Chapter I: Part 1

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This edition, published by arrangement with Messrs. ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, LIMITED, is strictly limited to 650 copies for Great Britain and America, of which only 600 sets are for sale, and are numbered 1 to 600.

No. 44.

[[The number 44 is handwritten.]]

* * * * *
* * * *

THE PASTON LETTERS

A.D. 1422-1509

* * * *
* * * * *

THE PASTON LETTERS A.D. 1422-1509

New Complete Library Edition

Edited with Notes and an Introduction

by

JAMES GAIRDNER of the Public Record Office

_VOLUME IV_

London Chatto & Windus

[Decoration]

Exeter James G. Commin 1904

Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty

THE PASTON LETTERS

_Edward IV_

488

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[1.1]

_A Lettre to J. Paston, Armig., from his wife, shewing his imprisonment in the Fleete._[1.2]

[Sidenote: 1461 / NOV. 2]

Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I receyvyd yowyr lettyr that ye sent me by John Holme on Wednysday last past, and also I receyvvd a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt, that ye sent me by Nycolas Newmanys man, of the whyche lettyrs I thanc yow; for I schold ellys a’ thowt that it had be wers with yow than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I had the last lettyr tyll thys day that the Meyir sent to me, and sent me werd that he had knowlege for very trowthe that ye wer delyveryd owt of the Flet, and that Howard was comytyd to ward for dyvers gret compleynts that wer mad to the Kyng of hym. It was talkyd in Norwyche and in dyvers othyr plasys in the contre on Saterday last past, that ye wer comytyd to Flet, and in good feyth, as I herd sey, the pepyle was ryth sory ther of, bothe of Norwyche and in the contre. Ye ar ryth myche bownde to thank God, and all tho that love yow, that ye have so gret love of the pepyll as ye have. Ye ar myche behold to the Meyir[2.1] and to Gylberd,[2.2] and to dyvers othyr of the aldyrmen, for feythfully they owe yow good wyll to ther porys.

I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche thyngys as ye wrot to me for, and he promysyd me that he schold labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as he kowd; and in good feyth, as my brodyr and Playter kan tell yow, as be hys seying to us, he is and wole be feythfull to yow. And as for Wylliam Wyrcestyr, he hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the parson and by othyr, as my brodyr and Playter schall telle yow, that they hope he wole do well i now. The parson seyd ryth well and pleynly to hym. The parson tolde me that he had spook with Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn,[2.3] and with hys wyfe, and he thynkyth that they wole do well i now aftyr yowyr intent, so that they be plesantly intretyd. The parson tolde me that he wyst well that Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn cowd do more ese in swyche matyers as ye wrot of, towchyng my Lord of Bedford,[2.4] than ony man kowd do that leveyth at thys day. Also he tolde me that he felt by hem that they wold owe yow ryth good wyll, so that ye wold owe hem good wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make yow acordyd when he comyth to London.

Item, my brodyr and Playter wer with Calthorp[3.1] to inquer of the mater that ye wrot to me of. What answer he gave hem, they schall tell yow. I sent the Parson of Heylysdon[3.2] to Gurnay[3.3] to spek to hym of the same mater, and he seyth feythefully ther was no swyche thyng desyiryd of hym, and thow it had be desyiryd, he wold nowthyr a’ seyd nor done a yens yow. He seyd he had ever fownde you lovyng and feythfull to hym, and so he seyd he wold be to yow to hys power, and desyiryng me that I wold not thynk hym the contrary. As for John Gros, he is at Slole; ther for he myth not be spok with.

I pray yow that ye wole send me word whedyr ye wole that I schall remeve frome hens, for it begynyth to wax a cold abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and John Rus schall make an end of all thyngys aftyr yowyr intent, as myche as they can do ther in this wek, and he purposyth to come forward to yow on the Monday next aftyr Seynt Leonardys Day.

My brodyr and Playter schold a be with yow er thys tym, but that they wold a byd tyl thys day wer past, be cause of the schyer. I spok to my brodyr Wylliam as ye bad me, and he told me, so God hym help, that he hyryd ij. horse ij. dayis be for that ye redyn, that he myth a’ ryde forthe with yow; and be cause that ye spak not to hym to ryde with yow, he seyd that he wend[3.4] ye wold[3.5] have had hym with yow.

Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day aftyr ye wer redyn, to have spoke with yow for hyr sone. Sche[3.6] prayith yow, at the reverens of God, that ye wole be hys good mastyr, and to help hym in hys ryth, that he may have hom hys lyvelod owt of ther handys that have had it in hys nownage. Sche seyth that they wold mak hym a yer yonger than he is, but sche seyth that he is more thane xxj., and upon that sche dare take an othe.

And the Blyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good sped in all yowyr matyrs, and send the vyctary of all yowyr enmyis.

