743ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON70.1

68.1[From Fenn, ii. 28.] From the reference to the King’s being about to go into Lincolnshire, and what is said of the Earl of Warwick, it may be clearly inferred that this letter was written on the outbreak of the insurrection of Sir Robert Welles in the beginning of March 1470.68.2Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of bills and receipts, etc.69.1Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of some disputes between Sir William Yelverton and Sir John Paston, his uncle William, etc., of no consequence.69.2shall.This word is not in Fenn’s left-hand or literal transcript, but is given as part of the text in the right-hand copy.743ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON70.1To my Cosyn, J. Paston.1470MARCH 27TheKing camme to Grantham, and ther taried Thoresday all day; and ther was headed Sir Thomas Dalalaunde, and on John Neille, a greate capteyn; and upon the Monday next after that at Dancastr, and ther was headed Sir Robert Wellys, and a nothr greate capteyn; and than the King hadde warde that the Duk of Clarence and the Erle of Warwick was att Esterfeld [Chesterfield], xx. mile from Dancastre.And upon the Tewesday att ix. of the bell, the King toke the feld, and mustered his people; and itt was seid that wer never seyn in Inglond so many goodly men, and so well arreiyed in a feld. And my Lord was whorsshupfully accompanyed, no lord ther so well; wherfor the King gaffe my Lord a greate thanke.And than the Duk of Clarence and the Erle of Warwik harde that the King was comyng to them warde, in contynent they departed and wente to Manchestre in Lancasshire, hopyng to have hadde helpe and socour of the Lord Stanley, butt in conclucion ther they hadde litill favor, as itt was enformed the King, and so men sayn they wente westward, and sommen demen to London. And whan the King harde they wer departed and gon, he went to York, and came theder the Thoresday next aftr, and ther camme in to hym all the gentilmen of the shire; and uppon our Lady Day [he] made Percy Erle of Northumberland, and he that was Erle affore Markeys Muntakew. And [so]71.1the King is purposed to come southwarde, God send hym god spede.Writen the xxvij. day of March.For Trowyth.70.1[From Fenn, ii. 36.] This letter gives an account of the suppression of the rebellion in Lincolnshire in 1470.71.1This word is not in the text of Fenn’s literal transcript, but it is given without brackets in the transcript in modern spelling.744ABSTRACT71.2William Worcester to ——1470Letter in English, on paper (signed W. W., but unaddressed), desiring some one to propose to ‘my Lord’ [the Bishop of Winchester?] the obtaining of a letter from Sir John Paston to the tenants of Titchwell that he will not claim any rents from them, and another from ‘my Lord,’ to the same effect, on behalf of Sir William Yelverton; and the sending a warrant to expend 4 or 6 marks upon making up the sea banks before the Titchwell pastures, because atSpring the sea breaks in upon them. Desires to know whether Sir W. Yelverton’s advice shall be taken upon business matters. ‘Frere’ Geffrey Westvale is going to be created Doctor in Theology at Cambridge, at the Feast of St. John, who twenty years past, when at Yarmouth convent, belonged to ‘my Maister Fastolf’; and Sir Thomas Howys, a month before his decease, promised to help him on Mr. Fastolf’s order. He would have come now to ‘my Lord’ to ask his alms had not the writer letted him. Desires to be informed whether ‘my Lord’ will help him. ‘Maister Briston yn lykewyse Maister Spicer, and Maister Stevyns, trustyn appon me and dyvers others to speke to my Lord for a relyeve,’ and Thomas Fastolf and Milcent Fastolf, and many others, ‘that make me noyed and werye.’71.2[FromMS.Titchwell, 120, in Magdalen College, Oxford.] From internal evidence it would seem that this letter must have been written shortly before that which follows it. The abstracts of these two letters have been kindly supplied to me by Mr. Macray.745ABSTRACT72.11470MAY 17Letter in English from W. Wyrcestre to Bishop Wayneflete.—Has been at Tychewell to endeavour to let the manor and farm, but none of the farmers there will take it without guarantees from Sir John Paston and Sir William Yelverton in writing against any distraint. . . . . the younger, who owes £9, will come to the Bishop about the letting. The writer represents his own poor condition. Has been at charges ten years in London, and in riding on the infinite process of ‘my Maister Fastolf’s testament yn the court of audience.’ Is now obliged to retire from London to Cambridge in order to live cheaply. Had been promised 25 marks on Paston’s behalf, 20 marks for ever of Fastolf’s lands, 5 marks of fee for his life, and £15 worth of land for ever. Has not had clearly 8 marks.72.1[FromMS.Titchwell, 199, in Magdalen College, Oxford.]746JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON72.2To Syr John Paston, Knyght, or to Thomas Stompys, to delyver to the seyd Syr John.1470JUNE 22Ryghtworchepfull syr, and my specyall good brodyr, I recomand me to yow; and for as myche as I can not send yow good tydyngs, ye shall have syche as I knowe.It is so that on Wednysday last past ye and I, Pampyng, and Edmund Broom were endyttyd of felonye at the Sessyons her in Norwyche for shotyng of a gonne at Caster in August last past, whyche goone slowghe two men, I, Pampyng and Broom as pryncypall, and ye as accessary; notwithstandyng Townysend73.1and Lomner held an oppynyon that the verdytt is voyd, for ther wer ij. of th’enqwest that wold not agre to th’endyttment. And in as myche as they ij. wer agreyd in othyr maters, and not in that, and that they two wer not dyschargyd fro the remnant at syche tym as that verdyth of yowyr endytment was govyn, ther oppynyon is that all the vordyght is voyde, as well of all othyr maters as of yowyr. Whedyr ther opynyon be good or not, I can not determyne, nor them sylf neythyr.I pray yow let not thys mater be slept, for I can thynk that my Lord of Norff. consaylle wyll cawse the wedows to tak an apell, and to remeve it up in to the Kyngs Benche at the begynyng of this term. Townysend hathe promysyd me that he shall be at London on Twysday next comyng, and then ye may comon with hym in that mater, and take hys avyse.Item, Townysend and Lomner thynk that and ye have good consayll, ye may justyfye the kepyng of the plase for the pesybyll possessyon that ye have had in it mor then iij. yeer; but in conclusyon, all thys is doo for nowght ellys but for to enforse yow to take a dyreccyon with my Lord of Norff.I undyrstood by R. Sothewell—for he and I comonyd in thys mater ryght largely betwyx hem and me—in so myche he tellyth me that and I be at London in the wek next aftyr Seynt Petyr, at whych tyme he shall be ther hym sylf, he seyth that my Lady hathe promysyd me hyr good ladyshep, and sent me woord by hym, in as myche as he spak for me to hyr, that she wold remembyr myn old servyse, and for get the gret dysplesyr in syche wyse that I shall undyrstand that the swtte that I have mad to my Lord hyr husbond and hyr shall torne to your avantage and myn, more then we weene as yett or shall undyrstand tyll syche tyme as I have spokyn with hyr good grace. And upon thys promesse Ihave promysyd Sothewell to meet with hym at London that same weeke next aftyr Seynt Petyr; wherfor I wold passyngly fayne that ye wer in London at that season, or nye abowght London, so that I myght undyrstand at your plase wher that I myght spek with yow or then I spek with my Lady.I propose to go to Canterbery74.1on foot thys next week, with Godds grace, and so to com to London fro thense. I pray yow se that I be safe for Parker and Henry Coletts mater.Sothewell74.2told me thys, that if so be that ye wyll your sylf, ye shall have bothe goode lordshep and ladyshep, and mony or lond, or both, and all your maters set cler. What that he menyth, I can not sey. As for all othyr maters in thys contre, I shall do as well as I may for fawt of monye tyll I spek with yow. I have many collars on, as I shall tell yow when I come.No more, but God preserve yow and yours. Wretyn at Norwyche, Fryday next aftyr Corpus Christi Daye.J. P.I ded as myche as I kowd to have lettyd th’endyttment, but it wold not be, as I shall enform you; and Townysend knowyth the same.72.2[From Fenn, iv. 428.] As this letter refers to an incident in the siege of Caister as having taken place ‘in August last,’ there can be no doubt about the date.73.1Probably Roger Townsend, afterwards Justice of the Common Pleas.74.1On pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, I suppose.—F.74.2Richard Southwell, Esq. of Wood-Rising. He acquired this estate by marrying Amy, daughter and co-heir of Sir Edmund Wichingham, Knight.