101.1[From Fenn, iii. 276.] This letter may be presumed to have been written during the time that Archbishop Bourchier was Lord Chancellor, viz. between 7th March 1455 and 11th October 1456, when the Great Seal was given to Bishop Waynfleet. William Norwich, also, was Sheriff of Norwich in 1455, and is doubtless addressed in that capacity, but his year of office would not have begun so early as September. The letter therefore belongs to the following year.101.2Sheriff of Norwich, 1455; Mayor, 1461. Died, 1463-4.—Blomefield.101.3Seevol. ii. p. 248, Note 4.345JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON102.1To my right worshipful Maister, John Paston.1456OCT. 8Rightworshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow, and have receyvid a lettre from yow by Sir Thomas is man, berer here of. And as for the accions,102.2bothe of ravishement and th’attachement, the declaracions ar madetunc solvend’and notsolut’, and as moche amendid as we can or may be favour have amendid. We hadde be beguyled and they hadde not be sen in Norffolk, for here til this day come noo counsaill; and to haveper manus Johannis Wyngfeldeit wole not be, for we can not bringe it inne, and also it is to late.And as for iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds],102.3Fenn and I mette with Worsop this day, and he spake soore to Fenn and me, and we put hym overe, saying we wolde doo as moche as we myghte. I thinke verily that Fenn wole deserve ther inne a thanke, but I can not understande hym what he wolde be doon to, or how rewardid, for whanne I speke of it he is desplesid, and seithe he desirith noo rewarde; but he farith as a man wole sey he wold noo silvere, and lokith awaywardes and takith a noble. And he hath written to yow of the matere of Sir Philip Wentworthe touching this writte ofliberate,102.4whiche is but a color and noo warant sufficient, ner we owe not to doo no thinge that shuld obeye it, ner the Shireve nother dothe but of favor that he dothe to hem, and hym liste otherwise to doo, as Fenn writeth yow more pleinly. And asfor asupersedies[sic], there lithe noon, as he seith, up on aliberate.And as for entryng in Bradwell, thei doo opyn wronge, for after myn patent opteyned, there was a writte to sease it into the Kynges hande, and soo it was and is. And as to your patent, it is counsailled me to have a writte to th’eschetorde custodia liberanda, whiche may not be denyed. And if we myght haveuna cum exitibus a tempore mortis, it were a sovereigne writte. It shalbe assaied, and doo thertoo what can lete; the fermours be promised to be saved harmeles and chargid not to paie ony thing to them.And as for the iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds] to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte. It is faire, and we can ghete it on Fulthorp is dette by grete labor for agrement, for I drede it wole be moste agayn us that it is of recorde soo longe unpaied. And Hue at Fenn sueth now to Nailer to ghete owte mooliberates, suche as the last were to the last eschetor. And this God graunte thei take good spede.And as to your isseus, I shal accordyng to your lettre speke with Gresham whanne he cometh, and the Juges and Barons bothe shalbe enformed of the title of Wentworthe, as ye write, and how it is up on a feyned dede upon surrender, and a patent cancelled, &c., which Fenn hath promisid to doo.And as to Sir Thomas matier, I write un to yow and hym joinctly what hathe be doon therinne at this tyme. And Jesu have yow in kepyng.Writen at Suthwerk, the viij. day of Octobre.As to tidinges, the Kyng and the Quene ar at Coventre.103.1The Counsail be ganne there yesterday, and my Lord Shrewyshbury,103.2Tresorier of England, and John Wode shalb [shall be] Under-Tresorer. Thus thei say in the Chequer.Your owen,J. B.102.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The body of this letter relates entirely to proceedings in the dispute between Sir John Fastolf and Sir Philip Wentworth about the wardship of Thomas Fastolf. The postscript alone relates to public matters. The date will appear by the footnotes.102.2Against Sir Philip Wentworth.102.3This sum was to be paid by John Bocking and William Worcester for a patent of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf.—SeeLetter 347following.102.4Seep. 77, Note 5.103.1The Privy Seal dates show the King to have been at Coventry between the 20th September and the 14th October 1456.103.2John Talbot, second Earl of Shrewsbury, was appointed Treasurer on the 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.346BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON104.1To my Maister Paston.1456(?)OCT. 12Pleaseyow to wete that I hafe remembred of the langage that I hafe late lerned W. Barker had to yow and othyrs of his accomptes apposyng,104.2and of that they be not hole bethyn [between] ws, but yn division, &c. Sir, as I may sey yow, hyt was nevere othyrwyse, ne nevere ys lyke to be; for now they hafe do with Lowys, he that ys next shall be yn the same as he was yn gelosye; for when my maister comaundyth such as of force, by reson of her occupacion, most be nere hym, to do a message to hys felow, or question of hym, hyt shall be ymagyned amonges our felyshyp that he doth make maters to my maister. And so it ys ymagyned of me when I wryte lettres to London, to Bokkyng or Barker, that yn such maters as please hem not, then it ys my doyng; yff it take well to theyr entent, then it ys her [their] doyng. And yn gode feyth, so it was ymagyned of me and othyrs that wrote, by my maister comaundment, to Castre, to the parson of Blofeld, Geffrey Spyrlyng, and othyrs, that of such maters as was lykyng to hem and coude be sped by help of my maister frendes as by theyr solicytyng, then it was seyd that it was theyr avice, labour, and doyng. And yff the maters went not to my maister entent, ne that they coude not bryng aboute the mater, then it was imagyned and jangled that it was my wrytyng and doyng. I bare nevere my maister purs, ne condyt nevere chargeable mater alone of hys yn lawe, for my discrecion ne connyng know not whate such maters menyth.I knew nevere ofoyerneterminer, ne rad nevere patent before, ne my maister knew nevere the condyt of such thynges; and when he wrote of hys grevonse to hys frendys, he commaunded no man to be endyted, for he wyst not whate belonged to such thynges, ne the parson neyther, but remitted it to his councell lerned. There was no man gretter at hert with hym, as Andreus wyth Heydon, because of castyng Bradwell and Tychewell yn the Kynges handes, and toke awey the waarde. And I came nevere at theoyer and terminer.By God, my maister lost c. marc by a seute of Margyt Bryg upon a defence of atteynt, because a quest passed ayenst hyr of xij. penyworth lond by yeer; and I dar sey and prefe it, my maister never spake of hyr, ne knew hyr not, ne wrote to sew hyr at theoyer and terminer, as I am remembred. Yhyt yt was well deffended, at my maister grete cost and labour, and myne pore labour also. Yhyt ought not I, ne none such yn my stede, beer the wyte [blame] wyth Sir Thomas, ne none othyr; he that takyth the tolle most take the charge, hyt ys hys negligence that wille take the labour more then he may awey. I wold the parson ys wellfare asmoch as man lyvyng, to my wreched power; and yff, or when, ye hyre onye froward ymagynacions, I pray yow gefe no credence tille ye hyre it aunsuerd. I am eased of my spyrytes now that I hafe expressed my leude [ignorant] menyng, because of my felow Barker, as of such othyr berkers ayenst the mone, to make wysemen laugh at her foyle. Our Lord kepe yow.Wryt at Castre the xij. day of October.YourW. Botoner.I hafe and do purchasse malgre to remembre of evidenses lakkyng by negligence, &c. And therfor I most be muet and suffre gretter losses but [unless] it be othyrwyse concydered. I sende yow the copie of your patentes,105.1in parchement, and I hafe remembred as well as I can both the stuard and Bertilmeu Elys for execucion ayenst the pleggs of your seyntuarye, carpenter(?) Snow, that evere ys disposed to breke promysses. Foryefe me of my leude lettre wrytyng, and I pray yow laugh at it.104.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain, but must be between the years 1454 and 1459, when Botoner was at Caister. Bocking and Barker seem to have been in London at the time, which we know was the case in February 1456; and as we have evidence that Bocking at least was still there in October, we may perhaps attribute this letter to the October of 1456.104.2Theapposingof accounts was the charging of an accountant with the balance due by him to his employer.105.1Probably the patent of 6th June 1454, granting the wardship of Thomas Fastolf to John Paston and Thomas Howes.—SeeNo. 248 (in vol. ii.), also the letter following.347SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON106.1To my right goode maister, John Paston.1456or1457ReverentSir, &c. Please yow to wete that it [is] so that my maister, of his owen frowardness, and of non other mannys mevyng, hat sent a warent to Cristefor that he shuld delyver me no mony tyll the iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds] where payed for Bokkyng and Wurcestre patent;106.2and yf the seyd Cristefore delyvered me any mony, that he shuld take a sewerte of me therfor, nowthwithstandyng my maister preyed me that I shuld reherce alle thynge in my name, where of I held me content. And now I fele this traytour wrytyng under nethe, and I nowth prevy ther to, at my comyng owt causet me to thynk the more hevynes, &c. Nevertheles, I prey yow that a mene may be taken of trety by the mene of Clopton or Ellys. Sende me word, and I shal seke menys of trety, for, be God, I shal trust no more no fayre wordes; and there to I shall lete alle the Lords of this lond knowe what wrytyngs I have, and his disposicion. Save yowre reverens, Cristyfor sal (?) have swyche a maister, &c. I prey yow, as ever I may do yow service or be yowre bedemanthat ye wele sende me yowre avise. I had lever paye xx. marke, or xli.in hande and xli.yerely furthe, with myn enemyndz good love, than to yelde me to preson ayens here entent, and sewe forth the tyncte. And no trost what my maister wele do, for I can right evele beleve that he wele bere owt the cost of the tyncte whan he maket straunge to ley dowun the condempnacion, &c.Wretyn brevely at Horseydown the Wenesday after messe, anno xxxvto.T. Howys.I shal nowt leve this mater to serve the most enemy that he hat in Inglond. I wele non of his good. I have lever other men go to the Dille [Devil ?] for his good than I do.106.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is dated by the writer in the 35th year of HenryVI., but he does not say in what month it was written. The 35th of HenryVI.was reckoned from the 1st September 1456 to the 31st August 1457. Taken in connection with the postscript of Botoner’s letter immediately preceding (the date of which letter this partly confirms), it is not unlikely that this was written about October. Perhaps ‘Wednesday after messe’ should have been ‘Wednesday after Michaelmesse.’ If so, the exact date would be October 6th.106.2The wardship of Thomas Fastolf was at first granted to John Paston and Thomas Howes, by patent of the 6th June 1454, and for this they agreed to pay 100 marks into the Exchequer. But, for some reason or other, a new arrangement was made, and the wardship was granted by another patent, dated 12th December 1454, to John Bokkyng and William Worcestre, who offered the King 20 marks over what Paston had offered,i.e.£80 in all.—SeePatent Roll, 33 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 10.348JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON107.1To the right worshipfull and myn especiall maister, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast be this delivered.1456OCT. 16Afteral due recomendacion, like it you to wete, that the day of your assise isdie Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis, whiche is on Moneday come vij. nyght; at whiche tyme I trost ye wole be here, or ellis can I do lytell or nought there inne.As touchyng your mater ageynst Gunnore, that dwelleth in lawe, I have spoken to Lyttelton,107.2and comuned with hym there in, but it is not yet spoke of atte barre. Gunnore hath waged his lawe107.3of that he haade his day to wage it of, &c.As touchyng your issues at Wentworth sute, it is ijs., and it was retourned er I come here. My Maister Fastolfs councel taketh heed thereto, &c.As for tydynges, my Lord Chaunceler108.1is discharged. In his stede is my Lord of Wynchestre.108.2And my Lord of Shrewisbury108.3is Tresorer, and Broun108.4of your Inn is Undertresorer. If ye wold sende to hym to graunte you the namyng of th’eschetorship of Norffolk, &c., it were weel do, for it is told me he wold do moche for you.Maister Lawrence Bothe108.5is Prive Seall. And it is seid that my Lord of York108.6hath be with the Kyng, and is departed ageyn in right good conceyt with the Kyng, but not in gret conceyt with the Whene [Queen]; and sum men sey, ne hadde my Lord of Buks108.7not have letted it, my Lord of York had be distressed in his departyng.On Moneday last passed was a gret affray at Coventre bytwene the Duke of Somersets men and the wechemen [watchmen] of the toun, and ij. or iij. men of the toun were kylled there, to gret disturbance of alle the Lords there; for the larom belle was ronge, and the toun arose, and wold have jouperdit to have distressed the Duke of Somerset, &c., ne had the Duke of Buks not have take a direccion therein.Also it is seid the Duke of Buks taketh right straungely that bothe his brethren108.8arn so sodeynly discharged from ther offices of Chauncellerie and Tresoryship; and that among other causeth hym that his opynyon is contrary to the Whenes [Queen’s] entent, and many other also, as it is talked. Item, sum men seyn, the counseal is dissolved, and that the Kyngis forth to Chester,109.1&c. Also summe sey that many of the Lords shall resorte hiddir to London ageynst Alhalwen tyde.And as touchyng th’eleccion of Shirefs, men wene that my Lord of Canterbury shall have a gret rule, and specyall in our countre.I can no more, but Almyghty God send us as his most pleaser is.Wretyn al in hast, the Saterday next after Seint Edwards day.Your Servaunt,James Gresham.107.1[From Fenn, i. 24.] This letter is assigned by Fenn to the year 1449, but the true date is 1456, as will be seen by the footnotes.107.2Seep. 84, Note 5.107.3Wager of law was an ancient process by which a defendant cleared himself in an action of debt. He gave sureties that on a certain day he would ‘make his law,’ then took oath that he did not owe the plaintiff anything, as alleged, and called eleven compurgators to swear they believed him.108.