Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

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

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

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

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

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

[Footnote 25.1: This paper is reprinted from the _Archæologia_,
vol. xx. p. 519, to which it was communicated by Mr. Bayley,
keeper of the records in the Tower, in 1822.]

[[Boslawe in Seynt Petrus Strete
_text unchanged; correct name is “Goslawe”_]]

[[lordes, knygthtes, and squyeres _text has “end”_]]

[[the Duke of Bukingham, with an arrowe in the vysage;
_Gairdner, following Bayley, omits the following line
“the lord of Dudle, with an arowe in the vysage;”_]]

284

THE BATTLE OF ST. ALBANS[29.1]

[Sidenote: 1455 / [MAY 22]]

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

The Lord Clyfford.
Rauff Percy.
Thorpe.
Tresham and Josep.

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

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

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

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

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

With many otheriz, to the noumbre of v^ml. [5000] men.

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

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

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

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

And the Erle of Oxinford also.

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

with x^mll. [10,000] men were comynge.

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

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

285

JOHN CRANE TO JOHN PASTON[31.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1455 / MAY 25]

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

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

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

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

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

Written at Lamehith, on Witsonday, &c.

By your cosyn,

JOHN CRANE.

[Footnote 31.1: [From Fenn, i. 100.] This letter relates to the
first battle of St. Albans and the principal changes which took
place immediately after it.]

[Footnote 31.2: In the original letter, the x is struck out, and
vj. placed after it in the same line.--F.]

286

ABSTRACT[32.1]

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON.

[Sidenote: 1455 / MAY 28]

Thanks him for his pains in speeding his causes at London this term. Understands the Sheriff of Norfolk’s officers are at Norwich, and now the writ of attaint is sent home by William Barker, which Fastolf sends again to Paston that he may consult with the Sheriff or his officers what to do. Both William Barker and Seffrey (_sic_) Spyrlyng are now at Norwich, and one of them, if need be, shall wait on Paston.

Castre, 28 May.

‘And I trust to God, as the world goeth now, the said attaint shall do right well.’

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

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

287

WILLIAM BARKER TO WILLIAM WORCESTER[32.2]

_To William Worcester, be this lettre delyvered in hast._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W. B.

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

288

THE DUCHESS OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[34.1]

_To oure right trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Esquier._

_The Duchesse of Norfolk._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 8]

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

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

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

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

289

ABSTRACT[34.2]

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON.

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 11]

Thanks him for his letter sent from London. Bokkyng writes that a writ of _ravishment de garde_ is taken, and Wentworth’s counsel ‘call sore upon the action of 200 marks in the Common Pleas, and John Andreus is ready there, and writs of _capias_ ayenst John Porter as well as ayenst Sir Thomas.’ Begs him to hasten to London, as there is great labour against our intent. Wentworth has got Debenham, Radclyff, and others in my Lord’s house against us. Would rather he were at London two days too early than too late; for he trusts no man’s wit so much as Paston’s.

Castre, 11 June.

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

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

290

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[35.1]

[Sidenote: 1455(?)]

. . . . . . .
. . . . . J. FASTOLF.

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

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

291

WILLIAM PRYCE TO JOHN PASTON[36.1]

_The copy of a Letter sent to John Paston be the Undir-Shreve[36.2] of Norff._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 19]

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

Wretyn at Hederset, the Thursday next befor Midsomer.

By

WILL’M PRYCE.

[Footnote 36.1: [From Fenn, iii. 432.] The evidence of date in
this letter is the same as in No. 288. Notwithstanding Pryce’s
efforts, not one of the persons named in this letter was
actually elected, the knights returned for Norfolk in 1455 being
the Duke of Norfolk’s nominees, Sir Roger Chamberlain and John
Howard. --_See_ Nos. 294 and 295 following.]

[Footnote 36.2: _Shieve_ in Fenn is almost certainly a
misreading.]

292

ABSTRACT[36.3]

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 21]

Writ to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer in pursuance of patent, 12th December last, granting to John Bokking and William Worcester the wardship, etc., of the heir of John Fastolf of Cowghawe.

