x. Item, that ye have sufficient sewerte for the monye, with penaltes

iff nede be, some other men bonden with hym for the payement.

xj. Item, I wolle well be bownde to waraunt it to hym.

Item, I sende yow herwith a warant to yow and John Osberne joyntlye to bergayn. Comone and conclude that bergayn.

xij. Item, I suppose he woll, iff he conclude with yow, desyre to felle thys Maye, and I to have mony soon afftre. I reke not thowe he fellyd not tyll thys wynter; but iff he woll nedes begyn thys Maye, therffor I wryght yow thus hastely entrete hym, iff ye can, that he felle not tyll wynter.

xiij. Item, be ware how ye bergeyn, so that he felle nott butt in sesonable tyme and sesonable wood, for he maye felle no undrewood thys Maye, as I trowe.

Item, as for yowr costes late th . . . . . . . newe fynde yow mete, and I woll allow it there, or ellys make me a bylle what it dra[weth to] . . . . . . . . yow.

Item, I praye yow iff ye g . . . . . for me as ye can. I made my Lady heer but easy cheer, neverthelesse I gaff hyr . . . . . ys.

I promysed hyr to purveye hyr . . . . weselys, but I was deseyvyd; yit I wend to have had one.

My Lord of Norffolk hathe ben mevyd for Caster by my Lord Cardenall and the Bysshop of Wynchester, but it woll take non effecte . . . my Lady come. God gyff grace that she brynge auctoryte when she comythe thys next terme to common ther in and conclude, and so I prey yow advyse hyr. Itt may haply paye for hyr costes.

No mor to yow, but wretyn at London, the xij. daye of Apryll, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

* * *

I sende yow her with ij. letteris from John Osbern to me, wherby and by hys billes ye may undrestond the verry valewe off the wood.

I praye yow sende me wryghtyng ageyn by the Mondaye vij. nyght afftre Ester; iff Hoxon or the goode man off the Goot have it, they shall conveye it welle.

[Footnote 180-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[[... Maye, as I trowe. _final period (full stop) missing_]]

832

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[184-1]

_To John Paston, Esqer, in Norffolk._

[Sidenote: 1473 / APRIL 16]

Wyrsshypfull and ryght hertyly belowyd brother, I recomande me on to yow, letyng yow wete that on Wednysdaye last past I wrote yow a letter, wheroff John Carbalde had the beryng, promyttyng me that ye shold have it at Norwyche thys daye, or ellys to morowe in the mornyng, wherin I praye yowe to take a labor accordyng afftr the tenur off the same, and that I maye have an answer at London to Hoxon, iff any massenger come, as ene I maye doo ffor yow.

As ffor tydyngs, ther was a truse taken at Brussellys about the xxvj. daye off Marche last past, be twyn the Duke off Borgoyn and the Frense Kyngs imbassators and Master William At Clyff ffor the Kyng heer, whyche is a pese be londe and water tyll the ffyrst daye off Apryll nowe next comyng, betweyn Fraunce and Ingelond, and also the Dukys londes. God holde it ffor ever and grace be.

Item, the Erle of Oxenfford was on Saterdaye at Depe, and is purposyd into Skotlond with a xij. schyppys. I mystrust that werke.

Item, ther be in London many fflyeng talys, seying that ther shold be a werke, and yit they wot not howe.

Item, my Lorde Chamberleyn[184-2] sendyth now at thys tyme to Caleys the yonge Lorde Sowche[184-3] and Sir Thomas Hongreffords dowtre and heyr,[184-4] and some seye the yonge Lady Haryngton, thes be iij. grett jowelles, Caleys is a mery town, they shall dwell ther I wott not whylghe [_how long_].

No mor, but I have ben, and ame troblyd with myn over large and curteys delyng with my servants, and now with ther onkynd nesse; Plattyng, yowr men wolde thys daye byd me ffar well to to morow at Dover, notwithstandyng Thryston yowr other man is ffrom me, and John Myryell, and W. Woode whyche promysed yow and Dawbeney, God have hys sowle, at Castre, that iff ye wolde take hym in to be ageyn with me, that then he wold never goo ffro me, and ther uppon I have kepyd hym thys iij. yer to pleye Seynt Jorge and Robyn Hod and the Shryff off Notyngham, and now when I wolde have good horse he is goon into Bernysdale, and I withowt a keeper.

Wretyn at Canterburye, to Caleys warde on Tewesday and happe be, uppon Good Frydaye the xvj. daye off Apryll, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

Yowr,

J. P., K.

Item, the most parte off the sowdyors that went over with Sir Robert Green have leeff, and be comyn hom, the hyghe weye ffull; my cariage was behynd me ij. hours longer than I lokyd afftr, but I wysse I wende that I myght have etyn my parte on Good Frydaye all my garees [_finery_] and pryde had ben goon, but all was saffe. I pray yow iff W. Mylsent go ffroo yow, that he myght come to me at Caleys, I will have hym.

[Footnote 184-1: [From Fenn, ii. 130.]]

[Footnote 184-2: William, Lord Hastings.--F.]

[Footnote 184-3: John, Lord Zouch of Harringworth; he was attainted in the first year of Henry VII.--F.]

[Footnote 184-4: Mary, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Hungerford; she afterwards married Edward, son and heir to William, Lord Hastings, who in her right became Lord Hungerford, her uncle’s attainder being reversed.--F.]

833

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[186-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer, in Norwich._

[Sidenote: 1473 / MAY 18]

Ryght wershypfull brother, I recomand me to yow, &c.[186-2] . . . . . . . . . .

As for tydyngs, the Erle of Wylshyr[186-3] and the Lord Sudele[186-4] be ded, and it was seyd that Sir W. Stanle was deed, but nowe it is seyd naye, &c.

Item, as ffor your goyng to Seyn James,[186-5] I beleve it but atwyen ij., &c.

I herd seye that a man was thys daye examyned, and he confessed that he knewe greet tresor was sende to the Erle off Oxenfford, wheroff a m^le li. [£1000] sholde be conveyd by a Monke off Westminster, and some seye by a Monke off Chartrehows.

Item, that the same man schulde acuse C. gentylmen in Norffolk and Suffolk that have agreyd to assyst the seyd Erle at hys comynge thyder, whyche as itt is seyd, sholde be within viij. dayes afftr Seynt Donston, iff wynde and weddyr serffe hym--fflyeng tales. No mor at thys tyme, but God have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn at London on Seynt Donstones daye, xviij. daye of Maye, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 186-1: [From Fenn, ii. 136.]]

[Footnote 186-2: Then follow some orders concerning servants, debts, securities, etc.--F.]

[Footnote 186-3: John Stafford was created Earl of Wiltshire in 1470. He was uncle to Henry, Duke of Buckingham.]

[Footnote 186-4: . . . . . Butler, Lord Sudley.--F.]

[Footnote 186-5: Apparently John Paston had talked of making a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James of Compostella in Spain.]

[[xviij. daye of Maye, Anno E. iiij^ti _be owt off syght_]]

834

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[187-1]

_To John Paston, Esqer, be thys delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1473 / JUNE 3]

Ryght wyrshypfull brother, I comand me to yow, letyng yow weet that thys daye I was in very purpose to Caleys ward, all redy to have goon to the barge, saff I teryed ffor a yonge man that I thoght to have had with me thyddr, on that was with Rows, whyche is in the cowntre; and because I cowde not geet hym, and that I have no mor heer with me butt Pampyng, Edward, and Jak, therffor Pampyng remembryd me, that at Caleys he tolde me that he purposed to be with the Duchesse off Norffolk, my Lady and yowrs. And Edward is syke and semythe nott abydyng; he wolde see what shold falle off thys worlde; and so I am as he that seythe ‘Come hyddr John, my man.’ And as happe was yisterday, Juddy went affor to Caleysward; wherffor I am nowe ille purveyd, whyche ffor owte that I knowe yit is lyke to kepe me heer thys Wytsontyd.[187-2] Wherffor iff ye knowe any lykly men, and ffayr condycioned, and good archers, sende them to me, thowe it be iiij. and I wyll have them, and they shall have iiij. mrks by yer, and my levere [_livery_].

He maye com to me hyddr to the Gott [_Goat_], or yit to Caleys with a riall[187-3] iff he be wyse, whyche iff nede bee, I wolde that Berker toke hym to come uppe with, iff it be suche one as ye tryst.

Item, I suppose bothe Pytte and Kothye Plattyng shall goo ffrom me in hast; I wyll never cherysshe knaves soo as I have don, ffor ther sakys.

Item, I praye yow sende me a newe vestment off whyght damaske ffor a dekyne, whyche is among myn other geer at Norwiche, ffor he shall ther too as ye woot off: I wyll make an armyng doblett off it, thow I sholde an other tyme gyff a longe gown of velvett ffor another vestment, and send it in all hast to Hoxon to send me.

I hopyd to have been verry mery at Caleys thys Whytsontyde, and am weell apparayled and apoyntyd, saff that thes ffolks ffayle me soo, and I have mater ther to make off ryght excellent. Som man wolde have hastyd hym to Caleys thowe he had hadd no better erand, and som men thynke it wysdom and profyght to be theer now weell owt off the weye.

Item, as ffor the Bysshop[188-1] and I, we bee nerrer to a poynt than we weer, so that my part is nowe all the londes in Flegge Holly, the maner off Heylesdon, Tolthorpe, and tenements in Norwyche and Erlham, excepte Fayrechylds, but ffarweell Drayton; the Devyll do ytt them.

Item, large and fferr comynycacion hathe ben bytwyen Sir John Fogge, Ric. Haulte, ffor ther suster and me, byffor Doctor Wyntborne and ellys wher, so that I am in better hope than I was, by Seynt Lawrens[188-2] that I shall have a delyveraunce.

Item, as ffor tydyngs heer, I trow ye have herde yowr parte, howe that the Erle off Oxenfford landyd by Seynt Osyes in Essexe, the xxviij. daye off Maye, saff he teryed nott longe, ffor iff he had, the Erle of Essexe[188-3] rod to hym wardys, and the Lords Denham and Durasse, and other mor, whyche by lyklyod sholde have dystrussyd hym; but yit hys comyng savyd Hogan hys hed, and hys profesye is the mor belevyd ffor he seyde that thys troble sholde begyn in Maye, and that the Kynge sholde northwards, and that the Scotts sholde make us werke and hym batayle.

Men loke afftr they wot not what, but men by harneys ffast; the Kyngs menyall men and the Duke off Claraunces, ar many in thys town; the Lord Ryverse[188-4] com to daye, men seye to purveye in lyke wyse.

Item, how that the Cowntesse off Warwyk[188-5] is now owt off Beweley Seyntwarye, and Sir James Tyrell conveyth hyr northwarde, men seye by the Kynges assent, wherto som men seye that the Duke off Clarance is not agreyd.

Item, men seye that the Erle off Oxenfford is abowt the Ilde off Tenett hoveryng, som seye wyth grett companye, and som seye, with ffewe.

No mor, but God kepe yow.

Wretyn at London the iij. daye off June, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 187-1: [From Fenn, ii. 138.]]

[Footnote 187-2: Whitsunday fell on the 6th June in 1473.]

[Footnote 187-3: A royal, a gold coin of 10_s._ value.]

[Footnote 188-1: Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester.]

[Footnote 188-2: 10th of August.]

[Footnote 188-3: Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, Lord Treasurer.]

[Footnote 188-4: Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, beheaded at Pontefract, 1483.]

[Footnote 188-5: Anne, widow of Richard Neville, the great Earl of Warwick, sister and heir to Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, and mother of Isabel, the wife of George, Duke of Clarence.]

835

ABSTRACT[189-1]

[Sidenote: 1473 / JUNE 13]

Norf. and Suff. Deeds, No. 67. ‘Relaxatio Willielmi Paston facta Will. Wainflet et aliis de toto jure suo in manerio vocat’ Caldecots, Akethorp, Spitlings, Habland, Broweston, etc. Jun. 13, Edw. IV. 13.’

[Footnote 189-1: [From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]]

836

SIR JOHN PASTON TO EDMUND PASTON[189-2]

_A Edmond Paston, Esquyer, a Caleys soyt donne._

[Sidenote: 1473 / JULY 5]

Brother Edmond, I grete yow weell, letyng yow weete that abowt thys daye vij. nyght I sende yow a letter by Nycholas Bardeslee a sowdyer, whyche is wont woute[189-3] to be at border [_brother_] Perauntys,[189-4] and also an hoseclothe[189-5] off blak ffor yow. I wende that ye sholde have hadde itt within ij. dayes, but I am afferde that he deseyved me.

Item, I lete yow weet that Plattyng is comen hyddr, and he seythe that ye gaffe hym leve to ffetche hys geer and Pittys, and that is hys erande hyddr and noon other, ner he thowt never to goo ffro me, ner he wyll nott goo ffro me as he seythe, wherffor, I praye yow sende me worde off hys condycions, and whyghe ye thynke that he sholde never do me worshypp.

He seythe also that he and Pytte weer at the takyng off the Esterlyngs, and that he was in the _Pakker_, and Pytte in the _Crystoffre_. I praye yow sende me worde howe bothe he and Pytte quytte them, by the report off some indyfferent trewe man that was ther, iff they quytte them weell, I wolde love them the better, wherffor the next daye afftr the syte of thys letter, I praye yow wryght ageyn, and sende it by the next passage.

Item, I sende a lytell praty boxe herwith, whyche I wolde that Juddy sholde delyver to the woman that he wetyth off, and praye hyr to take it to the man that she wetyth off; that is to seye, as moche as ye knowe all well i now, but ye maye nott make yow wyse in no wyse.

Item, I praye yow sende me worde as ye wer wont to do off heer wellffar, and whether I weer owt and other inne or nott; and whether she shall fforsake Caleys as sone as ye sende me worde off or nott.

By God I wolde be with yow as ffayne as yowr selff, and shall be in hast with Godds grace.

Item, as ffor my brother John, I hope within thys monyth to see hym in Caleys, ffor by lyklyhod to morowe or ellys the next daye he takyth shyppe at Yarmothe, and goothe to Seynt James[190-1] warde, and he hathe wretyn to me that he wyll come homwarde by Caleys.

Item, I suppose that James Songer shall come with me to Caleys, the rather ffor yowr sake.

Item, Mestresse Elysabett ffareth well, but as yit Songer knoweth nott so perffytly all that ye wolde weet, that he woll nott wryght to yow off thees ij. dayes tyll he knowe moor, but iff she hadde ben bolde, and durst have abydyn styll at hyr gate, and spoken with me, so God helpe me, she had hadd thys same that I sende nowe wher ye woot off, whyche ye shall see woryn heer afftr, itt is a praty ryban with praty agletts[190-2] and goodlye.

Make yow not wyse to Juddy, nowther not that ye wolde weet any thynge, ffor I maye sey to yowe at hys comyng ovr, he browt goodly geer reasonablye.

Item, as ffor my byll[191-1] that is gylt, I wolde it weer taken head too; ther is one in the town, that can glaser weell i nowe, as I herde seye. Also, ther is on comythe every markett daye ffro Seynt Omerys to Caleys and he bryngethe dagers, and ffetchyth also, he may have it with hym, and brynge it ageyn the next markett daye ffor xij_d._ or xvj_d._ at the most, and ellys late it be weel oylyd and kepte tyll I come. No more.

Wretyn at London the v. daye of Julle, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

[Footnote 189-2: [From Fenn, ii. 146.]]

[Footnote 189-3: So in Fenn.]

[Footnote 189-4: Fenn suggests a fanciful explanation of the expression ‘border Perauntys,’ presuming the latter word not to be a proper name; but see page 163.]

[[_page 163 = near end of Letter 815_]]

[Footnote 189-5: Cloth for hosen.]

[Footnote 190-1: _See_ page 186, Note 5.]

[Footnote 190-2: Pendant ornaments of metal, like tags or points, etc.--F.]

[Footnote 191-1: A warlike instrument of offence.--F.]

[[Footnote 190-1 Note 5. _text has “Note. 5.”_]]

837

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[191-2]

_To my ryght wyrshypful moodre, Margret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1473 / JULY 30]

Ryght wyrshypfull and my ryght tendre modre, I recommaunde me to yow, besechyng yow of yowr dayly blessyng. Please it yow to weet that I herde not from yow off longe tyme, whyche cawsythe me to be ryght hevye; ner at the last tyme that I sende to yow in wryghtyng I hadde from yowr selffe noo wryghtyng ner answer ageyne, saff by Playter one tyme and by my brother one other tyme; whyche answer off Playter was noo thyng acordyng but contraryaunt to other wryghtyng more comfortable that he hadde sent me nott longe byffore that on yowr behalve, as he wrott, whyche God amende. Neverthelesse to my more hevynesse, I herde seye that ye sholde have been passhyng hevy for my sake, and in cheffe for that I was lyke to late goo the maner off Sporle, wherin I was pytte in comfort to have had relyffe by the meanes off yow; and syns it was tolde me that iff I leete it goo that ye wold therfore dysavauntage me more lond in tyme to come, off syche as by poscybylyte myght come to mee of yowris. Uppon whyche corage my grauntdame[192-1] and myn oncle[192-2] togedre gaffe me an answer on hyr part moche lyke, and so my fadre, God have hys sowle, leffte me scant xl_li._ londe in reste, and ye leffe me as pleasythe yow, and my grauntdame at hyr plesur; thus may I have lyttel hope off the worlde. Neverthelesse I beseche yow to be my good moodre, how so ever ye do with yowr londe; for I feell weell that iff I have one losse I am lyffe [_q._ like?] therfor to have three. But as for Sporle, it shall nott goo iff I maye, ner by my wyll; and iff ther hadde been performed me as largelye as was promysed me by Playter, I were sewre it sholde nott have goon, nor yit sholde nat goo. Neverthelesse iff ye and all my frendys and yowris in Norffolk myght have lende me so moche monye and to have takyn it uppe in v. yere, I suppose they sholde peraventure have ben payed ageyn in a yer or ij. iff I had solde any woode. Neverthelesse, plese yow to weet that I have provyd my fadres wyll and testement, wherin I maye nowt dele on to the tyme that all the executoris have reffused; wherffor ther most be sende sitatacions (_sic_) to yow and alle other that weer namyd my fadris executoris. Wherin iff ye list not to take admynystracion, as I woot well ye woll nott off olde, ye most than make a proctor that must, on yowr behalve, byffor my Lorde of Canterbury, with a sufficiaunt warant and autoryte, undre a notarys syngne ther in the corte, reffuse to take admynestracion. And this instrument and aultoryte I beseche yow maye be redy and att London by the fyrst daye of the terme; and iff yow be not aqueynted with none suche at London, iff it please yowe to take and avowe for your proctor and sende hym auctoryte, on [_one_] Master John Halsnothe whyche was a clerke off Master Robert Centis[192-3] and was so trusty to my fadre, God have hys sowle, and to sende me a letter off yowre wylle ther in, I undertake that he shall not do but as ye sende me worde. Plese it yow to gyff credence to Juddy herin. No more to you att thys tyme, but Jhesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn att Caleys, the last daye saff one off Julle.--Yowr sone,

J. P., K.

[Footnote 191-2: [Add. 34,889, f. 125.] This letter appears to be of the year 1473, as in that year Sir John Paston writes on the 5th July that he hopes to be in Calais within a month (No. 836). Later in the year (22 Nov.) he writes that the citations here referred to were not ready (No. 842, p. 199). The date is further confirmed by what is said of the manor of Sporle (comp. pp. 181, 182).]

[[_Sporle, 181-82: item i. in Letter 831_]]

[Footnote 192-1: Agnes Paston.]

[Footnote 192-2: William Paston.]

[Footnote 192-3: Robert Kent, who had been John Paston the father’s proctor in the Court of Archers. _See_ vol. iv. pp. 243, 244.]

838

MARTIN RONDELLE TO SIR JOHN PASTON[193-1]

_Monseigneur Jehan Paston, chevalier d’ Engleterre._

[Sidenote: 1473 / AUG. 28]

Mon treschier et honnore seigneur, je me recomande a vous outant que je puis ne scay. Et vous plaise savoir que je ay oy novelles de vous par ung de vo marchans de Calais touchant unne armura de unna sella que je vous doy, et de una barbuta, laquelle est en diferansce entre vous et moy, de laquelle je vous ay aultre foix dist que je estoie contant de fere toute rexon [_raison_], et en quore le vous dige prexentement que je suis prest de fer tout chou qu’il apartient en tout rexon, set [_c’est_] asavoir de la barbute et de l’armura de sella. D’aultre chiox ne vous suis en riens tenut, forque en toute les chiox que me seroint posible de faire pour l’amour de vous a vostre honneur et a vostre profit, je suis tout jour prest a vostre comendement.

Item, en houltre, je ay entendut que vous voulles avoir unng harnax complet. Com je prins vostra mexure dernierement quant vous fustes en ceste ville de Bruges, saichies que je ay en quor vostre mexure de toutes lez piesces; pour quoy, se il vous plaist que je la vous fasa, je la vous faray de bon ceur, et tout cella que il vous plaira avoir fait; et au regard du pris, je faray tellement que vous seres content de moy pour tant quant il vous plaira lesiem savoir queles piesses que vous voles avoir, et la faisson et le jour que vous la voles avoir par quelcun aqui je puis in chauder en nom de vous, et qui me ballia argant de sus, je feray si bien que se Dieu plaist vous vous loeres de moy. Aultre chiox ne vous say que mander pour le prexent, senon que je prie a Dieu que il vous doint ce que vostre ceur desir.

Escript a Bruges, le xxviij. jour de Ahoust, l’an lxxiij.

Le tout vostre serviteur, MARTIN RONDELLE, Armurier de Monsire le Bastart de Bourgogne.

_Endorsed_--Par Martyne Rowndell, armorer de Bruggys. Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

[Footnote 193-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

839

LORD HASTINGS TO SIR JOHN OF MIDDLETON AND SIR JOHN PASTON[194-1]

_To my right hertily beloved frends and felaws, Sir John of Middelton, and Sir John Paston, Knights._

[Sidenote: 1473 / SEPT. 16]

After herty recommendacion, I thank you of the gode attendance that ye yeve unto the Kings counsail at Calais; and the gode and effectuelle devoires that ye putte you in to assiste my depute Sir John Scot, in alle suche things as mowe concerne the saufgarde of my charge there. Leting you wite, that if ther be any thing that I can and may do for you, I shal with right gode wil performe it to my power.

And I preye you to recommaunde me to my Lady Howard,[194-2] my Lady Bourgchier,[194-3] and all othre ladies and gentilwomen of the saide towne. And in likewise to the Mayre, Lieutenant, and felaship of the staple; my felaws the souldeours, and all othre suche as ye shal seme gode. And oure Lord sende you your desirs.

Writen at Notyngham, the xvj. day of Septembre.

Sir Joh Paston, I pray you to yeve credens to suche thing as my depute shall shew you fro me, and conforme you to the same.

Your felaw,

HASTYNGS.

[Footnote 194-1: [From Fenn, ii. 152.] This letter, Fenn tells us, is endorsed in a hand of the time, ‘E. (?) Hastyngs, Anno xiij^{o.},’ showing that it was written in the thirteenth year of Edward IV.]

[Footnote 194-2: Margaret, wife of Sir John Howard, Lord Howard, and afterwards Duke of Norfolk. She was daughter of Sir John Chedworth, Knight, and died in 1490, 5 Hen. VII.]

[Footnote 194-3: Lady Bourchier was probably the wife of a son of Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners.]

840

NOTE

[Sidenote: 1473 / NOV. 1]

On the Close Roll 13 Edw. IV. m. 5, is an indenture tripartite bearing date 1 Nov., 13 Edw. IV., between Thomas Byllyng, Chief-Justice, and others, including William Paston on the one part; Jane Ingaldesthorp, late wife of Edmund Ingaldesthorp, Knight, William Norys, Knt., and Isabel, Marquesse Montague, his wife, of the second part; and William Parker, citizen and tailor, London, of the third part.

841

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[195-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier, at Norwych, be thys delyvered._

[Sidenote: 1473 / NOV. 6]

Wyrshypfull and well belovyd brother, I comand me to yow, letyng yow weet that the worlde semyth qweysye heer; ffor the most part that be abowt the Kyng have sende hyddr ffor ther harneys, and it [is] seyd ffor serteyn, that the Duke off Clarance makyth hym bygge in that he kan, schewyng as he wolde but dele with the Duke of Glowcester; but the Kyng ententyth, in eschyewying all inconvenyents, to be as bygge as they bothe, and to be a styffeler atweyn them; and som men thynke that undre thys ther sholde be som other thynge entendyd, and som treason conspyred; so what shall falle, can I nott seye.

Item, it is seyde that yisterdaye ij. passagers off Dovr wer takyn; I ffer that iff Juddy had noon hasty passage, so that iff he passyd nott on Sondaye or Mondaye, that he is taken, and som geer off myn, that I wolde not for xx_li._

I hope and purpose to goo to Caleys warde on Sondaye or Mondaye or nyghe bye, ffor I am nott accompanyed to do any servyse heer; wherffor it wer better ffor me to be owt off syght.[196-1]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item, Sprynge, that wayten on my ffadre when he was in Jowel hous [_gaol house_], whom my ffadre at hys dyeng besett xl_s._ he cryethe evyr on me ffor it, and in weye off almess, and he wolde be easyd, thow it wer but xx_s._ or x_s._; wherffor he hathe wretyn to my modr, and most have an answer ageyn; I wolde that my moodr sende hym, as thoghe she lende hym som whatt, and he woll be pleasyd, and ellys he can seye as shrewdely as any man in Ingelonde.

Item, the Kynge hathe sent ffor hys Great Seall; some seye we shall have a newe Chauncelor, but som thynke that the Kynge dothe as he dyde at the last ffeldys, he wyll have the Seall with hym; but thys daye Doctor Morton, Master off the Rollys, rydethe to the Kynge, and berythe the Sease [_Seals_] with hym.

Item, I had never mor nede off mony than now; wherffor Fastolffes v. mrks and the mony off Master John Smythe wolde make me holl, &c.

Wretyn on Seynt Lenards Daye, Anno R. R. E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

Item, sende me my vestment acordyng to the letter I sent yow by Symond Dam, in all hast.

J. P., K.

[Footnote 195-1: [From Fenn, ii. 126.] This letter is misdated in Fenn as of the 15th April. St. Leonard’s Day is the 6th November.]

[Footnote 196-1: Here follow some money transactions relative to a Doctor Pykenham, his mother, and others.]

842

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[196-2]

_To John Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyvered._

[Sidenote: 1473 / NOV. 22]

Ryght wyrshypfull and hertyly belovyd brother, I comand me to yow, letyng you wet that I receyvyd a letter that come from yow, wretyn circa viij. Mychaelys,[196-3] wherin ye leet me weet off the decesse off Syr James, and that my moodre is in purpose to be at Norwyche, and I am ryght glad that sche wyll now doo somwhat by yowr advyce; wherffor be war fro hense forthe that noo suche felawe crepe in be twyen hyr and yow, and iff ye lyst to take a lytell labore, ye may lyff ryght well, and she pleasyd. It is as good that ye ryde with a cople off horse at hyr cost as Syr James or Richard Calle.

Ye sende me worde also that she in noo wyse wyll purveye thyr C_li._ for the redemyng off Sporle. Late it goo. As towchyng that mater, John Osbern tolde me that he comonyd with yow at Sporle of that mater; ferr he devysed that Kokett, or suche an other man, sholde, to have it the better cheppe, leye owt the valewe off vj. yere for to have it vij. yere, wherto I wolde agre; and for Goddys sake, if thatt maye be browt abowt, late it be doon. As ye woot of, it is laten for xxij_li._ be yere, yit the fermor graunt but xxj.; but to Kokett it wolde be worthe xxv_li._, yea and better. Neverthelesse, if Kokett wyll delyver vj^xx._li._, I wolde he had it for vij. yeer, with thys that my moodre be agreable to the same, by cawse of th’entresse that she hathe for my brother William, whyche shall nott be off age thys vij. yeer; neverthelesse, as ye know myn olde entent, I purpose to purvey for hym in an other plase better than theer; whyche graunte off my moodre I praye yow to be my solycytor in, whyche [and] it be browt abowt, Sporle shall be in as goode case as evyr he was.

John Osbern willyd me to make yow a sufficiaunt waraunt to selle and felle wood at Sporle, whyche I remembre ye have in as ample forme as can be; neverthelesse iff thys meane above wretyn off letyng to ferme maye be hadde, it shall, I hope, nat nede to felle ner selle moche. But I remytte that geer to yowr dyscrescion, but iff ye have suche comforte, I praye yow sende me worde. I maye seye to yow, John Osbern flateryd me, for he wolde have borowyd mony off me.

Item, in retaylyng of woode theer, it weer harde to tryst hym; he is nedye. If Kokett, or whoo so evyr had that maner to ferme for vij. yere, and payd therffor but vj^xx._li._, he sholde, to lete it ageyn, wynne xxxvj_li._, whyche we[re] moche; wherffor, iff it myght bee, yt wer more resenable vj^xx. vij_li._ to be reseyvyd, and yit is ther lost xxix_li._, or ellys iff ye take lesse mony and fewer yerys, so it be aftre the rate, so ther be purveyd C_li._ at the lest; send worde.

Item, ye wroot that lyke a trewe man ye sende me xviij_s._ by Richarde Radle. Ye weer to trewe; but he semys to be a false shrewe, for he browt me noon yitt. Whethyr he be owt of town or nott, kan I nott seye.

Ye prayed me also to sende yow tydynges how I spedde in my materis, and in cheff of Mestresse Anne Hault. I have answer ageyn fro Roome that there is the welle of grace and salve sufficiaunt for suche a soore, and that I may be dyspencyd with; neverthelesse my proctore there axith a m^l. docatys, as he demythe. But Master Lacy, another Rome renner heer, whyche knowyth my seyde proctor theer, as he seythe, as weell as Bernard knewe hys sheeld, seythe that he menyth but an C. docates or CC. at the most; wherffor afftre thys comythe moor. He wrote to me also, _quod Papa hoc facit hodiernis diebus multociens_.

Item, as towchyng Caster, I tryst to God that ye shall be in it to myn use or Crystmesse be past.

Item, yowr ost Brygham recomand hym to yow, and when he and I rekenyd, I gave hym ij. noblis for yowr borde, whyll ye weer theer in hys absence; but in feythe he wolde, for nowth that I kowde doo, take j_d._ Wherffor ye most thanke hym or charge me to thanke hym on yowr behalve in some nexte epystyll that ye wryght to me to Caleys. He leete me weet that he wolde do moor for yow than soo.

Item, my Lady Bowgcher was almost deed, but she ys amendyd. I trowe they come in to Norffolk.

Item, as for W. Berker, I heer no worde from hym. I praye yow comon with Berney ther in, he knoweth myn conceyt; and also I praye yow hast Berney ageyn. I wold not that he played the fooll, ner wastyd hys tyme ner hys sylver.

Item, as for the brace of growndes [_greyhounds_], or one verry goode, or in especiall the blak of Germynes, I can nott seye but ye be a trewe man, but William Mylsent isse a false shrewe, so mote I thee, and I trow hys master ys too.

Item, I most have myn instrumentes hydder, whyche are in the chyst in my chambre at Norwyche, whyche I praye yow and Berney to gedre joyntly, but natt severally, to trusse in a pedde,[199-1] and sende them me hyddre in hast, and a byll ther in how many peces. Thys most be had to avoyde idelnesse at Caleys.

Item, I preye yow take heed among thatt my stuffe take noon harme, ner that myn evydence, wher ye wott of, be owt of joperte.

Item, I praye yow doo for Berneye as ye kan, so that he maye be in sewerte for hys annywyte, and that it be nott costious fro hense forthe to hym any mor to come, or sende for it. I pray yow wynne yowr sporys in hys mater.

Item, I purposed to have sent heer with the testament off my fadre and the scytacions to my moodre to yow and Arblaster; but they be nott redy. Within ij. dayes aftre the comyng of thys, I suppose they shall be with yow, and than I shall wryght mor to yow.

As for other tydynges, I trust to God thatt the ij. Dukes of Clarans and Glowcester shall be sette att one by the adward off the Kyng.

Item, I hope by the means of the Duke of Glowcester that my Lord Archebyshop[199-2] shall come home.

Item, as towchyng my sustre Anne,[199-3] I undrestand she hathe bene passyng seek; but I wende that she had ben weddyd. As for Yelverton, he seyde but late that he wold have hyr, iff she had hyr mony, and ellis nott; wherffor me thynkyth that they be nott verry sewre. But, amonge alle other thynges, I praye yow be ware that the olde love of Pampyng renewe natt. He is nowe fro me; I wott nat what he woll doo.

No more. Wretyn at London, the xxij. daye of Novembre Anno R. R. E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

JOHN PASTON, Kt.

[Footnote 196-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 196-3: i.e. _circa octabas Michaelis_--about the Octaves of Michaelmas, or 6th October.]

[Footnote 199-1: A kind of basket.]

[Footnote 199-2: George Neville, Archbishop of York, though formerly pardoned, had been accused of holding correspondence with the Earl of Oxford, for which he was imprisoned at Guines.]

[Footnote 199-3: Anne Paston married William Yelverton, grandson of Sir William Yelverton, the Judge.]

843

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[200-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier._

[Sidenote: 1473 / NOV. 25]

Ryght wyrshypfull and well belovyd brother, I recomaund me to yow, letyng yow weet that I sende yow her with j. sitacion, where in ben my moodre and yee, wheroff I praye yow that I maye have hasty answeer. The effecte theroff is no moor, but ye bothe most sende answer, and make yow a proctor heer, and that most come hyddre ondre a notaryes syngne, affermyng that ye make suche a man, Master John Halsnothe, or ellis, yf ye will do the cost, to sende some other hyddre; yowr proctor to take admynystracion or to reffuse, and what so he dothe, ye to holde it for ferme and stable. Than most my moodre and ye wryght a lettre, undre my moodre seall and yowr syngne manuell, to me and Master John Halsnothe in thys forme:--‘We gret yow well, letyng yow weet that we have made yow, Master John Halsnothe, our proctor in the testament of John Paston, husband and fadre to yow, wherin we wyll that on owr behalff ye refuse the admynestracion of the seyde testament. And thys wryghtyng is to yow warantt and dyscharge, and also the verry wyll of usse.’ Thys most we have for owr dyscharge.

