276.1[From Fenn, i. 230.] It is evident from the contents that this letter was written some time before the coronation of EdwardIV.276.228th June.276.3John Paston was not made knight at the coronation of EdwardIV., but his eldest son was made knight, probably as a substitute for himself, within two years after.458RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON277.1To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master John Paston.1461JUNE 5Rightreverent and worschipfull master, I lowly recomande me unto your good masterschip. Plesith you to witte that I have ben at Framelyngham, and spake Ric Sothwell to hafe hes advice in this mater; wherin he wolde geve me but litell councell, and seide ze were straungely disposed, for ye trusted no man, and had moche langage, weche the berer herof schal enforme your masterschip.And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde277.2at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lordeschip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre; and what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. And thanne my Lorde sent for Sothwell. And in the meene tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [heirs] had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [i.e.their] evidence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude uppon Sothwel to a’ know my Lordes answer to theKyng; weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew, and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no displesur; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme that he hath spaken with his Highnesse, for he trusteth to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill therto; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this day. It were right wele don ye awayted upon hes man comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my Lordes writyng.Berthelmew Elysse hathe ben with my Lorde, and made a relesse to my Lord; and Sir Will Chamberleine was ther ij. dayes afore I come thirder, I can thynke for the sam mater. And Thomas Fastolf whas there the same tyme that I was ther; and as I am enformed, they have delyvered my Lorde serteine evidence. Wherfore me semeth it were right wele don, savyng your better advice, to com hom and sele up your evidence, and have hem with you to London, to prove his titill noght. Ther be but ii. or iij. men with in the place, and if ye thynke it best to do it, send word, and I suppose a remedy schal be had.Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that Tudenham278.1and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng, and that they schal come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute. So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the next week. My right wourschipfull and reverent master, Almyghti God preserve you.Wreten at Norweche, on the morwe after Corpus Christi Day.Your pore servant and bedman,R. C.277.1[From Fenn, iv. 6.] The date of this letter, like that of the last, is shown by a reference to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.277.2The Duke of Norfolk, who appears by this time to have taken possession of Caister, and appointed a keeper for it.278.1Sir Thomas Tuddenham was beheaded in February following.459ROBERT LETHUM TO JOHN PASTON279.1A tres reverent Sire, John Paston, Esquier, demouraunt ou lostell le Roy soit d[onne].1461JUNE 19Rightworshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you. And, sir, yesterday I resceived of you a lettre from oure sovereign lord the Kyng directe to John Fulman, dyvers othir, and me, by the quych, for certeyn causes that meved hym, and for the well and save gard of his person and this his realme, he desired we chuld fynd men for kepyng of the see. I said to you that I hade beyn dyvers tymes spoled and robbed, as ye have herd, and also gretely vexed and sued to me [my] unportab[l]e [charges];279.2nevir the les, to my pouer, with my body and my gode, I chall be redy to do hym servyce in resistyng his enmyse and rebelles. Also I said I dwelled uppon the cost of the see here, and be langage hit were more necessare to with hold men here than take men from hit. The said the Kyng hade wreton to dyvers persones here quych hade promysed men, queruppon I promysed a man, quych chall be redy at such tyme I have knowelege quere the shippyng chall be, to waite uppon yow, or quane the Kyng comaundes. I write to you of my promyse as ye comaund me, and pray you I may have a copy of the said lettre. And I pray Godd kepe you. Wrete at Plumsted on the Fest of Seynt Gervaise and Prothase.279.3Your,Robt. Lethum.279.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As we find by the last letter that John Paston was with the King in the beginning of June 1461, this may with great probability be attributed to the same year.279.2Omitted inMS.279.319th June.460JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON280.1To my right worshipful maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon in Norfolk, in hast.1461JUNE 21Afterdue recomendacion hadde; please it your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter he shall excuse the writte of the parlement, &c. As touchyng my maister Howard,280.2I cannot yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye280.3nether. But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and it is told me that ye among other ar named to be made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng wole in to the north part forthwith; and therfor shall not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to every shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of the shire, day after Michelmesse; this is told me by suyche as arn right credible. Maister Brakle shall preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde me, and he told me, that for cause Childermesse day280.4fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the Moneday, &c.Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore Mydsomer,Your right pouere servant,James Gresham.280.1[From Fenn, i. 232.] LikeNos. 457and458, this letter refers to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.280.2Sir John Howard.280.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.280.4Childermas, or Holy Innocents’ Day, the 28th of December, fell on Sunday in the year 1460. The day of the week on which it fell used to be considered ominous or unlucky during the whole ensuing year. This superstition seems to have continued as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century, and is alluded to by Addison in the seventh number of theSpectator. It is not true, however, that Edward’s coronation was put off till Monday. It took place on the Sunday which had been originally appointed for it, but the processions and pageantry were deferred till next day. The following is the account of the matter given in a contemporary chronicle in the CottonianMS., Vitellius, A. xvi:—‘And upon the morn, Sunday, which was St. Peter’s Even, and the 28th day of June, he was crowned at Westminster with great solemnity of bishops and other temporal lords. And upon the morn after, the King went crowned again in Westminster Abbey, in the worship of God and St. Peter. And upon the next morn he went also crowned in St. Paul’s in the worship of God and St. Paul; and there the angel came down and censed him. At which time was as great a multitude of people in Paul’s as ever was seen afore in any days.’461CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON281.1To my rythe worchypfull broder, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.1461JUNE 26Broder, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeryng to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that I have sent my moder a letter for mony for my swster;281.2and if ze wyll agre that I may have xxtili.[£20], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe, or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I wysse obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and it wyll be doo with in fowertenyut. The Cowntas of Northumberlond281.3and Robarde Fenus281.4ocupie all her lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke] to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within this sevenyut. Also, broder, Wyndham is come to town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a mayster, and me thowte by hym he wold be in the Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.c.[500] heds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm abbey to swm mayster of swm colage to bedelyveryd qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wrytyn on Fryday nexst after Seynt John is day.By zour broder,Clement Paston.281.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Elizabeth Paston, who, as we have seen (No. 374), had been married to Robert Poynings by the beginning of the year 1459, became his widow in 1461, her husband having been killed in the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th February. It would appear by this letter that she was immediately after dispossessed of her husband’s lands by Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, who was Baroness Poynings in her own right.281.2Elizabeth Paston, now widow of Robert Poynings.281.3Eleanor, widow of Henry Percy, third Earl, who was slain at Towton in 1461.281.4Fenys.462MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON282.1To my right worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be this letter deliveryd in hast.1461JUNERightworchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that thys day in the mornyng the parson of Snoryng came to Thomas Denys and fechyd hym owt of hys hows, and beryth hym a hand,282.2that he shuld a mad byllys agayns Twyer and hym, and hathe a leed hym ferthe with hem. Hys wyf hathe no knowlege of it. Ferther more the seid parson seythe that the seyd Thomas Denys shuld a take sowdyors owt of hys felachep whan he went to Seynt Albons;282.3that hys a nother of hys compleynts. Item, anothyr of hys compleynts ys, a beryth the seyd Thomas a hand,282.2that he had awey a hors of John Coppyng of Bryslee, and a nother of Kyng of Donham, the wyche hors were stole be the seyd ij. personys. Wher for the seyd Thomas toke hem as a comyshaner and delyveryd hem to the exchetor, Frances Costard, and one of them he bowt of the seyd Fraunces. And the seyd parson hathe a wey the seyd hors,and seyth that he wolle the seyd thevys shuld be recompenst be Thomas Denys. Thys I am enformyd of all thesse maters be hys wyffe, and sche prayythe yow in the reverence of God ye wolle be hyr good maister, and helpe that hyr hosbond may have sume remedy be your labor in thys mater, [for she] seythe syn that hyr hosbond ys the Kyngs offycer, that they owt to spar hym the rather. But they that hathe hym take no. . . . . .told me that they hope to have a newe chonge in hast.Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney283.1sent you a l[etter]. . . . . .er desyryng to have your good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte283.2for hym for to com. . . . . .whan som ever ye woll require hym. I’ good feyth it ys told me hys leggs ar all. . . . . .[Send] me word, encas the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem bownd for hy. . . . . .te in bayle. Item, it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of se a geyns Yamothe, a[nd. . . . . .t]hey woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item, I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.xx.[eleven score] rabets and sent up be the berer herof. The blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye departyd hens.Item, I pray yow that ye wolle remembre my unkyll Barneys mater tochyng the executyng of his wylle, and how ye wolle that we be demenyd for kepyng of hys yerday, and that it lekyth you to send me word be Mr. John Smy[th].282.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter appears from internal evidence to have been written some time after the second battle of St. Albans, which was fought in February 1461, and before the murder of Thomas Denys in July following. But to all appearance it was not very long before the latter date. TheMS.is mutilated, and a few words are lost in eight consecutive lines.282.2i.e.accuses him.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note.282.3Thomas Denys was at the second battle of St. Albans in February 1461.SeeNo. 455.283.1John Berney.283.2SeeLetter 424.463THOMAS DENYES TO MARGARET PASTON284.1To my right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Paston, or to William Paston if she be absent.1461JULYRightnoble and wurshipfull mastresse, I recomaund me to yow with my pouer servise. And for so moche as I here no thyng of my maister your husbonds comyng hastly home,—and though he cam or come not, it were expedient that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the shire,—therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. I pray you for the good spede therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my said maister, if he be with the Kyng; ellis fynde the meane to send it to the Kyng, thogh my maister be thens; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf to late diligent labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde oon helde.I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister William Paston, and shew hym all thys, and that it were hastid; for on the adversaire parte Judas slepith not.Berney promised to a’ sent, but for our Lords love trust not that; for I se his slouthe and sely labour, which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn speke with yow, &c.My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is elyted, as theComons myght wisely do with help of his favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell.Thomas Denyes.284.1[From Fenn, iv. 18.] This letter speaks of the county of Norfolk as being in an unquiet state, and of John Paston as having been elected knight of the shire. It will be seen byNo. 458that writs for an election were expected as early as the 5th of June in 1461, and as I find that the writer of this letter was murdered on the 4th of July following, the date is probably about the very beginning of that month. From what is said at the beginning of the letter about Paston’s absence from home, it was evidently some time after the last, which was written on the very day of his departure.464RICHARD CALL TO MARGARET PASTON285.1To my most reverent and worshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered.1461JULY 3Plesithit your mastresseship that my mastre285.2wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes costs, in asmoch as he come hether for that matre, and for non other; but ye must lete Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol that she bere the cost, for it is her matre; and that ye make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein, mastre holdeth hym content. My right wurshipful mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at London the iij. day of Jul.Your poore seruaunt and bedman,Ric. Call.On the back of this letter is the following memorandum:— ‘Memorandum of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.xx.and x. [fourscore and ten] brown lovis and iiij.xx.and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.d.price the . . . .’285.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written in 1461, just before Thomas Denys was murdered, in consequence of the occurrences mentioned inNo. 462.285.2John Paston.465WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON286.1To the right worchipfull and my good maister John Paston.1461JULY 6Ryghtworchipfull and my good mayster I recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Coronacion had be on Relik Sunday,286.2as it was apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of his meny was grette cause of T. D.286.3deth, &c. Also ye have knowlych how Fastolff286.4is com yn to my Lord of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande; on is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym; an other is to helpe his fader yn lawe286.5ayens Felbrigge, &c. For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for the word [world] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Heydonz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for yn good feyth I trow, but if [i.e.unless] he be ponysshid the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that arn among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as he can telle yow, soportid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn Roos, Heidonz owyn men [chif constablez].286.6And it plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have your warentez for cheffe constable, &c., for they ocupye yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, sire, I am gretly yn your danger and dette for my pension, for it is toldme ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make amendez with your good maistreship, and suche servyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thomas Even, &c.Be your Servaunt,L.286.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the reference to the coronation, it is quite evident that this letter must have been written in the first year of King Edward the Fourth.286.212th July in 1461.286.3Thomas Denys.286.4Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.286.5This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a relationship between him and Fastolf.286.6Interlined.466MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON287.1To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast.1461JULY 9Rightworchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys287.2goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and woldbe rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vjs.viijd.Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i’ feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas.By your,M. P.287.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter clearly relates to the affairs of Thomas Denys’s wife, after the murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were trustees of his lands, and Margaret’s cousin, John Berney of Witchingham, it will be seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.287.2i.e.her husband’s.467JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTONAND WYLLIAM ROKEWODE288.1To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris,and to everych of them.1461JULY 10Rightworshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of ThomasDenys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij. primo.John Berneye.Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.288.1[From Fenn, i. 236.]468JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON289.1To my cosyn, Margaret Paston.1461JULY 12I recomaundme to yow, letyng yow wete tha the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John Berney; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not, lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed, and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepful. And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts of hym be that knavyssh knyght, Sir Miles Stapilton, as I sent yow word before; but he shall come to hys excuse wele inow, so he have a mannys hert, and the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have blaverydhere of my kynred in hedermoder;290.1but, be that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes, myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.Also telle the seyd Berney that the Shreve ys in a dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey; where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves good wyll.Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were most worchepfull that as wele Berney as Grey shuld get a record of all suche that myght spend xls.ayere, that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at London, on Relyk Sonday.Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne.John Paston.289.1[From Fenn, iv. 20.] This letter and the next, which is an answer to it, are evidently of the same year asNo. 471. Relic Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the 12th July in 1461.290.1In hugger-mugger,i.e.clandestinely.469MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON290.21461JULY 15I recomandme to yow. Please yow to wete that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acordyng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me, the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer hym nor non of hys; for he seyd, after the aleccion was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer and hys felachep.Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsynsham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the stokkys on Monday at nyght; and, as it is seyd, they shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer and hys felachep beryth a gret wyght of Thomas Denysdethe in this contry abowght Walsynham; and it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as good wylle, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [have died] for he myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it ys seyd.Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and swyche other as he is with hym, goo fast abowght in the contr, and ber men a hand,291.1prests and others, they be Skotts, and take brybys of hem and let hem goo ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton, and but for my cosyn Jarnyngham the younger,291.2ther wold a led hem forthe with hem; and he told hem pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [i.e.unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer met with be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place. Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the Wednysday after Relec Sonday.Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to do for hym as ye desyryd me in your letter. As for mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but xiijs.iiijd.syn ye went owght. I wolle do my parte to get mor as hastely as ye may.By yowr,M. P.290.2[From Fenn, iv. 24.] See note to preceding letter, p. 289, Note 1.291.1That is to say, make imputations against them.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.291.2John Jerningham, junior, son of John Jerningham, senior, of Somerleyton, Suffolk.470JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON291.3To the worshipfull John Paston, and to my cosyn, Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of Cantyrburi.1461JULY 16Rightworshipfull sir, I recummaund me to yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that the Kyng may wryte unto me, gevyng me thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng with hym ayens his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North, as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre; for they grudge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of this cuntre, &c. as haff be his gret eanemyes, and opresseors of the Comynes; and sych as haff assystyd his Hynes, be not rewardyt; and it is to be consederyd, or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessary to move the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperall, by the whech that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes. No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras. Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of July, anno regni Regis E. iiijti.primo.John Berneye.Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyrburi, Ely, Norwych, &c.291.3[From Fenn, i. 238.]471JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON292.1To the ryght worshipfull John Paston, Squyer, in hast.1461JULY 17Sir, I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyrshrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the shyer for the Parlement. And I suppose yf that he wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus:—lat hym make notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and lat hym make wrytyng unto them what daythey shall come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that it is nott his oneste to lye upon too many men, noysyng them rebyliones of Norff[olk], and Berney theyr c . . . No more to zow at this tyme, but I naff sent zow ij. letteris within this viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiijti.1mo.John Berney.292.1[From Fenn, iv. 28.]472MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON293.1To my worchepful hosbonde, Jon Pastun, this letter be delyvered in hast.1461JULY 18Rythworchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid be Sir John Tatersale to wryte to yow for a comyssion or a noyr in termyner [oyer and terminer]293.2for to be sent down in to this cuntre to sit uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and gret horebyl robryys; and as for the costs ther of the cuntre wele pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [i.e.unless] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys, they ar aferde that mo folks xal be servyd in lyke wyse.As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they be delyveryt to Twer [Twyer], and iiij. be with hem of the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr parte that they schape not, but that they may have the jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be inqueryd of her forseyd robery be soche a comyssion that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely for the moderys and the robbryys, but as wele for the gret insurrexsinthat they were lyke amade within the shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told me that ye thret of hem that be nowty felawys that hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold adversarys.The blyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent Margarete.Be yours,M. P.
276.1[From Fenn, i. 230.] It is evident from the contents that this letter was written some time before the coronation of EdwardIV.276.228th June.276.3John Paston was not made knight at the coronation of EdwardIV., but his eldest son was made knight, probably as a substitute for himself, within two years after.458RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON277.1To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master John Paston.1461JUNE 5Rightreverent and worschipfull master, I lowly recomande me unto your good masterschip. Plesith you to witte that I have ben at Framelyngham, and spake Ric Sothwell to hafe hes advice in this mater; wherin he wolde geve me but litell councell, and seide ze were straungely disposed, for ye trusted no man, and had moche langage, weche the berer herof schal enforme your masterschip.And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde277.2at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lordeschip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre; and what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. And thanne my Lorde sent for Sothwell. And in the meene tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [heirs] had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [i.e.their] evidence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude uppon Sothwel to a’ know my Lordes answer to theKyng; weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew, and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no displesur; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme that he hath spaken with his Highnesse, for he trusteth to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill therto; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this day. It were right wele don ye awayted upon hes man comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my Lordes writyng.Berthelmew Elysse hathe ben with my Lorde, and made a relesse to my Lord; and Sir Will Chamberleine was ther ij. dayes afore I come thirder, I can thynke for the sam mater. And Thomas Fastolf whas there the same tyme that I was ther; and as I am enformed, they have delyvered my Lorde serteine evidence. Wherfore me semeth it were right wele don, savyng your better advice, to com hom and sele up your evidence, and have hem with you to London, to prove his titill noght. Ther be but ii. or iij. men with in the place, and if ye thynke it best to do it, send word, and I suppose a remedy schal be had.Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that Tudenham278.1and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng, and that they schal come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute. So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the next week. My right wourschipfull and reverent master, Almyghti God preserve you.Wreten at Norweche, on the morwe after Corpus Christi Day.Your pore servant and bedman,R. C.277.1[From Fenn, iv. 6.] The date of this letter, like that of the last, is shown by a reference to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.277.2The Duke of Norfolk, who appears by this time to have taken possession of Caister, and appointed a keeper for it.278.1Sir Thomas Tuddenham was beheaded in February following.459ROBERT LETHUM TO JOHN PASTON279.1A tres reverent Sire, John Paston, Esquier, demouraunt ou lostell le Roy soit d[onne].1461JUNE 19Rightworshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you. And, sir, yesterday I resceived of you a lettre from oure sovereign lord the Kyng directe to John Fulman, dyvers othir, and me, by the quych, for certeyn causes that meved hym, and for the well and save gard of his person and this his realme, he desired we chuld fynd men for kepyng of the see. I said to you that I hade beyn dyvers tymes spoled and robbed, as ye have herd, and also gretely vexed and sued to me [my] unportab[l]e [charges];279.2nevir the les, to my pouer, with my body and my gode, I chall be redy to do hym servyce in resistyng his enmyse and rebelles. Also I said I dwelled uppon the cost of the see here, and be langage hit were more necessare to with hold men here than take men from hit. The said the Kyng hade wreton to dyvers persones here quych hade promysed men, queruppon I promysed a man, quych chall be redy at such tyme I have knowelege quere the shippyng chall be, to waite uppon yow, or quane the Kyng comaundes. I write to you of my promyse as ye comaund me, and pray you I may have a copy of the said lettre. And I pray Godd kepe you. Wrete at Plumsted on the Fest of Seynt Gervaise and Prothase.279.3Your,Robt. Lethum.279.