Chapter III: Part 3

[Footnote 45-3: Osbert Berney, the other person here mentioned as
dead, was not killed at the siege. He survived, and died without
issue some years after, when he was buried in Bradeston Church in
Norfolk, there being a brass plate in the chancel having the
following inscription to his memory:--‘_Hic jacet Osbertus filius
Joh. Berney, Armig. de Redeham Dni. et de Brayston._’ He was the
son of John Berney, Esq., by Catherine, daughter of Osbert
Mundeford of Hockwell, Esq.--F.]

725

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[47-1]

[Sidenote: 1469 / SEPT. 15]

Moodr, uppon Saterday last was, Dawbeney and Bernay wer on lyve and mery, and I suppose ther com no man owt of the place to yow syn that tyme that cowde have asserteynyd to yow of ther dethys. And as towchyng the fyrsenesse of the Duke or of hys peple schewyd syn that tyme that Wryttel departyd, I trowe it was concludyd that trews and abstynence of werre scholde be hadd er he departyd, whych shalle dewr tyl Monday next comyng; and by that tyme I trow that trews shall be takyn tyll that day vij. nyght aftr, by whych tyme I hope of a goode dyreccion schall be hadde.

And wher as ye wryght to me that I scholde sewe for letteris from my Lordys of Clarans and Yorke, they be not her, and if they wrot to hym as they have don ij. tymes, I trow it wolde nat advayle; and as for to labor thois letteris and the rescu to gedre, they ben ij. sendry thyngys, for when the rescu is redy, that the cost ther of is don. For if I be drevyn therto to rescu it er they com ther that scholde do it, it shall cost a m^{l}. escuys, and as meche after, whyh wey wer harde for me to take, whyll that I maye do it otherwise; but as to sey that they schall be rescuyd if all the lands that I have in Ingelond and frendys maye do it, they shall, and God be frendly, and that as schertly as it may goodlely and wele be brout abut. And the grettest defawt erthly is mony and som frendys and neyborys to helpe; wherfor I beseche yow to sende me comfort with what money ye coude fynde the menys to get or chevysche uppon suerte sufficient, er uppon lyflod to be inmorgage er yit solde, and what peple by lyklyed yowr frendys and myn kowde make uppon a schort warnyng, and to send me worde in all the hast as it is needfull. But, moodre, I fele by yowr wryghtyng that ye deme in me I scholde not do my devyr withowt ye wrot to me som hevye tydyngs; and, modre, if I had nede to be qwykynyd with a letter in thys nede, I wer of my selfe to slawe [_too slow_] a felaw; but, moodre, I ensur yow that I have herde x. tymes werse tydyngs syn the assege by gan than any letter that ye wrot to me, and somtyme I have herde ryght goode tydyngs both. But thys I ensure yow that they that be within have no werse reste than I have, ner castyth mor jupperte; but whethyr I had goode tydyngys er ill, I take Gode to wittnesse that I have don my devoyr as I wolde be don for in case lyke, and schall doo tyll ther be an ende of it.

I have sent to the Kynge to Yorke, and to the Lordys, and hope to have ansswer from them by Wednysday at the ferthest, and after that answer shall I be rewlyd, and than send yow word, for tyll that tyme kan I take non dyreccion. And to encomfort yow, dy[s]peyre yow not for lak of vytayle ner of gonne powder, ner be natt to hevy ner to mery therfor; for and hevynesse or sorow wolde have be the remedy ther of, I knew nevyr mater in my lyfe that I kowde have ben so hevy or sory for, and with Goddys grace it schall be remedyed well inow; for by my trowthe I hadde lever lose the maner of Caister than the symplest mannys lyfe therin, if that may be hys saveacion. Wherfor I beseche yow to sende me worde wat mony and men ye thynke that I am lyke to get in that contre; for the hasty purchace of mony and men schall be the getyng and rescu of it, and the sauevacion of most mennys lyfys, if we take that weye.

Also thys daye I porpose to sende to Yorke to the Kyng for a thyng, whych same only maye by lyklyod be the savacion of all. Ye must remembre that the rescue of it is the last remedy of all, and how it is nat easy to get; and also ye sende me worde that I scholde nat kome hom withowt that I kome stronke. But if I had hadd on other stronge place in Norfolke to have comen to, thowe I have browt ryght fewe with me, I scholde, with Godds grace, have rescued it by thys tyme, er ellys he scholde have ben fayne to have besegyd bothe placys or yit, and the Duke had not kept Yarmoth owthe. But, mother, I beseche yow sende me som mony, for by my trowth I have but x_s._ I[49-1] wot not wher to have mor, and moreovyr I have ben x. tymes in lyke case or werse within thys x. wekys. I sent to Rychard Call for mony, but he sendyth me non.

I beseche yow to gyde the evydence that Pekok can tell yow of, and to se it saffe; for it is tolde me that Richard Call hath hadd right large langage of them. I wolde nat they com in hys fyngrys. I have no worde from yow of them, ner whether ye have yit in yowr kepyng the evydence of Est Bekham owt of hys handys, ner whethyr ye have sent to my manerys that they schold not paye hym no mor mony or not. Also that it like yow to geve credence to Robyn in other thyngs.

Wret the Fryday next after Holy Roode Day.

JOHN PASTON, K.

[Footnote 47-1: [From Fenn, iv. 386.] This letter was clearly
written in reply to the last.]

[Footnote 49-1: _I._ The right-hand copy in modern spelling reads
‘and.’]

726

WRITTILL TO THE BESIEGERS OF CAISTER[50-1]

_Sir John Hevyngham,[50-2] Th. Wyngfeld,[50-3] Gilbert Debenham,[50-4] Wil. Brandon,[50-5] and to everych of them severally in otheris absence._

[Sidenote: 1469 / [SEPT.]]