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards Cardinal.108.2William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, was appointed Chancellor in Archbishop Bourchier’s place on the 11th October 1456.108.3John Talbot, second Earl. He was appointed Treasurer on 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.108.4John Brown.—SeeWilliam Wyrcestre’sAnnalsunder the year 1468.108.5Afterwards Bishop of Durham, and finally Archbishop of York.108.6Richard, Duke of York.108.7Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.108.8The two Bourchiers, viz. Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry, Viscount Bourchier, the former of whom had been Lord Chancellor and the latter Lord Treasurer (seeNotes 1, 2, and 3 above), were the Duke of Buckingham’s half-brothers by the mother’s side.109.1The Court had been staying at Coventry.349ABSTRACT109.2Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.1456NOV. 10Begs him in the end of the term to come home by Dedham, along with William Worcester and Barker, to see to the accounts of barley and such husbandry as is used there. As to Wighton in Yorkshire, Bokkyng reminds me you spoke to me that my son Scrope and his father-in-law109.3should have all the lyvelode of my wife’s in farm, to which I agreed, or else that Lord Vesey would have Wighton, as he once had, at a rent of £34—much more than I make it worth yearly. Do as you think best for me. I had rather my son Scrope had it with sufficient surety.Castre, 10 Nov.Begs him to common with William Worcester that by means of my Lord of Canterbury, or otherwise, Master William Clyf and others of the executors of John Wellis may be spoken to for the recovery of great good that William Worcester knows Wellis owed to Fastolf.[The date of this letter appears to be 1456. Of the years when Fastolf resided at Caister, it is not 1454, because in that year Barker could not have been in London on the 10th November (seeNo. 265). It is not 1455, because Worcester appears to have been at that time at Caister (seeNos. 305and306). The same appears to have been the case in 1457, though we can only judge by a letter of the 29th October; and although Worcester certainly was in London in November 1458, Sir John Fastolf was then in London with him.]109.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 241.]109.3Richard Bingham, Judge of the King’s Bench.350ABSTRACT110.1Sir John Fastolf to John Paston at the Temple.1456NOV. 15Received certain letters by Henry Hanson on Thursday last, including one from William Barker written in Lukett’s hand, and two bills of supplication, one of which, in the name of the tenants of Cotton, he has sent to Paston, as he has already written. John Russe and Geoff. Spyrlyng have ridden to Cotton in consequence, and will inform Paston how they speed. Thinks the bill ‘right good and well spoken according to the truth of their riotous demeaning.’ Received at the same time a bill written in his own name, of which he approves. Hears that young Henry Wentworth, young Calthorpe, and young Brews were at the distress-taking, among others. Has perfect confidence in Paston as to the treaty, and hopes to obtain again the manor of Bradwell by some means, as clear as he had it before his unhappy release. Hears that the Chief Justice ‘rectid the matter’ in Parliament before the Lords, and showed how Fastolf was wronged in that it was untruly found by the office that he had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf of the manor, whereas he has documents proving a true sale. My Lady of York has been here, ‘and sore moved me for the purchase of Castre.’ Begs him to devise means for the licence of mortising of certain buildings for the foundation of a college, ‘as ye and I have commoned of before.’ William Worcester can show him a copy of one passed by the King, and signed ready to the late Chancellor Stafford. Desires him to make himself acquainted with two chaplains about my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor. William Barker writes of a general treaty, to which he can make no answer further than he has already done to Yelverton and Paston.Castre, Monday after St. Martin.[In this letter, as in the last, we have Worcester and Barker both in London, which, we have seen, points to the year 1456. It is clear also that this letter was written just before that which follows.]110.1[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 259.]351SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON111.1To the worshipful and my right welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, at the Temple, or to William Barker, at Suthwerk, be this delvered.1456NOV. 18Worshipfulcosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And where as I late wrote unto yow in a lettre by Henre Hansson for the fundacion of my college, I am soore sette therupon; and that is the cause I write now, to remembre yow agayn to meve my Lords of Canterbury111.2and Wynchestre111.3for the licence to be opteined, that I might have the morteisying withowte ony grete fyne, in recompence of my longe servise contynued and doon un to the Kyng, and to his noble fader, whom God assoile, and nevere yette guerdoonned or rewarded.And now sithe I have ordeyned to make the Kyng founder, and evere to be prayed fore, and for his right noble progenitors, hise fader, and uncles, me thinketh I shuld not be denyed of my desire, but the rather to be remembrid and spedde.Wherfore, as I wrote un to yow, I pray yow acqueynteme and yow, for the rather spede here of, with a chapelleyn of my Lord of Caunterbury, that in your absence may remembre me, and in like wise with my Lord Chaunceller;112.1for seyng the Kyngs disposicion, and also hise, un to the edyfyeng of God is service, it myght in noo bettyr tyme be mevid, &c.My Lord of Norffolk is remevid from Framlyngham on foote to goo to Walsyngham,112.2and deily I wayte that he wolde come hidre.Your cosyn,J. Fastolf.111.1[From Fenn, i. 164.] This letter, as printed by Fenn, bears no date in itself, but in the editorial note at the foot it is dated: ‘Caister, 18th of November.’ Probably this date is expressed in the original, but has been accidentally omitted in the printing. If so, the year in which it was written must be either 1456 or 1457, and most probably the former. In 1455 the Archbishop of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor were one and the same person, which they evidently are not here; and in 1458 it appears by the CastlecombeMSS.that Sir John Fastolf was in London on the 26th November, so that he is not likely to have been expecting a visit from the Duke of Norfolk at Caister eight days before. On the other hand, if this was written in the year 1456, it must be remembered that Archbishop Bourchier had been just recently discharged of the office of Lord Chancellor, which was given to Bishop Waynfleet on the 11th October, and it is highly probable that the Archbishop had been already spoken to on the subject in his capacity of Chancellor.111.2Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop.111.3William Waynfleet, Bishop.112.1William Waynfleet, the Bishop of Winchester before mentioned.112.2On pilgrimage to the famous shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham.352ABSTRACT112.3Proceedings in a Suit in Michaelmas Term, 35 Hen.VI.1456NOV.I. Writ to the Sheriff of Suffolk to attach John Andrewe of Boylom, and bring him before the Barons of the Exchequer on the morrow of All Souls to answer, along with Sir Philip Wentworth and Thos. Deyvill of Netlestede, to the suit of John Paston and Thomas Howys.II. Pleadings. The King committed the wardship of Thomas, son and heir of John Fastolf of Cowhawe, to Paston and Howes by patent, 6th June 32 Hen.VI.; but on the 8th June 32 Hen.VI., Andrewe and Deyvill, with force and arms, entered Sholond Hall, Suffolk, and Foxhole, and Bentley Houses, etc., and took rents to the sum of £360, and underwood to the value of £40. Imparlance granted till 26th Nov., when the parties were not agreed.Venire faciaswas then awardeda die Sancti Helarii in xv. dies.112.3[Add. Charter 17,244, B.M.]353JOHN DORY TO JOHN PASTON113.1To my ryth wurchepfull sovereyn and master, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.About 1456(?)Rythwurshepfull master and sovereyn, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you to pardon me that I cum not to awayte up on you like as Barkere wrote to me. For I have notable and grete causis syth the lettere cam from hym, the qweche hath chaungyd my purpos, and be my master the Schreve is wrytyng, on to weche I must aplie me, all excusis leyd apart. And as for the wrytyng Barkere wrote to me, be the qweche he directyth a gret default in my deputys for return of thehabeas corpuswithducens tecum, ther as is none, I dar seye, for John Rede spek to all my master Fastolfs councell to advyse hym in the return, and to have returnyd hit after ther conceyt, and thei wuld gyf hym non advys. Nevertheles I now understande ther entent be Barkere is wrytyng; for thei wuld put alle juparte up on me to myn utter ondoyng, and yit to do my trewe part in execucion of ther entent, for ye knowell my master hath put the juparte and the losse, if any growe, to me on his part. And ther for I may repent the tyme that ever I promysyd my trewe and good wyll to that entent. For alle the malesse and evylwill that is owyng to me in alle the Schere ys for that mater and non other, the qweche hath grettely hurt me, and in tyme comyng schall hurt more. But lete them hold me excusyd, thei schall not have my goodwill so feythfully as thei have had, be my troweth, and I schall helpe my sefl [sic] as I may. And, Sire, I be seche you, thynke not that I pyke this be waye of qwarell, that I myth be this querell owe my good wyll to the toder part, for thei schall never have yt in thatmater, nor in non other. And for good the qweche I have receyvyd yff be thowth I have not deservyd yt I am abill to content yt a geyn. And on Friday nexst foluwyng I schall be with you atte Norwich be Goddys grace, and knowe your entent in this mater.No more, &c., but &c.—Be your man and servaunt,John Doryunder Schreve of Norffolk.113.1[Add.MS.34,889, f. 170.] The name of Dory occurs only once elsewhere in these letters, and then without a Christian name; but the person so referred to (at the end ofNo. 330) is probably the under-sheriff of Norfolk; and this letter, which is likewise concerned with Fastolf’s business, may have been written about the same period.354JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON114.11457(?)APRIL 2Sire, lyke it your maistership to wete that I sende you at this tyme the rolle of the copies of all patentes, and the appoyntement with Wentworth laste, and also a abstracte drawen as it come simply to my remembrance. And I shalbe with you sumtyme the next weke. All men ar owte at this tyme, as the Parson,114.2Worcester, and Barker; and therfore til thei come, I may not owte. H. Wyndesor departid on Monday, and will doo that he can. He telleth me Lumleys patent is in his awarde, but it is of noo force. And also he hathe Constable is ij. [second ?] patente, and that is moste ayenst us, &c. He wil purveie therfore as ye knowe myn maister114.3comaundit hym to yow.Here hath ben Wilton with the dede of feffement yesterday, and all men hadde ensealed sauf myn maister that now hathe ensealed, and H. Inglose is right soory. I can no newe tidinges, but that myn maister hath put his matier of Issabells in Scroudeby, and the rente of the priour of Norwiche dieu to Heilesdon in your hande and Thomas Grene. Ye shal the next weke have the evidences. And Jesu kepe you and youres.I sende myn Maistres Crane a lettre fro hir brother, but I have the credence, whiche I can not say but if she appose me for certein materes of hir brotheres.Writen at Castre, the ij. day of Aprill.Your owen servaunt,J. B.114.