67.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the desire expressed by the writer in this letter to visit his own country, we may refer it to the same period as the last.67.2Sir John Fastolf.68.1Sir Thomas Howes.316BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON68.2About 1456Please yow to wete that as for ease of my maisters68.3tenaunts in Dedham, yff a lettre were devysed by Maister Geney yn my maister name or youres to Thomas Hygham, one of the justices of pease in Suffolk that toke the veredyt, he myzt do grete ease, as yn disavowyng of it or yn wythdrawyng it owte of the bokes. Robert Dene, clerk of the pese, seyth that lete my maister councell avise that whych he may do undammaged hymsylf, and he wille with all hys hert. John Bokkyng ys well remembred that my maister caused the seyd Thomas Hygham, by Maister Geney mocion, to be one of the justice of pease, and one Jermyn of Suffolk also. Whych both Hygham and Jermyn hath suffred my maister hafe, savyng your reverence, tweyn shrewde tornys seth that they mizt hafe letted, as now the seyd Thomas Hygham myzt hafe letted the presentment or a moderated othyrwyse, &c.At reverence of God, beyth as sone as ye may with my maister to ease hys spyryttes. He questioneth and desputyth with hys servauntes here, and wolle not be aunsuerd ne satisfyed som tyme but after hys wylfulnesse, for hyt suffysyth not our simple wyttes to appease hys soule; but when he spekyth wyth MaisterZelverton, yow, or wyth William Geney and suche othyrs as be auctorised yn the law, and wyth haboundance of godes, he ys content and haldeth hym pleased wyth your aunsuers and mocions, as reson ys that he be. So wold Jesus, one of yow iij., or som suche othyr yn your stede, myzt hang at hys gyrdyll dayly to aunsuer hys materes.I had but litille thyng to done when I scrybled thys bille.Your,W. Botoner.68.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] There is no address to this letter, but it seems to have been intended for John Paston. The exact time when it was written is uncertain, but we have placed it after the last on account of the reference to Deddam. The true date cannot be many years before or after 1456.68.3Sir John Fastolf.317ABSTRACT69.1Sir John Fastolf ‘to the worshipful Lady and my right wellbeloved Sister, Whytyngham.’1456JAN. 20As all the executors of my Lord Regent, except himself, are dead, and as he would not have her troubled in her age ‘for execution of my said Lord’s goods,’ nor for the evidences of his purchased lands, etc., which were left in keeping ‘with my brother your husband,’ sends John Paston and other his attorneys to common with her, and settle the matter, which will be a great discharge for her husband’s soul.Castre, 20 Jan.[This letter must have been written after the death of Lord Cromwell, who was one of Bedford’s executors, and who died on the 4th January 1456.—Seehis Epitaph in Dugdale’sBaronage, ii. 46.]69.1[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 266.]318ABSTRACT69.2Sir John Fastolf to John Bokking or William Barker, to deliver to John Paston at London.1456JAN. 25Copy of a letter of Fastolf’s to the wife of Sir Robert Whytyngham (the copy examined by Botoner) to the same effect as the preceding No., but with some slight differences in the wording, and dated 25th January instead of 20th.On the back is written:— ‘Cousin Paston, I pray you take Nicholas Molyneux, Thomas West, or Robert Waryn, whether ye may hafe at leyser, with you, to go speke with the gentlewoman.’69.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 275.]319SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON AND OTHERS70.1To my right trusty frendes, John Paston, Nicholas Molyneux, and Thomas West, Escuiers.1456JAN. 26WorchipfullSirs, and my right trusty frendis, I commaunde me to you. And lyke you to wite that I desire to knowe in certayn, or evere I laboured to London, by whate menys in the lawe spirituell or temporell I might labour, or ellys my frendes and atturneys in my name and in myne absence myght laboure best, for the recuvere of the goodes of my Lord of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, and that his purchaced londes might be sold to fulfille his wille and pay his debtes. And if it were thought that the most spedyest and seurest wey were to have it doon by act of Parlement, than I desire and pray you, as my singuler trust is in you, that ye wille do make a substanciall bille in my name upon the said mater and for the said cause, to be grounded and devised by avis of substanciall lerned man, as Thomas Yonge and othir suche, and of civille lawe, and the said bille to be put up to the Kyng, whiche is chief supervisor of my said Lordis testament, and to the Lordes Spirituelle and Temporelle, as to the Comyns, of this present Parlement, so as the iij. astates may graunte and passe hem cleerly. And the said bille may be grounded with so grete resons by your wysdomes and good enformacion, and so rightfull and of conscience that it shall not be denyed, ne letted to passe amonges the Lordes Spirituell and Temporell, neythir amonges the Comyns, whan it comyth before hem. And if this said bille, after it is devised and made, and sent me a copie of hit, hit shold be to me a singuler confort; for or evere I came to London, I wold that alle thing shuld be made redy to my hande. And it were exspedientand according that my Lord Chaunceller71.1were meoved that it might please his good Lordship to write a lettre to me, in case I must come up for the said cause, and that by as muche he is in the mater as souverain juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie, and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is aproved in his court before his predecessour. And Alle myghty God kepe you.Writ at Castre, the xxvj. day of Januar.Your,J. Fastolf.And I wolde this bille were devised by my Lord of Caunterbury is avis and agreement, to th’entent that he may tender the mater the more whan it shalle come in revolucion before hym. And I pray you hertely to take this mater tendirlye to hert, for it shall be to me my most singuler comfort, and for my discharge a grete record as of myne acquitayle to my said Lordis soule. Also ye must make frendes of suche as be nere aboute my said Lord of Caunterbury, and may do, as Maister John Stokys and his styward, for to remembre his good Lordship as ofte as nede is. And that Davy Breknok ne Sir Robert Whitingham wyffe be not foryeete.70.1[The original of this letter is the property of W. A. Tyssen Amhurst, Esq. of Didlington Park, Brandon.] As this letter was written during Sir John Fastolf’s residence at Caister, and Parliament appears to have been sitting at the time, the date must be 1456.71.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.320WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON71.2To the worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier.1456JAN. 27Worshypfull, aftyr dew recomendacion, please your gode maistershyp to wete that where as my maister wrytith to yow so homelye of so manye materes to yow of hys, to be remembred unto hys councell lerned by mene of yow and of hys frendz and servauntz there,y pray yow and requyre yow not to wyte [impute] it me that y am the causer of it that my seyd maister noyeth yow with so manye materes, for, be God, hym sylf remembryth the moste part of hem; albe it the particler rehersell of the materes be fressher yn my remembraunce then yn hys. And, Sir, yn trouth he boldyth hym to wryte to yow for the grete lofe and singler affeccion he hath yn yow before all othyr yn hys causes spedyng, and that ye wille moste tendyrlye of ony othyr remembre hys servauntes as well as othyrs to whom belongyth to spede the materes. He desyryth my Lord Chauncellor shuld wryte to hym speciallye yff he most nedes com upp, and a bille to be made yn to Parlement for recuvere of my Lord Bedford godes.Sir, there ys one Haryngton of Doncastre, a besye soule, that damagyth my maistre to gretely in Bentley. And Herry Sotehille ys of my maister councell, but no thyng that ys profytable ys don to hym to remedye it, ye shall see by one Sir John Vincentes letter sent to yow now, and W. Barker can enforme yow. Yn the ende of thys terme y suppose to be at London, and yn to west contre. My maistre wrytith to yow for a rent of viijli.of annuite charged of a touneshyp called Batham Wyly, that Maister Scrope he shall be beneficed yn the ryzt of it. Ye have nede fare fayre with hym, for he ys full daungerouse when he wille. Y gate hym gode evidensis of the seyd rent that my maister ne my lady had nevere, and he can not know it, &c. Also my maister hath wreten to yow for avice of a new feffement to be made for the maners of Tychewell and Beytone, and betyme he desyryth to be sent hym. Y pray yow, and ye se Maister Yng at a leyser to commaund me to hym, and trustyng hys gode maistershyp that he wille be of my councell ayenst one William Fouler of Bokyngham thath kepyth from me a litelle lond. And yff he wille contynew hys gode maistershyp to me, ye may sey hym that I cast duelle yn my contree, and wayt uppon hym to help ghete ayen a pore gode of myn, for heere y thryve not, but lose my tyme. Y pray our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.Wryt hastlye, the xxvij. day of Januare.Your,W. Wyrcestre.71.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter must have been written the day after the last, as this also speaks of a bill being presented to Parliament for recovery of the Duke of Bedford’s goods. The passage in which the writer proposes visiting the west country confirms the date of Letter 314.321SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON73.1To the worshypfull Sir, and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston; and in hys absence, to John Bokkyng and William Barker.1456FEB. 5WorshypfullSir and cosyn, I recomaund me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that y have a taylle73.2with my cosyn Fenne73.3of vc.[500] marc and more, for to be chaunged uppon such places as a man myght have moste spedye payment; and I pray yow hertlye to comyn wyth the seyd Fenne, that y myght be ensured of the seyd taylle to be eschaunged; and for whate rewarde competant to be yeven uppon the same, I wolle agree it.Item, I desyre to know who ben the residew, the remenant of the co-executors of the Lord Wyllughbye,73.4now the Lord Cromewell73.5ys decesed; for thys cause. Hyt was so, that there was dew to the Lord Wyllughbye and to me x. ml.[10,000] marc for a reward, to be payd of my Lord Bedford ys godes, for the takyng of the Duc of Allauncon.73.6And the seyd Lord Wyllughbye had but one thowsand marc payd, and I ml.[1000] mrc, soo viij. ml.[8000] levyth [remains] yhyt to pay; of whych somme iiij. ml.[4000] most grow to the executors of the seyd Lord Wyllughby to dispose. And therfor y desyre that the executors, and such as most have intrest in the Lord Wyllughby goodes, may be comyned wyth; that they may [make] purseute for payment of the seyd iiij. ml.[4000] marc, for hys part to be had, and y shall make for my part.And [i.e.if] Maister Nevyle,74.1the whych hath wedded my Lady Wyllughbye, have power or intrest to resseyve the Lord Wyllughby ys debts, then he to be labured untoo. And my Lord of Salysburye woll be a grete helper yn thys cause.The Kyng, whych ys Supervisor of my Lord Bedford testament, hath wreten and comaunded by sondry lettres, that the seyd Lord Wyllughbye shuld be content for hys part. And so moch the mater ys the furtherer.And ther ys one Yon’, a servaunt of the Lord Wyllughbye, whych pursewed thys mater; yff he were yn London, he coude geve gode enformacion uppon thys mater.Y pray yow wryte to me how my maters doth, and of such noveltees as ye have there. And our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.Wreten at Castr hastlye, v. day of Feveryer, anno xxxiiijtoRegis HenriciVI.Your cosyn,J. Fastolf.73.1[From Fenn, i. 120.]73.2A tally. This was a cleft stick, in both parts of which notches were cut to represent sums of money due; on which one part was given to the creditor, the other being retained by the debtor.73.3Hugh Fenn.73.4Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby.73.5Ralph, Lord Cromwell.73.6John, Duke of Alençon, taken prisoner at the battle of Verneuil in 1424.74.1Sir Thomas Nevill, a younger son of Richard, Earl of Salisbury, married Maud, the widow of Robert, Lord Willoughby.—Dugdale, ii. 86.322JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF74.2To the right reverent and worshipful Sir, and my right good maister, my maister Sir John Fastolf, at Castre.1456FEB. 9Rightreverent and my right worshipful maister, I recomaunde me to yow in my right humble wise. Please hit your right good maistership to wyte that on Sonday laste I sent yow many and divers lettres and writynges, by Lampet, of all matiers that I hadde knowlege at that tyme redy to answere. And now suche tidinges as ar here, but fewe that ar straunge, excepte that this day myLordes York and Warwik comen to the Parlement in a good aray, to the noumbre of iijc.