Chapter IV: Part 4

Rex vi[ce]comitibus Norwici, salutem. Præcepimus vobis quod capiatis Johannem Paston juniorem, nuper de Norwico, armigerum, si inventus fuerit in balliva vestra, et eum salvo custodiatis, ita quod habeatis corpus ejus coram nobis a die Paschæ in unum mensem ubicunque tunc fuerimus in Anglia, ad respondendum nobis de quibusdam feloniis et transgressionibus unde in comitatu nostro Suffolchiæ indictatus est. Et si prædictus Johannes in balliva vestra inveniri non poterit, tunc ad duos comitatus in balliva vestra citra terminum prædictum proximo tenendos juxta formam statuti in hujusmodi casu provisi proclamari faciatis quod idem Johannes sit coram nobis ad præfatum terminum ad respondendum nobis de præmissis. Et habeatis ibi hoc breve. Teste Johanne Markham apud Westmonasterium, xxxjº die Januarii, anno regni nostri secundo.

CROXTON.

Rotulo xxvjº R. Per contr’ Anno secundo Regis Ed. iiij^ti r. xiij. Irrotulatur coram Rege de recordo, termino Hillarii anno secundo Regis Ed. iiij^ti, prout patet in rotulo infrascripto.[69.1]

[Footnote 68.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As the writ, of which a
copy is subjoined to this letter, is dated on the 31st January in
the second year of Edward IV. (1463), the letter itself must have
been written in February.]

[Footnote 69.1: This note is to imply that the writ is enrolled
among what are called the Records on the Coram Rege Roll of Hilary
term, 2 Edw. IV., rot. 26, a former writ against John Paston,
junior, being enrolled in the Controlment Roll, 2 Edw. IV., rot.
13.]

539

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[69.2]

[Sidenote: 1463 / FEB. or MARCH]

Please you to wet that Will. Jeney and Debham cam to Calcote on Wednysday before none, and ther they spake with Rysyng and John Smythe, and haskyd hem rent and ferme, and they seydyn they had payed you, and so they myght not paye hem. Also, ferthermore, they told hem that ye had hold a corte ther syn that they enteryd there. Than Jenney answerd ageyn ‘Be cause he held a corte here we mad hym hold corte at London, and so shall we make the to hold a corte at Ipysweche withowt thow wolt pay us the rent and ferme.’ ‘Sir,’ quod Rysyng, ‘I toke the ferme of my master and of Sir Thomas Howys.’ Jenney seyd, ‘And as for Sir Thomas, he and we schall acord well i nowe.’ And so they hahte seled up the berne dore and woll dryve a wey the catell bothe of the fermores and of the tenauntes, withowt the fermor and John Smythe woll fynd hem suerte to pay hem at Esterne, and Jenney and Debham woll [be] bownd ageyn to hem in a obligacion of xl_li._ to save hem harmelese ageyns you. And so as yet Rysyng standythe under award at Leystofte. So Rysyng hathe sent word to me that I shall knowe thys nyght or ellis to morowe what end they hathe mad.

Item, as towchyng the burges of Yermothe they wer chosyn on Wednysday. The Baly Wydwell ys on; and as for the todyr the Bischoppe sent to the towne for to have a man of hys owne, and so they be not acordyd yit of hym; en cas they may not acord, John Rus shall be the todyr.

Item, as towchyng Grene, a came not to Caster on Thursday, for he went to Norwich the same day, and so he is yet ther. Daubeney hathe spokyn with Watkyn Shypdam for to be at Beyton on Monday to kepe a corte ther; and so he woll be at Caster on Sonday and spek with you, for he seythe that Fastolfe[70.1] hathe mad a cleyme ther to; that is the cause he wolle comon and speke with you ther of hym selff.

Item, I can not, ner Daubeney nowther, fynd your wyght boke; it is not in the trussyng cofyr, ner in the sprucheste nothyr. Jon Walsham toke me a quayer, I suppose it lo[n]gythe to the same boke, that same I send you, and the byllis of Walcote with ale sealyd. Wretyn this day.

By your,

M. P.

_On the back are the following accounts, written, in a very careless
hand, by Richard Calle:_--

_Forene’ Recept’._

De Johanne Prentice de Castelaere ad festum Sanctæ Fidis per
manus vicarii de Sporle, lx_s._

De Roberto Wylley clerico post Nativitatem Domini, c_s._

De Willelmo Whyte, vigil’ Conversionis Sancti Pauli,
vj_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._

De Edmundo Wynter, mason, de Bermynghem circa Conversionem
Sancti Pauli, vj_s._ viij_d._

De Willelmo Elys de Wynterton ad Pascha, vj_s._ viij_d._

De Warino Herman ad Pascha, xiij_s._ iiij_d._

De Johanna Bakeney uxore Gerard, xiij_s._ iiij_d._

Item, de Johanne Russe.

Rec. de Willelmo Norwich et M. Johanne Smythe venditio jocalium
Johannis Berney de Redham pro tant’ denar’ pro me pro debito
ipsius Berney apud Redham solut’, xx_li._ xvj_s._

_Recept’ de Tesauro._

Inprimis, pro viagio Johannis Paston, Jun. cum Rege et aliis
causis (?) versus Annewyke de denariis receptis de debito
prioris Norwicensis, l_li._

Item, de auro remanente de Coppes in eadem baga, lx_s._

Item, de baga pecuniæ prestandæ eodem tempore, viij. marc’.

Item, de remanent’ in forcerio tesaur’ li’berat’[71.1] frater
meus Will’ Yelv’n, x_s._ iiij_d._

_Termino Michaelis._[71.2]

Item, de pecunia remanente cum Thoma Gresham apud London; termino
Michaelis xx_li._, termino Hillarij, xxxiij_s._ iiij_d._,
xxj_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._

Item, de tesauro London termino Michaelis, l. marc’,
termino Hillarij l. marc’, termino Paschæ l. marc’, c_li._

Item, de tesauro Norffolk cariat’ versus London termino Paschæ,
ultra xl_li._ remanens (_sic_) apud terminum Trinitatis,
xl. marc’.