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As we find by the last letter that John Paston was with the King in the beginning of June 1461, this may with great probability be attributed to the same year.279.2Omitted inMS.279.319th June.460JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON280.1To my right worshipful maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon in Norfolk, in hast.1461JUNE 21Afterdue recomendacion hadde; please it your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter he shall excuse the writte of the parlement, &c. As touchyng my maister Howard,280.2I cannot yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye280.3nether. But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and it is told me that ye among other ar named to be made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng wole in to the north part forthwith; and therfor shall not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to every shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of the shire, day after Michelmesse; this is told me by suyche as arn right credible. Maister Brakle shall preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde me, and he told me, that for cause Childermesse day280.4fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the Moneday, &c.Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore Mydsomer,Your right pouere servant,James Gresham.280.1[From Fenn, i. 232.] LikeNos. 457and458, this letter refers to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.280.2Sir John Howard.280.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.280.4Childermas, or Holy Innocents’ Day, the 28th of December, fell on Sunday in the year 1460. The day of the week on which it fell used to be considered ominous or unlucky during the whole ensuing year. This superstition seems to have continued as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century, and is alluded to by Addison in the seventh number of theSpectator. It is not true, however, that Edward’s coronation was put off till Monday. It took place on the Sunday which had been originally appointed for it, but the processions and pageantry were deferred till next day. The following is the account of the matter given in a contemporary chronicle in the CottonianMS., Vitellius, A. xvi:—‘And upon the morn, Sunday, which was St. Peter’s Even, and the 28th day of June, he was crowned at Westminster with great solemnity of bishops and other temporal lords. And upon the morn after, the King went crowned again in Westminster Abbey, in the worship of God and St. Peter. And upon the next morn he went also crowned in St. Paul’s in the worship of God and St. Paul; and there the angel came down and censed him. At which time was as great a multitude of people in Paul’s as ever was seen afore in any days.’461CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON281.1To my rythe worchypfull broder, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.1461JUNE 26Broder, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeryng to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that I have sent my moder a letter for mony for my swster;281.2and if ze wyll agre that I may have xxtili.[£20], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe, or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I wysse obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and it wyll be doo with in fowertenyut. The Cowntas of Northumberlond281.3and Robarde Fenus281.4ocupie all her lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke] to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within this sevenyut. Also, broder, Wyndham is come to town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a mayster, and me thowte by hym he wold be in the Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.c.[500] heds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm abbey to swm mayster of swm colage to bedelyveryd qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wrytyn on Fryday nexst after Seynt John is day.By zour broder,Clement Paston.281.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Elizabeth Paston, who, as we have seen (No. 374), had been married to Robert Poynings by the beginning of the year 1459, became his widow in 1461, her husband having been killed in the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th February. It would appear by this letter that she was immediately after dispossessed of her husband’s lands by Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, who was Baroness Poynings in her own right.281.2Elizabeth Paston, now widow of Robert Poynings.281.3Eleanor, widow of Henry Percy, third Earl, who was slain at Towton in 1461.281.4Fenys.462MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON282.1To my right worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be this letter deliveryd in hast.1461JUNERightworchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that thys day in the mornyng the parson of Snoryng came to Thomas Denys and fechyd hym owt of hys hows, and beryth hym a hand,282.2that he shuld a mad byllys agayns Twyer and hym, and hathe a leed hym ferthe with hem. Hys wyf hathe no knowlege of it. Ferther more the seid parson seythe that the seyd Thomas Denys shuld a take sowdyors owt of hys felachep whan he went to Seynt Albons;282.3that hys a nother of hys compleynts. Item, anothyr of hys compleynts ys, a beryth the seyd Thomas a hand,282.2that he had awey a hors of John Coppyng of Bryslee, and a nother of Kyng of Donham, the wyche hors were stole be the seyd ij. personys. Wher for the seyd Thomas toke hem as a comyshaner and delyveryd hem to the exchetor, Frances Costard, and one of them he bowt of the seyd Fraunces. And the seyd parson hathe a wey the seyd hors,and seyth that he wolle the seyd thevys shuld be recompenst be Thomas Denys. Thys I am enformyd of all thesse maters be hys wyffe, and sche prayythe yow in the reverence of God ye wolle be hyr good maister, and helpe that hyr hosbond may have sume remedy be your labor in thys mater, [for she] seythe syn that hyr hosbond ys the Kyngs offycer, that they owt to spar hym the rather. But they that hathe hym take no. . . . . .told me that they hope to have a newe chonge in hast.Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney283.1sent you a l[etter]. . . . . .er desyryng to have your good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte283.2for hym for to com. . . . . .whan som ever ye woll require hym. I’ good feyth it ys told me hys leggs ar all. . . . . .[Send] me word, encas the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem bownd for hy. . . . . .te in bayle. Item, it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of se a geyns Yamothe, a[nd. . . . . .t]hey woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item, I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.xx.[eleven score] rabets and sent up be the berer herof. The blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye departyd hens.Item, I pray yow that ye wolle remembre my unkyll Barneys mater tochyng the executyng of his wylle, and how ye wolle that we be demenyd for kepyng of hys yerday, and that it lekyth you to send me word be Mr. John Smy[th].282.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter appears from internal evidence to have been written some time after the second battle of St. Albans, which was fought in February 1461, and before the murder of Thomas Denys in July following. But to all appearance it was not very long before the latter date. TheMS.is mutilated, and a few words are lost in eight consecutive lines.282.2i.e.accuses him.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note.282.3Thomas Denys was at the second battle of St. Albans in February 1461.SeeNo. 455.283.1John Berney.283.2SeeLetter 424.463THOMAS DENYES TO MARGARET PASTON284.1To my right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Paston, or to William Paston if she be absent.1461JULYRightnoble and wurshipfull mastresse, I recomaund me to yow with my pouer servise. And for so moche as I here no thyng of my maister your husbonds comyng hastly home,—and though he cam or come not, it were expedient that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the shire,—therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. I pray you for the good spede therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my said maister, if he be with the Kyng; ellis fynde the meane to send it to the Kyng, thogh my maister be thens; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf to late diligent labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde oon helde.I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister William Paston, and shew hym all thys, and that it were hastid; for on the adversaire parte Judas slepith not.Berney promised to a’ sent, but for our Lords love trust not that; for I se his slouthe and sely labour, which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn speke with yow, &c.My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is elyted, as theComons myght wisely do with help of his favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell.Thomas Denyes.284.1[From Fenn, iv. 18.] This letter speaks of the county of Norfolk as being in an unquiet state, and of John Paston as having been elected knight of the shire. It will be seen byNo. 458that writs for an election were expected as early as the 5th of June in 1461, and as I find that the writer of this letter was murdered on the 4th of July following, the date is probably about the very beginning of that month. From what is said at the beginning of the letter about Paston’s absence from home, it was evidently some time after the last, which was written on the very day of his departure.464RICHARD CALL TO MARGARET PASTON285.1To my most reverent and worshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered.1461JULY 3Plesithit your mastresseship that my mastre285.2wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes costs, in asmoch as he come hether for that matre, and for non other; but ye must lete Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol that she bere the cost, for it is her matre; and that ye make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein, mastre holdeth hym content. My right wurshipful mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at London the iij. day of Jul.Your poore seruaunt and bedman,Ric. Call.On the back of this letter is the following memorandum:— ‘Memorandum of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.xx.and x. [fourscore and ten] brown lovis and iiij.xx.and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.d.price the . . . .’285.