Hit is so that accordyng to such direccion as was mevid to be desird of my Lords beyng heer, as for such as heere bee they marveil gretly therof, thynkyng and remembring in themself that such offre as was made by my credence to my Lorde,[50-6] and to fore you reported, shuld have sownyd more to his pleasure and honour than this his desire. Nevirthelesse my Lords thenke where as they wrote and desirid joyntly that such credence as ye remembre myght be observyd and taken, and by you refusid, nowe yif they shuld assent to the desire of this direccion, hit is thought in them not so to doo; for it is so fortuned that dyvers of my Lords, from whome I brought both wrytyng and credence, be at the Kyngs high commaundement hastely departed unto his Highnesse, trustyng in God to have heeryng in brief tyme of their hasty ayen comyng, atte which tyme my Lords that heere be, and they that shal come ayen, shal comon and speke to gyder of this desire and direccion, and such answere as they geve and make shall be sent unto you than with haste possible. Ovir this, me thenkith for your excuse of burden and charge such as I hier will be leid unto you concernyng the grete werks that dailly be and ar at the maner of Castre, yif ye thenk that God shuld have pleasir, and also the Kyng oure sovereign Lorde, and that my seide Lords shuld thenk in you gode avise or sad, and that ye entendid to avoide the sheddyng of Cristyn blode and the destruccion of the Kyngs liege people, that at your politik labour and wisedome ye myght bryng my Lord to th’abstynence of warre, and a trieux to be had and contynued unto tyme of the retourn of my seid Lords, or els knowlege of their entent; certifieng you for trouth that ther be messengers sent unto my seid Lords with lettrez of such answere as I had of you to your desire to gyder, knowyng certeinly that ther shal be hasty relacion of ther entents in the premisis, which answers ye shall have atte ferthist by Monday cometh sevenyght. Ferthirmore lettyng you wit that I understond for certein that my Lords that be heere eschewe, for such inconveniense that myght fall, to conclude any answere by them self, consideryng that my credence was geven by all the Lords; prayng you, as shal be doon to the continuaunce of this trieux aforesaid, that I may be acerteyned, or yif at this houre ye coude yit thenk my credence resonable and honourable to be accepted and taken, sendith me woorde in wrytyng from you by my servant, brynger of this, al delaies leid aparte. For I acertein you, as he that owe you service, I was and yit am gretly blamed for my long tarying with you, for, dyvers of my Lords taried heere for me, by th’assent of al my Lords, lenger than they wold have don, to know myn answere and guydyng from you.

And ovir this I certyfie you that ye cannot make my Lords heere to thenk that yif ther be inconvenient or myshief, murdre, or manslauter had or done, but and your wills and entents were to the contrarye, my Lord is notid so well disposid that, with oute your grete abettement, he neither will doo nor assent to non such thyng; prayng you therfor, as your frende, to remembre wele your self, and so to rule you, as my Lords may have in tyme to come knowlege of your more sadd disposicion than as yit I feele they thenk in you. And how that my Lords note sum of you, James Hobert, beyng of my Lords counsel, can enforme you; wherefor for Godds sake remembr you, and delyver my servant, and yif ye thenk my first credence or this advertisement shal be taken to effect, than I pray you that my servaunt, brynger hereof, may have sure condyte to speke with John Paston, and to report to hym these direccions, and upon that to delyver hym a bill certifyng the same.

[Footnote 50-1: [From Fenn, iv. 404.] This letter is anonymous,
but was evidently written by Writtill during his negotiations for
a suspension of hostilities.]

[Footnote 50-2: Sir John Heveningham, Knight and Banneret, was a
descendant of an ancient family situated at the town of
Heveningham, in Suffolk. His son Thomas became owner of the estate
at Ketteringham, in Norfolk, where this family continued for
several generations.--F.]

[Footnote 50-3: Sir Thomas Wingfield was a younger son either of
Sir Robert or Sir John Wingfield of Letheringham, in Suffolk.--F.]

[Footnote 50-4: Sir Gilbert Debenham, Knight, was descended of an
ancient and knightly family in the county of Suffolk.--F.]

[Footnote 50-5: Sir William Brandon married Elizabeth, daughter of
Sir Robert Wingfield, and was ancestor to Charles Brandon,
afterwards Duke of Suffolk.--F.]

[Footnote 50-6: The Duke of Norfolk.]

727

WRITTILL TO THOMAS WINGFIELD[52-1]

[Sidenote: 1469]

Mr. Wyngfeld, I recomande me to you. Please you to wit I have sent a lettre joyntly to you and to al my Lordes[52-2] counsel; nevirtheles, for the special favor and service that I bere and owe to you, I write to you aparte, praying you to put your hasty devoir to the delyverans of my servaunt, with th’answere of the same; and ovir that for Goddis sake remember you hou that ye stond my Lordes nygh kynnesman, and by whom my Lordes wulle gretly be steerid, that ye eschewe and avoide to be non of those that my Lordes here thenk shuld set or cause my Lord to do thynges otherwise than accordith to the pleasir of my Lordes; for it is so that there be dyvers of my Lordes counsel stond in hevy report of my Lordes, of which I wold ye were non; certifieng you that I know so ferre that yif ye any thyng doo in this mater to the pleasir of my Lordes, it will neither be unremembrid ne unrecompensid, not doutyng but that hereafter to have a large thonk of you for this my counsel; praying you ferthermor to move Sir John Hevyngham, and such as ye knowe wele disposid, to assist you in this; and that this bille be kept secrete, as my trust is in you. Wreten at London.

[Footnote 52-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the letter
following are corrected drafts upon the same paper, and both
evidently written at the same time, and by the same writer, as the
last letter.]

[Footnote 52-2: The Duke of Norfolk’s.]

