Chapter X: Part 10

Aftyr all humbyll and most due recomendacion, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of your blyssyng. Plesyt yow to have knowlege that as on Sonday next be for Myhelmas Day, as my modyr came fro London ward, sche cam homward by Cotton, and sche sent for me to Heylysdon to come to hyr thedyr, and so I have ben in the plase ever sethyn. And as sone as Myhelmas Day was past, I begane to dystreyne the tenants, and gadryd some syllvyr, as myche, I trowe, as wyll pay for our costs; and yet I cepe here ryth a good felawschep, and mor wer promysyd me, whyche that came not to me, wherby I was ner deseyvyd. For when Debnam herd sey how that I began to gadyr sylvyr, he reysyd many men with in j. daye and an halfe, to the nombyr of iij^c. men, as I was credebly assartaynyed by a yeman of the chambyr of my Lordys[198.1] that owythe me good wyll, whech yeman, as sone as he had sene ther felauschep, rod streyth to my Lord and informyd hym of it; and also he informyd my Lord how that I had gadryd a nothyr gret felashschep, whyche felawschep he namyd more than we wer by j^c. and an halfe and yett more. And he seyd on to my Lord and my Lady, and to their consell, that with owt that my Lord took a dyrectyon in the mater, that ther wer leek to be do gret harme on bothe oure pertyes, wheche wer a gret dysworchep to my Lord, consederyng how that he takyth us bothe for hys men, and so we be knowyn well inow. Upon whyche informacion, and dysworchep to my Lord, that tweyn of hys men schold debat so ner hym, contrary to the Kyngs pese, consedryd of my Lord and my Lady and ther cownsell, my Lord sent for me and Syr Gylberd Debnam to come to hym to Framlyngham bothe, and as it fortunyd well my modyr come to me to Cotton not half an owyr be for that the mesenger came to me fro my Lord, wheche was late upon Twysday last past at nyth; and the next day on the mornyng I rod to my Lord to Framlyngham, and so ded Syr Gylberd also. And as sone as we wer come, we wer sent for to come to my Lord, and when we come to my Lord, he desiyryd of us bothe that we schold neythyrthyr gadyr no felawschep, but syche men as we had gadryd that we schold send hem home a yen, and that the coort schold be contenuyd in to the tyme that my Lord, or suche as he wold asyngne, had spok bothe with yow and Yelverton and Jenney, and that on indeferent man chosyn by us bothe schold be assynyd to kepe the plase in to the tyme that ye and they wer spook with.

And then I answed my Lord, and seyd how that at that tyme I had my maistyr within the maner of Cotton, whyche was my modyr, and in to the tyme that I had spook with hyr I cowd geve none answer; and so my Lord sent Rychord Fulmerston, berer hereof, to my modyr thys day for an answer, whyche answer he schold bryng to my Lord to London, for my Lord rod to Londons word as yesterday, and the soner be cause he trustyd to have a good end of this mater and alle othyr be twyx yow, whyche he takyth for a gret worchep to hym, and a gret avantage bothe, and he cowd bryng this mater abowt, for then he wold trust to have your servyse, alle whyche wer to hym gret tresour and avantage.

And this was the answer that my modyr and I gave hym, that at the instans of my Lord and my Ladye we wold do thus myche as for to put the coort in contenuans, and no more to receyve of the profyts of the maner than we had, and had dystresid for tyll in to the tym that sche and I had werd ayen fro my Lord and yow, if so wer that they wold neythyr mak entreys nor dystreyn the tenantys, nor chepe no coort mor then we wold do. And we told Rychord Fulmerston that thys my modyr and I ded at the instans and gret request of my Lord, be cause my Lord intendyd pes, whyche resonably we wold not be ayenst, and yet we seyd we knew well that we schold have no thank of yow when ye knew of it, with owt it wer be cause we ded it at my Lordys instans. But be for thys answer we had receyvyd as myche sylvyr full ner as Rychord Calle sent us bokys of for to gadyryt bye; and as for the possessyon of the plase, we told hym that we wold kepe it, and Syr Gylberd agreyd, so that Yelverton and Jeney would do the same; for it was tyme for hym to sey so, for my Lord told hym that he wold hym fast by the feet ellys, to be suyr of hym, that he schold make non insurreccions in to the tyme that my Lord came ayen fro London.

I wene, and so dothe my modyr bothe, that thys appoyntment was mad in good tyme; for I was deseyvyd of bettyr than an C. men and an halfe that I had promyse of to have come to me when I sent for hem. Thys promes had I befor that I sent to yow the last lettyr the daye aftyr Seynt Myhell. Jenney herd seye that I cepyd Cotton, and he rod to Nacton, and ther held a cort and receyvyd the profytys of the maner.

I beseche yow that I may have knowlage in hast fro yow ye wyll that I be demenyd in thys mater and in al othyr, and I schal aplye me to fulfyll your intent in them to my power by the grace of God, whom I beseche have yow in guydyng, and sende yow yowyr herts desyir. Wretyn at Hemnalle Halle, in Cotton, the Thursday next befor Seynt Feythe.

My modyr recomandyth her to yow, and preyith yow to hold hyr excusyd that sche wrytyth not to yow at thys tyme, for sche may have no leyser. The berer her of schall informe yow whedyr Jeney wyll agre to thys appoyntment or not. I thynk he dar do non othyr wyse.

Your sone and lowly servaunt,

JOHN PASTON.

[Footnote 197.1: [From Fenn, iv. 80.] The signature of this
letter, according to the fac-simile referred to by Fenn, is that
of Sir John Paston, the eldest son of the person addressed. The
date is undoubtedly 1465, as it will be seen by Letter 610 that
Margaret Paston entered Cotton on Sunday before Michaelmas in that
year.]

[Footnote 198.1: The Duke of Norfolk.]

614

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON, THE YOUNGEST[200.1]

_To owr trusty and enterly beloved servaunt, John Paston, Esquyr._

THE DEUKE OF NORFF.

