THE PASTON LETTERS
A.D. 1422-1509

260
WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1.1

To my rith wurchipfull brodir, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd.

1454
SEPT. 6

Ryth wurchyfull brodyr, I recomande me to zow, desiryng to her of zowr willefar. Byllyng1.2 the serjant hathe byn in his contre, and he come to Lundon this weke; he sent for me and ast me how I fared; I tolde hym her is pestelens, and sayd I fard the better he was in good hele, for it was noysyd that he was ded. A toke me to him and ast how my suster dede, and I answeryd wyll, never better. He seyd he was with the Lord Gray,1.3 and they talkyd of j. jantilman qweche is ward to my Lord—I remember he sayd it was Harry Gray that thei talkyd of; and my Lord sayd, ‘I was besy with jn this fewe days to a maryd hym to a jantyllwoman jn Norfolke that schall have iiij. C. 2 marc to hyr mariage, and now a wyll not be me, for iiij. C. marc wulde do me hese; and now he wulde have his mariage mony hymself, and therefore (quoth he) he schall mary hym self for me.’

This wurds had my Lorde to Byllyng, as he tollde me, he understod that my Lord laboryd for his owne a vayle, and consaylyd to byd her be wyse; and I thankeyd hym for hys good consayll.

I sent zow an answer of zowr letter of Sir Jon Fastolf comyng hom, as he told me hem self; neverthe lesse he bode longer than he sayd hymself he schull a do.

He tolde me he schulde make j. [one] ende be twix Skroop2.1 and my suster wulle he is in Norfolke. Many wulde it schulde not prove, for thei say it is an onlykkely mariage.

In casse Cressener be talkyd of ony mor, he is countyd a jantyllmanly man and a wurshepfull. Ze knowe he is most wurchipfull better than I. At the reverens of Good, drawe to sume conclusyn; it is time.

My Lord Chanseler2.2 come not her sone I come to Lundon, nether my Lord of Yorke.2.3

My Lord of Canterbury2.4 hathe received hys crosse, and I was with hym in the kynggs chamber qwan he mad hys homage. I tolde Harry Wylton the demeanyng betwix the kyng and hym; it war to long to wrythe.

As for the prist that dede areste me, I can not understand that it is the pryste that ze mene.

Her is gret pestelens. I purpose to fle in to the contre. My Lord of Oxforthe is come azen fro the se, and he hath geth hym lytyll thank in this countre. Much more thyng I wulde wrythe to zow, but I lak lysore.

Harry Wylton sey the Kyng. My Lord of Ely2.5 hathe 3 do hys fewthe [his fealty]. God have zow in his blyssyd kepyng.

Wretyn at Lundon on the Fryday be for owr Ladys day, the Natyvite, in gret hast. I pray recomand me to my suster, and cosyn Cler. Be yowr broder, Wm. Paston.

and I thankeyd hym for hys good consayll
text has “thanlkeyd”

261
ABSTRACT3.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

1454-9
SEPT. 19

[The year in which this letter was written is uncertain, but it cannot be earlier than 1454, when Fastolf came to Caister, nor later than 1459, as he died in November of that year.]

3.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 227.]

262
RICHARD SOUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON3.2

To the right reverent and worshippfull John Paston, in haste.

1454(?)
OCT. 6

Right reverent and worshippfull Sir, and my right trusti and welbelovid cosin, I recomaund me unto you, praiyng you hertily to remembr me unto my Master Radclyff, so that by your gode meanes I shall mowe 4 have his gode mastershipp, the whiche I have effectuelly to [m]y power sewed fore iij. yer, and never deserved the contrarye to my knowlegge, by my trouth; and if it can or may be founden that I have, I will obeye me, and offre me to abyde the rewle of you and my cosin your brothir, &c.

Also my Lord of Caunterbury4.1 Master Waltier Bl[a]kette will help forthe, if nede be; and as to the remenant of the Lordes, if the case requir that ye may understand by your wysdum thei be displeased with me—as I trust to God thei be not,—I beseche you to remembr that I have aforetyme b[en] accused unto the Kings Highnesse and the Quenes for owyng my pore gode will and service unto my Lord of York and other, &c. Wherof I suppose that Thomas Bagham is remembred that I brought hym oones from my Lady a purs and v. marc therin, and to Sir Phelipp Wenteworth an other and a Cs. [100s.] therin for their gode will and advise therin to my Lady and all us that were appelled for that cause, notwithstanding the King wrote to my Lord by the meanes of the Duc of Somersette,4.2 that we shuld be avoyded from hym, &c. And within this ij. yer we wer in like wise laboured ageyns to the Quene, so that she wrote to my Lord4.3 to avoyde us, saiyng that the King and she coude nor myght in no wyse be assured of hym and my Lady as long as we wer aboute hym, with much other thing, as may be sufficiently proved by the Quenes writing under herr own signett and signe manuell, the whiche I shewd to my Lord of Caunterbury and other Lordes, &c.

I prey you have me excused that I encombr you with thees matiers at this tyme, for me thinketh ye shuld will and desire me to do any thing to your honour and pleaser at any tyme, wherto I shal be redy and welwilled to my power by the grace of God, who have you ever in his keping, and all youres.

Writon at Norwiche, on Seint Feithes day, in haste. Youres, Ric. Suthwell.

5

263
THOMAS HOWES TO [JOHN PASTON?]5.1

1454
OCT. or NOV.

Please your maistreship to wete, for as mych as the wryt directed to the exchetor cam not tyl in the Vigil of Symond and Jude,5.2 at viij. of the clocke at evyn, whiche coude in no wyse profit us that day; notwithstondynge we had a yoman of my Lords chamber, and were at Cowhaw, havyng Bertylmeu Elys with us, and ther was Long Bernard sytting to kepe a court. And we at the furst Noy come in the court, and Bertylmeu havynge this termys to Bernard, seying, ‘Sir, forasmych as the Kyng hathe grauntyd be hese lettres patent the wardship with the profites of the londes of T. Fastolf duryng hese nun age to you5.3 and T. H., wherfor I am comyn as ther styward, be ther comaundement, upon ther pocession to kep court and lete, whiche is of old custum usyd upon thys day; wherfor I charge you, be the vertu herof, to seas and kepe nouthir court nor lete, for ye have non autoryte.’ Quod Bernard, ‘I wyll kepe bothe court and lete, and ye shal non kepe here; for there is no man hath so gret autoryte.’ Than quod Bertylmeu, ‘I shal sytte by you, and take a reconysaunce as ye do.’ ‘Nay,’ quod Bernard, ‘I wyl suffre you to sytte, but not to wryte.’ ‘Well,’ quod Bertylmeu, ‘thanne forsybly ye put us from our pocession, whiche I doute not but shalbe remembryd you anothir day,’ &c. ‘But, Seres,’ quod he, ‘ye that be tenaunts to this manoyr, we charge you that ye do nowthir seute nor servise, no[r] paye ony rents or fermys but to the use of John Paston and T.; fo[r] and ye do, ye shal paye it ageyn; and as for on yeer past, we have sewyrte of Skylly, whiche hath resevid it of you to ther use.’ And thus we departid, and Bernard kept court and lete.

6

And ther was Ser P. Wentworth and hise brothir, yong Hopton, yong Brewse, yong Calthorp, with xxiiij. horse; and we spoke with non of hem, nor they with non of us, for we wold not seke upon hem. And we have enteryd in all othir plasis undir this forme. I wold we had had the wryte betymes lever than xxs. of myn owne, but it farith thus in many othir maters, God amende hem.

Memorandum.—To sende hom wyn and ij. quart botelys.

264
ABSTRACT6.1

Sir John Fastolf to his right well-beloved Brother, Richard Waller.

1454-7
OCT. 30

Endorsed.— ‘A John Paston et John Bokkyng ou William Barker.’

[This letter is written in Botoner’s hand. The date is probably between 1454 and 1457, as in 1458 Botoner appears to have been in London,—at least he was so in November, and in the summer also he was away from Norfolk; and in 1459 the 30th October would have been within a week of Fastolf’s death, when he must have been ill inclined, even if capable, to dictate letters, unless of very special urgency.]

6.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 273.]

265
WILLIAM BARKER TO SIR J. FASTOLF6.2

To myn ryght worshipfull mayster, Sir John Fastolf.

1454
NOV. 3

Please youre maystership, the cause of myn terying is that I must ben at Norwyche on Monday at the shyre to stoppe the oughtlawrye of John Porter, wheche but if be holpen, he shalben dowble oughtlawed bothe atte the sewt 7 of the Kyng for a reskuse, as for serteyn money he oweth to on Hewghe, a man of court. And also the next day I shuld ben, if it please yow, at Saxthorp with a certeyn person, as I shal telle youre maystership here after, of whom I shuld have certeyn evydences of the maner of Saxthorp, and rentall, and fyrmall as I am promysed. And, Sire, as for alle the maters that I went fore in to Essex and Suffolk, I have spedde theym, as I shal declare to youre maystership at myn comyng, and brought wryghtyng from theym. And as for myn Lord of Norffolk, towchyng your money, he seyth ye shal have hit with inne this xiiij. dayes. Hit was his fyrst mater to me after I hadde delyvered his rynge. The money is redye, but he seyd that he must have stoor with inne hym, for he loked dayly whan the Kyng wold send for hym. But as sone as Barette, his tresorer, come home—whom he hath sent for money,—ye shall in contynent after have your Cli. [£100]. I made to his Lordship as I hadde no thyng know in the mater for onely for the excuse of Sir Thomas, &c. And I beseche the blessed Trinyte preserve yow, myn ryght wurshipfull mayster, after his pleasaunce and youre herts desyre, &c.

Wreten in hast at Wroxham, the Sonday after Allehallwen day. Youre bedeman and servaunt, William Barker.

6.2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] For the date of this letter, see preliminary note to No. 258 (vol. ii. p. 333, Note 1). John Porter, who was at this time in Fastolf’s service, seems to have gone immediately after into that of the Duke of Norfolk.—See Nos. 268, 278.

266
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON7.1

To the worshypfull and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston.

1454
NOV. 11

Worshypfull and ryght welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow. Lyke you to wete that I have resseyved a lettre at thys tyme from John Bokkyng, wyth a copie of the patent concernyng the wardeshyp that ye wote off, by whych y understand that ye have both wrought and holpen by your grete wysdom to bryng thys matier aboute, whych y desyred your frendshyp and gode avice 8 for the suertee of the seyd waarde;8.1 and for expedicion of whych y thank you ryzt hertlye, and pray you to contynew foorth your gode labours in the same yn such wyse as it may be made sure ynall wyse, thoy it cost me the more of my gode.

And where as it ys remembred me by the seyd lettres that y shuld labour to ghete the seyd ward yn to my gouvernance, truely y can not see how y coude do it to be doon, for y have none acqueyntaunce in that contree that y coude trust too, wythoute the Shyreve myght be my tender frende in thys cause, or othyr such as ye thynk best. Wherfor y pray you hertlye to take thys mater tenderly to hert, and that ye lyke seke a moyen of such frendys as ye can best avyse, and may verrayly trust uppon, to gyde thys mater yn such wyse as myne entent myght be sped for the possession of it; for now that y have go so ferre yn the matier, I wold not it faylled for no gode, but it preved well, and toke to a gode conclusion.

And where as y have understand late, by certeyn well willers to you warde, whych have meoved me, that yn case the seyd warde myght be had, that ye desyre an alliaunce shulde take atwyx a doughter of yours and the seyd waard, of whych mocion y was ryght glad to hyre off, and wylle be ryght well wylling and helpyng that your blode and myne myght increse yn alliaunces. And yff it please yow that by your wysdom and gode conduyt that ye wolde help beere owte thys mater substaunciallie ayenst my partie contrarie and eville willers, that I myght have myne entent, I ensure you ye and y shuld appoynt and accorde yn such wyse as ye shuld hale you ryght well plesed both for the encresyng of your lynage and also of myne. And y pray you be ware whom ye make of your counsaille and myne yn thys mater, and that it may be well bore owte er ye com thens, and yn a sure wey; and yff y had knowe rathyr [i.e. earlier] of your entent, it shuld hafe cost me more of my gode before thys, to hafe com to a gode conclusion, whych y promysse yhyt shall bee, and the mater take, by the fayth of my bodye.

Worshypfull and ryght welbelovyd cosyn, y pray God spede you yn thys matier, and sende you your gode desyrs.

9

Wreten at Castr, the xj. day of November anno xxxiijº R. H. VI. Your cosyn, John Fastolfe.

Item, cosyn, I pray yow when ye see tyme that my Lord of Caunterbury9.1 and my Lord Cromewell9.2 may be spoke wyth for the godes of my Lord Bedford, beyng yn dyvers men handz, be compelled to be brought ynne, as ye shall see more along of thys mater, wyth the wrytyngs that I have made mencion, and left wyth John Bokkyng and William Barker.

267
THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON9.3

To the wurshepfull Sir, and my good Maystyr John Paston, at London, in haste.

1454
NOV. 13

Wurshepfull and reverent Sir, and my good maistyr, I recomaund me to zow in as delygent wyse as on my part apperteineth, and p[le]a[s]e yow to wete that my maistyr9.4 was right well pleasyd with youre feithefull labour in fulfellyng the patent for the warrd of A. B. C., and he wyll feithefully labour as ye have avysed hym be wrytyng of John Bokyng. And putte my maistyr in more corage, I meovyd to hym upon myn hed that encas be the child wer wyse, that thanne it wer a good maryage be twen my wyff youre doutir and hym; and, Sir, my maistyr was glad whan he herd that moyen, cosetheryng that youre doutyr is desendyd of hym be the modyr syde. And, Sir, I have enqwerid aftyr the seyd child, and no dout of but he is lykly and of gret wyt, as I her be report of sondr personez. And it is so, as I am credebly enformyd, that Jeffrey Boleyn maketh gret labour for maryage of the seyd child to on of hese douterez. I wold well to hym, but bettyr to yow. Wherfor that ye 10 delygently labour for expedecyon of this mater, that encas ye can fynde ony moyan ther to have the seyd child, and we shal do feithefully owre delygens in lyke wyse her, as ye avyse us, &c.

And, Sir, as ye thynke with avyse of my Maistyr Yelverton, Jenney, and otherez my maisterez counsell therin, that the Shereff may be rewardyd, and yif my seyd maisterez counsell thynke it be to do’n, that thanne ye lyke to take an actyoun upon anenteynt [an attaint],10.1 wheche ye most with them take upon yow at this tyme in my maisterez absence; for as ye do in that mater, he woll hold hym content, for Wyllyam Barker hathe an instruccyon of my maisterez intent upon the same. And I send John Bokyng a copy of the panell, wheche I shewed yow at Castr, &c. Almyghty Jesu have yow eternally in hese mercyfull governaunce.

Wretyn at Castr, the Wednysday next aftyr Seynt Martyn, anno xxxiij. Th. Howys.

268
SIR THOMAS HOWYS TO JOHN PASTON10.2

To the wurshepfull and reverent Sir, my good Maystir John Paston, in all goodly haste.

1454
NOV. 18

Reverent and wurshepfull Sir, and my good maistyr, I recomaund me to yow in as louly wyse as on my part aperteineth. And please yow to wete that my maistyr is fully purposed to sewe ateynte, whereupon he wrytethe a lettere directyd to yow and otherez, for the wheche I beseke yow to be my good maystyr in pursewyng the seyd ateynte; and also my maistyr is agreed what reward ye geve the Shereff he holdeth hym content. Wherfor, that youre reward may be the larger, so he woll10.3 ther upon returne the panell for the seyd ateynte; and thanne yef Jenney wold meove my Lord of 11 Norffolke that he wold be my good Lord, amyttyng me for hese chapeleyn, and Jhankyn Porter for hese servaunt, wheche is hese chek roll, it shuld cause the matere to have the redyer expedecyon, as well be the Shereff as be the gret jury. And yef the processe may have so redy sped that it myght be had be fore my Maystyr Yelwerton in this vaccacyon tyme, it wer a gret counfort, &c. Beseking yow at the reverence of God, and as ever my power servyse may be at your comaundement, that ye effectualy labour this matere in the most spedfull wyse, as youre descrecyon, with Jenneyez avyse, thinketh most expedyent; for I ferre gretly to be outlawed or the seyd processe shuld be brought to a conclucyon withoute redy processe in the seyd ateynte. And I here no sewer tydinges of a parlement; but rather thanne I shuld be outlawed, I wold yeld my self to preson, wheche shuld be myn undoyng, and thanne to be with oute remedy. My refformacyon and counforte in eschewyng that lythe holly in your helpe and Jenneyez at thys tyme, be cause my maystyr hathe comytted the governaunce of the seyd matere to yow, and what expense it draweth he agreyth to bere it, &c.

I beseke Almyghty Jesu have yow, my good maystyr, eternaly in hese me[r]cyfull governaunce, and inspyre yow with hese speryt of remembraunce effectualy to precede in this matere.

Wretyn breffly at Castre the Monday next be fore Seynt Edmond the Kyng,11.1 anno xxxiij. Regis H. vj^ti.

Item, Sir, as for mony to the sped of this matere, Bokkyng hathe redy in comaundement to make delevery to yow what that ye nede, so there shall be no defaute in that, &c. T. Howys.

Woll corr. from wold
. in “corr.” missing

12

269
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON12.1

To my right welbilovyd cosyn, John Paston.

1454-9

...............wise, and for asmoche as it is . . . . . . . . . . . .the Lady Hastinges12.2 doughter, as I undrestande . . . . . .is lyneally descendid of my Lady Felbrig12.3 is sustre . . . . . . . .she was maried to Sir Hug’ Fastolf, graunsir to this same Thomas; and the Lady Hastinges is comen of Sir Robert Clyfton, which dwellid besyde Lynne. I prey yow, cosyn, enquere of my Lady Felbrigge how nygh they bethe of kynrede, and whethir they mow marie to ghedre or not, and how many degrees in lynage they bethe a sundre, for I reporte me to yowr wyse discrescion what the law wol sey ther ynne.

Item, it is so that Wyndam12.4 came yesterday to Jernemouth, and is at Stapletons; and this day a man of Stapletons came to me to wete if they sholde come speke with me or not, and I have sent Sir Thomas to hem to know ther entent and what they meane; and also he shal sey unto theym that I woll not medle ther with but as law and consciens will.

This is the tydinges that I have; I pray yow send me some of yours. As towching the North cuntre, Sperling hathe tolde yow. And God kepe yow. Wretyn at Castre this same day. J. Fastolf.

13

270
EDMUND CLERE TO JOHN PASTON13.1

To my welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, be this delivered.

1455
JAN. 9

Right welbeloved cosyn, I recomaund me to you, latyng you wite such tidings as we have.

Blessed be God, the Kyng is wel amended, and hath ben syn Cristemesday, and on Seint Jones day13.2 comaunded his awmener [almoner] to ride to Caunterbury wyth his offryng, and comaunded the secretarie to offre at Seint Edwards.

And on the Moneday after noon the Queen came to him, and brought my Lord Prynce with her. And then he askid what the Princes name was, and the Queen told him Edward; and than he hild up his hands and thankid God therof. And he seid he never knew til that tyme, nor wist not what was seid to him, nor wist not where he had be whils he hath be seke til now. And he askid who was godfaders, and the Queen told him, and he was wel apaid.

And she told him that the Cardinal13.3 was dede, and he seid he knew never therof til that tyme; and he seid oon of the wisist Lords in this land was dede.

And my Lord of Wynchestr13.4 and my Lord of Seint Jones13.5 were with him on the morow after Tweltheday, and he speke to hem as well as ever he did; and when thei come out thei wept for joye.

And he seith he is in charitee with all the world, and so 14 he wold all the Lords were. And now he seith matyns of Our Lady and evesong, and herith his Masse devoutly; and Richard shall tell yow more tidings by mouth.

I pray yow recomaund me to my Lady Morley,14.1 and to Maister Prior,14.2 and to my Lady Felbrigge,14.3 and to my Lady Hevenyngham,14.4 and to my cosyn your moder, and to my cosyn your wife.

Wreten at Grenewich on Thursday after Twelftheday. Be your cosyn, Edmund Clere.

Robert Botyll, prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
Final . missing or invisible

271
ABSTRACT14.5

Sir John Fastolf to Henry Fylonglye and John Paston.

1455
JAN. 24

[This letter could not have been written before the year 1455, as Sir John Fastolf only came to reside at Castre in the autumn of the year preceding. The wardship of Thomas Fastolf was procured by Sir John for John Paston in June 1454, so that it is highly probable he had to pay for it in the beginning of next year. In the year following, again, Fastolf was endeavouring to make good those claims against the Crown, which he here merely mentions as a ground of indulgence to himself.]

14.5 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 260.]

15

272
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON

To my right trusty and welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston, in goodly haste.

1455
FEB. 7

Ryght trusty and welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow. And please yow to wete that I am avertysed that at a dyner in Norwiche, wher as ye and othyr jentylmen wer present, that that ther were certeyn personez, jentylmen, whiche utteryd skornefull language of me, as in thys wyse, with mor, seyeng, ‘War the, gosune [cousin ?] war, and goo we to dyner; goo we wher? to Sir John Fastolf, and ther we shall well paye ther fore.’ What ther menyng was, I knowe well to no good entent to me ward; wherfor, cosyn, I prey yow, as my truste is in yow, that ye geve me knowelege be writing what jentylmen they be that had this report with more, and what mo jentylmen wer present, as ye wold I shuld and wer my deute to do for yow in semblabyll wyse. And I shall kepe yowr informatyon in this mater secret, and with Godds grace so purvey for hem as they shall not all be well pleasyd. At suche a tyme a man may knowe hese frendes and hese fooes asonder, &c. Jesu preserve and kepe yow.

15.1 Wretyn at Caster, the vij. day of Feverer, anno xxxiij. R. H. vj^ti. John Fastolf, Knyght.

15.1 [From Fenn, iii. 232.]

16

273
THOMAS HOWYS TO JOHN PASTON16.1

To the right wurshepfull Sir, my good Maystyr John Paston.

1455

Right worshepfull Sir, and my good maistyr, I recomaund me louly unto you, thankyng youre good maystyrshep for your good remembraunce for the cherche of Stokysby, wherupon I have desyred my trusty frend, Wylliam Worcestre, to come be the Abot16.2 homward, besekyng you to avertyse hym youre good avyse how he may be have hym best in this mater to the seyd Abot, etc. And, Sir, en cas ye myght be at a leyser to be with my mayster upon Thursday next comyng, forasmyche as Maistyr Yelvyrton and Jenney shal be her, ye shuld do my maistir ryght gret pleasure. And I beseke you the rather for my sake, for at that tyme the conveyaunce of al materez shal be comounyd of; and I know verely your avyse shall peyse depper in my maisterys conceyt thanne bothyn thers shal do. Ye have dayly gret labour for me, God reward yow, and my pore preyer ye shall have, &c. I beseke Almyghti Jesu have you in hese mercyfull governaunce, and graunt you evyr that may be to your most herte plessaunce, &c. Your chapeleyn and bedeman, Thomas Howys.

17

274
THE ABBOT OF ST. BENET’S TO JOHN PASTON17.1

To my ryght well be lovyd John Paston, Esquyer, be this delivered.

1455
MARCH 17

Wurchepefull Sire, and right well be lovyd, I grete yow well, desyryng to here of youre well fare, praying you interlych to bie with me at dyner on Seynt Benett day, the whiche xall be on Friday next comyng, or ell[es] in brief tyme covenable to your ease, to th’entent that I may commoun wyth yow of divers maters, the whiche I purpose to have a doo in be your good advyse, and in on especyall as for the chirche of Stokesby, whiche I understand xall moche be reulyd after your advyse and content; tristyng our communicacion had in the seyd [matters] xall cause pees and pleaser to all parties be leve of our Lord, the whiche Lord mote preserve you in all goode.

Wreten in my Monastery the xvij. day of Marche. Be your good frend, The Abbot of S. Benetts.

17.1 [From Fenn, iii. 236.] This letter was written by John Martin, Lord Abbot of St. Benet’s of Hulme. The heads of this monastery were mitred abbots, and sat in Parliament. The date may be assigned to the year 1455 for two reasons—first, that in that year St. Benet’s day (the 21st of March) fell on a Friday; and second, that in the same year the living of Stokesby lapsed to the Bishop of Norwich.

275
ABSTRACT

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston and —— Yelverton.

Between 1455-9

[The date of this letter must be during Sir John’s residence at Caister between 1455 and 1459.]

18

276
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON, ESQ.18.1

To myn ryght weel beloved cosyn, John Paston, Squier.

1455
MARCH 29

Worshipfull cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that at this tyme I sende to yow myn welbeloved frende and servant, Sir Thomas Howys, to have youre good councell and advyse how and in what wyse he may best be demened there at this tyme in his yeldyng to the Sheref upon his exigend, wheche is and shal be v. tymes called as on Monday next comyng, as I understande; and, the same by good and discrete advyse concluded and sette in a good weye by sewertes found to appere at London the day of the retorn of the wrytte or otherwyse, that thenne if ye thenke hit be to do’n [to do], ye lyke to take upon yow to comon with myne Lord of Norwyche,18.2 recomaundyng me to hys good and tender Lordship, and declaryng to hym how and in what wyse the seyd Sir Thomas was demened in the oyer and determyner, and sethe how he hath wrongously and with ought cause be vexed by John Andrews and other, and greetly trowbled, wherupon this atteynt now is grownded, in such wyse as ye thenk best to be done; and that his Lordship by youre medyacion here after geve not any favore to any persone or persones on myne contrarye partye for any synystre informacion geven other wyse than the trought in the mater shal require, as he shal weel understande by youre good reporte, for ye know the same mater weel. Wherfore, cosyn, I praye yow that ye wole tender the same for the weel and good speed therof, as myne syngler trust is in yow. And the blessed Trinyte preserve yow to his pleaser.

In hast, at Castre, the xxix. day of Marche. Youre, John Fastolf, Chr.

19

Item, cosyn, I sende youre a lettre to delyver to myne seyd Lord with a copye of the same, wheche I praye yow to se, and if ye thenk hit be to do’n, delyveret [deliver it] youre self, &c., to th’entent he myght know the disposicion of the pepul how they be sette, &c.; for he weel advertysed in this mater shalbe a greet supporter of trought in this be half, for the partye contrarye wole do’n that they can to labore the jure, and don to have theym rewled after theyr entent and contrary to trought; wheche mater I remytte ondly to youre ryght wyse discrecion.

277
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK19.1

1455
MARCH (?)

Right hy and myghty Prynce, my right gode and gracyous Lord, I recomaund me to your gode Lordship, etc. And please itt your Hyghnesse to wete that Sir Philip Wenteworth purchasid the Kyngs patentis of the ward of the heyer and londes of a por kynnesman of myne called John Fastolf of Cowhawe, late passed to God, to the grett hurte and distruccion as well of the inheritance of the seyd heyer as interrupcion and breking of the last will of the seyd John, and also to my grett troble and dammage; and for asmoche as it fortowned be grase the seyd patentes to be mystake, so that they were not laufull ne suffycyent, be avyce of conceyll, certeyn persones,19.2 to myn use, purchesid be the Kyngs letters patentes suffycyent and laufull of the ward of the seyd londes. And the rigth of thes bothe patentes hath be putte in juges and lerned men, affor 20 hom the seyd Sir Philipp ne his conceyll cowd never prove hes tytill lawfull be his seyd patents, and this notwithstanding intendith be fors, as I understand, to take the profytes of the seyd londes ageyns all lawe and concyence. Beseching your Lordchip to tender me in myn age and sekenesse that may not ryde ne help myself, and of your habundant grace to supporte me in my right, that I be not be fors ageyns lawe and concyence kepte from the possescion of the seyd londes in this contre, wher ye be Prynce and Sovereyn next owr Sovereyn Lord.

The following memoranda occur on the back:—

Br[adwe]ll juxta Jernemut.
Kirley juxta Leystoft, viijli.
Foxhole	xviijli.
Cowhaw in Nakton on this side Yepiswich, iij. myl,
Langston in Brustall, ij. myle beyond Yepiswich,	iijli.
Bentele, ij. mile beyond Brustall, xiiijli. (?)

278
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK20.1

1455
APRIL 2

Right high and myghty Prynce, my right noble and good Lord, in my right humble wyse I recomaunde me to your good grace. And for the noble lordship and supportacion shewid unto me at all tymes, I beseche our Lord God guerdon yow, where as I may not, but only as yowr daily and contynuell bedeman, now in myn age, pray for 21 the good prosperite of youre right highe and noble estate, as I am gretly bounde to doo; prayng tendirly yowre Highnesse to contynue yowre good lordship and supportacion in the materes touchyng your servaunt John Porter and my pore Chappelleyn Sir Thomas Howes, trustyng verily to God that, with the supportacion of your good Lordship, there mater shall yette come to a good conclusion in punisshyng of perjure and embracery that many yeris hathe ben and yette is usid in this shire, whiche were grete merite, and to my conceyte, in yow that ar soo noble a Prynce, a singler renoune, as for the beste dede that may be doo for the weel of bothe shires.

And in like wise that it please youre right good grace to contynue youre noble favour and supportacion to me in remedyeng the force doon by Sir Philip Wentworth, kepyng now wrongful possession of certeyn londes in Suffolk, nygh youre Castel of Framyngham; whiche londs certeyn of my frendes, to myn use, have of the Kyngs graunte by his lettres patent byfore ony patent that the seid Sir Philip hathe, whiche is my singler matier in myn owen parte that I have now to doo, as my cosyn Paston can enforme yowr Lordship, for he knowith the mater and myn hole entente, to whom your good grace lyke to yife credence. He cometh to awaite upon your Lordship at this tyme, as I understande, by my cosyn youre servaunt Richard Suthwell, youre Lordship desired.

Right highe and myghty Prynce, my noble and right good Lord, I beseche the Holy Goste be with yow, and evere more sende yow the accomplishment of youre right noble desires to his plesir and youres.

Writen at my pore place of Castre, the ij^de day of Aprill. Your humble man and servaunt, J. Fastolf.

20.1 [From Fenn, iii. 338.] Although there is no direction upon this letter, it was evidently addressed to the Duke of Norfolk, as it speaks of ‘your Castle of Framlingham.’ The absence of any written address Fenn accounts for by supposing the letter to have been enclosed in a cover; but as it appears that the original contained at least one passage which was crossed out (see page 341 in Fenn), we may with greater probability consider it to have been a corrected draft, like the last, sent to John Paston for his approval. The dispute with Sir Philip Wentworth and the matters of John Porter and Sir Thomas Howes, here referred to, both point to the year 1455 as the date of this letter.—See Nos. 265, 268.

22

279
ABSTRACT22.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

1455
MAY 3

[This letter, being dated at Caister in the month of May, cannot be earlier than 1455, and the references to the matter of the ward and the suit against Sir Thomas Howes seem to fix it to that year.]

280
ABSTRACT22.3

Richard Calle to John Paston.

1455(?)
MAY 8

[The allusion to John or Jankyn Porter in this letter makes it probable that it was written in the year 1455.—See No. 278.] 

22.3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

See No. 278.]
Closing bracket missing

23

281
ABSTRACT23.1

‘Thomas Canon, the Helder, of Mekyll Pagrave,’ to John Paston.

1455
MAY 16

23.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 252.]

282
MEMORIAL TO HENRY VI23.2

Tradatur J. P.

1455
MAY 21

Moste Cristen Kyng, ryght hygh and myghty Prince, and our mooste redoubted souverayn Lorde, we recomaunde ws as humblye as we suffice unto your hygh excellence, where unto please it to wete that for so moche as we hyre and understand to our grettyst sorowe erthlye that our ennemyes of approuved experience, such as abyde and kepe theym sylf under the whyng of your Magestee Royall, have throwen unto the same ryght stedyousely and ryght fraudulentlye manye ambyguytees and doubtes of the fayth, lygeaunce, and dewtee that, God knowyth, we beere unto your Hyghnesse, and have put theym yn as grete devoyr as they coude to enstraunge ws from your mooste noble presonce and from the favour of your goode grace; whych 24 goode grace to ws ys and owe to be our singuler and mooste desyred yoie and consolacion: We at thys tyme be comyng wyth grace as your true and humble liege men, toward your seyd Hygh Excellence to declare and shew therto at large owr sayd fayth and ligeaunce, entendyng wyth the mercye of Jesu yn the seyd comyng, to put ws yn as diligent and hertye devoyr and dewtee as onye your lyege men on lyve to that at may avaunce or preferre the honnour and wellfare off the sayd Mageste Royalle and the seurte of the sayd most notable person; the whych [we] beseche our blessed Creature to prosper [in] as grete honnor, yoie, and felicitie as ever had onye prince erthlye, and to your sayd Hyghnesse so to take, accept, and repute ws, and not to plese to geve trust or confidence unto the sinistrez, maliciouse, and fraudulent laboures and rapportes of our sayd ennemyes unto our comyng to your sayd moste noble presence; where unto we beseche humblye that we may be admitted as your liege men, to th’entent to show ws the same; wheroff yerstenday we wrote our lettres of our entent to the ryght reverent fadre yn God, the Archebysshop of Caunterburye,24.1 your Chauncellr of England, to be shewed to your sayd Hyghnesse, whereoff, forsomoch as we be not acerteyned whethyr our sayd entent be by hys fadrehode shewed unto your seyd goode grace or not, we sende thereoff unto thys closed a copy of our said lettres of our disposicion toward your sayd Hygh Excellence and the honnour and weele of the land, whereynne we wolle persevere wyth the grace of our Lorde.

25

283
THE BATTLE OF ST. ALBANS25.1

Bellum apud Seynt Albons.

1455
MAY 21-22

Be yt knowen and hadde in mynde that the xxj. day of May the xxxiij. zere of the regne of Kyng Herry the Sext, our sovereigne Lord Kyng toke his jurnay from Westmynster toward Seynt Albones, and rested at Watford all nyght; and on the morwe be tymes he cam to Seynt Albones, and wyth him on his partye assembled under his baner the Duyke of Bockingham, the Duke of Somersete, the Erle of Penbrok, the Erle of Northumburlond, the Erle of Devynsshire, the Erle of Stafford, the Erle of Dorsete, the Erle of Wyltsshire, the Lorde Clyfford, the Lord Dudley, the Lord Burneys, the Lord Rose, wyth other dyversse knyghtes, squyeres, and other gentilmen and yemen to the nounbre of ij^ml [2000] and moo. And upon the xxij. day of the seyde moneth above rehersed assembled the Duyk of Yorke, and wyth hym come yn companye the Erle of Salesbury, the Erle of Warrewyke with diverse knyghtes and squyers unto ther partye into the felde, called the Key Feld, besyde Seynt Albones. Fyrthermore, oure seyd sovereyne Lord the Kyng, heryng and knowyng of the seyde Dukes comyng with other Lordes afore seyde, pygth his baner at the place called Boslawe in Seynt Petrus Strete, whych place was called afore tyme past Sandeforde, and commaundeth the warde and barrers to be kepte in stronge wyse; the for seyde Duyk of York abydyng in the feld aforeseyde frome vij. of the clokke in the morn tyl yt was al most x. without ony stroke smeton on eyther partye. The seyde Duke sende to the Kyng our sovereyne Lord, be the avyse of his councell, prayng and be sekyng hym to take him as his true man and humble suget; and to consider and to tender at the reverence of Almyghty God, and in way of 26 charite the true entent of his comyng—to be good and gracyous sovereyne Lorde to his legemen, whech with al ther power and mygth wille be redy at alle tymes to leve and dye with hym in his rigth. And to what thyng yt shoulde lyke his Mageste Ryall to commaunde hem, yf yt be his worsship, kepyng right of the Croune and welffare of the londe; ‘More over, gracyous Lord, plese yt zour Majeste Ryall of zour grete goodnesse and ryghtwesnesse to enclyne zour wille to here and fele the ryghtwyse partye of us zoure sugettes and legemen; fyrst, prayng and besechyng to oure Lord Jesus of his hye and myghty power to geve un to zou vertu and prudence, and that thorugh the medyacyon of the glorious martyr Seynt Albon to geve zou very knowleche to knowe the entent of oure assembleng at this tyme; for God that is [in] Heven knoweth than our entent is rightful and true. And there fore we pray unto Al myghty Lord Jesus these wordes—Domine sis clipeus defensionis nostræ. Wherefore, gracyus Lord, plese it your hyghe Majeste to delyvere such as we wole accuse, and they to have lyke, as they have deserved and done, and ze to be honorabled and worsshepyt as most ryghtffull Kyng and oure governour. For and we shall now at this tyme be promysed, as afore this tyme ys not unknowen, of promes broken whech ful fayth fully hath ben promysed, and there upon grete othes made, we wyll not now cesse for noon such promysse, surete, ne other, tyl we have hem whych hav deserved deth, or elles we to dye there fore.’

And to that answered the Kyng our sovereyne Lord, and seyde: ‘I, Kyng Herry, charge and comaund that no maner persone, of what degre, or state, or condicyon that evere he be, abyde not, but voyde the felde, and not be so hardy to make ony resystens ageyne me in myn owne realme; for I shall knowe what traytor dar be so bold to reyse apepull in myn owne lond, where thorugh I am in grete desese and hevynesse. And by the feyth that I owe to Seynt Edward and to the Corone of Inglond, I shal destrye them every moder sone, and they be hanged, and drawen, and quartered, that may be taken afterward, of them to have ensample to alle 27 such traytours to be war to make ony such rysyng of peple withinne my lond, and so traytorly to abyde her Kyng and governour. And, for a conclusyon, rather then they shall have ony Lorde here with me at this tyme, I shall this day, for her sake, and in this quarrell my sylff lyve or dye.’

Wych ansuere come to the Duke of Yorke, the wheche Duke, by the avyce of the Lordes of hys Counceill, seyde unto hem thise wordes: ‘The Kyng our sovereyne Lord will not be reformed at our besechyng ne prayer, ne wylle not understonde the entent that we be comen heder and assembled fore and gadered at this tyme; but only ys full purpose, and there noon other wey but that he wole with all his power pursue us, and yf ben taken, to geve us a shameful deth, losyng our lyvelode and goodes, and our heyres shamed for evere. And ther fore, sythe yt wole be noon othere wyse but that we shall ootterly dye, better yt ys for us to dye in the feld than cowardly to be put to a grete rebuke and asshamefful deth; more over, consederyng yn what peryle Inglonde stondes inne at thys owre, therefore every man help to help power for the ryght there offe, to redresse the myscheff that now regneth, and to quyte us lyke men in this querell; preyng to that Lord that ys Kyng of Glorye, that regneth in the kyngdom celestyall, to kepe us and save us this day in our right, and thorugh the helpe of His holy grace we may be made strong to with stonde the grete abomynable and cruell malyse of them that purpose fully to destrye us with shameful deth. We ther fore, Lord, prey to The to be oure confort and Defender, seyng the word afore seyde, Domine sis clipeus defensionis nostræ.’

And whanne this was seyde, the seyde Duke of Yorke, and the seyd Erle of Salesbury, and the Erle of Warrewyk, betwene xj. and xij. of the clocke at noon, the broke into the toun in thre diverse places and severelle places of the fore seyd strete. The Kyng beyng then in the place of Edmond Westby, hunderdere of the seyd toun of Seynt Albones, comaundeth to sle alle maner men of lordes, knygthtes, and squyeres, and zemen that myght be taken of the for seyde Dukes of York. Thys don, the fore seyde Lord Clyfford 28 kept strongly the barrers that the seyde Duke of York myght not in ony wise, with all the power that he hadde, entre ne breke into the toun. The Erle of Warrewyk, knowyng ther offe, toke and gadered his men to gedere and ferosly brake in by the gardeyne sydes betuene the signe of the Keye and the sygne of the Chekkere in Holwell strete; and anoon as they wer wyth inne the toon, sodeynly the blew up trumpettes, and sette a cry with asshout and a grete voyce, ‘A Warrewe! A Warrewyk! A Warrewyk!’ and into that tyme the Duke of York mygth nevere have entre into the toun; and they with strong hond kept yt, and myghttyly faught to gedere, and anoon, forth with after the brekyng in, they sette on them manfully. And as of Lordes of name were slayn the Lord Clyfford, the Duke of Somersete, the Erle of Northumberlond, Sir Bartram Entuwysselle, Knynght; and of men of courte, Wyllyam Zouch, John Batryaux, Raaff of Bapthorp and hys sone, Wyllyam Corbyn, squyers; William Cotton, receyver of the Ducherye of Lancastre; Gylbert Starbrok, squyer; Malmer Pagentoun, William Botelore, yomen; Rogere Mercroft, the Kynges messanger; Halyn, the Kynges porter; Raufe Wyllerby; and xxv. mo, whych her names be not zet knowen. And of hem that ben slayn ben beryed in Sent Albonos xlviij. And at this same tyme were hurt Lordes of name—the Kyng, our sovereyne Lord, in the neck with an arrowe; the Duke of Bukingham, with an arrowe in the vysage;* the Lord of Stafford in the hond, with an arowe; the Lord of Dorsette, sore hurt that he myght not go, but he was caryede hom in a cart; and Wenlok, Knyght, in lyke wyse in a carte sore hurt; and other diverse knyghtes and squyers sore hurt. The Erle of Wyldsshyre, Thorpe, and many other flede, and left her harneys behynde hem cowardly, and the substaunce of the Kynges partye were dyspoyled of hors and harneys. This done, the seyde Lordes, that ys to wote, the Duke of Yorke, the Erle of Salesbury, the Erle of Warrewyke, come to the Kyng, our sovereyne Lord, and on here knees be soughte hym of grace and foryevenesse of that they hadde doon yn his presence, and be sought hym of his Heynesse to take hem as hys true legemen, seyng that they 29 never attendyde [intended] hurt to his owne persone, and ther fore [the] Kyng oure sovereyn Lord toke hem to grace, and so desyred hem to cesse there peple, and that there shulde no more harme be doon; and they obeyde hys commaundement, and lote make a cry on the Kynges name that al maner of pepull shulde cesse and not so hardy to stryke ony stoke more after the proclamacyon of the crye; and so cessed the seyde batayle, Deo gratias.

And on the morwe the Kyng and the seyde Duke, with other certeyn Lordes, come in to the Bysshops of London, and there kept resydens with joye and solempnyte, concludyng to holde the parlement at London, the ix. day of July next comyng.

284
THE BATTLE OF ST. ALBANS29.1

1455
[MAY 22]

The solecytouriz and causerys of the feld takyng at Seynt Albonys, ther namys shewyn her aftyr:—

The inony [enemy’s] batayle was in the Market-place, and the Kynges standard was pight, the Kynge beynge present with these Lordes, whos namys folwe:—

The Duke of Bokyngham. The Duke Somyrcete. The Erle Devynshire. The Erle of Northeombirlond. The Erle Stafford. The Erle Dorcete. The Lord Clyfford. The Lord Ros.

With many Knyghtes and Squyeriz, to the noumbre in alle that faught that day iijml. [3000], and it was done on Thursday last past atwyx xj. and xij. at mydday.

30

The namys of the Lordes that were on the othir party shewyn here aftyr:—

The Duke of York. The Erle of Salysbury. The Erle of Warwyk. The Lord Clynton. Sir Robert Ocle.

With many otheriz, to the noumbre of vml. [5000] men.

And Sir Rober Ocle tok vj^c. [600] men of the Marchis, and tok the Market-place or ony man was war; than the larum belle was ronge, and every man yed to harneys, for at that tyme every man was out of ther aray, and they joynid batayle anon; and it was done with inne di. [i.e. one half] houre, and there were slayn the men, whos namys folwyn:—

The Duke Somyrcete. The Erle Northombirlond. The Lord Clyfford. The Lord Clynton. Sir Bartyn at Wessyll. Babthorpe and hese sone. Cotton, Receyvour of the Duchye. Gryphet, Ussher of Hall. Herry Loweys. Wyllyam Regmayde. John Raulyns. Asple. Harpour, Yoman of the Croune.

With many othir men, to the noumbre of iiijc [400], and as many or mo hurt. The Kynge was hurt with an harwe in the necke. The Duke of Bukkyngham hurt, and fled in to the Abbey. The Erle Devynshire hurt. The Erle Stafford and Dorcetyr gretly hurt. Fylongley faught manly, and was shet thorwe the armys in iij. or iiij. placys.

The Duke of Norfolke come a day aftyr the jurney was done with vj^mll. [6000] men.

And the Erle of Oxinford also.

The Erle of Shrewysbury, Lord Crumwelle, And Sir Thomas Stanley,

with xmll. [10,000] men were comynge.

The Kynge with all the Lordes come to London to Westmenstyr on Fryday, at vj. of clocke at aftyr none, and London went a generalle processyon the same day.

29.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 278.]

31

285
JOHN CRANE TO JOHN PASTON31.1

Unto my worshipfull and welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, be this lettre delivred in hast.

1455
MAY 25

Right worshipfull and entierly welbeloved Sir, I recommaunde me unto you, desiring hertly to here of your welfare. Furthermore lettyng you wete, as for such tydinges as we have here, such [these] thre Lordes be dede, the Duke of Somerset, the Erle of Northombrelonde, and the Lord Clyfford; and as for any other men of name, I knowe noon save only Quotton of Cammbrigeshire. As for any other Lordes, many of theym be hurt; and as for Fenyngley, he lyveth and fareth well, as fer as I can enquere, &c.

And as for any grete multytude of people that ther was, as we can tell, ther was at most slayn [x]31.2 vj. score. And as for the Lordes that were with the Kyng, they and her men wer pilled and spoyled out of all their harneys and horses; and as for what rule we shall have yit I wote nett, save only ther be made newe certayn officers.

My Lord of Yorke, Constabil of Englande; my Lord of Warweke is made captayn of Calyes; my Lord Burgchier is made Treasorer of Englande; and as yit other tydinges have I none.

And as for our soverayn Lorde, thanked be God, he hathe no grete harme.

No more to you at this tyme, but I pray you send this lettyr to my Maistresse Paston, when ye have sene hit; preyng you to remembre my systir Margrete ageyne the tyme that she shal be made nonne.

Written at Lamehith, on Witsonday, &c. By your cosyn, John Crane.

32

286
ABSTRACT32.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

1455
MAY 28

[The postscript of this letter seems to refer to the change of administration after the battle of St. Albans. As to the action of attaint sued by Fastolf, see Nos. 268 and 276.]

32.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 255.]

287
WILLIAM BARKER TO WILLIAM WORCESTER32.2

To William Worcester, be this lettre delyvered in hast.

1455
JUNE

Sir, I recomaunde me to yow; and as for tydyngs, ye may enforme myn mayster, there is non but that he hath knowleche of, but that the Kyng, the Quene, and the Prynce remeven to Hertford to morwen withought faute; myn Lord York to the Fryres at Ware; myn Lord Warwyk to Hunesdon; the Erle Salysburye to Rye; and there they shall abyde to tyme the Parlement be gynne.

The Duk Buk is come inne, and sworn that he shal be rewled, and draw the lyne with theym; and ther to he and his brethern ben bounde by reconysaunce in notable summes to abyde the same.

The Erle of Wylts sent to the Lordes from a place of his, called Peterfeld, a lettre desyring to know if he shuld come, 33 and abyde abought the Kynges persone as he dede be fore; and if he shuld not, than that they wold lycence hym to goon in to Erland, and leve there upon his landes, &c., and before this don, the Lordes were advysed to have made hym to don as the Duk Buk hath don, and no more; but what that wolle falle now therof, no man can telle as yet.

The Baron of Dudley is in the Towre; what shal come of hym, God wote. The Erle of Dorsete is in warde with the Erle of Warrwyk.

Hit was seyd, for sothe, that Harpere and ij. other of the Kynges chamber were confedered to have steked the Deuk York in the Kynges chamber; but hit was not so, for they have clered theym therof.

But London upon the same tale areysen, and every man to harneys on Corpus Christi even, and moche adoo there was.

Syr William Oldhall a bydeth no lenger in Seyntwery than the Chef Juge come, for that tyme he shal goo at large, and sewe all his maters himself, &c.

The Baron Dudley hath appeched many men; but what they ben, as yet we can not wete. Sir Phillyp Wentworth was in the feld, and bare the Kynges standard, and kest hit down and fled. Myn Lord Norffolk seyth he shal be hanged therfore, and so is he worthy. He is in Suffolk now. He der not come abought the Kynge.