[Footnote 69.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, though not
addressed, seems to have been written by Margaret Paston to her
husband. The election referred to must have been that for the
Parliament of 1463. From one expression used it is clear that it
was written some time before Easter, and the dispute with Jenney
and Debenham about Calcote proves the date to a certainty. Compare
Nos. 538 and 540.]

[Footnote 70.1: Thomas Fastolf of Cowhawe.]

[Footnote 71.1: The words ‘tesaur’ liberat’’ are interlined and
apparently intended to be inserted here. I must leave the grammar
of the sentence as it stands in the original. The word at the end,
which I believe stands for ‘Yelverton,’ is very ambiguous from the
careless writing.]

[Footnote 71.2: These words are inserted between the lines, but
whether they were intended for a heading is a little uncertain.]

540

ABSTRACT[71.3]

[JOHN PASTON] TO JOHN PAMPYNG, RICHARD CALLE, AND WILLIAM WYKES.

[Sidenote: 1463]

Remember my instructions about bills and actions against Debenham by my tenants at Calcote. Make a ‘remembrance apart’ of the ground on which every trespass has been committed, whether it be in my lands or in those of my tenants, and whether the land was holden of me by Calcote Hall fee, or Freton Hall fee, lest Debenham justify [on the plea that] he took them elsewhere. As my tenants at Cotton have been compelled to pay much money to Jenney and Debenham against their wills, I would, as I have told John Paston the younger, that he should ride to Cotton with Richard Calle and such friendship as he can get, and demand my duties, except from those who had been compelled to pay the others. The latter to take actions next term against Debenham. Will respite them for this once all they have paid, till it may be recovered by law; that is, provided they ask it: otherwise, will politicly put them in jeopardy of losing their farms. Desires Calle to make a roll of the tenants and when he comes to Cotton enter therein how much cattle has been distrained from each.

It appears by the last letter that a writ was issued, evidently at
the suit of Debenham, against John Paston, junior, and the other
agents of his father in Suffolk. From the present paper it would
seem that John Paston also instituted a prosecution on behalf of his
tenants against Debenham. We shall find by later letters that these
suits were going on in 1463, and were not terminated in the
beginning of the following year. The MS. from which the above
abstract has been made is a draft with a heading in John Paston’s
hand. On the back are notes of the Statutes of Westminster and of
Richard II. touching _scandalum magnatum_, etc.

[Footnote 71.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

541

RALPH LAMPET’S TESTIMONY[72.1]

[Sidenote: 1463 / MARCH 19]

To all tho to whom this present wrytyng shall come, Rauff Lampet, Squier, sendyth gretyng in our Lord. And forasmoch as it is meritory to bere witnesse of trought, and that I knowe and herd the disposicion and will of Ser John Fastolff, knyght, aftir the forme folowyng, and am requered to sey the trought, I record and testifie, and bere witnesse that Ser John Fastolff, knyght, abought the tyme of hervest was v. yere, that was the yere of our Lord M^{l}cccclvij. at Caster, fast by Mekyll Yarmouth, in the Shire of Norffolk, in presens of divers persones that tyme callid to by the seid Ser John, ded make estat and feffement and livery of seison of the maner of Caster aforeseid, and other maners, londs, and tenements in Norffolk to John Paston, Squier, and other. And at that livery of season thereof delivered, as well by the hands of the seid Ser John as be other, the seid Ser John Fastolff by his owne mouth declared his will and entent of that feffement and livery of season, mad to the use of the seid Ser John as for duryng his life only, and aftir his decese to the use of the seid John Paston and his heyrs. And also the seid Ser John seid and declared, that the seid John Paston was best frend, and helper, and supporter to the seid Ser John, and that it was his will that the seid John Paston shuld have and inherite the same maners, londs, and tenements, and other, aftir his decese, and ther to dwelle and abide, and kepe howsold, seying that he knew well that the disposicion of the seid Paston was to do good in the contry, and be non oppressor of the pore pepill. And the seid Ser John desired me, and Daune William Bokenham, that tyme Prior of Yarmouth, beynge presente, to record as he had seid to us. And this I record and witnesse for trought be the feyght that I owe to God and all Seynts. In witnesse wherof to this my writyng I have set to my seall and signe manuell the xix. day of March, the third yer of the reigne of Kyng Edward the Fourth.

R. LAMPET.

[Footnote 72.1: [Tanner MS., 106, f. 35 b.]]

542

ABSTRACT[73.1]

RAFF LAMPET TO HIS COUSIN DAUBENEY

[Sidenote: Date uncertain]

Reminds him that he spoke to him at Redham, in the church, about certain lands ‘which John of Berney bought of me,’ and for which there is still owing him 13s. 4d., and a rent of 6d. four years in arrear. Begs him to speak to Master Paston to get him the money.

We place this letter immediately after another document signed by
Ralph Lampet, the exact date being uncertain and immaterial. It is
probably, however, about this period, as it may be surmised to be
after the death of John Berney.

[Footnote 73.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

543

ABSTRACT[73.2]

[Sidenote: 1463 / APRIL 6]

Testimony of Sir Roger Chamberlain, witnessed by Reginald Tylneye, prior of Ixworth, and Sir John Rose [a brother of the house], that he was with the Duke of Norfolk in September before Sir John Fastolf died, when my Lord urged Fastolf to sell him the reversion of Caister, or (as he wished to give it to the Abbey of St. Benet’s) to exchange it for a manor of my Lord’s in South Walsham, which lay more convenient for the Abbey. Sir John, however, begged him not to press it, as he had appointed with his cousin, John Paston, to have Caister and all his other livelode in Norfolk and Suffolk in order to endow a college of seven priests and seven poor men. My Lord said, many thought Sir John would make Paston his heir; to which he replied that there was no man living that he would like better to be his heir, and begged my Lord to be his good lord if it so fortuned, which the Duke promised to do. Has heard the Duke since often acknowledge that Sir John had declared plainly he would make Paston his heir. Not having his own seal present, has sealed this with that of the prior of Ixworth, and requested him to put his seal to it besides. Ixworth, 6 April 1463.

