v. 269, that we might almost surmise the same person is spoken

of; but this can hardly be.]

[Footnote 260.2: Probably the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk.]

[Footnote 261.1: According to Blomefield (viii. 299) Joan (or Jane), one of the four daughters of Edmund de Wichingham, married, first, Robert Longstrather, and afterwards Robert Boys of Honing, in Norfolk.]

[Footnote 262.1: This passage is crossed out in the MS.]

[Footnote 262.2: Sentence left incomplete.]

441-448

ABSTRACTS[263.1]

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

[Footnote 263.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

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

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

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

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

445.-- W. Cotyng[263.2] to Margaret Paston. --Has received to-day £9:0:2 from Simon Miller, her farmer at Tichwell, for Midsummer payment. Sends it by Roger, servant of the Parson of Thorp. Simon has paid five shillings for finding a man to the King for Tichwell, and but for me you would have paid a mark. Charges for repairs. As for your lining cloth, my brother is still beyond the sea. --Brankaster, 31 July.

[Footnote 263.2: He was rector of Swainsthorp, to which he was presented by William Paston and John Dam in 1444, and which he exchanged for the living of Tichwell in 1450. --Blomefield, v. 63.]

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

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

448.-- Memoranda to inquire:-- (1) If William Cofe were enfeoffed in Rothnall Hall? (2) If Tylerd knew William Cofe of Northcofe[264.1] before the day of his death two years, one year, half a year, or a quarter, etc.; what seal he used? (3) If Tylerd were not about him, to common with Gernyngham and such as were about him. (4) Item, in case it can be understood that he made none estate, ‘than lete Wodesyde goo to Robert Prymer in his owyn name, saying that John P. (Paston) is his good mayster in hys mater,’ etc.

[Footnote 264.1: William Cove of North Cove, Suffolk. --_See_ Suckling’s _Hist. of Suffolk_, i. 48.]

THE PASTON LETTERS

_Edward IV_

449

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO ----[265.1]

[Sidenote: 1461]

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

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

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

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

[Footnote 265.1: [From Fenn, i. 226.] According to Fenn, this letter is in the original ‘without either date, name, or direction,’ the contents only proving it to have been written by ‘one of John Paston’s sons.’ Nevertheless, in a very misleading way, the signature ‘John Paston’ is inserted at the foot of the right-hand copy, with a reference to a facsimile of the signature of John Paston the youngest. There is every appearance, however, that John Paston the youngest really was the writer, and that the date is, as Fenn supposes, just after the accession of Edward IV.]

[Footnote 266.1: The battle of Mortimer’s Cross, near Ludlow, gained by Edward IV. before he was king, on the 3rd February 1461.]

450

W. PASTON AND THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON[266.2]

_To my maister, John Paston, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / APRIL 4]

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

Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld,[267.2] and uppon the Munday[267.3] next after Palmesunday, he was resseved in to York with gret solempnyte and processyons. And the Mair and Comons of the said cite mad ther menys to have grace be Lord Montagu[267.4] and Lord Barenars,[267.5] whiche be for the Kyngs coming in to the said cite desyred hym of grace for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace. On the Kyngs parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and Lord Scrop sore hurt; John Stafford, Horne of Kent ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford, William Hastyngs mad knyghts with other; Blont is knygth, &c.

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

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

Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can telle you. And Jesu spede you. We pray you that this tydyngs my moder may knowe.

Be your Broder,

W. PASTON.

T. PLAYTERS.

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

Comes Northumbriæ. Comes Devon. Dominus de Beamunde. Dominus de Clifford. Dominus de Nevyll. Dominus de Dacre. Dominus Henricus de Bokyngham. Dominus de Well[es]. Dominus de Scales Antony Revers. Dominus de Wellugby. Dominus de Malley Radulfus Bigot Miles.

Millites.

Sir Rauff Gray. Sir Ric. Jeney. Sir Harry Bekingham. Sir Andrew Trollop. With xxviij.^ml. [28,000] nomberd by Harralds.

[Footnote 266.2: [From Fenn, i. 216.] The date of this letter is sufficiently apparent from the contents.]

[Footnote 267.1: 4th April.]

[Footnote 267.2: The battle of Towton, fought on Palm Sunday, the 29th March 1461.]

[Footnote 267.3: 30th March.]

[Footnote 267.4: John Nevill, Lord Montague, brother of the Earl of Warwick.]

[Footnote 267.5: Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners.]