—F.747JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON74.3To Syr John Paston, Knyght, or to Thomas Stomppys, to delyver to the seyd Syr John.1470JUNE 25AsI sent yow woord by a lettyr that John Wymondham browght to London, J. Pampyng is endyghtyd of felony, and Edmund Broon as princypallys, and ye as axcessary, for schotyng of agonne in Awgust last past, whychegonne kyllyd ij. men; and I trowe that my Lord of Norff. consayll wyll make on of the wedows, or bothe, to swe an apell up on the same endyghtment thys terme. Wherfor I pray yow se well to thys mater, that when it is sertyfyid in to the Kyngys Benche, Broom and Pampyng may have warnyng that they may purvey for hem self, if ther com enycapyasowght for hem. Townysend can tell yow all the mater.Also ye must in eny wyse be ware, for my grauntdam75.1and myn Lady Anne75.2and myn Oncyll Wyllam shall be at London within thes viij. or x. dayis, and I wot well it is for nowght ellys but to make myn Oncyll Wyllam swyr of hyr lond, notwithstandyng she hath reryd affyn of it be for Goodreed,75.3the Justyse, in my grauntfadyrs dayis, and my modyr tellyth me that ye have the copye of the same fyne; I wold avyse yow to have it redy, what so evyr betyd. I trow they wyll be the more besy abowght the same mater, because they thynk that ye dar not com in London, nor at Westmenstyr to lett [stop] them; but if so be that ye have not the copy of the same fynne, look that ye spare for no cost to do serche for itt, for it wyll stand yow on hand, I feell by the werkyng.Thys day sevennyght I trust to God to be forward to Caunterbery at the ferthest, and upon Saterday com sevennygh I tryst to God to be in London; wherfor I pray yow leve woord at yowr plase in Fleet Strett wher I shall fynd yow, for I purpose not to be seyn in London tyll I have spook with yow.I pray yow remembyr thes maters, for all is doon to make yow to drawe to an ende with thes Lordys that have your lond fro yow. No more, but I pray God send yow your herttys desyir in thees maters and in all othyr.Wretyn at Norwyche, the Monday next aftyr Seynt John Baptyst.J. P.74.3[From Fenn, iv. 434.] This letter, it will be seen, refers in the beginning to the same matter as the preceding.75.1Agnes Paston, widow of William Paston, the Judge.75.2Anne, daughter of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, married William Paston, the uncle of Sir John Paston.—F.75.3William Goodrede was created a Serjeant-at-Law in 1425. In 1431 he was appointed King’s Serjeant, and in 1434 became a Justice of the King’s Bench.—F.748ABSTRACT76.11470JULY 3Indenture between Sir John Paston and Edmund Shaa, goldsmith, London, concerning 20 dishes and a saucer of silver pledged to the latter, 3rd July 10 Edw.IV.76.1[From PastonMSS.]749ABSTRACT76.21470JULY 8Indenture, dated London, 8th July 10 Edw.IV., whereby Sir John Paston places in pawn to Stephen Kelke, goldsmith, of London, 16 pottingers, weighing 22 lb. 10½ oz. Troy weight, for £40, till Whitsuntide following.76.2[From Add. Charter 17,249, B.M.]750ABSTRACTS76.3Fastolf’s Lands1470JULY 14‘11. A triparted indenture betweene William Bishop of Winton and John Paston, Knight, and others, touching the intent of two feoffmentes of the Bishop of Wynton, the one of the mannors of Drayton and Tolthorp, in the county of Norfolk and the city of Norwich, which were somtymes Sir John Falstofs; the other of the mannors of Wynterton, cald Bregmiles (?), of Reppys in Bastwyke, the third part of the mannor of Rowneham, londes and tenementes cald Cutts in Haringby, and lands cald Buley in Stokesby, to Guy Fairfax, John Paston, Squier, et aliis. July 14, Edw.IV.10.’‘17. Relaxatio Johannis Paston, Georgii Arch. Cant. et aliorum Willielmo Waynflet totius juris de et in omnibus maneriis, terris, &c. quæ fuerunt Johannis Falstolf in comit’ Norf., exceptis manerio de Castre et Spensers in Haringby, acterris vocat’ Vaux, Redham, et Bosoms, et maner’ de Hayleydon, Drayton, et Tolthorp. Julii 14, Edw.IV.10.’‘28. An indenture contayning mutuall releases of the Bishop of Wynton to John Paston, Knight, et ca.July 14, Edw.IV.10.’‘29 and 61. An indenture containing the agreement betweene Wylliam Wainflet, Bishop of Wynton, and Sir John Paston, concerning Sir John Fastolfes landes and goods. July 14, Edw.IV.10.’This last document, of which there is another copy or draft, numbered 36 in the Index, is more fully described, as follows, by Mr. Macray, in the Fourth Report of the HistoricalMSS.Commission:—1470, 14 July, 10 Edw.IV.Indenture tripartite (very long, in English) between Bishop Wayneflete and Sir John Paston, Knight, containing an agreement for the termination of disputes between the executors of the will of Sir John Fastolf, whereby the property of the latter has been much wasted; dividing the manors between the Bishop and Paston, and providing for the foundation of seven priests and seven poor scholars in Magdalene College; Paston to deliver up all deeds and muniments to the Priory of St. Mary Overy, in Southwark, to be put in a chest, locked with two locks and two keys, of which the Bishop to have one and Paston the other, and the Bishop to bring thither also all his deeds; one part of this indenture to remain with each of the parties, and the third with the Prior of St. Mary Overy.76.3The following entries are taken from the old index of deeds and writings relating to Norfolk and Suffolk, preserved in the tower of Magdalen College, Oxford.751PAMPYNG TO SIR JOHN PASTON77.1To my most reverent and worshipfull master, Sir John Paston, Knyght.1470JULY 15Rightworshipfull sir and my good master, I recomaund me unto yow in my moost lowly wise. And please yow to wete I have with the mony ye sent me by Judy rewardid my felaship as ye comaundid, wretyn in a bille closid herin; and as for William Milsent I lete hym wete hough ye undirstood he was disposed to goo hoom to his fadere, wherof ye were pleasid and wold he shuld do so. Hesaid he intendid not to be with his fadir, ner it was not in his power so to do; nevirthelesse he is home to his fadir and ther abidith, but what he purposith to do I wote not. Davy is at home and takyth heed to his lond. Homeworth is content and gooth to his labour. As for Stompis, I have be with the Abbot of Sen Benetts for hym as ye comaundid. And he recomaundith hym to yow, and said to me he was right glad that ye wold send to hym for any servaunt ye had, saying that if he coud do any thyng for yow, and for any servaunt of yours, he wold do it feithfully. And also he said he wold not fayle yow whill he levid in that he coud and myght do, trustyng heraftir to have your help and favour in that he shall have a do. And he told me and Stompis bothe, whanne so evir he come he shuld be welcome, and that he wold do as welle to hym as to fewe servauntes he had for yowr sake, and that he wold kepe hym for yow. As for my self my mastres saith she woll geve me mete and drynk for a season; nevirthelesse I am warnyd to be ware, for it is told me that ther is processe out upon the appele ayens me and other; wherfore I beseche yow that that mater may be take heed to as ye may, that we myght have knowlech of any processe ther be, that we may be ware, for I thynk verely, and I or any other come in ther hands this world, we shuld not escape without shame at the leest.Item, as for the remnaunt of the mony biside this bille, ye owe to the parson of Sent Edmondes Caster for iiij. combe malt, and ij. combe whete, xs.whiche I promysid hym to pay; and Rob. Newton lymebrenner for lyme, xiijs.iiijd., calling upon me for it; and Robert Bery for shoyng, xs.; and if it please yow that I make payment herof there shall remayne in my handes xxiijs.iiijd.And what ye woll I do herin, I beseche yow to send me word. Judy hath be with Thom Fastolff, he can telle yow answer in that mater. As for the rewle at Caster, they selle and make mony of such stuffe as they fond there, and kepe other rewle that the contre is full sory and irk of, and of my lordes men resortyng to hem, and riden about the contry onknowen, and by berynges on hand78.1take largebribys. I pray God be your spede and send yow some good meane for your wele and ease to them that owe yow servise. Wretyn at Norwich the Monday next aftir Relik Sonday,Your pore servaunt,Pampyng.77.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Reference is made in this letter to the appeal which the two widows were to sue against Sir John Paston.SeeNos.746,747.78.1Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.752MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON79.11470JULY 15I greteyow well and send yow Goddes blissyng and myne, letyng yow wete that your fermours have brought me a gret bille of reparacion, the which I send yow, with lxs.in mony. I wold have had the residue of the mony of them, and they said it was your agrement that this reparacion shuld be do and alowed now at this payment, and so I coud get no more mony of them. And they say that the parson79.2was prevy to the reparacion. If ye were thus agreed and woll have the reparacion examined ye may send word; but I wold ye shuld purvey for your self as hastely as ye may, and come home and take heed to your owne and to myn therto, otherwise thanne ye have do bifore this, bothe for my profite and for yours, or ellis I shall purvey for my self otherwise in hast, so that I trust shall be more ease and avayle for me and non ease nor profite to yow in tyme to come. I have litell help nor comfort of non of yow yet, God geve me grase to have heraftir. I wold ye shuld assay whedir it be more profitable for yow to serve me thanne for to serve such masters as ye have servid afore this, and that ye fynde mooste profitable theraftir do in tyme to come. Ye have assayed the werld resonabilly, ye shall knowe your self the bettir heraftir. I pray God we may be in quyete and in rest with oure own from hens forth. My power is nat so good as I wold it were for your sake and other; and if it were, we shuld not longe be indaungere. God brynge us oute of it; who have yow in His kepynge. Wretyn with onhertes ease the Monday next aftir Relike Sonday.By your Modir.79.