[Footnote 73.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 280.]]

544

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[74.1]

_To my rytz wurchepfull mayster, Jon Paston, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1463 / MAY 6]

Ryt wurschipfull hosbond, I recommand me to zou, desyring hertyly to her of zour wellfar, praying zou to wete, that I [have] spoken with Strawngs wyf of the matter that ze spoken to me of; and sche seyth pleynly to me, be her feyth, that sche knew never non seche ne never herd of non scheche, and told to me in lyk wyse as sche had seyd to Jamys Gloys. And sche seyd to me if sche kowd inquier of any other that sche thinght xuld have knowleche of any seche, sche xuld wetyn of hem, and letyn me have knowleche therof; and if ze soppose that any other be in this contre that ye thync xuld have knowleche of this forseyd mater, yf ye wyll send me word ther of, I xall do my part ther in.

Also I have ben att Sweyngsthorp and spoken with Kokett, and he seyth that he woll don lyche as ye bad me that I xuld sey to hym for to don. And I have spokyn with the sexteyn, and seyd to hym as ye bad me that I xuld don, and he axid me ryt feythfully hw ye sped in zour materys.

I teld hym that ze haddyn fayr be hests, and I seyd I hopyd that ze xuld don rytz well therin; and he seyd that he supposyd that D.[75.1] wold don for zou; but he seyd he was no hasty laborer in non mater. He seyd be hys feyth he wost qher a man was that laboryd to hym for amater ryth along tym, and alwey he be hestyd that he wold labor itt effectualy, but qhyll he sewyd to hym that he kowd never have remedy of his mater; and than qhan he thowth that he xuld no remedy have to sew to hym, he spak with Fynys,[75.2] that is now Speker of the Parlment, and prayid hym that he wold don for hym in hys mater, and zaf hym areward; and withinne ryth short tym after his mater was sped. And the seyd sexteyn[75.3] and other folkys that ben yowr ryth wele willers have kownselyd me that I xuld kownsell zou to maken other menys than ye have made to other folks, that wold spede your materys better than they have don thatt ye have spoken to therof be for this tym. Sondery folks have seyd to me that they thynk veryly, but if [_unless_] ye have my Lord of Suffolks[75.4] godelorchyp, qhyll the werd [_world_] is as itt is, ye kan never leven in pese with owth ye have his godelordschep; therfor I pray that with all myn herth, that ye wyll don yowr part to have his godelordschep and his love in ese of all the materis that ye have to don, and in esyng of myn hert also; for be my trowth I am afferd ellys bothen of these materys the qhyche ye have in hand now, and of other that ben not don to yett, but if he wyl don for zou and be your godelord. I pray yow hertylye send me werd how ze don, and how ye speden in zour materys; and I pray you as for seche thyngs as Jamys hath a byll of, that I may have hem as hastyly as ze may; and that ze wyll vowchesave to bey apese of blak bukram for to lyn with a gown for me, I xuld bey me amurrey gown to gon in this somer, and leyn in the koler the satyn that ze zeve me for an hodde; and I kan gettyn non gode bokeram in this town to lyn it with. The Holy Trinyte have yow in His kepyng, and send zou helth and good spede in all yowr maters.

Wretyn att Norwyche, on ye Fryday nexst after Crowchemesse Day.[76.1]

Yours,

M. P.

[Footnote 74.1: [From Fenn, iv. 188.] Our reason for believing
this letter to have been written in the year 1463 will be seen in
a footnote.]

[Footnote 75.1: Possibly John Damme.]

[Footnote 75.2: This looks like a mistake, for no Speaker of the
name of Fynes is met with during this period. The expression,
however, suggests that the letter was written about the beginning
of a new Parliament, which could only have been that which met on
the 29th April 1463. On the following day the Commons elected John
Say as their Speaker, whose name Margaret Paston seems to have
confounded with the family name of William Fenys, Lord Say, the
trusty friend of Edward IV. who accompanied him into exile when he
fled from his kingdom in 1470. It does not appear, however, that
John Say, the Speaker, was related to that family.]

[Footnote 75.3: The Sacrist or Sexton of the Priory of Norwich was
the officer who had the care of Sacra, or Holy Things, as the
Church Plate, Copes, etc.; he was likewise Secretary, Auditor, and
Chancellor of the Convent, and had a Sub-sacrist or Deputy to
perform the servile parts of his office. In 1444 Brother Richard
de Walsham was appointed Sacrist.--F.]

[Footnote 75.4: John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.--F.]

[Footnote 76.1: Crouchmas Day, or the Invention of the Cross, was
on the 3rd of May.--F.]

545

[JAMES GRESHAM] TO JOHN PASTON[76.2]

_To mygth rigth good and speciall maister, John Paston, dwellyng at Heylesdon be syde Norwich._

[Sidenote: 1463 / JULY]