[Sidenote: 1465 / OCT. 12]

Ryght welbeloved servaunt, y grete yow hertly welle, sertefyng that we shulle be at fulle age on Fryday nexst comyng. Wherfor, wele consayled be the Lordes of owr Consayle and oder of owr Consayle, that ye, on of owr servaunts of howsholde, with oder, be with us at London on Fryday or Saterday nexst comyng at the ffurdest, too a companye us thann too owr worshyp, for we shull have thann levery of owr landes and offyces; and that ye ffayle us not, as ye woll have owr good Lordeshyp in tyme comyng; and also that ye doo warne owr ffeede men[201.1] and servaunts, suche as be nye too yow, that they be ther thann in owr leverey. Y wreton the xij. day of October.

NORFF.

[Footnote 200.1: [From Fenn, iv. 62.] John Mowbray, third Duke of
Norfolk, died on the 6th November 1461. It appears by the
Inquisitions _post mortem_, 1 Edward IV., No. 46, that John, his
son and successor in the title, was seventeen years old on St.
Luke’s Day (18th October) in that year. He must therefore have
been born on the 18th October 1444, and would have been of full
age on Friday, 18th October 1465. The John Paston, Esq., to whom
this letter was addressed, must have been the youngest of that
name, who, as we have seen already, had been serving in the Duke’s
household. His father was at this time a prisoner in the Fleet, so
that the letter could not have been intended for him.]

[Footnote 201.1: Those who held lands of the Duke as their
superior.]

615

THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK’S ATTACK ON HELLESDON[201.2]

[Sidenote: 1465 / OCT. 14]

Thys be the parcell underwryten of such godys as were taken and beren away at Haylesdon, of John Pastons, hys sones and hys servaunts by the Duk of Suffolk servaunts and tenaunts the xiiij. day of October the v. yere of Kyng E. the iiij^te, the whych day the place of Haylesdon was broken and pullyd dowyn, &c.

In primis, ther was lost of John Pastons ther at that tyme in beddyng ij. ffeder bedds with ij. bolsters, iiij. materas, with iiij. bolsters; a grete seler with the testor, and iij. corteyns of whyte lynen cloth, and a coverlyte of whyte werstede longyng therto.

Item, a selere with a testore, and iij. corteyns of blewe bokeram with a coveryng of blew werstede longyng therto; v. pylowys of dowyn, vj. coverlyts of werk of dyvers colors, vj. payr blankettys, ij. payr shytes of iij. webbys, ij. hedshytes of ij. webbys, vj. payre shytes of ij. webbys, ij. basons of pewter, and iij. candelstykks of latyn for the chamber.

_The Botere._

Item, in primis, vj. bord clothys, vj. towellys, xij. napkyns, vj. candelstykks of laton, ij. saltsalers of sylver, ij. saltsalers of pewter, ij. basons of pewter with ij. ewers, a barell of vyneger, a barell of vergyous, xij. ale stondys, ij. pantre knyves, a pyce of sylver, a pype for brede, a ale stole, xij. spones of sylver, &c.

_The Browhern._

Item, a grete lede to brew v. comb malte with one plawyng, a mayshsate, ij. kylyng sates, vj. kylers, ij. clensyng sates, a taptrogh, a temps to clense, with a scyppe to bere malte, a syff to syft malte, a bultyng pype, ij. knedyng satys, a moldyng bord.

_The Kychyn._

Item, ij. dosyn pewter vessell, iiij. grete bras pannes, iij. potts of bras, j. greddyron, ij. broches, j. dressyng knyff, j. morter of marbell with a pestell, j. litell panne of bras of di. galon, ij. pothoks, ij. rakks of yron, ij. brendeletts, a almary to kepe in mete, j. axe to clyve wode, ij. saltyng satys to salte in fflesh.

_Gere taken owt of the Chyrch._

Item, in the stepell, ix. sheffe arwys, ix. bawys, ij. handgonnes, iiij. chambers for gonnys, ij. mallys of lede, ij. jakks.

Item, in the church, a purs and iij. gold ryngs, a coler of sylver of the Kyngs lyvery and a nobyll of viij_s._ iiij_d._ the whych was Wykys.

Item, a syde gowne of blewe of Wyks.

Item, a stokke gonne with iij. chambers.

_Gere taken owte of the Chaumber of Ric. Calle._

Item, a syde morrey gowne, a dobelet of blak satyn, a payre hosyn, a jakks, the polronds of a payr bryganders of rede sateyn ffugr.

Item, a payr of large tabelles of box, pris vj_s._ viij_d._

Item, a staffe, pris iij_s._ iiij_d._

Item, boke of Frensh, pris iij_s._ iiij_d._

_Gere taken away of Margeret Pastons._

Item, an unce of gold of Venyse, di. pype of gold damask, di. unc’ of gold of Gene, an unc’ of sylk, a li. of threde, a close glasse of yvery, a grete combe of yvere, a fyne kerchy of fyne Holond cloth, a quarter of blak velwet.

_Gere of Johanne Gayns._

Item, a ryng of gold with a dyamonics, a typet of sarsenet, a nobyll of x_s._, a nobyll viij_s._ iiij_d._

_Gere of John Wyks._

Item, a dobelet of blak fusteyn, a hers harnys, vj_s._ a gray hers, pris xl_s._, ij. shertys, pris iiij_s._

_Will. Bedford._

Item, a Normandy byll and a bawe, pris of them both vj_s._

_John Boteler._

Item, a payr botys, a payr sporys, a shert, a cappe, a hatte, a dobelet, a payr hosyn, a brydell, ij. crepers, v. ston of wall, xxx. welfellys, a spere staff.

_Shepe._

Item, taken away uppon Draytun grounde at on tyme by the baylly of Cossey and others, CC. shepe callyd hoggys.

Item, at a nother tyme, uppon the same ground, iiij^xx. hoggys and xl. theyves.

Item, at a nother tyme, at Haylesdon, by the baylly of Cossey and Bottesford and other, viij^cc. moder shype and CCCC. lambes.

