17.1[From Fenn, iii. 150.] The contents of this letter clearly refer to the matter alluded to in the postscript of the preceding letter of Margaret Paston, so that the date must be the same.17.228th December.17.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.17.4Spurrier Row, as I am informed by Mr. L’Estrange, was what is now called London Street.17.5John Berney of Witchingham.499RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON18.1To my moost reverent and wurshipfful mastre, my Master John Paston of the Enner Temple, this be delyvered.Plesith your maystership to undrestande that as for the ferme that Cheseman had in Boyton, that is to sey, xl. acre lond erable, j. medwe, and other smale parcell, payng yerly for it iiijli., weche I can not lete the xl. acre lond abowe xl. comb barly or xls., and ye to bere al charges of the reparaucion and fense aboute the place, weche shulde be gret cost. The lond is so out of tylthe that a nedes [uneath,i.e.scarcely] any man wol geve any thyng for it. Ther can no man lete it to the walwe that it was lete before, and that I reporte me to my master, Sir Thomas Howys, not be gret gold. Wherfore I wol not do therin unto the tyme that I have answere from your mastership, weche I beseche you it may be hast. And as for Spitlynges, I have lete som of the lond in smale parcell, because I cowde gete no fermor for it. And as for Sir T. H., in good feythe I fynde [him] weele disposed in all thynges, excepte for Sir W. Chamberleyn for Rees in Stratton. And so the blissid Trinite preserve and kepe you from all adversite. Wrete at Blofeld, the Thorsday next after Hallowmesday.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.18.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain. Its contents are mere matter of business, and as relating to the same farm mentioned in the last may be supposed to belong to the same year, especially as in the last Calle mentions having written to Paston on the subject ‘at Hallowmass.’ There is, however, a discrepancy in the value assigned for the farm.500THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON19.1To John Paston, the older, in hast, and if he be not at London, than to be delyvered to Clement Paston in hast.1461DEC.Lykeyour maisterchip wete that at the last cessyons Erpyngham hundred and other hundredys ther aboute were not warned, and the schreff excused hym be cause he cowde not knowe who was officer there. Item, Yelverton lete the pepoll understand that the Kyng wold have his lawes kept, and that he was dysplesed with the maner of ther gaderyng, and that he wold have it amendyd; for he conceyveth that the hole body of the shire is well dysposed and that the ille dysposed pepoll is but of a corner of the hole shire; and yet that ther mysdoyng growyth not of ther owyn dysposysyon but of the abbettement and steryng of sum ille dysposed persones whiche is understand and knowe to the Kynges hygthnesse. Item, he lete hem wete that the Kyng had commandyd hym to sey if ther were any man, pore or ryche, that had cause to complayne of any person that he schuld put up his bylle to the shref and hym, and they schuld set a reule be twyx hem; and if he wold not abyde ther reule they schuld delyver the sayd bylle of compleynt to the Kynges hignesse, and he schuld set the rewle and suche dyreccion that the party compleynaunt or defendaunt schuld be punysshed for his dysobeysauns of the said rewle if the case requyred; and also more over, if ther were ony person that put up ony suche bylle, and it mygth apere to them by ther examinacion or other wyse fals or untrewe, or elles be cause of malyce, that than suche compleynaunts schuld sharpely be punysshed. And thanwhan he had sayd this and moche more, in dyscoragyng to the pepoll to put bylles, as after my conseyt, he reported hym to the schref ther present, that the Kyng thus comanded hem thus to sey, desyreng the said schref if ony thyng of the Kyngs comaunded were be hynd unspoken by hym self that he wold remembre and helpe forthe to telle it. And than the schref said, lyke as he rehersed the Kyng comanded, and more over that the Kyng named ij. men, by name Tudenham and Haydon, and if ony man wold put bylles a yens them, he said in feythfull wyse he wold help hem, and ferther the mater to the Kyng higthnesse. And for his demenyng ther every man thougth hym rigth wel dysposed; but Yelverton had for yeten to expresse the names of Tudham and Haydon.Item, the schref desyred the jentylmen to go with [him] to Felbryg Halle, and specially he requyred Mr. John P., the younger; but he cowde no pepoll gete, and so he cam not there. Item, there was a bylle set up on the shirehous dore, and the content ther of was but of the favour to you ward, Barney, Knyvet and Felbrygge, and of the hatered of other; it was but of sum lewde dysposed person it semeth. Item, sir, at the last shire was moche pepoll and ille governed for they wold not be rewled be no body, they had almost a slayne the underschref, for they told hym wryttes of eleccion was sent doun and he kept it on syde to be gyle hem, and to make hem labour ayen, and ther for he that kepyth it is to blame, me thynketh. Item, sir, please you to telle Mr. Clement, we have goten a reles of al maner accions and appelles of Margret Clerk, made to Gymmyngham, on of the pryncypalles, and that he woll inquyre wheder it be suffycyant for alle, and send me word, and weder it dyvers fro trespas and dette, wher damages is to be recovered, for in this appell is no damages to be recovered, but only an execucion, whiche non of them may be contributory to other execucion as is in other cases. Nevertheles, I hope it be sufficiant for all, for sche is in the cas to have the lyf in stede of damages.YourThomas Pl.19.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The mention of Tuddenham and Heyden in this letter proves that it cannot be of later date than the year 1461, as the former was executed in February 1462. At the same time the reference to John Paston, Junior, could not be much earlier, and the message from the King to the people of Norfolk certainly could not have come from HenryVI.only a year or two before. The date must therefore be 1461 precisely.501ANONYMOUS TO MARGARET PASTON21.1To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston.1461(?)I recomawndeme to your good mastreschep, besechyng yow in the weye of charyte, and as I maye be your bedeman and servaunt, that ye wyll lete me have wetyng hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is seyd that ther xal be mych more pepyll than was the last; and also if I be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in the town, I xall be takyn owte. Also, mastres, that my Maystyr Radclyffs xal take all my catell and all other pore good that I have, and so but I maye have helpe of my mayster and of yow, I am but lost. Also my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my ryght gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in all thes, and I xal content the costs as ye xall be plesyd, be the grace of God, hoo ever preserve yow, &c.Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuall help, but I must selle or lete to ferme all that I have.Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a doctour of fesyk. If ye wyll ony thyng with hym, he xal abyde this daye and to morwe. He is ryght a konnyng man and gentyll.21.1[From Fenn, iv. 104.] This letter appears to have been addressed to Margaret Paston at a period when her husband was a man of some influence, and perhaps the year 1461 is not far from the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about the same time asNo. 500, which also refers to a meeting at the shire or county court.502ELIZABETH MUNDEFORD TO JOHN PASTON22.1To my right worchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delyvered, &c.1461-6Rightworchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, I recomand me un to you with all myn herte. Plece it you to undyrstande the grete nessessyte of my wrytyng to you is this, that ther was made an exchaunge be the graunsyre of my hosbonds Mundeford, un hose sowle God have mercy, of the maner of Gressenale with the aunsetrys of Rows for the maner of Estlexham, the qwych is parte of my juntor, and my grauntfadyr Mundeford recoweryd the said maner of Estlexham be assyze22.2a geyne the aunsetrys of Rows, and so madyt clere; and nowe have Edmund Rows22.3claymyt the seyd maner of Estlexham be the verteu of a tayle [an entail], and hathe takyn possesseon, and made a feffement to my Lord of Warewyke,22.4and Water Gorge,22.5and to Curde.22.6And un Fryday be for Seynt Walentyne is Day Water Gorge and Curde enteryd and toke possessyon for my seyd Lord of Warewyke, and so bothe the forseyd manerys were ontayled, and at the tyme of the exchaunge made, the tayles and evydens of bothe for seyd manerys were delyvered un to the partyes indeferently be the avyse of men lernyd. Qwerfor I beshech you that it plese you to take the grete labor upon you toinforme my Lordys good Lordchep of the trowthe in the forme a bowyn wreten, and that it plese you to undyrstand qwedyr that my Lord wyll a byde be the feffment made to hym or not; and that it shall plese my Lord that I may have right as lawe requeryt, for I trust to God be soche tyme as my Lord shall be informyd of the trowthe be you, that hese Lordchip wyll not supportt the forseyd Rows a geyne my right. And if I hadde very undyrstandyng that my Lord would take no parte in the mater a bowe seyd, I would trust to Godds mersy, and to you, and other of my good fryndes, to have possession a geyne in right hasty tyme, beshechyng you to pardon me of my symple wrytyng, for hadde no leyser. Right worchipfull and my right good neveu, I beshech the Blyssed Trenyte have you in Hese gracyous kepyng.Wreten at Norwych in gret hast, the Tewysday aftyr Seynt Walentyne is Day.Youre ouyn,Elizabeth Mundeford.23.122.1[From Fenn, iv. 108.] The date of this letter must lie between the years 1461 and 1466. The writer’s husband, who is spoken of as dead, was put to death in June 1460, and John Paston, the person addressed, died in May 1466.22.2Assize is a writ directed to the sheriff of the county for recovery of the possession of things immovable, whereof yourself or ancestors have been dispossessed.—F.22.3Edmund Rous was second son of Henry Rous, Esq. of Dennington, in Suffolk, the ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.22.4Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.22.5Walter Gorges, Esq., married Mary, the daughter and heir of Sir William Oldhall, and was at this time Lord of the Manor of Oldhall, in Great Fransham. He died in 1466. His son and heir, Sir Edmund Gorges, afterwards married a daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, the first Duke of Norfolk of that family.—F.22.6John Curde was Lord of the Manor of Curde’s Hall, in Fransham.—F.23.1Elizabeth Mundeford was the widow of Osbert Mundeford, Esq. of Hockwold, in Norfolk, and was daughter of John Berney, Esq., by which means she was aunt to J. Paston.—F.503SIR ROBERT WILLIAMSON TO AGNES PASTON23.2To my right reverent mastras, Agnes Paston, be this lettre delyveryd in haste.1460-4Ryghwurchepful mastres, I recomaund me un to yow, thankyng yow of the gret chere that ze made me the last tyme that I was with zow. Mastres, in alle zour godys and ocupacyons that lyth in my simpil power to do in wurd, wil and dede, I have do my dylygens and my power therto, so I be savyd be fore God, and have owyn to your person ryght herty love; for the qwych I am ryght illeaqwyt, and it be as I understande yt; for it is do me to wete that I am swid with mor of my paryshchons for a reskuse makyng up on the offycers of the shrewys [sheriff], and I take God to record that it is wrongfully do on to us. And the gret fray that the [they] mad in the tyme of masse it ravyched my witts and mad me ful hevyly dysposyd. I pray Jesu gef hem grace to repent hem therof that the [they] that caused it may stand out of perel of soule.Maystras, at the reverens of God, and as evyr I may do servyce that may be plesyng on to yow, send me justyly wurd be the brynger of this bylle ho ze wil that I be gydyd; for it is told me that if I be take I may no other remedy havyn but streyth to prison. For the whiche I have sold away xxs.wurth of stuffe; and the reswd [residue] of my stuff, I have put it in swier hande, for trwly I wil not abyde the joparte of the swth,—I have levir to go as far as my fet may ber me. Nevir the less as ze komand me to do, so it be not to my gret hurt, I wil fulfille it. Nomor to zow at this tyme, but God send yow that grace that ze may kome to His blyss.Wreten at Bromholm in gret haste,Be yourSirRobert Willyamson.23.2[From Fenn, iii. 48.] The writer of this letter was Vicar of Paston from 1460 to 1464, and as he dates from Bromholm, which is in the immediate neighbourhood of Paston, we may presume that it was written during the time he held that benefice.504MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON24.1To my ryth worchepfull husbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.1462JAN. 7Rythworchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I sent yow a lettyr by my cosyn Barneys man of Wychyngham wyche was wretyn on Seynt Thomas Day in Crystmas,24.2and I had no tydyngys nor lettyr of yow sene the wek before Crystmas;wher of I mervayle sore. I fere me it is not well with yow be cawse ye came not home or sent er thys tyme. I hopyd verily ye schold have ben at home by Twelthe at the ferthest. I pray yow hertly that ye wole wychesave to send me word how ye do as hastly as ye may, for my hert schall nevyr be in ese tyll I have tydyngys fro yow. Pepyll of this contre begynyth to wax wyld, and it is seyd her that my Lord of Clarans and the Dwek of Suthfolk and serteyn jwgys with hem schold come downe and syt on syche pepyll as be noysyd ryotous in thys contre. And also it is seyd here, that there is retornyd a newe rescwe up on that that was do at the scher. I suppose swyche talkynge comyth of false schrewys that wold mak a rwmor in this contre. The pepyll seyth here that they had levyr go up hole to the Kynge and compleyne of siche false screwys as they have be wrongyd by a fore, than they schold be compleynyd of with owt cause and be hangyd at ther owne dorys. In good feyth men fere sore here of a comone rysyng but if [i.e.unless] a bettyr remedy may be had to a pese the pepyll in hast, and that ther be sent swyche downe to tak a rewyll as the pepyll hathe a fantsy in, that wole be indeferent. They love not in no wyse the Dwke of Sowthfolk nor hys modyr. They sey that all the tretourys and extorsyonerys of thys contre be meynteynyd by them and by syche as they get to them with her goodys, to that intent to meynten suche extorsyon style as hathe be do by suche as hathe had the rewyll undyr them be fore tyme. Men wene, and the Dwke of Sowthfolk come ther scholl be a schrewd reuell but if [unless] ther come odyr that be bettyr belovyd than he is here. The pepyll feryth hem myche the more to be hurt, because that ye and my cosyn Barney come not home; they sey they wot welle it is not well with yow and if it be not well with yow, they sey they wot well, they that wole do yow wronge wole sone do them wronge, and that makyth them all most mad. God for Hys holy mersy geve grace that ther may be set a good rewyll and a sad in this contre in hast, for I herd nevyr sey of so myche robry and manslawter in thys contre as is now within a lytyll tyme. And as for gadyryng of mony, I sey nevyr a werse seson, for Rychard Calle seyth he can getbut lytyll in substans of that is owyng, nowthyr of yowyr lyvelod nor of Fastolfys th’eyr. And John Paston seyth, they that may pay best they pay werst; they fare as thow they hopyd to have a newe werd [world]. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng and send us good tydyngys of yow.Yelverton is a good thredbare frend for yow and for odyr in thys contre, as it is told me.Wretyn in hast on the Thorsday nex aftyr Twelthe.By yowyrMargaret Paston.24.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The contents of this letter clearly show that it was written in January 1462, nine days afterNo. 497.24.2SeeNo. 497.505MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON26.11462JAN. 27Rythworchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that Perse was delyveryd owt [of] preson by the generall pardon that the Kynge hathe grantyd, whyche was opynly proclamyd in the Gyld Hall. A none as he was delyveryd he cam hedyr to me, God wote in an evyll plyte, and he desyiryd me wepyng that I wold be hys good mastres and to be mene to yow to be hys good mastyr, and swore sore that he was nevyr defawty in that ye have thowte hym defawty in. He seyd that if ther wer ony coyne in the cofyr that was at Wylliam Tavernerys it was ther withowt hys knowlage, for hys mastyr wold nevyr lat hym se what was in that cofyr, and he told me that the keyis wer sent to Thomas Holler26.2by mastyr John Smyth. What Holler leyd in or took owte he wot not as he sweryth. He offyrd me to be rewlyd as ye and I wold have hym, and if I wold comand hym, to go ageyn to preson, whedyr I wold to the Castyll or to the Gyld Hall, he wold obey my comandment. And seth that he came of hys owne fre wyll withowt ony comandment of ony man or desyir,I seyd I wold not send hym ageyn to preson, so that he wold abyde yowyr rewyll when ye came home. And so he is here with me and schall be tyll ye send me word how ye wole that I do with hym. Where fore, I pray yow that ye wole lete me have knowlage in hast how ye wole that I do with hym.Item, I have spok with John Dame and Playter for the lettyr testymonyall, and John Dame hathe promysyd to get it, and Playter schall bryng it to yow to London. Item, I have purveyd yow of a man that schall be here in Barsamys sted and ye wole, the wyche can bettyr cherysch yowyr wood, bothe in fellyng and fensyng there of than Barsam can; and he schall mak yow as many hyrdyllys as ye nede for yowyr fold, of yowyr owne wood at Drayton, and schall tak as lytyll to hys wagys as Barsam dothe; and he is holdyn a trew man. Item, Playter schall tell yow of a woman that compleynyd to the Dwk of Sowthefolk of yow, and the sey[d] Playter schall tell yow of the demenyng and answeryng of the scheryfe for yow, and also of the demenyng of the seyd Dwke, and of othir materys the wyche wer to longe mater to put in wryttyn. The pepyll of that kontre be ryth glad that the day yed [went] with yow on Monday as it ded. Ye wer nevyr so welcome in to Norfolk as ye schall be when ye come home, I trowe. And the blyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Wednysday next aftyr Seynt Augnet the Fyrst.By yowyr M. P.Item, Ric. Calle told me that he hathe sent you a answer of all erands that ye wold shuld be do to Sir Thomas Howes. Sir Thomas Howes cam nowther to me nor sent syn that he cam home from London.Will Worceter was at me in Cristemes at Heylysdon, and he told [me] that he spake with you dyvers tymys at London the last terme; and he told me that he hopyd that ye wolle be hys good master, and seyd he hopyd ye shuld have non other cause but for to be hys god maister. I hope and so do my moder and my cosyn Clere, that he wolle do well inowe, so that he be fayre fare with Dawbeney and Playter. Avise me to lete Peers go at large and to take a promys of hym tocom to me a mong unto your comyng hom, and in the mene while his demenyng may be knowyn and espyed in mo thyngs.26.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter relates to the prisoner Piers mentioned in Nos. 423, 424, and 426. He seems to have been delivered by a general pardon issued at the commencement of the reign of EdwardIV.The letter bears no address. It is endorsed, but in a much later hand:— ‘A lettre to J. Paston, Ar., from his wife.’26.2He was John Berney’s executor.506JOHN DOWBIGGING TO JOHN PASTON28.1To the ryght reverent and worship sir, John Paston, sum tyme Lord of Gresham, and now fermour therof, as hit is seide.Perysof Legh come to Lynne opon Cristynmesse Even in the fresshest wise, and there he dyned so as was; bot when my Lorde of Oxenforde herde hereof he with his feliship and suche as I and other your presoneres come rydyng unto Lynne, and even unto the Bysshop gaole where the seid Perys dyned with other of his feliship. My Lorde pulled hym oute of the seid gaole and made to kest hym opon an horse, and tyed an halter by his arme, and so ledde hym furth like hym selff. And even furthwith the seid Bysshop, the Mair, and other their feliship mette with my seide Lorde and your presoneres, and also the seide Perys tyed by an halter, the Bysshop havyng thies wordes unto my Lorde with his pillion28.2in his handes, ‘My Lordes, this is a presoner, ye may knowebyhis tepet and staff. What will ye do with hym?’ Therto my Lorde seide, ‘He is my presoner nowe.’ Wherto the Bysshop seid, ‘Where is youre warraunt or commission therto?’ My Lorde seide, ‘I have warraunt sufficiaunt to me.’ And thus they departed, the Mair and all the cominaltie of Lynne kepyng theire silence. Bot when we weren goon, and Perys of Legh fast in Rysyng Castell, then the yates of Lynne, by the Bysshop comaundement weren fast sperred [shut] and keped with men of armes. And then theBysshop and his squyers rebuked the Mair of Lynne and seid that he hade shamed both hym and his toun for ever, with muche other langage, &c.The Bysshop shulde have keped his Cristenmesse at Gaywode, bot yet he come not oute of Lynne. In faith, my Lorde dyd quyte hym als curageousely as ever I wist man do. The Bysshop come to the toun with lx. persones the same tyme, and made to sper the yates after hym, bot when we mette, ther bode not with hym over xij. persones atte the most, with his serjaunt of armes; whiche serjaunt was fayn to lay doun his mase; and so atte the same yates we come in we went oute, and no blode drawen, God be thanked.Yf ye will any thyng atte I may do, send me worde; hit shall be doon to my power, &c. Comaunde me to my maistresse your wyff, &c. And yf ye dar joperdie your suyrtie of C. marc I shall come and se you. And elles have me excused, for, &c.From your oune,John Douebiggyng.28.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently earlier in date than the last, and may perhaps have been written at the close of the year 1460, but as it refers to the same prisoner as the preceding No. we place it here for convenience. It is printed in the fifth volume of Fenn’s edition as a letter of HenryVII.’s time owing to a misreading of the address, which might easily convey the impression that it was directed to ‘Sir John Paston.’28.2The hat worn by a Doctor of Divinity.ye may knowe by his tepet and stafftext has “bv his” (misprint or damaged type)507RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON29.1To the ryght reverent and my mooste worschipful master, my Master John Paston, in the Inneer Tempyll.1462FEB. 1Plesith it your maisterschip to witte that I have been at Burnewyll in Nacton to receyve the rentes and fermys of the tenauntes. And I undrestande be them, and be Robert Goordon that Mastre Jenney whas there and helde a coorte on the Mondaye next aftre Tlwelthe, and warned the tenauntes that theyschulde pay no money to no man onto the tyme they had worde from hym, seyng that he whas on of the feffeys of the same maner, and that he whas feed with Sir John Fastolff, of weche fee he was be hynde for ij. yere; wherfore he desired the tenauntes that they schulde not be redy in payement onto the tyme they had word from hym, but that he myght be payed of his seide fee, lyke as the wylle of the deede was. Wherfore I can gete no money of them unto the tyme they have knowleche how it stond be twyx your maistership and Mr. Jenney; for withoute Jenney write to hem or come hom ward that wey, and have the tenauntes together and lete hem witte that ye ought to have the rentes and fermes of the seid maner, I can not see that ye be like to have but litell money there, withoute ye woll do distreyne throuout all the lordeschip. I have sette dayes to purvey but [their] money ayenst the first weke of cleene Lenton, and than they schul have an answere who shal receyve it. Wherfore that it please your maistership to remembre to speke to Mastre Jenney. The blissed Trinite preserve you and kepe you from all advercyte. Wreten at Yebbyshep30.1the furst daye of Februare.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.Item, the maner of Stratton shuld paye of rente xxvjs.viijd., weche the fermour seythe my mastresse Brandon is acorded with you. He is be hynde for certeine yeres, &c.29.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The manor of Burneviles in Nacton, near Ipswich, was part of the lands of Sir John Fastolf which Paston inherited by his will; but his claim was disputed by Jenney, one of the executors. As Jenney is here said to have complained that his fee was two years in arrear, we may presume that it was little over two years since Fastolf’s death when this letter was written. For further evidences of date compareNo. 494. It may also be observed that we find undoubted evidence that John Paston was residing in the Inner Temple six weeks later (seeNo. 511), whereas in the preceding year he was in Norfolk, where his brother Clement wrote to him news from London (No. 430).30.1Ipswich?508JOHN PASTON TO ——30.21462FEB. 9Righttrusty and welbeloved, I grete yow hartily well, and will ye wite that where hit is so, that Sir John Fastolf, whom God assoyle, with other, was sum tyme by Sir Herry Inglose enfeffed of trust of his maner offe Pykewurthe in Rutlande, the which made his wille, proved, that the seid maner sholde by solde by Robert Inglose and Edmunde Wychingham his executours, to whom the seid Sir John hathrelesed, as his dute was to do; now it is so that for John Browne31.1ther is shewed a dede under seall of armes berynge date byfore his reles made to the Duke of Norffoke, Henry Inglose and other, contrarie to the wille of the seid Sir Herry and the trust of the feoffement that the seid Sir John Fastolff was infeffed inne. And a letter of Attorney under the same seale of armes to yow, to deliver seison acordynge to the same feffement, to the gret disclaundre of the seid Sir John and all his, yef this be true. Wherfore I preie yow hertili that ye feithfully and truly rescribe to me in all the hast ye may what ye knowe in this mater such as ye wull stonde by with outen glose, and how ye can imagine that this crafte shulde be practised, and specially whether ye yourself delivered seison in Rutlond or noo. And this and what incedentes ye knowe, I preie yow by wrytinge certefie me in all hast, that I may be the more ripe to answer to this, to the wurship of the seid Sir John, that was your maister, so that thorowh your defaute your seid maisters soule ther for lie not in perell, but this disclaundre may be eesed and cesed as reson requireth, to the wurship of hym and all that longe to hym. And this I pray yow faile not offe as I truste yow. Wret at Londo[n] the ix. day of Februar.Yowr frend,Jon Paston.30.