Rigth reverent, &c. Please your maisterchip wete that I resseived your letter whiche ye sent by Crome, and as for the examinacion of, &c. that I wrot to you of in my former letter to be taken on the Munday or on Tewysday, &c. this was the cause. Ye yaff me informacion at my last departyng fro you that the murdre was don uppon the day nexst after Seynt Petre. And for doute lesse ye had be ougth at the comyng of my seid letter, and for dowte that I supposed that my maistres, your wyf, had not be remembred of the day, it caused me, accordyng to your informacion, to wryte the uttermost day for her remembrans. Neverthelesse, if ye certifie that ye toke the examinacion with in the yere and day, and sette the day in certayn, your certificat is sufficiant in lawe and shall bynd any of the parties to sey the contrary. And also the writte is that ye schuld certefie _sine dilatione_, and no day expresly yoven you whan to certifie it; wherfor ye may kepe uncertefiet tyl the nexst terme. And so do sir, for it schal do no hurt; but if ony questions or jangelyng schuld be mad when the examinacion was, let a sufficiant day with inne the yere be noysed, and if the _teste_ be to schort we schal fynd the mene it schal be amendyd by hym that wrot it. For after the informacion that I had of Crome the Sunday was the uttermest day, and therefor it was happy that sche was examined thenne. And where that ye wold I schuld tak the advice of Maister Markham, &c., if all thyng were laufull, and elles not, it is full hard to my self to determine the certaynte of every circumstans of the mater, and it is not gretely to be comuned of with other, nor to comune of casez lyke; for whan the mater schuld come in revelysshon it wold cause prevy titlers and flaterers ougth of suche questions to ymagyn, and contryve mater of distourbans. Wherfor uppon the certeynte of myn determinacion I brak the mater to Master Markham, which called to hym Master Byngham, and so thei ij. meved Y.[77.1]; and after that mocion he kept not his owyn councell but brak to every man of it. Hou be it he was sore mevyd with it, I wote it well, and glad to take avyse and comfort of other personez than of Masters Markham and Byngham. Al circumstans were to long to wryte, but I hope to speke with you be tymes i nougth or ye schall nede to certefye, &c. And, sir, in conclucion, Masters Markham and Byngham thynk it sufficiant i nougth to take his promys and his othe with ougth obligacion that he schal mak amends if profe here after can be mad uppon hym. And to this Maister Markham prayed you to agre by the same token ye mevyd hym to sette an ende be twyx you and my masters your brethern. Neverthelesse if ye thynk this wey not sufficiant, ye may lete sum other handele the mater at hom to hym if that ye hope to gete good pref in the mater, for with ougth evydent proffe the mater schall be but noysefull to you, and cause men to thynk that it growyth of your ille wyll to hym ward, &c.; for he noyseth and seyth, because of ille wyll ye have caused a mad woman to take apell a yens hym.

Item, sir, as for Leukenore he is not at London, but peraventure I schal make hym to be meved in the mater here after.

Item, I dede your erand to my maister your son.

Item, as for John Say,[78.1] he recomendyth hym to you, bothe for your billes and for your labour, and prayeth you if ony land that lyth for the priour ease mygth be aspyed, that ye wold help to gete it hym and send hym word; and as for the morteysyng . . . . . . and at his cost and labour.

Item, as for tydyngs, the Kyng and the counsell is at Northampton,[78.2] and the Convocacion schall be . . . . . . . . . after Relyk Sunday. And ther be ij. marchaunts come fro Caleys, and they mygth no leve have to com[e] . . . . . . . . . schuld bere the Kyng certeyn lettres and juste tytyngs that sege is comyng to Caleys. And trew[s] . . . . . . . . [ou]re Lady Day, as I herd sey.

Item, it is talked that Duchemen and Englysshemen ben at contraversie with in . . . . . . .

[Footnote 76.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter seems to be
in James Gresham’s handwriting. It is evident that it was written
shortly after Midsummer. Rather more than a year and a day had
elapsed since a murder committed on the morrow of St. Peter’s Day
(_i.e._ on the 30th June), and it is mentioned that Convocation
was to sit some little time after Relic Sunday, which always falls
in the middle of July. Further, the King is said to be at
Northampton, which he was in July 1463, and no other year appears
to suit.]

[Footnote 77.1: Yelverton.]

[Footnote 78.1: Probably the Speaker of the Parliament of 1463,
whom Margaret Paston named Fynes in Letter 544. _See_ p. 75,
Note 2.]

[Footnote 78.2: According to the dates of the Privy Seals the King
was at Northampton from the 8th to the 28th July 1463; also on the
2nd May 1464.]

[[To mygth rigth good and speciall maister
_text has “gooa” (italic a for d)_]]

546

JAMES GRESHAM TO MARGARET PASTON[78.3]

_To my right wurshepfull mastres, my Mastres Margret Paston, at Caster._

[Sidenote: 1463]

Please it your good mastresship to wete that a _fieri facias_ is come out of the Exchequir for Hue Fen to the Shireff of Norffolk to make levy of CC. mark of the propir goods and catels of my masters, as executor of Sir John Fastolf; of whech _fieri facias_ we sent my master word, whech sent us word ayen by Berney that we shuld lete the Shiref undirstand that my master nevir toke upon hym as executor, and so for that cause that writte was no warant to take my masters goods; and also that my master mad a dede of gift of all his goods and catels to Master Prewet and Clement Paston and other, so that my master hath no goods whereof he shuld make levy of the forseid summe; and if the Shireff wold not take this for non answere, that thanne my master wold he shuld be lettid in Master Prowetts and Clement Pastons name. Nevirthelesse we spak with the Shireff this day, and lete hym undirstand the causes aforeseid, and he agreid, so that he myght have suerte to safe hym harmeles, to mak such retorne as my master or his counsell coud devise. And because my master wrote by Berney that he wold not fynd the Shireff no suerte, we wold not apoynt with hym in that wyse; and so we toke avyse of Thomas Grene, and by cause the Undir-Shireff shall be on Monday at Hygham, by Bastewyk brygg, and he and we thought that it was best that Master Prowet shuld mete with the Shireff there, and require and charge hym that by colour of the foreseid _fieri facias_ that he make no levy of any goods and catels of the seid Prowetts and Clement Pastons ayens the seid John Pastons, letyng hym vete that such goods as the seid Paston had, be now the seid Prowetts and Clement Pastons by vertu of a dede of gift mad to hem almost ij. yere agoo; and if the Shireff woll be besy aftir that to take any catell, that he be lettid in Master Prowetts name and Clement Pastons by Daubeney and other; whech besines of the Shireff shall be on Tuisday or Wednesday, and as we understand at Heylesdon. Wherfor ye must send thedir Daubeney with Pecok, and the may gete hym here more felasep by the avise of Master Sir John Paston.

JAMES GRESHAM.

[Footnote 78.3: [From Fenn, iv. 130.] John Paston’s eldest son
appears to have been knighted in the course of the year 1463. The
earliest notice which I find of him as knight is in a writ dated
11th July, 3 Edward IV., entered on the Coram Rege Roll of Trinity
term, 3 Edward IV. This letter is not unlikely to have been
written about that time, as it appears by a subsequent letter
(No. 550) that Sir John Paston remained for some time at home in
Norfolk, when the friends of the family thought he ought to be
abroad in the world.]

