293.1[From Fenn, iv. 30.] The date of this letter is certain, as it refers to the murder of Thomas Denys.293.2Seevol. ii. p. 161, Note 3.473GRANT FROM THE CROWN294.1Pro Johanne Paston.1461JULY 27Rexomnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Nos indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Hows clerico in septingentis marcis legalis monetæ regni nostri Angliæ eisdem Johanni et Thomæ solvendis juxta formam cujusdam billæ manu nostra signatæ cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba:—Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be the assent of oure trusty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of man and woman garnysshed with a ruby, a dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght, for CCCC. xxxlvijli.; and also an obligacion wherby oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff in an C. marc; for which we grauntand promitt in the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows, clerk, or to her assignez, D.CC. mark of lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is to sey; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng after the date of thys bille CC. mark, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys thanne next folowyng. And also we graunte that the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. And if it fortune that the same John and Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that payment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill with oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our] reign.Nos solutionem summæ illius præfatis Johanni et Thomæ fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, concessimus et per præsentes concedimus eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows septingentas marcas monetæ prædictæ percipiendas modo et forma subsequentibus, videlicet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de primis denariis provenientibus et crescentibus de feodi firma civitatis nostræ Norwici et de omnibus aliis firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem civitate provenientibus per manus majoris, custodis, vicecomitum, civium seu ballivorum ejusdem civitatis pro tempore existentium aut aliorum receptorum, firmariorum seu appruatorum eorundem feodi firmarum, exituum, proficuorum et reventionum dictæ civitatis pro tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus nostris Norff’ et Suff’ provenientibus per manus vicecomitum eorumdem comitatuum pro tempore existentium quousque septingentæ marcæ eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows plenarie persolutæ fuerint. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xxvij. die Julii.Per ipsum Regem oretenus.294.1[FromPatent Roll, 1 Edw.IV., Part 3, No. 13.]474THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON296.1To maister John Paston Esquyer in hast.1461AUG. 1 (?)Pleaseyour maistership wete that Danyell of Grayes In enfourmed me that Kyng of Dounham whiche slewe Thomas Denys is arested and in hold at Wysbyche and had ben delyvered nor had Fraunceys Costard a taken suerte of pees of hym; and so he is kept in by non other meane but al onely by suerte of pees. And as I felt by the said Danyell if he be craftyly handeled he woll accuse many other; but Danyell is loth to name hem, but I suppose he ment by Twyer and yet other mo, right sufficient, and kalled of substans. Item, Haydon hath payed ccccc. marks and is delivered. Item it is talked the parlement schal be proroged tyl the iiij. day of Novembre and the kyng wol in to Scotland in al hast. Wretyn in hast uppon the day of the Advencion.296.2—Youris,Thomas Plaiter.296.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 181.] The year in which this letter was written is certain, not only from the reference to the murder of Thomas Denys, which was in July 1461, but also from the mention of the prorogation of Parliament to the 4th of November.296.2Probably meaning the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (1st August).475JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON296.3To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle.1461AUG. 1First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid tooccupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the lond may be undirstand.ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they departe.iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng,and the peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe [satisfaction] to the pore peple.v. Item, that Berney and Richard Wright geve suche folkys warnyng as wyll compleyne to be redy with her billes if thei list to have any remedy.vj. Item, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton may at Aylesham be remembyrd.vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham, that ye fayle not, but assay and do yowr devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals. Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I wold he shuld assay, or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton were boren in hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and first founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the bille and where he had it.298.1viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content for Midsomer term.ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton, in on of the canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the spruse chest. Ric. Calle knowith it well, and ther is a ded of feffement and a letter of atorne mad of the seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner, Ric. Calle, and John Russe. I wold a new dede and letter of atorne were mad owth theroff be the feffees of the same laund to Thome Grene,298.2Thome Playter, the parson of Heylisdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,298.3Johanni Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it be selid at the next shire; for than I suppose the seyd feffes will be ther if it may not be don er that tyme. I wold have theseyd dedis leyd in a box, both old and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at Stratton, that whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it ther, and mak seson [seisin] and stat to be take whil I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.296.3[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a draft which is partly in John Paston’s own hand. The contents clearly refer to, first, the Norfolk election of 1461, which it was proposed to confirm by a new meeting of the electors at the shire-house; and secondly, the necessity of electing a new coroner after the murder of Thomas Denys. The date is therefore certain.298.1Between this and the next paragraph is the following sentence crossed out:— ‘Item, I send yow a writ direct to the Meyer and Shreves of Norwich for to receyve of hem an C. [hundred] mark yerly for suche jowellys as the Kyng hath of me.’298.2This name is substituted for three others crossed out, viz. ‘John Grenefeld, Thomas Playter, Water Wrottisle, Squyer.’298.3Here occurs the name, ‘Christofere Grenacre,’ crossed out.476JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON299.1To my right worshypfull and reverent maistyr, John Paston, at Norwich.1461AUG. 23Ryghtworshypfull sir, and my right honourable maister, I recomaunde me louly to you. And plese youre maistirshyp to wete that my Maister Clement, youre brothyr, and Plater, wrot a letter to my mayster yore sone299.2yistirday, the tenure of whych was how ye were entretyd there. And as ye desyred me, so I enformyd hem the mater along, for they wist not of it til I told hem; and they wrete the more pleynerly inasmych as a worshypfull man rood the same day, and bare the letter to my seyd maister youre sone.The Lord Bourgcher is with the Kynge, and my Lord Warwyk still in the North, &c.Item, sir, thys day cam on John Waynflet from the Kyng streyt weye, and he is of myn aqueyntaunce; and he teld me there was no voyse nor spekyng aboute the Kyng of that mater; and I teld hym all the mater along hou ye were intretyd, whych he wyll put in remembraunce in ony place that he cometh in in Suffolk or Esex as he goth homward, for he owyth no good wil to youre adversary. And the seyd Waynflet teld me that he knowyth for serteyn that the Kyng cometh not to Northefolk til he hathe been upon the Marchysof Walys, and so there is no serteynte of hyse comyng thys many dayez. He teld me he lefte the Kyng with a smal felashyp aboute hym.And I enqueryd hym of the gyding of my maystyr yore sone, whiche he comendyd gretly, and seyd that he stood well inconseyt, and dayly shuld increse; and he was well in acqueyntaunce and be lovyd with jentilmen aboute the Kyng. But he seyd ther shal no thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym, for withoute he have mony in hyse purse, so as he may resonably spende among hem, ellys they wyll not sette by hem; and there be jentilmen sones of lesse reputacion that hath mony more lyberal x. tymez than he hath, and soo in that they seyd Waynflet seyd it were full necessary for you to remembre, &c.As for tydyngs here bee noon newe, &c. I truste I shal brynge you a letter from my mayster your sone, or thanne I come, for whych I shal rather thanne fayle abyde on day the lenger. And Jesu have you, my right honourable maister, in Hyse mercyfull governaunce, and preserve you from adversyte. Wretyn at London, on Seynt Bertylmewys Evyn.I can speke with noo man but that thynke the gydyng of youre adversary hath been in many causez ryght straunce, and as it is soposyd that he shal undyrstonde at the Parlament; but for Gods sake have men inow aboute yow, for ye undyrstonde is on manerly dysposecion.Your bedeman and servaunt,John Russe.299.1[From Fenn, iv. 42.] EdwardIV.went into the Marches of Wales, as mentioned in this letter, in the autumn of 1461. He was at Gloucester on the 11th September, and at Ludlow on the 21st, as appears by the dates of his privy seals. The matter mentioned in the postscript is doubtless Howard’s contention with Paston in the shire-house at Norwich, to which allusion is made in the letter following.299.2John Paston, the eldest son.477JOHN PASTON, THE ELDEST SON, TO HIS FATHER301.1To my rythg reverent and worchypfoll fader, John Paston, Esquyer, dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys letter delyvered in haste.1461AUG. 23Mostreverent and worschepfull fadyr, I rekomawnd me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to your good faderhood, besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly blyssyng. I beseche yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have laboryd dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond, to have mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of] Deddham and of the byll copye of the Corte Roll, everye mornyng ore he went to the Kyng, and often tymys inqueryd of hym and he had mevyd the Kyng in these matyers. He answeryd me naye, seyyng it was no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne spedd os I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe I thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in. Neverthe lesse I lawberyd to hym contynually, and prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr hym of it. I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that I had a man teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr sundry maters, and he teryid for no thyng but that I mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd matyers; othyr tyms besechyng hym to spede me in theys matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no defawte in me for remembryng in the seyd maters.And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same mater, inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes therin; and he answeryd me that he hadde felte and mevyd the Kyng therin, rehersyng the Kyngys answer therin; how that, when he had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng hym to be yowr good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse and trewe part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in espesyal the rygth that ye have therto, he seyd he wold be your good Lord therin as he wold be to the porest man in Inglond. He wold hold with yowe in yowr rygth; and as for favor, he wyll nogth be under stand that he schal schewe favor mor to one man then to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when he mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche a bylle ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd sundreys of yowr contremen of worchypfull men, and the for he kepyd it styll. Never the lesse he seyd he schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he schuld have it.Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he schuld so a’ remembred hys lord and master,302.1that I schuld au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often tyms absent, and therfor I have it nowthg yyt; when I kan gete it, I schall send it yowe, and of the Kyngs mowth, hys name that take it hym.I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me. God send grace that he may do yow good servyse, that be extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have knowleche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her with me. I wold, savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were delyvered of hym, for he schalle never do yow profyte ner worchyp.I suppose ye understand that the monye that I hadde of yowe att Londun maye not indur with me tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn, for I under stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn. Wher for I have sent to Londun to myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs.of Christofyr Hansom yowr servaunt, and sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt, and myn herneys with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene.I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I kowd make non othyr cheysaunce [arrangement] but I schuld aboruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys, who I suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it a nothyr tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun in the stede of Pekoke.My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for yowe as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners hys man telht me, seyy[n]g, ‘Yowr fadyr is myche be holdyng to my Lord, for he lovyth hym well.’ Bernners mevyd me ons, and seyd that ye must nedys do sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I seyd I wost well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre powar. And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe yowe and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd Dyrward, seyyng that ther is as myche be wern [between] my seyd Lord and the seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part.It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a’ strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that ye hadde on at that tyme. Blyssyd be God that ye hadde it on. No mor I wryth to yower good faderhod at thys tym, but All myghty God have yowe in Hys kepyng, and sende yowe vyttorye of yowr elmyes [enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys end yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve.Be yowr servaunt and elder sone,John Paston.301.1[From Fenn, iv. 46.] Allusion is made in this letter, as in the last, to EdwardIV.’s going into Wales in 1461. The writer appears to have been with the King, and expecting to accompany him on the journey. Edward was at Battle on the 21st August 1461, according to the dates of his privy seals.302.1Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex.478CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON303.1To hys rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, John Paston.1461AUG. 25Rythereverent and worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to yowr good broderhood, desieryng to herre of zour welfar and good prosperite, the gwyche I pray God encresse to His pleswr and zowr herts hesse [heart’s ease];certyfyyng zow that I have spok with John Rwsse, and Playter spok with him bothe, on Fryday be for Seynt Barthelmw. He tolde us of Howards gydyng, gwyche mad us rythe sory tyl we herde the conclusion that ze hadde non harme.Also I understond by W. Pekok that my nevew hadde knowleche ther of also up on Saterday nexst be for Seynt Barthelmwe, in the Kyngs howse. Not with standyng, up on the same day Playter and I wryte letters on to him, rehersyng al the mater, for cause if ther wer ony questionys mevyd to hym ther of, that he xwlde telle the trowthe, in cas that the qwestions wer mevyd by ony worchypfwll man, and namyd my Lord Bowcher,304.1for my Lord Bowcher was with the Kyng at that tyme.I fele by W. Pekok that my nevew is not zet verily aqweyntyd in the Kyngs howse, nor with the officers of the Kyngs howse he is not takyn as non of that howse; for the coks [cooks] be not charged to serve hym, nor the sewer304.2to gyve hym no dyche, for the sewer wyll not tak no men no dyschys till they be comawndyd by the cownterroller. Also he is not aqweyntyd with no body but with Weks;304.3and Weks ad told hym that he wold bryng hym to the Kyng, but he hathe not zet do soo. Wherfor it were best for hym to tak hys leve and cum hom, til ze hadd spok with swm body to helpe hym forthe, for he is not bold y now to put forthe hym selfe. But than I consyderyd that if he xwld now cum hom, the Kyng wold thyng [think] that wan he xwld doo hym ony servie som wer, that than ze wold have hym hom, the qwyche xwld cause hym not to be hadde in favor; and also men wold thynke that he wer put owte of servic. Also W. Pekok tellythe me that his mony is spent, and not ryotesly, but wysly and discretly, for the costs is gretter in the Kyngs howse qwen he rydythe than ze wend it hadde be, as Wyllam Pekok can tell zow; and therof wee must gett hym jCs.at the lest, as by Wyllam Pekoks seyyng, and zetthat will be to lytill, and I wot well we kan not get xld.of Christifyr Hanswm. So I xall be fayn to lend it hym of myn owne silver. If I knew verily zour entent wer that he xwld cum hom, I wold send hym non. Ther I wyll doo as me thynkithe ze xwld be best plesyd, and that me thynkythe is to send him the silver. Ther for I pray zow hastely as ze may send me azen v. mark, and the remnawnte, I trow, I xall get up on Christofir Hanswm and Lwket. I pray zow send me it as hastely as ze may, for I xall leve my selfe rythe bare; and I pray zow send me a letter how ze woll that he xull be demenyd. Wrytyn on Twsday after Seynt Barthelmwe, &c. Christus vos conservet!Clement Paston.303.1[From Fenn, iv. 52.] The references to Howard’s conduct, and to John Paston the son being with the King, prove this letter to be of the year 1461. Compare the last paragraph of the letter immediately preceding with the first of this.304.1Henry, Viscount Bourchier, who had been created Earl of Essex on the 30th June preceding. The writer had forgotten his new dignity.304.2An officer who had the ordering of the dishes, etc.304.3John Wykes was an usher of the King’s chamber, and a friend and cousin of J. Paston’s.—F.479LORD BEAUCHAMP TO SIR THOMAS HOWES305.1To myn welbeloved frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Blofeld.1461AUG. 28Welbelovedfrende, I grete you well. And for as muche as I understonde that William Wurcester, late the servant unto Sir John Fastolf, Knyth, whois soule God assoyle, ys not had in favour ne trust with my right welbeloved frende, John Paston, nether with you, as he seyth, namely in such maters and causes as concerneth the wylle and testament of the said Sir John Fastolf; and as I am informed the said William purposeth hym to go into his cuntre, for the whiche cause he hath desired me to wryte unto you that ye wolde ben a special good frend unto hym, for his said mastris sake, to have alle suche things as reason and consciens requireth, and that ye wolde be meane unto Paston for hym in this mater to schewe hym the more favour at thys tyme for this my writyng in doyng of eny truble to hym, trusting that he wole demeane hym in suche wyse that he shalhave no cause unto hym, but to be his good master, as he seyth. And yf ther be eny thing that I can do for you, I wole be right glad to do it, and that knoweth Almyghty God, whiche have you in his keping. Wretin at Grenewyche, the xxviijthday of August.J. Beauchamp.305.1[From Fenn, iv. 96.] This letter was probably written in the year 1461, if not in the year preceding. The disputes about Fastolf’s will came before the Spiritual Court in the year 1465; but at the date of this letter they could not have proceeded very far.480LORD HUNGERFORD AND ROBERT WHITYNGHAM TO MARGARET OF ANJOU306.1A la Reyne D’Engleterre[en]Escote.1461AUG. 30Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles306.2deth, whom God assoyll, and howe we sta[n]de arest [arrested], and doo yet; but on Tuysday next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn.306.3His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,306.4and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Canse, and Monsieur de la Mot.Ma dam[, ferth [fear] you not, but be of gode comfort,and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,307.1by the See, till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed, Th’erll of March307.2is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and to send you that your Highnes desireth. Writen at Depe the xxxtidey of August.Your true Subgettes and Liege men.Hungerford.Whityngham.At the bottom of the Copy of the Letter is added:—These ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland with the Quene. The Kyng Herry is at Kirkhowbre with iiij. men and a childe.Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.The Lord Roos and his son.John Ormond.William Taylboys.Sir John Fortescu.Sir Thomas Fyndern.Waynesford of London.Thomas Thompson of Guynes.Thomas Brampton of Guynes.John Audeley of Guynes.Langheyn of Irland.Thomas Philip of G[i]ppeswich.Sir Edmund Hampden.Sir Henry Roos.John Courteney.Myrfyn of Kent.Dauson.Thomas Burnby.Borret of Sussex.Sir John Welpdalle.Mr. Roger Clerk, of London.John Retford, late Coubitt.Giles Senctlowe.John Hawt.306.1[From Fenn, i. 246.] That this letter was written in the year 1461 is sufficiently evident from its contents. TheMS.from which it was printed by Fenn was a copy in the handwriting of Henry Windsor, and was manifestly the enclosure referred to in his letterNo. 483. It bore the same paper-mark as that letter.306.2CharlesVII.of France. He died on the 22nd July 1461.306.3LewisXI., son of CharlesVII.306.4Arques, in Normandy, south of Dieppe.307.1Edward, son of HenryVI.307.2EdwardIV., whom the Lancastrians did not yet recognise as king.481JOHN PAMPYNG TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR308.1To my right worshipfull master John Paston, the older, Squier.1461SEPT. 6Pleaseyour mastirship to wete that I have be at Cotton, and spoke with Edward Dale, and he told me that Yelverton and Jenney were there on Friday,308.2and a toke distresse of xxvj. or more bullokks of the seid Edwards in the Park, and drofe hem to a town therby; and a neyghbore there undirstandyng the bests were Edward Dalis,308.3and bond hym to pay the ferme, or ellis to bryng in the bests be a day. And whan the seid Edward undirstod the takyng of the seid bests he went to Yelverton and Jenney, and bond hym in an obligacon of xli., to pay hem his ferme at Mighelmes; whech I told hym was not well do, for I told hym ye had be abill to save hym harmeles. And because of discharge of his neyghbour he seid he myght non other wise do. Nevirthelesse as for mony thei get none of hym redely, ner of the tenaunts nowthyr, as he can thynk yet. The seid Yelverton dyned on Friday at Cotton, and there chargid the tenaunts thei shuld pay no mony but to hym, and hath flaterid hem, and seith thei shall be restorid ayen of such wrongs as thei have had be Sir Philip Wentworth and other for Master Fastolff; and because of such tales, your tenaunts owe hym the bettir will. And I purposid to have gon to Cotton and spoke with the tenaunts, and Edward Dale told me he supposid thei wold be this day at Nakton. And because [I desired]308.4to speke with hem as ye comaundid me, I terid not but rod to Ipwich to my bed, and there at the Sonne was the seid Yelverton and Jenney and Thomas Fastolff; and myn ost told me, that the same aftirnone thei had be at Nakton, but what thei ded there I can not telle, and whan I was undirstand your man, Hogon, Jenneys man, askyd suerte of pes of me; and Jenney sent for an officer to have hed me to prison; and so myn ost undirtoke for me that nyght. And this day in the mornyng I wente to Sen Lauerauns Chirche; and there I spak to hem and told hem ye merveylid that thei wold take any distresse or warne any of your tenaunts that thei shuld pay yow no mony. And Yelverton seid ye had take a distresse falsly and ontrewly of hym that ought yow no mony ner hem nowther. And he seid he was infeffid as well as ye; and as for that I told hym he wost odre [knew the contrary], and thow he were it was but your use, and so I told hym that men were infeffid in his lond, and that he shuld be servid the same withinne fewe dayes. And he seid he wost well ye were not infeffid in his lond, and if ye toke upon yow to make any trobill in his lond ye shall repente it. And also he seid that he wold do in like wise in alle maners that were Sir John Fastolffs in Norfolk as thei have begonne, and other langage as I shall telle yow. And so I am with the gayler, with a clogge upon myn hele for suerte of the pees; wherefore please your mastirship to send me your avise.Item, John Andrews was with hem at Cotton, and thei have set a man of the seid Andrews to kepe the plase.Item, Wymondham, Debenham and Tympirle come to Yelverton this day at masse and speke with hym; and I speke to Tymperle in your name that he wold not comforte ner be with hem ayein in this mater; and he seid he undirstod no such thyng, ner it was not his comyng hedir. Wretyn at Ipwych the Sonday next before the Nativite of Owr Lady.Yowr servaunt,John Pampyng.The back is covered with some rough memoranda in Richard Calle’s hand, of moneys received at different times of year by Richard Charlys, Thomas Howys, William Berton, baker, of Southwark, Ralph Lovel, John Prentyng, Richard Coomber, and John de Dorylot. Some of these payments are made through Dawbeney, John Paston, junior, and John Paston, senior (per manus Johannis Paston Senioris).308.