246LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON320.1

318.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] For the date of this letter it may be sufficient to refer the reader to Letters 238 and 239 preceding. Both Denyes and his wife are here still in prison, but he expresses himself grateful to Paston for efforts made in his behalf.319.1The fourth day of the quinzaine of Easter.246LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON320.1To my right and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.1454MAY 17Righttrusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as mych as I have understande that ze have do take a distresse of certayn bestes upon certayn land, which I stande infeffed in, in the town of Pagrave, for what cause I knowe not; wherfor I pray you that ze wyll make deliverance ageyn of the said bestes, and if any thing ze can axe be dute of right, setteth a day, and lete your evydences and right be shewed, and I shall assigne conceill of myn to be there to se it; and all that reson or lawe wyll, I wyll be right glad ze have, and otherwise I trowe ze wold not desire. And if ze wyll do this, I wyll be wel paied, and elles ze constreyn me to pourveye other wise, as lawe may gyde me. Oure Lord have you in governance. Writen at Walsyngham, the xvij. day of May.Youre frend,The Lord Scales.320.1[From Fenn, iii. 200.] This letter is dated by a contemporary note at the bottom of the original, which is given thus in Fenn: ‘Li’t a͞a Mich. xxxiijº.’ But for ‘a͞a,’ according to the Errata in vol. iii., we should read ‘a͞e,’i.e.‘LitteræanteMich. [Festum S. Michaelis] xxxiij.’ [i.e.anno Regis xxxiii.].247BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON320.2To my Maister Paston.1454JUNE 8WorshypfullSyr, and my gode maister, after dewe recomendacion, wyth alle my trewe servyce precedyng, lyke you wete that as to nouveltees, &c., the Prince shall be create at Wyndesour, uppon PentecostSonday,321.1the Chaunceller,321.2the Duc of Bokyngham, and manye othyre Lordys off astate, present wyth the Quene.As to my Lord Yorke, he abydyth aboute Yorke tille Corpus Crist Feste321.3be passyd, and wyth grete worship ys there resseyved.And certeyn Justices, Prysot,321.4Byngham,321.5Portyngton,321.6and &c., be thedre for execucion of justice uppon such as hafe offendended yn cause creminall.It ys seyd the Duc of Exceter321.7ys here coverdtlye. God send hym gode councell hereafter.And the Pryvee Sele321.8ys examynyd how, and yn whate maner, and be whate autorite prevye selys were passed forthe in that behalf, whych ys full innocent and ryght clere yn that mater, as it ys welle knowen.The Frenshmen hafe be afore the Isles of Gersey and Gernessey, and a grete navey of hem, and vc.[500] be taken and slayn of hem by men of the seyd trew Isles, &c.Syr Edmond Mulso ys come from the Duc of Burgoyne;321.9and he seyth, by hys servaunts rapport, that he wolle not discharge the godes of the mrchaunts of thys land, but so be that justice be don uppon the Lord Bonevyle, or els that he be sent to hym to do justice by hym self, as he hath deserved, or satisfaccion be made to the value.Yowr mater321.10is enseled as of the thyng ye wote of.I can no more for haste and lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you. Wryt hastly viij. of June.I sende a lettre to Maister Berney to lete you see for the gouvernaunce yn Yorkshyr.Boto-H.R.-ner.322.1320.2[From Fenn, i. 76.]321.1June 9 in 1454.321.2Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was appointed Chancellor on the 2nd April 1454.321.3June 20 in 1454.321.4John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.321.5Richard Bingham, a Justice of the King’s Bench.321.6John Portington, a Justice of the Common Pleas.321.7Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 11th May this year he had been ordered to appear before the Council on the following Thursday (16th May).—SeeNicolas’sPrivy Council Proceedings, vi. 180.321.8His name was Thomas Lyseux.—SeePatent Roll, 32 Hen.VI., m. 14.321.9Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.321.10Doubtless the grant of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf of Cowhawe.—Seep. 322, Note 2.322.1William Worcester, or Botoner, as he called himself indifferently, secretary to Sir John Fastolf. He frequently introduces the letters ‘H. R.’ into or above his signature, and sometimes at the top of his letter. Fenn reads the name ‘Botener,’ which is certainly wrong according to the facsimile given of the signature in this place.248R. DOLLAY TO JOHN PASTON322.2Un to my ryght worshypfull Mastyr Paston, be thys byll delyveryd in haste.1454JUNE 29Ryghttrusty and well belovyd master, I recomande me un to yow, desyryng to her of your good prosperite and wellfar. And as towchyng for Ser Phylyp Wentforde, he rood on to London ward up on Seynt Jon ys day, and on the evyn afor he sent to my master for to have sum of hys men for to ryd with hym to Colchester; and for be cawse he shulde not have no suspesion to me, I rod myself and a felaw with me; and he rood with an C. [hundred] hors with jakks322.3and saletts,322.4and rusty habyrjons;322.5and ther rood with hym Gyboun of Debnem, and Tympyrle, and all the felashyp that they cowd make. And Gyboun seyde that he woldeendyte as many as he cowde understonde that wer of the toder party; and longe Bernard was ther also; and he mad Ser Phylyp Wentforde to torne ageyn, and maad every men to beende her bowys, and lyth down of her hors for to wyte and ony man wolde come ageynstem, and he seyde how he shulde not let hys wey nor for Ser John Fastolf nor for Paston, nor for noon of hem all.And as for the ward,323.1he was not ther, but ther was had anoder chyld lyk hym, and he rood next hym, and whan that he was ij. myle be zonde Colchester, he sent hym hoomageyn with a cer tey[n] meyny. And Ser Phylyp Wentforde, and Gyboun of Debnem, and Tymperle, and Bernard, they took a man of Stratford, a sowter,323.2and hys name ys Persoun; and they enqueryd hym of every manys name of the toder party, and he tolde hem as many as he cowde; and they bad hym enquer ferther for to knowe all, for they desyryd of hym for to enquer as fer as he cowde, and he shulde have well for hys labor.No mor to yow at thys tyme, but the Holy Gost have yow in hys kepyng.Wretyn at Hadley, the Saturday after Seynt John ys day. And I beseeche yow hertyly recomande me to my Master Alblaster.By yowr man,R. Dollay.322.2[From Fenn, iii. 210.] This letter gives an account of certain proceedings for taking possession of the person of a minor in opposition to the claims of Paston and Sir John Fastolf as guardians. Fenn supposes the ward in question to have been Thomas Fastolf of Ipswich; but it appears, by a petition afterwards presented to Parliament (seeRolls of Parl.v. 371), that he was another Thomas Fastolf, viz. the son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe, Suffolk, whose wardship was granted on the 6th June 1454 to John Paston, Esq., and Thomas Howes, clerk. The St. John’s day mentioned in this letter is therefore St. John the Baptist’s day, 24th June, not St. John the Evangelist’s, 27th December.322.3The jack or jacket was a military vestment, calculated for the defence of the body, composed of linen stuffed with cotton, wool, or hair quilted, and commonly covered with leather.—F.322.4A salet was a light helmet of various construction. —F.322.5The haubergeon was a coat composed either of plate or chain-mail without sleeves. For a fuller account and view of these, the reader is referred to Mr. Grose’s accurateTreatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, 4to, 1785.—F.323.1Thomas, son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe.323.2A shoemaker.249WILLIAM BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON323.3To my gode maister, John Paston, Escuier, in Norwich, and yn hys absence, to John Berney, at Caister, Squyer.1454JULY 5WorshypfullSirs, I recomaund me to yow. Lyke yow wete that as to the waraunts and copes that ye remembred to be gheten owt, it ys laboured for, &c.And as to the assisse, it shall hald at Norwych, the Monday next com fortendayes.The Duc of York, the Lord Cromewell, and othyr Lordys of the North that were wyth my seyd Lord York, comen hedre by Monday next, as it ys credybly seyd. The Lordys that be appoynted to kepe the see maken hem redye yn all haste; and the Tresourer also, the Lord Wyltshyre324.1for the west coost. And a stately vessell, only for the warre, ys made new at Brystow by the Mayr, called Sturmyn324.2. And the seyd toune with the west coosts wolle do her part, and [i.e.if] they may be supported or favoured.324.3Mastere Pownyngs324.4hath day tille the next terme by aremayner. Manye a gode man ys hert he hath.325.1God comfort hym in ryght!And justice ys don dayly uppon thevys and malefactours, and people be glad that justice may precede.The Lord Bourchier hath a gode renomee of hys wyse demenyng at Calis, but he ys not yhyt comen.The Soudeours be more temperat then they were. Not ell[es] for lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you.Wryt at L. [London], the v. day of Jullet.Gressam qwyts hym well yn your erandys doyng to me.Your,W. Botoner.323.3[From Fenn, i. 140.] The year in which this letter was written must be that of the mayoralty of Robert Sturmy at Bristol, as shown in p. 324, Note 2. It certainly could not be 1457, Fenn’s date, as Lord Cromwell died in January 1456.324.1James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the 15th March 1455 (Patent, 33 HenryVI., p. 2, m. 20), but on the 29th May following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry, Viscount Bourchier (Ib.m. 12). But this letter, which is dated in July, cannot be in 1455; indeed, we have positive evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above? It is just possible—though not likely, as Wiltshire was a Lancastrian—that his appointment may have been enrolled in the wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the 15th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve the difficulty best:— ‘The Lords that be appointed to keep the see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also: the Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.’ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the 11th February 1454.