Edmond Stendale was with Wenlok there in the feld, and ffowly hurt.

Fylongley is at home at his owen place with his wyf, and shal doe ryght weel; but we have a greet losse of his absence this terme, for hit wole be longe er he come this terme, I am a ferde.

Alle the Lordes that dyed at the jorney arn beryed at Seynt Albones.

Other thinges ben non here, but ye shal sene by Thomas Scales lettre the rewle of the Frenshemen, &c.

God spede us weel in our matres this terme, I praye to God, who have yow in his kepyng, &c. W. B.

32.2 [From Fenn, i. 104.] This letter relates entirely to occurrences after the battle of St. Albans. The writer here only signs with his initials, but from the facsimile given by Fenn of his ‘W. B.,’ he can be clearly identified with William Barker.

34

288
THE DUCHESS OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON34.1

To oure right trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Esquier.

The Duchesse of Norfolk.

1455
JUNE 8

Right trusti and welbelovid, we grete you hertili weel. And for as muche as it is thought right necessarie for divers causes that my Lord have at this tyme in the Parlement suche persones as longe unto him, and be of his menyall servaunts, wherin we conceyve your good will and diligence shal be right expedient, we hertili desire and pray you that at the contemplacion of thise oure lettres, as our special trust is in you, ye wil geve and applie your voice unto our right welbelovid cosin and servaunts, John Howard and Syr Roger Chambirlayn, to be Knyghts of the shire, exorting all suche othir as be your wisdom shal now be behovefull, to the good exployte and conclusion of the same.

And in your faithful attendaunce and trewe devoyre in this partie, ye shal do unto my Lord and us a singlere pleasir, and cause us herafter to thank you therfore, as ye shal holde you right weel content and agreid, with the grace of God, who have you ever in his keping.

Wreten in Framlyngham Castel, the viij. day of June.

34.1 [From Fenn, i. 96.] From the time of year at which it was written, this letter must refer to the parliamentary election of 1455.

289
ABSTRACT34.2

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

1455
JUNE 11

[The references in this letter to the affair of the wardship, and to the actions against John Porter and Sir Thomas Howes, all show that it belongs to the year 1455.]

34.2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 269.]

290
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON35.1

1455(?)

 .......

 .....J. Fastolf.

More overe, cosyn, I pray yow concyder .  .  . that yff the plees for the mater ye [wit off] may be engroced be tyme or the Courtys remefe, hyt may stand yn more suertee; and ellys hyt wille stand yn a jubardye as to alle that hathe be spended and doon heere before. And therfor, savyng your better avice, I had lever ye were at London a weke the rather and tymelyer then a weke to late. I pray yow doth somwhate aftyr my councell as I wolle do by youres.

35.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is only the mutilated postscript of a letter without any address, though it was doubtless directed to John Paston. The anxiety expressed that Paston should be in London in good time corresponds so closely with the contents of the preceding letter that we may refer this to the same period, especially as both the preceding letter and this are in the handwriting of William Worcester. The matter, which was to be engrossed before the Courts removed, had reference probably to the wardship of Thomas Fastolf of Cowhawe.—See No. 292 following.

36

291
WILLIAM PRYCE TO JOHN PASTON36.1

The copy of a Letter sent to John Paston be the Undir-Shreve36.2 of Norff.

1455
JUNE 19

Ryght worchepfull Sir, I recomaund me on to you, &c. And, Sir, as for the eleccion of the Knyghts of the shire here in Norffolk, in good feyth her hath ben moch to do; nevir the latyr, to lete yow have knowlech of the demenyng, my Master Berney, my Master Grey and ye had grettyst voyse, and I purpose me, as I woll answer God, to retorne the dieu eleccion, that is aftir the sufficiente, yow and Mastir Grey; nevir the latyr I have a master.

Wretyn at Hederset, the Thursday next befor Midsomer. By Will’m Pryce.

292
ABSTRACT36.3

1455
JUNE 21

[Memoranda below in William Worcester’s hand as to certain statements of Hugh Fenn about the form of the writ of livery directed to the Sheriff.]

36.3 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 261.]

37

293
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON37.1

To my ryght trusty cosyn, John Paston.

1455
JUNE 22

Worshypfull Sir and cosyn, I commaund me to yow. And lyke yow wete that accordyng to your desyre I sende John Russe to yow to hafe your informacion of such materis as shall be thought exspedient to be laboured yn your absence for the mater of Wentworth, and hafe geve hym in commaundment to entend it in all that he can or may. And, Cosyn, he hath a lettre of credence to the baylly of Dedham because of doubt of syght of the baylly ys lettre ther for disclosyng, &c., to do after the wrytyng of T. Denys. And y sende yow ij. lettres com to me from London that maketh mencyon of grete besynesse ayenst us, and an accion toke ayenst yow, Howys, Bokkyng, &c., that most nedys be tendred; in case an essoyn37.2 can be take, so moche the better. And therfor, cosyn, at reverence of God, dispose yow to London yn all the haste that ye can. For the atthacment can not be tille ye com. And on partie adverse besyeth hem sore in your absence, facies hominis facies leonis. And I have worde yn a nothere lettre that my Lord Chauncellor ys yn the lyke wyse disposed yn owre one syde, and therfor that ye kepe hym ynne to helpe bere the favour of thys mater yn all wyse; And Byngham Justys ys full well disposed also. Dyvers new processe ys ayenst Sir Thomas. And all othere materis I commyt to your discrecion; yf nede be, I com thedre my sylf. Y pray God kepe yow. Wryt hastly uppon Sonday before Seynt John Baptiste.—Your cosyn, J. Fastolf.

Item, after that I have word from yow, so wolle I be 38 gouverned, and com to London yff ye sende me worde, and that I hafe word from yow yf nede be bytyme from London.

294
JOHN JENNEY TO JOHN PASTON38.1

To my wurshipfull maister, John Paston, Esquier.

1455
JUNE 24

Mi Maister Paston, I recomaunde me to you. And wher ye shulde be enformed that I shulde sey to Howard38.2 that ye labored to be Knyght of the shire, I seid never soo to hym. I tolde my Lord of Norffolk atte London that I labored diverse men for Sir Roger Chaumberleyn, and they seid to me they wolde have hym, but not Howard, in asmeche as he hadde no lyvelode in the shire, nor conversement [i.e. acquaintance?]; and I asked them hom they wolde have, and they seid they wolde have you, and thus I tolde hym. And he seid on avysely, as he kan doo full well, I myght not sey ye labored ther, for I herde never sey ye labored therfor, be the feithe I vowe to God.

As for this writ of the Parlement of Norwich, I thanke you that ye will labour ther in; as for my frendys ther, I truste right well all the aldermen, except Broun38.3 and sech as be in his dawnger.38.4 I prey you spekith to Walter Jeffrey38.5 and Herry Wilton,38.6 and maketh them to labour to your entent. I prey you that yf ye thenke that it wull not be, that it like you that to sey that ye meve it of your self, and not be my 39 desire. Sum men holde it right straunge to be in this Parlement, and me thenketh they be wyse men that soo doo.

Wreten atte Intewode,39.1 on Sceint John day, in hast. Your servaunt, John Jenney.

295
JOHN JENNEY TO JOHN PASTON39.2

To my wurshipfull maister, John Paston, Squier.

1455
JUNE 25

Mi wurshipfull maister, I recomaunde me to you; and I thanke you that it plesith you to take seche labour for me as ye doo. My servaunt tolde me ye desired to knowe what my Lord of Norffolk seid to me whan I spake of you; and he seid in asmeche as Howard39.3 myght not be, he wolde write a lettre to the Under-Shreve that the shire shulde have fre eleccion, soo that Sir Thomas Todenham wer not, nor none that was toward the Duc of Suffolk; he seid he knewe ye wer never to hym ward. Ye may39.4 sende to the Under-Shreve, and see my Lord lettre. Howard was as wode as a wilde bullok; God sende hym seche wurshipp as he deservith. It is a evill precedent for the shire that a straunge man shulde be chosyn, and no wurshipp to my Lord off Yorke, nor to my Lord of Norffolk to write for hym; for yf the jentilmen of the shire will suffre sech inconvenyens, in good feithe, the shire shall not be called of seche wurshipp as it hathe be.

Wreten atte Intewode, this Wednesday next after Sceint John, in hast. Your servaunt, John Jenney.

40

296
ALICE CRANE TO MARGARET PASTON40.1

To my cosyn, Margeret Paston, be this letter delyvred.

About 1455(?)
JUNE 29

Ryght worshipfull cosyn, I recomaund me unto you, desyryng to here of youre welfare; and if it like you to her of my welfar, at the makyng of this letter I was in good hele, loved be God. The cause of my wrytyng to you at this tyme is this, praying you to send me word of youre welfare, and how ye do of youre seknesse, and if the medycyn do you ony good that I send you wrytyng of last; thankyng you of the grete frenship that ye have do to my moder with all my hert.

Also I pray you that ye wyll be good meyn to my cosyn youre husbond, that he wyll se that my fader be well ruleyd in his lyvelode for his worship and his profett.

Also prayng you to hold me exschusyd that I have wryten no ofter to you, for, in good feth, I had no leysir; for my Lady hath be seke at London, ner hand this quarter of this yere, and that hath be grete hevinesse to me; but now, blesyd be God, she is amendyd and is in the contre agayne.

Also thankyng you of the grete chere that I had of you when I was with you laste with all my herte, prayng you of good contenuanse, for I had never gretter nede than I have now, and if I had leyser and space, I wolde write to you the cause.

No more at this tyme, but the Holy Trenite have you in his kepyng.

Wryten at Wyndesore, the xxix. day of June, By youre pore bede oman and cosyn, Alice Crane.

Also, cosyn, I pray you to sende me sum Norfoke threde to do a boute my nekke to ryde with.

40.1 [From Fenn, iii. 146.] John Crane of Woodnorton, whom we suppose to have been the writer of Letters 121 and 285, had a wife of the name of Alice, who was apparently a widow in 1457, when she presented to the living of Woodnorton (see Blomefield, iv. 313). But the writer of this was more probably a daughter, serving in the household of a lady of rank according to the custom of the times. If so, the date is before John Crane’s death, which must have happened between 1455 and 1457.

41

297
WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON41.1

To my Maister Paston.

1455
JULY 7

Please your gode maistership to wete, that as yerstenday came lettres from London that the Parson41.2 most nedys up to London to safe the next amerciement; and so ys forth to appiere, yff he nedys most, xv. Johannis,41.3 as ye shall see by Barkers lettre, and shall be to morne at London, and with Goddes grace he shall be releved by the meene of the Parlement; by Sonday yee shall hafe weetyng.

As for my maister,41.4 he departyth not to London tille the next weke after thys, and [i.e. if] he ryde.

As for tydyngs be none couthe [i.e. publicly known], but Ponyngs41.5 ys qwyt and delyvered of all tresons; and Sir William Oldhale ys process yn the Kyngs Bynche reversed; and the Priest that accused Lordz Cromewell,41.6 Grey,41.7 and my 42 maister wolle confesse who caused hym to do it, so that he may have hys lyve, &c.

Assone as ye goodly may to see my maister, it shall be to hym a singuler pleasir. Sir, a baylly of my maister ys yn Drayton. John Eimond brought a lettre to yow, and he sent me wetyng he was shent [abashed] uppon som mater, as he supposyth, conteyned yn the lettre. Y pray you yn ryght be hys gode maister, and that y may wete the cause, for y doubt he shall and most obbey, yff he hath offended.

At Castr, the noneday,42.1 vij. day Jullet. Your, W. Worcestre.

On the top of this letter, in a different hand, is written:—

Prove ontrouthe in the Undir-Sherif, or that he dede othir wise thanne your counsell avysid hym, and Paston shall demene hym accordyng.

298
SIR J. FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON42.2

To the worshypfull and my ryght welle belovyd cosyn, John Paston.

1455
JULY 10

Worshypfull and ryghte welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to you. Please you to wete that the pryour and convent of Norwych have wyth holden certeyn rent for londes that they holden of me wythynne my maner of Harlyston, and the ij. tapers of wax of ijlb. wyghte by the space of xviij. yeers that mountyth .  .  .  .  .  .  . xxjs. valued in money; and the lordes of the seyd maner beying before me, and also y yn my tyme have be seisid and possessed of the sayd rent. Praying you to speek wyth the pryour, recomaundyng me unto hym, and 43 that ye lyke to meave hym to make me payment, as hys dewtee ys, so as y have no cause to stirre further, and to doo as justice requyryth. He holdyth xxx. acres land or more by the sayd rent, and yhyt ought to pay me othyr rents more by myne evidents of more ade. Y pray you, cosyn, that y may speke wyth you or y ryde, and that on Thrysday by the farthyst, and then y shall tell you tydyngs off the Parlement, and that ye fayle not, as my trus ys yn you. Y pray God have you yn Hys governance.

Wreten at Castre, the x. day of Julle. Your cosyn, John Fastolfe.

42.2 [From a modern copy by Gough in Bodl. Library.] This letter was evidently written in the year 1455, as appears by the reference to the Parliament and to the intended journey of Sir John Fastolf up to London (see No. 297).

299
HENRY WINDSOR TO BOKKYNG AND WORCESTER43.1

Unto my moost faitfull brethern, John Bokkyng and William Worcestre, and to eyther of theym.

1455
JULY 19

Worshipfull Sir, and my most hertely and best be loved brother, I recommaund me unto you in more loly wise than I can other thenk or write; and with al my service and trewe herte thank you of your gentill lettres, full brotherly written unto me at mony tymes of old, and especiall of late tyme passed. And trwly, brother, I thank Almyghty God of your welfare, of the which the berer of this my pour lettre certified me of, &c.

And, Sir, as touchyng al maner of newe tithinges, I knoo well ye are averous; truly the day of makyng of this letter, ther were nonn newe, but suche I herd of, ye shalbe served with all.

As for the first, the Kyng our souverain Lord, and all his trwe Lordes stand in hele of there bodies, but not all at 44 hertes ees as we. Amonges other mervell, ij. dayes afore the writyng of this letter, there was langage betwene my Lordes of Warrewikke and Cromwell afore the Kyng, in somuch as the Lord Cromwell wold have excused hym self of all the steryng or moevyng of the male journey of Seynt Albones; of the whiche excuse makyng, my Lord Warrewikke had knolege, and in hast wasse with the Kyng, and sware by his othe that the Lord Cromwell said not trouth, but that he was begynner of all that journey at Seynt Albones; and so betwene my said ij. Lords of Warrewikke and Cromwell ther is at this day grete grugyng, in somoch as the Erle of Shrouesbury hath loged hym at the hospitall of Seynt James, beside the Mewes, be the Lord Cromwells desire, for his sauf gard.

And also all my Lord of Warrewikke men, my Lord of York men, and also my Lord of Salesbury men goo with harnes, and in harnes with strang wepons, and have stuffed their Lordes barges full of wepon dayly unto Westminster. And the day of makyng of this letter, ther was a proclamacion made in the Chauncerie, on the Kyngs behalf, that noman shuld nether bere wepon, ner were harnes defensible, &c.

Also, the day afore the makyng of this letter, ther passed a bill44.1 both by the Kyng, Lords, and Comens, puttyng Thorp, Josep, and my Lord of Somerset in all the defaute; be the which bill all maner of actions that shuld growe to any person or persones for any offenses at that journey doon, in any maner of wise shuld be extynt and voide, affermyng all thing doon there well doon, and nothing doon there never after this tyme to be spoken of; to the which bill mony a man groged full sore nowe it is passed.

And if I myght be recommaunded unto my speciall maister and youres, with all loliness and trewe service I beseech you hertely as I can.

And also to my brethern Th. Upton,44.2 Lodowick of Pole, William Lynd Calyn [Lincoln ?], and John Merchall. 45 No more, but our Lorde have you both in his perpetuell kepyng.

Writen at London, on Seynt Margarete Even,45.1 in hast; and after this is rede and understonden, I pray you bren or breke it, for I am loth to write any thing of any Lord. But I moost neds; ther is no thing elles to write. Amen. Your awn, H. Wyndesore.

300
JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON45.2

To the right wurchepfull Sir, ana my goode mayster, my Mayster John Paston, be this delivered.

1455
JULY 25

Reverent and right wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, I recomaund me to you, prayng you to wete that ther is reysed a slandrows noyse in this countre up on my Mayster Yelverton and you and my Mayster Alyngton, which I suppose is do to bryng you ought of the conceyte of the pepyll, for at this day ye stand gretly in the countreys conceyte. It is seyde be Heydon and his disciples that my Mayster Yelverton and ye and my Mayster Alyngton shuld have doo oon Sir John Tartyssale, parson of the Estchurche45.3 of Warham and chapeleyn to the priour45.4 of Walsyngham, to put in to the Parlement, a bille of divers tresons don be my Lord of Norwich,45.5 Sir Thomas Tudenham, 46 and John Heydon, and ye shuld have set to your seales; and if that Heydon had be vj. howrs fro the Parlement lenger than he was, ther had be granted an oyer determiner to have enquer of hem, &c. This was told yesterday in right wurchepfull audience, and a mong the thrifties men of this countre; and thei seyd right shrewedly, for my lord of Norwich hath so flatered the lay pepill as he hath redyn a bought his visitacion that he hath thers herts. Wherfor, and it plese you to lete me have knowlech what ye wuld I shuld sey to it, wher as I her any such langage, I wull do my parte, and have do hed toward as I have thought in my conceytes best, &c. And if ther be any other servyce that ye wull comaund me, I am and wull be redy at yowr comaundment with the grace of God, how [who] ever have you in his blyssed kepyng.

Wretyn at Wighton in hast, on Sent James day, Be your servaunte, James Gloys.46.1

To the right wurchepfull Sir, and my goode mayster
text has “ana” (italic “a” for “d”)

301
JOHN PASTON TO JAMES GLOYS46.2

To Sir James Gloys.

1455
JULY 25

Ther be dyvers thynges in your letter sent to me; one that a slaw[n]derus noyse shuld renne ageyns Yelverton, Alygton and me, to brynge us owte of the conceytes of the puple be Heydon and his dyscyplis, of a bill that shuld have do put uppe in to the Parlement ageyns my Lord of Norwich and odir. I lete yow wete this is the furst day that I herd of any seche, but I wold wete the namys of hem that utter this langage and the mater of the bill. As for my Lord of Norwych, I suppose ye know I have not usid to meddel with Lordes maters meche forther than me nedith; and as for Sir Thomas Todynham, he gaff me no cawse of late 47 tyme to labor ageyns hym, and also of seche mater I know non deffaut in hym. And as for Heydon, when I putte a bill ageyns hym I suppose he shall no cause have, ne his discyplis nother, to avante of so short a remedy ther of, as ye wrygth they sey now. As for that ye desyr that I shuld send yow word what I shuld sey in this mater, I pray yow in this and all other lyke, ask the seyeres if thei will abyd be ther langage, and as for me, sey I prupose me to take no mater uppon me butt that I woll abyde by; and in lek wys for Yelverton and Aligton. And that ye send me the namys of them that ye wryte that herd this langage seyd shrewedly, and what they seyd; and that ye remembre what men of substance wer ther that herde itt; for if this can be dreve to Heydon or his dissyplis, as ye wryte, it wer a gode preve that they fere to be appelyd of seche materes. And I thank yow for your godwill. Wrete att Norwych, on Seynt James day.

46.2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, which is printed from a draft in John Paston’s hand, was written in answer to the preceding, to which the reader is referred for the evidence of its date.

302
JOHN CHEDWORTH, BISHOP OF LINCOLN, TO JOHN PASTON47.1

To the worshipfull and welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer.

1455
JULY 26

Right worshipful and welbeloved Sir, I comaunde me unto you, and with all my hert thank you for the grete labours that ye oftymes have diligently doon for my welbeloved servant John Ode, to th’entent that he shuld mowe atteyne to entre and enjoy peasible his enheritaunce, as I am enformed dew unto him; and pray you of youre goode contynuaunce, certyfieng you that I have written unto Yelverton, the justice, that he wol, at some sesonable tyme, common with Sir Thomas Tudenham, knyght, and to offre him asmoche reason as it shal be thought unto him and to you, that lawe 48 wol in that behalf require, prayng you that ye wol common with the saide Yelverton, and to conceyve betwix you such lawful meones of gyding of this matier that my said servaunt may have peasebly with owten grete trouble his said enheritaunce, as I shal in case semblable do my labour unto your pleasaunce. And pray you that of the disposicion of the said Sir Thomas Tudenham in this behalf, I may be certified. And Jesu preserve you.

Written at London, the xxvj. day of July. J., Bysshopp of Lincoln.

47.1 [From Fenn, iii. 246.] The date of this letter is ascertained by a contemporaneous memorandum at the bottom of the original in these words, ‘Litt. direct. Joh’i Paston inter Michaelem xxxiij. et xxxiiij. Henr. Sexti.’

303
JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON48.1

To my right worshipfull maister, John Paston, at Norwiche, be this delyvred.

1455
OCT. 28

Please it your maistership to wete48.2 .  .  .  .

Here be many marvaylos tales of thynggs that shall falle this next moneth, as it is seyd; for it is talked that oon Doktor Grene, a preest, hath kalked [calculated ?] and reporteth, that by fore Seynt Andreu day next comyng shall be the grettest bataill that was sith the bataill of Shrewisbury,48.3 and it shall falle bytwene the Bisshoppes Inne of Salesbury and Westminster Barres, and there shall deye vij. Lords, whereof iij. shuld be bisshoppes. Althis and meche more is talked and reported. I trust to God it shall not falle so.

Also there is gret varyance bytwene the Erll of Devenshire and the Lord Bonvyle, as hath be many day, and meche debat is like to growe therby; for on Thursday at nyght last passed, 49 the Erll of Denshyres sone and heir come with lx. men of armes to Radford’s49.1 place in Devenshire, whiche was of counseil with my Lord Bonvyle; and they sette an hous on fyer at Radfords gate, and cryed and mad an noyse as though they had be sory for the fyer; and by that cause Radfords men set opyn the gats and yede owt to se the fyer; and for with th’erll sone forseid entred into the place and intreted Radford to come doun of his chambre to sp[e]ke with them, promyttyng hym that he shuld no bodyly harm have; up on whiche promysse he come doun, and spak with the seid Erll sone.

In the mene tyme his menye robbe his chambre, and ryfled his huches,49.2 and trussed suyche as they coude gete to gydder, and caryed it awey on his own hors. Thanne th’erll sone seid, ‘Radford, thou must come to my lord my fadir.’ He seid he wold, and bad oon of his men make redy his hors to ride with hem, whiche answerd hym that alle his hors wern take awey; thanne he seid to th’erll sone, ‘Sir, your men have robbed my chambre, and thei have myn hors, that I may not ride with you to my lord your fadir, wherfor, I pray you, lete me ride, for I am old, and may not go.’

It was answerid hym ageyn, that he shuld walke forth with them on his feete; and so he dede till he was a flyte49.3 shote or more from his place, and thanne he was  .  .  .  softly, for cawse he myght not go fast. And whanne thei were thus departed, he turned  .  .  .  oon; forwith come ix. men ageyn up on hym, and smot hym in the hed, and fellid  .  .  .  .  of them kyt his throte.

This was told to my Lord Chaunceler49.4 this fornoon  .  .  .  .  .  .  messengers as come of purpos owt of the same cuntre. This matier is take gretly  .  .  .  .  .  .  passed at ij. after mydnyght rod owt of London, as it is seid, more thanne  .  .  .  .  .  the best wyse. Summe seyne it was to ride toward 50 my Lord of York, and summe  .  .  .  .  .  k, so meche rumor is here; what it menyth I wot not, God turne it  .  .  .  .  .  .  at Hertford,50.1 and summe men ar a ferd that he is seek ageyn. I pray God  .  .  .  .  .  .  my Lords of York, Warwyk, Salesbury and other arn in purpos to conveye hym  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  &c. The seid N. Crome, berer her of, shall telle you suche tydynggs  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  in hast, at London, on Seint Simon day and Jude. Yowr poer J. Gr.

304
ABSTRACT50.2

Sir John Fastolf ‘to my right trusty Brother, Nicholas Molyneux.’

1455
OCT. 30

[During the winter of 1455-56 we find several allusions to this claim put forward by Fastolf to the goods of the late Duke of Bedford. Unless we are to infer from the manner in which Lord Cromwell is mentioned that he was dead when this letter was written, it is probably of the year 1455.]

51

305
WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON AND JOHN BOCKING51.1

To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Paston, and to my brothyr, John Bokkyng.

1455
NOV. 13

Please it yow to have yn knowlege that y veele well my maister takyth gretely to hert the materes whych he hath wryt to you uppon the execucion of my Lord of Bedford ys godes, and in especiall for the recuveryng of hem, as well as of Sir Andreu O.51.2 executors as of Sir Robert Whytyngham, &c. to th’entent that it myght be opynly knowe yn hys lyve tyme that they be not yn his gouvernaunce no part of it, and that hys factors after hym shuld not be troubled ne charged for it. And seth the seyd mater ys of so grete wyght and charge, and that he takyth it so gretely to hert, puttyng hys grettist trust yn yow, to remembre thys seyd mater by avyse of hys councell lerned, both spirituell as temporell, that ye wolle not delay it, but wyth all your entencion remembred there, as ye by your wysdoms shall thynk it moste expedient, that som fruyt may grow of it.

There ys ynowgh whereoff, and it myght be recuvered, John Bokkyng, ye know ryght moch yn thys mater, and mooste of my maister ys entent hereynne. And therfor, for myne acquytaille, y wryte to you to shew the chieff wrytynges of the copy of endentures of Sir Robert Whytyngham, and of othyr wrytynges concernyng that to Maister Paston, that he may be more rypelyer grounded yn the seyd mater when he 52 shall comyn wyth my Lordz of Caunterburye, Cromewell, and with onye of my maister councell. And our Lord kepe you.

My maister carpyth so oft on it dayly, and that meovyth me to wryte to yow both. Att Castre, xiij. day of November. Your, W. Wor-H.R.-cestre.

306
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON52.1

To my right wurshipfull husbonde, John Paston, be this delivered, in hast.

1455
NOV. 25

Right wurshipfull husbonde, I recomaunde me unto you. Plesith you to witte that myn aunt Mondeforthe52.2 hath desiryd me to write to you, besechyng you that ye wol wochesafe to chevesshe for her at London xx^ti marke for to be payed to Mastre Ponyngs, outher on Saterday or Sonday, weche schalbe Seint Andrwes Daye, in discharchyng of them that be bounden to Mastre Ponyngs of the s[ei]de xx^ti marke for the wardeship of her doughter, the weche xx^ti marke she hath delyvered to me in golde for you to have at your comyn home, for she dare not aventure her money to be brought up to London for feere of robbyng; for it is seide heere that there goothe many thefys be twyx this and London, weche causeth her to beseche you to content the seide money in dischargyng of the matre, and of them that be bounden, for she wolde for no goude that the day were broken. And she thankyth you hertely for the greet labour and besynesse that ye have had in that matre, and in all others touchyng her 53 and hers, wherfore she seithe she is ever bounden to be your bed-woman, and ever wolle be whyle she levethe.

My cosyn, her sone, and hese wife recomaundethe them unto you, besechyng you that ye woll weche safe to be her goode mastre, as ye have ben a fore tyme; for they be enformed that Danyell is comen to Rysyng Castell, and hes men make her bost that her mastre shal be a yene at Brayston withinne shorte tyme.

Ferthermore, as for the matre that my sone wrote to me for the boxe wheron wreten Falce Carte Sproute that I shulde enquer of William Wurcestre wher it were, the seide William was not at home sen that I had hes letter; but as sone as he comethe home, I shall enquere of hym, and sende you an answer.

As towchyng for your leveryes, ther can noon be gete here of that coloure that ye wulde have of, nouther murrey, nor blwe, nor goode russets, undrenethe iijs. the yerde at the lowest price, and yet is ther not j nough of on clothe and coloure to serve you. And as for to be purveid in Suffolk, it wul not be purveide nought now a yenst this tyme, with oute they had had warnyng at Michelmesse, as I am enformed. And the blissed Trenyte have you in his kepyng.

Wreten at Norweche, on Seint Kateryn Day. Be your, Margaret Paston.

307
ABSTRACT53.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

[1455]
DEC. 11

[The date of this letter must be between the year 1454, when Sir John Fastolf settled at Caister, and 1458, as he was not alive in December 1459. The reference to Parliament fixes it more precisely, as 1455 was the only year during this period in which Parliament sat in December.]

53.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 262.]

308
RICHARD BINGHAM TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF54.1

Copie of my fader Bynghames lettre to my fadre F.

About
1455

Right honorable and reverend maistre, after due and hertely recomendacion, I thank yow als hertily as I can that it likith your gode maisterschip, of your godnesse, to let to ferme to my son Scrope the pouer enheritance that he schal enherit after your decesse, if God will that he life therto. And I hafe for my saide son comonde with my maistres of your counsell, that is to sey, Paston and other, and I fynde them not straunge, bot right streyte to dele with in the mater; and therfore my saide sone, and I for hym, must sue to the well of mercy, that is to say, to your honurable person, where is special refuge for my saide son in this cas. My saide son is and hath be, and will be to hys lifes ende, your true lad and servaunt, and glad and well willed to do that myght be to your pleaser, wirschip, and profit, and als loth to offend yow as any person in erth, gentill and well disposid to every person. Wherfore I besech your gode grace that ye will vouchesafe remember the premissez, my saide sons age, his wirschipfull birth, and grete misere for verrey povert, for he hath had no liflode to life opon sithen my lady his moder deed, safe x. marc of liflode that ye vouched safe to gife hym this last 55 yer, and therfore to be his good maister and fader. And thof he be not worthy to be your son, make hym your almesman, that he may now in his age life of your almesse, and be your bedeman, and pray for the prosperite of your noble person. And if I durst, for your displesance, I wolde besech yow that ye wolde vouchesafe lat my saide son hafe the saide lifelode to ferme for terme of your life, payng to yow therfore yerely CC. marc at ij. festes of the yere, that is to say, Cristemasse and Middesomer, and ye schall be paied hit truly at London, in Hillary terme for the feste of Cristemasse, and Trinite terme for the feste of Midsomer; and I will be bounden for hym and [i.e. if] your maisterschip will vouchesafe to take me, and he and I schall ever pray for yow. And thof the saide lifelode be better to yow in availl yerely then I offer yow therefore, this summe of CC. marc schal be truly paid to yow yerely; and God, that rewardeth every gode dede, schal pey for hym the remenant to yow, for every peny an C., in relesyng of yow in Purgatory, or ellys encresyng of your merite in Heven. And how your maisterschip will that my saide son schall do in this mater, I besech yow that he may be certified be your writing.

54.1 [From Castlecombe MSS., Add. 28,212, f. 26, B.M.] This letter has been printed by Mr. Poulett Scrope in his privately printed History of Castle Combe. From evidences contained in other of the family muniments, Mr. Scrope supposes it to have been written about the year 1455, which is probably not far from the true date. Compare Letter 349 following.

309
FASTOLF’S CLAIMS AGAINST THE CROWN.—I.55.1

Billa de debitis Regis in partibus Franciæ Johanni Fastolf militi debitis.

1455

These ben the injuries, losses, and damages that the seyd Fastolf hath had, as well withynne this royaume of England as in othir parties in maner and fourme as it ensewith.

First, it is to consider how that the seyd Fastolf hath ben 56 vexed and troubled seth he came last into this lande by the myght and power of the Duc of Suffolk, and by the labour of his counseill and servaunts in divers wyses, as in grete oppressions, grevous and outrageous amerciemants and manye grete horrible extorcions, as it may appere more pleynly by a rolle of articles thereuppon made, the damages of which entenden to the somme of

V. m^l. marc.

Item, the seyd Fastolf hath be gretely damaged and hurt by the myght and power of the seyd Duc of Suffolk and his counseill, in disseising and taking awey a maner of the seyd Fastolf, called Dedham, in the counte of Essex, to the value of C. marks of yerly rent which was halden from the seyd Fastolf by the terme of iij. yere day and more, to his grete hurt, with CC. marks in costs exspended in recouvere of the same, the some in all,

V^c. marc.

Item, there ys cast in to the Kyngs hands by untrew forged offices and inquisicions, supposed to be founde by dyvers eschetours in the countees of Norffolk and Suffolk, iij. certeyn maners of the seyd Fastolf, to the value of C. marks yeerly, which seyd offices and inquisicions were never dewly founde, 57 but forged by untrue imaginacions and meenys of certeyn persones hys eville willers, as it hath be confessed by thos that were appoynted and named to be uppon the enquestys; and by the maliciouse labour of his seyd evylle willers, the seyd maners have ben troubled and put in plee this iiij. yere day and more, to the damage and costs of the seyd Fastolf, the somme

V^c. marc.

Item, the seyd Fastolf hauying the yeft of the Baronyes and Lordshipp of Sillie Guillem57.1 and Lasuze, in the countee of Mayn, to hym and to his assignes for ever, the which weren goten by the seyd Fastolf, and no charge to the King, for the value and denombrement [number] of iiij. m^l. saluz57.2 of yerly rent, he was commaunded by the Kinges lettres to deliver upp the sayd baronyes and lordshipps to the Kyngs commissioners, promyssyng hym, by the Kyngs commaundement to have be recompensed therefor, as the seyd Fastolf hath to shewe, and he not recompensed nor rewarded no thing for the levyng of his seyd baronyes and lordship, to 58 the damages of the seyd Fastolf of the somme of

m^l. m^l. v.^c [2,500] marc.

Item, wher as the seyd Fastolf had a prisonner of his owen taking, called Guill’m Remond,58.1 which was raunsonned, and agreed to pay hym for his raunson with the marks the somme of xxxij. m^l. saluz, the prisonner, withoute knowelege or licence of the seyd Fastolf, was take awey from hym by the Duc of Bedford, then beyng the Kyngs Regent of Fraunce; and with the seyd prisonner he caused the towne of Compyn, than leyng in the Frensh partye ys gouvernaunce, for to be yeldyn to the Kyng, and to his seyd Regent in his name; and the seyd Fastolf, after long pursewts made to the Kyng and his conseill, was recompensed but to the value of m^l. vj^c. saluz in lands in Normandye, when they fortuned to falle into the Kyngs hands, which lands he hath also lost. And also the seyd Fastolf hath lost the residue of the seyd raunson, besyde the seyd lands, to the somme of

m^l. m^l. m^l. m^l. marc.

Item, the seyd Fastolf ys yhyt owyng for his porcion and part for the recompens and reward that shuld grow 59 and be dewe to hym for the takyng of John, callyng hym Duc of Alauncon, at the batayle of Vernell,59.1 which that payd for hys raunson xl. m^l. marks, which rewarde, besyde the Lord Wyllughbye ys part, shuld extend to the somme of

m^l. m^l. m^l. m^l. marc.

Item, ys dewe to the seyd Fastolf, by the execucion of the last wylle and testament of John, Duc of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, for prestys and othir charges for saufgarde and keping of certeyn forteresses, castellys, and townes, and for othir costs, prests, and charges by hym born in his service, as it may appiere in certeyn articles writen in a rolle partic’lerly of the same, the somme of

iiij^ml. D^c. iiij^xx. xix. [4,599] marc, vs. 6d.

Summa totalis xxj^ml. iiij^xxxix. [21,099] marc, vs. 6d.

Item, seth the last comyng over of the seyd Fastolf into this royaume, as by the space of xv. yere and more, he hath born grete costs, charges, and expenss, at alle tymes intending uppon the Kyngs highnesse and the Lordes of his counseille, as he hath had in commaundement, and was his part to doo; for the which and for all the service that he hath doo to the right noble Prince Kyng Herry the iiij^the, ayle [grandfather] to our Souvragn Lord that now ys, and to the most victorious Prince and Kyng, his fader, whos soulys God assoyle, and also to our seyd Souvereyn Lord, he hath had, nouther fee, wagys, reward, ne recompense in this his royaume of England, but hath born it of hys own propre godys, at all tymys to the Kyngs honour and prouffit as to his power, which ys to hym 60 right grevouse and chargeable, trusting to have be considered and rewarded as othir men of suche deservyng have be in the tymes of the right noble progenitours of our seyd Souvreyn Lords, late Kyngs of this seyd reaume.

There is a corrected draft of the above paper, in William Worcester’s handwriting, among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, on the back of which are the following additional memoranda:—

61

310
FASTOLF’S CLAIMS AGAINST THE CROWN61.1

A Declaracion of the Costs which Sir John Fastolf was at, ben without this royaume.

The declaracions of certeyn prests, costys, and chargys don and born by Sir John Fastolf, aswel in the tyme of the moste noble and victoryouse Princes of blessed memorie, Kyng Herry the iiij^the, Kyng Herry v^th, as in the tyme of our Souvereyn Lord Kyng that now is, in hys werrys by yend the see, as by the articles that folowen more pleynly apperyth:—

First, it ys to be remembred that to the sayd Fastolf ys owyng for divers costys and chargis by hym born for the tyme that he occupied th’office of the Constabulrye of Burdeux for the saufgarde of the Kyngys Duchie of Guyen, as it apperith pleynlye by accompt made of the sayd office of Constabulrye, remaynyng in the Kyngs Cheker at Westminster of record, wherof he yet nouther had payement nor assignement of, the somme of

ij^c. xxvijli. xvs. iijd. ob.

Item, in like wyse there ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for wagys for hys service don to the Kyng, and to the Duc of Clarence, beyng the Kyng ys 62 Lieutenant in the seyd Duchie of Guyen, as it may appere under suffisaunt writing, the somme of

ij^c ijli. xs.

Item, in lyke wyse ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for costys and chargys that he bare when he was Lieutenant of the towne of Harflew62.1 in Normandie, as yt shewith by a debentur made to the seyd Fastolf, with hym remaynyng,

Cxxxiijli. vjs. viijd.

Item, in lyke wyse ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for the keping and vytaylyng of the Bastyle of Saint Anthoyne in Paris, as it apperith by writing suffisaunt and by the creditours of Sir John Tyrell, Knyght, late Tresourier of the Kyngs house, remaynyng in the Escheker of Westminster of record, the somme of

xlijli.

Item, there ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for the saufgarde of the toune of Fount Melank62.2 in the parties of Fraunce, as it apperith by accompt therof made in the Kyngs Escheker of England of record, the somme of

iiij^xx ixli. xs. iiijd. ob. q.

Summa xlij. marc ixs. q.

And in semblable wyse, over all this ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for prests and wagys of hym and his retenues beyng 63 in the Kings service in his royaume of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie, as wel abowte the saufgarde and gouvernaunce of his tounys, castell, and forteresses of Alaunson, Fresney Le Vicounte, Vernell, Honneflete, as for othir grete causys and charges born and payd in the Kyng our Souvereyn Lord ys dayes that nowys, for the avauncement of his conquest, the good and utilite of hym, of his seyd royaume and duchie forseid, as it apperyth oppenly by accomptys made in the Chambre of Accompts of Paris and Roon, wherof the vidimus remaynen with the seyd Fastolf, and also by certeyn debentur conteynyng the seyd sommes, redy to shewe, wherof the seyd Fastolf hiderto hath had nouther payement nor assignacion, the somme of

v. m^l. iiij^xx ij. marc, xiijs. iijd. ob. sterling.

Summa totalis vj. m^l. cxxv. marc, ixs. ob. q.

There are two drafts of the preceding statement among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, besides an imperfect draft hereafter mentioned. These appear to have been drawn up as early as the year 1452. One of these is in William Worcester’s handwriting; the other is a fair copy from it, with further corrections, in his hand. The document printed above embodies all the corrections in the second paper, and corresponds with it almost exactly in every point, except that the latter places the second item relating to the Duke of Clarence at the very end of the account, and contains the following additional entries:—

The following is written on a separate paper, on the back of which occurs the imperfect draft above referred to.

Item, overe all thys grete debtes dew at thys day to the seyd Fastolf, he desyryth and prayth that it may be pondered and concydered the grete lossez and damages that he hath susteyned and born, as well in the parties of Fraunce as in thys land; as at one tyme lost the somme and value of iiij^ml. mark for Guillem Remond, hys prysonnere, that agreed to pay for hys raunsom xxxij^ml. salux. The seyd prisonnere was take awey from hym, and delyvered the toune of Compyne in to the obbeissaunce of our Souvereyn Lord. Also the reward that the seyd Fastolf shuld hafe hys part for the takyng of the Duc off Allaunson, whych shuld mount for hys seyd part iiij^ml. [4000] markes, the grete losse that he hath in delyveryng upp the baronye of Syllye Guillem, in the counte of Mayn, be thout [without] recompense or reward, whych was gevyn to hym and hys assigneez in the value of m^l. m^l. [2000] salux off yerly rent. Also the lesyng of hys pore lyvelode in Normandie that was of the yerly 65 value of     65.1 mark. The grete importune lossez and damages that he hath had seth he came into England, whych hys evylle wyllers the officers and servauntes of the Duc of Suffolk have, be thout [without] cause resonable, made hym leese, as in causyng hym to be disseised wrongysly of iiij. of hys maners of Dedham, Beyton, Bradwell, Hykelyng, and Tychewell, to the value of ij^c. [200] mark of yeerly rent; besyde othyr damages and lossez by colours of the lawe, and by menys of extorcions, as it may shew by a rolle of articles to the value of vj^ml. [6000] markes.

iiij^xx ixli. xs. iiijd. ob. q.
text has italic “a” for “d” in “iiijd.”

311
NOTE

‘Many of the letters in this collection,’ says Fenn (iii. 261, Note 1), ‘mention the disputes between the Duke of Suffolk and Sir John Fastolf concerning different manors and estates.’ This remark is made with reference to the complaints against Suffolk in No. 309 preceding. Only two of these letters have been seen by the present editor.

312
ABSTRACT65.2

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

Sends by his servant an instruction to be engrossed, corrected by Paston’s advice, and a remembrance concerning Walsingham, which I hope by your help ‘shall be corryged.’ Certain friends of yours and mine have been here, and desire me to write to you ‘for your friendship and good will, passing all other men’s.’

[The date of this letter is quite uncertain, but it was probably written some time during those later years of his life when Sir John Fastolf resided at Caister. The signature, like some others during that period, is not in Fastolf’s own hand.]

65.2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 239.]

No. 239.
. after “No.” invisible

66

313
LORD CROMWELL TO JOHN PASTON66.1

To my right trusty ffrend, John Paston, Squier.

Before
1456

Trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wele. And for as much as hit is don me to understande that there is a greet straungenesse betwix my right trusty frend John Radcliff and you, withoute any matier or cause of substaunce, as I am lerned; wherfore, in as much as I love you wele bothe, I am not content hit shulde so be.

Praying you hertly to forbere the said straungenesse on your partie to suche tyme as I speke with you next my self, leting you wite I have wreten to him to do the same; and that ye faile not herof, as I may do any thing for you herafter. And our Lorde have you in His keping.

Wretin at London, the x. day of Fevrier. Cromwell.

66.1 [From Fenn, ii. 290.] This letter was attributed by Fenn to Humphrey Bourchier, who was created Lord Cromwell in the first year of Edward IV., and it was accordingly placed by him in that reign. The signature, however, of which Fenn gives a facsimile, is not that of Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, but of Ralph, Lord Cromwell, who died on the 4th January 1456.

314
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON66.2

To my maister, John Paston.

1456
JAN. 6

Please your maistershyp to wete that I had sent yow word of the god chiere that the persons ye wote off had here uppon New Yeer Day, and how well they toke it, but W. Barker coude playnly enforme yow. And 67 John Sadler of Ocle told me how they avaunted of it when he of Lynne came by hym at nyzt lyeng, that he had neider better chier, &c.

My maister demaundyth me sondry tymes when ye shall be here. I coude not sey till thys day be passed. William Geney shall be here to morn, so wold Jesus ye were her then. I asked licence to ryde yn to my contree, and my maistr dyd not graunt it; he seyd hys wille was for to make, &c. Y aunsuerd it fyt not me to know it. God gefe hym grace of holsom councell, and of a gode disposicion; non est opus unius diei, nec unius septimanæ.

My Lord Bedford wylle was made yn so bryeff and generall termys, that yn to thys day by the space of xx. yeer can neider hafe ende, but all wey new to constrew and oppynable; so a generallte shall ne may be so gode as a particuler declaracion.

I wryte blontly. I had foryete to hafe told yow Maister Fylongley meoved me to enforme my maister to hafe a generalle pease, so it myzt be worshypfull. Y hafe seyd no word, for I can not medle yn hygh maters that passyth my wyt; and therfor yff ye and W. Geney mete to gheders, ye know and can devyne best what ys to be doon. Our Lord be with yow.

Wryt hastly, vj. day Januar. W. Botoner, H.R.

66.2 [From Fenn, iii. 256.] By the reference to the Duke of Bedford’s will as having been in dispute for twenty years, it would appear that this letter was written in the beginning of the year 1456. Bedford died at Rouen on the 14th September 1435.

315
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON67.1

1456(?)

316
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON68.2

About 1456

317
ABSTRACT69.1

Sir John Fastolf ‘to the worshipful Lady and my right wellbeloved Sister, Whytyngham.’

1456
JAN. 20

[This letter must have been written after the death of Lord Cromwell, who was one of Bedford’s executors, and who died on the 4th January 1456.—See his Epitaph in Dugdale’s Baronage, ii. 46.]

69.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 266.]

318
ABSTRACT69.2

Sir John Fastolf to John Bokking or William Barker, to deliver to John Paston at London.

1456
JAN. 25

69.2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 275.]

70

319
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON AND OTHERS70.1

To my right trusty frendes, John Paston, Nicholas Molyneux, and Thomas West, Escuiers.

1456
JAN. 26

Worchipfull Sirs, and my right trusty frendis, I commaunde me to you. And lyke you to wite that I desire to knowe in certayn, or evere I laboured to London, by whate menys in the lawe spirituell or temporell I might labour, or ellys my frendes and atturneys in my name and in myne absence myght laboure best, for the recuvere of the goodes of my Lord of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, and that his purchaced londes might be sold to fulfille his wille and pay his debtes. And if it were thought that the most spedyest and seurest wey were to have it doon by act of Parlement, than I desire and pray you, as my singuler trust is in you, that ye wille do make a substanciall bille in my name upon the said mater and for the said cause, to be grounded and devised by avis of substanciall lerned man, as Thomas Yonge and othir suche, and of civille lawe, and the said bille to be put up to the Kyng, whiche is chief supervisor of my said Lordis testament, and to the Lordes Spirituelle and Temporelle, as to the Comyns, of this present Parlement, so as the iij. astates may graunte and passe hem cleerly. And the said bille may be grounded with so grete resons by your wysdomes and good enformacion, and so rightfull and of conscience that it shall not be denyed, ne letted to passe amonges the Lordes Spirituell and Temporell, neythir amonges the Comyns, whan it comyth before hem. And if this said bille, after it is devised and made, and sent me a copie of hit, hit shold be to me a singuler confort; for or evere I came to London, I wold that alle thing shuld be made redy to my hande. And it were exspedient 71 and according that my Lord Chaunceller71.1 were meoved that it might please his good Lordship to write a lettre to me, in case I must come up for the said cause, and that by as muche he is in the mater as souverain juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie, and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is aproved in his court before his predecessour. And Alle myghty God kepe you.

Writ at Castre, the xxvj. day of Januar. Your, J. Fastolf.

And I wolde this bille were devised by my Lord of Caunterbury is avis and agreement, to th’entent that he may tender the mater the more whan it shalle come in revolucion before hym. And I pray you hertely to take this mater tendirlye to hert, for it shall be to me my most singuler comfort, and for my discharge a grete record as of myne acquitayle to my said Lordis soule. Also ye must make frendes of suche as be nere aboute my said Lord of Caunterbury, and may do, as Maister John Stokys and his styward, for to remembre his good Lordship as ofte as nede is. And that Davy Breknok ne Sir Robert Whitingham wyffe be not foryeete.

320
WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON71.2

To the worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier.