Wretyn in hast, on Sowlemas Daye.[4.1]

By yowyrs,

M. P.

[Footnote 1.1: [From Fenn, iv. 232.] This letter is ascribed by
Fenn to the year 1465, in consequence of the allusion to John
Paston’s imprisonment in the Fleet. But there were more occasions
than one on which he was confined there. Fenn himself knew of two.
Paston was committed to the Fleet, as we know from William
Worcester, on Saturday, the 3rd November 1464. He was also
confined there in August and September 1465, and may very possibly
have been released by the beginning of November. But I am inclined
to think this letter refers to an imprisonment prior to either of
these. For, in the first place, the news of it seems only to have
been recent. It had become general subject of conversation at
Norwich, ‘on Saturday last,’ whereas in 1465 it must have been
known two months earlier. Secondly, Sir William Chamberlain, whose
influence Sir Thomas Howes hopes will be of service, must have
died in the spring of 1462. According to Blomefield (_Hist. of
Norfolk_, i. 321), his will was dated the 3rd March 1461 (which
would be in the modern computation 1462), and was proved on the
21st April 1462. It may be presumed, therefore, that on receiving
the letter from his brother Clement (No. 484), written on the 11th
October 1461, John Paston hastened up to London and was
immediately thrown into prison. By this letter, however, we find
that he was soon afterwards released, and his great enemy Howard
sent to prison in his stead.]

[Footnote 1.2: There is no direction to the letter, but the words
above inserted are written in an ancient hand upon the back of
it.--F.]

[Footnote 2.1: William Norwich was Mayor of Norwich in 1461.]

[Footnote 2.2: John Gilbert was Mayor in 1459 and in 1464. He died
in 1472.]

[Footnote 2.3: Sir William Chamberlain of Gedding, Suffolk,
a Knight of the Garter, who had served under the Regent Bedford in
the French wars. He married Anne, daughter and heir of Sir Robert
de Herling, who, though she long survived him, and had two
husbands after him, the second of whom was John, Lord Scrope of
Bolton, was buried by her own desire beside her first husband, in
the chancel of Herling Church.]

[Footnote 2.4: John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, died at
Paris in 1435.--F.]

[Footnote 3.1: _Query_, if Sir William Calthorpe, Knight, High
Sheriff of Norfolk, etc., in 1464, and died very old in 1494.--F.]

[Footnote 3.2: Thomas Hert was instituted to the Rectory of
Hellesdon in 1448.--F.]

[Footnote 3.3: Thomas Gurney of Norwich, Esq., died in 1471.--F.]

[Footnote 3.4: ‘Woud’ in Fenn in the original text, but this is
evidently a misprint. The right-hand copy reads ‘wend,’ _i.e._
weened or thought, and the note immediately following shows that
this was the reading intended.]

[Footnote 3.5: The word ‘not’ seems here to have been omitted in
the original letter.--F.]

[Footnote 3.6: The word ‘He’ occurs in the text before ‘Sche,’ but
is evidently a mistake.]

[Footnote 4.1: All Souls’, otherwise Soulmas Day, 2nd of
November.--F.]

[[Footnote 2.3: ... Herling Church _final . missing or invisible_]]

489

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[4.2]

_To my ryth worchepfull [hus]bond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / NOV. 20]

Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I receyvyd yowyr lettyr that ye sent by the gold smyth, as thys day in the mornyng. As for Syr Thomas, he sent me word he schold to yow ward as on Twysday last past; if he fayle ony thyng that ye sent word he schold bryng with hym, it is not for no lak of remembrans, for I sent to hym thryis or fowyr tymys ther for, and that he schold hast hym ther in. As for Rychard Call, he was not at home thys fortnyth. When he comyth I schall do yowir erendys to hym; and as for all yowyr odyr erendys I schall do hem as well as I can. I sent yow a byll yestyrday by old Taverham, and a byll of Jone Gaynys mater, the whyche bylle I pray yow may be delyveryd to Thomas Playter. I spak to hym of the same mater or he yed hens, and I pray yow, if it plese yow, to geve hym yowyr avyse what ye thynk is best to do ther in. Sche seyth sche is ryth sory, and if hyr old mastyr demene hym not well to yow sche prayith yow that ye wole be hyr good mastyr, and I that sche fare never the werse for hys defawtys. And also I pray yow that ye wele be John Lysterys good mastyr in hys mater. He spak to Playter ther of, and Playter seyd he hopyd to fynd a mene aftyr that he had spook with yow, that schold ese hym ther in. I thank yow hertly for yowyr lettyr, for it was to me gret comfort to her fro yow. God knowyth my modyr and I thowt ryth longe tyll we herd tydyngys fro yow. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Seynt Edmundys Day the Kyng.

By yowyr M. P.

The pepyll was nevyr bettyr dysposyd to yow than they be at this owyr. The byll that Howard hathe mad a yens yow and odyr hathe set the pepyll in thys contre a rore. God yeve grace it be no werse than it is yet.

[Footnote 4.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to have
been written in 1461, the year of John Paston’s great dispute with
Howard.]

490

ROGER TAVERHAM TO JOHN PASTON[5.1]

_To my reverent and most be trusted maister, John Paston, Esquyer, duelling in the Inner Temple, be this delyvered._

[Sidenote: Year uncertain]

Ryght reverent and most be trusted maister, I recommaunde me in the most lowly wise un to your good and prevyd maysterchep, and desiring many days to here of your welfare, whiche I be seche God encrese un to his plesauns and un to the prosperite and welfare of your person, and of all youres. And I be seche you of the good contynuaunce of your maysterchep at diverses tymes befor this writing shewed un to me; and, sir, ther is non man a lvye that I trust more to than I doo un to you, and I am your bedman, and so shall remayn be the grace of God all the days of myn liff. And, sir, I suppose I shall never see you no more, nor non of myn frendes, whiche is to me the grettest lamentacion that myght come un to myn herte; for, sir, by the grace of God, I shall go to Rome and in to oder holy places, to spende myn dayes of this present liff in the servise of God. For I hadde lever liffe in gret tribulacion in the service of God in this present liff, than for to folowe the wretchednesse of this worlde.

