Chapter D: A. Ogard.81.1 (1)

[Footnote 80.1: [From Fenn, iii. 290.] This letter would appear
to have been written in the year 1456, as Thomas Fairclowe,
D.D., was presented to the church of Attleborough on the 2nd
August in that year by Dame Alice Ogard as patron.]

[Footnote 80.2: John Radcliff, Esq., married Elizabeth, daughter
and heir of Walter, Lord Fitz-Walter. He was in her right called
Lord Fitz-Walter, and was killed at Ferrybridge in 1461.]

[Footnote 80.3: Simeon Fincham, of Fincham, Esq. His son John
married Agnes, daughter of John Spelman, of Beckerton, Esq.,
I suppose the person here mentioned. He died in 1460, and Simeon
in 1458.--F.]

[Footnote 81.1: Dame Alice Ogard was the widow of Sir Andrew
Ogard, Knight, whose first wife was Margaret, the daughter of
Sir John Clifton, Knight, of Bokenham Castle. He died in 1454,
and Alice, his relict, in 1460.--F.]

328

HUGH FENN TO JOHN PASTON[81.2]

_To the worchepfull sir, John Paston esquyer._

[Sidenote: 1456(?) / APRIL 25]

Worchepfull Sir, my reverent and right trusty maister and cosyn, I recommaunde me to you. Lyke you to wyte that wher I have made my fyne of Ikburgh with Nicholas Waterman, thanne beyng feodary to my Lorde of Yorke, as the same Nicholas wil recorde, wherof sufficient writyng is had; the which payment, so made, is sufficient in the lawe; in the which caas noo newe feodary is chargeable nor I demaundable, but the seide Nicholas owe to answere therof in his accompt; and if he concele, my Lorde may have good remedy ageyns hym, and so owe to do. The which not withstandyng, oon I trowe called Osbarn, som tyme your servant, now my Lordis feodary, hath often meved to do I wote not, and now late hath distreyned my cattel, and seith he wil dryve hem awey, &c., and wil have C_s._ for fyne, wher my uncle paied xxvj_s._ viij_d._, Herry Somer xx_s._, and so many other ded. Sir, he may do me a pety shame in distreyning and dryvyng awey to make me hevy, and hym not glad I hoop at the loong, but wroong shal he nor any other do me, wher I may gete remedy by the lawe in any place throw Goddis mercy. Wherfor, sir, if he be stille in your servyse, lyke you I myght have knowlech, and thanne if your discreccion semith any thyng that I owe to do, by you I wil be advertysed and ruled; and if I coude conceyve that I owe to pay ageyn, as I understonde clerly the contrary, forsothe in right hasty seson wold I provyde and send hym from my seid lorde a sufficient discharge for myn more availl, that he shuld noght lose by me. And that is reson aswele, for that I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil. I deserve my lordis good lordeship as wele as any other of my simple poer her. I besech you that by this simple bille I may be recommaunded to my worchepful maistresse. The blissid Trinite have you in His holy governaunce. Written, London xxv. day of Aprill.

Youris owen,

HUGH A FENNE.

[Footnote 81.2: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 173.] The year of this
letter is uncertain, but it must belong to the latter part of
Henry VI.’s reign, and there is great probability that it was
written in 1456, like No. 324, which is also written by Hugh
Fenn from London.]

329

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[82.1]

_To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly._

[Sidenote: 1456 / MAY 2]

Worchepfull Cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterbury and of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground, and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow, my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the ij^de. day of Maij.

And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London, I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I have to comowne with yow, &c.

J. FASTOLF.

[Footnote 82.1: [Add. MS. 35,251, f. 24, B.M.] This letter seems
to be of the same year as No. 341.]

330

JOHN BOCKYNG TO JOHN PASTON[84.1]

_To my worshipful maister, John Paston, Squier._

[Sidenote: 1456 / MAY 8]

Sire, please it your maistership to wyte that on Wednesday, the v. day of Maij, I received a lettre from you by the prestis man of Walsyngham, and the Ascencion Day,[84.2] in the mornyng, I received a lettre from yow bi the handes of John Frays, my maisteris man, in whiche bothe moche thinge is conteyned whiche alle at this tyme I may not answere un to my comyng the nexte weke. And as to our atteynte,[84.3] the Chief Justice hathe, sithe this day sevenyght, kept the Gildehalle in London with alle the Lordes and Juges, sauf one in eche place. My Maister Markham yesterday rode owte of London be tymes. Notwithstandyng we called ther upon, and hadde at the barre Chokke,[84.4] Letelton,[84.5] Jenney,[84.6] Illyngworth,[84.7] John Jenney, and Dyne, and remembrid the longe hangyng and the trouthe of the matier, with the grete hurte of the partie in the tyme; and we have rule the next terme betymes, and non otherwise, for to morwe the juges sitten ayen in the toune. Mayster Yelverton can not be myry for Wyrmegey, and as for the distresse, it is a _non omittas_, and therfore Poley may and wil retorne what isseus he will. If thei be smale, we shall suffre at this time; if thei be grete, we must appere for Wyngfelde; and moche labour we have to conceyve a goode warant of attorney. We shal plede the next terme, for as at this tyme we wold on Monday enparle and we may.