[300] men, all jakkid75.1and in brigantiens,75.2and noo lord elles, wherof many men mervailed. It was seid on Saterday my Lord shuld have ben discharged this same day. And this day was seide, but if he hadde come stronge, he shuld have bene distrussid; and no man knoweth or can sey that ony prefe may be hadde by whom, for men thinken verily there is no man able to take ony suche enterprinse.The Kyng, as it was tolde me by a grete man, wolde have hym chief and princepall counceller, and soo to be called hise chef counceller and lieutenant as longe as hit shuld lyke the Kyng; and hise patent to be made in that forme, and not soo large as it is by Parlement. But soome men thinken it wil ner can otherwise bee; and men speke and devyne moche matere of the comyng this day in suche array to Westminster. And the Lordes speken this day in the Parlement of a greet gleymyng sterre that but late hathe be seen diverse tymes, merveilous in apperyng. The resumpsion, men truste, shall forthe, and my Lordes of Yorkes first power of protectorship stande, and elles not, &c. The Quene is a grete and strong labourid woman, for she spareth noo peyne to sue hire thinges to an intent and conclusion to hir power.I have seid to the bringer here of more to declare yow alle a longe. And as for hise comyng, ye like to understande that your nevew, my Maister Filongley, hathe laboured and doon that he cowde or myght to hise preferraunce; but as for to make hym freman and at hise ease, to hise profite and worship, it can not bee with owte William Lyne be here, that boughte hise prentishode of his maister, to hise grete hurte and castyng of bakke by ij. or iij. yere of tyme loste; and ne were it that the maister and wardeyns of the Taillours tendre hym, be cause of yow and of Fynynglee, hise firste maister, that solde hym to William Lyne, as weel as the seide Lyne and Richard, shuld alle lese ther fredoms, as ye shall more pleinly understande by the reporte of the seid Richard, &c.This day was my Lord Devenshire at Westminstre, and shuld have apperid, but he was countermaundid. As to youre matier of Wentworthe, the trety contynueth, and is putte by the arbitrours in Fortescu and Yelverton, and we have day of newe til Friday come sevenyght. God graunte it take a good ende. The lawe is with us clerly, as weel in th’atteynte as therinne as yette, blessid be our Lord, hoo have you in hise most noble governaunce.Written in your place this Moneday of Fastyngange,76.1ml.cccclv.Your humble servaunt,J. B.And that ye like to write a good lettre for Richard Fastolf to Sir Roger Chamberleyn, and to Thornton, Chamberleyn of London, and to both of hem, &c.74.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 265.]75.1i.e.in coats of mail.—Seevol. ii. p. 322, Note 3.75.2Seevol. ii. p. 155, Note 2.76.1Fastingong was Shrovetide.—Seevol. ii. p. 131, Note 1.323ABSTRACT76.2Sir John Fastolf to John Paston1456FEB. 12Thanks him for the pains he takes in his ‘chargeable matters,’ especially the ward of T. F., and his advice for the recovery of my Lord of Bedford’s goods. My servants Bokkyng and Barker have written to me for writings making mention of the jewels and goods of my Lord delivered to Sir Robert Whitingham that they cannot find there. I send, therefore, W. Worcestre with a copy of Whitingham’s account, which, however, is not a complete statement.Castre, 12 Feb.P.S.—Has just received a letter from Paston, for which he thanks him.[This letter was evidently written in the same year asNo. 317.]76.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 270.]324HUGH A FENNE TO JOHN PASTON77.1To the right worchepfull Sir, John Paston, at Norwich.1456MARCH 1Ryghtworchepfull Sir, I recumaunde me un to you. Leke you to wete my Maister Fastolf compert77.2is spedde and demyd in the Eschequyer for hym a yens the Kyng, wher in was crafti labour and cloos to the seid spede, and laked no dylygence, for the matter was defused and dubble intendementz after dyverse mennys appynyons.Her is Williem Brandon, late Eschetour,77.3and wold have anon molestando77.4for Fulthorp; and be cause ye spake to me that no mo shuld be sued owte, and I can gete no lybarate77.5in that case, therfore, as it is tolde me, he wyll have oon up on Wenteworth is patente, and that wer to my maister bothe velleny and hurte. I pray you send me heryn your avyse. It is no grete maistre to gader up that mony, if it wer wele labord. I have somwhat affrayed them, and made hem spend mony, as I wot well ye shall her therof. Ye and I been discharged of our maynprys.Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore,help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.From London, the furst day of Marche.Your,Hugh a Fenne.77.1[From Fenn, iii. 332.] The first paragraph of this letter seems to relate to Fastolf’s claims against the Crown set forth inNos. 309and310, and as these seem to have been drawn up in the end of 1455, this letter probably belongs to the year following. The reference to William Brandon as ‘late escheator’ confirms this date; and also, perhaps, the mention, at the end, of William Norwich, who was Sheriff of Norwich this year.77.2Compertorium is a judicial inquest in civil proceedings made by Commissioners to find out, etc., the truth of a cause.—F.77.3An Escheator was a county officer who certified into the Exchequer the King’s escheats,i.e.lands which fell to the King, either for a time or altogether, as by the death of tenantsin capite, minority of heirs, etc. William Brandon was Escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from 13th November 33 Hen.VI.to 4th November 34 Hen.VI.,i.e.from 1454 to 1455.77.4A writ which lies for him who is molested contrary to the King’s protection granted him.—F.77.5A writ ofliberateis a warrant either for the payment of annual pensions, etc., granted under the Great Seal, or for delivery of possession of certain lands or goods in the custody of a sheriff.325JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON78.1To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston.1456(?)[MAR. 24]Afterdue recomendacion had, please it your maistership to wytte that William Yelverton was mevid by me to comene with my maister his fadir, as I wrot to yow from Norwich. And now he tellith me that he hath comened with his fadir; and he undirstondith that his fadir seyth that he hath not knowelaged Fennes78.2obligacion. And he seyth that Maister Fastolf undirstood that Fen hadde title to the maner of Haryngby, and therfor wold he that Fen shuld have it after Maister F. lyve; and, by liklynes, ther shall be labour made by Fenn to have releses of Maister Yelverton, &c., but he hath not yet relesed. He can no moreundirstond of hym as yet. If he can undirstond ony more pleynly this day, I shall have knowelage at Norwich on Friday or Saterday next comyng. Please it you to have pacience, though I write so brefly.In hast, at Walsyngham, the Wednesseday next to fore Esterne.Youre pouere servaunt,James Gr.78.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As this letter relates to money matters of Fenn and Sir John Fastolf, it may most probably be referred to the same year asNos. 321and324.78.2Hugh Fenn.—SeeNo. 324.326ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF79.1To the right worshipfull, and my right entierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolf, Knight.1456MARCH 27Rightworshipful, and my right entierly welbeloved, I grete you right hertly wele, thanking you specialy, and in full herty wise, for the verray geantle goodnesse that ye have shewid unto me at all tymes, praying you of good contynuance.And as touching suche matiers as ye sente unto me fore, I truste to God verraly, insomuche as the rule is amendid heer, and the wedder waxeth seesonable and pleasante, to see you in thise parties within short tyme, at whiche tyme I shal commune and demeene unto you in suche wise, that ye shal be right wele pleasid.And as for the matier concernyng my Lord of Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye, but that ye shal finde me hertly wel-willid to doo that I can or may for th’accomplesshment of youre desire, as wel in that matier as in other, like as your servaunte John Bokking, berer hereof, can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve; to whom like hit you to yeve feith andcredence in this partie. And the blissid Trinitee have you everlastingly in His keping.Written in my Manoir of Lamehith, the xxvj. daie of March.Your feithfull and trew,Th. Cant.79.1[From Fenn, i. 124.] The date of this letter will appear tolerably certain on a comparison withNo. 319. In that letter Fastolf talks of coming up to London, if necessary, about the matter of my Lord of Bedford’s goods, but expresses a wish that if he is to come, my Lord Chancellor—viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury—should be got to write him a letter about it.327DAME ALICE OGARD TO JOHN PASTON80.1To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer.1456MARCH 30Ryghtworshippfull and enterly belovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow hertyly; latyng yow wete that there ys a contraversie mevyd be twix my cosyn John Radeclyff80.2of Attylburgh and me for the advoweson of the chirch of Attylburgh, the whech ys now voide, wheroff the title is myn veryly as God knowith, the whech shall be oppenyd unto yow; and upon Thursday next atte Wymondham, there shall be take an enquerrede jure patronatusafore Master Robert Popy and Master Symond Thornham, atte whech day I may nought be my selff as God knowyth, and thow I myght, yt were not convenyent.And therfore, ryght trusty cosyn, consideryng that I am a wedowe impotent as of body, tendyrly and hertily I pray you, yf yt lyke yow, to be there assistyng my councell in my right as reson and lawe will upon Thursday next, be viij. of the clokke; and Fyncham,80.3Spelman, and othir of my councell shall be than there waytyng upon yow. And, jentyll cosyn, have me excused thowh I wryte thus brefly and homly to yow, for in trouth I do it of a synguler trust and affection, thewheche I have in yow, consideryng the goode nome and fame of trouth, wysdom, and good conducte, the which I here of you. And therfor, and ye may to youre well, I beseche you hertyly to be there, and ye shall nought lese therby with the grace of Almyghty Jesu, the wheche evyr preserve and promote you, gentill cosyn, in moche worship to youre hertys ease.Atte Bokenham Castell, on Teuysday in Pache weke, in hast.D. A. Ogard.81.180.1[From Fenn, iii. 290.] This letter would appear to have been written in the year 1456, as Thomas Fairclowe, D.D., was presented to the church of Attleborough on the 2nd August in that year by Dame Alice Ogard as patron.80.2John Radcliff, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Walter, Lord Fitz-Walter. He was in her right called Lord Fitz-Walter, and was killed at Ferrybridge in 1461.80.3Simeon Fincham, of Fincham, Esq. His son John married Agnes, daughter of John Spelman, of Beckerton, Esq., I suppose the person here mentioned. He died in 1460, and Simeon in 1458.—F.81.1Dame Alice Ogard was the widow of Sir Andrew Ogard, Knight, whose first wife was Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Clifton, Knight, of Bokenham Castle. He died in 1454, and Alice, his relict, in 1460.—F.328HUGH FENN TO JOHN PASTON81.2To the worchepfull sir, John Paston esquyer.1456(?)APRIL 25WorchepfullSir, my reverent and right trusty maister and cosyn, I recommaunde me to you. Lyke you to wyte that wher I have made my fyne of Ikburgh with Nicholas Waterman, thanne beyng feodary to my Lorde of Yorke, as the same Nicholas wil recorde, wherof sufficient writyng is had; the which payment, so made, is sufficient in the lawe; in the which caas noo newe feodary is chargeable nor I demaundable, but the seide Nicholas owe to answere therof in his accompt; and if he concele, my Lorde may have good remedy ageyns hym, and so owe to do. The which not withstandyng, oon I trowe called Osbarn, som tyme your servant, now my Lordis feodary, hath often meved to do I wote not, and now late hath distreyned my cattel, and seith he wil dryve hem awey, &c., and wil have Cs.for fyne, wher my uncle paied xxvjs.viijd., Herry Somer xxs., and so many other ded. Sir, he may do me a pety shame in distreyning and dryvyng awey to make me hevy, and hym not glad I hoopat the loong, but wroong shal he nor any other do me, wher I may gete remedy by the lawe in any place throw Goddis mercy. Wherfor, sir, if he be stille in your servyse, lyke you I myght have knowlech, and thanne if your discreccion semith any thyng that I owe to do, by you I wil be advertysed and ruled; and if I coude conceyve that I owe to pay ageyn, as I understonde clerly the contrary, forsothe in right hasty seson wold I provyde and send hym from my seid lorde a sufficient discharge for myn more availl, that he shuld noght lose by me. And that is reson aswele, for that I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil. I deserve my lordis good lordeship as wele as any other of my simple poer her. I besech you that by this simple bille I may be recommaunded to my worchepful maistresse. The blissid Trinite have you in His holy governaunce. Written, London xxv. day of Aprill.Youris owen,Hugh a Fenne.81.2[Add.MS.34,889, f. 173.] The year of this letter is uncertain, but it must belong to the latter part of HenryVI.’s reign, and there is great probability that it was written in 1456, likeNo. 