107ABSTRACT137.1

136.1[From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke of Suffolk’s pardon proves this letter to have been written in the year 1450.136.2Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as he says, to some common business about Paston’s farms and tenants.107ABSTRACT137.1Sir Jo. Fastolf to Sir Thos. Howys, Parson of Castlcombe, Will. Coke, and Watkin Shypdam.1450APRIL 16Bids ‘Sir Parson’ send in all haste ‘the utmost knowledge of all grievances’ done to him by John Heydon this thirteen years. You have sent me the costs of the pleas, but not declared particularly how often I have been wrongfully distrained by the enforcing of the said Heydon. ‘I took never plea in the matter because the world was alway set after his rule, and as I would have engrossed up [upon] my bill.’London, 16 April 28 HenryVI.Search the accounts of Drayton Heylesdon, &c., these thirteen years.137.1[From a modern copy by Blomefield on the fly-leaf of a Letter addressed to him. Headed, ‘Gave this original letter of Sir John’s to Sir Andrew Fountain.’—MS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 229.]108LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON137.2To my right trusty and right enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.1450APRIL 22Rightt[r]usty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle, and wyll ze wite that a man of Osberd Monford hath declared me how the said Osberd is infourmed that Danyelle shuld be pourposed to enter in the place of Braystone. And as fer as I can undirstande, Danyelle is come in to this cuntre, for none other cause but for to have suche as the Kyng hath gifen hym in Rysyng, which lieth not in me ner in none of the Kynges subgectes to go ageyns hise graunte and plesaunce. And in cas the said Danyelle wold enter upon the said Osberd otherwise than lawe wold, seyng the said Osberd is my tenaunt and homager, it is my part toholde with hym rather than with Danyelle in hise right, which I wylle do to my pouer. And as zet I can not apperceyve that Danyelle wylle labore in any maters in this cuntre; and if he wylle be of good governance, I am wel paied. And in cas that he wold do wrong to the lesse gentilman in the chirre, it shal not lye in hise pouer be the grace of God. He letethe me wite that he wylle be wel governed in tyme commyng.Right trusty and enterly wel beloved frend, I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xxij. day of Aprille.Scales.137.2[DouceMSS.393, f. 100.] It appears by a paper, which will be found further on (No. 119), that Daniel entered the manor of Braydeston or Brayston during the Parliament which was held at Leicester in the spring of 1450. This letter must have been written at that time.109LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON138.1To my right trusty and welbeloved frende, John Paston, Squier.Year uncertainRight trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly wel, and wul ye wite that Wotton is ever creyng and callyng upon me to write un to you for hise londe; wherfore at the reverence of Good, consideryng the symplenesse of hem all, I pray you that ye put hem at a certen, and lete hem all that they aught to have of right, for thaire creyng cause men to thinke ye do hem grete wrong, which I wote wel ye wold be sory to do.Oure Lord have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xvj. day of October.Youre frende,Scales.138.1[From Fenn, iii. 364.] This and the six letters following, all but one of which are, like the last, written by Lord Scales to John Paston, are placed here merely for convenience, the years in which they were written being quite uncertain, though probably not very far apart. The one letter among them of which Lord Scales is not the writer, is inserted in abstract on account of its bearing on that which immediately precedes it.110LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON138.2To my right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.Year uncertainRight trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and for as mych as there is vareaunce betwene William Wotton and hise moder and the fermour there, wherfore I pray you that ze wyll [fynde]138.3a weye accordyng toright for to put hem in rest and pees. For in as mych as they be yo[ur] tenantes, ze aught to have the reule of them before any other, praying you to do youre part to put hem oute of trouble.I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xiij. day of Aprille.Youre frend,The Lord Scales.138.2[DouceMS.393, f. 99.]138.3Mutilated.111LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON139.1To my ryght trusti and wel beloved frend, John Paston, Sqyer.Year uncertainRight trusty and wel beloved frend, I comande me to you, and for certain maters that I have for to do, for the which ma[ters I] sende unto you a squier of myne called Elyngham; praying you to gefe hym faythful credence of that he shall declare you on myne behalfe as for this tyme. God have you in Hise keping. Writene at Midleton, the xviij. day of Julle.—Yowre frend,Scales.139.1[MS.in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] This letter evidently was written in the same year as the next, but there is no evidence what that year was. Below the signature is a note in a modern hand erroneously identifying the writer with Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales. He was certainly Thomas, Lord Scales, of HenryVI.’s time.112LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON139.2To[my]right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.Year uncertainRight trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and as touchyng the mater that Elyngham and ze comuned to giders of the last tyme he was with you, I pray you that ze wylle assigne such a day as you liketh best, so that it be with inne this viij. dayes, and sende me worde what day ze wylle be here be the bringer herof.I pray God have you in governance. Writen at Midelton, the iij. day of August.Youre frend,Scales.139.2[DouceMS., f. 101.]113LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON140.1To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.Year uncertainRight trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as myche as there is certayn vareaunce betwene Elizabeth Clere and a servaunt of myne, called William Stiwa[r]desson, prayng you feithfully that ze wylle labore and intrete the said Elizabeth to such appointement as the brynger of this letter shal informe you of, and do your trewe dilligence in this mater, as ze wyll I do for you in any thyng ze may have ado in this cuntre, whiche I will do with al my herte.Oure Lord have yow in hise keping. Writen at Myddelton, the last day of August.Scales.140.1[DouceMS.393, f. 102.]114ABSTRACT140.2Elizabeth Clere to John Paston.Year uncertainStywardesson came to her on Easter even to church, and made a very humble submission. He at first denied having slandered her, or said that he was beaten, only that he was sore afraid; but at last acknowledged he had untruly charged her men with coming into his place with force and arms, and that he was beaten, for which his master took an action against her. Called her tenants to bear witness to his recantation. Said she would give him no answer now but by advice of her friends, and his master must leave his maintenance. Promised him an answer on Saturday in Easter week. He told another man that Heidon promised his master it should be put in award by Palm Sunday; ‘for he is double both to him and to me, and so is William Geney and mo of my counsel.’ He is willing to make a release. His barn which his men entered to distrain, he says, is frank, and he may give the rent when he pleases. Wishes Paston’s advice what answer to make.—Easter Monday.140.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.]115LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON141.1To my right trusty and wel be loved frend, Jhon Paston, Squier.Year uncertainRight trusty and wel beloved frend, I grete you wel, thankyng you hertely for the gentilnes and good wylle I have founde in you at alle tymes. And for as myche as I and other stonde feffed in the landes of Thomas Canon, which is in vareaunce betwene you and hym, if ye wylle do so myche as for your part chese ij. lerned menn and the said Canon shal chese other ij., they to juge this mater as they shal seme of right and resoun. And if so be that the said Canon wylle not do so, I wylle not lete you to suye hym after the forme of the Kynges lawe. And if ze thinke it to many lerned men, take ze one, and he another; and if they may not accorde, ze and I to be umpere, for we stande bothe in like cas. And we shal make a good ende be the grace of oure Lord, which have you in hise governance.Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Octobre.Zowr frend,Scales.141.1[DouceMS.393, f. 103.]116LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON141.2To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.Year uncertainRight trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you hertly well, praying you that ye wyll sende me a coppie of the awarde that was made be you and my cousyn Sir Miles141.3betwex my cousyn Bryan Stapylton and Elizabeth Clere, and that ze wyll sende me the said awarde be the bringer herof. I pray God have you in governance.Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Novembre.Scales.141.