Chapter III: Part 3

Sere, I have receyved your lettre, wherin I undrestand that my maistre desired that my maistre your brother myght have the gidyng and governaunce of the _Barge of Yermouthe_. As to that, and men of Yermouthe had knowen my maistre entend a fornyght a goo, he had ben swer of it, but nough it is so that Debenham hathe a comyscion of the Kyng expressed oonly for that schip named in hes comyscion; and he hathe ben here at Yermouthe, and spoken with the balyffs and with the owners of the seide schip, and takyn suche a direccion that they may graunted it ne man but hym. And moreover he hathe endented with the owners of the schip what daye it schulbe redy as well vetaylled as manned; and also he hathe brought downe letters from my Lord Tresorer to all priours and gentlemen in this contre to helpe hym and assiste hym to vetayle and manne the seide schip, and hes men is here dayle, and gothe abought and gathereth whete, malt, money, and what so ever any man woll geve, &c.

The blissed Trinyte preserve you. Wreten at Castre, the Friday next aftre I receyved your lettre.

Item, is talked here that my maistre your brother and Debenham were at words at London, and that Debenham shuld have streken hym, had nought Howard a’ beene, &c., wherof I am ryght sory, &c. Neverthelesse I trust to God all schul be weell.

Your servaunt,

RIC. CALLE.

[Footnote 45.1: [From Fenn, iv. 144.] This and the next letter
were evidently written not very long after the last.]

523

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[46.1]

_To my maistre, John Paston._

Plesith your maisterschip to wit that I whas at Scole, and spake with Alblastre, John Sadeler, and with other good yomen of the contre to undrestonde how they were gided for the vetelyng of the _Barge of Yermouth_. And I undrestonde be them that there [_their_] hundred have payed; nevertheles it is but litell. Ther was gatherd in that hundred xviij_s._ and certein corn, and some other hundred vj. marc and corne, and so they have payed in all the hundreds and townys here a boute, that is to sey, Est Flegge and West Flegge and up to Blofeld, Tunsted and up to Stalom, I undrestand, be the comiscion that Debenham hath. It is more large thanne master John is, as ye schal undrestand, wherof I send you a copy, weche causeth me that I labour no ferther therin. Notwithstandyng your maisterschip schal have knowleche what every hundred geve, and Yermeth bothe.

Wreten at Wynterton, the morwe aftre I departed from your maisterschip.

Youre poore bedman,

RIC. CALLE.

[Footnote 46.1: [From Fenn, iii. 430.]]

524

ABSTRACT[46.2]

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON

[Sidenote: 1462(?) / [JULY 5]]

Cannot inform him how much malt he has at Castre, ‘for the malters have not moten all up yet,’ --probably 400 quarters new and 160 comb old malt of Castre and Mauteby, of which 40 quarters will be spent in the household by Hallowmas. At Yarmouth it is now 2_s._ 2_d._ a bushel--it was 2_s._ 6_d._ But London is a better market. Thinks the price will fall here, as the fields are reasonably fair in Flegge, and so up to Norwich. The carriage from Yarmouth to London will be 6_d._ per quarter, ‘and I understand j. quartre of Yermothe mette makethe at London but vij. busschell.’

Norwich, Monday after St. Peter’s Day.

[As John Paston does not seem to have been in undisturbed possession
of Caister before 1462, and we have evidence of Richard Calle having
been there in that year about the time of year when this letter was
written, we may with great probability refer it to that year.]

[Footnote 46.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

525

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON[47.1]

_To the right worshypful my right honourabyl mayster, John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1462 / JULY 15]

Right worshipfull sir, and my right honourabill maister, I recomaund me to you in my most humble wyse, and please your maistirship to wete that her is on Thomas Chapman, an evyl disposyd man al wey ayens you, as I have informyd youre maistirship many tymes, and now he hathe labouryd to my Lord Tresorer to subplante me, and brought down wryghting from the Kyng and my Lord Tresorer; but or hise wryting cam, Wydwell fond the meanys, be the supportacion of Maistir Feen, that we had a discharge for hym out of the Chauncery; wherfor the seyd Chapman proposyth to be at London in all haste, and to avertise the Kyng and my Lord Tresorer ageyn me to the grettest hurt he can imagyne. Wherfor I beseke youre maystirship, consedryng is evyl disposecion to yow, and also the rather at my pore instaunce, that ye lyke that my Lord Tresorer myght undyrstonde that the seyd Chapman is of no reputacion, but evyl disposyd to brybory of straungers, and be colour of hise office of supervisor of the searche shal gretly hurte the port. The seyd Chapman supportors is Blakeney, clerk of the sygnet, and Avery Cornburght, yoman of the Kynges chaumbre. He hathe here of Avereyes xxiiij. tune wyn, whereof at the long wey he shal make the seyd Averey a lewd rekenyng. The seyd Chapman lovyth not you, nor no man to yow wards, &c.

Sir, I prey God brynge you onys to regne amongs youre cuntre men in love, and to be dred. The lenger ye contynwe there the more hurt growyth to you. Men sey ye will neyther folwe the avyse of youre owyn kynred, nor of youre counsell, but contynwe your owyn wylfullnesse, whiche, but grace be, shal be youre distrucion. It is my part to enfourme youre maistirshyp as the comown voyse is, God betir it, and graunt yow onys herts ease; for it is half a deth to me to here the generall voyse of the pepyll, whiche dayli encreassyth, &c.

Sir, I beseke youre maistirshyp to remembre my maystresse for the lytil sylvir, whiche for serteyn thyngs delyverid to youre use is dewe to me. I have nede of it now. I have bought salt and other thyngs, whiche hathe brought me out of myche sylvir. I wold trust, and I nedyd to borwe xx_li._, your maistirshyp wold ease me for a tyme, but thys that I desyre is myn owyn dute. And Jesu graunt yow ever yowr herts desyre to youre worshyp and profyt, and preserve yow my right honourabyll maister from all adversyte.

