Chapter IV: Front Matter (4)

Her is Williem Brandon, late Eschetour,[77.3] and wold have a _non molestando_[77.4] for Fulthorp; and be cause ye spake to me that no mo shuld be sued owte, and I can gete no lybarate[77.5] in that case, therfore, as it is tolde me, he wyll have oon up on Wenteworth is patente, and that wer to my maister bothe velleny and hurte. I pray you send me heryn your avyse. It is no grete maistre to gader up that mony, if it wer wele labord. I have somwhat affrayed them, and made hem spend mony, as I wot well ye shall her therof. Ye and I been discharged of our maynprys.

Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore, help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.

From London, the furst day of Marche.

Your,

HUGH A FENNE.

[Footnote 77.1: [From Fenn, iii. 332.] The first paragraph of
this letter seems to relate to Fastolf’s claims against the
Crown set forth in Nos. 309 and 310, and as these seem to have
been drawn up in the end of 1455, this letter probably belongs
to the year following. The reference to William Brandon as ‘late
escheator’ confirms this date; and also, perhaps, the mention,
at the end, of William Norwich, who was Sheriff of Norwich this
year.]

[Footnote 77.2: Compertorium is a judicial inquest in civil
proceedings made by Commissioners to find out, etc., the truth
of a cause.--F.]

[Footnote 77.3: An Escheator was a county officer who certified
into the Exchequer the King’s escheats, _i.e._ lands which fell
to the King, either for a time or altogether, as by the death of
tenants _in capite_, minority of heirs, etc. William Brandon was
Escheator of Norfolk and Suffolk from 13th November 33 Hen. VI.
to 4th November 34 Hen. VI., _i.e._ from 1454 to 1455.]

[Footnote 77.4: A writ which lies for him who is molested
contrary to the King’s protection granted him.--F.]

[Footnote 77.5: A writ of _liberate_ is a warrant either for the
payment of annual pensions, etc., granted under the Great Seal,
or for delivery of possession of certain lands or goods in the
custody of a sheriff.]

325

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[78.1]

_To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1456(?) / [MAR. 24]]

After due recomendacion had, please it your maistership to wytte that William Yelverton was mevid by me to comene with my maister his fadir, as I wrot to yow from Norwich. And now he tellith me that he hath comened with his fadir; and he undirstondith that his fadir seyth that he hath not knowelaged Fennes[78.2] obligacion. And he seyth that Maister Fastolf undirstood that Fen hadde title to the maner of Haryngby, and therfor wold he that Fen shuld have it after Maister F. lyve; and, by liklynes, ther shall be labour made by Fenn to have releses of Maister Yelverton, &c., but he hath not yet relesed. He can no more undirstond of hym as yet. If he can undirstond ony more pleynly this day, I shall have knowelage at Norwich on Friday or Saterday next comyng. Please it you to have pacience, though I write so brefly.

In hast, at Walsyngham, the Wednesseday next to fore Esterne.

Youre pouere servaunt,

JAMES GR.

[Footnote 78.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter relates
to money matters of Fenn and Sir John Fastolf, it may most
probably be referred to the same year as Nos. 321 and 324.]

[Footnote 78.2: Hugh Fenn. --_See_ No. 324.]

326

ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[79.1]

_To the right worshipfull, and my right entierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolf, Knight._

[Sidenote: 1456 / MARCH 27]

Right worshipful, and my right entierly welbeloved, I grete you right hertly wele, thanking you specialy, and in full herty wise, for the verray geantle goodnesse that ye have shewid unto me at all tymes, praying you of good contynuance.

And as touching suche matiers as ye sente unto me fore, I truste to God verraly, insomuche as the rule is amendid heer, and the wedder waxeth seesonable and pleasante, to see you in thise parties within short tyme, at whiche tyme I shal commune and demeene unto you in suche wise, that ye shal be right wele pleasid.

And as for the matier concernyng my Lord of Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye, but that ye shal finde me hertly wel-willid to doo that I can or may for th’accomplesshment of youre desire, as wel in that matier as in other, like as your servaunte John Bokking, berer hereof, can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve; to whom like hit you to yeve feith and credence in this partie. And the blissid Trinitee have you everlastingly in His keping.

Written in my Manoir of Lamehith, the xxvj. daie of March.

Your feithfull and trew,

TH. CANT.

[Footnote 79.1: [From Fenn, i. 124.] The date of this letter
will appear tolerably certain on a comparison with No. 319. In
that letter Fastolf talks of coming up to London, if necessary,
about the matter of my Lord of Bedford’s goods, but expresses a
wish that if he is to come, my Lord Chancellor--viz. the
Archbishop of Canterbury--should be got to write him a letter
about it.]

327

DAME ALICE OGARD TO JOHN PASTON[80.1]

_To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1456 / MARCH 30]

Ryght worshippfull and enterly belovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow hertyly; latyng yow wete that there ys a contraversie mevyd be twix my cosyn John Radeclyff[80.2] of Attylburgh and me for the advoweson of the chirch of Attylburgh, the whech ys now voide, wheroff the title is myn veryly as God knowith, the whech shall be oppenyd unto yow; and upon Thursday next atte Wymondham, there shall be take an enquerre _de jure patronatus_ afore Master Robert Popy and Master Symond Thornham, atte whech day I may nought be my selff as God knowyth, and thow I myght, yt were not convenyent.

And therfore, ryght trusty cosyn, consideryng that I am a wedowe impotent as of body, tendyrly and hertily I pray you, yf yt lyke yow, to be there assistyng my councell in my right as reson and lawe will upon Thursday next, be viij. of the clokke; and Fyncham,[80.3] Spelman, and othir of my councell shall be than there waytyng upon yow. And, jentyll cosyn, have me excused thowh I wryte thus brefly and homly to yow, for in trouth I do it of a synguler trust and affection, the wheche I have in yow, consideryng the goode nome and fame of trouth, wysdom, and good conducte, the which I here of you. And therfor, and ye may to youre well, I beseche you hertyly to be there, and ye shall nought lese therby with the grace of Almyghty Jesu, the wheche evyr preserve and promote you, gentill cosyn, in moche worship to youre hertys ease.

Atte Bokenham Castell, on Teuysday in Pache weke, in hast.