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] In the letter of James Gloys, which follows (No. 482), will be found an allusion to a recent ‘revel done in Suffolk’ by Yelverton and Jenney. That the affair alluded to was the same which is described in this letter will appear beyond doubt if the reader will refer to Letter 487.308.24th September.308.3Apparently the writer has omitted a word or more here.308.4Omitted inMS.482JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON310.1To the right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, John Paston, Esquyer.1461SEPT. 24Rightreverent and wurchepfull sir, I recomand me to your gode maystershep, prayng you to wete that I was at Blakkes, and spake with his wiffe; and she seth he was not at hame this iij. weks,—he ridith up the countre to take accompts of balys [bailiffs],—and that this day sevennyght he shuld have satyn in Caystr by you up on accounts, and fro thens he shuld have redyn to Lynne, and that he shall be at home un Monday at nyght next comyng. Wherfor I have left my heraund with her. But she seth that he shall not mown comyn [be able to come] to you, for my Lady310.2have sent for hym in gret hast, bothyn be a letter and be a tokyn, to comyn to her as hastly as he may; notwithstandyng she shall do the herand to hym.As for Yelverton, I dede a gode fele to enquer of Yemmys Skynner whan the seid Yelverton shuld go to London. He seid not this sevynnyght. He cowde not tell what day till he had spokyn with his son. His sone shuld come to hym or his master shuld ridyn. I shall enquer mor at Walsyngham. And for Godds love be not to longe fro London, for men seyn ther, as I have be [told], that my Lord of Glowcetir310.3shuld have Cayster, and ther is gret noyse of this revell that was don in Suffolk be Yelverton and Jeney; and your wele willers thynkyn that if thei myght prevayle in this, thei wold attempt you in other. But seas ther pore and malyce, and preserveyou from all evill. And at the reverence of God lete sum interposicion go a twix you and my mastres your moder or ye go to London, and all that ye do shall spede the better; for she is set on gret malyce, and every man that she spekith with knowith her hert, and it is like to be a fowle noyse [over] all the countre with aught it be sone sesid.Also, sir, it is told me that my Lord of Norfolk is comyn to Framlyngham, and that ye be gretly comendyd in his howshold. Therfor it wer wele do, me semyth, that ye spake with hym. The Holy Trynyte kepe you.Wretyn at Norwich, the Thursday next after Sent Mathewe.Your pore prest,James Gloys.310.1[From Fenn, iv. 58.] On the back of this letter is the following memorandum in a contemporaneous hand:— ‘De Ric’o Calle pro ordio (i.e.hordeo) ibidem pro ij. annis terminatis ad Mic’ anno primo regni Regis E. iiij., xxvjs.viijd.’ This shows that the letter itself could not have been written later than 1461, and as there was no ‘Lord of Gloucester’ before that year, it could not have been earlier.310.2Alice, Duchess of Suffolk.310.3Richard, the King’s brother, afterwards RichardIII.483HENRY WYNDESORE TO JOHN PASTON311.1To my full worshipfull, speciall gode maister, John Paston, Squyer, abidyng at Norwich.1461OCT. 4Rightworshipfull sir, and some tyme my moost speciall gode master, I recommaunde me unto your gode maistership, with all my pour service, if it may in any wise suffice; and farthermore, sir, I beseche you, nowe beyng in your countre, where ye may deily call unto you my maister Sir Thomas Howys, ones to remembre my pour mater, and by your discretions to take such a direction theryn, and so to conclude, as may be to your discharge and to my furtherance, accordyng to the will of hym that is passed unto Gode, whose saull I pray Jesu pardone! for truly, sir, ther was in hym no faute, but in me onely; yf it be not as I have remembred your maistership affore thy[s] tyme. For truly, sir, I der say I shuld have had as speciall and as gode a maister of you, as any pour man, as I am, withyn England shuld have hadd of a worshipfull man, as ye ar, yf ye had never medulled the godes of my maister F., and as moche ye wold have done, and labored fore me, in myright, if it hadde byn in the handes of any oder man than of your self anely. But, I truste in Gode, at your next comyng to have an answere, such as I shalbe content with. And yf it may be so, I am and shalbe your servaunt in that I can or may, that knoith our Lord Jesu, whom I besech save and sende you a gode ende in all your maters, to your pleiser and worship everlastyng. Amen. Writton at London, iiijtodie Octobris.As fore tidyngs, the Kyng wolbe at London withyn iij. deies next comyng; and all the castelles and holdes in South Wales, and in North Wales, ar gyfen and yelden up into the Kynges hand. And the Duc of Excestre312.1and th’erle of Pembrok312.2ar floon and taken the mounteyns, and dyvers Lordes with gret puissans ar after them; and the moost part of gentilmen and men of worship ar comen yn to the Kyng, and have grace, of all Wales.The Duc of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert Whityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they stand strete under arest; and as merchauntes that ar comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley, and the Dean of Seynt Severyens, have abiden at Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Tresorer of Cales, with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo, at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.Item, I send unto you a copy of a letter that was taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford and Whytyngham.Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland in all hast of Lordes.At your comaundement, and Servaunt,Henry Wyndesore.
293.1[From Fenn, iv. 30.] The date of this letter is certain, as it refers to the murder of Thomas Denys.293.2Seevol. ii. p. 161, Note 3.473GRANT FROM THE CROWN294.1Pro Johanne Paston.1461JULY 27Rexomnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Nos indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Hows clerico in septingentis marcis legalis monetæ regni nostri Angliæ eisdem Johanni et Thomæ solvendis juxta formam cujusdam billæ manu nostra signatæ cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba:—Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be the assent of oure trusty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of man and woman garnysshed with a ruby, a dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght, for CCCC. xxxlvijli.; and also an obligacion wherby oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff in an C. marc; for which we grauntand promitt in the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows, clerk, or to her assignez, D.CC. mark of lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is to sey; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng after the date of thys bille CC. mark, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys thanne next folowyng. And also we graunte that the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. And if it fortune that the same John and Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that payment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill with oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our] reign.Nos solutionem summæ illius præfatis Johanni et Thomæ fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, concessimus et per præsentes concedimus eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows septingentas marcas monetæ prædictæ percipiendas modo et forma subsequentibus, videlicet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de primis denariis provenientibus et crescentibus de feodi firma civitatis nostræ Norwici et de omnibus aliis firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem civitate provenientibus per manus majoris, custodis, vicecomitum, civium seu ballivorum ejusdem civitatis pro tempore existentium aut aliorum receptorum, firmariorum seu appruatorum eorundem feodi firmarum, exituum, proficuorum et reventionum dictæ civitatis pro tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus nostris Norff’ et Suff’ provenientibus per manus vicecomitum eorumdem comitatuum pro tempore existentium quousque septingentæ marcæ eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows plenarie persolutæ fuerint. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xxvij. die Julii.Per ipsum Regem oretenus.294.1[FromPatent Roll, 1 Edw.IV., Part 3, No. 13.]474THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON296.1To maister John Paston Esquyer in hast.1461AUG. 1 (?)Pleaseyour maistership wete that Danyell of Grayes In enfourmed me that Kyng of Dounham whiche slewe Thomas Denys is arested and in hold at Wysbyche and had ben delyvered nor had Fraunceys Costard a taken suerte of pees of hym; and so he is kept in by non other meane but al onely by suerte of pees. And as I felt by the said Danyell if he be craftyly handeled he woll accuse many other; but Danyell is loth to name hem, but I suppose he ment by Twyer and yet other mo, right sufficient, and kalled of substans. Item, Haydon hath payed ccccc. marks and is delivered. Item it is talked the parlement schal be proroged tyl the iiij. day of Novembre and the kyng wol in to Scotland in al hast. Wretyn in hast uppon the day of the Advencion.296.2—Youris,Thomas Plaiter.296.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 181.] The year in which this letter was written is certain, not only from the reference to the murder of Thomas Denys, which was in July 1461, but also from the mention of the prorogation of Parliament to the 4th of November.296.2Probably meaning the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (1st August).475JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON296.3To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle.1461AUG. 1First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid tooccupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the lond may be undirstand.ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they departe.iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng,and the peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe [satisfaction] to the pore peple.v. Item, that Berney and Richard Wright geve suche folkys warnyng as wyll compleyne to be redy with her billes if thei list to have any remedy.vj. Item, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton may at Aylesham be remembyrd.vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham, that ye fayle not, but assay and do yowr devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals. Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I wold he shuld assay, or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton were boren in hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and first founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the bille and where he had it.298.1viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content for Midsomer term.ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton, in on of the canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the spruse chest. Ric. Calle knowith it well, and ther is a ded of feffement and a letter of atorne mad of the seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner, Ric. Calle, and John Russe. I wold a new dede and letter of atorne were mad owth theroff be the feffees of the same laund to Thome Grene,298.2Thome Playter, the parson of Heylisdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,298.3Johanni Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it be selid at the next shire; for than I suppose the seyd feffes will be ther if it may not be don er that tyme. I wold have theseyd dedis leyd in a box, both old and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at Stratton, that whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it ther, and mak seson [seisin] and stat to be take whil I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.296.3[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a draft which is partly in John Paston’s own hand. The contents clearly refer to, first, the Norfolk election of 1461, which it was proposed to confirm by a new meeting of the electors at the shire-house; and secondly, the necessity of electing a new coroner after the murder of Thomas Denys. The date is therefore certain.298.1Between this and the next paragraph is the following sentence crossed out:— ‘Item, I send yow a writ direct to the Meyer and Shreves of Norwich for to receyve of hem an C. [hundred] mark yerly for suche jowellys as the Kyng hath of me.’298.2This name is substituted for three others crossed out, viz. ‘John Grenefeld, Thomas Playter, Water Wrottisle, Squyer.’298.3Here occurs the name, ‘Christofere Grenacre,’ crossed out.476JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON299.1To my right worshypfull and reverent maistyr, John Paston, at Norwich.1461AUG. 23Ryghtworshypfull sir, and my right honourable maister, I recomaunde me louly to you. And plese youre maistirshyp to wete that my Maister Clement, youre brothyr, and Plater, wrot a letter to my mayster yore sone299.2yistirday, the tenure of whych was how ye were entretyd there. And as ye desyred me, so I enformyd hem the mater along, for they wist not of it til I told hem; and they wrete the more pleynerly inasmych as a worshypfull man rood the same day, and bare the letter to my seyd maister youre sone.The Lord Bourgcher is with the Kynge, and my Lord Warwyk still in the North, &c.Item, sir, thys day cam on John Waynflet from the Kyng streyt weye, and he is of myn aqueyntaunce; and he teld me there was no voyse nor spekyng aboute the Kyng of that mater; and I teld hym all the mater along hou ye were intretyd, whych he wyll put in remembraunce in ony place that he cometh in in Suffolk or Esex as he goth homward, for he owyth no good wil to youre adversary. And the seyd Waynflet teld me that he knowyth for serteyn that the Kyng cometh not to Northefolk til he hathe been upon the Marchysof Walys, and so there is no serteynte of hyse comyng thys many dayez. He teld me he lefte the Kyng with a smal felashyp aboute hym.And I enqueryd hym of the gyding of my maystyr yore sone, whiche he comendyd gretly, and seyd that he stood well inconseyt, and dayly shuld increse; and he was well in acqueyntaunce and be lovyd with jentilmen aboute the Kyng. But he seyd ther shal no thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym, for withoute he have mony in hyse purse, so as he may resonably spende among hem, ellys they wyll not sette by hem; and there be jentilmen sones of lesse reputacion that hath mony more lyberal x. tymez than he hath, and soo in that they seyd Waynflet seyd it were full necessary for you to remembre, &c.As for tydyngs here bee noon newe, &c. I truste I shal brynge you a letter from my mayster your sone, or thanne I come, for whych I shal rather thanne fayle abyde on day the lenger. And Jesu have you, my right honourable maister, in Hyse mercyfull governaunce, and preserve you from adversyte. Wretyn at London, on Seynt Bertylmewys Evyn.I can speke with noo man but that thynke the gydyng of youre adversary hath been in many causez ryght straunce, and as it is soposyd that he shal undyrstonde at the Parlament; but for Gods sake have men inow aboute yow, for ye undyrstonde is on manerly dysposecion.Your bedeman and servaunt,John Russe.299.1[From Fenn, iv. 42.] EdwardIV.went into the Marches of Wales, as mentioned in this letter, in the autumn of 1461. He was at Gloucester on the 11th September, and at Ludlow on the 21st, as appears by the dates of his privy seals. The matter mentioned in the postscript is doubtless Howard’s contention with Paston in the shire-house at Norwich, to which allusion is made in the letter following.299.2John Paston, the eldest son.477JOHN PASTON, THE ELDEST SON, TO HIS FATHER301.1To my rythg reverent and worchypfoll fader, John Paston, Esquyer, dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys letter delyvered in haste.1461AUG. 23Mostreverent and worschepfull fadyr, I rekomawnd me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to your good faderhood, besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly blyssyng. I beseche yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have laboryd dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond, to have mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of] Deddham and of the byll copye of the Corte Roll, everye mornyng ore he went to the Kyng, and often tymys inqueryd of hym and he had mevyd the Kyng in these matyers. He answeryd me naye, seyyng it was no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne spedd os I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe I thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in. Neverthe lesse I lawberyd to hym contynually, and prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr hym of it. I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that I had a man teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr sundry maters, and he teryid for no thyng but that I mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd matyers; othyr tyms besechyng hym to spede me in theys matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no defawte in me for remembryng in the seyd maters.And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same mater, inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes therin; and he answeryd me that he hadde felte and mevyd the Kyng therin, rehersyng the Kyngys answer therin; how that, when he had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng hym to be yowr good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse and trewe part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in espesyal the rygth that ye have therto, he seyd he wold be your good Lord therin as he wold be to the porest man in Inglond. He wold hold with yowe in yowr rygth; and as for favor, he wyll nogth be under stand that he schal schewe favor mor to one man then to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when he mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche a bylle ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd sundreys of yowr contremen of worchypfull men, and the for he kepyd it styll. Never the lesse he seyd he schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he schuld have it.Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he schuld so a’ remembred hys lord and master,302.1that I schuld au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often tyms absent, and therfor I have it nowthg yyt; when I kan gete it, I schall send it yowe, and of the Kyngs mowth, hys name that take it hym.I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me. God send grace that he may do yow good servyse, that be extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have knowleche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her with me. I wold, savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were delyvered of hym, for he schalle never do yow profyte ner worchyp.I suppose ye understand that the monye that I hadde of yowe att Londun maye not indur with me tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn, for I under stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn. Wher for I have sent to Londun to myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs.of Christofyr Hansom yowr servaunt, and sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt, and myn herneys with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene.I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I kowd make non othyr cheysaunce [arrangement] but I schuld aboruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys, who I suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it a nothyr tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun in the stede of Pekoke.My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for yowe as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners hys man telht me, seyy[n]g, ‘Yowr fadyr is myche be holdyng to my Lord, for he lovyth hym well.’ Bernners mevyd me ons, and seyd that ye must nedys do sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I seyd I wost well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre powar. And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe yowe and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd Dyrward, seyyng that ther is as myche be wern [between] my seyd Lord and the seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part.It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a’ strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that ye hadde on at that tyme. Blyssyd be God that ye hadde it on. No mor I wryth to yower good faderhod at thys tym, but All myghty God have yowe in Hys kepyng, and sende yowe vyttorye of yowr elmyes [enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys end yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve.Be yowr servaunt and elder sone,John Paston.301.1[From Fenn, iv. 46.] Allusion is made in this letter, as in the last, to EdwardIV.’s going into Wales in 1461. The writer appears to have been with the King, and expecting to accompany him on the journey. Edward was at Battle on the 21st August 1461, according to the dates of his privy seals.302.1Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex.478CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON303.1To hys rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, John Paston.1461AUG. 25Rythereverent and worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to yowr good broderhood, desieryng to herre of zour welfar and good prosperite, the gwyche I pray God encresse to His pleswr and zowr herts hesse [heart’s ease];certyfyyng zow that I have spok with John Rwsse, and Playter spok with him bothe, on Fryday be for Seynt Barthelmw. He tolde us of Howards gydyng, gwyche mad us rythe sory tyl we herde the conclusion that ze hadde non harme.Also I understond by W. Pekok that my nevew hadde knowleche ther of also up on Saterday nexst be for Seynt Barthelmwe, in the Kyngs howse. Not with standyng, up on the same day Playter and I wryte letters on to him, rehersyng al the mater, for cause if ther wer ony questionys mevyd to hym ther of, that he xwlde telle the trowthe, in cas that the qwestions wer mevyd by ony worchypfwll man, and namyd my Lord Bowcher,304.1for my Lord Bowcher was with the Kyng at that tyme.I fele by W. Pekok that my nevew is not zet verily aqweyntyd in the Kyngs howse, nor with the officers of the Kyngs howse he is not takyn as non of that howse; for the coks [cooks] be not charged to serve hym, nor the sewer304.2to gyve hym no dyche, for the sewer wyll not tak no men no dyschys till they be comawndyd by the cownterroller. Also he is not aqweyntyd with no body but with Weks;304.3and Weks ad told hym that he wold bryng hym to the Kyng, but he hathe not zet do soo. Wherfor it were best for hym to tak hys leve and cum hom, til ze hadd spok with swm body to helpe hym forthe, for he is not bold y now to put forthe hym selfe. But than I consyderyd that if he xwld now cum hom, the Kyng wold thyng [think] that wan he xwld doo hym ony servie som wer, that than ze wold have hym hom, the qwyche xwld cause hym not to be hadde in favor; and also men wold thynke that he wer put owte of servic. Also W. Pekok tellythe me that his mony is spent, and not ryotesly, but wysly and discretly, for the costs is gretter in the Kyngs howse qwen he rydythe than ze wend it hadde be, as Wyllam Pekok can tell zow; and therof wee must gett hym jCs.at the lest, as by Wyllam Pekoks seyyng, and zetthat will be to lytill, and I wot well we kan not get xld.of Christifyr Hanswm. So I xall be fayn to lend it hym of myn owne silver. If I knew verily zour entent wer that he xwld cum hom, I wold send hym non. Ther I wyll doo as me thynkithe ze xwld be best plesyd, and that me thynkythe is to send him the silver. Ther for I pray zow hastely as ze may send me azen v. mark, and the remnawnte, I trow, I xall get up on Christofir Hanswm and Lwket. I pray zow send me it as hastely as ze may, for I xall leve my selfe rythe bare; and I pray zow send me a letter how ze woll that he xull be demenyd. Wrytyn on Twsday after Seynt Barthelmwe, &c. Christus vos conservet!Clement Paston.303.1[From Fenn, iv. 52.] The references to Howard’s conduct, and to John Paston the son being with the King, prove this letter to be of the year 1461. Compare the last paragraph of the letter immediately preceding with the first of this.304.1Henry, Viscount Bourchier, who had been created Earl of Essex on the 30th June preceding. The writer had forgotten his new dignity.304.2An officer who had the ordering of the dishes, etc.304.3John Wykes was an usher of the King’s chamber, and a friend and cousin of J. Paston’s.