324, which is also written by Hugh Fenn from London.329SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON82.1To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly.1456MAY 2WorchepfullCosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterburyand of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground, and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow, my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the ijde.day of Maij.And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London, I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I have to comowne with yow, &c.J. Fastolf.82.1[Add.MS.35,251, f. 24, B.M.] This letter seems to be of the same year asNo. 341.330JOHN BOCKYNG TO JOHN PASTON84.1To my worshipful maister, John Paston, Squier.1456MAY 8Sire, please it your maistership to wyte that on Wednesday, the v. day of Maij, I received a lettre from you by the prestis man of Walsyngham, and the Ascencion Day,84.2in the mornyng, I received a lettre from yow bi the handes of John Frays, my maisteris man, in whiche bothe moche thinge is conteyned whiche alle at this tyme I may not answere un to my comyng the nexte weke. And as to our atteynte,84.3the Chief Justice hathe, sithe this day sevenyght, kept the Gildehalle in London with alle the Lordes and Juges, sauf one in eche place. My Maister Markham yesterday rode owte of London be tymes. Notwithstandyng we called ther upon, and hadde at the barre Chokke,84.4Letelton,84.5Jenney,84.6Illyngworth,84.7John Jenney, and Dyne, and remembrid the longe hangyng and the trouthe of the matier, with the grete hurte of the partie in the tyme; and we have rule the next terme betymes, and non otherwise, for to morwe the juges sitten ayen in the toune. Mayster Yelverton can not be myry for Wyrmegey, and as for the distresse, it is anon omittas, and therfore Poley may and wil retorne what isseus he will. If thei be smale, we shall suffre at this time; if thei be grete, we must appere for Wyngfelde; and moche labour we have to conceyve a goode warant of attorney. We shal plede the nextterme, for as at this tyme we wold on Monday enparle and we may.Ye must suerly entrete the shireve, for we have moche to doo with hym, as yesterday hadde we a grete day also in th’eschequer. Myn maister85.1is moche bounde to Haltofte, and there we ar assigned day over to the next terme, and dwelle in law. Our counsail was longe or thei come, but at the laste thei acquitte them weel. The bille was thought not by all that stode at the barre that wer of nother partie. We ar joyned in the sute of the obligacion in the Comon Place ayenst Jenney and Howes. As for attachement, ye may none have withowte ye or on of yow make your othe in propre persone before the barons. I wolde have doon it; I cowde not be amytted. And as for other processe, it is advised that by the cors of th’eschequer I shall take avenire faciasayenst Wentworthe, Andrews, longe Barnard, and Deyvillad respondendum quare in possessionem, &c. ingressi sunt. And we must telle where other Coughawe or Kirkeley, I suppose; and therupon a distresse and an attachement; nevertheles by your othe, &c., hereafter. And it is thought good that the same men shal be in the writte of ravyshment. Jenney hath advised us to ley it in Blithinge hundred, and I have taken of hym names; for as for London it is to nyghe enbracerye, as ye thought well, and soo is Middlesex. Maister Yelverton conceyvith it weel to your entent. There are aboughte and in Suffolk but fewe men as of gentilmen and men of substance, but if [unless] it be in Blithing hundre, were Hopton is grete; but Jenney dredeth it not we may have good men at large; and as for the hundre, he wil doo inow thereinne.As for the tailes of iiijxxli.[four score pounds], as yette we shal doo weel inowghe and thei were contentid; or thei that shal have the silvere, the noyse were the lesse, for it shall, in pledyng, alwey be rehersid by our contrarie party that for x. marc we have alle that evere ther is, &c. I can not here how Wentworthe takith this matier by no meane; what he meneth I wote not. He is no thing pleasid with the matier of the bille in th’eschequer. Thomas Denys come yesterday, andnone erste. I wolde Arblaster and he spoke with yow this vacacion. I write noo more til my comyng.As for tidinges, noon othere thanne I sent yow laste; but forthe on the same, all is as it was with the Quene,86.1the Prince and myn Lord York ar stille at Tutbury and Sandale, and my Lord of Warrewick at Warrewick. My Lord Bukingham rode on Ascencion Even to Writell, noo thing wel plesid, and sumwhat on easid of herte to his purpose; for the King hathe ley in London Friday, Saterday, Sonday, Monday, Teusday, and Wednesday remevid to Westminster agen. In alle whiche tyme, men of London that wer chargid and sworne wolde not nor hadde noo thing presentid sauf trespas; this day thei shal sitte ayen. The peas is weel kepte, but the straungiers86.2ar soore a dradde, and dar not come on brode. Here is alle that I knowe as yet. Our Lord Jesu be with yow.Writen at Suthwerk the viij. day of Maij.I have paied to Dory Cs., and with moche peyne made hym to ghete day of the other Cs. til the nexterme.Your owenJ. B.Endorsed in a seventeenth-century hand.—L’ra Joh’is Bokking, Attorn. in Communi Banco.
67.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the desire expressed by the writer in this letter to visit his own country, we may refer it to the same period as the last.67.2Sir John Fastolf.68.1Sir Thomas Howes.316BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON68.2About 1456Please yow to wete that as for ease of my maisters68.3tenaunts in Dedham, yff a lettre were devysed by Maister Geney yn my maister name or youres to Thomas Hygham, one of the justices of pease in Suffolk that toke the veredyt, he myzt do grete ease, as yn disavowyng of it or yn wythdrawyng it owte of the bokes. Robert Dene, clerk of the pese, seyth that lete my maister councell avise that whych he may do undammaged hymsylf, and he wille with all hys hert. John Bokkyng ys well remembred that my maister caused the seyd Thomas Hygham, by Maister Geney mocion, to be one of the justice of pease, and one Jermyn of Suffolk also. Whych both Hygham and Jermyn hath suffred my maister hafe, savyng your reverence, tweyn shrewde tornys seth that they mizt hafe letted, as now the seyd Thomas Hygham myzt hafe letted the presentment or a moderated othyrwyse, &c.At reverence of God, beyth as sone as ye may with my maister to ease hys spyryttes. He questioneth and desputyth with hys servauntes here, and wolle not be aunsuerd ne satisfyed som tyme but after hys wylfulnesse, for hyt suffysyth not our simple wyttes to appease hys soule; but when he spekyth wyth MaisterZelverton, yow, or wyth William Geney and suche othyrs as be auctorised yn the law, and wyth haboundance of godes, he ys content and haldeth hym pleased wyth your aunsuers and mocions, as reson ys that he be. So wold Jesus, one of yow iij., or som suche othyr yn your stede, myzt hang at hys gyrdyll dayly to aunsuer hys materes.I had but litille thyng to done when I scrybled thys bille.Your,W. Botoner.68.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] There is no address to this letter, but it seems to have been intended for John Paston. The exact time when it was written is uncertain, but we have placed it after the last on account of the reference to Deddam. The true date cannot be many years before or after 1456.68.3Sir John Fastolf.317ABSTRACT69.1Sir John Fastolf ‘to the worshipful Lady and my right wellbeloved Sister, Whytyngham.’1456JAN. 20As all the executors of my Lord Regent, except himself, are dead, and as he would not have her troubled in her age ‘for execution of my said Lord’s goods,’ nor for the evidences of his purchased lands, etc., which were left in keeping ‘with my brother your husband,’ sends John Paston and other his attorneys to common with her, and settle the matter, which will be a great discharge for her husband’s soul.Castre, 20 Jan.[This letter must have been written after the death of Lord Cromwell, who was one of Bedford’s executors, and who died on the 4th January 1456.—Seehis Epitaph in Dugdale’sBaronage, ii. 46.]69.1[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 266.]318ABSTRACT69.2Sir John Fastolf to John Bokking or William Barker, to deliver to John Paston at London.1456JAN. 25Copy of a letter of Fastolf’s to the wife of Sir Robert Whytyngham (the copy examined by Botoner) to the same effect as the preceding No., but with some slight differences in the wording, and dated 25th January instead of 20th.On the back is written:— ‘Cousin Paston, I pray you take Nicholas Molyneux, Thomas West, or Robert Waryn, whether ye may hafe at leyser, with you, to go speke with the gentlewoman.’69.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 275.]319SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON AND OTHERS70.1To my right trusty frendes, John Paston, Nicholas Molyneux, and Thomas West, Escuiers.1456JAN. 26WorchipfullSirs, and my right trusty frendis, I commaunde me to you. And lyke you to wite that I desire to knowe in certayn, or evere I laboured to London, by whate menys in the lawe spirituell or temporell I might labour, or ellys my frendes and atturneys in my name and in myne absence myght laboure best, for the recuvere of the goodes of my Lord of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, and that his purchaced londes might be sold to fulfille his wille and pay his debtes. And if it were thought that the most spedyest and seurest wey were to have it doon by act of Parlement, than I desire and pray you, as my singuler trust is in you, that ye wille do make a substanciall bille in my name upon the said mater and for the said cause, to be grounded and devised by avis of substanciall lerned man, as Thomas Yonge and othir suche, and of civille lawe, and the said bille to be put up to the Kyng, whiche is chief supervisor of my said Lordis testament, and to the Lordes Spirituelle and Temporelle, as to the Comyns, of this present Parlement, so as the iij. astates may graunte and passe hem cleerly. And the said bille may be grounded with so grete resons by your wysdomes and good enformacion, and so rightfull and of conscience that it shall not be denyed, ne letted to passe amonges the Lordes Spirituell and Temporell, neythir amonges the Comyns, whan it comyth before hem. And if this said bille, after it is devised and made, and sent me a copie of hit, hit shold be to me a singuler confort; for or evere I came to London, I wold that alle thing shuld be made redy to my hande. And it were exspedientand according that my Lord Chaunceller71.1were meoved that it might please his good Lordship to write a lettre to me, in case I must come up for the said cause, and that by as muche he is in the mater as souverain juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie, and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is aproved in his court before his predecessour. And Alle myghty God kepe you.Writ at Castre, the xxvj. day of Januar.Your,J. Fastolf.And I wolde this bille were devised by my Lord of Caunterbury is avis and agreement, to th’entent that he may tender the mater the more whan it shalle come in revolucion before hym. And I pray you hertely to take this mater tendirlye to hert, for it shall be to me my most singuler comfort, and for my discharge a grete record as of myne acquitayle to my said Lordis soule. Also ye must make frendes of suche as be nere aboute my said Lord of Caunterbury, and may do, as Maister John Stokys and his styward, for to remembre his good Lordship as ofte as nede is. And that Davy Breknok ne Sir Robert Whitingham wyffe be not foryeete.70.1[The original of this letter is the property of W. A. Tyssen Amhurst, Esq. of Didlington Park, Brandon.] As this letter was written during Sir John Fastolf’s residence at Caister, and Parliament appears to have been sitting at the time, the date must be 1456.71.