And, syr, of on thing I be seche specially your good maysterchep that ye wolle shew your good maistershep un to my fader in tyme of his nede, and that ye wolle recomaunde me in the most lowly wise with all reverence un to his good faderhode, be sechyng hym that he wole yeff me every day, during the dayes of his liff, his paternall blissing. And I have marvayle san that I have writen so many letters un to hym be for this tyme, that I hadde never non letter ageyn, whiche is to me the grettest lamentacion that ever come to my hert; and nowe knowing that I shall never see hym more, nor you, nor non other of my frendes, marvayle ye not thow sorowe is imprended in myn hert.

But, reverent maister, myn singuler trust remayneth nowe in your person, for, sir, and it please you, I most nedes write un to your good maisterchep, in the whiche my most trust remayneth. For, syr, and it please you, as for myn inheritaunce and other things whiche shulde come to me after the deth of my fader, whoes liff God preserve to his long plesauns, knowing that I shall never com ther, I hadde lever that by your good a vise that ye wolde take it unto you, for I hadde lever that ye hadde it rather than any person in the worlde during my liff, with all the profites ther of; and if that ye wole make as good evidences for you in that partye as ye can, and I shall a seale hem. And as you semeth best, and in the most secret wise, rewle you in this mater.

And, sir, I be seche you to recomaunde me in the most lowly wise to myn reverent Maister William Lumnour, seyeng hym that I am and shall be his perpetuall bedman, and as ye thenk best, ye may telle hym of all these maters. And, syr, I be seche you to recomaunde me with all reverence un to my masteras your wiff, and to all other maysters and frendes ther. And, sir, that ye wolle thank the bringer of this letter, whiche hathe ben in my gret tribulacion my good frende; and, sir, whan ye speke with my fader, recomaunde me un to hym with all reverence, and sey un to hym I shall send hym a letter in all hast possible.

And, syr, as for this mater, demene you as ye wolle, and I shall doo your plesauns as moche as in me is. And, reverent maister, remitte me summe letter by the bringer her of of all thes maters, for he duellith with my Lorde, and he is ryght moche be trusted, for I knowe wele he wole yef a tendaunce un to you for to have summe letter from you; for, syr, it shall not be longe or that I go to Rome, by the grace of God. And as sone as I have a letter from you at this tyme, I shall send you a noder ageyn.

No more at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite have you in His blissed keping. Wreten at Sarum, the Monday aftyr Mydsomer Day. And lete these maters be kept secrete by your best a vise.

Be youre poure servaunt,

ROGER TAVERHAM.

[Footnote 5.1: [From Fenn, iv. 252.] This letter and the next are
placed here merely for convenience. The two are evidently some
years apart in point of date, and nothing is quite clear about the
date of either, except that the latter must have been written in
the reign of Edward IV., and of course before the death of John
Paston in 1466. This, which is several years earlier than the
other, was almost certainly written in the reign of Henry VI. The
writer was probably the ‘old Taverham’ mentioned by Margaret
Paston in the last letter.]

491

ROGER TAVERHAM TO JOHN PASTON[7.1]

_To my right wourshipful maister, John Paston, Esquyer, be this letter delyvered._

[Sidenote: 1461(?)]

Right wourshipful maister, I recommaunde me un to your maistership, and I thank your maistership that hit pleased your maistership to sende me wourde a yen of my letter that I sende you by the brynger herof. Sir, as I am enfourmed, ye sent me wourde how that my fader was dede long tyme passed, and also ye desired to knowe my titylle of ryght. Sir, I am very heyre, by the disceas of my fader, to a place called Keswyk, in Taverham, with all the apportenauncez, and that comyth by enherytaunce and discente to me, for I am the helder and heyre; and though my Lorde Cromwell[8.1] hath taken Thomas Taverham, my yonger brother, as warde for the same enheritaunce, that maketh no mater to me, in so moche I am helder brother. Wher for I beseche you to sende me a letter of attournay made to you in my name in the strengest wise that ye can, for to entre in to the same lyvelode, and I shall asseal that, and than I shall do my service and feaute to the seid Lorde Cromwell in all thing as by the tenure of the same lyvelode of olde tyme aught to be done. And herin I kno well the King shal cause my Lorde Cromwel to do me bothe lawe and right; and also my Lorde Chaunceler, with oder Lordes diverse, shall do the same. And, sir, I beseche your maistership to do and to take possession in the saide place with the apportenaunce in short tyme, for losyng of the rent this yer passed.