—SeeRolls of Parl.v. 238.324.2The name was printed by Fenn ‘St’myn’,’ and in the modern version on the opposite page, ‘St. Myn.’ Robert Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453–4. It was probably this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of which disaster there is the following notice in theMS.Calendars of Bristol:— ‘Mr. Robert Sturney [aliasSturmey], who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good the loss; so that they were charged with £6000 indebted to Mr. Sturney.’—Seyer’sMemoirs of Bristol, ii. 189.324.3‘The said town,’ it would appear, did ‘do her part’ on the occasion; for besides this ship fitted out by the Mayor, Bristol subscribed £150 to a loan raised by the Duke of York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London itself only subscribed £300, and Southampton, which was the next largest contributor, only £100, while Norwich and Yarmouth contributed the latter amount between them.—Seyer’sBristol, ii. 188; see alsoRolls of Parl.v. 245. We must remember, however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his native town.324.4Robert Poynings.—Seep. 154, Note 3.325.1‘Many a good man’s heart he hath.’—We should have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his modern version, gives the following most extraordinary rendering:— ‘Many a good man is hurt (that) he hath.’250EDMUND, LORD GREY OF HASTINGS TO JOHN PASTON325.2To my trusty and wele belovid John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delivered.1454JULY 11Trustyand welebelovid frend, I comaund me to zow, certifying zow that and zour sustyr be not zit maried, y trust to God y know that where she may be maried to a gentylman of iii. C. [300] marc of lyvelod, the which is a grete gentylman born, and of gode blode; and yf ze think that y shall labore ony ferder therynne, y pray zow send me word by the bringer of this lettre, for y have spoke with the parties, and they have granted me that they wolle precede no ferder therynne tyll y speke with hem azen; and therefore, y pray zow, send me word in hast how that ze wylle be desposed therynne; and God have zow in hys kepyng. W[r]ettin at Ampthill, the xj. day of July last past.ByEdmond Grey, Lord of Hastynges, Waifford, and of Ruthyn.325.2[From Fenn, iii. 214.] This letter is dated by a memorandum at the bottom of the original, in the handwriting of John Paston— ‘Liberat. per Will. Aleyn, valetum dicti domini xiiij. die Julii anno xxxijº. H. vi.’251SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THOMAS HOWYS326.1To my ryght trusty frende Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castelcombe.1454JULY 12Ryghttrusty frende, I grete you well, and wolle ye wete that I thynk it to greete merveylle of your trouth and wysdom that ye shuld haf, that ye hafe noysed me, and seyd to John Andreus at Yeppyswych, in presence of dyvers men, that ye have suffisaunt waraunts undre my lettre and sele to safe you harmlese, in case ye be condempned yn the somme this Andreus sewyth you for. And know for certeyn, there passed no such warauntis undre my sele; nothyr I comaunded you not for to labour ne do thyng that shuld be ayenst the law, nether unlawfully ayenst ryght and trouth. And therfor y ought not ne wolle not pay for yow. Wherfor I charge you sende me your warauntis and lettres or acomp of them, and of whoos hand wrytyng they ben; and whate evidences, instruccions and informacions ye had and by whom, as well as of my lerned councell as of othyrs. And also that ye comyn with my cosyn John Paston, &c., and take his gode avice whate remedie ys best, whethyr to sew an atteynt ayenst th’enquest adecies tantumin your oune name or by the parlement; for y wolle do seke all the remedies that may be had ayenst the seyd Andreus. And kepe ye close and sure from hym in all maner wyse, for your oune welfare; for know ye for certeyn that Andreus wolle ley all the wayt and aspies of such as ye wene to take for your true frendys to arrest you; and then be ye as it were be thout remedie, for ye not be tyme to sende me the materes abofe specyfied.Item, Robert Inglose hath spoke wyth me and hath offred me to by lond to satisfye my dewtee that lyeth in Rakhyth, and y am avysed to by it, if ye can send thedre som trusty man that can telle whate it ys worth cleerly, and off whomeit ys halde, and also yf it be sure lyvelode, and your avice wythall; but beware that ye com not owt, God kepe you. Wryt at London in haste the xij. day of Julle, Aº. xxxijdo.Regni Regis Henrici VJ.John Fastolf, ch’l’r.326.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 102.]252JOHN PASTON TO LORD GREY327.1Dominus de Grey.1454JULY 15Rightworshipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I recomand me to yowr gode Lordship. And where as it pleasyd yowr Lordship to dyrecte yowr letter to me for amaryage for my por suster to a jantylman of yowr knowleth of CCC. marc lyflod, in cas she wer not maryd; wherfor I am bownd to do your Lordship servyse; forsothe, my Lord, she is not maryd, ne insurid to noman; ther is and hath be, dyvers tymys and late, comunycacion of seche maryages wyth dyvers jantylmen not determynyd as yett, and whedder the jantylman that yowr Lordchip menith of be on of hem or nay I dowth. And wher as your seyd letter specyfyith that I shall send yow word whedder I thowght ye shuld labour ferther in the mater or nay, in that, my Lord, I dare not preswme to wryte so to yow wythowte I knew the gentylmans name,—notwythstandyng, my Lord, I shall take uppe on me, wyth the avyse of other of here frendys, that she shall nother be maryd ner inswryd to no creatwr, ne forther prosede in no seche mater befor the fest of the Assumpcion of owr Lady next comyng, dwryng whyche tyme yowr Lordship may send me, if itt please yow, certeyn informacion of the seyd gentylmanys name, and of the place and contrey where hys lyfflod lyth, and whedder he hath any chylder, and, after, I shall demene me in the mater as yowr Lordship shall be pleasyd; for in gode feyth, my Lord, it were to me grette joy that my seyd poresuster were, according to hier pore degre, marijd be yowr avyse, trustyng thanne that ye wold be here gode Lord.Ryght wurchipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I beseche Almyghty God to have yow in His kepyng. Wrete att Norwych, the xv. day of Jull.327.1[From Fenn, iii. 216.] This letter is the answer toNo. 250, originally printed from a copy in Paston’s own handwriting, without signature.253THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON328.1To my ryght reverent and worshipfull maister, John Paston, be this dylyverd at London, and ellys sent to hym to Norwic.1454JULY 20Rygthworshipfull Sir, and my rygth good maister, I recomend me to you. Lyke you to wete I have spoken wyth my lord Chaunceler328.2and put the bylle by for hym and all the lordis upon Wednesday at after non last past, wenyng to me to have an answer upon Thursday. And my lord Chaunceler told me that they sped no partycler mater yet syn they cam, nor han no leyser to attend swych maters. I have spoken to my Lord Wylchyre,328.3and he promysed to help forth that he can, and my Lord Beauchamp328.4bothe. Fenyngley cam but on Thursday at evyn. Item, Sir, I have do made a new bylle whyche I purpose to delyver to the kyng. And, Sir, the lordes merveyle sore of the entre that was made by the straunge man or my lord entred; they thynk that was a straunge werk and a sotyll. Item, I spake to my Lord Chaunceler how my maister328.5and ye and your frendis were pute owte of the comyssyon of pees; neverthe les he hath not graunted yet non newe. And as for the questyon that ye wylled me to aske my lord, I fond hym yet at nogood leyser. Item, Sir, after the lordys seying, the Councell schuld breke up on Monday next comyng. And as for the Archebysshop of York329.1is heyll and mery, &c. Wretyn the xx. day of July.—By your man and servaunt,Thomas Playter.328.1[Add.MS.34,889, f. 217.] The reference to Lord Wiltshire proves the date of this letter to lie between 1449 and 1460, and it would seem to be 1454 when the 20th July was a Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday being spoken of as past dates and Monday as a future one.328.2Richard, Earl of Salisbury.328.3James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde.328.4John, Lord Beauchamp.328.5Sir John Fastolf.329.1William Booth was Archbishop of York from 1452 to 1464. If the letter had been earlier Cardinal Kemp would have been Archbishop of York, and would have been called ‘Cardinal of York.’254WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON329.2To his wurchypfull Brodyr, John Paston.1454[JULY]Rythwurchypfull broder, I recomande to yow; and as for tedyng, my Lord of Yorke hathe take my Lord of Exsater329.3in to hys awarde. The Duke of Somerset329.4is styll in prison, in warse case than he was. Syr Jon Fastolf recomande hym to yow, &c. He wyll ryde in to Norfolke ward as on Trusday, and he wyll dwelle at Caster, and Skrop329.5wyth hym. He saythe ye ar the hartyest kynysman and frynd that he knowyts. He wolde have yow at Mawdeby dwellyng.I had gret cher of Byllyng be the way, and he told me in cownsayle wathe he sayd to Ledam.Ledam wulde a do hys wyse to a mad a complent to Pryothe329.6in the scher-howse of yow, and Byllyng consallyd hym to leve, and tolde Ledam ye and he wer no felawys, and sayd to Ledam, ‘That is the gyse of yowr contre men, to spendalle the good they have on men and lewery gownys, and hors and harnes, and so beryt owth for j wylle [bear it out for a while], and at the laste they arn but beggars; and so wyll ye do. I wylde ye schull do wyll, be cause ye ar a felaw in Grays In, wer I was a felaw. As for Paston, he ys a swyr [squire] of wurchyp, and of gret lyvelode, and I wothe he wyll not spend alle hys good as [at?] onys, but he sparyt yerly C. mark, or j. C.li.