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.320WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON71.2To the worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier.1456JAN. 27Worshypfull, aftyr dew recomendacion, please your gode maistershyp to wete that where as my maister wrytith to yow so homelye of so manye materes to yow of hys, to be remembred unto hys councell lerned by mene of yow and of hys frendz and servauntz there,y pray yow and requyre yow not to wyte [impute] it me that y am the causer of it that my seyd maister noyeth yow with so manye materes, for, be God, hym sylf remembryth the moste part of hem; albe it the particler rehersell of the materes be fressher yn my remembraunce then yn hys. And, Sir, yn trouth he boldyth hym to wryte to yow for the grete lofe and singler affeccion he hath yn yow before all othyr yn hys causes spedyng, and that ye wille moste tendyrlye of ony othyr remembre hys servauntes as well as othyrs to whom belongyth to spede the materes. He desyryth my Lord Chauncellor shuld wryte to hym speciallye yff he most nedes com upp, and a bille to be made yn to Parlement for recuvere of my Lord Bedford godes.Sir, there ys one Haryngton of Doncastre, a besye soule, that damagyth my maistre to gretely in Bentley. And Herry Sotehille ys of my maister councell, but no thyng that ys profytable ys don to hym to remedye it, ye shall see by one Sir John Vincentes letter sent to yow now, and W. Barker can enforme yow. Yn the ende of thys terme y suppose to be at London, and yn to west contre. My maistre wrytith to yow for a rent of viijli.of annuite charged of a touneshyp called Batham Wyly, that Maister Scrope he shall be beneficed yn the ryzt of it. Ye have nede fare fayre with hym, for he ys full daungerouse when he wille. Y gate hym gode evidensis of the seyd rent that my maister ne my lady had nevere, and he can not know it, &c. Also my maister hath wreten to yow for avice of a new feffement to be made for the maners of Tychewell and Beytone, and betyme he desyryth to be sent hym. Y pray yow, and ye se Maister Yng at a leyser to commaund me to hym, and trustyng hys gode maistershyp that he wille be of my councell ayenst one William Fouler of Bokyngham thath kepyth from me a litelle lond. And yff he wille contynew hys gode maistershyp to me, ye may sey hym that I cast duelle yn my contree, and wayt uppon hym to help ghete ayen a pore gode of myn, for heere y thryve not, but lose my tyme. Y pray our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.Wryt hastlye, the xxvij. day of Januare.Your,W. Wyrcestre.71.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter must have been written the day after the last, as this also speaks of a bill being presented to Parliament for recovery of the Duke of Bedford’s goods. The passage in which the writer proposes visiting the west country confirms the date of Letter 314.321SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON73.1To the worshypfull Sir, and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston; and in hys absence, to John Bokkyng and William Barker.1456FEB. 5WorshypfullSir and cosyn, I recomaund me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that y have a taylle73.2with my cosyn Fenne73.3of vc.[500] marc and more, for to be chaunged uppon such places as a man myght have moste spedye payment; and I pray yow hertlye to comyn wyth the seyd Fenne, that y myght be ensured of the seyd taylle to be eschaunged; and for whate rewarde competant to be yeven uppon the same, I wolle agree it.Item, I desyre to know who ben the residew, the remenant of the co-executors of the Lord Wyllughbye,73.4now the Lord Cromewell73.5ys decesed; for thys cause. Hyt was so, that there was dew to the Lord Wyllughbye and to me x. ml.[10,000] marc for a reward, to be payd of my Lord Bedford ys godes, for the takyng of the Duc of Allauncon.73.6And the seyd Lord Wyllughbye had but one thowsand marc payd, and I ml.[1000] mrc, soo viij. ml.[8000] levyth [remains] yhyt to pay; of whych somme iiij. ml.[4000] most grow to the executors of the seyd Lord Wyllughby to dispose. And therfor y desyre that the executors, and such as most have intrest in the Lord Wyllughby goodes, may be comyned wyth; that they may [make] purseute for payment of the seyd iiij. ml.[4000] marc, for hys part to be had, and y shall make for my part.And [i.e.if] Maister Nevyle,74.1the whych hath wedded my Lady Wyllughbye, have power or intrest to resseyve the Lord Wyllughby ys debts, then he to be labured untoo. And my Lord of Salysburye woll be a grete helper yn thys cause.The Kyng, whych ys Supervisor of my Lord Bedford testament, hath wreten and comaunded by sondry lettres, that the seyd Lord Wyllughbye shuld be content for hys part. And so moch the mater ys the furtherer.And ther ys one Yon’, a servaunt of the Lord Wyllughbye, whych pursewed thys mater; yff he were yn London, he coude geve gode enformacion uppon thys mater.Y pray yow wryte to me how my maters doth, and of such noveltees as ye have there. And our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.Wreten at Castr hastlye, v. day of Feveryer, anno xxxiiijtoRegis HenriciVI.Your cosyn,J. Fastolf.73.1[From Fenn, i. 120.]73.2A tally. This was a cleft stick, in both parts of which notches were cut to represent sums of money due; on which one part was given to the creditor, the other being retained by the debtor.73.3Hugh Fenn.73.4Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby.73.5Ralph, Lord Cromwell.73.6John, Duke of Alençon, taken prisoner at the battle of Verneuil in 1424.74.1Sir Thomas Nevill, a younger son of Richard, Earl of Salisbury, married Maud, the widow of Robert, Lord Willoughby.—Dugdale, ii. 86.322JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF74.2To the right reverent and worshipful Sir, and my right good maister, my maister Sir John Fastolf, at Castre.1456FEB. 9Rightreverent and my right worshipful maister, I recomaunde me to yow in my right humble wise. Please hit your right good maistership to wyte that on Sonday laste I sent yow many and divers lettres and writynges, by Lampet, of all matiers that I hadde knowlege at that tyme redy to answere. And now suche tidinges as ar here, but fewe that ar straunge, excepte that this day myLordes York and Warwik comen to the Parlement in a good aray, to the noumbre of iijc.[300] men, all jakkid75.1and in brigantiens,75.2and noo lord elles, wherof many men mervailed. It was seid on Saterday my Lord shuld have ben discharged this same day. And this day was seide, but if he hadde come stronge, he shuld have bene distrussid; and no man knoweth or can sey that ony prefe may be hadde by whom, for men thinken verily there is no man able to take ony suche enterprinse.The Kyng, as it was tolde me by a grete man, wolde have hym chief and princepall counceller, and soo to be called hise chef counceller and lieutenant as longe as hit shuld lyke the Kyng; and hise patent to be made in that forme, and not soo large as it is by Parlement. But soome men thinken it wil ner can otherwise bee; and men speke and devyne moche matere of the comyng this day in suche array to Westminster. And the Lordes speken this day in the Parlement of a greet gleymyng sterre that but late hathe be seen diverse tymes, merveilous in apperyng. The resumpsion, men truste, shall forthe, and my Lordes of Yorkes first power of protectorship stande, and elles not, &c. The Quene is a grete and strong labourid woman, for she spareth noo peyne to sue hire thinges to an intent and conclusion to hir power.I have seid to the bringer here of more to declare yow alle a longe. And as for hise comyng, ye like to understande that your nevew, my Maister Filongley, hathe laboured and doon that he cowde or myght to hise preferraunce; but as for to make hym freman and at hise ease, to hise profite and worship, it can not bee with owte William Lyne be here, that boughte hise prentishode of his maister, to hise grete hurte and castyng of bakke by ij. or iij. yere of tyme loste; and ne were it that the maister and wardeyns of the Taillours tendre hym, be cause of yow and of Fynynglee, hise firste maister, that solde hym to William Lyne, as weel as the seide Lyne and Richard, shuld alle lese ther fredoms, as ye shall more pleinly understande by the reporte of the seid Richard, &c.This day was my Lord Devenshire at Westminstre, and shuld have apperid, but he was countermaundid. As to youre matier of Wentworthe, the trety contynueth, and is putte by the arbitrours in Fortescu and Yelverton, and we have day of newe til Friday come sevenyght. God graunte it take a good ende. The lawe is with us clerly, as weel in th’atteynte as therinne as yette, blessid be our Lord, hoo have you in hise most noble governaunce.Written in your place this Moneday of Fastyngange,76.1ml.cccclv.Your humble servaunt,J. B.And that ye like to write a good lettre for Richard Fastolf to Sir Roger Chamberleyn, and to Thornton, Chamberleyn of London, and to both of hem, &c.74.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 265.]75.1i.e.in coats of mail.—Seevol. ii. p. 322, Note 3.75.2Seevol. ii. p. 155, Note 2.76.1Fastingong was Shrovetide.—Seevol. ii. p. 131, Note 1.323ABSTRACT76.2Sir John Fastolf to John Paston1456FEB. 12Thanks him for the pains he takes in his ‘chargeable matters,’ especially the ward of T. F., and his advice for the recovery of my Lord of Bedford’s goods. My servants Bokkyng and Barker have written to me for writings making mention of the jewels and goods of my Lord delivered to Sir Robert Whitingham that they cannot find there. I send, therefore, W. Worcestre with a copy of Whitingham’s account, which, however, is not a complete statement.Castre, 12 Feb.P.S.—Has just received a letter from Paston, for which he thanks him.[This letter was evidently written in the same year asNo. 317.]76.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 270.]324HUGH A FENNE TO JOHN PASTON77.1To the right worchepfull Sir, John Paston, at Norwich.1456MARCH 1Ryghtworchepfull Sir, I recumaunde me un to you. Leke you to wete my Maister Fastolf compert77.2is spedde and demyd in the Eschequyer for hym a yens the Kyng, wher in was crafti labour and cloos to the seid spede, and laked no dylygence, for the matter was defused and dubble intendementz after dyverse mennys appynyons.Her is Williem Brandon, late Eschetour,77.3and wold have anon molestando77.4for Fulthorp; and be cause ye spake to me that no mo shuld be sued owte, and I can gete no lybarate77.5in that case, therfore, as it is tolde me, he wyll have oon up on Wenteworth is patente, and that wer to my maister bothe velleny and hurte. I pray you send me heryn your avyse. It is no grete maistre to gader up that mony, if it wer wele labord. I have somwhat affrayed them, and made hem spend mony, as I wot well ye shall her therof. Ye and I been discharged of our maynprys.Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore,help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.From London, the furst day of Marche.Your,Hugh a Fenne.77.1[From Fenn, iii. 332.] The first paragraph of this letter seems to relate to Fastolf’s claims against the Crown set forth inNos. 309and310, and as these seem to have been drawn up in the end of 1455, this letter probably belongs to the year following. The reference to William Brandon as ‘late escheator’ confirms this date; and also, perhaps, the mention, at the end, of William Norwich, who was Sheriff of Norwich this year.77.2Compertorium is a judicial inquest in civil proceedings made by Commissioners to find out, etc., the truth of a cause.—F.77.3An Escheator was a county officer who certified into the Exchequer the King’s escheats,i.e.lands which fell to the King, either for a time or altogether, as by the death of tenantsin capite, minority of heirs, etc. William Brandon was Escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from 13th November 33 Hen.VI.to 4th November 34 Hen.VI.,i.e.from 1454 to 1455.77.4A writ which lies for him who is molested contrary to the King’s protection granted him.—F.77.5A writ ofliberateis a warrant either for the payment of annual pensions, etc., granted under the Great Seal, or for delivery of possession of certain lands or goods in the custody of a sheriff.325JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON78.1To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston.1456(?)