1456
JAN. 27

Worshypfull, aftyr dew recomendacion, please your gode maistershyp to wete that where as my maister wrytith to yow so homelye of so manye materes to yow of hys, to be remembred unto hys councell lerned by mene of yow and of hys frendz and servauntz there, 72 y pray yow and requyre yow not to wyte [impute] it me that y am the causer of it that my seyd maister noyeth yow with so manye materes, for, be God, hym sylf remembryth the moste part of hem; albe it the particler rehersell of the materes be fressher yn my remembraunce then yn hys. And, Sir, yn trouth he boldyth hym to wryte to yow for the grete lofe and singler affeccion he hath yn yow before all othyr yn hys causes spedyng, and that ye wille moste tendyrlye of ony othyr remembre hys servauntes as well as othyrs to whom belongyth to spede the materes. He desyryth my Lord Chauncellor shuld wryte to hym speciallye yff he most nedes com upp, and a bille to be made yn to Parlement for recuvere of my Lord Bedford godes.

Sir, there ys one Haryngton of Doncastre, a besye soule, that damagyth my maistre to gretely in Bentley. And Herry Sotehille ys of my maister councell, but no thyng that ys profytable ys don to hym to remedye it, ye shall see by one Sir John Vincentes letter sent to yow now, and W. Barker can enforme yow. Yn the ende of thys terme y suppose to be at London, and yn to west contre. My maistre wrytith to yow for a rent of viijli. of annuite charged of a touneshyp called Batham Wyly, that Maister Scrope he shall be beneficed yn the ryzt of it. Ye have nede fare fayre with hym, for he ys full daungerouse when he wille. Y gate hym gode evidensis of the seyd rent that my maister ne my lady had nevere, and he can not know it, &c. Also my maister hath wreten to yow for avice of a new feffement to be made for the maners of Tychewell and Beytone, and betyme he desyryth to be sent hym. Y pray yow, and ye se Maister Yng at a leyser to commaund me to hym, and trustyng hys gode maistershyp that he wille be of my councell ayenst one William Fouler of Bokyngham thath kepyth from me a litelle lond. And yff he wille contynew hys gode maistershyp to me, ye may sey hym that I cast duelle yn my contree, and wayt uppon hym to help ghete ayen a pore gode of myn, for heere y thryve not, but lose my tyme. Y pray our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.

Wryt hastlye, the xxvij. day of Januare. Your, W. Wyrcestre.

71.2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter must have been written the day after the last, as this also speaks of a bill being presented to Parliament for recovery of the Duke of Bedford’s goods. The passage in which the writer proposes visiting the west country confirms the date of Letter 314.

73

321
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON73.1

To the worshypfull Sir, and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston; and in hys absence, to John Bokkyng and William Barker.

1456
FEB. 5

Worshypfull Sir and cosyn, I recomaund me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that y have a taylle73.2 with my cosyn Fenne73.3 of v^c. [500] marc and more, for to be chaunged uppon such places as a man myght have moste spedye payment; and I pray yow hertlye to comyn wyth the seyd Fenne, that y myght be ensured of the seyd taylle to be eschaunged; and for whate rewarde competant to be yeven uppon the same, I wolle agree it.

Item, I desyre to know who ben the residew, the remenant of the co-executors of the Lord Wyllughbye,73.4 now the Lord Cromewell73.5 ys decesed; for thys cause. Hyt was so, that there was dew to the Lord Wyllughbye and to me x. m^l. [10,000] marc for a reward, to be payd of my Lord Bedford ys godes, for the takyng of the Duc of Allauncon.73.6 And the seyd Lord Wyllughbye had but one thowsand marc payd, and I m^l. [1000] mrc, soo viij. m^l. [8000] levyth [remains] yhyt to pay; of whych somme iiij. m^l. [4000] most grow to the executors of the seyd Lord Wyllughby to dispose. And therfor y desyre that the executors, and such as most have intrest in the Lord Wyllughby goodes, may be comyned wyth; that they may [make] purseute for payment of the seyd iiij. m^l. 74 [4000] marc, for hys part to be had, and y shall make for my part.

And [i.e. if] Maister Nevyle,74.1 the whych hath wedded my Lady Wyllughbye, have power or intrest to resseyve the Lord Wyllughby ys debts, then he to be labured untoo. And my Lord of Salysburye woll be a grete helper yn thys cause.

The Kyng, whych ys Supervisor of my Lord Bedford testament, hath wreten and comaunded by sondry lettres, that the seyd Lord Wyllughbye shuld be content for hys part. And so moch the mater ys the furtherer.

And ther ys one Yon’, a servaunt of the Lord Wyllughbye, whych pursewed thys mater; yff he were yn London, he coude geve gode enformacion uppon thys mater.

Y pray yow wryte to me how my maters doth, and of such noveltees as ye have there. And our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.

Wreten at Castr hastlye, v. day of Feveryer, anno xxxiiij^to Regis Henrici VI. Your cosyn, J. Fastolf.

322
JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF74.2

To the right reverent and worshipful Sir, and my right good maister, my maister Sir John Fastolf, at Castre.

1456
FEB. 9

Right reverent and my right worshipful maister, I recomaunde me to yow in my right humble wise. Please hit your right good maistership to wyte that on Sonday laste I sent yow many and divers lettres and writynges, by Lampet, of all matiers that I hadde knowlege at that tyme redy to answere. And now suche tidinges as ar here, but fewe that ar straunge, excepte that this day my 75 Lordes York and Warwik comen to the Parlement in a good aray, to the noumbre of iij^c. [300] men, all jakkid75.1 and in brigantiens,75.2 and noo lord elles, wherof many men mervailed. It was seid on Saterday my Lord shuld have ben discharged this same day. And this day was seide, but if he hadde come stronge, he shuld have bene distrussid; and no man knoweth or can sey that ony prefe may be hadde by whom, for men thinken verily there is no man able to take ony suche enterprinse.

The Kyng, as it was tolde me by a grete man, wolde have hym chief and princepall counceller, and soo to be called hise chef counceller and lieutenant as longe as hit shuld lyke the Kyng; and hise patent to be made in that forme, and not soo large as it is by Parlement. But soome men thinken it wil ner can otherwise bee; and men speke and devyne moche matere of the comyng this day in suche array to Westminster. And the Lordes speken this day in the Parlement of a greet gleymyng sterre that but late hathe be seen diverse tymes, merveilous in apperyng. The resumpsion, men truste, shall forthe, and my Lordes of Yorkes first power of protectorship stande, and elles not, &c. The Quene is a grete and strong labourid woman, for she spareth noo peyne to sue hire thinges to an intent and conclusion to hir power.

I have seid to the bringer here of more to declare yow alle a longe. And as for hise comyng, ye like to understande that your nevew, my Maister Filongley, hathe laboured and doon that he cowde or myght to hise preferraunce; but as for to make hym freman and at hise ease, to hise profite and worship, it can not bee with owte William Lyne be here, that boughte hise prentishode of his maister, to hise grete hurte and castyng of bakke by ij. or iij. yere of tyme loste; and ne were it that the maister and wardeyns of the Taillours tendre hym, be cause of yow and of Fynynglee, hise firste maister, that solde hym to William Lyne, as weel as the seide Lyne and Richard, shuld alle lese ther fredoms, as ye shall more pleinly understande by the reporte of the seid Richard, &c.

76

This day was my Lord Devenshire at Westminstre, and shuld have apperid, but he was countermaundid. As to youre matier of Wentworthe, the trety contynueth, and is putte by the arbitrours in Fortescu and Yelverton, and we have day of newe til Friday come sevenyght. God graunte it take a good ende. The lawe is with us clerly, as weel in th’atteynte as therinne as yette, blessid be our Lord, hoo have you in hise most noble governaunce.

Written in your place this Moneday of Fastyngange,76.1 m^l. cccclv. Your humble servaunt, J. B.

And that ye like to write a good lettre for Richard Fastolf to Sir Roger Chamberleyn, and to Thornton, Chamberleyn of London, and to both of hem, &c.

323
ABSTRACT76.2

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston

1456
FEB. 12

[This letter was evidently written in the same year as No. 317.]

76.2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 270.]

77

324
HUGH A FENNE TO JOHN PASTON77.1

To the right worchepfull Sir, John Paston, at Norwich.

1456
MARCH 1

Ryght worchepfull Sir, I recumaunde me un to you. Leke you to wete my Maister Fastolf compert77.2 is spedde and demyd in the Eschequyer for hym a yens the Kyng, wher in was crafti labour and cloos to the seid spede, and laked no dylygence, for the matter was defused and dubble intendementz after dyverse mennys appynyons.

Her is Williem Brandon, late Eschetour,77.3 and wold have a non molestando77.4 for Fulthorp; and be cause ye spake to me that no mo shuld be sued owte, and I can gete no lybarate77.5 in that case, therfore, as it is tolde me, he wyll have oon up on Wenteworth is patente, and that wer to my maister bothe velleny and hurte. I pray you send me heryn your avyse. It is no grete maistre to gader up that mony, if it wer wele labord. I have somwhat affrayed them, and made hem spend mony, as I wot well ye shall her therof. Ye and I been discharged of our maynprys.

Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore, 78 help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.

From London, the furst day of Marche. Your, Hugh a Fenne.

325
JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON78.1

To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston.

1456(?)
[MAR. 24]

After due recomendacion had, please it your maistership to wytte that William Yelverton was mevid by me to comene with my maister his fadir, as I wrot to yow from Norwich. And now he tellith me that he hath comened with his fadir; and he undirstondith that his fadir seyth that he hath not knowelaged Fennes78.2 obligacion. And he seyth that Maister Fastolf undirstood that Fen hadde title to the maner of Haryngby, and therfor wold he that Fen shuld have it after Maister F. lyve; and, by liklynes, ther shall be labour made by Fenn to have releses of Maister Yelverton, &c., but he hath not yet relesed. He can no more 79 undirstond of hym as yet. If he can undirstond ony more pleynly this day, I shall have knowelage at Norwich on Friday or Saterday next comyng. Please it you to have pacience, though I write so brefly.

In hast, at Walsyngham, the Wednesseday next to fore Esterne. Youre pouere servaunt, James Gr.

326
ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF79.1

To the right worshipfull, and my right entierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolf, Knight.

1456
MARCH 27

Right worshipful, and my right entierly welbeloved, I grete you right hertly wele, thanking you specialy, and in full herty wise, for the verray geantle goodnesse that ye have shewid unto me at all tymes, praying you of good contynuance.

And as touching suche matiers as ye sente unto me fore, I truste to God verraly, insomuche as the rule is amendid heer, and the wedder waxeth seesonable and pleasante, to see you in thise parties within short tyme, at whiche tyme I shal commune and demeene unto you in suche wise, that ye shal be right wele pleasid.

And as for the matier concernyng my Lord of Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye, but that ye shal finde me hertly wel-willid to doo that I can or may for th’accomplesshment of youre desire, as wel in that matier as in other, like as your servaunte John Bokking, berer hereof, can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve; to whom like hit you to yeve feith and 80 credence in this partie. And the blissid Trinitee have you everlastingly in His keping.

Written in my Manoir of Lamehith, the xxvj. daie of March. Your feithfull and trew, Th. Cant.

79.1 [From Fenn, i. 124.] The date of this letter will appear tolerably certain on a comparison with No. 319. In that letter Fastolf talks of coming up to London, if necessary, about the matter of my Lord of Bedford’s goods, but expresses a wish that if he is to come, my Lord Chancellor—viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury—should be got to write him a letter about it.

327
DAME ALICE OGARD TO JOHN PASTON80.1

To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer.

1456
MARCH 30

Ryght worshippfull and enterly belovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow hertyly; latyng yow wete that there ys a contraversie mevyd be twix my cosyn John Radeclyff80.2 of Attylburgh and me for the advoweson of the chirch of Attylburgh, the whech ys now voide, wheroff the title is myn veryly as God knowith, the whech shall be oppenyd unto yow; and upon Thursday next atte Wymondham, there shall be take an enquerre de jure patronatus afore Master Robert Popy and Master Symond Thornham, atte whech day I may nought be my selff as God knowyth, and thow I myght, yt were not convenyent.

And therfore, ryght trusty cosyn, consideryng that I am a wedowe impotent as of body, tendyrly and hertily I pray you, yf yt lyke yow, to be there assistyng my councell in my right as reson and lawe will upon Thursday next, be viij. of the clokke; and Fyncham,80.3 Spelman, and othir of my councell shall be than there waytyng upon yow. And, jentyll cosyn, have me excused thowh I wryte thus brefly and homly to yow, for in trouth I do it of a synguler trust and affection, the 81 wheche I have in yow, consideryng the goode nome and fame of trouth, wysdom, and good conducte, the which I here of you. And therfor, and ye may to youre well, I beseche you hertyly to be there, and ye shall nought lese therby with the grace of Almyghty Jesu, the wheche evyr preserve and promote you, gentill cosyn, in moche worship to youre hertys ease.

Atte Bokenham Castell, on Teuysday in Pache weke, in hast. D. A. Ogard.81.1

328
HUGH FENN TO JOHN PASTON81.2

To the worchepfull sir, John Paston esquyer.

1456(?)
APRIL 25

Worchepfull Sir, my reverent and right trusty maister and cosyn, I recommaunde me to you. Lyke you to wyte that wher I have made my fyne of Ikburgh with Nicholas Waterman, thanne beyng feodary to my Lorde of Yorke, as the same Nicholas wil recorde, wherof sufficient writyng is had; the which payment, so made, is sufficient in the lawe; in the which caas noo newe feodary is chargeable nor I demaundable, but the seide Nicholas owe to answere therof in his accompt; and if he concele, my Lorde may have good remedy ageyns hym, and so owe to do. The which not withstandyng, oon I trowe called Osbarn, som tyme your servant, now my Lordis feodary, hath often meved to do I wote not, and now late hath distreyned my cattel, and seith he wil dryve hem awey, &c., and wil have Cs. for fyne, wher my uncle paied xxvjs. viijd., Herry Somer xxs., and so many other ded. Sir, he may do me a pety shame in distreyning and dryvyng awey to make me hevy, and hym not glad I hoop 82 at the loong, but wroong shal he nor any other do me, wher I may gete remedy by the lawe in any place throw Goddis mercy. Wherfor, sir, if he be stille in your servyse, lyke you I myght have knowlech, and thanne if your discreccion semith any thyng that I owe to do, by you I wil be advertysed and ruled; and if I coude conceyve that I owe to pay ageyn, as I understonde clerly the contrary, forsothe in right hasty seson wold I provyde and send hym from my seid lorde a sufficient discharge for myn more availl, that he shuld noght lose by me. And that is reson aswele, for that I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil. I deserve my lordis good lordeship as wele as any other of my simple poer her. I besech you that by this simple bille I may be recommaunded to my worchepful maistresse. The blissid Trinite have you in His holy governaunce. Written, London xxv. day of Aprill. Youris owen, Hugh a Fenne.

81.2 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 173.] The year of this letter is uncertain, but it must belong to the latter part of Henry VI.’s reign, and there is great probability that it was written in 1456, like No. 324, which is also written by Hugh Fenn from London.

329
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON82.1

To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly.

1456
MAY 2

Worchepfull Cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterbury 83 and of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground, and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow, my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the ij^de. day of Maij.

And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London, I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I have to comowne with yow, &c. J. Fastolf.

82.1 [Add. MS. 35,251, f. 24, B.M.] This letter seems to be of the same year as No. 341.

84

330
JOHN BOCKYNG TO JOHN PASTON84.1

To my worshipful maister, John Paston, Squier.

1456
MAY 8

Sire, please it your maistership to wyte that on Wednesday, the v. day of Maij, I received a lettre from you by the prestis man of Walsyngham, and the Ascencion Day,84.2 in the mornyng, I received a lettre from yow bi the handes of John Frays, my maisteris man, in whiche bothe moche thinge is conteyned whiche alle at this tyme I may not answere un to my comyng the nexte weke. And as to our atteynte,84.3 the Chief Justice hathe, sithe this day sevenyght, kept the Gildehalle in London with alle the Lordes and Juges, sauf one in eche place. My Maister Markham yesterday rode owte of London be tymes. Notwithstandyng we called ther upon, and hadde at the barre Chokke,84.4 Letelton,84.5 Jenney,84.6 Illyngworth,84.7 John Jenney, and Dyne, and remembrid the longe hangyng and the trouthe of the matier, with the grete hurte of the partie in the tyme; and we have rule the next terme betymes, and non otherwise, for to morwe the juges sitten ayen in the toune. Mayster Yelverton can not be myry for Wyrmegey, and as for the distresse, it is a non omittas, and therfore Poley may and wil retorne what isseus he will. If thei be smale, we shall suffre at this time; if thei be grete, we must appere for Wyngfelde; and moche labour we have to conceyve a goode warant of attorney. We shal plede the next 85 terme, for as at this tyme we wold on Monday enparle and we may.

Ye must suerly entrete the shireve, for we have moche to doo with hym, as yesterday hadde we a grete day also in th’eschequer. Myn maister85.1 is moche bounde to Haltofte, and there we ar assigned day over to the next terme, and dwelle in law. Our counsail was longe or thei come, but at the laste thei acquitte them weel. The bille was thought not by all that stode at the barre that wer of nother partie. We ar joyned in the sute of the obligacion in the Comon Place ayenst Jenney and Howes. As for attachement, ye may none have withowte ye or on of yow make your othe in propre persone before the barons. I wolde have doon it; I cowde not be amytted. And as for other processe, it is advised that by the cors of th’eschequer I shall take a venire facias ayenst Wentworthe, Andrews, longe Barnard, and Deyvill ad respondendum quare in possessionem, &c. ingressi sunt. And we must telle where other Coughawe or Kirkeley, I suppose; and therupon a distresse and an attachement; nevertheles by your othe, &c., hereafter. And it is thought good that the same men shal be in the writte of ravyshment. Jenney hath advised us to ley it in Blithinge hundred, and I have taken of hym names; for as for London it is to nyghe enbracerye, as ye thought well, and soo is Middlesex. Maister Yelverton conceyvith it weel to your entent. There are aboughte and in Suffolk but fewe men as of gentilmen and men of substance, but if [unless] it be in Blithing hundre, were Hopton is grete; but Jenney dredeth it not we may have good men at large; and as for the hundre, he wil doo inow thereinne.

As for the tailes of iiij^xxli. [four score pounds], as yette we shal doo weel inowghe and thei were contentid; or thei that shal have the silvere, the noyse were the lesse, for it shall, in pledyng, alwey be rehersid by our contrarie party that for x. marc we have alle that evere ther is, &c. I can not here how Wentworthe takith this matier by no meane; what he meneth I wote not. He is no thing pleasid with the matier of the bille in th’eschequer. Thomas Denys come yesterday, and 86 none erste. I wolde Arblaster and he spoke with yow this vacacion. I write noo more til my comyng.

As for tidinges, noon othere thanne I sent yow laste; but forthe on the same, all is as it was with the Quene,86.1 the Prince and myn Lord York ar stille at Tutbury and Sandale, and my Lord of Warrewick at Warrewick. My Lord Bukingham rode on Ascencion Even to Writell, noo thing wel plesid, and sumwhat on easid of herte to his purpose; for the King hathe ley in London Friday, Saterday, Sonday, Monday, Teusday, and Wednesday remevid to Westminster agen. In alle whiche tyme, men of London that wer chargid and sworne wolde not nor hadde noo thing presentid sauf trespas; this day thei shal sitte ayen. The peas is weel kepte, but the straungiers86.2 ar soore a dradde, and dar not come on brode. Here is alle that I knowe as yet. Our Lord Jesu be with yow.

Writen at Suthwerk the viij. day of Maij.

I have paied to Dory Cs., and with moche peyne made hym to ghete day of the other Cs. til the nexterme. Your owen J. B.

Endorsed in a seventeenth-century hand.—L’ra Joh’is Bokking, Attorn. in Communi Banco.

331
JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON86.3

To my Maister Paston.

1456
MAY 15

Worshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow. This day I come home; and as to our materes, I shall be with yow on Monday and Teusday next, be my maisters advys, and enforme 87 yow of all, and of suche as I will not write. Your cofre is at the Prinse Inne; sende for it whane ye like, be the token, I hadde of Margret Goche a boke of lawe that Wigge brought me. As for tidyngs, my maistys your brother faren weel, and recomaunde them to my maistresse, there moder, to yow, and to all, &c.

As for tidings elles, the Kyng is at Shene, the Quene and Prince at Tutbury, but if it be the latter remevyng. Tidings were that the Lord Beaumont was slayn, and my Lord Warrewik sore hurte, m^l. [1000] men slayn, and vj^xx. [six score] knyghts and squiers hurte, and no thing trewe, blessed be God. As for the Lumbards,87.1 ij. of the trespasers were hanged on Monday, and there ar be this tyme proclamacions made, or shall be, thorwe London, the pees to be kepte up on grete peynes; and the Lumbards to occupie the merchaundizes as thei dide til the Counsail or Parlament have otherwise determyned. And noo more as yet.

The atteynte abidith unreuled til the next terme, as I shal telle yow, and it shal doo weel with God is grace, hoe have yow in kepyng and all youres.

Writen at Caster vigilia Pentecosten. Your owen J. B.

332
HENRY WINDSOR TO JOHN PASTON87.2

1456(?)
[MAY 16]

After humble and due recommendacion, please it your gode maistership to understand that atte makyng of this my pour letter ther were no noveltees with us, but suche as yee understode full well afor your departyng, except the Kyng woll in to Scotland in all maner wyse of 88 werre, and that my Lord of Weltshire shal be made Chaunceller. I suppose the better is but a sclaunder, and therfore be ye avised howe ye delyver theym as tidynges.

Also I wotte ful well where I lefte you in suche matiers as it pleassed you to make me of your counsell, as touchyng oon matier specially; and howe that ye said unto me whenne I desired your goode maistership to shewe favour in suche as ye best myght yf any thing shuld be shewed ad lumen, my Maister F. except; and howe that ye answered and said as it pleassed you that I was conquered, in trouth, that shuld preve but a full grete unstabulnes in me with more, &c. But, Sir, I pray you howe some ever my maister rekeneth with any of his servaunts, bring not the matier in revolution in the open Courte, for and it were ones opened afore the Juges howe that any lettre patentes shuld be purchased of an ante date,88.1 and the defaute faunde in me, ye wold be a m^l. [thousand] tymes avised, and my Maister F. both, or that ye wold amend me soo much as I shuld be appered therbe. And therfor I beseche you be well avised howe that matier be oponed for myn ease.

I was not desired to write unto you of no on persone, so God be my help, yourself except; but I wold ye wold take avise and counsell of the Preest that hadde you soo long under hand on Shorthursday,88.2 whenne I and my feleship, God thank 89 you, hadde of you right grete chere to our grete comfort and your grete coste, howe that the same Preest understandeth this letter of the Gospell underwriten: ‘Jesus dixit Simoni Petro, Si peccav[er]it in te frater tuus, vade et corripe eum inter te et ipsum solum; si te audierit lucratus es fratrem tuum. Si autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum vel duos, ut in ore duorum vel trium testium stet omne verbum. Quod si non audierit, dic ecclesiæ; si autem ecclesiam non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus,’ etc. And in another place, ‘Tunc accedens Petrus ad Jesum dixit, Domine, quotiens petevit [peccabit] in me frater meus, [et] dimittam ei? usque septies? Dicit illi Jesus, Non dico tibi, usque septies, set usque septuagesies septies.’89.1

My maister can doo no thing, the which shall come in open audience at thise deies, but it shalbe called your dede. Hit is not unknoon that cruell and vengible he hath byn ever, and for the most parte with aute pite and mercy; I can no more but vade et corripe eum, for truly he cannot bryng about his matiers in this word [world], for the word is not for hym. I suppose it wolnot chaunge yetts by likelenes, but I beseche you, Sir, help not to amend hym onely, by [but ?] every other man yf ye kno any mo mysse disposed.

I canno more, but as I can or mey, I shal be his servaunt and youres unto such tyme as ye woll comande me to sursese and leve of, yf it please hym.

Sir, I pray you take this copy89.2 of your statute, it is not examined be me, for I found hit thise v. yeres pessed.

Writan in my slepyng tyme at after none, on Wytsonday. Also, Sir, yf I have rehersed wyttyngly the text of the Gospell syngularly unto your maistership, I beseche you to be had excused. Your own, H. W.

90

333
JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON90.1

To my Maister Paston, in haaste.

1456
JUNE 1

334
JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON91.3

To my right good maister, John Paston, Squier, at Norwiche, in haste.

1456
JUNE 7

Sir, please it your maistership to wyte, I have my attachements graunted in open Courte with helpe of Litelton91.4 and Hewe at Fen, and was bide to make redy the names, &c. before the Barons, of which Haltoft91.5 was one.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .91.6

92

As for tidings, the Kyng is at Shene, the Quene at Chestre; the Duc of Buk was, as I come hiderward, at Writell, the Erle of Warrewyke at Werrewyke, and the Lords Chaunceller,92.1 Tresorier,92.2 and th’Erle of Sar’ [Salisbury] in London, and noo more Lords at the begynyng this day of the grete Counsail. Many men say that there shuld be, but thei wote not what. The sege shall, as men say, come to Caleys and to Guynes, for moche puple come overe the water of Somme, and grete navies on the see.

Th’Erle of Penbroke92.3 is with the Kyng, and noo more Lordis. Th’Erle of Richemond92.4 and Griffith Suoh (?) are at werre gretely in Wales. The Comons of Kent, as thei werre wo[n]tte, er not all weel disposid, for there is in doyng amongs hem what evere it bee. Of Scotts is here but litell talkyng. My Lord York is at Sendall stille, and waytith on the Quene and she up on hym.

I dide my maistress your moderis erands, as ye have herde of, for Maister William hath writen his entente, and he and Clement faren weel.

Writen at Horshighdone, vij^mo die Junij.

Rokewode and Crane faren weel, and thei and I recomaunde hem to my maistress your wif.

And as I understande, the Clerke of the Rolles is owte of charite with Maister Yelverton, and my Lord Chaunceller a litell mevid, &c. Your owen, J. B.

93

335
ABSTRACT93.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston, Esq.

1456
JUNE 18

[As it will appear a little further on that the Duchess of York visited Caister in 1456, this letter is probably of that year.]

93.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 242.]

336
ABSTRACT93.2

Sir J. Fastolf to John Paston.

1456
JUNE 24

[From the reference to ‘the matter of my Lord of Bedford,’ this letter was most probably written in the year 1456.]

93.2 [Ibid., No. 263.]

337
ABSTRACT94.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

[This letter corresponds so closely with the last that it must have been written the same day.]

94.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 238.]

95

338
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON95.1

Honorabili viro Johanni Paston armigero ac confratri suo Willelmo germano uterino.95.2

1456(?)
[JUNE 29]

Ryte reverent Syre, &c. I am informyd credybily of a secrete frend that S. T. T. [Sir Thomas Tuddenham] and J. H. [John Heydon], with J. A. [John Andrews ?] and other of cursyd covy, wyl bryng with hem many gentylmen of here bende to compleyn upon me at the next chapitle, &c. And there fore, by the grace of God, I dispose me, with help of zour good maysterschip and my Mayster Willyam, zour brother. Where fore, at the reverens of God, that ze do speke with the clerk men clepyn Brayn, that kepyth the bokys of here inditementes at the oyer determyner, anno xxixº regni Regis; and that an extret or a copy myte schortly be wrytyn owt of as many namys as dedyn indyte T. T. and J. H. for trespas, extorsyones, and oppressyonys done to other men, as wele as to my Mayster Fastolff, etc., that I may be redy to schew to my ordre, lyk a kalender, a legende of here lyvys and here rewlyng of the cuntre, in destruccyon and gret myschef of the cuntre in here dayes. At the reverens of 96 Jesu, forzet not this mater, ne the mater of Dedham, etc. I wolde ze askyd my good lord and mayster, Yelverton, yf I sent hym ony letter in the same mater, &c. Dicente Davitico Psalmo:96.1 Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum, nam superbia eorum ascendit semper in psalmo; qui et si nunquam ascendant in cœlos, utinam nunquam desendant ab [ad] abissos, &c., etsi anima eorum in malis tabescebat, &c. Scriptum festinacione (?) feria 3^a post festum Natalis Sancti Johannis Baptistæ.96.2 Recommendetis me magistro meo W. Paston, confratri vestro, et Thomæ Playter cognato meo, cui dicite quod faciat Willelmum Geneye sibi benivolum quia Sampson filius et heres J. Sampson olim mariti Katerinæ Fastolff apud Owlton mortuus, et ibi sunt duæ viduæ, major et minor, senior et junior. Eligatur quæ sibi melius placet.

Magister Thomas Howys vobis amantissimus se cordialissime recommendat vobis, etc. Item, Willelmus Wigorniensis recommendat se vobis ex toto corde. Scribo vobis, utinam ad placitum. Vester ad vota, F. J. B., Minorum minimus.

I hafe a rolle redy of the inditements, that they were indityd for trespase and extorsyon and oppressyon done to my Mayster Fastolff, in the keping of W. Worceter, &c.

Visa frangatur et in ignem post jaciatur. Si dignemini loqui cum effectu magistro Ricardo Fysscher, secretario domini mei comitis Warwicensis, pro cujus nomine et amore promptissimus sum adhuc plura pati, ut mittatur pro me litera magistro provinciali et diffinitoribus.

97

339
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON97.1

Magistro meo venerabili Johanni Paston Armigero detui.

98

340
HENRY FYLUNGLEY TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF98.1

To my ryght worshipfull unkle, and my ryght good master, Syr John Fastalf, Knyght.

1456(?)
JULY 17

Ryght worshipfull unkull, and my ryght good master, I recomaund me to yow wyth all my servys. And, Sir, my brother Paston and I have comened togeder as touchinge to your colage that ye wold have made; and, Sir, hit ys to gret a good that ys axed of yow for youre lycens; for they ax for every C. marc that ye wold amortyse D. marcz, and woll gefe hit noo better chepe.

And, Sir, y told my brother Paston that my Lady of Bargeveney98.2 hath, in dyvers Abbeyes in Lecestershyre, vij. or viij. prestes singinge for her perpetuell, by my brother Darcyes and my unkle Brokesbyes meanes, for they were her executors; and they acorded for money, and gafe a cc. or ccc. marc, as they myzt acord for a prest. And for the suerte that he shuld synge in the same abbey for ever, they had maners of good valew bounden to such persones as plesed the sayd barthern [brethren] Brokkesby and my brother Darcy, that the sayd servyse shulde be kept. And for lytell moore then the Kynge axed hem for a lycence, they went thorgh with the sayd abbots. And y hold this wey as sure as that other. Ye may comen with youre councell therof.

99

And yf there be any servyse that I can do for yow, hit shall be redy at all tymes, with the grace of God, who have yow in his kepynge.

Wryten at London, the xvij. day of Juyll. Your nevew and servaunt, Henry Fylungley.

341
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON99.1

To my worshipful cousyn, John Paston.

1456
JULY 31

Right trusty and worshipful cousyn, I recomaunde me to yow. And like it yow to wyte, myn attorny, Raulyns, hathe enformed me that the Jugis have ruled processe to goo owte ayenst the priour of Hikelyng of distresse per omnia bona et catalla, of whiche the writte and other ar not yet come fro London. I trust whan thei come, be your good counsail and meane, the Shireve wil doo his devoir; how be it, as I understande, thei have sente the Lord Scales all there evidences, and he wil come and dwelle there hym silf. And I am also enformed, for certeyn, that the Bushop of Norwiche, for all the truste I hadde to hym, that by his meane I shulde have knowen there fundacion, he hathe warned his officeres not to have adoo therinne, by cause of the Lord Scales, &c. Cousyn, I pray yow, in as moche as the matere, by agrement, was putte in you and Fyncham, and how that ye, for the same cause, specially kepte your day at London, and toke not in there defaulte and not myn, that ye wil soo in caas ye see Fyncham remembre, and to othere there as ye seme it shulde profite to be knowen, and that yet nevertheles my sute soo ferforthe I wole yet, as I wolde thanne, and at all tymes am redy; and soo I wolde the priour knewe, and all othere, as weel his weelwillers as otheres, as the bringer 100 herof shall declare you more pleinly. As for tidinges, my folkes ar not yet come fro London. The abbot of Seint Benettes hathe ben with me, and suche as he tolde me the bringer shall enforme you. And our Lord Jesu have you in governaunce.

Writen at Castre, the last day of Julle. Your cousyn, J. F.

99.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is doubtless of the same year as No. 336, in the end of which Fastolf wishes his attorney, Rawlyns, urged to greater activity in the matter of Hickling.

342
LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON100.1

To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

1456
AUG. 10

Right trusty and entierly welbeloved frend, I grete you well, and wull ze wite that Danyell100.2 hath required me to write un to you, praying you that ze wyll kepe the day upon Thursday100.3 vij. dayes nexst comyng, which shal be for the best, as I trust; not with standyng I suppose lerned men wyll not be easy for to gete be cause of this besy tyme of hervest. Almyghty God have you in Hise governaunce.

Writen at Mydelton,100.4 the x. day of August. Your frend, Scales.

343
LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON100.5

To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.

About 1456(?)

Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly well. And for as mych as I u[ndyrstond] a bill was made at Yermuth ageyns my cousyn Bryan 101 Stapylton and hise wy.  .  .  .  have set up the said bill in the Kynges Bench, which bill is in your kepyng, pray[ing] you that ye wyll sende me the same bill be the bringer herof, to the entent I m[ay] se it. And as I am informed be my said cousyn, ye shewed hym grete gentilnesse and benyvolence, wherof I thanke you right hertely. I pray God have you in governance.

Writen at Midelton, the xx. day of Septembre. Zowr frend, Scales.

100.5 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is placed immediately after another letter of Lord Scales, dated like this from his seat at Middleton in Norfolk, as probably belonging to the same period, though the exact year is uncertain.

344
ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO JOHN PASTON101.1

To our right truste and right welbeloved John Paston, Esquier, and William Norwiche101.2 and to either of theym.

1456
SEPT. 7

Right truste and right welbeloved, we grete you hertly wel. And where as Sir Nichol Bowet, Knight, sueth an appeelle in the countee of Norffolk ayenst oon Robert Offord of Berking for the deeth of oon Sir Henry Bowet, clerc, we being enformed that the matier is pitevous, praie you hertly that ye wul in our behalve moeve and entreete the Shirreve of the saide countee to surceese of the execucion of any processe upon the exigent101.3 to hym directed in that behalve unto the next terme, so that resonable meanes maye be founden to save the saide Robert harmelesse; lating hym wite that we have written to the saide Sir Nichol for a convenient treetie to be taken in that behalve, as shalbe thought according to right. And God have you ever in his keping.

Written in our Manoir of Mortelake, the vij. daie of September. T., Archbysshopp of Canterbury.

102

345
JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON102.1

To my right worshipful Maister, John Paston.

1456
OCT. 8

Right worshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow, and have receyvid a lettre from yow by Sir Thomas is man, berer here of. And as for the accions,102.2 bothe of ravishement and th’attachement, the declaracions ar made tunc solvend’ and not solut’, and as moche amendid as we can or may be favour have amendid. We hadde be beguyled and they hadde not be sen in Norffolk, for here til this day come noo counsaill; and to have per manus Johannis Wyngfelde it wole not be, for we can not bringe it inne, and also it is to late.

And as for iiij^xxli. [fourscore pounds],102.3 Fenn and I mette with Worsop this day, and he spake soore to Fenn and me, and we put hym overe, saying we wolde doo as moche as we myghte. I thinke verily that Fenn wole deserve ther inne a thanke, but I can not understande hym what he wolde be doon to, or how rewardid, for whanne I speke of it he is desplesid, and seithe he desirith noo rewarde; but he farith as a man wole sey he wold noo silvere, and lokith awaywardes and takith a noble. And he hath written to yow of the matere of Sir Philip Wentworthe touching this writte of liberate,102.4 whiche is but a color and noo warant sufficient, ner we owe not to doo no thinge that shuld obeye it, ner the Shireve nother dothe but of favor that he dothe to hem, and hym liste otherwise to doo, as Fenn writeth yow more pleinly. And as 103 for a supersedies [sic], there lithe noon, as he seith, up on a liberate.

And as for entryng in Bradwell, thei doo opyn wronge, for after myn patent opteyned, there was a writte to sease it into the Kynges hande, and soo it was and is. And as to your patent, it is counsailled me to have a writte to th’eschetor de custodia liberanda, whiche may not be denyed. And if we myght have una cum exitibus a tempore mortis, it were a sovereigne writte. It shalbe assaied, and doo thertoo what can lete; the fermours be promised to be saved harmeles and chargid not to paie ony thing to them.

And as for the iiij^xxli. [fourscore pounds] to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte. It is faire, and we can ghete it on Fulthorp is dette by grete labor for agrement, for I drede it wole be moste agayn us that it is of recorde soo longe unpaied. And Hue at Fenn sueth now to Nailer to ghete owte moo liberates, suche as the last were to the last eschetor. And this God graunte thei take good spede.

And as to your isseus, I shal accordyng to your lettre speke with Gresham whanne he cometh, and the Juges and Barons bothe shalbe enformed of the title of Wentworthe, as ye write, and how it is up on a feyned dede upon surrender, and a patent cancelled, &c., which Fenn hath promisid to doo.

And as to Sir Thomas matier, I write un to yow and hym joinctly what hathe be doon therinne at this tyme. And Jesu have yow in kepyng.

Writen at Suthwerk, the viij. day of Octobre.

As to tidinges, the Kyng and the Quene ar at Coventre.103.1 The Counsail be ganne there yesterday, and my Lord Shrewyshbury,103.2 Tresorier of England, and John Wode shalb [shall be] Under-Tresorer. Thus thei say in the Chequer. Your owen, J. B.

104

346
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON104.1

To my Maister Paston.

1456(?)
OCT. 12

Please yow to wete that I hafe remembred of the langage that I hafe late lerned W. Barker had to yow and othyrs of his accomptes apposyng,104.2 and of that they be not hole bethyn [between] ws, but yn division, &c. Sir, as I may sey yow, hyt was nevere othyrwyse, ne nevere ys lyke to be; for now they hafe do with Lowys, he that ys next shall be yn the same as he was yn gelosye; for when my maister comaundyth such as of force, by reson of her occupacion, most be nere hym, to do a message to hys felow, or question of hym, hyt shall be ymagyned amonges our felyshyp that he doth make maters to my maister. And so it ys ymagyned of me when I wryte lettres to London, to Bokkyng or Barker, that yn such maters as please hem not, then it ys my doyng; yff it take well to theyr entent, then it ys her [their] doyng. And yn gode feyth, so it was ymagyned of me and othyrs that wrote, by my maister comaundment, to Castre, to the parson of Blofeld, Geffrey Spyrlyng, and othyrs, that of such maters as was lykyng to hem and coude be sped by help of my maister frendes as by theyr solicytyng, then it was seyd that it was theyr avice, labour, and doyng. And yff the maters went not to my maister entent, ne that they coude not bryng aboute the mater, then it was imagyned and jangled that it was my wrytyng and doyng. I bare nevere my maister purs, ne condyt nevere chargeable mater alone of hys yn lawe, for my discrecion ne connyng know not whate such maters menyth. 105 I knew nevere of oyer ne terminer, ne rad nevere patent before, ne my maister knew nevere the condyt of such thynges; and when he wrote of hys grevonse to hys frendys, he commaunded no man to be endyted, for he wyst not whate belonged to such thynges, ne the parson neyther, but remitted it to his councell lerned. There was no man gretter at hert with hym, as Andreus wyth Heydon, because of castyng Bradwell and Tychewell yn the Kynges handes, and toke awey the waarde. And I came nevere at the oyer and terminer.

By God, my maister lost c. marc by a seute of Margyt Bryg upon a defence of atteynt, because a quest passed ayenst hyr of xij. penyworth lond by yeer; and I dar sey and prefe it, my maister never spake of hyr, ne knew hyr not, ne wrote to sew hyr at the oyer and terminer, as I am remembred. Yhyt yt was well deffended, at my maister grete cost and labour, and myne pore labour also. Yhyt ought not I, ne none such yn my stede, beer the wyte [blame] wyth Sir Thomas, ne none othyr; he that takyth the tolle most take the charge, hyt ys hys negligence that wille take the labour more then he may awey. I wold the parson ys wellfare asmoch as man lyvyng, to my wreched power; and yff, or when, ye hyre onye froward ymagynacions, I pray yow gefe no credence tille ye hyre it aunsuerd. I am eased of my spyrytes now that I hafe expressed my leude [ignorant] menyng, because of my felow Barker, as of such othyr berkers ayenst the mone, to make wysemen laugh at her foyle. Our Lord kepe yow.

Wryt at Castre the xij. day of October. Your W. Botoner.

I hafe and do purchasse malgre to remembre of evidenses lakkyng by negligence, &c. And therfor I most be muet and suffre gretter losses but [unless] it be othyrwyse concydered. I sende yow the copie of your patentes,105.1 in parchement, and I hafe remembred as well as I can both the stuard and Bertilmeu Elys for execucion ayenst the pleggs of your seyntuarye, carpenter 106 (?) Snow, that evere ys disposed to breke promysses. Foryefe me of my leude lettre wrytyng, and I pray yow laugh at it.

347
SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON106.1

To my right goode maister, John Paston.

1456
or
1457

Reverent Sir, &c. Please yow to wete that it [is] so that my maister, of his owen frowardness, and of non other mannys mevyng, hat sent a warent to Cristefor that he shuld delyver me no mony tyll the iiij^xxli. [fourscore pounds] where payed for Bokkyng and Wurcestre patent;106.2 and yf the seyd Cristefore delyvered me any mony, that he shuld take a sewerte of me therfor, nowthwithstandyng my maister preyed me that I shuld reherce alle thynge in my name, where of I held me content. And now I fele this traytour wrytyng under nethe, and I nowth prevy ther to, at my comyng owt causet me to thynk the more hevynes, &c. Nevertheles, I prey yow that a mene may be taken of trety by the mene of Clopton or Ellys. Sende me word, and I shal seke menys of trety, for, be God, I shal trust no more no fayre wordes; and there to I shall lete alle the Lords of this lond knowe what wrytyngs I have, and his disposicion. Save yowre reverens, Cristyfor sal (?) have swyche a maister, &c. I prey yow, as ever I may do yow service or be yowre bedeman 107 that ye wele sende me yowre avise. I had lever paye xx. marke, or xli. in hande and xli. yerely furthe, with myn enemyndz good love, than to yelde me to preson ayens here entent, and sewe forth the tyncte. And no trost what my maister wele do, for I can right evele beleve that he wele bere owt the cost of the tyncte whan he maket straunge to ley dowun the condempnacion, &c.

Wretyn brevely at Horseydown the Wenesday after messe, anno xxxv^to. T. Howys.

I shal nowt leve this mater to serve the most enemy that he hat in Inglond. I wele non of his good. I have lever other men go to the Dille [Devil ?] for his good than I do.

348
JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON107.1

To the right worshipfull and myn especiall maister, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast be this delivered.

1456
OCT. 16

After al due recomendacion, like it you to wete, that the day of your assise is die Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis, whiche is on Moneday come vij. nyght; at whiche tyme I trost ye wole be here, or ellis can I do lytell or nought there inne.

As touchyng your mater ageynst Gunnore, that dwelleth in lawe, I have spoken to Lyttelton,107.2 and comuned with hym there in, but it is not yet spoke of atte barre. Gunnore hath waged his lawe107.3 of that he haade his day to wage it of, &c.

108

As touchyng your issues at Wentworth sute, it is ijs., and it was retourned er I come here. My Maister Fastolfs councel taketh heed thereto, &c.

As for tydynges, my Lord Chaunceler108.1 is discharged. In his stede is my Lord of Wynchestre.108.2 And my Lord of Shrewisbury108.3 is Tresorer, and Broun108.4 of your Inn is Undertresorer. If ye wold sende to hym to graunte you the namyng of th’eschetorship of Norffolk, &c., it were weel do, for it is told me he wold do moche for you.

Maister Lawrence Bothe108.5 is Prive Seall. And it is seid that my Lord of York108.6 hath be with the Kyng, and is departed ageyn in right good conceyt with the Kyng, but not in gret conceyt with the Whene [Queen]; and sum men sey, ne hadde my Lord of Buks108.7 not have letted it, my Lord of York had be distressed in his departyng.

On Moneday last passed was a gret affray at Coventre bytwene the Duke of Somersets men and the wechemen [watchmen] of the toun, and ij. or iij. men of the toun were kylled there, to gret disturbance of alle the Lords there; for the larom belle was ronge, and the toun arose, and wold have jouperdit to have distressed the Duke of Somerset, &c., ne had the Duke of Buks not have take a direccion therein.

Also it is seid the Duke of Buks taketh right straungely that bothe his brethren108.8 arn so sodeynly discharged from ther offices of Chauncellerie and Tresoryship; and that among other causeth hym that his opynyon is contrary to the Whenes [Queen’s] entent, and many other also, as it is talked. Item, sum men seyn, the counseal is dissolved, and that the Kyng 109 is forth to Chester,109.1 &c. Also summe sey that many of the Lords shall resorte hiddir to London ageynst Alhalwen tyde.

And as touchyng th’eleccion of Shirefs, men wene that my Lord of Canterbury shall have a gret rule, and specyall in our countre.

I can no more, but Almyghty God send us as his most pleaser is.

Wretyn al in hast, the Saterday next after Seint Edwards day. Your Servaunt, James Gresham.

349
ABSTRACT109.2

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.

1456
NOV. 10

[The date of this letter appears to be 1456. Of the years when Fastolf resided at Caister, it is not 1454, because in that year Barker could not have been in London on the 10th November (see No. 265). It is not 1455, because Worcester appears to have been at that time at Caister (see Nos. 305 and 306). The same appears to have been the case in 1457, though we can only judge by a letter of the 29th October; and although Worcester certainly was in London in November 1458, Sir John Fastolf was then in London with him.]

110

350
ABSTRACT110.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston at the Temple.

1456
NOV. 15

[In this letter, as in the last, we have Worcester and Barker both in London, which, we have seen, points to the year 1456. It is clear also that this letter was written just before that which follows.]

110.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 259.]

111

351
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON111.1

To the worshipful and my right welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, at the Temple, or to William Barker, at Suthwerk, be this delvered.

1456
NOV. 18

Worshipful cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And where as I late wrote unto yow in a lettre by Henre Hansson for the fundacion of my college, I am soore sette therupon; and that is the cause I write now, to remembre yow agayn to meve my Lords of Canterbury111.2 and Wynchestre111.3 for the licence to be opteined, that I might have the morteisying withowte ony grete fyne, in recompence of my longe servise contynued and doon un to the Kyng, and to his noble fader, whom God assoile, and nevere yette guerdoonned or rewarded.

And now sithe I have ordeyned to make the Kyng founder, and evere to be prayed fore, and for his right noble progenitors, hise fader, and uncles, me thinketh I shuld not be denyed of my desire, but the rather to be remembrid and spedde.

Wherfore, as I wrote un to yow, I pray yow acqueynte 112 me and yow, for the rather spede here of, with a chapelleyn of my Lord of Caunterbury, that in your absence may remembre me, and in like wise with my Lord Chaunceller;112.1 for seyng the Kyngs disposicion, and also hise, un to the edyfyeng of God is service, it myght in noo bettyr tyme be mevid, &c.

My Lord of Norffolk is remevid from Framlyngham on foote to goo to Walsyngham,112.2 and deily I wayte that he wolde come hidre. Your cosyn, J. Fastolf.

352
ABSTRACT112.3

Proceedings in a Suit in Michaelmas Term, 35 Hen. VI.

1456
NOV.

112.3 [Add. Charter 17,244, B.M.]

113

353
JOHN DORY TO JOHN PASTON 113.1

To my ryth wurchepfull sovereyn and master, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast.

About 1456(?)