547

ABSTRACT[80.1]

[Sidenote: 1463 / AUG. 15]

Deed poll whereby Elizabeth, widow of John Vere, Earl of Oxford, Lady of the manor of Knapton, Norfolk, grants to Agnes, widow of William Paston, the right of removing obstructions in two watercourses belonging to the mill called Wodmyll in Bacton; the first of which watercourses flows out of Knapton Fen, and the second from the mill of the Abbot of St. Benet’s of Holme.

Stratford of the Bowe, 15th Aug. 1463, 3 Edward IV.

_Fine Seal._

[Footnote 80.1: [From Add. Charter 14,514, B.M., D. Turner’s
Coll.]]

548

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR[80.2]

_To oure right trusty and entierly welbelovid servaunt, John Paston, th’elder._

THE DUC OF NORFF.

[Sidenote: 1463 / AUG. 31]

Right trusty and entierly welbelovid servaunt, we grete you hertily well, and specially praying you that ye will be with us at Framlyngham on Sonday next comyng, that we may comon with you there, and have youre sadde advise in suche matiers as concernyth gretly to oure weel, whiche shall be mynestred unto you at youre comyng. Prayng you that ye fayle not herof, as our speciall trust is in you. And our Lord preserve you in His keping.

Written at Framlyngham the xxxj. day of August.

NORFF.

[Footnote 80.2: [From Fenn, iv. 250.] John Mowbray, Duke of
Norfolk, the writer of this letter, succeeded his father in the
dukedom in November 1461, being at the time only seventeen years
of age. A year afterwards, in November 1462, we find him living at
his castle of Holt in Denbighshire, where he proposed to spend
Christmas (_see_ No. 532), but before that season came he was sent
for by the King to serve against the Scots (No. 533). I am
inclined to think this letter was written in the August of 1463;
for although the Duke was again living at Holt in March following,
it seems probable that he would have visited his chief family seat
at Framlingham in the meanwhile. John Paston, the youngest, who
was attached to his household, was certainly at home with his
family in the latter part of this year (_see_ No. 560).]

549

THE ABBOT OF LANGLEY TO SIR JOHN PASTON[81.1]

_To the ryght worcheppful Sere John Paston, Knyght, be this delyvered._

[Sidenote: 1463 / SEPT. 4]

Ryght worchepful ser, and tendyrly belovyd in our Lord God, I comend me to you, sendyng you knowyng that I dede your erand to my brother, the persoon of Blofeeld, on Wednysdaye was sevenyght, after the undyrstandyng that I had of you and from you be this brynger; whech man I felte ryght wele and favorabelye dysposyd to you ward, and more favorable wole be than to ony other jentylman levand, the wylle of the dede performyd, and his conscyens savyd; and more thinges seyd favorabely for yow which I entytelyd in a scrowe to a’ certyfyed to your servaunt Calle, yf he had come, as ye sent me woord he sculd ado, and xuld, as ye behestyd me, abrowte me our ferme for Heylesdon, which not don, causeth me to wryte, prayng your jantylnesse that I send no more therfore, for it is unpayed for the zeer afore the Halwemesse that my Mayster Fastolf deyed, and for the same zer that he deyed in, and sythen for ij. zer, and v_s._ unpayed of a zer, and come Myhelmesse nexte xal be another zer unpayed. Thus is iiij. zer unpayed and v_s._, and at Myhelmesse next xal be v. zer and v_s._

This thus kepte from Holy Chirche that is Holy Chirchez good, may not be withoute grete parelle of soule; wher the parelle is God knoweth, I pray God amend it, and geve hem grace that have his goods so to dyspose them, that thei and the dede both may be oute of parelle. And the Trynyte have you in His mercyful kepyng. Wretyn at Langle, on Soneday, at evyn late, next after Seynt Johne Daye Decollacion.[81.2]

Be your welewylland,

ABBOT OF LANGELEYE.

[Footnote 81.1: [From Fenn, iv. 146.] The date of this letter is
clear, from the statement it contains as to the length of time
which has elapsed since the decease of Sir John Fastolf.]

[Footnote 81.2: The Decollation of St. John the Baptist was
observed on the 29th August.]

550

R. C. V. C. TO JOHN PASTON THE ELDEST[82.1]

_To my worcheppefull master, Master Paston the heldest._

[Sidenote: 1463(?)]

Ryth worchepfull master, I recommend me on to zowr masterchepe. And of on mater at reverens of God take hede, for in trowth I her meche talkyng therof, and that is both in Norffolk, Suffolk, and Norwyche, among halle men of worchepe, as welle that love zow as oder, and that is of my master, your son, Syr Jon, causse he is so at home, and no noderwyse set for. Summe sey that ze and he both stond howth of the Kyngs good gras, and summe sey that ze kepe hym at home for negard chepe, and wyll no thyng ware [_spend_] up on hym; and so heche man sey is avyse as it plese hem to talke. And I have hanqwerryd [_inquired_], and seyd the most cause is inparty for cause ze har so meche howte, that he is the rather at home for the save gard of the costs. But at the referens of God, excheuyng of common langage, se that he may worchepfull be set for, heyder in the Kyngs servyse, or in maryache; for as towchyng the Lady Chaberlen[82.2] that mater is don, for I spake with the parson therof, and I hard be hym that that mater wyll not pre [_proceed ?_].

No more, but God spede zow as well in all maters, as I wold ze xuld do, I be seche zow that this leter be kept secrete.

Be zow[r] bede man,

R. C. V. C.

[Footnote 82.1: [From Fenn, iv. 128.] In the preceding letter Sir
John Paston seems to have been at home; in Letter 552, we find
that he had left home without leave. It is very probable,
therefore, that the present letter was written in the interval
between them, seeing that the writer complains of Sir John being
kept at home.]