[£100]; he may do his ennemy a scherewd turne and never far the warse in hys howsholde, ner the lesse men abowthe hym. Ye may not do so, but if yt be for j. [one] sesun. I consayll yow not to contenu long as ye do. I wulle consalle yow to seke reste wyth Paston.’And I thankkyd Byllyng on yowr behalfe.God have yow in hys kepyng.Be yowr por Brodyr,Wyllyam Paston.Meche odyr thyng I can telle an I had lesur. Recomande me to my suster Margeth [and] my cosyn Elizabeth Clyr, I pray yow.329.2[From Fenn, i. 72.] The date of this letter is fixed by the fact referred to in Note 3, and by Sir John Fastolf’s going into Norfolk, which, though delayed a little later than is here projected, certainly did take place in 1454. See another letter of William Paston further on, dated 6th September.329.3Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 24th July the Duke of York was charged by the Privy Council to convey him to Pomfret Castle.—SeeNicolas’sPrivy Council Proceedings, vi. 217.329.4Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was committed to the Tower in the end of the year 1453.—Seep. 290, Note 1.329.5Stephen Scroope, Sir John Fastolf’s ward, son of Lady Fastolf, by her former husband.329.6John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.255WILLIAM PASTON TO MARGERY PASTON330.1To his rythe worchypfull and harthy wellebelovyd suster, Margere Paston, dwellyng in Norwyche.[1454]AUG. 10Rytheharthely well belovyd suster, I recomand me, &c. And I have received zowre letteres. And as for my nevewes, they lerne rythe well bothe, and there gownys and there gere schall be mad for hem a cordyng the enthenthe of zowre letter, and all oder thynggis that behovyth on to here profythe harddely to my powere.And, Suster, God zelde zow for zowre labore fore me, for gaderyng of my mony. And I pray, as sone as ze receyvyth, send it heder be some trusty man; and that it plese to calle ther on, &c. My suster and my broder recomand hem to zow bothe, and I may say to zow in counsayll sche is op on poyn of mariage, so that moder and my broder sett frendely and stedfastely there on, leke as I wothe well ze wolld, and it lay in zow as it dothe in hem, &c. I pray zow do zoure parthe to kall theron. It were to long to wrythe on to zow all the maner of demenyng of this mater; and therfor I have spoke to Wyllyam Worseter and to Wethewell to tell it zow holly as it is. I wothe ryth well zow (sic) good labore may do moche; and send me word how ze here as hastely as ze may. Item, Howard spak of a mariage betwex his sone and my neece Margery, zowr dother: it wer well do such materes wer nawthe sclawfully laboryd; it is wurchypfull, &c. Send me word, and Gog (sic) have zow in His kepyng. Wretyn at London on Sent Lawrens day in hast.—Be zowre brodyre,Wyllyam Paston.Item, send zow a letter directyd to Wollysby. I pray zow lethe it be delyvered hym as hastely as ze may; and if ze come to this contre I am leke to se zow, and we schall make rythe mery I trust.330.1[Add.MS.33,597, f. 5.] This letter is in the handwriting of William Paston, son of the judge; but the ‘Margery’ Paston to whom it is addressed seems to be his brother John’s wife, Margaret. His nephews, John Paston’s sons, were at school in London. His sister Elizabeth, who was married to Robert Poynings in 1458, is here said to be upon the point of marriage, but no doubt this refers to the negotiations of the year 1454, as the eldest of John Paston’s sons must have been sixteen in 1458. St. Laurence’s day, on which the letter was written, is the 10th August.256RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK, TO JOHN PASTON331.1To our right trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Esquire.The Duc of York.1454AUG. 19Righttrusty and welbeloved, we grete yow hertily wel. And of your benivolence, aide, and tendre love by yow, at th’instance and at the reverence of us, to our right trusty and welbeloved in God, the prior and convent ofthe hows of Our Lady of Walsingham, of our patronage, in suche matres as they had adoo for certain lyvelood by tham claymed to belonge unto the seid hows, favorably and tendrely shewed,—as hertily as we can we thank yow, and desire and pray yow of your good continuance; and as far as right, lawe, and good conscience wol, to have in favorable recommendacion suche personnes as been or shal bee committed to take possession and saison, in the name and to the use of our ful worshipful nepveu, th’erl of Warrewic, in and of the manoirs and Lordeships of Boules and Walcots,332.1with th’appertenauntes in Litel Snoring in the countee of Norffolk, as our grete trust is unto yow. And God have yow in His keping.Yeven undre our signet at our castel of Sandhall the xix. day of August.R. York.331.1[From Fenn, i. 92.] This and the following letter could hardly have been written in any year except 1454 or 1455, when the Duke of York was in power. In the former year he is very likely to have been at his own castle of Sandal on the 19th August, seeing that on the 24th July he was commissioned to convey the Duke of Exeter to Pomfret Castle.332.1According to Blomefield (vii. 186), Catherine, widow of John Cokerell of Albergh Wykes in Suffolk, died seised of the manors of Walcotes and Boles in 6 HenryVI., which she left, with others, to Catherine, daughter of John Cokerell, junior, her son, who died before his father. This younger Catherine died a minor in 10 HenryVI., and the jury knew not who was her heir. In 29 HenryVI.George Heath of Mildenhall released to Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, all his rights in Walcotes and Boles; but in the 18th of HenryVII.Christopher Conyers and Alice his wife conveyed it to the Heydons. Of its having been purchased by the Earl of Warwick or having belonged to the Prior of Walsingham, as stated in the next letter, Blomefield tells us nothing except that Richard, Earl of Warwick, presented to the rectory of Snoring Parva in 1460 and 1466.257THE EARL OF WARWICK TO JOHN PASTON332.2To the worshipfull and my right trusty frende John Paston, Squyer.1454AUG. 23Worshipfulland my right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you well. And forasmuch as I have purchased of the worshipfull and my welbeloved frende, Priour of Walsyngham, ij. maners in Lityl Snoryng, with thappurtenants, in the Counte of Norffolk, which manersbe cleped Bowles and Walcotes,—I desir and hertily praye yow, that ye woll shewe to me, and my feoffes in my name, your good will and favour, so that I may by your frendship the more peasably rejoy my forsaid purchase.And more over I praye you to yeve credens in this mater to my welbeloved chapellayn, Syr John Suthwell, berer of this my lettre, and in the same mater to be my feithfull frende, as my gret trust is in you, wherin ye shall do to me a singular pleasir, and cause me to bee to yow right good lord, which sumtyme shall be to you available by the grace of God, who preserve you and sende you welfare.Yeven under my signet at Midilham, the xxiij. day of August.Richard, Erl ofWarrewik.R. Warrewyk.332.2[From Fenn, i. 88.] See preliminary note to the last letter (p. 331, Note 1).258WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON333.1To my Maister Paston.H. R.1454(?)SEPT. 2Aftyrdewe recomendacion wyth my simple service precedyng, please your maistershyp to wete, that as to such remembraunce that ye desyre me to contynew forth to the uttermost, I shall wyth gode wille, so as my maister wille licence me, as oft as I can, th’officer to hafeleysure to be wyth me, for ye know well I can not do it alone, &c.And where as ye of your pleasure wryte me or calle me Maister Worcestr, I pray and requyre yow foryete that name of maistershyp, for I am not amended by my maister of a ferthyng yn certeynte, but of wages of housold in comuneentaunt come nows plaira. By Worcestr or Botoner I hafevs.yerly, all costs born, to help pay for bonetts that I lose. I told so my maister thys weke, and he seyd me yerstenday he wyshed me to hafe be a preest, so I had be disposed, to hafe gofe me a lyvyng by reson of a benefice, that anothyr most gefe it, as the Byshop, but he wold; and so I endureinter egenos ut servus ad aratrum.Forgefe me, I wryte to make yow laugh; and our Lord bryng my maister yn a better mode for othyrs as for me.At Caistr, ijdday of September.I pray yow displeser not your servaunt be so long, for my maister lettet hym.Your,W. Wyrcestyr.333.1[From Fenn, iii. 318.] This and the next letter were certainly written on the same day, but the precise year may be questioned. From a comparison of the two together, with William Barker’s letter of the 3rd Nov. following (No. 265), I am inclined to think all three belong to the year 1454, when Sir John Fastolf had just come to settle for the rest of his days in Norfolk. Sir John Fenn, I think rightly, considers this first letter to have been written between jest and earnest; and this tone may be very well explained by the supposition, that on Fastolf’s settlement at Caister, Worcester expected to have had some position of importance assigned to him in his master’s household. That such would be his fortune was probably the expectation of others as well as himself, and apparently John Paston had written to him in the belief that Worcester’s influence with Sir John might occasionally be of value to him.259THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON334.1To my maister, John Paston, Squier, be this delyvered.1454(?)SEPT. 2Ryghtworshypfull Sir, I recommaund me to yow. And my maister hertly thankyth yow for the venyson that ye sent hym from my Lord of Oxford, and prayeth yow that he may be recommaunded to hys noble Lordshyp. And God thank yow for your speciall remembraunce of my mater that ye hafe it so tendyrly to hert, for ye may know weel the gode spede of that ys my wellfare and the contrarye ys my utter undoyngs. I hafe sent to John Porter to wete verrayly how it standyth with hym, as ye shallwete the certeynte thys weke. As for the mater wryt to Bokkyng he hath rad ys lettre, and wille remember your desyre, and also of William Geney comyng, yn case he know of it rathyr then ye.And my maistre herd the substaunce of your lettre red, and lyked it ritz well. And as for the mater of Worcester remembraunce, he shall geve hys attendaunce therto yn that he can. And where ye calle hym maister, he ys displesed wyth that name, for he may spend vs. yerly more by the name of Worcestr or Botoner, and by hys maister not a ferthyng yn certeynte. He prayth yow foryete it.I pray God kepe yow. Wryt at Castr hastly ijdday of September.Your oune,T. Howes.Item, yn case Jankyn335.1be hole, my Lord of Norffolk hath graunted [him] by moyen of Robert Wyngfeld, to be yn my seyd Lord ys houshold, as my maister hath it by lettre from Wyngfeld.