* * *

Memorandum, a gowne of Richard Calle, pris ix_s._, j. peyr hosen, iij_s._, j. swerd, iij_s._, ij. bonets, ij_s._ . . . . j. jakk, xxvj_s._ viij_d._, j. schert, iij_s._ iiij_d._

Memorandum, the pullyng downe of the place at Heylesden, to the hurts and skathes of ----

Item, the pullyng downe of the logge of Heylesden.

Item, the distroyng of the waryne at Heylesdon.

Item, . . . . the maner and the warreyn.

Item, memorandum, the rydyngs and costs off suthe.

Memorandum, the assaw made uppon Marg. Paston, Sir John Paston, at Heylysdon beeffor the place was . . . . . . .

Memorandum, the imprisonment off Sir John Paston in the Flet and in the Kyngs Benche.

[Footnote 201.2: [From a Bodl. MS.]]

[[Item, boke of Frensh, pris iij_s._ iiij_d._
_text has “iiij_a._” (italic a for d)_]]

616

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[204.1]

[Sidenote: 1465 / OCT. 17]

On Tuesday in the morwyn whas John Botiller, otherwyse callid John Palmer, and Davy Arnald your cook, and William Malthows of Aylsham, takyn at Heylesdon be the balyf of Ey callid Bottisforth, and led for to Cossey, and ther thei kepe hem yet with ought any warant or autoryte of Justice of Peas. And thei saye thei will carie hem forth to Ey preson, and as many as thei may gete more of your men and tenaunts, that thei may know that owe yow good wyll or hath be to you ward, thei be thret to be slayn or presoned. The Duke came to Norwich[204.2] on Tuesday at x. of clok with the nombre of v. hundred men. And he sent after the Meyr and Alderman with the Sherefs desiryng hem in the Kyngs name that thei shuld take an enqueraunce of the constablys of every ward with in the cyte what men shuld a go on your party to have holpyn or socowryd your men at any tyme of thes gaderyngs, and if any thei cowde fynde, that thei shuld take and arest hym and correct hym, and also certifie hym the names on Wyndenesse day [_Wednesday_] be viij. of clok. Which the Meyr dede, and wull do anythyng that he may for hym and his. And her up on the Meyr hath arestid on that was with me callid Roberd Lovegold, braser, and threte hym that he shall be hanged be the nek; wherfor I wuld that ther myght come down a writ to remeve hym if ye thynk it be to do. He was not with me not save that Harleston and other mad the assaught up on me and Lammesse; he is right good and feythfull on to you, and therfore I wuld he had help. I have non man at this tyme to avayte upon me that dare be avowyd but Litill John. William Nawton is here with me, but he dare not ben avowyd, for he is sore thret. It is told me the old Lady and the Duke is set fervently ageyn us be the enformacion of Harlesdon, the Bayly of Cossey and Andrewys and Doget the balys sone, and suych other fals shrewys the which wuld have thes mater born ought for ther owyn pleser; the which causith an[205.1] evyll noyse in this contre and other places. And as for Sir John Hevenyngham, Sir John Wyndefeld and other wurchepfull men ben mad but her doggeboldes;[205.2] the whiche I suppose wull turne hem to diswurchep here after. I spake with Sir John Hevenyngham and enformed hym with the trough of the mater, and of all owyr demenyng at Drayton, and he seid he wuld that all thyng wer wele, and that he wuld enforme my lord as I seid to hym, but Harleston had all the words and the rewle with the Duke here, and after his avyse and Doctor Aleynes he was avysed here at this tyme.

The logge and the remenaunte of your place was betyn down on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Duke rode on Wednysday to Drayton and so for to Cossey whille the logge at Heylesdon was in the betyng down. And this nyght at mydnyght Thomas Sleyforth, Grene Porter, and Joh. Botesforth the Baly of Eye, and other, had a cart and fetched awey fetherbeddes, and all the stuffe that was left at the parsones, and Thom Wateres hows to be kept of owrs. I shall send you billes er after, as ner as I may, what stuffe we have forborn. I pray you send me word how ye will that I be demened, wheder ye wull that [I][205.3] abide at Cayster or come to you to London. I have no leyser to write more. God have yow in His kepyng. Wretyn at Norwich on Sent Lukes Evyn.

M. P.

[Footnote 204.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is not
addressed, but seems undoubtedly to have been intended for the
writer’s husband. The attack upon the lodge at Hellesden here
referred to was in 1465, as appears by the letter immediately
following.]

[Footnote 204.2: ‘Norwich.’ --This word is interlined, the writer
having originally written ‘this town,’ and afterwards struck out
the word ‘town.’]

[Footnote 205.1: _an_--&, MS.]

[Footnote 205.2: The old word ‘dogbolt’ seems to have meant a
servile follower, or one bound to wait the commands of another.
Thus in Lilly’s _Tragicall Comedie of Alexander and Campaspe_,
where Manes complains that he serves a master whose house is a
tub, Granichus remarks ‘That Diogenes that dog should have Manes
that dogbolt it grieveth nature and spiteth art.’]

[Footnote 205.3: Omitted in MS.]

617

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[206.1]

_To my ryght wyrshypfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1465 / OCT. 27]