Ye must suerly entrete the shireve, for we have moche to doo with hym, as yesterday hadde we a grete day also in th’eschequer. Myn maister[85.1] is moche bounde to Haltofte, and there we ar assigned day over to the next terme, and dwelle in law. Our counsail was longe or thei come, but at the laste thei acquitte them weel. The bille was thought not by all that stode at the barre that wer of nother partie. We ar joyned in the sute of the obligacion in the Comon Place ayenst Jenney and Howes. As for attachement, ye may none have withowte ye or on of yow make your othe in propre persone before the barons. I wolde have doon it; I cowde not be amytted. And as for other processe, it is advised that by the cors of th’eschequer I shall take a _venire facias_ ayenst Wentworthe, Andrews, longe Barnard, and Deyvill _ad respondendum quare in possessionem, &c. ingressi sunt_. And we must telle where other Coughawe or Kirkeley, I suppose; and therupon a distresse and an attachement; nevertheles by your othe, &c., hereafter. And it is thought good that the same men shal be in the writte of ravyshment. Jenney hath advised us to ley it in Blithinge hundred, and I have taken of hym names; for as for London it is to nyghe enbracerye, as ye thought well, and soo is Middlesex. Maister Yelverton conceyvith it weel to your entent. There are aboughte and in Suffolk but fewe men as of gentilmen and men of substance, but if [_unless_] it be in Blithing hundre, were Hopton is grete; but Jenney dredeth it not we may have good men at large; and as for the hundre, he wil doo inow thereinne.

As for the tailes of iiij^{xx}_li._ [_four score pounds_], as yette we shal doo weel inowghe and thei were contentid; or thei that shal have the silvere, the noyse were the lesse, for it shall, in pledyng, alwey be rehersid by our contrarie party that for x. marc we have alle that evere ther is, &c. I can not here how Wentworthe takith this matier by no meane; what he meneth I wote not. He is no thing pleasid with the matier of the bille in th’eschequer. Thomas Denys come yesterday, and none erste. I wolde Arblaster and he spoke with yow this vacacion. I write noo more til my comyng.

As for tidinges, noon othere thanne I sent yow laste; but forthe on the same, all is as it was with the Quene,[86.1] the Prince and myn Lord York ar stille at Tutbury and Sandale, and my Lord of Warrewick at Warrewick. My Lord Bukingham rode on Ascencion Even to Writell, noo thing wel plesid, and sumwhat on easid of herte to his purpose; for the King hathe ley in London Friday, Saterday, Sonday, Monday, Teusday, and Wednesday remevid to Westminster agen. In alle whiche tyme, men of London that wer chargid and sworne wolde not nor hadde noo thing presentid sauf trespas; this day thei shal sitte ayen. The peas is weel kepte, but the straungiers[86.2] ar soore a dradde, and dar not come on brode. Here is alle that I knowe as yet. Our Lord Jesu be with yow.

Writen at Suthwerk the viij. day of Maij.

I have paied to Dory C_s._, and with moche peyne made hym to ghete day of the other Cs. til the nexterme.

Your owen

J. B.

_Endorsed in a seventeenth-century hand._-- L’ra Joh’is Bokking,
Attorn. in Communi Banco.

[Footnote 84.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter
is quite certain, not only from the circumstance of the 5th May
being a Wednesday in 1456, as mentioned in the beginning, but
also from Ascension Day falling between that and the 8th, the
day on which this letter was written.]

[Footnote 84.2: Ascension Day was the 6th May in 1456.]

[Footnote 84.3: _See_ Nos. 267, 268, etc.]

[Footnote 84.4: Richard Choke, Serjeant-at-law, afterwards Judge
of the Common Pleas.]

[Footnote 84.5: Thomas Lyttelton, the great lawyer, at this time
King’s Serjeant, afterwards Judge of the Common Pleas, famous
for his treatise on _Tenures_.]

[Footnote 84.6: William Jenney.]

[Footnote 84.7: Richard Illingworth, afterwards Chief Baron of
the Exchequer.]

[Footnote 85.1: Sir John Fastolf.]

[Footnote 86.1: A full stop after ‘Quene’ would improve the
grammar of this sentence, but the original is entirely without
punctuation. The writer evidently meant that the Queen and
Prince were at Tutbury, and the Duke of York at Sandal.]

[Footnote 86.2: The foreign merchants. A riot took place about
this time in London, in which the houses of foreigners were
attacked. --_See_ Fabyan’s _Chronicle_; also Brown’s _Venetian
Calendar_, i. 81, 84.]

331

JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON[86.3]

_To my Maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1456 / MAY 15]

Worshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow. This day I come home; and as to our materes, I shall be with yow on Monday and Teusday next, be my maisters advys, and enforme yow of all, and of suche as I will not write. Your cofre is at the Prinse Inne; sende for it whane ye like, be the token, I hadde of Margret Goche a boke of lawe that Wigge brought me. As for tidyngs, my maistys your brother faren weel, and recomaunde them to my maistresse, there moder, to yow, and to all, &c.

As for tidings elles, the Kyng is at Shene, the Quene and Prince at Tutbury, but if it be the latter remevyng. Tidings were that the Lord Beaumont was slayn, and my Lord Warrewik sore hurte, m^{l}. [1000] men slayn, and vj^{xx}. [_six score_] knyghts and squiers hurte, and no thing trewe, blessed be God. As for the Lumbards,[87.1] ij. of the trespasers were hanged on Monday, and there ar be this tyme proclamacions made, or shall be, thorwe London, the pees to be kepte up on grete peynes; and the Lumbards to occupie the merchaundizes as thei dide til the Counsail or Parlament have otherwise determyned. And noo more as yet.

The atteynte abidith unreuled til the next terme, as I shal telle yow, and it shal doo weel with God is grace, hoe have yow in kepyng and all youres.

Writen at Caster _vigilia Pentecosten_.

Your owen

J. B.

[Footnote 86.3: [From Fenn, i. 130.] Whitsun Eve, the day on
which this letter is dated, fell on the 15th May in 1456, just a
week after the date of last letter; and no one can doubt that
they both belong to the same year.]

[Footnote 87.1: _See_ Note 2, preceding page.]