728

WRITTILL TO JOHN PASTON[53-1]

[Sidenote: 1469]

Mr. Paston, it is so that sith tyme I spake with you I sent you a bill which concludith an abstinence of werre to be had unto Fryday last was, trustyng in that season that by the menes of my Lordes heere a conclusion shal be taken; lettyng you wit that before my comyng hider certein of my Lordes were departid hens towards the Kyng northwards. And for asmich as I cannot in this season have no hasty answere of such lettrez as were sent unto them concernyng this mater, I have wretyn by the meanes of my Lordes heere I have wretyn a lettre to my Lordes counsell a lettre,[53-2] and amonges other thynges movid them in the seid lettre to advertise my Lord for abstynence of werre til Monday come sevenyght; and yif my Lordes and his counsell so agree, I have comaundid my servaunt, brynger hereof, to geve you knowlege of the same, avisyng you that contenuyng the seid seson to absteyne you from werre gevyng outward in like wise; and by that season I hope to have knowlege of my Lordes ententes.

[Footnote 53-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] _See_ preliminary note to
last letter.]

[Footnote 53-2: So in the MS., the redundant words being left
uncancelled.]

729

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[53-3]

_To John Paston, and to non othyr._

[Sidenote: 1469 / SEPT. 18]

I recomand me to yow, and promyse yow that I have and schall labore and fynde the meane that ye schall have honor of yowr delyng as ye have hyddr towards, as all Ingelond and every man reportythe; and moreover I am in weye for it by many dyverse weys, wherof ther schall be one exicutyd by thys day xiiij. nyght at the ferthest, and peraventur within vij. dayes. And iff ye maye kepe it so longe, I wold be gladde, and aftr that iff ye have nott from me other wryghtyng, that than ye do ther in for yowr saffgarde and yowr felaschep only, and to yowr worschypys; and as for the place, no force therfor. Ye knowe thys hande, therfor nedythe no mencion from whem it comythe; and more ovyr, they that be abut yow be in obloquy of all men, and mor ovyr they have ben wretyn to by alse speciall wryghtyng as myght be, after the worlde that now is, and promyse yow that the Dukes concell wolde that they had nevyr be gon it; and more ovyr they be chargyd in payne of ther lyvys, that thow they gate the place, they scholde not hurt on of yow. Ther is nowther ye ner none with yow, but and he knewe what is generally reportyd of hym, he or ye, and God fortewne yow wele, may thynke hym iiij. tymes better in reputacion of all folk than evyr he was. Be war whom ye make a concell to thys mater.

Also I lete yow wete that I am in moche mor comfort of yow than I maye wryght, and they that be about yow have cawse to be mor ferde than ye have; and also bewar of spendyng of yowr stuffe of qwarellys, powdr, and stone, so that if they assaut yow er we come, that ye have stuffe to dyffende yow of over, and than of my lyfe ye get no mor, and that your felaschyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your stuffe.

Wretyn the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Daye.

* * *

I trow, thow ye be not prevy ther to, ther is taken a trews new tyl thys day vij. nygh.

[Footnote 53-3: [From Fenn, iv. 394.] _See_ preliminary note to
No. 724.]

730

PASSPORT TO THE BESIEGED ON SURRENDER OF CAISTER[55-1]

_The Duc of Norffolk._

[Sidenote: 1469 / SEPT. 26]

Where John Paston, esquier, and other divers persones have, ageyn the peas, kepte the manoir of Caster with force, ageyne the wille and entent of us the Duc of Norffolk, to oure grete displeaser; whiche notwithstanding, at the contemplacion of the writing of the moost worshipfull and reverent Fader in God the Cardenall of England, and our moost trusty and entierly beloved Unkel the Archbisshop of Canterbury, the right noble Prince my Lord of Clarence, and other Lords of oure blood, and also at the grete labour and enstaunce of our moost dere and singler belovid wiffe, we be agreed that the seid John Paston and his seid fellaship, beyng in the seid maneur, shall depart and goo out of the seid maneur without delay, and make therof deliveraunce to suche persones as we will assigne, the seid fellaship havyng their lyves and goods, horsse, and harneys, and other goods beyng in the kepyng of the seid John Paston; except gonnes, crossebows, and quarells, and alle other hostelments, to the seid maneur annexed and belonginge. And to have xv. dayes respyte aftir their seid departing out, to goo in to what place shall like theim, without any accions or quarell to be taken or made by us, in our name to theim, or any of theim, within our fraunchise or without, duryng the seid tyme.

Yoven under our signet at Yermouth the xxvj. day of Septembr the ix^te yere of King Edward the iiij^th.

NORFF’. [LS]

[Footnote 55-1: [From Fenn, ii. 24.]]

[[_in the printed book, the letters “LS” (Locus Sigilli?) are shown
in a circle after the signature_]]

731

JOHN PASTON AND THE SURRENDER OF CAISTER[56-1]

_The Duc of Norff’._

[Sidenote: 1469 / SEPT. 26]

John, Duke of Norffolk, Erle Marshall of Sussex, Surrey, and of Nottingham, Marshall of Inglonde, Lorde Mowbray of Segreve, Bromfelde, and Yalle, to al our frendes, servauntes, and othir Crystyne people, gretyng. Wher John Paston, esquier, and othre diverse persones forseble hath kepte the manoir of Castre, contrary to our will and pleaser, and aftirwarde by his lowly labour and gret meanese to us maade, the seide John Paston hathe maade deliveraunce of the seide manoir to such persons as we have assignede, and he and his seide felouship by our lycence to departe out of the same. Wherefore we pray, wil, and charge you and everysche of you, that ye ne vexce, trouble, manase, ne greve the forseid persones, nor eny of them, for the kepyng of the seide manere contrary to the Kynge our Sovereynge Lordes lawyes, for we have takyne them in our safe garde. Yevin undir our signet and signmanuell the xxvj^ti day of Septembre, the ix^th yere of Kynge Edward iiij^t.

NORFF’. [LS]

[Footnote 56-1: [From a MS. in the College of Arms.] The original
of this document, signed and sealed by the Duke of Norfolk, is
inserted in the MS. volume called Brooke’s _Aspilogia_, vol. i. p.
35.]

[[_in the printed book, the letters “LS” (Locus Sigilli?) are shown
in a circle after the signature_]]

732

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[56-2]

Caystr yelded.--J. P.