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written in 1461, just before Thomas Denys was murdered, in consequence of the occurrences mentioned inNo. 462.285.2John Paston.465WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON286.1To the right worchipfull and my good maister John Paston.1461JULY 6Ryghtworchipfull and my good mayster I recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Coronacion had be on Relik Sunday,286.2as it was apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of his meny was grette cause of T. D.286.3deth, &c. Also ye have knowlych how Fastolff286.4is com yn to my Lord of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande; on is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym; an other is to helpe his fader yn lawe286.5ayens Felbrigge, &c. For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for the word [world] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Heydonz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for yn good feyth I trow, but if [i.e.unless] he be ponysshid the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that arn among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as he can telle yow, soportid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn Roos, Heidonz owyn men [chif constablez].286.6And it plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have your warentez for cheffe constable, &c., for they ocupye yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, sire, I am gretly yn your danger and dette for my pension, for it is toldme ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make amendez with your good maistreship, and suche servyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thomas Even, &c.Be your Servaunt,L.286.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the reference to the coronation, it is quite evident that this letter must have been written in the first year of King Edward the Fourth.286.212th July in 1461.286.3Thomas Denys.286.4Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.286.5This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a relationship between him and Fastolf.286.6Interlined.466MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON287.1To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast.1461JULY 9Rightworchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys287.2goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and woldbe rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vjs.viijd.Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i’ feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas.By your,M. P.287.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter clearly relates to the affairs of Thomas Denys’s wife, after the murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were trustees of his lands, and Margaret’s cousin, John Berney of Witchingham, it will be seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.287.2i.e.her husband’s.467JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTONAND WYLLIAM ROKEWODE288.1To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris,and to everych of them.1461JULY 10Rightworshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of ThomasDenys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij. primo.John Berneye.Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.288.1[From Fenn, i. 236.]468JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON289.1To my cosyn, Margaret Paston.1461JULY 12I recomaundme to yow, letyng yow wete tha the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John Berney; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not, lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed, and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepful. And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts of hym be that knavyssh knyght, Sir Miles Stapilton, as I sent yow word before; but he shall come to hys excuse wele inow, so he have a mannys hert, and the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have blaverydhere of my kynred in hedermoder;290.1but, be that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes, myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.Also telle the seyd Berney that the Shreve ys in a dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey; where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves good wyll.Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were most worchepfull that as wele Berney as Grey shuld get a record of all suche that myght spend xls.ayere, that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at London, on Relyk Sonday.Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne.John Paston.289.1[From Fenn, iv. 20.] This letter and the next, which is an answer to it, are evidently of the same year asNo. 471. Relic Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the 12th July in 1461.290.1In hugger-mugger,i.e.clandestinely.469MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON290.21461JULY 15I recomandme to yow. Please yow to wete that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acordyng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me, the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer hym nor non of hys; for he seyd, after the aleccion was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer and hys felachep.Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsynsham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the stokkys on Monday at nyght; and, as it is seyd, they shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer and hys felachep beryth a gret wyght of Thomas Denysdethe in this contry abowght Walsynham; and it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as good wylle, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [have died] for he myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it ys seyd.Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and swyche other as he is with hym, goo fast abowght in the contr, and ber men a hand,291.1prests and others, they be Skotts, and take brybys of hem and let hem goo ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton, and but for my cosyn Jarnyngham the younger,291.2ther wold a led hem forthe with hem; and he told hem pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [i.e.unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer met with be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place. Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the Wednysday after Relec Sonday.Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to do for hym as ye desyryd me in your letter. As for mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but xiijs.iiijd.syn ye went owght. I wolle do my parte to get mor as hastely as ye may.By yowr,M. P.290.2[From Fenn, iv. 24.] See note to preceding letter, p. 289, Note 1.291.1That is to say, make imputations against them.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.291.2John Jerningham, junior, son of John Jerningham, senior, of Somerleyton, Suffolk.470JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON291.3To the worshipfull John Paston, and to my cosyn, Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of Cantyrburi.1461JULY 16Rightworshipfull sir, I recummaund me to yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that the Kyng may wryte unto me, gevyng me thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng with hym ayens his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North, as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre; for they grudge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of this cuntre, &c. as haff be his gret eanemyes, and opresseors of the Comynes; and sych as haff assystyd his Hynes, be not rewardyt; and it is to be consederyd, or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessary to move the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperall, by the whech that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes. No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras. Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of July, anno regni Regis E. iiijti.primo.John Berneye.Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyrburi, Ely, Norwych, &c.291.3[From Fenn, i. 238.]471JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON292.1To the ryght worshipfull John Paston, Squyer, in hast.1461JULY 17Sir, I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyrshrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the shyer for the Parlement. And I suppose yf that he wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus:—lat hym make notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and lat hym make wrytyng unto them what daythey shall come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that it is nott his oneste to lye upon too many men, noysyng them rebyliones of Norff[olk], and Berney theyr c . . . No more to zow at this tyme, but I naff sent zow ij. letteris within this viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiijti.1mo.John Berney.292.1[From Fenn, iv. 28.]472MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON293.1To my worchepful hosbonde, Jon Pastun, this letter be delyvered in hast.1461JULY 18Rythworchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid be Sir John Tatersale to wryte to yow for a comyssion or a noyr in termyner [oyer and terminer]293.2for to be sent down in to this cuntre to sit uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and gret horebyl robryys; and as for the costs ther of the cuntre wele pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [i.e.unless] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys, they ar aferde that mo folks xal be servyd in lyke wyse.As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they be delyveryt to Twer [Twyer], and iiij. be with hem of the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr parte that they schape not, but that they may have the jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be inqueryd of her forseyd robery be soche a comyssion that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely for the moderys and the robbryys, but as wele for the gret insurrexsinthat they were lyke amade within the shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told me that ye thret of hem that be nowty felawys that hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold adversarys.The blyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent Margarete.Be yours,M. P.