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter, although subscribed ‘By your mother,’ is neither signed nor addressed. It is, however, undoubtedly from Margaret Paston to her son Sir John. It is written in Pampyng’s hand, and seems to be of the same year as his own letter immediately preceding, which is dated on the same day.79.2Sir Thomas Howes.753SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON80.1. . . . .Paston, &c.1470AUG. 5Brother, I comand me to yow, &c. . . .80.2Also telle John Pampyng that the mayde at the Bulle at Cludeys at Westminster sent me on a tyme by hym to the Moor a rynge of goolde to a tookne, whyche I hadde not off hym. Wherffor I wolle he scholde sende it hyedre, ffor sche most have itt ageyn, or ellys vs., ffor it was not hyrrys. Item, I praye yow be redye; the mater qwykennythe bothe ffor yowe and yowres as well as ffor us and howrys.As ffor tydynges, my Lorde Erchebysshop80.3is at the Moor, but ther is beleffte with hym dyverse off the Kynges servantes, and as I understond he hathe lysence to tarry ther tyll he be sente ffor. Ther be many ffolkes uppe in the northe, soo that Percy80.4is not able to recyst them; and soo the Kynge hathe sente ffor hys ffeeodmen to koom to hym, for he woll goo to putt them downe. And soom seye that the Kynge sholde come ageyn to London, and that in haste, and as it is sayde Cortenayes be londyd in Devenschyr, and ther rewle.Item, that the Lordes Clarance and Warwyk woll assaye to londe in Inglonde evyrye daye, as ffolkes ffeer.I praye yow late not John Mylsent be longe ffrom me, with as moche as can be gaderyd: and also that ye wryght to me off all thynges that I have wretyn to yow ffor, so that I mayhave answer off every thynge. Other thynges Bacheler Walter, berer heroff, schall informe yow.Wretyn at London, the Sondaye nexte beffor Seynt Lawrence Daye.81.1Also my brother Edmonde is not yet remembryd. He hathe not to lyff with, thynk on hym, &c.John Paston, Kt.80.1[From Fenn, ii. 46.] This letter, as it will be seen from the contents, was written at the period just before the restoration of HenryVI.80.2Here follows an order about searching for some writings, etc.—F.80.3This must mean George Neville, Archbishop of York, and brother to the Earl of Warwick, who seems to have been suspected by the King, and left at the Moor as a kind of state prisoner.—F.80.4Henry Percy, who was restored to the Earldom of Northumberland this year on its surrender by John Nevill, Lord Montague.SeeNo. 743.81.1St. Laurence’s day is the 10th of August.... Bacheler Walter, berer heroff, schall informe yow.final . missing or invisible754ABSTRACT81.21470AUG. 7Indenture, dated London, 7th Aug., 10 Edw.IV., whereby Sir John Paston puts in pawn to Ric. Rawlyn of London, grocer, 2 chargers and 4 potengers, weighing 11 lb. 1¾oz.silver, for £20, till Whitsunday following.81.2[From Add. Charter 17,250, B.M.]weighing 11 lb. 1¾ oz. silver. in “oz.” missing755ABSTRACT81.314701470, 10 Aug., 10 Edw.IV., atEshher. Undertaking in English by John Paston, Esq., son of John Paston, Esq., who was one of the feoffees and executors of Sir John Fastolf, that whereas Bishop Waynflete, also one of the feoffees, and now sole executor, has taken upon him to perform the will of the said Sir John, so far forth as it may be performed (it being in most substance not yet performed, and his property wasted and devoured), out of his manors and lands in Essex, Surrey, Norfolk, Suffolk, and the city of Norwich, he (the said John Paston) will do true and faithful service to the said Bishop, and will be aiding and assisting to him and Magdalen College, in order that the lands may be let to their greatest profit, he being rewarded by the Bishop, to show his very good will to the due performing of Fastolf’s will; and that before the Feast of All Saints next he will deliver up to the said Bishop all charters, deeds, evidences, rentals, accounts, etc., pertaining to any of the said manors, excepting such as concern solely the manor of Castre, which by covenant of the said Bishop with Sir John Paston, Knight, brother of the said John Paston, Squire, must remain with the same Sir John.81.3The following abstract, like some others preceding, is taken from Mr. Macray’s Report to the HistoricalMSS.Commission on the Records of Magdalen College, Oxford.1470, 10 Aug., 10 Edw.IV., at Eshher.spelling unchanged756ABSTRACTS82.1Painter’s Work14701. Account of payments to Robert Spery, servant of Vyol, and others, for working at the Frerys82.2in June and July; also for varnish, lead, earthen pans, yellow ochre, oil, bristles to make brushes, etc., for painter’s work.Endorsed: ‘Vialles byll comprisid in the iij. rolles of stuff and werkmanship to A. P.82.3place and the Freris, which, as Clargynet understondith, is paid to Viall.’‘Memorandum: j. copy of this bill remayneth amonges the billes of werkmanship at the White Freres and Baretts place, and a noder among the billes of plate and Vialles plegis.’2. ‘Bill indented,’ 15th Aug. 10 Edw.IV., between William Paston, Esq., and Thomas Vyall of Norwich, painter, relative to the pledging of certain coral beads and plate to the former, for £5.3. Account of sums owing to one Vyall for certain persons ‘at the Freris,’ during August, September, and October. Total, 32s.10d.Endorsed: ‘Viall’s reckoning written in the roll of the Freris werke not paid, and must be allowed of the £5 that was lent to Viall not yet content again.’‘Memorandum: one copy of this bill remaineth amongs the bills of workmanship at the White Freris and Baretts place, and another bill amongs the bills of plate and pledges.’82.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.]82.2Apparently the White Friars at Norwich.82.3Agnes Paston’s?not yet content again.’close quote missing757Fastolf’s College82.41470AUG. 27‘4. John Paston, Squier, bindes himself to doe true and faithfull service to the Bishop of Winton, and to be ayding to his college and other his officers and tenants, for the landes of Sir John Falstolf, and to deliver to him all deedes, evidences, etc., except such as concerne the manor of Castre. Aug. 27, Edw.IV.10.’82.4This entry is from the same old index of deeds in Magdalen College, Oxford, referred to in previous Nos.758EDWARD IV. TO WILLIAM SWAN83.1To oure welbelovid William Swan, Gentilman.R. E.By the King.1470SEPT. 7Trustyand welbeloved, we grete you well. And for soo muche as we be credibly acertayned that our auncient ennemyes of Fraunce and our outward rebells and traitors be drawe to gadre in acorde, and entende hastily to lande in our countre of Kent, or in the parties therof ner adjonyng, with grete might and power of Frenshemen, utterly to destroie us and our true subgietts, and to subverte the comon wele of the same our royalme: We straitly charge and commaunde you, upon the feyth and liegeaunce that ye bare unto us, that ye arredie you with alle the felaship ye can make, and as sone as ye may undrestonde that thay lande in our said countie or nerbye, that you draw thider, as we have comaunded othere our subgietts to doo, and put you in uttremost devoir with thaim to resiste the malice of our said ennemyes and traitours; and if thai and ye be not of power soo to doo, that thanne ye drawe you to our citie of London, by which tyme we trust to be there in our owne personne or nerby; and if we be not that, that thanne ye do farther all ye shal bee commaunded by our Counsail there, upon the payne above said.Yeven undre oure signet at oure citie of York, the vij. day of Septembr.83.1[From Fenn, iv. 438.] This letter does not properly belong to the Paston correspondence. It was copied by Fenn from an original in the library of Brigg Price Fountaine, Esq. of Narford, in Norfolk, nephew and heir of the celebrated antiquary, Sir Andrew Fountaine. TheMS.was contained in a volume of State Papers, some of them originals, and some copies, of various dates, which had belonged to Sir Edward Coke.The date of the document is undoubtedly in September 1470, when Edward was at York, anticipating the invasion of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, aided by the King of France.THE PASTON LETTERSHenry VI. Restored759JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON84.1To my ryght worchipfull Modyr, Margaret Paston, be thys delyuered.1470OCT. 12Aftyrhumbyll and most dew recommendacyon, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of yowr blyssyng. Plesyt yow to wet that, blyssyd be God, my brodyr and I be in good hele; and I tryst that we shall do ryght well in all owyr maters hastyly; ffor my Lady of Norff.84.2hathe promyssyd to be rewlyd by my Lord of Oxynforthe84.3in all syche maters as belonge to my brodyr and to me; and as for my Lord of Oxynforthe, he is bettyr Lord to me, by my trowthe, than I can wyshe hym in many maters; for he sente to my Lady of Norff. by John Bernard only for my mater, and for non othyr cause, my onwetyng [i.e.without my knowledge], or wythout eny preyer of me, for when he sente to hyr I was at London, and he at Colchestyr, and that is a lyeklyod he remembyrthe me.The Dwk and the Dwchess swe to hym as humbylly as evyrI dyd to them; in so myche that my Lord of Oxynforth shall have the rwyll of them and thers, by ther owne desyirs and gret meanys.As for the ofyces that ye wrot to my brodyr for and to me, they be for no poore men; but I tryst we shall sped of othyr ofyseys metly for us, for my Mastyr the Erle of Oxynforthe bydeth me axe and have. I trow my brodyr Syr John shall have the Constabyllshep of Norwyche Castyll, with xxli.of ffee; all the Lordys be agreyd to it.Tydyngs, the Erle of Wyrcestyr85.1is lyek to dye this day, or to morow at the ferthest. John Pylkyngton, Mr. W. att Clyff, and Fowler ar takyn, and in the Castyll of Pomfrett, and ar lyek to dye hastyly, with owte they be dead. Sir T. Mongomere and Joudone be takyn; what shall falle of hem I can not sey.The Qwen85.2that was, and the Dwchess of Bedford,85.3be in seyntuary at Westmestyr; the Bysheop of Ely85.4with othyr Bysheopys ar in Seynt Martyns. When I here more, I shall send yow more. I prey God send yow all your desyrs. Wretyn at London on Seynt Edwards Evyn.Your sone and humbyll servant,J. P.Modyr, I beseche yow that Brome may be spoken to, to gadyr up my syllvyr at Gwton in all hast possybyll, for I have no mony. Also that it lyek yow that John Mylsent may be spoken to, to kep well my grey horse, and he be alyve, and that he spare no met on hym, and that he have konnyng lechys to look to hym. As for my comyng hom, I knowe no serteynte, for I terry tyll my Lady of Norff. com to go thorow with the maters, and she shall not be here tyll Sonday.

