THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THORNTON & SON, Booksellers. THIS edition, published by arrangement with Messrs. ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COM- PANY, LIMITED, is strictly limited to 650 copies for Great Britain and America, of which only 600 sets are for sale, and are numbered i to 600. No. THE PASTON LETTERS A.D. I422-I5O9 THE PASTON LETTERS A.D. 1422-1509 NEW COMPLETE LIBRARY EDITION EDITED WITH NOTES AND AN INTRODUCTION JAMES GAIRDNER OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VOLUME II LONDON 22 EXETER CHATTO & WINDUS ^ JAMES G. COMMIN 1904 Edinburgh : T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty DA r THE PASTON LETTERS Early Documents BEFORE entering upon the correspondence of the Fasten family, in the reign of Henry vi., we have thought it well to give the reader a brief note of such deeds and charters of an earlier date as appear either to have been preserved in the family, or to have any bearing on its history. The following is a list of those we have been able to meet with either in the originals or in other quarters, such as Blomefield's History of Norfolk, where notices are given of several docu- ments, which appear now to have got into unknown hands. The documents seen by Blomefield, and those from the Paston and Dawson-Turner collections, now in the British Museum, were probably all at one time part of the Paston family muniments. The three Harleian charters seem to have been derived from a different source. A Deed is cited by Blomefield (Hist. Norf. vi. 480), by which Anselm, Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme, and the Convent there, gave to Osbern, the priest (said by Blomefield to have been a son of Griffin de Thwait, the founder of the Paston family), the land of St. Benet's of Paston (terram Sancti Benedicti de Paston}, in fee, for half the farm of one caruca, as his ancestors used to pay for the same. Also a Deed of William the Abbot (who lived in King Stephen's reign), granting to Richer de Pastun, son of Osbern, son of Griffin de Thwete, all the land that the Convent held in Pastun, with their men, and other pertinencies. Also a Deed of Covenant between Richer de Paston and Reginald the Abbot, and Convent of St. Benet's, Holme, that when peace should be settled in England, and pleas held in the Court of our Lord the King, the said Richer would, at the request and at the expense of the Abbot, give him every security in Court to release the lands in Pastun. * Ralph de Paston was son, as I take it' (says Blomefield) 'of this Richer, and appears to have had two sons, Richard and Nicholas. VOL. II. - A I THE PASTON LETTERS * Richard, son of Ralph de Paston, by his deed, sans date, granted to Geoffrey, son of Roger de Tweyt, lands in this town (Oxnead), paying <) Below this is written in Fenn's hand: * 14 Feb y 3 H. 7. 1487' a great misreading of the date. 8 NICHOLAS PRIOR OF BROMHOLM TO WILLIAM PASTON 1 A WiW Paston soil donne. JULY 5 TT^V ERE Syre and weel be loved, I grete yow weel, and do 1 yow to wetyn that Dawn John Pastone was atte Nor- ^-^ wiche on Munday last passed, and dede settyn on Cryste Chyrche gates divers litteres, a lytyl tyme, and ij. copiis wheche stondyn ther yet, for somounnyn me to the curt of Rome. And we supposyn to have hym at Bromholm, or sum man in hys name wyth inne a lytyl tyme ; for dawn Robert of Yorke was atte Norwich e be sendynge of my lady of Murlee, and spak wythe hym in hyre hous on Munday afornseyd, and ther he told the forseyd dawn Robert that he wolde nedys ben Priour of Bromholm, to levyn and deyin ther upon. Also he seyde, as for the composissioun of Bromholm, he hadde do sherchyd att Clunye ; and ther inne he standyth clere as he seythe ; and as for provisyoun, he seyde he hadde spokyn wyth the Chaunceler and the chef Justyse and Ascam, and thei demptyne hym clere as ther inne, and he seyth ; and other dowte is ther none inne be hys tale. And after this the forseyd dawn John askyd obedience of the forseyd dawne Robert in my ladyis presens, and dawn Robert seyde agayne he xulde noghte done that atte that tyme, but he badde hym provyn owt hys purpos as for the composissioun and provisioun to an hende, and than he wolde do hys dever to hym ; and thus he departyd. Where for, yif ony thing may be don whyl ye arn 1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. i.] This letter is evidently of the year 1425. Comp. No. io. 20 HENRY VI now atte Londone for oure helpe and his lettyng, gode Syre, 1425 helpythe atte this tyme if it maybe godely, we be seche yow. J ULY 5 Dawn Thomas of Cane was atte my lord of Norwiche for helpe in this matier, and he seyde he was inhibytyd and alle hys clerkes be the curt of Rome in this matier, and he seyde by yowre advys, yif it lyke yow, wryttes may ben taken agens hym, and that is best remedye ther inne ; j. [one] wrytte is ne ingrediatur manu forti. The Holy Trinite have yow in governaunce. Wretyn atte Bromholm the v. day of July, per NICH. PRIOREM DE BROMHOLM. 9 ABSTRACT 1 Bill witnessing a concord made 24 Sept. 4 Hen. vi. between John SEPT. 24 Kertelyng, clerk, general attorney to Sir John Fastolf, on the one part, and Richard Boson, Esq., on the other, viz. : That Fastolf shall have in fee-simple the manor of the said Richard in Castre called Bosons of the gift of the said Richard before Easter next, and that the said Richard shall have Fastolf 's manor in Titeleshale called Peekhalle, in fee-simple, of the gift of Fastolf, paying to Fastolf 60 within the next four years. IO WILLIAM PASTON TO 2 RIGHT worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recommaunde NOV ' 5 me to yow, and thank yow for the good, trew, and diligent labour ye have hadde for the matier betwen the Priour of Bromholme 3 and his commoigne 4 apostata, Johne 1 [From a Bodl. MS.] 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, being dated in November, was probably written before Nos. 1 1 and 1 2 which follow, though evidently very near them in point of date. The chief evidence of the time when they all must have been written will be seen in No. 12. 3 Who this Prior was we cannot say, the list of the Priors of Bromholm being very defective. Blomefield says, that a Prior John has been met with in the nth of Edward in., and Robert, in the i4th of Henry vi. that is to say, in 1435 or 1436, just ninety-nine years later. Nothing is known of the Priors between these dates, even by the latest editors of Dugdale. 4 ' Commoigne/ i.e. brother monk. The writer also calls him apostata, i.e. a monk who has run away and renounced his order. 21 THE PASTON LETTERS 1425 Wortes, that namythe hym self Paston, and affermith hym NOV - 5 untrewely to be my cousyn. [I have many pouere men of my kyn, but so fals, and so pouere, but he was nevere of my kyn.] 1 God defende that any of my saide kyn shuld be of swyche governaunce as he is of ! Maister John Ixworthe told me that he hadde lettres fro a frende of yowres in the courtt of Rome, that is of the seyd prioures counseill in this mater as ye be, whos name I knowe nought, specifyeng that the seyd John Wortes adversarius prioris desperat in causa et concordiam quaerit. It is told me sithen that the seyd John Wortes is in the cite of Rome, sacred a bysshop of Irland, videlicet episcopus Corcagensis, wherby it is seyd here that his pretense of his title to the priourie of Bromholme is adnulled, and voide in your lawe. The seyd John Wortes, and a contreman of myne in the seyd court, Maister John Urry, have sent me lettres, wherof I sende yow copies and a trewe instruccion of the seyd matier closed with this bille, the whiche lettres and the matier ther of me semyth mervaillous and straunge. A prest of Norffolk, that spak with yow in Julie or August last passed, told me that he yede with yow to the cardinales hous, Trikari- censis, 2 to espie if any swyche processe were sued ageyn me as the seyd lettres specifien, and that ye told the same prest at alle tymes ther was than no swiche processe sued, ne had ; the whiche relacion I trust and beleve bettre than the seyd lettres. I have, by advys of counseill, in makyng a procuracie ad agendum^ defendendum, provocandum, et appellandum to yow and the seyd Maister John Urry and the Wynsalaw (?) de Swysto ; and also a general appelle, the engrossyng of wyche the messager of this bill myght nought abide ; the whiche procuracie and appelle I shal sende to yowr persone, tantummodo [cum pecuniis], 3 with moneye onward, on trust. My will is, ye have the chief governaunce of this matier, and that this article be counseille [i.e., secret] ; wher upon I prey yow hertily to be saddely avysed in these matiers, and, as nede is, so to governe 1 These words occur in the draft, but are crossed out. * Thomas Brancaccio, Cardinal Bishop of Tricarico. He was made a cardinal by his uncle, Pope John xxni., and is said to have been a man of very bad morals. 3 Interlined, and afterwards erased. 22 HENRY VI hem by your wysdom, that the seyd prioures estat and honeste, 1425 and myn also, to yowr worshepe be saved ; and that, in alle NOV. 5 haste resonable, ye lyke to sende me redes lettres of alle the seyd matier, and the circumstances ther of, and who ye wil I be governed in this mater. I was nevere somouned, ne never hadde tydynges of this matier but by seyd lettres and other fleyng tales that I heve herd sithen, ne nevere hadde to do more with the seyd John Wortes than is specified in the seyd instruccion. Al myghty God have yow in His governaunce. Writen at London, the v. day of Novembre. Yowre frend unknowen. 1 A Instruccion and Information of the verray trewe matier betwen the Priour and the Covent of Bromholm and the seyd John and me, as I am enformed, and as I knowe toucbant my persone and the 2 . ista litera ^ IGHT worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recomaunde missa non J . ' fuit. rV to yow, preyeng yow to wite that I have resceyved yowr goodly lettres makyng mencion that Sir John Paston, 3 ut asserit, hath optyned me condempnyd to hym in CCC[vij.] 4 marcz and C.s. ; and that the same John, atte reverence of your right worthy persone, hathe cesed of his sute of certeins processes ageyns me up on the seyd condemp- nacion, takyng continuance 5 of the same matier unto Criste- masse next comyng ; by which lettres ye conseille' me to make ende with the seyd John, ne deterius inde contingat. I [s]end yow, closed with this bille, [the] 6 copie of un frendly lettre that the seyd John hathe sent to me late, touchant the same matier. The seyd priour hath sent also to yow, and to 1 Above these words, and in the place where the signature might have been expected, occur these names, one above another Thomas Abbas de Leyston, in Com' Suff. ' Ricardus Fremelyngham, concanonichus ibidem.' They do not, however, appear to be connected with the letter. The following words are also scrawled between this letter and the next : ' N. persona ecclesiae de Testerton in Com' Norff. Gees Cuttyng. Joh' persona ecclesiae de Vermuth (?), Alicia Gosloth(?).' a ^if. 3 The title ' Sir ' was at this time commonly prefixed to a priest's name. 4 The 'vij.' is struck out. 5 Contiauce, MS. here and after. 6 Struck out. 23 THE PASTON LETTERS 1425 Mayster William Swan, whiche longe hathe be his procurator, NOV. 5 a procuracie for my person, and v. marcz of moneye onward. Wher up, in the seyd prioures name, and in myn own also, I prey yow hertily to sette al these matieres in continuaunce un to yowr comyng in to Ingeland ; and because ye arn here beneficed, owr cuntreman, and of worshepe and cunnyng worthyly endowed, the seyd priour and his brether, and I also, willen gladdely in these matieres be treted by yow ; and if this mesure be accepted, and we may have knowyng here ther of, it shall cause the attemptacion of diverses matieres a geyn summe frendes of the seyd John to cese. And if this con- tinuance be refused, I prey yow, with al my power, that of your wysdom and good discrecion ye wille, in the seyd prioures name, and myn, defenden the seyd sutes, and alle other that the seyd Johne sueth ageyn the seyd priour and me, in your best maner, and to be of owr counseill in these matieres ; and as ye lyke resonablely to write to us, so we wil be governed in yowre rewarde, and al other circumstaunces of the same matieres. 1 I conceyve by your seyd lettres that the grece of the matier conteigned in the same ye have of the informacion and assercion of the seyd John, and as he hath enformed yow, I wot weel ye trewely writen ; but I hope and trust verrayly the matier of his informacion is untrewe [for he hathe no cause to swe to me, ne I was nevre somouned ne cited]. 2 The priour of Bromholm sued ageyn the seyd John and other in Ingeland a wryt of pr - corrected, relative to the Abbey of Bermondsey ; prefixed to which are the following words, in the same hand as the preceding letters : ' Sir, do writen ij. copies of this note in papier, wyde writen, and gete a copie of the writte in the Eschekyr ageyn.' The pleading referred to is in a different hand, and begins as follows : ' Et prsedictus abbas dicit quod ipse de praemissis domino Regi compotum reddere non debet ; quia dicit quod diu ante erectionem, fundationem sive erectionem prioratus de Bermundeseye qui nunc erectus est in prsedictam Abbatiam, Willielmus Rufus films Willelmi Conquestoris nuper Rex Anglise fuit seisitus d emanerio de Bermundeseye,' etc. I I JOHN PASTON ALIAS WORTES 1 Venerable* et discretes persones les courtesans demorans en hostel du 'Templebar en la cite de Londres, Mes treschiers et treshon- noures seigneurs et amis. TRESCHIERS et treshonnoures seigneurs et grans amis, 1426 toutte recommendation premise, plaisir vous soit de scavoir que je vous notifie et avertich pour le present que Wilhelmus Paston le Sargant est denuncies escommunies, que plus plainement poes perchevoir per Instrument que vous envoye. Et pour tant, mez treschiers seigneurs, que je disire moult le salut de votre ames et 1'onneur de cascun de vous, comme faire le doy, affin que vous u [ou] aucun de vous n'ayes aucune conversation u participation auvecquels le dit Wilhelmus, car il est aggreves a cloquettes sonans, et tant que pour faire cesser en touttes eglises leur il voldroit aler. Mais jou qui suy homme d'eglise et sur touttes choses desire et convoke 1'onneur et le bien dou Royaulme, car gy suy tenus, je ne envoye point pour le present les dittes aggravances, ne ossi voillans faire si grand mal que poroye jusquels a die que j'aray certaines 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] William Paston, who is here spoken of as a Serjeant, attained that degree in 1421, and was made Judge of the Common Pleas in 1429. But a closer approximation to the date of this letter may be made by comparing it with that which follows," which is certainly much about the same time. THE PASTON LETTERS 1426 novellas et responses comment li dis Wilhelmes se voldra ordonner en mes affaires, car nous avons en le loy que nuls os excumenies ne puet et ne doit estre admis devant juge quelcunque. Mes treschiers seigneurs, se aucune chose vo plaise que faire puisse, mande le me et le feray de bon cuer. E le sancte Dieuls qui vous ait tous et cascun de vous en sa sancte garde. Et osy, mes treschiers et treshonoures seigneurs, plaise vous scavoir que encelle meyme cause li dis Wilhelmes est redevaules et enquews envers moy, par sentence diffinitive que j'ay obtenu pour moy, en mille deuls cens et trente ducas, et que li dis Wilhelmes ne puet yestre jamays absols sy non qu'il soit d'acort auvecquels moy. Escript a en la ville de Bruges le xxiij 6 jour de Jenvier. JOHANNES PASTON, 1 en temps passe Priour de Broholm, et pour le present evesquels de Corkagen, le tout vostre. 12 WILLIAM PASTON TO WILLIAM WORSTED AND OTHERS 2 A mez treshonnoures Meistres WiWrn Worsteds^ John Longham, et Meistre Piers Shelton soit donne. MARCH i | % IGHT worthy and worshepefull sires and maistres, I recomand me to yow, and thank yow with al my herte, of the gret tendrenesse ye lyke to have of the salvacion of my symple honeste, preying yow evermore of your good continuance. I have, after the advys of your lettre, doon 1 William Paston, as appears by Nos. 12 and 14 following, disputed this writer's right to call himself Paston, and asserted that his real name was Wortes. It is curious that neither in the list of the Bishops of Cork, nor in that of the Priors of Bromholm, is the name either of Paston or Wortes to be met with. 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] About the year 1425 the question of the validity of the Duke of Gloucester's marriage with Jacqueline of Hainault was before the Court of Rome. This letter must have been written in the spring of the year following, when Parliament was sitting at Leicester. The original is slightly mutilated at the edge in one place. 26 HENRY VI dewely examyned the instrument by the wysest I coude fynde 1426 here, and in especial by on Maister Robert Button, 1 a courtezane MARCH l of the Court of Rome, the which is the chief and most chier man with my Lord of Gloucestre, and his matier in the said court for my lady, his wyff ; 2 and here aunswere is that al this processe, though it were in dede preceded as the instrument specifieth, is not suffisant in the lawe of Holy Cherche, and that hem semyth, by the sight of the instrument and by the defautes [that] ye espied in the same and other, and in maner by the knowelech of the notarie, that the processe, in gret part ther of, is fal[se and un]trewe. I have taken advys of Maister Robert Bruus, chauncellor with my Lord of Cantirbury, 3 and Maister Nicholl Billesdon, 4 cha[uncellor] of my Lord of Wyn- chestre, 5 and Maister John Blodwelle, 6 a weel lerned man holden, and a suffisant courtezan of the seyd court, and all these acorden to the seyd Maister Robert Sutton. Nought with stondyng that I herde nevere of this matier no maner lykly ne credible evidence unto that I sey your lettre and the instrument, yet I made an appell and a procuracie, and also a provocacion, at London, longe biforn Cristemasse, by the a[dvys] of Maister David Aprys, Maister Symond Kempston, and Maister James Cole, and sent al this, with an instruccion of al the matier, w[ith] my procuratours to Rome by your frere, my Maister Suppriour, and geff hym gold that he was content : and, overmore, nowe here by advys I make this day a newe appelle and a newe procuracion, and upon this alle the seyd worthy men here seyn and informe me pleynly I have no maner cause in lawe ne in conscience to drede aught in this matier. Myn adversarie 7 is become Bysshop of Cork in Irland, and ther arn ij. other persones provided to the same bysshopriche yet Jyvyng, beforn my seyd adversarie ; and by 1 Prebendary of Lincoln, 1435-9. Died 1439. 8 Jacqueline of Hainault, whom Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, married, pretend- ing that her former marriage with John, Duke of Brabant, was void by consanguinity. The question which of the two marriages was valid was at this time before the Pope. 3 Archbishop Chicheley. 4 Dean of Salisbury, 1435-41. Died 1441. 5 Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards Cardinal. 6 LL.D. Prebendary of Hereford about 1433, and of Lichfield 1432-43. 7 John Paston or Wortes, the writer of the preceding letter. 27 THE PASTON LETTERS 1426 this acceptacion of this bysshopriche, he hath pryved hym self MARCH i of the title that he claymed in Bromholm, and so adnulled the ground of his processe ageyn me, and also the tyme of his grevaunce pretendid, and the tyme of his sute he was apostata> and I trowe is yet, and so unable to sue any swich processe. I purpose me to come homward be London, to lerne more in this matier, if I may. I prey the Holy Trinite, lord of your cherche and of alle the werld, delyvere me of my iij. adversaries, of this cursed bysshop for Bromholm, Aslak for Sprouston, 1 and Julian Herberd for Thornham. I have nought trespassed ageyn noon of these iij., God knowing, and yet I am foule and noysyngly vexed with hem, to my gret unease, and al for my lordes and frendes matieres, and nought for myn owyn. I wot not whether it were best in any sermon or other audience, in your cherche or elles where, to declare aught of this matier in stoppyng of the noyse that renneth in this case. I submitte me and alle this matier to your good discrecion ; and evere gremercy God, and ye, who ever have yow and me in His gracious governance. I suppose to see yow on Palm Sunday. Writen at Leycestre, the Friday the thredde wyke of Lente. Alle the seyd lerned men telle me trewely ther is nother perill ne doubte in the takyng doun of the instrument and the bille to no creature. Which instrument and bille I send yow ageyn by the berare of this, which I prey you to kepe as pryve as ye may. Yowr man, W. PASTON. I have preyed my Maister Hammond to write yow tydyngges, and smale (?) lesynges among. 1 A lordship in Sprouston was acquired by John Aslake of Bromholm in 14 Richard n., and seems to have continued some time in that family. Blomefield notes that a Walter Aslake, Esq. of Sprouston, had a protection in the loth of Henry vr., being in France in the retinue of John, Duke of Bedford (Blomefield's Norfolk, x. 462). Probably this was the same Walter Aslak mentioned in No. 6 preceding. See p. 1 8. 28 HENRY VI 1426 13 ABSTRACTS * 1 I ) Capias against William Stayard of Great Yarmouth, late lieutenant of Thomas Chaucer, 2 chief butler of Henry v., for debts to the Crown. (2) Release by William Steyard of Great Yarmouth, to Elizabeth, widow of John Rothenhale, Knight, of all personal actions against her as her husband's executor. 7 April, 4 Hen. vi. 14 ABSTRACT 3 JOHN PASTON alias WORTHS. i. Draft writ to the Sheriff of Norwich to attach and bring before the Council DEC. I John Paston alias Wortes and others for violation of the statutes of Provisors 25 Edw. in. and 16 Ric. 11., on the complaint of John Brundale, prior of Bromholm that although he, Brundale, was canonically elected prior, the said Paston or Wortes had crossed the sea without royal license, obtained a provision of the said priory in the Court of Rome, and got himself installed as prior, and the other expelled. Also the said John Paston or Wortes, and John Gees, a Carmelite friar of Norwich, Edmund Alderford, late of Norwich, clerk, Earth, Waryn, parson of Trunche, William Cuttyng of Worsted, clerk, John Gees of Crowemer, merchant, and Ralph Gunton of Norwich, scrivener, received the said instruments at Bakton, and put them into execution. Dated i Dec. ii. On the back of the preceding is another draft writ of the same date against the same parties for endeavouring to draw the prior out of the kingdom by a suit in the Court of Rome. The paper is endorsed * S. (?) Billae vis. Veneris prox. post diem ante- dictum (?) Anno H. vj. v to , et non necessario festinant'. Iterum super- videndum.' Endorsed in a later hand ' Towchynge Sir John Fastolffes landes in Norffolk and Surrye.' 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 8 He is believed to have been son of Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous poet, and his daughter Alice married William De la Pole, at this time Earl, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk. 3 [From a Bodl. MS.] 2 9 THE PASTON LETTERS ABSTRACT > TO WILLIAM PASTON. 1426 (?) 'Dear and well-beloved Cousin.' Is in good health, but ill at ease, being informed that she is in debt to Steyard for my lord's debt, whose soul God assoil, ^7 and a pipe of wine. Knew nothing of it in my lord's life, except of 2 pipes for herself, and one for her mother-in-law, of which she has paid 2Os. Since my Lord's death, Steyard has never asked her for it. For which time, as I was at Jernemouth abiding in the Frere Carmes the time of the pestilence, his wife came unto me,' asking the writer to be good lady to him ; and he asked no more then than the above 3 pipes. He asked no more last harvest when he was sick and like to die, when John of Berneye was present. Thinks, there- fore, his asking is untrue. My Lord would have made me or some of his council privy to such a debt. Hopes Paston, whom my Lord made one of his feoffees, will see ' that ye and I be discharged anemps the King as for the debt of Steyard.' Dated Castre, the day after the Conversion of St. Paul. Addressed, * A mon tres cher et bien ame cousin, Will'm Paston soit donne.' [This letter is endorsed in another hand, ' W. Paston, j. feoffatorum et executorum Johannis Rothnale per lit' Cz.(?) ' It seems, therefore, to have been written by the Lady Elizabeth, widow of Sir John Rothenhale, whose name occurs in No. 8 in connection with William Steyard of Great Yarmouth. She was the daughter of Sir Philip Branch, Kt., and had been previously married to John Clere of Ormesby. She died at Caister, the place from which this letter is dated, in 1440; and by her will, which was dated at Caister, i6th October 1438, she bequeathed all her goods at Ormesby to her son Robert Clere, and all her goods at Horning Hall, in Caister, to her son Edmund. See Blomefield's Norfolk, iv. 35, vi. 392, xi. 210.] 16 ABSTRACT 2 1426-7 Depositions on the day of , 5 Hen. vi., by Richard Wyoth, executor of Margery, daughter and heir of Edmund Bakon, touching the manor of Gressam which Bakon purchased, temp. Edw HI. After the death of two brothers, Margery became sole possessor, and gave it to Wyoth and other executors to perform her will, with proviso that Philip Vache and Eliz., his wife, should have it during their lives, but that the reversion of it should be 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] z Ibid. 30 HENRY VI sold, giving William, son of Robert Moleyns, the first option of purchase. 1426-7 It was accordingly offered to him, but he refused to buy. On the death of said Eliz., however, he bought the manor for 420 marks, and held it two years, when Wyoth re-entered because part of the purchase-money was unpaid. W. Moleyns's wife, however, induced him to accept security from Thos. Fawkoner, merchant of London, whose daughter the said William agreed that his son should marry, when he came of age ; and it was arranged that meanwhile Fawkoner and Wyoth should be jointly enfeoffed of the manor, which was to be given in jointure, if the marriage took effect. The marriage did not take effect, and Fawkoner re-entered upon the manor according to the enfeoffment, but paid Wyoth nothing, till Thos. Chawsers, 1 Esq., a kinsman of the said Margery, made him understand that Wyoth might enter on his own portion, and had even a prior right to himself. At length Fawkoner sold his right to Chaucers and Wyoth, and released the manor on security for the payment. Wyoth then said he should have little advantage by the bargain, except in having easy days of payment ; * et quod dictus Thomas Chaucers, pro bona voluntate quod (sic) erga dictum Willelmum Paston gessit, episcopum Londoni de emptione ejusdem manerii per longum tempus dilatavit, intentione ut idem Willelmus illud emeret si voluerit.' ABSTRACT 2 RAUF, Parson of Cressyngham, to WILLIAM PASTON, Justice. Is he to deliver to John Halleman Paston's evidences belonging to the 1427-43 manor of Wodhalle in Pagrave, and under what form ? Hopes to see him at Norwich, on Tuesday or Wednesday after Michaelmas-day. Cressingham, 20 Sept. On the back are written, in William Paston's hand, some notes of a case touching ' F rater Kensale.' [Ralph Wolman alias Harple was incumbent of Cressingham from 1427 to 1460; but this letter could not have been written later than 1443, as William Paston died in August of the following year.] 18 ABSTRACT 3 Mutilated Letter in French, from JOHN VAux,'Parson of Edythorp, to - . Only the right-hand half of the letter remains. Names mentioned Richard 1 4^ 6 de Causton, William Coule. Date lost. [John Vaux was Rector of Edingthorp in Norfolk, in 1388. His successor was 1 See Note 2 on page 29. See also Blomefield, viii. 127. [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 3 Ibid. THE PASTON LETTERS I42Q Jhn Prentys, who was presented to the living in 1429 by the feoffees of the duchy of Lancaster. Blomefield, xi. 29.] ABSTRACT 1 DEC. 7 ' A grant of the Monastery of Bury to make William Paston, justice, brother of the Chapter-House.' Day of St. Ambrose 1429. [The description is taken from an endorsement. The document itself is printed in Yates's Bury St. Edmunds, p. 156.] 20 WILLIAM PASTON TO THE VICAR OF THE ABBOT OF CLUGNY 2 1430 (?) "^ /TYryghte worthy and worshopeful lord, I recomaunde rne to yow. And for as meche [as I] conseyve verrayly that ye arn Vicar general in Inggelond of the worthy Prelate, the Abbot of Clunie, and have hys power in many grete articles, and mong other in profession of monkes in Inggelond of the seyd ordere. And in my cuntre, but a myle fro the place where I was born, is the poure hous of Bromholm of the same ordre, in wheche arn divers vertuous yongge men, monkes clad and unprofessyd, that have abedyn there. . . . Abbyte ix. or x. yeer ; and be lenger delaye of here profession, many inconvenientez arne lyke to falle. And also the priour of ... hath resigned in to your worthy handes by certeins notables and resonables causes, as it apperyth by an instrument, and a symple lettre under the comune seal of the seyd hous of Bromholm, which the berare of this hath redy to shewe yow, wher up on I prey yow wyt al my herte, and as I evere may do yow service, that it lyke to your grace to graunte 1 [Add. Charter 17,226, B.M.] 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed from a rough draft written on paper, corrected in William Paston's own hand, and scribbled over, after his fashion, with numerous other drafts and jottings on both sides. Some of these occur upside down between the lines of this letter. At the head of the memoranda on the back are the words, ' In parliamento, anno H. vj. viij -' from which we may infer the date to be at least as early. HENRY VI of your charite, by yowr worthy lettres to the priour of Thet- i43o(?) ford in Norfolk, of the seyde ordre of Clunye, autorite and power as your ministre and depute to professe in dwe forme the seyd monkes of Bromholm unprofessed. And that it lyke yow evermore to accepte and admitte the seyd resygnacion by your seyd autoritie and power, wyth the favour of your good lordshepe in comfort and consolacion of your pouere prestes, the monkes of the seyd hous of Bromholm, and there up to graunte your worthy lettres, wittenessyng the same acceptacion and admyssion of the seyd resignacion, and al your seyd lettres to delyvere to my clerke, to wham I prey yow to gyve feith and credence touchant this matier, and to delivere it hym in alle the hast resonable. And I am your man, and evere will be by the grace of God, which evere have yow in his kepyng. Writen at Norwich the l of Aprill. Yowres, WILL. PASTON. 21 ABSTRACT 2 A Memorandum, dated 8 Henry vi., that Sir Simon Felbrigge, William 1429-30 Paston, s*c-, recovered certain land in Edithorp, Bakton, and Northwalsham, against Richard, Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme, John Roys, and others. 22 ABSTRACT 3 ROBERT, LORD OF WILLUGHBY AND BEAUMESNIL, TO WILLIAM PASTON, ESQ. Notifying that he has granted to Sir William Oldhall and Margaret, our 1431 sister, his wife, for moneys which Oldhall has lent and paid for him at need, JAN< g an annuity of 120 marks on lands in Norfolk and Suffolk, in which ye (William Paston, Esq.) stand enfeoffed, to our behoof. Pont de 1'Arche, 8 Jan. 1430, 9 Hen. vi. Signed. Fine seal, mutilated. 1 Blank in MS. 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 3 [Add. Charter 17,227, B.M.] VOL. ii. c 33 THE PASTON LETTERS ABSTRACT 1 1432 Deed Poll, whereby Robert York, Prior of the church of St. Andrew of MAY i Broomholme, and the Convent of the same place, grant to Sir Simon Felbrygg, Knt., William Paston of Paston, and others, certain lands in Bacton Wood, s*c., I May, i o Henry vi. (Fragment of seal,} 24 EDUCATION OF HENRY VI 2 Articles de Monsr. de Warrewyk 3 touchant le bon regime du Roy y etc.* NOV . g I."* OR the goode reule, demesnyng and seuretee of the Kynges persone, and draught of him to vertue and connyng, and eschuyng of eny thing that mighte yeve empeschement or let therto, or cause eny charge, defaulte, or blame to be leyd upon the Erie of Warrewyk at eny tyme withouten his desert, he, considering that perill and besinesse of his charge aboute the Kinges persone groweth so that that auctoritee and power yeven to him before suffiseth him nought without more therto, desireth therfor thees thinges that folowen. Furst, that considering that the charge of the reule, demesnyng, and governance, and also of nourture of the Kinges persone resteth upon the said Erie whiles it shal like the king, and the perille, daunger, and blame if eny lak or defaulte, were in eny of thees, the whiche lak or defaulte mighte be caused by ungodely or unvertuous men, if eny suche were aboute his persone ; he desireth therfore, for the goode of the 1 [Add. Charter 14,313, B.M. (Dr. Turner's Coll.)] 2 [Add. Charter 17,228, B.M.] 3 Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who died in 14.39. * This title is taken from a contemporary endorsement. 34 HENRY VI King, and for his owne seuretee, to have power and auctoritee 1432 to name, ordeigne, and assigne, and for cause that shal be NOV - 9 thought to him resonable to remoeve thoo that [shal] be aboute the Kinges persone, of what estate or condicion that thei be, not entending to comprehende in this desir the Stuard, Chamberlein, Tresoror, Contrerollor, ne Sergeantz of offices, save suche as serve aboute the Kinges persone and for his mouth. Responsio. As toward the namyng, ordeignance, and assig- nacion beforesaid, it is agreed, so that he take in noon of the iiij. knightes ne squyers for the body without th'advis of my Lord of Bedford, 1 him being in England, and him being out, of my Lord of Gloucestre 2 and of the remenant of the Kinges Counsail. Item, the said Erie desireth that where he shal have eny persone in his discrecion suspect of mysgovernance, and not behoveful nor expedient to be aboute the King, except th'estates of the hous, that he may putte hem from excercise and occupacion of the Kinges service till that he shal mowe have speche with my Lordes of Bedford or of Gloucestre, and with the other Lordes of the Kinges Counsaile, to that ende that, the defaulte of eny suche persone knowen unto him, shal mowe ordeigne therupon as theim shel thenke expedient and behoveful. Respomio. It is agreed as it is desired. Item, the said Erie desireth that, for sikenesse and other causes necessaries and resonables, he may, by warnyng to my Lordes of Bedford or Gloucestre and the Kinges Counsail, be and stande freely descharged of the saide occupacion and besinesse about the Kinges persone, under the favour and goode grace of the King, my Lordes of Bedford and Glou- cestre, and other Lordes of the Kinges Counsail. Responsio. It is agreed as it is desired. 1 John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, the King's uncle, brother of the late King Henry V. 2 Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Protector of England, another uncle of the King, being the youngest brother of Henry v. He was called 'the Good Duke Humphrey. 1 35 NOV. THE PASTON LETTERS 1432 Item, that considering howe, blessed be God, the King is 9 growen in yeers, in stature of his persone, and also in con- ceite and knouleche of his hiegh and royalle auctoritee and estat, the whiche naturelly causen him, and from day to day as he groweth shul causen him, more and more to grucche with chastising, and to lothe it, so that it may resonably be doubted leste he wol conceive ayeins the said Erie, or eny other that wol take upon him to chastise him for his defaultes, displesir, or indignacion therfore, the whiche, without due assistence, is not easy to be born : It like, therfore, to my Lord of Glou- cestre, and to alle the Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, to promitte to the said Erie, and assure him, that thei shul fermely and trewely assisten him in the excercise of the charge and occupacion that he hathe aboute the Kinges per- sone, namely in chastising of him for his defaultes, and supporte the said Erie therinne ; and if the King at eny tyme wol conceyve for that cause indignacion ayeins the said Erie, my said Lord of Gloucestre, and Lordes, shul do alle her [i.e. their] trewe diligence and power to remoeve the King therfro. Respomio. It is agreed as it is desired. Item, the said Erie desireth that for asmuche as it shal be necessarie to remoeve the Kinges persone at diverse tymes into sundry places, as the cases mowe require, that he may have power and auctoritee to remoeve the King, by his dis- crecion, into what place him thenketh necessarie for the helthe of his body and seuretee of his persone. Respomio. It is agreed as it is desired. Item, sith the said Erie hath take upon him the govern- ance of the Kinges persone, he desireth that alle th'estates, officers, and servantz of the Kinges hous, of what estate and condicion thei be, have special commandement and charge yeven by my Lordes of Bedford and Gloucestre, and by the Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, that in alle manere thinges seyn and advised by the said Erles descrecion, that is, for the Kinges estate, worship, helthe, and profit, by his commande- 36 HENRY VI ment and ordeignance, thei be attendant and obeissant in 1432 accomplisshing therof. NOV - 9 Responsio. It is agreed as it is desired. Item, for asmuche as the said Erie hath knouleche that in speche that hath be had unto the King at part and in prive, not hering the said Erie nor eny of the knightes set aboute his persone, nor assigned by the said Erie, he hath be stured by summe from his lernyng, and spoken to of diverse materes not behovefull, the seid Erie doubting the harme that mighte falle to the King, and the inconvenientz that mighte ensue of suche speche at part if it were suffred, desireth that in al speche to be had with the King, he or oon of the iiij. knightes, or sum persone to be assigned by the said Erie, be present and prive to it. Responsio. This article is agreed, excepting suche persones as for nieghnesse of blood, and for their estate, owe of reson to be suffred to speke with the King. Item, to th'entent that it may be knowen to the King that it procedeth of th'assent, advis, and agreement of my Lord of Gloucestre, and alle my Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, that the King be chastised for his defaultes or trespasses, and that for awe therof he forbere the more to do mys, and entende the more besily to vertu and to lernyng, the said Erie desireth that my Lord of Gloucestre, and my said other Lords of the Counsail, or great part of hem, that is to say, the Chanceller and Tresorer, and of everych estate in the Counsail, spirituell and temporell, summe come to the Kinges presence, and there to make to be declared to him theire agreement in that behalve. Responsio, Whan the King cometh next to London, all his Counsail shal come to his presence, and there this shal be declared to him. Item, the said Erie, that all his dayes hath, aboven alle other erthely thinges, desired, and ever shal, to kepe his trouthe and worship unblemysshed and unhurt, and maye not 37 THE PASTON LETTERS 1432 for all that lette malicious and untrewe men to make infor- NOV. 9 macions of his persone, suche as thei may not, ne dare not, stand by, ne be not trewe, besecheth therfore my Lord of Gloucestre, and alle my said Lords of the Counsail, that if thei, or eny of hem, have be enformed of eny thing that may be or soune to his charge or defaulte, and namely in his occu- pacion and reule aboute the Kinges persone, that the said Erie may have knowleche therof, to th'entent that he may answer therto, and not dwelle in hevy or synistre conceit or opinion, withoute his desert and without answere. Responsio. It is agreed. CROMWELL. H. GLOUCESTRE. J. EBOR. P. ELIEN. W. LINCOLN. J. BATHON., Cane. J. ROFFEN. SUFFOLK. H. STAFFORD. J. HUNTYNGTON. The foregoing document is written on a skin of parchment docqueted with the words printed in italics at the head. The following memorandum is also endorsed *xxix die Novembris anno undecimo apud Westm. lecti fuerunt prassentes articuli coram dominis infra et subscribentibus et ad eosdem Re- sponsiones dabantur secundum quod infra patet, prassentibus dominis infra- scriptis.' There are also other endorsements, but of a later date. 25 BALLING'S PETITION 1 Prefixed to this document in Fenn is the following title: 'A Petition to the Commons of England against Sir William Paston, Knight, a Judge of the Common Pleas, by William Bailing.' This heading, however, has been taken from a more modern endorsement. No contemporaneous document, so far as I am aware, gives Judge Paston the designation of knight, or speaks of him as Sir William. In this petition itself he is called simply William Paston, one of the Justices ; and although his name occurs frequently on the Patent Rolls, in commissions of the peace, of gaol delivery, and the like, down to the year of his death, the word ' miles ' is never appended to it. The original commencement of this document has been crossed out. It was in these words : Plesit to the righte sage and wyse Communes of this present Parlement, 1 [From Fenn, iii. 14.] 38 HENRY VI that wher every Justice of the Kyng is sworne that he shulde not take no fees ne reward for to be of councell with noo man, but oonly wyth our Soverayne Lorde the Kyng, and therto thei be swore. And ther is oon Will' Paston, one of the Justice of our Soverayne Lorde in the Comene Place, taketh fees and rewarde. On the back of the original document is written, in a hand of the time, * Falsa billa Will'i Dalling, ad Parliamentum tempore quo ^Henr. Grey fuit vicecomes ante annum terciodecimum Regis Henr. vj t! .' Henry Grey was sheriff of Norfolk in 1430, and again in 1433-4. The Parliament referred to must either have been that of 8 Hen. vi. (1429-30) or that of 12 Hen. vi. (1433), which sat till 2ist December. Probably the latter. PLESE it to Commines of the present Parlement, that William Paston, on of the Justice of oure Saverayne Lorde Kyng, takyth diverse fees and rewardes of diverses persones withinne the shir of Norffolk and Suffolk, and is with holde with every matere in the sayde contrees, that is for to sey : Of the Toune of Yernemuth, Is. yerly ; of the Abot of Seyn Benetys. xxvjj. viij^. ; of the Prior of Seyn Feithes, xxj. ; ' and of my Lady Rothenhale, 1 xxj ' ; and of the Prior of Norwich, xj. ; and of the Prior of Penteney, xxj. ; and of the Toun of Lenn, xb.; and of the Prior of Walsyng- ham, xxj. ; and of Katherine Shelton, 2 x. mrc. ayeins the Kyng for to be of hir councell for to destroye the right of the Kyng and of his warde, that is for to sey, Raf, 3 soon and eyer of John Shelton. 26 ABSTRACT 4 Lease made at Castre, on Monday before Michaelmas 14 Henry vi., by 1435 Geoffrey Walle, surveyor of the manors of Sir John Fastolf, to John Rake- SEPT. 26 sond, son of Geoffrey Rakesond of Ormesby, of a messuage of FastolPs in Ormesby, called Reppes Place, etc. 1 This sentence in the original has a line drawn over it. She was a widow of Sir John Rothenhale, Knight, and dying at Caister, by Yarmouth, in 1440, was buried in Norwich Cathedral. F. See Nos. 13 and 15, ante. 2 Catharine, widow of William Shelton, Esq., and daughter of Simon Barret, was grandmother to Ralph, and died in 1456. F. 3 Sir Ralph Shelton, Knight, son and heir of John Shelton, Esq., was born in 1430. He married Margaret, daughter of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, and was High Sheriff of Norfolk. F. 4 [Phillipps MS., 9,735, No. 264.] 39 THE PASTON LETTERS 27 ABSTRACT 1 A vidimus or official attestation of two indentures relative to the custody of SEPT. 30 t ^ ie cast; l e f Le Mans between Sir John Fastolf, governor of Anjou and Maine, and captain of Le Mans under the Duke of Bedford, and Matthew Goth [Gough] and Thomas Gower as his lieutenants. The first indenture is for the quarter from ist October to 3151 December 1434, the second for the three quarters following, to 3Oth September 1435. -^ ret i nue is to be main- tained of twenty-four lances and the * archiers de la personne dudit Mathieu,' viz., sixty mounted and fourteen on foot, and 222 archers besides. Mounted archers to have i id. a day, etc. The document is authenticated by the garde du seel des obligations de la Viconte de Rouen, on the 8th March 1448 (i.e. 1449). . ; :i5 28 NOTE 2 1432-5 Building accounts of William Granere, master of the works at Caistre in n, 12, and 13 Henry vi. 29 JOHN GYNE TO JOHN PASTON 3 'To the worthy and worshipful sir and my good maister^ John Paston of I'rynyte hall in Cambrigge 1435-6 T") IGHT worthy and worshipfull sir, and my good maister, FV^ I comaund me to yow. Like it yow to witte that on -*- ^- the Soneday next after the Ascencion of oure Lord, in the high weye betwex Cambrigge and the Bekyntre toward 1 [Add. Charter 17,237, B.M.] 2 [Add. Charters 17,229-31, B.M.] 3 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 4.] Fenn has written on the MS. of this letter the date 'circa 1435-6,' which, I agree with him, must have been about the time that it was written. 