And, sir, as for the place of Attylbrigge that my moder in lawe now duellith in, sir, your maistershep shal right not [_naught_] attempte ther now in; for my Lorde of Warwik[8.2] hath seen how the same place was yeven me by testament by Sir Roger Dallyng after the disease of my fader, whiche is redy to be shewed. And therupon my Lorde of Warwik hath comaunded certeyn gentilmen to entre in the same place, and your maistership hadde be moved ther in or this, but for cause that ye love wel Lumpnour,[8.3] and that my moder in lawe is his sister; but I knowe wel hit woul cost CCC_li._, but that she shal be dispossedded of that place in short tyme. And, maister, how ye woul be rewled in the seid place of Keswyk, I be seche you to sende me wourde, as my sengler trust is in you; for and ye woulde not take possession in the saide place, my Lorde Wenlok[8.4] woulde have that ful fayne, for all the contray knowith while that while I leve, I am heyr and non other. And therfor I beseche you in all hast sende me wourde by the bryngger herof in hast, quia mora trahit periculum. And, sir, I would come speke with you. I am seke, and may not goo; but telle the bryngger heroff all your entent. For my liff duryng I hadde lever that ye hadde that place for j_d._ than a nother man, thow he woulde yeff me meche mony, for your maistership ther shewed to me in my yong age. And God kepe you, &c.

Your chapeleyn,

ROGER TAVERHAM.

[Footnote 7.1: [From Fenn, iv. 258.] The mention of Lord Wenlock
in this letter proves that it cannot be earlier than 1461; but if
the writer be, as we have surmised, the ‘old Taverham’ mentioned
by Margaret Paston in No. 489, it is most probably of that year.]

[Footnote 8.1: Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, so created in
1461.]

[Footnote 8.2: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.]

[Footnote 8.3: William Lumner, of Mannington, in Norfolk.--F.]

[Footnote 8.4: John Wenlock was created Baron Wenlock in 1461 by
Edward IV.; but he afterwards left the York party, and joined that
of Lancaster. He was cleft down with a battle-axe by the Duke of
Somerset for not coming up in time at the battle of Tewkesbury in
1471, whereby that battle was lost.--F.]

492

ABSTRACT[9.1]

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON.

[Sidenote: 1461 / NOV. 20]

Since I left you I have received at Cotton £4 : 2s., with which I have made purchases of linen shirts, &c. for you. Shall have more money before Christmas. Debenham, Jenney, nor none of his men ‘come not there sen’ that I was there.’ A letter of attorney is made for Nakton in your name to Sir John Heveningham, and a rental and fermal sent him. We kept a court this week at Calcotte but could get little money, not so much as I paid my Lady of Suffolk’s officers. Farmers will not occupy there till appointment be made between Paston and Debenham; nor Risynge till he hear from Paston. Can get no day for Mautby. They will not give a noble, nor even 6 shillings, for a cow. Dey occupies your lands there till you come home. Risynge would take them and the closes at Castre if he is not to have Calcotte. The prests shall be paid as soon as we get money, I hope this week. Wheat 12_d._ a comb, barley 8_d._, malt 9_d._ and 10_d._ No good price for malt, ‘saving, as we understand, it is good Flanders.’ John Russe and Robert Glover are sending a ship with corn over, and we have ventured with them 100 comb malt. You should make some bargain with your beer brewers. Can get no money from Aleynes, farmer of Gresham, since ye rode, but 40_s._ Has laid in sufficient beef for Paston’s household till ‘Fastegang’ (Lent). Sir Thomas Howys advises my mistress not to send Edmund Paston to Cambridge or elsewhere till after Christmas. Please ask Clement, your brother, to get a writ against Geoffrey Clerk of West Somerton for the 20_s._ that Belys gave him to pay Clement. Remember the letter I sent you last week.

Caister, St. Edmund’s Day.

[From what is here said of the levying of rents at Cotton, and from
the mention of Debenham and Jenney in connection with it, we may
presume this letter was written in 1461. With this supposition
agrees the reference to John Paston’s brother, Clement, who, as we
see by No. 484, was in London in October.]

[Footnote 9.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

493

AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[10.1]

_To John Paston, at London, be this delyverd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / DEC. 1]

I grete you welle, and lete you wete that this day Berth’ Elys of Paston come to Norwych to me, and shewet me a rentall for the terme of Seynt Mich., the yer of Kyng H. vj. xxxixº; and in the ende of the seyd rentall, of Waryn Kynges hand is wretyn ‘Agnes Paston vij_d._ _ob._ [7½_d._]. Item, the same Agnes for v. acre lond xx_d._’ Item, Aleyn Bayfeld askyth the same rent for the yer last past at Mich. Item, I have knowlech be a trew man that whan Sharpe the reseyvor was at Gemyngham last, Waryn Herman was dyvers dayes with hym, and put hym in mynde that the mercyment for makynge of the walle chuld be askyd ageyn and be distreynyd ther for. Item, I sent you be Doctor Aleyns man the restew [_residue_] of Waryn Herman, and seche names as Cullynge and Sammys putt in of her owyn fre wylle befor John Northales, shereve of Norwyche,[10.2] under her selis. God be with you and send you His blyssyng and myn. Wretyn at Norwych the Tuisday next after Seynt Andrew.

Item, the seyd Berth’ Elis seyth that the seyd reseyver wold not alowe the rent in Trunche nor the mercyments for my sute to the curt. Gonnor wold suffyr no man to answer for me.

Be your moder,

AGNES PASTON.

[Footnote 10.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The year in which this
letter was written is determined by the mention of John Northale
as Sheriff of Norwich.]

[Footnote 10.2: He was Sheriff of Norwich in the first year of
Edward IV.]