451

THOMAS PLAYTERS TO MASTER JOHN PASTON[268.1]

_To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1461 / APRIL 18]

Please your Maisterchep to wete, that I have spokyn with Essex, in the matter that ye wete of, and fynd him be his talkyng wel dysposed, not withstandyng he woll not falle to no conclusyon to engrose up the mater, tyll the chef baron[268.2] be com to London, and that he be mad privy to the mater, which we loke after this same secund Saterday[268.3] after Esterne; and as for Notyngham he is not yet comyn to London.

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

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

Your,

THOMAS PLAYTERS.

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

[Footnote 268.1: [From Fenn, i. 222.] This letter relates mainly to occurrences just after the battle of Towton in April 1461.]

[Footnote 268.2: Peter Arderne.]

[Footnote 268.3: 18th April in 1461.]

[Footnote 269.1: Afterwards Cardinal, the Minister of Henry VII.]

[Footnote 269.2: He was beheaded at York after the battle of Towton.]

452

THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON[270.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY]

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

And as for tytyngs, in good feyth we have non, seve the Erle of Wylchir[271.1] is hed is sette on London Brigge.

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

Berwyk[271.2] is full of Scottys, and we loke be lyklyhod after anoyther batayll now be twyx Skotts and us.

And I pray Jesu have you in His blyssed kepyng.

Your,

THOMAS PLAYTER.

[Footnote 270.1: [From Fenn, iv. 2.] The reference to the Earl of Wiltshire’s head having been set on London Bridge shows this letter to have been written not very long after the battle of Towton. The exact date is probably about the beginning of May, as it appears, by the Privy Seal dates in the Record Office, that Edward IV. was at Middleham on the 6th of that month on his way southwards, having gone on to Durham and Newcastle after the victory.]

[Footnote 270.2: William Paston, the Judge, who died in 1444.]

[Footnote 270.3: Agnes Paston, the widow of the Judge.]

[Footnote 271.1: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond.]

[Footnote 271.2: Henry VI. and his Queen after the battle escaped to Berwick, and from thence retired to Edinburgh.--F.]

453

JOHN SMYTH TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR[271.3]

_To hys worschepfull mayster, John Paston the Eldest, Esquier._

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY 10]

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

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

From Norwych the x. day of May.

Your clerk,

[JOHN] SMYTH.

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

454

THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[272.1]

_To my maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461]

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

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

Yours,

DENYES.

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

455

THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[274.1]

_To my Maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY]

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

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

Wretyn hastily at York, &c.

Your to his power,

DENYES.

[Footnote 274.1: [From Fenn, iv. 10.] The writer of this letter speaks of having served with the Earl of Warwick at the battle of Northampton in July 1460, and again at the second battle of St. Albans in February 1461. We know from later letters that he was murdered in the beginning of July following. As he dates from York, and speaks of being ‘here in the King’s house,’ the date would appear to be about the 10th of May, on which day we find by the dates of the Privy Seals that Edward IV. was at York.]

[Footnote 274.2: _See_ vol. ii. Nos. 238, 239.]

[Footnote 274.3: Sir John Howard, who was sheriff of Norfolk this year.]

456

THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[275.1]

_To owre right trusty and welbeloved John Paston._

TH’ERL OF OXENFORD.

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY 31]

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

OXENFORD.

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

457

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[276.1]

_To my right good maister, John Paston, in all hast._

[Sidenote: 1461]

After my most special recommendacion, please your maisterchip wete, the Kyng, be cause of the sege a boute Carelylle, chaunged his day of Coronacion to be upon the Sunday[276.2] nexst after Seynt John Baptyste, so the’ntent to spede hym northward in all hast; and how be it, blyssed be God, that he hath now good tydynggs, that Lord Mountagu hath broken the sege, and slayn of Scotts vj.^ml. [6000] and ij. knyghes, whereof Lord Cliffords brother is one, yet not wythstandyng he wol be crowned the sayd Sunday. And John Jeney enformed me, and as I have verely lerned sethen, ye ar inbylled to be made knygth at this Coronacion.[276.3] Wheder ye have understandyng before hand, I wot not; but and it lyke you to take the worchip uppon you, consyderyng the comfortable tytynggs afore seyd, and for the gladnesse and plesour of al your welwyllers, and to the pyne and dyscomfort of all your ille wyllers, it were tyme your gere necessarye on that by halfe were purveyd fore, and also ye had nede higth you to London, for as I conceyve the knygthes schuld be made uppon the Saterday by for the Coronacion; and as moche as may be purveyed for you in secrete wyse wythouten cost I schall by speke for you, if nede be, ayens your comyng, in trust of the best; neverthelesse, if ye be dysposed, ye had nede send a man by fore in all hast, that no thing be to seke. William Calthorp is inbylled, and Yelvertoun is inbylled, whiche caused Markham; because Yelverton loked to have ben chef juge, and Markham thynketh to plese hym thus. And as for the mater ayens Poutrell, we can no farther procede, tyl we have my maister your faders testament. I sent my maistres a letter for it. No more, but I pray Al myghty Jesu have you in His kepyng.