276.1[From Fenn, i. 230.] It is evident from the contents that this letter was written some time before the coronation of EdwardIV.276.228th June.276.3John Paston was not made knight at the coronation of EdwardIV., but his eldest son was made knight, probably as a substitute for himself, within two years after.
276.1[From Fenn, i. 230.] It is evident from the contents that this letter was written some time before the coronation of EdwardIV.
276.228th June.
276.3John Paston was not made knight at the coronation of EdwardIV., but his eldest son was made knight, probably as a substitute for himself, within two years after.
To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master John Paston.
1461JUNE 5
Rightreverent and worschipfull master, I lowly recomande me unto your good masterschip. Plesith you to witte that I have ben at Framelyngham, and spake Ric Sothwell to hafe hes advice in this mater; wherin he wolde geve me but litell councell, and seide ze were straungely disposed, for ye trusted no man, and had moche langage, weche the berer herof schal enforme your masterschip.
And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde277.2at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lordeschip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre; and what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. And thanne my Lorde sent for Sothwell. And in the meene tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [heirs] had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [i.e.their] evidence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude uppon Sothwel to a’ know my Lordes answer to theKyng; weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew, and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no displesur; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme that he hath spaken with his Highnesse, for he trusteth to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill therto; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this day. It were right wele don ye awayted upon hes man comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my Lordes writyng.
Berthelmew Elysse hathe ben with my Lorde, and made a relesse to my Lord; and Sir Will Chamberleine was ther ij. dayes afore I come thirder, I can thynke for the sam mater. And Thomas Fastolf whas there the same tyme that I was ther; and as I am enformed, they have delyvered my Lorde serteine evidence. Wherfore me semeth it were right wele don, savyng your better advice, to com hom and sele up your evidence, and have hem with you to London, to prove his titill noght. Ther be but ii. or iij. men with in the place, and if ye thynke it best to do it, send word, and I suppose a remedy schal be had.
Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that Tudenham278.1and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng, and that they schal come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute. So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the next week. My right wourschipfull and reverent master, Almyghti God preserve you.
Wreten at Norweche, on the morwe after Corpus Christi Day.Your pore servant and bedman,R. C.
277.1[From Fenn, iv. 6.] The date of this letter, like that of the last, is shown by a reference to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.277.2The Duke of Norfolk, who appears by this time to have taken possession of Caister, and appointed a keeper for it.278.1Sir Thomas Tuddenham was beheaded in February following.
277.1[From Fenn, iv. 6.] The date of this letter, like that of the last, is shown by a reference to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.
277.2The Duke of Norfolk, who appears by this time to have taken possession of Caister, and appointed a keeper for it.
278.1Sir Thomas Tuddenham was beheaded in February following.
A tres reverent Sire, John Paston, Esquier, demouraunt ou lostell le Roy soit d[onne].
1461JUNE 19
Rightworshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you. And, sir, yesterday I resceived of you a lettre from oure sovereign lord the Kyng directe to John Fulman, dyvers othir, and me, by the quych, for certeyn causes that meved hym, and for the well and save gard of his person and this his realme, he desired we chuld fynd men for kepyng of the see. I said to you that I hade beyn dyvers tymes spoled and robbed, as ye have herd, and also gretely vexed and sued to me [my] unportab[l]e [charges];279.2nevir the les, to my pouer, with my body and my gode, I chall be redy to do hym servyce in resistyng his enmyse and rebelles. Also I said I dwelled uppon the cost of the see here, and be langage hit were more necessare to with hold men here than take men from hit. The said the Kyng hade wreton to dyvers persones here quych hade promysed men, queruppon I promysed a man, quych chall be redy at such tyme I have knowelege quere the shippyng chall be, to waite uppon yow, or quane the Kyng comaundes. I write to you of my promyse as ye comaund me, and pray you I may have a copy of the said lettre. And I pray Godd kepe you. Wrete at Plumsted on the Fest of Seynt Gervaise and Prothase.279.3Your,Robt. Lethum.
279.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As we find by the last letter that John Paston was with the King in the beginning of June 1461, this may with great probability be attributed to the same year.279.2Omitted inMS.279.319th June.
279.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] As we find by the last letter that John Paston was with the King in the beginning of June 1461, this may with great probability be attributed to the same year.
279.2Omitted inMS.
279.319th June.
To my right worshipful maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon in Norfolk, in hast.
1461JUNE 21
Afterdue recomendacion hadde; please it your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter he shall excuse the writte of the parlement, &c. As touchyng my maister Howard,280.2I cannot yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye280.3nether. But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and it is told me that ye among other ar named to be made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.
Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng wole in to the north part forthwith; and therfor shall not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to every shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of the shire, day after Michelmesse; this is told me by suyche as arn right credible. Maister Brakle shall preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde me, and he told me, that for cause Childermesse day280.4fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the Moneday, &c.
Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore Mydsomer,Your right pouere servant,James Gresham.
280.1[From Fenn, i. 232.] LikeNos. 457and458, this letter refers to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.280.2Sir John Howard.280.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.280.4Childermas, or Holy Innocents’ Day, the 28th of December, fell on Sunday in the year 1460. The day of the week on which it fell used to be considered ominous or unlucky during the whole ensuing year. This superstition seems to have continued as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century, and is alluded to by Addison in the seventh number of theSpectator. It is not true, however, that Edward’s coronation was put off till Monday. It took place on the Sunday which had been originally appointed for it, but the processions and pageantry were deferred till next day. The following is the account of the matter given in a contemporary chronicle in the CottonianMS., Vitellius, A. xvi:—‘And upon the morn, Sunday, which was St. Peter’s Even, and the 28th day of June, he was crowned at Westminster with great solemnity of bishops and other temporal lords. And upon the morn after, the King went crowned again in Westminster Abbey, in the worship of God and St. Peter. And upon the next morn he went also crowned in St. Paul’s in the worship of God and St. Paul; and there the angel came down and censed him. At which time was as great a multitude of people in Paul’s as ever was seen afore in any days.’
280.1[From Fenn, i. 232.] LikeNos. 457and458, this letter refers to the approaching coronation of EdwardIV.
280.2Sir John Howard.
280.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.
280.4Childermas, or Holy Innocents’ Day, the 28th of December, fell on Sunday in the year 1460. The day of the week on which it fell used to be considered ominous or unlucky during the whole ensuing year. This superstition seems to have continued as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century, and is alluded to by Addison in the seventh number of theSpectator. It is not true, however, that Edward’s coronation was put off till Monday. It took place on the Sunday which had been originally appointed for it, but the processions and pageantry were deferred till next day. The following is the account of the matter given in a contemporary chronicle in the CottonianMS., Vitellius, A. xvi:—
‘And upon the morn, Sunday, which was St. Peter’s Even, and the 28th day of June, he was crowned at Westminster with great solemnity of bishops and other temporal lords. And upon the morn after, the King went crowned again in Westminster Abbey, in the worship of God and St. Peter. And upon the next morn he went also crowned in St. Paul’s in the worship of God and St. Paul; and there the angel came down and censed him. At which time was as great a multitude of people in Paul’s as ever was seen afore in any days.’
