1 30 Examination of an Infer tption

and that is the Paflon Letters. For in the two firft volumes of that collection I have difcovered only one letter in which the year of our Lord is fo noted, and I am inclined to believe this may not be a fac fimile of the original. The letter to which I allude is in .Vol. I. NXLV. (p. 184.) of the reign of Henry VI, fubfcribed by W. Botoner, called Wyreefter, addrefled. to fir John Berneye, and thus dated " Wret at London haftly the Monday after I departed from you 1459^." There are feveral circumftances which render it fufpicious that 1 459 might be a fubfequent explanatory infertion, not detected by the editor, attentive and accurate as he generally was. In the firft place Botoner has not noticed the. year of our Lord in his other letters ; nor is there in them but one inftance more of an Arabic numeral. This merits the more regard, becaufe in thefe letters he frequently makes ufe of the Roman capitals. I have fub^- joined the repetitions, and have alfo add>ed copies of the dates of his other letters [7zj. The forms of 4 and 5 mew it not to be a coeval date, and x being placed after the lafl figure, the fair conclufion is, that it had been preceded by capital letters. Except in thefe two particulars, viz. 1459, and A 36, Hen. VL I have not perceived in either volume any date of year or month fo marked. Indeed the year of our Lord is not noticed in any letter^ and poilibly the omnTion might be often, owing to the number of Letter XVIL p. 76. from Bot- H. R. ner to Maifler Pafloru p. 7 8. Wryt haftly VIII day of June. Letter XXXIV. p. 140. W. Botener to Maifter John Pafton, &c. -- p. I 42. Wryt at L. (London) the V day of Juliet. Letter XXXVII. p. 150. W. Botoner dit. Worcefty r to S* John Faflolf. -- p. 1 52. Wrete at London the fyrft day of Feu'rer, A 36. R. H. VI. p. 150. CXL. hors. 'iiij* hors iijj** Knyghts and Sqwyers. ij c hors. p. 153. Wythnnc thys VI. wekes, capital