494

SIR JOHN HEVENYNGHAM TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR[10.3]

_To myn ryght worchipffull cosyn, John Paston the elder, Esquyer, be this letter delivered in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / DEC. 12]

Ryght worchipffull cosyn, I recomaunde me to you in as hertely wyse I can, desyryng ever to here off your welffare, whiche I beseche our Lord Jesu to preserve to your hertes pleaser, &c. Sir, ye sent me a letter of atorney to reseyve and to ocupye in your name the maner called Burnevyles in Nakton. Sir, as for that ocupacion, I can litil skylle en, ne I wel not take up on me non suche ocupacionis; wherffor I beseche you holde me excused, for it is no werd [_world_] for me to take suche ocupacionis. I have as moche as I may to gader myn ownne lyfflode, and truli, cosyn, I can not gader that well. And therffor, cosyn, I pray you take it to non displeaser. Sir, that I may worchepfulli doo for you, ye shal fynde me redy be the grace of Jesu, whom I hertely beseche to have you in Hise mersyfull kepyng. Wretyn at Hevenyngham on Seynt Lucye Even.

Be your cosyn,

JOHN HEVENYNGHAM, knyght.

[Footnote 10.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is evidently
of the same year as No. 492. The contents, moreover, seem to show
that the date cannot be far distant from that of Richard Calle’s
letter of the 1st of February following.]

495

ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON[11.1]

[Sidenote: 1461(?) / DEC.]

Ryght worchefull master, I recommend me on to yow, &c. The cause of my wrytyng is this; I was at Blofeld on Sent Andruys Day[11.2] wyt the person,[11.3] and he understode non noder but that I cam to se is master chepe, for it was hese cheve day,[11.4] and that I mevyd in to hym of the lond in Sochewerk, how I hard sey qwan I was in Sochefolk that Geney mad hys avaunt that he had zon [_given_] zow and hym a choppe of xx. pownd of lond. And in contynent he telde me al the mater beter than I cowde telle hym, and as I cowde understond in hym be my sympyl wyt, that he was of knoleche of alle the mater; for he seyd that Yelverton cam don fro the benche, and plete the mater, and for cause ye wer to laches, and cam not in tyme, the mater yede a mys. And so I understode be hym that he is dysposyd to excuse Yelverton in al materys rather than yow; but never de les make good cher to the person, as thow ye understode that he wer your frend, tyl tyme ye have your in tente. But be warr and trost hym not, but make yow so strong in lorchepe and in the lawe, that ye reeke not meche qwder he be good or bad, &c.

Item, ye be meche be held on to Tomas Grene and Edmund Wydewel, broder to Heu à Fen, for thei reporte meche worchepe of your master chepe in al maters, and that cause the substans of the towne to howe yow servese, and be wel dysposyd on to yow masterchepe, and that understonde I hevery day. And yf that plese yow, qwan we partyt at Norwyche in yowr plase, ye seyd on to me ye wold som qat do be my sympyl a wyse; and this is myn a wyse that in ony wyse ye make Heu à Fen and Tomas Grene on your consel, yf ye can fyne in yow herte. For I dare sey, as I her and understonde, that thei how yow ryth good well and servyse, for a man may her be the halfe qwat the hole menyth, and therfor for Godds lowe remember yow wel in this mater; for and it stode on myn lyfe, I wold do as I awyse yow, &c.

Item, for howr Lords love, goo tharow with Wyll Weseter, and also plese Chrewys as ye thynke in yow hert best for to do; for it is a comon proverbe, ‘A man must sumtyme set a candel befor the Devyle’; and therfor thow it be not alder most mede and profytabyl, yet of ij. harmys the leste is to be take.

Item, ye xul oonderstonde that the parson telde me that dey wer somuned to cum for the probat of the testement at Convercyon of Sent Powle;[12.1] and therfor I wolde avyse yow in ony wyse that ye xuld understond the mater wysely her ye com hom, for I sopose that Yelverton and he is confydett and acorde to geder.

Item, qwan I was at Blofeld with the parson, ther cam Robert Fyrass to hym, seyyng that he is compeld be the Kyngs Commycyoners to have harnes after is degre, and that the parson sent hym to my mastras that che xuld delyver hym harnes, and I understond che wylle not tylle ye com hom. But ye xul understond it is an halmes dede to do hym good, understondyng is nesessyte and nede that he stond in, and also understondyng that he was kynnyes man to my master, and it is a comon proverbe, ‘A man xuld kepe fro the blynde and gevyt to is kyn’; and hevery man wyl sey wel ther of, the mor cause he is a gentylman, and of is kyne, and in gret penur. And therfor, for the love of God, remembyr seche maters.

No mor at this tyme, but God have yow in Hys kepyng, bothe body and sowle, and spede yow in yowr maters as wel as wel as I wolde ye xulde do.

[Footnote 11.1: [From Fenn, iv. 64.] The date of this letter is a
little uncertain, but it seems to have been written at the
beginning of the dispute between Paston and Yelverton, about
Fastolf’s will, and the year 1461 appears to me on the whole most
probable.]

[Footnote 11.2: 30th November.]

[Footnote 11.3: Thomas Howes.]

[Footnote 11.4: The day of his _chief_ or patron saint. Blofield
Church is dedicated to St. Andrew.]

[Footnote 12.1: Jan. 25.]

