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THE LIBRARY

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

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No.

THE PASTON LETTERS

A.D. I422-I5O9

THE

PASTON LETTERS

A.D. 1422-1509
NEW COMPLETE LIBRARY EDITION

EDITED WITH NOTES AND AN INTRODUCTION

JAMES GAIRDNER

OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

VOLUME IF

LONDON 22 EXETER

CHATTO & WINDUS ^ JAMES G. COMMIN

1904

Edinburgh : T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty

THE PASTON LETTERS

Edward IV

488

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

A Lettre to J. Paston, Armig.^from his wife, shewing his
imprisonment in the Fleeted

RYTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. 1461
Plesyt yow to wet that I receyvyd yowyr lettyr NOV- *
that ye sent me by John Holme on Wednysday last
past, and also I receyvvd a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt,

1 [From Fenn, iv. 232.] This letter is ascribed by Fenn to the year 1465,
in consequence of the allusion to John Paston' s imprisonment in the Fleet. But
there were more occasions than one on which he was confined there. Fenn himself
knew of two. Paston was committed to the Fleet, as we know from William
Worcester, on Saturday, the 3rd November 1464. He was also confined there in
August and September 1465, and may very possibly have been released by the begin-
ning of November. But I am inclined to think this letter refers to an imprisonment
prior to either of these. For, in the first place, the news of it seems only to have been
recent. It had become general subject of conversation at Norwich, ' on Saturday last,'
whereas in 1465 it must have been known two months earlier. Secondly, Sir William
Chamberlain, whose influence Sir Thomas Howes hopes will be of service, must have
died in the spring of 1462. According to Blomefield {Hist, of Norfolk, i. 321), his
will was dated the 3rd March 1461 (which would be in the modern computation
1462), and was proved on the 2ist April 1462. It may be presumed, therefore, that
on receiving the letter from his brother Clement (No. 484), written on the nth
October 1461, John Paston hastened up to London and was immediately thrown into
prison. By this letter, however, we find that he was soon afterwards released, and
his great enemy Howard sent to prison in his stead.

2 There is no direction to the letter, but the words above inserted are written in
an ancient hand upon the back of it. — F.

VOL. IV. A I

947710

THE PASTON LETTERS

1461 that ye sent me by Nycolas Newmanys man, of the whyche
NOV. 2 Jettyrs I thane yow ; for I schold ellys a' thowt that it had be
wers with yow than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of
Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I had the
last lettyr tyll thys day that the Meyir sent to me, and sent
me werd that he had knowlege for very trowthe that ye wer
delyveryd owt of the Flet, and that Howard was comytyd to
ward for dyvers gret compleynts that wer mad to the Kyng of
hym. It was talkyd in Norwyche and in dyvers othyr plasys
in the centre on Saterday last past, that ye wer comytyd to
Flet, and in good feyth, as I herd sey, the pepyle was ryth
sory ther of, bothe of Norwyche and in the contre. Ye ar
ryth myche bownde to thank God, and all tho that love yow,
that ye have so gret love of the pepyll as ye have. Ye ar
myche behold to the Meyir l and to Gylberd,2 and to dyvers
othyr of the aldyrmen, for feythfully they owe yow good wyll
to ther porys.

I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche thyngys
as ye wrot to me for, and he promysyd me that he schold
labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as he kowd ; and in good
feyth, as my brodyr and Playter kan tell yow, as be hys seying
to us, he is and wole be feythfull to yow. And as for Wylliam
Wyrcestyr, he hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the
parson and by othyr, as my brodyr and Playter schall telle
yow, that they hope he wole do well i now. The parson seyd
ryth well and pleynly to hym. The parson tolde me that he
had spook with Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn,3 and with hys
wyfe, and he thynkyth that they wole do well i now aftyr
yowyr intent, so that they be plesantly intretyd. The parson
tolde me that he wyst well that Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn
cowd do more ese in swyche matyers as ye wrot of, towchyng
my Lord of Bedford,4 than ony man kowd do that leveyth at

1 William Norwich was Mayor of Norwich in 1461.

2 John Gilbert was Mayor in 14.59 anc' m 1464. He died in 1472.

3 Sir William Chamberlain of Gedding, Suffolk, a Knight of the Garter, who had
served under the Regent Bedford in the French wars. He married Anne, daughter
and heir of Sir Robert de Herling, who, though she long survived him, and had two
husbands after him, the second of whom was John, Lord Scrope of Bolton, was
buried by her own desire beside her first husband, in the chancel of Herling Church

4 John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, died at Paris in 1435.— F.

EDWARD IV

thys day. Also he tolde me that he felt by hem that they 1461
wold owe yow ryth good wyll, so that ye wold owe hem good NOV> 2
wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make yow acordyd when
he comyth to London.

Item, my brodyr and Play ter wer with Calthorp l to inquer
of the mater that ye wrot to me of. What answer he gave
hem, they schall tell yow. I sent the Parson of Heylysdon z
to Gurnay 3 to spek to hym of the same mater, and he seyth
feythefully ther was no swyche thyng desyiryd of hym, and
thow it had be desyiryd, he wold nowthyr a' seyd nor done a
yens yow. He seyd he had ever fownde you lovyng and
feythfull to hym, and so he seyd he wold be to yow to hys
power, and desyiryng me that I wold not thynk hym the con-
trary. As for John Gros, he is at Slole ; ther for he myth not
be spok with.

I pray yow that ye wole send me word whedyr ye wole
that I schall remeve frome hens, for it begynyth to wax a cold
abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and John Rus schall make
an end of all thyngys aftyr yowyr intent, as myche as they can
do ther in this wek, and he purposyth to come forward to yow
on the Monday next aftyr Seynt Leonardys Day.

My brodyr and Play ter schold a be with yow er thys tym,
but that they wold a byd tyl thys day wer past, be cause of the
schyer. I spok to my brodyr Wylliam as ye bad me, and he
told me, so God hym help, that he hyryd ij. horse ij. day is be
for that ye redyn, that he myth a' ryde forthe with yow ; and
be cause that ye spak not to hym to ryde with yow, he seyd
that he wend 4 ye wold 5 have had hym with yow.

Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day aftyr
ye wer redyn, to have spoke with yow for hyr sone. Sche 6

1 Oiuery, if Sir William Calthorpe, Knight, High Sheriff of Norfolk, etc., in
1464, and died very old in 1494. — F.

2 Thomas Hert was instituted to the Rectory of Hellesdon in 1448. — F.

3 Thomas Gurney of Norwich, Esq., died in 1471. — F.

4 ' Woud ' in Fenn in the original text, but this is evidently a misprint. The
right-hand copy reads 'wend,' i.e. weened or thought, and the note immediately
following shows that this was the reading intended.

6 The word ' not ' seems here to have been omitted in the original letter. — F.
6 The word ' He ' occurs in the text before ' Sche,' but is evidently a mistake.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1461 prayith yow, at the reverens of God, that ye wole be hys good
NOV. 2 mastyr, and to help hym in hys ryth, that he may have horn
hys lyvelod owt of ther handys that have had it in hys nown-
age. Sche seyth that they wold mak hym a yer yonger than
he is, but sche seyth that he is more thane xxj., and upon that
sche dare take an othe.

And the Blyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng, and
send yow good sped in all yowyr matyrs, and send the vyctary
of all yowyr enmyis.

Wretyn in hast, on Sowlemas Daye.1

By yowyrs, M. P.

489
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON2

To my ryth worchepfull \_hus]bond^ John Paston, be thys
delyveryd in hast.

NOV. 20 i ^ YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow.
r^ Plesyt yow to wet that I receyvyd yowyr lettyr that
ye sent by the gold smyth, as thys day in the morn-
yng. As for Syr Thomas, he sent me word he schold to yow
ward as on Twysday last past ; if he fayle ony thyng that ye
sent word he schold bryng with hym, it is not for no lak of
remembrans, for I sent to hym thryis or fowyr tymys ther
for, and that he schold hast hym ther in. As for Rychard
Call, he was not at home thys fortnyth. When he comyth
I schall do yowir erendys to hym ; and as for all yowyr odyr
erendys I schall do hem as well as I can. I sent yow a byll
yestyrday by old Taverham, and a byll of Jone Gaynys mater,
the whyche bylle I pray yow may be delyveryd to Thomas
Playter. I spak to hym of the same mater or he yed hens,
and I pray yow, if it plese yow, to geve hym yowyr avyse
what ye thynk is best to do ther in. Sche seyth sche is ryth

1 All Souls', otherwise Soulmas Day, 2nd of November. — F.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written in 14.61, the
year of John Paston's great dispute with Howard.

EDWARD IV

sory, and if hyr old mastyr demene hym not well to yow sche 1461
prayith yow that ye wole be hyr good mastyr, and I that sche NOV- 20
fare never the werse for hys defawtys. And also I pray yow
that ye wele be John Lysterys good mastyr in hys mater. He
spak to Playter ther of, and Playter seyd he hopyd to fynd a
mene aftyr that he had spook with yow, that schold ese hym
ther in. I thank yow hertly for yowyr lettyr, for it was to
me gret comfort to her fro yow. God knowyth my modyr
and I thowt ryth longe tyll we herd tydyngys fro yow. And
the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast
on Seynt Edmundys Day the Kyng.

By yowyr M. P.

The pepyll was nevyr bettyr dysposyd to yow than they be
at this owyr. The byll that Howard hathe mad a yens yow
and odyr hathe set the pepyll in thys contre a rore. God yeve
grace it be no werse than it is yet.

49°

ROGER TAVERHAM TO JOHN PASTON1

To my reverent and most be trusted maister^ John Paston, Esquyer,
duelling in the Inner Temple, be this delyvered.

RYGHT reverent and most be trusted maister, I recom- Year
maunde me in the most lowly wise un to your good and uncer-
prevyd maysterchep, and desiring many days to here of tain
your welfare, whiche I be seche God encrese un to his plesauns
and un to the prosperite and welfare of your person, and of all
youres. And I be seche you of the good contynuaunce of
your maysterchep at divcrses tymes befor this writing shewed
un to me ; and, sir, ther is non man a Ivye that I trust more to
than I doo un to you, and I am your bedman, and so shall

1 [From Fenn, iv. 252.] This letter and the next are placed here merely for con-
venience. The two are evidently some years apart in point of date, and nothing is
quite clear about the date of either, except that the latter must have been written in
the reign of Edward iv., and of course before the death of John Paston in 1466.
This, which is several years earlier than the other, was almost certainly written in the
reign of Henry vi. The writer was probably the ' old Taverham ' mentioned by
Margaret Paston in the last letter.

THE PASTON LETTERS

Year remayn be the grace of God all the days of myn liff. And,

uncer- sir, I suppose I shall never see you no more, nor non of myn

tain frendes, whiche is to me the grettest lamentacion that myght

come un to myn herte ; for, sir, by the grace of God, I shall go

to Rome and in to oder holy places, to spende myn dayes of

this present liff in the servise of God. For I hadde lever liffe

in gret tribulacion in the service of God in this present liff,

than for to folowe the wretchednesse of this worlde.

And, syr, of on thing I be seche specially your good
maysterchep that ye wolle shew your good maistershep un to
my fader in tyme of his nede, and that ye wolle recomaunde
me in the most lowly wise with all reverence un to his good
faderhode, be sechyng hym that he wole yeff me every day,
during the dayes of his liff, his paternall blissing. And I have
marvayle san that I have writen so many letters un to hym be
for this tyme, that I hadde never non letter ageyn, whiche is
to me the grettest lamentacion that ever come to my hert ; and
nowe knowing that I shall never see hym more, nor you, nor
non other of my frendes, marvayle ye not thow sorowe is
imprended in myn hert.

But, reverent maister, myn singuler trust remayneth nowe
in your person, for, sir, and it please you, I most nedes write
un to your good maisterchep, in the whiche my most trust
remayneth. For, syr, and it please you, as for myn inheritaunce
and other things whiche shulde come to me after the deth of
my fader, whoes liff God preserve to his long plesauns, know-
ing that I shall never com ther, I hadde lever that by your
good a vise that ye wolde take it unto you, for I hadde lever
that ye hadde it rather than any person in the worlde during
my liff, with all the profites ther of ; and if that ye wole make
as good evidences for you in that partye as ye can, and I shall
a scale hem. And as you semeth best, and in the most secret
wise, rewle you in this mater.

And, sir, I be seche you to recomaunde me in the most
lowly wise to myn reverent Maister William Lumnour, seyeng
hym that I am and shall be his perpetuall bedman, and as ye
thenk best, ye may telle hym of all these maters. And, syr, I
be seche you to recomaunde me with all reverence un to my
6

EDWARD IV

masteras your wiff, and to all other maysters and frendes ther. Year
And, sir, that ye wolle thank the bringer of this letter, whiche uncer-
hathe ben in my gret tribulacion my good frende ; and, sir, tain
whan ye speke with my fader, recomaunde me un to hym with
all reverence, and sey un to hym I shall send hym a letter in all
hast possible.

And, syr, as for this mater, demene you as ye wolle, and I
shall doo your plesauns as moche as in me is. And, reverent
maister, remitte me summe letter by the bringer her of of all
thes maters, for he duellith with my Lorde, and he is ryght
moche be trusted, for I knowe wele he wole yef a tendaunce un
to you for to have summe letter from you ; for, syr, it shall
not be longe or that I go to Rome, by the grace of God. And
as sone as I have a letter from you at this tyme, I shall send
you a noder ageyn.

No more at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite have you in
His blissed keping. Wreten at Sarum, the Monday aftyr
Mydsomer Day. And lete these maters be kept secrete by
your best a vise.

Be youre poure servaunt, ROGER TAVERHAM.

491
ROGER TAVERHAM TO JOHN PASTON1

To my right tvourshipful maister, John Pastony
Esquyer, be this letter delyvered.

RIGHT wourshipful maister, I recommaunde me un to I46i(.?)
your maistership, and I thank, your maistership that
hit pleased your maistership to sende me wourde a yen
of my letter that I sende you by the brynger herof. Sir, as I
am enfourmed, ye sent me wourde how that my fader was dede
long tyme passed, and also ye desired to knowe my titylle of
ryght. Sir, I am very heyre, by the disceas of my fader, to a

1 [From Fenn, iv. 258.] The mention of Lord Wenlock in this letter proves that
it cannot be earlier than 1461 ; but if the writer be, as we have surmised, the 'old
Taverham ' mentioned by Margaret Paston in No. 489, it is most probably of that
year.

THE PASTON LETTERS

I46i(?) place called Keswyk, in Taverham, with all the apportenauncez,
„ and that comyth by enherytaunce and discente to me, for I am
the helder and heyre ; and though my Lorde Cromwell l hath
taken Thomas Taverham, my yonger brother, as warde for the
same enheritaunce, that maketh no mater to me, in so moche I
am helder brother. Wher for I beseche you to sende me a
letter of attournay made to you in my name in the strengest
wise that ye can, for to entre in to the same lyvelode, and I
shall asseal that, and than I shall do my service and feaute to
the seid Lorde Cromwell in all thing as by the tenure of the
same lyvelode of olde tyme aught to be done. And herin I
kno well the King shal cause my Lorde Cromwel to do me
bothe lawe and right ; and also my Lorde Chaunceler, with
oder Lordes diverse, shall do the same. And, sir, I beseche
your maistership to do and to take possession^n the saide place
with the apportenaunce in short tyme, for losyng of the rent
this yer passed.

And, sir, as for the place of Attylbrigge that my moder in
lawe now duellith in, sir, your maistershep shal right not
\naughf\ attempte ther now in ; for my Lorde of Warwik 2
hath seen how the same place was yeven me by testament by
Sir Roger Dallyng after the disease of my fader, whiche is redy
to be shewed. And therupon my Lorde of Warwik hath
comaunded certeyn gentilmen to entre in the same place, and
your maistership hadde be moved ther in or this, but for cause
that ye love wel Lumpnour,3 and that my moder in lawe is his
sister; but I kno we wel hit woul cost CCC//., but that she
shal be dispossedded of that place in short tyme. And,
maister, how ye woul be rewled in the seid place of Keswyk,
I be seche you to sende me wourde, as my sengler trust is in
you ; for and ye woulde not take possession in the saide place,
my Lorde Wenlok4 woulde have that ful fayne, for all the

1 Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, so created in 1461.

2 Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

3 William Lumner, of Mannington, in Norfolk. — F.

4 John Wenlock was created Baron Wenlock in 1461 by Edward iv. ; but he
afterwards left the York party, and joined that of Lancaster. He was cleft down with
a battle-axe by the Duke of Somerset for not coming up in time at the battle of
Tewkesbury in 1471, whereby that battle was lost. — F.

EDWARD IV

contray knowith while that while I leve, I am heyr and non I46i(?)
other. And therfor I beseche you in all hast sende me wourde
by the bryngger herof in hast, quia mora trahit periculum.
And, sir, I would come speke with you. I am seke, and may
not goo ; but telle the bryngger heroff all your entent. For
my liff duryng I hadde lever that ye hadde that place for ]d.
than a nother man, thow he woulde yeff me meche mony, for
your maistership ther shewed to me in my yong age. And
God kepe you, &c.

Your chapeleyn, ROGER TAVERHAM.

492
ABSTRACT1

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON.

Since I left you I have received at Cotton jT^. : 2s., with which I have made 1461
purchases of linen shirts, &c. for you. Shall have more money before Christmas. NOV. 2O
Debenham, Jenney, nor none of his men * come not there sen' that I was there.'
A letter of attorney is made for Nakton in your name to Sir John Heveningham,
and a rental and fermal sent him. We kept a court this week at Calcotte but
could get little money, not so much as I paid my Lady of Suffolk's officers.
Farmers will not occupy there till appointment be made between Paston and
Debenham ; nor Risynge till he hear from Paston. Can get no day for Mautby.
They will not give a noble, nor even 6 shillings, for a cow. Dey occupies your
lands there till you come home. Risynge would take them and the closes at
Castre if he is not to have Calcotte. The prests shall be paid as soon as we get
money, I hope this week. Wheat I2</. a comb, barley 8d., malt 9^. and lod.
No good price for malt, ' saving, as we understand, it is good Flanders.' John
Russe and Robert Glover are sending a ship with corn over, and we hare
ventured with them i oo comb malt. You should make some bargain with your
beer brewers. Can get no money from Aleynes, farmer of Gresham, since ye
rode, but 40*. Has laid in sufficient beef for Paston's household till ' Faste-
gang ' (Lent). Sir Thomas Howys advises my mistress not to send Edmund
Paston to Cambridge or elsewhere till after Christmas. Please ask Clement,
your brother, to get a writ against Geoffrey Clerk of West Somerton for the
2Or. that Belys gave him to pay Clement. Remember the letter I sent you last
week.

Caister, St. Edmund's Day.

[From what is here said of the levying of rents at Cotton, and from the mention
of Debenham and Jenney in connection with it, we may presume this letter was written
in 1461. With this supposition agrees the reference to John Paston's brother, Clement,
who, as we see by No. 484, was in London in October.]

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

THE PASTON LETTERS

AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON *

To John Paston, at London, be this delyverd in hast.

1461 I grete you welle, and lete you wete that this day Berth' Elys of Paston

DEC. I come to Norwych to me, and shewet me a rentall for the terme of Seynt Mich.,
the yer of Kyng H. vj. xxxix0 ; and in the ende of the seyd rentall, of Waryn
Kynges hand is wretyn 'Agnes Paston vi]d. ob. [7^.]. Item> the same Agnes
for v. acre lond xx<£' Item, Aleyn Bayfeld askyth the same rent for the yer
last past at Mich. Item, I have knowlech be a trew man that whan Sharpe
the reseyvor was at Gemyngham last, Waryn Herman was dyvers dayes with
hym, and put hym in mynde that the mercyment for makynge of the walle
chuld be askyd ageyn and be distreynyd ther for. Item, I sent you be Doctor
Aleyns man the restew [residue] of Waryn Herman, and seche names as
Cullynge and Sammys putt in of her owyn fre wylle befor John Northales,
shereve of Norwyche,2 under her selis. God be with you and send you
His blyssyng and myn. Wretyn at Norwych the Tuisday next after Seynt
Andrew.

Item, the seyd Berth' Elis seyth that the seyd reseyver wold not alowe
the rent in Trunche nor the mercyments for my sute to the curt. Gonnor
wold suffyr no man to answer for me.

Be your moder, AGNES PASTON.

494

SIR JOHN HEVENYNGHAM TO JOHN PASTON,

SENIOR3

To myn ryght ivorchipjfull cosyn, John Paston the elder, Esquyer,
be this letter delivered in hast.

DEC. 12 Ryght worchipfFull cosyn, I recomaunde me to you in as hertely wyse I

can, desyryng ever to here off your welffare, whiche I beseche our Lord Jesu

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The year in which this letter was written is deter-
mined by the mention of John Northale as Sheriff of Norwich.

3 He was Sheriff of Norwich in the first year of Edward IV.

3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently of the same year as No. 492.
The contents, moreover, seem to show that the date cannot be far distant from that of
Richard Calle's letter of the ist of February following.

EDWARD IV

to preserve to your hertes pleaser, &c. Sir, ye sent me a letter of atorney to 1461
reseyve and to ocupye in your name the maner called Burnevyles in Nakton. DEC. 12
Sir, as for that ocupacion, I can litil skylle en, ne I wel not take up on me non
suche ocupacionis ; wherffor I beseche you holde me excused, for it is no werd
[iiw7</] for me to take suche ocupacionis. I have as moche as I may to gader
myn ownne lyfflode, and truli, cosyn, I can not gader that well. And therfFor,
cosyn, I pray you take it to non displeaser. Sir, that I may worchepfulli doo
for you, ye shal fynde me redy be the grace of Jesu, whom I hertely beseche to
have you in Hise mersyfull kepyng. Wretyn at Hevenyngham on Seynt
Lucye Even. Be your cosyn,

JOHN HEVENYNGHAM, knyght.

495

ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON1

RYGHT worchefull master, I recommend me on to yow, 1 4^1
&c. The cause of my wrytyng is this ; I was at DEC<
Blofeld on Sent Andruys Day 2 wyt the person,3 and
he understode non noder but that I cam to se is master chepe,
for it was hese cheve day,4 and that I mevyd in to hym of the
lond in Sochewerk, how I hard sey qwan I was in Sochefolk
that Geney mad hys avaunt that he had zon [given] zow and
hym a choppe of xx. pownd of lond. And in contynent he
telde me al the mater beter than I cowde telle hym, and as I
cowde understond in hym be my sympyl wyt, that he was of
knoleche of alle the mater ; for he seyd that Yelverton cam
don fro the benche, and plete the mater, and for cause ye
wer to laches, and cam not in tyme, the mater yede a mys.
And so I understode be hym that he is dysposyd to excuse
Yelverton in al materys rather than yow ; but never de les
make good cher to the person, as thow ye understode that he
wer your frend, tyl tyme ye have your in tente. But be warr

1 [From Fenn, iv. 64.] The date of this letter is a little uncertain, but it seems
to have been written at the beginning of the dispute between Paston and Yelverton,
about Fastolfs will, and the year 1461 appears to me on the whole most probable.

8 3Oth November.

3 Thomas Howes.

* The day of his chief or patron saint. Blofield Church is dedicated to St.
Andrew.

THE PASTON LETTERS

i46i(?)and trost hym not, but make yow so strong in lorchepe and
DEC' in the lawe, that ye reeke not meche qwder he be good or
bad, &c.

Item, ye be meche be held on to Tomas Grene and
Edmund Wydewel, broder to Heu a Fen, for thei reporte
meche worchepe of your master chepe in al maters, and that
cause the substans of the towne to howe yow servese, and
be wel dysposyd on to yow masterchepe, and that understonde
I hevery day. And yf that plese yow, qwan we partyt at
Norwyche in yowr plase, ye seyd on to me ye wold som qat
do be my sympyl a wyse ; and this is myn a wyse that in ony
wyse ye make Heu a Fen and Tomas Grene on your consel,
yf ye can fyne in yow herte. For I dare sey, as I her and
understonde, that thei how yow ryth good well and servyse,
for a man may her be the halfe qwat the hole menyth, and
therfor for Godds lowe remember yow wel in this mater ; for
and it stode on myn lyfe, I wold do as I awyse yow, &c.

Item, for howr Lords love, goo tharow with Wyll Weseter,
and also plese Chrewys as ye thynke in yow hert best for to
do ; for it is a comon proverbe, * A man must sumtyme set a
candel befor the Devyle ' ; and therfor thow it be not alder
most mede and profytabyl, yet of ij. harmys the leste is to
be take.

Item, ye xul oonderstonde that the parson telde me that
dey wer somuned to cum for the probat of the testement at
Convercyon of Sent Powle;1 and therfor I wolde avyse yow in
ony wyse that ye xuld understond the mater wysely her ye
com horn, for I sopose that Yelverton and he is confydett and
acorde to geder.

Item, qwan I was at Blofeld with the parson, ther cam
Robert Fyrass to hym, seyyng that he is compeld be the
Kyngs Commycyoners to have harnes after is degre, and that
the parson sent hym to my mastras that che xuld delyver hym
harnes, and I understond che wylle not tylle ye com horn.
But ye xul understond it is an halmes dede to do hym good,
understondyng is nesessyte and nede that he stond in, and also
understondyng that he was kynnyes man to my master, and it

1 Jan. 25.
12

EDWARD IV

is a comon proverbe, 'A man xuld kepe fro the blynde and I46i(?)
gevyt to is kyn ' ; and hevery man wyl sey wel ther of, the DEC-
mor cause he is a gentylman, and of is kyne, and in gret
penur. And therfor, for the love of God, remembyr seche
maters.

No mor at this tyme, but God have yow in Hys kepyng,
bothe body and sowle, and sqede yow in yowr maters as wel
as wel as I wolde ye xulde do.

496

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

'To my right wurchepfull husband, John Paston.

RIGHT wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. DEC. [3]
Please it you to wete that myn awnte is dissesid,
whos sowle God assoyll. And if it please you to send
word how ye wull that we do for the lifflode that she had at
Walcote, wheder ye wull that any body take possession tliir in
your name or not. And if it like you to have with you my
cosyn William her sone, I trow ye shuld fynde hym a necessary
man to take hede to yowr howshold, and to bye all maner of
stuffe nedefull therto, and to se to the rewle and gode gidyn
therof. It hath be told me be for that he can gode skill
of such thyngs ; and if ye wull that I send for hym and speke
with hym ther of, I shall do as ye send me word, for in feyth
it is tyme to crone your old officers for diverse thyngs wher of
I have know parte be Dawbeney, and more I shall telle you
whan ye come hame.

Also it is thought be my cosyn Elizabeth Clere, and the
viker 2 and other that be your frends, that it is right necessary

1 [From Fenn, iv. 106.] Except that it seems to be of the reign of Edward iv.,
the date of this letter is about as uncertain as that of the last ; but as they are both
written about the same time of year, and both recommend John Paston to use the
counsel of Hugh Fenn, it is highly probable that they are of the same year. Perhaps
the last letter may have been written by the vicar mentioned in this.

2 The vicar of Paston ? Robert Williamson was vicar of Paston at this time.

THE PASTON LETTERS

I46i(?)for you to have Hew of Fen to be your frende in your
DEC- [3] maters ; for he is callid right feythfull and trosty to his frends
that trost hym, and it is reported her he may do myche with
the Kyng and the Lords, and it is seid that he may do myche
with hem that be your adversaryes : and therfor, Godds sake,
if ye may have his gode wille, forsake it not. Also it is
thought the more lerned men that ye have of your owyn
centre of your councell, the more wurchepful it is to you.

Also if ye be at home this Cristmes, it wer wele do ye
shuld do purvey a garnyssh or tweyn of powter vesshell, ij.
basanes, and ij. hewers, and xij. candlestikes, for ye have to
few of any of thes to serve this place. I am a ferd to purvey
mych stuffe in this place till we be suerrer therof. The Blissid
Trinyte have you in His blissid kepyng.

Wretyn the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.

Be yowr M. P.

497
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON »

<J"o my ryth worchepful husband, Jonhn Paston,
be thys delyveryd in hast.

YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomande me to yow.
DEC. 29 r Plesyt yow to wete that I receyvyd the lettyr that
ye sent me by a man of Seynt Mychell parysche on
Fryday next aftyr the Consepcion of owyr Ladi ; 2 and anon as
I had it, I sent my modyr 3 the lettyr because of swyche materys
as longyd to hyr in that same lettyr. And sythyn that tyme I
kowd gete no massanger to London but if I wold have sent by
the Scheryfys men ; and I knew nowthyr her mastyr nor them,
not whedyr they wer well wyllyng to yow or not ; and therfor
methowt it had be no sendyng of no lettyr by hem.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter will appear by comparison
with No. 500. A few words in the margin of the original letter are illegible, the
writing having been injured by damp.

2 The Conception of Our Lady was on the 8th December.

3 Margaret always speaks of Agnes Paston as her mother.

EDWARD IV

And as for swyche materys as John Geney and Jamys 1461
Gresham spak to me, I sped hem as well as I kowd ; and they DEC> 29
bothe told me that ye schold veryly a ben at home before
Crystmas, and that causyd me that I wrot not to yow now non
answer. For if I had know that ye schold not have ben at
home er thys tyme, I schold a sent some man to yow ; for I
thynk ryth longe tyll I have some god tydyngys fro yow. I
fer me that it is not well with yow that ye be fro home at thys
good tyme. And many of yowyr centre men thynk the same ;
but they be hertty mow to yow-ward, and full fayn wold her
god tydyngys fro yow. The wer no byllys put to the Scherryf *
at hys beyng her, ner non opyn playnt mad that I ..... of
no persone, be cawse they had so lyttyll knowlage of hys come-

yng in to thys contre. He demenyd hym full and

indeferently, as it was told me, and Yelverton mad a fayir

sermone at the Sesschyonys, and seyd so that the

Kyng was informyd that ther was a ryotows felawschep in thys
contre, wer for the Kyng was gretly dysplesyd, and that the
Kyng undyrstood well that it was not of ther owne mosyon,
boot of cownselyng of one or ij. that ben evyll dysposyd folk.
And also he seyd if ony man wold put up ony byllys of com-
pleynts of ony extorcion or brybery don be ony men of thys
contre to them, they wer redy to receyve them, and to make
a-kord be twyx hem ; and if they cowd not mak the acord,
that than the schold tak the byllys to the Kyng, and he schold
set hem thorow. And the Scheryfe seyd that he wold he

them that wold compleyne and dorste not for fer

put up ther byllys.

And Yelverton preyid the Scheryfe that if he had for get
onythyng that the Kyng seyd to hem at ther departtyng, that
he wolde rehersyt [rehearse it] ther. And than the Scheryf
seyd that he had seyd all that he remembryd, save only [that]
the Kyng .... to hem ij. personys, Syr Thomas Todenham
and Heydon. And than Yelverton seyd, 'A, that is trowthe,

as th that J[ohn of] Dame told me that he spak

with the Scheryf aftyrward, and let hym h the

rewylle [and] demenyng of thys contre, and what cawsyd the

1 The Sheriff was Sir Thomas Montgomery.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1461 pepyll for to grwge ayens swyche folkys as had the reuyll be
DEC. 29 fortyme ; and he was pleyne to hym in many thyngys, as he
told me ; and he fond the Scheryfe ryth pleyne ayen to hym,
and well dysposyd in that that myth growe to the welfar of the
schere. The Scheryfe seid he undyrstood by swyche informa-
cion as he had, syns he came into thys contre, that they had
not all gydyd hem well that had the rewyill of thys contre be
for ; and therfore he seyd feythfully, and swore by gret othys
that he wold nowthyr spar for good, nor love, nor fer, but that
he wold let the Kynge have knowlage of the trowthe, and that
he wold do asmyche for thys contre as he cowd or myth do to
the welfare therof, and seyd that he lekyd the contre ryth well.
And John of Dame seyd if the contre had had knowlage of
hys comyng, he schold have had byllys of compleyntes and
knowlage of myche more thyng than he myth have knowlage
of that tyme, or myth have because of schort abyng ; and he
seyd he wold not be longe owt of thys contre.

And also Yelverton seyd opynly in the Seschyons they to
come downe for the same cause to set a rewyll in the contre.
And yet he seyd he woste well that the Kynge myth full evyll
have for bor ony of hem bothe ; for- as for a knyth ther was
none in the Kyngys howse that myth werse a be for bore than
the Scheryfe myth at that tyme. I have myche mor to wryt to
yow of than I may have leyser at thys tyme ; but I troste to God
that ye schall be at home yowyr selfe in hast, and than ye schall
knowe all. And but if ye come home in haste, I schall send
to yow ; and I pray yow hertly, but if ye come home, send me
word in hast how ye do. And the blyssyd Trinyte have yow
in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Seynt Thomas day in
Crystmas.1

By yowyr, MARGARET PASTON.

Here was an evyll rewlyd felawschep yestyrday at the schere,
and ferd ryth fowle with the Undyr Scheryfe, and onresnably
as I herd sey.

1 The day of St. Thomas of Canterbury (Becket), agth December.

EDWARD IV

498

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON1

I'D my right reverent and my moost ivurschipful
maystre^ my Maysfre John Paston.

RIGHT wurshipfull and my mooste reverent mastre, I 1461
recomaunde me unto your goode maystreship. Like DEC- 29
you to witte that on Childremasse daye 2 there were
moche people at Norwich at the shire, be cauce it was noyced
in the shire that the Undresheriff had a writte to make a newe
aleccion ; wherfore the people was greved be cauce they had
labored so often, seying to the Sheriff that he had the writte,
and pleynly he shulde not a wey unto the tyme the writte were
redd. The Sheriff3 answerd, and seyd that he had no writte,
nor west who had it. Heruppon the people peacyd, and stilled
unto the tyme the shire was doone, and after that doone, the
people called uppon hym, ' Kylle hym ! Heede \behead~\ hym ! '
And so John Dam, with helpe of other, gate hym out of the
schire-hows, and with moche labour brought hym unto Sporyer
Rowe ; 4 and ther the people mett a yenst hym, and so they a
voided hym unto an hows, and kept fast the dore unto the
tyme the meyer was sent fore, and the Sherif, to strenght hym,
and to convey hem a wey, or ell he had be slayne. Wherfor
divers of the thrifty men came to me, desiryng that I shulde
writte unto your maistreship to lete you have undrestandyng
of the gidyng of the people, for they be full sory of this
trowble ; and that it plese you to sende hem your advice how
they shal be gided and rwled, for they were purposed to a
gathered an c. or cc. of the thriftyest men, and to have come
up to the Kyng to lete the Kyng have undrestandyng of ther
mokkyng. And also the people fere hem sore of you and
Mastre Berney,5 be cauce ye come not home.

1 [From Fenn, iii. 150.] The contents of this letter clearly refer to the matter
alluded to in the postscript of the preceding letter of Margaret Paston, so that the date
must be the same. 2 2 8th December. 3 Sir Thomas Montgomery.

4 Spurrier Row, as I am informed by Mr. L'Estrange, was what is now called
London Street. 6 John Berney of Witchingham.

VOL. IV. B 17

THE PASTON LETTERS

1461 Plese you that ye remembr the bill I sent you at Hallow-

DEC. 29 messe for the place and londs at Boyton weche Cheseman had
in his ferme for v. mark. Ther wol no man have it above
xlvjs- viijd>, for Alblastre and I have do as moche therto as we
can, but we can not go a bove that. And yet we can not lete
it so for this yere, with owte they have it for v. or vj. yere. I
wrote to your mastreship herof, but I had non answre ; wherfor
I beseche you that I may have an answere of this be Tlwelthe,
for and we have an answre of this be that tyme, we shall enfeffe
hem with all, &c.

My right wurshipfull and my moost reverent maistre,
Almyghty Jesu preserve you, and send you the victorye of
your elmyes, as I truste to Almyghty Jesu ye shall. Wreten
at Norwich on Seyn Thomas daye after Cristemasse daye.

Your pore servant and bedman, R. CALL.

499

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON1

To my moost reverent and ivurshipjful mastre, my Master John
Paston of the Enner Temple, this be delyvered.

Plesith your maystership to undrestande that as for the ferme that Cheseman
had in Boyton, that is to sey, xl. acre lond erable, j. medwe, and other smale
parcell, payng yerly for it iiij//'., weche I can not lete the xl. acre lond abowe
xl. comb barly or xlj., and ye to bere al charges of the reparaucion and fense
aboute the place, weche shulde be gret cost. The lond is so out of tylthe that
a nedes [uneath, i.e. scarcely] any man wol geve any thyng for it. Ther can
no man lete it to the walwe that it was lete before, and that I reporte me to my
master, Sir Thomas Howys, not be gret gold. Wherfore I wol not do therin
unto the tyme that I have answere from your mastership, weche I beseche you
it may be hast. And as for Spitlynges, I have lete som of the lond in smale
parcell, because I cowde gete no fermor for it. And as for Sir T. H., in good
feythe I fynde [him] weele disposed in all thynges, excepte for Sir W. Chamber-
leyn for Rees in Stratton. And so the blissid Trinite preserve and kepe you
from all adversite. Wrete at Blofeld, the Thorsday next after Hallowmesday.
Your pore servaunt and bedman, R. CALLE.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is uncertain. Its contents
are mere matter of business, and as relating to the same farm mentioned in the last
may be supposed to belong to the same year, especially as in the last Calle mentions
having written to Paston on the subject ' at Hallowmass.' There is, however, a dis-
crepancy in the value assigned for the farm.

EDWARD IV

500

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON1

To John Past on y the older, in hast, and if he be not at London,
than to be delyvered to Clement Paston in hast.

C^E your maisterchip wete that at the last cessyons 1461
Erpyngham hundred and other hundredys ther aboute DEC.
were not warned, and the schreff excused hym be
cause he cowde not knowe who was officer there. Item,
Yelverton lete the pepoll understand that the Kyng wold have
his lawes kept, and that he was dysplesed with the maner of
ther gaderyng, and that he wold have it amendyd ; for he con-
ceyveth that the hole body of the shire is well dysposed and
that the ille dysposed pepoll is but of a corner of the hole
shire ; and yet that ther mysdoyng growyth not of ther owyn
dysposysyon but of the abbettement and steryng of sum ille
dysposed persones whiche is understand and knowe to the
Kynges hygthnesse. Item, he lete hem wete that the Kyng
had commandyd hym to sey if ther were any man, pore or
ryche, that had cause to complayne of any person that he
schuld put up his by lie to the shref and hym, and they schuld
set a reule be twyx hem ; and if he wold not abyde ther reule
they schuld delyver, the sayd bylle of compleynt to the Kynges
hignesse, and he schuld set the rewle and suche dyreccion that
the party compleynaunt or defendaunt schuld be punysshed for
his dysobeysauns of the said rewle if the case requyred ; and
also more over, if ther were ony person that put up ony suche
bylle, and it mygth apere to them by ther examinacion or other
wyse fals or untrewe, or elles be cause of malyce, that than
suche compleynaunts schuld sharpely be punysshed. And than

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The mention of Tuddenham and Heyden in this
letter proves that it cannot be of later date than the year 1461, as the former was
executed in February 1462. At the same time the reference to John Paston, Junior,
could not be much earlier, and the message from the King to the people of Norfolk
certainly could not have come from Henry vi. only a year or two before. The
date must therefore be 1461 precisely.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1461 whan he had sayd this and moche more, in dyscoragyng to the
D£c. pepoll to put bylles, as after my conseyt, he reported hym to
the schref ther present, that the Kyng thus comanded hem thus
to sey, desyreng the said schref if ony thyng of the Kyngs
comaunded were be hynd unspoken by hym self that he wold
remembre and helpe forthe to telle it. And than the schref
said, lyke as he rehersed the Kyng comanded, and more over
that the Kyng named ij. men, by name Tudenham and Haydon,
and if ony man wold put bylles a yens them, he said in feyth-
full wyse he wold help hem, and ferther the mater to the Kyng
higthnesse. And for his demenyng ther every man thougth
hym rigth wel dysposed ; but Yelverton had for yeten to
expresse the names of Tudham and Haydon.

Item, the schref desyred the jentylmen to go with [him] to
Felbryg Halle, and specially he requyred Mr. John P., the
younger ; but he cowde no pepoll gete, and so he cam not
there. Item, there was a bylle set up on the shirehous dore,
and the content ther of was but of the favour to you ward,
Barney, Knyvet and Felbrygge, and of the hatered of other ;
it was but of sum lewde dysposed person it semeth. Item, sir,
at the last shire was moche pepoll and ille governed for they
wold not be rewled be no body, they had almost a slayne the
underschref, for they told hym wryttes of eleccion was sent
doun and he kept it on syde to be gyle hem, and to make hem
labour ayen, and ther for he that kepyth it is to blame, me
thynketh. Item, sir, please you to telle Mr. Clement, we
have goten a reles of al maner accions and appelles of Margret
Clerk, made to Gymmyngham, on of the pryncypalles, and
that he woll inquyre wheder it be suffycyant for alle, and send
me word, and weder it dyvers fro trespas and dette, wher
damages is to be recovered, for in this appell is no damages
to be recovered, but only an execucion, whiche non of them
may be contributory to other execucion as is in other cases.
Nevertheles, I hope it be sufficiant for all, for sche is in the
cas to have the lyf in stede of damages.

Your THOMAS PL.

EDWARD IV

501

ANONYMOUS TO MARGARET PASTONi

'To my right ivorchepfull Mastres Paston.

1RECOMAWNDE me to your good mastreschep, besech- i46i(?)
yng yow in the weye of charyte, and as I maye be your
bedeman and servaunt, that ye wyll lete me have wetyng
hoghe I maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is seyd
that ther xal be mych more pepyll than was the last ; and also
if I be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in the town, I xall
be takyn owte. Also, mastres, that my Maystyr Radclyffs
xal take all my catell and all other pore good that I have, and
so but I maye have helpe of my mayster and of yow, I am but
lost. Also my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my
ryght gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in
all thes, and I xal content the costs as ye xall be plesyd, be
the grace of God, hoo ever preserve yow, &c.

Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuall
help, but I must selle or lete to ferme all that I have.

Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a doctour of
fesyk. If ye wyll ony thyng with hym, he xal abyde this daye
and, to morwe. He is ryght a konnyng man and gentyll.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 104..] This letter appears to have been addressed to Margaret
Paston at a period when her husband was a man of some influence, and perhaps the
year 14.61 is not far from the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about
the same time as No. 500, which also refers to a meeting at the shire or county
court.

THE PASTON LETTERS

502

ELIZABETH MUNDEFORD TO JOHN PASTON1

I'o my right worchipfull sir, and my right good neveu,
John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delyvered, &c.

1461-6 * •% IGHT worchipfull sir, and my right good neveu, I
1"^ recomand me un to you with all myn herte. Piece
it you to undyrstande the grete nessessyte of my
wrytyng to you is this, that ther was made an exchaunge be
the graunsyre of my hosbonds Mundeford, un hose sowle
God have mercy, of the maner of Gressenale with the aun-
setrys of Rows for the maner of Estlexham, the qwych is
parte of my juntor, and my grauntfadyr Mundeford recoweryd
the said maner of Estlexham be assyze 2 a geyne the aunsetrys
of Rows, and so madyt clere ; and nowe have Edmund Rows 3
claymyt the seyd maner of Estlexham be the verteu of a tayle
[an entail and hathe takyn possesseon, and made a feffement
to my Lord of Warewyke,4 and Water Gorge,5 and to Curde.6
And un Fryday be for Seynt Walentyne is Day Water Gorge
and Curde enteryd and toke possessyon for my seyd Lord of
Warewyke, and so bothe the forseyd manerys were ontayled,
and at the tyme of the exchaunge made, the tayles and evydens
of bothe for seyd manerys were delyvered un to the partyes
indeferently be the avyse of men lernyd. Qwerfor I beshech
you that it plese you to take the grete labor upon you to

1 [From Fenn, iv. 108.] The date of this letter must lie between the years 1461
and 1466. The writer's husband, who is spoken of as dead, was put to death in June
1460, and John Paston, the person addressed, died in May 1466.

2 Assize is a writ directed to the sheriff of the county for recovery of the possession
of things immovable, whereof yourself or ancestors have been dispossessed. — F.

3 Edmund Rous was second son of Henry Rous, Esq. of Dennington, in Suffolk,
the ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.

4 Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

5 Walter Gorges, Esq., married Mary, the daughter and heir of Sir William Old-
hall, and was at this time Lord of the Manor of Oldhall, in Great Fransham. He
died in 1466. His son and heir, Sir Edmund Gorges, afterwards married a daughter
of Sir John Howard, Knight, the first Duke of Norfolk of that family. — F.

6 John Curde was Lord of the Manor of Curde's Hall, in Fransham. — F.

EDWARD IV

informe my Lordys good Lordchep of the trowthe in the 1461-6
forme a bowyn wreten, and that it plese you to undyrstand
qwedyr that my Lord wyll a byde be the feffment made to
hym or not ; and that it shall plese my Lord that I may have
right as lawe requeryt, for I trust to God be soche tyme as my
Lord shall be informyd of the trowthe be you, that hese Lord-
chip wyll not supportt the forseyd Rows a geyne my right.
And if I hadde very undyrstandyng that my Lord would take
no parte in the mater a bowe seyd, I would trust to Godds
mersy, and to you, and other of my good fryndes, to have
possession a geyne in right hasty tyme, beshechyng you to
pardon me of my symple wrytyng, for hadde no leyser.
Right worchipfull and my right good neveu, I beshech the
Blyssed Trenyte have you in Hese gracyous kepyng.

Wreten at Norwych in gret hast, the Tewysday aftyr Seynt
Walentyne is Day.

Youre ouyn, ELIZABETH MuNDEFORD.1

503
SIR ROBERT WILLIAMSON TO AGNES PASTON2

I'D my right reverent mastras, Agnes Paston,
be this lettre delyveryd in haste.

RYGH wurchepful mastres, I recomaund me un to yow, 1460-4
thankyng yow of the gret chere that ze made me
the last tyme that I was with zow. Mastres, in alle
zour godys and ocupacyons that lyth in my simpil power to
do in wurd, wil and dede, I have do my dylygens and my
power therto, so I be savyd be fore God, and have owyn to
your person ryght herty love ; for the qwych I am ryght ille

1 Elizabeth Mundeford was the widow of Osbert Mundeford, Esq. of Hockwold,
in Norfolk, and was daughter of John Berney, Esq., by which means she was aunt to
J. Paston. — F.

2 [From Fenn, iii. 48.] The writer of this letter was Vicar of Paston from 1460
to 1464, and as he dates from Bromholm, which is in the immediate neighbourhood
of Paston, we may presume that it was written during the time he held that benefice.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1460-4 aqwyt, and it be as I understands yt ; for it is do me to wete
that I am swid with mor of my paryshchons for a reskuse
makyng up on the offycers of the shrewys \sheriff~\, and I
take God to record that it is wrongfully do on to us. And
the gret fray that the [they} mad in the tyme of masse it
ravyched my witts and mad me ful hevyly dysposyd. I pray
Jesu gef hem grace to repent hem therof that the [they} that
caused it may stand out of perel of soule.

Maystras, at the reverens of God, and as evyr I may do
servyce that may be plesyng on to yow, send me justyly wurd
be the brynger of this bylle ho ze wil that I be gydyd ; for it
is told me that if I be take I may no other remedy havyn but
streyth to prison. For the whiche I have sold away xxj. wurth
of stuffe ; and the reswd [residue} of my stuff, I have put it in
swier hande, for trwly I wil not abyde the joparte of the swth,
— I have levir to go as far as my fet may ber me. Nevir the
less as ze komand me to do, so it be not to my gret hurt, I
wil fulfille it. Nomor to zow at this tyme, but God send yow
that grace that ze may kome to His blyss.
Wreten at Bromholm in gret haste,

Be your Sir ROBERT WILLYAMSON.

504
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

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

12 I ) YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow.

r^ Plesyt yow to wet that I sent yow a lettyr by my

cosyn Barneys man of Wychyngham wyche was

wretyn on Seynt Thomas Day in Crystmas,2 and I had no

tydyngys nor lettyr of yow sene the wek before Crystmas ;

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The contents of this letter clearly show that it was
written in January 14.62, nine days after No. 497.

2 See No. 497.

EDWARD IV

wher of I mervayle sore. I fere me it is not well with yow be 1462
cawse ye came not home or sent er thys tyme. I hopyd verily JAN- 7
ye schold have ben at home by Twelthe at the ferthest. I pray
yow hertly that ye wole wychesave to send me word how ye
do as hastly as ye may, for my hert schall nevyr be in ese tyll
I have tydyngys fro yow. Pepyll of this centre begynyth to
wax wyld, and it is seyd her that my Lord of Clarans and the
Dwek of Suthfolk and serteyn jwgys with hem schold come
downe and syt on syche pepyll as be noysyd ryotous in thys
centre. And also it is seyd here, that there is retornyd a
newe rescwe up on that that was do at the scher. I suppose
swyche talkynge comyth of false schrewys that wold mak a
rwmor in this centre. The pepyll seyth here that they had
levyr go up hole to the Kynge and compleyne of siche false
screwys as they have be wrongyd by a fore, than they schold be
compleynyd of with owt cause and be hangyd at ther owne
dorys. In good feyth men fere sore here of a comone rysyng
but if [i.e. unless] a bettyr remedy may be had to a pese the
pepyll in hast, and that ther be sent swyche downe to tak a
rewyll as the pepyll hathe a fantsy in, that wole be indeferent.
They love not in no wyse the Dwke of Sowthfolk nor hys
modyr. They sey that all the tretourys and extorsyonerys
of thys contre be meynteynyd by them and by syche as they
get to them with her goodys, to that intent to meynten suche
extorsyon style as hathe be do by suche as hathe had the
rewyll undyr them be fore tyme. Men wene, and the Dwke
of Sowthfolk come ther scholl be a schrewd reuell but if [unless]
ther come odyr that be bettyr belovyd than he is here. The
pepyll feryth hem myche the more to be hurt, because that ye
and my cosyn Barney come not home ; they sey they wot
welle it is not well with yow and if it be not well with yow,
they sey they wot well, they that wole do yow wronge wole
sone do them wronge, and that makyth them all most mad.
God for Hys holy mersy geve grace that ther may be set a
good rewyll and a sad in this contre in hast, for I herd nevyr
sey of so myche robry and manslawter in thys contre as is
now within a lytyll tyme. And as for gadyryng of mony, I
sey nevyr a werse seson, for Ry chard Calle seyth he can get

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 but lytyll in substans of that is owyng, nowthyr of yowyr
JAN. 7 lyvelod nor of Fastolfys th'eyr. And John Paston scyth,
they that may pay best they pay werst ; they fare as thow
they hopyd to have a newe werd \morhf\. And the blyssyd
Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng and send us good tydyngys
of yow.

Yelverton is a good thredbare frend for y(5w and for odyr
in thys contre, as it is told me.

Wretyn in hast on the Thorsday nex aftyr Twelthe.

By yowyr MARGARET PASTON.

505
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1

JAN. 27 * •% YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow.
r^ Plesyt yow to wet that Perse was delyveryd owt [of]
preson by the generall pardon that the Kynge hathe
grantyd, whyche was opynly proclamyd in the Gyld Hall. A
none as he was delyveryd he cam hedyr to me, God wote in
an evyll plyte, and he desyiryd me wepyng that I wold be hys
good mastres and to be mene to yow to be hys good mastyr,
and swore sore that he was nevyr defawty in that ye have thowte
hym defawty in. He seyd that if ther wer ony coyne in the cofyr
that was at Wylliam Tavernerys it was ther withowt hys know-
lage, for hys mastyr wold nevyr lat hym se what was in that
cofyr, and he told me that the keyis wer sent to Thomas Holler 2
by mastyr John Smyth. What Holler leyd in or took owte he
wot not as he sweryth. He oflfyrd me to be rewlyd as ye and I
wold have hym, and if I wold comand hym, to go ageyn to
preson, whedyr I wold to the Castyll or to the Gyld Hall, he
wold obey my comandment. And seth that he came of hys
owne fre wyll withowt ony comandment of ony man or desyir,

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter relates to the prisoner Piers mentioned
in Nos. 423, 424, and 426. He seems to have been delivered by a general pardon
issued at the commencement of the reign of Edward iv. The letter bears no address.
It is endorsed, but in a much later hand : — ' A lettre to J. Paston, Ar., from his
wife.'

2 He was John Berney's executor.

EDWARD IV

I seyd I wold not send hym ageyn to preson, so that he wold 1462
abyde yowyr rewyll when ye came home. And so he is here JAN- 27
with me and schall be tyll ye send me word how ye wole that
I do with hym. Where fore, I pray yow that ye wole lete me
have knowlage in hast how ye wole that I do with hym.

Item, I have spok with John Dame and Playter for the
lettyr testymonyall, and John Dame hathe promysyd to get it,
and Playter schall bryng it to yow to London. Item, I have
purveyd yow of a man that schall be here in Barsamys sted
and ye wole, the wyche can bettyr cherysch yowyr wood, bothe
in fellyng and fensyng there of than Barsam can ; and he
schall mak yow as many hyrdyllys as ye nede for yowyr fold,
of yowyr owne wood at Drayton, and schall tak as lytyll to
hys wagys as Barsam dothe ; and he is holdyn a trew man.
Item, Playter schall tell yow of a woman that compleynyd to
the Dwk of Sowthefolk of yow, and the sey[d] Playter schall
tell yow of the demenyng and answeryng of the scheryfe for
yow, and also of the demenyng of the seyd Dwke, and of
othir materys the wyche wer to longe mater to put in wryttyn.
The pepyll of that kontre be ryth glad that the day yed \_wenf]
with yow on Monday as it ded. Ye wer nevyr so welcome in
to Norfolk as ye schall be when ye come home, I trowe. And
the blyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in
hast on Wednysday next aftyr Seynt Augnet the Fyrst.

By yowyr M. P.

Item, Ric. Calle told me that he hathe sent you a answer
of all erands that ye wold shuld be do to Sir Thomas Howes.
Sir Thomas Howes cam nowther to me nor sent syn that he
cam home from London.

Will Worceter was at me in Cristemes at Heylysdon, and
he told [me] that he spake with you dyvers tymys at London
the last terme ; and he told me that he hopyd that ye wolle
be hys good master, and seyd he hopyd ye shuld have non
other cause but for to be hys god maister. I hope and so do
my moder and my cosyn Clere, that he wolle do well inowe,
so that he be fayre fare with Dawbeney and Playter. Avise
me to lete Peers go at large and to take a promys of hym to

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 com to me a mong unto your comyng horn, and in the mene
JAN. 27 while his demenyng may be knowyn and espyed in mo thyngs.

506

JOHN DOWBIGGING TO JOHN PASTON1

To the ryght reverent and worship 5/r, John Paston, sum tyme
Lord of Gresham^ and now fermour therof^ as hit is seide.

PERYS of Legh come to Lynne opon Cristynmesse Even
in the fresshest wise, and there he dyned so as was ;
hot when my Lorde of Oxenforde herde hereof he with
his feliship and suche as I and other your presoneres come
rydyng unto Lynne, and even unto the Bysshop gaole where
the seid Perys dyned with other of his feliship. My Lorde
pulled hym oute of the seid gaole and made to kest hym opon
an horse, and tyed an halter by his arme, and so ledde hym
furth like hym selff. And even furthwith the seid Bysshop,
the Mair, and other their feliship mette with my seide Lorde
and your presoneres, and also the seide Perys tyed by an
halter, the Bysshop havyng thies wordes unto my Lorde with
his pillion 2 in his handes, ' My Lordes, this is a presoner, ye
may knowe bv his tepet and staff. What will ye do with
hym?' Therto my Lorde seide, 'He is my presoner nowe.'
Wherto the Bysshop seid, ' Where is youre warraunt or com-
mission therto ? ' My Lorde seide, ' I have warraunt sufficiaunt
to me.' And thus they departed, the Mair and all the
cominaltie of Lynne kepyng theire silence. Bot when we
weren goon, and Perys of Legh fast in Rysyng Castell, then
the yates of Lynne, by the Bysshop comaundement weren fast
sperred \shuf\ and keped with men of armes. And then the

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently earlier in date than the last,
and may perhaps have been written at the close of the year 1460, but as it refers to the
same prisoner as the preceding No. we place it here for convenience. It is printed in-
the fifth volume of Fenn's edition as a letter of Henry vn.'s time owing to a mis-
reading of the address, which might easily convey the impression that it was directed
to ' Sir John Paston.'

3 The hat worn by a Doctor of Divinity.

EDWARD IV

Bysshop and his squyers rebuked the Mair of Lynne and seid
that he hade shamed both hym and his toun for ever, with
muche other langage, &c.

The Bysshop shulde have keped his Cristenmesse at Gay-
wode, bot yet he come not oute of Lynne. In faith, my
Lorde dyd quyte hym als curageousely as ever I wist man do.
The Bysshop come to the toun with Ix. persones the same
tyme, and made to sper the yates after hym, bot when we
mette, ther bode not with hym over xij. persones atte the
most, with his serjaunt of armes ; whiche serjaunt was fayn
to lay doun his mase ; and so atte the same yates we come in
we went oute, and no blode drawen, God be thanked.

Yf ye will any thyng atte I may do, send me worde ; hit
shall be doon to my power, &c. Comaunde me to my
maistresse your wyff, &c. And yf ye dar joperdie your
suyrtie of C. marc I shall come and se you. And elles have
me excused, for, &c.

From your oune,

JOHN DOUEBIGGYNG.

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON »

To the ryght reverent and my mooste tvorschipful master t my
Master John Paston, in the Inneer Tempyll.

Plesith it your maisterschip to witte that I have been at Burnewyll in 1462
Nacton to receyve the rentes and fermys of the tenauntes. And I undrestande FEB. i
be them, and be Robert Goordon that Mastre Jenney whas there and helde a
coorte on the Mondaye next aftre Tlwelthe, and warned the tenauntes that they

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The manor of Burneviles in Nacton, near Ipswich,
was part of the lands of Sir John Fastolf which Paston inherited by his will ; but his
claim was disputed by Jenney, one of the executors. As Jenney is here said to have
complained that his fee was two years in arrear, we may presume that it was little
over two years since FastolPs death when this letter was written. For further
evidences of date compare No. 4.94. It may also be observed that we find undoubted
evidence that John Paston was residing in the Inner Temple six weeks later (see
No. 511), whereas in the preceding year he was in Norfolk, where his brother Clement
wrote to him news from London (No. 430).

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 schulde pay no money to no man onto the tyme they had worde from hym,
FEB. i seyng that he whas on of the fefFeys of the same maner, and that he whas feed
with Sir John FastolfF, of weche fee he was be hynde for ij. yere ; wherfore
he desired the tenauntes that they schulde not be redy in payement onto the
tyme they had word from hym, but that he myght be payed of his seide fee,
lyke as the wylle of the deede was. Wherfore I can gete no money of them
unto the tyme they have knowleche how it stond be twyx your maistership and
Mr. Jenney ; for withoute Jenney write to hem or come horn ward that wey,
and have the tenauntes together and lete hem witte that ye ought to have the
rentes and fermes of the seid maner, I can not see that ye be like to have but
litell money there, withoute ye woll do distreyne throuout all the lordeschip. I
have sette dayes to purvey but \jheir~\ money ayenst the first weke of cleene
Lenton, and than they schul have an answere who shal receyve it. Wherfore
that it please your maistership to remembre to speke to Mastre Jenney. The
blissed Trinite preserve you and kepe you from all advercyte. Wreten at
Yebbyshep 1 the furst daye of Februare.

Your pore servaunt and bedman,
R. CALLE.

Item, the maner of Stratton shuld paye of rente xxvjj. viij^/., weche the
fermour scythe my mastresse Brandon is acorded with you. He is be hynde
for certeine yeres, &c.

508
JOHN PASTON TO 2

FEB. 9 I •% IGHT trusty and welbeloved, I grete yow hartily well,

•^ and will ye wite that where hit is so, that Sir John

Fastolf, whom God assoyle, with other, was sum tyme

by Sir Herry Inglose enfeffed of trust of his maner offe Pyke-

wurthe in Rutlande, the which made his wille, proved, that the

seid maner sholde by solde by Robert Inglose and Edmunde

Wychingham his executours, to whom the seid Sir John hath

1 Ipswich ?

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. is a rough draft signed by John Paston
the eldest, and corrected in his hand. It seems to have been written on the cover
of a letter addressed to himself; for on the back is this direction in another hand : —
' To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston the eldest, Esquier, be
this deliveryd in hast.'

We have inserted this letter in the year 1462 as this was the first year after
Fastolf s death, when John Paston appears to have been residing in London in the
beginning of February. The only other possible years are 1463, 1465, and 1466.

EDWARD IV

relesed, as his dute was to do ; now it is so that for John 1462
Browne1 ther is shewed a dede under seall of armes berynge FEB- 9
date byfore his reles made to the Duke of NorfFoke, Henry
Inglose and other, contrarie to the wille of the seid Sir Herry
and the trust of the feoffement that the seid Sir John Fastolff
was infeffed inne. And a letter of Attorney under the same
seale of armes to yow, to deliver seison acordynge to the same
feffement, to the gret disclaundre of the seid Sir John and all
his, yef this be true. Wherfore I preie yow hertili that ye
feithfully and truly rescribe to me in all the hast ye may what
ye knowe in this mater such as ye wull stonde by with outen
glose, and how ye can imagine that this crafte shulde be
practised, and specially whether ye yourself delivered seison in
Rutlond or noo. And this and what incedentes ye knowe, I
preie yow by wrytinge certefie me in all hast, that I may be the
more ripe to answer to this, to the wurship of the seid Sir John,
that was your maister, so that thorowh your defaute your seid
maisters soule ther for lie not in perell, but this disclaundre
may be eesed and cesed as reson requireth, to the wurship of
hym and all that longe to hym. And this I pray yow faile
not ofFe as I truste yow. Wret at Londo[n] the ix. day of
Februar.

Yowr frend, JON P ASTON.

509
SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON2

To the ryght wurshipfull sir and meyster, myn
Mayster John Paston, Squier.

RYGHT worshipfull sire and mayster, I recomaunde me [FEB.]
to yow. And please yow that the chirche of Drayton
is or shal be resyngned in hast in to the Bysshopys
hands by Sir John Bullok, desyryng yow hertly that ye lyke I

1 This name is substituted for ' Herry Inglose,' struck out.

3 [From Fenn, iv. 68.] For evidence of the date of this letter, Fenn quotes the

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 may have the presentacion of the next avoydaunce for a newew
[FEB.] of myn, callyd Sir Reynold Spendlove, whiche I truste youre
maystership wold agree to make in youre name and myn as
was last, &c. And, sir, please yow also that I have hadde
diverse communicacions with Worcestr sethe Crystmesse,1 and
I fele by hym otterly that he wole not appoynt in other fourme
than to have the londs of Feyrechildes and other londes in
Drayton to the sume of x. marc of yow proprely, by syde that
that he desyreth of myn mayster, whom God assoyle, whiche
mater I remytte to your noble discrecion.

And as for answere of the bylles that I have, I have ben so
sekelew seythe Crystmasse that I myght not yette don hem,
but I shal in alle hast, wher inne ye may excuse yow by me if ye
please tyl the next terme, at whiche tyme alle shal be aunswered,
be Godds grace, who preserve yow and send yow th' accom-
plyshement of youre desyres, &c.

Item, sere, please youre maystership hit was leten me wete
in ryght secrete wyse that a pyssaunce is redy to aryve in thre
parties of this londe, by the meane of Kyng Herry and the
Quene that wes, and by the Dewk Somercete and others, of
vi.xx> m.L [120,000] men ; and here day, if wynde and weder
hadde servyd theym, shuld a' ben here sone upon Candelmasse ;
at Trente to London werdes thei shuld a' ben by Candelmasse
or sone after, one parte of theym, and another parte comyng
from Walys, and the thredde fro Yernessey and Garnesseye.
Wher fore it is weel don ye enforme myn Lord Warwyk, that
he may speke to the Kyng that good provy[s]ion be hadde for
withstandyng there malicyous purpose and evyl wylle, whiche
God graunt we may our come theym ; and so we shuld, I

following extracts from the Institution Books in the Registry of the Bishop of
Norwich : —

' Draiton

'Reg. xi. 124. 29 January 1460-1. Johannes Bullock ad praesentationem Jorfis
Paston arm. et Tho. Howys capellani.

'Reg. xi. 131. 15 March 1461-2. Joh'es Flourdew ad praesentationem
eorundem.'

It thus appears that the living was resigned by John Bullock in 1461-2, and on
the 1 5th March John Flourdew was presented to it, not the person here recommended
by Howes.

1 This word is indicated by Fenn as indistinct in the MS.

EDWARD IV

dought not, if we were alle on [one]. There ben many mede- 1462
lers, and they ben best cheryshed, whyche wold hurt moche if [FEB.]
these come to, as God diffende, &c.

T. How vs.

510
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

<To my ryth worchepfull husbona, John Paston^
be this delyveryd in hast.

PLESYTH yow to wete that John Welly s and his brodyr MARCH
told me thys nyth that the Kyng lay at Cambryge as
yestyrsnyth to Sandwyche ward, for ther is gret dy-
vysyen be twyx the Lordys and the schypmen ther, that causyth
hym to goo thedyr to se a remedye therfor.

I thank God that John Paston yed non erst [went no earlier]
forthe, for I trust to God all schall be do er he comyth. And
it is told me that Syr John Howard is lek to lese hys hed.

If it plese yow to send to the seyd Wellys, he schall send
yow mor tydyngys than I may wryt at thys tyme. God have
yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn in hast at Thetford, at xj. of the clok in the nyth,
the same day I departyd fro yow.

I thank Pampyng of hys good wyll, and them that wer
cause of changyng of my hors, for they ded me a bettyr torne
than I wend they had do, and I schall aquyt them anothyr day,
and I maye.

By yor M. P.

1 [From Fenn, ii. 288.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that
Edward iv. was at Cambridge on the and and 3rd March 1462, and this is probably
the visit alluded to, although we do not find that the King went on to Sandwich
afterwards.

VOL. iv. — c 33

THE PASTON LETTERS

JOHN PASTON, THE ELDER, TO HIS FATHER1

T"o myn ryth reverent and worschypfull fader y
John Pasfon, beyng in the Inder Temple.

1462 V ~% YGHT reverent and wyrshypfull fader, I recomand me
MARCH 13 |-^ un to VOUj t^ SyChyng you of your blessyng and
•*- gode faderhode. Pleasyt it you to understond the
grete expens that I have dayly travelyng with the Kyng, as the
berour here of can enfourme you ; and howe long that I am
lyke to tary here in thys country or I may speke with you a
gayn, and howe I am chargyd to have myn hors and harnys
redy, and in hasty wyse, besykyng you to consyder theys
causes, and so to remembr me that I may have suche thynges
as I may do my mayster servys with and pleasur, trusting in
God it schall be to your wyrshyp and to myn and vayll [avail].
In especiall I besyche you, that I may be sur where to have
mony somwhat be fore Estern, other of you, or by myn uncle
Clement, when nede ys. Of othir causes the berour hereof can
enfourme you. No more to you at thys tyme, but God have
you in Hys kepyng.

Wryten at Stamford, the xiij. day of March.
Be yowr sone and servant,

JOHN PASTON, THE OLDER.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 126.] It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that
Edward iv. was at Stamford, from the 9th to the xyth March, in the second year of
his reign, i.e. in 1462. This letter belongs therefore to that year.

EDWARD IV

REPORT OF FRENCH PRISONERS1

Memorandum. 'This is the confession of xvj. Frenshemen with
the Mastyr, takyn at Sheryngam, the iij. wek of Lent.

RIGHT worshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you, and lete 1462
you wytte, that I have be at Shiryngham, and examyned MARCH
the Frenshmen to the nombre of xvj. with the maister.
And thei telle that the Duke of Somerset is in to Scotland ;
and thei sey the Lord Hungyrforthe was on Monday last
passed afore Sheryngham in to Scotland ward, in a kervyle
[carvel] of Depe, no gret power with hym, ne with the seid
Duk neyther. And thei sey that the Duk of Burgoyn2 is
poysened, and not like to recovere. And as for powers to be
gadered ayenst our weelfare ; thei sey, there shulde come in to
Seyne CC. gret forstages3 owt of Spayne, from the Kyng
there ; * and CCC. shippes from the Duk of Bretayne 5 with
the navy of Fraunce, but thei be not yet assembled, ne vitayll
there purveyd, as thei sey, ne men. And the Kyng of Fraunce 6
is in to Spayne on pilgrymage with fewe hors as thei sey ;
what the purpose is thei can not telle certeyn, &c. In hast at
Norwich.

The Kyng of Frauns hath comitted the rewle of Bordews
on to the marchaunds of the toun, and the browd 7 tha[t] be
therin to be at ther wages ; and like as Caleys is a Stapole of
wolle here in England, so is that made staple of wyne.

John Fermer, presoner, seyth, on \pne~\ John Gylys, a clerk
that was with the Erie of Oxforthe, wych was some tym in
Kyng Herrys hows, was a prevy secretary with the Erie of

1 [From Fenn, i. 250.] This letter evidently refers to the state of matters in the
beginning of the year 1462, when Henry vi. and Margaret of Anjou were in Scotland,
and when the Earl of Oxford had just been beheaded for conspiring against Edward iv.
The date of Oxford's execution was the 2oth of February. This confession of the
Frenchmen is dated in the third week of Lent, that is to say, between the i4th and
the 20th of March. 2 Philip the Good.

3 Large ships with forestages or forecastles. * Henry iv., King of Castile.

5 Francis 11., the last Duke. 6 Lewis xi.

7 This word, says Fenn, is imperfect in the original.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 Oxforthe ; and if any wrytyng wer made by the seyd Erie, the
MARCH seyd Gylys knew ther of in this gret matyeres.

513

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON l

To my right singler maister, J. Paston, Squyer, in hast^ &c.

MARCH 24 A FTER due recomendacion, please it your maistership to
t-\ wyte Maister Yelverton, justice, seid in the Sessions
- that the Kyng shulde kepe his Estern at Bury, and

from thens come unto this cuntre and se suyche riottes as have
be in this cuntre punyshed in suche fourme as happely summe
shulde hange by the nekke. And he tolde what thank he had
of the Kyng at Cambrigg for cause he declarid so well the
charge of extorcions doon by Shirefs and other officers, &c.,
for the whiche declaracion the Kyng tooke hym by the hand,
and seid he cowde hym grett thanke, and prayed hym so to do
in this cuntre, &c.

In hast, at Norwich, the Wednesseday next tofore th'An-
nunciacion, &c.

Your povere, J. GRESHAM.

JOHN WYKES TO JOHN PASTON2

To my right trusti and welbelovid frend, John Paston, Esquier.

MARCH 25 ~1T\ IGHT worshipfull, and myn enterly welbelovyd frend,
I recomaund me un to you, hertely thankyng you of
your gret present of fisch, and of the felyshipp that
my cosyn your sonne shewid unto me att Norwiche, purposyng

1 [From Fenn, iv. 76.] It does not appear that Edward iv. ever did spend an
Easter at Bury, as here projected. He was, however, at Cambridge in the beginning
of March 1462; from which he proceeded to Peterborough, Stamford, Newark, and
Lincoln, and at Easter (i8th April) he seems to have been at Leicester.

2 [From Fenn, i. 252.] As this letter relates to the arrest of a confederate of the
Earl of Oxford and his son, who were executed in February 1462, for conspiring
against Edward iv., the date must be referred to that year.

EDWARD IV

be the grace of God to deserve it un to you in tyme to come, 1462
in such place as I may do for you. MARCH 25

Desiryng you specyally, wher as a tenaunt of myne of
Lavenham, called John Fermour, is sesid and arestid with in
the towne of Yermowth, be cause he dwellid with the Erie of
Oxonfords son, and purposid to have passid the see withou[t]
lycence, and stondyth out of the conceyte of much peple, I
wold desyre you, that ye wold wryte to the Baylyffs of Yer-
mouth to delyver the seid John Fermor to my servaunt John
Brenerigg, brynger of this, with an officer of the seid Towne,
to be caried unto the Kyngs Castell of Rysing at my cost ;
ther to be examynid of certeyne Artycules, which I may not
disclose, til I have spoke with the Kyngs Highnes : praying
you to wryte to the seid Bayliffs, that I shall be her suffisant
discharge ayenst the Kynge. Desyryng yow to geve credence
to the brynger herof, as my verray trust is in yow.

Wretyn at Lavenham, the xxvth- day of Marche.

Your trew and feithfull frend,
havyng no blame for my gode
wylle. JOHN WYKES,

Ussher of the Kyngs Chambre.

515

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON l

'To the rigth reverent and worshipfull sir, and my right
honourable maystyr, John Paston.

RIGHT worshipfull sir, and my right honourable maistir, APRIL (?)
I recomaunde me to you in my most humble wise.
And plese it youre good maistir shyp to wete that it is
seyd here that my Lord Worcestre is lyk to be Tresorer, with

1 [From Fenn, iv. 112.] This letter must have been written before the i4th of
April 1462, on which day the Earl of Worcester was appointed Treasurer of the
Exchequer (Patent Roll, z Edw. IV., p. i, m. 19).

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 whom I truste ye stonde right wel in conseit, with whiche God
APRIL (?) contynwe. Wherfor I beseke youre maistirshipp that if my
seid Lord have the seid office, that it lyke you to desyre the
nomynacion of on of the officez, eythyr of the countroller or
serchorship of Jernemuth, for a servaunt of yowrez, and I
shuld so gyde me in the office as I truste shuld be most profit
to my seyd Lord. And if youre maistirshyp lyked to gete
graunt thereof, that than it plesyd you to lycense on of youre
servaunts to take out the patent of the seyd office ; and if
it cost v. or vj. or viij. marke, I shal trewly contente it ageyn;
and yeerly as longe as I myght have the officez, or any of
hem, I shal geve my maister youre sone v. marke toward an
haukeney.

It shuld be to me right a good mean to stondyn as well in
the trust as in the conseyt amongs marchaunts, with whom
and with alle men I calle myself a servaunt of yourez, and soo
wil do, if it plese you, which boldyth me the more to calle
upon youre right wurshipful maistyrshyp in this mater, where
in I beseke you to forgeve me my boldneyse in thys behalve.
And if I knew that my Lord shuld have the office in sertayn,
than I wold wayte upon youre good maystyrshyp there to
opteyne the patent, if it plesyd youre good maystirship to gete
me the graunt, &c.

No more on to you, my right honourable maister, at thys
tyme, but Jesu I beseke sende you a good conclucyon in
all yore maters, and graunt you ever youre herts desyre.
Yore contynwal servaunt and bedeman,

JOHN RUSSE.

EDWARD IV

W. C. TO JOHN PASTON *

To myn ryght 'worshipfull and ryght singlcr good maytter,
myn Mayster John Paston.

Myn ryght worshipfull mayster, I recomaunde me to yow in myn ryght 1462
homble wyse. And please your maystership that I have ben at Wetyng and MAY 4
there hald the court and lete on Hokmonday 2 as hit hath bene of olde tyme
accostomed ; and the tenauntes have attorned and bene full gladde that myn
lady shuld rejoyse hit and kepe here possession. The priour of Bromhill that
was fermoure his terme is expired, and wole sewe to myn lady and hir councell
to have a newe terme ; but lete myn lady be ware, for, as I here seyn, he
bydeth but a tyme that he myght gete a summe of money to geders of myn
ladyes lyflode, and to gone ther with 3 a love of his sojornyng as yette in
Hokehold. She hath bene dreven fro town to town for his sake. Hit is wele
done ye advertyse myn lady, if she be in that cas that she hath governaunce of
hir owen londes, that she do no thyng to that lyflode ner non other in Norffolk,
with ought advyse of theym that have vysyted and overseen theym ; for there
hath bene straunge rewle, bothe in woodsales and sale of londes helde at wylle
for fre rent, as ye shal knowe here after. Thoresby, a man that was generall
attorney for myn Lord Oxenford that was, told me that the Kynge hadde
made Keche generall receyvoure by priveseale of alle londes that were the Erie
of Oxenford and Dame Elyzabet, ecept tho that Howard hadde entered and
Lanham and an other graunted to Wykes, and certeyn lyflode in Kent that was
assigned to the tresorer of howshold of the Kynges hows ; and she shuld have
be Keches hande v.c- [500] mark, ij.^ and 1. [250] mark to bene payed at this
Estern and the remulant at Mihelmasse. And of the remulant the Kyng shuld
be answered. Ye shal sone understande how it is ; and if hit be so, hit [is] 4
but foly to laboure any ferther. I wold fayn knowe, for the courtes for the half
yere wold bene holde for nede. And our Lord be with youre maystership and
sende yow th'accomplyshement of youre noble desyres. Wreten hastely at
Norwyche, the iiijte day of May.

Youre servaunt to his power,
W. C.

And whan ye comon with myn ryght worshipfull lady I beseche yow
remembre myn pore maters in whiche is greet concyens, &c.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The manor of Weeting, in Norfolk, came to John
Vcre, twelfth Earl of Oxford, by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and heir of
John Howard, Esquire, son and heir of Sir John Howard, Knight. This Earl was
beheaded in February 1462, for treason against Edward iv., and the present letter
seems to have been written in May following.

1 Hock Monday was a fortnight after Easter Monday. In 1462 it fell on the 3rd
May, the day before this letter was written.

3 With repeated in MS. * Omitted in MS.

THE PASTON LETTERS

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1

'To my ryght wurschipful maister, John Paston.

1462 T RECOMAUNDE me unto you. Plesith it you to witte
MAY 1 8 that I have spoken with Furbuschour and other of the

"*• matre that ye spake to me off, and they have promysed
me to be as feythefull in it as it where for hem selfe. Also I
have spoken with my modre and seide to here as ye desired
me to doo, and sche seide sche knewe the massache weele
inowe before be other persones in like wice as ye comaunded
hem to sey to her; and sche seide she wode fayne that ye
dede weele what so ever ye sey and fille forthe in other
talkyng. Me semethe che is displesed that ye came not to her
or than ye roode foorthe. I schall telle you more whan that ye
come home. Thomas Denys wyff whas at me, and desired me
that I schulde sende to you and desire you that che myght
have knowleche from you how ye woll that sche schall doo with
her matre ; sche seithe her brother and other of her frendes
thynke that she schulde up to London and calle uppon her
matre there, but she seithe pleynly sche woll nought doo therin
withoute your advice. It whas toolde me that Bacon and
Gonnor whas here to speke with me for the matre that Bacon
spake to you of, and at that tyme I whas at Norweche and
I herde no more of hem sethen. And as for my brother
William, he is not purposed to come to London tyll aftre
Pentecost ; but my brother Clement is purposed to come
forward on Monday or on Twesday next comyng at the

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently not far removed in date
from No. 489, in which 'Joan Gayne's matter' is also mentioned. The year,
however, cannot be 14.61, as William Paston was in London that year as early as the
4-th April. It seems also from this letter that John Paston had recently left home,
which could not have been the case in 1461 if No. 453 be of that year. We have
therefore little doubt that the true date is 1462, and that the substance of the letter
relates to proceedings taken by the widow of Thomas Denys against her husband's
murderers.

EDWARD IV

ferthest. No more at this tyme but the blissed Trinite 1462
preserve you. Wreten the xviij. day of May. MAY 18

Your MARGARET PASTON.

