the
sovereign highness of your kingly majesty, with all manner of
lowness and reverence, meekly we recommend us, not only as we
ought and should, but as we best can and may; with all our
hearts, thanking your sovereign excellence of your gracious (p. 226)
letters in making [us] gladsome in understanding, and passing
comfortable in favouring our poor degrees, which ye liked late
to send us from your host afore the city of Rouen. In which
letters, after declaration of your most noble intent for the
refreshing of your host, ye record so highly the readiness of our
will and power at all times to your pleasance, and thanking us
thereof so heartily, that truly, save only our prayer to Him that
all good quiteth [requiteth], never was it nor might it half be
deserved. And after seeing in your foresaid gracious letters ye
pray us effectually to enarme as many small vessels as we may
with victual, and specially with drink, for to come as far as
they may in the river Seyne. And not only this, but in the
conclusion of your sovereign letters foresaid, ye fed us so
bounteously with the best showing of your good lordship to us in
time coming as ye have ever done, that now and ever we shall be
the joyfuller in this life when we remember us on so noble a
grace. [O how may the simpless of poor lieges better or more
clearly conceive the gracious love and favourable tendress of the
King, their sovereign Lord, than to hear how your most excellent
and noble person, more worth to us than all worldly riches or
plenty, in so thin abundance of victual heavily disposed, so
graciously and goodly declare and utter unto us, that are your
liege men and subjects, your plain lust and pleasance, as it is
in your said noble letters worthily contained. Certain, true
liege man is there none, ne faithful subject could there non ne
durst tarry or be lachesse [backward] in any wise to the
effectual prayer and commandment of so sovereign and high a lord,
which his noble body paineth and knightly adventureth for the
right and welfare of us.] Our most dread, most sovereign Lord,
and noblest King, may it please your sovereign highness to
understand, how that your foresaid kingly prayer, as most strait
charge and commandment, we willing in all points obey and execute
anon, from t