319.1The fourth day of the quinzaine of Easter.

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

1454MAY 17

Righttrusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as mych as I have understande that ze have do take a distresse of certayn bestes upon certayn land, which I stande infeffed in, in the town of Pagrave, for what cause I knowe not; wherfor I pray you that ze wyll make deliverance ageyn of the said bestes, and if any thing ze can axe be dute of right, setteth a day, and lete your evydences and right be shewed, and I shall assigne conceill of myn to be there to se it; and all that reson or lawe wyll, I wyll be right glad ze have, and otherwise I trowe ze wold not desire. And if ze wyll do this, I wyll be wel paied, and elles ze constreyn me to pourveye other wise, as lawe may gyde me. Oure Lord have you in governance. Writen at Walsyngham, the xvij. day of May.Youre frend,The Lord Scales.

320.1[From Fenn, iii. 200.] This letter is dated by a contemporary note at the bottom of the original, which is given thus in Fenn: ‘Li’t a͞a Mich. xxxiijº.’ But for ‘a͞a,’ according to the Errata in vol. iii., we should read ‘a͞e,’i.e.‘LitteræanteMich. [Festum S. Michaelis] xxxiij.’ [i.e.anno Regis xxxiii.].

To my Maister Paston.

1454JUNE 8

WorshypfullSyr, and my gode maister, after dewe recomendacion, wyth alle my trewe servyce precedyng, lyke you wete that as to nouveltees, &c., the Prince shall be create at Wyndesour, uppon PentecostSonday,321.1the Chaunceller,321.2the Duc of Bokyngham, and manye othyre Lordys off astate, present wyth the Quene.

As to my Lord Yorke, he abydyth aboute Yorke tille Corpus Crist Feste321.3be passyd, and wyth grete worship ys there resseyved.

And certeyn Justices, Prysot,321.4Byngham,321.5Portyngton,321.6and &c., be thedre for execucion of justice uppon such as hafe offendended yn cause creminall.