[Footnote 82.2: This Lady Chamberlayne was Anne, daughter and sole
heir of Sir Robert Herling, Knight, by Jane, daughter and heir of
John Gonvile, Esq. Her first husband was Sir William Chamberlayne,
Knight of the Garter, a renowned and valiant soldier, who died in
1462. She was at this time his widow, and inherited from her
father a very considerable fortune.

She afterwards married Sir Robert Wingfield, and after his decease
she became the wife of John, Lord Scroop of Bolton.

By the name of Lady Scroop she founded and endowed a Fellowship in
the College of Gonville and Caius at Cambridge, originally founded
by an ancestor of her Ladyship’s.

She was born in 1426, and was alive in 1502.

At the time this letter was written she must have been nearly
forty years old, when Sir John Paston could not have been much
above twenty.--F.]

[[College of Gonville and Caius
_editor’s error for “Gonville” alone (John Caius was born
in 1510)_]]

551

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[83.1]

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

[Sidenote: 1463 / NOV. 13]

Riht worchepfull husbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that I was at Norwic this wek to purvey suche thyngs as nedythe me ageyns thys wynter; and I was at my modder, and wille I was ther, ther cam in on Wrothe, a kynnysman of Elysabet Clers, and he sey your dowter, and preysyd hyr to my moder, and seyd that she was a goodly yong woman; and my moder prayd hym for to gett for hyr on good mariage yf he knewe any; and he seyd he knewe on shuld be of a CCC. mark be yer, the wyche is Sir John Cley son, that is Chamberleyn with my Lady of York,[83.2] and he ys of age of xviij. yer old. Zyf ye thynk it be for to be spok of, my moder thynkyth that it shuld be get for lesse mony nowe in thys world than it shuld be her after, owthyr that j. [_one_], or sum other good mariage.

Item, I spake with Master John Estgate for Pekerynes mater after your entent of the mater of the letter that ye sent home, and he seyd to me he shuld write to yow howe he had don ther in; and so he sent you a letter, the wyche was sent you be John Wodows[84.1] man with other letters.

As for answer [of] other mater, Daubeney tellythe me he wret to you. I be seche Alle myghty God have you in Hys kepyng. Wretyn at Caster, the Sonday next after Seynt Marteyne.

Be your

M. PASTON.

[Footnote 83.1: [From Fenn, iv. 88.] I have found no letters of
Margaret Paston dated from Caister before the year 1463; but I am
inclined to think that this and the letter following both belong
to that year. The latter, being addressed to Sir John Paston, at
least cannot be earlier, and my reasons for believing it to be of
that very year will be seen in the note to it (p. 84, Note 2). It
is just possible that this letter may be of a different date, but
considering that both were written in November, and both of them
certainly between the 12th and the 19th, and that in both Margaret
Paston not only dates from Caister, but speaks of Daubeney as
being with her, the presumption, I think, is pretty strong that
they are of the same year.]

[Footnote 83.2: Cecily, Duchess of York, widow of Richard
Plantagenet, Duke of York, and mother of Edward IV. She died in an
advanced age, at her castle of Berkhamstead, in May 1495, and was
buried near her husband, in the Choir of the Collegiate Church of
Fotheringhay, in Northamptonshire.--F.]

[Footnote 84.1: John Wodehouse, Esq. of Kimberley, son of the
renowned John Wodehouse, Esq., who gained so much honour at the
battle of Agincourt; he died in 1465, and lies buried in Kimberley
Chancel.--F.]

552

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[84.2]

_To my welbelovyd son, Sir John Paston, be this deliveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1463 / NOV. 15]

I gret yow welle, and send yow Godds blissyng and myn, latyng yow wet that I have receyved a letter from you, the wyche ye deliveryd to Master Roger at Lynne, wherby I conseyve that ye thynke ye ded not well that ye departyd hens withowt my knowlage. Wherfor I late yow wett I was ryght evyll payed with yow. Your fader thowght, and thynkyth yet, that I was asentyd to your departyng, and that hathe causyd me to have gret hevinesse. I hope he wolle be your good fader hereafter, yf ye demene you welle, and do as ye owe to do to hym; and I charge you upon my blyssyng that in any thyng towchyng your fader that shuld be hys worchep, profyte, or avayle, that ye do your devoyr and dylygent labor to the fortherans therin, as ye wulle have my good wille, and that shall cause your fader to be better fader to you.

It was told me ye sent hym a letter to London. What the entent therof was I wot not, but thowge he take it but lyghtly, I wold ye shuld not spar to write to hym ageyn as lowly as ye cane, besechyng hym to be your good fader; and send hym suche tydyngs as be in the contre thir ye bethe in, and that ye war [_beware_] of your expence bettyr and ye have be befor thys tyme, and be your owne purse berer, I trowe ye shall fyndyt most profytable to you.

I wold ye shuld send me word howghe ye doo, and howghe ye have schevyfte for yourself syn ye departyd hens, be som trosty man, and that your fader have no knowlage therof. I durste not late hym knowe of the laste letter that ye wrot to me, be cause he was so sor dyspleasyd with me at that tyme.

Item, I wold ye shuld speke with Wekis, and knowe hys dysposysion to Jane Walsham. She hathe seyd, syn he departyd hens, but [_unless_] she myght have hym, she wold never maryd, hyr hert ys sor set on hym; she told me that he seyd to hyr that ther was no woman in the world he lovyd so welle. I wold not he shuld jape hyr, for she menythe good feythe; and yf he wolle not have hyr, late me wete in hast, and I shall purvey for hyr in othyr wysse.

As for your harneys and ger that ye left here, it ys in Daubeneys kepyng; it was never remevyd syn your departyng, be cause that he had not the keyes. I trowe it shall apeyer [_get injured_], but if it be take hed hate [_unless it be taken heed at_, or _to_] be tymys. Your fader knowythe not wher it is.

I sent your grey hors to Ruston to the ferror, and he seythe he shull never be nowght to rood, nowthyr ryght good to plowe nor to carte; he seyth he was splayyd, and hys shulder rent from the body. I wot not what to do with hym.

Your grandam wold fayne here sum tydyngs from yow. It wer welle do that ye sent a letter to hyr howe ye do, as astely as ye may. And God have you in Hys kepyng, and make yow a good man, and zyf yow grace to do as well as I wold ye shuld do.