[MAR. 24]Afterdue recomendacion had, please it your maistership to wytte that William Yelverton was mevid by me to comene with my maister his fadir, as I wrot to yow from Norwich. And now he tellith me that he hath comened with his fadir; and he undirstondith that his fadir seyth that he hath not knowelaged Fennes78.2obligacion. And he seyth that Maister Fastolf undirstood that Fen hadde title to the maner of Haryngby, and therfor wold he that Fen shuld have it after Maister F. lyve; and, by liklynes, ther shall be labour made by Fenn to have releses of Maister Yelverton, &c., but he hath not yet relesed. He can no moreundirstond of hym as yet. If he can undirstond ony more pleynly this day, I shall have knowelage at Norwich on Friday or Saterday next comyng. Please it you to have pacience, though I write so brefly.In hast, at Walsyngham, the Wednesseday next to fore Esterne.Youre pouere servaunt,James Gr.78.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As this letter relates to money matters of Fenn and Sir John Fastolf, it may most probably be referred to the same year asNos. 321and324.78.2Hugh Fenn.—SeeNo. 324.326ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF79.1To the right worshipfull, and my right entierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolf, Knight.1456MARCH 27Rightworshipful, and my right entierly welbeloved, I grete you right hertly wele, thanking you specialy, and in full herty wise, for the verray geantle goodnesse that ye have shewid unto me at all tymes, praying you of good contynuance.And as touching suche matiers as ye sente unto me fore, I truste to God verraly, insomuche as the rule is amendid heer, and the wedder waxeth seesonable and pleasante, to see you in thise parties within short tyme, at whiche tyme I shal commune and demeene unto you in suche wise, that ye shal be right wele pleasid.And as for the matier concernyng my Lord of Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye, but that ye shal finde me hertly wel-willid to doo that I can or may for th’accomplesshment of youre desire, as wel in that matier as in other, like as your servaunte John Bokking, berer hereof, can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve; to whom like hit you to yeve feith andcredence in this partie. And the blissid Trinitee have you everlastingly in His keping.Written in my Manoir of Lamehith, the xxvj. daie of March.Your feithfull and trew,Th. Cant.79.1[From Fenn, i. 124.] The date of this letter will appear tolerably certain on a comparison withNo. 319. In that letter Fastolf talks of coming up to London, if necessary, about the matter of my Lord of Bedford’s goods, but expresses a wish that if he is to come, my Lord Chancellor—viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury—should be got to write him a letter about it.327DAME ALICE OGARD TO JOHN PASTON80.1To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer.1456MARCH 30Ryghtworshippfull and enterly belovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow hertyly; latyng yow wete that there ys a contraversie mevyd be twix my cosyn John Radeclyff80.2of Attylburgh and me for the advoweson of the chirch of Attylburgh, the whech ys now voide, wheroff the title is myn veryly as God knowith, the whech shall be oppenyd unto yow; and upon Thursday next atte Wymondham, there shall be take an enquerrede jure patronatusafore Master Robert Popy and Master Symond Thornham, atte whech day I may nought be my selff as God knowyth, and thow I myght, yt were not convenyent.And therfore, ryght trusty cosyn, consideryng that I am a wedowe impotent as of body, tendyrly and hertily I pray you, yf yt lyke yow, to be there assistyng my councell in my right as reson and lawe will upon Thursday next, be viij. of the clokke; and Fyncham,80.3Spelman, and othir of my councell shall be than there waytyng upon yow. And, jentyll cosyn, have me excused thowh I wryte thus brefly and homly to yow, for in trouth I do it of a synguler trust and affection, thewheche I have in yow, consideryng the goode nome and fame of trouth, wysdom, and good conducte, the which I here of you. And therfor, and ye may to youre well, I beseche you hertyly to be there, and ye shall nought lese therby with the grace of Almyghty Jesu, the wheche evyr preserve and promote you, gentill cosyn, in moche worship to youre hertys ease.Atte Bokenham Castell, on Teuysday in Pache weke, in hast.D. A. Ogard.81.180.1[From Fenn, iii. 290.] This letter would appear to have been written in the year 1456, as Thomas Fairclowe, D.D., was presented to the church of Attleborough on the 2nd August in that year by Dame Alice Ogard as patron.80.2John Radcliff, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Walter, Lord Fitz-Walter. He was in her right called Lord Fitz-Walter, and was killed at Ferrybridge in 1461.80.3Simeon Fincham, of Fincham, Esq. His son John married Agnes, daughter of John Spelman, of Beckerton, Esq., I suppose the person here mentioned. He died in 1460, and Simeon in 1458.—F.81.1Dame Alice Ogard was the widow of Sir Andrew Ogard, Knight, whose first wife was Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Clifton, Knight, of Bokenham Castle. He died in 1454, and Alice, his relict, in 1460.—F.328HUGH FENN TO JOHN PASTON81.2To the worchepfull sir, John Paston esquyer.1456(?)APRIL 25WorchepfullSir, my reverent and right trusty maister and cosyn, I recommaunde me to you. Lyke you to wyte that wher I have made my fyne of Ikburgh with Nicholas Waterman, thanne beyng feodary to my Lorde of Yorke, as the same Nicholas wil recorde, wherof sufficient writyng is had; the which payment, so made, is sufficient in the lawe; in the which caas noo newe feodary is chargeable nor I demaundable, but the seide Nicholas owe to answere therof in his accompt; and if he concele, my Lorde may have good remedy ageyns hym, and so owe to do. The which not withstandyng, oon I trowe called Osbarn, som tyme your servant, now my Lordis feodary, hath often meved to do I wote not, and now late hath distreyned my cattel, and seith he wil dryve hem awey, &c., and wil have Cs.for fyne, wher my uncle paied xxvjs.viijd., Herry Somer xxs., and so many other ded. Sir, he may do me a pety shame in distreyning and dryvyng awey to make me hevy, and hym not glad I hoopat the loong, but wroong shal he nor any other do me, wher I may gete remedy by the lawe in any place throw Goddis mercy. Wherfor, sir, if he be stille in your servyse, lyke you I myght have knowlech, and thanne if your discreccion semith any thyng that I owe to do, by you I wil be advertysed and ruled; and if I coude conceyve that I owe to pay ageyn, as I understonde clerly the contrary, forsothe in right hasty seson wold I provyde and send hym from my seid lorde a sufficient discharge for myn more availl, that he shuld noght lose by me. And that is reson aswele, for that I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil. I deserve my lordis good lordeship as wele as any other of my simple poer her. I besech you that by this simple bille I may be recommaunded to my worchepful maistresse. The blissid Trinite have you in His holy governaunce. Written, London xxv. day of Aprill.Youris owen,Hugh a Fenne.81.2[Add.MS.34,889, f. 173.] The year of this letter is uncertain, but it must belong to the latter part of HenryVI.’s reign, and there is great probability that it was written in 1456, likeNo. 324, which is also written by Hugh Fenn from London.329SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON82.1To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly.1456MAY 2WorchepfullCosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterburyand of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground, and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow, my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the ijde.day of Maij.And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London, I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I have to comowne with yow, &c.J. Fastolf.82.1[Add.MS.35,251, f. 24, B.M.] This letter seems to be of the same year asNo. 341.330JOHN BOCKYNG TO JOHN PASTON84.1To my worshipful maister, John Paston, Squier.1456MAY 8Sire, please it your maistership to wyte that on Wednesday, the v. day of Maij, I received a lettre from you by the prestis man of Walsyngham, and the Ascencion Day,84.2in the mornyng, I received a lettre from yow bi the handes of John Frays, my maisteris man, in whiche bothe moche thinge is conteyned whiche alle at this tyme I may not answere un to my comyng the nexte weke. And as to our atteynte,84.3the Chief Justice hathe, sithe this day sevenyght, kept the Gildehalle in London with alle the Lordes and Juges, sauf one in eche place. My Maister Markham yesterday rode owte of London be tymes. Notwithstandyng we called ther upon, and hadde at the barre Chokke,84.4Letelton,84.5Jenney,84.6Illyngworth,84.7John Jenney, and Dyne, and remembrid the longe hangyng and the trouthe of the matier, with the grete hurte of the partie in the tyme; and we have rule the next terme betymes, and non otherwise, for to morwe the juges sitten ayen in the toune. Mayster Yelverton can not be myry for Wyrmegey, and as for the distresse, it is anon omittas, and therfore Poley may and wil retorne what isseus he will. If thei be smale, we shall suffre at this time; if thei be grete, we must appere for Wyngfelde; and moche labour we have to conceyve a goode warant of attorney. We shal plede the nextterme, for as at this tyme we wold on Monday enparle and we may.Ye must suerly entrete the shireve, for we have moche to doo with hym, as yesterday hadde we a grete day also in th’eschequer. Myn maister85.1is moche bounde to Haltofte, and there we ar assigned day over to the next terme, and dwelle in law. Our counsail was longe or thei come, but at the laste thei acquitte them weel. The bille was thought not by all that stode at the barre that wer of nother partie. We ar joyned in the sute of the obligacion in the Comon Place ayenst Jenney and Howes. As for attachement, ye may none have withowte ye or on of yow make your othe in propre persone before the barons. I wolde have doon it; I cowde not be amytted. And as for other processe, it is advised that by the cors of th’eschequer I shall take avenire faciasayenst Wentworthe, Andrews, longe Barnard, and Deyvillad respondendum quare in possessionem, &c. ingressi sunt. And we must telle where other Coughawe or Kirkeley, I suppose; and therupon a distresse and an attachement; nevertheles by your othe, &c., hereafter. And it is thought good that the same men shal be in the writte of ravyshment. Jenney hath advised us to ley it in Blithinge hundred, and I have taken of hym names; for as for London it is to nyghe enbracerye, as ye thought well, and soo is Middlesex. Maister Yelverton conceyvith it weel to your entent. There are aboughte and in Suffolk but fewe men as of gentilmen and men of substance, but if [unless] it be in Blithing hundre, were Hopton is grete; but Jenney dredeth it not we may have good men at large; and as for the hundre, he wil doo inow thereinne.As for the tailes of iiijxxli.[four score pounds], as yette we shal doo weel inowghe and thei were contentid; or thei that shal have the silvere, the noyse were the lesse, for it shall, in pledyng, alwey be rehersid by our contrarie party that for x. marc we have alle that evere ther is, &c. I can not here how Wentworthe takith this matier by no meane; what he meneth I wote not. He is no thing pleasid with the matier of the bille in th’eschequer. Thomas Denys come yesterday, andnone erste. I wolde Arblaster and he spoke with yow this vacacion. I write noo more til my comyng.As for tidinges, noon othere thanne I sent yow laste; but forthe on the same, all is as it was with the Quene,86.1the Prince and myn Lord York ar stille at Tutbury and Sandale, and my Lord of Warrewick at Warrewick. My Lord Bukingham rode on Ascencion Even to Writell, noo thing wel plesid, and sumwhat on easid of herte to his purpose; for the King hathe ley in London Friday, Saterday, Sonday, Monday, Teusday, and Wednesday remevid to Westminster agen. In alle whiche tyme, men of London that wer chargid and sworne wolde not nor hadde noo thing presentid sauf trespas; this day thei shal sitte ayen. The peas is weel kepte, but the straungiers86.2ar soore a dradde, and dar not come on brode. Here is alle that I knowe as yet. Our Lord Jesu be with yow.Writen at Suthwerk the viij. day of Maij.I have paied to Dory Cs., and with moche peyne made hym to ghete day of the other Cs. til the nexterme.Your owenJ. B.Endorsed in a seventeenth-century hand.—L’ra Joh’is Bokking, Attorn. in Communi Banco.
67.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the desire expressed by the writer in this letter to visit his own country, we may refer it to the same period as the last.67.2Sir John Fastolf.68.1Sir Thomas Howes.