It ys seyd the Duc of Exceter321.7ys here coverdtlye. God send hym gode councell hereafter.

And the Pryvee Sele321.8ys examynyd how, and yn whate maner, and be whate autorite prevye selys were passed forthe in that behalf, whych ys full innocent and ryght clere yn that mater, as it ys welle knowen.

The Frenshmen hafe be afore the Isles of Gersey and Gernessey, and a grete navey of hem, and vc.[500] be taken and slayn of hem by men of the seyd trew Isles, &c.

Syr Edmond Mulso ys come from the Duc of Burgoyne;321.9and he seyth, by hys servaunts rapport, that he wolle not discharge the godes of the mrchaunts of thys land, but so be that justice be don uppon the Lord Bonevyle, or els that he be sent to hym to do justice by hym self, as he hath deserved, or satisfaccion be made to the value.

Yowr mater321.10is enseled as of the thyng ye wote of.

I can no more for haste and lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you. Wryt hastly viij. of June.

I sende a lettre to Maister Berney to lete you see for the gouvernaunce yn Yorkshyr.Boto-H.R.-ner.322.1

320.2[From Fenn, i. 76.]321.1June 9 in 1454.321.2Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was appointed Chancellor on the 2nd April 1454.321.3June 20 in 1454.321.4John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.321.5Richard Bingham, a Justice of the King’s Bench.321.6John Portington, a Justice of the Common Pleas.321.7Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 11th May this year he had been ordered to appear before the Council on the following Thursday (16th May).—SeeNicolas’sPrivy Council Proceedings, vi. 180.321.8His name was Thomas Lyseux.—SeePatent Roll, 32 Hen.VI., m. 14.321.9Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.321.10Doubtless the grant of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf of Cowhawe.—Seep. 322, Note 2.322.1William Worcester, or Botoner, as he called himself indifferently, secretary to Sir John Fastolf. He frequently introduces the letters ‘H. R.’ into or above his signature, and sometimes at the top of his letter. Fenn reads the name ‘Botener,’ which is certainly wrong according to the facsimile given of the signature in this place.

320.2[From Fenn, i. 76.]

321.1June 9 in 1454.

321.2Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was appointed Chancellor on the 2nd April 1454.

321.3June 20 in 1454.

321.4John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

321.5Richard Bingham, a Justice of the King’s Bench.

321.6John Portington, a Justice of the Common Pleas.

321.7Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 11th May this year he had been ordered to appear before the Council on the following Thursday (16th May).—SeeNicolas’sPrivy Council Proceedings, vi. 180.

321.8His name was Thomas Lyseux.—SeePatent Roll, 32 Hen.VI., m. 14.

321.9Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.

321.10Doubtless the grant of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf of Cowhawe.—Seep. 322, Note 2.

322.1William Worcester, or Botoner, as he called himself indifferently, secretary to Sir John Fastolf. He frequently introduces the letters ‘H. R.’ into or above his signature, and sometimes at the top of his letter. Fenn reads the name ‘Botener,’ which is certainly wrong according to the facsimile given of the signature in this place.

Un to my ryght worshypfull Mastyr Paston, be thys byll delyveryd in haste.

1454JUNE 29

Ryghttrusty and well belovyd master, I recomande me un to yow, desyryng to her of your good prosperite and wellfar. And as towchyng for Ser Phylyp Wentforde, he rood on to London ward up on Seynt Jon ys day, and on the evyn afor he sent to my master for to have sum of hys men for to ryd with hym to Colchester; and for be cawse he shulde not have no suspesion to me, I rod myself and a felaw with me; and he rood with an C. [hundred] hors with jakks322.3and saletts,322.4and rusty habyrjons;322.5and ther rood with hym Gyboun of Debnem, and Tympyrle, and all the felashyp that they cowd make. And Gyboun seyde that he woldeendyte as many as he cowde understonde that wer of the toder party; and longe Bernard was ther also; and he mad Ser Phylyp Wentforde to torne ageyn, and maad every men to beende her bowys, and lyth down of her hors for to wyte and ony man wolde come ageynstem, and he seyde how he shulde not let hys wey nor for Ser John Fastolf nor for Paston, nor for noon of hem all.

And as for the ward,323.1he was not ther, but ther was had anoder chyld lyk hym, and he rood next hym, and whan that he was ij. myle be zonde Colchester, he sent hym hoomageyn with a cer tey[n] meyny. And Ser Phylyp Wentforde, and Gyboun of Debnem, and Tymperle, and Bernard, they took a man of Stratford, a sowter,323.2and hys name ys Persoun; and they enqueryd hym of every manys name of the toder party, and he tolde hem as many as he cowde; and they bad hym enquer ferther for to knowe all, for they desyryd of hym for to enquer as fer as he cowde, and he shulde have well for hys labor.

No mor to yow at thys tyme, but the Holy Gost have yow in hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Hadley, the Saturday after Seynt John ys day. And I beseeche yow hertyly recomande me to my Master Alblaster.By yowr man,R. Dollay.

322.2[From Fenn, iii. 210.] This letter gives an account of certain proceedings for taking possession of the person of a minor in opposition to the claims of Paston and Sir John Fastolf as guardians. Fenn supposes the ward in question to have been Thomas Fastolf of Ipswich; but it appears, by a petition afterwards presented to Parliament (seeRolls of Parl.v. 371), that he was another Thomas Fastolf, viz. the son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe, Suffolk, whose wardship was granted on the 6th June 1454 to John Paston, Esq., and Thomas Howes, clerk. The St. John’s day mentioned in this letter is therefore St. John the Baptist’s day, 24th June, not St. John the Evangelist’s, 27th December.322.3The jack or jacket was a military vestment, calculated for the defence of the body, composed of linen stuffed with cotton, wool, or hair quilted, and commonly covered with leather.—F.322.4A salet was a light helmet of various construction. —F.322.5The haubergeon was a coat composed either of plate or chain-mail without sleeves. For a fuller account and view of these, the reader is referred to Mr. Grose’s accurateTreatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, 4to, 1785.—F.323.1Thomas, son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe.323.2A shoemaker.

322.3The jack or jacket was a military vestment, calculated for the defence of the body, composed of linen stuffed with cotton, wool, or hair quilted, and commonly covered with leather.—F.

322.4A salet was a light helmet of various construction. —F.

322.5The haubergeon was a coat composed either of plate or chain-mail without sleeves. For a fuller account and view of these, the reader is referred to Mr. Grose’s accurateTreatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, 4to, 1785.—F.

323.1Thomas, son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe.

323.2A shoemaker.

To my gode maister, John Paston, Escuier, in Norwich, and yn hys absence, to John Berney, at Caister, Squyer.

1454JULY 5

WorshypfullSirs, I recomaund me to yow. Lyke yow wete that as to the waraunts and copes that ye remembred to be gheten owt, it ys laboured for, &c.

And as to the assisse, it shall hald at Norwych, the Monday next com fortendayes.

The Duc of York, the Lord Cromewell, and othyr Lordys of the North that were wyth my seyd Lord York, comen hedre by Monday next, as it ys credybly seyd. The Lordys that be appoynted to kepe the see maken hem redye yn all haste; and the Tresourer also, the Lord Wyltshyre324.1for the west coost. And a stately vessell, only for the warre, ys made new at Brystow by the Mayr, called Sturmyn324.2. And the seyd toune with the west coosts wolle do her part, and [i.e.if] they may be supported or favoured.324.3

Mastere Pownyngs324.4hath day tille the next terme by aremayner. Manye a gode man ys hert he hath.325.1God comfort hym in ryght!

And justice ys don dayly uppon thevys and malefactours, and people be glad that justice may precede.

The Lord Bourchier hath a gode renomee of hys wyse demenyng at Calis, but he ys not yhyt comen.