I prey yow that ye woll wete safe to remembre Johane
Gayne matre, and that ye woll take John Paston that he
remembre you of it, for Dawbeney and Pampyng woll sone
for gete it.

518

JOHN PASTON, JUNIOR, TO HIS FATHER *

'To my ryght wurschipfull fadre, John Paston.

PLESIT you to wete that I am at Leyn, and under stande MAY
be dyvers personys, as I am in formed, that the Mayster
of Carbroke 2 wold take a rewle in the Mare Talbot as
for capteyn, and to yeve jaketes of his levery to dyvers per-
sonis qwych be waged be oder men, and nouth be hym, beyng
in the said shep. Qwerfor in as moch as I have but few
sowdeors in myn levery her, to strenketh me in that qwych is
the Kynges commandement, I kepe with me yowr too men,
Dawbenney and Calle, qwich I purpose shall seyle with me to
Yermeth ; for I have purveyed harneyse for hem. And ye
shall well understande, be the grace of God, that the said
Mayster of Carbroke shall have non rewle in the sheppes, as I
had purposid he shuld have had, because of his besynesse, and
for this is on of the specyall causes I kepe yowr said men with
me, besechyng you ye takyt to non dysplesur of ther taryng

1 [From Fenn, iv. 100.] On the 29th May 1462 a commission was granted to
Sir John Howard and Sir Thomas Walgrave to arrest the ships, the Mary Talbot and
the Mary Thomson, both of Lynn, and other vessels in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex,
for a fleet which the King was fitting out (see Patent Roll, 2 Edw. iv., p. i, m. 14,
in dorso). Sir Thomas Walgrave may perhaps have been the person designated in
this letter as the Master of Carbrooke. At all events, the date is clearly about this
time.

8 At Carbrooke, in Norfolk, was a commandry formerly belonging to the Knights
Templars, which, like most of the possessions of the order, when it was suppressed in
Edward ii.'s time, was given to the Knights of St. John.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 with me. Nat withstandyng, ther herden1 at Wyggenalle
MAY shall be don this day be the grace of God, Whoo have you
in kepyng.

Wreten at Leynn, the morow after my departyng from
you.

Item, as far such tydynges as be here, Th. shall in forme
you. JOHN PASTON.

519

ABSTRACT 2

JUNE 6 Inventory of household stuff remaining at Castre, 6 June 2 Edward iv.,

viz. of robes, jewels, arras, etc.

520
NOTE

Among some MSS., which seem formerly to have belonged to the Paston
Collection in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, is one endorsed — ' A Pedigree
showing how the manor of Caister was divided,' tracing its descent from earlier
owners to Sir John Fastolf.

521

J. DAUBENEY TO JOHN PASTON3

'To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston,
dwellyng at Heylysdon, be this delyueryd.

Ih's.

JULY 3 "Tk /TOST reverent and worchepfull master, I recommaund

[\f I me onto your god masterchep. Please you to have

• knowlage, on the Fryday at afternoon next after

Seynt Peter, there was at the taveran in London old Debnam

1 I do not understand the meaning of the word ' harden.'— F.

2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 354..]

3 [From Fenn, iv. 138.] The date of this letter is shown by an entry on the
Patent Roll, 2 Edw. iv., p. i, m. 7, in dorso. On the lyth June 1462 a com-
mission was given to Gilbert Debenham, Jun., Esquire, Walter Alderiche, master of
the George of Yarmouth, and John Childe, to arrest for the King's service a ship
called The Barge of Yarmouth, alias The George, with victuals, masters, and mariners
for the same.

EDWARD IV

and young Debnam, Thomas Edmonds, and I; and ther the 1462
seyd Thomas Edmonds fell in communicacion with old JULY 3
Debnam, and seyd that my Lord Tresorer1 had put hym
to a gret charge for the vetelyng of Mary Talbot? seyyng
to old Debnam that he hard sey that he had a C. bulloks
to selle, the wyche the seyd Edmonds wolle bey so that they
may a cord of the price. Than the seyd old Debnam answerd
ageyn, and seyd he wold, so that he myght have good pay-
ment, or elles the seyd Edmonds to be bound in abligacion
to pay hym at suche dayys as they myght a cord. And noon
upon thys same langwage, yong Debnam spake to hys fader,
4 Sir, I pray you that ye wolle take avisment of this mater tille
to morowe, for I trost to your good faderhod that ye wolle
late me have a serteyn of your bulloks for the vetelyng of the
Barge of Termothe^ and I shall fynd you sufficiant suerte for
the payment therof for Edmonds. I wolle that ye knowe I
have be ther, and spoke with the owner and with the maister
of the seyd barge, and they knowyn myn oppoyntment.'

Than the seyd Edmonds answered to yong Debnam,
and told hym that the sety of Norwic and Yermothe hathe
grauntyd, and send wrytyng to the Kynge and to the Lords
that they wolle manne and veteylle the seyd barge of her owne
cost fro the tym of hyr goyng owt tylle hyr comyng home ;
and thus the seyd Edmonds told hym that my Lord Tresorer
and all the Lords that be at London thynk they do ryght
well her devyer, and be worthey moche thanke of the Kyng.
* Well,' quod yong Debnam, ' I had in commaundment for to
have the rewle of the seyd barge, and I wolle be at Yermothe
as thys day iiij. dayys, and man hyr and bryng hyr downne to
the Gylys of Hulle, for that ys my chype.'

Also he seyd mor, with out that he myght have the seyd
barge, he wolle note goo to see but hym self and hys xxiiij.
men. And thus, yf please your maisterchep, he departyd
from the taveran ; and at hys departyng, he told the seyd
Thomas Edmonds, 'Thys ys Paston labor.' Than the seyd
Edmonds answerd hym ageyn, and seyd playnly he was to

1 John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester. He was beheaded in October 1470. — F.
1 See Preliminary Note to No. 518, p. 41, Note i.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 blame for to reporte so of your masterchep, for he knoythe
JULY 3 veryly he seyd on trewly of you and of my master your son
bothe, and ther on he wold take a hothe. And so, yf it please
your good masterchep, late the cety of Norwic and Yermothe
have knowlage of hys gret crakyng and bost, and let hym of
hys purpose by the autorite that they have.

Item, my master your son wolle have to hys jakets murry l
and tany [tawny], and that it please yow sum of my felachep
may spek to on of the drapers for to ordeyn yt ageyns hys
comyng horn, for I trowe it shall be thys day sevenyght ar he
comithe home.

Item, sir, if please you, Skrowpe hathe sent to you to
London be Byngham for the mony that ye knowe of, zit I
spake not with hym ; but I shall telle hym that I suppose ye
shall be here in the last end of the terme, and I shall send
your masterchep word what answer I have of hym.

Item, sir, if pleese suche tydyngs as I her of, I send you
word. My Lord of Warwek hathe be in Skotlond, an take
a castell of the Skoots ; and upon thys ther came the Quene of
Skoots 2 with other Lords of her centre, as ye shall her the
namys, in basetry [embassy] to my seyd Lord of Werwek, and
a trews is take betwyx thys and Seynt Bertylmew Day in
Auguste. Thes is the last tydyngs that I knowe. No mor
to your god masterchep at this tyme, but Jesu have [you] in
kepyng.

Wretyn on the Saturday next after Seynt Peter.
By your por servaunt,

J. DAUBENEY.

1 Dark red or purple and yellowish colour. — F.

8 Mary, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelders, and mother to James in., King of
Scotland.

EDWARD IV

522

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON, JUNIOR*

To my maistre, John Paston the yonger, be this delyvered.

SERE, I have receyved your lettre, wherin I undrestand 1462
that my maistre desired that my maistre your brother
myght have the gidyng and governaunce of the Barge
of Yermouthe. As to that, and men of Yermouthe had knowen
my maistre entend a fornyght a goo, he had ben swer of it,
but nough it is so that Debenham hathe a comyscion of the
Kyng expressed oonly for that schip named in hes comyscion ;
and he hathe ben here at Yermouthe, and spoken with the
balyffs and with the owners of the seide schip, and takyn
suche a direccion that they may graunted it ne man but hym.
And moreover he hathe endented with the owners of the schip
what daye it schulbe redy as well vetaylled as manned ; and
also he hathe brought downe letters from my Lord Tresorer
to all priours and gentlemen in this centre to helpe hym and
assiste hym to vetayle and manne the seide schip, and hes men
is here dayle, and gothe abought and gathereth whete, malt,
money, and what so ever any man woll geve,*&c.

The blissed Trinyte preserve you. Wreten at Castre, the
Friday next aftre I receyved your lettre.

Item, is talked here that my maistre your brother and
Debenham were at words at London, and that Debenham
shuld have streken hym, had nought Howard a' beene, &c.,
wherof I am ryght sory, &c. Neverthelesse I trust to God all
schul be weell.

Your servaunt, Ric. CALLE.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 144.] This and the next letter were evidently written not
very long after the last.

THE PASTON LETTERS

523

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON l

To my maistre, John Pas ton.

PLESITH your maisterschip to wit that I whas at Scole,
and spake with Alblastre, John Sadeler, and with other
good yomen of the centre to undrestonde how they
were gided for the vetelyng of the Barge of Termouth. And I
undrestonde be them that there \_their~\ hundred have payed;
nevertheles it is but litell. Ther was gatherd in that hundred
xviijj. and certein corn, and some other hundred vj. marc and
corne, and so they have payed in all the hundreds and townys
here a boute, that is to sey, Est Flegge and West Flegge and
up to Blofeld, Tunsted and up to Stalom, I undrestand, be
the comiscion that Debenham hath. It is more large thanne
master John is, as ye schal undrestand, wherof I send you a
copy, weche causeth me that I labour no ferther therin. Not-
withstandyng your maisterschip schal have knowleche what
every hundred geve, and Yermeth bothe.

Wreten at Wynterton, the morwe aftre I departed from
your maisterschip.

• Youre poore bedman, Ric. CALLE.

524

ABSTRACT 2
RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON

Cannot inform him how much malt he has at Castre, 'for the makers have
fruLY 1 not moten all up yet,' — probably 400 quarters new and 160 comb old malt of
^ Castre and Mauteby, of which 40 quarters will be spent in the household by
Hallowmas. At Yarmouth it is now 2s. 2d. a bushel — it was 2s. 6d. But
London is a better market. Thinks the price will fall here, as the fields are

1 [From Fenn, iii. 430.]
8 [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

EDWARD IV

reasonably fair in Flegge, and so up to Norwich. The carriage from Yarmouth 14.62 (?)
to London will be 6d. per quarter, * and I understand j. quartre of Yermothe [JULY c]
mette makethe at London but vij. busschell.'
Norwich, Monday after St. Peter's Day.

[As John Paston does not seem to have been in undisturbed possession of Caister
before 1462, and we have evidence of Richard Calle having been there in that year
about the time of year when this letter was written, we may with great probability
refer it to that year.]

525

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON1

To the right worshypful my right honourabyl mayster,
John Paston.

RIGHT worshipfull sir, and my right honourabill maister, JULY 15
I recomaund me to you in my most humble wyse, and
please your maistirship to wete that her is on Thomas
Chapman, an evyl disposyd man al wey ayens you, as I have
informyd youre maistirship many tymes, and now he hathe
labouryd to my Lord Tresorer to subplante me; and brought
down wryghting from the Kyng and my Lord Tresorer ; but
or hise wryting cam, Wydwell fond the meanys, be the suppor-
tacion of Maistir Feen, that we had a discharge for hym out of
the Chauncery ; wherfor the seyd Chapman proposyth to be
at London in all haste, and to avertise the Kyng and my Lord
Tresorer ageyn me to the grettest hurt he can imagyne. Wher-
for I beseke youre maystirship, consedryng is evyl disposecion
to yow, and also the rather at my pore instaunce, that ye lyke
that my Lord Tresorer myght undyrstonde that the seyd
Chapman is of no reputacion, but evyl disposyd to brybory of
straungers, and be colour of hise office of supervisor of the
searche shal gretly hurte the port. The seyd Chapman sup-
porters is Blakeney, clerk of the sygnet, and Avery Corn-
burght, yoman of the Kynges chaumbre. He hathe here of
Avereyes xxiiij. tune wyn, whereof at the long wey he shal

1 [From Fenn, iv. 120.] The precise year in which this letter was written is
a little uncertain, but from the date and contents it would appear that Russe was now
in possession of the office which in No. 515 he had asked Paston to procure for
him ; so that it cannot be earlier than 1462.

THE PASTON LETTERS

-) make the seyd Averey a lewd rekenyng. The seyd Chapman
JULY '5 lovyth not you, nor no man to yow wards, &c.

Sir, I prey God brynge you onys to regne amongs youre
cuntre men in love, and to be dred. The lenger ye contynwe
there the more hurt growyth to you. Men sey ye will neyther
folwe the avyse of youre owyn kynred, nor of youre counsel!,
but contynwe your owyn wylfullnesse, whiche, but grace be,
shal be youre distrucion. It is my part to enfourme youre
maistirshyp as the comown voyse is, God betir it, and graunt
yow onys herts ease ; for it is half a deth to me to here the
generall voyse of the pepyll, whiche dayli encreassyth, &c.

Sir, I beseke youre maistirshyp to remembre my maystresse
for the lytil sylvir, whiche for serteyn thyngs delyverid to
youre use is dewe to me. I have nede of it now. I have
bought salt and other thyngs, whiche hathe brought me out of
myche sylvir. I wold trust, and I nedyd to borwe xx/z., your
maistirshyp wold ease me for a tyme, but thys that I desyre is
myn owyn dute. And Jesu graunt yow ever yowr herts desyre
to youre worshyp and profyt, and preserve yow my right
honourabyll maister from all adversyte.

Wretyn at Jernemuthe, the xv. day of July. Here is a
kervyl [carvel] of Cane in Normandy, and he takyth Duchemen,
and raunsumyth hem grevously.

Yore servaunt and bedman, JOHN RUSSE.

526
WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON *

'To myn wurchipfull broder, Jon Paston.

1462 TTJ YTHTHE wurchipfull broder, I recomand [me] to zow.

JULY r^ Lekit it zow to wethe [wit], Jon of Dam is come to

towne, and purposit hym to tary here a day ar ij. ar

longar, I can thynk, and he be desyryd. Were fore I pray

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The reference t» the death of Christopher Hanson
proves this letter to have been written in July 1462, as the precise date of his death is
given in Letter 528.

EDWARD IV

zow, and as I have afore this tyme desiryd zow the same, that 1462
suche materis as hathe be comunyd now lathe be twyx myn
moder, zow and hym, may take some good conclucyon be twyx
owre selff here at horn. And in myn consayt, savyng zow
better avyse, it were so most convenyent and wurchipfull for
us all, and comforthe to all owre fryndis. And for this
ententhe I wold tary here the lengar ; for I wold be as glad as
any man a lyve that suche an ende mythe be take be twix us
that iche off us all schuld inyoy the wylleffar off odyr, qweche
I trust with zowr good help schall be rythe wyll, and I dowthe
nat myn mastyr Markam wyll be will plesyd thus.

I have tydynges from London, and a monge odyr tydynges
I have knowlage that Cirstofre Hanson is passid to God on
Saterday last past, at ij. of clok after mydnythe. It is good to
take hede there to, &c.

Item, I sent to zow to have had zowre avyse qwat menys
were best to make for the mater towchyng the Lord Scrop,
qwere in I had an answer, but me thowthe it was not to the
poynthe. I sopose, and I purposyd to make the labore that
ze sent me word I schuld do towchyng me, I can thynk I
schuld sone be answerid, meche sonar than he. I must send
some answer to hym, were in I wold have zowr consayll ; for
he desirid the same, and I wold not he schold thynk that he
were forgotyn be us.

Be zowr pore broder,

WILLIAM PASTON.

I can thynk and he were here he wold be a feythfull frynd
to zow ; but and so were that ze thowthe that it were for
to labore for any oder man, me thynkit it were for zow to
remembre myn nevew. That were somewat lykly, and there
to wold I be glad to help and lene to the toder. For as for
me, I know so moche that sche will none have but iff he have,
ar be leke to have, meche more lond than I have ; and iff I
knewe the contrary, it schuld nat be left for the labore, but I
wold not be in a folis paradyce, and ze be myn good brodir. I
trust thow to do rythe will, &c.

VOL. iv. — D 49

THE PASTON LETTERS

527

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON1

To my rigth good maister, John Paston the oldest, beyng
at Heylesdon, besyde Norwiche, in hast.

1462 TTVLEASE your maistership wete that Christofer Hanson is
JULY r* ded and beryed ; and as for executor or testament, he

mad non.

As for tydyngs, the Erles of Warrewyk, of Essex, Lord
Wenlok, Bysshop of Dereham, and other go in to Scotland of
inbassat. And as for the sege of Kaleys, we here no mor ther
of, blyssed be God, ho have you in His kepying.

Item, as for Christofers papers that longeth to your tenants,
I have goten of William Worcester ; and as for all the rem-
naunt of Christofer good, William Worcester hath the reule as
hym semeth most convenient.

Your, THOMS PLAYTER.

528
PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON2

To my maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon.

ITEM, plese you wete of other tytyngs. These Lords in
your other letter,8 with Lord Hastyngs and other, ben to
Karlyle to resseve in the Qwen of Scotts ; 4 and uppon
this appoyntement, Erie Duglas 5 is comaunded to come thens,
and as a sorwefull and a sore rebuked man lyth in the Abbey

1 [From Fenn, iv. 124.] This letter, like the last, is dated by the letter following.

2 [From Fenn, i. 270.] This letter seems to have been penned immediately after
the last was sent off.

3 i.e. the other letter to you — meaning No. 527.

4 Mary of Gueldres, widow of James n.

* James, Earl of Douglas, who had been banished from Scotland, but was made by
Edward iv. a Knight of the Garter.

5°

EDWARD IV

of Seynt Albons ; and by the said appoyntement schall not be 1462
reputed, nor taken, but as an Englyssheman, and if he come in J"1^
the daunger of Scotts, they to sle hym.

Item, Kyng Harry and his Aderents in Scotland schall
be delyvered ; and Lord Dakres of the Northe is wonne and
yelden, and the seid Lord, Sir Richard Tunstall, and on Byllyng-
ham in the said Castell ben taken and heded.

Item, the Qwen and Prince ben in Fraunce and ha mad
moche weyes and gret peple to com to Scotland and ther trust
to have socour, and thens to com in to Inglond : what schall
falle I can not sey, but I herd that these appoyntements were
take by the yong Lords of Scotland, but not by the old.

Your, PLAITER.

Christofer dyed on the Satarday next be for Seynt Margret,1
Anno . E. ijdo-

529

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN P ASTON2

To my right honorabil and worshypfull maister, my
Maister Paston.

PLEASE it youre worshipfull maistyrshyp to wete, that it SEPT>
is informyd me thys day scretly, that there is dyrected
out a commyssion to mayster Yelwyrton and maister
Jenney, which shall tomorwyr syttyn be vertu of the same at
Seynt Oleffes ; 3 and the substaunce of jentilmen and yemen of
Lodyngland be assygned to be afore the seyd commesyoners ;
and it is supposed it is for my maisters londs, for as the seyd

1 St. Margaret's Day was the 20th July. The Saturday before it in 1462 was the
1 7th.

2 [From Fenn, i. 260.] This letter must have been written in the year 1462 before
the Duke of Somerset was received into favour. Proclamations similar to those
mentioned in this letter were issued on the 6th March 1461 and the nth May 1464;
but neither of these can be the case referred to. The coming of the King to London
must have been in the beginning of September 1462. He was in London on the i4th
of that month, and had been at Fotheringay on the ist, as the dates of Privy Seals
inform us. s St. Olave's, in Suffolk.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 persone informyd me, the seyd comesyoners have been at
SEPT- Cotton, and there entred, and holdyn a court. I can not
informe youre maystyrship that it is thus in serteyn, but thus
it was told me, and desyryd me to kepe it secret ; but be cause
I conseyve it is ageyn your maistyrship, it is my part to geve
you relacion thereof.

I sende you a letter which cometh from Worcestyr l to my
maister youre brothyr. I wold ye undyrstod the intente of it,
for as for Worcester, I knowe well he is not good. Sum men
ar besy to make werre, for p' 2 the absentyng of my maister,
the parson comyth not of hyse owyn mocyon, but I wold youre
maistyrship knewe be whom it is mevyd. I herd you never
calle hym false pryst, be my trouth, nor other language that is
rehersyd hym, but Gode sende a good accord, for of varyaunce
comyth gret hurt of tyn tyme, and I beseche Jesu sende youre
maistyrship youre herts desyre, and amende hem that wold the
contrary.

Sir, yesterevyn a man came from London, and he seyth,
the Kyng cam to London on Satyrday, and there dede make a
proclamacion that all men that were be twyx Ix. and xvj. shuld
be redy to wayte upon hym whan so ever they were callyd ;
and it is seyd, that my Lord Warwyk had sent to the Kyng,
and informyd hyse Hyghnesse that the Lord Summyrset had
wretyn to hym to come to grace ; but of the fleet of shyppis
there is no tydings in serteyn at London on Monday last
past.

Youre bedman and servaunt,

JOHN RUSSE.

1 William Worcester.

The word seems to have been ambiguous in
modern version.

• wiinam Worcester.

2 p'. — So in Fenn's left-hand copy. The word seer
the original MS., and is rendered ' by ' (in italics) in the

EDWARD IV

530

JOHN PASTON TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR1

SHEWYTH and lowly compleynith on to your good
Lordship John Paston, the older, Squier, that where
Sir John Fastolf, Knyght, cosyn to your seid besecher,
was seasid of diveris maners, londs, and tenements in Norfolk,
Suffolk, and Norwich, the xxvij. yere of Kyng Herre that was,
and therof infeffid diveris persones to execute and performe
his will, and mad his will in especiall that a college of vij.
monks shuld be stabilisshed, founded, and indewed withinne a
plase late be the seid Sir John edified at Caster be the see
in Norfolk, and certeyn livelode to be irrvmortesid 2 therto, to
prey for his sowle, his faders and moders, in forme and maner
as in his will mad at that tyme more pleynly specifyth ; whech
will and feffment continued till the xxxv. yere of the seid late
Kyng. And aftir, upon divers communicacions had be divers
personis with the seid Sir John Fastolff, and upon divers con-
sideracions mevid to hym, the seid Sir John Fastolff conceyvid
that such be monkys hym there to be indewed shuld not be
of power to susteyne and kepe the seid plase edified, or the
lond that shuld be immortesid ther to, acordyng to his seid
entent and will ; wherfore, and for good will that the seid Sir
John Fastolff had to the proferryng of your seid besecher mevyd
hym to have the seid plase and certeyn of his livelode of gretter
valew than the charge of the seid college schuld drawe, and to
found the seid college and to bere the reparacion and defens
therof. Upon whech mocion the seid Sir John Fastolff and
your seid besecher apoynted be word withowt writyng at that

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a draft bill in Chancery prepared by John
Paston with a view to the commencement of a suit against Yelverton and Jenney for
their entry into the manor of Cotton and other lands of Sir John Fastolf in Suffolk.
The document may have been drawn up in the latter part of the year 1461 ; but
from the contents of the preceding letter it is not unlikely to have been a year later.
Two copies of this document exist, with the very same corrections and interlineations
in both.

2 Amortized, or granted in mortmain.

THE PASTON LETTERS

i462(?)tyme mad that your seid besecher shuld, aftir the deccse of
the seid Sir John Fastolff, have the seid plase in Caster, and
all the maners that were the seid Sir John Fastolffs or any
other to his use in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, up trust
that the same John Paston shuld founde there a college of vij.
monkes or prestes havyng a certeyn pension for her sustenta-
cion payid clerly in mony withowt any charge, cost, reparacion,
or joperde of defens of the seid plase or of any other livelode
to be bore be the seyd collegians, and more over to paye a
certeyn somme of mony of the revenews of the seid maners,
londes and tenementes to be disposid yerly be certeyn yeres
for the sowle of the seid Sir John Fastolff till the summe of
v.™1 [5000] mark were so disposed. Upon wech apoynte-
ment it was acordyd be thwyx the seid Sir John and your seid
besecher, for as moch as your seid besecher had non astate in
the seid maners and londes and tenementes, that for his more
suerte, and upon trust that the seid Sir John had to your seid
besecher in this behalfe that a newe feffement shuld be mad of
the seid plase and of the maner of Caster, and all the seid
maners, londs and tenements to your seid besecher, and divers
other personys to the use of the seid Sir l John, terme of his
lif, and aftir his decese to the use of your seid besecher. And
moreover, for as moch as your seid besecher was in dowte
whedir God wold send hym tyme of life to execute the seid
apoyntement, intendyng that th'effect of the old purpose of
the seid Sir John Fastolff schuld not be all voyded, thow it
so fortuned your seid besecher cowd not performe the seid
apoyntement, mevid the seid Sir John Fastolff that, not with-
standyng the seid apoyntement, that he aftir the seid feffement
mad shuld make his will for the seid college, to be mad in all
maner wise as thow the seid Sir John Fastolff and your seid
besecher shuld not make 2 the seid apoyntement ; and that aftir
that, the seid apoyntement to be ingrosid and made so that
the seid college shuld hold be the same apoyntement of your
seid besecher, and ellis this seid will of the seid Sir John

1 ' Sir.' — This word is omitted in the first copy.

2 'Shuld not make.' — These words are interlined in place of the word 'left,'
which is erased.

EDWARD IV

Fastolffto stand in effect for executyng of his seid purpose. I462(?)
And sone aftir this comunicacion and apoyntement the seid
feffement was mad acordynge, and season deliverid to your seid
besecher at the seid plase edified in Caster, as well as at the
seid maners, londs, and tenements, the seid Sir John Fastolff
beyng present at delivery of season mad to your seid besecher
of the seid plase and maner of Caster, where the seid Sir John,
more largely expressyng the seid will and entent, deliverid
your seid besecher possession with his owne hands, declaryng
to notabill personys there the same feffement to be made to
the use of the seid Sir John as for terme of his lif only, and
aftir his decese to the use of your seid besecher and his heyrs ;
and divers tymes in divers yeres aftir declared his entent in
like wise to divers personys. And aftir, be gret deliberacion
and oft communicacion of the seid mater, the seid Sir John
Fastolff and your seid besecher comenauntyd l and apoynted
be writyng thoroughly for the seid mater so that your seid
besecher shuld have the seid plase and all the seid maners,
londs, and tenements in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, to
hym and to his heyrs ; and that he shuld found a college of
vij. monkes or prestes withinne the seid plase perpetually as is
before seid, and to pay iiij.ml> [4000] mark to be disposed in
certeyn yers for the sowle of the seid Sir John Fastolff; the
whech apoyntement declarid and red before the seid Sir John
Fastolff, be good deliberacion was be the seid Sir John fully
concludid, agreyd and stabilisshid for his last will in that
behalve.

And also the seid comenauntes and apoyntementes eftsonis
callid to remembraunce be the seid Sir John Fastolff, the same
Sir John, for certeyn consideracions movyng hym, be his word,
withowt writyng, dischargid your seid besecher of the seid
somme of iiij.ml> mark, desiryng hym so to ordeyne that ich of
the seid monkes or prestes shull yerly have as the prestes of
the chauntry of Heylesdon had, and that vij. pore men shull
also be founde yerly in the seid plase inperpetuite to pray for
the sowles above sayd.

[And aftir, that is to sey the Satirday, Sonday, and Monday

1 So spelt in both copies.

THE PASTON LETTERS

I462(?) next before the decese of the seid Sir John, the same Sir John,
remembryng divers maters and intents in his mynd necessary
for the wele of his sowle, wheche were not expressid in the
seid will and apoyntement, nowther in his testament, and that
he wold have one will mad and wrete conteynyng the seid
apoyntements, as well as the seid other maters not declarid in
his intent and will acordyng, comaundid to have it so ingrosid
and wrete.] l And where your seid besecher hath don his
part acordyng to the will and apoyntements of the seid Sir
John, as well in fyndyng of the seid prestes and pore men as
in all other thyngs that to hym belongyth to do in that behalfe ;
and, this not with standyng, William Yelverton, Knyght, and
William Jenney, whech be infeffid joyntly with your seid
besecher in divers of the seid maners, londs and tenements,
have2 mad a sympill entre in all the seid maners in Suffolk,
and chargid the baylifs, fermors, and tenaunts of all the seid
maners to pay hem the profitez and revenews of the same
maners, londs, and tenements ; and thus, contrary to th'entent
of the seid feffement, and contrary to the will of the seid Sir
John Fastolff, thei trobill and lette your seid besecher to take
the profitez of the seid maners, londs, and tenements ; of
whech your seid besecher hath no remedy at the comen lawe.
Wherfore please your good and gracious Lordship to direct
severall writts of subpena to the seid William and William,
chargyng hem severally upon a peyne convenient to appere
before your Lordship in the Chauncery at a certeyn day be
your Lordship to be limityd, to answer to these premisses, and
to do as right and consiens requirith. And your seid besecher
shall pray God for yow.

The following article is added in thejirst copy with many corrections : —

And aftir, late before the discese of the seid Sir John Fastolff, he wold and
ordeynid that on wryting shuld be mad of the fundacion of the seid college aftir
the forme of the seid apoyntement mad with your seid besecher, and of diverses
othir articles conteynid in his seid former willes, not consenting the seyd colegge
and also of divers maters wheche he remembrid necessary for the wele of his
sowle, that were nevir expressid in writyng before, joyntly to geder expressyng
his hole and inter and last will and intent in all.

1 The clause between brackets is cancelled in the first copy.

2 This word is interlined in the second copy only.

EDWARD IV

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON1

I'o my right honourabyl and worshypfull maister, my
Maister John Pas fan.

PLESE your worshypfull maistership to wette, here is a 1462
ship of Hith, wyche seith that John Cole cam from
the west cost on Wednysday last past ; and he seyth
that the fleet of shippis of this londe met with Ix. seile of
Spanyards, Brettenys, and Frenshemen, and there tok of hem
1. [50], wherof xij. shyppys were as gret as the Grace de ~Dewe\
and there is slayn on thys partyes the Lords Clynton2 and
Dakyr,3 and many jentilmen juve (?) 4 and othyr, the nombre
of iiij.ml> [4000] ; and the seid Spanyards were purposyd with
marchaundise in to Flaundres. My Lord of Warwyks shyp,
the Mary Grace and the Trenyte, hadde the grettest hurt,
for they wer formost. God send grace, thys be trew. On
Thursday last past at London was no tydings in serteyn where
the flet was, nor what they had doon, and therfore I fere the
tydings the more.

Item, sir, as for tydings at London, ther were arystyd be
the tresorer xl. seyles lyeng in Temse, wherof many smale
shyppis ; and it is seyd it is to carye men to Caleyse in all
haste, for feer of the Kyng of Fraunce for a sege. And it
was told me secretly there were CC. in Caleyse sworn contrary
to the Kyngs well, and for defaute of there wages ; and that
Qwen Marget was redy at Boleyn with myche sylver to paye
the soudyers, in cas they wold geve here entresse. Many
men be gretly aferd of thys mater, and so the tresorer hath
mych to do for thys cause.

1 [From Fenn, i. 262.] This letter was evidently written not very long after
No. 529. The fleet mentioned here and in that letter is that referred to in the
preliminary note to No. 518, p. 41, Note i.

2 John, Lord Clinton. The rumour was false, as he was summoned to Parliament
in 14.63. Nicolas supposes he died about 1465.

3 Richard Fynes, Lord Dacre of the South, who was Lord Clinton's father-in-law.
He did not really die till 1484.

4 This word, Fenn says, is doubtful in the original MS.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 Item, sir, as for tydings out of Ireland, ther wer many

men at London at the feyre of the centres next them of
Ireland, and they sey thys iij. wyks came there neythyr shyp
nor boot out of Irelond to bryng no tydings ; and so it
semyth there is myche to doo there be the Erie of Pembrook.1
And it is seyd that the Kyng shuld be at London as on
Satyrday or Sonday last past, and men deme that he wold
to Caleyse hym selfe ; for the soudyors are so wyld there, that
they wyll not lette in ony man but the Kynge or my Lord
Warwyk.

Othyr tydings the were come to London, but they were
not publyshyd ; but John Wellys shal abyde a day the lenger
to know what they are.

No mere un to you, my right honourable maister, at thys
tyme, but Jesu send yow youre herts desyre, and amende hem
that wold the contrary.

Your bedman and conty[n]wal servaunt,

JOHN RUSSE.

532
JOHN PASTON, JUNIOR, TO HIS FATHER2

¥0 my ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr, John Paston,
be thys delyveryd in hast.

YTH reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I recomand me
on to yow, beseechyng yow lowly of your blyssyng.
Plesy t you to have knowlage that my Lord 3 is pur-
posyd to send for my Lady, and is lyke to kepe his Crystmas
here in Walys, for the Kyng hathe desyered hym to do the
same. Wherfor I beseche yow that [ye] 4 wole wychesave to
send me sume mony by the berer herof ; for, in good fey the,
as it is not on knowyng to yow that I had but ij. noblys
in my purse, whyche that Rychard Call took me by your

1 Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, half-brother to Henry vi.

2 [From Fenn, i. 266.] In the month of October 14.62, as we learn from William
Worcester, Margaret of Anjou came out of France, whither she had fled in spring,
with a force of 2000 men, landed on the coast of Northumberland, and laid siege to
Bamborough, which she took and placed in the keeping of the Duke of Somerset.

3 The Duke of Norfolk. * Omitted in original.

EDWARD IV

comandement, when I departyd from yow owt of Norwyche. 1462
The berer herof schuld bye me a gowne with pert of the NOV- l
mony, if it plese yow to delyver hym as myche mony as he
may bye it with; for I have but on gowne at Framyngham
and an other here, and that is my levere gowne, and we must
were hem every day for the mor part, and one gowne with-
owt change wyll sone be done.

As for tydyngs, my Lord of Warwyk yed forward in to
Scotland as on Saterday1 last past with xx.ml- [20,000] men;
and Syr Wylliam Tunstale is tak with the garyson of Bam-
borowth, and is lyke to be hedyd, and by the menys of Sir
Rychard Tunstale2 is owne brodyr.

As sone as I here any more tydyngys, I schall send hem
yow by the grace of God, who have yow in Hys kepyng.
Wretyn in hast, at the Castle of the Holte,8 upon Halowmas
Daye.

Your sone and lowly ser vaunt,

J. PASTON, Junior.

533

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO
JOHN PASTON THE ELDER*

To my ryth worchefful brodyr John Paston, the elder^ sone of
John Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyveryd in hast.

RYTH worchepfull brodedyr, I recomaunde me to yow. DEC* 1!
Plesyt yow to wet, that as thys day we had tydyngs
here, that the Scottys wyll come in to Inglend with in
vij. days aftyr the wrytyng of thys lettyr, for to rescue these
iij. castellys, Alnewyk, Donsamborowe 5 and Bameborowe,
whyche castellys wer besegyd, as on yesterdaye. And at the

1 3oth October.

2 Sir Richard Tunstal was on Queen Margaret's side, while his brother William,
it seems, was on that of King Edward. 8 In Denbighshire.

4 [From Fenn, i. 272.] The sieges mentioned in this letter took place, accord-
ing to Warkworth, in December of the first year of Edward iv., i.e. 1461 ; but
according to William Worcester in 1462. The dates of the Privy Seal writs prove
that the latter is right, and that Edward iv. was at Durham in December 1462.

5 Dunstanborough.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462 sege of Allnewyk lythe my Lord of Kent and the Lord
DEC. 1 1 Scalys ; and at Donsameborow castyll lythe the Erie of Wyr-
cetyr [and] Syr Rafe Grey; and at the castyll of Bameborow
lythe the Lord Montagwe and Lord Ogyll, and othyr dyvers
Lordys and gentylmen that I knowe not ; and ther is to hem
owt of Newe Castyll or dy nans inowe, bothe for the segys and
for the feld, in cas that ther be ony feld takyn, as I trow there
shall none be not yet, for the Scottys kepe no promes. My
Lord of Warwyk Jythe at the castyll of Warcorthe, but iij.
myle owt of Alnewyk, and he rydyth dayly to all thes
castelys for to overse the segys ; and if they want vataylys,
or any othyr thyng, he is redy to pervey it for them to hys
power. The Kyng comandyd my Lord of Norfolk l for to
condyth vetaylys and the ordynans owt of New Castyll on
to Warcorthe Castyll, to my Lord of Warwyk ; and so my
Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr John Howard, Syr William
Peche, Syr Robert Chamberlyen, Rafe Ascheton and me,
Calthorp and Gorge, and othyr, for to go forthe with the
vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord of Warwyk ; and so we
wer with my Lord of Warwyk with the ordynans and vytalys
yesterdaye. The Kyng lythe at Durham, and my Lord of
Norfolk at New Castyll. We have pepyll inow here. In cas
we abyd here, I pray you purvey that I may have here more
mony by Crystmas Evyn at the ferthest, for I may get leve
for to send non of my wagyd men home ageyn ; ne man can
get no leve for to go home but if they stell a wey, and if they
myth be knowe, they schuld be scharply ponyschyd. Mak as
merry as ye can, for ther is no joperte toward not yet. And
ther be any joperte, I schall sone send yow word, by the grase
of God. I wot well ye have more tydyngys then we have
here, but thes be true tydyngs.

Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly ponyschyd,
for because they came not hedyr to the Kyng. They ar
morkyn \markea] well inowe, and so is John Bylyngforthe and
Thomas Playter; wherefor I am ryth sory. I pray yow let
them have wetyng therof, that they may purvey their excuse

1 John Mowbray, who succeeded his father in the dukedom of Norfolk in 1461.
He was at this time only eighteen years of age.

EDWARD IV

in hast, so that the Kyng may have knowlage why that they 1462
come not to hym in ther one personys ; let them come or DEC- i *
send ther excuse to me in wrytyng, and I schall purvey that
the Kyng schall have knowlage of ther excuse ; for I am well
aqueyntyd with my Lord Hasty ngys, and my Lord Dakarys,1
whyche be now gretest abowt the Kyngys person ; and also
I am well aqueyntyd with the yonger Mortymere, Fererys,
Hawte, Harpor, Crowmer, and Bosewell, of the Kyngys
howse.

1 pray yow let my grandam 2 and my cosyn Clere 3 have
knowlage how that I desyryd you to let hem have knowlage
of the tydyngys in thys letyr, for I promysyd for to send
them tydyngs.

I pray yow let my modyr 4 have cnowelage how that I, and
my felawscep, and your servauntys ar, at the wrytyng of this
lettyr, in good hell, blesyd be God.

I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys lettyr, and
of the todyr lettyr that I sent to my modyr by Felbryggys
man; and how that I pray bothe hym and my modyr lowly
of her blyssyngys.

I pray yow that ye wole send me some lettyr how ye do,
and of your tydyngys with yow, for I thynk longe that I here
no word fro my modyr and yow.

I pray yow that thys bill may recomand me to my systyr
Margery, and to my mastres Jone Gayne, and to all gode
mastyrys and felawys within Castyr. I sent no lettyr to my
fadyr, never syn I departyd fro yow, for I kowd get no man
to London, and never sythe.

I pray yow in cas ye spake with my cosyn Margaret
Clere, recomande me to hyr ; and Almythy God have yow in
Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Newcastyll on Saterday next aftyr the Consep-
sion of owyr Lady.

Your, JOHN PASTON, the

Yongest.

I pray yow let Rychard Call se thys lettyr.

1 See p. 57, Note 3. 2 Agnes Paston.

3 Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby. * Margaret Paston.

THE PASTON LETTERS

534

[JOHN] PASTON TO [THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK]1

14.62-7 r I ^HAT it please my lordis good grase to be good lord

and supporter of Paston in his right and possession

of the maner till his right can be lawfully or be trete

dispreved by his adversaries, consideryng that the said Paston

is my lordis homager and was nevir ayens his lordship and

that my lord is not gretly behold to do for the seid Pastons

adversaries as he understandith.

And in case my lord woll not supporte the seid Paston in
his right but be indifferent athwyx bothe parties, that thanne
it please my lorde to have consideracion to the right of the
mater as folowyth in articles and ther upon to be remembird
whedir it be resonably desired by William Jenney or by
Debenham as his waged man or for his sake that Paston
shuld leve the possession or the takyng of the profitez of the
seid maner.

First to be remembird that the seid maner aswell as the
maner of Nakton were Sir John FastolfEs, and that the seid
Paston of the seid maners toke estatis at Cotton and attorne-
ment of the tenauntis viij. or ix. yere goo, in such wise as the
tenauntes can reporte, and continued there in possession aswell
in the live of the seid Sir John as sithen, and hath take the
profitez therof sith the discese of the said FastolfF, except
for the terme of Mighelmes a yere passed, whech tyme the
tenauntes were compellid by fors of distresses to pay ayens
ther willes part of the seid profitez.

And that also the title of the seid Paston to the seid
maner is not all only by the seid feffement but aswell by a
graunt and bargeyn made a thwyx the seid Fastolff and the

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 182.] This petition must have been drawn up at the end
of 1462 or in the beginning of 1463, which would be considered still 1462 in the old
computation. It must have been fully three years after Fastolr's death, which took
place on the fth November 1459, and the imprisonment of Richard Calle in 1461
(see No. 487) is referred to as having taken place 'at Michaelmas the year past.'
The nobleman to whom the petition is addressed seems to be the Duke of Suffolk.

EDWARD IV

seid Paston as by the last will of the seid Fastolff, where by 1462-3
the seid Paston ought to take the hole profitez of the seid
maner, and also it is lefull to the seid Paston to kepe the
seid maner with fors, consideryng he hath be in possession
iij. yere and more ; hough be it, the seid Paston intendyth to
kepe the seid maner pesibly and non otherwise. And that the
pretense and cleyme of the seid Jenney is that he schuld be
infeffed with the seid Paston in the seid maner; by whech
pretense, if it were trewe, yet the seid Paston by reason shuld
not be put out of the seid maner, for who som evir had titell
therto by feffement or by executrie, Paston shuld be on that
had title ; hough be it, the seid Paston cleymyth not in that
forme, but by the titell of his bargeyne and by the seid
Fastolffis will.

Item, to be remembird, whech tyme as my lord had
wretyn his lettirs and sent his servauntes for the eyde and
supporte of the seid Paston to take the profitez of the seid
maner of Nakton as of the maner of Cotton, desyryng the
tenauntes to the seid Paston, the seid Jenney wold have no
consideracion therto ; hough be it, though he were a feffe he
had no titell to take the seid profitez, consideryng he is non
executor, but presumptuously, havyng no consideracion to my
lordis lettir ner sendyng, compellid the tenauntis by distresses
to pay hym more besely thanne any feffe or executor, and now
at this same tyme hath be at Nakton and reseyvid as moch
mony as he coud gader there.

Item, where at Mighelmesse the yere passed the seid
Paston sent his sone, a servaunt of my Lordis, and also
Richard Calle, servaunt to the seid Paston put to hym by
my Lordis fader,1 to reseyve the profitez of the seid maner
as thei had do many yeres before, the seid Jenney ded arest
the seid Calle for a thef and as a thef caried hym to th'entent
that the tenauntes shuld be discoraged to pay the seid Paston.
Whech tyme, at the request of the said Calles kynred, it
pleased my lord to write to the seid Jenney and Debenham

1 William de la Pole, the unfortunate Duke of Suffolk, murdered in 1450. It is
a piece of information which we do not meet with elsewhere, that Richard Calle
entered the service of the Pastons by this duke's recommendation.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1462-3 for the deliverauns of the seid Calle; to which letteris they
nouther toke hede nor reputacion, but by that sotilte reseyved
the profitez of the seid maner, the seid Paston havyng non
help by my seid Lordis writyng nor sendyng.

Wherfore please my Lordis good lordship to supporte the
seid Paston in kepyng of his right and possession till it be dis-
preved or knowe onlawfull, and the seid Paston will applye to
such meanes as it pleasith my Lord to take wherby the right
of the mater may be undirstond and determined.

And also that it like my lord to remembir that it is not
behofefull for any prinse lightly to geve trust or to applye
to the desires of any persones that have geve hym cause of
mistrust.

535

[JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON]1

1463 (?) T RECOMAND me to yow and have reseyvid your lettir,
JAN. 14 which causith me to write in the lettir that I send

to yow, Daubeney and Richard Calle, certeyn articles
touchyng the rewle of myn hows and myn livelode, as ye
shall undirstand whanne ye see hem. Also, I send yow in
the same lettir a bille of all the malt that remaynd at Mighel-
mes. I suppose ye have non such of it. Nevirthelesse it had
be convenient it had be had amongis your servauntis and yow.
Also I woll that ze warne both Daubeney and Richard Calle
that thei disclose nat what malt I have, ne what I shall selle,
ne that on marchant knowe nat what an other hath, for ther is
gret spies leid her at London for ingrosers of malt to heyghne
the prise ; hough be it myne is not but of myn owne growyng
and my tenauntis.

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 183.] The MS. of this letter is a rough draft in John
Paston's hand, and there can be no doubt to whom it was addressed. As to the
year in which it was written there is no positive evidence ; but Daubeney and Calle
were both with Margaret Paston in the beginning of 1463 (see No. 536), and the
only thing against that date is that Margaret, writing to her husband (then in
London) on the 1 9th, acknowledges only a letter of the 9th. This, however, might
well be owing to the disturbed state of the country, or it may be that the present
letter, which is only a draft, was not really despatched.

EDWARD IV

Also I lete zow wete, I faile mony here and must nedys
have up mony at this tyme for sped of my maters, so that JAN- !4
it may come up savely whanne James Gresham and other
attornes come up at the begynnyng of this terme, with whom
Richard Calle may come the same tyme. And peraventure
some trusty carier ... at this tyme; and with hym myght
some mony come trussid in some fardell, not knowynge to the
carier that it is no mony but some other clothe or vestement
of silk or thyng of charge. Wherfore take avise of such as ye
trust, and purvey that I may have up at this tyme j. c. //'. of
gold after the old coynage and xx//. in grotes.

Item, if I l myght have sur cariage, I wold have heder all
the gylt plate that Richard Calk leyd up, he can tell wer and I
trowe ye know also; and ij. potell pottis and a resting iron
of silver (?) lyth at the same place, for it shuld2 stand me in
gret stoher if it mygth be do closly and suerly. Item, take
trew men of yowr counsel.

Wret the morwe next after Sent Hillary.

Item leve a bill indorcid what ye take awey if ye take any.
— Your own, &c.

536
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON*

To my right worchepful hosbond, John Pasfon,
be this letter delivery d in hast.

RIGHT worchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. 1463
Please you to wete that I received a letter frome you JAN. 19
on the Sonday4 next after Twelfthe day, weche was sent
be a prest of Seynt Gregorys paryche of Norwic ; and wher as
ye mervaylyd I sent you no wrytynggs of suche letters as ye
sent me be for, I sent you a answer of the substauns of suche

1 'Item, I I,' MS. 2 'Shuld shul,' MS.

3 [From Fenn, iv. 150.] This letter refers to a coming election of knights of the
shire, which seems to be for the Parliament which met on the 29th April 1463. No
other general election of Edward iv.'s time will suit the date, and it is quite certain
that it was written during Edward's reign. < 9th January.

VOL. IV. E 65

THE PASTON LETTERS

maters as ye have wretyn of me be for (be Playter), the weche
JAN. 19 ne j-oij me a sent nem to vou to London. And as towchyng

the erands that ye sent to me for to do to Richard Calle, I
have do as ye command me to do, and callyd upon hym ther-
for, bothe be for your writyng and sithyn ; he thar have non
excuse for defaute of leyser, for he hathe be but ryght litill her
syn ye departyd hens. He is owght at this tyme, and whan
that he comythe home I shall make hym make yow a cler bylle
of the receyt of your lyvelod, and Fastolf bothe ; and I shale
send yow a cler bylle of my receyts, and also of my payments
owght thereof ageyn ; and as for suche erands that shuld be
do to Sir Thomas Howys, I have shewyd Richard Calle your
writyng, and told hym your entent, as for suche thyngs as ye
wold he shuld sey to hym on hys none heed. Also I have do
your erands to my moder and to my cosyn Cler l after your
writyng. Item, I have spoke to John Adam and to Playter of
your entent of the last bylle that ye sent me, and they sey they
wolle do after your entent as moche as they may, and ye shall
have a answer therof in hast.

Item, Sir Robert Coniors dinid with me this day, and shuyd
me a letter that came frome the Kyng to hym, desyryng hym
that he shuld a wayt upon hys welle be lovyd broder the Duke
of Suffolk, at Norwiche, on Monday next comyng, for to be at
the alection of knyghts of the chyer [shire] ; and he told me
that every jentylman of Norffolk and Suffolk that arne of any
repetacion hathe writyng from the Kyng in lyke wyse as he
had. I felle hym be his seyyng that he ys right welle disposyd
to you ward ; he scythe ther shall no man make hym to be a
geyns you in no mater. Skypwith shall telle you suche tydyngs
as bethe in this contre, and of Thomas Gornay and of his man ;
hym self is clerk convicte, and hys man is hangyn ; ye shall
here her after what they and oder wer purposyd to a do to her
master.

I thank you hertely of your writyng to me be for that John
Paston came home, for God knowith I thowght right longe
tyle I hard frome you ; I shalle send word in writyng of
suche tydings as we have her on Monday in hast. Daubeney

1 Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby.

EDWARD IV

deseyryht to wet what tyme that it please you that he shuld 1463
come ageyn to you. JAN> 19

My moder and many other folkys makyth moche of your
son John, the elder, and right glad of hys comyng horn, and
leky th reght welle hys demenyng. Heydon 1 son hathe bor
owght the syyd stowtly her this Critstemes, and whan that he
rydyth, he hathe iiij. or v. men with hym in a clothyng ; but
he hathe but lytyl fafor in this contre but yf [unless] it be of
the Bischop2 and of the Prior of Norwic.3 The seyd prior
hathe grauntyd hym the stewerdchep that hys feder had . . .
. . . . he hathe it under the Covent Seals, and Spylman,4
his tutor, to lerne hym howe he shuld be demenyd ....
. . . it is seyd abowght Bakynstorp that Herry Heydon
shuld a seyd that it wer welle do that men of the ....
shuld make redy her [their] bald batts 5 and her clot shon 6

and go feche horn her knygts of chyer [shire]

. . . Barney ; and it is promysyd hym that he shall be met

with be cause of hys langage us a

good world and a pesybyll. I shall purvey for all thyngs that
ye have sent to me for, so that I ween ye shal be pleasyd. The
blyssyd Trinite have you in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the
Wednysday next .... Seynt Agnet.

Your, M. P.

537

ABSTRACT7

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON

Please your maistership wete, that as for my Lord of Norwich cosyns deth, JAN.
Thomas Gurneys man hath confessed that he slewe hym by commaundment of

1 This must be Henry, son of John Heydon, Esq., Recorder of Norwich. — F.

2 Walter Lyhert, Bishop from 1445 to 1472. — F.

3 John Molet or Mowth, Prior from 1453 to 1471. — F.

4 Henry Spilman, afterwards Recorder of Norwich ; he was the founder of the
Spilmans of Narborough, by marrying Ela, daughter and heir of William de Nar- '
borough. — F.

5 Bald batts seem to mean here ball bats, or bats to play at ball with. — F.
0 Clot shon, clouted shoes — shoes shod with thin plates of iron. — F.

7 These extracts are quoted by Fenn from a letter now lost, in reference to what
is said in the last letter about Thomas Gurney and his man.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 his maister, and confessed over that the same dager he slewe hym with, he kest
JAN. 'll in a sege [aja&es\ whiche is founden and taken up al to-bowyd \bent together],
for he cowde not breke it, and in prison is bothe he and his maister.

Also on Thursday next after Cristemasse was a man slayn, by whom no
man woot, nor what he is that was slayn no man knowe, his face is so mangled.

538

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON 1

To my ryght reverent and wurschip[full~\ maystcr, my Mayster
John Paston in the Ynner Temple at London.

[FEB.] TT\LESITH your goode maystrechip to witte that ther
comen doune to the undrescheryff of Norwiche, a
writte to a tache Mr. John P. the yongere, wherof I
sende you a copy closed herin, but they woll not a reeste hym
within Norwich ; but I undrestande ther is comen an other
writte to the undrescheryff of Norfolk bothe for hym and me,
and for all thoo that ben indyghted. Wherfore I purpose me
to ride to Hoonyng to the scheryff thys day, to undrestande
how he is disposed, and to desire hym to shewe favour to your
pore tenaunts ; and as I feele hym disposed I schall send your
maystreship answer.

And as for tidyngs here in this contre, we have noon but
that ther be many Frenchemen upon the see and do moche
answer upon the coosts. Mr. Yelver[ton] knew of the comyng
up of the teste within ij. dayes after they were goon, &c. My
ryght reverent and wurschipful maystre, the blissed Trinite
preserve and kepe and ferther you in all your maters.

Sir William Wyllugby whas at Risynge Castell, and yester-
day he come home a yenne. On Tentale hathe entred in to a
parte of Felbregge lyvelod, and a corte holden, and the tenaunts
retorned. Item, as for the cort that Deben[ham] schuld holde
at Calcot we here not of it.

Your pore servaunt and
bedman, R. C.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As the writ, of which a copy is subjoined to this
letter, is dated on the 3ist January in the second year of Edward iv. (1463), the letter
itself must have been written in February.

EDWARD IV

Rex vi[ce]comitibus Norwici, salutem. Praecepimus vobis quod capiatis 1463
Johannem Paston juniorem, nuper de Norwico, armigerum, si inventus fuerit in FFEB.]
balliva vestra, et eum salvo custodiatis, ita quod habeatis corpus ejus coram nobis
a die Paschae in unum mensem ubicunque tune fuerimus in Anglia, ad respon-
dendum nobis de quibusdam feloniis et transgressionibus unde in comitatu nostro
SufTolchias indictatus est. Et si praedictus Johannes in balliva vestra inveniri
non poterit, tune ad duos comitatus in balliva vestra citra terminum prsedictum
proximo tenendos juxta formam statuti in hujusmodi casu provisi proclamari
faciatis quod idem Johannes sit coram nobis ad praefatum terminum ad respon-
dendum nobis de praemissis. Et habeatis ibi hoc breve. Teste Johanne
Markham apud Westmonasterium, xxxj° die Januarii, anno regni nostri
secundo.

CROXTON.

Rotulo xxvj° R. Per contr' Anno secundo Regis Ed. \\\jti r. xiij. Irrotulatur coram
Rege de recordo, termino Hillarii anno secundo Regis Ed. iiij'', prout patet in rotulo
infrascripto.1

539

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON2

PLEASE you to wet that Will. Jeney and Debham cam FEB.
to Calcote on Wednysday before none, and ther they or
spake with Rysyng and John Smythe, and haskyd hem MARCH
rent and ferme, and they seydyn they had payed you, and so
they myght not paye hem. Also, ferthermore, they told hem
that ye had hold a corte ther syn that they enteryd there.
Than Jenney answerd ageyn * Be cause he held a corte here we
mad hym hold corte at London, and so shall we make the to
hold a corte at Ipysweche withowt thow wolt pay us the rent
and ferme.' ' Sir,' quod Rysyng, * I toke the ferme of my
master and of Sir Thomas Howys.' Jenney seyd, * And as for
Sir Thomas, he and we schall acord well i nowe.' And so they
hahte seled up the berne dore and woll dryve a wey the catell

1 This note is to imply that the writ is enrolled among what are called the Records
on the Coram Rege Roll of Hilary term, 2 Edw. iv., rot. 26, a former writ against
John Paston, junior, being enrolled in the Controlment Roll, z Edw. iv., rot. 13.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, though not addressed, seems to have been
written by Margaret Paston to her husband. The election referred to must have been
that for the Parliament of 1463. From one expression used it is clear that it was
written some time before Easter, and the dispute with Jenney and Debenham about
Calcote proves the date to a certainty. Compare Nos. 538 and 540.

MARCH

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 bothe of the fermores and of the tenauntes, withowt the fermor
FEB< and John Smythe woll fynd hem suerte to pay hem at Esterne,
and Jenney and Debham woll [be] bownd ageyn to hem in a
obligacion of xl//. to save hem harmelese ageyns you. And so
as yet Rysyng standythe under award at Leystofte. So Rysyng
hathe sent word to me that I shall knowe thys nyght or ellis to
morowe what end they hathe mad.

Item, as towchyng the burges of Yermothe they wer chosyn
on Wednysday. The Baly Wydwell ys on ; and as for the
todyr the Bischoppe sent to the towne for to have a man of hys
owne, and so they be not acordyd yit of hym ; en cas they may
not acord, John Rus shall be the todyr.

Item, as towchyng Grene, a came not to Caster on Thurs-
day, for he went to Norwich the same day, and so he is yet
ther. Daubeney hathe spokyn with Watkyn Shypdam for to
be at Beyton on Monday to kepe a corte ther ; and so he woll
be at Caster on Sonday and spek with you, for he seythe that
Fastolfe1 hathe mad a cleyme ther to; that is the cause he
wolle comon and speke with you ther of hym selff.

Item, I can not, ner Daubeney nowther, fynd your wyght
boke ; it is not in the trussyng cofyr, ner in the sprucheste
nothyr. Jon Walsham toke me a quayer, I suppose it lo[n]gythe
to the same boke, that same I send you, and the byllis of Wai-
cote with ale sealyd. Wretyn this day.

By your, M. P.

On the back are the following accounts, written, in a *very careless hand, by Richard
Calle:—

Forene"" Recepf.

De Johanne Prentice de Castelaere ad festum Sanctae Fidis per

manus vicarii de Sporle, ..... Ixj.

De Roberto Wylley clerico post Nativitatem Domini,

De Willelmo Whyte, vigil' Conversionis Sancti Pauli,

De Edmundo Wynter, mason, de Bermynghem circa Conver

sionem Sancti Pauli, .....
De Willelmo Elys de Wynterton ad Pascha, .
De Warino Herman ad Pascha, ....
De Johanna Bakeney uxore Gerard,

vj/;'. xiiji. \\\]d.

VJJ. V\\']d.

vjs. v\\)d.
xiijj. \n]d.
xiijj. \\\]d.

1 Thomas Fastolf of Cowhawe.
70

EDWARD IV

Item, de Johanne Russe.

Rec. de Willelmo Norwich et M. Johanne Smythe venditio
jocalium Johannis Berney de Redham pro tant' denar' pro
me pro debito ipsius Berney apud Redham solut', . xx/t. xvj/.

Recepf de Tesauro.

Inprimis, pro viagio Johannis Paston, Jun. cum Rege et aliis
causis (?) versus Annewyke de denariis receptis de debito
prioris Norwicensis, ........ Mi.

Item, de auro remanente de Coppes in eadem baga, . . lx/.

Item, de baga pecuniae prestandae eodem tempore, . . . viij. marc'.

Item, de remanent' in forcerio tesaur' li'berat'1 frater meus

Will' Yelv'n, ......... x/. \\\}d.

Termino Michaelis?

Item, de pecunia remanente cum Thoma Gresham apud Lon-

don ; termino Michaelis xx/r., termino Hillarij, xxxiijs.

\\i]d., .......... xxj#. xiijj. iiij^.

Item, de tesauro London termino Michaelis, 1. marc', termino ) ,.

Hillarij 1. marc', termino Paschae 1. marc', . . . )

Item, de tesauro NorfFolk cariat' versus London termino Paschae,

ultra xlfi. remanens (sic) apud terminum Trinitatis, . . xl. marc'.

1 4^3

FEB.

MARCH

540

ABSTRACT3

[JOHN PASTON] TO JOHN PAMPYNG, RICHARD CALLE, AND WILLIAM WYKES.

Remember my instructions about bills and actions against Debenham by my
tenants at Calcote. Make a 'remembrance apart' of the ground on which every
trespass has been committed, whether it be in my lands or in those of my tenants,
and whether the land was holden of me by Calcote Hall fee, or Freton Hall
fee, lest Debenham justify [on the plea that] he took them elsewhere. As my
tenants at Cotton have been compelled to pay much money to Jenney and
Debenham against their wills, I would, as I have told John Paston the younger,
that he should ride to Cotton with Richard Calle and such friendship as he can
get, and demand my duties, except from those who had been compelled to pay
the others. The latter to take actions next term against Debenham. Will
respite them for this once all they have paid, till it may be recovered by law ;

1 The words ' tesaur' liberal' ' are interlined and apparently intended to be inserted
here. I must leave the grammar of the sentence as it stands in the original. The
word at the end, which I believe stands for ' Yelverton,' is very ambiguous from the
careless writing.

2 These words are inserted between the lines, but whether they were intended for
a heading is a little uncertain.

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

THE PASTON LETTERS

1 46 3 that is, provided they ask it : otherwise, will politicly put them in jeopardy of
losing their farms. Desires Calle to make a roll of the tenants and when he
comes to Cotton enter therein how much cattle has been distrained from each.

It appears by the last letter that a writ was issued, evidently at the suit of Deben-
ham, against John Paston, junior, and the other agents of his father in Suffolk. From
the present paper it would seem that John Paston also instituted a prosecution on
behalf of his tenants against Debenham. We shall find by later letters that these
suits were going on in 1463, and were not terminated in the beginning of the follow-
ing year. The MS. from which the above abstract has been made is a draft with a
heading in John Paston's hand. On the back are notes of the Statutes of Westminster
and of Richard n. touching scandalum magnatum, etc.

MARCH 19 r~W~~!O all tho to whom this present wrytyng shall come,
Rauff Lampet, Squier, sendyth gretyng in our Lordv
And forasmoch as it is meritory to here witnesse of
trought, and that I knowe and herd the disposicion and will of
Ser John Fastolff, knyght, aftir the forme folowyng, and am
requered to sey the trought, I record and testifie, and here
witnesse that Ser John Fastolff, knyght, abought the tyme of
her vest was v. yere, that was the yere of our Lord M'cccclvij.
at Caster, fast by Mekyll Yarmouth, in the Shire of Norffolk,
in presens of divers persones that tyme callid to by the seid Ser
John, ded make estat and feffement and livery of seison of the
maner of Caster aforeseid, and other maners, londs, and tene-
ments in Norffolk to John Paston, Squier, and other. And at
that livery of season thereof delivered, as well by the hands of
the seid Ser John as be other, the seid Ser John Fastolff by his
owne mouth declared his will and entent of that feffement and
livery of season, mad to the use of the seid Ser John as for
duryng his life only, and aftir his decese to the use of the seid
John Paston and his heyrs. And also the seid Ser John seid
and declared, that the seid John Paston was best frend, and
helper, and supporter to the seid Ser John, and that it was his
will that the seid John Paston shuld have and inherite the same

1 [Tanner MS., 106, f. 35 b.]
72

EDWARD IV

maners, londs, and tenements, and other, aftir his decese, and 1463
ther to dwelle and abide, and kepe howsold, seying that he MARCH 19
knew well that the disposicion of the seid Paston was to do
good in the contry, and be non oppressor of the pore pepill.
And the seid Ser John desired me, and Daune William Boken-
ham, that tyme Prior of Yarmouth, beynge presente, to record
as he had seid to us. And this I record and witnesse for
trought be the feyght that I owe to God and all Seynts. In
witnesse wherof to this my writyng I have set to my seall and
signe manuell the xix. day of March, the third yer of the reigne
of Kyng Edward the Fourth.

R. LAMPET.

542

ABSTRACT'
RAFF LAMPET TO HIS COUSIN DAUBENEY

Reminds him that he spoke to him at Redham, in the church, about certain Date

lands ' which John of Berney bought of me,' and for which there is still owing Uncer-
to him 1 35. 4d., and a rent of 6d. four years in arrear. Begs him to speak to •

Master Paston to get him the money.

We place this letter immediately after another document signed by Ralph Lumper,
the exact date being uncertain and immaterial. It is probably, however, about this
period, as it may be surmised to be after the death of John Berney.

543

ABSTRACT2

Testimony of Sir Roger Chamberlain, witnessed by Reginald Tylneye, 1463
prior of Ixworth, and Sir John Rose [a brother of the house], that he was with APR1L 6
the Duke of Norfolk in September before Sir John Fastolf died, when my
Lord urged Fastolf to sell him the reversion of Caister, or (as he wished to
give it to the Abbey of St. Benet's) to exchange it for a manor of my Lord's
in South Walsham, which lay more convenient for the Abbey. Sir John,
however, begged him not to press it, as he had appointed with his cousin, John

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

2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 280.]

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 Fasten, to have Caister and all his other livelode in Norfolk and Suffolk in
APRIL 6 order to endow a college of seven priests and seven poor men. My Lord said,
many thought Sir John would make Paston his heir ; to which he replied that
there was no man living that he would like better to be his heir, and begged my
Lord to be his good lord if it so fortuned, which the Duke promised to do.
Has heard the Duke since often acknowledge that Sir John had declared plainly
he would make Paston his heir. Not having his own seal present, has sealed
this with that of the prior of Ixworth, and requested him to put his seal to it
besides. Ixworth, 6 April 1463.

544

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON *•
To my rytz wurchepfull mayster, Jon Paston^ in hast.

MAY 6 T~J YT wurschipfull hosbond, I recommand me to zou,
r^ desyring hertyly to her of zour wellfar, praying zou
to wete, that I [have] spoken with Strawngs wyf of
the matter that ze spoken to me of ; and sche seyth pleynly to
me, be her feyth, that sche knew never non seche ne never
herd of non scheche, and told to me in lyk wyse as sche had
seyd to Jamys Gloys. And sche seyd to me if sche kowd
inquier of any other that sche thinght xuld have knowleche of
any seche, sche xuld wetyn of hem, and letyn me have know-
leche therof ; and if ze soppose that any other be in this
contre that ye thync xuld have knowleche of this forseyd
mater, yf ye wyll send me word ther of, I xall do my part
ther in.

Also I have ben "att Sweyngsthorp and spoken with Kokett,
and he seyth that he woll don lyche as ye bad me that I xuld
sey to hym for to don. And I have spokyn with the sexteyn,
and seyd to hym as ye bad me that I xuld don, and he axid me
ryt feythfully hw ye sped in zour materys.

I teld hym that ze haddyn fayr be hests, and I seyd I
hopyd that ze xuld don rytz well therin ; and he seyd that he

1 [From Fenn, iv. 188.] Our reason for believing this letter to have been written
in the year 1463 will be seen in a footnote. .

EDWARD IV

supposyd that D.1 wold don for zou ; but he seyd he was 1463
no hasty laborer in non mater. He seyd be hys feyth he wost MAV 6
qher a man was that laboryd to hym for amater ryth along
tym, and alwey he be hestyd that he wold labor itt effectualy,
but qhyll he sewyd to hym that he kowd never have remedy
of his mater ; and than qhan he thowth that he xuld no
remedy have to sew to hym, he spak with Fynys,2 that is now
Speker of the Parlment, and prayid hym that he wold don for
hym in hys mater, and zaf hym areward ; and withinne ryth
short tym after his mater was sped. And the seyd sexteyn3
and other folkys that ben yowr ryth wele willers have kown-
selyd me that I xuld kownsell zou to maken other menys than
ye have made to other folks, that wold spede your materys
better than they have don thatt ye have spoken to therof be
for this tym. Sondery folks have seyd to me that they thynk
veryly, but if [unless} ye have my Lord of Suffblks 4 godelor-
chyp, qhyll the werd [world~\ is as itt is, ye kan never leven in
pese with owth ye have his godelordschep ; therfor I pray that
with all myn herth, that ye wyll don yowr part to have his
godelordschep and his love in ese of all the materis that ye
have to don, and in esyng of myn hert also ; for be my trowth
I am afferd ellys bothen of these materys the qhyche ye have
in hand now, and of other that ben not don to yett, but
if he wyl don for zou and be your godelord. I pray yow
hertylye send me werd how ze don, and how ye speden in
zour materys ; and I pray you as for seche thyngs as Jamys
hath a byll of, that I may have hem as hastyly as ze may ; and

1 Possibly John Damme.

8 This looks like a mistake, for no Speaker of the name of Fynes is met with
during this period. The expression, however, suggests that the letter was written
about the beginning of a new Parliament, which could only have been that which
met on the zgth April 1463. On the following day the Commons elected John Say
as their Speaker, whose name Margaret Paston seems to have confounded with the
family name of William Fenys, Lord Say, the trusty friend of Edward iv. who
accompanied him into exile when he fled from his kingdom in 1470. It does not
appear, however, that John Say, the Speaker, was related to that family.

3 The Sacrist or Sexton of the Priory of Norwich was the officer who had the
care of Sacra, or Holy Things, as the Church Plate, Copes, etc. j he was likewise
Secretary, Auditor, and Chancellor of the Convent, and had a Sub-sacrist or Deputy
to perform the servile parts of his office. In 1444 Brother Richard de Walsham
was appointed Sacrist. — F.

* John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.— F.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 that ze wyll vowchesave to bey apese of blak bukram for to
MAY 6 jyn w}th a gown for me, I xuld bey me amurrey gown to gon
in this somer, and leyn in the koler the satyn that ze zeve me
for an hodde ; and I kan gettyn non gode bokeram in this
town to lyn it with. The Holy Trinyte have yow in His
kepyng, and send zou helth and good spede in all yowr
maters.

Wretyn att Norwyche, on ye Fryday nexst after Crowche-
messe Day.1

Yours, M. P.

545
[JAMES GRESHAM] TO JOHN PASTON2

I'o mygth rigth gooa and special! maister, John Paston,
dwettyng at Heylesdon be syde Norwich.

J°LY 13 IGTH reverent, &c. Please your maisterchip wete that
•^ I resseived your letter whiche ye sent by Crome, and
as for the examinacion of, &c. that I wrot to you of
in my former letter to be taken on the Munday or on Tewys-
day, &c. this was the cause. Ye yaff me informacion at my
last departyng fro you that the murdre was don uppon the day
nexst after Seynt Petre. And for doute lesse ye had be ougth
at the comyng of my seid letter, and for dowte that I supposed
that my maistres, your wyf, had not be remembred of the
day, it caused me, accordyng to your informacion, to wryte
the uttermost day for her remembrans. Neverthelesse, if ye
certifie that ye toke the examinacion with in the yere and
day, and sette the day in certayn, your certificat is sufficiant in

1 Crouchmas Day, or the Invention of the Cross, was on the 3rd of May. — F.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to be in James Gresham's hand-
writing. It is evident that it was written shortly after Midsummer. Rather more
than a year and a day had elapsed since a murder committed on the morrow of
St. Peter's Day (i.e. on the 3Oth June), and it is mentioned that Convocation was
to sit some little time after Relic Sunday, which always falls in the middle of July.
Further, the King is said to be at Northampton, which he was in July 1463, and no
other year appears to suit.

EDWARD IV

lawe and shall bynd any of the parties to sey the contrary. 1463
And also the writte is that ye schuld certefie sine dilatione^ and JULY
no day expresly yoven you whan to certifie it ; wherfor ye
may kepe uncertefiet tyl the nexst terme. And so do sir, for
it schal do no hurt ; but if ony questions or jangelyng schuld
be mad when the examinacion was, let a sufficiant day with
inne the yere be noysed, and if the teste be to schort we schal
fynd the mene it schal be amendyd by hym that wrot it. For
after the informacion that I had of Crome the Sunday was
the uttermest day, and therefor it was happy that sche was
examined thenne. And where that ye wold I schuld tak the
advice of Maister Markham, See., if all thyng were laufull, and
elles not, it is full hard to my self to determine the certaynte
of every circumstans of the mater, and it is not gretely to be
comuned of with other, nor to comune of casez lyke ; for
whan the mater schuld come in revelysshon it wold cause
prevy titlers and flaterers ougth of suche questions to ymagyn,
and contryve mater of distourbans. Wherfor uppon the cer-
teynte of myn determinacion I brak the mater to Master
Markham, which called to hym Master Byngham, and so thei
ij. meved Y.1 ; and after that mocion he kept not his owyn
councell but brak to every man of it. Hou be it he was sore
mevyd with it, I wote it well, and glad to take avyse and
comfort of other personez than of Masters Markham and
Byngham. Al circumstans were to long to wryte, but I hope
to speke with you be tymes i nougth or ye schall nede to
certefye, &c. And, sir, in conclucion, Masters Markham and
Byngham thynk it sufficiant i nougth to take his promys and
his othe with ougth obligacion that he schal male amends if
profe here after can be mad uppon hym. And to this Maister
Markham prayed you to agre by the same token ye mevyd
hym to sette an ende be twyx you and my masters your
brethern. Neverthelesse if ye thynk this wey not sufficiant,
ye may lete sum other handele the mater at horn to hym if
that ye hope to gete good pref in the mater, for with ougth
evydent profFe the mater schall be but noysefull to you, and
cause men to thynk that it growyth of your ille wyll to hym

1 Yelverton.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 ward, &c. ; for he noyseth and seyth, because of iile wyll
JULY ye have caused a mad woman to take apell a yens hym.

Item, sir, as for Leukenore he is not at London, but per-
aventure I schal make hym to be meved in the mater here
after.

Item, I dede your erand to my maister your son.

Item, as for John Say,1 he recomendyth hym to you, bothe
for your billes and for your labour, and prayeth you if ony land
that lyth for the priour ease mygth be aspyed, that ye wold
help to gete it hym and send hym word ; and as for the
morteysyng and at his cost and labour.

Item, as for tydyngs, the Kyng and the counsell is at

Northampton,2 and the Convocacion schall be

. . . . after Relyk Sunday. And ther be ij. marchaunts
come fro Caleys, and they mygth no leve have to com[e] .

schuld bere the Kyng certeyn lettres and

juste tytyngs that sege is comyng to Caleys. And trew[s]
[ou]re Lady Day, as I herd sey.

Item, it is talked that Duchemen and Englysshemen ben at
contraversie with in

546

JAMES GRESHAM TO MARGARET PASTON3

To my right wurshepfull mastres, my Mastres Margret
Paston, at Caster.

1463 ¥ ^%LEASE it your good mastresship to wete that a fieri
facias is come out of the Exchequir for Hue Fen to
the Shireff of Norffolk to make levy of CC. mark of
the propir goods and catels of my masters, as executor of Sir

1 Probably the Speaker of the Parliament of 1463, whom Margaret Paston named
Fynes in Letter 544. See p. 75, Note 2.

2 According to the dates of the Privy Seals the King was at Northampton from
the 8th to the 28th July 1463 ; also on the 2nd May 1464.

3 [From Fenn, iv. 1 30.] John Paston's eldest son appears to have been knighted
in the course of the year 1463. The earliest notice which I find of him as knight is
in a writ dated nth July, 3 Edward iv., entered on the Coram Rege Roll of Trinity

EDWARD IV

John Fastolf ; of whech fieri facias we sent my master word, 1463
whech sent us word ayen by Berney that we shuld lete the
Shiref undirstand that my master nevir toke upon hym as
executor, and so for that cause that writte was no warant to
take my masters goods ; and also that my master mad a dede
of gift of all his goods and catels to Master Prewet and
Clement Paston and other, so that my master hath no goods
whereof he shuld make levy of the forseid summe ; and if
the Shireff wold not take this for non answere, that thanne
my master wold he shuld be lettid in Master Prowetts and
Clement Pastons name. Nevirthelesse we spak with the
Shireff this day, and lete hym undirstand the causes aforeseid,
and he agreid, so that he myght have suerte to safe hym
harmeles, to mak such retorne as my master or his counsell
coud devise. And because my master wrote by Berney that
he wold not fynd the Shireff no suerte, we wold not apoynt
with hym in that wyse ; and so we toke avyse of Thomas
Grene, and by cause the Undir-Shireff shall be on Monday at
Hygham, by Bastewyk brygg, and he and we thought that it
was best that Master Prowet shuld mete with the Shireff there,
and require and charge hym that by colour of the foreseid fieri
facias that he make no levy of any goods and catels of the
seid Prowetts and Clement Pastons ayens the seid John Pastons,
letyng hym vete that such goods as the seid Paston had, be
now the seid Prowetts and Clement Pastons by vertu of a
dede of gift mad to hem almost ij. yere agoo ; and if the
Shireff woll be besy aftir that to take any catell, that he be
lettid in Master Prowetts name and Clement Pastons by
Daubeney and other ; whech besines of the Shireff shall be on
Tuisday or Wednesday, and as we understand at Heylesdon.
Wherfor ye must send thedir Daubeney with Pecok, and the
may gete hym here more felasep by the avise of Master Sir
John Paston. JAMES GRESHAM.

term, 3 Edward iv. This letter is not unlikely to have been written about that time,
as it appears by a subsequent letter (No. 550) that Sir John Paston remained for some
time at home in Norfolk, when the friends of the family thought he ought to be abroad
in the world.

THE PASTON LETTERS

547

ABSTRACT1

1463 Deed poll whereby Elizabeth, widow of John Vere, Earl of Oxford, Lady

AUG. I $ of the manor of Knapton, Norfolk, grants to Agnes, widow of William Paston,
the right of removing obstructions in two watercourses belonging to the mill
called Wodmyll in Bacton ; the first of which watercourses flows out of
Knapton Fen, and the second from the mill of the Abbot of St. Benet's of
Holme.

Stratford of the Bowe, i5th Aug. 1463, 3 Edward iv.

Fine Seal.

548

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON,
SENIOR2

To oure right trusty and entierly welbelovid servaunl,
John Paston, tH elder.

THE Due OF NORFF.

AUG. 31 | "% IGHT trusty and entierly welbelovid servaunt, we grete
you hertily well, and specially praying you that ye will
be with us at Framlyngham on Sonday next comyng,
that we may comon with you there, and have youre sadde
advise in suche matiers as concernyth gretly to oure weel,
whiche shall be mynestred unto you at youre comyng. Prayng
you that ye fayle not herof, as our speciall trust is in you.
And our Lord preserve you in His keping.

Written at Framlyngham the xxxj. day of August.

NORFF.

1 [From Add. Charter 14,514, B.M., D. Turner's Coll.]

2 [From Fenn, iv. 250.] John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, the writer of this
letter, succeeded his father in the dukedom in November 1461, being at the time only
seventeen years of age. A year afterwards, in November 1462, we find him living
at his castle of Holt in Denbighshire, where he proposed to spend Christmas (see
No. 532), but before that season came he was sent for by the King to serve against
the Scots (No. 533). I am inclined to think this letter was written in the August of
1463 5 for although the Duke was again living at Holt in March following, it
seems probable that he would have visited his chief family seat at Framlingham in
the meanwhile. John Paston, the youngest, who was attached to his household, was
certainly at home with his family in the latter part of this year (see No. 560).

EDWARD IV

549

THE ABBOT OF LANGLEY TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

'To the ryght worcheppful Sere John Paston, Knyght,
be this delyvered.

RYGHT worchepful ser, and tendyrly belovyd in our 1463
Lord God, I comend me to you, sendyng you know- SEPT. 4
yng that I dede your erand to my brother, the persoon
of Blofeeld, on Wednysdaye was sevenyght, after the undyr-
standyng that I had of you and from you be this brynger ;
whech man I felte ryght wele and favorabelye dysposyd to you
ward, and more favorable wole be than to ony other jentylman
levartd, the wylle of the dede performyd, and his conscyens
savyd ; and more thinges seyd favorabely for yow which I
entytelyd in a scrowe to a' certyfyed to your servaunt Calle,
yf he had come, as ye sent me woord he sculd ado, and xuld,
as ye behestyd me, abrowte me our ferme for Heylesdon,
which not don, causeth me to wryte, prayng your jantylnesse
that I send no more therfore, for it is unpayed for the zeer
afore the Halwemesse that my Mayster Fastolf deyed, and for
the same zer that he deyed in, and sythen for ij. zer, and vs.
unpayed of a zer, and come Myhelmesse nexte xal be another
zer unpayed. Thus is iiij. zer unpayed and vs., and at
Myhelmesse next xal be v. zer and vs.

