maximilian arrived at
Ghent on August 18, 1477, and the marriage was performed next
day. The bride, slenderly attended, still wore mourning for the
death of her father, and the union, so fraught with consequences
for the future political arrangements of Europe, was celebrated
without any of the pomp for which the Court of Burgundy had
become famous. Louis had to make the best of what seemed for
xxii THE CELY PAPERS.
him a bad business: St. Omer and Valenciennes were stubbornly
resisting his arms. He had been unable to hold what he had
seized in the county of Burgundy, and he agreed to a truce with
the Dukes, as they were now called, at Lens in 1477. Hostilities
were renewed in the course of 1478, but in June of that year
another truce for a year was concluded, by which Louis agreed to
evacuate the Imperial fief of Hainault, and all that he still held in
the county of Burgundy, but kept his grip upon the duchy. He
reverted to the policy which he preferred to war, to bribery in
England, at the Imperial Court, in Liège and in Flanders,
confident that the Flemings and Maximilian would not permanently
agree.
In the breathing time allowed to them the Dukes were anxious
to come to an agreement with England, which should keep their
Flemish towns in good humour by safeguarding their commercial
interests. The regulations under which the trade of the Staple
was carried on at Calais afforded them just grounds for complaint.
In July, English and Flemish envoys met at Lille for their
consideration.” The agreement made and their negotiations
throw a good deal of light upon the conditions of trade and the
regulations of the Staple. Free intercourse by sea and land,
freedom from molestation for merchants, sailors, and fishermen of
the two countries, liberty for ships to enter any port under stress
of weather, and to leave again without interference or payment, the
forbidding of the purchase of goods from pirates, all appear as the
ordinary rights of civilised neighbours. But that these rights
required protection is abundantly evident from the expressions
used, or facts recorded in many of the Cely Letters. Pirates,
especially, were a constant danger. Reprisals and letters of
marque, to right any alleged miscarriage of justice, had to be
forbidden for six years. Englishmen were to be allowed to sue
their debtors in the Flemish courts without hindrance, and in case
of anticipated flight to demand security or the arrest of the
* Rymer, xii. 66 seqq.
INTRODUCTION. xxiii
defaulter. Similarly, Flemish creditors might proceed in England
before the Court of the Chancellor, of the Constable, or of the
Magnum Concilium,” in despite of all local ordinances and customs
to the contrary, for the recovery of debts due in Flanders. English
merchants might also export bullion from Flanders, after obtaining
what we may call certificates of origin. The Flemings also
complained that the English were in the habit of buying by a big
pound and selling by a small pound; and that at Antwerp and
Bruges, and other fairs, they made ordinances forbidding their
merchants to buy except on the last day, whereby the Flemish
sellers, anxious to get away, parted with their goods for insufficient
prices. These practices were to be forbidden for the future by the
English. -
The English merchants of the Staple complained that Flemish
subjects sometimes carried appeals from the ducal courts to the
French courts, to their manifest injury. That quaedam astutia,
was sometimes practised by Flemish debtors. When an English
merchant was attempting to recover a debt in a Flemish town his
debtor would advance a small sum more to one of his debtors,
who would go to Calais and buy wool from the agent of the
English creditor, partly for the ready money provided, partly on
credit, and would bring the wool to the place where the English
creditor and the original debtor were. Then the latter would seize
it, as the property of his debtor, and satisfy the Englishman with
his own wool. The Englishman was clearly swindled, but to make
the transaction profitable to the Flemings the second debtor must
have been a man of straw, with probably a fictitious debt and no
property to distrain upon. The practice was, however, to be
guarded against. - . .
The Staplers also complained that wool which had not paid the
subsidy, nor passed through their hands, found its way to Flanders.
* Does not this throw light on the disputed origin of the powers given to a
Committee of the Council by the Act 3, Hen. VII. 52 It was a Committee of the
Magnum Concilium, not of the Concilium Ordinarium.
xxiv. THE CELY PAPERS.
This was to be carefully guarded against also. It appears probable
that the Celys were not quite ignorant of how such wool sometimes
got to Flanders (Letters of April 28, 1484).
Further complaints by the subjects of Burgundy were considered
and partly remedied. They alleged that if they offered less than
the price for wool fixed by the ordinance of the Staple, they were
compelled to buy, presumably at the regulation rate, from the
person to whom they had made an offer of less; that the money
paid for wool went into the hands of the treasurer of the Staple,
and was by him distributed among the merchalls ill proportion to
the amount of wool which they had had in hand, not necessarily
in proportion to the quantity sold; a grievance to both English
and Flemish merchants; that the Staplers raised the price if they
could not receive it in bullion ; a not unnatural precaution ; that
washed and unwashed wools were mixed together. On all these
points the English promised to give satisfaction.
On certain other matters, however, the English would not give
way. The Flemings complained of fraudulent packing of wool,
and of false descriptions of its origin being affixed to packages;
to which the English only answered that their regulations made
this impossible. -
It was also the practice of the Staple to compel the purchaser
of four lots of wool to take three of new and one of old, even though
he only wished to buy new. If he were prepared to buy none but
old, he was allowed to do so. The Flemings offered a compromise,
and were willing to be compelled to take one of old to five of new.
The English answered that the existing arrangement was itself a
concession, and that formerly they had insisted on old and new
being bought in equal quantities. The old was sold at the price at
which it had been valued when brought to Calais. The English were
clearly anxious to avoid the practice of the sales of surplus stock at
an alarming sacrifice, which tempt modern country customers. If
the wool was found after its removal by the buyer not to answer
the description, the English insisted that it should be brought
INTRODUCTION. XXV
back to Calais in order to have the fact established in the courts
there. The Flemings vainly urged that it might be less of a loss
for the buyer to put up with a bad bargain than to carry so bulky
an article back again, with the uncertainty of after all obtaining
justice. The English answered that if their sellers had to go to
Flemish courts the wool might have meanwhile been tampered with
in Flanders. They conceded, however, liberty to repudiate a bargain,
and to return the wool if it were found to be below the stipulated
quality.
It was ordained and established by law of old (ab antiquo
statutum et ordinatum) that the pound for which wool was bought
and sold should equal 22s. 8d., whereas the English sellers now
demanded 24s. for the pound. The English answered that the
regulation rate of exchange should be certainly kept if the Flemish
Government would keep their standard of money fixed ; but that if
not, it was impossible, and the rate of exchange must enter into the
calculations of merchants making bargains. For once, perhaps,
the English were reasonable.” With regard to a last complaint
they took a high tone. The Flemings said that the King sent
fine wool into France, paying no subsidy and not through the
Staple, and that they had no opportunity of buying good wool
cheap in like manner. They only got answer that the King was
superior to all laws and ordinances, that he had done it once for his
own convenience, and that his Highness would not do it again
unless he saw cause. Which was, indeed, probable. Qua respon-
sione Oratores Dominorum Ducum, non fuerunt contenti.
The English answered generally to all complaints that their
trade was extremely well looked after, and that the subjects of the
Dukes could see as much in the ordinances of the Staple, which
they submitted to their inspection. The Oratores Dominorum
* In 1480 the fixing of the comparative value of English and French money
was made the subject of an agreement between Edward and Louis (Rymer, xii.
115). Edward had plenty of opportunity of appraising the value of French
money.
xxvi THE CELY PAPERS.
Ducum made the general answer that with regard to these regula-
tions, credere se ita fuisse ordinatum, Sed non omnino observatum.
The whole course of the negotiations shows us England
conscious of holding the upper hand. The Flemish towns were
forced to take the English wool, having no other sufficient supply
to fall back upon, and the English knew it. Neither was the
Government of the Dukes in a position to do anything to irritate
that of England during the existing crisis of their affairs.
It was of vital importance to Maximilian to secure the co-
operation of England and of Bretagne. It was of cqual moment
for Louis to retain their neutrality, especially that of England.
The Bishop of Elme was sent as an ambassador to propose the
prolongation of the treaty of Pecquigni for a hundred years, with
the accompanying payment of 50,000 crowns a year. One im–
portant point of the treaty had not been executed. No steps had
been taken for the marriage between Elizabeth of York and the
Dauphin, and the English suggested that the lady was now twelve
years old and of an age to be married, and that as the delay was
not of their seeking, the 60,000 francs which were to be her
marriage portion from her father-in-law should be paid at once.
Louis professed himself eager for the marriage, but the Dauphin
was too young. It must perforce wait, and if Elizabeth should die
her younger sister, Mary, would be accepted instead. The treaty
was accordingly prolonged on February 15, 1479, and the marriage
project remained in abeyance. -
On the other side the Dowager Duchess of Burgundy was
urgent to draw her brother into active alliance with Maximilian
and Mary. She had a private ground of enmity against the French
Ring because he had occupied part of her dower-lands near Cassel.
She wrote urgently to her brother for redress, and though Edward
would not commit himself to war, she persuaded him to allow---
500 archers to pass over to the aid of Maximilian. A closer alliance
was meditated. At Guildford, in August 16, 1479, a treaty was
concluded by which Edward undertook that for three years he
INTRODUCTION. xxvii
would not make any other marriage contract for his daughter
Anne than with Philip, the heir of Maximilian and Mary, pro-
vided that during those three years he was equally bound. The
lady was four years, the gentleman about fourteen months old.
One obstacle to any closer understanding was the poverty of
Maximilian. He was quite unable to offer Edward any equivalent
for the ‘tribute from the French King, which he would lose by a
declaration of war.
Meanwhile the truce had been broken on April 26 by the
Burgundians, who attacked the Château of Selles, near Cambrai,
and war was resumed in the Netherlands. At Guinegate the
French, venturing upon a pitched battle, contrary to the wishes of
the King, were defeated, August 7. Five hundred English were
engaged in the Duke's army. But the Burgundians lost heavily,
and the Flemish militia returned to their towns after the battle,
thinking that they had made their country safe from invasion. At
sea the French managed to cut off the herring fleet of Holland and
Zealand. The county of Burgundy also again was overrun by
them. A war broke out in Guelders, which further involved
Holland. The French attacked Luxemburg, and the Flemish
towns entirely refused to grant money to the Dukes for its
defence. t
Indeed, Maximilian was becoming more and more an object of
indifference first, and then of dislike to the Flemings. He was
unable to enlist the forces and influence of the Empire in their
favour, and was continually demanding money.
England was his chief reliance, and to keep England from
active interference was Louis’ chief aim. In May his ambassador
in England, the Bishop of Elne, incurred his serious displeasure
by negotiating a prolongation of the peace with Edward, in which
the King included Maximilian." Louis recalled his ambassador,
refused to treat with England about the affairs of Burgundy, but
* Rymer, xii. 113.
xxviii THE CELY PAPERS.
as usual managed to send the English envoys, who came over to
confirm the treaty, well satisfied away.
Nevertheless, in 1480, events seemed to be leading up to a
rupture between France and England. Another truce, as ill-
observed as usual, had been made between France and Burgundy,
but the French were threatening St. Omer and Aire. The
T}owager Duchess came over to England to see her brother. On
August 5 the projected marriage between the infants Anne and
Philip was confirmed by treaty.” On August 14 Edward under-
took that if Louis would not desist from his threatening attitude
upon the Flemish frontier, nor accept his mediation, he would
assist Maximilian with 6,000 men. As open war would mean the
loss of Edward's French pension, Maximilian undertook to make
it good. His known inability to pay was glossed over by the
stipulation that Edward should give a dower of 100,000 crowns
with his daughter, which was to be set against the payment due
from Maximilian. The Dukes were to settle property equal to
8,000 livres of Artois a year upon the bride. On August 24
Dr. Langton, Treasurer of Exeter,” and Sir John Weston, Prior of
the Hospitallers in England, “My Lord of St. John's' of the
Letters, were appointed ambassadors to France to urge the long-
delayed marriage of the lady Elizabeth with the Dauphin.
Richard Cely went with them (Letters, September 2 and Sep-
tember 6, 1480). Sir John Middleton was empowered to raise
troops for Flanders. Finally, the Dowager got her private reward.
She was given the privilege for life of buying 1,000 oxen and
2,000 rams a year, and of exporting their skins, free of any duty
or subsidy, to Holland, Zealand, or Flanders."
The usual results followed. Touis was lavish of fair words and
of money, and Maximilian practically threw over his ally, and his
* Rymer, xii. 128.
* Subsequently Bishop of St. David’s in 1483, then Bishop of Winchester
1493 to 1501.
* Rymer, xii. 137.
INTRODUCTION. xxix
agent, the Duchess, by prolonging his truce with France without
consulting them. *
In 1481 the embarrassments of Maximilian increased. Louis
continued the war in Luxemburg, and enlisted the help of Ladislas
of Bohemia, who had claims on the duchy. Maximilian was em-
broiled with the faction of the Hooks in Holland and Utrecht.
The attitude of the Flemish towns became more and more refrac-
tory. He offered Edward Boulogne, Ponthieu, the towns on the
Somme, Peronne, and Montdidier as the price of active help. But
a diversion had been made which helped to keep Edward employed
elsewhere. The French had urged the Scots, never loath to attack
England, to hostilities upon the Borders, and a Scotch war had
broken out in 1480. Attempts at accommodation failed, a Scotch
embassy being stopped at Newcastle (Letter, January 23, 1481),
and in 1481 a fleet and army were prepared against Edinburgh
and Berwick. In 1482 the war continued. The Duke of Albany
came from France to England, and accompanied the Duke of
Gloucester, who may be considered the head of the war party, to
Scotland. The two Dukes occupied Edinburgh, but Albany was
then reconciled with his brother, the King, and the English with-
drew with the one solid acquisition of Berwick.
These affairs, however, tended to keep Edward from war
abroad. In March, 1481, Louis had an attack of apoplexy, and
Edward assured Maximilian that he would only have to wait a
short time before death would relieve him of his formidable
adversary.
So matters went on through 1481, with war in Luxemburg
and Guelderland, and an ill-observed truce on the Flemish border.
In 1482 death claimed an unexpected victim. On March 27 the
l)uchess, Mary, died from an accident—a fall from her horse. The
one tie between her husband and the Flemings was removed. The
Gantois deprived him of the custody of his own children, governed
the province in conjunction with the other towns over his head, and
drove him to maintain himself as best he could in the rest of his
XX, X THE CELY PAPERS.
son's dominions by aid of some of the nobility and German merce-
naries. The Flemings began to treat with France; Louis, conscious
of failing health, desired to confirm his acquisitions by a peace.
France was exhausted, and the neighbouring countries were all
in confusion and distress. In the formerly well-tilled fields of
Flanders, Hainault, and Artois land was going out of cultivation,
and wolves increased alarmingly.” An event occurred in this
summer which showed the consequences of the prolonged war in
the Netherlands. William d’Aremberg, called the Wild Boar of
the Ardennes, a notorious freebooter, murdered his former bene-
factor, the Bishop of Liège, on August 30, tried to make the
Chapter elect his own son as bishop, and began to draw together a
formidable power in the bishopric. The neighbouring nobility and
towns, with some of Maximilian's troops, united against him and
quickly overcame him. But it was openly said that he was
incited by the French, because the Bishop refused to join them.
In William Cely's letter from Calais of September 12, 1482, the
murder is directly attributed to the French. In one way it told
in their favour, for it made a farther diversion of the Duke's forces
from the Flemish frontier. The provinces were all tired of war,
and united to press upon Maximilian the necessity of peace.
Want of success, or means to continue the war, and the uncertainty
of English help, forced him to concur.
On December 23, 1482, the treaty of Arras handed over his
daughter Margaret to the custody of the French King as the future
wife of the Dauphin, and gave her as dower the duchy and county
of Burgundy, Artois, and much besides, to be administered in the
name of the Dauphin. The long-promised match between the
Dauphin and Edward's daughter was completely thrown over. The
friendship of England was no longer of any particular value to
Louis, at least not in comparison with his advantages by this
second treaty of Arras, more than compensating by its gains for
the losses sustained by the first, forty-seven years before. Yet up
* Kervyn de Lettenhove, Histoire de Flandre.
INTRODUCTION. xxxi
to the last he had cajoled the English King. On Palm Sunday,
March 31, another French embassy, which had come to London,
had been entertained by the mayor and all the crafts “worschyppe-
fullley’ (Letter, April 2, 1482). They came three days too late
to witness a disastrous experiment. ‘The same day (March 28)
‘whos the grehyt new gone of brasse shott at Mylezeynde at whos
mad in the Towyr and hyt braste awll to pessys’ (Letter, March 29,
1482). This embassy cannot have been despatched in consequence
of any new turn of affairs following the death of Mary, the news of
which came to England simultaneously with the ambassadors. It
is reasonable to suppose that the object of the mission was merely
to keep up the humouring of Edward in the usual fashion. It
probably concluded the treaty of 1482, of amity between France
and England for the lifetime of both the kings and for one year
after the death of the prior deceased,” which the French King pub-
lished in September to his subjects. Whether this treaty said
anything about the Dauphin's marriage we do not know. At all
events Edward saw himself at last by the treaty of Arras thoroughly
duped and betrayed, and began warlike preparations in earnest.
The noise of them breaks out in more than one of Our Letters. But
in April 1483 Edward himself died. On August 30 of the same
year Louis followed. Richard III. had far too much trouble on
his own hands at home to care to make war abroad. But France
was hostile to him in fact, fearing him as a warlike king, honour-
ably distinguished above other Englishmen as having never been
bought by French money. Indeed, France overthrew Richard by
supplying the means by which Henry VII. could invade England.
“Le Comte de Richmont fut couronné et institué Henri VII., par
le confort et puissant subside du roi de France.’ ” On April 14,
1484, William Cely wrote from Calais that Flanders was likely to
break with England. This can only be attributed to the influence
* English Hist. R., July 1897. ‘An Unknown Treaty between Edward IV. and
Louis XI.”
* Chroniques de Jean de Molinet.
ſºv-
xxxii THE CELY PAPERS.
of the Dowager Duchess, who would be bitterly opposed to Richard
as the murderer of her nephews and the supplanter of the children
of her favourite brother Clarence. Margaret was still more the
enemy of Henry VII., both as a Lancastrian and a French protégé.
How she aided and abetted the Yorkist schemes against him is
matter of common knowledge, but the Celys say nothing of it.
Maximilian had become King of the Romans in 1486, and in
December Henry received an embassy from him, and concluded a
treaty with him and his son's council" for the renewal of the old
treaties of commerce. They had interests partly in common against
France; but the tangled skein of the affairs of Bretagne need not
detain us here. Maximilian never counted for so much as his
title and position seemed to imply. Throughout these years
he was still at variance with the Flemish towns, and their open
hostilities, as in 1483 and 1484, referred to in the Letters,
Sorely vexed the English merchants. He was again at war with
the French also. In 1488 he made his famous attempt to secure
Bruges. He rashly entered the city with a small force of German
mercenaries and Burgundian followers. He intended to have a
larger force admitted. But suspicions were aroused, the citizens
flew to arms and secured the gates, and Maximilian found himself
a prisoner amid an exasperated population, who made no delay in
killing those suspected of sympathising with him. We learn from
the Letters of January 22, February 19, and March 12, 1488, that
Sir James Tyrrell had been at Bruges on a mission from England,
and had been well received by both the towns and Maximilian ; and
that the expectation was that Maximilian would soon be master, if
not that he ‘muste flee hys weye owte of the contray or be de-
stroyed, and that he would grant England all that she could desire.
Also we gather, contrary to the common account, that many of the
more wealthy inhabitants of Bruges were considered as a rule
friendly to the King of the Romans, but that the rabble of Bruges,
allied with the men of Ghent, were in power, and making overtures
* Rymer, xii. 320.
INTRODUCTION. xxxiii
to France. The ambassadors, who were to have gone to England,
had fled to Sluys, and the more substantial inhabitants of Bruges
were daily stealing away to Middleburg, fearing violence, not
without reason. A reign of terror was established at Bruges. The
Sire de Ghistelles, formerly Burgomaster, Pierre Lanchals, and
many other citizens known for their support of the House of
Burgundy perished on the scaffold. Ghent was more violent than
Bruges. The citizens of Ypres alone were distinguished for their
moderation, and their advice not to exasperate quarrels by reckless
bloodshedding. All trade was dislocated in consequence of the
troubles. The government of Bruges was revolutionised. The
eight members of the trades chosen by the ducal commissioners to
sit as part of the thirteen Échevins who governed the city were
replaced by eight others, apparently popularly elected (Feb-
ruary 19, 1488). However, in 1489, Maximilian, by aid of a
German force and the help of the other provinces, overcame Flan-
ders, and for a season exercised some real authority as guardian to
his son. Charles VIII. of France was more occupied with schemes
in Bretagne and in Italy than in the Low Countries. Intent on
marrying the heiress of Bretagne, he at last, in 1493, returned his
affianced bride, the child Margaret, to her father, and restored
Artois and the county of Burgundy with her. With small thanks
to her own policy, England had still a Burgundian dominion, free
from French control, as her customer; and the territory of Calais
still marched with Burgundian Flanders and Artoia, as well as
with French Boulogne.
The Letters mostly deal with a period when war was going on,
or at best when truce was badly kept between France and Bur-
gundy. But the state of insecurity prevailing at sea is very
strikingly revealed by them. Piracies, or hostilities at sea, were
not confined to the subjects of powers nominally at war, and it is
abundantly manifest how very necessary it was for a Government
to be strong and respected abroad if its subjects were to trade with
any reasonable safety.
b 2
xxxiv. THE CELY PAPERS.
On May 14, 1482, William Cely writes to George at Bruges
that an English ship was chased by two Frenchmen off Calais, but
escaped. The Frenchmen were taken by ships from Calais. One
of them was brought into Calais, the other taken to England. On
June 23, 1482, we hear that Robert Eryke was chased by Scots
between Calais and Dover. Scotland, however, was at war with
England. On October 19, 1482, William Cely writes to George
from Calais to London that it was a false report that his ship with
his ‘chamberyng’ on board had been rifled by Flemings; it was
another ship in her company. On March 25, 1484, we are told
that the goods of Englishmen have been arrested at Nieuport to
pay for the goods taken at Sea by Englishmen from Ostend men.
In Calais they wished to arrest Gyesbryght, a Fleming, in retalia-
tion, but were dissuaded by the lieutenant. There was an agree-
ment as old as Philip the Good's time, and confirmed by each sub-
sequent Duke, that goods of either nation should be free from
arrest in answer to depredations committed by fellow countrymen
of the owners. A deputation was to go to the Council of Flanders
at Ghent to remind them of this. On February 10, 1484, certain
Flemings came to Calais en route to England to complain that their
goods had been seized and carried into Sandwich, while the King
(Richard III.) was there. They asked for the co-operation of the
Staple in their recovery, because the Flemings restored English
goods illegally seized. e
On March 27, 1484, we read of a deputation from the Staple to
Duke Philip and his Council of Flanders on the subject of English-
men and Flemings being made answerable, in Flanders and Calais
respectively, only for their own misdoings and not for those of
their countrymen.
On February 24, 1484, it is “certain banished Englishmen’ who
have taken five or six Spaniards laden with wine, bound for
Flanders. February 29, 1484, a Frenchman has chased an English
passenger ship into Dunkirk. On March 17 of the same year is
reported a curious story of apparently combined piracy and pas-
INTRODUCTION. XXXV
senger carrying. William Cely writes to Richard and George:
‘Item Syr on Fryday last past on Richard Awray
that was master of my lord Denmanis Schypp Zede forthe a
warfare in a schypp of hys owne and toke in merchauntes and sett
them alond at Dower and at Dower toke in passage to Callez wardd
agayne and as he cam to Callez ward ii men of warre of Frensche
mett wº hym and faught with hym and theyr he was slayne and
diversse moe of hys company they saye viii or ix persones Oon whos
SOwlles Iesu hawe mercy.’
France was in fact an enemy to Richard III., but there was
no formal war, and we are not told how far Richard Awray
had provoked his fate by his private warfare. Shortly afterwards
(April 14, 1484) two Frenchmen chased passenger boats into
Calais, and nearly took them. On January 22, 1488, “My Lord
of St. John's, the Prior of the Hospitallers, could not venture out
of Calais because of the Danes lying before the harbour.” On
November 19, 1487, William Cely wrote that owing to the war
between Ghent and Maximilian he had got away with difficulty
from Bruges, had been stopped two days at Nieuport, and only
allowed to proceed because he had passage in a ship on board
which Sir James Tyrrell, the English ambassador, had goods. He
advised his principals to leave this trade as too dangerous, and lay
out their money in madder, wax, and fustian, and ship it in
Spanish bottoms. Castile, perhaps, was more respected than Eng-
land, while the Tudors were not yet firm in the saddle. Already,
September 18, 1487, before setting out for Bruges, he had ex-
pressed a fear of being stopped by Dunkirkers on the way back.
Some suspicion is aroused that the Cely connexion knew something
of capturing ships, and holding the crews to ransom, for there is
an undated letter by which Thomas Dalton begs ‘Brother Jorge’
to pay a bill of 80l. for him in London, “for I loke yevery day for
* The Danes had a grievance against England, because English ships visited
Iceland. A treaty had been made in 1479 forbidding this intercourse without
license (Rymer, xii. 100).
xxxvi - THE CELY PAPERS.
tydynges owt of Holand for my schypp and my prisoners and
brother this payment lyeth my pore onestie upon. It looks very
much as if, notwithstanding his ‘pore onestie, he was expecting
ransom money with which to discharge his lawful debts.
The shipping by which the Celys’ wool was conveyed to Calais
was provided exclusively by the ports of east and south-east Eng-
land and of Calais itself. Sometimes we hear of the fleets of
London, Ipswich, and Boston. These, of course, need not have
been composed exclusively of ships owned in those ports, but repre-
sent the place of sailing of ships combined together for safety, and
bringing the result of the great summer clip, or the skins of the
autumn killing of sheep. The Cinque Ports had quite dropped
out of this trade, only one of their many ‘Limbs' is represented,
Brightlingsea in Essex, now a mere village. Of the other shipping
ports, several now exist no longer, except as villages. Hull, Col-
chester, and Calais are ports which still flourish more or less.
Redriff (Rotherhithe) is merged in the port of London. Walbers-
wick, on the Suffolk coast, might now muster a few fishing boats.
Rainham, in Essex, is not much better.” Bradwell, in Essex, is
Scarcely so considerable as these. It had a more renowned past as
the Roman station. Othona, on the Litus Saa.onicum. Most notice-
able is the flourishing trade of Kent, shown here by the abundance
of shipping owned in the Medway. Maidstone we scarcely think
of now as a port, but there is a barge trade on the river, and if the
lock near Allington on the Medway, called Gibraltar Lock, were re-
moved, the tide would now run up to Maidstone Bridge. The Thomas
of Maidstone, however, then appears several times voyaging to
Calais. More remarkable still is it to find the Mary of Malling
and the Barbara of ‘Malwin, which we can only conjecture to be
Malling again. There is a South Malling on the Ouse close to
* Rainham in Essex apparently, close to the Celys’ country seat, not Rainham
in Kent. For the Mary of Rainham took over an Essex cheese to Calais (Letter,
October 31, 1481). But Rainham on the Medway was a small port under
Elizabeth.
INTRODUCTION. * xxxvii
Tewes, but the Mary and the Barbara appear in close connection
with Medway shipping. Though the parish of Malling does touch
the Medway, Malling is perhaps intended for Halling, a very
possible error for one who could write ‘Lyll” for “Hull. The
village of Malling was never a port. Other ships belonged to
Milton in Kent, and to New Hythe and Milhall, inconsiderable
hamlets now, on the Medway. The Grâce à Dieu and the “Tywe’
are the two ships mentioned belonging to Calais. There must have
been a wider diffusion of the influences springing from foreign
trade when shipping was thus dispersed among many small ports,
and not concentrated in large centres. We can readily understand
the ease with which, in the next century, foreign religious opinions
from the Low Countries penetrated into Kent and Essex, through
these many little gates of intercourse. -
What manner of ships they were we can partly gather from the
accounts of the purchase and fitting out of the Margaret Cely,
which the brothers Richard and George bought at Penmarch in
Bretagne, and employed on voyages to Zealand, Flanders, and Bor-
deaux. Her tonnage is not given. She cost 28l., exclusive of
rigging and all fittings. She carried a master, boatswain, cook,
and sixteen hands on her return voyage from Bordeaux, two of
them Bordeaux men. One is described as ‘Calker, but it is not
clear whether it is his name or his function. She was, of course,
armed with cannon and bows, bills and ‘V dossen dartes,’ She
was, by her complement of men, a decked ship, with two masts,
and probably the ships usually employed were decked, at least fore
and aft. But one mast only is spoken of in them, cargo being de-
scribed as lying fore or aft of ‘the mast.’ As, however, they were pro-
bably square-rigged, it is hard to conceive of them as single-masted;
in that case they would hardly steer. There was probably a small
mizen-mast set far aft, as in what was, and perhaps is, called a
Dutch ‘Dogger.’ The Margaret Cely was victualled with salt beef,
Salt fish, bread, wheat, and beer. It is impossible to do more than
guess at her tonnage, but from her complement it was probably
xxxviii THE CELY PAPERS.
about 200 tons. The ships from the little Medway ports could
scarcely have been of thirty tons to navigate the river safely. The
Thomas of Maidstone can have been only a barge, if she had to
pass Aylesford Bridge.
The bulk of the wool exported by the Celys was from the Cots-
wolds. The principal person with whom they had dealings was
one Midwinter, of Northleach, in Gloucestershire. Midwinter is
still a Gloucestershire name. He was a wool dealer, not merely a
farmer. They also bought from John Busshe, of Northleach.
Relations with Midwinter were not always smooth. He wrote to
Richard Cely on September 20, 1482, that he has sold wool to
him cheaper than he can buy it, and is “barr wytthe howte
money, and wishes to be paid. Again, with no date given,
Richard writes to his brother George from London that Mid-
winter is come to town. ‘God ryd we of hym.” As Richard is
enumerating some unpaid debts in the same letter, it is possible
to read these two together, and to suppose that Midwinter had
come for his money.
The Cotswold wool and fells no doubt came on pack-horses
(compare Letter of March 12, 1486) by the ancient trackways over
the Wiltshire and Hampshire Downs, which had been used before
the Roman conquest, and thence through Surrey and Kent to the
Medway ports by the Pilgrims' Way. Milhall, New Hythe,
Halling, and Maidstone are all within a few miles of where it cuts
that river. The Boston and Ipswich fleets would bring the wool
of the Lincolnshire Wolds and of the Midland Counties, in which
the Celys do not appear to have dealt, as a rule, though we do find
them buying from the Midlands. The London and Essex ships
would convey that which came through London. How long a time
would elapse before the Cotswold clip was safely stored in the
Calais warehouses we cannot tell. But the intercourse across the
Channel seems to have been fairly rapid and regular for the days
of sailing ships. Now and then there were great delays. A letter,
for instance, written from Antwerp On October 1 reaches London
INTRODUCTION. xxxix
on the 17th. But a letter from London of November 9 is answered
at Calais on November 12, with no intimation of its arrival that
day only. Three or four days seem an ordinary post. On Sep-
tember 2, 1480, Richard Cely wrote from Dover to George at
Calais, telling him to be at Boulogne to meet him and Sir John
Weston on September 3, and he was there. Richard must, of
course, have known of a packet just sailing, with a fair wind, or
he would not have ventured on so short an appointment. A
journey, even in England, was a serious matter. ‘Holy Trinity
speed us both,’ says Richard when he is departing from London
to Gloucestershire, and his brother from Calais to Bruges.
At Calais the merchants and their agents seem to have lived
in licensed lodgings, under the regulation of the Mayor and Court
of the Staple, as undergraduates of Oxford and Cambridge can
only live in lodgings licensed by the University. But they had
liberty to change their quarters. On December 5, 1483, William
Cely wrote to Richard and George, who presumably paid for his
board, that a difference had arisen ‘betwyxte owre oste Thomas
Graunger and the fellyschypp of owre logyng.’
‘Owre oste’ had raised his terms from 3s. 4d. to 4s. (Flemish)
a week for the high table, and from 2s. 8d. to 40 pence for the
side table. Whereupon all the ‘fellyschypp’ had gone to other
lodgings, except the writer, who was awaiting instructions. This
was economical housekeeping. On particular occasions a feast
was indulged in at much heavier expense. Ten friends went
together to Boulogne. The bill for their entertainment was 58. 8d.
for ‘te denar unto the koke; 4s. ‘for the whyne at that dynar ; ’
item there as whe lay all nyght for ‘whne bedys and horsse
4s. 10d. ; item gavyn the mynstrell’ 4d. Summa 15s. 8d. There
was a good deal of sack to the ha'porth of bread, perhaps, and
those who lay all night only wanted more ‘whne, but no break-
fast. The minstrel was a necessary adjunct to a feast. They
came away in a cart which cost 9s. There is a commission from
Richard Cely to his son George, June 14, 1479, to buy a ‘Calais
xl THE CELY PAPERS.
Carthe, and he is to take advice, being himself no judge of such
Wa, re.
The letters are full of commissions for the purchase of goods
abroad, of very various kinds. Goshawks, onion seed, Gascon
wine, pickled Maas salmon, fur of ‘boge’ (lambskin), mink and
other furs, ‘chambering' (i.e. chamber hangings, tapestry), Holland
cloth, Saddles, stirrups, horse-furniture generally, armour, sugar
loaves, salt fish, ginger, saffron, Louvain gloves, Calais pack-
thread. For the purposes of their trade they bought Arras,
Bergen (Mons), Elron (in Bretagne), and Normandy canvas for
packing wool.
Not only did the Flemish merchants come to Calais, but the
Bnglishmen were constantly at Bruges and Antwerp and at the
‘marts, or fairs, at Barrow, Balling, Cold Mart, ‘Synchon’ Mart
in Antwerp, and Bammys Mart. They did business with people
from all parts of the Low Countries. A social distinction may be
noticed between the Flemish merchants and those from Holland
and Zealand. The former are nearly all ‘Van der, with terri-
torial names: they represent mercantile families of old standing
who owned estates in land. The latter are all known merely by
patronymics.
History has been miscalled a record of human crimes. But it
is unfortunately true that we do not thoroughly know men till we
have discovered their weakness and temptations. The English in
Calais did not always lead a harmonious life, nor was their com-
mercial integrity always above suspicion. An undated letter,
which from internal evidence belongs to January 1482, from
Joyce Parmenter, servant to the Celys, to his master George
records a mischievous brawl. ‘Also I lat you wyt that Bottrell
hathe brok up a wyndew of the west syde off your wolhowse &
ther he hathe caste in horsse donge upon your sellers I dyd mak
a man wº a donge fork in his hande to caste the donge asyde
Botrell cam in & tuk the forke fro hym & bete hym well &
inthryftyle I Seynge her uncurtiss delynge I prayd John Ekynton
INTRODUCTION. xli
Robert Turney John Ellyrbek & Wylliam Hyll wº moe to breke
faste in your chamber for this entent to see the hurtes & harms he
dyd you uppom your goodes.' John Dalton, writing on January 19,
refers to Bottrell as ‘uncurtese in her dedis.’ However, retri-
bution followed, and it would seem that Bottrell was only one of a
gang, uncourteous or worse, for William Cely writes on August 20
that the servants of the porter of Calais are expelled the place, and
Bottrell is in prison on the same matter, and is to leave the town,
and marches on peril of death. On the 29th we hear that Bottrell
is gone and his wife is to follow. There was Something here
worse than throwing dung in at the warehouse window and an
assault with a dung-fork. It was probably some form of illicit
trading by collusion of the porter's servants. It was not dealings
with the French, or he would not have got off so cheaply as to be
only threatened with hanging.
But the Celys themselves were probably not innocent of
irregularities in trade. There evidently were attempts made
to drive bargains in England for wool; to sell here, contrary to
the regulations of the Staple, and even possibly to avoid paying
the subsidy. On October 29, 1480, we hear that there is a report
that Cotswold wool is being bought in England by Dombards. It
is mentioned as a complaint apparently by Richard Cely the elder.
Dut on April 28, 1484, William Cely writes from Calais to Richard
the younger and George in London that Wyllykyn, John De-
lowppys' man, is in England, and that he and Peter Bale are
trying to buy in England. He recommends that Peter Bale
should be made to pay in Calais according to the Ordinance, for
illegal dealing is suspected, and forfeit will be levied in Calais on
those guilty of it, “but as for youre delynges knowyth noon man
w" owte they serche Peter Balys bokes as I thyncke grett serche
schall be made for the forfett ys lewellyd Oon some persones all
redy but they be nott yett openly namyd and as for youre wull I
trust to Godd hytt Schall be sold and have redy mony for hytt
w"yn thys month.’
xlii THE CELY PAPERS.
It appears from William Cely’s letter of February 29, 1484,
that he had been dealing with Wyllykyn. This man and Gyes-
bryght, a frequent customer, had got a promise in London of the
wool, so, though William Cely had promised it to ‘anoder man,’
he took of them ‘a Goddes peny' to clinch the bargain.”
But on September 12, 1487, we have a record, which Richard
and George ought certainly to have burnt, of a downright piece of
swindling. The ‘Sarpler’ taken out by the Lieutenant to test
the quality, No. 24, was poor wool; so the faithful William tells
his principal that he has cast out No. 8 instead, knowing it to be
‘fayre wull,' and changed the labels before inspection. On Sep-
tember 18 he writes with satisfaction: ‘Yowre wull ys awarddyd
be the sarpler that I cast owte last.” Following immediately on
the announcement of the success of the fraud comes the news that
George, who profited by it, is elected one of the eighteen to assist
the Mayor of the Staple now “at thys parliament tyme, to protect,
no doubt, the honesty of the trade among other duties—‘all-
myghty Jhesu preserve you.’ This is only the current language
of the day, but commercial dishonesty and pious expressions seem
ever to go hand in hand.
These are the actions of the upright merchants. George, it is
true, does not seem to have been fully trusted by his father as a
good business-man, as we may suspect from letters from the latter
of August 17, 1478, April 30, 1479, June 14, 1479, and January 2,
1480. George was a sportsman, whose horses were his chief
interest, and he also was perhaps not in strong health always, to
judge from the letter of November 11, 1479. But Robert was the
black sheep of the family. After a letter from London of Novem-
ber 19, 1477, in which he mentions the death of his uncle, the Dean
of York, and speaks with evident pride of the references to him in
* A God’s penny, money paid to ratify a bargain.
‘I draw you to recorde lordes all ;
With that he cast him a God’s penny.”
—Ballad of the Heir of Linn.
INTRODUCTION. xliii
a sermon at Paul's Cross, ‘and ther sate that tyme V. bochoppys
at Pollys Crosse; ' and after an ordinary business letter or two we
only hear of him as in difficulties. For instance, in 1478 Richard
was minded to stop Robert from leaving Calais for England, but
forbore at the prayer of Thomas Adam. Robert had borrowed
thirty shillings to pay his host, but lost it all at dice. So Thomas
has prayed Master Lieutenant to pay Robert's passage money.
Such as Robert are better not helped, as Richard points out very
sensibly to George on April 9, 1479, for he hears that George has
been helping Robert and intends to help him further, but he
counsels him to do no such thing, but to leave him alone. “Ze
knowe the onsted fastness of hym. Robert seems to have been
still in Calais ; perhaps Master Lieutenant had not paid his
passage. He has debts, too, of 15l. and 10l. Of course he has a
wife, or a reputed wife, and she refuses to join him, possibly for
good reasons, but alleging the dangers of the sea from so many
Frenchmen and Flemings being about. “Robert's childe’ in this
letter is his servant, not his son. But Robert's matrimonial re-
lations appear clouded on April 7, 1480. “Ther is a devysyon
fawllyn betwen our brother Robard and sche that schoulde abe
hys wyfe and he has gevyn hyr ower.’ This probably is the wife
of the previous year; they may have been contracted, but not
married. On May 3, 1480, his father says that Robert is at
Bruges, and will not come to Calais ‘for fere of fytyng at Caleys
in to Beschepys Cort for the lude mater of Jonne Harthe.’ Joan
Bart's relatives were trying in vain to get money out of old
Richard Cely, and swore that Joan should keep all that Robert.
had given her, and threatened an action in the Bishop's Court.
However, on May 15, it appears that Joan had consented to be
quit of a bad bargain, and had returned some of Robert's presents,
to wit, a girdle of gold with buckle and pendants silver and gilt,
a gold ring with a little diamond in it, and a damask carpet; a
fair sample of the presents which we should expect an impecunious
scamp to give to his young woman. Richard tells George to
xliv THE CELY PAPERS,
entertain Robert at Calais, to give him five shillings, and send him
home. Their father understands of Robert’s ‘chyldysche' deal-
ing. Finally the prodigal himself writes to George, who clearly
was not so hard-hearted as Richard, on September 6, 1480, to say
that he has been sick and sore, and still goes with a staff, and will
George pay William Barwell, mercer, of London, 14l. 158., which
he has lent to Robert to save his plate P Of course Robert will
repay the money. It is safe to surmise that he did not, if George
was fool enough to lend it.
But it scarcely seems that George's life in Calais was quite
regular. His servant writes to him, apparently in January 1482,
from Calais, ‘Also I lat yow wyt ther ye go & ete puddynges the
woman is withe child.” He is also told of it by his friend Dalton.
In August he is told that ‘Margary’ wants raiment against her
churching, “as sche hadd the toder tyme.’ He is told on August 29
that Margaret's daughter is dead. He was curiously interested in
her. Richard we can follow on a lawful matrimonial quest.
After his father's death, at the end of 1481 or beginning of 1482,
he immediately set about finding a wife, and offers were made to
him from several directions. He was a good match. In 1484,
these negotiations having come to nothing seemingly, William
Cely writes that a lady has been making inquiry in Calais about
the comparative wealth of Richard and George, and of another
merchant, and he can assure the brothers that they have sold
2,000l. worth in the last year. With a fair mercantile profit of
10 per cent. this would be an income of 200l. between them from
business. That is a sum equal to the household expenses of a
knight, and double those of a squire, according to the reckoning in
the ‘Black Book of Edward IV. Richard, too, had an estate in
Essex.
The story which he unfolds to brother George, May 13, 1482,
is idyllic, in contrast with the dry business details of his Ordinary
letters. He has been three weeks in the Cotswold country buying
wool, and when his business was done Midwinter the dealer began
INTRODUCTION. xlv.
to move him to go a-courting. He told him of a ‘Zeunge genttyll
whoman hos father ys name ys Lemryke and her mother ys deyd
and sche schaull dispend be her moter XL" a ze [re] as they say
in that contre.' Her father ‘ys the gretteste rewlar as rycheste
mane in that conttre,’ and great gentlemen had been to court her.
He had spoken to the most influential man about her father, and
both father and daughter were well inclined to the proposal. The
father sent to say that if he would tarry till Mayday he might
have a sight of the young lady. The father prudently kept out of
the way. He was to have sat for the King as a Justice of the
|Peace that day at Northleach, but sent one of his clerks instead,
and rode to Winchcombe. The young lady and º mother-in-law,
as they call her, that is, her step-mother, came Over ºp Northleach
Church. There, in the fing decorated tº: church,
which still stands, Richard and William Brette.) were hearing
Matins—it was on a Thursday—when the young lady and her
step-mother came in. When Matins were done,’the ladies went to
“a kynnys whoman of the Zeunge gentty woman and I sent to
them a pottell of whyte romnay and thay toke hyt thankefully for
thay had cwm a myle a fote that monyng.” He and William
Bretten stayed for Mass after Matins. When Mass had been said
the ladies invited him to dinner. ‘ I ascwysyd me,’ but they made
him promise to come and drink with them after dinner. They
exchanged good cheer ; he sent them a gallon of wine, they sent
him a roast heronshaw. Then after dinner—all this was about
nine o'clock in the morning, and throws light upon the reasons for
Mass being said very early—they met, the three ladies, two of
whom had already had the ‘pottell of whyte romnay' after their
fatiguing walk of a mile, Richard and his friend, and discussed
what was left of the gallon of wine, and what more the ‘kynnys
whoman’ might provide. Acquaintance naturally ripened rapidly.
The young lady pleased him much. ‘Sche ys zewnge lytyll and
whery whell favyrd and whytty.’ The father was to come up to
London to settle the business part of the affair so auspiciously
xlvi. THE CELY PAPERS.
begun with piety and potation that May morning. But, alas! we
hear no more of the ‘whell favyrd and whytty' Mistress Lemryke.
Ten days after he wrote, before the Justice of Peace had ridden to
town, Richard was inquiring about another young woman. It
does not appear that he married either.
A characteristic of the whole family, which perhaps they shared
with other well-to-do merchants, was their love of sport. The idea
that there was anything incongruous between such tastes and the
life of a citizen is the growth of a later age. When all travelling
was done on horseback, men who were continually going long
distances on business were as much at home in the saddle as their
descendants are\in a train. There was no town in England,
London inclºded, which was not as near places where game
abounded aſ Norfolk country house or a Leicestershire hunting
box are now. George was the great sportsman. When he was
abroad there is scarcely a letter to him which does not contain
news of his great horse, or his young horse, his horse Bayard, or
his horse Py, their health, ailments, or bills for their keep, or
prospects of their sale. ‘The horse ys fayre God save hym God
send you a Schapeman for hym,’ writes his father, after saying that
Richard has sold his sorrel for four marks. The tragic news is
conveyed to both George and his servant, that his grey bitch has
had fourteen fair whelps and died suddenly. When he writes
himself he is nearly as much interested in the price of hawks as of
wool, and he dabbles in horse dealing with the usual morality. He
at last sells ‘Py’ for five marks, and the buyer thinks himself ‘full
begyllyd.’ Good hawks were sometimes more than half the price
of a horse. On September 8, 1482, hawks at Calais were four
or five nobles each, but so dear that only my Lord Chamberlain
buys them. In some of their correspondents’ letters, not their own,
it is interesting to see the plurals horsen or horson survive.
Even the grave father and Richard—George being absent in
Calais—became involved as sportsmen in a scrape, which may have
been merely a misfortune, but which may have been a serious
INTRODUCTION, xlvii
poaching affair. On November 5, and again on the 26th, 1481,
Richard wrote to George that he and his father, and ‘Brandon's men’
he says on the 5th– Loutlay he says on the 26th, perhaps one of
Brandon's men—were indicted for the ‘scleyng of an hartte,’ which
was driven over the Thames from Essex, and slain at Dartford, and
for the killing of two hind calves. He declares that Brandon informed
against them, but that he did it himself, and much more, and is now
indicted for killing two harts and certain calves. As to the hart
which took to the river, ‘the qweche whenevyr se per knew of.”
the Celys were very anxious not to come into court. Richard had
been to Sir Thomas Montgomery, of the King's Privy Council, and
Steward of the Forest of Essex, ‘to have we howt of the boke
hevir hyt be schewyd the kyng.’ He had given to Sir Thomas a
hundred shillings, ‘the whalew of a pype whyn, and to one of his
gentlemen three shillings and fourpence. So Sir Thomas became
their ‘spessiall good master in thys mater,’ and promised to con-
tinue his protection, for which George is to wait upon him and
thank him, and probably bribe him again, when the great man
presently comes to Calais. So the Celys were freed from the charge,
and the King's justice was perhaps hoodwinked. It rather suggests
a counterpart to ‘the knave is mine honest friend, Sir, I pray you
let him be countenanced.” Richard Cely's greyhounds were pro-
bably accessory to the death of that hart. When George has come
to England, and is departing again to Calais, he is to bear off
Hector and the others, greyhounds evidently, for himself and the
Lieutenant of Gravelines, “for he [Richard the elder] wyll kepe no
mo grewandes a whyll be greabyll to kepe a hawke and Spaynellys,’
which last could not run a hart.
The interviews with Sir Thomas Montgomery cost Richard
something, and he would be glad of remittances from Calais. As
a consolation, however, he found that he had bought an entrée into
good society. “I am cwm in qvaytans of dyvars whow.rschypfull
men that wyll myche for WS for hys sake ’; and he does not add
for the sake of the ‘whalew of a pipe of wine. When the King
C
xlviii THE CELY PAPERS.
pocketed a bribe yearly from Louis XI, what virtue could be
expected in his councillors P *.
Taken for all in all, the life revealed is not worse in point of
morality than that of the same class at other times. It is more
vigorous and manly than commercial life is now. The modern
young business man has his holidays devoted to sport. The Celys,
besides occasional relaxations—and Richard rode down to buy in
Gloucestershire hawk on fist, ready to let fly at heron or partridge
as he journeyed—had a continual experience of roughing it in their
working days. In peril of robbers by sea and land, in peril
of bogs and stones on the English apologies for roads, among
the contending troops in Flanders, tossing in smacks across the
Channel, they probably became men, more natural and tougher-
fibred than those who have to cultivate their manhood by sport and
games in the intervals of business. There is very little sensibility
about them, but plenty of sense. . º
Richard Cely the younger died in 1494,” leaving three
co-heiresses—Margaret, Isabella, and Barbara—aged only four and
three years, and six months respectively. Margaret married
John Kettleby, and died childless. Isabella married Robert
Warham and Antony Cook, and left descendants. She inherited
Brytys Place at last from her sisters, for Barbara seems to have
died unmarried. The property was sold in 1531.
* Inq. P. M. 9 Hen. VII. Sept. 20.
xlix
APPENDIX I
CONTEMPORARY COINAGE
THERE are many references in these Letters to the various coins
current, or we should perhaps say circulating, for they were not all
accepted as current coin, in Calais. The rate of exchange was a con-
tinual subject of calculation or of dispute among the merchants.
The number of potentates of all kinds who claimed the privilege of
issuing their own coinage, and the frequently suspicious character of
what they uttered as gold or silver, made the matter of adjustment of
values difficult for the Celys, who were evidently obliged often to take
what they could get. English money was, as a rule, much finer than
foreign. The pound was not an English coin, but, as a measure of
value, it was reckoned as worth more than the Flemish pound, in vary-
ing proportions.
The case was the same with the English and Flemish shilling. The
English groat was sometimes worth sixpence Flemish. But rates varied.
For example, Sir John Weston, going abroad on July 31, 1481,
desires to have 100l. or 200l. English changed into Flemish money at
seven shillings Flemish for the English noble of six shillings and
eightpence. On May 10, 1484, hºwever, one pound English was worth
thirty shillings Flemish. \
The following is a list of foreign coins, with an English value
assigned to them, generally by George Cely. That I have identified
most of them, and can make 8 conjecture about some of the others, is
owing to the courtesy of Mr. B. V. Head and of the other officials in
the Coin Department of the 3ritish sº whose kind help I gladly
acknowledge. & ,”
Andrew, Andre, or Andrew sylſder, a Scots gold coin of James II. and
Jaſhes III. ; reckoned as worth five shillings English.
Arnoldes, the Arnoldus Gūdeſh of Arnold Duke of Gueldres, 1423–
1473, made of debased old) ; reckoned as worth two shillings and
four pence English. j


l * THE CELY PAPERS.
Carolus Groat, the groat of Charles of Burgundy. -
Crowns, or New Crowns, probably the French Ecu ; reckoned as worth
five shillings and eightpence English. The English Crown was not
coined till later than this. -
Crowns, Old, perhaps the Ecu coined by Henry V. or Henry VI. in
France ; reckoned as worth five shillings and sixpence English.
Davyd, or Dawethe, a gold coin of David of Burgundy, Bishop of
Utrecht 1456–1498, made of debased gold ; reckoned as worth four
shillings English. -
Falewe, a gold coin of the bishopric of Utrecht, bearing the mint mark
of Veluwe, a district in the Bishopric ; reckoned at six shillings
and twopence English.
Hettinus, Hettin or Hekyn Groats, perhaps coins of the county of
Marck in Westphalia, the Counts of which had also lordships in the
Netherlands, bearing the mint mark Hattin : as being coined at
Hattingen. However, only pence, not Groschen, are extant coined
at Hattingen. Groschen were largely coined at Oettingen in
Bavaria, but the geographical want of connexion with the Nether-
lands makes a difficulty in supposing these to be meant.
Hettrytus, possibly Gulden of Utrecht marvellously misspelt ; reckoned
at four shillings and fourpence English. \
Lewe, the French Louis d’Or ; reckoned at seven shillings English.
Lymmyr Groats, Groschen of Limburg ; reckoned at sixpence or seven-
pence Flemish. t * &
Milleyn Groats, silver coins of Milan; reckoned at two shillings
|Flemish. . - *~... -
Nemyng, Hemyng and Renyng Groats, Groschen of Nimuegen ; worth
about fourpence. \ f * *
Phellypus, the Philippe d’Or of 'Brabant struck by Philip the Good of
Burgundy ; reckoned as v worth three shillings and fourpence
English, or the half-noble. l -
Plalkes or Plakes, perhaps the Pºlaques f Utrecht. The value is far
above that of Scots Placks, bilon coins of James III., but perhaps
the name Plaque, a thin piece of metà, might be applied to various
coins. These are reckoned as worth apout eightpence or ninepence
English, or three to two shillings and wopence. The ‘old Sengull
plack' was only twopence. t |
|
Postlates, coins of debased gold of Rudód, Bishop of Utrecht, 1423–
APPENDIX I. li
1456, but also the name for other episcopal coins ; reckoned as
worth two shillings and eightpence English.
Ryall, the English Rial, worth ten shillings. The value given by
George Cely, fourteen shillings and sixpence, is probably the value
in debased Low Countries money.