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.]141.3Sir Miles Stapleton.117THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO HIS SON142.1The copie of a notable Lettre, written by the Duke of Suffolk to his Sonne,142.2giving hym therein very good counseil.142.31450APRIL 30Mydere and only welbeloved sone, I beseche oure Lord in Heven, the Maker of alle the world, to blesse you, and to sende you ever grace to love hym, and to drede hym; to the which, as ferre as a fader may charge his child, I both charge you, and prei you to sette alle spirites and wittes to do, and to knowe his holy lawes and comaundments, by the which ye shall with his grete mercy passe alle the grete tempestes and troubles of this wrecched world. And that also, wetyngly, ye do no thyng for love nor drede of any erthely creature that shuld displese hym. And there as any freelte maketh you to falle, be secheth hys mercy soone to calle you to hym agen with repentaunce, satisfaccion, and contricion of youre herte never more in will to offend hym.Secondly, next hym, above alle erthely thyng, to be trewe liege man in hert, in wille, in thought, in dede, unto the Kyng oure alder most high and dredde sovereygne Lord, to whom bothe ye and I been so moche bounde to; chargyng you, as fader can and may, rather to die than to be the contrarye, or to knowe any thyng that were ayenste the welfare or prosperite of his most riall person, but that as ferre as your body and lyf may strecthe, ye lyve and die to defende it, and to lete his highnesse have knowlache thereof in alle the haste ye can.Thirdly, in the same wyse, I charge you, my dere sone, alwey, as ye be bounden by the commaundement of God to do, to love, to worshepe youre lady and moder, and also that yeobey alwey hyr commaundements, and to beleve hyr councelles and advises in alle youre werks, the which dredeth not, but shall be best and trewest to you. And yef any other body wold stere you to the contrarie, to flee the councell in any wyse, for ye shall fynde it nought and evyll.Forthe[rmore],143.1as ferre as fader may and can, I charge you in any wyse to flee the company and councel of proude men, of coveitowse men, and of flateryng men, the more especially and myghtily to withstonde hem, and not to drawe, ne to medle with hem, with all youre myght and power. And to drawe to you and to your comp[any good]143.1and vertuowse men, and such as ben of good conversacion, and of trouthe, and be them shal ye never be deseyved, ner repente you off. [Moreover never follow]143.1youre owne witte in no wyse, but in alle youre werkes, of suche folks as I write of above, axeth youre advise a[nd counse]l;143.1and doyng thus, with the mercy of God, ye shall do right well, and lyve in right moche worship, and grete herts rest and ease. And I wyll be to you as good lord and fader as my hert can thynke.And last of alle, as hertily and as lovyngly as ever fader blessed his child in erthe, I yeve you the blessyng of oure Lord and of me, which of his infynite mercy encrece you in alle vertu and good lyvyng. And that youre blood may by his grace from kynrede to kynrede multeplye in this erthe to hys servise, in such wyse as after the departyng fro this wreched world here, ye and thei may glorefye hym eternally amongs his aungelys in hevyn.Wreten of myn hand,The day of my departyng fro this land.143.2Your trewe and lovyng fader,Suffolk.142.1[From Fenn, i. 32.] The date of this letter is sufficiently clear from the last words of it.142.2John de la Pole, who succeeded him as Duke of Suffolk.142.3This heading looks as if copied by Fenn from an endorsement, which is probably not quite contemporaneous.143.1These words in brackets were chafed and illegible in the originalMS.143.2According to William Worcester, the Duke embarked on Thursday, the 30th April.118THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON144.1To owre Ryght trusty and right welbeloved Frend, Johan Paston, Esquier.The Erle of Oxenford.1450(?)APRIL 30Righttristy and welbeloved frend, we grete you right hertily well. And for asmuche as we be enformed that on [one] Thomas Kecham, a servaunt of owre right welbeloved brothir, Sir Richard de Veer, knyght, hath to done with Sir Henry Inglose knyght in a certeyn matier in wich youre good maisterschep may cause his singuler ease and a vaile as anenst the said knyght, as Thomas Kecham hath enformed us; We pray you hertily that, at the reverence of us and this oure writyng, ye woll take the labour upon you to speke unto the said Sir Henry, conceyving a mene and the weye of an ende to be had be twix thaym of right, causyng the said knyght to sease of hese malice and wrongful suette as a nenst the said Thomas. And ferthermore we pray you to see that the said knyght take no benefeys ne prevayle not as a nenst the Gaoyler of the Castell of Norwich for the suerte of the said Thomas Kecham, as we verily trust ye will; in wich feithfully doyng we shallkunyou hertily thanke. And right trusty and welbeloved, the Trynitie have yow in Hese kepyng. Wreton at oure Manour of Wevenhoo, the last day of Aprill.Below the text of this letter is written in another hand, ‘Smalwode Sparhawk.’144.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 164.] This letter cannot be later than 1451, as Sir Henry Inglose died in June of that year. The date may be about 1450, like that of some other letters of the Earl of Oxford.in wich feithfully doyng we shall kun you hertily thanketext unchanged (expected editorial gloss)119ABSTRACT145.11450–2A paper of memoranda in William Worcester’s handwriting, of which the principal contents are as follows:—A commission ofoyerandterminer, dated 1 August 28 HenryVI.—A session at Swaffham, on Thursday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 29 HenryVI.(17 September 1450).—A note of six other sessions:— 1. At Norwich before the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Oxford and Yelverton, Tuesday after St. Mathias’ day, 29 HenryVI.(2 March 1451); 2. At Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Monday after St. Martin in Winter, 29 HenryVI.(16 November 1450); 3. At Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Wednesday after the Conception of St. Mary (15 December), continued seven days; 4. At Lynn, before Oxford, Scales, and Yelverton, Tuesday after Epiphany (13 January); 5. At Norwich, before John Prysot and Yelverton, Thursday in Easter week, 29 HenryVI.(29 April 1451); 6. At Walsingham, before Scales and Prysot, Mondayin crastino clausi Paschæ(3 May 1451).‘Parliamentum apud Leyseter —— anno xxviijº.—Durante illo Parliamento intravit T. Daniell manerium de Braydeston.—Will’us, Dux Suff’ obiit tertio die Maii anno xxviijº Regis Henry VIti.—Jak Cade, proditor de Kent, fugit de le Blakheth xxij. die Junii anno xxviij. H. VI., [] Julii mense decapitatus fuit.—Injuria Plumbsted post hoc (?)’—Mundford and Heydon entered Braysto[ne] on the eve of the Nativity of St. Mary anno 29 (7 September 1450). Thomas Danyell entered Braydeston a second time, 30 HenryVI.Between Mich. 30 and 31 HenryVI.(1451 and 1452) Norfolk, Oxford, Scales, and a great number of others were at Norwich holding sessions. The same year ‘John P.’ was with John, Earl of Oxford, at Whevenho on the Nativity of St. Mary (8 September). The same year, before all these things, Thomas Danyell was married at Framlyngham.‘Testimonium Commissionariorum et cognitio Milonis Stapulton quo ad impanellationem juratorum.‘Item, testimonium concilii quoad mutationem actionum in indictamentis et recordum apparet et declaratio Johannis Geney facta Thomæ Gurney.‘Item, testimonium concilii et Thomæ Grene quoad absenciam Johannis Porter. Et testimonium hominum de Bliclyng. Item, missio pro Johanne Porter pro pecunia et placito proprio. (Memorandum, quando Porter fuit juratus, J. Andru fuit extractus de indictamento.)‘Item, testimonium juratorum de non procuratione. Et indictamentum Johannis Andrew in Suff. causa fugationis ejus.‘Item, antiquum debat’ supposit’ inter Andrews et Porter erat pro districtione capta de Johanne Andrews apud Weston pro debito domini Bardolf; pro qua causa idem Johannes Andrews implacitare vellet dictum Johannem Porter ad terminum (?) nisi pro dicto domino Bardolf; sic dictus Andrews continuavitmaliciam suam erga prædictum Johannem Porter, et e contra quod et malicia Heydon erat causa conspiracionis per ipsum. . . .’[As this document is a key to the dates of several of the letters during the years 1450 to 1452, we have thought it best to insert it in the beginning of the period to which it refers, instead of the date at which it may be supposed to have been written.]145.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.]120WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON146.1To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich.1450MAY 5Ryghtworchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys, that on ethes ye shalle reede it.As on Monday146.2nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London, that on Thorsday146.3before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to Caleys ward, &c.And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master badde hym, ‘Welcom, Traitor,’ as men sey; and forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday146.4next folwyng.Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke [thing] to be delyverd to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.Forther I wotte nott, but this fer (?) is that yf the proces be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer147.1also, &c.Sir Thomas Keriel147.2is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij. ml.[3000] Englishe men slayn.Mathew Gooth147.3with xvc.