This thus kepte from Holy Chirche that is Holy Chirchez
good, may not be withoute grete parelle of soule ; wher the
parelle is God knoweth, I pray God amend it, and geve hem
grace that have his goods so to dyspose them, that thei and
the dede both may be oute of parelle. And the Trynyte have
you in His mercyful kepyng. Wretyn at Langle, on Soneday,
at evyn late, next after Seynt Johne Daye Decollacion.2

Be your welewylland,
ABBOT OF LANGELEYE.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 14.6.] The date of this letter is clear, from the statement
it contains as to the length of time which has elapsed since the decease of Sir John
Fastolf.

2 The Decollation of St. John the Baptist was observed on the zgth August.

VOL. IV. — F 8 I

THE PASTON LETTERS

R. C. V. C. TO JOHN PASTON THE ELDEST1

To my worcheppefull master, Master Paston the heldest.

j r-/p\ ~T^\ YTH worchepfull master, I recommend me on to zowr
r^ masterchepe. And of on mater at reverens of God
-*- take hede, for in trowth I her meche talkyng therof,
and that is both in Norffolk, Suffolk, and Norwyche, among
halle men of worchepe, as welle that love zow as oder, and
that is of my master, your son, Syr Jon, causse he is so at
home, and no noderwyse set for. Summe sey that ze and he
both stond howth of the Kyngs good gras, and summe sey
that ze kepe hym at home for negard chepe, and wyll no
thyng ware [spend] up on hym ; and so heche man sey is avyse
as it plese hem to talke. And I have hanqwerryd [inquired],
and seyd the most cause is inparty for cause ze har so meche
howte, that he is the rather at home for the save gard of the
costs. But at the referens of God, excheuyng of common
langage, se that he may worchepfull be set for, heyder in the
Kyngs servyse, or in maryache ; for as towchyng the Lady
Chaberlen2 that mater is don, for I spake with the parson
therof, and I hard be hym that that mater wyll not pre
[proceed?].

No more, but God spede zow as well in all maters, as
I wold ze xuld do, I be seche zow that this leter be kept
secrete.

Be zow[r] bede man,

R. C. V. C.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 128.] In the preceding letter Sir John Paston seems to have
been at home ; in Letter 552, we find that he had left home without leave. It is very
probable, therefore, that the present letter was written in the interval between them,
seeing that the writer complains of Sir John being kept at home.

2 This Lady Chamberlayne was Anne, daughter and sole heir of Sir Robert
Herling, Knight, by Jane, daughter and heir of John Gonvile, Esq. Her first
husband was Sir William Chamberlayne, Knight of the Garter, a renowned and

EDWARD IV

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght worchipfull hosbond, John Paston,
be thys letter delyveryd in hast.

RIHT worchepfull husbond, I recommand me to you. 1463
Please you to wete that I was at Norwic this wek NOV. 13
to purvey suche thyngs as nedythe me ageyns thys
wynter ; and I was at my modder, and wille I was ther, ther
cam in on Wrothe, a kynnysman of Elysabet Clers, and he
sey your dowter, and preysyd hyr to my moder, and seyd that
she was a goodly yong woman ; and my moder prayd hym for
to gett for hyr on good mariage yf he knewe any ; and he
seyd he knewe on shuld be of a CCC. mark be yer, the wyche
is Sir John Cley son, that is Chamberleyn with my Lady of
York,2 and he ys of age of xviij. yer old. Zyf ye thynk it be
for to be spok of, my moder thynkyth that it shuld be get for
Jesse mony nowe in thys world than it shuld be her after,
owthyr that j. [one], or sum other good mariage.

valiant soldier, who died in 1462. She was at this time his widow, and inherited from
her father a very considerable fortune.

She afterwards married Sir Robert Wingfield, and after his decease she became the
wife of John, Lord Scroop of Bolton.

By the name of Lady Scroop she founded and endowed a Fellowship in the
College of Gonville and Caius at Cambridge, originally founded by an ancestor of her
Ladyship's.

She was born in 1426, and was alive in 1502.

At the time this letter was written she must have been nearly forty years old,
when Sir John Paston could not have been much above twenty. — F.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 88.] I have found no letters of Margaret Paston dated from
Caister before the year 1463 ; but I am inclined to think that this and the letter
following both belong to that year. The latter, being addressed to Sir John Paston,
at least cannot be earlier, and my reasons for believing it to be of that very year will
be seen in the note to it (p. 84, Note 2). It is just possible that this letter maybe of a
different date, but considering that both were written in November, and both of them
certainly between the i2th and the i9th, and that in both Margaret Paston not only
dates from Caister, but speaks of Daubeney as being with her, the presumption, I
think, is pretty strong that they are of the same year.

2 Cecily, Duchess of York, widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and
mother of Edward iv. She died in an advanced age, at her castle of Berkhamstead,
in May 1495, and was buried near her husband, in the Choir of the Collegiate Church
of Fotheringhay, in Northamptonshire. — F.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 Item, I spake with Master John Estgate for Pekerynes

NOV- 13 mater after your entent of the mater of the letter that ye sent

home, and he seyd to me he shuld write to yow howe he had

don ther in ; and so he sent you a letter, the wyche was sent

you be John Wodows1 man with other letters.

As for answer [of] other mater, Daubeney tellythe me
he wret to you. I be seche Alle myghty God have you in
Hys kepyng. Wretyn at Caster, the Sonday next after Seynt
Marteyne.

Be your M. PASTON.

552

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON

To my welbelovyd son, Sir John Paston,
be this delivery d in hast.

NOV. 15 "W" GRET yow welle, and send yow Godds blissyng and
myn, latyng yow wet that I have receyved a letter
from you, the wyche ye deliveryd to Master Roger at
Lynne, wherby I conseyve thar ye thynke ye ded not well that
ye departyd hens withowt my knowlage. Wherfor I late yow
wett I was ryght evyll payed with yow. Your fader thowght,
and thynkyth yet, that I was asentyd to your departyng, and
that hathe causyd me to have gret hevinesse. I hope he wollc

1 John Wodehouse, Esq. of Kimberley, son of the renowned John Wodehouse,
Esq., who gained so much honour at the battle of Agincourt; he died in 1465, and
lies buried in Kimberley Chancel. — F.

2 [From Fenn, iv. 168.] As Sir John Paston was knighted in the year 1463, and
his father died in May 1466, the date of this letter must lie between the years 1463
and 1465. I think the first of these years is probably the true date. Sir John
Paston, it seems, had left home without letting his mother know of his intention.
Whither had he gone ? Not to London, because he addressed a letter to his father
there ; besides he had passed by Lynn. One would naturally suppose, therefore, that
he had gone to wait upon the King, at a time when Edward was at a distance from
the capital. And in this view we are confirmed by the passage in which Margaret
desires her son to speak with Wykes, who, as we know by Letter 514, was an usher
of the King's Chamber. Now Edward iv. was in Yorkshire, staying, for the most
part, at Pomfret, during October and November 1463, while about the same time of
year in 1464 he was at Reading, and in 1465 at Greenwich. Sir John would
naturally have passed through Lynn on his road to the North.

EDWARD IV

be your good fader hereafter, yf ye demene you welle, and do 1463
as ye owe to do to hym ; and I charge you upon my blyssyng NOV- 15
that in any thyng towchyng your fader that shuld be hys
worchep, profyte, or avayle, that ye do your devoyr and
dylygent labor to the fortherans therin, as ye wulle have
my good wille, and that shall cause your fader to be better
fader to you.

It was told me ye sent hym a letter to London. What
the entent therof was I wot not, but thowge he take it but
lyghtly, I wold ye shuld not spar to write to hym ageyn
as lowly as ye cane, besechyng hym to be your good fader ;
and send hym suche tydyngs as be in the centre thir ye bethe
in, and that ye war [beware] of your expence bettyr and ye
have be befor thys tyme, and be your owne purse berer, I
trowe ye shall fyndyt most profytable to you.

I wold ye shuld send me word howghe ye doo, and howghe
ye have schevyfte for yourself syn ye departyd hens, be som
trosty man, and that your fader have no knowlage therof.
I durste not late hym knowe of the laste letter that ye wrot to
me, be cause he was so sor dyspleasyd with me at that tyme.

Item, I wold ye shuld speke with Wekis, and knowe
hys dysposysion to Jane Walsham. She hathe seyd, syn he
departyd hens, but [unless] she myght have hym, she wold
never maryd, hyr hert ys sor set on hym ; she told me that he
seyd to hyr that ther was no woman in the world he lovyd so
welle. I wold not he shuld jape hyr, for she menythe good
feythe ; and yf he wolle not have hyr, late me wete in hast,
and I shall purvey for hyr in othyr wysse.

As for your harneys and ger that ye left here, it ys in
Daubeneys kepyng ; it was never remevyd syn your departyng,
be cause that he had not the keyes. I trowe it shall apeyer \_get
injured], but if it be take hed hate [unless it be taken heed at, or
to~\ be tymys. Your fader knowythe not wher it is.

I sent your grey hors to Ruston to the ferror, and he
scythe he shull never be nowght to rood, nowthyr ryght good
to plowe nor to carte ; he seyth he was splayyd, and hys
shulder rent from the body. I wot not what to do with hym.

Your grandam wold fayne here sum tydyngs from yow.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463 It wer welle do that ye sent a letter to hyr howe ye do,
NOV. 15 as astely as ye may. And God have you in Hys kepyng, and
make yow a good man, and zyf yow grace to do as well as I
wold ye shuld do.

Wretyn at Caster, ye Tewisday next befor Seynt Edmund
the Kynge.

Your moder, M. PASTON.

I wold ye shuld make mech of the parson [of] Fylby, the
berer herof, and make hym good cher yf ye may.

553

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON *

70 my ryth worchepfull husband, Jon Paston,
be thys lettyr delyveryd in haste.

1462-3 I ~\ YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow.
DEC. |^ Plesyth it yow to wet that Jon Jeney was here with
me thys daye and told me that ye desyiryd that I
shold do make a dyche at Heylysdon, and the seson is not for
to do make no new dechys, nor to repare non old tyll it be
aftyr Crystmas, as it is told me, and so I sent yow word in a
lettyr more thane a monythe goo ; I wot not whedyr ye had
the lettyr or not, for I had non answer ther of fro yow.
Jone Dyngayne recomandyth hyr to yow, and prayith yow for
Goddys sake that ye wole be hyr good mastyr, and that ye
wole wychesave to spek to Hwe of Fen for hyr, for it is so
that serteyn lyvelod whyche hyr husbond had in Engham was
cast in the kyngys hand in hyr husbandys lyve, and, as she
undyrstandyth, it was do in hys fadyrys lyve ; of the whyche

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 198.] This letter must lie between the years 1459, when
Sir John Fastolf died (as Hellesden belonged to him), and 1465, as John Paston died
in May 1466. The most probable year is either 1462 or 1463, fcfr it is mentioned
here that Paston's farmer at Swainsthorpe had found security for the payment of his
rent, and Richard Calle had levied four marks rent of him in February 1464. See
No. 558.

EDWARD IV

hyr husband spok to Hwe of Fen ther of in hys lyve to 1462-3
helpe that he myth be dyschargyd ther of, and Hwe of Fen DEC.
promysyd hym verily that he had mad an ende ther in and
dyschargyd hym, and that he shold never be hurt nor trublyd
ther for ; and now the laste wek Barnard the undyr scheryfe
sent downe a warant to sese the lond for the Kynge, and so,
but [unless] he have xxj. for a fyne within shorte tyme he wol
not suffyr her to have the avayle of the londys. Wher fore
she prayith yow, for Goddys sak, that ye wole purvey a mene
that Hwe of Fen may save hyr harmles, in as myche as he
promysyd hyr husbond to purvey ther fore in hys lyve ; and
if it plese not yow to spek to hym ther of, that it plese yow
to do John Paston or Thomas Playter or sume othyr, that ye
thynk that cane undyrstande the mater, for to spek to the
seyd Hwe of Fen ther of in hyr name, and to serge the
kyngys bokys ther fore, if ye thynk that it be for to do,
and sche woll ber the cost ther of. As for the mater that ze
wold I schold spek to Wylliam Worcester of towchyng the
false forgyd evydens, I can not spek with hym yet ; hys wyfe
seyth allwe that he is oute when that I send for hym. Yowyr
fermore of Sweynysthorpe hathe fownde suerte for yowyr dute,
as Rychard Calle tellyth me, so that ye scholl be plesyd when
ye come home. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys
kepyng. Wretyn in hast on the Monday next aftyr Seynt
Andrew. — By yowyr, M. P.

554

ABSTRACT *

Indenture, loth Dec. 3 Edward iv., between Robert Wodlark, Provost of 1463
the College of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, Cambridge, and John Paston, Esq., DEC. 10
witnessing a loan by Paston to the college of 100 marks till the octaves of St.
Hilary, 1464 [i.e. 1464-5], upon certain plate.2

Note below in a different hand : — « Memorandum quod Mr. Alexander Lye
erit apud Norwicum in die Martis pro[ximoj post diem Carniprivii.'

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

2 The plate specified in this document is the same as that contained in the second
list in No. 561, at p. 98.

THE PASTON LETTERS

555

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON1

'To my right worshipfull mayster^ John Paston,
at Castre, in Norfolk.

1464 A FTER due recomendacion hadde, please it your maister-
JAN. 26 /-\ ship to wytte that this day the plee by twene Ogan
and yow was sore argued in the Kynggs Bench by
your counsell, in lettyng of the jugement, and to morwe have
they day to argue ageyn. And for lak of copies of the plee, I
am fayn to sewe for newe copies therof for your counsell.
Your counsell hopeth to do weel therin. These argued for
yow, Maisters Grenefeld,2 Catesby,8 Pygot,4 Notyngham,5 and
Starky,6 &c. And yesterday was the matier by twene Deben-
ham and yow called by Geney r for an answer. I have spoken
onto Catesby, and delyvered hym your enfromacion, and to be
advysed, and to commune with Maister Grenefeld, &c.

The two Chefe Juges 8 and Maister Lyttleton 9 arn
awaytyng up on the Kyng, for the Kyng is purposed in to
Gloucestreshire, &c.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 156.] The date of this letter is abundantly evident, first from
the circumstance that the z6th of January (the morrow of St. Paul) was a Thursday,
and secondly, from the mention of the King's going into Gloucestershire. In
January 1464 Edward iv. was at Northampton, and on the 9th of February he was
at Gloucester.

2 John Greenfield. He and the two next named were made serjeants-at-law in
November 1463.

3 John Catesby. He was appointed Judge of the Common Pleas in 1481.

4 Richard Pygot.

6 William Nottingham. He was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer in

1479-

6 Humphrey Starkey. He was made a serjeant in 1478.

7 William Jenney was made a serjeant in 1463, and a Justice of the King's Bench
in 1481.

8 John Markham, Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Robert Danby, Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas, both appointed in 1461.

9 Thomas Lyttelton, the famous lawyer, was created a serjeant in 1453, and
appointed a Judge of the Common Pleas in 1466. He died in 1481, aged seventy-
nine, as Fenn here tells us in a footnote ; but Foss, in his Judges of England, says
nothing of his age.

EDWARD IV

It is seid that my Lord Chaunceller1 shull be here on 1464
Saterday on on Moneday next comyng, as the maisteres of the JAN. 26
Chauncerye sayn. I write to yow this by cause ye seid to me
if ye wyst that my Lord Chaunceller shuld be here, thanne
wolde ye come hidder, and ell[es] wolde ye not come here this
terme.

As touchy ng Rysyng, he hath his day, Utas2 Purificationis,
but I have that weye that his presence is recondet for al this
terme.

Maister Clement3 tellyth me that Wysseter hath put
excepcion on to your wyttenesseres,4 &c.

It is seid that the Kyng wold ride Sussex, Kent, Essex,
Suffolk, and Norffolk, and so to the Parlement, for he hath
sent for alle his feed men to awayte up on hym in their best
aray in al hast.

Wretyn at London, the Thursday in the morwe after
Seynt Poule.

Your owen poure man,

JAMS GRESHAM.

556

HENRY BERRY TO JOHN PASTON5

To my Rygth ivorsschipful cosyn, John Paston, Squyer^
be this Letter detyveryd, &c.

RYGHT worsschypfull and reverent cosyn, I recomaunde JAN. 28
me on to you wyth al myn hert, as your feythful
kynnesman and oratour, desyrynge to here of the
goode prosperite and welfare of your worsschipfull modyr

1 George Neville, now Bishop of Exeter, but soon after the writing of this letter
translated to York.

2 The Utas or Octave of a feast is the seventh day after it.

3 Clement Paston, brother to John Paston.

* This relates to the disputes concerning Sir John FastolPs will.

6 [From Fenn, i. 278.] By the mention of Sir John Paston it is evident that this
letter was written after 1463, but of course the date cannot be later than 1466, in
which year John Paston the father died, to whom the letter is addressed. It appears
also to have been written shortly after the death of James Sevenoke, Abbot of St.
Augustine's, Canterbury, which Fenn, I know not on what authority, says occurred
in 1463. Even the new edition of Dugdale does not give the date ; but Fenn's date
is in all probability right.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 my Lady and cosyn, wyth your wyff, Sir John Paston, your

JAN. 28 brethern Wylliam and Clement, with all your sonys and

doughters, to whom I beseche you hertely that I may be

recomaundyd. God of His hyghe mercy preserve you all un

to Hys mercy and grace, and save you from all adversite.

Worsschipfull cosyn, my speciall writynge and hertys desire
afore rehersyd, nature naturaly so me compellyth,

Watt thou I be putt fer ought of conceyte and syght,
I have you all in remembrance both day and nyght ;

besechynge you, gentyll cosyn, to tender my writynge. I take
God to my wyttnesse, I wold as fayn do that myght be un to
your honor, worsschippe, and profit as any herthly man can
thynke.

Worfor now late deyde the Abbot of our Monastery, and
lefte us in grete ded \debf\ ; the brynger heroff is my speciall
frende : the holdyst brother in our place never hard nor saw
our chirche in that mysere that is now ; we have cast the
perellys amongys us, and there is nowne other helpe, butt
every brother that hath any worsschipfull kynne or frendys,
every man to do his part to the well fare, socour, and releve
of our monasteri ; therfor, worsschipfull cosyn, I, a brother of
that worsschipfull monastery, wer inne begoon the feyth of all
thys lond, mekely besechyth you in the reverence of Allmygty
God to render help, and socour us in our grete necessite ; for
in London lyth to wedde many ryche jowells of ouris, with
other grete detts, wych my brother wyll enforme you of.

Plesyth your goodnesse, for Godys sake, and all the Seyntts
of evyn, and att my sympyll request, to have compassion upon
us, ye havynge dooe swerte \due surety\ both in obligacions and
pleggs ; in the reverens of All myghti God, do your allmesse
and charite ; hitt schall cause you to be prayed for, and all
your kynne as long as the chirche stantt ; and be this menys, I
trust to All myghty God, to se my cosyn William, or Clement,
to be stward of our londys, and so to have an intresse in Kentt,
to the worsschippe of God and you all, wych ever have you in
His kepynge. Amen.

Writyn at Caunterbiry in hast the xxviij1' day of Januare.
90

EDWARD IV

Also I beseche you, schew the brynger of this letter sum 1464
humanite and worsschipe, that when he comyth home, he may JAN- 28
reporte as he fyndeth.

1 [This is the cause every wele thi putt my kynne in my
berd, seyinge, I am come of lordys, knygtes, and ladys. I
wold they wer in your daunger a mh merke, that they mygte
know you, &c.]

Be your cosyn and bedman, HENRY BERRY.

557

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON SENIOR 2

To hys rythe worchyfull broder, John Paston thelder^
Sqwyer be this delyveryd.

BRODER, I recomawnde me to zowe. After all dew «*• 15
recommendacions, &c. Az for Hew Fennys obliga-
cion, Zelverton knowlacheyd it to be Sir John Fastolfe
is dede opynly in the Escheker, and ther he hadde is jugement
to receive the mony and ~x.li. for domages. And they report
here that they have a schreve after her entent that wyll mak
hem execucion, or ellis return that ye have wastyd the godis
of the dede ; so that they wyll have execucion of zowr own
goodis, or ellys a wryt to tak zowr body. Thus ze may se
they zeve no fors wat they doo, thow they xwld lesse and stroy
all the goodis of the dede ; And ther for, for savacion of
goodis of the dede, better it wer to suffer tak sum trete than
to suffer the goodis thus to be lost. Also Zelverton hathe ben
at all the tenauntis of Sowthewerk and chargid hem to pay no
mony but to hym. Also the kyng hathe ben in Glowcetescher
and pwnyssede hys rebellious a zens the lawe, and so he enten-
dithe to doo in Norfolk, and after that in oder contreez. God
zeve grasse and good spede in hys jornay. No more but I

1 This last paragraph is crossed out in the original MS.

2 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 2.] For the date of this letter and the King's going to
Gloucestershire, see preliminary note to No. 555, p. 88, Note i.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1 464 pray Code have zow in hys kepyng. Wretyn on Hasse Wed-
FEB. 15 nysday in haste.

Also I pray zou, send me xk. that I tok James Gressam
and John Pampyng for zowr materis. Also ther is no man
that hathe contentyd ony thyng in the Kyngis Benche of all
thys term for zour materis, and that makythe the clerkis and
zowr Aturnay wery. I trow I xall be fayn to contente hem or
ellys they xall be unpayyd.

Zowr broder, CLEMENT PASTON.

558

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON1

To my mooste reverent and wurchipfull mastre, my
Mastre John Paston, be this delyverd.

FEB. 27 ~¥"^LESITH it your goode mastreschip to undrestande that
I have receyved a byll of John Boteler, weche speketh
of your heygh at Heylesdn, and of your barly in other
places, but I undrestand not what ye wold I schulde do therin ;
nevertheles I schal do make it redy. And as for your heygh I
schull tell you whan I come hume ; and as for money at Hey-
lesdon I can non gete, and at Sueynesthorp I have take iiij.
marc.

Item, as for tidyngs the Sescions schal be at Thetford on
Wednesday next comyng, where I undrestande Mr. Berney
wol be with moche people, be cauce ther is come to hym a

1 [From Fenn, iv. 72.] This letter and the next both mention assizes at Thetford.
The latter, which is dated on Wednesday, the last (zpth) day of February, and which
was certainly written in the year 1464, mention them as being held on that very day.
The present letter, dated on the second Monday in Lent, says they are to be held on
Wednesday following. Now the second Monday in Lent 1464 fell on the zyth of
February, that is to say just two days before that particular Wednesday on which we
know that the assizes really were held. This alone seems almost sufficient evidence
of the date of the letter. As for the King's going up to London, it appears by the
dates of the Privy Seals that on the 9th February he was at Gloucester, on the ioth
and i yth at Kimbolton ; and it is stated in the next letter that he was at Waltham on
the 27th, which shows that he really was moving towards the capital. This was not
the case in 1462, the year to which Fenn assigns the letter; nor do I know his
authority for stating that there was a Burgundian Embassy in the beginning of that year.

EDWARD IV

Prevy Scale that he schuld be with the Kyng within vj. dayes 1464
that the Prevy Scale whas delyverd hym, weche he can not doo, FEB- 27
for the vj. day is to morwe. Ther is on comen to Felbrigge,
to William Yelverton on other, and to Robert Rough an other,
and non of them wol goo to the Kyng ; and the Undrescherif
tolde me that ther is comen a comyscion doun to hes maistre,
that in cas they come not up to the Kyng be ther Prevy Scales,
that than he rere the centre and take hem and bryng hem to
the Kyng wher so ever he be.

Item, Jamys Gresham tellethe me the same, and as for
tidyngs fro London we here non, but that John Colman telleth
me that if Berney or Robert Rough come up they are like to
die.

Ther be come to London Embasetors from the Duke of
Burgundy, weche cauced the Kyng to spede hym the rather to
London.

Item, as for any newe assises at Thetford ther is non but
that hathe hanged this v. yere, as the Scherif tellethe me.

I whas purposed to be at home this nyght tell I had your
bille, weche cauceth me to ride on to Drayton for divers thyngs,
&c. Almyghty Jesu preserve you.

Wreten at Norwiche, the ij. Munday of clene Lente.
Your pore beedeman and servaunt,

Ric. CALLE.

559

JOHN PAMPYNGE TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR1

70 my right worshipfull master, John Paston,
the elder, Squier.

PLEASE your mastership to wete that the Assise holde FEB. 29
this day at Thetford ; and as for any newe Assise, that
ye spak of, ther is non, ner non other savyng on for a
man a bought Brunham.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 158.] The circumstance of the last day of February falling on
a Wednesday fixes the date of this letter to the year 14.64. There is no evidence in

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 I spak with Herward, and I askyd hym if ther was any gret
FEB. 29 day at Bury, and he seid ther was but a small day, and as for
any assises ther wer non but old ; and he told me that Deben-
ham and the Undershireff were falle ought. Debenham bare
the Shireff on hand l that he had do indited an hundred men
son he cam in to his office, and the Shireff told hym that
the Kyngs bokkes apperid whedir it was so or nought ;
and he told Debenham that he coud indite an hundred at
on tyme whan ye wer indited, and named yow the cause of
ther brekyng.

Ther was a man kyllid now late in Suffolk, and he that ded
it was on of Debenhams men ; and Herward told me that the
Shireff seid to hym he wold do Debenham a shrewd turne and
he coud.

Item, it was told me at Norwich that Master Berney shuld
have be here with a gret felaship, and it is not so, ner no man
heryth of hys comyng, ner her is but litell pepill nowther, ther
wer not so few this iij. yer, as men say.

Item, Herward askyd me where John Gayn was, and I
askyd why, and he seid ther is a capias ought ayens hym upon
the condempnaceon,2 and the Shireff hath it, he bad me geve
hym warnyng ; it is retarnabill xv. Pasch.8

Item, thei sey here that the Kyng was on Monday at
Waltham.

Item, Nicholas Colman hath brought home your fardell ; it
is at Norwich.

Item, ther be no more Juges here but Sir Pers Ardeyn.4

Wretyn at Thetford, the Wednesday the last day of
Februar.

the dates of Privy Seals that the King was at Waltham in the end of February, or that
he had previously visited Cambridgeshire, in any year during the period when this
letter must have been written ; but it is quite possible that he was at Waltham on the
zyth February 1464, and if so, that he had passed through Cambridgeshire on his
way from Kimbolton, where he had been on the i 7th.

1 i.e. accused him. See vol. ii. p. no, Note i.

2 Query, as to this word, it being not perfect in the original. — F.

3 Quindena Paschae, the fifteenth day after Easter.

4 Sir Peter Ardern, Knight, was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and
also a Justice of the Common Pleas, in 144.8 ; but in 1462 a new Chief Baron was
appointed, and Ardern retained only the judgeship in the Common Pleas. He died
in 1467.

EDWARD IV

Item, Wymondham 1 is here, and was at the shirehows this 1464
day, and the Kyngs livery abaught his nekke, and ther stood FEB- 29
be the Juge, whill a lettir of the Kyngs was red. The effect
was, as it was told me, that the Kyng will that justice be had,
and that all risers ayens the pees, and oppressers of the pepill,
be chasteised, letyng hem weet 2 that he was late in Cambrigge
Shire, and there such as had offendid askyd grace, whech thei
had, savyng such as wer rewlers, whom he woll somwhat bee
punyshid, purposyng to be in this contry abought Estern, &c.
Your ser vaunt, &c.,

JOHN PAMPYNGE.

560

To my rygte reverent and worchepfull fadyr^ John Pasfon,
dwellyng in Castyr, be thys delyveryd.

RYTH reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I recomand me MARCH i
on to yow, besechyng yow lowly of your blyssyng,
desyryng to here of yowyr wellfar and prosperyte, the
whyche I pray God preserve on to Hys plesans, and to yowyr
hertys desyir ; besechyng yow to have me excusyd that ye had
no wrytyng fro me syth that I departyd frome yow ; for so
God me helpe, I send yow a lettyr to London anon aftyr
Kandylmas, by a man of my Lordys ; and he forgat to dely ver
yt to yow, and so he browt to me the lettyr ayen ; and sythe
that tyme I kowd get no messenger tyll now.

1 John Wymondham, Esq., the purchaser of Felbrigg ; he died there in 1475, and
was buried in the Augustine Friars at Norwich. — F.

8 The word ' weet ' is omitted in Fenn's original text, but occurs in the modern
copy.

3 [From Fenn, i. 284.] 'The Duke of Somerset's going' here referred to cannot
well be his flight to Scotland in 1462 (see No. 512), though the time of year at which
this letter is dated would agree very well with that supposition; for it appears by
Letter 511 that John Paston, the father, was at that time residing in the Temple and
not at Caister ; nor indeed have we distinct evidence of his being at the latter place
before 1464. Moreover, in the beginning of 1463, Somerset had just made his peace
with King Edward and been received into favour, but early in 1464 he rebelled again.
There can be little doubt, therefore, that this year is the true date.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 As for tydyngs, syche as we have here I send yow. My
MARCH i Lord and my Lady1 ar in good hele, blyssyd be God, and my
Lord hathe gret labore and cost here in Walys for to take
dyvers gentyllmen here whyche wer consentyng and helpyng
on to the Duke of Somersettys goyng ; and they were apelyd
of othyr se[r]teyn poyntys of treson, and thys mater. And
bycause the Kyng sent my Lord woord to keep thys contre, is
cause that my Lord terythe here thus longe. And now the
Kyng hathe geve my Lord power, whedyr he wole do execusyon
upon thes gentyllmen, or pardon hem, whedyr that hym lyst ;
and as fertheforthe as I kan mid yr stand yet, they shall have
grase. And as sone as thes men be come in, my Lord is
perposyd to come to London, whyche I supose schall be within
thys fortnyght. The menys namys that be apechyd ar thes,
John Hanmer, and Wylliam hys sone, Roger Pulyston, and
Edward of Madok ; these be men of worchepe that schall
come in.

The Comenys in Lancasher and Chescher wer up to the
nombyr of a x. m1- [10,000] or more, but now they be downe
ayen; and one or ij. of hem was hedyd in Chestyr as on
Saterday last past.

Thomas Danyell2 is here in Chesscher, but I wot not in
what plase, he hathe sent iij. or iiij. letyrys to Syr John
Howard, syne my Lord come hedyr.

And othyr tydynggs her we none here, but that I supose ye
have herd before ; I supose veryly that it schall be so nye
Esterne3 er ever my Lord come to London, that I schal not
move [q. mowe ? i.e. be able] come home to yow before
Estern ; wherfor I besech yow, that ye wole wyche save
[vouchsafe] that one of your men may send a byll to myne
oncyll Clement, or to som othyr man, who that ye wole, in
youyr name, that they may delyver me the mony that I am

1 John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, and Elizabeth, his wife.

2 This gentleman had a reversionary grant of the constableship of Rising Castle in
1448, 27 Hen. VI. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Howard, and sister
of Sir John, afterwards Duke of Norfolk. He is said to have been attainted in the
i Edw. IV., but fully restored both in blood and possessions in the i^-th of the same
King. He was esquire of the body to Henry vi. — F.

3 In 1464 Easter Day fell on the ist of April.

EDWARD IV

bchynd of this quarter syn Crystmas, and for the next quarter, 1464
in parte of that some that it plesid yow to grant me by yer ; MARCH i
for by my trowthe, the felawchep have not so myche mony as
we wend to have had be ryth myche ; for my Lord hath had
gret costs syn he came hedyr. Wherfore I besech yow, that I
may have this mony at Estern, for I have borowyd mony that
I must paye ayen after Estern : and I pray to Allmyty God
have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn in the Castyll of the Holte, in Walys, the fyrst
day of Marche.

Your sone and lowly servant,

JOHN PASTON, the yongest.

561

ABSTRACT l

Copy of an indenture bearing date I ith April, 4 Edward iv., witnessing APRIL 1 1
the delivery to Richard Calle, servant of John Paston, Esquire, by John, prior
of the monastery of Holy Trinity, Norwich, by virtue of the King's writ, of a
red box containing seventeen bundles of evidences, with ^40 of silver in groats,
and 80 nobles of gold, in a bag, and other valuables.

An inventory of the articles referred to in the foregoing indenture is contained in
a separate paper mutilated in the right-hand margin, which we give verbatim as
follows : —

This is the parcell be endenture received by Richard Calle of ....

day of Aprile the forthe yere as it

apperit by the copye that the seyde Richard sendeth me by John Threcher.

Unam cistam rubeam cum xvij. bundellis evidenciarum in eadem cista

contends.

Quadraginta libras argenti in grossis et iiijxx- nobil.
Duo turribula 2 argenti et deaurata.
Unam pixidem argenti et deauratam.
Unum osculatorium cum imagine Sancti Jacobi et
Unum cruett argenti et deauratum.

Unum crismatorium rotundum. Md.3

.. . , cruet in the

Unum cahcem argenti et deauratum. \ cofer.3

Unum alium calicem cum imagine Sanctae Trinitatis./ j left non

ioch in the

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] cofer but

2 Thuribula, censers, from thus. chali» of

3 These marginal notes are in John Paston's hand. gold.3

VOL. iv. — c 97

1464

APRIL II

Thes to
chalis after
the unc'
xx. t. ar

worth
xliij. li?

This is
worth xiij.
li. xv. s.2

Thes be
worth, after
xxx. d. the
unch
xxviij. li.
xiij s. ix. H.2

THE PASTON LETTERS

This is the copy of a bille drawin in Englyche that I sent home [of all]

manner of suche stuff as was in myne coffre in the abb[ey^]

by a letter sent with the same bylle that he chowlde take hede that . . .
yf he fonde aney more, well be it, as it aperit in the seyd lett^er]
woulle be lokyd [locked] uppe.

Unum calicem de auro playne ponderis duas li[bras].

Unum alium calicem de auro cum scriptura * Cal[icem salutaris accipiam,' l

ponderis xix. unc'].
Unam tabulam de auro cum imagine Sancti J[acobi positam cum lapidis

pretiosis,] ponderis xiij. unc' et iij. quarteria.
Unum par turribulorum argenti et deaurat' cum scriptura, viz., in prima parte

* Dat' est eis,' &c. ; et in secunda parte ' Ascendit fumus,' pond' xiij.

Ib. et [x. unc']. •
Unam pixidem argenti pro sacramento deaurat' cum cruce [in summitate ac

chased cum] liliis, pond' v. Ib. et iij. unc' di'.
Unam ampullam argenti deaurat' pond* i. Ib.3

4 All this was put in a paner togyddre and . . . . for to berit in to

the coffre.

Item, xl. mark in noblis and xl. li. in gro[tis].
Item, evydens.

562

SACRED VESSELS*
'this is the plate that was in my cofir at Norwich.

1464 jk CH ALE YS of goold playne, weyng ij. pound.

r\ Item, a nother chaleys of goold, with this writynge

' Calicem salutaris 6 accipiam,' weyng xix. unces.
Item, one table of gold, with an image of Sen James set
with precious stonys, weyng xiij. unce iij. quarter.

Item, one peyre of sensers of silver and gilt, with scripture,

1 Psalm cxv. [cxvi.] 13. 2 See Note 3 on last page.

3 The plate in this list is the same as that described in No. 554, by which the
words lost in this MS. have been supplied.
« * Added in John Paston's hand.

6 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This list of articles is in the handwriting of Richard
Calle, writing, I presume, as John Paston's secretary, and in his name. It will be
seen that it corresponds with a Latin list contained in No. 561, and must therefore be
the 'bill drawn in English1 there referred to.

• Salutularis, MS.

EDWARD IV

viz., in the first part, ' Dat' est eis,' &c., and in the second 1464
parte, * Ascendit fumus,' &c., weyng xiij/z. et x. unc'.

Item, one box of silver and gilt for the sacrement, with
a crosse in the heyght, and chased with liliis, weying vli. iij.
unc' di.

Item, one potte callid a crismatorie to put in holy creme
and oyle, of silver and gilt, weying j//.

AN image off Owr Lady with ij. awngellis sensyng,
gilthe, viijxx> unc', viz., xiii//. et. iiij. unc'.
Item, a crosse with a fott, Ix. unc', gilthe in to
cassys and gilt, viijxx> & xvij. unc', viz., xiiij//. & ix. unc'.

Item, an image of Sent Jon Vangelist, gilthe, weyng vijxx-x.
unc', viz., xij//. vj. unc'.

Item, an image of Sent Jon Baptist, gilthe, with the Lamb,
Iviij. unc', viz., iiij//. x. unnc'.

Item, an image off Sent Jamis with his staff, gilthe, weyng
xxxvj. unc', viz., iij//.

Item, an image off Our Lady, gilthe, with a crowne and a
lely, weyng iijxx-vj. unnc', viz., vli. vj. unc'.

Item, an image of Sent Denys, gilthe, weyng 1. unc', viz.,
iiij//. ij. unc'.

Item, an image off owr Savyowr, gilt, with His crosse, His
diademe, and His fane, vxx-xj. unc', viz., ix//. iij. unc'.

Summa unciarum xlxx-viij. unc'.

Summa Ixvij. lib. iiij. unc'.

Sum in markis Cj. mark ij. unc', di.

Memorandum, j. lib. continet xij. unc' ; j. marc continet
viij. unc'.

Endorsed — Episcopus Cantuariensis.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This list is likewise in the handwriting of Richard
Calle, and was perhaps drawn up about the same time as the preceding one.

THE PASTON LETTERS

564

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

To my rygth worchepful broder John Paston Sqwyer.

YGHT worshypfull brothyr, I recomawnde me to zow.
APRIL 1 8 - After all dew recomendacions, &c., plesse it zow to
wett that after that I had harde say that the person of
Blowfelde 2 wasse com to town I went to hym to his in, and he
bade the mesenger say that he wasse not within, and I bad
hym say a gayn that I come thyder to hym for hys own
worchep and avayle and that I wasse sory that I com so fer
for hym ; and after that he sent for me and he cowde not
fynde me, and I harde say ther of. And than I wrott a
letter, resytyng how that he wasse sworn yesterday for to
say the trowthe of al maner of materis consernyng Sir John
Fastolfe, avysyd hym to remember qwat hys wytnesse hadde
sayd for hys sake, and wat schame it xwlde be to hym to say
the contrary ; And also, if he sayde the contrary, ze wold her-
after prove the trowthe and contrary to hys sayyng, and prove
hym in a perjuri. And also I badde hym remember with wat
maner of men he delt wythe ; and I rehersyd how untrwly
they hadde don. And not with standyng thys, after I met
with hym in the strett and spak with hym, and I fownde hym
passyng strawngely disposyd and sor mevyd with consiens that
ze xwld have the lond and fownd the colage but with an C.
marcs, not with stondyng he myth fynde in hys consiens by
the well that the colage xwld be fowndyd in a noder plasse
but with an C. marcs, and the reminaunt of the lylode sold so
that he myth pwroe the mony ; so I felt by hym that all hys
strawngenes from zow is for he demythe that ze wold parte
from no thyng ; and I told hym the contrary ther of to be

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 7.] This letter was written in April 1464, %vhen
witnesses began to be examined about FastolPs will. See No. 565. The Privy Seals
of Edward iv. show that he was in Kent (at Dartford) on the ifth and i8th of
that month, and he immediately after started for York.

* Thomas Howes.

100

EDWARD IV

trwe, az this day he is cxaymined up on a bok to sey the 1464
trowthe of all thynges as the juge will1 aske hym, for the AFRIL 18
jugeis informacion ; wych I trowe wyll not be good. Also
they have pwt in testes azens zow iij** or iiijxx men. Mayster
Robard Kent wold sayn that ze xwle gett zow ij. lycens of the
prioris of zowre wytnes, Mayster Clement and the monke,
with an A 2 datt beryng before the comyng up ; for that must
ye nedis have. Also he wold sayn that ze xwld corn to thys
towne. Me thowte by Sir Thomas that they have aswerte in
maner that ze xall have no lycens for zour fundacion. And
[i.e. if] they be abowte to gett a lycens to fownde the colage
in a noder place, me thynkythe that wold hurte ; her colour is
for cause ze can gett no lycens to fownde it at Caster ; werfor
thow zour wyll wer trwe, they myth lawfully fownde it in a
noder place. My Lord Chawnceler3 is gone to Zork and
wyll not be her of all thys term. Wrytyn on Wednisday
nexst be for Saynt George.

The Kyng hathe ben in Kent and ther ben endityd many
for Isleis dethe ; and he wyll com to town this day azen and
he wyl not tary her but forthe to Zork straytt.

By CLEMENT PASTON.

565

ABSTRACT «
DEPOSITIONS TOUCHING SIR J. FASTOLF'S WILL

' Primum testes reprobatorii producti per Yelverton, contra testes Paston APRIL-
principaliter productos &c. NOV.

* Facta fuit sequens examinatio testium subscriptorum secrete et singillatim,

1 ' will.' In MS. ' w',' which ought to read ' with ' ; evidently a slip of the pen.

2 Apparently meaning an ante date.

3 George Nevill, Bishop of Exeter, afterwards Archbishop of York.

4 [From MS. Phillipps, 9309.] These depositions, of which we shall only attempt
to give some of the principal points, were produced in the Spiritual Court by Sir
William Yelverton and William Worcester in opposition to the claim of John Paston
and Thomas Howes to be Sir John FastolPs executors. The examinations were taken
at intervals during the years 1464, 1465, and 1466, and the suit was not terminated
when John Paston died. The MS. volume here referred to contains three distinct
bundles of these depositions bound up in a wrong order. A volume containing
similar matter among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum will be found entered
in the year 1465.

101

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 videlicet, Domini Johannis Davy capellani vicesimo octavo die mensis Aprilis,
APRIL- Thorax Upton quinto, Johannis Bockyng duodecimo, Nicholai Newman xvjto
NOV. diebus mensis Maii ; Johannis Loer, Willelmi Eton quarto, Roberti Lynne
quinto, diebus mensis Junii ; Bartholomei Elys tercio, magistri Roberti Wylly
sexto, Johannis Marshall, Johannis Davy terciodecimo et Willelmi Lyne
ultimo, diebus mensis Julii ; Anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo sexa-
gesimo quarto, Indictione duodecima, pontificatus Sanctissimi in Christo patris
et domini nostri, domini Pii Divina prudencia Papae Secundi anno sexto, In
Domo Thesaurarii ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli, London, infra parochiam
Sancti Gregorii civitatis London situat', per venerabilem virum magistrum
Johannem Druell, utriusque juris doctorem, examinatorem et commissarium ad
infra scripta specialiter deputatum. In praesentia mei Nicholai Parker notarii
auctoritate Apostolica, publici scribae in hac parte de et super exceptionibus
infra scriptis, par partem domini Willelmi Yelverton et Willelmi Worceter
productorum.'

i. John Davy chaplain, staying at the University of Cambridge, liber -e
conditionisy 30 years old and more, examined super exceptionibus infrascriptts of
which the tenors are quoted, viz., on the part of Yelverton and Worceter
against John Russe, Robert Cutteler elk., Master Clement Felmyngham, Rob.
Boteler, Ralph Lampet, Brother Will. Bokyngham, and Master Robert Popy,
witnesses on the opposite side, whose testimony is discredited * eo quod parte
sua non praesenti juraverunt et super non juratis deposuerunt, ac in depositionibus
suis fuerint et sint varii, contrarii, singulares negativam asserentes, causas
dictorum suorum minime reddentes, unumque et eundem praemeditatum ser-
monem proferentes, a testatore non vocati aut rogati perhibere testimonium,
nee sufficienter probantes in hac parte, prout ex inspectione depositionum suarum
liquere poterit intuenti.' Further, John Russe was illiterate, and did not under-
stand Latin when he made his deposition, and he contradicted the other witnesses
on his own side : viz., to the 9th interrogatory he said, Sir J. FastolPs will was
not written before his death, which Clement Felmyngham and Robt. Cutteler
in their reply to the 3d said it was. Moreover he expected advantage to him-
self from his testimony, and was discharged by Howys of ^300 that he owed
Fastolf. He had also secretly abstracted certain muniments and charters of the
testator, which were in the custody of Will. Worceter, in the house of John
Tory, at Castir, Norwich dioc., in Nov. 1459. Moreover he was supravisor et
locator of the testator's lands called Akethorpe, yearly value 9 marks, appointed
by Paston or Howys, who promised to sell them to him much under value for
his testimony. Further, his statement that he was present in quadam bassa
camera at Caister between 8 and 9 A.M. on the Saturday before Sir J. FastolPs
death, was a perjury, for he was really all that time in other places a long way
off. His declaration that he was no servant or tenant of those who brought
him forward was untrue : he had hired a house of Howys in the town of
Yarmouth, value 405. a year. He was inconsistent in his testimony about the
hour Sir J. declared his will. He also pretended never to have seen FastolPs
will before his death, although he wrote the Said pretended will with his own
hand with the date at the head, which at the beginning of this suit he caused to
be cut off from the writing and hidden.

102

EDWARD IV

Also the said Rob. Cutteler chaplain, when he made his deposition, was 1 464
* levis opinionis, malse conscientias et de mensa Joh'is Paston ac tenens ipsius, APRIL-
prout ad primum interrogatorium examinationis suae primas et secundae responde- NOV.
bat.' Also he was perjured; because in April 1457 in par. of Holy Trin.,
Castir, he beat and maimed one Jo. Flemyng, and boasted of it (ac sic factum
nomine suo ratum habuit}, but being taken before Sir J. Fastolf, justice of the
peace, he swore he had not done so. — Proofs that he was not disinterested.

Exceptions to Rob. Popy : He was a tenant of Paston's, &c. &c.

Davy says John Rus was at Yarmouth on the Saturday in question, as he
usually was on Saturdays, to buy victuals for FastolPs house, &c. (Proof
declared insufficient in the margin). Sir J. Fastolf was so ill, that, as Davy
had heard he was unable to speak from 22d Oct. 'Quse quidem infirmitas
vocabatur judicio medicorum, sincope, quas ipsum vexabat singulis horis et ipsum
deduxit ad extasim de scientia istius jurati, qui continue conversabatur cum eo
usque ad ipsius mortem.'

2. Thos. Upton, one of the clerks of the King's kitchen, /iterates, * libers
conditionis,' forty years old and over ; 2d. witness.

Mentions that W. Worceter gave Jo. Rus a casket to keep containing
certain documents, which Rus delivered to Howys after FastolPs death. Was
clerk of the kitchen to Fastolf when Rus used to go on Saturday to Yar-
mouth, &c.

9 May. Jo. Bokkyng produced by Jo. Naseby, proctor of Yelverton and
Worceter, before Master Tho. Wynterton, LL.D., auditor of Thomas Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, at his house in the parish of St. Martin, in presence of
Robert Kent, proctor of John Paston. — Examination committed to John
Druell, LL.D. who on the I2th May examines him secretly in the house of
the treasurer of St. Paul's.

' Dicit quod Johannes Tovy quaedam munimenta et evidencias 1 in certis
bagis et pixidibus contenta quae Willelmus Worceter eidem Johanni Tovy
liberavit custodienda.' Rus was and is Howys' tenant for the house he lives
in. After FastolPs death Upton delivered to Clement Felmyngham a signet
or gold ring, * ad signandum sigilla dicti domini Johannis Fastolf,' in a little
bag, which was to be returned ' post signacionem hujusmodi,' but afterwards he
said he had lost it. Touchyng brother W. Bukyngham, it was publicly noised
at Yarmouth that Robert Brown, a chaplain of that town, had killed one
Seman Burton, that Bukyngham knowingly received him, and that by his advice
he fled. To the last exception he says he believes Fastolf did not release
Paston from the payment of the said 4000 marks, ' quia iste juratus non in-
tellixit in tota vita sua tantam liberalitatem in dicto domino Johanne Fastolf.'
Fastolf had such difficulty in breathing for five or six days before his death that
he could hardly speak.

Interrogatories proposed on the part of Paston and Howys, and administered
to witnesses.

' In primis, interrogetur quilibet testis hujusmodi cujus sit conditionis et an

1 There is no verb in the MS. to govern munimenta et evidencias.

103

THE PASTON LETTERS

1 464 sit famulus, l serviens aut tenens partis eum producentis, et cui parti magis favct
APRIL- partium praedictarum.' Secondly, whether he be in the pay of any one. There
NOV. are six interrogatories in all, and they are numbered.

Then follow answers of some one, whose name does not appear, to each of
these six interrogatories ; and other answers by —

1. Nich. Newman, Usher of the Chamber to Lady Catherine, Duchess
of Norfolk.

2. John Loer, servant of the Abbot of Langley.

3. Will. Eton.

4. Rob. Lynne of Bucklande.

5. Earth. Elys of Yarmouth, 'literatus liberae conditionis,' fifty years old
and more (proves Rus's absence, but his testimony is declared in the margin to
be improbable, and not to agree with Davy's).

6 July. Naseby produces Rob. Wylly on the part of Yelverton and Worcester.
Examined on the 9th. — Says he was required by Paston and Howys to see
FastolPs will, and ' ad impediendum \_impendendurn] consilium suum : ' — that on
a Sunday in the summer after FastolPs death, John Paston showed him, at
FastolPs house in Southwark, Sir John's will written on paper, in presence of
Clement Felmyngham and John Bracley, and asked his opinion if it was valid.
Thought it insufficient to overthrow any previous will. A clause mentioning
Tudenham and Heydon as executors was cancelled by this deponent's advice,

* eo quod erat contra caritatem.'

13 July at Bow Church. Naseby produces John Marshall and John Davy,
whose examinations follow.

19 Oct. 1464. Druell examines Hen. Wenstall at the treasurer's house of
St. Paul's.

15 Nov. 1464. Druell examines Rob. Hert.

i Dec. Naseby produces Rob. Fyztrauf, whose production Kent opposes ;
who tries to prove Rus's absence (insufficiently, as remarked in the margin),
because he was constantly with Fastolf, except half an hour that morning, and
held the basin while Henry Barbour lathered the beard (lav'tt barbam] of the
said Sir John Fastolf.

* Responsiones personaliter factae per dominum Thomam Howys unum
executorum domini Joh'is Fastolf, ultimo die mensis Aprilis A° Dni 1464,' &c.,

* coram Ven. viro Mag'ro Thoma Wynterbourne, LL.D.,' &c., 'in camera
ejusdem infra manerium Rev™ patris apud Lamehith, Winton dioc' situat', in
praesenncia mei Nicholai Parker,' &c.

Howys says he did not see Coteler or Rus in FastolPs chamber that Satur-
day before he went to dinner. On Saturday and Sunday before his death
Fastolf spoke so low he could hardly be heard by any one, and Howys heard
him only by putting his ear close to his mouth. FastolPs mind was clear.

1 The text is continued here at another part of the volume, the leaves being
misplaced.

104

EDWARD IV

566

ABSTRACT1

Power of attorney by Roger Fidyon, clerk, and William Bondys to 1464
Richard Lynstede, John Holme, and John Brikkes, to enter and take posses- MAY I2
sion of the manor of Hornynghall, in Castre, by Yarmouth, with appurtenances
in Castre, Maudeby, Ormesby, Filby, and Scroudeby, or elsewhere in the
hundred of East Flegge, Norfolk, which the said Roger and William have of
the gift of Edmund Clere ; and thereafter to deliver seisin therein to Agnes
Paston, William Paston, Elizabeth, Countess of Oxford, John Veer, Earl of
Oxford, John Scroop, Knight, Lord Scroop, Sir William Yelverton, Elizabeth
Cleere ; William Jennay, John Grenefeld, John Catesby, Serjeants-at-Law ;
John Hastynges, John Clopton, John Calthorp, Hugh Fen, Thomas Corne-
waleys, Thomas Howes, clerk, Roger Marchall of London, Henry Spilman,
William Lomnour, Bartholomew Whyte, William Whyte, John Applyerd,
James Arblaster, William Wurcetyr, and Richard Maryot, according to a
charter granted to them by the said Roger and William.

Castre, i zth May, 4 Edward iv.

567

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON2

<To myn ryght worshypful hosbond, John Paston,
be thys delyveryd in haste.

RYGHT worshypful hosbond, rekomaund me on to you. JUNE 8
Pleasyth you to wete that I sent yisterday Loveday to
Norwyche to speke wyth the Vykyr of Derham 3 for
the mater betwen Master Constantyn and hym ; and he seyth
that as for that mater, Master Constantyn sewyd hym for

1 [From MS. in the Bodleian Library.]

2 [From Fenn, iv. 176.] The commission to Lord Scales and Sir John Howard
mentioned in this letter seems to have reference to a proclamation dated the nth
May 1464, by which all men between the ages of sixty and sixteen were ordered to
attend the King. The date is confirmed by the reference in the postscript to the
death of ' Rous of Suffolk/ for Reginald Rons of Denington died in 1464. (See
Weever's Funeral Monuments, p. 78z.)

3 Constantine Dalby was instituted to the Vicarage of East Dereham in 1451,
and was succeeded in 1458 by Robert Sheringham.

I05

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 feyth and trowth brekyng, and he sewed Master Constantyn
JUNE 8 in the Temporall Curte uppon an obligacion of x//. ; and ther
was made appoyntment be twen hem by the advyce of bothe
ther Conceylis, be for Master Robert Popy, that eche of hem
shuld relece othyr, and so they dede, and the sewtys wer wyth-
drawyn on bothe partyes, and iche of hem aquytauncyd othyr ;
and as for any copy of the plee, he had never non, ner he ner
Master John Estegate, that was hys atornay, remembryth nat
that it was regestryd ; and Master John Estegate scythe, if it
schuld be scergyd in the regester it wold take a fortenyght
werk, and yit peraventur never be the nerer.

Syr Thomas Howes hathe ben ryght besy thys weke at
Blofeld, in wrytyng and lokyng uppe of ger, and John Russe
hathe ben with hym ther the moste parte of alle thys weke,
and thys day was Robert Lynne ther with hym; what they
have do I wote nat, but I schal wete if I may.

It was told me that Syr Thomas desyryd of John Russe to
make hym a new inventory of Syr John Fastolffs goods. John
Russe myght not be spoke with yit, for the letter that he
shuld a wretyn, whych ye sente me word of.

Item, it is tolde that the Dwke of Suffolk l is kome home,
and owthyr he is ded, or ellys ryght seke, and not lyke to
eskape ; and Syr John Howard is kome horn ; and it is seyd
that the Lord Skalys2 and he have a comyssyon to enquer
whye they of this centre that were sent for kame not hastylar
uppe afftyr they wer sent for. It is reportyd that the Kyng is
gretly dyspleasyd ther with. At the reverence of God, arme
yowr selve as myghtyly as ye kan ageyn yowr enmyes, for I
know verrayly that they wyl do ageyn yow as myghtyly as
they kan with all ther power.

It is told me that Syr Thomas shal kom uppe in haste,
and othyr, suche as he kan make for hys partye.

Also for Goddys sake be war what medesyns ye take of
any fysissyans of London ; I schal never trust to hem be cause
of your fadr and myn onkyl, whoys sowlys God assoyle.

The blissyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng, and sende

1 John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.

2 Anthony Widville was created Lord Scales in 1461. — F.
1 06

EDWARD IV

yow helthe and good spede in all yowr materis. Wretyn in 1464
haste, on the Fryday next befor Sceynt Bernabye. JUNE 8

By yowrs, M. P.

Alle the jentylmen of thys contre that went uppe to the
Kyng ar contrmaundyd, and ar com horn ageyn. It is told
me that Rowse of Suffolk1 is ded. If John Gayn myght
have any releese of his sone, if it myght do hym ese, it wer
a good torne for hym.

568

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON2

To my ryght wurschipfull my mastre, John Paston, be
this delyverd in haste.

PLESITH it youre goode maisterchippe to witte that I JUNE 28
have be with my Mastre Calthorppe for the matre ye
wrote to hym fore, wherin I have founde hym ryght
weele disposed and favorabley ; nevertheles he tolde me that
William Jenney hath bene hes goode frende and have ben of
hes councell this ij. yere in all hes matres towchyng the lawe,
but he seide lever he hadde lose the lesser frende than the
greete frende, and so he hathe graunted favour accordyng to
youre desire, and wrote a lettre to the undrescheryff of Norfolk
that he schuld take suerte sufficient to save hym harmeles, and
that done to write a letter to the undrescheryff of Suffolk and
lete hym witte that he hath taken suerte that ye schall appere
in the crastino Animarum upon the exigents returnable, or elles

1 Reginald Rous, Esq. of Denington, in Suffolk, died in 1464. He was the
ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.

8 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter refers to the suit brought by Jenney
against Paston in 1464, in which, as will be seen hereafter, Paston failed to appear at
four successive county courts held at Ipswich, and was at last outlawed in Michaelmas
term. See No. 572.

107

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 to bryng a super sedias1 lauful before that daye, chargyng hym

JUNE 28 tnat he do sece [cause to cease] the callyng of the^writts, and to

retorne that ye appered the furst day. Weche suerte is taken,

and a letter wreten to the undrescheryff of Suffolk acordynge

herto.

Item, as for Sir Thomas Howes, he lythe most at Nor-
wiche. I can thynke he come not up to London tyll
Michelmes.

Item, I rode over to Techewelle whan that I whas at
Mastre Calthorppes for to have money of the fermours, and
Yelverton and Sir Thomas hathe sent to hem that they schol
pay to you no more money, for that they had payed to you
they schulde payed [pay it] ayene to them ; and so I gane
[can] gete no money of hem. Wherfore I went for to
distreyne hem ; and so they seide that I myght not distreyne
hem, for I come before the daye, for her [their] day is at
Midsomer. Nevertheles I wold not lette, for that Simond
Miller and other promysed to Mr. William Cotyng and to
me that I schuld have the money aftre Midsomer, so that I
brought with me a quetaunce of suche money as ye have rc-
ceyved of hem, or elles a generall quetaunce ; and the tone
I purposed to do in haste be the advice of the seide Mastre
W. Cotynge, For, and I torned, I can thynke it schuld
hurte. I am purposed to lete it in youre name to other
folks or to them ayen, and suerte founde to you, &c. And
Almyghty God preserve and kepe you. Wreten at Norwiche
on Sen Petres Even.

Your pore ser vaunt and bedman,

Ric. CALLE.

1 Super scdias. So spelt in MS.

108

EDWARD IV

569

JOHN PASTON TO EDWARD IV.1

70 the Kyng, our Liege Lord.

BESECHYTH lowly your humble servaunt, John Paston 1464
the older, squier, that it please youre good grace, for
such a fyne as your highnes hath apoynted your seid
besecher to content yow, wherof ye be put in suerte, to graunt
on to your seid besecher your gratious lettirs patentes of
licence to found, stabilissh, and endewe in the gret mancion
of Caster in Flegge in Norffolk, that late was John Fastolffs,
knyght, cosyn to your seid besecher, a college of vij. prestes,
wherof one to be master, and of vij. porefolk, to pray for your
noble astate and for the soule of the seid John Fastolff and
such other as he was behold to inperpetuite, aftir ordinauns
by your seid besecher in that behalff to be made ; and to
inmortese, geve and graunt to the seid prestes and to ther
successours, for the sustentacion of hem and of the seid pore-
folk CXX. mark of annuite and rent charge, or annuites and
rentes charge, yerly goyng out of the maners callid Redhams,
Vaux, and Bosomes, in Caster forseid, Begviles in Wynterton,
Reppis in Bastewyk, Spencers in Heryngby, Loundhall in Sax-
thorp, Heylesdon, Drayton, Heynesford, Guton in Brandeston,
Beyton, Techewell, and of the thrid part of the maner of
Runham with th'apportenauns in the shire of Norffolk, and of
the maners of Hemnales in Cotton, Burneviles in Nakton,
Akthorp in Leystoft, Calcotes, Havelound, Spitlyngges, with
th'apportenauns in the shire of Suffolk, and out of any part of

1 [From MSS. in the Bodleian Library.] This, and the alternative petition which
follows, seem to have been drawn up in the year 1464, as one or other of them must
have been the subject of the agreement of the xoth September in that year (No. 571).
The two are printed from two parchment MSS. in the Bodleian Library. There is
also, among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, a third copy, fair written on
parchment like the other two, of which the text corresponds in the beginning to the
second petition, and in the latter part to the first.

109

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 the seid maners, with a clause of distresse for defaut of pay-
ment of the seid rente, and vj. acres of lond in the seid towne
of Caster, and the avowsons of the chirches of the same town,
and the fourth part of the seid mancion, or any part therof for
the habitacion of the seid prestes and porefolk, to be reparid
at the costs of your seid besecher, and his heires or assignes
for evir. And also by your seid lettirs patentes to graunt the
same prestes to be one body incorperate and to have succession
perpetuall, and a comon seall, and to be persones abill to plede
and to be impletid, and to purchase and alienyn all maner
londes, goodes and catell, by the name of the master and his
brethyrn of the college of Sen John Baptist of Castre aforeseid.
And also by your seid lettirs patentes to licence the seid prestes
to take and reseyve, and to hold to them and to ther succes-
soursthe seid annuite, rent charge, vj. acres of lond, avousons,

and the seid * part of the seid mancion, for evir. And

to geve your Chaunceler of Inglond for the tyme beyng,
comaundement, power, and auctorite that where as in this
petision is not comprehendid the certeynte of termes, maters,
clauses, and other circumstaunces convenient and requisite after
forme of lawe for licens of the seid fundacion, that your seid
Chaunceler, that notwithstandyng, do make your seid lettirs
patentes in forme of lawe effectuall and sufficient in that behalf
after the very entent aforeseid, not excedyng the valew and
somme before specifyd, without any fyne or fee other thanne
is afore specifyd to be payd for the seid lettirs patentes, licens,
or grauntes, by your seid besecher or by the seid prestes ; and
thei shall pray hertly to God for yow.

Endorsed in a later hand: — Supplicatio Jo. Paston [pro] fundacione Collegii apud
Caistor [secundum] formam testament! Jo. Fastolf, mil.

1 A blank on an erasure.

110

EDWARD IV
n.

T0 the Kyngy our Sovereyn Lord.

Please it yowr highnes to graunte unto yowr humble servant John Paston the 14.64.
older, Squier, yowr gracious lettres patents of licence to fownde, stabelysh, and
endewe in the gret mancion of Castre be Mekyll Yermowth in NorfFolk, that
late was John Fastolffs, knyght, cosyn to yowr seyd besecher, a colage of vij.
prystes wherofF on to be master, and vij. pourmen, to praye for your noble
astate, and for the sowle of the said Fastolff and suche othir as he was be holde
to inperpetuite, and to inmortese and gyve to the seyd prystes, and to ther
successours for the sustentacion of hem, and of the seyd pourmen C. marke of
annunite and rent charge, yerly goyng owt of all maneres, londes, and tenementz
that were the seyd Fastolffs within the Shyres of NorfFolk and Suffolk, and vj.
acres of londe in the sayd town of Castre, and the iiij. parte of the sayd mancion
for the habitacion of the sayd prystes and pourmen, to be repared at the costes
of your seyd besecher and hys heyres and assignes for ever, as suerly and law-
fully as your seyd besecher can devise. And also be your letters patentz to
graunt the same prystes to be one bodie incorperate, and to have succession
perpetuall, and a comon seall, and to be persones abyll to plede and be impletid,
and to purchase and alienyn all maner londs, tenements, godes, and catell, be
the name of the master and hys brethyrn of the collage of Saynt John Baptiste
of Castre aforsayd. And also be your letters patentz to licence the sayd
prystes to take and receyve, and to holde to theym and to ther successours the
sayd annaunite, rente charge, vj. acres of lond, avowsons, and the seyd iiij. parte
of the said mancion for ever, with owte eny ffyne or fe to be payde for the sayd
lettres patentz, licens or grauntes be your sayd besecher, or be the said pristes.
And thei shall pray hertly to God for you.

Endorsed in a later hand: — Peticio Joh'is Paston Arm' ad Regcm pro collegio in
Caistcr.

570

ANONYMOUS TO MASTER ROTHEWELL'

MAISTER Rothewell, please you to remembre, as for
the mater that John Paston and Sir Thomas Howys
comownyd with you of, in whiche they desyred
specialy the good lordship, support and helpe of my Lordis of
Wynchestre and Beauchamp for acomplishement of the will

1 [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 6.] This letter would seem to be of about the «ame date
as No. 569.

Ill

THE PASTON LETTERS

of here testatour * and in esshewynge of costis. And where as
ye meovyd to knowe the materys that were contraryed be
otherys, we undirstonde and have knowlege of late tyme it 2
stondeth in these materys folwyng.

Fyrst, the seyd Testatour be hise testament namyd the
seyd Lordys and the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys
and othyr executorys, and wolde as for the admynistracion,
kepyng and execucion of his goodis shuld be takyn and doo
be the seyd Paston and Howys duryng here lyves, if they will
take admynistracion ; and if ony of hem too desese or refuce
the admynistracion, the tothyr to chese to hym on of the
remnaunt of the executorys to execute, &c. And if bothe
deye, noon chosyn, thanne tweyne to be chosyn be the
executorys levyng, or the more part of hem, to admynistre
in lyk wise. And they too that do occupye to have recourse
to my seyd lordis and the othyr executorys in takyng here
good avyse chargeable and requysit materys. And this is oon
matere that othyr namyd in the Testament gruche with. Not-
withstandyng, as for ony avauntage that we cleyme to have by
it, we wyll be agreable to ony mean resonable that oure seyd
lordis wyll ordeyne to the good disposecion of the goodys
accordyng to oure testatorys intent, or to ony meane that may
concyensly or lawefully be meovyd.

Item, as for hise wyll touchyng hese goodis on mevable, as
hese londis and tenamentis, the seyd testatour hathe at all
tymes this xx. yeer, in all wyllis that he hathe made, ordeynid
that a gret part of hyse seyd londis shuld goo to the fundacion
of a collage at Castre of vij. monkys or pristis and vij. pore
folke ; and he by hyse last wyll ordeynid that the seyd John
Paston shuld have all the londis and tenementis in Norffolke,
Suffolke and Norwyche; and that the seyd Paston shuld at
hese cost inmorteyse and indewe the seyd Collage and paye
iiijml mark to be dysposed for the testatouris soule, as is
declaryd in the seyd wyll more pleynerly. And as for the
remnaunt of the lyflode to be sold, and the mony thereof
comynge to be disposed be thoo personys that he hathe
ordeynid to have the execucion of hise wyll and testament.

1 Sir John Fastolf. 2 it. MS. reads ' in.*

112

EDWARD IV

And as for thys matere of the Collage, there shall, be the
mene hereof, more mony growe to the handis of the mynis-
trorys, what soo ever they bee, and also lesse labour thanne
shuld have doo and thys hadde not bee, in cas the seyd
mynistroris wolde intende to parforme ony will that the seyd
Testatour made thys xx. yeer. And also it shalbe well provyd
that the seyd Testatour was dysposed to have doo more largely
to the seyd Paston thanne is conteynid in the seyd wyll if he
hadde levyd the tyme to have expressyd and parformyd hise
wyll and entent.

Wherfor, plese my seyd lordis to take suche a direccion
that the may undirstonde the trouthe of these materys, and
to shewe here good lordshepys and favour accordyng to the
trouthe in parformyng of the Testatourys wyll, and in sesynge
of voyd costis of hese goodis. And that they will geve noo
credence to suche as wyll upon here owyn imagynacionys for
maleyse or invye intendyng to contrarye the dedys wyll or
mys spende hese goodis . . .

Endorsed by another hand : —

A letter to Rothwell or Worcester or of Watkyn Schyddam.

571
FOUNDATION OF CAISTER COLLEGE l

Apunctuamenf Regis pro fundacione Collegij apud

y &c.

THE Kyng, for the soume of CCC. mark of lawfull mony 1464
of Inglond, or of silver plate to the valew therof, SEPT. 10
grauntith to John Paston the older, Squier, to have
licens, lawfully mad, to make and found a College of vij. prests
and vij. pore folk at Caster, in Flegge in Norffolk, for the
soule of Sir John Falstolf, Knyght ; thei to be indued with
certeyn rent, and otherwise aftir the intent and effect as is
specifijd in a bille therof, signed by the Kyng ; and that he

1 [From Fenn, iv. 182.]
VOL. IV. - H 113

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 shall showe his good grase, favour, and assistence to have the
SEPT. 10 Said fundacon inacted and auctorised in the parlement next
holden, and discharge the seid John Paston and the seid prests
of any other fyne or fee to be mad in the Chauncerie for the
seid fundacion ; and that the Kyng shall signe and graunt
warants for seid licens, and shewe his good grace and favour
in the expedision therof, what tyme he be sued to therfore by
the seid John Paston.

Also, the Kyng grauntith to be good and favorabill Lord
to the seid John Paston, and inespeciall in all thyngs touchyng
the execucion of the will of the seid Sir John Fastolf, and also
to be good and favorabill Lord to the seid John Paston, in
supportyng and helpyng hym, in that the Kyngs Highnesse
may lawfulle do, in such maters as are in debate athwyx the
seid John Paston and William Yelverton, or William Jenney,
or any other, concernyng the londs and tenements, goods or
cattell, that were the seid Sir John Fastolfs. Also the Kyng
grauntith to help and support the seid John Paston to opteyne
and have to the use of the seid Sir John Fastolf such goods as
were the seid Fastolfs deseitfully aloyned out of the possession
and knowlech of the seid John Paston; and that the Kyng
shall graunt the seid John Paston such lawfull writynggs and
lettirs from the Kyng, directed to such persones as shall be
behovefull for the same, what tyme the seid John Paston suyth
to the Kyngs Highnesse therfore.

Also where Yelverton, or Jenney, or any Justise of the
Peas of the Shire of Suffolk hath recorded any riot, trespas, or
offenses to be do ayens the Kyngs peas, by the seid John
Paston, his servaunts, or tenaunts, or frends ; or where any
inditement or presentment is found ayens them, or any of
them, before any of the seid Justises, for any such riot, offenses,
trespas, or for any other mater remaynyng of record in the
Kyngs Benche, or in any other plase, the Kyng grauntith to
the seid John Paston, and all other persones named in the seid
records or inditements, or in any of hem, and to alle her
boroughs [sureties] and plegges, and to ich of hem that woll
sue it, a pardon of all riotest trespas, offenses, felonys, for-
fetures doon ayens the Kyngs peas, and of fynes therefore
114

EDWARD IV

dempt [adjudged], or to be dempt, and of all other thyngs 1464
generally, treason except, and that the Kyng shall signe warants SEPT- I0
lawfull of the seid pardons, what tyme his Highnesse be
requerid by the seid John Paston or his attornys.

And also that his Highnesse shall do inquere and examina-
cion be mad whedir the seid record of the seid Justises and
presentments, and other informacions or compleynts mad ayens
the seid John Paston, were do trewly and lawfully or nought ;
and if it be found that thei were do otherwise thanne trought,
lawe, or consiens woll, thanne the Kyng grauntyth to cause
the doers therof to recompense the seid John Paston and the
seid other persones, as far as lawe and good consiens woll in
that behalf.

And that if it fortune any compleynt to'be mad ayens the
seid John Paston, by any persone in tyme comyng, to the
Kyng, that he shall take no displeasir to the seid John Paston
till the tyme he come to his answer, and be found in defaut.

And that the Kyng shall receyve an Cti. of the seid CCC.
mark, what tyme he send for it, and the remnaunt as sone as
the seid fundacion take effect ; and also that his Highnesse
shall gete the assent of the reverent fader in God, the Arche-
bisshop of Caunterbury, in such apoyntments as is mad athwyx
the Kyng and the seid John Paston, of such goods as were the
seid Sir John Fastolfs, for the delivere therof; and that if the
seid John Paston refuse the administracion of the goods and
catell that were the seid Sir John Fastolfs, sufferyng other to
take it opon hem, the Kyng, at the instauns of the seid John
Paston, grauntith to be good and favorabill Lord to such other
as the coors of the lawe, and assent of the seid John Paston,
shall take the seid administracion in execucion of the seid
Fastolfs will, touchyng the administracion of the goods and
catell forseid, acordyng to the same wyll ; and that the Kyng
shall not cleyme nor desire any of the londs or tenements,
goods or catell, that were the seid Sir John Fastolf, ayens the
seid John Paston, or any other executor, administror, or feffe
of the seid Sir John Fastolf, nor support or favour any other
persone in cleymyng any of the seid londs or tenements, goods
or catell, ayens any the seid administers, executores, or feffes.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1464 And the Kyng grauntith that where as this bille is not

SEPT. 10 sufficiently mad in clauses and termes accordyng to th'entent
therof, that his Highnesse woll take and execute the very entent
therof, notwithstandyng the insufficiens of any such termes and
clauses in thes bille. Wretyn at Marleburgh, the Monday
next after the Nativite of cure Lady, the fourthe yere of the
reigne of the Kyng.

572

ABSTRACTS1
OUTLAWRY OF JOHN PASTON.

NOV. 20 The following writs and copies of writs stood originally on a file in the order in
which they are here noticed.

I. Edward iv. to the Prior of Norwich. — Orders him to deliver to the
bearer all goods in his hands belonging to John Paston, Esq., who is outlawed.
Reading, 20 Nov.

II. Writ to Edmund Clyre, Escheator of Norfolk, touching the above
outlawry. — John Paston is here called * the elder.' Dated 20 Nov.

III. Superscdeas addressed to the Escheator of Cos. Cambridge and Hunts
to stay confiscation of the goods of John Paston, who has been outlawed, first
for trespass against William Jenney, and secondly for trespass against William
Hogan; of which he was convicted in Suffolk on Monday, 10 Sept., 4 Edw.
iv. Both cases are removed by writs of error into the King's Bench. — Teste
J. Markham apud Westin., 28 Nov., 4 Edw. iv.

IV. Copy of superseded* on the exigent issued at Jenney's suit to the Sheriff
of Suffolk. — Teste J. Markham apud Sekbrok, 24 Aug., 4 Edw. iv. With
the return on the writ of exigent, notifying Paston's non-appearance when
proclaimed at the county courts held at Ipswich on Monday 21 May, Monday
18 June, Monday 16 July, and Monday 13 Aug., 4 Edw. iv. The super-
sedeas was delivered to the sheriff by Richard Calle in Paston's name on the
29 Aug.

V. Edward iv. to Sir John Markham, Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

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

116

EDWARD IV

— Commands him to make superseded* upon the exigents. For, as the King 1464
understands, Jenney obtained judgment against Paston for £2$ : ios., and NOv. 20
William Hogan by the support of Jenney took another action, and obtained
a judgment of £16 : 13 : 4 ' against conscience and law, as we be informed.' If
Paston has delivered to the sheriff any writs of error to send the actions to our
court of parliament, he is to comply, according to the usual course in such
cases. — Fotheringay, 3 Aug.

VI. Edward iv. to Thomas Croxton, Clerk of the Crown. — Commanding
him to search the records and see that the processes of outlawry against John
Paston have been well and sufficiently made out. — Reading, 3 Oct.

Memorandum subjoined, 'that William Jenney's counsel hath openly
vaunted in Westminster Hall that the King hath sent another letter to the
sheriff, commanding him to certify John Paston outlawed.'

*a* V. and VI. are copies on the same paper.

573

SIR WALTER BLOUNT TO THE
PRIOR OF NORWICH1

To the Prior of Norwich.

REVEREND fader in God, I recomaunde me to you. NOV. 27
And for so muche the Kyngs hyghnesse is advertysed
ye shuld have in ... .2 certayn goodes of John
Fastens to the value of vij. or viij. m1 mark wherin the Kyng
is entytilled by such processe of owtlawry as is awarded ayenst
the said Paston ; Wherefor in the Kynges name I charge you
that if any such good be in your governance 3 or within your
monastery, ye suffer noon of thayme to passe oute of your
garde, but suerle to kepe thaym unto the Kynges behouffe,
unto ye tyme ye have otherwise in comaundment, as ye will
answer at your perille and in eschewing his gret displeasur and

1 [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.]

2 A word or two illegible.

3 So the word seems to have been originally, but the writing is faded, and a
modern hand has attempted to restore the beginning as ' no . . .'

117

THE.PASTON LETTERS

1464 such jeopardies as by the lawe myght ensue to youre over gret
NOV. 27 'damage, which I ne wold. And of your disposicion herin it
like you I may be certified in writing by the berour herof.
And Oure Lord have you in his keping. Wryten at London
the xxvij. day of Novembre anno Ixiiij10.
By the Tresorer of Ingland,

SYR WATER BLOUNT.

574

ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght worshipfull maister and brother,
John Pastony this letter be taken.

T"J YGHT worshipfull and reverend mayster and brother,
DEC- 3 rV with alle my service I recommaunde me on to yow.
Please hit onto your grete wysedom to have yn your
descrete remembrauns the streite Ordre on which we ben
professid, and on which ze er bownden to kepe your residens,

1 [From Fenn, iii. 418.] It is difficult to assign with confidence either a date or
a meaning to this strangely worded epistle. The signature itself is a mystery. The
order of the Temple of Sion is unknown to archaeologists, and the place from which
the letter is dated cannot be identified. From the peculiar device used as a signature,
resembling what in heraldry represents a fountain, Fenn threw out a suggestion that
Fountaine was the writer's name, remarking that a family of that name resided at
Salle, in Norfolk, and might have been related to Paston as the writer claimed to be.
But there seems to be an air of irony about the whole communication which forbids
us to construe any of its statements seriously j nor do we find the slightest allusion to
this letter or its contents in all the rest of the correspondence. For my part, I am
inclined to think it was a mocking letter addressed to John Paston by one of the
prisoners in the Fleet, where Paston had himself been confined in 14.64. His
imprisonment on that occasion was probably of short duration, but I cannot tell
the precise date of his release. He was committed to the Fleet, as we are informed
by William Worcester (Itinerary, p. 366), on Saturday the 3d November. If I am
right in my conjecture about this letter, he had, perhaps, been already liberated ;
but some of his late fellow-prisoners, probably members of the Inner or Middle
Temple like himself, who had formed themselves into a fancy ' Order of the Temple
of Sion,' amused themselves by speculating on the probability that he was not yet
quite clear of the toils of the law, and that he would be obliged to come back and
spend Christmas in gaol, among the jolly companions whom he had recently deserted.
I may remark that the name of Thomas Babington occurs in Dugdale's Origines
Juridiciales, p. 163, as having been elected a reader in the Inner Temple in 22 Hen.
vii., when he seems to have been an old man $ for, owing to his sight failing, he was
excused from reading, and John Port, who was afterwards Attorney General, and,
later still, Justice of the King's Bench, read in his place.