67.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the desire expressed by the writer in this letter to visit his own country, we may refer it to the same period as the last.
67.2Sir John Fastolf.
68.1Sir Thomas Howes.
About 1456
Please yow to wete that as for ease of my maisters68.3tenaunts in Dedham, yff a lettre were devysed by Maister Geney yn my maister name or youres to Thomas Hygham, one of the justices of pease in Suffolk that toke the veredyt, he myzt do grete ease, as yn disavowyng of it or yn wythdrawyng it owte of the bokes. Robert Dene, clerk of the pese, seyth that lete my maister councell avise that whych he may do undammaged hymsylf, and he wille with all hys hert. John Bokkyng ys well remembred that my maister caused the seyd Thomas Hygham, by Maister Geney mocion, to be one of the justice of pease, and one Jermyn of Suffolk also. Whych both Hygham and Jermyn hath suffred my maister hafe, savyng your reverence, tweyn shrewde tornys seth that they mizt hafe letted, as now the seyd Thomas Hygham myzt hafe letted the presentment or a moderated othyrwyse, &c.At reverence of God, beyth as sone as ye may with my maister to ease hys spyryttes. He questioneth and desputyth with hys servauntes here, and wolle not be aunsuerd ne satisfyed som tyme but after hys wylfulnesse, for hyt suffysyth not our simple wyttes to appease hys soule; but when he spekyth wyth MaisterZelverton, yow, or wyth William Geney and suche othyrs as be auctorised yn the law, and wyth haboundance of godes, he ys content and haldeth hym pleased wyth your aunsuers and mocions, as reson ys that he be. So wold Jesus, one of yow iij., or som suche othyr yn your stede, myzt hang at hys gyrdyll dayly to aunsuer hys materes.I had but litille thyng to done when I scrybled thys bille.Your,W. Botoner.
Please yow to wete that as for ease of my maisters68.3tenaunts in Dedham, yff a lettre were devysed by Maister Geney yn my maister name or youres to Thomas Hygham, one of the justices of pease in Suffolk that toke the veredyt, he myzt do grete ease, as yn disavowyng of it or yn wythdrawyng it owte of the bokes. Robert Dene, clerk of the pese, seyth that lete my maister councell avise that whych he may do undammaged hymsylf, and he wille with all hys hert. John Bokkyng ys well remembred that my maister caused the seyd Thomas Hygham, by Maister Geney mocion, to be one of the justice of pease, and one Jermyn of Suffolk also. Whych both Hygham and Jermyn hath suffred my maister hafe, savyng your reverence, tweyn shrewde tornys seth that they mizt hafe letted, as now the seyd Thomas Hygham myzt hafe letted the presentment or a moderated othyrwyse, &c.
At reverence of God, beyth as sone as ye may with my maister to ease hys spyryttes. He questioneth and desputyth with hys servauntes here, and wolle not be aunsuerd ne satisfyed som tyme but after hys wylfulnesse, for hyt suffysyth not our simple wyttes to appease hys soule; but when he spekyth wyth MaisterZelverton, yow, or wyth William Geney and suche othyrs as be auctorised yn the law, and wyth haboundance of godes, he ys content and haldeth hym pleased wyth your aunsuers and mocions, as reson ys that he be. So wold Jesus, one of yow iij., or som suche othyr yn your stede, myzt hang at hys gyrdyll dayly to aunsuer hys materes.
I had but litille thyng to done when I scrybled thys bille.Your,W. Botoner.
68.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] There is no address to this letter, but it seems to have been intended for John Paston. The exact time when it was written is uncertain, but we have placed it after the last on account of the reference to Deddam. The true date cannot be many years before or after 1456.68.3Sir John Fastolf.
68.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] There is no address to this letter, but it seems to have been intended for John Paston. The exact time when it was written is uncertain, but we have placed it after the last on account of the reference to Deddam. The true date cannot be many years before or after 1456.
68.3Sir John Fastolf.
Sir John Fastolf ‘to the worshipful Lady and my right wellbeloved Sister, Whytyngham.’
1456JAN. 20
As all the executors of my Lord Regent, except himself, are dead, and as he would not have her troubled in her age ‘for execution of my said Lord’s goods,’ nor for the evidences of his purchased lands, etc., which were left in keeping ‘with my brother your husband,’ sends John Paston and other his attorneys to common with her, and settle the matter, which will be a great discharge for her husband’s soul.Castre, 20 Jan.
As all the executors of my Lord Regent, except himself, are dead, and as he would not have her troubled in her age ‘for execution of my said Lord’s goods,’ nor for the evidences of his purchased lands, etc., which were left in keeping ‘with my brother your husband,’ sends John Paston and other his attorneys to common with her, and settle the matter, which will be a great discharge for her husband’s soul.
Castre, 20 Jan.
[This letter must have been written after the death of Lord Cromwell, who was one of Bedford’s executors, and who died on the 4th January 1456.—Seehis Epitaph in Dugdale’sBaronage, ii. 46.]
69.1[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 266.]
Sir John Fastolf to John Bokking or William Barker, to deliver to John Paston at London.
1456JAN. 25
Copy of a letter of Fastolf’s to the wife of Sir Robert Whytyngham (the copy examined by Botoner) to the same effect as the preceding No., but with some slight differences in the wording, and dated 25th January instead of 20th.On the back is written:— ‘Cousin Paston, I pray you take Nicholas Molyneux, Thomas West, or Robert Waryn, whether ye may hafe at leyser, with you, to go speke with the gentlewoman.’
Copy of a letter of Fastolf’s to the wife of Sir Robert Whytyngham (the copy examined by Botoner) to the same effect as the preceding No., but with some slight differences in the wording, and dated 25th January instead of 20th.
On the back is written:— ‘Cousin Paston, I pray you take Nicholas Molyneux, Thomas West, or Robert Waryn, whether ye may hafe at leyser, with you, to go speke with the gentlewoman.’
69.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 275.]
To my right trusty frendes, John Paston, Nicholas Molyneux, and Thomas West, Escuiers.
1456JAN. 26
WorchipfullSirs, and my right trusty frendis, I commaunde me to you. And lyke you to wite that I desire to knowe in certayn, or evere I laboured to London, by whate menys in the lawe spirituell or temporell I might labour, or ellys my frendes and atturneys in my name and in myne absence myght laboure best, for the recuvere of the goodes of my Lord of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, and that his purchaced londes might be sold to fulfille his wille and pay his debtes. And if it were thought that the most spedyest and seurest wey were to have it doon by act of Parlement, than I desire and pray you, as my singuler trust is in you, that ye wille do make a substanciall bille in my name upon the said mater and for the said cause, to be grounded and devised by avis of substanciall lerned man, as Thomas Yonge and othir suche, and of civille lawe, and the said bille to be put up to the Kyng, whiche is chief supervisor of my said Lordis testament, and to the Lordes Spirituelle and Temporelle, as to the Comyns, of this present Parlement, so as the iij. astates may graunte and passe hem cleerly. And the said bille may be grounded with so grete resons by your wysdomes and good enformacion, and so rightfull and of conscience that it shall not be denyed, ne letted to passe amonges the Lordes Spirituell and Temporell, neythir amonges the Comyns, whan it comyth before hem. And if this said bille, after it is devised and made, and sent me a copie of hit, hit shold be to me a singuler confort; for or evere I came to London, I wold that alle thing shuld be made redy to my hande. And it were exspedientand according that my Lord Chaunceller71.1were meoved that it might please his good Lordship to write a lettre to me, in case I must come up for the said cause, and that by as muche he is in the mater as souverain juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie, and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is aproved in his court before his predecessour. And Alle myghty God kepe you.
Writ at Castre, the xxvj. day of Januar.Your,J. Fastolf.
And I wolde this bille were devised by my Lord of Caunterbury is avis and agreement, to th’entent that he may tender the mater the more whan it shalle come in revolucion before hym. And I pray you hertely to take this mater tendirlye to hert, for it shall be to me my most singuler comfort, and for my discharge a grete record as of myne acquitayle to my said Lordis soule. Also ye must make frendes of suche as be nere aboute my said Lord of Caunterbury, and may do, as Maister John Stokys and his styward, for to remembre his good Lordship as ofte as nede is. And that Davy Breknok ne Sir Robert Whitingham wyffe be not foryeete.
70.1[The original of this letter is the property of W. A. Tyssen Amhurst, Esq. of Didlington Park, Brandon.] As this letter was written during Sir John Fastolf’s residence at Caister, and Parliament appears to have been sitting at the time, the date must be 1456.71.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.
70.1[The original of this letter is the property of W. A. Tyssen Amhurst, Esq. of Didlington Park, Brandon.] As this letter was written during Sir John Fastolf’s residence at Caister, and Parliament appears to have been sitting at the time, the date must be 1456.
71.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.
To the worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier.
1456JAN. 27
Worshypfull, aftyr dew recomendacion, please your gode maistershyp to wete that where as my maister wrytith to yow so homelye of so manye materes to yow of hys, to be remembred unto hys councell lerned by mene of yow and of hys frendz and servauntz there,y pray yow and requyre yow not to wyte [impute] it me that y am the causer of it that my seyd maister noyeth yow with so manye materes, for, be God, hym sylf remembryth the moste part of hem; albe it the particler rehersell of the materes be fressher yn my remembraunce then yn hys. And, Sir, yn trouth he boldyth hym to wryte to yow for the grete lofe and singler affeccion he hath yn yow before all othyr yn hys causes spedyng, and that ye wille moste tendyrlye of ony othyr remembre hys servauntes as well as othyrs to whom belongyth to spede the materes. He desyryth my Lord Chauncellor shuld wryte to hym speciallye yff he most nedes com upp, and a bille to be made yn to Parlement for recuvere of my Lord Bedford godes.
Sir, there ys one Haryngton of Doncastre, a besye soule, that damagyth my maistre to gretely in Bentley. And Herry Sotehille ys of my maister councell, but no thyng that ys profytable ys don to hym to remedye it, ye shall see by one Sir John Vincentes letter sent to yow now, and W. Barker can enforme yow. Yn the ende of thys terme y suppose to be at London, and yn to west contre. My maistre wrytith to yow for a rent of viijli.of annuite charged of a touneshyp called Batham Wyly, that Maister Scrope he shall be beneficed yn the ryzt of it. Ye have nede fare fayre with hym, for he ys full daungerouse when he wille. Y gate hym gode evidensis of the seyd rent that my maister ne my lady had nevere, and he can not know it, &c. Also my maister hath wreten to yow for avice of a new feffement to be made for the maners of Tychewell and Beytone, and betyme he desyryth to be sent hym. Y pray yow, and ye se Maister Yng at a leyser to commaund me to hym, and trustyng hys gode maistershyp that he wille be of my councell ayenst one William Fouler of Bokyngham thath kepyth from me a litelle lond. And yff he wille contynew hys gode maistershyp to me, ye may sey hym that I cast duelle yn my contree, and wayt uppon hym to help ghete ayen a pore gode of myn, for heere y thryve not, but lose my tyme. Y pray our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.
Wryt hastlye, the xxvij. day of Januare.Your,W. Wyrcestre.
71.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter must have been written the day after the last, as this also speaks of a bill being presented to Parliament for recovery of the Duke of Bedford’s goods. The passage in which the writer proposes visiting the west country confirms the date of Letter 314.
To the worshypfull Sir, and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston; and in hys absence, to John Bokkyng and William Barker.
1456FEB. 5
WorshypfullSir and cosyn, I recomaund me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that y have a taylle73.2with my cosyn Fenne73.3of vc.[500] marc and more, for to be chaunged uppon such places as a man myght have moste spedye payment; and I pray yow hertlye to comyn wyth the seyd Fenne, that y myght be ensured of the seyd taylle to be eschaunged; and for whate rewarde competant to be yeven uppon the same, I wolle agree it.