—F.479LORD BEAUCHAMP TO SIR THOMAS HOWES305.1To myn welbeloved frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Blofeld.1461AUG. 28Welbelovedfrende, I grete you well. And for as muche as I understonde that William Wurcester, late the servant unto Sir John Fastolf, Knyth, whois soule God assoyle, ys not had in favour ne trust with my right welbeloved frende, John Paston, nether with you, as he seyth, namely in such maters and causes as concerneth the wylle and testament of the said Sir John Fastolf; and as I am informed the said William purposeth hym to go into his cuntre, for the whiche cause he hath desired me to wryte unto you that ye wolde ben a special good frend unto hym, for his said mastris sake, to have alle suche things as reason and consciens requireth, and that ye wolde be meane unto Paston for hym in this mater to schewe hym the more favour at thys tyme for this my writyng in doyng of eny truble to hym, trusting that he wole demeane hym in suche wyse that he shalhave no cause unto hym, but to be his good master, as he seyth. And yf ther be eny thing that I can do for you, I wole be right glad to do it, and that knoweth Almyghty God, whiche have you in his keping. Wretin at Grenewyche, the xxviijthday of August.J. Beauchamp.305.1[From Fenn, iv. 96.] This letter was probably written in the year 1461, if not in the year preceding. The disputes about Fastolf’s will came before the Spiritual Court in the year 1465; but at the date of this letter they could not have proceeded very far.480LORD HUNGERFORD AND ROBERT WHITYNGHAM TO MARGARET OF ANJOU306.1A la Reyne D’Engleterre[en]Escote.1461AUG. 30Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles306.2deth, whom God assoyll, and howe we sta[n]de arest [arrested], and doo yet; but on Tuysday next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn.306.3His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,306.4and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Canse, and Monsieur de la Mot.Ma dam[, ferth [fear] you not, but be of gode comfort,and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,307.1by the See, till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed, Th’erll of March307.2is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and to send you that your Highnes desireth. Writen at Depe the xxxtidey of August.Your true Subgettes and Liege men.Hungerford.Whityngham.At the bottom of the Copy of the Letter is added:—These ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland with the Quene. The Kyng Herry is at Kirkhowbre with iiij. men and a childe.Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.The Lord Roos and his son.John Ormond.William Taylboys.Sir John Fortescu.Sir Thomas Fyndern.Waynesford of London.Thomas Thompson of Guynes.Thomas Brampton of Guynes.John Audeley of Guynes.Langheyn of Irland.Thomas Philip of G[i]ppeswich.Sir Edmund Hampden.Sir Henry Roos.John Courteney.Myrfyn of Kent.Dauson.Thomas Burnby.Borret of Sussex.Sir John Welpdalle.Mr. Roger Clerk, of London.John Retford, late Coubitt.Giles Senctlowe.John Hawt.306.1[From Fenn, i. 246.] That this letter was written in the year 1461 is sufficiently evident from its contents. TheMS.from which it was printed by Fenn was a copy in the handwriting of Henry Windsor, and was manifestly the enclosure referred to in his letterNo. 483. It bore the same paper-mark as that letter.306.2CharlesVII.of France. He died on the 22nd July 1461.306.3LewisXI., son of CharlesVII.306.4Arques, in Normandy, south of Dieppe.307.1Edward, son of HenryVI.307.2EdwardIV., whom the Lancastrians did not yet recognise as king.481JOHN PAMPYNG TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR308.1To my right worshipfull master John Paston, the older, Squier.1461SEPT. 6Pleaseyour mastirship to wete that I have be at Cotton, and spoke with Edward Dale, and he told me that Yelverton and Jenney were there on Friday,308.2and a toke distresse of xxvj. or more bullokks of the seid Edwards in the Park, and drofe hem to a town therby; and a neyghbore there undirstandyng the bests were Edward Dalis,308.3and bond hym to pay the ferme, or ellis to bryng in the bests be a day. And whan the seid Edward undirstod the takyng of the seid bests he went to Yelverton and Jenney, and bond hym in an obligacon of xli., to pay hem his ferme at Mighelmes; whech I told hym was not well do, for I told hym ye had be abill to save hym harmeles. And because of discharge of his neyghbour he seid he myght non other wise do. Nevirthelesse as for mony thei get none of hym redely, ner of the tenaunts nowthyr, as he can thynk yet. The seid Yelverton dyned on Friday at Cotton, and there chargid the tenaunts thei shuld pay no mony but to hym, and hath flaterid hem, and seith thei shall be restorid ayen of such wrongs as thei have had be Sir Philip Wentworth and other for Master Fastolff; and because of such tales, your tenaunts owe hym the bettir will. And I purposid to have gon to Cotton and spoke with the tenaunts, and Edward Dale told me he supposid thei wold be this day at Nakton. And because [I desired]308.4to speke with hem as ye comaundid me, I terid not but rod to Ipwich to my bed, and there at the Sonne was the seid Yelverton and Jenney and Thomas Fastolff; and myn ost told me, that the same aftirnone thei had be at Nakton, but what thei ded there I can not telle, and whan I was undirstand your man, Hogon, Jenneys man, askyd suerte of pes of me; and Jenney sent for an officer to have hed me to prison; and so myn ost undirtoke for me that nyght. And this day in the mornyng I wente to Sen Lauerauns Chirche; and there I spak to hem and told hem ye merveylid that thei wold take any distresse or warne any of your tenaunts that thei shuld pay yow no mony. And Yelverton seid ye had take a distresse falsly and ontrewly of hym that ought yow no mony ner hem nowther. And he seid he was infeffid as well as ye; and as for that I told hym he wost odre [knew the contrary], and thow he were it was but your use, and so I told hym that men were infeffid in his lond, and that he shuld be servid the same withinne fewe dayes. And he seid he wost well ye were not infeffid in his lond, and if ye toke upon yow to make any trobill in his lond ye shall repente it. And also he seid that he wold do in like wise in alle maners that were Sir John Fastolffs in Norfolk as thei have begonne, and other langage as I shall telle yow. And so I am with the gayler, with a clogge upon myn hele for suerte of the pees; wherefore please your mastirship to send me your avise.Item, John Andrews was with hem at Cotton, and thei have set a man of the seid Andrews to kepe the plase.Item, Wymondham, Debenham and Tympirle come to Yelverton this day at masse and speke with hym; and I speke to Tymperle in your name that he wold not comforte ner be with hem ayein in this mater; and he seid he undirstod no such thyng, ner it was not his comyng hedir. Wretyn at Ipwych the Sonday next before the Nativite of Owr Lady.Yowr servaunt,John Pampyng.The back is covered with some rough memoranda in Richard Calle’s hand, of moneys received at different times of year by Richard Charlys, Thomas Howys, William Berton, baker, of Southwark, Ralph Lovel, John Prentyng, Richard Coomber, and John de Dorylot. Some of these payments are made through Dawbeney, John Paston, junior, and John Paston, senior (per manus Johannis Paston Senioris).308.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] In the letter of James Gloys, which follows (No. 482), will be found an allusion to a recent ‘revel done in Suffolk’ by Yelverton and Jenney. That the affair alluded to was the same which is described in this letter will appear beyond doubt if the reader will refer to Letter 487.308.24th September.308.3Apparently the writer has omitted a word or more here.308.4Omitted inMS.482JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON310.1To the right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, John Paston, Esquyer.1461SEPT. 24Rightreverent and wurchepfull sir, I recomand me to your gode maystershep, prayng you to wete that I was at Blakkes, and spake with his wiffe; and she seth he was not at hame this iij. weks,—he ridith up the countre to take accompts of balys [bailiffs],—and that this day sevennyght he shuld have satyn in Caystr by you up on accounts, and fro thens he shuld have redyn to Lynne, and that he shall be at home un Monday at nyght next comyng. Wherfor I have left my heraund with her. But she seth that he shall not mown comyn [be able to come] to you, for my Lady310.2have sent for hym in gret hast, bothyn be a letter and be a tokyn, to comyn to her as hastly as he may; notwithstandyng she shall do the herand to hym.As for Yelverton, I dede a gode fele to enquer of Yemmys Skynner whan the seid Yelverton shuld go to London. He seid not this sevynnyght. He cowde not tell what day till he had spokyn with his son. His sone shuld come to hym or his master shuld ridyn. I shall enquer mor at Walsyngham. And for Godds love be not to longe fro London, for men seyn ther, as I have be [told], that my Lord of Glowcetir310.3shuld have Cayster, and ther is gret noyse of this revell that was don in Suffolk be Yelverton and Jeney; and your wele willers thynkyn that if thei myght prevayle in this, thei wold attempt you in other. But seas ther pore and malyce, and preserveyou from all evill. And at the reverence of God lete sum interposicion go a twix you and my mastres your moder or ye go to London, and all that ye do shall spede the better; for she is set on gret malyce, and every man that she spekith with knowith her hert, and it is like to be a fowle noyse [over] all the countre with aught it be sone sesid.Also, sir, it is told me that my Lord of Norfolk is comyn to Framlyngham, and that ye be gretly comendyd in his howshold. Therfor it wer wele do, me semyth, that ye spake with hym. The Holy Trynyte kepe you.Wretyn at Norwich, the Thursday next after Sent Mathewe.Your pore prest,James Gloys.310.1[From Fenn, iv. 58.] On the back of this letter is the following memorandum in a contemporaneous hand:— ‘De Ric’o Calle pro ordio (i.e.hordeo) ibidem pro ij. annis terminatis ad Mic’ anno primo regni Regis E. iiij., xxvjs.viijd.’ This shows that the letter itself could not have been written later than 1461, and as there was no ‘Lord of Gloucester’ before that year, it could not have been earlier.310.2Alice, Duchess of Suffolk.310.3Richard, the King’s brother, afterwards RichardIII.483HENRY WYNDESORE TO JOHN PASTON311.1To my full worshipfull, speciall gode maister, John Paston, Squyer, abidyng at Norwich.1461OCT. 4Rightworshipfull sir, and some tyme my moost speciall gode master, I recommaunde me unto your gode maistership, with all my pour service, if it may in any wise suffice; and farthermore, sir, I beseche you, nowe beyng in your countre, where ye may deily call unto you my maister Sir Thomas Howys, ones to remembre my pour mater, and by your discretions to take such a direction theryn, and so to conclude, as may be to your discharge and to my furtherance, accordyng to the will of hym that is passed unto Gode, whose saull I pray Jesu pardone! for truly, sir, ther was in hym no faute, but in me onely; yf it be not as I have remembred your maistership affore thy[s] tyme. For truly, sir, I der say I shuld have had as speciall and as gode a maister of you, as any pour man, as I am, withyn England shuld have hadd of a worshipfull man, as ye ar, yf ye had never medulled the godes of my maister F., and as moche ye wold have done, and labored fore me, in myright, if it hadde byn in the handes of any oder man than of your self anely. But, I truste in Gode, at your next comyng to have an answere, such as I shalbe content with. And yf it may be so, I am and shalbe your servaunt in that I can or may, that knoith our Lord Jesu, whom I besech save and sende you a gode ende in all your maters, to your pleiser and worship everlastyng. Amen. Writton at London, iiijtodie Octobris.As fore tidyngs, the Kyng wolbe at London withyn iij. deies next comyng; and all the castelles and holdes in South Wales, and in North Wales, ar gyfen and yelden up into the Kynges hand. And the Duc of Excestre312.1and th’erle of Pembrok312.2ar floon and taken the mounteyns, and dyvers Lordes with gret puissans ar after them; and the moost part of gentilmen and men of worship ar comen yn to the Kyng, and have grace, of all Wales.The Duc of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert Whityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they stand strete under arest; and as merchauntes that ar comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley, and the Dean of Seynt Severyens, have abiden at Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Tresorer of Cales, with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo, at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.Item, I send unto you a copy of a letter that was taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford and Whytyngham.Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland in all hast of Lordes.At your comaundement, and Servaunt,Henry Wyndesore.