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is very uncertain. In 1456 the writer dates from Southwark on the 8th of May, and in 1458 from London on the 14th of March, so that there is rather a presumption against his being at Caister on the 2nd of April in either of these years. But these points, it must be owned, are little to be relied on, as Bokking certainly passed to and fro a good deal between London and Norfolk. The date must, however, be between 1455 and 1459. The letter has no address, but was doubtless intended for John Paston.114.2Thomas Howes.114.3Sir John Fastolf.355BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON115.1To my Maister Paston.1457APRIL 20Pleaseyou to wete that, after dew recommendacion, hyt yt so that my maister sendyth me to London for the mater of Rochestr, as for dyvers of hys oune particuler maters which concern not the lawe, &c.; and I am lyke to tarye till ye com, in case ye com wythynne iij. wekys.Sir, at reverence of God, seth my maister ys fully yn wille to renew hys fefment, that it may be do be tyme by the surest grounde that may be had, for, be it nevyr so suerly don, hyt shall be thought lytille ynowgh to kepe hys lond owte of trouble; and to spare for no councell ne cost to make sure, for a peny yn seson spent wille safe a pounde. I comyned with my broyder Spyrlyng, which seyth he wille do hys attendaunce, and to kepe it ryzt close of the namys. Taryeng drawyth parell.And ye meved a gode mater to the Parson and to me at your last beyng at Castr, that my maister shud be lerned whate hys housold standyth uppon yerlye, seth he kept it holye to ghedr at one place; and that don, then to see by the revenues of hys yeerly lyfelode whate may be leyd and assigned owte for that cause to meynteyn hys seyd housold, and over that, whate may be assigned to beere owte hys plees, and also do pay for hys foreyn chargs115.2and dedes of almes to a convenyent somme.And seth the grettist ordynarye charge most be hys housold kepyng, hyt were moste exspedyent that ye wold note well to remembre specially my maister to do hys audyt[or]es cast up and make rollys of hys accompts concernyng the seyd housold seth he came yn to Norffolk thys ij. yer and half, whych was nevyr so long to doo thys xl. wynter as ye now. And it ys pytee that hys audyt ys none ethyr wyse yn that entended; ye must nedys, yff ye wille my maister know how hyt stand with hym yerly of hys chargs, that thys be do fyrst, as it was allwey accustomed. My maister wille acord it to be don, but it ys forgete throwgh negligence of men yoven to sensualite, as Thomas Upton, me, and othyrs. My maister can not know wheder he go backward or forward till thys be doon.I can not elles, but ye wille not foryete thys that the audyt[or]es go verraily aboute it to an ende. And Haylysdon accompts be behynde for ij. yeer to [too] grete pite ys, and it wer yours or yn any wyseman gouveraunce.At Norwich hastly, the Wenstay in Ester weke.Boto-H.R.-Ner.115.1[From Fenn, iii. 294.] It appears from the contents of this letter that it was written two and a half years after Sir John Fastolf came to live in Norfolk, which he did in the autumn of 1454. The date therefore is certain.115.2Charges not connected with his household accounts.—F.356BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON116.1To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier, beyng in Norwych, yn haste.1457MAY 1Ryghtworshypfull Sir, aftyr dewe recommendacion, please yow to wete that I wrote a remembraunce to yow the day that I departed owte of Norwich, by Rychard, the Parson ys servaunt of Blofeld, concernyngcerteyn maters to be remembred by your wysdom for my maister ys avaylle, whych your grete wysdom can well undrestand ys ryght nedefull, as one thyng yn especiall, that Shypdam and Spyrlyng ought to labour, fyrst of onye thyng that belongyth, to audyt the accompts of the resseyt and despense of my maister housold at Castr seth he came last in to Norffolk, whych aswell for the provisyons that ys had of hys oune grownyng as in money payd; for till the seyd accompts be made ordynatlye, whych be of a grete charge yeerlye, wete ye for certeyn my maister shall nevere know whethyr he goth bakward or forward. And manye othere accomptants that maken lyvere of provysyons of cornys and catell to the household by the resseyvour and by the bayllyfs can not approve theyr liberatz just tille the seyd housold bokes be made upp; and seth it hath be kept ordynarylye seth my maister begen to kepe house thys l. yeer almoste, and when he hath be absent beyond see, &c., hyt ought to be more redelyer be doon and made upp whyle he is present, and well the rathere that hys housold menye were not so hole to ghedr thys xl. yer as be now at Castr. Also hyz minustrs of accompts of hys chieff maner of Haylysdon for iij. yeer to make upp and to examyn; and I ensure yow full simplye approwed hys wollys and hys fermys.And the iijdys that so wold Jesus my maister audytors wold faythfully and playnlye enforme my maistr of the trouth of the yeerly grete damage he beryth in debursyng hys money aboute shyppes and botes, kepyng an house up at Jermuch [Yarmouth] to hys grete harme, and resseyvyth but chaffr and waare for hys cornys and wollys, &c. and then most abyde along day to make money; of such chaffr takyng he shall nevere117.1be monyed, ne be aunsuerd clerly of hys revenues yeerly but [unless] those thyngs abofeseyd be amended be tyme. Yn Lowys days xij. yeer to gheder my maister was wont to ley upp money yeerly at London and Castr, and now the contrarye—de malo in pejus.I dar not be know of thys bille, but ye may question andvele of the disposicion of thys maters of otheres, and then I undrstand yff I wryt justlye or no; and ye, as of your mocion for my maister worshyp and profyt, exortyng hym, the stuard, Shypdam, and Spyrlyng to take a labour and a peyn that thys be reformed.I pray yow, and require yow kepe thys mater to your sylf.Yowr,Botoner.As for nouveltes none comth,118.1but yt ys seyd the sege shall com to Calix. The Erle of Warwyk118.2ys yhyt at Caunterbury with the Archbyship,118.3and the Erle younger brothere118.4maryed to Sir Eadmund Yngylthorp doughter uppon Seynt Marks Day. The Erle of Worcestr118.5broght aboute the maryage. The Queen and the Kyng at Herford,118.6the Lordes Bokyngham,118.7Shrewsbury,118.8and otheres ther. And now it ys seyd Herbert118.9shall com ynne, and apper at Leycester before the Kyng and the Lordes, hys lyfe graunted and godes, so he make amendys to theym he hath offended. Manye be endyted, som causelese, which makyth Herbert partye streng, and the burgeys and gentlemen aboute Herford wille goo wyth the Kyng wyffe and chylde, but a pease be made or the Kyng part thens, for ell[es] Herbert and hys affinite wille acquyt them, as it ys seyd.The Erle of Warwyk hath had the folks of Caunterbury and Sandwych before hym, and thanked hem of her gode herts and vytaillyng of Calix, and prayeth hem of contynuaunce.I sende a bille of the namys endyted to my maister andyow, to see and laugh at theyr Wellsh names descended of old pedegris. Our Lord be with yow.Wryt hastly at London, the fyrst day of May.Botoner.
101.1[From Fenn, iii. 276.] This letter may be presumed to have been written during the time that Archbishop Bourchier was Lord Chancellor, viz. between 7th March 1455 and 11th October 1456, when the Great Seal was given to Bishop Waynfleet. William Norwich, also, was Sheriff of Norwich in 1455, and is doubtless addressed in that capacity, but his year of office would not have begun so early as September. The letter therefore belongs to the following year.101.2Sheriff of Norwich, 1455; Mayor, 1461. Died, 1463-4.—Blomefield.101.3Seevol. ii. p. 248, Note 4.345JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON102.1To my right worshipful Maister, John Paston.1456OCT. 8Rightworshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow, and have receyvid a lettre from yow by Sir Thomas is man, berer here of. And as for the accions,102.2bothe of ravishement and th’attachement, the declaracions ar madetunc solvend’and notsolut’, and as moche amendid as we can or may be favour have amendid. We hadde be beguyled and they hadde not be sen in Norffolk, for here til this day come noo counsaill; and to haveper manus Johannis Wyngfeldeit wole not be, for we can not bringe it inne, and also it is to late.And as for iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds],102.3Fenn and I mette with Worsop this day, and he spake soore to Fenn and me, and we put hym overe, saying we wolde doo as moche as we myghte. I thinke verily that Fenn wole deserve ther inne a thanke, but I can not understande hym what he wolde be doon to, or how rewardid, for whanne I speke of it he is desplesid, and seithe he desirith noo rewarde; but he farith as a man wole sey he wold noo silvere, and lokith awaywardes and takith a noble. And he hath written to yow of the matere of Sir Philip Wentworthe touching this writte ofliberate,102.4whiche is but a color and noo warant sufficient, ner we owe not to doo no thinge that shuld obeye it, ner the Shireve nother dothe but of favor that he dothe to hem, and hym liste otherwise to doo, as Fenn writeth yow more pleinly. And asfor asupersedies[sic], there lithe noon, as he seith, up on aliberate.And as for entryng in Bradwell, thei doo opyn wronge, for after myn patent opteyned, there was a writte to sease it into the Kynges hande, and soo it was and is. And as to your patent, it is counsailled me to have a writte to th’eschetorde custodia liberanda, whiche may not be denyed. And if we myght haveuna cum exitibus a tempore mortis, it were a sovereigne writte. It shalbe assaied, and doo thertoo what can lete; the fermours be promised to be saved harmeles and chargid not to paie ony thing to them.And as for the iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds] to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte. It is faire, and we can ghete it on Fulthorp is dette by grete labor for agrement, for I drede it wole be moste agayn us that it is of recorde soo longe unpaied. And Hue at Fenn sueth now to Nailer to ghete owte mooliberates, suche as the last were to the last eschetor. And this God graunte thei take good spede.And as to your isseus, I shal accordyng to your lettre speke with Gresham whanne he cometh, and the Juges and Barons bothe shalbe enformed of the title of Wentworthe, as ye write, and how it is up on a feyned dede upon surrender, and a patent cancelled, &c., which Fenn hath promisid to doo.And as to Sir Thomas matier, I write un to yow and hym joinctly what hathe be doon therinne at this tyme. And Jesu have yow in kepyng.Writen at Suthwerk, the viij. day of Octobre.As to tidinges, the Kyng and the Quene ar at Coventre.103.1The Counsail be ganne there yesterday, and my Lord Shrewyshbury,103.2Tresorier of England, and John Wode shalb [shall be] Under-Tresorer. Thus thei say in the Chequer.Your owen,J. B.102.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The body of this letter relates entirely to proceedings in the dispute between Sir John Fastolf and Sir Philip Wentworth about the wardship of Thomas Fastolf. The postscript alone relates to public matters. The date will appear by the footnotes.102.2Against Sir Philip Wentworth.102.3This sum was to be paid by John Bocking and William Worcester for a patent of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf.—SeeLetter 347following.102.4Seep. 77, Note 5.103.1The Privy Seal dates show the King to have been at Coventry between the 20th September and the 14th October 1456.103.2John Talbot, second Earl of Shrewsbury, was appointed Treasurer on the 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.346BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON104.1To my Maister Paston.1456(?)OCT. 12Pleaseyow to wete that I hafe remembred of the langage that I hafe late lerned W. Barker had to yow and othyrs of his accomptes apposyng,104.2and of that they be not hole bethyn [between] ws, but yn division, &c. Sir, as I may sey yow, hyt was nevere othyrwyse, ne nevere ys lyke to be; for now they hafe do with Lowys, he that ys next shall be yn the same as he was yn gelosye; for when my maister comaundyth such as of force, by reson of her occupacion, most be nere hym, to do a message to hys felow, or question of hym, hyt shall be ymagyned amonges our felyshyp that he doth make maters to my maister. And so it ys ymagyned of me when I wryte lettres to London, to Bokkyng or Barker, that yn such maters as please hem not, then it ys my doyng; yff it take well to theyr entent, then it ys her [their] doyng. And yn gode feyth, so it was ymagyned of me and othyrs that wrote, by my maister comaundment, to Castre, to the parson of Blofeld, Geffrey Spyrlyng, and othyrs, that of such maters as was lykyng to hem and coude be sped by help of my maister frendes as by theyr solicytyng, then it was seyd that it was theyr avice, labour, and doyng. And yff the maters went not to my maister entent, ne that they coude not bryng aboute the mater, then it was imagyned and jangled that it was my wrytyng and doyng. I bare nevere my maister purs, ne condyt nevere chargeable mater alone of hys yn lawe, for my discrecion ne connyng know not whate such maters menyth.I knew nevere ofoyerneterminer, ne rad nevere patent before, ne my maister knew nevere the condyt of such thynges; and when he wrote of hys grevonse to hys frendys, he commaunded no man to be endyted, for he wyst not whate belonged to such thynges, ne the parson neyther, but remitted it to his councell lerned. There was no man gretter at hert with hym, as Andreus wyth Heydon, because of castyng Bradwell and Tychewell yn the Kynges handes, and toke awey the waarde. And I came nevere at theoyer and terminer.By God, my maister lost c. marc by a seute of Margyt Bryg upon a defence of atteynt, because a quest passed ayenst hyr of xij. penyworth lond by yeer; and I dar sey and prefe it, my maister never spake of hyr, ne knew hyr not, ne wrote to sew hyr at theoyer and terminer, as I am remembred. Yhyt yt was well deffended, at my maister grete cost and labour, and myne pore labour also. Yhyt ought not I, ne none such yn my stede, beer the wyte [blame] wyth Sir Thomas, ne none othyr; he that takyth the tolle most take the charge, hyt ys hys negligence that wille take the labour more then he may awey. I wold the parson ys wellfare asmoch as man lyvyng, to my wreched power; and yff, or when, ye hyre onye froward ymagynacions, I pray yow gefe no credence tille ye hyre it aunsuerd. I am eased of my spyrytes now that I hafe expressed my leude [ignorant] menyng, because of my felow Barker, as of such othyr berkers ayenst the mone, to make wysemen laugh at her foyle. Our Lord kepe yow.Wryt at Castre the xij. day of October.YourW. Botoner.I hafe and do purchasse malgre to remembre of evidenses lakkyng by negligence, &c. And therfor I most be muet and suffre gretter losses but [unless] it be othyrwyse concydered. I sende yow the copie of your patentes,105.1in parchement, and I hafe remembred as well as I can both the stuard and Bertilmeu Elys for execucion ayenst the pleggs of your seyntuarye, carpenter(?) Snow, that evere ys disposed to breke promysses. Foryefe me of my leude lettre wrytyng, and I pray yow laugh at it.104.