The Soudeours be more temperat then they were. Not ell[es] for lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you.

Wryt at L. [London], the v. day of Jullet.

Gressam qwyts hym well yn your erandys doyng to me.Your,W. Botoner.

323.3[From Fenn, i. 140.] The year in which this letter was written must be that of the mayoralty of Robert Sturmy at Bristol, as shown in p. 324, Note 2. It certainly could not be 1457, Fenn’s date, as Lord Cromwell died in January 1456.324.1James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the 15th March 1455 (Patent, 33 HenryVI., p. 2, m. 20), but on the 29th May following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry, Viscount Bourchier (Ib.m. 12). But this letter, which is dated in July, cannot be in 1455; indeed, we have positive evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above? It is just possible—though not likely, as Wiltshire was a Lancastrian—that his appointment may have been enrolled in the wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the 15th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve the difficulty best:— ‘The Lords that be appointed to keep the see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also: the Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.’ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the 11th February 1454.—SeeRolls of Parl.v. 238.324.2The name was printed by Fenn ‘St’myn’,’ and in the modern version on the opposite page, ‘St. Myn.’ Robert Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453–4. It was probably this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of which disaster there is the following notice in theMS.Calendars of Bristol:— ‘Mr. Robert Sturney [aliasSturmey], who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good the loss; so that they were charged with £6000 indebted to Mr. Sturney.’—Seyer’sMemoirs of Bristol, ii. 189.324.3‘The said town,’ it would appear, did ‘do her part’ on the occasion; for besides this ship fitted out by the Mayor, Bristol subscribed £150 to a loan raised by the Duke of York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London itself only subscribed £300, and Southampton, which was the next largest contributor, only £100, while Norwich and Yarmouth contributed the latter amount between them.—Seyer’sBristol, ii. 188; see alsoRolls of Parl.v. 245. We must remember, however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his native town.324.4Robert Poynings.—Seep. 154, Note 3.325.1‘Many a good man’s heart he hath.’—We should have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his modern version, gives the following most extraordinary rendering:— ‘Many a good man is hurt (that) he hath.’

324.1James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the 15th March 1455 (Patent, 33 HenryVI., p. 2, m. 20), but on the 29th May following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry, Viscount Bourchier (Ib.m. 12). But this letter, which is dated in July, cannot be in 1455; indeed, we have positive evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above? It is just possible—though not likely, as Wiltshire was a Lancastrian—that his appointment may have been enrolled in the wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the 15th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve the difficulty best:— ‘The Lords that be appointed to keep the see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also: the Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.’ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the 11th February 1454.—SeeRolls of Parl.v. 238.

324.2The name was printed by Fenn ‘St’myn’,’ and in the modern version on the opposite page, ‘St. Myn.’ Robert Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453–4. It was probably this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of which disaster there is the following notice in theMS.Calendars of Bristol:— ‘Mr. Robert Sturney [aliasSturmey], who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good the loss; so that they were charged with £6000 indebted to Mr. Sturney.’—Seyer’sMemoirs of Bristol, ii. 189.

324.3‘The said town,’ it would appear, did ‘do her part’ on the occasion; for besides this ship fitted out by the Mayor, Bristol subscribed £150 to a loan raised by the Duke of York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London itself only subscribed £300, and Southampton, which was the next largest contributor, only £100, while Norwich and Yarmouth contributed the latter amount between them.—Seyer’sBristol, ii. 188; see alsoRolls of Parl.v. 245. We must remember, however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his native town.

324.4Robert Poynings.—Seep. 154, Note 3.

325.1‘Many a good man’s heart he hath.’—We should have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his modern version, gives the following most extraordinary rendering:— ‘Many a good man is hurt (that) he hath.’

To my trusty and wele belovid John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delivered.

1454JULY 11

Trustyand welebelovid frend, I comaund me to zow, certifying zow that and zour sustyr be not zit maried, y trust to God y know that where she may be maried to a gentylman of iii. C. [300] marc of lyvelod, the which is a grete gentylman born, and of gode blode; and yf ze think that y shall labore ony ferder therynne, y pray zow send me word by the bringer of this lettre, for y have spoke with the parties, and they have granted me that they wolle precede no ferder therynne tyll y speke with hem azen; and therefore, y pray zow, send me word in hast how that ze wylle be desposed therynne; and God have zow in hys kepyng. W[r]ettin at Ampthill, the xj. day of July last past.

ByEdmond Grey, Lord of Hastynges, Waifford, and of Ruthyn.

325.2[From Fenn, iii. 214.] This letter is dated by a memorandum at the bottom of the original, in the handwriting of John Paston— ‘Liberat. per Will. Aleyn, valetum dicti domini xiiij. die Julii anno xxxijº. H. vi.’

To my ryght trusty frende Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castelcombe.

1454JULY 12

Ryghttrusty frende, I grete you well, and wolle ye wete that I thynk it to greete merveylle of your trouth and wysdom that ye shuld haf, that ye hafe noysed me, and seyd to John Andreus at Yeppyswych, in presence of dyvers men, that ye have suffisaunt waraunts undre my lettre and sele to safe you harmlese, in case ye be condempned yn the somme this Andreus sewyth you for. And know for certeyn, there passed no such warauntis undre my sele; nothyr I comaunded you not for to labour ne do thyng that shuld be ayenst the law, nether unlawfully ayenst ryght and trouth. And therfor y ought not ne wolle not pay for yow. Wherfor I charge you sende me your warauntis and lettres or acomp of them, and of whoos hand wrytyng they ben; and whate evidences, instruccions and informacions ye had and by whom, as well as of my lerned councell as of othyrs. And also that ye comyn with my cosyn John Paston, &c., and take his gode avice whate remedie ys best, whethyr to sew an atteynt ayenst th’enquest adecies tantumin your oune name or by the parlement; for y wolle do seke all the remedies that may be had ayenst the seyd Andreus. And kepe ye close and sure from hym in all maner wyse, for your oune welfare; for know ye for certeyn that Andreus wolle ley all the wayt and aspies of such as ye wene to take for your true frendys to arrest you; and then be ye as it were be thout remedie, for ye not be tyme to sende me the materes abofe specyfied.

Item, Robert Inglose hath spoke wyth me and hath offred me to by lond to satisfye my dewtee that lyeth in Rakhyth, and y am avysed to by it, if ye can send thedre som trusty man that can telle whate it ys worth cleerly, and off whomeit ys halde, and also yf it be sure lyvelode, and your avice wythall; but beware that ye com not owt, God kepe you. Wryt at London in haste the xij. day of Julle, Aº. xxxijdo.Regni Regis Henrici VJ.John Fastolf, ch’l’r.

326.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 102.]

Dominus de Grey.

1454JULY 15

Rightworshipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I recomand me to yowr gode Lordship. And where as it pleasyd yowr Lordship to dyrecte yowr letter to me for amaryage for my por suster to a jantylman of yowr knowleth of CCC. marc lyflod, in cas she wer not maryd; wherfor I am bownd to do your Lordship servyse; forsothe, my Lord, she is not maryd, ne insurid to noman; ther is and hath be, dyvers tymys and late, comunycacion of seche maryages wyth dyvers jantylmen not determynyd as yett, and whedder the jantylman that yowr Lordchip menith of be on of hem or nay I dowth. And wher as your seyd letter specyfyith that I shall send yow word whedder I thowght ye shuld labour ferther in the mater or nay, in that, my Lord, I dare not preswme to wryte so to yow wythowte I knew the gentylmans name,—notwythstandyng, my Lord, I shall take uppe on me, wyth the avyse of other of here frendys, that she shall nother be maryd ner inswryd to no creatwr, ne forther prosede in no seche mater befor the fest of the Assumpcion of owr Lady next comyng, dwryng whyche tyme yowr Lordship may send me, if itt please yow, certeyn informacion of the seyd gentylmanys name, and of the place and contrey where hys lyfflod lyth, and whedder he hath any chylder, and, after, I shall demene me in the mater as yowr Lordship shall be pleasyd; for in gode feyth, my Lord, it were to me grette joy that my seyd poresuster were, according to hier pore degre, marijd be yowr avyse, trustyng thanne that ye wold be here gode Lord.

