APPENDIX I: COLLEGE OF ARMS MS ARUNDEL 39 (MS T)

Abstract

Ffor that I remembred that every man is bounde by the commaundement of God principally and by the counsaill of the prudent to eschiew slouthe & idelnesse, mother and norices of all vices, and owe to put him unto vertuous occupacion and businesse. Thenne I havying no great charge of occupacion but the charge of an office for to levye, gather and answer unto the right high, excellent and most vertuous, my most dredde soverayn lord Henry the VIIIth of that name king of Englond and of Ffraunce and lord of Irelond, the customes and subsidies of merchaundises of oon of his poortes of Englond and the businesse therof but at certain times and by reason of the same office sequestred from byeng & selling and the use of merchaundises and boound to attende in proper persone to the same to awaite the casueltie therof, so that many tymes I had litil to doo. Remembring that my said most drad soveraign lord had the name of king of Ffraunce and perceyved litil or nothing of the proufit therof nor yet of the duchees of Normandie and Acquitaine or Guyan or Gascoyn, the counties of Poytew, Angeo, Torayn and Mayne and also the countie of Ponthieu which as I have herd shuld belonge to his grace of right of enheritaunce by descent from his most noble pregenitoures. And knew not the direct cause of the lette therof why, but by common report that William de la Pole first duke of Suffolk, ayel to Edmond de la Pole now prisoner, havying the governaunce of the most part of the premisses under and for the most vertuous prince of famous memorie King Henry the VIth, shuld have bargained and sold and so delivered the same to the Frenssh king for certain mony which the said duke shuld have taken to his owne use, which comon report gave not perfite knowlege to me therof, nor is not but seldom to be beleved. And for that me thought a right necessarie thing to make serche to come to the perfite knowlege in that behalf.