[[and spede yow in yowr maters as wel as wel as I wolde ye xulde do.
_text has “sqede yow”; “as wel / as wel as” is printed across
a line break and looks like an error, but Fenn has the same text
at mid-line_]]

496

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[13.1]

_To my right wurchepfull husband, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / DEC. [3]]

Right wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you. Please it you to wete that myn awnte is dissesid, whos sowle God assoyll. And if it please you to send word how ye wull that we do for the lifflode that she had at Walcote, wheder ye wull that any body take possession thir in your name or not. And if it like you to have with you my cosyn William her sone, I trow ye shuld fynde hym a necessary man to take hede to yowr howshold, and to bye all maner of stuffe nedefull therto, and to se to the rewle and gode gidyn therof. It hath be told me be for that he can gode skill of such thyngs; and if ye wull that I send for hym and speke with hym ther of, I shall do as ye send me word, for in feyth it is tyme to crone your old officers for diverse thyngs wher of I have know parte be Dawbeney, and more I shall telle you whan ye come hame.

Also it is thought be my cosyn Elizabeth Clere, and the viker[13.2] and other that be your frends, that it is right necessary for you to have Hew of Fen to be your frende in your maters; for he is callid right feythfull and trosty to his frends that trost hym, and it is reported her he may do myche with the Kyng and the Lords, and it is seid that he may do myche with hem that be your adversaryes: and therfor, Godds sake, if ye may have his gode wille, forsake it not. Also it is thought the more lerned men that ye have of your owyn contre of your councell, the more wurchepful it is to you.

Also if ye be at home this Cristmes, it wer wele do ye shuld do purvey a garnyssh or tweyn of powter vesshell, ij. basanes, and ij. hewers, and xij. candlestikes, for ye have to few of any of thes to serve this place. I am a ferd to purvey mych stuffe in this place till we be suerrer therof. The Blissid Trinyte have you in His blissid kepyng.

Wretyn the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.

Be yowr

M. P.

[Footnote 13.1: [From Fenn, iv. 106.] Except that it seems to be
of the reign of Edward IV., the date of this letter is about as
uncertain as that of the last; but as they are both written about
the same time of year, and both recommend John Paston to use the
counsel of Hugh Fenn, it is highly probable that they are of the
same year. Perhaps the last letter may have been written by the
vicar mentioned in this.]

[Footnote 13.2: The vicar of Paston? Robert Williamson was vicar
of Paston at this time.]

497

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[14.1]

_To my ryth worchepful husbond, Jonhn Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / DEC. 29]

Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomande me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I receyvyd the lettyr that ye sent me by a man of Seynt Mychell parysche on Fryday next aftyr the Consepcion of owyr Ladi;[14.2] and anon as I had it, I sent my modyr[14.3] the lettyr because of swyche materys as longyd to hyr in that same lettyr. And sythyn that tyme I kowd gete no massanger to London but if I wold have sent by the Scheryfys men; and I knew nowthyr her mastyr nor them, not whedyr they wer well wyllyng to yow or not; and therfor methowt it had be no sendyng of no lettyr by hem.

And as for swyche materys as John Geney and Jamys Gresham spak to me, I sped hem as well as I kowd; and they bothe told me that ye schold veryly a ben at home before Crystmas, and that causyd me that I wrot not to yow now non answer. For if I had know that ye schold not have ben at home er thys tyme, I schold a sent some man to yow; for I thynk ryth longe tyll I have some god tydyngys fro yow. I fer me that it is not well with yow that ye be fro home at thys good tyme. And many of yowyr contre men thynk the same; but they be hertty inow to yow-ward, and full fayn wold her god tydyngys fro yow. The wer no byllys put to the Scherryf[15.1] at hys beyng her, ner non opyn playnt mad that I . . . . . of no persone, be cawse they had so lyttyll knowlage of hys comeyng in to thys contre. He demenyd hym full . . . . . and indeferently, as it was told me, and Yelverton mad a fayir sermone at the Sesschyonys, and seyd . . . . . so that the Kyng was informyd that ther was a ryotows felawschep in thys contre, wer for the Kyng was gretly dysplesyd, and that the Kyng undyrstood well that it was not of ther owne mosyon, boot of cownselyng of one or ij. that ben evyll dysposyd folk. And also he seyd if ony man wold put up ony byllys of compleynts of ony extorcion or brybery don be ony men of thys contre to them, they wer redy to receyve them, and to make a-kord be twyx hem; and if they cowd not mak the acord, that than the schold tak the byllys to the Kyng, and he schold set hem thorow. And the Scheryfe seyd that he wold he . . . . . . them that wold compleyne and dorste not for fer put up ther byllys.