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain, but must be between the years 1454 and 1459, when Botoner was at Caister. Bocking and Barker seem to have been in London at the time, which we know was the case in February 1456; and as we have evidence that Bocking at least was still there in October, we may perhaps attribute this letter to the October of 1456.104.2Theapposingof accounts was the charging of an accountant with the balance due by him to his employer.105.1Probably the patent of 6th June 1454, granting the wardship of Thomas Fastolf to John Paston and Thomas Howes.—SeeNo. 248 (in vol. ii.), also the letter following.347SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON106.1To my right goode maister, John Paston.1456or1457ReverentSir, &c. Please yow to wete that it [is] so that my maister, of his owen frowardness, and of non other mannys mevyng, hat sent a warent to Cristefor that he shuld delyver me no mony tyll the iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds] where payed for Bokkyng and Wurcestre patent;106.2and yf the seyd Cristefore delyvered me any mony, that he shuld take a sewerte of me therfor, nowthwithstandyng my maister preyed me that I shuld reherce alle thynge in my name, where of I held me content. And now I fele this traytour wrytyng under nethe, and I nowth prevy ther to, at my comyng owt causet me to thynk the more hevynes, &c. Nevertheles, I prey yow that a mene may be taken of trety by the mene of Clopton or Ellys. Sende me word, and I shal seke menys of trety, for, be God, I shal trust no more no fayre wordes; and there to I shall lete alle the Lords of this lond knowe what wrytyngs I have, and his disposicion. Save yowre reverens, Cristyfor sal (?) have swyche a maister, &c. I prey yow, as ever I may do yow service or be yowre bedemanthat ye wele sende me yowre avise. I had lever paye xx. marke, or xli.in hande and xli.yerely furthe, with myn enemyndz good love, than to yelde me to preson ayens here entent, and sewe forth the tyncte. And no trost what my maister wele do, for I can right evele beleve that he wele bere owt the cost of the tyncte whan he maket straunge to ley dowun the condempnacion, &c.Wretyn brevely at Horseydown the Wenesday after messe, anno xxxvto.T. Howys.I shal nowt leve this mater to serve the most enemy that he hat in Inglond. I wele non of his good. I have lever other men go to the Dille [Devil ?] for his good than I do.106.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is dated by the writer in the 35th year of HenryVI., but he does not say in what month it was written. The 35th of HenryVI.was reckoned from the 1st September 1456 to the 31st August 1457. Taken in connection with the postscript of Botoner’s letter immediately preceding (the date of which letter this partly confirms), it is not unlikely that this was written about October. Perhaps ‘Wednesday after messe’ should have been ‘Wednesday after Michaelmesse.’ If so, the exact date would be October 6th.106.2The wardship of Thomas Fastolf was at first granted to John Paston and Thomas Howes, by patent of the 6th June 1454, and for this they agreed to pay 100 marks into the Exchequer. But, for some reason or other, a new arrangement was made, and the wardship was granted by another patent, dated 12th December 1454, to John Bokkyng and William Worcestre, who offered the King 20 marks over what Paston had offered,i.e.£80 in all.—SeePatent Roll, 33 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 10.348JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON107.1To the right worshipfull and myn especiall maister, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast be this delivered.1456OCT. 16Afteral due recomendacion, like it you to wete, that the day of your assise isdie Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis, whiche is on Moneday come vij. nyght; at whiche tyme I trost ye wole be here, or ellis can I do lytell or nought there inne.As touchyng your mater ageynst Gunnore, that dwelleth in lawe, I have spoken to Lyttelton,107.2and comuned with hym there in, but it is not yet spoke of atte barre. Gunnore hath waged his lawe107.3of that he haade his day to wage it of, &c.As touchyng your issues at Wentworth sute, it is ijs., and it was retourned er I come here. My Maister Fastolfs councel taketh heed thereto, &c.As for tydynges, my Lord Chaunceler108.1is discharged. In his stede is my Lord of Wynchestre.108.2And my Lord of Shrewisbury108.3is Tresorer, and Broun108.4of your Inn is Undertresorer. If ye wold sende to hym to graunte you the namyng of th’eschetorship of Norffolk, &c., it were weel do, for it is told me he wold do moche for you.Maister Lawrence Bothe108.5is Prive Seall. And it is seid that my Lord of York108.6hath be with the Kyng, and is departed ageyn in right good conceyt with the Kyng, but not in gret conceyt with the Whene [Queen]; and sum men sey, ne hadde my Lord of Buks108.7not have letted it, my Lord of York had be distressed in his departyng.On Moneday last passed was a gret affray at Coventre bytwene the Duke of Somersets men and the wechemen [watchmen] of the toun, and ij. or iij. men of the toun were kylled there, to gret disturbance of alle the Lords there; for the larom belle was ronge, and the toun arose, and wold have jouperdit to have distressed the Duke of Somerset, &c., ne had the Duke of Buks not have take a direccion therein.Also it is seid the Duke of Buks taketh right straungely that bothe his brethren108.8arn so sodeynly discharged from ther offices of Chauncellerie and Tresoryship; and that among other causeth hym that his opynyon is contrary to the Whenes [Queen’s] entent, and many other also, as it is talked. Item, sum men seyn, the counseal is dissolved, and that the Kyngis forth to Chester,109.1&c. Also summe sey that many of the Lords shall resorte hiddir to London ageynst Alhalwen tyde.And as touchyng th’eleccion of Shirefs, men wene that my Lord of Canterbury shall have a gret rule, and specyall in our countre.I can no more, but Almyghty God send us as his most pleaser is.Wretyn al in hast, the Saterday next after Seint Edwards day.Your Servaunt,James Gresham.107.1[From Fenn, i. 24.] This letter is assigned by Fenn to the year 1449, but the true date is 1456, as will be seen by the footnotes.107.2Seep. 84, Note 5.107.3Wager of law was an ancient process by which a defendant cleared himself in an action of debt. He gave sureties that on a certain day he would ‘make his law,’ then took oath that he did not owe the plaintiff anything, as alleged, and called eleven compurgators to swear they believed him.108.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards Cardinal.108.2William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, was appointed Chancellor in Archbishop Bourchier’s place on the 11th October 1456.108.3John Talbot, second Earl. He was appointed Treasurer on 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.108.4John Brown.—SeeWilliam Wyrcestre’sAnnalsunder the year 1468.108.5Afterwards Bishop of Durham, and finally Archbishop of York.108.6Richard, Duke of York.108.7Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.108.8The two Bourchiers, viz. Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry, Viscount Bourchier, the former of whom had been Lord Chancellor and the latter Lord Treasurer (seeNotes 1, 2, and 3 above), were the Duke of Buckingham’s half-brothers by the mother’s side.109.1The Court had been staying at Coventry.349ABSTRACT109.2Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.1456NOV. 10Begs him in the end of the term to come home by Dedham, along with William Worcester and Barker, to see to the accounts of barley and such husbandry as is used there. As to Wighton in Yorkshire, Bokkyng reminds me you spoke to me that my son Scrope and his father-in-law109.3should have all the lyvelode of my wife’s in farm, to which I agreed, or else that Lord Vesey would have Wighton, as he once had, at a rent of £34—much more than I make it worth yearly. Do as you think best for me. I had rather my son Scrope had it with sufficient surety.Castre, 10 Nov.Begs him to common with William Worcester that by means of my Lord of Canterbury, or otherwise, Master William Clyf and others of the executors of John Wellis may be spoken to for the recovery of great good that William Worcester knows Wellis owed to Fastolf.[The date of this letter appears to be 1456. Of the years when Fastolf resided at Caister, it is not 1454, because in that year Barker could not have been in London on the 10th November (seeNo. 265). It is not 1455, because Worcester appears to have been at that time at Caister (seeNos. 305and306). The same appears to have been the case in 1457, though we can only judge by a letter of the 29th October; and although Worcester certainly was in London in November 1458, Sir John Fastolf was then in London with him.]109.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 241.]109.3Richard Bingham, Judge of the King’s Bench.350ABSTRACT110.1Sir John Fastolf to John Paston at the Temple.1456NOV. 15Received certain letters by Henry Hanson on Thursday last, including one from William Barker written in Lukett’s hand, and two bills of supplication, one of which, in the name of the tenants of Cotton, he has sent to Paston, as he has already written. John Russe and Geoff. Spyrlyng have ridden to Cotton in consequence, and will inform Paston how they speed. Thinks the bill ‘right good and well spoken according to the truth of their riotous demeaning.’ Received at the same time a bill written in his own name, of which he approves. Hears that young Henry Wentworth, young Calthorpe, and young Brews were at the distress-taking, among others. Has perfect confidence in Paston as to the treaty, and hopes to obtain again the manor of Bradwell by some means, as clear as he had it before his unhappy release. Hears that the Chief Justice ‘rectid the matter’ in Parliament before the Lords, and showed how Fastolf was wronged in that it was untruly found by the office that he had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf of the manor, whereas he has documents proving a true sale. My Lady of York has been here, ‘and sore moved me for the purchase of Castre.’ Begs him to devise means for the licence of mortising of certain buildings for the foundation of a college, ‘as ye and I have commoned of before.’ William Worcester can show him a copy of one passed by the King, and signed ready to the late Chancellor Stafford. Desires him to make himself acquainted with two chaplains about my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor. William Barker writes of a general treaty, to which he can make no answer further than he has already done to Yelverton and Paston.Castre, Monday after St. Martin.[In this letter, as in the last, we have Worcester and Barker both in London, which, we have seen, points to the year 1456. It is clear also that this letter was written just before that which follows.]110.1[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 259.]351SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON111.1To the worshipful and my right welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, at the Temple, or to William Barker, at Suthwerk, be this delvered.1456NOV. 18Worshipfulcosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And where as I late wrote unto yow in a lettre by Henre Hansson for the fundacion of my college, I am soore sette therupon; and that is the cause I write now, to remembre yow agayn to meve my Lords of Canterbury111.2and Wynchestre111.3for the licence to be opteined, that I might have the morteisying withowte ony grete fyne, in recompence of my longe servise contynued and doon un to the Kyng, and to his noble fader, whom God assoile, and nevere yette guerdoonned or rewarded.And now sithe I have ordeyned to make the Kyng founder, and evere to be prayed fore, and for his right noble progenitors, hise fader, and uncles, me thinketh I shuld not be denyed of my desire, but the rather to be remembrid and spedde.Wherfore, as I wrote un to yow, I pray yow acqueynteme and yow, for the rather spede here of, with a chapelleyn of my Lord of Caunterbury, that in your absence may remembre me, and in like wise with my Lord Chaunceller;112.1for seyng the Kyngs disposicion, and also hise, un to the edyfyeng of God is service, it myght in noo bettyr tyme be mevid, &c.My Lord of Norffolk is remevid from Framlyngham on foote to goo to Walsyngham,112.2and deily I wayte that he wolde come hidre.Your cosyn,J. Fastolf.111.1[From Fenn, i. 164.] This letter, as printed by Fenn, bears no date in itself, but in the editorial note at the foot it is dated: ‘Caister, 18th of November.’ Probably this date is expressed in the original, but has been accidentally omitted in the printing. If so, the year in which it was written must be either 1456 or 1457, and most probably the former. In 1455 the Archbishop of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor were one and the same person, which they evidently are not here; and in 1458 it appears by the CastlecombeMSS.that Sir John Fastolf was in London on the 26th November, so that he is not likely to have been expecting a visit from the Duke of Norfolk at Caister eight days before. On the other hand, if this was written in the year 1456, it must be remembered that Archbishop Bourchier had been just recently discharged of the office of Lord Chancellor, which was given to Bishop Waynfleet on the 11th October, and it is highly probable that the Archbishop had been already spoken to on the subject in his capacity of Chancellor.111.2Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop.111.3William Waynfleet, Bishop.112.1William Waynfleet, the Bishop of Winchester before mentioned.112.2On pilgrimage to the famous shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham.352ABSTRACT112.3Proceedings in a Suit in Michaelmas Term, 35 Hen.VI.1456NOV.I. Writ to the Sheriff of Suffolk to attach John Andrewe of Boylom, and bring him before the Barons of the Exchequer on the morrow of All Souls to answer, along with Sir Philip Wentworth and Thos. Deyvill of Netlestede, to the suit of John Paston and Thomas Howys.II. Pleadings. The King committed the wardship of Thomas, son and heir of John Fastolf of Cowhawe, to Paston and Howes by patent, 6th June 32 Hen.VI.; but on the 8th June 32 Hen.VI., Andrewe and Deyvill, with force and arms, entered Sholond Hall, Suffolk, and Foxhole, and Bentley Houses, etc., and took rents to the sum of £360, and underwood to the value of £40. Imparlance granted till 26th Nov., when the parties were not agreed.Venire faciaswas then awardeda die Sancti Helarii in xv. dies.112.3[Add. Charter 17,244, B.M.]353JOHN DORY TO JOHN PASTON113.1To my ryth wurchepfull sovereyn and master, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.About 1456(?)Rythwurshepfull master and sovereyn, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you to pardon me that I cum not to awayte up on you like as Barkere wrote to me. For I have notable and grete causis syth the lettere cam from hym, the qweche hath chaungyd my purpos, and be my master the Schreve is wrytyng, on to weche I must aplie me, all excusis leyd apart. And as for the wrytyng Barkere wrote to me, be the qweche he directyth a gret default in my deputys for return of thehabeas corpuswithducens tecum, ther as is none, I dar seye, for John Rede spek to all my master Fastolfs councell to advyse hym in the return, and to have returnyd hit after ther conceyt, and thei wuld gyf hym non advys. Nevertheles I now understande ther entent be Barkere is wrytyng; for thei wuld put alle juparte up on me to myn utter ondoyng, and yit to do my trewe part in execucion of ther entent, for ye knowell my master hath put the juparte and the losse, if any growe, to me on his part. And ther for I may repent the tyme that ever I promysyd my trewe and good wyll to that entent. For alle the malesse and evylwill that is owyng to me in alle the Schere ys for that mater and non other, the qweche hath grettely hurt me, and in tyme comyng schall hurt more. But lete them hold me excusyd, thei schall not have my goodwill so feythfully as thei have had, be my troweth, and I schall helpe my sefl [sic] as I may. And, Sire, I be seche you, thynke not that I pyke this be waye of qwarell, that I myth be this querell owe my good wyll to the toder part, for thei schall never have yt in thatmater, nor in non other. And for good the qweche I have receyvyd yff be thowth I have not deservyd yt I am abill to content yt a geyn. And on Friday nexst foluwyng I schall be with you atte Norwich be Goddys grace, and knowe your entent in this mater.No more, &c., but &c.—Be your man and servaunt,John Doryunder Schreve of Norffolk.113.1[Add.MS.34,889, f. 170.] The name of Dory occurs only once elsewhere in these letters, and then without a Christian name; but the person so referred to (at the end ofNo. 330) is probably the under-sheriff of Norfolk; and this letter, which is likewise concerned with Fastolf’s business, may have been written about the same period.354JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON114.11457(?)APRIL 2Sire, lyke it your maistership to wete that I sende you at this tyme the rolle of the copies of all patentes, and the appoyntement with Wentworth laste, and also a abstracte drawen as it come simply to my remembrance. And I shalbe with you sumtyme the next weke. All men ar owte at this tyme, as the Parson,114.2Worcester, and Barker; and therfore til thei come, I may not owte. H. Wyndesor departid on Monday, and will doo that he can. He telleth me Lumleys patent is in his awarde, but it is of noo force. And also he hathe Constable is ij. [second ?] patente, and that is moste ayenst us, &c. He wil purveie therfore as ye knowe myn maister114.3comaundit hym to yow.Here hath ben Wilton with the dede of feffement yesterday, and all men hadde ensealed sauf myn maister that now hathe ensealed, and H. Inglose is right soory. I can no newe tidinges, but that myn maister hath put his matier of Issabells in Scroudeby, and the rente of the priour of Norwiche dieu to Heilesdon in your hande and Thomas Grene. Ye shal the next weke have the evidences. And Jesu kepe you and youres.I sende myn Maistres Crane a lettre fro hir brother, but I have the credence, whiche I can not say but if she appose me for certein materes of hir brotheres.Writen at Castre, the ij. day of Aprill.Your owen servaunt,J. B.114.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is very uncertain. In 1456 the writer dates from Southwark on the 8th of May, and in 1458 from London on the 14th of March, so that there is rather a presumption against his being at Caister on the 2nd of April in either of these years. But these points, it must be owned, are little to be relied on, as Bokking certainly passed to and fro a good deal between London and Norfolk. The date must, however, be between 1455 and 1459. The letter has no address, but was doubtless intended for John Paston.114.2Thomas Howes.114.3Sir John Fastolf.355BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON115.1To my Maister Paston.1457APRIL 20Pleaseyou to wete that, after dew recommendacion, hyt yt so that my maister sendyth me to London for the mater of Rochestr, as for dyvers of hys oune particuler maters which concern not the lawe, &c.; and I am lyke to tarye till ye com, in case ye com wythynne iij. wekys.Sir, at reverence of God, seth my maister ys fully yn wille to renew hys fefment, that it may be do be tyme by the surest grounde that may be had, for, be it nevyr so suerly don, hyt shall be thought lytille ynowgh to kepe hys lond owte of trouble; and to spare for no councell ne cost to make sure, for a peny yn seson spent wille safe a pounde. I comyned with my broyder Spyrlyng, which seyth he wille do hys attendaunce, and to kepe it ryzt close of the namys. Taryeng drawyth parell.And ye meved a gode mater to the Parson and to me at your last beyng at Castr, that my maister shud be lerned whate hys housold standyth uppon yerlye, seth he kept it holye to ghedr at one place; and that don, then to see by the revenues of hys yeerly lyfelode whate may be leyd and assigned owte for that cause to meynteyn hys seyd housold, and over that, whate may be assigned to beere owte hys plees, and also do pay for hys foreyn chargs115.2and dedes of almes to a convenyent somme.And seth the grettist ordynarye charge most be hys housold kepyng, hyt were moste exspedyent that ye wold note well to remembre specially my maister to do hys audyt[or]es cast up and make rollys of hys accompts concernyng the seyd housold seth he came yn to Norffolk thys ij. yer and half, whych was nevyr so long to doo thys xl. wynter as ye now. And it ys pytee that hys audyt ys none ethyr wyse yn that entended; ye must nedys, yff ye wille my maister know how hyt stand with hym yerly of hys chargs, that thys be do fyrst, as it was allwey accustomed. My maister wille acord it to be don, but it ys forgete throwgh negligence of men yoven to sensualite, as Thomas Upton, me, and othyrs. My maister can not know wheder he go backward or forward till thys be doon.I can not elles, but ye wille not foryete thys that the audyt[or]es go verraily aboute it to an ende. And Haylysdon accompts be behynde for ij. yeer to [too] grete pite ys, and it wer yours or yn any wyseman gouveraunce.At Norwich hastly, the Wenstay in Ester weke.Boto-H.R.-Ner.115.1[From Fenn, iii. 294.] It appears from the contents of this letter that it was written two and a half years after Sir John Fastolf came to live in Norfolk, which he did in the autumn of 1454. The date therefore is certain.115.2Charges not connected with his household accounts.—F.356BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON116.1To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier, beyng in Norwych, yn haste.1457MAY 1Ryghtworshypfull Sir, aftyr dewe recommendacion, please yow to wete that I wrote a remembraunce to yow the day that I departed owte of Norwich, by Rychard, the Parson ys servaunt of Blofeld, concernyngcerteyn maters to be remembred by your wysdom for my maister ys avaylle, whych your grete wysdom can well undrestand ys ryght nedefull, as one thyng yn especiall, that Shypdam and Spyrlyng ought to labour, fyrst of onye thyng that belongyth, to audyt the accompts of the resseyt and despense of my maister housold at Castr seth he came last in to Norffolk, whych aswell for the provisyons that ys had of hys oune grownyng as in money payd; for till the seyd accompts be made ordynatlye, whych be of a grete charge yeerlye, wete ye for certeyn my maister shall nevere know whethyr he goth bakward or forward. And manye othere accomptants that maken lyvere of provysyons of cornys and catell to the household by the resseyvour and by the bayllyfs can not approve theyr liberatz just tille the seyd housold bokes be made upp; and seth it hath be kept ordynarylye seth my maister begen to kepe house thys l. yeer almoste, and when he hath be absent beyond see, &c., hyt ought to be more redelyer be doon and made upp whyle he is present, and well the rathere that hys housold menye were not so hole to ghedr thys xl. yer as be now at Castr. Also hyz minustrs of accompts of hys chieff maner of Haylysdon for iij. yeer to make upp and to examyn; and I ensure yow full simplye approwed hys wollys and hys fermys.And the iijdys that so wold Jesus my maister audytors wold faythfully and playnlye enforme my maistr of the trouth of the yeerly grete damage he beryth in debursyng hys money aboute shyppes and botes, kepyng an house up at Jermuch [Yarmouth] to hys grete harme, and resseyvyth but chaffr and waare for hys cornys and wollys, &c. and then most abyde along day to make money; of such chaffr takyng he shall nevere117.1be monyed, ne be aunsuerd clerly of hys revenues yeerly but [unless] those thyngs abofeseyd be amended be tyme. Yn Lowys days xij. yeer to gheder my maister was wont to ley upp money yeerly at London and Castr, and now the contrarye—de malo in pejus.I dar not be know of thys bille, but ye may question andvele of the disposicion of thys maters of otheres, and then I undrstand yff I wryt justlye or no; and ye, as of your mocion for my maister worshyp and profyt, exortyng hym, the stuard, Shypdam, and Spyrlyng to take a labour and a peyn that thys be reformed.I pray yow, and require yow kepe thys mater to your sylf.Yowr,Botoner.As for nouveltes none comth,118.1but yt ys seyd the sege shall com to Calix. The Erle of Warwyk118.2ys yhyt at Caunterbury with the Archbyship,118.3and the Erle younger brothere118.4maryed to Sir Eadmund Yngylthorp doughter uppon Seynt Marks Day. The Erle of Worcestr118.5broght aboute the maryage. The Queen and the Kyng at Herford,118.6the Lordes Bokyngham,118.7Shrewsbury,118.8and otheres ther. And now it ys seyd Herbert118.9shall com ynne, and apper at Leycester before the Kyng and the Lordes, hys lyfe graunted and godes, so he make amendys to theym he hath offended. Manye be endyted, som causelese, which makyth Herbert partye streng, and the burgeys and gentlemen aboute Herford wille goo wyth the Kyng wyffe and chylde, but a pease be made or the Kyng part thens, for ell[es] Herbert and hys affinite wille acquyt them, as it ys seyd.The Erle of Warwyk hath had the folks of Caunterbury and Sandwych before hym, and thanked hem of her gode herts and vytaillyng of Calix, and prayeth hem of contynuaunce.I sende a bille of the namys endyted to my maister andyow, to see and laugh at theyr Wellsh names descended of old pedegris. Our Lord be with yow.Wryt hastly at London, the fyrst day of May.Botoner.
101.1[From Fenn, iii. 276.] This letter may be presumed to have been written during the time that Archbishop Bourchier was Lord Chancellor, viz. between 7th March 1455 and 11th October 1456, when the Great Seal was given to Bishop Waynfleet. William Norwich, also, was Sheriff of Norwich in 1455, and is doubtless addressed in that capacity, but his year of office would not have begun so early as September. The letter therefore belongs to the following year.101.2Sheriff of Norwich, 1455; Mayor, 1461. Died, 1463-4.—Blomefield.101.3Seevol. ii. p. 248, Note 4.
101.1[From Fenn, iii. 276.] This letter may be presumed to have been written during the time that Archbishop Bourchier was Lord Chancellor, viz. between 7th March 1455 and 11th October 1456, when the Great Seal was given to Bishop Waynfleet. William Norwich, also, was Sheriff of Norwich in 1455, and is doubtless addressed in that capacity, but his year of office would not have begun so early as September. The letter therefore belongs to the following year.
101.2Sheriff of Norwich, 1455; Mayor, 1461. Died, 1463-4.—Blomefield.
101.3Seevol. ii. p. 248, Note 4.
To my right worshipful Maister, John Paston.
1456OCT. 8
Rightworshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow, and have receyvid a lettre from yow by Sir Thomas is man, berer here of. And as for the accions,102.2bothe of ravishement and th’attachement, the declaracions ar madetunc solvend’and notsolut’, and as moche amendid as we can or may be favour have amendid. We hadde be beguyled and they hadde not be sen in Norffolk, for here til this day come noo counsaill; and to haveper manus Johannis Wyngfeldeit wole not be, for we can not bringe it inne, and also it is to late.