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] TheMS.is a rough draft signed by John Paston the eldest, and corrected in his hand. It seems to have been written on the cover of a letter addressed to himself; for on the back is this direction in another hand:— ‘To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston the eldest, Esquier, be this deliveryd in hast.’We have inserted this letter in the year 1462 as this was the first year after Fastolf’s death, when John Paston appears to have been residing in London in the beginning of February. The only other possible years are 1463, 1465, and 1466.31.1This name is substituted for ‘Herry Inglose,’ struck out.509SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON31.2To the ryght wurshipfull sir and meyster, myn Mayster John Paston, Squier.1462[FEB.]Ryghtworshipfull sire and mayster, I recomaunde me to yow. And please yow that the chirche of Drayton is or shal be resyngned in hast in to the Bysshopys hands by Sir John Bullok, desyryng yow hertly that ye lyke Imay have the presentacion of the next avoydaunce for a newew of myn, callyd Sir Reynold Spendlove, whiche I truste youre maystership wold agree to make in youre name and myn as was last, &c. And, sir, please yow also that I have hadde diverse communicacions with Worcestr sethe Crystmesse,32.1and I fele by hym otterly that he wole not appoynt in other fourme than to have the londs of Feyrechildes and other londes in Drayton to the sume of x. marc of yow proprely, by syde that that he desyreth of myn mayster, whom God assoyle, whiche mater I remytte to your noble discrecion.And as for answere of the bylles that I have, I have ben so sekelew seythe Crystmasse that I myght not yette don hem, but I shal in alle hast, wher inne ye may excuse yow by me if ye please tyl the next terme, at whiche tyme alle shal be aunswered, be Godds grace, who preserve yow and send yow th’ accomplyshement of youre desyres, &c.Item, sere, please youre maystership hit was leten me wete in ryght secrete wyse that a pyssaunce is redy to aryve in thre parties of this londe, by the meane of Kyng Herry and the Quene that wes, and by the Dewk Somercete and others, of vi.xx.m.l.[120,000] men; and here day, if wynde and weder hadde servyd theym, shuld a’ ben here sone upon Candelmasse; at Trente to London werdes thei shuld a’ ben by Candelmasse or sone after, one parte of theym, and another parte comyng from Walys, and the thredde fro Yernessey and Garnesseye. Wher fore it is weel don ye enforme myn Lord Warwyk, that he may speke to the Kyng that good provy[s]ion be hadde for withstandyng there malicyous purpose and evyl wylle, whiche God graunt we may our come theym; and so we shuld,I dought not, if we were alle on [one]. There ben many medelers, and they ben best cheryshed, whyche wold hurt moche if these come to, as God diffende, &c.T. Howys.31.2[From Fenn, iv. 68.] For evidence of the date of this letter, Fenn quotes the following extracts from the Institution Books in the Registry of the Bishop of Norwich:—‘Draiton‘Reg. xi. 124. 29 January 1460-1. Johannes Bullock ad præsentationem Joh’is Paston arm. et Tho. Howys capellani.‘Reg. xi. 131. 15 March 1461-2. Joh’es Flourdew ad præsentationem eorundem.’It thus appears that the living was resigned by John Bullock in 1461-2, and on the 15th March John Flourdew was presented to it, not the person here recommended by Howes.32.1This word is indicated by Fenn as indistinct in theMS.510MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON33.1To my ryth worchepfullhusbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.1462MARCHPlesythyow to wete that John Wellys and his brodyr told me thys nyth that the Kyng lay at Cambryge as yestyrsnyth to Sandwyche ward, for ther is gret dyvysyen be twyx the Lordys and the schypmen ther, that causyth hym to goo thedyr to se a remedye therfor.I thank God that John Paston yed non erst [went no earlier] forthe, for I trust to God all schall be do er he comyth. And it is told me that Syr John Howard is lek to lese hys hed.If it plese yow to send to the seyd Wellys, he schall send yow mor tydyngys than I may wryt at thys tyme. God have yow in Hys kepyng.Wretyn in hast at Thetford, at xj. of the clok in the nyth, the same day I departyd fro yow.I thank Pampyng of hys good wyll, and them that wer cause of changyng of my hors, for they ded me a bettyr torne than I wend they had do, and I schall aquyt them anothyr day, and I maye.By yorM. P.33.1[From Fenn, ii. 288.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that EdwardIV.was at Cambridge on the 2nd and 3rd March 1462, and this is probably the visit alluded to, although we do not find that the King went on to Sandwich afterwards.To my ryth worchepfull husbond, John Pastontext has “husbona” (italic “a” for “d”)511JOHN PASTON, THE ELDER, TO HIS FATHER34.1To myn ryth reverent and worschypfull fader, John Paston, beyng in the Inder Temple.1462MARCH 13Ryghtreverent and wyrshypfull fader, I recomand me un to you, be sychyng you of your blessyng and gode faderhode. Pleasyt it you to understond the grete expens that I have dayly travelyng with the Kyng, as the berour here of can enfourme you; and howe long that I am lyke to tary here in thys country or I may speke with you a gayn, and howe I am chargyd to have myn hors and harnys redy, and in hasty wyse, besykyng you to consyder theys causes, and so to remembr me that I may have suche thynges as I may do my mayster servys with and pleasur, trusting in God it schall be to your wyrshyp and to myn and vayll [avail]. In especiall I besyche you, that I may be sur where to have mony somwhat be fore Estern, other of you, or by myn uncle Clement, when nede ys. Of othir causes the berour hereof can enfourme you. No more to you at thys tyme, but God have you in Hys kepyng.Wryten at Stamford, the xiij. day of March.Be yowr sone and servant,John Paston, the Older.34.1[From Fenn, iv. 126.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that EdwardIV.was at Stamford, from the 9th to the 17th March, in the second year of his reign,i.e.in 1462. This letter belongs therefore to that year.512REPORT OF FRENCH PRISONERS35.1Memorandum. This is the confessyon of xvj. Frenshemen with the Mastyr, takyn at Sheryngam, the iij. wek of Lent.1462MARCHRightworshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you, and lete you wytte, that I have be at Shiryngham, and examyned the Frenshmen to the nombre of xvj. with the maister. And thei telle that the Duke of Somerset is in to Scotland; and thei sey the Lord Hungyrforthe was on Monday last passed afore Sheryngham in to Scotland ward, in a kervyle [carvel] of Depe, no gret power with hym, ne with the seid Duk neyther. And thei sey that the Duk of Burgoyn35.2is poysened, and not like to recovere. And as for powers to be gadered ayenst our weelfare; thei sey, there shulde come in to Seyne CC. gret forstages35.3owt of Spayne, from the Kyng there;35.4and CCC. shippes from the Duk of Bretayne35.5with the navy of Fraunce, but thei be not yet assembled, ne vitayll there purveyd, as thei sey, ne men. And the Kyng of Fraunce35.6is in to Spayne on pilgrymage with fewe hors as thei sey; what the purpose is thei can not telle certeyn, &c. In hast at Norwich.The Kyng of Frauns hath comitted the rewle of Bordews on to the marchaunds of the toun, and the browd35.7tha[t] be therin to be at ther wages; and like as Caleys is a Stapole of wolle here in England, so is that made staple of wyne.John Fermer, presoner, seyth, on [one] John Gylys, a clerk that was with the Erle of Oxforthe, wych was some tym in Kyng Herrys hows, was a prevy secretary with the Erle ofOxforthe; and if any wrytyng wer made by the seyd Erle, the seyd Gylys knew ther of in this gret matyeres.
17.1[From Fenn, iii. 150.] The contents of this letter clearly refer to the matter alluded to in the postscript of the preceding letter of Margaret Paston, so that the date must be the same.17.228th December.17.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.17.4Spurrier Row, as I am informed by Mr. L’Estrange, was what is now called London Street.17.5John Berney of Witchingham.499RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON18.1To my moost reverent and wurshipfful mastre, my Master John Paston of the Enner Temple, this be delyvered.Plesith your maystership to undrestande that as for the ferme that Cheseman had in Boyton, that is to sey, xl. acre lond erable, j. medwe, and other smale parcell, payng yerly for it iiijli., weche I can not lete the xl. acre lond abowe xl. comb barly or xls., and ye to bere al charges of the reparaucion and fense aboute the place, weche shulde be gret cost. The lond is so out of tylthe that a nedes [uneath,i.e.scarcely] any man wol geve any thyng for it. Ther can no man lete it to the walwe that it was lete before, and that I reporte me to my master, Sir Thomas Howys, not be gret gold. Wherfore I wol not do therin unto the tyme that I have answere from your mastership, weche I beseche you it may be hast. And as for Spitlynges, I have lete som of the lond in smale parcell, because I cowde gete no fermor for it. And as for Sir T. H., in good feythe I fynde [him] weele disposed in all thynges, excepte for Sir W. Chamberleyn for Rees in Stratton. And so the blissid Trinite preserve and kepe you from all adversite. Wrete at Blofeld, the Thorsday next after Hallowmesday.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.18.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain. Its contents are mere matter of business, and as relating to the same farm mentioned in the last may be supposed to belong to the same year, especially as in the last Calle mentions having written to Paston on the subject ‘at Hallowmass.’ There is, however, a discrepancy in the value assigned for the farm.500THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON19.1To John Paston, the older, in hast, and if he be not at London, than to be delyvered to Clement Paston in hast.1461DEC.Lykeyour maisterchip wete that at the last cessyons Erpyngham hundred and other hundredys ther aboute were not warned, and the schreff excused hym be cause he cowde not knowe who was officer there. Item, Yelverton lete the pepoll understand that the Kyng wold have his lawes kept, and that he was dysplesed with the maner of ther gaderyng, and that he wold have it amendyd; for he conceyveth that the hole body of the shire is well dysposed and that the ille dysposed pepoll is but of a corner of the hole shire; and yet that ther mysdoyng growyth not of ther owyn dysposysyon but of the abbettement and steryng of sum ille dysposed persones whiche is understand and knowe to the Kynges hygthnesse. Item, he lete hem wete that the Kyng had commandyd hym to sey if ther were any man, pore or ryche, that had cause to complayne of any person that he schuld put up his bylle to the shref and hym, and they schuld set a reule be twyx hem; and if he wold not abyde ther reule they schuld delyver the sayd bylle of compleynt to the Kynges hignesse, and he schuld set the rewle and suche dyreccion that the party compleynaunt or defendaunt schuld be punysshed for his dysobeysauns of the said rewle if the case requyred; and also more over, if ther were ony person that put up ony suche bylle, and it mygth apere to them by ther examinacion or other wyse fals or untrewe, or elles be cause of malyce, that than suche compleynaunts schuld sharpely be punysshed. And thanwhan he had sayd this and moche more, in dyscoragyng to the pepoll to put bylles, as after my conseyt, he reported hym to the schref ther present, that the Kyng thus comanded hem thus to sey, desyreng the said schref if ony thyng of the Kyngs comaunded were be hynd unspoken by hym self that he wold remembre and helpe forthe to telle it. And than the schref said, lyke as he rehersed the Kyng comanded, and more over that the Kyng named ij. men, by name Tudenham and Haydon, and if ony man wold put bylles a yens them, he said in feythfull wyse he wold help hem, and ferther the mater to the Kyng higthnesse. And for his demenyng ther every man thougth hym rigth wel dysposed; but Yelverton had for yeten to expresse the names of Tudham and Haydon.Item, the schref desyred the jentylmen to go with [him] to Felbryg Halle, and specially he requyred Mr. John P., the younger; but he cowde no pepoll gete, and so he cam not there. Item, there was a bylle set up on the shirehous dore, and the content ther of was but of the favour to you ward, Barney, Knyvet and Felbrygge, and of the hatered of other; it was but of sum lewde dysposed person it semeth. Item, sir, at the last shire was moche pepoll and ille governed for they wold not be rewled be no body, they had almost a slayne the underschref, for they told hym wryttes of eleccion was sent doun and he kept it on syde to be gyle hem, and to make hem labour ayen, and ther for he that kepyth it is to blame, me thynketh. Item, sir, please you to telle Mr. Clement, we have goten a reles of al maner accions and appelles of Margret Clerk, made to Gymmyngham, on of the pryncypalles, and that he woll inquyre wheder it be suffycyant for alle, and send me word, and weder it dyvers fro trespas and dette, wher damages is to be recovered, for in this appell is no damages to be recovered, but only an execucion, whiche non of them may be contributory to other execucion as is in other cases. Nevertheles, I hope it be sufficiant for all, for sche is in the cas to have the lyf in stede of damages.YourThomas Pl.19.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The mention of Tuddenham and Heyden in this letter proves that it cannot be of later date than the year 1461, as the former was executed in February 1462. At the same time the reference to John Paston, Junior, could not be much earlier, and the message from the King to the people of Norfolk certainly could not have come from HenryVI.only a year or two before. The date must therefore be 1461 precisely.501ANONYMOUS TO MARGARET PASTON21.1To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston.1461(?)I recomawndeme to your good mastreschep, besechyng yow in the weye of charyte, and as I maye be your bedeman and servaunt, that ye wyll lete me have wetyng hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is seyd that ther xal be mych more pepyll than was the last; and also if I be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in the town, I xall be takyn owte. Also, mastres, that my Maystyr Radclyffs xal take all my catell and all other pore good that I have, and so but I maye have helpe of my mayster and of yow, I am but lost. Also my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my ryght gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in all thes, and I xal content the costs as ye xall be plesyd, be the grace of God, hoo ever preserve yow, &c.Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuall help, but I must selle or lete to ferme all that I have.Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a doctour of fesyk. If ye wyll ony thyng with hym, he xal abyde this daye and to morwe. He is ryght a konnyng man and gentyll.21.1[From Fenn, iv. 104.] This letter appears to have been addressed to Margaret Paston at a period when her husband was a man of some influence, and perhaps the year 1461 is not far from the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about the same time asNo. 500, which also refers to a meeting at the shire or county court.502ELIZABETH MUNDEFORD TO JOHN PASTON22.1To my right worchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delyvered, &c.1461-6Rightworchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, I recomand me un to you with all myn herte. Plece it you to undyrstande the grete nessessyte of my wrytyng to you is this, that ther was made an exchaunge be the graunsyre of my hosbonds Mundeford, un hose sowle God have mercy, of the maner of Gressenale with the aunsetrys of Rows for the maner of Estlexham, the qwych is parte of my juntor, and my grauntfadyr Mundeford recoweryd the said maner of Estlexham be assyze22.2a geyne the aunsetrys of Rows, and so madyt clere; and nowe have Edmund Rows22.3claymyt the seyd maner of Estlexham be the verteu of a tayle [an entail], and hathe takyn possesseon, and made a feffement to my Lord of Warewyke,22.4and Water Gorge,22.5and to Curde.22.6And un Fryday be for Seynt Walentyne is Day Water Gorge and Curde enteryd and toke possessyon for my seyd Lord of Warewyke, and so bothe the forseyd manerys were ontayled, and at the tyme of the exchaunge made, the tayles and evydens of bothe for seyd manerys were delyvered un to the partyes indeferently be the avyse of men lernyd. Qwerfor I beshech you that it plese you to take the grete labor upon you toinforme my Lordys good Lordchep of the trowthe in the forme a bowyn wreten, and that it plese you to undyrstand qwedyr that my Lord wyll a byde be the feffment made to hym or not; and that it shall plese my Lord that I may have right as lawe requeryt, for I trust to God be soche tyme as my Lord shall be informyd of the trowthe be you, that hese Lordchip wyll not supportt the forseyd Rows a geyne my right. And if I hadde very undyrstandyng that my Lord would take no parte in the mater a bowe seyd, I would trust to Godds mersy, and to you, and other of my good fryndes, to have possession a geyne in right hasty tyme, beshechyng you to pardon me of my symple wrytyng, for hadde no leyser. Right worchipfull and my right good neveu, I beshech the Blyssed Trenyte have you in Hese gracyous kepyng.Wreten at Norwych in gret hast, the Tewysday aftyr Seynt Walentyne is Day.Youre ouyn,Elizabeth Mundeford.23.122.1[From Fenn, iv. 108.] The date of this letter must lie between the years 1461 and 1466. The writer’s husband, who is spoken of as dead, was put to death in June 1460, and John Paston, the person addressed, died in May 1466.22.2Assize is a writ directed to the sheriff of the county for recovery of the possession of things immovable, whereof yourself or ancestors have been dispossessed.—F.22.3Edmund Rous was second son of Henry Rous, Esq. of Dennington, in Suffolk, the ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.22.4Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.22.5Walter Gorges, Esq., married Mary, the daughter and heir of Sir William Oldhall, and was at this time Lord of the Manor of Oldhall, in Great Fransham. He died in 1466. His son and heir, Sir Edmund Gorges, afterwards married a daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, the first Duke of Norfolk of that family.—F.22.6John Curde was Lord of the Manor of Curde’s Hall, in Fransham.—F.23.1Elizabeth Mundeford was the widow of Osbert Mundeford, Esq. of Hockwold, in Norfolk, and was daughter of John Berney, Esq., by which means she was aunt to J. Paston.—F.503SIR ROBERT WILLIAMSON TO AGNES PASTON23.2To my right reverent mastras, Agnes Paston, be this lettre delyveryd in haste.1460-4Ryghwurchepful mastres, I recomaund me un to yow, thankyng yow of the gret chere that ze made me the last tyme that I was with zow. Mastres, in alle zour godys and ocupacyons that lyth in my simpil power to do in wurd, wil and dede, I have do my dylygens and my power therto, so I be savyd be fore God, and have owyn to your person ryght herty love; for the qwych I am ryght illeaqwyt, and it be as I understande yt; for it is do me to wete that I am swid with mor of my paryshchons for a reskuse makyng up on the offycers of the shrewys [sheriff], and I take God to record that it is wrongfully do on to us. And the gret fray that the [they] mad in the tyme of masse it ravyched my witts and mad me ful hevyly dysposyd. I pray Jesu gef hem grace to repent hem therof that the [they] that caused it may stand out of perel of soule.Maystras, at the reverens of God, and as evyr I may do servyce that may be plesyng on to yow, send me justyly wurd be the brynger of this bylle ho ze wil that I be gydyd; for it is told me that if I be take I may no other remedy havyn but streyth to prison. For the whiche I have sold away xxs.wurth of stuffe; and the reswd [residue] of my stuff, I have put it in swier hande, for trwly I wil not abyde the joparte of the swth,—I have levir to go as far as my fet may ber me. Nevir the less as ze komand me to do, so it be not to my gret hurt, I wil fulfille it. Nomor to zow at this tyme, but God send yow that grace that ze may kome to His blyss.Wreten at Bromholm in gret haste,Be yourSirRobert Willyamson.23.2[From Fenn, iii. 48.] The writer of this letter was Vicar of Paston from 1460 to 1464, and as he dates from Bromholm, which is in the immediate neighbourhood of Paston, we may presume that it was written during the time he held that benefice.504MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON24.1To my ryth worchepfull husbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.1462JAN. 7Rythworchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I sent yow a lettyr by my cosyn Barneys man of Wychyngham wyche was wretyn on Seynt Thomas Day in Crystmas,24.2and I had no tydyngys nor lettyr of yow sene the wek before Crystmas;wher of I mervayle sore. I fere me it is not well with yow be cawse ye came not home or sent er thys tyme. I hopyd verily ye schold have ben at home by Twelthe at the ferthest. I pray yow hertly that ye wole wychesave to send me word how ye do as hastly as ye may, for my hert schall nevyr be in ese tyll I have tydyngys fro yow. Pepyll of this contre begynyth to wax wyld, and it is seyd her that my Lord of Clarans and the Dwek of Suthfolk and serteyn jwgys with hem schold come downe and syt on syche pepyll as be noysyd ryotous in thys contre. And also it is seyd here, that there is retornyd a newe rescwe up on that that was do at the scher. I suppose swyche talkynge comyth of false schrewys that wold mak a rwmor in this contre. The pepyll seyth here that they had levyr go up hole to the Kynge and compleyne of siche false screwys as they have be wrongyd by a fore, than they schold be compleynyd of with owt cause and be hangyd at ther owne dorys. In good feyth men fere sore here of a comone rysyng but if [i.e.unless] a bettyr remedy may be had to a pese the pepyll in hast, and that ther be sent swyche downe to tak a rewyll as the pepyll hathe a fantsy in, that wole be indeferent. They love not in no wyse the Dwke of Sowthfolk nor hys modyr. They sey that all the tretourys and extorsyonerys of thys contre be meynteynyd by them and by syche as they get to them with her goodys, to that intent to meynten suche extorsyon style as hathe be do by suche as hathe had the rewyll undyr them be fore tyme. Men wene, and the Dwke of Sowthfolk come ther scholl be a schrewd reuell but if [unless] ther come odyr that be bettyr belovyd than he is here. The pepyll feryth hem myche the more to be hurt, because that ye and my cosyn Barney come not home; they sey they wot welle it is not well with yow and if it be not well with yow, they sey they wot well, they that wole do yow wronge wole sone do them wronge, and that makyth them all most mad. God for Hys holy mersy geve grace that ther may be set a good rewyll and a sad in this contre in hast, for I herd nevyr sey of so myche robry and manslawter in thys contre as is now within a lytyll tyme. And as for gadyryng of mony, I sey nevyr a werse seson, for Rychard Calle seyth he can getbut lytyll in substans of that is owyng, nowthyr of yowyr lyvelod nor of Fastolfys th’eyr. And John Paston seyth, they that may pay best they pay werst; they fare as thow they hopyd to have a newe werd [world]. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng and send us good tydyngys of yow.Yelverton is a good thredbare frend for yow and for odyr in thys contre, as it is told me.Wretyn in hast on the Thorsday nex aftyr Twelthe.By yowyrMargaret Paston.24.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The contents of this letter clearly show that it was written in January 1462, nine days afterNo. 497.24.2SeeNo. 497.505MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON26.11462JAN. 27Rythworchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that Perse was delyveryd owt [of] preson by the generall pardon that the Kynge hathe grantyd, whyche was opynly proclamyd in the Gyld Hall. A none as he was delyveryd he cam hedyr to me, God wote in an evyll plyte, and he desyiryd me wepyng that I wold be hys good mastres and to be mene to yow to be hys good mastyr, and swore sore that he was nevyr defawty in that ye have thowte hym defawty in. He seyd that if ther wer ony coyne in the cofyr that was at Wylliam Tavernerys it was ther withowt hys knowlage, for hys mastyr wold nevyr lat hym se what was in that cofyr, and he told me that the keyis wer sent to Thomas Holler26.2by mastyr John Smyth. What Holler leyd in or took owte he wot not as he sweryth. He offyrd me to be rewlyd as ye and I wold have hym, and if I wold comand hym, to go ageyn to preson, whedyr I wold to the Castyll or to the Gyld Hall, he wold obey my comandment. And seth that he came of hys owne fre wyll withowt ony comandment of ony man or desyir,I seyd I wold not send hym ageyn to preson, so that he wold abyde yowyr rewyll when ye came home. And so he is here with me and schall be tyll ye send me word how ye wole that I do with hym. Where fore, I pray yow that ye wole lete me have knowlage in hast how ye wole that I do with hym.Item, I have spok with John Dame and Playter for the lettyr testymonyall, and John Dame hathe promysyd to get it, and Playter schall bryng it to yow to London. Item, I have purveyd yow of a man that schall be here in Barsamys sted and ye wole, the wyche can bettyr cherysch yowyr wood, bothe in fellyng and fensyng there of than Barsam can; and he schall mak yow as many hyrdyllys as ye nede for yowyr fold, of yowyr owne wood at Drayton, and schall tak as lytyll to hys wagys as Barsam dothe; and he is holdyn a trew man. Item, Playter schall tell yow of a woman that compleynyd to the Dwk of Sowthefolk of yow, and the sey[d] Playter schall tell yow of the demenyng and answeryng of the scheryfe for yow, and also of the demenyng of the seyd Dwke, and of othir materys the wyche wer to longe mater to put in wryttyn. The pepyll of that kontre be ryth glad that the day yed [went] with yow on Monday as it ded. Ye wer nevyr so welcome in to Norfolk as ye schall be when ye come home, I trowe. And the blyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Wednysday next aftyr Seynt Augnet the Fyrst.By yowyr M. P.Item, Ric. Calle told me that he hathe sent you a answer of all erands that ye wold shuld be do to Sir Thomas Howes. Sir Thomas Howes cam nowther to me nor sent syn that he cam home from London.Will Worceter was at me in Cristemes at Heylysdon, and he told [me] that he spake with you dyvers tymys at London the last terme; and he told me that he hopyd that ye wolle be hys good master, and seyd he hopyd ye shuld have non other cause but for to be hys god maister. I hope and so do my moder and my cosyn Clere, that he wolle do well inowe, so that he be fayre fare with Dawbeney and Playter. Avise me to lete Peers go at large and to take a promys of hym tocom to me a mong unto your comyng hom, and in the mene while his demenyng may be knowyn and espyed in mo thyngs.26.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter relates to the prisoner Piers mentioned in Nos. 423, 424, and 426. He seems to have been delivered by a general pardon issued at the commencement of the reign of EdwardIV.The letter bears no address. It is endorsed, but in a much later hand:— ‘A lettre to J. Paston, Ar., from his wife.’26.2He was John Berney’s executor.506JOHN DOWBIGGING TO JOHN PASTON28.1To the ryght reverent and worship sir, John Paston, sum tyme Lord of Gresham, and now fermour therof, as hit is seide.Perysof Legh come to Lynne opon Cristynmesse Even in the fresshest wise, and there he dyned so as was; bot when my Lorde of Oxenforde herde hereof he with his feliship and suche as I and other your presoneres come rydyng unto Lynne, and even unto the Bysshop gaole where the seid Perys dyned with other of his feliship. My Lorde pulled hym oute of the seid gaole and made to kest hym opon an horse, and tyed an halter by his arme, and so ledde hym furth like hym selff. And even furthwith the seid Bysshop, the Mair, and other their feliship mette with my seide Lorde and your presoneres, and also the seide Perys tyed by an halter, the Bysshop havyng thies wordes unto my Lorde with his pillion28.2in his handes, ‘My Lordes, this is a presoner, ye may knowebyhis tepet and staff. What will ye do with hym?’ Therto my Lorde seide, ‘He is my presoner nowe.’ Wherto the Bysshop seid, ‘Where is youre warraunt or commission therto?’ My Lorde seide, ‘I have warraunt sufficiaunt to me.’ And thus they departed, the Mair and all the cominaltie of Lynne kepyng theire silence. Bot when we weren goon, and Perys of Legh fast in Rysyng Castell, then the yates of Lynne, by the Bysshop comaundement weren fast sperred [shut] and keped with men of armes. And then theBysshop and his squyers rebuked the Mair of Lynne and seid that he hade shamed both hym and his toun for ever, with muche other langage, &c.The Bysshop shulde have keped his Cristenmesse at Gaywode, bot yet he come not oute of Lynne. In faith, my Lorde dyd quyte hym als curageousely as ever I wist man do. The Bysshop come to the toun with lx. persones the same tyme, and made to sper the yates after hym, bot when we mette, ther bode not with hym over xij. persones atte the most, with his serjaunt of armes; whiche serjaunt was fayn to lay doun his mase; and so atte the same yates we come in we went oute, and no blode drawen, God be thanked.Yf ye will any thyng atte I may do, send me worde; hit shall be doon to my power, &c. Comaunde me to my maistresse your wyff, &c. And yf ye dar joperdie your suyrtie of C. marc I shall come and se you. And elles have me excused, for, &c.From your oune,John Douebiggyng.28.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently earlier in date than the last, and may perhaps have been written at the close of the year 1460, but as it refers to the same prisoner as the preceding No. we place it here for convenience. It is printed in the fifth volume of Fenn’s edition as a letter of HenryVII.’s time owing to a misreading of the address, which might easily convey the impression that it was directed to ‘Sir John Paston.’28.2The hat worn by a Doctor of Divinity.ye may knowe by his tepet and stafftext has “bv his” (misprint or damaged type)507RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON29.1To the ryght reverent and my mooste worschipful master, my Master John Paston, in the Inneer Tempyll.1462FEB. 1Plesith it your maisterschip to witte that I have been at Burnewyll in Nacton to receyve the rentes and fermys of the tenauntes. And I undrestande be them, and be Robert Goordon that Mastre Jenney whas there and helde a coorte on the Mondaye next aftre Tlwelthe, and warned the tenauntes that theyschulde pay no money to no man onto the tyme they had worde from hym, seyng that he whas on of the feffeys of the same maner, and that he whas feed with Sir John Fastolff, of weche fee he was be hynde for ij. yere; wherfore he desired the tenauntes that they schulde not be redy in payement onto the tyme they had word from hym, but that he myght be payed of his seide fee, lyke as the wylle of the deede was. Wherfore I can gete no money of them unto the tyme they have knowleche how it stond be twyx your maistership and Mr. Jenney; for withoute Jenney write to hem or come hom ward that wey, and have the tenauntes together and lete hem witte that ye ought to have the rentes and fermes of the seid maner, I can not see that ye be like to have but litell money there, withoute ye woll do distreyne throuout all the lordeschip. I have sette dayes to purvey but [their] money ayenst the first weke of cleene Lenton, and than they schul have an answere who shal receyve it. Wherfore that it please your maistership to remembre to speke to Mastre Jenney. The blissed Trinite preserve you and kepe you from all advercyte. Wreten at Yebbyshep30.1the furst daye of Februare.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.Item, the maner of Stratton shuld paye of rente xxvjs.viijd., weche the fermour seythe my mastresse Brandon is acorded with you. He is be hynde for certeine yeres, &c.29.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The manor of Burneviles in Nacton, near Ipswich, was part of the lands of Sir John Fastolf which Paston inherited by his will; but his claim was disputed by Jenney, one of the executors. As Jenney is here said to have complained that his fee was two years in arrear, we may presume that it was little over two years since Fastolf’s death when this letter was written. For further evidences of date compareNo. 494. It may also be observed that we find undoubted evidence that John Paston was residing in the Inner Temple six weeks later (seeNo. 511), whereas in the preceding year he was in Norfolk, where his brother Clement wrote to him news from London (No. 430).30.1Ipswich?508JOHN PASTON TO ——30.21462FEB. 9Righttrusty and welbeloved, I grete yow hartily well, and will ye wite that where hit is so, that Sir John Fastolf, whom God assoyle, with other, was sum tyme by Sir Herry Inglose enfeffed of trust of his maner offe Pykewurthe in Rutlande, the which made his wille, proved, that the seid maner sholde by solde by Robert Inglose and Edmunde Wychingham his executours, to whom the seid Sir John hathrelesed, as his dute was to do; now it is so that for John Browne31.1ther is shewed a dede under seall of armes berynge date byfore his reles made to the Duke of Norffoke, Henry Inglose and other, contrarie to the wille of the seid Sir Herry and the trust of the feoffement that the seid Sir John Fastolff was infeffed inne. And a letter of Attorney under the same seale of armes to yow, to deliver seison acordynge to the same feffement, to the gret disclaundre of the seid Sir John and all his, yef this be true. Wherfore I preie yow hertili that ye feithfully and truly rescribe to me in all the hast ye may what ye knowe in this mater such as ye wull stonde by with outen glose, and how ye can imagine that this crafte shulde be practised, and specially whether ye yourself delivered seison in Rutlond or noo. And this and what incedentes ye knowe, I preie yow by wrytinge certefie me in all hast, that I may be the more ripe to answer to this, to the wurship of the seid Sir John, that was your maister, so that thorowh your defaute your seid maisters soule ther for lie not in perell, but this disclaundre may be eesed and cesed as reson requireth, to the wurship of hym and all that longe to hym. And this I pray yow faile not offe as I truste yow. Wret at Londo[n] the ix. day of Februar.Yowr frend,Jon Paston.30.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] TheMS.is a rough draft signed by John Paston the eldest, and corrected in his hand. It seems to have been written on the cover of a letter addressed to himself; for on the back is this direction in another hand:— ‘To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston the eldest, Esquier, be this deliveryd in hast.’We have inserted this letter in the year 1462 as this was the first year after Fastolf’s death, when John Paston appears to have been residing in London in the beginning of February. The only other possible years are 1463, 1465, and 1466.31.1This name is substituted for ‘Herry Inglose,’ struck out.509SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON31.2To the ryght wurshipfull sir and meyster, myn Mayster John Paston, Squier.1462[FEB.]Ryghtworshipfull sire and mayster, I recomaunde me to yow. And please yow that the chirche of Drayton is or shal be resyngned in hast in to the Bysshopys hands by Sir John Bullok, desyryng yow hertly that ye lyke Imay have the presentacion of the next avoydaunce for a newew of myn, callyd Sir Reynold Spendlove, whiche I truste youre maystership wold agree to make in youre name and myn as was last, &c. And, sir, please yow also that I have hadde diverse communicacions with Worcestr sethe Crystmesse,32.1and I fele by hym otterly that he wole not appoynt in other fourme than to have the londs of Feyrechildes and other londes in Drayton to the sume of x. marc of yow proprely, by syde that that he desyreth of myn mayster, whom God assoyle, whiche mater I remytte to your noble discrecion.And as for answere of the bylles that I have, I have ben so sekelew seythe Crystmasse that I myght not yette don hem, but I shal in alle hast, wher inne ye may excuse yow by me if ye please tyl the next terme, at whiche tyme alle shal be aunswered, be Godds grace, who preserve yow and send yow th’ accomplyshement of youre desyres, &c.Item, sere, please youre maystership hit was leten me wete in ryght secrete wyse that a pyssaunce is redy to aryve in thre parties of this londe, by the meane of Kyng Herry and the Quene that wes, and by the Dewk Somercete and others, of vi.xx.m.l.[120,000] men; and here day, if wynde and weder hadde servyd theym, shuld a’ ben here sone upon Candelmasse; at Trente to London werdes thei shuld a’ ben by Candelmasse or sone after, one parte of theym, and another parte comyng from Walys, and the thredde fro Yernessey and Garnesseye. Wher fore it is weel don ye enforme myn Lord Warwyk, that he may speke to the Kyng that good provy[s]ion be hadde for withstandyng there malicyous purpose and evyl wylle, whiche God graunt we may our come theym; and so we shuld,I dought not, if we were alle on [one]. There ben many medelers, and they ben best cheryshed, whyche wold hurt moche if these come to, as God diffende, &c.T. Howys.31.2[From Fenn, iv. 68.] For evidence of the date of this letter, Fenn quotes the following extracts from the Institution Books in the Registry of the Bishop of Norwich:—‘Draiton‘Reg. xi. 124. 29 January 1460-1. Johannes Bullock ad præsentationem Joh’is Paston arm. et Tho. Howys capellani.‘Reg. xi. 131. 15 March 1461-2. Joh’es Flourdew ad præsentationem eorundem.’It thus appears that the living was resigned by John Bullock in 1461-2, and on the 15th March John Flourdew was presented to it, not the person here recommended by Howes.32.1This word is indicated by Fenn as indistinct in theMS.510MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON33.1To my ryth worchepfullhusbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.1462MARCHPlesythyow to wete that John Wellys and his brodyr told me thys nyth that the Kyng lay at Cambryge as yestyrsnyth to Sandwyche ward, for ther is gret dyvysyen be twyx the Lordys and the schypmen ther, that causyth hym to goo thedyr to se a remedye therfor.I thank God that John Paston yed non erst [went no earlier] forthe, for I trust to God all schall be do er he comyth. And it is told me that Syr John Howard is lek to lese hys hed.If it plese yow to send to the seyd Wellys, he schall send yow mor tydyngys than I may wryt at thys tyme. God have yow in Hys kepyng.Wretyn in hast at Thetford, at xj. of the clok in the nyth, the same day I departyd fro yow.I thank Pampyng of hys good wyll, and them that wer cause of changyng of my hors, for they ded me a bettyr torne than I wend they had do, and I schall aquyt them anothyr day, and I maye.By yorM. P.33.1[From Fenn, ii. 288.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that EdwardIV.was at Cambridge on the 2nd and 3rd March 1462, and this is probably the visit alluded to, although we do not find that the King went on to Sandwich afterwards.To my ryth worchepfull husbond, John Pastontext has “husbona” (italic “a” for “d”)511JOHN PASTON, THE ELDER, TO HIS FATHER34.1To myn ryth reverent and worschypfull fader, John Paston, beyng in the Inder Temple.1462MARCH 13Ryghtreverent and wyrshypfull fader, I recomand me un to you, be sychyng you of your blessyng and gode faderhode. Pleasyt it you to understond the grete expens that I have dayly travelyng with the Kyng, as the berour here of can enfourme you; and howe long that I am lyke to tary here in thys country or I may speke with you a gayn, and howe I am chargyd to have myn hors and harnys redy, and in hasty wyse, besykyng you to consyder theys causes, and so to remembr me that I may have suche thynges as I may do my mayster servys with and pleasur, trusting in God it schall be to your wyrshyp and to myn and vayll [avail]. In especiall I besyche you, that I may be sur where to have mony somwhat be fore Estern, other of you, or by myn uncle Clement, when nede ys. Of othir causes the berour hereof can enfourme you. No more to you at thys tyme, but God have you in Hys kepyng.Wryten at Stamford, the xiij. day of March.Be yowr sone and servant,John Paston, the Older.34.1[From Fenn, iv. 126.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that EdwardIV.was at Stamford, from the 9th to the 17th March, in the second year of his reign,i.e.in 1462. This letter belongs therefore to that year.512REPORT OF FRENCH PRISONERS35.1Memorandum. This is the confessyon of xvj. Frenshemen with the Mastyr, takyn at Sheryngam, the iij. wek of Lent.1462MARCHRightworshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you, and lete you wytte, that I have be at Shiryngham, and examyned the Frenshmen to the nombre of xvj. with the maister. And thei telle that the Duke of Somerset is in to Scotland; and thei sey the Lord Hungyrforthe was on Monday last passed afore Sheryngham in to Scotland ward, in a kervyle [carvel] of Depe, no gret power with hym, ne with the seid Duk neyther. And thei sey that the Duk of Burgoyn35.2is poysened, and not like to recovere. And as for powers to be gadered ayenst our weelfare; thei sey, there shulde come in to Seyne CC. gret forstages35.3owt of Spayne, from the Kyng there;35.4and CCC. shippes from the Duk of Bretayne35.5with the navy of Fraunce, but thei be not yet assembled, ne vitayll there purveyd, as thei sey, ne men. And the Kyng of Fraunce35.6is in to Spayne on pilgrymage with fewe hors as thei sey; what the purpose is thei can not telle certeyn, &c. In hast at Norwich.The Kyng of Frauns hath comitted the rewle of Bordews on to the marchaunds of the toun, and the browd35.7tha[t] be therin to be at ther wages; and like as Caleys is a Stapole of wolle here in England, so is that made staple of wyne.John Fermer, presoner, seyth, on [one] John Gylys, a clerk that was with the Erle of Oxforthe, wych was some tym in Kyng Herrys hows, was a prevy secretary with the Erle ofOxforthe; and if any wrytyng wer made by the seyd Erle, the seyd Gylys knew ther of in this gret matyeres.