Your,

THOMAS PLAYTER.

[Footnote 276.1: [From Fenn, i. 230.] It is evident from the contents that this letter was written some time before the coronation of Edward IV.]

[Footnote 276.2: 28th June.]

[Footnote 276.3: John Paston was not made knight at the coronation of Edward IV., but his eldest son was made knight, probably as a substitute for himself, within two years after.]

458

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[277.1]

_To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 5]

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

And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde[277.2] at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lordeschip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre; and what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. And thanne my Lorde sent for Sothwell. And in the meene tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [_heirs_] had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [_i.e._ their] evidence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude uppon Sothwel to a’ know my Lordes answer to the Kyng; weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew, and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no displesur; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme that he hath spaken with his Highnesse, for he trusteth to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill therto; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this day. It were right wele don ye awayted upon hes man comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my Lordes writyng.

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

Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that Tudenham[278.1] and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng, and that they schal come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute. So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the next week. My right wourschipfull and reverent master, Almyghti God preserve you.

Wreten at Norweche, on the morwe after Corpus Christi Day.

Your pore servant and bedman,

R. C.

[Footnote 277.1: [From Fenn, iv. 6.] The date of this letter, like that of the last, is shown by a reference to the approaching coronation of Edward IV.]

[Footnote 277.2: The Duke of Norfolk, who appears by this time to have taken possession of Caister, and appointed a keeper for it.]

[Footnote 278.1: Sir Thomas Tuddenham was beheaded in February following.]

459

ROBERT LETHUM TO JOHN PASTON[279.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 19]

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

Your,

ROBT. LETHUM.

[Footnote 279.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As we find by the last letter that John Paston was with the King in the beginning of June 1461, this may with great probability be attributed to the same year.]

[Footnote 279.2: Omitted in MS.]

[Footnote 279.3: 19th June.]

460

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[280.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 21]

After due recomendacion hadde; please it your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter he shall excuse the writte of the parlement, &c. As touchyng my maister Howard,[280.2] I cannot yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye[280.3] nether. But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and it is told me that ye among other ar named to be made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.

Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng wole in to the north part forthwith; and therfor shall not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to every shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of the shire, day after Michelmesse; this is told me by suyche as arn right credible. Maister Brakle shall preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde me, and he told me, that for cause Childermesse day[280.4] fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the Moneday, &c.

Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore Mydsomer,

Your right pouere servant,

JAMES GRESHAM.

[Footnote 280.1: [From Fenn, i. 232.] Like Nos. 457 and 458, this letter refers to the approaching coronation of Edward IV.]

[Footnote 280.2: Sir John Howard.]

[Footnote 280.3: Sir Thomas Montgomery.]

[Footnote 280.4: Childermas, or Holy Innocents’ Day, the 28th of December, fell on Sunday in the year 1460. The day of the week on which it fell used to be considered ominous or unlucky during the whole ensuing year. This superstition seems to have continued as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century, and is alluded to by Addison in the seventh number of the _Spectator_. It is not true, however, that Edward’s coronation was put off till Monday. It took place on the Sunday which had been originally appointed for it, but the processions and pageantry were deferred till next day. The following is the account of the matter given in a contemporary chronicle in the Cottonian MS., Vitellius, A. xvi:--

‘And upon the morn, Sunday, which was St. Peter’s Even, and the 28th day of June, he was crowned at Westminster with great solemnity of bishops and other temporal lords. And upon the morn after, the King went crowned again in Westminster Abbey, in the worship of God and St. Peter. And upon the next morn he went also crowned in St. Paul’s in the worship of God and St. Paul; and there the angel came down and censed him. At which time was as great a multitude of people in Paul’s as ever was seen afore in any days.’]