Wretyn at Jernemuthe, the xv. day of July. Here is a kervyl [_carvel_] of Cane in Normandy, and he takyth Duchemen, and raunsumyth hem grevously.

Yore servaunt and bedman,

JOHN RUSSE.

[Footnote 47.1: [From Fenn, iv. 120.] The precise year in which
this letter was written is a little uncertain, but from the date
and contents it would appear that Russe was now in possession of
the office which in No. 515 he had asked Paston to procure for
him; so that it cannot be earlier than 1462.]

526

WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[48.1]

_To myn wurchipfull broder, Jon Paston._

[Sidenote: 1462 / JULY]

Ryththe wurchipfull broder, I recomand [me] to zow. Lekit it zow to wethe [_wit_], Jon of Dam is come to towne, and purposit hym to tary here a day ar ij. ar longar, I can thynk, and he be desyryd. Were fore I pray zow, and as I have afore this tyme desiryd zow the same, that suche materis as hathe be comunyd now lathe be twyx myn moder, zow and hym, may take some good conclucyon be twyx owre selff here at hom. And in myn consayt, savyng zow better avyse, it were so most convenyent and wurchipfull for us all, and comforthe to all owre fryndis. And for this ententhe I wold tary here the lengar; for I wold be as glad as any man a lyve that suche an ende mythe be take be twix us that iche off us all schuld inyoy the wylleffar off odyr, qweche I trust with zowr good help schall be rythe wyll, and I dowthe nat myn mastyr Markam wyll be will plesyd thus.

I have tydynges from London, and a monge odyr tydynges I have knowlage that Cirstofre Hanson is passid to God on Saterday last past, at ij. of clok after mydnythe. It is good to take hede there to, &c.

Item, I sent to zow to have had zowre avyse qwat menys were best to make for the mater towchyng the Lord Scrop, qwere in I had an answer, but me thowthe it was not to the poynthe. I sopose, and I purposyd to make the labore that ze sent me word I schuld do towchyng me, I can thynk I schuld sone be answerid, meche sonar than he. I must send some answer to hym, were in I wold have zowr consayll; for he desirid the same, and I wold not he schold thynk that he were forgotyn be us.

Be zowr pore broder,

WILLIAM PASTON.

I can thynk and he were here he wold be a feythfull frynd to zow; but and so were that ze thowthe that it were for to labore for any oder man, me thynkit it were for zow to remembre myn nevew. That were somewat lykly, and there to wold I be glad to help and lene to the toder. For as for me, I know so moche that sche will none have but iff he have, ar be leke to have, meche more lond than I have; and iff I knewe the contrary, it schuld nat be left for the labore, but I wold not be in a folis paradyce, and ze be myn good brodir. I trust thow to do rythe will, &c.

[Footnote 48.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The reference to the
death of Christopher Hanson proves this letter to have been
written in July 1462, as the precise date of his death is given in
Letter 528.]

[[Cirstofre Hanson _text unchanged: error for “Cristofre”?_]]

527

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[50.1]

_To my rigth good maister, John Paston the oldest, beyng at Heylesdon, besyde Norwiche, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1462 / JULY]

Please your maistership wete that Christofer Hanson is ded and beryed; and as for executor or testament, he mad non.

As for tydyngs, the Erles of Warrewyk, of Essex, Lord Wenlok, Bysshop of Dereham, and other go in to Scotland of inbassat. And as for the sege of Kaleys, we here no mor ther of, blyssed be God, ho have you in His kepying.

Item, as for Christofers papers that longeth to your tenants, I have goten of William Worcester; and as for all the remnaunt of Christofer good, William Worcester hath the reule as hym semeth most convenient.

Your,

THOMS PLAYTER.

[Footnote 50.1: [From Fenn, iv. 124.] This letter, like the last,
is dated by the letter following.]

528

PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[50.2]

_To my maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon._

[Sidenote: 1462 / JULY]

Item, plese you wete of other tytyngs. These Lords in your other letter,[50.3] with Lord Hastyngs and other, ben to Karlyle to resseve in the Qwen of Scotts;[50.4] and uppon this appoyntement, Erle Duglas[50.5] is comaunded to come thens, and as a sorwefull and a sore rebuked man lyth in the Abbey of Seynt Albons; and by the said appoyntement schall not be reputed, nor taken, but as an Englyssheman, and if he come in the daunger of Scotts, they to sle hym.

Item, Kyng Harry and his Aderents in Scotland schall be delyvered; and Lord Dakres of the Northe is wonne and yelden, and the seid Lord, Sir Richard Tunstall, and on Byllyngham in the said Castell ben taken and heded.

Item, the Qwen and Prince ben in Fraunce and ha mad moche weyes and gret peple to com to Scotland and ther trust to have socour, and thens to com in to Inglond: what schall falle I can not sey, but I herd that these appoyntements were take by the yong Lords of Scotland, but not by the old.

Your,

PLAITER.

Christofer dyed on the Satarday next be for Seynt Margret,[51.1] Anno. E. ij^do.

[Footnote 50.2: [From Fenn, i. 270.] This letter seems to have
been penned immediately after the last was sent off.]

[Footnote 50.3: _i.e._ the other letter to you--meaning No. 527.]

[Footnote 50.4: Mary of Gueldres, widow of James II.]

[Footnote 50.5: James, Earl of Douglas, who had been banished from
Scotland, but was made by Edward IV. a Knight of the Garter.]

[Footnote 51.1: St. Margaret’s Day was the 20th July. The Saturday
before it in 1462 was the 17th.]

[[1462 / JULY _sidenote missing, but see first footnote_]]

529

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON[51.2]

_To my right honorabil and worshypfull maister, my Maister Paston._

[Sidenote: 1462 / SEPT.]