Item, I pray yow take good hedde to my soster Anne, lesse the old love atwyen hyr and Pampyng renewe.

Item, I pray yow sende me worde howe my moodre is dysposyd to hyr wardes, and iffe so weer that a good mariage myght be had, what she wolde depart with.

Item, I praye yow that ye remembre hyr for the tombe off my fadr at Bromholme, and also the chapell at Mauteby, and sende me worde how she is dysposyd her in.

Item, iff I have Caster ageyn, whethyr she wolle dwelle ther or nott, and I wyll fynde hyr a prest towardes at my charge, and geve hyr the dovehowse and other comodytes ther; and if any horsekeper on myn lye ther, I wolle paye for hys borde also, as weell as for the prestes.

Item, iff my modre sholde have a new prest, I thynk that my brother Syr J. Goos weer a metly man to be ther. He wolde also doo, as ye wolde have hym nowe, ber the cuppe evyn, as What-calle-ye-hym seyde to Aslake.

Be war of Myneres fro hense forthe, and sende me worde how ye trist Doctor Pykenham. I wolde, if he wolde doo owght for my moodre, that he hastyd the soner to paye me the C_li._, so that I myght pledge owt Sporle.

Item, as for other tydynges, the Erle of Oxenforthe is stille besegyd. Neverthelesse, onys he issued owt, and toke a jentylman, and hant [_dragged_] hym within; but now off late he was besye, and one espyed hym, and shott at hym and strake in the verry fase with an arowe. I sye thys daye the same man, and theere I leef hym.

Iff Arblaster come to yow, ye maye see hys letter sente to hym by me, wherin I have wretyn that he scholde take yowr advyce; but I praye you, above all thynges, that me make hast so that I heer from yow ageyn by thys day vij. nyght.

At London, the xxv. daye of Novembre.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 200-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The year in which this letter was written is clearly shown, partly by the allusions made in it to several matters mentioned in previous letters, and more especially by what is said of the Earl of Oxford. That nobleman was besieged in St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, by Sir Henry Bodrugan during October and November 1473.]

[[... and hant [_dragged_] hym within _final italic “d” misprinted as “a”_]]

844

THE TENANTS OF SPORLE TO SIR JOHN PASTON[201-1]

_To oure specyall good lord and mayster, Syr John Paston, Knyght, be this delivered in hast._

[Sidenote: Date uncertain]

Right worchepfull and oure specyall good mayster and loord, after our dewe recomendacion with owre servyce. Please it yow to knowe that we arn grevously troubled, and not lyke to kepe oure tenourys, the whiche we holde of you, but yf ye helpe us; for we wer bete at the boordourys syde, and afterwarde our servauntes wer bete at the plowe in Spoorle felde, and somme of them be lyke to dey. And we redyn to Maister Shereve and to Mayster Southwell for remedye, and thei advysed us to ryde to Mayster Wyngfeld; and thenne we understode that Mayster Wyngfeld was reden to London, &c. And so we stonden withoute remedye, and in grete doute of our lyves, and losse of our goodys. Wherfor we beseche you to socoure us accordyng to your right and owres. And ellys we kan nott abyde it, &c. Cryst kepe your good lordshep.

Be your poore tenauntes of Spoorle.

[Footnote 201-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter is very uncertain, but as a good deal is said about this time of the manor and wood of Sporle, we insert it here for convenience.]

845

NOTE

[Sidenote: 1474 / FEB. 9]

It appears by the Early Chancery Proceedings printed by the Record Commission (vol. i. p. xc.), that a decree was given in Chancery in Hilary term, 13 Edw. IV. compelling William Paston and other trustees to fulfil a covenant between Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Elizabeth, Countess of Oxford. On the Close Roll, 13 Edw. IV. memb. 1, is a release by William, Bishop of Ely, Sir Thomas Montgomery, John Wentworth, clk., William Paston, Esq., Roger Townesend and Jas. Arblaster to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, of all their right in Ocle Magna and Parva, etc., in Essex, which they have by enfeoffment of Eliz., Countess of Oxford, and in other manors in Norfolk and Suffolk which they lately had of the gift of the same. This release is dated 9th Feb. 13 Edw. IV., and was acknowledged in Chancery on the 11th Feb. Below it are enrolled three other deeds by the Countess and her feoffees to the Duke, dated 9th June, 12 Edw. IV., and acknowledged in Chancery, 25th June, 14 Edw. IV.

846

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[203-1]

_Mestresse Margrett Paston, at Norwyche._

[Sidenote: 1474 / FEB. 20]

Ryght honorable and most tendr good moodr, I recomand me to yowe, besechyng yow to have, as my tryst is that I have, yowr dayly blessyng; and thanke yow off yowr good moderhood, kyndenesse, cheer, charge, and costes, whyche I had, and putte yow to, att my last beyng with yow, whyche God gyffe me grace her afftr to deserve!

Please it yow to weet, that I thynge longe that I heer nott ffrom yow or ffrom Pekok yowr servaunt, ffor the knowlege howe he hathe doon in the sale off my fferme barlye, ner whatt is made theroff; wherffor I beseche yowe, if it be not answeryd by that tyme that thys bylle cormythe to yowe, to hast hym and itt hyddre wards; ffor iff that had nott taryed me, I deme I had been at Caleys by thys daye; ffor it is soo, as men seye, that the Frense Kynge with a gret hoste is at Amyans, but iij^xx. myle from Caleys; and iff he, or hys, roode byffor Caleys, and I nott theer, I wolde be sorye.

Item, men seye that the Erle of Oxenfford hathe ben constreynyd to sewe ffor hys pardon only off hys lyffe; and hys body, goodes, londes, with all the remenaunt, at the Kynges wyll, and soo sholde in all haste nowe come in to the Kyng; and some men seye that he is goon owt off the Mounte,[203-2] men wot not to what plase, and yit lefte a greet garnyson theer, weell ffornysshyd in vytayll, and all other thynge.

Item, as ffor the havyng ageyn off Castre, I trust to have good tydyngs theroff hastelye.

Item, my brother John ffarethe weell, and hathe doon ryght delygentlye in my cosyn Elizabet Berneys mater, wheroff hastely I trust he shall sende hyr tydyngs that schall please hyr; and as to morow he purposyth to take hys jurneye to Walys warde to the Lorde Ryverse. No mor at thys tyme, but Jeswe have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at London the xx. daye off Feverer, Anno E. iiij^ti xiij^{o}.

Yowr sone,

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 203-1: [From Fenn, ii. 154.]]

[Footnote 203-2: St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.]

847

LORD HASTINGS TO JOHN PASTON[204-1]

_To my right trusty and welbeloved servaunt, John Paston, Squier._

[Sidenote: 1474(?) / APRIL 26]

John Paston, I recommaunde me unto you. And whereas I appointed and desired you to goo over unto Guysnes to yeve youre attendaunce and assistaunce upon my brother Sir Rauf Hastings in all suche things as concerne the suretie and defense of the Castell of Guysnes during his infirmyties; it is shewed unto me that ye have full truely and diligently acquyted you unto my saide brother, in all his besynesses sithe your comyng thider. Whereof I thanke you hertly. And as I conceive to my grete comfort and gladnesse, my saide brother is wele recovered and amended, thanked be God. And soo I truste he may nowe spare you. Wherupon I have writen unto him, if he may soo doo, to licence you to come over unto me ayen. Wherefore I woll and desire you, th’assent of my saide brother had, to dispose you to come over in all goodly haste, as well for suche grete maters, as I fele by youre ffrends, ye have to doo here, as to yeve youre attendaunce upon me. And your retourne ye shall be to my welcome.

From London, the xxvj. day of Avrill.

[204-2]I pray you in no wise to depart as yet without my brother Roaf asent and agrement; and recommaund me to my syster, all my nieces, to the constabyll, and to all Ryves [_reeves_].

Your tru frend,

HASTYNGES.

[Footnote 204-1: [From Fenn, ii. 296.] I cannot discover in what year John Paston could have been staying at Guisnes during the month of April at the request of Lord Hastings, unless it was in the year 1474. There seems no other probable year in which we have not distinct evidence of his being elsewhere.]

[Footnote 204-2: This postscript is in the writer’s own hand, the preceding part of the letter being in that of a clerk. A fac-simile of the postscript is given by Fenn.]

848

SIR RALPH HASTINGS TO JOHN PASTON[205-1]

_To my feithful lovyng gode cousyn, Johan Paston._

[Sidenote: 1474(?) / MAY 9]

Cousyn Paston, I recommaunde me to you in as speciall wise as I cane. And like you to witte, on Sondaye at even last I hadde writing and evedence frome my lorde by Punche of tidyngis and have understonde them wel al a longe. And on Monday erly in the mornyng I came to Calais to have spoken with you, but I came to late. Praying you to advertise my lord[205-2] to se wel to him self, etc. And at my comyng home the same nyght I felle doune syke, and have ever sith kept my bedde and yitte do. And, as you knowe wel, the Connestable sykened with you in his goyng to Calais, of whome I doubt me, and so I do of my self bothe. So that here amongis us nowe is no man to stirre about and see quykly to alle thingis as ther aught to be and is nede to be, which hevieth me gretly; and though I were up and might somwhat stire myself, yitte I am not seure so to contynue ij. daies to-geder, etc. As for moo men, my Lord hathe praied me and advised me to holde me content with thoo that I have, and that I shulde make as litel coste in reparacions as I maye, because he cannot se wel howe the monney cane be goten to content them. Cousyn, as for moo men ye knowe right wel thoo that we have are to fewe, and we have nede; notwithstonding I shal do as wel as I may with thoo that I have. But as [for][205-3] eny ferther reparacions, might I ones for oure seurte have this fournisshed that I am about, I kepe not to make moo, for I doubt me that this we are about, that parte therof wil reste in my nekke, because we cane not be seure of oure assignement. I pray you, cousyn, brekes to my Lord all suche maters that ye cane remembre and thinke[205-4] may be for the wele of us and the seurte of this place, as my ful speciall truste and alle othir mennes here is in you. I hadde thought to have writton to my lord to have sente some othir seure man hidre to have assisted and holpen us during oure infirmitees, but I fele by Punche that my Lord saith I write always so plainly to him that hit fereth him, and therfore I dar not but shal forbere to write any more so; howe be hit, it were ful necessarye and behofful so to do, that knoweth God, Who ever preserve you. Writton at Guysnes, the ix^e daye of May.

I praye you to sende us some of your tidingis by this berer as oft as ye may. And if ther be anything I may do to your plesir, I shal do it with as good hart as ye cane desire.

Your tru luffuyng coussen,

RAUFF HASTYNGIS.

[Footnote 205-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 122.] This letter was clearly written in the same year as No. 847, which was apparently 1474.]

[Footnote 205-2: Lord Hastings.]

[Footnote 205-3: Omitted in MS.]

[Footnote 205-4: ‘thinke’ repeated in MS.]

849

ABSTRACT[206-1]

[Sidenote: 1474 / JULY 24]

Letters patent, dated at Westminster, 24 July, 14 Edw. IV., for levying a subsidy in the county of Norfolk for a war against France.

[Footnote 206-1: [Add. Charter 14,973, B.M.]]

850

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[206-2]

_To Sir John Paston, Knyght, or to hys brodyr Edmund in hys absence, lodgyd at the George by Powlys Wharff, in London._

[Sidenote: 1474 / JULY 25]

Ryght worchepfull sir, I recomand me to yow, preying yow to remembyr, or ye depert ought of London, to spek with Herry Ebertonys wyf, draper, and to enforme hyr that I am profyrd a maryage in London, whyche is worth vj^c. [600] mark and bettyr; with whom I preyid yow to comone, in as myche as I myght not tery in London myself, alweys reservyng that if so be that Mastresse Eberton wyll dele with me, that ye shold not conclud in the other place, thow so wer that Eberton wold not geve so moche with Mastress Elyzabet, hys dowghtyr, as I myght have with the other, for syche fantazy as I have in the seyd Mastress Elyzabet Eberton. And that it lyek yow to sey to Ebertons wyff that syche as I spak to hyr of shalbe bettyrd rather then enpeyred as for my part; and if it lyek hyr to deale with me, I wylbe at London for that cawse only with in xiiij. dayis aftyr the wryghtyng of thys byll, with Godes grace, Who preserve yow and yours.

Wretyn at Norwyche, on Seynt Jamys Day.

* * *

Also, sir, I prey yow that ye wyll, as I desyerd yow, comon with John Lee or hys wyf, or bothe, and to undyrstond how the mater at the Blak Freerys dothe, and that ye wylle see and spek with the thyng your sylf, and with hyr fadyr and modyr, or ye depert; and that it lyek yow to desyer John Lee is wyff to send me a byll in all hast possybyll, how fer forthe the mater is, and whedyr it shalbe necessary for me to come up to London hastyly or not, or ellys to kast all at the Kok.

Also, sir, I prey yow that Pytt may trusse in a male, whyche I left in your chambyr at London, my tawny gowne furyd with blak, and the doblet of porpyll sateyn, and the doblet of blak sateyn, and my wryghtyng box of syprese, and my book of the Metyng of the Dwke and of the Emperour, and when all thys gere is trussyd in the male, to delyver it to the berer herof, to brynge me to Norwyche.

Item, I send you herwith the pylyon for the male, and x_s._ for the hyer, whyche is usery, I tak God to rekord.

Also, that it lyek yow to spek with your apotycary, whyche was som tyme the Erle of Warwykes apotycary, and to weet of hym what the wedow of the Blak Freiris is woorthe, and what hyr husbondes name was. He can tell all, for he is executore to the wedous husbond. I prey yow forget me not, no more then I do yow. I have spokyn thys day with Jamys Hubberd and Herry Smyth, and to morow I shall have an answer of theym.

Also, my modyr wyll labore thys mater with effect, that the CC. mark may be had for the wood.

Also, brodyr Edmund, I prey yow, and my brodyr Sir John be not in London, that ye wyll labore all thys maters with effect, as my trust is in yow in every poynt as is above wretyn.

Also, I assartayn yow that I was with Ferrour thys day, and he had no leyser to comon with me; but I wyll be with hym ayen to morow by apoyntment betwyx hym and me, and so as I speed I shall send yow woord by the next man that comyth to London.

Also, I sent John Lee is wyff a lettyr by on Crawethorn dwellyng in Wood street, or ellys in Sylver street at the end of Wood street. I prey yow weet whedyr she had it or nought; and she had it not, brodyr Edmund, I prey yow go to the same Crawethorn, and tak the lettyr of hym, and delyver it hyr in all hast.

J. PASTON.[208-1]

[Footnote 206-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is endorsed in a contemporaneous hand ‘Anno xiiij^o,’ showing that it was written in 1474, the 14th year of Edward IV. We also find Sir John writing to his brother in November following that his brother Edmund had heard nothing more of Eberton’s daughter.]

[Footnote 208-1: This signature stands in the middle of the postscript.]

[[... Who preserve / yow and yours. _final . missing or invisible_]]

851

ABSTRACT[208-2]

[Sidenote: 1474 / OCT. 24]

‘Bill’ dated 24 Oct., 14 Edw. IV., relative to the pledging of certain parcels of plate by William Paston, Esq., to Elizabeth Clere of Ormesby. The parcels amount in all to 250 oz. 4 dwt., and are pledged for £40. _Sealed._

ii. Fair copy of the preceding.

[Footnote 208-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

852

ABSTRACT[208-3]

THE VICAR OF PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON

[Sidenote: 1474 / NOV. 3]

When my master Sir John’s baily was at Paston he scared your tenants, bidding them pay no rents to Mr. William Paston. On which Harry Warns wrote to Mr. William, who bade him warn them not to pay money to any one else; otherwise he would meet them at London ‘as the law would,’ or at some market or fair, and make them pay arrears to Midsummer. Beware of Warns, for he made Master William privy to all the examinations of the tenants by my master your son. He also charged the tenants not to sell as my master desired, else Master William would undo them. ‘_Ideo_, putte no trost in hym, _quia duobus dominis nemo potest servire_.’ Pastun, 3 Nov.

[This and the letter following both appear to have been written at the time of Sir John Paston’s dispute with his uncle William, at the end of the year 1474.]

[Footnote 208-3: _Ibid._]

853

ABSTRACT[209-1]

[THE VICAR OF PASTON] TO MRS. [MARGARET PASTON]

[Sidenote: 1474]

John Qwale, farmer of Paston, is distressed by things that Herry Warns has done and said against him. Warns carried home ‘an esse’ [_ash_] blown down by the wind, and says it is your will, because Master John Paston has given him power over all that he has in Paston. ‘More awre he stondes in grete dowte to ery or to sawe’ [_to harrow or to sow_], for John of Bactun says he shall have no land, unless he find surety, ‘and it were no resun that he suld somerlay and compace hys londes to a noder mans hand.’ Warns says if Qwale put out any cattle at the gates, he will take it for the grain that Master William delivered to him. He says Mrs. Margaret Paston[209-2] has no rule there, and shall have none; also that John Qwale shall not have Gyns close nor the Chyrche close, as he has taken them to farm. ‘Qwere fore, bott ze gyfe hym oderwas power, he wyll gefe up all.’

[Footnote 209-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 209-2: Mrs. Margaret Paston is here spoken of by name and in the third person, but the letter can hardly be addressed to any one else.]

854

[WILLIAM PASTON] TO SIR JOHN PASTON[209-3]

_[To] my right worshipfull neview [Sir J]ohn Paston, Knyghte, be [this] lettre delivered in hast._

[Sidenote: About 1474(?)]

[Right] worshipful neview, I recommaund me to you. And, sir, I pray you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . that ther was none obstacle ner lettinge that ye found in me to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . save me harmeles; at whiche tyme it was thought aswel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Johns by obligacioun was not inow to save me harm[eles] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [i]n the meane seasoune; for as your reasoun will give . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ght fell of yow but goode. And if the caas so fill that . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ys will take it on them, than I to bere the losse. Wherupp[on] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [b]ound to me to save me harmeles. And for as muche . . . . . . . . . . . . . m by obligacioun of statute merchaunt for you the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in myne oune kepinge for my discharge, and after a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [r]estorid me ageyn at this Michelmas. And m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . shuld hange still till Candilmas, and me thinke it is by con . . . . . . . . obligacions paiable at . . . . . [Candle]mas I did at the begynny[ng] . . . . . will kepe still the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or sufficient and that . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as wold pay at th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with me than thus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . indenture wherby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for be cause that ye w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . experyens.

Also I wold avyse you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . my Lord of Norfolk.

Also, nevew, there is onne Fr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . but hym silf and his wif and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wherfore I have writin to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in this matier; and I trust l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And I pray yow that may ha . . . . . . . . . . . .

[Footnote 209-3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Of this letter only two fragments remain, giving, as will be seen, a very mutilated text. Little more can be said about the contents than that they refer to money matters between William Paston and his nephew Sir John, which are probably those referred to in succeeding letters. The handwriting is that of William Paston. A mutilated endorsement, apparently in the handwriting of John Paston the younger, shows merely the words ‘ . . . . . to Sir J. P. for . . . . .’]

855

ABSTRACT[210-1]

[Sidenote: Date uncertain]

Fragment of a draft deed by which Sir John Paston and John Paston, Esq., mortgage certain premises not named to the use of Master John Morton, William Paston, Thomas Playter, and Thomas Lovell, for £114.

[Nothing is clear about the date of this document, but we place it here, as bearing, like the last, on money matters between Sir John Paston and his uncle William.]

[Footnote 210-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

856

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[211-1]

_To Mestresse Margrett Paston at Norwyche, or to J. Paston in hyr absence._

[Sidenote: 1474]

Ryght wyrshypfull and my moste kynde and tendre moodre, I recomaund me to yow, thankyng yow off the grete cost and off the greet chere that ye dyd to me and myn at my last beyng wyth yowe; whyche cheer also hath made me perfyghtly hooll, I thanke God and yow, in so moche that where as I feeryd me that for weykenesse, and so green recuveryd off my syknesse, that I scholde have apeyryd by the weye; but, God thanke yow, I toke so my crommys whyls I was wyth yow, that I felyd my sylfe by the weye that God and ye had made me stronger than I wenyd that I had ben, in so myche that I feell my selffe every daye holler than other.

It was soo that I mett wyth myn onkle William by the weye, and there in the felde I payed hym the iiij_li._ whyche I had borowyd off hym; and he was passyng inquisytyff howe that I was purveyd for recompensyng off Towneshend. I tolde hym I hopyd weell; he tolde me that he undrestood that I had the C_li._ of the Bysshopys executores, and he had herde seye that I had also borowyd another C_li._ of a marchaunt, and so I lakyd but an C. marke. I deme he herde thys of T. Lovell, for I tolde hym that I was in hope to fynde suche a freende that wolde lende me C_li._ He axed me, who was that? I answeryd hym, an olde marchaunt, a freende of myn, but myn oncle thowte that shold be by weye of chevyshanse [_usury_], and to myn horte; wherffor I was pleyne to hym, and tolde hym that ye wer sewerte therffor, and purveyed it off suche as wolde doo for yowe. And as for the forte [_fourth_] C. mark, he seyde to me that as for that he wolde, rather than joperte sholde be, purvey it by weye off chevyshaunce at London, in so moche that, er he come fro London, he had for my sake leyde v. C. markes worthe of plate with Hewghe Fenne. The place at Warwykes Inne is large, and my grawntdame is agyd; it had ben jopertous to leve moche plate wyth hyr, thoghe halffe were hyr owne. But if I maye do other wyse, I purpose nott to chevyshe any mony by hys meane.

Item, I have delyveryd yowre botell to Courbye the caryer thys same daye, and he promysed me to be with yow on Mondaye nyghte, or ellys on Touesday tymely. He hathe also xl_d._ to paye for the thryd hyryd horse, and he bryngythe the iij. horse wyth hym, and is contente for hys labor and for the mete largely. They be delyveryd hym in as good, and rather better plyght, than whan I had them forthe, and not gallyd nor hurte. He hate also ij. sadelys, one of my brotheres, and one other hyred, as ye woot off.

Item, he hathe a peyre botys off Edmond Reedes, the shomaker, whyche Saundre borowyd off hym. I beseche yowe that William Mylsent or Symme maye se that every man have hys owne.

Item, as for my brother Edmond, blyssyd be God, he is weell amendyd.

Item, as for Hankyn owr dogge, I am a fferde never to see hym, but if [_unless_] yowr good helpe bee.

Item, as for the bookes that weer Sir James, iff it lyke yow that I maye have them, I ame not able to by them; but somwhat wolde I gyffe, and the remenaunt with a goode devowte herte, by my trowthe, I wyll prey for hys sowle. Wherffor iff it lyke yow by the next messenger or karyer to sende hem in a daye, I shall have them dressyd heer; and iff any off them be claymyd here aftre, in feythe I wyll restoor it.

Wretyn on Saterdaye.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 211-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident from the contents that this letter must have been written shortly before that which follows.]

857

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[213-1]

_To Mestresse Margrete Paston, or to Roose, dwellyng byffore hyr gate at Norwyche._

[Sidenote: 1474 / NOV. 20]

Aftre dew recomendacion, my most tendre and kynde moodre, I beseche yow off yowr dayly blessyng. Please it yow to weete that I reseyvyd a lettre thhat come from yowe, wretyn the xxvj. daye of Octobre, none erst but[213-2] on Wednysday last past, wherby I conceyvyd that, at the wryghtyng off that letter, ye weer nott serteyn of the delyng betwyn Towneshende and me. It was so that, God thanke yow, I receyvyd the xx_li._ broght by Syme, and also the mony browght by my brother, with whyche mony, and with moor that I had my selff, I redemyd the maner of Sporle, and payed Towneshend bothe the CCCC. marke ther ffor, and also x_li._ that I owte hym besyde, and have off hym aqwytaunce off all bargaynes and off all other dettes. Neverthelesse, I assayed hym iff he wolde, iff nede hadde ben, gyvyn me a xij. monyth lenger respyght, whyche he grauntyd to do; but in conclusyon I can nott entrete hym, but that he woll have the uttremest of hys bargayn, and thys xx_li._ payeable at Candelmesse and Esterne. I kan entrete hym noon other wyse as yit; wherffor I thynke, iff I had passyd my daye, it had ben harde to have trustyd to hys cortesye, in so moche I ffynde hym also ryght loose in the tonge. For Bekham, he spekyth no thyng comfortably ther in; what he wyll doo, can I nott seye.

Item, as for Castre, it nedyth nott to spore nor prykke me to doo owghte ther in. I doo that I can with goode wyll, and somwhat I hope to doo hastely ther in that shall doo goode.

Item, as for the bokes that weer Syr James, God have hys sowle, whyche it lykethe yow that I shall have them, I beseche yow that I maye have them hyder by the next massenger, and iff I be goon, yit that they be delyveryd to myn ostesse at the George, at Powlys Wharffe, whyche wolle kepe them saffe, and that it lyke yow to wryght to me whatt my peyne or payment shall be for them.

Item, it lyked yow to weet of myn heelle. I thanke God nowe that I am nott greetly syke ner soore, but in myn heele, wherin alle men know nott whatt peyne I feele. And wher ye advysed me to hast me owt of thys towne, I wolde full fayne be hense. I spende dayly mor than I sholde doo, if I wer hense, and I am nott well purveyed.

Item, blessyd be Good, my grauntdam is amendyd by suche tyme as myn oncle W. come hyddre. But my yongest cosyn Margret, hys doghtre, is ded and beryed er he come home.

I am as moche afferde off thys londe that is in hys hande as I was off that that was in Towneshendes hande. I hope to wryght yow moor serteynte within iiij. or v. dayes. No more, &c.

Wretyn the xx. daye of Novembre, anno E. iiij. xiiij^{o}.

Yowr Sone,

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 213-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 213-2: No earlier than.]

[[I reseyvyd a lettre thhat come from yowe _spelling unchanged_]]

858

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[214-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer, at Norwyche, or to Roose, dwellyng affor Mestresse Pastonys gate, in Norwych._

[Sidenote: 1474 / NOV. 20]

Ryght wyrshypful and weell belovyd brother, I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weet that I have comonyd with yowr ffreende Dawnson, and have receyvyd yowr rynge off hym, and he hathe by myn advyce spoken with hyr[214-2] ij. tymes; he tellythe me off hyr delyng and answers, whyche iff they wer acordyng to hys seyng, a ffeynter lover than ye wolde, and weell aghte to, take therin greet comffort, so that he myght haply slepe the werse iij. nyghtys afftr. And suche delyng in parte as was bytwyen my Lady W. and yowr ffreende Danson he wrote me a bylle theroff, whyche I sende yow herwith; and that that longythe to me to doo therin, it [_I ?_] shall nott ffayle to leeve all other bysynesse a parte. Neverthelesse within iij. dayes, I hope so to deele herin, that I suppose to sette yow in serteynte hoghe that ye shall fynde hyr ffor evyr her afftr. It is so, as I undrestande, that ye be as besy on yowr syde ffor yowr ffreende Dawnson, wheer as ye be, I praye God sende yow bothe goode spede in thees werkys, whyche iff they be browte abowte iche off yowe is moche beholden to other; yit were it pyte that suche crafty wowers, as ye be bothe, scholde speede weell, but iff ye love trewly.

Item, as ffor Stoctons doghtr, she shall be weddyd in haste to Skeerne, as she tolde hyrselffe to my sylke-mayde,[215-1] whyche makyth perte off suche as she shall weer, to whom she brake hyr harte, and tolde hyr that she sholde have hadde Master Paston, and my mayde wende it had been I that she speke off; and with moor that the same Mester Paston kome wher she was with xx. men, and wolde have taken hyr aweye. I tolde my mayde that she lyed off me, and that I never spake with hyr in my lyff, ner that I wolde not wedde hyr to have with hyr iij^ml. marke.

Item, as for Ebortons dowghtr, my brother Edmonde seythe, that he herde never moor speche theroff syns yowr departyng, and that ye wolde that he sholde nott breke, nor doo no thynge therin, but iff it come off theer begynnyng.

Item, I had answer ffrom my Lorde[215-2] that he is my speciall goode lorde, and that by wryghtyng; and as ffor Bernaye he sette hym in hys owne wages ffor my sake, and that whan so ever I come to Caleys, I shall ffynde all thyng ther as woll have it, and rather better than it was heretoffor.

Item, the Kyng come to this towne on Wednysdaye; as ffor the Frenshe Embassate that is heer, they come nott in the Kynges presence, by lykehod, ffor men seye that the chyeff off them is he that poysonyd bothe the Duke off Berry[216-1] and the Duke off Calabr.[216-2]

Item, ther was never mor lyklyhod that the Kyng shall goo ovyr thys next yer than was nowe.

I praye yow remembre that I maye have the pewter vessell heddr by the next karyer by the lattr ende off thys weke.

Item, I praye yow remembr so that I may have the bokys by the same tyme, whyche my moodr seyde she wolde sende me by the next carier.

Wretyn at London, the Sondaye the xx. daye off Novembr, anno E. iiij^ti xiiij^{o}.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 214-1: [From Fenn, ii. 164.]]

[Footnote 214-2: Apparently Lady Walgrave, hereafter referred to. She was the widow of Sir Richard Walgrave, Knight.]

[Footnote 215-1: A person who made gowns of silk, etc., for both men and women, as appears from the manner in which she is here mentioned.--F.]

[Footnote 215-2: I am not certain whether the Duke of Norfolk is here meant, or Lord Hastyngs, the then Governor of Calais.--F.]

[Footnote 216-1: Charles, Duke of Berry and of Guienne, who was supposed to have been poisoned by order of his brother Lewis XI. in May 1472.]

[Footnote 216-2: Nicholas of Anjou, Duke of Calabria and Lorraine, who died about the same time as the Duke of Guienne.]

[[dwellyng affor Mestresse Pastonys gate _italic “d” misprinted as “a”_

Sidenote: 1474 / NOV. 20 _date supplied from body of letter_]]

859

ABSTRACT[216-3]

[Sidenote: 1474 / NOV. 29]

Norfolk and Suffolk Deeds, No. 33. ‘The agreement and accord between the Bishop of Winton and John Paston, Knight, touching the building of the College at Castre of seven priests and seven poor men, translated by dispensation of the Pope to seven priests and seven poor scholars in Magdalene College, and touching the lands of Sir John Fastolf. November 29, Edw. IV. 14.’

[Footnote 216-3: [From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]]

860

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[216-4]

_To John Paston, Esquier._

[Sidenote: 1474 / DEC. 11]

Brother, I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete that I have, lyke as I promysyd yowe, I have doon my devoyr to know my Lady Walgraves stomacke, whyche, as God helpe me, and to be pleyn to yowe, I ffynde in hyr no mater nor cawse, that I myght tak comfort off. Sche will in nowyse receyve, ner kepe yowr rynge with hyr, and yit I tolde hyr that sche scholde not be any thynge bownde therby; but that I knew by yowr herte off olde that I wyst weel ye wolde be glad to fforber the lesvest [_dearest_] thynge that ye had in the worlde, whyche myght be dayly in her presence, that sholde cawse hyr onys on a daye to remembr yow, but itt wolde not be. She wolde nott therby, as she seyde, putte yow ner kepe yow in any comffort therby. And mor ovyr, she preyed me, that I sholde never take labor moor heer in, ffor she wolde holde hyr to suche answer as she hadd geven yow to ffoor, wherwith she thowght bothe ye and I wolde have holde us contente, had nott been the words off hyr suster Geneffyeff.

When I undrestood all thys, and that over nyght she bad hyr that weent bytwyen hyr and me byd me brynge with me hyr muskeball[217-1] which, &c., than I aftr all thys axid iff she weer dyspleasyd with me ffor it, and she seyde, naye.

Than I tolde hyr, that I had nott sent it yowe, ffor synne off my sowle; and so I tolde hyr all, how I had wretyn to yow why that I wold nott sende it yow, by cawse I wyst weell ye sholde have slepyd the werse; but nowe, I tolde hyr, as God helpe me, that I wolde sende it yow, and gyffe yow myn advyse nott to hope ovyr moche on hyr, whyche is ovyr harde an hertyd lady ffor a yonge man to tryst on to; whyche I thowght that ffor all my words, ye cowde nott ner wolde nott do ffor all myn advyce.

Yitt ageynwards she is nott dyspleasyd, nor fforbad me nott but that ye sholde have the kepyng off hyr muskball; wherffor de ye with itt as ye lyke. I wolde it hadd doon weel; by Good, I spake ffor yow soo, that in ffeythe I trowe I kowde nott seye so weel ageyn.

Wherffor I sende yow herwith yowr rynge, and the onhappy muskeball. Also make ye mater off it herafftr as ye kan, I am nott happy to wow nowther ffor my selff ner noon other. I tolde hyr all the processe off the Lorde Howarde and off yowr grewnds [_greyhounds_] as I kowde; all helpys nott.[218-1]

. . . . . . .

I her no worde off my vessell, ner off my boks; I mervayll. No mor.

Wretyn at London, the xj. daye of Decembr, anno E. iiij.^ti xiiij^{o}.

J. P., K.

[Footnote 216-4: [From Fenn, ii. 170.]]

[Footnote 217-1: This muskball, or ball of perfume, seems to have been taken from Lady Walgrave by Sir John Paston in a jesting manner, to send to his brother as a present from her.--F.]

[Footnote 218-1: ‘Here follows,’ says Fenn, ‘some displeasure at his uncle William’s proceedings in matters between them, etc., of no consequence.’]