[1500] fledde, and savyd hym selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. ml.Frenshe men and more, &c.I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have yow all yn his kepyn.I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and wyfe, &c.James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.By yowr wyfe.148.1W. L.146.1[From Fenn, i. 38.] The date of this letter is perfectly determined by the events to which it relates.146.24th May.146.330th April.146.42nd May.147.1An allusion to Friar Hauteyn’s suit or Oxnead.147.2Sent to France to carry succours to the Duke of Somerset, but defeated and taken prisoner at the battle of Fourmigni, 15th April 1450.147.3Matthew Gough, a celebrated captain in the French war.148.1This singular subscription Fenn believes to have been owing to a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of acting as Margaret Paston’s secretary in writing to her husband.121JOHN CRANE TO JOHN PASTON148.2To my right worshupfull cosygne, John Paston of Norwyche, Squyer.1450MAY 6Rightworshupfull sir, I recomaunde me unto yow in the most goodly wyse that y can; and forasmuche as ye desired of me to sende yow worde of dyvers matirs here, whiche been opened in the Parliament openly, I sende yow of them suche as I can.First moost especiall, that for verray trowthe upon Saterday148.3that last was, the Duke of Suffolk was taken in the see, and there he was byheded, and his body with the appurtenaunce sette at lande at Dover, and alle the folks that he haad with hym were sette to lande, and haad noon harme.Also the Kyng hath sumwhat graanted to have the resumpsion agayne in summe, but nat in alle, &c.Also yef ye purpose to come hydre to put up your bylles, ye may come now in a good tyme; for now every man that hath any, they put theme now inne, and so may ye, yif ye come with Godds grace to your pleasur.Ferthermore, upon the iiijthday of this monthe, the Erle of Devenesshire148.4come hydre with iijc.[300] men wel byseen, &c.And upon the morow after my Lord of Warrewyke148.5with iiijc.[400] and moo, &c.Also, as hyt ys noysed here Calys shal be byseged withynne this vij. dayes, &c.God save the Kyng, and sende us pees, &c.Other tithyngs be ther noon here, but Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng.Writen at Leycestre, the vj. day of May.Your cosigne,John Crane.149.1148.2[From Fenn, i. 44.] The date of this letter, as of the preceding, is clearly proved by internal evidence.148.32nd May.148.4Thomas Courtenay.148.5Richard Nevill.—SeeLetter 98.149.1Probably John Crane of Woodnorton, of whom there are some notices in Blomefield (Hist. Norf.viii. 313, 316; x. 282).122ABSTRACT149.2Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thos. Howys, Parson of Castlecombe, ‘being at Castre.’1450MAY 7Begs him to solicit the expedition of the matters of which he wrote since Easter.—Debts of Thos. Symmys for rents and sale of wools not yet paid to F. in Dedham.—As for the matter of Rydlyngfold and Hykele, ‘seth it ys soo the world is changed gretely over it was, y pray you, and charge you, parson, labour ye to my frendz Lampet and others’ to get a copy of their evidences; for ‘howbeit the said prioress say that her evidence be in the Duke of Suffolk’s keeping or his counsel,’ she had a book in which all the evidence is copied. The thing would have been sped long ere this, if ‘my Lord Norwich[’s] Chancellor’ or Master Pope, had labored as they promised. For God’s sake send me a good answer. ‘If an inordinate book be made, remembering the deliverance’ of cloths, &c. into F.’s wardrobe, let the indentures be engrossed. Wonders Howys cannot furnish him with a full account of the damages sustained by F. and his tenants these ten or twelve years past. He has only sent a declaration of costs in defending some of them. Get a letter of Nich. Bokkyng of the £100 to whom it was paid.London, 7 May 28 HenryVI.Signed.149.2[MS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 223.]123THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON150.1To my maister Paston.1450MAY 13I recomaundme unto your good maistership; and as for tidings, Arblaster come home to my Lord150.2on Munday, at sopertyme; and my Maister Danyell150.3is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent, and Arblastr seith he hath made me his undirstyward.And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord Beamond150.4hath it, and the Lord Rivers150.5Constable of Inglond.As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tudenham had a joynte patent with the Duke of Suffolk,150.6which, if it be resumed, Sir Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed therof.My lord wole not to Leicestre.150.7My Maister Danyell desireth yow thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by tymes.Wretyn in hast at Wynche,150.8the xiij. day of May.I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your wyf, for my mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fullyconquered my lady sith ye went, so that I haf hir promisse to be my good lady, and that she shall help me by the feith of hir body.Your servant,Denyes.150.1[From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn vaguely assigned to the latter part of the reign of HenryVI., may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The mention of Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier than 1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke in 1448, and at a later date than the 13th of May. The reference to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to have been long after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from Monday being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future, that the letter was written on a Wednesday. Had it been on a Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been spoken of as ‘yesterday’ or Friday as ‘to-morrow.’ Now, the 13th of May was a Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in this letter are, therefore, those consequent on the fall of the Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as will be seen by a foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester.150.2John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.150.3Thomas Daniel.—Seep. 80.150.4John, Viscount Beaumont.150.5Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th May 1448; afterwards earl.150.6William de la Pole.—Seep. 80, Note 2.150.7Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May 1450.150.8A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King’s Lynn, in Norfolk.124THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON151.1To our right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer.Year uncertainRighttrusty and right intierly welbeloved, we grete you hertly wele. And it is so, as ye know wele your self, we haf and long tyme haf had the service of Thomas Denyes, by continuance wherof we wend to haf had his attendaunce at our lust; and nevertheless we haf so strictly examynid his demenyng that we fele and pleynly conceyve that the love and effeccion which he hath to a gentilwoman not ferre from yow, and which ye be privy to, as we suppose, causith hym alwey to desire toward your cuntre, rather than toward suych ocupacion as is behovefull to us. We write therfore to yow, prayng yow hertly as ye love us, that it like you to do that labour at our instaunce be suych men [mean] as your wisdom can seme, to meve that gentilwoman in our behalf for the wele of this mater, undirtakyng for us that we wole shew our bounte to thaym bothe, if it plese hir that this mater take effect, so that be reason she shall haf cause to take it in gree. And if the comyng thider of our persone self shuld be to plesir of hir, we wole not leve our labour in that: wherfore we pray you that ye wole do your part heryn, as ye wole we do for yow intyme comyng, and that ye se us in hast. The Holy Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wevenho, the xvij. day of May.The Erle of Oxenford.Oxenford.151.1[From Fenn, iii. 360.] This letter cannot well be of the same year as the last, but is probably not many years earlier, and certainly not many years later. The reasons against its being of the same year are—first, that it seems to be implied in the letter preceding that the Earl of Oxford was at Winch, near Lynn, in Norfolk, on the 13th May 1450, which makes it improbable that he would be at Wivenhoe in Essex four days after; and, secondly, that he is not likely to have offered to go into Norfolk (especially after having just come out of Norfolk) on a matter touching the private affairs of one of his own adherents, when he declined to go to the Parliament at Leicester.125SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS152.1To my trusty and welbelovyd frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe.1450MAY 27Trustyand welbelovyd frende, I grete you well.152.2. . . . And I pray you sende me word who darre be so hardy to keck agen you in my ryght. And sey hem on my half that they shall be qwyt as ferre as law and reson wolle. And yff they wolle not dredde, ne obey that, then they shall be quyt by Blackberd or Whyteberd; that ys to sey, by God or the Devyll. And therfor I charge yow, send me word whethyr such as hafe be myne adversaries before thys tyme, contynew still yn her wylfullnesse, &c.Item, I hyre oft tymys manye straunge rapports of the gouvernaunce of my place at Castre and othyr plasys, as yn my chatell approvyng,152.3yn my wynys, the kepyng of my wardrobe and clothys, the avaylle152.4of my conyes at Haylysdon, &c., and approwement152.3of my londys; praying you hertly as my full trust ys yn you to help reforme it, and that ye suffre no vityouse man at my place of Castre abyde, but well gouverned and diligent, as ye woll aunswer to it.Allmyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, xxvij. day of Maij anno xxviijº regni Regis HenriciVI.John Fastolf, Kt.