Please it youre worshipfull maistyrshyp to wete, that it is informyd me thys day scretly, that there is dyrected out a commyssion to mayster Yelwyrton and maister Jenney, which shall tomorwyr syttyn be vertu of the same at Seynt Oleffes;[51.3] and the substaunce of jentilmen and yemen of Lodyngland be assygned to be afore the seyd commesyoners; and it is supposed it is for my maisters londs, for as the seyd persone informyd me, the seyd comesyoners have been at Cotton, and there entred, and holdyn a court. I can not informe youre maystyrship that it is thus in serteyn, but thus it was told me, and desyryd me to kepe it secret; but be cause I conseyve it is ageyn your maistyrship, it is my part to geve you relacion thereof.

I sende you a letter which cometh from Worcestyr[52.1] to my maister youre brothyr. I wold ye undyrstod the intente of it, for as for Worcester, I knowe well he is not good. Sum men ar besy to make werre, for p’[52.2] the absentyng of my maister, the parson comyth not of hyse owyn mocyon, but I wold youre maistyrship knewe be whom it is mevyd. I herd you never calle hym false pryst, be my trouth, nor other language that is rehersyd hym, but Gode sende a good accord, for of varyaunce comyth gret hurt of tyn tyme, and I beseche Jesu sende youre maistyrship youre herts desyre, and amende hem that wold the contrary.

Sir, yesterevyn a man came from London, and he seyth, the Kyng cam to London on Satyrday, and there dede make a proclamacion that all men that were be twyx lx. and xvj. shuld be redy to wayte upon hym whan so ever they were callyd; and it is seyd, that my Lord Warwyk had sent to the Kyng, and informyd hyse Hyghnesse that the Lord Summyrset had wretyn to hym to come to grace; but of the fleet of shyppis there is no tydings in serteyn at London on Monday last past.

Youre bedman and servaunt,

JOHN RUSSE.

[Footnote 51.2: [From Fenn, i. 260.] This letter must have been
written in the year 1462 before the Duke of Somerset was received
into favour. Proclamations similar to those mentioned in this
letter were issued on the 6th March 1461 and the 11th May 1464;
but neither of these can be the case referred to. The coming of
the King to London must have been in the beginning of September
1462. He was in London on the 14th of that month, and had been at
Fotheringay on the 1st, as the dates of Privy Seals inform us.]

[Footnote 51.3: St. Olave’s, in Suffolk.]

[Footnote 52.1: William Worcester.]

[Footnote 52.2: p’.--So in Fenn’s left-hand copy. The word seems
to have been ambiguous in the original MS., and is rendered ‘_by_’
(in italics) in the modern version.]

530

JOHN PASTON TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR[53.1]

[Sidenote: 1462(?)]

Shewyth and lowly compleynith on to your good Lordship John Paston, the older, Squier, that where Sir John Fastolf, Knyght, cosyn to your seid besecher, was seasid of diveris maners, londs, and tenements in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, the xxvij. yere of Kyng Herre that was, and therof infeffid diveris persones to execute and performe his will, and mad his will in especiall that a college of vij. monks shuld be stabilisshed, founded, and indewed withinne a plase late be the seid Sir John edified at Caster be the see in Norfolk, and certeyn livelode to be immortesid[53.2] therto, to prey for his sowle, his faders and moders, in forme and maner as in his will mad at that tyme more pleynly specifyth; whech will and feffment continued till the xxxv. yere of the seid late Kyng. And aftir, upon divers communicacions had be divers personis with the seid Sir John Fastolff, and upon divers consideracions mevid to hym, the seid Sir John Fastolff conceyvid that such be monkys hym there to be indewed shuld not be of power to susteyne and kepe the seid plase edified, or the lond that shuld be immortesid ther to, acordyng to his seid entent and will; wherfore, and for good will that the seid Sir John Fastolff had to the proferryng of your seid besecher mevyd hym to have the seid plase and certeyn of his livelode of gretter valew than the charge of the seid college schuld drawe, and to found the seid college and to bere the reparacion and defens therof. Upon whech mocion the seid Sir John Fastolff and your seid besecher apoynted be word withowt writyng at that tyme mad that your seid besecher shuld, aftir the decese of the seid Sir John Fastolff, have the seid plase in Caster, and all the maners that were the seid Sir John Fastolffs or any other to his use in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, up trust that the same John Paston shuld founde there a college of vij. monkes or prestes havyng a certeyn pension for her sustentacion payid clerly in mony withowt any charge, cost, reparacion, or joperde of defens of the seid plase or of any other livelode to be bore be the seyd collegians, and more over to paye a certeyn somme of mony of the revenews of the seid maners, londes and tenementes to be disposid yerly be certeyn yeres for the sowle of the seid Sir John Fastolff till the summe of v.^ml. [5000] mark were so disposed. Upon wech apoyntement it was acordyd be thwyx the seid Sir John and your seid besecher, for as moch as your seid besecher had non astate in the seid maners and londes and tenementes, that for his more suerte, and upon trust that the seid Sir John had to your seid besecher in this behalfe that a newe feffement shuld be mad of the seid plase and of the maner of Caster, and all the seid maners, londs and tenements to your seid besecher, and divers other personys to the use of the seid Sir[54.1] John, terme of his lif, and aftir his decese to the use of your seid besecher. And moreover, for as moch as your seid besecher was in dowte whedir God wold send hym tyme of life to execute the seid apoyntement, intendyng that th’effect of the old purpose of the seid Sir John Fastolff schuld not be all voyded, thow it so fortuned your seid besecher cowd not performe the seid apoyntement, mevid the seid Sir John Fastolff that, not withstandyng the seid apoyntement, that he aftir the seid feffement mad shuld make his will for the seid college, to be mad in all maner wise as thow the seid Sir John Fastolff and your seid besecher shuld not make[54.2] the seid apoyntement; and that aftir that, the seid apoyntement to be ingrosid and made so that the seid college shuld hold be the same apoyntement of your seid besecher, and ellis this seid will of the seid Sir John Fastolff to stand in effect for executyng of his seid purpose. And sone aftir this comunicacion and apoyntement the seid feffement was mad acordynge, and season deliverid to your seid besecher at the seid plase edified in Caster, as well as at the seid maners, londs, and tenements, the seid Sir John Fastolff beyng present at delivery of season mad to your seid besecher of the seid plase and maner of Caster, where the seid Sir John, more largely expressyng the seid will and entent, deliverid your seid besecher possession with his owne hands, declaryng to notabill personys there the same feffement to be made to the use of the seid Sir John as for terme of his lif only, and aftir his decese to the use of your seid besecher and his heyrs; and divers tymes in divers yeres aftir declared his entent in like wise to divers personys. And aftir, be gret deliberacion and oft communicacion of the seid mater, the seid Sir John Fastolff and your seid besecher comenauntyd[55.1] and apoynted be writyng thoroughly for the seid mater so that your seid besecher shuld have the seid plase and all the seid maners, londs, and tenements in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, to hym and to his heyrs; and that he shuld found a college of vij. monkes or prestes withinne the seid plase perpetually as is before seid, and to pay iiij.^ml. [4000] mark to be disposed in certeyn yers for the sowle of the seid Sir John Fastolff; the whech apoyntement declarid and red before the seid Sir John Fastolff, be good deliberacion was be the seid Sir John fully concludid, agreyd and stabilisshid for his last will in that behalve.