Rydar, any coin bearing the figure of a man on horseback might be
so named. The Scots Rider of James III., gold, was of eighty grains
weight, the same as the English Angel of Edward IV., worth six
shillings and eightpence. The gold Rider of Philip of Burgundy
was of the weight (sixty grains) of the half Rial of Edward IV.,
worth five shillings. The value assigned to a Rydar by George
Cely, six shillings and fourpence, may express some distrust of
the Scots coin, or more likely is the value of the Burgundian
Rider in debased Low Countries silver.
Rynyshe, the Florin Rhenau, of the Bishopric of Cologne; reckoned
as worth four shillings and tenpence English.
Setillers, coins of uncertain origin. A coin with a seated figure upon
it was sometimes called a Chaise, and Setillers suggests Sedilia.
Setillers appear elsewhere to be mentioned as coins of small value;
in the only place where they are valued in these Letters, October 31,
no year, they are reckoned at four shillings and fourpence each
Flemish, which would be rather under four shillings English.
In addition to this list, we have in the Letter of August 29, 1482,
an official valuation of foreign coins for custom and subsidy, made in
Calais. The values are a trifle lower than in the private list. One
other coin appears, the Gylhellmus, at four shillings.
There was a coin, gold, called a Willelmus, struck by William
Count of Hainault and Holland 1404–1417. This was perhaps
meant, though it seems to be worth more than four shillings, if the gold
was pure. William Duke of Guildres, 1377–1393, struck gold coins of
about the right value, but the name does not appear as applied to them.
In the official list the Falewe mentioned above appears as the Salew
with nearly the same value, five and sixpence. The official rate of
exchange was fixed then at twenty-six and eightpence Flemish for
one pound sterling. The other official values are : -
The New Croune, five and sixpence ; the Olde Croune, five and
fourpence. *
lii THE CELY PAPERS.
The Lewe, six and eightpence ; the Andrew Gylden, four and
sixpence. -
The Ryder, five and eightpence.
The Olde Nobull, eleven shillings.
The Ryall, thirteen and fourpence.
The last two are puzzling, for the Noble (English) had been
current for six-and-eightpence, and the Rose Noble, or Rial, of Edward
IV., was ten shillings. The latter, indeed, corresponds to the rate of
exchange, if the shillings are in Flemish ; but the former is far from
doing so. -
APPENDIX II
CONTEMPORARY WOOL MARTS
THE names of places mentioned in the following Letters have been
annotated and identified where possible, with certain exceptions. It
has not been thought necessary to explain English place names, the
spelling of which preserves the sound of the modern pronunciation,
even though the form be slightly different ; such as Darteford for
Dartford, Cottyswold, &c. for Cotswold. Neither have certain places
of obvious interpretation, Dover, Calais, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp,
which occur very frequently, been explained. A number of ‘marts,’
fairs, or markets are named, the annotation of which in every place
would have necessitated the repetition of sometimes doubtful explana-
tions. These marts seem to be certainly or possibly allocated as
follows :
In London the Mart means Mark Lane, which is a mere corruption
of Mart Lane. -
In Calais there was also a Mart, where the Staplers lodged and di
business. - -
In Bruges the Mart is represented now by the Rue des Laines.
Synchon, Synschon or Synssen Mart was a fair at Antwerp, held on St.
John the Baptist's day; as appears in the Letters.
Bammys, Bammes or Bamnys Mart was probably at St. Rémy in
the Bishopric of Liège. Bamis is a local Flemish name for St. Rémy.
This fair was held on August 8,
APPENDIX II. liii
Balling or Balyng Mart was perhaps at Baelen in the Duchy of
Limburg. M. Warnkoenig, “L’Histoire de Flandre, Civile et Politique,’
vol. ii., Appendices X., XI., XX., gives forms of safe conduct from the
Tuke of Limburg for Flemish merchants proceeding through Liège and
Timburg towards the Rhine. Baelen is on the road towards the
frontier of the Duchy of Juliers.
Cold Mart would seem to be Cortemarck, near Thourout, or Tor-
holt, in West Flanders. At Thourout a great fair was established as
early as the thirteenth century.
Barrow, or Barow Mart, most frequently mentioned, is the most
difficult to identify. It appears from the Letters to be within two days'
journey of Calais. Near Hazebrouck, in what was lately French
Flanders, M. Warnkoenig marks in a map of Flanders, as it was in
A.D. 1300, the village of Borre ; near it is Stapele. They are about
thirty Iniles from Calais as the crow flies.
TELE CELY PAPERS.
l
Ryght worshipful Sir I recomawnde me unto you. Forthermore
Sir lyke it you to wytt that at my last beyng at Callez John
Dalton and I hadd certeyn communicacion for your horse and if I
might aspoken wº you I wold aboght hym of you so that ze wold
aben resonabyll for he shuld be for a gret gentylman of whom you
might deserve gret thanke if yt be so that you thynke the horse
wolde serve hym prayng you to owe me therein yowr goode wyll and
send me worde by the brynger heroff ys disposicion of answeire by
wrytyng and you shall have my service at all tymes that knoweth
God who ever preserve you wrytton at Langham the xiiij day of
May.
yours Wylliam Adam.
Addressed: To the worshipfull George Cely mer-
chaunt of the Stapell at Callez hit. dd.
On the Dorse: to have bought a hors of G. Cely
Nichil.
f
2
The viij day of August Anno lxxv Richard Cely to Petter Van-
derathe ande to Gysbryght van Wenysberge of Breggis viij sarplers
good Cottes: The poiis and mony after.
*B
2 THE CELY PAPERS.
N° xxxj ij sacc 1Y.j cl.
N° xxiij . iſ sacc 1Yiiijcl. - º -
N° xxxvi . iſ sacc 1Y cl. Summa: xxj sacc d Vj cl.
O ~~~~}} tº e
XXI . 1 lx º & e s tº . e. e. e. ... e
N J sace Xx * \summa Argent: celkxiij" iiji vi" ster.
N° xl . . ij sacc lxy cl. :-li-35s
ºn is tº º Summa Argent: cociz" xijº flemysche.
N° xxv . . iſ sacc lvij cl.
N° xxxviij. ij sacc lix cl.
N° xxiiij . iſ sacc lºv cl.
Of the wyche to receyve in honde in thys Bames) , ...,
º : ; ; li lxiiiju fl.
Marte of every sarpler viij" fl. amounteng . . .
And the overpleues ys lent them to pay at ix monthis
cxxij" xv.j".
and ix monthis and so the haulffe ys payabull the
viij day of May next the som of . . . . .
Item the toder haulffe ys payabull the viij day of ;: li --~~!s
Feverell Anno lxxvi the som of . . . |cºi XV]".
Item the same day Richard Cely to Barbell Berneught
and Aleamus Bolonys, iiij sarplers of gode cottes -
pris and argent àfter . . . . . . . . . .
N° xlj . . iſ sacc 1 cl. Summa: x sacc XXXVj cl.
N° vi . . ij sacc lºv cl.
N” xxxix ijsacc xxxixcl. ſ.Summa Argent: cyxxj xiiij viiijº ster.
N° ij . . iſ sacc lxij cl. J Summa Argent: cylix" vºxj" flemysche.
Banes Marte of every sarpler viijº flemysche,
Of the wyche to receyve in honde in this
xxxij".
Amountes
And the overplus ys lent them by even por-
teonys to pay at ix ande ix monthis that ysłlviiji xj xj ob.
to pay the viij day of May next the som of .
Item the toder haulffe ys payabyll the viij day
of Feverell Anno lxxvi the som of .
hiſ xij, xj" ob.
Item the XVj day of Auguste Richarde Cely to Cornelluz van
THE CELY PAPERS. 3
Dorne of Breggis vi sarplers of goode cottes: wolle the pois and
argent after --
Nº x . . ij sacc lºv cl
N° xlij . . iſ sacc lj cl. ||Summa: xvi sacc xxvijcl.
Nº vij . . ij sacc 1Yx cl.
N” xix . . iſ sacc 1Yxj cl. ſ Summa Argent: covj" ix" iiij" ster.
N° viij . . iſ sacc lxxj cl. Summa Argent: coxxxiij" xixº xj"
N* xiij . . iſ sacc lix cl. flemysche.
Of the wyche to be receyvyde now in this
Bames Marte next of every sarpler, º fl.
flemysche tº gº tº e º ſº
And the owerplus ys lent to the sade mer-
chant by ij paymentes to pay at ix and ...]
monthis holle this mony the no day receid so iiijºs xiji xix., xji fl.
he to pay the firste payment the first day of
June next . . . . . . . . . º
And the toder haulffe ys payabyll the first iiiixx xiili Xixs Xid fl
day of Marche Anno lxxvi, the som of . .j”). “J” ”, “J” "
J
A / , ,
(Anno lxxvi) -
Welbelovyd Brother I recomaund me herttely to yow ferther-
more informynge yow that the xiij day of Aprell the zeere above
sayd I Robard Cely have ressayvyd of Wylliam Eston mersar of
Tondon xij" ster: to pay at Andewarpe in Sencyon martte the
xxiiij day of June for every nobyll of viº viij" ster: vijº x" flemeshe
and I pray yow to delyver to the sayd Wylliam Eston xij"
starlynge at the same ratte takynge a byll of ys honde to paye at
London the sayd xij" at a day as longe hafter the day as I toke
the mony wys before. In wettnes herof I sette my seelle at
London the xiij day of Aprell r
per Robard Cely.
Addressed : A George Cely.
B 2
4. THE CELY PAPERS.
4
Jhesu
Ryght reverent Syre and my specyall frende I recomaund me.
unto you ferder mor and yt plesse yow ye schall understond that
y have schypped in the George of London Wylliam Bellson beyng
master ix packys d. of felles contaynyng iijm viij cl felles the
whych felles leyyt in the for rom of the sayd schyppe V packys
iij c d. and the remenant leyng abaft the mast upon John Tamys
fellys the whyche felles war Thomas Kestenys and thay war
arested be Thomas Hadam for the som of lx". Syr ye schall
understond that Thomas Kesten hat ywreten unto me that y
schuld ſynd the way and the men to saff the cortte harmeles her
and taake the felles for myn own that y Schuld be sewyr of that
som in dyschargyng of the sewyrteys and allso in party of pay-
ment of seche goodys as he ys owyng unto me as ye know well
and ther for Syr I pray yow that ye woll ressayve them as myn
own proper good and so yt ys and allSo I pray you that ye woll
pay the freyght and all hoder scostys therof Syr y pray yoti that
ye woll recomaunde me unto my masters youre fader and allso
unto youre broder Rechard and ye may say unto hem that Hary
Seysell recomaunde hem unto yowre broder Rechard Cely and he
prayd hem harteley that he would bey for hem iſ vernakelys *
seche as youre broder Robard hath yyeven unto Sent Tolowys
scryssche" no mor unto you at thys tym but the Trenytie have
you in hys kepyng Wreten at London the xxviij day of Septem-
ber Anno lxxv.j -
* Be youre owne
Wylliam Maryon.
Addressed : Unto George Cely marchant of the stapall
at Calles thys letter be dely verde,
a Wernicles, or copies of the Vernicle at Rome, St. Veronica's handkerchief
with the portrait of our Lord. -
b St., Olave's Church, Hart Street, otherwise St. Olave's-next-the-Tower.
THE CELY PAPERS.
5
5 -
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu Miiijºlxxvij
I grete the wyll and I understand there com no marchaunty's
to Caleys for to bye woll nor fellys for the weche ys ryght
hevynese for the marchaunty's of the stapyll for the weche I fere
me every man wyll fende the mene for the sale and delyver ys
woll and fellys into sure men ys handys be the mene of sale to
marchaunty's strangers the weche have repayryd to Caleys afor
thys tyme for the weche Iwolde ye hadde commyngaschon wyt
syche marchauntys as ye have fonde sure men and good men for
to aventer som of my woll and fell in there handys be the mene of
sale at long dayys for I fele men Schall do so at thys seson for the
weche I wolde thymke taht John Underhaye were a good man for
to tryste and hoder men Syche as ye thynke good men spare not
for a long day for I fere me yt wyll com thereto for I understand
wyll there be dyvers men of the felychepe of the stapyll of Caleys
have solde woll for iij Zere day the laste payment and the pryse
kepyt and the money xxijº viij" for the li. also for money be
exchange at London ys vijº x" flº for viºviij" ster. and for to resayve
at London in hand and for to delyver at Bregys at a monyth day
after vijº x" fl. for viº viij" ster for the weche I can thymke money
wyll better thys marte noe for the weche doe as wyll as ye can for
I have not schargyd the wyt a peny nor send me no sterlyng
money for the lose ys to grete at thys Seson I wryt no more at
thys tyme but Jhesu kepe. Wryte at London the xxiij day of May
in haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
lecter dely verd.
6
THE CELY T’AI’ERS.
6
A -
Jhesu Miijºlxxviij
Ryght whorshypffull Fadyr aftyr all dew recomendassyon pre-
tendyng I recomewnd me unto yow in the most lowliest whisse that
Icon or may Fordyr morplesyth yt yow to undyrstondey resseywyd
an lettyr from yow wrytt at London the forst day of May the
wheche lettyr I hawe rede and do whell undyrstonde I felle beyowre
sayd lettyr ytt ys conclewdyd w” the Kyng and hys counsell that
wheshall pay the soudyar starlyng mony whe wher at losse ynowe
ytt ys in Flaundyrsse and now starleng mony to that ytt ys to
grett an losse whe most softyr ytt whe may nott chesse me semyth
yff ytt coud be browght anbowght that whe myght hawe an quyne"
at Callez agen and let non hoder mony go in the town of Calles
but starlyng mony than show.ld whe make bettyr shyfft and ytt
show.ld nott torne us to so grett losse for now as the casse stondythe
at thys tyme ther ys no merchant that spende an grott in the towne
of Calles but they lesse an halpeny and men of the stapell breng
the mony to Calles that ys browght Ze may se what losse ys in
grett somys but yff the mayer and the fellyschyp seke an remedy
herfor ytt wyll be for the fellyschyp to grett an losse &c. Plesyth
ytt yow to whetty felle by yowr wryttyng the Schyp at London
and Ze wold shyp and Ze myght hawe any comefortt in good fayth
ytt wherwhell done that ze sheppyd also ze shall stonde in as good
casse as any hothyr men & whan ytt ys at Calles the venter ys
borne I thanke God ze hawe growyn at Calles to answer the costes
& chargys of the same and hovyr and above that I trost to God to
make yow howyr at thys marte cº ster: and mor and I may be
whell payd as my hoppe ys y shall be in any whysse lett yowr felles
* Written over ‘hyar in an,’ crossed out. * Cºlmaſſium, mint. Our coinage.
THE CELY PAPERS. 7
come thys next sheppyng and yowr xix sarplers and a poke and
aftyr yff God send fayr whedyr and good tydynges ze may dayly
send mor &c. I woll be the grace of God unto thys syngsyon
martte and ther I woll speke wº John Vandyrhay and seche mer-
chantes as I am acostomed to delle wº y moste do as hothyr men dothe
arelles y most kepe stylle y undyrstode by John Daltonys wryttyng
at London whan ytt come to me ther that he myght an sowlde all
yowr wolle halfe in honde the tothyr halfe at Whyttsontyde ytt
whas no mor but all your howlde woll and as for the newe ytt ys
the iij" peny vi monthys and vimon thys and so myght I a done syn
I come unto Calles the day ys long y woll knowe hym ryght whell
that shall'hawe any at that day y shall se at the marte what y may
do yff I can do none bettyr I most do as hothyr men dothe &c whe
have chossyn Robard Tate to be howyr lefſetennawnt and he most
be at Calles wº in thys monyth no mor unto you at thys tyme but
Jhesu have you and all yowrs in hys blessyd kepyng Amen wrytt
at Calles the viij" day of May lººkviij
per yowr son
G. Cely.
Addressed: Unto my ryght whorshypfull Fadyr
Rychard Cely merchant of the
Stapell off Calles Dewellyng at
London yn Martte Lane so it come.
7
Rychard Cely the Elder
Jhesu Miiijºlxxviij | Gl. 2.
I grete the wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from the wrete at
Bregys the ix day of Jun the weche lecter I have wyll understand
every ponte and I have resayvyd closyd in the sayd lecter iij lecters
of payment acordyng to youre wrytyng be Thomas Granger
bryngar and I understand well the Zeyng of money be exchange at
the marte ys not good and also I understand be Thomas Granger
8 - - TIIF CELY PAPERS.
the sodears at Caleys wyll not be plesyd for to take for the pay-
ment viijº fls. for the nobyll ster : for the weche it ys to grete a
lese for the stapyll to bere aftyr there desyar for the weche I am
ry sory that I have chargyd me so sore and so meche but I wyll
understand more of that mater or I schepe woll or fell I bogwyt a
vm' fell in Cottyswolde and they be good I am avysyd not for to
schepe neder woll nor fell tyll I have wrytyng from the of syche
maters and resayvyd of mony at Bregys that be the grace of God
ye sall and have done full well and Jhesu for ys grete mercy send a
good pesse in the Duke of Borgand landys for ellys wyll be no good
marchantys warde I wryte no more but Jhesu kepe you wryt at
Tondon the xvij of Jun in grete haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed : To George Cely at Caleys be thys
delyver.
8
Rychard Cely the Elder
I grete [the wyll] and I send the a lecter wryt at London the
xiij day of Jule of the answare of your houre lecter but I fele wyll
ye have not that lecter as zete I wryte to the that I have schepyt
and wyll schepe xl sarplerys of cottyswolde woll and x packys of
fell or more for the weche I wyll ye schall make porveons for
frayth and hossyng as ye schall onderstande be my fyrste lecter
afor wryte and ye shall porvay for hossyng for Rychard Cely and
the felle for viij packys of fell were of I have a perte w” you in the
same fellys as ye schall understand be thy broder Rychard Cely at
ys comyng to Caleys schortely for the schepyng ys ner don and
schall be wyt in vi dayys for weebe I wryt to the schortely and in
THE CELY PAPERS. 9
grete haste and also in good faythe for lake of money I forgoe
many good barganys of fell for the weche I am ryght sory but I
pray the have thys mater yn myſnd] and lete me understande wat
redy mony I have at Brygys of myn in hand that I may scharge
the and that I may doe hony gooſd] there wyt as I fele wyll I
schall I wryt no more Jhesu kepe the. Wryte at London the
xx day of Jule in haste. .
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
lecter dely verd. *
9
Rychard Cely the Elder
Jhesu MiiijºlzXviij
I grete the wyll and I marvele meche wat ys the cause that ye
send me no letter from Caleys neder thy broder nor thyselve for
the weche I thyng ryght strange in someche as I am so schargyd
for thys good late schepyt it were grete comfort for me to here
howeye doe and in wat case my good ys yn at Caleys my fell the
bacons for to be deperde and make all Sengyll fell and serte
cottyswolde on them selve and London somor fell of themselve
wynter in lyke wyse there ys non askwse but ye may wryt at all
tymys as hoder men doe to there maysters and frendys I wryt no
more but Jhesu kepe yow. Wryt at London the xvij day of
Auguste in haste. * -
- per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys thys lecter -
dely verd.
10 THE CELY PAPERS.
10
Rychard Cely the Elder
Jhetu Mijlºvii
I grete the wyll and I have resayvyd from the a lecter wryte at
Caleys the xiij day of Auguste the weche lecter I have wyll
understande and ye have solde Vj sarplerys of my good cottyswolde
woll pryse the sacke xix marke to Peter van de Rade and Danyell
van de Rade marchantys of Bregys the poyse the argent and the
dayys I clerely understande and also I understand ye have solde
to John Delopys and Cornelys van Dorne and Gysheryhrt van
Dehnysbarge marchauntys of Bregys vi sarplerys of my good woll
cottyswolde pryse the sacke xix marke the poyse argent & dayys
I understande wyll for the weche I am wyll plesyd I understand
ye have resayvyd my woll late Schepyt Xlvij Sarplerys and a poke
all Cottyswolde and my fell in savete I thanke God and the frayght
payd for the weche I pray yow send me a cope of the payyng of
the frayfte that I may wryt in my bogke the passelys and for the
costom and subsete pay yt as hoder men doe there ys 1 payd before
and my pertyschon hellpyt to and as for the reste I wyll ye paye
yt for I understand wyll we schall paye the costom and subsete
sterlyng money doe as hoder men doe Schortely I have not schargyd
the wyt a peny to pay for me meder at Caleys nor Bregys nor at
the marte for the weche I pray the doe in thys pertys as wyll as ye
can as my very stryte ys in the and take the warled as yt ys in
sale and exschange a payyng of custom and subsete take you no
thowe therefore I understonde that mater before youre wrytyng
for the weche I have bogwyt not j sacke woll thysseson but I have
payd my woll marchauntys in cottyswolde for the woll I have in
Caleys & fell John Cely & all and they schall doe there beste for me
for a tyme were for I pray the make Salle to sure men and ye can
THE CELY PAPERS. 1-1
for the warled ys not good, were for it ys as good for to lese in the
begeyng as in the ende Save as meche as ye may for the exSchange.
be syche it wyll be hevy to bare the weche I pray God ament hyt
I wryt no more to you at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Wryt at
London the xxv day of Auguste in grete haste. Also I wyll ye
dell wyt Borgany's man at the marte for ys payment ys good to me
at all tymys befor the day as Rychard Cely can enforme you the
man of Lyne ys dood [sic] payment and that ys mery for to dele
wyt syche men take good men and doe the better to them rader.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
lecter dely verd.
11
Jhesh Miijºlxxviij
Item the xxiiij day of November I have bogwyt of Wyllyam
|Medewynter of Norlache” x sacke of good cottyswolde woll
good woll and medell wołl of the same Xl sacke, pryse the sacke,
of bothe good woll and medell woll xij marke the refus woll for
to be caste to Wyllyam Medewynter be the woll packer at the
packyng of the forsayd woll at Norlache and the forsayd woll for
to be waye at the Lede hall at the Kyng beme and the rekyng
made & the iij" peny payd in hand & the toder iij" peny the
second payment the laste day of May neste comyng & the reste
the laste payment the laste day of Septembyr neste comyng thys
byll enden betwme bothe pertys I Rychard Cely marchaunt of the
staple of Caleys wrete wyt my hand
Item the xxiiij day of Jenever I have dely verd to Wyllyam
Medwynter in party of payment e se g . . . xx"
Item the ij day of Apperell I have dely verd to Wyllyam Med-
wynter in party of payment (e . . & . xx" ster:
" Northleagh, in Gloucestershire.
12 - THE CELY PAPERS.
12
Rychard Cely the Younger
Jhesu Miiijºlkxviij
Right whelbelovyd brother George I recomende me to you
informyng you that I have beyn to seke your blacke goune at
Redhodes and hyt wos at Bondmans and I have ressavyd hyt and
Zent hyt yn your Schest and as for your barell v" pound garnettes
ar not Zeyt cum to Callež syr I have spokyn wº Tomas Adam and
I towlſd] hym that I porpoSyd to stope Robard from hys passayge
and he has desyryd me to spar Robat for and Ireyst hym the ys
no mane that wyll helpe hym owt of º and so he Tomas has
promysyd me in hys brothers name that hys brother schaull agre
w" me at Lonſdon Hary Whayt delywyd to the sayd Robard a
xxxs. to pay hys Ostes and he has playd hyt at dys every q" and
so Tamas ys fayn to go to master lefe tenant to pray hym to pay
Robardes costes to London sy in thys mater I wyll do my beste
for you Syr the merchaſnds] ys cum owt of Frauns and whe say
the pays ys not lyke to lat longe º Frauns and ws no mor to
you wryt at Callez the Thursda after yòuer departyng
I pray ze recomende me to aull good frndes
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: A George Cely at Bregys be thys dd.
13
Jhesu Miiij"lxxviij
|
Item the iiij" day of Fewerell sowlld be me in the name of
my fadyr Rychard Cely unto Peter Johnson, Nycolas Andreson,
Arnowld Derycson, Albryght Allbryghtson, John Henrycson and
Nycolas Claysson merchantes of Dellfe and Holland iij Mixclxxj
THE CELY PAPERs. 13
ster:
Item I resseywyd oppon hevery c xxvi, iiij" fl. for an li ster:
summa xxxix" x* ster: yttys 1" viij" fl. -
the rest ys—clij" viijº viij" ster : It most be reconyd at xxiiijº
the li. summa—ciiijº ij" xviij vºº fl.
Summa total fl-ccxxxij" xixº j" fl.
Wherof ys resseyvyd in redy mony . . . lxxvij" xijº vſ fl.
Item lent the man to pay at bamys next . cxxv" vi. viij" fl.
Lent the man to pay at Calles mart next . xxx" fl.
^: 14
Item the xiiijº day of Marche sowld per me George Cely in
the name of my fadyr Rychard Cely unto Danyell van de Rade
merchant of Breges j sarpler good Cottes pryse le Sac xix marke
number and poysse affter &c.
N° xxxij . º . 1 sac di. xviij cl:
Argent . º . xxj+ x; viijº ster :
Item yt amountes affter viijº . º . xxvii. xvi ix" fl.
wheche ys resseyvyd in redey mony per
me George Cely
15
Rychard Cely, the younger
iiii"lxxix
Ryught reverent and welbelovyd brother I recomende me winto
you as harttely as I can dewyse or thyke informyng you that I
have ressayoyd a letter from you wryttyn at Callez the xxvij day
of Marche be the queche I do well onderstonde the demenyng of
owr brother Robard and of hys heyd and how ze have holpyn hym
and how ze be lyke to help hym mor and ze wryte to me for
14. THE CELY PAPERS.
cownsell Syr me thynkes hyt weldone to leve hym now at hys
neyd so that ze may stond sewyr I windyrstond be your wrytyng
that ze be schargyd w' an offe I pray God make yow well qwyte
therof and owne father wors sory that he has chargyd hym so sor
or begone on hys byldyng byt at he trystes of comforte from you
&c whe heyr Saye that our brother has wrettyn for hys wyfe and
sche has askewyshyd hyr that ther be so many flemynger and
fraynchem apon the see that sche dar not com Syr ther was a
mane wº my godfadyr and askyd hym for owr brother Robard and
sayd he wosse sory of hys losse the caws of hys askyng for hym
was for he ys owr brother Robardes sewyrte for xv" that owr
brother mwste pay at marte besyd x" that ys to Wylliam Eston
qwat ys mor God know whe heyr Saye that hys wyfe has sent to
hym for mony ze wryt ze wryt [sic] to me a clawys in your letter.
The morys done for hym the morys he beholdyng byt me thynky
[sic] the mor comfort that sche have of hym and the mor helpe he
have of you the les wyll sche sette by us be well ware how that ze do
hyt ys better to pyttye than be pyttyd I awyse you to leve hym
no mony ne do nothyng w! hym byt afor record ze knowe the
onstedfastnes of hym well I now I cannote thynke how ze Schall
stonde sewyr of that ze have lente hym byt Zeve ye can geyte
parte of hys fellz transporte be the court and Zeyt hyt wylbe sayd
be hyr frendys that ze have ondone hym whe be informyd that owr
brother Robards chyld ys goyn to Callez ageyn whemarwell in so
myche as he browyt lettyrs at he desyryd none ageyn Syr I wryt
the playnear to yow for owr father sawe your letter er byt come to
my handys and wos resenably welplesyd therwyth so that ze stonde
sewyr owr father rydys in to Cotsold * w” in viij dayes and I go
to my loorde" . . . Syr I pray ze remembyr my loordes hosse
clothe he . . . Syr I have made Robard, Eryke a byll of xvji fl.
payabull at Syet the qweche ys my dewte I pray you harttely that
hyt may be anssorde Syr your hors ys in good plyte and he
hawltyd sor syn ze departyd byt whe have made bathe thys for
* Cotswold. * Sir John Weston; see page 26.
THE CELY PAPERS. 15
hym and so he ys hoyll he wyll playe w” a straw now mor to you
Godd sende me a goyde market for Owr hors and you a good
market for owr fellz Jhesu kepe yow Wryt at London on Good
Fryday and I go to my lord on Ester ewe Syr I pray ze recomende
me to owr ostes and aull good frendes and grete well Bawlser.
*-* per your brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: 26 my welbelovyd brother George
Cely merchand of the stapell
at Callez at Oste wº Bornellz
whedow
16
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu Mijlºxxix
I grete you wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from you wryt
at Caleys the xix day of Apperell the weche lecter I have wyll
understande and ye have hadde comyng wyt Gylbar Pamar
Borganys man and lese nor ix" vi" and iiij monthys or v monthys
he wyll no lese were fore ye have made non wyt hym for sothe I
can have of Rychard Tywe mercer at London ixºviij" to resayve in
hand and pay hym in Wysson marte neste l" or more for the
weche I am avysyd for take oppe at *çhe as I Schall
nede there fore thys tyms ºr. ressaywyd of the bryngar £ the
lecter xij"...si:
3’---- * , *g in earleche grotys xij" lese the weche xij"
*ºgys will warthe di. onse the lose is grete in the myte Ischall
ressayve but xj xviijº ob for the same werefore send me no more
for I cannot understande that ys not good for me I am in Speche
wyt Hewe Brone mercer for money to resayve at London 1" ster:
and I to delyver at Wysson marteixº vij" fl: for vi vij"st, the Weche
ys grete lose to me werefore make me at I" ster: as wyll as ye can
and as schorte day as ye can I have packyde my woll in Cottys-
wollde xxvij sarplerys good packyng the Weche com to London
º * .





16 THE CELY PAPERS.
dayly as for all maters longg to me do as wyll as ye can as my
tryste in the and doe as moste men doe ye schall understande at
the marte weche ys beste to doe at the makyng of thys lecter we
were in good helle all my hossolde I thanke God and zete the
Sekenese ys grete at London * God for ys mersy sessyde I wryte
no more at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Wrete at Tondon the
laste day of Apperell in grete haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
delyver.
I7
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu Miijºlxxix
I grete you wyll and at the makyng of thys lecter we were in
good helle at Brytys plase in Eseykys youre moder & I, Wylliam
Maryon but Rychard Cely youre broder ys wyt my lorde of Send
Johnys at Sotton " all mery I thanke God the sekenese ys sore yn
London werefor meche pepyll of the Sete ys yn to the contre for
fere of the sekenese I wrot to you answere of the lecter ye
send to me lat John Stokars man & of the xij" of Carlyche grodys
I schall have but xj" & xviij" in the torwer for the wache that ys
not good also. Tºowou I may have money at London for
ix. & Njº to paye at Synschon mºs hut tºys º: º take
all-miſste take SOm
tyll I have wrytyng from yow but I can thyn Re -- 1
for my wollys com hom from Cottys wolde xxvii sarplerygºn *-
dayly for the men of Cottyswollde for to wey at Ledehalle & than
I muste have money for them I may have of Hewe Brone and
Rychard Tewek also Sir Wylliam Stoker “mayer of the stapyll send
to the marchantes at London for to wyte wat every man wyll
* The Pestilence of 1479.
* Sutton, a manor of the Hospitallers in Prittlewell, Essex.
* Sir William Stocker, Lord Mayor of London, 1484. He died in his year of
office.




THE CELY PAPERS. 17
schepe werefor I can yeve non answere tyll I have wrytyng from
you also your broder Rychard hath solde ys sorell horse for iij
marke and lent hym the money tyll Mechelmesse and I have ys
hoder horse to carthe and I schall paye for hym as he coste at
Yorke and soe the horse ys wyll solde and as for youre horse ys no
sale at London the horse ys fayer God save hym and Send Loye
werefore God send you a Schapeman for hym and redy money in
hand I wryte no more to you but Jhesu kepe you wryt at London
the xiij day of May in haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
delyver. -
- I8
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhen wiński,
I grete you wyll and ye schall understand I have resayvyd be
excheaunge of John Hosyer mercer of London a cºster : 'I for to
paye to John Hosyer in marte ixi vj" for every viº viij" ster: and I
schall delyver to John Hossyer anoder cºster: ixi vj" for every
vj viij" ster : and iiij monthes day after the resayvyng in the marte
for the weche cºster : ye Schall have a lecter of payment of John
Hossyer to be payd to me at London in Octobor next com and soe
I have wryt a lecter of payment and derckyt to you some ij cº ster:
for to paye in thys synSchon marte to John Hossyer in thys manar
forme befor wryt for the weche I praye you se in my lecter be
wyll payd for I have bude me streydly for the payment there of
also I schall payd to Rychard Haymys mercer of London for John
Perys of Norlache" more than lx" ster: for the weche Rychard
Haynys mercer wyll have money of me in thys synchon marte be
exchaunge as the markyt gothe and I have promysyd ye schall
delyver hym lyke as ys man and ye can agree in the marte for
that Schall be good payment for me in October or Novembor and
/ * Northleach,
V - - C
N.A
18 THE CELY PAPERS.
it be lxxx" or cºster: Thomas Cryspe hathe spoke to me for have
xl" or 1 for the weche I wyll ye delyver to Rychard Cryspe ys
son as ye can agree in the marte I wyll be glade and ye can
resayve my money and delyver yt be excheunge to sure men for I
wyll mat schepe tyll I have my money hom in lecters of payment
be the dayys ner so long by for me v c or vic baras * canvase for to
packe woll wyt Robard Bereke wyll helpe yow to bye hyt. I wyll
no more but Jhesu kepe you. Wryt at London the xxj day of
May at wrytyng of thys be in goode elle at Brytys " Plase in
Eseykys.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To George Cely at Caleys thys lecter
delyver.
- 19
Rychard Cely the elder
| “. . .
Jhesu M'iiijºlxxix
I grete yow wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from you wryt
at Caleys the xxxj [day] of May the weche lecter I have wyll
understande and also the same day I have resayvyd a boykys
therin v lecters of payment acordyng to youre wrytyng and I have
schewyde the lecters [unto] John Domynyco Bartholomeo Lombarde
to ys clarke and he saythe the lecter Schall be payd at the day and
I have schewyd to John Spynyell Lombard ys lecter and hathe
promysyd payment at the day but as for Phyllypys Sellar of Dorney"
ye meste wryte to me were I Schall speke wyt hym at ys comyng
to London the xiiij day of Jun I schewyd the Lombardys lecters
* Arras.
* Brytys, Byrttes, or Bryttys Place, hodie Bretts is in the County of Essex,
Hundred of Chafford, Parish of Alveley. The house is about a mile north-west
of Alveley Church, within sight of the road from Alveley to Romford. W. Sautre
possessed Le Bryttes Place in 1404. John Sautre sold it in 1446 to Richard
Andrews, King's Secretary and Dean of York, brother-in-law to old Richard Cely,
who sold it to Richard. Richard Junior died seised of it in 1494 (Ing. P.M., 9
H. VII., Sept. 20th).
* Doornik, commonly Tournai.
THE CELY PAPERS. 19
at London I wrote to you a lecter I send to yow be John Rose
and ij salt salers of sylver of the weythe of x unse or xj or there
abods bothe wyt a jw ryng and I spake to John Rose for to speke
to you for to bye for me a carthe at Caleys for j horse a schorte
carthe bare unschude the wyllys for I have hyar of my wolde
Caleys carthe se the carthe body be good hassche and hexSyd rydy
for goe to warke for I have gret nede ther to Isopose it wyll coste
a vi" or vijº clotys lynys pynys and all praye John Parcar for helpe
you or Thomas Granger for I tray we ye can but lytyl skyll of
syche ware I wrote to you in the lecter send be John Rose as for
all syche money as ye have resayvyd for me and Schall resayve in
this marte I wyll ye make home to me as meche as ye can for T
here saye ther schall goe Schepys of war to the see were for God
send wsse pese ye Schall here myche more in thys pertys nor I can
at Brytys I wyll ye bye for me V or vic of good baras” canvase at
the marte for I am avysyde for to by more woll I have marvele
that ye send me no wrytyng be Randofe of syche maters as he com
to London for I fere me ys comyng ys for grete maters for the
plase and here ys but strange warlede for to sue non the sekenese
raynyd sore at London God send wan ys wyll ys at the the [sic]
wrytyng of thys lecter we were all in good helle I thanke God.
Wryte at London the xiiij day of Jun in grete haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To George Cely at Caleys be thys
lecter dely verd.
On the Dorse: John Smethe.
Jacob de Bloke r º . . . ixºi Xixd fis.
xxix. Andrews iiijº vi" sum º . v.j" xvi vjº fls.
xxx Rynysche iiijº iiij" sum . . v.j" xvs fls.
xijſ Eutrysche iiijº sum . e . xlviijº
Ari ſewe. tº ſº e . . . vi. viijº
v postlatys ij vj" sum : * . xiji vi"
* Arras.
20 THE CELY PAPERS.
iiij crounys at Vº iiij" sun . . xxj iiij"
iij Arnouldes ijº ij" sum . º . vi. via
An gylden rydar . c ſº . iij vil
Item ij docates g º * . xxxiijº
Item in plakes v" . 4. . . Vli fls.
Summa pagine . º . xxxiij" xiijº vijº fls.
Item Rychard Crisp . . . xlviji Xijº à,
Item receyved per John Mell . . xxiiijº fls. xij, | SUl IYl s
Summa . & e . lxxj" fls.
G. Palmer in redy mony . ë . Cli fis.
Upon wyche mor li " tº tº . I fls.
20
Jhesu M
Master Cely I pray you let your man do so myche for me as to
go the syne of the Ster next on to Flemmynges dame wher aur
daggers be mayd & I pray yow let hym receive a dagger off hym &
pay therfowr iſ" vig" by the same tokyn that I payd hym vi
g” in Ajust Alsso I pray yow that he may go to the capmakers
next to beyond Wylliam Konettes on the same synd to Flemynges
dame warde & let hym receive off hym vi sengell bonotes of dyvers
colors as I bespake for & I pray yow let hym be paid for them & at
your comyng to Cales ye schall be content w"Goddes grace Syrye
may say ye have a howmly felow off me for ye have don so myche
for me that hit lyse not in me to deserve hit but ye schall have my
serves and that God knows how preserve yow at Cales the xixth
day of Juylly.
By yowr owne to my power
H. Stawntoun.
Addressed: To the right worshipfull Jorge Cely
merchant of the stapall so itt dd.
* “li' crossed out.
THE CELY PAPERS. 21
21
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu Miijºlxxix
I grete you wyll desyryng for to here of youre recureng for I
understande be John Rose ze were sore seke at Bregys were for
your moder and bothe your breon and Wyll Maryon and I were
sory & hevy for you the laste day of October I have resayvyd a
lecter from you wrete at Bregys the xxiij day of Octobor the
weche lecter I have wyll understande and I tryste to God ze be
recurede and wyll amendyd youre lecter cam to me the sonday
befor Alhalou day at dynar tyme at London and Wyll Eston
mercer and Wyll Medewynter of Norlache * dyned wºme at tyme
and the comford of youre lecter causyd me for to bye of the forsayd
Wyll Mydewynter lx sacke of Cottys woll the weche ys in pyle at
Norlache and John Caly hath gadered and bogwyt for me in
Cottyswolde xxxvij sacke be the toode and sacke and halfe sacke
for the weche Ischall hoape meche canvase for the weche and ye
can bye for me iiij or v c of Borgan * canvase or Barase " canvase
of good brede as brode as Normandy canvase and iij dosen packe
trede of Caleys trede it were good for me and ze cannot I meste
purvae at London for the same but I am avysyd for to packe the
forsayd woll after Crystemese towarde Candelmese I tryste in God
ye Schall be at the packyng of the sayd woll in Cottyswolde I wyll
not seppe no woll afor Marche as I am avysyd at thys tyme I wryt
no more at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Wrytt at London the
vj day of November in haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys or Bregys
thys lecter dely verd.
* Northleach. * Bergen, commonly Mons. * Arras.
22 THE CELY PAPERS.
22
Jhesu Miiijºlxxix
Whelbelouyd brother I recomend me harttely un to yow
Desyryng to heyr of your whelfar and good heyll & informyng you
at the makyng of thys our father and mother wher and whe aull
wher in good heyll thankyd be God Syr owre father commaunddyd
me to wryte and in forme yow that Pelyp Sellar ys dyssessyd and
has not payd owr father no peny of hys Dwete qwer for owre
father wyll that ze kepe the pawyn in yowr handys tyll tyme that
ze have wryttyng from owr father whe onder stond that hys
wyffe ys sente for hyddyr hyt wher whelldoyn to enqwer and
ondyrstond of hys frendys ther how he mythet be payd Syr Ower
bryng hyt wºjow at thys Kyrstemes owr father sayes he cando no
thyng in Phelype Sellars matter tyll tyme he ha wrytyng frome
yow I longe sor for William Fawkene for Meyge ys sor Syke of the
cray and the crampe I pray yow remembyr my rynge no moyr to
yow at thys time byt I pray Jesu send you heyll and bryng yow
wheyl to Lond... and in savete Wryttyn at London the viij day
of Nowembyr.
Syr heyr ys game of leters I now byt mege ys syke whe lette
hyr fly to erly and that ys seyn by hyr now.
per yowr brother
Richard Cely.
Addressed: A my welbelonyd brother George
Cely merchant of the estapell of
Callz, beyng at Bregye.
THE CELY PAPERS. 23
23
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu M'iiijºlxxix
I grete you wyll and your moder and I desyer for to here of
youre reperyng and amenyng as I tryste in God ye schall ryght
wyll be as mery as ye can and spare for no coste of syche tyngke
as may be good for you in good mete dryke and your fessychens
doe be there consell and plese them at my coste and take no gret
labor in rydyng tyllye be stroke and for that cause I send Wylliam
Cely to you for to do for you wyt the haversyth of some good man
for I wyll not that ye labor to the marte kepe yourselve wyllyn
onnywyse I have lever my money be note resayvyd tyll anoder
tyme radar nor ye schall labor yourselve and not holle werefor the
brenar of thys lecter schall enforme you of hoder maters of Phelep
Selar and hoder maters syche as ye wyll desyer for to here of •
Wylliam Cely schall wate on you and tend to as long as schall
plese you and I tryste to God ye Schall come home to London or
Crystemese I wryt no more to you but Jhesu kepe you Wryt at
London the xj day of November in grete haste.
- * per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Bregys be thys
lecter dely verd.
24
Richard Cely the younger
Jhesu Miijºlxxix
Ryught interly whelbelovyd brother I recomend me unto yow
w” aull my harte desyryng grehytly to heyr of your amendment
and good heyll informyng you at the makyng of thys owr father
and mother brother godfather and all owr howssowld wher in good
heyll thankyd be God and desywr grehytly to her of yours Syr
whemarwell grehytly that whe have no wrytyng frome yow syn
24, THE CELY PAPERS.
Wylliam Cely departyd whe had no letter from hym byt whone
and that whos wryttyn at Callez hever a cam at yow Syr heyr ys
Phelype Sellarysfactors come the ton has weddyd Phelypys dowter.
hys name ys John Forner and the tother ys name ys Herry Dein-
orres be the meyn of a brocur hos name ys John Jacope a lombar
whebar them on hand at the byll wos prodeste and own father pwt
the matter in John Jacopys hand and he has labord for payment
and the viij day of thys present monythe of Desembyr I ressayvyd
every crown iiijº the kynge payd them every.crown at iiijº vi" the
brocar has awardyt that I Schaull ryd to owr father into Essex and
bryng a letter of hys hand to them derectyd to you that ze may
delyver them the fardell wº arras that Pelype Sellar leftyt wº. .
and I Schawll have v" for the prodest and aull hother costes byt
the brocaſrs] parte wylbe myche. I pray yow say to them at ſette
the arras from you [that] byll wos prodest Syr whe Hoke for yow
dayly I pray God send yow a fayre passage Syr my lord * has
wryttyn to me to cum se hym thys Crystemas I pwrpos to go to
him iij days afor Crysteme and be ther iiij dayes and cum agen
and ze cum not to London iiij dayes a fo Crystemes I pray you send
me my ryng be sum trwsty man owr mother lokys for the cas for
the peny that ze toke mesur of I pray Jhesu send you hydyr in
sawete ever I go to Bawlsall” for than Ischawlbe better be sene than
I am lyke. No more Wrettyn at London the ix day of Desembyr.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Syr I spake to you for hawlve a dosyn payr of Frenche glovys
iij for men and iij for whomen.
Addressed: Unto my ryught whelbelovyd brother
*. George Cely merchantt of the
estaple of Callez be thys da.
* Sir John Weston, Prior of St. John’s; see p. 26.
* Balsall, in Warwickshire, a manor of the Templars granted to the Hospitallers
on the dissolution of the former.
*
THE CELY PAPERS. 25
25
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu Miiijºlxxix
I grete you wyll and I desyar for to here of youre recuryng
and of youre good hele as I tryste in God ze be I have resayvyd a
lecter from you wryt at Bregys the xxj day of November the
weche lecter I have wyll understande the weche was to youre moder
and me and bothe youre brethon and Wyll Maryon a gret comford
and fele be youre wrytyng that Wyll Cely was com to you at that
day for the weche I was wyll plesyd that he was wyt you and he
can doe anny thyng for youre hesse in thys marte tyme as I tryste
he wyll also the vi day of Dessember I was payd of Phelepe Seller
lecter of payment all in cronys at iiijº ster. a crone for the weeke I
wyll ye delyver the plegys to ys faturs for the weche I have delyver
to them a byll wryt wyt my hand for to delyver to you for the sayd
plegys but I understand ye dely verd a byll of youre hande wrytyng
to Phelepe Seller at the resayvyng of the plegys the weche bylle
ys loste as thay Saye werefor ys faturs hath promysyd for to make
you a quytons nottarys syne see wyll to that mater for youre dyse-
charge of the forsayd plegys for John Forner and Hary Demerys
payd me at London for sayd lecter of payment. I wryt no more
at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Wryt at London the xj day of
Dessember in hast.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys or Bregys
be thys lecter dely verd.
26 THE CELY PAPERS.
26
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryught enterly whelbelovyd brother I recomend me harttely
on to you and I thanke yow for aulle kyndnes schewyd be yow to
me at yowr laste beynge heyr Syr whe undyrstond be a letter
frome my godfathyr of your comyng to Callz and the woll flece
thankyd be God whe have sente yow be a mane of master the
whaytys the whete of the wolle and schpys namys acordyng to
your desyr whe ar aull mery my loord * has cepeyd hys estyrn at
Sente Johnys * in London and I had bene w” hym ther aull the
tyme he and hys howssowlde recomendes them harttely on to yow
the morne after the wrytyng of thys howre father departes to
Awelay " and into Cottyssowolde Syr ther is a devysyon fawllyn be
twen owr brother Robard and sche that schowlde abe hys wyfe
and he has gevyn hyr ower and he pwrposes to absente hym sellfe
and com to Callz Schorttly and as for John Rawns matter I have
spokyn wº the kynges howzer and a Sayes he has sent the syngnete
to Callz and heyr has bene Lenarde Boys and thay has fonde the
menye at the mony Schawll be payd at Callz Bawll ys in good
plyte he mornyd tyll he had setteschype and the Smythe has gevyn
hym a Drynke for the kow and I have sente hym to Awelay be-
* Sir John Weston, Prior of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in England,
1477–1489. He is continually referred to in these letters. The Priors of St. John
held a reputed manor in Alveley parish, called More Hall, later part of Kelliton or
Kennington. The Order of St. John held land in the neighbourhood at Rainham
and Southall, and the Church of Thurrock Grays. Sir John Weston must have
resided often on his Essex manor, and as a near neighbour of the Celys was a great
man in their eyes. He was of the same family as Richard Weston, of Henry the
Eighth's reign; but the Sutton referred to in these letters is not the later family
place of Sutton, in Surrey, but is Sutton Temple, in Essex, a possession of the
Hospitallers. - º
* Clerkenwell. - * Alveley, in Essex.
THE CELY PAPERS. 27
lowtelay till I cwm agen no mor to you at thys tym Jesu kepe
yow wryttyn at London the vij day of Apryll.
per your brother
- Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Unto my ryughte whellbelouyd
- brother George [Cely merchant
of the estapell beynge at Callez.
27
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryught interly welbelovyd brother I recomende me winto yow
as tendyrly as harbe can thynke informyng yow at the makyng of
thys howre father and mother wher in good hell and whe aull
thankyd be God Syr T hawe bene in Cottyssowlde and packyd xxix
sarpelles woll for howr father and in the mene sesun howre father
ressavyd a letter from yow to me derectyd and of Lokyngton a
carte and a cower qwher in I have lokyd and fynde aulthyngs
acordyng to yowr wrytyng howr father has payd for the kustum vs.
and Lokyngton haskys for frayte vis. viijd a ye not Zeyt payd Syr
I have bowte no fellz Zeyt I departe to Addyrbery” te fyrste day
of May and qwen I cwme agene I wyll wryte to yow mor playnely
I pray yow se my godfathers letter and lete hyme se yowrs howr
father marwwellys that he have no wrytyng frome you I pray yow
wryt byt for hoype in ws to a whor dyscwmfortes for hever aut
ther for lete ws indewer ws to plese as Jhesu geve ws grase to do
ho have ws and howre good frendes kepynge.
Wryttyn at London the xxx day of Aprell.
* per yowr brother Rych: Cely.
On the Dorse: Syr my lord of Sente Jonys" commende hym to
• Adderbury, in Oxfordshire. - * Sir John Weston.
28 TEIE CELY PAPERS.
yow and thankys yow for yowr tydyſngs] and prays yow of con-
tynewans he ys ryght glad of them and he prays yow to remembyr
hys saddyllys styropys and spowfs and clothe for hosyn aull tys at
thys Whytsuntyd he pray yow that hyt may be had.
Addressed: Wnto my ryught whelbelovydbether
George Cely merchande of the
estapell beynge at Callez so dd.
28
Rychard Cely the elder
tº e º 'º - e º 'º º
I grete you wyll and I have resayvyd of Lokynton schepe a
pype and the stofe there in and a carthe and ix dosen packe threde
and I payd v for the fraythe and vº for the custom for Rychard
Cely was at Norlayge” at that tyme and hathe packyd my woll wyt
Wylliam Medewynter xxvi sarplerys and iij sarplerys at Westewell"
and ys com hom in savete I understand ye be at Bregys I pray
God be your spede in the maters that ye goe for I fele Robard
Cely ys at Bregys for fere of fytyng at Caleys in to Beschepys
Corte for the lude mater of Jonne Harthe the weche ys meche adoe
for at London the frendes of here hath spoke wyt me for that
mater but all they wyll not grant a grote for Zeve them were for I
have sayd to them I wyll not zeve them a peny of my good
werefor I understand sche wyll falle of for to have all the Zetys
that Robard hathe dely verd her and to have all Robard Cely
hathe of herys and I understande Sir John the pryste hathe
promysyd for to make thys ende but and Robard Cely were
wyse and wyll avysyd all thys wyll be layd aperte wyll noe
for ys undoe and he wede her but I may not saye werefor I
have wryt a lecter of this mater to Wylliam Maryon more clerely
* Northleach. * Westwell, in Oxfordshire.
THE CELY PAPERS. - - 29
for the weche I pray you zeve hym good consell and send me
wrytyng for I may do noght but prevely kepe thys mater preve
and let me understand ys entent and after that I shall wre more
to you. No more at thys tyme. Jhesu kepe you. -
Wryt at London iij day of May.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
r lecter dely verd.
29.
Rychard Cely the younger
• tº e º ºx * > * *
Ryught interly whellebelovyd and my syngeler good brother I
recomend me whto yow in as lovynge whyse as harte cone thymke
enformyng you at the makyng of thys howr father and mother my
godfather Maryon and whe awll wher in good heyll thankyd be
the good Loord Syrhyt is so be grehyt labor that the woman that
howr brother Robard whos caugyllyd wº sche has made hyme a
qwyetane and sche has aull her awne good that was browhyt to
howr brothers ageyn and aull the good that howr brother levyd
w" her save a gyrdyll of goulde w” the bokyll and pendawnte
silver and gylte and a lytyll golde ryng w” a lytyll dyamond and a
cyrpete of damoske sche has awll thother thynges that he levyd wº
hyr and wyll have Syr howr father and mother wolde that ze payd
for hys bord at Callez and delyver hym wº or mor in hys porse and
ze to take a byll of hys hande of as mwche mony as ze lay houte
for hyme and whe wolde that he wolde come to Hawelay * and be
ther tyll the matter be better hessyd hour father thynkes he
neddyes not to be large of spendyng remembyryng aulle thynges
Syr I pray you lette hyme not se thys letter ne tell hyme note if
* Alveley. -
30 THE CELY PAPERS.
tys zed byt of the qwetane and hy hyme to Hawelay in as gret
haste as ye can. No mor to you at tys tyme. Jhesu kepe you.
Wryttyn at London the xy day of May.
Syr I pray yow send my doblet by hym or be the nexte good
frend that comes.
hyt ys not for hyme to come in London Zeyte.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed : Unto my ryughte whelbelovyd
brother George Cely merchand
of the estapell at Callys be
thys dd.
30
Rychard Cely the elder
The reference to the holidays makes it probable that the true date is 1480,
when Whitsunday fell on May 22.
Af
Jhesu Miij"xxx [sic]
I grete you wyll and I have resayvyd a letter from you wryte
at Caleys the xiij day of May the weche letter I have wyll under-
stande of youre beyng at the marty's and of the sale of my medell
woll desyred be John Destermer & John Underhay were for be
the Grace of God I am a bysyd for to Schepe thys forsayd xxix
sarplerys the weche Ibogwyt of Wylliam Medewynter of Norlayche *
xxvi sarplerys the weche ys fayre woll as the woll packar wyll
Breten say the to me and also the iij sarplerys of the recturs ys
fayre woll meche finar woll nor was the Zere before the weche I
schepede a fore Ester laste paste the Schepyng ys begone at London
but I have non Schepeyd as yete but I wyll after thys holy dayys
for the weche I wyll ye orde for the frayth and hoder costys thys
same day youre broder Rychard Cely ys rede to Norlay" for to se
* Northleach.