118

EDWARD IV

and specially on this tyme of Crystmas amonggis your con-
frerys of this holy Ordre, the Temple of Syon ; for ynlesse DEC- 3
than ze kepe dewly the poynts of your holy Religion, owr
Maister Thomas Babyngton, maister and soverayn of owr
Order of th'assent of his brythryn ben avysed to awarde
azenste yow ryght sharp and hasty proces to do calle yow
to do your obcervauns, and to obeye the poynts of your
Religion, which wer on to me grete hevynesse. Wherfore
I, as he that hath most grettest cause, and ys most bownden
on to your grete gentylnesse, and also whom nature and kynde
most specially byfore every of alle owr breth[r]yn bynden me
to owe and wilne yow goode wylle and trewe hert, consyderyng
the grete tyme of penawns that ze havyn ben yn fro sone upon
Mighelmas hederto, that ys to say, yn relevyng and sustenawns
of your evyn Crysten,1 and also yn the charytable and meritory
dede of almyssdoyng, that ys to say yn plenteous and liberall
zeftis, which ys more precyusseur than goolde er sylver, which
hath nat be at alle tymys to your grete ease, neyther hertis
plesauns, but rather to your grete desese and yntollerable
peyne. And wher Godds lawe and manys lawe acorden that
hit shall nat be lawful to non erthely man to be so lyberall
and plenteous of that that God sendith hym, that he sholde so
despose hit so that he sholde nowgch have to lyve by; and
forasmych as I have perfite knowlich of your freel 2 [fraif]
and naturall disposiseon so set on to theym that ben nedy
and hunggery that of your selfe ze have no myght, neyther
power to absteyne and rewle yourself, but also long as God
sendith and zevyth yow whereof to dispose and help your
evyn Crysten ze most nedis despose hit forth a monggus your
evyn Cristen, I conseile yow that yn also hasty and goodely
tyme as ze kan to come on to your holy brytheryn that ben of
that devowt and clos conversacion, to th'entent that ze myght
ben advertysid and lernyd by theym the goode rcwle and
messur that ze owght and sholde have yn the despociscion and
delyng of your almys.

1 i.e. your fellow-Christians.

8 Fenn interprets this word free 'will, which I cannot think to be the meaning
intended.

119

THE PASTON LETTERS

And also, sethnys ze haven chosen zow a place yn this
DEC- 3 seson of Avent, yn which ze have had a resonable leysour and
space to do your penauns yn, which drawith fast to a ende ;
which hath been a convenyent place as for the ceson of the yer ;
and now hit drawith fast on to Cristmas, on which tyme every
trewe Crysten man sholde be mery, jocunde, and glad. And
sethnys ther is no place which by lyklyhod of reason ze shulde
fynde yn your hert to be so gladde and yocunde yn as ze sholde
be yn the place of your profession a mounggis your holy
brytheryn ; yn which place yn this ceson of the yer hit ys a
custumyd to be alle maner of desport, lyke as hit is nat
unknowe to your wisse descrescion ; wherfore, as my symple
reason ledith me your grete descrescion sholde rewle you that
ze sholde approche nygh the plase of your holy relegion yn also
hasty tyme as ze code er myght, of whos comyng alle your
saide bretheryn wolde be glade and fayn, and yn especiall I,
your servaunt and brother, lyke as I am most syngguler
bownden to th'encresse of your prosperite and welfar, which I
shall ever desir with Godds mersy, which have yow undir His
blessid and favorable proteccion. Wrytten yn the Temple of
Syon, iijd- day of December, yn grete hast.

By your Servaunt and brother,

120

EDWARD IV

575

[JOHN PASTON] TO MARGARET PASTON
AND OTHERS1

To my mastres Margrete Paston^ and to my welbelovid Frendis,
John Daubeney and Richard Calle.

1PRAY yow, see to the god governaunce of my housold 1465
and guydynge of other thynges touchyng my profite, and JAN. 15
that ye, with Daubeney and Richard Calle, and with other
such of my frendis and servauntis as can avise yow aftir the
mater requireth, wekely take a sad comunecacion of such
thynges as be for to do, or oftenner and nede be, takyng avise
of the master, and of the viker 2 and Sir Jamis,3 that is for to
say, as well for provision of stuffe for myn howsold as for the
gaderyng of the revenew of my livelode or greynes, or for
setting awerk of my servauntis, and for the more poletik meane
of sellyng and carryng of my malt, and for all other thynges
necessari for to be do ; and that whanne I come home I have
not an excuse, seying that ye spoke to my servauntis and that
Daubeney and Calle exkuse them that thei wer so besy thei
myght not attende ; for I woll have my mater so guided that
if on man may not attende a nother shall be comaunded to do
it ; and if my servauntis faile I had lever wage some other
man, for a jorny or a season, thanne my mater should be on
sped.

As for my livelode, I left with Daubeney a bille of many of
my dettis, wherby ye alle myght have be indused whedir ye
shulde have sent for silver.

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 15.] The contents of this letter show it to be of the year
1465, when Daubeney and Calle, as we know, were with Margaret Paston (see No.
576). Reference is made to the displeasure Sir John Paston had given to both his
parents in 1463 (see No. 552), and what his mother writes about his return home in
May of this year (No. 579) goes to confirm the date. Further proof will be found in
the footnote at p. 126.

2 If this be the vicar of Paston, it was William Warner, who succeeded Robert
Williamson in 1464. 3 James Gloys, the priest.

121

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 It liketh me evill to here that my prestis and pore men be

JAN. 15 onpaiid, and that no mony sent to me more thanne x. markis
be Berney of alle this season, and yet therof telle Richard Calle
he sent me viii. nobils in goold for v. markis, and that as longe
as gold was better payment thanne silver I had nevir so moche
gold of hym at onys ; and telle hym that I wolle nat that he
shall kepe that use, for I trowe my tenauntis have but litell gold
to pay.

Also remembir yow in any housold, felaship or cumpany
that will be of good rewle, purvyauns must be had that every
persone of it be helpyng and furtheryng aftir his discrecion
and powyr, and he that woll not do so without he be kept of
almes shuld be put out of the houshold or felachep.

Item, where ye desire me that I shuld take your sone * to
grase, I woll for your sake do the better, and will ye knowe he
shall not be so oute of my favour that I will suffir hym to
mischefe without be eftsones his owne defaut. And hough be
it that in his presumptuouse and ondiscrete demenyng he gaf
bothe me and yow cause of displeasir, and to other of my
servauntis ille exaumple, and that also guided hym to alle
mennes undirstandyng that he was wery of bidyng in myn
hows, and he not insurid of help in any other place ; yet that
greveth nat me so evill as doth that I nevir coud fele nor
undirstand hym poletyk ne diligent in helpyng hym self, but
as a drane amongis bees which labour for gaderyng hony in the
feldis and the drane doth nought but takyth his part of it. And
if this myght make hym to knowe the better hym self and put
hym in remembrauns what tyme he hath lost, and hough he
hath leved in idelnes, and that he coud for this eschewe to do
so heraftir, it myght fortune for his best. But I here yet nevir
from no plase that he hath be in of any poletyk demenyng or
occupacion of hym. And in the kynges hows he coud put hym
self foorth to be in favour or trust with any men of substauns
that myght forther hym ; neverthelesse as for your house and
myne I purpose not he shall come there, ner be my will non
othir but if [i.e. unless] he can do more thanne loke foorth and
make a fase and countenauns.

1 Sir John Paston.
122

EDWARD IV

Item, send me word whedir my glasier hath do at Bromholm 1465
and at the friers of the South Towne,1 and whedir he be paiid JAN- J5
such mony as I sent home word he shuld be paiid, and if he
have do all he must have more mony, but I remembir not
certeynly what, till I come home, for I remember nat what his
bargeyn was for the work at the Southtowne. I trowe Mr.
Clement can telle, and also fele hym self and send me word.
Also that ye and Richard Calle and Daubeney see that Mr.
Clement and Mr. Braklee 2 which hath grete nede I wote well,
and my prestis and pore men be paiid and also all othir men.
And that ye see that I be not callid on for that is my dewte.
Also that ye see amongis yow that that is owynge me be not
lost ne forborn for lewdnes, for that shall bothe hurt me and
do my tenauntis harme. Lete Richard Calle remembir that
my fermour of Sweynesthorp is falle in gret dette for defaut
of callyng upon but be on [one] yere ; And I deme that bothe
John Willeys and my new fermour of Snaylewell arn like to
be in the same case, and peraventure Aleyn of Gresham and
other.

Item, remembir yow or evir I had a doo with Fastolffis
livelode, whill I toke hede to my livelode my self, it both
served myn expenses at home and at London and all other
charges, and ye leid up mony in my cofirs every yere, as ye
knowe. And I wote well that the payment of my prestis and
other charges that I have for Fastolffis livelode is not so gret
as the livelode is, thow part therof be in trobill. And thanne
consider that I had nought of my livelode for myn expenses at
London this twol monyth day ; ye may verely undirstand that
it is not guided wittely nor discretly ; and therfore I pray yow
hertly put alle your wittes to gedir and see for the reformation
of it. And ye may remembre be this how ye shuld do if this
wer yowris alone, and so do now.

And that ye woll remembir I have sent yow all many lettirs
touchyng many maters, and also a bille now last by Pecok of
erandis, desiryng yow to see hem alle to gedir and send me an
answere articlerly ; and such as ye can not spede at this tyme,

1 South Town, Yarmouth, where there was a house of Austin Friars.

2 Dr. John Brackley, the Grey Friar.

123

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 lete hem be sped as sone as ye may, that ye se over my seyd
JAN. 15 lettirs oft tymes til they be sped.

Item, I remembir that myn heygh at Heylisdon the last
yere was spent and wasted fwll recklesly and colored under my
shep.1 I pray yow see that I be not servid soo this yere.

Item, Pecok told me of a fermour that wold have had
Mautby Mersh, paying xij. markis as it went afore ; and
Richard Calle told me of on [one] that wold pay more. Burgeys
paiid me first xij. markis vjs. viij*/., and I had the reed and the
rushis, and he found the shepherdis hyre in shakke tyme for my
fold ; and sithen he brigged awey the shepherdis hyre and
thanne the nobill, and I trowe he occupyth ne lenger hym self.
And I remembir he told me vij . yere goo that my merssh shuld
alwey apeyr [impair] till the prime were past the nombre of
xix., and thanne it shuld amend a ix. or x. yers, promittyng me
he wold thanne amend my ferme. I praye yowe help to lete it
aswell as ye can, rather to hym thanne a nother man if he woll
do aswell, and that ye comon with Pecok.

Item, as for the mater that I wrote of to the viker and
other goode felaws, desire hem that thei be not to excessive
hasty in the mater for non nede, but to do that the may do
therin [goodly] 2 and wittely as sone as thei may ; And as for
the respite of the mater here, lete hem not care therfore. I
shall do well ineugh, telle hem ; for certeyn, the mater is in as
good case as any such mater was this xx. wynter, as my counsell
tellyth me ; but I will be sure of all weyes that I may have, and

specially of the declaracion of the trought of my mater and of

r j-
my frendis.

Item, as for the mater athwyx the parson of Mautby,
Constantine 3 and the viker of Derham,4 whedir it were smalle
mater or gret I care not, but I am sure that too witnesse which
I knowe were apposed therin before a juge spirituall, whech as

1 Meaning, that the waste was attributed to his sheep.

2 This word 'goodly1 has been lined out, and a very illegible word inserted
above it.

3 Constantine Dalby had been rector of Mautby from 1453 to 1460, and appears also
to have held the vicarage of East Dereham from 1451 to 1458. He was succeeded at
Mautby by Thomas Howes from 1460 to 1465, and then by Robert Cutler or Cotteler,
who must be the ' parson of Mautby ' spoken of just before.

4 Robert Sheringham was vicar of East Dereham from 1458 to 1467.

I24

EDWARD IV

I suppose was Master Robert Popy or some other ; the viker 1465
of Derham can telle, and as I trowe can John Wynter of JAN. 15
Mautby, or othir parysshons telle, where the sute was athwyx
hem, and I can think it was in the chapitell ; if ye can easely
gette me what the witnesse seid, 1 wold nomore ; but do no
gret cost over it.

Item, recomaund me to Master Robert Popy, and telle
hym, as for any thyng seid ayens hym in my mater then myn
adversaris ment ontrewly, they proved nought but that he is a
good man and a worshipfull and a trewe.

Item, if 1 have any otis beside my stuffe, or may any
bye aftir xiiij^/., spare not, and take good mesure of bartirre
for some other chafers, and send me word hough moch ye
may bye.

Item, it is told me ye make no wood, nowther at Caster nor
Mautby, wherof I merveyle ; remembir yow we must brenne
wood a nodir yere.

Item, I send yow a titelyng that I mad whill I was at home,
what malt I had by estimacion set at the lest ; wherfore see that
Brigge make a reknyng of his malt, and cast ye my book and
loke what ye can amend it ; and apeyre [impair] it shall not if
alle folkis have do trewly ; but I suppose fewe of you have
take any heed at it as moch as I ded.

Item, I may selle here for vjj. viij<z. a quarter clene fyed
after Royston mesure, whech is lesse thanne the water mesure
of London. Cambrigge shire malt is here at xj. Cast ye what
I may selle of new and old, savyng stuffe for myn hows.
Item, to remember that Guton malt must be shipped at
Blakeney. Item, Lynstedis malt at Wolcote may be shipped
there ; therfore cast amongis yow what malt may best be
sold.

Item, if on [one] man may not attende to gader silver,
sende a nother, and send me word what hath be reseyved and
spent.

Item, that I have an answer of alle my lettirs and of every
article in hem.

Item, but if ye make such purvyauns that my prestis
be paiid and pore men, beside other charges, and purvey

125

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 mony for me beside ; owther ye gadir shrewdly or ellis ye
JAN. 15 Spend lewdly.

Item, I sent a lettir by Rauff Greneakyr to James Gresham
and to yow, which he promised me shuld be at Norwich on
Wednesday aftir Thwelth day, and therin wer divers maters ;
and in especiall of a mater that shuld be in communication on
Teusday last past bethwyx Yelverton and Robert Wyngfeld,
as in the seid lettir is specifiid. It is so that the seid Robard
shall be here within this ij. dayes ; if any thyng ye have aspied
of it send me word. Item, yonge Knevet tellith me that
he is my good frend, and he is come ridyng homeward on
Friday last was. I pray yow, ley wetche whedir ye here any
thyng that he medillyth hym at that mater, and send me word ;
for I wold understand whedir he wer just and trew or nought,
and that do [done] it shall not ligh in his power to hurt me.
But take ye hed and inquere and knowe other mennes purpos,
and kepe your intent as close as ye can ; and what some evir
boost be mad, werk ye wisely and set not by it but send me
word what ye here.

Item, Calle sendyth me word that Sir Thomas Howes is
seke and not like to askape it, and Berney tellyth me the con-
trary ; wherfore I pray yow take hed therat, and lete me have
knowleche, for though I be not behold to hym I wold not he
were ded for more thanne he is worth.

Item, take the viker the bille that I send yow herwyth.

Item, that ye, if ye can fynd the meane, to aspie what goodis
Edmond Clere eschetith of any mannes.1

Item, remember well to tak heed at your gatis on nyghtis
and dayes, for theves, for thei ride in divers centres with gret
felaship like lordis, and ride out of on [one] shire in to a nother.
Wretyn at London, the Tuisday next aftir Sent Hillary.

Item, that Richard Calle bryng me up mony, so that my
prestis [i.e. borrowings] be paiid, and that he come up suerly
with other men and attornis.

Endorsed in a later band ': — 'Some special! lettres towching John Paston's
trowbells and sute for Fastolfs landis by the Duke of Suffolk.'

1 Edmund Clere, as appears by evidences in the Record Office, was escheator of
Norfolk and Suffolk from November 1464 to November 1465.

126

EDWARD IV

576

JOHN WYKES TO MARGARET PASTON1

Unto my maystres^ Margageret Paston, be thys letter
delyveryd in hast^ &c.

RYGHT wyrshypfull maystres, I recomaund me un to 1465
your gode maystresshyp. Please it you to wyte that FEB. 7
my mayster your hosbond, my maystres youre moder,
my mayster Sir John, Mr. Wyllyam, Mr. Clement, and all
ther men, wer in gode helth, whon thys letter was wryten,
thankyd be Jesu, and also ther maters be in a gode wey, for
my Lord Chaunseler ys ther syngeler gode Lord in thys mater
at thys tyme; and that it provyth, for he was yesterday in the
Escheker, and ther he had a foren hym alle the Juges, all the
Barons of the Escheker, and all the Shurgents, and ther argued
wher that the Barons of the Escheker shold award any such
Corny ssyon or not, and uppon that the seyd Comyssyon shull
be broght uppon Fryday unto the Chaunsery, and ther to be
provyd, wher it be lafull or not, &c.

Item, and yf it please it you to gyve Daveney 2 knowlych
that ther ys jugement gyven uppon the condempnacion a
yenst Hall,3 that he claymed for hys bond man, and the
jugement ys gyven a yenst Daveney, Ric. Call, and Thomas

1 [From Fenn, iv. 134.] This letter must be later than the year 1463, as Sir John
Paston does not appear to have been knighted so early as February in that year. But
as John Paston, the father, was at Caister and not at London in the early part of the
year 1464, it cannot be that year. Neither can we assign it to 1466, the last year of
John Paston's life, as it appears by a letter written on the i yth February in that year
that although John Paston was in London, his son Sir John could not have been there
for some time before. We are therefore shut up to the year 1465 as the only possible
date for this letter.

2 So in Fenn, but the name ought certainly to be Daubeney, perhaps spelt
Dabeney.

3 Robert Hall. I find that he brought an action in Trinity term, 3 Edward iv.,
against John Daubeney of Norwich, gentleman, and Thomas Boon and Richard Call
of Norwich, yeomen, for having, in conjunction with William Daubeney of Sharyng-
ton, Norfolk, Esq., unlawfully imprisoned him at Norwich for three hours on the 2Oth
February, 39 Hen. vi. (1461), until he gave them a bond of £100 for hit ransom.

127

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Bon, and ther ys comen owte proces for to take ther bodys
FEB. 7 thys same day, and if thay or any of them be taken thay shull
never gon oute of prison on to the tyme that they have sates-
fyed the party of viijxx marc, and ther for lete them be ware.
And the Holy Trinyte have you in Hys kypyng. Wryten at
London, uppon Thursday next after the Purificacion of our
Lady, &c.

By your Servaunt, JOHN WYKS.

577

WILLIAM WORCESTER TO

MARCH 3 1 1T\LE ASE your maistershyp to wete that aftyr recomenda-
r^ cion that I sende Thomas More to myne oncle the
parson2 wyth certeyn credence to hafe aunsuer uppon
by hym for myn acquytaille another day, yff onye thyng falle
sinistrely only yn theyr deffaut, as God defend, not be my
wille, for I hafe as feythfulle demesned me seth I rode to
London thys terme, and hedertoo as anye maner creatur yn
reson coude desyre me; and hafe demened me at London
accordyng to the message sent me by the baylly of Drayton,
and I vele but littille that my gode wille ys allowed.3 I hafe
also, seth I came to Norwiche, enformed hym whate proffyt
ease and avaylle I may help stand hem both yn my maister
godes and yn hys ly velode ; yff he or hys frendys set littlle by
it, I may nat do wyth all. And the blessed Trinite be with
yow, because ye wolle the wellfare off my maister, whoos soule
God hafe pytie on and bryng hym owte of peyn, as the well-
fare of the parties it meovyth me wryte to yow the rathyr. I
enformyd yow for trouth, and as I wille prefe, that I was the

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] In this letter reference is made to a 'testament'
drawn up by Sir John Fastolf eight years previously. This, however, cannot be his
last will, as that would carry the date to a year after John Paston's death, who seems
to be here spoken of as living. The settlement referred to is doubtless the testament-
ary declaration of 1457 mentioned in No. 541.

2 Sir Thomas Howes.

3 i.e. Little credit is given me for my good will.

128

EDWARD IV

principall doer and cause that both Maister Paston and myne 1465
oncle came fyrst yn the testament viij. yeer goon, to a gode MARCH 31
entent ; and yff they wold wyrke ayenst me to minussh my
power, theyr disposicion woll be construed ferther than they
wille it were, and they not so avaylled as they weene yn all
thynges. The blessed Trinete be wyth yow. Wryt on
Passyon Sonday.

Your W. WYRCESTRE.

Memorandum to Thomas More that because ye myzt
foryete myne erand to Maister Bernay, I pray you rede
hym my bille, and that he wille take it to a gode entent;
for how so evyr I wryte I meene well, and so shall.

578

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON l

To my ryght worchepfull hosbond, Jon Paston,
be this delivered in hast.

RIGHT worchepfull hosbond, I recomand me to you.
Please you to wet that I send you a copy of the deed
that Jon Edmonds of Taveram sent to me, be the
menys of Dorlet. He told Dorlet that he had suche a deed
as he supposyd, that wold don ease in prevyng of the tytyll Carte
that the Duk of Suffolk cleymythe in Drayton ; for the same Drayton-
deed that he sent me, the seale of armys is lyke onto the copy
that I send you, and noo thyng leke to the Duk of Suffblks
auncesters.

1 [From Paston Mss.,,B.M.] The claims laid by the Duke of Suffolk to Drayton
and Hellesden occupy a prominent place in this correspondence during the year 1465,
and I do not find them alluded to in any letter of an earlier date. Moreover, the
purchase by virtue of which the Duke laid claim to the latter manor, which is
reported here as a secret, is mentioned again as a piece of news in a letter un-
doubtedly written on the loth May 1465. There can be little doubt therefore that
this letter is of the same year. The apostyle, or set of marginal notes appended, is in
the handwriting of John Paston.

VOL. IV. 1 129

1465

APRIL 8

Heylisdon,
Brythyeve,
Barker,
Porter.

Bracium.

Sirpi pro
repara-
sione de
Mautby.

Burgoys,
Mareshs,
Mauteby.

THE PASTON LETTERS

Item, the seyd Edmond scythe, yf he may fynd any other
thyng that may do yow ease in that mater he wolle do hys
part therin.

Item, Jon Russe sent me word that Barker and Herry
Porter told hym in councell that the Duk of Suffolk hathe
bowght one Brytyeff ryghte, the wyche makythe a cleyme on
to Heylysdon, and the seyd Duke is proposyd to entere within
shorte tyme after Esterne, for in so moche the seyd Russe felle
be the seyd Barber and Porter that all the feffees wolle make a
relees on to the Duk and helpe hym that they can in to her
power, for to have hys good lorchep.

Item, yf it please you, me thynkythe it war ryght nesses-
sary that ye send word howe that ye wolle your old make be
purveyed for ; for and any hote weder come affter that it hathe
leyne this wynter season, it shall be but lost but yf [unless] it
be sold be tymys, for as for the pryse [price] here, it is sore
falle. I have sold a C. comb of malt that came fro Guton, to
Jamys Golbeter, clenefyed, and strek met, and non inmet (?),
for ijs. ijd., the comb, and to be payed at Mydsomer and
Lammes.

Item, ther be dyvers of your tenantrys at Mauteby that
had gret ned for to be reparyd, at [? but] the tenaunts be so
por that they ar not a power to repare hem; wherfor yf leke
you, I wold that the marche that Bryge had myght be kept in
your owne hand this yer, that the tenaunts myght have ruschis
to repare with her howsys. And also ther is wynfall wod at the
maner that is of noo gret valewe, that myght helpe hem with
toward toward the reparacion, yf it leke you to late hem have
it that hathe most need therof. I have spoke with Borges
that he shuld heyne [raise] the price of the mershe, or el) is
I told hym that he shuld no lenger have it, for ye myght
[have]1 other fermors therto that wold geve therfor as it
was late befor, and yf he wold geve therfor as moche as
another man wold, ye wold that he shuld have it befor any
other man; and he seyd he shuld geve me answer be a forte-
nyght after Esterne. I can get non other fermor therto yet.

Item, I understand be Jon Pampyng that ye wolle not that

1 Omitted in MS.
130

EDWARD IV

your sone be take in to your hows, nor holpe be you, tylle 1465
suche tyme of yere as he was put owt therof, the wiche snail APRIL 8
be abowght Seynt Thomas messe.1 For Gods sake, sir, a Pr^o°ue
pety on hym ; remembre yow it hathe bed a long season syn Johannis
he had owt of yow to helpe hym with, and he hathe obeyed Paston-
hym to yow and wolle do at all tymis, and wolle do that he
can or may to have your good faderood. And at the rever-
ence of God be ye hys good fader, and have a faderly hert to
hym ; and I hope he shall ever knowe hymselffthe better here
after, and be the more ware to exchewe suche thyngs as shuld
dysplease you, and for to take hed at that shuld please you.
Pecoke shalle telle you be mothe of more thyngs than I may
write to you at this tyme. The blyssyd Trinite have you in
Hys kepyng. Wretyn at Caster in hast, the Monday next
after Palme Sonday. Your M. P.

To my ryght wyrshypfull husband^ John
be thys delyveryd in hast.

YGHT wyrshipful husbond, I recomaunde me unto MAY 3
you. Pleasyd you to wyte that I have spokyn thys
wyke with dyvers of youre tennaunts of Drayton and Drayton
put hem in comfort that all shalbe well hereafter by the grace *enaunts

1 This might be the translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, 7th July, or St. perter ij.
Thomas Apostle's Day, zist December; but most probably it means the day of St.
Thomas a Becket, 29th December.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Holy Rood Day, on which this letter is dated,
commonly means the i4th of September (feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross).
Here I suspect it is the 3rd May (Invention of the Holy Cross), as the contents of
the letter suit that date in the year 14.65. It will be seen that Margaret Paston dates
from Caister, and proposes next week to be at Hellesden. Her next letter, dated the
loth May, is from Hellesden, and shows that she carried out the intention here ex-
pressed of sending men to collect money at Drayton, and had left her eldest son at
Caister to keep the place. There is also a close agreement between that letter and
this, in what is said about the demeanour of the tenants and Mr. Philip's conduct.
The apostyle of this letter, as of the preceding, is in the hand of John Paston, very
ill written, and occasionally ambiguous.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 of God ; and I fyle well by hem that they wylbe ryght glad

MAY 3 to have ayen there olde mayster, and so wold they all except

j. or ij. that be fals shrewys. And thys next wyke I purpose

on Wensday or Thursday to be at Haylesdon, and to a byde

ther a wyke or ij., and send oure men aboute to gedere money

at Dray ton and Haylesdon ; and yf ye wyll I woll do kepe a

corte at Drayton or I com thens. I pray yow send me word

how ye wyll that I doo there in. I recevyd ij. letters, from

you of Nicholl Tolman yesterday, werin ye desyre that we

Malt, shuld purvey for your malte and barley ; and soo shall we

barly. doo as weu as we cann) ancj send you word howe that we may

doo therewith in hast.

Item, yesterday Master Phylyp l toke Dorlets hors uppon
Drayton lond as they went to the plowe for the hole yere
ferm ; and as it ys told me the tenaunts of Drayton tolde
hym that he dyde hym wrong to make hym pay for the hole
yere, for non of the tenaunts had payd hym but for the di'
Dorlat et \half ~\ yere and he say thohg they had not payd but for the di'
yere, Paston shuld pay for the other di' yere, and for moo
yers also yf he lyvyd. But I trow to gyte Dorlet ayen hys
. hors or els Mr. Phylyp ys lyke to be unhorssyd ons, and we
lyve all. Your son 2 shall com horn to moryn, as I trowe, and
as he demenyth hym hyr after I shall lete you have knowlych ;
j. P., sen. and I pray you thynk not in me that I wyll supporte hym ne
favour hym in no lewdnesse, for I wyl not. As I fynd hym
hereafter, soo I wyll lete you have knowlych. I have put
your evydens that com owte of the abbay3 in a seek and
enseylyd hem under Ric. Call ys seall that he shal not say
Rotuli Dut tnev eryn as ne kft hem ; but as for the place where

prioris (?) they ern kypt he hath no knowlych

. . As for the gentylwoman that ye wrote to me for yn

youre lettere, I there,

yf it lykyd all folks as well as it shold doo me, I trow

a bowte yf her frends were as well a

gryed therto, and as they parte,

1 Philip Lipgate, the Duke of Suffolk's bailiff.
* Sir John Paston.
3 See No. 561.

IJ2

EDWARD IV

yf ye wyll that it be movyd of more hereafter I wyll 1465

wyll make a newe parson, at Dray- MAY 3

ton. Also it ys sayd that there,

by cause it hath stond so long voyd ; yet and any sh.

. . . had lever that he com in by the By shop then by a

doo therein yf ye wyll send horn

any presentacion selyd we shall a

say to gyte som gode priste and sette hym ....
. Wryten in haste at Caster on Holy Rode Day &c.

As doo therein as well as I cann.

I have gyte a replevyn CC shype,

and yf they may not be hadde ayen, then he grau[nteth]

We fynd hym ryght gode in that Data

we desyre of him for you, and therfore yf it lyke you I wold obllga;

, ' , ' J J J cione (?)

he were th proovibus.

580

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN P ASTON »

'To the right worshypfull sir, my right honourabyll
maister, John Paston, at London.

RIGHT worshipfull sir and my right honorabyll maister, MAY 6
I recomaund me to you in the most humble wise.
And please youre maistir ship to wete that my mais-
tresse hathe dy verse tymes spokyn to me to helpe to purvey a
merchaunt for sum of youre malt ; but in good feyth I can
gete no man that wyll geve at the most more than xxij^. for a
quarter, for soo men selle dayli at the moste, and sumtyme
xx</. a combe. My maistresse is right hevy therfor, but I can
not remedy it ; if ony good marchaunt were there, after my
sympil conseyt it were good to take hym, for the yeer passith
faste and the [feldes] 2 be right plesaunt to wards, &c. Sir, at

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter refers to the Duke of Suffolk's claim
to the manor of Drayton, the date must be 14.65. The original MS. is mutilated to
some extent in both margins.

2 The tops of the letters f, 1, d visible.

133

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 the reverence of Jesu, laboure the meanys to have peas; for

MAY 6 be mv trowth the contynwaunce [of this] trobill shall short the

dayez of my maistresse, and it shall cause you to gret losse,

for serteyn she is in gre[t hevi]nesse as it apperith at ...

11 covertly she consederith the gret

decay of youre lyflode, the gret detts that hange in detours

hands and h [she

speaket]h not thus to me, but I conceyfe this is cause of here
gret hevynesse ; me semyth of ij. hurts the leste is mos[t] .

well the dayli

contynewyng maleyse of youre insessiabyll enemyes, how they

contryve and seke occacions to informyd,

more wyll doo every foot of grownd withinne fewe dayez, and

rather to geve it awey for nowght tha[n] it.

Where as they many tymes have meovyd a trety and never it
taketh to noo conclucion, and as they have seyd in youre d

Sir, after my sympyll conseyt it were well

doon to agree to a trety, and be that ye shuld knowe ther

desyre and the uttir the lond were

dubyll the valwe that it is. Worsestyr shewyth hem presedents
what every maner cost at the fyrst byeng, and ther . . .

rekne the bargeyne shuld avayle you foure

tymes mor than it shall ; and in thys they be gretly blyndyd ;
my maister the parson hathe .... to rellesse in serteyn
londs whiche he refus[eth to] doo, but I conseyve, and ye
drawe not to a conclucion thys terme that he wyll be as redy
to rellesse .... men, truste ye thys for serteyn ; and
soo he [told] me serteynly. He hathe be meovyd to revoke
Maister Roberd Kente and to take the avoket or proctor [that]
Maister Yelwirton hathe. What it myght hurtyn if he soo
dede I knowe not, but they have made gret labour to hym
therfor. He gaf me a gret reb[uke] .... the bill
that was put in ayens Elyse Davy and otheris, to whiche I
answeryd hym as me thowght and soo in maner made my
peas, &c. Maister .... was here and in presence of
men of the most substance in Jeremuth he be havyd hym to
you wards in full goodly termys, soo God helpe ....
and after my conseyt he wyll not be redy to relesse in ony of
134

EDWARD IV

the lends. A man of hyse teld me secretly that Maister 1465
Yelwyrton and otheres blamyd hym and seyd .... to MAY ^
hym be cause he was so redy be hym self to agree to trete and
make hyse peas with yow, neyther he seyd to me to trete nor
the contrary nor had but langwage to me as he had to othyr.
I askyd my maister the parson if he undyrstod that Maister
Yelwyrton yaf ony favour to my Lord of Suffolk in Drayton,
and he seyd he supposyd Maister Yelwyrton was not cler of
that mater, but Mayster Jenney was in nowyse pleasyd with
all, &c. Sir, as for the wytnesse that were desyred to be redy
whan nede requirith in thys mater, R. Calle can avertise youre
maistirshyp. Sir, at the reverence of Jesu consedre how many
yeers it is past that my good lord and maister deseasyd and
how lytill is doon for .... of the grete substaunce
that he hade it is hevy to remembre ; ye sey the defaute is not
in yow after your conseyt, but I can here no .... in
that of youre openyon, for thys I knowe for serteyn and it had
pleasyd you to have endyd be the meanys of trety, ye had
ma[de] . . . peas to the gret well of the dede with the
forthe part of the mony that hathe be spent, and as men sey
only of very wylful[nesse of your] owyn person. For the
mercy of God remembre the onstabylnesse of thys wold hou
it is not a menut space in comparyson to ever ....
. leve wylfullnesse whyche men sey ye occupye to
excessifly. Blyssyd be God ye had a fayre day laste whiche
is noysyd cost yow .... to iiij. lords, but a newe
mater anewe cost and many smale growe to a gret summe,
and summe mater on recurabyll, formen seyd .... is
lyk to stonden in a perplextif if ye take not a conclucion in
haste, and if it were doo it were hard to have recovery ; but «
as my [maister] the parson seyd, thys terme they wyll prove
if ye wyll agree to trete, and if ye refuse they all wyll do the
uttirmest. I conseyve well [your] maistirshyp hathe a conseyt
that if a man of good will meove yow or remembre you to
trete, that that man, what soo ever he be, shuld be meovyd be
youre adversaryez to meove you in that mater, and soo in that
it hertyth you gretly that they shuld seke to you for peas.
Be my trowth, sir, there was nor is no man, savyng onys, as

135

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 I teld you, Maister Jenney spake to me, that ever I knewe wold
MAY 6 seke or feythefully desyre to have peas with yow, savyng
because of the exspence of the good so onprofitably in the
lawe, and that is the prynsypal cause of meovyng of ther
peas, &c. I wold well God helpe me soo it grevyth me to
here that ye stonde in no favour with jentylmen nor in no
gret awe with the comowns. Ye truste the jury of Suffolk ;
remembre what promyse Daubeney hade of the jury and what
it avaylid ; it is a dethe to m[e] to remembre in what prosperite
and in what degre ye myght stonde in Norfolk and Suffolk
and ye had peas and were in herts ease, and what worshyp my
maisters your sones and my maistresse youre douters myght
have be preferryd to if ye had be in reste. A day lost in idyll
can never be recoveryd, &c. Sir, I beseke youre maistershyp
for yeve me that I wryte thus boldly and homly to you ; me
thynkyth my hert .... not be in ease but if I soo
doo, for ther was, nor never shal be, no mater that ever was
soo ner myn herte, that knowy[th God,] whom I beseke for
Hese infenyt mercy preserve you and my maistresse and all
youres from all adversyte and graunt yow .... herts
desyre. Wretyn at Jernemuthe the vj. day of may.

Your contynw[al bedesman]
and servaunt, JOHN [RUSSE].

58'

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON »

To my mayster, John Paston the oldest be thys delyveryd.

in hast.

MAY IO

RYGHT wyrshypfull husbond I recomaund me unto you.
Pleysed you to wyte that on Wensday last passyd
Dabeney, Naunton, Wykes and John Love werr at
Drayton for to speke with your tenaunts ther to put hem iu

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is rendered certain by the
mention of Thomas Ellis as having been elected Mayor of Norwich. He was so
elected for the second time in 1465. He had been Mayor before in 1460-61, and was
again after this in 1474-75 ; but neither of these latter dates will suit the other contents
of this letter. Like some others of this year, this letter is apostyled by John Paston.
136

EDWARD IV

comfort and for to aske money of hem also. And Pyrs Wary n, 1465
otherwyse callyd Pyrs at Sloth, whych ys a flykeryng felowe MA* 10
and a besy with Mr. Phylyp and the Bayly of Cosshay, he had PelJ
a plowe goyng in your lond in Drayton, and ther your seyd Warin.
servaunts at that tyme toke hys plowe ware, that ys to say ij.
marys, and broght hem to Heylysdon, and ther they be yet.
And on the next mornyng after Mr. Phylyp and the Baylly of
Cosshay com to Haylysdon with a grete nomber of pepell,
that ys to say viij.xx- men and mor in harnysse, and ther toke
from the persons plowe ij. hors, pris iiij. marc and ij. hors of
Thomas Stermyns plowe, pris xb., saying to hem that ther Distr'
was taken a playnt ayenst hem in the hunderd by the seyd S111™)™.

T» r r i r i -r^ jiet rectons

ryrs ror takyng or the rorseyd plowarre at Drayton, and but de Heylis-
they wold be bond to com to Drayton on Tewysday nextdon-
comyng to awnswer to such maters as shalbe sayd to them
ther they shold not have ther bests ayens ; whych they refusyd t

to do on to the tyme that they had an awnswer from you ;
and so they led the bestes forth to Drayton, and from Drayton
forth to Cosshay. And the same after none folwyng the
parson of Haylesdon send hys man to Drayton with Stermyn
for to speke with Mr. Phylyp to know a way yf they shuld
have ayen ther cattell or not ; and Master Phylyp awnsweryd
them yf that they wold bryng home ther destresse ayen that
was taken of Pyrs Waryn, that then he wold dylyver hem
thers, or els not ; and he lete hem playnly wyte that yf ye or Crak.
any of your servaunts toke any dystresse in Drayton that were
but the valew of an hen, they wold com to Haylesdon and
take ther the valew of an ox therefore, and yf they cannot
take the valew therof there, that then they wyll do breke your
tenaunts howsys in Haylesdon, and take as moch as they
cowd fynd therein ; and yf they be lettyd therof, wych shall
never lye in your power for to do, for the Duck of Suffolk ys
abyll to kepe dayly in hys hows more men then Dabeney hadde
herys on hys hede, yf hym lyst ; and as for Dabeney he ys a
lewde felowe, and so he shalbe servyd herafter, and I wold he
were here. And therfore yf ye take uppon you to lette them
so for to do, that then they wold goo in to any lyflode that ye
had in Norfolk or Suffolk, and to take a destresse in lykewysse

137

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 as they wold do at Haylysdon. And other awnswerr cowde
MAY 10 thev non gyte, and so they departyd. Ric. Calle axid the
parson and Stermyn yf they wold take an accyon for ther
Accio catell, and the parson l seyd he was agyd and syklow, and he
rectoris et Wold not be trobelyd herafter ; he sayd he had lever lose hys
catell, for he wyst well yf he dyde so he shold be endytyd, and
so vexid with hem that he shold never have rest by hem. As
for Stermyn, he sayd at that tyme he durst not take no sute
ayenst hem nother; but after that Ric. was rydyn, I spake
with hym, and he sayd he wold be rulyd as ye wold have hym,
and I fond hym ryght herty and wel dysposyd in that mater ;
and he is bownde to you an obligacyon of x//. sengyll with
outen condycyon that he shall abyde by such accyons as shalbe
takyn by your advyse in hys name ; wherfore I have send you
a tytelyng therof in a byll closyd herin. I axyd Thomas Gryne
avyse when they had take the dystresse hyre, and he avysyd
me that herre destresse shold be dely veryd a yen to them so
that we myzt have ayen ours ; and me thoght it was non
awnswer after myn entent, and wold not therof but axyd avyse
of Skypwith what hym thoght that were best to doo there in,
and most wyrshypfull. He seyd by hys avyse that I shold
send to you in al the hast that I cowde, and that ye shuld
fynde a mene therfore above, by the avyse of youre lernyd
counsell to have a wrytte from above for to delyver yt of lesse
then the undershyrff werre other wysse dysposyd to you then
we fynde hym, for it symyth that he ys made of the other
party. And as for the replevyn for the CC. shype ys not yet
Replevin, servyd. Skypwyth thynkyth that ye myzt have a wrytte both
for the shype and the destresse now taken at Haylysdon, I
pray you that ye wyll send word in hast how [ye] woll that
we doo in thys maters. Skypwith went with me to the Byshop
of Norwych, and I lyte hym have knowlych of the ryotous
and evyll dysposicyon of Master Phylyp, desyryng hys Lord-
Episcopus shyp that he wold see a mene thaFtl a correccyon myzt be

Norwic'.

1 Thomas Hert, perhaps a relation of the Bishop of Norwich, was presented to the
rectory of Hellesden by Sir John Fastolf in 1448, but how long he held it is uncertain,
as the list of rectors is very defective, and the next name that appears on it is George
Gardiner in 1579.

138

EDWARD IV

hadde, in as moch as he was chef Justic of the Peas and hys 1465
ordynare, and inasmoch as he was a prest1 and under hys MAY I0
correccyon that he shold have understondyng of hys dysposi-
cyon ; and I made Dabeney to tell hym all the mater howt it
was ; and he seyd he wold send for hym and speke with hym.
And he told me of dyvers thyngs of the demenyng of hym,
wherby I understode he lykyd not by hys dysposicyon nor
demenyng in thys mater nor in no nothyr ; for it symyd he
had provyd hym what he ys in other maters. My lord seyd Episcopus
to me that he wold ryght fayn that ye had a gode conclusyon Norwic'-
in your maters, and seyd by hys trouth, that he ought you
ryght gode wyll, and wold ryght fayn that ye wer com home,
and seyd to me that it shold be a grete comfort to your
frends and neghbors, and that your presens shold do more
amongs hem, than a C. of your men shold do in your absens,
and more, your enmys wold ferr to do ayens you yf ye myght
be at home, and steryng amonges hem, and seyd full playnly
in meny other thyngs it wer to long to wryte at thys tyme, as
Skypwith shall tell you when he comyzt to you. I pray you Skipwith.
thanke Skypwith of hys gode wyll, for he was ryght well
wyllyd to go with me and yeve me hys avyse, me thynkyth he
ys ryzt well wyllyd to you.

Item, I pray you send hastely word how that ye wyll that Per'
we be gydyd with thys place, for as it ys told me, it ysHeylu*
lyke to stond in as grete jupardy in hast as othere don. On
Thursday al day there were kept in Draton logge in : to Ix.
persons, and yet as it ys told me, ther be within dayly and
nyztly in to a xvj. or xx. persons.

Item, it ys told me that Thomas Elys of Norwych, whych Elys,
nowe ys chosyn Mayer, seyd at Drayton that yf my Lord of
Suffolk nede a C. men he wold purvey hym therof, and yf any
men of the town wold go to Paston he wold do lay hem faste
in prison. I wold youre men mygh have a supersedias 3 owte Super-
of the chauncere, and be owte of the danger of ther men here ; sedeas-
and I pray you let not Wyll Naunton be foryete therin. Ric. Naunton.

1 Philip Lepeyate was presented to the rectory of Salle in Norfolk, in 1460, by
Thomas Brewse, Esq., afterwards father-in-law of John Paston, the youngest.

2 i.e. Periculum Heylesdon. 3 So in MS.

139

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Calle and other can tell you of hys demenyng ; and I pray you
MAY 10 that ye be not dysplesyd for his abydyng with me, for in gode
feth he hath ben a grete comfort to me syn ye departyd hens,
as I wyll lete you wyte hereafter. I pray you yf hys brother
com to you for a relesse of hys londe, lette him non have on
to the tyme that ye see hys faderes wyll, the whych I wote
wher it ys, and that it like you to desyre hym to be gode
brother to him.

j. Paston Item, I have left John Paston the older at Caster, to kype

M?8^ *ke P^ace tnere> as Ric. can tell you; for I had lever, and it

Heylisdon. pleasyd you, to be captensse here then at Caster ; yet I was

nothyng purposyd to abyde here when [I] come from home

but for a day or ij., but I shall abyde here tyll I here tydyngs

from you.

Item, it ys told me that the Duck of Suffolk hath boght
Brightled. or shal by in hast the ryzt that on Bryghtylhed hath in
Haylesdon, &c.

Item, as for the evydens that Watkyn Shypdam hadd, he

Evidens. delivered to hys wyffe a box enselyd with hys owyn seall by

Pekermg. ^ys ^ffe fQf to ^e de}yveryci to you, whych box she delyveryd

to Ric. Call under the same seall after hys dessesse. Ric. can

tell you of the gydyng of the cofere with other boks that were

Evidens. at Shypdams. And as for all your other evydens ye ther not

Norwic . feer as for tke SyZt Qf hem, for ther nath nor shall no man sen

hem tyll ye com horn. I can not fynd that ye send to me fore

to have oute of the rolle.

Colt. Item, I here no word of Colte of New Castell, nor of no

Malt> nother from you that shold have your malte, but I have spoken

to the Viker, John Rus and Robert Boteler, to help for to sell

your malte, and as we can do therein, we shall send you word.
Prepositus ^he prOvest of Cambrygge ys com into thys contry and
[Cantab].1 Dabeney shall receve of hym that longyth to you on Monday

or Tewysday, and he shall have hys delyveryd accordyng to

your wrytyng.
Mater. Item, my moder told me that she thynkyth ryght strange

that she may not have the prefects of Clyre ys place in peasabyll

wyse for you, she seyt it ys hers and she hath payd most ther-

1 This word is left blank by Paston.
I4O

EDWARD IV

fore yet, and she sayth she wyll have the prefects therof, or 1465
ells she wyll make more folk to speke therof. She seyth she MAY 10
knowyt not what ryght ne titell that ye have therin but yf ye
luste to trobell with herre, and that shold be no wyrshep to
you ; and she sayth she wylbe ther thys somer and repayre the
housyng ther. In gode feyth I hyre moch langage of the
demenyng betwene you and herre. I wold ryght fayn, and so
wold many moo of youre frendes, that it were otherwyse
bytwene you then it ys, and yf it were I hope ye shold have
the beter spyde in all other maters. I pray God be your gode
spyde in all your maters, and yef yow grace to have a gode
conclusyon of hem in haste for thys ys to wyry a lyffe to a byde
for you and all youre. Wryten in haste at Haylysdon the x.
day of May.

The cause that I send to you this hastely ys to have an
awnswer in haste from you.

Your M. P.

582
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

T'o my ryght wyrshypfull mayster, John Paston the oldest, be
this delyveryd in haste.

1RECOMAUND me, &c.
Yf it pleasyd you, I wold ryght fayn that John Jenney MAY 13
werre putte oute of the Comyssyon of the Peas, and that
my brother Wyll. Lumner wer set yn hys stede, for me
thynkyth it wer ryght necessere that ther were such a man

1 [From Fenn, iv. 1 64.] There can be little doubt this letter was written in the
year 1465, when Margaret was troubled by Mr. Philip Lipgate and the Duke of
Suffolk's bailiff of Cossey. It maybe observed also that Margaret here dates from
Hellesden, and speaks of having been recently at Caister. Compare Nos. 579 and 581.
Further, the name of John Jenney is found on the Commission of the Peace for Nor-
folk, dated the ist April 1465 (Patent, 5 Edward IV., p. i, m. 32), but it is not on
the commission issued on the zoth February following (w.t m. 27) ; so that John Paston
seems to have acted on his wife's suggestion and been successful in getting him
removed.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 in that county that oght you gode wyll, and I knowe verely he
MAY 13 owyth you ryght gode wyll ; he was with me at Caster but
late. Yf ther be made any labour for Doctour Alyn to be
Justice of the Peas, I pray you for Gods sake let it be lettyd yf
ye may, for he wyll take to moch upon hym yf he werr. I
wold not that he wer remembyrd of your parte but yf [unless]
he be spokyn of of other parts : he ys ryght grete with Master
Phylyp Lypzate and the Baylyf of Coshay.

Yf it please yow to wyte that Wyks dyde a reste one Wyll.
Dylmyn of Norwych, as Pampyng can enforme you of, for
sertyn harnys wych he delyveryd hym at New Castell for to
cary to Yarmoth by water, and ther to delyver it to hym ayen ;
whych harnys he kypt styll, and may not be delyveryd ; and
now ther ys com down an habeas corpus for hym, and most
appyr at the Corny n Place [Common Pleas] on Fry day next
comyng. Wherfor yf it pleased you that ther myght be taken
an accyon in Wyks name of trespas under such forme as ther
may be a capias a wardyd a yenst hys comyng ; for after that
he was arestyd he dyde Daubeney to be arestyd for maynten-
yng ; and as for the harnys Wyks delyveryd it to hym the x.
day of Januar, the ij. yer of Kyng E.1 in Pylgryme strete, at
New Castell : Inprimis, a peyr brygandyrs, a salet, a boresper,
a bawe, xviij. arwys, ij. payr polronds [shoulder pieces]^ a standard
of mayle, a payr slyvys of plate, to the valew of v. marc. And
at the reverens of God, slowth not your maters nowe, and make
any end of hem, other purvey you to make hym or to marre
hem in haste, for thys ys to orybyll a coste and trobell that ye
have and have had, for to endur any whyle, and it ys grete
hevenys to your frends and welwyllers, and grete joy and com-
fort to your ennemyes. My Lord of Norwych seyd to me
that he wold noth abyde the sorow and trobell that ye have
abyden, to wyn all Sir John Fastolf ys gode. And God be
your spede in all yor maters. Wryten at Haylesdon the xiij.
day of May.

I thynk ryght long to hyr tydyngs tyll I have tydyngs
from you. Your M. P.

1 A.D. 1463. This was at the time the King was in the north, when Alnwick
Castle surrendered to him.

142

EDWARD IV

583

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght wyrshypfull husbond, John Paston, by thys
delyvery\d~\ in hast.

PLEASE it you to wyte that on Satourday last your 1465
servaunts Naunton, Wyks, and other, wer at Drayton, MAY 20
and ther toke a dystresse for the rent and ferm that
was to pay, to the nomber of Ixxvij. nete, and so broght them
horn to Hayllesdon, and put them in the Pynfold, and so kept
hem styll ther from the seyd Satour day mornyng un to
Monday,2 at iij. at clok at after non. Fyrst on the same Satour
day the tenants folwyd uppon, and desyryd to have ther catell
ayen ; and I awunsweryd hem, yf they wold do pay such dewts
as they oght for to pay to you, that then they shold have ther
catell delyveryd ayen ; or els yf they wer not a power to pay
redy money, that then they to fynd suffycyant suerty to pay
the money at such a day as they mygh agrye with me, and
therto to be bonden to you by obligacyon ; and that they seyd
they durst not for to take uppon hem for to be bonden, and as
for money they had non for to pay at that tyme, and therfor I
kept stylle the bestys.

Harleston was at Norwych, and send for the tenants the
seyd Satour day at after non, and ther, by the menys of the
Bayllyf of Coshay, put the tenants in such feer, sayng that yf
they wold pay such dewts, or els for to be bonden to pay, that
then they wold put hem owte of such londs as they huld bondly
of the Lordshyp, and so to dystrayn hem and trobell hem, that
they shuld be wery of ther part ; and that put hem [in] such
feer that they drust nother pay nor be bonden.

And on the same day at evyn-song time Harleston com to

1 [From Fenn, iv. 200.] A comparison of this letter with No. 581 will leave no
doubt that they were both written in the same year.

2 This was the day the letter was written.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 me to Haylesdon, desyryng me that I wold delyver a yen
MAY 20 the seyd dystresse ; and as for such dystressys as they had
taken here of your tenants shold be delyveryd a yen in lyke
forme ; and I seyd I wold not delyver hem soo, and I told
hem that I wold delyver hem as ys wryten a fore and other
wyse not, and other wyse I wold not delyver hem but by the
form of lawe. And other comynycacyon was had by twene us
at that tyme of dyvers maters whych wer to long to wryte at
thys tyme, but ye shall have knowlych therof in hast.

And pn Monday next after at ix. at clok ther com Pynche-
mor to Haylesdon with a replevyn,1 whych was made in
Harleston ys name as Understewerd of the Duche [Duchy~\t
sayng that the bests were taken uppon the Duche Fee, wherfor
he desyryd me to mak hym levery of the seyd bests so taken ;
and I seyd I wold not delyver hem on to the tyme that I had
examenyd the tenants of the trough [truth]. And so I send
theder Wyks with Pynchemor to understond what they wold
say ; and the tenants seyd that ther was taken non uppon the
Duche at ther knowlych, save only Pyrs Warryn the yonger.
And Paynter seyd that ther catell was taken uppon the Duche,
whych they connot prove by non record, save only by ther
awyn sayng ; and so we wold not a bey that replevyn, and so
they departyd. And at iij. at clock at after non Pynchemor
come to Haylysdon a yen with ij. men, whych broght with hem
a replevyn from the Shyryff, whos namys be John Whytherley
and Robert,Ranson, whych requyryd me by the same replevyn
to make them delyvery of the seyd bestys taken at Drayton ;
and so I, syyng the Shyryffs replevyn and under hys scale, bade
my men delyver hem, and soo they wer delyveryd.

And as for all other maters that ye have wretyn to [me] of,
I wyll spede me to send you a awnswer as hastely as I may, for
I may no leysor have to wryte no more to you thys tyme. The
blyssyd Trynyte have you in His kepyng. Wryten at Hayles-
don, the xx. day of May.

By yours, M. P.

1 This is a writ for restitution of cattle that have been distrained or impounded.
It was commonly granted by the sheriff on security being given that the party would
bring the matter to an issue at law.

I44

EDWARD IV

584

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

'To my ryght wyrshypfull husbond, John Paston,
be thys delyveryd in haste.

RYGHT wyrshypfull husbonde, I recomaunde me to you. 1465
Please it you to wyte that I have send to Master MAY 27
John Smyth and to Master Stephyn to have a vyse
for the church of Drayton ; and they send me word that ther
moste be had a comyssion from the Byshop to calle in the
person Flowredew,2 and that most be proclaymyd in the church
of Drayton iij. tymes by a Deen,3 and after that yff he appyre
not with in vj. monthys after the fyrst proclamacion, that then
he for to be depryvyd, and the patron to present whom he
luste, and ells your presentacyon ys not sufficyant. And I
have so purveyd that a comyssyon ys hadde, and shal be servyd
as hastely as it may be.

As for John Rysyng, I have sent to hym to wyte the cause
that he ys not broght up to London, and he sayth that he
callyd uppon the Shyrff that he myght be had up for [to] com
to hys awnswer, and the Shyrff told hym that he wold not
bryng hym up at hys owyn coste ; and John Andres seyd that
he wold not have hym up, and so he ys styll in prison at
Ipswych ; and so shall he be but yf ye canne fynde the beter
mene for to have hym oute. I have sent to hym xiijs> iiijd> to
help hym sylf ther with ; he payth for hys borde wykely xxd>
And Hopton and Smyth be ther styll allso, and they have
money ynogh, wher som ever that they have it. Rysyng

1 [From Fenn, iv. 206.] What is said here about the tenants of Hellesden and
Drayton, and about Master Philip Lipyate, leaves no doubt that this letter was written
in 1465. It contains, moreover, a distinct reference to Letter 582.

2 John Flowerdew was instituted to the Rectory of Drayton on the 1 5th of March
14.61, on the presentation of John Paston, Esq., and Thomas Howes, Clerk. — F.

3 This means the Rural Dean, who had a district of ten churches in the country,
wherein he exercised a jurisdiction of great advantage to ecclesiastical discipline, and
the sentences of superior Ecclesiastical Courts were to be executed by him. — F.

VOL. IV. K. 145

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 dymeth that they have confort of the other party ; and I send
MAY 27 you a copy of the warant that they wer a restyd by, &c.

I spake not with my moder syn Rychard Calle broght me
the letter from you tochyng her mater, for I myght have no
lesor. While I speke with her at leysure I wyll remember her
in that mater, acordyng to your wrytyng. And as for your
tenants of Drayton, as I canne understond by hem, they be
ryght gode and trew hertyd to you to ther powers, and full
fayn wold that ye had it a yen in peasse, for they had as leffe
al most be tenants to the Devell as to the Duke, except Wyll.
Herne, Pers at Sloth, and on Knott of the same towne, for
they be not gode.

All your tenants at Haylesdon and Drayton, except thes
iij., be ryght glad that we err ther a mongs hem, and so
be many other of our olde nebers and frends ; and but yf
[unless] ye com horn by Wensday or Thursday * in Wytson
wyke, I purpose me to ssee you in secrete wyse by Trynyte
Sonday,2 but yf \unless\ ye send to me contrary comaunde-
ment er that tyme ; and I pray you send me yeur avyse how
ye wyll that we doo a yenst the next shyr, whych shulbe the
Monday next after Trynyte Sonday, as for callyng uppon the
replevyn that the bests of Drayton wer delyveryd by.

Item, Richard Calle told me that ye desyryd to have
Master Phylyp ys name, and hys name ys Phylyp Lypzeate,
and I send you a letter 3 by Henre Wylton ys man, wherin I
wrote Master Phylyp ys name ; and in the same letter I wrote to
you for Wyll. Lumnor. I pray you send me word yf ye have
it. And the Blysshyd Trynyte have you in Hys kypyng.
Wryten the Monday next after Assencyon Day.4

By yours, M. P.

1 fth or 6th of June. 2 9th of June.

3 No. 582. * 23rd of May.

146

EDWARD IV

585

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN P ASTON 1

To my ryght wyrshypfull husbond, John Paston,
be thys letter delyueryd.

RYGHT wyrshypfull husband, I recomaunde me unto 1465
you. Please it you to wyte that I recevyd letters JUNE u
from you on Wensday laste passyd, the were wryten
the Monday next before, wherof I thanke you of the letter
that ye send to me. I wolde fayn doo well yf I cowde, and as
I canne I wol doo to youre pleasure and profet ; and in such
thyngs as I cannot skyle of, I wyll take a vyse of such as
I know that be youre frendes and doo as well as I canne.
Wher as ye wrote to me that Lydham told you that I told
hym that the Ducks men werre not so besy as they had be
by fore, no more thay were not at that tyme, but sythen thay
have be bysyer. What confort that thay have I canne not
have no knowlych as yet, but I suppose and all your felshyp
were gode, thay shold not have so grete confort as they have,
or ells they wold not be so besy as thay have be. Grete bost
thay make that the Duck shold have Drayton in peas, and
after thys Haylesdon, and that with in short tyme ; thay er
moch the bolder, I suppose, by cause that ye be wher as ye be.
At the reverens of God, yf ye may by any wyrshypfull or
resonabell mene, com oute therof as sone as ye may and come
home amonges your frends and tennaunts, and that shold be
to hem the grettyst confort that thay myzt have and the
contrary to your enmys.

It ys sayd here that the Duck of Suffolk shall com to
Coshay in haste and logge ther for a season ; I fyle well by
your tenaunts that yf ye were peaseabyly possessyd and your
cort holden in peaseabyll wyse, and that they myzt be in pease

1 [From Paston MSS.] This letter, in which it is anticipated that the Duke of
Suffolk will obtain possession, first of Drayton, and then or Hellesden, is evidently
a little later in date than Nos. 578 and 581, and can only be of the year 1465.

147

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 a yenst the other many, than they wold take accyons a yenste
JUNE 1 1 hem for such wrongs as have be don to hem, and ells they say
that they thernot \dare not] take it uppon hem, for they dwelle
so ney to the other many that thay knowe well thay shold
never be in ease yf thay dyde soo whyle that thay dele amongs
hem. On Thursday last John Doket, the bayly ys son y lawe,
and Thomas Ponte, with other, erly in the mornyng, an owre
by fore the sonne rose, com to your fold, and drove away the
flock at Drayton, both Colyet and other, in to Coshay fee, or
ever that the shipherd myght have knowlych therof and then
he fowlyd one and desyryd to have hem a yen, and thay wold
not suffer hym to have them no more but the Colyet and ther
were c. and j. of yours and tho had thay forth with hem to
Coshay, and the same day we had a replevyn for the cc. shype
and replevyn for the hors that wer taken at Haylesdon, and
how that thay were obbeyd Ric. Calle shall enforme you, and
of other maters also, the whych I may not wryte to you of at
thys tyme.

Item, I have spoke with [John] Strange of the mater that
ye wrote to me of, and in gode feyth I l fynd hym, as me
symyth, ryght well disposyd to you wards ; and he hath,
acordyng to your desyre, spoken with Yelverton yesterday to
fyle his dysposicion in that mater, and Yelverton, as it symyth
by hym, roght not gretely thogh the mater brake, so that he
myght have any resonabell colour to breke, he ys so callyd
uppon by Wayte and other of the Duck of Suffolk ys counsell
that he ote [wof] not where to hold hym, and he ys put in so gret
confort, as I am enformyd, to receve money for the lond, and
that temptyth hym ryght sore ; for with money he wold fayn
be in handelyng, as ye know he hath nede therof. He told
John Straunge that it ys informyd hym that ye have up an
enquest to depreve ther wytnesse and ther with ys he sore

movyd that yf any thyngs be don

in temporall maters other in spyryt[uall]

maters tochyng executors or feoffeys or wyttnes tyil the day of

trety be passyd, he wyll not abyde no trety

therm, but do as thynkyth best

1 The MS. has ' in ' instead of ' I,' evidently by mistake.
148

EDWARD IV

for to do therein. I told John Straunge that I kn[ew] . . 1465

thogh it were soo that shold passe any such

enquest it shol n of them

in provyng of her trothys, the whych shold be no hurt .

for John Straunge desyryd me that I shuld

send to you in al haste that any

such folks that thay shold not doo in the mater till the day of

may have knowlych howe he and

other wold doo in such maters as sh

he wold be loth that he shold have any colour to breke for any

thyng and Yelverton sayth it shall

not breke thorf his defaute yf ye wyll n[ot]

. be ryght glad to have your gode wyll and to goo thorgh

in all maner mate[rs] eschewyng of

wastfull expens of the dede ys godes and that the godes myzt
be dyspendyd to the welle of the dede. Straunge desyryd to
knowe what appoyntements he desyryth to have in the trety,
and he sayd he wold not let that be understond tyll the tyme
of trety cam. Me symyth, save your beter avyse, it were wel
do that thay that be com up for you myzt be kypt in som
secryte place and not do [naught done ?] in the mater tyll the
tyme of the trety were passyd. The cost there of shall not be
grete to that it myzt hurte yf the trety were broken by that
meane and then ye may have hem nyer ; and yf ye thynk it be
to doo ye may have hem to go to ther mater after the seyd
tyme, for of ij. hurtes the grettyst ys best to be eschewyd.

Item, as for youre houshold at Caster, savyng your beter
avyse, me thynkyth that v. or vj. of your folkes, such as ye
wyll assyngne, were [enough to?]1 kype the place, and they for
to go to bord with the prustes, and ye not to kype no houshold
ther yet ; and that ye shall fynd more profettabyll than for to
doo as we do nogh ; for ther expens, as I understond, have not
be moch the lesse by fore Wytsontyde than it shold be thogh
I had be at home by cause of resortyng of pepell theder ; and
yf the houshold were broke thay myzt have a gode excuse in
that, whosome ever come. Ric. Call shall enforme you of
thys maters, and mo other, more playnly than I may do wryte

1 Paper decayed.

I49

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 at thys tyme. It is necessary that possessyon be kypt hyre
JUNE ii yett tyll ye be more ferther forth in other maters. The
Blessyd Trynyte have you [in] Hys kypyng, and send you
gode spyde in all your maters, and send you grace to have
a gode conclusyon in hem in haste. Wryten on the Tewysday
nex before Corpus Christi.

By your faynt houswyff at thys tyme,
M. P.

586

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO HIS FATHER1

JUNE 1 5 i •% YTH reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I recomand me on
•^ to yow, beschyng yow lowly of your blyssyng. Plesit
yow to have knowlage how that I have be in Sowthe-
folk for syche materys as my cosyn Dawbeney took my modyr
a byll of, towchyng the materys be twyx yow and Jenney.
And of all the jentylmen that ye wold my modyr schold
send to for thys mater ther ar no more at home bot John
Alyngton ; and I schewyd hym the byll of the namys of the
Inqwest and knew no more of hem all bot thes, John Depden,
Thomas Wodborne, John Donemowe, Herry Chesten, and
Adam Wrene. And to all them Alyngton sent a man of hys
for to fele hem how they wer dysposyd. Thys was the answer
of John Depden and Thomas Wodborne, they sayd the last
tyme they wer at London iche of ther costys stood hem on
xj., and they seyd they wold no mor come at London bot if2
they knew who schod pay for ther costis ; but me thowt by
Alyngtonys man that they wold have had a brybe of yow be
syd the paying for ther costys for to have bedyn at home,
for they have non othyr levyng but brybys. As for John
Donemow and Herry Chesten, so that ther issuys may be
payd they wyll not come ther ; nor in trowthe they scholl not

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 190.] This letter refers to the dispute with Jenney in
1464-5, and seems to belong to the latter year.

2 'But if/ the old familiar expression for 'unless,' occurs in this letter with
peculiar frequency.

150

EDWARD IV

come ther. Wher for Alyngton prayith yow that ther issuys 1465
may be payid. Adam Wrene was not spoke to, for he is JUNE *5
Jenneys baly or hys fermour. As for the quest they ar not
yet somoned to aper, and but if1 they be somonyd ther scholl
non of hem all aper. The most part of the todyr dwell
a bowt Ippyswyche and they be Debnamys tenauntys and
Brewsys, and I knowd get no man to spek with hem but if1
I schold have spok with hem my selve ; and my spekyng
with hem schold rather aperyd [have impaired] the mater than
a mendyd it. And also I hyid me the faster home a geyn, for
I lay at my cosyn Lovedays on Corpus Christi Day at nyth ;
and he told me that the Duches of Sofokys consell wold entre
in to Calcot Hall, and they wold kep it tyll the Duches knew
who schold be her tenaunt, owthyr ye or Debnam. Thus told
one of the men of the seyd cowncell to Loveday ; whyche man
schold ryd thedyr with hem. And thys schold be do as to
morow at aftyr non ; bot I trow they wole but tak a distres
for the servys of the maner, whych is dwe ; but I have sent
word to Rysyng and to the tenauntis that they schold dryve a
wey ther catell. And as for the maner, my brodyr and I
scholl kepe it so that they schall not entyr as that daye, by the
grase of God, nor aftyr nowthyr and [i.e. if] we may knowe
of it, but if1 ye send us othyr wys word. As for the namys
that ye wold have for to pase upon the mater betwyx yow and
Hogan, I spok to Alyngton and Loveday therof, and Love-
day seyd he knew non that wold pas up on ony inquest for
hym, for he medylyd with no syche men ; and Alyngton seyd
that he kowd assyne me none men for serteyn, not tyll he had
spok with some, whyche he seyd wold aske gret leyser, for he
knew bot fewe in Sofolk ; if it had be in Cambrygge schyre he
kowd have get you j now. My modyr spak with old Banyard
of Sibton Abbey for the same mater, and he knew none that
wold pase upon the mater at his desyer, but he asygnyd dyvers
men that love not Jeney, whyche he kowd thynk wold pase
upon it at yowr desyer if ye spok with hem your selve ; or at
the lest iche of hem kowd get yow ij. or iij. men that wold
sey as they wold in cas ye spok with hem your selve, whoys

1 See footnote 2 on preceding page.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 namys I send you in a by 11 by Loveday. Item, as for the
JUNE 15 gape at Nakton Rychard Calle seyth that it was a thorn busche
was leyd in with owt a stake betwyx ij. thornys that grew ; and
as for Jeneys netes, ther was not one lost her calfe that I can
inquer of. And I pray God farther yow in all youyr materys
to Hys plesans and to youer hertys desyir. Wretyn in hast at
Hallysworthe the Saterday next aftyr Trinite Sonday.

My cosyn Hevenyngham is at London, and he kowd
asygne you men that wold say as he wold mor than Syr John
Wyngfeld, Alyngton, and all. — Your sone and lowly servant,

JOHN PASTON THE YONGEST.

587

RICHARD CALLE TO SIR JOHN PASTON 1

'To my ryght reverent and worschippfull master.
Sir John Paston, Knyght.

JUNE 15 "TVLESITH it your gode masterschip to wete that as for the
examynacion of Master Robert Popy, his examinacion
was wreten in a longe bille of parchemyn accordyng to
the deposicion in the Spirituall Coorte. And Master Robert
come into the Chauncery, and was sworne that all that was
wreten in the seide bille was trewe, and so delyverd the same
bille to the Mastre of the Rolles ; and he bare it forthe with
hym in his hande, for it was delyverd hym at the risyng of the
Coorte. Tounesende was by and I bothe, &c. And as for
delyveryng of money to Dawbeney, I do that I may do, and
more thenne I may weele doo, for I have put my selfe in gret
daunger for that I have borwyd, &c. Almyghty God spede
you in all your maters, &c. Wreten the Saterday next after
Corpus Christi Daye. Your servaunt R. C.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have reference to the deposi-
tions touching Sir John Fastolf 's will in the suit brought by Sir William Yelverton
and William Worcester against John Paston and Thomas Howes. Robert Popy
seems to have been examined in the spring of 1464 (see No. 565) ; but the suit was
still going on in 1465, and in a letter of Margaret Paston's, of the 24th June following,
Richard Calle is mentioned as having recently left her and gone to her husband in
London.

152

EDWARD IV

588

JOHN RYSYNG TO JOHN PASTON *

Onto my ryght reverent and worchipfull maister, John Paston,
Esquyer, be this letter delyvered.

RYGHT reverent and worchipfull sir, I recomende me 1465
onto your good maisterchip in the moste lowly wise JUNE 18
that I can or may, letyng your masterchippe under-
stonde howe that John Smyth, of Freton, and John Hopton,
of Freton, and I were attached and led onto Gippeswich, and
there putte into the Kynges pryson by cawse of the fyn which
was sessed upon the for said John Smyth, John Hopton, and
me, as your maisterchippe knowith well. And as for John
Smyth and John Hopton, they had labored the meanes onto
Master Jenney, that they were delyvered owt of pryson or than
the massenger come ageyn to theym which they sent onto yow ;
and I remayne stille in pryson, and I can not knowe but that
they labour the meanes to make me to paye the money for
theym. And so I can not se non other meane but that I shall
ly stille in pryson, and been ondo for ever withoute your good
masterchippe shewed to me at this tyme ; for as I am enformed
that Jenney hath promysed theym that I shall paye the fyne
for theym, and also alle the costes that haith be spent ther upon,
and shall be spent, for thei say that I am sufficient to bere the
hole daunger. And my keper yafe me licence to goon home,
and thei had hevyed the peple that dwelle ther, and that gretly,
and said playnly how that ye myght not beere the dawnger a
geyns Jenney for your self ; therfor the seiden that ye myght
not helpe them owt of dawnger when thatte ye myght not
helpe your self. Wherfor I pray your masterchippe to lete me
have word in as hasty tyme as ye may, to knowe whether that
I shall abyde her stylle or not, and if I myght do yow any

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The imprisonment of John Rysing is referred to in
Margaret Paston's letter of the zyth May 1465 (No. 584), and in another of the 24th
June following (No. 590). There can be no doubt this letter is of the same year.

'53

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 good at London, I pray your mastershippe that ye will sende
JUNE 1 8 for me} ancj i wm come Up to yow. And if ther be non other
remedy but that the money most nedys be paid, I pray your
masterchippe that ye will make such purveyaunce therfor that
it may be to myn delyveraunce at the reverence of God, and
in the weye of charite as myn hole truste is in your master-
chippe, for I can not seke to no man, nor will not but only to
yow. Wherfor I pray yow that ye will tenderly understond
this letter, as I may pray for yow onto God, who have yow in
His kepyng. Wretyn at Gippeswich the xviij. day of June.

These ar the names of theym that have parte of my catell,
Gilbert Nicoll, of Sprowton, William Merssh and John Woode
of Gippeswich, bocher.

By your man and feithfull servant,

JOHN RYSYNG.

589

ABSTRACT1

JUNE Examinations taken at the house of the treasurer of St. Paul's Cathedral,

London, of the following witnesses in the matter Sir John FastolPs will, viz. :
— of Thomas Torald and Robert Lawe on the 1 8th ; of William Waterman on
the 1 9th ; of John Osbern and John Heydon on the 2Oth ; of William Pykeryng,
John Symmys and John Shawe on the 2ist days of June 1465.

59°

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 2

'To my ryght wyrshipfull husband, John Paston,
be thys delyveryd in hast.

JUNE 24 | ~\ YGHT wyrshypfull hosbond, I recomaund me to you.

t*^ Please it you to wyte that the same Wensday that Ric.

Call departyd hens I send Ric. Charlys to speke with

the undershryf, requyryng hym that he shold serve the replevyn

1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9309.]

* [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter refers to Paston's disputes with the
Duke of Suffolk and his officers, the date must be 1465.

154

EDWARD IV

for the shype and hors that were take, &c. ; and the shryf sayd 1465
playnly that he wol not, nor derst not serve it, not thogh I JUNE 24
wold yeve hym xx It. to serve it. And Ric. Charlys axhyd the
cause why, and he sayd, for he wold not have to doo with that
felshyp, and so it ys yet unservyd. I supyose that Ric. Calle
hath told you what revell ther was by the Bayllyf of Coshay
and his felaw uppon your men that shold have servyd the
replevyn.

Item, the same Wensday that Ric. Call rode from hens the
were indytyd v. of men by the enquest of Fourhoo hunder, as
Crome can enforme you, and on Fryday last paste John Paston,
the yonger, Wykes and Thomas Honewerth were endytyd at
Dyram, by what menys the berour herof Crome shall [enjforme
you. I send theder Ric. Charlys, John Seve, and iij. or iiij.
other gode felows, for to have don other folks as gode atorne ;
but it wold not be, for the Juge ys soo parcyall with the other
party that I trowe ther shalbe sped no maters before hym for
you, nor for non of yours tyl it be otherwyse by twene you
than it ys. Crome shall tell you of hys demenyng at the last
sessyons at Dyrham. I send you a copy of both the endyte-
ments. Your son John Paston the yonger, I hope shal be with
you thys wyke and enforme you of mo thyngys, and howe myn
hors and hys sadell and harnys ys prysoner at Coshaye Halle
and have ben ever syn Wensday last.

Item, I recevyd a letter from you on Satorday last, whych
was wryten on Monday next before and I have sent to Sir
Thomas Howys the same day for such maters as ye wrote to
me of, and he sent me word that Wyllyam Worceter had a
boke of remembraunce of recaytys that hath be recevyd by Sir
John Fastolf or any of hys sythen the iiij.tc> yere Kyng Harry,
both of hys owyn lyflode or of any other mannys that he had to
doo wyth all. He sayd, yf ye wold send to Wyll. Worceter to
loke therfore he sayd he wyst well he wold lete you have
knowlych yf any such thyng may be founde, and also he sayd
that he wold send to the seyd Wyll. to serche therfore, and as
for such bokys as he hath hyre at horn he wol doo loke yf any
remembraunce canne be founde therof, and ye shall have know-
lych ther of, as he hath promysyd, by Satourday next comyng.

155

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 And as for the woman that made the clayme that ye wrote of
JUNE 24 he ys wellwyllyd that she shold be seyn to in the way of almys.
And as I here say, it symyth by hym that in any thyng that he
canne doo tochyng the savacyon of the dedys gode,1 other in
lyflode, other in other godys, he sayth that he wyll doo. I
canne not have no knowlych that Haydon mellyth in the mater
of Drayton ; yf he do oght therin, he doyth it closely, as he ys
wont to doo, and wayshyth hys hondys ther of as Pylate dyde.
It shalnot be long to or that I send to yow ; of such tythynges
as we have I shall lete you have knowlych ther of. I fynd
Crome ryght welwyllyng to you in such thyngys as lyth in
hym for to do. I pray you lete hym be thankynd therfor, and
that shall cause hym to be the beter wylled ; he hath not be
rewardyd as yet but by Ric. Call, as he canne tell you. The
Blyssyd Trynyte have you in His kepyng and send you gode
spyde in all your maters. Wryten in hast on Mydsomer day.
As for Rysyng, but yf [unless] ye purvey for hym he canne
no helpe have at home.

By yours, M. P.

591

[JOHN PASTON] TO MARGARET PASTON
AND OTHERS2

I'D my cosyn Margret Taston and to John
Dawbeney and Richard Calk.

JUNE 27 T" RECOMANDE me to yow, and have received a letter
from yow and a nother for Richard Calle be John
Colman, and . . be Roos ; and I have received of

Colman the plate and mony acording Richard Callis letteris.

Item, I con yow thonk ye send me word the prise of corn.

1 i.e., the dead man's goods.

2 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 9.] This letter, which is in the handwriting of John
Paston, refers to the proceedings of the Duke of Suffolk to enforce his claim to Dray-
ton and Hellesden, and was clearly written in the summer of 1465 on Thursday before
St. Peter's Day, i.e. before the feast of SS. Peter and Paul (29th June).

156

EDWARD IV

Item, as for yowr sone,1 I lete yow wete I wold he dede wel, 1465
but I understand in hym no disposicion of policy, ne of gover- JUNE 27
nans as man of the werle owt to do, but only levith and ever
hath as man disolut with owt any provision, ne that he besiith
hym nothinge to understand swhech materis as a man of lyve-
lode must nedis understond ; ne I understond nothing of what
disposicion he porposith to be, but only I kan thynk he wold
dwell ayeyn in yowr hows and myn, and ther etc and drinke
and slepe.2 Therfor I lete yow wete, I wold know hym or he
know myn entent, and how wel he hath ocupiid his tym now
he hath had leyser. Every pore 'man that hath browt up his
chylder to the age of xij. yer waytyth than to be holp and
profited be hes chylder, and every gentilman that hath discrecion
waytith that his ken and servantis that levith be hym and at
his coste shuld help hym forthward. As for yowr sone, ye
knowe well he never stode yow ne me in profite, ese or help,
to valew of on grote, savyng at Calkot Hall whane [he 3] and
hes brothir keptid on day ayeyns Debenham, and yet was it at
iii. [times 3] the coste that that ever Debenham sones put hym
to. For be her police [by their policy] they kepe Cotton at my
cost and with the 4 profitis of the same. Wherfor geff hem no
favor tyle ye feel what he is and will be.

Item, Calle sendith me word that Master Phylip 5 hat entrid
in Drayton in my Lord of Suffolk's name, and hat odir purpose
to entre in Heylisdon, and he askith my avyse ; whech is
that ye confort my tenantis and help hem til I com horn,
and lete hem wet I shall not Jese it, and that the Dowk of
Suffolk that last diid wold have bouth it of Fastolff, and, for
he mygth not have it so, he claymyd the maner, seying it was
on Polis [one Pole's], and, for his name was Poole, he claymed
to be eyr. He was ansueryed that he com nothing of that
stok, and how somever 6 wer kyn to the Polis that owth 7 it it

1 Sir John Paston.

2 A later hand has here written in the margin : ' Hie postea tuit Sir John Paston
senior, miles.' But the postea is wrong.

3 These words omitted in MS. 4 the repeated in MS.
6 Philip Lipgate, the Duke of Suffolk's bailiff.

6 'How somever' for ' whosomever,' or 'whoever.'

7 ' Owth ' for ' ought,' i.e. owned.

