The Duke of Suffolk is murdered while sailing into exile

Right worshipful sir, I recommend me to you, and am right sorry of that I shall say, and have so wesh this little bill with sorrowful tears that uneaths ye shall read it.

As on Monday next after May Day there came tidings to London that on Thursday before the Duke of Suffolk came unto the coasts of Kent, full near Dover, with his two ships and a little spinner; the which spinner he sent with certain letters, by certain of his trusted men, unto Calais ward, to know how he should be received.

And with him met a ship called Nicholas of the Tower, with other ships waiting on him, and by them that were in the spinner the master of the Nicholas had knowledge of the Duke's coming. And when he espied the Duke's ships he sent forth his boat to weet what they were, and the Duke himself spake to them and said he was by the King's commandment sent to Calais ward, &c.

And they said he must speak with their master; and so he, with two or three of his men, went forth with them in their boat to the Nicholas. And when he came the master bade him 'Welcome, traitor', as men say; and further, the master desired to weet if the shipmen would hold with the Duke, and they sent word they would not in no wise; and so he was in the Nicholas till Saturday next following.

Some say he wrote much thing to be delivered to the King, but that is not verily know. He had his confessor with him, &c. And some say he was arraigned in the ship, on their manner, upon the apeachments, and found guilty, &c.

Also he asked the name of the ship, and when he knew it he remembered [a friend] that said if he might escape the danger of the Tower he should be safe; and then his heart failed him, for he thought he was deceived.

And in the sight of all his men he was drawn out of the great ship into the boat, and there was an axe and a stock; and one of the lewdest of the ship bade him lay down his head, and he should be fair ferd with, and die on a sword; and took a rusty sword, and smote off his head within half a dozen strokes, and took away his gown of russet and his doublet of velvet mailed, and laid his body on the sands of Dover.

And some say his head was set on a pole by it, and his men set on the land by great circumstance and prayer. And the sheriff of Kent doth watch the body, and sent his undersheriff to the judges to weet what to do, and also to the King. What shall be do further I wot not, but thus far is it: if the process be erroneous, let his counsel reverse it, &c.


From A Letter from William Lomnor to John Paston dated 5 May, 1450 (The Paston Letters edited by Norman Davis).