THE CELY PAPERS. 31
and caste a sorte of fell for me and a noder sorte of fell for you &
Rychard Cely Wylliam Cely ys fore wyt hym God be there spede
and as for syche maters that the felyscher cam to London for I can
wryt to you no thyng for I was in the contre Thomas Burgan
mercer send to me for to a dely verd me money be exschanchege
be for hand but I have take non of hym nor of no man but wyll ye
dele wyt Borganys man he send a noder man Gilberde Pamar ys
from Borgan * I pray you doe as wyll as ye can in makyng hover.
of money for I fere me Rychard Cely wyll scharege me wyt fell in
Cottyswolde and he lyke the passell wyll werefor I have send hym
for ys bryng also youre hors Bale ys fayre werefor I wolde ye send
for hym here ys no sale of horse I wyrt nomore to but Jhesu kepe
you Wryt at London the xxij day of May.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
dely verd.
31
Rychard Cely the elder
I grete you wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from you wryt at
Caleys the xxix day of May the weche I have wyll understand and
that ze have solde vi sarplerys & pok of my medell woll cotty swolde
to John de Solermer of Gante pryse the sacke xiij marke for the
weche I am wyll plesyd were for I have schepyd at London the
laste day of May Xvij sarplerys of my cottyswolde woll were of be
vj clotys medell woll in grete haste for the cokyys were
made the same day and the schepys depertyd ij day of Jun
and my lorde levetenant he depertyd the same day and I pray God
send my lorde and the woll schepys wyll to Caleys Rychard Cely
* Mons or Bergen.
32 THE CELY PAPERS.
hath be in Cottyswolde and hath bogwyt xv c fellys for you and
him seve and xv c for me of Wylliam Medwynter the weche cam to
London thys same day I wyll ye bye for me v or vic of canvase at
the marte for to packe woll] wyt of a good brede not elle brode
halfe quarter lese and not of the smaleste but pra thy rond can-
vase for to packyng in woll I pray you send me wrytyng of all
sych maters as Schall long to me for [I] thynke ye mythe wryt
myche more nor ye doe for my lorde of Send Johnys” send to me
for tyyngs every weke for the weche my lorde takyt a . . . .
plear for to have syche tyyng as ye here in thys partyys for the
weche ye may no lese doe but wryt moche the more of tyyngs for
my lordys sake for in good faythe he is a curtes lorde to me and to
you and Rychard Cely. I wryt no more but Jhesu kepe you. Wryt
at London the ij day of Jun in gret haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys or the mart
thys lecter dely verd.
32
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryught interly whelbelovyd and my syngeler good brother I
recomende me writo you in as lovyng whys as hartte con thymke
piese hyt yow to whdyrstonde at the makyng] of thys howr
father and mother my godfather Maryon and whe aull wher at
London in good heyll thankyd be the good Loorde Syr I have
bene in Cottyssowlde and bohut for hus xxv c pelles pryse le c of
xv" iiij li and of a m' hevery c iijli iijs iiijd and I have
payd and a mwster pay w” in thys v days in parte of payment of
thes felles and for caryayge xl li and above and I mwste pay to
* Sir John Weston.
THE CELY PAPERS. 33
Wylliam Mydwynter at Bartyllmewys tyd xx li. and at Hallowtyd
xx li. for the for sayd felles Syr I pray yow have they's dayes in
remembrans my powr honeste lyes ther apon and at my comynges
hwte of Cottyssowlde apone a schorte pywrpos howr father has
schypyd xvij sarpelles of hys wooll that whos packyd at Norlache *
syn Ester and ther ys vi of theme myddyll and that ys aull the
myddyll woll of that soorte I know hyt whell ther come not better
myddyll woll of howr fathers thys vij Zeyr and at the next
sehyppyng howr father wyll schype the remenand of good whool
of thys sorte and hawlle hys felles and so wſy]ll I howrys and I have
ressavyd ijlettyrs frome you whon of howr brother Robarde and ther
iiij day of [sic] I pray God send ws good payment and another
Edwhard Lenawles the qweche I do whell whdyrstond I pwrpos
be the gras of God to be at Loutelays Whoddyng on Sonday
next and my godfather to Syr heyr ys yowr blake hors and yower
gray at London thay ar in good plyte ther ys no mane byd no
mony for them and thay stond you to grete coste dayly as for
horsse and hawkys I pywrpos never to have paste whom at onys Syr
I Ondyrstond be yowr wryting that ze have levyd Thomas
Grayngar to be your atornay at Callez Whyll ze go to the marte
I do send hym a letter and ther in the schypys namys and the
whette of howr fathers and nwmbyr that he schawlle ressave hyt
by be the grasse of Jhesu have you in hys blessyd kepyng wrytyn
at London the sekund day of June.
Be your brother
Richard Cely.
Addressed: Wnto my ryught whelbelovyd brother
t George Cely merchand of the
estapell at Calleys or at the marte
be thys delywydd.
* Northleach.
34 THE CELY PAPERS.
33
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryught enterly whelbelovyd brother I recomende me writo
yow as lovyngly as harte cane thynke enformyng yow at the
makyng of thys hour father mother and whe aull wher in good
heſy]ll thankyd be God and the xxvi day of thys monthe I
resavyd ij lettyres frome you whon to houre father another to my
selve the qweche I do whell undyrstonde and heyr I sende yow
closyd in thys a byll of master Richardes hand from the mayar of
the estapell for the dyscharge of the xxiijs iiijd. of the sarpler for
xvij sarpelles xix. li. xvi s. viijd and I feyll be your letter at the
woll schpyd at your departying frome hens whos not so good as I
wholde hyt had bene howr father whos at the packyng ther of
hyme selfe I trywste to God thys wholl Schaull plese you better and
as for myddyll wooll ze have aull that belonges to that sorte syr I
have resawyd not zeyt byt xv of howr felles byt thay be good I
wndyrstonde be your wrytyng that ze wyll come in to Ingland
schortely I pray you kepe your porpos and whe Schaull be myrry
be Godes grase my loorde comendes hym to you and lokys dayly
for the geyr that Ze promysyd to pvrway hym and Gladman
prayse yow to purway a saddyll for hyme sum what lesse then my
loordes schall be a lyes styll at Berwyke * and I thynke wyldo aull
thys somer syr I halve ressavyd at the day whell and trewly the
iiij listerling of hour brother Robarde and now the schpe heyr
byt houre father powrpos not to schype tyll hyt be ny myhellmas
and ther for whewylloke for yow dayly and syr I pray yow brynge
w" yow the rekenyng that I am in dettyd to you and whe schaull
se a way therin be the grase of Jhesu kepe you and bryng you to
* Berwick in Essex, in the parish of Rainham, belonging to the Hospitallers.
THE CELY PAPERS. 35
Yngelond soyn and in safete Wryttyn at London the last day of
Juyn. -
Syr howr father has ben dysesyd soe I tryste hyt be byt an
axys byt I wolde fayne that ze whor her tyll he be better
mendyt. -
* per your brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Un to my Ryught Whellbelovyd
brother George Cely merchand of
the estapell at Callyes be thys dil.
34
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryught interly whelbelovyd brother I recomende me writo
yow informyng yow at the makyng of thys howr father ys aull
hooll and ryught merry thankyd be God as my neymer the
bryngar of thys can informe yow Syr howr father wyll that ze be
not over haste in comynge in to Ynglonde for thys cauys he
wndyrstode whell that the woll that whos schyppyd at your
departyng from London ys not lyke of goodnes to that at ys of
the laste zeyrs growythe and therfor he whoulde not that ze
Schulde sell them togeyddyr byt as for the myddyll woll at wos
laste Schypyd he wyll that John Wandyrhay have hyt acordyng
to your wrytyng and hour father whowlde fayne that ze mythet
make Salle of the good woll of the furste sorte as whell as ze can
he dar not sende no moor to Calleys tyll he heyr of the salle of the
forsayd Syr hour father whdyrstondes of owr brother Robardes
chyldysche dellyng and Wylliam Browell has beyn wº hym and
d D 2
36 THE CELY PAPERS.
me and he says that Dowlton or ze have a speceaulte of xiii" fl.
payabull at Bammys marte next whenyng to hym that hyt had
bene payabull at Senchan marte laste and that made hym so
bowlde as he says byt howr father wyll that ze the cler nes" [sic]
and send us whoord how hyt ys no mor to you Wryttyn at Byrttes
the V day of Juyll.
tomorrow I go wº my loorde to Gurovys End" to brynge in my
lady Marget."
per your brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Wnto my ryught whelbelovyd brother
George Cely.
35
& ſº tº $ rº, e º º tº
Beyt knowyn to all men that whe Rychard Cely and George
Cely merchantes of the stapull of Callez how the unto the meyr
constapullis and fellischyp of the same stapull for costum and
sobsede lxxv" xiijºjº qr" ster: to be p" to the sayd meyr consta-
pulis and fellyschyp or to the brynger herof at ther pleser to the
wheche lxxvi. xiijºjº qr" ster: whell and trywly to be p" whebynd
us and heydyr of hus for the holle and to make good all the costes
and lossys that shall happon or fall for un payment of the sayd
som beyt be exchange or reexcheynge or hodyrwhysse in whetnesse
herof whe hawe sett unto owr selys the xj day of Jowle Anno ut
Suppra.
* Perhaps a word is omitted, and he meant ‘Ye see the clearance.”
* Gravesend. -
* The Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, who was visiting her brother, King
Edward, this year. See Introduction.
THE CELY PAPERS: 37
On the Dorse :
Item alowid by a warant from Sir William Stoker knyght &
meyer of the stapull at Cales for the xxiij" iiij" ster : * p" in
Inglond & wº o s . te xixiº xvi. viij" st:
Rest . e . . lvi. xv.js va grº st:
Item paide the xj" day of Juyll by the handes } lylist :
of George Cely g o -
Rest clere . † t xv.js v" qr" st:
36
Rychard Cely the elder
I grete you wyll and I have resayvyd a letter from you wryt at
Caleys the xxij day of August the weche I have wyll understand
and ze have solde iiij c lbs fell for the weche I am wyll plesyd but
I understand and ze can sele no woll as Zete I tryste to God ze
schall full wyll we schall schepe at London woll & fell nowe dayly
for the weche I am abysyd for to schepe my woll & fell were for
ze moste se wyll to the resayyng at Caleys for I have no man for
to send wyt the schepys for Wylliam Cely ys fore wyt Rychard
Cely wyt my lorde of Sent Jonnys" into France God be there
spede for the weche I tryste to you for the resayyng of my woll &
fell and all soe for youre fell & Wylliam Maryons fell I sopose ye
have not meche a doe at thys marte for the weche I pray you send
me wrytyng of youre goyng to thys marte or not for and ye be at
Caleys at the loadyng of my woll & fell I wyll be wyll plesyd
and ye may so doe I have resayvyd of Mondedanell iiij Sadellys &
* 23s. 4d. per sack had been paid in London, and the sum was reckoned at
£19 16s. 8d. Flemish. Compare Letter of October 29, 1480.
* Sir John Weston, on the Embassy of 1480. See also next letter.
38 THE CELY PAPERS.
a grane & payere of styropys and be the Grace of God Wylliam
Maryon & Ischall lade your schepe wyt fell the Schepyng ys not
as Zete begon as it gothe fore I schall wryt to you and ye here of
Ware send me wrytyng schortely for I wyll not be the fryste that
schall schepe I wryt no more to you but Jhesu kepe you Wryt at
London the fryst day of September in haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Calleys thys letter
dely verd.
37
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryught whelbelovyd brother I recomend me unto you and I
pray you hartely to be at Bolen" the iij day of Septembyr for my
loord * wyll be ther and I pray you to brynge w” you your crosse “
and v ar vili. Flemysche for me and at howr metyng I wyll tell yow
mor. No mor to you. Wryt at Dowyr the sekunde day of
Septembyr.
per youre brother
Rycharde Cely.
Planttan pays [sic] you to delyver thys byll to hys brother
Nowell zer ze cum to Bolen.
Addressed : A my whelbelovyd brother George
Cely at Calles so hit dò.
a Boulogne. The shortness of the appointment for the next day is noticeable.
b Sir John Weston and Thomas Langton were commissioned to go on an
Embassy to France to treat of the long-delayed treaty of marriage between the
Dauphin and King Edward's daughter, August 24th, 1480 (Rymer, xii. 135).
• Money, contemporary Slang.
THE CELY PAPERS. 39
38
John Cely was apparently a brother to old Richard Cely, and uncle to George,
whom he calls cousin. -
Right wurshipfull and welbelovyd Cosen I recomaunde me
unto you and also my sister youre aunte comaundyth her unto yow
as hartyly as she can or may all way thankyng yow off youre grett
labur and besinesse that ye had for her now at this tyme for the
wiche she hopeth to rewarde you in such wise as ye shalbe plesid
wyth the grace of Godd Item sir y have byn wyth mayster Ylam
and he hath promisid to pay this lxx" vi. viij" yt ys redy for her
also sir ye shall understande that my sistur yowre aunte hath
made her exchange wyth John Mathew mercer of London for the
iiijº xj" flemyshe the wyche ys yn yowr handes and she shall
resey've here of the sayd John Mathew at suche dais as they be
agreyd lxxv" xv.j" viij" ster: and heruppon she hath dely verd to
the said John Mathew the bylle of yowre hand the wiche mone
she prayeth you hartly to paye to the said John or to his atorney &
bringer of your said bylle now at this nyste marte as her very
truste is yn you that ye wull so do Forther more sir as for the
byllis of John Eton that Fedyan axith Ingudd sayth we cannott
yett fynde them y trowe nor nevyr shall yf we can he shall have
them and, so saiete Fydian no mor to yow at this tyme but
allmyghty Jhesu have you in keping Wrete at London the vi" day
* * * * * * * * *
Be John Cely.
Addressed : To my Cosen Jorge Cely merchante
off the stapull att Caleis be this
delyvord.
40 THE CELY PATERS.
39
This letter contains a notice of the same transaction by the writer's sister
which is mentioned in the last letter. John Cely was evidently uncertain whether
he should catch George at Calais or at Antwerp, and tried both.
Right wurshipfull Sir and welbelovyd Cosyn I recomaunde me
unto you wyth all myne harte plese it you to wete that my sistur
youre aunte hath made a bargen wyth John Mathew mercer of
London and shall reseyve off hym at such days as she and he be
agreyd bºxy" xvi. viij" ster: and she hath delyverd hym youre bylle
of youre hand be the wiche he must reseyve of you now att this
said John Mathew or to his atorney or bringer of your bylle
acordyng to her covinaunte and promisse &c no more at this
tyme but allmyghty Jhesu hawe you in keping Wrete at
Be John Cely.
Addressed: To my Cosen Jorge Cely at Anwarp
marte be this letter dely verd.
40
Anno lxxx
Ryght reverentte and worchopffull broder Iharttely recomaunde
me to yow Farthermor plese yt yow to wette that at the makyng
of thys letter howr father & mother wer mery and in god hell
blessyd be God and so we hop that ze be and azfor howr broder
Rychard Cely ys departtyd wº my lorde of Sentte Johnys w” the
Inbassetorys into Frawnce" werof I saposse yow whdorstonde ryght
well and I ham att London and have ben grettely desshessyd
* See Letter of September 2, 1480.
THE CELY PAPERS. 41
almosste hever Sen yow departtyd fro Allvolay * and moste partte
have kepte my bedde for I hafe ben so seke & sore that I goo wº
a staffe I thanke God I ham now daylly amendynde Item Brother
George the causse of my wryttynge ys thys and I pray yow
herttelly of howr good broderhod that ze wyll do so moche for me
to see that Wylliam Barwell mercer of London be contentte of ys
conttentte yow here for and I had natte have hade that mony of
Wylliam Barwell at that tyme I had loste all my platte worfor
good Brother remember me & I shall dessarvytte to you wº the
grasse of God hoo have yow and all ws in ys blessyd kepynge amen
wrette at London the vi day of Septembe wº grette payne.
Be your brother
Robard Cely.
In a different handwriting : Do myne hevyn.
Addressed: To my welbelovyd brother George
A Cely marchand of the staple of
Calles.
41
Richard Cely the elder
No year given, but by the reference to ‘My Lord of St. John's' being at
Boulogne it seems to belong to 1480.
Item be the grace of God I have schepyt woll and fell at porte
London in my name.
Item in the Thomas of Raynam,” Hemonde Danyall, mayster,
vj packys contening xxiiij c ij fell.
Item in the Blethe of London, Laryus Bordon, may ster, vij
packys and ijc fell contening XXX fell. - - -
* Alveley. * Rainham, in Essex.
42 - THE CELY PAPERS.
Item in the Anne of London, Patryke Mechelson,
mayster . . . . . . . . . . . . . iſ Sarplers.
xxxiij . . . xviij cloves.) Summa iiij sacked. x
- cloves rebate . . . ix cloves.
xxxv . . . xviij cloves. [Summa clereiiij sacke
‘. d. j clove.
Item in the Thomas of London, Thomas Horne,
mayster . . . . . . . . . . . . . iſ sarplers.
xxix . . . xv cloves . .) Summa iiijsacked. viij |
cloves, rebate . . ix cloves.
xlv. . . . . xix cloves . [Summa clere iiij sacke,
xxv cloves.
Item in the Mary of Mallyng, John Underwode,
mayster . . . . . . . . . . . . . iſ sarplers.
xliiij . . . xv.j cloves .) Summa iiij sacked. ij
cloves. Rate . . ix cloves.
xxxiij . . xij cloves . [Summa clere iiijsacke,
xix cloves.
Item in the Edward of Mylale," Thomas Arnolde,
mayster . . . . . . . . . . . . . iſ sarplers.
xliij . . . xvi cloves ...) Summa iiij sacke, d. iiij
cloves. Rebate . . ix cloves.
xlix . . . xiiij cloves . [Summa clere iiij sacke
xxj cloves.
Item in Neolas [sic] of Colchester, John Smythe,
mayste [sic] . . . . . . . . . . . . iſ Sarplers.
liiij . . . ix cloves \Summa iiij seke xvi
cloves. Rebate . . viij cloves.
lv . . . . vij cloves . [Summa clere iiij sacke,
viij cloves.
" Millhall, on the Medway.
THE CELY PAPERS. 43
Item in the Mary of Brekellyssay,” Wylliam
Recherdlay, mayster . . . . j Sarpler.
xlvij. . . . xiiij cloves. Rebate iiij cloves.
Summa clere . . . . . . . . sacke X cloves.
Summa totallis . . . . . . . . xj Sarplerys.
Summa totallis in sackys . . . . xxiiij sacke vi cloves.
I cannot have my woll packyd the weche lythe in pyle at
London in no wyse for the weche it schall abyde tyll the neste
schepyng I understande be youre lecter that ze schall packe my
woll xx sarplerys the weche was schepyt in Marche I wolde
fayne understande the packyng of that sorte I send to you wº
schepys Robard Good for to helpe to londe my fell and youre xviijc
fell and hode fell and Wyll Maryons fell I wyll ye se scharly to
hym and wan the schepys be dyschargyd send hym home be water
to London for I have grete myse of Rychard Cely and Wyll Cely
at thys tyme in good faythe I may not dele wyt woll and fell
and my hosbanry in the contre bothe but I may have helpe I
was never soe wery of delyng wyt worde as I am at thys tyme and
shyt that my Lorde of Send Jonnys cam to Bollen I hadde no
wrytyng from you but j lecter none late for the weche I understod
not veryly for ye were in Franse or at the martte I hadde so
many sayyn of men that cam from Caleys and no lecters for the
weche I was gryly astonyd and grete lectyng in my besynese for
the weche I pray the wryt and send be sure men that I may
understande my delyng also ye wryt not to me of the reste of my
fell weder thay be refuse or may and wat sum of fell ther be for I
wat fell the reste schold be. I wryt no more to you at thys tyme
Jhesu kepe you and huse Wryte at London the xxv day of Septem-
ber in haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys dely verd.
On the Dorse, in a different handwriting:
Le Costum and sobsede.
* Brightlingsea, in Essex.
44 THE CELY PAPERS.
The Costum and sobsede of my
fadyrs . . . . . iiijºxiij" iiij xj” “lººse Ster:
Wylliam Maryons . . . . . . xxij" ster: º
Rychard Cely Jenyer . . . . xv" v" vi" ster:
42
Rychard Cely the elder º
I grete you wyll and I lecte you wyt I have payd for xxiijº
iiij" of the sarplere for xxij sarplerys woll and fell to Sir Wylliam
Stoker mayar of the Stapyll the xiij day of Octobor—Summa xxvi"
schall send the waront to you wat tyme I understande Ze be at
Calleys I send to you wrytyng of my Schepyng at Tondon at thys
tyme be Robard Good my schylde the weche I myght not wyll a
myssyd hym and Wyll Cely bothe for the weche youre moder and
I were not soe sarvyd thys xx Zere for the weche I purpose me to
more esse be the grace of God the weche have you in ys kepyng
Wryt at London the xiij day of Octobor in grete haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Calys thys lecter
,” dely verd.
43
Rychard Cely the elder
I gret you wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from yow wryt at
Caleys the xvi day of October the weche lecter I have understand
wyll and that ye have solde a sarplere of my good woll Cottyswolde
THE CELY PAPERS. 45
pryse the sacke xix marke and vi sarplerys of my medell woll
Cottyswolde pryse the sacke xiij marke all solde to John van
Underhay of Mekelyn for redy mony in hand as I understand the
poyse and summa argent I understand be the byll I understand be
Wylliam Cely ys lecter that my woll xj sarplerys and my fell
schepyth at London late rysythe ryght full at Caleys for the weche
the fellys muste be made were for I wyll that Wylliam Cely be
style wyt you at Caleys for to make my fellys wyll and to helpe to
packe my xx sarplerys woll the weche was schepyt in Marche laste
paste and as Robard Good I wyll he com home as sone as he may
the Sarplere ys payd at London and the waronte send to Caleys be
a marchant of Berelay “I understand be youre wrytyng yt ys lyke
beware wyt frase for the weche I wyll avyse yow to purchese a
savecondyte in anny wyse or that ye pase the se for dyverse
causys the weche I wyll wryt to you of or ze com hover the se and
yt beware as I fere me yt wyll be for the weche wryt to me as ye
can here and understand in syche maters for I have not as zete
packyd my woll at London nor I have not bowgyt thys zere a loke
of woll for the woll of Cottyswoldeis bogwyt be Lombardys werefor
I have the lese haste for to packe myn woll at London I have a
grete scharge at Caleys of my woll there at thys day God send us
good sale. I wryt no more to you at thys tyme. Jhesu have in
kepyng. Wryt at Brytys the xxix day of Octobor in haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys be thys
lecter dely verd.
* Perhaps Berlaere in Flanders.
46 THE CELY PAPERS.
- 44
Rychard Cely the Younger
Ruight interly whelbelovyd brother I recomend me harttely
unto you and I thanke you of your grehyte coste and scheyr that
ye dyd to me and my fellowys at howr laste beyng w” yow at Calles
Syr whe had a fayzeyr passayge and the Satturday aftyr howr
departtyng whe ceme to the kyng to Helttame * to home my loorde *
whos ryught whelcwm and ther whe tarryd tyll the kynges dowter
whos kyrstynd hos name ys Bregyt “ and the same nyte ryught
late whe come to London and heyr I fownd howr father brother
Robar and my goddefather Maryon and thay ar myry howr mother
ys yn Essex Ise har not Zeyt my godfather Maryon tellyd me that
he has wryt lettyrs to yow I ondyrstonde apart of them Robyn
Good tellyd howr fathe tha ze had v hors and I tellyd hym ze had
byt iij and how ze have sowld Pyj to Sir Umfry Tawbot and he
whos welle content I towllyd howr fathe of the lose of twesyltonys
mewyll Syr howr father wyll not schype till Marche and he wolde
fayne that the wooll wher packyd I feyll by hym that he wolde not
that ze come home at Crystemas for he thynkes ther wyll be salle
abohut xij tide ther ys gret dethe of schepe in Engelond Sir I
wollde wryte more to you byt I depart into Essex thys same day
to see howr mother no mor to you Wryt at London the XV day
of Novembyr.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
And the mewyll my be gityn send hym to howr father for he
whoulde fayne have hym.
* Eltham in Kent. * Sir John Weston returning from his French Embassy.
• Edward the Fourth’s daughter Bridget, born 1480, died a Nun at Dartford,
1517.
THE CELY PAPERS. 47
Addressed: Unto my ryught whelbelovyd brother
George Cely marchant of the
estapell beyng at Calles.
On the Dorse: Domine fyat pax cum Vyrtute.
* * * * * * * * *
Ryght rewerent and worshypfull Fadyr after all dewe
recomendacyon pretendyng I recomeawnd me unto yow in the
moste lowlyest whisse that I con or may Fordyr mor plesyth ytt
yow to undyrstond that I hawe resseywydan letter from yow beryng
date at London at London [sic] the xiij day of Octobyr in hast
wheche y do whell undyrstond and I hawe resseywyd yowr warant
and ys anlowyd appon yowr byll ancordyng. As towchyng hodyr
clausys in yowr Sayd letter y undyrstond them ryght whell and as
for Robyn ye undyrstond be this how whell he has done nonethyng
but put ze to cost &c as towchyng me bothe be yowr Sayd letter
and be my cossyn Maryons I am sory and y con nott be mery tyll
that I hawe ben wº yow and y whollde aben wº yow shorttly savyng
my besynesse ys soch that I connott as Ze know In dede I hawe
bene long away and therfor my besynesse ys the mory this day I
be gon to pak yowr woll I thanke Good yttrysythe full fayr and
som medyll woll Ze shall have but and ytt rysyth as ytt do ytt
shall nott be moche I have men appon yowr fellis dayly in good
faythe y nevyr sawe yowr goods so loud in my dayys and so dyd
all men ze shall hawe abowe an M! made fellis and yowr wollys
lyke whysse arayd be the grace of God y shall fenyshe all thynges
hevyr that y go unto the marte As towchyng my clawis afore I
hawe ben long hens as Ze know nevyr the lesse and my debyteyys
had done ther deuteys y myght so aben for that resson ryght whell
Now y hawe sen that at y dessyryd long to se y toke this seson
wheche tyme y wollde that y hade lyne syke in my bede yf ye be
48 THE CELY PAPERS.
dysplesyd therwº y hawe had letterys dyvars to an kept Wylliam
Cely styll at Calles in dede he departyd hevyr any wryttyng and
allso y shall nott nede hym grettly y hawe helpe y now y am yn
good whay of my besynesse now zett whas ther ryght lytyll done
therto whan he departyd ytt ys so that her whas grett ado at
Calles for that woll that come in the last schyppyng becawis that
the dokates bare nott dat of the xiiij day of Septembyr dyvars men
wold an hade ytt but newe woll ther ys derectyon takyn that ytt
shall nedyr be newe nor howllde but yt shall hawe that lysens
that ytt shall passe whowght howlde woll appon ytselffe " men
hade whent that the fellis show.ld abene howlde Zett whe con nott
tell ther ys replyyng ther an Zenst y thynke that ze shall sett
them in the Sam casse as the wholl stondys whe shall do moche
therto. Y whas to sweffte in wrythyng to my cossyn Maryon y
wrott hym they wher howllde fellis.
It ys so that the xiiij day Novembyr ytt whas concleudyd be
Cortt that at from Candyllmesse for is no man shall sell but for
xxvi le li I thynke ytt shall causse an stope ze most now wrytt
me yowr hadvysse how y shall be demenyd wher y shall howld
hand tyll than or sell affore and y con Ther ys but lytyll
Cotteswolld woll at Callez and y understond Lombardys has
bowght ytt up yn Ynglond and Ze undyrstonde what sobstons
is at London to Schyppe I hope ther whas nott a better markett
toward for Cottes woll many a day. I woll nott avysse ze to
schype in the dede of wynter ytt yss long lyyng fowlle whedyr
and jepardes for stormys.
Of tydynges I con none wryght yow for Sarten as Zett but at
myn howllde lady” ys comyng from Byng “ to Sent Tomers" and
the ambassetters bothe of Ynglond and Fraunsse y connott say
what whorlld whe shall have some of the Deukes Counsell wholld
* Usually a buyer of new wool was compelled to take with it a certain propor-
tion of old (see Introduction).
b The Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, Margaret, sister to Edward IV.
* Perhaps Busigny, now in French Flanders; or Binche, in Hainault.
* St. Omer.
THE CELY PAPERS. 49
hawe whar and some pesse the very grounde must come howght of
Ynglond The F renche kynge has formeshed his garysons appon
the frontes all redy &c. My lady porposeth to ly at Sent Tomers
and the Frensche ambassett shall ly at Tyrwhyne * iij wekes
thens &c.
Her ys but fewe merchantes at Calles now I am in whay wº
Tyshbryght van whennysbarge for an ij of yowr Sarplers I hope I
shall go thorow wº hym. I woll that y myght undyrstond be
wryttyng wher the kyng porposythe to hawe whar w” Frawnsse or
no my brodyr Rychard may undyrstond that of my lorde yff y
undyrstode be tymes y myght yff mede be porvay me of saffe
condytt y whollde forst ondyrstond how the Kynge take my lordys
answar &c no mor unto yow at this tyme but Jhesu hawe you and
all yowrs in His kepyng Amen Wrettyn at Calles the xvj* day
of Novembyr Anno iiij”.
per yowr son
George Cely.
Addressed: Unto my ryght whorschypfull fadyr
Rychard Cely merchant of the
Stapell of Callez Dwelling at
Tondon in Marte Lane so it dò :
46
Richard Cely the younger
Whelbelovyd brother I recomende me harttely onto you
plessythe hyt you to windyrstond at the makyng of thys howyre
father and mother and aull the howshowlde ar in good heyll at
London and merry thankyd be God Sir I have ressavyd a letter
from yow wrytt at Calleys the xij day of Nowembyr wherby I
wndyrstonde your greve gwerof my godfather has wryttyn to yow
* Terouenne.
E
50 - THE CELY PAPERS,
he saw howe father pensyffe and heve at Robyn Godys comyng
home and afor as Ze know hys condyssyon of howlde and that
causyd hym so to wryte Syr howr whyen ys comyn and ys
ryught good as of that contre whon hagyshed wyll gene xx" and the
remberiant ys lyke to be dronk her and at Aunelay * for frayte
costome and caryayge my godfather has gevyn towarde Syr as
towchynge the matter of your hors I harde howr father never speke
whorde of them more then T whrote to yow in a letter that I sente
be Assche Laybacar and as for the blynde hors I pray yow selle
hym what somever Ze gehyt for hym as for ij or iij hors ys not
myche as ze be pywrwayd qwheras Ze wryte at thay have yow in
jelosy I cannote parsave hyt thay thynke as Ze ar horssyd and
aqwayntyd that and any whar be ze Schuld be desyryd forthe wº
other and as fortewyn a whar ys Ze to be takyn or sclayn the
leyste of bothe wherj dethe bothe to father and mothe whemwste
tendyr thayr ayge and have a ny to howr own whell Ze argoyng to
a marte that I know well has not bene heyllfull ner mery to yow
in tyme paste qwerfor I Schaul not be were myr ner qwyhet tyll I
heyr of your good comyng to Callys ageyn howre father schype at
thys tyme byt iſ packes felles that he cowde not have no rome for
at the laste schypyng and as for lyys woll Schaull abyde to marche
ws x* I se hyme not thys viij days Petter recommend hym owto
yow and thankys yow of yowr grette cheyr at Calleys he has hys
deyd of my loord and as for whar betwene ws and Frawns I can
thymke ze schaul have noyn ther goys hover inbassette schorttely
what they ar I connott tell thys day begyn the counsell at Wheste-
mynster Syr whe loke not for yow at thys Crystemes for becawys of
the wheddyr and in aspessyaull that howre father and whe tryste
at ze schull make sum good Salle aftyr the hallydayes of wooll and
fell as I pray God send ws ther ys lyke to be many felles for
scheype begynys to dy faste in diverys contrey and I wholde whe
wher doyng among hodyr men Syr I pray yow sende me the
* Alveley.
THE CELY PAPERS. 51
rekenyng of my loordes staife and soldallys and the spor rowell.
No mor to yow at thys tyme. Jhesu kepe yow. Wryttyn at
London on Sente Clementes Zewyn.”
per yowre brother
Rechard Cely.
Addressed: Unto my ryght whell belowyd
brother George Cely merchant
of the estaple at Calles be
thys dd.
47
Ryght rewerent and whorshipfull Fadyr after all dew re-
comendacyon y recomeawnd me unto you in the mist lowlyest
whysse that I con or may Fordyr mor plesyth ytt yow to undyr-
stond that y hawe sowlde unto Gysbright van Wenysbarge ij
Sarplers good Cottes he has takyn hon of the XX that ys packyd
agen anodyr of the todyr sortt as be an byll closyd herin makes
mensyon &c yt ys so that I hawe nott Zett made an Zend of the
pakyng of your sort of xx sarplers ther ys xj pakyd all redy the
cawis of the taryyng of the remenawnt ys ther was moche bettyn
wholl and as Sone as that con be whonde and made rede ytt shall
be entyrdyd in that at ys to pake ther ys in the pakekyng of thes
xj sarplers mor man an Sarpler medyll wholl cast howght as son as
ytt ys packyd ze shall undyrstonde be the next how yttys &c.
yowr whollys all yelowsyd and nevyr a hone packyd agen saveing
that at ys fowllest arayyd ys takyn togydyr and whan yowr woll
ys pakkyd ytt shall be cast howght and whardyd and so pakyd
agen yowr fellis be the iiij made ye shall have mo made thane I
wrott to yow of when all thynges ys feneshyd than shall Ze hawe
the clernesse of all thynges her ys as now but fewe merchants
ther shall be som fette done betwene Ceystmesse and Candyllmasse
* November 22.
52 - THE CELY PAPERS.
becawsse of the ordynaunsse wherfor now y porpOsse me to tarry
and com nott to yow tyll Candyllmasse as of any tydynges her y
con none wrytt yow as Zett ther ys but y cannott hawe the trewthe
therof ther has ben an veryaunsse betwme the Deukes men of whar
and his Allmaynes and ther ys many of his Allmanys slayne and
therfor he takes grett ceffle fur ther ys dyvars of his jentyllmen
stollyn away therfor and some ar comyn to Callez and hone of them
ys sent to owr soveren lorde the kynge and some and som [sic] ben
ren Frenche men when that the Frenche kynge has gottyn lattly
dyvars of the best men of whar the Dewke hade wherof he makes
hym now bowllde No mor unto yow at thys tyme but Jhesu have
yow and all yowrs in His kepyng Amen Wrett at Callez the
xxiiij day of Novembyr Anno iiijº.
per yowr son
George Cely.
ytt ys so that y do send Harry myboye to whayght appon my
brodyr thys Crystmesse.
Addressed: Unto my ryght worschypfull Fadyr
Rychard Cely merchaunt of the
Stapull of Calles being at London
in Marte Lane so it dol.
48
Rent of a ‘passage-boat' recorded, and of two houses at sixteen and five shillings
a year respectively.
Ryght honorable master in mi dew recommendacion I hartli
recommend me unto youe and to my ladi your wiff thanckyng youe
for my gret cher which I had w' youe and [sic] my last beyng with
youe Certifying your mastershipe that I was with your servant at
Weymouth and at Smalmoth and whan I had dely verd your
servant possession your servant was hast for to fech a hors of his
one as which hors a gentilman had hired for to rid into our
cuntrey that night I taried at Weymouth all nyght & so I made a
THE CELY PAPERS. 53
bargoyne w” a honest mane for the passage bot” for xxvi. viij" bi
the yer for the full terme of xx yer and the hows upone the key
I have let hit to a honest mane for xv.j bi the yer and the litell
hows wºn was at vs the same tenent kyepith hit styll Thes men
woll paye truely the rent ij howses as yet stondeth voide wher as
thei profre for a pis but viº and viij" and I graunted them for
viij, a pis Writtyn at Bridport the xxvi daie off November bi your
servant William Preston to his litell powr in anythyng that I may
doe Sir as for the obligacion I cane not fynd hyme but hit his no
matter for whan that I had possession bi ladis attornaye & then
the obligacion was void Sir I woll bryng the indenture at my next
comyng after Cristmas bi the grace of God for to set in the ij
akres of grownd and anythyng that shal be advised reasonable bi
your lerned cownsel I wol be glad to do hit No more to youe at
thys tyme but Jhesus preserve youe Amen,
Addressed: This be dely verd to mi honorable
maister Sir Tomas Aymew IKnyght
and alderman of London Dwelling
in Mylk Stret.
49
Rychard Cely the Younger
Riught whell belovyd Syr I recomend me hartfely winto yow
plesythe yow to whdyrstonde that I have Schypyd at London in the
Grase a Dew of Calles John Markes beyng master Miiijºxiij felles
qwherof be iiij" xlv.j CottysOwllde on markyd and the rembnant
be somer and whynter of London and thay be markyd wº an O
* Possibly a ferry-boat between Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, The sum
Seems too small for the passage-boat to the Channel Islands.
54 THE CELY PAPERS.
aull iij sorty's lyes togyddyr whon wº anothyr befor the maste
wndyr the hachys Syr Ze Schaull ressave of Mondanyell a letter and
a fardell wº pelltys the master of the Grase a De Schulde ave had
them byt he whos awayd and goyn no mor to yow Jhesu kepe
yow Wryt at London the xij day of Decembyr.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Wnto my whelbelovyd brother George
Cely or Thomas Grayngear at
Calleys be thys do.
50
* † tº tº ~, e º tº
Ruyght whell belovyd brother I recomeawnd me winto yow
as lovyngly as harte can thynke ples hyt yow to whdyrstond at
the makyng of thys howr father and mothe and whe aull ar in
good heyll and prays to God send yow a fayr passayge and bryng
yow whell hyddyr Syr I have resavyd a letter frowmyow wryttyn
at Calles wipon Sent Stevyns day the qweche I wadyrs to riught
whe]ll bothe your beyng at the marte and what the marte whos
and how ze porpoS to be at Brgys at thys candyllmas I pray God
speyd yow and sende yow good men to make yowrmony w Syr I
ondyrstonde be the same lettyr that ze have sowlde howre felles
I thanke God and I treste God whe Schawll have hever Whytsuntyd
mo and Syr as for yowrij wyrkyns whon of Samon and the tothyr
of tony thay ar not com Zeyt Gylbard Paulmor tellys me thay be
Zeyt in Selond" wº geyhyr of hys and Syr I have spokyn w” Bongay
and he spekys of yow myche whorschype Syr the xxiiij day of
Genever I resavyd ij lettyrs frome yow of Harrowlld Faiwnton
* Zeeland.
THE CELY PAPERS, 55
whom to howr father another to me ze whryte to howr father that
he schawll fynd clossyd in hys lettyr the Sayll of iſ sarpelers wholl
I opynd hyt at London byt I fonſd] non ther in I sent have thys
same day to howre father to Aulay “wº your letter Syr ze schaull
ressave closyd in this letter howr fathers wharant of hys fellys laste
Schipyd hyt amowntes ls. [sic] ster. and as tochyng yowr laste letter
my lordeys sende for be the lorde master byt the kyng wyll not lat'
hym departe the kynge has wry an auffer to the lorde master my
loorde prays yow when ze cwm to Brygys that ze wyll enqwer of
the whenysyans” and florantynys of tydynges of the Rodys * and
the kyng has comandyd my Lord Rewars" my loord Schambyolen"
and my loorde of Sente Jhon * to go to the towyr and se hys
hordenans and to amyt gonars and se that awll thynges be made
redy and as for hors my loorde Rewys sendes dayly abhute to in
qweyr for Syr gentyll hors ar whorthe myche mony heyſr]. I
whowlde awise yow brynge hower aull yowr trottyng hors and
geys & to kepe them T harde you say that Zowr harnes whayyd to
lyttyll for yow and ze bryng hyt be whell sowlde Syr I have a pyr
of as fayr bregenders as ony in London I pray yow by me a fayer
and sewyr bycoket a standarde a payr sclevys af ze have and a
fowld of mayll and then I troste to Jhesu that I am whelharnest
to kepe London w” Syr as for tydynges I can whryte none byt ther
come inbassyturs howt of Skotelond" and the kynge whoulde not
let them cowm no nar byt sent ther auffer to Newcastell whe say
heyr that my loord Schambyrlen comys to Calles schorttely no mor
* Alveley. * Venetians.
* Rhodes had been unsuccessfully besieged by the Turks during the previous
Summer, but a new attack was apprehended.
* Antony Wydeville, Earl Rivers. * Lord Hastings.
* Sir John Weston. & Altered from goys, Joyce, the servant.
* The incursions of the Scots had become more troublesome in the previous
summer, and the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Northumberland had
been sent against them with little result. The Scots king, James III., ap.
parently was trying to avert war, without success. A naval force was sent
against him this year, and a treaty made with the Lord of the Isles, (Rymer,
xii. 139, 140.)
56 THE CELY PAPERS.
to you at thys tym Jhesu kepe you whryt at London the xxiij day
of Genewer.
per yowr brother Rychard Cely.
Syr I whoulde awyse yow to brynge not paste ij or iij horse wº
you byt and ze conde conwhay a barell or an hogyshed foull of
sewyr fowllders flankardes and sum standardes of mayll whelbhowte
ther whoulde be done good over them and I pray yow bryng the
peys for dobletclothgs that I whrot to you for afor Kyrstemas
syche as Hynys ys of I have a gowyn clothe of mostyrdewyk of my
lordes leveray for you agayn Ze cwm.
Addressed: Wnto my brodyr George Cely
merchand of the stapell of
Calleys be thys dely vyrd at
Calleys or at Bregis in haste.
5.I.
Item the xxiiij day of Jenyver sowld be me in the name of my
fadyr Rychard Cely unto John Delopis and Gyshebryght van
Wensbarge merchantes of Breges v.j sarplers good cottes pris le sac
xix marke numbyr and porsse affter &c. :
No. xlviij . . oo xlviij cl.
No. xxxix . . oo xlviij cl. Summa in Sakes XV sac xxviij cl.
No. x} . . oO lx cl.
No. xxxvi . . oo lv cl. Argent citijº xiij" xviij" ix" ster.
No. xxxvij . . oO XXXVj cl.
No. xlv.j . . oO ljck.
Item yt amountes in fl. at xxv iiij"le pownd. I cºlli viii; ;
Summa .
All p" at Ester next.
THE CELY PAPERS. 57
52
Preparations for war with France made at Calais; houses outside the gates
destroyed. The priest's title, Sir William Chanon, may be noticed. Sir William
Stappell has his benefice. -
Ryght worshypffull Syr afftyr dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto youre masterschypp &c Furder more plese
hit yowre masterschypp to understonde that I hawe receyved an
letter from yow the whych I hawe redd and well understonde all
thynges theryn and as for yowre debenters I hawe dely verd hem
to Wylliam Beneham acordyng to yowre commaundement and he
hath promysyd me as Sone as he ys furnyschyd w' money Ischall
be payd and content for the pertyschon off x* off the pownde wº
the fyrste and as for yowre warantes off xvº off the pownde I have
spoken to master lefftenaunte for them and he hath promysyd me
that at yowre comyng to Caleys they schall be sett uppon yowre
bylles of costom and subsede &c. Item Syr plese hit yow to wytt
that on the xij day of Maye ther was ij frensche men chasyd an
englysch Schypp afore Caleys and Federston and John Dave and
Thomas Owerton ley in Caleys Rode but themselffe were alonde
and as sone as they sawe them they gote botes and Zede a burde
and soo dydd master marschall and Syr Thomas Eweryngham and
master Messefolde wº deversse sowldeers off Caleys and rescudyd
the englysch Schypp and toke the Frensche men and I browght on
off them yn to Caleys hawen the toder was so grett sche myght
nott comyn but browght the master and the Capteyn to my lorde
and they saye ther ys Scottes amonggyst hem and they say that
Federston and hys fellowys be gon w” the bygges Frensche man
ynto Inglonde &c Item Syrhytt ys sayd here that aftyr thys day
the xij day of May ther shall no man kepe noo logyng of gestes
straungers nor englysche men w!owte the gates of Caleys excep ij
58 THE CELY PAPERS. .
howssys synyd that ys serche and the water balys and eny man
that hath howssynge w” the gates ys warnyd to remeve hys
howsse as schorttly as he can yn to the towne and sett hyt there
where hym plese that he hath grownde and yff he doo nott soo
stond at hys owne aventure at syche tyme that schall come to be
pluckyd schorttly down or elles burnyd for the schortter warke and
betwyxte thys and that tyme non of them be soo hardy excep the
ij plasys affore rehersyd to loge noo man ower an nyght payne of
treson &c Item Syr plese hit yow to wytt that Syr Wylliam
Chanon that was logyd w' John Fowlleys ded he was beryd as on
Sonday last was and Syr Wylliam stappell pryste hath ys
benyweysse grauntyd be my lorde &c. Syr odder tydynges hawe
we non but almyghty hawe you yn Hys kepyng Wrytten at
Caleys the xiij day of Maye
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppffull master George
Cely marchaunte off stapull off
Calez being at Breges at the
stape ys clawe Soo hit did :
53
Richard Cely the younger
Riught interly whelbelovyd brother I recomend me harttely
onto you thankyng you of aull good brotherhod that Ze have
scheuyd to me at auli tymns Syr ze know whell that I have bene
in the northe contre and ther I have had grette scheyr of my
nowlde aqweyntans as the bryngar heyrof can informe you and as
for my noncle ys exseketurs has promysyd me and Plomton be the
faythe of ther bodys to be w” howr father her my hellmes and to
make a neynd w' hym and as I whente northe wharde I met
THE CELY PAPERS. 59.
Roger Wyxton a thyssyd Northenamton and he desyryd me to do
so myche as drynke wº hys whyfe at Laysetter" and after that I
met wº Wylliam Daulton and he gave me a tokyn to hys mother
and at Laysetter I met w" Rafe Daulton and he brahut me to hys
mother and ther I dely vyrd my tokyn and sche prayd me to come
to brekefaste on the morow and so I ded and Plomton bothe and
ther whe had a gret whelfar and ther whos feyr oste and I pray
yow thanke them for me Syr and ze be remembyrd whe thaulkyd
togydyr in hour bed of Dawltonys syster and ze ferryd the con-
dyscyons of father and brethyrn byt Zeneyd not I saw hyr and sche
whos at brekefaste wº hyr mother and ws sche ys as goodly a
zeunge whomane as fayr as whelbodyd and as sad as I se hany
thys vij Zeyr and a good haythe I pray God that hyt may be
inpryntyd in yur mynd to sette yowr harte ther Syr howrºather
and I comende togydyr in new Orchard on Fryday laste and a
askyd me many qwestyonys of gyn and I towlde hym aull as hyt
whos and he whos ryught sory for the dethe of the schlde" and I
toulde hym of the good whyll that the Whegystons and Dawltons
hows to yow and how I lykyd the Zenge gentyllwhoman and he
comaunded me to whryte to yow and he whowlde gladly that hyt
whor brohut abohut and that Ze laborde hyt betymys and I have
towllyd howe father of Schestyrs douter how that I whowlde fayne
be ther and howar father whos ryught glad of thys comenycacyon
Daultons mother comendes hyr to you and thankes you for the
kuynys that ze sente to hyr howr father has ressaywyd a letter
frome you wherby he undyrstond of the Salle ij sarplers and a plke
as for the mony as ys by yow he whyll that hyt ly be yow tyll
Sencyon marte and lette the mersars have the lengar days bothe
Browell and Paullmar and ther mony acordyng Syr I thanke you
at hyt plesehyd you to leve me Goos for he has don to me good
Sarves in thys gornay and I have delyvyrd to him xs to bryng hym
to yow. My godfather has be syke byt he ys whell mendyd thankyd
* Leicester.
* This is not ‘Margaret's ' baby. See date of August 29, 1482.
60 THE CELY PAPERS.
be God thys same day my loord “ys comyn to London to aske the
Ryng leve to go to the Rodes" for he ys sent for Syr I send you be
Goos a purs sche as whos gewyn me at Zeorke * and I pray yow by
for Alyson Myhell a mantell of fyn blake schankys for I have mony
ther for and sche comendes hyr to you. No mor to yow at thys
tyme Jhesu kepe you. Wrytyn at London the iiij" day of Juyn.
per yur brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Wnto my riught whelbelovyd brother
George Cely merchand of the
estapell of Callez be thys dd.
Rychard Cely the younger
g tº gº tº - º e º º
Riught whelbelovyd brother I recomend me onto you in as
lovyng whyes as hart con thynke informyng you at the makyng
of thys howr father and mothe ar in good heyl thankyd be God
I marwhell grettely that I have no wrytyng frome you syn Geyos."
departyd I whot not whethyr he be come to yow or note Syr my
loorde e and the turkepler * goys to the Rodys * togyddyr thay
pwrpos to be at Calles the xy day of Juyll he ys porpoSyd to take
be exchonge of howr father an cº or iſ and ze to delyver hyt at
a Sir John Weston. * Rhodes. • York.
d Joyce, the servant.
e Sir John Weston, and Sir John Kendall, who was “Turcoplerius Rhodi, et
Locum Tenens Magni Magistri in Italia, Francia, Anglia et Flandria.' (Rymer xii.
112.) The Turcoplerius was a Lieutenant to the Grand Master. Sir John Kendall
was made Prior to the Order of St. John in England in 1491. In 1480 the great
siege of Rhodes by the Turks had been successfully resisted. Early in 1481
Mohammed II. was preparing to lead a new expedition in person, but died on
May 3. Very likely the news of the abandonment of the expedition had not yet
reached England.
THE CELY PAPERS. 61
Bregys or Calles my loord prays you to gette hym as mony doketys
and rynyshe gyldyrns as ze may I whoulde wryte mor byt thys
day I departe into Cottssould. No more. Jhesu kep you. Wryte
at London the xxiiij day of Juyn.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Unto my brother George Cely mar-
chand of the estapell at Calles or
the marte be thys dol.
55
Rychard Cely the younger
I gret you whell and I pray yow heve my brother George Cely
be not comm to Callez that ze wyll sende thys box and my letter to
hym in aull the haste or hellys and ze knowe none sewyr man that
goys I pray you take an hors and go yowrsellfe to Bregys to my
brother and delyver hym them I have sent Hayre wº the wolflet
and barell and a wyrkyn of befe and a barell candyll I purpos to
be wº scoostely.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Thys letter be delyvyrd to Goos
Sarvant w" George Cely merchand
of the staple at Callez.
56
Rychard Cely the younger
© - 0 & - tº e g tº
Ryught interely whelbelovyd brother I recomend me winto yow
w" aull myne harte informyng yow that at the makyng of thys
howr father and mother ar in good heyil and sendys yow ther
62 THE CELY PAPERS.
blessynges Syr I send you Hayne [in Mwndunyellys Schypl" and
I have bohut a nox for yow hyt coste xvi and Ipvrpose to sell
hys tallow and skyn and by therw" candyli and I have sent you by
Hayn a borell of candyll wher in ys xiiij dosyn and an hawlfe a
dosyn of x the li. and ij dosyn vi le li. and aull the remenant
cownter candyll of v" q" the li. I send yow by Hayne yowr whyt
fryse and ij bytes and a barell befe and wyrkyn wº the same Syr
my loord has made howyr ve" to resave of Dombardes at Bregys
in flemysche mony the queche ys payabull w” in vi days after the
syt my loor pwrpos to send yow hys letteryrs to scheu and ze to
ressave thys mony I porpos to be wyt yow at my lordys comyng
and then I Schaull informe yow of many thynges Syr as for Haynys
passayge ys payd for and yowr geve aull so no mor to yow.
Jhesu kepe yow. Wryttyn at London xxj day of July.
I pray yow se to yowr befe at hyt take no harme when hyt
cwm to Callez. -
per your brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Wnto my whel belovyd brother
George Cely merchant of the
estapell at Callez.
57
Jhesu Miiij"iiijºj
Riught interly whelbelovyd brother I recommend me harttely
onto yow informing you at the makyng of thys howr father and
mother ar in good hell and sendy's yown ther blessynges Syr my
loord comendy's hym harttely winto yow and thankys yow of your
letter and syche tydynges as he knowys a wryttys yow parte and
he prays yow harttely that ze wholl be good factur for hym at thys
tyme as ze have beyn in tyme passy as hever he may desarve hyt
* The words between the brackets crossed out.
THE CELY PAPERS. 63
Syr he has made howyr wº Lombardys to Brogys apon ve" qwerof
he sendes to you iij lettyrs of exchonge the qwyche he prays yow
to schow them for thay ar payabull wº in viij days after the syhyt
and ther ys in the same box iſ lettyrs myssne my loorde prays yow
to delyver them to the sayd Lombardes at Brogys I whollde not
avyse yow to ressave none of thys mony tyll my loor cum hymselfe
he prays you to dessyer them to make hym fayr payment at the
day and be whowlde fayne that ze wher at Callez at hys comyng
he pywrpos to brynge wº hym ij or iij cº of starlyng mony has a
letter of passayge for the serche for hymselfe and 1 parsonys he
prays yow that ze wyll make serche in the coletry or ony syche
plasse as ze thynke that docettes wenycyons may be getyn he
purpos to be at Calles the iij day of Augwste at the fardest and
ther comys wº hym master twrkepler " Syr Wylliam Wheston " Syr
James Dane w” many mo godfellows and at that tymy I Schaull
tell you many thynges I longe sore to speke wº yow. No more to
you at thys tyme. Wryt at London on Sent Tanys day.”