And as for iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds],102.3Fenn and I mette with Worsop this day, and he spake soore to Fenn and me, and we put hym overe, saying we wolde doo as moche as we myghte. I thinke verily that Fenn wole deserve ther inne a thanke, but I can not understande hym what he wolde be doon to, or how rewardid, for whanne I speke of it he is desplesid, and seithe he desirith noo rewarde; but he farith as a man wole sey he wold noo silvere, and lokith awaywardes and takith a noble. And he hath written to yow of the matere of Sir Philip Wentworthe touching this writte ofliberate,102.4whiche is but a color and noo warant sufficient, ner we owe not to doo no thinge that shuld obeye it, ner the Shireve nother dothe but of favor that he dothe to hem, and hym liste otherwise to doo, as Fenn writeth yow more pleinly. And asfor asupersedies[sic], there lithe noon, as he seith, up on aliberate.
And as for entryng in Bradwell, thei doo opyn wronge, for after myn patent opteyned, there was a writte to sease it into the Kynges hande, and soo it was and is. And as to your patent, it is counsailled me to have a writte to th’eschetorde custodia liberanda, whiche may not be denyed. And if we myght haveuna cum exitibus a tempore mortis, it were a sovereigne writte. It shalbe assaied, and doo thertoo what can lete; the fermours be promised to be saved harmeles and chargid not to paie ony thing to them.
And as for the iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds] to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte. It is faire, and we can ghete it on Fulthorp is dette by grete labor for agrement, for I drede it wole be moste agayn us that it is of recorde soo longe unpaied. And Hue at Fenn sueth now to Nailer to ghete owte mooliberates, suche as the last were to the last eschetor. And this God graunte thei take good spede.
And as to your isseus, I shal accordyng to your lettre speke with Gresham whanne he cometh, and the Juges and Barons bothe shalbe enformed of the title of Wentworthe, as ye write, and how it is up on a feyned dede upon surrender, and a patent cancelled, &c., which Fenn hath promisid to doo.
And as to Sir Thomas matier, I write un to yow and hym joinctly what hathe be doon therinne at this tyme. And Jesu have yow in kepyng.
Writen at Suthwerk, the viij. day of Octobre.
As to tidinges, the Kyng and the Quene ar at Coventre.103.1The Counsail be ganne there yesterday, and my Lord Shrewyshbury,103.2Tresorier of England, and John Wode shalb [shall be] Under-Tresorer. Thus thei say in the Chequer.Your owen,J. B.
102.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The body of this letter relates entirely to proceedings in the dispute between Sir John Fastolf and Sir Philip Wentworth about the wardship of Thomas Fastolf. The postscript alone relates to public matters. The date will appear by the footnotes.102.2Against Sir Philip Wentworth.102.3This sum was to be paid by John Bocking and William Worcester for a patent of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf.—SeeLetter 347following.102.4Seep. 77, Note 5.103.1The Privy Seal dates show the King to have been at Coventry between the 20th September and the 14th October 1456.103.2John Talbot, second Earl of Shrewsbury, was appointed Treasurer on the 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.
102.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The body of this letter relates entirely to proceedings in the dispute between Sir John Fastolf and Sir Philip Wentworth about the wardship of Thomas Fastolf. The postscript alone relates to public matters. The date will appear by the footnotes.
102.2Against Sir Philip Wentworth.
102.3This sum was to be paid by John Bocking and William Worcester for a patent of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf.—SeeLetter 347following.
102.4Seep. 77, Note 5.
103.1The Privy Seal dates show the King to have been at Coventry between the 20th September and the 14th October 1456.
103.2John Talbot, second Earl of Shrewsbury, was appointed Treasurer on the 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.
To my Maister Paston.
1456(?)OCT. 12
Pleaseyow to wete that I hafe remembred of the langage that I hafe late lerned W. Barker had to yow and othyrs of his accomptes apposyng,104.2and of that they be not hole bethyn [between] ws, but yn division, &c. Sir, as I may sey yow, hyt was nevere othyrwyse, ne nevere ys lyke to be; for now they hafe do with Lowys, he that ys next shall be yn the same as he was yn gelosye; for when my maister comaundyth such as of force, by reson of her occupacion, most be nere hym, to do a message to hys felow, or question of hym, hyt shall be ymagyned amonges our felyshyp that he doth make maters to my maister. And so it ys ymagyned of me when I wryte lettres to London, to Bokkyng or Barker, that yn such maters as please hem not, then it ys my doyng; yff it take well to theyr entent, then it ys her [their] doyng. And yn gode feyth, so it was ymagyned of me and othyrs that wrote, by my maister comaundment, to Castre, to the parson of Blofeld, Geffrey Spyrlyng, and othyrs, that of such maters as was lykyng to hem and coude be sped by help of my maister frendes as by theyr solicytyng, then it was seyd that it was theyr avice, labour, and doyng. And yff the maters went not to my maister entent, ne that they coude not bryng aboute the mater, then it was imagyned and jangled that it was my wrytyng and doyng. I bare nevere my maister purs, ne condyt nevere chargeable mater alone of hys yn lawe, for my discrecion ne connyng know not whate such maters menyth.I knew nevere ofoyerneterminer, ne rad nevere patent before, ne my maister knew nevere the condyt of such thynges; and when he wrote of hys grevonse to hys frendys, he commaunded no man to be endyted, for he wyst not whate belonged to such thynges, ne the parson neyther, but remitted it to his councell lerned. There was no man gretter at hert with hym, as Andreus wyth Heydon, because of castyng Bradwell and Tychewell yn the Kynges handes, and toke awey the waarde. And I came nevere at theoyer and terminer.
By God, my maister lost c. marc by a seute of Margyt Bryg upon a defence of atteynt, because a quest passed ayenst hyr of xij. penyworth lond by yeer; and I dar sey and prefe it, my maister never spake of hyr, ne knew hyr not, ne wrote to sew hyr at theoyer and terminer, as I am remembred. Yhyt yt was well deffended, at my maister grete cost and labour, and myne pore labour also. Yhyt ought not I, ne none such yn my stede, beer the wyte [blame] wyth Sir Thomas, ne none othyr; he that takyth the tolle most take the charge, hyt ys hys negligence that wille take the labour more then he may awey. I wold the parson ys wellfare asmoch as man lyvyng, to my wreched power; and yff, or when, ye hyre onye froward ymagynacions, I pray yow gefe no credence tille ye hyre it aunsuerd. I am eased of my spyrytes now that I hafe expressed my leude [ignorant] menyng, because of my felow Barker, as of such othyr berkers ayenst the mone, to make wysemen laugh at her foyle. Our Lord kepe yow.
Wryt at Castre the xij. day of October.YourW. Botoner.
I hafe and do purchasse malgre to remembre of evidenses lakkyng by negligence, &c. And therfor I most be muet and suffre gretter losses but [unless] it be othyrwyse concydered. I sende yow the copie of your patentes,105.1in parchement, and I hafe remembred as well as I can both the stuard and Bertilmeu Elys for execucion ayenst the pleggs of your seyntuarye, carpenter(?) Snow, that evere ys disposed to breke promysses. Foryefe me of my leude lettre wrytyng, and I pray yow laugh at it.
104.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain, but must be between the years 1454 and 1459, when Botoner was at Caister. Bocking and Barker seem to have been in London at the time, which we know was the case in February 1456; and as we have evidence that Bocking at least was still there in October, we may perhaps attribute this letter to the October of 1456.104.2Theapposingof accounts was the charging of an accountant with the balance due by him to his employer.105.1Probably the patent of 6th June 1454, granting the wardship of Thomas Fastolf to John Paston and Thomas Howes.—SeeNo. 248 (in vol. ii.), also the letter following.
104.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain, but must be between the years 1454 and 1459, when Botoner was at Caister. Bocking and Barker seem to have been in London at the time, which we know was the case in February 1456; and as we have evidence that Bocking at least was still there in October, we may perhaps attribute this letter to the October of 1456.
104.2Theapposingof accounts was the charging of an accountant with the balance due by him to his employer.
105.1Probably the patent of 6th June 1454, granting the wardship of Thomas Fastolf to John Paston and Thomas Howes.—SeeNo. 248 (in vol. ii.), also the letter following.
To my right goode maister, John Paston.
1456or1457
ReverentSir, &c. Please yow to wete that it [is] so that my maister, of his owen frowardness, and of non other mannys mevyng, hat sent a warent to Cristefor that he shuld delyver me no mony tyll the iiijxxli.[fourscore pounds] where payed for Bokkyng and Wurcestre patent;106.2and yf the seyd Cristefore delyvered me any mony, that he shuld take a sewerte of me therfor, nowthwithstandyng my maister preyed me that I shuld reherce alle thynge in my name, where of I held me content. And now I fele this traytour wrytyng under nethe, and I nowth prevy ther to, at my comyng owt causet me to thynk the more hevynes, &c. Nevertheles, I prey yow that a mene may be taken of trety by the mene of Clopton or Ellys. Sende me word, and I shal seke menys of trety, for, be God, I shal trust no more no fayre wordes; and there to I shall lete alle the Lords of this lond knowe what wrytyngs I have, and his disposicion. Save yowre reverens, Cristyfor sal (?) have swyche a maister, &c. I prey yow, as ever I may do yow service or be yowre bedemanthat ye wele sende me yowre avise. I had lever paye xx. marke, or xli.in hande and xli.yerely furthe, with myn enemyndz good love, than to yelde me to preson ayens here entent, and sewe forth the tyncte. And no trost what my maister wele do, for I can right evele beleve that he wele bere owt the cost of the tyncte whan he maket straunge to ley dowun the condempnacion, &c.
Wretyn brevely at Horseydown the Wenesday after messe, anno xxxvto.T. Howys.
I shal nowt leve this mater to serve the most enemy that he hat in Inglond. I wele non of his good. I have lever other men go to the Dille [Devil ?] for his good than I do.
106.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is dated by the writer in the 35th year of HenryVI., but he does not say in what month it was written. The 35th of HenryVI.was reckoned from the 1st September 1456 to the 31st August 1457. Taken in connection with the postscript of Botoner’s letter immediately preceding (the date of which letter this partly confirms), it is not unlikely that this was written about October. Perhaps ‘Wednesday after messe’ should have been ‘Wednesday after Michaelmesse.’ If so, the exact date would be October 6th.106.2The wardship of Thomas Fastolf was at first granted to John Paston and Thomas Howes, by patent of the 6th June 1454, and for this they agreed to pay 100 marks into the Exchequer. But, for some reason or other, a new arrangement was made, and the wardship was granted by another patent, dated 12th December 1454, to John Bokkyng and William Worcestre, who offered the King 20 marks over what Paston had offered,i.e.£80 in all.—SeePatent Roll, 33 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 10.
106.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is dated by the writer in the 35th year of HenryVI., but he does not say in what month it was written. The 35th of HenryVI.was reckoned from the 1st September 1456 to the 31st August 1457. Taken in connection with the postscript of Botoner’s letter immediately preceding (the date of which letter this partly confirms), it is not unlikely that this was written about October. Perhaps ‘Wednesday after messe’ should have been ‘Wednesday after Michaelmesse.’ If so, the exact date would be October 6th.
106.2The wardship of Thomas Fastolf was at first granted to John Paston and Thomas Howes, by patent of the 6th June 1454, and for this they agreed to pay 100 marks into the Exchequer. But, for some reason or other, a new arrangement was made, and the wardship was granted by another patent, dated 12th December 1454, to John Bokkyng and William Worcestre, who offered the King 20 marks over what Paston had offered,i.e.£80 in all.—SeePatent Roll, 33 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 10.
To the right worshipfull and myn especiall maister, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast be this delivered.
1456OCT. 16
Afteral due recomendacion, like it you to wete, that the day of your assise isdie Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis, whiche is on Moneday come vij. nyght; at whiche tyme I trost ye wole be here, or ellis can I do lytell or nought there inne.
As touchyng your mater ageynst Gunnore, that dwelleth in lawe, I have spoken to Lyttelton,107.2and comuned with hym there in, but it is not yet spoke of atte barre. Gunnore hath waged his lawe107.3of that he haade his day to wage it of, &c.
As touchyng your issues at Wentworth sute, it is ijs., and it was retourned er I come here. My Maister Fastolfs councel taketh heed thereto, &c.