Item, I desyre to know who ben the residew, the remenant of the co-executors of the Lord Wyllughbye,73.4now the Lord Cromewell73.5ys decesed; for thys cause. Hyt was so, that there was dew to the Lord Wyllughbye and to me x. ml.[10,000] marc for a reward, to be payd of my Lord Bedford ys godes, for the takyng of the Duc of Allauncon.73.6And the seyd Lord Wyllughbye had but one thowsand marc payd, and I ml.[1000] mrc, soo viij. ml.[8000] levyth [remains] yhyt to pay; of whych somme iiij. ml.[4000] most grow to the executors of the seyd Lord Wyllughby to dispose. And therfor y desyre that the executors, and such as most have intrest in the Lord Wyllughby goodes, may be comyned wyth; that they may [make] purseute for payment of the seyd iiij. ml.[4000] marc, for hys part to be had, and y shall make for my part.
And [i.e.if] Maister Nevyle,74.1the whych hath wedded my Lady Wyllughbye, have power or intrest to resseyve the Lord Wyllughby ys debts, then he to be labured untoo. And my Lord of Salysburye woll be a grete helper yn thys cause.
The Kyng, whych ys Supervisor of my Lord Bedford testament, hath wreten and comaunded by sondry lettres, that the seyd Lord Wyllughbye shuld be content for hys part. And so moch the mater ys the furtherer.
And ther ys one Yon’, a servaunt of the Lord Wyllughbye, whych pursewed thys mater; yff he were yn London, he coude geve gode enformacion uppon thys mater.
Y pray yow wryte to me how my maters doth, and of such noveltees as ye have there. And our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.
Wreten at Castr hastlye, v. day of Feveryer, anno xxxiiijtoRegis HenriciVI.Your cosyn,J. Fastolf.
73.1[From Fenn, i. 120.]73.2A tally. This was a cleft stick, in both parts of which notches were cut to represent sums of money due; on which one part was given to the creditor, the other being retained by the debtor.73.3Hugh Fenn.73.4Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby.73.5Ralph, Lord Cromwell.73.6John, Duke of Alençon, taken prisoner at the battle of Verneuil in 1424.74.1Sir Thomas Nevill, a younger son of Richard, Earl of Salisbury, married Maud, the widow of Robert, Lord Willoughby.—Dugdale, ii. 86.
73.1[From Fenn, i. 120.]
73.2A tally. This was a cleft stick, in both parts of which notches were cut to represent sums of money due; on which one part was given to the creditor, the other being retained by the debtor.
73.3Hugh Fenn.
73.4Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby.
73.5Ralph, Lord Cromwell.
73.6John, Duke of Alençon, taken prisoner at the battle of Verneuil in 1424.
74.1Sir Thomas Nevill, a younger son of Richard, Earl of Salisbury, married Maud, the widow of Robert, Lord Willoughby.—Dugdale, ii. 86.
To the right reverent and worshipful Sir, and my right good maister, my maister Sir John Fastolf, at Castre.
1456FEB. 9
Rightreverent and my right worshipful maister, I recomaunde me to yow in my right humble wise. Please hit your right good maistership to wyte that on Sonday laste I sent yow many and divers lettres and writynges, by Lampet, of all matiers that I hadde knowlege at that tyme redy to answere. And now suche tidinges as ar here, but fewe that ar straunge, excepte that this day myLordes York and Warwik comen to the Parlement in a good aray, to the noumbre of iijc.[300] men, all jakkid75.1and in brigantiens,75.2and noo lord elles, wherof many men mervailed. It was seid on Saterday my Lord shuld have ben discharged this same day. And this day was seide, but if he hadde come stronge, he shuld have bene distrussid; and no man knoweth or can sey that ony prefe may be hadde by whom, for men thinken verily there is no man able to take ony suche enterprinse.
The Kyng, as it was tolde me by a grete man, wolde have hym chief and princepall counceller, and soo to be called hise chef counceller and lieutenant as longe as hit shuld lyke the Kyng; and hise patent to be made in that forme, and not soo large as it is by Parlement. But soome men thinken it wil ner can otherwise bee; and men speke and devyne moche matere of the comyng this day in suche array to Westminster. And the Lordes speken this day in the Parlement of a greet gleymyng sterre that but late hathe be seen diverse tymes, merveilous in apperyng. The resumpsion, men truste, shall forthe, and my Lordes of Yorkes first power of protectorship stande, and elles not, &c. The Quene is a grete and strong labourid woman, for she spareth noo peyne to sue hire thinges to an intent and conclusion to hir power.
I have seid to the bringer here of more to declare yow alle a longe. And as for hise comyng, ye like to understande that your nevew, my Maister Filongley, hathe laboured and doon that he cowde or myght to hise preferraunce; but as for to make hym freman and at hise ease, to hise profite and worship, it can not bee with owte William Lyne be here, that boughte hise prentishode of his maister, to hise grete hurte and castyng of bakke by ij. or iij. yere of tyme loste; and ne were it that the maister and wardeyns of the Taillours tendre hym, be cause of yow and of Fynynglee, hise firste maister, that solde hym to William Lyne, as weel as the seide Lyne and Richard, shuld alle lese ther fredoms, as ye shall more pleinly understande by the reporte of the seid Richard, &c.
This day was my Lord Devenshire at Westminstre, and shuld have apperid, but he was countermaundid. As to youre matier of Wentworthe, the trety contynueth, and is putte by the arbitrours in Fortescu and Yelverton, and we have day of newe til Friday come sevenyght. God graunte it take a good ende. The lawe is with us clerly, as weel in th’atteynte as therinne as yette, blessid be our Lord, hoo have you in hise most noble governaunce.
Written in your place this Moneday of Fastyngange,76.1ml.cccclv.Your humble servaunt,J. B.
And that ye like to write a good lettre for Richard Fastolf to Sir Roger Chamberleyn, and to Thornton, Chamberleyn of London, and to both of hem, &c.
74.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 265.]75.1i.e.in coats of mail.—Seevol. ii. p. 322, Note 3.75.2Seevol. ii. p. 155, Note 2.76.1Fastingong was Shrovetide.—Seevol. ii. p. 131, Note 1.
74.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 265.]
75.1i.e.in coats of mail.—Seevol. ii. p. 322, Note 3.
75.2Seevol. ii. p. 155, Note 2.
76.1Fastingong was Shrovetide.—Seevol. ii. p. 131, Note 1.
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston
1456FEB. 12
Thanks him for the pains he takes in his ‘chargeable matters,’ especially the ward of T. F., and his advice for the recovery of my Lord of Bedford’s goods. My servants Bokkyng and Barker have written to me for writings making mention of the jewels and goods of my Lord delivered to Sir Robert Whitingham that they cannot find there. I send, therefore, W. Worcestre with a copy of Whitingham’s account, which, however, is not a complete statement.Castre, 12 Feb.P.S.—Has just received a letter from Paston, for which he thanks him.
Thanks him for the pains he takes in his ‘chargeable matters,’ especially the ward of T. F., and his advice for the recovery of my Lord of Bedford’s goods. My servants Bokkyng and Barker have written to me for writings making mention of the jewels and goods of my Lord delivered to Sir Robert Whitingham that they cannot find there. I send, therefore, W. Worcestre with a copy of Whitingham’s account, which, however, is not a complete statement.
Castre, 12 Feb.
P.S.—Has just received a letter from Paston, for which he thanks him.
[This letter was evidently written in the same year asNo. 317.]
76.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 270.]
To the right worchepfull Sir, John Paston, at Norwich.
1456MARCH 1
Ryghtworchepfull Sir, I recumaunde me un to you. Leke you to wete my Maister Fastolf compert77.2is spedde and demyd in the Eschequyer for hym a yens the Kyng, wher in was crafti labour and cloos to the seid spede, and laked no dylygence, for the matter was defused and dubble intendementz after dyverse mennys appynyons.
Her is Williem Brandon, late Eschetour,77.3and wold have anon molestando77.4for Fulthorp; and be cause ye spake to me that no mo shuld be sued owte, and I can gete no lybarate77.5in that case, therfore, as it is tolde me, he wyll have oon up on Wenteworth is patente, and that wer to my maister bothe velleny and hurte. I pray you send me heryn your avyse. It is no grete maistre to gader up that mony, if it wer wele labord. I have somwhat affrayed them, and made hem spend mony, as I wot well ye shall her therof. Ye and I been discharged of our maynprys.
Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore,help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.
From London, the furst day of Marche.Your,Hugh a Fenne.
77.1[From Fenn, iii. 332.] The first paragraph of this letter seems to relate to Fastolf’s claims against the Crown set forth inNos. 309and310, and as these seem to have been drawn up in the end of 1455, this letter probably belongs to the year following. The reference to William Brandon as ‘late escheator’ confirms this date; and also, perhaps, the mention, at the end, of William Norwich, who was Sheriff of Norwich this year.77.2Compertorium is a judicial inquest in civil proceedings made by Commissioners to find out, etc., the truth of a cause.—F.77.3An Escheator was a county officer who certified into the Exchequer the King’s escheats,i.e.lands which fell to the King, either for a time or altogether, as by the death of tenantsin capite, minority of heirs, etc. William Brandon was Escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from 13th November 33 Hen.VI.to 4th November 34 Hen.VI.,i.e.from 1454 to 1455.77.4A writ which lies for him who is molested contrary to the King’s protection granted him.—F.77.5A writ ofliberateis a warrant either for the payment of annual pensions, etc., granted under the Great Seal, or for delivery of possession of certain lands or goods in the custody of a sheriff.
77.1[From Fenn, iii. 332.] The first paragraph of this letter seems to relate to Fastolf’s claims against the Crown set forth inNos. 309and310, and as these seem to have been drawn up in the end of 1455, this letter probably belongs to the year following. The reference to William Brandon as ‘late escheator’ confirms this date; and also, perhaps, the mention, at the end, of William Norwich, who was Sheriff of Norwich this year.
77.2Compertorium is a judicial inquest in civil proceedings made by Commissioners to find out, etc., the truth of a cause.—F.
77.3An Escheator was a county officer who certified into the Exchequer the King’s escheats,i.e.lands which fell to the King, either for a time or altogether, as by the death of tenantsin capite, minority of heirs, etc. William Brandon was Escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from 13th November 33 Hen.VI.to 4th November 34 Hen.VI.,i.e.from 1454 to 1455.
77.4A writ which lies for him who is molested contrary to the King’s protection granted him.—F.
77.5A writ ofliberateis a warrant either for the payment of annual pensions, etc., granted under the Great Seal, or for delivery of possession of certain lands or goods in the custody of a sheriff.
To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston.
1456(?)[MAR. 24]
Afterdue recomendacion had, please it your maistership to wytte that William Yelverton was mevid by me to comene with my maister his fadir, as I wrot to yow from Norwich. And now he tellith me that he hath comened with his fadir; and he undirstondith that his fadir seyth that he hath not knowelaged Fennes78.2obligacion. And he seyth that Maister Fastolf undirstood that Fen hadde title to the maner of Haryngby, and therfor wold he that Fen shuld have it after Maister F. lyve; and, by liklynes, ther shall be labour made by Fenn to have releses of Maister Yelverton, &c., but he hath not yet relesed. He can no moreundirstond of hym as yet. If he can undirstond ony more pleynly this day, I shall have knowelage at Norwich on Friday or Saterday next comyng. Please it you to have pacience, though I write so brefly.
In hast, at Walsyngham, the Wednesseday next to fore Esterne.Youre pouere servaunt,James Gr.