Ryth wurshepfull master and sovereyn, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you to pardon me that I cum not to awayte up on you like as Barkere wrote to me. For I have notable and grete causis syth the lettere cam from hym, the qweche hath chaungyd my purpos, and be my master the Schreve is wrytyng, on to weche I must aplie me, all excusis leyd apart. And as for the wrytyng Barkere wrote to me, be the qweche he directyth a gret default in my deputys for return of the habeas corpus with ducens tecum, ther as is none, I dar seye, for John Rede spek to all my master Fastolfs councell to advyse hym in the return, and to have returnyd hit after ther conceyt, and thei wuld gyf hym non advys. Nevertheles I now understande ther entent be Barkere is wrytyng; for thei wuld put alle juparte up on me to myn utter ondoyng, and yit to do my trewe part in execucion of ther entent, for ye knowell my master hath put the juparte and the losse, if any growe, to me on his part. And ther for I may repent the tyme that ever I promysyd my trewe and good wyll to that entent. For alle the malesse and evylwill that is owyng to me in alle the Schere ys for that mater and non other, the qweche hath grettely hurt me, and in tyme comyng schall hurt more. But lete them hold me excusyd, thei schall not have my goodwill so feythfully as thei have had, be my troweth, and I schall helpe my sefl [sic] as I may. And, Sire, I be seche you, thynke not that I pyke this be waye of qwarell, that I myth be this querell owe my good wyll to the toder part, for thei schall never have yt in that 114 mater, nor in non other. And for good the qweche I have receyvyd yff be thowth I have not deservyd yt I am abill to content yt a geyn. And on Friday nexst foluwyng I schall be with you atte Norwich be Goddys grace, and knowe your entent in this mater.

No more, &c., but &c. —Be your man and servaunt, John Dory under Schreve of Norffolk.

113.1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 170.] The name of Dory occurs only once elsewhere in these letters, and then without a Christian name; but the person so referred to (at the end of No. 330) is probably the under-sheriff of Norfolk; and this letter, which is likewise concerned with Fastolf’s business, may have been written about the same period.

354
JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON114.1

1457(?)
APRIL 2

Sire, lyke it your maistership to wete that I sende you at this tyme the rolle of the copies of all patentes, and the appoyntement with Wentworth laste, and also a abstracte drawen as it come simply to my remembrance. And I shalbe with you sumtyme the next weke. All men ar owte at this tyme, as the Parson,114.2 Worcester, and Barker; and therfore til thei come, I may not owte. H. Wyndesor departid on Monday, and will doo that he can. He telleth me Lumleys patent is in his awarde, but it is of noo force. And also he hathe Constable is ij. [second ?] patente, and that is moste ayenst us, &c. He wil purveie therfore as ye knowe myn maister114.3 comaundit hym to yow.

Here hath ben Wilton with the dede of feffement yesterday, and all men hadde ensealed sauf myn maister that now hathe ensealed, and H. Inglose is right soory. I can no newe tidinges, but that myn maister hath put his matier of Issabells in Scroudeby, and the rente of the priour of Norwiche dieu to Heilesdon in your hande and Thomas Grene. Ye shal the next weke have the evidences. And Jesu kepe you and youres.

115

I sende myn Maistres Crane a lettre fro hir brother, but I have the credence, whiche I can not say but if she appose me for certein materes of hir brotheres.

Writen at Castre, the ij. day of Aprill. Your owen servaunt, J. B.

355
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON115.1

To my Maister Paston.

1457
APRIL 20

Please you to wete that, after dew recommendacion, hyt yt so that my maister sendyth me to London for the mater of Rochestr, as for dyvers of hys oune particuler maters which concern not the lawe, &c.; and I am lyke to tarye till ye com, in case ye com wythynne iij. wekys.

Sir, at reverence of God, seth my maister ys fully yn wille to renew hys fefment, that it may be do be tyme by the surest grounde that may be had, for, be it nevyr so suerly don, hyt shall be thought lytille ynowgh to kepe hys lond owte of trouble; and to spare for no councell ne cost to make sure, for a peny yn seson spent wille safe a pounde. I comyned with my broyder Spyrlyng, which seyth he wille do hys attendaunce, and to kepe it ryzt close of the namys. Taryeng drawyth parell.

And ye meved a gode mater to the Parson and to me at your last beyng at Castr, that my maister shud be lerned whate hys housold standyth uppon yerlye, seth he kept it holye to ghedr at one place; and that don, then to see by the revenues of hys yeerly lyfelode whate may be leyd and assigned owte for that cause to meynteyn hys seyd housold, and over that, whate may be assigned to beere owte hys plees, and also do pay for hys foreyn chargs115.2 and dedes of almes to a convenyent somme.

116

And seth the grettist ordynarye charge most be hys housold kepyng, hyt were moste exspedyent that ye wold note well to remembre specially my maister to do hys audyt[or]es cast up and make rollys of hys accompts concernyng the seyd housold seth he came yn to Norffolk thys ij. yer and half, whych was nevyr so long to doo thys xl. wynter as ye now. And it ys pytee that hys audyt ys none ethyr wyse yn that entended; ye must nedys, yff ye wille my maister know how hyt stand with hym yerly of hys chargs, that thys be do fyrst, as it was allwey accustomed. My maister wille acord it to be don, but it ys forgete throwgh negligence of men yoven to sensualite, as Thomas Upton, me, and othyrs. My maister can not know wheder he go backward or forward till thys be doon.

I can not elles, but ye wille not foryete thys that the audyt[or]es go verraily aboute it to an ende. And Haylysdon accompts be behynde for ij. yeer to [too] grete pite ys, and it wer yours or yn any wyseman gouveraunce.

At Norwich hastly, the Wenstay in Ester weke. Boto-H.R.-Ner.

356
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON116.1

To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier, beyng in Norwych, yn haste.

1457
MAY 1

Ryght worshypfull Sir, aftyr dewe recommendacion, please yow to wete that I wrote a remembraunce to yow the day that I departed owte of Norwich, by Rychard, the Parson ys servaunt of Blofeld, concernyng 117 certeyn maters to be remembred by your wysdom for my maister ys avaylle, whych your grete wysdom can well undrestand ys ryght nedefull, as one thyng yn especiall, that Shypdam and Spyrlyng ought to labour, fyrst of onye thyng that belongyth, to audyt the accompts of the resseyt and despense of my maister housold at Castr seth he came last in to Norffolk, whych aswell for the provisyons that ys had of hys oune grownyng as in money payd; for till the seyd accompts be made ordynatlye, whych be of a grete charge yeerlye, wete ye for certeyn my maister shall nevere know whethyr he goth bakward or forward. And manye othere accomptants that maken lyvere of provysyons of cornys and catell to the household by the resseyvour and by the bayllyfs can not approve theyr liberatz just tille the seyd housold bokes be made upp; and seth it hath be kept ordynarylye seth my maister begen to kepe house thys l. yeer almoste, and when he hath be absent beyond see, &c., hyt ought to be more redelyer be doon and made upp whyle he is present, and well the rathere that hys housold menye were not so hole to ghedr thys xl. yer as be now at Castr. Also hyz minustrs of accompts of hys chieff maner of Haylysdon for iij. yeer to make upp and to examyn; and I ensure yow full simplye approwed hys wollys and hys fermys.

And the iij^d ys that so wold Jesus my maister audytors wold faythfully and playnlye enforme my maistr of the trouth of the yeerly grete damage he beryth in debursyng hys money aboute shyppes and botes, kepyng an house up at Jermuch [Yarmouth] to hys grete harme, and resseyvyth but chaffr and waare for hys cornys and wollys, &c. and then most abyde along day to make money; of such chaffr takyng he shall nevere117.1 be monyed, ne be aunsuerd clerly of hys revenues yeerly but [unless] those thyngs abofeseyd be amended be tyme. Yn Lowys days xij. yeer to gheder my maister was wont to ley upp money yeerly at London and Castr, and now the contrarye—de malo in pejus.

I dar not be know of thys bille, but ye may question and 118 vele of the disposicion of thys maters of otheres, and then I undrstand yff I wryt justlye or no; and ye, as of your mocion for my maister worshyp and profyt, exortyng hym, the stuard, Shypdam, and Spyrlyng to take a labour and a peyn that thys be reformed.

I pray yow, and require yow kepe thys mater to your sylf. Yowr, Botoner.

As for nouveltes none comth,118.1 but yt ys seyd the sege shall com to Calix. The Erle of Warwyk118.2 ys yhyt at Caunterbury with the Archbyship,118.3 and the Erle younger brothere118.4 maryed to Sir Eadmund Yngylthorp doughter uppon Seynt Marks Day. The Erle of Worcestr118.5 broght aboute the maryage. The Queen and the Kyng at Herford,118.6 the Lordes Bokyngham,118.7 Shrewsbury,118.8 and otheres ther. And now it ys seyd Herbert118.9 shall com ynne, and apper at Leycester before the Kyng and the Lordes, hys lyfe graunted and godes, so he make amendys to theym he hath offended. Manye be endyted, som causelese, which makyth Herbert partye streng, and the burgeys and gentlemen aboute Herford wille goo wyth the Kyng wyffe and chylde, but a pease be made or the Kyng part thens, for ell[es] Herbert and hys affinite wille acquyt them, as it ys seyd.

The Erle of Warwyk hath had the folks of Caunterbury and Sandwych before hym, and thanked hem of her gode herts and vytaillyng of Calix, and prayeth hem of contynuaunce.

I sende a bille of the namys endyted to my maister and 119 yow, to see and laugh at theyr Wellsh names descended of old pedegris. Our Lord be with yow.

Wryt hastly at London, the fyrst day of May. Botoner.

357
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON, ESQUIRE119.1

To myne worshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Squier.

About 1457
AUG.

119.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a letter of pure business, and the date is uncertain; but as John Paston had been giving advice about money matters and the affairs of Fastolf’s household in 1457, we may insert it here.

120

358
ABSTRACT120.1

1457
OCT. 2

[This document is mutilated. In the margin is the following note in a modern hand: ‘E. Coll. Fr. Blomefield, Hist. Norf. vol. i. fo. 436.’]

120.1 [Add. Charter 17,245, B.M.]

359
ABSTRACT120.2

Sir John Fastolf to ‘my Brother’ William Yelverton, Justice.

1457
OCT. 29

[This letter is written in William Worcester’s hand. The suit of Andrews against Howes appears to have been in 1457, as it is referred to afterwards in a writ of the 1st September 1458, which will be found noticed under that date.]

120.2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 268.]

360
SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO STEPHEN SCROOPE120.3

A Stevyn Scrope.

1457
OCT. 30

Worschepeful and my right wel beloved Sone, I comaund me to yow, and hertily thank yow for your good avertismentys, and right well avysed lettres to me sent from tyme to tyme, and so pray yow of your good continuance.

121

Plese it yow to wete that, for as mech as the parson Sir Thomas Howes cometh up at this tyme by the grevous pursewte of John Andreus and Heydon, to apere be fore the right worschepeful Sir, my right wel be loved brother, your fadir,121.1 and other the Kynges Juges of the Kynges Benche,—I pray zow hertily that ye wille have in remembraunce for to recomaund me to hym whan ye speke with hym, and for to thank hym for his rightful favour shewed in Sir Thomas matier, and in alle other maters that toucheth me, wheche ben attained in that hey courte; and so it lyke yow, pray hym of his good continuance, and I shall doo serve it unto hym to my symple power for his good wyl to me shewed, and to myne; and I trust to God that he shal hold hym plesid. And that it like yow to geve credence to the seid Sir Thomas of that he shal sey to zow for my worschepe and profyte, and that this lettre may recomaund me to my doghtir your wyf, be sechyng the blissed Trinite to sende yow the acomplyshment of your good desyre.

Wretyn at Castre, the xxx. day of Octobr. J. F.

361
RICHARD, EARL OF SALISBURY, TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT121.2

To the right worchipful and with al myn hert rigt entierly welebiloved Brother, the Viscount Beaumont.

1458(?)
JAN. 24

Right worshipful, and, with al myn hert, right entierly wele bilovede brothre, I recomaunde me unto yow. And for somoche as by the Kings moste noblez lettrez brought me late by Hagreston, oon of the gromes of his 122 chambre, I am desirede to come unto his Highnesse to London; wherunto for suche grevous diseas and infirmitees as it hath liked oure Lord to visit me with, wherof Robert Danby can at large declare unto yow, I can ne mowe dispose me, without feynyng, by the trouth I owe unto the King, but that therby I doubt not, I shulde not rekever, daies of my lyfe, suche hurt as, by the reason of the said diseas, wolde grow unto me, the which hath right fervently and sore holden me in many diversez bihalvez, so that, sith my last comyng frome London I had not, by the space of vj. daies togidiez, my helth.

Wherfore, brothre, I pray yow, with al myn hool hert, that it like yow to cal tofore yow the said Robert Danby, and to take of him the vray trouth in the premissez, and therupon to bee my good and tendre moyen, as by your wysdome can best bee thought convenable, unto the Kinges goode grace, for th’excuse of my nown comyng; prayng yow hertly to certifye me, by comers bitwen, suche tidings as ye shal have in thos partiez, with othre your good pleasir to be perfourmed at my power, as knoweth oure Lord, to whom I biseche to ever have yow in his blissed proteccion and keping.

Wryten at Shirrifhoton, the xxiiij. day of Januare.

Your trew brodir, wich prayth you hertely to excuse me to the Kings Heghnesse. R. Salisbury.

121.2 [From Fenn, i. 146.] Fenn considers this letter to have been called forth by the summons sent by the King to the Lords of both parties to come to London, in the beginning of 1458, with a view to a reconciliation. On this view, the excuse of illness given by Salisbury is, of course, a mere pretence, and, moreover, was not adhered to, for within a week after it was penned Salisbury actually was in London with a company of 400 horse and 80 knights and squires (see Botoner’s letter of the 1st February). This sudden change of tactics on the part of the Earl seems to me hardly probable, and I see no reason why the letter should not refer to a genuine illness upon a different occasion. Nevertheless, as there is no positive evidence on the subject, I leave the date suggested by Fenn, with a query, on which the reader may use his own judgment.

123

362
AGNES PASTON123.1

Erands to London of Augnes Paston, the xxviij. day of Jenure, the yer of Kyng Henry the Sext, xxxvj.

1458
JAN. 28

To prey Grenefeld to send me feythfully word, by wrytyn, who Clement Paston hath do his dever in lernyng. And if he hathe nought do well, nor wyll nought amend, prey hym that he wyll trewly belassch hym, tyl he wyll amend; and so ded the last maystr, and the best that ever he had, att Caumbrege. And sey Grenefeld that if he wyll take up on hym to brynge hym in to good rewyll and lernyng, that I may verily know he doth hys dever, I wyll geve hym x. marcs for hys labor, for I had lever he wer fayr beryed than lost for defaute.

Item, to se who many gownys Clement hathe; and the that be bar, late hem be reysyd. He hathe achort [a short] grene gowne, and achort musterdevelers123.2 gowne, wer never reysyd; and achort blew gowne that was reysyd, and mad of a syde gowne, whan I was last at London; and asyde russet gowne, furryd with bevyr, was mad this tyme ij. yer; and asyde murry gowne was mad this tyme twelmonth.

Item, to do make me vj. sponys, of viij. ounce of troy wyght, well facyond and dubbyl gylt.

And sey Elyzabet Paston that she must use hyr selfe to werke redyly, as other jentylwomen done, and sumwhat to helpe hyr selfe ther with.

Item, to pay the Lady Pole  .  .  .  xxvjs. viijd. for hyr bord.

And if Grenefeld have do wel hys dever to Clement, or wyll do hys dever, geffe hym the nobyll. Agnes Paston.

124

363
AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON124.1

Tho my wele be lovyd son, John Paston, be this delyvered in haste.

Sonne, I grete zow wele, and lete zow wete that for as myche as zoure brothir Clement leteth me wete that ze desyre feythfully my blyssyng,—that blyssyng that I prayed zoure fadir to gyffe zow the laste day that ever he spakke, and the blyssyng of all seyntes undir heven, and myn mote come to zow all dayes and tymes; and thynke veryly non other but that ze have it, and shal have it, with that that I fynde zow kynde and wyllyng to the wele of zoure fadres soule, and to the welfare of zoure bretheren.

Be my conseyle dypose zoureselfe as myche as ze may to have lesse to do in the worlde; zoure fadye sayde: In lityl bysynes lyeth muche reste. This world is but a thorough fare, and ful of woo; and whan we departe therefro, rizth nouzght bere with us but oure good dedys and ylle. And ther knoweth no man how soon God woll clepe hym, and therfor it is good for every creature to be redy. Qhom God vysyteth him he lovyth.

And as for zoure bretheren, thei wylle I knowe certeynly laboren all that in hem lyeth for yow. Oure Lorde have zow in his blyssed kepyng, body and soule.

Writen at Norwyche, the xxix. day of Octobyr. Be zoure modir, A. P.

124.1 [From Fenn, iii. 40.] As there is no distinct evidence of the date of this letter, I have placed it after another paper written by Agnes Paston, and making mention of Clement, though I rather suspect it may be a little later. It certainly cannot have been, as Fenn supposes, written within a short time after William Paston’s death in 1444, as Clement Paston was then only two years old. From some of the expressions we might be led to suspect that John Paston was in trouble at the time.

125

364
WILLIAM BOTONER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF125.1

To my ryght worshypful master, Sir John Fastolf.

1458
FEB. 1

Ryght worshypfull Sir, and my ryght gode maister, I recomaund me to yow yn my full humble wyse. Please yow to wete, as to nouveltees here both125.2 Christofr Barker wryteth to you more along.

The Kyng came the last weke to Westminster, and the Duk of Yorke came to London with hys oune housole onlye to the nombre of cxl. hors, as it ys seyd; the Erle of Salysburye with iiij^c. [400] hors yn hys companye, iiij^xx [fourscore] knyghts and sqwyers.

The Duke of Somerset came to London last day of Janyver with ij^c. [200] hors, and loggyth wythoute Temple Barre, and the Duc of Excestr shalle be here thys weke with a grete felyshyp and strong, as it ys seyd.

The Erle of Warwyke ys not yhyt com, because the wynde ys not for hym.

And the Duke of Excester takyth a grete displesir that my Lord Warewyke occupyeth hys office, and takyth the charge of the kepyng of the see uppon hym.

Item, as for tydyng of beyend see, I hyre none certeyn, but that the Frensh Kyng125.3 shulde hafe maryed hys doughter to the Kyng of Hungerye,125.4 whych had the descomfytur uppon the Turks, and the seyd Kyng ys decesed wythynne thys vj. wekes, or the spouselle was made; but he ordeyned or he dyed that the Frensh Kyngs doughter shuld be named Quene of Hungerye duryng hyr lyffe.

126

Rygt worshypfull Sir, I beseche the blessed Trinite hafe yow yn hys gouvernaunce.

Wrete at London, the fyrst day of Feverzer, anno 36 R. H. VI.

Moreover, please you to wete that William Canyngs the merchaunt wryteth an aunsuer of your lettre. I trust it shall be the better for your wrytyng.

My brother promytted me a certeyn somme when I maryed, and I shall hafe it of my sister yff I may. Your humble servauntte, W. Botoner, dit Worcestyr.

365
ABSTRACT126.1

William Botoner to Sir John Fastolf

1458(?)
[FEB.]

[The King was at Berkhamstead in the end of June and beginning of July 1450; also on the 3rd March 1453 (from Reading, whither he returned immediately); also in February and March 1458 (from 20th February to 13th March). This letter must have been written in February 1458.]

126.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 274.]

127

366
JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF127.1

To my Maister Fastolf, at Castre, in haste.

1458
MARCH 15

Lyke it your maistership to wyte that, as for tidings, the Counsell is, the fornone, at the Blake Frires, for the ease of resorting of the Lordys that are withinne the toun; and at afternone at the White Frirers in Fletstrete, for the Lordis withowte the toun; and all thing shall come to a good conclusion with God is grace, for the Kyng shall come hidre this weke, and the Quene also, as some men sayn, and my Lord Buk,127.2 and Stafford127.3 with hire, and moche puple.

My Lord of Caunterbury takith grete peyne up on hym daily, and will write un to yow the certeynte of suche tidings as falle; and shuld have doon or this tyme, saf for that he wolde knowe an end of the matter.

Other tidings here are none, sauf my Lord of Excestre127.4 is displesid that the Erle of Warwyk shall kepe the see, and hath therfore received this weke m^l li. [£1000] of the Hanupere.127.5

The messenger was on horsbak whanne I wrote yow this bill, and therfore it was doon in haste; and our Lord Jesus kepe yow.

Writen at London the Wednesday after Midlenton.

And my Lord of Caunterbury tolde me that the Frenche men have ben before yow, and that ye shotte many gonnes; and so he tolde all the Lords. I have desirid hym to move 128 the Counsell for refreshing of the toun of Yermowth with stuff of ordnance and gonnes and gonne powdre, and he seid he wolde. Your humble servaunt, J. Bokking.

367
WILLIAM CALTHORPE TO JOHN PASTON128.1

To my worshipfull Cosyn John Paston.

1458(?)
[MAY 11?]

Right worshipfull Cosyn, I recommaund me unto you, certifying you that your man John Osberne of Walsyngham hath be with me and lete me have knowlage of a commyssion chuld be doun from my lord Chaunceler to Sir Robert Conyers, you other and me, and that ye wold have your day upon Munday or Tewesday at Crowemer, Blakeney or Walsyngham, &c. And after that he was departed from me, ther cam a servaunt from my cosyn Twyer, and seid that his maister hade a letter from you that ze have set to be at Blakeney uppon Munday next comyng. And for as much as I stande in nonn certeyn be cause of variaunce of the massangeres, therfore I send a man of myne to you, praying yowe to sende me verray certeynte and a copy of the commyssion, that my neybures may have knowlage of the kingis entent if the case requyreth so, &c.

I hold Blakeney a resonable place, and if ye kepe youre purpose at Blakeney uppon Munday next comyng I shall mete ther with you, with Goddis grace, Wheche have you ever in His intyer kepyng, &c. Wretyn at Brunham upon the Assencion day of our Lord, &c., By W. Calthorpe.

128.1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 163.] The date of this letter is by no means certain, but may be 1458, after the reconciliation of parties. The reference to ‘the King’s intent’ shows at least that it was not when the Duke of York was Protector; and it is not likely to have been under Somerset’s rule or in the reign of Edward IV. If 1458 was the year, the day (Ascension Day) was the 11th May.

129

368
ABSTRACT129.1

John Paston and T. Howys129.2 to Fastolf at Castre

1458
MAY 24

[It appears from an account of Paston’s expenses, of which an abstract is given farther on, that he was at Doncaster in the 36th year of Henry VI.]

369
JOHN JERNYNGAN TO MARGARET PASTON129.3

Unto my ryght wurchipfull Cosyn, Marget Paston, this lettre be delyvered in haste.

1458
JUNE 1

Ryght wurchipfull and my moste beste beloved maystres and cosyn, I recommaund me unto you as lowly as I may, evermor desyring to here of your gode welfar; the whiche I beseche Almyzthy Jesus to preserve you and kepe you to his plesur, and to your gracious herts desyre.

And yf it plese you to here of my welfar, I was in gode hele at the makyng of this lettre, blessed be God.

130

Prayng you that it plese you for to send me word yf my fadyr wer at Norwiche with you at this Trenite Masse or no, and how the matyr dothe be twene my Maystres Blawnche Wychynham and me, and yf ze sopose that it shall be brought a bowte or no; and how ze fele my fadyr, yf he be wele wyllyng thereto or no; prayng you lowly that I may be recomaund lowly unto my maystres, Arblastres wyfe, and unto my Maystres Blawnche, her dowzther, specially.

Ryght wurchipfull cosyn, yf it plese you for to her of suche tydings as we have her, the basset [embassy] of Burgoyne schall come to Calleys the Saturday130.1 eftyr Corpus Christi day, as men say v. hondred horse of hem. Moreover, on Trenite Sonday,130.2 in the mornyng, came tydings unto my Lord of Warwyke that ther were xxviij^te sayle of Spaynyards on the se, and wherof ther was xvj. grete schippis of forecastell; and then my Lord went and manned fyve schippis of forecastell, and iij. carvells, and iiij. spynnes [pinnaces], and on the Monday,130.3 on the mornyng eftyr Trenite Sonday, we met to gedyr afore Caleis, at iiij. at the clokke in the mornyng, and fawz thet gedyr till x. at the clokke; and ther we toke vj. of her [their] schippis, and they slowe of oure men aboute iiij^xx [four score], and hurt a ij. hondred of us ryght sore; and ther wer slayne on theyr parte abowte xij^xx [twelve score], and hurt a v. hondred of them.

And haped me, at the fyrste abordyng of us, we toke a schippe of iij^c. [300] ton, and I was lefte therin and xxiij. men with me; and thei fawzthe so sor130.4 that our men wer fayne to leve hem,130.5 and then come they and aborded the schippe that I was in, and ther I was taken, and was prisoner with them vj. houris, and was delyvered agayne for theyr men that wer taken beforne. And as men sayne, ther was not so gret a batayle upon the se this xl. wyntyr. And for sothe, we wer wele and trewly bette; and my Lord hathe sent for mor scheppis, and lyke to fyzthe to gedyr agayne in haste.

131

Nomor I write unto you at this tyme, but that it plese you for to recomaund me unto my ryght reverent and wurchipfull cosyn your husband, and myn ownkll Gournay, and to myn awnte his wyfe, and to alle gode maysters and frends where it schall plese yow; and eftyr the writyng I have from you, I schall be at you in alle haste.

Wretyn on Corpus Christi day in gret haste, be your owne umble servant and cosyn, John Jernyngan.

370
HENRY WYNDESORE TO JOHN PASTON131.1

To my full speciall gode Maister, John Paston.

1458(?)
[AUG. 27]

Worshipfull Sir, and my full speciall goode maister, after humble recommendacion, please it you to understand that such service as I can doo to your plesir, as to myn understandyng, I have shewed my diligence nowe this shorte season sithen your departyng, and in especiall aboute suche a copie of a foundacion as your maistership commaunded me to gete you a copie of, of the which I sende unto you at this tyme, by my broder William Worcestre, iij. copies writen by Luket, because I had no leisir, but somoch besems in settyng forth my Maistr of the Rolles.131.2 At this tyme, and in all this Kyngs deies, ye can have noon oder accordyng any thing to your entent.

132

And as for the names of the Poles,132.1 William hath more wrytyng than ye and I coude fynde, foundon by labor made by hym and me. And also, Sir, he hath caused me to examyn olde and mony records, writen by some Frenshman, concernyng the manour of Dedham; that was a comborous labour, for these copies were full defectif, as it apereth by the correctyng of them.

Item, Sir, I may sey to you that William hath goon to scole, to a Lumbard called Karoll Giles, to lern and to be red in poetre or els in Frensh; for he hath byn with the same Caroll every dey ij. tymes or iij., and hath bought divers boks of hym, for the which, as I suppose, he hath put hymself in daunger to the same Karoll. I made a mocion to William to have knoen part of his besines, and he answered and seid that he wold be as glad and as feyn of a good boke of Frensh or of poetre as my Mastr Fastolf wold be to purchace a faire manoir; and therby I understand he list not to be commynd with all in such matiers.

Item, Sir, as for any tidings, William can tell you here at London ar but full fewe; but Henry Bourgchier is ded sodenly at Ludlowe; my Lord of Caunterbury and my Lord Bourgchier shall be this wyk at Hunnesdon, and hunte and sporte theym with Sir William Oldhall.

At this tyme nothyng els to your maistership; but and it please you to remembre my maister at your best leiser, wheder his old promise shall stande as touchyng my preferryng to the Boreshed in Suthwerke. Sir, I wold have byn at a noddr place, and of my maisters owun mocion he said that I shold sett uppon the Boreshed, in the which matier I reporte me to William Worcestre, Bokkyng, and William Barker, and most specially to my maisters awun remembraunce.

I know full well ther cann noo conclusion be taken to myn asayle [avayle ?] without help of your maistership, unto the which I utterly submitte me in this, and in all oder. And 133 our Lord Jesu preserve you and all youres, and send you your herts desire with right.

Writen at London on Sonday next after Seynt Bartholomu Dey in hast.

By your servaunt, Henry Wyndesore.

371
ABSTRACT133.1

1458
SEPT. 1

Writ of pone procured by Thomas Howes, clerk, of Castre, against John Wyndham, Thomas Danyell of Rysyng Castle, Edmund Bukenham of Snyterton, Robert Lethum of Wytton by Blofeld, Simon Gunnor of Estbekham, and sixteen others, for maintaining a plea begun at Westminster without the King’s writ by John Andrew of Beylom, Suffolk, against Howes, whom he had maliciously procured to be indicted.

1 Sept. 37 Hen. VI.

On the back are the words: ‘Manutenencia facta fuit iiij^to die Julii anno xxxv^to.133.2 Dampna Cli.’ 

Dampna Cli.’
close quote missing or invisible

372
BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON133.3

To my Maister Paston.

1458

Sir, as I went to my horsward by Lincoln Coke ys place, hyt fortuned that Wymondham and H. Fenne talked to gedre, and called me by my name, and both asked how my maister133.4 fard, &c. Then Fen desyred me abyde to see astate taked yn Lyncoln place by hym boght of Markham. In the meene tyme the seyd Wymondham sent hys man to speke with hym, and yede yn talkyng of Sir Thomas133.5 how he 134 wille help labour to an ende, and had spoke with Heydon yersten efe for the seyd cause. I seyd the cruell amerciementes by their labour, and the [they ?] not beneficed, shewed to grete a malice to undo a preest innocent yn such a cause, &c. After my takyng leefe, he called me ageyn, and seyd that he desyred Sir Thomas to be gode meene to my maister to hafe affeccion to the chylde, &c. I aunsuerd, yff my maister had before the maryage be laboured [i.e. if my master had been applied to before the marriage], hyt had [been] moche esyer to bryng aboute then now. And because hys fadre was so maryed ayenst my maister wille, he nevere wold hafe affeccion to hym all hys lyfe dayes. He seyd that Thomas134.1 was with hys modre ther she duellyth, and yff it please my maister to sende for hym by Sir Thomas meene, &c.

I ensure yow by my soule I brake no mater to hym but of Sir Thomas undoyng, and hys adversaries nevere the better, whych to my power wold help make it knowen to Lordes and all othyrs of the cruell amerciementes, the cruell juge to be knowen as he ys, for I am of hys contrey, and know hys rysyng and maryages as well as hym sylfe. At ix. at clok to hors bake. I pray yow breke my bille (?). Your, H. R.

373
ABSTRACT134.2

Roll of the Personal and other Expenses of John Paston
in the 36th and 37th years of Henry VI.

134.2 [From Add. Charter 17,246, B.M.]

‘equitanti super negotia maritagii sororis,’ 10s.
“s.” printed in roman (non-Italic) type

374
ELIZABETH POYNINGS TO AGNES PASTON135.1

To my right worshypfull moder, Agnes Paston.

1459
JAN. 3

Right worshipfull and my most entierly belovde moder, in the most louly maner I recomaund me unto youre gode moderhode, besekeyng you dayly and nyghtly of your moderly blissing, evermore desiryng to her of your welfare and prosperite, the which I pray God to contynw and encresce to your herts desyre. And yf it lyked your gode moderhode to here of me and how I do, at the makyng of this lettre I was in gode hele of body tanked be Jesu. And as for my mayster, my best beloved that ye call, and I must nedes call hym so now, for I fynde noon other cause, and as I trust to Jesu non shall; for he is full kynde unto me, and is as besy 136 as he can to make me sur of my joyntor, wherto he is ibounde in a bonde of m^lli. to you mother, and to my brother John, and to my brother William, and to Edmund Clere,136.1 the which neded no such bond. Wherfore I beseke you, gode moder, as our most synguler trost is yn your gode moderhode, that my maistr, my best beloved, fayle not of the C. marc at the begynnyng of this terme, the which ye promysed hym to his mariage, with the remanent of the money of faders wille; for I have promytted faithfully to a gentilman, called Bain, that was oon of my best beloved suertees, and was bounde for hym in CCli., of which he reherseth for to ryseyve at the begynnyng of thys terme Cxxli., and yf he fayle therof at this tyme, he wille clayme the hool of us, the which were to us to grete an hurt; and he con not make an ende with noon of hys other suertees withoute this seyd sylver, and that con my brother John telle yow wel i nough, and it lusteth hym to do soo, and in all other thyngs. As to my Lady Pool,136.2 with whom I sojerned, that ye wul be my tendr and gode moder that she may be payde for all the costes doon to me before my maryage, and to Christofre Houson, as ye wrote unto my brother John that I shuld have ben so; and that it plese your gode moderhode to yeve credence to William Worcestr. And Jesu for his grete mercy save yow.

Written at London, the Wendysday the iij. day of Janyver. By your humble doughter, Elyzabeth Ponynggs.

137

375
JOHN PASTON, THE ELDER SON, TO HIS FATHER137.1

To my ryght wyrschypful fadre, John Paston, Esquyer, be thys letter delyveryd in hasty wyse.

1459
MARCH 5

Ryght worschypful Syr, in the most lowly wyse, I comaund me to yowr good faderhod, besechyng yow of yowre blyssyng. Mut it plese yowr faderhod to remembre and concydre the peyn and hevynesse that it hath ben to me syn yowr departyng owt of thys contre, here abydyng tyl the tyme it please yow to schewe me grace, and tyl the tyme that by reporte my demenyng be to yowr plesyng; besechyng yow to concydre that I may not, ner have noo mene to seke to yow as I awght to do, and savyng under thys forme, whych I besech yow be not take to no dysplesur, ner am not of power to do any thynge in thys contre for worschyp or profyht of yow, ner ease of yowr tenantys whych myght and scholde be to yowr pleasyng. Wherfor I besech yow of yowr faderly pyte to tendre the more thys symple wryghtyng, as I schal owt of dowght her after doo that schal please yow to the uttermest of my power and labor; and if ther be any servyce that I may do if it please yow to comaund me, or if y maye understonde it, I wyl be as glad to do it as any thyng erthely, if it wer any thyng that myght be to yowr pleasyng. And no mor, but Allmyghty God have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn the v. day of Marche. By your older sone, John Paston.

137.1 [From Fenn, iii. 336.] By Letter 377 following, it will be seen that the writer of this letter had given displeasure to his father in the early part of the year 1459. There can be no doubt that this letter refers to the same occasion.

138

376
ABSTRACT138.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston and Sir Thomas Howes, Parson of Blofeld

1459
APRIL 13

138.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 254.]

377
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON138.2

Tho my ryth worschopfful hossebond, John Paston, in hast.

1459
APRIL 29

Rythe worchepfwl hosbond, I recommawnd me onto yow. Plesyth you to wete that on Thorisday last was ther wer browt unto this towne many Prevy Selis, and on of hem was indosyd to yow, and to Hastynggs, and to fyve or 139 sexe odyr gentylmen; and anodyr was sent onto yowr sone, and indosyd to hym selfe alone, and asynyd wythinne wyth the Kynggys howyn hand, and so wer bwt fewe that wer sent, as it was told me; and also ther wer mor specyal termys in hys then wern in oderys. I sey a copy of thoo that wer sent onto odyr gentylmen. The intent of the wrytyng was, that they sshuwlde be wyth the Kyngg at Leycester the x. day of May, wyth as many personys defensebylly arayid as they myte acordyng to her degre, and that they schwld bryng wyth hem for her expensys for ij. monythis. As for the lettyr that was indosyd to yow and to odyr, it was delyveryd to Welyam Yelvyrton, for ther aperyd no mor of the remwlawnt. Hastynggs is forthe into Yorke schyr.

I prey yow that ye vowchesaf to send word in hast how ye wyl that yor sone be demenyd herin. Men thynk her, that ben yowr wel wyllerys, that ye may no lesse do than to send hym forthe. As for hys demenyng, swn ye departyd, in god feythe, it hath ben ryth good, and lowly, and delygent inn ovyr sythe of yowre servawntys, and odyr thinggys, the whiche I hope ye wold abe plesyd wyth, and ye had be at hom. I hope he wyl be well demenyd to plese yow heraftyrward. He desyryd Alblaster to bemene139.1 to yow for hym, and was ryte hevy of hys demenyng to yow, as I sent yow word also be Alblaster, how I dede to hym aftyr that ye wer go; and I beseche yow hartyly that ye wochesaf to be hys god fadyr, for I hope he is schastysyd, and wil be the worher [worthier ?] heraftyr.

As for alle odyr tynggys at hom, I hope that I and odyr schal do howr part ther inne, as wel as we may, bwt as for mony it comyth bwt slowly. And God have yow in hys kepyng, and sen yow good sped in alle yowr matteris.

Wretyn in hast at Norwece, on the Sonday next before the Assencyon Day.

Ser, I wold be ryte glad to he [hear] swmme gode tydynggys fro yow. Be yorys, M. P.

140

378
OSBERT MUNDEFORD TO JOHN PASTON140.1

A mon treshonnoure Seigneur, Jehan Paston, Escuier.

1459(?)
MAY 25

Treshonnoure Sire, je me recommande a vous tant que je puis, et vous prie qu’il vous plaise me recommander a ma maistresse vostre noble espouse et a tous voz enffans, et que ne soit point mis en oubly mon petit homme d’armes. Et oultre vous plaise me recommander a mon Maistre Yelverton et mon Maistre Caulthorpe, et a touz mes autres maistres et amis de pardela ou sera vostre bon plaisir. Et vous mercie des grans plaisirs et amitiez que avez faitz et monstrez a moy et aux miens, lesquelz Dieu me doint deservir. Treshonnoures Sire, plaise vous savoir que mon frere Jehan a Bernay ma escript dune matere dont me touchastes, moy estant parde la, a laquelle vostre desir vouldroit l’onneur des deux pars, et de laquelle matere le porteur de cestes vous informera, et des nouvelles de pardeca s’il vient a voz bons plaisirs. Et vouldroye bien que vous et mon dit frere Jehan a Bernay voulsissez communiquer avecques la personne aqui la matere touche, et que je peusse savoir son entente, affin dy otemperer, car je luy vouldroye faire plaisir et service; car je y suis tenu, et la chose sera en partie reglee par vous et par mondit frere, mais je veil estre le tiers, et une autre personne sera le quart. Treschere et treshonnoure Sire, je vous recommande tout mon fait de pardela, et sy faiz je la petite Marie, pour laquelle je vous mercie, et especiallement ma damoiselle vostre fame et noble espouse, et me desplaist de la grant paine et charge que avez pour elle; mas Dieu me doint grace que je le puisse aquicter. 141 Priant nostre Seigneur qui soit garde de vous, et vous doint bonne vie et longue, et joyeulx acomplissement de touz voz desirs.

Escript a Calais, le xxv^me jour de May. Le tout votre serviteur, Osberne Mundeford.

140.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this letter was put to death at Calais on the 25th June 1460, having been taken at Sandwich when about to go thither in aid of the Duke of Somerset against the Earl of Warwick. The date cannot be in that year, and how much earlier it may be is quite uncertain, unless we suppose ‘mon petit homme d’armes’ to be Paston’s eldest son, who, as we have seen, was summoned to perform military service in 1459.

379
WILLIAM BARKER TO JOHN PASTON141.1

To myn ryght worshypfull [m]ayster, John Paston, at London, atte the Temple.

1459
JUNE 24

Please youre maystership that as to morwen a newe inquirendum shal be taken at Wycham Markette for the parsonage of Rendelesham for one Mayster John Clerke, a chapeleyn of the Lady Roos; and Sir Thomas141.2 shuld a ben there, but he is hurte of an hors, and also hit was so late warnyng that we myght not ben there; and, as Mayster Steven seyth, hit should not a avayled, thow one hadde bene there, and elles I wold a labored theder myn self. But he seyth and [i.e. if] ye wold speke to myn Lord Norwych, and enforme hym of the trought of the mater, he shal never presente ner inducte non tyl the ryght of the patentes be discussed, and also we may after wardes hald a melius inquirendum. Mayster Steven hath wreten to Sir John Bulman all the tytles and presentacions, and therefore, if hit please yow to comon with hym, ye shall understande all the mater by hym how myn Lord is disposed. And [if] Mayster Robert Eppeswell is now at London, hit were shame that they shuld have ther entent. Sir Phillip Wentworth groundeth not 142 his presentacion by the patent, but by the endenture a twyxt the wedewe and hym, &c. Myn mayster is as freshe as ever he was this ij. yere, thanked be God. And youre mater that ye have meved of to Sir Thomas for the porchase, &c., myn mayster is weel agreed therto, but fyrst hit was taken strangely, &c. Almyghty Jesu preserve yow, myn worshipfull mayster, to youre desyre after his pleser and youre trewe entent.

Hastly at Norwyche, on Seynt John Day, at vij. of the clokke at even. Youre owen man, W. Barker, Per mandat’ T. H.

380
ABSTRACT142.1

Sir John Fastolf to John Paston

1459
JULY 3

142.1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 250.] 

[From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 250.]
closing ] missing

143

381
JOHN, LORD LOVEL, TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT143.1

To my right worshipfull, and my moost best beloved Lord Fadre, my Lord Beaumont.

Between 1454 and 1459

143.1 [From Fenn, i. 128.] The writer of this succeeded to the barony of Lovel in 1454, and married Jane, the daughter of John, first Viscount Beaumont, the person addressed. As Beaumont was slain at the battle of Northampton on the 10th July 1460, this letter cannot be later than 1459, but may be some years earlier.

382
ELIANOR, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT143.2

To my right worshipfull and right entierly welbelovid cousin, the Viscount Beaumont.

1444-
1460

383
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON144.2

To my Mayster, Jon Pastone, Esqwyer, be this letter presentid.

Jesu mercy.

1459

Ryte reverent mayster, &c., as sone as ze may goodly, comyth to Castre, and Zelverton144.3 with zow, and ze think it to be done; and sendyth home zowr men and hors, tyl ze haf do here, &c. And by grace of God and zour polityk wisdham, ze schal conclude more effectually in gret matyers of substans, to my maysterys144.4 and zour worschip and profyte. It is hey tyme; he drawyt fast home ward, and is 145 ryte lowe browt, and sore weykid [weakened] and feblyd, &c. And ze must bryng with zow a forme of a supplicacyon made at London in what maner wyse Mr. R. Popy, a cunnyng and a crafty man, schal presentyn and purposyn to the Kyng for the inmorteysing of Castre to Seynt Benet, &c., which he promittyd up [promised upon] a certeyn mony, &c., and undirtoke it, &c., and fond that tyme no bonys in the matere, &c. And now he seyth he wil labour and ryde and do hise part, &c. And he wold haf me to help hym, &c., quod non fiet, &c., or elles a man of credens of my masterys, &c., quod dubito fieri, &c. God bryng zow sone hidyr, &c., for I am weri tyl ze come.

Sir Thomas the parson, zowr owne most trewe, &c., be myn trewthe, and I zour bedeman and zowrs at zour comaundement, in zour letter haf no more towchid of the mater, &c., to my mayster, &c. Every day this v. dayes he seyth, ‘God send me sone my good cosyn Paston, for I holde hym a feythful man, and ever on man.’ Cui ego, ‘That is soth,’ &c. Et ille, ‘Schew me not the mete, schew me the man.’ Hæc verba replicat sæpius cum magno stomacho, &c. Colinus Gallicus dicit in Jernemuta et aliis locis se esse executorem, &c. Dixit etiam heri coram pluribus, si semel fuerit London’ nunquam vult videre Norfolchiam, &c. Dicit etiam, ubi executores credunt se habituros claves, &c., post mortem alii habebunt claves, ita bene sicut illi, &c. Falsissimus est, et ego bene dixi in partem suam inter ipsum et me, &c. Propter Deum, faciatis Spirlyng venire juxta promissum in f’cū [factum ?], &c. Gallicus ipse maxime odit rectorem et vellet supplantare eum, &c. Item, valde desiderat suum, quietus est quia absit, &c.

Henricus Todyham continue aspirat post mortem magistri cum mille habeat oculos nocendi, &c., si quorum duos deperderit, nullus cæteros timeret, &c.

146

384
WILLIAM JENNEY TO JOHN PASTON146.1

To my worshipful and right gode mayster, John Paston, Squyer.

1459(?)
AUG. [22]

Wurshipful sire, and my right gode mayster, I recomaunde me to zou, and hertely I thanke zour gode maystership that ze liked to sende my mayster zour sone to Sporle with suych felaship as ze dede, for which I am ever bounde to doo zou service, prayeng zou of zour gode contenuaunce.

Sire, the cause why I kam not was this: I was falle seek with an axez [ague], and truly that caused me that I and my felaship taryed; and so be cause theroffe I caused my lady to wryte a specyall lettre to my Lord Scales. But for al that Blake hath hoom the corn in my Lady of Suffolkys name. And the cause why I sent no wurd of my seknes was, that I wuld not myn enmy shuld be rejoysed be the knowlych of my seknesse. So God help me, the felaship that was redy to goo was right sory that thei myght not goo furth with me; and my lordes and my ladyes wyl was that thei shuld have goon further. But if I had been heil and not seek, there shuld have kome a wurshipful felaship out of Suffolk of so litel warnyng; but truly I lay seek at Ipeswych of the axcez bothe Sunday and Monday. But, sire, syn ze have shewed me so kyndely zour gode maystership, I praye zou I may have your felaship 147 redy at a nothir tyme to help to execute a commyssion touchyng Blake, and that thei may be redy withinne ij. dayez after ze have warnyng. And, sire, my service is redy to zou at alle tymys, as ze shewe me gret cause to doo zou service. Wreten at Thelton,147.1 the Wednysday next before Seynt Bertilmew Day in haste. Your servaunt, William Jenney.

The sections headed First Draft and Second Draft were printed in facing columns. Asterisks and brackets are in the original, as explained in the first Footnote. Missing or misplaced brackets have been left as printed. All sections originally labeled Second Draft are shown on a shaded background.

385
WILL OF SIR JOHN FASTOLF147.2

1459
NOV. 3

386
WILL OF SIR JOHN FASTOLF160.2

160.2 [From Add. MS. 22,927, B.M.]

the said John Paston shulde be thus be avauntaged
text unchanged: superfluous “be” or error for “he”?