Ryght wyrshypfull hosbond, I recomand me to you. Please it you to wyte that I was at Haylesden uppon Thersday laste passyd, and sey the place ther, and in gode feyth ther wyll no cryatur thynke how fowle and orubelly it ys arayed but yf they sey it. Ther comyth moch pepyll dayly to wonder ther uppon, both of Norwych and of other placys, and they speke shamfully therof. The Duck had be beter then a m^{l}._li._ that it had never be don; and ye have the more gode wyll of the pepyll that it ys so foylle don. And they made youre tenauntys of Haylesdon and Drayton, with other, to help to breke down the wallys of the place and the logge both,--God knowyth full evyll ayenst ther wyllys, but that they derst no notherwysse don for ferre. I have spoken with your tenauntys of Haylesdon and Drayton both, and putte hem in comfort as well as I canne. The Duck ys men rensackyd the church, and bare a way all the gode that was lefte ther, both of ours and of the tenaunts, and lefte not so moch but that they stode uppon the hey awter, and ransackyd the images, and toke a way such as they myght fynd, and put a way the parson owte of the church till they had don, and ransackyd every mans hous in the towne v. or vj. tymys. And the chyff maysters of robbyng was the Baylly of Ey, the Baylly of Stradbroke, Thomas Slyford, and Porter; and Slyford was the chyff robber of the cherch, and he hath most of the robbery next the Baylly of Ey. And as for lede, bras, pewter, yren, dorys, gatys, and other stuffe of the hous, men of Coshay and Causton have it, and that thay myght not cary, thay have hewen it a sonder in the most dysspytuose wyse. Yf it myght be, I wold som men of wyrshop myght be send from the Kyng to see how it ys both ther and at the logge, or than any snowys[207.1] com, that they may make report of the troth, ellys it shall not mo be seyn so playnly as it may now.

And at the reverens of God, spyde your maters nowe, for it ys to orybell a cost and trobell that we have now dayly, and most have tyll it be other wyse; and your men dar not goo abowte to geder uppe your lyfflode, and we kype here dayly more than xxx. persons for savacyon of us and the place, for, in very trowght, and the place had not be kypyd strong, the Duck had come hether. Arblaster thynketh verely that Hugh a Fen may do moch in your maters, and he thynkyth that he wole do for you faythfully, yf ye wyll, &c.

At the reverens of God, yf any wyrshypfull and profetabile mene may be take yn your maters, for sake it not in eschuyng of our trobell and gret costs and charges that we have, and may growe here after. It ys thoght here that yf my Lord of Norffolk wolld take uppon hym for you, and that he may have a comyssyon for to enquer of such ryotts and robberyes as hath be don to you and other in thys contray, that then all the contray wyll a wayte uppon hym, and serve your entent; for the pepyll lovyth and dredyth hym more then any other lord except the Kyng and my Lord of Warwyk, &c.

God have you in Hys kypyng, and send ous gode tydyngs from you. Wryten in haste, uppon the Sonday Seynt Symon and Jude ys Evyn.

By yours,

M. P.

[Footnote 206.1: [From Fenn, iv. 226.] The Eve of St. Simon and
Jude is the 27th October. It fell on Sunday in the year 1465.]

[Footnote 207.1: Fenn remarks that if we may judge from the
mention of snow in this place, the winters began earlier in those
days than they do now. But perhaps Margaret was only urging the
necessity of timely action, taking into consideration the ordinary
delays of suitors. We have seen, however, from Letter 609 that in
the year 1465 there must have been unusually cold weather even in
the beginning of September.]

618

MESSAGE TO SIR WILLIAM YELVERTON[208.1]

_This is the Instruccion for the Messenger._

That ye grete well Sir William Yelverton, letyng hym wete in our behalf we be informed that certeyn persones, in the name of the right worshipfull our cosyn the Duc of Suffolk, have enterid in the manoir of Drayton that was Fastolffes, and have dreven from the seid manoir and other xiij^c. shep and other bestes pastured upon the seid manoir. Notwithstandyng, we merveyle gretly that the seid Sir William, his sones and servauntes, as it is seid, assiste and comfort the seid persones so entryng and withdrawyng the seid catell, seying that he is named both feffe and executour. And all be it so that there is variaunce bithwene hym and our welbelovid John Paston in our coort, consernyng as well the seid manoirs as other goodes that were Sir John Fastolffes, whom God assoyle, yit it may not acorde with worship and consiens for the seid Sir William to assiste the distruccion of the seid manoirs and goodes in the meane tyme. Wherfore we desire hym that he woll do his devoir effectually to help to save the seid manoirs from all such pretense of titell, and to cause the seid catels to be restored to the manoirs aforeseid, and not to be withdrawen and distroyed as they be; and that he do his feithfull part in this behalf acordyng to the trust that he was put in, as we may do for hym in tyme to come.

[Footnote 208.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This appears to be a
message from the King rebuking Judge Yelverton for partizanship in
assisting the Duke of Suffolk against Paston in his entry into the
manor of Drayton. The date is therefore 1465. The MS., however, is
only a corrected draft, and it is not certain that such a message
was actually sent.]

[[yit it may not acorde _text has “yit is”_]]

619

JOHN WYMONDHAM TO JOHN PASTON[209.1]

_To my worchipful cosyn, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1465(?) / NOV. 10]

Rygth worchipful cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And forasmoch as ther was a child ded at Asteles, and on other lik to be ded in the same place, what tyme that I rode oute aboute my litil livelod, my lady and I bothe thoughte pite on my mastres your wif to se her abide ther, and desirid here to com to my pore hous on to soch tyme as ye shuld a be othirwise avised, wyche, if it plese yow, I am right wel apaied.

Sythen, I undirstande be my lady that ye desire to knowe whedyr that I shulde abide here stille or nowe [_or no_]. As to that, I have non other place that I wold abide at, and my lady seith how she is avised to ende hir lif here. Also she seith how ye desire to have a stabil with inne my plas; and as to that, afeith, sir, I have none, but that must nedis serve for my wode. As for a chambre, ye shall have on for your men al redy, and as touching a stabil, Sir John Sparham and I have gote yow on ther [_where_] your hors stode the last tyme ye were in this town, and an hows to ley inne hey and straw, and cost yow not but making of a rak and a mangeour, and more to your ease there than here; and yf ye wyl that it be made redy for yow, send werd be the bringer of this letter. And, cosyn, as towching to paiment, I can not sey how ye shal be pleasid with my pore fare, but aftir that ye arn com home, and arn aqweintid there with, we shal so acorde as shal be plesir to us bothe, with the grace of God, which have [you] in His blissid governaunce, and send yow your moderis blissing.

Wreten at Norwich, on Seint Martyn is Even.

Your poer cosyn and ffrend,

J. WYMONDHAM.

And how that ever ye do, hold up your manship.

