ON, JUN.
SIR STEPHEN RICHARD GLYNNE, BART.
SIR EDWARD HULSE, BART.
SIR JOHN BENN WALSH, BART.
SIR JOHN SIMEON, BART.
SIR JAMES SHAW WILLES.
NATHANIEL BLAND, ESQ.
BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ. Treasurer.
REV WILLIAM EDWARD BUCKLEY.
PAUL BUTLER, ESQ.
FRANCIS HENRY DICKINSON, ESQ.
THOMAS GAISFORD, ESQ.
RALPH NEVILLE GRENVILLE, ESQ.
REV. EDWARD CRAVEN HAWTREY, D.D.
ROBERT STAYNER HOLFORD, ESQ.
ADRIAN JOHN HOPE, ESQ.
ALEX. JAMES BERESFORD HOPE, ESQ.
REV. JOHN STUART HIPPISLEY HORNER, M.A.
JOHN ARTHUR LLOYD, ESQ.
EVELYN PHILIP SHIRLEY, ESQ.
WILLIAM STIRLING, ESQ.
SIMON WATSON TAYLOR, ESQ.
GEORGE TOMLINE, ESQ.
CHARLES TOWNELEY, ESQ.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS

OF

THE ROXBURGHE CLUB

THIS INTERESTING HISTORICAL TREATISE,

WRITTEN IN ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE

INVASION OF FRANCE BY KING EDWARD THE FOURTH IN 1475,

IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED

BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT,

DELAMERE.

June 23, 1860.

* * * * *

{i}

INTRODUCTION.

* * * * *

The Book of Noblesse, which is now for the first time printed, was
addressed to King Edward the Fourth for a political purpose, on a great and
important occasion. He was in the midst of his second reign, living in high
prosperity. He had subdued his domestic enemies. His Lancastrian rivals
were no longer in existence, and the potent King-maker had fought his last
field. Edward was the father of two sons; and had no immediate reason to
dread either of his younger brothers, however unkind and treacherous we now
know them to have been. He was the undisputed King of England, and, like
his predecessors, the titular King of France. His brother-in-law the duke
of Burgundy, who had befriended him in his exile in 1470, was continually
urging, for his own ambitious views, that the English should renew their
ancient enterprises in France; and Edward, notwithstanding his natural
indolence, was at last prepared to carry his arms into that country. The
project was popular with all those who were burning for military fame,
indignant at the decay of the English name upon the continent, or desirous
to improve their fortunes by the acquisitions of conquest. The Book of
Noblesse was written to excite and inflame such sentiments and
expectations.

Its unknown author was connected with those who had formerly profited by
the occupat