332

HENRY WINDSOR TO JOHN PASTON[87.2]

[Sidenote: 1456(?) / [MAY 16]]

After humble and due recommendacion, please it your gode maistership to understand that atte makyng of this my pour letter ther were no noveltees with us, but suche as yee understode full well afor your departyng, except the Kyng woll in to Scotland in all maner wyse of werre, and that my Lord of Weltshire shal be made Chaunceller. I suppose the better is but a sclaunder, and therfore be ye avised howe ye delyver theym as tidynges.

Also I wotte ful well where I lefte you in suche matiers as it pleassed you to make me of your counsell, as touchyng oon matier specially; and howe that ye said unto me whenne I desired your goode maistership to shewe favour in suche as ye best myght yf any thing shuld be shewed _ad lumen_, my Maister F. except; and howe that ye answered and said as it pleassed you that I was conquered, in trouth, that shuld preve but a full grete unstabulnes in me with more, &c. But, Sir, I pray you howe some ever my maister rekeneth with any of his servaunts, bring not the matier in revolution in the open Courte, for and it were ones opened afore the Juges howe that any lettre patentes shuld be purchased of an ante date,[88.1] and the defaute faunde in me, ye wold be a m^l. [_thousand_] tymes avised, and my Maister F. both, or that ye wold amend me soo much as I shuld be appered therbe. And therfor I beseche you be well avised howe that matier be oponed for myn ease.

I was not desired to write unto you of no on persone, so God be my help, yourself except; but I wold ye wold take avise and counsell of the Preest that hadde you soo long under hand on Shorthursday,[88.2] whenne I and my feleship, God thank you, hadde of you right grete chere to our grete comfort and your grete coste, howe that the same Preest understandeth this letter of the Gospell underwriten: ‘Jesus dixit Simoni Petro, Si peccav[er]it in te frater tuus, vade et corripe eum inter te et ipsum solum; si te audierit lucratus es fratrem tuum. Si autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum vel duos, ut in ore duorum vel trium testium stet omne verbum. Quod si non audierit, dic ecclesiæ; si autem ecclesiam non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus,’ etc. And in another place, ‘Tunc accedens Petrus ad Jesum dixit, Domine, quotiens petevit [_peccabit_] in me frater meus, [et] dimittam ei? usque septies? Dicit illi Jesus, Non dico tibi, usque septies, set usque septuagesies septies.’[89.1]

My maister can doo no thing, the which shall come in open audience at thise deies, but it shalbe called your dede. Hit is not unknoon that cruell and vengible he hath byn ever, and for the most parte with aute pite and mercy; I can no more but _vade et corripe eum_, for truly he cannot bryng about his matiers in this word [_world_], for the word is not for hym. I suppose it wolnot chaunge yetts by likelenes, but I beseche you, Sir, help not to amend hym onely, by [_but ?_] every other man yf ye kno any mo mysse disposed.

I canno more, but as I can or mey, I shal be his servaunt and youres unto such tyme as ye woll comande me to sursese and leve of, yf it please hym.

Sir, I pray you take this copy[89.2] of your statute, it is not examined be me, for I found hit thise v. yeres pessed.

Writan in my slepyng tyme at after none, on Wytsonday. Also, Sir, yf I have rehersed wyttyngly the text of the Gospell syngularly unto your maistership, I beseche you to be had excused.

Your own,

H. W.

[Footnote 87.2: [From Fenn, iii. 278.] The date of this letter
is doubtful. The two pieces of intelligence at the beginning
were certainly both false rumours, as the writer, indeed, seems
to have suspected. Henry VI. never went to Scotland in manner of
war, and the Earl of Wiltshire never was made Chancellor. But
the time when those rumours seem most likely to have arisen was
in the year 1456, when the Duke of York had been deprived of the
Protectorate. The Earl of Wiltshire, being of the opposite party
to York, was not unlikely to have been talked of as Chancellor,
although the Chancellorship was given on the 7th of March to the
Archbishop of Canterbury. As to the rumoured expedition against
Scotland, we know that in the preceding year James II., in
defiance of the truce, laid siege to Berwick, which offered a
gallant resistance (Nicolas’s _Privy Council Proceedings_, vi.
248). This, however, does not appear immediately to have led to
open war between the two countries. Diplomatic relations were
still carried on till, on the 10th of May 1456, James II.
despatched Lyon Herald to the King of England to declare plainly
that the Truce of 1453 was injurious to Scotland, and that he
did not mean to abide by it (Lambeth MS. 211, f. 146 b). No
reply was made to this message till the 26th of July, when an
answer was despatched by the Duke of York in the King’s name
(_see_ Rymer, xi. 383); but there can be little doubt the desire
to punish the insolence of the Scots must have been very general
long before.]

[Footnote 88.1: A law was passed in the eighteenth year of Henry
VI. to put a stop to the abuse of persons having interest about
the Court procuring antedated letters patent, by means of which
they were enabled to claim the emoluments of lands or offices
granted to them from a date anterior to the actual passing of
the grant. --_See_ Hardy’s Introduction to the _Patent Rolls of
King John_, p. xxx.]

[Footnote 88.2: Shere or Shore Thursday, Maundy Thursday, the
day before Good Friday.]

[Footnote 89.1: St. Matthew’s Gospel, chap. xviii. ver. 15, 16,
17, and ver. 21, 22.]

[Footnote 89.2: This relates to papers sent with this letter,
and accounts for there being no direction, as the whole was
enclosed in a parcel.--F.]