387
SIR JOHN FASTOLF’S WILL163.1

Anno Domini [millesimo]163.2 quadringentesimo quinquagesimo nono, mensis Novembris, videlicet, die Sabbati proximo post Festum Omnium Sanctorum, Johannes Fastolffe, miles, de com’ Norfolk, Norvicen’ dioc‘, in manerio suo de Castre, dict’ dioc’, suum condidit testamentum, et ipsius ultimam declaravit voluntatem, prout sequitur:—In primis, commendavit et commisit animam suam Deo Omnipotenti, Creatori suo, ac gloriosæ Virgini Mariæ, matri Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et omnibus Sanctis. Item, legavit corpus suum, postquam ab hac luce migraverit, sepeliendum in ecclesia conventuali monasterii Sancti Benedicti in Hulmo, Norvicen’ dioc’, sub arcu novæ capellæ per ipsum ibidem de novo constructæ, ex parte australi chori sive cancelli, sub tumba marmorea, juxta corpus Milicenciæ olim consortis suæ ibidem sepultæ; ac voluit quod abbas et conventus monasterii prædicti, antequam corpus suum ibidem sepeliretur, securitatem facerent quod dabunt et concedent Johanni Paston et aliis per ipsum nominandis, licentiam dandi et concedendi septem monachis vel presbyteris et 164 eorum successoribus in quodam collegio apud Castre prædict’ per prædictum Johannem Paston stabiliendo et dotando, terras et tenementa quæ idem Johannes Paston et alii feoffati per ipsum Johannem Fastolf seu suos feoffatos de dictis abbate et conventu tenent, vel tantum inde quantum idem Johannes dictis monachis vel presbyteris dare voluerit. Item legavit, ordinavit, et præcepit omnia debita sua fideliter persolvi et quæcumque per ipsum forisfacta de quibus constare poterit, emendari, restitui,164.1 et satisfieri cum effectu. Item legavit ad reparationem et sustentationem portus villæ Magnæ Jernemuth’, ac ad renovationem et sustentationem murorum dictæ villæ pro bono commodo reipublicæ, salva tuitione villæ prædictæ et patriæ adjacentis, centum marcas sterlingorum, sub conditione quod burgenses seu gubernatores dictæ villæ sine mora seu dilatione perficiant164.2 reparationem portus et murorum prædictorum quamdiu dicta summa a se extendet, ut gentes ibidem commorantes habeant animam suam in suis orationibus specialiter recommendatam. Item, cuilibet ecclesiæ parochiali singularum villarum in quibus habuit, aut aliquis ad suum usum habet, domum seu manerium, terras, et tenementa pro speciali recommendatione animæ suæ, unum vestimentum de serico panno pro missis ibidem celebrandis, et quod fiat in eodem scutum armorum suorum brodinatum secundum discretionem executorum suorum et indigentiam dictarum ecclesiarum. Item, legavit et ordinavit servientibus164.3 suis et familiaribus domesticis remunerationem condignam seu competentem de bonis suis mobilibus juxta statum suorum [sic] ad summam tres centum marcarum, ita quod quilibet generosus habeat duplicem ad valentiam, et sic descendendo successive juxta statum eorum seu exigentiam meritorum ministrorum suorum ac fidelium laborum, habita tamen consideratione ad certos servientes164.4 circa personam suam attendentes diebus et noctibus in laboribus, angustiis et vigiliis, tam in sanitate quam in infirmitate, circa præservationem corporis sui ac sanitatem celerius obtinendum. Item, legavit cuilibet ordini Fratrum religiosorum et domorum Mendicantium, tam in villa Magnæ Jernemouth quam in civitate Norwici, pro recommendatione animæ suæ, summam competentem secundum discretionem executorum suorum limitandum, cum nihil in proprio habeant unde sustentari valeant nisi de caritate et elemosina devotorum Christianorum. Residuum vero omnium bonorum suorum mobilium legata sua excedentium, ac catallorum suorum vivorum et mortuorum, ac debita singula quæ sibi debeantur, dedit et legavit executoribus suis infrascriptis juxta modum, formam et potestatem eisdem per eum superius limitatam, specificatam et ascriptam, ut ipsi eisdem modo et forma, per inde omni pondere discretionis et sani consilii, ea distribuant pro salute animæ suæ inter maxime debiles et pauperes, claudos et cæcos, ac alios impotentes in eorum lectis decumbentes, se et suos sustentare commode non valentes; habita consideratione speciali ad pauperes de consanguinitate et affinitate sua intimos et propinquos, et præsertim in locis ubi quondam possessiones, prædia, redditus et sua dominia fuerunt situata, et præsertim in villis et locis ubi habent, seu aliquis ad usum suum habet, dominia, maneria, terras, tenementa, et etiam ad emendationem pauperum ecclesiarum villarum prædictarum, viarum turpium et pontium communium reparationem, et in aliis piis elemosinariis usibus et caritatis operibus, specialiter in comitatibus Norfolk’ et Suffolk’; et 165 quod circa funeralia et legata sua ac elemosinas supradictas primo anno post decessum suum mille marcæ seu mille libræ disponantur, et annuatim postea quingentæ libræ, triginta tres libræ, sex solidi et octo denarii, quousque bona sua mobilia et pecuniæ de venditione terrarum ac bonorum suorum vendendorum provenientia modo et forma prædictis plenarie disponantur, sicut coram Deo in die extremo Examinis voluerint respondere; et ad hoc eos exhortabatur in Domino Jesu Christo taliter pro165.1 ipso singula fideliter peragere vellent cum pro eis in casu consimili faceret juxta conscientiam, rationem, et justitiam. Et prædicti testamenti ac ultimæ voluntatis suæ suos executores ad exequendum, disponendum et ministrandum modo et forma per eum inferius limitatis et subscriptis, constituit, ordinavit, fecit et elegit Willelmum Wintoniensem episcopum; Johannem, Dominum de Beauchamp; Nicholaum, abbatem de Langle; Johannem Stokes, legum doctorem; Fratrem Johannem Brakley, doctorem theologiæ; Willelmum Yelverton, unum justiciariorum Domini Regis; Johannem Paston, armigerum; Henricum Filongley, armigerum; Dominum Thomam Howes, presbyterum; et Willelmum Worcester; quos modum et formam executionis et administrationis bonorum suorum per executores suos fiend’ sic limitavit, voluit, disposuit, et modificavit; videlicet, quod prædicti Johannes Paston et Thomas Howes solum et ante alios executores prædictos subeant et habeant administrationem et dispositionem omnium bonorum mobilium, catallorum ac denariorum ex venditione omnium terrarum et tenementorum suorum vendendorum et proficuorum eorundem terrarum et tenementorum provenientum, ut ipsi duo soli ea disponant pro salute animæ suæ, et quod alii executores supradicti abstineant se ab omni administratione dictorum bonorum suorum, nisi pro modo, forma, causa, loco, et tempore quibus per ipsos Johannem Paston et Thomam Howes ad eorem juramenta pro dicta administratione fuerint evocati pariter et rogati; et quod nullus dictorum aliorum executorum suorum sine consensu et voluntate ac advisamento dictorum Johannes Paston et Thomæ Howes capiat aliquid seu distribuat de bonis suis mobilibus et catallis prædictis, nec venditionem eorundem neque terrarum nec tenementorum prædictorum faciat, nec aliqua sibi debita recipiat, neque aliquos creditores suos quovis modo acquiet et, neque, prædictis Johanne Paston et Thoma Howes viventibus et administrare bona sua volentibus, aliquis alius executorum prædictorum administrationem bonorum suscipiat suorum, sed quod quantum dicti alii sui executores ad [sic] eorem singuli prædict’ Johanni Paston et Thomæ Howes in quibuscunque egibilibus [sic] quæ hujusmodi testamentum et ultimam voluntatem concernentibus, favorabiliter assistant et succurrant cum per eosdem fuerint ad hoc requisiti. Voluit tamen quod si alter prædictorum Johannis et Thomæ recusaverit onus administrationis bonorum hujusmodi subire, vel ante administrationem functam obierit, quod tunc ille dictorum duorum executorum suorum administrare volens eligat unum de executoribus prædictis sibi associandis quem putaverit in hiis sibi magis idoneum, et ita voluit fieri de omnibus aliis executoribus præscriptis; videlicet, quod uno moriente vel deficiente de duobus, alter loco ipsius ad electionem administrationem incumbent’ substituatur et assumatur. Si autem ambo executores prædicti onus recusaverint subire administrationis prædictæ, vel ambo executores administrationem incumbentes moriantur antequam substituantur executores alii, voluit quod tunc illi duo 166 executores viventes prædictam administrationem subeant et habeant quos major pars executorum viventium sui testamenti duxerit eligendos, et quod illi duo administrationem subeuntes ad dictos Dominum Episcopum et Dominum de Beauchamp, Nicolaum Abbatem de Langley, Johannem Stokes, Fratrem Johannem Bracley, Willelmum Yelverton, Henricum Filongley, et Willelmum Worcester recursum habeant pro eorum consilio et advisamento obtinendo in causis arduis et materiis requisitis. Supervisores vero dicti testamenti reverendissimum in Christo patrem et dominum, Dominum Thomam Dei gratia Cantuariensem Archiepiscopum, Walterum Episcopum Norwicensem, Magistrum Robertum Popy clericum, et Hugonem Fenn, Domini Regis auditorem, ordinavit et constituit, et voluit quod dicti duo executores onus administrationis subeuntes remunerarentur secundum merita laborum suorum et diligentiam in præmissis expediendis juxta discretionem dicti Domini Episcopi Wintoniensis et Magistri Johannis Stokes, seu majoris partis aliorum executorum viventium. Supervisores vero prædicti et cæteri executores remunerarentur secundum merita laborum suorum per discretionem duorum executorum dictæ administrationi incumbentium. Et voluit quod si quis prædictorum per eum superius nominatorum dictos Johannem Paston et Thomam Howes in officio suo hujusmodi seu circa administrationem bonorum ejusdem defuncti quoquomodo impediverit, turbaverit, vexaverit, molestaverit, vel inquietaverit, aut aliquid prædictorum facere præsumpserit vel conatus fuerit, ab administratione bonorum suorum omnino removeatur, et si quid præmissorum ante susceptionem administrationis hujusmodi attemptaverit, ipsum ad administrationem hujusmodi nullatenus admitti voluit et declaravit. Datum anno Domini, mense, die, loco supradictis.

388
INVENTORY OF SIR JOHN FASTOLF’S GOODS166.1

1459

389
SIR JOHN FASTOLF’S WARDROBE174.1

Memorandum.

390
FASTOLF’S COLLEGE189.1

Ultima exitacio domini Johannis Fastolf ad concludendum festinanter cum Johanne Paston fuit quod vicecomes Bemond, Dux Somerset, comes Warwyk, voluerunt emere, et quod intendebat quod executores sui 190 desiderabant vendere et non stabilire colegium; quod totaliter fuit contra intencionem sui dicti Johannis Fastolf; et considerabat quod certum medium pro licencia Regis et dominorum non providebatur, et sic tota fundatio colegii pendebat in dubiis; et ideo ad intencionem suam perimplendam desideravit dictum barganium fieri cum Johanne Paston, sperans ipsum in mera voluntate perficiendi dictum colegium et ibidem manere ne in manibus dominorum veniat.

Item, plures consiliarii sui dixerunt quod licet fundaret regulos seu presbiteros, aut eicientur per clamia falsa aut compellantur adherere dominis pro manutinencia, qui ibidem ad costus colegii permanerent et morarent[ur] et colegium destruerent; et hac de causa consessit eos ditari in pencionibus certis ad modum cantariæ Heylysdon, sic quod dictus Johannes haberet ad custus proprios conservacionem (?) terrarum erga querentes et clamatores; et ne executores diversi propter contrarietates et dissimulaciones se favores——190.1

Item, considerabat quod ubi monechy et canonesi [monachi et canonici] haberent terras seu tenementa ad magnam [sic] valorem, scilicet m^l. [1000] vel ij. m^l. [2000 sc. librarum], tam singulares monachi et canoneci tantum per se resiperent [reciperent] xls. per annum et prandium, et quod abbas, officiarii et extraequitatores expenderent residuum in mundanis et riotis; et ideo ordinavit dotacionem prædictam in annuetatibus.

Et quod non fuit intencio dicti Johannis Fastolf in convencione prædicta mortificare CCC. marcas terræ, quia prima convencio Johannis Paston est solvere v. m^l. [5000] marcas in tribus annis et fundare colegium quod in intencione dicti Johannis Fastolf constaret m^l. [1000] libr., et semper dedit Johanni Paston mancionem suam in manerio et tota terra [sic] in Northefolk et Southefolk assessa ad v. C. [500] marcas annuatim, tunc Johannes Paston emeret revercionem CC. marcarum terræ quæ valet iiij.190.2 m^l. [4000] marcas ad suam propriam adventuram pro vj. m^l. v. C. [6500] marcis.

Item, pro tranquillita[te] et pace tempore vitæ, ita ut non perturbetur per servos hospicii, ballivos, firmarios seu attornatos placitorum.

191

Item quod abbas de Sente Bede191.1 potuit resistere fundationi, intentione ut tunc (?) remaneat sibi et suis.

Endorsed:— ‘Causa festinæ barganiæ inter Fastolf et Paston.’

391
WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON191.2

To my Maistr Jon Paston in Norffolk.

1459
NOV. 12

Rythe will belovyd broder, I recomand me to zow, sertefyeng zow that on Fryday last was in the mornyng, Wurceter and I wer come to London be viij. of the clok, and we spak with my Lord Chanceler,191.3 and I fund hym well disposyd in all thyng, and ze schall fynd hym ryth profytabyll to zow, &c. And he desyred me to wrythe zow a letter in hys name, and put trust in zow in gaderyng of the good togeder, and pray zow to do so and have all his good owthe of every place of his, and his awne place, qwer so ever they wer, and ley it secretly wer as ze thowth best at zowr assynement, and tyll that he speke with zow hym selff, and he seyd ye schuld have all lawfull favor. I purpose to ryde to him this day ffor wryttis of diem clawsit extremum,191.4 and I sopose ze schall have a letter sent from hym selff to zow.

As for the good of Powlis, it is safe j now [enough]; and this day we have grant to have the good owthe of Barmundsey with owthe avyse of any man, sawyng Worseter, Plomer, and I my selff, and no body schall know of it but we thre.

My Lord191.5 Treasorer191.6 spekyth fayr, but zet many avyse me to put no trust in hym. Ther is laboryd many menys to intytill the Kyng in his good. Sothewell191.7 is Eschetor, and he is 192 rythe good and well disposyd. My Lord of Exsater192.1 cleymyth tytill in myn master plase, with the aportynancys in Sothewerk, and veryly had purposyd to have entrid; and his consayll wer with us, and spak with Wurseter and me. And now afterward they have sent us word that they wold meve my Lord to sue be menys of the lawe, &c. I have spoke with my Lord of Canterbury and Master Jon Stokys, and I fynd hem rythe will disposyd bothe, &c.

Item, to morow ar the nexst day ze schall have a noder letter, for be that tyme we schall know mor than we do now.

My Lord Chanceler wold that my master schuld be beryed wurchyply, and C. mark almes done for hym; but this day I schall holly know his enthent. Master Jon Stokys hathe the same consaythe and almes gevyng. Harry Fenyngley is not in this towne, ner the Lord Bechamp.

Item, we have gethe men of the speretuall law with haldyn with us, qwat casse some ever hap. We have Master Robert Kenthe, but in any wyse have all the good ther to gedyr, and tary for no lettyng, thow ze schuld do it be day a lythe [daylight] opynly, for it is myn Lord Chanceler ffull in thenthe that ze schuld do so.

As for Wyllyam Worceter, he trustythe veryly ze wold do for hym and for his avaylle, in reson; and I dowthe nott and he may veryly and feythefully understand zow so disposyd to hym ward, ze schall fynd hym feythefull to zow in leke wysse. I understand by hym he will never have oder master butt his old master; and to myn consaythe it were pete butt iff he schull stand in suche casse be myn master that he schuld never nede servyce, conserying [considering] how myn master trustyd hym, and the long zers that he hathe be with hym in, and many schrew jornay for his sake, &c.

I wrythe zow no mor, be cawse ze schall [have] a noder letter wretyn to morow. Wretyn at Lundon the xij. day of Novembr, in hast, be Willyam Paston.

193

392
SIR JOHN FASTOLF AND JOHN PASTON193.1

1459
NOV. 26

Memorandum, that I Robert Fytzrawff, Esquyer, recorde that I, beyng in my Master Fastolff chambre, lenyng upon the gret bedde, at suche tyme as John Paston, Esquyer, Master John Brackeley, Master Clement Felmyngham, weere in comonycacion with my seid master of dyvers gret maters towchyng his will, and serten appoyntmentes a twyx my seid master and the seid John Paston, in the weke next be ffor my seid master dissesid, I hard my seid master and the seid John Paston appoynte and conclude that the seid John Paston shulde take upon hym the rwle of my masters howsold and of all his lyflod in Norffolk and Suffolk duryng his lyve; and aftir his dissese the seid John Paston shulde do ffounde a colage at Caster of vij. monkes or prestis, and pay iiij. m^l. mark of money be yeres to my seid masteres executoris, at eche payment viij^c. marke, till the seid som wer paid; and that the seid John Paston shulde have all the lyvelode that was my seid masters in Norffolk and Suffolk to hym and to his heyres in fee. And aftir this seid mater rehersed my seid master seide these wordes, ‘Cosyne, I pray you and requere you, lete this be settled in all hast withowte tarying, for this is my very last wille.’ Also be it knowe to all men that I had knowlege of this bargayne dyverse tymes halfe-yere past, and how my seid Master Fastolff and the seid John Paston wer nye at a conclucion of the seid maters a quarter of a yere be fore this last bargayne was made.

Wrete at Caster the xxvj. day of Novembre the xxxviij. yere of Kyng Herry the Sexte. In witnesse wherof, I have syngnyd this bull with myn own hand and sette to my seale. Robt. Fetzrawff.

193.1 [From a Bodl. MS.]

194

393
BISHOP WAYNFLETE’S ADVICE194.1

Be it remembred that forasmoch as Sir John Fastolf late decesed, of grete affeccion, hath put me yn trust to be one of hys executors, and seth hyt ys desyryd me to know my disposicion hereynne, myne advyse is this, that fyrst an inventorie be made holye of hys godes and catell yn all places, and thayt they be leyd yn sure waard by your discrecions, tille the executors, or the moste part of tho that he put hys grete trust uppon, speke wyth me and make declaracion to me of hys laste wille, to the accomplyshment whereoff I wolle be speciall gode Lord.

Ferthymore, as touchyng hys buryeng and month ys mynde194.2 kepyng, that it be don worshyplye, accordyng to hys degree and for the helth of hys soule, and that almesse be yeven yn mass seyng, and to pore peple to the some of a hundred mrcks tille that othyrwyse we speke to geder; and I can agree ryzt well that hys servaunts haf theyr rewardes be tymes accordyng to hys wylle, to th’entent that they may be better disposed and to pray for the wellfare of hys soule, takyng avyse of a lerned man yn spirituell lawe, for no charge of administracion till the executors com to ghedr, or the moste part that hys trust was most uppon, to tak the administracion. W. Winton.

394
ABSTRACT194.3

Robert Spany of Possewyke to the Wife of John Paston, Esquire

Between 1459 and 1466

Begs her influence with her husband and Sir T. Howes, executors of Sir J. Fastolf, for reparation of a wrong done by Sir John, who refused to ratify a purchase made by the writer from his surveyor, Sir John Kyrteling, of a 195 place and lands in Tunstale, sometime called Wrightes of Smalbergh, without receiving 10 marks over what was bargained.

[This letter must have been written between the death of Fastolf in 1459 and that of Paston in 1466.]

194.3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

395
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON195.1

Carissimo suo magistro, Johanni Paston, armigero.

Jesus, Maria, &c.

1459

Ryte reverent mayster and most trusty frend in erthe, as lowly as I kan or may, I recomaunde me, &c. Syr, in feyth I was sore aferd that ze had a gret lettyng that ze come not on Wednysday to met, &c. Be myn feythe, and ze had be here, ze schuld haf had ryte good chere, &c., and hafe faryd ryte wele after zour pleser, &c., with more, &c.

Sir John Tatirshall is at one with Heydon, &c., and Lord Skalys hathe made a lofeday195.2 with the prior and Heydon in alle materys except the matere of Snoryng, &c. And the seyd pryor spake maysterly to the jurrorys, &c., and told hem and [i.e. if] they had dred God and hurt of here sowlys, they wold haf some instruccyon of the one party as wele as of the other. But they were so bold they were not aferd, for they 196 fownde no bonys to sey in her verdyte, as T. T.196.1 and J. H.196.2 wold, &c.

A lewde [i.e. illiterate] doctor of Ludgate prechid on Soneday fowrtenyte at Powlys, chargyng the peple that no man schuld preyen for these Lords traytorys,196.3 &c.; and he had lytyl thank, as he was worthy, &c. And for hyse lewd demenyng his brethir arn had in the lesse favour at London, &c. Doctor Pynchebek and Doctor Westhawe, grete prechowrys and parsonys at London, bene now late made monkys of Charterows at Schene, one at the on place and an other at the other place, &c.

The Chaunceler196.4 is not good to these Lords, &c., for he feryth the Erle of Marche wyl cleyme by inheritans the Erldam of Ha  .  .  .  .  .196.5 &c., of which mater I herd gret speche in Somercede schyre, &c. Wyndham, Heydon, Todynham, Blake, W. Chambirleyn, Wentworth, have late commyssyonys to take for tretorys and send to the next gayl all personys fawtorys and weelwyllerys to the seyd Lords, &c. Mayster Radclyff and ze haf none of commyssyonys directid to zow, &c., for ze bene holdyn favorabil, &c. Wyndham and Heydon bene namyd here causerys of the commyssyonys, &c.

On Moneday last at Crowmere was the ore and the bokys of regystre of the amrelte takyn a wey from my Lord Scalys men be a gret multitude of my Lord Rossys, &c. The Lord Skalys is to my Lord Prince,196.6 &c., to wayte on hym, &c. He seyth, per Deum Sanctum, as we sey here, he schal be amrel or he schal ly there by, &c. Be my feyth, here is a coysy werd [unsettled world]. Walsham of Chauncery, that never made lesyng, told me that Bokkyng was with my Lord Chaunceler this terme, but I askyd not how many tymys, &c.

As I haf wrytyn to zow oftyn byfor this, Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis, quia de facto. T. T., J. H., et J. W. [J. Wyndham] cum ceteris Magistri Fastolf fallacibus famulis magnam gerunt ad vos invidiam, quod excelleritis eos 197 in bonis, &c., Judas non dormit, &c. Noli zelare facientes iniquitatem, quoniam tanquam fenum velociter arescent et quemadmodum olera herbarum cito per Dei gratiam decident. Ideo sic in Psalmo: Spera in Domino et fac bonitatem et pasceris in divitiis ejus et delectare in Domino, et dabit tibi petitiones cordis tui.197.1 Et aliter: Jacta cogitatum tuum in Domino et ipse te enutriet.197.2 Utinam, inquit Apostolus, abscindantur qui vos conturbant,197.3 &c. Et alibi: Cavete vos a malis et importunis hominibus.197.4 Precor ergo Deum qui vos et me creavit et suo pretioso sanguine nos redemit, vos vestros et vestra gratiose conservet in prosperis et gratiosius dirigat in agendis.

Scriptum Walsham, feria quarta197.5 in nocte cum magna festinatione, &c. Utinam iste mundus malignus transiret et concupiscentia ejus.

Vester ad vota promptissimus, Frater J. Brackley,
Minorum minimus.

396
JOHN BOCKING TO YELVERTON, PASTON,
AND FILONGLEY197.6

To my right worshipful maistris, William Yelverton, Justice,
John Paston, and Herre Filongley, and to eche of them.

1459
DEC. 7

Right worshepful Sers, I recomaunde me to yow. And like it yow to wete, that my Lord Chaunceller197.7 is right good and tendre Lord in all your materes, and soo wil contynue, and my Lord Tresorier197.8 in like wise; which bothen have answerid Wyndham, not aldermoste to hise plesir, becaus of his noiseful langage, seyng [saying] how he myght have noo lawe, and that my Lord Chaunceller was not made executor but for meigntenaunce,197.9 with many othir 198 woordis noo thing profitable ner furtheryng his entents. As for ony particular materes, the parlament as yet abideth upon the grete materes of atteyndre and forfetur;198.1 and soo there be many and diverse particuler billes put inne, but noon redde, ner touchyng us, as nygh as we can herken; to whiche Playter and I attenden daily, trustyng on my Lords aboveseid, my Lord Privy Seall,198.2 and other good Lords, and many also of your acquayntance and owres, that and ony thing be, we shall sone have knowlege.

The Chief Justice198.3 is right herty, and seith ful wel and kyndely of my maistr, whom Jesu for his mercy pardonne, and have yow in His blessid governaunce.

Writen at Coventre the morwne after Seint Nicholas.198.4

And as to money, I delyvered unto the Under-tresorier198.5 a lettre from Maister Filongley, and I fonde hym right wele disposid to doo that may please yow in all our materes; and take noo money of hym as yette, for we have noo nede to spend ony sumes as yette, ner with Gods grace shall not have. I come to this town of Coventre suche day sevenyght as the parlement byganne; and as for suche things as I coude herken aftyr, I sende to William Worcetre a grete bille of tidings to shewe yow and all.

Yesterday in the mornyng come inne th’erle of Pembroke198.6 with a good felechip; and the Duchesse of York198.7 come yestereven late, as the bringer here of shall more pleinly declare yow, to whom ye like to gif credence. The Bushop of Excester198.8 and the Lord Grey Ruthyn198.9 have declarid them ful worshipfuly to the Kings grete plesir. Playter and I writen you a lettre by Norffolk, yoman for the Kyngs mouth. Your John Bokking.

199

The following list of those of the Duke of York’s party who were attainted by Parliament was found by Fenn pinned to the above letter:—

397
SIR PHILIP WENTWORTH’S PETITION199.1

1459
NOV. or DEC.

Mekely besechith Phelip Wentworth, Knyght, that where the warde and mariage of Thomas, sone and heire of John Fastolf, late of Cowhaugh in the [county] of Suffolk, squyer, and of the lond of the same John, belonged to the Kyng of rigth, and among other by reason of the nonnage of the sayd heir, the maner of Bradwell in the said counte was sesed in to his handes by vertu of an enquest take a fore his Eschetour of the seid counte. The whiche offices199.2 John Fastolf, Knyght, and other tented to 200 traverse, and by that meane had the sayd maner to ferme, accordyng to the statute in that case made, and it was founden and jugement yoven for the Kyng in the said traverse by the labour of the said Phelipp, which, the xviij. day of Novembre, the yer of the regne of the Kyng the xxvj.,200.1 bougth of Marmaduke Lampney, than Tresorer of Englond, the said ward and mariage for an C. marc, as it appereth in the Kynges receyte, be syde all other costes and charges that the said Phelipp hath don uppon the same, as weel in fyndyng of the Kyngges title of the said ward, as in the meyntenauns of all other sewtes dependyng uppon the same, to the costes of the said Sir Phelypp more than D. marc. And the said John Fastolf, Knyght, was adjuged in the Kynges eschequer to pay an C.ixli. xiijs. viijd. ob. for the issuez and profites which he had take of the londes of the same warde. And where the Kyngges lettres patentes be entred in the remembrauns on the Tresorer parte in the said eschequyer in this fourme:

Rex omnibus ad quos, &c., salutem. Sciatis quod per manucaptionem Thomæ West de London armigeri, et Willelmi Barker de Norwico gentilman, commisimus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Howes clerico custodiam omnium terrarum et tenementorum cum pertinentiis quæ fuerunt Johannis Fastolf de Cowhaugh in com Suffolk armigeri die quo obiit et quæ per mortem ejusdem Johannis Fastolf ac ratione minoris ætatis Thomæ, filii et hæredis dicti Johannis Fastolf, ad manus nostras devenerunt et in manibus nostris ad huc existunt; habendam a tempore mortis præfati Johannis Fastolf usque ad plenam ætatem dicti hæredis, una cum maritagio ejusdem hæredis, absque disparagatione; et si de hærede illo humanitus contingat antequam ad plenam ætatem suam pervenerit, hærede illo infra ætatem existente non maritato, tunc dicti Johannes Paston et Thomas Howes habeant custodiam et maritagium hujusmodi hæredis, simul cum custodia omnium terrarum et tenementorum prædictorum; et sic de hærede in hæredem quousque aliquis hæres hæredum prædictorum ad plenam ætatem suam pervenerit: Reddendo 201 nobis prout concordari poterit cum Thesaurario nostro Angliæ citra festum Paschæ proximo futuro, ac sustentando domos clausuras et ædificia, necnon supportando alia onera dictis terris et tenementis cum pertinentiis spectantia sive aliquo modo incumbentia quam diu custodiam habuerint supradictam, ac inveniendo dicto hæredi compententem sustentationem suam: Eo quod expressa mentio de vero valore annuo præmissorum in præsentibus minime facta existit, aut aliquo statuto, actu sive ordinacione in contrarium edito sive proviso non obstante. Proviso semper quod si aliquis alius plus dare voluerit de incremento per annum pro custodia et maritagio prædictis, quod tunc prædicti Johannes Paston et Thomas Howys tantum pro eisdem solvere teneantur si custodiam et maritagium habere voluerint supradictam. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium vj^to die Junij anno H. vj^ti xxxij^do.

And after that an accorde is entred in the sayd Eschequer in thys forme:—In Hillarii record’, anno xxxvj^to Regis H. vj^ti ex parte Remembr’ Thesaurarii:

Et modo, xx. die Februarii hoc termino, prædicti Johannes Paston et Thomas Howys venerunt hic in propriis personis suis et optulerunt se ad concordandum cum Thesaurario Angliæ pro custodia omnium terrarum et tenementorum, una cum maritagio ejusdem hæredis. Et super hoc concordatum est inter Johannem Comitem Wigorniæ, Thesaurario Angliæ et præfatos Johannem Paston et Thomam Howys quod ipsi solvent domino Regi pro custodia omnium terrarum et tenementorum prædictorum, videlicet a tempore mortis præfati Johannis Fastolf usque ad plenam ætatem dicti hæredis ac maritagium ejusdem hæredis, decem marcas tantum; de quibus quidem x. marcis consideratum est per Barones quod prædicti Johannes Paston et Thomas Howys et manucaptores sui prædicti pro custodia et maritagio prædictis erga Regem onerentur prætextu Regis literarum patentium et concordiæ predictorum ac aliorum præmissorum.

So by the sayd lettres patentez and the sayd accorde the sayd John Paston and Thomas Howys schuld have the sayd C.ixli. xiijs. viijd. ob. and the sayd ward and mariage, the 202 whiche is worthe CCli., for the sayd x. marc only. And also, for as moche as the sayd Tresorer recordeth in the Kyngges High Court of Parlement begonne at Westminster the ix. day of Jule the yer of the Kyngges noble regne xxxiij., that he made never no suche accord wyth the sayd John Paston and Thomas Howys of the sayd ward, the whiche mater is of record in the Kyngges chauncerye certefyed by the sayd Erle of Worceter, as weell as by other his lettres to dyvers persones directed, sealed with his signet, wretyn and signet with hys owen hand, as plenerly dooth appere: Where for plese it your gret wysdams, the premisses considered, to pray the Kyng oure soverayn Lord, that, by the advys and assent of his Lordes spirituelx and temperelx, and by you hys comunes in the present parlement assembled, stablysshed and inacted that the sayd entre of accord and jugement theruppon be anulled and of non effect. And the sayd Phelyppe schall pray to God for you, &c.

was adjuged in the Kynges eschequer to pay an C.ixli. xiijs. viijd. ob.
. in “li.” invisible

398
ABSTRACT202.1

G. Sperlyng to John Paston

1460
JAN. 6

[The date of this letter must be 1460, as it is after Fastolf’s death, and speaks of a conversation the writer had with him about the management of his lands a twelvemonth before Hallowmas preceding the date of the letter. At Hallowmas 1459 Sir John was dying, and quite unable to support any conversation for want of breath, so that the reference must be to Hallowmas 1458.]

203

399
WILLIAM BOTONER TO JOHN BERNEY203.1

To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Berneye, Scuier, at Castre beyng.

1460
JAN.

Ryght wohypfull Sir, I recommaund me to yow.203.2.  .  .  .  .  .  .  As for tydyngs here, I sende som of hend wreten to you and othyrs how the Lord Ryvers,203.3 Sir Antonye, hys son, and othyrs hafe wonne Calix203.4 be a feble assault made at Sandwich by Denham,203.5 Squyer, with the nombre of viij^c. men, on Twyesday betwene iiij. and v. at cloks yn the mornyng. But my Lady Duchesse203.6 ys stille ayen receved yn Kent. The Duke of York ys at Debylyn [Dublin], strengthed with hys Erles and homagers, as ye shall see by a bille. God sende the Kyng victorie of hys ennemyes, and rest and pease among hys Lordes.

I am rygt gretly hevyed for my pore wyfe, for the sorow she takyth, and most leefe hyr and hyr contree. Y shall nothing take from hyr more then a litell spendyng money, tille better may bee. And the Blessed Trinite kepe and sende you helth.

Wret at London hastly, the Monday after I departed from you, 1459, x. Your, W. Botoner, called Wyrcester.

Ryght wohypfull Sir
text unchanged: error for “worshypfull”?

204

400
WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON204.1

To his right worshipfull brother, John Paston, be this lettre delyvered.

1460
JAN. 28

After dewe recomendacion had, please you to wete that we cam to London uppon the Tewysday by none, nexst aftr our departour fro Norwich, and sent our men to inquyre after my Lord Chaunceler,204.2 and Maister John Stokys, and Malmesbury.

And as for my Lord Chaunceler, he was departed fro London, and was redyn to the Kyng ij. dayes er we were come to London; and as we understand he hasted hym to the Kyng by cause of my Lord Ryvers204.3 takyng at Sandwyche, &c.204.4.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

As for tydyngs, my Lord Ryvers was brougth to Caleys, and by for the Lords with viij^xx. [eight score] torches, and there my Lord of Salesbury reheted [rated] hym, callyng hym knaves son, that he schuld be so rude to calle hym and these other Lords traytors, for they schall be found the Kyngs treue liege men, whan he schuld be found a traytour, &c. And my Lord of Warrewyk rehetyd hym, and seyd that his fader was but a squyer, and broute up with Kyng Herry the V^te, and sethen hymself made by maryage, and also made Lord, and that it was not his parte to have swyche langage of Lords, beyng of the Kyngs blood. And my Lord of Marche reheted hym in lyke wyse. And Sir Antony204.5 was reheted for his langage of all iij. Lords in lyke wyse.

205

Item, the Kyng cometh to London ward, and, as it is seyd, rereth the pepyll as he come; but it is certayn ther be comyssyons made in to dyvers schyres that every man be redy in his best aray to com whan the Kyng send for hem.

Item, my Lord Roos is com fro Gynes.

No more, but we pray to Jesu have you in his most mercyfull kepyng. Amen.

Wretyn at London, the Munday next after Seynt Powle day.205.1 Yowr broder, William Paston.

401
WILLIAM BOTONER TO ——205.2

1460
FEB. 7

A very frende at nede experience will schewe be deede, as wele as be autorite of Aristotle in the Etiques that he made of moralite. Also by the famous Reamayn Tullius in his litell booke De Amicicia; thangyng you for olde contynued frendschip stidffastely grounded, as I wele [qu. feel?] be your letter of a goode disposicion made, as it appereth. Where as it schewith to the understandyng of suche as you write uppon that I schulde, be crafty councell of some men sodenly have departed in to these parties, &c., and that I straunched me from sertein persones to moche, &c.; as for the furste, it schalbe to openly knowe that I departed not hedre be councell of suche persons as they ymagyne, for in trowthe no creature levyng, when I departed from Norwich, knewe of it, saffe one that hath and evermore schal be next of my knowlege in viagis makyng, alle be it I will not alwey disclose the cause. I herde sey sith I come to London theye weche ye dempte to be of my councell thanne where at 206 Wolsyngham or Thepala (?) when I departed. I have wrete the cauce to hym that of nature schulde be my beste frende, that for as much I had labored as weele as W. Paston do my maister frendes, chevised, and leyd money content out of his purse to the some of Cli., and more for cloothe and other thynges for my seide maister entencion, promyttyng payment be fore Cristemesse, or right soone aftir, or to be at London, and acquytyng me that I put me my dever. And be cause my maister attorneys in that parties toke not to herte to make the payementes here so hastely as they ded there, I had no comffortable answere of spedyng the seid paymentes here. And also I was not put in truste a mong the seid attorneys there to yeve on peny for my maister sowle, but I paid it of myn owne purse befoore; nother in trust ne favour to geve an almesse gowne, but that I praid for it as a straunger schulde doo, alle be it myn autorite is as grete as theris, and rather more as I tolde you. And also my Lorde of Canturebury and Maister John Stookes, his juge, had geve autorite to ministre to a certein somme till the testament were proved. And these preseidents consedred wolde discorage any man to a bide but a litel amonges hem that so straunged hem self from me and mistrusted me, be thut any cauce ye knowe wele how that my maister man servauntes were put in gretter truste and familiarite to handell, geve, and telle out of the bagghes my maister money bothe at Seint Benetts and in Norwich in divers places by grete summes and litell. And ye as other my maister servauntes and I that helped gete my maister goode and brynge it togedre were straunged, and as it semyd by there demenyng mistrusted to oure grete vilanye and rebuke, wheche muste be answerd the causes why, and we declared [i.e. exculpated], and so shal I make it for my pore person, and for my maister sowle heele. It is not soilied (?) knowen that I was one of the cheeffe that kepte bothe my Maister Paston and myn oncle206.1 in my maister favour and truste, and if I wolde have labored the contrary, by my sowle—that is the grettest othe that I may swere of my silff—they had never be 207 nygh my maister in that case they stonde nowe. And if they woll labour to damage or hendre me, all the worlde woll mysreporte of hem and litel truste hem, nowther they schal not have wurschip nor profight bi it. I wolde be to them as lowyng and as wele willyng as I gan, so I fynde cause, and other I wolnot be to my fadre, and he weere a liffe. I requere you a[n]swere for me as I wolde and have do for you whan som of hem have seid ful nakedly of you, and suche as ye deeme hafe mysereported causeles of me, I pray you that they see my letter as weele as my frendes. My maister also (God yelded is sowle) graunted to me a liffelode accordyng to my degre, that I, my wiffe, and my childre, schulde have cause to prey for hym. My wiffes uncle207.1 was present in his chapell at Castre as wele as my wiffe, and comaunded her oncle to chese the londe. This is trowthe be the blissed Sacrament that I receyved at Pasch [i.e. Easter]. And because I demaunded my right and dwte of my Maister Paston, he is not plesed. I have lost more thanne x. mark worthe londe in my maister servyce, by God, and not [unless] I be releved, alle the worlde schal knowe it elles that I have to gret wrong. Wolde God I kowde plese bothe Maister Paston and my oncle in reson, who preserve you.

Wrete hastely the vij. day of Feveryere. Your, W. Botoner, dit Wurcester.

208

402
W. LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON208.1

To the right worchipfull and reverent and myn good mayster Paston, Squyere, be this taken.

1460
APRIL 6

My ryght worchipfull mayster, I recomaunde me to yow, besechyng yow to hold me excusyd that I awaytyd noon otherwyse opon yow and my mastras at my comyng from Norwich; for yn good feyth I was soo seke that I hadde moche labour to come home, and sythen that tyme I have hadde my parte, &c. And, Sere, as for Berney, he begynnyth to falle ought of the popell conceyte faster than ever he fell yn, for serteyn causez, &c. I shalle telle yow yn haste. But, Sere, blyssyd be God, as for yow, your love yncresith amonge hem, and so I prey God it mot, for and I herde the contrarie, ye shuld sone have wetyng. The under-shrefe dotht Mortoft favour, and lete hym goo yn Norwich as hym lyst, and al the contre abought me sey right evyll of hym for a mayntenor of the Kynges enime; for there ben an C. [hundred] purposid to ride to the Kyng for hym, and he come neer this contre, for they sey thow he hadde never doo with his handes he hath seid a now to die. I have warend the under-shreffe ther of, &c. Sere, forther, I am yn bildyng of a pore hous. I truste God that ye shulle take your loggyng ther yn here after whan ye come to your lordshippis on tho partes. And I durste be soo bolde on your maystershep to aske of yow xij. copill of oken sparris, I wold hertilly prey yow not to have them, but ther they may be for bore beste, and that is at a yard of yourz yn Saxthorpe, callid Barkerz. I have eshe but noon oke, but litell now comyth the fellyng ther of, &c. And me semyth ye myght take mony for wood ther that stant and seryth and doth no good but harme, and 209 with yn fewe yeres ye shulnot wete where it is become, &c. Also ther be serteyn materz betwyn soom of your tenuantez and me. I abide your comyng and doo not [naught ?] at the reverens of yow; they be knowelle yn the contre. And God have yow yn his kepyng.

Wretyn on Palme Sunday. Be your servaunt, W. Lomner.

208.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter must be after the death of Sir John Fastolf, and before John Paston had gone to take possession of his lands in Norfolk. Saxthorpe was one of Fastolf’s manors which so came to him. The year may therefore be presumed to be 1460.

403
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO [WILLIAM PASTON]209.1

1460
[before Easter]

Jesu mercy, Marie help, cum Sanctis omnibus, trewe menyng executorys ffro fals terrauntes and alle tribulacyonys. Amen. Ryte reverent Sire, &c., W. Y.209.2 Judex and hise wyf were here with here meny and here hors in our ladyes place, &c. on Saterday at evyn, and yedyn hens on Monday after none, whan summe had drunkyn malvyseye and tyre,209.3 &c. And I prechid on the Sonday byfore hem, not warnyd tyl after mete. And than for lak of M. Vergeant, or our wardeyn Barnard, I sodeynly seyd the sermon. And byfore I had ryte ovyr and soleyn chere of hem bothe, &c.; but after the sermon he seyd opely to the prior, heryng myche folk in the chirch, ‘I haf herd hym oftyn here and ellys where, but [this]209.4 is the best that ever I herd hym sey,’ &c., and at evyn drank to me, and made me good chere, half on the splene, &c.

But on Moneday, whan he had ny etyn and drunkyn a now, he gan to rollyn hym in hise relatyvis, and we eldyd hym, as many men thowtyn, ryte ongayly in hise gere, &c.; hise wyf begynnyng the communicacyon with rite a sootyr (?) chere. And he heeld on so sore he cowd not cese, &c. tyl 210 he went to his hors, &c. And the pryor demenyd hym gentylly in hise talkyng. And there was not forgetyn non unkyndnesse of my Mayster J. P., zour brother, of sleyn [slaying] of hise man Wormegey, and of mariage of hise dowghtyr, whiche now schal solempnely be maryed to Conerys,210.1 a knytes sone, &c. And now last at Seynt Benettes, where he so worschipful a justise and as kunnyng in lawe as ever was zour fadyr, &c. as alle men knowyn, &c. And zour brother J. P. brokyn owt be occasyon of zour langage, and takyn wytnesse of Malmysbury, a man of my Lord of Caunterbury, whiche hath spokyn with the seyd justise the last terme in Westmyster Halle. And there he seyd more tymes than one, ‘Sire, this the fyrst tyme that ever I spake with zour Lordschip, &c.’ And sythe after ze weryn at Seynt Benettys forseyd, ze komyn not gentylly but ryte malicyously disposid to myn Lady Felbrygg, and dede your devoyr to haf put hym out of hir conceyt, and it wolde not be, &c. And what vyolens my Mayster J. P., germanus vester, dede to W. Wayt,210.2 &c. up on hise owne grownd at Musshold, &c. And after al these materys, bare me on hand210.3 that I had seyd to on of the worthiest of the schyre that the seyd justise be gan the brekyng at Seynt Benettes; for I suppose I seyd thus to my Lord Fyz Water, alias my Mayster Radclyff, to whos in I went to, and zaf hym a potel of swete wyne, he demaundyng me of that brekyng, &c., as I remembre me, and suppose I seyd, ‘W. Y., justise, began to myn knowlache and understondyng.’ Whan he seyd so fumowsly, ‘Who so ever sey that of me, he lyeth falsly in hise hede, &c.’ And my Mayster Radclyff rode forthe with owt of towne to Dokkyng and Brumham, and with hym rode W. Y., sone to the justise. And yf the seyd Radclyff teld this to W. Y., I wote never. And yf he dede I merveyle sore. But and al go to al, as is like to go, I may not sey nay, but I trow I seyd so. Radclyf and ze bene grete frendes. I wold ze wold lat hym knowe the trowth, &c.

211

This mater mevyd the justisis wyf, and than he be gan hise mater more boldly, seying to me be fore the pryour and miche pepyl, that it was told hym the same day that I seyd, as for the brekyng, the justise began. ‘Forsothe’ seyd I, ‘whan I came into the chambre there, the fyrst word I hard was this, that ze seyd to my mayster J. P., “Who that ever seyth so, I sey he lyeth falsly in hise hede,” &c.’ ‘Ya,’ quod the justise, ‘ze schuld haf told what mevyd me to sey so to hym.’ And I seyd I cowde not tellyn that I not herd, &c. Et Judex— ‘Ze schuld haf examyned the mater,’ &c. And I seyd, ‘Sire, it longyd not to me to examyne the mater, for I knew wele I schuld not be juge in the mater, and alonly to a juge it longyth to sene and stodyen illam Sacræ Scripturæ clausulam, whiche holy Job seyd, Causam quam nesciebam diligentissime investigabam.’

And than, ‘No,’ seyth he hardyly, ‘ze schal not be juge, but yf ze had owt me as good wil as ze dede and do to Paston, ze wold than have sergyd the cause of my gret greef, why I seyd as I seyd, &c. But I haf sey the day, ze lovyd me beter than hym, for he yaf zow never cause of love as I haf done,’ &c. ‘Sire,’ I sey, ‘he hath yovyn me cause swyche as I am behold to hym for,’ &c. ‘Ya,’ seyth he, ‘ze schal bere wytnesse, &c., and the other Mayster Clement and W. Schipdham.’ Cui ego— ‘As for the wytnesse I schal bere, I schal say and writyn as I knowe,’ &c. Cui ille—’I made hise testament,211.1 and I knowe,’ &c. Cui ego— ‘I saw nevir testament of your makyng; and as for on testament that he made, and I knowe bothe the writer and maker, after hise wyl and intent, ze stonde stille there in as ze dede than,’ &c. Et tunc gavisus est, &c. Et ille— ‘I knowe ze haf a gret hert, &c., but I ensure zow, the Lordes above at London arn infoormyd of zow, and they schal delyn with zow wele anow.’ Cui ego— ‘He or they that hafe infoormyd the Lordes wele of me, I am behold to hem; and yf they be otherwyse infoormyd, I schal do as wele as I may. But be myn trowthe I schal not be aferd to sey as I knowe for none Lord of this lond, if I may go saf and come, quod non credo, per Deum, propter evidencias multas,’ &c. Tunc prior — 212 ‘Domine, non expedit nec rationi seu veræ conscientiæ congruit, quod vos contendatis cum Magistro Paston, vel ipse vobiscum, pro bonis defuncti, quæ solum sua et non vestra sunt. Miror valde,’ inquit, ‘cum prioribus temporibus tam magni fuistis amici, et non sic modo, quare valde doleo.’ Cui Judex— ‘There is no man besy to bryng us to gyder, &c., so that I kan wele thynk it were lytil maysteri.’ But in feyth I knowe wele the Juge, W. Wayte his mawment [i.e. puppet], hise boy Yimmys, with here hevedy and fumows langage, have and dayly do uttyr lewd and schrewd dalyauns, &c.

I sent zow bode of dyvers thinges be M. Roger Palle, and I haf no answer, &c. I schuld go to Castre, and a man of my Lordes Norfolk told here he came fro London, and there he had commonly voysid that the Duke of Norfolk schuld be the Kynges comaundement kepe hise Esterne at Castre for safe gard of the cuntre ayens Warwyk and other swich of the Kinges enmyes whiche may lytely be lyklynesse aryve at Waxham, &c. My mayster zour brother, J. P., ne ye, ne M. T. Howys, ne I may not esily be brokyd in the Jugys conscyens, &c. Sir Jon Tatirshales man spake with yow at London, and than ye seyd to hym to hafe comyn in your owne persone to our Lady or this tyme, whiche was cause of myn abidyng here, &c. I schal, be the grace of Jesu, be at Castre on Soneday next, &c. W. W., J. B., junior, Colinus Gallicus, et T. Upton multum, ut suppono, fuerunt assidui ad informationem malam dandam dominis diversis hujus regni contra vestrum germanum J. P., M. T. Howes, me, etc.; sed confido in vobis quod vos confiditis in Christo Jesu et Sanctis omnibus, qui vos vestros et vestra dirigat in agendis. Recommendetis me, si placeat, Magistro meo Johanni P., uxori, et matri, cum filiis suis nepotibus vestris, et Thomae Playtere vestro dilecto amico. Et quare vobis jam scribo et non vestro germane J. P. alias scietis, etc. Vester orator continuus, F. J. B., Minorum minimus.

213

404
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON213.1

1460

Jhesus Maria, &c.,—Reverende domine et præ omnibus mortalibus amantissime. Super omnia omnino oblivioni non tradenda faciatis ut W. P.213.2 germanus cum sua ac vestra prudenti industria sagaciter et secrete informet H. Fylongley de W. W.213.3 Hibernico ac Colino Gallico, qui suo malicioso proposito confederati sunt, adversusque dominum et magistrum suum militem defunctum et executores ejus ad dampnificandos eos et bona defuncti per ostensionem literarum secretarum olim dicto militi missarum, ex confidentia speciali, sicut solito more amicus amico solet scribere. Si hæc enim proditoria condicio esset insinuata per H. Fylongley vel per me, forsan Domino Comite Wilschirie, idem fallax et deceptorius Colinus Gallicus non esset cum dicto comite tam magnus et intimus cum dicto domino, sicut credit se esse unum de suis secretioribus, vel cum Regina per laborem sui germani ad magistrum Ormond ut ipsum faciat introduci ad favorem et servicium Reginæ. Si habueritis amicos circa Reginam, cito poteritis Colinum frustrare suo a proposito. Si W. P. vester germanus posset per subtilia media adquirere et adquiri facere casketum C. Gallici ac casketum W. W. Hibernici, audiretis et videretis aliqua non laude sed fraude plena, &c. Mitte sapientem et nihil ei dicas, &c. Prudenti viro pauca scribenda pro presenti propono quia scio vos ex paucis plura colligere et ex præambulo plura concludere. Item, propheta clamat, ‘Nolite confidere in verbum mendacii,’213.4 &c., et secundum eundem prophetam, ‘Non est confidendum super baculum arundineum confractum,’213.5 &c., et est commune et vulgare dictum: 214 ‘A man schuld not trusty on a broke swerd, ne on a fool, ne on a chyld, ne on a dobyl man, ne on a drunke man,’ &c., thow that he were an amewse and a notarye be W. W. Hibernicus he schal knowe al, and be hym Colyn and Spirlyng the same knowe schal, &c., Hoc ideo dicite W. P., Cavete, &c., quia, Deo teste, bona fide et conscia non ficta, hæc suprascripta sunt in toto vera, &c. Feria secunda ad minus in prandio vos videbo, &c. Scriptum festinissime infra quarterium horæ, præsentis latore nimis sponsalium causa festinante. Recommendo vos vestros et vestra Deo. vester totus prius notus, Frater J. B. Minorum minimus.