461

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[281.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 26]

Broder, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeryng to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that I have sent my moder a letter for mony for my swster;[281.2] and if ze wyll agre that I may have xx^{ti}_li._ [£20], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe, or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I wysse obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and it wyll be doo with in fowertenyut. The Cowntas of Northumberlond[281.3] and Robarde Fenus[281.4] ocupie all her lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke] to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within this sevenyut. Also, broder, Wyndham is come to town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a mayster, and me thowte by hym he wold be in the Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.^c. [500] heds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm abbey to swm mayster of swm colage to be delyveryd qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wrytyn on Fryday nexst after Seynt John is day.

By zour broder,

CLEMENT PASTON.

[Footnote 281.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Elizabeth Paston, who, as we have seen (No. 374), had been married to Robert Poynings by the beginning of the year 1459, became his widow in 1461, her husband having been killed in the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th February. It would appear by this letter that she was immediately after dispossessed of her husband’s lands by Eleanor, Countess of Northumberland, who was Baroness Poynings in her own right.]

[Footnote 281.2: Elizabeth Paston, now widow of Robert Poynings.]

[Footnote 281.3: Eleanor, widow of Henry Percy, third Earl, who was slain at Towton in 1461.]

[Footnote 281.4: Fenys.]

462

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[282.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE]

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

Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney[283.1] sent you a l[etter] . . . . . . er desyryng to have your good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte[283.2] for hym for to com . . . . . . whan som ever ye woll require hym. I’ good feyth it ys told me hys leggs ar all . . . . . . [Send] me word, encas the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem bownd for hy . . . . . . te in bayle. Item, it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of se a geyns Yamothe, a[nd . . . . . . t]hey woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item, I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.^xx. [_eleven score_] rabets and sent up be the berer herof. The blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye departyd hens.

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

[Footnote 282.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter appears from internal evidence to have been written some time after the second battle of St. Albans, which was fought in February 1461, and before the murder of Thomas Denys in July following. But to all appearance it was not very long before the latter date. The MS. is mutilated, and a few words are lost in eight consecutive lines.]

[Footnote 282.2: _i.e._ accuses him. _See_ vol. ii. p. 110, Note.]

[Footnote 282.3: Thomas Denys was at the second battle of St. Albans in February 1461. _See_ No. 455.]

[Footnote 283.1: John Berney.]

[Footnote 283.2: _See_ Letter 424.]

463

THOMAS DENYES TO MARGARET PASTON[284.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY]

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

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

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

My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is elyted, as the Comons myght wisely do with help of his favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.

Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell.

THOMAS DENYES.

[Footnote 284.1: [From Fenn, iv. 18.] This letter speaks of the county of Norfolk as being in an unquiet state, and of John Paston as having been elected knight of the shire. It will be seen by No. 458 that writs for an election were expected as early as the 5th of June in 1461, and as I find that the writer of this letter was murdered on the 4th of July following, the date is probably about the very beginning of that month. From what is said at the beginning of the letter about Paston’s absence from home, it was evidently some time after the last, which was written on the very day of his departure.]

464

RICHARD CALL TO MARGARET PASTON[285.1]

_To my most reverent and worshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 3]

Plesith it your mastresseship that my mastre[285.2] wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes costs, in asmoch as he come hether for that matre, and for non other; but ye must lete Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol that she bere the cost, for it is her matre; and that ye make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein, mastre holdeth hym content. My right wurshipful mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at London the iij. day of Jul.

Your poore seruaunt and bedman,

RIC. CALL.

On the back of this letter is the following memorandum:-- ‘Memorandum of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.^xx. and x. [_fourscore and ten_] brown lovis and iiij.^xx. and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.^d. price the . . . .’

[Footnote 285.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written in 1461, just before Thomas Denys was murdered, in consequence of the occurrences mentioned in No. 462.]

[Footnote 285.2: John Paston.]

465

WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON[286.1]

_To the right worchipfull and my good maister John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 6]

Ryght worchipfull and my good mayster I recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Coronacion had be on Relik Sunday,[286.2] as it was apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of his meny was grette cause of T. D.[286.3] deth, &c. Also ye have knowlych how Fastolff[286.4] is com yn to my Lord of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande; on is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym; an other is to helpe his fader yn lawe[286.5] ayens Felbrigge, &c. For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for the word [_world_] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Heydonz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for yn good feyth I trow, but if [_i.e._ unless] he be ponysshid the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that arn among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as he can telle yow, soportid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn Roos, Heidonz owyn men [chif constablez].[286.6] And it plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have your warentez for cheffe constable, &c., for they ocupye yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, sire, I am gretly yn your danger and dette for my pension, for it is told me ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make amendez with your good maistreship, and suche servyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thomas Even, &c.