[[wherffor de ye with itt _text unchanged: error for “do”?_]]

861

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[218-2]

_To the ryght worshypfull John Paston, Esquier, at Norwych, or to hys modr, Margreet Paston, in hys absence, in haste._

[Sidenote: 1475 / JAN. 17]

I recomande me to yow, praying yow hertely, that I maye have weetyng when that my Lorde and Lady of Norffolk shalle be at London, and howgh longe they shall tery theer, and in especiall my Lorde of Norffolk; ffor uppon ther comyng to London wer it ffor me to be guydyd. Neverthelesse I wolde be soory to come theer but iff I neds most. I thynke it wolde be to yow ovyr erksom a labor to solycyte the maters atwyen them and me, but iff I weer theer myselffe; wherffor, iff ye thynke it be convenyent that I com thyddr, I praye yow sende me worde as hastely as ye maye, and by what tyme ye thynke most convenyent, that I sholde be theer; and off all suche coumfforte as ye ffynde or heer off the towardnesse theroff, and when also that ye shall be theer yowr selffe. For it is so that as to morow I purpose to ryde in to Flaundrys to purveye me off horse and herneys, and percase I shall see the assege at Nwse[218-3] er I come ageyn, iff I have tyme; wherffor, iff I so doo, by lyklyhod it woll be a xiiij. dayes er I be heer ageyn; and afftr, as I heer ffrom yowe and other ther uppon, that at the next passage, and God woll, I purpose to come to London warde: God sende me goode spede; in cheff ffor the mater above wretyn; and secondly, ffor to appoynt with the Kyng and my Lorde, ffor suche retynwe as I sholde have now in thees werrys in to Frawnce; wherffor I praye yow, in Norffolk and other places, comon with suche as ye thynke lykly ffor yow and me, that ar dysposyd to take wages in gentylmenns howsys and ellys wher, so that we maye be the moor redy, when that nede is; neverthelesse at thys owr, I wolde be gladde to have with me deyly iij. or iiij. mor than I have, suche as weer lykly; ffor I lakke off my retynwe, that I have neer so many. I praye yow sende me som tydyngs, suche as ye heer, and howghe that my brother Edmonde dothe.

For as ffor tydyngs heer, ther be but ffewe, saffe that the assege lastyth stylle by the Duke off Burgoyn affoor Nuse, and the Emperor[219-1] hathe besegyd also, not fferr from these, a castell, and an other town in lyke wyse, wher in the Dukys men ben. And also, the Frenshe Kynge, men seye, is comyn ryght to the water off Somme with iiij^ml. [4000] spers; and som men trowe that he woll, at the daye off brekyng off trewse, or ellys byffoor, sette uppon the Duks contreys heer. When I heer moor, I shall sende yowe moor tydyngs.

The Kyngs inbassators, Sir Thomas Mongomere and the Master off the Rolls[219-2] be comyng homwards ffrom Nuse; and as ffor me, I thynke that I sholde be sek but iff I see it.

Syr John off Parre and William Berkeley com thys weye to Flaundrs ward to by them horse and herneys, and [I] made Sir J. Parr goode cheer as I cowde ffor yowr sake; and he tolde me, that ye made hym haulte cheer, &c. at Norwyche. No moor.

Wretyn at Caleys, the xvij. daye off Janever, anno Edwardi iiij^ti xiiij^o.

[Footnote 218-2: [From Fenn, ii. 174.] ‘Though this letter,’ says Fenn, ‘has no signature, yet it is written by Sir John Paston, Knight.’]

[Footnote 218-3: Neuss, not far from Düsseldorf, in the territory of Cologne, at this time besieged by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.]

[Footnote 219-1: Frederick III. of Austria, Emperor of Germany.]

[Footnote 219-2: Dr. John Morton, afterwards Bishop of Ely, Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal.]

862

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[220-1]

_To John Paston, Sqwyer, be thys delyveryd in hast._

Jh’s.[220-2]

[Sidenote: 1475 / JAN. 29]

I gret yow well, and send yow Goddes blyssyng and myn, letyng yow wet that my cosyn Robard Clere was her with me thys weke, and told me that he was nowt payd of the mony that ye know that was borowd of hys modyr and of hym, but iiij^xx._li._ The xx_li._ that my plegges ly for ys on payd. He seyd that he was desyryd to delyvere my plegges, and to have be payd the xx_li._; but he wold not, tyll he had spokyn with me, because of the promys that he had mad to me befor that he shuld not delyver them to non withowt my assent. I seyd to hym that I suppose veryly that yowyr brodyr hys a greyd with yowyr hunkyll that he shuld paye all the hole, for I suppose he hath a swerte for ale that and more. I wold undyrstond how yt ys, and how that my seyd cosyn shall be content, for I war loth to lese my plegges; I wot yt well, yowyr good hunkyll wold ben in possessyon with good well, but I wol not soo. I wold that ye shuld speke with yowyr hunkyll ther in, and send me word in hast what he seet [_saith_].

I marvyll, be my trowth, that I had no wrytyng fro yowyr brodyr, er he departyd fro London, as he promysyd in the last lettyr that he sent me, the wych was wretyn be for the Kynges comyng to Norwych; I went [_expected_] veryly to have hard from hym ar [_ere_] thys tyme. I wold ye shuld send hym word of yowyr hunkyles delyng in thys seyd mater, and send me an ansswer ther off.

Recomaund me to yowyr grauntdam. I wold she war her in Norffolk, as well at es as evyr I sy hyr, and as lytyll rewlyd be hyr son as evyr she was, and than I wold hope that we alle shuld far the bettyr for hyr. Yt ys told me that yowyr hunkyll hath mad gret menys and larg profyrs to John Bakton to make a relesse to hym of Oxinhed. Whedyr that be don or nowt, I wot nowt yet, but I shall wot in hast, yf I may.

I wold ye shuld spekyn with my Lord of Norwych, and a say to get a lysen of hym to that I may have the sacrement her in the chapell, because yt ys far to the chyrche, and I am sekly, and the parson ys oftyn owt. For all maner of casweltes of me and myn, I wold havyt grauntyd, yf I myth.

Send me word yf ye her ony tydynges from yowyr brodyr how he doth of hys seknes, and in odyr thynges, as farforth as ye know, as astely as ye may. I thynk long tyll I her from hym for dyvers causys. God kepe yow.

Wretyn in hast at Mawdby, on the Satyrday next be for Candelmes Day.

Send me an ansswer of thys lettyr in hast, and odyr tydynges, &c.

Be yowyr modyr.

My cosyn Robard told me that ther was mor than vij_li._ of the mony that was payd hym that was ryght on rysty, and he cowd nowt havyt chaungyd. He was on goodly servyd ther in.

[Footnote 220-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was evidently written on the same day as that immediately following.]

[Footnote 220-2: This is the customary contraction of the name Jesus, which was frequently written at the head of a letter.]

[[to have hard from hym ar [_ere_] thys tyme _printed without space between “ar” and brackets_]]

863

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[221-1]

_To Ser John Paston, Knyght, be thys delyveryd in hast._

Jh’s.[221-2]

[Sidenote: 1475]

Ryght welbelovyd son, I gret yow well, and send yow Goddes blyssyng and myn, letyng yow wete that I marveyle that I have had no wrytyng from yow sethyn ye sent me the lettyr that ye sent me be for the Kynges comyng to Norwych; in the whyche lettyr ye wrot to me that ye shuld a wretyn azeyn to me or ye shuld de part owt of London. It ys so that yowyr hunkyll William hath do payd to my cosyn Robard Clere but iiij^xx._li._ of the C_li._ and he wol no mor pay but yf [_unless_] he hath delyveraunc of my plegges, the wych was leyd to plegg for xx^ti_li._; the wych ben bettyr. I wot well, be cause of the good well that he owyt to me, as ye know, he wold ben in possessyon therof. My cosyn, Robard Cler, was her with me thys weke, and told me, that yf he wold a delyveryd them, he myth an had the seyd xx_li._; but he seyd he wold nowt, tyll he had spokyn with me; be my trowth I fynd hym ryght kyndly dysposyd to yow, and to me bothe; and so I have desyryd hym to kepe styll the plegge in hys possessyon, tyll I have word from yow how ye ar agreyd with yowyr hunkyll for the payment of the seyd mony: I wen veryly that ye have fownd hym swerte for alle, and yff ye have soo do, I wold ye shuld wryt to yowyr hunkyll therfor, that I myth have my plegges ageyn, for I war loth that they shuld com in hys fyngyers.

Item, as for Sporyl wood, be ffor the Kynges comyng into Norffolk, I myth an had chapmen to abowtyd [_have bought it_] a gret [_in whole_] for xij^xx. [_twelve score_] mark, and now ther wol no man by yt a gret, bycause of the gret good that the pepyll ys leyd to for the Kyng; werfor we ar a bowth to retaylyt as well as we may, and as well as yt can be browth too; and I send yow word how we shall do as astely as I may. As for yowyr barly in thys cuntre, yt cannot be sold above x_d._ or xj_d._; that ys the gretest prys of barly her, and but yt be at a bettyr prys, I purpose for to do yt malt. And as for mony, I cowd not get yet of Pecok but iij_li._; and he seth that be than that the owt chargys be boryn, and the repracion of the myll at Wyntyrton, we ar lyke to have but lytyll mor mony besyd the barly. Malt ys sold her but for xiij_d._ and whet ij_s._ or xxvj_d._ at thys time, and otys xij_d._ Ther ys non owtlod suffyrd to goo owth of thys cuntre as yet; the Kyng hath comaundyd that ther shuld non gon owth of thys lond. I fer me that we shall have ryth a straung ward [_world_]; God a mendyd, whan Hys wyll ys. I thank yow for the flakons that ye sent me; they be ryght good, and plesyth me ryght well: I shall be as good an huswyff for yow as I can, and as I wold be for myselff. Send me word how ye doo of yowyr syknes that ye had on yowyr hey [_eye_] and yowyr lege; and yff God wol nowt suffyr yow to have helth, thank Hym therof, and takyt passhently, and com hom a geyn to me, and we shall lyve to geddyr, as God woll geve us grase to do; and as I have seyd to yow beffor thys, I wold ye war delyveryd of my mastres A. H.,[223-1] and than I wold trost that ye shuld do the bettyr.

As for the bokys that ye desyryd to have of Syr Jamys,[223-2] the best of alle and the fayrest ys cleymyd; ner yt ys not in hys inventory. I shall a say to get yt for yow, and I may; the prys of the todyr bokys, besyd that, ys xx_s._ vj_d._ the wych I send yow a byll of. Yf ye lyk be the prys of them, and ye wol have them, send me word. And also I pray yow send me an ansswere of thys lettyr, be cause I thynk long seth I hard from yow. God have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Mawdby, on the Sattyrday nex be forn the Purificacion of owyr Lady, the xiiij. yer of Kyng Edward the iiij^{t}.

Yowyr Modyr.

_Endorsed_--Anno xiiij^{o}.

[Footnote 221-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 221-2: _See_ p. 220, Note 2.]

[Footnote 223-1: Anne Haulte.]

[Footnote 223-2: Sir James Gloys.]

[[he hath delyveraunc of my plegges _spelling unchanged_]]

864

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[223-3]

_To hys brother John Paston, or to hy[s] oncle William Paston, in Werwyk Lane, or to Edmond Paston, at the George, at Powlys Wharfe, to deliver any of them._

[Sidenote: 1475 / FEB. 5]

Ryght worshypffull, I recomaunde me on to yow, letyng yow weete that I thynke longe that I heer nott from yow syns Crystmesse, ner have no serteyn knowleche whether that Towneshend hathe performyd hys promysse or nott, ner off my brother Johnys beyng at London, ner off my Lord or Lady off Norfolkes comyng to London, at whoys comyng sholde be the cheffe labor and sewte that I or or any for me sholde labor. It was soo, God thanke you bothe, that iche off yow, at my last beyng with yow, grauntyd me to take labor uppon yow; and iche off yow, for the havyng ageyn off my place in Castre. Now is it soo, that wher my verry purpose was to have comyn to London now with the Master of the Rollys[224-1] and Sir Thomas Mongomere, demyng to fynde the Kyng at the Parlement; and also that my Lorde and Lady off Norfolk sholde nott by lyklyhod fayle to be theer also: wherffor me thoght the tyme was convenyent; but it happyd so that suche tydynges come hyddre off the Frenshe Kynges hasty comyng in to thees marchys of Pykardye, whyche cawsyd my Lordes Depute and Cownsell heer to desyr and charge me soo streyghtly, that in noo wyse I maye, tyll I heer other tydynges, departe from hense. Notwithstondyng the Marchall and Counsell heer have wretyne to my Lorde Lywe tenant for me, and moor over desyryd bothe the Master of the Rollys and Sir T. Mongomere to remembre my materes bothe to the Kynge and to my lorde, in so moche that, iff the season be convenyent, both the seyd Master and Syr T. Mongomere wille labore bothe the Kynge and my lorde to entrete my Lorde off Norffolk, my lady hys wyff, and ther consell, to do for me all that reason wyll; of whoys good willes and labor her in I ame better ensuryd off, than I kan for lakke of leyser at thys tyme wryght yowe wetyng off; wherffor I praye yow and iche of yow, iff the season be convenyent, to take the labor, that theese jentyllmen maye do for me, and to my proffyght, like as I feelle them dysposyd to doo; and moore over I have somwhatt informyd them bothe ther in; and also that I maye hastyly heer from yow, and iff it come to that any mony most be gevyn to my Lorde or Lady off Norffolk ffor a plesyr herffor, I woll, uppon as I heer from yow, come to yow in alle hast possible, all thynges leyde a parte.

Item, iff any letter be requesyth to be hadde, in lyke forme as oonys ther was from the Kyng to my Lorde off Norffolk, Sir T. Montgomere will by your advyces opteyne yow suche one off yowr entents to my proffyghte in the premyssys, and by thys my wryghtyng I bynde me to repaye yowe, iff any suche letter or wryghtyng be opteynyd, what so ever it coste. No more for lakke off leysor.

Wretyn at Caleys, the v. day of Feverer, Anno E. iiij. xiiij^{o}.

As for tydynges heer, my masteris th’embassatores, Sir T. Mongomere, and the Master of the Rollys, kom streyght from the Duke at hys assege at Nywysse, whyche wyll nott yitt be wone.

Yowr JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 223-3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 224-1: John Morton, afterwards Bishop of Ely.]

[[labor and sewte that I or or any for me _text unchanged: printed at mid-line_]]

865

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[225-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston, at Norwyche, be thys delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1475 / FEB. 22]

Please it yow to weete that I receyvyd a letter from yow, wretyn the Saterdaye next byffor Candelmesse; for answer wheroff, lyke it yow to weete, that as for the bokys that weer Sir James (God have hys sowle!), I thynke best that they be styll with yow, tyll that I speke with yow my selffe. My mynde is now nott most uppon bokes.

Item, as for xx_li._ that ye sey that yowr plate lythe for, it is so, that I fownde my oncle William no sewerte therffor, as Playter and my brother John bothe cowde enfforme yow; it was never desyryd of me, ner the tolde me nott that any suche pledge laye for it, but that ye hadd dyschargyd me of xx_li._ and chevysshyd it, and that ye sholde repaye it in hast; wherin I woll do as ye woll, and as it pleasyth yow to sende me wetyng.

Item, I ame sory that ye be no better payd off the xx_li._ that I had off yowe, whyche ye sholde have receyvyd ageyn off my londes in Flegge. Iff the markett be nott goode yit, I hope it shall be better; never the lesse my wylle is that ye sholde have yowr holl xx_li._ ageyn, and not lose j_d._ Wherffor if it be so that ye be mysse servyd ther, I beseche yow off pacyence tyll the begynnyng of the next yeer, and iff aught be behynd, ye shall receyve uppe the remenaunt then, for, as God helpe me, I wolde be sory that ye lost moor for me; I have pytte yow to cost, charge, and losse i nowge, God thanke yow of it, thoughe ye lose no more. Wherffor iff Sporle woode sprynge any sylver or golde, it is my wyll that fyrst of alle ye be yowr owne payer off all that is be hynde; and next thatt, to paye myn oncle William vij^{xx}vj_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._ and besyd that, xvj_li._ lost uppon the chevysshaunce of iiij^xx._li._; and so I owe viij^{xx.}ij_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._ Wherffor I beseche yow to make hast in repayment heroff as fast as it wolle growe, as my trust is in yowe.

Item, wher it pleasyd yow to weete of myn heele and amendyng; I thanke Godde I ame in goode case, and as goode a full hooll, bothe off the fevre, agwe off myn ie, myn legge, and myn heele, saff that I ame tendre off all theese; and were nott goode rewle, full like to feell off iche off them ryght soone; neverthelesse, God thanke yow off yowr large profre, wheroff I wolde be ryght gladde iff I myght, for trobles and other labor that I have takyn on me nowe in to Fraunce warde; for the goode spede off me, and that jorneye, I beseche yow of yowr preyeres and remembrance; and thatt jorney, with Goddes grace, ones doon, I purpose verrely, with Goddes grace, therafftre to daunce atendaunce most abowt yowr plesure and ease: and with Goddes grace, soone uppon Esterne, er evyr I goo forthe, I hope to se yow, and fecche your blessynge. No moor at thys tyme, but Jesus have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Caleys, the xxij. daye of Feverer, anno E. iiij^ti xiiij^{o}.

Yowr Sone,

JOHN PASTON, K.

_On the back of the preceding letter is written in another hand, as follows_:--

Memorandum, that Syr John Paston owthe to William Paston, acordyng to the endenture made be twex them,-- viij^{xx}ij_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._

Wheroff payable the firste day of Octobre for Townsend, C. marke.

Item, the xxvj. day off Novembre,-- iiij^{xx.}xvj_li._

[Footnote 225-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[[Item, the xxvj. day off Novembre,-- iiij^{xx.}xvj_li._ _final . missing or invisible_]]

866

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[227-1]

[Sidenote: 1475 / MARCH 5]

John Paston, I send yow Godds blyssyng and myn, letyng yow wete, that I hadd non er thys lettyr than on Sent Matheus Evyn; yf I myth a had an massenger or thys tym I had sent yt yow. I con yow thank for the lettyr that ye sent to my cosyn Calthorpp and me of the tydyngs; I wold ye shuld do soo mor. As ye may remembyr that I spak to yow for the xx^ti_li._ for my cosyn Clere, spek to yowr hunkyll therof, and send me an answer therof in hast. And for the lycens that I spak to yow for, to have the Sacrement in my Chapell, yf ye cannot getyt of the Busshop of Norwych, getyt of the Busshop of Caunterbery, for that ys most swyr for all plase. God kepe yow.

Wretyn on Mydlent Sunday.

[Footnote 227-1: [From Fenn, ii. 178.] This letter was written on the back of Letter 861.]

867

RICHARD SOUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON[227-2]

_To the right worshippfull, and my right feithfull gode cosin, John Paston, Esquier._

[Sidenote: 1475 / MARCH 26]

Right worshippfull and my right feithfull gode cosin, I recomaunde me unto you, and, as hertily as I can, thanke you of your right gentill and kynde remembraunce, that I consceyve well by your late writyng that ye have to me wardes, undeserved in dede, but not in will, so God helpe me, as ye shuld weell knowe, if my power might accorde with my will. And, cosin, in the mater that it liked you to remembre me in, bothe to my worshipp and pleaser, I feere me that nouther my pouere doughter nor pouere purs can nor may be to his pleaser; wold God outher might; and I shuld take me right neere to his pleaser, savyng myself, I ensure you by my trouth. And howe to understand his pleaser and disposicion therin, I see no mean as thus advised, but if [_unless_] it might please you by your wisdam to attempte it forther, as ye seme moste conveniente, and theruppon I to be guyded by your gode advise, as the cas shall require; wherin ye shall bynde me herefter to do that may be to your pleaser to my power, and yette with no better will than I have had, so God help me, Who have you ever in His kepinge, and sende you your hertes desire to His pleaser; and if it pleas you to remembre further in the premisses, I trust ye shall leese no labour on my pouere parte; howe be it I fere me sore, as I be gan, bothe of my pouere doughter and purs.

Writon at Woderysyng, the morn efter Our Lady Day, in haste.

I require you this bill may be secrete.

By your trewe cosin,

RIC. SUTHWELL.

[Footnote 227-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Fenn thinks the gentleman here referred to was John Berney of Reedham, Esquire, who married Alice, daughter of Richard Southwell, Esquire, of Wood Rising, the writer of this letter. He accordingly dates it about the year 1475, and I see no reason to question his opinion.]

868

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[228-1]

_To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston, at Mawtby._

[Sidenote: 1475(?) / [MAR. 29]]

Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all humbyll recomendacyons, as lowely as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. Pleasyt yow to wete that late yester nyght I cam to Norwyche, purposeing to have been as thys day with yow at Mawtby, but it is so that I may not hold my purpose, for he that shall pay me my quarter wagys for me and my retenew, is in Norwyche, and waytyth ourly when hys money shall com to hym. It is oon Edmund Bowen of the Cheker, a specyall frend of myn, and he avysyth me to tery tyll the money be com, lest that I be unpayed, for who comyth fyrst to the mylle, fyrst must grynd.

And as I was wryghtyng thys byll, on of the gromys of my lords chambyr cam to me, and told me, that my lady wyll be here in Norwyche to morow at nyght towards Walsyngham, whyche shall, I wot well, be a nother lett to me; but I had more need to be other wyse ocupyed then to awayte on ladyse, for ther is as yett, I trowe, no sperre that shall go over the see, so evyll horsyd as I am. But it is told me that Rychard Call hathe a good horse to sell, and on John Becher of Oxborough hathe an other; and if it myght please yow to geve Syme leve to ryd in to that contre at my cost, and in your name, seying that ye wyll geve on of your sonys an horse, desyryng hym that he wyll geve yow a penyworthe for a peny, and he shall, and the pryse be resonabyll, hold hym pleasyd with your payment ought of my purse, thow he knowe it not or hys horse depert fro hys lands. Modyr, I bese[che] yow, and it may please yow to geve Syme leve to ryde on thys message in your name, that he may be here with me to morow in the mornyng be tymys, for wer I onys horsyd, I trowe I wer as ferforthe redy as some of my neyghborows. I herd a lytyll word that ye purposeid to be here in Norwyche thys next week. I prey God it be thys week. Modyr, beseche yow that I may have an answer to morow at the ferthest of thys mater, and of eny other servyse that it please yow to comand me, whyche I wyll [be] at all seasons redy to acomplyshe with Gods grace, Whom I beseche to preserve yow and yours.

Wretyn at Norwyche, thys Wednysday in Estern Week.

By your sone and servaunt,

J. P.

[Footnote 228-1: [From Fenn, iv. 444.] This letter was evidently written in 1475, when John Paston and one or more of his younger brothers were about to go over to France with the King’s army.--_See_ Letter 871. Margaret Paston was at that time continually resident at Mautby.]

869

WILLIAM PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[230-1]

_To my right worshupfull sistir, Margaret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1475 / APRIL 7]

Right worshupfull sustir, I recomaunde me to you, praying you to undirstonde, the priour of Bromeholme hath sent ayen to me for xx_li._; and my cosyn William Whyte desired me to wryte to you for the rewarde that was offird hym to his churche and xx_li._ of my brothirs goodys to be lent hym upon sufficient suertee, and by a yeeris ende payd ayen; he hath and may doo for you and for my nevewe, Sir John, in many thynges, and is his kynnesman, and it were a gode frendely dede and no jopardy nor hurt. The Abbot of Wymondham hath sent to me too tymes. Frendship may not hang by the wynde, nor for faire eyne, but causis must be shewid; men wene that I hadd your coffers and my brothirs and maistir Fastolffes in myne awarde, and that ye wote wele, &c. Send your avise to my nevewe, Sir John, by the next messynger. Ye sent to me oonys for the same mater, but I may not leene my money to defende othir men is causis; your discrecion (?) thenkith that it were no reason. I have tolde them your saying; and as it is s[o] that ye may nat come to the coffers but all be togedir. Therfor ye must sende to my nevewe and to Arblastir how ye will have this answerd; for the Abbot will be heere on Monday at the sene, and labour must bee desired the next terme. Hit nedis nat to put you in remembrance of my mater touchyng my Fadirs soule, my modir and me, and God kepe you. Wreton at Norwich the vij^th day of Aprill.

I have tolde thes folkis, as ye have seid to me all weys, that your will is gode, but that ye may not come theretoo withoute th’assent of all your felowes.

Item, I pray you remembre the obligacion that Wix hath, and that I may have my money of the parsone of Maudeby.

By your brothir,

WILLIAM PASTON.

[Footnote 230-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 215.] As Margaret Paston, at the date of this letter, is not at Norwich and her son Sir John seems to be there, we may infer that it was written in the year 1475. _See_ No. 868 (preliminary note).]

870

EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[231-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1475(?) / [MAY 13]]

Syr, I recummawnd me to zow. Please yt zow to wette that my modyr hathe causyd me to putte Gregory owte of my servyse, as, God help, I wrythe to zow the very cause why. Yt happyd hym to have a knavys loste, in pleyn termes to swhyve a quene, and so dyd in the Konyneclosse. Yt fortunyd hym to be a spyed be ij. plowemen of my modyrs, whyche werne as fayne as he of that mater, and desyerd hym to have parte, and as kompany requeryd, seyd not nay; in so myche that the plowemen had her alle a nythe in ther stabylle, and Gregory was clere delyvered of her, and as he swherys had not a do with her within my modyrs place. Not with standdyng my modyr thynkks that he was grownd of that matier; wherfor ther is no remedy but he moste a voyde. And in so myche that at the laste tyme that ze wer her, [ye] desyerd hym of me, yf that he schuld departe from me, I send zow the very cawse of hys departyng, as my modyr sethe; but I am in serteyn the contrary is true. Yt is nomor but that he can not plese all partys. But that jantylman[231-2] is hys woords Lord, he hathe seyd that he woold lyfte them whom that hym plese, and as that scheweyt welle, he lyftyd on [_one_] xiiij. myle in a mornyng, and nowe he hath ben caw sar of hys lyfte, I wot not how far, but yf that ze be hys better master; but and we a mong us geve not hym a lyfte, I pray God that we never thryve. And that is hys intente, I trowe, to bryng us to; wherfor I requer zow, yf that yt plese zow to have hym, that ze wylle be the better master to hym for my sake, for I am he that is as sory to departe from hym as any man on lyve from hys servant, and be my trowthe, as farforthe as I knowe, he is as true as any on lyve.

I troste my fortune schale be better than ever to leve thus her; but yf I wer hens wards, I ensuer zow I wold not schange for none that I knowe. He is profytabylle on dyvers thynggs as ze knowe welle.

Ther has ben a gret breke be twyx Calle and me, as I schal enforme zow at my coming, wyche schalle be on Wedynsday next be the grace of God, who preserve zow.

Wretyn at Mawteby, on Wyteson eve.

EDMOND PASTON.

[Footnote 231-1: [From Fenn, iii. 426.] This letter was wrongly attributed by Fenn to Edmund Paston, son of the Judge. It is in the hand of the Judge’s grandson, also named Edmund, and was written at a time when his mother Margaret was living at Mautby, where he, the writer, was also at the time, though he expected to join his brother John, to whom he writes, in the following week. These circumstances strongly suggest that it was written in 1475, when Margaret Paston certainly was residing at Mautby, as we find Edmund Paston with his brother John in London a month later preparing to go over to Calais. _See_ No. 873. Whitsun Eve in 1475 would be the 13th May.]

[Footnote 231-2: Fenn supposes the person alluded to to be the priest, James Gloys.]

871

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[232-1]

_Un to Syr John Paston, be this delyvered in hast._

[Sidenote: 1475 / MAY 23]

Ryght welbelovyd son, I grete you well, and send you Cristes blissyng and myne, desyringe to know how ye faire. I mervaile that I have herd no tydynges from you sythe ye sent me the lettyr of an answere of the xx_li._ the which I have layde pleages for to my cosyn Cleere, the which letter was wryten the xxij^ty day of Februar; and as for that money, I can not gete no lenger day therof than Mydsomer, or fourte nyght after; and towardys that money, and the xx^ty_li._ that I send yow by syde to London by Sym, I have receyved no mor money of yowres, but as moch as I send yow wryten in this letter. And as for any discharge that I promysed at the boroeng off the xx^ti_li._ when I leyde the pleages ther fore, I thought not but that your uncle shuld a boroed them owte, and I to have had my pleages, as well as he his; never the less I shall be the warer how I shall dele here aftyr. By my trowth, I wote not how to do ther fore; the Kyng goth so nere us in this cuntre, both to pooer and ryche, that I wote not how we shall lyff, but yff [_unless_] the world amend. God amend it, whan His wyll is. We[233-1] can nother sell corne ner catell to no good preve. Malt is here but at x_d._ a comb; wheete, a comb xxviij_d._; ootes, a comb x_d._; and ther of is but lytell to geet here at thys tyme. William Pecok shall send you a byll what he hath payde for yow for ij. taskes at this tyme; and how he hath purveyde for the remnaunte of your corne; and also off other thynges that be necessary that shuld be purveyd for in your absence. Send me word also whome ye wyll desyre to do for yow in this contre, or ellys where in your absence; and wryte to them to do for yow, and they wyll be the better wylled to do for yow; and I wyll do my devyr for yow also, as well as I can.

The somma off money that I have receyvyd off Wylliam Pecok:--First, xl_s._ off Runnham. Item, off Bastwyk, xx_s._ Item, off Runnham, xx_s._ Item, off him for barly at Runnham, xx_s._ Item, off the fyschynge at Bastwyke, xiij_s._ iiij_d._ Item, for barely sold at Runnham, viij_s._ Summa totalis, vj_li._ xvj_d._

Item, I have receyvyd of Ric. Calle, of Sporle wodd, xxvj_s._ viij_d._, and more shall I hope here aftyr within short tyme; as I receyve for yow, I hope to yeff yow a trew acownt; and this is all that I have receyvyd for yow zytt, sen ye departyd hens. God bryng yow well ageyn to this contre, to His pleasans, and to your wurshyp and profyzt.

Wryten at Mawteby, the xxiij^ty day of May, and the Tewsday next afftyr Trinyte Sonday.

For Goddes love, and your brether go over the see, avyse them as ye thynk best for her [_their_] save garde. For some of them be but yonge sawgeres, and wote full lytyll what yt meneth to be as a sauger, nor for to endure to do as a sawger shuld do. God save yow all, and send me good tythynges of yow all. And send ye me word in hast how ye doo, for I thynk longe to I here off yow.

Be youre Modyr.

Item, I wold not in no wyse that ye shuld nother sell nor sett to pleage that ye have in Runnham, what som ever fortune of the remnaund; for yt is a praty thyng, and resonable well payde, and nere thys towne. I wold be ryght sory that ye shuld for bere that; I had lever ye for bore that your uncle hath to morgage than that.

[Footnote 232-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is endorsed ‘Mens’ Maii, anno xv^{o}.’ The date is confirmed by the fact that in 1475 the Tuesday after Trinity Sunday was the 23rd of May.]

[Footnote 233-1: _We._ Originally written _I_, and corrected.]

[[the xx^ty_li._ that I send yow by syde _spelling unchanged_]]

872

ABSTRACTS[234-1]

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK DEEDS, No. 13.

[Sidenote: 1475 / MAY 28]

‘Johannes Paston miles relaxat Willielmo Wynton’ episc. et aliis totum jus de et in manerio de Tichwell, Essex in Hickling, Guton, Beyton, Newton, Calcotes in Fretton, Leyestoft, Habeland, Brodeston, et Gorleston. Maii 28, Edw. IV. 15.’

No. 32.

‘Charta Johannis Paston militis de terris Johannis Fastolf pert. prædict. Johanni, et continens concessionem quarundam evidentiarum episcopo Winton’, et relaxationem orationum, actionum, et demandarum versus prædictum episcopum. Maii 28, Edw. IV. 15.’

[Footnote 234-1: [From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]]

[[Footnote 234-1 ... Magd. Coll., Oxford.] _text has “Oxford].”_]]

873

JOHN PASTON TO JOHN AND EDMUND PASTON[235-1]

_To John Paston, or to hys brother Edmond Paston, at the George, at Powles Wharf._

[Sidenote: 1475 / JUNE 13]

Brother Edmonde, it is soo that I heer telle that ye be in hope to come hyddre, and to be in suche wages as ye schall come lyve lyke a jentylman, wheroff I wolde be gladde. Wherffor, for yowr better speede, I lete you weete that Heugh Beamond is deed; wherffor I wolde ye had hys roome nowe or never, iff ye can brynge it abowt; ellys iff ye dispose yowe to abyde in Inglonde, syns it is so that the Bysshop of Lynkolne[235-2] is Chaunceler, hys servyse is the meter for yow; he is next neyghbour to Norfolk off any astate. God sende yow some good warde of hys.

I praye you, iff yowr leyser be ther aftre to remembre Towneshende, that he, with the advyse and assystence of my Master of the Rollys,[235-3] have one daye off marche with the slawe Bysshop of Wynchester, that he maye kepe me hys promyse, that is to seye, to entrete the Duke and Duchesse of Norffolk for Caster. He promysed to doo it, and to ley owt an C_li._ for the same.

Item, I praye yow sende me some tydynges within v. dayes aftre that ye see thys bylle.

Wretyn at Caleys, the xiij. daye off June.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 235-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter must have been written in the year 1475, when, as will be seen by No. 871, some of Sir John Paston’s brothers, among whom doubtless were both John and Edmund, to whom this letter is addressed, were going over to Calais. The Bishop of Lincoln (Rotherham) was Chancellor in 1475. It is true the Great Seal was taken from him on the 27th April, and given to Alcock, Bishop of Rochester, until the 28th September, when it was restored to Rotherham. But it is certain this letter could not have been written in a later year, as the Duke of Norfolk died in January 1476.]

[Footnote 235-2: Thomas Rotherham.]

[Footnote 235-3: _See_ p. 219, Note 2.]

[[JOHN PASTON TO ... _text unchanged: apparent error for “SIR JOHN”_]]

874

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[236-1]

_To the right worshipffull Sir John Paston, Knyght, in haste._

[Sidenote: 1475 / AUG. 10]

Right welbeloved sone, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[236-2]

As for tidyngs here in this contre, we have non, but that the contry is bareyn of money; and that my Lady of Yorke[236-3] and all her howsold is here at Sent Benetts,[236-4] and purposed to abide there stille, til the Kynge come from be yonde the see, and lenger if she like the eyre ther, as it is seide.

I thynke ryght longe tille I here some tidyngs for [_quære_, from?] you and from your brethren. I prey God sende you and al your company goode spede in your journeys, to His plesure, and to your worshippes and profights.

Wreten at Mauteby, on Sen Lawrens Even, the xv. yere of the regne of Kyng E. the iiijth.

Be yor Moder.

[Footnote 236-1: [From Fenn, ii. 180.]]

[Footnote 236-2: The chief part of this letter relates to Sir John Paston’s private affairs, his rents and lands, and informs him that William Jenney had entered into Holme Halle, in Filby, ‘in the ryght and titell of his douterlawe, weche was Boys doughter,’ etc.--F.]

[Footnote 236-3: Cecily, Duchess of York, daughter of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland, was the widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and mother of King Edward IV., etc. She died in 1495, and was buried near her husband in the college of Fotheringay.--F.]