136.1[From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke of Suffolk’s pardon proves this letter to have been written in the year 1450.

136.2Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as he says, to some common business about Paston’s farms and tenants.

Sir Jo. Fastolf to Sir Thos. Howys, Parson of Castlcombe, Will. Coke, and Watkin Shypdam.

1450APRIL 16

Bids ‘Sir Parson’ send in all haste ‘the utmost knowledge of all grievances’ done to him by John Heydon this thirteen years. You have sent me the costs of the pleas, but not declared particularly how often I have been wrongfully distrained by the enforcing of the said Heydon. ‘I took never plea in the matter because the world was alway set after his rule, and as I would have engrossed up [upon] my bill.’London, 16 April 28 HenryVI.Search the accounts of Drayton Heylesdon, &c., these thirteen years.

London, 16 April 28 HenryVI.

Search the accounts of Drayton Heylesdon, &c., these thirteen years.

137.1[From a modern copy by Blomefield on the fly-leaf of a Letter addressed to him. Headed, ‘Gave this original letter of Sir John’s to Sir Andrew Fountain.’—MS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 229.]

To my right trusty and right enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

1450APRIL 22

Rightt[r]usty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle, and wyll ze wite that a man of Osberd Monford hath declared me how the said Osberd is infourmed that Danyelle shuld be pourposed to enter in the place of Braystone. And as fer as I can undirstande, Danyelle is come in to this cuntre, for none other cause but for to have suche as the Kyng hath gifen hym in Rysyng, which lieth not in me ner in none of the Kynges subgectes to go ageyns hise graunte and plesaunce. And in cas the said Danyelle wold enter upon the said Osberd otherwise than lawe wold, seyng the said Osberd is my tenaunt and homager, it is my part toholde with hym rather than with Danyelle in hise right, which I wylle do to my pouer. And as zet I can not apperceyve that Danyelle wylle labore in any maters in this cuntre; and if he wylle be of good governance, I am wel paied. And in cas that he wold do wrong to the lesse gentilman in the chirre, it shal not lye in hise pouer be the grace of God. He letethe me wite that he wylle be wel governed in tyme commyng.

Right trusty and enterly wel beloved frend, I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xxij. day of Aprille.Scales.