40 HENRY VI Newmarket, I fonde a purs with money ther inne. Th'entent 1435-6 of this my symple lettre is this, that it please to your good Maistership by weye of charite, and of your gentilnesse, to witte if ony of youre knowleche or ony other, swich as yow semeth best in your discrecion, have lost swich a purs, and, the toknes ther of told, he shal have it ageyn, what that ever he be, by the grace of oure Lord, Who ever have yow in his Hissed kepyng. Wretyn at Sneylewell the Moneday next after the seid Soneday. By youre pover servaunt, JOHN GYN. 3 WILLIAM PASTON TO LORD FSTON recomaund hym to youre good lordeship, 1436 willyng with all his herte to doo yow servise to his symple power. And as touching the maner of Walsham . he seyth that at your comaundement he wille be redy to shewe yow and preve that the seid maner and all the vesture and crop therof this yeer by trewe title in lawe and conscience is his owen trewly, bowth and in gret party payed for, and that John Roys never hadde non estate in the seid maner, but oonly occupied it by suffraunce of the seid Paston and other feffes in the seid maner, and that be bargayn of the seid maner th'estate that the seid Roys shuld have hadde in the seid maner and in stoor therof shul have be condicionel to be voide and nought for defaute of payement, and that the seid John Roys ne kept not his dayes of the payementz, &c. ; and that the seid William Paston, in the lyve of the seid John Roys, for defaute of payment entred in the seid maner with the seid the crop and the vesture of -this yeer therof than therupon, and that the seid John Roys never at noo tyme payed to the seid John Baxtere sith the seid bargeyn, nother for the seid bargeyn ne for the dette he aught to hym, more 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 140.] 41 THE PASTON LETTERS thaune an C. and xl. marcz, wherof he borwed ageyn of the seid John Baxtere xl//. ; and over that he oweth and beforn the seid bargeyn aught by his obligacion to the seid John Baxtere, of trew dette of mony borwed, other xl//., and hath hadde and taken the profitz of the seid maner by iij. hool yer before his deth to the value of xxx/z. and more, and that he receyved in his said bargayn of the seid John Baxtere xl. marcz worth of stoor ; the which iiii xx /z. of dette and xxx/z. of the profitz of the seid maner, and xl. marcz worth of stoor, maketh the somme of Cxxxvi//. xiijj. iiij<^. Wherof, thogh the lawe wille it not, were abated, if conscience required it, Cxi. marcz payed by the seid John Roys and x//. for the value of the seid crop, over the value of the verray ferme of the seid maner for this yeer, yet remanyneth dwe to the executoures of the seid John Baxter liij//. vjj. viij^., and all the title and interesse of the seid John Roys his heyres and assignes in the seid maner lawfully and in conscience extincted and adnulled. Wher upon the said Paston lowly besecheth your good lorde- ship that if it may be preved this mater be trew that ye wille not be displesed thogh he desire to have his fre disposicion of the seid maner. On the back of this letter are the following memoranda : ' Haec billa [testatur] l quod Johannes Baxtere vendidit Johanni Roys mesuagium suum [vocatum] l Walccham place, cum toto stauro ibidem vivo et mortuo in Bryanes, cum omnibus aliis terris et tenementis suis, liberis et nativis, cum pertinentiis, ex parte occidentali ecclesise North Walsham, et molendinum ventriticum et mesuagium nuper Rogeri atte Hille, cum omnibus redditibus et servitiis pertinentibus dictis mesuagio et tenemento ubicumque fuerint in comitatu NorfTolk, pro iijC. marcis et 1. marcis ; unde dictus Johannes Roys solvit dicto Johanni Baxtere die Jovis proximo ante festum Apostolorum Simonis et Judge anno regni regis Henrici vi. xij., C. m., et habet diem solvendi residuum, videlicet ad festum Nativitatis Domini et festum sancti Michaelis proximo futurum xl. marcas annuatim, quousque dictas CCC. marcae et 1. marcje plenarie persolvantur. Datum die Jovis praedicto. Hsec praedicta de manu Thomas Whitewelle.' Then after two further imperfect entries relating to the same matter : * Memorandum, quod licet esset concordatum quod W. Roys haberet bar- ganium, &c., quod, ut credo, non ita erit, tune in festo Nativitatis Domini anno 1 Mutilated. 4 2 HENRY VI regni regis Henrici vi. xv debentur executoribus de eodem barganio C. marcae 1436 prater et ultra Cxi. marcas per Johannem Roys in vita sua solutas et xl/r". de antique per dictum Johannem Roys Johanni Baxter debitas, videlicet per obligacionem suam xxxv//. inde, et ex mutua sua obligacione vR. de Perey Noble (?), ut patet per papirum dicti Baxter, et ultra xl/r. per dictum Johannem Baxter post dictum barganium dicti Johanni Roys per obligacionem . . . ejusdem Johannis Roys praestitas. Memorandum eciam quod dictus Johannes Roys nee uxor ejus unquam protulerunt aliquem denarium solvendum dictis . . . dicti Johannis Baxter nee Willelmo Paston post mortem dicti Baxter. Set circa Nativitatem Domini anno regni dicti regis xiiij et in quadragesima tune proximo sequente uxor dicti Roys apud Paston dixit quod habuit xx. marcas paratas ad solvendum. Et sic dixit Johannes Roys tempore quo Domina Skales fuit apud Paston, videlicet ix. die Januarii dicto anno xiiij et sic omnibus temporibus quibus dictus J. Roys et uxor ejus ut praedicitur dixerunt quod habuerunt xx. marcas paratas ad solvendum semper fuerunt ar retro xl/f. absque dictis xl/r. novi debiti et xl/r. antiqui debiti.' 31 NOTE Fenn mentions an indenture, dated igth May 1436, 14 Henry vi., and 143^ signed by the Earl (afterwards Duke) of Suffolk, from which he has given a MAY 19 facsimile of Suffolk's signature. See vol. i. p. 36. The original of this in- denture I have not met with. 32 ABSTRACT 1 Sir H. Inglose notifies his agreement with John Topy of Wyndham, jun., 1438 in an action for trespass done to him at Stalham. Dilhams, Monday after the AUG. 18 Assumption of Our Lady, 16 Henry vi. 1 [Add. Charter 17,232, B.M.] 43 THE PASTON LETTERS 33 JOHN WILLOUGHBY TO LORD BEAUMONT 1 m y ryght noble and ryght \_dra\dde lord, my Lord TSeaumont. 1432-40 } YGHT wursshipfull sire, my ryghte noble, and ryghte dradde lorde, after dyw recommendacion to yowr reverens, please hit yow to know that yowr lordes- ship luste to empointe me to abyde yowr noble avys touching the landis of Latemer, which my Lorde Latemer holdith ate this day. My lord, I muste, and owe of dywte, abyde yowre empoyntement, and shall ; how be hit I have be confortid to complaine me to my lordis and yow of the grete wronge that I have. But, sir, y have soe verray truste one yowre lordes- ship that I refuse all counsaille, abyding yowre empointemente and rewell, as my diwte is to doo ; byseching yow, my lord, to remembre yow and compasse of yowre servaunt, and that ye lust of yowr grace to comyne with my Lord of Salisbury, and to fele him in the mater, and as ye fele him, hit please yowre lordesship I may have knowlege ; and whate yowre pore bedman may do to yowre plesire, I ame redy ate yowre comaundement ate all howris, which knowith God, Hoe have yow, my ryghte noble lord, in His blessid gouvernauns. Write ate Broke, the v. day of Marche. Your pore bedman and servant, JOHN WYLUGHBY. 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this letter was the father of Robert, first Lord Willoughby de Broke, who afterwards laid claim to the barony of Latimer, as being descended from Elizabeth, sister and sole heir of John Nevill, fifth Lord Latimer, who died in 1430. He was, however, unsuccessful, as the title had been revived in 1432 by a writ of summons to George Nevill, a son of Ralph, first Earl of Westmoreland. This George died in 1469, and was succeeded by his grandson, Richard Neville, then an infant of two years old, who had summons to Parliament as Lord Latimer in 1492. The Lord Latimer here spoken of seems to be George Nevill, and it is probable that the letter was written between 1432 and 1440, as John, Lord Beaumont, was created Viscount in the latter year, while he is not so addressed here. 44 HENRY VI 34 AGNES PASTON TO WILLIAM PASTON 1 To my worshepefull hombond, W. Fasten, be this letter takyn DERE housbond, I recomaunde me to yow, &c. Blessyd I44o(?) be God I sende yow gode tydynggs of the comyng, and the brynggyn hoom, of the gentylwomman 2 that ye wetyn of fro Redham, this same nyght, acordyng to poynt- men [appointment] that ye made ther for yowr self. And as for the furste aqweyntaunce be twhen John Paston 3 and the seyde gentylwomman, she made hym gentil cher in gyntyl wise, and seyde, he was verrayly your son. And so I hope ther shall nede no gret trete be twyxe hym. The parson of Stocton 4 toold me, yif ye wolde byin her a goune, here moder wolde yeve ther to a godely furre. The goune nedyth for to be had ; and of colour it wolde be a godely blew, or erlys a bryghte sangueyn. I prey yow do byen for me ij. pypys of gold. 5 Your stewes 6 do weel. The Holy Trinite have you in governaunce. Wretyn at Paston, in hast, the Wednesday next after Deus qui errantibus? for defaute of a good secretarye. Yowres, AGN. PASTON. 1 [From Fenn, i. 2.] This letter must have been written some little time before the marriage of John Paston and Margaret Mauteby, which seems to have been about 1440. 2 Margaret, daughter and heir of John Mauteby, shortly afterwards married to John Paston, Esq. 3 Son of William and Agnes Paston. 4 Laurence Baldware was rector of Stockton 'about 1440.' Blomefield, viii. 49. 5 Gold thread on pipes or rolls, for needlework or embroidery. F. 6 Ponds to keep fish alive for present use. F. 7 The Collect for the Third Sunday after Easter. 45 THE PASTON LETTERS 35 ABSTRACT 1 About Draft Lease by Sir Simon Felbrygge ; Oliver Groos, Esq. ; John Berney 1440 f Redham, Esq.; William Paston of Paston ; Thomas Stodhagh ; Roger Taillour of Stafford Bernyngham ; and Thomas Newport of Runham, executors of Robert Mawteby and John his son, to Margery, widow of the said John, of * two parts of manors, &c.' and the reversion, &c., which they lately held along with Sir Miles Stapleton, Sir William Argenten, Sir John Hevenyngham, Sir John Carbonell, Sir William Calthorpe, John Boys, Esq., and William Caston, Esq., now deceased, by deed of Robert Mawteby. The remainder, after Margery's death, is to go to Margaret, daughter of the said John and Margery, and the heirs of her body ; then to Peter Mauteby, son of Robert and uncle of Margaret ; then to Alianora, widow of Robert ; then to Alianora, widow of William Calthorp and sister of Robert Mawteby, with reversion to the trustees to fulfil the will. [This paper is addressed to John Berney of Reedham, and appears, by an endorsement, to have been transmitted along with a letter of William Paston. The date is fixed by the contents within pretty narrow limits, for it is after the death of John Boys, Esq., which was in August 1439 (Inquis. post mortem, 18 Hen. VI., No. 2), and before that of Sir Simon Felbrigg in 144.2 (Inquis. />. m., zi Hen. VI., No. 33). It is easy to see, in fact, that the document had something to do with the marriage settlement of John Paston and Margaret Mauteby, which was about 1440.] 36 ROBERT REPPS TO JOHN PASTON 2 A mon tresreverent et treshonerable Maister John Paston soil done. 1440 | ALVETE, &c. Tytyngs, the Duk of Orlyawnce 3 hath N V * * ^^ made his oath upon the Sacrement, and usyd it, never ^^ for to here armes ayenst Englond, in the presence of the Kyng and all the Lordes, except my Lord of Gloucestre. 4 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 8 [From Fenn, i. 4.] This letter was written in 1440, the year of the release of the Duke of Orleans. 3 Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, and had never since been released. 4 Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, uncle of the King, and before this time Protector. 46 HENRY VI And proving my seyde Lord of Gloucestre agreyd never to 1440 hys delyveraunce, qwan the masse began he toke his barge, &c. NOV. i God yef grace the seide Lord of Orlyaunce be trewe, for this same weke shall he to ward Fraunce. Also Freynchmen and Pykardes, a gret nowmbre, kome to Arfleet, 1 for to arescuyd [have rescued] it ; and our Lordes wyth here smal pusaunce manly bytte [beat] them, and pytte hem to flyte, and, blyssyd be our Lord, have take the seide cite of Arflet ; the qwych is a great juell to all Englond, and in especiall to our cuntre. Moreover there is j. [i.e. one] kome in to Englond, a Knyght out of Spayne, wyth a kercheff of plesaunce i wrapped aboute hys arme ; the qwych Knyght wyl renne a cours wyth a sharpe spere for his sovereyn lady sake ; qwom other [either] Sir Richard Wodvyle 2 or Sir Christofore Talbot 3 shall delyver, to the wyrchip of Englond and of hem selff, be Goddes grace. Ferthermore, ye be remembryd that an esquyer of Suffolk, callyd John Lyston, recoveryd in assisa nov< disseisins* vij c [700] marc in damages ayenst Sir Robert Wyngfeld, &c. In avoydyng of the pavement of the seid vij. c. marc, the seide Sir Robert Wyngfeld sotylly hath outlaywed the seide John Lyston in Notyngham shir, be the vertue of qwch outlagare, all maner of chattell to the seide John Lyston apperteynyng, arn acruwyd on to the Kyng, &c. And anon as the seide utlagare was certyfyed, my Lord Tresorer 5 graunted the seid vij. c. marc to my Lord of Norffolk, for the arrerag of hys sowde \_pay] qwyl he was in Scotland ; and, acordyng to this assignement forseide, taylles [tallies] delyvered. And my Lord of Norffolk hath relesyd the same vij. c. marc to Sir Robert Wyngfeld. And here is greet hevyng an shovyng be my Lord of Suffolk and all his counsell for to aspye hough this mater kam aboute, &c. Sir, I beseche recomende me on to my mastres your modyr, to my mastres your wyff, and to my mastres your suster, et omnibus alijs quorum interest, &c. 1 Harfleur. 2 Afterwards Earl Rivers, father of Elizabeth, Queen of Edward iv. 3 Third son of John, the famous Earl of Shrewsbury. 4 i.e., in an assize of novel disseisin an ancient law process. 6 Ralph, Lord Cromwell. 47 THE PASTON LETTERS 1440 Sir, I pray you, wyth all myn hert, hold me excusyd that I NOV. i wr yte thus homly and briefly on to you, for truly convenable space suffycyd me nowt. No more atte this tyme, butte the Trynyte have you in proteccion, &c. ; and qwan your leysyr is, resorte ageyn on to your college, the Inner Temple, for ther ben many qwych sor desyr your presence, Welles and othyr, &c. Wretyn in le fest de touts Seynts, entre Messe et Mateyns, calamo festinante, &c. Yours, ROB. REPPES. 37 ABSTRACT ' TO FRIAR BRACKLEY (?). About Touching a suit of Reynold Rowse against William Burgeys. This suit I was instituted originally for 5-r. ^d. of rent ; but when Rouse found he could not prevail by right, he maliciously sued the other for trespass in having fished his water, and driven him away by force. He afterwards got him arrested for treachery upon an obligation (i.e., a bond). Burgeys complained to Justice Paston, who counselled him not to plead ; * For zyf thu do, he seyd, thu xalte hafe the werse, be thi case never so trewe, for he is feid with my Lord of fJN]]orthfolke, and mech he is of he [V] counsel ; and also, thu canst no man of lawe in Northfolke ne in Sowthfolke to be with .the azens hym ; and, for [soothe no more myth I qwan I had a pie azens hym; and therfor myn counsel is, that thu make an end qwat so ever the pay, for he xal elles on do the and brynge the to nowte.' [This letter is mutilated, and in part defaced. It is addressed on the back ' Be this take to Mayster Brele ( ?) of the Greye Freres.' Although the name seems to be written Brele, it was probably intended for Friar Brackley of Norwich, of whom we have several letters of a later period. The date must be between the year 1429, when William Paston was made a judge, and 1444, when he died ; and as the name of Reginald Rows occurs in Blomefield (Hist, of Norfolk, ix. 441) 'about 1440,' this letter will probably not be far out of its true place if inserted in that year.] 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 48 HENRY VI MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 condo testa- mentum meum in hunc mundum (sic). In primis do et lego animam meam Deo Patri, &c., corpusque meum sepeliendum in ecclesia sancti Petri de Crowmere. Item, summo altari vjs. viijd.2 ecclesias praedictae xL/. Item, emendacioni ejusdem ecclesias vjs. viijd.2 xl^/. Item, summo altari ecclesiae de Fylby xl*/. Item, emendationi ecclesiae de Fylby prasdictae vel fenestrae de novo faciendae et intrando in parte boriali ecclesiae prasdictae in fine occidentali, x. marcas. Item, Edmondo, capellano sancti Johannis Baptistae in eadem ecclesia, xl^/. Item, volo quod omnes feoffati in terris et tenementis remittant jus suum Edmundo Clere armigero, magistro meo, ut ipse vendat et disponat cum aliis executoribus meis pro salute animas meae, et patris, matris, et omnium quibuscumque teneor. Item, cuilibet ordini fratrum de Jernemoth, vjs. vmd. Item, fratribus ordinis Minorum de Walsyngham vjj. vuid. Item, lego Willelmo Bondis omnia bona mea existentia in hospicio meo de Clifforde London', videlicet lectum et indumenta mea. Item, lego Roberto Baketon et uxori ejus, firmario meo in Fylby, omnia utencilia mea infra mansionem meam ibidem praster lectum plumale postea legatum. Item, Edmundo filio dicti Roberti, filiolo meo, xb. Item, filiabus ejusdem Roberti, Elizabethae et Margaretae, cuilibet xxj. Item, Edmundo filio Roberti Norman de Ormesby, vjs. vmd. Item, Ricardo Kemp, xxvjj. vnjd. Item, Johanni Grave, sonam meam deargent'. 3 Item, Nicholao Pekeryng de Fylby, meum optimum lectum plumale infra mansionem meam apud Fylby. Item, Johanni Spencer de Crowmere, xxj-. Item, uxori Johannis Couche, pro labore et diligentia suis circa me dum infirmabar, vjs. viijd. Item, 1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 10.] 2 Interlineations by another hand. 3 Here occurs an illegible interlineation, in which only ' xs.' is visible. 6 7 THE PASTON LETTERS xxs. 1 J 444 Edmundo Bataly capellano vjs. viii^. Item, lego Thomas DEC. 6 Stalham et uxori ejus meum lectum plumale apud Norwicum. Item, die obitus mei ad exequias, cuilibet capellano iiij^. et clerico, jd. Item, ad distribuendum inter pauperes die sepul- turae, xld. Residuum vero bonorum meorum non legatorum do et lego executoribus meis, quos ordino et constituto Edmundum Clere, armigerum, Magistrum meum Robertum Clere, Willelmum Bondes, Nicholaum Pekeryng, Magistrum Johannem Semecrofte et Ricardum Kemp, ut ipsi disponant pro salute animas meae. 2 Et lego dicto Edmundo Clere pro labore suo x//. si vult. Et Roberto Clere Gr., et similiter cuilibet aliorum executorum xb. Item, lego Pers. de Crowmere iijj. iiij^. Item, volo quod in fenestra ecclesias de Fylby tres 3 ymagines, videlicet, una ymago sancti Edmundi, alter[a] Sancti Johannis Baptistae, alia Sanctas Marias, et ibidem fiat scriptio : Orate pro animabus Johannis Norman seniori, Margarets uxoris ejus, et Edmundi filii predict i et tale armo (sic). [Here follows a sketch of a shield, the upper part marked as silver and the lower black, with the word ' Katerwole ' (?) upon it.~\ 58 THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON 4 To our right trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Squier. The Due of Norff. Before r I ^RUSTI and right welbelovid, we grete you weel, lating I444(?) you witte that for the trust that as weel we, as the heires of Edmund Swathyng, have unto you, we have appointed you to be one of the makeres up indifferently of the 1 Interlineations by another hand. 2 What follows is in a different hand, apparently the same as that of the inter- lineations noticed above. 3 Corrected from ' quatuor.' 4 [From Fenn, i. TO.] Fenn thinks this letter must have been written before 1444, when Yelverton was made a judge. This is, doubtless, most probable. There is, however, an Edmund Swathing, Esq., mentioned by Blomefield (Hist, of Norfolk, viii. 42) as alive in 1446, and if. it be his executors who are referred to, the date would appear to be later. 68 HENRY VI evydences betwix us and the seide heires. Wherfor we pray Before you hertily, that ye wil yeve attendaunce at such day and place as ye and our right trust! and welbelovid frende William Yelverton, with cure welbelovid servaunt Jenney, shal mow attende to the making up of the seide evidencez ; and we shal send summe of our servauntz to awayte upon you for your reward and costis, that ye shal be pleasid with by the grace of God, who have you ever in his keping. Wreten undir our signet in oure Castel of Framlyngham, the xviij. day of . 59 JOHN PASTON'S PETITION 2 To the Kyng our Soverayn Lord. FES your Hyghnes of your abundante grace, an con- After syderacion of the servys and plesure that your Hyghnes J 444 knowyth to yow don by William Paston, late one of your judgys, and old servaunt to that nobyll Prinse your fadyr, to graunte onto John Paston, Esquyer, sonn and heyir of the seyd Wylliam, your lettrys patents under the seel of yowr Duche oif Lancastre, being in the keping of Thomas Chesham, aftyr affecte of note folowyng ; and he schall pray to God for yow. REX, etc. Sciatis, quod de gracia nostra speciali et ex mero motu nostro, ac pro bono et laudabyli servicio quod dilectus 1 The name ' John Mowbray ' is represented by a curious monogram, in which every letter both of the Christian and the surname can be traced. 2 [From Tanner MS. 95, f. 82.] This is a draft in the handwriting of William Worcester, very illegible from the number of the corrections, and also from the ink being very much faded. Of its date I cannot tell except that it was clearly written in the reign of Henry vi. and after the death of Judge Paston in 1444. 6 9 THE PASTON LETTERS After et fidelis nobis Willelmus Paston, nuper unus Justiciariorum 1444 nostrorum, defunctus, nobis in vita sua inpendydit, consessimus et hac present! carta nostra confirmavimus, in quantum in nobis est, Johanni Paston armigero, filio et heredi dicti Willelmi, viginti tria mesuagia, quingintas triginta et iiij. acras pasture, bruere et marissy in villis de Paston, Edythorp, et Bakton, in comitatu nostro NorfF. quas diversi tenentes nostri ibidem de nobis separatim native tenent ad voluntatem nostram per virgam sive copiam et per serta redditus et servissia, nativa annualia inde nobis reddend., que ad valorem novem librarum annuatim exeunt vel infra. Concessimus eciam eidem Johanni curiam lete, seu visus franciplegii nostri, in villis de Paston et Edithorp predictis, que est annui valoris viij. solidorum per estimacionem ; ad quatuor libratas, quatuor solidatas et octo denariatas redditus. Redditum octo boschellorum avenarum et trium caponum cum pertinentiis in villis predictis, ac in villis Wytton et Easewyk in comitatu predicto, percipiendum anuatim de omnibus et singulis liberys tenentibus nostris ibidem pro tenementis suis qui de nobis separatim tenent in eisdem villis, una cum fideli- tatibus et aliis serviciis eorundem tenentium et eorum cujuslibet, de, seu pro, tenementis illis et eorum qualibet parcella nobis debitis sive pertinentibus, Concessimus etiam eidem Johanni et heredibus suis officium parcarie ac costidie l parci nostri de Grymygham in com. nostro predicto, una cum proficuo agis- tamenti bestiarum ejusdem parci pro vadiis suis pro officio predicto annuatim percipiend : salvis no . . et hodierna sufficient! pastura ferarum nostrarum ibidem ut tempore nostro prius usitatum fuit ; quod quidem proficuum agistamenti ad valorem x. marcarum extendit per annum. Habenda, tenenda et percipienda predicta messuagia, terram, pasturam, brueram, mariscum, curiam lete, et visus franciplegii, redditus, et ser- vissia, officium et agistament' proficu' cum pertinentiis, prefato Johanni et heredibus suis de nobis et heredibus nostris, per fidelitatem et redditum unius rose ruble ad Festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptiste annuatim nobis solvendum, si petatur, pro omnibus serviciis, exaccionibus et demandis. Eo quod 1 Sic, pro custodiae. 70 HENRY VI messuagia, terra, pastura, bruera, mariscus, curia lete, redditus, After servicia predicta, officium et agistament' profic', valorem supra 1444 specificatum excedant, vel valorem ilium non attingant, aut aliquo actu, restriccione seu mandate facto, edito aut pro- viso non obstante. Volumus etiam et assignavimus quod omnes illi qui per nos seu ad usum nostrum, jus, titulum, seu statum in premissis, seu aliquo premissorum habuerunt seu habent, nobis antehac non relaxatum, jus, titulum et statum ilia prefato Johanni et heredibus suis dimittent et relaxent. In cujus . . . 60 CATHERINE, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO JOHN PASTON 1 'To our right trusty and hertily welbeloved John Paston, Squier. (Kateryn, Duchesse\ ofNorff. } RIGHT trusty and entierly welbeloved, we grete you wel After hertily as we kan. And for as moche as we purpose with grace of Jesu to be at London within bryff tyme, we pray you that your place ther may be redy for us, for we wole sende our stuff thedir to for [tofore y i.e. before] our comyng ; and siche agrement as we toke with you for the same, we shall duely performe yt with the myght of Jesu, who haff you in his blissed keping. Wretyn at Eppeworth, ij de day of Octobre. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 16.] The writer of this letter was the widow of John Mowbray, second Duke of Norfolk, who died in 1432. After the Duke's death, she married again no less than three times $ and Fenn thinks this letter, which is dated from Epworth in Lincolnshire, a seat of the Duke of Norfolk's, was probably written during her first widowhood. It must be remarked, however, that in 14.32 John Paston was only twelve years old at the utmost, so that this letter could hardly have been written till at least ten years after. It is, besides, hardly probable that John Paston would have been addressed as the owner of a ' place ' in London, before his father's death in 1444. The exact year, however, is quite uncertain. 71 THE PASTON LETTERS 61 ABSTRACT * ROBERT, LORD WYLUGHBY fjof Eresby]], TO JOHN PASTON. Between Desires him to favour Reginald Balden who * hath ado with you for certain 1444 lyflode which was his father's, wherein your father was enfeoffed.' Boston, and I4CI [The date of this letter is probably after the death of William Paston in 1444, and cannot be later than 1451, as the writer died on St. James's day (25111 July) 1452.] 62 AGNES PASTON TO EDMUND PASTON 2 To Edmond Paston of Clyffordis Inn, in London, be this Lettre take. T 445 r I A O m y n welbelovid sone, I grete yow wel, and avyse yow FEB - 4 to thynkk onis of the dale of youre fadris counseyle to lerne the lawe, for he seyde manie tymis that ho so ever schuld dwelle at Paston, schulde have nede to conne defende hym selfe. The Vikare 8 of Paston and yowre fadre, 4 in Lenttyn last was, wher \_were~\ thorwe and acordidde, and doolis 5 sette howe broode the weye schulde ben, 6 and nowe he hath pullid uppe the doolis, and seithe he wolle makyn a dyche fro the corner of his walle, ryght over the weye to the newe diche of the grete 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 2 [From Fenn, iii. 32.] This letter must have been written in February 1445, as it appears from the contents that William Paston was dead, but had been alive in the preceding Lent. 3 John Partrick of Swathfield was Vicar of Paston, from 1442 to 1447. F. 4 William Paston, the Judge. 6 Landmarks. Dolestones ' are still spoken of in Norfolk in this sense. See Latham's Edition of Johnson's Dictionary. 6 On the 6th July 1443 a licence was granted to William Paston to enclose a portion of the highway at Paston, and another at Oxnead, on his making two other highways in place thereof. Patent Roll, 21 Henry vi. p. i, m. 10. 72 HENRY VI cloose. And there is a man in Truntche, hyzht Palmer to, 1445 that hadde of yowre fadre certein londe in Truntche over vij. FEB - 4 yere or viij. yere agoone for corn, and trewli hathe paide all the yers ; and now he hathe suffrid the corne to ben with sette for viijj. of rentte to Gymmyngham, wich yowre fadre paide nevere. Geffreie axid Palmere why the rentte was notte axid in myn husbonddis tyme ; and Palmere seyde, for he was a grete man, and a wyse man of the law, and that was the cawse men wolde not axe hym the rentte. I sende yow the namis of the men that kaste down the pittis, that was Gynnis Close, wretyn in a bille closid in this lettre. I sendde yow not this lettre to make yow wery of Paston ; for I leve in hoope, and ye wolle lern that they schulle be made werye of her werke, for in good feyth I dar welseyne it was yowr fadris laste wille to have do ryzht wel to that plase, and that can I schewe of good profe, thowe men wolde seye naye. God make yow ryzht a good man, and sende Goddis blessyng and myn. Wrettyn in haste, at Norwich, the Thorsdaie aftir Candel- masse daie. Wetith of yowre brothere John now manie gystis [joists] wolle serve the parler and the chapelle at Paston, and what lenghthe they moste be, and what brede and thykknesse thei moste be ; for yowre fadris wille was, as I weene veryli, that thei schuld be ix. enchis on wey, and vij. another weye. And porveythe therfor that thei mow be squarid there, and sentte hedre, for here can non soche be hadde in this conttre. And seye to yowre brothir John it weer wel don to thinkke on Stansted Chirche ; x and I praye yow to sende me tydynggs 2 from be yond see, for here thei arn a ferde to telle soche as be reportid. By yowr Modre, AUGNEIS PASTON. 1 Stansted Church in Suffolk. Dame Agnes had possessions in that parish. F. 2 These tidings relate to our foreign transactions, the giving up of Maine, Truces, &c. &c. on the King's marriage, which had taken place in November. F. 73 THE PASTON LETTERS 63 JOHN HAWTEYN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY 1 'To the most reverent Fader in God the Archebisshop of Caunterbury, Chanceler of England. 1444-9 "T^ESECHETH mekely zour gracious Lordship, zour ""^ owne servant and oratour John Hauteyn, chapeleyn, -*-^ that wher he hath dyvers seutees and accions in lawe to be sewed a zent A., that was the wife of W. Paston, of the maner of Oxenedes, in the countee of Northfolk ; and for as meche as zour seid besecher can gete no counsell of men of court to be with hym in the seid matiers, by cause that the seid W. P. was one of the Kynges Justices, and John P., son and heir to the seid W. P., is al so a mon of court ; that hit plese zour good Lordship to assigne, and most streytly to comaund John Hey don, 2 Thomas Lyttylton, 8 and John Oelston to be of counsell with zour seid besecher in the seid matiers, and oder that he hath to do azenst the seid Anneys and oder ; and zour said besecher shal contente hem well for their labour. And that this be doo in the reverence of God, and wey of charite. JOHN HAUTEYN, Chapeleyn. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 36.] This is a petition addressed to John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, as Chancellor, after the death of William Paston in 1444. Stafford was made Archbishop in 1443. His appointment as Chancellor was even earlier, and he held the office till the 3ist of January 1450. 2 A lawyer and recorder of Norwich. F. 3 Afterwards the famous Judge Lyttelton. F. 74 HENRY VI 64 SIR ROGER CHAMBERLAIN TO AGNES PASTON 1 To my right worchepfull Cosyn, Agnes Paston. RIGHT worchepfull cosyn, I comand me to you. And After as for the mater that ye sent to me fore, touchyng 1444 the maner callid Walshams, in Walsham, the trouth is, youre husbond soldyt to my moder upon condition that she shuld never sel it but to youre sones, John or William ; and for the suerte of the seid condition, youre seid husbond, as I conseyve, ded.the seid maner be charged with a gret annuyte upon the same condition, or the tyme that my seid moder toke estate, of the whech I suppose ye shall fynde sufficiant evydens, if ye serge youre evydences therfor. And I be seche almyty God kepe you. Wretyn at Geddyng, the xv. day of September. Your Cosyn, SIR ROGER CHAMBERLEYN. 65 THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM TO THE VISCOUNT BEAUMONT 2 To the right worshipful, and with all myn herte right entirely belovid brother, the Viscounte Beaumont. RIGHT worshipful, and with all myn herte right entierly Between beloved brother, I recomaunde me to you, thenking 1442 right hertili youre good brotherhode for your gode and and gentill letters, the whiche it hath liked you to sende unto me 1455 1 [From Fenn, iii. 38.] Nothing can be said as to the date of this letter, except that it is evidently after the death of William Paston. 2 [From Fenn, i. 16.] There appear to be no means of ascertaining the exact year when this letter was written ; but as the writer was created Duke of Buckingham on the i4th September 1441, and his son, the Earl of Stafford, was killed at the battle of St. Albans on the zznd May 1455, the date must lie between these two limits. 75 THE PASTON LETTERS Between nowe late ; and like it you to knowe I perseeve by the tenor of 1442 the seid lettre, your gode desire of certein dubete that I owe unto and you. In gode faith, brother, it is so with me at this tyme, I 1455 have but easy stuffe of money withinne me, for so meche as the seison of the yer is not yet growen, so that I may not plese youre seide gode brotherhode, as God knoweth my will and entent were to do, and I had it. Nevertheless, and it like you, I sende you, bi my sonne Stafford, 1 an obligacion wherof, of late tyme, I have rescevid part of the dubete therinne comprisid ; the residue of whiche I prai you to resceve bi the seid obligacion, and that I may have an acquitance therof, and to yeve credence unto my seid sonne in such thing as he shall say unto your gode brotherhode on my behalve. Right worshipfull, and with all myn herte right entirely belovid brother, I beseche the blissed Trinite, preserve you in honor and prosperite. Writen at my Castell of Makestok, 2 the xvij. day of Marche. Yowre trew and fethfull broder, H. BUKINGHAM. 66 WILLIAM YELVERTON TO JOHN PASTON 3 To my ryght wurchepfull cosyn> John Paston, Esquter. Between ~\ IGHT worchepful cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow, 1444 |^ thankyng yow as hertyly as I kan for my selff, &c., and and specially for that ye do so moche for Oure Ladyes 1460 hous at Walsyngham, which I trust veryly ye do the rather 1 Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, the Duke's eldest son, who was slain at St. Albans in 1455. 2 In Warwickshire. 3 [From Fenn, i. 20.] The date of this letter is not earlier than 1444, when William Yelverton was appointed a Justice of the King's Bench ; and, as Fenn remarks, it is probably not later than 1460, when he was made a Knight of the Bath, otherwise he would have signed himself Knight as well as Justice. 76 HENRY VI for the grete love that ye deme I have therto ; for trewly if I Between be drawe to any worchep or wellfare, and discharge of myn 1444 enmyes daunger, I ascryve it unto Our Lady. and Preyng yow therfore that ye woln ben as frendly to Our 1460 Ladyes hous as I wote well ye have alwey ben, and in especyall now, that I myght have of yow the report certeynly be your letter of that, that Naunton your cosyn informyd yow, and told yow be mouth of all maters towchyng Oure Ladyes hous of Walsyngham. For me thynkyth be that I have herde be Oure Ladys prest of Walsyngham, if I understode weel that mater, that it shuld do moch to the gode spede of the mater ; and dought yow not our Lady shall quyte it yow and here poer priour here aftyr, as he may, &c. Preying yow also, cosyn, and avysyng for the ease of us both, and of our frendes, and of many other, that ye be at London be tymes this terme, and if we spede well now, all well all this yere aftir ; for I knowe veryly ther was nevyr made gretter labour thanne shall be made now, and therfore I pray to Our Lady, help us, and her blissid Sone, which have you in His holy kepyng. Wreten at your poer place of Bayfeld, on Sent Fraunces day, 1 in hast. Your cosyn, WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justis. 6 7 ABSTRACT 2 Indenture, dated 30 Oct. 25 Henry vi., by which Agnes Paston grants a 1446 lease to John Downing, miller, and others, of the mill called Woodmill, in OCT. 30 Paston. 1 St. Francis' day is the 4th of October. 2 [Add. Charter 14,819, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)] 77 THE PASTON LETTERS 68 THE BAILIFF AND JURATS OF JERSEY TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT 1 A nos treshonores et nobles Signours Visconte Beaumont , Connestable d'Engleterre et Seigneur de Sudele, grant mestre de hostel de nostre Souverayn Seigneur le Roy d'Engleterre et France. 1 447 r I ^RESHONORABLEZ et noblez seigneurs, nous nous recommandous tant que faire le povons a voz hon- norablez seignouriez. Et vous plese savoir que le samedy xv me jour du moys de Aprille nous avons receu unez lettrez patentes de nostre Souverain Seigneur le Roy d'Engle- terre et de France, contenant comme il vous a donne la guarde dez islez de Jersey et Guernesey durant le non aage de 1'er de mon Seigneur de Warwyk, et unez aultrez lettrez a nous directes de par vous, presentees de par voz servitours John Morin et Robert Haxby. Et pour cause que eulx n'avoyent point de procuracions, ou feisions difficultey, et non obstant a voz ditz servitours a estey delivree et baillie la pocession de la dicte isle de Jersey, et ont jure et promis par lours serementz de guarder le loys et coustumez et anciens usagez de la dicte isle, et nous envoier lettrez soubz lez seaulx de voz armez, comme voz promettez tenir en fermete ce que eulx ont promis, et de ce nous ont bailly plege Sire John Bernard, cappitaine desdictez islez, quer aultrement nous ne lez eussons point receus, comme il apparest par le certificat a eulx par nous donne, quer tous lez seigneurs, guardes, cappitaines, juges, et aultrez officers de audevant de cez hourez ont estey jurez a nous lois, coustumez et anciens usagez, lez queilz ont estey 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The custody of the islands of Jersey and Guernsey, &c., during the minority of Ann, daughter and heir of Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, was granted in 25 Henry vi. to John, Viscount Beaumont, and Sir Ralph Butler, Lord Sudley. See Dugdale's Baronage, ii. 54. 78 HENRY VI guardez et seront en tempz advenir avecquez 1'aide de Dieu 1447 qui vous ayt en sa sainte guarde. Escript en Jersey le xvij me jour du moys de Aprill. De par lez vostrez le Bailiff [et] Jures de 1'Isle de Gersy. 6 9 EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON Tradatur Johanni Paston, of the Inner In in the Temple, att Lonaon. RYTH worschipfull brothir, I recomaund me to yow, i447(?) &c. I preye write to myn modre of your owne hed as for to consell her howh that sche kepe her prevye, and tell no body ryth nowth of her counsell ; for sche woll tell persones many of her counsell this day, and to morwe sche woll sey be Goddis faste that the same men ben false. I have seen parte of the evydence, and the maner 2 hath be pourchasid be parcell, and certeyn feffement mad of the avowson, and certeyn pecis of lond enterlessant the maner ; and I wote well ye have on collaterall rellesse wyth a warente of on of the wyffys of Hauteyn 3 of all the holl maner. Steward, the chiffe constable, told me he was enpanellyd up on the assise be twex yow and Frauncesse ; he axyd me counsell what he myght do ther inne, for he told me it was take in Sir Thomas Tudham name. He wold fayne be chalengyd. I concellyd him swere the trewthe of the issue that he shall be swore to, and thanne he nedyd never to drede hym of noon 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the conversation here reported touching the anticipated ascendancy of Daniel and the Marquis, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk, this letter may be referred to the year 1447. In April of the year following, the influence of Suffolk was paramount, and Daniel was said to be out of favour, as will be seen by Letter 75 following. 2 The manor of Oxnead. See Blomefield, vi. 478. 3 Probably Robert, father of John Hauteyn, the friar. 79 THE PASTON LETTERS I447(?)atteynte. I yave him this counsell, and noon othir. He enqueryd me of the rewle of myn master Danyell 1 and myn Lord of Suffolke, 2 and askyd wheche I thowte schuld rewle in this schere ; and I seyd bothe, as I trowh, and he that sur- vyvyth to hold be the vertue of the survyvyr, and he to thanke his frendes, and to aquite his enmyys. So I fele by him he wold forsake his master, and gette him a newh yf he wyste he schuld rewle ; and so wene I meche of all the centre is so disposyd. The holy Trenyte kepe yow. Wrete at Norwiche, on the Wednysday after Seynt Peter 3 in hast. Your Brother, E. PASTON. 70 ABSTRACT 4 1447 Deed by which William Pope, perpetual Vicar of Paston, confirms to SEPT. 3 Agnes, widow of William Paston, and John Bakton, their estate in a piece of land, particularly described ; and also binds himself to celebrate mass every Friday for the souls of said William and Agnes, &c. &c., exhort his parishioners to put up prayers for them every Sunday, called * certeynys,' and celebrate William Paston's obit on the I3th August. Dated at Paston, 3rd September 26 Henry vi. 71 ABSTRACTS 5 OCT. 21, 21 Oct., at London. Letter from Fastolf to Thomas Howys and John 26 Grene, desiring them to procure information about one Robert Eccles, cousin and heir to John Eccles, whom the counsel for the prior of Hickling propose to call to give evidence about the rent of 25 marks. 1447, [26 Oct.] 'Thursday byfore S. Symond and Jude,' 26 Hen. vi. at Castre. Long letter from Thomas Howys in reply to the preceding, with the 1 Thomas Daniel. 2 William de la Pole, at this time Marquis, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk. 8 St. Peter's day is the 2$th June. * [Add. Charter 17,235, B.M. (Paston MSS.)] 6 [From MSS. Hickling, 130, 140, in Magd. Coll., Oxf.] 80 HENRY VI results of searches made in the Bishop's registry for wills of the Eccles family, 1447 with particulars about various members of the family, etc. OCT. 21, 26 [For these abstracts I am indebted to Mr. Macray, and also for those immediately following, which are from the same source.] 72 ABSTRACTS 1 THE PRIOR OF HICKLING. Hickling 71. f_i4 . . ] At Westminster. Letter [on paper, in English] from two counsel, William Wangeford and William Jenney, to Sir John Fastolf, giving their opinion on his claim against the prior of Hickling. Sir John cannot recover the ^20 forfeit, because the con- dition of the obligation only extended to the heirs of Sir Hugh Clifford, and not to his assigns, and Sir John is only an assign ; but the rent of 25 marks is sure to him, and he can recover it, if denied by the prior, by process of law ; they will consult with justices and Serjeants whether he can recover it by distraint. Hickling 74. [14 . . ] Friday in the 2nd week after Easter at Lenne. Letter, [in English, on paper] from Henry Notyngham to Sir Henry Barton, Alderman of London. Has counselled with Fasten, and finds him more friendly and ready to help in Barton's matter than ever before ; supposes that the cause is, that the prior that was obstinate is dead, and another appointed, who Fasten trusts will be more easy to stir. Desires that Fasten may be thanked. Sends a letter which he desires * a child of zours ' may carry to Mistress Jenkin Leventhorpe the younger ; and ask at my lord's inn of Doreham or of Ratclyff or some other which he may think best, if he (i.e. my Lord of Durham) shall be at this Parliament. Send to Thomelin Grys, spicer at Norwich, some * loder,' as soon as he can goodly buy it, which comes each week to Rossamez Inn in St. Laurence's Lane. Hickling 75. [14 . . ] 14 Apr., at Norwich. Letter, [in English, on paper] from H\_enry~\ Notyngham to Sir Henry Barton, alderman of London. Delivered Paston the copy of the deeds ; shewed his letter to the prior and convent, but gained nothing ; they said they would please Barton full fain, but all their counsel are full against their binding them- selves by any such confirmation ; they were bound to the former owner and his 1 [From MSS. in Magd. Coll., Oxf.] VOL. II. F 8 I THE PASTON LETTERS heirs, but not to his assigns. Advises him to get good counsel, and thinks nothing can be done unless he gets Paston's assent and grant to help the matter. H idling 89. 