157

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 hurt not, for it was laufully bowth and sold, and he never
JUNE 27 kleymid it after. Item, I am in purpose to tak assise ageynse
hem at this tyme, and elles I wold have sent thedir streyt be a
letter of attorney to entre in my name ; never the les ye be
a gentilwoman, and it is worshep for you to confort yowr
tennauntis; wherfor I wold ye myth ryd to Heylisdon and
Drayton and Sparham, and tari at Drayton and speke with
hem, and byd hem hold with ther old master til I com, and
that ye have sent me word but late, wherfore ye may have
none answer yet, and informe hem as I ha (j/Y) wrete to ye
within ; and sey oupinly it is a shame that any man shuld set
anny lord on so ontrwe a mater, and speciall a preste ; and
lete hem wete, as sone as I am com hom I shall see hem.
Item, that as for distreyn for rent of ferm, thow the Dewk had
tytill, as he hath not, he may non ask til the next rent day
after his entre, that is Michelmes, and seye that ye will be paiid
everi peni and asken hem it. And make mech of men of
Cossey, becawse they wer owr welwillers when we wer neyboris
ther ; and lete hem wete that the begyningis of shech mater
had never worchip nor profite of me, ne shall, and desyr god
will of yowr neyboris, &c., and suyn all othir menes that ye
kan to plese the pepill. And lete yowr tenaunts wete that the
Dewke may never be lawe compel hem to torn from me ; and
do all so well as ye can, and if any entyr be made in Heylisdon
snuff him owt and set sum man to kepe the place, if ned be,
not withstandyng it longith not to the manere. Item, I wold
fayn have sum man to be bayle of Heylisdon and Drayton, &c.,
that myth go amongis the tenauntis. And elles I wold han
Richard Chyllins (?) to go amend \_q. among?] hem tyl I com
hom and also Richard Calle whan home. Item, he sent me
word that the tenauntis of Drayton wold not come to the
Dewkis cort and that they will be stefast to me and kepe hem
straunge and froward from the Dewkis cowncell ; all this
mater shall turne to a jape and not hurt hem ; ner, and if ye be
wavering it shall hurt hem. Item, I let yow wete this is do to
cause me to loose my labor ayens hym for Dedham, which I wil
not for it. God kepe yow. Wret the Thursday befor Sent
Petres day.
158

EDWARD IV

Item, tel Richard Calle to have wittenses redy. I wol spede 1465
this mater spirituall befor Estern. JUNE 27

592
MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

I CRETE yow wele, letyng yow wetyn that I am informyd JULY 6 (?)
for certeyn the Due of Suffolk reysyth grete pepyl bothe
in Norffolk and Suffolk to comyn doune with hym to
putte us to a rebeuc and thei may ; querfor I wold in ony wyse
that ze make yow as strong as ze can wyth inne [in the] place,
for I and other moo suppose that zyff they fynd zow not here
they wyl seke yow there ze arn. I wold John Paston the
zonger schuld ryde azyn to my Lady of Norffblk and be wyth
hyr stylle tyl we hafF other tydyngs, and ther may he do sum
good, after that he heryth tydyngs, in goyng forth to hys
fadyr or in to sum other place quere we may hafe remedy ; for
yt [is] told me that there ar come to Cossay onward more than
ij. hundred, and ther ys comyng, as yt ys seyd, more than a
thowsand. I wold that ze sende hyder Lytyl John that I
mygth sende hym abowte on myn errandys. Sende me worde
how that ze doo by summe of the tenantes that be not
knowyn.

Item, byd Richard Calle send me word in a bylle, of how
many materys that he hath sent myn husbond an answere of,
the quych he sendt horn in divers letters for to be sped here
and of the fermours of Tychwelle.

Item, zyf Sir Jamys Gloys may come to Norwych to Adam
Taylours how I wold he come on Munday bytymys, and I
schal sende to hym thyder. God kepe yow alle. Wretyn in
hast on Satyrday. By YOUR MODYR.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is not addressed on the back, nor is the
handwriting that of Margaret Paston, but from the subscription it would appear to
have been written by her to one of her sons j and as John Paston the younger is
mentioned in the body of the letter, the person addressed was evidently his elder
brother. The letter seems to have been written shortly before the Duke of Suffolk's
attempt on Hellesden mentioned in the next No., probably on the Saturday pre-
ceding it.

'59

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Item, yt ys told me that zong Heydon reysyth mych pepyl

juLv6(?) m the sokyn and in other place.

Item, I wold ze schuld do Rychard Calle hye hym of
makeng of alle the acountes and, zyf nede, lete hym gete help
and kepe Thomas Hunnworth stille wyth yow, and be war of
of Pykyng [Pickering ?~\

593

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON »
'To my mastre^ John Pas ton ^ in hast.

JULY 10 TVLESITH it youre maysterschip to witte of the rwle and
disposicion of the Master Philip and the Balyf of
Cossey, with others of my Lorde of Suffolkes men.
On Monday last past, at aftrenoon, [they] wer at Heylesdon,
with the nombre of CCC. men, for to have entred, notwith-
standyng they seyde they come not for to entre ; but withoute
dought, and they had been strong inough for us, they wolde
have entred, and that we undrestonde nough, but we knowyng
of ther comyng and purveyed so for hem, that we wer strong
j nough. We had Ix. men withinne the place, and gonnes,
and suche ordynauns, so that if they had satte uppon us, they
had be distroyed. And ther my mastres was withine, and my
mastre, Sir John, and hathe gate hym as grete worschip for
that day as any gentleman myght doo, and so is it reported
of the partye and in all Norwiche. And my Lorde of Nor-
wiche sent theder Master John Salett and Master John Bulle-
man for to trete, and so they ded ; and the Due men seide
they had a warant for to attache John Dawbeney, Wyks,
Calle, Hunewrthe, and Bliclyng and other, weche they wuld
have ; and my master, Sir John, answerd them, and seide that
they were not withine, and though we had ben, they shuld not
have had hem ; and so they desired oon of our men. And so

1 [From Fenn, iv. 212.] From what has been already said about the Duke of
Suffolk's claim to the manor of Hellesden, it is clear that this letter is of the year
1465. Later it cannot be, as John Paston was dead before July 1466.

1 60

EDWARD IV

Naunton stede by my mastres and haxed hem whom they wold 1465
have, and seyde if they wold have hem he wold go with hem, JULY 10
and so he ded. And on the next day they caryed hym forthe
to my Lord of Suffolk to Claxton, through Norwich; and ther
we had founde a remedy for hym for to heve lette hym ; and
he wold not, but nedys go forthe with hem ; but like a jentel-
man he was entreated amongs hem. And Harleston desyred
at Heylesdon to speke with my mastre, Sir John, and so he
ded, and seyde to hym it were ryght weele don that he rode
to my Lord of Suffolk and desired hym in any wice that he
schulde do so, and seyde that it was hes dwte so for to do, in as-
moche as my Lorde was come to contre, and that he wolde ryde
with hym, and brynge hym to my Lorde ; and he answerd and
seide to hym, whan that he undrestode that my Lord were hes
fathers goode Lord and hes, that thanne he wolde se hes Lord-
ship, and [elljes he had non aronde to hym ; and so they de-
parted. And thanne appoyntement was taken that they shull
sende home ther men, and we schuld send home oure. And
nough my Lord of SufFolks men come from Claxton to Nor-
wich, and face us and fray uppon us, this dayly. Ther fylle
uppon me befor Sevayne dore xij. of hes men, viij. of them
in harneys, and ther they wold have myscheved me and the
Scheryf letted hem and other, and they make ther awaunte
were that I may be goten I schul dye ; and so they lye in a
wayte for to myscheve me, Dawbeney, and Wyks; and so I
dare not ryde out alone withoute a man with me. And I
undrestonde ther is comyn an Heyre Determyner l to enquer
of all ryots, and my Lord of Suffolk and Yelverton be Comys-
cioners ; and so they sey as money of us as can be taken shal
be endyted and hanged forth with ; and so the people here are
dysmayed with ther rwle. Wherfore that it like you to sende
werd how my mastres schal do at Heylesdon, and we in all
other maters ; and wether ye wol that we feche a yene the
flok of Heylesdon, for they are nough dreven to Causton, and
there go they on the heyth ; and my Lord of Suffolk wolbe at
Dray ton on Lames Daye, and kepe the Coort ther; wherefor
ye must seke an remedy for it, or ell[es] it woll not do weele.

1 An Oyer and Terminer, or Special Commission.
VOL. IV. L l6l

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 If my Lord of Norffolk wold come, he schulde make all

JULY 10 weele, for they feere hym above all thyngs, for it is noyced

here that my Lord of Norffolk hathe taken partye in thes

mater, and all the cuntre is cladde of it, seyng that if he come

they wooll hooly go with hym.

And me senethe it were wele don to meve my Lord in it,
though ye schuld geve hym the profyghts of Heylesdon and
Drayton for the kepyng, and som money be side ; for ye must
seke som other remedy than ye do, or ell[es] in my conseyte
it schull go to the Divell, and be distroyed, and that in ryght
schort tyme. And therfore at the reverence of God take som
appoyntement with Master Yelverton, suche as ye thynke
schuld most hurt.

I beseche you to pardon me of my writyng, for I have
pitte to se the trybulacion that my mastres hathe here, and all
your frends, &c.

Almyghty Jesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten the
Wednesday next Seint Thomas Daye.

Your pore servaunt and bedman,

Ric. CALLE.

594

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1
To my right worschipfull husbond, John Paston, in hast.

JULY 12 * ~% YGHT worshypful husbond, I recomaund me to yow,

•^ preyeng you hertyly that ye wyl seke a meen that

yowr servauntys may be in pees, for they be dayly in

fer of ther lyvys. The Duke Suffolks men thretyn dayly

Dawbeney, Wykys, and Richard Calle, that wher so ever they

may gete them they schold dye ; and affrayes have ben made

on Rychard Calle this weke, so that he was in gret jupperte

at Norwych among them ; and gret affrayes have ben made

uppon me and my felashep her on Monday last passyd, of

1 [From Fenn, iv. 218.] It is needless to point out that this letter must have
been written in the same year as the last.

l62

EDWARD IV

whych Ry chard Calle telly th me that he hath sent yow word 1465
of in wryghtyng, mor pleynly than I may doo at thys tyme, JULY 12
but I shal informe yow mor pleynly heraftyr.

I suppose ther shal be gret labor ageyn yow and yowr
servaunts at the Assysis and Cescions her ; wherfor me
semyth, savyng your better advyce, it wer wele do that ye
shold speke with the Justicys or they com her; and yf ye
wol that 1 compleyn to them or to any other, if Good
fortune me lyfe and helth, I wol do as ye advyse me to do,
for in good feyth 1 have ben symply intretid among them ;
and what with syknesse, and treble that I have had, I am
browte ryght lowe and weyke, but to my power I wyl do as I
can or may in your maters.

The Duk of Suffolk and both the Duchessys shal com to
Claxton thys day, as I an informyd, and thys next weke he
shal be at Cossey ; whether he wol com ferther hyddyr ward
or not, I wot not yit. It is seyd that he schold com hyddyr,
and yet hys men seyd her on Monday that he cleymyd no
tytyl to thys place ; they seyd ther comyng was but to take
out such ryotus peple as was her within thys place, and suche
as wer the Kyngys felonys, and indytyd and outlawyd men.
Neverthe lesse they wold schew no warauntys wherby to take
non such, thow ther had suche her ; I suppose if they myght
have com in pesably, they wold have made an other cause of
ther comyng.

Whan alle was doo and they scholde departe, Harlyston
and other desyryd me that I schold com and se myn olde
Lady, and sewe to my Lorde, and if any thyng wer amysse
it schold be amendyd. I said if I scholde sewe for any
remedye, that I scholde sewe ferther, and lete the Kynge
and alle the Lordys of thys lond to have knowlech what
hathe be don to us, if so wer that the Deuk wolde meynten
that hathe be don to us by hys servauntys, if ye wolde geve
me leve.

I pray yow sende me worde if ye wyl that I make any
compleynt to the Duke or the Duchesse ; for as it is tolde
me, they know not the pleynesse that hathe ben don in such
thyngys as hathe ben don in her [their] namys.

163

THE P ASTON LETTERS

1465 I schold wryght muche mor to yow but for lak of leyser.

JULY 12 I comaundyd my Mayster Tom thys day to have com
ageyn by me from Norwych, when he had spokyn with
Rychard Calle, but he cam not. I wolde he wer qwyte of
hys indytments, so that he wer qwyte of yowr servyce ; for
by my trowthe, I holde the place the mor ongracyous that he
is in, for hys dysposycion in dyverce thyngys, the whych ye
schal be informed of her after.

The Trynyte have yow in kepyng. Wretyn the Fryday
next after Seynt Thomas.

By yowr, M. P.

595
JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON1

'To my cosyn, Margaret Paston.

JULY 13 T RECUMMAND me to yow, I thank of yow of yowr
labour and besynes with the unruly felechep that cam
befor yow on Monday last past, wherof I herd report
be John Hobbis. And in god feyth ye aquyt yow rygth wel
and discretly and hertyly to yowr wurchep and myn, and to
the shame of your adversaries, and I am wel content that ye
avowid that ye kept possession at Drayton and so wold doo.
Wherfor I pray yow, make yowr word god if ye may, and at
the lest, let myn adversarijs not have it in pees if ye may.
Jon Hobbys tellith me that ye be seekly, whech me lekith not
to here ; praying yow hartyly that ye take what may do yowr
eese and spar not, and in any wyse take no thowth no to
moch labor for thes maters, ne set it not so to yowr hert that
ye fare the wers for it. And as for the mater, so they over-
come yow not with fors ne bosting, I shall have the maner
sewrlyer to me and myn, than the Dewk shall have Cossey,
dowt ye not. And in cas I come not home within thre wekis,

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter is dated on a Saturday, and refers to
the Duke of Suffolk's attempt on Hellesden as having been made on the Monday
preceding, there can be no difficulty in fixing the precise date, both of day and year.

164

EDWARD IV

I pray you com to me, and Wykes hath promisid to kepe the 1465
plase in yowr absens. Nevertheles whan ye come set it in JULY J3
seche rewle as ye seme best and most suer, bothe for Castre
and Heylisdon if the werr hold. In cas ye have pees send me
word.

As for that it is desyrid I shuld show my tytill and evydens
to the Dewk, me thynkyth he had evyll cowncell to entre in
opon me, trusting I shuld shew hym evydens. And [if] ye
seme it may do yow god or eese, lete my Lord of Norwich
wet that the maner of Drayton was a marchants of London
callid Jon Heylisdon longe er any of the Polis that the seyd
Dewk comyth of wer borne to any lond in Norfolk or Suffolk ;
and if they wer at that tyme born to no lond, how may the
seyd Dewk klaym Drayton be that pedegre ? As for the
seyd John Heylisdon, he was a por man born, and from hym
the seyd maner dessended to Alice his dowtyr, hos estat I have,
and I soppose the seyd Dewk comyth not of hem.

Item, as for the pedegre of the seyd Dewk, he is sone to
William Pool, Dewk of Suffolk, sone to Mychell Pool, Erl of
Suffolk, sone to Mychel Pool, the furst Erl of Suffolk of the
Polis, mad be King Richard seth my fader was born ; and the
seyd furst Mychell was sone to on William Pool of Hull,
whech was a wurchepfull man grow be fortwne of the werld.
And he was furst a marchant, and after a knygth, and after
he was mad baneret ; and if any of thees hadde the maner of
Drayton I will los C//. so that any persone for the Dewk will
be bond in as moch to prove the contrary ; and I wot weel
the seyd Dewkis Cowncell wil not claym the seyd maner be
the tytill of the fader of the seyd William Pool. And what
the fader of the seyd William was, as be the pedegre mad in
the seyd last Dewkis fadirs daijs I know rygt weell ; wherof
1 informyd Herry Boteler to tell my old Lady of Suffolk,
becawse he is of her cowncell ; and more will I not tell in thes
mater, but if [unless] I be desyrid or compellid.

Item, let my Lord of Norwich wete that it is not profitabe
ner the comen well of gentilmen that any jentilman shuld be
compellid be an entre of a lord to shew his evidens or tytill
to his lond, ner I wil not begine that example ne thralldam of

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 gentilmen ner of other ; it is god a lord take sad cowncell, or
JULY ij he begyne any sech mater.

And as for the Pools that owth Drayton, if ther wer C. of
hem levyng, as ther is non, yet have they no tytill to the seyd
maner. God kepe yow. Wret the Satirday, &c.

Yowr JON PASTON.

I pray yow be as mery with yowr felachep as ye kan.

Item, I send horn writt and prasens for yowr servaunts and
myn.

Item, I may sell you woll for Y\d. the ston, redi mony, as
Arblaster can tell yow, and malt for iiijs. the quarter at days
xxj. for xx. delivered of Yermouth mesur. If ye fayle mony
ye most make it of yowr wole or malt.

I send you horn writts of replevin for the shep and the
horses that wer take, and avise yow lete the writtis be delivered
be fore my Lord of Norwich, and god rekord ; and if ye may
make men with fors to take the catell agey[n] be waran of
replevyn, spar not rather than fayle.

On the back of the letter is the following memorandum in a different
hand : —

Md. there lefte behynde of Heylesdon folde of my mastre schepe xlj. modreschep.
Item of lambes xxxiiij. Item of my mastres xij. modreschep. Item of her lambes xij.

596

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

[JULY?] j IGHT worchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow,
and pray yow hertely at the reverence of God that
ye be of good comfort, and trost veryly be the grase
of God that ye shall overcome your enemys and your trobelows
maters ryght welle, yf ye wolle be of good comfort, and not
take your maters to hevely that ye apeyr not your self, and

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Margaret Paston, as will be seen by subsequent
letters, was in London with her husband in September 1465. This letter seems
to have been written not long before, when she first entertained the thought of going
thither.

1 66

EDWARD IV

thynk veryly that ye be strong inowe for alle your enemys be 1465
the grace of God. My moder is your good moder, and takyth [JULY ?]
your maters ryght hertely. And zif ye thynnk that I may do
good in your maters yf I come up to you, after I have know-
lage of your entent it shall not be longe or I be with you be
the grace of God. And as for any othyr thyngs of sharge that
be in this centre, I hope I shall so ordeyn therfore that it shall
be safe. I have delyveryd your older sonne xx. mark that I
have received of Ric. Calle, and I kowd no more of hym syn
ye departyd. [And I send yow another bage of mony that
was in your square cofyr.1] And I pray God hertely send us
good tydyngs of yow, and send the victory of your enemys.
Wretyn in hast on Saterday. Your M. P.

Item, I take your sonne of your faders oode mony, that
was in the lytyll trussyng cofyr x. mark, for my broder
Clement scythe that xx. mark was to lytyll for hym.

597

[MARGARET PASTON ?] TO 2

Cosyn, I recommaunde me to yow, letyng yow wete that I am informid
that the parson of Brandeston is take be yowr sowdiors and led forth with
hem, and they have ryfelid his godis, and summe of myne husbondes also,
and of his ballyes, weche were left with the seyd parson to kepe. Wherfore
I avyse yow, and praye that he maye be lete go agayn, and to have ower godes
as were take fro hym ; for and yowr sowdioris be of sweche disposicion that
they wyll take that they may gete, it shall no wurchip be to you, nor profile
in tyme to come ; and therof wolde I be sory. And if the seyd parson
be othirwyse disposid thanne he owth to be, I wyll helpe that he shall be

1 This sentence is struck out.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. of this letter seems to be a draft in a hand
like that of James Gresham. It is anonymous and without address. Even the
writer is very uncertain. But it may not unlikely be a draft letter from Margaret
Paston to some neighbour who, while the Duke of Suffolk was laying claim to
Hellesden and Drayton, was not too mindful of John Paston's rights. Brandeston
is about eleven miles from Norwich, eight miles beyond Drayton. Thomas Hoop
was parson of Brandeston from 1448 to 1475. He was presented to the living by
Sir John Fastolf.

167

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465^?) chaysteysid as conciens and lawe requerith. I wolde ye shulde remembre
that ye have bore blame for sweche thynges before this tyme that hath be
do othirwise thanne lawe hath requerid. And God have yow in His kepyng.
Wrete at Norwiche.

598
JOHN WYKE TO SIR JOHN PASTON 1

To my ryght wyrshypfull mayster, Sir John Pas ton , be
thy s letter delyveryd.

1465 TTYLEASE it your maistershyp to wyte, uppon Satourday
JULY 30 1-^ last, Mayster Wyll. Paston and I werre with my Lord
the Byshoppe of York, and enformyd hys Lordshyp of
the entre that was made at Haylesdon in the Duk of Suffolks
name. And my Lord asked of ous whether the C. marc wer
payd or not, and we awnswered that it was payd many day a
goon. And than he sayd, ' I dar swer uppon a boke that the
Duchesse of Suffolk hath no knowlych therof.' And so he
comaundyd ous to a wayte uppon hym, for he wold be at
London a yen uppon Tewysday next ; and soo we have non
awns wer as yet.

Item, I have spoken with Mayster Robert Kent for your
maters, and byddeth that ye shold not dowte therof ; and as
for the neglygens of your wytnes, Mayster Robert sayth it ys
but a jape, and shall be no hurt. And the copys therof wer
deliveryd or than I cam horn from Parker ys hands, and that
causyd me to spake no word to hym therof.

Item, the Lord Scales sayd at a soper wher as he soped
within thys iiij. nyztys that he wold ryde home and enter in
ij. fayre maners in hys contray, and desyred Stanhope that
shall wed Gernyngham ys suster to ryde with hym. I suppose
it be to entre in to Caster and Cotton ; wherfor maketh gode
wache be tyme, for it ys mery to plede in possession, &c.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is sufficiently apparent
from the reference in the beginning to ' the entry made at Hellesden in the Duke of
Suffolk's name.'

1 68

EDWARD IV

Item, I have send you an unce of myvers(?) by the beror 1465
of thys letter, and thay cost me injs. iiijd. JULY 3°

Item, your gesseren l and gaunteletts shall be send horn by
the next caryours, for ther be non hyre yete, &c. No more
to you at thys tyme. The Holy Trynyte have you in Hys
kypyng. Wryten at London uppon Tewysday next after
Seynt Anne.

By youre servaunt, JOHN WYKE.

599

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON*

= 'To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston,
be this delyverd in hast.

RIGHT wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. AUG. 7
Please it you to wete that I sent on Lammesse day8
to Drayton, Thomas Bonde and Sir James Gloys to
hold the court in your name, and to clayme your tytill ; for I
cowde gete none other body to kepe the court, ner that wuld
go theder but the seide Thomas Bonde, be cause I suppose thei
were a ferd of the pepill that shuld be there of the Duke of
Suffolks parte. The said Thomas and James, as the Duke of
Suffolks men, that is to sey, Harlesdon, the parson of Salle,
Mayster Phillip and William Yelverton, the which was styward,
with a Ix. persones or more be estymacion, and the tenauntes
of the same town, sum of hem havyng rusty pollexis and
byllys, comyn in to the maner yard to kepe the courte, met
with them, and told them that thei were comyn to kepe the
court in your name, and to clayme your titill. Wherfore the
seid Harlesdon, with ought any mor words or occasion yovyn
of your men, comytted the seid Thomas Bonde to the kepyng

1 A sleeveless coat of mail.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is another of the series of letters relating to
Paston's dispute with the Duke of Suffolk about Drayton and Hellesdon in 1465.

3 August i.

169

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 of the new Baly of Drayton, William Dokett, seyng that he
AUG. 7 shuld go to my lord and do his herand hym self, notwith-
standyng that Sir James dede the erands to them, and had the
words ; wherfor thei toke the seid Thomas with ought occasion.
Thei wuld have mad the seid Thomas to have had the words,
and the seid James told hem that had hem, because he was the
more pesibill man, whan afterward thei bade avoyde, and sithen
led forth Thomas Bonde to Cossey, and bownde his armes be
hynde hym with whippe cord like a theffe, and shuld have led
hym forth to the Duke of Suffolk, ner had be that I had spokyn
with the juges in the morwyn or thei yede to the shirehous and
enformed hem of such ryottes and assaugthis as thei had mad
up on me and my men ; the baly of Cossey and all the Duke
of Suffolks councell beyng ther present, and all the lerned men
of Norffolk, and William Jenney and. my[che] pepill of the
contre ; the juge callyng the baly of Cossey befor them all, and
yaffe hym a gret rebuke, comaundyng the shereffe to se what
pepill thei had gadred at Drayton ; which came after to Heles-
don to se the pepill ther, with weche [pejpill he held hym wele
content ; and fro thens he rode to Drayton to se ther pepill,
which wer avoyded or he came. And ther he desired to have
delivered the seid Thorn. Bonde to hym ; and thei excusid
hem and seid thei had send hym to the Duke of Suffolk.
Notwithstandyng, afterward thei sent hym to Norwhich to
hym, desiryng hym that he shuld delivere hym not withought
he mad a fyne, be cause he trobilled the Kynges lete ; for
which thei mad 1 .... to juges. But after that I
understod it, I sent Danyell of Mershlond and Thomas Bonde l
to enforme the juges how the seide Thomas was entreted
amonges hem, and so he ded. And the juges were gretly

with the Dukes men, and forwith comaunded

the sheryf to delyver the seide Bone withoute any fyne
m[aking], seyng that he out non to make. And in goode
feythe I founde the juges ryght gentell and forborable to me

1 At this point the letter is continued in a different ink upon a new sheet of paper,
which was formerly stitched to the first sheet. A line which was formerly covered by
the sewing shows that Margaret Paston intended at first to have written : ' to the

justice, and he (five 'words illegible, the paper being cut") thei toke the

seid Thomas with ought warant, afftre trobillyng of the lete.'
170

EDWARD IV

in my matres, notwithstandyng the Duckes councell had made 1465
her compleynt to them or I come in ther werst wice, noysyng AUG- 7
us of gret gatheryng of peopell and many riotes thynges don
be me and your men. And after I enformed the juges of ther
untrouthe and of ther gidyng, and of our gidyng in like wice.
And after the juges undrestod the trouthe he gave the baly of
Cossey befor me and many other a passyng gret rebuke, seyng
without he amended hes condicion and governaunce, thei wuld
enforme the Kynge and helpe that he schuld be punyschet.

And wher as ye avyced me a felaschip to

kepe the coorte at Drayton with easy cost, it was thought be
your councell it wer better otherwise, and not to gather no
people, for it was told me that the Dukes men had to the
nombre of v. C. men, and your councel avised me to gete a
felischip to kepe my place at Heylesdon, for it was told me
that they schuld come and pulle me out of the place, weche
cauced me to kepe the place the strenger at that tyme. And
as for kepyng of any coort for you at Drayton, I can not wete
how it cowde be brought a boute withoute helpe of other but
if there schuld growe gret inconvenyence of it. And at the
ass[izes] .... made gret labor to endite your men,
notwithstandyng it was letted. And as for the writtes of
replevyn, they were delyverd openly be for the juges to the
scheryf, and also other writtes wech Jamys Gresham brought ;
and aftre that Ric. Calle spake with the high scheref for the
servyng of hem. And so he promysed to serve it and to send
men of hes owne to serve it ; and so he sent ij. of his men with
Ric. Lynsted, and with ij. of Scheperdes to Cossey for the
schepe. And ther they wer answer that Yelverton cleymeth
the properte, and so wer they answerd in all other places wher
as any catell was. And so they departed and come to the
scheryf and enformed hym ; and I undrestande the scheryf
taketh it for an answere ; notwithstandyng I send hym word
withoute that Yelverton had ben ther in hes owne persone he
myte not cleyme the properte, and aviced hym to be ware
what retorne he made that he were not hurte by it. And so he
hathe made no retorne yet. What he wul doo I wat ner. He
is stylle in this centre yet and schal be this iiij. or v. dayes, but

171

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 your councell thynketh it were well don that ye gete an a/Has1
AUG. 7 an(j a piuries that it myght be sent don to the scheryf and than

he can mak non excuse but nedys 2 it well (?)

to make a retorne as he wol abide by. I can not wete how
the catell woll be goten ayen withoute other processe be had
more than we have yet.

Item, on Tuesday next comyng schal the sescions of the
pees be at Wolsyngham. What schal be do ther I wot not
yet ; for as for any indytementes that we schuld labor a yenst
them it is but wast werk; for the scheryf ner the jerrours
wol no thyng do ayenst them.

Item, wher as ye desire to knowe what gentelmen wolde do
for you at this tyme, in goode feythe I founde Herry Greye,
Lomnor, Alblastre, Wer .... (?), Berney of Redham,
Skyppewith, and Danyell of Merchelond, ryght weele disposed
to you ward at this tyme in helpyng and in zevyng ther goode
avice to me for suche maters as I had to doo. Ye schal have
more pleyne undrestondyng of all thynges her after than I may
write to you at this tyme.

Item, the wpentauu* and the supplicavit3 is delyverd to
Alblastre and to Wechyngham, and they have mad out bothe
warantes and supersedias ; 4 nevertheles ther is non servyd yet.

Item, I received the box with the writt and the letter that
Berney sent to me on Friday last and non er [no earlier].

Item, as for the pris of malte it is fallen here sore, for it is
worthe but iJ5. vnjd. j. quarter at Yermoth.

Item, as for your wolle, I may selle a stoone for xld., so
that I wol geve halfe yere day of payment. I prey you sende
me word how I shal do in this matre and in all other, &c.
And God kepe you. Wreten in haste the Wednesday next
aftre Lammes daye.

Your M. PASTON.

1 So in MS. 2 A word illegible.

3 So in MS.

* Superseded* is a writ to stay certain proceedings ,• supplicavit a writ for taking
surety of the peace when violence is threatened by any one.

172

EDWARD IV

600

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET P ASTON*

'To my cosyn, Margaret Paston, at Heylisdonn.

IRECOMAUND me to you. And as for the letter that I 1465
send yow touchyng John Russe, I will that ye and your AUG. 7
counsell see it openly ; and kepe this bille to your self or
to some secret frend of yours. And I pray yow remembir ij.
thynges ; on, if ye fynd hym in any maner wise disposed to
leve his bargeyn, take it at his offer, and take ayen the writyng
that he hath of that bargeyn, or a writyng of his owne hand of
relesyng his bargeyn to me ; for peraventure at this tyme he
woll be glad to leve his bargeyn, as I undirstand, and whanne
he sethe that I have peas he wolle calle theron ayen. Wherfore
I pray yow werk wisely herin, for he may in no maner wise
aske the money of me and kepe his bargeyn, for he hathe
divers tymes desired me to have take of hym more masse (?)
therfore. Another, as sone as ye may, or ye breke this mater
with John Russe, make due serche with the fermours at
Akthorp what mony Russe hath reseyved ther in my tyme,
that is to sey, for Mighelmes the first, the ij., iij., iiij. yeres of
Kyng E., of whech he hath reseyved ij. payments, that is xij//.
at the lest, or er the maner was trobelid by Jenney or Yelverton.
And I deme that he hath reseyvid some sithen, but that he
kepith counsell.

Item, for as moch as Sir Thomas Howes gaderid for the
xxxix. yere of Kyng Herry, the seid John Russe woll, under
colour of that surmytte, that he reseyvid in my tyme was ther-
fore, wherfore ye must make a serche what he hath reseyvid
sith Sir John Fastolff dyed, and what tyme ; and therupon ye
shall undirstand what he hath reseyvid for me, and what for
hym ; and in case he hathe reseyvid xii//., and Richard hath
payd hym his dute as he promised, thanne growyth nat to John

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is sufficiently clear from the reference to accounts
of the 4th year of Edward iv., that this letter cannot be earlier than 1465, which is
the last year of the writer's life.

173

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Russe past iiij. or vli. ; notwithstandyng fare fayre with hym
AUG. 7 ancj resonabilly, so that he leve his bargeyn, and lend hym the
remnaunt of the xx//. upon suerte for xx//. He desireth to
have oiither his dewte or borowyng at this tyme.

Item, he that shall speke with the fermours of Akthorp, whos
name is Langham, he must inquere generally what mony he
hath paydto all men sith Sir John Fastolff dyed, and see his
billes of payment, and take therof a titelyng. Ric. Calle hath
a bille of parcellis of every mannes ferme, and he can serche
this best, in case he be not to favorabill to John Russe, wher-
fore I remitte this to your discrecion ; but I suppose John
Russe woll telle yow what he hath reseyvid for hand bifore this
tyme wretyn by his seying what he had reseyvid, and I suppose
and he remembird that he seid to me, he wold not aske his
mony in this forme ; nevirthelesse it shall do good, so he leve
his bargeyn by this meane.

I mervyll that I here no tidyngges from yow hough ye
have do at the assisses. The berer of this letter is a comon
carier, and was at Norwich on Satirday, and brought me lettirs
from other men, but your ser vaunts inquere nat diligently after
the comyng of cariers and other men. Wretyn at London the
Wednesday next after Lammes day.

Ye shall have lettirs of me this weke.

JOHN PASTON.

60 1

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON
AND OTHERS1

To my mastresse, Margref Paston, James
Gresham and Ric. Calle.

IRECOMAUND me to yow, and have reseyvid ij. lettirs
from John Russe, wherin he remembirth me that I shuld
owe hym xix//'., or therupon, for divers parcelles whech he
seith he shuld have deliverid in to myn hows, wherof he seith

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is evidently the letter referred to in the begin-
ning of the last.

174

EDWARD IV

xiiij//. was deliverid in to myn howse ij. yere g[oon], and that 1465
I had a bille deliverid me therof, and the remnaunt sithen, and AUG- 7
desireth of me payment of the seid xix/z. Wherfore I certi[fye]
yow as I undirstand in the mater ; ye may lete John Russe
come to yow and take such a direccion in the mater as reason
and trought woll. I lete yow wete that abought ij. yer goo
the seid John Russe deliverid me first a bille of the seid xiiij.
[//.], and I examined the parcelles ; and as I remembir xj//.
was my dewte, wherof the certeyn somme is writen in my blak
book of foreyn reseytes that yere, and the remnaunt was Ric.
Calles dewte, wherof he was allowed, savyng apart was Elys
dewte. And as for the seid xj/z., I offerid the seid John
Russe payment in hand at that tyme, and desired hym he
shuld no more send in to myn howse, and warnyd yow and
Richard that ye shuld no more stuffe take in to myn hows
without ye peyd in hand, nowther of hym ner of non other. »
And the seid John Russe prayd me to remembir that I had
grauntyd hym the maner of Akthorp in Ley st oft, at a certeyn
prise, as it apperyd by writyng undir my seall, and desired me
that I wold take the seid somme in party of payment. And I
told hym that as for such mony that shuld com from hym for
that lond, I wold take it of hym and ley it up by the self, that
I myght purchase other lond therwith, bicause I wold lesse
Fastolffs lyvelode for the college, but I wold pay hym his
dewte without any stoppage. And he thanne desired me to
take that same xj//., and ley it up to the same use, seying to
me that it was as good to do so as I for to take it hym, and
he to take it me ayen. And thus he and I agreed, and de-
parted, and thanne he prayd me to take more chafar of hym,
whech I denyed. And nough I merveyll what shuld cause
hym to aske mony for that dewte; neverthelesse I deme he
supposith that he coud not opteyne his bargeyn by me, bi-
cause of the trobill that it standyth in ; and for that or for
some other cause he repentyth his bargeyn and woll nomore
of it. Wherfore send for hym, and take James Gresham or
some of your frends and Richard Calle, and fele what he
menyth ; and if ye can fynd hym disposed to leve his bargeyn
yet, though I myght kepe stille the seid mony I wold he shuld

*7S

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 not lese therby. Nevirthelesse if he woll refuse his bargeyn,
AUG. 7 thanne take ayen the writyng that he hath of that bargeyn and
a writyng of his hand that he dischargyth me of the graunt
that I mad hym of that same bargeyn. And thanne loke that
ye enquere what mony he hath reseyvid of the seid maner in
my tyme, wherof the ferme is vj//. yerly whech I suffird
hym to occupie to his owne use by fors of the seid bargeyn all
my tyme ; and aftir the parcellis cast what I have had of hym ;
abbate therof the mony that he hath reseyvid of the seid
maner, and also as moch of the xiiij//. as the seid Ric. Calle
and Elys owen, wher of he is alowid ; and thanne see that the
seid John Russe be content of the remnaunt of his parcellis
that is dew by me, but loke ye pay non other mennes dewtes.
Also the seid John Russe writyth in his lettir that rather
thanne he shuld fayle this mony that I wold lend hym asmoch
* to pay ayen at Cristemasse ; wherfore, if he leve his bargeyn
I woll ye lend hym asmoch mony over his dewte as shall make
up xx//., takyng of hym suerte to pay ayen at Cristemasse, as
he writyth ; in case be that he will kepe stille his bargeyn,
thanne ye may answere hym it is no reason that he shuld aske
me any part of that mony ayen, for he owyth that and moch
more.

Item, the seyd John Rus sent me heder a man for this
mater only with in thes ij. daijs. Wherfor let him know an
ansue letyng (?) for I fel well (?) he hath mad agret bargen
but late, wherfor he hath mor nede of mony now, and I wol
do for hym that I may resonably. Nevertheles his wryting
merveylith me that he askith thes mony as dewte, wheche he
toke me for parte of my payment. I deme it comith not all
of his owne disposicion. Inquier ye that ye can what it
menith. God kepe yow. Wret the Wednisday nex Lammes.

Yowr JOHN PASTON.

In cas ye han Drayton in any quiete take sewertie of yowr
tenants for paiment as I have wret befor.

EDWARD IV

602

JOHN ESTGATE TO

SER, ze sent to me a letter conteynyng the substaunce of 1465
the processe off Mr. Robert Ippy swell for the mater
off the codicill of Nicholas Pykeryng, &c. Me
mervelyt gretly off the certificat off Mr. Robert in that be
halve, for this is the truthe as forth forth as I kan remembre
me. The codicill had nether day nor place lymyte, qwer or
qwan it xuld a ben mad; qwerfor to a reprovyd that that
nether was qualifyid with day nor place it had be gret foly,
&c. Therfor I askyd off the juge hys accounts, and specy-
ally the deposicionys and attestacionys off the wytteness that
wer swor in the seyd codicill, &c.; by the qwyche it mowth
appere clerly qwan and qwere this codicill xuld a be made and
wrete. And this sen I mad protestacion to for the seyde Mr.
Robert that I wolde impugne the mater as lawe requiryd. The
qwych peticion I made diverse tyme to fore moche recorde,
judicialy syttyng the seyde M. R.,2 &c. The qwyche peticion
he wold not her, but seyde expresse that nether Will. Pyker-
yng nor non other man xuld sen his accounts nor knowe qwat
the deposicion wer in that parte ; this mater was comownyd to
for Mr. John Selet and my mayster and yours diverse tymys,
and ever he seyde we xuld not sen the seyde deposicions.
And so qwat sum ever he hath certyfyid, this is the truthe,
God to wetenesse and all Seynts, qwo preserve zow evermore.
And I pray zow to declare this to my mayster and zours ;
and comende me hertly to hys good maysterchep. And God
sende hym victorye off all hys elmyes, and so pray all hys well
wyllers at Norwich. JOHN ESTGATE.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this letter is reported to be dead in
No. 604, which was written on the i8th August 1465. We have little doubt, how-
ever, that this belongs to the same year, as the names of Robert Ippeswell and John
Salet occur in the correspondence more than once about this time.

* Master of the Rolls.
VOL. IV. M 177

THE PASTON LETTERS

603

WILL OF NICHOLAS PICKERING1

1465 To alle trewe Cristen pepill the wiche these present letteres schall se or here,
Roberd Banyngham, confessour to Nicholas Pekeryng of Filby, Alson the wyfe
of the seide Nicholas, Roger Silveryn, John Herte of Cowteshall, Robarde
Yoxsale, Richarde Hawe, Robarde Manufrac (?), John Case, servaunt of the
forseid Nicholas, and Henry Becham, servaunt of the seide Nicholas, and
Thomas Page of Beston, sende gretyng in oure Lorde. Where it is mery-
tory nedefull to bere wytenesse of troughthe, alle ye mot knowe us that we
herde the forseide Nicholas Pekeryng seyn, lying on his dede bedde, these
wordes folwyng, as we willen answere before God, that whanne William
Pekeryng, sone of the seide Nicholas rekenyd with his fadir for xx. quarteres
barly that the seid William cleymed of his faderys yifte to his mariage ; and
for vij. dayes cariage of corne in hervest, and for als a thousande waltyle that
his fadir had fro ye seide Williams wyfes place, the wiche reknyng greved the
seide Nicholas his fadir, and seide, * Thou comyst in with many bak reken-
yngges. Remembre the that thou hast be the costlyest childe that evere I
hadde, and how that I yaf ye x. acres of fre londe, and 2 a place in mariage,
and many othir thyngges that is muche better than all thi bak rekinyngges.
And I have now yove ye other x. acres of fre londe aftir my discesse ; and me
thynketh be the thou heldest the not lowest, but woldest have all. But on
thyng I shall sey to the ; if thou trouble John, thy brother, or ony of myn
executores, or cleyme ony more londes or goodys that evere were myne, I shal
yeve ye Goddys curse and myn, for thou hast be ever frowarde to me.' In
witnesse and recorde herof we have sette oure sealys.

To alle trewe Cristen pepill the qwiche these presente letters shal see or
here, John Herte of Couteshale, Roberd Yoxhale, Roger Silveryn, Thomas
Dawes, and Thomas Drye, sende gretyng in oure Lorde. Where it is mery-
tory, nedefull and medefull to bere witnesse of trought, all ye mot knowe us,
that we herde William Pekeryng, sone of Nicholas Pekeryng, seyn that his
fadir wolde he shulde have but x. acres of fre londe aftir his decesse be syde
other x. acres of fre londe that he yaf hym in iflaryage. In wittenesse and
recorde heer of we have setto oure scales.

Endorsed: A Testymonyall.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the contents of the preceding letter it is pro-
bable that this document was drawn up in 1465. Blomefield, indeed, states (vol. ii.
p. 221) that Nicholas Pickering was buried in the steeple of Filby church in 1466.
But the date may be an error, for he certainly seems to have been dead in or before
1465.

s and repeated in MS.

I78

EDWARD IV

604

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght wyrshypfull mayster, John Pastony
be thys letter delivery d in haste.

RYGHT wyrshypfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. 1465
Please it you to wyte that the cause that I wrote to AUG. 18
you non er \earlier\ than I dyde after the sessyons
was by cause that Yelverton held sessyons at Dyrham and
Walsyngham the next wyke after the assyses, and to have
knowlech what labour that was made ther, and to have send
yow werd therof. Ther was grete labours made by the bayly
of Coshay and other for to have endytyd your men both at
Dyrham and at Walsyngham, but I purvayd a mene that her
[their] purpose was lettyd at thos ij. tymes.

Hugh a Fen ys in Flegge. Richard Call spake with hym
thys wyke, and he sayd to Richard that he and his wyff wold
be with me here thys wyke toward a place of hys that he hath
purchasyd of Godehreds. Yf he come I shall make hym gode
chyre, for it ys told me of dyvers folks that have spoke with
hym sythen he com in to Norffblk as thay fele by hys sayng
that he awyth you ryght gode wyle.

Item, as for my comyng to you, yf it please you that I
come, y hope I shull purvey so for al thyngs or I com that it
shull be sayff y nogh by the grace of God tyll I com ayen ;
but at the reverens of God, yf ye may purvey a mene that ye
may com horn your sylf ; for that shall be most profortabell
to you, for men cut large thongs here of other mens lether. I
shull wryte to you ayen as hastely as I may. God have you in

1 [From Fenn, iii. 370.] That this letter was written in the year 1465 appears
clearly by the reference to the Assizes held at Walsingham (see No. 599), and the in-
tention which the writer intimates of visiting her husband in London. Moreover, the
first sentence of the letter, and also the postscript, are evidently written in answer to
her husband's complaint in No. 600, that she had not written to him what she had
done at the Assizes.

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Hys kypyng. Wryten in haste at Haylesdon, the Sonday next
AUG. 1 8 after the Assumpsyon of our Lady.

Item, my cosyn Elysabeth Clere ys at Ormesby and your
moder purposyth to be at her place at Caster thys wyke, for
the pestylens ys so fervent in Norwych that thay ther [dare?]
no lenger abyde ther, so God help ; me thynkyth by my moder
that she wold ryght fayn that ye dyde well and that ye myght
spyde ryght well in your mater. And me thynkyth by my
cosyn Clere that she wold fayn have youre gode wyll, and that
she hath sworyn ryght faythfully to me that ther shall no
defaute be founde in her, nor noght hath be yf the trogh
myght be understond, as she hopyth it shull be herafter. She
sayth ther ys no man a lyff that she hath put her truste in so
moch as she hath doon in you. She sayth she wote well such
langage as hath be reportyd to you of her other wyse then she
hath deservyd causyth you to be other wyse to her then ye
shuld be. She had to me thys langage wypyng, and told me
of dyvers other thyngs the whych ye shall have knowlych of
herafter.

As for the hygh shyrf [sheriff] he demenyd hym ryght
well her to me, and he sayd to me, as for replevyns he wold
aske counseyll of lernyd men what he mygt doo therin, and as
largely as he mygt do ther in, or in any other mater touchy ng
you, savyng hymsylf harmlys, he wold doo for you and for
yours that he mygt do.

Item, I have do layd in [caused to be laid in] the presenta-
cyon of Drayton, and have presentyd Sir Thomas Hakon,
parson of Felthorp, the wjiych is hold ryght a gode man and
wel dysposyd, and the Duck of Suffolk hath layd in a nother ;
and ther shall be take an inquisicyon ther uppon, and Mr.
Styven ys your a voked [your advocate] therin. Mr. John
Estgade ys passyd to God on Thursday last passyd, whos
sawle God assoyle ! Wherof in gode feyth I am ryght sory,
for I fynd hym ryght fayth full to you. They deyy ryght
sore in Norwych.

John Rus sayth the profets that hath be take of the maner
of Caister syn Sir John Fastolf deyd hath be take by Sir
Thomas Howys and Jenney. By yours, M. P.

180

EDWARD IV

I mervayll that ye had no tythyngs from me at that J4^5
tyme that your letter was wryten, for I send you a letter AUG- l8
by Chytockys son that ys prenteys in London, and the seyd
letter was of the demenyng at the assyes at Norwych and of
divers other maters. I pray you send me word yf ye have
it. As for the replevyns Richard Calle sayth he hath send you
a awnswere of hem, and also the copys of them.

605
NOTE

In the Introduction in Volume i,, will be found a document entitled ' A
remembrance of the worshipful kin and ancestry of Paston, born in Paston in
Gemyngham Soken.' This paper, which was printed in the preface to vol.
v. of the original edition, p. xliv., appears to have been composed during the
lifetime of John Paston by some one who owed the family no good will, not
unlikely by Sir William Yelverton. The contents agree very well with the
imputation made on John Paston, for which he was imprisoned in 1465, that he
was a bondman to the King. The original of this document I have not met
with.

606

ABSTRACT1
EXAMINATIONS TOUCHING FASTOLF'S WILL

John Paston examined by a commission of Thomas, Archbishop of Canter- AUG.
bury, addressed to John Druell, LL.D., in the cause between Sir William
Yelverton, Knight, and William Worcester, pretensed executors of Sir John
Fastolf, and John Paston, Esq., and Thomas Howys, executors, as is said,
dated 8 July 1465.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum is
a small volume (Addit. MS. 27,450) of 132 pages, with a contemporary parchment
cover, consisting entirely of examinations of witnesses touching Sir John Fastolf 's
Will. It is in two parts, separated by a blank page, the first containing the deposi-
tions of John Paston, taken in 1465, and the second those of the witnesses brought
forward by Yelverton and Worcester, which were taken in 1466. We give here the
substance of Part i. only. An abstract of Part n. will be found under its proper
date.

181

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 !• Whether Sir John Fastolf made his will, dated 14 June 1459, in

AUG. English, and sealed by him with his seal of arms ? Answer. He made a note

of articles in his will, deponent thinks in Latin, probably on that day, but it was

not then sealed, and no executor was named.

2. Whether before the will was fair copied an original note of it was made
on paper, and corrected and interlined by Paston ? And whether that note fair
copied was the true will which was sealed by Fastolf? — There was such a
note, which being made, Paston went to London and waited some time, when
William Worcester informed him it had been fair copied in the beginning of
July. Had seen an old will long before, in which some of the articles were
the same, but Fastolf altered them from time to time in consultations held with
this deponent. Does not know if he did interline, but the note will show,
which was then in the keeping of William Worcester, Fastolf 's clerk ; nor
does he know if the will was drawn up from it, as he was not present at the
engrossing or sealing, but hears there were several things altered.

3. Where the will is, in whose custody, and whether he have power to
execute it ? — The parchment sealed by Fastolf, which Worcester says was his
will, was kept some time after his death at Caister, and afterwards produced in
audience of the Archbishop, and there remains.

28 Aug. Examined in the Fleet. — Said he was a prisoner, wished first to
speak with his counsel, and desired another notary joined with Nicholas Parker,
who was not indifferent.

10, n, 12 Dec. Appeared before the commissary in the treasurer's house
of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Examination continued.

4. Whether the said will was kept in the tower called the treasury of Sir
John Fastolf at Caister till his death, and whether Paston and Howys after-
wards entered and took it, and what was then done with it ? Whether, since
Fastolf's death it was exemplified in Latin, and sealed with Fastolf's seal, and
by whom ? And whether the Latin contained more or less than the English ?
Who exhibited the English will in audience of Canterbury ? Was it the true
will, or was it written and sealed after Fastolf's death ? — Soon after Fastolf's
death the said parchment was exhibited to Paston by Howes and Worcester.
It afterwards remained in the keeping of Howes and Paston, and has since been
exhibited in the audience of Canterbury. It was not translated into Latin after
Fastolf's death, nor sealed, to Paston's knowledge. Does not know any will,
Latin or English, to have been sealed after Fastolf's death.

5. Whether Paston exhibited any English will sealed in the audience of
Canterbury ? — The note made in June contained an article relative to FastolPs
college, and lands in Norfolk and Suffolk granted conditionally on their being
refused by Paston. When Paston went to London, and after a time Worcester
came to him, Worcester told him this note was put in parchment and sealed,
with the other articles, by advice of Master John Brakley, about the beginning
of July. William Bukman, now Abbot of Wymondham, then Prior of
Yarmouth, was present when it was sealed, and named as a witness. He and
Thomas Ingham reported that Fastolf told them at the time it was his will that
Paston should have those things he had granted at the time of the seisin of the
said feoffment delivered, whatever was written in the parchment. The said

182

EDWARD IV

parchment (English) remains in the court. As to the Latin, Fastolf made on 1465
paper a schedule of executors for the Latin parchment, and told Paston and Aua.
Howys that he did not mean all the executors to have administration of his
goods. He also told Paston, Bracley, and Clement Felmyngham, after Paston
returned from London, that he was informed the Latin will gave equal powers
to all the executors, which he never intended. Fastolf made his last will in
November, not altogether the same.

6. Who kept Fastolf's seal ot arms and signet after his death, how long
did it remain whole, and how many writings did Paston seal with them ? — At
Fastolf's death his seal was in a purse sealed with his signet, and placed in a
chest. The signet was on his finger at death, but was afterwards placed in the
chest in presence of deponent and Thomas Howys, Master John Bracley,
Master Clement Felmyngham, and three servants of Fastolf's chamber, and
sealed with the seals of deponent, Howys, and others. The chest remained in
Fastolf's chamber, sometimes in custody of his servants, and sometimes in that
of Howys. Afterwards the seals were placed in a white box sealed in the
presence of divers men in the hall of the manor, which box was delivered along
with certain rings to John Stokys, who opened the box, and after inspecting the
seals and rings, sealed it up again and delivered it to Roger Malmesbury, in
whose custody they now remain. This deponent sealed nothing with them.

7. Whether, after Fastolf's death, Paston or any other wrote on a schedule
of paper a certain grant or bargain, viz., that Paston should have Fastolf's
lands and tenements in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, for 4000 marks, and
that Paston and Howys should have sole administration of his goods so long as
Paston was alive ; and whether after Fastolf's death it was so recently written
that Paston, to dry the writing, scattered ashes over it ? And if he say it was
written during Fastolf's life, by whom was it written ? By himself, or John
Russe, or Friar Brakley, or whom? And how long before Fastolf's death,
and in whose presence ? And whether that sum was specified in the schedule
or a blank left for it ? And whether the contents of this schedule were
extracted and put in a new one ? and by whom was that written ? Whether
by J. Russe ? And what time elapsed between the two writings ? And
whether the second schedule contained more than the first, and what the
additional matter was, and by whom added ? And whether this asserted will
of Fastolf, made, as Paston pretends, on Saturday, 3 Nov. 1459, was extracted
or imagined from the contents of the said bills, or either of them ? And what
was the matter in the said will added to the matters in the schedules ? And
how long it was before the said pretended will could be formed to the satisfaction
of John Paston ?

For two years before his death Fastolf had granted that Paston should have
the above lands after his death, without any condition, but for the purpose that
he should found a college at Caister of seven monks or priests, and pay 5000
marks to be distributed for the soul of Sir John Fastolf; and about that time
he enfeoffed Paston and others in the said lands, declaring that that enfeoffment
was to the use of the said Sir John for life, and afterwards of Paston After
this, viz., in the said month of June, Fastolf made the said articles m certain
paper notes in Latin and English. Master John Brakley kept copies, which

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 he showed to Paston after his return to London. After that, viz., in September
AUG. aQd October, Fastolf several times requested Paston to engross the agreements
made between them about the college, saying he would remit to him 1000
marks of the said 5000 marks. And in October and November he recited in
certain writings that in order that he might not be disquieted with worldly
affairs he had bargained with this deponent that he should have the control of
all his lands from which any profit might be derived in England, and of the
households and foreign expenses belonging to him, so that he should put aside
as much of his dues as he could spare for the college ; and that he should have
all his lands in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, for 4000 marks, which he was
to pay on certain stated days to Fastolf's executors for the benefit of his soul.
Two paper writings were made of the premises, one by the hand of Paston and
the other by Mr. John Brakley, which are severally remaining with them.
This agreement Brakley, by Fastolf's order, got written out in parchment
indented, and read to Fastolf, who sealed it in his presence as Brakley reported
to Paston. Afterwards, another of the said writings was read to Fastolf in the
presence of Paston, Brakley, Mr. Clement Felmyngham, and others, several
times in October and November. Comments were made on the reading of
it by Fastolf on one occasion, when he said a certain clause was not consistent
with his intention, which was that Paston and Howys should be sole adminis-
trators of his goods, and that as to his lands in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich,
and the college to be founded, he would dispose of them according to his
agreement with Paston, — the master to have a stipend of^io, and each of the
fellows of 10 marks, and that seven poor men should be found with 405. a year
each, as stated in the will. Fastolf desired his will dated in June to be
corrected in these particulars, and written anew by Walter Shipdam, for whom
he frequently sent on this business. Meanwhile Brakley and Paston wrote
another paper in English as a memorial of Fastolf's intention, of which
deponent delivered a copy under his own hand in Court. The last two lines
this deponent wrote and dried with ashes in presence of Thomas Howys. The
will of 1 4 June and that exhibited by Paston and Howys differ little or nothing
in effect, except in these articles touching the college, and the sole administration
given to Paston and Howys.

As to new writings after Fastolf's death. Brakley translated those words
about the sole administration from English into Latin, partly before his death
and partly after. After Fastolf's death Paston, Howys, and Brakley caused
the said Walter Shipdam to put into form (fecerunt dictum W. S. formare) the
last will and testament of the said Fastolf, both of the said college and of the
said single administration (de dicta singular! administratione) , and of other things
in the will of June not contrary to his last will and declaration, of which several
writings were drawn by Shipdam, first in paper and afterwards in parchment.
As to the writing of the agreements, Brakley kept it during Fastolf's whole
life, and a year after, and a copy remained with this deponent after Fastolf's
death ; at which time deponent and Howys were sitting in the hall of the
manor of Caister at supper when William Worcester came into the hall, and
Paston and Howys, rising from supper, had a talk with Clement Felmyngham,
John Brakley, and William Worcester, immediately after Fastolf's death. At

184

EDWARD IV

that time, by the advice of Brakley, a copy of the agreement was delivered to 1465
William Worcester, at his request, folded up and sealed that night by Brakley, AUG.
Clement Felmyngham, and Howys. It remained in Worcester's keeping till
he rode to London, and then he left it with the said Master John Brakley,
Clement Felmyngham, and Thomas Howys. Its tenor was transcribed on
parchment by Shipdam shortly afterwards.

607

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO
MARGARET PASTON1

To my mastrasy Margaret Paston, be this
delivery d in hast, at London.

ATYR all humbyll and most dwe recomendacion, as SEPT. 14
lowly as I can, I beseche yow of your blyssyng.
Plesyt yow to wet that I have sent to my fadyr
to have an answer of syche maters as I have sent to hym for
in hast, of whyche matyrs the grettest of substans is for the
maner of Cotton, besechyng yow to remembyr hym of the
same mater, that I may have an answer in the most hasty
wyse.

Also I pray yow that myn Ante Poonyngys2 may be
desyiryd to send me an answer of syche materys as sche
wotyth of, by hym that schall brynge me an answer of the
mater of Cotton.

Also, modyr, I beseche yow that ther may be purveyd
some meane that I myth have sent me home by the same
mesenger ij. peyir hose, j. peyir blak and an othyr payir roset,
whyche be redy made for me at the hosers with the crokyd
bak, next to the Blak Freyrs Gate, within Ludgate ; John
Pampyng knowyth hym well jnow I suppose. And [if] the
blak hose be payid for he wyll send me the roset un payd

1 [From Fenn, iv. 224.] It appears by Letter 610 following that Margaret
Paston was in London in September 1465. This letter must therefore have been
written in that year.

8 Elizabeth Paston, now widow of Robert Poynings ; afterwards married to Sir
George Brown of Betchworth Castle, Surrey.

185

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 for. I beseche yow that this ger be not forget, for I have
SEPT. 1 4 not an hole hose for to doon ; I trowe they schall cost both
payr viijj.

My brodyr * and my sustyr Anne,2 and all the garyson of
Heylysdon fare well, blyssyd be God, and recomand hem to
yow everychon.

I pray yow voysyt the Rood of Northedor3 and Seynt
Savyour, at Barmonsey,4 amonge whyll ye abyd in London,
and lat my sustyr Margery 5 goo with yow to pray to them
that sche may have a good hosbond or sche com horn ayen ;
and now I pray yow send us some tydyngys as ye wer wonte
to comand me ; and the Holy Trinyte have yow in kepyng,
and my fayir mastras of the Fleet. Wretyn at Norwyche on
Holy Rood Daye.

Your sone and lowly servaunt,

J. PASTON THE YOUNGEST.

608

ANONYMOUS TO MARGARET PASTON6
70 my mestresse, Margaret Paston^ by thys letter delivered.

SEPT. (.) • YLEASE your good mastreschep to have knowlage that

as thys day was Master Stevyn of Norwich at Caster,

and ther he told me he was yesterday at Hoxhon with

the Byschop of Norwych ; and ther he scythe that ther is gret

labor mad be Master Phylyp 7 and be the baly of Cossey ; in

1 Sir John Paston. — F.

2 Anne Paston, afterwards the wife of William Yelverton. — F.

3 The Cross at the north door of St. Paul's.

4 The Abbey of Saint Saviour at Bermondsey, in Surrey, was founded in 1081,
i fth William the Conqueror, by Alwin Child of London $ it was surrendered in
1539, 31 Hen. viii., when it was pulled down, and a Fair House built on the site by
Sir Thomas Pope, Knight. — F.

6 Margery Paston ; she afterwards married Richard Calle. — F.

8 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was probably written about or before
the beginning of September 1465, as the proceedings of Salet and Ipyswell on the
commission of inquiry here referred to are alluded to in a letter of Margaret Paston
to her husband on the zyth of that month.

7 Doubtless Philip Lipgate.

186

EDWARD IV

so moche ther is mad a comission on to Master John Salet and 1465
Master Robert Ipyswell for an inquerry that the parson l that SEPT- (?)
my master 2 mad last at Drayton ys deed, as they sey, and in
so moche they purpose to put in the parson of Felthorp, as he
hard sey, for the Duk of Suffolk. And thes he thynkyth it
were a gret urt to my master tytyll. And also another inquerry
howe \_who] ys patorne of the seyd chyrche ; and thys is leke
to come in revelicion but yf \unless\ ther be gret labore mad to
morowe be tymys and that ye have a man at Hoxhon in all
hast for a newe comicion ; and in that commysion Master
Stevyn wold that ye shuld have Master Jon Salet, Master
Symond Thornaham, Master Nicholl Stanton. And that it
be mad be the avice of Master Jon Bulman ; for he told
Master Stevyn he wold do for you that he may, in so moche
Master Stevyn hathe promyssyd hym a nobyll ; and so the
seyd Master Stevyn wold ye shuld send hym a letter and late
hym have knolage that Master Stevyn shall reward hym that
he shall hold hym pleasyd.

Item, a told me that a sent a letter to Sir William Maryys
of all this mater yesterday, weder ye have er not he can not
sey, but in noo wyse that ye dyskure not Master Stevyn, for
he wold not for an C/r. that it ware knowe that ye knewe ther
of by hym, for he scythe gold gothe gret plenty at Hoxhon
on ther part. And yf it be labord be tymys it may be
remevyd to Caunterbury. Also yet it is good to send to
Norwich to the seyd Sir William for the letter ar the massanger
goth, &c.

1 This must be John Flowerdew, presented by John Paston and Thomas Howes
in 1461.

2 John Paston.

187

609

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON *

To my Cosyn Margret Paston.

1465 "T^ If YN owne dere sovereyn lady, I recomaund me to yow,
SEPT. [21] ^^y| and thank yow of the gret chere that ye mad me
here to my gret cost and charge and labour. No
more at thys tyme, but that I pray yow ye woll send me hedir
ij. clue of worsted2 for dobletts, to happe me thys cold wynter ;
and that ye inquere where William Paston bought his tepet of
fyne worsted, whech is almost like silk, and if that be mech
fyner thanne that he shuld bye me after vij. or viij.% thanne
by me a quarter and the nayle therof for colers, thow it be
derer thanne the tother, for I wold make my doblet all
worsted for worship of Norffblk, rather thanne like Gonnores
doblet.

Item, as for the mater of the ix.xx7/. askyd by my Lady of
Bedford 3 for the maner of Westthirrok, where as Sir Thomas
Howes saith that he hath no wrytyng therof, but that Sir John
Fastolf purchased the seid maner, and payd serteyn money in
ernest, and aftirward graunted his bargeyn to the Due of

1 [From Fenn, iv. 90.] From the mention of ' this cold winter ' at the beginning
of this letter we might naturally suppose that the feast ' of Sent Mathe,' on or about
which it was written, was that of St. Matthias, which occurs on the 24th of February.
But we believe the day of St. Matthew to have been intended, so that the expression
must have had reference to some unusually cold weather in September. It is clear
from the contents of the letter that Margaret Paston had recently been with her
husband in London, and had just left him in company with Richard Calle on her
return towards Norfolk. Letters for her and Richard Calle had arrived from her two
sons since they departed. Now the only time, so far as I can find, that Margaret
Paston ever visited her husband in London — at all events when her sons were grown
up — was in September 1465 ; and on that occasion Calle was with her, and every-
thing else agrees. Indeed, no one can doubt that the latter portion of the letter
immediately following was written in answer to this letter.

2 Worsted is a small market-town in the most east part of the county of
Norfolk, formerly famous for the manufacture of those stuffs which still bear its
name, and of which, for the worship of Norfolk, J. Paston desired his doublet to
be made. — F.

3 Jaquetta, daughter of Peter of Luxembourg, Earl of Saint Pol, was the second
wife of John, Duke of Bedford, the Regent of France during Henry vi/s minority.
She was married to him in 1433, and after his decease, in 1435, she became the wife
of Sir Richard Wydvile, and died in 1472.

its

EDWARD IV

Bedford, and so the money that he toke was for the mony 1465
that he had payd. Peraventure Sir Thomas hath writyng SEPT. [21]
therof, and knowyth it not ; for if ther be any such mony
payd upon any bargeyn he shall fynd it in Kyrtlyngs bocks
that was Sir John Fastolfs reseyver, and it was abought such
tyme as the Due of Bedford was last in Inglond, whech, as it
is told me, was the viij. yere of Kyng Herry the fift, or the
viij. yere of Kyng Herry the sext, and the somme that he
payd for the seid bargeyn was CCC. marks. Also he shall
fynd, the xxij. yere of Kyng Herry or ther abought, in the
acompts of on of Fastolfs Reseyvors at London, that ther was
take of Sir Thomas Tyrell, and of the Duchesse of Excestre,1
that was wif to Sir Lowes John, fermours of the seid maner,
serteyn mony for repayment of part of the seid CCC. marks.
Also he shall fynd in yeres after that, or in that yere, or ther
aboutes, that Sir John Fastolf reseyved mony of my Lord
Revers 2 that now is, by the name of Richard Wydevile, for
his owne dette dew to Sir John Fastolf; wherfore, if Sir
Thomas be trewe to his master, lete hym do his devoir to
make that Worseter, whech is uphold be hym with the deds
goods, to be trewe to his master, or ellis it is tyme for Sir
Thomas to forsake hym, and helpe to punyssh hym, or men
mast sey that Sir Thomas is not trewe ; and more over lete

1 Anne, eldest daughter of John Montacute, third Earl of Salisbury, married,
ist, Sir Richard Hankford, Knight; 2ndly, Sir Lewis John, Knight (whose will
was proved in 1442); and 3rdly, John Holland, who was created Duke of Exeter
6th January 1443, and died in 1446. Fenn erroneously supposed the lady to have
been the widow of Thomas Beaufort, a previous Duke of Exeter, who died in 1426.
This Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, married Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas
Nevill, but his wife did not survive him, as Fenn supposed, for at his death he was
found to have been tenant of her lands for life by the law of England. Fenn's note
on this passage is, however, so interesting that we must quote a part of it. Beaufort,
Duke of Exeter, was buried in the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds. ' On digging,' he
says, ' amongst the ruins of this Abbey, the body of the Duke was found, on the
2Oth of February 1772, wrapt in lead, and entire. The face, hair, and every part were
perfect, and the flesh solid, but being exposed to the air, the body soon became

offensive I procured some of the hair, which was of a fine brown colour, and

very flexible.'

2 Sir Richard Wydvile, in 1448, was created Baron Rivers of Grafton, in North-
amptonshire, and elected a Knight of the Garter. His daughter Elizabeth after-
wards became the Queen of Edward iv., who then advanced her father to the dignity
of Earl Rivers. He was seized by the Lancaster mutineers, and beheaded at Banbury
in 1469. — F.

189

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Sir Thomas examine what he can fynd in this mater that I
SEPT. [21] Sent hym werd of, whech mater he shall fynd in the seid
Reseyvours bocks, if he list to seke it.

Item, on the day after your departyng, I reseyved letters
by Will. Ros from your sones to me, and to yow, and to
Ric. Calle, &c.

Item, I shall telle you a tale,

Pampyng and I have picked your male l

And taken out pesis2 v.,

For upon trust of Calles promise, we may soon onthry ve ;

And, if Calle bryng us hedir xx//.,

Ye shall have your peses ayen, good and round ;

Or ellis, if he woll not pay yow the valew of the peses,
there

To the post do nayle his ere ;

Or ellis do hym some other wrongs,

For I will no nore in his defaut borough ;

And but if the reseyvyng of my livelod be better plyed

He shall Grists ours and mine clene tryed ; 3

And loke ye be mery and take no thought,

For thys ryme is cunnyngly wrought.

My Lord Persy 4 and all this house

Recomaund them to yow, dogge, catte, and mowse,

And wysshe ye had be here stille,

For the sey ye are a good gille.5

No more to you at this tyme,

But God hym save that mad this ryme.

Wret the ' of Sent Mathe,6

Be yowr trew and trustie husband, J. P.

1 Male, or Mail, is a trunk or portmanteau. It is to be observed that in the
original letter the verses do not finish the line but are written as prose. — F.

2 Pieces of money.

3 I do not understand this line. — F. Surely 'ours' must be a misreading of
' curs ' (curse) ?

4 Henry, Lord Percy, son and heir of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, who
was killed at the Battle of Towton in 1461, by Eleanor, granddaughter and heir of
Robert, Lord Poynings.

His father having been attainted, he continued to be called Lord Percy ; but he
was afterwards fully restored both in blood and title.
6 An agreeable companion. — F.
6 St. Matthew's Day is the zist September.

190

EDWARD IV
610

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1

RYGHT wourchipful husbonde, I recomaunde me to 1465
yow, dyssyryng hertely to here of yowr welfare, SEPT< 27
thankyng yow of yowr grett chere that ye made
me, and of the coste that ye dede on me. Ye dede more
cost thanne my wylle was that ye choulde do, but that it
plesyd yow to do so, God gyf me grase to do that may
plese yow. Plesyt yow to wet that on Fryday after myn
departyng frome yow I was at Sudbury and spake with the
schreve, and Ric. Calle toke hym the ij. writts, and he brake vie.
them, and Ric. hathe the copes of them ; and he seyde he Norfolk
wolde send the writts to hys undre-schryf and a leter ther- pro
wyth, chargyng hym that he schowlde do ther ine as largely
as he owt to do. And I and Ric. informyd hym of the Answer of
demenyng of hys undrchryf, how parciall he hade be with ^d^of'the
the other partye, bothe in that mater, and also for the replevyn.
accionnys beyng in the scher ; and he was nothyng wel plesyd
of the demenyng of hys undreschef, and he hat wretyn to
hym that he choulde be indeferent for bothe partyes acordyng
to the lawe, bothe for that materys and for alle other. What
the undreschryf wylle do therin I wot ner, for he is not yet
spokyn with.

Item, as for Cotton, I entryd in to the plase as on Sunday
last was, and ther I abode tyll un Wednysday last pasyd. I Margareta
have left ther John Paston the yonger, Wykes, and other xij. ^^it
men for to receive the profyttes of the maner ; and ayenst the manerium
day of kepyng of the corte, I hope ther shall be more to "
streynkyth them, yf it nede. John Paston hath be with my
lorde of Norfolk seyth [since"] we entryd, and dyssyryd hisante

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is apostyled in the handwriting of John Michaelis-
Paston, and numbered ' IIII.' at the head, showing that it is of the same sequence as
the next, which is numbered ' V.' and dated on the very same day. In fact, the latter
is clearly nothing but a postscript to this, and bears the address upon the back, which
this does not.

191

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 good lorchyp to streynth hym with hys howsolde men and
SEPT. 27 other yf nede be ; and he hath promysyd he would do so.
vowof And I sent Ric. Calle on Tusday to Knevett, dysyryng hym

your de- that he woulde sende to hys baley and tenaunts at Mendlesham,

menyng at fa^ ^j^ cnould.e be redy to come to John Paston whan he sent

Rem b' ^or them ; and he sent a man of his forthwith, chargyng them

Nakton. in aney wyse that they choulde do so. And he sent me wourde

be Ric. and hys sonne also, yf wee were not stronge inough,

that owther he or hys sonne, ror bothe yf nede were, would

come with suche feleschipp as they coude gett abowt them, and

that thei woulde do as feythfully as they kowde for yow, bothe

in that mater and in alle other.

Item, on Saterday last was, Jenney ded warne a corte at
Calcotte to be holde ther in hys name as on Tusday last was,
and Debenham de[d] charge another court ther the Sunday
next after to be holde ther the same Tusday in hys name.
And Daubeney had knowleche ther of, and he dede send on
Sunday at nyght to yowr elder sonne, for to have some men
fro thens ; and so he sent Wykes and Bernay to hym on
Mokenge Monday in the mornyng. And assone as thei were come to
of Jenney Castre thei sent for men ther in the contre, and so they gett
Debenham them in to a iij.**- men ; and Daubeney and Wekes and Bernay
at Calcotes rod to Calcott the same Munday at nyght with ther felechyp,
Tuisday and tner kept them prevye in the pl[a]se, so that non of alle
next bifore the tenaunts kneue them ther, saf Rysyngs wyff and her how-
^!? , .. solde, tylle the Theusday at x. of the cloke. And than Sir
Now our Thomas Brews, Debunham the fadre,1 and the knyt hys sonne,2
cost is Jenney, Mykelfylde younger, Jermyn, and younge Jernyngham,
doon, con- and the Baley of Motforde, with other to the noumbre of a
your ii)-"" persones, coum fro the session nys at Becklys, the whech
trends be thei hade keppt ther on the day byfor, coume to Seynt Olevys,
ancfyour and ^er thei teryed and dynyd. And whan thei had dynyd,
enemyes Sir Gylberde Debenham came to Calcott with xx. hors for to
discor- wett what felechipp ther was in the plase. And than Wekes
gadirup aspyed them commyng ; and he and Bernay and ij. with them
the profits rocje owt to a' spoke with them. And whan Sir Gilberd aspyd
goodly them comyng, he and his felechipp flede and rode ayen to Seynt

1 Gilbert Debenham, senior, Esq. 2 Sir Gilbert Debenham.

192

EDWARD IV

Olovys. And than they sent young Jernyngham and the 1465
Baley of Mottforde to yowr men lettyng hem wete that the SEPT- 27
Justice of the Pese wer coum doune with Debunham and J^J'j^
Jenney, to se that the pese choulde be kepte, and that thei see
choulde cntre and kepe the courte in pesible wyse. And yowr ^COI"Pt

, . . ,r * * for this

men answeryd and seyd that they knewe no man was pos-trobiil
sessyd ther in, ner hade no ryght therm but ye, and so in your tYme-
name, and in your ryght they seyd they woulde kepyt. And
so they yede ayen with thys answer, and wer put fromme ther
purp[o]se that day. And all the tenaunts bestes wer put fro
Calcalcott1 fee, and challe be tylle other remedy maye be
hadde. Yowr men woulde not kepe ther a cort that daye by
cause it was warnyd by the tother parte, but we wyl do warne
a corte and kepyt, I hope in hast. Ye wyll laugh for to here
alle the processe of the demenyng ther, wheche wer to longe
to writt at thys tyme. Bernay challe telle yow whane he Veneat(/iV)
come ; but he challe not come to yow tylle after Seynt Barney-
Feythesmesse,2 that he maye bryng yow answeres of other cessionei
materys. It is tolde me the sessionys choulle be her at Norwici
Norwiche on Tusday next comyng, and in Suffolk the Ses- 5£jj££wici
sionys challe be the same Tusday owther at Dounwyche or at proximo
Ypswyche. I suppose ther challe be labowr ayenst soume of ?ost

r 11 i i in 11 c testum

our folks ther, but we cnolle assay to lete ther pourpose yf we Michelis.
maye. It is tolde me yf ther hade no folks a' be left here in Depruden-
thys plase whyll I have be owt, they choulde a' be neue masters <j'.a cu.sto"
her by thys tyme ; therfor it is not good to leve it alone Heyles-
yett. don.

Item, Arblaster hathe sent a letter to myn Lorde of Oxene- ^JJitis"
fords tenaunts that be nerrest abowt Cotton to help John Paston Oxoniz
yf they be sent to, &c. Pro

custoclis.

Item, I was thys daye with myn Lorde of Norwyche at Cotton.
Thorppe, and informyd hym of the demenyng of the mater for Episcopus
Dray ton chyrche, and of alle the demenyng and parcialte of Norwici
Master John Solatt and Ypswell ; and also I informyd what ecclesia de
disposission that they were of that were upon the quest. Drayton.
And in good feyth me thynkyth by hym that he is ryght ille Lete yowr
plesyd that the mater was so gydyt. He seyde to me ryght

1 So in MS. a 6th October.

VOL. IV. N I9J

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 pleynly that the Jugis dede not therin as thei owght to do, and
SEPT. 27 he seyd thowe I hadde hade noo councell, the he howght of
buMhei"1' ryght to nave assyngyd me councell suche as I hadde dyssyrid ;
may sey but he seyde he wyst well he dede in that mater as he have do
knowenot m ot^er materys byfor. Me thynkyth by suche thynges I
myn harde ther that the seyd Master John ner the tother is not
evidens grettly in conseyt at thys tyme ; and so tolde me Aschefylde

nortitell, i J ,, T/T, JL u^. u i

ner have m councell. What the cause was he mygnt have no leyser to
no mor to telle me. I mevyd my lorde in the mater acordyng to the
witynff? mtent °f yowr wrytyng yf aney axcion wer take ; and he seyd
that I sent feythefully yf it myght prevayle yow, he woulde with ryght
yuw good wylle that it choulde be doo ; and ellys he woulde not in
to avyse noo wyse that it choulde be doo. And he dyssyryde me to
hough I sende to hym suche as be of yowr councell lernyd, that they
myght comune with hym therin, for he seyd he woulde not ye
accion, choulde take non axcion therin withowt it myght provayle.
in that** ^e was we^ Payed that I tolde hym that ye woulde not do
accion I therin withowt hys knowleche and assent ; and he seyd he
woulde do therin as he woulde do yf the mater wer hys owne.
Be avyse of yowr councell, I purpose to sende Loumnowr and
of Norwich Playter to commone with hym therin. He seyd he woulde
thxschirch feyne tnat ye wer owt of treble ; and he seyd, yf he myght doo
of Thorp, owght to helppe yow forwarde in aney of yowr materys, he
swore by heys feythe he wode do hys parte feythfully therin.
Episcopus He purp[o]syd to be at London thys terme, and thanne he
apud seyd he woulde speke with yow of maney thyngs ; he wycheyd
on< herteley that he myght have spoke with yow on owr. He
Comwayle mevyd to me of a mater of a jentyllman of Cornale. He seyd
he woulde speke with yow therof her after ; yf it myght be
browt to, it myght do meche good in maney thyngis. I harde
yow onys speke of the same ; ye tolde me ye hade be mevyd
to therof by other.

Item, I received at letter frome yow yesterday, wherof I
thanke yow hertely, and I praye yow that I maye be as ye
writt. And as for suche materys as Sir Thomas Howys
choulde be spoke to for l I sent Ric. Calle this day to speke
with hym, but he myght not speke with hym ; but as hastely

1 See No. 609.
194

EDWARD IV

as I may I challe do myn parte to spede the erands and other. 1465

It is tolde me that Sir Thomas wyll ressyng Mautby chyrche, SEPT. 27

and yf it plesyd yow to geve it to on Sir Thomas Lyndis, I Mautby *

truste verely that ye choulde leke hym ryght well, for he is rit

a prystly man and vertusly dysposyd. I have knowe hym this

xx. yer and mor ; he was brother to the goode parsone of

Seynt Michellys that ye lovyd ryght well ; and yf he myght

havyt he woulde kepe an howsolde therupon and bylde (?) well

the plase (?) ; and therof have it grete nede, for it is now rit

evyll reparyd, and I wott well he woll be rulyd and gydyt as

ye wyll have hym. I praye yow, yf it plese yow that he have

it, that it lekyth yow to sende me an answer by the berrer Wurstcd.

herof.

Item, 1 have do spoke for yowr worstede l but ye may not
have it tylle Halowmesse ; and thane I am promysyd ye challe
have as fyne as maye be made. Ric. Calle challe bryng it up
with hym.

Wretyn the Fry day next before Michelmas day.

611

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON2

To my ryght worschipfull husband, John Paston, in haste.

ITEM, it was tolde me thys day that Master John Salatt To get a
hathe made a serge in the regestre this monethe aftre the ^yW
11 r i -that he

wylles and testements or suche as nought the maners of hath

Heylesdon and Drayton this c. yere, and be that hathe they • • h?d ;
founde suche evidence as schal be gret strenghthyng to the "tandyng
Duks tittle, as it is seide. I undrestonde verely that Mastre [I] wote
John Salet is all on that partye, and no thyng with you. have found

non such

1 See No. 609, p. 188, Note 2. evidens as

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is apostyled in the handwriting of John ,.e wene.
Paston, and numbered ' V ' at the head. As it refers to Paston's dispute with the

Duke of Suffolk about the manors of Hellesden and Drayton, it must belong to the
year 1465. The reader will also perceive that it contains an allusion to John Paston 's
imprisonment in the Fleet, and to my Lord Percy, who is mentioned in Letter 609,
and who must have been a fellow-prisoner of Paston's.