_Above in William Worcester’s hand:_-- ‘Bre. ad allocand. Vicecomitem de proficuis terr. Thomæ Fastolf in custodia Johannis Bokkyng.’

Inrolled, Trin., 33 Hen. VI., rot. 3.

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

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

293

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[37.1]

_To my ryght trusty cosyn, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 22]

Worshypfull Sir and cosyn, I commaund me to yow. And lyke yow wete that accordyng to your desyre I sende John Russe to yow to hafe your informacion of such materis as shall be thought exspedient to be laboured yn your absence for the mater of Wentworth, and hafe geve hym in commaundment to entend it in all that he can or may. And, Cosyn, he hath a lettre of credence to the baylly of Dedham because of doubt of syght of the baylly ys lettre ther for disclosyng, &c., to do after the wrytyng of T. Denys. And y sende yow ij. lettres com to me from London that maketh mencyon of grete besynesse ayenst us, and an accion toke ayenst yow, Howys, Bokkyng, &c., that most nedys be tendred; in case an essoyn[37.2] can be take, so moche the better. And therfor, cosyn, at reverence of God, dispose yow to London yn all the haste that ye can. For the atthacment can not be tille ye com. And on partie adverse besyeth hem sore in your absence, _facies hominis facies leonis_. And I have worde yn a nothere lettre that my Lord Chauncellor ys yn the lyke wyse disposed yn owre one syde, and therfor that ye kepe hym ynne to helpe bere the favour of thys mater yn all wyse; And Byngham Justys ys full well disposed also. Dyvers new processe ys ayenst Sir Thomas. And all othere materis I commyt to your discrecion; yf nede be, I com thedre my sylf. Y pray God kepe yow. Wryt hastly uppon Sonday before Seynt John Baptiste.

Your cosyn,

J. FASTOLF.

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

[Footnote 37.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 171.] There can be no
reasonable doubt that this letter is of the same date as Nos.
289 and 290, _i.e._ of the year 1455.]

[Footnote 37.2: An excuse allowed for not appearing in Court.]

294

JOHN JENNEY TO JOHN PASTON[38.1]

_To my wurshipfull maister, John Paston, Esquier._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 24]

Mi Maister Paston, I recomaunde me to you. And wher ye shulde be enformed that I shulde sey to Howard[38.2] that ye labored to be Knyght of the shire, I seid never soo to hym. I tolde my Lord of Norffolk atte London that I labored diverse men for Sir Roger Chaumberleyn, and they seid to me they wolde have hym, but not Howard, in asmeche as he hadde no lyvelode in the shire, nor conversement [_i.e._ acquaintance?]; and I asked them hom they wolde have, and they seid they wolde have you, and thus I tolde hym. And he seid on avysely, as he kan doo full well, I myght not sey ye labored ther, for I herde never sey ye labored therfor, be the feithe I vowe to God.

As for this writ of the Parlement of Norwich, I thanke you that ye will labour ther in; as for my frendys ther, I truste right well all the aldermen, except Broun[38.3] and sech as be in his dawnger.[38.4] I prey you spekith to Walter Jeffrey[38.5] and Herry Wilton,[38.6] and maketh them to labour to your entent. I prey you that yf ye thenke that it wull not be, that it like you that to sey that ye meve it of your self, and not be my desire. Sum men holde it right straunge to be in this Parlement, and me thenketh they be wyse men that soo doo.

Wreten atte Intewode,[39.1] on Sceint John day, in hast.

Your servaunt,

JOHN JENNEY.

[Footnote 38.1: [From Fenn, iii. 240.] The parliamentary
election to which this letter refers is evidently the same as in
Nos. 288 and 291. The election of Howard and Chamberlain
actually took place on the 23rd June, the day before this letter
was written, as I find by the original returns in the Record
Office.]

[Footnote 38.2: John Howard, the Duke of Norfolk’s cousin. He
was afterwards created Duke of Norfolk himself by Richard III.,
in whose cause he fell fighting at the battle of Bosworth.]