[Footnote 209.1: [From Fenn, iv. 240.] As to the date of this
letter, we can only reproduce what is said of it by Sir John Fenn:
‘John Wymondham, Esq., the writer of this letter, married Margery,
the daughter of Sir Robert Clifton, Knight, of Denver, in Norfolk,
and widow of Sir Edward Hastings, of Elsing, Knight. He therefore
calls her “My Lady.” He died in 1475.

‘He purchased the manor and estate at Felbrigg, of the trustees of
Sir Simon Felbrigg, where he had resided; but once in his absence
Sir John Felbrigg made a forcible entry, and dragging out his Lady
by the hair of her head, who had locked herself up in a chamber to
keep possession, got into possession, and retained it till
Wymondham obtained the King’s order to Thomas Montgomery, Esq.,
High Sheriff of the county, to put him again into possession. The
dispute was then settled with Sir John Felbrigg, and upon
Wymondham’s paying to him 200 marks [£133 : 6 : 8] he released his
claims, &c.

‘This letter seems to have been written during the time that he
was dispossessed of Felbrigg, and which must have been either
before the year 1461 or 1466, those being the years in which Sir
Thomas Montgomery was Sheriff of Norfolk, and as J. Paston at this
time seems to have been under misfortunes, it was probably near
the latter year. I have therefore ventured, though doubtfully, to
date the letter in 1465.’]

620

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[210.1]

_To my Rightwurshipfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1441-65 / NOV.]

Riht worchipfull hosbond, I recomand me to yow, praying yow to wete that I have receyvid the mony that Mayster Brakle had of yow, wherof he hath ageyn v. marc. uppon pledgis of the too basonys that ye had of hym tyll ye come hom. As for cloth for my gowne, I can non gete in this town better than that is that I send yow an exsample of, whiche me thynkith to symple bothe of colour and of cloth. Wherfor I pray yow that ye woll vouchesauf to do bey for me iij. yerdis and j. quarter of seche as it pleasith yow that I shuld have, and what colour that pleaset yow, for in gode feyth I have do sowte all the draperis schopis in this town, and her is right febill cheys. Also I pray yow that ye woll do bey a loff of gode sugour and di. j. lb. [_half one pound_] of holl synamun, for ther is non gode in this town; and as for mony, ther is non of your tenantis ne fermouris bryngith non as yett. As for tydyngis in this countre, Herry Ingloses men have slayn ij. men of Tonsted on Thursday last past, as it is seyd, and all that countre is sore trobelid therwith; and if he had abedyn at home he had be lyke to have be fechid owte of his owyn hows, for the peple ther abowght is sor meved with hym. And on Saterday last past he come ryding thorow this town toward Framyngham; and if he had abedyn in this town he shuld have ben arestyd; for men of Tonsted and of the countre pusewid after hym in to this town, and made agrett noyse of hym, and required the mayre and sheryves that he ne his men shuld not pas the town, but that they shuld do as it longed to here parte to do, and told hem the cause why; and as it is seyd the sergeantis were fals, and lete hym have knowleche ther of, and he hythid hym hens in hast, &c. The blyssyd Trynyte have yow in His keping. Wreten att Norwyche on the Weddenesday next after Seynt Martyn.

Be yowris,

M. P.

[Footnote 210.1: [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 2.] The year in which this
letter was written is altogether uncertain.]

621

NOTE

The letter of John Payn to John Paston (No. 126 in vol. ii.), which, on account of the circumstances to which it refers, we have placed in the year 1450, was written, as appears by the contents, fifteen years later, _i.e._ in 1465. We therefore call the reader’s attention to it in this place.

622

FUNERAL OF LADY KATHARINE HOWARD[211.1]

[Sidenote: 1465]

This wrytenge, made at Stokeneylond the v^th yer of Kynge Edward the iiii^th and the morowe next affter Sowlemesse day, wytnesseth that this day and yer a bove said my lady, dame Kateren Howard, departed to God, and my master spent uppon her at this day a bove wreten at her beryinge, and also at her vij^th day, more than

xx_li._

Also my master spent uppon her at her xxx^ti day, in almesse and in
odre costes, in primis to v.M^{l}. and ccc. of pore folke every
pece takenge i_d._ Summa xxij_li._ v_s._

Item, my master gaff to vi^{xx}ix. prestes and clerkes every
pece vj_d._ Summa iij_li._ iiij_s._ vj_d._

Item, my master gaff to lxviii. cheldren in the quere every
pece ii_d._ Summa x_s._ iiij_d._

Item, my master paid for blakke cloth for gownes for his men
vij^xx yerdes prise of every yerde iii_s._ iiii_d._
Summa xxj_li._

Item, my master bout as myche waxe for torches and taprys as
cost hym viij. markis. iij_s._ ij_d._

Item, my master paid for xiij. pore mennes gownes for the clothe
and for the makengs lij_s._

Item, my master spent in all maner of spyces as myche as drew
liij_s._ xj_d._

Item, my master spent in wyne at the said day iij. pypes.

Item, my master spent in maltt for brewenge viij. seme.

Item, my master spent in bere at the same day xxxij. barelles.

Item, my master spent in whete to make brede and odre bakenge
xiij. seme.

Item, my master spent at the said day in brawne ij. gret bores.

Item, in beff xij. gret oxsen.

Item, in moton xl. shepe.

Item, in porke xij. hogges.

Item, in pygges lxx.

Item, in swannes xij.

Item, in geese iiij^{xx}.

Item, in conyis c. cowple.

Item, in capons xxiiij.

Item, in chekens vij^{xx}.

Item, in venyson xxx. dois.

Item, in pertryches iiij. doseyn.

Item, in fesauntis xiv.

Item, in pekokkes vij.

Item, in mallardes iij. doseyn.

Item, in plovers iij. doseyn.

Item, in eggis viij. C.

Item, in mylke xxx. galons.

Item, in hony iij. galons.

[Footnote 211.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 38.] ‘Soulmas,’ or All
Souls’ Day, is the 2nd November, and it appears that Lady
Katharine died on the morrow of that day in 1465. As these
expenses run into December, we place them at the end of the year.]