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Wnto my whelbelovyd brother
George Cely merchant of the
estaple beyng at Calles or Bregys
be thys letter or box dd.
58
Rychard Cely the elder
Jhesu Miiijiiijºj
I gret you wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from you wryte
at Caleys the xxv day of Jule the weche I have wyll understand
and that ye have be at the marte and resayvyd pert of my detys
• Sir John Kendall.
* A Knight of St. John, brother to Sir John Weston the Prior.
* St. Anne's Day, July 26.
64 THE CELY PAPERS.
and Zeve hover be exschange to mersers my money for the weche
I am wyl plesyd and I have resayvyd of John London Robard
Brone purser a packe of canvase acordyng to youre wrytyng also
I fely be youre lecter ye avyse me for to by woll in Cottys-
wolde for soche I Schall have of John Cely ys gaderyng xxx
sacke and of Wyll Medewynter of Norlache" lx sacke, and I am
avysyd for to by mor but woll in Cottyswolld ys at grete pryse
onny Zere thys vijzere I fele be youre wrytyng that my Lorde of
Send Jonns” wolde have a C or to flemeche be exschaunge for ij
zere day for soche I promysyd to my lorde for vijº the nobyll but I
here no more thereof werefor at the comyng of my lorde at Caleys
or at Brygys I wyll ye make an exSchaunge wyt my lorde of
Send Johnns and he wyll desyar for to have a C* fl. or more I
wolld fayne plese ys lordschepe for to hese hym lyke as ye wryt
t;0 rºle.
In the handwriting of Rychard Cely the younger:
Syr howr father has whryt to you hys intent in the for partte
of thys letter and my loord whowl pray you to take the labor to
Bregys for hys matter and he pvrpos for whery sartten to departe
frome London the iij day of Auguste and at hys cowmyng I Schawll
informe yow of many thynges. No mor to you. Whrytten at
Tondon the laste day of Jully.
Addressed (by Richard Cely the younger): Unto
my riught whelbelovyd brother
George Cely merchand of the estaple
at Caleys or Bregys be thys dd.
|
59
Bedfelow I comaund me to you and I thank you hertely of the
good lodgeng that ye ſand us at Derford “ I had forgettyn to have
spokyn with you that and ye myght for to a provyded for me a fur
* Northleåch. b Sir John Weston. * Dartford.
THE CELY PAPERS. 65
of boge on of the fynest that ye can feynd in Byrgesse I trust be
the cownsell of my cosyn your brother and you that and ther be
any fyne in Byrgesse that ye wyll fynd hit and at your comyng ye
shalbe trewlye payed therfor what somever it cost. And I pray
as hertely as can that as Sone as ye may that ye hast you homward
for heyr is a heve howseold consyderyng that my lord and his
feloship ys departed. No more to you at this tyme but Almyghty
God have yow in hys kepyng. At Seyntz Johnz " the iiij" day
of August.
I pray you lat maister Wylliam my lord Chapelen undorstond
that the parson of the church within Newgate” that is in my lordes
gyfte ys dessesced this howre.
By your bedfelow Syr
Roland Thornburght.
Addressed: To my worshipfull bedfelow George
Sele this be delyvered.
60
Ryght rewerent and worschypfull fader affter all dew recomen-
dacyon pretendyng I recomeownde me unto yow in the most
lowlyest whysse that I con or may Forder mor plesyth ytt you to
understond that it ys now condessendyd that ther * shall be
an partysseon of xvi of the pownd of the debentyrs and byllis of
xviij monthis and xviij and obllygacyons of whollis bowght all in
hon casse &c. her ys moche adow" us at Calles and ther ys grett
uttraunsse of wholl as Thomas Graynger con informe yow her ys
mone hottraunsse of fellis nor whas nott sen the martej sawe newer
Hollendars make whorsse payment in my dayys God amend ytt ze
* Clerkenwell. * St. Nicholas Shambles.
* Written above ‘heny man’ crossed out.
66 THE CELY PAPERS.
shall ressey we an byll clossyd herein of the sale of iij sarplers
sowlld to John Wanderhay of Mekelyn of yowr medell cottes ytt ys
so that Iloke for my lord of Sent Jonys * dayly and at his comyng
I wholl breng hym appon the way or do as my broder shall avysse
me to do for the mayr ys porpossyd to departe an Fryday com
viij dayys and I am porpossyd to come hovyr to you that same
tyme myselffe and than shall I show unto you be mowthe many
thynges &c. and so con the brenger herof plesythe ytt you to
undyrstond that yowr wholl ys an whardyd for good Cottes be
Wylliam Bretten and Harry Jon ther was non sarplers cast
howght but sen an ij" showe of hoder tydynges I con non wrytt
unto you but Jhesu kepe you Amen Wrett at Calles the V day of
Augost. -
per yowr son
George Cely.
Addressed : Unto my ryght whorschypfull Fader
Rychard Cely merchant of the
stapull of Callez at London in
Marte Lane so it dol.
61
tº e º 6 - © tº $ tº
Right worchipfull Syr and Broder after all dew recommen-
dacyon hayd I recomaund me unto you and unto my Broder and
yours Rychard Cely. Further more Syr plese yow to wit that
here hese be Gysbreth van Wynbarow and I have sold hym the
vj sarplers of the Cottes old wooll that freeth hymsellff acordyng
to your remembrance alsoy Syr wenyng to me that they wold have
hayd Syr your new wool for they causyd me to kep hyt iiij or
w dayes and then the sayd the staple therof was to schoortte not-
wythstandyng had they not bene I had soold partt therof unſto
Arnold Johnson from Andwarpe and as for fells I can Seell non
* Sir John Weston.
THE CELY PAPERS. 67
ytte God knowes I wold be ryght glayd to do that that myght be
plesur unto you in Sayelles or Oder wayes and yf ony Holonders
come done I schall do my best in sayelles to my otterst poyer
boyth in wooll and ych feelles. I remember well that yow desered
to my best for Wylliam Maryon felles and Syr ytt Schall nott be so
forgetten and Gud wyll And Syr wat plese yow that youre wyll
schall be don w” such money as I have by me yt schall be redy
for yow whersum ever ze wyll have ytt wheder ytt be at Calley,
Bruges or Andwarpe Syr they laytter end of next weke I purpose
in to Flaunders Alsoy Syr I have wretten your affor thys that I
have sent yow yowr gounysse the wych I trost ze have resevyd or
thys tyme alsoy Syr your horson doyth weell God sawe them and Syr
thys weke have we hayd in iij loodes heey for you Syr as towchyſng]
all oder maytters Ischall do my best and hath done to sum of
them and I have reseyved of Prestun XX* fls Andwarp and I spoken
w" the oders that ow you money but yette can I geet no moch
and swerte thereof that I shalbe wº at my plesur and the byll ys
mayd in my name and he sayeth wher yow come Ze Schuld have a
bargyn of hym to pay me agayne &c. Syr, I pray yow that I may
be recomaundyd unto my mayster your fayder and moder. No
more to yow at thys tyme but our Lord send yow lang lyff and
gud to His plesur and yours. At Calley w” owt gattes the XXij
day of September.
Your Broder
John Dalton.
Alsoy Syr I forgeet not your hawkes but her comes non but
the farest that I may geet for money I Schall send yow wº Godes
grace. -
Addressed : Unto my interly beluffyd brother
Jorge Cely merchaunt at the
staple of Calles.
So it don.
68 ° THE CELY PAPERS.
62
e tº $ 4 x ç ç tº
Whelbelovyd I grehyt yow whell and as for yowr pesse of
gowlde whe cannot fynde hyt Zeyt methyr heyr no whord of my
bowhay I have a cheys frome my mother to send yow I marwhell
grettely that we have no whrytyng of my brothers comyng to
Calleys and as for Py ys whell mendyd and the Thorsday after
yowr departtyng the gray b" whelpyd and had xiiij and on the
Sattyrday next afftyr sche dyed sodenly and x of her whelpys and so
iiij be kepyd as whell as thay can be Geoos I pray the send me the
aulmen dagar that my brother gave me and send me whorde Zefe
Wesylton sellyd heny of my brothers hors whyll he wher heyr or
not and commend me to Wessylton and aull good fellows, no more.
Whryt at London the xvi day of Octobur.
per Rychard Cely the Zeungar.
I pray the sende my brothers letter to hym in haste.
Addressed: Unto Gese sarwhant wº George Cely
marchand of the estapell at Calleys.
63
Ryght worschyppfull Syr after dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yow doyng yow to wytt that be the grace of
God Ze Schall receyve of the Mary Grace of London, John Lokyng-
ton master vi packes felles whych lyeth nex the maste after warde
loweste and nexte abowe them lyeth v packes felles of Thomas
Graunger of the vi packes fell beth vexxviij caste small tale wynter
THE CELY PAPERS. 69
felles of London markyd wyth ynceke the marke ys a C and cer-
teyn somer felles the marke ys of them a O whyche vi packys ye
muste receyve and paye the frayte. No more unto att thys tyme
but Jhesu kepe you. Wrytte at London the xxvi day of October.
t per yowr servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To George Cely merchaunte of the
stapell of Calys.
soo hit dò.
64
Jhesu
Worshipfull Coyssyn wyt du recomendassions premysit it is so
I come to Rome the xv day of Octobre and was ryt welcome w” one
nobleman saying thay sawe not hys Sye [sic] & solequelly a felly-
chyppe for so manny and in that aray come howte of Ynglonde the
pope hollynes made me gret cher and wallde a sente me home
agayn and follet me of al mannor abedyensses or comandementt
made to me or motte be made bot I, Syr desyret is hollynes at I
mette do my wayage sennes I was so far fourthe and so is ollyness
sendes me as is imbassador wyt materis of gret importanss I truste
do be the sonner a come be Godes grace Coyssyn as toshith the
mater of the staple Ryscharde Herzon the kynges proctor and I as
don in that mater as meche as motte be don to fulfylle the kynges
intente and the wel of the marchantes of the staple for I take God
to recorde and the brynger of this gere at I dede in is as mess
as I wolde affe don and they ad gyn me a gret gud as thay sal se
al the remedyis and demaundes at the Sayde Herzon makys I sende
hayme ben the sayde frere I promesse Zow heisgretly favouret and
he wolde a made a fol werke and remedy an not son be fonde
Coyssyn I pray zow sende me worde of your welfare and comande
70 THE CELY PAPERS.
me to my fader and Zours and your moder and Jhesu keppe yow.
At Rome the xxvijday of Octobre 1487.
Be your coyssyn Syr John
- Weston Pryor of Santjohns.
Addressed: To is worshypfull Coyssyn Jorge
Sellay this leter be deleverde at
Callez.
65
Jhesu
Ryght rewerent Syr and my specyall good frend y recommend
ne unto yow evere mor deseyryng to her of yowre well far Forder
mor plesed yow to wete that y have schypped in the Mare of
Raynam,” John Danyell beyng master, vi packys halffe lvij somer
London felles contaynyng M'M'vjclvij felles the wyche be by-
stowyd in the sayd Scheppe all afor the mast and lowyst abafte the
maste and yowre broder Recherd Cely ys ys [sic] felles bestowyd
abaft the mast upon myn and ther have no more men felles in the
sayd schyppe but yowre broder and y ther be of hys felles iiij
packys xlj felles the wyche felles y pray yow that ye woll ressay
for me and to do housse them the on halffe in on housse and
the toder hallffe in anoder housse and that wer met for the
marchant beyer and y pray yow that ye woll paye the freyght and
all Scheche oder sostys as Schallron up on them. No mor unto yow at
thystym but the Trenyte have yow in hys blessed kepyng. Wreten
& e g tº ... t e º is
per Wylliam Maryon. *...*
Addressed: Unto George Cely marchaunt of the
stapall at Callez thes letter be
dely verde.
2. 2.
Of the schippyng of M'M'vjºlvijfelles of Wylliam Maryons.
" Rainham, in Essex. See Letter of October 31, 1481.
THE CELY PAPERS. - 7 |
66
Ryght worshyppffull Syr after dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend unto yow lettyng yow understonde that my master
hath schyppyd hys felles at the portte of London now at thys
schyppyng yn October yn the yere abowesayde whych felles ze
muste receyve and paye the frayghte fyrste be the grace of God in
the Mary of London, Wylliam Sordyvale master, Vij packes sum
ijmi vijº fell lying be afte the maste “j pack lyeth upprest and sum
of that packe ys somer felles markyd w' an O and than lyeth iij
packys felles of Wylliam Daltons and under them lyeth the toder
vj packys of my masters. Item yn the Cristower of Raynam *
Harry Wylkyns master, vij packes and a hallffe cottes fell sum
iijM'pelt lying be afte the maste and under them lyeth aijc felles of
Wether Fyldes, Wylliam Lyndys man of North Hampton and the
partyschon ys made wº small cordys. Item yn the Thomas of
Maydeston Harry Lawsson master Vj pokes sum ij M' iiijc pelt
wherof lyeth v packys nexte before the maste under hatchys * noo
man abowe them and j pack lyeth yn the sterne shete of the vi
packes felles beth sum somer felles markyd w” an O lyke wyse.
Item yn the Mary Grace of London John Lokyngton master vi pack,
sum iſ M' iiij c pelt lying be affte under the felles of Thomas
Graunger, the partySchon betwyxte them ys made w” rede, sum of
the felles my master hath Schyppyd at thys tyme, XXVj packes and
a hallffe wherof be wynter felles of the contrey v clvj felles and they
be markyd w'an C. and of somer felles ther schuld be v je and moo
but parte of them be lefte behynde for we hawe ij packes we cowde.
hawe noo pwoyntment for them and all the somer felles be markyd
w" an O. Item Syr ye Schall receyve of the Mary of Raynam,”
John Danyell master, yowr male wº yowr gere and a esex chesye
* The Mary was apparently a single-masted vessel with deck cargo.
* Rainham, in Essex. * A single-masted vessel, but decked.
72 THE CELY PAPERS.
markyd w' my masters marke. Item Syr ye schall receyve of the
Crystower of Raynam Harry Wylkyns master, a fardell of pelltes
markyd w” incke my godfader Maryons marke and wº chauke my
masters marke and parte of them be my masters and parte my
godfader Maryons and my masters be markyd w' a C. No more
unto yow at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow. Wrytten at London
the laste day of October.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Item Syr ye schall receyve be the grace of God of the Myhell
of Hull Andrew Goodes master j pack fell conteynyng iiijc felles
wherof sum of them be of the vic Xliij Somer felles and ye muste
paye noo frayte for them for the frayte was payd at London.
Item Syr ye schall receyve be the grace of God of the Thomas
of Newhythe * Robard Ewen master j pack hallf a c xiiijfelles lying
nexte the maste affte warde under the felles of Thomas Bettsons
and a few broken felles and pesys bownde togeder marky'd wº my
master marke and they lyeth uprest nexte the maste and they he
the laste end of all my masters felles, sum to all yn packys xxviij
packys and a hallff lxiiij felles.
Addressed: To George Cely merchaunte of the
stapell of Caleys be thys dd.
67
Jhesu Miij"iiijºj
Ryght worschypfull Syr After dew recommendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yow lettyng yow wytt that be the grace of God
ye schall receyve of the Thomas of Newhythe" Robard Ewen
master j pack hallff a c xiiij felles and a lytyll fardell of felles that
ys alowyd for iij felles with the costomer and the sayd felles lyeth
nexte be afte the maste lowest under the felles of Thomas Bettson
* Newhithe on the Medway.
THE CELY PAPERS. 73
and the lytyll fardell lyeth juste to the maste uprest of my masters
felles whych felles ye muste receyve and paye the frayght. No
more unto yow at this tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Written at
London the second day of November.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To George Cely merchaunte of the
staple of Caleys be this letter
delyverd.
On the Dorse: Of shippyng of iiijºlxiiij felles.
68
Rychard Cely the younger
Riught whell belovid brother I recomend me whto yow wyth
aull myne hart informeyng yow at the makyng of thys howr
fathe and mother were whell comforttyd and sendys yow ther
blessynges hyt whos so that be the menys of Brandon howr father
and I wher indyttyd for scleyng of an hartte that whos drewyn
into Kent the queche whe nevyr se ner knew of and thys day I
have ben wº master Mwngewmtre * and gevyn hym the whalew of
a pype whyn to have ws howt of the boke hevir hyt be schewyd
the Kyng and so he has promysyd me and to be good master to
howr father and ws in the matter betwhene Brarddon [sic] and hus
John Froste Foster brohut me to hys mastyrschyp and aqwaynttyd
me w” a gentyll mane of hys hos name ys Ramston that ys a ny
mane to master Mongewmbre and so I mwste informe hym my
matters at aull tymys and he whyll sche them to hys master &c
Syr I have ressavid a letter frome yow wryte at Calleys wherby I
whdyrstonde ze have pywrwayd x" in carolus grottes I pray yow
* Sir Thomas Montgomery, Member of the Privy Council to Edward IV. and
Steward of the King's Forest of Essex.
74 THE CELY PAPERS.
send them at the next passayg for I pvrpos schorttely into
Cottysowllde and I have informyd my godfather that ze have made
for hym w Wylliam Browell xxxj" and I thanke God that Hepwt
hyt in yowr mynd to have the c xxx" howt of the whystelers *
handys when I whos laste wº yow at Bregys Syrhyt whosso that
when Whykyng" whos deyd and another whos chossyd howr father
whos sor kawlyd apon and byt at Chary" whos bettyr knowyn
howre father hade beyn scheryfe &c howr father wyll that ze by
- vi" stykes more canvas at thys marte and I whdyrstonde that ze
have sowlde yowr grehyt gray hors and I am ryught glade therof
for iſ ys as good as xx I windyrstonde that ze have a fayre hawke
I am ryught glade of hyr for I trywste to God sche schall make
yow and me ryught grehyt sporte Zefe I whor sewyr at what
passayge ze whollde send her I whowlde fett hyr at Dowyr and
kepe hyr tyll Ze cwm a grehyt inforttewin ys fawlyn on yowr
beche for sche had xiiij fayr whelpys and aftyr that sche hade
whelpyd sche whelde newyr hett mette and so sche ys deyd and
aull her whelpys byt I tryste to pwrwhay agayn yowr comyng as
fayr and as good to plesse that genttyll man I windyrstond ze
pwrpos to be wº ws for Crystemes and therof whe be riught glade
and whe schaull make mery whethyr Brandon wyll or not be the
grasse of God and as for Py ys as hartty as hevir I sau hym and
in ressenabull good plyte and hole Wylliam Cely do ys partte
whell in kepyng of hym and as for howr pensyon in fornyng
whall ys in Schaull be payde wythin thys iiij days Syr heyr aftyr
aperythe howr father schypyng and Schypys namys and mastyrs
Item in the Mary of London Wylliam Sordywoll
master vij packys cottsowllde fellys bestowyd
behynde the maste vi be wridyr holl" and a
packe lyes wowrmwste apon Dawlttons behynde
the maste
Ul IQTY18,
xxj“viij fellz
* Money-changer. Wisselen, in Flemish, “to exchange.’ See May 13, 1482.
William Wikyng, Sheriff of London, died 1481; Richard Chaury succeeded him.
• Below the deck. - -
THE CETLY PAPERS. 75
Summa
xxx" fellz
Item in the Crystower of Rayname" Hary Wyl-
kyns master vij packys and an hawlfe º
thay ly behynd the maste and no mane abowe
th €IQ e & & * * sº & & & e g e & ſº
Item in the Tomas of Maydston Hary Lawson
master vi packys cottysowlde medyllyd wº somer
London fellys markyd w' O thay ly befor the
maste whdyr hatches and parte behynde Zevyn
next the maste in a pyle as brod as ij fellys be
Summa
xx"iij fellz
lon g
ton master vi packes felly's qwherof be vclvj
whynter London thay be markyd w' C. and the
rembnant be Cottsowlde thay ly behynde the
maste and Granger apon them and Rade betwyn
Summa
xx°iiij fellz
them . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item in the Myhell of Lyll,” Andrew Good master
j packe fellz cottsoulde medyllyd wº somer -
London markyd w' O. thay ly behynde the biiijº fellz
maste wpurmoste and I have payde hyme hys
hole frayte for that packe fellys . . . . .
Item in the Mary Grasse of London John º
Item in the Thomas of Newhy the * Robard Hewan
master a packe lxiiij fellz Cottysowlde thay ly
behynde the maste and Bett Sony's fellz ly º fellz
them
Summa total of howr fathers fellz. . . . . xjMiiijºlxiiij fellz
Item in somer London fellz . . . . . . v.jclxiij fellz
Item in whyntter London . . . . . . . velvj fellz
Item in Cottsowlde . . . . . . . . . XM'ijcxlv. fellz
* Rainham, in Essex. * Hull. See Letter of Oct. 31.
* Newhithe on the Medway.
76 THE CELY PAPERS.
Item in the Mary of Rayname John Dangell master
I schyppyd iiij packys xlj fellz of yowrs and
myn thay ly behynde the maste iij packys of
them be Cottsowlde and whon packe xlj fellz be)xvjcxlj fellz
Wharwykeschyre thay ly wopurmwste I pray
yow lay them by themselfe for hurtteyng of the
tother sorte . -
Item my godfather has vi packys a hawlfe lvij) Summa
fellz in the same schype and no mane has a fell ºxxviclvij Somer
in that schype byt whe my godfadyr and I .) London fellz
And I have spokyn w! Wylliam Dawlton and schewyd hym the
clawys that ze whrat of Laysetter * in and he whos riught glade
therof I whosse hys geste on Hawlhalou hevyn in howlde Fysche
Strette at dynar wº hym and Charllys Wyllars I pray yow thanke
the at ther comyng to Calles Syr I whowllyd fayn heyr some
good tydyngys of yowr matter that Claysse Demowll has in hande
No more to yow at thys tyme Jhesu kepe yow Whrtte [sic] at
London the V day of Nowembyr.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed : Unto my whell belovyd brother
George Cely merchant of the
stapell be at Caleys so dil.
69
Jhesu
Ryght reverent Syr and my specyall frende I recomaund me
unto you ever mor deseyryng to her of yowre wellfare for yt hat be
sayd unto us her that ye hath be sor seke but y truste to Good ye
be now amended my master yowre fader and my maysterys yowre
* Leicester.
THE CELY PAPERS. 77
modere hat ben ryght hevy for yow after tym that they hard that
ye war seke ther coude nothyng make them mery, nat tyell yt
warre Alhalowhyn heven heven [sic] that my master hat wrytyng
from yow also my maysterys yowre moder and yowre broder Rechard
thay have had a lytell fette of sekenes to but now I thanke God
they be amended and all holl and so I trust to God ye be also Syr
I pray yow that ye woll remember my bellys of the holondorys
the weche that be payabell now at thys could marte and Zeff so be
that ye ressayed I could pray yow that ye would bestowhyd no
mader of thys sum yerys growyng yeff so be that ye can beyhyt for
a nobell the c and yeff ye can nott bey for a nobell a c. than I pray
yow that ye woll by me non but yeff yt owte unto som good man
and yeff Rechard Robard Eyryk ys schyld have any red of any
mony now at thys mart I pray yow that ye woll delyver unto hem
as mesche as he woll have and I pray yow lyke as I have wreten
unto yow dyverys tymes her beform that ye woll bey for me now at
thys mart a xx or a xxx yelles of fyn halffter for to make me
schetys therwyt and also that ye woll bey for me a dagar seche as
ye thymke ys good for me also Syr yeffe my wenter felles be nat
ysowld wan ye com hover into Hynglond now at Screstemas y
pray yow that ye woll Speke unto Thomas Grager and yeff hym the
chard and the gydyng of my felles the wylys that ye be her in
Ynglond Also Syr ye Schall understond that Peleppe Seller ys
desesyd her at London and therfore my master yowre fader would
that ye would nat lat seche thynkys as ye have in yowre handys in
plege for to do parte owte of yowre handys tyell ye be sewer of
seche mony as ye Schuld have of hem &c. Wreten at London the
viij day of November &c.
per Wylliam Maryon.
Addressed: Unto George Cely marchant of the
stapull at Calles thys letter be
dely verde. -
On the Dorse : Lettyrs.
78 THE CELY PAPERS.
70
Rychard Cely the younger
Ruight whellbelovyd brother I recomende me hartteley unto
yow informyng you at the makyng of thys howr father and mother
and whe aull ar in good heyll and so whe treste that ze be Syr I
J have whryttyn to yow dyvarys lettyrs byt I have of them none
anssor the laste I sente be Kay therin wher many maters and
amonge aull I pray you remembyr the xli that Zepwrvayd at the .
laste marte and send hyt at the nexte passayge for I had beyn in
Cottyssowlde hen thys byt for tarryng on that mony and as for
howre matter that howr father and I and Loutlay wher in dyttyd
for whos be Brandons sormyse that whe schulde dryve an harte
howyr Temys the qveche whos sclayn at Darteford and that whe
schulde scle ij hynde caulluys and aull thys he dyde hymsellfe wº
myche more and ys in dyttyd hymselfe for the detthe of ij harttes
and sartte cawluys hyt ys so that Syr Tomas Mongehowmbre” ys
comyng to Calleys wharde and so he whyll consent Tomers” for to
fete my lady I pray you at hys comyng whate apon hym and
thanke hym for us for he has beyn howr spessyall good master in
thys mater and has promysyd me to contenew and labord for for
[sic] us and thorrow hys labor I am cwm in quaytans of dyvars
whow.rschypfull men that wyll myche for ws for hys sake I gawhe
hym of howr fathers pwrs an e s. and Ramston a gentyllmane of
hys iijs. iiijd. I pray yow make hym good scheyr for he has beyn
good cellyssytor for ws and he brynge ys yow a letter frome me
and whe whoulde be ryughte glade and ze myhyt be redy to cwm.
in cowmpany of my lady wº master Mongewmbre for he pwrpos to
be heyr afor Cyrstemes and as for howre for sayde matter whe
have howre supar Sedyas for aull iij and howr father ys fully
* Sir Thomas Montgomery. * Sic. It means, ‘Come to St. Omer.”
THE CELY PAPERS. - 79
agreyd that Ze schawll have howyr at yowr depattyng ageyn Hectyr
and four [sic] for the lewhenftenawt of Gravenyng * in recwm-
pense of yow bothe for he wyll kepe no mo grewandes a whyll be
greabyll to kepe a hawke and spaynellys and so I have my loordys
hawke and a kepar byt he cwmys not heyr tyll I cum howt of
Cottyssowlde for he and sche goys wºme to Attyrbery" and as for
yowr hawke I cowde not kepe hyr my besynes whos. So gret I
have sowlde hyr for vij nobullys byt whone nobyll ys pwt on yowr
wyll at yowr comyng sche whos not hawlfe in Samyde I whowlde
awyse yow to bryng anothyr wº yow and ze may grhyt hyr gowd
schepe hyt ys informyd howr father at ther ys myche Normandy
canwhas at Calles he wyll that ze by for hym iij" awnys and send
them be the wholschypys and as for tydynges I cane none byt my
Zeunge lady of Zeurke “ ys deyd no mor to yow whryttyn at
London the xxvi day of Nowhembyr. -
- * per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
howr mothe whowlde the ze wyllyd by for hyr
mor greyn gynger and a qvhattyrn safron
Addressed: Unto my ruight whellbelovyd
brother George Cely merchand
of the estapell beyng at Calleys
so dol:
71
Rychard Cely the younger
tº e º ſº ..., & © tº e
Riught whell belovyd brother I recomend me unto yow
plesse hyt yow to whete that I have tarryd heyr in London for
* Gravelines. * Adderbury, in Oxfordshire.
* Lady Anne Mowbray, the nominal wife of the child Richard, son of
Edward IV. - f -
80 THE CELY PAPERS.
whryttyng frowm yow thys xiiij days hevyr syn Kay departtyd
and thys day I ressayvyd a letter frowme yow be Randowlfe the
stapell clarke I sent yow a letter be Flemynges mane, anothyr be
Ray, a thyrd be Benet Trotter, aull iij Sowndyng whone matter
&c Syr I undyrstond be yowr letter that aull the whowlschypys
ar cwm to Calles savyng vij qwher of ij be spent I trywste to God
that the Crystower of Rayname * be cwm to Calleys be thys and as
for howre matter of indyttemente whe be thore and have howr
sewpsedyas undyr sele of hoffes of my loorde of Essex” the Kynges
lewhetenawnt of the forreste byt hyt have coste myche mony byt
and Sur Thomas Mongewmbre * had not beyn howr goode master
hys wholld acoste myche mor and my loorde of Essex hasse
confermyd and subferyvyd hundyr hys syngnet the same whryttyng
that my loorde of Sent Johnys" gav me and thys same daye I
departe into Cottysowllde I may tarry no leng and ther rydys wº
me Wylliam Cely apon Py your hors and I have wº me my
fawkener wº my lordes hawke that noyn of howr hows ken of I
sau heyr newyr fle Zeyt the fawkener and hawke schawll be wº
howr father and hus at my cwmyng home schepe dys woe in
Englelonde No more unto yow at thys tyme Jhesu kepe yow.
Whyttyn at London the xxviij day of Nowhembyr. - -
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Unto my whell belovyd brother
George Cely marchand of the
stapell at Calleys be thys delyiverd.
* Rainham, in Essex.
* Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, Master of the Royal Forests south of Trent,
November 18, 1461. He died in 1483.
* Sir Thomas Montgomery, Steward of the King’s Forest of Essex.
* Sir John Weston.
THE CELY PAPERS. 81
72
Rychard Cely the younger
Probably written in 1481, Richard Cely the elder being alive.
Ruight whelbelovyd brother, I recomende me unto yow as
lovyngly as harte can devyse or thynke plese hyt yow to undyr-
stond thys same day I ressayvyd a letter frowm yow be Kay and
the fayreste sor" hawke thys day wº in aull Yngelond the qveche
schaul be as whelkepyd tyll ze cwm be the grase of God and I
have yowr box wº saulwe hyt schall be whell kepyd tyll Ze cwm.
and I am ryughte glade of your apwnttemente and pVrpos to be
heyr at Sente Tomas tyde. Syr I sente yow a lettyr by Robard
Flemyngys man by the quºyche ze myte heyr of aull Owr Schypynge
and many hother maters at has beyn to me laborous and Owr
father and ws cwstelew. Syr I pray yow send me the x" that ye
whrate to me Ze had pVrwhayde in carlys grottes. I porpoSyd to
be yn Cottysowlld wº in iij daye after the dat of thys byt for
taryng for that x" byt hyt cwm wº in thys xij dayes I am hawlfe
shamyd hellys be my promys and ther for I pray yow for God
sake rememyr my pywr honeste. Syr howr father whyryttys to
yow an letter I awyse yow loke threon and undyrstonde hyt
whell for he thynkes the whorllde quhessy and ze ar whelknowyn
and therfor he whowlde that ze gehart not yowrselfe to hofton
to Bregys rather he had levyr ze sent Geos and as for tydynges I
can whrytte yow noyn byt hyt ys sayd ther Schawlbe a cownsell
and a parlemente sone after. Syr I have ressayvyd my lorddys"
hoby and I Schawll have the hawke and I hawe a goode kepar of
my nowyn pwrwyans byt I pywrpos to have hym and that hauke to
Melcheburne “ and leve yowr mehyg wº what kyn fawkyner at
* Lat. Sorus or saurus, a hawk of a year old.
* Sir John Weston.
° Melchbourn, in Bedfordshire, where was a Preceptory of the Hospitallers.
G.
82 THE CELY PAPERS.
Bwshay” or hellys to have her wºme in to Cottysould. Plumar
has promysyd me to brynge me to my loorde of Essex and I to
schew hym that my loorde gave me at Barwyke" I undyrstond that
my sayd loorde Sayce that he newyr gave Brandon no powher I
schall whryte mor playnely to yow be my nexte letter. I have
delyvyrd Kay iijs acordyng to yowr whryttyng and vid mor
becaus he says he whos robbyd be the whay of iijs, byt the thevys
gave hym vij" ageyn . . . he delyvyrd me the hawkes in savete
and he sayd Ze spake to master . . .te and marschaull for yowr
Sarwantes and ze had them grawnttyd . . . ve Doche pepwll whos
pwt hut of Calles No more wryt at London . . . . day of
Nowhembyr.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: Unto my whellbelovyde brother
George Cely marchand of the
stapell at Calleys dd.
73 _r
Jhesu
Worschipfull Broder after all dew recommendacyon hayd I
recommaund unto yow &c. Further mor Syr it ys so that we
lack pelltes her and we have sent for to Sent Tamos" and ther we
bene promesyd to have ij c for yow and I have sent to Bryges and
to Sandwych for mopelltes for we must have mo for yow and Syr
Robard Byngham sent to me for iiij nobles of queyt rent for the
ground ze have bowght of Andrew Howes and I told hym I know
not therof yff it wer your dewte to do I wold answer thertto
wherfor I pray yow of answer, alsoy Syr it ys soo that Botrell
hase be uncurtese in hes dedis for he hath thrawn in at your wooll
house wendow dengke among yowr felles and syn that tyme he
* Bushey, in Herts. * Berwick, in Essex. • St. Omer.
THF (FI.Y
hase qeffun a man that spredyd the dongke abrood iij or [sic]
stripes and toke hes forke frome hym albeit I have spoken wº hym
and he hes uncurtes in his saying for the sayd Botrell has bene owt
of towne unto thys same day and no Syr I schall schew the matter
to ye lewtenant and so forth to the consell purpossyd No more
to yow at thys tyme but Jhesu kep you. At Calles the xix day
Yours to my power
John Dalton.
Addressed: To my interly beluffid brother
George Cely merchaunt at the
s|tappel of no beyng in London
in Marke Lane be it don.
74
Jhesu.
By the reference to thºr ºcent death of Richard Cely the elder this letter belongs
to the year 1482, Aſºº
Ryght intº { & Broder after all dew recomendacyon I
recomaunde met * 2°
Syr I have receves
Sºj letters from yow by the wych letters I onder-
stand of your grett hevenes for your farder on whose sole God have
mercy. Furthermore Syr it is so that Gysbreth van Wimbragh
hayth bene her syn yow departyd and he wylle here agayne he
Sarplers gottes woolle of yours on the wych I have taken a gode
peny of hym for alsoy syr here came non Holanders syn yow went
but won felyschip of Delff the wych I kod seell non flecſes] and no
syn we have made bylles of xiijº iiij" on the sarplers the wych must
beſsent ovyr in to Ynglond and ther payd at plesur your faders
byll at plesur amontes unto xv" vi. viij" ster: your broder Rychards
Aliii. ster: and Wylliam Maryon byll iij" x, viij" ster: Alsoy Syr
G 2
*f




LY PAPERS.
syn yt ys soo as it is of my mayster your fayder in the reverence
of God take it pacyenly and hurt nott yoursell for that God wyll
have done no mane may begense. Alsoy Syr all your felles here
don well but Ze Schall onderstand that we lacke peltes and here is
non thow that bene be at xx" a dossene Alsoy Syr syn yow departyd
I have bene wº my broder Wylliam Dalton at Bruges and ther I
bowgh vie peltes after iijº iiijº a lb and lytyl moor the wych ze
schall all waye have the ton hallffe of as long as I have ony the wych
peltes Schalbe here schortely sum of them and betwyxt thys and
fast I trow to have a M' peelltes Syr Ischall do my best for yow in
all maner of theng belongyng unto yow as I wold do for owr broder
Wylliam Dalton so helpe me Jhesu. Alsoy Syr I trowe to have
of Gysbreth van Wynesbragh xl or 1" of Carolles at ys comyng he
told me that he wold do ys best to geet them for me at xvi" the
pond in case be that yow wyll that 1. Schall send them ovyr to yow
or to any oder for yow send me worde and it schalbe don and that I
can do for you or maye do in any oder matter. Your horsyn do
weell, God save them. Alsoy Syr-wheras we ette the good
podynges the woman of the hosse that mayºhem as I onderstand
sche ys wº schylde wº my broder that had".
Syr all owr howsswold by nam recomaund
bene ryght sore of your hevenes in gud faythº
I may be recomaunded unto yowr broder Rychº
yow cheere oder in the reverence of owre Layde who preserve yow.
A Calles the xxvij day of Jennar. \
Your broder to my poer John Dalton
that I can or may.
pray yow that
ely and ych of
Addressed: To my interly beluffid brother Jorge
Cely merchant [of th]e staple of
Calley no beyng [in Lon]don in
Marte Layne.
* Perhaps the Flemish Gezellin, a female companion.








THE CELY PAPERS, 85
75
Jhesu
No year or month is mentioned in this letter, but the promise of the buyer of
wool to fetch it away within the fourteen days after Candlemas fixes it as written
on January 30. The reference to the death of old Richard Cely as recent news,
fixes the year as 1482.
Ryghte worshipfull master I recomande me unto yow lattyng
yow wyt that I have reseyvyd ij letters that cam frome yow be the
whiche wryttyng Ionderstond my mayster yowr fader is descesyd
on whose sowle God have mercy lattyng yow wyt that your woll &
fell ar in good sewte we lak no thyng but onely pelt & fer we can
have none her onder xx", d. a dosen if it please yow to send me
M' wº next schippyng that comys betwene I wolde pray yow Also
your broder Dalton hathe promysyd me M* pelt that he hathe
boghte in Flawnders thay be not suffisient Also I lat yow wyt that
Bottrell hathe brok up a wyndew of the west syde off your wol-
howse & ther he hathe caste in horsse donge upon your sellers I
dyd mak a man w” a donge fork in his honde to caste the donge
asyde Bottrell cam in & tuk the forke fro hym & bete hym wele
& inthryftyle I Seynge hes uncurtess delynge I prayd John
Ekynton Robert Turney John Ellyrbek & Wylliam Hyll wº moo to
breke faste in your chamber for this entent to, see the hurtes &
harms he dyd yow uppon your goodes that thay myghte beyr record
one other day what so ever ye wold sey therto Doyng yow to wyt
that ther be no holanderes come unto ther day that ther byll was
mayd & than ther cam one cartt. Also I latt yow wyt that your
broder Dalton hathe solde xj sarpleres of woll to a mann off
Brgges & he hathe mayd promyse to be here wº in xiiij days after
candylmess to fet thayme away & he hathe promysid to helpe yow
of 1" of caruluss grottes for xv.jd in ther pownd change [I can no
more to yow at thys tyme but " Also I lat yow wyt that Charles
* The words between the brackets are crossed out.
86 THE CELY PAPERS.
hathe offyrd viijº flemyshe for Bayerd your horse I have grantyd
hym for ix" wharfor I pray yow to send me word how ye wyl be
disposid therin also I lat yow wyt ther ye go & ete puddynges the
woman is withe child as I onderstond Also I pray ze to purvay yow
you bothe of whete virasures I can no more to yow but I beseche
yow to recomande me to my good maystres your modir to all my
maysters your brethyrne & to Hankun & all your howsehold is in
savety blissid be Jesu who preserve you bothe body & Sowle.
At Calice xxx" day of
Be your servaunt
Joysse Parmenter.
Addressed: To my ryghte worshipfull mayster
George Seely in Marke Layne in
London thys byll be delyvered in
goodly haste.
- 76
Rychard Cely the younger
Riught whelbelovyd brother I recwmend me whto yow wº aull
my hart informyng you that I hawheresawyd ij lettyrs frome
John Dawltton thay bothe derectfyd to yow wherby I windyrstond
he desyrys to hawhebohwt for hym iij zeardes of blake pewyke and
I hawhepwrwhayed hyt for hym byt I can gehyt no caryayge ty]]
Robard Heryke cwm at Estyr Syr thys day I spake wº Bryan and
he says at that ys not the bastard swherd at he whowlde havhe hyt ys
youre gylte Swherd and my loord Schambyrlen “pwrpos to be at
Calles befor Ester and thys day I departte into Cottyswolde wharde
* Lord Hastings, afterwards executed by Richard III. He was made
Chamberlain of the Exchequer, June 7, 1472, and Master of the Mint and Keeper
of the Exchange in the Tower and at Calais, January 8, 1477.
THE CELY PAPERS. w - 87
be the grase of Jhesu kepe yow and send ws goode tydynges frome
yow. Whryt at London the xxij day of Marche.
per yowr brother
* Rychard Cely.
Syr I hawhebéne spokyn to for a whyfe in ij plassys syn ze
departtyd whon whos be the Prayfayrs as Schawll wryt to yow mor
playne in my next letter. . .
Addressed: A my whelbelowyd brother George
Cely merchand of the stapell beyng
at Calles thys da.
77
Rychard Cely the younger
Riught whell belovyd brother I recomende me unto yow as
low.yngly as I con or may informyng yow that the xxviij day of
Marche I ressawyd a letter frome yow whryt at Calles the Twysday.
after howr departtyng qwher by I ondyrstonde ze be howyr in
safette thankyd be God and ze fynde aull thynges acordyng to
yowr intent and as for Thomas Kesten ys letter ys delyvyrd and
as for all thynges in Essex I Schawll do for yow as I do
for my nowyn Syr I whdyrstonde be Wylliam Celys letter
that aull owr Cottes wholl ys sowlde in Calles hyt ys goode
tydyngés I pray God sende ws sum sall of howr fellez I hawhe
beyn at Abynton syn I whrat my laste letter and spake w” Wylliam
Bretten and he myte go no fardar wºme for packyng of Lombardes
wholl at Hamton the quheche muste departe into Gean" at thys
Ester in the Kynges Schypys and he has promysyd to met wºme at
Norlache” on Low Sonday Syr I pray yow sende me a letter
schorttely how I Schawll be demenyd in anssor to Wylliam Myd-
wyntter of hys fellys for and ze make any salle hyt wylbe whysdom
to be sewyr of mo heyr ys Wylliam Dawlton now and I thynke heff
* Genoa. * Northleach.
88 THE CELY PAPERs.
he hawheany wente at Calles hyt wyll cawse hym do the lese wº
yow. Syr heyr has beyn John Croke of the Tempyll wº howr
mother and informyd her that he hard the exchetter of Essex say
that he moste go into Essex to sit in an enqwery of howr londys
qwhether howle father dyed sesyd in hys lond or qwhethyr whe be
of lawfull ayge and of home howrlonde ys howlldyn and zestyrday
I whente to master Molenars and bare wºme the laste made deyde
of Brettes and yowr laste madedys of L. Malyns" and whe schewyd
hym that the londe stode in fefes handes and hyt whos informyd
hym that Malyns whos holdyn of the Kyng and aull londe howldyn
of the Kyng schulde be exchettyd for the Kyng tyll the hayre has
made hys fyne wº the Kyng byt whe hafe no londe that holldes of
the Kynge be the awyse of master Molenars Igawhethe exchetter
xl" for ws bothe and so whe be thorow wº hym for aull matters and
parellys byt I mowste brynge hym at laysar a byll of the day a
the dysses of own fathe owr ayge and of home owr londeys howldyn
at he may set hyt in the Kynges bokys and on the xxvij day whos
Byfelde berryd and on the morow herby hys whyfe toke the mantell
and the rynge and at aftyrnoyn the same day whos the grehyt
new gone of brasse shott at Mylezeynde" at whos mad in the Towyr
and hyt braste awłl to pessys Syr I hawhelettyrs fromy lorde wryte
in Napwlles byt I red them not Zeyt whane I se them I Schawll
whryte to yow of syche thynges as ys in them be the grasse of Jhesu
ho kepe yow, Wrytte at London the xxix day of Marche.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: A my whell belovyd brother George
Cely marchand of the stapell
beyng at Callez so thys dd.
* Perhaps this is Little Molands, in South Ockendon, near Alveley, part of the
Manor of Groves, held of the Honour of Tutbury, which was itself part of the
Duchy of Lancaster. It might be argued that it was not held of the King, that is,
of the Crown, though the King held the Duchy of Lancaster. Bretts was, at the
death of the younger Richard, held of the Lady de Inglesthorpe.
b Mile End. -
THE CELY PAPERS. 89
78
e e º 'º - e º O &
Riught whell belovyd brother y recomend me writo yow as
hartte hart [sic] conthynk informeyng you that I hawheresavyd a
letter from yow whryt at Callys the xxvij day of Marche wherby
I whdersto of yor salle wº many hother thynges and ze Schawll
resave of Wylliam Dawltom iij zeardes pewyke for howr brother
John Dawltton, and as for fellez I troste whe Schawll have as good
as any schawll com howt of Cottyswold for as Ze whryte to me
wholl wyll be skante I pywrpos to ryde into Cottysowld on
Tewysday in the Ester wheke for to pake now whyll I am
awhnyttyng of thys letter Wylliam Mydwyttyrs mane ys com to
fet mony and I pywyrte my tyme wº hym as for tydynges frome
my lorde I sende you my lordes letter and an letter frome Syr
Wylliam directyd to yow and I send yow the copy of my lords
byll that he made me closyd yn thys and hystyr day the inbaseturs
of Frawns” wher ressavyd in to London and thys day I depart into
Essex Whettyn in haste at London the sekunde day of Aprell.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To my ruight whelbelovyd brother
George Cely merchant of the
stapell beyng at Callez.
On the Dorse: ijºxxxvi"
xxxvi"
xviijº
79
Jhesu Miij"iiijºij +
Ryght Reverent Syr and my specyall good frende I recom-
maund me unto yow Ferder mor and yt plesse yow ye schall
* This seems to be the Embassy which arranged the Treaty of 1482, the last
successful attempt by Louis to keep Edward quiet (see Introduction).
90 THE CELY PAPERS.
understonde that I have resseyved a letter from you wreten at
Calles the xxviij day of Marche the wyche letter y have well
understonde that ye have sowlld unto Henry c packe unto
Jacob Tymanson and hys feleschype of Laythe * xxiij c of my new
somer fellys London for xvi noblis halffe le c Argent clziiij" ix.
fl. werof ye have ressayved in hand and schall ressayve at thys
next martt iiijº ij" ix", fl. and the xxvi day of September next
xlj" fl. and the xxvi day of Marche the rest xlj" fl. and so Syr
I understonde ther remayng behynd wheche be mad and fore brent
ij c xxv felles the wyche ye woll do yowre best to put away wyt
yowre felles for the wyche Syr I thanke yow hartley also Syr I
understond that y Schall leyesse cler of my brent felles the wyche
woll never be mad sum. cxxxij felles. Syr I thanke Good as the
casse requered that I lesse no mo also syr I understond that a
lytell befor yowre comyng to Calles John Dallton had found all
myn hoder fellys the wyche y had in Calles for the wyche Syr y
thankt yow and hem bothe harttely and y pray to God that I may
deserved ayenst yow for God sent you now lokeley to Calles for to
do so some so grett a fette as ye have don set ye cam to Calles
thanked be God Syr yowre broder Rechard Cely a ij dayes afor
owre Lady Day he wasse at Habendon" and wayted upon Wylliam
Breten for to goo unto Norlagh" but Wylliam Breten myt nat
atendyt and in that men tym com Wylliam Medwenter to
London and so non of hem spake wyt hoder and so Rychard Cely
porpossed be the lefte of God for to reyde into Cotyswold ward
upon Wedynysday or on Thorysday in Hester weke. I pray to
God be hys sped Syr upon Palm Sonday the Frensche imbaset
com in to London and they war worschyppefullley ressayved wyt
the mayher and all the craftys of London. Also Syr ye schall
understond that my mayesterys yowre moder ys in good hell so
ressonabelay and wezt all strong as of a woman of har age thanked
be Good and sche recommaund her unto you and sendyt unto you
God ys blessyng and harys Also Syr ye schall understond that
* Leyden. Abingdon. ° Northleach.
THE CELY PAPERS. 91
all the hooll houssould faryt well thanked be God No more unto
you at thys tym but the Trenyte have you in hys kepyng
Wreten at London the ij day of Aprell.
Be youre owne
Wylliam Maryon.
Addressed: Unto George Cely marchant of the
stapull at Calles thys letter be
dely verd.
*
On the Dorse in a different handwriting:
Thes ben lettyrs. Anno M'iiij"iiijºj & iſ
Riught interly belovyd brother I recomend me harttely unto
yow & informyng yow that I hawheressayvyd an letter frowme
yew wherby I whderstonde the dethe of my yowge lady of
Borgen” and of the treson at Sent Tomers * I pray God kepe hyt
and saw he Flawndyrs I whdyrstonde be a letter that cam to me
frome Wylliam Cely nowht that ze hawhesowlde vim'vjc d. of
Cottysowlde fellys and thay ar in to Hollonde in safete as he
whryttes to me thankyd be Jhesu and as for tydynges I can none
wrytte the kynge the qvehyn and the prynse lyes at Eltam and
I pwrpos to departe into Cottysowlde the ix day of thys monthe
and the xj day I whdyrstond Ze pwrpose to Bregys whard the
holy Trenyte sped ws bothe and I pray yow thynke apone howr
bowys for I hawhebrokyn the bastard bow that ze lefte heyr as
I zeyde to Hawelay" whard and Louttelay and Lasse has beyn at
your plasse Malyns" mendyd your hege hevery letter that I ressaive
* The Duchess Mary of Burgundy. * St. Omer, betrayed to the French, 14 2.
* Alveley.
* Little Molands. A word has apparently been dropped.
92 THE CELY PAPERS.
frome yow ys to me a grehyt cwmfortte wryte at London the viij
day of Aprell.
& per your brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed: my riught whell belowyd brother
George Cely merchand of the
stapwll at Calleys so dd.
81
Jhesu Miij"ijºij
Ryght reverent Syr and my specyall frende I recommend me
unto you. Ferder mor and yt plese you ye Schall understonde
that y have ressayved a letter from you wreten at Calles the
xxviij daye of Marsche leyke af y wreten unto yow in my last
letters that y well understonde that ye have sould all my fellys at
Calles safying ijc xxv felles for the whyche salys Syr y thanke
yow harteley & also Syr y pray you that ye woll delyver unto
Robard Eryk xxx or xl" ster: lyke af ye and he can agre and as
ye do wyth oder men for lyke if ye do hould me greyd both in
mony and in dayes saffying he hitt promysed me x* her in hand
at my plesser and therfor I wold that he had the lengar day of
the rest they yt be mehellmas day and as for yowre broder Rechard
Cely ye schall understond that he ys at hys plasse in Hessexe for
he wos y porposed for to abe at thys day in Cottyswold safyng
Wylliam Breton sent hem word fro Hamton that he myt nat
attend unto hem Nat Tyell ys be xiiij dayes after Ester and be
that day yowre broder porposed be the leve of God to be at
Nortlache" an at that day Wylliam Breten hat y promesed therfor
to met hem also ye shall understond that my misterys yowre
moder ys in good hell thanked be God savyng her leghe ys not
yt all holl but y trust to God yt stondyd in good casse Syr sche
* Northleagh.
THE CELY PAPERS. 93
recommaunds har unto you and sche sends you God ys blessyng
and harys and so sche doyt in good fayyt every day Seyt ye
departed yowre broder Robard and all the houssould faryt well
thanked be God. Wreten at London the xiiij day of Aperell, &c.
Be youre owne
Wylliam Maryon.
Addressed: Unto George Cely marchant of the
stapull at Calles thys letter be
dely verde.
On the Dorse, in a different handwriting :
Logyd at the howyse in Barow.
Of Claysse Peterson and his fellows.
iiijº ob
iiij" ob
xxxiiij lewis viº
x andreus iiij vilj"
xxvi new crouns vº viij"
xxj owlld Grouns vº vi"
xxx postlates ij viij".
Summa
iiijº ob
ijº q" W
ix lewys vij e º
iiij" . &
xix crowny's vij.
iij crownys vº vi"
vijandres iiij vilj"
tº e º a ------~~~~4 e e e e
iiij rydars iiijº x"
an rymyshe gylden
ynxºne gy
“S.
*3.
xxj" flemish.
xiij" xv+ flemish.
xj xviijº fl.
ixii vjº vija fl.
viji vijº iiiju fl.
vli XV's vja
iwi iiji fl.
lxxij" xvij" ix" fl.
vli vs fl. -
iji xiv." fl.
iiji iij fl.
vji fl.
. . iiji ij fl.
xvili
xxxij, viijº fl.
xv. iiiju fl.
iiij via fl.
94.
TEHE CELY PAPERS.
iji q" -
iij postlates * >
xijhettinus (?) iiij iſ"
.*.****
in pensse
iiijº ob
Summa
ijº q" sº ſº *
xxxj rydars gyll iiijº x"
in whyght mony
Summa
vli fl.
vii; fl.
iji xvi fl.
x8 fl.
vijº Kix fl.
xlli xijº fl.
xxj, fl.
le plese v" xviij x" fl.
xvijº fl.
vijli Xyd fl.
Summa totallis . cxx" fl.
82
Jhesu M'iiijºlxxxij the xviij day of Aprell in London
Right reverent & worschopfull Ser I recommawnd me unto you
w" all my hart desyryng to heer of your welfare the wheche I
beseche God to preserve to his blessud plesure & to your most
prefiyt both of body & soulle. Ser yf hyt plessith yow to wete
that my mastras your moder & my maysters both your bredurn my
emer Wylliam Maryen & all your houssold faryn well & my
mastres is in gud heell thankyd be Jhesu & mery, God kepe her
long soo. Also Ser pleseth hyt yow to wyt that my emer & I be
agreed that I schold have xl li that schold be delyvyrd by yow.
