ABSTRACT

Pleas it your grace to bee advertised that this day at x a clock we the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk mett to gethers at a place appoyntid ii myles on this syde Bury with all the company of bothe the shires whiche was a right goodly company to loke upon at the leste iiii thousand whiche were gatherd sithins Tuisday in the mornyng. And unto us cam the inhabitauntes of the towne of Lavenham and Brant Ely whiche were offenders to a great nombre. They cam all in theire shirttes and kneling before us with pitious crying for mercy shewed that they were the kinges moste humble and faithefull subgiettes and soo wold contynu during theire lyves saying that this offence by them comitted was only for lack of worke soo that they knewe not howe to gett theire lyvinge. And for theire offence moste humbly besought us to bee meanes to the kinges highnes for pardon and remission, unto whome we made a long rehersall the beste we coulde to agravate theire heynous offence declaring the same to be highe treason and laying the soreste we could to theire charges as well of their evell demeanour againste the kinges highnes as of theire rayling wordes. Finally we tryed out iiii of the pryncipall of the offenders . . . we gave all the reste leave to departe save thouse iiii with as sharp and sore lessons any more to do like offence as we could devyce.