1450 or 1451 ?3 1 8 Aug. Norwich. Letter [in English, on paper] from ' W. [Hari], Bisshope of Norwich? to Sir John Fastolf. Has put himself greatly in his devoir to put an end to the controversy between Fastolf and the house of Hykelyng, and has been so importunate that Lord Scales has advised him not to meddle in the matter, because he is taken as a suspect person ; if he could do him more profit, he would not spare labour or cost, on account of Fastolf's towardness and gentle- ness to condescend unto right and reasonable mean, the which he conceives not in the other party. Had hoped his good and devout purpose towards the place of St. Bennet's would have grown to some good conclusion ; was there the Sunday before St. Laurence's Day, and greatly rejoiced at such work and cost as he has done there. Heartily desires him to come here to the air of his natural birth, where he will find my Lord of Norfolk and such attendance as the Bishop and other gentles of the country may do, ready unto him at all times ; his coming would be to his health and heart's ease, and the cause of much peace in the country. Small seal, fastened on the letter ; a stag ; a straw round it. Hickling 104. C ] Letter, [in English, on paper] from Lord Scales to Sir John Fastolf, asking him to withdraw an outlawry which has been issued against John Dowebegyng, servant of the former, for a debt of ^100 due to Fastolf by Thomas Danyell, Esq., for which Dowebegyng had become bound. Signed by Lord Scales, who adds a postscript in his own hand that Fastolf has been as faithful and kind to him since he came into England as he was in France, and that there is no one of his estate for whom he would do so much. Small seal, on the paper, with a straw round it. 73 ABSTRACT * 1447 Indenture, dated St. Andrew's Eve, 26 Henry vi., between Agnes Paston NOV. 29 an d Waryn Baxter, the former agreeing that Baxter shall have, at the will of the lord of the manor of Knapton, the lands, &c. that were Richard Redys [Rede's], with reservations. 1 [Add. Charter 17,236, B.M. (Paston MSS.)] 82 HENRY VI 74 JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right worshipful! mayster, John Paston. WORTHY and worshipful sir, and my right good 1448 maister, I recomaund me to yow. And do yow MARCH n wete that this nyght at soper I was with my maistresse your wyff at my maistresse Cleres, and blissed be God thei fare weel and hopyn that [you 2 ] shall sende themme good tidyng of your matier, Whanne ye knowe the certeynte therof, &c. And my maistresse your modir come thedir and fareth well and sendeth yow Goddis blissyng and heris, and she bad me write to yow that she hath verey knowe- lage by a trewe and trusty man, whos name she shall telle yow by mouthe atte your next metyng, that ther was purposed a gret meyne of a wondir gaderyng of shipmen abowte Conor- hithe for to have come to Oxened, and putte me owt there in a wers wyse thanne ye were put owt at Gresham ; and this was purposed for to have ben at Oxened and a ryfled and put in the preest 3 there, but this purpose helde not, for thei were countermandet, by what mene I can not knowe yeet. And * it is do hir to wete that thei be purposed to be at Ox[n]ede a bowt midlent, and I am promitted that I shall have ii. days warnyng by a good freend. And therfor she prayeth yow that ye aspie besily if the preest come into thir countre or noght. For if ought shall be doo I trowe the Frere wole be there atte doyng. And if ye can aspie that he come hider, send my maistresse word as hastily as ye may, and of your avyse and of all other thyngges as ye seme, &c. And God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn at ix. on the clokke at evyn the noneday (sic) nex to fore Sent Gregory day in hast. 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 178.] St. Gregory's Day is doubtless that of St. Gregory the Pope (12 March), and this letter may be referred with certainty to the year 1448, just after Paston's first expulsion from Gresham. The Monday before St. Gregory's Day in that year would be the very day preceding. 2 Omitted in MS. * Friar John Hawteyn. * 'and' repeated in MS. 83 THE PASTON LETTERS 1448 My brother Bekke and his felawship shall telle yow more MARCH 1 1 by mowthe thanne I can telle yow now. Your servaunt, J. GRESHAM. 75 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON * T0 my ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be this lettyr delivery d in hast. TT\ YTH wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to zw, APRIL 1-^ desyryng hertyly to heryn of zour wel fare, praying *" zw to wete that I was with my Lady Morley 2 on the Satyrday next after that ze departyd from hens, and told here qhat answer that ze had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it ryth straw[n]gely, and seyd that sche had told zw, and schewyd zw i now \_enougK\, qher by ze myth have knowleche that the releve owt \pught\ to ben payd to her. And sche seyd sche wyst wel that ze delay it forthe, that sche xuld nowth have that longyth to her ryth. And sche told me hw it was payd in Thomas Chawmbers tym, qhan her dowther Hastyngs 3 was weddyd ; and sche seyd sythyn that ze wyl make none end with her, sche wyl sew therfore as law wyl. I conseyvyd be here that sche had cwnsel to labore azens zw therin withyn ryth schort tym. And than I prayd her that sche wuld vwche save nowth to labowr azens zw in this mater tyl ze kom horn ; and sche seyd nay, be her feyth, sche wuld no more days zeve [zi> j be God. Mo over, mayster, I send yow word, by Rauly Pykeryng, of all maters, the whyche I be seche yow yeve hym credens, as he wyll enforme yow of all; so, sur, I beseche yow, in the reverens of God, that ye wyll enforme owr Soverayn Lord the Kyng of all maters that I send yow in thys letter, lyke as I have send a letter to my Lord Chaunseler and to all my Lordys by the sayd Pykeryng; the whyche letter I beseche yow that ye take and delyver to my Lord and all my Lordys by yowr awne handys, and lete the sayd Pykeryng declare all thyngs as he hath sayn and knoweth. Furst, I send yow word that when we went to see, we toke ij. schyppys of Brast comyng owte of Flaundrys; and then after, ther ys made a grete armyng in Brytayne to mete with me and my felyschyp, that ys to say, the grete schyp of Brast, the grete schyp of the Morleys, the grete schyp of Vanng, with other viij. schyppis, bargys, and balyngers, to the number of iij. m l!< [3000] men; and so we lay in the see to me[te] with them. And then we mette with a flotte of a c. \a hundred] grete schyppys of Pruse, Lubycke, Campe, Rastocke, Holond, Selond, and Flandres, betwyte Garnyse [Guernsey] and Port- land ; and then I cam abord the Admirall, and bade them stryke in the Kyngys name of Englond, and they bade me skyte in the Kyngs name of Englond ; and then I and my feleschyp sayd, but [unless] he wyll streke don the sayle, that I wyld over sayle ham by the grace of God, and God wyll send me wynd and wether; and dey bade me do my wurst, by cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale, that they scornyd with me. And as God wuld, on Fryday last was, we had a gode wynd, and then we armyd to the number of ij. m 1 - [2000] men in my felyschyp, and made us redy for to over sayle them ; and then they lonchyd a bote, and sette up a stondert of truesse, and com and spake with me. And ther they were yolded all the hundret schyppys to go with me in what port that me lust and my felawys ; but they faothe with me the day 104 HENRY VI before, and schotte atte us a j. m L [1000] gonnys, and quarell 1 1449 owte of number, and have slayn meny of my felyschyp, and MAY 2 5 meymyd all soo. Wherfor me thyngkyt that they haye forfett bothe schypps and godys at our Soverayn Lord the Kyngys wyll. Besechyng yow that ye do yowr parte in thys mater, for thys I have wrytyn to my Lord Chaunseler 2 and all my Lordys of the Kyngys Counsel! ; and so I have brofte them, all the c. \hundred\ shyppys, within Wyght, in spyte of them all. And ye myght gete leve of owr Soverayn Lord the Kyng to com hydder, hyt schall turne yow to grete wurschup and profett, to helpe make owr a poyntement in the Kyngs name, for ye sawe never suche a syght of schyppys take in to Englond this c. wynter ; for we ly armyd nyght and day to kepe them, in to the tyme that we have tydengs of our Soverayn and hys counsell. For truly they have do harme to me, and to my feleschyp, and to yowr schyppys more [than] ij. m L li. 3 worth harme ; and therfor I am avesyd, and all my feleschyp, to droune them and slee them, withoute that we hafe tydyngs from owr Soverayn the Kyng and hys counsell. And therfor, in the reverens of God, come ye yowr self, and ye schall have a grete avayle and wurschup of yowr comyng to see a suche syght, for I der well sey that I have her at this tyme all the cheff schyppys of Duchelond, Holond, Selond, and Flaundrys, and now hyt wer tyme for to trete for a fynell pese as for that party es. I writ no more to yow at this tyme, but All myghty Jesus have yow in hys kepyng. I writ in hast, within Wyght, on Soneday at nyght after the Ascencion of owr Lord. By yowr owne Servant, ROBT. WENYNGTON. 1 See p. 101, Note 3. 2 John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury. 3 Fenn says the reading of the original is indistinct, and he could not determine whether 2000 or 3000 was meant. I0 5 THE PASTON LETTERS 9 1 WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 'To myn most reverent and \w~\urchepful broder, Jon Paston. About f - ^o myn most reverent and wurchepful brodur, I recum- H49 3 mend me hartely to zow, desiryng special! to hare of zowre wellefare and prosperite, qweche Almyty God contenu to zowre gosteli hele and bodili welfare. And if it plase zowre goode broderod to here of myn wellefare, at the makyng of this bylle I was in good hele. And if it leke zowre good broderod to remembre the letter that I sent to zow of the noyse that was telde of zow, that ze schuld a be on of the capetayns of the ryserse in Norfolk, and how that j. scholere of Cambryg, qweche is parsone of Welle, schuld an utteryd ferthere to zowr grete schalndyr [slander] ; besechyng zow to undyrstond that the seyde parsone of Welle was sone [after ?] 2 that tyme at Lundon, were he harde sey of j. swyr of ij. c. marc be zere [of one squire of 200 marks by year] that ze and Master Thomas Wellys wolde sewe the seyd Parsone Welle for zowre schalndyr ; and the seyde parsone come to Cambryg sothyn, and hathe pekyd a qwarell to on Mastyr Recheforthe, a knythys sone of Norforfolke, 3 and seyd to Rychechefor 3 that he had because that ze schuld sewe hym ; and the seyd Parsone Welle thretyd Rycheferthe that wat some ever that ze causyd Parson Welle to lese be zowre sewtes, that Rycheferthe schul lese the same to the Parson of Welle. Werefor this jeltylmon Rycheforthe taketh grete thowt, and pray me to wrythe to zow that ze wulde sese zowre suthe tylle the tyme that ze wulde asyne that I mythe speke wythe zow, and odyr sundry have speke with zow of the same mater ; for yt ware pithe that Rycheforthe chuld have ony hurthe thereby. I beseche 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As it appears from Margaret Paston's letter of the 2nd April 1449 that William Paston was a student at Cambridge in that year, the date or this must be about the same period. 8 Word omitted. 3 So in MS. 1 06 HENRY VI zow holde me excusyd, thow I wryt no better to zow at thys About tyme, for in good feyth I had no leysere. The brynggar of 1449 thys letter can telle zow the same. God have zow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Cambryg, on Fryday [sajnyth 1 nexste before Mydsommer Evyn. In case ze come ba come [back home ?~\ be Cambryg, I schal telle zow mo of it. I am sory I may wrythe no bettyr at this tyme, but I trust ze wylle [have] paciens. Be zowre pore Broder, W. P ASTON. 9 2 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON 2 'To the Worshypful Sir, and my ryght well beloved cosen, John Paston. WORSHYPFULL and ryghte welbelovyd cosyn, I i449(?) comaund me to you. Please you to here that the JULY 10 Pryore and Convent of Norwyche have wythhalden certeyn rent for landes that they halden of me wythinne my maner of Haylysdon, and the ij. tapers of wax of ij. Ibs. wyght, by the space of xviij. yere, that mountyth xxjj. 3 valued in money. And the lordes of the seyd maner beyng before me, and y yn my tyme, have been seised and possessed of the seyd rent. Prayng you to speke wyth the Pryore, or comaundyng me unto hym. And that ye lyke to move hym to make me payment as his dewtee ys, so as y have no cause to gowe further, and to do as justice requyreth. He hahyth xxx. acres lande or more by the seyd rent, and whyht ought to pay me * othyr rent more by myn evidense. More over y pray you, cosen, that I may speke with you or \before~\ y ryde, and that on Thursday by the ferthest ; and then y shall tell you 1 This is written ' sanyth,' but there is a stroke through the a, which was perhaps intended to have been carried through the J also. 2 [From Palmer's Foundation and Antiquity e of Great Yermouthe, p. 6 1 .] 3 ' xxj.o,' as printed by Palmer, but the ' o ' no doubt should be /.' 107 THE PASTON LETTERS I 449(- ? ) tydyngs off the Parlement, and that ye fayle not, as my trust JULY 10 y S y n you. I pray God have you in Hys guidance. Wreten at Castor, the x. day off Julie 1449.* Your Cosen, JOHN FASTOLFE. 93 AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTdN 2 To John Paston be this letter delyveryd. Not ^1 OON, I grete zow wel with Goddis blyssyng and myn, after ^N and I latte zow wette that my cosyn Cler 3 wrytted to 1449 ^^ me that sche spake with Schrowpe 4 after that he had byen with me at Norwyche, and tolde her what cher that I had made hym, and he seyde to her he lyked wel by the cher I made hym. He had swyche wordys to my cosyn Cler that lesse than ze made hym good cher, and zaf hym wordys of conforth at London, he wolde no mor speke of the matyr. My cosyn Cler thynkyth that it were a foly to forsake hym lesse than ze knew of on owdyr as good or better ; and I have assayde zowr suster, 5 and I fonde her never so wylly to noon as sche is to hym, zyf it be so that his londe stande cleer. I sent zow a letter by Brawnton for sylke, and for this 1 So the date is given in the book from which this letter is copied, but the year is certainly wrong, as the writer did not go to reside at Caister till 1454. The date indeed would have been suspicious apart from this, as the mode of dating is quite unusual in these letters. Probably in the original MS. (which the Editor has not seen) r ' 1449 ' was inserted after 'Julie' in a later hand. 2 [From Fenn, iii. 202.] This letter is dated by Fenn 1454, with some others relating to matches proposed for Elizabeth Paston ; but the date of this cannot be later than 1451, as Sir Harry Inglos died that year. Moreover, it cannot be either 1451 or 1450, as ' the Saturday next after Midsummer,' when this letter is dated, preceded ' the Wednesday next after Midsummer day' in both these years. Thus 1449 is the latest possible date. 3 Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby, Esq. * Stephen Scrope, a son of Sir John Fastolf s wife by a former husband. 6 Elizabeth Paston. 108 HENRY VI matyr befor my cosyn Cler wrote to me, the qwyche was Not wrytten on the Wednysday nexzt aftyr Mydsomer day. after Sir Harry Ynglows is ryzth besy a bowt Schrowpe for one 1449 of his dozthers. I prey zow, for zette nozth to brynge me my mony fro Horwelbery, as ze com fro London, edyr all or a grete parte. The dew dette was at Crystemesse last paste, no thynge a lowyd, vij/J. xiiijj. viij*/., and at this Mydsomer it is v//. more ; and thow I a low hym all his askyng, it is but xxvjj. v]d. less, but I am nozth so avysyth zytt. As for the Frer, 1 he hath byen at Sent Benetts, and at Norwyche, and made grete bowste of the sewte that he hath azens me, and bowzthe many boxes, to what intent I wett never. It is wel doen to be war at London, in drede gyf he bryng ony syse at Sent Margarets tyme. I kan no more, but Almyzty God be owr good lorde, who have zow ever in kepyng. Wryten at Oxnede in grete hast, on the Satyr next aftyr Mydsomer. By yowr Modyr, A. P. 94 ELIZABETH CLERE TO JOHN PASTON 2 To my Cosyn, John Paston, be thys letter delyvered. TRUSTY and weel be loved cosyn, I comaunde me to Not zow, desyryng to here of zowre weelfare and good after spede in zowre matere, the qwech I prey God send 1449 zow to his plesaunce and to zoure hertys ease. Cosyn, I lete zow wete that Scrope 3 hath be in this cuntre to se my cosyn zoure sustyr, and he hath spoken with my cosyn zoure moder, and sche desyreth of hym that he schuld 1 John Hawteyn. See Nos. 46, 50, and 63. 2 [From Fenn, iii. 204.] This letter appears from the contents to be ot the same year as the preceding. s Stephen Scrope. See p. 108, Note 4. 109 THE PASTON LETTERS Not schewe zow the endentures mad be twen the knyght that hath after his dowter and hym, whethir that Skrop, if he were maried and 1449 fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld enheryte his lond, or his dowter, the wheche is maried. Cosyn, for this cause take gode hede to his endentures, for he is glad to schewe zow hem, or whom ze wol a sygne with zow ; and he seith to me he is the last in the tayle of his lyflode, the qweche is CCCL. marke and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he hath take a compt of his liflode dyvers tymes ; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a sone an eyre, his dowter that is maried schal have of his liflode L. marke and no more ; and therfore, cosyn, me semeth he were good for my cosyn zowre sustyr, with[out] that ye myght gete her a bettyr. And if ze can gete a better, I wold avyse zow to labour it in as schort tyme as ze may goodly, for sche was never in so gret sorow as sche is now a dayes, for sche may not speke with no man, ho so ever come, ne not may se ne speke with my man, ne with servauntes of hir moderys but that sche bereth hire an hand 1 otherwyse than she menyth. And sche hath sen Esterne the most part be betyn onys in the weke or twyes, and som tyme twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cosyn, sche hath sent to me by Frere Newton in gret counsell, and preyeth me that I wold send to zow a letter of hir hevynes, and prey yow to be hir good brothyr, as hir trost is in zow ; and sche seith, if ze may se be his evydences that his childern and hire may enhery- ten, and sche to have resonable joynture, sche hath herd so mech of his birth and his condicions, that and ze will sche will have hym, whethyr that hir moder wil or wil not, not with- standyng it is tolde hir his persone is symple, for sche seyth men shull have the more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire to hym as sche awte to do. Cosyn, it is told me ther is a goodly man in yowre Inne, of the qweche the fadyr deyed litte, and if ze thynk that he were better for hir than Scroop, it wold be laboured, and yif Scroop a goodly answere that he be not put of tyl ze be sure of a bettyr ; for he seid whan he was with me, but if [i.e. unless] he 1 To bear one on hand, means to assert or insinuate something to a person. IIO HENRY VI have som counfortable answer of zow, he wil no more laboure Not in this mater, be cause he myght not se my cosyn zoure sustyr, after and he seyth he myght a see hire and sche had be bettyr than 1449 she is ; and that causeth hym to demyr that hir moder was not weel willyng, and so have I sent my cosyn zowre moder word. Wherfore, cosyn, thynk on this mateer, for sorow oftyn tyme causeth women to be set hem otherwyse than thei schuld do, and if sche where in that case, I wot weel ze wold be sory. Cosyn, I prey zow brenne this letter, that zoure men ne non other man se it ; for and my cosyn zowre moder knew that I had sent yow this letter, sche shuld never love me. No more I wrighte to zow at this tyme, but Holy Gost have zow in kepyng. Wretyn in hast, on Seynt Peterys day, 1 be candel lyght. Be youre Cosyn, ELIZABETH CLERE. 95 JOHN DAMME TO JOHN PASTON 2 'To my ryght worshepfutt master John Paston at London in the Inner Temple. PLESE it your good maistershep to knowe that my 1449 maisteresse your wyff recomaundeth here to yow and NOV. 30 fareth well, blyssed be God, and all your menye faren well also and recomaunde hem to yaw, &c. I was with my lord of Oxenford and dede myn erand, and I found his good lordshep well disposed towardys yow, for he seid if he were sent to for to come to, &c., if it kepe faire weder he wold not tarye, and if it reygned he wold not spare. More over I spak with Pertrych as touchyng the letter sent to my lord Moleyns ; he seyth that he was privy to the wrytyng and wele a vowe it by record of xx. persons, but he wold name to me no persone ; and so he and I accorded not fully. And I bad hym remembre 1 June 29. 2 [Add. 34,888, f. 32.] This letter was endently written in 1449, atter John Paston had re-entered Gresham, and his wife was keeping it for him. See No. 88. Ill THE PASTON LETTERS 1449 hym that he myght not abyde there if ye wold have hym owt. NOV. 30 And he seid he knewe well that. But he seid, if ye put heem out, ye shuld be put owt sone after a geyn. And I seyd if it happe it so thei shuld not longer reste there. And Mariot stod by and seyd that were no merveyll whill thei were but ij. men, but it shuld not be best so. And I seyd that I lete them wete it shuld be so if ye wold, thow they made all the strenght which they coude make. And ther to Mariot seyd stately, that myght not be performed ; and more langage ther was, to long to wryte at this leyser. Pertrych and his felaw bere gret visage and kepe gret junkeryes and dyneres, and seyn that my lord Moleynes hath wrytyn pleynly to hem that he is lord there and well be, and shall be, and ye not to have it ; but I trust to Goddes ryghtwysenes of better purvyaunce. Lyke it yow to remembre what Heydon doth and mayde by colour of justice of the pees, beyng of my lordes councell and not your good frend nor weell wyller, and to comon with your sad councell what ye must suffre by the lawe, and where inne ye may resiste. On Sunday last passed Gunore and Mariot and John Davy and other dyned with Pertrych, &c. ; and after eveson [evensong"] Gonore spake to my maisteresse that she shuld make here men to leue here wyfeles and here jackes ; and she answered that thei purposed to hurte no man of here owyn sykyng ; but for it was seid that she shuld be plukkyd owt of here howse, she were loth to suffre that ; and therfore she sayde thei shuld goo soo til ye come horn. And he seid stately, but if thei left here aray it shuld be plukked from them. I trust he must have a better warant, from his stately langage, or ells he shall not have it from hem esily. All this I remitte to your good remem- braunce with Goddes help, to Whom I pray to gyde your ryght to his worshep and your hertes desire. Wrytyn at Sustede on Seynt Andrewe day, &c. Yowres, J. DAMME. Were but well, as me semyth, that ye myght ordeygne now a fetys jacke defensable for your self, for there con they do best and best chep, &c. 112 HENRY VI 96 JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON] 1 * The King is now into the Marches of Wales, as it is said, to the intent he 1449 (0 may be near the country if my Lord of Buckingham, which is commissioner OCT. 16 now in Wales for divers offences done there to the Crown, would sue to have his commission to be enlarged, if he were repyned.' It is not known when the King will be in London again, but he is expected here at the beginning of the Parliament. I have your writs of error, but can see nothing wrong. Thos. Denys asked me why you did not follow his suggestion about the removing of the strength at Gresham, and thinks it should be done yet. Francis Costard is not yet well at ease, for his venire facias between Will. Prentys and him and Hen. Halman comes in very inopportunely. You had better come hither as soon as possible and get the favor of the sheriff that shall be next year. London, 16 Oct. 97 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN FASTOLF AND JOHN KIRTELING 2 To my ryght tristy and welbelovede Cosin and Frende, John Fastolf, and Sir John Kirte tinge, Parson of Arkesay. TRUSTY and welbeloved frendz, y grete yow wel. And OCT. 31 for as moche as y have appointed with my sone, Stephen Scrope, lyke as y sende yow the appointement writen hereafter in this letter, the whiche appointement y woll ye ful- fylle be the avys of my counsel in that at longeth to my party, like as hit ys writen. Thys ys the appointement made be twene Sir John Fastolf, Knight, and Stephen Scrope, Squier, in the maner as here after hit ys writen : 1 This abstract was made from one of the Roydon Hall MSS. shown to the Editor in 1875. Since that date he has not seen the original. 2 [From the Castlecombe MSS. in the B.M., Add. MS. 28,212, No. 21.] According to the endorsement, this letter should have been written in the year 1449; but the reader will see by the footnotes that there are grounds for doubting the accuracy of this date. VOL. II. H IJ 3 THE PASTON LETTERS I449(?) Fyrst, for as moche as the mariage of the saide Stephen OCT. 3 1 Scrope was solde l to Sir William Gascoyng, the Chefe Justice of Englonde, for v c< [500] marke, with the whiche mariage was deliverd in hande to the sayde Gascoyng the maner of Wyghton on the Wolde, in Yorke schyre, with the aperte- nance of the saide maner ; and whan the sayde Gascoyng hade hym, he wolde have solde hym agayn, or maried the saide Stephen Scrope ther [where] he schulde have byn despareiged : wherefore, at the request of the sayde Scrope and hys frendes, the saide Fastolf boght the ma[ri]age of the saide Scrope of the saide Sir William Gascoyng for v- marke, wherby the saide Fastolf hath mariage of the saide Stephen Scrope, or elles to have the saide somme of v c< marke that he payde for hym, like as hit ys above sayde. Item, for as moche as the sayde Stephen Scrope ys comyn to the saide Fastolf, sayinge that he hath fownde wey to be maried at his lyst, and also for his worschippe and profyt, so that the saide Fastolf woll consent therto, that ys to say, to Fauconeris doughter of London, that Sir Reynalde Cobham 2 had weddid. Item, for as hit ys the saide Fastolf ys wille to forther and helpe the saide Scrope in any wize ther he may be fortherede, the sayde Fastolf consenteth that the sayde Scrope marie hym to the Fauconeris. doughter, with that that the sayde Fauconer gyf to the sayde Fastolf the saide somme of v c> marke, the whiche he payde for the saide Scrope. Item, yf that the sayde Stephen Scrope pay or do pay the somme afore sayde of v c> marke sterling, than the sayde Sir John Fastolf and Dame Mylicent, 8 his wyf, schall make astate of the said maner of Wyghton on the Wolde in Yorke schyre, 1 The marriage of wards in those days used to be sold to men ot property, who would compel them to marry their own sons or daughters, or whatever other persons suited them. The only restriction to this right was, that the ward might, on coming of age, have an action against his guardian in case of disparagement, that is to say, if he was married beneath his station. 2 Sir Reginald Cobham of Sterborough, in Surrey, who died in 1446. He was the father of the notorious Eleanor Cobham, the mistress, and afterwards wife, of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Brayley's Hist, of Surrey, iv. 159. 3 Milicent, wife of Sir John Fastolf, is known to have been alive in the z^-th year of Henry vi. (1446). William Worcester says the allowance for her chamber was HENRY VI with the apertenaunce of the sayde maner, to the saide Stephen I449(?) Scrope and to the woman, the whiche schalbe his wyf, and to OCT. 31 here eyres of here bodyes begete be twix hem two. Item, yef the sayde Stephen dye with oute eyre of his body begeten, than the sayde maner of Wyghton, after the descece of the saide hys wyf, schall retourne agayne to the sayde Fastolf and Dame Mylicent, his wyf, and to the eyres of the sayde Mylicent. Item, yf so be that the sayde Fauconer wilnot pay the sayde somme of v marke, bot pera venture wolde gyf a lesse somme, then the sayde Fastolf wyl deliver to the mariage of the saide Scrope certayn londe, havynge rewarde to the somme that the sayde Fauconer wil gyf, havyng rewarde to the affer- rant of xl. pounde worthe land and v a mark of golde. Item, if that the sayde Fauconer wilnot gyf no somme of golde for the sayde mariage, the sayde Fastolf wyl take the mariage of the childe that ys eyre to the forsaide Sir Reynolde Cobham, and that the sayde Scrope forto conferme the estat hys moder has made to the saide Fastolf, yf so be that the consel of the saide Fastolf se by thaire avys that hit be for to do, and that the said mariage may be [as] moche worth to the said Fastolf as v mark. Item, ze sende me be Raufm[an an] answare o[f] the letters that y sende yow, that I may have ve[ray] knolage how that hit standys with me ther in al maner of thynges, and that I [h]ave an answare of every article that y wrote to yow. Item, for as moche as that I am bonden for my Lord Scales l to my Lord Cardnale 2 in v c> mark, the qu[ech] somme he kan not fynd no way to pay hit, on lese then that he sel a parcel of his land ; quer fore he sendis ower a man of his called Pessemerche, with whom I wil that ze spek, and se be paid until that date ; but as he says nothing more, it has been supposed she did not five longer. Mr. Poulett Scrope also believes her to have died in 1446, on the authority of a contemporary MS., which says she and Fastolf lived together thirty-eight years. Hist. Castlecombe, 263. 1 Thomas de Scales, 8th Lord. 2 John Kemp, Archbishop of York, afterwards of Canterbury; or, if this document be some years earlier, Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester. THE PASTON LETTERS i449(?) zore avis whech of the places of my said Lord Scales that OCT - 3 r standis most cler to be solde ; and if the place that is beside W[a]lsyngham stand cler, I have hit lever then the tother ; and therfore I pray [z]ow that ze make apointement with the said Pesemerche in the best wise that ze may, athir of the ton place or the tother, and or ze let take hit after xx. zere, havyn[g] rewarde to the verray val[u] therof, and as ze don send me worde be the next massager. Item, my Lord of Hungerford l has writen to me for to have the warde of Robert Monpyns[on]is sone, wher of I am agreed that he schal [have] hit like as I has wretyn to hym in a letter, of the whech I send zow a cope closed here in : wher fore I pray zow to enquere of the verray valu of the land that Monpynson haldis of me, and sendis me word in hast ; for my said Lord Hungerford sais in his letter that hit is worth bot xb. a zere aboufe the rentis, as ze may se the letter that he sent me, the q[uec]h I send zow be my son Scrope. And I pray zow to demene zow to my said Lord as eesely as ze may in this mater and al other that I have to do with hym, as ze may se be the cope aforesaid. And or (j/V) have zow in his kepyng. Wretyn at Roan (?) 2 the last day of October. J. FASTOLFE. Endorsed Appunctuamentum factum pro Stephano Scroope anno xxviij Regis H. vj. ad maritandum. 1 Walter, ist Lord Hungerford, died in August 1449, and was succeeded in the title by his son Robert. 2 The name is a little indistinct from the decay of the paper, but the first and last letters are clear, and it is scarcely possible to doubt that Rouen was the place here intended. Yet if this be so, the letter must be much earlier than the date assigned to it in the endorsement. 116 HENRY VI 98 RICHARD, EARL OF WARWICK, TO SIR THOMAS TODENHAM 1 To owr ryght trusty and welbelovyd Frend, Ser Thomas Todenham. RYGHT trusty and welbelovyd frend, we grete you well, I449(?) hertely desyryng to here of yowr welfare, which we NOV. 2 pray God preserve to yowr herts desyr ; and yf yt please yow to here of owr welfare, we wer in goud hale atte the makyng of this lettre, praying you hertely that ye wyll consider owr message, which owr Chapleyn Mayster Robert Hoppton shall enforme you of. For as God knowyth we have gret besynesse dayly, and has had here by for this tyme. Wherfor we pray you to consyder the purchas that we have made wyth one John Swyffhcotte, Squier of Lyncolnshyr, of Ixxx. and viij/j. by yer, whereuppon we must pay the last pay- ment the Moneday nexte after Seynt Martyn' day, which sum ys CCCC. and Iviij/z. ; wherfor we pray you wyth all owr herte that ye wyll lend us x//'., or twenty, or whet the seyd Maister Robert wants of hys payment, as we may do for you in tym for to com ; and we shall send yt you ageyn afor New- yers day wyth the grace of God, as we ar trew knyght. For there is nonne in your cuntre that we myght wryght to for trust so well as unto you ; for, as we be enformyd, ye be owr well wyller, and so we pray you of goud contynuaunce. Wherfor e we pray you that ye consyder our entent of this mony, as ye wyll that we do for you in tym to com, as God knowyth, who have you in hys kepyng. Wreten atte London, on All Salwyn [All Souls'] day, wyth inne owr loggyng in the Grey Freys [Friars'] wyth inne Newgate. Ric., ERLE WARWYKE.* 1 [From Fenn, i. 84.] Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, afterwards famous as the 'King-maker,' succeeded to the title in 1449, and this ^ etter is not unlikely to have been written in that very year. Certainly it is not many years later. In 1449 and 1450 Warwick was probably in London to attend the Parliament. 2 ' The seal of this letter,' says Fenn, ' is of red wax, on which is the Bear and Ragged Staff, the badge of this nobleman, with his motto, the whole very fair and curious, and around it is a braid of twine.' 117 THE PASTON LETTERS 99 ABSTRACT 1 1440 Copy f a Grant from the Crown to John Bray for services against the DEC. ii King's enemies. Caen, nth December 14^9, 28 Henry vi. [This document is very mutilated and decayed. It is written in French, the spelling of which is very peculiar, and is probably a bad copy by some one who did not know the language.] IOO WILLIAM TAILBOYS TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT 2 'To my right honorabull and right wurshipful Lord, my Lord Viscont Beaument. Before T"^ IGHT honorabull and my right wurshipfull Lord, I 1450 r^ recomaund me unto your gode Lordship with all my service, evermore desireng to here of your prosperitie and welfare, the which I pray God encres and contynue to his plesur, and after your oone herts desire ; thankyng you of the gode Lordship that ye have shewed me at all tymes, beseching you alway of gode contynuance. Plesid your gode Lordship to be remembred how afore this tyme Hugh Wythom hath said he wold be in rest and peese with me, and not to maligne agayn me otherwise than lawe and right wold; that notwithstandyng, upon Munday last past, he and iij. men with him come unto a servaunt hous of myn in Boston, cald William Shirref, and there, as he sete at 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] 2 [From Fenn, iii. 282.] This letter is dated by Fenn between 1455 and 1460, but cannot be later than the former of these years, as Lord Cromwell died in the beginning of 1456. It seems, further, beyond a doubt that the Lord Willoughby, mentioned along with him, was Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby, who was con- nected by mariiage both with Lord Cromwell and with Lord Welles; and if so the date cannot be later than 1451, as this Lord Willoughby died in July 1452. Indeed, I have very little doubt it is before 1450, as both Tailboys and Beaumont were of the Duke of Suffolk's party, and it is not likely that the former would have ventured to complain of his powerful neighbours, Lords Willoughby, Cromwell, and Welles after the Duke's fall, especially as we know that in the beginning of 1450 he was in prison for an attempt to murder Lord Cromwell. 118 HENRY VI his werke, stroke him upon the hede and in the body with a Before dagger, and wondet him sore, and pulled him out of his hous, 1450 and set him in prison without any cause resonabull, or without writ, or any other processe shewid unto him ; and that me semes longs not for him to do, bot as he says he is endited, and as your gode Lordship knawes wele, I and all my servaunts are in like wise; bot and any man shuld have done hit, it longs either to the shirref or to your baliff as I conceyve, and other cause he had non to him as fer as I kan knawe, bot awnly for the malissiousness that he hath unto me, ne I kan think non other bot it is so. And now yistre nyght my Lord Welles 1 come to Boston with iiij** [four score] horses, and in the mornyng foloyng toke hym out of prison, saying afore all peepll, ' Fals thefe, you shall be hanged, and as mony of thy maistre men as may be goten ' as your servaunt John Abbot kan report unto your gode Lordship, and hath taken him away with him to Tatessall, what to do with him I kan not say, bot as I suppose to have him to Lincoln Castell : wherfor I besech your gode Lordship in this matier to be my gode Lord, and it please your gode Lordship to write a letter to the kepere of the Castell of Lincoln, that it liked him to deliver him out of prison undre a sufficient seurety had for him, for and thai may kepe him still be this meyne, thai may take all the servaunts that I have, and so I may do agayn in like wise. And also, as I am enformed, without he be had out of prison in hast, it will be right gravewis to him to heile of his hurt, he is so sore streken ; and if there be any service that your gode Lordship will comaund me to do in any cuntre, plesid you to send me word, and it shal be done to my power with the grace of God, which have you, my right honorabull and wurshipfull Lord, alway in his blessid kepyng. Writen at Kyme, 2 upon Wednesday next after our Ladi day the Assumpcion. 3 . Also plesid your gode lordship to wit, after this letter was 1 Leo, Lord Welles. 2 In Lincolnshire, between Tattershall and Sleaford. 3 ifth August. 119 THE PASTON LETTERS Before made, there come a man fro Tatessall into my fenne, which 1450 owght me gode will, and be cause he wold not be holden suspect, he speke with wemen which were mylkand kyne, and bad theme goo to a preest of myn to Dokdike, and bid him fast goo gif me warnyng how that my Lord Wilughby, 1 my Lord Cromwell, 2 and my Lord Welles 3 proposid theme to set a sessions, and hang the said William Shirref, and thai myght bryng ther entent abowte; and so, as I and your servaunt John Abbot stode to geder, the prest come and gaf me warnyng herof, which I trust for my worship your gode Lordship wold not shuld happen, for it wer to me the grettest shame that myght falle ; bot and it plese your gode Lordship to write to all your servaunts in this cuntre, that thai will be redy upon a day warnyng to come when I send theme word, I trust to God thai shal not hang him agayn the la we, bot I, with help of your gode Lordship, shall be abull to let hit. By your Servaunt, WILLIAM TAILBOYS.* IOI IMPEACHMENT OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK 5 To the King oure Soverayn Lord. 1450 C^ HEWETH and piteuously compleyneth youre humble FEB. 7 ^N trewe obeisantes Comunes of this youre nobile reaume, ^^ in this youre present Parlement, by your high autorite assembled for the seurte of your moste high and royall per- 1 Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby, who married Maud Stephen, a niece of Lord Cromwell. 2 Ralph, Lord Cromwell. 3 Leo, Lord Welles, whose son Richard married Joan, a daughter of Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby. * William, afterwards Sir William, Tailboys of South Kyme, in Lincolnshire, who was attainted under Edward iv. as an adherent of the House of Lancaster. His family was afterwards ennobled as Barons Talboys. He is most unfavourably mentioned in the impeachment of the Duke of Suffolk, of whom he appears to have been a great adherent, and is accused of having made an attempt to murder Lord Cromwell in the Star Chamber at Westminster, on the 28th November 1449. See Rolls of Parliament, v. 181-200. 6 [From Fenn, iii. 62.] These are the articles of impeachment exhibited against the Duke of Suffolk, as printed by Fenn from a contemporaneous copy among the 120 HENRY VI sone, and the welfar of this your nobile reaume, and of your 1450 trewe liege peple of the same, that William de la Pole, Duke FEB - 7 of Suffolk, late of Ewelme, in the counte of Oxenford, falsly and treyterously hath ymagined, compassed, purposid, fore- thought, done, and commytted divers high, grete, heynous, and horrible treasons ayenst your most roiale persone, youre corones of your raumes of England and Fraunce, your duchiee of Guyan and Normandie, and youre holde enheritaunce of your countee of Anjoye and Mayne, the estate and dignite of the same, and the universall wele and prosperite of all your trewe subgettes of raumes, [duchies] and counte in maner and in forme ensewyng. First, the seid Duke the xx d day of Juy 11 the xxv. yere * of youre blissid regne, in youre citee of London, in the parich of Sepulcr, in the ward of Faringdon infra, ymagynyng and purposing falsly and treyterously to distroy your moste roiall persone, and this your seid realme, thenne and ther trayter- ously excited, councelled, provoked, and comforted the Erie of Donas 2 [bastard] 3 of Orliaunce, Bertrande, Lord Pressigny, Maister William Cusinet, 4 enemys to you Soverayne Lord, and other your enemeys, subgettes and ambassiators to Charles, 5 calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grettys adversarie and enemey, to meve, councell, ster, and provoke the same Charles to come in to this your realme, to leve, reise, and make open werr ayenst you, Soverayne Lord, and alle this your reaume with a grete puissaunce and arme to distroy your most roiall persone, and your trewe subgettes of the same realme, to the entente to make John, sone of the same Duke, [King] of this your seid realme, and to depose you of your heigh regalie therof ; the same Duke of Suffolk havyng thenne of your graunte the ward and mariage of Margarete, doughter and heire to John, the late Duke of Somerset, purposing here to Paston MSS., endorsed Coumpleyntys ayens the Dewke of Suffolk.' Another copy will be found in the Rolls of Parliament, v. 177. The day of the Duke's impeach- ment was the 7th February 1450. x A.D. 1447. 2 John, Count of Dunois, one of the most renowned warriors of the times. He was a grandson of Charles v. of France, a natural son of Louis, Duke of Orleans, and half-brother of Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was prisoner in England. 8 Blank in Fenn. * Cousinot. 6 Charles vn. 121 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 marey to heis said sonne, presuming and pretendyng her to be FEB< 7 nexte enheritable to the Corone of this your realme, for lak of issue of you Soverayn Lord, in accomplishement of heis seid traytours purpose and entent, wheroppon the same Duke of Suffolk, sith the tyme of heis areste, hath do the seid Margarete to be maried to heis seid sonne. Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being most trostid with you, and prevyest of your councell of fullong tyme, prepensing that your seid grete enemeye and adversarie Charles schuld conquerr and gete be power and myght your seid realme of Fraunce, duchies, and countee, the xx d day of January the xvij. yer 1 of your regne, at Westminster, in the shir of Middlesex, and divers othir tymes and places within your seid realme of Engeland, falsly, trayterously, by sotel menes and ymaginacyons, for grete corrupcion of good, taking of money, and other excessyf promises to him made by Charles, Duke of Orliaunce, 2 your enemye, councelled and stered of hym selfe only, your heighnesse to enlarge and deliver out of prison the same Duke of Orliaunce, enemye to you Soveren Lord, and to the most victorious noble prince of blyssid memory, the king youre fadir, whom God assoile ! takyn be hem prisonere, to th'entent that the seid Charles, calling hym self king of Fraunce, schuld recover, gete, and have be false conqueste, and other desayvabile menes ayenst you, your heirz and successors, your seid realme of Fraunce, duches and counte, be the wyle, subtill councell, might, and ayde of the seid Duke of Orliaunce. Notwithstanding that be the late wylle and ordinaunce of your seid fadir, for divers thingis moveyng his grete wysdome, contrary ther of was avysed and declared, by wiche councell and stering only of the seid Duke of Suffolk the seid Duke of Orliaunce was soverd [suffered] at his liberte to departe of this youre realme to the partee of Fraunce. Afore wich departer the first day of May the seid xvij. yerr 1 of your regne, at London, in the parich of Sent Martyne, in the ward of Farindon infra, the same Duke of Suffolk, trayterously adherent to the seid Charles, calling hym selfe 1 A.D. 1439. 2 Charles, Duke of Orleans. See p. 46, Note 3. 