[Footnote 38.3: Richard Brown was Mayor of Norwich in 1454, and
member for that city in 1460.--F.]

[Footnote 38.4: This means _in his debt_, and therefore under
his influence.--F.]

[Footnote 38.5: Walter Jeffrey was Under-Sheriff of Norwich in
1451, 1452, and 1459.--F.]

[Footnote 38.6: Henry Wilton was returned with John Jenney in
1477.--F.]

[Footnote 39.1: This estate came to Jenney by his marriage with
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Wetherby, a rich alderman of
Norwich, who, after having twice served as Mayor, quarrelled
with the city about the election of his successor in that office
in 1433, and instigated various prosecutions against them. He
died in 1445.]

295

JOHN JENNEY TO JOHN PASTON[39.2]

_To my wurshipfull maister, John Paston, Squier._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JUNE 25]

Mi wurshipfull maister, I recomaunde me to you; and I thanke you that it plesith you to take seche labour for me as ye doo. My servaunt tolde me ye desired to knowe what my Lord of Norffolk seid to me whan I spake of you; and he seid in asmeche as Howard[39.3] myght not be, he wolde write a lettre to the Under-Shreve that the shire shulde have fre eleccion, soo that Sir Thomas Todenham wer not, nor none that was toward the Duc of Suffolk; he seid he knewe ye wer never to hym ward. Ye may[39.4] sende to the Under-Shreve, and see my Lord lettre. Howard was as wode as a wilde bullok; God sende hym seche wurshipp as he deservith. It is a evill precedent for the shire that a straunge man shulde be chosyn, and no wurshipp to my Lord off Yorke, nor to my Lord of Norffolk to write for hym; for yf the jentilmen of the shire will suffre sech inconvenyens, in good feithe, the shire shall not be called of seche wurshipp as it hathe be.

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

Your servaunt,

JOHN JENNEY.

[Footnote 39.2: [From Fenn, iii. 380.] This letter clearly
refers to the same matters as the preceding, and was written the
day after.]

[Footnote 39.3: _See_ p. 38, Note 2.]

[Footnote 39.4: The modern version in Fenn reads, ‘The Mayor
sent to the Under-Sheriff, and saw my Lord’s letter.’]

296

ALICE CRANE TO MARGARET PASTON[40.1]

_To my cosyn, Margeret Paston, be this letter delyvred._

[Sidenote: About 1455(?) / JUNE 29]

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

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

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

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

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

Wryten at Wyndesore, the xxix. day of June,

By youre pore bede oman and cosyn,

ALICE CRANE.

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

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

297

WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON[41.1]

_To my Maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JULY 7]

Please your gode maistership to wete, that as yerstenday came lettres from London that the Parson[41.2] most nedys up to London to safe the next amerciement; and so ys forth to appiere, yff he nedys most, xv. Johannis,[41.3] as ye shall see by Barkers lettre, and shall be to morne at London, and with Goddes grace he shall be releved by the meene of the Parlement; by Sonday yee shall hafe weetyng.

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

As for tydyngs be none couthe [_i.e._ publicly known], but Ponyngs[41.5] ys qwyt and delyvered of all tresons; and Sir William Oldhale ys process yn the Kyngs Bynche reversed; and the Priest that accused Lordz Cromewell,[41.6] Grey,[41.7] and my maister wolle confesse who caused hym to do it, so that he may have hys lyve, &c.

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

At Castr, the noneday,[42.1] vij. day Jullet.

Your,

W. WORCESTRE.

_On the top of this letter, in a different hand, is written:_--

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

[Footnote 41.1: [From Fenn, iii. 128.] At the date of this
letter, William Worcester and his master, Sir John Fastolf, were
both at Caister, though the latter was thinking of going up to
London. This, being in July, cannot have been before 1455. Fenn
supposes the pardon to Poynings to have been on account of his
participation in Cade’s rebellion, and accordingly dates this
letter ‘about 1451.’ But Poynings was accused of raising
disturbances in 1453 and 1454. The reversal of Sir William
Oldhall’s outlawry was in 1455; for we have seen in No. 287 that
he was obliged to remain in sanctuary for some little time after
the battle of St. Albans. It appears by an _inspeximus_ on
Patent Roll, 34 Hen. VI., m. 16, that he presented a petition to
the King in Parliament on the 9th July, 33 Hen. VI. (1455),
setting forth how he had served the King in France, and yet had
been pronounced a traitor by the Parliament of Reading in 31
Hen. VI., but that his outlawry had been reversed in the King’s
Bench.]