405
ANONYMOUS TO H. B. OF LINCOLN214.1

To my good Maister, H. B. of Lincoln.

1460
APRIL 9

Right worchepful sir, after my recommendation, like you to wete I wold yisterday have spoken with you if ye had be allone at good leiser, for my aquytaile to God and to you, and for the wele of my maister, God pardon hym. I have many thynges to remembre you if ye wol. Wherof diverse specialtes that I wold sey, I may not write. For I meved you at your chamber wyndow at Lammes homward from London some thynges of my good wil, and me thought ye toke it gretely to displeisur; the which caused me to sey the lesse of thynges that had be worchepfull to have be doon. But, Sir, as I remembred you late at Norwich of the variaunce by twix the worchepfull man and you, for Goddes love and your most ease, folwe the meanes of his good wil by help of holsom gentilmen, and also the feithfull love of other that grucchen to you warde, as I fele moche thof thei speke litil 215 therof to you, rettyng in you singuler fastnesse ageyns kyndenesse and reson; for with love and unyte ye shal do moost good for oure maister to your worchep. And with the contrary many mysse dispenses as han be and thanne moche lette in doyng of good dedis to the causers perill and slawnder God hath sent you wysdham grete that telleth you the best is to drede God. A man shal never have love of God nor love nor drede of good men for myskepyng of moche good thof it wer his owen, for it is dampnable; but wher it is truly delt with and godly disposed, thanne folwith bothe grete meryte and worchep. Pety it is that mo more is do for hym. At the gate is nowther mete, drynke nor money, ut dicitur, no man wele spekyng thof thacte above be not do necessary almesse to the nedy that peynen wold and myght be do dayly. And, Sir, be ware what ye talke to som men of the lordes your coexecutours, and what is spent for the man, and what he was worth. Thei reporten you unfavorabely and withoute credence, as men seyn, and some I have herd. Also your entretyng and other for you with them that have entres with you for to have your entent sped, is tolde oute whow, and your iournay to lorde Beauchamp to Cambrig is taken as men like, and your associacion is seid made by your witt to your purpos. As somme fer of and grete that may nor peraventur wiln not medle, somme ye wold thei left, somme havyng no conduyt, somme no stomak, and somme glosours and witnesses for lucre; this is not my seyyng, I have often herd it. Therfor to have such a post as the seid man is that ye be in variaunce; so he do wele, as I fully beleve, he shuld help you to bere moche, and cause eschuyng of moche of this noyse. This variaunce grew of mater of noght and japes; the soner may be accorde. And thynke not, Sir, that any persone hath stered me herto; for by the good Lorde I trist to receyve this holy tyme it is my owen steryng and good hert to you warde, for that I her and see, and moost of your wele willers, in eschuyng of inconvenyentz as right many talke must ensue to you ward. For I fonde you pleyn at Cristemesse, and I toke you that ye loved me, wher to fore, withoute cause truly, to my seid maister moch ye hyndred me, as parte he tolde me, and thanne I praied you in that your good 216 maistership and amendement, and sith I have be pleyn and wol be. And I require you as ye arn a gentilman, kepe thees maters secrete by twix God, you and me; for by Almyghty Jhesu of me knoweth this non erthely creatur, nor shal knowe. Other thynges been that sounden not wele, but as I fele your wisdham take me in this, so herafter I wil demene me with you in maters. I am urke of variaunces, for parties waxen wrooth if men hold not with there oppynyons whan thei in angre trotte over fer by yon hem self. I may not come by you to London ward, I trow I must by Suffolk; elles I had not writen this. Oure Blissed Lorde have you in His governaunce and be your conduytour to His pleisur, Amen. This Wednesday, ix. day Aprill.

As ye arn a veray gentilman, be my true confessour as I am youres and take me as I mene, thof my termes been not discreet. Brenne this scrowe or kepe it pryvy, as ye like and I beseche you, if ye wil trist me, wil me pleyn, &c.—Your owen, &c., to my power.

214.1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 143.] This letter is mysterious, but seems to have some bearing on Sir John Fastolf’s will, and may be assigned with tolerable certainty to the year 1460, as the 9th April, the day it was dated, was a Wednesday, and one expression in it shows that it was written immediately before Easter, which in that year fell on the 13th April.

406
WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON216.1

To hys rythe wurchyp[full] broder, Jon Paston, [dwell]yng at Castre.

1460
MAY 2

Broder, I comand me to zow, certhefieng zow that Playter is redyn to Lundon ward this day abowthe ij. afternone. And he taryed here, and schulde abedyn styll till he had had an horse that Master Thomas Howys schuld have lent hym. And so I thowthe he schuld have taried to long; and so he hathe bowthe on off myn hors. And iff it nede, he schall send zow word be his man fro Lundon how he felythe the disposycyon off men ther, &c.; and he schall send 217 his man hom be Newmarket wey. And I have infurmyd hym acording after the ententhe of zowr letter.

I spak this day with Bokkyng. He had but few wurdes, but I felt be hym he was rythe evyll disposyd to the parson and zow, but coverthe langgage he had. I wene he be assentid to the fyndyng of this offyce217.1 takyn at Bokynham, and Recheman schall bryng zow the namys of the men that mad the verdythe on Soneday nexst comyng. I pray send to myn broder Clements fermor of Somerton for money for my broder Clement, for to have sent to hym to Lundon. I schuld have done it qwan I was at Caster; myn moder desyryd me, and I sent a letter after to the parson, and prayed hym to receve it, &c.

Item, I prayd the parson to wrythe a letter in his name to myn suster Ponyngges,217.2 as ze and I comunyd onys togeder, cownsellyng her to take good avyse befor sche sold her wood at Wrenham; and he schuld knowe ther by weder Ponyngges wer in Kent ar nat, &c. I understond that this Bokkyng and Worceter have grett trust in ther awne lewd consaythe, wathe some ever it menythe, &c. Bokkyng told me this day that he stood as well in consaythe with myn Maister Fastolff iii. days befor he dyed as any man in Englond. I sayd I soposyd nay, ner iij. zere before he dyed. I told hym that I had hard dyveres talkynges of hym as men sayd, qweche I soposyd schuld nat easly be browthe a bowthe, and he swore that he talkyd never with no man in no mater that schuld be a zen zow, &c. It is he that makythe William Wurceter so froward as he is.

I wold ze had a witnesse of Roberd Ingglows, thow he wittnessyd no more but that myn master had his witthe, becawse he was so lathe with myn master Fastolff. Worceter sayd at Castre it schuld be nessessary for zow to have good witnesse, as he saythe it schuld go streythe with zow wytheowt zowr witnesse were rythe sofycyent. Myn cosyn Berney can tell zow, &c.

Item, remenbre to make the parson to make an instrument 218 up on his sayyng. I funde hym rythe good qwan I spak with hym at Caster; and remembre the newe evydens.

Item, Arblaster and I spakk togeder. I felle hym rythe feythefully disposyd to zow ward, and he schall mow do myche good and he go to Lundon, for he can labore will a monge Lordes. He and I comunyd to geder of myn Lord Awbre;218.1 lethe hym tell zow qwat it was, for he will speke with zow to morow. It is full nessessary to mak zow strong be lord chep, and be oder menys. Myn Lord Awbry hathe weddit the Duke of Bokyngham dowter,218.2 and he was lathe with Master Fastolff be fore he dyed, and he is gret with the Qwene.

God have zow in His kepeng. Wretyn at Norwyche the secund day of May. Be zowr broder, W. Paston.

Omnya pro pecunya facta sunt.

407
THE ABBOT OF LANGLEY TO JOHN STOKES218.3

To the ryght worchepfull Sere, Mayster John Stokes.

1460
MAY 8

Ryght worshypfull Sere, I recomaund me to yow; and for asmyche as it is informyd me that it was appoynted that alle the executors of the worshepfull knyght, Sere John Fastolf, whos soule God asoyle, shuld be at London as on Monday next comyng, of wheche executors I am namyd for on, as I ondyrstond; wherfore, in as myche as ye be ordenary and on of the same executors, I prey yow tendre my laboure, withoute my comyng, be youre dyscrecion, myght be more profyt to the dede; for I conseyve it shuld be but charge to the dede, and lytell avayleable, consyderyng that John Paston, Squyere, and Thomas Howys, parson of Blofeeld, schall come up at this time, wheche were218.4 the persones above 219 all other that the seyd Sere John Fastolf put in hys most sengulere love and trust, and wold they shuld have the kepyng and dysposicion of hys goods, as wele in hys lyve as after hys deseas, to dyspose for the well of hys soule; and that non other namyd hys executors, but only they tweyn, shuld have ony kepyng or dysposyng of ony part of hese goods duryng ther lyves; and that alle other namyd executors shuld supporte them and geve them to the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys here good avyse in performyng of hys desyre in that behalve. Wherfor that it lekyth yow in ony thyng ye desyre me to do in thys cause or matere to geve yowre feyth and credence to the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys; and so desyred me the seyd Knyght feythefully to do, that knowyth God, whom I be seke preserve yow from alle adversyte.

Wretyn in the Abbey of Langeley, the viij. day of the monyth of May, the yeere of oure Lord m^l.cccc.lx. Youre preest, Abbot of Langeley.219.1

408
JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON219.2

To my trusty cosyn, Margaret Paston, at Norwich, be this delyvered.219.3

1460
JUNE 19

I  recomaunde me to you, letyng you witte that I sent a letter to John Russe and Richard Kalle that thei, by th’advyse of Watkyn Shipdam and William Barker shuld send me word of whom alle the maneres, londes, and tenementes that were Sir John Fastolffes wern holde, preyng you that ye wold do them spede them in that matier; and if my feodaryes, whiche lye in the tye of my gret cofyr, may ought wisse therin, lete them se it.

220

Item, I wolde that William Barker shulde send me a copye of the olde traverse of Tychewell and Beyton. And lete Richard Kalle spede hym hidderward, and come by Snaylwel, and take suyche mony as may be getyn there, and that he suffre not the mony that the tenauntes owe to come in the fermours handes.

Item, that he come by Cambrigge and bryng with hym Maister Brakkeles licence from the provynciall of the Grey Freres. I prey you recomaunde me to my modir.

Wretyn at London the Thursday next to fore Middesomer. John Paston.

409
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON220.1

Venerabili armigero, Johanni Paston seniori, detur hæc litera.

1460
JULY 6

Honoris superni amorisque interni indissolubile vinculum tam venerabili viro in Christo condignum, præcordialissime magister ac amice singularis, non solum quales debeo sed quales valeo vobis refero grates cordiales pro vestris beneficiis quampluribus michi multiformiter exhibitis, pro quibus omnibus recompenset vos Altissimus. Honorabilis domine, causa motiva præsentis scripturæ est hæc. Ex magno cordis affectu audire desidero de vestra expeditione prospera in materia concernente testamentum et voluntatem venerabilis viri J. F.220.2 militis per Ricardum Calle vel Johannem Pampyng, vestros fideles servientes; quod si fieri non possit per relationem latoris præsentium, michi certificare dignemini. Cujus verbis audienciam credulam præbere curetis, sicut et michi dare velletis si vobiscum personaliter interessem. Scire insuper dignetur vestra caritas quod iste frater, præsentium lator, est meus spiritualis 221 filius, eo quod in ordinem per me indutus et professus et ad gradum sacerdotii promotus, jam per biennum continuum, fuit socius et servitor meus satis solaciosus in tempore meæ gravissimæ infirmitatis, in laboribus et vigiliis continuis, tam diurnis quam nocturnis, quorum occasione a suo libro et studio fuit multiformiter impeditus; sicque ad suos amicos non potuit habere recursum ad sui victus et vestitus adquirendum subsidium. Cui si placet intuitu caritatis elemosinam per vos graciose collatam Willelmo nepoti meo ingratissimo, utinam non infidelissimo, latori prædicto dare curetis, qui vobis suam indigenciam fideliter explanabit et dicti nepotis viciosa demerita certissime declarabit. Unum enim scitote, si frater prædictus circa meam personam non fuisset multiformiter solicitus ego pluries fuissem mortuus. Spero enim per Dei graciam circa festum ad Vincula Petri vestram graciosam visitare presenciam, et de dicti fratris gratitudinem clariorem dare noticiam. Cui propter Deum ad mei cordis multiforme solacium dicti beneficii ne denegetis suffragium, sicud in vobis gero confidenciam singularem. Non plura pro præsenti vobis offero calamo digna, sed vos, vestros et vestra defendat Trinitas alma, Quæ vos graciose conservet in prosperis et graciosissimis dirigat in agendis. Scriptum Donewici, in vigilia Translacionis Sancti Thomæ Martiris.

Vester ad vota promptissimus ac orator pauperculus. Frater J. B., Minorum minimus.

quod si fieri non possit per relationem latoris præsentium
text has “qood” for “quod”

410
THE YORKIST LORDS TO THE AUTHORITIES IN NORFOLK221.1

The Erlys of Marche, Warwyke, and Salysbury.

1460
JULY 23

Ryght welbeloved, we grete you wele; and wher, for the tendre love that we have to the concervacion of the Kyngs peas, lawes, and justice in this his realme of Englonde, we have comaunded the Kyngs peeple in his 222 name, be oure letters and diverse writyngs, that no man shulde robbe or dispoile Sir Thomas Todenham, Knyght, John Heyden, John Wyndham, Herry Todenham, and John Andrws, and other weche have sued to us for oure seide letters; we, wolyng to eschewe that any person shulde have colour be oure seide letters to noyse us, or any of us, that the seide Sir Thomas, John Heyden, John Wyndham, Herry, and John Andrws, or any other of suspecte fame, be accorded with us, or any of us, for suche wrongs as they, or any of ham, have do to us, our servaunts and tenants or wellwellers, or that we shulde hafe hem in tendrenesse or favour to discorage trewe people to swe a yen hem be the lawe; We therfore notyfie to yow, as we woll that it be notyfid to all people, that we, ne noon of us, intende not to favour or tendre hem, or any other of suspecte fame, but rather to corecte suche be the lawe, for we made our seid letters soly for kepyng of the pease and justice, and not for favour of suspecte condicione. And the Holy Trynyte kepe yow.

Wreten at London the xxiij^ti. day of Jule.

To all Meyers, Sceryves, Balyfys, Constables, and all the Kynges Offecers and Ministres in Norffolk, and eche on of hem.

221.1 [From Fenn, iii. 244.] This manifesto must have been issued in July 1460, after the battle of Northampton, when the King was in the hands of the confederate Lords. It certainly was not, as Fenn supposes, in 1455, after the battle of St. Albans, when the Earl of March was only thirteen years old and the Duke of York, his father, was made Protector. York had not come over from Ireland in July 1460, and is consequently not named in this document.

411
ABSTRACT222.1

The King to John Nedham and Thomas Litilton, Justices of the County Palatine of Lancaster

1460(?)
JULY 26

[These documents cannot be later than 1460, as the younger John Berney died in July of that year (see next letter). But as Judge Littleton was only made a King’s Serjeant in 1455, they cannot be many years earlier, and they are not unlikely to be of the year 1460 itself.]

222.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

412
JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON223.1

To my wurschipfull coysyn, Margaret Paston, be this delyvered in haste.

1460
JULY 28

I  recomaunde me unto you, letyng you witte that your unkyll, John Berney, is deed, whoos soule God have mercy; desyryng you to sende for Thomas Holler,223.2 and enquere of hym wher his goode is, and what he is wurthe, and that he take goode eede to all suche goods as he had bothe meveable and on mevable; for I undre stande that he is wurthe in money v^c. [500] marke, and in plate to the valwe of other v^c. marke, beside other goods. Wherfor I wolde ye schulde not lete hym wete of his dissese unto the tyme that ye 224 had enquered of the seide Thomas Holler of all suche maters as be a bovyn wreten, and whan he hathe enformed you therof, than lete hym wete verely that he is deede, desiryng hym that no man come on to his place at Redham but hym selfe, unto the tyme that I come.

Item, I lete you witte that gret parte of his goode is at William Taverners, as I undrestande. Thomas Holler woll telle you justely the trouthe as I suppose, and deseyre hym on my behalfe that he doo soo, and ther is writyng therof; and telle Thomas Holler that I and he be executours named, and therfore lete hym take heede that the goods be kept saffe, and that nobody knowe wher it shall lie but ye and Thomas Holler. And Thomas Holler, as your unkyll tolde me, is prevy wher all his goode lithe and all his writyng, and so I wol that ye be prevy to the same for casualte of deethe, and ye too shal be his executours for me as longe as ye doo trewly, as I trowe verely ye woll.

Wreten at London, the xxviij^t. day of Jule.

I requer yow be of god cumfort and be not hevy, if ye wil do owth for me. Yowr, John Paston.

the former written in January 1461
text has “1561”

413
ABSTRACT224.1

1460
AUG. 1

‘Soutwerk cum membris,’ No. 50 a.— ‘Inquisitio post mortem Johannis Fastolf militis capta per eschaetorem Regis, ubi mentio fit quorundam tenementorum, viz., the Berehouse, Boreshead, Hartshorne, et 2 molendinorum aquaticorum. Aug. 1, Hen. VI. 38.’

224.1 [From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]

225

414
ANONYMOUS TO YELVERTON AND PASTON225.1

To the right worshipful Seres, my right welbeloved and trusted cosyns, William Yelverton, Justice, and John Paston.

1460(?)

Sir, please your right worshipfull maystership that Mayster Paston come to London as on Thursdaye att none last past, and I trust verelye all maters here were resonablye labored to his comyng, and now they shal be better. Neverthelesse, I have ben mevid of tretye by dyvers personez sith I came hidre, as wele for Tudenham, Wentworth, Heydon, and other at this tyme not wel willed to yow and yourez, seyng that such money as is spent a twix yowe is but wastfully expendid and to non use vertuouse. I fele by theym they be not right corageous in theyr werkes, ner nought wold if they myght have a resonable trete. I meve not this that ze shold thenk that they had conquered me by noyans, but I do it to avertyse yow for th’eschewyng of the importable costes that hath ben born by yow, and yet lyke to bee, aswele in the elde maters hangyng as in newe at this tyme to be grownded, if this werre shal rest and hold a twyx yowe, and specially for the ease of hym that shalbe solicitour in the same. Ye nede at this terme rather to have had thre solicitours than in any other terme past this iij. yere, on concyderyng the maters hangyng, &c.; of which please yow to send yowr gode advyse and wille yf ye thenk it to be don, and els not, for this is but a mocion, &c.

225.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is by an unknown writer, and very uncertain as to date. It shows that Tuddenham, Wentworth, and Heydon, all adherents of the House of Lancaster, were desirous of a compromise with Yelverton and Paston. The year 1460, some time after the battle of Northampton, is perhaps as likely a period as any.

226

415
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON226.1

To my Mayster Jon Pastone, Esqwyer, be this letter presented.

Jesus, Maria, &c.

1460
OCT.

Ryte reverent Sire, after du recommendacion, we sey in this cuntre that Heydon is for Barkschir in the Comon Hows. And the Lady of Suffolk226.2 hath sent up hyr sone226.3 and hise wyf to my Lord of York to aske grace for a schireve the next yer, Stapilton, Boleyn, or Tyrel, qui absit. God send zow Ponyng, W. P., W. Rokewode, or Arblaster. Ze haf myche to done; Jesu spede zow. Ze haf many good preyers, what of the covent, cyte, and cuntre. God safe our good Lords, Warwik, alle hise brether, Salisbury, &c., fro al fals covetyse and favour of extorcyon, as they wil fle uttyr schame and confusyon. God save hem, and preserve fro treson and poyson; lete hem be war her of for the pite of God; for yf owt come to my Lord Warwik but good, far weel ze, far weel I, and al our frends! for be the weye of my sowle, this lond wer uttirly on done, as God forbede. Her [their] enmyes bostyn with good to come to her favour; but God defende hem, and zeve hem grace to knowe her frends fro her enmyes, and to cherisch and preferr her frends and lesse the myte of alle her enmyes thorw owt the schiris of the lond. And [i.e. if] my good Lord Warwik, with my Lord his brother Chaunceler226.4 and my Lord her fadyr226.5 woldyn opposyn, as dede Danyel, Fortesku, Alisaunder, Hody, Doctor Aleyn, Heydon, and Thorp, of the writyng made be hem at Covyntre Parlement, they schuld answer wers than sub 227 cino or sub privo (?), and this generaly wold I sey at Powlys Cros, etc., and [i.e. if] I schuld come there, &c. It is verifyed of hem, 1º Jeremiæ, 8º, Vere mendacium operatus est stilus mendax scribarum, &c. And think of two vers of zour Sawter, Scribantur hæc in generatione altera (hujus scilicet parliamenti) et populus qui creabitur laudabit Dominum,227.1 &c. Deleantur etiam tales perversi scriptores de libro viventium et cum justis non scribantur.227.2 Et non plura, sed vos, vestros et vestra conservet Jesus graciose in prosperis et graciosius dirigat in agendis.

Ex Norwico, feria quarta,227.3 nuncio festinante.

And I prey zow for Godds sake to be good mayster to Jon Lyster, &c. And I prey zow think, in this Parlement, of the text of Holy Scripture, Quicunque fecerit contra legem Dei et contra legem Regis judicium fiet de eo, vel in condemnationem substantiæ ejus, vel in carcerem, vel in exilium, vel in mortem (Primo Esdræ, vij., et parti 2º Esdræ 8º).

416
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO [JOHN PASTON]

1460
[OCT.] 

229

417
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON229.1

Reverendo magistro meo et amico singulari Johanni Paston armigero detur.

1460
OCT. (?)

Jhesus, Maria, Raphael, Johannes Baptista, Johannes Ewangelista, Franciscus Guardianus, cum Sanctis omnibus, succurant mæstis in tribulationibus. Amen. Præcordialissime domine et amice maxime singularis, Omissis pro præsenti vestri gratitudinis beneficiis mihi sæpius impensis, me humilime vestræ reverenciæ recommendo. Pensetis, quæso, cum omni festinatione possibili instabilem virum, utinam Hibernicum229.2 non ingratissimum, cujus nacionis aliquales proprietates sunt istæ:—animo sæva, vultu ferox, torva affatu, versupellis moribus et inconstancia in omnibus bonis viis suis; qui inter cætera magistro Clementi retulit quod expensæ annuales magistri Johannis Fastolff, bonæ memoriæ, secundum fidelem compotum se extendunt omni anno ad octingentas marcas in Norfolch et Suffolch, &c., et quod idem miles vobiscum faciens pactum pro iiij. M^l, &c., fuit purus fatuus; et quod idem vobis donatoriam literarum faciens fuit major fatuus, &c., et quod idem Hibernicus scit deteriorare, et diminuere bona militis ad summam viginti m^l marcarum, &c. Ob reverentiam Jhesu Christi, cavete quod impediatur omnino a suscipiendo onus testamenti quousque verum et integrum compotum reddiderit de defuncti bonis per eum receptis tot annorum evolutis et transactis curriculis, &c. Item, quod non vendat nec alienet maneria, terras, tenementa cum pertinentiis, nec commutat jocalia nec evidenciales literas, nec pecunias per vestrum germanum, W. P., et per ipsum receptas London, Bermondyseye, &c., cum jam sciat de multis ubi sunt, &c. Videtur mihi, salvo saltem vestro meliori judicio, quod de aliis personis et locis est cum omni celeritate possibili prudenter providendum et politice, ne idem W. W. oculis luscus et denigrato colore, in facie fuscus, sit cum W. Yelverton judice 230 confederatus, et per Ducem Exoniæ satis tiranizantem supportatus et per suos complices, &c. Sapienti loquor; nam philosophorum princeps ait ‘Cave ab hiis quos natura signavit’; et metrice dicitur:

Dixi vobis quod non esset pro vobis nec vestris utile in W. W. aliquam confidentiam gerere. Post vestrum didici recessum in 4^or nostri collegii famulis duplicibus et falsis cum omni perfidia contra voluntatem militis et ejus executores iniquitatis vinculo confederatis et astrictis, scilicet Colino Gallico, coquinæ clerico, W. W., militis secretario et W. Eton; nunc in promptuario propter Jhesum Christum deleantur de libro vertuose et unanimiter viventium et a modo cum justis nequaquam conscribantur, &c. Est vulgare proverbium ‘Accordyng to ryte reson that to oftyn it is in ceson, that in trust is gret treson.’ Ideo cavete quod Sapiens dicit ‘Qui cito credit, levis est corde.’230.1 Et audite scripturæ sacræ sententiam ‘A malo inquit consiliario serva animam tuam,’230.2 &c. Nam alibi Sapientis proclamat eloquium: ‘Non est sapientia, non est prudentia, non est consilium contra Dominum.’230.3 Hæc ibi. In alienis negociis velox, nec vivax erit, qui in propriis causis piger existit. Rogo attendite et menti imprimite diligenter quod revolvite quomodo poteritis resistere homini tam perverso noxam volenti et nocumentum executoribus inferre. Mens mea particulam evangelii retinet: ‘Si in viridi ligno hoc faciunt in arido quid fiet?’230.4 Quasi diceret, si iste W. W. executorum ultimus et merito novissimus et per vestram et magistri Thomæ Howes diligenciam inscriptus tantam proterviam gerit, in hoc quasi exordio, quid in fine maliciose sit facturus? Hoc penitus ignoro. Deo vos vestros et vestra commendo et præsentem causam. Recommendetis me si placeat recommendandis, &c. Scriptum festinanter, hora prima post prandium. W. B., lator præsentis, intendit vobis si placeat humilime et verissime servitorum. Ex Castre in die Sabbathi.

Vester ad vota promptissimus, Frater J. B., Minorum minimus.

231

418
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON231.1

Venerando suo magistro, Johanni Paston.

Jesus, &c.

1460

Reverende domine, &c. Propter Deum caveatis a confidentia in illo nigro Hibernico231.2 oculis obliquo et lusco, qui utinam corde, ore et opere non esset obliquior; qui heri misit literam Colino Gallico; de quibus dicitur quod singuli caccant uno ano. Et parvus Adam hodie portavit (?) magistro suo responsum. Idem enim luscus dicit vos esse cupidissimum, quia multum afflixistis debitores patris vestri, persequendo eos cum omni rigore, &c. Item dicit quod cum pater vester fuerit judex ditissimus, quasi nihil fecistis pro eo in distribuendo elemosinam pro anima ejus, et cum nihil feceritis pro patre vestro, quomodo pro magistro Fastolf aliquid facietis? Item dicit ‘Utinam fuissem in morte magistri mei, quia in me ultra omnes homines mundi maxime confisus est,’ &c. Item dicit quod in hora qua obiit magister suus, obviavit sibi unus albus bubo, qui eodem tempore juxta unam ecclesiam continuo clamavit mirabiliter et volavit sæpius iteratis vicibus sub equo suo inter tibias equi sui &c. Item dixit cuidam fratri conventus mei, ‘Magister Brakle accipit super se magnum regimen, &c., et certe, si pecunia legata in ultima voluntate suis servientibus non fuerit in larga habundancia distributa, erit ad magnum dedecus et verecundiam personæ meæ,’ &c. Utinam caveritis ita bene de eo sicut ego cavebo, quia cum sit filius Hibernicus, ego de eo semper minus curabo. Ipse vellet habere bona ex parte sua, &c. 232 Deo teste non fecit (?)232.1 vos magistri sui, &c. Hæc omnia et plura dixit idem miser magistro Clementi, a quo hæc omnia et plura didici &c. Item dicit quod vos timetis adire locum parliament quia non vultis præstare pecunias Regi nec Reginæ et aliis; et ideo pigritia vestra in hoc passu erit bonis mortui satis nociva, &c. Ego tot et tanta audivi de illo quod, per Deum, nunquam confidam in illo, &c.; est enim miser multum malencolicus et in toto colericus, et, salva patientia vestra, reddat compotum de singulis antequam capiat onus testamenti, &c.

Judex232.2 cras venturus est, &c., et sicut se hic gerit vestra caritas notitiam habebit, &c. Rogo detis mihi licentiam recedendi ad conventum Norwici, ad mutandum vestimenta mea propter sudores, &c., et ad studendum pro sermone, &c., ad honorem Dei, &c., qui vos vestros et vestra salvet in sæcula. Amen. Vester orator, Frater J. B.

On the back:—Item dixit magistro Clementi quod ipse non vult esse Frere, veni mecum, nec canta secum, nec Dacok, nec facok, nec Frater, lava pedes, &c. Item dicit vos instruxisse magistrum suum contra eum de auferendo evidencias, &c., et ipse plures labores habuit pro eo quam vos vel aliquis alius, &c. Custodite literam ultimo a me vobis missam, &c. Utinam Upton et ipse essent extra locum, &c., quia hic fiunt consumptiones maximæ, &c.

Endorsed in a 16th century hand:—A lettre much dispraising W. Wircester, from Doctor Brakley.

233

419
CHRISTOPHER HANSSON TO JOHN PASTON233.1

To the right worshipfull Sir and Maister, John Paston, Escuier, at Norwiche, be this delyvered in hast.

1460
OCT. 12

Right worschipfull Sir and Maister, I recomaund me un to you. Please you to wete, the Monday after oure Lady Day233.2 there come hider to my maister ys place,233.3 my Maister Bowser, Sir Harry Ratford, John Clay, and the Harbyger of my Lord of Marche, desyryng that my Lady of York233.4 myght lye here untylle the comyng of my Lord of York and hir tw sonnys, my Lorde George233.5 and my Lorde Richard,233.6 and my Lady Margarete233.7 hir dawztyr, whiche y graunt hem in youre name to ly here untylle Mychelmas. And she had not ley here ij. dayes but sche had tythyng of the londyng of my Lord at Chestre. The Tewesday next after, my Lord sent for hir that sche shuld come to hym to Harford [Hereford], and theder sche is gone. And sythe233.8 y left here bothe the sunys and the dowztyr, and the Lord of Marche comyth every day to se them.

Item, my Lord of York hath dyvers straunge commissions fro the Kyng for to sitte in dyvers townys comyng homward; that is for to sey, in Ludlow, Schrrofysbury, Herford, Leycetre, Coventre, and in other dyvers townys, to punych them by the fawtes to the Kyngs lawys.

As for tythyngs here, the Kyng is way at Eltham and at Grenewych to hunt and to sport hym there, bydyng the Parlement, 234 and the Quene and the Prynce byth in Walys alway. And is with hir the Duc of Excestre and other, with a fewe mayne, as men seythe here.

And the Duc of Somerset he is in Depe [Dieppe]; withe hym Maister John Ormound, Wyttyngham, Andrew Trollyp, and other dyvers of the garyson of Gyanys, under the Kyng of Fraunce safcondyte, and they seythe here, he porpose hym to go to Walys to the Quene. And the Erle of Wyltschyre234.1 is stylle in pece at Otryght at the Frerys [Friars], whiche is seyntwary.

Item, Colbyne ys come home to my maister is place, and seyth that, at your departyng234.2 ouzt of London, ze send hym word that he schuld come hedder to the place, and be here un tylle your comyng a zene; and so he is here it, and seith he wolle take no maister but be your avyce, nether the leese [nevertheless] awaytythe uppon Maister Oldhall the most parte at Redre234.3 at his place.

Item, Maister Ponyngs hathe enteret on an two or iij. placys uppon the Erle of Northomberlond, and he stondyth in good grace of the Kyng, my Lord of Marche, my Lord Warwyk, and my Lord of Salysbury. Most parte of the contre abought his lyflod hold aythe withe hym. And my maisteras your sister234.4 is not delyverd as yet; God yef hir god delyveraunce.

No more to you at this tyme, but and ze wolle comaund me any servyce y may doo, it is redy. And Jesu have you in his blessid kepyng; and I beseche you this letter may comaund me to my maisteras your moder, and my maisteras your wyfe, and alle your houshold.

Wreten at London the xij. day of Octobre. Your owne Servaunt, Christofer Hansson.

235

420
ABSTRACT235.1

Robert Call to [John Paston].

1460(?)
OCT. 17

[From what is said in Margaret Paston’s letter of the 20th October following about the lands at Maultby being unlet, this may perhaps have been written in the same year three days earlier.]

235.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

421
THOMAS PLAITER TO JOHN PASTON235.2

To my rygth worchipfull and my good maister, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast.

1460
[OCT.]

Rygth worchipfull and my most speciall synguler good maister, I recomend me to you, besechyng your maistership not to be dysplesed with my long taryans, and also to take it to no gref thou it were long or I wrot to you; for in good feyth I wend my self with in sevenygth after Seynt Feythesmesse235.3 to have ben at London, and for asmoche as Suthwell235.4 desyred me to tarye for evydens gevyng, &c. I promysed hym so to do and tarye tyll the Munday after Seynt Feythesmesse, or tyll the Tewysday sevenyth after at the 236 ferthest, and at tho dayes I hard no word fro hym. And so uppon the Thursday after had I word that the under-eschetour schuld sytte at Ocle236.1 the Tewysday after Seynt Luce;236.2 and so I tarye as yette, and trust verely to be with you the Saterday at the ferthest after Seynt Luce. Item, Sir, if my Maister of the Rolles236.3 be not come, I trust to God to com tydely i now, as for the traversys; and if ye besi you to the innyng ther of or I com, Richard Ley schall delyver hem you, if ye send to hym for it; for I left hem with hym to gete hem in if he mygth, and promysed hym a reward for his labour. Item, my maistres236.4 and all folkes be heyll and mery, blyssed be Jesu, ho have you in his blyssed governans and proteccion. By your, Thomas Plaiter.

422
THOMAS PLAITER TO JOHN PASTON236.5

To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer.

1460
[OCT. 21]

A[FTER] my most speciall recomendacion, like your maisterchip wete that the office236.6 is taken at Ocle in lyke forme as Suthwell236.7 can schew you, for Fraunceys Costard hath sent it hym, and the jentylmen that passed uppon the office wold fynd nor medyll nouther with the tenurs nor ho is next here [heir]. Wherfor if ye wol have other wyse found, Fraunceys Costard hath under take it, but it schal not be by suche men of worchip [as] is yn this. Item, the under-chryf was at Ocle, and ded and sayd to the jentylmen al that ever he cowde to the lette of the matter. And as for Suffolk, I understand they have no warant, so I tarye as yet what cas that ever 237 falle. And if ye wold that I tarye not, that it lyke you by the brynger her of to send me hasty wurd.

I send you the names of the jure here in. Your, Thomas Plaiter.

On a separate paper formerly enclosed in the preceding is the following List:—

Jurati pro Domino Rege.237.1

238

423
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON238.1

To my ryth worchepfull husbond, Jon Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.

1460
OCT. 21

Ryth worchepfull husbonde, I recomand me to yow. Plesyth it yow to weet that I receyvyd yowyr letter that ye sent me by Nycolas Colman on Sonday last past. And as for the mater that ye desyiryd me to breke of to my cosyn Rokwode, it fortunyd so that he came to me on Sonday to dyner sone aftyr that I had yowyr letter; and when we had dynyd, I mevyd to hym ther of in covert termys, as Playter shall informe yow eraftyr. And as I thowt by hym, and so ded Playter also by the langwage that he had to us, that he wold be as feythfull as he kowd or myte be to that good Lorde that ye wrot of, and to yow also, in ony thynge that he kowde or myte do in case wer that he wer set in offyse, so that he myth owte do; and ther to he seyd he wolde be bownde in a m^l. li. [£1000] and he was so myche worthe.

As for the todyr that ye desyiryd I scholde meve to of the same mater, me semyth he is to yonge to take ony swhyche thyngys up on hym; and also I knowe veryly that he scholl never love feythfully the todyr man that ye desyiryd that he schuld do, for when he rem[em]bryth the tyme that is paste, and ther for I spak not to hym ther of.

Thys day was holde a gret day at Okyll238.2 befor the undyr schreve and the undyr exchetor, for the mater of Syr Jon Fastolfys londys; and ther was my cosyn Rookwod and my cosyn Jon Berney of Redham, and dyvers odyr jentylmen and thryfty men of the contre; and the mater is well sped aftyr your intent (blyssyd be God!) as ye schall have knowlage of in hast.

239

I suppose Playter schall be with yow on Sonday or on Monday next comyng, if he may. Ye have many good prayers of the poer pepyl that God schuld sped yow at thys Parlement, for they leve in hope that ye schold helpe to set a wey that they myte leve in better pese in thys contre thane they have do befor, and that wollys schold be purveyd for, that they schuld not go owt of thys lond as it hathe be suffryd to do be for, and thane schall the poer pepyll more leve bettyr thane they have do by her ocwpacion ther in.

Thomas Bone hathe salde all yowyr wole her for xxd. a stone, and goode swerte fownd to yow ther for, to be payid a Myhellmas next comyng; and it is solde ryth well aftyr that the wole was, for the moste part was ryte febyll. Item, ther be bowt for yow iij. horse at Seynt Feythys feyer, and all be trotterys, ryth fayir horse, God save hem, and they be well kepyd. Item, your myllys at Heylysdon be late [let] for xij. marke, and the myller to fynde the reparacion; and Rychard Calle hathe let all yowyr londys at Caster; but as for Mawtby londys, they be not let yet. Wylliam Whyte hathe payid me a geyne thys daye hys x.li., and I have mad hym a qwetans ther of, be cause I had not hys oblygacion.

Ther is gret talkyng in thys contre of the desyir of my Lorde of York.239.1 The pepyll reporte full worchepfully of my Lord of Warwyk. They have no fer her but that he and othyr scholde schewe to gret favor to hem that have be rewyllers of thys contre be for tyme.

I have done all yowyr erandys to Syr Thomas Howes that ye wrote to me for. I ame rythe glade that ye have sped welle in yowyr materys be twyx Syr Fylyp Wentworthe and yow, and so I pray God ye may do in all othyr materys to hys plesans. As for the wrytyngys that ye desyirid that Playter schulde sende yow, Rychard Call told me that they wer at Herry Barborys, at the Tempyll gate.

The mayir239.2 and the mayires sent hedyr her dynerys thys day, and Jon Dame came with hem, and they dynyd her. I am beholde to hem, for they have sent to me dyvers tymys 240 sythe ye yed hense. The meyr seyth that ther is no jentylman in Northefolk that he woll do more for than he wole for yow, if it laye in hys poer to do for yow. J. Perse is stylle in prisone, but he wolle not confese more thane he ded when ye wer at home. Edmond Brome was with me, and tolde me that Perse sent for hym for to come spek with hym, and he tolde me that he was with hym and examynyd hym, but he wold not be a knowe to hym that he hade no knowlage wher no goode was of hys masterys more thane he hade knowlageyd to yow. He tolde me that he sent for hym to desyir hym to labor to yow and to me for hym if ye had be at home; and he tolde me that he seyd to hym ayen that he wold never labor for hym but [unless] he myth know that he wer trwe to hys mastyr, thow it lay in hys power to do ryth myche for hym. I suppose it schulde do none harme thow the seyd Perse wer remevyd ferther. I pray to Gode yeve grace that the trowthe may be knowe, and that the dede may have part of hys owne goode. And the blissyd Trinyte have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn in hast at Heylysden the Tuesday next aftyr Seynt Lwke. Be yowyrs, M. P.

424
PIERS TO MARGARET PASTON240.1

To myn right reverent and worchipphull Maisterez Paston, be this delivered.

1460

Right reverent and wurchippfull maisteres, I recomaunde me un to yow, beseching yow of your good maisteresshipp to be myn good maisteres to help wit your gracious woord un to myn right reverent and wurchipphull 241 maister and your to take of me, his pore presoner and your, suerte queche I xall fynd to be bounde for me to brynge me un to all answere, in to the tyme that myn maister and ze have dimisse me wit myn suerte. And bescheche your good maistereschipp to prey myn mayster that he will yeve yow lycense wit his wurchippfull counsaill and youre, in case that myn maister may nout tarie, that ze in his absence may take myn seid suerte. And if it please his heyghnesse and youre, that I may have answere ayene be the bryngere of this, and here up I xall send for myn suertes, queche I trust in Good xul be to your plesure. No more att this tyme. I prey God evyr have yow in kepyng. Be your pore presonere, Piers, sum tyme the servaunt of John of Berneye.

240.1 This and the letter following appear to have been written by the prisoner spoken of in the end of Margaret Paston’s letter immediately preceding. We have accordingly placed them here as belonging to the same period, though from a subsequent letter (No. 462) we may rather surmise that this first of the two was written in 1461.

425
PERSE TO SIR ROBERT ROKESBY241.1

To my right worschipfull Sir, Robert Rokysby.

1460

Ryght wurshipfull Sir, I recomaunde me to you, besechyng you, of your goode mastership, that ye wol wechesafe to speeke to Richard Kowven that he myght brynge me or sende me the money that is betwen hym and me in all the haste that he maye, for in goode feythe I hadde never more neede for to have help of my goode as I have at this tyme, for, Godwot, it stonde right straunge with me; for the false chayler that kepeth me entretethe me worse thanne it weere a dogge, for I am feterid worse thanne ever I whas, and manacled in the hands by the daye and nyght, for he is a feerde of me for brekyng a weye. He makethe false tales of me, throw the means of a false qwene that was tendyng to a Frensheman that is presoner to my Lord Roose,241.2 242 and for be cause of that he bronde me every day be John of Berney, that is goone to the tother Lords;242.1 but I truste to God oonys to qwite hys meede. And, Sir, I thanke you mekel of that ye have doone for me or seide; and, Sir, I shal deserve it a yenst yow, be the grace of God, for i’ feythe I am be holden to you more thane to all men that ever I founde syn I cam in preson.

No more to you at this tyme, but God have you in His kepyng. Be your servaunt and bedman, Perse.

426
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON242.2

To the rite worshipful esqwyr, John Paston, be this presentid.

Jesus, Maria, Johannes Baptista. Franciscus, cum Sanctis omnibus, assistant vobis vestris in laboribus. Amen.

1460
OCT. 24

Worschipful and most interely bitrustid mayster and specyal frend, after dute of al lowly recomendacyon, ze schal conceyve that I certefye zow for trewthe. I comonyd late with a worschipful and a wele namyd, a good thrifty man of this cuntre, whiche told me in secrete wyse that he herd Doctor Aleyn seyn after the Parlement of Covintre242.3 that yf the Lords that tyme reynyng and now discessid myte haf standyn in governans, that Fortesku the justise, Doctor Moreton, Jon Heydon, Thorp and he, schuld be made for evir; and yf it turnyd to contrary wyse, it schuld 243 growe to her fynal confusyon and uttyr destruccyon; for why, the parlyows [perilous] writing and the myschevous inditing was ymaginid, contrivid, and utterly concludid by her most vengeable labour, &c., and her most malicyows conspiracye ayens the innocent lords, knytis, gentilis, and comonys, and alle her issu perpetuel, &c. And as I wrote last to zour maysterschip the text of Jeremias cº 8º Vere mendacium operatus est stilus mendax scribarum; it folwith in the same place, Confusi sunt sapientes, perterriti et capti sunt; verbum Domini projecerunt, et sapientia nulla est in eis. Propterea dabo mulieres eorum exteris; agros eorum hæredibus alienis, &c. I wolde myn Lord Chaunceler and my specyal Lord Erl, utinam Duke, of Warwyk, with al her trewe affinyte, schuld remembre this text, which is Holy Scripture, &c., as I wold do by for the Kyng and hise Lords at the Cros;243.1 for the principil of this text hath be contynued in dayly experiens sithe bifore the Parlement of Bury;243.2 but the conclusyon of this text came never zet to experiens, and that is gret rewthe. Consideret discretio vestra singulorum annorum curricula, et percipietis tunc perplurima exempla de dominorum fidelium atque communium morte satis injuriosa multiformiter lamentanda discurrendo per singula. Ex paucis scit discretio vestra perpendere plura, &c. Et ubi ego semel in ecclesia Pauli palam prædicavi hunc textum, Non credas inimico tuo in æternum (Ecc. 12º), et quidam hujus regni doctor et episcopus, utinam non indignus, asseruit eundem textum Scripturæ Sacræ non incorporatum, quid doctor Nicholaus de Lira super eundem textum dicit, contra audietis, Non credas, &c., id est, Nunquam credas ei quem probasti inimicum, &c. Sequitur in textu:—Sicut æramentum æruginat malicia illius, id est, rubiginem odii servat interius, licet contrarium ostendatur exterius. Ideo in textu sequitur:—Etsi humiliatus vadat corvus [curvus], tibi magnam reverenciam exhibendo, affirma, abice [abjice] animum tuum ab illo, nullo modo credendo ei, et custodi te ab illo. Non statuas illum penes te (id est, ipsum tibi familiarem exhibendo); ne conversus stet in loco suo [should be tuo] te supplantando; et in novissimo agnoscas verba mea esse vera, sed 244 nimis tarde. Sequitur: Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso, &c.; et qui comitatur cum viro iniquo et obvolutus est in peccatis ejus? Una hora tecum permanebit; si autem declinaveris non supportabit. In labiis suis indulcat inimicus, et in corde suo insidiatur, ut subvertat te in foveam. In oculis suis lacrimatur inimicus, et si invenerit tempus non saciabitur sanguine. Si incurrerint tibi mala [invenies] eum illic priorem, &c. In finem rogo, videte textum et postillatores super eodem, ex quibus potestis plane considerare episcopum modernum aliquando Scripturam Sacram ignorare, &c. Utinam dominorum fidelium provida discrecio amicorum dileccionem sapienter sic pensaret quod inimicorum dileccionem nequaquam sic amaret, ut inimicis mortalibus confidenciam exhiberet; quare ut prius sic replico Jesu Sirach sanum et salubre consilium, Non credas inimico tuo in æternum. Sapienti, non insipienti scribo. Plura habeo vestræ reverentiæ scribere quæ jam non expedit calamo commendare. Uxor Johannis Berney de Redham jam infra triduum peperit filium, &c. Magistra mea uxor vestra sana est cum filiis vestris et filiabus ac tota familia. Conventus noster inter cæteros habet statum vestrum specialissime recommendatum in missis ac orationibus, consuetisque suffragiis; et cum jam sitis in parliamento præsenti pro milite electo, uti vobis consulo verbis Pauli Apostoli, Labora sicut bonus miles Jesu Christi;244.1 et alibi, Job utendo verbis, Militia super terram est vita hominis (Job 7). Viriliter igitur agite et confortetur cor vestrum quia speratis in Domino (in Psalmo).244.2 Quis, inquit Sapiens, speravit in Domino et confusus est, et permansit in mandatis Dei et derelictus est?244.3 quasi diceret, nullus.

Ex Norwico feria sexta post festum Sancti Lucæ Evangelistæ. [Not Signed.]

245

427
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON245.1

To my ryth welbelovyd brodyr, Clement Paston, for to delyver to hys brodyr Jon, in haste.