And also the seid comenauntes and apoyntementes eftsonis callid to remembraunce be the seid Sir John Fastolff, the same Sir John, for certeyn consideracions movyng hym, be his word, withowt writyng, dischargid your seid besecher of the seid somme of iiij.^ml. mark, desiryng hym so to ordeyne that ich of the seid monkes or prestes shull yerly have as the prestes of the chauntry of Heylesdon had, and that vij. pore men shull also be founde yerly in the seid plase inperpetuite to pray for the sowles above sayd.

[And aftir, that is to sey the Satirday, Sonday, and Monday next before the decese of the seid Sir John, the same Sir John, remembryng divers maters and intents in his mynd necessary for the wele of his sowle, wheche were not expressid in the seid will and apoyntement, nowther in his testament, and that he wold have one will mad and wrete conteynyng the seid apoyntements, as well as the seid other maters not declarid in his intent and will acordyng, comaundid to have it so ingrosid and wrete.][56.1] And where your seid besecher hath don his part acordyng to the will and apoyntements of the seid Sir John, as well in fyndyng of the seid prestes and pore men as in all other thyngs that to hym belongyth to do in that behalfe; and, this not with standyng, William Yelverton, Knyght, and William Jenney, whech be infeffid joyntly with your seid besecher in divers of the seid maners, londs and tenements, have[56.2] mad a sympill entre in all the seid maners in Suffolk, and chargid the baylifs, fermors, and tenaunts of all the seid maners to pay hem the profitez and revenews of the same maners, londs, and tenements; and thus, contrary to th’entent of the seid feffement, and contrary to the will of the seid Sir John Fastolff, thei trobill and lette your seid besecher to take the profitez of the seid maners, londs, and tenements; of whech your seid besecher hath no remedy at the comen lawe. Wherfore please your good and gracious Lordship to direct severall writts of subpena to the seid William and William, chargyng hem severally upon a peyne convenient to appere before your Lordship in the Chauncery at a certeyn day be your Lordship to be limityd, to answer to these premisses, and to do as right and consiens requirith. And your seid besecher shall pray God for yow.

_The following article is added in the first copy with many
corrections:_--

And aftir, late before the discese of the seid Sir John Fastolff, he
wold and ordeynid that on wryting shuld be mad of the fundacion of
the seid college aftir the forme of the seid apoyntement mad with
your seid besecher, and of diverses othir articles conteynid in his
seid former willes, not conserning the seyd colegge and also of
divers maters wheche he remembrid necessary for the wele of his
sowle, that were nevir expressid in writyng before, joyntly to geder
expressyng his hole and inter and last will and intent in all.

[Footnote 53.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a draft bill in
Chancery prepared by John Paston with a view to the commencement
of a suit against Yelverton and Jenney for their entry into the
manor of Cotton and other lands of Sir John Fastolf in Suffolk.
The document may have been drawn up in the latter part of the year
1461; but from the contents of the preceding letter it is not
unlikely to have been a year later. Two copies of this document
exist, with the very same corrections and interlineations in
both.]

[Footnote 53.2: Amortized, or granted in mortmain.]

[Footnote 54.1: ‘Sir.’ --This word is omitted in the first copy.]

[Footnote 54.2: ‘Shuld not make.’ --These words are interlined in
place of the word ‘left,’ which is erased.]

[Footnote 55.1: So spelt in both copies.]

[Footnote 56.1: The clause between brackets is cancelled in the
first copy.]

[Footnote 56.2: This word is interlined in the second copy only.]

531

JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON[57.1]

_To my right honourabyl and worshypfull maister, my Maister John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1462]

Plese your worshypfull maistership to wette, here is a ship of Hith, wyche seith that John Cole cam from the west cost on Wednysday last past; and he seyth that the fleet of shippis of this londe met with lx. seile of Spanyards, Brettenys, and Frenshemen, and there tok of hem l. [50], wherof xij. shyppys were as gret as the _Grace de Dewe_; and there is slayn on thys partyes the Lords Clynton[57.2] and Dakyr,[57.3] and many jentilmen juve (?)[57.4] and othyr, the nombre of iiij.^ml. [4000]; and the seid Spanyards were purposyd with marchaundise in to Flaundres. My Lord of Warwyks shyp, the _Mary Grace_ and the _Trenyte_, hadde the grettest hurt, for they wer formost. God send grace, thys be trew. On Thursday last past at London was no tydings in serteyn where the flet was, nor what they had doon, and therfore I fere the tydings the more.