[Footnote 236-4: The Abbey of St. Bennet at Holm.]

875

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[237-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston, at Norwyche._

[Sidenote: 1475 / SEPT. 11]

Ryght reverend and my most tendre and kynde moodre, I recomaunde me to yow. Please it yow to weete that, blessyd be God, thys wyage of the Kynges is fynysshyd for thys tyme, and alle the Kynges ost is comen to Caleys as on Mondaye last past, that is to seye, the iiij. daye of Septembre; and at thys daye many of hys host be passyd the see in to Inglond ageyn, and in especiall my Lorde off Norffolk and my bretheryn.

Item, I was in goode hope to have hadde Caster ageyn. The Kynge spake to my Lorde off Norffolk for it, and it was full lyke to have comyn; but in conclusyon it is delayed tyll this next terme, by whyche tyme the Kynge hat comaundyd hym to take advyce off hys councell, and to be sywer that hys tytle be goode, or ellys the Kyng hathe asserteynyd hym that for any favor he most do me ryght and justyce, &c.

And iff Caster hadde comen, by my feythe I had comyn streyhte home. Notwithstondyng, iff I may do yow servyce or eese, as ye and I have comonyd heer to foor, aftre as I heer from yow, as God helpe me, I purpose to leeffe alle heer, and come home to yow, and be yowr hosbonde and balyff; wher in I spake to my brother John to telle yow myn advyce.

I also mysselyke somwhat the heyr heer; for by my trowte I was in goode heele whan I come hyddre, and all hooll, and to my wetyng I hadde never a better stomake in my lyffe, and now with in viij. dayes I am crasyd ageyn. I suppose that I most be at London at Mychelmesse, and ther to purveye for payment for myn oncle William, by whyche tyme I praye yow that I may heer from yow and off yowr advyce and helpe, iff any thynge be growyn off Sporle woode. For had nott yit that danger have been, I mygh yit have ben at home with yow at thys daye, or with in vij. dayes aftre. No more, but I beseche Jesus have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn at Caleys, the xj. daye of Septembre.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 237-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident that this letter was written after the return of King Edward IV. from France in 1475.]

876

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[238-1]

_To the ryght worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght, lodgyd at the George, by Powlys Wherf, in London._

[Sidenote: 1475 / OCT. 10]

Ryght werchepfull sir, I recomand me to yow, sertyfying yow that I have comonyd with Barnard and other your wellwyllers with my Lord of Norffolk, whyche avise me that ye shold, for your nyghest meane to get Caster a yen, labore to get a lettre fro the Kyng dyrect to R. Sothewell, Jamys Hubbard, and other of my lordys consayll being, and to iche of theym; and in the seyd letter to lete theym have knowlage that the Kyng mevyd to my lord of the seyd mater beyond the see, and hough my lord answerd the Kyng that at hys comyng in to Inglond he wold meve to hys seyd consayll of the seyd mater, and geve the Kyng an answer. Wherfor the Kyng in the seyd lettyr must streyghtly charge theym, and iche of theym, to comon with my lord in the seyd mater in syche wyse that the Kyng may be sertyfyed of an answer fro my lord and theym at the ferthest by _crastino Animarum_;[238-2] for Suthewell nor Jamys Hubbard shall not be at London befor Halowmass, and thys is the best wey that ye may take, as we thynke here.

My lady sweryth, and so dothe Barnard on hyr behalff, that she wold as fayne ye had it as eny body; notwithstandyng she seyd not so to me, sythe I cam hom, for I spak not with hyr but onys sythe I sye yow last. Yet she lythe in Norwyche, and shall do tyll she be delyverd; but I have be seek ever sythe I cam on thys syd the see, but I trust hastyly to amend for all my seknesse that I had at Caleys, and sythe I cam over also, cam but of cold. But I was never so well armyd for the werre as I have now armyd me for cold; wherfor I avyse yow, take exampyll by me, if it happyn yow to be seek, as ye wer when I was at Caleys, in eny wyse kepe yow warme. I weene Herry Woodhous nor Jamys Arblaster ware never at onys so many cotys, hose, and botewx as I doo, or ellys by God we had gone therfor. What we shall yet I can not sey, but I bere me bold on ij. dayes amendyng.

My modyr sendyth yow Godes blyssing and hers, and she wold fayne have yow at home with hyr; and if ye be onys mette, she tellyth me ye shall not lyghtly depart tyll dethe depart yow.

As I was wryghtyng thys lettyr, on told me that the Kyng shold be at Walsyngham thys next.[239-1] If it be so, it wer best for yow to awayte on the Kyng all the wey, and if ye have not men and horse i nowghe I shall send yow. Do as ye thynk best; and as ye wyll have me to do, send me your avyse, and I shall accomplyshe it to my power, with Godes grace, Who preserve yow.

Wretyn at Norwyche, the x. day of October, anno xv^o E. iiij^{ti}.

P. J.[239-2]

[Footnote 238-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 238-2: The Morrow of All Souls, _i.e._ 3rd November.]

[Footnote 239-1: So in MS. _Qu._, the word ‘week’ omitted?]

[Footnote 239-2: It is curious that John Paston has here reversed his initials.]

877

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[239-3]

_To Sir John Paston, Knyght, lodgyd at the George, by Powlys Wherff, in London._

[Sidenote: 1475 / OCT. 23]

Aftyr all dwtes of recomendacyon, please it yow to undyrstand that I have spoken with my lady[239-4] sythe I wrot to yow last; and she told me that the Kyng had no syche woordys to my lord for Caster, as ye told me; but she seyth that the Kyng axid my lord at hys departyng fro Caleys, how he wold deele with Caster, and my lord answerd nevyr a woord.

Sir W. Brandon[240-1] stood by, and the Kyng axid hym what my lord wold do in that mater; seying that he had comandyd hym befor tyme to meve my lord with that mater, and Sir W. Brandon gave the Kyng to answer that he had doone so; then the Kyng axid Sir W. B. what my lordys answer was to hym, and Sir W. B. told the Kyng that my lords answer was that the Kyng shold as soone have hys lyff as that place; and then the Kyng axid my lord whedyr he seyd so or nought, and my lord seyd, yee. And the Kyng seyd not a woord ayen, but tornyd hys bak, and went hys wey; but my lady told me, and the Kyng had spokyn any woord in the world aftyr that to my lord, my lord wold not have seyd hym nay. And I have gevyn my lady warnyng that I wyll do my lord no more serveys; but er we partyd, she mad me to make hyr promess that I shold let hyr have knowlege er I fastonyd myselff in eny other servysse; and so I departyd, and sye hyr not syness, nor nought purpose to doo, tyll I spek with yow.

I prey yow bryng home some hattys with yow, or and ye come not hastyly, send me on, &c., and I shall pay yow for it a comb otys[240-2] when ye come home.

My modyr wold fayn have yow at Mawtby; she rode thydyr ought of Norwyche on Saturday last past, to purvey your lodgyng redy ayenst your comyng.

I have been ryght seek ayen sythe I wroote to yow last, and thys same day have I ben pessyng seek; it wyll not ought of my stomak by no mean. I am undon. I may not ete halff i nough, when I have most hungyr, I am so well dyettyd, and yet it wyll not be. God send yow heele, for [I] have non iij. dayes to gedyr, do the best I can.

Wretyn at Norwyche, the Monday next be for Seynt Simone and Jude,[240-3] anno E. iiij. xv^{o}.

J. P.

[Footnote 239-3: [From Fenn, ii. 182.]]

[Footnote 239-4: The Duchess of Norfolk.]

[Footnote 240-1: Sir William Brandon was the grandfather of Henry VIII.’s favourite, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Footnote 2 on p. 156, taken from Fenn, is wrong. Charles Brandon’s father, who was slain at Bosworth, was another Sir William, knighted by the Earl of Richmond before the battle.]

[Footnote 240-2: In 1475 a comb of oats sold for 11_d._; we have therefore the value of a hat in this reign.--F. In No. 871 the price of oats is given as 10_d._ a comb, but the markets are considered to be bad.]

[Footnote 240-3: 28th of October.]

878

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[241-1]

[Sidenote: 1475]

Aftyr all dewtes of recomendacyon, in as humbyll wyse as I can, I beseche yow of your blyssyng. The cheff cause that I wryght to yow for at thys season is, for that I undyrstand that my lady[241-2] wold be ryght glad to have yow a bought hyr at hyr labore; in so myche that she hathe axyd the questyon of dyvers gentyllwomen whedyr they thought that ye wold awayte on hyr at that season or nought, and they answerd that they durst sey that ye wold, with ryght good wyll, awayte on hyr at that tyme, and at all other seasons that she wold comand yow. And so I thynk that my lady wyll send for yow; and if it wer your ease to be here, I wold be ryght glad that ye myght be here, for I thynk your being here shold do gret good to my brodyrs maters that he hathe to sped with hyr. Wherfor, for Godes sake, have your horse and all your gere redy with yow, whersoever ye be, ought or at home, and as for men, ye shall nott need many, for I wyll come for yow, and awayte on yow my sylf, and on or ij. with me; but I had need to undyrstand wher to fynd yow, or ellys I shall happyly seeke yow at Mautby, when ye be at Freton, and my lady myght then fortune to be ferforthe on hyr jorney or ye cam, if she wer as swyfte as ye wer onys on Good Fryday.

And as for the mater in the latter end of my brodyr Sir Johnys lettyr, me thynk he takyth a wronge wey, if he go so to werk; for as for the peopyll here, I undyrstand non other but that all folkys here be ryght well dysposyd towardes that mater, fro the hyghest degre to the lowest, except Robart Brandon and John Colvyll; and it is a grete lyklyhod that the grettest body is well dysposyd towardes that mater, in as myche as they wold put yow to the labore above wretyn, and if they wer not, I thynk they wold not put yow to that labore.

Also here was here with me yesterday a man fro the Priour of Bromholme to lete me have knowlage of the ille speche whyche is in the contre now of new, that the tombe is not mad; and also he seythe that the clothe that lythe over the grave is all toryn and rotyn, and is not worth ij_d._, and he seythe he hathe pachyd it onys or twyis. Wherfor the Pryour hathe sent to yow at the leest to send thedyr a newe clothe a yenst Estern.

Also Mastyr Sloley prayith yow, for Godes sake, and ye wyll do non almess of tylle [_tile_] that he myght borow some of yow tyll he may bye some, and pay yow ayen; for on [_one_] the fayrist chambyrs of the Fryers, standyth half oncoverd for defaulte of tylle, for her is yett non to get for no money. And the Holy Trynyte have yow in kepyng.

At Norwyche, thys Twysday.

Your sone and humbyll servaunt,

J. PASTON.

[Footnote 241-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have been written shortly before the confinement of the Duchess of Norfolk in December 1475.]

[Footnote 241-2: The Duchess of Norfolk.]

879

SIR JOHN PASTON TO EDWARD IV.[242-1]

_[To the King] our souverain Lord._

[Sidenote: 1475]

[SHEWETH] unto your highnesse your feythful liegeman and servaunt, John Paston, Knight, that wher Sir William Yelverton, William Jenney, and Thomas Howes were infeffed in certain . . . . . [to the] use of your said suppliaunt, they of grat malice confetered with oon or ij. of the counsell of my lord the Duc of Norffolk, caused the same Duc to clayme tytle unto [the mano]ir of Caster and other lands of your said suppliant, wherinne the said Yelverton and his coofeffees wer infeffed, contrary to th’entent and wille that thei wer enfeffed for; upon whiche title the said Duc with great force asseyed and entred the said manoir of Castre and other lands of your said suppliant, putting hym from the lawful possession and estate that he had in the same, and also take from him vj^c. shepe and xxx. nete, and the same, with other stuf and ordinaunces longing to the same manoir, of the value of C_li._ toke and caryed awey, and the said manoir diffaced, hurt, and appeired, so that it coude not be repaired with CC. marc. Also the revenues of the said lands by the space of iij. yeres, to the value of vij^xx._li._, the same my lord the Duke receyved, and the owtrents of the same never payed, whiche great trouble was like to be the undoing of your said suppliant; wherfor he was fayn to sue to the said Duc and lord by the meanes of his godsip the Bisshop of Wynchestre, whiche was in his special favour; at whos contemplacion, and for v^c. [500] marc whiche the same your suppliant payed unto the same Duc, he graunted him to have agen his said manoir and lands, and to restor him to the possession of the same, whiche was so doen. And your said suppliant being in peasible possession, my said lord the Duc and his cofeffees, Sir William Brandon, Thomas Hoo, Rauf Ashton, and other, at the desir of my said lord, relessed their estate and interesse, as wel under my said lordes sele as under their own sele. Wherupon your said besecher continued in possession but half a yer; at whiche time he was chargid in reparacions to the somme of C. marc, and payed the owt rents dewe by the space of the said iij. yer to the some of xl_li._ That doon, my said lord, by sinistre motive and advice, with force agen entred the said manoir and other lands aforsaid with alle stuf of howshold being in the same manoir to the value of C. marc, and so long time hath kept and rejoysed the revenues of the said lands, and in chief the said manoir, to the value of vj^xx._li._ by the space of iiij. yer and mor; for redresse wherof yor said suppliant hath this said space of iiij. yer sued to my said lord and his counsell, and of alle that time the same my lord wold never suffre him to come in his presence, ne here him, ne noon other for him to declair or shewe his grief. And furthermor whanne your said besecher hath sued to the counsel of my said lord, and desired them to move his lordship therinne, and to answer him resonably and according to right, they answered that thei have shewed my said lord his request, and that he was, and is alwey, so moved and displesed with them, that thei dar nomor move him therinne. And thus yor said suppliant hath loste alle his coste and labour, to his charge by his feyth this iiij. yer in his sute, the somme of v^c. marc, and now is owt of remedye, without your habundant grace be shewed in that behalve, in somoche as he is not of power t’attempt your lawes ayenst so mighty and noble estate, nor t’abide the disples of him. Wherfor please it your moost noble grace, at the reverence of God, to move my said lord to withdrawe the affeccion whiche he so hath to the said manoir and lands, and to suffre your said besecher to have and enjoye the possession of the same according to right; and he at your commandment shal relesse unto my said lord alle the damages above wretyn, whiche amount to the somme of m^{l.}ccc.liij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._, and in time to come, with Goddes grace, be the mor hable to do you service, and also specially preye to God for the conservacion of your moost noble persone and estate royall.

_Endorsed in a later hand_-- . . . . Paston mil. Regi pro . . . . . . . . . Norff. in . . . . . de Caister.

[Footnote 242-1: [From a MS. in the Bodleian Library.] The Castle of Caister was surrendered to the Duke of Norfolk in September 1469, but he must have been taking the rents of the manor for a year or two before. From what is stated in this petition, the Duke must have given it up again in the end of the year 1470, _i.e._ during the restoration of Henry VI.; but he entered again after half a year, and the date of this second entry is given by William Worcester as the 23rd June 1471. After this, the petition says, he kept possession for four years and more, so that the date of the document must be towards the close of the year 1475. The Duke died on the 17th January 1476.]

880

ABSTRACT[244-1]

ROBERT WHYNBERGH TO SIR JOHN PASTON

Has ridden 100 miles to get out the obligation of Craksheld and Salter. Has been opposed by Mr. Lovell, as they are his tenants. Understands it is in my lord’s closet, and the tenants are warned to pay no money without it. They keep from him the farm of the Priors Maner as well as Strehalle.[244-2] Desires him to write to Mr. William Paston to inform my lord of a wrongful distress taken by John Markham at Strehall in Cressingham, which is held of the King’s manor of Necton. They took cattle in lambing time in March, in the 14th year of this King, ‘and put Craksheld and Salter in such fear of losing of their cattle that they were bound to my lord by obligation, and Craksheld is dead for thought.’ Will take the letter to Mr. William though it cost him fourteen days’ labor. Was five weeks riding ‘to Canterbury, and again I will no longer drive, for in winter I may not ride,’ etc.

[From the reference to ‘the 14th year of this King,’ it is evident that this letter was written after 1474, the 14th year of Edward IV. It may, perhaps, be of the reign of Henry VII.; in which case it was addressed to the younger John Paston, who was then a knight, his brother being dead, about the year 1500.]

[Footnote 244-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 244-2: Street-Hall or Straw Hall, in Great Cressingham, was one of the manors which belonged to Judge Paston. In 1451, Blomefield tells us that Walter Paston, clerk, gave it to his brother John. In the reign of Henry VIII. Sir William Paston sold it to Dame Elizabeth Fitzwilliams.--Blomefield, vi. 99.]

881

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[245-1]

[Sidenote: 1476 / JAN. 17]

Lyke it yow to weete, that not in the most happy season ffor me, it is so ffortunyd, that wher as my Lorde off Norffolke, yisterdaye beying in goode heele, thys nyght dyed abowte mydnyght, wherffor it is ffor alle that lovyd hym to doo and helpe nowe that, that maye be to hys honoure, and weell to hys sowele. And it is soo, that thys contre is nott weell purveyd off clothe off golde ffor the coveryng ffor hys bodye and herse; wherffor every man helpyng to hys power, I putte the cowncell off my lorde in cowmffort, that I hoped to gete one ffor that daye, if it weer so that it be nott broken, or putt to other use.

Wherffor please it yow to sende me worde iff it be so, that ye have, or kan kom by the clothe off tyssywe that I bowte ffor our ffaders tombe, and I undretake it shall be saffyd ageyn ffor yowe on hurt at my perell; I deeme herby to gete greet thanke, and greet assystence in tyme to come; and that owther Syme or Mother Brown maye deliver it me to morow by vij. off the clokke.

Item, as ffor other means, I have sente my servaunt Richard Toring to London, whyche I hope shall brynge me goode tydyngs ageyn, and with in iiij. dayes I hope to see yowe.

Wretyn on Wednysdaye, xvij. daye off Janyver, anno E. iiij^ti xv^{o}.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 245-1: [From Fenn, ii. 186.] This letter is not addressed, but must have been intended for the writer’s brother John, or else, as Fenn suggests, for his mother, Margaret. Sir John, however, ends by saying, ‘Within four days I hope to see you’; and it appears by next letter that he was actually with his brother at Norwich within _three_ days, whereas he paid no visit to his mother, who seems to have been living, as she had done for some time, at Mautby. This letter must have been written from Framlingham, whither Sir John had doubtless gone to petition the Duke of Norfolk about Caister.]

882

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[246-1]

_To my ryght worchepful modyr, Margaret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1476 / JAN. 21]

Aftyr all dewtes of recomendacyon, pleasyt yow to weet that as yesterday att noon my brodyr Sir John departyd fro Norwyche towardes London; for as now all the sped is with the Kyng for the swerte of the maner of Caster, consyderyng the dyeing seasyd of my Lord of Norffolk. He trustyth to be in thys contre ayen with in x. or xij. dayes. And at hys departyng he seyd to me that ye sent hym woord to selle the clothe of gold, if he myght selle it well, whyche clothe I thynke may be sold, iff ye wyll agre; not withstandyng I wylle make no bargayn for it, tyll ye send me woord of the serteyn some what ye wyll have for it, or ellys ye to have it ayen. Sir Robard Wyngfeld offyrd me yesterday xx. mark for it, but I wot well ye shall have more for it, if ye wyll sell it; wher for, as ye wyll deele in this mater, I prey yow send me woord to morew be tymys, for if thys bargayn be forsakyn, I trow it wyll be longe er ye kan get an other bargayn to selle it eny thyng aftyr that is woorthe.

Modyr, in as humbyll wyse as I can, I beseche yow of your blyssyng. I trust fro hense foorthe that we shall have our chyldyr in rest with ought rebwkyng for ther pleying wanton; for it is told me your ostass at Freton hathe gotyn hyr syche a thyng to pley with, that our other chyldyr shall have leve to sporte theym. God send hyr joye of it.

Wretyn at Norwyche, thys Sonday.

Your sone and humbyll servaunt,

JOHN PASTON.

[Footnote 246-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is shown by internal evidence to have been written shortly after the Duke of Norfolk’s death, which, as we have seen, took place on the 17th January 1476. It was written on a Sunday, and states that Sir John Paston had left Norwich the day before. The letter following, which is of the 23rd January, is dated by John Paston, ‘Tuesday next after your (Sir John’s) departing,’ so that the Sunday on which this was written must certainly have been the 21st.]

883

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[247-1]

_To Sir John Paston, Knyght, at the George, at Powlys Wharffe._

[Sidenote: 1476 / JAN. 23]

Aftyr all dewtes of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to weet that I ensuer yow your sendyng to Caster is evyll takyn among my lordes folkes, in so myche that some sey that ye tendryd lytyll my lordes dethe, in as myche as ye wold so sone entre upon hym aftyr hys dyssease, with ought avyse and assent of my lordes consayll; wherfor it is thought here by syche as be your frendes in my lordes house that if my lady have onys the graunt of the wardshepp of the chyld,[247-2] that she wyll ocupye Caster with other londes, and ley the defaute on your unkynd hastyness of entre with ought hyr assent. Wherfor in eny wyse get yow a patent of the Kyng ensealyd be for hyrs, and ye may by eny meane possybyll.

Also I prey yow comon with my Lord Chamberleyn for me, and weet hough that he wyll have me demeanyd.

It iss told me for serteyn that ther is none hey to gete at Caleys; wherfor if I mygh be pardond for eny kepyng of horse at Caleys till Myd somer, it wer a good torne.

The berer herof shall come home ayen fro London with in a day aftyr that he comyth thedyr, if ye wyll ought comand hym. I prey yow send me woord by hym hough ye do with your maters, and I prey yow in eny wyse lete me undyrstand, by the berer heroff, hough Bowen of the Cheker wyll dele with me; vj^xx. and x_li._ it is nough, and I wold have vij^xx._li._ and x_li._ and I to plege it ought in iiij. or v. yer, or ellys to forfet the maner.

Wretyn at Norwyche, the Twysday next aftyr your departyng thens, xxiij. die Januarii, anno E. iiij^ti xv^{o}.

JOHN PASTON.

[Footnote 247-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 247-2: This child was Ann, who soon after was betrothed to Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, the second son of King Edward. She died very young, and the Duke was, as it is supposed, smothered in the Tower by the command of his uncle Richard III.--F.]

884

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[248-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier, at Norwyche, be thys delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1476 / JAN. 27]

I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete that I was infformyd by Ric. Radle, that on Scarlett, that was undrescheryff to Hastyngs,[248-2] wolde sywe to me on yowr behalff, ffor that ye weer dyspleasyd with a returne off Nichill[248-3] uppon yow in the seyde Hastyngs tyme; wherffor Ric. Radle thoghte that the seyde Scarlett wolde be gladde to gyff yow a noble or a riall ffor a sadell to amends, so that ye wolde sease and stoppe the bylle, whyche ye entende to putt into the corte ageyn hys Master Hastyngs.

Wherffor the seyde Scarlett com to me, and prayed me to helpe in the same, and so I have don my devoir to ffeele off hym the most that he can ffynde in hys stomake to depart with to please yow; and in conclusyon I trowe, he shall gyff yow a doblett clothe off sylke, price xx_s._ or therabout; whyche uppon suche answeer as I heer ffrom yowe, I deme that Bysshop the atornye shall, iff I conclude with hym on yowr behalve, paye in mony or otherwyse, to whom that ye woll assynge heer.

I shall by the means of Raddele weet at whoys sywte it was takyn owte; I deme it som thynge doon by craffte, by the means off them that have entresse in your lond, to th’entent to noyse itt therys, or to make yow past shame off the sellyng theroff.

Item, I have receyvyd a letter ffrom yowe wretyn on Tywesdaye last.

Item, wher that som towards my Lady of Norffolk noyse that I dyd onkyndely to sende so hastely to Caster as I dyd; there is no dyscrete person that so thynkyth, ffor iff my lorde hade ben as kynde to me as he myght have ben, and acordyng to suche hert and servyce as my grauntffadr, my ffadr, yowr selff, and I, have owght and doon to my Lords of Norffolk that ded ben, and yitt iff I hadde weddyd hys dowghtr, yitt most I have doon as I dydde.

And moor ovyr, iff I had hadde any demyng off my lordys dethe iiij. howrs or he dyed, I most neds, but iff I wolde be knowyn a ffoole, have entryd it the howr byffor hys dycesse; but in effecte, theygh that in that mater have alweys ment onkyndely to me, they ffeyne that rumor ageyn me; but ther is noon that ment truly to hym that dede is, that wolde be sory that I hadde itt, and in especiall suche as love hys sowle.

Item, wher it is demyd that my lady wolde herafftr be the rather myn hevy lady ffor that delyng, I thynke that she is to resonable so to be, ffor I did it nott onwyst to hyr cowncell; there was no man thoght that I sholde doo otherwysse; an as to seye, that I myght have hadde my ladyes advyce or lyve [_leave_], I myght have teryed yitt, or I cowde have speken with hyr, or yitt have hadde any body to have mevyd hyr there on my behalve, as ye wote I dydde what I cowde. Moreovyr I taryed by the advyce off Sir Robert Wyngffelde iij. dayes there, ffor that he putte me in comffirt that the Lord Howard,[249-1] and hys brother Sir John, sholde have comen to Norwyche, att whoys comyng he dowtyd nott but that I sholde have a goode dyrection takyn ffor me in that mater, they leyhe to me onkyndenesse ffor ovyrkyndenesse.

Item, as ffor my mater heer, itt was thys daye beffoor alle the lordes off the cowncelle, and amonge them all, it was nott thowght, that in my sendyng off Whetley thyddr, in mediately afftr the dycesse off the Duke, that I dalt onkyndly or onfyttyngly, but that I was moor onresonably dalte with; wherffor, late men deme what they wylle, grettest clerkys are nott alweye wysest men; but I hope hastely to have on weye in it or other.

Item, I wende [_expected_] to have ffownde a gowne off myn heer, but it come home the same daye that I come owte, browght by Herry Berker, loder [_carrier_]. I wolde in alle hast possible have that same gowne off puke ffurryd with whyght lambe.

Item, I wolde have my longe russett gowne off the Frenshe russett in alle hast, ffor I have no gowne to goo in here.

Item, I praye yow recomande me to my moodr, and lat us alle prey God sende my Lady off Norffolk a soone, for uppon that restythe moche mater; ffor if the Kyngys soone[250-1] mary my lords dowghtr, the Kynge wolde that hys soone sholde have a ffayr place in Norffolk, thowhe he sholde gyffe me ij. tymes the valywe in other londe, as I am doon to weete. I praye yow sende me worde off my ladyes spede as soone as ye kan.

Item, as ffor Bowen I shall ffele hym, and sholde have doon, thowghe ye hadde nott sente.

Item, ther is offryd me a goode marriage for my suster Anne Skypwithys sone and heyr off Lynkolneshyre, a man v. or vj. mrke by year. No mor.

Wretyn at London, the xxvij. daye off Janyver, anno E. iiij^ti xv^{o}.

Item, my Lady off Excester[250-2] is ded, and it was seyde that bothe the olde Dywchesse off Norffolk,[251-1] and the Cowntesse off Oxenfforde[251-2] weer ded, but it is nott soo yitt.

Item, I shall remembr Caleyse bothe for horse and alle, &c.

[Footnote 248-1: [From Fenn, ii. 190.]]

[Footnote 248-2: John Hastyngs was Sheriff of Norfolk the preceding year.--F.]

[Footnote 248-3: Nihils, or Nichils, are issues which the sheriff that is apposed in the Exchequer says are _nothing worth_ and illeviable, through the insufficiency of the parties from whom due.--F.]

[Footnote 249-1: Afterwards Duke of Norfolk.--F.]

[Footnote 250-1: Richard, Duke of York, second son of King Edward IV., in or before January 1478, married Anne, sole daughter and heir of John Mowbray, late Duke of Norfolk.--_Rolls of Parliament_, vi. 168. She was at that time only in her sixth year, and she died early.]

[Footnote 250-2: Anne, daughter of Richard, Duke of York, sister of Edward IV., and widow of Henry Holland, the last Duke of Exeter, her first husband; she died 14th of January 1475, and lies buried with Sir Thomas Saint Leger, Knight, her second husband, in a private chapel at Windsor.--F.]

[Footnote 251-1: Ellenor, only daughter of William Bourchier, Earl of Ewe, in Normandy, and widow of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.--F.]

[Footnote 251-2: Margaret, daughter of Richard Nevile, Earl of Salisbury, and wife of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, now a prisoner in the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy; or it may refer to Elizabeth, widow of the late Earl of Oxford, and daughter and heir of Sir John Howard, Knight.--F.]

885

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[251-3]

_To Sir John Paston, Knyght, at the George, by Powlys Wharf, in London._

[Sidenote: 1476 / FEB. 3]

Aftyr all dwtes of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to wete, that with in thys owyr past, I receyd your letter wretyn the xxvij. day of Januar, by whyche I undyrstand that Scarlet wold have an end with me; but lesse then xl_s._ is to lytyll, for iff I wold do the uttermost to hym, I shold recover by the statwte, I trow xl_li._ or more, but lesse then xxxiij_s._ iiij_d._ I wyll in no wyse; and ye may sey that ye of your owne hed wyll geve hym the ode nobyll of xl_s._, and if ye have the v. noblys I prey yow let Parker of Flett stret have therof xxx_s._ and lete Pytte and Rychard and Edward drynk the xl_d._ As for your gownys, they shalbe sent yow in as hasty wyse as is possybyll. Thys must be consayll:--It is promysyd my lady by my Lord Chamberleyn that the _diem clausit extremum_ for my lord shall not be delyverd tyll she be of power to labore hyr sylff her most avauntage in that mater, wherfor ye ned not to dele over largely with thexchetoures. Also consayll:--Robard Brandon and Colevyle have by meanys enformyd my lady that ye wold have gotyn Caster fro hyr by stronge hand, now thys frost whyll the mote is frosyn, in so myche that she was porposed to have sent thedyr R. Brandon and other to have kept the place tyll syche tyme as she made axe me the questyon whedyr ye entendet that wey or not, and I avysed hyr that she shold rather sofyr R. Brandon and hys retenew to lye in Norwyche of hys owne cost then to lye at the taverne at Yermouthe on hyr cost, for I lete hyr have knowlage that ye never entendyd non entre in to that place, but by hyr assent and knowlage I wast well. Syr, for Godes sake, in as hasty wyse as is possybyll, send me woord how ye feele my Lord Chamberleyn and Bowen dysposed to me wardes, for I shall never be in hertes ease tyll I undyrstand ther tweys dysposysyon. Also, I prey yow, let Symond Dame have knowlage as soone as ye have red thys lettyr that I wold in eny wyse that he swe forthe the axions a yenst Darby and other for Byskley, notwithstandyng the bylle that I sent hym to the contrary by Edmund Jeney, for Darby and I are brokyn of, of our entrete whyche was apoyntyd at Thettford. God sped yow in thes maters, and in all other. Ye send me woord of a good maryage for my syster Anne. I prey yow aspye some old thryffty draff wyff in London for me. Thomas Brampton at the Blak Fryers in London wyth syche other as he and I apoyntyd wyll helpe yow to aspye on for me on ther part. I prey yow that I may be recomandyd to hym, and prey hym that he wyll, in as hasty wyse as he can, comforte me with on letter fro hym, and fro the other persone that he and I comond of, and I prey yow as ye se hym at the parvyse[252-1] and ellys where, calle on hym for the same letter and telle hym that ye most nedys have on to me, and when ye have it breke it and ye lyst or ye send it me.

_Endorsed_--iij. Februarij, anno xv^{o}.

[Footnote 251-3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 252-1: The church porch. In London it commonly meant the portico of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is doubtless the place here intended.]

[[ye ned not to dele over largely _“e” in “over” invisible_]]

886

JOHN PASTON TO LORD HASTINGS[253-1]

_To my Lord._

[Sidenote: 1476 / MARCH 2]

My most doughtyd and singular good lord, aftyr most humble and dew recomendacyon, please it your good lordshepp to have knowlage that, accordyng to your comandement, in my wey homeward, I remembred me of a persone whyche to my thynkyng is meetly to be clerk of your kechyn, whyche persone is now in servyse with Master Fitzwater, and was befor that with Whethyll at Gwynes, and purveyor for hys house, and at syche tyme as the Kynges grace was ther last in hys vyage towardes France. Thys man is meane of stature, yonge inough, well wittyd, well manerd, a goodly yong man on horse and foote. He is well spokyn in Inglyshe, metly well in Frenshe, and verry perfite in Flemyshe. He can wryght and reed. Hys name is Rychard Stratton; hys modyr is Mastress Grame of Caleys. And when I had shewyd hym myn intent, he was agreable and verry glad if that it myght please your lordshepp to accept hym in to your servyse; wherto I promysed hym my poore helpe, as ferforthe as I durst meve your good lordshepp for hym, trustyng that I shold have knowelage of your plesure her in, or I departed towardes your lordshep ought of this contrey. Wherfor I advysed hym to be redy with in xiiij. dayes of Marche at the ferthest, that if it pleasyd your lordsheppe to accept hym or to have a syght of hym be for your departyng to Caleys, that ther shold be no slaughthe in hym.

He desyred me to meve Master Fitzwater to be good mastyr to hym in thys behalve, and so I dyd; and he was verry glad and agreable ther to, seying if hys sone had ben of age, and all the servauntis he hathe myght be in eny wyse acceptabell to your lordshepp, that they all, and hym silff in lyek wyse, shall be at your comandment, whyll he leveth.

And at my comyng home to my poore house, I sent for Robart Bernard, and shewid on to hym that I had mevyd your lordshepp for hym; and he in lyek forme is agreable to be redy by the xiiij. day of Marche to awayte on your lordshepp, be it to Caleys or ellys where, and fro that day so foorthe for ever, whyll hys lyff wyll last, with ought grugeing or contraying your comandement and plesure, in eny wyse that is in hym possibyll t’accomplishe.

I shewed on to hym that I had preyed Master Talbot to be a mean to your good lordshepp for hym, and if so wer that Mastyr Talbot thought that your lordshepp wer content to take hys servyse, then that it wold please Mr. Talbot to meve my Lady of Norffolkes grace to wryght or send to Bernard, puttyng hym in knowlage that hyr grace is content that he shall become your menyall servaunt. Wherof he was passyng well pleasyd; but, that notwithstandyng, as I enformed your lordshepp, he is not so reteyned, neyther by fee nor promess, but that he may let hym sylff loose to do your lordsheppe servyse when ye wyll receyve hym, and so wyll he do; but, your lordshepe so pleasid, leve wer bettyr. Rychard Stratton told me that whyll he was in servyse with Whethyll, John Redwe mocyond hym onys myche aftyr thys intent, but at that tyme Whethyll wold not be so good mastyr to hym as to meve your lordshepe for hym.