68.2Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of bills and receipts, etc.

69.1Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of some disputes between Sir William Yelverton and Sir John Paston, his uncle William, etc., of no consequence.

69.2shall.This word is not in Fenn’s left-hand or literal transcript, but is given as part of the text in the right-hand copy.

To my Cosyn, J. Paston.

1470MARCH 27

TheKing camme to Grantham, and ther taried Thoresday all day; and ther was headed Sir Thomas Dalalaunde, and on John Neille, a greate capteyn; and upon the Monday next after that at Dancastr, and ther was headed Sir Robert Wellys, and a nothr greate capteyn; and than the King hadde warde that the Duk of Clarence and the Erle of Warwick was att Esterfeld [Chesterfield], xx. mile from Dancastre.

And upon the Tewesday att ix. of the bell, the King toke the feld, and mustered his people; and itt was seid that wer never seyn in Inglond so many goodly men, and so well arreiyed in a feld. And my Lord was whorsshupfully accompanyed, no lord ther so well; wherfor the King gaffe my Lord a greate thanke.

And than the Duk of Clarence and the Erle of Warwik harde that the King was comyng to them warde, in contynent they departed and wente to Manchestre in Lancasshire, hopyng to have hadde helpe and socour of the Lord Stanley, butt in conclucion ther they hadde litill favor, as itt was enformed the King, and so men sayn they wente westward, and sommen demen to London. And whan the King harde they wer departed and gon, he went to York, and came theder the Thoresday next aftr, and ther camme in to hym all the gentilmen of the shire; and uppon our Lady Day [he] made Percy Erle of Northumberland, and he that was Erle affore Markeys Muntakew. And [so]71.1the King is purposed to come southwarde, God send hym god spede.

Writen the xxvij. day of March.For Trowyth.

70.1[From Fenn, ii. 36.] This letter gives an account of the suppression of the rebellion in Lincolnshire in 1470.71.1This word is not in the text of Fenn’s literal transcript, but it is given without brackets in the transcript in modern spelling.

70.1[From Fenn, ii. 36.] This letter gives an account of the suppression of the rebellion in Lincolnshire in 1470.