[Footnote 41.2: Thomas Howes.]

[Footnote 41.3: _Quindena Johannis_, or on the quinzaine of St.
John, _i.e._ 8th July, the 15th day from St. John the Baptist’s
day.]

[Footnote 41.4: Sir John Fastolf.]

[Footnote 41.5: Robert Poynings. --_See_ vol. ii. p. 154, Note
3.]

[Footnote 41.6: Ralph, Lord Cromwell. He was accused of treason
by a priest named Robert Colynson.--See Nicolas’s _Privy Council
Proceedings_, vi. 198.]

[Footnote 41.7: Probably Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthin; but there
were at this time also a Lord Grey of Codnor and a Lord Grey of
Wilton.]

[Footnote 42.1: The day of the Nones.--F.]

298

SIR J. FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[42.2]

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

[Sidenote: 1455 / JULY 10]

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

Wreten at Castre, the x. day of Julle.

Your cosyn,

JOHN FASTOLFE.

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

299

HENRY WINDSOR TO BOKKYNG AND WORCESTER[43.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1455 / JULY 19]

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

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

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

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

Also, the day afore the makyng of this letter, ther passed a bill[44.1] both by the Kyng, Lords, and Comens, puttyng Thorp, Josep, and my Lord of Somerset in all the defaute; be the which bill all maner of actions that shuld growe to any person or persones for any offenses at that journey doon, in any maner of wise shuld be extynt and voide, affermyng all thing doon there well doon, and nothing doon there never after this tyme to be spoken of; to the which bill mony a man groged full sore nowe it is passed.

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

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

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

Your awn,

H. WYNDESORE.

[Footnote 43.1: [From Fenn, i. 108.] As this letter refers to
the disputes which arose after the battle of St. Albans as to
who should bear the blame of that occurrence, the date is
certain.]

[Footnote 44.1: See _Rolls of Parl._ v. 280.]

[Footnote 44.2: _Upon_ in Fenn, but _Upton_ in the modern
version on the opposite side of the page.]

[Footnote 45.1: St. Margaret’s day is the 20th July, the eve the
19th.]

300

JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[45.2]

_To the right wurchepfull Sir, and my goode mayster, my Mayster John Paston, be this delivered._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JULY 25]

Reverent and right wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, I recomaund me to you, prayng you to wete that ther is reysed a slandrows noyse in this countre up on my Mayster Yelverton and you and my Mayster Alyngton, which I suppose is do to bryng you ought of the conceyte of the pepyll, for at this day ye stand gretly in the countreys conceyte. It is seyde be Heydon and his disciples that my Mayster Yelverton and ye and my Mayster Alyngton shuld have doo oon Sir John Tartyssale, parson of the Estchurche[45.3] of Warham and chapeleyn to the priour[45.4] of Walsyngham, to put in to the Parlement, a bille of divers tresons don be my Lord of Norwich,[45.5] Sir Thomas Tudenham, and John Heydon, and ye shuld have set to your seales; and if that Heydon had be vj. howrs fro the Parlement lenger than he was, ther had be granted an _oyer determiner_ to have enquer of hem, &c. This was told yesterday in right wurchepfull audience, and a mong the thrifties men of this countre; and thei seyd right shrewedly, for my lord of Norwich hath so flatered the lay pepill as he hath redyn a bought his visitacion that he hath thers herts. Wherfor, and it plese you to lete me have knowlech what ye wuld I shuld sey to it, wher as I her any such langage, I wull do my parte, and have do hed toward as I have thought in my conceytes best, &c. And if ther be any other servyce that ye wull comaund me, I am and wull be redy at yowr comaundment with the grace of God, how [_who_] ever have you in his blyssed kepyng.