293.1[From Fenn, iv. 30.] The date of this letter is certain, as it refers to the murder of Thomas Denys.293.2Seevol. ii. p. 161, Note 3.
293.1[From Fenn, iv. 30.] The date of this letter is certain, as it refers to the murder of Thomas Denys.
293.2Seevol. ii. p. 161, Note 3.
Pro Johanne Paston.
1461JULY 27
Rexomnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Nos indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Hows clerico in septingentis marcis legalis monetæ regni nostri Angliæ eisdem Johanni et Thomæ solvendis juxta formam cujusdam billæ manu nostra signatæ cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba:—
Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be the assent of oure trusty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of man and woman garnysshed with a ruby, a dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght, for CCCC. xxxlvijli.; and also an obligacion wherby oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff in an C. marc; for which we grauntand promitt in the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows, clerk, or to her assignez, D.CC. mark of lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is to sey; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng after the date of thys bille CC. mark, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys thanne next folowyng. And also we graunte that the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. And if it fortune that the same John and Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that payment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill with oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our] reign.
Nos solutionem summæ illius præfatis Johanni et Thomæ fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, concessimus et per præsentes concedimus eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows septingentas marcas monetæ prædictæ percipiendas modo et forma subsequentibus, videlicet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de primis denariis provenientibus et crescentibus de feodi firma civitatis nostræ Norwici et de omnibus aliis firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem civitate provenientibus per manus majoris, custodis, vicecomitum, civium seu ballivorum ejusdem civitatis pro tempore existentium aut aliorum receptorum, firmariorum seu appruatorum eorundem feodi firmarum, exituum, proficuorum et reventionum dictæ civitatis pro tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus nostris Norff’ et Suff’ provenientibus per manus vicecomitum eorumdem comitatuum pro tempore existentium quousque septingentæ marcæ eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows plenarie persolutæ fuerint. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xxvij. die Julii.Per ipsum Regem oretenus.
294.1[FromPatent Roll, 1 Edw.IV., Part 3, No. 13.]
To maister John Paston Esquyer in hast.
1461AUG. 1 (?)
Pleaseyour maistership wete that Danyell of Grayes In enfourmed me that Kyng of Dounham whiche slewe Thomas Denys is arested and in hold at Wysbyche and had ben delyvered nor had Fraunceys Costard a taken suerte of pees of hym; and so he is kept in by non other meane but al onely by suerte of pees. And as I felt by the said Danyell if he be craftyly handeled he woll accuse many other; but Danyell is loth to name hem, but I suppose he ment by Twyer and yet other mo, right sufficient, and kalled of substans. Item, Haydon hath payed ccccc. marks and is delivered. Item it is talked the parlement schal be proroged tyl the iiij. day of Novembre and the kyng wol in to Scotland in al hast. Wretyn in hast uppon the day of the Advencion.296.2—Youris,Thomas Plaiter.
296.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 181.] The year in which this letter was written is certain, not only from the reference to the murder of Thomas Denys, which was in July 1461, but also from the mention of the prorogation of Parliament to the 4th of November.296.2Probably meaning the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (1st August).
296.1[Add.MS.34,888, f. 181.] The year in which this letter was written is certain, not only from the reference to the murder of Thomas Denys, which was in July 1461, but also from the mention of the prorogation of Parliament to the 4th of November.
296.2Probably meaning the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (1st August).
To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle.
1461AUG. 1
First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid tooccupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the lond may be undirstand.
ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they departe.
iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.
iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng,and the peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe [satisfaction] to the pore peple.
v. Item, that Berney and Richard Wright geve suche folkys warnyng as wyll compleyne to be redy with her billes if thei list to have any remedy.
vj. Item, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton may at Aylesham be remembyrd.
vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham, that ye fayle not, but assay and do yowr devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals. Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I wold he shuld assay, or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton were boren in hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and first founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the bille and where he had it.298.1
viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content for Midsomer term.
ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton, in on of the canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the spruse chest. Ric. Calle knowith it well, and ther is a ded of feffement and a letter of atorne mad of the seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner, Ric. Calle, and John Russe. I wold a new dede and letter of atorne were mad owth theroff be the feffees of the same laund to Thome Grene,298.2Thome Playter, the parson of Heylisdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,298.3Johanni Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it be selid at the next shire; for than I suppose the seyd feffes will be ther if it may not be don er that tyme. I wold have theseyd dedis leyd in a box, both old and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at Stratton, that whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it ther, and mak seson [seisin] and stat to be take whil I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.
296.3[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a draft which is partly in John Paston’s own hand. The contents clearly refer to, first, the Norfolk election of 1461, which it was proposed to confirm by a new meeting of the electors at the shire-house; and secondly, the necessity of electing a new coroner after the murder of Thomas Denys. The date is therefore certain.298.1Between this and the next paragraph is the following sentence crossed out:— ‘Item, I send yow a writ direct to the Meyer and Shreves of Norwich for to receyve of hem an C. [hundred] mark yerly for suche jowellys as the Kyng hath of me.’298.2This name is substituted for three others crossed out, viz. ‘John Grenefeld, Thomas Playter, Water Wrottisle, Squyer.’298.3Here occurs the name, ‘Christofere Grenacre,’ crossed out.
296.3[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a draft which is partly in John Paston’s own hand. The contents clearly refer to, first, the Norfolk election of 1461, which it was proposed to confirm by a new meeting of the electors at the shire-house; and secondly, the necessity of electing a new coroner after the murder of Thomas Denys. The date is therefore certain.
298.1Between this and the next paragraph is the following sentence crossed out:— ‘Item, I send yow a writ direct to the Meyer and Shreves of Norwich for to receyve of hem an C. [hundred] mark yerly for suche jowellys as the Kyng hath of me.’
298.2This name is substituted for three others crossed out, viz. ‘John Grenefeld, Thomas Playter, Water Wrottisle, Squyer.’
298.3Here occurs the name, ‘Christofere Grenacre,’ crossed out.
To my right worshypfull and reverent maistyr, John Paston, at Norwich.
1461AUG. 23
Ryghtworshypfull sir, and my right honourable maister, I recomaunde me louly to you. And plese youre maistirshyp to wete that my Maister Clement, youre brothyr, and Plater, wrot a letter to my mayster yore sone299.2yistirday, the tenure of whych was how ye were entretyd there. And as ye desyred me, so I enformyd hem the mater along, for they wist not of it til I told hem; and they wrete the more pleynerly inasmych as a worshypfull man rood the same day, and bare the letter to my seyd maister youre sone.
The Lord Bourgcher is with the Kynge, and my Lord Warwyk still in the North, &c.
Item, sir, thys day cam on John Waynflet from the Kyng streyt weye, and he is of myn aqueyntaunce; and he teld me there was no voyse nor spekyng aboute the Kyng of that mater; and I teld hym all the mater along hou ye were intretyd, whych he wyll put in remembraunce in ony place that he cometh in in Suffolk or Esex as he goth homward, for he owyth no good wil to youre adversary. And the seyd Waynflet teld me that he knowyth for serteyn that the Kyng cometh not to Northefolk til he hathe been upon the Marchysof Walys, and so there is no serteynte of hyse comyng thys many dayez. He teld me he lefte the Kyng with a smal felashyp aboute hym.
And I enqueryd hym of the gyding of my maystyr yore sone, whiche he comendyd gretly, and seyd that he stood well inconseyt, and dayly shuld increse; and he was well in acqueyntaunce and be lovyd with jentilmen aboute the Kyng. But he seyd ther shal no thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym, for withoute he have mony in hyse purse, so as he may resonably spende among hem, ellys they wyll not sette by hem; and there be jentilmen sones of lesse reputacion that hath mony more lyberal x. tymez than he hath, and soo in that they seyd Waynflet seyd it were full necessary for you to remembre, &c.
As for tydyngs here bee noon newe, &c. I truste I shal brynge you a letter from my mayster your sone, or thanne I come, for whych I shal rather thanne fayle abyde on day the lenger. And Jesu have you, my right honourable maister, in Hyse mercyfull governaunce, and preserve you from adversyte. Wretyn at London, on Seynt Bertylmewys Evyn.
I can speke with noo man but that thynke the gydyng of youre adversary hath been in many causez ryght straunce, and as it is soposyd that he shal undyrstonde at the Parlament; but for Gods sake have men inow aboute yow, for ye undyrstonde is on manerly dysposecion.Your bedeman and servaunt,John Russe.
299.1[From Fenn, iv. 42.] EdwardIV.went into the Marches of Wales, as mentioned in this letter, in the autumn of 1461. He was at Gloucester on the 11th September, and at Ludlow on the 21st, as appears by the dates of his privy seals. The matter mentioned in the postscript is doubtless Howard’s contention with Paston in the shire-house at Norwich, to which allusion is made in the letter following.299.2John Paston, the eldest son.
299.1[From Fenn, iv. 42.] EdwardIV.went into the Marches of Wales, as mentioned in this letter, in the autumn of 1461. He was at Gloucester on the 11th September, and at Ludlow on the 21st, as appears by the dates of his privy seals. The matter mentioned in the postscript is doubtless Howard’s contention with Paston in the shire-house at Norwich, to which allusion is made in the letter following.
299.2John Paston, the eldest son.
To my rythg reverent and worchypfoll fader, John Paston, Esquyer, dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys letter delyvered in haste.