71.1This word is not in the text of Fenn’s literal transcript, but it is given without brackets in the transcript in modern spelling.

William Worcester to ——

1470

Letter in English, on paper (signed W. W., but unaddressed), desiring some one to propose to ‘my Lord’ [the Bishop of Winchester?] the obtaining of a letter from Sir John Paston to the tenants of Titchwell that he will not claim any rents from them, and another from ‘my Lord,’ to the same effect, on behalf of Sir William Yelverton; and the sending a warrant to expend 4 or 6 marks upon making up the sea banks before the Titchwell pastures, because atSpring the sea breaks in upon them. Desires to know whether Sir W. Yelverton’s advice shall be taken upon business matters. ‘Frere’ Geffrey Westvale is going to be created Doctor in Theology at Cambridge, at the Feast of St. John, who twenty years past, when at Yarmouth convent, belonged to ‘my Maister Fastolf’; and Sir Thomas Howys, a month before his decease, promised to help him on Mr. Fastolf’s order. He would have come now to ‘my Lord’ to ask his alms had not the writer letted him. Desires to be informed whether ‘my Lord’ will help him. ‘Maister Briston yn lykewyse Maister Spicer, and Maister Stevyns, trustyn appon me and dyvers others to speke to my Lord for a relyeve,’ and Thomas Fastolf and Milcent Fastolf, and many others, ‘that make me noyed and werye.’

71.2[FromMS.Titchwell, 120, in Magdalen College, Oxford.] From internal evidence it would seem that this letter must have been written shortly before that which follows it. The abstracts of these two letters have been kindly supplied to me by Mr. Macray.

1470MAY 17

Letter in English from W. Wyrcestre to Bishop Wayneflete.—Has been at Tychewell to endeavour to let the manor and farm, but none of the farmers there will take it without guarantees from Sir John Paston and Sir William Yelverton in writing against any distraint. . . . . the younger, who owes £9, will come to the Bishop about the letting. The writer represents his own poor condition. Has been at charges ten years in London, and in riding on the infinite process of ‘my Maister Fastolf’s testament yn the court of audience.’ Is now obliged to retire from London to Cambridge in order to live cheaply. Had been promised 25 marks on Paston’s behalf, 20 marks for ever of Fastolf’s lands, 5 marks of fee for his life, and £15 worth of land for ever. Has not had clearly 8 marks.

72.1[FromMS.Titchwell, 199, in Magdalen College, Oxford.]

To Syr John Paston, Knyght, or to Thomas Stompys, to delyver to the seyd Syr John.

1470JUNE 22

Ryghtworchepfull syr, and my specyall good brodyr, I recomand me to yow; and for as myche as I can not send yow good tydyngs, ye shall have syche as I knowe.

It is so that on Wednysday last past ye and I, Pampyng, and Edmund Broom were endyttyd of felonye at the Sessyons her in Norwyche for shotyng of a gonne at Caster in August last past, whyche goone slowghe two men, I, Pampyng and Broom as pryncypall, and ye as accessary; notwithstandyng Townysend73.1and Lomner held an oppynyon that the verdytt is voyd, for ther wer ij. of th’enqwest that wold not agre to th’endyttment. And in as myche as they ij. wer agreyd in othyr maters, and not in that, and that they two wer not dyschargyd fro the remnant at syche tym as that verdyth of yowyr endytment was govyn, ther oppynyon is that all the vordyght is voyde, as well of all othyr maters as of yowyr. Whedyr ther opynyon be good or not, I can not determyne, nor them sylf neythyr.

I pray yow let not thys mater be slept, for I can thynk that my Lord of Norff. consaylle wyll cawse the wedows to tak an apell, and to remeve it up in to the Kyngs Benche at the begynyng of this term. Townysend hathe promysyd me that he shall be at London on Twysday next comyng, and then ye may comon with hym in that mater, and take hys avyse.

Item, Townysend and Lomner thynk that and ye have good consayll, ye may justyfye the kepyng of the plase for the pesybyll possessyon that ye have had in it mor then iij. yeer; but in conclusyon, all thys is doo for nowght ellys but for to enforse yow to take a dyreccyon with my Lord of Norff.

I undyrstood by R. Sothewell—for he and I comonyd in thys mater ryght largely betwyx hem and me—in so myche he tellyth me that and I be at London in the wek next aftyr Seynt Petyr, at whych tyme he shall be ther hym sylf, he seyth that my Lady hathe promysyd me hyr good ladyshep, and sent me woord by hym, in as myche as he spak for me to hyr, that she wold remembyr myn old servyse, and for get the gret dysplesyr in syche wyse that I shall undyrstand that the swtte that I have mad to my Lord hyr husbond and hyr shall torne to your avantage and myn, more then we weene as yett or shall undyrstand tyll syche tyme as I have spokyn with hyr good grace. And upon thys promesse Ihave promysyd Sothewell to meet with hym at London that same weeke next aftyr Seynt Petyr; wherfor I wold passyngly fayne that ye wer in London at that season, or nye abowght London, so that I myght undyrstand at your plase wher that I myght spek with yow or then I spek with my Lady.

I propose to go to Canterbery74.1on foot thys next week, with Godds grace, and so to com to London fro thense. I pray yow se that I be safe for Parker and Henry Coletts mater.

Sothewell74.2told me thys, that if so be that ye wyll your sylf, ye shall have bothe goode lordshep and ladyshep, and mony or lond, or both, and all your maters set cler. What that he menyth, I can not sey. As for all othyr maters in thys contre, I shall do as well as I may for fawt of monye tyll I spek with yow. I have many collars on, as I shall tell yow when I come.

No more, but God preserve yow and yours. Wretyn at Norwyche, Fryday next aftyr Corpus Christi Daye.J. P.

I ded as myche as I kowd to have lettyd th’endyttment, but it wold not be, as I shall enform you; and Townysend knowyth the same.

72.2[From Fenn, iv. 428.] As this letter refers to an incident in the siege of Caister as having taken place ‘in August last,’ there can be no doubt about the date.73.1Probably Roger Townsend, afterwards Justice of the Common Pleas.74.1On pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, I suppose.—F.74.2Richard Southwell, Esq. of Wood-Rising. He acquired this estate by marrying Amy, daughter and co-heir of Sir Edmund Wichingham, Knight.—F.

72.2[From Fenn, iv. 428.] As this letter refers to an incident in the siege of Caister as having taken place ‘in August last,’ there can be no doubt about the date.

73.1Probably Roger Townsend, afterwards Justice of the Common Pleas.

74.1On pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, I suppose.—F.

74.2Richard Southwell, Esq. of Wood-Rising. He acquired this estate by marrying Amy, daughter and co-heir of Sir Edmund Wichingham, Knight.—F.

To Syr John Paston, Knyght, or to Thomas Stomppys, to delyver to the seyd Syr John.

1470JUNE 25

AsI sent yow woord by a lettyr that John Wymondham browght to London, J. Pampyng is endyghtyd of felony, and Edmund Broon as princypallys, and ye as axcessary, for schotyng of agonne in Awgust last past, whychegonne kyllyd ij. men; and I trowe that my Lord of Norff. consayll wyll make on of the wedows, or bothe, to swe an apell up on the same endyghtment thys terme. Wherfor I pray yow se well to thys mater, that when it is sertyfyid in to the Kyngys Benche, Broom and Pampyng may have warnyng that they may purvey for hem self, if ther com enycapyasowght for hem. Townysend can tell yow all the mater.