195

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Item, as for the bill that ye sent to Sir Thomas Howys

SEPT. 27 touchyng on Edmond Carvyll and on Fraunces, I wote ner
whether he had hem or nought, for he is not spoken with yett
in the maters. As wee spede owr materys, we chall sende yow
answers of them as hastely as we maye. At the reverense or
God, spede ye yowr materys that ye maye come owte of that
loggyng that ye ar in as hastely as ye maye, for I have non
fansey with some of the felechipp. I tolde yow, as me thowth,
I praye yow be ware, &c.

I praye yow yf it plese yow that I may be recommaundyd
to my Lorde Percy, and to myn mastres, and to my Lorde
Abott. And I pray God bryng yow and them owt of troble,
and send yow good spede in alle yowr materys. Wretyn in
hast, the Fryday next afor Michellmes.

Be yowr, M. P.

Yf it plese yow to send aney thyng by the berer herof, he
is trusty inough.

6l2

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

his ryght worschypful [fa\dre John Paston, beyng
\in t\he Flete at London^ be thys delyvered.

RYGHT Worschypful Syr, in the most lowly wyse I
recomand me to you. Pleasyth it you to wet that I
sente you a letter but late agoo, in whych letter I lete
you have understondyng that if it pleasyd yow to grante and
assente therto, Syr Thomas Howes wolde resyngne the bene-
fyse of Mawteby to a ful prestly man of Norwych callyd Sir
Thomas Lyndys, whom I suppose ye have knolech of. Never-
thelesse I wote wele he hath not ben grettly aquentyd with
you. But I and he have ben moch aquentyd to geder, and I

1 [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] This letter, as will be seen, was written
in 1465 on the same day as Margaret Paston's two letters, Nos. 610, 611.

196

EDWARD IV

understand and knowe hys vertews levyng and dysposicion 1465
ryght wele ; whyche heraffter, I wote wele, sholde please you SEPT- 27
ryght wele. And that letter whyche I sente you as I under-
stode syns Nycholas Caiman the berer ther of came not owte
of Norwych iiij. or v. dayes after that the bylle was delyveryd
hym ; wherefor I am in dowte whyther it is come to your
handes.

Whych causyth me to wryght to you ageyn in thys wyse,
besechyng yow, if it plese yow that the seyd Sir Thos Lyndys
schal be of your promotynge in the wyse above wretyn that
there it lyke you that I may have answer by the berer herof ;
whych schal tary at London a day or ij., and not passynge
No more to yow at thys tyme, but Alle myghty God have yow
in guydynge. Wretyn at Heylesdon the Fryday next byfore
Seynt Mychell.

By yowr older sone, JOHN PASTON.

613

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

jT0 my ryth rev err end and worchepfull fadret
John Pas ton, be thys delyveryd.

AFTYR all humbyll and most due recomendacion, as OCT. 3
lowly as I can, I beseche yow of your blyssyng.
Plesyt yow to have knowlege that as on Sonday next
be for Myhelmas Day, as my modyr came fro London ward,
sche cam homward by Cotton, and sche sent for me to Heylys-
don to come to hyr thedyr, and so I have ben in the plase
ever sethyn. And as sone as Myhelmas Day was past, I
begane to dystreyne the tenants, and gadryd some syllvyr, as
myche, I trowe, as wyll pay for our costs ; and yet I cepe here
ryth a good felawschep, and mor wer promysyd me, whyche

1 [From Fenn, iv. 80.] The signature of this letter, according to the fac-simile
referred to by Fenn, is that of Sir John Paston, the eldest son of the person addressed.
The date is undoubtedly 14.65, as it will be seen by Letter 610 that Margaret Paston
entered Cotton on Sunday before Michaelmas in that year.

197

THE PASTON LETTERS

i 4.65 that came not to me, wherby I was ner deseyvyd. For when
OCT. 3 Debnam herd sey how that I began to gadyr sylvyr, he reysyd
many men with in j. daye and an halfe, to the nombyr of iija
men, as I was credebly assartaynyed by a yeman of the chambyr
of my Lordys 1 that owythe me good wyll, whech yeman, as
sone as he had sene ther felauschep, rod streyth to my Lord
and informyd hym of it ; and also he informyd my Lord how
that I had gadryd a nothyr gret felashschep, whyche felawschep
he namyd more than we wer by jc- and an halfe and yett more.
And he seyd on to my Lord and my Lady, and to their consell,
that with owt that my Lord took a dyrectyon in the mater,
that ther wer leek to be do gret harme on bothe cure pertyes,
wheche wer a gret dysworchep to my Lord, consederyng how
that he takyth us bothe for hys men, and so we be knowyn
well inow. Upon whyche informacion, and dysworchep to my
Lord, that tweyn of hys men schold debat so ner hym, contrary
to the Kyngs pese, consedryd of my Lord and my Lady and
ther cownsell, my Lord sent for me and Syr Gylberd Debnam
to come to hym to Framlyngham bothe, and as it fortunyd well
my modyr come to me to Cotton not half an owyr be for that
the mesenger came to me fro my Lord, wheche was late upon
Twysday last past at nyth ; and the next day on the mornyng
I rod to my Lord to Framlyngham, and so ded Syr Gylberd
also. And as sone as we wer come, we wer sent for to come
to my Lord, and when we come to my Lord, he desiyryd of us
bothe that we schold neythyrthyr gadyr no felawschep, but
syche men as we had gadryd that we schold send hem home a
yen, and that the coort schold be contenuyd in to the tyme
that my Lord, or suche as he wold asyngne, had spok bothe
with yow and Yelverton and Jenney, and that on indeferent
man chosyn by us bothe schold be assynyd to kepe the plase in
to the tyme that ye and they wer spook with.

And then I answed my Lord, and seyd how that at that
tyme I had my maistyr within the maner of Cotton, whyche
was my modyr, and in to the tyme that I had spook with hyr
I cowd geve none answer; and so my Lord sent Rychord
Fulmerston, berer hereof, to my modyr thys day for an

i The Duke of Norfolk.
198

EDWARD IV

answer, whyche answer he schold bryng to my Lord to 1465
London, for my 'Lord rod to Londons word as yesterday, OCT- 3
and the soner be cause he trustyd to have a good end of
this mater and alle othyr be twyx yow, whyche he takyth
for a gret worchep to hym, and a gret avantage bothe, and
he cowd bryng this mater abowt, for then he wold trust to
have your servyse, alle whyche wer to hym gret tresour and
avantage.

And this was the answer that my modyr and I gave hym,
that at the instans of my Lord and my Ladye we wold do
thus myche as for to put the coort in contenuans, and no
more to receyve of the profyts of the maner than we had,
and had dystresid for tyll in to the tym that sche and I
had werd ayen fro my Lord and yow, if so wer that they
wold neythyr mak entreys nor dystreyn the tenantys, nor
chepe no coort mor then we wold do. And we told Rychord
Fulmerston that thys my modyr and I ded at the instans and
gret request of my Lord, be cause my Lord intendyd pes,
whyche resonably we wold not be ayenst, and yet we seyd we
knew well that we schold have no thank of yow when ye knew
of it, with owt it wer be cause we ded it at my Lordys instans.
But be for thys answer we had receyvyd as myche sylvyr full
ner as Rychord Calle sent us bokys of for to gadyryt bye ;
and as for the possessyon of the plase, we told hym that we
wold kepe it, and Syr Gylberd agreyd, so that Yelverton and
Jeney would do the same ; for it was tyme for hym to sey so,
for my Lord told hym that he wold hym fast by the feet ellys,
to be suyr of hym, that he schold make non insurreccions in
to the tyme that my Lord came ayen fro London.

I wene, and so dothe my modyr bothe, that thys appoynt-
ment was mad in good tyme ; for I was deseyvyd of bettyr
than an C. men and an halfe that I had promyse of to have
come to me when I sent for hem. Thys promes had I befor
that I sent to yow the last lettyr the daye aftyr Seynt My hell.
Jenney herd seye that I cepyd Cotton, and he rod to Nacton,
and ther held a cort and receyvyd the profytys of the maner.

I beseche yow that I may have knowlage in hast fro yow
ye wyll that I be demenyd in thys mater and in al othyr, and

199

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 I schal aplye me to fulfyll your intent in them to my power by
OCT- 3 the grace of God, whom I beseche have yow in guydyng, and
sende yow yowyr herts desyir. Wretyn at Hemnalle Halle,
in Cotton, the Thursday next befor Seynt Feythe.

My modyr recomandyth her to yow, and preyith yow to
hold hyr excusyd that sche wrytyth not to yow at thys tyme,
for sche may have no leyser. The berer her of schall informe
yow whedyr Jeney wyll agre to thys appoyntment or not. I
thynk he dar do non othyr wyse.

Your sone and lowly servaunt,

JOHN PASTON.

614

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON,
THE YOUNGEST *

'To owr trusty and enterly beloved servaunt,
John Paston, Esquyr.

THE DEUKE OF NORFF.

OCT. 12 | "% YGHT welbeloved servaunt, y grete yow hertly welle,

r^ sertefyng that we shulle be at fulle age on Fryday

nexst comyng. Wherfor, wele consayled be the

Lordes of owr Consayle and oder of owr Consayle, that ye,

on of owr servaunts of howsholde, with oder, be with us at

London on Fryday or Saterday nexst comyng at the ffurdest,

too a companye us thann too owr worshyp, for we shull have

thann levery of owr landes and offyces ; and that ye ffayle us

1 [From Fenn, iv. 62.] John Mowbray, third Duke of Norfolk, died on the 6th
November 1461. It appears by the Inquisitions post mortem, i Edward iv., No. 46,
that John, his son and successor in the title, was seventeen years old on St. Luke's
Day (i8th October) in that year. He must therefore have been born on the i8th
October 1444, and would have been of full age on Friday, i8th October 1465. The
John Paston, Esq., to whom this letter was addressed, must have been the youngest of
that name, who, as we have seen already, had been serving in the Duke's household.
His father was at this time a prisoner in the Fleet, so that the letter could not have
been intended for him.
2OO

EDWARD IV

not, as ye woll have owr good Lordeshyp in tyme comyng; 1465
and also that ye doo warne owr ffeede men1 and ser vaunts, OCT. 12
suche as be nye too yow, that they be ther thann in owr
leverey. Y wreton the xij. day of October.

NORFF.

615

THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK'S ATTACK ON
HELLESDON2

THYS be the parcell underwryten of such godys as were OCT. 14
taken and beren away at Haylesdon, of John Pastons,
hys sones and hys servaunts by the Duk of Suffolk
servaunts and tenaunts the xiiij. day of October the v. yere
of Kyng E. the iiijte, the whych day the place of Haylesdon
was broken and pullyd dowyn, &c.

In primis, ther was lost of John Pastons ther at that tyme
in beddyng ij. ffeder bedds with ij. bolsters, iiij. materas, with
iiij. bolsters; a grete seler with the tester, and iij. corteyns of
whyte lynen cloth, and a coverlyte of whyte werstede longyng
therto.

Item, a selere with a testore, and iij. corteyns of blewe
bokeram with a coveryng of blew werstede longyng therto ;
v. pylowys of dowyn, vj. coverlyts of werk of dyvers colors,
vj. payr blankettys, ij. payr shytes of iij. webbys, ij. hedshytes
of ij. webbys, vj. payre shytes of ij. webbys, ij. basons of
pewter, and iij. candelstykks of latyn for the chamber.

^he Botere.

Item, in primis, vj. bord clothys, vj. towellys, xij. nap-
kyns, vj. candelstykks of laton, ij. saltsalers of sylver, ij. salt-
salers of pewter, ij. basons of pewter with ij. ewers, a barell of
vyneger, a barell of vergyous, xij. ale stondys, ij. pantre knyves,
a pyce of sylver, a pype for brede, a ale stole, xij. spones of
sylver, &c.

1 Those who held lands of the Duke as their superior.
1 [From a Bodl. MS.]

201

THE PASTON LETTERS

'The Browhern.

1465 Item, a grete lede to brew v. comb malte with one plaw-

OCT. 14 yng, a mayshsate, ij. kylyng sates, vj. kylers, ij. clensyng sates,

a taptrogh, a temps to dense, with a scyppe to bere malte, a

syff to syft malte, a bultyng pype, ij. knedyng satys, a mold-

yng bord.

The Kychyn.

Item, ij. dosyn pewter vessell, iiij. grete bras pannes, iij.
potts of bras, j. greddyron, ij. broches, j. dressyng knyff, j.
morter of marbell with a pestell, j. litell panne of bras of di.
galon, ij pothoks, ij. rakks of yron, ij. brendeletts, a almary
to kepe in mete, j. axe to clyve wode, ij. saltyng satys to salte
in fflesh.

Gere taken owt of the Chyrch.

Item, in the stepell, ix. sheffe arwys, ix. bawys, ij. hand-
gonnes, iiij. chambers for gonnys, ij. mallys of lede, ij. jakks.

Item, in the church, a purs and iij. gold ryngs, a coler of
sylver of the Kyngs lyvery and a nobyll of viijj. iiij</. the
whych was Wykys.

Item, a syde gowne of blewe of Wyks.

Item, a stokke gonne with iij. chambers.

Gere taken owte of the Chaumber of Ric. Calle.

Item, a syde morrey gowne, a dobelet of blak satyn, a
payre hosyn, a jakks, the polronds of a payr bryganders of
rede sateyn ffugr.

Item, a payr of large tabelles of box, pris vjs. viij</.

Item, a staffe, pris iijj. iiij^.

Item, boke of Frensh, pris iij.f. iiijtf .

Gere taken away of Margeret Pastons.

Item, an unce of gold of Venyse, di. pype of gold damask,
di. unc' of gold of Gene, an unc' of sylk, a li. of threde, a
close glasse of yvery, a grete combe of yvere, a fyne kerchy of
fyne Holond cloth, a quarter of blak velwet.
202

EDWARD IV

Gere of Johanne Gayns.

Item, a ryng of gold with a dyamonics, a typet of sar- 1465
senet, a nobyll of XJ., a nobyll viijj. iiijd. OCT- H

of John Wyks.

Item, a dobelet of blak fusteyn, a hers harnys, vjj. a gray
hers, pris xb., ij. shertys, pris iiijj.

Will. Bedford.
Item, a Normandy byll and a bawe, pris of them both vjj.

John Boteler.

Item, a payr botys, a payr sporys, a shert, a cappe, a hatte,
a dobelet, a payr hosyn, a brydell, ij. crepers, v. ston of wall,
xxx. welfellys, a spere staff.

Shepe.

Item, taken away uppon Draytun grounde at on tyme by
the baylly of Cossey and others, CC. shepe callyd hoggys.

Item, at a nother tyme, uppon the same ground, iiijxx-
hoggys and xl. theyves.

Item, at a nother tyme, at Haylesdon, by the baylly of
Cossey and Bottesford and other, iviijcc' moder shype and
CCCC. lambes.

Memorandum, a gowne of Richard Calle, pris ixj., j. peyr
hosen, iijj., j. swerd, iijj., ij. bonets, ijs ..... j. jakk, XXVJ.T.
viij*/., j. schert, iijj. iiij*/.

Memorandum, the pullyng downe of the place at Hey-
lesden, to the hurts and skathes of --

Item, the pullyng downe of the logge of Heylesden.

Item, the distroyng of the waryne at Heylesdon.

Item, .... the maner and the warreyn.

Item, memorandum, the rydyngs and costs offsuthe.

203

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 Memorandum, the assaw made uppon Marg. Paston, Sir

OCT- H John Paston, at Heylysdon beeffor the place was ....

Memorandum, the imprisonment off Sir John Paston in
the Flet and in the Kyngs Benche.

616

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1

*7 ^^\N Tuesday in the morwyn whas John Botiller, other-
1 wyse callid John Palmer, and Davy Arnald your
^^ cook, and William Malthows of Aylsham, takyn at
Heylesdon be the balyf of Ey callid Bottisforth, and led for
to Cossey, and ther thei kepe hem yet with ought any warant
or autoryte of Justice of Peas. And thei saye thei will carie
hem forth to Ey preson, and as many as thei may gete more
of your men and tenaunts, that thei may know that owe yow
good wyll or hath be to you ward, thei be thret to be slayn or
presoned. The Duke came to Norwich2 on Tuesday at x. of
clok with the nombre of v. hundred men. And he sent after
the Meyr and Alderman with the Sherefs desiryng hem in the
Kyngs name that thei shuld take an enqueraunce of the con-
stablys of every ward with in the cyte what men shuld a go on
your party to have holpyn or socowryd your men at any tyme
of thes gaderyngs, and if any thei cowde fynde, that thei shuld
take and arest hym and correct hym, and also certifie hym
the names on Wyndenesse day [Wednesday] be viij. of clok.
Which the Meyr dede, and wull do anythyng that he may for
hym and his. And her up on the Meyr hath arestid on that
was with me callid Roberd Lovegold, braser, and threte hym
that he shall be hanged be the nek ; wherfor I wuld that ther

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is not addressed, but seems undoubtedly
to have been intended for the writer's husband. The attack upon the lodge at
Hellesden here referred to was in 1465, as appears by the letter immediately following.

2 ' Norwich.' — This word is interlined, the writer having originally written ' this
town,' and afterwards struck out the word ' town.'

204

EDWARD IV

myght come down a writ to remeve hym if ye thynk it be to 1465
do. He was not with me not save that Harleston and other ocr- *7
mad the assaught up on me and Lammesse ; he is right good
and feythfull on to you, and therfore I wuld he had help. I
have non man at this tyme to avayte upon me that dare be
avowyd but Litill John. William Nawton is here with me,
but he dare not ben avowyd, for he is sore thret. It is told
me the old Lady and the Duke is set fervently ageyn us be
the enformacion of Harlesdon, the Bayly of Cossey and
Andrewys and Doget the balys sone, and suych other fals
shrewys the which wuld have thes mater born ought for ther
owyn pleser ; the which causith an x evyll noyse in this contre
and other places. And as for Sir John Hevenyngham, Sir
John Wyndefeld and other wurchepfull men ben mad' but her
doggeboldes ; 2 the whiche I suppose wull turne hem to dis-
wurchep here after. I spake with Sir John Hevenyngham
and enformed hym with the trough of the mater, and of all
owyr demenyng at Drayton, and he seid he wuld that all
thyng wer wele, and that he wuld enforme my lord as I seid
to hym, but Harleston had all the words and the rewle with
the Duke here, and after his avyse and Doctor Aleynes he was
avysed here at this tyme.

The logge and the remenaunte of your place was betyn
down on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Duke rode on
Wednysday to Drayton and so for to Cossey whille the logge
at Heylesdon was in the betyng down. And this nyght at
mydnyght Thomas Sleyforth, Grene Porter, and Joh. Botes-
forth the Baly of Eye, and other, had a cart and fetched
awey fetherbeddes, and all the stuffe that was left at the
parsones, and Thorn Wateres hows to be kept of owrs. I
shall send you billes er after, as ner as I may, what stuffe we
have forborn. I pray you send me word how ye will that I
be demened, wheder ye wull that [I]3 abide at Cayster or

1 an — &, MS.

2 The old word ' dogbolt ' seems to have meant a servile follower, or one bound
to wait the commands of another. Thus in Lilly's Tragicall Comedie of Alexander
and Campaspe, where Manes complains that he serves a master whose house is a tub,
Granichus remarks 'That Diogenes that dog should have Manes that dogbolt it
grieveth nature and spiteth art.' 3 Omitted in MS.

205

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 come to you to London. I have no leyser to write more.
OCT. 17 God have yow in His kepyng. Wretyn at Norwich on Sent
Lukes Evyn. M. P.

617
MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght wyrshypfull hosbond, John Paston,
be thys delyveryd in hast.

°CT. 27 TTJ YGHT wyrshypfull hosbond, I recomand me to you.
r^ Please it you to wyte that I was at Haylesden uppon
•*• Thersday laste passyd, and sey the place ther, and
in gode feyth ther wyll no cryatur thynke how fowle and
orubelly it ys arayed but yf they sey it. Ther comyth moch
pepyll dayly to wonder ther uppon, both of Norwych and of
other placys, and they speke shamfully therof. The Duck
had be beter then a m './/'. that it had never be don ; and ye
have the more gode wyll of the pepyll that it ys so foylle don.
And they made youre tenauntys of Haylesdon and Drayton,
with other, to help to breke down the wallys of the place and
the logge both, — God knowyth full evyll ayenst ther wyllys,
but that they derst no notherwysse don for ferre. I have
spoken with your tenauntys of Haylesdon and Drayton both,
and putte hem in comfort as well as I canne. The Duck ys
men rensackyd the church, and bare a way all the gode that
was lefte ther, both of ours and of the tenaunts, and lefte not
so moch but that they stode uppon the hey awter, and ran-
sackyd the images, and toke a way such as they myght fynd,
and put a way the parson owte of the church till they had
don, and ransackyd every mans hous in the towne v. or vj.
tymys. And the chyff maysters of robbyng was the Baylly of
Ey, the Baylly of Stradbroke, Thomas Slyford, and Porter ;
and Slyford was the chyff robber of the cherch, and he hath

1 [From Fcnn, iv. 226.} The Eve of St. Simon and Jude is the 2yth October.
It fell on Sunday in the year 1465.

2O6

EDWARD IV

most of the robbery next the Baylly of Ey. And as for lede, 1465
bras, pewter, yren, dorys, gatys, and other stuffe of the hous, OCT- 27
men of Coshay and Causton have it, and that thay myght not
cary, thay have hewen it a sonder in the most dysspytuose
wyse. Yf it myghti be, I wold som men of wyrshop myght
be send from the Kyng to see how it ys both ther and at the
logge, or than any snowys l com, that they may make report of
the troth, ellys it shall not mo be seyn so playnly as it may now.

And at the reverens of God, spyde your maters nowe, for
it ys to orybell a cost and trobell that we have now dayly, and
most have tyll it be other wyse ; and your men dar not goo
abowte to geder uppe your lyfflode, and we kype here dayly
more than xxx. persons for savacyon of us and the place, for,
in very trowght, and the place had not be kypyd strong, the
Duck had come hether. Arblaster thynketh verely that Hugh
a Fen may do moch in your maters, and he thynkyth that he
wole do for you faythfully, yf ye wyll, &c.

At the reverens of God, yf any wyrshypfull and profetabile
mene may be take yn your maters, for sake it not in eschuyng
of our trobell and gret costs and charges that we have, and
may growe here after. It ys thoght here that yf my Lord
of NorfFolk wolld take uppon hym for you, and that he may
have a comyssyon for to enquer of such ryotts and robberyes
as hath be don to you and other in thys contray, that then all
the contray wyll a wayte uppon hym, and serve your entent ;
for the pepyll lovyth and dredyth hym more then any other
lord except the Kyng and my Lord of Warwyk, &c.

God have you in Hys kypyng, and send ous gode tydyngs
from you. Wryten in haste, uppon the Sonday Seynt Symon
and Jude ys Evyn.

By yours, M. P.

1 Fenn remarks that if we may judge from the mention of snow in this place, the
winters began earlier in those days than they do now. But perhaps Margaret was
only urging the necessity of timely action, taking into consideration the ordinary
delays of suitors. We have seen, however, from Letter 609 that in the year 1465
there must have been unusually cold weather even in the beginning of September.

2O7

THE PASTON LETTERS

618

MESSAGE TO SIR WILLIAM YELVERTON *
This is the Instruction for the Messenger.

THAT ye grete well Sir William Yelverton, letyng
hym wete in our behalf we be informed that certeyn
persones, in the name of the right worshipfull our
cosyn the Due of Suffolk, have enterid in the manoir of
Drayton that was Fastolffes, and have dreven from the seid
manoir and other xiijc- shep and other bestes pastured upon
the seid manoir. Notwithstandyng, we merveyle gretly that
the seid Sir William, his sones and servauntes, as it is seid,
assiste and comfort the seid persones so entryng and with-
drawyng the seid catell, seying that he is named both feffe and
executour. And all be it so that there is variaunce bithwene
hym and our welbelovid John Paston in our coort, consernyng
as well the seid manoirs as other goodes that were Sir John
Fastolffes, whom God assoyle, yit is may not acorde with
worship and consiens for the seid Sir William to assiste the
distruccion of the seid manoirs and goodes in the meane tyme.
Wherfore we desire hym that he woll do his devoir effect-
ually to help to save the seid manoirs from all such pretense
of titell, and to cause the seid catels to be restored to the
manoirs aforeseid, and not to be withdrawen and distroyed
as they be ; and that he do his feithfull part in this behalf
acordyng to the trust that he was put in, as we may do for
hym in tyme to come.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This appears to be a message from the King
rebuking Judge Yelverton for partizanship in assisting the Duke of Suffolk against
Paston in his entry into the manor of Drayton. The date is therefore 1465. The
MS., however, is only a corrected draft, and it is not certain that such a message was
actually sent.

208

EDWARD IV

619

JOHN WYMONDHAM TO JOHN PASTON1

To my worchipful cosyn, John Paston.

RYGTH worchipful cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And
forasmoch as ther was a child ded at Asteles, and on NOV> I0
other lik to be ded in the same place, what tyme that
I rode oute aboute my litil livelod, my lady and I bothe
thoughte pite on my mastres your wif to se her abide ther,
and desirid here to com to my pore hous on to soch tyme as ye
shuld a be othirwise avised, wyche, if it plese yow, I am right
wel apaied.

Sythen, I undirstande be my lady that ye desire to knowe
whedyr that I shulde abide here stille or nowe [or no}. As to
that, I have non other place that I wold abide at, and my lady
seith how she is avised to ende hir lif here. Also she seith
how ye desire to have a stabil with inne my plas ; and as to
that, afeith, sir, I have none, but that must nedis serve for my
wode. As for a chambre, ye shall have on for your men al
redy, and as touching a stabil, Sir John Sparham and I have
gote yow on ther [where] your hors stode the last tyme ye

1 [From Fenn, iv. 240.] As to the date of this letter, we can only reproduce
what is said of it by Sir John Fenn : ' John Wymondham, Esq., the writer of this
letter, married Margery, the daughter of Sir Robert Clifton, Knight, of Denver, in
Norfolk, and widow of Sir Edward Hastings, of Elsing, Knight. He therefore calls
her " My Lady." He died in 14.75.

' He purchased the manor and estate at Felbrigg, of the trustees of Sir Simon
Felbrigg, where he had resided ; but once in his absence Sir John Felbrigg made a
forcible entry, and dragging out his Lady by the hair of her head, who had locked
herself up in a chamber to keep possession, got into possession, and retained it till
Wymondham obtained the King's order to Thomas Montgomery, Esq., High Sheriff
of the county, to put him again into possession. The dispute was then settled with
Sir John Felbrigg, and upon Wymondham's paying to him 200 marks [£133 : 6 : 8]
he released his claims, &c.

'This letter seems to have been written during the time that he was dispossessed
of Felbrigg, and which must have been either before the year 1461 or 1466, those
being the years in which Sir Thomas Montgomery was Sheriff of Norfolk, and as
J. Paston at this time seems to have been under misfortunes, it was probably near
the latter year. I have therefore ventured, though doubtfully, to date the letter in
1465.'

VOL. IV. O 2O9

THE PASTON LETTERS

were in this town, and an hows to ley inne hey and straw, and
wov. 10 cost yOW not but making of a rak and a mangeour, and more
to your ease there than here ; and yf ye wyl that it be made
redy for yow, send werd be the bringer of this letter. And,
cosyn, as towching to paiment, I can not sey how ye shal be
pleasid with my pore fare, but aftir that ye arn com home, and
arn aqweintid there with, we shal so acorde as shal be plesir to
us bothe, with the grace of God, which have [you] in His
blissid governaunce, and send yow your moderis blissing.
Wreten at Norwich, on Seint Martyn is Even.
Your poer cosyn and ffrend,

J. WYMONDHAM.

And how that ever ye do, hold up your manship.

620

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON *

70 my Rightwurshipfull hosbond, John Paston,
be this delyveryd in hast.

1441- • J IHT worchipfull hosbond, I recomand me to yow,
65 r^ praying yow to wete that I have receyvid the mony
NOT. -*- ^- that Mayster Brakle had of yow, wherof he hath ageyn
v. marc, uppon pledgis of the too basonys that ye had of hym
tyll ye come horn. As for cloth for my gowne, I can non
gete in this town better than that is that I send yow an
exsample of, whiche me thynkith to symple bothe of colour
and of cloth. Wherfor I pray yow that ye woll vouchesauf
to do bey for me iij. yerdis and j. quarter of seche as it
pleasith yow that I shuld have, and what colour that pleaset
yow, for in gode feyth I have do sowte all the draperis schopis
in this town, and her is right febill cheys. Also I pray yow
that ye woll do bey a loff of gode sugour and di. j. Ib. [half
one pound\ of holl synamun, for ther is non gode in this town ;

1 [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 2.] The year in which this letter was written is altogether
uncertain.

2IO

EDWARD IV

and as for mony, ther is non of your tenantis ne fermouris 1441-
bryngith non as yett. As for tydyngis in this countre, Kerry 65
Ingloses men have slayn ij. men of Tonsted on Thursday last NOV-
past, as it is seyd, and all that countre is sore trobelid ther-
with ; and if he had abedyn at home he had be lyke to have
be fechid owte of his owyn hows, for the peple ther abowght
is sor meved with hym. And on Saterday last past he come
ryding thorow this town toward Framyngham ; and if he had
abedyn in this town he shuld have ben arestyd ; for men of
Tonsted and of the countre pusewid after hym in to this town,
and made agrett noyse of hym, and required the mayre and
sheryves that he ne his men shuld not pas the town, but that
they shuld do as it longed to here parte to do, and told hem
the cause why ; and as it is seyd the sergeantis were fals, and
lete hym have knowleche ther of, and he hythid hym hens in
hast, &c. The blyssyd Trynyte have yow in His keping.
Wreten att Norwyche on the Weddenesday next after Seynt
Martyn. — Be yowris, M. P.

621
NOTE

The letter of John Payn to John Paston (No. 126 in vol. ii.), which, on
account of the circumstances to which it refers, we have placed in the year
1450, was written, as appears by the contents, fifteen years later, i.e. in 1465.
We therefore call the reader's attention to it in this place.

622

FUNERAL OF LADY KATHARINE HOWARD l

THIS wrytenge, made at Stokeneylond the vth yer of 1465
Kynge Edward the iiiith and the morowe next affter
Sowlemesse day, wytnesseth that this day and yer a
bove said my lady, dame Kateren Howard, departed to God,

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 38.] 'Soulmas,' or All Souls' Day, is the znd November,
and it appears that Lady Katharine died on the morrow of that day in 1465. As
these expenses run into December, we place them at the end of the year.

211

THE PASTON LETTERS

1465 and my master spent uppon her at this day a bove wreten at
her beryinge, and also at her vijth day, more than xx/z.

Also my master spent uppon her at her
xxxt! day, in almesse and in odre costes, in
primis to V.MI. and ccc. of pore folke every
pece takenge id. Summa xxij/z. vs.

Item, my master gaff to vixx,ix. prestes and
clerkes every pece v]d. Summa iij//. iiijs. vjd.

Item, my master gaff to Ixviii. cheldren in
the quere every pece \\d. Summa xj. iiijd.

Item, my master paid for blakke cloth for
gownes for his men vijxx yerdes prise of every
yerde iiis. \\\\d. Summa xxj/z.

Item, my master bout as myche waxe for
torches and taprys as cost hym . viij. markis. iijj. \]d.

Item, my master paid for xiij. pore mennes
gownes for the clothe and for the makengs . lijj.

Item, my master spent in all maner of spyces
as myche as drew .... liijj. xj*/.

Item, my master spent in wyne at the said
day . . . . . iij. pypes.

Item, my master spent in maltt for brewenge viij. seme.

Item, my master spent in bere at the same
day ...... xxxij. barelles.

Item, my master spent in whete to make
brede and odre bakenge . . . xiij. seme.

Item, my master spent at the said day in
brawne . . . . . ij. gret bores.

Item, in beff . . . . xij. gret oxsen.

Item, in moton . . . . xl. shepe.

Item, in porke . . . .xij. hogges.

Item, in pygges .... Ixx.

Item, in swannes . . . . xij.

Item, in geese .... iiijxx.

Item, in conyis . . . . c. cowple.

Item, in capons .... xxiiij.

Item, in chekens .... vijxx.

Item, in venyson .... xxx. dois.
212

EDWARD IV

Item, in pertryches . . . iiij. doseyn. 1465

Item, in fesauntis .... xiv.

Item, in pekokkes . . . vij.

Item, in mallardes . . iij. doseyn.

Item, in plovers .... iij. doseyn.

Item, in eggis .... viij. C.

Item, in mylke .... xxx. galons.
Item, in hony . . . .iij. galons.

623

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
THE YOUNGER1

To John Paston the younger.

IGRETE you wele, letyng you wete that as for 2 your Before
sustrys3 beyng with my Lady, if your fader wull aggrey 1466
therto I hold me right wele pleasyd ; for I wuld be right
clad that she shuld do her scrvyse be for any other, if she cowde
do that shuld pleas my ladyes good grace. Wherfor I wuld
that ye shuld speke to your fader therof and lete hym wete that
I am pleasid that she shuld be ther if he wuld, for I wuld be
right glad and she myght be preferrid by manage or be servyce,
so that it myght be to her wurchep and profight in dischargyng
of her frendis ; and I pray you do your parte therin for your
owyn wurchep and herys. And assone as ye may with ought
daunger, purvey that I may have ageyn the vj. marks that ye
wote of, for I wuld not that your fader wust it. Item, if ye
pas London, send me ageyn my chene and the litill chene that
I lent you be for, be sum trusty person ; and if ye wull have
my good wille, eschewe such thyngis as I spake to you of last

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 208.] This letter was written at a time when John Paston,
the writer's husband, and one of his sons, was in London, while the other, to whom
this letter is addressed, was going thither. The date must therefore be before May
1 4.66, but what particular year or month it is impossible to say.

2 'affpr,' MS.

3 This may be either Anne or Margery Paston. Who ' my lady ' was does not
appear.

213

THE PASTON LETTERS

Before in owr parisch chirch. I pray God make you as good a man
1466 as ever was any of your kynne, and Goddis blissyng mote ye
have and myn, so that ye do wele, &c. Wretyn the Sonday
next after your departyng.

And I pray you, send me sum tydyngis as sone as ye may
after that ye be comyn to London, how your fader spedyth and
your brother in here materes.

Be your moder.

624

JOHN RADCLIFF OF ATTLEBOROUGH TO
JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght trusty and welbelovyd Frend, John Paston.

RYGTH trusty and welbelovid, I cummaund me un to
zow, lattyng zow wytte that there ys a tenawnt off
Thyrnyng, on [one] Wyllyam Rust, whos dur ys selyd
be a ofrycer off zowrys. Wherffor I pray zow that ze wyll se
that the forsay tenawnt be not hurt ; and yff there be oni thyng
that ys dw for to pay, I wyll se that hyt schall be content. And
therfore I pray zow that hyt may be repytyd un tyll the tyme
that I speke with zow. No more at thys tyme, but the Hole
Trinite hawe zow in kepyng. Wretyn at Attylburgth the xvij.
day off Dyssembyre.

JOHN RADCLYFF DE ATTYLBURGTH.

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 223.] The principal lordship in the manor of Thurning
belonged to the Radcliff, or Ratcliff, family, afterwards Earls of Sussex ; but it seems
there was another lordship which belonged to John de Mauteby in the ninth year of
Edward n. From this very likely Margaret Paston derived some claims, and John
Paston through his wife. See No. 634. The year of this letter, however, cannot be
ascertained.

214

EDWARD IV

625

SIR JOHN FELBRIGGE TO JOHN PASTON1

To my Cosyn Paston, be thys letter delyverd
yn haste.

RYGHT reverent and worshyppeful cosyn, y comawnd i466(?)
me on to you, desyryng to her off your welfare, the JAN. [20]
whyche Almyghty Jesu preserve to Hys plesawns, and
to your own herts desyres. Forthermore and yff yt please
your gentylnesse to be my trusty frend, as my ful truste ys yn
you, as for swyche materys as the brynger off this lettre shall
enforme you, and beth effectualy my frend, and brynge yt
abowte, and by my trowthe y shall geve you an C. marke for
your labowr. For yn trowthe y am aferde that Roberd Rad-
clyff hathe deseyvyd me, for he laboryd to me dayly by my
Lords comawndement off Warwyk, and brought with hym
Yllyngworthe and oder off my Lords cownsel, and seen my
evydens ; and so we stoden uppon apoyntement, and y for to
have had an unswere sent to Felbrygge Halle, and yff ne had
be for ffendyng off my Lords lordschyppe, y myght have had
my money for my ryght or y cam owt off Lendon, as my man
schall enforme you. For yn trowthe y muste now make an
schiffte, for Wyndham hathe sold hys ryght, and rathere than
yt schuld go that way to, y had lever my Lord had yt ij. C.
marke with yn the pryse that y grawnt yt laste, and therfor y
be scheche you to labowr to my Lord that y may have an
unswer. And thies many townes longithe thereto, Felbrygge,
Aylinton, Ronton, Colby, Bannyngham, Ingworthe, Styrston,
besyde hamelets.

No mor to you at this tyme, but the Holy Trinyte have

1 [From Fenn, iv. 242.] The date of this letter cannot be ascertained with very
great precision ; but as it belongs most probably to about the same period as Letter
619, which we have referred to November 1465, we may assign this to the January
following.

215

THE PASTON LETTERS

i466(?) yOU yn His kepyng. Wryten at Felbrygg, the Monday affor
JAN. [20] Seynt Augnetes Day.1

By your cosyn, JOHN FELBRYGGE.

626
JOHN WYKES TO SIR JOHN PASTON2

Un to the ryght wyrshypfull mayster, Sir John Paston, Knygt,
be thys letter delyveryd.

1466 | 'J YGHT wyrshypfull and my especyall gode mayster, I

FEB. 17 i^ recomaund me unto your gode maystershyp, letyng

you wyte that the berour herof told me that ye had

grete mervyll that I send to you no word ne letter of awnswer

of the letters that ye had send to me to London. As for on

letter ye send to me by Rychard Playtorys man, and therof I

send you an awnswer in a letter by a man of the Prior of

Bromholm ; and as for other letters, ther com no more to me

but that on.

Item, Mayster Flemmyng lokyth dayly for hys hors, and at
every tyme that I mete with hym, he askyth of me when hys
hors shuld com, and when I here any word from you. Wher-
fore I pray you send me word in a letter how he shall be
awnswerd, and yf the hors shall com, lette me knowe when ;
for and he had not trustyd theruppon, he wold have purveyd
hym in a nother place, &c.

Item, John Oter ys not yet payd, but as I suppose it shall

1 The modern version in Fenn reads ' the Monday after Saint Agnes's Day,' and
the date subjoined at the bottom of the page is in accordance with this reading. But
it is more likely the text as printed in the old spelling is correct. St. Agnes' Day is
the 2ist January. The Monday before it would have been the 2Oth in 1466.

8 [From Fenn, iv. 246.] As this letter was written after Edward iv.'s marriage,
and before the death of John Paston the father, the date must be either 1465 or 1466.
Fenn assigns it to the latter year, and I think he is right, though he does not state his
reasons. I find that John, Lord Lovel, died on the 9th January 1465, leaving his son
and heir, Francis, only nine years old, so that even if we date this letter 1466, the
young lad was married at the early age of ten. This was probably owing to his
wardship having been obtained by Lord Fitzhugh, or some person interested ; but as
the inquisition on his father's death (Jnq.p. m., 4 Edw. iv., No. 27) was not taken till
October 1465, there seems no ground for believing that he could have been forced
into wedlock a month after he was left an orphan.

2l6

EDWARD IV

not be long to tyll he have it, for he hath spoken to my mayster 1466
your fader a yer therfor ; and as for Gylmyn, he hath not spoken FEB- 17
to my mayster as yet, &c.

Item, I truste he wylbe your gode fader, for John Say hath
told hym playnly of hys demenyng ayenst you, and told hym
that he had the lasse favour for your sake, &c.

Item, the Erie of Arundell ys * son hath weddyd the Quyne
ys suster.

Item, the Lord Lovell ys son2 hath weddyd my Lady
Fytzhugh ys doghter, &c.

Item, Jenney desyryth a trety with my mayster, and spake
to my mayster therof hym sylf in Westminster Hall.

Item, all felaws in the Kyngs hows fareid well, and wold
have you ther.

No more to you at thys tyme, but the Holy Trynyte have
you [in] kepyng. Wryten at London, the Monday next after
Seynt Volentyn.

Your servant, JOHN WYKYS.

627

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON3
To hys rythe worchypfivll mayster, John Pastony Sqwyer.

RYTHE worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to zow. MARCH 18
And as for zour letter to my Lorde Chawnceler I have
not delyveryd it ; for I askyd avysse there in, and I
was aunsweryd there in that sythen he was takyn to baylle, the
Chawncelerer 4 cowde not compelle the swertes to bryng hym in

1 Thomas Fitz Alan, Lord Maltravers, eldest son of William Fitz Alan, Earl of
Arundel, married Margaret, second daughter of Richard Widville, Earl Rivers, and
sister to Elizabeth, Queen of Edward iv. He succeeded his father as Earl of Arundel
in 1487, 3 Hen. VH., and died in 1524, 16 Hen. vm. — F.

2 Francis Lovel, son and heir to John, Lord Lovel, married Anne, daughter of
Henry, Lord Fitz Hugh. It is curious that she is here called ' Lady Fitz Hugh's
daughter,' when her father was alive.

3 [From Paston Letters, B.M.] The reference to the dispute between Elizabeth
Poynings and the Earl of Kent, which is alluded to in a subsequent letter, proves this
letter to have been written in the year 1466. The earl in question was only so created
on the 3rd of May 1465, and John Paston, to whom the letter is addressed, died in
May 1466. * So in MS.

217

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 befor hys day. Also me thowte zour letter was not most
MARCH 1 8 plesauntly wrytyn to take to swyche a lorde. And as for the
tresorer, hys name is Sir John Fooge, but he is not in London
nor wythe the Kyng, so I kan [not] have the letter sent hym
but if I hyeryd a man to bere it. And as for zour question of
the patentes, Grenfeld and Catesby and Sterkey holdyn it a
good question, for the statute is, Patentes dez tenements dount
null titill est trouve pur le roy de recorde sount voydez, anno xviij.
H. vi. ca. vj. But I trowe in zour cas that be ther opiniounis
the Acte of the Parlement is a tytyll of recorde. It is said to
the contrary intent, thow the londs be forfetyd of record, yet
ther is no certificacion of recorde qwat londes they be, nor wer
\wher e\ nor in qwat place they lye ; but and thys clawse be in
the patents, Non obstante quod nulla inquisicio pro nobis inde est
inventa, by Grenfelde is consayle the patents xwld be clerly
goode. But me semythe that amendyt not the mater, for be
for the makyng of the statute above sayde, patents graunttyd
of londs be fore inquisicion were goode and effectuell and the
statute is generall : — Patents dount null ty till, &c. sount voy dez.
Thanne it folowyt well if the Acte of Parlement be no tytyll
for the Kyng thann is ther no tytyll for the Kyng of recorde,
for that clawse in the patente is no tytyll ; than if ther [be] no
tytyll, ergo the patents voyde.

My suster1 standythe in the same casse with my Lord of
Kent.

Broder, I pray zow send mor mony for my nevew John,
for he mwst ellys com horn azen ; for the Kyng gothe into
Scotlonde, and he is nowther horsyd nor harneysyd, for his
grett hors is lykly to dye ; and if ze wyll sende it to me or to
Christofyr Hanyngton it xall be save for hym. I send zow a
letter from hym closyde herin. And I pray spek to my moder
that my hors faylle not on Passyon Swnday,2 for thann xall I
be redy and thanne xall ower redyng be don. Wrytyn on
Twesday nexst after Seynt Gregory is Day. Zowr broder,

CLEMENT PASTON.

On the back. — The man wold not tak my letter but I wass fayen to gyve
hym ijd. for the beryng.

1 Elizabeth, widow of Robert Poynings. 8 23rd March.

218

EDWARD IV

628

FRIAR JOHN MOWTH TO JOHN PASTON1

'To my worchepful mayster, John Paston the holdest,
be this letter delyveryd in hast.

RYTH reverent and worchepful sire, I hartyly recomende 1466
me on to your reverens, thankyng yow for the gret MAY I2
cher and comfortabyll words that ye yovyn on to me
wat tyme that I was last yn yowr presens ; desyryng ful
specyaly of Almity God, owt of al your wordly tribulacyonys
and adversyte, gracyowus delyverans, and yn al vertuows
prosperite, good encres and contynuans. If yt like your
maysterchep to know the cause of this wrytyng, it ys thys ;
it is nowth unknow z on to yow that Mayster Bralde (Cryst
rest hys sowle !), delyveryd to Wyllam Paston, your broder,
certayn oblygacyonys, of the weche the dute xuld grow to my
convent yn Norwyche. I have spoke on to Wyllam Paston
her of, and he excuseth hym and seyth on this wyse ; that
be the wyl of Mayster Brakle, wat tyme that Sire Tomas
Todenham,3 Knyth, xuld be put on to hys deth, he delyveryd
hem on to hys confessor ; the weche, as he seth, xuld a be
Grey fryer, hows name he knowyth nowt ; also he seyth that
after the deth of the forseyd Knyt, he spake with the Fryer,
confessor on to the Knyth, and hasked hym aftyr the forseyd
oblygacyonys, and as he seyth, the Fryer seyd on to hym that
he had delyveryd hem on to [the] Knyth Marchall. Werfor
I beseche you, as specyaly as I may, that, now wyl your broder
is at London, that ye of your grace wyl know the trowthe in
this mater, for the comfort of the dede, and profyth of my

1 [From Fenn, i. 256.] Friar Brackley, who is here mentioned as dead, is spoken
of in John Paston's deposition of December 1465, without any indication that he was
at that time deceased (see No. 606). We may presume, therefore, that he died
between that time and May 1466, in which month and year died John Paston, to
whom this letter is addressed.

8 Nowth unknofiu. I believe this to be the true reading of the original MS. Fenn
prints it ' nowthn know.'

3 He was beheaded on Tower Hill in February 1462.

219

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 convent. Nomor at this tyme, but that I be seche Almyty
MAY 12 GOCI jn Trinyte conserve your, and kepe yow in all vertuows
prosperite. Amen.

Wretyn at Heylysdon in gret hast, the xij. day of May, in
your maner aftyr mete. The cause wy the mayster delyveryd
hem to hym mor than to yow, was, as he seyd on to me, for
as meche as ye had so many maters yn hand for yowr self, and
also for the dede, that he durst not attempt yow with all ; and
al so be cause he had lesse for to do hys hope was that he xuld
asped yt mor redyly.

Fr[e]re Willam Thorp dwellyng at Salisbury.
By yowr pore orator and bedman,

FRIER JAN MOWTH.

629

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON *

I466(?) T CRETE you wele and send you Goddis blissyng and
NOV. i3(?) mvn . letyng you wete that I send you be the berer

herof xl//. of Ryall which I have chevysshed and borwed
for you, be cause I wuld not take that was leyd ought for you
at Norwich ; for, as I am enformed be Mayster John Smyth,
the Chaunceller, and other that we ben all a cursed that we
have thus mynystred the dedis godes with ought licence or
auctorite, and I wene we spede all the wers there fore. At
the reverence of God, gete you a licens of my Lord of Caunter-
bery in dyschargyng of my conscyens and yowris, to mynystre
a certeyn summe of iij. or iiijc marcs, enfourmyng hym how
that your lyffelod hath stond this ij. yer in such trobill that ye
myght right nought have of it, ner yet can take of it with
ought ye shuld hurt your tenauntis, thei have so ben vexid be
on trew meanes before this tymes, And ye have many grete

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 99.] This letter was written before administration had
been obtained of John Paston's will ; presumably therefore in the year in which he
died, 1466. It may be observed, likewise, that in 1467 'my lord of Canterbury'
would probably have been called ' my lord Cardinal/

220

EDWARD IV

materis on hand and may not have to here them ought, ner to I466(?)
save your ryght, withaught ye myght for a tyme takyn of your NOV- !3(0
faderis godes. And this I hope shall discharge owr conscyens
of that we have mynystred and spend be fore. For we have
nomor to acquite this xl//. and here all other charges but the
xlvii//. that your unkyll and ye is privy to, that was leyd up
at Norwich. I wuld ye were ware of large theftis and rewardis
gevyng, as otheris folkis avyse you to do, for though ye have
nede thei wull not be right redy to help you of ther owyn ;
and that ye may understand be that that thei have taken a wey
from you be for this tyme. I wuld not in no wyse ye shuld
put your self in no daunger to hym but as litill as ye may ;
for if ye do, it shall be right wele remembred you her after.
And be ware how ye ben bownd in any obligacion to any
creature but if it be leyd in endifferent handis and trosty for
yowr part. And remembre to gete the obligacion that ye mad
to the Duchesse of Suffolk ; for though it be in my Lord
Chancelleris hande it is jepartows, be cause of perell of deth.
Item, understand wele the poyntis that ben in my cosyn
Arblasteris letter that arn wretyn in yowrs, and purvey redily
ther for for your owyn a vayll. Item, send me home answeris
of sueche materis as arn now sent you bethen (sic) mowth and
wrytyng at this tyme as hastly as ye can, or ells it shall hurt
yow mor than ye or I can yet understand. Item, me semyth,
if ye shall not comyn home this Crystmesse, or if ye shuld be
at my Lady of Suffolk, it [were *] necessary to have Playter
there with you if ye shuld engroos any appoyntementis with
here at that tyme. For she is sotill and hath sotill councell
with here ; and therfore it were wele do ye shuld have summe
with you that shuld be of your councell. If John Paston be
with you at London desire hym to take hede to yowris materis
and in what case thei ben left at your departyng, that if nede
be he may help you to labore for such causes as Wykes shall
telle yow be mowth ; and if he be not with yow, and ye wull
I shall send hym to you. Item, spare of2 the xl//. as mych as
ye may that ye may perfourme by the mony that the Duchesse
of Suffolk shuld have, in cas that it may not be gadered of the

1 Omitted in MS. 2 of repeated in MS.

221

THE PASTON LETTERS

I466(?) lyvelode. Send home Wykes a sone as ye can, and how ye
NOV. i3(?) will that I do in your materis and lyvelode at home. God

have you in His kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next Sent

Martyn.

Be your Moder.

630

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON

To my right wurchipfull husbond, John Paston, be this
deliverd in hast.

Year | ~\ YTH worchepfull husbonde, I recomande me to yow.

uncer- F^ Plesyth yow to weet that Thomas Grene was with me

tain as on Saterday last paste, and let me have knowlage

NOV. that the scherre schold be as thys day at the Gyld Hall in

Norwyche, and be desyiryd me that the swte that ye have

ageyns Thomas Jeryng and othyr myth be sesyd as for thys

schere ; and I seyd that I durste do ryth not there in. And

he tolde me that Thomas Jeryng was with yow in Flegge the

laste tyme that ye wer ther, and ye seyd to hym that he

scholde not be hurte by the swte. And Thomas Grene told

me that if the seyd Jeryng and othyrs in the same wryte mad

not an end with yow by the nexte schere, the whyche schall

be thys day monyth, that he the seyd Thomas Grene wole

purchese a new wryte of hys owne coste ayens that daye. I

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] I find no very satisfactory evidence touching the
date of this letter. Allusion is made to John Paston having been at Lincoln. The
occasion referred to might have been in 1458, when, as we know by No. 373, he went
into the North as far as Doncaster; or it may have been in the spring of 1461. (See
Nos. 452 and 458.) It is not probable, however, that this letter was earlier than the
latter date, as there is no appearance at that time of any dispute having arisen between
John Paston and his brother William. On the contrary, William Paston is in corre-
spondence with his brother in April 1461 (No. 450). On the other hand, if the
occasion referred to when John Paston was at Lincoln was in the spring of 1461, this
letter could hardly have been written in the same year ; for it cannot be supposed that
he left books at Caister on his return south, when Caister was in the possession of the
Duke of Norfolk. The date, however, being so uncertain, I prefer to place this letter
at the end of John Paston' s correspondence rather than assign it doubtfully to any
particular year.

222

EDWARD IV

woste not that the scher shuld be so sone when I wrote to yow Year
yowyr laste lettyr. And he remembyryd the trobulus werd uncer-
\_world~\ that is nowe, and also that they wer nowtye felawys tain
that ye suyd, and ther fore he thowte that it war best to let it NOV-
be respyte at thys tyme, and so they schall be respyth at thys
tyme. I have sent to Jaferay Spyrlyng for the bokys that ye
sent to me fore, and he seyth that he hathe none there of, for
he seyth he lefte hem with yow when he was with yow in the
Northe centre ; for he seyth ye left hym behynd yow at
Lynkcolne. He supposyth they be at Kaster.

Item, my cosyn Crane recomandyth hyr to yow, and
prayith yow that ye wole wychesave to spek to Jamys Gresham
for to swe ferthe the mater betwyx Dame Margaret Spurdans
and hyr ; and sche prayith yow at the reverens of God that ye
wole tendyr that mater well, for all hyr troste is in yow.

Item, the tenauntys at Sweynysthorp prayid me for to
wryte to yow for to pray yow for Goddys sake that ye wole
help for to get hem a good baly of the hundyryd that they be
in ; for they sey that they have be gretly hurte by swyche
offyserys as they have had ther be fore tyme. Folk wold
fayne in thys centre that Heydon scholde be purveyd for, that
he goo not so at large as he dothe, for he is in thys towne nere
every wek, and hathe be ever syne ye yd hens. And also it
is seyd in thys towne that ye have be good maister thys terme
to Yatys, and many be ryth sory ther of, and that he dothe
so well as it [is] seyd here that he dothe. It is seyd that he
is scapyd all dangerys, and he hathe tak new accionys ageyns
hys neyborys, as it is seyd. Othyr tydyngys have we none
here but that ye have more pleynly there. And the Blyssyd
Trinyte have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good sped in
all yowyr materys. Wretyn in haste at Norwyche the Monday
next be fore Seynt Edmunde the Kynge.

Be yowyr, M. P.

My modyr wold ryth fayne know how that ye and my
brodyr Wyllam wer acordyd, sche wold ryth fayne that all
wer well betwene yow.

223

THE PASTON LETTERS

631

B. D. M. S. TO JOHN PASTON1

Be this delyvered to Mastyr John Pas ton.

1RECOMAUNDE me unto you as unknowyn. And as
for the wryting I send unto you, the cause why yt was
nate endossed was, for the berer ther of knew yow wel
i now. And as for youre Cossyn Mary, she ys no longer with
us, as a pon Seynt Mathewys Evyn she departyd from me, and
went to Awdry Croxeston, and she told me that ye wold pay
for her horde ther. But on thyng I let you know ; she hathe
demenyd her ful symply bothe for youre worship and also for
her awne. Ther ys but few within oure plasse but they know
how yt is with her, and al by her awne bessynes of her tunge.
And I had knowyn as myche at the begynnyng as I have don
sythe, I wold not have delt in the mater nat for xl. pound ; for
I wys she ys no thyng so sadde as I wold she wer.

No more to you at thys tyme, but the Holy Cost have
you in His kepyng, and send you youre hertys esse. I pray
you hertly that I may sp[e]ke with you.

B. D. M. S.

632
ABSTRACT2

RICHARD SUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON, ESQUIRE.

Thanks him for speaking to the Mayor and Recorder for the appearance
of certain persons at this last session, as he wrote from Walsingham. Thomas
Wolvesby and Colyns make great labor for the poor men's undoing. Begs him
to move the Mayor to have pity, considering their trouble at Walsingham, when
they were prisoners.

Thetford, Shere-Thursday.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 262.] There is no evidence of the date either of this or of the
four following letters beyond the fact that this and the two next are addressed to John
Paston, while the two last are addressed to Margaret Paston during her husband's
life. None of them, therefore, can be later than 1466.

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

224

EDWARD IV

633

ABSTRACT1

JOHN PASTON, JUNIOR, TO HIS FATHER, JOHN PASTON

Has spoken 'with Warwyk and Stwkle' for the place and lands in
Arleham. Declined their offer of 6d. an acre, they keeping the place in
repair ; but Stwkle has promised all the lands shall be purveyed for, as for
this year. Warwyk this day offered my mother fd. an acre for the lands in
Arleham, but I counselled her to hold out for a longer term. Kook will no
longer hold the place for ^d. or 8</. an acre, and will only give 6d., if he is
to keep it in repair. Has spoken with Dame Alice Weche and Geoffrey
Spyrlyng, who have agreed to set a tenant to occupy the lands in dispute till
Paston comes home.

St. Martin's Even.

634

ABSTRACT2

THOMAS GNATYSHALE TO MRS. PASTON

I hope the young man I sent will please 'my master and you.' I hope you
will not receive him at this time, and when my master comes home refuse him.
As for your lands at Sparham, there are not many lands to let. Has inquired
at Salle. Master Edward3 is clearly answered of^iS a year and ys. or 8s.
more. Bryston, Thyrnyng, and Owleton are let, which belong to the manor
of Salle. So he is clearly answered twice a year at London, besides the fees,
viz., of the receiver 26s. 8</., of the steward 2cv/., and of the bailliff z6s. 8d.

Sparham, Wednesday before Ascension.

635

ABSTRACT*
T. GNATYSHALE TO MRS. PASTON

James and Robert Radclef mean to take away my goods, and I shall be
taken if I be at Norwich at next shire. Pray let my master know. I suppose

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] * Ibid.

3 Probably Edward, son of Robert Mauteby. He was Margaret Paston's uncle.

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

VOL. IV. P 225

THE PASTON LETTERS

it was by their commandment that my two neat were taken on Saturday last at
Lyng, < for one that is under bailly of Richmond took hem.' John Everyton
will tell you more. The receipts of the manor of Sparham with costs are
j£io, 3^. \\\d. If any man of yours come to Norwich please send me your
advice. (Signed) < T. GNAT.'

636

ABSTRACT i

JAMES ARBLASTER TO JOHN PASTON, [SQUIRE] 2

John a Berney of Wychyngham wishes to disinherit him of his liberty of
faldage in Colyette. Desires the help of one of Paston's men. As for my
Lady of Oxford, * I have get you a trusty man against Tuesday or Wednesday
next.'

[There is no distinct evidence of the date of this letter, except that it is probably
not later than 1466, when John Paston died, though it may have been addressed to
his younger son John. Compare Nos. 232, 233, and 234, in vol. ii.]

637

JOHN PASTON'S FUNERAL3

Expences paid by Gloys at Norwich the day
the Cars was ther and befor.

1466 T"T^YRSTE. The iiii. orders of fryers, viii/. Item, almesse,

\\s. v\\d. Item, to xxiii. susters of Normandys,4 with

the gardian eche of them, iiii*/., and the gardian, vmd.

— viiij. Item, in offering on Pentecost Tuesday5 for my

master, \d. ; for the herse, xb. For xxiiii. yerdes of brod

wythtys for gowns, xxviij. v\\\d. ; for dyeng of the same, mis.

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

2 This designation is added on the address, but is struck out.

3 [From BlomefiekTs Norfolk, vi. 483. Folio edition, iii. 692.] The original of
this document was probably among the Paston MSS. when Blomefield composed his
History of Norfolk, but where it is at present cannot be ascertained. It is cited by
Blomefield, or perhaps by his continuator, Mr. Parkin, as ' a very long but narrow
roll,' then in his possession. The text, however, does not seem to be printed entire,
as the Editor only professes to give ' several particulars therein.'

4 At Norwich. 6 2yth May 1466.

226

EDWARD IV

For settyng on the tents, vid. For xxii. yerdes and Hi. 1466
quarters of brod wythts, xxxiiiij. Hid. For grownedyng, ins.
iiiid. For dyeng, iiiis. To xxxviii. prests at the dyryge at
Norwyche, when the cors lay ther, xiis. viiid. To xxxix.
schyldern with surplyces within the schurche and without, ins.
iiiid. To xxvi. clerks with iiii. kepers of the torches, eche of
them iid., His. iiiid. To the clerks of St. Peters and St.
Stevens for the ryngers ageyn the cors, iis. To the iiii. orders
of fryers that rede ageyn the cors - . To the Prioress of
Carow, vis. viii<^. To a maide that came with her, xxd. To
the ancors [anchoress?'] xld. In almesse, xvs. To a woman
that came from London with the cors to Norwyche, vis.

Payments be Gloys and Calle at Bromholme.

Fyrste. To the Prior, be my masters bequest, xb. To ix.
monks, eche of them vis. viiid., ml. To an other monke,
who was of the same place, xxd. For brinnyng of the Abbes
with the torches, xx^. To the Priors boteler for bred, iis.
xd. For wasshyng of napry, xiid. To the boteler for hys
reward, xxd. To the baker for cccx. eggs, xix^. To hym
for hys reward, iiu. iiiid. To xxviii. bedds with - of
clothys, and wasshyng of the same, vs. To ii. men that
fyllyd the grave, viiid. To brueng of v. kome malte, xxd.
For ix. pownd candyl, x.id. To the clerks of Bromholm, viiid.
For viii. peces of peuter lost of the Priors, xxd. Geven
among the men of the bakhouse, xxd. To the parisshe
schyrche of Bromholm, xs. To xii. schyrchys, Is. viiid. To
the prest that cam with the cors from London, iiij. iiiid. To
servytors that awaytyd upon hym by the komawndment of
W. Paston, xxid. To Playters for hys offering, iiiid. To the
vyker of Upton, iis. To the sexton of Bromholm for xxii.
crossys geven to Marget and Modeley, per John Paston, iiiij.
vi<^. To xiiii. rynggars, viis. To xxiiii. servertors, eche of
them iiiid., viiis. To Ixx. servertors, eche of them \\\d., xviis.
vid. Paid to Dawbeny for servertors, viis. For fyshh the
day after the enterment, vis. xd. For vi. barells bere, xiij.
For a roundlet of red wine of xv. gallonys, &c., xiij. xid. To

227

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 a hors hyer for iii. days for Sir James, xiid. For a quarter
malte, vs. For iiii. bushels wete, xxxii^. For a quarter of
otys, iis. viiid. For x. kombe malte brueng, xl<^. For the
boord of Rychard Hermer, wrythe, iii. days, and for hys hyer
the sayde tyme, xiii<^. ob. For William Yonge, barbor, v.
days mete and drynke, and hys hyer the sayde tyme, xvid.
For vi. pownd candyl, viid. ob. To xii. pore men beryng
torches from London to Norfolk be vi. day, ij., takyng eche
of them on the day iinV., and for iii. dayes in goyng homer-
ward, takynge every day v\d. Geven to Martyn Savage and
Denschers awaytyng upon my master at London be vii. dayes
before that he was caryed, \\s. xd. For bred bowthe, xxiiiij.
For vii. barels bere, xviij. vid. For a barel of the grettest
assyse, ins. iiiid. For iiii. barells of alee, xiiij. iiiid. For bred
and alee for xii. men that bare torches, xiiid. ob. To a dole
at Bromholm, v/. xiiij. mid. To William Colens, one of the
botelers at Bromholm, xiid. To Wate Webster, another bote-
ler, xii^. To Greg. Worsteler, one of the porters at Brom-
holm, iiiid. The parson at Mauteby,1 and Sir Thomas Lynes,
to the prestes at the deryge at Bromholm, xliiij. In almesse,
xlviij. vid. ; more, xxs. To the glaser for takyn owte of ii.
panys of the wyndows of the schyrche for to late owte the
reke of the torches at the deryge, and sowderyng new of the
same, xxd. [This part of the roll, according to Blomefield,
or his continuator, seemed to be written by Gloys, above
mentioned, in an indifferent hand. The remainder is in a
very neat and curious old hand, which was supposed to be
that of Margaret Paston.]

Vittelles bought by Richard Charles.

First. For xxvii. gees, xviij. For xxvii. frankyd gees, vis.
viiid. Ixx. caponnes, xviis. viid. For xxix.2 xvii.

chekons, XVLT. vid. For x. chekons, xd. For xii. pygges,
xiiLr. xd. For xlix. calvys, iiii/. xiiis. imd. For xxxiiii.

1 Robert Coteler, who was presented to the living by John Paston in 1465, on the
resignation of Thomas Howys.

2 A short blank occurs in Blomefield after ' xxix.' and before ' xvii.'

228

EDWARD IV

lambys, xxviij. iid. For xxii. shep, xxxviij. vd. x. nete, 1466
iiii/. xvis. id. For ii. napronnes to Richard Lynstede, xd.
For claretts and fawcetts, vid. MCCC. eggs, vij. v\d. For
xx. galons milk, xx<^. For viii. galons creme, Us. viiid. For
iiii. pints of butter, iiiid. For i. quarter and ii. bushels of
whete mele, viij. xd. To the parson of Crostweyt for i.
quarter of whete, vij. For xiiii. galons of ale, \\s. To a
labourer for iii. days, xiid. To xxiiii. galons of ale, iiiij. For
xiii. salt fysshe, iiiij. \\i\d. For the purveying of bred, ale,
and fysshe, iiij. mid. To William Reynolds for lodgyng of
Master Prowet, the Prior of the White Freres, the parson of
Mautby, Sir Thomas Lynds, and other, by ii. nyghtis, vid.
For bred, ale, and possets to the same persons, v\d. To
Herman, fleying bests by iii. days, iij., and to John Foke,
by iii. days, xxd. For purveying of all the velys, lambes, x.
beefins, certain piggs and polaly \j>oultry\ xld.

BILL OF THE PRIOR OF BROMHOLM.

Memorandum. The Prior toke to bord diverse persons
laboryng abought the enterment, begynnyng the Thursday in
Pentecost weke, the vi. yere of Kyng Edward the iiiith.

On Thursday I x find 3 persons who had xiid. for their
board and hire ; on Friday 5 who had xvd. ; on Saturday 8
who had xxiiii. On Monday all were employed ; and on
the day after I find 4 to be allowed for their board iiiid. ob.,
and for their hires vd., — ixd. ob. Delivered by the Prior to
Richard Charles : — Fyrst, v. quarters of otes, xiiLy. iinW. ; v.
swyne, xiu. vid. ; ii. bushel of mestlyn, xvd. ; v. pownd of
candell, vd. ; xx. quarters of malte, xnis. iiik/., and with
gryndyng and brewyng, xviib. For a cartfull of hey, iiij.
mid. For ii. swyne, vs. For ii. bushel otes, v'md. For a
quarter of herryng, v\d. For half a quarter makerell, v'nd. ob.
To the parson of St. Peters for his fee of the wax abought the
coors, beside ii. candels of i. Ib. and i. hert candel of a pound,
xxd. At my masters xxx. day for ofFeryng, id. Geven to
churches and in almes by Gresham, toward Bromholm, v.

1 Blomefield or his continuator here speaks in his own person.

229

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 marks. To the clerk of St. Peters of Hungate1 his felaship
for ryngyng when the coors was in the church, x.iid. To
Dawbeney for bests and other stuffe for the enterment, xx/.
To him in gold for to chaunge into small mony for the
dole, xl/. To W. Pecok, in iii. bags to bere to Bromholm,
in copper, the 2oth day, xxvi. marks. To Medeley for his
reward, iiii. marks, and the same to Maryot. To Maryot for
costs he bare by the way to Bromholm, iii/. xiid. More to
Medeley for mony paid by him, xlij. xd. To the keper of
the inne where myne husband dyed, for his reward, xxj. To
Paston chirch, xj. To Bakton chirch, vis. vmd. To Gresham
the London carrier, in full payment for the Chaundeler of
London, v/. xixj. \md. More in almes mony, vis. viiid. More
for wyne and bere, vii. marks. To the parson of St. Peters,
vis. viiid. For wyne for the seingers when the coors was at
Norwich, xxj. To Skolehouse in part of his bille for torches
and wax made at Bromholm, for to brenne upon the grave,
iiii. marks. For x. yerds of narow blak for the viker of
Dallynge and Robert Gallawey, and for iii. yerds and quarter
of brod cloth for Illee, xxs. xd. To Freton chirch, vis. vmd.
For a cope called a frogge of worsted for the Prior of Brom-
holm, xxvij. vmd. For bred at the enterment, ixj. In almes,
vins. iiiid. In wyne and spices, b. To Dom. John Loveday
for cloth for a ridyng cope for himself, xiiiij. iid. To the
makyng of Redham Stepill, viiis. iiiid. To John Orford, wax
chandeler, for xii. torches and one candell of i. /£., Ivj. iid. ob.
To John Dewe for grey lynen cloth and sylk frenge for the
hers, vi/. xvij. iid. Given to the Austeners at the chapter at

the of Yarmouth, \xxvs. To Daubeney

for to kepe the yere day at Bromholm the first yere after his
dethe, viii/. Us. imd. Given at Castor to xxv. howsholders,
every houshold Hid. the said tyme, vij. Hid. To viii. pore men
the said tyme, xviiid. To the master of the College the said
tyme, vij. vmd. To Mastkr Clement Felmyngham the said
tyme, vis. viiid. To viii. prests at Castor the said tyme, iij.

1 A church in Norwich, rebuilt by John Paston in 1460, the advowson having
been acquired by him and Margaret, his wife, in 1458. The date of the rebuilding
is engraved in stone on a buttress by the north door.
230

EDWARD IV

vim/. To childern in surplices and other pore folk at the said 1466
tyme, xiiii*/. To the parson of Hungate, vis. vmd. To the
said parson for a certeyn1 unto Mighelmesse next after the
said yere day, vms. viiid. To Skolous, wax chandeler, for
makyng of the hers at Bromholm, xxii/. ixs. vind. To Philip
Curson, draper, for cloths, ix/. ms. ob. To Aubrey, draper,
xxxiiiij. For a quarter of makerell, xiid. To the Prior of
Bromholm for malte spent at the enterment, xb. For light
kept on the grave, xs. Geven at Cristemasse next after the
said yereday, to eche of the iiii. orders of friers, xj., — xb.
To the vyker of Dallyng for bryngyng home of a pardon
from Rome, to pray for alle our frends sowles, vim. \\i\d.
For a black gowne to the said viker, vms.

638
FASTOLFS GOODS2

DECLARACIO bonorum mobilium Johannis Fastolf
militis ad manus Johannis Paston armigeri de-
veniencium et possidencium tarn ex liberacione
Thomae Howys, Rectoris de Pulham, unius executoris dicti
militis, quam ex Rapto aliorum hominum serviencium et
tenencium suorum. Ac valorem in possessione dominiorum
maneriorum terrarum et tenementorum suorum in eorum
prima perquisicione per dictum militem solutorum et per
heredem dicti Paston clameatorum pro nichilo solvendo, cum
custubus edifficacionis eorundem. Et pro quibus omnibus
supra specificatis executores dicti militis petiunt de heredibus
et executoribus dicti Johannis Paston, solucionem restitucionem
ac satisfacionem de dampnis occasione hujusmodi retencionis.

In primis.

Die octava mensis Novembris anno xxxviij. Regni Regis
Henrici Sexti, videlicet tercio die post obitum Johannis Fastolf

1 Masses called 'certeynes' are referred to in No. 53 (vol. ii. p. 64).

2 [From a MS. in the Tower of Magd. College, Oxford.] This is a paper drawn
up by William Worcester after John Paston's death in 1466. The errors in grammar
are characteristic of the writer.

2J I

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 militis, Thomas Howys clericus, co-executor dicti Johannis
Fastolf, deliberavit Johanni Paston armigero de bonis dicti
Johannis Fastolf existentibus ad tune sub salva custodia in
abbathia Sancti Benedicti de Hulmo de parte majoris summe
in auro, videlicet in nobilibus antiquis boni et justi ponderis
ijml- cccc. nobilia, precii nobile v'njs. mjd.y faciunt m1//., et alia
vice in moneta argenti xxiiij/z. xvijs. \}d.\ unde summa
m'-xxiiij//. xvijj. ijd.

Item, idem Thomas liberavit Johanni Paston dicto mense
Novembris apud Norwicum, de vasis argenti diversarum
specierum ad tune habitarum extra thesauraium dicti militis
manerij de Castre, iiijmL xxiij. unciarum ponderis Troie,
precium uncie ijj. x*/., faciunt vc-lxix//. xv'njs. v]d. Et eidem
Johanni apud Norwicum alia vice, de vasis argenti, ponderis
Ivij. unciarum, precium uncie ut supra, vij//. iiiJ5. md. Et
eidem Johanni alia vice apud dictum Castre liberantur de
vasis argenti Cxij. unciarum precium ut supra xv//. xvijj.

iiij*/.; unde summa vaiiijxx>viij//.

viijd.

Item, idem Thomas liberavit eidem Johanni Paston apud
Norwicum dicto mense Novembris, in cyphis et vasis auri
triati et finati, iijxx-xv. unciarum ponderis Troie, precium
uncie xb Cl//.

Item, idem Thomas liberavit dicto Johanni ad faciendum
certum prestitum comiti de Salysberye de bonis dicti Johannis
Fastolf, unde idem Johannes Paston habet sufficientem securi-
tatem et obligacionem Episcopi Norwicensis xxxiij//. vjs. viijd.
Et consimili modo liberavit dicto Johanni ad faciendum certum
prestitum domino de Fitzwater, unde idem Johannes

habet sufficientes securitates, xxxiij//. vjs. viijd. . . Ixvj//.
xiijj. Hijd.

Item, dictus Johannes Paston cepit de bonis dicti militis
existentibus sub custodia Willelmi Worcetyr, contra agrea-
mentum suum, et tradita per ipsum ad salvo custodiendum
Thome Plummer de London scryvaner et Johanni Gress-
ham de eadem capper, videlicet in vasis argenti diversarum
specierum m'-viij^iiij^x. unciarum, precium uncie ut supra,
CClxviij//'. vs. Et consimiliter cepit cyphum coopertum de
232

EDWARD IV

puro auro ponderis Troie xxiij. unc', j. quart, di., precium 1466
uncie xb., xlvj/j. xvs. Et similiter cepit unam cathenam auri
puri, ponderis Troie xxiij. unc' et dimidii, precium unc' ut
supra xlvij/z CCClxij//.

Item, idem Johannes Paston cepit consimili modo de
bonis dicti militis traditis Willelmo Worcetyr ad custodien-
dum, dicto mense Novembris, videlicet London, apud domum
dicti Thome Plummer, ultra Cxi//, per dictum Worcestre
solutas pro panno nigro pro liberatis togarum datis erga
funeralia dicti militis, et pro serico pro baneretis pictis cum
armis, necnon pro vino et speciebus, videlicet viijcj. nobilia
antiqua boni et justi ponderis, precium nobile viijj. iiij</.,
iijc>xxxiij//. xvj. Et liberantur dicto Johanni Paston per
manus dicti Thome Howys, London, de moneta tradita in
custodia dicti Thome Plummer Ixij//. xjj. iiij*/.; pro toto.
CCCiiijxx-xvj//. vjj. iiij*/.

Item, dictus Johannes Paston cepit consimili modo de
Willelmo Worcestre certa notabilia monilia et jocalia auri
cum lapidibus preciosis garnizata, videlicet unum monile
ditissimum vocata Anglice a White Rose nuper domini ducis
Eborum1 cum magno precioso lapide vocato a poynted
dyamant, qui in prima empcione constabat, ut dicitur iiijor m1-
marcarum, ac alia duo jocalia nuper dicti domini ducis
tradita in plegio quando dictus Johannes Fastolf obligatus
fuit pro dicto duce in tribus milibus libris executoribus
cardinalis Anglic2 super certis denariis prestitis dicto duci,
et unde idem, dominus dux debebat dicto Johanni Fastolf
in denariis prestitis CCCClxvj/*. xiijs. mjd. Et pro aliis
justis causis CClxvj//. xiijj. iiij</. Et predicta tria jocalia
per assensum dicti domini ducis sub sigillo armorum in
scriptis tradita assignata fuerunt dicto Johanni Fastolf ut
bond, sua propria ad vendendum et disponendum in recom-
pensacione debiti sui et aliis magnis laboribus et vexacioni-
bus dicti militis pro dicto duce sustentatis et habitis dum
modo locum tenens pro Rege fuit in Francia, ac postea in
Anglia. . . . vijc-xxxiij//. vjs. viij</.

1 Richard, Duke of York, father of Edward IV.

2 Probably Cardinal Beaufort ; but it may be Cardinal Kemp.

233

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 Item, predictus Johannes Paston recepit exitus et proficua
omnium maneriorum, terrarum et tenementorum dicti militis
in comitatibus NorfFolk, Suffolk, Essex et Surrie per manus
ministrorum et servorum sine consensu executorum dicti
militis, diversis annis ex quo obiit, per propinquam estima-
cionem . . mLvjclxvj/f. xiijj. iiij^.

Item, dictus Johannes Paston recepit diversa alia catalla
et bestias dicti militis, videlicet equos et palefridos principles
suos valoris xxx/f. ac oves et animalia minuta cubancia in
pasturis de Castre et aliis maneriis, videlicet ijm-iiijc-lvj. oves
diversorum generum precium capitis xiiij^/. Cxliij//. vs. \\\]d.
Et in precio xiij. magnarum bestiarum vj//. Et in valore
vjm< cuniculorum apud Warennam de Haylysdon anno quo
dictus miles obiit per Warennarios ibidem per propinquam
estimactonem assessatos precium m1- xvj., xlv//. Similiter in
precio vellerum lane ovium de stauro suo apud Haylysdon
ante obitum suum remanencium, xxvj//. xiijs. nijd. per ipsum
recept' . . CC1//. xviijj. viij</.

Item, idem Johannes Paston recepit apud Castre pre-
dictam stuffuram et ordinacionem pro defensione patrie in
artilleria, videlicet colubrinas librillas1 diversorum magnitu-
dinum cum cameris in decem carectis oneratis ac in curassys,
brigandinis jakkis, salectis, basnetes, habourjonnys, lanceis,
crossebowes de calibe \chalyb e\> longbowes, arcubus, sagittis,
gonnepowder, gonnestonys, et cetera hujusmodi defensibilia
valoris. Cl//.

Item, recepit apud Castre per supervisum dicti Thome
Howys in valore librorum pertinencium capelle ac in uten-
ciliis garderobe dicti militis ibidem, videlicet in costeris et
lectis de pluma et coopertoria de arras et tapestria ac penulis
de martys cum togis necnon utencilia aule camerarum coquine
et cetera hujusmodi, ut per billam de particulis patet, Cxxj//.
vijs. \\\]d. Et simili modo de utenciliis Warderobe et camera-
rum remanencium apud manerium suum in Suthwerk, valoris
xx//., .... Cxlj//. vijj. \\\]d.

Item, dictus Johannes recepit per manus dicti Thome
Howys, Willelmi Paston, Thome Playter, Thome Plummer

1 colubrinas librillas, i.e. culverins.
234

EDWARD IV

de London, scryvaner, Christofori Hansson armigeri et Luce 1466
Nantron ad diversas vices tarn Londoniis quam in Suthwerk,

ut patet per billam de parcellis, Ciiij/f. xjj.

viij*/.