My lord, I trust that your lordshepe shall lyek bothe ther persones and ther condicyons; and as for ther trowthes, if it may please your good lordshepe to accept my poore woord with thers, I wyll depose largely for that. And as it pleasyth your good lordshepe to comand me in thes maters, and all other, if it may please your lordshepe to shewe the same to my brodyr Nessfeld, he knowith who shall sonest be with me to putt me in knowlage of your plesure, whyche I shall be at all seasons redy t’accomplyshe to my poore power, with Godes grace, Whom I beseche longe to contenue the prosperous astate of your good lordshepp.

Fro Norwyche, the seconde daye of Marche, with the hand of your most humble servaunt and beedman,

JOHN PASTON.

[Footnote 253-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Although the lord to whom this letter was addressed is not named, it was undoubtedly intended for Lord Hastings, Lieutenant of Calais, who, as will be seen hereafter, was preparing to go over to Calais in March 1476.--_See_ No. 888.]

887

JOHN PASTON TO [MARGERY BREWS][255-1]

[Sidenote: 1476(?)]

Mastresse, thow so be that I, unaqweyntyd with yow as yet, tak up on me to be thus bold as to wryght on to yow with ought your knowlage and leve, yet, mastress, for syche pore servyse as I now in my mynd owe yow, purposyng, ye not dyspleasyd, duryng my lyff to contenu the same, I beseche yow to pardon my boldness, and not to dysdeyn, but to accepte thys sympyll byll to recomand me to yow in syche wyse as I best can or may imagyn to your most plesure. And, mastress, for sych report as I have herd of yow by many and dyverse persones, and specyally by my ryght trusty frend, Rychard Stratton, berer her of, to whom I beseche yow to geve credence in syche maters as he shall on my behalve comon with yow of, if it lyke you to lystyn hym, and that report causythe me to be the more bold to wryght on to yow, so as I do; for I have herd oft tymys Rychard Stratton sey that ye can and wyll take every thyng well that is well ment, whom I beleve and trust as myche as fewe men leveing, I ensuer yow by my trowthe. And, mastress, I beseche yow to thynk non other wyse in me but that I wyll and shall at all seasons be redy wythe Godes grace to accomplyshe all syche thynges as I have enformyd and desyerd the seyd Rychard on my behalve to geve yow knowlage of, but if [_unless_] it so be that a geyn my wyll it come of yow that I be cast off fro yowr servyse and not wyllyngly by my desert, and that I am and wylbe yours and at your comandmen in every wyse dwryng my lyff. Her I send yow thys bylle wretyn with my lewd hand and sealyd with my sygnet to remayn with yow for a wyttnesse ayenste me, and to my shame and dyshonour if I contrary it. And, mastress, I beseche yow, in easyng of the poore hert that somtyme was at my rewle, whyche now is at yours, that in as short tyme as can be that I may have knowlage of your entent and hough ye wyll have me demeanyd in thys mater, and I wylbe at all seasons redy to performe in thys mater and all others your plesure, as ferforth as lythe in my poore power to do or in all thers that ought wyll do for me, with Godes grace, Whom I beseche to send yow the accomplyshement of your most worchepfull desyers, myn owne fayer lady, for I wyll no ferther labore but to yow, on to the tyme ye geve me leve, and tyll I be suer that ye shall take no dysplesur with my ferther labore.

[Footnote 255-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a draft in the hand of John Paston the younger. I suppose it must have been written about the year 1476, and intended for Margery Brews, whom he afterwards married. It will be seen that Richard Stratton, whom in his last letter he recommended to Lord Hastings, is here the bearer of a confidential message to the lady.]

888

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[256-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier, or to Mestresse Margrett Paston, hys moodre, in Norfolk._

[Sidenote: 1476 / MARCH 12]

I recomande me to yow, letyng yow wete that, blessyd be God, uppon Saterdaye last past my lorde[256-2] and wee toke the see, and come to Caleyes the same daye, and as thys daye my lorde come to Guynesse, and theer was receyvyd honourablye with owt any obstaklys; wheer as I fownde Master Fytzwalter and othre, whyche wer ryght hevye for the dethe of the noble man thatt was theer to foor, itt happyd soo that my seyd Master Fytzwalter axid me ryght hertely for yow, and I lete hym weete that I demyd ye wolde be heer in haste, wheroffe he seyde he was ryght soory, for soo moche that he entendyth to come in to Englonde, and as I conceyve he wyll come to Attylborogh, and brynge my mestresse hys wyffe with hym, and theer to stablysshe hys howse contynuall. Wherffor he thynketh that he sholde have as grete a lakke off yow as off any one man in that contre, willyng me to wryght on to yowe, and to late yow weete off hys comynge. He also hathe tolde me moche off hys stomake and tendre faver that he owythe to yow; wherffor I asserteyn yow that he is your verry especiall goode master, and iffe ye weer abydynge in thatt contre, whylse he weer theer, he is dysposyd to doo largely for yowe in dyverse wyse, whyche weer to longe to wryght, in so moche that I feele by hym that he thynkyth that itt sholde be longe er he scholde be wery of yowr expences of horse or man. Now I remytte alle thynge to your dyscresion; ye woote best what is for yow.

As for my lorde, I undrestande nott yitt whethyr he wylle in to Ingelonde the weke to foor Esterne, or ellys aftre.

I pray yow recomande me to my moodre. I wolde have wretyn to hyr, but in trowthe I ame somewhatt crased, what with the see and what wythe thys dyet heer.

No moor to yow, but wretyn at Gynes, the xij. daye off Marche, anno E. xvj.

By JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 256-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 256-2: Hastings.]

889

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[257-1]

_To Mestresse Margrete Paston, at Norwyche, or hyr sone, John Paston, Esquyer, and to everych off them._

[Sidenote: 1476 / MARCH 21]

I recomande me to yowe. Like it yow to weete that I am nott sertayne yitt whether my lorde[257-2] and I shall come into Ingelonde the weke byffoor Est[er]ne, or ellys the weke afftr Est[er]ne; wherffor, moodr, I beseche yow to take noo dysplesyr with me ffor my longe tarynge, ffor I most doo noon otherwyse ffor dysplesyng off my lorde. I was noo thynge gladde off thys jornaye, iff I myght goodely have chosen; neverthelesse, savyng that ye have cawse to be dyspleasyd with me ffor the mater off Kokett, I am ellys ryght gladde, ffor I hope that I ame fferre moor in ffavor with my lorde then I was to ffoor.

Item, I sende yow, brother John, a letter herwith, whyche was browte hyddr to Caleys, ffrom the George at Powles Wharff; I deme it comethe ffrom my brother Water.

Item, iff ye entende hyddrewarde, itt weer weell doon that ye hygthed yowe, ffor I suppose that my lorde wille take the vywe off alle hys retynywe heer, nowe byffoor hys departyng; and I thynke that he woolde be better contente with yowr comyng nowe, than an other tyme; doo as ye thynke best, and as ye maye.

Item, wher Master Fytzwalter made me to wryght to yowe to advyse yow to tarye, I remytte thatt to yowr dyscretion.

As ffor tydyngs heer, we her ffrom alle the worlde; ffyrst, the Lorde Ryverse was at Roome right weell and honorably, and other Lords off Ynglonde, as the Lord Hurmonde,[258-1] and the Lord Scrope,[258-2] and at ther departyng xij. myle on thyse-halff Roome, the Lorde Ryverse was robbyd off alle hys jowelles and plate, whyche was worthe m^le. marke or better, and is retornyd to Rome ffor a remedy.

Item, the Duke of Burgoyne hath conqueryd Loreyn, and Quene Margreet shall nott nowe be lykelyhod have it; wherffor the Frenshe Kynge cheryssheth hyr butt easelye; but afftr thys conquest off Loreyn, the Duke toke grete corage to goo uppon the londe off the Swechys [_Swiss_] to conquer them, butt the [_they_] berded hym att an onsett place, and hathe dystrussyd hym, and hathe slayne the most parte off hys vanwarde, and wonne all hys ordynaunce and artylrye, and mor ovyr all stuffe thatt he hade in hys ost with hym; exceppte men and horse ffledde nott, but they roode that nyght xx. myle; and so the ryche saletts,[258-3] heulmetts, garters, nowchys[258-4] gelt, and alle is goone, with tents, pavylons, and alle, and soo men deme hys pryde is abatyd. Men tolde hym that they weer ffrowarde karlys, butte he wolde nott beleve it, and yitt men seye, that he woll to them ageyn. Gode spede them bothe.

Item, Sir John Mydelton toke leve off the Duke to sporte hym, but he is sett in pryson att Brussellys.

I praye yowe sende me som worde iff ye thynke likly that I may entr Caster when I woll, by the next messenger.

Wretyn at Caleys, in resonable helthe off bodye and sowle, I thanke Good, the xxj. daye off Marche, anno E. iiij^ti xvj^{o}.

J. P., K.

[Footnote 257-1: [From Fenn, ii. 198.]]

[Footnote 257-2: Hastings.]

[Footnote 258-1: John, sixth Earl of Ormond.]

[Footnote 258-2: John, Lord Scrope of Bolton.]

[Footnote 258-3: Light head-pieces.--F.]

[Footnote 258-4: Embossed ornaments, chains, buckles, etc.--F.]

[[departyng xij. myle on thyse-halff Roome _printed with ambiguous hyphen at line break_]]

890

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[259-1]

_To the ryght worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght, lodgyd at the George, by Powlys Wharf, in London._

[Sidenote: 1476 / MAY 6]

Aftyr all dewtes of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to wet, that to my power ye be welcom ayen in to Inglond. And as for the Castell of Shene, ther is no mor in it but Colle and hys mak, and a goose may get it; but in no wyse I wold not that wey, and my modyr thynkyth the same. Take not that wey, if ther be eny other.

I undyrstand that Mastres Fytzwater hathe a syster, a mayd, to mary. I trow, and ye entretyd hym, she myght come into Crysten menys handys. I prey yow spek with Mastyr Fytzwater of that mater for me, and ye may telle hym, synse that he wyll have my servyse, it wer as good, and syche a bargayn myght be mad, that bothe she and I awaytyd on hym and my mastress hys wyff at oure owne cost, as I a lone to awayt on hym at hys cost; for then he shold be swer that I shold not be flyttyng, and I had syche a qwarell to kepe me at home. And I have hys good wylle, it is non inpossybyll to bryng a bowght.

I thynk to be at London with in a xiiij. dayes at the ferthest, and peraventure my mastress also, in consayll be it clatryd. God kepe yow and yours.

At Norwyche, the vj. day of May, anno E. iiij^ti xvj^{o}.

J. P.

[Footnote 259-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

891

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[260-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston, in Norwyche, or to hyr sone John Paston, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1476 / MAY 27]

Please it yow to weete that as for my materes, and theye appeyre nott,[260-2] the doo, blessyd be Godde, as weell as I wolde they dyd, saffe that it shalle cost me grett mony, and it hathe cost me moche laboor. It is soo that the Kynge most have C. marke, and other costes will drawe xl. marke. And my mater is examynyd by the Kynges Cowncell, and declaryd affoor alle the Lordes, and now lakkythe noo thynge but [the Pry]vy Seals, and wryghtyng to Master Colv[ill][260-3] to avoide; for the[260-3] [Kyng hath p]romysed me as moche as I wolde he sholde fullefille, and alle the Lordes, Juges, Serjauntes, have affermyd my title goode. Nott withstandyng Sowthewell, James Hubberde, and Sir W. Braundon, where at ther owne desyrs, offryd to afferme and advowe my tytell for goode, and that my Lorde off Norffolk that ded is had noo tytell, thatt they knywe, they tolde my tale as ille as they cowde, and yitt a lye or too to helpe it, and yit it servyth them nott, they be knowen as they ar (in Cowncell be it seyde, and so most all thys letter be).

I have moche payne to gete so moche mony. Neverthelesse, but iff myne oncle schewe hym selfe werse than ever he was, I shalle nott fayle, if he kepe me promyse, and thatt is but as he dyde last, that is butt to be my sywerte, and I to make hym sywerte ageyn.

The Kynge departythe thys daye, and wille nott be heer tyll Frydaye, whyche lettyth me, or ellys by thatt daye I wolde have hopyd to have comen homeward, and erst per aventure. No moor, but Jesus have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn at London, the xxvj. daye of Maye, the Mondaye next Holy Thurrysdaye, the Assencion.

* * *

The Kynge wold have bowte it, but he was enfformyd off the trowthe, and that it was nott for a prynce, and off the greet pryse that I wolde selle it att; for that I myght nott for bere it, for he scholde have payed m^{l.}m^l. marke or moor, iff he hadde hadde it.

Your sone,

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 260-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter relates to Sir John Paston’s claim to Caister after the Duke of Norfolk’s death, which claim he succeeded in establishing in June 1476, as appears by the letter following. The date 26th May at the end of the letter is an error. The ‘Monday next Holy Thursday’ was the 27th.]

[Footnote 260-2: _i.e._ if they do not get worse.]

[Footnote 260-3: Paper decayed.]

[[Salutation ... or to hyr sone John Paston, Knyght. _printed as shown: misreading of Fenn’s header?_ To Mestresse Margret Paston, in Norwyche or to hyr Sone John Paston K^t]]

892

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[261-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier, beyng at the Syngne of the George, at Powles Wharffe._

[Sidenote: 1476 / JUNE 30]

I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete that I hav receyvyd yowr letter, wretyn the next daye aftre Mydsomer; for answer wheroff I thynke that to be bownde in v^c. [500] marke, I thynke it is to moche, where as I felt by yow ye sholde have with the gentylwoman but iiij^c [400]; neverthelesse I agree. But ye shall undrestande that I wyll not be bownde for yow that ye shall make hyr joyntour past xx_li._ by yer, within a sertayne daye lymyted; be it j. yere or ij., that is the largest that ye maye performe. For as for the maner of Sparham, my moodre and ye acorde notte in yowr saynges; she wyll nowght graunte yow ther in, whylse she levyth, saff, as she seythe to me, she hathe grauntyd yow x. marke by yeer tyll xl_li._ be payed, that is but vj. yeer; and aftre hyr dyscease she woll agree with goode will, so that it maye be yowr proferment, that ye sholde have that maner in joynture with yowr wyffe to the lenger lyver off yow bothe, payng x. marke by yeer, soo or th . . . as she wyll that it shall be. Therfore, as for l. marke joynture, I pray yow bynde me in no suche clawse, butt iff it be for xx_li._ by a resonable daye, and xx. marke aftre the dyssease off my moodre. Take example at Derby.

Item, ye make yow sywerer than I deme yow bee, for I deme that her frendes wyll nott be content with Bedyngfeldes sywerte, nor yowres. I deme thys mater will ocopy lenger leyser than ye deme for.

Item, I remembre thatt thys mony that she sholde have is nott redy, but in the handes of marchauntes of the Estaple, whyche at a prove ye shall fynde per case so slakke payeres, that ye myght be deseyvyd ther by. I knowe dyverse have lost mony er they cowde gete ther dywtes owte off the Staple. God spede yow, and sende yow that ye wolde have.

I sende yow the obligacion here with acordyng to yowr desyr, and a letter to Bedyngfelde, thankyng hym for yow, and more over letyng hym know of myn entent. Opyn it, and close it ageyn, if ye lyst.

Item, where I tolde yow that the gowne clothe off olde chamlott, I wolde have it hoome for my suster Anne; ye for gate it. I praye yow sende it home by the next massenger, and a letter with it of suche tydynges as ye knowe.

Item, blissed be God, I have Castre at my will. God holde it better than it doone her to foore.

No moore, but wretyn the next daye aftre Seynt Petre, anno E. iiij^ti xvj^{o}.

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 261-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

893

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[262-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1476 / [AUG. 30]]

Please it yow to wete that I was uppon Tywesdaye, the daye that I departyd froo yowe, with my brother John at Atelborow by viij. of the clokke at evyn, and founde hym in suche case as iff ye had seyn hym than ye wolde have be as gladde of hym osse off a nywe sone. I wenyd nott that he sholde nott have levyd tyll the mornyng; in so moche that by my trowthe I dare seye that iff it had nott fortunyd us to have comyn to hym, he had not been on lyve on Wednysdaye. For syns Saterday slepyd he nott iiij. howris, and yitt iij. of them was syns I come thydyr, on to thys nyght; and thys nyght, blessyd be God, he hathe slepyd well, and with Goddys grace I dowte not but thatt he shall do weell. For his agywe is goone, and alle that laye in hys stomak and undre hys syde it weryth aweye, and within a daye or ij. I hope he shall be so stronge that I maye come frome hym; and he hopyth to see yowe with in fewe days affter, as he seyth. On Wednysdaye I wysshed to hym that he and I hadde been at Norwyche; wheruppon he harpyd all that nyght, and for cawe (_sic_) he hadde not so goode rest as he wolde, it fylle in hys brayne to come to Norwyche; and he in an angyr wolde nedys to horse. He wolde non horsse litter, he was so stronge. Neverthelesse we wenyd nott that he sholde have been able to have redyn a myle, and wenyd that it had nott been possible to have passid Wyndham; bott whan he was uppe for that, we seyde he roode so welle he ledde uss a dawnce faster than alle we cowde weell folowe. He was at Wyndham, by my trowthe, in lesse than an howr by a large quarter, and ther restyd hym an howre, and to horse ageyne and was heer in lesse than an howr and one halffe. And now he dowteth nott to slepe weell, for he seyth that he never ffaylyd to slepe weel in that bedde that he hathe chosyn now at Frenshys, and thusse I hope he be sauffe. And I am in dowte whethyr I shall within ij. dayes owther come home to yow or ellis to goo forthe as ye woote off. No moore, &c. Wretyn on Frydaye next the Decollacion of Seynt John Baptyst.

Item, I have the wrythynges off Richard Calle.

Your sone,

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 262-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 188.] Strangely enough there is no mention elsewhere of the serious illness of young John Paston mentioned in this letter, by which we might fix the year when it was written. But perhaps we may surmise that it was 1476, after he had been at Calais, where he was expected in the spring. The fact that he was ill at Attleborough agrees with this supposition, for that was the seat of the Fitzwalter family, and ‘Master Fitzwalter’ is mentioned in No. 888 as at Calais showing much interest in the Paston family. It may be observed also that in 1476, Friday ‘next’ the Decollation of St. John Baptist (29th August) would be the very next day.]

894

DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[264-1]

_To my wurschypfull cosyn, John Paston, be thys bill delyvered, &c._

[Sidenote: 1476 or 1477]

Ryght wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un to yowe, thankyng zowe hertely for the grette chere that ze made me the last tyme that ze were with me at Norwych, &c.

And, cosyn, as for the mater that was put in my nowncle Hastynges and Henry Heydon, I ondyrstand be myn uncle, that ther was made non ende therin, whech I am ryght sory for. Cosyn, ze be remembred what ze promysed me that, and so were that myn uncle and Herry Heydon made none ende therin, that ze wold put the mater in me; and if it please zowe so for to do, in good faith, cosyn, I schall goo as wele and as ryghtfully and consciensly as I can for both the partyes. And, cosyn, if it please zowe to com to Topcroft, and poynt ze what dey when ze will com, I schall sende for my cosyn to be ther the same day. And, cosyn, I pray zowe to sende me worde agayn be the brynger of thys letter, howe ze will do, &c.

And Almyghty Jesus hafe zowe in kepyng, &c.

Be zour cosyn,

Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.

[Footnote 264-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is the first of a series of letters, some of which were certainly written in February 1477, relating to the engagement of John Paston to Margery Brews. How early they began it is not easy to say precisely. On the back of this letter is written, apparently in the hand of John Paston, to whom it is addressed, ‘Letræ dominæ Elyzabethæ Brews et Margariæ filæ (_sic_) ejus.’]

895

DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[265-1]

_Un to my ryght wurschypffull cosyn, John Paston, be thys lettur delyvered, &c._

Ryght wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un [to] yowe, &c. And I send my husbonde a bill of the mater that ze knowe of, and he wrote an other bill to me agayn towchyng the same mater; and he wold that ze schuld go un to my maistresse yowr modur, and asaye if ze myght gete the hole xx_li._ in to zowr handes, and then he wolde be more gladd to marye with zowe, and will gyffe zowe an C_li._ And, cosyn, that day that sche is maryed, my fadur will gyffe hyr l. merk. But and we acorde, I schall gyffe yowe a grettere tresur, that is, a wytty gentylwoman, and if I sey it, bothe good and vertuos; for if I schuld take money for hyr, I wold not gyffe hyr for a m_li._ But, cosyn, I trust zowe so meche that I wold thynke her wele besett on zowe, and ze were worthe meche more. And, cosyn, a lytyll after that ze were gone, come a man fro my cosyn Derby, and broght me wurde that suche a chance fell that he myght not come at the day that was set, as I schall let zowe undyrstond more pleynly, when I speke with zowe, &c. But, cosyn, and it wold please zowe to come agayn what dey that ze will set, I dare undyrtake that they schall kepe the same daye; for I wold be glad that, and myn husbond and ze myght acorde in thys maryage, that it myght be my fortune to make and ende in thys mater betwene my cosyns and zowe, that yche of zowe myght love other in frendely wyse, &c. And, cosyn, if thys byll please not zowr entent, I pray zowe that it may be brent, &c.

No more unto yowe at thys tyme, but Almyghty Jesus preserve zowe, &c.

By zowr cosyn,

Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.

[Footnote 265-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] _See_ preliminary note to last letter.]

896

DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[266-1]

_To my wurschypfull cosyne, John Paston, be this bill delyveryd, &c._

[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]

Cosyn, I recomande me un to yowe, thankyng yowe hertely for the grette chere that ye made me and all my folkys, the last tyme that I was at Norwych; and ye promysyd me, that ye wold never breke the mater to Margery unto suche tyme as ye and I were at a point. But ye hafe made hyr suche advokett for yowe, that I may never hafe rest nyght ner day, for callyng and cryeng uppon to brynge the saide mater to effecte, &c.

And, cosyn, uppon Fryday is Sent Volentynes Day, and every brydde chesyth hym a make [_mate_]; and yf it lyke yowe to come one Thursday at nyght, and so purvey yowe, that ye may abyde there tyll Monday, I trusty to God, that ye schall so speke to myn husband; and I schall prey that we schall bryng the mater to a conclusyon, &c. For, cosyn,

It is but a sympill oke, That [is] cut down at the first stroke.

For ye will be resonabill, I trust to God, Whech hafe yowe ever in Hys mercyfull kepyng, &c.

Be yowr cosyn, Dame ELIZABETH BREWS, otherwes schall be called be Godds grace.

[Footnote 266-1: [From Fenn, ii. 208.] It is clear from internal evidence that this letter was written between the 7th and the 12th of February, and the fact that St. Valentine’s Day (the 14th) fell on Friday, proves the year to have been 1477. Besides which, we have distinct references to the matter further on in the dated correspondence.]

897

MARGERY BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[267-1]

_Unto my ryght welebelovyd Voluntyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this bill delyvered, &c._

[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]

Ryght reverent and wurschypfull, and my ryght welebeloved Voluntyne, I recomande me unto yowe, ffull hertely desyring to here of yowr welefare, whech I beseche Almyghty God long for to preserve un to Hys plesur, and yowr herts desyre. And yf it please yowe to here of my welefar, I am not in good heele of body, nor of herte, nor schall be tyll I her ffrom yowe;

For there wottys no creature what peyn that I endure, And for to be deede, I dare it not dyscure [_discover_].

And my lady my moder hath labored the mater to my ffadur full delygently, but sche can no mor gete then ye knowe of, for the whech God knowyth I am full sory. But yf that ye loffe me, as I tryste verely that ye do, ye will not leffe me therefor; for if that ye hade not halfe the lyvelode that ye hafe, for to do the grettest labur that any woman on lyve myght, I wold not forsake yowe.

And yf ye commande me to kepe me true wherever I go, I wyse I will do all my myght yowe to love and never no mo. And yf my freends say, that I do amys, Thei schal not me let so for to do, Myne herte me bydds ever more to love yowe Truly over all erthely thing, And yf thei be never so wroth, I tryst it schall be better in tyme commyng.

No more to yowe at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite hafe yowe in kepyng. And I besech yowe that this bill be not seyn of none erthely creatur safe only your selffe, &c.

And thys letter was indyte at Topcroft, with full hevy herte, &c.

By your own,

MARGERY BREWS.

[Footnote 267-1: [From Fenn, ii. 210.]]

898

MARGERY BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[268-1]

_To my ryght welebelovyd cosyn, John Paston, Swyer, be this letter delyveryd, &c._

[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]

Ryght wurschypfull and welebelovyd Volentyne, in my moste umble wyse, I recommande me un to yowe, &c. And hertely I thanke yowe for the lettur whech that ye sende me be John Bekarton, wherby I undyrstonde and knowe, that ye be purposyd to come to Topcroft in schorte tyme, and withowte any erand or mater, but only to hafe a conclusyon of the mater betwyx my fader and yowe; I wolde be most glad of any creatur on lyve, so that the mater myght growe to effect. And ther as ye say, and ye come and fynde the mater no more towards you then ye dyd afortyme, ye wold no more put my fader and my lady my moder to no cost ner besenesse, for that cause, a good wyle aftur, wech causyth myne herte to be full hevy; and yf that ye come, and the mater take to none effecte, then schuld I be meche mor sory and full of hevynesse.

And as for my selfe, I hafe done and undyrstond in the mater that I can or may, as Good knowyth; and I let yowe pleynly undyrstond, that my fader wyll no mor money parte with all in that behalfe, but an C_li._ and l. marke, whech is ryght far fro the acomplyshment of yowr desyre.

Wherfore, yf that ye cowde be content with that good, and my por persone, I wold be the meryest mayden on grounde; and yf ye thynke not yowr selffe so satysfyed, or that ye myght hafe mech mor good, as I hafe undyrstonde be yowe afor; good, trewe, and lovyng volentyne, that ye take no such labur uppon yowe, as to come more for that mater, but let is [_it ?_] passe, and never more to be spokyn of, as I may be yowr trewe lover and bedewoman duryng my lyfe.

No more un to yowe at thys tyme, but Almyghty Jesus preserve yowe, bothe body and sowle, &c.

Be your Voluntyne,

MARGERY BREWS.

[Footnote 268-1: [From Fenn, ii. 214.]]

899

THOMAS KELA TO JOHN PASTON[269-1]

_Un to my ryght wurschypfull maister, John Paston, Swhyer, be this bill delivered, &c._

[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]

Ryght wurschypfull sir, I recomande me un to yowe, lettyng yowe knowe, as for the yonge gentylwoman, sche owyth yowe hyr good herte and love, as I knowe be the comynicacion that I hafe hade with hyr for the same.

And, sir, ye knowe what my maister and my lady hath profered with hyr CC. merke. And I dar sey, that hyr chambr and areyment schall be worthe C. merk. And I harde my lady sey, that and the case required, both ye and sche schuld hafe yowr borde with my lady iij. yer aftr.

And I understand by my lady, that sche wold that ye schuld labur the mater to my maister, for it schuld be the bettr.

And I harde my lady sey,

That it was a febill oke, That was kit down at the first stroke.

And ye be beholdyng un to my lady for hyr good wurde, for sche hath never preysyd yowe to mech.

Sir, lyke as I promysyd yowe, I am yowr man, and my good will ye schall hafe in worde and dede, &c.

And Jesus hafe yowe in Hys mercyfull kepyng, &c.

Be yor man,

THOMAS KELA.

[Footnote 269-1: [From Fenn, ii. 216.]]

900

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[270-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer, at Norwyche, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB. 14]

I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete, that yisterdaye beganne the grete cowncell, to whyche alle the astats off the londe shall com to, butt if it be ffor gret and reasonable excusis; and I suppose the cheffe cawse off thys assemble is, to comon what is best to doo, now uppon the greet change by the dethe off the Duke of Burgoyne, and ffor the kepyng off Caleys and the Marchys, and ffor the preservacion off the amyteys taken late, as weell with Fraunce as now with the Membrys off Flaundres; wher to I dowt nott ther shall be in all hast bothe the Duks off Clarance and Glowcestre, wheroff I wolde that my brother E.[270-2] wyst.

Item, I ffeele butt litell effecte in the labor off W. Alyngton; neverthelesse I deme it is nott for yow. She shall not passe CC. mark, as fferr as I can undrestand aparte.

Item, I will nott fforget yow otherwyse.

Itt is so that thys daye I heer grett liklyhood, that my Lorde Hastyngs shall hastely goo to Caleys with greet company; iff I thynke it be for yow to be on [_one_], I shall nott fforgeet yow.

Item, thys daye the mater by twyen Mestresse Anne Haulte and me hathe been soor broken bothe to the Cardinall,[270-3] to my Lorde Chamberleyn,[270-4] and to my selffe, and I am in goode hope. When I heer and knowe moor, I shall sende yow worde.

It semythe that the worlde is alle qwaveryng; it will reboyle somwher, so that I deme yonge men shall be cherysshyd; take yowr hert to yow. I ffeer that I can nott be excusyd, but that I shall fforthe with my Lorde Hastyngs ovyr the see, but I shall sende yow worde in hast, and iff I goo, I hope nott to tary longe.

Item, to my brother Edmond. I am like to speke to Mestresse Dyxon in hast, and som deme that ther shall be condyssendyd, that iff E. P. come to London that hys costs shall be payed ffor.

I shall hastely sende yow worde off moor thyngs.

Wretyn at London, the xiiij. day off Feverer, anno E. iiij^ti xvj. the Fryday a for Fastyngong.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 270-1: [From Fenn, ii. 204.]]

[Footnote 270-2: Edmund Paston, who was in the garrison of Calais.]

[Footnote 270-3: Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.--F.]

[Footnote 270-4: William, Lord Hastyngs.--F.]

901

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[271-1]

_To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1477 / MARCH 8]

Ryght worschepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtes of recommendacyon, in as humble wyse as I can, I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng. Modyr, please yt yow to wett, that the cause that Dame Elizabeth Brews desyreth to mete with yow at Norwyche, and not at Langley, as I apoyntyd with yow at my last being at Mawtby, is by my meanys, for my brodyr Thomas Jermyn, whyche knowyth nought of the mate [_match_], telyth me, that the causey or ye can comme to Bokenham Fery is so over flowyn that ther is no man that may on ethe passe it, though he be ryght well horsyd; whyche is no mete wey for yow to passe over, God defend it. But, all thyngs rekynyd, it shalbe lesse cost to yow to be at Norwyche, as for a day or tweyn, and passe not, then to mete at Langly, wher every thyng is dere; and your horse may be sent home ayen the same Wednysday.

Modyr, I beseche yow for dyvers causys, that my syster Anne may come with yow to Norwyche; modyr, the mater is in a resonable good wey, and I trust with Gods mercy, and with your good help, that it shall take effect bettyr to myn avauntage then I told yow of at Mawtby; for I trow ther is not a kynder woman leveing then I shall have to my modyr in lawe, if the mater take, nor yet a kynder fadyr in lawe then I shall have, though be he hard to me as yett. All the cyrcumstancys of the mater, whyche I trust to tell yow at your comyng to Norwyche, cowd not be wretyn in iij. levys of paper, and ye know my lewd hed well i nough, I may not wryght longe, wherffor I ffery over all thyngs tyll I may awayte on yow my selff. I shall do tonnen[272-1] in to your place a doseyn ale, and bred acordyng, ayenst Wednysday. If Syme myght be forborn it wer well done, that he war at Norwyche on Wednysday in the mornyng at markett.

Dame Elizabeth Brewse shall lye at Jon Cookys; if it myght please yow, I wold be glad that she myght dyne in your howse on Thursday, for ther shold ye have most secret talkyng. And modyr, at the reverence of God, beware that ye be so purveyd for, that ye take no cold by the wey towards Norwyche, for it is the most peraylous marche that ever was seyn by eny manys dayes that now lyveth; and I prey to Jesu preserve yow and yours.

Wretyn at Topcroft, the viij. day of Marche.

Your sone and humbyll servaunt,

J. P.

[Footnote 271-1: [From Fenn, ii. 220.] This letter evidently refers to a meeting arranged between Margaret Paston and Dame Elizabeth Brews on the subject of John Paston’s approaching marriage, which took place in the latter part of the year 1477.]

[Footnote 272-1: _i.e._ cause to be tunned.]

902

SIR THOMAS BREWS TO SIR JOHN PASTON[272-2]

_To my ryght wurschypfull cosyn, Syr Jhon Paston, Knyght, be this letter delivered, &c._

[Sidenote: 1477 / MARCH 8]

Ryght wurschypfull, and my hertely welebelovyd cosyn, I recommande me unto yowe, desyring to here of yowr welefar, whech I pray God may be as contynuall good as I wolde hafe myn own. And, cosyn, the cause of my wryting un to yow, at thys tyme, is, I fele wele be my cosyn John yowr broder, that ye hafe undyrstondyng of a mater, whech is in comynicacyon tochyng a maryage, with Godds grace, to be concluded betwyx my saide cosyn yowr broder, and my doghter Margery, wheche is far commonyd, and not yyt concluded, ner noght schall ner may be tyll I hafe answer from yowe agayn of yowr good will and asent to the seid mater; and also of the obligacyon weche that I sende yowe herewith; for, cosyn, I wold be sory to se owther my cosyn yowr broder, or my doghtr, dryvyn to leve so meane a lyff as thei schuld do yf the vj^xx._li._ [£120], schuld be payde of ther maryage money.

And cosyn, I hafe takyn my selfe so nere in levyng of this vj^xx._li._, that wher as I hade layde upp an C_li._ for the maryage of a yonger doghter of myn, I hafe nowe lent the saide C_li._ and xx_li._ over that, to my cosyn yowr broder, to be paide ageyn be suche esy days as the obligacyon, weche I sende yowe herwyth, specyfyes. And, cosyn, I were ryght lothe to be stowe so mech uppon one doghter, that the other her susters schuld far the wars; wherfor, cosyn, yf ye wyll that thys mater schall take effect undyr suche forme as my cosyn yowr broder hath wretyn unto yowe, I pray yowe put therto yowr good wylle, and sum of yowr coste, as I hafe done of myn more largely then ever I purpose to do to any tweyn of hyr susters, as God knowyth myn entent, Whom I besech to send yowe yowr levest herts desyr.