Also ye must in eny wyse be ware, for my grauntdam75.1and myn Lady Anne75.2and myn Oncyll Wyllam shall be at London within thes viij. or x. dayis, and I wot well it is for nowght ellys but to make myn Oncyll Wyllam swyr of hyr lond, notwithstandyng she hath reryd affyn of it be for Goodreed,75.3the Justyse, in my grauntfadyrs dayis, and my modyr tellyth me that ye have the copye of the same fyne; I wold avyse yow to have it redy, what so evyr betyd. I trow they wyll be the more besy abowght the same mater, because they thynk that ye dar not com in London, nor at Westmenstyr to lett [stop] them; but if so be that ye have not the copy of the same fynne, look that ye spare for no cost to do serche for itt, for it wyll stand yow on hand, I feell by the werkyng.

Thys day sevennyght I trust to God to be forward to Caunterbery at the ferthest, and upon Saterday com sevennygh I tryst to God to be in London; wherfor I pray yow leve woord at yowr plase in Fleet Strett wher I shall fynd yow, for I purpose not to be seyn in London tyll I have spook with yow.

I pray yow remembyr thes maters, for all is doon to make yow to drawe to an ende with thes Lordys that have your lond fro yow. No more, but I pray God send yow your herttys desyir in thees maters and in all othyr.

Wretyn at Norwyche, the Monday next aftyr Seynt John Baptyst.J. P.

74.3[From Fenn, iv. 434.] This letter, it will be seen, refers in the beginning to the same matter as the preceding.75.1Agnes Paston, widow of William Paston, the Judge.75.2Anne, daughter of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, married William Paston, the uncle of Sir John Paston.—F.75.3William Goodrede was created a Serjeant-at-Law in 1425. In 1431 he was appointed King’s Serjeant, and in 1434 became a Justice of the King’s Bench.—F.

74.3[From Fenn, iv. 434.] This letter, it will be seen, refers in the beginning to the same matter as the preceding.

75.1Agnes Paston, widow of William Paston, the Judge.

75.2Anne, daughter of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, married William Paston, the uncle of Sir John Paston.—F.

75.3William Goodrede was created a Serjeant-at-Law in 1425. In 1431 he was appointed King’s Serjeant, and in 1434 became a Justice of the King’s Bench.—F.

1470JULY 3

Indenture between Sir John Paston and Edmund Shaa, goldsmith, London, concerning 20 dishes and a saucer of silver pledged to the latter, 3rd July 10 Edw.IV.

76.1[From PastonMSS.]

1470JULY 8

Indenture, dated London, 8th July 10 Edw.IV., whereby Sir John Paston places in pawn to Stephen Kelke, goldsmith, of London, 16 pottingers, weighing 22 lb. 10½ oz. Troy weight, for £40, till Whitsuntide following.

76.2[From Add. Charter 17,249, B.M.]

Fastolf’s Lands

1470JULY 14

‘11. A triparted indenture betweene William Bishop of Winton and John Paston, Knight, and others, touching the intent of two feoffmentes of the Bishop of Wynton, the one of the mannors of Drayton and Tolthorp, in the county of Norfolk and the city of Norwich, which were somtymes Sir John Falstofs; the other of the mannors of Wynterton, cald Bregmiles (?), of Reppys in Bastwyke, the third part of the mannor of Rowneham, londes and tenementes cald Cutts in Haringby, and lands cald Buley in Stokesby, to Guy Fairfax, John Paston, Squier, et aliis. July 14, Edw.IV.10.’‘17. Relaxatio Johannis Paston, Georgii Arch. Cant. et aliorum Willielmo Waynflet totius juris de et in omnibus maneriis, terris, &c. quæ fuerunt Johannis Falstolf in comit’ Norf., exceptis manerio de Castre et Spensers in Haringby, acterris vocat’ Vaux, Redham, et Bosoms, et maner’ de Hayleydon, Drayton, et Tolthorp. Julii 14, Edw.IV.10.’‘28. An indenture contayning mutuall releases of the Bishop of Wynton to John Paston, Knight, et ca.July 14, Edw.IV.10.’‘29 and 61. An indenture containing the agreement betweene Wylliam Wainflet, Bishop of Wynton, and Sir John Paston, concerning Sir John Fastolfes landes and goods. July 14, Edw.IV.10.’This last document, of which there is another copy or draft, numbered 36 in the Index, is more fully described, as follows, by Mr. Macray, in the Fourth Report of the HistoricalMSS.Commission:—1470, 14 July, 10 Edw.IV.Indenture tripartite (very long, in English) between Bishop Wayneflete and Sir John Paston, Knight, containing an agreement for the termination of disputes between the executors of the will of Sir John Fastolf, whereby the property of the latter has been much wasted; dividing the manors between the Bishop and Paston, and providing for the foundation of seven priests and seven poor scholars in Magdalene College; Paston to deliver up all deeds and muniments to the Priory of St. Mary Overy, in Southwark, to be put in a chest, locked with two locks and two keys, of which the Bishop to have one and Paston the other, and the Bishop to bring thither also all his deeds; one part of this indenture to remain with each of the parties, and the third with the Prior of St. Mary Overy.

‘17. Relaxatio Johannis Paston, Georgii Arch. Cant. et aliorum Willielmo Waynflet totius juris de et in omnibus maneriis, terris, &c. quæ fuerunt Johannis Falstolf in comit’ Norf., exceptis manerio de Castre et Spensers in Haringby, acterris vocat’ Vaux, Redham, et Bosoms, et maner’ de Hayleydon, Drayton, et Tolthorp. Julii 14, Edw.IV.10.’

‘28. An indenture contayning mutuall releases of the Bishop of Wynton to John Paston, Knight, et ca.July 14, Edw.IV.10.’

‘29 and 61. An indenture containing the agreement betweene Wylliam Wainflet, Bishop of Wynton, and Sir John Paston, concerning Sir John Fastolfes landes and goods. July 14, Edw.IV.10.’

This last document, of which there is another copy or draft, numbered 36 in the Index, is more fully described, as follows, by Mr. Macray, in the Fourth Report of the HistoricalMSS.Commission:—

1470, 14 July, 10 Edw.IV.Indenture tripartite (very long, in English) between Bishop Wayneflete and Sir John Paston, Knight, containing an agreement for the termination of disputes between the executors of the will of Sir John Fastolf, whereby the property of the latter has been much wasted; dividing the manors between the Bishop and Paston, and providing for the foundation of seven priests and seven poor scholars in Magdalene College; Paston to deliver up all deeds and muniments to the Priory of St. Mary Overy, in Southwark, to be put in a chest, locked with two locks and two keys, of which the Bishop to have one and Paston the other, and the Bishop to bring thither also all his deeds; one part of this indenture to remain with each of the parties, and the third with the Prior of St. Mary Overy.

76.3The following entries are taken from the old index of deeds and writings relating to Norfolk and Suffolk, preserved in the tower of Magdalen College, Oxford.

To my most reverent and worshipfull master, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

1470JULY 15

Rightworshipfull sir and my good master, I recomaund me unto yow in my moost lowly wise. And please yow to wete I have with the mony ye sent me by Judy rewardid my felaship as ye comaundid, wretyn in a bille closid herin; and as for William Milsent I lete hym wete hough ye undirstood he was disposed to goo hoom to his fadere, wherof ye were pleasid and wold he shuld do so. Hesaid he intendid not to be with his fadir, ner it was not in his power so to do; nevirthelesse he is home to his fadir and ther abidith, but what he purposith to do I wote not. Davy is at home and takyth heed to his lond. Homeworth is content and gooth to his labour. As for Stompis, I have be with the Abbot of Sen Benetts for hym as ye comaundid. And he recomaundith hym to yow, and said to me he was right glad that ye wold send to hym for any servaunt ye had, saying that if he coud do any thyng for yow, and for any servaunt of yours, he wold do it feithfully. And also he said he wold not fayle yow whill he levid in that he coud and myght do, trustyng heraftir to have your help and favour in that he shall have a do. And he told me and Stompis bothe, whanne so evir he come he shuld be welcome, and that he wold do as welle to hym as to fewe servauntes he had for yowr sake, and that he wold kepe hym for yow. As for my self my mastres saith she woll geve me mete and drynk for a season; nevirthelesse I am warnyd to be ware, for it is told me that ther is processe out upon the appele ayens me and other; wherfore I beseche yow that that mater may be take heed to as ye may, that we myght have knowlech of any processe ther be, that we may be ware, for I thynk verely, and I or any other come in ther hands this world, we shuld not escape without shame at the leest.