333

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON[90.1]

_To my Maister Paston, in haaste._

[Sidenote: 1456 / JUNE 1]

Please your good maistirship to wete that my Lord of Norffolk yaf in comaundement to Cristofre and to the balif of Colneise to laboure with us acording to your mocion. And as to Skilly, fermour of Cowhaugh, we enteryd there, and seyd we wold have payment for the half yeer past, and sewrete for the half yeer comynge, or ellys we wold distreyne and put hym out of pocession, and put in a newe fermoure; and so oure demenyng was suche that we toke no distresse, and yit we have hym bounde in an obligacion of xviij_li._ payabil at Michelmesse without condecion, and vj_s._ viij_d._ we receyvid of hym for opocession, for the ferme as yit remayneth on gatherid in the fermourez handes. But I seyd hym I wold be ther ageyn for the recedu of the half yeer ferme past withinne this xiiij. dayes; and he seyd he wold do hise delygence to gather it up. But he spak with Wentworth sethyn, whiche yef hym an uttyr rebuke, as he swor to me, and seyd he wold have hys payment of Skylly, and sewe hise oblygacion this next terme whiche he is bounden in to Wentworth for the yeerly payment of the same ferme; and the seyd Wentworth seyd he wyll takyn an accyon of trespas this next terme ageyn us that were there; and Devyle seyd ye were hender the londes at the begynning of your sute thanne ye be now, and that shalbe knowe be Lammesse next comyng, for he hathe thynges to shewe ye saw nevyr yit. Skilly offerid me xl_s._ to have delyvered hym ageyn hise obligacion, and he wold have put me in pocession of a distresse, and [_i.e._ if] I wold have delyvered it hym; he seithe he dede nevyr so mad a dede, for Wentworth wold no bettyr mean thane we had takyn a distresse. He shuld sone have remedyed that; but now he seith Skylls is withoute remedy, but he will be payd, &c.

Item, Sir, as to the fermourez of the manor of Langston in Brustal, we have also sewyrte be oblygacion withoute condecion payabil at Michilmesse, and toke no distresse but enteryd the londes; but we had gret peyne to brynge hem ther to, for ther is one John Cook of Braunford hath it in ferme of Wentworth all, and he leteth it out ageyn be parcelles to iij. sondre persones. But he was not at home, where for we have the same fermourez bounde for payment, and they had no mony redy, but they have promysed to delyvere Herry Deye at Yepiswiche this day xx_s._ in party of payment.

Item, Sir, as to the fermour of the maner of Bentley, clepid Bentley Houses, we have hym bonde in lyke wyse for the ferme of the seyd maner from Michilmesse last past tyl Mychelmesse next comyng, in an obligacion of x. marks payabil at Michilmesse next comyng, without ony condecyon; and in party of payment I have receyvid of hym xiij_s._ iiij_d._, and he promyseth me iiij. markes at Lammesse next comyng. And as for Bradwell, my maistir[91.1] hathe sewyrte; and as for Kyrley Hawe, I was with the fermour yistirday, but he wyll paye no peny, nor be bounde neithir. Wherfor my maistir shal sende us to take a distresse tomorwyn, and I truste we shal fynde sum meanys to have hym bounde, &c.

Item, John Andrewe hathe in fee yerly of the maner of Coughaugh xx_s._, and Thomas Denys xiij_s._ iiij_d._ of the maner of Foxhole, but as ferre as I can enquere, there is payd no more feez out of non of the maneris to none othir men but to these tweyne.

Item, as for the endenturis, I sende here with a copy of Skyllyez endenture and a copy of Deynis endenture, fermour of the maner of Bentley, clepid Bentley Houses; and Herry Deye shal brynge a copy of John Cooks endenture of the ferme of the maner of Langston in Brustall; and as for Wareyn Bonde, he mad nevyr endenture for the ferme of Kyrkley Hawe, for he hathe ocupyed it but sethin Michilmesse last past; and so he holdith it but be promyse upon compnaunt [_covenant ?_]. And we shal gete a copy of Sewalys endenture, fermour of Bradwelle, and me semyth, savyng your bettyr avyse, it war right expedient that ye shuld for the sped of this mater be at London in al haste.

Primo die Junii anno xxxiiij.[91.2]

Youre humble servaunt and bedeman,

JOHN RUSSE.

[Footnote 90.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 91.1: Sir John Fastolf.]

[Footnote 91.2: The thirty-fourth year of the reign of Henry VI.
This date is added in a different hand, apparently that of John
Paston, to whom the letter is addressed.]

[[JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON[90.1] _footnote tag missing_]]

334

JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON[91.3]

_To my right good maister, John Paston, Squier, at Norwiche, in haste._

[Sidenote: 1456 / JUNE 7]

Sir, please it your maistership to wyte, I have my attachements graunted in open Courte with helpe of Litelton[91.4] and Hewe at Fen, and was bide to make redy the names, &c. before the Barons, of which Haltoft[91.5] was one. . . . . . . . . .[91.6]

As for tidings, the Kyng is at Shene, the Quene at Chestre; the Duc of Buk was, as I come hiderward, at Writell, the Erle of Warrewyke at Werrewyke, and the Lords Chaunceller,[92.1] Tresorier,[92.2] and th’Erle of Sar’ [_Salisbury_] in London, and noo more Lords at the begynyng this day of the grete Counsail. Many men say that there shuld be, but thei wote not what. The sege shall, as men say, come to Caleys and to Guynes, for moche puple come overe the water of Somme, and grete navies on the see.

Th’Erle of Penbroke[92.3] is with the Kyng, and noo more Lordis. Th’Erle of Richemond[92.4] and Griffith Suoh (?) are at werre gretely in Wales. The Comons of Kent, as thei werre wo[n]tte, er not all weel disposid, for there is in doyng amongs hem what evere it bee. Of Scotts is here but litell talkyng. My Lord York is at Sendall stille, and waytith on the Quene and she up on hym.

I dide my maistress your moderis erands, as ye have herde of, for Maister William hath writen his entente, and he and Clement faren weel.

Writen at Horshighdone, vij^mo die Junij.

Rokewode and Crane faren weel, and thei and I recomaunde hem to my maistress your wif.

And as I understande, the Clerke of the Rolles is owte of charite with Maister Yelverton, and my Lord Chaunceller a litell mevid, &c.