Wretyn at Topcroft, the viij. day of March, &c.

Be your cosyn,

THOMAS BREWS, Knight.

[Footnote 272-2: [From Fenn, ii. 224.] The date of this letter, as of the last, is fixed by the subject.]

903

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[273-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer, in haste._

[Sidenote: 1477 / MARCH 9]

I have received yowr letter, and yow[r] man, J. Bykerton, by whom I knowe all the mater off Mestresse Brews, whyche iff it be as he seythe, I praye Godde brynge it to a goode ende.

Item, as for thys mater of Mestresse Barly,[274-1] I holde it but a bare thynge. I feele weell that itt passyth nott . . . marke. I syghe hyr for yowr sake. She is a lytell onys; she maye be a woman heer aftre, iff she be nott olde nowe; hir person semyth xiij. yere off age; hyr yerys, men sey, ben full xviij. She kowyth nott of the mater, I suppose; neverthelesse she desyryd to see me as gladde as I was to se hyr.

I praye yow sende me some wryghtyng to Caleys off yowr spede with Mestresse Brewys. Bykerton tellyth me that she lovyth yow weell. Iff I dyed, I hadde lever ye hadde hyr than the Lady Wargrave; neverthelesse she syngeth weell with an harpe.

Clopton is aferde off Sir T. Greye, for he is a wydower now late, and men sey that he is aqueyntyd with hyr of olde.

No more. Wretyn on Sondaye, the ix. daye off Marche, anno E. iiij^ti xvij^o to Caleys warde.

* * *

Iff ye have Mestresse Brews, and E. Paston Mestresse Bylyngford, ye be lyke to be bretheryn.

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 273-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 274-1: Fenn reads this name Burly, but I think erroneously.]

904

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[274-2]

_Thys bylle be delyverd to Thomas Grene, good man of the George, by Powlys Wharffe, or to hys wyff, to send to Sir John Paston, wherso evere he be, at Caleys, London, or other placys._

[Sidenote: 1477 / MARCH 9]

Ryght worchepfull sir, and my most good and kynde brodyr, in as humbyll wyse as I can, I recomand me to yow. Sir, it is so that I have, sythe John Bekurton departyd fro hens, ben at Toppcrofft at Syr Tohmas Brewse; and as for the mater that I sent yow word of by Jon Bekurton, towchyng my sylff and Mastress Margery Brews, I am yet at no serteynte, hyr fadyr is so hard; but I trow I have the good wyll of my lady hyr modyr and hyr; but as the mater provyth, I shall send yow woord, with Godes grace, in short tyme.

But as for John Bekurton, I prey yow dele with hym for suerte as a soudyor shold be delt with; trust hym never the more for the bylle that I sent yow by hym, but as a man at wylde, for every thyng that he told me is not trewe; for he departyd with ought lycence of hys mastyr, Syr Thomas Brewse, and is fere endangeryd [_indebted_] to dyvers in thys contrey. I prey God that I wryght not to yow of hym to late; but for all thys I knowe none untrowthe in hym; but yet I prey yow, trust hym not over myche upon my woord.

Syr, Perse Mody[275-1] recomandyth hym to your mastyrshep, and besecheth yow to send hym word in hast, hough he shall be demeanyd at your place at Caster; for he is asygnyd to no body as yet, to take of mete and drynk, nor yet wher that he shall have money to paye for hys mete and drynk; and now is the cheff replenysheing of your warenn there, the avauntage of the dove howse wer well for hym, tyll ye come hom your sylff.

Sir, I prey yow pardon me of my wryghtyng, hough so ever it be, for carpenters of my crafte that I use now, have not alderbest ther wyttys ther owne. And Jesu preserve yow.

Wretyn at Norwyche, the ix. day of Marche, anno E iiij^ti septimo decymo.

J. P.

[Footnote 274-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 275-1: Perse Moody was a servant of Sir John Paston’s, now at Caister.--F.]

905

SIR THOMAS BREWS[275-2]

[Sidenote: 1477]

Memorandum.--To let my cosyn, Margaret Paston, ondyrstand that for a jontor to be mad in Sweynsthorp in hand, and for a jontore of no more but x. mark ought of Sparham, I wylle depart with CC. mark in hand, and to give theym ther boord free as for ij. or iij. yer in serteyn, or ellys CCC. mark with ought ther boord, payable by l. mark yerly tyll the some of CCC. mark be full payed.

Item, I wyll geve CCCC. mark, payable l_li._, in hand at the day of maryage, and l_li._ yerly tyll the some of CCCC. mark be full payed upon thes condycyons folowing.

Wher of on condycyon is thys, that I wyll lend my cosyn John Paston vj^xx._li._, besyd hys maryage money, to pledge ought the maner of Sweynsthorpe, so that he may fynd syche a frend as wyll pay me a yen the seyd vj^xx._li._ by xx. mark a yer, so that it be not payed of the maryage money, nor of the propre goodes of my seyd cosyn John.

Or ellys, an other condycyon is thys, if it be so that my seyd cosyn John may be suffred, fro the day of hys maryage to my doughter, to take the hole profites of the maner of Sparham, besyde the maner of Sweynsthorpe, for terme of ther two lyves, and the longest of theym leveing, yet wyll I be agreable to depart with the seyd CCC. mark, payable ayen in forme above seyd [_and to geve theym ther boord for a yer or two_].[276-1]

And if thes or eny of the conclusyons may be takyn, I am agreable to make the bargayn swer, or ellys no more to be spokyn of.

[Footnote 275-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper was evidently drawn up about the same time as the last letter. It is a draft in John Paston’s handwriting, but is evidently written as in the name of Sir Thomas Brews. It is endorsed in a more modern hand: ‘A determinacion of Sir Tho. Brews how much he would gyve with his daughter Margery in mariage.’]

[Footnote 276-1: These words are crossed out with the pen.]

906

JOHN PYMPE TO SIR JOHN PASTON[276-2]

_To Master Sir John Paston, be this letter delyverid in Calis._

[Sidenote: 1477 / [MARCH]]

Honwre and joye be to yow, my ryght gode master, and most assured brother; letyng yow know that al yowre welwillers and servaunts, in these partyes, that I know, fare well, and better wold, if they mowht here of yowre wellbeyng, and forthwith sum of yowre Frenche and Borgoyne tidyngs; ffor we in these partyes be in grete drede lest the French Kyng with sum assaults shuld in eny wise distourbe yow of yowr soft, sote [_sweet_], and sewre slepys, but as yet we no thyng can here that he so disposeth hym.

Mary, we have herd sey, that the frowys[277-1] of Broggys, with there hye cappes, have gyven sum of yow grete clappys, and that the fete of her armys doyng is such, that they smyte al at the mowthe, and at the grete ende of the thyeh; but in faith we care not for yow, for we know well that ye be gode ynowh at defence. But we here sey, that they be of such corage, that they gyve yow moo strokys than ye do to them, and that they strike sorer than ye also. But I thynk that the English ladyes and jentylwomen, and the pore also, can do as well as they, and lyst not to lerne of them no thyng; and therefor we drede lest ther hye corages shuld meve them to make yow warre also. But God defend, for by my trowth than have ye much to do; for hit were better and more ese for to labor iij. or fowre dayes with mattokks and pykeisys to over turne yowr sande hills, as we here saye ye do ryht wurshipfully, than only one day to endure theyre fers encountrys; so as ye myht owther gete or save yowr wurshippys by; and loke that ye trust to have no rescow of us, for, so God me helpe, we have y nowh to do in these partyes with the same werrs. But in one thyng we preyse yowre sadnessys and discrecionys ryht much, that is, in kepyng of yowr trewse and pese with the Kyng of Fraunce, as the Kyng hath commaundid; and a grete reson why, for hit were to much for yow to have werre with all the world at onys, ffor the werre a fore seid kepith yow blameles; ffor every resonable man wetyth well, that hit is to much for eny pepyll levyng to do bothe at onys.

Syr, as for the more parts off my thowht, I praye yow recomaunde me un to yowr self, prayyng yow that y may contynew in such case as yowr godenes hath taken me of old, and if ye lyst to send eny tydyngs, or other thyng to the partyes that were wont to warme theym by yowr fyre, in feith I shall do yowr erand.

And as for barley, hit is of the same pryce that hit was wont to be of, and is the most sure corne, and best enduryng that may be. And, syr, where that sumtyme was a lytyll hole in a wall, is now a dore large ynowh and esy passage, whereof ye were the deviser, and have thank for yowr labor of sum partyes, but no thyng lastyth evyr. Y mene that y trow, my passage shall hastyly faile me, and the dore shalbe shet up agayne, lesse than Fortun be agreable to have my counseile kept; for not long ago, makyng my entre at that passage, I saw a sparow that useth those ewrys [_eireys_], and I saw her sytt so stille that y cowde not endure, but y must neds shote her, and so, God me help, I smote her, I trow evyn to the hert; and so I drede me lest owther the barley wyll ete the sparow, or ells the sparow wyll ete the barley, but as yet all is well, but reson shewt me that hit must neds fayle by contynewauns, lesse than I forsake bothe the sparow and the barley also.[278-1]

Syr, I have thank for the shew that I onys made of yow and daily gramercy, and ye theire prayer.

Syr, forthemore I beseche yow, as ye wyll do eny thyng for me, that ye se o day for my sake, and for yowr own plesure, all the gode hors in Caleys, and if ther be among theym eny pric[278-2] horse of deds, that is to sell, in especiall that he be well trottyng of his owne corage, with owte fors[278-3] of sporis, and also a steryng [_stirring_] hors if he be, he is the better; I pray yow send me word of his color, deds, and corage, and also of his price, feynyng as ye wold by hym yowrself, and also I wold have hym sumwhat large, not with the largest; but no smalle hors, as more than a dowble hors; prayyng yow above all thyngs to have this in remembrauns, and that hastily as may be, for ther is late promysed me help to such an entent, and I wote not how long hit shall endure; and therfor I beseche yow send me word by tyme.

I trow the Frenshe men have taken up al the gode hors in Pycardye, and also they be wont to be hevy hors in labor, and that I love not, but a hevy hors of flesh, and lyht of corage y love well, for y love no hors that wyll al way be lene and slender like grehounds. God kepe yow.

Yowr,

J. PYMPE.

Y pray yow to recomaund me to my cosyn Sir John Scot and all his, in especiall Mastres Benyngfeld.[279-1]

[Footnote 276-2: [From Fenn, ii. 226.] This letter, Fenn tells us, was endorsed under the address in a handwriting of the time which he believed to be Sir John Paston’s--‘Jon Pympe, xvj. die Mar’., anno E. 4, 17,’ showing the date at which it was received.]

[Footnote 277-1: _Frau’s_, _i.e._ women. The writer’s pleasantry in this passage is certainly rather coarse.]

[Footnote 278-1: Perhaps this enigmatical passage may have reference to the Mrs. Barly mentioned in No. 903.]

[Footnote 278-2: In the modern version, Fenn reads here, ‘any prized horse of deeds,’ a reading which seems to me questionable.]

[Footnote 278-3: ‘Fort’ in Fenn, which is probably a misprint, as the word is spelled ‘force’ on the opposite page.]

[Footnote 279-1: Margaret, daughter of Sir John Scot, and wife to Edmund Bedingfeld.--F.]

907

JOHN PYMPE TO SIR JOHN PASTON[279-2]

_To Syr John Paston, Knyht, be this delyverid in Calice._

[Sidenote: 1477 / [MARCH?]]

Master Paston, I recommaund me to yow; and by cause that I have wrytyn to yow iij. long letteres; which as yet be answereles, I wote not whether that the length of mater acumbred yow, or elles the simpylnes of the effect displesid yow, or elles that ye have utterly refusid the proferes of my pore servyce and frendeship; but which of these soo ever hit be, hit hevyeth me.

Syr, hit nedith not, I trow, to send yow the tidynges of these partyes, how be hit I have thryes send yow such as here were, in entent that ye shuld send us of yowres; but as long as my lord and yowres is there, ye can not faile to have the certeynte of all owre English aventures, which is grete ese to yowr frendes and servauntes in this contre, for so much as they may make her letteres shorter by so much.

Syr, at the wrytyng of this letter, I was in Kent, where all thyng that I rejoisid, I wishid yow part of, or all; and as for myself, I am styll yowr servaunt and bedeman, and so am bownd to be so sore and sewrely, that I can not unbynde me.

Syr, this is the v. letter that I have sent yow, whereyn thys entent that folowyth was all wayes on, that is to say, that hit plesid yow sum on day to take so much labour for me for to se the jentyllest hors in Calice that is to be sold, and to lett me know of his colowre, dedes, and price, remembryng that he be also large as mesure wyll, for I love no small hors, nor hors that wyll evyr be lene and slendyr; but I wold have hym hye truttyng, if hit wylbe, and if he be styryng with all, he shall plese me the better, for I wuld have hym all for the plesur, and for the werre, but if he myht be for bothe. Veryly ther is no tidynges on that side the se, safe only the welfare of yow and all other there, that I wuld so fayne here of as of a jentyll trottyng hors that were lyght and pleasaunt in dedes, if eny such be there. Flemysh hors I thenk ye have y nowh that wyll play for a myle or ij., but such we have here also; how be hit I pray yow send me word of yowre store, and be sewre of the price, if ye like eny, or elles let sum man for yow.

No more, but God kepe yow, prayyng yow to recommaund me to my cosyn Syr John Scot, and to Syr Tyry Robsert. Let the letter be sent to the godewif of yowr loggyng.

By yowr JOHN PYMPE.

[Footnote 279-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was probably written about the end of March 1477, as the first of the three which preceded (No. 906) was received by Sir John in Calais on the 16th of the month.]

908

JOHN PYMPE TO SIR JOHN PASTON[280-1]

_To Master Sir John Paston, Knight, be this letter delyvered in Calis._

[Sidenote: 1477]

Fresh amorouse sihts of cuntreys ferre and straunge Have all fordoone[280-2] your old affeccion; In plesurys new, your hert dooth score and raunge So hye and ferre, that like as the fawcon Which is alofte, tellith scorne to loke a down On hym that wont was her feders to pyke and ympe;[281-1] Ryht so forgotyn ye have your pore Pympe,

That wrytith, sendith, and wisshith alday your wele More than his owne; but ye ne here, ne se, Ne sey, ne send, and evyr I write and sele In prose and ryme, as well as hit will be. Sum evyll tong, I trow, myss sayeth of me And ells your fast and feithfull frendelynes Ye thenk mysspent on such as I, I gesse.

I wyll abate my customable concourse, To yow so costuouse,[281-2] whan so evyr ye com agayn, Which that I fele of reson, by the course Of my proferid servyce, hath made yow so unfayne; For veryly the water of the fowntayne With brede only forthwith yowre presens Me shuld content much more than your expense.

But ay deme I thus that Fortun hath hyryd yow, For she but late of sorowys moo than many Hath rakyd un to myn hert an hepe more than a moowe, And wuld that ye shuld ley thereon on hye Your hevy unkyndenes to make hit fast to lye, And God knowth well hit cannot long lye there But hit wyll bryng me to the chirch bere.

Take hit awaye therefore, y praye yow fayre, For hardyly my hert beryth hevy y nowh, For there is Sorow at rest as in hys chayre, Fixid so fast with hys prikks rowh, That in gode feith I wote not whan I lowh,[281-3] For, Master Paston, the thyng whereon my blisse Was holly sette, is all fordoone, I wysse.

By your JOHN PYMPE, thes beyng the vj. letter that I have send yow.

Alway prayyng yow to remembre the hors that I have in every letter wryten for; as thus, that hit wuld plese yow to undrestond who hath the gentyllest hors in trottyng and steryng that is in Calis, and if he be to sell, to send me word of hys pris, largenesse, and colour. Hytt is told me, that the Master Porter hath a coragiouse ronyd hors, and that he wuld putt hym away by cause he is daungerous in companye; and of that I force [_care_] not, so that he be not chorlissh at a spore, as plungyng; and also I sett not by hym, but if he trotte hye and gentilly. No more, but God kepe yow.

JOHN PYMPE.

[Footnote 280-1: [From Fenn, ii. 234.] We may as well place this letter--the only remaining one of the series that has been preserved--immediately after the other two. John Pympe seems to have been a very industrious correspondent, and the art of writing, in prose or verse, came to him very easily.]

[Footnote 280-2: Destroyed.--F.]

[Footnote 281-1: A term in Falconry, signifying the adding a piece to a feather in a hawk’s wing.--F.]

[Footnote 281-2: Expensive.]

[Footnote 281-3: Laughed? Fenn in his modern version reads ‘when I love.’]

909

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[282-1]

_To hys weell belovyd brother, John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1477]

I recomande me to yow, letyng yow weete that I receyvyd a letter of yowres by Edward Hensted ij. dayes aftre that Whetley was departyd from me, whyche he hadde forgetyn in hys caskett, as he seyde, wheroff I sholde have sent yow answer by Whetley, iff I had hadde it toffore he wente, notwithstandyng I am ryght lothe to wryghte in that mater offte; for for a conclusion I wrote to my moodre by Peerse Moody alle that I myght and wolde doo ther in. Ye have also nowe wretyn ageyn. Yow neede nott to praye me to doo that myght be to yowr profyght and worship, that I myght doo ofter than ones, or to late me weete theroff; for to my power I wolde do for yow, and take as moche peyne for yowr weell, and remembre itt when per case ye sholde nott thynke on it yowr selffe. I wolde be as gladde that one gaffe yow a maner of xx_li._ by yeer, as iff he gave it to my selff by my trowthe.

Item, wher ye thynke that I may with concience recompence it ageyn on to owr stokke off other londys that I have off that valywe in fee symple, it is so that Snaylwell, by my grauntefadres will ones, and by my fadris will sceconderely, is entaylyd to the issyw of my fadres body.

Item, as for Sporle xx_li._ by yeer, I hadde ther off butt xx. marke by yere, whyche xx. marke by yeer and the x. marke ovyr, I have endangeryd, as ye weell knowe off that bargayne, whyche, iff itt be nott redemyd, I most recompence some other maner off myne to one off my bretheryn for the seyde x. marke, ovyr xx. marke that longyth to me; wherffor I kepe the maner off Runham. Than have I fe symple londe the maner of Wynterton with Bastwyk and Billys, whyche in alle is nott xx. marke by yeer, whyche is nott to the valywe off the maner off Sparham. And as for Castre, it weer noo convenyent londe to exchange for suche a thyng, nor it weer not polesy for me to sett that maner in suche case for alle maner of happis. I nede nott to make thys excuse to yowe, but that yowr mynde is troblyd. I praye yow rejoyse nott yowr sylffe to moche in hope to opteyne thynge that alle yowr freendys may nott ease yow off; for if my moodre were dysposyd to gyve me and any woman in Ingelande the best maner that she hathe, to have it to me and my wyffe, and to the heyres off our too bodyes begotyn, I wolde nott take it off hyr, by God.

Stablysshe your selffe uppon a goode grownde, and grace shall folowe. Yowr mater is ferre spoken off, and blowyn wyde, and iff it preve noo better, I wolde that it had never be spoken off. Also that mater noysyth me that I am so onkynde that I lett alle togedre. I thynke notte a mater happy, nor weell handelyd, nor poletykly dalte with, when it can never be fynysshyd with owte an inconvenyence; and to any suche bargayne I kepe never to be condescentyng, ner of cowncell. Iffe I weer att the begynnyng of suche a mater, I wolde have hopyd to have made a better conclusyon, if they mokke yow notte. Thys mater is drevyn thus ferforthe with owte my cowncell, I praye yow make an ende with owte my cowncell. Iffe it be weell, I wolde be glad; iff it be oderwyse, it is pite. I praye yow troble me no moore in thys mater. . . .[283-1]

[Footnote 282-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is clearly written in answer to an application by John Paston to his brother to aid him in making arrangements with Sir Thomas Brews in the spring of 1477. Although the signature is lost, the handwriting is that of Sir John Paston.]

[Footnote 283-1: The lower part of this letter seems to have been cut off, and how much is lost does not appear.]

[[for for a conclusion I wrote to my moodre _text unchanged: probably not an error_]]

910

JOHN PASTON AND MARGERY BREWS[284-1]

[Sidenote: 1477]

Memorandum.--To kepe secret fro my moder that the bargayn is full concludyd.

Item, to let hyr have fyrst knowlage that in the chapell, wher as ye wold had ben no book nye by x. myle, that whyn Mastyr Brews seyd that he wold shortly have eyther more lond in joyntour then Sweynsthorp and x. mark ought of Sparham, or ellys that some frend of myne shold paye the vj^xx._li._, so that it shold not be payed of the maryage money, that then I sware on a book to hym that I wold never of my mocyon endanger moder nor broder ferther then I had done; for I thought that my modyr had done myche for me to geve me the maner of Sparham in syche forme as she had done. But Mastyr Breus wyll not agre, with ought that my mastress hys doughter and I be mad swer of it now in hand, and that we may take the hole profytes, what so ever fortune.

Item, to enforme my moder that if so be that we may be pute in possessyon of all the hole maner duryng oure two lyves, and the lengest of leveing, that then Mastyr Brews wyll geve me in maryage with my mastresse hys doughter CCCC. markes, payable in hand l_li._, and so yerly l_li._ tyll the some of CCCC. mark bew full payed.

Item, that wher as he had leyd up C_li._ for the maryage of a yonger doughter of hys, he wylle lend me the same C_li._ and xx_li._ more, to pledge ought my lond, and he to be payed ayen hys C_li._ and xx_li._ by x_li._ by yer.

Item, to avyse my modyr that she brek not for the yerly valew of Sparham above the x. mark dwryng hyr lyve.

[Footnote 284-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper, which is in John Paston’s hand, was evidently written about the same time as the letter immediately following, in which it is mentioned that Margaret Paston had given up the manor of Sparham to her son. The paper is endorsed in a more modern hand: ‘Notes touching the mariage betwene Jo. Paston, Ar’, and Margery Brews.’]

911

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[285-1]

_To my ryght worshypfull moodre, Margret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1477 / MARCH 28]

Please it yow to weete, that I have receyvyd yowr letter, wherein is remembryd the gret hurte, that by liklihod myght ffalle to my brother, iff so be that thys matter betwyn hym and Sir Thomas Brewses doghtre take nott effecte; wheroff I wolde be as sory as hym selffe reasonably; and also the welthy and convenyent marriage that scholde be iff it take effecte; wheroff I wolde be as gladde as any man; and ame better content nowe, that he sholde have hyr, than any other, that evyr he was hertoffoor abowte to have hadde, consyderyd hyr persone, her yowthe, and the stok that she is comyn offe, the love on bothe sydes, the tendre ffavor that she is in with hyr ffader and mooder, the kyndenesse off hyr ffadr and moodr to hyr in departyng with hyr, the ffavor also, and goode conceyte that they have in my brother, the worshypfull and vertuous dysposicion off hyr ffadr and moodr, whyche pronostikyth that, of lyklihod, the mayde sholde be vertuous and goode; all which concyderyd, and the necessary relyffe that my brother most have, I mervayle the lesse, that ye have departyd, and gevyn hym the maner off Sperham, in such fforme as I have knowleche off by W. Gornay, Lomner, and Skypwyth; and I ame ryght gladde to se in yow suche kyndenesse on to my brother as ye have doon to hym; and wolde by my trowthe lever than C_li._ that it weer ffee symple londe, as it is entaylyd, whyche by liklyhood scholde prosper with hym and hys blode the better in tyme to come, and sholde also never cause debate in owr bloode in tyme to come, whyche Godde dyffende, ffor that weer onnaturell.

Item, another inconvenyence is, wher as I undrestande that the maner is gevyn to my brother, and to hys wyff, and to the issywe bytwen them bygoten; iff the case weer soo, that he and she hadde yssywe togedr a dowtr or moo, and hys wyffe dyed, and he maried afftr another, and hadde issywe a sone, that sone sholde have noon londe, and he beyng hys ffadres heyr, and ffor th’enconvenyence that I have knowe let in ur[286-1] in case lyke, and yit enduryth in Kente, by tweyn a jentylman and his suster, I wolde ye toke the advyce off yowr concell in thys poynt, and that that is past yow by wrightyng or by promise, I deme verrely in yow, that ye dyd it off kyndenesse, and in eschywyng off a moor yll that myght befall.

Item, wher as it pleasyth yow that I sholde ratefye, grawnt, or conferme the seyd gyfte on to my brother, it is so, that with myn honeste I may nott, and ffor other cawses. The Pope will suffre a thyng to be usyd, but he will nott lycence nor grant it to be usyd nor don, and soo I. My brother John knowyth myn entent weel i now heer to ffoor in this mater; I will be ffownde to hym as kynde a brother as I may be.

Item, iff it be soo that Sir T. Brews and hys wyff thynke that I wolde troble my brother and hys wyff in the seid maner, I can ffynde no meene to putte them in sywerte ther off, but iff it neede, to be bownde in an obligacion with a condicion that I shalle nott trowble ner infete them therin.

Item, I thynke that she is made sywer i now in astate in the londe, and that off ryght I deme they shall make noone obstacles at my wryghtyng, ffor I hadde never none astate in the londe, ner I wolde nott that I had hadde.

No mor to yow at thys tyme, but Allmyghty God have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn at Caleys, the xxviij. daye of Marche, anno E. iiij. xvij^{o}.

By yowr sone,

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 285-1: [From Fenn, ii. 238.]]

[Footnote 286-1: In ure, _i.e._ in practice.]

[[J. PASTON, K. _comma invisible_]]

912

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[287-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1477 / APRIL 14]

Ryght worshypfull and hertely belovyd brother, I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete, that as by Pyrse Moody, when he was heer, I hadde no leyser to sende answer in wryghtyng to yow, and to my cosyne Gurnaye, off yowr letteris; butt ffor a conclusion ye shalle ffynde me to yow as kynde as I maye be, my conciense and worshyp savyd, whiche, when I speke with yow and them, ye bothe shall weell undrestande. And I praye God sende yow as goode speede in that mater as I wolde ye hadde, and as I hope ye shall have er thys letter come to yow; and I praye God sende yow yssywe betwyne yow, that maye be as honorable as ever was any off your ancestris and theris, wheroff I wolde be as gladde in maner as off myn owne. Wherffor I praye yow sende me worde how ye doo, and iff Godde ffortune me to doo weell, and be off any power, I woll be to Sir Thomas Brewse, and my lady hys wyffe, a verry sone in lawe ffor yowr sake, and take them as ye doo, and doo ffor them as iff I weer in case like with them as ye bee. No moor, but Jesus have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn at Caleys, the xiiij. daye off Aprill, anno E. iiij. xvij^{o}.

As ffor tydyngs her, the Frenshe Kynge hathe gothen many off the towns off the Duk of Burgoyne, as Seynt Quyntyns, Abevyle, Motrell; and now off late he hathe goten Betoyne and Hedynge with the castell ther, whyche is one off the ryallest castells off the worlde; and on Sonday at evyn the Ameralle off Fraunce leyde seege at Boloyne; and thys daye it is seyde, that the Frenshe Kynge shalle come thyddr; and thys nyght it is seyde, that ther was a vysion seyne abowte the walls of Boloyne, as it hadde ben a woman with a mervylowse lyght; men deme that Owr Lady ther will shewe hyrselff a lover to that towne. God fforfende that it weer Frenshe, it weer worthe xl.m^l._li._ [£40,000] that it wer Englyshe.

J. PASTON, K.

[Footnote 287-1: [From Fenn, ii. 244.]]

913

MARGARET PASTON TO DAME ELIZABETH BREWS[288-1]

_To the ryght wurchypfull and my verry good [lady and cosyn, Dame Elyzabet][288-2] Brews._

[Sidenote: 1477 / JUNE 11]

Ryght wurchepful and my cheff lady and cosyn, as hertly as I can, I recomaunde me to yow. Madam, lyeketh yow to undyrstand that the cheff cause of my wrytyng to yow at thys season ys thys: I wot well yt ys not unremembred with yow the large comunycacyon that dyvers tymes hathe ben had towchyng the maryage of my cosyn Margery, yowyr dowghter, and my son John; of whyche I have ben as glad, and now late wardes as sory, as evyr I was for eny maryage in myn lyve. And wher or in whom the defawte of the breche ys, I can have no perfyte knowlage; but, madam, yf yt be in me or eny of myn, I prey yow assygne a day when my cosyn yowyr husbond and ye thynk to be at Norwych to wardes Salle, and I wyll com theder to yow; and I thynk or ye and I departe, that the defawte schall be knowe where yt ys, and also that, with yowyr advyse and helpe and myn to gedyrs, we schall take some wey that yt schal not breke; for yf yt dyd, yt wer non honoure to neyther partyes, and in cheff to them in whom the defawte ys, consyderyng that it ys so ferre spokun.

And, madam, I prey yow that I may have perfyte knowlage be my son Yelverton,[288-3] berar here of, when thys metyng schall be, yf ye thynk it expedyent, and the soner the better, in eschewyng of worsse; for, madam, I know well, yf yt be not concludyd in ryght schort tyme, that as for my son he entendyth to doo ryght well by my cosyn Margery, and not so well by hym sylf, and that schuld be to me, nor I trust to yow no gret plesur, yf yt so fortunyd, as God deffend, Whom I beseche to send yow your levest desyers.

Madam, I besech yow that I may be recomawndyd by this bylle to my cosyn yowr husbond, and to my cosyn Margery, to whom I supposyd to have gevyn an othyr name or thys tyme.

Wretyn at Mawteby, on Seynt Barnaby is Day.

By your,

MARGARET PASTON.

[Footnote 288-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is another letter relative to the negotiations for the marriage of John Paston and Margery Brews, which took place in 1477.]

[Footnote 288-2: The words bracketed are indistinct, but we follow Fenn’s reading.]

[Footnote 288-3: William Yelverton, grandson of Judge Yelverton, now married to Anne Paston, one of Margaret’s daughters.]

914

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[289-1]

_To John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1477 / JUNE 23]

I recomand me to yow, letyng yow weete that I have spoken to Herry Colett,[289-2] and entretyd hym in my best wyse ffor yow, soo that at the last he is agreyd to a resonable respyght ffor the xv_li._ that ye sholde have payd hym at Mydsomer, as he seyth, and is gladde to do yow ease or plesyr in all that he maye; and I tolde hym that ye wolde, as I supposyd, be heer at London, herr nott long to, and than he lokyth afftr that ye sholde come see hym, ffor he is sheryff, and hathe a goodely hows.

Item, my Lady off Oxenfforth[289-3] lokyth afftr yow and Arblaster bothe.

My Lord off Oxenfford[289-4] is nott comen in to Inglonde that I can perceyve, and so the goode lady hathe nede off helpe and cowncell howe that she shall doo.

No moor at thys tyme, butt God have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn att London on Seynt Awdryes Daye, anno E. iiij^ti xvij^{o}.

Tydyngs butt that yisterdaye my Lady Marqueys off Dorset,[290-1] whych is my Lady Hastyngs dowtr, hadyd chylde a sone.

Item, my Lord Chamberleyn is comyn hyddr ffro Caleys, and redyn with the Kynge to Wyndeshor, and the Kyng will be here ageyn on Mondaye.

J. P., K.

[Footnote 289-1: [From Fenn, ii. 248.]]

[Footnote 289-2: Sir Henry Colet was Lord Mayor of London in 1486.--F.]

[Footnote 289-3: Margaret, daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury; she was, during the imprisonment of her lord, in great distress.--F.]

[Footnote 289-4: John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, was at this time a prisoner in the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy; what expectation there was of his coming into England at this time I know not.--F.]

[Footnote 290-1: Cecily, wife of Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset, was great grand-daughter and heir of William Bonvile, Lord Bonvile, who was beheaded by order of Margaret of Anjou, after the second battle of St. Albans in 1461.]

915

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[290-2]

[Sidenote: 1477 / JUNE 29]

Ryght worchepfull and my most good and kynd moder. Moder, in as humbyll wyse as I can or may, I recomand me to yow, and beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng. Moder, please it yow to undyrstond that tyll thys day Dame Elyzabeth Brews hathe ben so syke that she myght nevyr, sythe she cam to Salle, have leyser to comon of my mater with Master Brews tyll thys day; and thys day with gret peyn, I thynk the rather because Heydon[290-3] was ther, the mater was comond, but other answer than she hathe sent yow in hyr lettre closed her in can she not have of hyr husbond. Wherfor, modyr, if it please yow, myn advyse is to send hyr answer ayen in thys forme folowing, of some other manys hand.

[_Margaret Paston to Dame Elyzabeth Brews._]

‘Ryght worchepfull and my verry good lady and cosyn, as hertly as I can, I recomand me to yow. And, madam, I am ryght sory, if it myght be otherwyse, of the dysease, as I undyrstand by the berer herof, that my cosyn your husbond and ye also have had a season, whyche I prey God soone to redresse to your bothe easeis. And, madam, I thank yow hertly that ye have remembred the mater to my cosyn your husbond, that I spak with you of at syche tyme as I was last with you at Norwyche, to my gret comfort. And I wyse, madam, I am ryght sory that John Paston is no more fortunate then he is in that mater; for, as I undyrstand by your lettyr, my cosyn your husbond wyll geve but an C_li._, whyche is no money lyek for syche a joyntore as is desyred of my son, thow hys possybylyte wer ryght easy. But, madam, when I mad that large grant in the maner of Sperham that I have mad to hym and my cosyn your doughter, he told me of an other some that he shold have with hyr then of an C_li._ He hathe befor thys be wont to tell me none untrowthe; and what I shall deme in thys mater, I can not sey, for me thynkyth if more then an C_li._ wer promysyd on to hym by my cosyn your husbond and yow, that ye wold not lett to geve it hym, with ought so wer that I or he abryggyd eny thyng of our promess, whyche I wot well neyther I or he intend to do, if I may undyrstand that hys seying to me was trowthe, and that it may be performyd; but wyst I that he told me otherwyse then my cosyn yowr husbond and ye promysed hym, to deseyve me of Sparham, by my trowthe, thow he have it, he shall lese as myche for it, iff I leve, and that shall he well undyrstand the next tyme I se hym.