Ryght wurchipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I beseche Almyghty God to have yow in His kepyng. Wrete att Norwych, the xv. day of Jull.

327.1[From Fenn, iii. 216.] This letter is the answer toNo. 250, originally printed from a copy in Paston’s own handwriting, without signature.

To my ryght reverent and worshipfull maister, John Paston, be this dylyverd at London, and ellys sent to hym to Norwic.

1454JULY 20

Rygthworshipfull Sir, and my rygth good maister, I recomend me to you. Lyke you to wete I have spoken wyth my lord Chaunceler328.2and put the bylle by for hym and all the lordis upon Wednesday at after non last past, wenyng to me to have an answer upon Thursday. And my lord Chaunceler told me that they sped no partycler mater yet syn they cam, nor han no leyser to attend swych maters. I have spoken to my Lord Wylchyre,328.3and he promysed to help forth that he can, and my Lord Beauchamp328.4bothe. Fenyngley cam but on Thursday at evyn. Item, Sir, I have do made a new bylle whyche I purpose to delyver to the kyng. And, Sir, the lordes merveyle sore of the entre that was made by the straunge man or my lord entred; they thynk that was a straunge werk and a sotyll. Item, I spake to my Lord Chaunceler how my maister328.5and ye and your frendis were pute owte of the comyssyon of pees; neverthe les he hath not graunted yet non newe. And as for the questyon that ye wylled me to aske my lord, I fond hym yet at nogood leyser. Item, Sir, after the lordys seying, the Councell schuld breke up on Monday next comyng. And as for the Archebysshop of York329.1is heyll and mery, &c. Wretyn the xx. day of July.—By your man and servaunt,Thomas Playter.

328.1[Add.MS.34,889, f. 217.] The reference to Lord Wiltshire proves the date of this letter to lie between 1449 and 1460, and it would seem to be 1454 when the 20th July was a Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday being spoken of as past dates and Monday as a future one.328.2Richard, Earl of Salisbury.328.3James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde.328.4John, Lord Beauchamp.328.5Sir John Fastolf.329.1William Booth was Archbishop of York from 1452 to 1464. If the letter had been earlier Cardinal Kemp would have been Archbishop of York, and would have been called ‘Cardinal of York.’

328.2Richard, Earl of Salisbury.

328.3James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde.

328.4John, Lord Beauchamp.

328.5Sir John Fastolf.

329.1William Booth was Archbishop of York from 1452 to 1464. If the letter had been earlier Cardinal Kemp would have been Archbishop of York, and would have been called ‘Cardinal of York.’

To his wurchypfull Brodyr, John Paston.

1454[JULY]

Rythwurchypfull broder, I recomande to yow; and as for tedyng, my Lord of Yorke hathe take my Lord of Exsater329.3in to hys awarde. The Duke of Somerset329.4is styll in prison, in warse case than he was. Syr Jon Fastolf recomande hym to yow, &c. He wyll ryde in to Norfolke ward as on Trusday, and he wyll dwelle at Caster, and Skrop329.5wyth hym. He saythe ye ar the hartyest kynysman and frynd that he knowyts. He wolde have yow at Mawdeby dwellyng.

I had gret cher of Byllyng be the way, and he told me in cownsayle wathe he sayd to Ledam.

Ledam wulde a do hys wyse to a mad a complent to Pryothe329.6in the scher-howse of yow, and Byllyng consallyd hym to leve, and tolde Ledam ye and he wer no felawys, and sayd to Ledam, ‘That is the gyse of yowr contre men, to spendalle the good they have on men and lewery gownys, and hors and harnes, and so beryt owth for j wylle [bear it out for a while], and at the laste they arn but beggars; and so wyll ye do. I wylde ye schull do wyll, be cause ye ar a felaw in Grays In, wer I was a felaw. As for Paston, he ys a swyr [squire] of wurchyp, and of gret lyvelode, and I wothe he wyll not spend alle hys good as [at?] onys, but he sparyt yerly C. mark, or j. C.li.[£100]; he may do his ennemy a scherewd turne and never far the warse in hys howsholde, ner the lesse men abowthe hym. Ye may not do so, but if yt be for j. [one] sesun. I consayll yow not to contenu long as ye do. I wulle consalle yow to seke reste wyth Paston.’

And I thankkyd Byllyng on yowr behalfe.

God have yow in hys kepyng.

Be yowr por Brodyr,Wyllyam Paston.

Meche odyr thyng I can telle an I had lesur. Recomande me to my suster Margeth [and] my cosyn Elizabeth Clyr, I pray yow.

329.2[From Fenn, i. 72.] The date of this letter is fixed by the fact referred to in Note 3, and by Sir John Fastolf’s going into Norfolk, which, though delayed a little later than is here projected, certainly did take place in 1454. See another letter of William Paston further on, dated 6th September.329.3Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 24th July the Duke of York was charged by the Privy Council to convey him to Pomfret Castle.—SeeNicolas’sPrivy Council Proceedings, vi. 217.329.4Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was committed to the Tower in the end of the year 1453.—Seep. 290, Note 1.329.5Stephen Scroope, Sir John Fastolf’s ward, son of Lady Fastolf, by her former husband.329.6John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

329.3Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 24th July the Duke of York was charged by the Privy Council to convey him to Pomfret Castle.—SeeNicolas’sPrivy Council Proceedings, vi. 217.

329.4Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was committed to the Tower in the end of the year 1453.—Seep. 290, Note 1.

329.5Stephen Scroope, Sir John Fastolf’s ward, son of Lady Fastolf, by her former husband.

329.6John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.

To his rythe worchypfull and harthy wellebelovyd suster, Margere Paston, dwellyng in Norwyche.

[1454]AUG. 10

Rytheharthely well belovyd suster, I recomand me, &c. And I have received zowre letteres. And as for my nevewes, they lerne rythe well bothe, and there gownys and there gere schall be mad for hem a cordyng the enthenthe of zowre letter, and all oder thynggis that behovyth on to here profythe harddely to my powere.And, Suster, God zelde zow for zowre labore fore me, for gaderyng of my mony. And I pray, as sone as ze receyvyth, send it heder be some trusty man; and that it plese to calle ther on, &c. My suster and my broder recomand hem to zow bothe, and I may say to zow in counsayll sche is op on poyn of mariage, so that moder and my broder sett frendely and stedfastely there on, leke as I wothe well ze wolld, and it lay in zow as it dothe in hem, &c. I pray zow do zoure parthe to kall theron. It were to long to wrythe on to zow all the maner of demenyng of this mater; and therfor I have spoke to Wyllyam Worseter and to Wethewell to tell it zow holly as it is. I wothe ryth well zow (sic) good labore may do moche; and send me word how ze here as hastely as ze may. Item, Howard spak of a mariage betwex his sone and my neece Margery, zowr dother: it wer well do such materes wer nawthe sclawfully laboryd; it is wurchypfull, &c. Send me word, and Gog (sic) have zow in His kepyng. Wretyn at London on Sent Lawrens day in hast.—Be zowre brodyre,Wyllyam Paston.

Item, send zow a letter directyd to Wollysby. I pray zow lethe it be delyvered hym as hastely as ze may; and if ze come to this contre I am leke to se zow, and we schall make rythe mery I trust.