Your owen,

J. B.

[Footnote 91.3: [From Fenn, i. 134.] On comparing this with the
previous letters of Bocking, Nos. 330 and 331, it will be seen
that they must all three be of the same year.]

[Footnote 91.4: Thomas Lyttelton. --_See_ p. 84, Note 5.]

[Footnote 91.5: Gilbert Haltoft.]

[Footnote 91.6: Here, in the original, followed various passages
relating to law business, which Fenn has not printed.]

[Footnote 92.1: Archbishop Bourchier.]

[Footnote 92.2: Henry, Viscount Bourchier, was appointed Lord
Treasurer on the 29th May 1455 (_Patent Roll_, 33 Hen. VI., p.
2, m. 12), and so continued till the 5th October 1456, when the
office was taken from him and given to the Earl of Shrewsbury
(_Patent_, 35 Hen. VI., p. 1, m. 16).]

[Footnote 92.3: Jasper Tudor. --_See_ vol. ii. p. 298, Note 1.]

[Footnote 92.4: Edmund Tudor. --_See_ vol. ii. p. 297, Note 6.]

335

ABSTRACT[93.1]

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON, ESQ.

[Sidenote: 1456 / JUNE 18]

As to the matters on which Paston sent to him by Will. Barker to desire his advice, Paston knows that Fastolf has put his whole confidence in him, and begs he will do with the advice of Fastolf’s learned counsel whatever they jointly think for his weal; ‘for ye know well I am so visited by the hand of God that I may not deal with such troublous matters, without it should be to great hurt of my bodily welfare, which I trust ye would not desire.’ If you find my Lady of York disposed to visit this poor place, commend me to her, and tell her how it is with me that I cannot receive her as I ought.

Castre, 18 June.

[As it will appear a little further on that the Duchess of York
visited Caister in 1456, this letter is probably of that year.]

[Footnote 93.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 242.]]

336

ABSTRACT[93.2]

SIR J. FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON.

[Sidenote: 1456 / JUNE 24]

To-day my cousin Sir Miles Stapleton, Sir James Braylyes, Andrew Grygges, ‘hyr resseyvor,’ and Grymston have been with Fastolf at Castre, and brought him 253 marks, which they would have paid if he had had the obligation here. Sends therefore a letter by his servant Colyn how Sir S. and he are agreed for its deliverance, etc. Sir S. made many strange insinuations that the money was paid before, partly by assignment to Clyffton, etc. On the 18th and 19th inst. ‘long Bernard, with a priest of Kent, to the number of 16 horse, hafe, at Nacton, Bentley, and other places of F., and entered by colour of a deed of feoffment made to the Lady Roos and others, and hafe right proud language to the farmers, that they will obtain their intent.’ Russe has written more plainly by Nich. Colman.

‘Item, I charge right greatly the matter of my Lord of Bedford for my discharge, and for the recovery of my Lord’s goods.’ Begs Paston to common with the Lord Chancellor and others about it; and desires him to give ‘mine attorney, Raulyns, and my serjeants’ a warning ‘to take more tenderness’ about the process of Hykelyng that has been so many years and days driven off.

St. John Baptist’s Day.

[From the reference to ‘the matter of my Lord of Bedford,’ this
letter was most probably written in the year 1456.]

[Footnote 93.2: [_Ibid._, No. 263.]]

337

ABSTRACT[94.1]

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON.

‘First it is to remember that, upon St. John’s day, there was Sir Symond Brayles, chaplain of my Lady of Suffolk, and in presence of Sir Miles Stapleton and Edward Grymston, said that the 200 marks was paid before in the Duke of Suffolk’s days.’ Can prove by writings that this was not so, and that he ‘offered to put it upon my Lord Chancellor and upon one or two of Lords of the King’s council as my said Lord Chancellor will call unto him,’ that it may be known whether my Lady is wronged or Fastolf. The £100 of the above sum was not paid by assignment to Clyffton. Sir Simon complains that the suit was stolen against Sir Thos. Tuddenham, and judgment given without my Lady’s counsel knowing of it; which can be disproved.

Castre, St. John Baptist’s Day.

* * *

‘Item, I remembered Sir Simon for the restitution of my revenues of Dedham 3 year day, and my damage of a mill put down,’ etc. I paid 500 marks for the ward of Sir Rob. Harlyng’s daughter for my Lord to Sir John Clyfton, of which the Duke had no right to receive one penny, for there was no land held of the King.

[This letter corresponds so closely with the last that it must have
been written the same day.]

[Footnote 94.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 238.]]

338

FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON[95.1]

_Honorabili viro Johanni Paston armigero ac confratri suo Willelmo germano uterino._[95.2]

[Sidenote: 1456(?) / [JUNE 29]]

Ryte reverent Syre, &c. I am informyd credybily of a secrete frend that S. T. T. [_Sir Thomas Tuddenham_] and J. H. [_John Heydon_], with J. A. [_John Andrews ?_] and other of cursyd covy, wyl bryng with hem many gentylmen of here bende to compleyn upon me at the next chapitle, &c. And there fore, by the grace of God, I dispose me, with help of zour good maysterschip and my Mayster Willyam, zour brother. Where fore, at the reverens of God, that ze do speke with the clerk men clepyn Brayn, that kepyth the bokys of here inditementes at the _oyer determyner_, anno xxixº regni Regis; and that an extret or a copy myte schortly be wrytyn owt of as many namys as dedyn indyte T. T. and J. H. for trespas, extorsyones, and oppressyonys done to other men, as wele as to my Mayster Fastolff, etc., that I may be redy to schew to my ordre, lyk a kalender, a legende of here lyvys and here rewlyng of the cuntre, in destruccyon and gret myschef of the cuntre in here dayes. At the reverens of Jesu, forzet not this mater, ne the mater of Dedham, etc. I wolde ze askyd my good lord and mayster, Yelverton, yf I sent hym ony letter in the same mater, &c. Dicente Davitico Psalmo:[96.1] _Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum, nam superbia eorum ascendit semper_ in psalmo; qui et si nunquam ascendant in cœlos, utinam nunquam desendant ab [_ad_] abissos, &c., etsi anima eorum in malis tabescebat, &c. Scriptum festinacione (?) feria 3^a post festum Natalis Sancti Johannis Baptistæ.[96.2] Recommendetis me magistro meo W. Paston, confratri vestro, et Thomæ Playter cognato meo, cui dicite quod faciat Willelmum Geneye sibi benivolum quia Sampson filius et heres J. Sampson olim mariti Katerinæ Fastolff apud Owlton mortuus, et ibi sunt duæ viduæ, major et minor, senior et junior. Eligatur quæ sibi melius placet.