‘And, madam, I pray God send us good of thys mater, for as for hys broder Sir John also, I sent ones to hym for it to have mad good the same graunt that I grauntyd yow with hys assent, to them and to ther issu of ther ij. bodyes lawfully comyng, and he dyd not ther in as I desyred hym. And ther for I prey yow pardon me for sendyng on to hym eny more; for, madam, he is my sone, and I can not fynd in my hert to becom a dayly petycyoner of hys, sythe he hathe denyed me onys myn axing. Peraventure he had ben better to have performyd my desyer; and what hys answer was on to me, John Paston can tell yow as well as I. But, madam, ye ar a moder as well as I, wher I prey tak it non other wyse bot well, that I may not do by John Paston, as ye wyll have me to do; for, madam, thow I wold he dyd well, I have to purvey for more of my chylder then hym, of whyche some be of that age, that they can tell me well inow that I dele not evenly with theym to geve John Paston so large, and theym so lytyll; and, madam, for syche grwgys and other causys, I am ryght sory that the graunte is knowyn that I have mad, with ought it myght take effect. And therfor, madam, fro hensforthe I remyght all thyng to yowr dyscressyon, besechyng yow, the rather for my sake, to be my son Johnis good lady; and I prey God preserve yow to Hys plesure, send yow hastyly yowr hele ayen, and my cosyn yowr husbond also, to whom I prey yow that I may hertly be recomandyd, and to my cosyns Margery and Margaret Byllyngforthe.

‘Wretyn at Mawtby, on Seynt Petrys Day.

‘Yowr,

‘MARGARET PASTON.’

_‘An other lettyr to me that I may shewe._

‘I gret yow well, and send you Godes blessyng and myn, letyng yow wet that I undyrstand well by my cosyn, Dame Elyzabeth Brewsys lettyr, whyche I sende yow her with, wherby ye may undyrstand the same, that they intend not to performe thos proferys that ye told me they promysyd yow, trustyng that ye told me none other wyse then was promysed yow. Wherfor I charge yow on my blyssyng that ye be well ware how ye bestow your mynd with ought ye have a substance wher upon to leve; for I wold be sory to wet yow myscary; for if ye do, in your defawt looke never aftyr helpe of me. And also I wold be as sory for hyr as for eny gentywoman leveing, in good feythe; wherfor I warne yow, be ware in eny wyse; and look ye be at Mawtby with me as hastyly as ye can, and then I shall tell yow more. And God kepe yow.

‘Wretyn at Mawtby, on Seynt Petrys Day.

‘Your modyr,

‘M. P.’

[Footnote 290-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, with the two subjoined, are drafts written on the same paper in John Paston’s hand. They must belong to the year 1477, being on the same subject, already so often referred to, of the negotiations for John Paston’s marriage. Fenn had added addresses to all these letters, and a signature to the first, which are not in the original MS.]

[Footnote 290-3: John Heydon of Baconsthorpe, who died on the 27th September 1479.--Inquisition p.m., 19 Edw. IV., No. 72.]

916

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[293-1]

_To the ryght worshypfull Mestresse Margret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1477 / AUG. 7]

Please it yow to weete that I have receyvyd yowr letter, wretyn the Tywesdaye nexte afftre Seynt James Daye, wherin ye desyre me to remembre Kokett, and also to be helpyng to my brother Johnes mariage. As for Kokett, as God helpe me, I knowe nott yitt the meanes possible that I myght paye hym by thatt daye, ffor thoos materis that be off grettest wyght and charge, and that stonde nerrest my weell, that is to seye, the sywerte off the maner off Castre, and the mater betwen Anne Hault and me shall, with Goddes grace, thys terme be at a perffyght ende, whyche will charge me fferther than I have mony as yitt, or lyke to have byffor that tyme, off myne owne, and, as God helpe me, I wote nott where to borow.

Item, I most paye with in thys iij. yeer iiij^c. [400] marke to Towneshende, or ellis fforffett the maner off Sporle, and thus my charges be gretter than I maye a weye with, concidryd suche helpe as I have; and iff it ffortunyd that I fforffetyd the maner off Sporle, ye weer never lyke to se me myry afftre, so God helpe me. Ye gave me ones xx_li._ to it wardes, and ye promyttyd as moche, whyche I receyvyd, and synnys off my mony off seide maner growyng that come to yowr handys was receyvyd by yow ageyn the seyd xl_li._, whyche, when Kokett scholde be payed, was nott yowr ease to departe wyth. Neverthelesse ye may yitt, when yow lyketh, perfforme yowr sayde gyffte and promyse, and thys somme owyng to Kokett is nott so moche; neverthelesse I suppose that ye be nott so weell purveyed. Wherffor, iff it please yow at yowr ease her afftre to performe yowr seyde gyffte and promyse, so that I may have it with in a yer or ij. or yitt iij., I sholde per case gete yowr obligacion to yow ageyn ffrom Kokett, and he pleasyd. Wherffor I beseche yow that I maye have an assyngnement of suche dettes as been owyng yow, payeable at leyser off suche mony as is owyng ffor the woode at Basyngham or ellys wher; ffor, so God helpe me, I sholde ellys wylfully ondoo myselffe, wherin I beseche yow to sende me an answer in hast.

Item, as towchyng the mariage off my brother John, I have sente hym myn advyce, and tolde hym wherto he shall truste, and I have grauntyd hym as moche as I maye. I wolde that I weer at on communycacion atwyen them for hys sake, whyche I sholde if I myght. As for my comyng home, I ame nott yitt sertayn therof; I shalle hast me as faste as I canne, with the grace of God, Who have yow in Hys kepyng.

I beseche yow to remembre the premyssis, and to helpe me, and with Goddes grace, thes ij. materis above wretyn, bothe of Castre and Mestresse Anne Hault, shall be endyd to my profyth and rest, and moor ovyr, er awghte longe to, with Goddes grace, the maner of Sporle to be owte of danger; promyttyng yow that I shall doo in Kokettes mater as moche as is possible for me to doo to yower plesyr. It shall never neede to prykk nor threte a free horse. I shall do whatt I can.

Wretyn the Thorysdaye next byffore Seynt Lawrence, anno E. iiij^ti xvij.

By yowre sone,

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 293-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

917

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[294-1]

[Sidenote: 1477 / AUG. 11]

Yt ys soo that I undyrstonde be yowyr letter wretyn the Thyrsday nexte be fore Seynt Lauerons, that ze wulde have knowlage how that I wuld be demenyd in Cokettes mater; qweche I send you here undyr wretyn. I putte yow in certeyn that I wull nevyr pay him peny of that duty that ys owyng to hym, thow he sue me for yt, not of myn owyn pursse; for I wul nat be compellyd to pay yowyr dettes azens my well, and thow I wuld, I may nat. Where fore I a wyse yow to see me savyd harmelesse azens hym for yowyr owyn a wauntage in tyme cumyng, for yf I pay yt, at longe wey ze xall bere the losse.

And where as ze wryte to me that I gave yow xx_li._, and promysyd odyr xx_li._, that ys nat soo, for I wutte wele yf I had soo doon, ze wuld nat assynyd me be yowyr letterys of yowyr owyn hande wrytyng, the whech I have to schew, that I schuld resseyve a zen the same summe of Wylliam Pecok, and of yowyr fermores, and byars of yowyr wood of Sporle; and take this for a full conclusyon in thys mater, for yt xall be noon othyr wyse for me than I wryte here to yow.

I mervel meche that ze have delte azen soo symply wyth Sporle, consyderyng that ze and yowyr frendys had so meche to doo for to geetyt yow azen onys; and ye havyng noo gretter materes of charge than ze have had sythyn yt was laste pleggyt owte, yt causyth me to be in gret dowte of yow what yowyr dysposycion wul be here aftyr for swheche lyfelood as I have be dysposyd before this tyme to leve yow after my decesse. For I thynke veryly that ye wulde be dysposyd here aftyr to selle or sette to morgage the lond that ye xulde have after me yowyr modyr as gladdly and rathyr than that lyfe lood that ye have after yowyr fadyr. Yt grevyth me to thynke upon yowyr gydeyng after the greet good that ze have had in yowyr rewle sythyn yowyr fadyr deyyd, whom God assoyle, and soo symply spendyt as yt hath ben. God geve yow grace to be of sadde and good dysposyn here after to Hys plesans, and comforte to me, and to all yowyr frendys, and to yowyr wurchyp and profyte here after.

And as for yowyr brothyr Wylliam, I wuld ye xulde purvey for hys fyndyng, for as I told yow the laste tyme that ye ware at home, I wuld no lenger fynde hym at my cost and charge; hys boord and hys scole hyer ys owyng sythyn Seynt Thomas Day afore Cristmesse, and he hathe greet nede of gownys and odyr gere that whare necessary for hym to have in haste. I wulde ze xulde remembyrt and purvey them, for as for me, I wul nat. I thynke ze sette butte lytyl be myn blessyng, and yf ye dede, ye wulde a desyyrd yt in yowyr wrytyng to me. God make yow a good man to Hys plesans.

Wretyn at Mawteby, the day after Seynt Lauerons, the yere and the renge of Kyng E. the iiij^te the xvij. zere.

Be yowyr Modyr.

[Footnote 294-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is not addressed, the original being a corrected draft, but there is no doubt it was written to Sir John Paston in reply to the last. It is endorsed in a more modern hand: ‘Copia literæ Jo. Paston, mil., a matre sua.’]

918

EDMUND BEDYNGFELD TO SIR JOHN PASTON[296-1]

_Un to the ryght wurschepful Sir John Paston, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1477 / AUG. 17]

Master Paston, after all dew recomandacion, and herty dissire to here of your good hele, plese yt you to wete I have spoken with Sir John of Medilton as wel as I cowde, and yt had ben for myself, for his hoby that ye dissired, and tolde hym he myght wel forbere hym nowe in as moche as Mastres Jane was ded, and that yt is a great cost for hym to kepe moo hors than he nedyth; and he answered me, that he wold selle hym with good will, but ther shuld no man bie hym under x_li._ Flemesch;[296-2] and I offered hym in your name, x. marke, for he wold not here of none other ambelyng horse, that ye myght geve hym therfore. And also my lord dissired to have bowte hym for the Lord Schauntrell that is cheff capteyn of Seynt Omers; and he wold no lesse lete my lord have hym than x_li._ and so my lord bowte another, and gave hym the seide lord, for he thoughte this to dere; neverthelesse he wol not selle hym to no man under that mony, that he sette hym on, and so ye may bye your plesur in hym and ye lest; for otherwyse he wol not doo for you, as I conseve.

And as for tydyngs in theyse partyes, the Frenche Keng leyzth at sege at Seynt Omers, on the one side of the town a myle of, but he hath no gret ordenaunce ther; and they of the town skyrmysh with them every day, and kepe a passage halff a myle with oute the town; and the French Keng hath brenned all the townys, and fayre abbeys, that were that way aboute Seynt Omers, and also the cornes weche ar there. And also, as yt ys seide for serteyn, the French Keng hath brenned Cassell, that ys myn hoold Lady of Burgeynys[297-1] joynttor, and all the countre there aboute, whereby she hath lost a gret part of her lyvelod; and that is a sherewed tokyn that he menyth wel to the Keng, howur suffereygn Lord, when he intendyth to distroye her.

Morover Sir Phylep de Crevekere hath takyn them that were in Fynys with inne this iiij. dayes to the noumbre of xiiij. personys, and the remnaunt where fled, and he had them to the French Keng, and he hath brentte all the place, and pulled down the towre, and a part of the wall, and disstroyed yt.

And as yt is seid, yf the French Keng can not gete Seynt Omers, that he intendyth to brenge his armye thorwe theyse marchys into Flaundres; wherefore my lord hath do brokyn all the passages excep Newham bryge, weche is wached, and the turne pyke shette every nyght. And the seide French Keng with inne these iij. dayes rayled gretely of my lord to Tygyr Pursevaunt, opynly byfore ij. hundred of his folks; wherefore yt ys thaught here that he wold feynde a quarell to sett upon thys town, yf he myght gete avantage. And as I understonde, the Emperorys sone[297-2] ys maryed at Gaunte as this day; and ther cam with hym but iiij. hundred horse, and I can here of no moo that be comyng in serteyn; and in mony he brengyth with hym an hundred thowsand dokets, wheche is but a smalle thyng in regard for that he hath to doo. Wherefore, I fere me sore, that Flaundres will be lost; and yf Seynt Omers be whonnyn, all is gon, in my conceyt. Never the lesse they say there shuld come gret powere after the Emperorys son; but I be leve yt not, by cause they have ben so long of comyng.

And I pray you to recomaunde me unto Sir Tyrry Robsert, and that yt plese you to lete hym knowe of your tydyngs, and Hour Lord have you in His kepyng.

At Calais, the Sunday next after Hour Lady the Assumpsion.

Your,

E. BEDYNGFELD.[298-1]

[Footnote 296-1: [From Fenn, ii. 250.] The events referred to in this letter prove that it was written in the year 1477.]

[Footnote 296-2: Between £5 and £6 English, and equal in value to upwards of £20 at this present time, apparently a great price for a hobby.--F.]

[Footnote 297-1: Margaret, sister to Edward IV., widow of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.]

[Footnote 297-2: Maximilian, son of the Emperor Frederick, married Mary, daughter and heir of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.--F.]

[Footnote 298-1: Edmund Bedyngfeld married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Scot, Comptroller of Calais, and was created a Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Richard III. He was highly in favour with Henry VII., who paid him a royal visit at Oxburgh, in Norfolk, which fine seat he built. He died in 1496.--F.]

[Transcriber’s note: In the following section, lines shown as ---- were blank in the original.]

919

AGNES AND WILLIAM PASTON[298-2]

[Sidenote: 1477 / AUG. 22]

_The names of the maners of Agnes Pastons and William Paston, in Norfolk, how thai shuld be taken hede to this harvest, anno xvij^{o}._

_And a copy of the same send to Richard Lynstede, the xxij. day of August, anno xvij^o, per Bacheler Water._

Paston maner, Se that the fermour in his corne on my moders fe. Seale dores and distrayne, and put in a newe fermour.

Wodemyl, Distrayne.

Latymers, Gadir the rente.

Sewardbys, Gadir the rente.

Trunche, Distrayne on the grounde after it is fellid, while it lieth on my moders fe.

Spriggeis, Gader the rente.

Knapton fe, ----

Crowmer, Gadir the rente.

Owstoonde, Distrayne.

Rowton, Distrayne, and arest the fermour.

Riston, Lete Lynstedes brother gader the rente.

Oxned maner, Se the fermour in his croppe, and after seale doris and distrayne, and lete hym not renne in dette as other fermours did.

Oxned mylle, Se the fermour in his croppe, and after seall doris and distrayne, and lete hym not renne in dette as other fermours did.

Caster Cleres, Aske the ferme.

Holkhams tenement, Aske the ferme.

The mersh in Caster, Aske the ferme.

Caster Bardolf, Aske the ferme a rent.

Caster Clere rentes, Distrayne tenauntes.

Holham rentes, ----

Ormysby my fe, ----

Somerton, Se that he in his corn, and seall dores and distrayne, til he fynde suerty.

Thirn, Aske the ferme.

Sowth Walsham, ----

Halvyrzates, ----

Todenham, Aske the rente, and areste Smyth.

Cokfeldes, Aske the rente.

Apawys, Se he in his corn, and seall dores and distrayne.

Marlyngfor maner, Sele doris and distrayne.

Marlyngford mylle, Seale doris and distrayne.

Merlyngforde tenauntes, Distrayne.

Melton, Se the croppe inned, and seale doris and distrayne.

Bonwell, Aske rente.

Carleton, Aske rente.

Thuxstons, Aske rente.

Lynghall nuper Dokkynges, Aske rente fro Mich. xvj. till xvij^o and distrayne.

Bulmans nuper Dokkynges, Aske rente fro Mich. xvj^o til xvij^o, and exorte Martyn to kepe the ferme still, and if he woll not, praye hym to gete a noder.

Yeaxham nuper Dokkynges, Aske rente fro Mich. xvj^o till xvij^o, and gete a newe fermour, and increse the rente, and make a newe terrar and rentall.

Styberd nuper Dokkynges, Aske rent fro Mich. xv^o till Mich. xvij^o, and distrayne, and allowe no dewty of Dokkynges in abatyng my rente.

Thymbilthorp nuper Dokkynges. Aske rente fro Mich. xv^o till Mich. xvij^o, and distrayne, and allowe noe dewty of Dokkynges in abatyng my rente.

These maners that are trahid take gode hede that ye be in gode suertye of them this harvest tyme.

[Footnote 298-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The heading of this document is taken from an endorsement on the original MS.]

920

SIR JOHN PASTON’S WILL[300-1]

[Sidenote: 1477 / OCT. 31]

[I, JOHN PASTON,] Knyght, in the last day of O[ctober, Anno] Domini m^{l}cccclxxvj^o, will, graunte, and be queth my sowle to All myghty God, and to the . . . . . . Marye, Seint John Baptist, Seint Gorge, Seint Cristofur, and Seint Barbara; and my body, yf I dyghe ny the Cyte of London, [to the chapel] of Owre Lady in the Whithe Frerys there, at the Northeest corner of the body of the chyrche, and there to be made an orator[y] . . . . . or muche leke as ys over Sir Thomas Browne in the Frere Prechours, to the valour of xx_li._, so that it may cause . . . . . . ther prayours there, the rather to remembre my sowle, and to pray therefore; and that there be gevyn to the behoff . . . . . at plotte of grounde be made suer unto me for ever the some of xx. marc.

. . . . . . . dayly, be the space of an holl yere, by soumme well disposed brother of the same howse, and that the seyd brother . . . . . . [not]withstondyng yf I decesse in the counte of Norffolk, or there nye abouute, I wolde my bodye were buried at the prio[ry of Bromholm] . . . . . un to the Founders Toumbe, which arche is unto the North syde, and ryght agayn my fadyr toum[be] . . . . . . . . . ith an awter and a toumbe for me, to the value of xx_li._, and that the howse there have a rewarde . . . . . . . . . to the frerys of London, and that there be also a broder of that howse to synge for my sowle by one . . . . . . . . . . salarye.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a closette made at my cost over my faders body ther . . . . . . . . . . of xx_li._, so that owre cousyns . . . . . . . . . . have the more devocion to that place, and the rather reste there bodyes there the encresse of the . . . . . . . . . . encrese and profite of the howse, and reste on the religeus there of, lyke as owr auncetours have . . . . . . . . . [a]nd to the entent that I disclosed but on to fewe persons concernyng the fee ferme that is payed . . . . . . . . Duke of Suffolk.

[Item, I will that my bro]ther, John, yf I dye with owth yssue leffull of my bodye, have the maner of Swaywell to hym and . . . . . . . . accordyng to the willez both of myn graunfader and of my fader, on whos sowles God have mercye, the . . . . . . . . esse.

[Item, I will that the] Bysshoppe of Wynchester, or his assygnes, woll and fynde suerte to do founde at the lyste iiij. prestys . . . . . . . . . . of John Fastolf and his frendys, &c., at Caster, and that there be bylded loggyng conveniant for those . . . . . . . . . . . . . . adjoynyng uppon the bakhous over the gardeyn withouuth the mote on the Weste syde of my . . . . . . . . . . . in the seid maner or maners yn Caster, graunt by chartour, grounde, space, and londe, convenyant for such . . . . . . . . entre and yssue therunto, and to that entent, and byldyng or purchasyng of license of the kyng . . . . . . . . profitez of the seid maners holly be expendid the terme of vij. yerez next after my dissece; and, moreover, . . . . . . . . . resorte theder in his owne persone to over see the werkys or byldyng or establyssyng of the seyd howse [he shall h]ave playn lyberte to dwell withinne my seid maner and fortresse the seid terme of vij. yerez, and that . . . . . . . . estys.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . [cha]pell of Seint John Baptyst, withyn the seyd towne of Caster, with all the profitez yerly of that same begeny[ng] . . . . . . . . . ed to the seyd college or howse for evermore, with lycence therunto had of the Kyng and of the Pope, with . . . . . . . . in Caster before seyd, which londis, with the seyd chapell, schalbe of the yerly value of vij_li._ yerly . . . . . ment of one prest above the charge that the Bysshope wyll do to pray for the sowles of my fader . . . . . . . . . Thomas Lyndys, clerk, and of Sir John Dawbeney. And that after this above wretyn be performed, yf that . . . . . . es make astate by fyne reryd and enrolled in the Kynges courte of the seid maner and maners in Castre . . . . . . . . . . . yssue of his bodye laufully comyeng, and for defaute of yssue of his body lawfully [rem]ayne to the issue of my moders lawfully commynge. And for defaute of yssue of her body lawfully commyng . . . . . . . . myn uncle, Edward Maudeby, and to the yssue of his body lawfully commynge. And that for defaute . . . . . . . . . [comm]yng that the seyd maners remayn to my cousyn, Sir William Calthorp, and to the right eyrez . . . . . . . . . . . . . defaute of issue of his body lawfully commynge, the seyd maners to reverte to the . . . . . . . .

[Item, I will that the priest of the chap]ell of the seyd collage be presented by the lordys of my seid maner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ed by Syr John Fastolff.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eryng de eadem villa vendatur per executores meos ad perimplendum et persolvendum. . . . . . . . . . . . . em invenerit securitatem ad redimendum manerium de Sporle prædictum, quod si ipse . . . . . . . . . x. acr’ terræ de eisdem perquesit’ de Johanne Kendall tempore debito dentur prædicto Johanni fratri [meo et hæredibus suis legiti]me procreatis; et defectu exitus legitimi de prædicto Johanne fratre meo, tunc prædictæ terræ et tenementa remaneant . . . . . . . . . . . . . triavi mei, legittime procreatis; et pro defectu exitus legittimi prædicti triavi mei, tunc remaneant Willelmo . . . . . [et hæredibus i]psius Willelmi legitime procreatis; et pro defectu exitus legitimi prædicti Willelmi, tunc omnia prædicta terræ et tenementa [remaneant] . . . . . . assignatis imperpetuum; proviso quod executores testamenti Willelmi Pekering habeant x. marcas pro . . . . . et habeat xxxvij. acras terræ de prædictis terris sibi per voluntatem patris ejus assignatis sive legatis si tantæ . . . . . . . . . . terræ quæ idem Johannes vendidit sint de numero illarum acrarum sibi limitatarum per Nicholaum patrem prædicti Johannis ac . . . . . . . . . recompensacionem; eo quod idem Johannes forte credidit quod ipse juste potuit vendere, quæque terræ et tenementa in feofamento . . . . . [pat]ris, non obstante quod pater prædictus non declaravit quicquid faciendum de dictis terris suis ultra certas acras . . . . . . . . . na ipsius patris.

[Footnote 300-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The original of this document is mutilated. It is endorsed in a more modern hand, ‘Testamentum Johannis Paston Senioris militis.’]

[[Sidenote: 1477 _printed as shown, but body text says “m^{l}cccclxxvj” (1476)_

invenerit securitatem ad redimendum _text reads “invenetit”_]

921

WILLIAM PEKOC TO SIR JOHN PASTON[304-1]

_To my ryth worschepffull master, Sir John Paston, Knyth, logyd at the Goorge, be Powll Warffe, in London, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1477 / NOV. 19]

Ryth worchepful sir, I recomand me to yowr good masterchep. Plseyth you to wete that I have purweyid for for your heryng a non after your departyng, but I can yet no caryage, nowthir owte of Yermowth, ner in no oder place be twyn Wynterton and Leystoft, nowthir be lond nor be the se, not yet; and specyally for your swanes. Hery Cook seyth he wolle no more come on the se with his good wylle. Ther is no man wyllyng to del with your swanes. Also, as for your hors, ye most ordayne a nothir keper than they have, or ellis ye chal not leke wel be them whan ye se hem; they arn nowthir redyn nor corayd. Peris is meche owteward, and Whyte wol not a tende hem, nowdyr for Peris ner for me. They arn not watryd butt at the welle. Peris hath be ryth seke; and yet, but for dyspleser of you, Peris had ben in hand with Whyte or this tyme. Ye muste be proveyd of a nothir hors keper, or elles it wol do you harm on your hors. Also, I have had iiij_li._ for to a sent you if I cowde have gete ony trosty man to youward. As for barly, I can non selle a bove xiiij_d._ the comb. As your leter that ye sent me, I have fownd a frere that hath promyssyd me to do’n his dever if it may be browte a bowte be ony mene in hast. Also there is a grete chyppe go to wrekke be for Wynterton, and there came up on your several grownd gret plente of bowe stawys and waynescotte, and clappalde[304-2] grete plente. I gate cartys and caryd to the towne that that was fownd on your fee. Mastras Clere hath sen down hyr men, and with set alle the stuff and wrekke, and seyth that ye gete non there, for sche wol have it be the tytyl of the lete, and I have answerd there to, that che owte non to have be that tytil; and so if ye wol comon with yor cownsel, I trow it to the lord of the soylle and not to the lete; for the maner holdyth nothyng of hyr. Sche had never no wrekke nor growndage till withinne this xx. wynter. There is no maner in Wyynterton but your; lesse your ryth now and lesse it for ever. I am threte to be trobelid there, for there ben v. men on lyve of the chyppe. The bordes had ben good for wyndownes and dores. Ye chuld have had thyme worthe the money, and sche had not lettyd it. Ther is com up ter [_tar_] at Caster v. or vj. barell. Men of Scrowby hath fet it awey. Ye must have a meen be sum wryte of trespas for them, or ellis it wool do yow meche harm here after. Rechard Kedman, John Pool, senior, and William Abbys, these arn summe of ther namys of Scrowby.

Item, I receyved a leter the Twis day befor Sen Edmunde the Kyng there as ye wryte to me for William Foster; his sewirtesse ston chargyd for iiij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._, as John Seyve hath seyd to me or the tyme that I receyvyd your leter, but he hath ij. men of Norwech to sewirte to save hym and his felaw harmeless. Scharggar is on, and Vyncent the plomer is a nothir that chal bere the dawnger. And as for your swanes, I have gette a man that chal cary hem be lond, and that I chal send word with the swanes that the herynges chal com be water; and if the chuld have ony heryng for your store, it wold be purveyd for, for heryng wol be dere or Lente.

Item, there arn wyndownes blow opyn in the place, and the wyndown of the gonne hows with inne the brege is revyn. I wot not whethir it was so or ye wente or not. My Lord of Norwech was at Caster Halle for to a cen the place as he cam to London ward. Ser, remembir your hors to have a better keper. Ser, to remembir thesse men of Scrowby, and comon with Master William Paston there in, for he partith with you both wrekke and growndage in Caster; and he wold take the accyon in his lordes name that he delyth for, it ware a good wey, be my sympil wyth. God preserve you, and kepe yow, and bryng yow home a yen to your contre.

Wretyn at Mawteby on Sen Edmundis Evyn, the Kyng, in hast,

Be your man and servant,

WILLIAM PEKOC.

[Footnote 304-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is endorsed by Sir John Paston, ‘Pekok, m. [_i.e._ mense] Decembris, anno E. iiij^ti xvij^{o}.’]

[Footnote 304-2: Board cut to make casks.]

[[Plseyth you to wete that I have purweyid for for your heryng _all text unchanged; duplication is at mid-line in Gairdner but at line break in MS._]]

922

WILLIAM PEKOC TO SIR JOHN PASTON[306-1]

[Sidenote: 1477 / NOV. 30]

Ryth worchypfull ser, I recomand me to your good masterchep. Plesyth you, as for Pekrynges mater, I sent a frere in John Pekerynges name for the evydens; and he had an answer that if he had a busschelful of evydenss, he chuld noon have of them, for he hath set the londe in trobill, nor he cowd have no seyte of none. Also remembir your ryth of your wreke at Wynterton. Thesse arn the menes namys of Wynterton, Robert Parker of West Somerton, John Longyard of Wynterton, Thomas Goodknape of the same, Will Wrantham and John Curteys of the same Wynterton, that caryid of your severel grownd xxij. carte ful of stuffe, viij^xx. bowestavis, iij^xx. and vij. waynescottes, xiiij^c. clapalde,[306-2] v. barell ter, iiij. copil oris, and gret plante [_plenty_] of wreke of the schyppe that is worth meche mony, as ye chal understonde the trowth after this.

And as for your heryng that chuld in to Essexkes, they arn there, be the grace of God. As for your swanes, they chal be there be Our Ladys Day next comyng, I troste to God, Ho have your masterchyp in Is kepyng.

Wretyn at Mawteby, where as I am ryth werey, on Sen Andrews Day, Anno xvij^o E.

* * *

Ser, if it plese your masterchep, I sold yet no barly, ner none can a bove xiiij_d._ the comb, as I sen word in a leter be John Russe; and I toke iiij_li._ in mony to bryng to your materchep. The prysse of your heryng is iiij_li._ iij_s._ iiij_d._, besyd oder costes. Hery Cook wold goo with your swanes, for hys yefte chuld be vj_s._ viij_d._, and there fore he wold yeffe you his labore, be so ye payd for his costes. Ipse dixit.

Be your servaunt,

WILL. PEKOC.

[Footnote 306-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There is no address on this letter, but it is endorsed, like the preceding, by Sir John Paston, ‘Pekok, mense Decembris, anno E. iiij^ti xvij^{o}.’]

[Footnote 306-2: _See_ page 304, Note 2.]

923

MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[307-1]

_To my ryth reverent and worscheful husbond, Jon Paston._

[Sidenote: 1477 / DEC. 18]

Ryth reverent and worscheful husbond, I recomaunde me to yow, desyryng hertyly to here of yowr wylfare, thankyng yow for the tokyn that ye sent me be Edmunde Perys, preyng yow to wete that my modyr sent to my fadyr to London for a goune cloth of mustyrddevyllers[307-2] to make of a goune for me; and he tolde my modyr and me wanne he was comme home, that he cargeyt yow to beyit, aftyr that he were come oute of London.

I pre yow, yf it be not bowt, that ye wyl wechesaf to byit, and sendyt home as sone as ye may, for I have no goune to weyre this wyntyr but my blake and my grene a lyer,[307-3] and that is so comerus that I ham wery to weryt.

As for the gyrdyl that my fadyr be hestyt me, I spake to hym ther of a lytyl before he zede to London last, and he seyde to me that the faute was in yow, that ze wolde not thynk ther uppe on to do makyt [_to get it made_]; but I sopose that ys not so; he seydyt but for a skwsacion. I pre yow, yf ye dor takyt uppe on yow, that ye wyl weche safe to do makyt a yens ye come home, for I hadde never more nede ther of than I have now, for I ham waxse so fetys[308-1] that I may not be gyrte in no barre of no gyrdyl that I have but of one. Elisabet Peverel hath leye sek xv. or xvj. wekys of the seyetyka, but sche sent my modyr word be Kate, that sche xuld come hedyr wanne God sent tyme, thoow sche xuld be crod [_wheeled_] in a barwe.

Jon of Damm was here, and my modyr dyskevwyrd me to hym, and he seyed, be hys trouth that he was not gladder of no thyng that he harde thys towlmonyth, than he was ther of.

I may no lenger leve be my crafte, I am dysscevwyrd of alle men that se me.

Of alle odyr thyngys that ye deseyreyd that I xuld sende yow word of, I have sent yow word of in a letter that I dede wryte on Ouwyr Ladyis Day[308-2] laste was. The Holy Trenyte have yow in Hese kepyng.

Wretyn at Oxnede, in ryth gret hast, on the Thrusday next be fore Seynt Tomas Day.[308-3]

I pre yow that ye wyl were the reyng with the emage of Seynt Margrete, that I sent yow for a rememraunse, tyl ye come home; ye have lefte me sweche a rememraunse, that makyth me to thynke uppe on yow bothe day and nyth wanne I wold sclepe.

Your ys,

M. P.

[Footnote 307-1: [From Fenn, ii. 256.] It is curious that after so much negotiation for the marriage of John Paston and Margery Brews, we have no record in these letters when it actually took place; but probably it was in August 1477, the last reference to it as an event not yet accomplished being on the 7th of that month (No. 916). In January 1478, John Paston talks of taking his wife to her father’s house on account of her situation, and their first child was born in the course of the following summer. This letter seems to have been written in December. Fenn remarks that St. Thomas’s Day might mean the Translation of St. Thomas à Becket, 7th July 1478, and ‘Our Lady’s Day’ might be the Visitation of the Virgin, 2nd July preceding. But this is simply impossible, because the letter is dated Thursday _before_ St. Thomas’s Day, which would in that case be the very same date as the Visitation of Our Lady, viz. the 2nd July 1478. Besides, if the first child of John Paston and Margery was not actually born before July, the latter was certainly much nearer to her confinement then than this letter would imply. _See_ No. 936 in vol. vi.

A facsimile of this letter was published in the _European Magazine_ for March 1787, and we have carefully compared the text with this facsimile.]

[Footnote 307-2: A kind of grey woollen cloth.]

[Footnote 307-3: Fenn suggests _Grenouilliere_ or frog-colour, but I find no authority for such a word; and I should suppose ‘grene’ to be a separate word, though what ‘a lyer’ is I cannot say.]

[Footnote 308-1: This word commonly signifies neat or elegant, and seems to be used here ironically.]

[Footnote 308-2: Conception of Our Lady, 8th of December.--F.]

[Footnote 308-3: 21st December, the day of St. Thomas Apostle, or perhaps 29th December, the day of St. Thomas (à Becket) the Martyr.]

[[_To my ryth reverent and worscheful husbond, Jon Paston._ _text has “myryth” but words are separated in MS._

Footnote 307-3 what ‘a lyer’ is I cannot say _possibly Lier in Brabant_]]

924

ABSTRACT[309-1]

[Sidenote: 1478(?)]

Bill in Parliament confirming the statute of Marlborough [52 Hen. III.], with additions touching wardships, reliefs, etc., to take effect after Easter, 1480.

[The last Parliament before 1480 met on the 16th January 1478. This measure was probably introduced or intended for discussion at that period.]

[Footnote 309-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

925

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[309-2]

_To my ryght worchepfull broder, Syr John Paston, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1478 / JAN. 21]

Syr, aftyr all dutes of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to undyrstand that I have comond with dyvers folkys of the Dwk of Suffolk now thys Crystmas and sythen, whyche let me in secret wyse have knowlage, lyek as I wrott on to yow, that he must mak a shefft for money, and that in all hast. Wherfor, syr, at the reverence of God, let it not be lachesyd, but with effect aplyed now, whyll he is in London, and my lady hys wyff also; for I assarteyn yow that C. mark wyll do more now in ther neede then ye shall peraventure do with CC. marks in tyme comyng, and thys season be not takyn. And alweys fynd the meane that my Lady of Suffolk and Syr R. Chamberleyn may be yowr gwydes in thys mater, for as for my lord, he nedyth not to be mevyd with it tyll it shold be as good as redy to the sealyng.