Wretyn at Caster, ye Tewisday next befor Seynt Edmund the Kynge.

Your moder,

M. PASTON.

I wold ye shuld make mech of the parson [of] Fylby, the berer herof, and make hym good cher yf ye may.

[Footnote 84.2: [From Fenn, iv. 168.] As Sir John Paston was
knighted in the year 1463, and his father died in May 1466, the
date of this letter must lie between the years 1463 and 1465.
I think the first of these years is probably the true date. Sir
John Paston, it seems, had left home without letting his mother
know of his intention. Whither had he gone? Not to London, because
he addressed a letter to his father there; besides he had passed
by Lynn. One would naturally suppose, therefore, that he had gone
to wait upon the King, at a time when Edward was at a distance
from the capital. And in this view we are confirmed by the passage
in which Margaret desires her son to speak with Wykes, who, as we
know by Letter 514, was an usher of the King’s Chamber. Now Edward
IV. was in Yorkshire, staying, for the most part, at Pomfret,
during October and November 1463, while about the same time of
year in 1464 he was at Reading, and in 1465 at Greenwich. Sir John
would naturally have passed through Lynn on his road to the
North.]

[[I conseyve that ye thynke
_text has “thar”: corrected from Fenn_]]

553

MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[86.1]

_To my ryth worchepfull husbond, Jon Paston, be thys lettyr delyveryd in haste._

[Sidenote: 1462-3 / DEC.]

Ryth worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to yow. Plesyth it yow to wet that Jon Jeney was here with me thys daye and told me that ye desyiryd that I shold do make a dyche at Heylysdon, and the seson is not for to do make no new dechys, nor to repare non old tyll it be aftyr Crystmas, as it is told me, and so I sent yow word in a lettyr more thane a monythe goo; I wot not whedyr ye had the lettyr or not, for I had non answer ther of fro yow. Jone Dyngayne recomandyth hyr to yow, and prayith yow for Goddys sake that ye wole be hyr good mastyr, and that ye wole wychesave to spek to Hwe of Fen for hyr, for it is so that serteyn lyvelod whyche hyr husbond had in Engham was cast in the kyngys hand in hyr husbandys lyve, and, as she undyrstandyth, it was do in hys fadyrys lyve; of the whyche hyr husband spok to Hwe of Fen ther of in hys lyve to helpe that he myth be dyschargyd ther of, and Hwe of Fen promysyd hym verily that he had mad an ende ther in and dyschargyd hym, and that he shold never be hurt nor trublyd ther for; and now the laste wek Barnard the undyr scheryfe sent downe a warant to sese the lond for the Kynge, and so, but [_unless_] he have xx_s._ for a fyne within shorte tyme he wol not suffyr her to have the avayle of the londys. Wher fore she prayith yow, for Goddys sak, that ye wole purvey a mene that Hwe of Fen may save hyr harmles, in as myche as he promysyd hyr husbond to purvey ther fore in hys lyve; and if it plese not yow to spek to hym ther of, that it plese yow to do John Paston or Thomas Playter or sume othyr, that ye thynk that cane undyrstande the mater, for to spek to the seyd Hwe of Fen ther of in hyr name, and to serge the kyngys bokys ther fore, if ye thynk that it be for to do, and sche woll ber the cost ther of. As for the mater that ze wold I schold spek to Wylliam Worcester of towchyng the false forgyd evydens, I can not spek with hym yet; hys wyfe seyth allwe that he is oute when that I send for hym. Yowyr fermore of Sweynysthorpe hathe fownde suerte for yowyr dute, as Rychard Calle tellyth me, so that ye scholl be plesyd when ye come home. And the blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on the Monday next aftyr Seynt Andrew.

By yowyr,

M. P.

[Footnote 86.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 198.] This letter must lie
between the years 1459, when Sir John Fastolf died (as Hellesden
belonged to him), and 1465, as John Paston died in May 1466. The
most probable year is either 1462 or 1463, for it is mentioned
here that Paston’s farmer at Swainsthorpe had found security for
the payment of his rent, and Richard Calle had levied four marks
rent of him in February 1464. _See_ No. 558.]

554

ABSTRACT[87.1]

[Sidenote: 1463 / DEC. 10]

Indenture, 10th Dec. 3 Edward IV., between Robert Wodlark, Provost of the College of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, Cambridge, and John Paston, Esq., witnessing a loan by Paston to the college of 100 marks till the octaves of St. Hilary, 1464 [_i.e._ 1464-5], upon certain plate.[87.2]

_Note below in a different hand:_-- ‘Memorandum quod Mr. Alexander Lye erit apud Norwicum in die Martis pro[ximo] post diem Carniprivii.’

[Footnote 87.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 87.2: The plate specified in this document is the same
as that contained in the _second_ list in No. 561, at p. 98.]

555

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[88.1]

_To my right worshipfull mayster, John Paston, at Castre, in Norfolk._

[Sidenote: 1464 / JAN. 26]

After due recomendacion hadde, please it your maistership to wytte that this day the plee by twene Ogan and yow was sore argued in the Kynggs Bench by your counsell, in lettyng of the jugement, and to morwe have they day to argue ageyn. And for lak of copies of the plee, I am fayn to sewe for newe copies therof for your counsell. Your counsell hopeth to do weel therin. These argued for yow, Maisters Grenefeld,[88.2] Catesby,[88.3] Pygot,[88.4] Notyngham,[88.5] and Starky,[88.6] &c. And yesterday was the matier by twene Debenham and yow called by Geney[88.7] for an answer. I have spoken onto Catesby, and delyvered hym your enfromacion, and to be advysed, and to commune with Maister Grenefeld, &c.

The two Chefe Juges[88.8] and Maister Lyttleton[88.9] arn awaytyng up on the Kyng, for the Kyng is purposed in to Gloucestreshire, &c.