78.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As this letter relates to money matters of Fenn and Sir John Fastolf, it may most probably be referred to the same year asNos. 321and324.78.2Hugh Fenn.—SeeNo. 324.
78.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As this letter relates to money matters of Fenn and Sir John Fastolf, it may most probably be referred to the same year asNos. 321and324.
78.2Hugh Fenn.—SeeNo. 324.
To the right worshipfull, and my right entierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolf, Knight.
1456MARCH 27
Rightworshipful, and my right entierly welbeloved, I grete you right hertly wele, thanking you specialy, and in full herty wise, for the verray geantle goodnesse that ye have shewid unto me at all tymes, praying you of good contynuance.
And as touching suche matiers as ye sente unto me fore, I truste to God verraly, insomuche as the rule is amendid heer, and the wedder waxeth seesonable and pleasante, to see you in thise parties within short tyme, at whiche tyme I shal commune and demeene unto you in suche wise, that ye shal be right wele pleasid.
And as for the matier concernyng my Lord of Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye, but that ye shal finde me hertly wel-willid to doo that I can or may for th’accomplesshment of youre desire, as wel in that matier as in other, like as your servaunte John Bokking, berer hereof, can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve; to whom like hit you to yeve feith andcredence in this partie. And the blissid Trinitee have you everlastingly in His keping.
Written in my Manoir of Lamehith, the xxvj. daie of March.Your feithfull and trew,Th. Cant.
79.1[From Fenn, i. 124.] The date of this letter will appear tolerably certain on a comparison withNo. 319. In that letter Fastolf talks of coming up to London, if necessary, about the matter of my Lord of Bedford’s goods, but expresses a wish that if he is to come, my Lord Chancellor—viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury—should be got to write him a letter about it.
To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer.
1456MARCH 30
Ryghtworshippfull and enterly belovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow hertyly; latyng yow wete that there ys a contraversie mevyd be twix my cosyn John Radeclyff80.2of Attylburgh and me for the advoweson of the chirch of Attylburgh, the whech ys now voide, wheroff the title is myn veryly as God knowith, the whech shall be oppenyd unto yow; and upon Thursday next atte Wymondham, there shall be take an enquerrede jure patronatusafore Master Robert Popy and Master Symond Thornham, atte whech day I may nought be my selff as God knowyth, and thow I myght, yt were not convenyent.
And therfore, ryght trusty cosyn, consideryng that I am a wedowe impotent as of body, tendyrly and hertily I pray you, yf yt lyke yow, to be there assistyng my councell in my right as reson and lawe will upon Thursday next, be viij. of the clokke; and Fyncham,80.3Spelman, and othir of my councell shall be than there waytyng upon yow. And, jentyll cosyn, have me excused thowh I wryte thus brefly and homly to yow, for in trouth I do it of a synguler trust and affection, thewheche I have in yow, consideryng the goode nome and fame of trouth, wysdom, and good conducte, the which I here of you. And therfor, and ye may to youre well, I beseche you hertyly to be there, and ye shall nought lese therby with the grace of Almyghty Jesu, the wheche evyr preserve and promote you, gentill cosyn, in moche worship to youre hertys ease.
Atte Bokenham Castell, on Teuysday in Pache weke, in hast.D. A. Ogard.81.1
80.1[From Fenn, iii. 290.] This letter would appear to have been written in the year 1456, as Thomas Fairclowe, D.D., was presented to the church of Attleborough on the 2nd August in that year by Dame Alice Ogard as patron.80.2John Radcliff, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Walter, Lord Fitz-Walter. He was in her right called Lord Fitz-Walter, and was killed at Ferrybridge in 1461.80.3Simeon Fincham, of Fincham, Esq. His son John married Agnes, daughter of John Spelman, of Beckerton, Esq., I suppose the person here mentioned. He died in 1460, and Simeon in 1458.—F.81.1Dame Alice Ogard was the widow of Sir Andrew Ogard, Knight, whose first wife was Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Clifton, Knight, of Bokenham Castle. He died in 1454, and Alice, his relict, in 1460.—F.
80.1[From Fenn, iii. 290.] This letter would appear to have been written in the year 1456, as Thomas Fairclowe, D.D., was presented to the church of Attleborough on the 2nd August in that year by Dame Alice Ogard as patron.
80.2John Radcliff, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Walter, Lord Fitz-Walter. He was in her right called Lord Fitz-Walter, and was killed at Ferrybridge in 1461.
80.3Simeon Fincham, of Fincham, Esq. His son John married Agnes, daughter of John Spelman, of Beckerton, Esq., I suppose the person here mentioned. He died in 1460, and Simeon in 1458.—F.
81.1Dame Alice Ogard was the widow of Sir Andrew Ogard, Knight, whose first wife was Margaret, the daughter of Sir John Clifton, Knight, of Bokenham Castle. He died in 1454, and Alice, his relict, in 1460.—F.
To the worchepfull sir, John Paston esquyer.
1456(?)APRIL 25
WorchepfullSir, my reverent and right trusty maister and cosyn, I recommaunde me to you. Lyke you to wyte that wher I have made my fyne of Ikburgh with Nicholas Waterman, thanne beyng feodary to my Lorde of Yorke, as the same Nicholas wil recorde, wherof sufficient writyng is had; the which payment, so made, is sufficient in the lawe; in the which caas noo newe feodary is chargeable nor I demaundable, but the seide Nicholas owe to answere therof in his accompt; and if he concele, my Lorde may have good remedy ageyns hym, and so owe to do. The which not withstandyng, oon I trowe called Osbarn, som tyme your servant, now my Lordis feodary, hath often meved to do I wote not, and now late hath distreyned my cattel, and seith he wil dryve hem awey, &c., and wil have Cs.for fyne, wher my uncle paied xxvjs.viijd., Herry Somer xxs., and so many other ded. Sir, he may do me a pety shame in distreyning and dryvyng awey to make me hevy, and hym not glad I hoopat the loong, but wroong shal he nor any other do me, wher I may gete remedy by the lawe in any place throw Goddis mercy. Wherfor, sir, if he be stille in your servyse, lyke you I myght have knowlech, and thanne if your discreccion semith any thyng that I owe to do, by you I wil be advertysed and ruled; and if I coude conceyve that I owe to pay ageyn, as I understonde clerly the contrary, forsothe in right hasty seson wold I provyde and send hym from my seid lorde a sufficient discharge for myn more availl, that he shuld noght lose by me. And that is reson aswele, for that I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil. I deserve my lordis good lordeship as wele as any other of my simple poer her. I besech you that by this simple bille I may be recommaunded to my worchepful maistresse. The blissid Trinite have you in His holy governaunce. Written, London xxv. day of Aprill.Youris owen,Hugh a Fenne.
81.2[Add.MS.34,889, f. 173.] The year of this letter is uncertain, but it must belong to the latter part of HenryVI.’s reign, and there is great probability that it was written in 1456, likeNo. 324, which is also written by Hugh Fenn from London.
To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly.
1456MAY 2
WorchepfullCosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterburyand of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground, and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow, my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the ijde.day of Maij.
And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London, I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I have to comowne with yow, &c.J. Fastolf.
82.1[Add.MS.35,251, f. 24, B.M.] This letter seems to be of the same year asNo. 341.
To my worshipful maister, John Paston, Squier.
1456MAY 8
Sire, please it your maistership to wyte that on Wednesday, the v. day of Maij, I received a lettre from you by the prestis man of Walsyngham, and the Ascencion Day,84.2in the mornyng, I received a lettre from yow bi the handes of John Frays, my maisteris man, in whiche bothe moche thinge is conteyned whiche alle at this tyme I may not answere un to my comyng the nexte weke. And as to our atteynte,84.3the Chief Justice hathe, sithe this day sevenyght, kept the Gildehalle in London with alle the Lordes and Juges, sauf one in eche place. My Maister Markham yesterday rode owte of London be tymes. Notwithstandyng we called ther upon, and hadde at the barre Chokke,84.4Letelton,84.5Jenney,84.6Illyngworth,84.7John Jenney, and Dyne, and remembrid the longe hangyng and the trouthe of the matier, with the grete hurte of the partie in the tyme; and we have rule the next terme betymes, and non otherwise, for to morwe the juges sitten ayen in the toune. Mayster Yelverton can not be myry for Wyrmegey, and as for the distresse, it is anon omittas, and therfore Poley may and wil retorne what isseus he will. If thei be smale, we shall suffre at this time; if thei be grete, we must appere for Wyngfelde; and moche labour we have to conceyve a goode warant of attorney. We shal plede the nextterme, for as at this tyme we wold on Monday enparle and we may.
Ye must suerly entrete the shireve, for we have moche to doo with hym, as yesterday hadde we a grete day also in th’eschequer. Myn maister85.1is moche bounde to Haltofte, and there we ar assigned day over to the next terme, and dwelle in law. Our counsail was longe or thei come, but at the laste thei acquitte them weel. The bille was thought not by all that stode at the barre that wer of nother partie. We ar joyned in the sute of the obligacion in the Comon Place ayenst Jenney and Howes. As for attachement, ye may none have withowte ye or on of yow make your othe in propre persone before the barons. I wolde have doon it; I cowde not be amytted. And as for other processe, it is advised that by the cors of th’eschequer I shall take avenire faciasayenst Wentworthe, Andrews, longe Barnard, and Deyvillad respondendum quare in possessionem, &c. ingressi sunt. And we must telle where other Coughawe or Kirkeley, I suppose; and therupon a distresse and an attachement; nevertheles by your othe, &c., hereafter. And it is thought good that the same men shal be in the writte of ravyshment. Jenney hath advised us to ley it in Blithinge hundred, and I have taken of hym names; for as for London it is to nyghe enbracerye, as ye thought well, and soo is Middlesex. Maister Yelverton conceyvith it weel to your entent. There are aboughte and in Suffolk but fewe men as of gentilmen and men of substance, but if [unless] it be in Blithing hundre, were Hopton is grete; but Jenney dredeth it not we may have good men at large; and as for the hundre, he wil doo inow thereinne.
As for the tailes of iiijxxli.[four score pounds], as yette we shal doo weel inowghe and thei were contentid; or thei that shal have the silvere, the noyse were the lesse, for it shall, in pledyng, alwey be rehersid by our contrarie party that for x. marc we have alle that evere ther is, &c. I can not here how Wentworthe takith this matier by no meane; what he meneth I wote not. He is no thing pleasid with the matier of the bille in th’eschequer. Thomas Denys come yesterday, andnone erste. I wolde Arblaster and he spoke with yow this vacacion. I write noo more til my comyng.
As for tidinges, noon othere thanne I sent yow laste; but forthe on the same, all is as it was with the Quene,86.1the Prince and myn Lord York ar stille at Tutbury and Sandale, and my Lord of Warrewick at Warrewick. My Lord Bukingham rode on Ascencion Even to Writell, noo thing wel plesid, and sumwhat on easid of herte to his purpose; for the King hathe ley in London Friday, Saterday, Sonday, Monday, Teusday, and Wednesday remevid to Westminster agen. In alle whiche tyme, men of London that wer chargid and sworne wolde not nor hadde noo thing presentid sauf trespas; this day thei shal sitte ayen. The peas is weel kepte, but the straungiers86.2ar soore a dradde, and dar not come on brode. Here is alle that I knowe as yet. Our Lord Jesu be with yow.
Writen at Suthwerk the viij. day of Maij.
I have paied to Dory Cs., and with moche peyne made hym to ghete day of the other Cs. til the nexterme.Your owenJ. B.
Endorsed in a seventeenth-century hand.—L’ra Joh’is Bokking, Attorn. in Communi Banco.