122 HENRY VI kyng of Fraunce, then and ther falsly and trayterously coun- 1450 seiled, coumforted, stered, and provoked the seid Duke of FEB. 7 Orlyaunce to excite and moeve the same Charles, calling hym selfe kyng of Fraunce, your grete enemeye and adversarie, to make and reyse open werr ayenst you in your seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of Normandy, to conquer, and to opteyn falsly be force, myght, and other menes ayenst you, your heiriz and successours, your seid realme of Fraunce and duche of Normandy, Uppon wich adherence, councell, and counfort of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Charles calling hym selfe kyng, hath made open werr a yenst you in your seid realme of Fraunce, and hath it attrochid unto hym, and the most party of your duchie of Normandy, and takyn prisonyrs the ful nobile Lordys and coragyouse Knytys, the Erie of Schrouesbery l and the Lord Faconberge, 2 with many othir nobles and people of your trewe leiges, to ther likly fynall ondoing, your gretest disheritaunce, and cure grete lamentable losse that ever comen a fore this to you, or ony of your ful noble progenitors, or to your trewe subgettes. Item, wher the seid Duke of Suffolk late was on of your ambassitours with othir to youre seid adversarie Charles, calling hem self kyng of Fraunce, he, above heis instruccion and power to hym be you committyng, promised to Reyner, 3 King of Cesile, and Charles Daungers, 4 heis brothir, your grete enemeys, the deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne, without the assent andvyse or knowyng of other your seid ambas- sitours with him thenne accompanyd ; and theroppon after heis comyng in to this realme from the same ambassiate, in performing of heis seid promyse, he falsly and trayterously, for grette rewardes and lucre of good to hym yeven by your enemes, caused the said Reyner and Charles Daungers to have deliveraunce of Maunce and Ma^ne aforeseid, to your over grete disheritaunce and loss irreparable, enforsing and en- 1 John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, the great hero of the French wars, slain at Castillon in 1453. 2 William Nevill, Lord Fauconberg. 3 Rene, Duke of Anjou, father of Queen Margaret. 4 Charles of Anjou, Count of Maine. 123 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 rychyng of your seid enemes, and grettest mene of the losse FEB. 7 o f your seid duche of Normandye ; and so was the seid Duke of Suffolk falsly and trayterously adherent, aidant, and con- fortant to your grete enemeys and adversaries. Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being reteyned with you in your wages of werr in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandye, and therby strostid be you and alle your coun- cellers to knowe the privite of your councell ther, and the purviaunce of your armes, the defence and keping of your townes, forteresses, and places, sieges, purveaunce, and ordi- naunce of werr in the same parties for you to be mad, knowyng all [such] privite, and being adherent to your seid grete enemeye, calling hem self kyng of Fraunce, hath eften and many divers tymes falsly and trayterously discoverd and openned to hym, and to heis capytaynes and conductors of heis werr, your enemes, the privite, ordinaunce, and pro- vision of your seid councell, purveaunces of armes, defence keping, townes, forteresses, places, syeges, and ordinaunce, werby your grete adversarie and enemeys have geton and takyn, be the menes of this is treason and falshode, ful many lordchepes, townnes, casteles, fortesses, and places within your seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie, and letted your capitaynes of your werres to conquer, keppe, and acheve your rithfull enheritaunce ther. Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk beyng of your grete Privey Councell, and with you best trostid, knowyng the secrenesse therof and of this your realme, the xvj. day of Juyll the xxv d yerr 1 of your regne, at London, in the parich of Sent Laueraunce Pulteney, in the ward of Sandewyke [Candewyke'] Strette, and at othir divers tymes and places, falsly and trayterously beyng adherent and aidant to the seid Charles, calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grete enemeys, the seid xvj. day, and in the parich of Sent Laurence aforeseid, openned, declarid, and discovered to the seid Erie of Danas, Bastard of Orlyaunce, Bertrand, Lord Presigni, Maister William Cosinet, your enemeys, subgettes, ambassiatours and conncellours to the seid Charles, calling hem self king of 1447. HENRY VI Fraunce, the privitees of your councell, aswell of this your 1450 realme for the comyn wele of the same, as for the governauns FEB. 7 and ordinaunce for the conquest, conservacion, saufgard, tuy- cyon of your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandy ; [whereby the great part of your said realm of France and duchy of Normandy] l at that tyme being in your in handys, as [should be, is] be the seid Charles, calling hem selfe kyng of Fraunce, and [his] armes goton and takyn out of your handes. Item, suth the matier first moeved of the convencyon of trewes and pees by twenne you and your seid grette enemeye Charlys, callyng hem selfe kyng of Fraunche, wheroppon by grete diberacyon ye, by the advyse of your Councell, have send many solempne ambassatours to the same Charles for the god of pees to be hadde be twyn you and this your realme, and your subjettes in your realme of Fraunche, duchie of Normandye, and othir places under your obeysauns, and the same Charles and heis subgettes, the seid Duke of Suffolk being next and grettest of your Councell, havyng knowlach of the power and auctorite comytted to alle your ambassiatours send in this be half, hath deseyvabely and trayterously by heis lettres and messages discovered and opened to your seid grete enemeye Charlys, calling hym self kyng of Fraunce, alle ynstrucciouns and informaciouns yeven to your seid ambas- satours afore their comyng in to Fraunce, werby the effectuale concord and trewes that schuld have folowed of suche ambassiat by tywnne both the seid realmes and subgettes, have take non effectualle conclusyon, but by his fals, fraudelent, traiterous werkes, dedes, and deceyvable yma gynacyons, your grete enheritaunce, seygnyouries, lordshippis, townes, castell, for- teresses, and possessions in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandye, by cause of heis false messages, send- yngs, and wrytyngys have be takyn by reft, and gotten fro you be your seid enemeys. In proof of the wich treson the seid Duke of Suffolk, sittyng in your Councell in the Stere Chambre, in your pales 1 These words are omitted in Fenn, and are supplied from the Rolls of Parliament. THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 of Westminster, seid and declarid openly be for the Lordis of FEB. 7 y Our Councell ther being, that he had his place in the Councell hows of the French kyng as he had ther, and was ther as wel strostid as he was here, and couth remeve from the seid French kynge the prevyest man of heis Councell yf he wold. Item, whan in this your roialme ful oftyn tymes provicyon hath be mad for divers armes to be sent in to your seid realme of Fraunche, duches of Normandy and Gyand, the seid Duke of Suffolk, by the instaunce and meenes mad to hym be your seid enemeys and adversareys for grette outeragyous yeftes and rewardes of them takyn, trayterously hath restrayned, and utterly lettyd the passage of such armees in favour and supporte of your seid enemeys. Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk, as your ambassatours by twene you and Charles, callyng hym self kyng of Fraunche, in fortefyeng of hem and enchresing of his myght, hath not comprised in trewes, taken in your party the Kyng of Arregon, 1 your old allye and frend, nother the Duke of Breten, 2 but sufferd and causid the seid Duke of Bretayne to be compremysid of the party of the seid Charles as his subget, frende, and allye, wherby ye have ben estraunged from the god loffe and assistence of the seid King of Arregon, and therby and be othir on trewe and fake conjectours of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Duke of Breteyn is become your enemeye ; and Gyles 3 of Breten, his brothir, the wiche is, and of long tyme hath ben, your trewe and welvylled man and servaunt, put in gret dures of pricon, and likely to be potte to the dethe or distroid for his trewe feith and welle that he hath to you. And of alle tresons and offensys in alle theis seid arteculys specyfied and conteyned, we your seid Comens accuse and empeche the seid William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and pray that this be enacte in this your High Courte of Parlement, and theroppon to precede in this your High Courte of Parle- ment, as tiie mater and caas aforseid requireth for the surete 1 Alfonso v., King of Arragon. 2 Francis i., Duke of Brittany. 3 Giles of Brittany, the duke's brother, who was murdered in April 1450, after having been kept four years in prison by the duke. 126 HENRY VI and welfar of your most roiale person, and savacyon of this 1450 your realme, &c. FEB. 7 102 JOHN PASTON'S PETITION 1 To the Kyng, oure Soverayn Lord, and to the right wyse and discrete Lordis, assembly d in this present Parlement. BESECHITH mekly your homble liege man, John Paston, that where he, and oder enfeffed to his use, have be pecybily poscessyd of the maner of Gresham, within the counte of Norffolk, xx. yere and more, til the xvij. day of February", the yere of your nobill regne xxvi., 2 that Robert Hungerford, Knyght, the Lord Molyns, entred in to the seyd maner ; and how be it that the seyd John Paston, after the seid entre, sued to the seid Lord Molyns and his councell, in the most louly maner that he cowde, dayly fro tyme of the seid entre on to the fest of Mihelmes than next folwyng, duryng which tyme divers communicasyons were had betwix the coun- cell of the seid Lord and the councell of your besecher. And for asmych as in the seid communicasions no titill of right at any tyme was shewed for the seid Lord but that was fully and clerly answeryd, so that the seid Lords councell remitted your seid besecher to sewe to the seid Lord for his finall and right- full answer. And after sute mad to the seid Lord be your seid besecher, as well at Salysbery as in other places to his gret coust, and non answer had but delays, which causyd your seid besecher the vj. day of Octobre last past to inhabite hym in a mansion with in the seid town, kepyng stille there his posces- sion, on tille the xxviij. day of January last past, the seid Lord sent to the seid mansion a riotous peple, to the nombre of a 1 [Add. Charter 17,240, B.M.] The date of this petition must be during the sitting of Parliament, in the beginning of the year 1450. The first expulsion of John Paston from Gresham is here clearly dated in February 1448. The ' October last' in which he re-entered might, so far as appears in this petition, have been in the same year, but the letters referring to this dispute in 1449 compel us to put it a twelvemonth later. 2 A.D. 1448. 127 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 thowsand persones, with blanket bendes 1 of a sute as riseres ageyn your pees, arrayd in maner of werre, with curesse, brigaunders, jakks, salettes, gleyfes, bowes, arows, pavyse, 2 gonnes, pannys with fier and teynes brennyng therein, long cromes 8 to drawe doun howsis, ladders, pikoys, with which thei myned down the walles, and long trees with which thei broke up yates and dores, and so came in to the seid mansion, the wiff of your besecher at that tyme beyng ther in, and xij. persones with her ; the which persones thei dreve oute of the seide mansion, and myned down the walle of the chambre wher in the wiff of your seid besecher was, and bare here oute at the yates, and cutte a sondre the postes of the howses and lete them falle, and broke up all the chambres and coferes within the seid mansion, and rifelyd, and in maner of robery bare awey all the stuffe, aray, and money that your seyd besecher and his servauntes had ther, on to the valew of ccli. [200], and part therof sold, and part ther of yaffe, and the remenaunt thei departed among them, to the grete and outrageous hurt of your seid besecher, sayng openly, that if thei myght have found ther yowr seid besecher and on John Damme, 4 which is of councell with hym, and divers oder of the servauntes of your seid besecher, thei shuld have died. And yet divers of the seid mysdoeres and ryotous peple onknowyn, contrary to your lawes, dayly kepe the seid maner with force, and lyne [i.e. lien, lie] in wayte of divers of the frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid besecher, and grevously vexe and trobill hem in divers wise, and seke hem in her howsis, ran- sakyng and serchyng her shevys and strawe in her bernes and other places with bore speris, swerdis, and gesernys, 5 as it semyth, to sle hem if thei myght have found hem ; and summe have bete and left for ded, so that thei, for doute of here lyves, dare not go home to here houses, ner occupy here husbondry, to the gret hurte, fere, and drede, aswele of your seid besechere as of his seid frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes. 1 Bands of white woollen cloth ? 2 Pavises were large shields. 3 Crome is a Norfolk word, signifying a staff with a crook at the end of it. * This person was returned to Parliament for Norwich in October 1450. 6 Battle-axes. 128 HENRY VI And also, thei compelle pore tenauntes of the seid maner, now 1450 within ther daunger, ageyn ther wille, to take feyned pleyntes in the courtes of the hundred ther ageyn the seid frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid besecher, whiche dare not apere to answere for fere of bodily harme, ne can gete no copiis of the seid pleyntes to remedi them be the lawe, because he that kepyth the seid courtis is of covyn with the seid mis- doers, and was on of the seid ryseres, which be coloure of the seid pleyntes grevously amercy the seid frendes, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid besecher, to the[ir] outrageous and importabille hurte. Please it your hynesse, consideryng that if this gret insur- reccyon, ryottis, and wrongis, and dayly continuans ther of so heynosly don a geyn your crowne, dignite and peas, shuld not be your hye myght be duly punysshed, it shall gefe grett boldnesse to them, and alle other mysdoers to make con- gregacyons and conventicles riottously, on abille to be seysed, to the subversyon and finall distruccyon of your liege peple and lawes : And also, how that your seid besecher is not abille to sue the commone lawe in redressyng of this heynos wrong, for the gret myght and alyaunce of the seid Lord : And also, that your seid besecher canne have non accyon be your lawe ageyn the seid riotous peple for the godis and catellis be hem so riottously and wrongfully take and bore awey, because the seid peple be onknowe, aswelle here names as here persones, on to hym ; To purvey, be the avyse of the Lordis spirituall and temporal! assembled in this present Parlement, that your seid besechere may be restoryd to the seid godis and catellis thus riottously take away; and that the seid Lord Molyns have suche comaundment that your seid besecher be not thus with force, in maner of werre, hold oute of his seide maner, contrary to alle your statutes mad ageyn suych forcibille entrees and holdyngs ; and that the seid Lord Molyns and his servauntes be sette in suche a rewle, that your seid besechere, his frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes, may be sure and saffe from hurt of here persones, and pesibly ocupy here londs and tenements under your lawes with oute oppressyoun or onrightfull vexa- sioun of any of hem ; and that the seid riseres and causeres VOL. n. i 129 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 therof may be punysshed, that other may eschewe to make any suche rysyng in this your lond of peas in tyme comyng. And he shalle pray to God for yowe. 103 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON l 70 my rytz wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyvered in hast. FEB. 21 I J YT wurchipful hosband, I recommawnd me to zu, r^ desyryng hertyly to heryn of zour wele fare, preying zu to weten that I commawndyd Herry Goneld to gon to Gunnore to have copys of the pleyntes in the hundrede, and Gunnore was not at home ; but the seyd Herry spake with his clerk, and he told hym pleynly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late hym have no copys, thow he wor at home, tyl the nexst hundred ; qher for I send zou that byl that was wownd abowt the relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng wold adysavowyd here swtes rytz fayn the last hundred, as I herd sayn of rytz thryfty men ; but the Lord Moleynys men thrett hem that bothe they xuld ben betyn and lesen here hows and lond and alle here goods, but if [unless] they wold avow it ; and after that Osborn was gon, Hasard z intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow the swtys after that they hadde disavowyd itt, and zave hem mony to zef to the clerkes to entren azen the pleyntes. But if 3 ze seke a remedy in hast for to remeve itt, I soppose they wyl distreyn for the mersy- mentes er the nexst hundred. As for Mak, he gate respyt that he xuld not sew tyl the nexst hundred. As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd zysterday for rent and ferm, and he must pay it to morue, xxijj., or elles lesyn his dystresse. They gadder mony fast 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From an allusion in the latter part of this letter, it is evident that it was written in 1450, after Margaret had been driven out of Gresham, as mentioned in John Paston's petition, No. 102 preceding. 8 William Hasard. See Letter No. 88. 3 But if, i.e. unless. 130 HENRY VI of all the tenawntes. All the tenawntes ben chargyd to pay al 1450 her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday. 1 It ys told me FEB - 2I that the Lord Moleynys xuld kepe his Fastyngong att Jon Wynters plase. The seid Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday' last past ; qhat tydyngs they hadde I wote nott ; but on the nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas Bampton, a man of the Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and they that ben at Gressam waytyn after an answer of the letter in hast. Barow, and Hegon, and all the Lord Moleynys men that wer at Gressam qhan ze departyd hens bene there styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom another ; and I here sey thei xul abyd here styll tyl her lord kom ... . 2 to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt the cawse was that thei thrett men . . . . 2 Goneld and other of zour servawnts and wele willers to zow, the qheche wer namyd to hym that were thrett 2 [s]wore pleynly that they were never thrett ; but I know veryly the contrary, for of his owyn felaschep lay[d] in awayt sondery dayis and nytis abowt Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and som of them zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys [ho]usys, bothen in the hallys and the bernys, and askyd qher thei were, and thei were answeryd that they were owth ; and thei seydyn azen that they xuld meten with hem another tyme. And be dyvers other thyngs I know, if thei mytz aben kawt, other \either\ they xuld aben slayn or sor hurt. I sent Kateryn on this forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it, and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt ; and sche desyryd of Barow to have an answer of her masage, and if these forseyd men mytz levyn in pese for hem, and seyd ther xuld elles ben purveyd other remedy for hem. And he made her grett chere, and hem that wer ther with her, and seyd that he desyryd for to spekyn with me, if it xuld ben non displesans to me ; and Kateryn seyd to hym that sche supposyd that I desyryd not to speken with hym. And he seyd he xuld com forby this plase on huntyng after non, and 1 Fastyngong was a popular name for Shrovetide. Fastingong Sunday I believe to have been the Sunday after Shrove Tuesday, which would be the 2 2nd of February in 1450. 2 Mutilated. THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 ther xuld no mor com with hym but Hegon and on of his FEB. 21 owyn men ; and than he wold bryng seche an answere as xuld plese me. And after none they come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if thei mytz speken with me, and praying that thei mytz speken with me, and they abedyn styl with owtz the zatys ; and I kam owth to hem, and spak with hem with owt, and pray id hem that thei wold hold me exkusyd that I browth hem not in to the plase. I seyd in as meche as thei wer nott wele wyllyng to the gode man of the plase, I wold not take it up on me to bryng hem in to the jantylwoman. They seyd I dede the best, and than we welk forthe, and desyryd an answer of hem for that I hadde sent to hem for. Thei sayd to me thei had browtz me seche an answer as thei hopyd xuld plese me, and told me how thei had comownd with all her felaschep of soche materis as I had sent to hem fore, and that thei durst under take that ther xud no man ben hurt of hem thatt wer rehersyd, ner no man that longeth to zu, nother for hem ner non of her felaschep, and that they answeryd me be her trowthis. Never lese I trest not to her promese, in as meche as I fend hem ontrew in other thyngs. I conseyvyd wele be hem that they wer wery of that thei haden don. Barow swor to me be his trowth that he had lever than xb., and xl. that his lord had not comawndyd hym to com to Gressam ; and he seyd he was rytz sory hidderward, in as meche as he had knowleche of zw before, he was rytz sory of that that was don. I seyd to hym that he xuld have compascion on zu and other that wer disseysyd of her lyve- lode, in as meche as he had ben dissesyd hym self; and he seyd he was so, and told me that he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and wold don tyl he may gete his gode azen. I seyd to hym that ze had sewyd to my Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for the maner of Gressam syth ze wer dissesyd, and ze cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of hym ; and ther fore ze entred azen, as ye hopid that was for the best. And he seyd he xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for the entre in his lyvelode, for he seyd my seyd lord was sett ther up on be the informacion of a fals schrew ; and I seyd to hym in lyke wyse is the matier be twyx the Lord 132 HENRY VI Moleynys and zu. I told hym I wost wele he sett never ther 1450 upon be no tytyl of rytz 'that he hadde to the maner of FEB - 2I Gressam, but only be the informacion of a fals schrew. 1 I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be hem that thei wost ho I ment. Meche other langage we hadde, qhyche xuld taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem that it xuld abe seyd thatt I xuld not longe dwell so ner hem as I dewe and they for swer it, as thei do other thyngs more that it was never seyd, and meche thyngs that I know veryly was seyd. I here seyn that ze and Jon of Damme ben sore thrett alway, and seyn thow ze ben at London, ze xul ben met with ther as wele as thow ze were her ; and ther for I pray zu hertyly be ware how ze walk ther, and have a gode felaschep with zu qhan ze xul walk owt. The Lord Moleynys hathe a cumpany of brothell with hym that rekk not qhat they don, and seche ar most for to drede. Thei that ben at Gressam seyn that they have not don so moche hurte to zu as thei were commawndyd to don. Rabert Lauerawns is wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He seyth pleynly he wyl compleyn of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he hath cause. Bek and Purry dare not abyd att horn tyl thei here other tydyngs. I wold not Jon of Damme xuld com horn tyl the cuntre be storyd otherwyse than it is. I pray Godde grawnt that it mot sone ben otherwyse than it is. I pray zu hertyly that ze wil send me word how ze don, and how ze spede in zour materis, for be my trowth I kan not ben wel att ese in my hert, ner not xal ben tyl I here tydynges how ze don. The most part of zour stuff that was at Gressam is sold, and zovyn away. Barow and his felaw spak to me in the most plesawnt wyse, and me semyth be hem thei wold fayn plese me. Thei seyd thei wold do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres to don owth for me, save only in that that longeth to her lordes rytz. I seyd to hem, as for seche servys as they had do to zw and to me, I desyr no mor that thei xuld do nother to zw ner to me. Thei seyd I myt an had of them att Gressham qhat I hadde desyryd of hem, and 1 John Heydon, Esq. of Baconsthorpc, appears to have been the person referred to. 'See No. 135 following. 133 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 had as moche as I desyryd. I seyd, nay ; if I mytz an had FEB. 21 m y desyr, I xuld nother a departid owth of the place, ner from the stuff that was ther in. Thei seyd, as for the stuff it was but esy. I seyd ze wold not a zoven the stuff that was in the place qhan thei com in, not for C/z. Thei seyd the stuff that thei sey [j^w] ther was skars worth xx/z. As for zour moder and myn, sche faryth wel, blissid be God, and she had no tydynges but gode zett, blissid be God. The blissyd Trynyte have zou in his kepyng, and send zou hele, and gode spede in al your maters. Wretyn at Sustede, 1 on the Satyrday next after Seynt Valentynys day. Here dare no man seyn a gode wurd for zu in this cuntre, Godde amend it. Yowres, M. P. 104 ABSTRACT 2 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, CLERK, WILLIAM COLE, AND WATKYN SHIPDAM. MARCH 7 The beginning of this letter, which is more than half lost by mutilation, speaks of * a bill in the Parliament of the extortions done Qto me^ ' from the iyth year [of Henry vi.^ hitherto. The rest seems to be partly memoranda of things to be entered in this * bill,' viz. of sheep distrained at Drayton, of a matter of trespass between Lady Bardolf and Fastolf, of 'Chevers mater in Blyclyng,' of an unpaid annuity at Hiklyng, of decays at Tichewell, etc. They are to learn from Nich. Bokkyng, to whom the 100 for Busshop was paid. Thinks two men should occupy Castre and Wynterton which Broun holds alone. It is too much for one to occupy well ; ' and in the same wise at Heylesden and Drayton.' Let me know what Lampet has done in my matter, and if you find him friendly. Both my ships have arrived in safety, thank God. London, 7 March 28 Henry vi. Signed. 1 Sustead was John Damme's place (see Blomefield, viii. 168). It is in the immediate neighbourhood of Gresham. 2 [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 225.] 134 HENRY VI 105 AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 To John Paston, dwellyn in the Indcr In of the Tempyll, att London^ be thys letter delyverd in hast. SON, I grete yow, and send yow Godds blyssyng, and 1450 myn ; and as for my doughtyr your wyfe, che faryt MARCH 1 1 well, blyssyd be God, as a woman in hyr plyte may do, and all your sonys and doughtrys. And for as meche as ye will send me no tydyngs, I send yow seche as ben in thys contre. Rychard Lynsted cam thys day fro Paston, and letyt me wete that on Saturday last past Dravale, halfe brother to Waryn Harman, was takyn with enemyis, walkyn be the se syde, and have hym forthe with hem ; and they tokyn ij. pylgremys, a man and a woman, and they robbyd the woman, and lete hyr gon, and ledde the man to the see, and whan they knew he was a pylgreme, they geffe hym monei, and sett hym ageyn on the lond. And they have thys weke takyn iiij. vesselys of [i.e. off] Wyntyrton ; and Happysborough and Ecles men ben sore aferd for takyn of mo [i.e. more (?)], for ther ben x. grete vesselys of the enemyis ; God yeue grace that the see may be better kepte than it is now, or ellys it chall ben a perlyous dwellyng be the se cost. I pray yow grete well your brethyrne, and sey hem that I send hem Goddis blyssyn and myn ; and sey William that if Jenett Lauton be not payd for the krymson cort wheche Alson Crane wrote to hyr for in hyr owyn name, that than he pay hyr, and see Alson Cranys name strekyn owt of hyr boke, for che seithe che wyll aske no man the money butt Alson Crane. And I pray yow that ye wyll remembr the letter that I sent yow last, and God be with yow. Wretyn att Norwyche, the Wedenesday next before Sent Gregory. AUGNES PASTON. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 304.] Fenn assigns this letter to the year 1458, but not very confidently. The similarity of its contents, in part, to those of the letter immediately following, appears to me to render the year 1450 the more probable date. 135 THE PASTON LETTERS 106 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 70 my rytz worchypful maystyr, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd in hast. 1450 I ~\ YTZ worchipful hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, MARCH 12 r^ desyring hertyly to her of zour wellfar, &c. 2 .... A Wyllyam Rutt, the whiche is with Sir Jon Hevenyng- ham, kom horn from London zesterday, and he seyd pleynly to his master, and to many other folks, that the Duke of Suffolk is pardonyd, and hath his men azen waytyng up on hym, and is rytz wel at ese and mery, and is in the Kyngs gode grase, and in the gode conseyt of all the Lords, as well as ever he was. Ther ben many enemys azens Yermowth and Crowmer, and have don moche harm, and taken many Englysch men, and put hem in grett distresse, and grettely rawnsommyd hem ; and the seyd enmys been so bold that they kom up to the lond, and pleyn hem on Caster Sonds, and in other plases, as homely as they were Englysch men. Folks ben rytz sore afred that they wel don moche harm this somer, but if [i.e. unless] ther be made rytz grett purvyans azens hem. Other tydyngs know I non at this tym. The blysseful Trinyte have zow in his kepyng. Wry ten at Norwyche, on Seynt Gregorys day. Yowrs, M. P. 1 [From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke of Suffolk's pardon proves this letter to have been written in the year 1450. 2 Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as he says, to some common business about Pastorfs farms and tenants. 136 HENRY VI 107 ABSTRACT 1 SIR Jo. FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, PARSON OF CASTLCOMBE, WILL. COKE, AND WATKIN SHYPDAM. Bids 'Sir Parson' send in all haste 'the utmost knowledge of all grievances' done to him by John Heydon this thirteen years. You have sent me the costs APRIL 16 of the pleas, but not declared particularly how often I have been wrongfully distrained by the enforcing of the said Heydon. ' I took never plea in the matter because the world was alway set after his rule, and as I would have engrossed up [upon] my bill.' London, 16 April 28 Henry vi. Search the accounts of Drayton Heylesdon, &c., these thirteen years. 108 LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON 2 70 my right trusty and right enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier. RIGHT t[r]usty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete APRIL 22 you welle, and wyll ze wite that a man of Osberd Monford hath declared me how the said Osberd is infourmed that Danyelle shuld be pourposed to enter in the place of Braystone. And as fer as I can undirstande, Danyelle is come in to this cuntre, for none other cause but t for to have suche as the Kyng hath gifen hym in Rysyng, which lieth not in me ner in none of the Kynges subgectes to go ageyns hise graunte and plesaunce. And in cas the said Danyelle wold enter upon the said Osberd otherwise than lawe wold, seyng the said Osberd is my tenaunt and homager, it is my part to 1 [From a modern copy by Blomefield on the fly-leaf of a Letter addressed to him. Headed, ' Gave this original letter of Sir John's to Sir Andrew Fountain.' MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 229.] 2 [Douce MSS. 393, f. 100.] It appears by a paper, which will be found further on (No. 119), that Daniel entered the manor of Braydeston or Brayston during the Parliament which was held at Leicester in the spring of 1450. This letter must have been written at that time. 137 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 holde with hym rather than with Danyelle in hise right, which APRIL 22 I wylle do to my pouer. And as zet I can not apperceyve that Danyelle wylle labore in any maters in this cuntre ; and if he wylle be of good governance, I am wel paied. And in cas that he wold do wrong to the lesse gentilman in the chirre, it shal not lye in hise pouer be the grace of God. He letethe me wite that he wylle be wel governed in tyme commyng. Right trusty and enterly wel beloved frend, I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xxij. day of Aprille. SCALES. 109 LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right trusty and welbeloved frende, John Paston, Squier. Year Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly wel, and wul ye wite Uncer- t * iat Wotton is ever creyng and callyng upon me to write un to you for hise rain l n de ; wherfore at the reverence of Good, consideryng the symplenesse of hem all, I pray you that ye put hem at a certen, and lete hem all that they aught to have of right, for thaire creyng cause men to thinke ye do hem grete wrong, which I wote wel ye wold be sory to do. Oure Lord have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xvj. day of October. Youre frende, SCALES. IIO LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON 2 To my right trusty and enterly 'welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier. Year Right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle ; and for as Uncer- m y c h as there is vareaunce betwene William Wotton and hise moder and the tain fermour there, wherfore I pray you that ze wyll [fynde] 3 a weye accordyng to 1 [From Fenn, iii. 364.] This and the six letters following, all but one of which are, like the last, written by Lord Scales to John Paston, are placed here merely for convenience, the years in which they were written being quite uncertain, though probably not very far apart. The one letter among them of which Lord Scales is not the writer, is inserted in abstract on account of its bearing on that which immediately precedes it. 2 [Douce MS. 393, f. 99.] * Mutilated. 138 HENRY VI right for to put hem in rest and pees. For in as raych as they be yo[ur] Year tenantes, ze aught to have the reule of them before any other, praying you to uncer do youre part to put hem oute of trouble. I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xiij. tam day of Aprille. Youre frend, THE LORD SCALES. Ill LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my ryght trusti and ivel beloved Jrend, John Pasfon, Sqyer. Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I comande me to you, and for certain Year maters that I have for to do, for the which masters I] sende unto you a squier uncer- of myne called Elyngham ; praying you to gefe hym faythful credence of that t he shall declare you on myne behalfe as for this tyme. God have you in Hise keping. Writene at Midleton, the xviij. day of Julie. Yowre frend, SCALES. 112 LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON 2 To [my] right trusty and [400] and moo, &c. 1 This singular subscription Fenn believes to have been owing to a momentary forgetfulness on the part ot the writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of acting as Margaret Paston's secretary in writing to her husband. 2 [From Fenn, i. 44.] The date of this letter, as of the preceding, is clearly proved by internal evidence. 3 2nd May. 4 Thomas Courtenay. 5 Richard Nevill. See Letter 98. 148 HENRY VI Also, as hyt ys noysed here Calys shal be byseged withynne 1450 this vij. dayes, &c. MAY 6 God save the Kyng, and sende us pees, &c. ^ Other tithyngs be ther noon here, but Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng. Writen at Leycestre, the vj. day of May. Your cosigne, JOHN CRANE. 1 122 ABSTRACT 1 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, * being at Castre.' Begs him to solicit the expedition of the matters of which he wrote since MAY 7 Easter. Debts of Thos. Symmys for rents and sale of wools not yet paid to F. in Dedham. As for the matter of Rydlyngfold and Hykele, * seth it ys soo the world is changed gretely over it was, y pray you, and charge you, parson, labour ye to my frendz Lampet and others' to get a copy of their evidences ; for * howbeit the said prioress say that her evidence be in the Duke of Suffolk's keeping or his counsel,' she had a book in which all the evidence is copied. The thing would have been sped long ere this, if * my Lord Norwich['s] Chancellor ' or Master Pope, had labored as they promised. For God's sake send me a good answer. * If an inordinate book be made, remembering the deliverance ' of cloths, &c. into F.'s wardrobe, let the indentures be engrossed. Wonders Howys cannot furnish him with a full account of the damages sustained by F. and his tenants these ten or twelve years past. He has only sent a declaration of costs in defending some of them. Get a letter of Nich. Bokkyng of the ;joo to whom it was paid. London, 7 May 28 Henry vi. Signed. 1 Probably John Crane of Woodnorton, of whom there are some notices in Blomefield (Hist. Norf. viii. 313, 316; x. 282). a [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 223.] I 49 THE PASTON LETTERS 123 THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON l To my maister Pas ton. 1450 RECOMAUND me unto your good maistership ; and as 13 for tidings, Arblaster come home to my Lord 2 on Mun- day, at sopertyme ; and my Maister Danyell 3 is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent, and Arblastr seith he hath made me his undir sty ward. And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord Beamond 4 hath it, and the Lord Rivers 5 Constable of Inglond. As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tuden- ham had a joynte patent with the Duke of Suffolk, 6 which, if it be resumed, Sir Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed therof. My lord wole not to Leicestre. 7 My Maister Danyell desireth yow thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by tymes. Wretyn in hast at Wynche, 8 the xiij. day of May. I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your wyf, for my mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fully 1 [From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn vaguely assigned to the latter part of the reign of Henry vi., may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The mention of Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier than 1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke in 1448, and at a later date than the 1 3th of May. The reference to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to have been long after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from Mon- day being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future, that the letter was written on a Wednesday. Had it been on a Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been spoken of as ' yesterday,' or Friday as to-morrow.' Now, the 1 3th of May was a Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in this letter are, therefore, those consequent on the fall of the Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as will be seen by a foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester. 8 John de Vere, izth Earl of Oxford. 3 Thomas Daniel. See p. 80. 4 John, Viscount Beaumont. 6 Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th May 1448 ; afterwards earl. 6 William de la Pole. See p. 80, Note 2. 7 Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May 1450. 8 A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King's Lynn, in Norfolk. 150 HENRY VI conquered my lady sith ye went, so that I haf hir promisse to 1450 be my good lady, and that she shall help me by the feith of MAY 13 hir body. Your servant, DENYES. 124 THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON 1 To our right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer. RIGHT trusty and right intierly welbeloved, we grete you Year hertly wele. And it is so, as ye know wele your self, uncer- we haf and long tyme haf had the service of Thomas tain Denyes, by continuance wherof we wend to haf had his atten- daunce at our lust ; and nevertheless we haf so strictly examynid his demenyng that we fele and pleynly conceyve that the love and effeccion which he hath to a gentilwoman not ferre from yow, and which ye be privy to, as we suppose, causith hym alwey to desire toward your cuntre, rather than toward suych ocupacion as is behovefull to us. We write therfore to yow, prayng yow hertly as ye love us, that it like you to do that labour at our instaunce be suych men [mean] as your wisdom can seme, to meve that gentilwoman in our behalf for the wele of this mater, undirtakyng for us that we wole shew our bounte to thaym bothe, if it plese hir that this mater take effect, so that be reason she shall haf cause to take it in gree. And if the comyng thider of our persone self shuld be to plesir of hir, we wole not leve our labour in that : wherfore we pray you that ye wole do your part heryn, as ye wole we do for yow in 1 [From Fenn, iii. 360.] This letter cannot well be of the same year as the last, but is probably not many years earlier, and certainly not many years later. The reasons against its being of the same year are first, that it seems to be implied in the letter preceding that the Earl of Oxford was at Winch, near Lynn, in Norfolk, on the 1 3th May 1450, which makes it improbable that he would be at Wivenhoe in Essex four days after ; and, secondly, that he is not likely to have offered to go into Norfolk (especially after having just come out of Norfolk) on a matter touching the private affairs of one of his own adherents, when he declined to go to the Parliament at Leicester. THE PASTON LETTERS Year tyme comyng, and that ye se us in hast. The Holy Trinite uncer- kepe yow. Wretyn at Wevenho, the xvij. day of May. tain The Erie of Oxenford. OXENFORD. MS SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS 1 1*0 my trusty and welbelovyd frende, Sir 'Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe. 1450 f CRUSTY and welbelovyd frende, I grete you well. 2 .... MAY 2 7 And I pray you sende me word who darre be so hardy to keck agen you in my ryght. And sey hem on my half that they shall be qwyt as ferre as law and reson wolle. And yff they wolle not dredde, ne obey that, then they shall be quyt by Blackberd or Whyteberd ; that ys to sey, by God or the Devyll. And therfor I charge yow, send me word whethyr such as hafe be myne adversaries before thys tyme, contynew still yn her wylfullnesse, &c. Item, I hyre oft tymys manye straunge rapports of the gouvernaunce of my place at Castre and othyr plasys, as yn my chatell approvyng, 8 yn my wynys, the kepyng of my wardrobe and clothys, the avaylle 4 of my conyes at Haylysdon, &c., and approwement 3 of my londys ; praying you hertly as my full trust ys yn you to help reforme it, and that ye suffire no vityouse man at my place of Castre abyde, but well gouverned and diligent, as ye woll aunswer to it. Allmyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, xxvij. day of Maij anno xxviij regni Regis Henrici vi. JOHN FASTOLF, Kt. 1 [From Fenn, i. 52.] 2 Here, says Fenn, follow some orders respecting his affairs at Caister. 3 Approving lands or chattels meant turning them to profit, and in the former case commonly implied increasing the rents. 4 Use or profit. I 5 2 HENRY VI 126 J. PAYN TO JOHN PASTON l To my ryght honurabyll maister y John Paston. RYGHT honurabyll and my ryght enterly bylovyd 1450 maister, I recomaunde me un to yow, with al maner (written of due reverence, in the moste louly wyse as we ought in to do, evermor desyryng to here of your worshipfull state, 1465) prosperite, and welfar ; the which I beseke God of his aboundant grace encrece and mayntene to his moste plesaunce, and to your hartis dssyre. Pleasyth it your gode and gracios maistershipp tendyrly to consedir the grete losses and hurts that your por peticioner haeth, and haeth jhad evyr seth the comons of Kent come to the Blakheth, 2 and that is at xv. yer passed, whereas my maister Syr John Fastolf, Knyght, that is youre testator, 3 commandyt your besecher to take a man, and ij. of the beste orsse that wer in his stabyll, with hym to ryde to the comens of Kent, to gete the articles that they come for. And so I dyd ; and al so sone as I come to the Blakheth, the capteyn 4 made the comens to take me. And for the savacion of my maisters horse, I made my fellowe to ryde a wey with the ij. horses; and I was brought forth with befor the capteyn of Kent. And the capteyn demaundit me what was my cause of comyng thedyr, and why that I made my fellowe to stele a wey with the horse. And I seyd that I come thedyr to chere with my wyves brethren, and other that were my alys and gossippes of myn that were present there. And than was there oone there, and seid to the capteyn that I was one of Syr John Fastolfes men, 1 [From Fenn, i. 54.] This letter was actually written in the year 1465 ; but as the circumstances to which it relates belong to the year 1450, and are connected with the memorable insurrection of Jack Cade, we have thought it right, as Fenn did, to place it under the earlier year. 2 Jack Cade and his followers encamped on Blackheath on the nth June 1450, and again from the 29th of June to the ist July. Payn refers to the latter occasion. 