Ser hit is so that I perposed to a byn wº yow in the esterne weke
but in treuth I have a let that hath kaused me to tere & Zyt I
have not done but Ser I perpose to be at Brygges mart yf I may
& els I prey yow that hyt may be redy when I come fer I tryste
to have hyt redy as my em tellyth me when so I come I had leve
to have hyt at Brygges or at Barow than at Cales yf hyt plese yow
THE CELY PAPERS. 95
to provyde so for me. Also Ser I prey yow to be my gud godfader
in the mater that spake unto and I wyll evyr do yow servys in
eny thyng that I can by the grace of God who have yow in his
blessud kepyng. Wryttyn in hast. A
By your owne
Robert Eyryk.
Addressed : To my right reverent & trysty frend
Jorge Cely marchante of the staple
be this letter dely veryd in Calles
At Brygges or at Barow Mart.
In George Cely's hand :
Nihil for the xl" of Robert Erykkes.
83
Jhesu Miijºlxxxij the xx day of Aprell in London
Ryght reverent and worschopfull Sur I recommaund me unto
[sic] wall my hart desyryng to heer of youre welfare the wheche I
beseche Jhesus long to preserve and kepe also Serlettyng yow wet
that at the makyng of this letter my mastras your moder & my
masters your brodurs & all your houssold faren well blessid be
God Also sen my emer Wylliam Maryon & I be agreed as for
xll that I schuld kep of yow the wheche I prey yow yf that ze
com home or I com that hyt may be left at Bruges or at syche a
place as I may hawe hyt redy when I come or els w' Wylliam.
Cely at Cales Sir in treuth I porposed to abe wº yow in Esture
weke but I hawe suche a lettyng that I can nott com zyt but
odur I wyll be at Bruges mart or else at Synksen betymes by the
grase of God who have yow in his blessid kepyng Wrytten in
haste. - - -
96 THE CELY PAPERS.
Seryf hyt wold plese yow to send me word in a lyttyll byll by
Thomas Clarke that was my broder Richards man wher that I
schall kep hit I pray yow hartly for I trowe he wyll come Sone
hastely.
By yowr owne Robert Eyryk.
Addressed: Unto my right reverent & worschop-
full George Cely merchaunt of the
stapull beyng in the howeyse at
Barow.
84
Ryght wurshyppffull Syr afftyr dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yowre masterschypp &c. Plese hit yowre
masterschypp to understond that John Dalton and I have spoken
to master lefftenaunte for payment of yowre warranttes and he sayth
we schall have payment wº yn v or vi days but he sayth we can
nott hawe all at thys tyme and we desyryd to hawe them
there sett upon yowre bylles of costom and subsede and he sayth
hit may nott be for ther be moo Soo don than may be performed
for the whych they shall bryng yn sterlyng mony yn to the collec-
tors agayn and hawe her payment owte of the tressery &c. Syr
plese hit yow to wytt her be many Hollonders butt they bye noo
noder felles of [sic] but London and contrey felles and as for woll
I can sell her non wº owte I hadd olde wull for they can hawe no
olde wull but where they bye new wull &c. Syr I hawe receyvyd
noo letters owte of Ynglonde syn yow departyd but I hawe sent yn
to Ynglond at every passage &c. Syr Bayarde yowre horse doyth
well and so doyth yowre toder horse at Twysulttons too and I here
no body that makys any do for hym Joysse wold fayne have hym
home yn to hys stabull. I pray yow send us worde how we Schall
be demenyd w” hym &c. Syroder tydynges hawe we non here but
THE CELY PAPERS. 97
I pray almyghty Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calys the xxiij day
of Apryll -
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my wurshyppffull master George
Cely merchaunte of the stappell off
Caleys he beyng at the martt at
Barrowe be this dely verd.
85
tº e º 'º -, - e º ºs
Ryght wurshyppfull Syr after dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yowre masterschypp. Further more plese
hit yowre masterschypp to understonde ther ys bonde unto thys
letter serteyn letters selyd that come from my lord of Sent Jonys"
but oder letters owte of Ynglonde hawe I receyved non syn youre
masterschypp departyd from Calys &c. Syr plese hit yow to wytt
that yowre horss ys be all yn gode pwoynte and Bayarde ys all hole
of hys maledy and he was newer better to labor than he ys now &c.
Syr Joysse prayes yow to send hym worde when ze thyncke ze
Schall be redy to com to Calys that he myght send yow lyccw!!”
Bayarde to come home on &c. Syr we have tydynges yn Calys
that my lorde chamberleyn “ys at Dower and they loke afftyr hym
at Calys at every tyde &c. Syr all thynges at Calys doys well
thanckyd be Godd Syr oder tydynges hawe we non but Jhesu
kepe you. Wrytten at Calys the xxix day of Apryll. -
t per yowre servaunte
- Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunt off the stappell off
Calys being at the martte.
Soo hit dol.
* Sir John Weston. * Sic. Perhaps little. * Lord Hastings.
‘. H
98 THE CELY PAPERS.
86
& e º 'º - tº g g tº
Ryght worshyppfull Syr Afftyr dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yowre masterschypp &c. Plese hit yowre
masterschypp to understond that master lefftenaunte hath had
commynecaschon w” my lordd Chamberleyn and w' the Kynges
Counsell for the payment of thys hallff Zerys wagys and they
demaundyd all starlyng money" to be payd at Calys but master
lefttenaunte and the fellyschypp at Calys hath greyd w' my lorde
and the Kynges counsell and be fully concludyd apon the same
that they schall paye for thys hallff Zerys wagys the ton hallff
sterlyng money yn Ynglond to be payd the last day of Jule and the
toder hallff to be payd at Calys be mydsomeryn Flemysche money
att xxvi vſjij" fl.] the pownde and soo for to send bylles oweryn to
Ynglonde of the ton hallff but he that hath sterlyng money here
and wyll paye hit here hit Schall be deductyd of hys byll yn
Ynlond &c. Syr my master leftenaunte says he fynd my lordd
hys godd and gracis lordd for the stappell &c. Item Syr master
T]ebyte reported yow to master lefftenaunte affore my lordd
chamberleyn that ther was a dewte of sterlyng money betwyxte
pore Henley and yow and he says Ze wold recey've no money of
hym benethe xxviijº the pownde ster: &c. Item Syr as for yowre
gode detters here I can receyve no money of hem zett they ascuse
hem that I must tarry tyll they be payd of her wages &c. Ttém
Syr John Dulcon hath ben at a feyr yn Flaunders and he hath
bowght hym a feyr yong horsse and he standys yn yowre stabull
&c. Item Syr all yowre horsse be yn goode state thanckyd be
God who hauh yow yn his kepyng. Wrytten at Calys the v day
of Maye.
per youre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
* As formerly arranged. See Letter of May 8, 1478.
THE CELY PAPERS. 99
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte off the stappell
off Caleys he beyng at the martt
Soo hit dol.
87
* * * * ~ e º º is
The negotiation between the King and the Fellowship of the Staplers, recorded
in this letter, illustrates the possibility of what really amounted to extra-parliamen-
tary grants through a chartered company. The King was anticipating the pay-
ment. See also Letter of August 20, 1482. t
Ryght worshypfull Syr afftyr dew recommedſaschon] . . .
masterschypp & further more plese hit yowre
I hawe recey'ved a letter from yow whych
stond and as towchyng Zowre schall endewer me to
hym acordyng to yowre letter Item Syr I understondd
that yowre masterschypp wold [th]at John Dalton schuld bye the
horsse that he wrote to yow off Syr he hath bowght won as on
Sint Telen Day * besyde Odenborow" at a fayer and he standys yn
yowre stabull hys colorys maner of a grey coler and he ys but yong
for he was new broken yett and he ys almoste as moche as yowre
grett Bayardd &c. Item Syrhyttys grauntyd to the Kyng be the
fellyschypp at London vi thowsand marke for hys syrplysage and
upon that the lefſtenaunte and the fellyschypp here hath agreyd as
be an asemble the vi day of Maye that all the woll and felles that
schall be schyppyd at London at thys nexte Schyppyng Schall be
kockyttyd yn affore the viday of Aprell last past and hit schall paye
the costom yn Ynglonde at Syche days as they can gett of the Kynge
and takyn to the payment of the sayd syrplysage and that that ys
schyppyd more than the syrplysage Schall be cokettyd yn aftyr
the xj day of Apryll last past and pay nott tyll hit com to Calys
ë
* Not any of the recognised St. Helen's days, but the day of the Invention of
the Cross, May 3.
° Oudenburg, on the coast between Nieuport and Bruges.
well under-
:
:
.
:
;
100 THE CELY PAPERS.
and all the woll and felles that ys schyppyd at all oder porttes
schall paye nothyng tyll hit come to Calys noder and all that Schall
ryn to the payment of the nexte hallffe yerys wagys &c. Item
Syr hit was agreyd that thys hallfe yerys wagys schold abe payd
hallffyn Ynglonde sterlyng money be the last day of Jule and the
toder hallff at Calys be mydsomer yn Flemische money at xxvi.
viij" le pownde Syr now I understonde we muste paye all here be
Whyttsontyde at xxvi. viij" the pownde for the sowdeers hath
lewer to be payd here at xxvi. viij" than hawe yn Yngland ster-
lyng money for they mystruste her payment there &c. Syr Oder
tydynges hawe we none here but Jhesu kepe yow. Wrytten at
Calys the vij day of Maye.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte off the stappell
off Caleys he beynge at the Martt
soo hitt dol.
On the Dorse :
From Andwhurp
And at Andwhurp
At And . . . . x vilj"
At Gent so . . vºij"
And abatid v"
: ; ; ;S ºrd
jº iiij x" fl.
leyd owght per me G. C.
88
Jhesu Miij"iiijssij
Ryght worshyppfull Syr afftyr dew recomendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yowre masterschypp &c Syr plese hyt
yowre masterschypp to understond that John Dalton and I hawe
THE CELY PAPERS. 101
spoken many tymes unto master lefſtenaunte for payment of yowre
warrantes of xv of the pownd and he hath drewen us off many
tymes and dessyryd us to forbere but vi or vij days and we schulde
have payment but as on the x day of thys month we spake to hym
agayn and dessyred hym that we myght hawe payment of them or
elles that they myght be sett uppon yowre bylles of costom and
subsede and he dessyryd us to tarry tyll ye come and than they
schall be sett upon yowre bylles of costom and subsede &c. Syr
as for yowre horsse that Twyssulton hath I wolde a hadd hym
home to yowre stabull but Joysse says hit yss nott best soo to do
tyll ye come for he says John Dalton wyll myssedeme tham and
take hit att a grett onkyndness &c Syr I pray yow send me
wordde how I Schall demenyd wº hym &c Syr Joysse prays yow
to send hym worde when he schall send yow yowre horsse to
come home on &c Syr no more unto yowre masterschypp at thys
tyme but Almyghty Jhesu hath yow yn hys kepyng Wrytten at
Caleys the x day of Maye -
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely,
Addressed: To my worshyppffull master George
Cely merchaunte of the stapell off
Caleys he being att the martt
soo it dol:
89
Rychard Cely the younger
Ruight interly whelbelovyd brothe I recomende me harttely
unto yow informing yow at the makyng of thys howr mother
brother my godfather and the howsowlde ar in goode heyll thankyd
be the good Loorde Syr the same day that I departtyd into
Cottesowlde I ressayvyd a letter frome yow wryte at Calles the
102 THE CELY PAPERS.
xiiij day of Aprell wher in I fynde the inuiatory of syche godes
that whos howr fathers and mony on that syd of the see Syr I
spake not wyth the byschopys of sars syn that I ressayvyd yowr
letter when I spake laste w” them thay sayd that awlthynges
Schulde abyd yowr cwmyng I whdyrstonde be your letter that ze
wyll make howyr abowe ve" I hawhebeyn in Cottysowlde thys
iij whekys and packyd w' Wylliam Mydwyntter xxij sarplers and
a poke whereof be iiij mydyll Wylliam Bretten saye hyt ys the
fayreste woll that he saw thys zeyr and I packyd iiij sarple's at
Camden of the same bargeyn wher arij good ij mydyll ther wylbe
in aull wº blottes apon xxvij or xxviij sarplers wholl. Syr I
cannot hawheWylliam Mydwynttyrs fellys undyr iij" x1" the c.
and Ischaull ſhawhethem II* go to that pryse I pray yow send
me a letter schorttely Syr I hawhebohyt in Cottysowide apon
the poynt of vijM' resenaby]] good fellz and I pay iij" I can gehet
noyn undyr Syr I whiyte to yow a prosses I pray God send
ther of a good heynd the same day that I come to Norlache" on a
Sonday befor mattens frome Kurforde • Wylliam Mydwyntter
wyllecwmyd me and in howr comynycacyon he askyd me hefe I
wher in any whay of maryayge I towłde hyme may and he
informeyd me that ther whos a zetange genttyll whoman hos father
ys name ys Lemryke and her mother ys deyd and sche Schaull
dispend be her moter xl" a ze as thay say in that contre and her
father ys the gretteste rewlar as rycheste mane in that conttre and
ther hawhebene grete genttyhmen to seyr and wholde hawheher
and hewyr matens wher done Wylliam Mydwynter had mevyd
thys mater to the gretteste mane a bot the gentylman Lemeryke
and he Zeyd and informyd the forsayd of aull the matter and the
zewng gentyll woman bothe and the Sattyrday aftyr Wylliam
Mydwyntter whent to London as auli wholl getherars wher sent
for be wryt be the men of Pettyt for in wynde and grete markyng
and thay hawheday to cwm [agen at Myhellmas. When I had
packyd at Camden and Wylliam Mydwyntter partlyd I came to
* Crossed out. * Northleach. * Perhaps Burſord.
THE CELY PAPERS. 103
Norlache ageyn to make a nemde of packyng and on Sonday nexte
aftyr the same mane that Wylliam Mydwyntter brake fyrste to
cam me and telde me that he had brokyn to hys master acordyng
as Mydwyntter desyryde hym and he sayd hys master whos ryght
[we]ll plesyde ther whothe and the same mane sayd to me hefe I
whowllde tary May day I Schulde hawhea Syte of the Zeunge
gentyllwhoman and I sayd I wholld tary wº a good wyll and the
same day her father schul a syttyn at Norlache for the Kyng byt
he sent whon of hys clarkys and rod hymselfe to Wynchecwme * and
to mattens the same day come the Zewinge gentyll whoman and her
mother i law and I and Wylliam Bretten wher Seyng mattens
when thay com in to chyrche and when mattens whos done thay
whente to a kynnys whoman of the zewnge gentty woman and I
sent to them a pottell of whyte romnay and thay toke hyt thanke-
fully for thay had cwm a myle a fote that monyng and when mes
whos done I come and whellcwmyd them and kyssyd them and
they thankyd me for the whyne and prayd me to cwm to dyner wº
them and I ascwysyd me and they made me promys to drynke wº
them after dyner and I sent them to dyner a galon whyne and thay
sent me a heron sew roste and aftyr dyner I cwm and dranke wº
them and toke Wylliam Bretten wºme and whe had ryught gode
comynecacyon and the person plesetheyde me whell as be the
fyrste comenycacyon sche ys zewnge lytyll and whery whellfavyrd
and whytty and the contre spekys myche gode by hyr. Syraull
thys matter abydythe the cwmyng of her father to London that
whemay windyrstonde what some he wyll departe w” and how he
lykys me he wyll be heyr win iij whekes I pray send me a letter
how ze thynke be thys matter Heyr has beyn whyt my mother
Myhell Koke and hys whyfe from Zeorke” and my mother and I
hawhemade them gret scheyr and my mother has gewyn to
Myhellz wyfe a cremsyn goune of hyr wheryng and sche has prayd
me to whrayt to yow to by for her a for of callo . . . for to lay in
the same gowne and hys Kokys whyfe and sche prays yow to by
* Winchcombe, in Gloucestershire. . . . . *- : * ' 'i' ºf York; º
104. - THE CELY PAPERS.
for them x as fyne mynkes as ze can fynde in the marte and ze
schawl be plesyd for them I Schawll send to Calles be Robard
xv" vi. viij" and payde I undyrstonde be Wylliam [Celys letter
that ze hawe whryttyng frome my lorde of Sent Jonys"I pray yow
send me partte of your tydyng I sent to yow the laste that I had
Syr thay hawhebegwn to schype at London and aulſ howr wholl
and fell ys hyt in Cottysowlde sawheiiij sarplers therfor whe can
do nothyng at thys tyme. Syr I thynke mony wyll be gode at
thys marte for the Kyng has sente to the mercars and lette them
what that he wylle hawe jijwhystyles” whom at Bregys another at
Callez the thyrd at London and as I am informyd what merchand
of the stapell that fellys hys whe he may by what whar that he
wyll ageyn and thay that by nowhar Schaull brynge in ther mony
into the Kynges wystyll at Bregys ar Calles and be payd at
London at a monythe day and the mony Schawlbe stablyschyd at
viijº the mercars be not conttent therw". I pray yow remembyr
howyr bowys. No mor. Wrhyt at London the xiij day of May.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To my riught whellbelovyd George
Cely merchand of the Stapell at
Calleys or at the Marte be thys dd.
On the Dorse: Billes and letteres of Anno
90
Rychard Cely the younger
Anno Jhesu Miiij"iiijºij
Riught interly belovydwyd brother I recomend me winto yow
w" aull myne harte informeyng yow that I hawheressavyd an
a Sir John Weston. &
* Wissel, in Flemish, “An exchange for money.’ See November 5, 1481.
THE CELY PAPERS. * 105
letter frome yow whryttyn at Barow the wheche I do whell undyr-
ston and as for wholl and fell loke aftyr noyn of howrs at thys
schypyng for whe hawhenot cwm to London byt v.j sarpllers frome
Kynges Sotton” and not a fell I hawhebohut at Chepyng Nortton
vim' fellz iij"le c I hawhecaste them and I ſynd them resnabyll
good I cannot deyll wº Wylliam Mydwyntter wind[er] iij" iij iiij"
he has apon iiij M! I pray yow send me whorde how I Schawll be
demenyd howr mother longys sor for yow Wylliam Cely wrat that
whebe lyke to hawhewhar wº Frawns and that maky's hyr ferde.
Syr Hary Bryan the bryngar of thys laburs me soor to goo and se
Rawson|[s] dowttyr I am beheldyng to hym for hys labur for I
know whell that he whowlde I dyd whell and I pray yow delyver
hym som mony at thys tyme and do whelby hym for hyt ys seuyr I
know I hawhemany thyngs in my mynde byt I hawhene laysar
to whrytte ze may windyrstond partte be my letter that Isente yow
befor thys. Syr I whdyrstonde, as I ryd in the cwnttray many
thynges whone ys that howr brother Wylliam Dawltton Schaull be
maryd" to whon of the nexte kynys whoman that Kyrstower
Brown has Syr I hawhesowlde Py I kon not get for hym byt v.
marke on my faythe and Zehyf he that has hym thynkeys hymselfe
full begyllyd I pray yow harttely sped yow into Yngelonde for
many thynge abydes yow cwmyng I have whorkmene a settyng
in Berwyke * parke abouhe xij M' stakys. No mor. Whryttyn at
London the xxiij day of May.
* per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: A my riught whell belovyd brother
George Cely merchand of the
stapell beyng at Callez or at
Bregys so dd.
Nota.-Autoritate & racione huius littere Georgius Cely deliberavit Henrico
Bryan Lli fi ut patet per literam XXXViij" de quibus Richardus Cely est respon-
Sll I'llS. -
* Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire.
* William Dalton was perhaps a widower.
* Berwick, a hamlet of Rainham, Essex, which belonged to the Hospitallers.
106 THE CELY PAPERS.
91
Rychard Cely the younger
tº º ſº tº ... e g º &
Riught whelbelovyd brother I recomend me harttely unto yow
informyng yow that I hawheresavyd an letter frome yow be
Robard Heryke wherby Iwndyrstond that ze wyll send owyr an
zewnge horsse whe Schaull kepe hym w' grasse a whell as whe can
tyll ze cwm acordyng to yowr whryttyng Syr hyt whos tellyd.
Robard Heryke at Calles that howr mother schowlde be maryd or
in the whay of maryayge into So myche that thay Sayd howr mother
Schulld go on preschesyon on Corpys Kyrste day * in a cremsyn
gown and hyr mayny in blake and a my sowyll howr mother
wheſnt at that day byt as sche whent at owr fathers monthys
mynd and therfor I whowlde hyt wher tryd howt the bryngar of
that to Calles Syr whe ar grehtly enoyd I trywste Jhesu whe
schaull be abbull to wythstonde Owr enmys Syr John ys in grehyt
trobull” and God knowys full whrongefowlly and parte of them
that whe gawhegownys to * labors moste agayne hym I had
lever then a good med that ze whor heyr. No mor to yow. Whryt
at London the xxiiij day of Juyn I pray Jhesu send yow safe
hythyr and some Robard Eryke whos Schasyd w' Scottes betwheyn
Callez and Dover thy Schapyd narow. -
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: A myriught whell belovyd brother
George Cely merchand of the
stapell at Callez so it dò :
• Thursday after Trinity Sunday. In 1482 it was June 6.
b Perhaps for the failure of his embassy in the previous year; but it does not
appear why, certainly. &
• A sort of bribery apparently, evidently of influential persons.
THE CELY PAPERS. 107
Jhesu Miij"iiijºij
Ryght worshyppfull Syr afftyr dew recomendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yowre masterschypp Forther more plese hit
yowre masterschypp to understond that I hawe receyved an letter
from yowre masterschypp the whych I have redd and well under-
stonde and as for tydynges here we have non but gode yett but
that we loke afftyr the Kyng at Dower schorttly and my Lordd
Chamberleyn lokyth all wey when he schall be sent for. Furder
mor Syr plese hytt yow to understond that I hawe Soled all yowre
felles that leye in the howse nexte Bondmans to master John
Johnson and hys fellowys of Dellff" for) xiiij nobulles the c. and
hallfe redy mony in honde the rest at Colde martt and passce
nexte ensewyng they be nott yett dely verd Syr they desyre to
borrow x or xij" theroftyll Balyng martt but I wolde nott graunte
hem but I sayd thys unto them I lokyd aftyr yow w” in ij or
iij days and yf yow wold do so myche for them as to graunte
hem that I was content or elles I wold hawe the hole ton halffe
at Callys &c. Item Syr I hawe receyved yowre gere of John
Wyxstons man all sawe an towell whych John Dalton tellyth
me that master John Wyxston hadd nott but he hath hit
hymsellffe and wyll delyver hit. Syr as for youre lyve lode
ys nott yett cleryd but the warddysman hath sen yowre lyve
lodd and entyd hit in her bokes and w” in thys ij days yowre
evydensse most be schewyd affore the comyschoners I hawe them
styll by me for John Parker praye me soo for to do for he sayd
hit was so best and most redyest for when they come to that warde
they Schall be send for &c. No more unto yowre masterschyp at
a Delft.
108 --- THE CELY PAPERS.
thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the iij day
of Julle.
per youre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte of the Stappell
off Caleysbeyng at Bregessoit did :
93
Ryght worshyppfull Syrs After dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yowr masterschyppis. Furder more plese
hyt yowre masterschyppis to understond of syche tydynges as
we hawe here at Calys hytt ys so that the town of Ary “ ys
geven up to the Frensche men and anoder castell wº in a dowche
myle off Sent Thomers * be the menys of treson acordyng as hit
specyfyeth in my toder letter and the Frensche men purposyth to
be at Gravenyng" and they be nott lettyd wº in thys ij days and
lesse and ther comys every day from Sent Thomers to my Lord
Chamberleyn" help and rescew owte of Ynglond and my lord
hath promysyd hem that they schall lacke no men nor vettell
wherfor we loke afftyr here that ther Schall com a fellyschypp
owte of Ynglond schorttly &c. Item Syr we fere here that ther
well be schrode passage to thys Balling martt and yff the Frensche
men hawe Gravenyng as men fere they schall hawe hytt for they
hawe all the passaygys to hit redy &c. No more unto yowre
masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow and all owre
frenddes Wrytten at Callez the last day of Jowll.
- yowr servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
* Aire, b St. Omer. * Gra clines. * Lord Hastings. .
THE CELY PAPERS. 109
Addressed: To my worschyppfull master Rechard
or George Cely merchauntes of
the [stapell] of Callez at London
yn Martt Lane so hit dd.
94
Jhesu Miiij"iiijºij
Ryght worshyppfull Syr afftyr dew recommendaschon I lowly
recommend me unto yowre masterschypp Furder more plese hytt
yowre masterschypp to understond that I hawe told all yowre
felles that remayned yn Callez [thys de]* yowre departyng from
Calles and ther ys of hem ij M' iij" xij felles yn all wherof
schuld be lz felles off my godfaders Wylliam Maryons as he wrote
unto me and of yowres ther be ij M' ij" lijfelles and so hit comyth
even owte wº yowre boke here wherfor I pray owre masterschypp
to reforme the som of the felles in the endenter &c Item Syr
plese ytt yow to wytt that yowre yonge horsse ys sore apayard syns
yowre masterschypp departyd from Calles for he wull ete noo mete
yett but grasse and grene tarys for hardd mette he wyll non and
he ys but bare yn plyght I can nott thynke that hee may be
laboryd schorttly but grett Sorell ys in good plyght God sawe hym
but I suppose he wyll not be solde here &c Item Syr plese hytt
yowre masterschypp to understondd that I hawe nott receyved
yowre poll axe whych shulde come from Brege nott yett I askydd
Wylliam Dalton of hytt at hys comyng home and he tellyd me
hyt was not comen to Bregys all the whyle he wus there &c Syr
oder tydynges hawe we non here but that the Dewke of Burgeyne
lyeth styll at Ypurs" with a grette oste and as for the Frensche
men hytt ys sayd here thaye hawe vetellyd and mannyd the town
of Ary “ and the remnante be gon backe agayne as hytt ys sayd
* Crossed out. * Ypres.
* The French took Aire this summer, by the treachery of the commandant, the
Sire de Cohen, who afterwards entered the French service.
110 THE CELY, PAPERS.
here no more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Almyghty
Jhesu hath yow yn hys blessyd kepyng Wryten at Cales * the
iij day of Auguste
per yowr servante
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed : To my worshyppfull master George
Cely marchaunte of the Stapell of
Calles at London yn Martt Lane
se hit da : -
95
This letter is the private communication, on perhaps very confidential business,
sent at the same time as the business letter which follows. This to George Cely;
the latter to the firm. {}
Ryght worschypp Syr afftyr dew recomendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yowre masterschypp Furder more plese hytt
yowre masterschypp to understond that thys day we hawe Schyppyd
bothe yowre horsse and I hawe dely verd Joysse vºx" fl. for Almans
costes here as hallff passage and brege money &c. And for hys
costes yn Ynglond xx" ster : acordyng to yowre wrytyng &c.
Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschypp to be enformyd that
Margery commaundith her unto yowre masterschypp and sche
tellyth me sche. Schulde hawe rayment as a gowne and oder
thynges agaynest her chyrchyng as sche hadd the toder tyme
wherof sche prays yow of an answer Item Syr John Dalton
desyryth to have ij romes yn yowre stabull and he wold paye for
hit and he tellyd me he wold wryte to yow for the same but Joysse
tellyd me that yowre masterschypp hadd grauntyd hym the stabull
and the howsse at hys comyng agayne to Calles for to occupye hit
and yowre masterschypp to hawe yowre rome at yowre comyng &c.
Syr pray yowre masterschypp of an answer of thys &c. Syr as for
* Corrected from ‘London.’
* TFIE CELY PAPERS. 111
yowre oder stuffe I Schall send hytt unto yowre masterschypp be
on of the wollers &c. No more unto yowre masterschypp at thys
tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytton at Calles the xiij day of
Auguste. a
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunt of the Stappell off
Calles at London in Mart Lane SOO
hit dol: -
96
Jhesu Miiij"iiijºij
Ryght worshyppffull masters affter dew recomendaschon I
lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys. Furder more
plese hit yowre masterschyppys to understond that thys day I
receyved an letter from yowre masterschyppys wherein ys wrytten
the numbyr & poyse of yowre woll and the tale of yowre fellis
whych ze hawe Schyppyd at London in thys flete and the namys of
every schypp &c. Item Syrs I understond be the sayd letter that
yowre masterschyppys woll hawe yowre wull howssyd in yowre
wull howsse be the est wache howsse" and yowre felles in yowre
howsse by sent Nycolas chyrche” whych at the ryvying alond shall be
howssyd acordyng &c. Furder more plese hytt yowre master-
schyppys to understond that master leftetemaunt and diversse of
the felleschypp hathe hadd cofienyng w' my lord Chamberleyn " and
the Kynges Consell for the payment of thys hallffe Zerys wagys and
I understond they wull be payd at xxvi. viij" for the pownd and
they wull hawe noo moder money than nenyng grottes at iiij" ob.
le styc Syr T understond the goode that comys nowe from
* The East Watch House, a tower on the east side of Calais walls.
* St. Nicholas Church (now demolished), at the corner of Millgate Street and
Penny Street, next the Mint, Calais. * Lord Hastings,
112 THE CELY PAPERS.
London & Ypyswiche most paye partt of the same payment Syr
hytt woll be a shrode losse to recey've the menyng grottes at v" and
paye hytt in to the place at iiij" ob. &c Item Syr plese hytt yow
to understond that I am nott payd for none of yowre warauntes
of xvº of the pownd nott yett but hytt ys comaundyd be Courtt
that every man that hath any warantes of xy" of the pownde
moste be browght in to the Court the nexte Courte day and ther
the Court to fynde syche menes that all the warantes Schall be payd
owte &c Syr as for tydynges we hawe non here for very sarten
but that the Frensche men lyeth styll in garysons apon the
borders and gadryth and encresyth dayly as hytt ys sayd and as for
the Dewke of Borgayne hytt was sayd he was a thys syde Ypur *w"
a grett ost of men and Schuld abe at Sent Tomers" or thys tyme but
we here nott of hym yett some men Sey he ys gon back agayne &c
no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe
yow Wrytten at Calles the xiij day of Auguste.
- per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppfull masters
Rechard & George Cely mer-
chauntés of the stappell off Calles
at London in Martt Lane SOO
hit dol:
97
Jhesu Miiij"iiijºij
}
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs afftyr dew recommendaschon I
lowly recommend me unto yowr masterschyppys furder more
plese hit yowr masterschyppes to be enformyd that thys day the
xvjday of Auguste the wull flete came to Callez bothe off Lundon
and Ypysweche yn saffte thanckyd be Godd and thys same day was
* Ypres. * St. Omer.
THE CELY PAPERS." 113
partt londyd and hytt rysyth fayer yett thanckyd be Godd &c.
Syrs oder tydynges hawe we non here but that cam owte of Yng:
lond don upon the Scottes” for the whych my lordd commaundyd
a generall proseschon and at nyght bonfyers to be made at every
mans dorre as was on myddsomer nyghte and all the gonnes yn the
colle warkys and abowte the marttes were schett for joye and as for
the Dewk of Borgayne ys at Bregys and hys company yn Brabon "I
understond they come but slowly on and the Frensche men lyeth
styllyn garysons upon the borders &c no more unto yowre master-
schyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you. Wrytten at Calles the
XVj day of August.
-- per yowr servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed : To my worshyppffull masters
Rechard & George Cely mer-
chauntes of the stappell off Callez
at Tondon yn Martte Lane see
hit dol.
98
* * * * * * * * $
Ryght worshyppfull masters after dew recomendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yowre masterschyppis Furder more plese hit
yowre masterschyppys to understond that on the xx day of Auguste
was redd yn courtt a letter that cam from Syr Wylliam Stocker
and diversse of the fellyschypp howe that the Kynge wull have
ij M' pownds for the syrplyssage of all soyche wulles and felles
that hath ben Schyppyd from the vi day of Apryll last past tyll
the vij day of October nexte and for the whych he wull have
* The occupation of Edinburgh by the Dukes of Gloucester and Albany. Not
the recovery of Berwick, which only capitulated on August 24th.
* Brabant.
114 THE CELY PAPERS.
made v oblygaschons payabull at vi monthys and vi monthis
the stic conteynyng vº marke to the whych the fellyschypp
hath agreydd here be courtt that ther shall be made vi oblij-
gaschons under the stapell seal iij payabull yn Feverell next
and the toder thre payabull yn Auguste nexte after that &c.
Item plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that all they
that were before in the wagys of master Robard Radclyfe porter
of Callez be putt owte of wagys and warmyd to voyde the town
be Fryday nexte com and as for Botterell he shall owte of
preson and all that were ther yn for the same mater and they
all be warnyd to voyde the town of Callez and the marches
wyffe childern and goodes be Fryday nexte com payn of deth
for the whych I trow Botrell woll nott dyshease yow for yowre
howsse neebeugers &c no more unto yowre masterschyppys at
thys tyme but Jhesu hath yow in hys kepyng Wrytten at Callez
the xx day of August.
per yowr servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters
Rechard and George Cely mer-
chauntys of staſpell] of Callez
at London in Martt Lane be
hit do :
99
e - e s - e. e. e. tº
Ryght worschyppfull masters after dew recommendasyons I
lowly recommend me unto your masterschyppys Furder more plese
hytt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that all yowre wollys howsSyd
drye and thanckyd be God ye have none that ys sore broken and
as for yowre felles I have serchyd hem and told hem ower and ye
have all yowr tale and ther ys none of hem that ys hurtt wº
THE CELY PAPERS. 115
burnyng but ther ys a j c rent w" the londyng and the howssyng
whych shall be made as schortly as I can &&c. Item plese hyt
yowre masterschyppys to wytt that on Monday last was Robard
Hobner was at Bregyes and he sayth the same day he sawe the
Dewke of Burgeyne deperte owte of Bregys but w" x horsse in to
Selond for they of Gaunte and of Bregys wyll nott graunt hym
syche thinges as he askyth for the Dewke askyth noo thyng of
them but mony and he wyll take syche men wº hym to goo uppom
the frensche men as plesyd hym but the Gaunteners and they of
Bregys wyll nott Zeve hym noo money wº owte he take syche men
as they wall asyne hym for the whych he departyd into Selond *
but I understond the frensche men lyeth styll in garysons
appon the marcſhes] and encrece daylie wº new men owte of hye
Fraunce &&c no more unto youre masterschyppys at this [tyme]
but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the xxiij day of Auguste
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rychard
and George Cely merchantes of the
stapell off Calles at London in Mortt
Lane [be thys] dd:
L00
e is e e º 'º a tº s = e -- e. e.
Ryght worshypfull masters after dew recomendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto youre masterschyppys. Furder more plese hytt
yowre masterschyppys to be enformyd that the xxviij day of
Auguste hytt was agreydd here be Courtt that eny man that hadd
any goods comun from London or Ypyswyche wº thys last flete
* Zealand.
I 2
116 - THE CELY PAPERS.
schall bryng in hys bylles of costom and subsede of Sayd goodes as
that day sennyght payne of xij" off the pownde and that we moste
make ij bylles yehe of them of the hallfe the ton payabull the
xix day of October nexte and the toder payabull the xx day of
Fevereil nexte and we moste make a byll of xx” of the sarpler
wnade payabull at plesyr whych shall be sent ower into Inglond and
wrytten upon won of the bylles before rehersyd &c. Forder more
plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that master
leffetenaunt and syche of the fellyschypp as were apwoyntyd be the
Courtt hath agreyd w' my lordes * chamberleyn" and the kynges
consell what mony we shall paye for costom and subsede to the
payment of thys hallfe Zeyrs wagys fyrste we shall pay xxvi. viij"
for the pownde sterling and these be the goldys and whyte mony
that followyth that ys apoynttyd for the payment as they were
corrant afore the doches dyedd fyrst :—
the new crowne . at vs vi" the olde crowne at vs. iiij"
the lewe e . at vis viij" the Andrew gylden at iiij vi"
the ryder e . at vs viij" the gylhellmus at iiijº
the salew g . at vs vi" and ij or iij oder goldes after
the same rate
the olde nobull . at xj and the nemyng grotes at iiij"
the Ryall . . . at xiijº iiij" and the old Sengull plack at
ijº ob
And as for and oder goldys and oder sylver they wyll non &c.
No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe
yow Wrytten at Calles the xxix day of Auguste. .
per yowre servaunte -
- Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rechard
and George Cely merchauntes [of]
the stappell of Callez at London in
Martt Lane be this dd :
* Four words erased here. i b William, Lord Hastings.
THE CELY PATERS. 117
101
Ryght worshyppfull Syr after dew recommendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yowre masterschypp furder more plese hett
yowre masterschypp to be enformyd that Margereſt] ys dowghter
ys past to Godd hytt was berydd thys same daye on whoys sowle
Jhesu hawe mercy Syr I onderstond hytt hadd a grett pang what
sycknesse hyt was I can nott saye &c Item Syr Bottrell ys
departyd owte off Calles and ys yn Inglond and thys day hys
wyff goyth to hym wº all her stuffe and they be comaunded that
they shall nott come w” in the town of Callez as long as my lord
chamberleyn" ys lefftenaunte of Calles &c. no more unto yowre
masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at
Callez the xxix day of Auguste.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte off the stapell off
Callez at London in Martte Lane
se hit dol:
102
Jhesu Miijiiijºij -
Ryght worschyppfull masters affter dew recomendaschon I
lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys furder more plese
hit yowre masterschyppys to be enformyd that I hawe receyved a
letter from yowre masterschyppys be Wylliam Daltons man whych
* Lord Hastings.
118 THE CELY PAPERS.
I hawe redd and well understond and I schall I do all thynges
acordyng to hyt as nye as I can and as for yowre chamberynge
that was at makyng at Bregys when Andryan yowre oste was at
Calles I delyverd hym mony to paye for the makyng of hyt and
he hath sent hyt to Callez reddy and I hawe receyved hyt every
thyng acordyng to yowr remembraunce sawe the cortens be
stayned but on the ton syde and ther ys no demy corten but they
be all hole that ze may slycte whych ye thyncke best and as some
I can have any schypp that come to London I schall send hytt
unto yowre masterschypp &c Syr as for a gosse hawke I can gett
non here yett for all that come to Cables my lordd Chamberleyn "
beyth hem upp and they be any thyng wurth &c. And as for
yowre man that ze dely verd yowre mony to for hawkes I here nott
of yett &c. Furder mo more plese hytt yowre mastersehypp to
understond that here ys an ordynaunce made be all the fellyschypp
the laste courtte day [that all the wuli and " that we schall recey've
from that day forward redy mony yn Calles and xxvi. viij" fl. for
the pownde ster : mony as hytt was corrant affore the Dowches of
Borgayne dyed for all wull and fell that shall be sold at Calles
from hens forwardd but therof the town of Laythe and Dellffe &
schall paye but hałlffe yn hondd at Calles at xxvi. viij" the mony
as hytt was corrant affore the Dowches a Borgeyn" dyed and the
rest at vi monthys and vi monthys at xxviij" the pownd mony as
hytt ys corant at the martt &e Furder more plese hytt yowre
masterschppys to understond that I hawe born ynto the plase
yowre bylles of Costom and subsede whych be abelydyn courtt and
I hawe born yn yowre byll off xx" of the sarpler made payabull at
plesur amountyth xxxv" x* ster: and hytt ys wrytten appon yowre
last byll payabull the xx day of Feverell as all oder mens ys yn
lyke case and the bylles of xx' of the sarpler schall be sent ynto
Inglond to the solyster schorttly &c and as for yowre byll of
costom & subsede that ys payabull the xx day of October hit
* Lord Hastings. * The words between the brackets are crossed out.
* Leyden and Delft. * The Duchess Mary.
THE CELY PAPERS. 119
amountes lxxix" xiij v" ob ster: whych moste be purveyd for
agaynest thys payment yn thys nexte martt for the mony the
whych I schuld a receyved owte of the plase for yowre warrantes of
spoken of in Courtt and ther be dyversse that be yn casse lyke as
yew and the Courtt sayth they can tak noo derecschon for hyt
tell hytt be grown yn tresory for the whych they saye ye moste
forbere a seson &c no more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys
tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Calles the iij day of
September.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rechard
& Georg Cely merchauntes of the
stappell aff Callez at London yn
Martt Lane se hit da ;
I03
tº e º O = gº dº º &
Ryght worshyppfull masters affter dew recomendaschon I
lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys furder more plese
hytt yowre masterschyppys to understondd that I hawe cast owte
a sarpler of yowre wull n° xj and the . .ft packer comend hit
grettly be the whych hytt Schall be awardyd the nexte marte day
and I hawe sett all yowre felles redy for to presse &c Item Syr
plese hit yowre masterschyppys understondd that here ys noo
gosse hawkes to gett for all that comyd my lord Chamberleyn "
bye hem upp &c here hath come diversse hawkes but they be so dere
that no man byeth hem but my lordd they be at iiij nobulles v
mobulles an hawke &e Syr Oder tydynges hawe we non here yett
* Lord Hastings.
120 THE CELY PAPERS.
but Allmyghty Jhesu hath yow yn Hys blessyd kepyng Wrytten
at Callez the viij day of September.
per yowre servante
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed : To my worshyppfull masters
Rechard & George Cely mer-
chauntes of the stapell at Callez at
London at Mart Lane see hit do
I04
tº º e º ..., e º º ſº
Ryght worshippfull masters affter dew recommendatyon I
lowly recommend me unto yow masterschippy's furder more plese
hyt yowre masterschipp to understond that yowre felles be sell
and presyd at xiiij nobulles the c but as for yowre woll I as nott
zett was ddyd but hytt Schall as Schortly as I can &c Furder more
plese hit yower masterschyppys to understond that we have
tydynges hew that the Frensch men hath goten the cyte off Lewke
and sclayne the boschoppe of Lewke" and we have tydynges how
nowe that men of the londde of Lewke w” the helpe of Braboners”
hathe broken upp all the burgys betwyxte Fraunee & them And
* Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège, murdered by William de la Mark, the
Wild Boar of the Ardennes, 1482. The murder was evidently by common rumour
attributed to French incitement, and was looked upon as a step in the interests of
Louis XI. for the embarrassment of the Burgundians, a view popularised by Sir
Walter Scott in Quentin. Durward, where he deliberately misplaces the murder
and connects it with different circumstances, in 1468, when a false report of the
murder is recorded by De Comines. The Bishop was fifth son of Charles I., Duc
de Bourbon and d'Auvergne. He was first-cousin and brother-in-law to Charles
the Bold, but nearly as closely connected with Louis, for his elder brothers, Jean II.
and Pierre II. de Bourbon, married respectively that king's sister and daughter.
* Brabanters
THE CELY PAPERS. 121
hath besſey]gyd the town off Lewke agayn and lyckly to recover the
town agayne &c. Furder more plese hyt yowre masterschyppys to
understond that we have tydynges here that the town off Gaunte
& the town of Bregys be at a feryaunce betwyxte hemsellfe in so
mekyll that they off Gaunte hath sent to the Inglysch naschon
and to Dutch naschon & Bregys commaundyng them to sett styll
and doo her merchaundys and entermete wº noo party payne off
that woll come thereof &c. No more unto yowre masterschippy's
at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Callys the xij day
of September. -
- per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rechard
Cely and George Cely merchauntes
of the stapell at Callez at London
in Martte Lane do hit da.
105
Ryght reverent and worschupful Syr y reytecomand me unto
you desyryng to here of yowr wellefare Furder morre I thank
yow of the grette cher that ye dydde me at my laste beyng wytthe
yow Syry made a bargyn wytthe you at that sesyn the wycche I
wolyde y hadde sleppyd the wylys for theke costemerys that y
trostyſd] moste for to asowyld them and y trostyd that y soldenott
abowte ther wolle aboffe xiij viij" a tod & now ye y con at bey ther
woll honder xiiijº & xiiijº & vi" a tod the pryse ys that y bey at
x aboffe that I solde you ryght mycohe & to recckyn the refºys y
salle lesse be my trothe a nobell or x* in effry S.” & as my trothe
helpe me and they moste haffe reddy money bey and bey they that
werr wonte to lefſe in my honde moste parte of ther money nowe
* Sarpler.
.122 THE CELY PAPERS.
they moste medys haffe halle ther money & now y moste troste to
your cortesy & y prye you consedyr thys well as ye may have my
Sarfys and I moste troste to yow that I may haffe the ij cº that ye
sayd y solde nott haffe hytte tyll Nowhembyr I praye as hartely
as y cane that ye make hytte reddy wytthe in f xiiij dayys haffter
Myhelmas or helse I hame hottely samyd for I made myselfe neſtyr
so barr wytthe howte money and therfor I pray yow that ye mak
hytte reddy no morr to you at thys tyme botte Jhesu kepe you
Wrettyn at Norchelacche * the xx daye of Septembyr.
Bey Wylliam Mydwynter.
Addressed: Thys letter be dely vyrt to Rychard
Cely in London in Marte Lane.
I06
Rychard Cely the younger
Ruight whell belovyd brother George I recomend me winto
yow wº aull myne hartte informeyng yow that I hawheyowr
Zeunge horsse at London and I hawhespokyn w” the beste cossars
and smytthys in Smethe fellde and thay gewheme cowncell to
lette hym rom in a parke tyll Hallowtyd and then take hym wre
and ser hym and lette hym stand in the dede of whyntter and let
ron the next somer and then he schawll be sawhewhell he ys
hors no mor to yow at thys tym Jhesu kepe yow Wryt at London
the xxvi day of Septemby. -
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
* Northleach.
THE CELY PAPERS. 123
I schawll seke the scwreste plas in Essex for yowr Zewmge
hors and I pray yow remembyr an hawke
Addressed: A my whell belovyd brother George
Cely merchand of the stapell at
Calleys or the martte be thys dd :
107
Ryght worschyppfull Syr after dew recomendaschon I lowly re-
comend me unto yowr masterschypp furder more plese hit yowre
masterschypp to understond that Joysse and yowre horsse cam to
Calles the Wedensday nexte after Ze departyd from Callez all in
safte thanckyd be Godd &c Syr as for any merchauntes strangers
or hollonders ther cam non syn Ze departyd &c. Syr ze shall
receyve of the bryngger herof a letter derectyd to yow from master
Rechard &c. Syr I hawe sent ower yowre letter yn to Inglond
that ze lefte here but hit was v days after ze departed fyrst for
here was noon passage no sonner the wynd was so contrary and
the see Soo trublys passage was hallfe see Ower wmys or twyse and
was fayne to come to Callez agayne &c Item Syr yowre master-
schyp most remember to bryng home wº you an c vi" fl. for to
paye yowre costom and subsede &c Syr the begynyng of thys
next weke I pourpose that Joysse shall come forward wº yowre
horssys toward yowre masterschypp &c. no more unto youre
masterschypp at thystyme but Jhesu kepe yow Wrytten at Callez
the last day of September.
per yowre servaunt
- Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte of the stapell at
Callez he beyng at the martte see
hit dol:
124 THE CELY TAPERS.
108
Rychard Cely the younger
Anno Jhesu Miiijºij"
Riught whelbelovyd brother I recwmende me harttely winto
yow informeyng yow that howr mother and whe ar in good heyll
thankyd be God and so we truste that ze be I hawhebyn at Raylay
homayge tyll Myhellmas nexte cum. Syr I send to you Wylliam
Mydwynttys letter clossyd in thys letter I whotte not how to anser
hyt and howr fathers towmbe ys a settynge wp and howr heyme ys
heyr for mony and thys day I departte in to Cottasowlde and how
sone thay wyll cawll apon for the xx" of the sarpelles I cannot say
I am at my whyttys end wº" yow cwmfortte Syr I hawheput
yowr zewnge gray hors in Thondyrlay Parke" and ther he has
pastyr I now and ther are byt iij horse goynge in aull the parke
and ze muste pay the parcar for hys paster iiij" a wheke and I
hawhe promysyd hym a bow and I trywste that he wyll se whell to
yowr hors and make yow sportte at yowr cwmyng he ys a man of
master Mongewmbres “no mor to yow at thys tym Jhesu kepe yow
Whryt at London the iij" day of Octobur.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
I pray yow sende me whryttyng in as schortte spas as ze may.
Addressed: Unto my brother George Cely mer-
chand of the stapell at Calles or
the martte so dol.
• Sic ; an error for 1482. * Thundersley, in Essex, near Rayleigh.
* Sir Thomas Montgomery.
THE CELY PAPERS. 125
109
* e º & - e. e. e. e.
Ryght worshyppfull Syr affter dew recomendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yowre masterschypp furder more plese hytt
yowre masterschypp to understond that John Tate whych shall be
leftenaunte off the stapell ys come to Callez &c Syr as for any salys
off wull or fell T hawe made non syn yowre masterschypp departyd
for here cam noe merchauntes straungers syns wherfor yowre mas-
terschypp most remember for yowre costom and subsede yn the
martte &c. Syr as for all youre thingges here doyth well but as
for the wull flete off London ys nott comon yett I understond be
men that come thens they be nott all poynttyd upp yett and
wheder master Rechard Schyppyth any felles or nott at thys tyme
I wott nott &c. Item Syr I hawe dely verd Joysse for hys exspens
for the horssys & hymsellff visix" fl. &c. Item Syr plese hit yow
to understond that my lordd chamberleyn" gooyth over ynto
Ingelond w' yn day or twayne w” all hys howssold mayne &c no
more unto yowre masterschypp att thys tyme but Jhesu kepe.
Wrytten at Callez the vi day of October.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Syrze schall receyve off Joysse iiij qwarters & iſ slevys of yowre
black gowne and a blacke bugge furre to the sayd gowne.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte of the stappell
at Callys at the martte be thys
dely verd.
* Lord Hastings.
126 THE CELY PAPERS.
On the dorse, in a different handwriting:
Of Jacob Wylliamson and hys felles
C xxiij . . iiijº iiij" for . . xxvi" fls. xiijº
Item jryallys xiiiji vj" " . § & . xxixs
Item an phellypus . º * wº . iij iiijº fls.
Item iij plalkes e º & <> . xxvi"
Summa c . xxviiji vijº vſ" fls.
Item iij nyme grottes g e e . xiiiji fls.
Item iſ" ob . . & tº tº . XXX*
Item iij pensshe e & ſº e . XX*
Item xxij Andre vs. . * º º . vii xj fls.
Item xvi Rydars visiiij" " . © e . xxxviijº
Item iſ crownes vs. viij" . e tº . xj iiij"
A Rynyshe and ij" . & © * . VS
ij postlates ijº viij" . o ge * vs. iiiji
An dawethe . © e & © . iiijº
ijarnowldes ijº iiij" * iiijº vijº
ij parttes of one fallewe . te te . iiij jº
An pesse gowld of . © & f . xx"
ijº ob . * g º º * . xxd
of vi lepesse . • • e . . . xiiijº
in V* ob . $º e * - e. e vs vid
in Vd º g * & & * . iij iiij"
Vd . º * * e º tº . x* xviijº
Summa ge . xxviijº vijº vſ" fls.
Item in v" lepesse . tº e e . Vli fls.
Item of iij" . •º * g e . XX*
Item in vile pesse . º § tº . xij?
Item in iſ" ob . tº g * tº . viijº
Item xviijhettrytus iiijº iiij" . ſº . iiji zvijº
* Should be ij ryallys. * Should be vi Rydars.
THE CELY PAPERS.
127
• * * * *
Item rydars
An falewe
An davyd
ij Andreus
An Rynyshe
An . © &
Item in V* ob .
Item in ij" ob .
Item iſ Ryallys
Item in grottes
. Summa
Summa totall
Item And Andreus .
Item
Summa
Summa totallis
xij, viij"
vj" ijº
iiijº
xs
iiij xi.
xv.j"
xxviijº vijº
XXXV8
xxixº
iiij vº
xviiji zvijº vi" fls.
lxxvii. xiii vj" fls.
xxxiiijº fls.
Vs -
xxd
xxiiiji vj viijº fls.
C.
To be done hevyr y go hens to feche my xxv" x* of Flords to
In another handwriting:
Per Clays my sarvant.
hawe in my byllz of Nicholas hout to make xx ster : at the syght.
John de Bott of Barow an hoggeshed w' this token.
110
Rychard Cely the younger
Ryght whell belovyd brother I recomend me unto yow
informeyng yow that thys day I resavyd a letter frome yow whryt
128 - THE CELY PAPERS.
at Andewarpe the fyrste day of Octobur the quheche I do well
wndyrstond and I am sory that the war ys so grett in that partte
ys at Hollondars may not cwm dowyn I hawhebeyn at Chepyng
Nortton and sett awll thynges in good whay and w' my naym
John Cely and he has gatheryd xvi sacke of fayr wholl and now
heyr ys cwm Wylliam Mydwyntter byt I spake not wyth hym
zeyt how that I do wº hym I chawll wryt to yow in my nexte
letter howr mother ys at Byrttes Zeyt myny thankyd be God the
Kyng ys at the Towr and hys lordes in cwnsell dayly I pray God
send ws a myrry whorllde hyt ys ruyll for a mane to Scharge hym far
now a days for Iheyr of none ottyrans Zeyffe I may departte fayr
frome the bargen wº Wylliam Mydwytter that ze and I made I wyll
do my beste me thynke hyt wyll be whel done for goude detturs ar
sclow payars &c. I windyrstonde be Robard Eryke that ze hafe ij
fayr hawkes I whowld fayne that ze whoulde spede yow into
Ingelonde whe longe sor for yow Bayard yowr hors dos whell and
as for yowr Zenge gray hors ronys in as good an parke as any
in Essex as Levynge the bryngear of thys letter can informe
yow Syr ottes be deyr and so ys aull othyr corne. I hawhe
resawyd yowr hangynge of yowr Schamber from Wylliam Cely.