623

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGER[213.1]

_To John Paston the younger._

[Sidenote: Before 1466]

I grete you wele, letyng you wete that as for[213.2] your sustrys[213.3] beyng with my Lady, if your fader wull aggrey therto I hold me right wele pleasyd; for I wuld be right clad that she shuld do her servyse be for any other, if she cowde do that shuld pleas my ladyes good grace. Wherfor I wuld that ye shuld speke to your fader therof and lete hym wete that I am pleasid that she shuld be ther if he wuld, for I wuld be right glad and she myght be preferrid by mariage or be servyce, so that it myght be to her wurchep and profight in dischargyng of her frendis; and I pray you do your parte therin for your owyn wurchep and herys. And assone as ye may with ought daunger, purvey that I may have ageyn the vj. marks that ye wote of, for I wuld not that your fader wust it. Item, if ye pas London, send me ageyn my chene and the litill chene that I lent you be for, be sum trusty person; and if ye wull have my good wille, eschewe such thyngis as I spake to you of last in owr parisch chirch. I pray God make you as good a man as ever was any of your kynne, and Goddis blissyng mote ye have and myn, so that ye do wele, &c. Wretyn the Sonday next after your departyng.

And I pray you, send me sum tydyngis as sone as ye may after that ye be comyn to London, how your fader spedyth and your brother in here materes.

Be your moder.

[Footnote 213.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 208.] This letter was
written at a time when John Paston, the writer’s husband, and one
of his sons, was in London, while the other, to whom this letter
is addressed, was going thither. The date must therefore be before
May 1466, but what particular year or month it is impossible to
say.]

[Footnote 213.2: ‘affor,’ MS.]

[Footnote 213.3: This may be either Anne or Margery Paston. Who
‘my lady’ was does not appear.]

624

JOHN RADCLIFF OF ATTLEBOROUGH TO JOHN PASTON[214.1]

_To my ryght trusty and welbelovyd Frend, John Paston._

Rygth trusty and welbelovid, I cummaund me un to zow, lattyng zow wytte that there ys a tenawnt off Thyrnyng, on [_one_] Wyllyam Rust, whos dur ys selyd be a offycer off zowrys. Wherffor I pray zow that ze wyll se that the forsay tenawnt be not hurt; and yff there be oni thyng that ys dw for to pay, I wyll se that hyt schall be content. And therfore I pray zow that hyt may be repytyd un tyll the tyme that I speke with zow. No more at thys tyme, but the Hole Trinite hawe zow in kepyng. Wretyn at Attylburgth the xvij. day off Dyssembyre.

JOHN RADCLYFF DE ATTYLBURGTH.

[Footnote 214.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 223.] The principal lordship
in the manor of Thurning belonged to the Radcliff, or Ratcliff,
family, afterwards Earls of Sussex; but it seems there was another
lordship which belonged to John de Mauteby in the ninth year of
Edward II. From this very likely Margaret Paston derived some
claims, and John Paston through his wife. _See_ No. 634. The year
of this letter, however, cannot be ascertained.]

625

SIR JOHN FELBRIGGE TO JOHN PASTON[215.1]

_To my Cosyn Paston, be thys letter delyverd yn haste._

[Sidenote: 1466(?) / JAN. [20]]

Ryght reverent and worshyppeful cosyn, y comawnd me on to you, desyryng to her off your welfare, the whyche Almyghty Jesu preserve to Hys plesawns, and to your own herts desyres. Forthermore and yff yt please your gentylnesse to be my trusty frend, as my ful truste ys yn you, as for swyche materys as the brynger off this lettre shall enforme you, and beth effectualy my frend, and brynge yt abowte, and by my trowthe y shall geve you an C. marke for your labowr. For yn trowthe y am aferde that Roberd Radclyff hathe deseyvyd me, for he laboryd to me dayly by my Lords comawndement off Warwyk, and brought with hym Yllyngworthe and oder off my Lords cownsel, and seen my evydens; and so we stoden uppon apoyntement, and y for to have had an unswere sent to Felbrygge Halle, and yff ne had be for ffendyng off my Lords lordschyppe, y myght have had my money for my ryght or y cam owt off London, as my man schall enforme you. For yn trowthe y muste now make an schiffte, for Wyndham hathe sold hys ryght, and rathere than yt schuld go that way to, y had lever my Lord had yt ij. C. marke with yn the pryse that y grawnt yt laste, and therfor y be scheche you to labowr to my Lord that y may have an unswer. And thies many townes longithe thereto, Felbrygge, Aylinton, Ronton, Colby, Bannyngham, Ingworthe, Styrston, besyde hamelets.

No mor to you at this tyme, but the Holy Trinyte have you yn His kepyng. Wryten at Felbrygg, the Monday affor Seynt Augnetes Day.[216.1]

By your cosyn,

JOHN FELBRYGGE.

[Footnote 215.1: [From Fenn, iv. 242.] The date of this letter
cannot be ascertained with very great precision; but as it belongs
most probably to about the same period as Letter 619, which we
have referred to November 1465, we may assign this to the January
following.]

[Footnote 216.1: The modern version in Fenn reads ‘the Monday
_after_ Saint Agnes’s Day,’ and the date subjoined at the bottom
of the page is in accordance with this reading. But it is more
likely the text as printed in the old spelling is correct. St.
Agnes’ Day is the 21st January. The Monday before it would have
been the 20th in 1466.]

626

JOHN WYKES TO SIR JOHN PASTON[216.2]

_Un to the ryght wyrshypfull mayster, Sir John Paston, Knygt, be thys letter delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1466 / FEB. 17]

Ryght wyrshypfull and my especyall gode mayster, I recomaund me unto your gode maystershyp, letyng you wyte that the berour herof told me that ye had grete mervyll that I send to you no word ne letter of awnswer of the letters that ye had send to me to London. As for on letter ye send to me by Rychard Playtorys man, and therof I send you an awnswer in a letter by a man of the Prior of Bromholm; and as for other letters, ther com no more to me but that on.