1460
OCT. 29

Ryth w[urshepfu]ll husbonde, I recomande me to yow. Plesyth yow to weet that I receyvyd a lettyr on Seynt Symondys evyn and J[w]d, that came frome Jon Paston,245.2 in the wyche lettyr he wrot that ye desyryd that I scholde do Jon Paston or Thomas P[layter] looke in the gret standyng chyste in on of the gret canvas baggys whyche standyth ageyns the lokk, for the copys of the fals inqwest of ofys that was fownde in Northefolk, and for the kopy of the comyssyon that came to Jon Andrewys and Fylpot and Heydon, and othyr thyngys towchynge the same mater, I have do. Jon Paston sowte all iij. grete baggys in the seyd kofyr at ryth good leyser, and he can non swhyche fynde. Plesyth it yow to remembre ye sent me word in the fyrste lettyr that ye sent me, that ye wolde that Playter scholde asent hem up to yow to London, and I schewyd hym yowyr wryttyng howe that ye wrote to me ther in. I suppose be cawse he purposyd to come up to London hym selve hastely, he sent yow none answer ther of. Rychard Calle tolde me that alle swhyche thyngys were lefte with Hery Barbore at the Tempyle Gate when the last terme was doo, and soo I sent yow worde in a lettyr whyche was wretyn on the Twesday next aftyr Seynt Looke,245.3 and ther in was an answer of all the fyrst lettyr that ye sent me. I sent itt yow by yonge Thomas Elys. I sent yow anothyr lettyr by Playter, the whyche was wretyn on Saterday245.4 last past.

Item, I receyvyd a lettyr frome yow on Sonday,245.5 of the 246 wyche I sent yow an answher of ma lettyr on Seynt Symondes Evyn and Jwde by Edmunde Clere of Stokysby; and as sone as I hade the seyd lettyr on Sonday, I sent to Syr Thomas Howes for the mater that ye desyryd that he scholde inqwer of to Bokyng, and I sent a yene sethe to the seyd Syr Thomas for to have knowlage of the same mater yestyrdaye, and I have non answher of hym yet. He sent me worde he scholde do hys part there in, but othyr answer have I none yet of hym. I sende yow in a canvase bage, inselyd by Nycolas Colman, as many of Crystofyr Hansonys acomptys as Jon Paston can fynde ther as [where] ye sent worde that they were. Rychard Harbard recomawndyth hym to yow, and prayth yowe that ye wole wychesave to remembre the lettyr that scholde be sent fro my Lorde of Warwyk to a man of hys beyng at Lowystofete; and if it be not sent to hym, that it plese yow to do purvey that it may be sent to hym in haste, if it maye be, as to morow ther schall be keppyd a day at Bowunggey for Mastyr Fastolfys londys be for the exchetore, and there schall be Wylliam Barker and Rychard Call. Ye schall have knowlage in haste what schall be do ther. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn in haste at Norwyche on the Wednysday next aftyr Seynt Symond and Jwde, Be yowyr M. P.

428
SIR GEOFFREY BOLEYN TO JOHN PASTON, ESQ.246.1

To my ryght wurschypfull Ser, John Paston, Esquyer.

1460(?)
DEC. 5

Ryght wurschypfull Ser, after ryzth hertely recomendacion, lyke it yow to wete that my Maister Fastolf, hoose sowle God asoyle, whan I bowth of hym the maner of Blyclyng, consideryng the gret payment that I payed 247 therfor, and the yerly annuyte duryng his lyfe after his entent, was to me gret charge; and the same tyme, in his place at Southwerk, by his othe made on his primer ther, grauntted and promitted to me to have the maner of Guton, with all the apportenaunce for a resonable pris afor ony other man. And, Ser, as I understande ye be that person that my seid maister, consideryng your gret wysdom, most trosted to have rewle and dyreccion of his lyfelode and goodes,—and, Ser, trewly, yf I hed ben nere unto yow, I wold have spoken to yow herof be for this tyme; neverthelasse I wolde desyre and pray yow to schewe me yowr goode wyll and favour in this by halve, wher inne ye schall dyscharge my seid maistres sowle of his othe and promyse, and I schall do yow servyce in that I can or maye to my power. And of yowr goode wyll and favour herynne I pray yow to late me have wetyng, and I schall be redy to wayte on yow at ony tyme and place wher ye wull assyne. And owr blysyd Lord have yow in his kepyng.—Wret the v. day of Decembre. Be youer owyn, Geffrey Boleyn.247.1

429
FRIAR BRACKLEY TO [JOHN PASTON]247.2

1461(?)
JAN. (?)

Jhesus help, Marye mercy, et Franciscus cum Sanctis subveniant defuncto et suis in tribulationibus. Amen.

Præcordialissime in Jhesu Christo prædilecte, et omissis pro præsenti singulis vestram amicabilem benevolentiam concernentibus, propter quasdam materias mihi a fidedignis personis nuper relatas, &c., equitetis quam cito potestis secure pro corporis vestri conservatione. Scitote quod commissionarius J. 248 Heydon, vester ac meus capitalis inimicus, Philippus Wentworth et J. Andrw malignantur maxime contra vos et M. T. H.248.1 et me et alios vestros. Et magister Clemens et ego sequemur vos usque Colcestriam, ibidem expectando donec vos aliquem nuncium de London illuc miseritis, et tunc ad vos veniemus cum duobus vel tribus famulis nostro proposito necessariis, R. Botilere Matthaeo Gowh vel Johanne Lore. Sumus nempe equestres pessimi, nec ascensum equi seu descensum scientes, sed adjutorium ad minus duorum est nobis duobus necessarium, &c. Certe si non esset aura tam contraria, et pluvialis nimis, quare equitare est nobis omnino necessarium; aliter vere melius profecissem pro me in itinere per ambulare quam per equitare. W. Y.248.2 judex cum omni consilio Johanni Heidon faciet contra vos et me et M. T. H. quicquid potest; quare dicit Gregorius, ‘Minus jacula feriunt quæ prævidentur.’ Si W. P., vester germanus, et T. Playtere, cum associatis antecederent, plura percipere possent quæ jam non cognoscent, &c., utinam velletis hoc instancia cordiali considerare in effectu. Notate q.  .248.3 literam a me primo vobis scriptam de pigricia, &c., quanta mala proveniunt ex illa, &c., W. Rokewode est rogatus a W. Y. judice ut faveat sibi et Tendale contra Wyndham armigerum pro manerio de Felbrigge, cum pertinenciis, &c., et tunc scietur utrum J. H. favebit Wyndham vel Judici, &c., cum ejus flatus olim calidus, olimque frigidus existat, et aliquando nec calidus nec frigidus sed satis tepidus. Sed oretis cum propheta, ‘Confundantur qui me persequuntur et non confundar ego, paveant illi et non paveam ego; induc super eos diem affliccionis et duplici contritione contere eos,’248.4 domine Deus. Et Psalmista ait ‘Averte mala inimicis meis et in veritate tua disperde illos’248.5 et sequentia. Et [super] inimicos meos despexit oculus meus. Valete in Christo Jhesu. Scriptum festinantissime, feria vj^a. Recommendetis me specialissime magistro T. H. et J. Berneye, &c.—Vester ad vota, F. J. B.

R. Botilere Matthaeo Gowh vel Johanne Lore
anomalous ae (for æ) in original

249

430
CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON249.1

To hys rythe worchypfwll broder, John Paston.

1461
JAN. 23

Rythe reverent and worchypfwl broder, I recomawnde to yow, certyfyyng yow that yowr letter was delyveryd to me the xxiii. day of Januar abowthe none seasson, and Rychard Calle rode in the mornyng, and therfor I brak [opened] yowr letter, if ther wer any aftr mater; and I dede Christofer Hauswan goo to my Lord of Cawnterbure249.2 to tell him, as yowr letter rehersyd, and my Lord seyd he hadde spokyn with yowr man ther of the day be fore, and if the Byshop of Norwyche wod not doo so mwche for him, he hys the les behold to him. Notwithstandyng, he sayd, he wold save yow harmles agens John Yowng; but and ye do well remember thys Lord have many maters to thynge on, and if it be forgeten, the harm is yowrs, and also if the word [world] torn, John Yong will not doo at hys prayer.

And my Lord Fitzwater249.3 is ryden northewards, and it is sayd in my Lord of Cawnterberys howse that he hethe takyn ij^c. [200] of Andrew Troloppys249.4 men. And as for Colt,249.5 and Sir Jamys Strangwysse, and Sir Thomas Pykeryng, they be takyn or ellys dede. The comyn voysse is that they be de dede. Hopton249.6 and Hastyngs249.7 be with the Erle of Marche, and wer no at the fewlde.249.8 Wat word that ever he have fro my Lords that be here, it is well doo, and best for yow, to see that the contre be allweys redy to come bothe fote 250 men and hors men, qwen they be sent for; for I have herd seyde the ferthere Lords will be here soner that men wen, I have arde sayde, er iij. weks to an ende; and also that ye xwld come with more men, and clenlier arayed than anoder man of yowr cwntre xwld, for it ly the more up on yowr worchyp, and towcheythe yow more nere than odermen of that cwntre, and also ye be mor had in favor with my Lords here. In this cwntre every man is well wyllyng to goo with my Lords here, and I hope God xall helpe hem, for the pepill in the northe robbe and styll, and ben apoyntyd to pill all thys cwntre, and gyffe a way menys goods and lufflods in all the sowthe cwntre, and that wyll ask a myscheffe. My Lords that ben here have as moche as they may do to kep down all thys cwntre more than iiij. or v. schers, for they wold be up on the men in northe, for it ys for the welle of all the sowthe.

I pray yow recomawnde me to my moder, and that I prayed her of her blyssyng. I pray yow exscwse me to her that I wryte her no letter, for thys was y now a doo. I dare not pray yow to recomawnde me to my swster yowr wyff, and the masenger I trow be so wysse he can not doyt. Ye mwst pay him for hys labor, for he taryd all nyt in thys town for thys letter.

Wrytyn the xxiij. day of Janware in haste, wan I was not well at hesse. God have [you] in Hys keping. By Clement Paston, Yowr broder.

431
THE PRIOR OF BROMHOLM TO JOHN PASTON250.1

Amicabili magistro nostro, Johanni Paston, armigero.

1461
JAN. 31

Ful reverend and worshipful, after all dewe reverence and recommendacion, your pore Preste besecheth humble it plese your good maystirship to understande be this simple bylle that on the Friday next after the Feste of 251 the Conversion of Seynt Poule laste paste I was at your place at Castre to a tolde yow what answer I hadde of Sir Thomas Howis, parson of Blofeld; and in as moche as ye wer not at hoom, I tolde it to my mastras your wyfe; and God thanke her of her jentilnes, she made me grete cher, and mor over a vysed me to sende yow a bille ther of to Lundon. This was his answer, whan I had talked to hym as I cowde in lyke wyse as ye averted me to do. He answered a geyn in these wordes, ‘Nere is my kyrtyl, but nerre [nearer] is my smok.’ And this was his menyng that ye schulde be mor ner us and tender to us than he, and that ye schulde rather owe us good wyl than he, and that we schulde labour rather to yowr maystirship than to hym; and also that good that he had to dispose he had be sette it, and of passel he tolde me he had delyvered the Abbot of Langele fourescor li., wher of, as he seyd to me, ye grutched and wer in maner displesed, not withstandyng ye seyd a geyn to hym ye shulde geve as moche. And he seyd to me ye named the places wher; and therfor he avysed me to labour effectualy to your good maystirship, for ye mych [might] helpe us251.1 wele. For he seyd ye had moche good of the dede to dispose, what of your fader, God blisse that sowle, what of Berney, and what now of his good Mayster Fastolfe. And as for Sir John Fastolfe, on hoose soule Jesu have mercy! he seyd to me ye had of his good four, four, and four mor than he in these same termes with owte ony summe.

And after all oder talkyngs he tolde me he shulde be with yow at Lundon hastyly, and that he wolde sey good worde to yow to releve our poor place. Sir, I beseche bethe not displesed, for truly and I woste to have your hevy maystership therfor, I had lever it had bene on thoght. And is this that whan Sir Thomas Howes and ye be saunne at Lundon, we myght be so in your good grace, that our place myght be broder to Langele, for that shulde glade us mor than the commission that the Bysshop of Norwich sente us on Thrusday 252 laste paste to gader the dymes, for that is a shrewde labour for us, a grete coste and a shrewe juparde.

Over mor that hy and myghty celestial Prince preserve yow body and sowle, and sende yow coumforte of the Holy Goost wele to performe all your hertis desir in all your materes to his plesaunce, and your wurship, and solace to alle your welle wyllers.

Wretyn at Bromholm, on the Saturday next after the Feste of the Conversion of Seynt Poule laste paste. From your Preste and Bedeman, John, Priour of Bromholm.

432
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON252.1

A Lettre to J. Paston, ar., from his wife.252.2

1461
MARCH 1

Please it you to wytte that it is lete me witte by on that owith you good wyll that there is leid awayte up on you in this cuntre, yf ye come here at large, to bryng you to the presence of syyche a Lord in the north as shall not be for your ease, but to jopardie of your lyf, or gret and importable losse of your goods. And he that hath take up on hym this enterprise now was undr-shireff to G. Sayntlowe. He hath gret favour herto by the meanes of the sone of William Baxter that lyth beryed in the Grey Freres; and, as it is reported, the seid sone hath geve gret sylver to the Lords in the north to bryng the matier a bowte, and now he and alle his olde felaweship put owt their fynnes, 253 and arn ryght flygge and mery, hopyng alle thyng is and shalbe as they wole have it. Also it is tolde me that the fadr of the bastard in this cuntre seid that now shuld this shire be made sewir for hym and his heires hens forward, and for the Baxsteris heyres also, wherby I conceyve they thynke that they have none enemy but you, &c.

Wherfor like it you to be the more war of your gydyng for your persones saufgard, and also that ye be not to hasty to come in to this cuntre til ye here the world more sewer. I trowe the berar of this shall telle more by mowthe, as he shall be enfourmed of the rewell in this cuntre. God have yow in His kepyng.

Wretyn in hast, the secund Sunday of Lent by candel light at evyn. By yours, &c. M.

433
JOHN DAVY TO JOHN PASTON253.1

On to my Maystyr Pastone, be this lettre deliveryd.

Ryth wurchopful Sere, I recomaund me on to you. And iff it lyke you I have spokyn with Bussard, and demaundyd hym iff he had ony evydens, dedys, or copyis, or ony other evydens of ony place or off ony lyflod that longget on to my mayster,253.2 and seyth, Nay, be is feyth, and be is trowthe, for, if he hadde, he wold send hem on to you with a good wyl; for he seyth it xud don hym non ese. And, Ser, iff it plese you I askyd hym if he knew ony evydens that he had delyveryd on to William Wossetyr, bill, or deds, or ony other evydens that xuld longgyn on to ony purchas or off ony lyfflod on to my maystrys, and he seyth, Nay trewly; for he seyth the last tyme that he wrot on to William Wusseter, 254 it was be ffor myssomyr, and thanne he wrot a cronekyl of Jerewsalem, and the jornes that my mayster dede whyl he was in Fraunce (that God on his sowle have mercy!); and he seyth that this drow more than xx. whazerys [20 quires ?] off paper, and the wrytyng delyveryd on to William Wursseter, and non other, ne knowyth not off non other be is feyth. Be your man, J. Davy.

434
THOMAS SHOTBOLT TO JOHN PASTON254.1

To my worshipfull maister, Maister Paston of the Temple.

Worshipfull Sir, soo ye will send a polletik person to Ludgate in secrete wise to comune with me, and lete hym not in no wise speke of you to hove (?) youre good maistership, and a resonable remedy shall ease you of a gret part that the criour cleymeth of you for Maister Fastolffs detts of xiij. or xiiij. yere at the lest, and be that perave[ntu]re of the hole qui in uno est reus morbus [in omnibus] reus  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  Sir, remembreth your worship if y doo to ease you, lete me not be discoveryd, for ye knewe not your worship y wold not doo thus. What ever ye have of me, ye may sey it is found in the stywardes boks, and y know that ye have desired favour to have hym seese for your worship that procur hym ageyns you; whoo so shall kom to me, he may kom in Maistre Nevills name, for with hym have y a doo. As for your own servaunts, y ferd me lest they be knowyn whethir it be servaunt or othir, send knowleche of my reword and a bille under your seall or your own hands, or bothe on your worship to have it close that y be not blamyd for that; y shall telle you her after. Wretyn in Ludgate. Your servaunt and there prisoner, Thomas Shotbolt.

254.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Beyond the evident fact that this letter was written between the death of Sir John Fastolf in 1459 and that of John Paston in 1466, there is not much clue to the date.

255

435
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON255.1

To my ryth worcepful husbonde, John Paston.

Year uncertain

Ryth reverent and worcepfful husbonde, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to here of yowre welle fare, thankyn yow for yowr letter and for the thyngys that ye sent me ther with. And towchyn John Estegate, he com nowdyr non sent hedyr nowt zyt; wer for I sopose I must borrowyn money in schorte time but zyf [unless] ye come sone home; for I sopose I xal non have of hym, so Godd helpe me. I have but iiijs. and I howhe nerr as meche mony as com to the for seyd some. I have do yowr herrendys to my modyr and my hunckyl and as for the feffeys of Stokysby, my hunckyll syth that ther be no mo than he wrot to yow of that he knowit. And also I hauwe delyvyrit the todyr thyng that ye sent me inselyd in the boxe as ye comaundit me, and the man seyt, that I delyverid it to, that he wylle nowt of the bargeyne that ye sent hym, but sweche thynggys be do or he come ther that ye sent hym worde of, he seyth that he wold nowt be noysyd with no sweche thyngis of that is, that it wer do in hesse tyme for xx. marke. I sopose he xal send yow word in shorte time ho he wylle do. I pray yow that ye wylle weche save to beyn for me swech lacys os I send yow exsaumpyll of in this letter and j. pesse of blac lacys; as for cappys that ye sent me for the chylderyn they be to lytyl for hem. I pray yow bey hem feyner cappys and larger than tho wer. Also I pray yow that ye wylle weche save to recomaunde me to my fadyr and my modyr and tellyth heer that alle herr chyldyrryn ben in gode hele, blyssyd be Godd. Heydonis wyffe had chyld on Sent Petyr day. I horde seyne that herr husband wille nowt of her, nerr of her chyld that sche had last nowdyr. I herd seyn that he seyd, 256 zyf sche come in hesse precence to make her exkewce that he xuld kyt of her nose to makyn her be know wat sche is; and yf her chyld come in hesse presence, he seyd he wyld kyllyn he wolle nowt be intretit to have her ayun in no wysse, os I herde seyn. The Holy Trinite have yow in Hesse kepyn and send yow helth. Wretyn at Geldiston on the Wedynisday nexte after Sent Thomas.—Be yowris, M. Paston.

255.1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 199.] The date of this letter is not clear, and we place it at the end of Henry VI.’s reign. It is probably much earlier.

436
A WHITSUNDAY SERMON OF FRIAR BRACKLEY256.1

Frends, this holy tyme, as owr moder Holy Chirch maketh mension, the Holy Gost came from hevyn, and lighted in the disciples of Crist, inflamyng them with connyng, and strenghyng them with grace. And be cause the doctrine and prechyng of them shuld go thurghought all the werd, furst thei wer to be enfourmed and taught connyng, and to be strenth with awdacide and grace, and than to be endewed and yovyn all manner of langags that thei myght prechyn to all maner of naciones, so that tho naciones that thei preched to myght understond them, and every naciones his owyn tonge; and so thees Appostilles, after that thei wern enspired with the Holy Gost, wher so ever thei preached, were ther never so many naciones present, ich nacion thought that thei spokyn in ther owyn langage—etenim illud loquebantur variis linguis Apostoli.

Frends, iij. thyngs be necessary in prechyng to hym that shall prechyn thurgh the werd as the Appostell dede—that is to sey, connyng, boldnesse, and langags. If thei had had connyng and none audacite, but have fered to have preched, it shuld litill a profited, as we have examplles dayly at Cambrige, exempli [gratia]256.2 de Clerico quis studuit sermonem, 257 &c. And if thei have bothyn connyng and audacite, and have none eloquensye ner copiousnesse of langage, so that he preche that his audiens is most excercised in, that thei may understand hym, elles it profiteth not.

Therfor thes holy Appostill[es], be for thei shuld prechyn, furst thei wer to be confirmed and strenghed. Our Lord strenghed them be under nemyng,257.1 enformyng, and helpyng, culpando ut in Evangelium recumbentibus, &c. He strenghed them with his help and grace whan he brethed in them, seyng ‘Accipite Spiritum Sanctum; et quorum remiseritis peccata, remittuntur eis, et quorum retinueritis retenta sunt,’257.2 &c. He strenghed them also be his doctrine whan he seid ‘Petite et accipietis; si quid petieritis Patrem in nomine meo, dabit vobis.’257.3 How that ye shuld prayn to God and askyn, I taught you on Estern day. Therfor ye shall pray to God be good werkyng, right full lebyring, and in good deds perseveryng.

Frends, ye owe for to ask of God that your joy may ben a full joy and perfight; we may never have a full joy in this werd, wher as ever among folwyth hevynesse. A man joyth sumtyme in gold and sylver, and in gret substaunce of erdly gods, in bewte of women, but this joy is not perfyght—but this joy is not stabill, but it is mutabill as a shadow; for he that this joyth in the bewte of his wyffe, it may fortune to morwyn he shall folwyn her to chirch up on a bere. But if ye wull knowyn what is a full and a wery joy, truly forgevenesse of synne and everlestyng blisse, wher as is never sikenesse, hunger, ner thurst, ner no maner of disseas, but all welth, joy, and prosperite, &c. Ther be iij. maner of joys, the on void, a nother half full, the thred is a full joy. The furst is plente of werdly gods, the seconde is Gostly grace, the threde is everlestyng blisse. The furst joy, that is affluens of temporall gods, is called a veyn joy, for if a man wer set at a bord with delicate mets and drynks, and he sey a cawdron boyllyng a forn hym with pykke and bronston, in the which he shuld be throwyn naked as sone as he had dyned; for he shuld joy mych in his deliciose mets, it shuld be but a veyn joy.

Right so doth the joy of a covetouse man, if he sey what 258 peyn his sowle shuld suffre in helle for the myskepyn and getyn of his good, he shuld not joy in his tresore, ut in Libro Decalogorum, ‘Quidam homo dives,’ &c.

Semiplenum gaudium est quando quis in præsenti gaudet et tunc cogitans de futuris dolet, ut in quodam libro Græco, ‘Quidam Rex Græciæ,’ &c. Her ye may se but half a joy; how [who] shuld joy in this werd, if he remembred hym of the peynes of the toder werd? ‘Non glorietur fortis in fortitudine sua, nec sapiens in sapientia sua, nec dives in divitiis suis.’258.1 De quibus dicitur, qui confidunt in multitudine divitiarum suarum, quasi oves in inferno positi sunt.258.2 ‘Qui gloriatur, in Domino glorietur.’258.3 Therfor lete us joy in hope of everlestyng joy and blis. ‘Gaudete quia nomina vestra scripta sunt in cælo,’258.4 ut gaudium vestrum sit plenum. A full joy is in hevyn. Et in hoc apparet quod magnum gaudium est in cælo, quoniam ibi est gaudium quod ‘oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, et in cor hominis non ascendit, quæ Deus præparavit diligentibus,’258.5 et ideo, fratres, variis linguis loquens [precor] ut gaudium vestrum sit plenum, vel habeatis gaudium sempiternum.

437
THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON258.6

To owre right Trusty and welbeloved John Paston

Right Trusty and welbeloved we grete yow well. And where as it is not unknowen to you that we wrot a bille to Maister Brakle, and yaf hym in comaundement to delyver yow a bille indentyd of x. mark owyng to John of Fen, as it apperith by a bille indentyd under the seall of Robert Reppis, jentylman, wich by the will of John of Fen is due un to us, wher of the sayd Robert shuld paye v. mark by his owne instaunce at Lammesse next comyng; We pray 259 yow that ye woll receyve the forsayd money for us and delyver it un to Maister Brakle as we trust yow. Wretyn in owr manor of Wevenho the xxv^ti. day of Julij.

258.6 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 166.]

438
THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON259.1

To my right trusty and right welbeloved John Paston.

259.1 [From Fenn, iii. 138.]

439
SIR JOHN WINGFIELD TO JOHN PASTON259.2

To my welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Squier.

259.2 [From Fenn, iii. 140.]

440
[JOHN PASTON?] TO [RICHARD] SOUTHWELL260.1

Brother Suthwell, I comand me to yow, sertifiing yow that, on Thursday be the morwe, I spak with my cosine Wichingham at London, where he lete me wet of the letter sent to Lee, wherby I conseyve the stedfast godlordship and ladiship of my Lord and my Lady260.2 in this mater, &c., whech gevith cause to all her servaunts to trost verily in them and to do hem trew servise. I lete yow wete that the seid Wychyngham, when I departid from hym, had knowleche that Jane Boys shuld that nyght be come to London, and he put in a bylle to the Lordis for to have delyverauns of hyr and to have hese adversarys arestid. And this nyght at Norwiche was told me newe tydyngges that she shuld on Thursday after my departyng a be before the Lordis and there asaide untrewly of her selff, as the berer hereof shal informe yow if ye know it not before; of wheche tydyngges, if they be trew, I am sory for her sake, and also I fere that her frendys schuld sewe the more feyntely, wheche Godde defende. For her seyng untrewly of her selff may hurt the mater in no man but her selff; and thow she wol mescheve her selff, it wer gret pete but if the mater were laborid forth, not for her sake, but for the worchepe of the estatys and 261 other that have laboryd therin, and in ponyshing of the gret oryble dede. Wherfore I send yow dyvers articlis in a bill closid herin, wheche preve that she was raveshid ayens hyr wel, what so ever she sey.

Thes be provis that Jane Boys was ravischig [sic] ageyn her wil, and not ber awn assent.

One is that she, the tyme of her takyng, whan she was set upon her hors, she revyled Lancasterother261.1 and callid hym knave and wept, and kryid owte upon hym pitewly to her, and seid as shrewdly to hym as coud come to her mende, and fel doune of her hors unto that she was bound, and callid him fals t[r]aytor that browth her the rabbettes.

Item, whan she was bounde she callid upon her modyer, wheche folwyd her as far as she myght on her feet, and whan the seid Jane sey she myght goo no ferther, she kryid to her modyer and seid that what so ever fel of her, she shuld never be weddyd to that knave, to deye for it.

Item, be the weye, at Shraggarys hous in Kokely Cley, and at Brychehamwell, and in all other places wher she myght see any people, she kryid owte upon hym, and lete people wete whos dowtyr she was, and how she was raveshid ayens her wyll, desyeryng the people to folwe her and reskew her.

Item, Lancasterotherys prest of the Egle in Lyncolne shire, wheche shroff her, seid that she told hym in confession that she wold never be weddyd to hym, to deye for it; and the same prest seid he wold not wedde hem togedyr for M^l.li.

Item, she sent divers tokenes of massage to Sothwell be Robert Inglose, wheche previth welle at that tyme she lovyd not Lancasterother.

Item, a man of the master of Carbrokes come dyvers tymes in the weke before she was raveshid to Wychynghams hous, and inquerid of her mayde whedyr her mastras was insuerid to Sothwell or nay, the wheche prevyth well that Lancasterother was not sure of her godwill ne knew not of her 262 counseyl, for if he had, he ne nedid not to have sent no spyes.

Whech seen, I avyse yow to move my Lord and my Lady to do in this mater as affettualy as they have do before, for this mater touchyth hem, consideryng that they have begonne; and dowt not, what so ever falle of the woman, well or evel, my Lord and my Lady shal have worchep of the mater if it be wel laborid, and also ye shall have avayl therof and the advers parte chall gret trobil.

Also it were necessarie that Wychyngham were sent to and cofortyd in hese seute, and that he avysid hym of seche articlis and preves of the mater as I have sent to yow and put hem in writing, but not to disclose non tho preves to non creature unto that tyme that it fortune the mater to be tried be enquest, or other wyse take end, but avyse hym for to seye to the Lords and all  (?) in generall termes that what so ever Lancasterother or hese douter seyn nowh, it shal be wel prevyd she was reveshid ayens her wyll; and let him desire of the Lordis that his dowter mith be in his kepyng, and at large fro Lancasterother un tylle the mater were duly examynd. I wold this mater sped the bety[r] be cause my Lady spoke so feythefully to me therin, and that mevyth me to wryte to yow this long symple lettyr of myn intent. 262.1[Also wher ye be informyd that vj. men of Osbern Monforthes shuld a be at the seid raveshing, I certifie yow verily it was not soo; for Osbern Mondeford wol do in the mater all that ever he can or may to help to punisse the doer, and desirith to know the grownd of that tale, of whech I pray send me word if and what ye will ellis.] God kepe yow.

Wret at Norwich the Soneday nex before the fest of Sent Margret.

Item, [if] she had be of hes assent affter the time she was in hes possescion in Lynkoln shire, hit had be bett—262.2

263

441-448
ABSTRACTS263.1

The following letters and papers cannot be referred to any certain date, though probably of the reign of Henry VI. Being of very little interest, they are noticed as briefly as possible merely for the sake of completeness.

441.— W., Bishop of Norwich, to William Yelverton, steward of his lands, and John Intwode, his surveyor. —Desires them to inquire at Bacton into the demand made by Richard Blake in a bill enclosed, and minister to him as right and law will. —London, 8 Nov.

442.— Memoranda of John Berney against Simon Corbrygg, who obtained lands by a charter forged by Broke, a scrivener, late owner of Weggs, and has injured Berney for eight years past or more in the possession of the manor of Cleyhall.

443.— William Jenney to John Paston, Esq. —Has been shown by his neighbour, Robert Tylyard, a piece of evidence of certain ‘lyfelode’ he has in Whetacre, by which it appears that Lord Wellys should have no ward of the same, unless he can produce contrary evidence. As Paston is of my Lord’s council, and has the rule of his ‘lyflode’ in this country, desires he will write to him that the matter be indifferently seen. —Theberton, 13 Dec.

444.— J. Burton to Margaret Paston. —Sends hogsheads of wine by Plumton the carter, etc. Desires her to send the money to ‘dawn’ William Dallyng.—Dated, ‘Wednesday after I parted from you.’

445.— W. Cotyng263.2 to Margaret Paston. —Has received to-day £9:0:2 from Simon Miller, her farmer at Tichwell, for Midsummer payment. Sends it by Roger, servant of the Parson of Thorp. Simon has paid five shillings for finding a man to the King for Tichwell, and but for me you would have paid a mark. Charges for repairs. As for your lining cloth, my brother is still beyond the sea. —Brankaster, 31 July.

264

446.— —— to ——. —My father and I bought the reversion of Olton, etc., of Ralph Lampet and Alexander Kyngyston. They have now made a new sale of it to William Jenney without giving notice to me or my father. We ask your mediation with Jenney, whom we trusted most.

447.— Eliz. C[lere] to John Paston. —Concerning a pasture in the town of N. overgrown with whins. Wants advice as to the conditions of the right of pasturage. Your mother prays you to think on Horwellebery. —25 May.

448.— Memoranda to inquire:— (1) If William Cofe were enfeoffed in Rothnall Hall? (2) If Tylerd knew William Cofe of Northcofe264.1 before the day of his death two years, one year, half a year, or a quarter, etc.; what seal he used? (3) If Tylerd were not about him, to common with Gernyngham and such as were about him. (4) Item, in case it can be understood that he made none estate, ‘than lete Wodesyde goo to Robert Prymer in his owyn name, saying that John P. (Paston) is his good mayster in hys mater,’ etc.

265

THE PASTON LETTERS
Edward IV

449
JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO ——265.1

1461

I  recomand me to yow, and lete yow wete that notwythstandyng tydinggs come down, as ye know, that pepill shuld not come up tyll thei were sent fore, but to be redy at all tymes; this notwithstandyng, most pepill owt of this cuntre have take wages, seying thei woll goo up to London; but thei have no capteyn, ner rewler assigned be the commissioners to awayte upon, and so thei stragyll abowte be them self, and be lyklynes are not like to come at London half of them. And men that come from London sey, there have not passid Thetford, not passyng CCCC.; and yet the townes and the cuntere that have waged hem shall thynk thei be discharged, and therfore if this Lords above wayte aftyr more pepill in this cuntre, be lyklynes it woll not be easy to get with owt a newe comission and warnyng. And yet it woll be thought ryght straunge of hem that have waged pepill to wage any more, for every towne hath waged and sent firth, and are redy to send forth, as many as thei ded whan the 266 Kyng sent for hem be fore the feld at Lodlowe;266.1 and thei that ar not go, be goyng in the same forme.

Item, ther was shrewd rewle toward in this cuntre, for ther was a certeyn person forth wyth after the jurney at Wakefeld, gadered felaship to have mo[r]dered John Damme, as is seyd; and also ther is at the Castell of Rysing, and in other ij. plases, made gret gaderyng of pepill, and hyryng of harneys, and it is wele undyrstand they be not to the Kyng ward, but rather the contrary, and for to robbe. Wherfore my fadyr is in a dowte, whedir he shall send my brother up or not, for he wold have his owne men abowte hym, if nede were here; but notwythstandyng, he wyll send up Dawbeney, his spere and bowes with hym, as Stapilton and Calthrop or other men of worship of this cuntre agree to doo. Wherfore demene yow in doyng of yowr erandes ther aftyr, and if ye shall bryng any masage from the Lords, take writyng, for Darcorts massage is not verely beleved be cause he browt no wrytyng.

Item, this cuntre wold fayne take these fals shrewes that are of an oppynion contrary to the Kyng and his Counsell, if they had no auctorite from the Kyng to do so.

Item, my brother is redy[n] to Yarmowth for to lette brybers that wold a robbed a ship undyr color of my Lord of Warwyk, and longe nothyng to hem ward.

450
W. PASTON AND THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON266.2

To my maister, John Paston, in hast.

1461
APRIL 4

Please you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngs as my Lady of York hath by a lettre of credens, under the signe manuel of oure Soverayn Lord King Edward, whiche lettre cam un to oure sayd Lady this same day, Esterne 267 Evyn,267.1 at xj. clok, and was sene and red by me, William Paston.

Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld,267.2 and uppon the Munday267.3 next after Palmesunday, he was resseved in to York with gret solempnyte and processyons. And the Mair and Comons of the said cite mad ther menys to have grace be Lord Montagu267.4 and Lord Barenars,267.5 whiche be for the Kyngs coming in to the said cite desyred hym of grace for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace. On the Kyngs parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and Lord Scrop sore hurt; John Stafford, Horne of Kent ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford, William Hastyngs mad knyghts with other; Blont is knygth, &c.

Un the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord Nevyle, Lord Welles, Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord Scales, Lord Harry, and be supposyng the Erle of Northumberland, Andrew Trollop, with many other gentyll and comons to the nomber of xx.^ml. [20,000].

Item, Kyng Harry, the Qwen, the Prince, Duke of Somerset, Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, be fledde in to Scotteland, and they be chased and folwed, &c. We send no er [no sooner] un to you be cause we had non certynges tyl now; for un to this day London was as sory cite as myght. And because Spordauns had no certeyn tydyngs, we thought ye schuld take them a worthe tyl more certayn.

Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can telle you. And Jesu spede you. We pray you that this tydyngs my moder may knowe. Be your Broder, W. Paston. T. Playters.

‘On a piece of paper pinned to the above letter,’ says Fenn, ‘is a list of the 268 names of the noblemen and knights, and the number of soldiers slain at the above battle of Towton, as follow:—’

451
THOMAS PLAYTERS TO MASTER JOHN PASTON268.1

To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer.

1461
APRIL 18

Please your Maisterchep to wete, that I have spokyn with Essex, in the matter that ye wete of, and fynd him be his talkyng wel dysposed, not withstandyng he woll not falle to no conclusyon to engrose up the mater, tyll the chef baron268.2 be com to London, and that he be mad privy to the mater, which we loke after this same secund Saterday268.3 after Esterne; and as for Notyngham he is not yet comyn to London.

Item, as for tydyng, it is noysed and told for trouth of men of worchip, and other, that the Erle of Wylchyr is taken, 269 Doctor Morton,269.1 and Doctor Makerell, and be brougth to the kyng at York. Maister William also spak with a man that sey hem.

Item, sir, I herd of Sir John Borceter and Christofer Hanson, that Herry the sext is in a place in York schire is calle Coroumbr; suche a name it hath, or muche lyke. And there is sege leyde abowte, and dyvers squyers of the Erle of Northumbrelands, and gadered them to geder, a v. or vj.^ml. [five or six thousand] men, to byger [bicker] with the sege, that in the mene while Herry the sexte myght have ben stole a way at a lytyll posterne on the bak syde; at whiche byker ben slayn iij.^ml. [3000] men of the North. Sir Robert of Ocle and Conyrs leyth the sege on our syde, and thei it is that have do this acte. Sum say the Qwen, Somerset and the Prince schuld be there. Item, it is talked now for trouthe, the Erle of Northumberland is ded. Item, the Erle of Devenshire is ded justely.269.2 Item, my Lord Chaunceler is to York. Item, the King and the Lords com not here before Whitsontyde, as it is sayde. Item, sir, sone uppon the chef baron comyng I schall send you a lettre, with Godds grace, who preserve you, and have you in His blyssed kepyng. Your, Thomas Playters.

At Cokermouthe was the Erle of Wylchire taken, and these other Doctors. Item, som men talke Lord Wellys, Lord Wyllouby, and Skales ben on lyve. Item, Sir Robert Veer is slayn in Cornewayll, as it is tok for trouthe.

270

452
THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON270.1

To my rigth reverent and worchipfull John Paston, Esquyer, or to my maytres his wyf.

1461
MAY

After my most special recommendacion, lyke your maisterchip wete that the mater for you and my maistrez, your moder, ayens Powtrell and Tanfeld hath ben called uppon as dylygently and as hastely this terme as it mygth be; and al way dayes yeven hem by the Court to answer, and than thei toke smale excepcions, and trifeled forth the Court, and al wey excused them by cause the bylle is long, and his councell had no leysur to se it. And they prayed heryng of the testament of my maister your fader,270.2 and therof made a nother mater, and argued it to putte hem fro it, be cause they had emparled to us by fore; and than Hyllyngworth to dryve it over this terme, allegged varians be twyx the bille and the testament that John Damme was named in the testament John Dawme, in whiche cas now the Court must have sigth of the said testament. Where fore ye must send it up the begynnyng of the next terme, or elles we schall have no sped in the mater. And therfor, Maistres, if my maister be not cum hom, and ye have not the sayd testament in your kepyng, that than it plese you to speke un to my maistres, your moder in lawe,270.3 for the seyd testament, that I mygth redely have it here, and that it be sealed in a box, and sent to me, and I schall kepe it safe, with Godds grace.

271

And as for tytyngs, in good feyth we have non, seve the Erle of Wylchir271.1 is hed is sette on London Brigge.

Mayster William is reden hom to my Maistrs Ponyngs; and as for Maister Ponyngs hymself, sche letteth as thow sche wyst not where he were. A gentylman that kam fro York told me my maister was heyl and mery, and rode to mete the Kyng comyng fro Mydlam Castell.

Berwyk271.2 is full of Scottys, and we loke be lyklyhod after anoyther batayll now be twyx Skotts and us.

And I pray Jesu have you in His blyssed kepyng. Your, Thomas Playter.

453
JOHN SMYTH TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR271.3

To hys worschepfull mayster, John Paston the Eldest, Esquier.

1461
MAY 10

Ryght worschepfull and my synguler mayster, I recomaunde me to you. If it plese your maysterschepe to wete, the cause of my wryghtyng is thys. I have understande be comunyng with othyr credybell men that many and the more part of the feffeys of the landys late Sir John Fastolf, and also thei that pretende to ben executores of the seyd Sir John, purpose them to sell to my Lord of Suffolk, thow he recuver not be tayle, or to othyr myghty lordys, a gret part of the landys of the seyd Sir John, to the entent that ye schal not have them; upon wech sale thei wole make astate and entre and put you to your accion, and thow ye recuver in the lawe, as I am enformyd, ye schall recuver of hard and but 272 a part, the qwech schuld be dere of the sute. Qwer it semyth to me, yt wer necessarye to you to se remedy for thys mater, and eyther putt it in award or elles that my Lord of Wa[rwick], the qwech is your good Lord, may meve that the Kyng, or hym sylf, or my Lord Chawmbyrleyn or sum othyr wytty me[n], may take a rewle betwexe you and your adversaryes; for yf ye may not holde the forseyd landys ther schal growe [great] losse bothe to the dede and to you, and men schal putt you in defawte therof; your frendys schal be sory. It is [better to] bere a lyttell losse than a gret rebuke. Your mater hangyth longe in the audyens. Yf ye hadde ther your entent your ad[versaries should] cese the rather. I beleve veryly yf ye do your part to have pees, God of Hys gret grace schal graunte it to you, the q[wech give] you the speryte of wysdam to gyde you on to Hys pleser. Amen.

We desyre to se your maysterschep in Norffolk; your pr[esens] there be necessarye.

From Norwych the x. day of May. Your clerk, [John] Smyth.

271.3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was evidently written in the beginning of Edward IV.’s reign; and as it appears by No. 458 that Paston had already been dispossessed of Caister, not indeed by the Duke of Suffolk, but by the Duke of Norfolk, as early as the 5th June 1461, we may presume that this letter, dated in May, belongs to that year. The margin of the letter is slightly mutilated, but the words which are lost are obvious, and have been supplied in brackets.

454
THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON272.1

To my maister Paston.

1461

I  lowly recomaund me to your maistership, thankyng you as a pouer man may do his maister for soccuryng my wyf, which I wete wele is wo begone; praying you for love of our Lord Jhesu Criste to take no displesir though I not sent ne wrote to you herbeforn in this troble that I haf. For parde ye may conceyve that I was besy j nogh to shifft my self til now. Truly the noise cam sodeynly and I was withynne the walles of your Cite, God sauf the governour therof, for he was besy to trappe me, more besy than he wole be a know, et per fenestram in sporta dimissus sum per murum, et 273 sic effugi manus ejus; but he shal abye, by God, if I lyf, for serchyng myn house. And, Sir, as for the fals noise, sauf your reverence, that he leyth on me and on tweyn servauntz of myn, he lyeth falsly, your reverence savid; for I may haf an C. persones notable and thrifty, whan tyme comyth, that wole prove and make good by every meane, that my servauntz, which he nameth, wer that same our at Brisle which is thens more than xvj. myle, and that the same our and the same day and a greet space bothe beforn and afftir. But ever I besech your maistership of contynuaunce, and that ye like to do my wif help and comfort in hir dissese; for if she wer not, God knowith, I shuld soone shyfft. And truly I haf no thought ne sorwe but for hir. Wherfore I beseche you lowly for His love that all socourith and susteyneth to be good maister and comfort to her. It shal not be long to but that I shall send to hir to labour hir to other place, as for ony thyng touchyng me ellis but that. I pray you also, if the boy that is hurt dey, to meve your tenauntz in that hundrid wher he was bete to do for me and myn; ellis can I not desire ne write at this tyme for lak of remembraunce, for I am not yet myn own man. Besechyng yow alwey of good maistership, for Almyghty God knowith that the mater was falsly begunne on me and usurie it is and acursid, so wold our Lord I never had knowyn it; but sith I delid therwith I myght never reche it to handle the mater to trouth or reson. Wherfore I am compellid to do therwith unresonably. But, gentill Sir, socour my wif, and be not displesid with me, and than shal I do wele with Goddis mercy, Who Almyghty preserve yow for His mercy. Wretyn onavised, &c.

I pray you socour my wif, for she is wedow yet for me, and shal be til more is done, sith I se that neyther plee, trety ne werre may make my peas; for I leve hir undir your proteccion til I write to hir to go thens, which shal be hastily, I suppose, praying you to be alwey hir good maister, for I purpose not to se hir of a while, though she remeve. Wrete with sorwfull hert, &c. Yours, Denyes.

272.1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 175.] The date of this letter is probably a little earlier than that of the next (No. 455).

274

455
THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON274.1

To my Maister Paston.

1461
MAY

Right wurshipfull and myn especiall good maister, I recomaund me to yow with all my service, besechyng you hertily, at the reverence of God, to helpe me now in the grettest extremite that I cam at sith my greet trobil with Ingham.274.2 It is not oute of your remembraunce how Twyer in Norff[olk] vexith me bothe by noise and serchyng myn house for me, so that theer I can not be in quyete; and all that, I am verily acerteyned, is by Heydens crafft. And heer in the Kyngs house annenst Howard,274.3 wher I had hopid to a’ relevid myself, I am supplanted and cast oute from hym by a clamour of all his servaunts at onys, and ne wer oonly that his disposicion acordyth not to my pouer conceyte, which maketh me to gif lesse force, be cause I desire not to dele ther [where] bribery is like to be usid, ellis by my trouth this unhappy unkyndenes wold I trow a’ killed me. I pray yow, at the reverence of Jesu Criste, to enfourme my Lord of Warwyk of me. Parde I haf do hym service; I was with hym at Northampton, that all men knew; and now agayn at Seynt Albones, that knowth James Ratcliff; and ther lost I xxli. wurth horse, herneys, and mony, and was hurte in diverse places. I pray yow to gete me his good Lordship, and that I may be toward hym in Norffolk in his Courts holdyng, or ellis, if ony thyng he haf to do; and that ye wole gete me a letter to Twyer to late me to sit in rest. For now if I made any 275 felaship agayn Twyer, I can haf no colour now the Shirref and I be oute, so I must kepe me aparte, which I am lothe to do, be God, if I myght better do.

I besech yow to send me your intent by the next man that come from yow. I shuld a’ come to zow, but, so help me God, my purs may no ferther. The Holy Trinite preserve yow.

Wretyn hastily at York, &c. Your to his power, Denyes.

456
THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON275.1

To owre right trusty and welbeloved John Paston.

Th’erl of Oxenford.

1461
MAY 31

Right trusty and welbeloved, we grete yow well, and pray yow, as oure trust is in yow, that if ye or any of yowre men here that Howard purposith hym to make any aray at owre manor of Wynche, that ye woll lete John Keche, owre kepere ther of, haue wetyng by tymes, for and he have warnyng he will kepe it in to the tyme that we come thedir, with the grace of God, wiche have yow in His kepyng. Wretyn in owre manor of Wyvynho the last day of May. Oxenford.

275.1 [Douce MS. 393, f. 85.] The date of this letter may, with great probability, be attributed to the year 1461. It certainly cannot be later, as the writer was executed for high treason in February 1462. He was found to have been corresponding with Margaret of Anjou for the restoration of Henry VI., but the discovery must have been much later than May 1461. Sir John Howard, who, for his services to the House of York, was afterwards made Duke of Norfolk, appears to have had great influence just after the accession of Edward IV., which he used in a very overbearing manner; and we have already seen, by the last letter, that the Earl of Oxford’s servant, Thomas Denyes, was at this very time suffering much persecution at his hands.

276

457
THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON276.1

To my right good maister, John Paston, in all hast.

1461

After my most special recommendacion, please your maisterchip wete, the Kyng, be cause of the sege a boute Carelylle, chaunged his day of Coronacion to be upon the Sunday276.2 nexst after Seynt John Baptyste, so the’ntent to spede hym northward in all hast; and how be it, blyssed be God, that he hath now good tydynggs, that Lord Mountagu hath broken the sege, and slayn of Scotts vj.^ml. [6000] and ij. knyghes, whereof Lord Cliffords brother is one, yet not wythstandyng he wol be crowned the sayd Sunday. And John Jeney enformed me, and as I have verely lerned sethen, ye ar inbylled to be made knygth at this Coronacion.276.3 Wheder ye have understandyng before hand, I wot not; but and it lyke you to take the worchip uppon you, consyderyng the comfortable tytynggs afore seyd, and for the gladnesse and plesour of al your welwyllers, and to the pyne and dyscomfort of all your ille wyllers, it were tyme your gere necessarye on that by halfe were purveyd fore, and also ye had nede higth you to London, for as I conceyve the knygthes schuld be made uppon the Saterday by for the Coronacion; and as moche as may be purveyed for you in secrete wyse wythouten cost I schall by speke for you, if nede be, ayens your comyng, in trust of the best; neverthelesse, if ye be dysposed, ye had nede send a man by fore in all hast, that no thing be to seke. William Calthorp is inbylled, and Yelvertoun is inbylled, whiche caused Markham; because Yelverton loked to have ben chef juge, and Markham thynketh to plese hym thus. And as for the mater ayens Poutrell, we can no farther procede, 277 tyl we have my maister your faders testament. I sent my maistres a letter for it. No more, but I pray Al myghty Jesu have you in His kepyng. Your, Thomas Playter.