Syr, lyeketh yow also to remember that I told yow that Mastyr Yotton[309-3] had, as I cam last towardes London, desyred me, by a lettre of attorney wryttyn with hys owne hand, to se th’enprowment of syche profytes as ar growing of hys chapell in Caster that ye gave hym; and at syche season as I told yow of it, ye sayd on to me that ye wold asay to make a bargayn with hym, so that ye myght have a prest to syng in Caster. Syr, me thynkes ye can not have so good a season to meve hym with it as now thys Parlement tyme, for now I thynk he shalbe awaytyng on the Quene; and also if ye myght compone with hym or he wyst what the valew wer, it wer the better, and I have promysed hym to send hym woord thys terme of the verry valew of it, and also syche mony as I cowd gader of it. Wherfor, syr, I prey yow that by the next messenger that ye can get to Pekok that ye wyll send hym woord to paye me for the lond in xxx. acres, as it hathe ben answerd before tym.

And as for tydynges here, we have none, but we wold fayne here of all your royalte at London, as of the maryage of my Lord of York,[310-1] and other Parlement mater; and so I prey yow that I may doo when ye have leyser.

Syr, I prey yow that Whetley may have knowlage that my broder Yelverton hathe promysed me to take hym xl_d._; he owyth me by reason of his fermore at Caster more then that.

And, syr, as for my huswyff, I am fayne to carry hyr to se hyr fadyr and hyr frendes now thys wynter, for I trow she wyll be ought of facyon in somer. And so in my progresse fro my fadyr Brews on to Mawtby, I took Master Playter in my wey, at whoys hows I wrot thys bylle, the xxj. day of January, anno E. iiij^ti xvij^{o}. And I beseche God to preserve yow and yours.

Yowr,

J. PASTON.

Endorsed by Sir John Paston, ‘J. P., anno xvij^{o}.’

[Footnote 309-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 309-3: Dr. Yotton was the Queen’s chaplain.--F.]

[Footnote 310-1: Richard, Duke of York, second son to King Edward IV., married Ann, daughter and heir of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, 15th January 1477-78.--F.]

[[... second son to King Edward IV. _corrected by author from “Henry IV.”_]]

926

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[311-1]

_To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston._

[Sidenote: 1478 / FEB. 3]

Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtes of humble recomendacyon, in as humble wyse as I can, I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng. Pleasyt yow to wett that at my being now at London, lyek as ye gave me in comandment, I mevyd to Mastyr Pykenham and to Jamys Hubart for ther being at Norwyche now thys Lent, that ye myght have ther avyses in syche maters as ye let me have understandyng of. And as for Mastyr Pykenham, he is now Juge of the Archys, and also he hathe an other offyce, whyche is callyd _Auditor Causarum_, and hys besyness is so gret in bothe thes offyces that he can not tell the season when that he shall have leyser to come in to Norffolk. But I left not tyll I had gotyn Jamys Hubbart and hym togedyrs, and then I told theym your intent; and then Mastyr Pykenham told Jamys and me hys intent, and he preyed Jamys that he shold in no wyse fayle to be with yow thys Lent. Not withstandyng it was no grete nede to prey hym myche; for he told Doctore Pykenham that there was no gentyl woman in Inglond of so lytyll aqueyntance as he had with yow, that he wold be glader to be servyse on to; and myche the glader, for he purposeth fro hensforthe duryng hys lyff to be a Norffolk man, and to lye with in ii. myle of Loddon, whyche is but viij. or x. myle at the most fro Mautby. And in conclusyon he hathe appoyntyd to awayte on yow at Norwyche the weeke nexte aftyr Mydlent Sonday, all the hole weke, if nede be, all other maters leyd apart.

Also I comend with my brodyr Sir John at London of syche maters as ye wold have amendyd in the bylle that he sent on to yow, and he stake not gretly at it.

Also, modyr, I herd whyle I was in London wher was a goodly yong woman to mary, whyche was doughter to one Seff, a merser, and she shall have CC_li._ in money to hyr maryage, and xx. mark by yer of lond aftyr the dyssease of a steppe modyr of hyrs, whyche is upon l. yer of age; and or I departyd ought of London, I spak with some of the maydys frendys, and have gotyn ther good wyllys to have hyr maryd to my brodyr Edmund. Notwithstandyng, those frendys of the maydys that I comond with avysyd me to get the good wyll of one Sturmyn, whyche is in Mastyr Pykenhamys danger[312-1] so myche that he is glad to please hym; and so I mevyd thys mater to Mastyr Pykenham. And incontinent he sent for Sturmyn, and desyred hys good wyll for my brodyr Edmund, and he grantyd hym hys good wylle, so that he koud get the good wyll of the remenaunt that wer executours to Seff, as well as the seyd Sturmyn was; and thusferforthe is the mater. Wherfor, modyr, we must beseche yow to helpe us forward with a lettyr fro yow to Mastyr Pykenham to remembyr hym for to handyll well and dylygently thys mater now thys Lent; and for I am aqueyntyd with your condycyons of old that ye reke not who endytyth more lettres than ye, ther for I have drawyn a note to yowr secretarys hand, Freir Perse, whyche lettre we must prey yow to send us by the berer herof, and I trust it shall not be longe fro Mastyr Pykenham.

Your doughter of Sweynsthorpp and hyr sojornaunt E. Paston recomandyth hem to yow in ther most humble wyse, lowly besechyng yow of your blyssyng; and as for my brodyr, Edmund Sweynsthorpe, for none intrete that hys ostas your doughtyr, nor I koud intrete hym, myght not kepe hym, but that he wold have bene at home with you at Mautby on Sonday last past at nyght; and as he was departyng fro hens, had we word fro Frenshes wyf that, God yeld yow, modyr, ye had govyn hym leve to dysporte hym her with us for a vij. or viij. dayes; and so the drevyll lost hys thank of us, and yet abode nevyr the lesse.

Your doughtyr sendyth yow part of syche poore stuff as I sent hyr fro London, besechyng yow to take it in gree, though it be lytyll plente that she sendyth yow. But as for datys, I wyll sey trowthe, ye have not so many by ij. pownd as wer ment on to yow, for she thynkys at thys season datys ryght good mete. What so ever it menyth, I prey God send us good tydynges, Whom I beseche to preserve yow and yours, and so send yow your myst desyred joye.

At Sweynsthorp, on Ashe Wednysday.

Your sone and humble servaunt,

J. PASTON.

Modyr, pleasit yow to remember that ye had need to be at Norwyche v. or vj. dayes befor that Jamys Hubbart and your consayll shall be ther with yow, for to look up your evydence and all other thynges redy. Also if ye thynk that thys bylle that I send yow herwith be good i now to send to Doctore Pykenham, ye may close up the same, and send it sealyd to me ayen, and I shall convey it forthe to hym.

[Footnote 311-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter appears from the contents to have been written after John Paston’s marriage, at a time when his wife was staying at Swainsthorpe. He also apologises to his mother for his wife having detained two pounds out of a certain quantity of dates that he himself had sent to her from London by way of Swainsthorpe, as Margery thought them ‘at this season right good meat,’ apparently referring to her approaching confinement.]

[Footnote 312-1: _i.e._ in his debt.]

927

WILLIAM BOTONER TO SIR JOHN PASTON[313-1]

_To the Ryght worshypfull sir, Sir John Paston ch’l’r logged at the signe of the George next to Poulys Wharf; or to lefe thys letter at a barbourys house ovyr the seyd George to delyver it to Sir John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MARCH 1]

Plese yor gode masterschyp to wete that I herd thys day how a man wend that a jugement ys passed ayenst your entent yn the ende of the last terme (hyt was not of verray certeyn tolde me, but as a dreme) yn the kynges Chauncerye. I coude gefe none aunswer therto. I prai God alle be well; hyt wold ease som of your frendes hertys yff they coude understand ony gode comfort. Sir, as for Robert,[314-1] I wold pray and requyre your maistershep that he may for his lernyng be abydyng with your cousyn of Lincoln Inne, as yt was promysed, and to be occupyed under drede of displesir under subjecion, wyth erly rysyng accustomed, for slouth ys the moder and norysher of all vices. He hath cost me moch goode and labour, and now he ys uppon hys makyng by vertues governance, or undoyng to the contrarye, and yn especyalle to be not conversant ne neere amongis women, as I was kept froo her [_their_] company xxx. yeres or ony suche were of my councelle, I thank God of yt. Sir, and ye write to me as ye lust, let no name be wythynne wryt whens yt com, and that yt be sent by sure comer to delyver yt me, for yt ys better brent then founde. Also your discrecion ought not loth (to take the cost and labour wolle not be gret, nether importune) for to send a man of purpose to my lord of [_sic_] Bysshop Waltham and to hys councell lerned, ye wete to whom, for redy serch to be made for the bill of half lefe of paper quantite of my hand I faythfully delyvered to Master T. Danvers for to ovyrsee, of the fyrst appoyntment ye wote off, that ye desyre so hertly to see as of othyr manyfolde wrytyngis belongyng to yow and to me. Yt ys seyd yne a vers: _Gutta cavat lapidem non vi set sepe cadendo_, &c.; to a slow man or a foryetefull or lothfull man must be importune callyng allway uppon hym tille he hafe hys entent, for now thys vacacion to spede or nevyr shall stand in yow no stede. I can no ferther then the walle.

Item, Sir, I comyned wyth Doctor Yotton at Camebrygge late, because there ys no dyvyne service seyd yn the free chapelle at C.,[314-2] that he wold hafe a grete concience yn yt, and to depart wyth an honest preste called Sir John Brykkys that ys now duellyng wyth a ryzt lovyng kynnesman of yowres; the seyd Doctor gevyng me to aunsuer he wold comyn wyth yow by Pasch,[314-3] and the rather wyth your gode wylle wold depart to such one ye owe affeccion unto. Sir, I wold, as I dar tak uppon me to owen your affeccion to the seyd John Brickys, that he may wyth more help of your cellary hafe the better to lyve and serfe God there to abyde and do yow service also. I mene faythfullye, and soo I pray yow take yt; to remembre a thyng in seson ys gretely to commend, and of a spedy avantage. The blessed Trinite be wyth yow. Wret the fyrst day of Marche.

Your

W. BOTONERE.

To J. P. c.[315-1] at London.

Item, I had foryete to hafe remembred your maystershyp to hafe a bille to your baylly Pecok for to delyver my fermour of Tyrkbye C. or ii C. lawre and asshe, and than to plant yn my tenement at Thyrkbye, or foras many ye lust; for I lost the last waraunt that ye wrote me truly, and so I was not served.

* * *

Item, yff ye wryte to me, hyt hath nede to be by a sure comer, for I had levyr a letter be brent then lost _ne forte videant Romani_ . . . and at reverence of Jhesu that my Robert lose no tyme, nether be idelle, for doubt of ymaginacions and temptacions. I trust wyth your principale help to be wyth the worshypfull gentleman that made promysse to yow, &c.

[Footnote 313-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 152.] This letter would seem to be of the year 1478. It will be seen by No. 925 that in the beginning of that year Sir John Paston wished to arrange with Dr. Yotton to get a priest to sing in Caister.]

[Footnote 314-1: Is this Robert, son of Sir John’s brother Edmund, who is mentioned in Margaret Paston’s will? The will, dated 4th February 1482, will be found printed in the next volume.]

[Footnote 314-2: Caister.]

[Footnote 314-3: Easter.]

[Footnote 315-1: John Paston, Chevalier.]

[[Footnote 314-1, Gairdner’s addition: This suggestion is quite a mistake.--See ‘my Robert’ in the PS., p. 315.]]

928

CONSTANCE REYNFORTH TO SIR JOHN PASTON[315-2]

_[To Sir] John Paston, Chevalier, be this byll delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MARCH 21]

Ryth reverent and worchepful ser, I recomend me on to yowr masterschep, effectually desyryng to here of yowr welfare and contynual prosperite; and if it ples yow to here of my pour estat, I was in good hele at the makyng of this sympyll byll. Towchyng the cause of my wrytyng to yowr masterschep is, for as moche as I poyntyd with yow to a be with yow be the day that ye asynyd me of, the wheche, with outh yowr good supportacyon, I con not well have myn entent, withouth it ple yow to send oon of yowr men to me, and I psal provyd a letter in myn unkyll name, the wheche he psall delyver to my cosyn as he were myn unkyll masagear, and be this mene I wyll come at yowr request; for my cosyn wold I psuld not depart with hym, with outh it were to myn unkyll servyse; hoys and all others I refuse for yowres, yf my sympul servyse may be to yowr plesure. And of an answer herof I beseke yow be the brynger of my byll, and I wyll conforme me to yowr en tente, be the grace of Good, the Wheche mot preserve yow at all oures.

Wretyn at Cobham, the xxj. day of Marche.

By yowr woman and sevnt,

CONSTANS REYNFORTH.

[Footnote 315-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this letter was Sir John Paston’s mistress, by whom he left a natural daughter. The date is ascertained by an endorsement in Sir John’s own hand, ‘Custaunce Raynford, anno xviij^{o}.’]

929

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[316-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier, ande to Osberne Berney, and to everyche off them, be thys letter delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MAY 5]

I recomaunde me to yowe, and thanke yow off yowr labor that ye hadde at Heylesdon and Drayton in seyng the woodys there. And it is soo heer that Ric. Ferore seyde, that he repentyd hym that evyr he dalte with any woode theer, and iff I hadde sente hym but the leest chylde that I hadde to have warnyd hym to leve he wolde notte have dalte therwyth; and he ffonde noe comfforte in the Chancery, but that he is lyke to contente me for the harmes and hurte that is doone, and moore ovyr he hathe an instrucyon that he shall ffelle noo moore.

Item, wheer as he desyryd me to be freendly to hym, I dalte so with hym, that I trowe he wylle reporte that I seyde and dalte moore cortesly with hym than he demyd that I wolde doo. Yitt for alle in convenyences that myght ffalle, I wolde be gladde to have a weell stomakyd felawe that wolde for my sake everye daye see the seyde woodes of Heylesdon and Drayton, and to knowe iff any weer fellyd heer afftre; and iffe there be any fellyd syns that Whetley was theer, and I can preve it by wytnesse, I sholde have better recompence for every tree than iiij. trees weer worthe.

Item, it is so that he hathe answeryd to my bille, wheryn he seythe that he never knywe byfor the subpena delyveryd hym that I hadde any clayme or entrest in the maner off Heylesdon, but that it was peasyble my Lordys off Suffolk. Wherffor I suppose that there be many men in Norwyche that comonyd with hym off the byenge off that woode ere evyr he made hys fulle bergayne, and per aventure some freendys off hys gave hym warnyng theroff, and off myn entrest. Iff any suche credyble mane that hadde hadde any suche langage to hym, or in hys companye, or than he bargayned, or any man that he laboryd to be halffe marchant or byer with hym, ar any man that refusyd to bye the seyd wood bycawse off myn entrest in the presence of Feror, any suche credyble man maye, iff he wyll, wytnesse ther in with me, or that dare avowe it, sholde be to me a remedy off alle that is fellyd. I praye yow, if ye can here any suche, that ye will in the presence off them make a bylle of remembraunce theroff, and off ther sayng, so that they maye her afftre wytnesse in the mater. Neverthelesse, trowthe it is that he hadde knowleche ther off i nowe, and soo hadde every man off hys havore [_substance_] in Norwych, I dowt nott; and as for hym, I am sure he hadde knowleche, for so moche as he desyryd at hys bargayn to have a sywerte to be savyd harmeles ageyn me, whyche was grawntyd hym butt nott executyd. No mor, butt I hope with Goddys grace to have hastely goode remedy for the hole maner, and off Drayton therto, and alle the remenaunte.

Wretyn a London, the v. daye off Maye, anno E. iiij^ti xviij^{o}.

[Footnote 316-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

930

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[318-1]

_To my ryght worshypfull modre, Margret Paston, be thys delyvered._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MAY 13]

Please it yow to weete, that wher as I entendyd to have ben at home thys Mydsomer, and purposyd with yowr goode helpe to have bygonne uppon my ffadrys tombe, so that it myght have ben endyd thys somyr; it is soo, that ffor suche cawsys as ar nowe bygunne by twyen my Lorde off Suffolk and me, ffor the manerys off Heylesdon, Drayton, &c., for whyche materis I most nedys be heer thys nexte terme; therffor I deme it woll be afftr Mydsomer, er than I can see yow.

Please it yow also to weete that I comonyd with Master Pykenham to weete iff he wolde bye the clothe off golde, for soo moche as he desyryd ons to have bowte it, and he offryd me ons xx. marke therffor, neverthelesse it coste me xxiiij_li._; yit nowe, when that I spake to hym ther off, he refusyd to bye it, and seyde that he hadde nowe so many chargys that he maye nott. Butt it is soo that the Kynge dothe mak sertayne copys and vestymentys off like clothe, whyche he entendyth to gyve to the Coledge at Foodryngdre, wher my lorde hys ffadre is nowe buryed, and he byethe at a grete pryce.

I comonyd with the vestment maker ffor to helpe me fforthe with xij. yerds, and he hathe grauntyd me to doo, as Whetleye can telle yow; wherffor, iff it please yow that it be bystowyd ffor to make a towmbe ffor my ffadre at Bromholme, iff ye lyke to sende it hyddr, iffe it be solde I undretake or Mychelmesse, that ther shalle be a tombe, and somwhatt ellys ovyr my ffadris grave, on whoys sowle God have mersye, that ther shall noone be lyke it in Norffolk; and as ye shalle be gladde herafftr to see it; and God sende me leyser that I maye come home, and iff I doo not, yit the monye shall be putte to noon other use, butt kepyd by some that ye trust, tylle that it may be bystowyd acordyng as is above wretyn, and ellys I gyve yow cawse nevyr to truste me whylle ye and I lyve. When I was last with yow, ye grauntyd that the seyde clothe of golde sholde be bywaryd [_spent_] abowte thys werke, that is above wretyn, whyche iff ye wylle perfforme, I undretake that ther shalle be suche a towmbe as ye shalle be pleasyd at, thowgh it cost me xx. marke off myn owne purse besyde, iff I ons sette uppon it.

No mor, but I beseche Goode have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at London, the Wednysdaye in Whyghtsonweke, anno E. iiij^ti xviij^{o}.

Please it yow to sende me worde by Whatley off yowr plesyr her in.

By your Sone,

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 318-1: [From Fenn, ii. 260.]]

931

WALTER PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[319-1]

_To his worchypfull moder, Margaret Paston, dwellyng in Mawtby, be this letter delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MAY 19]

Rytgh reverent and worchypfull moder, I recomaund me on to yowr good moderchypp, besechyng yow to geve me yowr dayly benediccyon, desyeryng hartyly to heer of yowr prosperyte, whych God preserve to Hys plesure, and to yowr hartys desyyr, &c. I marvel soor that yow sent me noo word of the letter wych I sent to yow by Master Wylliam Brown at Ester. I sent yow word that tym that I xold send yow myn exspenses partyculerly; but as at thys tym the berar her of had a letter sodenly that he xold come home, and there fore I kowd have no leysur to send them yow on that wys; and there fore I xall wryt to yow in thys letter the hool som of my exspenses sythyns I was with yow tyll Ester last paste, and also the reseytys, rekenyng the xx_s._ that I had of yow to Oxon wardys with the Buschopys fyndyng.

The hool some of reseytys ys v_li._ xvij_s._ vj_d._, and the holl some of exspenses ys vj_li._ v_s._ v_d._ ob. qua., and that comth over the reseytys in my exspenses I have borowd of Master Edmund, and yt drawyth to viij_s._ And yet I recone none exspenses sythyns Ester. But as for them, they be non grete; and therfor I besech yow to send me mony by Syr Richard Cotman, brynger of thys letter, or ellys by the next masenger that yow kan have to me.

I besech yow that he that I sent by thys letter to yow may have good scher, yf he brynge yt hym selfe, as he telth me that he woll, for he ys a good lover of myn. Master Edmund Alyard recomaund hym specyaly to yow, and to all my brodyrn and systyrs, and to all yowr howshold; and I besech yow that I may be recomaundyd to all them also, and specyaly to my brodyr John the yonger. No more to yow at thys tym, but Allmythy Jhesus have yow in Hys kepyng. Amen.

Wretyn at Oxonforth, on Seynt Dunstonys Day and the xix. day of May.

By your sonn and scoler,

WALTER PASTON.

[Footnote 319-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed in Fenn’s fifth volume, and dated by him in 1478. I do not know on what evidence he assigns this particular year to it, except that, as he tells us elsewhere, Walter Paston took a degree at Oxford, and died in 1479.]

[[Rytgh reverent and worchypfull moder _spelling unchanged_]]

932

J. WHETLEY TO SIR JOHN PASTON[320-1]

_To the ryght worsh[yp]full Sir John Paston, Knyght, loged at the sygne off the George at Powlys Wharff, in London, be thys delyvered in hast._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MAY 20]

Pleas it your meastershep to understond the dealyng of every thyng, the wych I was charged with at my departyng frome your measterchep.

Fyrst, your suppena to Denton was delyvered by me on Trenite Sondaye, in hys parych cherch, at Matens tyme, be ffor the substans of the parych; and as for Drayton wod, it is not all down yet, but it drawes fast toward. I have the names of all the mynestres off and in that wod, and more schall know or I come, yf ther be any more dealyng, &c.

And as for Haylysdon, my Lord of Suffolk was ther on Wedensday in Whytson Weke, and ther dined, and drew a stew and toke gret plente of fych; yet hath he left you a pyke or ij., agayn ye come, the wych wold be gret comford to all your frendes, and dyscomford to your enmys; for at hys beyng ther that daye ther was never no man that playd Herrod in Corpus Crysty[321-1] play better and more agreable to hys pageaunt then he dud. But ye schall understond that it was after none, and the weder hot, and he so feble for sekenes that hys legges wold not bere hyme, but ther was ij. men had gret payn to kepe hym on hys fete; and ther ye were juged. Som sayd ‘Sley;’ some sayd ‘Put hym in preson.’ And forth com my lord, and he wold met you with a spere, and have none other mendes for the troble at ye have put hym to but your hart blod, and that will be gayt with hys owen handes; for and ye have Haylesdon and Dreton, ye schall have hys lyff with it. And so he comford your enmys with that word that thay have dealed and dealeth with the wod, and most pryncepall nowe is Nycolesse Ovye. For as for Ferrer,[321-2] the Meare, he delys not with owt it be under covert; for it is sayd that he be soght my lord that he myght have other sygnementes for hys money that he had payd, for playnly he wold deall no mor with the wod. And so my lord hath set in the Bayly of Cossay, and all is doon in hys name; and as for hys servauntes, thay dayly thret my measter your brother and me to slay for comyng of ther lordes ground, and thay say that we made an entre; and thay beth answerd as ye comaunded me, for many a gret chalaunge make thay to Mester John, both Measter Wodhowse, Wysman, with other dyveres that I know not ther names; but he holdeth hys own that thay gayt no grownd of hym. And thys he lettes thaym knowe that if thay bete hym or any of hys, thay schall aby vj. for on, and so thay deall not but with ther tonges; and as yet, syth Ferrer was at London, there passes not iij. acres of wod down but thay cary fast for fere of rayn, &c.

Also, sir, I trust to bryng or send hastely the cloth off gold, for it hath ben largely tempted; but as yet I have none playn answer, but put in hope. Also I have spoken with Popy for your money, and delyvered hym your letter, the wych, as he sayth, is a straunge thyng to hym, for, as I understond, he that owght thys deute was uncle to thys yong man, and he sayth that hys fader was never exsecutor to hym, nor never mynestred; and I told hym howe that hys fader was bound for the same deute, in so mech and my measter wold have forgevyn part of the same deute, he wold have payed it; and so he will be at London thys terme, and speke with you, and thys is hys answer.

Morover Wyllyam Worsestre, mevyd unto me of onne Sir Wylliam Bokkyng, exsecutor and brother to John Bokkyng, the whych was one of Sir John Fastolf hys clerkes, the whych mater I knewe not, nor had no comaundement be you to deall therin, and so I told hym. Never the lesse he sayd that ye promysed hym to have sent your will to have bene done in that mater by me, and so he troweth that it was owt of your mynd at my departyng. Yff so be that ye will any thyng to be doon by me or I come to yow in that mater, let me have knowlege schortly, for I thynk to be with yow in the weke folowyng aftyr thys wryten, with owt I may have more comford of money then I have yet.

And as for my meastres, your moder hath ben gretly deseased and so seke that she wened to have dyed, and hath made her wyll,[322-1] the wyche ye shall understond more when I come, for ther is every man for hym selff. I know not the sercomstance of every thyng as yet, and therfor I writ no more to you therin, but I am promysed to know or I depart from thens.

Also I spake with William Barker, and he sayth that I shall have the stuff or I depart, or els the monye agayn that he hade of Wylliam Pecoke.

Also, sir, as for your lond be syd Bromholm that ye had of Bakton, it hath layn un ocupyed syth ye were ther.

Moreover, my Lord of Suffolk[323-1] is remevyd in to Suffolk the morow after that he had bene at Haylesdon, and my lady purposed to remeff after on thys day, Corpus Crysty Evyn, by the grace of Jesu, Who preserve yow ever in worchep.

Wryten at Norwych, on Wedensday Corpus Crysty Evyn, anno E. iiij^ti xviij^{o}.

* * *

Item, as for the knowleg that Ferror denyed by hys othe that he knew never no tytle nor entrest that ye had in and to Haylsdon and Dreton, as yet we can not know; but thys thay will record all that were at the delyveraunce of the wryt that he sayd my lord had promysed to save hym harmles, in so mech that Wysman was bownd to Ferrour to save hym harmeles, and he had for bryngyng that mater about, that Ferrour shuld have the wod, xx_s._

Your servaunt,

J. WHETLEY.

[Footnote 320-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 321-1: Corpus Christi Day, the Thursday after the Octave of Whitsuntide, was famous for the acting of Mysteries, particularly at Chester.--F.]

[Footnote 321-2: Richard Farrer, Farrour, or Ferriour, was five times Mayor of Norwich, namely, in 1473, 1478, 1483, 1493, and 1498.--F.]

[Footnote 322-1: The will now made by Margaret Paston was afterwards cancelled, as that which was proved after her death in 1484 was dated on the 4th of February 1482, 21 E. IV.]

[Footnote 323-1: John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, etc., married Elizabeth, third daughter of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and sister of Edward IV. They both lie buried at Wingfield, in Suffolk.--F.]

[[be thys delyvered in hast _final italic “d” misprinted as “a”_]]

933

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[323-2]

_To the ryght worshypfull Sir John Paston, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1478 / MAY 27]

I greet yow well and send yow Goddys blyssyng and myn, latyng yow wete that I have sent yow be Whetele the clothe of golde, chargyng yow that it be not solde to none other use than to the performyng of yowyr fadyrs toombe, as ye send me worde in wrytyng; yf ye sell yt to any othyr use, by my trowthe, I shall never trost yow wyll I leve.

Remembyr that yt coste me xx^ti marke the pleggyng owte of yt, and yf I wher not glad to se that made, I wolde not departe from it. Remembyr yow what charge I have had with yow of late, whyche wyl not be for my ease this ij. yer; whan ye may better, I trost ye whyll remembyr yt.

My cosyn Clere dothe as meche coste at Bromhom as whylle drawe an C_li._ upon the deskys in the quere, and in othyr places, and Heydon in lyke whyse, and yf ther shulde no thyng be don for yowyr fadyr, yt wolde be to gret a schame for us alle, and in cheffe to se hym lye as he dothe.

Also as I understond that my cosyn Robert Clere thynkyth gret on kyndenesse in delyng wyth hym of Pecoke, for certeyn pasture that ye[324-1] grawntyd hym to have, and Pecoke hath letyn it to othyr, suche as he lyste to lete yt to, not withstondyng my cosyn hath leyd the pastur with hys catell, and Pecok hathe strenyd them.

I thynk thys delyng is not as yt shulde be. I wolde that iche of yow shulde do for other, and leve as kynnysmen and frendys; for suche servawnts my make trobyll by twyxe yow, wheche wher a ageynste cortesy, so nyhe newbors as ye be, he is a man of substance and worchyp, and so wylle be takyn in thys schyr; and I wer lothe that ye shulde lese the good wylle of suche as may do for yow.

Item, wher as ye have begonne your cleyme in Heylysdon and Drayton, I pray God send yow good spede and foderance in yit. Ye have as good a season as ye wulde wysche, consyderyng that yowyr adversary standys not in best favyr with the Kynge.

Also ye have the voyse in this contre, that ye may do as meche with the Kyng, as any knygth that ys longyng to the corte. Yf yt be so, I pray God contynu yt; and also that ye shuld mary rygth nygth of the Qwenys blood; qwat sche ys we are not as certeyn, but yf yt be so, that yowyr lond schuld come agayne by the reason of yowyr maryage, and to be sett in rest, at the reverence of God for sake yt nowt, yf ye can fynde in yowyr harte to love hyr, so that sche be suche one as ye can thynke to have issu by, or ellys, by my trowthe, I had rather that ye never maryd in yowyr lyffe.

Also, yf yowyr mater take not now to good effecte, ye and all yowyr frendys may repent them that ye began yowyr cleyme, with owte that ye have take suche a suyr wey, as may be to yowyr intent, for many inconvenyens that may falle ther of. God send yow good spede in all yowyr maters.

Wretyn at Mawteby, the day after Seynt Austyn in May, the xviij. yer of Kyng Edward the iiij^te.

Be yowyr Modyr.

[Footnote 323-2: [From Fenn, ii. 264.]]

[Footnote 324-1: Fenn’s literal text reads ‘that be grawntyd,’ which seems to be an error. In the modern transcript it is ‘that ye granted.’]

934

OXNEAD PARSONAGE[325-1]

_The comodytys off the parsonage and the valew off the benyfyce off Oxned._

[Sidenote: 1478 / JULY 31]

My new parson off Oxned, whan he is instute and inducte, at the first entre in to the chyrch and benefyce off Oxned, must off awncyent custom long contynued with in the dyosesse off Norwyche, pay to the byschopp off Norwych, for the first frutes off the seyd benefyce, xiiij. marke; for wyche xiiij. marke, iff the new parson be wytty and have favour a bowt the Byschops offycers, he schall have days off paiment to pay the seid xiiij. marke in xiiij. yere, that is, a marke a yere, till it be payd; so that he can fynd suffycyent mene to be bownd to the Bischopp be obligacion to kepe his days off payment.

And the chyrch is but litill, and is resonable plesaunt, and reparyd. [And the] dwellyng place of the parsonage is a yoynyng to the . . . . . . . d well howsyd and reparyd, hall, chamberes, barn, doffhowse, and all howsys off offyce.

And it hath a doffhowse worth a yere, xiiij_s._ iiij_d._

And it hath ij. large gardens with frute, and is yonynge to the place and chyrch yard, wher off the frute is worth yerly, xxvj_s._ viij_d._

And ther longith to the seid parsonage in fre lond, arable, pasture and medowe ayonyng to the seid parsonage, xxij^ti acre or more, wher off every acre is worth ij_s._; to latyn [_to let_], iij_li._ iiij_d._

And William Paston, Justice, qwan he[326-1] cam fyrst to dwell in the maner of Oxned, paid to the parson that was than for the corne growyng on the parsonage londys and for the tythynges, ondely but in corne whan it was inned in to the barn, xxiiij_li._

And the same yere the parson had all the awterage and oder profytes be syde the seyd xxiiij_li._

It is yerly worth, as the world goth now, x_li._

And it is butt an esy cure to kepe, ffor ther ar natt past xx^ti persons to be yerly howselyd.[326-2]

The parsonage stant be a fresh ryver syde.

And ther is a good markett town callyd Alysham, within ij. myle off the parsonage.

And the cyte of Norwych is within vj. myle off the parsonage.

And the see is within x. myle off the parsonage.

And if a parson cam now, and warr presentyd, institute, and inducte, he shuld have by the lawe all the cropp that is now growyng, that was eryd and sowyn off the old parsons cost, growyng on the parsonage landes now, as his own good, and all the tyth off all maner graynys off the maner, londes, and tenantes londes,[326-3] towardes his charges off the fyrst frutes. And if it ware innyd it war (the crop now growyng)[326-4] worth his first frutes.

[327-1]He that hath this benefice, and he were a pore man, myght have lycens to have service be side.

The Beshop ought not to have the valew of this cropp for the arrerages of the fyrst fruttes that Sir Thomas Everard, last parson of Oxned, oght to the Bysshop whan he died, for the said Sir Thomas Everard was bond to the Bisshop in an obligacion for the said frutes, and the said Sir Thomas Everard, for to defraude the Bysshop and oder men that he owid mony to, gaff a way his gooddes to serten persons, qwech persons toke a way the said goodes, and also durres and wyndow of the said parsonage; and it is though that both the Bysshop and the patron myght take accions a gayns the said persons.

[Footnote 325-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this document is shown by the following mutilated endorsement: ‘. . . . . . . . . . parsonage of Oxnede made xxxj. Julii, A^o xviij^o E. iiij^ti.’ The first words were doubtless ‘The value of,’ or something to that effect; but the paper is mutilated.]

[Footnote 326-1: ‘William Paston, Justice, qwan he.’ These words are a correction, interlined, in the hand of William Paston, the uncle of Sir John. The text stood originally, ‘And my hosbond and I whan we.’]

[Footnote 326-2: _i.e._ to receive the sacrament.]

[Footnote 326-3: _Off the maner londes and tenantes londes._ These words are interlined by William Paston.]

[Footnote 326-4: This parenthesis is an interlineation by William Paston.]

[Footnote 327-1: What follows is in William Paston’s hand.]

935

ABSTRACT[327-2]

[Sidenote: 1478 / AUG. 5]

Presentation by Agnes Paston of Richard Lyncoln, S.T.P., to the parish church of Oxened, _vice_ Thomas Everard, deceased.

London, 5 Aug. 1478.

[Footnote 327-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

END OF VOLUME V

Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press