Item, Mayster Flemmyng lokyth dayly for hys hors, and at every tyme that I mete with hym, he askyth of me when hys hors shuld com, and when I here any word from you. Wherfore I pray you send me word in a letter how he shall be awnswerd, and yf the hors shall com, lette me knowe when; for and he had not trustyd theruppon, he wold have purveyd hym in a nother place, &c.

Item, John Oter ys not yet payd, but as I suppose it shall not be long to tyll he have it, for he hath spoken to my mayster your fader a yer therfor; and as for Gylmyn, he hath not spoken to my mayster as yet, &c.

Item, I truste he wylbe your gode fader, for John Say hath told hym playnly of hys demenyng ayenst you, and told hym that he had the lasse favour for your sake, &c.

Item, the Erle of Arundell ys[217.1] son hath weddyd the Quyne ys suster.

Item, the Lord Lovell ys son[217.2] hath weddyd my Lady Fytzhugh ys doghter, &c.

Item, Jenney desyryth a trety with my mayster, and spake to my mayster therof hym sylf in Westminster Hall.

Item, all felaws in the Kyngs hows fareid well, and wold have you ther.

No more to you at thys tyme, but the Holy Trynyte have you [in] kepyng. Wryten at London, the Monday next after Seynt Volentyn.

Your servant,

JOHN WYKYS.

[Footnote 216.2: [From Fenn, iv. 246.] As this letter was written
after Edward IV.’s marriage, and before the death of John Paston
the father, the date must be either 1465 or 1466. Fenn assigns it
to the latter year, and I think he is right, though he does not
state his reasons. I find that John, Lord Lovel, died on the 9th
January 1465, leaving his son and heir, Francis, only nine years
old, so that even if we date this letter 1466, the young lad was
married at the early age of ten. This was probably owing to his
wardship having been obtained by Lord Fitzhugh, or some person
interested; but as the inquisition on his father’s death (_Inq.
p. m._, 4 Edw. IV., No. 27) was not taken till October 1465, there
seems no ground for believing that he could have been forced into
wedlock a month after he was left an orphan.]

[Footnote 217.1: Thomas Fitz Alan, Lord Maltravers, eldest son of
William Fitz Alan, Earl of Arundel, married Margaret, second
daughter of Richard Widville, Earl Rivers, and sister to
Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV. He succeeded his father as Earl of
Arundel in 1487, 3 Hen. VII., and died in 1524, 16 Hen. VIII.--F.]

[Footnote 217.2: Francis Lovel, son and heir to John, Lord Lovel,
married Anne, daughter of Henry, Lord Fitz Hugh. It is curious
that she is here called ‘Lady Fitz Hugh’s daughter,’ when her
father was alive.]

[[be thys letter delyveryd _text has “delyverya” (italic a for d)_]]

627

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[217.3]

_To hys rythe worchypfwll mayster, John Paston, Sqwyer._

[Sidenote: 1466 / MARCH 18]

Rythe worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to zow. And as for zour letter to my Lorde Chawnceler I have not delyveryd it; for I askyd avysse there in, and I was aunsweryd there in that sythen he was takyn to baylle, the Chawncelerer[217.4] cowde not compelle the swertes to bryng hym in befor hys day. Also me thowte zour letter was not most plesauntly wrytyn to take to swyche a lorde. And as for the tresorer, hys name is Sir John Fooge, but he is not in London nor wythe the Kyng, so I kan [not] have the letter sent hym but if I hyeryd a man to bere it. And as for zour question of the patentes, Grenfeld and Catesby and Sterkey holdyn it a good question, for the statute is, _Patentes dez tenements dount null titill est trouve pur le roy de recorde sount voydez_, anno xviij. H. VI. ca. vj. But I trowe in zour cas that be ther opiniounis the Acte of the Parlement is a tytyll of recorde. It is said to the contrary intent, thow the londs be forfetyd of record, yet ther is no certificacion of recorde qwat londes they be, nor wer [_where_] nor in qwat place they lye; but and thys clawse be in the patents, _Non obstante quod nulla inquisicio pro nobis inde est inventa_, by Grenfelde is consayle the patents xwld be clerly goode. But me semythe that amendyt not the mater, for be for the makyng of the statute above sayde, patents graunttyd of londs be fore inquisicion were goode and effectuell and the statute is generall:-- _Patents dount null tytill, &c. sount voydez_. Thanne it folowyt well if the Acte of Parlement be no tytyll for the Kyng thann is ther no tytyll for the Kyng of recorde, for that clawse in the patente is no tytyll; than if ther [be] no tytyll, ergo the patents voyde.

My suster[218.1] standythe in the same casse with my Lord of Kent.

Broder, I pray zow send mor mony for my nevew John, for he mwst ellys com hom azen; for the Kyng gothe into Scotlonde, and he is nowther horsyd nor harneysyd, for his grett hors is lykly to dye; and if ze wyll sende it to me or to Christofyr Hanyngton it xall be save for hym. I send zow a letter from hym closyde herin. And I pray spek to my moder that my hors faylle not on Passyon Swnday,[218.2] for thann xall I be redy and thanne xall ower redyng be don. Wrytyn on Twesday nexst after Seynt Gregory is Day.

Zowr broder,

CLEMENT PASTON.

_On the back._--The man wold not tak my letter but I wass fayen to
gyve hym ij_d._ for the beryng.

[Footnote 217.3: [From Paston Letters, B.M.] The reference to the
dispute between Elizabeth Poynings and the Earl of Kent, which is
alluded to in a subsequent letter, proves this letter to have been
written in the year 1466. The earl in question was only so created
on the 3rd of May 1465, and John Paston, to whom the letter is
addressed, died in May 1466.]

[Footnote 217.4: So in MS.]

[Footnote 218.1: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Poynings.]

[Footnote 218.2: 23rd March.]

