victualling of the Bastille._ This anecdote
is illustrated by the following passage of one of sir John's books of
accompt:--

"Item, in like wise is owing to the said Fastolfe for the keeping and
victualling of the Bastile of St. Anthony in Paris, as it appeareth by
writing sufficient, and by the creditors of sir John Tyrel knight, late
treasurer of the King's house, remaining in the exchequer of Westminster
of record, the sum of xlij li.

(Paston Letters, iii. 269.)

* * * * *

{1}

THE BOKE OF NOBLESSE.

[MS. REG. 18 B. XXII.]

* * * * *

The Boke of Noblesse, compiled to the most hyghe and myghety prince
Kynge Edward the iiij^{the} for the avauncyng and preferryng the comyn
publique of the Royaumes of England and of Fraunce.

First, in the worship of the holy Trinite, bring to mynde to calle, in the
begynnyng of every good work, for grace. And sithe this litille epistle is
wrote and entitled to courage and comfort noble men in armes to be in
perpetuite of remembraunce for here noble dedis, as right convenient is soo
to bee. And as it is specified by auctorite of the noble cenatoure of Rome
Kayus son, in these termes foloweng: "Hoc igitur summum est nobilitatis
genus, posse majorum suorum egregia facta dicere, posse eorum beneficiis
petere honores publicos, posse gloriam rei publicae hereditario quodam jure
vendicare, posse insuper sese eorum partes vocare, et clarissimas in suis
vultibus ymagines ostendere. Quos enim appellat vulgus nisi quod
nobilissimi parentes genuere."

De remedio casus Reipublicae.

[Sidenote: Anglorum nacio originem sumpsit ex nacione Trojanorum.]

[Sidenote: Nota j^{o}. quod lingua Britonum adhuc usitatur in Wallia et
Cornibea, que lingua vocabatur corrupta Greca.]

Here folowethe the evident Examples and the Resons of comfort for a
reformacion to be had uppon the piteous complaintes and dolorous
lamentacions made for the right grete outragious and most {2} grevous losse
of the Royaume of Fraunce, Duchee[gh] of Normandie, of Gascoyne, and Guyen,
and also the noble Counte of Mayne and the Erledom of Pontife. And for
relevyng and geting ayen the said Reaume, dukedoms, [and earldoms,] undre
correccion of amendement ben shewed the exortacions and mocions, be
auctorite, example of actis in armes, bothe by experience and otherwise
purposid, meoved and de