To my rythe worchypfull broder, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.
1461JUNE 26
Broder, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeryng to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that I have sent my moder a letter for mony for my swster;281.2and if ze wyll agre that I may have xxtili.[£20], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe, or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I wysse obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and it wyll be doo with in fowertenyut. The Cowntas of Northumberlond281.3and Robarde Fenus281.4ocupie all her lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke] to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within this sevenyut. Also, broder, Wyndham is come to town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a mayster, and me thowte by hym he wold be in the Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.c.[500] heds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm abbey to swm mayster of swm colage to bedelyveryd qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wrytyn on Fryday nexst after Seynt John is day.By zour broder,Clement Paston.
281.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Elizabeth Paston, who, as we have seen (No. 374), had been married to Robert Poynings by the beginning of the year 1459, became his widow in 1461, her husband having been killed in the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th February. It would appear by this letter that she was immediately after dispossessed of her husband’s lands by Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, who was Baroness Poynings in her own right.281.2Elizabeth Paston, now widow of Robert Poynings.281.3Eleanor, widow of Henry Percy, third Earl, who was slain at Towton in 1461.281.4Fenys.
281.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Elizabeth Paston, who, as we have seen (No. 374), had been married to Robert Poynings by the beginning of the year 1459, became his widow in 1461, her husband having been killed in the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th February. It would appear by this letter that she was immediately after dispossessed of her husband’s lands by Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, who was Baroness Poynings in her own right.
281.2Elizabeth Paston, now widow of Robert Poynings.
281.3Eleanor, widow of Henry Percy, third Earl, who was slain at Towton in 1461.
281.4Fenys.
To my right worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be this letter deliveryd in hast.
1461JUNE
Rightworchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that thys day in the mornyng the parson of Snoryng came to Thomas Denys and fechyd hym owt of hys hows, and beryth hym a hand,282.2that he shuld a mad byllys agayns Twyer and hym, and hathe a leed hym ferthe with hem. Hys wyf hathe no knowlege of it. Ferther more the seid parson seythe that the seyd Thomas Denys shuld a take sowdyors owt of hys felachep whan he went to Seynt Albons;282.3that hys a nother of hys compleynts. Item, anothyr of hys compleynts ys, a beryth the seyd Thomas a hand,282.2that he had awey a hors of John Coppyng of Bryslee, and a nother of Kyng of Donham, the wyche hors were stole be the seyd ij. personys. Wher for the seyd Thomas toke hem as a comyshaner and delyveryd hem to the exchetor, Frances Costard, and one of them he bowt of the seyd Fraunces. And the seyd parson hathe a wey the seyd hors,and seyth that he wolle the seyd thevys shuld be recompenst be Thomas Denys. Thys I am enformyd of all thesse maters be hys wyffe, and sche prayythe yow in the reverence of God ye wolle be hyr good maister, and helpe that hyr hosbond may have sume remedy be your labor in thys mater, [for she] seythe syn that hyr hosbond ys the Kyngs offycer, that they owt to spar hym the rather. But they that hathe hym take no. . . . . .told me that they hope to have a newe chonge in hast.
Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney283.1sent you a l[etter]. . . . . .er desyryng to have your good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte283.2for hym for to com. . . . . .whan som ever ye woll require hym. I’ good feyth it ys told me hys leggs ar all. . . . . .[Send] me word, encas the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem bownd for hy. . . . . .te in bayle. Item, it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of se a geyns Yamothe, a[nd. . . . . .t]hey woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item, I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.xx.[eleven score] rabets and sent up be the berer herof. The blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye departyd hens.
Item, I pray yow that ye wolle remembre my unkyll Barneys mater tochyng the executyng of his wylle, and how ye wolle that we be demenyd for kepyng of hys yerday, and that it lekyth you to send me word be Mr. John Smy[th].
282.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter appears from internal evidence to have been written some time after the second battle of St. Albans, which was fought in February 1461, and before the murder of Thomas Denys in July following. But to all appearance it was not very long before the latter date. TheMS.is mutilated, and a few words are lost in eight consecutive lines.282.2i.e.accuses him.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note.282.3Thomas Denys was at the second battle of St. Albans in February 1461.SeeNo. 455.283.1John Berney.283.2SeeLetter 424.
282.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter appears from internal evidence to have been written some time after the second battle of St. Albans, which was fought in February 1461, and before the murder of Thomas Denys in July following. But to all appearance it was not very long before the latter date. TheMS.is mutilated, and a few words are lost in eight consecutive lines.
282.2i.e.accuses him.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note.
282.3Thomas Denys was at the second battle of St. Albans in February 1461.SeeNo. 455.
283.1John Berney.
283.2SeeLetter 424.
To my right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Paston, or to William Paston if she be absent.
1461JULY
Rightnoble and wurshipfull mastresse, I recomaund me to yow with my pouer servise. And for so moche as I here no thyng of my maister your husbonds comyng hastly home,—and though he cam or come not, it were expedient that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the shire,—therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. I pray you for the good spede therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my said maister, if he be with the Kyng; ellis fynde the meane to send it to the Kyng, thogh my maister be thens; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf to late diligent labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde oon helde.
I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister William Paston, and shew hym all thys, and that it were hastid; for on the adversaire parte Judas slepith not.
Berney promised to a’ sent, but for our Lords love trust not that; for I se his slouthe and sely labour, which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn speke with yow, &c.
My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is elyted, as theComons myght wisely do with help of his favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.
Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell.Thomas Denyes.
284.1[From Fenn, iv. 18.] This letter speaks of the county of Norfolk as being in an unquiet state, and of John Paston as having been elected knight of the shire. It will be seen byNo. 458that writs for an election were expected as early as the 5th of June in 1461, and as I find that the writer of this letter was murdered on the 4th of July following, the date is probably about the very beginning of that month. From what is said at the beginning of the letter about Paston’s absence from home, it was evidently some time after the last, which was written on the very day of his departure.
To my most reverent and worshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered.
1461JULY 3
Plesithit your mastresseship that my mastre285.2wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes costs, in asmoch as he come hether for that matre, and for non other; but ye must lete Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol that she bere the cost, for it is her matre; and that ye make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein, mastre holdeth hym content. My right wurshipful mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at London the iij. day of Jul.Your poore seruaunt and bedman,Ric. Call.
On the back of this letter is the following memorandum:— ‘Memorandum of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.xx.and x. [fourscore and ten] brown lovis and iiij.xx.and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.d.price the . . . .’
285.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written in 1461, just before Thomas Denys was murdered, in consequence of the occurrences mentioned inNo. 462.285.2John Paston.