[[gyve hym ij_d._ for the beryng
_printed in roman (non-Italic) type_]]

628

FRIAR JOHN MOWTH TO JOHN PASTON[219.1]

_To my worchepful mayster, John Paston the holdest, be this letter delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1466 / MAY 12]

Ryth reverent and worchepful sire, I hartyly recomende me on to your reverens, thankyng yow for the gret cher and comfortabyll words that ye yovyn on to me wat tyme that I was last yn yowr presens; desyryng ful specyaly of Almity God, owt of al your wordly tribulacyonys and adversyte, gracyowus delyverans, and yn al vertuows prosperite, good encres and contynuans. If yt like your maysterchep to know the cause of this wrytyng, it ys thys; it is nowth unknow[219.2] on to yow that Mayster Brakle (Cryst rest hys sowle!), delyveryd to Wyllam Paston, your broder, certayn oblygacyonys, of the weche the dute xuld grow to my convent yn Norwyche. I have spoke on to Wyllam Paston her of, and he excuseth hym and seyth on this wyse; that be the wyl of Mayster Brakle, wat tyme that Sire Tomas Todenham,[219.3] Knyth, xuld be put on to hys deth, he delyveryd hem on to hys confessor; the weche, as he seth, xuld a be Grey fryer, hows name he knowyth nowt; also he seyth that after the deth of the forseyd Knyt, he spake with the Fryer, confessor on to the Knyth, and hasked hym aftyr the forseyd oblygacyonys, and as he seyth, the Fryer seyd on to hym that he had delyveryd hem on to [the] Knyth Marchall. Werfor I beseche you, as specyaly as I may, that, now wyl your broder is at London, that ye of your grace wyl know the trowthe in this mater, for the comfort of the dede, and profyth of my convent. Nomor at this tyme, but that I be seche Almyty God in Trinyte conserve your, and kepe yow in all vertuows prosperite. Amen.

Wretyn at Heylysdon in gret hast, the xij. day of May, in your maner aftyr mete. The cause wy the mayster delyveryd hem to hym mor than to yow, was, as he seyd on to me, for as meche as ye had so many maters yn hand for yowr self, and also for the dede, that he durst not attempt yow with all; and al so be cause he had lesse for to do hys hope was that he xuld asped yt mor redyly.

Fr[e]re Willam Thorp dwellyng at Salisbury.

By yowr pore orator and bedman,

FRIER JAN MOWTH.

[Footnote 219.1: [From Fenn, i. 256.] Friar Brackley, who is here
mentioned as dead, is spoken of in John Paston’s deposition of
December 1465, without any indication that he was at that time
deceased (_see_ No. 606). We may presume, therefore, that he died
between that time and May 1466, in which month and year died John
Paston, to whom this letter is addressed.]

[Footnote 219.2: _Nowth unknow._ I believe this to be the true
reading of the original MS. Fenn prints it ‘nowthn know.’]

[Footnote 219.3: He was beheaded on Tower Hill in February 1462.]

629

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[220.1]

[Sidenote: 1466(?) / NOV. 13 (?)]

I grete you wele and send you Goddis blissyng and myn; letyng you wete that I send you be the berer herof xl_li._ of Ryall which I have chevysshed and borwed for you, be cause I wuld not take that was leyd ought for you at Norwich; for, as I am enformed be Mayster John Smyth, the Chaunceller, and other that we ben all a cursed that we have thus mynystred the dedis godes with ought licence or auctorite, and I wene we spede all the wers there fore. At the reverence of God, gete you a licens of my Lord of Caunterbery in dyschargyng of my conscyens and yowris, to mynystre a certeyn summe of iij. or iiij^c marcs, enfourmyng hym how that your lyffelod hath stond this ij. yer in such trobill that ye myght right nought have of it, ner yet can take of it with ought ye shuld hurt your tenauntis, thei have so ben vexid be on trew meanes before this tymes, And ye have many grete materis on hand and may not have to bere them ought, ner to save your ryght, withaught ye myght for a tyme takyn of your faderis godes. And this I hope shall discharge owr conscyens of that we have mynystred and spend be fore. For we have nomor to acquite this xl_li._ and bere all other charges but the xlvii_li._ that your unkyll and ye is privy to, that was leyd up at Norwich. I wuld ye were ware of large theftis and rewardis gevyng, as otheris folkis avyse you to do, for though ye have nede thei wull not be right redy to help you of ther owyn; and that ye may understand be that that thei have taken a wey from you be for this tyme. I wuld not in no wyse ye shuld put your self in no daunger to hym but as litill as ye may; for if ye do, it shall be right wele remembred you her after. And be ware how ye ben bownd in any obligacion to any creature but if it be leyd in endifferent handis and trosty for yowr part. And remembre to gete the obligacion that ye mad to the Duchesse of Suffolk; for though it be in my Lord Chancelleris hande it is jepartows, be cause of perell of deth. Item, understand wele the poyntis that ben in my cosyn Arblasteris letter that arn wretyn in yowrs, and purvey redily ther for for your owyn a vayll. Item, send me home answeris of sueche materis as arn now sent you bethen (_sic_) mowth and wrytyng at this tyme as hastly as ye can, or ells it shall hurt yow mor than ye or I can yet understand. Item, me semyth, if ye shall not comyn home this Crystmesse, or if ye shuld be at my Lady of Suffolk, it [were[221.1]] necessary to have Playter there with you if ye shuld engroos any appoyntementis with here at that tyme. For she is sotill and hath sotill councell with here; and therfore it were wele do ye shuld have summe with you that shuld be of your councell. If John Paston be with you at London desire hym to take hede to yowris materis and in what case thei ben left at your departyng, that if nede be he may help you to labore for such causes as Wykes shall telle yow be mowth; and if he be not with yow, and ye wull I shall send hym to you. Item, spare of[221.2] the xl_li._ as mych as ye may that ye may perfourme by the mony that the Duchesse of Suffolk shuld have, in cas that it may not be gadered of the lyvelode. Send home Wykes a sone as ye can, and how ye will that I do in your materis and lyvelode at home. God have you in His kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next Sent Martyn.

Be your Moder.