1461AUG. 23
Mostreverent and worschepfull fadyr, I rekomawnd me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to your good faderhood, besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly blyssyng. I beseche yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have laboryd dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond, to have mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of] Deddham and of the byll copye of the Corte Roll, everye mornyng ore he went to the Kyng, and often tymys inqueryd of hym and he had mevyd the Kyng in these matyers. He answeryd me naye, seyyng it was no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne spedd os I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe I thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in. Neverthe lesse I lawberyd to hym contynually, and prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr hym of it. I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that I had a man teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr sundry maters, and he teryid for no thyng but that I mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd matyers; othyr tyms besechyng hym to spede me in theys matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no defawte in me for remembryng in the seyd maters.
And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same mater, inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes therin; and he answeryd me that he hadde felte and mevyd the Kyng therin, rehersyng the Kyngys answer therin; how that, when he had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng hym to be yowr good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse and trewe part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in espesyal the rygth that ye have therto, he seyd he wold be your good Lord therin as he wold be to the porest man in Inglond. He wold hold with yowe in yowr rygth; and as for favor, he wyll nogth be under stand that he schal schewe favor mor to one man then to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.
And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when he mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche a bylle ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd sundreys of yowr contremen of worchypfull men, and the for he kepyd it styll. Never the lesse he seyd he schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he schuld have it.
Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he schuld so a’ remembred hys lord and master,302.1that I schuld au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often tyms absent, and therfor I have it nowthg yyt; when I kan gete it, I schall send it yowe, and of the Kyngs mowth, hys name that take it hym.
I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me. God send grace that he may do yow good servyse, that be extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have knowleche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her with me. I wold, savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were delyvered of hym, for he schalle never do yow profyte ner worchyp.
I suppose ye understand that the monye that I hadde of yowe att Londun maye not indur with me tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn, for I under stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn. Wher for I have sent to Londun to myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs.of Christofyr Hansom yowr servaunt, and sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt, and myn herneys with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene.
I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I kowd make non othyr cheysaunce [arrangement] but I schuld aboruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys, who I suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it a nothyr tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun in the stede of Pekoke.
My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for yowe as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners hys man telht me, seyy[n]g, ‘Yowr fadyr is myche be holdyng to my Lord, for he lovyth hym well.’ Bernners mevyd me ons, and seyd that ye must nedys do sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I seyd I wost well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre powar. And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe yowe and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd Dyrward, seyyng that ther is as myche be wern [between] my seyd Lord and the seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part.
It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a’ strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that ye hadde on at that tyme. Blyssyd be God that ye hadde it on. No mor I wryth to yower good faderhod at thys tym, but All myghty God have yowe in Hys kepyng, and sende yowe vyttorye of yowr elmyes [enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys end yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve.Be yowr servaunt and elder sone,John Paston.
301.1[From Fenn, iv. 46.] Allusion is made in this letter, as in the last, to EdwardIV.’s going into Wales in 1461. The writer appears to have been with the King, and expecting to accompany him on the journey. Edward was at Battle on the 21st August 1461, according to the dates of his privy seals.302.1Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex.
301.1[From Fenn, iv. 46.] Allusion is made in this letter, as in the last, to EdwardIV.’s going into Wales in 1461. The writer appears to have been with the King, and expecting to accompany him on the journey. Edward was at Battle on the 21st August 1461, according to the dates of his privy seals.
302.1Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex.
To hys rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, John Paston.
1461AUG. 25
Rythereverent and worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to yowr good broderhood, desieryng to herre of zour welfar and good prosperite, the gwyche I pray God encresse to His pleswr and zowr herts hesse [heart’s ease];certyfyyng zow that I have spok with John Rwsse, and Playter spok with him bothe, on Fryday be for Seynt Barthelmw. He tolde us of Howards gydyng, gwyche mad us rythe sory tyl we herde the conclusion that ze hadde non harme.
Also I understond by W. Pekok that my nevew hadde knowleche ther of also up on Saterday nexst be for Seynt Barthelmwe, in the Kyngs howse. Not with standyng, up on the same day Playter and I wryte letters on to him, rehersyng al the mater, for cause if ther wer ony questionys mevyd to hym ther of, that he xwlde telle the trowthe, in cas that the qwestions wer mevyd by ony worchypfwll man, and namyd my Lord Bowcher,304.1for my Lord Bowcher was with the Kyng at that tyme.
I fele by W. Pekok that my nevew is not zet verily aqweyntyd in the Kyngs howse, nor with the officers of the Kyngs howse he is not takyn as non of that howse; for the coks [cooks] be not charged to serve hym, nor the sewer304.2to gyve hym no dyche, for the sewer wyll not tak no men no dyschys till they be comawndyd by the cownterroller. Also he is not aqweyntyd with no body but with Weks;304.3and Weks ad told hym that he wold bryng hym to the Kyng, but he hathe not zet do soo. Wherfor it were best for hym to tak hys leve and cum hom, til ze hadd spok with swm body to helpe hym forthe, for he is not bold y now to put forthe hym selfe. But than I consyderyd that if he xwld now cum hom, the Kyng wold thyng [think] that wan he xwld doo hym ony servie som wer, that than ze wold have hym hom, the qwyche xwld cause hym not to be hadde in favor; and also men wold thynke that he wer put owte of servic. Also W. Pekok tellythe me that his mony is spent, and not ryotesly, but wysly and discretly, for the costs is gretter in the Kyngs howse qwen he rydythe than ze wend it hadde be, as Wyllam Pekok can tell zow; and therof wee must gett hym jCs.at the lest, as by Wyllam Pekoks seyyng, and zetthat will be to lytill, and I wot well we kan not get xld.of Christifyr Hanswm. So I xall be fayn to lend it hym of myn owne silver. If I knew verily zour entent wer that he xwld cum hom, I wold send hym non. Ther I wyll doo as me thynkithe ze xwld be best plesyd, and that me thynkythe is to send him the silver. Ther for I pray zow hastely as ze may send me azen v. mark, and the remnawnte, I trow, I xall get up on Christofir Hanswm and Lwket. I pray zow send me it as hastely as ze may, for I xall leve my selfe rythe bare; and I pray zow send me a letter how ze woll that he xull be demenyd. Wrytyn on Twsday after Seynt Barthelmwe, &c. Christus vos conservet!Clement Paston.
303.1[From Fenn, iv. 52.] The references to Howard’s conduct, and to John Paston the son being with the King, prove this letter to be of the year 1461. Compare the last paragraph of the letter immediately preceding with the first of this.304.1Henry, Viscount Bourchier, who had been created Earl of Essex on the 30th June preceding. The writer had forgotten his new dignity.304.2An officer who had the ordering of the dishes, etc.304.3John Wykes was an usher of the King’s chamber, and a friend and cousin of J. Paston’s.—F.
303.1[From Fenn, iv. 52.] The references to Howard’s conduct, and to John Paston the son being with the King, prove this letter to be of the year 1461. Compare the last paragraph of the letter immediately preceding with the first of this.
304.1Henry, Viscount Bourchier, who had been created Earl of Essex on the 30th June preceding. The writer had forgotten his new dignity.
304.2An officer who had the ordering of the dishes, etc.
304.3John Wykes was an usher of the King’s chamber, and a friend and cousin of J. Paston’s.—F.
To myn welbeloved frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Blofeld.
1461AUG. 28
Welbelovedfrende, I grete you well. And for as muche as I understonde that William Wurcester, late the servant unto Sir John Fastolf, Knyth, whois soule God assoyle, ys not had in favour ne trust with my right welbeloved frende, John Paston, nether with you, as he seyth, namely in such maters and causes as concerneth the wylle and testament of the said Sir John Fastolf; and as I am informed the said William purposeth hym to go into his cuntre, for the whiche cause he hath desired me to wryte unto you that ye wolde ben a special good frend unto hym, for his said mastris sake, to have alle suche things as reason and consciens requireth, and that ye wolde be meane unto Paston for hym in this mater to schewe hym the more favour at thys tyme for this my writyng in doyng of eny truble to hym, trusting that he wole demeane hym in suche wyse that he shalhave no cause unto hym, but to be his good master, as he seyth. And yf ther be eny thing that I can do for you, I wole be right glad to do it, and that knoweth Almyghty God, whiche have you in his keping. Wretin at Grenewyche, the xxviijthday of August.J. Beauchamp.
305.1[From Fenn, iv. 96.] This letter was probably written in the year 1461, if not in the year preceding. The disputes about Fastolf’s will came before the Spiritual Court in the year 1465; but at the date of this letter they could not have proceeded very far.
A la Reyne D’Engleterre[en]Escote.
1461AUG. 30
Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles306.2deth, whom God assoyll, and howe we sta[n]de arest [arrested], and doo yet; but on Tuysday next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn.306.3His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,306.4and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Canse, and Monsieur de la Mot.
Ma dam[, ferth [fear] you not, but be of gode comfort,and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,307.1by the See, till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed, Th’erll of March307.2is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and to send you that your Highnes desireth. Writen at Depe the xxxtidey of August.Your true Subgettes and Liege men.Hungerford.Whityngham.
At the bottom of the Copy of the Letter is added:—
These ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland with the Quene. The Kyng Herry is at Kirkhowbre with iiij. men and a childe.
Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.
The Lord Roos and his son.
John Ormond.William Taylboys.Sir John Fortescu.Sir Thomas Fyndern.Waynesford of London.Thomas Thompson of Guynes.Thomas Brampton of Guynes.John Audeley of Guynes.Langheyn of Irland.Thomas Philip of G[i]ppeswich.Sir Edmund Hampden.Sir Henry Roos.John Courteney.Myrfyn of Kent.Dauson.Thomas Burnby.Borret of Sussex.Sir John Welpdalle.Mr. Roger Clerk, of London.John Retford, late Coubitt.Giles Senctlowe.John Hawt.
John Ormond.
William Taylboys.
Sir John Fortescu.
Sir Thomas Fyndern.
Waynesford of London.
Thomas Thompson of Guynes.
Thomas Brampton of Guynes.
John Audeley of Guynes.
Langheyn of Irland.
Thomas Philip of G[i]ppeswich.
Sir Edmund Hampden.
Sir Henry Roos.
John Courteney.
Myrfyn of Kent.
Dauson.
Thomas Burnby.
Borret of Sussex.
Sir John Welpdalle.
Mr. Roger Clerk, of London.
John Retford, late Coubitt.
Giles Senctlowe.
John Hawt.