As for tydynges, my Lord Chaunceler108.1is discharged. In his stede is my Lord of Wynchestre.108.2And my Lord of Shrewisbury108.3is Tresorer, and Broun108.4of your Inn is Undertresorer. If ye wold sende to hym to graunte you the namyng of th’eschetorship of Norffolk, &c., it were weel do, for it is told me he wold do moche for you.
Maister Lawrence Bothe108.5is Prive Seall. And it is seid that my Lord of York108.6hath be with the Kyng, and is departed ageyn in right good conceyt with the Kyng, but not in gret conceyt with the Whene [Queen]; and sum men sey, ne hadde my Lord of Buks108.7not have letted it, my Lord of York had be distressed in his departyng.
On Moneday last passed was a gret affray at Coventre bytwene the Duke of Somersets men and the wechemen [watchmen] of the toun, and ij. or iij. men of the toun were kylled there, to gret disturbance of alle the Lords there; for the larom belle was ronge, and the toun arose, and wold have jouperdit to have distressed the Duke of Somerset, &c., ne had the Duke of Buks not have take a direccion therein.
Also it is seid the Duke of Buks taketh right straungely that bothe his brethren108.8arn so sodeynly discharged from ther offices of Chauncellerie and Tresoryship; and that among other causeth hym that his opynyon is contrary to the Whenes [Queen’s] entent, and many other also, as it is talked. Item, sum men seyn, the counseal is dissolved, and that the Kyngis forth to Chester,109.1&c. Also summe sey that many of the Lords shall resorte hiddir to London ageynst Alhalwen tyde.
And as touchyng th’eleccion of Shirefs, men wene that my Lord of Canterbury shall have a gret rule, and specyall in our countre.
I can no more, but Almyghty God send us as his most pleaser is.
Wretyn al in hast, the Saterday next after Seint Edwards day.Your Servaunt,James Gresham.
107.1[From Fenn, i. 24.] This letter is assigned by Fenn to the year 1449, but the true date is 1456, as will be seen by the footnotes.107.2Seep. 84, Note 5.107.3Wager of law was an ancient process by which a defendant cleared himself in an action of debt. He gave sureties that on a certain day he would ‘make his law,’ then took oath that he did not owe the plaintiff anything, as alleged, and called eleven compurgators to swear they believed him.108.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards Cardinal.108.2William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, was appointed Chancellor in Archbishop Bourchier’s place on the 11th October 1456.108.3John Talbot, second Earl. He was appointed Treasurer on 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.108.4John Brown.—SeeWilliam Wyrcestre’sAnnalsunder the year 1468.108.5Afterwards Bishop of Durham, and finally Archbishop of York.108.6Richard, Duke of York.108.7Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.108.8The two Bourchiers, viz. Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry, Viscount Bourchier, the former of whom had been Lord Chancellor and the latter Lord Treasurer (seeNotes 1, 2, and 3 above), were the Duke of Buckingham’s half-brothers by the mother’s side.109.1The Court had been staying at Coventry.
107.1[From Fenn, i. 24.] This letter is assigned by Fenn to the year 1449, but the true date is 1456, as will be seen by the footnotes.
107.2Seep. 84, Note 5.
107.3Wager of law was an ancient process by which a defendant cleared himself in an action of debt. He gave sureties that on a certain day he would ‘make his law,’ then took oath that he did not owe the plaintiff anything, as alleged, and called eleven compurgators to swear they believed him.
108.1Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards Cardinal.
108.2William Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, was appointed Chancellor in Archbishop Bourchier’s place on the 11th October 1456.
108.3John Talbot, second Earl. He was appointed Treasurer on 5th October 1456.—Patent Roll, 35 Hen.VI., p. 1, m. 16.
108.4John Brown.—SeeWilliam Wyrcestre’sAnnalsunder the year 1468.
108.5Afterwards Bishop of Durham, and finally Archbishop of York.
108.6Richard, Duke of York.
108.7Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.
108.8The two Bourchiers, viz. Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Henry, Viscount Bourchier, the former of whom had been Lord Chancellor and the latter Lord Treasurer (seeNotes 1, 2, and 3 above), were the Duke of Buckingham’s half-brothers by the mother’s side.
109.1The Court had been staying at Coventry.
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.
1456NOV. 10
Begs him in the end of the term to come home by Dedham, along with William Worcester and Barker, to see to the accounts of barley and such husbandry as is used there. As to Wighton in Yorkshire, Bokkyng reminds me you spoke to me that my son Scrope and his father-in-law109.3should have all the lyvelode of my wife’s in farm, to which I agreed, or else that Lord Vesey would have Wighton, as he once had, at a rent of £34—much more than I make it worth yearly. Do as you think best for me. I had rather my son Scrope had it with sufficient surety.Castre, 10 Nov.Begs him to common with William Worcester that by means of my Lord of Canterbury, or otherwise, Master William Clyf and others of the executors of John Wellis may be spoken to for the recovery of great good that William Worcester knows Wellis owed to Fastolf.
Begs him in the end of the term to come home by Dedham, along with William Worcester and Barker, to see to the accounts of barley and such husbandry as is used there. As to Wighton in Yorkshire, Bokkyng reminds me you spoke to me that my son Scrope and his father-in-law109.3should have all the lyvelode of my wife’s in farm, to which I agreed, or else that Lord Vesey would have Wighton, as he once had, at a rent of £34—much more than I make it worth yearly. Do as you think best for me. I had rather my son Scrope had it with sufficient surety.
Castre, 10 Nov.
Begs him to common with William Worcester that by means of my Lord of Canterbury, or otherwise, Master William Clyf and others of the executors of John Wellis may be spoken to for the recovery of great good that William Worcester knows Wellis owed to Fastolf.
[The date of this letter appears to be 1456. Of the years when Fastolf resided at Caister, it is not 1454, because in that year Barker could not have been in London on the 10th November (seeNo. 265). It is not 1455, because Worcester appears to have been at that time at Caister (seeNos. 305and306). The same appears to have been the case in 1457, though we can only judge by a letter of the 29th October; and although Worcester certainly was in London in November 1458, Sir John Fastolf was then in London with him.]
109.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 241.]109.3Richard Bingham, Judge of the King’s Bench.
109.2[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 241.]
109.3Richard Bingham, Judge of the King’s Bench.
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston at the Temple.
1456NOV. 15
Received certain letters by Henry Hanson on Thursday last, including one from William Barker written in Lukett’s hand, and two bills of supplication, one of which, in the name of the tenants of Cotton, he has sent to Paston, as he has already written. John Russe and Geoff. Spyrlyng have ridden to Cotton in consequence, and will inform Paston how they speed. Thinks the bill ‘right good and well spoken according to the truth of their riotous demeaning.’ Received at the same time a bill written in his own name, of which he approves. Hears that young Henry Wentworth, young Calthorpe, and young Brews were at the distress-taking, among others. Has perfect confidence in Paston as to the treaty, and hopes to obtain again the manor of Bradwell by some means, as clear as he had it before his unhappy release. Hears that the Chief Justice ‘rectid the matter’ in Parliament before the Lords, and showed how Fastolf was wronged in that it was untruly found by the office that he had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf of the manor, whereas he has documents proving a true sale. My Lady of York has been here, ‘and sore moved me for the purchase of Castre.’ Begs him to devise means for the licence of mortising of certain buildings for the foundation of a college, ‘as ye and I have commoned of before.’ William Worcester can show him a copy of one passed by the King, and signed ready to the late Chancellor Stafford. Desires him to make himself acquainted with two chaplains about my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor. William Barker writes of a general treaty, to which he can make no answer further than he has already done to Yelverton and Paston.Castre, Monday after St. Martin.
Received certain letters by Henry Hanson on Thursday last, including one from William Barker written in Lukett’s hand, and two bills of supplication, one of which, in the name of the tenants of Cotton, he has sent to Paston, as he has already written. John Russe and Geoff. Spyrlyng have ridden to Cotton in consequence, and will inform Paston how they speed. Thinks the bill ‘right good and well spoken according to the truth of their riotous demeaning.’ Received at the same time a bill written in his own name, of which he approves. Hears that young Henry Wentworth, young Calthorpe, and young Brews were at the distress-taking, among others. Has perfect confidence in Paston as to the treaty, and hopes to obtain again the manor of Bradwell by some means, as clear as he had it before his unhappy release. Hears that the Chief Justice ‘rectid the matter’ in Parliament before the Lords, and showed how Fastolf was wronged in that it was untruly found by the office that he had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf of the manor, whereas he has documents proving a true sale. My Lady of York has been here, ‘and sore moved me for the purchase of Castre.’ Begs him to devise means for the licence of mortising of certain buildings for the foundation of a college, ‘as ye and I have commoned of before.’ William Worcester can show him a copy of one passed by the King, and signed ready to the late Chancellor Stafford. Desires him to make himself acquainted with two chaplains about my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor. William Barker writes of a general treaty, to which he can make no answer further than he has already done to Yelverton and Paston.
Castre, Monday after St. Martin.
[In this letter, as in the last, we have Worcester and Barker both in London, which, we have seen, points to the year 1456. It is clear also that this letter was written just before that which follows.]
110.1[FromMS.Phillipps, 9735, No. 259.]
To the worshipful and my right welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, at the Temple, or to William Barker, at Suthwerk, be this delvered.
1456NOV. 18
Worshipfulcosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And where as I late wrote unto yow in a lettre by Henre Hansson for the fundacion of my college, I am soore sette therupon; and that is the cause I write now, to remembre yow agayn to meve my Lords of Canterbury111.2and Wynchestre111.3for the licence to be opteined, that I might have the morteisying withowte ony grete fyne, in recompence of my longe servise contynued and doon un to the Kyng, and to his noble fader, whom God assoile, and nevere yette guerdoonned or rewarded.
And now sithe I have ordeyned to make the Kyng founder, and evere to be prayed fore, and for his right noble progenitors, hise fader, and uncles, me thinketh I shuld not be denyed of my desire, but the rather to be remembrid and spedde.
Wherfore, as I wrote un to yow, I pray yow acqueynteme and yow, for the rather spede here of, with a chapelleyn of my Lord of Caunterbury, that in your absence may remembre me, and in like wise with my Lord Chaunceller;112.1for seyng the Kyngs disposicion, and also hise, un to the edyfyeng of God is service, it myght in noo bettyr tyme be mevid, &c.
My Lord of Norffolk is remevid from Framlyngham on foote to goo to Walsyngham,112.2and deily I wayte that he wolde come hidre.Your cosyn,J. Fastolf.
111.1[From Fenn, i. 164.] This letter, as printed by Fenn, bears no date in itself, but in the editorial note at the foot it is dated: ‘Caister, 18th of November.’ Probably this date is expressed in the original, but has been accidentally omitted in the printing. If so, the year in which it was written must be either 1456 or 1457, and most probably the former. In 1455 the Archbishop of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor were one and the same person, which they evidently are not here; and in 1458 it appears by the CastlecombeMSS.that Sir John Fastolf was in London on the 26th November, so that he is not likely to have been expecting a visit from the Duke of Norfolk at Caister eight days before. On the other hand, if this was written in the year 1456, it must be remembered that Archbishop Bourchier had been just recently discharged of the office of Lord Chancellor, which was given to Bishop Waynfleet on the 11th October, and it is highly probable that the Archbishop had been already spoken to on the subject in his capacity of Chancellor.111.2Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop.111.3William Waynfleet, Bishop.112.1William Waynfleet, the Bishop of Winchester before mentioned.112.2On pilgrimage to the famous shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham.
111.1[From Fenn, i. 164.] This letter, as printed by Fenn, bears no date in itself, but in the editorial note at the foot it is dated: ‘Caister, 18th of November.’ Probably this date is expressed in the original, but has been accidentally omitted in the printing. If so, the year in which it was written must be either 1456 or 1457, and most probably the former. In 1455 the Archbishop of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor were one and the same person, which they evidently are not here; and in 1458 it appears by the CastlecombeMSS.that Sir John Fastolf was in London on the 26th November, so that he is not likely to have been expecting a visit from the Duke of Norfolk at Caister eight days before. On the other hand, if this was written in the year 1456, it must be remembered that Archbishop Bourchier had been just recently discharged of the office of Lord Chancellor, which was given to Bishop Waynfleet on the 11th October, and it is highly probable that the Archbishop had been already spoken to on the subject in his capacity of Chancellor.
111.2Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop.
111.3William Waynfleet, Bishop.
112.1William Waynfleet, the Bishop of Winchester before mentioned.
112.2On pilgrimage to the famous shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham.
Proceedings in a Suit in Michaelmas Term, 35 Hen.VI.
1456NOV.