17.1[From Fenn, iii. 150.] The contents of this letter clearly refer to the matter alluded to in the postscript of the preceding letter of Margaret Paston, so that the date must be the same.17.228th December.17.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.17.4Spurrier Row, as I am informed by Mr. L’Estrange, was what is now called London Street.17.5John Berney of Witchingham.
17.1[From Fenn, iii. 150.] The contents of this letter clearly refer to the matter alluded to in the postscript of the preceding letter of Margaret Paston, so that the date must be the same.
17.228th December.
17.3Sir Thomas Montgomery.
17.4Spurrier Row, as I am informed by Mr. L’Estrange, was what is now called London Street.
17.5John Berney of Witchingham.
To my moost reverent and wurshipfful mastre, my Master John Paston of the Enner Temple, this be delyvered.
Plesith your maystership to undrestande that as for the ferme that Cheseman had in Boyton, that is to sey, xl. acre lond erable, j. medwe, and other smale parcell, payng yerly for it iiijli., weche I can not lete the xl. acre lond abowe xl. comb barly or xls., and ye to bere al charges of the reparaucion and fense aboute the place, weche shulde be gret cost. The lond is so out of tylthe that a nedes [uneath,i.e.scarcely] any man wol geve any thyng for it. Ther can no man lete it to the walwe that it was lete before, and that I reporte me to my master, Sir Thomas Howys, not be gret gold. Wherfore I wol not do therin unto the tyme that I have answere from your mastership, weche I beseche you it may be hast. And as for Spitlynges, I have lete som of the lond in smale parcell, because I cowde gete no fermor for it. And as for Sir T. H., in good feythe I fynde [him] weele disposed in all thynges, excepte for Sir W. Chamberleyn for Rees in Stratton. And so the blissid Trinite preserve and kepe you from all adversite. Wrete at Blofeld, the Thorsday next after Hallowmesday.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.
18.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain. Its contents are mere matter of business, and as relating to the same farm mentioned in the last may be supposed to belong to the same year, especially as in the last Calle mentions having written to Paston on the subject ‘at Hallowmass.’ There is, however, a discrepancy in the value assigned for the farm.
To John Paston, the older, in hast, and if he be not at London, than to be delyvered to Clement Paston in hast.
1461DEC.
Lykeyour maisterchip wete that at the last cessyons Erpyngham hundred and other hundredys ther aboute were not warned, and the schreff excused hym be cause he cowde not knowe who was officer there. Item, Yelverton lete the pepoll understand that the Kyng wold have his lawes kept, and that he was dysplesed with the maner of ther gaderyng, and that he wold have it amendyd; for he conceyveth that the hole body of the shire is well dysposed and that the ille dysposed pepoll is but of a corner of the hole shire; and yet that ther mysdoyng growyth not of ther owyn dysposysyon but of the abbettement and steryng of sum ille dysposed persones whiche is understand and knowe to the Kynges hygthnesse. Item, he lete hem wete that the Kyng had commandyd hym to sey if ther were any man, pore or ryche, that had cause to complayne of any person that he schuld put up his bylle to the shref and hym, and they schuld set a reule be twyx hem; and if he wold not abyde ther reule they schuld delyver the sayd bylle of compleynt to the Kynges hignesse, and he schuld set the rewle and suche dyreccion that the party compleynaunt or defendaunt schuld be punysshed for his dysobeysauns of the said rewle if the case requyred; and also more over, if ther were ony person that put up ony suche bylle, and it mygth apere to them by ther examinacion or other wyse fals or untrewe, or elles be cause of malyce, that than suche compleynaunts schuld sharpely be punysshed. And thanwhan he had sayd this and moche more, in dyscoragyng to the pepoll to put bylles, as after my conseyt, he reported hym to the schref ther present, that the Kyng thus comanded hem thus to sey, desyreng the said schref if ony thyng of the Kyngs comaunded were be hynd unspoken by hym self that he wold remembre and helpe forthe to telle it. And than the schref said, lyke as he rehersed the Kyng comanded, and more over that the Kyng named ij. men, by name Tudenham and Haydon, and if ony man wold put bylles a yens them, he said in feythfull wyse he wold help hem, and ferther the mater to the Kyng higthnesse. And for his demenyng ther every man thougth hym rigth wel dysposed; but Yelverton had for yeten to expresse the names of Tudham and Haydon.
Item, the schref desyred the jentylmen to go with [him] to Felbryg Halle, and specially he requyred Mr. John P., the younger; but he cowde no pepoll gete, and so he cam not there. Item, there was a bylle set up on the shirehous dore, and the content ther of was but of the favour to you ward, Barney, Knyvet and Felbrygge, and of the hatered of other; it was but of sum lewde dysposed person it semeth. Item, sir, at the last shire was moche pepoll and ille governed for they wold not be rewled be no body, they had almost a slayne the underschref, for they told hym wryttes of eleccion was sent doun and he kept it on syde to be gyle hem, and to make hem labour ayen, and ther for he that kepyth it is to blame, me thynketh. Item, sir, please you to telle Mr. Clement, we have goten a reles of al maner accions and appelles of Margret Clerk, made to Gymmyngham, on of the pryncypalles, and that he woll inquyre wheder it be suffycyant for alle, and send me word, and weder it dyvers fro trespas and dette, wher damages is to be recovered, for in this appell is no damages to be recovered, but only an execucion, whiche non of them may be contributory to other execucion as is in other cases. Nevertheles, I hope it be sufficiant for all, for sche is in the cas to have the lyf in stede of damages.YourThomas Pl.
19.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The mention of Tuddenham and Heyden in this letter proves that it cannot be of later date than the year 1461, as the former was executed in February 1462. At the same time the reference to John Paston, Junior, could not be much earlier, and the message from the King to the people of Norfolk certainly could not have come from HenryVI.only a year or two before. The date must therefore be 1461 precisely.
To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston.
1461(?)
I recomawndeme to your good mastreschep, besechyng yow in the weye of charyte, and as I maye be your bedeman and servaunt, that ye wyll lete me have wetyng hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is seyd that ther xal be mych more pepyll than was the last; and also if I be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in the town, I xall be takyn owte. Also, mastres, that my Maystyr Radclyffs xal take all my catell and all other pore good that I have, and so but I maye have helpe of my mayster and of yow, I am but lost. Also my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my ryght gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in all thes, and I xal content the costs as ye xall be plesyd, be the grace of God, hoo ever preserve yow, &c.
Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuall help, but I must selle or lete to ferme all that I have.
Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a doctour of fesyk. If ye wyll ony thyng with hym, he xal abyde this daye and to morwe. He is ryght a konnyng man and gentyll.
21.1[From Fenn, iv. 104.] This letter appears to have been addressed to Margaret Paston at a period when her husband was a man of some influence, and perhaps the year 1461 is not far from the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about the same time asNo. 500, which also refers to a meeting at the shire or county court.
To my right worchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delyvered, &c.
1461-6
Rightworchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, I recomand me un to you with all myn herte. Plece it you to undyrstande the grete nessessyte of my wrytyng to you is this, that ther was made an exchaunge be the graunsyre of my hosbonds Mundeford, un hose sowle God have mercy, of the maner of Gressenale with the aunsetrys of Rows for the maner of Estlexham, the qwych is parte of my juntor, and my grauntfadyr Mundeford recoweryd the said maner of Estlexham be assyze22.2a geyne the aunsetrys of Rows, and so madyt clere; and nowe have Edmund Rows22.3claymyt the seyd maner of Estlexham be the verteu of a tayle [an entail], and hathe takyn possesseon, and made a feffement to my Lord of Warewyke,22.4and Water Gorge,22.5and to Curde.22.6And un Fryday be for Seynt Walentyne is Day Water Gorge and Curde enteryd and toke possessyon for my seyd Lord of Warewyke, and so bothe the forseyd manerys were ontayled, and at the tyme of the exchaunge made, the tayles and evydens of bothe for seyd manerys were delyvered un to the partyes indeferently be the avyse of men lernyd. Qwerfor I beshech you that it plese you to take the grete labor upon you toinforme my Lordys good Lordchep of the trowthe in the forme a bowyn wreten, and that it plese you to undyrstand qwedyr that my Lord wyll a byde be the feffment made to hym or not; and that it shall plese my Lord that I may have right as lawe requeryt, for I trust to God be soche tyme as my Lord shall be informyd of the trowthe be you, that hese Lordchip wyll not supportt the forseyd Rows a geyne my right. And if I hadde very undyrstandyng that my Lord would take no parte in the mater a bowe seyd, I would trust to Godds mersy, and to you, and other of my good fryndes, to have possession a geyne in right hasty tyme, beshechyng you to pardon me of my symple wrytyng, for hadde no leyser. Right worchipfull and my right good neveu, I beshech the Blyssed Trenyte have you in Hese gracyous kepyng.
Wreten at Norwych in gret hast, the Tewysday aftyr Seynt Walentyne is Day.Youre ouyn,Elizabeth Mundeford.23.1
22.1[From Fenn, iv. 108.] The date of this letter must lie between the years 1461 and 1466. The writer’s husband, who is spoken of as dead, was put to death in June 1460, and John Paston, the person addressed, died in May 1466.22.2Assize is a writ directed to the sheriff of the county for recovery of the possession of things immovable, whereof yourself or ancestors have been dispossessed.—F.22.3Edmund Rous was second son of Henry Rous, Esq. of Dennington, in Suffolk, the ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.22.4Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.22.5Walter Gorges, Esq., married Mary, the daughter and heir of Sir William Oldhall, and was at this time Lord of the Manor of Oldhall, in Great Fransham. He died in 1466. His son and heir, Sir Edmund Gorges, afterwards married a daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, the first Duke of Norfolk of that family.—F.22.6John Curde was Lord of the Manor of Curde’s Hall, in Fransham.—F.23.1Elizabeth Mundeford was the widow of Osbert Mundeford, Esq. of Hockwold, in Norfolk, and was daughter of John Berney, Esq., by which means she was aunt to J. Paston.—F.
22.1[From Fenn, iv. 108.] The date of this letter must lie between the years 1461 and 1466. The writer’s husband, who is spoken of as dead, was put to death in June 1460, and John Paston, the person addressed, died in May 1466.
22.2Assize is a writ directed to the sheriff of the county for recovery of the possession of things immovable, whereof yourself or ancestors have been dispossessed.—F.
22.3Edmund Rous was second son of Henry Rous, Esq. of Dennington, in Suffolk, the ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.
22.4Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.
22.5Walter Gorges, Esq., married Mary, the daughter and heir of Sir William Oldhall, and was at this time Lord of the Manor of Oldhall, in Great Fransham. He died in 1466. His son and heir, Sir Edmund Gorges, afterwards married a daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, the first Duke of Norfolk of that family.—F.
22.6John Curde was Lord of the Manor of Curde’s Hall, in Fransham.—F.
23.1Elizabeth Mundeford was the widow of Osbert Mundeford, Esq. of Hockwold, in Norfolk, and was daughter of John Berney, Esq., by which means she was aunt to J. Paston.—F.
To my right reverent mastras, Agnes Paston, be this lettre delyveryd in haste.
1460-4
Ryghwurchepful mastres, I recomaund me un to yow, thankyng yow of the gret chere that ze made me the last tyme that I was with zow. Mastres, in alle zour godys and ocupacyons that lyth in my simpil power to do in wurd, wil and dede, I have do my dylygens and my power therto, so I be savyd be fore God, and have owyn to your person ryght herty love; for the qwych I am ryght illeaqwyt, and it be as I understande yt; for it is do me to wete that I am swid with mor of my paryshchons for a reskuse makyng up on the offycers of the shrewys [sheriff], and I take God to record that it is wrongfully do on to us. And the gret fray that the [they] mad in the tyme of masse it ravyched my witts and mad me ful hevyly dysposyd. I pray Jesu gef hem grace to repent hem therof that the [they] that caused it may stand out of perel of soule.