137.2[DouceMSS.393, f. 100.] It appears by a paper, which will be found further on (No. 119), that Daniel entered the manor of Braydeston or Brayston during the Parliament which was held at Leicester in the spring of 1450. This letter must have been written at that time.

To my right trusty and welbeloved frende, John Paston, Squier.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly wel, and wul ye wite that Wotton is ever creyng and callyng upon me to write un to you for hise londe; wherfore at the reverence of Good, consideryng the symplenesse of hem all, I pray you that ye put hem at a certen, and lete hem all that they aught to have of right, for thaire creyng cause men to thinke ye do hem grete wrong, which I wote wel ye wold be sory to do.

Oure Lord have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xvj. day of October.Youre frende,Scales.

138.1[From Fenn, iii. 364.] This and the six letters following, all but one of which are, like the last, written by Lord Scales to John Paston, are placed here merely for convenience, the years in which they were written being quite uncertain, though probably not very far apart. The one letter among them of which Lord Scales is not the writer, is inserted in abstract on account of its bearing on that which immediately precedes it.

To my right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and for as mych as there is vareaunce betwene William Wotton and hise moder and the fermour there, wherfore I pray you that ze wyll [fynde]138.3a weye accordyng toright for to put hem in rest and pees. For in as mych as they be yo[ur] tenantes, ze aught to have the reule of them before any other, praying you to do youre part to put hem oute of trouble.

I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xiij. day of Aprille.Youre frend,The Lord Scales.

138.2[DouceMS.393, f. 99.]138.3Mutilated.

138.2[DouceMS.393, f. 99.]

138.3Mutilated.

To my ryght trusti and wel beloved frend, John Paston, Sqyer.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I comande me to you, and for certain maters that I have for to do, for the which ma[ters I] sende unto you a squier of myne called Elyngham; praying you to gefe hym faythful credence of that he shall declare you on myne behalfe as for this tyme. God have you in Hise keping. Writene at Midleton, the xviij. day of Julle.—Yowre frend,Scales.

139.1[MS.in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] This letter evidently was written in the same year as the next, but there is no evidence what that year was. Below the signature is a note in a modern hand erroneously identifying the writer with Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales. He was certainly Thomas, Lord Scales, of HenryVI.’s time.

To[my]right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and as touchyng the mater that Elyngham and ze comuned to giders of the last tyme he was with you, I pray you that ze wylle assigne such a day as you liketh best, so that it be with inne this viij. dayes, and sende me worde what day ze wylle be here be the bringer herof.

I pray God have you in governance. Writen at Midelton, the iij. day of August.Youre frend,Scales.

139.2[DouceMS., f. 101.]

To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as myche as there is certayn vareaunce betwene Elizabeth Clere and a servaunt of myne, called William Stiwa[r]desson, prayng you feithfully that ze wylle labore and intrete the said Elizabeth to such appointement as the brynger of this letter shal informe you of, and do your trewe dilligence in this mater, as ze wyll I do for you in any thyng ze may have ado in this cuntre, whiche I will do with al my herte.

Oure Lord have yow in hise keping. Writen at Myddelton, the last day of August.Scales.

140.1[DouceMS.393, f. 102.]

Elizabeth Clere to John Paston.

Year uncertain

Stywardesson came to her on Easter even to church, and made a very humble submission. He at first denied having slandered her, or said that he was beaten, only that he was sore afraid; but at last acknowledged he had untruly charged her men with coming into his place with force and arms, and that he was beaten, for which his master took an action against her. Called her tenants to bear witness to his recantation. Said she would give him no answer now but by advice of her friends, and his master must leave his maintenance. Promised him an answer on Saturday in Easter week. He told another man that Heidon promised his master it should be put in award by Palm Sunday; ‘for he is double both to him and to me, and so is William Geney and mo of my counsel.’ He is willing to make a release. His barn which his men entered to distrain, he says, is frank, and he may give the rent when he pleases. Wishes Paston’s advice what answer to make.—Easter Monday.

140.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.]

To my right trusty and wel be loved frend, Jhon Paston, Squier.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I grete you wel, thankyng you hertely for the gentilnes and good wylle I have founde in you at alle tymes. And for as myche as I and other stonde feffed in the landes of Thomas Canon, which is in vareaunce betwene you and hym, if ye wylle do so myche as for your part chese ij. lerned menn and the said Canon shal chese other ij., they to juge this mater as they shal seme of right and resoun. And if so be that the said Canon wylle not do so, I wylle not lete you to suye hym after the forme of the Kynges lawe. And if ze thinke it to many lerned men, take ze one, and he another; and if they may not accorde, ze and I to be umpere, for we stande bothe in like cas. And we shal make a good ende be the grace of oure Lord, which have you in hise governance.

Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Octobre.Zowr frend,Scales.

141.1[DouceMS.393, f. 103.]

To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

Year uncertain

Right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you hertly well, praying you that ye wyll sende me a coppie of the awarde that was made be you and my cousyn Sir Miles141.3betwex my cousyn Bryan Stapylton and Elizabeth Clere, and that ze wyll sende me the said awarde be the bringer herof. I pray God have you in governance.

Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Novembre.Scales.

141.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.]141.3Sir Miles Stapleton.

141.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.]

141.3Sir Miles Stapleton.

The copie of a notable Lettre, written by the Duke of Suffolk to his Sonne,142.2giving hym therein very good counseil.142.3

1450APRIL 30

Mydere and only welbeloved sone, I beseche oure Lord in Heven, the Maker of alle the world, to blesse you, and to sende you ever grace to love hym, and to drede hym; to the which, as ferre as a fader may charge his child, I both charge you, and prei you to sette alle spirites and wittes to do, and to knowe his holy lawes and comaundments, by the which ye shall with his grete mercy passe alle the grete tempestes and troubles of this wrecched world. And that also, wetyngly, ye do no thyng for love nor drede of any erthely creature that shuld displese hym. And there as any freelte maketh you to falle, be secheth hys mercy soone to calle you to hym agen with repentaunce, satisfaccion, and contricion of youre herte never more in will to offend hym.

Secondly, next hym, above alle erthely thyng, to be trewe liege man in hert, in wille, in thought, in dede, unto the Kyng oure alder most high and dredde sovereygne Lord, to whom bothe ye and I been so moche bounde to; chargyng you, as fader can and may, rather to die than to be the contrarye, or to knowe any thyng that were ayenste the welfare or prosperite of his most riall person, but that as ferre as your body and lyf may strecthe, ye lyve and die to defende it, and to lete his highnesse have knowlache thereof in alle the haste ye can.

Thirdly, in the same wyse, I charge you, my dere sone, alwey, as ye be bounden by the commaundement of God to do, to love, to worshepe youre lady and moder, and also that yeobey alwey hyr commaundements, and to beleve hyr councelles and advises in alle youre werks, the which dredeth not, but shall be best and trewest to you. And yef any other body wold stere you to the contrarie, to flee the councell in any wyse, for ye shall fynde it nought and evyll.