285.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written in 1461, just before Thomas Denys was murdered, in consequence of the occurrences mentioned inNo. 462.
285.2John Paston.
To the right worchipfull and my good maister John Paston.
1461JULY 6
Ryghtworchipfull and my good mayster I recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Coronacion had be on Relik Sunday,286.2as it was apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of his meny was grette cause of T. D.286.3deth, &c. Also ye have knowlych how Fastolff286.4is com yn to my Lord of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande; on is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym; an other is to helpe his fader yn lawe286.5ayens Felbrigge, &c. For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for the word [world] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Heydonz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for yn good feyth I trow, but if [i.e.unless] he be ponysshid the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that arn among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as he can telle yow, soportid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn Roos, Heidonz owyn men [chif constablez].286.6And it plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have your warentez for cheffe constable, &c., for they ocupye yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, sire, I am gretly yn your danger and dette for my pension, for it is toldme ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make amendez with your good maistreship, and suche servyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thomas Even, &c.Be your Servaunt,L.
286.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the reference to the coronation, it is quite evident that this letter must have been written in the first year of King Edward the Fourth.286.212th July in 1461.286.3Thomas Denys.286.4Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.286.5This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a relationship between him and Fastolf.286.6Interlined.
286.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] From the reference to the coronation, it is quite evident that this letter must have been written in the first year of King Edward the Fourth.
286.212th July in 1461.
286.3Thomas Denys.
286.4Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.
286.5This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a relationship between him and Fastolf.
286.6Interlined.
To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast.
1461JULY 9
Rightworchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys287.2goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and woldbe rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vjs.viijd.Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i’ feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas.By your,M. P.
287.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter clearly relates to the affairs of Thomas Denys’s wife, after the murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were trustees of his lands, and Margaret’s cousin, John Berney of Witchingham, it will be seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.287.2i.e.her husband’s.
287.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter clearly relates to the affairs of Thomas Denys’s wife, after the murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were trustees of his lands, and Margaret’s cousin, John Berney of Witchingham, it will be seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.
287.2i.e.her husband’s.
To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris,and to everych of them.
1461JULY 10
Rightworshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of ThomasDenys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij. primo.John Berneye.
Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.
288.1[From Fenn, i. 236.]
To my cosyn, Margaret Paston.
1461JULY 12
I recomaundme to yow, letyng yow wete tha the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John Berney; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not, lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed, and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepful. And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts of hym be that knavyssh knyght, Sir Miles Stapilton, as I sent yow word before; but he shall come to hys excuse wele inow, so he have a mannys hert, and the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have blaverydhere of my kynred in hedermoder;290.1but, be that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes, myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.
Also telle the seyd Berney that the Shreve ys in a dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey; where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves good wyll.
Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were most worchepfull that as wele Berney as Grey shuld get a record of all suche that myght spend xls.ayere, that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at London, on Relyk Sonday.
Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne.John Paston.
289.1[From Fenn, iv. 20.] This letter and the next, which is an answer to it, are evidently of the same year asNo. 471. Relic Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the 12th July in 1461.290.1In hugger-mugger,i.e.clandestinely.
289.1[From Fenn, iv. 20.] This letter and the next, which is an answer to it, are evidently of the same year asNo. 471. Relic Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the 12th July in 1461.
290.1In hugger-mugger,i.e.clandestinely.
1461JULY 15
I recomandme to yow. Please yow to wete that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acordyng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me, the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer hym nor non of hys; for he seyd, after the aleccion was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer and hys felachep.
Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsynsham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the stokkys on Monday at nyght; and, as it is seyd, they shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer and hys felachep beryth a gret wyght of Thomas Denysdethe in this contry abowght Walsynham; and it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as good wylle, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [have died] for he myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it ys seyd.
Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and swyche other as he is with hym, goo fast abowght in the contr, and ber men a hand,291.1prests and others, they be Skotts, and take brybys of hem and let hem goo ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton, and but for my cosyn Jarnyngham the younger,291.2ther wold a led hem forthe with hem; and he told hem pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [i.e.unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer met with be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place. Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the Wednysday after Relec Sonday.
Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to do for hym as ye desyryd me in your letter. As for mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but xiijs.iiijd.syn ye went owght. I wolle do my parte to get mor as hastely as ye may.By yowr,M. P.
290.2[From Fenn, iv. 24.] See note to preceding letter, p. 289, Note 1.291.1That is to say, make imputations against them.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.291.2John Jerningham, junior, son of John Jerningham, senior, of Somerleyton, Suffolk.
290.2[From Fenn, iv. 24.] See note to preceding letter, p. 289, Note 1.
291.1That is to say, make imputations against them.Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.
291.2John Jerningham, junior, son of John Jerningham, senior, of Somerleyton, Suffolk.
To the worshipfull John Paston, and to my cosyn, Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of Cantyrburi.
1461JULY 16
Rightworshipfull sir, I recummaund me to yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that the Kyng may wryte unto me, gevyng me thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng with hym ayens his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North, as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre; for they grudge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of this cuntre, &c. as haff be his gret eanemyes, and opresseors of the Comynes; and sych as haff assystyd his Hynes, be not rewardyt; and it is to be consederyd, or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessary to move the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperall, by the whech that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes. No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras. Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of July, anno regni Regis E. iiijti.primo.John Berneye.
Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyrburi, Ely, Norwych, &c.
291.3[From Fenn, i. 238.]
To the ryght worshipfull John Paston, Squyer, in hast.
1461JULY 17
Sir, I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyrshrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the shyer for the Parlement. And I suppose yf that he wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus:—lat hym make notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and lat hym make wrytyng unto them what daythey shall come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that it is nott his oneste to lye upon too many men, noysyng them rebyliones of Norff[olk], and Berney theyr c . . . No more to zow at this tyme, but I naff sent zow ij. letteris within this viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiijti.1mo.John Berney.
292.1[From Fenn, iv. 28.]
To my worchepful hosbonde, Jon Pastun, this letter be delyvered in hast.
1461JULY 18
Rythworchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid be Sir John Tatersale to wryte to yow for a comyssion or a noyr in termyner [oyer and terminer]293.2for to be sent down in to this cuntre to sit uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and gret horebyl robryys; and as for the costs ther of the cuntre wele pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [i.e.unless] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys, they ar aferde that mo folks xal be servyd in lyke wyse.
As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they be delyveryt to Twer [Twyer], and iiij. be with hem of the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr parte that they schape not, but that they may have the jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be inqueryd of her forseyd robery be soche a comyssion that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely for the moderys and the robbryys, but as wele for the gret insurrexsinthat they were lyke amade within the shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told me that ye thret of hem that be nowty felawys that hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold adversarys.
The blyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent Margarete.Be yours,M. P.