Chapter M: Paston (1)

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

436

A WHITSUNDAY SERMON OF FRIAR BRACKLEY[256.1]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Footnote 256.1: [From Fenn, iii. 392.] The original MS. of this
sermon was endorsed, of course in a much later hand than the
document, ‘An ancient Whitsunday sermon preached by Frier
Brackley (whose hand it is) in the Friers Minors Church, in
Norwich.’ Of this and the remaining papers of Henry VI.’s time
the dates are very uncertain.]

[Footnote 256.2: Omitted in Fenn’s literal transcript.]

[Footnote 257.1: _i.e._ reproving.]

[Footnote 257.2: John xx. 22, 23.]

[Footnote 257.3: John xvi. 23, 24.]

[Footnote 258.1: Jer. ix. 23.]

[Footnote 258.2: Psalm xlviii. (xlix.) 6, 14.]

[Footnote 258.3: 1 Cor. i. 31.]

[Footnote 258.4: Luke x. 20.]

[Footnote 258.5: 1 Cor. ii. 9.]

437

THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[258.6]

_To owre right Trusty and welbeloved John Paston_

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

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

438

THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[259.1]

_To my right trusty and right welbeloved John Paston._

Right trusty and right welbeloved, I grete you wele. And I am enfourmed that William Mathew of Norwich, Bocher, hath brought an accion of dette agayn Nicholas Hert, a tenaunt of myn, berer hereof, and hath supposid by his accyon that my said tenaunt shuld ow hym lxx_s._ for his hire of tyme that he shuld a ben servaunt to my said tenaunt; wher it is said to me for trouthe that he was aprentyce to my said tenaunt, and never othrwise with holde but as aprentice, and owith no mony to haf of hym. I send to yow my said tenaunt to gif yow clere informacyon of the mater, and I pray you that ye wole calle the jurry before yow that arn impanellid betwen thaym, and opne thaym the mater at large at myn instaunce, and desire thaym to do as concyens wole, and to eschue perjury. And the Trinite kepe yow. If ye take the mater in rule, I pray therof, and wole be content.

Wretyn at Wevenho, the xxviij. day of Decembr.

THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.

[Footnote 259.1: [From Fenn, iii. 138.]]

439

SIR JOHN WINGFIELD TO JOHN PASTON[259.2]

_To my welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Squier._

Brother Paston, I recomaunde me unto you, praying you that ye take the labour to speke with Thomas Ratclef of Frammesden for the delyveraunce of part of an hous which lythe in his wode at Fraumesden, which hous the owener hath caryed part therof to Orford, which so departed, the remenant that remayneth ther in his wode schall do hym lytell good, and yt schall hurte gretly the warkeman and the owener therof also, which is my tenaunt, and [_i.e._ if] the hous schuld be set upon my ground.

I wright unto you in this be halfe, be cause I understood he woll be moche avised by you, and yf he do ony thynge at my request, I schall do as moche that schall plese hym; and also the pore man schall gef hym ij. nobles or xx_s._ rather than fayle. I pray you be as good a mene for hym as ye may in this be halfe, as my verry trust is in you, and I schal be redy at all tymes to doo that may be to your plesur. I trust to Jesu, who have you in His kepyng, and sende you joy of all your ladyes.

Wretyn at Lederyngham, the Tewesday in Whisson weke.

Your brother and frende,

WYNGEFELD J.

[Footnote 259.2: [From Fenn, iii. 140.]]

440

[JOHN PASTON?] TO [RICHARD] SOUTHWELL[260.1]