3 Sir John Fastolf (who is dead at the date of this letter) left Paston his executor, as will be seen hereafter. * Jack Cade. 153 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 and the ij. horse were Syr John Fastolfes ; and then the cap- (written teyn lete cry treson upon me thorought all the felde, and in brought me at iiij. partes of the feld with a harrawd of the 1465) Duke of Exetter 1 before me in the dukes cote of armes, makyng iiij. Oyes at iiij. partes of the feld ; proclaymyng opynly by the seid harrawd that I was sent thedyr for to espy theyre pusaunce, and theyre abyllyments of werr, fro the grettyst traytor that was in Yngelond or in Fraunce, as the seyd capteyn made proclaymacion at that tyme, fro oone Syr John Fastolf, Knyght, the whech mynnysshed all the garrisons of Normaundy, and Manns, and Mayn, the whech was the cause of the lesyng of all the Kyngs tytyll and ryght of an herytaunce that he had by yonde see. And morovyr he seid that the seid Sir John Fastolf had furnysshyd his plase 2 with the olde sawdyors of Normaundy and abyllyments of werr, to destroy the comens of Kent whan that they come to Southe- werk ; and therfor he seyd playnly that 1 shulde lese my hede. And so furthewith I was taken, and led to the capteyns tent, and j. ax and j. blok was brought forth to have smetyn of myn hede ; and than my maister Ponyngs, your brodyr, 3 with other of my frendes, come and lettyd the capteyn, and seyd pleynly that there shulde dye a C. or ij. \a hundred or two], that in case be that I dyed ; and so by that meane my lyf was savyd at that tyme. And than I was sworen to the capteyn, and to the comens, that I shulde go to Southewerk, and aray me in the best wyse that I coude, and come ageyn to hem to helpe hem ; and so I gote th'articles, and brought hem to my maister, and that cost me more emongs the comens that day than xxvijj. Wherupon I come to my maister Fastolf, and brought hym th'articles, and enformed hym of all the mater, and counseyled hym to put a wey all his abyllyments of werr and the olde 1 Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. During the civil war which followed, he adhered to the House of Lancaster, though he married Edward iv.'s sister. His herald had probably been seized by Cade's followers, and pressed into their service. 2 Sir John Fastolf had a residence in Southwark. 3 Robert Poynings, who, some years before this letter was written, had married Elizabeth, the sister of John Paston, was sword-bearer and carver to Cade, and was accused of creating disturbances on more than one occasion afterwards. '54 HENRY VI sawdiors ; and so he dyd, and went hymself to the Tour, and 1450 all his meyny with hym but Betts and j. [i.e. one] Mathew (written Brayn ; and had not I ben, the comens wolde have brennyd in his plase and all his tennuryes, wher thorough it cost me of 1465) my noune propr godes at that tyme more than vj. merks in mate and drynke ; and nought withstondyng the capteyn that same tyme lete take me atte Whyte Harte in Suthewerk, and there comandyt Lovelase to dispoyle me oute of myn aray, and so he dyd. And there he toke a fyn gowne of muster dewyllers l furry d with fyn bevers, and j. peyr of Bregandyrns 2 kevert with blew fellewet [yehef\ and gylt naile, with leg- harneyse, the vallew of the gown and the bregardyns viij//. Item, the capteyn sent certeyn of his meyny to my chamber in your rents, and there breke up my chest, and toke awey j. obligacion of myn that was due unto me of xxxvj//. by a prest of Poules, and j. nother obligacion of j. knyght of x//., and my purse with v. ryngs of golde, and xvijj. vj Johannis. Idea mittetur p. 3 See page 166, Note 3. * William Yelverton, a Justice of the King's Bench. 5 John Markham, one of the Judges of the King's Bench, who became Chief Justice in 1461. 181 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 as God was pleased with, ne dede no wrong to no person. [OCT.] And therupon Maister Markham reherced how he demened hym a genst men of Court, and named yow and Genneye ; and H. seid, as touchyng the peple that rifled yow, and the doyng thereof, he was not privy therto, for he was that tyme here at London ; and as touchyng the Lord Moleyns title, H. enforced gretly, and seid his title was better thanne yours. Yisterday was my Maister Yelverton at dyner with my Maister Fastolf, 1 and there among other thei were avysed that my Maister F. shall write to my Lord of Norffolk that he certifie the Kyng and his Counseill how the cuntre of N. and S. \Norfolk and Suffolk] stonde right wildely, withowt a mene may be that justice be hadde, whiche wole not be but if a man of gret byrthe and lyflod there be shiref thes yer comyng, to lede the peple in most peas ; and therto thei named Maister Stapilton, 2 if it wole happe, &c. Also that my Lord Norffolk shall certifie the Kyng and his Counseill that but if the day of the oyer and termyner stonde, it wole be full harde, by cause the peple is so wylde. Also that alle knyghtes and escuyers of the same cuntre shuld certifie the same, for summe of H. part have boosted that all .... at Norwich shuld not be worth an haughe. Ideo y &c. Item, Prentise is now in the Mydle Inne, and Dynne Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after my departyng Your, J. GRESHAM. 1 Sir John Fastolf. 2 Sir Miles Stapleton. 182 HENRY VI 147 JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my worshipfull maister, John Paston, Escuyr, dwellynge att Norwich, in hast. AFTER that myn letter was wretyn, I spak with Maister 1450 Yelverton, and tolde hym the substance of my letter to yow. And he bad me write to yow that as touchyng the matier of my Lord of Oxeford, he shall lette the awardyng and th'entre therof als long as he may ; and he demyth veryly that H. Wodehous coude never have take up on his knowelage to have called up on the matier with owt counseil and enformacion of Heydon, and it were weel do that my Lord of Oxeford knewe it. Item, Maister Yelverton told me that the Lord Moleyns was enfourmed that he and alle his men wern endited of felonye in Norffolk, whiche caused hym and his to be right wroth toward my maister and yow. And Maister Yelverton hath tolde a man of the Kyngges Benche called Styrop, whiche is a man of the Lord Moleyns, the trouth that nothir he ner noon of his is endited, and Stirop is now in to Wiltshire, and shall telle it to the Lord M. ; for that shall squage weel his hete of wrethe. And as touchyng Germyn, 2 if he be Shiref, William Genney wole undirtake for hym that he shall and wole be ruled weel inow, &c. 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is anonymous, but is in the handwriting of James Gresham. It must nave been written in the autumn of the year 1450, while Lord Molyns was in Wiltshire, and when the nomination of John Jermyn as Sheriff of Norfolk was expected, but had not yet been decided on, or at least not known to the writer. It was therefore certainly written after the preceding number, though the latter is probably not the letter to which it was intended to serve as a postscript. 2 John Jermyn was actually appointed Sheriff in the end of the year 1450. "83 THE PASTON LETTERS 148 THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON 1 To oure trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Squier. The Due of Norfolk. I 45(0 T") IGHT trusti and welbelovid, we grete you well. And OCT. 1 6 r^ forasmoche as oure unkill of York and we have fully "* appoynted and agreed of such ij. persones for to be knightes of shire of Norffolk as oure said unkill and we thinke convenient and necessarie for the welfare of the said shire, we therfor pray you, in oure said unkill name and oures bothe, as ye list to stonde in the favour of oure good Lordshipp, that ye make no laboure contrarie to oure desire. And God have you in his keping. Wreten at Bury Seynt Edmondis, the xvj. day of Octobr. 149 THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON 2 'To owr welbeloved John Paston. OCT. 1 8 -T- IGHT welbeloved, I grete yow well. And as towchyng for tydyngs, I can none, savyng that my Lord of Norffolk met with my Lord of York at Bury on Thursday, and there were to gedre til Friday, ix. of the clokke, and than they departed. And there a gentilman of my Lord of York toke unto a yeman of myn, John Deye, a 1 [Douce MS. 393, f. 92.] This letter and that which follows clearly refer to the same matter. The time or year and the part taken by the Duke of York in the election are circumstances which in themselves create a pretty strong presumption in favour of the year 1450. And this presumption almost becomes a certainty, when we observe that the date of this letter i6th October was a Friday in that year; for the meeting of York and Norfolk is stated in the next letter to have been on a Thursday and Friday, and this letter would doubtless have been written as soon as a decision had been come to between the two Lords. 2 [From Fenn, i. 98.] For evidence of date, see note to preceding letter. 184 HENRY VI tokene and a sedell of my Lords entent, whom he wold have I45o(?) knyghtts of the shyre, and I sende you a sedell closed of their OCT - l8 names in this same lettre, wherfore me thynkith wel do to performe my Lords entent. Wretyn the xviij day of Octobr, at Wynche. OXENFORD. Com. Norf\ /^ Wil^n Chamtel^n.* J THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON 8 To oure right trusty and welbeloved servaunt, John Paston, Squier. The Due of Norfolk. RIGHT trusti and right welbelovid, we grete yo hertily OCT. 22 well, prayng you specially that ye will make you redy to awayte upon us at Yippiswich toward the Parlement the viij. day of Novembre in youre best aray, with as many clenly people as ye may gete for oure worship at this tyme ; for we will be there like oure estate in oure best wise without any delay. Yeven under oure signet in oure Castell of Framlyngham, the xxij. day of Octobre. 1 The names actually returned by the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk for this Parliament were for Norfolk, Sir Miles Stapleton and Henry Gray} for Suffolk, Sir Roger Chamberleyn and Sir Edmund Mulso. 2 [Douce MS. 393, f. 93.] This letter must have been written either in 1449 or in 1450, in both of which years Parliament met on the 6th of November; and as we have other letters, both of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Oxford, relating to the Parliament of 1450, we are inclined to think this also belongs to the later year. Framlingham, the seat of the Duke of Norfolk, is not more than thirty-two miles from Bury, from which he wrote on the 1 6th. I8 5 THE PASTON LETTERS JOHN DAMME AND JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my worshipfull and good maister, John Paston, Escuyer. 145 "PJLEASE it yow to wete that Sir William Oldhall is chosyn NOV. ii L/ Speker of the Parlement, and admytted by the Kyng, &c. Item, the day of oier and termyner shall holde at Norwich on Moneday next comyng, and by that cause my Lord of Oxenford shall be disported of his comyng to the Parlement for to attende to the Sessions of oier, &c. Item, the Lord Moleyns hadde langage of yow in the Kynggs presence as my Maister Yelverton can telle yow by mouthe. Your presence shuld have do meche ease here in your own matiers and other, as your weel willers thynkyn, and your absence do non ease here ; netheles my Maister Yelverton shall telle you all, &c. It is seid here that the Duke of York and the Duke of Norffolk shulln not come here this vii. nyght. Item, it is supposed that an oier and determyner shall come hastily into Norwich. William Dynne abydeth therfore. As touchyng Shirefs, ther arn none chosyn ne named, and as men suppose, non shall be chosyn til my Lord of Yorks comyng, &c. Wretyn in hast at Westminster, Mercur' in Festo Sancti Martini. Yours, J. D. and GR. It is apoynted that who shall sue any bille in the Parlement, thei must be put into the Commone Hous by for Seint Edmunds day 2 atte ferthest, &c. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 100.] The date of this letter is determined by the fact mentioned in the first sentence. Sir William Oldhall was chosen Speaker of the Parliament which met on the 6th November 1450. John Damme represented Norwich in this Parliament. Moreover, the date at the end of the letter shows that St. Martin's day fell on Wednesday in the year it was written, which was the case in 1450. 2 2Otn November. 186 HENRY VI '52 RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON 1 my ryght reverent and most wurschipfull Maistre my Maister John Paston the eldre^ esquyer, at London in the Inner 'Tempyll. RYGHT reverent and my mooste wurschipful maistre, 1450 I recommaunde me unto youre goode maisterschip. NOV. n Like you to witte that I have taken astate in the londe at Gresham as your maisterschep aviced me ; wherfore I besche you that ther may be taken an axion in my feffes name and myn a yenst Jamys Gatte, as you semeth beest, and as hasty processe as may be had a yenst hym, with your goode avice I wold ; for what tyme as I had taken astate he labored to men of the toun to have putte it in a ward, but I wold not tyll I had spoken with your masterschip, &c. Also John Warles schal gather the rente and ferme of Basyngham this yere. Item, William Smythe schal occupie hes ferme this yere, and Croumer. And as for the yeris aftre I have founde a meane that all your landis schall be letten as weele as ever they weere in that maner, with helpe of one Robert Coole, weche Robert fereth hym sore of the affence weche he ded a yenst John Herbynger ; for he is informed that your maister- schip hath taken a axion a yenst hym, and John Herbynger hath du hym lost in the hundred xli, and he hath hym in the scheryffis turne. Wherfore that it like you to withdrawe if any axion ye have a yenst hym for he will a bide any ij. men award ther aboute ; and more over he is the most able man to take a ferme of lond that I knowe in your lordeship, and he schal be a gret fermour of your the next yere. Ferthermore, ther is on Robert Wyghte, otherwise Farbusschour, aftre that your officer of Matelask had seased al Lyghtfot catell for suche 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 160.] This letter must have been written in 1450. We know already that John Paston recovered possession of Gresham between September 1450 and March 1451 (see pp. 170, 219). Here we find that he deputed Richard Calle to take possession for him in November. I8 7 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 dwtees as whas owynge the seid Robert Wyght, come upon NOV. 1 1 your bonde grounde, and brak doun the gardeyn dike of the seid Lyghtfotes and toke a wey a bullok of ij. yere age and hath caryed it a wey out of your lordschip; wherfore the tenauntes desireth your maisterschip that ye well take an axion a yenst hym that he may be punyssched. Item, as for a dey at Mauteby we can non geete, for Wynston woll not of it in no wice. And as for tidinges here we here non but my lord of Wurcestre lithe at Blakney and kepith housold there in the Frieri. Item, Wymondham had entred in to Felbryge and he whas put out be the comens and like if had beden to have lost hes heed. My ryght wurschipful mastre, All myghty Jhesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten at Heyneford on Sein Marteyn Day. Be your pore servaunt and bedman, Ric. CALLE. ABSTRACT 1 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe. NOV. 1 1 ' Right trusty and welbeloved friends,' I thank you for the quittance of Richard Sellyng you have sent me by Worcestre, with a quittance of Fauconere for the purchase of Davyngton, and another of Roys for the purchase of Tychewell. Ask my cousin Kerry Sturmer's wife to search for an indenture and other writings between me and Sellyng or Lady Wiltshire. As you inform me that Sir Thomas Todenham has sent to John Clerc to be at London, you must ask him and his wife to go before the bailiffs of Yarmouth, and certify how it was Bysshop's wife did not receive the^ioo I was ruled to pay her. John Clerc must not come up till I send for him. (/ margin, 'eyer and determiner.') Special labour has been made that Justice Yelverton should not come down this Martinmas, but the King and Lords have determined that he shall keep his day ; ' and the labour that ye, with my cousin Paston, made late to my Lord Norfolk was right well avised, in case that the Justice should be countermanded.' Urge my friends to do their very best for me now in the matters ' labored last at the oyer and terminer,' that they may take a worshipful end. Thank Nicholas Bokkyng for what he did about the certificate of the jury in the office 2 of Tychewell, and beg him to get it sealed in time, which 1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 226.] 2 An inquisition taken by the escheator of a county by virtue of his office was frequently called an ' office.' Its object was to ascertain the King's title to certain lands. 188 HENRY VI will be a great evidence for the recovery of my manor. Sends home some 1 4 CO horses to be occupied in the cart.' Commendations to his cousin John NO v 1 1 Berney. Signed. Send for William Cole about the accounts, and thank the Parson of Haylesdon l for the three writings of Wiltshire's will and Gorney he sent me by Worcester ; but say I prayed him to search for more. London, St. Martin's day. [This letter is dated on Martinmas day, at which date in the year 1450 it will be seen by the preceding number that Justice Yelverton was going down into Norfolk, and an oyer and terminer was going to be held at Norwich. The reference to the 'office,' or inquisition, of Tychewell also proves the year to be 1450. See Nos. 162 and 164, pp. 199-201.] *54 JUSTICE YELVERTON TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF 2 A Lettre to Sir John Fastoff from Justice Teherton? MY moste worshypfull and best betrusted maister, I recommaund me to yow, thankyng yow for manye grete gentlenesse and kyndnesse that ye hafe showed unto me, and for the grete ease that I had of your man and your horsys also. As for tydyngs owte of thys contree, here ys a marveyllous disposed contree, and manye evylle wylled peple to Sir Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon, and but yff they been putt in com- fort there by the meene of a good shyreve and undreshyreve, they may hafe remedye now by the ordre of lawe, and ellys grete inconvenices arn lyke for to folowe ther off. Therfor, Sir, for the weele of all our gode contree, mewyth the Kyng, 1 Thomas Hert was presented to Haylesdon by Sir John Fastolf in 1448. 2 [From Fenn, iii. 50.] This would appear to have been written in 1450, just after Yelverton's arrival in Norfolk, whither, it will be seen by the last two letters, he was going in November. The nomination of sheriffs had not yet taken place, and was anxiously expected by many, in the hope that it would lessen the influence of Sir Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon, who had hitherto been very powerful in Norfolk. 3 This is only an endorsement on the MS., and is not even contemporaneous. The MS. itself is not addressed, being, as shown in the margin, only a copy, marked ' Copia ' in the same hand as the document. 189 THE PASTON LETTERS 145 my Lord Chaunceller, 1 and all othyr Lordes as ye thynk best NOV - for thys matter on thys behalf. Also, Sir, yff they noysse me by thee meene of my Lord Scalys, or by anye othyr meene, or by onye bylle sewed by Brygg, or by onye othyr man by her [i.e. their\ craft, that it please yow to sey for me yn savacion of my pore worshyp, whych I wote well they may not hurt but they doo me wrongs, to the Kyng, my Lord Chaunceller, my Lord of Wynchester, 2 my Lord Cromewell, and in othyr places, as ye semyth, that no credence be goven to myne hurt yn myne absence. Also, Sir, that William Geney and Brayn, the clerks of the Sessions, ben hastyed hedreward as well as they may ; and, Sir, my cousyn Paston and my brothyr Cleere can tell yow moch more thyng that I shuld wryte off to yow, and I had leyser ; but I shall wythynne short tyme sende yow more tydyngs owte of thys contree, by the grace of God, whych hafe yow yn hys holye kepyng. By your old Servaunt, WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justice. 155 JUSTICE YELVERTON TO JOHN BOCKING 3 To my welbeloved cosyn, John Bockyng. WORSHIPFULL and right welbeloved cosyn, I comaunde me to you, prayng you to recomaunde me to my Maister Fastolf, and thank hym in my name hertily for his man and his hors. And also for to meve hym for that we may have a good shereve and a good under- shereve that neythir for good favore no fere wol returne for the Kyng, ne betwix par tie and par tie, none othir men but such 1 Cardinal Kemp. 2 The celebrated William de Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester. 3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The correspondence of this letter with the last is such as to leave no doubt that they were written at the same period. The MS. is a contemporaneous copy. 190 HENRY VI as ar good and trewe, and in no wyse will be forsworne ; for 1450 the pepil here is loth to compleyne til thei here tidynges of a NOV - good shereve. And that William Jenney and Brayne, the clerk of the Cessions, and Thomas Denys, ben hastid hydir- ward as fast as thei may, and than men supposen he nedith not to dowghtyn his materes. And also that my cosyn Paston be so hastily holpen in his maters that he may sone come hedir ageyn. And also that my maistir be my sheld and my defense ageyns all fals noyses and sclaundres meved ayens me by her menes in myn absens. At Walsyngham, and in othir places in the duche of Lancastre, men shal be redy to seche Heydon at horn in his own hous, if he come home ; and in lyke wyse standith Sir Thomas Tudenham his neighburs to hymward as the more part of the pepil seth in this cuntre. His men have told here the falsest tales of Sir William Oldhall and of me that evere I herd speke of. It wer ful necessarye and profitable to the Kyng and to his pepit for to have othir officers in his duche. Asay how ye can sett hem a werk in the Parlement, for if this maters be sped as it is aforn desired, thei ar lyke to be sett a werk here well inough, by the grace of God, which have you in holy kepyng. By your cosyn, WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justice. 156 ABSTRACT 1 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Pastor of Castlecombe, JOHN BOKKYNG, and WATKIN SHYPDAM. Thanks the Parson for a letter by Robert Botiller, and one by John Clerc, NOV. 23 advising that Bokking and William Jenney be ' in that parties ' betimes for the oyer and terminer. Has received instruction of the first purchase of Haylysdon. Is glad John Clerc is come. Much strange labour has been made to him by Tasborough and Swolle. Complains of the untruth of Appulzerd of Norwich in the Lady BardolPs matter. A bailly of Hikelyng maintains the Prior in his 1 [From an original, sold by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson on the 2nd March 1870.] 191 THE PASTON LETTERS 1 4 CO wrong against Fastolf. William Barker had a box of evidences of the farm of NOV. 2* Lady BardolPs lands, and a deed of Norman's feoffment with evidences of Saxthorp, which cannot be found here, and must have been left at Norwich or Castre. Don't forget Norman's matter, and the maintainers of the false inquest of Beyton Brad well. Wyndham wants to be friends with me about the Lady BardolPs matter. The master of St. Giles has been with me for the purchase of Mundham Maner with appurtenances in Cyselond, and I have agreed with him for 200 marks. Don't forget the bailly of Hykelyng, who said I should forge [i.e. had forged] evidence, &c. London, 23 Nov. 29 Hen. vi. Signed. [An extract from the latter part of this letter is printed by Blomefield, Hist. Norf. iv. 388-9 (Note 9).] ABSTRACT 1 NOV. 28 Power of attorney by John, Cardinal Archbishop of York, and others, to John Est and others, including William Worcestre and Geoffrey Sperlyng, to deliver seisin to Walter Leyhert, Bishop of Norwich, and others, of and in the manor of Mundham, &c. 28 Nov. 29 Hen. yi. 2O Seals, of which three are lost. Endorsed by Blomefield 'Sir John FastolfFs Feoffees Release,' &c., with a reference to his History of Norfolk, vol. ii. 762 (fol. ed.). 158 ABSTRACTS SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Parson of Castlecombe, WILLIAM JENNEY, and JOHN BOKKYNG. DEC. 2 Thanks them for their diligence. Has respited the matter against Wyndham touching the Lady Bardolf till next term, as he offers to come to an agreement. 3 Is ready to agree with all persons who will find sufficient surety, except Sir Thomas Tudenham, Heydon, and Pykering (underlined). Master John Bote- wright has sent him a letter of great loss and damage done by Tudenham and Heydon to the * comyn ' of Swaffham, ' benymmyng (?) 600 acres lond of her 1 [From Add. Charter 17,238, B.M.] 8 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 235.] 3 FastolPs signature is placed here, near the beginning of the letter, after the first paragraph. 192 HENRY VI comyn.' Has written to my brother Yelverton,' and would write also to my Lord of Oxford, but that he is so vexed in spirit in thys trouble seson,' that DE c. 2 at times he cannot abide the signing and sealing of a letter. Prays them to see well to the accountants and auditors' charges. London, 2 Dec. 29 Hen. vi. And because I might [not] abide till the writing of the matters that I commanded Worcester to write, I signed the letter so near the beginning ; but I will ye tender, nevertheless, my letter and articles for my most profit and avail.' '59 ABSTRACT 1 Memoranda signed by Sir John Fastolf (mutilated at the head] viz. about the I45O Prior of Hikelyng ; that John Ulveston and John Andrew be indicted for forging the office of Boyton, as well as for Bradwell in Suffolk ; Brayn to deliver copies ; if they sit in Suffolk, to take heed of Sypton's matter. Nicholas Apleyard will doubtless appear to the bill of maintenance ; so the Prior and Sacristan and Sir H. Inglose must be ' laboured ' to give information. Process against Dynne, Prentis, &c. Obligation of 200 marks that Brian Stapleton has in keeping. The Parson of Castlecombe to speak with John Emond of Taverham secretly about one who pretended title to Dedham, &c. * That ready word come alway atwix Norwich and this of the tidings that are there.' Matter of Margaret Brygge, &c. ' That Paston conceive the crossed letter, and say therein to my Lady Felbrigg.' To speak to Paston and Jenney about various matters. To speak to Reppys 'that he feel my Lord Scales and the Prior of Hikelyng jointly if they will yet treat, as my Lord Scales and my master were agreed at London,' &c. [From the reference to Sypton's matter, it would appear that this paper is a little before the two following in point of date.] 1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 277.] VOL. II. N J 93 THE PASTON LETTERS 160 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS AND JOHN BOOKING 1 I'o my ryght trusty frende and seruaunt, Sir Thomas, Parson of Castellcombe, and John Bokkyng, at Pry nee Inne yn Norwych, or at Beklys. 1450 T"\ YGHT trusty and welbelevyd ser vaunt, I grete you DEC. 4 fr^ well. And forasmoch as I undrestand that on Mon- day next the oyer and terminer shall be holden at Beklys, and ye avysen to sende yow a certificat for cause of the forged quytaunce by Sir John Sypton, whych wrytyng I scende you by the berer here of, prayng you that ye solicit to my councell that the said Sir John Sypton be endited thereuppon, and that ye foryete not Ulveston, Andreus, and the othyrs that forged a fals office 2 to cast my maner of Brad well yn to the Kyngs hand. Item, I sende you a copie of Sibieton pie and quytaunce forged to grounde your bille by it. No more for haste, but God kepe you. Wryt at London, iiij. day of December, anno xxix regni Regis H. vi. Item, Sir John Bukk, Parson of Stratford, physshed my stankys at Dedham, and holp brake my damme, destroyed my new mille, and was ayenst me allwey at Dedham, to the damage of 2O/., which may be endyted allso. Item, he and John Cole hath by force this yeer, and othyr yeers, take out off my waters at Dedham, to the nombre of xxiiij. swannys and signetts, and I pray you thys be not foryeted. J. FASTOLF. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 102.] * See p. 188, Note 2. 194 HENRY VI 161 ABSTRACT SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Parson of Castlecombe, and JOHN BOKKING, in haste, at Princes Inn, in Norwich. As the oyer and terminer in Suffolk is to be on Monday next, desires them 1 4 CO to get Sir John Sypton indicted for forging the false acquittance, and Bury his DEC s advocate also. Has inquired of his tenants at Dedham who were the chief counsel of breaking his mill-dam, and they say Sir John Squyer was chief, but John Waryn was of counsel and court-holder there ; also Sir John Buk, Parson of Stratton, who fished his stanks, &c. John Cole of Stoke has also taken in years past more than twenty of his swans. Let them be presented. The late Parson of Cotton got F.'s late bailly, Henry Holm (now dead), pledged out by false representations of the sufficiency of his bail, &c. London, 5 Dec. 29 Hen. vi. Signed. FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS 2 To my ryght trusty and welbelovyd frendys, Sir Thomas, Parson off Castellcombe. RYGHT trusty frendys, I grete you well. And lete you DEC. 20 wete that I have resseyved your lettre thys day, which was wryt xv. day of December, and undre[stand] well your ryght gode mocions and causes shewed of inconvenients that myght fall, yff the shyreve have not a gode undreshyreff whyche were not enclynyng to the partie of T. H. 8 And there as ye meoffe me to wryte to ij. Lordys for the said cause, they be both forth to theyr centre, and shall therfor wryte unto hem uppon the tenor of your lettrez in that at y 1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 247.] 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M., and MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 248.] The original of this letter has been torn in two, and the first portion is now among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, while the latter part is in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps at Cheltenham. 3 Tuddenham and Heydon. '95 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 can or may, as forre as reson and justice wolle, for such an DEC. 20 officer as woll not, for no mede, hate, or losse, execut 1 dewlye his office to the weele of the contre. Item, the day of thys lettre wrytyng, John Bokkyng ys com to me, and hath expressley enformyd me by mouth as by wrytynges the greete labour and diligence whych ye have take uppon yow, seth Martismasse, in especiall, abowte the ex- pedition of my processe of oyer and terminer before the Kyngs Commyssioners attained ; and I vele ryght well by the avauncement of my processe your faithfull diligence, for whych y can you ryght gode thank, and trustyng uppon your gode continuance. And seth the Commissioners shall sytt at Lynne after the Epiphanye, such of my maters as have take none ende, but hang yn processe for deffaut of aunsuer or apparaunce of my partie, I pray you that the said maters may be called uppon of the new, and dew processe had as ferre as justice and gode concience wolle. Item, it ys so, as I undrestand, that the Lord Scalys woll be at Lynne thys Cristmasse, and at the oyer and terminer halden there, and Sir Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon wolle appere, of which I am well content ; and it ys lyke that grete labour and speciall pursute shall be made to the Lord Scalys that he wolle meynteyn the said Tuddenham and Heydon in all he can or may, and thus I have herd sey. Wherfor such persones as have founde hem score greved by extorcion as I have ben, and have processe or wolle hafe processe before the Commissioners, they most effectuelly labour to my Lord Oxford, and to my brothyr Zelverton, Justice, that they wolle as ferre as justice, reson, and concience do that justice may [be] egallie mynistred, and not to wythdrawe theyr couragez well sett from the pore peple ; for and they hald not the hand well and stedfast yn thys mater from hens forth whyle it shall dure, as they have herebefore, the pore peple and all the grete part of both shyres of Norffolk and Suffolk be destroyed. For it shewyth well by what manyfold undewe menys of extorcion they have lyved yn myserieand grete pouverte by manye yeers contynewed that the moste part of the comyners 1 ' Forbear to execute ' doubtless was intended. 196 HENRY VI have litill or nought to meynteyn their menage and housold, 1450 ne to pay the Kyngs taskys, nothyr theyr rents and servises DBC - 20 to the Lordz they be tenants un too, as it shewyth daylie to all the world, whych ys overe a grete pitie to thynk. And when the said pore peple have be by such injuries overladd and so undoon, nedz most the gentlemen that have they pore lyvelode amongs hem be gretely minisshed and hyndered of their increse and levyng. Item, where as I undrestand by a lettre sent to me from my welbelovyd frende Maister John Botewryght, that grete extorcion have be don by the officers of the duchee in takyng awey cxl. acres pasture at Swaffam, whych ys of the Kyngs demeynz and of hys enheritaunce as of the duchee of Lancaster, for whych pastures, yff it com not ynne ayen, it woll be grete disheritaunce to the Kyng, and fynall destruc- cion of the tenauntes there, for whych the said Maistre John desyryth and prayeth of remedie yn the name of all the toune of Swaffam. As to thys such as wold here the encrese and wellfare of hym, of hys parysshons, and off all thoose mysdon untoo, most by the avice of som lerned man to put theyr oppressions and grevaunces in wrytyng, well grounded, and as the trouth of the mater ys, and that the said wrytyng or bille may be enseled wyth the seles of such gentlemen that have lyvebode there, and wyth the men that be cowthest knowen, 1 and that wrytyng so enseled to be directed to the Kyng, and to the Lordz of hys Councell. And then it ys and woll be of more credence to the Kyng and the Lordys then a simple lettre. And thys doon wyth the labours that they may make there in shewyng theyr grevaunces to the Commissioners; and the seid grevaunces shewed also here amongs the Kyng and the Lordz, it ys verrayly to thynk that they shall be purveyd of a remedie. And foryete not to sende or wryte to Maister Botewryght in goodly haste of thys article wyth your correccion to be had where the avertisementes of you and my frendz that have more particuler knowlege yn such maters. Item, I have grete mervaylle that yong Jenney, whych ys of my Lord Cromewell councell, and Robert Ledam, also off 1 Most publicly known. 197 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 hys councell, and hys man be not spoke with there, that they DEC. 20 d O o not attaine an accion ayenst Sir Thomas Tudden[ham], Heydon, and John Gent, whyche have and wold dayly labour to disseisse my Lord Cromewell of a knyghten service in Saxthorp, which ye have ryght suffisaunt evidenses by an endentures of Kyng Edward iij d dayes enseled, as of Kyng Herry dayes the iiij the , that the seid maner ys hald by the iiij the part of a knyzt fee 1 of my Lord Cromewell as of the maner of Tateshale. And the seid Tuddenham and Heydon wold after theyr voulente have it hald yn meen of the maner of Hetersete, whych sufficient evidenses that ye have specifyeth no thyng soo. And I have lost xx 1 '- yeerly yn appro wement z of my chatell, for cause my Lord Cromewell, throw neglicence of hys officers in Norffolk, have not meynteyned hys ryght. And there as John Bokkyng seith that John Jenney hath no commaundment of my Lord to pursue hys ryght, it shewyth off reson that seth he ys of hys councell in especiall for that shyre, he ought doo hys ryzt to be savyd and kept of hys dewtee. And thertoo he knouyth well that my said Lord hath commaunded hym dyvers tymys to take kepe hys ryzt be savyd in thys mater. Wherfor I pray you requyre hym on my Lord ys behalf 3 to compleyn to Justice at thys oyer [and terminer for a] remedie, and that the [bi]lle be made yn my Lordys name. And then to have commaund- ment ryzt sone of my Lord eftsonys, and [i.e. if] he wolle sende unto hym by suche as goth dayly into that centre to Tateshale. And I had send hym hys speciall [com]maund- ment, had he sent me suche word betyme whyle he was heere. I pray you remembre ye so John Jenney and Robert Ledham as I have no cause to [wri]te more, ne to compleyn to my Lord of theyr necligence. Item, Sir Parson, where it ys soo that my cosyn Boys ys passed to God, whoos soule God assoyle, ye shall fynde amonges my bokes of accomptes at Castre, or amonges othyr wrytynges, he owed me money for a ferm he heeld of me, as 1 A knight's fee was an amount of land sufficient to maintain a knight, and held subject to a knight's service. 2 See p. 152, Note 3. 3 Here begins the portion in the Phillipps MS. 108 HENRY VI Watkyn Shypdam ys remembred ; and also I lent hym xl s - 1450 whych I shuld have an obligacion at Castre off, praying you DEC> 20 to inquire off thys dewteez, and see recuvere may be made off it. Item, I seende a lettre at thys tyme to my cosyn Wychyng- ham, to hys modre also, for a mater that touchyth my cosyn Robert Fitzrauff ys amercement, and the partie also. Whych lettre I woll ye breke to undrestand my wrytyng and the substaunce off it the more. And y pray you hertly to speke wyth the partie at Norwych as well as wyth my ryght welbelovyd cosyn Sir Herry Inglose, and wyth my cosyn Wychyngham assone as ye goodly may. And meoffe ye the said mater yn such wyse as your discrecioun can well consider that the rathyr the said mater may take a gode ende, yff it may be yn ony wyse ; yn whych mater ye shall do me ryght singler plesyr, and that thys be not slewthed, for taryeng drawth perell. I wryte but briefflye, for I l Item, where as Brome ys not well wyllyng yn my maters, whych for the wrong takyng and wyth haldyng my shepe I ought take a accioun ayenst hym; for declaracioun in whate wyse he dyd it, John Bele my sheperefe can enforme you best, for he laboured about the recuvere of it. My Lady Norfolk sent me a lettre viij. yere goon, whych I shuld hafe, desyryng that the processe I was purposed take ayenst hym shuld be respited, and all that reson wold he shuld obbey. I am avysed therfor let som man about my Lord Norfolk and my Lady have wetyng, or I begynne. Yhyt I wold ye had declaracioun before of the conduyt and grounde of thys mater. Item, where my cosyn Inglose avyse me fully to take a speciall assise on the priorye of Hykelyng for my rent, I have abydden uppon my cosyn Paston that he and I shuld take one to ghedyr, and I vele hym no thyng spede in it. Let me know how he woll doo thys next terme, for elles am I fully avysed to take myne owt, and to traverse all iij. offices 2 for Beyton, Bradwell, and Tychewell, wyth the help of my frendz, Not elles at thys tyme ; but I pray you comfort all thoo that 1 Three words indistinct. 2 See p. j88, Note 2. 199 THE PASTON LETTERS 1450 fynde hem greved to abyde by theyr ryzt, and that ye woll DEC. 20 contynew forth for my worshup and proffyt as ferre as ryzt wolle. Whych I trust to God shall better have hys cours then it hath beforn ; who have you in hys kepyng. Wryt at London, the xx. day of Decembre anno xxix regni Regis H. vi. Item, that thys lettre commaund me to my cosyn John a Berney. J. FASTOLF. (On the back) Item, I have sende ij. lettres to my Lord Erie of Oxford, the ton by Robson ys man, a squyer of my Lordys. And the grete substaunce of the lettre ys that the issues forfeted may be sent upp be tyme to my Lord Tresorer ; for there shall be none assignment made, ne may not, till it com yn wrytyng ; it be don, had it be sent. Grete sute ys made to pardon it, but the Kynges Councell woll not suffre it. The ij. lettre Nicholas Bokkyng beryth for excuse of my cosyn Inglose, because grete labor hath be made to my Lord York ayenst my cosyn Inglose and Seggeford, that they shuld endyte the Priour of Walsyngham tenaunt yn Salle. Wher- uppon my Lord York, unadvertised of the trouth, sent a lettre to my Lord Oxford to support the Pryor ys tenaunt ayenst Seggeford namely. Item, I desyre that and John Berney or onye man can mete wyth Dallyng, that fals undre eschetor, in onye place proviable, that he may by force brought to Castre without damage of hys bodye, and there to be kept yn hold, that he may confesse the trouth of the fals office he forged off my maner of Tychewell. Item, forasmoche as ye shall have to doon at Lynne for my maters there as for Tychewell and othyr, therfor I wolle that yee doo purvey of gode frendys as be aboute Flegg that passen yn jureez, that they may wayt uppon yow there at Lynne, and other suche trusty men that ye can ghete to spede my processe. And that ye do hem goode chier and cost uppon hem after that the case shall requyre. I commyt thys mater to be ruled by your wysdom, that it be net forzeten. 200 HENRY VI 163 THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON 1 To our welbcloved John Paston. Th'erl of Oxenford. RIGHT trusty and welbeloved, we grete you well. And 1450 for as moche as the qwene and my Lord of York DEC - 23 have writyn to us for a matier that is depending betwix the toun of Salle and on [one] Sechforth of the same toune, we pray yow that at such tyme as we purpose yow to be with us now this Cristemesse at Wynche that ye lete the sayd Sechforth have wetyng ther of, and that he may be with us that same tyme, for diverse matiers wich that we have to speke with hym ; and that ye fayle not, as we trust yow. Wretyn in owr manor of Wynche, the xxiij ti - day of Decembre. 164 ABSTRACT 2 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN BERNEY AND SIR THOMAS HOWYS. Begs them to have heed to his matters to be sped on Tuesday after the DEC. 27 Twelfth, especially ' to labor the jury that was supposed to 'a past in the office found for Tychewell, 3 that they may appear at Lynne, and there make a certificate before my Lord of Oxford, and the Justice William Yelverton, that they were never privy nor consenting to such an office-finding.' On this an action may be founded against Dallyng, * the false harlot.' Would like Berney rewarded for his labor, if it were secretly done, and Dynne also. ' Ye wete what I mean. I pray you see well forth, for Mitte sapientem, &c.' London, in haste, St. John's day in Christmas; 4 'for he cam to Castre, 1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 168.] The subject of this letter is evidently referred to in the postscript of the last. 2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 237.] 3 See No. 153 ; also PS. to No. 162. * This, which is written after the date, would appear to apply to Dallyng. 201 THE PASTON LETTERS 1 4 CO an d ^ere se Y e m y n evydence, and than made the office therby, and for Suffolk DEC! 27 a* 80 ' the fals ffi ces f 01111 "* there in l ikewise > &c -' You must 8ue nim to the utmost. [The date of this letter is determined by the reference made in it to the Sessions held at Lynn, in the January following, before the Earl of Oxford and Justice Yelverton. See No. 167. At the foot of the original MS. is this inscription: 'Donum Rev. Fra. Blomefield, 10 Dec. 173 5.'] 165 ANONYMOUS TO i 1450 TT PREY zu if ze have any old gownys for lynynges and old schetys and old schertys that may non lenger seven zu, I prey zu send hem horn in hast, for I must okupye seche thyngis in hast. Wyndham hath medyd the juryorys and yaf hem mony that xuld passe on the qwhest be twyn zour modyr and hym ; if ther myt ben purveyd any mene that it myt ben dasched in cas wer that it xuld passe azens zour modyr, it wer a good sport ; for than he wold ben wode. He sent with his men to the array iij. gunnys in very trowth. I have inquiryd veryly ther after. He is wode wroth that Daniel is amrel, for it is told me that on of his men is indytyd in the amrellys cort sythyn that Danyel was made amerel. I pray zu bewar in qhat felaschep ze ryd qhan ze com homward, for ther gon many fals shrewys and thevys in this centre. Thomas Skipping rod to Londonward on Friday last past in gret hast and purposyd hym for to ben at London on Sonday be none on erandys of his maysterrys : qhat the cawse is I wote nott. On sent me word her of that knowth it for trowth. 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 150.] The date of this letter seems to be towards the close of the year 1450 ; for though I have not met with the date of Daniel's appoint- ment as Admiral, which would prove the year, it will be seen by the last paragraph of No. 142 that Wyndham was indicted at that time along with Toddenham and Heydon, as one of the makers of disorder in Norfolk. 202 HENRY VI 166 SIR JOHN FASTOLF 1 .. Item, that Sir John Ingelose and the Meyer be spoke to for here worship that the man weche that herd Heydon seye the langage upon wheche he is endyted, be sent heder ; for that aught not to be kept prevye but oplyshed, seyng any thyng towchyng or sownyng to treson. And, on the other part, it is to grett necye (?) to noyse any man with ought cause, &c. Hit is not here worship this mater, if hit be trew, is so longe kept prevye with theym, &c. J. FASTOLFE. 