Item, idem Willelmus Worcestre mense Julii anno vto
regni Regis Edwardi quarti solvit uxori dicti Thome Plumer
pro debito dicti Johannis Paston ut pro panno nigro ac
prestita facta et liberaciones argenti fact' suo mandate diversis
personis, xxxij/*.

Item, idem Johannes recepit in valore et precio panni
lanei nigri coloris per ipsum dati diversis hominibus de affini-
tate sua propria, ultra Clij/z. ut in precio panni lanei nigri
coloris provisi et dati amicis et servientibus dicti Johannis
Fastolf erga funeralia sua tenenda, xl/r. Et similiter idem
Johannes Paston fecit prefatum Thomam Howys exponere
et tradere diversis hominibus in regardis et solucionibus circa
propria negocia dicti Paston expedienda London* et alibi
xxx//. xvj*. ]d. Et consimiliter idem Johannes fecit dictum
Thomam exponere et solvere in expensis victualium hospicii
tenti apud Castre anno primo quo idem miles obiit, tarn
circa extraneos et notos supervenientes de affinitate et amicicia
sua sine causa apud Castre Maner trahentes ibidem moram
inutilem, ad summam iiijXXix//., prout evidenter patebit per
certam declaracionem, Chili, xvjs. }d.

Item, ultra predicta bona sic sibi applicata, prefatus
Johannes Paston pretendebat habere et possidere, sine racione
et scripto autentiquo, omnia dominia, terras et tenementa
dicti militis in comitatibus, Norffolk, Suffolk et Norwico, ac
sine solucione alicujus summe que constabant dicto militi in
prima empcione ultra edifficaciones et repparaciones dictorum
maneriorum, ixml>viijc7/.

Item, considerandum est quod, ultra dictas perquisiciones,
edifficacio manerii de Castre velut fortalicium defensionis
patrie constabat in triginta annis vjml7/. Et edifficacio
manerii de Haylysdon, cum clausura bosci et warenne, ac
edifficacione duarum domorum vocatarum lez logges apud
Haylysdon et Drayton, v°xlviij//. xiijj. iiij*/. Et custus im-
parcacionis parci in Cotton cum repparacione manerii iiijc7/.

235

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 Et repparacio principalis mesuagii sui in villa de Jernemouth
CCli. Edifficacio et repparacio tenementorum suorum in
civitate Norwici CCxl//. . . vij^-CCCiiij^'viij/z. xiijj. iiij^.
Item, ultra ista, prefatus Johannes Paston retinet in
custodia sua principales evidencias maneriorum dicti militis
vocatorum Dedham Netherhall et Dedham Overhall in comi-
tatu Essex ; que quidem maneria, in defectu dictarum eviden-
ciarum per ipsum non prosequutorum a tempore obitus dicti
militis pro recuperacione eorundem, et hucusque, existunt
extra possessionem, in maximum prejudicium defuncti, pro
eo quod dictum manerium vocatum Dedham Netherhall con-
stabat dicto militi in prima empcione m'7*'., et predictum
manerium vocatum Dedham Overhall Clx/z. Et exitus et
proficua dictorum maneriorum que ad manus executorum
dicti militis medio tempore non devenerunt secundum ratam
xl/i. per annum ascendunt ad CCiiijxx7/. Sic in toto, . . .
mLiiijc> xl//.

639

ABSTRACT1

EXAMINATIONS TOUCHING SIR JOHN FASTOLF'S WILL

MAY A.D. 1466. The following witnesses were examined secretly and apart

„ j on behalf of Sir William Yelverton, * deceased,' 2 in the house of the treasurer
JUNE of St. Paul's Cathedral by John Druell, LL.D. :—

May 17. John Monke alias Smyth.

19. John Dawson and John Gyrdyng.

20. William Boswell, Robert Inglys, Ric. Home, and Thos. Pykeryng.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The following examinations are contained in the
same volume as the depositions of John Paston of which an abstract will be found in
No. 606. They begin at page 21, immediately after Paston's depositions, a single
blank page intervening.

2 By a singular mistake in the record, Sir William Yelverton is here spoken of
as deceased instead of John Paston: — 'per partem venerabilis viri domini Willelmi
Yelverton militis defuncti contra testes Johannis Paston armigeri et domini Thomae
Howys.' Yelverton certainly lived for some years after this, and was continued as
judge by Henry vi. on his restoration (see Foss), but John Paston died on the 2 6th
May 1466.

236

EDWARD IV

May 21. Henry Clerke, John Tovy, Thos. Hert, William Shawe, and 1466

Nich. Cherche. MAY

22. Thos. Newton, Th. Spycer, and Thos. Neve. an(j

23. John Rugge, John Clerke, and Rob. Bunche. TUNE
June 10. Stephen Scrope.

1 1 . Ric. Fastolf.

I. John Monke, a smith of the parish of St. James, Pokethorpe, in Nor-
wich, illiterate, of free condition, thirty-two years old and over, alleges bribery
of witnesses by Paston and Howys, who offered to sell John Russe lands at
Leystofte at little more than half their value. Howes made Russe a present of
salt, barley, and malt to the value of ^20, and promised him a full discharge of
his account for goods of the testator in his custody to the value of £200 and
over. He paid Robert Cutteler, vicar of Caster, * colore cujusdam ultimi vale
died testatoris prius non debite ' («V), money and corn to the value of 20 marks,
and promised to present him to the living of Mawdeby whenever Thomas
Howse resigned it. They gave Felmyngham an annuity of 8 marks, and 405.
to a boy who is his servant. They gave Robert Boteler a fee (feodum) of 5
marks fja yearj for life, and the farm of a close called Mawdeby close, besides
some other gifts which are specified. Hence the said John Russe, Rob.
Cutteler, Clement Felmyngham, and Rob. Butteler, falsely deposed in answer
to the second interrogatory that on the Saturday before the testator's death they
were present in a certain low room (bassa camera} in the manor of Caister,
where the testator was principally between the hours of 8 and 1 1 A.M., and that
with them were the said John Paston and John Brakley, and no others ; for in
reality there were present in the chamber with the testator on that day, and
especially during those hours, the said Rob. Fitzrauf, Nich. Newman, and
John Loer continually, and the said Dan John Davye, Dan Thomas Howys,
Friar John Bernard, physician, and Henry Barbour, and several others [at
intervals^. Moreover, Cutteler, Felmyngham, and Butteler, said Russe was
present on that occasion, whereas both he and Cutteler were in other places.
Moreover, bribes were given by Paston and Howes in various forms during the
months of January, February, and March 1462 [-3], and at other times in the
parishes of Caister and Yarmouth, and in the city of London, to Ralph Lampet,
brother William Bukenham, and the said Rob. Cutteler. Paston promised to
promote Bukenham to the priory of Yarmouth, and also, as a reward for his
testimony, to give him 13 acres of the testator's land in Scroudby and Caister
called Isabell, to the use of the prior and convent of Norwich. Hence the
testimony of these witnesses was false, that Fastolf, about the beginning of
Autumn five years ago, had made to John Paston estate and feoffment and
livery of seisin of his manor of Caister, and other lands in Cos. Norf. and SufF.,
and the city of Norwich, to the use of the said testator while he lived, and
afterwards to that of the said John Paston and his heirs ; for if any such thing
was done (which is not admitted) it was on the i6th October 1457, in the
36th year of Henry vi., after the Autumn of the said year, and not to the use
of Paston and his heirs, but to the use of Fastolf himself, and for the accom-
plishment of his will. Further, the testimony of Russe, Cutteler, Bukenham,
Felmyngham, and Butteler was untrue as to the alleged will of Fastolf that John

237

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 Paston should obtain the King's license for the foundation of a college at Caister.
MAY It was in truth FastolPs will that the executors should obtain the King's
and license to found a college there of seven Benedictine monks of the same pro-
JUNE fession as the monastery of St. Benet at Hulme, of whom one should be prior,
and of seven poor men, and that they should be endowed out of his lands to the
extent of 300 marks a year, all charges deducted, to pray for the soul of Lady
Milicent, his wife, his parents and benefactors ; and if the executors were un-
able to obtain this license, they were to give the abbot and convent of St.
Benet's lands and money for the maintenance of six new monks and seven poor
men in that monastery with a like object. Further, it is not true as alleged
that on Saturday before his death, viz., 3rd Nov., between eight and eleven
A.M., the testator openly declared his will with a clear voice in the hearing of
bystanders, for he was so ill and weak from want of breath that he was unable
to speak distinctly at any time that whole day, especially during the hours above
mentioned.

Moreover, bribes were offered by Paston and Howes in May and June
1465, in the parishes of Caister and Yarmouth, and in the city of London,
to Thomas Thorald, Robert Lawes, Will. Waterman, John Osbern, John
Heydon, Will. Pykeryng, John Symmys, and John Shawe, for their testimony
in this matter, viz. that they should have zos. besides travelling expenses and
divers other sums which were offered to them in Paston's name by Cutteler,
vicar of Caister, and Ric. Calle ; and John Paston promised the said William
Pykeryng that he should recover certain lands in the tenure of his brother John
Pykeryng, in Fylby, to the value of 405. Influenced by these bribes, Thos.
Thorald deposed that on the Saturday before FastolPs death, Bartholomew
Elys and John Davys came to his house in Belton, two miles and more from
Yarmouth, about eight A.M., when he was in his grange, and asked him to come
with them to divers manors of the said Sir John, to receive certain grain from
his farmers ; after which they drank in Thorald's house, and he went with
them to Freton, and to the manor called Calcote hall, and other places in
Lothynlond until midday. Robert Lawes also deposed that on Friday before
FastolPs death he went to Becclys, and next day, viz. Saturday, returning
homeward (rediens domorsum), met on the way the said Bartholomew Elis,
John Davy, and Thomas Thorald going to Freton, when Davy called him and
bade him tell Thomas Howys or John Rus that on Monday or Tuesday next
he would go to Caister and give an account of his stewardship. Afterwards,
about two P.M., Lawes came to Caister and told John Rus his business in the
absence of Howys. But the said William Waterman, being bribed as afore-
said, falsely declares that on the Saturday before FastolPs death Barth. Elys
and John Davy came to his house at Gorlyston about seven A.M., and that he
went with them to Thorald's house, and that they went and spoke with Thorald
at the grange while he waited for them at the gate. Afterwards they all
entered the hall of Thomas Thorald and drank beer together, and all four
went together to Calcote-halle and waited there till ten A.M., when Watyrman
left the other three and returned home. And about two P.M. Elys and Davy
returned and drank beer at Watyrman's house. But the truth is that Elys and
Davy were at Yarmouth that day from seven till past eleven A.M.

238

EDWARD IV

Further, John Osberne, Will. Pykerynge, and John Heydon were corrupt 1466
witnesses. John Osberne said that on Saturday before the Feast of St. MAY
Leonard, when Fastolf was ill of his last illness, the said Osberne, Pykerynge, aiuj
and Heydon came to Caister to receive certain monies of John Rus for barley JUNE
sold to him by Osberne ; that about eight A.M. they entered the hall of the
manor and found Robert Hert and others, servants of Fastolf, sitting at break-
fast ; and that John Russe immediately came to Osberne and talked to him
about the payment. At last Russe took them into the claustrum, and leaving
them, entered Fastolf's chamber ; then, after remaining two hours and more,
returned into the claustrum and delivered the money to Osbern. This testimony
was confirmed by Heydon and Pykeryng ; but the truth is that Russe that
Saturday, from seven till near twelve o'clock (a principio hort septima usque ad
Jinem hor<e undecimx}, and Robert Hert from seven to ten A.M., were at Yar-
mouth, three miles off.

Further, John Symmys and John Shawe were corrupt witnesses, the former
saying that Robert Hert was present in the said manor-house of Caister at eight
A.M. on the said day, and even at nine o'clock at dinner-time (tempore prandii},
and that he saw the said Robert Hert sitting among FastolPs other servants at
breakfast (jentaculurn) ; and that he (Symmys) and Henry Wynstall, Fastolf's
barber, were occupied together in shoeing horses in the said manor from break-
fast-time aforesaid to dinner-time, and that at dinner-time Symmys saw the said
Henry sitting in the hall with others ; and that on the said Saturday, about
eight A.M., and even at noon, Symmys saw John Rus in the hall of the said
manor. Also John Shawe deposed that on the Saturday before FastolPs death
he saw John Rus and Henry Wynstall in the hall of the said manor, both at
eight A.M. at breakfast and at dinner at midday, and he also saw Robert Hert,
porter at the gate of the manor, at those hours ; and that between breakfast and
dinner Shawe and Wynstall were occupied along with John Symmys in shoeing
Sir John's horses. But the truth is that both Rus and Hert were absent as
above-mentioned, and Wynstall was with Fastolf in his chamber from nine A.M.
to half-past ten. Also Symmys, William Pykeryng, Heydon, Osberne, and
Lawes were all absent the whole of that Saturday, and certainly between eight
and eleven A.M. And notwithstanding that the contrary is alleged against them,
John Davy, Barth. Elys, John Bokkyng, John Davy, chaplain, Thos. Upton,
Nich. Newman, John Loer, Wm. Eton, Robert Lynne, John Marshall, Wm.
Lynne, Henry Wynstall, Robert Hert, and Robert Fitzrauff, gave honest testi-
mony in behalf of Yelverton and Worceter, being men of good repute, suffi-
ciently rich, and well worthy of credit.

Additional exceptions on the part of Yelverton and Worcester to the testi-
mony of John Rus and Clement Felmyngham, showing that Paston had offered
to let to the former a tenement in Yarmouth for less than its true value, and had
promised the latter 100 marks for the Austin Friars at South-Town,1 which
was not bequeathed in FastolPs will ; also that he had given Master Robert
Popy, besides his expenses, 20 marks for his testimony, and remitted to him
IOJ. of the rent of a fishery which was five years in arrear, and that he had

1 South-Town, Yarmouth, sometimes called Little Yarmouth.

239

THE PASTON LETTERS

14.66 also released to him 40 marks of a penalty of 100 marks due by Popy upon a
MAY bond ; in consequence of which Popy deposed that on the 3Oth October three
and years previously,1 John Paston had reported to him at Caister that he had made
JUNE an agreement with Fastolf by which he was to have all FastolPs lands in Nor-
folk, Suffolk, and the city of Norwich, after his death, paying for the same
4000 marks, and was to found a college in the manor, etc. ; on hearing which
Popy returned to Fastolf, and related to him what Paston had said to him, and
Sir John confirmed it, requesting him to show the same goodwill towards
Paston, as he had done to himself. But in truth Fastolf never asserted or
confirmed any such thing.

Answers to interrogatories by the same deponent, viz. — i. As to his know-
ledge of the parties and witnesses.

2. As to the alleged instances of bribery, and the absence of Rus on the day
referred to. The latter fact deponent says he knows, because he and Rus lay
together in the chamber of Thomas Howys, and on Friday before FastolPs
death Rus went to Yarmouth to buy victuals, and left with him the key of the
chamber, Howys being then at Blowfeld ; and Rus remained at Yarmouth all
that Friday and the Saturday following, and returned on Sunday.

4. As to the condition of Fastolf on the Saturday before his death. He
was so weak for want of breath that he could not speak distinctly ; those about
him could not hear what he said without inclining their ears to his mouth, and
even then they could hardly understand him. And this deponent says he
knows, because on Friday and Saturday before his death he was frequently in
Sir John's chamber, and when people spoke to him to comfort him in his illness
he only answered by sighs, so that deponent and others could not tell what he
meant. Moreover, Sir John was accustomed when in health daily to say certain
prayers with his chaplain, but on that day the chaplain said the service alone,
while Fastolf lay on his bed and said nothing.

6. As to Russe and Hert being at Yarmouth, he says he heard Thomas
Howys that Saturday morning order the latter to take horse and ride thither to
get provisions for the household, and he saw him ride out of the manor accord-
ingly about seven A.M., and also saw him return with the provisions about ten A.M.
[In the margin here is written ' Nititur deponere de absencia Hert, sed non
probat.']

7. Knows that Henry Wynstall was absent from the hall of the manor from
about nine to half-past ten, for he saw him enter the chamber with his instru-
ments to shave Sir John, and wait there an hour and a half, and he could not
have left without deponent seeing him. Moreover, John Symmys did not shoe
horses in the manor that Saturday, for deponent had the custody of the forge and
kept the keys.

Answers to another set of interrogatories proposed on behalf of Paston and
Howes, and here quoted at length, to the following effect, viz. : I . Where
each witness has lived since he was born, and whether he be in the service of
the party producing him ? 2. As to his knowledge of the witnesses on the

1 * Quod dictis Johannes Paston apud Castre penultimo die Octobris ultimo prae-
terito ad tres annos proxime elapsos sibi retulit.' It would seem by this that Popy's
testimony must have been given within three years of FastolPs death.
240

EDWARD IV

other side? 3. What particulars he can give as to any bribery he imputes to 1466
them, and what was its special object ? 4. By what means he knew it, and by MAY
whom he has been asked to give testimony, and whether he has conferred with anci
his fellow-witnesses; whether they have received instructions what to depose; JUNE
how often he has come up to London to give evidence and returned without
being called ; and how much he was promised for coming ? 5. Each witness
is to declare how he knows the facts, and to be charged not to reveal to the
others on what subjects he was questioned.

The only point of interest in these replies is that deponent was asked by
William Worcester in the city of Norwich on Sunday eight days to give his
testimony in the cause. He denies all communication with his fellow-witnesses,
&c.

Note. — The evidence of this first witness runs to five or six times the length
of any other, and we have noted all the material points in it. Of the depositions
of the others we shall not give any summary, but mention briefly any new state-
ments that seem to be of interest : —

II. John Dawson, husbandman (agricultor} , of Blowfeld, where he has
been for four years, having formerly lived five years in the manor of Caister,
and before that in Cambridge three years, /iterates, liberte conditlonis, about thirty
years old.

His testimony generally agrees with that of Monke, and he says the
covenant of Akethorpe was made in the February before FastolPs death.
Between Christmas and Easter after his death deponent heard Howes in the
manor of Caister say to Robert Cutteler the vicar that he should have 6 marks
for his labour in giving evidence about FastolPs will ; and afterwards Howes in his
chamber in the said manor paid him 6 marks. Paston also promised him a
benefice worth 40 marks. He says, about a month before Fastolf's death, he
heard Howes and Paston frequently repeat publicly in the household the tenor
of Sir John Fastolf's will. About St. John Baptist's day last he was at Yar-
mouth, and heard John Symmys and John Shawe say they were hired by Paston
and Howes to give evidence in the proving of FastolPs will.

III. John Gyrdynge of Fretenham, where he has lived four years ; before
which time he lived with the Prior of St. Faith's two years, before that in the
manor of Caster four years, before that with John Emeryngale of Wroxham two
years, and before that in Norwich as an apprentice with Henry Toke five years ;
a cook, illiterate and of free condition, thirty-two years old and over.1 Agrees
with the evidence of corruption against Rus and others. Was present in FastolPs
room that Saturday forenoon, and saw the two chaplains celebrating mass. H.
Wynstall the barber was present till ten A.M.

IV. William Boswell of Thetford, who was four years with Friar Bracley,
&c., fiteratus, of free condition, thirty years old and more. Heard Howys,
Paston, and Rus frequently confer at Caister about the sale of a house in Yar-

1 The residences of every one of the witnesses are given from the time of his birth ;
but we have given these details only in one or two cases as specimens.

VOL. IV. Q 24!

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 mouth, which Howys, at the request of Paston, at length granted to Rus at
MAY £20 less than its value, to the end that Rus might bear witness in their favour
and in the proving of FastolPs will. [Here occurs a marginal note by another hand,
JUNE * Male sonat. Quod alius consensit non probatur.' At the head of this deposi-
tion also it is said that this witness has been proved corrupt.]

V. Robert Inglys of Lodon, gentleman, who has lived there two years,
and before that in the parish of Hopton three years, before that with Henry
None, Esq., for more than a year, before that with Sir John Fastolf two
years, before that with the Abbot of Langley two years, and before that in
Hopton with his father ; illiterate, and of free condition, thirty years old and
more.

VI. Richard Home of Brundall, Norwich diocese, husbandman (agricultor],
who has lived there four years, and before that with Thomas Howys six years,
and before that in the parish of St. George, Southwark, three years ; illiterate,
of free condition, twenty-six years old.

VII. Thomas Pykeryng of Wroxham, Norwich diocese, who has been a
schoolmaster at Norwich and Aylesham, and is now clerk to Robert Norwich,
steward of the Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme.

VIII. Henry Clerke of Blowfeld, husbandman (agricultor}, once in the
service of Sir John Fastolf, illiterate, twenty-eight years old, of free condition.
Says that on the Saturday before Fastolfs death Howys sent him and John
Shawe to Yarmouth about seven A.M., with a cart-load of malt to one named
Chirche ; that they arrived about eight, and were spoken to by John Rus and
Robert Cutteler in the market-place ; that they waited with their cart till two
P.M., when deponent took leave of Russ and Cutteler in the street, having
repeatedly seen them there in the interval. Also that at eight and nine A.M. he
saw Robert Hert in Yarmouth, who soon after his arrival delivered him a sack
containing meat, bought, as he said, by Rus for FastolPs household. He says
also that between eight and nine he spoke with the said John Symmys, William
Pykeryng, and John Osbern in Yarmouth.

Marginal notes are appended to the above statements, affirming that bribery
had been proved against this witness by four others, and that he stood alone in
his testimony.

IX. John Tovy of Caister, where he has lived ever since he was born,
agricultor, Kteratus, of free condition, twenty-four years old and more ; cannot
depose of his own knowledge to the bribery of John Rus and the others. He
says John Rus was not present in the manor on the said Saturday, having to be
at Yarmouth to provide victuals for the household. About eight A.M. witness
conveyed to the said manor some linen, which his mother had washed, for she
was Sir John's washerwoman, and waited there, sometimes in the hall and
sometimes in Sir John's chamber, till after midday, but did not see John Rus
or any of the others named, as he would have done if they had been present.

X. Thomas Hert of Caister, agricultor, who has lived there from his birth,
illiterate, of free condition, twenty-three years old. Cannot depose to bribery
except from hearsay. Was sent to Caister by his father on the Saturday before
FastolPs death with capons to be sold to John Rus, purveyor of victuals for the
household, but on inquiring for him, found he was absent, and delivered the

242

EDWARD IV

capons to Sir Thomas Howes. Waited till nine A.M. and saw neither Rus, 1466
Cutteler, Boteler, nor Robert Hert, but was told Rus was at Yarmouth, and MAY
Boteler sick in his chamber. John Symmys had nothing to do with the shoeing an(j
of Sir John's horses that day. Was asked to bear witness in this cause a fort- ,UNE
night ago by Sir William Yelverton's servant at Caister.

XI. William Shave, roper of Yarmouth, illiterate, of free condition, fifty-
eight years old. On the Saturday before FastolPs death, was at the house of
John Balle, at the sign of the Cock, in Yarmouth, in a parlour near the public
street, when Sir Thomas Howes informed John Rus, there present, that he had
been desired by John Paston to remit to him £20 of the price of a house sold
to Rus by the said Thomas, and thereupon he remitted to him the said j£*2O and
5 marks, in which he was bound to Sir John Fastolf. He also promised him
the lands of Akethorp Hall for 40 marks less than any other, provided he
would favour the intention of Howes and Paston. [It is remarked in the
margin that witness does not say what intention.] William Lynde, a servant
of Sir John Fastolf, was present, besides others. He saw Russ and Cutteler
that Saturday at Yarmouth, between nine and twelve A.M., and spoke with them
and drank in the house of Thomas 1 ,ounde. As to Thomas Torald, witness
was at Yarmouth one Saturday, when he heard Robert Cutteler and Torald
conversing ; and the former told the latter that Sir Thomas Howes loved him
well, and that John Paston could do him much good, and in the name of Paston
and Howes he promised Torald 2OJ. for his labour, besides expenses, if he
would depose for them. Knows that on the Saturday before FastolPs death
Bartholomew Elys was in Yarmouth from half-past eight to eleven A.M., for he
and witness bought fish called roches together, sold some, and divided others in
Elys's house. That day he saw John Rus in Yarmouth several times every
hour from seven to eleven A.M., for he was in the market-place all that time on
his business, and at vespers he saw John Rus in the parish church of the said
town. Next day, Sunday, he also saw him there at matins and at mass.

XII. Nicholas Chirche of Yarmouth, merchant, fiteratus, of free condition,
forty years old and more. Testifies concerning a conversation held in John
Balle' s parlour at the Cock in Yarmouth after the Christmas following Fastolf 's
death, with Sir Thomas Howes, John Paston, John Rus, Friar Clement Felmyng-
ham, Dan Robert Cutteler, Robert Boteler, Thomas Neve, and others, when
Howes remitted to John Rus £10 of the price of a house he had sold him,
and 5 marks of the arrears of his accounts. He also testifies to other acts of
the same nature on that occasion, and to the absence of Rus and Cutteler at
Yarmouth on the Saturday above referred to, &c.

[In the margin it is remarked that this witness has been proved corrupt by
three others.]

On the 22d May John Naseby, proctor for Yelverton and Howes, pro-
duced as a witness one John Rugge, in presence of Master Robert Kent,
Paston's proctor.

XIII. Thomas Newton of Burgh, agricu/tor, illiterate, of free condition,
fifty years old and more.

XIV. Thomas Spycer of Southtown, by Yarmouth, tailor, illiterate, of free
condition, fifty years old and more.

243

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 XV. Thomas Neve of Jernemuth \_Tarmouth~\^ merchant, /iterates, of free

MAY condition, forty years old and more,
and XVI. John Rugge, mariner, of Yarmouth, illiterate, of free condition,

JUNE ^y years °id.

XVII. John Clerke of Gorlaston, agricultor, illiterate, of free condition,
fifty years old. Heard Clement Felmyngham report to him at the Austin
Friars in Southtown that Paston and Howes had given him a pension of 8
marks a year for life, and 40*. for his servant, to say masses for the soul of Sir
John Fastolf. Cannot witness of bribery otherwise. A little after Michael-
mas, two years before Fastolf's death, William Worceter in Fastolf's name
delivered possession of six of his manors in Lodylond, viz. Spytlyng in Gor-
laston, Brad well Hall in Brad well, Hadlounde in Brad well, Calcotes in Freton,
Beytons in Belton, and Akethorpe in Leystoft, to Sir Thomas Howes and
others, his co-feoffees named in a charter of enfeoffment, to the use of Sir John
during his life, and to execute his will afterwards. This he knows, because he
rode with Howes to the said manors when he took possession, and saw and
heard Worceter deliver possession thereof. Thomas Torald reported to witness
in Lent last that Paston and Howes had promised and paid him 2Os., besides
his expenses, to give evidence in the proving of Fastolf's will, and had given
each of his fellow-witnesses as much.

XVIII. Robert Bunche of Yarmouth, manner, /iterates, of free condition,
fifty years old. Swears to having seen John Rus that Saturday at Yarmouth
between seven and eight. [A marginal note says that being afterwards pro-
duced as a witness by Paston, he admitted having been suborned, and having
deposed falsely.]

On the 22d July Yelverton's proctor, Naseby, produced in presence of
Paston's proctor, Kent, two witnesses, viz. — Stephen Scrope, Esq., and
Richard Fastolf.

XIX. Stephen Scrope, Esq., of free condition, seventy years old or about.
Says he was several times with Sir John Fastolf in his manor of Caister within
the two years before his death, when Sir John told him he had made his will,
and had ordered his executors to erect a college of six or seven monks and
seven poor men at Caister, and that they should have lands and goods to the
value of 300 marks a year, if a license could be obtained from the King to that
effect ; otherwise that the number of monks at* St. Benet's should be increased,
and seven poor men supported in the monastery. [In the margin it is remarked
that this witness proves nothing against the accused witnesses, but only endeavours
to depose concerning the will of the deceased.]

XX. Richard Fastolfe, of the parish of St. Mary Eldermary, in London,
tailor, where he has lived for two years, and before that in the parish of St.
Michael, Crokydlane, London, for a quarter of a year, formerly with the Duke
of York, /iterates, of free condition, thirty-two years old. Went to Caister
about the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross preceding FastolPs death,
along with one Thomas Plummer, scriptor, of London, now deceased. Found
Sir John walking about his chamber led by two servants, when Plummer
petitioned him to help deponent with goods that he might marry, as he was one
of Sir John's relations. To this Sir John made answer that he had within a

244

EDWARD IV

few [days] preceding made his will, which he would not alter, and that he had 1466
made mention of deponent therein. He also said to Plummer that if he had MAY
come in good time, he should have written his will. and

[Throughout all the above depositions will be found marginal comments in JUNE
another hand, a few of which we have noticed incidentally, tending to show that
the testimony given is insufficient to prove the bribery of Paston's witnesses, or to
invalidate their statements.]

* Responsiones personaliter factx per Johannem Paston, armigerum, xxix°
die mensis Julii anno Domini M°CCCClxvto, Indictione xiij10*, pontillcatus
sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini nostri, domini Pauli Divina providencia
Papae Secundi anno primo, in domo habitationis venerabilis mulieris Elisabethae
Venor in le Flete vulgariter nuncupat' infra parochiam Sanctas Brigidae Virginis
in suburbeis civitatis London* situata, [et] x., xj., et xijmo diebus mensis
Decembris anno Domini supradicto, Indictione xiiijma, pontificatus dicti sanctis-
simi patris domini Pauli Papas Secundi anno secundo, in domo thesaurarii
ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli London' in parochia Sancti Gregorii civitatis
London* situata, coram venerabili viro Magistro Johanne Druell, utriusque
juris doctore, commissario et examinatore in hac parte specialiter deputato, in
praesentia mei, Nicholai Parker, notarii publici, scribae in ea parte assumpti ei
deputati, de et super interrogator's per partem venerabilis viri domini Willelmi
Yelverton militis et Willelmi Worceter, executorum testamenti domini Johannis
Fastolf militis ministratis, productum.'

640

NOTE

EXTRACT FROM * AN INDEX TO DEEDS AND WRITINGS IN THE TOWER,
MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD'

« 34. The testimony of Th. Howes concerning the testament of Sir John
Fastolf, touching which controversies arose between John Paston the elder, and
Thos. Howes of the one party, and William Yelverton, Knight, and William
Worcetyr on the other.'

245

THE PASTON LETTERS

641

EDWARD IV. TO THE BAILIFFS OF YARMOUTH1
BY THE KINGE (EDWARD THE FOURTH) 2

1466 F I CRUSTY and welbeloved, we greet yow well, letting yow
JULY 17 . wete that our trusty and welbeloved knight Sir John
"*• Paston, our welbeloved William Paston, and Clement
Paston, with other, have been before us and our councell
worshipfully declared of the surmise of great charge that was
laid on our behalfe unto John Paston deceased and them,
jointly and severally ; so that we hold them and every of
them sufficiently declared in that matter, and take and repute
them as gentlemen descended lineally of worshipfull blood
sithen the Conquest hither ; and over that, have commanded
that plenare restitution of the manner of Castor, and of all
other lands and tenements, with goods and cattell, that the
said John Paston deceased had of the gift and purchase of Sir
John Fastolfe, Knight, shall wholly be restored unto our said
Knight Sir John Paston, like as the said John Paston deceased
had in any time of his daies. Wherefore, in as much as our
said Knight intendeth to make his abideing in Castor, we desire
and pray yow that, for our sake and contemplation, ye will be
friendly and neighbours unto him in his right ; and such
other things as may be to his profitt and ease, wherein ye
shall do unto us full and good pleasure. Yeaven under our
signet in our Castle at Windsore the xvijth day of July.

Subjoined to the above in Sandford's Genealogy is ' the coppie of a warrant sent

1 This letter is reprinted from the Norfolk Archeology, where it was first published
by Mr. Worship from a transcript made by Sandford in his MS. Genealogy of the
Paston family, compiled in 1674. Sandford states that 'the originall under the
King's scale remaineth in the custody of Edward Paston, Esq.' The date is rendered
certain by the warrant subjoined.

2 We have placed the words ' Edward the Fourth ' in parentheses, though they are
not so printed by Mr. Worship, and are probably not so written in Sandford's MS.,
because we suspect that they were not in the text of the original document, but were
added by Sandford by way of explanation.

246

EDWARD IV

from Kinge Edward the Fourth to restore Sir John Paston to the lands and possessions 1466
which he purchased of Sir John Fastolfe, whereof the originall remaineth in the
custody of Edw. Paston, Esq.' It is addressed ' To all tenaunts, fermors, or occupiers
of all the lands and tenements, and of every part of them, that late were John Paston's,
Esq., now deceased, by way of inheritance, or Agnes Paston, Margaret Paston,
William Paston, and Clement Paston, or any of them, and to all such persons what
so they be, now being in the manner or place of Castor, or in any lifelode that
was the said John Paston, Esq., by way of gifte or purchase of late Sir John
Fastolfe, or of any other, within our counties of Norff., Suff., and Norwich, and to all
the tenants, fermors, baylies, or occupiers of the same, and of every part thereof;
and to all mayers, shreves, eschetors, bayliffs, and other our officers, as well within
franchise as without our counties aforesaid, hereing or seeing these our letters.' The
King mentions in this warrant that ' great part of the said lands, tenements, and
manors had been seized into our hands'; and the tenants, farmers, bailiffs, and
occupiers of the said lands are charged thenceforth to pay the whole issues and profits
thereof to Sir John Paston ; and the mayors, sheriffs, escheators, and others the King's
officers are charged to be 'assisting, helping, and strengthening.' The warrant is
' Yeven under our signet at Windsore, the xxvjl1? day of July, the sixth yeare of our
reigne.'

642

ABSTRACT1

Latter clause of a writ of superseded* to an escheator directing him not to

make inquisition post mortem on the lands of John , until further notice. ,ULy 2O

Westminster, 20 July.

[From the time of year at which this writ is dated, it may have been issued after
the death of John Paston, who died in May 1466, the inquisition on his lands not
having been taken till October following. But it may possibly have applied to the
lands of Sir John Fastolf, who died in November 1459, the inquisition after his death
not having been taken till October 1460.]

643

ANCESTRY OF THE PASTONS

The following document is derived from a transcript made by Sandford in the
Genealogy mentioned in No. 641, and some previous papers, and is likewise reprinted
from Mr. Worship's article. Prefixed to it in Sandford's MS. are these words: — 'The
Briefe followinge was delivered to Edward Paston, Esq., amonge other evidence, by
his uncle Clement Paston, and it is written in an old hand.' It would appear,
however, from the wording, not to be a 'brief or abstract, as Sandford considered it,

[From Paston MSS., B.M.]

247

THE PASTON LETTERS

but an extract from some certificate made in the King's name in behalf of Sir John
Paston, setting forth what had been proved on examination as to the gentility of his
ancestry.

THEY shewed divers great evidences and court rolles, how
that they and their ancetors had been possessed of a
court and seniory in the town of Paston, and of many
and sundry bondmen, sithen the time that no mind is to the
contrary ; and how that Agnes Paston, wife to the said William
Paston, father to the said John, William, and Clement, in title
of her dower, is in possession of bondholders, and also of
bondmen, whose ancetors have been bondmen to the ancetors
of the said John Paston sithen the time that no minde is to
the contrary. And they shewed divers fines, some leavyed in
the time of the begining of the reigne of our noble progenitor,
Edward the First, son of Kinge Henry, son of King John, of
liveloude whereof they and theire ancetors have been possessed
ever since to this day.

Also they shewed divers inquests which is matters of
record. Also they shewed divers deeds and grants before
time of mind, how that their ancetors had licence to have a
chaplen and have divine service within them. And that divers
of their ancetors had given lyvelyhood to houses of religion to
be prayed for, and confirmacions under the Great Scale of our
noble ancestor Kinge Henry the Third, son of Kinge John,
confirming the same grants.

Also they shewed divers old deeds, some without date,
insealed under autenticke scales, of divers particular purchases
in the town of Paston, reciting in the said deeds that the land

was holden of the ancetors of the said Paston,

as of the chiefe lord of the fee, and by homage, and had ward,
marriage and reliefe. Also they shewed how their ancestors
were infeoffed in divers men's manners and lands in trust.
Also they shewed a great multitude of old deeds, without
date and with date, wherein their ancetors were alwaies sett
first in witness, and before all other gentlemen. Also they
shewed how their ancetors had, in old time and of late time,
married with worshipfull gentlemen ; and proved, by deeds of
marriage and by other deeds, how their ancetors had indowed
248

EDWARD IV

their wives, and by discents of livelyhood, and by testaments
and wills of their ancestors under scale ; and made open by
evident proofe, how they and their ancetors came lineally
descended of right noble and worshipfull blood, and of great
lords, sometime liveing in this our realme of Ingland. And
also they made open proofe how they were nere of kin and
blood to many of the worshipfullest of the country, and also
nere to many and sundry great estates and lords of this realme,
and was openly proved and affirmed, without contradiction or
proofe to the contrary.

They shewed how they had kept pl'ce with divers . .
. . and with Plays that had wedded the Earle Warren's
daughter, the third yeare of Edward the First. They shewed
a lineall discent, how their first ancetor, Wulstan, came out of
France, and Sir William Glanvile together, his kinsman, that
after founded the pryory of Bromholme by the towne of
Paston and the towne of Bentley ; and how Wulstan had
issue Wulstan, which bare armes gould flowret azure ; and
how he had issue, Raffe and Robert ; which RafFe, senior,
bare armes as his father, and Robert the younger bare silver
flowret azure. And Robert had issue Edmund and Walter ;
which Edmund the elder bare as his father ; and his brother,
because he married Glanvile's daughter, a cheife indented gold,
the field silver, flowret azure ; and how their ancetors after
bare with lesse number ; and how Sir John Paston was heire
to all those, for they died sans issue. And this was shewed by
writinge of olde hand, and by old testaments and evidences.

644

WILL OF AGNES PASTON1

TO all to whom this present writting xal come, I, Agnes 1466
Paston, late the wife of William Paston, Justice, send SEPT. 16
greting in God everlasting, lating hem know that I,
the forseid Agnes, of goode and hole mende, the xvj. day of

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

249

THE PASTON LETTERS

1466 Septembre, the vj. yere of the reigne of Kyng E. the mj**1 and
SEPT. 1 6 the yere of our Lord a M'CCCClxvj., make and ordeyne my
last will in al the maners, londes, tenementes, rentes, services,
mesuages, and places, that ony person or persones bene seased
of to myn use and behof with in Norwiche, Norffolk, Suffolk,
Essex, Hertfordshere, or in any other shere with in Englond,
praying and desiring al the personez so feffed to myn use,
after this my will, writtyn and inceled under my scale, be
shewed unto them, that they wol make astate to the persones
lemited in my seid will according.

And inasmoche as myn husbond, whos soule God assoile,
dyverse tymes, and specialy among other the day of the moneth,
rehersed to me that the lyvelod whiche he had assigned to his
ij. yongest, William and Clement, by his will in writting, was
so littill that they mizt not leve thereon, withouzt they shuld
hold the plowe to the tayle ; and ferthermore, seying that he
had dyvers oder maners, that is to say, the maner of Sporle,
Sweynsthorp, and Bekham ; which maner of Bekham he was
purposed to chaunge with the maner of Pagrave ; and if he
myzt bring it abouzt, then xuld on of his ij. yongest sones
have the seid maners of Sporle and Bekham, and no more, and
the other yongest sone xuld have al the remenaunt. And he
that had the maner of Sweynsthorp xuld be bound in a gret
some to the prior of the Abbey of Norwiche, to paie dayly
for ever to the monke that for that day singeth the masse of
the Holy Goste in our Lady Chapell in Norwiche, where he
purposed to leye his body, every day iiij<^., to sing and pray for
his sowle and myn, and al the sowles that he and I have hade
any goode of or be beholdyn to pray for. And after that

the 1 day of l next folowing my seid husbond

lying seke in his bed, in the presens of John Paston, his sone
and myn, John Bakton, John Dame, and of me, declared his
will towching certein of his children and me, at whiche tyme
he assigned to the seid John Paston the maner of Gressham in
honde, and the revercion of suche lyvelode as he zave me
after my decesse, askyng hym the question wheder he held
hym not content so, seying to him in these termes, * Sir, and

1 Blanks in MS.
250

EDWARD IV

thow do not I doo, for I will not geve so mekyll to on 1466
that the remenaunt xal have to littill to leve on. At the SEPT* l6
whiche l

645

WILL OF AGNES PASTON2

B. — And after that the day of the monethe my seyd

husbond lyyng seke on hys bede sent for me, John Paston,
Bakton, and John a Dame, to here hiis wyll rede ; and in owr
presens all he began to reede hiis wylle, and spak fyst of me,
and assynyid to me the maners of Paston, Latymer, and
Schypden and Ropers, in Crowmer, for terme of my lyffe,
and the manerys of Merlyngforthe, Stonsted, and Horwel-
bury, whyche wasse myn owne enheritans, and Oxned, whyche
wasse my jontor, and [prayd me to hold me contente so, for] 3
hadde do to lityll to ony it wasse to me, for somme he faryd
the better, and so devedede (?) he ded for not of hem all, but
he hadde more to care for, wyche myn as well as hys. And
than he red John parte, and assynyd to hym and to hys wyffe
the maner of Gressam, and after my desesse the maner of
Oxned ; and he, thynkyng by John Pastons demenyng that
he wasse not plesyd because ....

C. — Swynne of slowyth that hiis wyll wasse not made up,
but wot swm ever cwm of me, Dame, I wyll ze know my wyll,
and seyd that swyche lond as he hadde not wrytyn in hiis wyll
wott xwlde he do with all, he wold his ij. yongest sonnys,
Wyllam and Clement, xwlde have, and owte of Sweynthorpe
to have hiis perpetuell masse. And of thys prayd me to
reporte recorde and berre wyttnesse ; in qwyche disposicion
and intent he continuyd in on to the day of hiis dethe, and I

1 Here the fragment ends at the bottom of a leaf written only on one side.

2 [From Paston MSS.] The following appear to be three separate fragments of an
original draft of Agnes Paston's will, written on two sides of a small scrap of paper.
Two of these fragments have the letters B and D prefixed to them, showing that they
were intended as insertions in a part of the text now lost.

3 These words are struck through with the pen.

25I

THE PASTON LETTERS

darre rytgh largely deposse that that same wasse hiis last wyll
the tyme of hiis dethe ; qwyche wyll immediatly after my
husbondes decesse I hopynd and declaryd to John Paston and
al the other executores of my husbond, desyeryng hem to
have performyd it. And the seyd John Paston wold in no
wysse agree ther to, seyying that by the lawe the seyd manerys
xulde be hiis, in as moche as my husbonde made no wyll of
hem in wrytyn, and gatte the dedis owte of my possession and
estat of the feffees in the seyde manerys, myn unknowyng.

And after that swyche tresowre of my husbons as wasse
leyde in the Abbey of Norwyche by the seyd John Paston,
John Bakton, John Dam, and me, to delyvere azen to us all,
the seyde John Paston owte of the seyde Abbey unknowyn to
the priour or ony oder person of the seyde Abbey, and with-
owte my wetyn[g] and assente, or ony of owre felawys, toke
and bare awey all, and kepyng it styll azens my wyll and
all the tother executores wyllys, nothere restoryng the seid
Wyllam and Clement to the forseyd land, nother recompensyng
them of my husbonds tresor, and ordeynyng for my husbonds
sowle in havyng of hiis perpetuell masse acordyng to his wyll.
Werfor, in as moche as I know and understonde verrely that
it wasse my husbonds wyll the tyme of hys dethe, that the
seyd Wyllam and Clement xwlde have the seyd manerys of
Sporle, Sweynsthorp, and Bekham, and the annuyte for hys
perpetuell masse to be going owte of the seyde maner of
Sweynthorp, and that the possessioners of the seyd manerys at
thys day wyll in no wysse by any fayer menez or spekyng
tender my seyd husbonds sowle and myn, ner perform the
wyll of my seyd husbond, I wyll have and xall by the gras[e]
of swyche lyvelode as I have in my possession, that is for to
sey, the maners of Stonsted, Marlyngforthe, and Horwellbury,
that swm tym wasse my faders and my moders, and cwm on
to me by them as myn enheritance. And after my decesse if
I wolde soffer it to desend, xwM goo to the wronge posses-
sioners of the seyd manerys of Sporle, Sweynsthorp, and
Bekham, qwyche xall not be lettyd for me, but if it be thorow
her owne defaute, make, sta[b]lesse and ordeyn myn husbonds
perpetuell masse and myn, and of the remenaunt, as swerly as
252

EDWARD IV

can be made by the lawe, I wyll the seyd Wyllam and Clement
be recompensyd to the valew of the seyde manerys of Sporle,
Sweynthorpe, and Bekkam, zerly [yearly], on to the tyme that
they be restoryd to the forseyd manerys of Sporle, Sweynthorp,
and Bekkam, in lik forme, and lyke astat as xall be afterwards
lymytyd in thys my last * [will ; chargyng and requiryng the
seyd Wyllam and Clement that after that they be restoryd to
the manerys of Sporle, Sweynsthorp, and Bekam, they restore
myn heyres to Marlyngforthe, Stons[ted], and Orwelbury.]

646

NOTE

In the Fasten Genealogy drawn up by Sandford, to which we have several
times before alluded, occurs another extract from the will of Agnes Fasten, as
follows : —

« Also I bequeath to the Whight Fryers of the said city of Norwich, for I
am there a suster, to helpe to pay hir \jheir^ debts, xx//., which I will be
gathered of the arrerage of my lyvelode. Also I bequeath to the auter of
Gracion of the said House, whereas mine husband and I have a perpetuall
masse, a vestment which they have for a prist to judge in or \_ofl~\ rede satern.
Also to the mendinge of the chappell of our Ladie within the said place,
whereas Sir Thomas Gerbrege, my grandfather, and Dame Elizabeth his wife,
and Sir Edmond Berrye my father, and Dame Alice his wife, be buried, and
Clement Paston my sonn.'

647

WILLIAM PASTON'S WILL2

ON the Thurseday at nyght before Our Ladys Day the
Assumpcion,3 betwixt xj. and xij. of the clokk, in the
yer of Our Lord God MCCCC. and xliiij., the
Sondays lettre on the D., died my husbond, God assoyle his

1 The word ' will ' is omitted in the MS., and the words ' my last ' repeated. What
follows is crossed out.

2 [From Fenn, iii. 15.] The following memorandum relative to the death of
her husband was written by Agnes Paston, probably about the time she made
her will.

3 The Assumption of Our Lady was the 1 5th August.

253

THE PASTON LETTERS

sowle. And on the Fryday after I sent for John Paston,
John Dam, &c. And on the Wedynysday after cam John
Paston, &c. And on the Fryday John Paston, John Dam
and I yede into the chambre, and they desyred of me to see
the wyll. I lete them see it. And John Dam redde it ; and
when he had redde it, John Paston walkyd up and down in the
chambere. John Dam and I knelyd at the beddys fete.

648
ABSTRACT l

Roll of paper containing a draft in English of part of the inquisition on the
death of John Paston, relating more especially to the foundation of Fastolf's
college. In the latter part the jury find that John Paston died on the 22nd
May 2 last, and that Sir John Paston, Knight, is his son and next heir, and is
of the age of 24 years and more.

*#* Copies of the original inquisition, as returned into Chancery, and of that
on the death of Sir John Fastolf, exist among the Paston MSS. in the Bodleian
Library.

649

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON3

To my ryght wyrshypfull mayster, Sir John Paston,
Knyzt, be thys letter delyveryd in hast.

1466 T GRYTTE you well, and send you God ys blessyng and

OCT. 29 myn, desyryng you to send me werd how that ye spede

in youre maters, for I thynk ryght leng tyll I here

tydyngys from you ; and in alwyse I avyse you for to be ware

that ye kepe wysly your wrytyngys that ben of charge, that it

com not in her \their\ handys that may hurt you herafter.

Your fader, wham God assole, in hys trobyll seson set more

1 [Addit. Roll, 17,258, B.M.]

2 The date in the inquisition returned into Chancery (6 Edw. iv., No. 44) is
2ist May.

3 [From Fenn, iv. 272.] The date of this letter is shown by the contents to be
shortly after John Paston the father's death, probably in the same year.

254

EDWARD IV

by hys wrytyngys and evydens than he dede by any of 1466
hys moveabell godys. Remember that yf the wer had from ocr" 29
you, ye kowd never gyte no moo such as the be for your
parte, &c.

Item, I wold ye shold take hyde that yf any processe com
owte a yenst me, or a yenst any of tho that wer endyted a fore
the coroner, that I myght have knowlych therof, and to purvey
a remedy therfor.

Item, as for your fader ys wyll, I wold ye shold take ryght
gode counsell therin, as I am enformyd it may be prevyd, thogh
no man take no charge thys twelfmonth. Ye may have a letter
of mynystracyon to such as ye wyll, and mynyster the godys
and take no charge. I avyse you that ye in no wyse take no
charge therof tyll ye know more than ye doo yet ; for ye may
verely knowe by that your unkell Will, seyd to you and to me,
that thay wyll lay the charge uppon you and me for moo thyngys
then ys exprest in your fader ys wyll, the whych shud be to
grete for you or me to bere ; but as for me, I will not be to
hesty to take it uppon me, I ensure you.

And at the reverens of God, spede your maters so thys
terme, that we may be in rest herafter, and lette not for no
labour for the season, and remember the grete cost and charge
that we have had hedyr toward, and thynk verely it may not
lenge endur. Ye know what ye left when ye wer last at horn,
and wyte it verely ther ys no mor in thys countray to bere owte
no charge with. I a wyse you enquer wysely yf ye canne gyte
any more ther as ye be, for els by my feth I feer els it will not
be well with ous ; and send me word in hast hough ye doo,
and whether ye have your laste dedys that ye fayled, for playnly
they er not in thys contrey. It ys told me in consell that Ric.
Calle hath nyer conqueryd your uncle Will, with fayre promyse
twochyng hys lyflode and other thyngs, the whych shold pre-
vayll hym gretly, as he sayth. Be ware of hym and of hys
felowe be myn avyse. God sende you gode spede in all your
maters.

Wryten at Caster, the moreu next after Symon and Jude,
wher as I wold not be at thys tyme but for your sake, so mot
I ches. By your Moder.

255

THE PASTON LETTERS

650

ABSTRACT *

SIR JAMES Gum TO SIR JOHN PASTON

I466(?) Was at Snaylwell on Sunday, but could get no money. Most of the tenants
NOV. 10 away at Canterbury or elsewhere. The rest said when you were there last you
had given them till Candlemas, ' so that thei myght malt ther corn and brynge it
to the best preffe.' Warned them to be ready by Tuesday before St. Edmond
the King, when Richard Calle would visit them. A thrifty man beside Bery
is willing to take the farm ; but every one says the last farmer was undone by it.
Advises Paston not to overcharge his farms. I have seen Catelyn's corn, and
your tenants say it is sufficient to content you. Your shepherd wishes to know
if you will continue him, for no one has spoken to him since my master your
father died. Men of Fordham have occupied your ground these two years that
my master has been in trouble. I think you should speak to my Lord of Wor-
cester, as he and Woodhous are lords of the town. I have bid the farmers at
Snaylwell sow some wheat land, and have warned the tenants at Sporle, Pagrave,
and Cressingham to be ready to pay. Advises him to keep up his place at
Langham's. If 'my master' had lived he would have exchanged it for the
parsonage. Supped on Monday night at a place of the Duke of Suffolk's with
the parson of Causton, a chaplain of the Duchess, ' and they talked sore of my
Lady's bargain, and were right sorry that she should forsake it.' The parson
asserted that the feoffees had put her in possession of the manors. Talk over
this with your counsel ; for if the feoffees be compelled to release in Chancery it
will be nought, because of the estate they made before ; so when you expect to
be most quiet you will be most troubled. There was also the parson of Bramp-
ston, and he said W. Yelverton had sent a letter to the bailiff he has set at
Guton, but what it meant I could not find out. W. Yelverton has put the
parson of Heynford out of his farm. I did not speak with your mother before
writing this, as she was at Caister.
Norwich, St. Martin's Even.

From the mention of John Paston the father as dead, and the trouble he had been
in for two years, it would appear that this letter must have been written in 14.66, the
year of his death. The letter is endorsed in a contemporary hand : 'Literx anno vj.
et vij. Edwardi iiijti-'

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

256

EDWARD IV

651

ABSTRACT1

THOMAS GRENE TO WILLIAM YELVERTON, ESQ.

Desires his favour for Frere John Chesteyn and John Russe of Yarmouth, 1466
who are suspected by Lord Scales of having treasures or jewels of my Master DEC. 22
Paston's. He never trusted them with any, knowing they were familiar with
William Jenney and Sir Thomas Howes. Is sure he put no treasure into any
place in that town, religious or other, for he often said he wondered any thrifty
man would live in it, * there were so much riotous people therein.' Begs his
favour for my mistress Paston, ' which is now under your governance.' Hopes
to see her hereafter 'as worshipful and well at ease as ever she was, and a great
deal better when these troubles be passed ; for I am sekir whan God woll that
she be passed them she would not suffer them again for right great riches.'

Norwich, morrow of St. Thomas Apostle.

[This letter has a great appearance of having been written shortly after John
Paston's death. We place it therefore in the year in which he died.]

652

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON 2

<To Mestresse Margrete Paston, be thys delyveryd.

PLEASE it yow to weete that I sende yow by Barker, the Date
berer heroff, iij. trade pottes of Geane [Genoa] as my uncer-
potecarie swerytht on to me, and mooreovyr that they tain
weer never ondoo syns that they come from Geane. Wheroff
ye shalle take as many as pleasyth yow ; neverthe lesse my
brother John sente to me for ij., therfor I most beseche yow
that he maye have at the lest on. Ther is on potte that is
morkyn ondre the bottome ij. tymes with thyes letteris M. P.,
whyche potte I have best truste on too, and nexte hym to the
wryghe potte ; and I mystruste moost the potte that hathe a

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

2 [From Fenn, iv. 264.] This and the two letters following are without any
certain date, but they are all addressed to Margaret Paston, most probably after her
husband's death.

VOL. iv. — R 257

THE PASTON LETTERS

Date krotte abovyn in the toppe, lesse that he hathe ben ondoone.

uncer- And also the other ij. pottys be prentyd with that marchauntys
tain marke too tymes on the coveryng, and that other pott is butt
onys morkyn but with on prente, notwithstondyng I hadde
lyke othe and promyse for on as well as for alle.1

653

ABSTRACT 2

EDWARD MAWDBY TO HIS NIECE MARGARET PASTON

Has a tenant, a widow in Sail, building a house on his ground. She has
been threatened with having it pulled down. Send for Aleyn Roos, my
receiver, and take his counsel what is to be done.

London, 24 Nov. Signed ' By your nevew Edward Mawdby ' ; although
addressed ' my most trusty and well beloved niece.'

654
ABSTRACT^

E. CLERE4 TO MARGARET PASTON

My little cousin your son 5 is a fair child. Wishes certain evidences of
Frethorp, which she delivered to Margaret Paston's husband to make award
between her and Rammesbury, a paper book of the customs of Ormesby and a
roll called ' domysday,' &c. Your father-in-law 6 was of counsel both with my
mother 7 and with my mother-in-law.8 Supposes there may be other evidences,
as of Tacolneston, Therston, Reynthorp, Rusteynes in Wymondham, Kesewik,
and Stratton. Sends back some rolls brought by a man from Norwich, which
belong to Margaret Paston and not to the writer.

1 The signature of this letter, Fenn says, is torn off the original MS.

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

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

* Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby. She died in 1492.
6 This must be one of the younger sons of John and Margaret Paston.

6 William Paston, Justice.

7 Margaret, wife of Thos. Owydale or Dovedale, of Tacolneston, daughter and
heir of William Reeves.

8 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Branch, and wife of John Clere, Esq. of
Ormesby; after whose death she married again Sir John Rothenhale. See No. 15 in
vol. ii.

258

EDWARD IV

655

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

ITEM, Arb[l]aster must mak a proctyr by yowr advyce, and 1466 (?)
iff he lyst to make the seyd Master John Halfnothe he
maye, elles he must sende uppe an other ; and he most
also make a letter of waraunt to the seyde Master John Half-
nothe undre hys selle by yowre advyce in thys forme : —

Master John, &c. I recomande me, &c., letyng yow weet that I have
made yow my proctor towchyng the testement off John Paston, Esquier ; wher-
ffor I praye yow that ye on my behalve reffuce the admynystracion of hys seyde
testamen, fur I woll nowt have ado ther with. Wherffo[r] loke that ye on my
behalve reffuce all admynestracion, entresse or besynesse, that I myght have
there by. And thys shewys yow my wyll here in, and shall be to yow a dys-
charge att any tyme. No moor, &c.

Yowr frend, JAMES ARBLASTER.

I wolde nat that myn oncle William scholde cawse hym to
take on hym as hys felawe, for iff myn oncle William doo thus
moche in the corte I suppose it may here afftre doo ease. For
as God helpe me I cannot sey verrely iff my fadre (God have
hys sowle !) agreyd that he shold be one, but in my sowle he
never thowt that he sholde be, for he never namyd no moor
butt my modre and me, and afftre, yow, whan I rehessyd myn
oncle Clement, yow and Arblaster, and than he chase yow,
seyng he thoght that ye were good and trewe. Kepe thys
secrett. Iff myn oncle be noon executor, it maye happelv
brynge ageyn a trussyng coffre with CC. old peyse noblis,
whyche he toke from me as executor.

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The MS. from which this letter is printed is a draft
in the handwriting of Sir John Paston. There can be little doubt it was addressed to
his brother John, and as it refers to the administration of their father's will, we place
it in the year of his death.

259

THE PASTON LETTERS

656

JOHN RUSSE TO MARGARET PASTON1

1*0 the worshypfull and my right honorabyll maistresse,
Maistresse Marge t Paston.

After • ~) IGHT worshipfull and myn right honourable and good
1466 fV maistresse, I recomaund me to you in my most
humble wyse, besekynge youre maistresshyp to take
no dyspleasure of the longe forberyng of youre mony, whiche
is ix/f. xvjj. viijd. now. Be my trouthe, Maister Fen had of
me 1. marke at hyse beyng here fore custum, wherof a gret
part is owyng me tyl I may be leysere 2 gather it up. I thynke
of every day a wyke tyl ye be content, and I thanke God I owe
not al the world so myche as I do you. In as goodly haste as
I can, youre maistresship shal have it with ever my servise and
preyer, for ye do a meritory dede ; it hathe savyd my pore
honestie and gretly avayled me ; wher as if it had leyn in youre
coferys, as, I doute not, a M1//. more dothe, no profit shuld
have growe to any man ; it is a meritory dede to helpe them
that mene trewly, whiche, for Godis sake, maistresse consedre.
I truste I am of that substans that, what soever caswelte for-
tunyd, yourre maistresship shuld not lese on pene of yourre
dute. Every ourre (?) may be distreynid of myn the value of
C. marke in shyppis and literys, and owe not but to you Cr., I
dare afferme. Also, maystresse, ye have an obligacion of me
of xl/j. a byll of xx//., and abil of xx//., and a by 11 of x//. ; for
Godis sake, maistresse, spare me for a tyme, the rather for the
affeccion that my maister 3 had to me, whos soule Jhesu assoyle.
Hyse maistirshyp grauntyd me many tymez to have lent me of
the dedys goodis xl//., to have payd hym ageyn in v. yeer ; and
so I doute not but I shuld have had if hyse maistirshyp had
levyd. I lost a gret losse of hese departyng ; for hyse sake,

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 226.] This letter must have been written some time after
John Paston's death, but probably not many years later. Compare No. 651.
« Sic. 3 John Paston.

260

EDWARD IV

maystresse, shewe me the more favour. I intende not to After
debarre you of oon peny, so Jhesu helpe me, but in as goodly 1466
haste as I can to contente you ; be my trouthe, at thys seasun
I have not in my pocession x. marke which is right litil, what
casewelte that ever fortune. I am deseyvid of many men ; be
my trouthe there is owyng me in thys town xl. marke of iij.
yeer passyd, that thow I shuld go to prison I knowe not to
have xx j. of ony of hem. Right worshypfull and my right
honourable maistresse, I beseke Almyghti Jhesu, ever preserve
you from adversite. Maistresse, for the servise that to my
pore powyr I aught my maister youre husbonde I am the werse
by xx//. and more sylvir ; for Godis sake therfor, maistresse,
yit favour me a season ; I aske not ellys.

Yourre bedeman and servaunt, JOHN RUSSE.

657
J. STRANGE TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

'To my rith worchipfull and good master •,
Ser John Paston, Knyght.

RYTH worchupful ser, after dewe recomendacion, plesyt Between
zow to understond the cause of my wrytyng ys for a 1467-9
maryage for my Masterys Nargery, zowr suster. For
my nevyewe, John Straunge, wold make her sur of xl//. joynture
and CC. marke be zer of inherytaunce ; and yf zee and zour
frendes wole agreve herto, I trost to God that xall take a con-
clusion to the plesur of God, and worchup to both partyes.

Moreover, and yt plesyth zow to wete, I am sore troblyd
with Bedston, as wele be the wey of tachements owte of the
Chauncer as oderwyse. I must beseche zow of zowr good
mastershepe and help in secrete maner as the Ser Thomas

1 [From Fenn, iv. 286.] This letter being addressed to Sir John Paston touching
a proposal of marriage for his sister, must have been after the death of his father in
1466, and, of course, before the actual marriage of Margery Paston to Richard Call,
which seems to have taken place towards the close of 1469.

26l

THE PASTON LETTERS

Between Lynes, the brynger of thys, shall enforme zow. I xall be att
1467-9 London in the begynnyng of thys terme, be the grace of God,
qwych preserve zowe.

Wretyn att Norwych in hast, the Monday after Twelthe
Day.

By yowr, J. STRANGE.

6S8

SIR JOHN AND LADY HOWARD1

1467 r | ^HIS wrytenge made at London the vjte yer of Kynge
JAN* 22 Edward the iiij. and the xxij. day of Jenever wyt-

nesseth what stoffe my master Sir John Howard hath
delyverd to my Lady his wyfe in this monyth of Jenever.

Ferst ij. rynges of goolde set with good dyamawntes, the
wyche the quene yaff my master.

Item, a rynge of goolde with a fyne rubye.

Item, a nowche of goolde set with a fyne safyre, a grete
balyse and v. perles.

Item, my master yaff here a fyne pece of holand clothe as
good as Reynes conteynenge in length xl. yerdes, the yerde
was wele worth iiijj.

Item, my master gaff her a noder pece of holand clothe,
corser, conteynenge in lengthe more than xl. yerdes, the yerde
was worthe ijj. iiij*/.

Item, my master gaff her a longe gowne of fyne cremysen
velvet furred with menyver and purfeled with ermynes.

Item, my master gaff her a longe gowne of fyne grene
velvet furred with menyver and purfeled with ermynes.

Item, my master gaff her vijxx scynnes of fyne ermynes.

Item, my master gaff her vij. yerdes and di. of fyne grene
velvet.

Item, my master gaff here vij. yerdes of cremyson velvet.

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 51.] The date is taken from the head of the document,
but there are additions of later dates to January 14.68.

262

EDWARD IV

Item, my master gaff here a devyse of goolde with xiiij. 1467
lynkes and the ton halffe of the lynkes enamyled set with iiij. JAN. 22
Ruby is iij. dyamawntes and vij. perles.

Item, my master gaff her an nothe devyse of goolde of the
same fassyon with odre xiiij. lynkes, and theryn vij. Rubyis
and vij. perles.

Item, my master gaff her a gyrdyll of clothe of goolde and
the harneys of goolde.

Item, my master gaff her a gyrdyll of grene damaske and
the harneys of sylver and gylte.

Item, my master gaff her iij. edges of blak velvet set with
Iviij. perles.

Item, my master gaff here a longe gowne of blak velvet
furred with martrys and purfeled with marteres.

Item, my master gaff her a longe gowne of murrey furred
with menever and purfeled with ermynes.

Item, my master gaff here a coler of goolde with xxxiiij.
roses and sonnes set on a corse of blak sylke with an hanger of
goolde gar ny shed with a saphyre.

Item, my master gaff her iiij. owches of goolde garnyshed
with iij. rubyis, a saphyre, an amytes, an emerawde and xv.
perles.

Item, my master gaff here a peyr of bedes for a gentyl-
womannes nekke gawdeid with viij. gawdeid of goolde and
viij. perles.

Item, a rynge with a grete saphyre.

Item, my master gaff her a nother ryng with an amytes.

Item, my master gaff her iij. Agnus Dei of goolde.

Item, my master gaff her a gret sygnnet of goolde with
the vernycle.

Item, my master gaff her v. odre ryngis of goolde withowt
stones.

Item, my master gaff her a cheyne of goolde with a lokke
of goolde gernyshed with a rubye.

Item, my master gaff her a lytell gerdyll of sylke and
goolde called a demysent and the harneys of goolde.

Item, my master gaff her a longe of vyolet engreyned
furred with martres and purfeled with martres.

263

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 Item, the xviij. day of Feverer my master delyverid to

JAN. 22 my Lady to have to Braye a bed of cremysen damaske em-
browdered with Cyle counterpoynte and testour all affter one.

Item, the same day my master delyverid my Lady a bede,
a cyle, a counterpeynt and a testor of Aras with out goolde.

Item, a pece of Aras for hangenge conteynenge in length
xj. yerdes and iij. quarters.

'tern, a nother pece of Aras conteynenge in length viij.
yerdis and iii. quarters.

Item, a nother pece conteynenge vij. yerdis a quarter and
di. in length.

Item, a nother pece of Aras conteyneng v. yerdes and iij.
quarteres in length.

Item, delyverd to my said Lady iiij. peces of new Aras
wyche cam late fro Caleys wereof on is a covertore fore a
bedde and the todde {sic\ iij. ar tapettes conteynenge all iiij.
peces in flemesh elles square C iiijxx xij.

Item, my master left at London at his departynge to
Braye in his place in Bathe Rowe the xx. day of feverer ij.
brede clothes of Blewe.

Item, the vijth yer of Kynge Edward the iiiith and the xvj.
day of March, my master sent to my Lady to Bray a longe
coshon of cremesen velvet and iij. schorte coshones of cremesen
velvet. Item, a longe coshon of grene velvet and ij. short
cushones of grene velvet.

Item, the same tyme my master delyverd her a cheyne of
goold of the olde facyon prise iiij. markis.

Item, the yere above said and the xvj. day of Apryll, my
master delyverd to my Lady v. sylver spones.

Added in Sir John Howard's own hand : — And the vij. zere
of the kenge and in the monithe of Janever I delyvered my
wyffe a pote of selver to pote in grene genger that the kenge
gaffe.

On the back of this MS. is the following unfinished memorandum : —
' Md that I John Legge hawe bownde mey self to John Osberne yn an
oblygacyon '

264

EDWARD IV

659

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON l

To my mastyr. Sir John Paston, logyng
in Fletstrety be thys delyveryd.

SYR, lyekyth it yow to wet that thys day my modyr sent 1467
me your lettyrs, wer by I undystand, blessyd be God, JAN. 27
all thyng standyth in good wey. Also I undyrstand by
your lettyr sent to my modyr and me that ye wold have your
lyvelod gadyrd as hastyly as we myght do it. Syr, as to that,
and othyr folk do no wers ther dever [devoir] in gaderyng of
othyr manerys then we have don in Caster, I tryst to God
that ye schall not be long unpayid ; for thys day we had in
the last comb of barly that eny man had owyth in Caster
towne, not with standyng Hew Awstyn and hys men hathe
crakyd many a gret woord in the tym that it hathe ben in
gaderyng. And twenty comb Hew Awstyns man had doun
cartyd redy for to have led it to Yarmowth. And when I
herd ther of I let slype a sertyn of whelpys that gave the cart
and the barly syche a torn that it was fayn to tak covert in
your bakhous system at Caster halle, and it was wet within an
owyr aftyr that it cam horn, and is nye redy to mak of good
malt all, ho ho ! William Yelverton hathe ben at Gwton and
hathe set in a new bayly ther and hathe dystreynyd the ten-
auntis, and hathe geve hem day till Candyllmas to pay syche
mony as he axyth of hem. Also the seyd Yellverton hathe
ben at Saxthorpe, and hathe dystreynyd the fermour ther and
takyn of hym swerte to paye hym. And thys day the seyd
Yelverton and viij. men with hym, with jakys and trossyng
dobletis all the felawshep of hem, wer redy to ryd ; and one
of the same felawschep told to a man that sye hem all redy

1 [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 3.] This letter appears to have been written in the year
1467, like No. 66 1, which bears date eleven days later. Besides what is said here of
Yelverton, note the reference to John Grey and John Burgeys, whose names appear
in the other letter also.

265

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 that they shuld ryd to tak a dystres in sertayn maners that
JAN. 27 wer Syr John Fastolffys; wherfor I suppose veryly that they
be to Gwton and Saxthorp. Wher for to morrow I purpose
to send Dawbeney thedyr to wet what they do, and to comand
the l tenauntis and fermors that they pay no mony to nobody
bot to yow. John Grey, othyrwyse callyd John Delesbay, and
John Burgeys they be Yelvertons kapteyns, and they ryd and
go dayly, as well in Norwych as in othyr plasys of yours and
othyr menys, in the centre in ther trossyng dowblettis with
bombardys and kanonys and chafeveleyns, and do what so
ever they wyll in the contre ; ther dar no pore man dysplese
theym, for what so evyr they do with ther swordys they make
it lawe ; and they tak dystressys out of mens howsys, hors or
catell, or what they wyll, thow it be not on that for that they
ask the dwte for. Wher for, me thynkys with esy menys ye
myth get a prevy seall of the Kyng to be dyrectyd to the
meyer of Norwyche, as for the towne of Norwyche, and for
the countre a nothyr prive seall, dyrect to me and to som
othyr good felaw, Syr William Calthorp, for he hatyth Grey,2
for to arest the seyd felaws for syche ryot and to bryng hem
to the next prison, ther to abyed with out bayle tyll syche
tym as the Kyng sendyth othyrwyse woord, and they that the
prive sale shall be dyrect to, to be chargyd vpon peyne of ther
alegeans to execut the Kyngis comandement ; and, this done,
I warant your lyvelod that my lord delys not with shall be
gadyrd pesybylly. As to that lyvelod that my lord clemys I
shall do my dever, our logyng kep, to tak as myche profyt of
it as I may by the grase of God, Whom I pray send you the
acomplyshement of your hertys desyir, and other por folys
thers. All my felawshep ar mery and well at ease, blyssyd
be God, and recomandyth hem all on to yow. Wretyn the
Twesday next befor Kandylmas. — Your brodyr,

j- P.

1 'the' repeated in MS.

2 ' Syr William — Grey ' is an interlineation.

266

EDWARD IV

660

T. DAVERSE TO SIR JOHN P ASTON1

To my right good mayter. Sir John Pasfon, Knyght.

MY right especiall good mayster, I recomand me to yow,
thankyng you right hertely of your gentell letter late JAN. 29
send to me. And as to Pynchester mater, &c., I
wulde I were youre nygh kynnesman, yef hit plesed God, and
than shuld I know yef hit shuld greve your herte asmeche as
hit dothe other of my kynne and frendes to see me thus
cowardly hurte and maimed 2 by Pynchester, causeles ; and of
myn entente in that mater, Wylliam Rabbes shall telle you
more. All so I beseche yow to recomand me to my Lordes
good grace, as to hym whom of erthely estates, next my dewte,
I moste love and drede, and that shuld he well knowe and hit
lay in my power, praying you hertely to declare his Lordship
such mater as Wylliam Rabbes shall enfourme yow, and to
send me my Lordes answere.

All so in asmoche as I understode by yow that money
shuld cause you conclusion in your mater this next terme, and
ye wull be at London on Monday at nyght or Tewsday by
none, I truste that I have studyed such a mene that, up on
surete as ye may make, to gete yow an C//'. or CC. mark to
be lante un to yow for an halfe yere, with oute any chevys-
shaunce or losse of good by yow, as Wylliam Rabbes shall telle
you more, &c.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 172.] The precise date of this letter is by no means certain.
Fenn dates it merely between 1463 and 1469 ; but if it be ' my Lady of Oxford,' and
not ' my Lord,' who is spoken of near the end (see page 268, footnote 2), it may be
many years later. The Earl of Oxford was committed to the Tower in the latter
part of the year 1468. In 1470 he took part in the brief restoration of Henry VI.,
and on the return of Edward iv. he was obliged to quit the country. If the Earl,
therefore, is alluded to as living in England, the date cannot well be later than 1468.
Probably it is about the year 1467. In that year the 29th January fell on a Thurs-
day, which would allow a reasonable time for the writer to suggest to Sir John Paston
the expediency of his being in London on Monday or Tuesday following.

2 The words ' and maimed ' are inserted from the right-hand copy in Fenn.
They are not in the left-hand copy, having been overlooked, apparently, by .the
transcriber.

267

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 (?) And as to Ovyde ' De Arte Amandi,' I shall send hym
JAN. 29 you this next weke, for I have hyt not now redy ; but me
thenkeyth Ovide * De Remedio ' were more mete for yow, but
yef [unless] ye purposid to falle hastely in my Lady Anne P.1
lappe, as white as whales bon, &c. Ye be the best cheser of
a gentell woman that I knowe, &c. And I pray you to re-
comaunde me to my Lord of Oxford,2 and to my goods
Maysters Nedeham, Richemond, Chyppenham, Stavely, Blox-
ham, Stuard, and Ingulton in speciall, and all other good
masters and frendes in generall, &c. And, sir, Maystres
Gaydade recomand me [? her] to yow and said bessyng fare
for charite, and she said me she wuld fayne have a new
felet, &c.

Wreten at London, this xxix. day in Janyver.
With herte and servyse your,

T. D.3

661

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON*

YR, it is so that thys Saterday John Rus sent me word
^7 Robert Botler, that William Yelverton hathe ben
thys iij. dayis in Yermothe for to get new wytnessys up
to London ; and, as it is thowt by the seid John Rus and
Robert Botler, ther wytnessyng is for to prove that it was Sir
John Fastolfs wyll that ther schold be morteysyd iij.c> mark by
yer to the colage, and also that syche astat as my fadyr took

1 Who my Lady Anne P. was I cannot tell. The expression ' as white as whale's
bone ' is rather a strange one.

2 The modern version in Fenn reads ' my Lady of Oxford,' but * my Lord of
Oxford ' is right.

3 Fenn says this subscription is explained by ' T. Daverse ' being written under
the direction, as he believes, in the hand of the receiver.

4 [From Fenn, iv. 276.] This letter must have been written in February 1467.
It was evidently after Sir John Paston had succeeded to his father's estates, but before
any arrangement had been come to between him and Yelverton. It will be found
hereafter that on the nth January 1468 Sir John Fastolfs executors, including
Yelverton, released their rights in Caister and other manors to Sir John Paston. On
the back of this letter, Fenn says, is written in an ancient hand, ' Testes idonei ad
negandum veritatem, ut patet infra.'

268

EDWARD IV

her at Caster at Lames next befor that Sir John Fastolf dy id, 1467
was delyveryd to my fadyr to the intent for to perform the FEB« 7
seyd wyll.

Bartholomew Elys, John Appylby, and John Clerk ar the
wytnessys ; and as for Barthew Elys, he is owtlawyd, and also
men say in Yermowthe that he is bawde betwyx a clerk of
Yermowthe and hys owne wyfe ; and as for John Appylby, he
is half frentyk, and so take in the towne, notwithstandyng he
is an attorny, as Barthew Elys is, in the Baylys Coort of
Yermowthe ; and as for John Clerk of Gorleston, he is owt-
lawyd at Sir John Fastolfys swte, and at dyvers othyr menys,
notwithstandyng he is thorow with Sir T. Howys1 for Sir
John Fastolf, for thys cause, that the seyd Clerk was on of Sir
T. Howys J last wytnessys befor thys.

I trow John Loer shall be anothyr wyttnesse. As for
Barthew Elys and John Appylby, they lye thys nyht at
Blyborowgh onward on her wey to Londonward. Make good
weche on hem.

I pray yow send us some good tydyngs. Wretyn the
Saterday, lat at nyght, next aftyr Kandylmas Day.

I pray yow remembyr John Grey and John Burgeys. We
have hom the most part of your barly, save fro Wynterton,
and that I trost to have this next wek, or ellys we wyll strat
[distrain ?] for it by the grace of God, whom I beseche mak
yow good.

I thynk ther comyng up is for to dysprove your wyttnessys
that he had in to the Chancery.

J.P.2

1 Fenn has ' Sir Thowys ' in his left-hand copy, which we cannot help thinking a
misreading of ' Sir T. Howys/

8 Fenn says this letter ' has neither subscription nor date * ; nevertheless these
initials stand at the foot of the text as he has printed it.

269

THE PASTON LETTERS

662

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON *
'To my brother, John Paston.

1467 | ~\ YGHT worschypful and verrely welbelovyd brother, I

MARCH r^ hertely comande me to yow, thankyng yow of yowr

labor and dyligence that ye have in kepyng of my

place at Castr so sewerly, both with yowr hert and mynde, to

yowr gret bisynesse and troble ; and I ageyn warde have hadde

so lytell leyser that I have not spedde bot fewe of yowr erendys,

ner kannot befor thys tyme.

As for my Lady Boleynes2 dysposicion to yow werds, I
kannot in no wyse fynde hyr a greable that ye scholde have
her dowter, for all the prevy meanes that 1 kowde make, inso
moche I hadde so lytell comfor by all the meanes that I kowde
make, that I dysdeyned in myn own p[e]rson to comon with
hyr ther in. Neverthelesse, I undrestande that sche scythe,
* What if he and sche kan agre I wyll not lette it, but I will
never advyse hyr therto in no wyse.' And uppon Tewesday
last past, sche rood horn in to Norfolke. Wherfor as ye
thynke ye may fynde the meane to speke with hyr yowr selfe,
for with owt that, in myn conceyt, it wyl not be.

And as for Crosseby, I undrestand not that ther is no
maryage concluded betwen them, neverthelesse ther is gret
langage that it is lyke to be. Ye be personable, and per-
aventure yowr beyng ones in the syght of the mayde, and a
lytele descuveryng of your good wyl to her, byndyng hyr to
kepe it secret, and that ye kan fynde in yowr hert, with som
comfort of hyr, to fynde the meane to brynge suche a mater
abowt as schall be hyr pleasur and yowrs, but that thys ye

1 [From Fenn, iv. 326.] This letter is evidently of the same year as No. 666
following, and a little earlier in point of date.

8 Anne, widow of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn. She was daughter of Thomas, Lord Hoo
and Hastings. Sir Geoffrey had by her three daughters, of whom the youngest, Alice,
is here referred to. This Alice was afterwards married to Sir John Fortescue.

270

EDWARD IV

kannot do with owt som comfort of hyr in no wyse ; and her 1467
yor selfe as lowly to the moder as ye lyst, but to the mayde MARCH
not to lowly, ner that ye be to gladde to spede, ner to sory to
fayle. And I alweys schall be your herault bothe her, if sche
com hydder, and at home when I kome horn, whych I hope
hastly with in xl. dayes at the ferthest. My modre hathe a
letter, whych can tell you mor, and ye may lat Dawebeney
se it. JOHN PASTON, K.

I suppose and ye kail welle upon R. Calle, he schall purvey
yow mony. I have wretyn to hym inow.

663

RICHARD CALLE TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

To my ryght reverent and worschipfull mayster. Sir
John Paston, Knight.