Brother Suthwell, I comand me to yow, sertifiing yow that, on Thursday be the morwe, I spak with my cosine Wichingham at London, where he lete me wet of the letter sent to Lee, wherby I conseyve the stedfast godlordship and ladiship of my Lord and my Lady[260.2] in this mater, &c., whech gevith cause to all her servaunts to trost verily in them and to do hem trew servise. I lete yow wete that the seid Wychyngham, when I departid from hym, had knowleche that Jane Boys shuld that nyght be come to London, and he put in a bylle to the Lordis for to have delyverauns of hyr and to have hese adversarys arestid. And this nyght at Norwiche was told me newe tydyngges that she shuld on Thursday after my departyng a be before the Lordis and there asaide untrewly of her selff, as the berer hereof shal informe yow if ye know it not before; of wheche tydyngges, if they be trew, I am sory for her sake, and also I fere that her frendys schuld sewe the more feyntely, wheche Godde defende. For her seyng untrewly of her selff may hurt the mater in no man but her selff; and thow she wol mescheve her selff, it wer gret pete but if the mater were laborid forth, not for her sake, but for the worchepe of the estatys and other that have laboryd therin, and in ponyshing of the gret oryble dede. Wherfore I send yow dyvers articlis in a bill closid herin, wheche preve that she was raveshid ayens hyr wel, what so ever she sey.

* * *

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

One is that she, the tyme of her takyng, whan she was set upon her hors, she revyled Lancasterother[261.1] and callid hym knave and wept, and kryid owte upon hym pitewly to her, and seid as shrewdly to hym as coud come to her mende, and fel doune of her hors unto that she was bound, and callid him fals t[r]aytor that browth her the rabbettes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Footnote 260.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed
from a corrected draft in a hand which may be that of Margaret
Paston, writing in her husband’s name. The beginning may perhaps
refer to the impending marriage of Richard Southwell with Amy,
daughter of Sir Edmund Wichingham, which took place, according
to Blomefield (x. 274), about the beginning of Edward IV.’s
reign. From the mention made of Osbert Mundford, however, the
letter cannot be later than 1460. The ravishment of Jane Boys,
as here related, corresponds so closely with that of Dame Joan
Beaumont, of which notice will be found in the _Rolls of Parl._,
v. 269, that we might almost surmise the same person is spoken
of; but this can hardly be.]

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

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

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

[Footnote 262.2: Sentence left incomplete.]

441-448

ABSTRACTS[263.1]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE PASTON LETTERS

_Edward IV_

449

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

[Sidenote: 1461]

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

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

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

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

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

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

450

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

_To my maister, John Paston, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / APRIL 4]

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

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

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

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

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

Be your Broder,

W. PASTON.

T. PLAYTERS.

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

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

Millites.

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

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

[Footnote 267.1: 4th April.]

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

[Footnote 267.3: 30th March.]

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

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

451

THOMAS PLAYTERS TO MASTER JOHN PASTON[268.1]

_To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1461 / APRIL 18]

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

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

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

Your,

THOMAS PLAYTERS.

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

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

[Footnote 268.2: Peter Arderne.]

[Footnote 268.3: 18th April in 1461.]

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

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

452

THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON[270.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY]

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

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

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

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

And I pray Jesu have you in His blyssed kepyng.

Your,

THOMAS PLAYTER.

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

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

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

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

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

453

JOHN SMYTH TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR[271.3]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY 10]

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

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

From Norwych the x. day of May.

Your clerk,

[JOHN] SMYTH.

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

454

THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[272.1]

_To my maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461]

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

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

Yours,

DENYES.

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

455

THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[274.1]

_To my Maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY]

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

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

Wretyn hastily at York, &c.

Your to his power,

DENYES.

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

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

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

456

THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[275.1]

_To owre right trusty and welbeloved John Paston._

TH’ERL OF OXENFORD.

[Sidenote: 1461 / MAY 31]

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

OXENFORD.

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

457

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[276.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461]

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

Your,

THOMAS PLAYTER.

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

[Footnote 276.2: 28th June.]

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

458

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[277.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 5]

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

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

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

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

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

Your pore servant and bedman,

R. C.

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

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

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

459

ROBERT LETHUM TO JOHN PASTON[279.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 19]

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

Your,

ROBT. LETHUM.

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

[Footnote 279.2: Omitted in MS.]

[Footnote 279.3: 19th June.]

460

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[280.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 21]

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

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

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

Your right pouere servant,

JAMES GRESHAM.

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

[Footnote 280.2: Sir John Howard.]

[Footnote 280.3: Sir Thomas Montgomery.]

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

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

461

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[281.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1461 / JUNE 26]