Forthe[rmore],143.1as ferre as fader may and can, I charge you in any wyse to flee the company and councel of proude men, of coveitowse men, and of flateryng men, the more especially and myghtily to withstonde hem, and not to drawe, ne to medle with hem, with all youre myght and power. And to drawe to you and to your comp[any good]143.1and vertuowse men, and such as ben of good conversacion, and of trouthe, and be them shal ye never be deseyved, ner repente you off. [Moreover never follow]143.1youre owne witte in no wyse, but in alle youre werkes, of suche folks as I write of above, axeth youre advise a[nd counse]l;143.1and doyng thus, with the mercy of God, ye shall do right well, and lyve in right moche worship, and grete herts rest and ease. And I wyll be to you as good lord and fader as my hert can thynke.

And last of alle, as hertily and as lovyngly as ever fader blessed his child in erthe, I yeve you the blessyng of oure Lord and of me, which of his infynite mercy encrece you in alle vertu and good lyvyng. And that youre blood may by his grace from kynrede to kynrede multeplye in this erthe to hys servise, in such wyse as after the departyng fro this wreched world here, ye and thei may glorefye hym eternally amongs his aungelys in hevyn.

Wreten of myn hand,

The day of my departyng fro this land.143.2Your trewe and lovyng fader,Suffolk.

142.1[From Fenn, i. 32.] The date of this letter is sufficiently clear from the last words of it.142.2John de la Pole, who succeeded him as Duke of Suffolk.142.3This heading looks as if copied by Fenn from an endorsement, which is probably not quite contemporaneous.143.1These words in brackets were chafed and illegible in the originalMS.143.2According to William Worcester, the Duke embarked on Thursday, the 30th April.

142.1[From Fenn, i. 32.] The date of this letter is sufficiently clear from the last words of it.

142.2John de la Pole, who succeeded him as Duke of Suffolk.

142.3This heading looks as if copied by Fenn from an endorsement, which is probably not quite contemporaneous.

143.1These words in brackets were chafed and illegible in the originalMS.

143.2According to William Worcester, the Duke embarked on Thursday, the 30th April.

To owre Ryght trusty and right welbeloved Frend, Johan Paston, Esquier.

The Erle of Oxenford.

1450(?)APRIL 30

Righttristy and welbeloved frend, we grete you right hertily well. And for asmuche as we be enformed that on [one] Thomas Kecham, a servaunt of owre right welbeloved brothir, Sir Richard de Veer, knyght, hath to done with Sir Henry Inglose knyght in a certeyn matier in wich youre good maisterschep may cause his singuler ease and a vaile as anenst the said knyght, as Thomas Kecham hath enformed us; We pray you hertily that, at the reverence of us and this oure writyng, ye woll take the labour upon you to speke unto the said Sir Henry, conceyving a mene and the weye of an ende to be had be twix thaym of right, causyng the said knyght to sease of hese malice and wrongful suette as a nenst the said Thomas. And ferthermore we pray you to see that the said knyght take no benefeys ne prevayle not as a nenst the Gaoyler of the Castell of Norwich for the suerte of the said Thomas Kecham, as we verily trust ye will; in wich feithfully doyng we shallkunyou hertily thanke. And right trusty and welbeloved, the Trynitie have yow in Hese kepyng. Wreton at oure Manour of Wevenhoo, the last day of Aprill.

Below the text of this letter is written in another hand, ‘Smalwode Sparhawk.’

144.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 164.] This letter cannot be later than 1451, as Sir Henry Inglose died in June of that year. The date may be about 1450, like that of some other letters of the Earl of Oxford.

in wich feithfully doyng we shall kun you hertily thanketext unchanged (expected editorial gloss)

1450–2

A paper of memoranda in William Worcester’s handwriting, of which the principal contents are as follows:—A commission ofoyerandterminer, dated 1 August 28 HenryVI.—A session at Swaffham, on Thursday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 29 HenryVI.(17 September 1450).—A note of six other sessions:— 1. At Norwich before the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Oxford and Yelverton, Tuesday after St. Mathias’ day, 29 HenryVI.(2 March 1451); 2. At Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Monday after St. Martin in Winter, 29 HenryVI.(16 November 1450); 3. At Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Wednesday after the Conception of St. Mary (15 December), continued seven days; 4. At Lynn, before Oxford, Scales, and Yelverton, Tuesday after Epiphany (13 January); 5. At Norwich, before John Prysot and Yelverton, Thursday in Easter week, 29 HenryVI.(29 April 1451); 6. At Walsingham, before Scales and Prysot, Mondayin crastino clausi Paschæ(3 May 1451).‘Parliamentum apud Leyseter —— anno xxviijº.—Durante illo Parliamento intravit T. Daniell manerium de Braydeston.—Will’us, Dux Suff’ obiit tertio die Maii anno xxviijº Regis Henry VIti.—Jak Cade, proditor de Kent, fugit de le Blakheth xxij. die Junii anno xxviij. H. VI., [] Julii mense decapitatus fuit.—Injuria Plumbsted post hoc (?)’—Mundford and Heydon entered Braysto[ne] on the eve of the Nativity of St. Mary anno 29 (7 September 1450). Thomas Danyell entered Braydeston a second time, 30 HenryVI.Between Mich. 30 and 31 HenryVI.(1451 and 1452) Norfolk, Oxford, Scales, and a great number of others were at Norwich holding sessions. The same year ‘John P.’ was with John, Earl of Oxford, at Whevenho on the Nativity of St. Mary (8 September). The same year, before all these things, Thomas Danyell was married at Framlyngham.‘Testimonium Commissionariorum et cognitio Milonis Stapulton quo ad impanellationem juratorum.‘Item, testimonium concilii quoad mutationem actionum in indictamentis et recordum apparet et declaratio Johannis Geney facta Thomæ Gurney.‘Item, testimonium concilii et Thomæ Grene quoad absenciam Johannis Porter. Et testimonium hominum de Bliclyng. Item, missio pro Johanne Porter pro pecunia et placito proprio. (Memorandum, quando Porter fuit juratus, J. Andru fuit extractus de indictamento.)‘Item, testimonium juratorum de non procuratione. Et indictamentum Johannis Andrew in Suff. causa fugationis ejus.‘Item, antiquum debat’ supposit’ inter Andrews et Porter erat pro districtione capta de Johanne Andrews apud Weston pro debito domini Bardolf; pro qua causa idem Johannes Andrews implacitare vellet dictum Johannem Porter ad terminum (?) nisi pro dicto domino Bardolf; sic dictus Andrews continuavitmaliciam suam erga prædictum Johannem Porter, et e contra quod et malicia Heydon erat causa conspiracionis per ipsum. . . .’