167 THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN JERMYN 2 To my ryght trusty and intierly welbeloved John Jermyn, Shirreve of Norfolk. RIGHT trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele. 1451 And where late by the Kyngs comaundment in the J AN - 2 tyme of his Parliament, holden now last at West- minster, I was in persone at Norwich, holdyng Sessions of oir determyner 3 with Yelverton, on of the Kyngs Juges, by greet space and greet attendaunce, which for to a do with suych diligence in the Parliament tyme I wold a be right lothe, but for the pupplyk wele of all the shire. It is also not oute of your remembraunce what indisposicion 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a mere fragment, containing nothing but the postscript of a letter, the date of which must be either towards the end of the year 1450, or the beginning of 1451. A passage to the same effect will be found in a letter of FastolPs, written on the 7th January 1451. 8 [From Fenn, iii. 106.] As this letter was written in the year that John Jermyn was Sheriff of Norfolk, the date must be 1451. 3 See page 161, Note 3. 203 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 the Commons of bothe countes in the ende of somer last passed JAN. 2 we r of, and how the Kyng, by the hole advyse of all the greet Councell of Ingland, to sese their rumour, send hider his said Commission ; and how I have do my part therynne, I reporte me to all the world. I here a gruggyng, neverthelesse, that trow favour in your office to the pople that hath compleyned by many and grete horible billes agayn certeyn persones shuld not be shewid at this next Sessions at Lenn, ne ferther in the said Comission, which, if it so were, as God defend, myght cause a latter errour wurs than the first. I pray yow, therfore, that ye wole write to me your dis- posicion how ye purpose to be demened, and how I shal take yow for th'execucion of the Kyngs Comission, and the pupplik wele of all the shire ; and aftir that that ye write to me, so wole I take yow, latyng yow wete that I were lothe to labour ferther but if I wist that the Commons shuld be easid as Godds law wold ; and if ony errour grow, the defaute shal not be founde in me. I pray yow more over to gif credence to the berer her of, and the Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wynch, the second day of January. THE ERLE OF OXENFORD. 168 THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF 1 To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolff, Knyght. I 45 I G ? ) IT) IGHT trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow JAN. 2 r^ wele, and pray yow to be right sadly advysed of the contynue of a bille of instruccion closid her ynne ; and therupon, as I trust yow, to comon with suych my Lords of the Kyngs Councell as be present now at this tyme, in especiall 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, which is dated at the same place and on the same day as the preceding, was probably written in the same year also. 204 HENRY VI my Lord Chaunceller, and that ye wole send me instruccyon i4Ci(?) agayn of their avise, and how I shal demene me. And the JAN. 2 Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn at Wynch, the second day of January. THE ERLE OF OXENFORD. 169 JOHN BOOKING TO WILLIAM WAYTE 1 To William Wayte? RITH feithful and welbelovyd brother, Wiliam Wayte, 1451 I comaunde me to yow as the lord may to his tenant, J AN - 2 praying you effectualy to recomaunde me to my singuler gode mayster and yours, excusyng me that I write not to hym, for I dar not envolde me in the same. And as for tydyngs her, I certifye you that all is nowght, or will be nowght. The Kyng borweth hes expense for Cristemesse ; the Kyng of Aragon, 3 the Due of Myleyn, 4 the Due of Ostrich, 5 the Due of Burgoyn 6 wolde ben assistent to us to make a conquest, and nothyng is aunswered, ner agreed in maner, save abydyng the grete deli ber aeon that at the last zall spill all to goder, &c. The Chief Yistice 7 hath waited to ben assauted all this sevenyght nyghtly in hes hous, but nothing come as yett, the more pite, &c. On oyr and determiner* goth in to Kent, and 1 [From Fenn, iii. 1 34..] The evidence on which this letter has been assigned to the year 1451 will be seen in a footnote. 2 This is supplied by the Editor, there being no address in the Msitself. 3 Alfonso v. 4 Francis Sforza, one of the most able and successful generals of the time. He was a soldier of fortune, of peasant origin, and succeeded to the Duchy of Milan by his marriage with Bianca Maria, natural daughter of Philip Maria, the preceding Duke, whose interests he had at one time opposed as general of a league formed by the Pope and the Venetian and Florentine Republics against the Duchy. 6 Albert, surnamed the Prodigal, brother of the Emperor Frederic in. 6 Philip the Good. 7 Sir John Fortescue. 8 A commission of oyer andterminer for Kent and Sussex was issued in December 14.50 to Richard, Duke of York, Lord Bourchier, Sir John Fastolf, and others. Patent Roll, 29 Hen. vi. p. i, m. 16 indorse. 205 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 Commissioners my Lord the Due of York, Bouchier, my JAN. 2 mayster, 1 that will not come there, de prodicionibus, &c., but Kent praeth hem to hang no men when thei come. Other tydyngs as yett can I non tell you, save Ulveston is Styward of the Mydill Inne, and Isley of the Inner Inne, be cause thei wold have officz for excuse for dwellyng this tyme from her wyves, cVc. Sir T. T. 2 lost hes primer at the Tour Hill, and sent his man to seche [fetch (?)] it, and a good felaw wyshed hit in Norffolk, so he wold fetch hit there, &c. Men ween that Norffolk men wer hardier thanne thei be. God graunte, and at the reverence of God help too that an outas 3 and clamour be made upon the Lord Scalez, 4 preying hym for well of the cuntre, neyther susteyn ner help hym ner Heydon in no wyse, and that ye crye upon my mayster and yours that he obeye not the syrcorar [certiorari] as yett, as ye may se be hes lettre from my mayster, rudely and in hast be me endited, of which I pray excuse, &c. And pray Blake 6 to do Swaf ham men sey sum what to the matier. I wote well T. and H. 6 wil not come there at this tyme, as it is verily reported, &c. Mitte sapientcm^ &c. Brayn and I shalbe with you on Saturday nest at evyn, with the grace of Jesu, to whom I be take you. In hast, at London, the ij de day of Januar. By J. BOCKYNG. 1 Sir John Fastolf, whose servant Booking was. 2 Sir Thomas Tuddenham. 3 An outcry. 4 See p. 196. 6 Elsewhere mentioned as bailiff of Swaffham. 6 Tuddenham and Heydon. 206 HENRY VI 170 WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON 1 my Ryght seuere ana ryght worchepfull mayster, my mayster Paston, in hast. RYGHT Reverent and ryght wurchepfull sir, I re- 1451 comaunde me un to youre good maysterchep. Late JAN. 3 yow wete that Blake the baly of Swafham cam horn from London on the Saterday after that my mayster departed from yow atte myn lord of Oxenfordis. And he told my mayster that he cam to London on Seint John day atte nyte. And he yede streyt to my lord Chaunceler and told my seyd lord that yf the Kyng pardoned sir Thomas Tudenham and Heydon her issewes that the shire of Suffolk wold paye no taxe ; for what nedyth the kynge for to have the taxe of hese pore puple whanne he wyll not take hese issues of thos rych extorssioners and oppressours of hese puple. And also he told my seyd lord Chaunceler and many more lordes that yf the kynge pardon hym or graunted any supersedeas, London shuld with inne short tyme have as moche for to do as they hadde for to kepe London Brygge whanne the Capteyn 2 cam thedir ; for he told hym that ther was up in NorfFolk redy to ryse V M L comons yf they have not execucion of the oyre and terminer. And whanne my lord Chaunceler herd this he was ryte glade therof, and dede Blake telle all this and moche more a forn the kynge and all hese lordes, that they blyssed him whanne they herden yt. And yf he hadde not a seyd this they shuld an hadd and supersedeas and pardon also, for ther was made a gret suggestion that it hadde be don of grette malyce. And so the lord Scales meyntenyth Sir Thomas Tudenham in all that he may goodly, but he wyll not awow i [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 63.] The date of this letter is sufficiently evident. Jack Cade. 2O7 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 yt ; but he shall come don to the oyre determiner sekerly, and J AN - 3 for to make anende atwex sir T. Tudenham and Swafham ; for [he] hayth made and genttyl letter un to the parson, the bayly and the inhabitaunce of Swafham, and seth that he wyll do hese parte to sette them in reste and peas. And so my mayster understande that yf Swafham and he werne accorded that thei shuld sette lytyll be Norwych. And therfore my mayster prayeth yow that ye wyll speke with the Mayer and hese brethern that they purvey that ther be atte Lenn a sufficiaunt fellawshep to gedyr, and that ther be madde a grette noyse up on the lord Scales, bothe of Tudenham and Heydon, and for all thos that arne of that sekt, and that wyse purvy- aunce ordenance he hadde how they shull be demened ; for this same day was the parson of Swafham with my mayster, and they arne accorded that ther shall be of here lordshep and sufficiaunt fellawshep and they shall have here loggyng atte the Frere Menours atte Lenn. And they wyll not assentte to noone ende but as the Cety doyth. And it is here avyse that the meyre shuld purveye for hem in sum other Freres. For Tudenham and H[eydon] wyll brynge with hem sufficiaunt counceyll as any kun they gete in London ; And also the Cetye must purvey that as many sufficiaunt mene as can be gette or spoke to, that they be redy yf it happe of any tryall. Also the Cetye hadde nede to have Sir Miles Stapulton ther show they shuld helpe to hese costys. Ware, Sir, atte the reverens of God be thenke yow well of all these maters. Blake was atte London on Thursday and herd no word of the stretes, 1 ne of Robson my lord of Oxffbrdis man, and or Blake cam to London Sir T. Terell hadde labored to Sir John Fastolf that Sir T. Tudenham shuld ave [been 2 ] bownde to Sir John Fastolf in foure thowsand pounde to stande to hese rule and ordenance ; and so whanne Blake cam and deysshsed all to gedyr, and so he dede Sir John Fastolf labor to the kynge and to the Chaunceler for to lette the supersedeas and the pardon ; and ther was grette langage atwex Blake and Tudenham ; it wor to moche to wryte yt un to yow, but he hayth sore noyssed my mayster to the Kynge and to the lordes. Also Tudenham 1 I.e. the estreats. 2 Omitted in MS. 208 HENRY VI is owte of the kynges hows, and Cotton is Warderopper, my 1451 mayster shall on Monday dyne with. Also, sir, it wore grette J AN - 3 wysdam that my mayster hadde knowleche atte Walsyngham on Fryday nest comyng how the Maire and ze be accorded, for my mayster wyle be recaled therafter. William Geney sent un to my mayster for to ascuse hym that he shuld not come to Lenn un to the Wedenesday. And, Sir, that were agrette hurte bothe to the Cyte of Norwych and for Swaf ham ; and therfor my mayster wold that the Mayer shuld send for hym, that he be ther be tyme on the Tuesday, and that moo bille be made ayens Tudenham and Heydon, what so ever falle. The Holy Cost have you and yours in hese kepyng. Wretyn atte Rougham, the Sonday nyte nest after newe zers day in hest as it semyth. Be your servaunte, W. WAYTE. 171 ABSTRACT 1 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN A BERNEY AND SIR THOMAS HOWES. Sends John Bokkyng on matters to be sped at the oyer and terminer. JAN. 7 They must remember a certiorari is out of the King's Bench, and a procedendo was granted at one time * for certain which had not appeared in the place and pleaded.' Has received all the stuff contained in a bill dated 28th November, made by John Davye of Yarmouth, and delivered to one Roger Metsharp, master of the little boat called The Blythe. Wonders they did not send the great ship with malt. Desires provisions for Lent by next ship. Remind my cousin Inglos that the man that ' appeched ' Heydon be sent hither, if he dare stand by his words. All the indictments against Heydon are not worth a half- penny. Howes must take John a Berney's advice about this matter. London, Thursday after Twelfth, 29 Hen. vi. Let all who were on the inquest for Bardolf s matter be indicted, whatever it cost. Signed. 1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 246.] VOL. ir. o 209 THE PASTON LETTERS 172 WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON 1 'To my ryght reverent and ryght worchepfull mayster, my mayster Paston in hest posybyll. I 45 I d^YR, ty^ 6 y t y w to ^ now ^ at m y ^ or< ^ Scalys sent hese JAN. 9 ^^ pursevaunt unto my mayster 2 on the Twelthe day, that ^^ my mayster shuld mete wyth hym atte Wynche aforn my Lord of Oxenford on the Thursday nest folwyng. And whanne my mayster cam thedyr, he delyvered my mayster a letter from my Lord Chauncheler, quych my mayster wyll shew yow atte Lenn. I shuld send yow a copy therof, but it is so longe that I had no leyser to wryte it. My mayster rode to Walsyngham on the Fryday folwyng, and ther he mette with the shereve, and the shereve lyveryd my mayster a letter from my Lord of Norffolk, qwych I send yow a copy of. And atte Walsyngham my mayster resceyvyd a letter from Osberne youre man. And ther Heydonis man made hese avaunte that he was the Justice of the Pease on Causton- heythe ; and so it semyth be here contenaunce that they trost of a good zere. And, Syr, whanne my mayster cam horn on Saterday ther was lyvered my mayster a letter from Sir John Fastolf, and a neyther letter cam to me from John Bokkynge, 3 qwych I send you a copy of. Sir, God send us a fay re day atte 4 Lenn. And that ther may be pople jnow to crye up on the Lord Scales that he mayntene not Sir T. T. and H. in here wronges, as the copy of B letter makyth mencion. And, Sir, atte the reverens of God, laborth youre materis wysely and secretely, for Wyndam noysed yow sore aforn my Lord of 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 230.] This letter was evidently written on the Saturday after the same writer's letter of the 3rd January immediately preceding. 2 Judge Yelverton. He was lord of the manor of Rougham, from which this letter is dated. 3 No. 169. * Atte repeated in MS. 210 HENRY VI Oxenford and my Lorde Scales that ze shuld reyse meche 145-1 puple with grette arey owte of Norwyche. And therfor, Sir, JAN. 9 late the puple be wysely and manly gydyd in here frekynge and demenynge. Also my Lord Scales sent for the parson of Sw[a]fham and divers men of the same town to mete with hym aforn my Lord of Oxenford the seyd Thursday, for to trete with hem for Sir Thomas Tudenham ; and ther was the baly of Swafham and Sir Thomas Tudenham prest. And so my Lord Scales yave the parson of S. grette langage and to men of same towne. Y. and the parson answherd my Lord Scales manly in the best wyse. And ther was grette langage twexen Blake the baly and Tudenham prest that my lordys and my mayster worne acornberd therof. And so it is lyke that my Lord Scales shall make ther no loveday; and so Swafham wylbe ther in here best array. Also, Sir, Brygge was atte Walsyngham ; and ther he craked grette wordes, and seyd to many divers men that it shuld be thanked alle tho that labored a yens hem. And he seyd that it worne but viij. personys, and yf men be men now it shuld be thanked hym and told hym atte Lenn. In the lest wysse he is now with the Lord Scales ; the Lord Scales wyte Thomas Denyes, John Lyster and me all those indytementis. And the Lord Scales seyth that I made all the bylles and the panell ; and so he is hevy lord to me and to Thomas Denyes. Prentys is atte horn with the Lord Scales ; the shereve told me that he wyll do for the Cyte of Norwych as meche as he may. Sir, I wold ther worne a thowsand of good Maudby men to crye owte on Tudenham, Heydon, Prentys and Brygge for here falsse exstorciones. Also, Sir, atte the reverens of God, make an ende atwexen Sexeford and men of Salle ; it lyeth in your power. I shall make redy youre forsebyll entres ayens Lenn, with the grace of God, Qwych have yow in Hese kepynge. Wretyn atte Rougham on Saterday nyte in hest. Sir, I send yow and lewde letter be Richerd Yenneys. I beseche yow be ware to whom ze shew your letters ; lete them be brente. Be your servaunt, W. WAYTES. 211 THE PASTON LETTERS ABSTRACT 1 SIR JOHN FASTOLF To THOMAS HOWYS, Clerk, and JOHN BOKKYNG, in haste. 1451 Begs them to labour his matters, and forget not 'that old shrew, Dallyng, JAN. 12 for he is sore at my stomach.' Sends by the Parson a procedendo against Tudenham, which he has got out with great labour, with a letter to my brother Yelverton. * And as to an assize for Hikkelyng, I shall be there on in the beginning of this term ; and for Tichewell in like wise.' Bokkyng must remind my cousin Inglos about the indictments for treason of Heydon, 'that the man might be sent up to preve the said matter.' Fears it has slept too long. Wishes his ship The Blythe sent to him. London, 12 Jan. 29 Hen. vi. Signed. Get my Lord [Oxford] and Yelverton to write a letter to Blake of the King's house, thanking him for his friendliness to the country ; ' and forget not that Dallyng be had before my Lord and Yelverton, and make his confession before hem, &c. And let the great men that have most matters against [him] help somewhat to this good end.' ABSTRACT 2 SIR J. FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS AND JOHN BERNEY at Castre, in hast; or at his place in Pokethorp, at Norwich. JAN. 28 Master Hue Acton has been with him for the new evidences eosealed for the manor of Mundham, which F. has sold to the use of the Church of St. Giles that he is master of, &c. Thanks them for what they have done for him in his causes before the Commissioners of oyer and terminer at Lynne, &c. Hears Appulzerd's son expects the inquest of Mancroft in Norwich to be reversed. Speak to my cousin Inglose about this. Fastolf's audit books. My cousin John Berney puts me in great comfort by seeing to the safeguard of my place in my absence. Would be sorry he should be injured by having respited his entry into Rokelond Torrts at my request. Make friends in Norwich against Easter when the oyer and terminer is to be held again, for I must proceed in the matter against Appulzerd. London, 28 Jan. 29 Hen. vi. Signed. 1 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 230.] 2 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 236.] 212 HENRY VI Begs them to send his grain and malt in a good vessel, well accompanied, 141:1 with a good wind, as he has had great losses before. Speak to the Mayor of T A >[ 28 Norwich about Appulzerd's matter ; for there was no city in England that I loved and trusted most upon, till they did so unkindly to me and against truth in the Lady BardolPs matter.' [This letter is referred to by Blomefield (Hist, of Norf. iv. 388, Note 9), and two short extracts are given from the beginning, relating to the Hospital of St. Giles.] MEMORANDA FOR PROSECUTIONS 1 Presentations fact* et fienda in audiendo et determinando? FOR as meche as the oyer and termyner is thus restreynyd, 1451 not vythstandyng the wrytyngs and all the materis utterid be my Lord of Oxenford, but if ther folow sumwhat lyke to the perell lyke to be conceyved be maters that so wern utterid and be the seyd wrytyngs, ellis shall it gretly sowndyn ageyns the worchep and the weel of all the personys, lordis, and other that eyther have wreten or utterid owght, and lyke wyse of hem in whos name seche materis hath ben utterid, soo that hereaftyr, whan they have ryght gret nede to be herd, and to be wel spedde, they shul the rather fayle thereof bothen, and here enemyes the heyer up and the more bold, &c. And therfore herein men must hold fote as manhod woll wyth wysdom ; and ellis novissimus error pejor priori. Item, in the cyte of Norwyche must the falshodys and the fals getyngs of good ther don ben fowndyn, and thow summ maters ben not presentable, or peraventure in seche forme not corigyble ther, yet so that the mater in the self be orible and fowle, and so that sum me other be sufficient, yet it semyth summe men best that all go forthe and be taken, and namely [especially] in this werd [world] that now is, &c. Item, in lyke wyse must it be in the shier, ther me thynkyt 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper must belong to the early part of the year 1451, when it was proposed to indict Tuddenham and Heydon at Norwich. 2 This title is taken from a contemporaneous endorsement. 213 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 it is reson that my Lordys sett bothe the day and the place of the Sessions, and all men kepe that wern the robberis at Gresham and to Plumstede, the shippyng of wolle ageyn the statute, that is felonye, and the lycence than, if ony be, ther shull come to lyght and disputed, and I suppose veryly be other statutes and be lawe fownde voyde, and the leveryes that Heydon hatht yoven to hem that arn not hese menyall men. Item, the presonment of John Porter of Blykelyng. Item, the presonment of John Langman of Swaf ham. Item, the presonment of Robert Patgrys of Burnham. Item, the extorcions in her [their] cortes. Item, the prisonynge of Dallynge, and of hese obligacion mad to Sir Thomas Todenham, and howe he was presonyd at Norwyche, at Thetforthe, at Lynne, and also of many other that ben don soo too. Item, to remembre T. Denyes of the tale that Fyncheham told whan he cam horn for Sir T. Todeham, that he be ware therof, &c. .Item, for to indyte Pryntys of a voluntary eschete that where on Symond Hamond of Patesle wheche was indyted of felonye, and because of hese goods he lete hym owte of the castell anno xvj" Regis nunc. Item, for to indyte the same Prentys and William Goodwen of Swaf ham for the robbynge of Geffrey Sowle. Item, the same Prentys and Goodwyn robbed Thomas Irynge of Myleham anno xx Regis nunc. Item, the same Prentys toke of Wylliam Dallynge at Nor- wyche v. mark for smytynge of of hese feteris whan he was there in preson anno xix" Regis nunc. Item, to indyte the baly of Swaffham, T. Todenham, Hey- don, Prentys, of felonye as excercarys [accessaries]. Item, to speke to Feraris for hese mater at Thyrnyng. Item, to indyte a cowper at Geyton wheche slow a tenaunt of Danyell at Geyton. Hese name is Thomas Dowce that was slayn ; and ther kan no man indyte hym, for Sir T. Todenham maynteynyth hym, and therfore he were worthy to be indyted as excercary, anno xxV Regis nunc. 214 HENRY VI Item, to indyte Heydon, because he rydyth armyd ayens 1451 the statute and the commyssion of the peas. Item, for takyng awey of John of Berneys haborjoun at Walsyngham. Item, to inquere what they dede to Alexaunder Reve of Cokely Clay. Item, what they dedyn to Shragger, and to hese sone, for they stokked hym and hese sone at Swafham. Item, what they deden to Gachecroft at Methewold. Item, to enquere what they deden to a chanon of Ingham ; he was arestid, and set in prison at Swafham, and [they] dede hym make a obligacioun [forced him to give a bond\. Item, how that be her comaundment Emond Wyghtton was arestid at Hempton, and put in the stokks at Fakenham more than iij. dayis, till he made a fyn of v. marks, and yet he spent and yave xls. besyde. Item, for to endyte Knatesale, John of Woode, Robert of Woode, for Ferers mater. Item, that William Kelynge of Castlelaker under eschetor, how that he rydyth armed, and reysith many men ayens the peas ; he met wyth the Byschop at West Dereham with x. men of armys. Item, of extorcious amerciaments take of the Prior of Westacre at Narforthe and Swafham, and hese man there set openly and shamefully and gret oppression in stokks, and a flok of hoggs taken ; and be whyche appressions and extorcions was the Prior of Westacre compellid to yeven Sir T. Todenham a fee of xb. a yere, and to make Shuldam her styward, and yeven hym a fee of xlr. a yere there. W. Yelverton and all other aforn hym had but xxvjj. viij*/. ; but of these and of many mo wers it is a gret foly to laboren in as for any indyte- ments, but if ye be ryght seker of the sherefes office ; for if he lyst, he may returne men i nowe of Swafham, and seche as ye wold have for the enquest of the hunderid, and it is the more to drede of the undyrschereff that they arn asented, and drawe all aftyr her draught. And that they wold that no sessions shuld be because of the massage that he sent to my mayster be Nicholas Dowyldays clerks, and therfore ther must be the 215 THE PASTON LETTERS 145 1 begynnynge of all these maters, as ye wold save your worchepis, and eschewe shame and the peryll, &c. (At the bottom of the page) M dm of [blank] groond and of the extorcions of Sporlle. On the back of this document occur the following further memoranda in two columns : Maters sterid to hurt of both parties. Sir John Fastolf,\g , 2 Bisshoppis Wif. / The Priour of Norwich, "I The Cite. } The Abbot of Wendlyng,^ ., The Cite. r The Abbot of Leiston,\g , William Jeney. / Gregory Guybon, \ 3 Perpoynt. / John Tatleshale, \ Robert Mortymer. / The Lady Bardolf, \ Sir John Fastolf. / The Lord Moleyns,\ John Paston. J Ambidexter J- Dux Norff. "I Stockton, Dux SufF. j Est'. Ed. Wynter,\ John Mariot.J Ferrers, \ E , HobbesWif./ 11 Prior Walsyngham,! ^ Ric. Doget. r Mondford,~\ ^ . Danyell. ) Est ' Sir John Curson, \ Maister John Selet./ Sir John Curson, Will. Thurton. p .. 176 OPPRESSIONS OF TUDDENHAM AND HEYDON 4 T HESE be names of men that arne myschevesly oppressed and wronged by Sir T. Tudenham and Heydon and here adherentes : Yelverton. Gregorius Gybon. Fastolf. Joh. Maryot. 1 This term is applied to a juror who receives money of both parties in a suit. 2 This abbreviated word is probably Estreat, indicating that an extract or official copy of the indictment had been made. 3 Blank in Ms. 4 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper no doubt belongs to the same period as the last. 2l6 HENRY VI Paston. Ferrers. 1451 Berney. Straunge. Framyngham. Trenchemer. Joh. Jenney, Senior. Joh. Damme. Nicholaus Grome. Joh. Ode. Joh. Knevet. Robert Clyfton. Thomas Hypgame. Homines de Swafham. Joh. atte Howe of Helloughton. Simon Blake. Joh. Botwryghe, Clerk. Item, many men indyted in Norffolk and Suffolk be Tudenham and Heydon, &c. Ric. Wryght of Saham. 177 FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON 1 PRIMO. Sciat vestra veneranda discretio quod Episcopus 145 1(?) hujus diocesis est Thomas Dan yell et suis fautoribus maxime benevolus et in ipso episcopo T. T., J. H., 2 et suis complicibus est ipsius confidentia maxima, &c. 2 Si justiciarii pacis hujus comitatus omnes et singuli debeant sua autoritate pacis media pro eorum posse per totum Norfolch. comitatum diligenter conservare et pacis ejusdem 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 158.] This undated letter may have been written in February or March 1451, when Tuddenham and Heydon hoped to regain their ascendency. Though not addressed, we may presume that it was written to John Paston. 2 Sir Thomas Tuddenham and John Heydon. THE PASTON LETTERS i45i(?) perturbatores careen vel castro proprio mancipari facere, quaeritur quare dictus episcopus, pacis, ut creditur, justiciarius, non vult in hac parte hujusmodi pacis perturbatoribus resistere ; sed magis eisdem in talibus insolenciis favorem et auxilium in omnibus praebere. 3 Si quaerantur consiliarii dicti Episcopi, certum est quod Prior monachorum, M. J. Celot, J. Bulman, T. T., 1 J. H., 2 J. W., 8 Johannes Yates cum consimilibus ceteris sunt etiam consiliarii dicti Danielis. 4 Cum, secundum Apostolum, 4 furta, homicidia et talia vicia eis similia sunt abhominabilia Deo et hominibus, ac utriusque legis divinas et humanae contraria sacratis sanc- cionibus, in tantum quod non solum qui talia agunt digni sunt morte, sed etiam qui conscenciunt agentibus ; ex quibus certe verisimiliter concluditur quod non solum Kervere, latro, et Daniel famulus, furator equi ac murre satis notorius, puniretur una cum fautoribus ejus. 5 Vestra discretio dicta Christi in Ewangelio diligenter consideret, ' Si in viridi ligno hasc faciant, in arido quid net ? ' 5 6 Non solum haec pensare debetis pro vestrae personas defensione seu vestrae familiae, sed magis movere vos debet zelus et amor rei publice totius vestrae patriae. 7 Si ista indilate et cum omni possibili celeritate citius non reformaveritis, timendum valde supponitur de insurreccione plebis, quod absit omnino. 8 Novitque discretio vestra ex paucis indigestis plura politice percipere. Statui pro prassenti tempore finem scribendi imponere. 1 Sir Thomas Tuddenham. 2 John Heydon. 3 John Wyndham. 4 The reference appears to be to Romans i. 29-32. 8 Luke xxiii. 31. 218 HENRY VI 178 JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right reverente and wurchepfull Mayster, John Paston, Esquyer, be this delivered in hast. RIGHT reverent and wurchepfull Sir, I recomand me to 1451 you, besechyng you to wete that Wharles told me that MARCH i Partrych seid that his lord 2 knewe wele that ye were entred pesibilly in the maner of Gresham ; where fore, he seid, thow the tenauntes and fermors pay you the rents and fermes the tyme that ye be in possession, his seid lord, thow he entre ageyn, wuld never aske it them. Item, the seid Partrych seid to Wharles that his lord wull come down hym self and entre in the seid maner within short tyme. Wharles wull not dis- charge your baly of xvvjj. and viij*/., which he toke the seid baly enseled in a purs. The seid Wharles told my mayster, John of Berney, at the court, that he repented hym that he payd you any peny till he had be distreyned ; and he seid than pleynly that he wull nomore pay till he were distreyned. I have be there divers tymes for to distreyn hym, and I cowde never do it but if \unless~\ I wuld a distreyned hym in his moders hous, and there I durst not for her cursyng. The baly of the hundred told me that Wharles spake to hym in cas he had be distreyned that he wold have gete hym a replevy ; and the baly bad hym kete a replevy of his mayster and he wold serve it. Item, the maner londs at Gresham, with othre tenaunts londs that be fallyn in your hands ben letyn to ferme. I can gete no tenaunte to dwell in the maner hous. And if the rede shuld be caryed thens, the tenaunts shuld thynk that ye fered sum new entre, and it shuld sore discomfort hem, for thei whisshed whan it was caried to the maner that it had be leyd ther thus pesibly ij. yer afore. Asfor the obligacyon that ye shuld have of the parson of Cressyngham, he seth he cam never 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was written in the spring of 1451, when John Paston had re-entered Gresham. 2 Lord Molyns. 219 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 at Cressyngham syth he spake with you, and that he be heste MARCH i i t y OU no t till Fastyngong. 1 His hors ben stolyn, and therfore he may not ryde. Item, Gonnore kept a court at Routon the Thursday 2 next after Seynt Mathy 3 the Appostell, and it was told me that Bettes was ther with hym ; wherefore I rode theder. And be cause that it was a fraunchised town and within the Duchye, 4 and also that Gonnor had gret rewle in the seid town, I toke with me the baly of the hundred and set hym with me in my Lord of NorfFolks warant, and than yede in to the court ther as Gonnor and Bettes wern. The seid baly told Gonnor of this warant, and Gonnor rebuked hym so that he durst not a rest the seid Bettes. Than I toke it up on me and arested hym myself as he sate be Gonnor. Gonnor desired than to se my warant, and I shewed it hym, and he seid he wold obey it as the lawe wold. And he proferyd me suerte, men of the seid town of Routon. Than I told hym, and [i.e. if] he wold be bownd hym self with othre I would agre ther to, but I wuld have no shipmen that had nought, ner such men that rought \cared~\ never, and thei were onys on the see, wheder thei come ageyn or noght. Than Bettes toke Gonnor a supersedias that he had of Wychyngham twelmoneth ago for anothre man that asked suerte of the seid Bettes. I wold have had it, and he wold not lete me have it, ner shewe it me but in his hands. Than I told hym that it was noght, and he seid it was gode i nowe. I bad hym take it me for my discharge, and he seid pleynly I shuld not have it. Than I told hym I wold have my prisoner. The seid Gonnor seid I shuld not have hym, and dede set alle the tenaunts up on me and made a gret noyse, and seydyn alle pleynly I shuld not have hym yf he wold abyde with hem. Than I told Gonnor that I shuld certifie a rescuse, and prayd the baly of the hundred that he wold record the same. Item, the seid Gonnor seid I myght have favoryd the seid Bettes the more be cause the seid Bettes was my mayster Stapylton man, and that his men shuld not be bownd and I 1 Fastingong, or Shrove Tuesday, fell upon the gth March in 1451. 2 25th February. 3 St. Matthias, whose day was the 24th February. 4 The Duchy of Lancaster. 220 HENRY VI shuld go lose. He seid I shuld be tyed or aght longe and alle 1451 my feleshep bothyn ; but, God yeld hym, he hath yovyn me MARCH l iiij. days respyte. Than I told hym it shuld never ly in his power to bynde me, ner non of my feleshep so fast but that it shuld be in your power to make hym to losyn us, and if that he abode in Norffolk he shuld be made to seke the skyrts of his sadill or Esterne. And if he had kept his wey that nyght I shuld have kept hym trewe covenaunte, for I lay on wayte up on hym on the heth as he shuld have comen humward, and if 1 myght have met with hym I shuld have had Bettes from hym ; but he had leyd such wetche that he had aspied us or he cam fully at us ; and he remembered Wyndhams manhood, that iiij. swyft fete were better than ij. hands, and he toke his hors with the spores and rode to Felbrygge Hall as fast as he myght rydyn, and I suppose he lay ther all that nyght. Item, the seid Gonnor manased and thret John of Beston for he wuld not warn hym her of ; and he dede sease alle his lond in Routon, and warned hym that he shuld not occupy his lyme kyll ner no lond that he had in Routon ; and he mad his avaunte whan I was gon, if that I had not brought the baly of the hundred with me I shuld never have go thens ; and yet, not withstandyng that I brought the baly with me, and thei had wust where myn hors had stond I shuld have be wele betyn. All this language had thei whan that I was gon. Item, the seid Gonnor seid after that I was gon to the tenaunts of the seid town, that his supersedias was noght, and as for the rescuse, he shuld purvey a mene to excuse it. Where fore and it pleasyd you to send my mastres word how that I shuld be demened with the seid Bettes, and wheder that ye wuld I shuld a rest hym ageyn or nought, and to purvey such a mene for Gonnor that he myght ley his bost, it shuld be gret comfort to all yowr frendes and tenauntes ther abowtyn. Item, I have be at my mayster Stapilton with your writtes, and he made it right straunge for to ensele hem. He seid that he knew of nown such inquiscion takyn at Swafham beforn hym ; he seid if it were presented ther, it was presented in his absens, whill that he was in his inne ; wherfore he seid 221 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 he wold not ensele hem till he sey the bokes. Whan I had MARCH i answeryd hym ther to, than he seid he wold comown with my mayster Yelverton her of whan he come home, and til he had spok with hym he wold not ensele hem. I told hym my mayster Yelverton had enseled hem. Thann he seid he knew not my mayster Yelverton scale. He shewed it to Gonnor, and asked hym wheder it was his seall or noght. Gonnor seid it was his sealle. Than my mayster Stapilton brake ought of this mater and spake to me of the a restyng of Bettes and makyng of affray up on Gonnor. He seid Gonnor cam to hym to compleyn up on me. I told hym that Gonnor had enformed hym as it plesyd hym, for I had yove hym no cause to compleyn of me, and if it pleased hym to her myn excuse he shuld fynd me in no defaute. Whan he had herd myn excuse, he cowde not blame me. Meche othre langage we had, for I was with hym ner an ower. Than he asked me wheder the inquisicion was taken be fore the justice of the peas or the justice of the oyer determiner. I told hym be for the justic of the peas, for I seid it was the cessyons of the peas at Swafham. Than he bad me put up my warants, for he seid he wold not ensele hem till he had comowned with my maister Yelverton. I told hym it shuld not nede to comown with my mayster Yelverton, ner labor hym therfore, for I seid it myght not hurt thow he enseled hem not ; for I seid the writts were executed, and that the shereff had mad ought warants of them, and his warants were executed, and so the seid writts shuld stand you in litill avayll, save only, I told hym, ye desiryd his sealle, because it was fownd before othre lords with hym, and that he stode in the teste of the said writts, and that was cause of my comyng theder. Than he wend I had comyn for to assayn hym, for forthwith he enseled hem, but me thynk be his langage he hath be labored of the toder part. Item, and it pleased your gode maystershep to gete of my mayster Yelverton a supersedias for John Osborn and an othre for me. We suppose that Gonnor and Bettes wull do us arest, and we wuld the supersedias that we haue ought of the Chauncery were kept till more nede were. My mastres 1 1 Margaret Paston. 222 HENRY VI recomand her to you, and prayth you to hold her excused that 1451 she write yow no letter, for myche of the mater that she shuld "ARCH i have wrete to you I had wrete in my letter or she knew ther of; and also she knew not of so redy a massanger as I had. And it plesyd your gode maystershep to send us a pardon for to assoylyn Connor this holy tyme of Lentyn, the rather be cause of this gret bulle, 1 we shuld leve in the more reste and peas, and kepe the more our pacyence than we do. The Holy Trynyte have you in His kepyng. Wretyn on the Monday next after Seynt Mathie 2 the Appostell, in hast. Your pore servaunte, JAMES GLOYS. 179 JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTONs To my right reverent and wurchepfull mayster, John Past on, Esquyer, be this delivered in hast. RIGHT reverent and wurchepfull Sir, I recomaund me to MARCH ^ you, prayng you to wete that I have labored divers men that ben enpaneld atwix my mastres, your moder, and Wyndham. 4 Ther be many of them woll do her parte, and ther ben summe that wull not passe ther upon, for thei ben aferd that the werd [world] shuld turne. It is noysed in Norwhich that my Lord of Oxenford, my mayster Yelverton, and ye, and John Damme shuld be endited in Kent for mayn- tenaunce of the oyer determyner in Norffolk ; and this, with othre feryth sore men of Norwhich. I trow my mastres writyth to you here of more clerly. Item, Wyndham hath be divers tymes at my mastres Cler, and mad hym erands to her, 1 Probably a bull of indulgence issued at the close of the year of jubilee 1450, for the benefit of those who had not been able to visit Rome that year. 2 St. Matthias. His day was the 24-th February. 3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From what it mentions about Gonnor, this letter will be seen to be of the same year as the last. The fears entertained of Heydon recovering his influence are also indicative of the spring of 1451. The letter is slightly mutilated in the margin at the bottom. * John Wyndham, Esq. of Felbrigg. 223 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 and told her that he was sued in my mastres, your moders MARCH 2 name but he supposyd that she knew not there of. He thought that ye and James Gresham had do it un malyce, my mastres your moders unknowyng. But whan he knew that I labored the enqueste, than he sent my mastres Clere word how that he knew wele that it was my mastres your moders labore. Item, he told my Lady of Morle 1 of this sute, and he seid that he wend that my seid lady had mad an hend a twix them for the seid sute. Item, Heydons men brought his awyn hors and his sadyll thourgh Aylsham on Monday, and thei comyn in at the Busshoppes gates at Nor- which and comyn over Tomelond and in to the Abbey. Thei a bedyn there all that nyght, and ij. days after, wenyng to men of the town that Heydon had go over the fery, and so in to the Abbey ; and sythyn thei seid thei shuld go to London for Heydon. Item, sum seyn that Heydon shuld be mad a knyght, and myche othre langage ther is which causyth men to ben aferd, wenyng that he shuld have a rewle ageyn. Item, there were ij. men at John Betes of Holt ; thei had langage of the Lord Moleyns. If it please yow to enquere of Symond, brynger of this letter, he shall enforme you of her langage. Item, Gonnor was wetched at Felbrygge Halle with xl. per- sones of the Lady Felbryggs 2 tenaunts and mor that night that I lay on wayte up on hym, and he durst not go home on the next day till they brought hym home. Thei mad a com- pleynt to my Lady Felbrygge, and my mastres had excused it. Item, the manase Burflet, and wull sease his lond. Symond shall telle yow how thei wer answered. Item, as for the subsidy that Sir Herry I[nglos] and the Lady Felbrygge shuld payn, the meyr knowe not yet veryly what thei schuld pay, for thei have not cast the valew of her londs. The bill closyd in this letter maketh mensyon of the valew of divers gentelmens londs that [ben] examyned in Norwhich. We can not know what Calthorp payth, for we can not speke with the shereffe, 1 See p. 84, Note 2. 2 Catherine, widow of Sir Simon Felbrigg, was lady of the manor of Felbrigg, of which Wyndham only had the lease at this time, though he afterwards became the proprietor. See Blomefield, viii. 112. 224 HENRY VI ner the undre [shereffe], ner no man that gadered that hundred 145 1 ther as Calthorp dwellytht. The Holy Trynyte have you in MARCH 2 his kepyng. Wr[etyn] the Tuesday next after Seynt Mathie, 1 in hast. Your pore servaunt, JAMES GLO[YS]. 180 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 2 To my rith wurshepfull hosbond, Jon Paston. RITH worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, MARCH 3 praying you to wete that ther is a gret noyse in this town, that my Lord of Oxforth and Yelverton and ye ben endytid in Kent for mayntenyng of the oyer determyner ; and Jon Dame is endytyd ther also of treson, be cawse that he dede Heydon endytyn 3 of treson for takyng down of the quarter of the man. And the pepyll that ben ayens Ser Thomas Todenham and Heydon ben sore aferd be cawse of this noyse, and of other langage that is had bothe in this town and in the contre, that these seyd Todenham and Heydon shuld ben as well at ese, and have as grett rewill as ever they hadde. Jamys Gloys tellith me that he hath sent yow word of Heydonys hors and of other thyngs, mor of whiche I was purposid to asent yow word of. The Holy Trinyte have yow in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwiche, the Weddenysday next after Seynt Mathy. 1 Yowris, M. P. 1 St. Matthias. See p. 223, Note 2. 2 [From Fenn, iii. 288.] It will be seen that this letter contains a distinct reference to the last which was written the day before it. Indeed, the information contained in this letter is nearly all anticipated in that of Gloys. 3 i.e. caused Heydon to be indicted. VOL. II. P 225 THE PASTON LETTERS 181 DENYES TO JOHN PASTON * To my maister Paston. 1451 T"J IGHT wurshipfull sir, and my right good maister, I MARCH 4 1*^ recomaunde me to yow. It is so that up on an hasty ^ sodeyn warnyng I departid from London and spake not with yow at my departyng, Wherof I was full sory. I pray yow, neverthelesse, that ye wole eftsones speke to William White with my Lord Cardinall, for I desire his maistership and good will and wole do to my power. And as touchyng to that that he semith I haf don agayn hym, in good feith I wole abide your rule or, by Seynt Kateryne, his owen rule. He is a gentilman and I wole don it with good will. I am right sory ye had not set me thorgh with hym erst I went, for I haf prayed yow ther of, as ye know your self dyvers tymes. The Holy Trynite preserve yow. Wretyn at Wevenho the iiii. day of Merche. Your servaunt, DENYES. Sir, my Lord 2 hath kept sessions at Colchestre, and my maister Yelverton with hym, and he desired me to write to yow to be wel ware if ony fals suggestion or lesynges wer made by Tuddenham and Heydon and that to your power thei be answerd in his absence. As for my Lord Scales, her be seven of housold meny indited of felony, which are strong thefes. Item, I pray yow, write in hast to the Meir of Norwich to gif credens to me whan I come to hym, and if ye so do I shal shape their articles in billes in to a nother facion I trust, and make thaym redy and delyver thaym resonably wele. My 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 169.] This letter must have been written in a year when Easter fell after the zoth April, as Lent does not appear to have begun on the 4th March ; and as it was during the life of Cardinal Kempe, we may pretty safely fix it to the year 1451. The year 1454, indeed, might be possible as regards Easter, but there is no indication here of those troubles of which the writer complains so bitterly in that year on the zoth March. See No. 239. * The Earl of Oxford. 