Be your Servaunt,

L.

[Footnote 286.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the reference to the coronation, it is quite evident that this letter must have been written in the first year of King Edward the Fourth.]

[Footnote 286.2: 12th July in 1461.]

[Footnote 286.3: Thomas Denys.]

[Footnote 286.4: Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.]

[Footnote 286.5: This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a relationship between him and Fastolf.]

[Footnote 286.6: Interlined.]

466

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[287.1]

_To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 9]

Right worchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys[287.2] goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and wold be rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vj_s._ viij_d._ Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i’ feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas.

By your,

M. P.

[Footnote 287.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter clearly relates to the affairs of Thomas Denys’s wife, after the murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were trustees of his lands, and Margaret’s cousin, John Berney of Witchingham, it will be seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.]

[Footnote 287.2: _i.e._ her husband’s.]

467

JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON AND WYLLIAM ROKEWODE[288.1]

_To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris, and to everych of them._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 10]

Right worshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas Denys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij. primo.

JOHN BERNEYE.

Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.

[Footnote 288.1: [From Fenn, i. 236.]]

468

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[289.1]

_To my cosyn, Margaret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 12]

I recomaund me to yow, letyng yow wete tha the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John Berney; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not, lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed, and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepful. And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts of hym be that knavyssh knyght, Sir Miles Stapilton, as I sent yow word before; but he shall come to hys excuse wele inow, so he have a mannys hert, and the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have blaveryd here of my kynred in hedermoder;[290.1] but, be that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes, myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.

Also telle the seyd Berney that the Shreve ys in a dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey; where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves good wyll.

Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were most worchepfull that as wele Berney as Grey shuld get a record of all suche that myght spend xl_s._ ayere, that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at London, on Relyk Sonday.

Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne.

JOHN PASTON.

[Footnote 289.1: [From Fenn, iv. 20.] This letter and the next, which is an answer to it, are evidently of the same year as No. 471. Relic Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the 12th July in 1461.]

[Footnote 290.1: In hugger-mugger, _i.e._ clandestinely.]

469

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[290.2]

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 15]

I recomand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acordyng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me, the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer hym nor non of hys; for he seyd, after the aleccion was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer and hys felachep.

Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsynsham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the stokkys on Monday at nyght; and, as it is seyd, they shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer and hys felachep beryth a gret wyght of Thomas Denys dethe in this contry abowght Walsynham; and it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as good wylle, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [_have died_] for he myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it ys seyd.

Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and swyche other as he is with hym, goo fast abowght in the contr, and ber men a hand,[291.1] prests and others, they be Skotts, and take brybys of hem and let hem goo ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton, and but for my cosyn Jarnyngham the younger,[291.2] ther wold a led hem forthe with hem; and he told hem pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [_i.e._ unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer met with be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place. Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the Wednysday after Relec Sonday.

Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to do for hym as ye desyryd me in your letter. As for mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but xiij_s._ iiij_d._ syn ye went owght. I wolle do my parte to get mor as hastely as ye may.

By yowr,

M. P.

[Footnote 290.2: [From Fenn, iv. 24.] See note to preceding letter, p. 289, Note 1.]

[Footnote 291.1: That is to say, make imputations against them. _See_ vol. ii. p. 110, Note 1.]

[Footnote 291.2: John Jerningham, junior, son of John Jerningham, senior, of Somerleyton, Suffolk.]

470

JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON[291.3]

_To the worshipfull John Paston, and to my cosyn, Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of Cantyrburi._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 16]

Right worshipfull sir, I recummaund me to yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that the Kyng may wryte unto me, gevyng me thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng with hym a yens his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North, as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre; for they grudge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of this cuntre, &c. as haff be his gret eanemyes, and opresseors of the Comynes; and sych as haff assystyd his Hynes, be not rewardyt; and it is to be consederyd, or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessary to move the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperall, by the whech that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes. No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras. Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of July, anno regni Regis E. iiij^ti. primo.

JOHN BERNEYE.

Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyrburi, Ely, Norwych, &c.

[Footnote 291.3: [From Fenn, i. 238.]]

471

JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON[292.1]

_To the ryght worshipfull John Paston, Squyer, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 17]

Sir, I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyrshrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the shyer for the Parlement. And I suppose yf that he wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus:--lat hym make notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and lat hym make wrytyng unto them what day they shall come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that it is nott his oneste to lye upon too many men, noysyng them rebyliones of Norff[olk], and Berney theyr c . . . No more to zow at this tyme, but I naff sent zow ij. letteris within this viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij^ti. 1^mo.