And Yelverton preyid the Scheryfe that if he had for get onythyng that the Kyng seyd to hem at ther departtyng, that he wolde rehersyt [_rehearse it_] ther. And than the Scheryf seyd that he had seyd all that he remembryd, save only [that] the Kyng . . . . to hem ij. personys, Syr Thomas Todenham and Heydon. And than Yelverton seyd, ‘A, that is trowthe, as th . . . . . . . that J[ohn of] Dame told me that he spak with the Scheryf aftyrward, and let hym h . . . . . . . the rewylle [and] demenyng of thys contre, and what cawsyd the pepyll for to grwge ayens swyche folkys as had the reuyll be fortyme; and he was pleyne to hym in many thyngys, as he told me; and he fond the Scheryfe ryth pleyne ayen to hym, and well dysposyd in that that myth growe to the welfar of the schere. The Scheryfe seid he undyrstood by swyche informacion as he had, syns he came into thys contre, that they had not all gydyd hem well that had the rewyill of thys contre be for; and therfore he seyd feythfully, and swore by gret othys that he wold nowthyr spar for good, nor love, nor fer, but that he wold let the Kynge have knowlage of the trowthe, and that he wold do asmyche for thys contre as he cowd or myth do to the welfare therof, and seyd that he lekyd the contre ryth well. And John of Dame seyd if the contre had had knowlage of hys comyng, he schold have had byllys of compleyntes and knowlage of myche more thyng than he myth have knowlage of that tyme, or myth have because of schort abyng; and he seyd he wold not be longe owt of thys contre.

And also Yelverton seyd opynly in the Seschyons they to come downe for the same cause to set a rewyll in the contre. And yet he seyd he woste well that the Kynge myth full evyll have for bor ony of hem bothe; for as for a knyth ther was none in the Kyngys howse that myth werse a be for bore than the Scheryfe myth at that tyme. I have myche mor to wryt to yow of than I may have leyser at thys tyme; but I troste to God that ye schall be at home yowyr selfe in hast, and than ye schall knowe all. And but if ye come home in haste, I schall send to yow; and I pray yow hertly, but if ye come home, send me word in hast how ye do. And the blyssyd Trinyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Seynt Thomas day in Crystmas.[16.1]

By yowyr,

MARGARET PASTON.

Here was an evyll rewlyd felawschep yestyrday at the schere, and ferd ryth fowle with the Undyr Scheryfe, and onresnably as I herd sey.

[Footnote 14.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter
will appear by comparison with No. 500. A few words in the margin
of the original letter are illegible, the writing having been
injured by damp.]

[Footnote 14.2: The Conception of Our Lady was on the 8th
December.]

[Footnote 14.3: Margaret always speaks of Agnes Paston as her
mother.]

[Footnote 15.1: The Sheriff was Sir Thomas Montgomery.]

[Footnote 16.1: The day of St. Thomas of Canterbury (Becket), 29th
December.]

498

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[17.1]

_To my right reverent and my moost wurschipful maystre, my Maystre John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461 / DEC. 29]

Right wurshipfull and my mooste reverent mastre, I recomaunde me unto your goode maystreship. Like you to witte that on Childremasse daye[17.2] there were moche people at Norwich at the shire, be cauce it was noyced in the shire that the Undresheriff had a writte to make a newe aleccion; wherfore the people was greved be cauce they had labored so often, seying to the Sheriff that he had the writte, and pleynly he shulde not a wey unto the tyme the writte were redd. The Sheriff[17.3] answerd, and seyd that he had no writte, nor west who had it. Heruppon the people peacyd, and stilled unto the tyme the shire was doone, and after that doone, the people called uppon hym, ‘Kylle hym! Heede [_behead_] hym!’ And so John Dam, with helpe of other, gate hym out of the schire-hows, and with moche labour brought hym unto Sporyer Rowe;[17.4] and ther the people mett a yenst hym, and so they a voided hym unto an hows, and kept fast the dore unto the tyme the meyer was sent fore, and the Sherif, to strenght hym, and to convey hem a wey, or ell he had be slayne. Wherfor divers of the thrifty men came to me, desiryng that I shulde writte unto your maistreship to lete you have undrestandyng of the gidyng of the people, for they be full sory of this trowble; and that it plese you to sende hem your advice how they shal be gided and rwled, for they were purposed to a gathered an c. or cc. of the thriftyest men, and to have come up to the Kyng to lete the Kyng have undrestandyng of ther mokkyng. And also the people fere hem sore of you and Mastre Berney,[17.5] be cauce ye come not home.

Plese you that ye remembr the bill I sent you at Hallowmesse for the place and londs at Boyton weche Cheseman had in his ferme for v. mark. Ther wol no man have it above xlvj^s. viij^d., for Alblastre and I have do as moche therto as we can, but we can not go a bove that. And yet we can not lete it so for this yere, with owte they have it for v. or vj. yere. I wrote to your mastreship herof, but I had non answre; wherfor I beseche you that I may have an answere of this be Tlwelthe, for and we have an answre of this be that tyme, we shall enfeffe hem with all, &c.

My right wurshipfull and my moost reverent maistre, Almyghty Jesu preserve you, and send you the victorye of your elmyes, as I truste to Almyghty Jesu ye shall. Wreten at Norwich on Seyn Thomas daye after Cristemasse daye.

Your pore servant and bedman,

R. CALL.

[Footnote 17.1: [From Fenn, iii. 150.] The contents of this letter
clearly refer to the matter alluded to in the postscript of the
preceding letter of Margaret Paston, so that the date must be the
same.]

[Footnote 17.2: 28th December.]

[Footnote 17.3: Sir Thomas Montgomery.]

[Footnote 17.4: Spurrier Row, as I am informed by Mr. L’Estrange,
was what is now called London Street.]

[Footnote 17.5: John Berney of Witchingham.]