Item, sir, as for tydings at London, ther were arystyd be the tresorer xl. seyles lyeng in Temse, wherof many smale shyppis; and it is seyd it is to carye men to Caleyse in all haste, for feer of the Kyng of Fraunce for a sege. And it was told me secretly there were CC. in Caleyse sworn contrary to the Kyngs well, and for defaute of there wages; and that Qwen Marget was redy at Boleyn with myche sylver to paye the soudyers, in cas they wold geve here entresse. Many men be gretly aferd of thys mater, and so the tresorer hath mych to do for thys cause.

Item, sir, as for tydings out of Ireland, ther wer many men at London at the feyre of the contres next them of Ireland, and they sey thys iij. wyks came there neythyr shyp nor boot out of Irelond to bryng no tydings; and so it semyth there is myche to doo there be the Erle of Pembrook.[58.1] And it is seyd that the Kyng shuld be at London as on Satyrday or Sonday last past, and men deme that he wold to Caleyse hym selfe; for the soudyors are so wyld there, that they wyll not lette in ony man but the Kynge or my Lord Warwyk.

Othyr tydings the were come to London, but they were not publyshyd; but John Wellys shal abyde a day the lenger to know what they are.

No mere un to you, my right honourable maister, at thys tyme, but Jesu send yow youre herts desyre, and amende hem that wold the contrary.

Your bedman and conty[n]wal servaunt,

JOHN RUSSE.

[Footnote 57.1: [From Fenn, i. 262.] This letter was evidently
written not very long after No. 529. The fleet mentioned here and
in that letter is that referred to in the preliminary note to No.
518, p. 41, Note 1.]

[Footnote 57.2: John, Lord Clinton. The rumour was false, as he
was summoned to Parliament in 1463. Nicolas supposes he died about
1465.]

[Footnote 57.3: Richard Fynes, Lord Dacre of the South, who was
Lord Clinton’s father-in-law. He did not really die till 1484.]

[Footnote 57.4: This word, Fenn says, is doubtful in the original
MS.]

[Footnote 58.1: Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, half-brother to
Henry VI.]

532

JOHN PASTON, JUNIOR, TO HIS FATHER[58.2]

_To my ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1462 / NOV. 1]

Ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I recomand me on to yow, beseechyng yow lowly of your blyssyng. Plesyt you to have knowlage that my Lord[58.3] is purposyd to send for my Lady, and is lyke to kepe his Crystmas here in Walys, for the Kyng hathe desyered hym to do the same. Wherfor I beseche yow that [ye][58.4] wole wychesave to send me sume mony by the berer herof; for, in good feythe, as it is not on knowyng to yow that I had but ij. noblys in my purse, whyche that Rychard Call took me by your comandement, when I departyd from yow owt of Norwyche. The berer herof schuld bye me a gowne with pert of the mony, if it plese yow to delyver hym as myche mony as he may bye it with; for I have but on gowne at Framyngham and an other here, and that is my levere gowne, and we must were hem every day for the mor part, and one gowne withowt change wyll sone be done.

As for tydyngs, my Lord of Warwyk yed forward in to Scotland as on Saterday[59.1] last past with xx.^ml. [20,000] men; and Syr Wylliam Tunstale is tak with the garyson of Bamborowth, and is lyke to be hedyd, and by the menys of Sir Rychard Tunstale[59.2] is owne brodyr.

As sone as I here any more tydyngys, I schall send hem yow by the grace of God, who have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, at the Castle of the Holte,[59.3] upon Halowmas Daye.

Your sone and lowly servaunt,

J. PASTON, Junior.

[Footnote 58.2: [From Fenn, i. 266.] In the month of October 1462,
as we learn from William Worcester, Margaret of Anjou came out of
France, whither she had fled in spring, with a force of 2000 men,
landed on the coast of Northumberland, and laid siege to
Bamborough, which she took and placed in the keeping of the Duke
of Somerset.]

[Footnote 58.3: The Duke of Norfolk.]

[Footnote 58.4: Omitted in original.]

[Footnote 59.1: 30th October.]

[Footnote 59.2: Sir Richard Tunstal was on Queen Margaret’s side,
while his brother William, it seems, was on that of King Edward.]

[Footnote 59.3: In Denbighshire.]

533

JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO JOHN PASTON THE ELDER[59.4]

_To my ryth worchepful brodyr John Paston, the elder, sone of John Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1462 / DEC. 11]

Ryth worchepfull brodedyr, I recomaunde me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet, that as thys day we had tydyngs here, that the Scottys wyll come in to Inglend with in vij. days aftyr the wrytyng of thys lettyr, for to rescue these iij. castellys, Alnewyk, Donsamborowe[59.5] and Bameborowe, whyche castellys wer besegyd, as on yesterdaye. And at the sege of Allnewyk lythe my Lord of Kent and the Lord Scalys; and at Donsameborow castyll lythe the Erle of Wyrcetyr [and] Syr Rafe Grey; and at the castyll of Bameborow lythe the Lord Montagwe and Lord Ogyll, and othyr dyvers Lordys and gentylmen that I knowe not; and ther is to hem owt of Newe Castyll ordynans inowe, bothe for the segys and for the feld, in cas that ther be ony feld takyn, as I trow there shall none be not yet, for the Scottys kepe no promes. My Lord of Warwyk lythe at the castyll of Warcorthe, but iij. myle owt of Alnewyk, and he rydyth dayly to all thes castelys for to overse the segys; and if they want vataylys, or any othyr thyng, he is redy to pervey it for them to hys power. The Kyng comandyd my Lord of Norfolk[60.1] for to condyth vetaylys and the ordynans owt of New Castyll on to Warcorthe Castyll, to my Lord of Warwyk; and so my Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr John Howard, Syr William Peche, Syr Robert Chamberlyen, Rafe Ascheton and me, Calthorp and Gorge, and othyr, for to go forthe with the vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord of Warwyk; and so we wer with my Lord of Warwyk with the ordynans and vytalys yesterdaye. The Kyng lythe at Durham, and my Lord of Norfolk at New Castyll. We have pepyll inow here. In cas we abyd here, I pray you purvey that I may have here more mony by Crystmas Evyn at the ferthest, for I may get leve for to send non of my wagyd men home ageyn; ne man can get no leve for to go home but if they stell a wey, and if they myth be knowe, they schuld be scharply ponyschyd. Mak as merry as ye can, for ther is no joperte toward not yet. And ther be any joperte, I schall sone send yow word, by the grase of God. I wot well ye have more tydyngys then we have here, but thes be true tydyngs.

Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly ponyschyd, for because they came not hedyr to the Kyng. They ar morkyn [_marked_] well inowe, and so is John Bylyngforthe and Thomas Playter; wherefor I am ryth sory. I pray yow let them have wetyng therof, that they may purvey their excuse in hast, so that the Kyng may have knowlage why that they come not to hym in ther one personys; let them come or send ther excuse to me in wrytyng, and I schall purvey that the Kyng schall have knowlage of ther excuse; for I am well aqueyntyd with my Lord Hastyngys, and my Lord Dakarys,[61.1] whyche be now gretest abowt the Kyngys person; and also I am well aqueyntyd with the yonger Mortymere, Fererys, Hawte, Harpor, Crowmer, and Bosewell, of the Kyngys howse.

I pray yow let my grandam[61.2] and my cosyn Clere[61.3] have knowlage how that I desyryd you to let hem have knowlage of the tydyngys in thys letyr, for I promysyd for to send them tydyngs.

I pray yow let my modyr[61.4] have cnowelage how that I, and my felawscep, and your servauntys ar, at the wrytyng of this lettyr, in good hell, blesyd be God.

I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys lettyr, and of the todyr lettyr that I sent to my modyr by Felbryggys man; and how that I pray bothe hym and my modyr lowly of her blyssyngys.

I pray yow that ye wole send me some lettyr how ye do, and of your tydyngys with yow, for I thynk longe that I here no word fro my modyr and yow.

I pray yow that thys bill may recomand me to my systyr Margery, and to my mastres Jone Gayne, and to all gode mastyrys and felawys within Castyr. I sent no lettyr to my fadyr, never syn I departyd fro yow, for I kowd get no man to London, and never sythe.

I pray yow in cas ye spake with my cosyn Margaret Clere, recomande me to hyr; and Almythy God have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Newcastyll on Saterday next aftyr the Consepsion of owyr Lady.

Your,

JOHN PASTON, the Yongest.

I pray yow let Rychard Call se thys lettyr.

[Footnote 59.4: [From Fenn, i. 272.] The sieges mentioned in this
letter took place, according to Warkworth, in December of the
_first_ year of Edward IV., _i.e._ 1461; but according to William
Worcester in 1462. The dates of the Privy Seal writs prove that
the latter is right, and that Edward IV. was at Durham in December
1462.]

[Footnote 59.5: Dunstanborough.]

[Footnote 60.1: John Mowbray, who succeeded his father in the
dukedom of Norfolk in 1461. He was at this time only eighteen
years of age.]

[Footnote 61.1: _See_ p. 57, Note 3.]

[Footnote 61.2: Agnes Paston.]

[Footnote 61.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby.]

[Footnote 61.4: Margaret Paston.]

534

[JOHN] PASTON TO [THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK][62.1]

[Sidenote: 1462-3]

That it please my lordis good grase to be good lord and supporter of Paston in his right and possession of the maner till his right can be lawfully or be trete dispreved by his adversaries, consideryng that the said Paston is my lordis homager and was nevir ayens his lordship and that my lord is not gretly behold to do for the seid Pastons adversaries as he understandith.

And in case my lord woll not supporte the seid Paston in his right but be indifferent athwyx bothe parties, that thanne it please my lorde to have consideracion to the right of the mater as folowyth in articles and ther upon to be remembird whedir it be resonably desired by William Jenney or by Debenham as his waged man or for his sake that Paston shuld leve the possession or the takyng of the profitez of the seid maner.

First to be remembird that the seid maner aswell as the maner of Nakton were Sir John Fastolffis, and that the seid Paston of the seid maners toke estatis at Cotton and attornement of the tenauntis viij. or ix. yere goo, in such wise as the tenauntes can reporte, and continued there in possession aswell in the live of the seid Sir John as sithen, and hath take the profitez therof sith the discese of the said Fastolff, except for the terme of Mighelmes a yere passed, whech tyme the tenauntes were compellid by fors of distresses to pay ayens ther willes part of the seid profitez.

And that also the title of the seid Paston to the seid maner is not all only by the seid feffement but aswell by a graunt and bargeyn made a thwyx the seid Fastolff and the seid Paston as by the last will of the seid Fastolff, where by the seid Paston ought to take the hole profitez of the seid maner, and also it is lefull to the seid Paston to kepe the seid maner with fors, consideryng he hath be in possession iij. yere and more; hough be it, the seid Paston intendyth to kepe the seid maner pesibly and non otherwise. And that the pretense and cleyme of the seid Jenney is that he schuld be infeffed with the seid Paston in the seid maner; by whech pretense, if it were trewe, yet the seid Paston by reason shuld not be put out of the seid maner, for who som evir had titell therto by feffement or by executrie, Paston shuld be on that had title; hough be it, the seid Paston cleymyth not in that forme, but by the titell of his bargeyne and by the seid Fastolffis will.