JOHN BERNEY.

[Footnote 292.1: [From Fenn, iv. 28.]]

472

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[293.1]

_To my worchepful hosbonde, Jon Pastun, this letter be delyvered in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 18]

Ryth worchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid be Sir John Tatersale to wryte to yow for a comyssion or a noyr in termyner [_oyer and terminer_][293.2] for to be sent down in to this cuntre to sit uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and gret horebyl robryys; and as for the costs ther of the cuntre wele pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [_i.e._ unless] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys, they ar aferde that mo folks xal be servyd in lyke wyse.

As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they be delyveryt to Twer [_Twyer_], and iiij. be with hem of the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr parte that they schape not, but that they may have the jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be inqueryd of her forseyd robery be soche a comyssion that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely for the moderys and the robbryys, but as wele for the gret insurrexsin that they were lyke amade within the shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told me that ye thret of hem that be nowty felawys that hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold adversarys.

The blyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent Margarete.

Be yours,

M. P.

[Footnote 293.1: [From Fenn, iv. 30.] The date of this letter is certain, as it refers to the murder of Thomas Denys.]

[Footnote 293.2: _See_ vol. ii. p. 161, Note 3.]

473

GRANT FROM THE CROWN[294.1]

_Pro Johanne Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / JULY 27]

Rex omnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Nos indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Hows clerico in septingentis marcis legalis monetæ regni nostri Angliæ eisdem Johanni et Thomæ solvendis juxta formam cujusdam billæ manu nostra signatæ cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba:--

Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be the assent of oure trusty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of man and woman garnysshed with a ruby, a dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght, for CCCC. xxxlvij_li._; and also an obligacion wherby oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff in an C. marc; for which we graunt and promitt in the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows, clerk, or to her assignez, D.CC. mark of lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is to sey; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng after the date of thys bille CC. mark, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys thanne next folowyng. And also we graunte that the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. And if it fortune that the same John and Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that payment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill with oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our] reign.

Nos solutionem summæ illius præfatis Johanni et Thomæ fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, concessimus et per præsentes concedimus eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows septingentas marcas monetæ prædictæ percipiendas modo et forma subsequentibus, videlicet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de primis denariis provenientibus et crescentibus de feodi firma civitatis nostræ Norwici et de omnibus aliis firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem civitate provenientibus per manus majoris, custodis, vicecomitum, civium seu ballivorum ejusdem civitatis pro tempore existentium aut aliorum receptorum, firmariorum seu appruatorum eorundem feodi firmarum, exituum, proficuorum et reventionum dictæ civitatis pro tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus nostris Norff’ et Suff’ provenientibus per manus vicecomitum eorumdem comitatuum pro tempore existentium quousque septingentæ marcæ eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows plenarie persolutæ fuerint. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xxvij. die Julii.

_Per ipsum Regem oretenus._

[Footnote 294.1: [From _Patent Roll_, 1 Edw. IV., Part 3, No. 13.]]

474

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[296.1]

_To maister John Paston Esquyer in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / AUG. 1 (?)]

Please your maistership wete that Danyell of Grayes In enfourmed me that Kyng of Dounham whiche slewe Thomas Denys is arested and in hold at Wysbyche and had ben delyvered nor had Fraunceys Costard a taken suerte of pees of hym; and so he is kept in by non other meane but al onely by suerte of pees. And as I felt by the said Danyell if he be craftyly handeled he woll accuse many other; but Danyell is loth to name hem, but I suppose he ment by Twyer and yet other mo, right sufficient, and kalled of substans. Item, Haydon hath payed ccccc. marks and is delivered. Item it is talked the parlement schal be proroged tyl the iiij. day of Novembre and the kyng wol in to Scotland in al hast. Wretyn in hast uppon the day of the Advencion.[296.2]

Youris,

THOMAS PLAITER.

[Footnote 296.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 181.] The year in which this letter was written is certain, not only from the reference to the murder of Thomas Denys, which was in July 1461, but also from the mention of the prorogation of Parliament to the 4th of November.]

[Footnote 296.2: Probably meaning the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula (1st August).]

475

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[296.3]

_To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle._

[Sidenote: 1461 / AUG. 1]

First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid to occupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the lond may be undirstand.

ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they departe.

iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.

iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng, and the peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe [_satisfaction_] to the pore peple.