[Sidenote: 1469 / [SEPT.]]

Ryght werchepfull sir, I recomand me on to yow. And as for the serteynte of the delyverance of Caster, John Chapman can tell yow how that we wer enforsyd therto, as wel as mysylf. As for John Chapman and his iij. felaws, I have purveyd that they be payid ache of them xl_s._, with the mony that they had of yow and Dawbeney; and that is inow for the seson that they have don yow servys. I pray yow geve them ther thank, for by my trowthe they have as well deservyd it as eny men that ever bare lyve; but as for mony, ye ned not to geve hem with owt ye wyll, for they be plesyd with ther wagys. Wryttyll promysyd me to send yow the serteynte of the apoyntement. We wer sor[57-1] lak of vetayl, gonepowdyr, menys herts, lak of suerte of rescwe, drevyn therto to take apoyntement.

If ye wyll that I come to yow, send me woord, and I shall pervey me for to tery with yow a ij. or iij. dayis. By my trowthe, the rewardyng of syche folkys as hathe ben with me dwryng the sege hathe putt me in gret danger for the monye. God preserve yow, and I pray yow be of good cher tyll I spek with yow, and I trust to God to ese your hert in some thynggys.

J. PASTON.

[Footnote 56-2: [From Fenn, iv. 410.]]

[Footnote 57-1: _sor._ So the word stands in Fenn, and ‘sore’ in
the copy in modern spelling; but I suspect a misreading of ‘for.’]

733

MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[57-2]

_To Sir John Paston, in hast. A matre._

[Sidenote: 1469 / SEPT. 23-30.]

I grete zow wele, and send zow Godds blyssyng and myn, letyng zow wete that me thynke be the letter that ze sent me be Robeyn, that ze thynke that I xuld wryte to zow fabyls and ymagynacyons; but I do not soo. I have wrytyn as yt have be enformed me, and wulle do. It was told me that bothe Daubeney and Berney wer dedee, but for serten Daubeney is dede, God asoyle hys sowle; wher of I am rythe sery, and yt had plesyd God that yt mythe abe other wysse.

Remembyr zow, ze have had ij. gret lossys withyne thys towylemonth, of hym and of Sir Thomas.[57-3] God wysyth [_visiteth_] zow as yt plesythe Hym in sundery wyses; He woole ze xuld know Hym, and serve Hym better than ze have do be for thys tyme, and than He wull send zow the mor grace to do wele in ale other thynggs. And for Godds love, remembyr yt rythe welle, and take yt pacyentely, and thanke God of Hys vysitacyon; and yf ony thyng have be a mysse ony other wyse than yt howte to have ben befor thys, owther in pryde or in laves expences, or in eny other thyng that have offendyd God, amend yt, and pray Hym of Hys grace and helpe, and entende welle to God, and to zour neybors; and thow zour poor heraftyr be to aquyte hem of her maleys, zet be mersyfulle to hem, and God xale send zow the mor grace to have your entente in other thynggs.

I remembyr thys clawsys, be cause of the last letter that ze sent me. I have sent to Hary Halman of Sporylle to helpe to gete as ze desyerd me, and he canne not gette passyd v. or viij. at the most, and zet yt wule not be but yf [_unless_] he cume that ze trust upon that xuld cume, for they long a parte to hym. And Ryschard Sharman hathe asayed on hys parte, and he cane not gette passyd v.; for thoo that long to us, thei long also to our adversarys, and they have be desyerd be them, and they woold nowte do for hem, and ther for they thynke to have magery of the toder parte.

As for the jantylman that ye desyerd me to speke with, I spake with hys wyfe, and sche told me he was not in thys cuntre, ner nowte woost wan he xuld be her; and as for the toder man, he hath bowthe [_bought_] hym a livery in Bromeholme Pryery, and have geve upe the woord [_world_], &c.

Item, as for mony, I kowde getee but x_li._ upon pledges, and that is spent for zour maters her, for payeng of zour men that wern at Caster, and other thynggs, and I woot not wer to gette non, nowther for suerte ner for pleggs; and as for myn owyn lyvelod, I am so sympely payed ther of that I fer me I xale be fayn to borow for my sylfe, or ell[es] to breke up howsold or bothe.

As for the zeddyng [_yielding_] of the place at Caster, I trowe Wretyll hathe told of the pawntements [_appointments_] how ytts delyvered. I woold that [it] had be so her [_ere_] thys tyme, and zan [_then_] ther xuld not a ben do so mykyle herte as ther is in dyverse weyes; for many of our welewyllers arn putte to loosse for our saks, and I fer me that [it] xale be long her yt be recumpensyd ageyn, and that xale cause other to do the lesse for vus her aftyr.

I woold ze xuld [send] zour brother woord, and sum other that ze truste, to see to zour owyn lyelod to sette yt in a rule, and to gader ther of that may be had in haste, and also of Sir John Fastolf lyoeld that may be gadyrd in pesybyle wyse. For as for Ryschard Calle, he wulle no mor gadyr yt but yf ze comaund hym, and he woold fayn make hys . . acowntte, and have zour good maystyr schepe, as ytts told me, and delyvere the evydens of Bekkeham, and alle other thynggs that longyth to zow, that he trustythe that ze wylle be hys good mayster heraftyr. And he sethe he wylle not take non newe master tyle ze refuse hys servyse.

Remembyr that zowr lyvelod may be set in soche a rule that ye may knowe how ytts, and wat is owyn to zow; for be my feythe I have holpyn as mysche as I may and mor, savyng my sylfe, and therfor take hede er yt be weers.

Thys letter was begune on Fryday was vij. nythe, and enddyd thys day nexte afftyr Mychylmes Day. God kepe zow, and yeve zow grace to do as wele as I woold ze dede; and I scharge zow be war that ze sette no lond to morgage, for if eny avyse zow ther to, they arn not zowr frendds. Be war be tymes myn avyse, &c. I trow yowr brother wyll geve zow tydyngs in haste.