458
RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON277.1

To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master John Paston.

1461
JUNE 5

Right reverent and worschipfull master, I lowly recomande me unto your good masterschip. Plesith you to witte that I have ben at Framelyngham, and spake Ric Sothwell to hafe hes advice in this mater; wherin he wolde geve me but litell councell, and seide ze were straungely disposed, for ye trusted no man, and had moche langage, weche the berer herof schal enforme your masterschip.

And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde277.2 at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lordeschip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre; and what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. And thanne my Lorde sent for Sothwell. And in the meene tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [heirs] had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [i.e. their] evidence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude uppon Sothwel to a’ know my Lordes answer to the 278 Kyng; weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew, and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no displesur; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme that he hath spaken with his Highnesse, for he trusteth to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill therto; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this day. It were right wele don ye awayted upon hes man comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my Lordes writyng.

Berthelmew Elysse hathe ben with my Lorde, and made a relesse to my Lord; and Sir Will Chamberleine was ther ij. dayes afore I come thirder, I can thynke for the sam mater. And Thomas Fastolf whas there the same tyme that I was ther; and as I am enformed, they have delyvered my Lorde serteine evidence. Wherfore me semeth it were right wele don, savyng your better advice, to com hom and sele up your evidence, and have hem with you to London, to prove his titill noght. Ther be but ii. or iij. men with in the place, and if ye thynke it best to do it, send word, and I suppose a remedy schal be had.

Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that Tudenham278.1 and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng, and that they schal come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute. So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the next week. My right wourschipfull and reverent master, Almyghti God preserve you.

Wreten at Norweche, on the morwe after Corpus Christi Day. Your pore servant and bedman, R. C.

279

459
ROBERT LETHUM TO JOHN PASTON279.1

A tres reverent Sire, John Paston, Esquier, demouraunt ou lostell le Roy soit d[onne].

1461
JUNE 19

Right worshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you. And, sir, yesterday I resceived of you a lettre from oure sovereign lord the Kyng directe to John Fulman, dyvers othir, and me, by the quych, for certeyn causes that meved hym, and for the well and save gard of his person and this his realme, he desired we chuld fynd men for kepyng of the see. I said to you that I hade beyn dyvers tymes spoled and robbed, as ye have herd, and also gretely vexed and sued to me [my] unportab[l]e [charges];279.2 nevir the les, to my pouer, with my body and my gode, I chall be redy to do hym servyce in resistyng his enmyse and rebelles. Also I said I dwelled uppon the cost of the see here, and be langage hit were more necessare to with hold men here than take men from hit. The said the Kyng hade wreton to dyvers persones here quych hade promysed men, queruppon I promysed a man, quych chall be redy at such tyme I have knowelege quere the shippyng chall be, to waite uppon yow, or quane the Kyng comaundes. I write to you of my promyse as ye comaund me, and pray you I may have a copy of the said lettre. And I pray Godd kepe you. Wrete at Plumsted on the Fest of Seynt Gervaise and Prothase.279.3 Your, Robt. Lethum.

280

460
JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON280.1

To my right worshipful maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon in Norfolk, in hast.

1461
JUNE 21

After due recomendacion hadde; please it your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter he shall excuse the writte of the parlement, &c. As touchyng my maister Howard,280.2 I cannot yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye280.3 nether. But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and it is told me that ye among other ar named to be made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.

Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng wole in to the north part forthwith; and therfor shall not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to every shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of the shire, day after Michelmesse; this is told me by suyche as arn right credible. Maister Brakle shall preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde me, and he told me, that for cause Childermesse day280.4 fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the Moneday, &c.

Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore Mydsomer, Your right pouere servant, James Gresham.

281

461
CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON281.1

To my rythe worchypfull broder, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.

1461
JUNE 26

Broder, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeryng to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that I have sent my moder a letter for mony for my swster;281.2 and if ze wyll agre that I may have xx^tili. [£20], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe, or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I wysse obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and it wyll be doo with in fowertenyut. The Cowntas of Northumberlond281.3 and Robarde Fenus281.4 ocupie all her lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke] to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within this sevenyut. Also, broder, Wyndham is come to town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a mayster, and me thowte by hym he wold be in the Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.^c. [500] heds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm abbey to swm mayster of swm colage to be 282 delyveryd qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wrytyn on Fryday nexst after Seynt John is day. By zour broder, Clement Paston.

462
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON282.1

To my right worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be this letter deliveryd in hast.

1461
JUNE

Right worchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that thys day in the mornyng the parson of Snoryng came to Thomas Denys and fechyd hym owt of hys hows, and beryth hym a hand,282.2 that he shuld a mad byllys agayns Twyer and hym, and hathe a leed hym ferthe with hem. Hys wyf hathe no knowlege of it. Ferther more the seid parson seythe that the seyd Thomas Denys shuld a take sowdyors owt of hys felachep whan he went to Seynt Albons;282.3 that hys a nother of hys compleynts. Item, anothyr of hys compleynts ys, a beryth the seyd Thomas a hand,282.2 that he had awey a hors of John Coppyng of Bryslee, and a nother of Kyng of Donham, the wyche hors were stole be the seyd ij. personys. Wher for the seyd Thomas toke hem as a comyshaner and delyveryd hem to the exchetor, Frances Costard, and one of them he bowt of the seyd Fraunces. And the seyd parson hathe a wey the seyd hors, 283 and seyth that he wolle the seyd thevys shuld be recompenst be Thomas Denys. Thys I am enformyd of all thesse maters be hys wyffe, and sche prayythe yow in the reverence of God ye wolle be hyr good maister, and helpe that hyr hosbond may have sume remedy be your labor in thys mater, [for she] seythe syn that hyr hosbond ys the Kyngs offycer, that they owt to spar hym the rather. But they that hathe hym take no  .  .  .  .  .  .  told me that they hope to have a newe chonge in hast.

Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney283.1 sent you a l[etter]  .  .  .  .  .  .  er desyryng to have your good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte283.2 for hym for to com  .  .  .  .  .  .  whan som ever ye woll require hym. I’ good feyth it ys told me hys leggs ar all  .  .  .  .  .  .  [Send] me word, encas the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem bownd for hy  .  .  .  .  .  .  te in bayle. Item, it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of se a geyns Yamothe, a[nd  .  .  .  .  .  .  t]hey woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item, I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.^xx. [eleven score] rabets and sent up be the berer herof. The blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye departyd hens.

Item, I pray yow that ye wolle remembre my unkyll Barneys mater tochyng the executyng of his wylle, and how ye wolle that we be demenyd for kepyng of hys yerday, and that it lekyth you to send me word be Mr. John Smy[th].

284

463
THOMAS DENYES TO MARGARET PASTON284.1

To my right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Paston, or to William Paston if she be absent.

1461
JULY

Right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, I recomaund me to yow with my pouer servise. And for so moche as I here no thyng of my maister your husbonds comyng hastly home,—and though he cam or come not, it were expedient that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the shire,—therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. I pray you for the good spede therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my said maister, if he be with the Kyng; ellis fynde the meane to send it to the Kyng, thogh my maister be thens; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf to late diligent labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde oon helde.

I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister William Paston, and shew hym all thys, and that it were hastid; for on the adversaire parte Judas slepith not.

Berney promised to a’ sent, but for our Lords love trust not that; for I se his slouthe and sely labour, which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn speke with yow, &c.

My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is elyted, as the 285 Comons myght wisely do with help of his favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.

Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell. Thomas Denyes.

284.1 [From Fenn, iv. 18.] This letter speaks of the county of Norfolk as being in an unquiet state, and of John Paston as having been elected knight of the shire. It will be seen by No. 458 that writs for an election were expected as early as the 5th of June in 1461, and as I find that the writer of this letter was murdered on the 4th of July following, the date is probably about the very beginning of that month. From what is said at the beginning of the letter about Paston’s absence from home, it was evidently some time after the last, which was written on the very day of his departure.

464
RICHARD CALL TO MARGARET PASTON285.1

To my most reverent and worshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered.

1461
JULY 3

Plesith it your mastresseship that my mastre285.2 wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes costs, in asmoch as he come hether for that matre, and for non other; but ye must lete Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol that she bere the cost, for it is her matre; and that ye make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein, mastre holdeth hym content. My right wurshipful mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at London the iij. day of Jul. Your poore seruaunt and bedman, Ric. Call.

On the back of this letter is the following memorandum:— ‘Memorandum of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.^xx. and x. [fourscore and ten] brown lovis and iiij.^xx. and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.^d. price the  .  .  .  .’

286

465
WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON286.1

To the right worchipfull and my good maister John Paston.

1461
JULY 6

Ryght worchipfull and my good mayster I recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Coronacion had be on Relik Sunday,286.2 as it was apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of his meny was grette cause of T. D.286.3 deth, &c. Also ye have knowlych how Fastolff286.4 is com yn to my Lord of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande; on is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym; an other is to helpe his fader yn lawe286.5 ayens Felbrigge, &c. For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for the word [world] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Heydonz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for yn good feyth I trow, but if [i.e. unless] he be ponysshid the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that arn among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as he can telle yow, soportid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn Roos, Heidonz owyn men [chif constablez].286.6 And it plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have your warentez for cheffe constable, &c., for they ocupye yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, sire, I am gretly yn your danger and dette for my pension, for it is told 287 me ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make amendez with your good maistreship, and suche servyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thomas Even, &c. Be your Servaunt, L.

466
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON287.1

To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast.

1461
JULY 9

Right worchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys287.2 goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and wold 288 be rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vjs. viijd. Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i’ feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas. By your, M. P.

467
JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON
AND WYLLIAM ROKEWODE288.1

To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris,
and to everych of them.

1461
JULY 10

Right worshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas 289 Denys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij. primo. John Berneye.

Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.

288.1 [From Fenn, i. 236.]

468
JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON289.1

To my cosyn, Margaret Paston.

1461
JULY 12

I  recomaund me to yow, letyng yow wete tha the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John Berney; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not, lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed, and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepful. And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts of hym be that knavyssh knyght, Sir Miles Stapilton, as I sent yow word before; but he shall come to hys excuse wele inow, so he have a mannys hert, and the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have blaveryd 290 here of my kynred in hedermoder;290.1 but, be that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes, myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.

Also telle the seyd Berney that the Shreve ys in a dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey; where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves good wyll.

Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were most worchepfull that as wele Berney as Grey shuld get a record of all suche that myght spend xls. ayere, that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at London, on Relyk Sonday.

Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne. John Paston.

469
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON290.2

1461
JULY 15

I  recomand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acordyng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me, the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer hym nor non of hys; for he seyd, after the aleccion was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer and hys felachep.

Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsynsham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the stokkys on Monday at nyght; and, as it is seyd, they shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer and hys felachep beryth a gret wyght of Thomas Denys 291 dethe in this contry abowght Walsynham; and it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as good wylle, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [have died] for he myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it ys seyd.

Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and swyche other as he is with hym, goo fast abowght in the contr, and ber men a hand,291.1 prests and others, they be Skotts, and take brybys of hem and let hem goo ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton, and but for my cosyn Jarnyngham the younger,291.2 ther wold a led hem forthe with hem; and he told hem pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [i.e. unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer met with be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place. Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the Wednysday after Relec Sonday.

Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to do for hym as ye desyryd me in your letter. As for mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but xiijs. iiijd. syn ye went owght. I wolle do my parte to get mor as hastely as ye may. By yowr, M. P.

470
JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON291.3

To the worshipfull John Paston, and to my cosyn, Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of Cantyrburi.

1461
JULY 16

Right worshipfull sir, I recummaund me to yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that the Kyng may wryte unto me, gevyng me thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng with hym a 292 yens his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North, as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre; for they grudge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of this cuntre, &c. as haff be his gret eanemyes, and opresseors of the Comynes; and sych as haff assystyd his Hynes, be not rewardyt; and it is to be consederyd, or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessary to move the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperall, by the whech that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes. No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras. Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of July, anno regni Regis E. iiij^ti. primo. John Berneye.

Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyrburi, Ely, Norwych, &c.

291.3 [From Fenn, i. 238.]

471
JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON292.1

To the ryght worshipfull John Paston, Squyer, in hast.

1461
JULY 17

Sir, I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyrshrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the shyer for the Parlement. And I suppose yf that he wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus:—lat hym make notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and lat hym make wrytyng unto them what day 293 they shall come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that it is nott his oneste to lye upon too many men, noysyng them rebyliones of Norff[olk], and Berney theyr c  .  .  .  No more to zow at this tyme, but I naff sent zow ij. letteris within this viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij^ti. 1^mo. John Berney.

292.1 [From Fenn, iv. 28.]

472
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON293.1

To my worchepful hosbonde, Jon Pastun, this letter be delyvered in hast.

1461
JULY 18

Ryth worchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid be Sir John Tatersale to wryte to yow for a comyssion or a noyr in termyner [oyer and terminer]293.2 for to be sent down in to this cuntre to sit uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and gret horebyl robryys; and as for the costs ther of the cuntre wele pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [i.e. unless] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys, they ar aferde that mo folks xal be servyd in lyke wyse.

As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they be delyveryt to Twer [Twyer], and iiij. be with hem of the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr parte that they schape not, but that they may have the jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be inqueryd of her forseyd robery be soche a comyssion that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely for the moderys and the robbryys, but as wele for the gret insurrexsin 294 that they were lyke amade within the shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told me that ye thret of hem that be nowty felawys that hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold adversarys.

The blyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent Margarete. Be yours, M. P.

473
GRANT FROM THE CROWN294.1

Pro Johanne Paston.

1461
JULY 27

Rex omnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Nos indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Hows clerico in septingentis marcis legalis monetæ regni nostri Angliæ eisdem Johanni et Thomæ solvendis juxta formam cujusdam billæ manu nostra signatæ cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba:—

Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be the assent of oure trusty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of man and woman garnysshed with a ruby, a dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght, for CCCC. xxxlvijli.; and also an obligacion wherby oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff in an C. marc; for which we graunt 295 and promitt in the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows, clerk, or to her assignez, D.CC. mark of lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is to sey; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng after the date of thys bille CC. mark, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys thanne next folowyng. And also we graunte that the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. And if it fortune that the same John and Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that payment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill with oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our] reign.

Nos solutionem summæ illius præfatis Johanni et Thomæ fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, concessimus et per præsentes concedimus eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows septingentas marcas monetæ prædictæ percipiendas modo et forma subsequentibus, videlicet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de primis denariis provenientibus et crescentibus de feodi firma civitatis nostræ Norwici et de omnibus aliis firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem civitate provenientibus per manus majoris, custodis, vicecomitum, civium seu ballivorum ejusdem civitatis pro tempore existentium aut aliorum receptorum, firmariorum seu appruatorum eorundem feodi firmarum, exituum, proficuorum et reventionum dictæ civitatis pro tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus nostris Norff’ et Suff’ provenientibus per manus vicecomitum eorumdem comitatuum pro tempore existentium quousque septingentæ marcæ eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows plenarie persolutæ fuerint. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xxvij. die Julii. Per ipsum Regem oretenus.

294.1 [From Patent Roll, 1 Edw. IV., Part 3, No. 13.]

296

474
THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON296.1

To maister John Paston Esquyer in hast.

1461
AUG. 1 (?)

Please your maistership wete that Danyell of Grayes In enfourmed me that Kyng of Dounham whiche slewe Thomas Denys is arested and in hold at Wysbyche and had ben delyvered nor had Fraunceys Costard a taken suerte of pees of hym; and so he is kept in by non other meane but al onely by suerte of pees. And as I felt by the said Danyell if he be craftyly handeled he woll accuse many other; but Danyell is loth to name hem, but I suppose he ment by Twyer and yet other mo, right sufficient, and kalled of substans. Item, Haydon hath payed ccccc. marks and is delivered. Item it is talked the parlement schal be proroged tyl the iiij. day of Novembre and the kyng wol in to Scotland in al hast. Wretyn in hast uppon the day of the Advencion.296.2 —Youris, Thomas Plaiter.

475
JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON296.3

To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle.

1461
AUG. 1

First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid to 297 occupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the lond may be undirstand.

ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they departe.

iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.

iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng, 298 and the peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe [satisfaction] to the pore peple.

v. Item, that Berney and Richard Wright geve suche folkys warnyng as wyll compleyne to be redy with her billes if thei list to have any remedy.

vj. Item, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton may at Aylesham be remembyrd.

vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham, that ye fayle not, but assay and do yowr devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals. Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I wold he shuld assay, or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton were boren in hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and first founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the bille and where he had it.298.1

viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content for Midsomer term.

ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton, in on of the canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the spruse chest. Ric. Calle knowith it well, and ther is a ded of feffement and a letter of atorne mad of the seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner, Ric. Calle, and John Russe. I wold a new dede and letter of atorne were mad owth theroff be the feffees of the same laund to Thome Grene,298.2 Thome Playter, the parson of Heylisdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,298.3 Johanni Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it be selid at the next shire; for than I suppose the seyd feffes will be ther if it may not be don er that tyme. I wold have the 299 seyd dedis leyd in a box, both old and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at Stratton, that whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it ther, and mak seson [seisin] and stat to be take whil I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.

476
JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON299.1

To my right worshypfull and reverent maistyr, John Paston, at Norwich.

1461
AUG. 23

Ryght worshypfull sir, and my right honourable maister, I recomaunde me louly to you. And plese youre maistirshyp to wete that my Maister Clement, youre brothyr, and Plater, wrot a letter to my mayster yore sone299.2 yistirday, the tenure of whych was how ye were entretyd there. And as ye desyred me, so I enformyd hem the mater along, for they wist not of it til I told hem; and they wrete the more pleynerly inasmych as a worshypfull man rood the same day, and bare the letter to my seyd maister youre sone.

The Lord Bourgcher is with the Kynge, and my Lord Warwyk still in the North, &c.

Item, sir, thys day cam on John Waynflet from the Kyng streyt weye, and he is of myn aqueyntaunce; and he teld me there was no voyse nor spekyng aboute the Kyng of that mater; and I teld hym all the mater along hou ye were intretyd, whych he wyll put in remembraunce in ony place that he cometh in in Suffolk or Esex as he goth homward, for he owyth no good wil to youre adversary. And the seyd Waynflet teld me that he knowyth for serteyn that the Kyng cometh not to Northefolk til he hathe been upon the Marchys 300 of Walys, and so there is no serteynte of hyse comyng thys many dayez. He teld me he lefte the Kyng with a smal felashyp aboute hym.

And I enqueryd hym of the gyding of my maystyr yore sone, whiche he comendyd gretly, and seyd that he stood well inconseyt, and dayly shuld increse; and he was well in acqueyntaunce and be lovyd with jentilmen aboute the Kyng. But he seyd ther shal no thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym, for withoute he have mony in hyse purse, so as he may resonably spende among hem, ellys they wyll not sette by hem; and there be jentilmen sones of lesse reputacion that hath mony more lyberal x. tymez than he hath, and soo in that they seyd Waynflet seyd it were full necessary for you to remembre, &c.

As for tydyngs here bee noon newe, &c. I truste I shal brynge you a letter from my mayster your sone, or thanne I come, for whych I shal rather thanne fayle abyde on day the lenger. And Jesu have you, my right honourable maister, in Hyse mercyfull governaunce, and preserve you from adversyte. Wretyn at London, on Seynt Bertylmewys Evyn.

I can speke with noo man but that thynke the gydyng of youre adversary hath been in many causez ryght straunce, and as it is soposyd that he shal undyrstonde at the Parlament; but for Gods sake have men inow aboute yow, for ye undyrstonde is on manerly dysposecion. Your bedeman and servaunt, John Russe.

301

477
JOHN PASTON, THE ELDEST SON, TO HIS FATHER301.1

To my rythg reverent and worchypfoll fader, John Paston, Esquyer, dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys letter delyvered in haste.

1461
AUG. 23

Most reverent and worschepfull fadyr, I rekomawnd me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to your good faderhood, besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly blyssyng. I beseche yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have laboryd dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond, to have mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of] Deddham and of the byll copye of the Corte Roll, everye mornyng ore he went to the Kyng, and often tymys inqueryd of hym and he had mevyd the Kyng in these matyers. He answeryd me naye, seyyng it was no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne spedd os I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe I thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in. Neverthe lesse I lawberyd to hym contynually, and prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr hym of it. I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that I had a man teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr sundry maters, and he teryid for no thyng but that I mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd matyers; othyr tyms besechyng hym to spede me in theys matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no defawte in me for remembryng in the seyd maters.

And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same mater, inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes therin; and he answeryd me that he hadde felte and mevyd the Kyng ther 302 in, rehersyng the Kyngys answer therin; how that, when he had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng hym to be yowr good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse and trewe part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in espesyal the rygth that ye have therto, he seyd he wold be your good Lord therin as he wold be to the porest man in Inglond. He wold hold with yowe in yowr rygth; and as for favor, he wyll nogth be under stand that he schal schewe favor mor to one man then to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.

And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when he mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche a bylle ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd sundreys of yowr contremen of worchypfull men, and the for he kepyd it styll. Never the lesse he seyd he schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he schuld have it.

Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he schuld so a’ remembred hys lord and master,302.1 that I schuld au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often tyms absent, and therfor I have it nowthg yyt; when I kan gete it, I schall send it yowe, and of the Kyngs mowth, hys name that take it hym.

I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me. God send grace that he may do yow good servyse, that be extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have knowleche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her with me. I wold, savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were delyvered of hym, for he schalle never do yow profyte ner worchyp.

I suppose ye understand that the monye that I hadde of yowe att Londun maye not indur with me tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn, for I under stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn. Wher for I have sent to Londun to myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs. of Christofyr Hansom yowr servaunt, and sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt, and myn herneys with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene.

I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I kowd make non othyr cheysaunce [arrangement] but I schuld a 303 boruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys, who I suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it a nothyr tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun in the stede of Pekoke.

My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for yowe as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners hys man telht me, seyy[n]g, ‘Yowr fadyr is myche be holdyng to my Lord, for he lovyth hym well.’ Bernners mevyd me ons, and seyd that ye must nedys do sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I seyd I wost well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre powar. And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe yowe and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd Dyrward, seyyng that ther is as myche be wern [between] my seyd Lord and the seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part.

It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a’ strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that ye hadde on at that tyme. Blyssyd be God that ye hadde it on. No mor I wryth to yower good faderhod at thys tym, but All myghty God have yowe in Hys kepyng, and sende yowe vyttorye of yowr elmyes [enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys end yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve. Be yowr servaunt and elder sone, John Paston.

478
CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON303.1

To hys rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, John Paston.

1461
AUG. 25

Rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to yowr good broderhood, desieryng to herre of zour welfar and good prosperite, the gwyche I pray God encresse to His pleswr and zowr herts hesse [heart’s ease]; 304 certyfyyng zow that I have spok with John Rwsse, and Playter spok with him bothe, on Fryday be for Seynt Barthelmw. He tolde us of Howards gydyng, gwyche mad us rythe sory tyl we herde the conclusion that ze hadde non harme.

Also I understond by W. Pekok that my nevew hadde knowleche ther of also up on Saterday nexst be for Seynt Barthelmwe, in the Kyngs howse. Not with standyng, up on the same day Playter and I wryte letters on to him, rehersyng al the mater, for cause if ther wer ony questionys mevyd to hym ther of, that he xwlde telle the trowthe, in cas that the qwestions wer mevyd by ony worchypfwll man, and namyd my Lord Bowcher,304.1 for my Lord Bowcher was with the Kyng at that tyme.

I fele by W. Pekok that my nevew is not zet verily aqweyntyd in the Kyngs howse, nor with the officers of the Kyngs howse he is not takyn as non of that howse; for the coks [cooks] be not charged to serve hym, nor the sewer304.2 to gyve hym no dyche, for the sewer wyll not tak no men no dyschys till they be comawndyd by the cownterroller. Also he is not aqweyntyd with no body but with Weks;304.3 and Weks ad told hym that he wold bryng hym to the Kyng, but he hathe not zet do soo. Wherfor it were best for hym to tak hys leve and cum hom, til ze hadd spok with swm body to helpe hym forthe, for he is not bold y now to put forthe hym selfe. But than I consyderyd that if he xwld now cum hom, the Kyng wold thyng [think] that wan he xwld doo hym ony servie som wer, that than ze wold have hym hom, the qwyche xwld cause hym not to be hadde in favor; and also men wold thynke that he wer put owte of servic. Also W. Pekok tellythe me that his mony is spent, and not ryotesly, but wysly and discretly, for the costs is gretter in the Kyngs howse qwen he rydythe than ze wend it hadde be, as Wyllam Pekok can tell zow; and therof wee must gett hym jCs. at the lest, as by Wyllam Pekoks seyyng, and zet 305 that will be to lytill, and I wot well we kan not get xld. of Christifyr Hanswm. So I xall be fayn to lend it hym of myn owne silver. If I knew verily zour entent wer that he xwld cum hom, I wold send hym non. Ther I wyll doo as me thynkithe ze xwld be best plesyd, and that me thynkythe is to send him the silver. Ther for I pray zow hastely as ze may send me azen v. mark, and the remnawnte, I trow, I xall get up on Christofir Hanswm and Lwket. I pray zow send me it as hastely as ze may, for I xall leve my selfe rythe bare; and I pray zow send me a letter how ze woll that he xull be demenyd. Wrytyn on Twsday after Seynt Barthelmwe, &c. Christus vos conservet! Clement Paston.

479
LORD BEAUCHAMP TO SIR THOMAS HOWES305.1

To myn welbeloved frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Blofeld.

1461
AUG. 28

Welbeloved frende, I grete you well. And for as muche as I understonde that William Wurcester, late the servant unto Sir John Fastolf, Knyth, whois soule God assoyle, ys not had in favour ne trust with my right welbeloved frende, John Paston, nether with you, as he seyth, namely in such maters and causes as concerneth the wylle and testament of the said Sir John Fastolf; and as I am informed the said William purposeth hym to go into his cuntre, for the whiche cause he hath desired me to wryte unto you that ye wolde ben a special good frend unto hym, for his said mastris sake, to have alle suche things as reason and consciens requireth, and that ye wolde be meane unto Paston for hym in this mater to schewe hym the more favour at thys tyme for this my writyng in doyng of eny truble to hym, trusting that he wole demeane hym in suche wyse that he shal 306 have no cause unto hym, but to be his good master, as he seyth. And yf ther be eny thing that I can do for you, I wole be right glad to do it, and that knoweth Almyghty God, whiche have you in his keping. Wretin at Grenewyche, the xxviij^th day of August. J. Beauchamp.

305.1 [From Fenn, iv. 96.] This letter was probably written in the year 1461, if not in the year preceding. The disputes about Fastolf’s will came before the Spiritual Court in the year 1465; but at the date of this letter they could not have proceeded very far.

480
LORD HUNGERFORD AND ROBERT WHITYNGHAM TO MARGARET OF ANJOU306.1

A la Reyne D’Engleterre [en] Escote.

1461
AUG. 30

Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles306.2 deth, whom God assoyll, and howe we sta[n]de arest [arrested], and doo yet; but on Tuysday next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn.306.3 His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,306.4 and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Canse, and Monsieur de la Mot.

Ma dam[, ferth [fear] you not, but be of gode comfort, 307 and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,307.1 by the See, till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed, Th’erll of March307.2 is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and to send you that your Highnes desireth. Writen at Depe the xxx^ti dey of August. Your true Subgettes and Liege men. Hungerford. Whityngham.

At the bottom of the Copy of the Letter is added:—

These ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland with the Quene. The Kyng Herry is at Kirkhowbre with iiij. men and a childe.

Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.

The Lord Roos and his son.

308

481
JOHN PAMPYNG TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR308.1

To my right worshipfull master John Paston, the older, Squier.

1461
SEPT. 6

Please your mastirship to wete that I have be at Cotton, and spoke with Edward Dale, and he told me that Yelverton and Jenney were there on Friday,308.2 and a toke distresse of xxvj. or more bullokks of the seid Edwards in the Park, and drofe hem to a town therby; and a neyghbore there undirstandyng the bests were Edward Dalis,308.3 and bond hym to pay the ferme, or ellis to bryng in the bests be a day. And whan the seid Edward undirstod the takyng of the seid bests he went to Yelverton and Jenney, and bond hym in an obligacon of xli., to pay hem his ferme at Mighelmes; whech I told hym was not well do, for I told hym ye had be abill to save hym harmeles. And because of discharge of his neyghbour he seid he myght non other wise do. Nevirthelesse as for mony thei get none of hym redely, ner of the tenaunts nowthyr, as he can thynk yet. The seid Yelverton dyned on Friday at Cotton, and there chargid the tenaunts thei shuld pay no mony but to hym, and hath flaterid hem, and seith thei shall be restorid ayen of such wrongs as thei have had be Sir Philip Wentworth and other for Master Fastolff; and because of such tales, your tenaunts owe hym the bettir will. And I purposid to have gon to Cotton and spoke with the tenaunts, and Edward Dale told me he supposid thei wold be this day at Nakton. And because [I desired]308.4 to speke with hem as ye comaundid me, I terid not but rod to Ipwich to my bed, and there at the Sonne was the seid Yelverton and Jenney and Thomas Fastolff; and myn ost told me, that the same aftir 309 none thei had be at Nakton, but what thei ded there I can not telle, and whan I was undirstand your man, Hogon, Jenneys man, askyd suerte of pes of me; and Jenney sent for an officer to have hed me to prison; and so myn ost undirtoke for me that nyght. And this day in the mornyng I wente to Sen Lauerauns Chirche; and there I spak to hem and told hem ye merveylid that thei wold take any distresse or warne any of your tenaunts that thei shuld pay yow no mony. And Yelverton seid ye had take a distresse falsly and ontrewly of hym that ought yow no mony ner hem nowther. And he seid he was infeffid as well as ye; and as for that I told hym he wost odre [knew the contrary], and thow he were it was but your use, and so I told hym that men were infeffid in his lond, and that he shuld be servid the same withinne fewe dayes. And he seid he wost well ye were not infeffid in his lond, and if ye toke upon yow to make any trobill in his lond ye shall repente it. And also he seid that he wold do in like wise in alle maners that were Sir John Fastolffs in Norfolk as thei have begonne, and other langage as I shall telle yow. And so I am with the gayler, with a clogge upon myn hele for suerte of the pees; wherefore please your mastirship to send me your avise.

Item, John Andrews was with hem at Cotton, and thei have set a man of the seid Andrews to kepe the plase.

Item, Wymondham, Debenham and Tympirle come to Yelverton this day at masse and speke with hym; and I speke to Tymperle in your name that he wold not comforte ner be with hem ayein in this mater; and he seid he undirstod no such thyng, ner it was not his comyng hedir. Wretyn at Ipwych the Sonday next before the Nativite of Owr Lady. Yowr servaunt, John Pampyng.

The back is covered with some rough memoranda in Richard Calle’s hand, of moneys received at different times of year by Richard Charlys, Thomas Howys, William Berton, baker, of Southwark, Ralph Lovel, John Prentyng, Richard Coomber, and John de Dorylot. Some of these payments are made through Dawbeney, John Paston, junior, and John Paston, senior (per manus Johannis Paston Senioris).

310

482
JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON310.1

To the right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, John Paston, Esquyer.

1461
SEPT. 24

Right reverent and wurchepfull sir, I recomand me to your gode maystershep, prayng you to wete that I was at Blakkes, and spake with his wiffe; and she seth he was not at hame this iij. weks,—he ridith up the countre to take accompts of balys [bailiffs],—and that this day sevennyght he shuld have satyn in Caystr by you up on accounts, and fro thens he shuld have redyn to Lynne, and that he shall be at home un Monday at nyght next comyng. Wherfor I have left my heraund with her. But she seth that he shall not mown comyn [be able to come] to you, for my Lady310.2 have sent for hym in gret hast, bothyn be a letter and be a tokyn, to comyn to her as hastly as he may; notwithstandyng she shall do the herand to hym.

As for Yelverton, I dede a gode fele to enquer of Yemmys Skynner whan the seid Yelverton shuld go to London. He seid not this sevynnyght. He cowde not tell what day till he had spokyn with his son. His sone shuld come to hym or his master shuld ridyn. I shall enquer mor at Walsyngham. And for Godds love be not to longe fro London, for men seyn ther, as I have be [told], that my Lord of Glowcetir310.3 shuld have Cayster, and ther is gret noyse of this revell that was don in Suffolk be Yelverton and Jeney; and your wele willers thynkyn that if thei myght prevayle in this, thei wold attempt you in other. But seas ther pore and malyce, and preserve 311 you from all evill. And at the reverence of God lete sum interposicion go a twix you and my mastres your moder or ye go to London, and all that ye do shall spede the better; for she is set on gret malyce, and every man that she spekith with knowith her hert, and it is like to be a fowle noyse [over] all the countre with aught it be sone sesid.

Also, sir, it is told me that my Lord of Norfolk is comyn to Framlyngham, and that ye be gretly comendyd in his howshold. Therfor it wer wele do, me semyth, that ye spake with hym. The Holy Trynyte kepe you.

Wretyn at Norwich, the Thursday next after Sent Mathewe. Your pore prest, James Gloys.

483
HENRY WYNDESORE TO JOHN PASTON311.1

To my full worshipfull, speciall gode maister, John Paston, Squyer, abidyng at Norwich.

1461
OCT. 4

Right worshipfull sir, and some tyme my moost speciall gode master, I recommaunde me unto your gode maistership, with all my pour service, if it may in any wise suffice; and farthermore, sir, I beseche you, nowe beyng in your countre, where ye may deily call unto you my maister Sir Thomas Howys, ones to remembre my pour mater, and by your discretions to take such a direction theryn, and so to conclude, as may be to your discharge and to my furtherance, accordyng to the will of hym that is passed unto Gode, whose saull I pray Jesu pardone! for truly, sir, ther was in hym no faute, but in me onely; yf it be not as I have remembred your maistership affore thy[s] tyme. For truly, sir, I der say I shuld have had as speciall and as gode a maister of you, as any pour man, as I am, withyn England shuld have hadd of a worshipfull man, as ye ar, yf ye had never medulled the godes of my maister F., and as moche ye wold have done, and labored fore me, in my 312 right, if it hadde byn in the handes of any oder man than of your self anely. But, I truste in Gode, at your next comyng to have an answere, such as I shalbe content with. And yf it may be so, I am and shalbe your servaunt in that I can or may, that knoith our Lord Jesu, whom I besech save and sende you a gode ende in all your maters, to your pleiser and worship everlastyng. Amen. Writton at London, iiij^to die Octobris.

As fore tidyngs, the Kyng wolbe at London withyn iij. deies next comyng; and all the castelles and holdes in South Wales, and in North Wales, ar gyfen and yelden up into the Kynges hand. And the Duc of Excestre312.1 and th’erle of Pembrok312.2 ar floon and taken the mounteyns, and dyvers Lordes with gret puissans ar after them; and the moost part of gentilmen and men of worship ar comen yn to the Kyng, and have grace, of all Wales.

The Duc of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert Whityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they stand strete under arest; and as merchauntes that ar comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley, and the Dean of Seynt Severyens, have abiden at Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Tresorer of Cales, with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo, at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.

Item, I send unto you a copy of a letter that was taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford and Whytyngham.

Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland in all hast of Lordes. At your comaundement, and Servaunt, Henry Wyndesore.

313

484
CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON313.1

To his right reverent and worshipfull broder, John Paston, Esquier, be this delivered in great haste.

1461
OCT. 11

Brother, I recommende me to you. After all dewe recommendacions, &c. Sir, it was tolde me by rythe a worshipfull man that loveth you rythe well, and ye him, and ye sall knowe his name hereafter, but put all things out of doubt he is such a man as will not lye: on the xj^th day of October the Kinge said, ‘We have sent two privy sealys to Paston by two yeomen of our chamber, and he disobeyeth them; but we will send him anoder tomorrowe, and by Gods mercye, and if he come not then he sall dye for it. We will make all oder men beware by him how they sall disobey our writinge. A servant of our hath made a complainte of him. I cannot thinke that he hath informed us all truely, yet not for that, we will not suffer him to disobey our writinge; but sithen he disobeyeth our writinge, we may beleve the better his gydinge is as we be informed.’ And therwith he made a great avowe that if he [ye] come not at the third commandement ye xulde dye therefore. This man that told me this is as well learned a man as any is in England; and the same xj^th day of October, he advised me to send a man to yow in all the hast that might be to lett yow have knowlache, and that ye xulde not lett for none excuse, but that ye xulde make the man good cheere and come as hastily ye might to the Kinge, for he understandeth so much that the King will keep his promise. Notwithstanding, by mine advice, if ye have his letter or the messenger come to you, come to the Kinge wards or ye meet 314 with him, and when ye come ye must be suer of a great excuse. Also if ye doe well, come right stronge, for Howards wife made her bost that if any of her husbands men might come to yow ther yulde goe noe penny for your life; and Howard hath with the Kinge a great fellowship.

This letter was written the same day that the Kinge said these words, and the same day that it was told me, and that day was the xj^th day of October as abovesaid; and on the next morning send I forth a man to yow with this letter, and on the same day send the Kinge the third privye seale to you. Also he that tolde me this seid that it were better for yow to come up than to be fotte out of your house with streingth, and to abide the Kings judgement therin, for he will take your contumacy to great displeasure. Also, as I understand, the Duke of Norffolk hath made a great complaint of yow to the King, and my Lord of Suffolk314.1 and Howard and Wyngfelde helpe well to every day and call upon the King against yow. The Kinge is at this day at Grenewich, and ther will be still till the Parliament beginne. Some say he will goe to Walsingham, but Mr. Sotyll seid in the aulle in the Temple that he harde no worde of any such pilgrimage. No more, &c. Written the xj^th day of October at midnight.

My nevew John tolde me also that he supposed ther were out proclamacions against yow, &c. the same day. By Clement Paston, your broder.

315

485
RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON315.1

To my ryght reverent and wurschipfull maystre, my mastre John Paston.

1461
OCT. 13

Plesith it your maystreschip to witte that Mr. John and I, with other mo, have ben at Cotton on Friday315.2 last passed, and there Jenney had do warned the corte there to be the same Friday, and he was at Eye at the cescions the Thorsday before; and on the Friday in the mornynge he was comyng to Cotton to hoolde the corte there. And it fortuned we had entred the place or he come; and he herd therof and turned bac a yein to Oxon315.3 to my Lorde of Norwiche, and there dyned with hym. And my Lorde sent Mr. John Colleman to Cotton Halle to speke with you; and at hes comyng he undrestode ye were not there, and if ye had, my Lorde desired you to come and spoken with hym, and that my Lorde desired to put your matre in a trety; in so moche that Mr. John Colleman tolde to my master, John Paston, that diverse of your elmees [enemies] had labored to my Lorde to have a trety if he cowde brynge it aboute, &c. And as for the tenaunts they wolde not come at the place on to the tyme that I sent for hem, for they sey pleynly they woll not have a do with hem; and so the corte whas holden in your name, and the tenaunts ryght weele plesed ther of, excepte Thurnberne and Agas, and as for any socour, they have there ryght noone at all. And so Mr. John whas ther Friday all day and Saterday tyll none; and than he toke hes horse with xxx. men with hym and rode to Jeney place, and toke there xxxvj. heede of nete, and brought hem in to Norfolk; and so whas I left still at Cotton with xij. men with me, be cauce they reporte and we abode there ij. dayes we 316 schulde be pult out be the heeds. And so we a mode [? abode] there v. dayes and kepte the place, and I walked aboute all the lordeschippes and spake with all the fermours and tennaunts that longen to the maner to undrestande her disposessyon and to receyve money of hem; and I fynde [them] ryght weele disposed to you. And be cauce the corte whas warned in ther name and not in youre, therfore they purvey no money; but they have promysed me to pay no money to no man but to you, so that ye woll safe hem harmeles; and I told hem ye wold safe hem harmeles. They have apoynted with me to make redy her money withinne a fornyght aftre Halowemesse, &c. I have receyved of the tenaunts that I undrestod out [owed] you werst wyll viij. marc, &c. And as for Edward Dalys money it is redy, so that your maistreschip woll se that he be not hurt be hes obligacion. Ferthermore, plesit your maistreschip to sende worde if they entre into the maner ayein, how we schall be rwled and gidyd; for the tenaunts fere hem they wol entre whan we be gon, and than wol they distreyne the tenaunts, for they sey there that my Lorde of Cauntyrbury and other Lords woll relese to hem, notwithstandyng that I have enformed hem other wice; wherfore, savyng your better advice, me semethe it were ryght weele doo that ye had a letter of my Lorde of Cauntirbury, and other to the tenaunts of Cotton that it is her wyll and entent that ye schulde have the rwle and gouernaunce, and receyve the money of that maner, and other that were Sir John Fastolff, on whom God have mercy, for I dought not and suche a lettre came downe to the tenaunts there schulde no man sey nay to it. Besechyng your maystreschyp to have an answere of how we schall be gided and rwled, &c. Item, to sende worde howe we schall doo with the geere that wee toke out at the Wyght Freris, wether it schall be sent to you or nought. And Jesu preserve you. Wreten at Norwiche upon Sein Edwards Day. Be your servaunt and bedman, Ric. Calle.

Endorsed in a hand nearly contemporaneous: ‘Litter’ sirca anno (sic) E. 4 iij. vel iiij^o.’

317

486
WILLIAM NAUNTON TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR317.1

To my Master Paston, the elder, be thys letter delyveryd in hast.

1461
OCT.

Ryght wurchypful sir, I recommend me to zour good masterchyp. The cause qwy I wryth I let zour have knowlech of the mene that be in Cotton Halle, how they be strangely dysposyd ageyns zow; for, as I here say, they make revell there. They melt led and brek down zour bregg, and make that no man go in to [the] place but on a ledder, and make them as strong as they kan a geyns zow be the supportacion of Jeney and Debenham, and hys sone; for they seye ther that Jeney hath sold the lyflod on to Debynham, and that hys son the knyth shall dwell ther, and ther forr they have warnyd a cort ageyns Munday, and now they ar a vysed to kepyt on Saturday be forr Munday. Qwat they mene therby I wot never, but as for the felechyp in the place that ys there now, and have be here al thys weke, there ys no man of substans, as we here, and there have be but vij. or viij. al thys wyke; but there wyll be a gret felechyp thys nyth or to morwe up on Saturday, for than they wyl kepe the cort. And as for Edward Dale, he dar not abyde wyl at horn, they thret hym so, be cause he wyl send them no vytaly. And as for me self, Edward Dale dar not let me wyll [well] be there for takyng in suspecyon. And jas for the tenaunts, they be wel dysposyd except j. or ij., so that ze wyl support them in hast, for they may nowt kepe of ther katel of the ground long; and specyally they desyr to have zowr owne presens, and they wold be of gret cownfort. No mor I wryth to zour, but the Holy Gost have zour in kepyng. Wretyn on the Fryday after my departyng. Be your Servaunt, Wyllyam Nanton.

317.1 [From Fenn, iii. 414.] This letter corresponds so closely with the next in what is said about the occupants of Cotton Hall, that it is clear they were both written about the same time.

318

487
RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON, JUNIOR318.1

To the right worschipfull sir and maistre, John Paston jun., esquyer.

1461
OCT.

Ryght worschipfull sir, I recomaunde me unto your mastreschip, certifiyng you that Jenney and Yelverton hathe certified up in to the Kynges Benche inssurrecions [and] congregacions a yenste me; wherupon they have sente to the scheryff a writte chargyng hym in peyne of Cli. to brynge me in to the Kyngs Benche the morwe after Sein Marteyn. And this daye the seide Jenney hathe sent doune to the scheryff an other writte called an habeas corpus retornable crastino Animarum, weche schalbe on Twesday next comyng be cauce they were in dought and in greete feere that I schulde have ben aquytte of the inditement of fellony now at this gayle delyverye. And also my maistre hathe sente an other writte for me retornable at the seid crastino Animarum. And so I am like to ride to London warde to morwe. And the scheryff wold make me to fynde suerte that I schulde appere in the Kyngs Benche the seid daye; and yet, that notwithstandyng, he wolde send me with strengthe of men as a presoner; and if any thynge schall cauce me that I goo not up to London, it schalbe be cauce I woll fynde no suerte; for in cas he wold have suffred me to have gon up be my selfe at myn owne coste, I wolde have founde hym suertee. And so at the makyng of this bille we were not fully condesended hough we schulde doo. My mastre is in goode hele, blissed be Godd, and dothe and schall doo ryght weele in alle hes maters. Ther 319 is an ongracious felaschip of hem and a fals. They have sent for Fitzraff and Schipdam, be a citacion for the proffe of the testement, and alle is but for to delay it; yet it were weele done ye rode over to Fitzraff and felte hes disposicion how he woll be disposed, and in like wice with Schipdam, for I have spoken with hem of that matre, in cas that any citacion come doun for hem, how they wolde be disposed, and I have founde the too straunchely disposed. God send us a good scheryf thys yere, and thanne we schalle do weele inough, be the grace of God.

And, sir, your man tolde me that ye desired to knowe the demenyng at Cotton of the tenaunts and other. I lete you wete the moste parte of alle the tenaunts have bene here with me for to see me, and they have tolde me all the demenyng as it is undrewrete. Furst, as for the money that they receyved there it drwe upon a xxiiij^ti li. and more silver, for the tenaunts myght not cheese but they moste nedes paye, for they distreyned on my Lords of Suffolk fee, my Lords of Norwich fee, and on all men grounde, so that they myght not have her catell in reste, weche cauced hem to paye her money. I knowe weele i nough who payed and wo paied not. All the grete fermours have payed. And as for the kepyng of the place ther be therin iiij. men, and on of Debenham men, called Sokelyng, and hes wyff, and on Mannyng, a tenaunt, a fals knave; and they have enforced them as stronke as they kan, and they have broken doune the brigge and have leide a planke over, in cas that ye go theder ye may not come at Dale is howce in no waie, for he have had meche trouble for my mastre and for me; but and ye wolde gete my Lords meane and pulle the knaves out be the heede, it were weele done. I purpose me to com hom warde that same wey. Item, I lete you witte that the gayle delyverye holdeth not this daye, and alle is doone be cauce of mee, Jenney wolde not lete the clerke of peas come hether this daye for feere that I schulde have been aquytte of the felonye, for in trouthe and tho it had holden, I had founde the meane for to have ben quytte, for I whas through with the scheryff and panel made aftyr myn avice; but though the 320 gayle delyver had holden, I cowde not have ben delyverd, becauce of thes writtes that be come downe. Item, the scheryff hathe a grete losse that this daye holdethe not, for ther schulde have ben quytte xl. men this daye. Item, the scheryff tolde me that my maistre tolde hym that I whas assent to my takyng at Scoolys, weche was to me ryght greete hevynes and discomforture nough in my trouble. And God knoweth it was never my wylle ner myn entent, as I mot be saved at the dredful day of Dome; for ther is no man so sore hurte as I am be the takyng, bothe in losse, and also in reprefe of myn owne persoune and of my frends, withoute that my mastre be my good maistre, as I truste he wolle be, or elles I am disseyved. He hathe my trewe servyce and shal have whylle that I leve, what so ever his mastreschip do to me, but I can thynke he hathe be enformed be myn elmyes [enemies] that wold make hym disp[l]esed with me, and to be myn evy [heavy] mastre, but dissimulacion dothe muche harme, &c. I reporte me, &c. No more to you at this tyme, but Jesu kepe you, and send you as much fortune and grace as I wolde ye had, &c. I beseche [you] to be my goode mastre as ye have be, for I never deserved nor wol deserve the contrary. Your servaunt, Ric. Calle, presoner.

318.1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was written in a year in which the morrow of All Souls’ Day (i.e. the 3rd November) fell on Tuesday. The Dominical letter of the year must therefore be D. This was the case in 1461, and no other year will suit a letter addressed to John Paston, junior. For if we go back there is no earlier year in which D was the Dominical letter till we come to 1450, when John Paston, junior, was only ten years old; and if we go forward the next is 1467, which was after John Paston the father’s death.