Item, to be remembird, whech tyme as my lord had wretyn his lettirs and sent his servauntes for the eyde and supporte of the seid Paston to take the profitez of the seid maner of Nakton as of the maner of Cotton, desyryng the tenauntes to the seid Paston, the seid Jenney wold have no consideracion therto; hough be it, though he were a feffe he had no titell to take the seid profitez, consideryng he is non executor, but presumptuously, havyng no consideracion to my lordis lettir ner sendyng, compellid the tenauntis by distresses to pay hym more besely thanne any feffe or executor, and now at this same tyme hath be at Nakton and reseyvid as moch mony as he coud gader there.

Item, where at Mighelmesse the yere passed the seid Paston sent his sone, a servaunt of my Lordis, and also Richard Calle, servaunt to the seid Paston put to hym by my Lordis fader,[63.1] to reseyve the profitez of the seid maner as thei had do many yeres before, the seid Jenney ded arest the seid Calle for a thef and as a thef caried hym to th’entent that the tenauntes shuld be discoraged to pay the seid Paston. Whech tyme, at the request of the said Calles kynred, it pleased my lord to write to the seid Jenney and Debenham for the deliverauns of the seid Calle; to which letteris they nouther toke hede nor reputation, but by that sotilte reseyved the profitez of the seid maner, the seid Paston havyng non help by my seid Lordis writyng nor sendyng.

Wherfore please my Lordis good lordship to supporte the seid Paston in kepyng of his right and possession till it be dispreved or knowe onlawfull, and the seid Paston will applye to such meanes as it pleasith my Lord to take wherby the right of the mater may be undirstond and determined.

And also that it like my lord to remembir that it is not behofefull for any prinse lightly to geve trust or to applye to the desires of any persones that have geve hym cause of mistrust.

[Footnote 62.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 182.] This petition must have
been drawn up at the end of 1462 or in the beginning of 1463,
which would be considered still 1462 in the old computation. It
must have been fully three years after Fastolf’s death, which took
place on the 5th November 1459, and the imprisonment of Richard
Calle in 1461 (_see_ No. 487) is referred to as having taken place
‘at Michaelmas the year past.’ The nobleman to whom the petition
is addressed seems to be the Duke of Suffolk.]

[Footnote 63.1: William de la Pole, the unfortunate Duke of
Suffolk, murdered in 1450. It is a piece of information which we
do not meet with elsewhere, that Richard Calle entered the service
of the Pastons by this duke’s recommendation.]

535

[JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON][64.1]

[Sidenote: 1463(?) / JAN. 14]

I recomand me to yow and have reseyvid your lettir, which causith me to write in the lettir that I send to yow, Daubeney and Richard Calle, certeyn articles touchyng the rewle of myn hows and myn livelode, as ye shall undirstand whanne ye see hem. Also, I send yow in the same lettir a bille of all the malt that remaynd at Mighelmes. I suppose ye have non such of it. Nevirthelesse it had be convenient it had be had amongis your servauntis and yow. Also I woll that ze warne both Daubeney and Richard Calle that thei disclose nat what malt I have, ne what I shall selle, ne that on marchant knowe nat what an other hath, for ther is gret spies leid her at London for ingrosers of malt to heyghne the prise; hough be it myne is not but of myn owne growyng and my tenauntis.

Also I lete zow wete, I faile mony here and must nedys have up mony at this tyme for sped of my maters, so that it may come up savely whanne James Gresham and other attornes come up at the begynnyng of this terme, with whom Richard Calle may come the same tyme. And peraventure some trusty carier . . . at this tyme; and with hym myght some mony come trussid in some fardell, not knowynge to the carier that it is no mony but some other clothe or vestement of silk or thyng of charge. Wherfore take avise of such as ye trust, and purvey that I may have up at this tyme j. c. _li._ of gold after the old coynage and xx_li._ in grotes.

Item, if I[65.1] myght have sur cariage, I wold have heder all the gylt plate that Richard Calle leyd up, he can tell wer and I trowe ye know also; and ij. potell pottis and a resting iron of silver (?) lyth at the same place, for it shuld[65.2] stand me in gret stoher if it mygth be do closly and suerly. Item, take trew men of yowr counsel.

Wret the morwe next after Sent Hillary.

Item leve a bill indorcid what ye take awey if ye take any.

Your own, &c.

[Footnote 64.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 183.] The MS. of this letter
is a rough draft in John Paston’s hand, and there can be no doubt
to whom it was addressed. As to the year in which it was written
there is no positive evidence; but Daubeney and Calle were both
with Margaret Paston in the beginning of 1463 (_see_ No. 536), and
the only thing against that date is that Margaret, writing to her
husband (then in London) on the 19th, acknowledges only a letter
of the 9th. This, however, might well be owing to the disturbed
state of the country, or it may be that the present letter, which
is only a draft, was not really despatched.]

[Footnote 65.1: ‘Item, I I,’ MS.]

[Footnote 65.2: ‘Shuld shul,’ MS.]

536

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[65.3]

_To my right worchepful hosbond, John Paston, be this letter deliveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1463 / JAN. 19]

Right worchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that I received a letter frome you on the Sonday[65.4] next after Twelfthe day, weche was sent be a prest of Seynt Gregorys paryche of Norwic; and wher as ye mervaylyd I sent you no wrytynggs of suche letters as ye sent me be for, I sent you a answer of the substauns of suche maters as ye have wretyn of me be for (be Playter), the weche he told me a sent hem to you to London. And as towchyng the erands that ye sent to me for to do to Richard Calle, I have do as ye command me to do, and callyd upon hym therfor, bothe be for your writyng and sithyn; he thar have non excuse for defaute of leyser, for he hathe be but ryght litill her syn ye departyd hens. He is owght at this tyme, and whan that he comythe home I shall make hym make yow a cler bylle of the receyt of your lyvelod, and Fastolf bothe; and I shale send yow a cler bylle of my receyts, and also of my payments owght thereof ageyn; and as for suche erands that shuld be do to Sir Thomas Howys, I have shewyd Richard Calle your writyng, and told hym your entent, as for suche thyngs as ye wold he shuld sey to hym on hys none heed. Also I have do your erands to my moder and to my cosyn Cler[66.1] after your writyng. Item, I have spoke to John Adam and to Playter of your entent of the last bylle that ye sent me, and they sey they wolle do after your entent as moche as they may, and ye shall have a answer therof in hast.