[Footnote 57-2: [From Fenn, iv. 396.] This is written, as will be
seen, in reply to No. 725.]

[Footnote 57-3: Sir Thomas Howes.]

734

NOTE[59-1]

Inventory of household goods (including guns) left at Caister by Sir John Paston at the entry of my Lord of Norfolk.

[Footnote 59-1: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 201.]]

735

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[60-1]

_To my master, Sir John Paston, in Flett-Stret._

[Sidenote: 1469 / OCT. 5]

Ryght worchepfull sir, I recomand on to you, praying yow that ye wyll in all hast send me word how that ye wyll that Sir John Style, John Pampyng, W. Mylsent, Nycolas Mondonet, T. Tomson shall be rwlyd, and whedyr that they shall sek hem newe servysys or not; and Mathewe Bedford also, for he hathe be with me this seson, and is fro my modyr. And if so be that ye wyll have thes to abyde with yow, or eny of them, send word whyche that they be; for betwyx thys and Halowmas my modyr is agreyd that they shall have met and drynk of hyr for syche a serteyn wekly as my modyr and yu and I can acord when we met. Notwithstandyng, if ye kowd get Barney or eny of thes seyd folkys, whyche that ye wyll not kepe, eny servyse in the mene seson, it wer more worchep for yow then to put them from yow lyek masterles hondys [_hounds_]; for by my trowthe they ar as good menys bodys as eny leve, and specyally Sir John Stylle and John Pampyng. And I wer of power to kepe them and all thes befor rehersyd, by trowthe they shold never depert fro me whyll I leveyd.

If ye send me word that I shall come to yow to London for to comon with yow of eny mater, so God help me, I have neythyr mony to com up with, nor for to tery with yow when I am ther but if [_unless_] ye send me some; for by my trowthe thes werkys have causyd me to ley owt for yow bettyr then x. or xij_li._, besyd that money that I had of my modyr, whyche is abowt on viij_li._ God amend defowts; but this I warant yow, with out that it be Mathew, whyche ye sent woord by John Thressher that ye wold have to awayt on yow, ther is no man that was hyryd for the tyme of thys sege that wyll axe yow a peny.

Also I pray yow send downe acomandment to Stutvylle, or to some awdyter, to take acomptys of Dawbneys byllys; for hys executors ar sore callyd upon for to admynyster by the Byshop, or ellys he seythe that he wyle seqwester. Dawbeney set in hys dett that ye owt hym xij_li._ and x_s._ Whedyr it be so or nowt, hys byllys of hys owne hand wyll not lye, for he mad hys byllys clere or then the sege com abowt us.

As for the evydence of Bekham, my modyr sent to Calle for hem; and he sent hyr woord that he wold make hys acompts, and delyver the evydence and all to gedyr. My modyr hathe sent to hym ayen for hem thys day. If she sped, they shall be sent to yow in all hast, or ellys, and ye send for me, I shall bryng hem with me. Send my modyr and me word who ye wyll that have the rwyll of your lyvelod her in thys contre, and in what forme that it shall be delt with. I wyll not make me mastyrfast with my Lord of Norff., nor with non othyr, tyle I spek with yow; and ye thynk it be to be don, get me a mastyr.

Dell corteysly with the Qwen and that felawshep, and with Mastras Anne Hawte for Wappys,[61-1] tyll I spek with zow. Wretyn on Seynt Feythys Evyn.

J. PASTON.

By Sent George, I and my felawshep stand in fer of my Lord of Norff. men, for we be thret sore, not withstandyng the save gardys[61-2] that my felawshep have. As for me, I have non, nor non of your howsold men, nor non wyll have; it wer shame to take it.

[Footnote 60-1: [From Fenn, iv. 412.] This is a letter desiring
instructions about the garrison of Caister after its surrender.]

[Footnote 61-1: This expression ‘for Wappys’ I do not
understand.--F. Perhaps Wappys may be a proper name.]

[Footnote 61-2: _Save gardys._ This is printed ‘same gardys’ in
Fenn, but is evidently a misreading; in the right-hand copy the
word is ‘safeguards.’]

736

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[62-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston, be thys delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1469 / [OCT.]]

Ryght worchypfull Moodre, I comand me to yow, and beseche yow of yowr blyssyng and Gods. Thanke yow for yowr tendrenesse and helpe bothe to me, my brother, and servants.[62-2]

. . . . . . .

The Kynge is comyn to London, and ther came with hym, and roode ageyn hym, the Duke of Glowcestr, the Duke of Suffolke, the Erle of Aroundell, the Erle of Northumbreland, the Erle of Essex, the Lordes Harry and John of Bokyngham, the Lord Dakres, the Lorde Chambreleyn, the Lorde Montjoye, and many other Knyghtys and Sqwyers, the Meyr of London, xxij. Aldremen, in skarlett, and of the Crafftys men of the town to the nombre of CC., all in blewe. The Kynge come thorow Chepe, thowe it wer owt of hys weye, be cawse he wold not be seyn, and he was accompanyed in all peple with m^l. horsse, som harneysyd and som nat. My Lorde Archebysshop[62-3] com with hym from Yorke, and is at the Moor,[62-4] and my Lorde of Oxenfford roode to have mett the Kyng, and he is with my Lorde Archebysshop at the Moor, and come nat to town with the Kynge; some sey that they wer yesterdaye iij. myle to the Kyng wards from the Moor, and that the Kyng sent them a massangr that they scholde com when that he sent for them. I wot not what to suppose therin; the Kyng hymselffe hathe good langage of the Lords of Clarance, of Warwyk, and of my Lords of York [and] of Oxenford, seyng they be hys best frendys; but hys howselde men have other langage, so that what schall hastely falle I cannot seye.

My Lorde of Norffolke schall be her thys nyght. I schall sende yow mor when I knowe mor.

Item, iff Ebysham come not home with myn oncle W., that than ye sende me the ij. Frenshe bookys that he scholde have wretyn, that he may wryght them her,

JOHN PASTON, Kt.