Item, as for the remnaunt of the mony biside this bille, ye owe to the parson of Sent Edmondes Caster for iiij. combe malt, and ij. combe whete, xs.whiche I promysid hym to pay; and Rob. Newton lymebrenner for lyme, xiijs.iiijd., calling upon me for it; and Robert Bery for shoyng, xs.; and if it please yow that I make payment herof there shall remayne in my handes xxiijs.iiijd.And what ye woll I do herin, I beseche yow to send me word. Judy hath be with Thom Fastolff, he can telle yow answer in that mater. As for the rewle at Caster, they selle and make mony of such stuffe as they fond there, and kepe other rewle that the contre is full sory and irk of, and of my lordes men resortyng to hem, and riden about the contry onknowen, and by berynges on hand78.1take largebribys. I pray God be your spede and send yow some good meane for your wele and ease to them that owe yow servise. Wretyn at Norwich the Monday next aftir Relik Sonday,Your pore servaunt,Pampyng.

77.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Reference is made in this letter to the appeal which the two widows were to sue against Sir John Paston.SeeNos.746,747.78.1Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.

77.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] Reference is made in this letter to the appeal which the two widows were to sue against Sir John Paston.SeeNos.746,747.

78.1Seevol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.

1470JULY 15

I greteyow well and send yow Goddes blissyng and myne, letyng yow wete that your fermours have brought me a gret bille of reparacion, the which I send yow, with lxs.in mony. I wold have had the residue of the mony of them, and they said it was your agrement that this reparacion shuld be do and alowed now at this payment, and so I coud get no more mony of them. And they say that the parson79.2was prevy to the reparacion. If ye were thus agreed and woll have the reparacion examined ye may send word; but I wold ye shuld purvey for your self as hastely as ye may, and come home and take heed to your owne and to myn therto, otherwise thanne ye have do bifore this, bothe for my profite and for yours, or ellis I shall purvey for my self otherwise in hast, so that I trust shall be more ease and avayle for me and non ease nor profite to yow in tyme to come. I have litell help nor comfort of non of yow yet, God geve me grase to have heraftir. I wold ye shuld assay whedir it be more profitable for yow to serve me thanne for to serve such masters as ye have servid afore this, and that ye fynde mooste profitable theraftir do in tyme to come. Ye have assayed the werld resonabilly, ye shall knowe your self the bettir heraftir. I pray God we may be in quyete and in rest with oure own from hens forth. My power is nat so good as I wold it were for your sake and other; and if it were, we shuld not longe be indaungere. God brynge us oute of it; who have yow in His kepynge. Wretyn with onhertes ease the Monday next aftir Relike Sonday.By your Modir.

79.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.] This letter, although subscribed ‘By your mother,’ is neither signed nor addressed. It is, however, undoubtedly from Margaret Paston to her son Sir John. It is written in Pampyng’s hand, and seems to be of the same year as his own letter immediately preceding, which is dated on the same day.79.2Sir Thomas Howes.

79.2Sir Thomas Howes.

. . . . .Paston, &c.

1470AUG. 5

Brother, I comand me to yow, &c. . . .80.2Also telle John Pampyng that the mayde at the Bulle at Cludeys at Westminster sent me on a tyme by hym to the Moor a rynge of goolde to a tookne, whyche I hadde not off hym. Wherffor I wolle he scholde sende it hyedre, ffor sche most have itt ageyn, or ellys vs., ffor it was not hyrrys. Item, I praye yow be redye; the mater qwykennythe bothe ffor yowe and yowres as well as ffor us and howrys.

As ffor tydynges, my Lorde Erchebysshop80.3is at the Moor, but ther is beleffte with hym dyverse off the Kynges servantes, and as I understond he hathe lysence to tarry ther tyll he be sente ffor. Ther be many ffolkes uppe in the northe, soo that Percy80.4is not able to recyst them; and soo the Kynge hathe sente ffor hys ffeeodmen to koom to hym, for he woll goo to putt them downe. And soom seye that the Kynge sholde come ageyn to London, and that in haste, and as it is sayde Cortenayes be londyd in Devenschyr, and ther rewle.

Item, that the Lordes Clarance and Warwyk woll assaye to londe in Inglonde evyrye daye, as ffolkes ffeer.

I praye yow late not John Mylsent be longe ffrom me, with as moche as can be gaderyd: and also that ye wryght to me off all thynges that I have wretyn to yow ffor, so that I mayhave answer off every thynge. Other thynges Bacheler Walter, berer heroff, schall informe yow.

Wretyn at London, the Sondaye nexte beffor Seynt Lawrence Daye.81.1

Also my brother Edmonde is not yet remembryd. He hathe not to lyff with, thynk on hym, &c.John Paston, Kt.

80.1[From Fenn, ii. 46.] This letter, as it will be seen from the contents, was written at the period just before the restoration of HenryVI.80.2Here follows an order about searching for some writings, etc.—F.80.3This must mean George Neville, Archbishop of York, and brother to the Earl of Warwick, who seems to have been suspected by the King, and left at the Moor as a kind of state prisoner.—F.80.4Henry Percy, who was restored to the Earldom of Northumberland this year on its surrender by John Nevill, Lord Montague.SeeNo. 743.81.1St. Laurence’s day is the 10th of August.

80.1[From Fenn, ii. 46.] This letter, as it will be seen from the contents, was written at the period just before the restoration of HenryVI.

80.2Here follows an order about searching for some writings, etc.—F.

80.3This must mean George Neville, Archbishop of York, and brother to the Earl of Warwick, who seems to have been suspected by the King, and left at the Moor as a kind of state prisoner.—F.

80.4Henry Percy, who was restored to the Earldom of Northumberland this year on its surrender by John Nevill, Lord Montague.SeeNo. 743.

81.1St. Laurence’s day is the 10th of August.

... Bacheler Walter, berer heroff, schall informe yow.final . missing or invisible

1470AUG. 7

Indenture, dated London, 7th Aug., 10 Edw.IV., whereby Sir John Paston puts in pawn to Ric. Rawlyn of London, grocer, 2 chargers and 4 potengers, weighing 11 lb. 1¾oz.silver, for £20, till Whitsunday following.

81.2[From Add. Charter 17,250, B.M.]

weighing 11 lb. 1¾ oz. silver. in “oz.” missing

1470

1470, 10 Aug., 10 Edw.IV., atEshher. Undertaking in English by John Paston, Esq., son of John Paston, Esq., who was one of the feoffees and executors of Sir John Fastolf, that whereas Bishop Waynflete, also one of the feoffees, and now sole executor, has taken upon him to perform the will of the said Sir John, so far forth as it may be performed (it being in most substance not yet performed, and his property wasted and devoured), out of his manors and lands in Essex, Surrey, Norfolk, Suffolk, and the city of Norwich, he (the said John Paston) will do true and faithful service to the said Bishop, and will be aiding and assisting to him and Magdalen College, in order that the lands may be let to their greatest profit, he being rewarded by the Bishop, to show his very good will to the due performing of Fastolf’s will; and that before the Feast of All Saints next he will deliver up to the said Bishop all charters, deeds, evidences, rentals, accounts, etc., pertaining to any of the said manors, excepting such as concern solely the manor of Castre, which by covenant of the said Bishop with Sir John Paston, Knight, brother of the said John Paston, Squire, must remain with the same Sir John.