Magister Thomas Howys vobis amantissimus se cordialissime recommendat vobis, etc. Item, Willelmus Wigorniensis recommendat se vobis ex toto corde. Scribo vobis, utinam ad placitum.

Vester ad vota,

F. J. B., _Minorum minimus_.

I hafe a rolle redy of the inditements, that they were indityd for trespase and extorsyon and oppressyon done to my Mayster Fastolff, in the keping of W. Worceter, &c.

Visa frangatur et in ignem post jaciatur. Si dignemini loqui cum effectu magistro Ricardo Fysscher, secretario domini mei comitis Warwicensis, pro cujus nomine et amore promptissimus sum adhuc plura pati, ut mittatur pro me litera magistro provinciali et diffinitoribus.

[Footnote 95.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Dr. John Brackley, the
writer of this letter, was a Grey Friar of Norwich, of
considerable celebrity as a preacher. Several letters of his are
found in this collection, written in the years 1459 and 1460.
This, however, must be a few years earlier, as in 1459 Brackley
writes of William Worcester in very different terms. The
handwriting also is not so close as that of his later letters.
We cannot, however, carry the date further back than 1455, as it
seems that Worcester and Howes were at this time together, which
must have been at Caister. Nor will the year 1455 itself suit
all the circumstances of the letter, for it is evident that John
and William Paston were also together, and as the writer asks
John Paston to speak to Yelverton, it may be presumed they were
in London. Now, John Paston was certainly not in London within a
week after St. John the Baptist’s Day in 1455. We have therefore
placed the letter in 1456. It will be observed that, on the 1st
of June in that year, John Russe advised Paston to go up to
London.]

[Footnote 95.2: This address is in William Worcester’s hand. The
letter itself is in Brackley’s own.]

[Footnote 96.1: _See_ Psalm lxxiii. (or lxxiv.) 23.]

[Footnote 96.2: St. John the Baptist’s Day is the 24th June.
_Feria tertia_ means Tuesday.]

339

FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON[97.1]

_Magistro meo venerabili Johanni Paston Armigero detui._

Dixi enim magistro meo gardiano ante meum exitum quod magistri mei generosi et amici alii vellent me juvare pro die Jovis pro pascendo doctores, patres ac cæteros confratres nostri provincialis capituli; et in exitu meo consentire noluit, quia Gurnay suus socius et procurator, frater juvenis nostri conventus et unus sacerdos simplex, curatus de Worsted, et Bukle, cocus, super se diem prædictum assumpserunt. Et ego dixi, ‘Olim fuit modus quod unus ejusdem loci magister esset præferendus in tali diei eleccione. Sed unum scitote, si magistri mei certi generosi et ego cum eis habere non potuerimus diem quem elegimus, certe pro hoc tempore nullum alium diem habere volumus.’ Utinam placeret vobis ut magistra mea, uxor vestra, vellet mittere pro magistro gardiano, et dicere sibi quod ipsa quæsivit a me qualem diem ego haberem pro fratribus pascendis in tempore capituli et quod ego dixi me habiturum illum vel certe nullum aliter. Quæcumque ego potero procurare de pecuniis seu victualibus ego singula venderem et expendere vellem in reparacionibus, &c. Rogo vos ex caritate ut magistræ meæ matri vestræ ac aliis amicis vestris vobis notis, insinuetis nostram indigenciam pro faciliori relevamine capituli provincialis. Sic enim ad vestri et mei magistri mei specialem instanciam præsencialiter habere residenciam teneo, ut alia loca pro præsenti negocio accedere non valeam, &c. Non plura pro præsenti sunt calamo præsentanda, nisi quod vos, vestros et vestra Jesus Christus graciose conservet in prosperis et graciosius dirigat in agendis. Amen.

Recommendetis me, si placeat, uxori et matri et confratribus vestris W., &c. et domino meo Rectori de Blofeld, utinam de Hadle, &c.; cui dicatis quod hac nocte jacuit Colinus Gallicus cum pulcherima Amasia sua in camera conducta per eum, &c. Utinam nunquam vigeat, &c. Ipse proponit in vestra præsentia dicere dicto rectori satis perversa verba. Et spero quod dominus Rector faciat de sua speciali gratia meum negocium per Ricardum famulum suum crastina die summo mane expediendum, quia dies ista est dies ultima, &c. Ex manerio de Castre, Sabbato circa tempus prandii festinantissime.

Magister meus[97.2] valde gavisus est quando audivit de vobis quomodo scienter, audacter, viriliter et veraciter respondistis adversariis vestris coram Domino Cancellario aliisque dominis, &c.

Vester præ cæteris orator,

F. J. B., Minorum minimus.

[Footnote 97.1: This letter was copied by the Editor from one of
the Royden Hall MSS. in 1875.]

[Footnote 97.2: Sir John Fastolf.]