Item, Sir Robert Coniors dinid with me this day, and shuyd me a letter that came frome the Kyng to hym, desyryng hym that he shuld a wayt upon hys welle be lovyd broder the Duke of Suffolk, at Norwiche, on Monday next comyng, for to be at the alection of knyghts of the chyer [_shire_]; and he told me that every jentylman of Norffolk and Suffolk that arne of any repetacion hathe writyng from the Kyng in lyke wyse as he had. I felle hym be his seyyng that he ys right welle disposyd to you ward; he seythe ther shall no man make hym to be a geyns you in no mater. Skypwith shall telle you suche tydyngs as bethe in this contre, and of Thomas Gornay and of his man; hym self is clerk convicte, and hys man is hangyn; ye shall here her after what they and oder wer purposyd to a do to her master.

I thank you hertely of your writyng to me be for that John Paston came home, for God knowith I thowght right longe tyle I hard frome you; I shalle send word in writyng of suche tydings as we have her on Monday in hast. Daubeney deseyryht to wet what tyme that it please you that he shuld come ageyn to you.

My moder and many other folkys makyth moche of your son John, the elder, and right glad of hys comyng hom, and lekyth reght welle hys demenyng. Heydon[67.1] son hathe bor owght the syyd stowtly her this Critstemes, and whan that he rydyth, he hathe iiij. or v. men with hym in a clothyng; but he hathe but lytyl fafor in this contre but yf [_unless_] it be of the Bischop[67.2] and of the Prior of Norwic.[67.3] The seyd prior hathe grauntyd hym the stewerdchep that hys feder had . . . . . . . he hathe it under the Covent Seals, and Spylman,[67.4] his tutor, to lerne hym howe he shuld be demenyd . . . . . . . it is seyd abowght Bakynstorp that Herry Heydon shuld a seyd that it wer welle do that men of the . . . . . . shuld make redy her [_their_] bald batts[67.5] and her clot shon[67.6] and go feche hom her knygts of chyer [_shire_] . . . . . . . . Barney; and it is promysyd hym that he shall be met with be cause of hys langage . . . . . . . . . us a good world and a pesybyll. I shall purvey for all thyngs that ye have sent to me for, so that I ween ye shal be pleasyd. The blyssyd Trinite have you in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Wednysday next . . . . Seynt Agnet.

Your,

M. P.

[Footnote 65.3: [From Fenn, iv. 150.] This letter refers to a
coming election of knights of the shire, which seems to be for the
Parliament which met on the 29th April 1463. No other general
election of Edward IV.’s time will suit the date, and it is quite
certain that it was written during Edward’s reign.]

[Footnote 65.4: 9th January.]

[Footnote 66.1: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby.]

[Footnote 67.1: This must be Henry, son of John Heydon, Esq.,
Recorder of Norwich.--F.]

[Footnote 67.2: Walter Lyhert, Bishop from 1445 to 1472.--F.]

[Footnote 67.3: John Molet or Mowth, Prior from 1453 to 1471.--F.]

[Footnote 67.4: Henry Spilman, afterwards Recorder of Norwich; he
was the founder of the Spilmans of Narborough, by marrying Ela,
daughter and heir of William de Narborough.--F.]

[Footnote 67.5: _Bald batts_ seem to mean here ball bats, or bats
to play at ball with.--F.]

[Footnote 67.6: _Clot shon_, clouted shoes--shoes shod with thin
plates of iron.--F.]

537

ABSTRACT[67.7]

THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON

[Sidenote: 1463 / JAN.]

Please your maistership wete, that as for my Lord of Norwich cosyns deth, Thomas Gurneys man hath confessed that he slewe hym by commaundment of his maister, and confessed over that the same dager he slewe hym with, he kest it in a sege [_a jakes_] whiche is founden and taken up al to-bowyd [_bent together_], for he cowde not breke it, and in prison is bothe he and his maister.

. . . . . . . .

Also on Thursday next after Cristemasse was a man slayn, by whom no man woot, nor what he is that was slayn no man knowe, his face is so mangled.

[Footnote 67.7: These extracts are quoted by Fenn from a letter
now lost, in reference to what is said in the last letter about
Thomas Gurney and his man.]

538

RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[68.1]

_To my ryght reverent and wurschip[full] mayster, my Mayster John Paston in the Ynner Temple at London._

[Sidenote: 1463 / [FEB.]]

Plesith your goode maystrechip to witte that ther comen doune to the undrescheryff of Norwiche, a writte to a tache Mr. John P. the yongere, wherof I sende you a copy closed herin, but they woll not a reeste hym within Norwich; but I undrestande ther is comen an other writte to the undrescheryff of Norfolk bothe for hym and me, and for all thoo that ben indyghted. Wherfore I purpose me to ride to Hoonyng to the scheryff thys day, to undrestande how he is disposed, and to desire hym to shewe favour to your pore tenaunts; and as I feele hym disposed I schall send your maystreship answer.

And as for tidyngs here in this contre, we have noon but that ther be many Frenchemen upon the see and do moche answer upon the coosts. Mr. Yelver[ton] knew of the comyng up of the _teste_ within ij. dayes after they were goon, &c. My ryght reverent and wurschipful maystre, the blissed Trinite preserve and kepe and ferther you in all your maters.

Sir William Wyllugby whas at Risynge Castell, and yesterday he come home a yenne. On Tentale hathe entred in to a parte of Felbregge lyvelod, and a corte holden, and the tenaunts retorned. Item, as for the cort that Deben[ham] schuld holde at Calcot we here not of it.

Your pore servaunt and bedman, R. C.