Maystras, at the reverens of God, and as evyr I may do servyce that may be plesyng on to yow, send me justyly wurd be the brynger of this bylle ho ze wil that I be gydyd; for it is told me that if I be take I may no other remedy havyn but streyth to prison. For the whiche I have sold away xxs.wurth of stuffe; and the reswd [residue] of my stuff, I have put it in swier hande, for trwly I wil not abyde the joparte of the swth,—I have levir to go as far as my fet may ber me. Nevir the less as ze komand me to do, so it be not to my gret hurt, I wil fulfille it. Nomor to zow at this tyme, but God send yow that grace that ze may kome to His blyss.
Wreten at Bromholm in gret haste,Be yourSirRobert Willyamson.
23.2[From Fenn, iii. 48.] The writer of this letter was Vicar of Paston from 1460 to 1464, and as he dates from Bromholm, which is in the immediate neighbourhood of Paston, we may presume that it was written during the time he held that benefice.
To my ryth worchepfull husbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.
1462JAN. 7
Rythworchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I sent yow a lettyr by my cosyn Barneys man of Wychyngham wyche was wretyn on Seynt Thomas Day in Crystmas,24.2and I had no tydyngys nor lettyr of yow sene the wek before Crystmas;wher of I mervayle sore. I fere me it is not well with yow be cawse ye came not home or sent er thys tyme. I hopyd verily ye schold have ben at home by Twelthe at the ferthest. I pray yow hertly that ye wole wychesave to send me word how ye do as hastly as ye may, for my hert schall nevyr be in ese tyll I have tydyngys fro yow. Pepyll of this contre begynyth to wax wyld, and it is seyd her that my Lord of Clarans and the Dwek of Suthfolk and serteyn jwgys with hem schold come downe and syt on syche pepyll as be noysyd ryotous in thys contre. And also it is seyd here, that there is retornyd a newe rescwe up on that that was do at the scher. I suppose swyche talkynge comyth of false schrewys that wold mak a rwmor in this contre. The pepyll seyth here that they had levyr go up hole to the Kynge and compleyne of siche false screwys as they have be wrongyd by a fore, than they schold be compleynyd of with owt cause and be hangyd at ther owne dorys. In good feyth men fere sore here of a comone rysyng but if [i.e.unless] a bettyr remedy may be had to a pese the pepyll in hast, and that ther be sent swyche downe to tak a rewyll as the pepyll hathe a fantsy in, that wole be indeferent. They love not in no wyse the Dwke of Sowthfolk nor hys modyr. They sey that all the tretourys and extorsyonerys of thys contre be meynteynyd by them and by syche as they get to them with her goodys, to that intent to meynten suche extorsyon style as hathe be do by suche as hathe had the rewyll undyr them be fore tyme. Men wene, and the Dwke of Sowthfolk come ther scholl be a schrewd reuell but if [unless] ther come odyr that be bettyr belovyd than he is here. The pepyll feryth hem myche the more to be hurt, because that ye and my cosyn Barney come not home; they sey they wot welle it is not well with yow and if it be not well with yow, they sey they wot well, they that wole do yow wronge wole sone do them wronge, and that makyth them all most mad. God for Hys holy mersy geve grace that ther may be set a good rewyll and a sad in this contre in hast, for I herd nevyr sey of so myche robry and manslawter in thys contre as is now within a lytyll tyme. And as for gadyryng of mony, I sey nevyr a werse seson, for Rychard Calle seyth he can getbut lytyll in substans of that is owyng, nowthyr of yowyr lyvelod nor of Fastolfys th’eyr. And John Paston seyth, they that may pay best they pay werst; they fare as thow they hopyd to have a newe werd [world]. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng and send us good tydyngys of yow.
Yelverton is a good thredbare frend for yow and for odyr in thys contre, as it is told me.
Wretyn in hast on the Thorsday nex aftyr Twelthe.By yowyrMargaret Paston.
24.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The contents of this letter clearly show that it was written in January 1462, nine days afterNo. 497.24.2SeeNo. 497.
24.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The contents of this letter clearly show that it was written in January 1462, nine days afterNo. 497.
24.2SeeNo. 497.
1462JAN. 27
Rythworchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that Perse was delyveryd owt [of] preson by the generall pardon that the Kynge hathe grantyd, whyche was opynly proclamyd in the Gyld Hall. A none as he was delyveryd he cam hedyr to me, God wote in an evyll plyte, and he desyiryd me wepyng that I wold be hys good mastres and to be mene to yow to be hys good mastyr, and swore sore that he was nevyr defawty in that ye have thowte hym defawty in. He seyd that if ther wer ony coyne in the cofyr that was at Wylliam Tavernerys it was ther withowt hys knowlage, for hys mastyr wold nevyr lat hym se what was in that cofyr, and he told me that the keyis wer sent to Thomas Holler26.2by mastyr John Smyth. What Holler leyd in or took owte he wot not as he sweryth. He offyrd me to be rewlyd as ye and I wold have hym, and if I wold comand hym, to go ageyn to preson, whedyr I wold to the Castyll or to the Gyld Hall, he wold obey my comandment. And seth that he came of hys owne fre wyll withowt ony comandment of ony man or desyir,I seyd I wold not send hym ageyn to preson, so that he wold abyde yowyr rewyll when ye came home. And so he is here with me and schall be tyll ye send me word how ye wole that I do with hym. Where fore, I pray yow that ye wole lete me have knowlage in hast how ye wole that I do with hym.
Item, I have spok with John Dame and Playter for the lettyr testymonyall, and John Dame hathe promysyd to get it, and Playter schall bryng it to yow to London. Item, I have purveyd yow of a man that schall be here in Barsamys sted and ye wole, the wyche can bettyr cherysch yowyr wood, bothe in fellyng and fensyng there of than Barsam can; and he schall mak yow as many hyrdyllys as ye nede for yowyr fold, of yowyr owne wood at Drayton, and schall tak as lytyll to hys wagys as Barsam dothe; and he is holdyn a trew man. Item, Playter schall tell yow of a woman that compleynyd to the Dwk of Sowthefolk of yow, and the sey[d] Playter schall tell yow of the demenyng and answeryng of the scheryfe for yow, and also of the demenyng of the seyd Dwke, and of othir materys the wyche wer to longe mater to put in wryttyn. The pepyll of that kontre be ryth glad that the day yed [went] with yow on Monday as it ded. Ye wer nevyr so welcome in to Norfolk as ye schall be when ye come home, I trowe. And the blyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Wednysday next aftyr Seynt Augnet the Fyrst.By yowyr M. P.
Item, Ric. Calle told me that he hathe sent you a answer of all erands that ye wold shuld be do to Sir Thomas Howes. Sir Thomas Howes cam nowther to me nor sent syn that he cam home from London.
Will Worceter was at me in Cristemes at Heylysdon, and he told [me] that he spake with you dyvers tymys at London the last terme; and he told me that he hopyd that ye wolle be hys good master, and seyd he hopyd ye shuld have non other cause but for to be hys god maister. I hope and so do my moder and my cosyn Clere, that he wolle do well inowe, so that he be fayre fare with Dawbeney and Playter. Avise me to lete Peers go at large and to take a promys of hym tocom to me a mong unto your comyng hom, and in the mene while his demenyng may be knowyn and espyed in mo thyngs.
26.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter relates to the prisoner Piers mentioned in Nos. 423, 424, and 426. He seems to have been delivered by a general pardon issued at the commencement of the reign of EdwardIV.The letter bears no address. It is endorsed, but in a much later hand:— ‘A lettre to J. Paston, Ar., from his wife.’26.2He was John Berney’s executor.
26.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter relates to the prisoner Piers mentioned in Nos. 423, 424, and 426. He seems to have been delivered by a general pardon issued at the commencement of the reign of EdwardIV.The letter bears no address. It is endorsed, but in a much later hand:— ‘A lettre to J. Paston, Ar., from his wife.’
26.2He was John Berney’s executor.
To the ryght reverent and worship sir, John Paston, sum tyme Lord of Gresham, and now fermour therof, as hit is seide.
Perysof Legh come to Lynne opon Cristynmesse Even in the fresshest wise, and there he dyned so as was; bot when my Lorde of Oxenforde herde hereof he with his feliship and suche as I and other your presoneres come rydyng unto Lynne, and even unto the Bysshop gaole where the seid Perys dyned with other of his feliship. My Lorde pulled hym oute of the seid gaole and made to kest hym opon an horse, and tyed an halter by his arme, and so ledde hym furth like hym selff. And even furthwith the seid Bysshop, the Mair, and other their feliship mette with my seide Lorde and your presoneres, and also the seide Perys tyed by an halter, the Bysshop havyng thies wordes unto my Lorde with his pillion28.2in his handes, ‘My Lordes, this is a presoner, ye may knowebyhis tepet and staff. What will ye do with hym?’ Therto my Lorde seide, ‘He is my presoner nowe.’ Wherto the Bysshop seid, ‘Where is youre warraunt or commission therto?’ My Lorde seide, ‘I have warraunt sufficiaunt to me.’ And thus they departed, the Mair and all the cominaltie of Lynne kepyng theire silence. Bot when we weren goon, and Perys of Legh fast in Rysyng Castell, then the yates of Lynne, by the Bysshop comaundement weren fast sperred [shut] and keped with men of armes. And then theBysshop and his squyers rebuked the Mair of Lynne and seid that he hade shamed both hym and his toun for ever, with muche other langage, &c.
The Bysshop shulde have keped his Cristenmesse at Gaywode, bot yet he come not oute of Lynne. In faith, my Lorde dyd quyte hym als curageousely as ever I wist man do. The Bysshop come to the toun with lx. persones the same tyme, and made to sper the yates after hym, bot when we mette, ther bode not with hym over xij. persones atte the most, with his serjaunt of armes; whiche serjaunt was fayn to lay doun his mase; and so atte the same yates we come in we went oute, and no blode drawen, God be thanked.
Yf ye will any thyng atte I may do, send me worde; hit shall be doon to my power, &c. Comaunde me to my maistresse your wyff, &c. And yf ye dar joperdie your suyrtie of C. marc I shall come and se you. And elles have me excused, for, &c.From your oune,John Douebiggyng.
28.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently earlier in date than the last, and may perhaps have been written at the close of the year 1460, but as it refers to the same prisoner as the preceding No. we place it here for convenience. It is printed in the fifth volume of Fenn’s edition as a letter of HenryVII.’s time owing to a misreading of the address, which might easily convey the impression that it was directed to ‘Sir John Paston.’28.2The hat worn by a Doctor of Divinity.
28.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently earlier in date than the last, and may perhaps have been written at the close of the year 1460, but as it refers to the same prisoner as the preceding No. we place it here for convenience. It is printed in the fifth volume of Fenn’s edition as a letter of HenryVII.’s time owing to a misreading of the address, which might easily convey the impression that it was directed to ‘Sir John Paston.’
28.2The hat worn by a Doctor of Divinity.
ye may knowe by his tepet and stafftext has “bv his” (misprint or damaged type)
To the ryght reverent and my mooste worschipful master, my Master John Paston, in the Inneer Tempyll.
1462FEB. 1
Plesith it your maisterschip to witte that I have been at Burnewyll in Nacton to receyve the rentes and fermys of the tenauntes. And I undrestande be them, and be Robert Goordon that Mastre Jenney whas there and helde a coorte on the Mondaye next aftre Tlwelthe, and warned the tenauntes that theyschulde pay no money to no man onto the tyme they had worde from hym, seyng that he whas on of the feffeys of the same maner, and that he whas feed with Sir John Fastolff, of weche fee he was be hynde for ij. yere; wherfore he desired the tenauntes that they schulde not be redy in payement onto the tyme they had word from hym, but that he myght be payed of his seide fee, lyke as the wylle of the deede was. Wherfore I can gete no money of them unto the tyme they have knowleche how it stond be twyx your maistership and Mr. Jenney; for withoute Jenney write to hem or come hom ward that wey, and have the tenauntes together and lete hem witte that ye ought to have the rentes and fermes of the seid maner, I can not see that ye be like to have but litell money there, withoute ye woll do distreyne throuout all the lordeschip. I have sette dayes to purvey but [their] money ayenst the first weke of cleene Lenton, and than they schul have an answere who shal receyve it. Wherfore that it please your maistership to remembre to speke to Mastre Jenney. The blissed Trinite preserve you and kepe you from all advercyte. Wreten at Yebbyshep30.1the furst daye of Februare.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.Item, the maner of Stratton shuld paye of rente xxvjs.viijd., weche the fermour seythe my mastresse Brandon is acorded with you. He is be hynde for certeine yeres, &c.