330.1[Add.MS.33,597, f. 5.] This letter is in the handwriting of William Paston, son of the judge; but the ‘Margery’ Paston to whom it is addressed seems to be his brother John’s wife, Margaret. His nephews, John Paston’s sons, were at school in London. His sister Elizabeth, who was married to Robert Poynings in 1458, is here said to be upon the point of marriage, but no doubt this refers to the negotiations of the year 1454, as the eldest of John Paston’s sons must have been sixteen in 1458. St. Laurence’s day, on which the letter was written, is the 10th August.

To our right trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Esquire.

The Duc of York.

1454AUG. 19

Righttrusty and welbeloved, we grete yow hertily wel. And of your benivolence, aide, and tendre love by yow, at th’instance and at the reverence of us, to our right trusty and welbeloved in God, the prior and convent ofthe hows of Our Lady of Walsingham, of our patronage, in suche matres as they had adoo for certain lyvelood by tham claymed to belonge unto the seid hows, favorably and tendrely shewed,—as hertily as we can we thank yow, and desire and pray yow of your good continuance; and as far as right, lawe, and good conscience wol, to have in favorable recommendacion suche personnes as been or shal bee committed to take possession and saison, in the name and to the use of our ful worshipful nepveu, th’erl of Warrewic, in and of the manoirs and Lordeships of Boules and Walcots,332.1with th’appertenauntes in Litel Snoring in the countee of Norffolk, as our grete trust is unto yow. And God have yow in His keping.

Yeven undre our signet at our castel of Sandhall the xix. day of August.R. York.

331.1[From Fenn, i. 92.] This and the following letter could hardly have been written in any year except 1454 or 1455, when the Duke of York was in power. In the former year he is very likely to have been at his own castle of Sandal on the 19th August, seeing that on the 24th July he was commissioned to convey the Duke of Exeter to Pomfret Castle.332.1According to Blomefield (vii. 186), Catherine, widow of John Cokerell of Albergh Wykes in Suffolk, died seised of the manors of Walcotes and Boles in 6 HenryVI., which she left, with others, to Catherine, daughter of John Cokerell, junior, her son, who died before his father. This younger Catherine died a minor in 10 HenryVI., and the jury knew not who was her heir. In 29 HenryVI.George Heath of Mildenhall released to Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, all his rights in Walcotes and Boles; but in the 18th of HenryVII.Christopher Conyers and Alice his wife conveyed it to the Heydons. Of its having been purchased by the Earl of Warwick or having belonged to the Prior of Walsingham, as stated in the next letter, Blomefield tells us nothing except that Richard, Earl of Warwick, presented to the rectory of Snoring Parva in 1460 and 1466.

332.1According to Blomefield (vii. 186), Catherine, widow of John Cokerell of Albergh Wykes in Suffolk, died seised of the manors of Walcotes and Boles in 6 HenryVI., which she left, with others, to Catherine, daughter of John Cokerell, junior, her son, who died before his father. This younger Catherine died a minor in 10 HenryVI., and the jury knew not who was her heir. In 29 HenryVI.George Heath of Mildenhall released to Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, all his rights in Walcotes and Boles; but in the 18th of HenryVII.Christopher Conyers and Alice his wife conveyed it to the Heydons. Of its having been purchased by the Earl of Warwick or having belonged to the Prior of Walsingham, as stated in the next letter, Blomefield tells us nothing except that Richard, Earl of Warwick, presented to the rectory of Snoring Parva in 1460 and 1466.

To the worshipfull and my right trusty frende John Paston, Squyer.

1454AUG. 23

Worshipfulland my right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you well. And forasmuch as I have purchased of the worshipfull and my welbeloved frende, Priour of Walsyngham, ij. maners in Lityl Snoryng, with thappurtenants, in the Counte of Norffolk, which manersbe cleped Bowles and Walcotes,—I desir and hertily praye yow, that ye woll shewe to me, and my feoffes in my name, your good will and favour, so that I may by your frendship the more peasably rejoy my forsaid purchase.

And more over I praye you to yeve credens in this mater to my welbeloved chapellayn, Syr John Suthwell, berer of this my lettre, and in the same mater to be my feithfull frende, as my gret trust is in you, wherin ye shall do to me a singular pleasir, and cause me to bee to yow right good lord, which sumtyme shall be to you available by the grace of God, who preserve you and sende you welfare.

Yeven under my signet at Midilham, the xxiij. day of August.

332.2[From Fenn, i. 88.] See preliminary note to the last letter (p. 331, Note 1).

To my Maister Paston.

H. R.

1454(?)SEPT. 2

Aftyrdewe recomendacion wyth my simple service precedyng, please your maistershyp to wete, that as to such remembraunce that ye desyre me to contynew forth to the uttermost, I shall wyth gode wille, so as my maister wille licence me, as oft as I can, th’officer to hafeleysure to be wyth me, for ye know well I can not do it alone, &c.

And where as ye of your pleasure wryte me or calle me Maister Worcestr, I pray and requyre yow foryete that name of maistershyp, for I am not amended by my maister of a ferthyng yn certeynte, but of wages of housold in comuneentaunt come nows plaira. By Worcestr or Botoner I hafevs.yerly, all costs born, to help pay for bonetts that I lose. I told so my maister thys weke, and he seyd me yerstenday he wyshed me to hafe be a preest, so I had be disposed, to hafe gofe me a lyvyng by reson of a benefice, that anothyr most gefe it, as the Byshop, but he wold; and so I endureinter egenos ut servus ad aratrum.

Forgefe me, I wryte to make yow laugh; and our Lord bryng my maister yn a better mode for othyrs as for me.

At Caistr, ijdday of September.

I pray yow displeser not your servaunt be so long, for my maister lettet hym.Your,W. Wyrcestyr.

333.1[From Fenn, iii. 318.] This and the next letter were certainly written on the same day, but the precise year may be questioned. From a comparison of the two together, with William Barker’s letter of the 3rd Nov. following (No. 265), I am inclined to think all three belong to the year 1454, when Sir John Fastolf had just come to settle for the rest of his days in Norfolk. Sir John Fenn, I think rightly, considers this first letter to have been written between jest and earnest; and this tone may be very well explained by the supposition, that on Fastolf’s settlement at Caister, Worcester expected to have had some position of importance assigned to him in his master’s household. That such would be his fortune was probably the expectation of others as well as himself, and apparently John Paston had written to him in the belief that Worcester’s influence with Sir John might occasionally be of value to him.

To my maister, John Paston, Squier, be this delyvered.

1454(?)SEPT. 2

Ryghtworshypfull Sir, I recommaund me to yow. And my maister hertly thankyth yow for the venyson that ye sent hym from my Lord of Oxford, and prayeth yow that he may be recommaunded to hys noble Lordshyp. And God thank yow for your speciall remembraunce of my mater that ye hafe it so tendyrly to hert, for ye may know weel the gode spede of that ys my wellfare and the contrarye ys my utter undoyngs. I hafe sent to John Porter to wete verrayly how it standyth with hym, as ye shallwete the certeynte thys weke. As for the mater wryt to Bokkyng he hath rad ys lettre, and wille remember your desyre, and also of William Geney comyng, yn case he know of it rathyr then ye.

And my maistre herd the substaunce of your lettre red, and lyked it ritz well. And as for the mater of Worcester remembraunce, he shall geve hys attendaunce therto yn that he can. And where ye calle hym maister, he ys displesed wyth that name, for he may spend vs. yerly more by the name of Worcestr or Botoner, and by hys maister not a ferthyng yn certeynte. He prayth yow foryete it.

I pray God kepe yow. Wryt at Castr hastly ijdday of September.Your oune,T. Howes.

Item, yn case Jankyn335.1be hole, my Lord of Norffolk hath graunted [him] by moyen of Robert Wyngfeld, to be yn my seyd Lord ys houshold, as my maister hath it by lettre from Wyngfeld.

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