[Footnote 62-1: [From Fenn, i. 292.] The allusion in an unprinted
passage in this letter to the approaching marriage of Richard
Calle with Margery Paston proves it to be of the year 1469. In
that year it appears by the dates of the privy seals that Edward
IV. remained during the whole of September in Yorkshire, having
been detained by Warwick at Middleham as a prisoner during the
month of August; but he was in London as early as the 13th
October.]

[Footnote 62-2: Here, according to Fenn, follow passages touching
‘an account of monies, debts, &c., a dispute with his uncle
William, and a desire to defer his sister Margery’s marriage with
Richard Calle till Christmas.’]

[Footnote 62-3: George Nevill, Archbishop of York.]

[Footnote 62-4: _See_ p. 20, Note 3.]

[[... that he may wryght them her,
_text has “be”: corrected from Fenn_]]

737

ABSTRACT[63-1]

[JOHN PASTON] TO [SIR JOHN PASTON]

[Sidenote: 1469]

Has reckoned with Maryot. Accounts of Bekham. Has not spoken with W. Bakton, but will before returning to Norwich. Means to visit Bekham on his way thither. Sends copy of the condition wherein ye be bound to John Maryot. As for Sir T. Mongomere’s man, etc.

Richard Calle says he has delivered to me all writings he had of you except an endenture for letting Saxthorp, which is but a jape. All but a rental of Snaylwell are but accounts, etc. He has delivered me four or five court rolls of Sir J. Fastolff’s lands, of his own hand. He has done reasonably well about showing me the arrears of your lifelode. ‘As for his abiding, it is in Blakborow nunnery, a little fro Lynn, and our unhappy sister’s also. And as for his service, there shall have no man have it before you, and ye will. I hear not speak of none other service, of no lord’s that he shall be in.’ Has not yet spoken with Daubney’s executors, but will on his way homewards. Sends copy of the inventory[63-2] he [John Paston] made on leaving Caister. Means to be at Sporle to-morrow or Thursday, to see what may be made of the wood, and who will give most for it. . . . . (_MS. mutilated at the bottom._)

[This letter is in the handwriting of John Paston, but the signature
is lost. It is quite certain that it was written in 1469 after the
surrender of Caister. Allusion is also made to the unpleasant
subject of the engagement of Richard Calle and Margery Paston, who
seem to have retired to Blackborough nunnery prior to their marriage.]

[Footnote 63-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 63-2: _See_ No. 734.]

738

ABSTRACT[64-1]

[Sidenote: 1469 / NOV. 6]

Indenture between Sir John Paston, of the one part, and Roger Townsende, gent., of the other part, containing covenants for the sale of the manor of Est Beckham, and of all Paston’s other lands in Est Bekham, West Bekham, Bodham, Sherryngham, Beeston near the Sea, Runeton, Shipden, Felbrigg, Aylmerton, Sustede, and Gresham, which the said Sir John had of the gift of John Mariet the elder of Est Bekham, for 100 marks, of which he has received already £54, leaving £12, 13_s._ 4_d._ to be paid by the said Roger at the Feast of St. Luke next coming. Dated 6th Nov. 9 Edw. IV.

_Seal, with inscription_, ‘Si Dieu vuet.’

[Footnote 64-1: [Add. Charter, 14,526, B.M.]]

739

ABSTRACT[64-2]

1469, 25 Nov. 9 Edw. IV. ‘In the priory of Saynt Marye Overy in Suthwarke.’ Acknowledgment (in English) by Will. Yelverton, Knt., Just. of K. B., of the receipt from Bishop Waynflete of £87, in full satisfaction of all claims on Sir J. Fastolf by Jaquet, Duchess of Bedford; solemnly promising also that he will not hereafter receive any sums, great or small, on account of Fastolf’s goods, debts, or possessions, without the assent of the Bishop, that he will at all times be ready to seal such grants, &c., as the Bishop may require to be sealed, and that he will not himself make or seal any grant, etc., without the Bishop’s will and agreement.

[Footnote 64-2: The following abstract is taken from Mr. Macray’s
Report on the MSS. in Magdalen College, Oxford.]

740

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[65-1]

_To Master Syr John Paston, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1469 / DEC.]

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to you, &c. It is so that thys day ther cam a good felaw to me, whyche may not be dyscoveryd, and let me wet that my Lord of Norff. consayll hathe this Crystmas gotyn the two wydows, whows husbands wer slayn at the sege of Caster, and have hem bowndyn in a gret some that they shall swe a peel ayenst me and syche as wer ther with me within the plase, and they be bownd also that they shall relese no man within the apell namyd tyll syche tyme as my Lord of Norff. wyll lycence them.

Item, the cawse is thys, as it is told me by dyvers, that ye meke no more swte to my Lord for yourself than ye do, and therfor they do the wors to me for your sake.

Item, as for my comyng up to London, so God help me, and I may chese, I com not ther, for _argent me fawlt_, without apell or an inkyr [_inquiry ?_] of som specyall mater of your cawse it. Item, I pray yow remembyr Caleys, for I am put out of wagys in thys contre.

Item, I pray yow send me some tydyngs how the world gothe _ad confortandum stomacum_.

Item, ye must purvey anewe atorny in thys contre. As for me, for our maters and clamore is to gret, and our purse and wytte to slendyr, but I wyle rubbe on as long as I maye bothe with myn owne, and other menys that wyle do for me tyll better pese be.

Wretyn thys Saturdaye, at Norwcyche.

J. P.

[Footnote 65-1: [From Fenn, iv. 416.] It appears by the contents
that this letter was written about Christmas after the siege of
Caister. An appeal of murder was a process sued by the nearest
relative of a person killed. It was quite independent of any
prosecution for murder by the Crown, and no royal pardon was of
any avail against it; but the appeal had to be brought within a
year and a day of the fact.]