A paper of memoranda in William Worcester’s handwriting, of which the principal contents are as follows:—

A commission ofoyerandterminer, dated 1 August 28 HenryVI.—A session at Swaffham, on Thursday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 29 HenryVI.(17 September 1450).—A note of six other sessions:— 1. At Norwich before the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Oxford and Yelverton, Tuesday after St. Mathias’ day, 29 HenryVI.(2 March 1451); 2. At Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Monday after St. Martin in Winter, 29 HenryVI.(16 November 1450); 3. At Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Wednesday after the Conception of St. Mary (15 December), continued seven days; 4. At Lynn, before Oxford, Scales, and Yelverton, Tuesday after Epiphany (13 January); 5. At Norwich, before John Prysot and Yelverton, Thursday in Easter week, 29 HenryVI.(29 April 1451); 6. At Walsingham, before Scales and Prysot, Mondayin crastino clausi Paschæ(3 May 1451).

‘Parliamentum apud Leyseter —— anno xxviijº.—Durante illo Parliamento intravit T. Daniell manerium de Braydeston.—Will’us, Dux Suff’ obiit tertio die Maii anno xxviijº Regis Henry VIti.—Jak Cade, proditor de Kent, fugit de le Blakheth xxij. die Junii anno xxviij. H. VI., [] Julii mense decapitatus fuit.—Injuria Plumbsted post hoc (?)’—Mundford and Heydon entered Braysto[ne] on the eve of the Nativity of St. Mary anno 29 (7 September 1450). Thomas Danyell entered Braydeston a second time, 30 HenryVI.

Between Mich. 30 and 31 HenryVI.(1451 and 1452) Norfolk, Oxford, Scales, and a great number of others were at Norwich holding sessions. The same year ‘John P.’ was with John, Earl of Oxford, at Whevenho on the Nativity of St. Mary (8 September). The same year, before all these things, Thomas Danyell was married at Framlyngham.

‘Testimonium Commissionariorum et cognitio Milonis Stapulton quo ad impanellationem juratorum.

‘Item, testimonium concilii quoad mutationem actionum in indictamentis et recordum apparet et declaratio Johannis Geney facta Thomæ Gurney.

‘Item, testimonium concilii et Thomæ Grene quoad absenciam Johannis Porter. Et testimonium hominum de Bliclyng. Item, missio pro Johanne Porter pro pecunia et placito proprio. (Memorandum, quando Porter fuit juratus, J. Andru fuit extractus de indictamento.)

‘Item, testimonium juratorum de non procuratione. Et indictamentum Johannis Andrew in Suff. causa fugationis ejus.

‘Item, antiquum debat’ supposit’ inter Andrews et Porter erat pro districtione capta de Johanne Andrews apud Weston pro debito domini Bardolf; pro qua causa idem Johannes Andrews implacitare vellet dictum Johannem Porter ad terminum (?) nisi pro dicto domino Bardolf; sic dictus Andrews continuavitmaliciam suam erga prædictum Johannem Porter, et e contra quod et malicia Heydon erat causa conspiracionis per ipsum. . . .’

[As this document is a key to the dates of several of the letters during the years 1450 to 1452, we have thought it best to insert it in the beginning of the period to which it refers, instead of the date at which it may be supposed to have been written.]

145.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.]

To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich.

1450MAY 5

Ryghtworchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys, that on ethes ye shalle reede it.

As on Monday146.2nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London, that on Thorsday146.3before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to Caleys ward, &c.

And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and whanne he come, the master badde hym, ‘Welcom, Traitor,’ as men sey; and forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on the Nicolas tyl Saturday146.4next folwyng.

Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke [thing] to be delyverd to the Kynge, but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.

And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.

Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr, he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd, and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye. And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.

Forther I wotte nott, but this fer (?) is that yf the proces be erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.

Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer147.1also, &c.

Sir Thomas Keriel147.2is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij. ml.[3000] Englishe men slayn.

Mathew Gooth147.3with xvc.[1500] fledde, and savyd hym selffe and hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. ml.Frenshe men and more, &c.

I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have yow all yn his kepyn.

I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and wyfe, &c.

James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.

Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.By yowr wyfe.148.1W. L.

146.1[From Fenn, i. 38.] The date of this letter is perfectly determined by the events to which it relates.146.24th May.146.330th April.146.42nd May.147.1An allusion to Friar Hauteyn’s suit or Oxnead.147.2Sent to France to carry succours to the Duke of Somerset, but defeated and taken prisoner at the battle of Fourmigni, 15th April 1450.147.3Matthew Gough, a celebrated captain in the French war.148.1This singular subscription Fenn believes to have been owing to a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of acting as Margaret Paston’s secretary in writing to her husband.

146.1[From Fenn, i. 38.] The date of this letter is perfectly determined by the events to which it relates.

146.24th May.

146.330th April.

146.42nd May.

147.1An allusion to Friar Hauteyn’s suit or Oxnead.

147.2Sent to France to carry succours to the Duke of Somerset, but defeated and taken prisoner at the battle of Fourmigni, 15th April 1450.

147.3Matthew Gough, a celebrated captain in the French war.

148.1This singular subscription Fenn believes to have been owing to a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of acting as Margaret Paston’s secretary in writing to her husband.

To my right worshupfull cosygne, John Paston of Norwyche, Squyer.

1450MAY 6

Rightworshupfull sir, I recomaunde me unto yow in the most goodly wyse that y can; and forasmuche as ye desired of me to sende yow worde of dyvers matirs here, whiche been opened in the Parliament openly, I sende yow of them suche as I can.

First moost especiall, that for verray trowthe upon Saterday148.3that last was, the Duke of Suffolk was taken in the see, and there he was byheded, and his body with the appurtenaunce sette at lande at Dover, and alle the folks that he haad with hym were sette to lande, and haad noon harme.

Also the Kyng hath sumwhat graanted to have the resumpsion agayne in summe, but nat in alle, &c.

Also yef ye purpose to come hydre to put up your bylles, ye may come now in a good tyme; for now every man that hath any, they put theme now inne, and so may ye, yif ye come with Godds grace to your pleasur.

Ferthermore, upon the iiijthday of this monthe, the Erle of Devenesshire148.4come hydre with iijc.[300] men wel byseen, &c.

And upon the morow after my Lord of Warrewyke148.5with iiijc.[400] and moo, &c.

Also, as hyt ys noysed here Calys shal be byseged withynne this vij. dayes, &c.

God save the Kyng, and sende us pees, &c.

Other tithyngs be ther noon here, but Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng.