499

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[18.1]

_To my moost reverent and wurshipfful mastre, my Master John Paston of the Enner Temple, this be delyvered._

Plesith your maystership to undrestande that as for the ferme that Cheseman had in Boyton, that is to sey, xl. acre lond erable, j. medwe, and other smale parcell, payng yerly for it iiij_li._, weche I can not lete the xl. acre lond abowe xl. comb barly or xl_s._, and ye to bere al charges of the reparaucion and fense aboute the place, weche shulde be gret cost. The lond is so out of tylthe that a nedes [_uneath_, _i.e._ scarcely] any man wol geve any thyng for it. Ther can no man lete it to the walwe that it was lete before, and that I reporte me to my master, Sir Thomas Howys, not be gret gold. Wherfore I wol not do therin unto the tyme that I have answere from your mastership, weche I beseche you it may be hast. And as for Spitlynges, I have lete som of the lond in smale parcell, because I cowde gete no fermor for it. And as for Sir T. H., in good feythe I fynde [him] weele disposed in all thynges, excepte for Sir W. Chamberleyn for Rees in Stratton. And so the blissid Trinite preserve and kepe you from all adversite. Wrete at Blofeld, the Thorsday next after Hallowmesday.

Your pore servaunt and bedman,

R. CALLE.

[Footnote 18.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter
is uncertain. Its contents are mere matter of business, and as
relating to the same farm mentioned in the last may be supposed to
belong to the same year, especially as in the last Calle mentions
having written to Paston on the subject ‘at Hallowmass.’ There is,
however, a discrepancy in the value assigned for the farm.]

500

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[19.1]

_To John Paston, the older, in hast, and if he be not at London, than to be delyvered to Clement Paston in hast._

[Sidenote: 1461 / DEC.]

Lyke your maisterchip wete that at the last cessyons Erpyngham hundred and other hundredys ther aboute were not warned, and the schreff excused hym be cause he cowde not knowe who was officer there. Item, Yelverton lete the pepoll understand that the Kyng wold have his lawes kept, and that he was dysplesed with the maner of ther gaderyng, and that he wold have it amendyd; for he conceyveth that the hole body of the shire is well dysposed and that the ille dysposed pepoll is but of a corner of the hole shire; and yet that ther mysdoyng growyth not of ther owyn dysposysyon but of the abbettement and steryng of sum ille dysposed persones whiche is understand and knowe to the Kynges hygthnesse. Item, he lete hem wete that the Kyng had commandyd hym to sey if ther were any man, pore or ryche, that had cause to complayne of any person that he schuld put up his bylle to the shref and hym, and they schuld set a reule be twyx hem; and if he wold not abyde ther reule they schuld delyver the sayd bylle of compleynt to the Kynges hignesse, and he schuld set the rewle and suche dyreccion that the party compleynaunt or defendaunt schuld be punysshed for his dysobeysauns of the said rewle if the case requyred; and also more over, if ther were ony person that put up ony suche bylle, and it mygth apere to them by ther examinacion or other wyse fals or untrewe, or elles be cause of malyce, that than suche compleynaunts schuld sharpely be punysshed. And than whan he had sayd this and moche more, in dyscoragyng to the pepoll to put bylles, as after my conseyt, he reported hym to the schref ther present, that the Kyng thus comanded hem thus to sey, desyreng the said schref if ony thyng of the Kyngs comaunded were be hynd unspoken by hym self that he wold remembre and helpe forthe to telle it. And than the schref said, lyke as he rehersed the Kyng comanded, and more over that the Kyng named ij. men, by name Tudenham and Haydon, and if ony man wold put bylles a yens them, he said in feythfull wyse he wold help hem, and ferther the mater to the Kyng higthnesse. And for his demenyng ther every man thougth hym rigth wel dysposed; but Yelverton had for yeten to expresse the names of Tudham and Haydon.

Item, the schref desyred the jentylmen to go with [him] to Felbryg Halle, and specially he requyred Mr. John P., the younger; but he cowde no pepoll gete, and so he cam not there. Item, there was a bylle set up on the shirehous dore, and the content ther of was but of the favour to you ward, Barney, Knyvet and Felbrygge, and of the hatered of other; it was but of sum lewde dysposed person it semeth. Item, sir, at the last shire was moche pepoll and ille governed for they wold not be rewled be no body, they had almost a slayne the underschref, for they told hym wryttes of eleccion was sent doun and he kept it on syde to be gyle hem, and to make hem labour ayen, and ther for he that kepyth it is to blame, me thynketh. Item, sir, please you to telle Mr. Clement, we have goten a reles of al maner accions and appelles of Margret Clerk, made to Gymmyngham, on of the pryncypalles, and that he woll inquyre wheder it be suffycyant for alle, and send me word, and weder it dyvers fro trespas and dette, wher damages is to be recovered, for in this appell is no damages to be recovered, but only an execucion, whiche non of them may be contributory to other execucion as is in other cases. Nevertheles, I hope it be sufficiant for all, for sche is in the cas to have the lyf in stede of damages.

Your THOMAS PL.

[Footnote 19.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The mention of Tuddenham
and Heyden in this letter proves that it cannot be of later date
than the year 1461, as the former was executed in February 1462.
At the same time the reference to John Paston, Junior, could not
be much earlier, and the message from the King to the people of
Norfolk certainly could not have come from Henry VI. only a year
or two before. The date must therefore be 1461 precisely.]

501

ANONYMOUS TO MARGARET PASTON[21.1]

_To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston._

[Sidenote: 1461(?)]