[[... at Norwyche.
_text has “Norwcyche”: corrected from Fenn_]]

741

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[66-1]

[Sidenote: 1470 / MARCH 1]

Ryght worchepfull Syr, I recomand me to yow aftyr the old maner, sertyfyng yow that I have comonyd with my modyr for your coming hom, but I can not fynd by hyr that she wyll depert with eny sylvyr for your costis, for she and hyr cwrate[66-2] alegge mor poverte then ever wasse. Item, as for your clok at Harcortis it wyll be nye Estern er it be redy, for ther is stolyn owt of hys chaumbyr some of the ger that belongyd therto, and that must have leyser to be mad ayen. Item, the caryer forgat your byll behynd hym, but it was delyveryd all to gedyr, but it shall be browght yow and the wyndas with the teles by the next caryer, as myn orangys shall com to me I tryst. Dame Elyzabet Calthorp is a fayir lady and longyth for orangis, thow she be not with chyld. Item, I pray yow that ye wyll make aqwetance on to the person of Mawtby[66-3] and to John Seyne as executors to John Dawbeney, for they wyll take non admynystracyon of hys goodis tyll they be aqwetansyd of youre and my modyr. Ye maye do it well j nough, so God help me; for I wot well ye owt hym mony, and he nat yow, if so be that he wer trewe when he dyid, and I wot well we fond hym nevyr on trew in hys lyve; but hys frendys and othyr of the contre putt grett defawt in me that ther is no thyng don for hym, seying that he myght do no more for us but lose hys lyfe in your servyse and myn; and now he is half forgotyn among us. Wherfor I pray yow let thys be sped.

Item, as for Doctor Pykenham, J. Pampyng can tell yow he is not in Norwyche. When he comyth I shall spek with hym and send yow hys answer. Item, as for myn oncyll Wylliam, I have grant to have a byll of hym what every thyng lythe for; but all thyng is not yet in rest ayen that was remevyd for the chyrchyng of my Lady Anne. As sonne as I have the byll I shall send it yow and hys answer, whyche he wyll fyrst have plegyd owght, and also whethyr he purposyth to do as he seyd by my graundamys lond.

Item, Gefrey Spyrlyng hathe ofte spokyn to me to send to yow for to undyrstand how ye will deell with hym for hys place in Norwyche, for he seythe that he had lever have your good mastyrship ther in then eny othyr manys good lordshep; for and ye wyll be hys good mastyr he wyll swe no ferther, or ellys he must.

Item, a for (_sic_) for myn old reknyng, I shall make it up in hast and send it yow for your bettyr remembrance, for as me thynkyth by your wrytyng ye have nye forgetyn it; but I am rype j now in it for myn owne dyscharge. Item, I pray yow, take in to your a ward a short murry jornade[67-1] of myn whyche Jacobyn, Wykis woman, hathe lest that she be flyttyng and that it be exchetyd. Item, I pray yow send me swyr tydyngis of the world in hast.

As for the bysheop of Wynchestyr, W. Wyrceteyr told my modyr that he had takyn charge x. dayis or then Pampyng cam hom; but he wenyth that the bysshop wyll be a yenst yow, in so myche that [he[67-2]] avysyd my modyr to consell yow that ye sholl labor to my Lord Cardynall[67-3] that the seyd byshop shold not be amytted to take admynystracyon. No mor, &c. Wretyn at Norwyche the fyrst daye off Marche.

J. P.

I pray, get us a wyfe somwher, for _Melius est nubere in Domino quam urere_. (ca^o primo.)[67-4]

* * *

Noveritis universi per presentes me J. P. mylitem remisisse, &c. Roberto Cotteler personæ ecclesiæ de Mawtby in comitatu Norfolk et Johanni Seyne de Rollysby in eodem comitatu, executores testamenti et ultimæ voluntatis Johannis Dawbeney armygeri, nuper defuncti, omnimodas acciones, tam reales, &c. quos versus eundem Robertum sive Johannem Seyne habui, habeo, &c., racione alicujus debyti dicti Johannis Dawbeney, jam defuncti, mychi dicto J. Paston debite (_sic_) a principio mundi usque in diem, &c. In cujus, &c. Datum, &c.

As for the yer of the Kyng, let it be set in, but as for the daye and the monyth let it be owt, for the day must be aftyr probate of the wyll and the admynystracyon takyng. I pray you, let thys be sped in all hast possybyll; and as for your obligacyon and syche ger as belongyth to yow, I shalbe swyr of it er they have the aqwetance.

Item, as for owyr afrayis her, J. Pampyng can tell yow; but and they get me, ye loose a brodyr, _quod juratum est_.

It is good to do by the comandment of your mastyr whyll I am so well boryn owte; thys my lord of Norffolk galantis send me woord dayly _ad confortandum stomacum_. Ye must spek with your mastyr and comon some remedye hastyly, or be God I enswyr yow, whyll owyr Dwk is thus cherysheid with the kyng, ye nor I shall not have a man unbetyn or slayn in thys contre, nor our sylfe nowthyr, as well ye as I, _quod juratum est_ onys ayen. The Dwke, the Dwches and ther consell ar wrothe that ye make no meanys to them your sylfe.

Item, I send yow Townysendis endentwre by John Pampyng.

[Footnote 66-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 192.] This letter may be
dated 1470, by comparing the postscript with the beginning of No.
742, which seems to have been written in answer to it. John
Daubeney was killed at the siege of Caister in 1469. _See_ Nos.
725, 733.]

[Footnote 66-2: James Gloys.]

[Footnote 66-3: Robert Cutler or Cotteler. _See_ next page.]

[Footnote 67-1: Halliwell gives ‘jornet’ as ‘a kind of cloak’;
‘murrey’ was a dark red colour.]

[Footnote 67-2: Omitted in MS.]

[Footnote 67-3: Cardinal Bourchier.]

[Footnote 67-4: The reference is as inaccurate as the quotation.
The text referred to is 1 Cor. vii. 9: ‘Melius est enim nubere
quam uri.’]