226 HENRY VI Lord purposeth to be at London the ende of the first weke of 1451 Lent, and not erst. I pray your maistership, se sum meane MA *CH 4 that White do me not that harme in the Chauncery wherof ye sent me word by Brayn, for, as God sauf my soule at the day of Jugement, I fonde surete for the pees, but the Maister of the Rolles 1 ful untruly recordeth that surete takyn as a baile, wher of treuth it was otherwise, and ful synnefully ruleth that mater, and never wold suffir me to execute the acte but lettid me, notwithstandyng it is a law private in the self as I shal clerly declare whan I come. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. I write to yow thus that ye may kyt awey this lower part of this lettre. l82 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON z To my Ryth worship/nil hosband, John Paston. RITH wurchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, MARCH 1 5 desiring hertily to her of yowr welfar ; preying you to wete that Herry Halmannys wif sent to me word on Saterday last past that Prentys thretyth her hosbond sor, and John Robyns, for suche thynges as Prentys seyth that they haue donn ayens hym ; he seyth he shall make hem so besy or he leve hem that he shall make hem not wurth apeny ; and they ben aferd that he woll hold hem conuawnt if he have powyr ther to. It is seyd her that the kyng shuld com in to this contre, and sir Thomas Todenham and Heydon arn well cheryeshid with hym. And also it is seyd they shall have as grett rewill in this contre as evyr they hadde, and many more folkes arn sory therfore than mery. Sir Thomas Todenhamys man and Heydonys sowyn this sedde all abowte the contre, that here maysteris shull cum horn in hast in here prosperite and be als well att esse as ever they wer. As for that ye i Thomas de Kirkeby. 8 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 55.] This letter would appear to be of the same year as No. 184, written a fortnight later. Both letters speak of rumours that Tuddenham and Heydon will regain their ascendency. 227 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 dessyryd that I shuld enquyr wher any stuff is of yowris, I wot MARCH 15 not how to don ther with, for if ever wer aspyid that hath of yowr stuff, and we had it from hym, other that have more ther of wold ben ware be hym, and avoyd seche stuff as they have of yowris. I suppose John Osbern shall tell yow whan ye com horn agode meen to wete wher meche ther of is becom. Jamys Gloys is ayen to Gressam and I suppose John Damme shall tell yow what he hath donn ther. Yowr tenawntis wold fayn that summe mene of yowris shuld abyde amongis hem, for they ben in gred diswyr what they may do ; the langage is so grett on the tother party that it maketh the tenawntis sor afferd that ye shuld not regoyse itt. I send to yow a letter be Colynys of Frawnceys Costard what dedis he woll don. It was told me also that the Lord Molyns was lyke to have aday ayens yow att Thetford at the next assyse. On [one] that loueth yow ryth- well told me how it was told hym so, and warnyd me therof in secrete wyse. Itt is gode to ben war of ther falsed. I pray yow that ye woll send me word in hast, if ye woll have red to your levery as ye wer avysid, and if ye woll not, &c. And also I pray yow that ye woll do bey ij. gode hattis for your sonys for I can none getyn in this town. Mor tydynges can I not send yow yett. The Holy Trinyte have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn att Norwiche on the fyrst Monday of Lent. Yowris, M. P. 183 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right wurchipfull husband, John Paston, be this delyverid in hast. 1~) IGHT wurchipfull hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, [MAR. 22] |-^ beseching yow that ye be not displeasid with me, thow my symplenesse cawsed yow for to be displeasid with me. Be my trowth, it is not my will nother to do ne sey that 1 [From Fenn, iii. 238.] The date of this letter is quite uncertain. Fenn assigns it to the year 1454, when Lent began very late, as it is evident the herrings and eels 228 HENRY VI shuld cawse yow for to be displeasid ; and if I have do, I am I45i(?) sory therof, and will amend itt. Wherefor I beseche yow to [ MAR - "] forgeve me, and that ye bere none hevynesse in your hert ayens me, for your displeasans shuld be to hevy to me to indure with. I send yow the roll that ye sent for, in selyd, be the brynger her of ; it was fownd in your trussing cofor. As for hering, I have bowt an horslode for iiij s - vj d I can gett none ell [eels] yett ; as for bever [i.e. drinkables], ther is promysid me somme, but I myt not gete it yett. I sent to Jone Petche to have an answer for the wyndowis, for she myt not come to me. And she sent me word that she had spoke therof to Thomas Ingham, and he seyd that he shuld speke with yow hymself, and he shuld accord with yow wel jnow, and seyd to her it was not her part to desyr of hym to stop the lyts ; and also he seyd itt was not his parte to do itt, be cawse the place is his but for yeris. And as for all other eronds that ye have commandid for to be do, thei shal be do als sone as thei may be do. The blissid Trynyte have yow in his keping. Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Monday next after Seynt Edward. Yowris, M. P. referred to were intended as provision for that season. This conjecture may be correct ; but it must be noted that John Paston was at home at Norwich, if not in the beginning of Lent, at least on the fourth Sunday of Lent in 1454. Moreover, if the date of this letter, ' Monday next after St. Edward,' means after the i8th March, which was the day of St. Edward the King and Martyr, the year 1451 would suit rather better than 1454 ; for, in the former year, the Monday after St. Edward's day would be the zznd of March, and Ash Wednesday the zoth, while in the latter the Monday after St. Edward would be the zfth, and Ash Wednesday the 6th, so that the provision of herrings would be very late. 229 THE PASTON LETTERS 184 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right wurchepfull husbond, John Paston, \be\yng in the Inner ^emill^ be this delivered in hast. 1451 TT\ IGHT wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you, MARCH 30 r^ prayng you to wete that myn unkyll Phylyp Berney 2 *- ^- was at Lynne this last weke, and he was at inne at the baylyfFes hows of Lynne, and Partrych 3 came in to the same place whill myn unkyll was ther. And the seid Partrych was wele aqueyntyd with the balyffe, and the balyffe told hym that he sent a letter to the Lord Molyns, and that the Lord Molyns had sent hym a nother letter, letyng hym wete that he purposyd hym to be at Lynne thes weke. Than Partrych seid that he had word that the seid lord purposyd hym to be ther at that tyme ; but he seid summe men supposyd that he wuld not come here ; and the balyffe seid that he was right glad that he shuld come in to this countre. On of myn unkyll men herd all this langage, and told it myn unkill. The baly ner Patrych knewe not at that tyme what myn unkyll was to us ward. Also I purposyd me to have sent to Stapylton, as ye sent me word be James Gresham, and it is told me that he is to London. Item, it is noysed abowte Gresham and all that contre that the Lord Molyns shuld be there in hast. Item, Gonnore had right gret langage, and he trostyd that the word [world] shall turne sumwhat after ther entent. Othre tydynges have we non, but that Tudenham and Heydon shuld have ageyn the rewle in this contre, assmych as ever thei had or more. The Holy Trynyte have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwhich un the Tuesday next before Mydlentesonday. 4 Yowre, M. P. 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, like several of those preceding, speaks of a juncture in which it was expected that Tuddenham and Heydon would regain their influence. The adherents of Lord Molyns were also in hopes that he would shortly be in Norfolk and re-enter Gresham. The date must therefore be 1451. 2 Philip Berney, Esq. of Caston. He was a brother of Margaret Mauteby, who was Margaret Paston's mother. 3 Seep. 101, Note 4. 4 Mid-Lent Sunday fell on the 4th April in 1451. 230 HENRY VI 185 PETITION FROM THE TOWN OF SWAFFHAM 1 'To the ryght wise, noble, and discrete Comons of this present Parlement. MEKELY besechyn, bewailyn, and shewyn the pouer and 1451 simple inhabitaunts in the toun of Swafham, in the counte of Norfolk, that where Sir Thomas Tudenham of Oxburgh, knyght, this xvj. yeeris last passid before the day of the Acte of Resumpcion in the last Parlement before this, 2 hath ocupied and governed the lordship and maner of Swafham forsaid, with the appertenauncez, as styward and fermer of the same ; in which ocupacion and governaunce the said Sir Thomas, and othre his servauntz and adherentz in a rolle to this peticion annexed named, han petously and synnefully don and comitted the trespasez, offencez, wronges, extorcyons, mayntenauncez, 3 imbraceryes, 4 oppressions, and perjuryes in the seid rolle conteyned ; and of dyverse and many articles ther of, and of many othre wrongs, and of that that the said Sir Thomas is a comon extorcioner, the same Sir Thomas be fore the ryght noble, true, and pleyn lord, our good and gracious lord the Erie of Oxenford, and othre the Kyngs commissioners of oire determyner withynne the same shire, the said Sir Thomas Tudenham, and othre his servauntz and adherentz arn indited. Please it your noble wisdamis to conceyve that it hath be the comon law of the land of long tyme that if a comon theef were, in ony cuntre, so often indited or detect of so many 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a rough draft of a Petition which seems to have been intended for presentation to Parliament in the beginning of the year 1451. Parliament was prorogued on the i8th December 14.50 till the zoth January following, but it did not actually meet again for despatch of business till the 29th April. It would appear from this Petition that Sir Thomas Tuddenham and his adherents were indicted before the Earl of Oxford at the sessions of oyer and terminer which sat on -f the znd March 1451. 3 This must be the Act of Resumption of 28 Henry vi. See Rolls of Parliament, v. 183. 3 See p. 167, Note 3. * See p. 167, Note 5. 231 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 offencez he shuld not, by the law of the lande, be late to baile ne meynprise, but be kept in prison til he were put to answere of swich crymes as he were so detect of. And also please your greet wisdams to conceyve that all the Juges of the Kynges Benche, of long and late tyme sittyng in their place, laudablely han usid to comitte to prison, with oute baile or meynprise, for a tyme, al persones that han be detecte before theym of any ryot or greet cruel offence agayn the peas, which offence myght a be subvercyon of the law by ony liklynesse ; and advertisyng the greet mischeves that this noble roialme hath oftyn standyn in for the greet extorcyons and oppressions that hath be don in the same, 1 and how greet a subvercyon of the lawe and of the polityk governaunce of the land suych extorcyon is ; and of your prudent and sage wisdams lyke yow to make requisicion to the Kyng our soverain Lord, and to the Lords espirituallx and temporelx in this present Parlement assembled, that by the consideracion that the said Sir Thomas wold never apere, in his persone, ne by his atturney, at no sesions of oir determyner holden in the said counte ; plese the Kyng and Lords forsaid, to comitte the said Sir Thomas Tudenham to preson, ther to abide til in to the tyme that he to the said incitements hath answerid, and to the billes and compleynts of the said inhabi- tauntz in fourme of law. And more over, where that the said Sir Thomas Tudenham hath, among many othre greet wrongs, ful synnefully causid a writte of assise of novell dissessyn 2 to be brought ageyn John Aleyn and xxiij othre of the said toune, in the name of the Abbot of Sawtre, 3 and causid that assise to passe by perjury, as in the first article in the rolle to this peticion annext it is more opinly conteyned, please your greet wisdams, for the reverens of God by that concideracion, that the jurry of the said assise durst not, for drede of the horrible menaces of the said Sir Thomas, othrewise do but be for sworn in gevyng their verdite in the same assise, in which case the said inhabi- tauntz, for pyte and remorce of their concyencez, wer lothe to 1 [Original note here in margin.] Answer neyther to the billes ne inditeing forseid, ne to non of theym. 2 See p. 47, Note 4. 3 A Cistercian monastery in Huntingdonshire. 232 HENRY VI sew a writ of atteynte, 1 to pray the Kynge and Lords forsaid 1451 to ordeyn, by auctorite of this present Parlement, that the said writ of assisse, verdit, recoverer, and the jugement ther of, with every othre circumstaunce therof, be voide, revokd, and adnulled, for the love of God. 2 Item, compleyneth John Bladsmyth of Swafham of that that where John, late Pryour of Penteney, 3 predecessor of the prior that now is, and the covent of the same place, the Mun- day next aftir the fest of Seynt Mathew the Evangelist, the xiij. yeer of the kyng, our soverain lord that now is, at Swaf- ham forsaid, lete to ferme to the forsaid John Bladsmyth certeyn londs, rents, tenements, and pasture, 4 186 ABSTRACT 5 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, at Castre. Received a letter from them, 3rd April, with the last account of Sir Jo. APRIL 1 3 Kyrtelyng and Intewod. Understands Rob. Norwych will not occupy as undersherifF, because Jenneys had given him language not to his pleasure, and so Aleyn is to occupy, who is not F.'s wellwiller ; but Howys has provided a remedy with the sheriff. When the venire facias is made out, I will try and get it sent you, and I shall have Paston's advice. Knows well the obstinate will of false Dallyng, but Bokkyng must speak with him, and entreat him in his best manner. Margaret Bryg's matter. As to the oyer and terminer, it is certain Heydon and Tuddenham will be at Norwich with all the maintenance and fellowship they can. It is said Justice Prysot will be there. You must do your best to keep your friends steadfast ; and I in the meantime will labour here, and send you word how the world is set. Men of the city of Norwich have good audience and favour among the Lords, and are waiting an answer of their matters. Has delivered up the shipmen, and left the ship here for causes which he will write ; * for the rayse hath been full costuys, except they came in saufFtee.' London, 13 April, 29 Hen. vi. 1 A writ to inquire whether a jury gave a false verdict. a This is written on the back. 3 John de Tyrington. He was succeeded in 1449 by Richard Pentney. 4 The sentence breaks off thus abruptly in the MS. 5 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 231.] 233 THE PASTON LETTERS 187 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON * To my right wurchepfull howsbond, John Paston. 1451 T"\ IGHT wurchepfull howsbond, I recomand me to yow, APRIL 1 6 |-^ prayng yow to wete that the Parson of Oxened 2 told ** me that Wyndham told hym that Sweynnysthorp 3 is hold of the Kyng be the therd part or the fourt part of a knyt fye, and ho so ever had the maner of Sweynsthorp, he shuld fynde an armyd man, in tyme of werre in the castell of Norwhic, xl. days to his owyn cost, and that ye shuld pay xxx s - to the Kyng yerly owth of the seyd maner ; and it is fond also that your fader shuld a died seysyd, and that ye shuld a entyryd ther in as heyr after your fader dysseys, and that ye shuld be now up on the age of xxx. wynter. The Trinite have yow in hys kepyng. Wreten at Nor- whic, the Friday next a fore Seynt George. Yowrs, M. PASTON. 188 ABSTRACT 4 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. Howvs, at Castre in Flegg. APRIL ^ i Sends two venire facias for Beyton in Norfolk and Bradwell in Suffolk, returnable in quindena Paschtt, which is a short day. You must deliver them in 1 [From Fenn, iii. 84.] The date of this letter depends upon the age of John Paston, who, in November 1444, was found to be twenty-three years old. As he is now 'upon the age of thirty winters,' this letter was probably written in 1451. 2 His name was Laurence Baldewar. 3 In 1444, according to Blomefield (Hist, of Norf. iv. 40), a rent-charge out of the manor of Swainsthorp was settled by John and Agnes Paston, the eldest son and the widow of William Paston, the Justice, to find a priest to sing for the soul of the said William in the chapel of our Lady the Great in Norwich Cathedral. 4 [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 243.] 234 HENRY VI haste to the Sheriff by Paston's advice, by whom I send them. Labour to the 14.1:1 Sheriff for the return of such panels as will speak for me, and not be shamed, AP RjL2i for great labour will be made by Wentworth's party. Entreat the Sheriff as well ye can by reasonable rewards, rather than fail,' for they have taken as false an issue as can be with me by H. [i.e. Heydon's] advice for cold love.' [ had traversed the plea in the inquisition that I had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf ; but they put it now that I had only a joint interest in the manor. The names you sent for Bradwell are like to do well, except Hopton, who has married with the Lady Wentworth. I am also in doubt of one Reppes of Heringflete, who is Heydon's man. Had purposed to have been at the oyer and terminer this time, but cannot, &c. Horshighdoun, 21 April, 29 Hen. TI. Signed. 189 DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY, AND WHITE TO JOHN PASTON 1 MAISTER Paston, we comaimd us to you, lattyng you MAY 2 witt that the Sheriff *is noght so hole as he was, for now he wille shewe but a part of his frende- shippe. And also there is grete prese off pepiJl, and fewe frendes, as ferr as we can feel yitt. And therfore be ye sadly avised wheder ye seme best to come your self, or send or, &c., for we will assay in as much as in us is to prevaile to your entente. And yett, if it neded, we wolde have a man to giffe us informacion, or shewe evidence after the case requireth. Also the Shereffe enformed us that he hath writyng from the Kyng that he shall make such a panell to aquyte the Lord Moleynes. And also he tolde us, and as ferr as we can con- ceyve and feel, the Shereff wille panell gentylmen to aquyte the Lorde, and jowroures to a quyte his men ; and we suppose that it is be the mocion and meanes of the othir party. And yif any meanes of tretie be proferd, we know not what meane shulde be to your pleasir. And therfore we wolde fayne have mor knowlege, yiff ye think it were to doo. No more at this tyme, bot the holy Trinite have you in his 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter speaks of the indictment and expected acquittal of Lord Molyns, the date must be 1451. This letter is written on parchment. THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 kepyng. Wretin at Walsyngham, in hast, the secund day of MAY 2 May. Be your trewe and feithfull frendes, DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY, AND WHITE. And also, Sir, as we conceyve, the Lord Moleynes shall not be quyte before Thurseday ; in as muche as he was in- dyted before the Justice, we undirstand he shall not be quyte but before the Justice. Wherfore we avise you, iff ye think it be to doo, to send your frendes in the meane tyme, and come your self to your place at Sperham, and there abyde unto tyme that we have knowlege how the saide mater will drawe, and till that we may have worde from you, and ye from us, &c. 190 W. LOMNOR TO JOHN PASTON 1 MAY () ~T^ YGHT worchipfulle Sir, yours goode cosynes and r^ frendes avyse yow to come to Walsyngham, and that ye be there to morw betymes at vj. on the clok ; for the Lord Moleyns offreth a trete for the goodes, and amendes to be made, or he goth ought of this contre, and if it be not taken, his men shulle justifie ; wherupon your title might be hurte. The Lord Skales, the Justis, and other knygtes and squyeres merveyle grettly ye come not, and thow they that have not so true and evident mater as ye have concelle yow to be absent ; yet I wolde ye dede as ye be desyrd be that fela- ship, for many wolde yow right welle. Whanne ye come, I shalle telle yow more. The Lorde Moleyns shulde not have be aquyte of his comaundement, hadde he not sworen on a boke, sweche evidens was ayens hym; and ther is no jentelman wolde aquite his men for no goode, &c. W. LOMNOR. 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter has no address, but there can be no doubt from the contents it was intended for John Paston. It was evidently written about the same time as the last, while the Sessions was sitting at Walsingnam, and Paston's suit against Lord Molyns was still pending. 236 HENRY VI 191 SIR JOHN HEVENINGHAM TO MARGARET PASTON 1 To my ryght worchipffull cosyn, Margarete Paston, be this letter delivered. RYGHT worchipffull and welbeloved cosyn, I com-i45i(?) maunde me to you as herteli as I can, thankyng you MAY 7 off" your goode chere the last tyme I was with you. And, worchippffull cosyn, please that you to calle un to your remembrauns I wrote un to you for my cosyn Anneys Loveday to have ben in your service, and I reseyved from you a letter that your wyll was goode, but durst not to in to the tyme ye hadde spoke with my cosyn your husbonde. Worchippffull cosyn, I have labored for hir in othir placez, but I can not have my entent as yet. Wherffbr yff that hit please you to have hyr with you to in to the tyme that a mastris may be purveyeid for hir, I pray you ther off", and I shall contente you ffbr hir boarde, that ye shal be wel pleased ; for, cosyn, and I hadde a wyff, I wolde not care for hir. And ther as she is, she is not well at hir ease, for she is at Robert Lethum ; and therfor I pray you herteli that ye wyll tendre this my writyng, and I beseche you that in cas be that ye wyll fulffylle hit that ye wel sende my cosyn Will Staunton for hir, and I shal kepe you trewe promys, as I have be for wretyn. And I beseche Almyghti Jesu preserve you. Wretyn at Hevenyngham, on the vij. day off May, &c. Your oune cosyn, JOHN HEVENYNGHAM, Knyght. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 144.] The date of this letter is doubtful, but it was evidently written at a time when John Paston had been for some considerable time absent from Norwich, which appears to have been the case in the beginning of May 1451. The writer of this letter died in July 1453. 237 THE PASTON LETTERS 192 SIR THOMAS HOWYS TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF 1 To my reverent and worchepfull mayster, Sir John Fastolf, Knyghf, be this lettre delyvered. 1451 T"J IGHT reverent and worchipfull maister, I recomaunde MAY ^ l\ me l u ty un to Y ow ' Please you to wete the Sonday ** next after the Fest of the Invencion of the Cros, 2 the ix. day of May, at Castre, I receyved a lettre from you by your clerk, W. Barker, the tenure wherof I shall do spede in all hast goodly. But for the more special cause of my wrytyng at this tyme is to gef you relacion of the un true demenyng of this oure determyner, by the parcialte of the Jugez of it ; for whan the Counsell of the cite of Norwich, of the toun of Swaf ham, youres, my Maister Inglose, 3 Fastens, and many other playntyfs had put in and declared, bothe by writyng and by woord by fore the Jugez, the lawfull excepcions in many wise, the Juges by ther wilfulnesse myght nat fynde in ther hert to gef, not als moche as a bek nor a twynclyng of ther eye toward, but toke it to deriscion, God reforme such parcialte ; and by cause Prisot * thought that yf the Sessions of the oyer determyner had be holden at Norwich as they bygonne, he supposed it shuld nat so fast passe to th'entent of Tudenham and Heydon and ther felawes, as it shuld do ell[es] in other place, but enjorned to Walsyngham, wher they have grettist rule, ther to be holden on Tuesday, iiij te day of May. This knowing, my Maister Yelverton, 6 Genney, and other myght weel conceyve how the governaunce of the oyer deter- 1 [From Fenn, iii. 1 1 6.] 2 The 3rd of May. 3 Sir Harry Inglos. 4 John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 5 William Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench, afterwards knighted by Edward iv. 2 3 8 HENRY VI myner shuld precede, for it was the most parcial place of alle 1451 the shire, and thedre wer cleped alle the frendez, knyghteys, MAY 9 and esquiers, and gentilmen that wolde in nowise do other wise than they wolde. And the seid Tudenham, Heydon, and other oppressours of ther set come doun theder, as I understand, with iiij - [400] hors and more ; and consideryng how ther wellwillers wer ther assembled at ther instaunce, it had be right jowpertous and ferefull for any of the pleyntyfs to have be present, for ther was nat one of the pleyntyfs ner compleynuantez ther, but your right feithfull and trusty weel wilier John Paston. And my Maister Yelverton seid full discretly, and countrolled the seid Prisot when he seid, sittyng, in the Guyhalle of Norwich, these wordys to the Meyre and Commonalte, ' A, Sir Meyre and your brethren, as to the processe of youre compleyntez, we wole put them in con- tynuance, but in all other we wole precede ; ' which wordys Yelverton thought right parciall. And by side this the seid Prisot wolde suffre no man that was lerned to speke for the pleyntyfs, but took it as a venom, and took them by the nose at every thred woord whiche myght weel by knowe for open parcialte. And as for the Lord Scalys, ye knowe well what he is toward you, and namely for Hikelyng matter. Also to knowe som of your feynt frendes, at that tyme that my Lord Norffolk sat at Norwich up on the oyer determyner, Sir John Hevyng- ham myht nat fynde it in his hert to go iiij. furlong from his duellyng place to the shirehouse, but now he cowd'ryde from Norwich to Walsyngham to syt as one of the Commyssioners. As to the rule of other, that ye wolde have supposed your wellewillers, how they have byhavyd them at Walsyngham, I shall sende yow woord in all hast whan Bernay 1 come horn to Castr, for he is nat yet come from Walsyngham. But this I knowe well, that they founde none obstacle ner impedyment in ther consciens in all your matter ; but how they have do with Norwich, Swafham, and Paston, I am nat yet clerly informed; I suppose they arn put in respite. I here sey Heydon seweth for an ende to be had with the cite of 1 Probably Philip Berney. 239 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 Norwich, and as to the namys of them that passed on ther MAY 9 acquitaile ayenst yow, Broyn can weell informe yow. I under- stand that Sir Robert Conyers, Calthorp, Mundford wer capteyns, and Maister Ric. Doget also. Item, as for the ij. venire facias ye sent to be retorned for your manorz of Bradwell and Beyton, I have do them to be retorned of suche namys as I have sent woord before, savyng sume be take, and except out. Moreover, as for the mater of Sir John Sibton, Geney and Raulyns gef ful counsell that it shuld abyde tyl the mater of Bradwell myght precede, so that bothe maters myght take up on a day, for they sey it wold drawe xx. marc to labour the Jure to London, and yet it wer hard to bryng about. And they gef you counsell in all wise that ye labour to have Yelverton Juge at that tyme, and in all wise bothe in that mater z and in all other, that ye be war that Prisot have not to have do in any wise, for than all wole be nought. Of alle other materz I shall send you woord in all hast goodly, for at thys tyme I had no Jeyser by cause of the hasty comyng up of Hug Fen, whom I beseche yow to fele of the demenyng of the oyer determyner, for he can telle yow moche and [i.e. if] he wole ; whether he wole or nay, I can nat sey, for I know wele he was at Walsyngham. And I beseche All myghty Jesu have yow in his mercy full govern- aunce. Wrete at Castre, the Sonday, ix. day of May anno xxix Regis Henrici vj tL On the back of the letter is written I prey yow be nowth displesed thow I have nowt sub- scribed my name withinne forth, for it is of neclygens, quoth Howys, Parson of Castlecomb. 240 HENRY VI 193 JOHN OSBERN TO JOHN P ASTON* 70 my ryght reverent and worchepful Master, John Paston, be this delyuerid. PLESE it your masterchep to wete that I have spoke 1451 wyth the Shereff 2 at hese placez, mevyng to hym, as MAY 2 7 for that that was left wyth hese Under shereff, it is your wyl he shuld send a man of hese for it ; for thow it were more ye wold gladly he shuld take it ; he thanked yow, and sayde hese Under shereff was at London, and hymselff had non deserved, and if he had he wold a take it. And whan I departyd from hym, I desyerid hym a yen to send therffore, and than he seyde it shuld abyde tyl ye come horn, wherby I conceyve he wold have it, and be gladde to take it. More- over, I remembred hym of hese promyses made before to yow at London, when he took hese oth and charche, and that ye were wyth hym when he toke hese oth, and oder dyvers tymes ; and for tho promyses made be hym to yow at that tyme, and other tymes at the oyer determyner at Lynne, ye proposed yow be the trust that ye have in hym for to atempte and rere accions that shuld be to the avayle of hym and of hese office. He wold a know what the accions shuld be. I sayde I coude not telle hym, and than he seyde he wold do for yow that he may, excepte for the aquitell of the Lord Molyns men, in so meche as the Kyng hath wrete to hym for to shewe favour to the Lord Moleyns and hese men, and as he seyth the indytement longyth to the Kyng, and not to yow, 1 [From Fenn, iii. 308.] At the date of this letter Lord Molyns had probably been acquitted, but the action against his men was still pending. The year must therefore be 1451. The date 'Thursday next after St. Austin' is understood by Fenn to be after the Feast of St. Austin, or Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, which was celebrated on the 2 8th of August ; but the dates of the preceding letters make it more probable that the writer means St. Augustine, the apostle of England, whose day was the 2 6th of May. \ John Jermyn. See page 183, Note 2. VOL. II. Q 241 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 and the Lord Molyns a gret lord. Also, as he seyth, now MAY 27 late the Lord Molyns hath sent hym a letter, and my Lord of Norffolk anoder, for to shew favour in these indytements, he darnot abide the joporte of that, that he shuld offende the Kinges commaundment. He know not how the Kyng may be informed of hym, and what shal be seyde to hym. And than I sayde as for any joporte that he shuld abyde in any thing that he doth for yow, or be your desyre, you have offered hym, and wol performet, sufficient sewerte for to sawe hym harmeles, and therfore I supposid ther wold non resonable man thynk but that he myght do for yow wyth owte any joporte. And then he seyde he myth non sewerte take that passid CK. ; and the Lord Molyns is a gret lord, he myght soon cause hym to lese that, and meche mo. Than I sayde, be that meane, in defawte of a Shereff, every man may be put from hese lyvelod ; and thann he seyde iff it were for the lyvelode, men wold take hem the nerer for to abyde a joporte ; but be hese feyth, as he swore, if the Kyng wryte ayan to hym he wol no lenger abyde the joporte of the Kyngges wrytyng, but he trustyth to Godde to inpanell seche men as shuln to hise knowleche be indeferent, and non comon jurors. As me semyth it wold do goode and [//] ye wolde gett a comaundment of the Kyng to the Shereff for to shew yow favour, and to inpanell jantelmen, and not for to favour non seche riotts, &c. ; for he seyde that he sent yow the letter that the Kyng sent hym, and ye seyde a man shuld gete seche on for a noble. Item, I remembred hym of the promyses that he hath made to Temperley, and that if he wold make yow very trew promys, ye wold rewarde hym as meche as he wold desire, or any other resonable man for him, and asmoche and mor then any adverserry ye have wold gef hym ; than he seyde he toke never no mony of non of hem alle. There was proferid hym at Walsyngham for the Lord Molyns xx. nobles, he had not a peny ; moreover, I proferid hym, if he wold make yow promys that ye myght veryly trust upon hym, ye wold geff hym in hande as he wold desire, or to leve a summe if he wold a named it in a mene mannys hand, and seche as he hath trust 242 HENRY VI to. And then he seyde, if he myght do for yow, or if he do 1451 any thyng for yow, then he wol take yowre mony wyth a good MAY 2 7 wyl ; and other promys I coude not have of hym, but that he wol do for yow all that he may, excepte for the inditements. I conceyve veryly he hath made promys to do hese part that they shul be a quytte, but I suppose he hath made non other promys ayens yow for the lyvelode; but he lokyth aftyr a gret brybe, but it is not for to trust hym veryly wyth owte that he may not chese. I suppose he had no wrytyng fro my Lord of Norffolk as he seyde. I was at Framyngham for to a spoke wyth Tymperley, Debnam, or Berry, and they were all ought. My Lord, as he came from London, he was at Yepysweche on Moneday, and when he wythowth the town toward Framyngham, he had all hese men ryde forth afore a gret pase, for he wolde felwe softely ; and when hese men were owte of syght, he rode wyth v. men to a squieris place of hese therby, and on Tewsday, rodde my Lady to hym; and so I dede nought at Framyng- ham. No more at thys tyme, but All myghty Jesu spede yow, and have yow in hese kepyng. Wrete at Norwiche, the Thursday next aftyr Sent Austyn, &c. Be your servunt, JOHN OSBERN. 194 AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 'To \Herry~Y Barker of Synt Clements Parys> in Norwych, to delyver to my Master John Paston^ in haste. ON Thurisday the wall was mad zarde hey, and a good 1451 wylle be fore evyn it reyned so sore that they were or later fayne to helle the wall, and leve werke. And the water is fallyn so sore that it standyt ondyr the wall a fote 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter refers to the z8th year of Henry vi., seemingly as a past date, it cannot well be earlier than 1451. But probably it is not much, if at all, later. 2 The Christian name Herry is crossed out, and Meye (?) appears to be written over. 243 THE PASTON LETTERS 1451 deppe to Ballys warde [i.e. towards the land of a neighbour or later named Ball~\. And on Friday after sakeryng, one come fro cherch warde, and schoffe doune all that was thereon, and trad on the wall and brake sum, and wente over ; but I cannot zet wete hoo it was. And Warne Kynges wyfe, as she went over the style, she cursyd Ball, and seyde that he had zevyn aweye the waye, and so it prevyt be John Paston is words. And after, Kyngs folke and odyr come and cryid on Annes Ball, seying to her the same. Zystyrnevyn wan I xul goo to my bede, the Vycare 1 seyde that Warne Kyng and Warne Harman, betwyxte messe and matynsse, toke Sir Roberd 2 in the vestry, and bad hym sey to me, verely the wall xulde doun a gayne. And wan the Vycar tolde me I wyste ther of no worde, nor zet do be Sir Roberde, for he syth he were loth to make any stryfe. And wan I com out of the cherch, Roberd Emundes schowyd me how I was amercyde for seute of corte the laste zer vjo.r/ mortem, 3 1 Hen. vi., No. 7.) He left a son named John, over twenty-three years old, who was afterwards knighted. 285 THE PASTON LETTERS 1453 Robert that he shuld send me mony be you. I pray for getyt JULY 6 no t; as ze C om homward, and speke sadly for i. nothyr fermor. And as for tydyngs, Phylyppe Berney * is passyd to God on Munday 2 last past wyt the grettes peyn that evyr I sey man; and on Tuysday Ser Jon Henyngham zede to hys chyrche and herd iij. massys, and cam hom agayn nevyr meryer, and seyd to hese wyf that he wuld go sey a lytyll devocion in hese gardeyn and than he wuld dyne ; and forth- wyth he felt a feyntyng in hese legge and syyd don. This was at ix. of the clok, and he was ded or none. Myn cosyn Cler 3 preyt you that ze lete no man se her letter, wheche is in selyd undir my selle. I pray you that ze wyl pay your brothir William for iiij. unces and j. half of sylke as he payd, wheche he sende me by William Tavyrner, and bryng wyt yow j. quarter of j. unce evyn leke of the same that I send you closyd in thys letter ; and sey your brothyr William that hese hors hath j. farseyn and grete rennyng sorys in hese leggis. God have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Nor- wyche on Sent Thomas evyn in grete hast. 4 Be your modyr, A. PASTON. 228 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 6 To my ritht worchipfull Mayster John Paston y be this delyveryd in hast. RYTHT worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying yow to wete that I have spoke with Newman for his place, and I am thorow with hym therfor, but he wold not lete it in no wyse lesse than v. marc. I told hym 1 Third son of John Berney, Esq. of Reedham, who was the father of Margaret Paston's mother. 2 July z. 3 Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby. * The Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr (Becket) was celebrated on the 7th July. 8 [From Fenn, iii. 186.] This letter chronicles the same two deaths as the pre- ceding, and is therefore of the same date. 286 HENRY VI that sekyrly ye shuld not know but that I hyrid it of hym for 1453 iij//. I seyd as for the noble, 1 I shuld payt of myn owyn purse, that ye shuld no knowlech have therof. And this day I have had inne ij. cartfull of hey, and your stabyl shall be made I hope this next weke. I kowd not gette no grawnt of hym to have the warehows ; he seyth if he may in any wyse forber itt her after, ye shall have itt, but he wull not grawnt itt in no convawt [covenant]. He hath grawntyd me the hows be twix the vowte and the warehows, and that he seyd he grawntyd not yow. And as for the chamer that ye assygnyd to myn unkyl, 2 God hath purveyd for hym as hys will is ; he passyd to God on Monday last past, at xj . of the clok befor none, and Sir John Hevenyngham passyd to God on Tewysday last past ; hois sowlys both God assoyle. His sekenesse toke hym on Tewysday, at ix. of the clok befor none, and be too after none he was dedd. I have begonne your inventare that shuld have be made or this tym, if I had ben well at ease. I hope to make an ende therof, and of other thyngs both this next weke, and ben in that other place, if God send me helth. I must do purvey for meche stuff or I come ther, for ther is nother bords ne other stuff that must neds be had or we come there. And Richard hath gadderid butt lytill mony syth he come from yow. I have sent John Norwod this day to Gresham, Besigham, and Matelask to gete als meche mony as he may. The blissid Trinyte have yow in his keping. Wretyn at Norwych, on the Utas day of Peter and Powll. 3 Yowrs, M. P. 1 A noble was a coin of the value of 6s. 8d. A mark was 135. 4d. Five marks therefore were equal to 3, 6s. 8d.j but Margaret said she would pay the odd noble, or 6s. 8d., out of her own purse, and not let Paston know but that he had the place for 3. A little artifice for accepting terms which she had doubtless told Newman her husband could never agree to. 2 Philip Berney. See p. 251, Note i. 3 The day of St. Peter and Paul is the 29th of June. The utas or octave of a feast is the eighth day of the feast that is to say, the seventh day after, which in this case is the 6th of July. 287 THE PASTON LETTERS 229 1453 "JT\ YTH worchepfull howsbonde, I recomende me on to SEPT. (?) 1^ yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I sent Tomas Bon to *"- *- Edwarde Coteler to have one ansuer of the mater that ye spak to hym of, and he sent me worde that he hade spok to hys man therof, and he tolde hym that he hade no wrytynge nor evidens of no swyche thyng as ye spak to hym of, ner not wyst were he scholde have cnowlage of no swyche thyng, save that he tolde hym that he receyvyd onys j.c.s. [IOO.T.] of the same rent ; but and he may have cnowlage of ony man that havyth ony wrytyng or ony thyng that may out prevayle, he schal late yow have cnoulage therof. As for Wylliam Yellverton, he come here never syn ye yede. As for my Lady Stapullton, att the wrytyng of thys letter sche was not come home. Wyndhamys 2 erand to my Lady of Southefolk 3 was to desiyr hyr gode Ladychep and to beseche hyr that sche wold spek to my cosyn Evenyngham * that he myt have hys gode wyll, for he levith in hope to have hys modyr, and he hath made menys to have her by John Gros and hys wyf, and by Bokynham and by odyr dyvers, and profuryth hyr to find suerte to acquitt hyr housbondys dettes, the qwyche is CCC. marc, and to payit doune on j. day. And by thys mene, as he seyth, he hathe bargeynid with j. marchande of London, and hath solde to hym the manage of hys son, for the qwyche he seal have vij. C. [700] marc, and of that the iij. C. [300] marc schoulde be payd for the forseyd dettes; and also he proforyth to yeve hyr the maner of Felbryg to hyr 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There is neither signature nor address to this letter, but it is undoubtedly from Margaret Paston to her husband. The hand- writing is the same as that of her other letters. The date seems to be after the death of Sir John Heveningham in 1453, and is not likely to have been a later year, as the Duchess of Suffolk's influence must have been diminished when the Duke of York came into power, though it may possibly have been powerful again in 1456. * John Wyndham, Esq. of Felbrigg. 8 Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk. 4 John, son of Sir John Heveningham. See p. 227, Note 3. 288 HENRY VI joyntour, and odyr la[r]ge profors as ye schal here eraffter. 1453 As for the good wyll of my cosyn Hevenyngham, he seyth SEPT - (?) Wyndh[am] l he schall never have hytt, nott for to have hyr gode konyth he [abydy th] 2 hys soull hevy therof, for he is aferde that and if the large profors may be perfor[m]yd, that sche wyll have hym. My seyd cosyn preyith yow, att the reverens of Gode, that ye wyll do yowyr [devoir] 3 therin to brec it and ye can. He schall be here ayen on Mychaell mas evyn. He was full sory that ye wer outt att this tyme, for he hopyd that ye schoulde have do myche goode att this tyme. He hathe seyde as myche ther ageyns as he dar do to have hyr gode modyrchep. My Lady of Southfolce sent j. letter to hyr yesterday by Stanle, the qwyche is callyd j. well cherysyd man with my seyd Lady, and desyiryng hyr in the letter that sche wolde owe hyr godde wyll and favor to Wyndham in that that he desyiryd of hyr, and of more matterys that ye schall here er after, for I suppose sche wyll schew yow the same letter and mak yow of hyr counsel in many thyngys, and I schall do my part as feythfully as I can to lett Wyndhamys porpose tyl ye come home. I pray yow sende me a copy of hys petygre, that I may schew to hyr how worchepphull it is, for in goode fey the sche is informyd bi hyr gentyll son Gros and Bokenham that he is mor worcheppfull in berthe and in lyvelode therto than they or ony odyr can preve, as I suppose. I pray yow lett nott thys mater be discuyryd tyl ye her more therof or after, for my cosyn Hevenyngham tolde myche here of in secret wyse, and of odyr thyngis qwyche ye schall have cnoulage of qwan ye come home, &c. In hast, all in hast. 1 Mutilated. 2 Erased in MS. Apparently some further correction should have been made. 3 Omitted in MS. ' Do your devoir,' i.e. endeavour, seems to have been the phrase intended. VOL. II. T 289 THE PASTON LETTERS 230 THE DUKE OF NORFOLK'S PETITION 1 1453 "T^ JITY Lordes, ye know well ynough the grete peynes, l\/ 1 labours, and diligences that before thys tyme y have -*- -*" doon, to th'entent that the over greete dishonneurs and losses that ben come to thys full noble royaume of Eng- land by the fals menes of som persones that have take on theym over grete autoritee in thys royaume shulde be knowen, and that the persones lyvyng that have doon theym shulde be corrected aftyr the merites of her desertes. And to that entent y have denounced and delyverd to you in wrytyng certeyn articles ayenst the Due of Somerset, whych ys one of theym that ys gylty thereoff, whertoo the Due of Somerset have aunsuerd ; and to that that he hath aunsuerd y have reply ed yn such wyse that y trowe to be sure ynough that there shall no vayllable thyng be seyd to the contrarie of my seyd replicacion, and asmoch as he woold sey shall be but falsnesse and lesyngs, as be the probacions that shall be made thereuppon shall mow appiere ; how be it that to alle people of gode entendement, knowyng how justice owyth to be ministred, it ys full apparaunt that the denunciacions ayenst hym made ben sufficiently preved by the dedes that have folowed thereoff ; whereuppon y have requyred to have ouver- ture of justice by yow, whych ye have not yhyt doon to me, whereoff y am so hevy that y may no lenger beere it, speciallie 1 [From Fenn, iii. 108.] This paper is headed ' Copia' in the MS. It is entitled by Fenn, ' The Speech of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, against Edmund Beau- fort, Duke of Somerset, in the House of Lords.' This title, however, is clearly no part of the original document, which has much more the character of a petition to the Privy Council than of a speech in Parliament. The paper itself professes to be a ' bill ' signed by its author, who demands that the conduct of the Duke of Somerset in France and in England should be made the subject of investigation by separate tribunals according to the laws of either country. Now the House of Lords, being only a branch of the English Legislature, would Have had no right to authorise a judicial investigation in France. The date of this petition must have been in the end of the year 1453, after the loss of Guienne. The Duke of Somerset appears to have been committed to the Tower a little before Christmas in that year ; for, after his liberation on the 4th March 1455, he declared before the Council that he had been confined there 'one whole year, ten weeks, and more.' See Rymer, xi. 362. 