Wretyn at Wighton in hast, on Sent James day,

Be your servaunte,

JAMES GLOYS.[46.1]

[Footnote 45.2: [From Fenn, iv. 32.] This letter is attributed
by Fenn to the year 1461, but that date is certainly inaccurate,
as it was answered by John Paston at Norwich the very day it was
written, whereas in July 1461 Paston was in London. Moreover, it
certainly could not have been _after_ 1461, as Sir Thomas
Tuddenham was beheaded in February of the following year. It
must therefore belong to the reign of Henry VI.; and considering
the time of the year, 1455 is the only date at which it is at
all likely that any one would have ventured to attempt the
impeachment of Tuddenham and Heydon in Parliament, or could have
been plausibly accused of such a design against persons of so
much influence.]

[Footnote 45.3: There were three churches in the parish of
Warham.]

[Footnote 45.4: Thomas Hunt.]

[Footnote 45.5: Walter Lyhert, Bishop of Norwich.]

[Footnote 46.1: He was a priest, and a dependant of the
Pastons.]

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

301

JOHN PASTON TO JAMES GLOYS[46.2]

_To Sir James Gloys._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JULY 25]

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

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

302

JOHN CHEDWORTH, BISHOP OF LINCOLN, TO JOHN PASTON[47.1]

_To the worshipfull and welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1455 / JULY 26]

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

Written at London, the xxvj. day of July.

J., BYSSHOPP OF LINCOLN.

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

303

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[48.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1455 / OCT. 28]

Please it your maistership to wete[48.2] . . . .

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

Also there is gret varyance bytwene the Erll of Devenshire and the Lord Bonvyle, as hath be many day, and meche debat is like to growe therby; for on Thursday at nyght last passed, the Erll of Denshyres sone and heir come with lx. men of armes to Radford’s[49.1] place in Devenshire, whiche was of counseil with my Lord Bonvyle; and they sette an hous on fyer at Radfords gate, and cryed and mad an noyse as though they had be sory for the fyer; and by that cause Radfords men set opyn the gats and yede owt to se the fyer; and for with th’erll sone forseid entred into the place and intreted Radford to come doun of his chambre to sp[e]ke with them, promyttyng hym that he shuld no bodyly harm have; up on whiche promysse he come doun, and spak with the seid Erll sone.

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

It was answerid hym ageyn, that he shuld walke forth with them on his feete; and so he dede till he was a flyte[49.3] shote or more from his place, and thanne he was . . . softly, for cawse he myght not go fast. And whanne thei were thus departed, he turned . . . oon; forwith come ix. men ageyn up on hym, and smot hym in the hed, and fellid . . . . of them kyt his throte.

This was told to my Lord Chaunceler[49.4] this fornoon . . . . . . messengers as come of purpos owt of the same cuntre. This matier is take gretly . . . . . . passed at ij. after mydnyght rod owt of London, as it is seid, more thanne . . . . . the best wyse. Summe seyne it was to ride toward my Lord of York, and summe . . . . . k, so meche rumor is here; what it menyth I wot not, God turne it . . . . . . at Hertford,[50.1] and summe men ar a ferd that he is seek ageyn. I pray God . . . . . . my Lords of York, Warwyk, Salesbury and other arn in purpos to conveye hym . . . . . . . . . &c. The seid N. Crome, berer her of, shall telle you suche tydynggs . . . . . . . . . in hast, at London, on Seint Simon day and Jude.

Yowr poer

J. GR.

[Footnote 48.1: [From Fenn, i. 114.] This letter was written in
1455, at the time of the King’s second attack of illness, which
happened while he was under the control of the Duke of York and
the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, as mentioned at the end of
the letter. In the latter part of the letter some words are lost
by the decay of the original MS.]

[Footnote 48.2: Here, says Fenn, follows an account of some law
business, etc.]

[Footnote 48.3: Fought in 1403 between King Henry IV. and the
rebel Percies.]