742

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[68-1]

_To John Paston, Esquier, beyng at Norwyche, be thys letter delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1470 / MARCH]

I comande me to yow, letyng yow wete, &c.[68-2]

. . . . . . .

Item, as for Mestresse Kateryn Dudle, I have many tymes recomandyd yow to hyr, and she is noo thynge displeasyd with itt. She rekkythe not howe many gentylmen love hyr; she is full of love. I have betyn the mater for yow, your onknowleche, as I told hyr. She answerythe me, that sche woll noon thys ij. yer, and I beleve hyr; for I thynke sche hathe the lyffe that sche can holde hyr content with; I trowe she woll be a sore laboryng woman this ij. yer for mede of hyr sowle.

And Mestresse Gryseacresse is sure to Selenger, with my Lady of Exestre, a fowle losse.

Item, I praye yow speke with Harcort off the Abbeye, for a lytell clokke, whyche I sent hym by James Gressham to amend, and that ye woll get it off hym, and it be redy, and sende it me; and as for mony for hys labor, he hathe another cloke off myne, whyche Sir Thomas Lyndes, God have hys sowle! gave me; he may kepe that tyll I paye hym. Thys klok is my Lordys Archebysshopis, but late not hym wete off it, and that itt [be] easely caryed hyddre by yowr advyse.

Also as for orenges, I schall sende yow a serteyn by the next caryer. And as for tydynge the berer hereoff schall infforme yow; ye most geve credence to hym.

As for my goode spede, I hope well. I am offryd yit to have Mestresse Anne Haulte, and I schall have help i nowe, as some say.[69-1]

. . . . . . . .

Item, it is soo that I am halffe in purpose to com home with in a monythe her afftr, or abowt Med Lente, or beffor Esterne, ondyr yowr coreccon, iff so be that ye deme that [my] modre wolde helpe me to my costys, x. mark or ther abowt; I praye feele hyr dysposicion and sende me worde.

Item, I cannot tell yow what woll falle off the worlde, for the Kyng verrely is dysposyd to goo in to Lyncoln schyr, and men wot not what wyll falle ther off, ner ther afftre; they wene my Lorde off Norffolke shall[69-2] brynke x.^ml. men.

Item, ther is comen a newe litell Torke, whyche is a wele vysagyd felawe, off the age off xl. yere; and he is lower than Manuell by a hanffull, and lower then my lytell Tom by the schorderys, and mor lytell above hys pappe; and he hathe, as he seyde to the Kynge hymselffe, iij. or iiij. sonys, chyldre, iche one off hem as hyghe and asse lykly as the Kynge hymselffe; and he is leggyd ryght i now, and it is reportyd that hys pyntell is as long as hys legge.

Item, I praye yow schewe, or rede to my moodre suche thynges as ye thynke is for her to know, afftre yowr dyscression; and to late hyr undrestond off the article off the trete between Syr Wylliam Yelverton and me.

Item, my Lorde of Warwyk, as it is supposyd, schall goo with the Kynge in to Lyncolne schyre; some men seye that hys goyng shall doo goode, and som seye that it dothe harme.

I praye yow evyr have an eyghe to Caster, to knowe the rewle ther, and sende me worde, and whyther my wyse Lorde and my Lady be yit as sottyt [_? besotted_] uppon it as they were; and whether my seyd Lorde resortythe thyddre as offte as he dyd or nott; and off the dysposycion off the Contre.

J. P., K.

[Footnote 68-1: [From Fenn, ii. 28.] From the reference to the
King’s being about to go into Lincolnshire, and what is said of
the Earl of Warwick, it may be clearly inferred that this letter
was written on the outbreak of the insurrection of Sir Robert
Welles in the beginning of March 1470.]

[Footnote 68-2: Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of
bills and receipts, etc.]

[Footnote 69-1: Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of
some disputes between Sir William Yelverton and Sir John Paston,
his uncle William, etc., of no consequence.]

[Footnote 69-2: _shall._ This word is not in Fenn’s left-hand or
literal transcript, but is given as part of the text in the
right-hand copy.]

743

ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON[70-1]

_To my Cosyn, J. Paston._

[Sidenote: 1470 / MARCH 27]

The King camme to Grantham, and ther taried Thoresday all day; and ther was headed Sir Thomas Dalalaunde, and on John Neille, a greate capteyn; and upon the Monday next after that at Dancastr, and ther was headed Sir Robert Wellys, and a nothr greate capteyn; and than the King hadde warde that the Duk of Clarence and the Erle of Warwick was att Esterfeld [_Chesterfield_], xx. mile from Dancastre.

And upon the Tewesday att ix. of the bell, the King toke the feld, and mustered his people; and itt was seid that wer never seyn in Inglond so many goodly men, and so well arreiyed in a feld. And my Lord was whorsshupfully accompanyed, no lord ther so well; wherfor the King gaffe my Lord a greate thanke.

And than the Duk of Clarence and the Erle of Warwik harde that the King was comyng to them warde, in contynent they departed and wente to Manchestre in Lancasshire, hopyng to have hadde helpe and socour of the Lord Stanley, butt in conclucion ther they hadde litill favor, as itt was enformed the King, and so men sayn they wente westward, and sommen demen to London. And whan the King harde they wer departed and gon, he went to York, and came theder the Thoresday next aftr, and ther camme in to hym all the gentilmen of the shire; and uppon our Lady Day [he] made Percy Erle of Northumberland, and he that was Erle affore Markeys Muntakew. And [so][71-1] the King is purposed to come southwarde, God send hym god spede.

Writen the xxvij. day of March.

FOR TROWYTH.

[Footnote 70-1: [From Fenn, ii. 36.] This letter gives an account
of the suppression of the rebellion in Lincolnshire in 1470.]

[Footnote 71-1: This word is not in the text of Fenn’s literal
transcript, but it is given without brackets in the transcript in
modern spelling.]

744

ABSTRACT[71-2]

WILLIAM WORCESTER TO ----

[Sidenote: 1470]