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Auction: 13050 - Postal History and Historical documents
Lot: 2026

(x) Historical Documents
1540 (6 May) a long letter addressed to Hamon Le Strange at his house at Hunstanton from Sir John Spelman (his uncle?), a senior judge at many of the leading trials at that time. The contents of the letter refer to the case, with many important details, against John Williams, the author of "the Libell called Balams Asse". This letter gives much detail of the case against him. The letter has suffered some age faults along the creases which have been repaired and strengthened with paper. A rare, early Norfolk letter and a fascinating account of the legal and religious history of this time. From the Gerald E. Wellburn collection. Photo

There was great controversy at the time with the break from the Church in Rome and this publication was considered treasonable.

Balaam's Asse was a term frequently used for someone or institution who could not see the complete picture.
Balaam was a wicked man, and he was riding on an ass to a place where he knew God did not wish him to go. As they were journeying an angel with a drawn sword in his hand stood in the way, but Balaam did not see him. The ass saw him, and was so afraid that she turned aside out of the road, and went into a field; then Balaam was angry and tried to drive her back onto the road. They had now come to a path in the vineyards, having a wall on each side, and there the ass saw the angel again. In trying to avoid the angel, the ass crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he was more angry and struck her again. Then the angel went forward a little distance, and stood where the path was so narrow that it was impossible to pass him. The ass was now so much frightened that she would go no farther, and fell down in the road; and Balaam beat her in a great passion. Then the ass spoke to Balaam and said, "What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?" And when Balaam exclaimed, "I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee," she only replied, "Am I not thine ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?"

Sir Hamon le Strange (1583 - 31 May 1654) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1626. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

Sir John Spelman (died 1545), a Justice of the King's Bench (following a distinguished career as a barrister); he was present at the trial of Sir Thomas More.

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