No more to yow. Jhesu kepe yow. Wryt at London xvij day
of Octobur. -
per Rychard Cely.
Ze mwste remembyr to by canvase to packe in.
Addressed : Unto my riught whell belovyd
brother George Cely merchand of
the stapell at Calleys or Bregys
so di.
* > * * * * * * * * *
THE CELY PAPERS. 129
I 11
Right worschyppful Syr after dew recomendaschon I lowly
recomend me unto yowre masterschypp furder more plese hytt
yowre masterschypp to understond that the xviij day of October
Joysse and yowre iij men cam to Calys w' my hawkes all yn Safte
thanckyd be Godd and I have receyved from youre masterschypp
be the sayd Joysse an letter the whych I well understond and
accordyng to youre letter at the next passage they Schall goo owyr
w" youre hawkes &c. Syr the wuli Schyppys be com to Callez
all save iij whereof ij be yn Sandwiche haven and oon ys at Oste
end * and he hath cast ower all hys wull owyrburdd Syrze have
no wull nor fell come at Schyppyng wherfor I am the gladar
for wull and fell ys passyng fowle araid at thys tyme &c. Syr
as for the Caye that zede to London wherin yowre chamberyng
was not refſelyd on the see but an noder Schypp that Zede wº
hym was ryffylyd wº Flemynges for the Caye that hadd yowre
chamberyng in hath ben at London and dyschargyd and ys come
to Callys agayn ledyn wº wuſll] &c. Syr the next schypp that
goyth to London I shall send home beyr bye &c. Syr my lord
chamberleyn" ys owerynto Inglond and ther was at Dower to abyde
hym wºmen all yn whyte gowny's to bryng hym home &c. No
more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Jhesu kepe you.
Wrytten at Calles the xix day of October.
per youre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull master George
Cely merchaunte of the stapell at
Callez at the marte be hit d.
* Ostend. * Lord Hastings.
130 THE CELY PAPERS.
112
Jhesu
Ryght worschipfull Syr I recomand me unto yow ever more
dyssyeryng to her off yower wellfare and I thanke yow Syr hertely
off yowr gret labors that ze have done for me os [sic] brynyng my ij
oblygacyons of the Stapyll to Cales and I pray yow Syr hertely to
send me word whowe that ye have done wº them whedyr ze have
resayvyd my mony off tham or not and yff ye have not ressayvyd
hyt at the comyng of thys letter to yow that ye wyll do so myche
for me to ressayve hyt and I had had my oblygacions at the marte
dyverys men of your place wolde have gyffyn me Flemmyche mony
for tham xxvi vj" flemmyche for the pound John Hatfeld was on
and oder dyverys but I had leveryowr masterschipe had them than
any oder man that I knowe of yowr plase and Syr yff ze have
ressayvyd the mony of them ouder in your custum or in scheyhe
mony os the plas payis owt that ze wyll kepe Iny oblygacions styll
in yowr handys and yff thay be full content & payd and late the
colectors can sell them for I muste delyver than to the sam man
that owyd tham for ther be dyverys men that had ressayvyd morre
mony of tham than I and I knowe not whow myche mony that I
have ressayvyd of tham tyll Ise the oblygacions and that ys causse
that I wryt to yow of tham and I besche [sic] yow sir and yffye have
not ressayvyd my mony of tham that ze wyll ressayve hyt and do
so to send me the oblygacions in all the hast be the next soore
man that comys for I muste delyver my rekeyng up of tham to hym
that owys tham that knowys Jhesu who have yow in hys blyssyd
kepyng Amen. At London the xvi day of November last passyd
and I besche [sic] yow Syr of an answer of thys letter in all haste.
By yowr Sarvand
- Harry Bryan.
Addressed: To my ryght worschipfull Gorge Cele
marchand of the stapull at Calles
thys letter be dely verd.
THE CELY PAPERS, 4' 131
113
Probably written in 1482, when war was considered to be imminent with Franc
Jhesu
Ryght reverent syr and my specyall good frend y recommound
me unto you forder mor plessed you to wete that y have ressayved
a lettere from you wreten at Calles the xij day of November the
whyche letter I have red and well understond that ye have
ressayved a letter from me wreten at London the ix day of Novem-
ber yn the wyche letter I wrote a clausse of youre horsse the wyche
y understond ye taked sor at yowre stomak Syryn good faythy am
sory therfor for and y had west that ye would a taked so sory
would nott a wreten so unto yow nat and y schuld agette therbey
xx nobelys but ye schall understond watt caused me so for to wryte
unto yow syr ye wrote unto my master that ye sophased be lykly-
hodyt Schuld be war and yeff yt so be yt schuld be war ther schuld
be gret rydyng and mekell ado abowte Calles and yeff ye be well
horssed I feyr me that soche Sowdyerys as ye be aquyted wyt all
schulld causse you for to put yowre body in a venter and yeff ther
com any thyng to yow hoder wysse then goode in good faythe a
grette parte of my masty's gey in thys world wayrer y do syr thys
caused me in good fayt for to wryte so unto you as y dod for y know
well and ye have no good horss they woll natt deseyer yowtte of
the tourne syr in good faythe my master yower fader neder my
maystres yowre moder moder [sic] knowe no thyng of my wrytyng
and yn good fayth ye shall understond that I wrote not so untoyow
for no spyte nedor for no hewell well that I have to yow but for grat
love for in good faythe savyng my master owre fader and youer
broder Rechard in good faythe ther ys no man in Inglond y would
do so meche for and that ye schuld know and ye had ned and that
caused me to be so bould to wryte so to you the wyche I would yt
had be undo the wylys ye taked so as ye doo no more unto you att
K 2
132 THE CELY PAPERS,
thys tyme but the Trenyte have you in His kepyng Wreten at
Alverley * the xix day of November.
par Wylliam Maryon.
Addressed: Unto George Cely marchant of the
Stapull at Calles thys letter be
delyverd.
114
This is the only document, we cannot call it a letter, in the collection, which
deals with the violent revolutions of the English Court during the period covered
by the correspondence. The style is so guarded as to be very obscure, but the
date is clearly fixed as between the death of Hastings on June 13, 1483, and the
creation of Lord Howard as Duke of Norfolk on June 28. It is also evidently
before the assumption of the crown by Richard III. on June 25. The fear for the
life of the king, Edward W., is ominous of the future ; but the writer, George Cely
by the hand, or his informant, Sir John Weston, is still uncertain how the revolu-
tion may turn.
Therys grett romber in the reme, the Scottes has done grett
[sic] yn Ynglond,” Schamberlayne “ ys dessesset in trobell the
chaunseler "ys dysprowett and nott content the boshop of Ely *
ys ded yff the kyng" God saffe his lyfe wher desett, the Dewk of
Glosetter 8 wher in any parell, geffe my lorde prynsse" wher God
* Alveley.
* On January 12, 1483, the Duke of Albany had re-opened treasonable com-
munications with England, which resulted in a treaty on his behalf, and on that
of the banished Earl of Douglas, signed in London on February 11. A recru-
descence of Border warfare resulted, but what damage precisely is referred to
here does not appear.
• Lord Hastings, executed June 13.
* Not Dr. Russell, Bishop of Lincoln, the actual Lord Chancellor, but Thomas
Rotherham, Archbishop of York, who had been deprived of the Great Seal in May,
and who was arrested when Hastings was killed.
* Morton, Bishop of Ely, afterwards Archbishop, Chancellor and Cardinal,
arrested when Hastings was killed.
f Edward W. & Richard III, * The Duke of York.
THE CELY PAPERS. 133
defend wher trobellett, yf my lord of Northehombyrlond * wher
dede or grettly trobellytt, yf my lorde Haward" wher slayne
De Munsewr Sent Jonys.
Summa.
(The rest of the page torn off.)
On the Dorse : *
The Som of Nycolas Brystall hys partyshon
of bothe oblygacyons amuntes . . . .
Item thys amountes in fl. at xxvi le li. to . xl" xvijºjº fl.
Item Nycolas Brystallys partyshon of bothe) alsº, sº ...
Oblyggacyons amountes unto . . j xxxj" iiijº vij" ster:
Item ytt amountes in flº at xxviºle pound . . xl" xj xj" flº.
The rest of bothe oblygacyons amountes unto. x" viijºjº ster:
Item I must pay unto Hary Bryan at
Synysyon marte be an byll of my hond
for his wharrant and the rest of his
Oblygacyons.
}* "vijº vijº ster:
lli fle.
II5
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my specyall goode mastſer]s
affter all drew recommendacyon hadd I lowly recommend me unto
you Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond
that I sent unto yowre masterschyppys at the ostes be George
Reede servaunte wº my lordd of Sent Jonys ij letters oon derectyd
* Henry Percy, created Earl of Northumberland in 1470, when John Neville
surrendered the Earldom in exchange for the title of Marquis of Montagu.
Northumberland was fully in the confidences of Edward IV. and Richard III., but
probably betrayed the latter at Bosworth. -
* John Lord Howard, created Duke of Norfolk on June 28, 1483. Killed at
Bosworth.
* The first three lines crossed out.
134 THE CELY PAPERS.
to master Rechardd the toder to yowre masterschypp the whych I
understond be my goddfader Maryons wrytyng that the sayd letters
at that tyme were nott receyved wherof I marvell grettly &c.
Item Syr plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understonde that
Gyessebryght wan Wynsbarge hath ben here at Callez lattly but
he bowght moo wull but he was here for matters that he hadd to
doo yn owre Courtt and I spake wº hym and I askydd hym wheder
John Delowppys hadd wrytten to Petter Bayle & delytte lyke as
he promysyd me to doo and Gyesbryght sayd to me that John
Delowppys sayd unto hym at hys comyng fourth that he hadd
wrytten to Petter Bayle to dely veryowre masterschyppys as myche
mony as he myght spare and allSoo John Delowppys sayd unto
Gyesbryght that he wold make Ower amyche mony yn thys matter
as Schall content the hole some of yowre bylles trustyng that
yowre masterschyppys wyll doo them as grett plesser yn tyme to
come &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to under-
stondd that oon Tewysday the ij day of December hytt was agreyd
here be Courtt that bylles of xx" of the sarplers payabull at plessur
of the gooddes that cam last from London and allsoo of that ys
come now from Boston Schall be sent ower to answer syche
charges as ben grown yn Inglondd and Syryff the bylles of plessur
com ower I Schall send ower to yowr masterschyppys as myche
mony as schall content yowr byll but wheder thes bylles Schall
com ower or nott Zett wee can nott tell yff we paye the hole
costom here I can send ower noo mony as yett I hawe payd hallffe
yowr costom here all redy and hallff my goddfader Maryon's and I
hawe taken Rechard Parker John Parkers son of Callez for to re-
ceyve yn thys martt all Syche specyalltes of yowrs payabullyn
thys martt fyrst an oblygacyon of Allbryght Allbryght son & Cleys
Peter son and ther fellowys containing xxxij" ster: Item a byll
of Jacobb Gyesbryght son and Jacob Harman son whyche I lent
them to paye at thys martt containing xiij" ster: and the byll of
Crystower of Collyus & Peyrs Joye containing x" fl. whych he wyll
receyve and bryng w” hym home to Callez to answer the rest of
THE CELY PAPERS. 135
Mºe
yowre costom &c. Item Syr plese hyt yow to understond that the
alowaunce ys come ower to Callez wherby [I] Schall recayve uppon
Sarpler whych Ze paid yn Inglondd and alsoo the ij viij" ster: of
the sarpler whyche we payd here to John Narsbye &c. Item Syr
plese hytt yow to understond that Boston flete ys come to Callez
all yn saffte thanckyd be God save the Battowll whych ys yett
behynd and Joye hathe yn an C. Sarpelles wull & fell and they here
noo thynge of her here yett I pray Godd send her well hover &c.
Item Syrplese hytt yow to understond that here ys a veryaunce fall
betwyxte owne oste Thomas Graunger and the fellyschypp of owre
logyng for Thomas Graunger promysyd us at hys comyng yn to
owre logyng that we Schuld paye noo more for owre burdd but
and nowe hee sayth he wyll have noo lesse than iiijº a weke at the
hye tabull and xl" at the syde tabull wherfor the fellyschypp here
Wyll departe yn to oder logynges Som to Oon plase and Som to
anoder Wylliam Dalton wyll be at Robard Torneys and Raff-
temyngton and master Browny's man of Stannford Schall be at
Thomas Clarkes and so all the fellyschypp departes sawe I wherfor
I lett yowre masterschyppes hawe knowledge that ze may do as
hytt Schall lyke yow best No more unto yowre masterschyppys
at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow. Wrytten at
Callez the V day of December,
per yowre Sarvaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rechard
and George Cely merchauntes of
the Stappell at Callez at London in
Martt Lane Soo hit da.
136 THE CELY PAPERS.
116
The complaints of the Flemish merchants recorded in this letter seem to have
been met by the conventions concluded between Richard KII. and the two opposing
governments in the Netherlands, that of Maximilian and that of the Flemish
towns in September and October respectively, 1484. Rymer xii. 248, 249.
Ryſght] worschyppfull masters after dew recommendacyon
hadd I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder
more plese hytt, yowre masterschyppys to understond that Wylly-
kyn John Delowpys man ys here at Callez and hath schewyd me
that John Delowppys dydd wryte unto Peter Bayle & Delyte to
speke w” yowre masterschyppys that [John] Delowppys myght
hawe all yowre Cottes walles that remaynyth here at Callez and
paye yow for hyttyn Ynglond as he hath don yn tymes past and soo
Wyllykyn sayth that Peter Bayle hath wrytten unto John De-
lowppys that he hath spoken wº yowre masterschyppys for hym
and how that yowre masterschyppys answeryd Peter Bayle that I
schuld be demenydlyke as yowre masterschyppes wrote me wherfor
Wyllykyn sayth that John Delowppys prayd me that I wold sell]
no more of yowre Cottes wull tell yowre masterschyppys wrate me of
the same matter and Thawe answeryd hym agayne I wold kepe noon
for hym but take the markett as hytt comyth w' owte yowre
masterschyppys wrytyth me the contrary for I tellyd hym he hath
nott deservyd yn payng of the last to hawe resspyte of thys but he
sayth to me hytt schall be schorttly payd &c. Item plese hytt
yowre masterschyppys to understond that here ys come to Callez
whych ys purpossyd to come ynto Pnglond Sarten merchauntes of
Flaunders the whych Sarten of the gooddys belongyth unto that
was taken yn the schyppys that were browght yn to Sandwyche
hawen at the Seson the Kyngges goode grace was theyr * wherfor
the sayd merchauntes hath browght a letter from the yong Dewk
* Richard III. was at Canterbury January 12, 1484. He probably visited Sand-
wich about the same time, but there seems to be no other record of it.
THE CELY PAPERS. 137
Phellypp and the councell of Flaunders derectyd unto the mayer
and fellyschypp of the stappull at Callez desyryng them to wryte
unto the Kynges good grace that he wyll be faverabull unto
hys sewgyettes and that hys goode grace wyll see they maye hawe
restytyschon of ther gooddes that ys taken be hys sewgeyttes lyke
as he hath don yn hys londd of Flaunders dyschargyd the
Ryngges sewgettes and made hem restytyschon of ther goodes and
soo thes merchauntes comyth ower ynto Ynglond and schall hawe
wrytyng from the fellyschypp of the stappell here to Kynges good
grace and allsoo to the mayer of the stappull for to labour for them
yn ther matter &c. Item Syr plese hytt yow to understond that the
Councell of Flaunders hath lett crye yn every towne to be redy in
harnesse as some as the towne bell rynggyth and allsoo he that
wyll take wages to enter hys name to the Regent * for to w” standd
the Dewk Maxymelyans for they sey . . . . because he hath gooten
ij townes of Flaunders . . . . edy & styll lyeth but as for as wee
knowe here they wyll hawe pese wº Inglond &c. No more unto
yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve
yow Wrytten at Callez the x day of Fevere
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Item Syr here beth dyversse merchauntes of Bruges and they
hawe bowght myche wull and they hawe ben in handd wºme for
yowre cottes wull butt I can sell them none w” owte they maye
hawe passe day of payment as they hawe of oder men wherfor hytt
ys to thyncke they put noo mystruste yn Flaunders.
Addressed: Tomy worschyppffull masters Rechard
and George Cely merehauntes of
the Stappell at Callez at London in
Martt Lane soo hit dol.
* This must be Anne de Beaujeu. The Flemish Towns were in close communi-
cation at the time with France, their nominal suzerain. See Kervyn de Lettenhove,
Histoire de Flandre, Livre xviii.
138 THE CELY PAPERS,
117
Ryght worschyppfull masters affter all dew recommedacyon
I lowly recommend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder more
plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I hawe sold
yowre iij thowsand ij" and Oodd felles of Cottessold whych cam wº
the last flete for xiiij nobulles the c to Claysse Peterson and
Wylliam Ardson of Dellfie" Syr they be nott Zett all dely verd but
as sone as they be dely verd I Schall send yowre masterschyppys
the rekenyng of hem &c. Item plese hytt yowre masterschyppys
to understond that Gyesbryght van Wynsbarge ys com to Callez
and soo he hath spoken to me to wytt yff I hadd any wrytyng
from yow of the matter that Peter Bale spoke to yowre master-
schyppys of and I tellyd hym naye lykewyse as hytt ys that I
hawe noo wrytyng from yow nott lattly wheroff he sayd he
marvellyd never the less he desyryth to hawe the rest of yowre
Cottessold woll and he wold make me a byll in the name of John
f)elowpys and hymsellfe of the hole som of mony that the wull
schuld draw made payabull at plesur and yowre masterschyppys
schuld chese wheder Ze wold be payd in Inglond or here yff yow
wold hawe ytt in Ynglond ze Schuld be payd win ij monthys or
less yff ze wyll be payd here ze schall be payd be Ester and
schorttlyer and Zeff yowre masterschyppys wyll hawe hytt Soo and I
answeryd hym agayne that I myght nott sell non to noo man
wtowte redy mony nor wyll nott w"owte yowre masterschyppys
commaunde me to doo than he sayd he trowyd I Schuld have
wrytyng from yow schorttly for that matter for he sayd he
supposyd yowre masterschyppys were content & plesyd or elles
* Delft.
THE CELY PAPERS. - 139
schall be schorttly for he saythe he hath sent ower lattly to Peter
yn bylles iijc" sterlyng and now wººthys passage ijc" sterlyng Syr
I thyncke he menys trewly for he sayth yff ze misse truste hym he
wyll sett yow in asewerte how that ever the world goyth &c. but
as for Flaunders I thynke they wyll nott breke wº us but Syr ther
be sarten banyschyd Englysch " men that be oon the see hath
taken v or vi Sayle of Spaynardds ladyn wº wyne comyng yn to
Flaunders &c. Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to
understond that ther ys an ordynaunce made here be Courtt for
the alldor men of Callez whych be free men of the stappell how
ther] they schall lewe ther alldermanschypp and all oder jurdyc-
cyons in Callez be a day exprest and be only of the stappull or
elles to be crossyd the plase and soo oon. Saterday last was they
all were comaunded to be at Courtt uppom payne of ther hinusse
and soo all thes that ther names herafſter followyth were there at
Court fyrst John Chawley, Harry Achamber, Thomas Benett, Alyn
Reddman, Romenett Desall, Wylliam Fethyan, Robard Brugham,
Wylliam Muston, John Deram, And there the leffetenaunte
schewyd unto them how that the fellyschypp fownd them grewyd
w" them becawse they were sworne fyrst unto the stappell and
browght upp theyr and syns sworne unto the jurdyccyon of the
towne and observe that yn many thynges contrey the welth of the
plase wherfor ther ys an ordynaunce made they schall come in and
schow hem as fre men of the plase and forsake ther alldermanschypp
and jurdyccyon of the town or elles yff they wold nott they schuld
schewe hytt theyr and they schuld be dyschargyd of ther fredome
of the stappell and soo they promysyd all theyr for to dyscharge
them of ther town and take hem oonly to the fredome of the
stappull sawyng only twayne Romenett Desall and Wylliam
Fethyan whyche beythe crossyd the plase &c. Item Syr I beseche
* Possibly refugees from the late attempt of the Duke of Buckingham and the
Earl of Richmond. Certain Breton ships, which had sailed with the latter in his
abortive invasion, had taken refuge in Flemish ports and were committing piracy.
Englishmen may have manned some of them. MS. Harl. 1632.
140 THE CELY PAPERS,
yowre masterschypp to remember to send ower the pampelett that
Ischall make my rekenyng bye that I myghte clere hytt &c. No
more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty
Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xxiiij day of
Feverell,
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Item Syr my master Rechard wrate me that I or Joysse schuld
purvey for onyun seedd of Sent Thomas Syrhytt ys soo wee can
gett non for hytt ys at xx" a pownde.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters
Rechard and George Cely mer-
chauntes of the stappell at Callez
at London in Martt Lane soo
hitt dd.
* * * * ~ * * * * - -- tº º tº
Ryght worschyppfull masters after all dew recomendaschon I
lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppes Furder more
plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I have receyved
a letter lattly from yowre masterschyppys beryng date the xv.j day
of Fevere be the tenor wherof I understond that Peter Bayle hath
ben wº yowre masterschyppes for that John Delowpys myght have
the rest of yowr Cottes wull and how that yowre masterschyppys
hath grauntyd hym w that ze may be payd of the oon hallff at
London betwyxte thys and Ester and the rest win iiij monthys
after the dely werey of the sayd wull &c. Syr hytt ys soo that
Gyesbryght and Wyllykyn beth here and thys letter that yowre
masterschypp sent unto me was hadd to Bruges w” sarten letters
of John Delowpys and so John Delowpys sent hytt heder agayne
THE CELY PAPERS. \ 141
and a letter to Gyesbryght and Wyllykyn how that Peter Bayle
wrote unto hyſm] how that he hath a promyse of yowre master-
schypp lyke as Ze have wrytten in yowre letter to me but I sayd
unto them that I hawe promysyd the wull before to anoder man
but newer the lesse I hawe taken a goddes peny of hem acordyng
to the pryce of the place and when hytt ys wayedd they shall mak
a byll in John Delowppys name and Gyesbryght of the hole sum
of mony that the wull schall drawe unto & the byll made payabull
at London at yowre plesor and allSoo Gyesbryght hath promysyd
me that hytt schall be payd be Ester the hole sum at the farthest
Syr I hope hytt ys sewer I nowzth for they ar fast men and allSoo
that Peter Bayle hath promysid to content yowre masterschyppes
howsom ever the world goys and allSoo I thyncke Flaunders wyll
nott breke w” us for we putt hem in noo missetruste here for ther
ys noo man here that sellyth new wull but hytt Schall be Ester
mart or hee schall hawe hys mony &c. Item Syr yowr master-
schypp wrytyth me that I wrate yow nott whatt mony I receyvedd
for the iij sarpplleres wull I sold unto Wylliam Kenett Syr hytt
schall send ower unto yowre masterschypp yff yee wyll that I
schall soo doo And I trow I Schall gett more yff ze wyll hawe
more &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond
that the Dewk Maxymelyanys ys in Flaunders wyth mych pepull
and he hath Sarten townys in Flaunders submyttyd unto hym and
as on Tewsday the xxv day of Fevere he was w” a thousand horsys
at Bruges gattes" for to acomon yn but they schytte the gattes
and wold mott lett hym com yn than he sawe that and sent a
messonger to the gattes desyryng that som of the rewlers of the
town schuld com to the gates and Speke w” hym but noon wylld
come wherfor he retornyd backe agayne unto hys oste and soo he
lyeth styll w” in iiij Dewch meyll off Brugys and hys desyre ys no
more but to hawe vi persones at hys wyll that ys ij of Bruges ij
of Gaunte & oon of Ypre wherfor the comon pepull wold hawe
* See Kervyn de Lettenhove, Histoire de Flandre, Livre xviii.
142 THE CELY PAPERS.
hym full fayne sawe v or vi of the hedys be of a contrary openyon
but folke that cam from Bruges sayth that they thyncke hytt
schall nott be longe or they wyll lett hym in at Bruges &c. Item
Syr on Fryday the xxvij day of Feverell cam passage from Dower
and they saye that oon Thursday affore cam forth a passonger
from Dower to Calles ward and sche was chasyd w” Frensche men
and drewyn in to Donkyrke" hawen &c. Item Syr plese hybt yow
to understond that I hawe sold to Claysse Petterson and hys
fellowys of Dellff” yowr cottes felles that cam last and they hawe
cast ower iiijº reffewsse felles and the rekenyng of the sayd felles
ys on the toder syde wrytten no more unto yowre masterschyppys
at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve an kepe yow Wrytten
at Callez the xxix day of Fevere. w -
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Jhesu Miijºjij"
Md: the xxviij day of Fevere anno ut suppra sold per me
Wylliam Cely in the name of my masters Rechard and George
Cely to Claysse Peterson, Wylliam Ardson, John Wylliamson,
Deryck Johnson of Dellff iij Mij"cl Cottes pell prys le c xiiij nobulles
sterlyng.
Argent. º . cxlvijº ster:
Item to be receyved in redy mony the on * lxxiij" x* ster:
SUl Iſl . • . * tº º se • e
Item lent them be an oblygacyon to pay the xx
day of August next ensewyng e º º
Item lent them be anoder oblygacyon payabull)
the xx day of Fevere nexte
}* *xws ster:
xxxviºxys ster:
Item Syr as for the lxxiij"x" ster: whych I schulde a receyvedd
* Dunkirk. * Delft. ° iiij" omitted by mistake.
THE CELY PAPERS. 143
in hondd I hawe receyvedd therof but xx" x* ster: in nemyng
grottes and crownys and the rest ys liij" ster: whych I lent them
be a byll of her hond to paye at passe for they browght but lyttull
mony heder wº hem becausse of trublyng be the waye w” Soudears
of Mexymelyanys but the men ar sewer I nowzth they have
bowghte here abowe xv.jM' felles at thys tyme.
Addressed: To my worschyppffull masters
Rechard and George Cely mar-
chauntes of the Stappell at Callez
at London in Martt Lane soo
hitt dd.
119
• * * * ~ * * * *
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my specyall good masters affter
all dew recommendacyon I lowly recommend me unto yowre
masterschyppys Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to
understond that I sent unto you at the last passage be oon Roger
Kynton a letter conteynyng the rekenyng of the sale of iij Mijel
peltes sold to Claysse Peterson and hys fellyschypp Item I sent
unto yowre masterschyppys at the Sayd passage be oon John
Clyffton a letter of the sale made to John Delowpys and Gyesbryght
van Wynsbarge of vi Sarppellers & a poke fyne Cottes and I sent
unto yowre masterschyppys closyd in the same letter a leſter] of
payment of the John Delowpys and Gyesbryght payabull at Ester
neſzt conteynynge coxlij" xvij" ster. &c Item Syr oder sales I
hawe made non Zett but I trust I Schall doo schorttly here hath ben
Hollo “ . . . moo I understond wyll be schorttly Imyght a sold
yowre old [felles] but I wold sell som of yowre new felles wº all &c
ltem Syr . . . ys myche adoo betwyxte the Dewk Maxymelyanys
* Hollanders, probably.
144 THE CELY PAPERS.
and sarten townys of Flaunders the Dewk hath ben affor Bruges
wherfor Gaunt and Bruges and oder townys of Flaunders be afferdd
of hym for they kepe strayght watche and wardd in every town
dayly and they of Bruges hathe beheddydºv or vi of the dwellars
of Bruges that toke Dewk part but noo man say the nor doythe
nothyng to noon Englysche man but that they may resorte too and
froo as they have doon in tymes past Sawyng only men ben afferdde
of Frensche men for they hawe taken ij Englysche men comyng
from Bruges betwyxte Donckyrck and Gravenyng * on ys John
Eston and the toder ys oon Jamys Robard Stockers man. Item
Syr on Fryday last past on Richard Awrey that was master of my
lord Denmanis” schypp Zede forthe a warfare in a schypp of hys
owne and toke in merchauntes and sett them alond at Dower and
at Dower toke in passage to Callez wardd agayne and as he cam to
Callez wardd ij men of warre of Frensche mett wº hym and fawght
with hym and theyr he was slayne and diversse moo of hys company
they saye viij or ix persones oon whos sowlles Jhesu hawe mercy.
And so on Fryday at affternonne the Frensche men browghte hem
into Donkyrke hawen and Wylliam Bryerley ys in the same schypp
and diversselondd men moo what they ar I cannott tell yow Item
Syr understond that Schyppyng ys begon at London Syr I pray
God . . . may beynowghe schyppyd to pay thys hallff Zerys wages
that ys [dew] at the vi day of Apryll nexte for that most be payd
~all off [thys] schyppyng for here ys nothyng toward hytt and allsoo
[a grett] partt of the prest mony that was prestyd yn October to
pay the flete wº most be repayed of the same for mych of hytt ys
oons past but yowres ys repayd wher for Syr all syche goodes that
comyth now at thys schyppyng moste paye sole costom at the rywall
of hytt &c. Furder more plese hytt yow to understond that Roger
Wyestan of Laysetter “ys chosen leftenaunte for the next seson affter
thys man and he to be here at Callez be the last day of Apryll &c.
* Dunkirk and Gravelines. * Wide Letter of March 25, 1484.
g * Leicester.
THE CELY PAPERS. 145
No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty
Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xvij day of Marche.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worshyppfull masters Rechard
and George Cely merchauntes of
the stappell at Callez at London
in Martt Lane Soo hit dol.
120
The note at the end of the sale on March 24, 1483, and the reference to the
coming agreement with the Flemish towns about arrests, which was concluded in
September 1484, makes it certain that this Letter should be dated 1484. It is
on the first day of the year, O.S.
Ryght worschyppfull and my specyall goode masters after
all dewe recomendacyon had I lowly recommend me unto yowre
masterschyppys Forder more plese yowre masterschyppys to
understond that I hawe sold iij M' of yowre cottes pelt wherofijM'vº
beyth of yowre vijM' felles schypyd at the portt of London the x day
of Junn Anno iiijºij and the rest ys of yowre v M'iiijº pelt schyp-
pyd at the portt at London the xxiiij day of Jowll Anno iiijºij &c
Syr, I wold fayne a sold moo new felles w'all but I Kowdenott for
ther ys grett plenty of old felles in town iij old agaynest on new
and allSoo the vij M' pelt schyppyd in Jun Anno iiijëiij were sorre
blemeschyd as brent yn the schyp bothe tymes as they were schyppyd
twyse &c Syr the reknyng of the sale of the forsayd sale of iijM'
peltes her after in thys letter ys conteynyd &c Furder more plese
hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that thys day owre Lady"
Day all the fellyschypp w. . assemlyd yn the hall and ther was
my lord Dennam * and master Donsta, and master Marschall wº
* Sir John Denham, Lord Denham or Dynham, Privy Councillor to Edward IV.
and to Henry VII., made Lord Treasurer by the latter. -
L
146 THE CELY PAPERS.
oder of the Councell that be made free of the stappell now late
and SOO theyr the old mayer was dyschargyd and ther was putt in
alecschan of the new mayer Syr Wylliam Stocker master Yorck
and Master Wymbythe and soo Syr Wylliam Stocker ys choosen
mayer of the stappull for the yere forthe &c Furder more Syr
plese hytt yow to understond that Gyesbryght van Wynsbarge ys
com to Callez and soo hee hath taken schew to bye wull and hytt
ys soo that my lord lefttenaunte of the town of Callez as thys day
sent for my master lefftenaunte of the stappull schewyng unto
hym in thys wyse how that sarten town dwellers of Callez hath
ben at Bruges and hath bowghte wyne and oder merchaundyse the
whyche ys arestyd att Newportte” for syche goodys that Englysche
men hathe taken be the see belongyng unto men of Oostendd" and
other plases of Flaunders wherfor my lord schewyd unto the
lefſetemaunt how that thes men that hath her gooddes soo arestyd
at Newportte desyryth to hawe lysens to rest Gyesbryght an oder
merchauntes of Bruges that be here for plege for the gooddys
that ys soo arestyd at Newportte but master lyefftenaunte answeryd
my lordd agayne be the avyce of the fellyschypp and sayd unto
hym in thys wyse yff Soo be that Gyesbryght schuld be arestyd
here and trublyd hytt Schuld causse at grett inconvenyens to the
stappull for Gyesbryght and his fellow be the men that doth
gretter fett of any marchauntes that camyth heder for the gooddes
that they hawe bowght here thys zere drawyth abowe xxv M'lister:
wherfor yff they schuld be stoppyd ther wold come noo moo
merchauntes heder the whych Schuld cause a grett stopp and yff
merchauntes straungers myght nott resort heder that men myght
make sale of her gooddes they cowde make noo payment unto the
soudears of ther wages and allsoo schuld cause men to londd
agayne syche gooddes as they were ySchyppyng wº all and allSOO
hytt was answeryd my lordd in thys wyse how that ther ys an
entercourse made betwyxte the Kyng of Ynglond and the londd of
Flaunders in Dewk Phyllyps days * and syns confermyd be Dewke
* Nieuport. ” Ostend. * Rymer, xi. 140.
THE CELY PAPERS. 147
Charllys and syns that confermyd be Dewk Maxymelyanys how
that any merchaunde of Ynglonde beyng free of stappull may goo
sayff and a gonne sayff into Flaunders bothe hys body and gooddes
at all tymes w'owte any interrypcyon for any hurttes doon to any
man of Flaunders be see or lond be Englysche men and in lyke-
wyse all merchauntes of Flaunders or of theke partyes comyng to
Callez warde to bye stappull merchaundyse Schall goo free and
come free w” owte any interypcyon in lykewyse. And thys enter-
course ys entryd in the stappull Regester of old tyme w” the
whyche my lordd ys well content w" that the stappell wyll send ij
sadd men of the fellyschypp unto Gaunte to the Councell of
Flaunders to know wheder they wyll abyd be that entercoursse or
nott and Soo Sarton men Schall be apoyntyd to goo to Gaunte wº
wrytyng under stapell seall for to know an answer &c but Gyes-
bryght ys at hys lybbarte and he byeth wull here as he hath dom
in tymes past &c Item Syr I have made wrytyng whych yowre
masterschyppys schuld a herdd or thys tyme but ther hath noo
passage goon thys xiiij day &c. No more unto yowre master-
schyppys at thys but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at
Callez on owre Lady Day Anuncyon
- per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Md: the xxiiij day of Marche Anno iiijºij sold per me
Wylliam Cely in the name of my masters Rechard and George
Cely to Gyesbryght Henryckson Jacob Gyesbryghtson Cornelys
Arnoldson Deryck Jacobson of Dellf iij M' cottes pelles prys
le c xiiij nobulles sterlyng.
Argent . . . cxl" ster:
Item the Oon hallff Amountes lxx" ster:
Wherof I receyved in redy mony xxxiiji vji vijº ster:
And lent them be a byll of her hond
to paye at Sensyon marte nexte
lxx" ster:
tº Q & A. tº $ $ tº
148 THE CELY PAPERS.
Item lent them be an oblygacyon to pay the xxiij day i-
of September next . . . . . . . . . . . }* ster:
Item lent them be annoder oblygacyon payabull at º --
li ſº
XXXV*Ster:
martt nexte
Addressed: To my worschyppfull masters
Rechard and George Cely mer-
chauntes of the stappull at Callez
at London in Martt Lane Soo hytt
dd:
121
* * * * * * * * * *, *, * * * *
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and myn specyall goode masters
after all dew recommendacyon hadd I lowly recommend me unto
yowre masterschyppys Furder more lettyng yowre masterschyppys.
hawe knowlegge that] I hawe receyved a letter lattly from yow
beryng date the xj day of March be the tenour wherof I under-
stond that yowre master]schypis hathe recey'ved ij letters from
me conteynyng the twoo Sallys made. . . . Claysse Peterson and
the toder to John Delowpys and allSOO that yowre masterschyppys
hath receyved John Delowpys letter of payment &c. Item Syr I.
sent unto [yow] thys passage be Raff Lemyngton a letter con-
teynyng a sale made the . . . day of Marche to Gyesbryght
Henryckson &c. Item Syr I understond [be] yowre sayd letter.
that yowre masterschyppys be purpossyd t . . . now at thys tyme.
xx sarpllers wull Syr yf Ze Cowde hawe goode Schyppys . . . were
nott yll don and yowre masterschyppys Schyppyd somwhat more
s . . . be well fornyschyd w' mony here for to paye the Costom
and subsede allSoo Syr I thynck as far as my symppull reson geyff
me hytt ys more sewer schyppyng now than schall be hereafter for
dyversse c . . . &c. Syr as for old Henleys wyddowe sche hath
THE CELY PAPERS. 149
ben Sowyr syk a grette whyle but scheys yett alive and sche fortune
to dye I schall send yow wordd as schortly as I can &c. Furder
more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys to understond that I wrate
yow a clawsseyn the letter that Raff Lemyngton bryngyth yow
how that the lefftenaunte and the fellyschypp here hath hadd
comenycacyon w” my lord lefftenaunt of Callez for the entercourse
betwyxte Ynglond and Flaunders and Soo my lordd ys owre goode
lordde yn all matters and soo oon Satterday the xxvi day of
Marche the fellyschyp here apoyntyd v persones of the stappull to
goo as ymbassutt for the stappell to Dewke Phyllypp and hys
councell of Flaunders and thes men be poyntyd to goo Thomas
Amerys, Constabull, Robardd Addlyn, Wylliam Bentham, Wylliam
Dalton, John Ynge, and on Tewysday nexte they Schall departe
theder warddes and they schall hawe power of my lordd and allso
of the stappell under seall to have comenycacyon w” the concell of
Flaunders and to conclude yf they can to gett a sawegard under
the seall of Flaunders that noo merchaunt of the stappull schall be
trubullyd yn Flaunders for any male fett doon be any oder
englysche man to any person of Flaunders wº owte hytt be for
tresspasse be hym don and yn lyke wyse my lord lefítenaunte of
Callez Schall gewe a sawegard to all merchauntes of Flaunders
comyng to Callez to bye stappull merchaundyse that noo man
schall doo, nor Saye to them nor her gooddys at Callez nor yn the
merchesse for noo male fett doon be any Flemynge to any
Englysche man wº owte hytt be for tresspasse be himsellfe " Item
Syr plese hytt yow to wytt that I send unto yowre masterschyppys
be the brynger of thys letter whoo is name ys James Jarfford
atorney for Steven Gybson mercer of London sellyd yn a canvas
iij Angelettes wrappyd yn paper xx” &c. Item Syr plese hyit to
under that hytt hath plesyd the fellyschyp to chese Thomas
Noneley and me collectors for thys quarter ensuyng &c. No more
* This was arranged, separately, with both Maximilian and the Council of
Flanders in the following September. Rymer xii., 248, 249.
150 THE CELY PAPERS.
unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme but allmyghty J hesu
preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xxvij day of Marche.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my worschyppfull masters
Rechard and George Cely mer-
chauntes of the stappull at Callez
at London yn Martt Fane soo hitt
dd.
I 22
* * * * * * * * *
Ryght worschyppffull Syrs & my specyall goode masters Affter
all dew recomendacyon hadd I lowly recomend me unto yowre
masterschyppys Furder more plese hytt yowre masterschyppys
to understond that I hawe sold to Adryan Wylliamson & hys
fellows of Layth * xv° of yowr Cottes felles schyppyd in Jowlle
Anno M'iiij"iiijºij whych sale ys conteynyd here after in thys letter
Furder more lyke hytt yowre masterschyppys to wytt that I hawe
receyved a letter from yow beryng date the second day of Marche
and in the same letter the nomber and wayght of yowre wull
schyppyd at thys tyme and allso in the sayd letter yowre warant
of xx" of the sarplar conteynyng xxvij" ster. Item Syr I hawe
receyved anoder letter from yowr masterschyppes beryng date the
ij day of Aprell the whych letter I hawve redd and well
understond and acordyng to yowre sayd letter I Schall demene
mysellfe that schall be to yowre plessur of the whych I Schall
wryte yow in my nexte letter more at large &c Furder more
plese hytt yow to understond that thys day the x day of Aprell
the wull flete came to Callez all in saffte thanckyd be God ther be
Frensche men on the see but they sturryd nott at thys seson and
wee knowe noon Oder wyse here but wee Schall hawe warre belond
* Leyden. >
THE CELY PAPERS. 151
w" Fraunce thys somer &c. Syr I wold awrytt yowre master-
schyppys of moo matters but my space was but schortt and the
passage tarryd nott but Zede att the same tyde that hytt came
from Dower but I Schall wrytt yow more att large w” the nexte
passage &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppys at thys tyme
but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez le x day of
Aprell &c.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Md: the iiij day of Aprell annout supra sold per me
Wylliam Cely for and in the name of my masters
Rechard & George Cely to Adryan Wylliamson
Deryck Deryckson Garrad Laurenson Garrad)]xx" ster:
Stevenson Henryck Ottson Claysse Doo & Gyes-
bryght Moresson of Laythe xv° Cottes peltes prys
le cziiij nobulles, Argent . e tº ſº tº
Item receyved in Lond in nemyng grottes . . . xxxv" ster:
Item lent them be ther oblygacyon payabull at
li ſº
XXXV* Ster:
Senschyon martte nexte sum
Addressed: To my worshyppffull masters Rechard
and George Cely merchauntes of
the Stappull at Callz at London
in Martt Lane soo hit dò :
On the Dorse, in a different handwriting :
Item Delyvyred unto John Veneke yn fyne gowllde to make
a Ryng for my wyffe xxvi penny wayghgh d q" sum *lvjº Sum *.
liijs. Vj"
* Crossed out.
152 THE CELY PAPERS,
123
Jhesu M'iiij"iiijºiiij
Ryght worschyppffull masters after all dew . . . . yowre
masterschyppfurder more plese hytt yow . . . . wull flete
aryved at Callez the x day of Aprell . . . . and the most
parte of yowre wull ys londyd and t . . t . . . . furder
more Syr I understond be yowr wrytyng that Petter . . . .
hathe ben wº yowre masterschyppes and schewed [yow] howe hee
w . . . fynd yowre sewerte for syche wulles that John Delowpys
schall take of yowres at Callez Syr yf the sowertes be of substaunce
and abydyng thſen I wold avyse yow to take hem or elles nott
for what world wee schall hawe wº Flaunders I can nott say I feyr
me they wyll breke wº us for the men that were sent be the
stappell to the lordys Gaunte to labur a safgard for all the felly-
schypp of the stappull be come home agayne da . . lesse for
they were answeryd how that Flaunders hath susteynyd maſny]
grett hurttes don be Englysche men and noo restytuschon made
agayne wherfor they can susteyn noo lenger and as for any sawe-
gars they wyll gewe non wherto thys Schall growe I can nott saye
wherfor Syr yf ze can hawe goode sewerte of Peter Bayledelett
hytt were well doon what sum ever fortune here after and Syr I
pray yow to wryte me in what case Peſter] hath sett yowre
masterschyppys for syche that I delyver John Delowppys here for
Wyllykyn John Delowppy man ys here and he tellyth me that
John Delowpys hath a letter from youre masterschyppys of the
same matter but I schall delyver hym noo wull tell I have
wrytyng from yow agayne how be hytt the manys goode I nowythe
were we yn Sartente of pes betwyxte Flaunders and us but Syryf
ze com be sett Sewer of yowre mony theyr hytt were a goode way
for ther ys noo merchaunte that comyth here that payth redy mony
for any naw wull that he byeth here &c. furder Syr a tochyng
the matter that yowre masterschypp wrote me of Thomas Whyte
meser in serten Syr I spake w”hym and hee dynedd at home wyth
THE CELY PAPERS. 153
N-
my nostes how be hytt he knew nott me and ther he schewyd how
that that matter ley betwyxte anoder man and yow how be hytt he
Sayd sche hadd yow more in fawer than the toder man but Syr ze
hawe hys good wyll &c. Item Syr Wylliam Sallford ys come and
I spake wº hym and wellcomyd hym, and he tellyd me how that
Wre masterschypp and that Oder gentyll woman wheyr at
Nºt yn that matter of the whych I was ryght gladd and soo he
as but he speryd me noo oder questyans nott Zett and
ayd here be many persones here how that ze sewer to
hych . . . . well content & ryght glad therof
that knowyth yow both merchauntes and
were yow grettly sayng yf that gentell
ub . . tº [t]hat sche ys ze were wurthy to
and . . . . any makyng of serche of yowre
ere I trow ther ys noo man that makyth any yff they]
de goo noo farther than the bokes yn the tesery wher
nde that yowre sallyZ made wyn lesse than thys zere
ove ij M'li. ster. : where that the person that laboryd for
ºw he & hys broder hadd nott yn thys towne thys
hes the oon hallff of that &c. Furder more Syr yowre
wrytyth me yf theyr were any goode gaston wyne
hawe a tonne therof Syr here ys noo goode wyne to
ony as yett but I understond ther schall come from
in x or xij days whereof I trow Ischall gett a tonne
5te whych I schall send yow &c. Item Syr I sent
ºë last passage be oon Thomas Bland of Boston a
ºn ys wrytten the sale made to Adryan Wylliamson &
Myschypp of Laythe" of xv c cottes pelts prys le c xiiij nobulles
ent lxx" ster. : &c. Item Syr thys same day the xiiij day of
Aprell ther cam iij passongers from Dower and ther was ij grett
schyppys of war of Frensche men chasyd them into the hawen
mowthe and the passagers hadd had but a myle to a ron farder they
had be taken and owre men of warre lyeth all yn Cambrez” &c
* Leyden. * Cambrai. The “men of warre' are not ships.























154 THE CELY PAPERS.
No more unto yowre masterschypp at thys tyme but Allmyghty
Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xiiij day of Aprell.
per yowre servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed : To my worshypfull masters" R. "
George Cely merchaunt of the
stappell at Callez at London in
Martt Lane soo hytt dol.
124
© e g º . e. e º º
Tyght worschyppfull masters affter all dew recom
lowly recomend me unto yowre masterschyppys Furder
hytt yowre masterschyppes to understond that I sent
Joysse the brynger of thys letter selyd in a canva;
sterlyng and allSoo I sent unto yowre masterschyppy
passage be oon John Bwrne draper of Callez in a \
Oder xl" sterlyng Syr as Zett I can gett noo
mony &c. Furder more Syr plese hytt yow to ur
Wyllykyn John Delowppys man es come ower in t
thys passſage] Wherfor I thyncke he wyll com
yowre Cottes wull Syr I wyll avyse yow to grau
Oder wyse than to pay him] at Callez acordyng to
or the wull passe the towne for hytt ys knowne
here that Wyllykyn comyth ower for noon oder thym
make bargaynys w” serten persones in Inglond for sych wº
they hawes at Callez and allso the delyng of dyſvers] men
Inglond w' John Delowpys ys knowne wherfor ther wyll be a
grett] serche made schorttly and forfettes schall be lewellyd for
hyttys known well here that Peter Bale and Delytt answeryth at
days in Inglond for myche of the wull that John Delowpys byethe
* The ‘s’ and ‘R' crossed out.























THE CELY PAPERS. 155
here but as for yowredelynges knowyth noon man wºowte they serche
Peter Balys bokes as I thyncke grett serche Schall be made for the
forfett ys lewellydoon som persones all redy but they be nott Zett
openly namyd and as for yowre wull I trust to Godd hytt Schall be
sold and hawe redy mony for hytt wº yn thys month for I am yn a
goode waye for hytt all redy wº goode men and to paye as they
fett hytt and to fett hytt win a month Robard Legayneard &
Collard Messedawzth be the men No more unto yowre master-
Schyppys at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow
Wrytten at Callez the xxviij day of Aprell
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Item Syr plese hytt yow to understond that old Henley ys
wyddowe hath beyn specheless thys daye & a hallfe and sche ys
nott lyckely to leve a day tyll an endd wherfor here ys oon
John Garnett sowddar and he hath ben wº me and schewyd me
howe that hee ys bownden wº yong Henley to Harry Franck in an
oblygacyon of lz" ster: to paye after Henley moder desseicyth and
he saythe when he was at London hee spake to Harry Francke of
the same oblygacyones and Harry Francke tellyd hym how he
hadd made a letter of atorney to yowre masterschypp for to recey've
the sayd lx" wherfor John Garnett sayth hee hath gootten as myche
goodes yn hys hondes of old Henleys wyddows as Schall draw the
som of lx" ster : for the whyche he saythe he wold the oblygacyones
were sent ower that the sayd gooddes myght answer hytt for hys
dyscharge &. Item Syr T hawe sold ij sarplers of yowre fyne
Cottes wull that cam last wherof the rekenyng of the sale ys
clossyd in thys letter I hadd lycens of the leftenaunt to make sale
as for So myche as Sone as hytt was awarddyd.
Addressed: To my worshyppful masters Rechard
and George Cely merchauntes of
the stappell at Callez at London in
Martt Lane soo hytt dol:
156 THE CELY PAPERS.
125
Christus 1486
Pyght worshipfull Sir I recommaunde me unto you like it you
to witte that [I] purveid at my beyng in Holond samon of the Mase
of the whech all is not comyn but sithen it is so that I have but
on furkyn comyn I send it to you be Thomas Bernard servaunte wº
John Reynold mercer to delyver you prayng you that it will plese
you for opon it and take out thereof the on half for yourself & that
other half that it will plese you to put sum pese of wode in the
seyd furkyn because of bressyng of the fyshe that shall be left
therin that other half & that it may be sent to my Jone & this
– letter therwithe ether be carte of any go to Leyc” or elles by the
carears of Derby that they may cary it upon horsbake" & that I
besech ys in as yely hast as may be plese it ye to understond that
Will Cely told me that ye had no knowlege from me for payment
of the xx" ye of your curtesy delyvered unto Will Lemster my
servaunte to my gret marvel Sir ye shal be acertened for treuth
contynent upon the knowlege of your curtesy and kynd delyng to
me of the seid xx" I made xx" be exchaunge and sent ye the letter
of payment with a pronosticacion & an almynake of the makyng
of master John Laste & this I sent ys all bounden & seled
togeder be Will Drynklow & sithen Will Cely told me I delyverd
unto hym the seconde letter of payment to send over unto ye like
as I have writen to ye in a letter sent over at Shorfftyd the wheche
I truste ye have recey'ved Item if my other samon hade comyn I
entended to have done other but I pray to excuse to my good
marsters that it is no better howbeit it swam sith Candlemasse
* Dalton’s mother lived at Leicester. Perhaps Jone was his wife.
* Packhorses, the more usual method of carrying goods.
THE CELY PAPERS. 157
Will Cely can tell you mor than I dar writ Jhesu kepe you
Writ at Calles the xij day of Marche.
your Wylliam Dalton.
Addressed: To the worshippful George Cely mer-
chaunt of the staple dwellyng in
Marke Lane so it dol.
Londz.
~------. 126
Rychard Čely the $/ounger
This and the following Letter belong to 1487, a year of the appearance of the
Sweating Sickness possibly referred to in the latter. The two Letters are about
the same date. - --
Riught welbelovyd brother I recomend me unto yow & and to
my syster hyt ys so that her ys Dodlays mane the bochar of
Eschepe and I hawe p" hym aull the mony that I hawhezeyt I
nobyll be Tomas Wade the iij oxsyn for the margett comys to
xxxv that ys xvi. xx" a paye at my comyng a Wednysday I wantt
a lyttyll fardell wº ij craddyll clothys a tyn basson wºoder geyr
Zeffe hytt hapyd to be layd in yowr bott I troste hytt wylbe saffe
Iwndyrstonde be Adlynton at Mydwyntter ys com God ryd ws of
hym. Send me a byll of yowr mynd I pray yow.
per Rychard Cely.
B. e. xiij
De hac litera allocatur per auditorem viº vij"
B. e. xii;
solvendis et inquiratur utrum solvantur per Georgium Cely
vel non. -
Dodlay de Estchepe pro Ryc. Cely.
Addressed: To my brother George Cely.
On the Dorse: Broder I recomawnd be unto yow
and to my.
B. e. xiij. xiij.
158 THE CELY PAPERS.
127
Rychard Cely the younger
Ruight welbelovyd brother I recomend me unto yow and my
syster in as hartty whysse as I can Syr T hawe ressayvyd a letter
be Adlynton he brynges you the same I wridyrstond hyt ryught
welle &c. I longe for to heyr how ze havhe pywrwhayed for
Wylliam Mydwynter Zeffe I had spockyn wº yow er ze zeyd to
London whe myght a made a cºw' my brother Awheray Syr I
pray yow macke hym a byll in bothe hour namys of hys mony to
pay hym at Brogys as ze & he cane agre for he had never the byll
at ze tecke me ze remembyr whe hade xl" at howr Comynge and
I hade xx" more wheyr of Zeyde xij" and mor for carryayge of
wholl I pray yow macke hys byll of lx" ster: Syr I whow.de
awysse my syster & yow to com agayne into Essex for I whdyr-
stonde thay dy sor in London.
per yowr brother
Rychard Cely.