306.1[From Fenn, i. 246.] That this letter was written in the year 1461 is sufficiently evident from its contents. TheMS.from which it was printed by Fenn was a copy in the handwriting of Henry Windsor, and was manifestly the enclosure referred to in his letterNo. 483. It bore the same paper-mark as that letter.306.2CharlesVII.of France. He died on the 22nd July 1461.306.3LewisXI., son of CharlesVII.306.4Arques, in Normandy, south of Dieppe.307.1Edward, son of HenryVI.307.2EdwardIV., whom the Lancastrians did not yet recognise as king.
306.1[From Fenn, i. 246.] That this letter was written in the year 1461 is sufficiently evident from its contents. TheMS.from which it was printed by Fenn was a copy in the handwriting of Henry Windsor, and was manifestly the enclosure referred to in his letterNo. 483. It bore the same paper-mark as that letter.
306.2CharlesVII.of France. He died on the 22nd July 1461.
306.3LewisXI., son of CharlesVII.
306.4Arques, in Normandy, south of Dieppe.
307.1Edward, son of HenryVI.
307.2EdwardIV., whom the Lancastrians did not yet recognise as king.
To my right worshipfull master John Paston, the older, Squier.
1461SEPT. 6
Pleaseyour mastirship to wete that I have be at Cotton, and spoke with Edward Dale, and he told me that Yelverton and Jenney were there on Friday,308.2and a toke distresse of xxvj. or more bullokks of the seid Edwards in the Park, and drofe hem to a town therby; and a neyghbore there undirstandyng the bests were Edward Dalis,308.3and bond hym to pay the ferme, or ellis to bryng in the bests be a day. And whan the seid Edward undirstod the takyng of the seid bests he went to Yelverton and Jenney, and bond hym in an obligacon of xli., to pay hem his ferme at Mighelmes; whech I told hym was not well do, for I told hym ye had be abill to save hym harmeles. And because of discharge of his neyghbour he seid he myght non other wise do. Nevirthelesse as for mony thei get none of hym redely, ner of the tenaunts nowthyr, as he can thynk yet. The seid Yelverton dyned on Friday at Cotton, and there chargid the tenaunts thei shuld pay no mony but to hym, and hath flaterid hem, and seith thei shall be restorid ayen of such wrongs as thei have had be Sir Philip Wentworth and other for Master Fastolff; and because of such tales, your tenaunts owe hym the bettir will. And I purposid to have gon to Cotton and spoke with the tenaunts, and Edward Dale told me he supposid thei wold be this day at Nakton. And because [I desired]308.4to speke with hem as ye comaundid me, I terid not but rod to Ipwich to my bed, and there at the Sonne was the seid Yelverton and Jenney and Thomas Fastolff; and myn ost told me, that the same aftirnone thei had be at Nakton, but what thei ded there I can not telle, and whan I was undirstand your man, Hogon, Jenneys man, askyd suerte of pes of me; and Jenney sent for an officer to have hed me to prison; and so myn ost undirtoke for me that nyght. And this day in the mornyng I wente to Sen Lauerauns Chirche; and there I spak to hem and told hem ye merveylid that thei wold take any distresse or warne any of your tenaunts that thei shuld pay yow no mony. And Yelverton seid ye had take a distresse falsly and ontrewly of hym that ought yow no mony ner hem nowther. And he seid he was infeffid as well as ye; and as for that I told hym he wost odre [knew the contrary], and thow he were it was but your use, and so I told hym that men were infeffid in his lond, and that he shuld be servid the same withinne fewe dayes. And he seid he wost well ye were not infeffid in his lond, and if ye toke upon yow to make any trobill in his lond ye shall repente it. And also he seid that he wold do in like wise in alle maners that were Sir John Fastolffs in Norfolk as thei have begonne, and other langage as I shall telle yow. And so I am with the gayler, with a clogge upon myn hele for suerte of the pees; wherefore please your mastirship to send me your avise.
Item, John Andrews was with hem at Cotton, and thei have set a man of the seid Andrews to kepe the plase.
Item, Wymondham, Debenham and Tympirle come to Yelverton this day at masse and speke with hym; and I speke to Tymperle in your name that he wold not comforte ner be with hem ayein in this mater; and he seid he undirstod no such thyng, ner it was not his comyng hedir. Wretyn at Ipwych the Sonday next before the Nativite of Owr Lady.Yowr servaunt,John Pampyng.
The back is covered with some rough memoranda in Richard Calle’s hand, of moneys received at different times of year by Richard Charlys, Thomas Howys, William Berton, baker, of Southwark, Ralph Lovel, John Prentyng, Richard Coomber, and John de Dorylot. Some of these payments are made through Dawbeney, John Paston, junior, and John Paston, senior (per manus Johannis Paston Senioris).
308.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] In the letter of James Gloys, which follows (No. 482), will be found an allusion to a recent ‘revel done in Suffolk’ by Yelverton and Jenney. That the affair alluded to was the same which is described in this letter will appear beyond doubt if the reader will refer to Letter 487.308.24th September.308.3Apparently the writer has omitted a word or more here.308.4Omitted inMS.
308.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] In the letter of James Gloys, which follows (No. 482), will be found an allusion to a recent ‘revel done in Suffolk’ by Yelverton and Jenney. That the affair alluded to was the same which is described in this letter will appear beyond doubt if the reader will refer to Letter 487.
308.24th September.
308.3Apparently the writer has omitted a word or more here.
308.4Omitted inMS.
To the right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, John Paston, Esquyer.
1461SEPT. 24
Rightreverent and wurchepfull sir, I recomand me to your gode maystershep, prayng you to wete that I was at Blakkes, and spake with his wiffe; and she seth he was not at hame this iij. weks,—he ridith up the countre to take accompts of balys [bailiffs],—and that this day sevennyght he shuld have satyn in Caystr by you up on accounts, and fro thens he shuld have redyn to Lynne, and that he shall be at home un Monday at nyght next comyng. Wherfor I have left my heraund with her. But she seth that he shall not mown comyn [be able to come] to you, for my Lady310.2have sent for hym in gret hast, bothyn be a letter and be a tokyn, to comyn to her as hastly as he may; notwithstandyng she shall do the herand to hym.
As for Yelverton, I dede a gode fele to enquer of Yemmys Skynner whan the seid Yelverton shuld go to London. He seid not this sevynnyght. He cowde not tell what day till he had spokyn with his son. His sone shuld come to hym or his master shuld ridyn. I shall enquer mor at Walsyngham. And for Godds love be not to longe fro London, for men seyn ther, as I have be [told], that my Lord of Glowcetir310.3shuld have Cayster, and ther is gret noyse of this revell that was don in Suffolk be Yelverton and Jeney; and your wele willers thynkyn that if thei myght prevayle in this, thei wold attempt you in other. But seas ther pore and malyce, and preserveyou from all evill. And at the reverence of God lete sum interposicion go a twix you and my mastres your moder or ye go to London, and all that ye do shall spede the better; for she is set on gret malyce, and every man that she spekith with knowith her hert, and it is like to be a fowle noyse [over] all the countre with aught it be sone sesid.
Also, sir, it is told me that my Lord of Norfolk is comyn to Framlyngham, and that ye be gretly comendyd in his howshold. Therfor it wer wele do, me semyth, that ye spake with hym. The Holy Trynyte kepe you.
Wretyn at Norwich, the Thursday next after Sent Mathewe.Your pore prest,James Gloys.
310.1[From Fenn, iv. 58.] On the back of this letter is the following memorandum in a contemporaneous hand:— ‘De Ric’o Calle pro ordio (i.e.hordeo) ibidem pro ij. annis terminatis ad Mic’ anno primo regni Regis E. iiij., xxvjs.viijd.’ This shows that the letter itself could not have been written later than 1461, and as there was no ‘Lord of Gloucester’ before that year, it could not have been earlier.310.2Alice, Duchess of Suffolk.310.3Richard, the King’s brother, afterwards RichardIII.
310.1[From Fenn, iv. 58.] On the back of this letter is the following memorandum in a contemporaneous hand:— ‘De Ric’o Calle pro ordio (i.e.hordeo) ibidem pro ij. annis terminatis ad Mic’ anno primo regni Regis E. iiij., xxvjs.viijd.’ This shows that the letter itself could not have been written later than 1461, and as there was no ‘Lord of Gloucester’ before that year, it could not have been earlier.
310.2Alice, Duchess of Suffolk.
310.3Richard, the King’s brother, afterwards RichardIII.
To my full worshipfull, speciall gode maister, John Paston, Squyer, abidyng at Norwich.
1461OCT. 4
Rightworshipfull sir, and some tyme my moost speciall gode master, I recommaunde me unto your gode maistership, with all my pour service, if it may in any wise suffice; and farthermore, sir, I beseche you, nowe beyng in your countre, where ye may deily call unto you my maister Sir Thomas Howys, ones to remembre my pour mater, and by your discretions to take such a direction theryn, and so to conclude, as may be to your discharge and to my furtherance, accordyng to the will of hym that is passed unto Gode, whose saull I pray Jesu pardone! for truly, sir, ther was in hym no faute, but in me onely; yf it be not as I have remembred your maistership affore thy[s] tyme. For truly, sir, I der say I shuld have had as speciall and as gode a maister of you, as any pour man, as I am, withyn England shuld have hadd of a worshipfull man, as ye ar, yf ye had never medulled the godes of my maister F., and as moche ye wold have done, and labored fore me, in myright, if it hadde byn in the handes of any oder man than of your self anely. But, I truste in Gode, at your next comyng to have an answere, such as I shalbe content with. And yf it may be so, I am and shalbe your servaunt in that I can or may, that knoith our Lord Jesu, whom I besech save and sende you a gode ende in all your maters, to your pleiser and worship everlastyng. Amen. Writton at London, iiijtodie Octobris.
As fore tidyngs, the Kyng wolbe at London withyn iij. deies next comyng; and all the castelles and holdes in South Wales, and in North Wales, ar gyfen and yelden up into the Kynges hand. And the Duc of Excestre312.1and th’erle of Pembrok312.2ar floon and taken the mounteyns, and dyvers Lordes with gret puissans ar after them; and the moost part of gentilmen and men of worship ar comen yn to the Kyng, and have grace, of all Wales.
The Duc of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert Whityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they stand strete under arest; and as merchauntes that ar comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley, and the Dean of Seynt Severyens, have abiden at Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Tresorer of Cales, with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo, at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.
Item, I send unto you a copy of a letter that was taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford and Whytyngham.
Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland in all hast of Lordes.At your comaundement, and Servaunt,Henry Wyndesore.