PLESITH it you to wete that I have spoken with Henre APRIL 3
Inglouse, and I fynde hym disposid weele ; hough be
it he hath be labored to nough of late be divers, never-
theles he woll not come withoute he have a suppena, and if he
come up be suppena, he can sey nor nought woll sey, any
thynge that schulde be prejudice or hurte to your mater, and
so he hathe tolde them that hath labored to hym for it, weche
hym thynkyth causith them to have no grete hast to have hym
up. He tellith me that the Abbot of Langley schal come up
and Wichyngham. Thes have her writtes of suppena delyverd
unto them. Also ther cometh up Doctor Vergraunt and Frier
Bernard. And as for Robert Inglouse, I have spoken with
hym, and I fynde hym no thyng so weele disposid as his
brother is ; he hath be sore labored be the meanes of my Lord

1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to relate to the summoning of
witnesses to London for the probate of Fastolf's will, and being addressed to Sir John
Paston, we may presume that it was written in the year after his father's death, and
before the final settlement of the dispute.

271

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 of Norffolk and of my Lord of Suffolk; he seyth largely that
APRIL 3 he knoweth moche of this mater, seyng to me that if he schulde
be examyned be for a juge, he wolde my master your uncle l
wer his juge, for he knoweth the mater as weele as any man.
He seith if he be sworn be fore my Lorde Chaunceler, he woll
desire of my Lord that Maister William schiflde be sworn as
weele as he ; nevertheles I have so mevyd hym that withoute
ther come a suppena for hym he woll not come, as he seth it
is hard to truste hym. It were weele doo if ther were no
suppena out for hym to cauce that ther schulde non come,
nouther to hym nor to hes brother, &c. I can not undre-
stonde of no moo that schulde come up yet, but I schal
enquere, and sende you word as hastely as I can. I have not
spoken with John Maryot yet, but I schall speke with hym
within this iij. dayes and sende you worde. &c.

Ferthermore, sir, like you to remembre the lees of the
maner of Sporle ; your fermours goth out at Michelmes next
comyng. Henry Halman wolde have it for his sones, and if
be schulde have it he wolde wete at this tyme, be cauce he
wolde somerlay 2 and tylle the londe, otherwise then it is ; it
were tyme to lete it, wo so ever schulde have it. Henry woll
geve for it but xx//. ; wherfor, if ye wol that he have it, plese
you to sende word how we schal do with all, &c. Almyghty
Godde spede you in all youre maters, and sende you hastely
a goode ende in hem. Wreten at Castre on Friday next after
Esterne Day.

Your own Servaunt, Ric. C.

1 William Paston.

2 Halliwell gives the expression « to summerland a ground ' which is used in
Suffolk, meaning to lay it fallow a year. For this he refers to Ray.

272

EDWARD IV

664

[WILLIAM PASTON] TO SIR JOHN PASTON l

To my right worship/nil nevew^ Sir John Paston,
knyght.

MYNE suster,2 Arblaster3 and I have apoyntyd that we 1467
chall kepe no howsold this terme,4 but go to horde ; APRIL (?)
wer for we avyse zow to purvay for us a logyng ner
a bowt my lord Chanseler that be honest, for Arblaster will
non oder.

Item, as for zow, we avyse zow in any wyse gete zowr
chamer assynyd with in my Lordis place, and gete chamer a
lone iff ze may, that Arblaster and I may have a bed ther in
ziff it fortune us to be late ther with zow.

Item, take hed to get suyrtees for the pore men that come
up and that they may be sent horn a zen forthe with with owt
taryyng, and take avyse so that the proses may so go forthe
that they may be qwett at the next assyssys ; take avyse of
Townysend.

As for Yelverton, fynd the menys that he speke not with
my Lord till we come.

Iff any labore be mad to my Lord to asyne men to here
the mater indefferently, make labore to my Lord that the men
be nat namyd till we come, for we can inffurme hym soche as
be parciall be ther dedis here affore, qweche peraventure my
Lord wold thynk wer indefferent i now till he be infurmyd ;
it may be answerid be my Lord that he will nat prosede no

1 [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 8.] This is not a formal letter but a set of memoranda on
a long slip of paper. It is in the handwriting of William Fasten, son of the
judge, and addressed to his nephew, Sir John. The date may be about April 1467.
See No. 663.

* This must be his brother John's widow, Margaret, who was in London in the
spring of 1467. See No. 662, p. 271.

3 James Arblaster, a confidential friend of the family.

* Easter term began on the ifth April in 1467.

VOL. IV. S 273

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 ferther in the mater till Arblasters comyng and myn for we
APRIL (?) can best infurme the mater.

Item, send a letter to Richard Kalle and to Sir Jamys
Gloys to come up to London in any wyse. For ther is no
man can do in dyvers materis that they can do in answeryng
suche mater as Zelverton wyll ley a zen zow. And also they
can best mak the bill that ze schuld put a zens hem ; and ther
for remembre.

Item, wrythe a letter to myn suster for the C. marcs for
my Lady Soffolk, for we have no verry dyrect answer of her
weder sche wyll send it ar nat.

Item, speke to zowr atorney in the Kyngis benche that he
take hed to all maner indytamentis both old and new and to
all oder materis that hangyng ther.

Item, do Pampyng comyn with owr sperituall concell suche
mater as nedyn ther. And have newe wretyn the attestacion
that lakkyn. The same man that wrott the oder may wrythe
that. For Zelverton mad gret avawnt that ye schuld be
hyndrid in that.

Wrythe a letter to myn nevew John zonger to come up to
prove the wyll.

Speke with Sir Gilberd Debenham qwill he is in cownt to
leve uper Cotton.

Item, Zelverton, Howys and Worceter make meche that
we have put them owt off possescyon of the lond ; qweche
. they sey is contrary to my Lord Chanseler comandement, and
in trowth Sir Jamys and Calle meche spokyn to the tenantis in
my lordys name ; For Zelverton thynketh that he may now
breke the trete. Qwer for, take a vyse her in off Mr Tresham
and of Master Staneley, and informe my Lord how my broder1
qwas all way in possescion till he was put owt for the mater of
bondage, and how ze fynd the colage, and qwat an hurt it wer
to zow in noyse off centre iff any oder man schuld now receyve
any proffitis off the londis. They will labor that indefferent
men schuld receyve, and that wer nat good. My Lord may
say that he will end the mater, but as for the possescyon, he
will nat put zow owt. Labor this in all hast posible.

1 John Paston, son of the judge. Dead in 1466.
274

EDWARD IV

I pray yow send me an answer of all such thyngis as 1467
requirith an answere in this contre, for Arblaster purposeth ***«• (•)
to be with yow on Sonday sevenygth and I purpose to be
with yow ij. dayes afore.

665

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON1

MY hand was hurte at the torney at Eltham upon APRIL
Wednesday last. I would that you had been there
and seen it, for it was the goodliest sight that was
sene in Inglande this forty yeares of so fewe men. There was
upon the one side, within, the Kinge, my Lord Scalles, myselfe,
and Sellenger ; and without, my Lord Chamberlyn, Sir John
Woodvyle, Sir Thomas Mountgomery, and John Aparre, &c.
By your brother,

JOHN PASTON, Mil.

666

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON2

SYR, plesyth yow to weet that my modyr and I comonyd
this day with Freyr Mowght to undyrstand what hys
seying shall be in the coort when he cometh up to
London, wheche is in this wyse : — He seyth at syche tyme as
he had shrevyn Master Braldey, and howsyllyd hym bothe, he
let hym wet that he was enformyd by dyvers personys that the
seyd Master Brakley owt for to be in gret consyens for syche
thyngys as he had doone and seyd, and causyd my fadyr,
whom God asoyle, for to do and seye also, in proving of Sir

1 This extract from a letter of Sir John Paston to his brother is quoted in Sand-
ford's MS. Genealogy of the Paston family, and is here reprinted from Mr.
Worship's article on that genealogy in the Norfolk Archeology. The original letter I
have not been able to find. The tournament here referred to probably took place
shortly after Easter. The next letter is evidently written in reply to this.

z [From Fenn, iv. 330.] This letter appears by the contents to have been written
more than a week after Easter. The year must be 1467, as the dispute with Yel-
verton touching Sir John Fastolfs will seems to have come to an end before the
January following (see No. 680). In 1467 Easter Day fell on 29th March.

275

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 John Fastolfys wyll. To whom the seyd Mastyr Brakley
APRIL answerd thus agayne : * I am ryght glad that it comyth to
yow in mynd for to meve me with thys mater in dyschargyng
of my consyens ayenst God,' seying ferther mor to the seyd
Freyr Mowght, be the wey that hys sowle shold to, that the
wyll that my fadyr put into the coort was as veryly Syr John
Fastolfys wyll as it was trew that he shold onys deye. This
was seyd on the Sonday when the seyd Brakley wend to have
deyid then. On the Monday he revyvyd a yen, and was well
amendyd tyll on the Wednysday, and on the Wednysday he
sekyned a yen, supposyng to have dyeyd forthe with. And
in hys syknes he callyd Freyr Mowght, whyche was confessor
on to hym, of hys owne mosyon, seyng on to hym in thys
wyse : — ' Syr, wher as of your owne mosyon ye mevyd me
the last day to tell you aftyr my consyens of Sir John Fastolfys
wyll lyek wyse as I knew, and now of myn owne mocyon, and
in dischargyng of my sowle, for I know well that I may not
askape, but that I must dye in hast, wharfor I desyr you that
wyll report after my dethe, that I took it upon my sowle at
my dying that that wyll that John Paston put in to be provyd
was Syr John Fastolfys wyll.' And the seyd Brakley dyid the
same Wednesdaye.

And wher as ye wold have had Rychard Calle to yow as
on Sonday last past, it was thys Twyisday or I had your lettyr;
and wher as it plesyth yow for to wyshe me at Eltam, at the
tornay, for the good syth that was ther, by trowththe I had
lever se yow onys in Caster Hall then to se as many Kyngs
tornay as myght be betwyx Eltam and London.

And, syr, whar as it lyekyth yow to desyir to have know-
lage how that I have don with the Lady Boleyn,1 by my feythe
I have don nor spokyn nowght in that mater, nor not wyll do
tyll tyme that ye com horn, and ye com not thys vij. yer. Not
withstandyng, the Lady Boleyn was in Norwyche in the week
aftyr Estern, fro the Saterday tyll the Wednysday, and Hey-
dons wyfe 2 and Mastras Alys 3 bothe, and I was at Caster,
and wyst not of it. Hyr men seyd that she had non othyr

1 See Note z, p. 270. 8 Anne, second daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn.

3 Third daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn.

276

EDWARD IV

erend to the towne but for to sport hyr ; hot so God help me, 1467
I suppose that she wend I wold have ben in Norwyche for to APRIL
have sen hyr dowghter. I beseche yow with all my hart hye
yow horn, thow ye shold tery but a day ; for I promyse yow
your folk thynk that ye have forgetyn hem, and the most
part of them must depart at Whytsontyd at the ferthest, they
wyll no lenger abyd. And as for R. Calle, we can not get
half a quarter the mony that we pay for the bare housold,
besyd menys wagys. Daube nor I may no mor with owt
coynage. Your, J. PASTON.

667

ABSTRACT

« Bill indented ' I May, 7 Edw. iv., between Sir John Paston and Thomas MAY i
Lomnor, whereby the latter sells to the former an ambling horse ' upon this
condition, that if the marriage betwixt the Lord Charles, son and heir to the
Duke of Burgon, and the Lady Margaret, sister to our Sovereign Lord the
King ' take effect within two years, Sir John agrees to pay 6 marks for the
horse on the day of the marriage ; but if it do not take effect within that
period he will pay only 40 shillings.

[There is a modern copy of this document in the Heralds' College, in the collec-
tion called Brooke's Aspilogia, vol. i. f. 47, where a drawing is given of Sir John
Paston's seal, which seems to have been attached to it when the transcript was made.
It has been since removed at some time or other.]

668

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO SIR JOHN HOWARD2
THE Due OF NORFFOLK.

RYGTH trusty and enteerly beloved cousyn I comaunde MAY 18
me to you with all myn herte. And lyke it you to
wete that God hath vyset me with grete infirmite and
dissease, wherthurgh I neyther can nor may at this season and

1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 192.]

3 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 59.] The famous tournament between Lord Scales and
the Bastard of Burgundy took place at Smithfield on the nth and izth June 1467.
See Excerpta Historica, 1 76 This paper is evidently a copy of the original letter.

277

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 comynge of the Bastard of Burgoyne attende to th'execucion
MAY 1 8 off myn offyce, as my wyll and duete were to, in myn owne
persone. Wherfor of verray necessite I must depute suche a
person in all goodly hast to ocupye as my deputee and to have
my full power undere me at that season as is bothe of byrthe
honorable and one all other wyse lykly. How be it that of
long tyme contynnuynge I have ben enured of your stedfaste
and preved feythful good cosyngnage and tendyrnesse to me
shewed unfeyned to my gret refute1 and hertes ease at all
seasons. Wiche emboldeth me to call uppon you now ; and
also remembrynge the honour of the ofryce doynge and the
neighnesse of blode that ye be of to me, I thenke no person
so convenable to ocupye in myn absence as you. For myn
excuse, therfore, I specyally pray you, as my feythfull truste is
holy in you, to take the labour uppon you and to do theryn be
your discrecion to the most honour of the kynge, the realme,
and be lyke as I am asured that ye can and wyll, puttynge
you in surete that I wull become tributary to your costes and
charges in that behalve. And as for all suche duteis as schall
belonge to me at that tyme by reason of myn offyce, I gyff
theme you for parcell of your said costes ; and at such tyme
as ye and I and myn counsell mete next ye schal not fayle to
be agreid with, to your pleasure for the residue, by Goddis
grace, Wiche ever preserve you. And, cousyn, I sende you
be the berer herof the double of this lettre, praying that ye
will subscribe it with your owne hande and send it me a geyn
be hym. Wryten under my signet the xviij. day of May.

k 'To my rigth trusty and rigth enteerly belovyd cousyn,

Sir John Howard^ knygth.

And this letter is assigned with my lordes own hande.

1 Sic in MS.

278

EDWARD IV

669

SIR JOHN HOWARD

THIS wrytenge
Edward the
nessyth what

geveth at the fytenge

of Burgoyne.
John Alpherde
Brome

William Noryse
Herry Straunge
Robert Cumberton
Hastynges
John Fowler
John Nyter
Thomas Moleyns
John Waleys
Robart Thorppe
John Bleaunt
Thomas Thorppe
Davy Horell
Robert Cooke
Robart Clerke
John Hobbes
Wynche
John Wady
William Fern wale
Raff Barlyscose
Thomas Seynclew
Whyttebye
Kechyn

made at London the vijth yer of kyng 1467

iiijth and the 2 day of June wyt- JUNK

Jakettes my master Sir John Howard
betwyx my Lord Scales and the Bastard

John de Spayn
Jenyn Saunpere
John Kyngton
Lytell Edmond
John Coles
Thomas Mershe
Rechard Leder
John Gylder
Rechard Waleys
Ravenysbye
Thomas a Chambre
Thomas Whytenge
Thomas Grymston
Roger Jewell
Colson

John Squyre8
Scarlett 3
William West4
John Dykynson
Thomas Bowden
William Denny
John Starkeweder
George Hardwyn
Thomas Caunterbury

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 61.] a Blank in MS.

3 These two names, John Squyre and Scarlett, are bracketed together, and the
name ' Alford ' written opposite.

4 Opposite this name is written ' Wai ' in the margin.

279

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 Dyott William Yngram

JUNE Robart Messcden John Brodebryge

John Mynshe Aleyn Cowper

Richard Pulton Rechard Roger

John Wakeleyn Herry Cooke

Nicholas Shakerley Edward Holman

Hew Flynte Rechard Halbroke l

Thomas Newton Robart Sleper

William Clerke John Cheynour

Robart Nosbet John Hylle
Herry Nudygate

670
JAMES GRESHAM TO SIMON DAMME2

70 my worshipfull cosyn, Symond Damme, [at] Lyncoln Inne,
at London, [be] this delivered.

I467(?) U IGHT worshipfull sir, and as in my trost my veray
JULY ^ |^ speciall good maister, I recomande me to you with
al the servyce I can and may. Lyke it you to wytte
that I have do my bysynes to enquere for suyche dedes as ye
wrot for on to me, and, so God me helpe, I can not wytte
where I shuld spede to have ony suyche dedes. I spak to a
persone that is your good lover, the whiche tolde me that ther
was a gret plee bytwene my Lord of Suffolk and Sir John
Fastolf for the maner of Dray ton, for whiche matier William
Wysetre was sent to enquere for evydencez touchyng the
Pooles lyvelond in suyche places as thei were lords of in their

1 Opposite this name is written ' chad ' in the margin.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter has reference to the disputes between
the Duke of Suffolk and the Paston family about Drayton, it might be supposed to
have been written about the year 1464, but that the entire absence of any mention of
John Paston the father makes it probable that the true date is after his death. It is
therefore not unlikely to be of the same year as No. 671, in which Margaret Paston
mentions the probability of Hellesdon being taken again out of their hands, and also
desires an answer to a letter that she had sent to her son, Sir John, ' by James Gresham's
man/

280

EDWARD IV

dayes. And the seid Wysetre fonde evydencez that touched 1467 (?)
a maner called Mundham maner, sum tyme longyng to the J^* 2
Pooles that were owenners of Drayton, the whiche evydences
eased meche Sir John Fastolf ; but the seid persone that en-
fourmed me of this can not telle the armes, ne what evydencez
tho shuld be in certeyn, savyng he thynkyth indoubted that
William Worcetre shuld not be unremembred of this. Wher-
fore it is thought to the same persone that enfourmed me of
this and by me also, that it shuld be expedyent for you to
comune of this matier by your wysdam with the same William
Wysetre, now beyng at London, for he by lyklyhod can telle
you a certeynte. And as touchyng my maister, Sir Thomas
Mongomery, I trost veryly that he nothyr hath ne shall have
cause of grudger by my defaut, for I can not understond ony
cause of grudger ; for ever whanne my cosyn Damme l hath
spoken with my seid maisters attourne to have knowelage by
writyng of what thyng shuld be the cause of callyng on you,
he answerith that my maister, W. Paston, hath a bale therof,
but my cosyn can non gete. Wherfor I deme that the seid
attourne meneth not weel. I entende noon other but in als
meche as in me is to se your indempnyte with the grace of
God, who ever mote be your guyde and protector. Wretyn
at Norwich the ij. day of Juylle.

Your servaunt in that he can and may
to his powar,

I, JAMES GRESHAM.

Cosyn, an noon after this was wretyn, had I knowelage of
the massageris comyng to London berar of this, and I had
thought to have wretyn the letter above wretyn newe, by
cause of the foule wrytyng and interlynyeng, but now I lakke
leyser. Wherfor I pray you understond the pyth of my seid
wrytyng, and enfourme my seid maister Sir John P. of the same,
for I wold fayne do that shulde please hym, &c. And the

1 As it appears by the postscript that this letter was hurriedly despatched,'we may
perhaps presume that it was intended in the first instance for Sir John Paston, but
that as ' my cousin Damme ' required to be informed of the same particulars, it was
afterwards addressed to him, with instructions to communicate the contents to Sir
John.

28l

THE PASTON LETTERS

i467(-?)persone that enfourmed me dar not be a knowe of his name,
JULY 2 ne ne woid not it shuld be understond to them that be of
counsell ageyn my maister. It was the parson of Heylesdon,
&c. More over, as I have wretyn to you of late, Palmer,
undershireve of Norffolk, hath sent his letter to his depute to
acomplyssh our entent for Chyldes matier as ye and I were
accordet. This told Wykes me for verray certeyn, &c., the
ij. day of Juylle.

On the back of this letter are some scribblings in another hand, viz. : — First, a
partial copy of the address ; second, the name c John Dode ' ; third, the following
inscription, ' Orate pro anima Johnnes (sic) de Boys armenger de Londonn.'

671

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON »
To Sir John Paston, Knyght, be this delivered in hast.

1467 T CRETE you wele, and send you Godds blissyng and myn,
JULY 1 1 letyng you wete that Blykklyng of Heylesdon came fro

London this weke, and he is right mery, and maketh
his bost that with in this fourtnyght at Heylesdon shuld be
bothe new lords and new officers. And also this day was
brought me word fro Caystr that Rysyng of Freton shuld
have herd seid in diverse places, ther as he was in Suffolk, that
Fastolf of Coughawe maketh all the strenght that he may, and
proposith hym to assaught Caystr, and to entre ther if he may,
in samych that it is seyd that he hath a v. score men redy, and
sendyth dayly aspics to understand what felesshep kepe the
place. Be whos power, or favour, or supportacion that he
wull do this, I knowe not ; but ye wote wele that I have ben

1 [From Fenn, iv. 294.] This letter must have been written some time after Sir
John Paston had obtained possession of Caister by virtue of the King's warrant of
the i7th July 1466 (No. 641), and before the Duke of Norfolk laid claim to it again
in 1469. Thus the date is certainly either 1467 or 1468. But in the latter year Sir
John Paston and his brother were both in Flanders at the marriage of the Princess
Margaret to the Duke of Burgundy ; and Daubeney could not have been with them,
as he was when this letter was written, for John Paston the younger says he had sent
him five shillings by Calle's man. Thus 1467 appears to be the only year possible.

282

EDWARD IV

affrayd ther befor this tyme, whan that I had other comfort 1467
than I have now, and I can not wele gide ner rewle sodyours, JULY 1 1
and also thei set not be a woman as thei shuld set be a man.
Therfor I wold ye shuld send home your brothers, or ell[es]
Dawbenye, to have a rewle, and to takyn in such men as wer
necessary for the saffegard of the place ; for if I wer ther
withought I had the mor sadder or wurchepfull persones
abought me, and ther comyn a meny of knavys, and pre-
vaylled in ther entent, it shuld be to me but a vylney. And
I have ben abought my liffelode to set a rewle ther in, as I have
wretyn to you, which is not yet all performed after myn
desyre, and I wuld not goo to Caystr till I had don. I wull
no mor days make ther abowtyn if I may ; therfor in any
wyse send sume body home to kepe the place, and whan that
I have do and performed that I have be gunne, I shall purpose
me thederward if I shuld do ther any good, and ell[es] I had
lever be thens.

I have sent to Nicholas, and such as kepe the place, that
thei shuld takyn in sume feles [fellows] to assiste and strengh
them till ye send hame sume other word, or sume other man
to governe them that ben therin, &c.

I marvayll gretly that ye send me no word how that ye do,
for your elmyse [enemies] begynne to wax right bold, and that
puttith your frends bothyn in grete fere and dought. Therfor
purvey that thei may have sume comfort, that thei be no more
discoraged ; for if we lese our frends, it shall hard in this
troubelous werd \world~\ to kete them ageyn.

The blissid Trynyte spede you in your mater, and send
you the victory of your elmyse, to your herts eas and ther
confusyon. Wretyn at Norwich, the Saterday next befor
Relyke Sonday,1 in hast.

I pray you remembre wele the maters that I wrote to you
for in the letter that ye had be James Greshames man, and
send me an answer ther of be the next man that comyth, &c.

Be your moder,

M. P.

1 Relic Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the izth July in
1467.

283

THE PASTON LETTERS

672

DECLARATION OF SIR THOMAS HOWYS1

it knowen to all men that this present wrytyng shall
JULY 21 - redej seC) or hyre. Forasmoche as I understande

nowe late ther ys a newe contryved processe concern-
yng the variaunce uppon my maister Sir John Fastolf is testa-
ment and last will, whos soule God assoyle, made by Sir John
Paston, Knyght, and his counsell in the seyd Pastons name
and myne, ayenste Sir William Yelverton, Knyght, and William
Worcetter, that is exhibited and putte in my lordys courte of
Audience be fore his auditoure, me unwetyng or assentyng,
in the vigille of Seint John Baptiste ; in wheche processe ys
surmyttyd and made mencion that William Worcetter in his
owne persone, and by others in his name, hathe promysed and
gevyn money to corupte certayne wytnesse to depose untreuly
in a processe exhibit in John Pastons lyf tyme by Sir William
Yelverton, Knyght, the sayd William Wissetter ayenste John
Paston decesed and me; and wheche witnesse were Stephan
Scrope, Squier, Richard Fastolf, gentilman, Thomas Neve,
gentilman, William Boswell, clerk, John Monke, Nicholas
Churche, John Rugge, John Daunson, Richard Home, Thomas
Pykeryng, Harry Clerk, John Tobye, Thomas Hart, Thomas
Neuton, John Gyrdyng, Thomas Spycer, and others, frome
the moneth of August into the moneth of March, the yere
of Cryst MiLCCCClxv., yn Yermouthe, Castre, Fretenham,
Bloofeld, Thetford, Brundale, Wroxham, Borough, Southe-
toune, Yermouthe, Gorleston, Suthewerk, Norwych, and Lon-
don ; so they to be corupted in all the forseyd named tounes
wyth prayer, price, and money to hem promised and gevyn, be
syd har expences, her costs, and her labours, to be conducted
to depose with Sir William Yelverton and William Worcetter
partye ayenste the seyd John Paston and mee : I the sayd
Thomas Howys so made partye, and unwetyng and assent-
yng, a yenste the [said] 2 Sir William Yelverton and William

1 [From a MS. in the tower of Magd. Coll., Oxford.] * Omitted in MS.

284

EDWARD IV

Worcestre, sey and afferme for trouth in this matyer to be 1467
knowen, that for declaracion of trouth in this processe and JULY *i
mater, and for the discharge of my conscience and the trewe
acquietall to my sayd Master Fastolf that putte me in grettyst
charge of hys testament, and for grete remorse I have in my
soule of the untrewe forgyng and contryvyng certayne testa-
mentes and last wyll by naked wordes in my sayd Maister
Fastolf name aftyr he was desesyd ; y, in the name of the
seyd Sir William Yelverton and William Worcetter, required
and prayed the sayd above named witnesse and alle other
wytnesse produced in Sir William Yelverton and William
Wyssetter name before that tyme, excepte the forsayd Stephan
Scrope, Esquier, and Richard Fastolf, to come to London, and
appere in my lords house of audience before his auditour, and
there to say, depose, and witnesse the trouthe as they knewe
in especiall, in the absense of John Russe, Sir Robert Cotiler,
late vycar of Castre, Robert Botyler beyng oute of the chamber
of Sir John Fastolf, Knyght, there he lay seke in his maner of
Castre, the Saterdaye next before the seid Sir John Fastolf
discesyd, namely, from viij. tylle xj. atte belle affore mydday,
and present in other placez, where diverse of the sayd named
wytnesse and diverse other witnesse sawe ham. And the sayd
Worcestre nother promysed ne yave hem gode, money, nother
reward, neyther relessed no debtes, not soo nought payed not
for har costes, nother dispenses by the wey comyng to London,
taryeng, ne returnyng a yen, that lawe and reson wold under-
stonde the sayd witnesse ought have for har costes and labours,
weche was payed by my handes, I beyng present dayly and
tymely diverse tymes most conversaunt at Jermuth wyth
hem ; and in especiall whan they taryed more than xxiiij.
dayes in London or they coude be examyned ; and I knowe
well the sayd Sir William Yelverton, nouther the seyd William
Worcestre promysed ne payed no maner money ne godes
worth, nouther relessyng har dutes, yf any they axed they
knowe yt not, as the seyd named witnesse wylle sey and
certyfye the trouth. And as for ij. witnesse called Bunch
and Shave, lete hem be examynyd, yf the seyd Sir William
or William Worcestre fyrst procured, moved, or excited hem

285

THE PASTON LETTERS

1467 at Yermouth, or any other place, to come to London to depose
JULY 21 m the said maters, or promysed or payed hem ony money, or
any man for ham promysed or payed ; and yf they be of trewe
disposicion, they woll discharge the seyd Sir William Yelverton
and William Worcestre, for ther was none in especiall but
I, that labored hem alle to come to London to my lordis
audience yn the seyd Yelvertons and Worcestre names ; but I
pryncipally required them to depose treuly as they knewe, be
the owte promyse, mede, rewarde, or money, yn the discharge
of my conscience, and for the trouthe of the mater to be
knowen to all the worlde, as I am redy to preve, whyle God
lendeth me lyffe, and yn the same quarell to dye. And I
evyr seth that I understode the seyd John Paston is untrewe
demenyng in the contry vynge of my Maister Fastolf testament
and last wille, and was compellyd to appere before my lord ys
auditour at Lambyth, to be sworn atte my ffree will to declar
the trouth of my seyd maister trewe testament and last wyll
befor my seyd Lord of Canturbury is auditur of his courte of
audience, I nevyr varyed ne held aftyr wyth John Paston, but
alwey have ben stedfast wyth the processe that I have en-
fourmed my Lord of Canterbury, and divers others astates
also in like" wyse have declared to the sayd Sir William
Yelverton and William Worcestre to precede, and soo evyr
woll be stedfaste. And in witness for trouth, I sele this
declaracion wyth my signet, and subscrybe it wyth my hand
and name, in presence of Maister John Prentyse, Sir Edmond
Hall, John Smyth, John Robynson, Thomas Hoore, John
Bullok, and Richard Batilmewe, the xxjth day of Jule the yer
of Crist MiLCCCCmo Ixvij0.

T. HOWYS.

286

EDWARD IV

673

JOHN PASTON TO HIS MOTHER1

RYGHT worchepfull modyr, I recomand me onto you,
lowly besechyng yow of your blyssyng. Plesyt yow
to we \_sic] that my brodyr and I be in good hele,
blyssyd be God, and all our felawshep ; and as for me I tryst
to God to ... yow by Halowmes or within iiij. dayes aftyr
at the ferthest ; at whyche tyme I tryst to fynd the menys
. . . dyscharge yow of syche folk as ye kepe of my brodyrs,
and that must I do by myn owne menys ; for as for my
brodyr, by my trowthe he is not of power to do it ; for this I
ensure yow, so God help me, he hathe at thys season not a
peny in hys purs, nor wotys not wher to get eny. And as for
Bekham I warant, and ye wyll send the plate whych ye and I
comond of for to helpe to paye hys dettis, and for to swe
forthe for hys jwgement thys terme, it sholl neythyr be mor-
gagyd nor sold. Wherfor, modyr, I and he bothe beseche
yow that ye wyll send hym the plate by Jwde ; or ellys, so
God help me, I wot not how he shall do ; for by the feythe
that I ow to God he lokyth every day to be arestyd, and so I
wene he sholl, so God helpe me. Jwde had ned to be sped
hastyly lest syche arestys falle in the tyme. And as for my
Lord of Norffolk, it is promysed me to have hys good lord-
shep, but I must tery a whylle, as my Lady told yow, for the
maners sake. And as for tydynges her, so God help, neythyr
the Kyng nor the Lordis can as yet undyrstand no serteynte,
whedyr they shall go togedyr ayen by the werre or not.
When I here the serteynte I shall send yow word. Ye may
send mony by Jwde for my sustyr Annys hood and for the
tepet of sersenet, viijj. a yerd of damask and vs. for sarsenet ;

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 196.] The date of this letter is difficult to fix, but from
the two brothers being together (which was rather a rare occurrence), and both in
good health, the summer of 1467 seems not improbable. (See No. 671.) The date
must at least be earlier than Nov. 1469, when Sir John Paston, as we shall hereafter
find, actually executed an indenture for the sale of East Beckham. It seems quite
impossible, moreover, that this letter can be of the year 1469.

287

THE PASTON LETTERS

) hyr hood wyll take iij. quarters. No mor for lak of leyser,
but I pray God send yow your hertis desyir and othyr pore
folys thers. — Your sone and humbyll servant,

J. PASTON.

674

SIR JOHN PASTON TO LORD BEAUCHAMP1
To the Lord Bechampe 2

AND forasmuch as I am credibly enformed that my lord
of Winchestre hath sent to you desiring that ye shold
ensele dyvers writinges of graunt and relesse of your
estat in alle such maners, londes and tenementes as late wer of
J. Fastolf knyght, and wheryn ye togider with other be jointly
enfeffed to th' use of the seid J. Fastolf, I, considering the
honorable disposition and great sadnesse of my seid lord of
Winchestre which3 hath now taken upon [him]4 th' administra-
cion of testament of the seid J. F., trusting veryly that my
seid lord wol as conscience requireth consider my title and
interest in that behalf, praie you right hertely that not with-
stonding any labour or mocion on my part or for me in tyme
passed made to you to ensele any writyng of graunt or relesse
of your seid estat to me or to myn use, that ye wol now
ensele and perfourme the entent and desir of my seid lord
of Winchestre now made unto you.

SIR JOHN PASTON, K.

Indorsed : Dominus de Bewchamp.

1 [Add. MS. 35,251, f. 25, B.M.] This letter apparently was written in 1467,
probably in August, just before No. 675. The original is a corrected draft.

2 This address is written in the margin, with a note a little way below : ' To myn
oncle Wylliam in lyke forme.'

8 Here occurs an interlineation of an incomplete clause : ' is feffe of the seid

(word crossed out) and also therein and .'

* Omitted in MS.

288

EDWARD IV

675

NOTE

The following is an extract from * An Index to Deeds and Writings in the
Tower, Magdalen College, Oxford ' : —

Documents relating to Norf. and Suffolk, No. 47.

'Thomas Archiep. Cant., Willielmus Episcopus Winton., et Johannes 1467
Beauchamp dominus de Beauchamp, juxta formam barganiae et effectum ultimas AUG< 28
voluntatis Johannis Fastolf in curia Audientiae, &c., concedunt Johanni Paston
militi totum jus in maneriis de Castre vocatis Vaux, Bosoms, et Redhams,
Spensers in Heringby, Reggisley, Reps, cum aliis terris in diversis villis ;
necnon in manerio de Guton cum advocatione ecclesise de Heinford in Sax-
thorp vocat. Loundhall, cum aliis terris in diversis villis, et in manerio de
Caldecots et Akethorp, Spitlings, Habeland, &c., habit, ex feofFamento Rad.
dom. de Sudley et aliorum.

Aug. 28. Edw. iv. 7.'

676

ABSTRACT1

A small slip of paper close written on both sides with accounts of wages. AUG. 3 1
In the margin on one side is the name John Braham, with the memorandum,
* Thys wrytynge, made the iiijth yere of Kynge Edward the iiijth, and in the
monyth of Novembre, wytnessez of the wagez that my master payith to his
men.' A blank seems to have been left below this at first, but it was after-
wards filled up in a different hand : ' Memorandum that the v* yer of Kyng
Edward the iiij" I rekenyd wyth my master at Stoke ; and on the v. day of
Aprylle for the yerys that I have be wyth my mastyr, whesche shal be at
Hocke Monday next cumyng ve yer and an halfe ; for the whesche yerys I
have reseyvyd at sondery tymeys v/r. and iiijj., and thys seyd v. day I reseyvyd
of my master v. marcs.'

On the other side, in the first hand, is an account extending from the i ith
April, 5 Edw. iv. (1465) to the last day of August, 7 Edw. iv. (1467), of
payments to a female named Rose,2 for wages by * my master,' Braham and
Thorpe. These sums vary from 3-r. 4^. to 8s. 4^., at a time ; but there are
also two items for presents made to her, viz. for 4 ells of Holland cloth at
S^d. the ell, 2s. io|</., and for a pair of hosen, I2d. On the 7th Oct.
6 Edw. iv. (1466) it is said, ' My master toke her for wages at Stoke, 5*.'

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

2 It appears by other letters that she was a servant ' dwelling before Mrs. Paston'*
gate/

VOL. IV. T 289

THE PASTON LETTERS

677

NOTE

The following is another extract from the Index referred to in No. 675 : —

1467 *I2. Concessio Joh. Paston militis Johanni Duci Norfolk et aliis manerii

OCT. 2 sui vocati Hemnales in Cotton in Com.' Suff., ac manerii sui de Haynford, et

advocationis ecclesias ejusdem in Com.' NorfF., habit' ex dono Th. Archiepisc.

Cant, et Willielmi Episc. Wynton., cum littera attor. ad deliberandum seisinam.

Oct. 2. Edw. iv. 7.'

678

ABSTRACT1

PETITION" OF JOHN HERLYNG OF BASYNGHAM TO * LADY ' PASTON

1467 Requests ' her Highness ' to confirm some grants of her late husband to him

OF later °f ^an<^ at Basyngham. William Swan claims, and has taken from him 2 perches
of ground in breadth near his (Swan's) gate, which has always been parcel of
Herlyng's tenement of Greyve's during his and his father's time. John
Pykerell, too, has made mean to the Abbot of St. Benet's to remove a boundary
stone which has stood there sixty years. Pykerell also took the writer's horse
and used it in his field without leave, on Friday before the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross, 6 Edw. iv., which made the beast unserviceable till Fastegong next
following. Pykerell has also done him other injuries.

[As this petition refers to the ' Fastegong ' or Shrovetide after Holy-Rood Day
6 Edw. iv. as a past date, it cannot have been drawn up earlier than the year 1467.
The manor of Basingham, in Norfolk, belonged to the Mauteby family, and came
to John Paston by marriage. This paper, therefore, was addressed to his widow
Margaret.]

[From Paston MSS., B.M.]

290

EDWARD IV

679

CECILY DAWNE TO SIR JOHN PASTON *

To the right worshipful!, and with my faithful hert and service
full entyerly beloved gode maister^ Sir John Paston.

RIGHT worshipfull Sir, and with my faithfull herte and 1463-7
service full entierly beloved gode maister, in my moste Nov- 3
humble wyse I recommaund me unto your goode
maistreship. Pleace it the same to wite that I thenke right
longe to I have veerey knolege of your welfare, the which
undrestande wil be to me right grete comfort. And that
causeth me to write unto you as nowe. And also to late you
wite that I herde reperte ye shuld be wedded unto a Doughter
of the Duchez of Somerset, which mater, and I spake with you,
I couth enforme your maistership that were to longe to write
as nowe. But I shal and do pray God dayly to sende you
such one unto your worldes make that wil drede and faithfully
unfeyned love you above alle othir erthely creatures. For that
is most excellent richesse in this worlde, as I suppose. For
erthely goodes bene transsitory, and wedding contynues for
terme of lyfe, which with some folke is a full long terme.
And therfore, Sir, savyng your displeasir, me semez wedding
wolde have goode avysement. Moreover, Sir, like it your
maistership to undirstond that wynter and colde weders draweth
negh, and I have but fewe clothez but of your gift, God thanke
you. Wherefore, Sir, and it like you, I besech your gode
maisterschip that ye will vouchsafe to remembre me your ser-
vaunte with some lyverey, such as pleaseth you, ayens this
wynter, to make me a gown to kepe me from the colde
wedders. And that I myght have it and such answare as ye
pleace in the premisses sente unto me be the bringer herof.
And I schal contynuwe your oratrix and pore servaunte and

1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 1 66.] This letter is of course not earlier than 1463, when
Sir John Paston received his knighthood, but probably belongs to a period before his
flirtations with Anne Haute, who first appears on the scene in the summer of 1468.

291

THE PASTON LETTERS

1463-7 hcrtely pray to God for your prosper ite, Whom I besech have
NOV- 3 you, Right worshipful Sir, and with my faithful herte and service
full entierly beloved gode maister, in His blessed governaunce.
Writen at Hellowe the iiide- Day of Novembre.

CECILE DAUNE.

680
ABSTRACT l

1468 Release by William, Bishop of Winchester, John, Lord Beauchamp, Sir John

JAN. 1 1 Howard, Sir William Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench, Thomas Lytelton,
Justice of the Common Pleas, William Jenney, Serjeant-at-Law, William Pastor,
Esq., Thomas Howys, clerk, and William Grene, to Sir John Paston, Knight, of
the manors of Castre, in Flegge, called Vaux and Bosoms, and the lands in
Castre called Redham, the manors or tenements in Heryngby called Spensers and
Fennes, a third part of the manor of Runham, the manor of Wynterton, called
Begvyles, with a windmill, the manor of Reppes in Bastewyk, and messuages,
&c., in Yarmouth ; the lands called Billes in Stokesby and Cattes in Heryngby,
&c. ; the manors of Guton in Brandeston, Heynford, the manor of Saxthorp,
called Loundhalle, with a watermill, the manor of Lincolnhalle, in Boyton, &c.,
in Norfolk ; and the manor called Caldecotes in Freton, SufF. ; the manors of
Akethorp in Lowestoft and Spitlyngges in Gorleston, and lands called Have-
lound in Brad well, &c. ; also in the manor of Tichewell, &c., in the hundred
of Smethedon, Norf. ; and the manor of Hempnales in Cotton, and Burnevyles
in Naketon, SufF. ; all which the said Bishop and the others had, inter alia, of
the gift of Ralph, Lord Sudeley, Sir William Oldhall, Richard Waller, Esq.,
Thomas West, Esq., William Wangford, and Nicholas Girlyngton.
Dated i ith Jan. 7 Edw. nr.

[MS. in Bodleian Library.]

292

EDWARD IV

681

WILLIAM WORCESTER TO MARGARET PASTON1

To my ryght worshypfull maistras, Margyt Paston,
wedowe.

RYGHT worchypfull maistras, aftyr dew recomendacion, i468(?)
please your gode maistrasshyp to wete that I comyned
late wyth your entier welbelovyd son, Sir John Paston,
of the fundacion of my Maister Fastolf Collage myght ben at
Cambrygge, yn case hyt shall nat bee at Castre, nether at Seynt
Benetts, because that Universyte lyeth neere the cuntree of
Norffolk and Suffolk ; for albe it my Lord of Wynchestr ys
disposed to found a Collage yn Oxford for my seyd maister to
be prayd for, yhyt wyth moch lesse cost he myght make som
othyr memorialle also yn Cambrygge, and yt weere of ij. clerkys,
iij. or iiij. scolers, founded at leest wyth the value of god*
benefices and ryche parsonages, that myght be purschased the
advowsons, wyth moch lesse goodes then lordshyppes or maners
may ; and I fonde your son well disposed to meofe and excyte
my seyd Lord. Also now the Cristmasse weke next before the
feest att London, my Lord Wynchester called me to hym yn
presence of Sir John, and desyrid hym effectually to be my
gode wyller ; and maister wold hafe no wordes rehersed on my
behalf, and he seyd full welle. Wold Jesu, Maistras, that my
gode maister that was som tyme your husbond, yn my seyd
Maister Fastolf lyfe dayes, as he shewed to me, their coude hafe
founded yn hys hert to hafe trusted and lovyd me as my
Maister Fastolf dyd, and that he wold not hafe geven credence
to the malyciouse contryved talys that Frere Brakley, W.
Barker, and othyrs ymagyned ontruly, savyng your reverence,

1 [From Fenn, iv. 280.] It seems probable that this letter was written about the
beginning of the year 1468. As to the time of year, we may judge by one expression
that it was not very long after Christmas ; and as the writer congratulates Margaret
Paston that Caister is to be at her command, we may with great probability suppose
the date to be about the same as that of the preceding document.

293

THE PASTON LETTERS

I468(?)of me. And now ye may opynly ondrestand the sothe, and
your son Sir John also ; and yhyt for all that I put nevyr my
Maister Fastolf lyfelode yn trouble, for alle the unkyndnesse
and covetuse that was shewed me, as I hafe declared to the
berer heroff, that I know ye trust welle, to whom yn thys ye
may gefe credence at thys tyme.

God amend J. Russe. I wold he had ben at Irland for one
day ys sake.

Your, W. W.

And I thank you hertly for my pore woman, she shuld
com to you at your commaundment late or rathe, but for
gelosye and mysdemyng of peple that hafe me yn greete
awayt ; and ye know welle, maistras, better ys afrende unknow
then knowen ; the world ys to mysdemyng and redy to make
dyvysyon and debate that comyth of an envyouse disposicion.
And I am ryght glad that Castr ys and shall be at your
comaundment, and yowres yn especialle. A ryche juelle yt ys
at neede for all the cuntre yn tyme of werre ; and my Maister F.
wold rather he had nevyr bylded yt then hyt shuld be yn the
gouvernaunce of eny sovereyn that wole oppresse the cuntree.
And I fynde the relygyoux of Seynt Benetts full unkynde toke
away a chambre, the elder Abbot had put me yn possessyon
for my solace, when I myzt com thedr and desport me, and
toke that chambre to Maister John Smyth, that Sir Thomas
Howys seyd to me, was none holsom counceller yn the refor-
macion of the last testament made but ij. executors to hafe the
rule allone. I wold he had nevyr medled of yt, that councell
made moch trouble. I pray you kepe thys letter close to your
sylf, as I trust you and Sir Jamys, and also yn R. Toly that I
undrestand hym close and just.

I had no tyme to speke withyn now late, when I was but
one day at Norwych. W. Barker sclaundred me yn certeyn
maters of gode to the some of vc- mark that Reynold Harneys
shuld kepe and take me half. Wold Jesu B[a]rker had seyd
true, hyt myzt hafe do me moch gode ! And, Maistras, as I
dar desyre you, I pray you recomaund me to my best maistras,
your moder Agnes, for she favorued me and dyd me grete

2 94

EDWARD IV

cherytee, to be the better disposed to hyr son, Maister John, I468(?)
and by my soule yt made me the hertyer to safe the lyfelode
fro trouble or from claymes, as I support me to alle the world,
I put nevyr maner ne lyfelode of my Maister Fastolf yn trouble,
ne entitled no crettur to na place, and ye may speke wyth hyr
herof when ye be allone.

682
HUGH FENN TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

To the right worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght.

RIGHT worchepfull sir, I recommand me to you. Like 1468
you wete a distresse was take in Caster by Thomas [APRIL 12]
Pekok, I trowe your servant, a besy man, called of a
full true sowle, John Hadynet of Haryngby, a pore man his
plow hath loyn ever sith, he seith ; I understonde it is for Catts
landes. I sent my clerk to my mastresse, your moder, and the
seid John with hym therfor ; and my mastresse wold hym
come ageyn a nother day, for Pecok was not thanne at home ;
so he ded, and can not have it, as he seith, but that ye wold I
shuld speke with you at Castr therof, and or other maters he
tolde me this day. And by cause of my moders yereday
holden this day, God have hir sowle, and to morwe shal be a
good day, I wol by Goddes grace dispose me to His mercy
ageyns Thursday, as I have used ; therfor I pray you pardon
my comyng. In the weke after Ester, I entend to se you and
my seid mastresse certeynly ; it is loong seth I sy hir, me semeth.
And if ye be not thanne at Castr, I pray you send me worde
that I may come soner to you to comon with you in this mater,
and in all other what ye wil, and sone departe to London fro
thens ; and therfor I wil abide with you a good while.

1 [From Fenn, iv. 290.] This letter was written on the Tuesday before Easter,
probably in the year 1468, i.e. after the other executors of Fastolf had released to Sir
John Paston. The date could hardly be later than 1469, when Sir John was driven
out of Caister by the Duke of Norfolk; and in 1469 he does not seem to have been
residing there about Easter.

295

THE PASTON LETTERS

1468 Sir, as to Catts ye be remembred what I seid to you at

[APRIL 12] London at ij. tymes. I am the same man ; I have sith I cam
geten th'evidences in to myn handes, and I am redy to shewe
them what lerned man her that ye wol assigne. The mater is
cler to my thynkyng. Titleshale that solde it to Sir J. Fastolf
myght as wele a solde hym your lande or myn ; and if the sale
be lawfull, I shal leve my hands at the first as I said at London.
The distresse to be kept for that, I wisse it nede not, and it
was unlawfully taken. Like it you to do delyvere the pore
man his goods ageyn, I am redy to answer you for elde and
new as right wol. I shal breke no day to be assigned, for to
leve all other thyngs.

By the blissed Lady I beleve that ye wol dispose you wele,
and so I pray God ye do, and have you in His blissed gover-
naunce. Wretyn at the hede town of Norffolk this Tuysday.
Your owen, H. atte FENNE.

683

EDWARD IV. TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

¥0 our trusty and welbeloved Sir John Paston, Knight.

BY THE KING.

APRIL 1 8 r I i RUSTY and welbeloved, we greet yow well. And

where it is accorded betwixt us and our cozen the

Duke of Burgundye that he shall wedde our derrest

sister, Margaret, and that in shorte while we intende to sende

her into the parts of Flanders for the accomplishment and

solempnizacion of the marriage so concluded ; at the which

time it behoveth her to be accompanied with great nobility of

this realme, for the honour thereof, of us and our said sister :

We therefore, wele understanding and remembering the good

1 This letter is reprinted from Mr. Worship's article on Sandford's genealogy of
the Paston family in the Norfolk Archaology. The original was transcribed by Sand-
ford, but is not now to be found. Margaret, sister of Edward iv., was married to
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, at Bruges, on the 3rd July 1468.

296

EDWARD IV

affection ye here towards us all, our pleasure is, and our said 1468
sister, whereupon we greatly trust, desire and pray yow right APRIL l8
effectuously that, every excuse or delaye laide aparte, ye will
dispose yourselfe to the saide intent and purpose against the
first day of June next cominge, according to your honour and
degree, and that ye faile not so to doe, as we singularly trust
yow, and as ye intend to do us justys, pleas*1 Yeven under
our signet at our manner of Greenwich, the xviij. day of
Aprill.

684

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGER TO
MARGARET PASTON2

'To my ryght reverend and worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston,
dwellyng at Caster^ be thys delyveryed in hast.

RYTH reverend and worchepfull modyr, I recomaund JULY 8
me on to you as humbylly as I can thynk, desyryng
most hertly to her of your welfare and herts ese,
whyche I pray God send yow as hastyly as my hert can
thynk. Pies yt yow to wete, that at the makyng of thys
byll, my brodyr and I, and all our felawshep, wer in good
helle, blyssyd be God. As for the gydyng her in thys centre,
it is as worchepfull as all the world can devyse it, and ther
wer never Englyshe men had so good cher owt of Inglong
that ever I herd of.

As for tydyngs her, but if it be of the fest, I can non send
yow; savyng my Lady Margaret3 was maryd on Sonday4 last
past, at a towne that is callyd the Dame, iij. myle owt of
Brugys, at v. of the clok in the mornyng ; and sche was browt
the same day to Bruggys to hyr dener; and ther sche was

1 So, as printed in the Norfolk Archaology.

2 [From Fenn, ii. 2.] As this letter gives an account of the marriage of the
Princess Margaret to Charles, Duke of Burgundy, there is no doubt of the year in
which it was written.

3 Margaret, sister of King Edward iv. 4 3rd July.

297

THE PASTON LETTERS

1468 receyvyd as worchepfully as all the world cowd devyse, as
JULY 8 with presession with ladys and lordys, best beseyn of eny
pepyll, that ever I sye or herd of. Many pagentys wer
pleyed in hyr wey in Bryggys to hyr welcomyng, the best
that ever I sye. And the same Sonday my Lord the Bastard,1
took upon hym to answere xxiiij. knyts and gentylmen, with
in viij. dayes at jostys of pese; and when that they wer
answeryd, they xxiiij. and hym selve schold torney with othyr
xxv. the next day aftyr, whyche is on Monday next comyng ;
and they that have jostyd with hym into thys day, have ben as
rychely beseyn, and hymselve also, as clothe of gold, and sylk
and sylvyr, and goJdsmyths werk, myght mak hem ; for of
syche ger, and gold, and perle, and stanys, they of the Dwkys
coort, neythyr gentylmen nor gentylwomen, they want non ;
for with owt that they have it by wyshys, by my trowthe, I
herd nevyr of so gret plente as ther is.

Thys day my Lord Scalys2 justyd with a Lord of thys
centre, but not with the Bastard; for they mad promyse at
London that non of them bothe shold never dele with othyr
in armys; but the Bastard was one of the Lords that browt
the Lord Scalys in to the feld, and of mysfortwne an horse
strake my Lord Bastard on the lege, and hathe hurt hym so
sore, that I can thynk he shalbe of no power to acomplyshe
up hys armys; and that is gret pete, for by my trowthe I
trow God mad never a mor worchepfull knyt.

And as for the Dwkys coort, as of lords, ladys and gentyl-
women, knyts, sqwyers, and gentylmen, I hert never of non
lyek to it, save Kyng Artourys cort. And by my trowthe,
I have no wyt nor remembrans to wryte to yow, half the
worchep that is her ; but that lakyth, as it comyth to mynd I
shall tell yow when I come home, whyche I tryst to God shal
not be long to; for we depart owt of Brygys homward on
Twysday next comyng, and all folk that cam with my Lady
of Burgoyn owt of Inglond, except syche as shall abyd her
styll with hyr, whyche I wot well shall be but fewe.

1 Anthony, Count de la Roche, commonly called the Bastard of Burgundy, a
natural son of Duke Philip the Good.

* Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales, afterwards Earl Rivers.

298

EDWARD IV

We depart the soner, for the Dwk1 hathe word that the 1468
Frenshe Kyng 2 is purposyd to mak wer upon hym hastyly, JULY 8
and that he is with in iiij. or v. dayis jorney of Brugys, and
the Dwk rydyth on Twysday next comyng, forward to met
with hym; God geve hym good sped, and all hys; for by
my trowthe they are the goodlyest felawshep the ever I cam
among, and best can behave them, and most lyek gentylmen.

Othyr tydyngs have we non her, but that the Dwke of
Somerset,8 and all hys bands depertyd welbeseyn owt of
Brugys a day befor that my Lady the Dwches cam thedyr,
and they sey her, that he is to Qwen Margaret that was, and
shal no more come her ayen, nor be holpyn by the Dwk. No
more ; but I beseche yow of your blyssyng as lowly as I can,
whyche I beseche yow forget not to geve me ever day onys.
And, modyr, I beseche yow that ye wolbe good mastras to my
lytyll man, and to se that he go to scole.

I sent my cosyn Dawbeney vs. by Callys man, for to bye
for hym syche ger as he nedyth ; and, modyr, I pray yow thys
byll may recomend me to my sustyrs bothe, and to the mastyr,
my cosyn Dawbeney, Syr Jamys,4 Syr John Stylle, and to pray
hym to be good mastyr to lytyll Jak, and to lerne hym well;
and I pray yow that thys byll may recomand me to all your
folkys, and my wellwyllers. And I pray God send yow your
herts desyr.

Wretyn at Bruggys the Fryday next aftyr Seynt Thomas.
Your sone and humbyll servaunt,

J. PASTON, the yonger.

685
ABSTRACT5

General pardon to William Paston, son of the judge, for offences com- JULY 16
mitted before the 1 5th April last. The grantee is described by different
aliases, as William Paston of London, of Caster, of Norwich, and of Wymond-
ham, gentleman. Westminster, 1 6th July, 8 Edw. iv. Great Seal attached.

1 Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. 2 Lewis XI.

3 Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset. * Sir James Gloys, a priest.

6 [From Add. Charter 17,248, B.M.]

299

THE PASTON LETTERS

686

THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON1
To Sir John Pas ton, Knyght.

I468(?) | ~\ IGHT worshipfull, and my especiall true hertid frende,
JULY 1 8 rC I commaunde me un to you, preying you to ordeyne
me iij. horsse barneys as godely as ye and Genyn kan
devyse, as it were for yourselfe ; and that I may have thyme
in all hast, ordere. Also Skerne saith ye wolde ordeyne ij.
standarde stavys ; this I pray you to remembre, and my wife
shalle deliver you silver, — and yit she most borowed it ; vj. or
vij/*. I wold be stowe on a horsse harneys, and so Skerne tolde
me I might have. The Lord Hastings had for the same price,
but I wolde not myne were lik his ; and I trust to God we
shalle do right welle, who preserve you. Wreten at Canter-
bury in hast, the xviij. day of Juyll.

OXYNFORD.

687

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MRS. ANNE2
To Mast res se Annes.

1468 | J YTHE it is so that I may not, as oft as I wold, be ther

JULY 22 1^ as ry^ where] I might do my message myselff, myn

owne fayir Mastresse Annes, I prey yow to accept

thys byll for my messanger to recomand me to yow in my

1 [From Fenn, ii. 26.] The writer of this letter was committed to the Tower in
November 1468, and though afterwards released, it was not long before he became a
declared enemy of Edward iv. ; so that, after the brief restoration of Henry vi. in
1470, he was obliged to leave the kingdom. The date of this letter, therefore, is not
likely to be later than the present year, but it may be a year or two earlier.

8 [From Fenn, ii. 294.] The Mrs. Anne to whom this letter was addressed
seems to have been a Mrs. Anne Haute, to whom Sir John was for a long time
engaged. That it was written before the year 1469 will appear probable on refer-
ring to Margaret Paston's letter written on Easter Monday (3rd April) in that year,
in which she wishes to know for certain if he be engaged ; and we have therefore

300

EDWARD IV

most feythfull wyse, as he that faynest of all other desyreth 1468
to knowe of yowr welfare, whyche I prey God encresse to J*71-* 22
your most plesure.

And, mastresse, thow so be that I as yet have govyn yow
hot easy [i.e. little] cause to remembyr me for leke of aqweyn-
tacion, yet I beseche yow, let me not be forgotyn when ye
rekyn up all yowr servaunts, to be sett in the nombyr with
other.

And I prey yow, Mastresse Annes, for that servyse that
I owe yow, that in as short tyme as ye goodly may that I
myght be assarteynyd of yowr entent and of your best frends
in syche maters as I have brokyn to yow of, whyche bothe
your and myn ryght trusty frends John Lee, or ellys my
mastresse hys wyff, promysyd befor yowcand me at our fyrst
and last being togedyr, that as sone as they or eyther of theym
knewe your entent and your frendys that they shold send me
woord. And if they so do, I tryst sone aftyr to se yow.

And now farewell, myn owne fayir lady, and God geve
yow good rest, for in feythe I trow ye be in bed.

Wretyn in my wey homward on Mary Maudeleyn Day at
mydnyght. Your owne,

JOHN PASTON.

Mastresse Annes, I am prowd that ye can reed Inglyshe ;
wherfor I prey yow aqweynt yow with thys my lewd [uncouth]
hand, for my purpose is that ye shalbe more aqweyntyd with
it, or ellys it shalbe ayenst my wyll ; but yet, and when ye
have red thys byll, I prey yow brenne it or kepe it secret to
yoursylff, as my feythefull trust is in yow.

little difficulty in referring it to the year 1468, when Sir John was over in Flanders at
the marriage of the Princess Margaret to Charles of Burgundy. Mrs. Anne appears
to have been a lady of English extraction, who was either born abroad or had passed
most of her life on the Continent. She was, moreover, related to Lord Scales, and
is therefore not unlikely to have been the daughter of one William Haute of Kent,
who married at Calais, in 1429, the daughter of a certain Richard Wydeville. (See
Excerpta Historica, p. 249.) But she could speak and even read English $ and Sir
John, who was now returning homewards to England, designed in this letter to open
a correspondence with her. He appears, however, not to have despatched it, as the
original remained among the papers of the Paston family j or else perhaps it was re-
turned to him on the breaking off of the engagement.

301

THE PASTON LETTERS

688

THOMAS HOWES TO CARDINAL BOURCHIER1

70 my moste honorabyl Lord Cadenall^ and
Archibwhop of Caunterbury.

1468 "E ylTOSTE reverent and my ryght good Lord, I re-
°CT" I0 \w I comaund me to your gracyous Lordshyp yn my
moste humble wyse. Please your Lordshyp to wete
that my Lord Norffolk councell hath now late mevyd Sir
Wylliam Yelverton> Knyght, and me to be preferryd for to
purchasse the maner'of Castre, and certeyn other lordshypps
that wer my Maystyr Fastolf, whom God pardon, owt ex-
cepted the maner of Gunton that yowr Lordshyp desyryth to
purchasse, and othyr certeyn maners that my Mastyr Fastolf
frendys hafe desyred to be preferryd. And be cause the
pretens bargayn that John Paston yn hys lyffe surmytted,
bye colour of which he entended to hafe all my Mastyr
Fastolf londes in Norffolk and Suffolk for nought, savyng
the hygh reverence of your astate, was not juste ne trew ;
and be cause that I wyth othyr of my Master Fastolf
executors may have wher of to dyspospose yn cheryte full
dedys to do for hys sowle ; I have condescended the rather
that my seide Lord of Norffolk shall be preferryd to the pur-
chasse of the seyde maner of Castre, and othyr maners that
may be sparyd to th'encresse of hys lyfelode yn thys land ;
and thys covenantys to be engroced upp wythynne shorth
tyme, as by all Halowaunce, in case yowr Lordshyp be agreed
and plesyd wyth all ; wher uppon I wold beseche yowr nobyll
Lordshyp to lete me wete your good plesur and avice yn thys
behalfe.

And be cause my seyd Lord Norffolk ys so nere of blode
to yowr hyghnesse knyghted, that meevyd me to be the more
wyllyng to condescend to the forseyd purchasse, and so trust-

1 [From Fenn, ir. 298.]
302

EDWARD IV

yng your Lordshyp wold be ryght well pleased wyth alle. 1468
Wretyn at Norwich the x. day of Octobyr, anno viij. R. OCT- I0
E. iiijt

Yowr pore chapleyn, T. HOWYS.

689

ABSTRACT l

[Circa 1468.] Long declaration in English (on a paper roll) by Thomas
Howes, ' for the discharge of his conscience,' impugning the authenticity of the
will nuncupative, said to have been made by Sir J. Fastolf on the day of his
death, and propounded by John Paston and the said Thomas in opposition to an
earlier will propounded by Sir W. Yelverton and W. Worcetyr ; containing
details intended to prove that the alleged will was fabricated by Paston.
Amongst other things, Howes says that at Paston's desire he did, a year before
Fastolf's death, move Fastolf that Paston might buy three of his manors and
live in his college, * and the seyd Fastolf, mevyd and passyoned gretely in his
soule, seyd and swar by Cryst ys sides, " And I knewe that Paston woolde by
ony of my londes or my godes he shulde nevyr be my fefFe, nother myn executor."
Albeyt he seyde that he wolde suffer that the said Paston for terme of hys lyf
shall have a loggyng yn a convenyent place yn the seyd maner of Castre withoute
denyance of ony havyng intrest yn the seyd maner.'

690

ANONYMOUS TO SIR JOHN PASTON2

To Maistyr Syr John Paston, Knyght, at London, with my Lorae
the Archebisshop of Torke, be this letter delyverid.

1RECOMMAND me unto you. It is tolde me that the OCT. 28
man that ye wote of cam ridyng by my Lady Suthfolk and
by Cotton, which is in gret decay ; and Barnay tolde him
that Edward Dale tolde hem he durst no lenger serve him of

1 [From a MS. in Magdalen College, Oxford.] This Abstract is derived from
Mr. Macray's Report on the Muniments of Magdalen College, printed in the Fourth
Report of the Historical MSS. Commission.

2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The reference to the Earl of Pembroke, who was
only so created in 14.68, and who was beheaded in July 1469, fixes the date of this
letter to the former year.

303

THE PASTON LETTERS

1468 ale, for it was warnid hym that my Lady Suffolk l wolde entyr,
OCT' *8 and whan she shulde enter few men shulde knowe, it shulde be
do so sodenly. She taryeth but of tythynges fro London. He
spak nat with hyr. I pray you speke to my Lorde of Zorke 2
for the subpena in the Chanceri ayen William Paston that he
take noon hurte. He desyrith to write to yow for it. My
Lorde of Northfolk men have warnid the tenantis to pay you
no mony, and thai speke alle in the Kynges name. Ye may
tell my Lorde of Yorke that it is open in every mannys
mouth in this contre the language that my Lorde of
Yorke and my Lord of Warwik had to my Lorde of
Norfolk in the Kings chambre, and that my Lorde of
Yorke saide, rathir than the londe shulde go so, he wolde
com dwell ther hym sliff. Ye wolde mervaile what harts my
Lords hath goten, and how this language put peeple in com-
forte. My Lorde of Norffolk answerde that he wolde speke
to my Lady his wiff, and entret hir. And your adversarys
reherce that my Lorde shall never be Chanceleer til this mateer
be spede,8 for ther bargans ar made condicionall, to holde and
nat holde as afftir my Lorde be Chaunceler and nat. Sot h well
is all the doar, and he hath saide that my Lorde of Zorke
licensid hym to labour in the mateer. My Lorde of Norwich
shuld by xl. marke of the same lond. Thai entende to have a
man of my Lady of Suthfolks sheryve, and specially Harcort.
My Lorde coude nat bileve it but if [i.e. unless] he harde it,
how it is rejoysshid in som place that he is nat Chaunceleer.
Ther cam oo man into the contre with a newe patent, saying
that my Lorde was Chanceler, and at that was the first patent
that was sealid sithen he was officeer. The tythandes did
goode pro tempore. Ther are witnes labourid, as it is said, to
witnes and swere ageyn you of men of c//. a yeer, and many
oder men, som that knew never of the mateer nor never harde
Sir John Faskolff speke ; ye know what jure is in this contre
in maters that ar favoured by them that ar now ageyn you. It
is harde whan a mateer restid by jure in this contre, som of the

1 Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.

2 George Nevill, Archbishop of York.

3 The Great Seal was taken from Archbishop Nevill on the 8th June 1467.
Apparently in 1468 he was hoping to be made Chancellor again.

304

EDWARD IV

same quest that founde you bondeman shall \vitnesse ayens you. 1468
Syr Thomas Howys comyth to London, and if my Lorde of OCT- 28
Zorke wolde entret frendely my Lorde of Ely,1 and get feith-
fully his promyse that my Lorde of Ely sende for Hawys, he
shulde make Hawys to go home ageyn and leve all his fellowis
post allon ; and that my Lorde wolde entret my Lorde Tre-
saurer, my Lord Penbrok,2 my Lady Bedford,3 and remembre
the bargan is not yit made, it may be better lettid affor than
afftyr ; and if the mateer spede my Lorde getith gret worshipp
and gret thanke. I doute not he undirstondyth it, for it is
well undirstonde what he hath saide. And pray his Lordeshipp
to remembre a shereve this yeer, for ther is mych to be undir-
stonde in the shereve. And sende me worde if my Lorde
Penbrok be go, and if my Lorde be Chaunceler. Et memo-
randum, Sir William Terell your testimoniall. Et memoran-
dum, my Lorde Cardynall to sende answer to Sir Thomas
Howys ; and though my Lorde Cardynall be nat ther now,
yit lat Townysende make it redy ageyns my Lords commyng.
If Sir Thomas Howys wer handelyd by Maister Tressam and
made byleve and put in hope of the moone shone in the water
and I wot nat what, that such labor wer made that eythir he
shulde be a pope or els in dyspeyr to be depryved de omni
beneficio ecclesiastico for symony, lechory, perjory, and doubble
variable pevyshnesse, and for admynystryng without auctoryte ;
and how he promisid bi his feith to my Lord t'obey his rewle
and brak it, and what he hath saide to my lords in this mateer ;
and if ye recur in the courte, he shall be undo, and this mateer
tolde hym by my Lorde of Ely and Maister Tresham, halfF in
game and halfF in ernest, it shulde make hym to departe, for
Yelvyrton and he ar halfF at variance now. And entret my
Lords servaunts to speke in your maters to all such persones
as nede is. And I shall be hastyly with you by the grace of
God, whom have yow in kepyng. Write n on Seynt Simonde
Day and Jude.

By your owne.

1 William Grey, Bishop of Ely.

2 William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. 3 See page 188, Note 3.

VOL. IV. — U

3°5

THE PASTON LETTERS
691

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON »

To my ryght welbekvyd brother, John Paston, Esqer, beyng at
Caster, or to John Dawbeney there, be this letter delyvered.

1468 | "% YGHT welbelovyd brother, I comand me to yow, letyng
NOV. 9 1-^ yOW wete that I have wagyd for to helpe yow and
Dawbeney to kepe the place at Castr, iiij. we! assuryd
and trew men to do al maner of thyng what that they be desyryd
to do, in save gard or enforcyng of the seyd place ; and mor
ovyr they be provyd men, and connyng in the werr, and in
fetys of armys, and they kan wele schote bothe gonnys and
crossebowes, and amende and strynge them, and devyse bol-
werkys, or any thyngs that scholde be a strenkthe to the place ;
and they wol, as nede is, kepe wecche and warde. They be
sadde and wel advysed men, savyng on of them, whyche is
ballyd, and callyd Wylliam Peny, whyche is as goode a man as
gothe on the erthe, savyng a lytyll he wol, as I understand, be
a lytel copschotyn \high-crested~\, but yit he is no brawler, but
ful of cortesye, meche uppon James Halman ; the other iij. be
named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jakys Son, savyng
that as yit they have non harneyse comyn, but when it komyth
it schall be sent to yow, and in the meane whyle I pray yow
and Dawbeney to purvey them some.

Also a cople of beddys they most nedys have, whyche I
pray yow by the help of my modre to purvey for them, tyl
that I com home to yow. Ye schall fynde them gentylmanly,
comfortable felawes, and that they wol and dare abyde be ther
takelyng ; and if ye undrestond that any assawte schold be
towardys, I sende yow thes men, becawse that men of the

1 [From Fenn, iv. 302.] The original of this letter, Fenn informs us, was written
upon a whole sheet of paper, of which a quarter was cut away before the letter was
finished, so that the bottom part of it was only half the width of the upper. Roger
Ree was made Sheriff of Norfolk in 1468, which fixes the date.
306

EDWARD IV

centre ther about yow scholde be frayed for fer of losse of ther 1468
goods ; wherfor if ther \ver any suche thyng towards, I wolde NOV- 9
ye take of men of the centre but few, and that they wer well
assuryd men, for ellys they myght discorage alle the remenant.

And asfor any wryghtyng fro the Kyng, he hathe promysyd
that there schall come non ; and if ther do his unwarys \without
his knowledge^ yowr answer may be thys, how the Kyng hathe
seyd, and so to delay them tyll I may have worde, and I schall
sone purvey a remedy.

I understond that ye have ben with my Lorde of Norfolke
now of late. What ze have done I wete not ; we se that he
shal be her ageyn thys daye. Mor ovyr, I trow John Alforde
schall not longe abyde with my Lorde ; I schall sende yow
tydyng of other thyngys in haste, with the grace of God, who,
&c. Wretyn on Wednysday nexte befor Seynt Martyn.

JOHN PASTON.

I fer that Dawbeney is not alther best storyd to contenew
howsold longe ; lete hym send me worde in hast, and I wyll
releve hym to my power, and or longe to I hope to be with
yow.

Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolke, and he schall be good
jnow. Th'excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.

Also, that thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd as cor-
teysly as ye can.

Also, I pray yow to sende me my flowr * be the next mas- r
sanger that comyth.

Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I know non
suche in myn adward as yit.

Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys oblyga-
cion, I never sye it that I remembre ; wherfor I wolde and prey
my modre to loke it up.

Also, as for the Byble2 that the master hath, I wend the

1 This may mean flour for household use ; or it may signify his flower, his device
or cognisance. — F.

3 This must mean some MS. copy, for at this time there was only one printed
edition of the Bible, which would have sold even then for a much greater sum than
is here mentioned. I mean ' Biblia Latina Mogunt. per J. Fust et P. Schoiffer,
1462.'— F.

307

THE PASTON LETTERS

1468 uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark, and so I trowe he
NOV. 9 Wyl geve it : wet, I pray yow.

Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam Falyate,

I wolde, if they kan purvey for them selfe, folfayne be dys-

chargyd of them.

692
ELIZABETH POYNINGS TO SIR JOHN PASTON1

jTo the worshipful Sir John Paston, Knyght^ be thys
deheryd in hast.

I468(?) ~\\ TORSHIPFULL and with all myn hert interly wil-
DEC. 15 \/ V/ beloved nevoue, I recomaunde me to yow, desyryng
to here of your prosperite and wilefayr, which I
pray All mighti God maynteyn and encres to His plesour and
your herts desir, thankyng God of your amendyng and helth ;
forthermore, certefying yow that Sir Robert Fenys hath doon
grete hurte in the lyvelode whiche perteyned to my husbond
and me in the Shire of Kent, wherein William Kene and other
persones arn enfeffid, and gretly troubleth hit, and receyveth
the issuez and profitez of gret part of theym. And as of my
seid husbonds lyvelode, aswell in the same shire as in other

1 [From Fenn, iv. 266.] Elizabeth Paston, as we have seen (No. 374), had
married Robert Poynings by the beginning of January 1459. We must» however,
correct a slight inaccuracy in the preliminary note to that letter, where it is said that
by the year 1470 they must have been married several years. Their union, in fact,
lasted little more than two years ,• for Robert Poynings was slain at the second battle
of St. Albans on the i7th February 1461. The inquisition post mortem, taken some
years afterwards (9 and 10 Edw. iv., No. 49), gives that day as the date of his death.
His son and heir, Edward, named in this letter (who was afterwards Lord-Deputy of
Ireland in the reign of Henry vn.), was probably born towards the close of the year
1459, for he is mentioned at the date of the inquisition (3ist Jan. 49 and i Hen. vi.,
i.e. 1471) as eleven years old and over. Elizabeth Poynings must have remained a
widow some years j but before 1472 she had married Sir George Browne of Betch-
worth, Surrey. This letter is certainly of later date than No. 627, for the lands which
she was then endeavouring to recover from the Earl of Kent were now occupied by
the Earl of Essex. It may perhaps have been a year or two after 1466, but it was
probably not later than 1469, as in 1470 Henry vi. was restored, and Essex, being a
Yorkist, would not have been so powerful. The year 1468 must be a tolerable
approximation to the true date.

308

EDWARD IV

shirez, besyde myn jounter, my seid husbond, whan he de- I468(?)
partyd towarde the feld of Saint Albons, made and ordeyned DEC- *5
his wille, that I shuld have the rewell of all his lyvelode, and
of Edwarde his soon and myn, and to take the issuez and
profitez of the seid lyvelode, to the fyndyng of his and myn
seid son, to paie his dettez, and to kepe the right and title of
the same lyvelode, which I myght nat accordyng occupie for
Sir Edwarde Ponyngs, myn seid husbonds brother ; and so
sith myn seid husbonds departyng, I assigned that the seid Sir
Edwarde for certeyn yereez shuld have and take the revenuez
of the maners of Westwode, Estwell, Levelond, Horsmonden,
Totyndon, Eccles, Staundon, and Combesdon, parcell of the
seid lyvelode, which arn clerely yerely worth Ixxvj/*. xiijj. iiij^/.,
to the entent that the seid Sir Edwarde shuld paye myn
husbonds dettez, for he wold not suffer me to be in rest with-
out that he myght have a rewell in the lyvelode ; and after
the seid assignement made, the seid Robert Fenes, contrary to
trowth, and withoute cause of right, interupted me and the
seid Sir Edwarde, aswell of and in the seid maners as of other
maners undirwretyn ; wher uppon the same Sir Edwarde suet
unto the Kyngs Highnesse, and hade the Kyngez honorable
lettres undir his signet, directed to the said Sir Robert Fenys,
the tenour wherof I send unto yow herin inclosid ; and as for
residue of the lyvelode of myn seid husbonds and myn, within
the same shire of Kent, wherin the said William Kene and
other arn enfeffed, that is to say, the maner of Tyrlyngham,
Wolverton, Halton, Newyngton, Bastram, Rokesley, and
Northcray, with th'appurtenauncez, I of them, by myn seid
husbonds wille, shuld have residue, and take the issuez and
profitez of theym, contrarye to right and conciens, takyng
away my ryght, and brekyng my said husbonds wille, the seid
Robert Fenys hath doon gret wast and hurte ther, and long
tym hath take upe the revenuez and profitez of the same, wher
thorough I have not my ryght, and the seid wille may not be
performed.

Wherfor I hertely pray yow that ze will labour unto the
Kynges Highnes, at yt lyketh hym addres his honorable lettres
to be directed to the seid Robert Fenys, dischargyng hym

309

THE PASTON LETTERS

1 46 8 (?) utterly of the menuraunce, occupacion, and receyt of the
DEC. 1 5 revenuez of the said maners of Tyrlyngham and other, accord-
yng to the tenour of the lettres labored by Sir Edwarde, for
the maners assigned to hym from the Kyngs Highnes, directyd
to the same Robert Fynes, or strayter if hit may be, and that
I and myn assignez may peasseble rejoie theym ; and if eny
person wold attempt to do the contrarye, that a comaunde-
ment, yf it pies the Kyngs Hignes, by hym myght be yevyn
to my Lorde Chaunceller to seall writtyngs sufficiaunt with his
gret seall, in eydyng and assisting me and myn assignez in
this same.

And as for the maners of Esthall, Faukham, Asslie, and
Chelsfeld, with th'appurtenauntez in the seid schire of Kent,
whereof my hysbond at his departur was seassed, and my son
sethens, unto the tyme that the Erie of Kent1 without eny
inquission or title of right for the Kyng, by colour of the
Kynges lettres patentes, entret into theym, and hym therof put
owte, and now my Lorde of Essex 2 occupieth them in lyke
maner and forme ; yf eny remedy therin wilbe hade, I pray
yow attempt hit.

Also, forther more, I hertely pray yow that if eny general!
pardon be grauntyd, that I may have on for John Dane my
' servaunt, whom the said Robert Fenys of gret malice hath
endyted of felonye, and that ze secretly labour this, and send
me an aunswer in writtyng in as godly hast as ze may. As
soon as that may pies yow to send me passels of costes and
expences ze bere and pay for the said causez, I will truely
content yow hit of the same, and over that rewarde yow
to your plessour by the grace of Jesu, quo have yow in
His blessed keping. Wrettyn in Suthwerk the xvth daie of
Decembyr.

Be your awnt, ELIZABETH PONYNGS.

1 Edmund Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and Baron Hastings, who was created
Earl of Kent in 1465.

2 Henry, Viscount Bourchier, created Earl of Essex in 1461.

310

EDWARD IV

693

ABSTRACT1
THE KING TO SIR ROBERT FYNYS

Commanding him not to levy the rents of Westwode, Estwell, Levelond,
Horsmonden, Totyngdon, Eccles, Stondon, and Comebesdane in Kent.

[This was evidently the copy of the writ obtained by Sir Edward Poynings
referred to in the preceding letter. Below is written, 'The copie of the lettre
myssyve endossid by the Kynges awn handes.']

694

SIR GEORGE BROWNE TO JOHN PASTON2

To my trusty and welbelowyd cosyn, Jhon Paston,
Esquyer, in haste.

Loyawlte Ayme.

Be zowr howne

G. BROWNE.
Hyt schal newyr cum howt for me.

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

2 [From Fenn, iv. 100.] The writer of this brief and enigmatical letter was the Date
second husband of Elizabeth Paston, as mentioned in the preliminary note to No. 692 llnrpr
preceding. If the John Paston, Esquire, to whom it is addressed be the first of that

name, that is to say, Elizabeth Paston's brother, the date is not later than 1466 ; but tain
as it was certainly some years later before the writer became connected with the
Pastons by marriage, the person addressed is more probably John Paston the youngest,
brother of Sir John. The date of this communication, however, is unimportant. Its
purport, of which Fenn has suggested rather a complicated explanation, appears to me
simply a promise of secrecy on some subject : ' Loyaute, alme (t.e. Honour bright, my
dear friend). It shall never come out for me.'

END OF VOLUME iv

Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
at the Edinburgh University Press

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY

Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the last gate stamped below.

MAR 6 195S
MAR 2 8 1962

APR13RBO

MAY?

MAV297962

AUG

Form L9-32m-8,'57 (.0868054)444

MAY 1 4 1974

MAY 21983
NOV18198*

THE L.1UKAKI

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-N LOS

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