Addressed : Unto my brother George Cely at
London in Martte Lane.
On the Dorse :
Payments for Malens” the last day of August Anno iiijºvij
Item for xxiiijakers ad ix" ob leaker nettis and all xixº vilj"
Item for breke to elles. o e tº * ... XX*
Item dely verd be my wife to Speryng for the
Margett º tº ſº { } 4. gº ... XXX*
* Molands, George's Essex property.
THE CELY PAPERS. 159
128
Ryght worschyppppffull Syrs and my reverent masters aftyr
all dew recommendacyon precedyng I lowly recommend mee unto
yowre masterschyppes. Fyrdyr more, plese hytt yowre master-
schyppes to understond that I hawe recey'ved of John Delowppys
upport payment of the byll the whych ys sent me be Adlyngton
but iijºli.fi wherof I hawe payd to Gnyott Strabant iiijºiiiji vi".
vj" fl: Item I hawe made yow ower be exchaunge wº Benyngne
DecasOnn lomberd an c iiijº nobulles ster: payabull at usuance, I
delyverd hit at a xj iſ ob.fl. le nobull hit amounteth—cºxvijºvi" fl:
Item I hawe made yowre ower be exchaunge yn lyke wyse wº
Jacob van de Base iiijºix nobulles & viº ster: payabull at London
at usaunce yn lyke wyse, I dely verd hit at a xj iſ" fl. for every
nobull ster: hit amounteth fl.-l" fl. and the rest of yowre iij" li.
remayns styll by me for I can make yow over no more at thys
Seson for here is no moo that wyll take any mony as yett. And
mony goyth riow uppom the bursse at a xj iij" ob. the nobull and
non Odyr mony but nemyng grotes, crownys, Andrew gylders &
reynysche gylders and the exchaunge goyth ever the lenger warsse
and wars Item Syr I send yow enclossyd yn thys sayd letter the
ij fyrst letters of the payment of the exchaunge above wrytten
Benyngne Decasomns letter ys derectyd to Gabryell Defuye & Petyr
Sanly Geneways & Jacob van de Base ys derectyd to Anthony
Corsy & Marcy Strossy spaynardes yn Lomberd Strete yee Schall
here of them &c Item Syr John Lowppys long sore aftyr yowre
comyng that he myght mak a bergeyne w” yow for yowre wulles
he desyryth to hawe ij sarplers to prove hytt bye tyll yowre master-
schyppes come he sayth yee Schall be to far owte of the weye wº
owte yee gree & bergeyne togeder Syr hytt ys well don that ye
tak yowr markett betyme for diversse consederacions &c allsoo the
160 THE CELY PAPERS.
margett wax very slack here &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre
masterschyppys to understond that I hawe sold yowre felles to
Jacob Gyesbryghtson & John Doo of Dellf sum vijº felles the res
e reffewce prys le c xvi nobulles vº ster: sum xxxix" *
the whych to be p" be a byll of ther handdes yn thys bam tº
Item Syr as tochyng the iij" li. f. receyved be me now of be John
Lowpys] I hawe wrytten hytt uppon the byll and hath the byll bye
me scy . . . how be hitt John Sayth be hys bokethys byll ys p" owte
& mor to for he sayth ther was p" yow yn Ynglond be Allvard
uppon the same byll the vi day of Apryll clvj" xvijº vſ" fl. besyde
the lº ster: tak up of Alverd at x*ix" but he sayth at yowre comyng
yee and he schall close that rekenyng And Syr I promysyd hym to
a dely verd hym ij sarplers of yor wull tyll yowr comyng and he
schuld mak mee a byll payabull at yowre plessyrs for the same at
the pryce of the place but Syr I can nott hawe yowr wull yett
awarddyd for I hawe doo cast owte a sarpler the whych ys poyntyd
be the lefftenaunte to be casten owte to wardd the sortt bye as the
ordenaunce ys now made that the lefttenaunte Schall poynt the
warddyng sarplers of every mans wull the whych sarpler that I
hawe casten owteys n°xxiiijand therynys found be Wylliam Smyth
paker a lx myddyll flessys and hytt ys a very gruff wull and soo I
hawe causyd Wylliam Smyth prevely to cast owte anoder sarpler
n° viij and packyd up the wull of the fyrst sarpler yn the sarpler
of n° viij for thys last sarpler ys fayr wull I nowzth and therfor
I muste understond how many be of that sortte and the nombyr of
the [sic] for they must be pakkyd agayne hyttysa very reddleyr and
grett flesys &c Item syryff yowre masterschypps hawe p" yowre
marke of the sarpler I pray yow send me the warant from the
solyster that hytt myght be deductyd uppom yowre custom & sub-
sede here &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppes at thys tyme
but allmyghty Jhesu preserve & kepe yow and all yowres long yn
goode helth and prossperyte for allmyghty God resettythe sore here
yn Callez and the marchys wº thys grett plage of syckness" that
• Was this the sweating sickness, the disease peculiarly fatal to Englishmen 2
THE CELY PAPERS. 161
raynyth I beseche of Hys mercy to serce hytt Wrytten at Callez
the xijjor de September.
be yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Syr the brynger of thys letter ys John Saunders.
Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyrs
Richard and George Cely mer-
chauntes of the stappell of Callez at
London yn Martt Lane so ytt da :
129
Jhesu Miij"iiijºvij
Ryght worschyppffull Syr and my reverent mastyrs aftyr all
dew recommendacion precedynge I lowly recommend mee unto
yowre mastyrschyppes Fydyr more plese hybt yowre mastyr-
Schyppys to understond that I hawe receyved yowr lettyr datyd at
London the fyrst day of September be the tenour ther of I under-
stond yowre mastyrschyppes hath tak up be exchaunge of John
Raynold mercer"Jx" ster: payabull the xxv day of thys month & of
Deago hº odyr lx" ster : payabull the xxvi day of
the same month ſhe whych Schall be both content at the day and
as for mastyr Lewys More lomberd ys p" and I hawe the byll hys
atorney ys a wranylyng felow he wold non odyr mony but nemyng
grotes &c. Item Syr I understond be yowr sayd letter that yowr
masterschyppes hath receyved noo wrytyng from mee syns Addlyn-
ton was here wherof I marvell for I wrate ij letters to yow whyle
I was at Bruges º of divers matters of Flaunders the ton
was sent from Callez be Jamys Jarfford mercer the toder be Pery-
man pakker of Clyfte" wulles he ys logyd at the Crosse Keye" Syr
I hawe ben at Callez thys ix days and abowte the latter endd of thys
weke I purpose to Brugewardde agayne and I leve Thomas Colton
& Roberd Hubberd atorneys tyll I come and I schall leve wº
* Probably Clive, Cleeve, or Bishop’s Cleeve, in Gloucestershire.
* A house called ‘Causkey,” probably the Cross Keys, stood at the corner of
St. Nicholas and Great Friar Street, Calais.
M
- 162 THE CELY PAPERS.
Thomas Colton vi" fls: for yowre mastyrschypp yff ye com and as
for yowre black box I leve hytt w" Thomas Graunger Syr as for
goyng ynto Flaundyrs ys goode I nowyth as yett but all the
jebardy ys yn comyng home for and yff owre men of war take ther
fyscher as I feyr they wyll ther wyll be many Englysche men
stoppyd yn Flaundyrs and allsoo the towne of Donkyrkys nott
content and that wee schall well know yff soo be that they mete
w" any merchauntes of substaunce and Syr as for a lettyr of
atorney under the stappell sell I can hawe non wº owte I bryng a
letter of atorney from yowre mastyrschyppes owte of Inglond for
yowre mastyrschypes hath ben at Callez diversse tymes syns I was
entryd yowr atorney wherfor yowr presence hath defetyd that
entre and a lettyr of atorney ys nedfull now at thys tyme. Item
Syr receyved of John Saunders a letter wheryn enclossyd ij letters
of payment one of Benyngne Decason derectyd to Gabryell DeSurte
& Peter Sauly genovo. . . conteynynglx" ster : Item. Anoder letter
of Jacob van de Base derectyd to Anthony Corsy & Marcy Strossy
spaynarddes conteynyng xxix" xixº iiij" ster : &c. Item Syr yowre
wull ys awarddyd be the sarpler that I cast owte last &c. Item
Syr thys same day yowre masterschypp ys alectlyd & apoyntydd
here be the Courtt oon of the xxviij the whych Schall asyste the
mayer of the stappell now at thys parliament tyme, where som ever
hytt be holden and to labore Sarten matters for/the place wherof
ys ynstruccyons sent to the mayer be wryttyng &c. Item Syr I
send yow enclossyd yn thys letter a byll º the copy of John
Delowppys boke of syche parcelles as he sayth he hath p" to see
yff yowre rekenyng and hys agree. No º unto yowre mastyr-
schypp at thys tyme but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten
at Callez the xviijjor de September. ſ
per yowré servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my ryght worschyppful master
George Cely merchaunt of the
stappell of Callez at London yn
Martt Lane so ytt dd : -

THE CELY PAPERS. 163
On the Dorse, in a different handwriting (Rich. Cely's P):
William Cely promysidſ John Reynolds Moer . .\lz" st:
to pay to º de Castro Spanyerd jº Stier :
takyn up by exchaunge of theym.
Item the seid William hath paid to the Attorney of Master
Lewys de More his dutee & receyvid his bill.
Item delyverd to William Cely—
a letter of payment of Benygne Decason conteyning lx"
(a letter of payment of Jacob van de Basse conteyningexxix"xix*iiij"
130
Jhesu Miijºlijºvij
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my reverent mastyrs afftyr all
dew recomendacion preceding I lowly recomend me unto yowr
masterschyppes Fyrdyr plese hytt yowr masterschyppys to under-
stond that the world ys here nowe very caswell for ther ys many
wayns laden w” Englysche mennys gooddys now arestyd at Ostend
& at Oder dyversse placys & noo gooddes may passe throw as yett
noo ways for Englysch men hath taken many of ther fyscher men
whych causeth here a grett rombur but wee understond as many
as hath sengler safcondutes ther gooddes Schall be dely verd & lett
passe throw but as for the generall they wyll nott obeye for they
anull hytt saying that the Englysche Schyppes forffetyd hytt when
they departed owte of Selond * they beyng under arest wherefor
the generall standyth in non affecte and soo many as be here
havyng noo Sengler safcondute ar in jeberdy wherfor Syr I pray
yow that I may hawe in as goodely haste as may be yowr letter
atorney under seall autetyc that I may be yn asewerte be the
menys of yowre safcondute as yowre aturney for safeondutes ar
now put yn ure &c Item Syr as for yowr mony I hawe made
* Zealand.
164 THE CELY PAPERS.
ower as yett but xxx" ster: with John Etwell mercer at a xj" & iij
monthys thys rombur causyth that noo man dar charge here no
more as yett & as for heryng I hawe ben at Cam * diversse tymes
the roue ys at ix" x & yett non to gett yn regard but ther ys
wrack I nowzth & viij" the last & soother ys a schypp at Sclewce."
that goyth to Callez callyd Rumbold Wylliamson wherein I hawe
leyd yow iiij last heryng iij wrack & on rooue the wrack cost
viijº & the roue ix" the whych I trust to God schall come full well
to Callez for Syr Jamys Tyrrell” hath gooddes in the same Schyppe
&c. Item Syr ther ys a grett rombur at Gaunt the cheyff of the
town be com & fledd to Bruges I fere mee Gaunt wyll be Frensche
schortly &c. No more unto yowre masterschyppes at thys tyme
but allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow Wrytten at Bruges the xxix"
day of October. - *
per yowr servaunt
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my ryght worshyppfull mastyrs
Rechard & George Cely mer-
chauntes of the Stappell of Callez
at London in Martt Lane
So itt dol:
131
Jhesu Miiij"iiijºvij
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my reverent mastyrs afftyr all
dew recommendacion precedyng I lowly recommend me unto
yowre mastyrschyppis Fyrddyr more plese hytt yowre mastyr-
schyppis to understond that I am comon to Callez yn saffte
thanckyd be allmyghty Godd for I was never yn soo grett
jebardy comyng owte of Flaundyrs yn my lyffe for men awarre
* Perhaps Cadsand. - * Sluys.
* Sir James Tyrrell, a trusted servant to Edward IV., Richard III., and
Henry VII. Executed 1502 for conspiracy with the Earl of Suffolk, and alleged to
be guilty of the murder of Edward W. and the Duke of York.
THE CELY PAPERS, 165
lyinge be the waye waytyng for Englysche men & alsoo I and
my cumpany was arestyd ij days at Dunckyrke * but for Syr
Jamys Tyrrells sak wee were lett goo & Soo syr the world goyth
marvyllyusly in Flaundyrs now for hytt ys open warre betwyxte
Gaunte & the Kynge of Romayns & syr as for makyng over of
yowre mony syns thys trubbull begonn I cowde nott mak over a
peny savyng an xlviij" st: whereof Ischall send you the bylles at
the nexte passage but Syr John Delowppis schewyd mee at my
departyng that I schuld wryte unto yowr mestyrschyppis to under-
stond wheder there schall be any jebardy to bryng warys owte of
the est partyes yn to Ynglond now from hensforth or nott as he
supposyth that that acte of the contrary Schall be put yn Suss–
pence for dyversse causys wherfor syr he avysyth yow to bestowe
yowre mony yn grosse warys now betymys at thys Barow martt
yn Sych warys as yowre mastyrschyppis thynckyth wyll be best at
Tondon wheder hytt be in madder wax or fustyans but I trow
madder be best and soo be that ye wyll Gomers de Sore schall bye
hytt for yore mastyrschyppis & Schyppyd hytt yn Spaynysch
schyppis yn hys owne name for John Delowppis & hee ar purposyd
to bye myche madder to send yn to Ynglond and yff Soo be that
hit fallyth to puffe ther wyll be goode doon uppon madder yff hytt
be bowght betymes & John Delowppis sayth yff yowre master-
Schyppis wyll he wull bestowe yowre mony as well as hys owne &
he sayth that that ys the best ways to make over yowre mony for
the exchaunge ys ryght nowght. No more unto yowre mastyr-
Schyppis at thys tyme but Allmyghty Jhesu preserve yow
Wrytten at Callez the xix day of November.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyrs
Richard and George Cely mer-
chauntes of the Stappell of Callez
at London yn Mart Lane
So yit dél:
* Dunkirk.
166 THE CELY PAPERS.
On the Dorse, in another handwriting (George Cely's P):
George Cely
Rychard per Olowe
Awerey per Stewen
George per Pont
Christoffer per George
In another handwriting (Rich : Cely's 2):
Shewid by this letter that Wylliam Cely pro-
posith to sende over a letter of payment of
xlviij" st: at the next passage
I 32
as tº a 3 - £ tº 6 ºr
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my reverent mastyrs aftyr all
dew recomendacion hadd I lowly recomend me unto yowr mastyr-
schyppys &c. Item Syr plese hytt yowre mastyrschyppys to
understond that I sent unto yowr masterschyppis be Wylliam
Smyth wull packer a letter where yn was enclossyd ij letters of
payment the whyche I truste yee hawe recey'ved & syr as for all
oder thynges ys as yowr mastyrschypp lefte hytt whych I thyncke
ye Schall nott repent for I fere me of Flaundyrs hytt staundyth
marvelyusly wº Bruges for the worschyppfull merchauntes of the
town hadd lever than myche goode they were owte of the town for
they loke every owne when the comens of the town Schall ryse and
rew!e agaynest the Romayns kynge for they hawe ben upp onys or
twyse allredy but they hawe ben pesyd be fayr menys and the
kynge lyeth styll yn Bruges and wold hawe the gydyng of the
town but the Comyns wyll nott suffur hym and soo he hath sent
Phelypp Mounsyre & the byschopp of Luke” yn to Braband for
* Philippe, fifth son to Louis I. of Savoy, who succeeded as Philippe II. in
1496 and died 1497. In his younger days, being without any lands, he was known
merely as Philippe Monsieur, and served both France and Burgundy.
* Liège. Jean IX. de Horn, who succeeded the murdered Louis de Bourbon.
THE CELY PAPERS. 167
men what schall com theroff God knowyth but all the lorddes of
the land takyth the kynges parte &c. Item Syr plese hytt yow to
understond that Syr Jamys Tyrrell hath ben at Bruges and hath
spoken w” the Kynge of Romayns diversse tymes and the Kynge
made Syr Jamys grett chere and soo dydd the town of Bruges and
all odyr towns of Flaunddyrs that he cam throwe as grett chere as
any man myght hawe and soo hytt ys thowth yf the Kyng of
Romayns maye subdew Gaunte & rew.le Flaunders as withyn
schortt space wee thynke he schall or elles muste flee hys weye
owte of the contrey or be destroyed that he wull graunte owne
sovereyn lordd kynge all thynges that he wyll leffully desyre for
to have pese w” us for the contrey wold gladdly hawe pese wº us
for as now we nor they dar nott resort to nor froo wº saffcondite
nor oderwyse for Harold Staunton, Edmund Knyght, Nycollz
Taylor, mercer they hath ben at Barow Martt and yn ther comyng
homward from the Martt at Slewce “they ben taken prisoners &
leyd yn the castell of Slewce & lyeth styll there and hath doon
thys iij wekes and nott lyckly to come schorttly w” they mych
mony for ther rannsom. Item Syr my lordd of sent Jonys"
comaundyth hym harttly unto yowr masterschyppys & he sayth he
longe sore to see yow and hys mynd was for to aben yn Ynglond
long or thys but the Danys * ar on the see & every day afore
Callez hawen wherffor hee dar nott aventure to take passage Syr
my lord sayth he marvell that ye wryte hym noo letters he sayth
had noo word from yowr mastyrschyppis syns he departed owte of
Ynglond wherfor he feryth hym yee schuld tak som displesyr wº
hym or wº som of hys. Item Syr thys same day ys oon com from
Bruges and he sayth ther ys an ymbassett sent from Bruges &
from Ipur "unto Gaunte for to make the pesee betwyxte the Kyng
of Romayns & them whyche ys thowzte they schall conclude &
* Sluys. * Sir John Weston.
* There had been more or less maritime war with the Danes, partly owing to
disputes about the Iceland trade. Peace was formally concluded in 1489 (Rymer,
xii. 374). * Ypres.
168 - * * THE CELY PAPERS.
that doon ther schall an imbasett com from thens yn to Ynglond
yn as possybull hast as may be to make a goode pese as I trust to
Godd Schall be who ever preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xxij
day of Jenevere.
By yowr servaunte -
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyrs
Rechard and George Cely mer-
chauntes of the Stappell of Callez
at London in Martt Lane so
ytt dd :
133
Ryght worschyppfull Syrs and my reverent mastyrs aftyr
all dew recommendacion precedyng I lowly recommend me
unto yowre mastyrschyppys Fyrdyr more plese hytt yowre
mastyrschyppes to understond that I hawe receyved yowr letter
datyd at London the xviij day of Jenyvere the whych I doo well
underston and as tochyng John Delowppys I hawe wrytten hym
acordyng to the tenour of yowr letter but the ceson ys syche at
Bruges now that noo man there hath nooleyser to goo abowght any
thynges perteynynge merchaundyse for viij dais longe the gates of
Bruges were schytt & noo man sufferyd to com yn nor owte &
evyr syns Candyll messe evyn all the comoners of Bruges hath ben
yn harnesse & kepe the markett place & they hawe sett the Kyng
of Romayns owte of hys place & put all hys men from hym &
kepeth hym under ward but they saye they wyll doo hym noo
bodyly hurtt and they hawe taken diversse that were rewlers
abowte hym whych men thyncke they hawe or schall suffer deth &
many of hys lorddys ben fledd and the cheyffe rewlers of Gaunte
be com to Bruges and Soo they wyll playnly hawe pese wº
THE CELY PAPERS. 169
Fraunce and to be under the abesaunce of the Kynge of Fraunce
yff the town of Bruges wold be agreabull to the samee but as
yett they be nott agreed amongyst hemsellfe wherfor they hawe
sent ynto Braband & ynto Holond & Selond that everyche of
thes contreys doo send to Bruges serten wysemen wº full auctoryte
of ther contrey for to coomen & talke w” the Gauntnersse & them
and that maye take syche wayes & conclugion amongyst them as
they can dryve be reson moste benyffycyall for them & ther
contreys but they ar utterly determenyd that the Romayns
Kynge schall rew.le noo longger amongyste them for all redy
they hawe dischargyd all the old wytt" of Bruges the whych was
sett yn be the Kyng and made a new wytt and they seye that they
wyll hawe the quoynz" sett doun agayne and soo they of
Bruges sayth all schall be well schorttly but hytt ys onlyckly
the imbassettors that Schuld acomen yn to Ynglond beth fledd to
Slewce. Item Syr I hawe receyved anoder letter from yow datyd
at London the x day of Fevere the whych I hawe well understond
and as tochyng makyng over of mony at Bruges be exchaunge
or Oder wayis of conveyauncé yn redy mony or fyne gold ther
can be none tell thys hete be over for every man ys yn har-
nesseyn the markett place and soo ys John Delowppis & Gomers
Desers bothe. And Syr as for the payment of the nextehalffe Zere
ys wages at the Vj day of Apryll I truste & putt noo dowttes
yn hytt. Yowre wulles Schall be owte of the town or any pur-
veyaunce or provysion Schalbe made for payment therof for John
Delowppis man ys here at Callez redy to recey've hytt as Sone as he
heryth they be at a concluoyon at Bruges wythyn viij or x days
wee schall knowe at the uttrest what weye they of Bruges wyll
take for they hawe denayed them of Gaunte diversse of ther
desyrys &c. Syr the saynges ys that the quoyns Schall be sett
down at Bruges & yff it soo be hytt were best yowre mastyr-
schyppes taryed yn makyng ower of yowre monys for hytt ys
* Magistracy. See Introduction. * Cunagium, mint.
170 THE CELY PAPERS.
now at to owtreages losse the ryall ys wurth XX* fl. & all oder
goldds after the rate and as for new grottes ar wurth vij" a
pese yn Bruges now &c. Syr w” the next passage I Schall wryte
yowre masterschyppys syche newes as I can here &c. No more
unto yowre mastyrschyppis at this tyme but allmyghty Jhesu
preserve yow Wrytten at Callez the xix day of Fevere.
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed : To my ryght worschyppfull mastyrs
|Bechard & George Cely mer-
chauntes of the Stappell of Callez
at London yn Martt Lane SO
ytt dd. -
134
Ryght worschyppfull Syr and myn especyall good mastyr
w" all dew recomendacion had I umbly recomend mee unto yowr
good mastyrschypp, Fyrdyr plese hytt yowre good mastyrschypp
to understond that I have recey'ved be Thomas Graungers ser–
vaunte your letter datyd at London the ij" day of Marche the
whych I hawe well understond and as towhyng the matter
betwyxte yowr mastyrschypp & Sybson I hawe nott as yett
spooken wº John Hubbard theroff but wº yn thys ij days I wyll
goo to Guynesse * & Speke wº hym therfor and I dowght nott all
the favour that hys mastyr and hym both can doo yn that
matter or yn any Oder agaynyst hym I know hytt well yowr
Inastyrschypp Schall hawe hytt and syr for the quetaunce that
Sybson made to Wylliam Strycke of Sentrycasse" I hawe nott yett.
seyn hytt but I spake w” Stryck hys wyffe here at markett and
sche Sayd her husband hathe a quytaunce of Sybson the whych
I schall see whan I com theiler wheroff I Schall send yowr
* Guines. º St. Tricaise, now St. Tricat, in the Calais Pale.
THE CF.I.Y PAPERS. 171
mastyrschypp the copy schorttly and tydynges how Ze Schall
spede yn that matter. Syr as for tydynges owte of Flaunders
they contenow styll yn myscheyff lycke as I hawe wrytten yow
yn my last letter be on Thomas Spycer of the north contrey
save on Satterday last was beheddyd at Bruges the lordd Dugell
& moo ys lyk to be schorttly they surmysyd a matter uppon
John Delowppys but he hath stoppyd them w” money & Soo
syche men as beth of any substaunce yn Bruges feryth thys
rekenyng and diversse of them stelyth dayly aweye and goyth to
Myddellborow * yn Selond for they fere the end wyll be nawght
whych I pray allmyghty Jhesu amend hytt whoo evyr presyrve
yow Wrytten at Callez the xij day of Marche. . -
per yowre servaunte
Wylliam Cely.
Addressed: To my ryght worschyppfull mastyr
George Cely merchaunte of the
Stappell of Callez at London yn
Martt Lane so ytt dd :
135
In book form with a small amount written on each page
Jhesu
F. 1.
Vendz the iiijº day of Fevverell unto Petter,
Johnsun of Dellff" and hys felischip of your
saide Rychard celed iijMixºlkxj Cotteswold
felles purfayd at xiiijM' s. sold for xiiijº apon
every c xxvi, iiij" fl. for a pond sterlyng.
Summa of sterlyng money therof xxxix"
xº st: Summa therof in Flymech money
li vji fl. Rest clij" x* iiijº st. : after xxiiijº
Summa therof in Flemech money c iijºij"
vd fl. tº gº tº & ©
* Middleburgh in Zealand. b Delft.
Wijºxxxii;" xj fl.
172 THE CELY PAPERs.
IF. 2.
Item for castyng and settyng of ijM' felles º vid
your brothur Rychard Celys º
F. 3.
Paid to Robard Solle for brogage of iijm'ix"
lxxj peltes of Rychard Celys the elder of
every c. iiijº Summa xiijº iiij" Item for
tellyng owt of the same, iiij" Item spent ºxv" iſ" fl.
at bargyn-makyng, ix." Item a fordell at
tabull, iiij" left in the money after viij" on
every j lb, v" . . . . . . . . . . .
Item John Egengton w” Elderbecke w” Adam
Moy wher it a dyned for to see the said felles
for the merchauntes sayd it was Conyswaye." xijº
and not Cotteswold felles. So spent apon
them at Wyne . . . . . . . . . .
Item for seeing of a v" felles the wych the
Holonders hayd schowt wb, for every c so}iij vºº ob.
sene, viij", iijº iiij" . . . . . . . . j
Item for settyng of the felles of your faydes in );;a
the garett and SOrtyng Som . tº º }i
J
Jhesu
F. 4. -
Wendz the iiijº day of Fevverell unto Petter
Johnsun of Dellff" and is felischip of Wylliam
Marvon iiMºvi"xxiiii pelles at xiiii nobl e s = * * tº º |
y JM*V] J º J nobles cxvliji Xvºijd fl.
apon every c, xxvi, iiij" fl. Sum xxvii fl. &
Summa fl. xxxiij" iiij" fl. rest iiijºxvili ix3) \
st after xxiiijº Summa cºv" xiiij" x" fl.
" Possibly Kingsey, in Buckinghamshire, not far from the sheepwalks in the º,
Chilterns. The manor belonged to the Marneys of Essex. ~ *
b Delft. -
THE CELY PAPERS. 173
F. 5. t
Item for tellyng owt of iiMº vic Xxiiij pelles at
iiij" Item for brogage of every c, iiij", viijº
ix." Item spent apon them at bargyn) x" iiij"
makyng vij" Item, a fardell at tabull, iiij"
'So lost iiij" . e e º e º e s e e
Item for seeing of ii of the said felles be º
: d
pursars of felles xvi" . XV]
Money corent in Calles
E. 6.
d * º
P * Robard Byenan tresorur as by a *}#. xj irº
oyth apere . . . . . . . . . . .
Item for your wyene lawgh at tabull . . . iiij" iiij"
Item your farewell . . . . . . . . . xij"
Item ruff ottes, summa . . . . . . . . xx"
Item for horsse heed . . . . . . . . . jº
Item to my ostes for you as by a byll º
apere, Sum . . . . . . . . . . .
Item j loyod of heey. . . . . . . . . . . ii. viij"
Item to John Bory well . . . . . . . . xx"
Item j looyd heey . . . . . . . . . . iijº
Item for schowyng of your horsse . . . . . v.j"
F. 7.
Item I dyscharge me wº ij westelurs viº fl. to
: ; ; li S
the sum of . . . . . tº º º |xxvii. xys fl.
Item I dyscharge me w” a noblygacyons of
Rychard Celes the elder payabull at Baming"ckxv" viº viij" fl.
next & & © e º 'º - c e º e
Item a made of the same payabull at Cold mart
next after to the sum of . . . . . . .
Item I dyscharge me w” a noblygacyons º)
..]
xxxii fl.
yng to Wylliam Maryon payabull at Baming
next to the sum of . . . . . . . .
lxixº iij iiij"
* Balling Mart, or Bammys Mart. See Introduction.
174 THE CELY PAPERS.
Item a made of the same payabull at Cold mart li
next after the Som of . . . . . . . |xxx
F. 8.
Scribbled on the back of the cover :
George Cely
Scrowys of Remembraunsse
136
In book form.
On the cover: The Rekenyng of the Margett Cely
F. 1. - -
The first viage of the Margaret of London was to Seland in the
yere of our Lord God Miij"iiijºv. The secunde to Caleis and the
thrid to Burdews" ut videt. -
M" to se the pursers accomptes of the Seide viages.
G. Cely. -
F. 2. ' ~
M” that heyr after aperythe the reckenyng of howr costes doyn
be me Rychard Cely, George Cely & Wylliam Marryon as well for
ryddyng, byeng. of aparrell w awll odyr costes as the byeng of a
schype latt cawllyd the Margett of Penermarcke” bohutt John
Burdeycke marrener of Penermarcke in Bretten as be passeltz
aperrythe mor playnely
iiijº
Item inprymus layd howtt bi me Rychard,
Cely at the bargen mackyng for Erneste .j
Item layd howtt be my goode fadyr Marºon)
to Wylliam Awllderyche to brynge hym}iji vj"
to Sandwyche . . . . . . . . |
Item p" be my godfadyr to John Garwes for
the hyer of an hors to beyr hymsellfe . .
| xviijº
* Bordeaux. * Penmarch, in Bretagne.
The cely parens. - 175
Item be my godfadyr for hors mett . . . iij"
Item p" be me for a zearde of skarlett for) ...
John Bordeycker . . . . . . }xi
Item the iiij day of Marche I p" for howr }
: ; d.
ferre at Gawysend . . . . . . .j vil]
Item at Rochester I paid per me for howry ºn
dyner & horsse mett . . . . . . XIJ
Item at Asprynge" I p" for howr Sopar and
whyne . . . . . . .
Item for hors mett that nyhyt . . . . . ix."
Item at Cawnttyrberry I p" for howr dyner) ... ...
& horsse mett - . . . . . .
Item in whyen at Sandewyche for Sonday
tyll Fryday . . . . . . . . . .
Item I dely vyr to Wylliam Awllderyche to HHS ####d
gehyt men to hawhehyr a flott . . . jii IIl]
Item I p" for a barell of beyr for the schype. xij"
Item I p" for breded at Sandwyche for they.....
schype . . . . e |vii
Item I p" for an Sawllte fysche for the schype. iiij"
xxj"
}vijº
Summa page . . . . . . xxxiiij v"
F. 3.
Item for an brassyn pwly dowbbull for *],
Schype . . . .
Item to Wylliam Awllderyche for wyttell . iijº iiij"
Item for an emptty hoggyssehed . . . . viij"
Item for a pecke of bay Sawllte at Sandwyche vi"
Item for a li. candyll at Sandwyche . . . j" ob.
Item to Wylliam Awllderyche for expensys, ; ; ; S ; ; ; ; d
in the schype © º e º º ..) IIJ” Ill]" .
Item I spentt at Dover in horsse mett *
many's mett © c e º a
Item I p" for an horsse hyer for J ohn)
Havockym to Dover . . .)
* Ospringe.
xxij"
vijº
176
THE CELY PAPERS.
Item I p" for pwlly's for the schype at sº xxij"
Wyche . . . . . . . . . . º
Item for brassyn schyver for the Schype . . xxiij"
Item for an kylldyrkyn of beyr . . . . . xij"
Item for the collar of an pywlly the wº xviijº
w" iron . . . º . . .
Item I p" for an hawllssar . . . . . . iij xj"
Item to Wylliam Awllderyche for wyttell . iij" iiij"
Item to Patterycke Mychellson for a zearde) via
for the forsayl! . . . . . . . . | X]]
Item to Patterycke for an or that wos loste . viij"
Item for ropys to the botte Swayn . . . . xij"
Item I spentt on the mayar at breckeſaste . ix"
Item Tomas Wad spentt at Dover on *
sellfe & hors . . . . . . . . . . . w
Item for ballaste xij ton for the schype . . xxij"
Item to Spaynnardes that howllpe to wº
how anckyr . . . . .
Item to iij marrynars that howlp ws iiij days xx"
Item I tooke Wylliam Awllderyche the same) if::s ::::
Fryday that thay Sayllyd . . . . .
Summa page . . . . . iij" ix" ob.
F. 4.
Item I p" to the bottswhayn and hys matte' iis
at Sandwyche * * * e º s ji
Item I p" to John Bordeecke of Pener-
marcke in Bretten ſyscher in the name of
Rychard Cely, George Cely & Wylliam
Maryon marchandes of the stapell for a) Kxviij"
schype cawllyd the Margehytt of Pen-
marcke in the prºsenens of my noste Gyllam
Delatow r and my godfadyr Maryon
THE CELY PAPERS. 177
Item I p" to Wylliam Hallyngeberry roper
at Sandwyche for a cabull whayeng voxx" lix-
& for a lede lyn whayeng vº. . . . .
Item I bohutt of John Parcar of Dover iiij
small sarpentynus w” vij chamburs of on
mackyng, iſ grett sarpenttynus w” vi
chamburs, iij hacke boschys, ij hande
arrows, an anckur, xliiij pellettes of lede,
a mowllde of stone to caste leyd in, a grett
compas, a lodston, an horne for gene
powdyr, and I p" hym . . . . . . .
Item I bohutt of Rychard Pwrssar of
Hamtton * an cabull, if cetty llys, a
bonnett, at and for Sayll, ij harns barrellz
x13
lockyd, a glasse, a compas, a wyrckyn wº
gonstonys, a hamys for lockys, an neynd
of a cabull wºodyr thynges . . . . .
Item to Gyllam Delatowyr my nost for an ...... ..., d
& xxiij" iii)
hawllssar . . . © |
Item for hors mett at Sandwyche for iij hors vs
Summa page . . . . . xxxviiji ix" iiijº
F. 5.
Item I p" to my noste Gyllam de la Towr for) ... .sºa
howr melltydes from Sonday tyll Fryday ºv V11]
Item for wrºtynge and sellynge of the teste.) ... .º.
monyaall whdyr the towyn seyll jvy vu
Item for howr bedes xij" & gawheto chyldyr) ...;
& Sarwanttes x* . . . . . . . . |xxii
Item at Cawnttyrbery p" for dryncke, fyer, ) ...;;a
candyll & horse mett . . . . . . ºxvii
Item at Fyttyngborn º breckefaste & horsse).:
mett tº º e º
.* Southampton. ” Sittingbourne.
N
178
THE CELY PAPERS.
Item to Tomas Wade, John Garwes for thayr
*. }xviii.
dyner bayttyng & ferre at Grawysend *
Item to John Garwes for mendyng º vijº
saddyllys & Schoyng . . . . . . .
Item for bott hyer from Grawysende . . . iiij" .
Item I dely vyrd to my godfadyr Maryon to
pay schypmen at Erytte" w” at brohut the
schype from Sandwyche xls and he layd of -
hys pwrs at that tyme viijº vij" ob. as
aperythe be passelles . . . . . . .
Item inprymus to Pattrycke Mychellson º
l] gony S . . . . . . . . . .
Item p" for bott hyer & mene to brynge sº is ºn
bott to Sandwyche . . . . . . . .
Item to Pattrycke for hys hyer in bryng the
Schype abohutt . . . . . . . . .
Item to Wylliam Crepayge for hys labor . . iijº iiij"
Item to John of Brystow . . . . . . . iij iiij"
Item to John Tayllar . . . . . . . . iij iiij"
Item to John Tomas . . . . . . . . . iij" iiij"
Item to Robarde Dawhe. . . . . . . iijº iiij"
Item to Peyrs Morres . . . . . . . . . i*
Item p" to wyttell the bott to Sandwyche . xx"
Summa page . . . . . . iij" vi" ix."
F. 6. ' -
Item for my godfadyrs bott hyr & º
Wades to Pwrfleytt & tº ſº
Item for ther dyner at Pwrfleytt . . . . vij" ob.
Item for a bott to Erythe . . . . . . . j"
Item thy spentt at Erythe . . . . . . j"
Item for a bott to Porfleytº . . . . . . j"
Item for fysche for ther soper . . . . . j"
Item p" for brede & mwskollz for the schype iiij"
Summa . . . . . . .xlviijº vij" ob.
* Gravesend. b Erith. • Purfleet.
THE CELY PAPERS. - 179
Item for gone powdyr to whon Kyrpayge of
Sandwyche whayeng xiiij lb. . . . .
Item to Wylliam Code carpyntter for comyng
abohutt wºxij" that Wylliam º iiijº
p" hym of me . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item I p" hym for the boye yshyer . . . xij"
Item to the carpyntter for a day warcke . . v.j"
Item to Gabryell Storcke bottswayn º :::s ; ; ; ; d
comyng abohutt . . . . . . . . .
Item to Rychard Sallyssebery maryner * :::s ; ; ; ; d.
Comyng abohutt . . . . . . . . .
Item to the coocke Jamus Tayllar for hys
| iiijº
|iii. viiij"
labor besyd xij" that Wylliam Awllderyche Hijº iiij
p" hym. . . . . . . . . . . .
Item I p" to Kyrprayge for brynggyng *).
Margett to London . º e e º Te
Item to Wylliam Awlderyche for wyttell |
:S : ; ; d
* akom” e tº e º tº e jv. VII.]
Item I p" to the carpyntter to send to wº iiiid
whyffe to Sandwyche . . . . . . jºr in
Item to Wylliam Aullderyche for tallow * xs
Odyr geyr . -
Item p" for a c iij quarters of Ocon borde)::::, ;
and for x ackon quartes . . . . . .
Item I p" to the Smythe of Redclyffe ºv Š
nayll for the schype as aperythe be a byll
Summa page . . . . . xxxijºjº ob.
E. 7.
Item I p" to a Docheman for cawlkyng . . xij"
Item I p" to John Chapman for iij cawlkyng ijº
Item I p" to hys fellow for iij days callekynge, | ijº
the day viij" . . . . . . . . . . -
and for levyng of hys peche cettyll . . . ii vj"
* Perhaps, accommodation.
* N 2
180 THE CELY PAPERS.
Item for anodyr cawlkar, the day vilj" . . xvi"
Item I gawhethe bottsuayne at hys *]: d
parttynge . J
Item I lent to the carpyntter on Ester º vjà
on hys Wyayge . . . . . . . . .
Item to Wylliam Awlderyche for wyttell . xij"
Item I p" to Wylliam Awdryche for hys
labor in bryng the Schype abohutt º
Sandwyche . . . . . . . . . .
Item I dely vyrd to Wylliam Awlideryche
pwrssar for wyttell for the schype xlv.) Xviº X" ob.
sawlte fysche at iiij" ob a peys & e
Item I dely veryd Wylliam Awlderyche *}#}
Elmyn bordes . . . . . . . . . .
Item I delyvyrd to Wylliam Awldryche an oxe xx"
Item I dely vyrd to Wylliam Aulldryche at
hys goyng to Flandyr . . . . . . . . .
Item I p" for iij"ij" mayll, ix", & for iſ
XX*
skopor nayll, vi", and for ryttyng of º iijº
ackur, viij”, for a stocke, iiij" . . . .
Item in Selonde p" be Gylle for an cabull º vli fl
Odyr ropys . . . . . . . . . .
Item I p" to a bacar of Redcleyffe for wº
for the Margeytt . . . . . . . .
Item the laste day of May I p" to
May Robard Lollay for a barrell of **
anodyr of tar . . . . . . . .
iij xd
Summa page . . viiji vij vº ob.
F. 8.
Maryon w
M" p" be my godefadyr Maryon for vij º
Orry S . . . . . . . . . . . . J
THE CELY PAPERS. . . 181
Item p" be hym for a c ix lb. tallow . . . ix" viij"
Item p" be hym for a dossyn bowstrynges . vº
Item p" be hym iij dossyn candyll . . . . iij" ix."
Item p" be hym iij boschellz of sawlte . . vº iij"
Item p" be hym for a lanttarn . . . . . viij"
Item p" be hym for ij barrellz . . . viij"
Item p" be hym for a bott to brynge *i;
Schype to Blackewall . . . . . . .
Item p" be hym for a rope to *
whayng d. c Xix lb. after xj . e Q e
Item p" be hym for a qvartt of rossene . . xj"
Item p" be hym to Robard Lollay for iij }xy
barrellz peche & tare—le barrell, vº
Item p" be hym for iij pessys of "Pºº viijº
whayeng ijc iijq* iiij", le c, xj. . . .
Item p" be hym for flesche on Thorsseday . xiiij"
Item p" be hym for a qvetter of befe º viiijº
Sattyrday . . . . . . . e
Item p" be hym for “ockom" . . . . . xiiij"
Item p" be hym on the bott . . . . . . xx"
Summa page . . . . . vºxij, x"
F. 9.
Seland Viage.
Item p" be Gyllys my prenttes to Wylliam
Parcker master in the Margett Cely º fl.
hys wages in Sellond * . tº º
Change of handwriting:
Item p" be my broder & me for the Margott
to master Foskewe for to cleyr the º
xl” whereof my broder p" xx" e
Summa . . . . . . xls fl.
Summa layd howght of * xij, xj"
parcellys befor wrett . ob. st:
* Perhaps, accommodation. - * Zealand.
182 THE CELY PAPERS.
Wylliam Maryon.
Per my Cossen Wylliam Maryon to the
corner polles, blolles, deshes and plattars.
Item for an quartern and a hallfe of fysche .
Item for an Oxe . . . . . . . .
Item dely veryd to Wylliam Alldereche be
cossen, Wylliam Mareon . tº
Item iij barellys
Item an hox .
Item iiij dossen candell
Item iſ showelys
Item a stone okem . . .
. viij
. Vd
}vijº
XX8
. xvi; iiijº
Vs
; : d
Summa . iiiji vje ijº
Item per be hym to the Smethe iijº ijº
Item x dossen brede ... xS
Item an quarter and xx" byskett iiijº
Item an M' bellett . . . . . . . . . . vº
Item p" be my cossen Maryon to Wylliam vi. xid
Alldereche as be hys lastt byll apperethe | J” X]
Item at Graveszend xij". Summa. , xxixº jº
Summa page
Totall per W. Maryon
IF. 10. -
Change of handwriting:
Item the xv.j day of Jun y delyvered unto
Wylliam Alderyche for to bey canvas
Wytall . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item the xx day of Juen y delyvered unto
in rede mony.
Wylliam Alderyche
Summa
• Altered from xj. viii.
. vii. xvi; iiji
. xvii ixi vji & xiiji
& xxvijº Xi vjº
º
THE CELY PAPERS. 183
Item the xxj day of Juen y payd for iſ
quarters of tembere of xviijfotte the pyesse Kj"
the quarter v" ob. . . . . . . . .
Item the Sam day payd for ij quarters of | : ; ; d.
© tº º º VII]
tember the quarter iiij". Summa . . .
Item the xxijday of Juen y payd for a planke
the Sam iiij" . . . . . . . . . .
Item the xxiiij day of Juen I payd for º
fyght . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item the xxvi day of Juen y delyvered º
XX*
xiijº
Wylliam Alderyche for to bey wodde and
fyght and Oder stoffe . . . . . . .
Item payd for vi blacbellys * . . . . .
Item the xxvij day of Juen y delyvered unto)
Wylliam Alderyche for to pay for a tº iiijº
of beffe . . . . . . . . . . . . )
Item the sam day payd for vi toun of balast. ijº
Item the xxix day of Juen y delyvered unto
Wylliam Alderyche for to pay for a 5- vijº
. iijº
xij, viij" and for iſ boschelles of saltte ijº. |
Summa . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item the ij day of Julle y delyvered º
Wylliam Alderyche in mony. Summa .
Item the v day of Julley payd to Townys-
hend baker for bredde for the º
Summa . & tº e e -
XS
x vid
Summa page . . . . . vii vs jºb
* Sic, but perhaps Black bollys or Black bowls, drinking vessels, were meant.
* Altered from v" xij" ii". -
184
THE CELY PAPERS.
F. 11.
In same handwriting as F. 9.
Item p" per me George Cely for the Marget
of Penermarke now called the Margett
Cely . . . . . . . . . . . )
Item p" be me to master Foskewe to cler the
Margett and for an quettains of hym xlºkx'
wherof p" per my broeder xx" and me .
Fosst dely veryd per me an anker to the º iiijº
shepe pris. . . . . . . . .
Item dely veryd per me ij stollys . . . . xij"
Item dely veryd be me to Wylliam * XIS
at hes comyng howght of Selond . . .
Item p" be me to John paynter for payntyng
of pavessys . . & tº dº
}v iiij"
Item p" per me for an verken for gonpouder. viij"
Item p" per me for lxij" gonpouder, iiij"leli. xx" viij"
Item dely veryd the master for Cokeseluyr (?) ij" iiij"
Item iijc Lampons. . . . . . . . . xij"
Item ij zerdes di rede xxijle Zerde for º
iiijº vijº
tope armer . . . . . . . . . .
Item an zerde of wyght for the same . . . xij"
Item pellettes lxyj" le de iiij" yryn dysse vs
Item xij" gonpowder . . . . . . . . iiij"
Item vi heye byllys . . . . . . . . V"
Item w dossen darttes . . . . . . . . iiij" iſ"
Item iijhaye boshes-pris. . . . . xxiiijº"
Item an payr corsettes and an stoll, pris . . iiijº
Item an rede cott of fems . . . . . . . iiijº
To Caleis ſº ydely veryd to Wylliam º tº gº g = G → G is d
reche at hys departyng to Calles -
Item an long spere and an stoll
* Altered from xx. ii".
THE CELY PAPERS. 185
Item pd be me for iij hanker stolkes va **
pesse
Summa page my anker º xiiijº vijº
my stollys nott reconyd
Summa totallis layd ** xiiij" ix"ob.
be all parteys . . . . .
- vijº zvj iijº "
F. 12. w
Item the xiiij day of Augost p" be me to an
marrynar yn Temy Strett" for an cabull º
iiijº fadour of John Constantyne . . .
Item the same day p" to myllar of Herythe"
for an bott for the Margett be me sº iij ix"
Cely . . . . . . . . . . .
Item an ox for vettell to Bordewys" . . XX*
Item iij quarttars of whett . . . . . . xx"
Item p" be me to Wylliam Aldereche allSO) 3::s ::::
on Backett Newday
xiijº iiijº
Summa . . . . . . . vij" v" ob.
Item the sheppe hasse gotton toward the
countertasyon of thys an Zen wherof º xviijº fl.
tyshon most be made . . . . . . . .
Item p" be me at Graveszend to the serchar
at the departyng of the sheppis to º iiijº
dewys . . . . . . º
Summa layd howght per me . . . xvi. xviij vºº ob.
Summalayd howght per W. Maryon. xxix" xixº vij"
Summa layd howght per my broder. xlvi".
Summa totallis layd howght uppon
the Margett be us from when º xviijº ob.
hade hyr to hyr Vyayge to Bordeuys
• Altered from vi" iij vº b Thames Street,
• Erith, * Bordeaux,
186 THE CELY PAPERS.
ij rede cott
of fense.
Julle.
* Item payd be me Wylliam Maryon at
Graveshend to the serchar at the partyng
of the Schyppe to Bordewys ward. Summa
F. 13.
-- The paymentes of the marynars of the Margett.
Forst Wylliam Parker
Wylliam Alldereche . . . . . . . . . xxxviº
Wylliam Jaccson . . . . . . . xviijº
Pellygger Calker (xviijº ijº) . . . . . . xx"
James Walsshe . . . . . . . . . . xviijº
Thomas Cardon, portayge a pype . . . . ix” summa xviijº
John Chenyr, Coke . . . . . . xxiji vi"
Robard Lyncolln, botswayn W.M. xijº vi". . xxiji vj"
Thomas Medecrosst . . . . . . . . xviijº
Rychard Bocharer iſ for harnesse . . . . xvi.
Dave Wylliamson dede to wºme vj", Speryng iſ
Aldereche. - vijº
Thomas Bawen . . . . . . . . . . xiijº vi"
James Tayller • * > e . xiij vil
Persse Parker . . . per my Broder, x*. xiij vi"
ijmen from Bordewys vi" viij" le perre .
Robard Trewtall . . . . . . . . . .xiijº iiij" le master
Thomas Samson . . . . . . . . . ) j pype be Vjº x"
- Item béffe iij vilj"
The master of Thomas Zoge iiij noblys *}lake iijº
per le master. . . . . . . . . )
Of me an nobyll . . . . . . ... nott mett iij"
Wylliam Aldereche to the master vijº viij" . xiij" ix"
Item Sent Tanny's mony.
Wylliam Parkar master to Wylliam),..., ºd
}vi. VI]]
Alldereche
* This entry is crossed out,
THE CELY PAPERS.
F. 14.
Sent Anny's lyght . . xvd
Speryng . . xvi"
George Cely . . v.js vijº
Of my Cossen Maryon. . vli
Of my broder . iiji Xiiij vid
Per me • ? • * * . xvi. x"
Per me to Rychard, bochar . te . xv.j
Per me to Rychard, bochar for mett . ijº
Per me for Wylliam Parker iiij rº
myselfe whone . . . . . . . . .
xvj xjº
Item to Rychard bochar . . . . . ij"
Item p" per me to Speryng for Dave);:, ..:::
wº e e º r s s tº º º 'i º
Item ij padelocces and the harnesse ... ix.d
Item the xvi day of Feverell p" in the Zelde-)... .sº
hall for Wylliam Parker be my broder. ºv VII]
Item I dely veryd Rychard bochar to kepel ...,
the shepe . • * * * * * * ºxi
Item per my broder to Thomas Yogge . xxvii. viijº
Item to Plemowthe be my broder and me . xlº
Item per Wylliam Maryon . . . . . . xle
Item per Wylliam Maryon for ballest, *]; vijº
ton . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item per Wylliam Maryon to the master. . xviijº
Item to Rychard Cortes at for mony lent to
the Margett , - e s >
Item p" per my broder to Lolley
Item per my broder to Remygton .
Per my broder at Plemouthe
|Per me at Plemouthe . . e
Calles vyayge the bere amountes
Bordewys vyayge amountes v pypys sº
kylderkens at the xxviij day of Jenyver .
}viii. viii.
. xxvijº vſ"
vs Vd
. xxijº ijº qr".
. xxx" ob. qr".
. lvi. viijº
Caleis
viage.
Burdews
Viage.
188 THE CELY PAPERS.
Satterday.
A me.
Charge.
Dyscharge
Satterday.
Per my broder layd owght
Per me layd owght . . . .
Per Wylliam Maryon, to the isue allso, iiij".
137
. viiji Xvi" iijº qr".
ixli xvj” 3,
A Bill of Expenses during part of Lent.
M" on * Sum takyn Allssen to lay
howght . . . . . . .
on Fryday at nyght.
ij
iiij via fl.
: d
Item I dely verd Allssen alsso iiijº
Item an cod . . Vd ob. on Sonday I de-)..... .. d
Item brede . . . . j" lyveryd hyr jiii; ijº fl
Item freshe water º iiij iſ Sonday. iijº fl.
an carpe a breme ijellis Monday iiij iſ fl
Item v" candell . . viij" Summa xx's fl.
ob. qr".
Lent Allsson to pay for Wymen
Item on Satterday dely veryd Allson .
Item on Sonday dely veryd hyr.
Item on Monday dely veryd hyr tº e
Item on Whenys day y dely veryd Alson.
Item [Thyrs]day . . . . . . . .
Item xj" Fryday.
Summa e
Item an carp an breme ijelys .
Item an cod.
Item brede
Item wº candell,
• J
. viijº ob. qr".
. iiij via fl.
. viijº vijº fl.
. vijº ijº fl.
. Vº ob.
: d
• Altered from viiji xviij" iiij".
* These two words are crossed out.
• ‘vi"' is crossed out.
THE CELY PAPERS.
189
Item vi playsys.
Item for wyttynges
Item whelkes
Item iij Solys §
Item an coddys hede .
Item for moscollys.
Item Zerbys .
Item spyssys
Item brede © g tº
Item ij jollys Sallt semend .
Item iſ pekerellys .
Item an grene fyshe
Itein whyght heryng .
Item an pesse freshe semend
Item Zerbys .
Item an playsse.
Item kokyllis
Item synamen .
Summa .
F. 2.
Item for playsse . . . .
Item a jowlle freshe semond
ijgrett ellys.
Wyttyng . . . . . .
Halffe an grene fyshe . . .
Moscollys. e
Spyssys
Zerbys
Item oylle
Item iiij playsse
Item an ell ſº
Item halffe an grene fyshe
Item oystors.
ſº l]
- 1)
. jº
. viijº
. jº
o xviijº
. VJ
. iij
... ix.d
. ijº
, j obb.
j
. jº
. xiijº vijº ob. qr".
. xvijº
. iiij"
. iiijº
. vijº
: ; d.
: ; d.
gº xijº Sonday.