I. Writ to the Sheriff of Suffolk to attach John Andrewe of Boylom, and bring him before the Barons of the Exchequer on the morrow of All Souls to answer, along with Sir Philip Wentworth and Thos. Deyvill of Netlestede, to the suit of John Paston and Thomas Howys.II. Pleadings. The King committed the wardship of Thomas, son and heir of John Fastolf of Cowhawe, to Paston and Howes by patent, 6th June 32 Hen.VI.; but on the 8th June 32 Hen.VI., Andrewe and Deyvill, with force and arms, entered Sholond Hall, Suffolk, and Foxhole, and Bentley Houses, etc., and took rents to the sum of £360, and underwood to the value of £40. Imparlance granted till 26th Nov., when the parties were not agreed.Venire faciaswas then awardeda die Sancti Helarii in xv. dies.
I. Writ to the Sheriff of Suffolk to attach John Andrewe of Boylom, and bring him before the Barons of the Exchequer on the morrow of All Souls to answer, along with Sir Philip Wentworth and Thos. Deyvill of Netlestede, to the suit of John Paston and Thomas Howys.
II. Pleadings. The King committed the wardship of Thomas, son and heir of John Fastolf of Cowhawe, to Paston and Howes by patent, 6th June 32 Hen.VI.; but on the 8th June 32 Hen.VI., Andrewe and Deyvill, with force and arms, entered Sholond Hall, Suffolk, and Foxhole, and Bentley Houses, etc., and took rents to the sum of £360, and underwood to the value of £40. Imparlance granted till 26th Nov., when the parties were not agreed.Venire faciaswas then awardeda die Sancti Helarii in xv. dies.
112.3[Add. Charter 17,244, B.M.]
To my ryth wurchepfull sovereyn and master, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.
About 1456(?)
Rythwurshepfull master and sovereyn, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you to pardon me that I cum not to awayte up on you like as Barkere wrote to me. For I have notable and grete causis syth the lettere cam from hym, the qweche hath chaungyd my purpos, and be my master the Schreve is wrytyng, on to weche I must aplie me, all excusis leyd apart. And as for the wrytyng Barkere wrote to me, be the qweche he directyth a gret default in my deputys for return of thehabeas corpuswithducens tecum, ther as is none, I dar seye, for John Rede spek to all my master Fastolfs councell to advyse hym in the return, and to have returnyd hit after ther conceyt, and thei wuld gyf hym non advys. Nevertheles I now understande ther entent be Barkere is wrytyng; for thei wuld put alle juparte up on me to myn utter ondoyng, and yit to do my trewe part in execucion of ther entent, for ye knowell my master hath put the juparte and the losse, if any growe, to me on his part. And ther for I may repent the tyme that ever I promysyd my trewe and good wyll to that entent. For alle the malesse and evylwill that is owyng to me in alle the Schere ys for that mater and non other, the qweche hath grettely hurt me, and in tyme comyng schall hurt more. But lete them hold me excusyd, thei schall not have my goodwill so feythfully as thei have had, be my troweth, and I schall helpe my sefl [sic] as I may. And, Sire, I be seche you, thynke not that I pyke this be waye of qwarell, that I myth be this querell owe my good wyll to the toder part, for thei schall never have yt in thatmater, nor in non other. And for good the qweche I have receyvyd yff be thowth I have not deservyd yt I am abill to content yt a geyn. And on Friday nexst foluwyng I schall be with you atte Norwich be Goddys grace, and knowe your entent in this mater.
No more, &c., but &c.—Be your man and servaunt,John Doryunder Schreve of Norffolk.
113.1[Add.MS.34,889, f. 170.] The name of Dory occurs only once elsewhere in these letters, and then without a Christian name; but the person so referred to (at the end ofNo. 330) is probably the under-sheriff of Norfolk; and this letter, which is likewise concerned with Fastolf’s business, may have been written about the same period.
1457(?)APRIL 2
Sire, lyke it your maistership to wete that I sende you at this tyme the rolle of the copies of all patentes, and the appoyntement with Wentworth laste, and also a abstracte drawen as it come simply to my remembrance. And I shalbe with you sumtyme the next weke. All men ar owte at this tyme, as the Parson,114.2Worcester, and Barker; and therfore til thei come, I may not owte. H. Wyndesor departid on Monday, and will doo that he can. He telleth me Lumleys patent is in his awarde, but it is of noo force. And also he hathe Constable is ij. [second ?] patente, and that is moste ayenst us, &c. He wil purveie therfore as ye knowe myn maister114.3comaundit hym to yow.
Here hath ben Wilton with the dede of feffement yesterday, and all men hadde ensealed sauf myn maister that now hathe ensealed, and H. Inglose is right soory. I can no newe tidinges, but that myn maister hath put his matier of Issabells in Scroudeby, and the rente of the priour of Norwiche dieu to Heilesdon in your hande and Thomas Grene. Ye shal the next weke have the evidences. And Jesu kepe you and youres.
I sende myn Maistres Crane a lettre fro hir brother, but I have the credence, whiche I can not say but if she appose me for certein materes of hir brotheres.
Writen at Castre, the ij. day of Aprill.Your owen servaunt,J. B.
114.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is very uncertain. In 1456 the writer dates from Southwark on the 8th of May, and in 1458 from London on the 14th of March, so that there is rather a presumption against his being at Caister on the 2nd of April in either of these years. But these points, it must be owned, are little to be relied on, as Bokking certainly passed to and fro a good deal between London and Norfolk. The date must, however, be between 1455 and 1459. The letter has no address, but was doubtless intended for John Paston.114.2Thomas Howes.114.3Sir John Fastolf.
114.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is very uncertain. In 1456 the writer dates from Southwark on the 8th of May, and in 1458 from London on the 14th of March, so that there is rather a presumption against his being at Caister on the 2nd of April in either of these years. But these points, it must be owned, are little to be relied on, as Bokking certainly passed to and fro a good deal between London and Norfolk. The date must, however, be between 1455 and 1459. The letter has no address, but was doubtless intended for John Paston.
114.2Thomas Howes.
114.3Sir John Fastolf.
To my Maister Paston.
1457APRIL 20
Pleaseyou to wete that, after dew recommendacion, hyt yt so that my maister sendyth me to London for the mater of Rochestr, as for dyvers of hys oune particuler maters which concern not the lawe, &c.; and I am lyke to tarye till ye com, in case ye com wythynne iij. wekys.
Sir, at reverence of God, seth my maister ys fully yn wille to renew hys fefment, that it may be do be tyme by the surest grounde that may be had, for, be it nevyr so suerly don, hyt shall be thought lytille ynowgh to kepe hys lond owte of trouble; and to spare for no councell ne cost to make sure, for a peny yn seson spent wille safe a pounde. I comyned with my broyder Spyrlyng, which seyth he wille do hys attendaunce, and to kepe it ryzt close of the namys. Taryeng drawyth parell.
And ye meved a gode mater to the Parson and to me at your last beyng at Castr, that my maister shud be lerned whate hys housold standyth uppon yerlye, seth he kept it holye to ghedr at one place; and that don, then to see by the revenues of hys yeerly lyfelode whate may be leyd and assigned owte for that cause to meynteyn hys seyd housold, and over that, whate may be assigned to beere owte hys plees, and also do pay for hys foreyn chargs115.2and dedes of almes to a convenyent somme.
And seth the grettist ordynarye charge most be hys housold kepyng, hyt were moste exspedyent that ye wold note well to remembre specially my maister to do hys audyt[or]es cast up and make rollys of hys accompts concernyng the seyd housold seth he came yn to Norffolk thys ij. yer and half, whych was nevyr so long to doo thys xl. wynter as ye now. And it ys pytee that hys audyt ys none ethyr wyse yn that entended; ye must nedys, yff ye wille my maister know how hyt stand with hym yerly of hys chargs, that thys be do fyrst, as it was allwey accustomed. My maister wille acord it to be don, but it ys forgete throwgh negligence of men yoven to sensualite, as Thomas Upton, me, and othyrs. My maister can not know wheder he go backward or forward till thys be doon.
I can not elles, but ye wille not foryete thys that the audyt[or]es go verraily aboute it to an ende. And Haylysdon accompts be behynde for ij. yeer to [too] grete pite ys, and it wer yours or yn any wyseman gouveraunce.
At Norwich hastly, the Wenstay in Ester weke.Boto-H.R.-Ner.
115.1[From Fenn, iii. 294.] It appears from the contents of this letter that it was written two and a half years after Sir John Fastolf came to live in Norfolk, which he did in the autumn of 1454. The date therefore is certain.115.2Charges not connected with his household accounts.—F.
115.1[From Fenn, iii. 294.] It appears from the contents of this letter that it was written two and a half years after Sir John Fastolf came to live in Norfolk, which he did in the autumn of 1454. The date therefore is certain.
115.2Charges not connected with his household accounts.—F.
To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier, beyng in Norwych, yn haste.
1457MAY 1
Ryghtworshypfull Sir, aftyr dewe recommendacion, please yow to wete that I wrote a remembraunce to yow the day that I departed owte of Norwich, by Rychard, the Parson ys servaunt of Blofeld, concernyngcerteyn maters to be remembred by your wysdom for my maister ys avaylle, whych your grete wysdom can well undrestand ys ryght nedefull, as one thyng yn especiall, that Shypdam and Spyrlyng ought to labour, fyrst of onye thyng that belongyth, to audyt the accompts of the resseyt and despense of my maister housold at Castr seth he came last in to Norffolk, whych aswell for the provisyons that ys had of hys oune grownyng as in money payd; for till the seyd accompts be made ordynatlye, whych be of a grete charge yeerlye, wete ye for certeyn my maister shall nevere know whethyr he goth bakward or forward. And manye othere accomptants that maken lyvere of provysyons of cornys and catell to the household by the resseyvour and by the bayllyfs can not approve theyr liberatz just tille the seyd housold bokes be made upp; and seth it hath be kept ordynarylye seth my maister begen to kepe house thys l. yeer almoste, and when he hath be absent beyond see, &c., hyt ought to be more redelyer be doon and made upp whyle he is present, and well the rathere that hys housold menye were not so hole to ghedr thys xl. yer as be now at Castr. Also hyz minustrs of accompts of hys chieff maner of Haylysdon for iij. yeer to make upp and to examyn; and I ensure yow full simplye approwed hys wollys and hys fermys.
And the iijdys that so wold Jesus my maister audytors wold faythfully and playnlye enforme my maistr of the trouth of the yeerly grete damage he beryth in debursyng hys money aboute shyppes and botes, kepyng an house up at Jermuch [Yarmouth] to hys grete harme, and resseyvyth but chaffr and waare for hys cornys and wollys, &c. and then most abyde along day to make money; of such chaffr takyng he shall nevere117.1be monyed, ne be aunsuerd clerly of hys revenues yeerly but [unless] those thyngs abofeseyd be amended be tyme. Yn Lowys days xij. yeer to gheder my maister was wont to ley upp money yeerly at London and Castr, and now the contrarye—de malo in pejus.
I dar not be know of thys bille, but ye may question andvele of the disposicion of thys maters of otheres, and then I undrstand yff I wryt justlye or no; and ye, as of your mocion for my maister worshyp and profyt, exortyng hym, the stuard, Shypdam, and Spyrlyng to take a labour and a peyn that thys be reformed.
I pray yow, and require yow kepe thys mater to your sylf.Yowr,Botoner.
As for nouveltes none comth,118.1but yt ys seyd the sege shall com to Calix. The Erle of Warwyk118.2ys yhyt at Caunterbury with the Archbyship,118.3and the Erle younger brothere118.4maryed to Sir Eadmund Yngylthorp doughter uppon Seynt Marks Day. The Erle of Worcestr118.5broght aboute the maryage. The Queen and the Kyng at Herford,118.6the Lordes Bokyngham,118.7Shrewsbury,118.8and otheres ther. And now it ys seyd Herbert118.9shall com ynne, and apper at Leycester before the Kyng and the Lordes, hys lyfe graunted and godes, so he make amendys to theym he hath offended. Manye be endyted, som causelese, which makyth Herbert partye streng, and the burgeys and gentlemen aboute Herford wille goo wyth the Kyng wyffe and chylde, but a pease be made or the Kyng part thens, for ell[es] Herbert and hys affinite wille acquyt them, as it ys seyd.
The Erle of Warwyk hath had the folks of Caunterbury and Sandwych before hym, and thanked hem of her gode herts and vytaillyng of Calix, and prayeth hem of contynuaunce.
I sende a bille of the namys endyted to my maister andyow, to see and laugh at theyr Wellsh names descended of old pedegris. Our Lord be with yow.
Wryt hastly at London, the fyrst day of May.Botoner.