It is seid that my Lord Chaunceller[89.1] shull be here on Saterday or on Moneday next comyng, as the maisteres of the Chauncerye sayn. I write to yow this by cause ye seid to me if ye wyst that my Lord Chaunceller shuld be here, thanne wolde ye come hidder, and ell[es] wolde ye not come here this terme.

As touchyng Rysyng, he hath his day, Utas[89.2] Purificationis, but I have that weye that his presence is recondet for al this terme.

Maister Clement[89.3] tellyth me that Wysseter hath put excepcion on to your wyttenesseres,[89.4] &c.

It is seid that the Kyng wold ride Sussex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk, and Norffolk, and so to the Parlement, for he hath sent for alle his feed men to awayte up on hym in their best aray in al hast.

Wretyn at London, the Thursday in the morwe after Seynt Poule.

Your owen poure man,

JAMS GRESHAM.

[Footnote 88.1: [From Fenn, iv. 156.] The date of this letter is
abundantly evident, first from the circumstance that the 26th of
January (the morrow of St. Paul) was a Thursday, and secondly,
from the mention of the King’s going into Gloucestershire. In
January 1464 Edward IV. was at Northampton, and on the 9th of
February he was at Gloucester.]

[Footnote 88.2: John Greenfield. He and the two next named were
made serjeants-at-law in November 1463.]

[Footnote 88.3: John Catesby. He was appointed Judge of the Common
Pleas in 1481.]

[Footnote 88.4: Richard Pygot.]

[Footnote 88.5: William Nottingham. He was appointed Chief Baron
of the Exchequer in 1479.]

[Footnote 88.6: Humphrey Starkey. He was made a serjeant in 1478.]

[Footnote 88.7: William Jenney was made a serjeant in 1463, and a
Justice of the King’s Bench in 1481.]

[Footnote 88.8: John Markham, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench,
and Robert Danby, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, both
appointed in 1461.]

[Footnote 88.9: Thomas Lyttelton, the famous lawyer, was created a
serjeant in 1453, and appointed a Judge of the Common Pleas in
1466. He died in 1481, aged seventy-nine, as Fenn here tells us in
a footnote; but Foss, in his _Judges of England_, says nothing of
his age.]

[Footnote 89.1: George Neville, now Bishop of Exeter, but soon
after the writing of this letter translated to York.]

[Footnote 89.2: The Utas or Octave of a feast is the seventh day
after it.]

[Footnote 89.3: Clement Paston, brother to John Paston.]

[Footnote 89.4: This relates to the disputes concerning Sir John
Fastolf’s will.]

[[on Saterday or on Moneday next
_text has “Saterday on on Moneday”: corrected from Fenn_]]

556

HENRY BERRY TO JOHN PASTON[89.5]

_To my Rygth worsschipful cosyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this Letter delyveryd, &c._

[Sidenote: 1464 / JAN. 28]

Ryght worsschypfull and reverent cosyn, I recomaunde me on to you wyth al myn hert, as your feythful kynnesman and oratour, desyrynge to here of the goode prosperite and welfare of your worsschipfull modyr my Lady and cosyn, wyth your wyff, Sir John Paston, your brethern Wylliam and Clement, with all your sonys and doughters, to whom I beseche you hertely that I may be recomaundyd. God of His hyghe mercy preserve you all un to Hys mercy and grace, and save you from all adversite.

Worsschipfull cosyn, my speciall writynge and hertys desire afore rehersyd, nature naturaly so me compellyth,

Watt thou I be putt fer ought of conceyte and syght,
I have you all in remembrance both day and nyght;

besechynge you, gentyll cosyn, to tender my writynge. I take God to my wyttnesse, I wold as fayn do that myght be un to your honor, worsschippe, and profit as any herthly man can thynke.

Worfor now late deyde the Abbot of our Monastery, and lefte us in grete ded [_debt_]; the brynger heroff is my speciall frende: the holdyst brother in our place never hard nor saw our chirche in that mysere that is now; we have cast the perellys amongys us, and there is nowne other helpe, butt every brother that hath any worsschipfull kynne or frendys, every man to do his part to the well fare, socour, and releve of our monasteri; therfor, worsschipfull cosyn, I, a brother of that worsschipfull monastery, wer inne begoon the feyth of all thys lond, mekely besechyth you in the reverence of Allmygty God to render help, and socour us in our grete necessite; for in London lyth to wedde many ryche jowells of ouris, with other grete detts, wych my brother wyll enforme you of.

Plesyth your goodnesse, for Godys sake, and all the Seyntts of evyn, and att my sympyll request, to have compassion upon us, ye havynge dooe swerte [_due surety_] both in obligacions and pleggs; in the reverens of All myghti God, do your allmesse and charite; hitt schall cause you to be prayed for, and all your kynne as long as the chirche stantt; and be this menys, I trust to All myghty God, to se my cosyn William, or Clement, to be stward of our londys, and so to have an intresse in Kentt, to the worsschippe of God and you all, wych ever have you in His kepynge. Amen.

Writyn at Caunterbiry in hast the xxviij^ti day of Januare.

Also I beseche you, schew the brynger of this letter sum humanite and worsschipe, that when he comyth home, he may reporte as he fyndeth.

[91.1][This is the cause every wele thi putt my kynne in my berd, seyinge, I am come of lordys, knygtes, and ladys. I wold they wer in your daunger a m^l. merke, that they mygte know you, &c.]

Be your cosyn and bedman,

HENRY BERRY.

[Footnote 89.5: [From Fenn, i. 278.] By the mention of Sir John
Paston it is evident that this letter was written after 1463, but
of course the date cannot be later than 1466, in which year John
Paston the father died, to whom the letter is addressed. It
appears also to have been written shortly after the death of James
Sevenoke, Abbot of St. Augustine’s, Canterbury, which Fenn, I know
not on what authority, says occurred in 1463. Even the new edition
of Dugdale does not give the date; but Fenn’s date is in all
probability right.]

[Footnote 91.1: This last paragraph is crossed out in the original
MS.]

557

CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON SENIOR[91.2]

_To hys rythe worchyfull broder, John Paston thelder, Sqwyer be this delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1464 / FEB. 15]