: d
: ; d
d
. Xd Monday.
... xxd
. iij" ob.
. iiijº
. iiij"
. iiijº
. ix.d Tewysday.
190 THE CELY PAPERS.
Item Zerbys . . . . . . . . . . . ob.
Item zedys in the garden . . . . . . ii"
Item whyttyng . . . . . . . . . . j" ob.
Item shyrympis. . . . . . . . . . jº
Item kokollis . . . . . . . . . . ob.
Item synamon . . . . . . . . . . ob.
Item Sope . . . . . . • - " iji
Whens- Item iij playsse iiij" ob. . . . . . . . . iiijº ob. .
day. Item grene fyshe, iiij" . . . . . . . iiijº
Item allmendys . . . . . . . . . . . jº
Item moscollis . . . . . . . . . . j"
Summa . . . . . . . vijº vij" ob.
F. 3. w t
Thorsse. Item iiij playsse . . . . . . . . . iiij"
day. Item grene fyshe . . . . . . . . . ij"
Item Wyghttyng . . . . . . . . . ij"
Item ellis. . . . . . . . . . . . iſ"
Item whellkes . . . . . . . . . . iiij" ob.
Item moscollis . . . . . . . . . . . j"
Item synamon . . . . . . . . . . j"
Item Zerbys . . . . . . . . . . . ob.
Item synamon . . . . . . . . . . jº
Item mostard and veneger . . . . . . vij"
Item for bakyng iiijboshellis . . . . . iiij" ob.
Summa . . . . . . . iſ v" ob.
Item iiij boshellis whett . . . . . . . viijº
Item an fat a bere . . . . . . . . . i* iij"
Item iſ lode whode . . . . . . . . . iijº
Summa . . . . . . . xvi. viij" ob.
Summa totallis charge . . . xxxixº fl.
Summa dyscharge . . . . . xxxvi ij" qr", fl.
Costes rest . . . . . . iij ix" ob. qr", fl.
THE CELY PAPERS.
191
On Sonday master leffetenawnt—ijgestes
R torneys wº
Thomas Whode
Tewysday master leffetenawnt, iij gestes
the steward Gynus
Relkes
Syr R. Goodman
Thorsday, Harowld Staunton.
Benett Trottar
ijº jº.
John Elderbelke an gest at syde tabull
Item an Howyd Dorne
a jolle freshe samond . . . xx"
an pesse porpOSse . ijº ij
138
Redey mony by me
tº ſº tº $ - © tº º &
Item lxxiiijhettrytes at iiijº, sum .
Item xxxixº d. at v iiij", sum
Item xxijlewys at vi" viij", sum.
(Item xx Andreus iiijº vi" fl. sum tº e ºs
Item iijrydars and ij Hongry docat at vºviij", sum
Item nyn hekyn grottes iiij" ob. .
Item in plakes ij" qr". . -
Item in plakes of ij" ob.
Summa
jii xd
liiiji iij iiijd fl.
xiiij" xv.j, fl.
xixº vijº fl.
viji vj viijd fl.
xljii vs fl.
xxvi, fl.
vijº fl.
cxlvijºiiijiiijº fl.
192 - THE CELY PAPERS.
Item of John de Styrne . . . . . . . . xxij" ii" fl.
Item of W. Borwell. . . . . . . . . . . xxvii vijº ix" fl.
Summa . . . . . . ciiijºxviiijºjº fl.”
Item an exx postlates at iſ viii" fl. summa . . xvi"xii; iiijº fl.”
Item in whyght mony, v' x* fl. . . . . . . x* x* fl.
Summa . . . . . . . xxj" x* fl.
Item uppon Meson hevyn I toke Wylliam Bor-)
o g }x. fl.
well in redy mony to feche me carolis . &
Item dely verd mor to hym be xliiijº and
Rechard Rodclffe w” John van State. . . .
y dely verd hym vilewis and an rynyshe gylder
}xliii.
And he dely verd me in carowlys . . . . . . xij" fl.
Item resseyvyd W. Borwell in caroulis . . . . xij" iiijº qr".
Item the getyng of them iiijº fl. sum . . . . xij" iiij" iiij" qr".
139
A sale of House Property.
Item the xxiiij day of Augost I Handrew Hawesse have sowle
unto Jorge Cely the wholl howsse wº the zerde appon the northe
syde and to hys stabull an the sowthe syde and ij tenauntrys
cowmyng to hys ij howssys of me before bowght the bredythe of
the wholl howsse of the northe syde and on the sowthe syde from
the corner howsse an Zenst the est whache howsse to the mythe
tenauntry in the ternyte lane.
- I promysse to performe the same abowe writtyn
thys ys synyd w” my hond.
* Written below ‘Summa totallis ijiiji xijº jº fl.’ crossed out.
* The ‘ziij" iiij" ' inserted.
THE CELY PAPERS. 19:
9
3
143
Robard Cely, Wylliam Maryon, John Lynd, Rychard Cely,
George Cely, Charlys Wyllacy's, Raffe Lymyngton and Rychard
Awode, Wylliam Cely and Thomas.
Summa . . x pers wonys.
Forst to Bollen whord . . . . . . . . . . viij"
homewhard . . . . . . . . . . . . Vij"
tem at Bollen for te denar unto the koke . . v., iij"
Item for the whiyne at that dynar . . . . . iiijº
Item there as whe lay all nyght for whne, bedys); a
and horsse . . . . . . . . . . . jin, K
Item gavyn the mynstrell . . . . . . . . iiij"
Summa page . . . . . . xv+ viij" fl.
Item p" be me for there cart . . . . . . . ix."
Summa totallis . . . . . . . xxiiijº vij" "
Item xj bere the xv. viij" Aman.
Item vijbere to the wayne xvi" Aman.
Resseywyd of Rychard Whode den be hym toys, gº,
; d. b , * jij" iii.
pay V] e º º * e e e º º e e
Item resseyvyd of my cossyn Maryon . . . . . if x" fl.
Wylliam Cely xijº Wylliam Maryon viij" . . | is xd fl
Rychard Cely vijº, Gorge vij" . . . . . .J.” “ ”
Item resseyvyd of my cossyn Maryon for hys
- is ºr; 33d
lynyn clothe y bowght at Brege . . . . ºv VI]]
xxiiij" xiiij" iiij" ster . . .). li -- S -d
xxxj" xvij" iij" fl. . . . | lixii vjº vſ fl.
* Sic. It should be xxiiijº viij". -
* Allowing eleven persons, not ten as above, Rychard Whode's share, including
the wayne, would amount to about ij" x". But four of the rest only paid ij xd
between them.
O
194 THE CELY PAPERS.
144
Jhesu Miiijlxxviij
Item hereafter apperyth that mony I p" for frayght in the
name of my fadyr Rychard Cely as affter aperythe be dyvars
parcellz.
Item the iiij" day of Augost p" be me in the
name of my fadyr Rychard Cely unto James
Hollond master in the Blythe of London for) xiiji vj" fl.
the frayghtofij sarpleristhe Sarpler viºviij",
Summa xiijº iiij" premageij". Summa
Item the same day p” unto John Cossyn."
master in the Mare John for frayght of
iiij sarpleris the sarpler vi vij" premage
iiij". Summa . . . e tº dº e
Item p" be me unto Peter Pottay, master º
xxvijº fl.
Mylhell of Callez for the frayght of iſ
Sarpleris vi" viij" the Sarpler premage ij"
Summa . . tº tº º "
Item p" be me unto John Hall, master in º
xiijºvić fl.
Antony Myhall” for frayght of iiij sarpleris
vj vilj", premage iiij". Summa. . . .
Item p" be me unto Robard Tege master in
the Mare of Callez for frayght of iſ ºxiijº vſ" fl.
sarpleris, the sarpler viºviij", premage ij".
Item the same day p" be me unto Wylliam
Koke master in the Mare undyr Scofft for
iij sarpleris, le sarpler vi vij" premage
gº tº º
11] ". Summa
xxvijº fl.
xx" iijº fl.
Summa page . . . . vºxiiijºix" º fl.
* Corrected from ‘Robard More.” * Millhall, on the Medway.
* Corrected from ‘vji.' -
THE CELY PAPERS. 195.
the name of my fadyr unto Thomas Doysse * -
master in the Peter of London for frayght
of ij sarpleris the sarpler viºviij", premage
xiiji vi" fl.
Item the same day and tyme p" be me :
ij". Summa . . . . . . . . . .
Item, p" be me unto Hewe Whegyn in the
Crystoffyr of Bradewell” for frayght of
iijM've fellz p" be me for the pake viºviij"
Summa iij", premage xviij". Summa . .
Item p" be me unto Andrewe Tomson º
|
iijixviijº fl.
in the Julyan Chambyr for iſ sarpleris the ºxiij vi" fl.
Sarpler Vjº viij", premage ij" . . . . .
Item p" be me unto Thomas Long master in
the Crystoffyr of London for frayght of iij
Sarpleris the Sarpler v.j" viij", premage iij".
Summa . . . . . . . . . . .
Item p" be me unto Rychard Sawzear master
in the Tymyte of London for the frayght
of iſ sarpleris the Sarpler viºviij", premage
ij". Summa . . . . . . . . . . .
Item pº be me unto John undyr Wode
master in the Mare Mallyng" for º • * * ~ * * * ~ *
frayght of Mixºlzvijfelz viºvii; the pake, fºxiii Vij" fl.
Summa xxxij" ix", premage x". Summa. ſ
Item pº be me unto Gylbard Hody master
|- xd fl.
xxº iijº fl.
xij, via fl.
in the Mare of London for frayght of v
sarpleris and a poke, the Sarpler viºviij"
Summa xxxiijº iiij" premage vi". Summa
Summa page . . . . . ix" ixºviij" fl.
Item the same day p" be me unto Robard
Bell master in the Andrew wº ixd fl.
whyke" for an sarpler viºviij" premage jº)
* Bradwell in Essex. * * * * *
* Malling in Kent. The parish touches the Medway; but it might be mis-
Written for Halling. * Walberswick, in Suffolk.
O 2
196 THE CELY PAPERS.
Item p" be me unto John Rygeman master
in the Tyrnyte of Mylton * for the farayght
of ij sarpleris the sarpler viºviij", premage
Item p" be me unto John Hedemond master
in the Mare of Rederythe " for iſ sarpleris!»ij" vſ" fl.
vj viij", premage ij". Summa . . . .
Item the same day p" be me unto Robard
Wodelas master in the Crystoffyr Grene
for the frayght of ij sarpleris the sarpler
vj vilj", premage ij" . . . . . . .
Item the same day p" be me unto :
xijºvić fl.

xiij vid fl.
Pypar, master in the George of Bredyl-
say " for the frayght of ij sarpleris viº
viij" le Sarpler premage ij". Summa .
Item the same day p" be me unto J :
xiij vi" fl.
Beryffe master in the Mare of Bretylsay *
for iſ sarplerisvjº viij" the sarpler, premage
: ; d.
xij, w]" fl.
Item the same day p" to Wylliam Spryng
master in the Barbara of Malium " for iij
sarpleris viºviij" the sarpler premage iij".
Summa • * * * 6 6 o O e
Item p" be me unto Wylliam Prowde, mastyr
xxº iiju fl.
in the Tywe of Calles for iſ sarpleris the ºxiijº vſ" fl.
sarpler viºviij" premage ij" o
Summa page . . . . . vºvijº fl.
Summa totallis frayght. . xx" xijs va fl.
Item the losse of the mony amountes hereof
of thes xxj parsellisij vi" of hevery rº vj qr", fl.
Summa . . . . . . . . .
Summa totallis p" per me. xxiij" iij xj" qr", fl.
* Milton, in Kent. * Rotherhithe.
• Brightlingsea, in Essex. * Malling, in the Medway, probably; see above.
THE CELY PAPERS. 197
145
Jhesus Maria. Assit principio Sancta Maria meo
Here folow.yng ar the parcels of receiptes and paymentes of
me William Roggers to the use of my maister George Cely mer-
chaunt of the Staple of Caleis in the monthes of March, April and
May in the yere of our Lord God M'ccc.ciiijºviij the thrid yere of
the regne of King Henry the vij" that is to sey:
First Ireceivid of my seid maister in dyvers cunys
as it apperith as well by a bill of my said maisters
owne hande as by my boke of parcels . . . xxix"j" fl.
Also I receyvid of my seid maistir iij" iiij"in ster-
lyng money for myn expensys . . . . . W5 fl.
Also I receyvid of my seid maister win the some
of xl" dely verd to me for hymself and my
maistir his brothir as parcell of the seid xl" by
his comaundement takyn to his owne use . . v.j" fl.
Also I receivid of increce in the
chaunge of iij mylleyn grotes
and ij half grotes every grote
dely verd to me for iſ fl. foras-
much as I put theym awey in the
eschaunge of theym every pece for
ijºjº fl. more in all by ob. fl. . . . iii) “ob. H.
Also I receyvid of increce of iiij
Lymmyr grotes delyvered to me for
v" fl. every pece forasmuch as I
put theym awey every pece for
vijº ijº ob.
fl. & iſ of
Brittayne.
gº & & © tº In Ołł6W,
vj"f . . . . . . . . . . iiijº fl. y
Also I receivid of increce in xxxixs ijº of
ij" of flemyssh pens in every vija Brittissh
flemyssh ij" flemyssh . . . . . v.j via
money

198 THE CELY PAPERS.
Totalis
Recepte
huc viij"
xvd ob. C*
fl.
Also I receyvid of John Speryng as in money
reteyned in his owne handes for part of the
price of vi boltes of Elron * canvas bought
of hym for a new seyle for the Margaret Cely
price of every pece xij frankes which is xls
fl. which money he shuld have dely verd to me
at the Bay that is to say, lxvi. viij" sterlyng . cº fl.
Some of all the receiptes) xiij" xvº ob. H. & if" of Brittayne
aboveseid is . | money. Whereof
Lynyn cloth
I paid vi" xvij" qr" fl. for ciiijaunys iij quarters
of Brittissh cloth bought at Bourgneuff” and
Mastoo “ in Brittayne price of every aune one
w" another w” costes xvi" fl abought bying of
the same in the bakside of this bille and by
my boke of parcels xiiij" di qì" fl. more in all
by iij" qr" . . . . . . . . . . . v.j"ij"ix"qr" fl.
Wollyn cloth *
Also for valnesjøuarter of Brittissh Russet bought
at Mastoo price of every alne viºviij" of Brittayne
money more in all by jºob, of Brittayne money vs X" fl.
A paryng shovill
Also for a paryng shovill of iron for gardyns
bought at Mastoo . . . . . . . . iiij" fl.
Also for my dyner and drynkyng at Mastoo upon
Saturday the x* day of May . . . . . . ix" ob. fl.
Lyng fyssh
Also paid to a man of Conket" for xylynges price
of every pece v.j" fl. . . . . . . . . . vijº viº fl.
Also for a pece of powdird fissh callid . . . . iijº ob. H.
a Elorri in Bretagne. * Bourgneuf in Bretagne.
c Machecoul in Bretagne. * Le Conquet in Bretagne.
THE CELY PAPERS. 199
Costes upon Marten Gye
Also paid for new makyng of a cote -
and for the color & ventes of \
the same for Marten Gye the
Brittissh child . . . . . . vº fl.
Also for a new cappe iiij", a payr -
of shoys iiij" & laces ob. and for }xvijº ob. ii.
shavyng ob. and wasshyng of
Martens shertes . . . . . . ix" ob. fl.
Also for his mete & drynke at
myn hostes hous at Bourgneuff
afir he was arajed. . . . . iiii fl. '
Also paid for vi aunes iij quarters of lynyn Totalis
cloth in iij remenants bought at Conket ºloni
price of every aune vi" fl. . . . . . . iijº iiijº ob. fl. vi. xviii.
xj" ob. qr".”
Some of all the paymentes aboveseid is . . vij"ij" iiij"qr. fl.
And so remayne due unto my seid maistre . cxviii. xjº qr"
fl. & if" of Brittissh money Whereof
Remanent i*18°ij" qr" et iſ". Brittanie inde
liberantur cziijº vij" fl. et remanent vs. iiijº
qr, fl. et iſ" Brittanie”
Money delyverd to the use of the Margaret Cely
I delyverd to the use and freight of the Margaret
Cely of my maisters owne money remaynyng in
my handes upon this accompt wherwith I am
chargid in myn accompt of the viage of the
seid ship callid the Margaret Cely as it playnly
apperith by the same accompt . . . . . . cxiijºvijº fl.
* The accounts of the ‘Brittissh child' are wrong.
* Crossed out.
-200 THE CELY PAPERS.
Money remaynyng in my handes clerely upon this accompt
And so remayne clerely in myn owne) vº iiij" qr" fl. & ij" of
handes of the seid xiij" xv" ob. fl. & | Brittissh money I the
ij" of Brittissh money of my hole|seid William Roggers
charge althynges above specified º dely verd to my
allowed to me . . . . . . [seid maister (Que non-
dum liberatur summa
&c.) upon the day
/ of
Remanent in loculo meo
iiij grotes of viij" fl. the pece ij vilj" iiis iiiid
iiii flemyssh pens iiii". . . . . . .", ija ...) In allviii.
o 3, : ; d.
A. pº of silver dely verd to me for Britissh (*. fl. & l]
Ill] . . . . . . . . . . . OIlé of Brittissh
A pece of Brittayne money of iſ" britañ y. money
In sterlyng money, xvi" qr" . . . . is quº fl.
On the Dorse :
Lynyn cloth bought by William Roggers
First a remenant of lynyn).
cloth conteynyng xiijellys/In all xxxy a ULI16S
& a half. . • I —- -- * y & º & ... e
• - price of every aune xliij" ix" fl.
Item ij remenantes of lynyn xyd fi
cloth conteynyng xxjaunes
& a half
Item iſ remenantes of lynyn conteynyng)
aune xiii" fl. & iſ" of Brittissh money.
Item a remenant of lynyn
cloth of XV aunys . . . In all
Item a remenant of lynyn iij quarters, price of xxxixº ix.d
cloth of xijaunys every aune; fl. ob. qr" fl.
Item a remenant of lynyn -
cloth of ix aunysiij quarters
xxxvi aunys
THE CELY PAPERS. 201
Item a remenant of lynyn cloth of iiijaunys
j quarter, price of every aune X* fl. . .
}i vi" ob. ii.
Summa . . . . . v.j" xvij" qr, fl.
Item for myn expensys & one other mannys) ::::a
that halpe me to bye the Seid cloth ºxiii
Item for wasshyng of iij peces which were); a fl
wet in salt water ji e
146
This Letter, with no date of the year, may have reference to the alleged poach
ing adventure of the end of 1481, but George Cely was not involved in that.
Ryght trusty and welbelovyd frend I recommaund me unto you
acertynyng you sent your departyng ther hath ben labour mad
ayenst you and your brother for the mater ye knowe but my
fortune was to be by my lorde whan it was questian and I
rememberyd my lord wiche had forgotyn the sayd mater and so
after my rememberaunce my lord mad suche arnswer as shal be to
your plesure in so muche as my lord hath promysid his singuler
good lordshipp unto you and youre brother all men receyvid and
yn anythyng els he cawdo for you or your brother he wulbe your
good lorde. And to my power I Schall be your frend duryng my
lyfe. Fellow George I require you bespeke me xij dosum payre of
loven” glovis ij dosun of the marke of ij, iij dosun of the marke of
iiij, iſ dosun of the mark of iij and iiijdosun of the mark of ii. I
must within thys viij dayes send you wurd to pray you to ley
owte mony for vi horharnese for my lorde of Cokyngham" and I
shall paye you for it at Calis I pay [sic] you send me wurde how
ye wuldo for me in thes maters by the next that comyth to the
wiche tyme I schall thynk long to as knowith Jhesu who have you
* Louvain. * Perhaps Buckingham.
202 - THE CELY PAPERS.
in his keping. From Calis the ij day of May wº the hand of your
tru loving frend * *
youres Bryan.
Addressed: To my ryght hertly belovyd frend
George Cely marchant being at
Bruges be thys letter dely verd.
On the Dorse: Item my xijdosun payre of glovis
Item iij stykkes of tarny sateyn
or els vyelett sateyn of Bruges.
147
Jhesu
Ryght wyrschypfull sir I recommend me unto you as hartely
as I can, Letyng you whderstond that I resavyd a letter from
you wherin ze wrotte for your mone I pray yow that ze take it to
no dysplesour for I insure you hever tyll Syr Wylliam com hom I
wend ze had ben contentt of Sir John Dyebotes I haw send hym
wrytyng under formum that ze sall be contentt in all the hast
posybyll wºowt fawll & I pray yow that ze wyll caws hym to hawe
a letter send to hym wyche sall be bownd & sellyd w” this your
letter & affter the syzht of the byll I wot well Ze sall not fawte of
your mone and at my goyng I sall make syche amendes as Ze Sall
holdyn well contentt wyche tym salbe ryght schortly be the gras of
God who preserve you. At Caleis on the viij day of Maye.
your luffying
Rauff Hastynges.
Addressed: To the ryght wyrschypfull George
Selye merchand dwelyng in Marke
Lane in London.
THE CELY PAPERS, 203
148
My ful trusty frende I recommaund me to you. I have
recevved your kynd and lovyng letter and wel understande alle
thynges therynne contened whereof thanke you and for youre good
and trewe hert. I am and shal be youre dettor of as gode a torne
ageyne another tyme and trustith therto trewely. I sende you by
John Twaselton this berer xij" fl. in setillers at iiijº iiij". I pray
you to take it in gre and any thing that I cane do unto ples ye
shall fynde it redy by Godes grace who ever preserve you.
Writton at Guysnes" the laste day of October.
Your tru luffuyng
Rauff Hastynges.
Addressed: To my ful good frende George Cely.
149
Both Thomas and John Dalton address the Celys as brothers. Thomas Dalton's
reference to his ship and his ‘prisoners’ looks like what is now called piracy.
Brother Jorge I pray you as my speciall trust ys in you that ye
wyll remember me for to pay to Wylliam Norton of London,
draper, for me xl or 1" what ye may spare me but for xij or xiiij
dayes for I owe hym iiijº li. of the whyche he hathe a byll of my
hand for Iloke yevery day for tydynges owte of Holand for my
Schypp & my prisoners, &, brother, this payment lyeth my pore
onestie apon wherfore I beseche you to remember me as my speciall
trust ys in yow above all others & by thes my handwryteng I
promes yow to answer yow at yewre pleseur what ye delyver the
seyd Wylliam.
From yowres to my power
Thomas Dolton.
* Guines.
204 THE CELY PAPERS
On the Dorse: A remembrans of Thomas Dolton.
Jacob Wylliamsone and hys felow de Delffe " . xiiijixixº viiji fl.
John Wylliamson and hys fellowy of Laythe" . viiji Xixº
Mauryn Claysson of Laythe . . . . . . . xxvi" xv.j" iijº fl.
jden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxvi" x* viij" fl.
Of Jacob Wylliamson iiij" ob. . . . . . . . vijº iiijº fl.
Item yn ij" ob. . . . . . . . . . . . iij" fl.
iiij" ob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiij" xvj" fl.
150
The following Letter is placed separately, having been already published in an
article in the ‘Gentleman's Magazine,” September 1881. The Dean of York was
Richard Andrews, LL.D., installed as Dean January 1451–2; resigned June 2, 1477;
died before November 5, 1477. His will was proved on November 5.
Anno lxxvij
Ryght wel belouyd brother. I recomaunde me hertelly to
yow. Farthermore, pleese yt yow to wette that I heve ressayvyd
from yow a lettar wrette at Calles the xxx day of Octobar. In the
weche letter were clossyd iiij letteres of paymentte, werof iſ ben
dyrect to Rychard Twenge, Mercer of London; bothe lettars con-
tayninge lijti Item, allsso ij lettars of paymentte dyrecte to John
Cowlarde, mercer, contaynynge bothe xxii. The days ben longe.
I care for nothynge save butt for my fellmen of Barneslay Strette,"
for thay wyll be medy and call faste on me for mony er Marche be
paste. Brother Gorge, I pray yow speke Scharply to John Raunse
of gynys" for the ferme of Sentercasse,” for Wyll”. the parsson
ys man ys att London, and cawlthe faste on me for money;
and alsso I honderstonde that Zee haue lentte to the plasse for me
xxii. I moste preste here at London xii & hour father xxii. Yt
a Delft. * Leyden.
• Barnsley, St. Mary, Gloucester, on the road between Cirencester and Burford.
* Guines, * St. Tricaise or St. Tricat,
THE CELY PAPERS. 205
ys a scherewde werke—God amende yt. Item brother as apon the
Sonday afore the datte of thys letter my brother Rycharde Cely &
I wer at Pollys Crosse to here the Sarmon; and ther we herde
forste word that howr uncull the Dene of Yorkeys passyd to God:
and the prechar prayyd for hym by name, And ther sate that
tyme V bochoppys at Pollys Crosse. No more to yow at thys tyme;
bott howr lorde kepe yow. Wrette at London the xix day of
November. *
By yowr brother
Robart Cely.
A George Cely, marchande of the Staple at Calles, thys be
delyvered. -
INDEX OF NAMES AND PLACES.
ABYNTON, Habendon (Abingdon), 87, 90
Achamber, Harry, 139
Adam, Hadam, Tomas, 12
Addlyn, Robard, 149
Addyrbery, Attyrberry (Adderbury), 27,
79
Adlynton, 157–159, 161
Aldereche, Alderyche, Alldereche,
Aulldryche, Awlderyche, Awllderyche,
Wylliam, 174–176, 179, 180, 182, 183,
185, 186
Allvolay, Aulay, Aunelay, Awelay,
Hawelay.(Alveley), 26, 29, 30, 41, 50,
, 91
Allward, 160
Almans, 110
Alson, Allson, 188
Amerys, Thomas, 149
Andevarpe, Andewarpe, Andwhurp
(Antwerp), 3, 66, 67, 100, 128
Andreson, Nycolas, 12
Andryan, 118
Ardson, Wylliam, 136, 142
Arnolde, Thomas, 42
Arnoldson, Cornelys, 147
Ary (Aire), 108, 109
Aspringe (Ospringe), 175
Awode, Rychard, 193
Awrey, Awerey, Awheray,
144, 158, 166
Rychard,
BALE, Bawll (horse), 26, 31
Bale, Bayle, Balys, Baledelett, Bale
and Delett, Peter, 36, 134, 136, 140,
141, 152, 154, 155 -
Balling Martt, Balyng Martt, Baming
(Baelen), 100, 107, 173
Bames Mart, Bammys Marte, Banes
Marte (Bamis or St. Rémy), 2, 36
Barnesley Strette, 204
Barow, Barow Martt (Borre), 93, 94,
105, 127, 165, 167
Bartholomeo, John Domynyco, 18
Barwell, Borwell, Wylliam, 41, 192
Barwyke, Berwyke (Berwick in Essex),
34, 82, 105
Bathowl, 135
Bawen, Thomas, 186
Bawlsall (Balsall), 24
Bayerd (horse), 86, 96, 97, 99, 128
Bell, Robard, 195
Bellson, Wylliam, 4
Beneham, Wylliam, 56
Benett, Thomas, 139
Bentham, Wylliam, 149
Berecke, Robard, 18
Berelay (Berlaere), 45
Bernard, Thomas, 156
Berneught, Barbell, 2
Beryffe, John, 196
Bett, 75
Bettsons, Thomas, 72
Blackewall (Blackwall), 181
|Bland, Thomas, 153
Bloke, de, Jacob, 19
Bocharer, Rychard, 186
Bolen, Bollen (Boulogne), 38, 43, 193
Bolonys, Aleamus, 2
Bondmans, 107, 120
Bongay, 54
Bordan, Laryus, 41
Bordeecke, Bordeycker, Burdyche, John,
174–176
Bordewys, Burdews (Bordeaua.), 174,
186, 187 x
208
THE CELY PAPERS.
Borgan (Bergen or Mons), 31
Borgan, Borgayne, Borgeyne
gundy), Duchess of, 91, 118
Borgand, Borgayne, Burgeyne (Bur-
gundy), Duke of, 8, 109, 112, 115
Borgany’s man, 11, 15, 31
IBory well, John, 173
Boston, 134, 135, 153
Botrell, Bottrell, 82, 83, 85, 114, 117
Bott, de, John, 127
Bourgneuff, 198, 199
Boys, Lenarde, 26
Brabon, Braband (Brabant), 113, 166,
169 -
Bradewell (Bradwell), 195
Brandon, 73, 74, 78, 82
Bredylsay, Bretylsay,
(Brightlingsea), 43, 196
Brege, Breges, Bregges, Breggis, Bregys,
IBrgys, BrogyS, Bruges, Brugys,
Bryges, Brygesse (Bruges), 1, 5, 7–10,
13, 21, 24, 28, 54, 55, 61–65, 67, 74,
81, 82, 84, 85, 91, 94, 95, 104, 109,
113, 115, 118, 121, 137, 140–142, 144,
146, 153, 161, 164, 166–171, 193
Bregyt, dau. of Edward IV., 46
Bretten (Bretayne), 174, 176
Brettes, Brytys, Brytys plase, Byrrtes
(Bretts), 16, 19, 88, 128
Bretton, Wylliam, 66, 87, 90, 92, 102,
103
Bridport, 53
Brone, Hewe, 15, 16
Brone, Robard, 64
Browell, Wylliam, 35, 59, 74
Brown, Kyrstower, 105
Browny's man, 134
Brugham, Robard, 139
Bryan, Hary, 86, 105, 133
Bryerley, Wylliam, 144
JBrystall, Nycolas, 133
Brystow, John of, 178
Burgan, Thomas, 31
Bwrne, John, 154
Bwshay (Bushey), 82
Byenan, Robard, 173
Byfelde, 88
Byng (Busiguy or Binche), 48
Byngham, Syr Robard, 82
(Bur-
Brekellyssay
CALEIS, Cales, Caleys, Calis, Callaz,
Calles, Calley, Calleys, Callys, Callez,
Calz (Calais), 1, 5–10, 12–15, 18–21,
24, 26, 28–31, 33, 35–37, 43–46, 48–50,
52–55, 57, 60, 61, 63–65, 67, 68, 73,
76, 78–80, 82, 86–90, 92, 94, 95, 101,
104, 106, 107, 109, 110, 112, 114, 117,
118, 123, 125, 129–131, 134–139, 142,
144, 146, 147, 149, 150, 152, 154,
160–162, 164, 167–169, 173, 184,
187, 194, 196, 201, 203, 204
Cam (Cadsand or Damme), 164
Gambrez (Cambria), 153
Camden, 102
Cardon, Thomas, 186
Cawntyrberry (Canterbury), 175, 177
Cely, George, 36, 37, 61, 142, 147, 151,
157, 166, 174, 176, 184, 185, 187, 192,
193, 197 -
— John, 10, 21, 64, 128
— Richard the Elder, 12, 13, 56
— Richard, the younger, 1, 2, 4, 8,
11, 16, 17, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37,
40, 43, 44, 49, 66, 70, 77, 83, 84, 90,
92,123, 125, 131, 134, 142, 147, 151,
166, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 193, 194,
205
— Robert, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 26, 28, 29,
33, 34, 35, 46, 93, 193
— William, 23–25, 31, 37, 43, 44, 45, 48,
74, 80, 87, 91, 95, 104, 105, 128,
147, 151, 156, 157, 163, 166, 193
Chamberleyn, Schambyolen, my Lord
(Lord Hastings, Lord Chamberlain),
55, 97, 98, 107, 108, 111, 116, 117,
118, 119, 125, 132
Chanon, Syr Wylliam, 58
Chapman, John, 179
Charles, 86
Charllys, Dewke, 147
Chary, 74
Chawley, John, 139
Chepyng Nortton (Chipping Norton),
105, 128
Chinyer, John, 186 -
Christoffer, Crystower, 134, 136
Clarke, Thomas, 96, 135
Clays, my sarvant, 127
Claysson, Mauryn, 204
— Nycolas, 12
Clyffton, John, 143
Clyfte (Cleeve), 161
Code, Wylliam, 179
Cokesluyr (?), 184
Cokyngham (Buckingham), my lord of,
201
Colchester, 42
INDEX.
209
Cold mart, Colde martt, Cole martt
(Cortemarck), 107, 148, 173, 174
Collyns, 134
Colton, Thomas, 161, 163
Conket (Le Conquet), 198, 199
Constantyne, John, 185
Conygwaye (Kingsey), 172
Corsy, Anthony, 159, 163
Cortes, Rychard, 187
CoSSym, John, 194
Cotsold, Cotsowlde, Cottasowlde, Cot-
teSold, Cottesowlde, Cotteswold,
Cottsould, Cottysould, Cottysowlld,
Cottysowlde, Cottyssowlde, Cotty-
Owllde, Cottyssowolde, Cottyswold,
Cottyswolde, Cottyswolld, Cottys-
wollde, Cotyswold (Cotswold), 1, 8, 10,
14–16, 21, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 44,
45, 48, 53, 61, 64, 74–76, 78, 79–82.
86, 89, 90, 92, 101, 102, 104, 124,
138, 172
Cowlarde, John, 204
Crepayge, Kyrpage, Wylliam, 178, 179
Crisp, Cryspe, Rychard, 18, 20
Croke, John, 88
Cryspe, Thomas, 18
DALTON, Dawlton, 36, 59, 74, 85
— Dallton, Dawlton, John, 1, 7, 86,
90, 96, 99, 100, 101, 107, 110
— Daulton, Dawltom, Dawlton,
Wylliam, 59, 71, 76, 84, 87, 89, 105,
109, 117, 135, 149
Dane, Syr James, 63
Danes, the, 167
Danyell, Dangell, John, 70, 71, 76
Darryall, Hemonde, 41
Darteford, Derford (Dartford), 64
Daulton, Rafe, 59
Daultony's syster, 5.9
Dave, John, 57
Dawke, Robarde, 178
Decason, Bemyngne, 159, 162, 163
Decastro, Dygo; Decastron, Deago, 161,
163
Defuye, Gabryell, 159
Deinorres, Harry, 24
Delatowr, Gyllam, 176, 177
Delff, Delffe, Dellf, Dellfe, Dellff, Dellffe
(Delft), 12, 83, 107, 118, 138, 142,
147, 160, 171, 172, 204
Delopis, Delopys, Delowpys, Delowppis,
Delowppys, Lowpys, Lowppys, John,
10, 65, 134, 136, 138, 140, 143, 148,
152, 154, 159, 160, 162, 165, 168, 169,
171
Delyte, 198
Demerys, Hary, 25
De More, Lewys, 163
T)ene of Yorke, 205
Dennam, Denman, Lord, 144, 145
Deram, John, 139
Derby, 156
Derycson, Arnowlde, 12
Derykson, Deryck, 151
Desall, Romanett, 139
Desers, De Sore, Gomers, 165, 169
Desturmer, John, 30 *
DeSurte, Gabryell, 162
Dewke, the, 52
Dodlay, 157
Dolton, Thomas, 204
Donckyrck, Donkyrke, Dunckyrke (Dun-
kirk), 142, 144, 162, 165
Donsta, 145
Doo, Claysse, 151
— John, 160
Dower, Dowyer (Dover), 74, 99, 106 107,
142, 144, 150, 153, 176, 177
Doysse, Thomas, 195
Drynklow, Will, 156
Dugell, Lord, 171
Dulcon, Syr John, 98
Dyebotes, Sir John, 202
EGENGTON, Ekynton, John, 85, 172
Elderbecke, Ellerbelke, Ellyrbek, John,
85, 172, 191
Eltham, Heltame (Eltham), 46, 91
Elton, John, 164
Ely, bishop of, 132
Eryk, Eryke, Erykke, Heryke, Robard,
14, 77, 86, 92, 95, 104, 106, 128
Erythe, Erytte, Herythe (Erith), 178,
185
Eschepe (Eastcheap), 157
Essex, my lord of, 80, 82
Eston, John, 144
— Wylliam, 3, 14, 21
Ewern, Robard, 72
Eweryngham, Sir Thomas, 57
IFAIWNTON, Harrowlld, 54
Fawkene, William, 22
Federston, 57
210
THE CELY PAPERS.
Fedyan, Fethyan, Fydian, Wylliam, 39,
139
Flaunders, Flaundyrs, Flaundyrsse,
Flawnders (Flanders), 6, 67, 85, 91,
98, 136, 137, 139, 141, 144, 146, 147,
149, 152, 161 162, 164, 166, 171
Flemying, Robard, 80, 81
Florantynys (Florentines), 55
Flords, 127
Eormer, John, 24, 25
Foskewe, 181, 184
Fowlle, John, 58
Franck, Harry, 155
Froste Foster, John, 73
Fyttyngborn, see Sittingborne (Sitting-
bourne), 177
GARNETT, John, 155
Garwes, John, 174, 178
Gante, Gaunt, Gaunte, Gent (Ghent),
31, 100, 115, 121, 141, 144, 147, 152,
164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169
Gawysend, Graveshend Gravozend,
Grawysend, Gurvoys End (Gravesend),
36, 175, 178, 182, 185, 186
Gean (Genoa), 87
Gladman, 34
Glosetter (Gloucester), Dewk of, 132
Good, Godys, Robard, 44–46, 50
— Goodes, Andrew, 72, 75
Goodman, Syr R., 191
Goos, Geoos, Geyos, see Joyce
Grager, Granger, Grayngar, Graynger,
Graunger, Thomas, 7, 19, 33, 65, 68,
75, 77, 135, 162, 170
Gravenyng (Gravelines), 79, 108, 144
Guynesse (Guisnes), 170
Gybson, Steven, 149
Gye, Marten, 199
Gyesbryght, Jacob, 134, 140, 141
Gyesbryghtson, Jacob, 147, 160
Gylle, Gyllys, my prentiss, 180, 181
Gynus, the steward, 191
HALL, John, 194
Hallyngberry, Wylliam, 177
Hamton, Hamtton (Southampton), 87,
92, 177
Hankun, 86
Harman, Jacob, 134
Harthe, Jonne, 28
Hatfield, John, 130 -
Havockym, John, 175
Hawarde, Lord (Lord Howard), 133 . .
Hawes, Hawesse, Howes, Andrew, 67,
82, 192
Hayn, Hayne, Haynys, Rychard, 17, 56,
62
Hayre, 61
Hectyr (dog), 7
Hedemond, John, 196
Henley, 98
Henley’s wyddowe, 149, 155
Henley, young, 155
Henrycson, John, 12
Henrykson, Gyesbryght, 147, 148
Herzon, Ryscharde, 69
Hewan, Robard, 75
Hobner, Robard, 115
Hody, Gylbard, 195
Holand, Holond, 169, 203
Holanders, 83
Holland, James, 194
Horne, Thomas, 42
Hossyer, Hosyer, John, 17
Howlde Fysche Strette (Old Fish
Street), 76
Hubbard, John, 170
Hubberd, Robard, 161
Hull, 72, 75
Hyll, Wylliam, 85
INGUDD, 39
JAccson, Wylliam, 186
Jacobson, Deryck, 147
Jacope, John, 24
Jamys, Robard Stocker's man, 144
Jarfford, James, 149, 161
John, Sir, 106
— — the pryste, 28
Johnson, Arnold, 66
— Deryck, 142
— John, 107
— Peter, 12
Johnsum, Petter, 171, 172
Jon, Harry, 66
Jone, 156
Joye, Peyrs, 134
Joysse, Goos, Geoos, Geyos (Joyce Par-
menter), 60, 68, 96,97, 101, 110, 123,
125, 129, 154
KAy, 78, 80–82
Renett, Wylliam, 141
INDEX.
211
Kesten, Kestenys, Thomas, 4, 87
King of Fraunce, 169
— Romayns, 165–169
Rnyght, Edmund, 167
Koke, Myhell, 103
— Wylliam, 194
Yonettes, Wylliam, 20
Kurforde (Burford), 102
Kynges Sotton (King's Sutton), 105
Kynton, Roger, 143
TASSE, 91
Taste, John, 156
Taurenson, Garrard, 151
Lawson, Lawsson, Harry, 71
Laybaccar, ASSche, 50
Laysetter, Leyc’ (Leicester), 59, 76, 144,
156
Layth, Laythe (Leyden), 90, 118, 150,
151, 153, 204
Lede hall (Leadenhall), 11, 16
Tiegayneard, Robard, 155
Tiemryke, 102
Lemster, Will, 156
Lemyngton, Raffe, 148, 149, 193
Tenawlles, Edwhard, 33
Levynge, 128
Lewke (Liège), 120, 121
— Bishop of, 120, 166
L. Malyns, Malens (Little Molands), 88,
91, 158
Lokyngton, Lokynton, John, 27, 28, 68,
71, 75
Lollay, Lolley, Robard, 181, 187
Lombardys (Lombards), 48
Lomberde Strete (Lombard Street), 159
London, John, 64
London, 3–6, 8, 9, 12, 15–19, 21, 23–25,
28, 32, 35, 37, 39–49, 53, 55, 74, 75,
79, 89, 90, 96, 99, 102, 104, 105, 111,
112, 115, 118, 122, 125, 129, 131, 134,
140, 141, 144, 155, 158, 159, 161, 165,
169, 170, 174, 179, 194, 195, 203, 204
Tiong, Thomas, 195
LOutelay, Loutlay, Louttelay, 33, 78, 91
Loven (Louvain), 201
Lyll (Hull), 75
Lyncolln, Robard, 186
Lynd, John, 193
Lyndys, Wylliam, 71
MALLING, Mallyng, Malwin (Malling),
42, 195, 196
Margaret's dowghter, 117
Margery, 110
Marget, Lady, 36
Markes, John, 53
Maryon, Mareon, Wylliam, 16, 21, 24,
28, 37, 38, 43, 44, 67, 70, 83, 94, 95,
109, 172, 174, 176, 182, 185–188, 193
— Godfather, 29, 32, 46, 72, 134, 1/4,
176, 178, 180
— Cousin, 47, 48, 187, 193
Mase (Meuse river), 156
Mastoo (Machecoul), 198
Mathew, John, 39–40
Maxymelyanus, Dewk, 137, 141, 143,
144, 147
Maydeston (Maidstone), 71, 75
Mechelson, Mychellson, Patryke, 42,
176, 178
Medecrost, Thomas, 186
Medewynter, Medeywynter, Medwenter,
Mydwynter, Mydwyntter, Mydwynttyr,
Mydwytter, Wylliam, 11, 21, 28, 30,
32, 33, 64, 87, 89, 90, 102, 103, 105,
124, 128, 157, 158
Mehyd, Meyge (hawk), 22, 81
Mekelyn (Mechlin), 45, 66
Melcheburne (Melchbourn), 81
Mell, John, 20
Meson, 192
Messedawzth, Collard, 155
Messefolde, 57
Molenars, 88
Mondanyell, Mondedanell,
dunyellys, 37, 54, 62
Mongewmbre, Mwngewmtre, Mongewn-
bres, Mongehowmbre, Sur Tomas
(Sir Thomas Montgomery), 73,78, 80,
124
More, Lewys, 161
Moreson, Gyesbryght, 151
Morres, Peyres, 178
Moy, Adam, 172
Muston, Wylliam, 139
Myddelborow (Middleburgh), 171
Myhall, Mylale (Millhall), 42, 194
Myhell, Alyson, 60
Mylezeynde (Mile End), 88
Mylton (Milton), 196
MWI)-
NAPWLLEs (Naples), 88
Narslye, John, 135
Newcastell, 55
212
THE CELY PAPERS.
Newday, Bachett, 185
Newgate, 65
Newhythe, 72, 75
Newportte (Nieuport), 146
Nicholas, T27
Nonelay, Thomas, 149
Norlache, Norlagh, Norlay, Norlayche,
Norlayge, Nortlache (Northleach), 11,
17, 21, 28, 30, 33, 64, 87, 90, 92, 102,
103
Northebamton, Hamton, Hamtton
(Northampton), 59, 71, 87, 92, 177
Northebombyrland (Northumberland),
my lord of, 133
Norton, Wylliam, 203
ODENBoRow (Oudenburg), 99
Ostend, Oste end, Oostendd (Ostend),
129, 146, 163
Ottson, Henryck, 151
Owerton, Thomas, 57
PALMER, Pamar, Parmar, Paullmar,
IPaulmor, Gylberde, 15, 20, 31, 54, 59
Parcar, Parkar, John, 19, 77, 107, 134
Parker, Parckar, Wylliam, 181, 187
— Persse, 186
— Rechard, 134
Paynter, John, 184
Pellyggar, 186
Penermarcke (Penmarch), 174, 176, 184
|Peryman, 161
Perys, John, 17
Peter, Cleys 134
Peterson, Petterson, Claysse, 93, 138,
142, 143, 148
Better, 50, 152
Pettyt, 102
Phellypp, Phyllyp, Phyllypp, Dewk, 137,
146, 149
Planttan, 38
— Nowell, 38
IPlemowthe (Plymouth), 187
Plomton, 58, 59
Plulmar, 82
Polys Crosse (Paul's Cross), 205
Pont, 166
Porfleyt, Pwrfleyt (Purfleet), 178
Pottay, Peter, 194
Pray fayrs, 87
|Prestun, 67
Prowde, Wylliam, 196
Pwrssar Rychard, 177
Py (horse), 46, 68,74, 80, 105
Pypar, John, 196
RADCLYFE, Robard, 114
Rade, 75
Raffetermyngton, 135
Ramston, 73, 78
Randofe, Randowlfe, 19, 80
Raunse, Rawns, John, 26, 204
Rawson's dowttyr, 105
Taylay (Rayleigh), 124
Raynam, Raynham, Rayname (Rain-
ham), 41, 70–72, 75, 76, 80
Rechard, servant to Róbard Eyryck, 77
Recherdlay, Wylliam, 43
Redclyffe, 179, 180
Reddman, Alyn, 139
Rederythe (Rotherhithe), 196
Redhodes, 12
Reede, George, 133
Remyngton, Rymyngton, 181, 187
Rewars, Rewys, Lord (Lord Rivers), 55
Beynold, John, 156, 161, 163
Robyn, 47. See Good
Rochester, 175
Rodclffe, Rechard, 192
Rodes, Rodys (Rhodes), 55, 60
Roggers, William, 197, 200
Rome, 69
Rychard the bocher, 187
SALLFoRD, Syr Wylliam, 153
Sallyssebery, Rychard, 179
Samson, Thomas, 186
Sandwiche, Sandwych, Sandwyche
(Sandwich), 82, 129, 136, 174–176,
178, 179
Sanley, Sauley, Peter, 159, 162
Saunders, John, 162
Sawzear, Rychard, 195
Schestyr's douter, 59
Sclewce, Slewce (Sluys), 164, 167, 169
Seland, Selond (Zealand), 54, 115, 163,
169, 171, 174, 180, 184
Sellar, Peleppe, Pelyp, Pelype, Phelep,
Phelepe, Phelype, Phyllyp, 18, 22–24,
77
— Phelypy’s dowter, 24
Senchan marte, Sencyon marte, Sen-
syon mart, Synksen, SynSchon marte,
Synysgon mart (St. John’s Mart,
Antwerp), 3, 16, 36, 59, 95, 133, 147
INDEX. 213
Send Johnys, Johnns, Jonns, Jonnys,
Sent Johnys, Jonnys, Sente Jhon,
Jonys, my lord of (Sir John Weston),
16, 27, 32, 37, 43, 55, 64, 66, 80, 97,
104, 133, 167
Sent Annys lyght, Sent Tanny's (St.
Anne's Light), 186, 187
Sente Johnys in London (St. John’s,
Clerkenwell), 26
Sentercasse, Sentrycasse (St. Tricaise),
170, 205
Sent Nycolas
Church), 111
Sent Tolowys scryssche (St. Olave's
Church), 4
Sent Tomers, Tamos, Thomers, Tomers
(St. Omers) 48, 49,78,82, 91, 108, 112
Seysell, Hary, 4
Skoteland (Scotland), 55
Smalmoth, 52
Smethe fellde (Smithfield), 122
Smethe, John, 19
Smythe, John, 42
— Wylliam, 160, 166
Solderman, John, 31
Solle, Robard, 172
Sordyvale, Sordywoll, Wylliam, 71, 74
Sotton (Sutton, in Esseq.), 16, 105
Speryng, Speryg, Spryng, Wylliam, 158,
187, 196, 197, 200
Spycer, Thomas, 171
Spynell, John, 18
Stamford, 135
Stappell, Sir Wylliam, 58
Staunton, Harold, 167, 191
Stevenson, Garrard, 151
Stewen, 166
Stocker, Stoker, Syr Wylliam, 16, 37,
44, 89, 113, 146, 202
Stocker’s man, 144
Stokar, John, 16
— Robard, 144
Storcke, Gabryell, 179
Strabant, Gnyott, 159
Strossy, Marcy, 159, 162
Strycke, Wylliam, 170
Styrne, John de, 192
Sybson, 170
chyrche (St. Nicolas
TAMys, John, 4
Tate, John, 125
— Roberd, 7
Tawbot, Syr Umfry, 46
Tayllar, John, 178
Tayller, James, Jamus, 179, 186
Taylor, Nycollz, 167
Tege, Robard, 194
Temy Strett (Thames Street), 185
Temys (Thames), 78
Tewek, Rychard, 16
The Tempyll, 88 .
Thondyrlay Parke (Thundersley), 124
Tomas, John, 178
Tomson, Andrewe, 195
Torneys, Turney, Robard, 85, 135
— Wyffe, 191
Townyshend, 183
Trewtall, Robard, 186
Trottar, Trotter, Benett, 80, 191
Twaselton, Twysultton, John, 96, 101,
203
Tyell, Nat, 192
Tymanson, Jacob, 90
Tyrrell, Syr Jamys, 164, 165, 167
Tyrwhyne (Terouenne), 49
Tywe, Rychard, 15
UNDERHAY, Underhaye, Vanderhay
Wandyrhay, Van Underhay, John,
5, 7, 30, 35, 45, 66
Underwode, Udyr Wode, John, 42, 195
WAN DE BASE, Geneways, 159
— Jacob, 159
Van de Rade, Danyell, 10, 13
— Wanderathe, Peter, 1, 10
Van Dorne, Cornelluz, Cornelys, 2, 10
Van State, John, 192
Van Wensbarge, Wenysberge, Wennys.
barge, Wynsbarge, Dehnysbarge,
Wan Wynsbarge, Gyshellbryght,
Gysbryght, Iyshbryght, 1, 2, 10, 49,
56, 134, 138, 143, 146, 147
Van Wimbragh, Wynbarow, Wynes-
bragh, Gysbreth, 66, 83, 84 -
Venecke, John, 151
Wyllacys, Charlys, 193
WAD, Wade, Tomas, 157, 176, 178
Walsshe, James, 186
Ware, 38
Westemynster (Westminster), 50
Westewell (Westwell), 28
214
THE CELY PAPERS.
Wesylton, 68
Wetherfyldes, 71
Weymouth, 52
Whalldyrswhyke (Walberswick), 195
Wharwykeschyre (Warwickshire), 76
Whayte, Hary, 12
Whegyn, Hewe, 195
Whegyston, 59
Whenysyans (Venetians), 55
Wheston, Syr Wylliam, 63
Whode, Rychard, 193
— Thomas, 191
Whykyng, 74
Whyte, Thomas, 152
Wodelas, Robard, 196
Wyeston, Wyxston, Roger, 59, 144
Wylkyns, Harry, 71, 72, 75
Wyll, 43
Wyllars, Charllys, 76
Wylliam, my lord’s chaplain, 65
Wylliamson, Adryan, 150, 151, 153
— Dave, 186,187
Wylliamson, Jacob, 125, 204
— John, 142, 204
— Rumbold, 164
Wylykyn, 136, 140, 141, 152, 154
Wymbythe, 146 -
Wymen, 188
Wynchewme (Winchcombe), 103
Wysson, Marte (Whitsun), 15
Wyxston, John, 107
YLAM, 39
Ynge, John, 149
Yogge, Zoge, Thomas, 186, 187
Yorck, Yorke, Zeorke (York), 17, 60,
103, 146
Ypre, Ypur, Ypurs, Ipur (Ypres), 109,
112, 141, 167
Ypswyche, Ypysweche (Ipswich), 112,
115
ZEURKE (York), my young lady of, 79
LETTERS FROM THE FOLLOWING :
(The Nos. refer to the Letters.)
ADAM, Wylliam, 1
BRYAN, Harry, 112, 146
CELY, George, 6, 45, 47, 60
— John, 38, 39
— Richard the elder, 7–10, 16–19, 21,
23, 25, 28, 30, 31, 36, 41–43, 58.
— Richard the younger, 11, 12, 15, 22,
24, 26, 27, 29, 32–34, 37, 44, 46, 49,
50, 53–57, 62, 68, 70–72, 76–78, 80,
89–91, 106, 108, 110, 126, 127
— Robert, 3, 40, 150
— William, 63, 66, 67, 84–88, 92–104,
107, 109, 111, 115–124, 128–134
DALTON, John, 61, 73, 74
— William, 125
DoDTON, Thomas, 149
EYRYK, Robert, 82, 83
HASTYNGES, Rauffe, 147, 148
MARYoN, William, 4, 65, 69, 79, 81, 113
MYDwyNTER, William, 105
PARMENTER, Joysse, 75
PRESTON, William, 48
STAUNTON, Harold, 20
THORNBURGHT, Roland, 59
WESTON, Sir John, 64
Spottismoode & Co. Printers, Men-street Square, London, E. C.
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