Writen at Leycestre, the vj. day of May.Your cosigne,John Crane.149.1

148.2[From Fenn, i. 44.] The date of this letter, as of the preceding, is clearly proved by internal evidence.148.32nd May.148.4Thomas Courtenay.148.5Richard Nevill.—SeeLetter 98.149.1Probably John Crane of Woodnorton, of whom there are some notices in Blomefield (Hist. Norf.viii. 313, 316; x. 282).

148.2[From Fenn, i. 44.] The date of this letter, as of the preceding, is clearly proved by internal evidence.

148.32nd May.

148.4Thomas Courtenay.

148.5Richard Nevill.—SeeLetter 98.

149.1Probably John Crane of Woodnorton, of whom there are some notices in Blomefield (Hist. Norf.viii. 313, 316; x. 282).

Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thos. Howys, Parson of Castlecombe, ‘being at Castre.’

1450MAY 7

Begs him to solicit the expedition of the matters of which he wrote since Easter.—Debts of Thos. Symmys for rents and sale of wools not yet paid to F. in Dedham.—As for the matter of Rydlyngfold and Hykele, ‘seth it ys soo the world is changed gretely over it was, y pray you, and charge you, parson, labour ye to my frendz Lampet and others’ to get a copy of their evidences; for ‘howbeit the said prioress say that her evidence be in the Duke of Suffolk’s keeping or his counsel,’ she had a book in which all the evidence is copied. The thing would have been sped long ere this, if ‘my Lord Norwich[’s] Chancellor’ or Master Pope, had labored as they promised. For God’s sake send me a good answer. ‘If an inordinate book be made, remembering the deliverance’ of cloths, &c. into F.’s wardrobe, let the indentures be engrossed. Wonders Howys cannot furnish him with a full account of the damages sustained by F. and his tenants these ten or twelve years past. He has only sent a declaration of costs in defending some of them. Get a letter of Nich. Bokkyng of the £100 to whom it was paid.

London, 7 May 28 HenryVI.Signed.

149.2[MS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 223.]

To my maister Paston.

1450MAY 13

I recomaundme unto your good maistership; and as for tidings, Arblaster come home to my Lord150.2on Munday, at sopertyme; and my Maister Danyell150.3is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent, and Arblastr seith he hath made me his undirstyward.

And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord Beamond150.4hath it, and the Lord Rivers150.5Constable of Inglond.

As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tudenham had a joynte patent with the Duke of Suffolk,150.6which, if it be resumed, Sir Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed therof.

My lord wole not to Leicestre.150.7My Maister Danyell desireth yow thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by tymes.

Wretyn in hast at Wynche,150.8the xiij. day of May.

I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your wyf, for my mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fullyconquered my lady sith ye went, so that I haf hir promisse to be my good lady, and that she shall help me by the feith of hir body.Your servant,Denyes.

150.1[From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn vaguely assigned to the latter part of the reign of HenryVI., may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The mention of Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier than 1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke in 1448, and at a later date than the 13th of May. The reference to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to have been long after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from Monday being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future, that the letter was written on a Wednesday. Had it been on a Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been spoken of as ‘yesterday’ or Friday as ‘to-morrow.’ Now, the 13th of May was a Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in this letter are, therefore, those consequent on the fall of the Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as will be seen by a foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester.150.2John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.150.3Thomas Daniel.—Seep. 80.150.4John, Viscount Beaumont.150.5Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th May 1448; afterwards earl.150.6William de la Pole.—Seep. 80, Note 2.150.7Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May 1450.150.8A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King’s Lynn, in Norfolk.

150.2John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.

150.3Thomas Daniel.—Seep. 80.

150.4John, Viscount Beaumont.

150.5Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th May 1448; afterwards earl.

150.6William de la Pole.—Seep. 80, Note 2.

150.7Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May 1450.

150.8A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King’s Lynn, in Norfolk.

To our right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer.

Year uncertain

Righttrusty and right intierly welbeloved, we grete you hertly wele. And it is so, as ye know wele your self, we haf and long tyme haf had the service of Thomas Denyes, by continuance wherof we wend to haf had his attendaunce at our lust; and nevertheless we haf so strictly examynid his demenyng that we fele and pleynly conceyve that the love and effeccion which he hath to a gentilwoman not ferre from yow, and which ye be privy to, as we suppose, causith hym alwey to desire toward your cuntre, rather than toward suych ocupacion as is behovefull to us. We write therfore to yow, prayng yow hertly as ye love us, that it like you to do that labour at our instaunce be suych men [mean] as your wisdom can seme, to meve that gentilwoman in our behalf for the wele of this mater, undirtakyng for us that we wole shew our bounte to thaym bothe, if it plese hir that this mater take effect, so that be reason she shall haf cause to take it in gree. And if the comyng thider of our persone self shuld be to plesir of hir, we wole not leve our labour in that: wherfore we pray you that ye wole do your part heryn, as ye wole we do for yow intyme comyng, and that ye se us in hast. The Holy Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wevenho, the xvij. day of May.The Erle of Oxenford.Oxenford.

151.1[From Fenn, iii. 360.] This letter cannot well be of the same year as the last, but is probably not many years earlier, and certainly not many years later. The reasons against its being of the same year are—first, that it seems to be implied in the letter preceding that the Earl of Oxford was at Winch, near Lynn, in Norfolk, on the 13th May 1450, which makes it improbable that he would be at Wivenhoe in Essex four days after; and, secondly, that he is not likely to have offered to go into Norfolk (especially after having just come out of Norfolk) on a matter touching the private affairs of one of his own adherents, when he declined to go to the Parliament at Leicester.

To my trusty and welbelovyd frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe.

1450MAY 27

Trustyand welbelovyd frende, I grete you well.152.2. . . . And I pray you sende me word who darre be so hardy to keck agen you in my ryght. And sey hem on my half that they shall be qwyt as ferre as law and reson wolle. And yff they wolle not dredde, ne obey that, then they shall be quyt by Blackberd or Whyteberd; that ys to sey, by God or the Devyll. And therfor I charge yow, send me word whethyr such as hafe be myne adversaries before thys tyme, contynew still yn her wylfullnesse, &c.

Item, I hyre oft tymys manye straunge rapports of the gouvernaunce of my place at Castre and othyr plasys, as yn my chatell approvyng,152.3yn my wynys, the kepyng of my wardrobe and clothys, the avaylle152.4of my conyes at Haylysdon, &c., and approwement152.3of my londys; praying you hertly as my full trust ys yn you to help reforme it, and that ye suffre no vityouse man at my place of Castre abyde, but well gouverned and diligent, as ye woll aunswer to it.

Allmyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, xxvij. day of Maij anno xxviijº regni Regis HenriciVI.John Fastolf, Kt.

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