81.3The following abstract, like some others preceding, is taken from Mr. Macray’s Report to the HistoricalMSS.Commission on the Records of Magdalen College, Oxford.

1470, 10 Aug., 10 Edw.IV., at Eshher.spelling unchanged

Painter’s Work

1470

1. Account of payments to Robert Spery, servant of Vyol, and others, for working at the Frerys82.2in June and July; also for varnish, lead, earthen pans, yellow ochre, oil, bristles to make brushes, etc., for painter’s work.Endorsed: ‘Vialles byll comprisid in the iij. rolles of stuff and werkmanship to A. P.82.3place and the Freris, which, as Clargynet understondith, is paid to Viall.’‘Memorandum: j. copy of this bill remayneth amonges the billes of werkmanship at the White Freres and Baretts place, and a noder among the billes of plate and Vialles plegis.’2. ‘Bill indented,’ 15th Aug. 10 Edw.IV., between William Paston, Esq., and Thomas Vyall of Norwich, painter, relative to the pledging of certain coral beads and plate to the former, for £5.3. Account of sums owing to one Vyall for certain persons ‘at the Freris,’ during August, September, and October. Total, 32s.10d.Endorsed: ‘Viall’s reckoning written in the roll of the Freris werke not paid, and must be allowed of the £5 that was lent to Viall not yet content again.’‘Memorandum: one copy of this bill remaineth amongs the bills of workmanship at the White Freris and Baretts place, and another bill amongs the bills of plate and pledges.’

Endorsed: ‘Vialles byll comprisid in the iij. rolles of stuff and werkmanship to A. P.82.3place and the Freris, which, as Clargynet understondith, is paid to Viall.’

‘Memorandum: j. copy of this bill remayneth amonges the billes of werkmanship at the White Freres and Baretts place, and a noder among the billes of plate and Vialles plegis.’

2. ‘Bill indented,’ 15th Aug. 10 Edw.IV., between William Paston, Esq., and Thomas Vyall of Norwich, painter, relative to the pledging of certain coral beads and plate to the former, for £5.

3. Account of sums owing to one Vyall for certain persons ‘at the Freris,’ during August, September, and October. Total, 32s.10d.

Endorsed: ‘Viall’s reckoning written in the roll of the Freris werke not paid, and must be allowed of the £5 that was lent to Viall not yet content again.’

‘Memorandum: one copy of this bill remaineth amongs the bills of workmanship at the White Freris and Baretts place, and another bill amongs the bills of plate and pledges.’

82.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.]82.2Apparently the White Friars at Norwich.82.3Agnes Paston’s?

82.1[From PastonMSS., B.M.]

82.2Apparently the White Friars at Norwich.

82.3Agnes Paston’s?

not yet content again.’close quote missing

Fastolf’s College82.4

1470AUG. 27

‘4. John Paston, Squier, bindes himself to doe true and faithfull service to the Bishop of Winton, and to be ayding to his college and other his officers and tenants, for the landes of Sir John Falstolf, and to deliver to him all deedes, evidences, etc., except such as concerne the manor of Castre. Aug. 27, Edw.IV.10.’

82.4This entry is from the same old index of deeds in Magdalen College, Oxford, referred to in previous Nos.

To oure welbelovid William Swan, Gentilman.

R. E.

By the King.

1470SEPT. 7

Trustyand welbeloved, we grete you well. And for soo muche as we be credibly acertayned that our auncient ennemyes of Fraunce and our outward rebells and traitors be drawe to gadre in acorde, and entende hastily to lande in our countre of Kent, or in the parties therof ner adjonyng, with grete might and power of Frenshemen, utterly to destroie us and our true subgietts, and to subverte the comon wele of the same our royalme: We straitly charge and commaunde you, upon the feyth and liegeaunce that ye bare unto us, that ye arredie you with alle the felaship ye can make, and as sone as ye may undrestonde that thay lande in our said countie or nerbye, that you draw thider, as we have comaunded othere our subgietts to doo, and put you in uttremost devoir with thaim to resiste the malice of our said ennemyes and traitours; and if thai and ye be not of power soo to doo, that thanne ye drawe you to our citie of London, by which tyme we trust to be there in our owne personne or nerby; and if we be not that, that thanne ye do farther all ye shal bee commaunded by our Counsail there, upon the payne above said.

Yeven undre oure signet at oure citie of York, the vij. day of Septembr.

83.1[From Fenn, iv. 438.] This letter does not properly belong to the Paston correspondence. It was copied by Fenn from an original in the library of Brigg Price Fountaine, Esq. of Narford, in Norfolk, nephew and heir of the celebrated antiquary, Sir Andrew Fountaine. TheMS.was contained in a volume of State Papers, some of them originals, and some copies, of various dates, which had belonged to Sir Edward Coke.The date of the document is undoubtedly in September 1470, when Edward was at York, anticipating the invasion of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, aided by the King of France.

The date of the document is undoubtedly in September 1470, when Edward was at York, anticipating the invasion of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, aided by the King of France.

To my ryght worchipfull Modyr, Margaret Paston, be thys delyuered.

1470OCT. 12

Aftyrhumbyll and most dew recommendacyon, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of yowr blyssyng. Plesyt yow to wet that, blyssyd be God, my brodyr and I be in good hele; and I tryst that we shall do ryght well in all owyr maters hastyly; ffor my Lady of Norff.84.2hathe promyssyd to be rewlyd by my Lord of Oxynforthe84.3in all syche maters as belonge to my brodyr and to me; and as for my Lord of Oxynforthe, he is bettyr Lord to me, by my trowthe, than I can wyshe hym in many maters; for he sente to my Lady of Norff. by John Bernard only for my mater, and for non othyr cause, my onwetyng [i.e.without my knowledge], or wythout eny preyer of me, for when he sente to hyr I was at London, and he at Colchestyr, and that is a lyeklyod he remembyrthe me.

The Dwk and the Dwchess swe to hym as humbylly as evyrI dyd to them; in so myche that my Lord of Oxynforth shall have the rwyll of them and thers, by ther owne desyirs and gret meanys.

As for the ofyces that ye wrot to my brodyr for and to me, they be for no poore men; but I tryst we shall sped of othyr ofyseys metly for us, for my Mastyr the Erle of Oxynforthe bydeth me axe and have. I trow my brodyr Syr John shall have the Constabyllshep of Norwyche Castyll, with xxli.of ffee; all the Lordys be agreyd to it.

Tydyngs, the Erle of Wyrcestyr85.1is lyek to dye this day, or to morow at the ferthest. John Pylkyngton, Mr. W. att Clyff, and Fowler ar takyn, and in the Castyll of Pomfrett, and ar lyek to dye hastyly, with owte they be dead. Sir T. Mongomere and Joudone be takyn; what shall falle of hem I can not sey.

The Qwen85.2that was, and the Dwchess of Bedford,85.3be in seyntuary at Westmestyr; the Bysheop of Ely85.4with othyr Bysheopys ar in Seynt Martyns. When I here more, I shall send yow more. I prey God send yow all your desyrs. Wretyn at London on Seynt Edwards Evyn.Your sone and humbyll servant,J. P.

Modyr, I beseche yow that Brome may be spoken to, to gadyr up my syllvyr at Gwton in all hast possybyll, for I have no mony. Also that it lyek yow that John Mylsent may be spoken to, to kep well my grey horse, and he be alyve, and that he spare no met on hym, and that he have konnyng lechys to look to hym. As for my comyng hom, I knowe no serteynte, for I terry tyll my Lady of Norff. com to go thorow with the maters, and she shall not be here tyll Sonday.

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