340

HENRY FYLUNGLEY TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[98.1]

_To my ryght worshipfull unkle, and my ryght good master, Syr John Fastalf, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1456(?) / JULY 17]

Ryght worshipfull unkull, and my ryght good master, I recomaund me to yow wyth all my servys. And, Sir, my brother Paston and I have comened togeder as touchinge to your colage that ye wold have made; and, Sir, hit ys to gret a good that ys axed of yow for youre lycens; for they ax for every C. marc that ye wold amortyse D. marcz, and woll gefe hit noo better chepe.

And, Sir, y told my brother Paston that my Lady of Bargeveney[98.2] hath, in dyvers Abbeyes in Lecestershyre, vij. or viij. prestes singinge for her perpetuell, by my brother Darcyes and my unkle Brokesbyes meanes, for they were her executors; and they acorded for money, and gafe a cc. or ccc. marc, as they myzt acord for a prest. And for the suerte that he shuld synge in the same abbey for ever, they had maners of good valew bounden to such persones as plesed the sayd barthern [_brethren_] Brokkesby and my brother Darcy, that the sayd servyse shulde be kept. And for lytell moore then the Kynge axed hem for a lycence, they went thorgh with the sayd abbots. And y hold this wey as sure as that other. Ye may comen with youre councell therof.

And yf there be any servyse that I can do for yow, hit shall be redy at all tymes, with the grace of God, who have yow in his kepynge.

Wryten at London, the xvij. day of Juyll.

Your nevew and servaunt,

HENRY FYLUNGLEY.

[Footnote 98.1: [From Fenn, i. 166.] This letter must have been
written about the time Sir John Fastolf first began to make
inquiry on what terms he could obtain a licence for establishing
a college at Caister,--a project which he had much at heart
during the latter years of his life. A letter from Sir John
himself upon this subject will be found a little further on,
dated the 18th November (No. 351), and we think it probable that
this is of the same year, 1456.]

[Footnote 98.2: Edward Nevill, Lord Abergavenny, was twice
married. His first wife, to whom he owed his title, was
Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester. His
second was Catherine, daughter of Sir Robert Howard. The Lady
here mentioned is probably the former, for though Dugdale says
he obtained a dispensation for his second marriage in 1448, that
date is inconsistent with the age of his son and other facts
mentioned.]

341

SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[99.1]

_To my worshipful cousyn, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1456 / JULY 31]

Right trusty and worshipful cousyn, I recomaunde me to yow. And like it yow to wyte, myn attorny, Raulyns, hathe enformed me that the Jugis have ruled processe to goo owte ayenst the priour of Hikelyng of distresse _per omnia bona et catalla_, of whiche the writte and other ar not yet come fro London. I trust whan thei come, be your good counsail and meane, the Shireve wil doo his devoir; how be it, as I understande, thei have sente the Lord Scales all there evidences, and he wil come and dwelle there hym silf. And I am also enformed, for certeyn, that the Bushop of Norwiche, for all the truste I hadde to hym, that by his meane I shulde have knowen there fundacion, he hathe warned his officeres not to have adoo therinne, by cause of the Lord Scales, &c. Cousyn, I pray yow, in as moche as the matere, by agrement, was putte in you and Fyncham, and how that ye, for the same cause, specially kepte your day at London, and toke not in there defaulte and not myn, that ye wil soo in caas ye see Fyncham remembre, and to othere there as ye seme it shulde profite to be knowen, and that yet nevertheles my sute soo ferforthe I wole yet, as I wolde thanne, and at all tymes am redy; and soo I wolde the priour knewe, and all othere, as weel his weelwillers as otheres, as the bringer herof shall declare you more pleinly. As for tidinges, my folkes ar not yet come fro London. The abbot of Seint Benettes hathe ben with me, and suche as he tolde me the bringer shall enforme you. And our Lord Jesu have you in governaunce.

Writen at Castre, the last day of Julle.

Your cousyn,

J. F.

[Footnote 99.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is
doubtless of the same year as No. 336, in the end of which
Fastolf wishes his attorney, Rawlyns, urged to greater activity
in the matter of Hickling.]

342

LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[100.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1456 / AUG. 10]

Right trusty and entierly welbeloved frend, I grete you well, and wull ze wite that Danyell[100.2] hath required me to write un to you, praying you that ze wyll kepe the day upon Thursday[100.3] vij. dayes nexst comyng, which shal be for the best, as I trust; not with standyng I suppose lerned men wyll not be easy for to gete be cause of this besy tyme of hervest. Almyghty God have you in Hise governaunce.

Writen at Mydelton,[100.4] the x. day of August.

Your frend,

SCALES.

[Footnote 100.1: [From Fenn, i. 138.] This letter is dated by a
memorandum at the bottom of the original, in the handwriting, as
Fenn believes, of John Paston: ‘Lettera inter Mich. xxxiiij. et
xxxv.’]

[Footnote 100.2: Thomas Daniel of Rising. --_See_ vol. ii. pp.
79, 80, 103, etc.]

[Footnote 100.3: 19th August.]

[Footnote 100.4: In Norfolk.]

343

LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[100.5]

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

[Sidenote: About 1456(?)]

Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly well. And for as mych as I u[ndyrstond] a bill was made at Yermuth ageyns my cousyn Bryan Stapylton and hise wy. . . . have set up the said bill in the Kynges Bench, which bill is in your kepyng, pray[ing] you that ye wyll sende me the same bill be the bringer herof, to the entent I m[ay] se it. And as I am informed be my said cousyn, ye shewed hym grete gentilnesse and benyvolence, wherof I thanke you right hertely. I pray God have you in governance.

Writen at Midelton, the xx. day of Septembre.

Zowr frend,

SCALES.

[Footnote 100.5: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is placed
immediately after another letter of Lord Scales, dated like this
from his seat at Middleton in Norfolk, as probably belonging to
the same period, though the exact year is uncertain.]