Plesith it your maisterschip to witte that I have been at Burnewyll in Nacton to receyve the rentes and fermys of the tenauntes. And I undrestande be them, and be Robert Goordon that Mastre Jenney whas there and helde a coorte on the Mondaye next aftre Tlwelthe, and warned the tenauntes that theyschulde pay no money to no man onto the tyme they had worde from hym, seyng that he whas on of the feffeys of the same maner, and that he whas feed with Sir John Fastolff, of weche fee he was be hynde for ij. yere; wherfore he desired the tenauntes that they schulde not be redy in payement onto the tyme they had word from hym, but that he myght be payed of his seide fee, lyke as the wylle of the deede was. Wherfore I can gete no money of them unto the tyme they have knowleche how it stond be twyx your maistership and Mr. Jenney; for withoute Jenney write to hem or come hom ward that wey, and have the tenauntes together and lete hem witte that ye ought to have the rentes and fermes of the seid maner, I can not see that ye be like to have but litell money there, withoute ye woll do distreyne throuout all the lordeschip. I have sette dayes to purvey but [their] money ayenst the first weke of cleene Lenton, and than they schul have an answere who shal receyve it. Wherfore that it please your maistership to remembre to speke to Mastre Jenney. The blissed Trinite preserve you and kepe you from all advercyte. Wreten at Yebbyshep30.1the furst daye of Februare.Your pore servaunt and bedman,R. Calle.
Item, the maner of Stratton shuld paye of rente xxvjs.viijd., weche the fermour seythe my mastresse Brandon is acorded with you. He is be hynde for certeine yeres, &c.
29.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The manor of Burneviles in Nacton, near Ipswich, was part of the lands of Sir John Fastolf which Paston inherited by his will; but his claim was disputed by Jenney, one of the executors. As Jenney is here said to have complained that his fee was two years in arrear, we may presume that it was little over two years since Fastolf’s death when this letter was written. For further evidences of date compareNo. 494. It may also be observed that we find undoubted evidence that John Paston was residing in the Inner Temple six weeks later (seeNo. 511), whereas in the preceding year he was in Norfolk, where his brother Clement wrote to him news from London (No. 430).30.1Ipswich?
29.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] The manor of Burneviles in Nacton, near Ipswich, was part of the lands of Sir John Fastolf which Paston inherited by his will; but his claim was disputed by Jenney, one of the executors. As Jenney is here said to have complained that his fee was two years in arrear, we may presume that it was little over two years since Fastolf’s death when this letter was written. For further evidences of date compareNo. 494. It may also be observed that we find undoubted evidence that John Paston was residing in the Inner Temple six weeks later (seeNo. 511), whereas in the preceding year he was in Norfolk, where his brother Clement wrote to him news from London (No. 430).
30.1Ipswich?
1462FEB. 9
Righttrusty and welbeloved, I grete yow hartily well, and will ye wite that where hit is so, that Sir John Fastolf, whom God assoyle, with other, was sum tyme by Sir Herry Inglose enfeffed of trust of his maner offe Pykewurthe in Rutlande, the which made his wille, proved, that the seid maner sholde by solde by Robert Inglose and Edmunde Wychingham his executours, to whom the seid Sir John hathrelesed, as his dute was to do; now it is so that for John Browne31.1ther is shewed a dede under seall of armes berynge date byfore his reles made to the Duke of Norffoke, Henry Inglose and other, contrarie to the wille of the seid Sir Herry and the trust of the feoffement that the seid Sir John Fastolff was infeffed inne. And a letter of Attorney under the same seale of armes to yow, to deliver seison acordynge to the same feffement, to the gret disclaundre of the seid Sir John and all his, yef this be true. Wherfore I preie yow hertili that ye feithfully and truly rescribe to me in all the hast ye may what ye knowe in this mater such as ye wull stonde by with outen glose, and how ye can imagine that this crafte shulde be practised, and specially whether ye yourself delivered seison in Rutlond or noo. And this and what incedentes ye knowe, I preie yow by wrytinge certefie me in all hast, that I may be the more ripe to answer to this, to the wurship of the seid Sir John, that was your maister, so that thorowh your defaute your seid maisters soule ther for lie not in perell, but this disclaundre may be eesed and cesed as reson requireth, to the wurship of hym and all that longe to hym. And this I pray yow faile not offe as I truste yow. Wret at Londo[n] the ix. day of Februar.Yowr frend,Jon Paston.
30.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] TheMS.is a rough draft signed by John Paston the eldest, and corrected in his hand. It seems to have been written on the cover of a letter addressed to himself; for on the back is this direction in another hand:— ‘To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston the eldest, Esquier, be this deliveryd in hast.’We have inserted this letter in the year 1462 as this was the first year after Fastolf’s death, when John Paston appears to have been residing in London in the beginning of February. The only other possible years are 1463, 1465, and 1466.31.1This name is substituted for ‘Herry Inglose,’ struck out.
30.2[From PastonMSS., B.M.] TheMS.is a rough draft signed by John Paston the eldest, and corrected in his hand. It seems to have been written on the cover of a letter addressed to himself; for on the back is this direction in another hand:— ‘To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston the eldest, Esquier, be this deliveryd in hast.’
We have inserted this letter in the year 1462 as this was the first year after Fastolf’s death, when John Paston appears to have been residing in London in the beginning of February. The only other possible years are 1463, 1465, and 1466.
31.1This name is substituted for ‘Herry Inglose,’ struck out.
To the ryght wurshipfull sir and meyster, myn Mayster John Paston, Squier.
1462[FEB.]
Ryghtworshipfull sire and mayster, I recomaunde me to yow. And please yow that the chirche of Drayton is or shal be resyngned in hast in to the Bysshopys hands by Sir John Bullok, desyryng yow hertly that ye lyke Imay have the presentacion of the next avoydaunce for a newew of myn, callyd Sir Reynold Spendlove, whiche I truste youre maystership wold agree to make in youre name and myn as was last, &c. And, sir, please yow also that I have hadde diverse communicacions with Worcestr sethe Crystmesse,32.1and I fele by hym otterly that he wole not appoynt in other fourme than to have the londs of Feyrechildes and other londes in Drayton to the sume of x. marc of yow proprely, by syde that that he desyreth of myn mayster, whom God assoyle, whiche mater I remytte to your noble discrecion.
And as for answere of the bylles that I have, I have ben so sekelew seythe Crystmasse that I myght not yette don hem, but I shal in alle hast, wher inne ye may excuse yow by me if ye please tyl the next terme, at whiche tyme alle shal be aunswered, be Godds grace, who preserve yow and send yow th’ accomplyshement of youre desyres, &c.
Item, sere, please youre maystership hit was leten me wete in ryght secrete wyse that a pyssaunce is redy to aryve in thre parties of this londe, by the meane of Kyng Herry and the Quene that wes, and by the Dewk Somercete and others, of vi.xx.m.l.[120,000] men; and here day, if wynde and weder hadde servyd theym, shuld a’ ben here sone upon Candelmasse; at Trente to London werdes thei shuld a’ ben by Candelmasse or sone after, one parte of theym, and another parte comyng from Walys, and the thredde fro Yernessey and Garnesseye. Wher fore it is weel don ye enforme myn Lord Warwyk, that he may speke to the Kyng that good provy[s]ion be hadde for withstandyng there malicyous purpose and evyl wylle, whiche God graunt we may our come theym; and so we shuld,I dought not, if we were alle on [one]. There ben many medelers, and they ben best cheryshed, whyche wold hurt moche if these come to, as God diffende, &c.T. Howys.
31.2[From Fenn, iv. 68.] For evidence of the date of this letter, Fenn quotes the following extracts from the Institution Books in the Registry of the Bishop of Norwich:—‘Draiton‘Reg. xi. 124. 29 January 1460-1. Johannes Bullock ad præsentationem Joh’is Paston arm. et Tho. Howys capellani.‘Reg. xi. 131. 15 March 1461-2. Joh’es Flourdew ad præsentationem eorundem.’It thus appears that the living was resigned by John Bullock in 1461-2, and on the 15th March John Flourdew was presented to it, not the person here recommended by Howes.32.1This word is indicated by Fenn as indistinct in theMS.
31.2[From Fenn, iv. 68.] For evidence of the date of this letter, Fenn quotes the following extracts from the Institution Books in the Registry of the Bishop of Norwich:—
‘Draiton
‘Reg. xi. 124. 29 January 1460-1. Johannes Bullock ad præsentationem Joh’is Paston arm. et Tho. Howys capellani.
‘Reg. xi. 131. 15 March 1461-2. Joh’es Flourdew ad præsentationem eorundem.’
It thus appears that the living was resigned by John Bullock in 1461-2, and on the 15th March John Flourdew was presented to it, not the person here recommended by Howes.
32.1This word is indicated by Fenn as indistinct in theMS.
To my ryth worchepfullhusbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.
1462MARCH
Plesythyow to wete that John Wellys and his brodyr told me thys nyth that the Kyng lay at Cambryge as yestyrsnyth to Sandwyche ward, for ther is gret dyvysyen be twyx the Lordys and the schypmen ther, that causyth hym to goo thedyr to se a remedye therfor.
I thank God that John Paston yed non erst [went no earlier] forthe, for I trust to God all schall be do er he comyth. And it is told me that Syr John Howard is lek to lese hys hed.
If it plese yow to send to the seyd Wellys, he schall send yow mor tydyngys than I may wryt at thys tyme. God have yow in Hys kepyng.
Wretyn in hast at Thetford, at xj. of the clok in the nyth, the same day I departyd fro yow.
I thank Pampyng of hys good wyll, and them that wer cause of changyng of my hors, for they ded me a bettyr torne than I wend they had do, and I schall aquyt them anothyr day, and I maye.By yorM. P.
33.1[From Fenn, ii. 288.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that EdwardIV.was at Cambridge on the 2nd and 3rd March 1462, and this is probably the visit alluded to, although we do not find that the King went on to Sandwich afterwards.
To my ryth worchepfull husbond, John Pastontext has “husbona” (italic “a” for “d”)
To myn ryth reverent and worschypfull fader, John Paston, beyng in the Inder Temple.
1462MARCH 13
Ryghtreverent and wyrshypfull fader, I recomand me un to you, be sychyng you of your blessyng and gode faderhode. Pleasyt it you to understond the grete expens that I have dayly travelyng with the Kyng, as the berour here of can enfourme you; and howe long that I am lyke to tary here in thys country or I may speke with you a gayn, and howe I am chargyd to have myn hors and harnys redy, and in hasty wyse, besykyng you to consyder theys causes, and so to remembr me that I may have suche thynges as I may do my mayster servys with and pleasur, trusting in God it schall be to your wyrshyp and to myn and vayll [avail]. In especiall I besyche you, that I may be sur where to have mony somwhat be fore Estern, other of you, or by myn uncle Clement, when nede ys. Of othir causes the berour hereof can enfourme you. No more to you at thys tyme, but God have you in Hys kepyng.
Wryten at Stamford, the xiij. day of March.Be yowr sone and servant,John Paston, the Older.
34.1[From Fenn, iv. 126.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that EdwardIV.was at Stamford, from the 9th to the 17th March, in the second year of his reign,i.e.in 1462. This letter belongs therefore to that year.
Memorandum. This is the confessyon of xvj. Frenshemen with the Mastyr, takyn at Sheryngam, the iij. wek of Lent.
1462MARCH
Rightworshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you, and lete you wytte, that I have be at Shiryngham, and examyned the Frenshmen to the nombre of xvj. with the maister. And thei telle that the Duke of Somerset is in to Scotland; and thei sey the Lord Hungyrforthe was on Monday last passed afore Sheryngham in to Scotland ward, in a kervyle [carvel] of Depe, no gret power with hym, ne with the seid Duk neyther. And thei sey that the Duk of Burgoyn35.2is poysened, and not like to recovere. And as for powers to be gadered ayenst our weelfare; thei sey, there shulde come in to Seyne CC. gret forstages35.3owt of Spayne, from the Kyng there;35.4and CCC. shippes from the Duk of Bretayne35.5with the navy of Fraunce, but thei be not yet assembled, ne vitayll there purveyd, as thei sey, ne men. And the Kyng of Fraunce35.6is in to Spayne on pilgrymage with fewe hors as thei sey; what the purpose is thei can not telle certeyn, &c. In hast at Norwich.
The Kyng of Frauns hath comitted the rewle of Bordews on to the marchaunds of the toun, and the browd35.7tha[t] be therin to be at ther wages; and like as Caleys is a Stapole of wolle here in England, so is that made staple of wyne.
John Fermer, presoner, seyth, on [one] John Gylys, a clerk that was with the Erle of Oxforthe, wych was some tym in Kyng Herrys hows, was a prevy secretary with the Erle ofOxforthe; and if any wrytyng wer made by the seyd Erle, the seyd Gylys knew ther of in this gret matyeres.