344

ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO JOHN PASTON[101.1]

_To our right truste and right welbeloved John Paston, Esquier, and William Norwiche[101.2] and to either of theym._

[Sidenote: 1456 / SEPT. 7]

Right truste and right welbeloved, we grete you hertly wel. And where as Sir Nichol Bowet, Knight, sueth an appeelle in the countee of Norffolk ayenst oon Robert Offord of Berking for the deeth of oon Sir Henry Bowet, clerc, we being enformed that the matier is pitevous, praie you hertly that ye wul in our behalve moeve and entreete the Shirreve of the saide countee to surceese of the execucion of any processe upon the exigent[101.3] to hym directed in that behalve unto the next terme, so that resonable meanes maye be founden to save the saide Robert harmelesse; lating hym wite that we have written to the saide Sir Nichol for a convenient treetie to be taken in that behalve, as shalbe thought according to right. And God have you ever in his keping.

Written in our Manoir of Mortelake, the vij. daie of September.

T., ARCHBYSSHOPP OF CANTERBURY.

[Footnote 101.1: [From Fenn, iii. 276.] This letter may be
presumed to have been written during the time that Archbishop
Bourchier was Lord Chancellor, viz. between 7th March 1455 and
11th October 1456, when the Great Seal was given to Bishop
Waynfleet. William Norwich, also, was Sheriff of Norwich in
1455, and is doubtless addressed in that capacity, but his year
of office would not have begun so early as September. The letter
therefore belongs to the following year.]

[Footnote 101.2: Sheriff of Norwich, 1455; Mayor, 1461. Died,
1463-4.--Blomefield.]

[Footnote 101.3: _See_ vol. ii. p. 248, Note 4.]

345

JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON[102.1]

_To my right worshipful Maister, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1456 / OCT. 8]

Right worshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow, and have receyvid a lettre from yow by Sir Thomas is man, berer here of. And as for the accions,[102.2] bothe of ravishement and th’attachement, the declaracions ar made _tunc solvend’_ and not _solut’_, and as moche amendid as we can or may be favour have amendid. We hadde be beguyled and they hadde not be sen in Norffolk, for here til this day come noo counsaill; and to have _per manus Johannis Wyngfelde_ it wole not be, for we can not bringe it inne, and also it is to late.

And as for iiij^{xx}_li._ [_fourscore pounds_],[102.3] Fenn and I mette with Worsop this day, and he spake soore to Fenn and me, and we put hym overe, saying we wolde doo as moche as we myghte. I thinke verily that Fenn wole deserve ther inne a thanke, but I can not understande hym what he wolde be doon to, or how rewardid, for whanne I speke of it he is desplesid, and seithe he desirith noo rewarde; but he farith as a man wole sey he wold noo silvere, and lokith awaywardes and takith a noble. And he hath written to yow of the matere of Sir Philip Wentworthe touching this writte of _liberate_,[102.4] whiche is but a color and noo warant sufficient, ner we owe not to doo no thinge that shuld obeye it, ner the Shireve nother dothe but of favor that he dothe to hem, and hym liste otherwise to doo, as Fenn writeth yow more pleinly. And as for a _supersedies_ [_sic_], there lithe noon, as he seith, up on a _liberate_.

And as for entryng in Bradwell, thei doo opyn wronge, for after myn patent opteyned, there was a writte to sease it into the Kynges hande, and soo it was and is. And as to your patent, it is counsailled me to have a writte to th’eschetor _de custodia liberanda_, whiche may not be denyed. And if we myght have _una cum exitibus a tempore mortis_, it were a sovereigne writte. It shalbe assaied, and doo thertoo what can lete; the fermours be promised to be saved harmeles and chargid not to paie ony thing to them.

And as for the iiij^{xx}_li._ [_fourscore pounds_] to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte. It is faire, and we can ghete it on Fulthorp is dette by grete labor for agrement, for I drede it wole be moste agayn us that it is of recorde soo longe unpaied. And Hue at Fenn sueth now to Nailer to ghete owte moo _liberates_, suche as the last were to the last eschetor. And this God graunte thei take good spede.

And as to your isseus, I shal accordyng to your lettre speke with Gresham whanne he cometh, and the Juges and Barons bothe shalbe enformed of the title of Wentworthe, as ye write, and how it is up on a feyned dede upon surrender, and a patent cancelled, &c., which Fenn hath promisid to doo.

And as to Sir Thomas matier, I write un to yow and hym joinctly what hathe be doon therinne at this tyme. And Jesu have yow in kepyng.

Writen at Suthwerk, the viij. day of Octobre.

As to tidinges, the Kyng and the Quene ar at Coventre.[103.1] The Counsail be ganne there yesterday, and my Lord Shrewyshbury,[103.2] Tresorier of England, and John Wode shalb [_shall be_] Under-Tresorer. Thus thei say in the Chequer.

Your owen,

J. B.

[Footnote 102.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The body of this
letter relates entirely to proceedings in the dispute between
Sir John Fastolf and Sir Philip Wentworth about the wardship of
Thomas Fastolf. The postscript alone relates to public matters.
The date will appear by the footnotes.]

[Footnote 102.2: Against Sir Philip Wentworth.]

[Footnote 102.3: This sum was to be paid by John Bocking and
William Worcester for a patent of the wardship of Thomas
Fastolf. --_See_ Letter 347 following.]

[Footnote 102.4: _See_ p. 77, Note 5.]

[Footnote 103.1: The Privy Seal dates show the King to have been
at Coventry between the 20th September and the 14th October
1456.]

[Footnote 103.2: John Talbot, second Earl of Shrewsbury, was
appointed Treasurer on the 5th October 1456.--_Patent Roll_, 35
Hen. VI., p. 1, m. 16.]

346

BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON[104.1]

_To my Maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1456(?) / OCT. 12]