290 HENRY VI seth the mater by me pursued ys so worshipfull for all the 1453 royaume, and for you, and so greable to God, and to alle the subgettys of thys royaume, that it may be no gretter. And it ys such that for anye favour of lignage, ne for anye othyr cause there shulde be no dissimulacion, for doubt lest that othyr yn tyme comyng take example thereoff, and lest that the full noble vertue of justice, that of God ys so greetly recom- maunded, be extinct or quenched by the fals oppinions of som, that for the grete bribes that the seyd Due of Somerset hath promysed and yoven them, have turned theyr hertys from the wey of trouth and of justice ; some seyeng that the cases by hym committed ben but cases of trespasse, and othyr takyng a colour to make an universell peas. Whereoff every man that ys trewe to the seyd Coroune auyth gretely to marveylle, that anye man wold sey that the losse of ij. so noble duchees as Normandie and Guyen, that ben well worth a greet royaume, comyng by successions of fadres and modres to the seyd Coroune, ys but trespasse ; where as it hath be seen in manye royaumes and lordshyps that, for the losse of tounes and castells wythoute sege, the capitaynes that hav lost theym han be deede and beheded, and her godes lost ; as in Fraunce one that lost Chyrborough ; and also a knyght that fledd for dred of bataille shulde be byheded, soo that alle these thyngs may be founden in the lawes wryten, and also yn the boke cleped L'arbre de Bataille. Wherfor, for to abbregge my langage, y requyre you that forasmech as the more partie of the dedes committed by the seyd Due of Somerset ben committed yn the royaume of Fraunce, that by the lawes of Fraunce processe be made thereuppon ; and that all thyng that y have delyvered and shall delyvere be seen and understand by people havyng knoulige theroff, and that the dedes committed by hym in thys royaume bee yn lyke wyse seen and understand by people lerned yn the lawes of thys land ; and for preffe thereoff to graunt commissions to inquere thereoff, as by reason and of custom it owyth to be doon, callyng God and you all my Lordes to wytnesse of the devoirs by me doon in thys seyd matere ; and requyeyng you that thys my bille and alle othyr my devoirs may be enacted before you. And that y may have 291 THE PASTON LETTERS J 453 it exemplified undre the Kyngs grete seele for my discharge and acquytaille of my trouth, makyng protestacion that in case ye make not to me ouverture of justice upon the seyd caas, y shall for my discharge do my peyn that my seyd devoirs and the seyd lak of justice shall be knowen through all the royaume. Einsi slgne^ J. M. NORFF. 231 WILLIAM REYNOLDS, OF CROMER, TO AGNES PASTON 1 To my ryght reverent andwourchipfullmastras, my Mastras Paston, the modyr of my maister John Paston, be this delyvered. RYGHT reverent and wourchipful Mastras, with most humble and louly servyce in moste goodly wice I re- comaund me to your contynuell supportacion. Please it your good grace to have notycion that I have late a place of yours in quiche John Rycheman dvellyd, for it stode at a grete dyspeyr and I have late it for xvj., but up your good grace, for the lockis of the dores arn pulled of and born a waye, and the wyndowes ben broken and gone and other bordys ben nayled on in the stede of the sayd wyndowes. Also, the swynysty ys doun, and all the tymbyr and the thatche born a way ; also the hedge ys broken or born a wey, quiche closed the gardeyn ; querthorgh the place ys evyl apeyred to the tenaunt. On Sent Marckes daye I entred the seid place and lete it to your be hove, and on the day after cam Henry Goneld and seyd my latyng schald not stond, and went and seled the dores ; querfor I beseche your graciows favor that my latyng may stond, for I have late alle your londis everychone. I know not oon rode unlate, but alle 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 225.] This letter is shown by the memoranda on the back to be of the year 1453, i.e. 31 Henry vi. Agnes Paston had tenants at Cromer, and her property there descended to her grandchildren, as she outlived her son John. 292 HENRY VI ocupyed to your profyghte. The tenaunt quich by your lycens 1453 schuld have youre place to ferme by my latyng ys gretely be hated with oon Johane, the wyfe of Robert Iclyngham, chap- man, quich ys voysed for amysse governyd woman of hyr body by the most parte of owr town wel recordyth the same, and sche dvellyth al by your seyd place ; and by cause this seid tenaunt ys gretely ayens hir for hir ungoodly governaunce, therfor sche mad menys to one Abraham Whal, quiche ys one of hir supportores, and he hath spoke with the seyd Henry Gonelde that he myght seke a remedye to cause this seyd tenaunt to be a voydyd and kept oute your seid place and not come ther inne. He that is Bryngger of this bylle ys the man to quich I have late to ferme by the licens of you ; therfore I beseche your gracaus favor to be schewed onto hym, and mekeli I beseche your contynuell supportacion that ye wuld send me wrytyng under your seele how I schal be demened. Nomor, &c. Wrytin at Crowmer the nest day after Sent Marc. Be your servaunt at alle tymes, WILLIAM REYNOLDES of Crowmer. The following memoranda are written on the back : Firmale terras ten' Roperes in Crowmer Anno xxxj. In primis Gylmin (?) tenet ad firmam ij. acras ad terminum 1 annorum et reddit per annum SOt* Item, Johannes Parnell tenet iij. rodas ad terminum xij. annorum et reddit per annum .... X1 J"- Item, Willelmus Reynoldes pro iij. rodis in ij. peciis ad terminum x. annorum et reddit per annum . .... ...,' Item, Thomas tenet pars (sic} terrae et reddit per annum . \}d. ob. Item, Ricardus Child pro prato et j. inclausura vocata Longclos ad terminum annorum et reddit per annum JJ- i"j- Item, Rogerus Caryour pro j. orto per annum . * 1 Blank in MS. 293 THE PASTON LETTERS 232 THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON * [To my] right trusty and welbeloved Jon Paston, Esquier. About "I~\ IGHT trusty and intierly welbelovyd, I grete you wele. 1454 r^ Prayng you as I specially trust you that ye wole be -*- *" good frend to James Arblaster in his mater touchyng the maner of Smalbergh, as I wote wele ye haf ever be to hym ryght especiall frend ; and thogh it so be that the sayd James had gret trebles, losses, and adversite herbeforn, neverthelesse he shall not be so bare of frendys ner goodes but that I wole se hym holpyn with the mercy of God. In performmyng wherof the berer of this shal enforme you of myn inten and disposicion more largely than I wole put in wrytyng. And the Trinite have you in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Wefnow, 2 the vij. day of August. ELIZABETH VER, Countes of Oxenford. 233 THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON 3 To John Paston^ Sqwyer, dwellyng in Norwich. Year I 3 YGHT entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, and pray uncer- f\ y ow that ye woll be good frende un to Arblaster in tain suche matiers as he shal enfo[rme] yow, and I thanke yow for the good frendship that ye have shewed to hym. And 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] At the bottom of the letter is a contemporary note which appears to show that it was filed along with others of various dates before Michaelmas 1454: 'Literae de diversis annis ante Michaelem xxxiij.' More precise evidence of its date does not seem to be attainable. 2 Wivenhoe, near Colchester, in Essex. 3 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the letter immediately following are in- serted here merely on account of their similarity to the last. Their dates are quite uncertain. 294 HENRY VI I sent a letter to Margaret Gurnay byfore Cristemesse of cer- Year teyn langage that I herd, wich plesed me nowght, and so I uncer- prayed my Lord to gif me leve to wrytte to hir ; and therfore tain and ye here any thyng, answere, as my trust is in yow. Right entierly welbeloved, the Holy Cost have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast the first day of February. OXENFORD, ELYZABETH DE VEER. 234 THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right entieny ivclbclovcd John Paston of Norwich, Squyer. Right entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, thankyng yow of the gret jentylnesse that ye have shewed un to my right welbeloved James Arblaster, prayng yow of contynuaunse ; and if ther be any thyng that I may doo for yow or any of yowres, here or in any other place, I pray yow let me wete and I shall be redy to do it, with the grace of God, ho have yow in his kepyng. And I pray yow to be frendly unto my right welbeloved Agneys Arblaster, wich is to me gret plesier and hertes ease and ye so be. Wretyn at Wevenho the xiij 8 day of Aprill. OXENFORD. ELYZABETH. 235 NEWSLETTER OF JOHN STODELEY 2 AS touchyng tythynges, please it you to wite that at 1454 the Princes 3 comyng to Wyndesore, the Due of Buk' JAN. 19 toke hym in his armes and presented hym to the Kyng in godely wise, besechyng the Kyng to blisse hym ; and the Kyng yave no maner answere. Natheless the Duk abode stille with the Prince by the Kyng ; and whan he 1 [Douce MS. 393, f. 82.] 2 [Egerton MS. 914, B.M.] There is no evidence that this letter had anything to do with the Paston correspondence, but as a very interesting political letter of the period we have thought it right to give it a place in the collection. The date is quite certain, being after the birth of Prince Edward in October 1453, and before the death of Cardinal Kemp in March 1454. 3 Edward, only son of Henry vi., born i3th October 1453. 295 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 coude no maner answere have, the Queene come in, and toke JAN. 19 the Prince in hir armes and presented hym in like forme as the Duke had done, desiryng that he shuld blisse it ; but alle their labour was in veyne, for they departed thens with- out any answere or countenaunce savyng only that ones he loked on the Prince and caste doune his eyene ayen, without any more. Item, the Cardinalle * hathe charged and commaunded alle his servauntz to be redy with bowe and arwes, swerd and bokeler, crossebowes, and alle other habillementes of werre, suche as thei kun medle with to awaite upon the saufgarde of his persone. Item, th'erle of Wiltshire 2 and the Lord Bonvile have done to be cryed at Taunton in Somerset shire, that every man that is likly and wole go with theym and serve theym, shalle have v]d. every day as long as he abidethe with theym. Item, the Duk of Excestre 3 in his owne persone hathe ben at Tuxforthe beside Dancastre, in the north contree, and there the Lord Egremond 4 mette hym, and thei ij. ben sworne togider, and the Duke is come home agein. Item, th'erle of Wiltshire, the Lord Beaumont, Ponynges, Clyfford, Egremond, and Bonvyle, maken all the puissance they kan and may to come hider with theym. Item, Thorpe 5 of th'escheker articuleth fast ayenst the Duke of York, but what his articles ben it is yit unknowen. Item, Tresham, 6 Josep, 7 Danyelle, 8 and Trevilian 9 have 1 John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury. 2 James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. 3 Henry Holland. 4 Thomas Percy, third son of Henry, Earl of Northumberland. 6 Thomas Thorpe, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, who was also Speaker of the House of Commons, but was at this time imprisoned in the Fleet in con- sequence of an action brought against him by the Duke of York. (See Rolls of Par I. v. 239.) 6 Thomas Tresham, who as ( Sir Thomas Tresham, Knight,' was attainted under Edward iv. for righting on the Lancastrian side at Towton, but his attainder was afterwards reversed in Parliament 7 and 8 Edw. IV., on the ground that he was a household servant of Henry vi. and had been brought up in his service from a child. Rolls of Part. v. 616-617. 7 William Joseph, who, with Thorpe, was frequently accused by the Yorkists of misleading the King. Rolls of Parl. v. 280, 282, 332, 342. 8 Thomas Daniel, Esq. See p. 255, Note 2. 9 John Trevilian. 296 HENRY VI made a bille to the Lordes, desiryng to have a garisone kept 1454 at Wyndesore for the saufgarde of the Kyng and of the JAN. 19 Prince, and that they may have money for wages of theym and other that shulle kepe the garyson. Item, the Due of Buk' hathe do to be made M 1 . M 1 . [2000] bendes with knottes, to what entent men may construe as their wittes wole yeve theym. Item, the Duke of Somersetes herbergeour hath taken up all the loggyng that may be goten nere the Toure, in Thamystrete, Martlane, Seint Katerines, Tourehille, and there aboute. Item, the Queene hathe made a bille of five articles, desiryng those articles to be graunted ; wherof the first is that she desireth to have the hole reule of this land ; the second is that she may make the Chaunceller, the Tresorere, the Prive Seelle, and alle other officers of this land, with shireves and alle other officers that the Kyng shuld make ; the ttyrd is, that she may yeve alle the bisshopriches of this land, and alle other benefices longyng to the Kynges yift ; the iiij th is that she may have suffisant lyvelode assigned hir for the Kyng and the Prince and hir self. But as for the V th article, I kan nat yit knowe what it is. Item, the Duke of York wole be at Londone justly on Fryday next comyng 1 at night, as his owne men tellen for certain, and he wole come with his houshold meynee, clenly beseen and likly men. And th'erle of Marche 2 cometh with hym, but he will have a nother feliship of gode men that shall be at Londone before hym . . . that he is come ; and suche jakkes, salettes, and other herneys as his meyne shulle have, shalle come to Londone with hem, or before hem in cartes. The Erie of Salesbury 3 wille be at Lon[don] on Monday 4 or Tywesday next comyng with seven score knyghtes and squyers, beside other meynee. The Erles of Warwyk, 5 Richemond, 6 1 2 th January. 2 Afterwards Edward iv., the Duke of York's eldest son. 3 Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, father of Warwick the King-maker. * zist January. 5 Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, afterwards known as ' the King-maker.' 6 Edmund Tudor, the King's half-brother. He was the father of King Henry vn. 297 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 and Pembroke 1 comen with the Duke of Yorke, as it is seide, JAN. 19 everych of theym with a godely feliship. And natheles th'erle of Warwyk wole have M 1 . men awaityng on hym beside the feliship that cometh with hym, as ferre as I can knowe. And as Geffrey Poole seithe, the Kynges bretherne ben like to be arrested at their comyng to Londone, yf thei come. Wher- fore it. is thought by my Lordes 2 servauntz and welwillers here that my Lord, at his comyng hider, shalle come with a gode and clenly feliship, suche as is likly and accordyng to his estate to have aboute hym ; and their harneys to come in cartes, as my Lord of Yorkes mennes harneys did the last terme, and shalle at this tyme also. And over that, that my Lord have a nother gode feliship to awaite on hym and to be here afore hym, or els sone after hym, in like wise as other Lordes of his blode wole have. And for the more redynesse of suche feliship to be hade redy, that my Lord send sadde and wise messagers to his servauntz and tenauntz in Sussex and elswhere, that they be redy at London ayenst his comyng, to awaite on my Lord ; but lete my Lord beware of writyng of lettres for theym, lest the lettres be delivered to the Cardynalle and Lordes, as one of my Lordes lettres was nowe late, for perill that myght falle, for that lettre hathe done moche harme and no gode. And as for suche tydynges as ben contened in the lettre sent home by John Sumpterman, I can nat hiderto here the contrarie of any of theym, but that every man that is of th'opynion of the Duke of Somerset 3 makethe hym redy to be as stronge as he kan make hym. Wherfore it is necessarie that my Lord loke wele to hym self and kepe hym amonge his meyne, and departe nat from theym, for it is to drede lest busshementes shuld be leide for hym. And yf that happed, and my Lord came hiderward, as he hathe ben used for to come, he myght lightly be deceyved and betrapped, that God defende. And therfore lete my Lord make gode wacche and be sure. 1 Jasper Tudor, brother of the Earl of Richmond, and half-brother to the King. 2 Probably the Duke of Norfolk. 3 See p. 255, Note 3. 298 HENRY VI The Duke of Somerset hathe espies goyng in every Lordes 1454 hous of this land ; some gone as freres, som as shipmen taken JAN. 19 on the sea, and som in other wise ; whiche reporte unto hym all that thei kun see or here touchyng the seid Duke. And therfore make gode wacche, and beware of suche espies. And as touchyng the privee scale and my Lordes seurtee, it is necessarie that my Lord be advertised that yf the Chaun- celler, 1 or any other, make any question to my Lord of his comyng contrarie to the teneur of the seid privee seall, that my Lord by his grete wisdom make answere that he was credibly enformed that aswele the Duke of Somerset beyng prisoner, as other beyng at large, holdyng his opynyon ayenst the wele of the Kyng and of the land, made grete assemblees and gaderyngs of people, to mayntene th'opinion of the seid Duke of Somerset and to distrusse my Lord ; and that the comyng of my Lord in suche forme as he shalle come is onely for the saufgarde of his owne persone, and to none other entent, as my Lord hym self can sey moche better than any that is here kan advertise hym. Thise thinges aforseid ben espied and gadred by my Lord Chaun , 2 John Leventhorpe, Laurence Leventhorpe, Maister Adam, William Medwe, Robert Alman, John Colvyle, Richard of Warderobe, and me, John Stodeley. And as sone as we kun knowe any more in substance we shull send home word. Writen at London, the xix. day of Janyvere. The meire and merchauntz of London, and the mair and merchauntz of the staple of Caleys, were with the Chaunceller on Monday last passed 3 at Lamhithe, and compleyned on the Lord Bonvile for takyng of the shippes and godes of the Flemmynges and other of the Duke of Burgoynes Lordships, and the Chaunceller yeve theym none answere to their plesyng ; wherfore the substaunce of theym with one voys cryed alowde, * Justice, justice, justice ! ' wherof the Chaunceller was so dismayed that he coude ne myght no more sey to theym for fere. 1 Cardinal Kemp was at this time Chancellor. See p. 296, Note i. 2 So ; n MS . s i 4 th January. 299 THE PASTON LETTERS 236 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 I'o my right ivurshipfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in hast. 1454 (?) ff } IGHT worshipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, JAN. 29 r^ praying yow to wete that I spak yistirday with my suster, 2 and she told me that she was sory that she myght not speke with yow or ye yede ; and she desyrith if itt pleased yow, that ye shuld yeve the jantylman, that ye know of, seche langage as he myght fele by yow that ye wull be wele willyng to the mater that ye know of ; for she told me that he hath seyd befor this tym that he conseyvid that ye have sett but lytil therby, wherefor she prayth yow that ye woll be here gode brother, and that ye myght have a full answer at this tym whedder it shall be ya or nay. For her moder hath seyd to her syth that ye redyn hens, that she hath no fantesy therinne, but that it shall com to a jape ; and seyth to her that ther is gode crafte in dawbyng ; and hath seche langage to her that she thynkyt right strange, and so that she is right wery therof, wherefor she desyrith the rather to have a full conclusyon therinne. She seyth her full trost is in yow, and as ye do therinne, she woll agre her therto. Mayster Braklee 3 be her yisterday to have spoke with yow ; I spak with hym, but he wold not tell me what his erond was. It is seyd her that the cescions shall be at Thetford on 1 [From Fenn, iii. 170.] The request made at the end of this letter that John Paston would procure his wife an ornament for her neck, is noted by Fenn as one that she had made in April 1452, and of which this was probably a repetition nine months afterwards. There seems no better evidence of date to go by, so we follow the same mode of inference ; but as we have placed the letter containing the first petition for the necklace in 1453 instead of 1452, we must attribute this letter to the year 1454. 2 Elizabeth Paston. 3 John Bracklee or Brackley was a brother of the Convent of Grey Friars, or Friars Minors, in Norwich. He took a Doctor of Divinity's degree, and was a famous preacher. F. 300 HENRY VI Saterday next komyng, and ther shall be my Lord of Norffolk 1454 and other with grette pupill [people], as it is seyd. JAN. 29 Other tydyngs have we none yett. The blissefull Trynyte have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Tewysday next befor Candelmasse. I pray yow that ye woll vowchesawf to remembr to purvey a thing for my nekke, and to do make my gyrdill. Yowris, M. P. My cosyn Crane recommawndeth her to yow, and praytth yow to remembr her mater, &c., for she may not slepe on nyghtys for hym. 237 AGNES P ASTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 Thys letter be delyverd to John Paston, dwellyn in the Inder In of the Tempytt at London^ in hast. 1 CRETE yow well, and lete yow wete that thys day I was About with my doughtyr yor wyfe, and che was in good hele att 1454 the makyn of thys letter, thankyd be God ! and sche lete yor sustyr and me wete of a letter wheche ye sent hyr, that ye have be laboryd to for Ser William Oldhall to have your sustyr, and desyryng in the seyd letter to have an answer in schort tyme, who [how~\ sche wyll be demenyd in thys mater. Yor suster recomaundyt hyr to yow, and thankyt yow hertyly that ye wyll remembyr hyr, and lete hyr have know- leche ther of, and prayt yow that ye wyll do your dever to bryng it to a good conclusyon ; for sche seythe to me that sche trystyt that ye wyll do so, that it xall be bothe for hyr worchup and profyt. And as for me, if ye can thynke that hys lond standyt cler, in as meche as I fele your sustyr well wyllyd ther to, I hold me well content. 1 [From Fenn, iii. 188.] This letter refers to a proposal for Paston's sister which was probably in or a little before 1454, as in a letter of the i5th July in that year Paston states that several such offers had been under consideration. 301 THE PASTON LETTERS About And as for the oblygacyon of the persen of Marlynferthe, 1454 wheche I sent yow by John Newman, I pray yow lete it be suyd ; and as for the Parson and Lyndesey, they be a cordyd. And God have yow in kepyn, and send yow hys blyssyn and myn. Wretyn at Norwyche on Pulver Wedenesday. 1 Be yor moder, AUGNES PASTON. INGHAM'S PETITION 2 1454 AUL mekely bisecheth your humble liege man, Walter |i Ingham of youre schire of Norffolk, gentylman, that where the seide Walter was in Goddes pees and youres at Dunston in the seid shire the xj. daye of the monthe of January, the yere of youre rengne the xxxij., oone Thomas Denyes, 3 of ful grete malice, prepensed ungodely score agaynste gode feithe and concience, imagynyng utterly to destroye youre seyde besecher, contryved a lettre in the name of my Lord of Oxenforde, he not knowyng of ony soch lettre comaundyng youre seide besecher to be with the seide Lorde at Wevenho, in your shire of Essex, the xiij. day of the seide monthe of January, for divers grete maters towchyng my seide Lorde. The seide Thomas, thenkyng in his conceite that youre seid besechere wolde in noo wyse disobeye the seide wrytyng, but that he wolde putte hym in his devoyre to fulfill my seide Lords desyre, layde dyvers folks arraied in maner of werre with jakkes, saletts, langedebiefs, 4 and boore speres in ij. busshements for youre seide besecher in ij. places, knowyng wele that youre seide besecher must come oone of thes ij. weyes for, tho {there} were no moo, to that intent that they 1 If in 1454, Ash- Wednesday was the 6th of March. 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a petition to the King in Parliament which, supported by the influence of Cardinal Kemp, appears to have met with a favourable hearing from the House of Lords. The date will appear by the letter following. 3 See Nos. 123 and 1 24. 4 The langue-de-bceuf was a kind of glaive with a double edge half down the blade. 302 HENRY VI [might] murdre your seide besecher be cause he had laboured 1454 for his fadir in a wryte sub pena agaynst the seide Thomas Denys and Anneys his wyf for a notable somme of money that the seide Anneys shulde have payede to the fadir of your seide besecher ; the seide Thomas comaundyng the seide mysdoers in any wyse whech of theym that mette first with youre seide besecher shulde sle hym, and they shol be nota[b]ly rewardet for ther laboure, and the seide Thomas shulde kepe and save theyme harmeles. Bicause of whech comaundement oone of the seide busshements mette with the forsaide besechere the xij. day of the seide month, as he came toward my seide Lorde of Oxenforde acordyng to his lettre at Dunstone afore seide, and hym than and there grevosly bette and woundet, aswell upon his hede as uppon his leggs, and other ful grevous strokes and many gaf hym upon his bakke, so that youre seide besecher is mahaymed upon his ryght legg, and feyne to goo on crucches, and so must do al dayes of hi* lif to his utter undoyng ; not- withstandyng the seide mysdoers and riotous peple in this conceite [lefjte youre seide besecher for dede. Uppon the whech ryot it was complayned to my Lord Chauncelere l by the frends of yowre besecher, desyryng of hym by ca[use of th]e grete ryote doone by the seide Thomas, and also for the sauf garde of youre seyde besechere, that oone of your serjantes of armes myght be comaundement [go] 2 and areste the seide Thomas to appere before you in your Chauncerie for the seide ryot, because the seide Thomas was at that tyme at London ; bi force of [whech com]aundement oone of youre serjants of armes went to Lyncolne Inne to arreste the sayde Thomas. The whech areste the seide Thomas utterly diso[beyed in] grete contempte of your highnesse ; nevertheles he is now in the warde of the Wardeyne of the Flete by the comaundement of my Lorde Chaunceler. [ Wher]fore plese it your highnes of youre most noble and habundante grace, by the assente of your Lordes Spirituel and Temporel, and of your Comons in this your present Par[lement assem]bled, and by auctorite of the same, to ordeyne and estabelessche that the seide Thomas Denys may abide in the seide prisone of the Flete, and not to i John Kemp, Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinal. 2 Mutilated. 303 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 be [admitted to bayl] nor meynprise in noo wyse in to soch tyme that the seide Thomas have answered to soch accion or accions as youre seide besecher schal take agaynst hym for the seide mahayme and betyng, and also unto soch tyme as the same accions ben folly discussed and determyned bi twene your seide besecher and the seide Thomas Denys, consideryng that if the same Thomas scholde go at large, he wolde never answere your seide besecher but hym delay by protecions and other weies, so that the same besecher schulde never be content nor agreed, for the exhorbitant offence done to hym ; and also un to the tyme the seide Thomas fynde sofficient suerte of his gode beryng fro this tyme forthe. And he shal pray to God for youre moste noble astate. 2 39 THOMAS DEN YES TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right wurshipfull maister, John Paston. MARCH 20 * % IGHT wurshipfull and myn especiall good maister, I ^ recomaund me to you with all service and prayer to *- my power. And like it you to wete that how be a full straunge acte is passid agayn me in the Higher House before the Lords, wherof I send you a copie. Neverthelesse I hope to God that it shal not passe in the Comon House ; but me is be falle the most sorwfull infortune that ever por man had, standyng in suych case as I do, for my Lordis the Car- denale and of Oxenford haf imprisoned my wif in the countour, and how thei shal guyde hir forth, God knoweth. Which standith to nygh myn hert, if Godds will were ; but wel I know that by thes vengeable malics don to hir and me thei wole [not ?] be content, for Ingham lithe beside that to take 1 [From Fenn, iii. 174.] This letter is without a signature, and the writer was unknown to Fenn j but a comparison with the letter which follows (now printed for the first time) leaves no doubt that it was written by Thomas Denyes, whom we have already met with as a dependant of the Earl of Oxford (see Letters 123, 124, and 132). The date is fixed by the reference to the death of Cardinal Kemp in the postscript. 304 HENRY VI awey my wyves doughter out of Westminster to make an end 1454 of my wif if |je can, and also to arest my servauntz, that I MARCH 20 drede that she nor I shal haf no creature to attend us ne help us ; and suych malice haf I never herd of herbeforne. And it is told me that beside that thei wole dispoil, if any good thei can fynde of myn in Norwich or Norffolk, and imprisone my servauntz there. Wherfore I lowly beseche your maistership, for our Lords mercy, that ye vouchsauff to socour theym in this necessite ; and if ony entree be made or shuld be made upon myn wifes place in Norwich, that ye vouchsauff to socour my servauntz, and do ther inne after your wisdam for Grists love and seynt charite. Beside this, a frend and kynnesman of myn, oon Robert Clement of Betele, hath writen to me that he is arestid, and like to be imprisoned bi a writte of dette, take agayn hym upon an obligacion of C//. Qioo] in which he and J and other wer bounde to my Lorde of Oxenford xiiij. yeer agone, wherof I haf many acquitaunces. Wherfore I pray your good maister- ship to send to the Shirreve that my said kynnesman may ben easid, and no retourne made ageyn hym, but that he may answer the next tyme bi attourney ; for truly that writte was take oute in the end of the terme aftir I was arestid, and aftir it was aperid to. I pray your maistership, for Godds sake, to be not displesid, ne wery to do for me in these materes of your charite, for I had lever gif the said Robert suych good, litell if it be, as I haf, than he wer undone for me, or ony man ellis that ever ded for me. And I hope, if God vouchsaf that the mater may come to reson, to sauf hym harmles, and all other with Godds mercy, ever prayng you of your maistership and socour for Godds love, who ever kepe for his mercy. Wretyn in Flete, the Wednesday the second weke of Lent. Mor over, in augmentyng of my sorwe, I wend my wif shuld a dyed sith, for aftir she was arestid she laboured of hir child, that she is with all, waityng either to dye or be delyvered, and she hath not gon viij. weks quykke. What shal be falle Almighti God knoweth, and shull dispose mercifully. VOL. n. u 35 THE PASTON LETTERS 1 454 Aftirward my wif was sum dele easid bi the labour of the MARCH 20 Wardeyn of Flete, for the cursed Cardenale had sent hir to Newgate. God forgif his sowle. Now she is take to baile til Tuesday. The Cardenale is dede, and the Kyng is relevid. 1 240 JOHN PASTON TO [THE EARL OF OXFORD] 2 MARCH 31 i -j IGHT wurchepfull and my right especiall Lord, I r^ recomaund me to your gode Lordshep, besechyng your Lordshep that ye take not to displesauns thow I write you, as I here say that Agnes Denyes, be the meanes of your Lordshep and of my Lord the Cardynall, 3 hos sowle God assoyle and forgeve, was set in preson, beyng with child which, and the sorough and shame there of, was nygh her deth and yet dayly is vexed and trobled, and her servauntes in like wyse, to the uttermest distruccion of her person and godes. In which, my Lord, at the reverens of God, remembre sche was maried be you and be my meanes, be your comaunde- ment and writyng, and draw therto full sore ageyn her entent in the begynnynge ; and was worth v. c - [500] marc and better, and shuld have had a gentilman of this centre of an C. marc of lond and wele born, ne had be your gode Lordshep and writyng to her and me. And this considered in your wise discrecion, 1 trost, my Lord, thow her prisonyng were of oderes labore, ye wuld helpe her ; and if she be destroyd be this mariage, my conscyens thynketh I am bownd to recompense her after my pore and sympill power. My 1 This last sentence must have been added a few days after the date of the letter, for Cardinal Kemp died on the zznd of March 1454. Wednesday in the second week of Lent was the 2oth March. 2 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was so manifestly written on the receipt of the last, that there can be no question about the date. It bears no address upon the back, so that it is probably only a copy, or, if an original, it certainly was not sent j but the person for whom it was intended was evidently the Earl of Oxford. 3 Cardinal Kemp. 306 HENRY VI Lord, ye know I had litill cause to do for Thomas Denyes, H54 savyng only for your gode Lordshep. Also, my Lord, I MARCH 3 * know wele that Water Ingham was bete, the mater hangyng in myn award, right fowle and shamefully; and also how the seid Thomas Denyes hath, this last terme, ageyn your nobill estat, right unwysely demened hym to his shame and grettest rebuke that ever he had in his lyve. Where fore it is right wele do his person be ponysshed as it pleaseth you. But this not withstondyng for Godds love, my Lord, remembre how the gentilwoman is accombred only for yowr sake, and help her ; and if aught lyth in my power to do that that myght please yowr Lordshep, or cowde fynde any way for Water Ingham avayll and wurchep, I wull do it to my power; and the rather if your Lordshep support the jentilwoman, for I know the mater and that longe plee is litill avayll, and every thyng must have an ende. I have told my brother Mathew Drury more to enforme yowre Lordshep than I may have leyser to write for his hasty departyng. Right wurchepfull and my right especiall Lord, I besech All myghty God send you asmych joy and wurchep as ever had any of my Lords yowr aunceters, and kepe you and all yowres. Wretyn at Norwich the iiij. Sonday of Lent. Yowre servaunte to his powr, JOHN PASTON. 241 INFORMATION AGAINST ROBERT LEDHAM * THEES be the persons that enformyd the Justicez of the 1454 Kyngis Benche the last terme of suche ryottis as hath be done be Robert Ledham : The Lord Skales, Sir Thomas Todenham, Sir John Chalers, Edmond Clere, Water George, John Alyngton, Gilbert Debenham, John Denston, William Whit, William Alyngton, Reynald Rows, John 1 [From Add. Charter 16,545, B.M.] This paper refers mainly to events of 1452 and 1453, but was probably drawn up in 1454, after the Duke of York had come into power. 307 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 Berney, Richard Suthwell, John Paston, John Henyngham, Raff Shelton, Henry Grey. These be the names of the knyghtes and esquyers that endittyd Robert Ledham : Thomas Todenham, knyght, Androw Ogard, knyght, John Henygham, knyght, William Calthorp, esquyer, Bryan Stapelton, esquyer, Osbert Mond- ford, esquyer, John Groos, esquyer, William Rokwod, esquyer, Thomas Morle, esquyer, Thomas Scholdham, esquyer, John Wyndham, esquyer, John Berney, esquyer, William Narbow, esquyer, John Chippysby, esquyer, William White, esquyer, John Bryston, esquyer, John Paston, esquyer. These be dyvers of the ryottis and offensis done in the hundred of Blofeld in the counte of Norffolk, and in other townys be Robert Lethum, otherwyse callyd Robert Ledham of Wytton, be Blofeld in the counte of Norffolk, and by his ryottys men and by other of his affinitez and knowleche, whos names folowyn, and that they contynually folow and resorte unto his hous, and ther be supported and maynteynet and confortid. These be the principall menealle men of the sayd Robert Ledham ys hous be the whiche the sayd ryottys have be done, that use in substaunce non other occupacion but ryottys : In primis, John Cokett, Thomas Bury, Thomas Cokowe, Cristofer Bradlee, Elys Dukworth, William Don- mowe, Cristofer Grenesheve, Roger Chirche. Notwyth- stondyng the sayd Robert Ledham kypith dayly many mo in his house and chaungeth such as have be oppenly knowyn for riottis and takith other for hem as evill as they. And these be the most principale persons comyng and resortyng unto the house of the sayd Robert Ledham, and ther be supportid and mayntened in ryottes be whom the sayd ryottes have be don, that ys to sey : In primis, Robert Taillor, Henry Bang, Robert Dallyng, John Beston, Charles Navell, John, the sone of Roger Ratclyff, Robert Berton; notwythstondyng ther be money moo whos names ben unknowyn. With the which persons, and many moo unknowyn, the sayd Robert Ledham kept atte his hous ,in maner of a forcelet and issith ouute atte here pleaysour and atte his lust, the sayd Ledham to assigne, 308 HENRY VI somtyme vj. and sometyme xij., somtyme xxx 11 and moo, 1454 armyd, jakkid, and salettyd, with bowys and arrowys, speris, billys, and over ryde the countrey and oppressid the Kyngs peple, and didde mony oryble and abhomynable dedes, like to have be destruccion of the enhabitantes in the sayd hundred, in the forme that folowyth, and warse. In primis, on the Monday l next before Ester day and the shire daye, the xxx. yere of oure soverayne Lord the Kyng, x. persons of the sayd riottors, with a brother of the wyff of the sayd Robert Lethum, laye in awayte in the hyght way under Thorpe Wode upon Phillip Berney, esquyer, and his man comyng from the shire, and shette atte hym and smote the hors of the sayd Phillipp with arowes, and than over rode hym, and toke hym and bette hym and spoillid hym. And for thayr excuse of this ryot, they ledde hym to the Bysshopp of Norwiche, axyng seuerte of the peas wher they hadde never waraunt hym to areste. Which affray shorttyd the lyffdayes of the sayd Phillippe, whiche dyed withynne shorte tyme after the said affray. 2 Item, iij. of the sayd riottys feloshippe the same day, yere, and place, laye on awayte uppon Edmond Broune, gentilman, and with naked swerdes and other wepyng faght wyth hym be the space of on qaurte (sic) of an houre, and toke and spoillyd hym, and kepte hym as long as them lyst, and after that lette hym goo. Item, xl d of the sayd riottys felowshipp, be the comaunde- ment of the same Robert Lethum, jakket and saletted, with bowes, arowys, billys, and gleyves, oppon Mauyndy Thurs- day, 3 atte iiij. of the clokke atte after nonne, the same yere, comyn to the White Freres in Norwyche, and wold have brokyn theyr yates and dorys, feynyng thaym that they wold hire thayre evesong. Where they ware aunswered suche service was non used to be there, nor withyn the sayd citee atte that tyme of the daye, and prayd them to departe ; and 1 3rd April 1452. 2 Philip Berney died, as we have seen, on the 2nd July i453> fifteen months after the date assigned to the outrage. 3 6th April 1452. 309 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 they aunswered and sayd that affore thayre departyng they wold have somme persons ouute of that place, qwykke or dede, insomuch the sayd freris were fayn to kype thaire place with forsse. And the mayr and the sheriffe of the sayd cite were fayn to arere a power to resyst the sayd riotts, which to hem on that holy tyme was tediose and heynous, consedryng the losse and lettyng of the holy service of that holy nyght. And theroppon the sayd ryotors departid. Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, on the Monday 1 nest after Esterne day, the same yere, toke from on John Wilton iiij. neet for rent arere, as he said, and killed hem and layd them in salte, and afterward ete hem. Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, with vj. of his sayd ryottes, the same yere made assaute uppon John Wilton in Plumstede churche yerde, and theer so bete hym that he was in doute of his lyff ; and also dede to hym many grete wronggys and oppressioun, unto the undoyng of the sayd John Wilton. Item, in lyke wyse the sayd Robert Lethum and his men assauted on John Coke of Witton, in brekyng uppe his dorys atte a xi. of the cloke in the nyght, and wyth thaire swerdys maymed hym and gaff hym vij. grete wondys, and toke from hym certayn goodys and catalls, of the whiche he hadde, nor yitte hath, no remedy nor restitution. Item, the same day and yere they bete the moder of the same John Coke, she beyng iiij xx- [four score] vere of age and more, and smote hure uppon the crowne of here hed with a swerd ; of the whiche hurte she myght never be helyd into the day of hure deth. Item, John, the sone of Hodge RatlefFe, and other of the sayd felowshipp, toke on Thomas Baret of Byrlygham out of his house, and bete hym and wondid hym that he kept his bedde a month, and toke from hym certayn goodes and catells. Item, the sayd Robert Taillor, because the sayd Thomas Baret complayned of the same betyng, lay in awayte oppon hym, with other of his feloushippe, and bete hym agayn. Item, John Beston and the sayd Robert Taillor, and other 1 ioth April 1452. 310 HENRY VI of the sayd riottes felowshipp, toke on Thomas Byrden of 1454 Lyngewod and bete hym and prisoned hym till unto such tyme that he was delyvered by the mene of my Lord of Norwych ; and for that sorow, distres, and grete payne and betyng, the sayd Thomas Byrden toke suche kynesse that he dyed. Item, the sayd Robert Dallyng and Kerry Bange, and other of the sayd felowshippe, toke and bete on Nicholas Chirche atte Strumpeshawe, beyng in the church of the same towne, that he was [in] dout of his lyff. Item, the sayd Robert Dallyng lay on awayt uppon on Thomas Dallyng, and hym grevously bete. Item, on Middleynt Sunday, 1 the xxx d yere of oure sove- raigne Lorde the Kynge that now ys, Robert Dallyng, Robert Churche, Robert Taillor, Herry Bang, Adam atte More, with other unknowyn, be the comaundement and assent of the sayd Robert Ledham, made affray uppon Herry Smyth and Thomas Chambre atte Suthbirlyngham, the sayd Herry and Thomas and that tyme knelyng to see the usyng of the masse, and than and ther wold have kyllyd the sayd Herry and Thomas atte the prestys bakke, ne had they be lettyd. Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, with his sayd ryottis felaw- shipp, the same yere dide and made so many ryottes in the hundred where he dwellyth that dyvers and many gentilmen, frankeleyns, and good men, durst not abyde in here mansyon place, ne ryde, nother walke aboute thaire occupacions without mo persons, arrayd in maner and forme of werre attendyng and waytyng uppon them than thayr lyvelode wold extende to fynde hem. And so, for savacion of thaire lyves, and in eschewyng of suche inordinat costys as never was seen in that countrey befor, many of them forsoke and leffte thaire owyn habitacion, wyff and childe, and drewe to fortresses and good townes as for that tyme. In primis, Phillipp Berney, esquyer, Edmond Broom to Castre ; Thomas Holler, John Wylton to Norwych ; Oliver Kubyte to Seynt Benetts ; Robert Spany to Aylesham ; Thomas 1 1 9th March 1452. THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 Baret, with many others, to Meche Yermouth and to other placys of strenght. Item, the sayd Robert Ledham, contynuyng in this wyse, callyd unto hym his sayd mysgoverned felowshipp, consydryng the absence of many of the well-rewlyd people of the sayd hundred of affere cast malice, and congected, purposed and labored to the sheriff of the shire that the sayd Roger Chirche, on of the sayd riottous felawshipp, was made bailly of the hundred ; and after causid the same Roger to be begynner of arysyng and to take oppon hym to be a captayn and to excite the peple of the countrey therto. And ther oppon, be covyne of the sayd Robert Ledhaum, to appeche all these sayd well rewlyd persones, and as well other divers substanciall men of good fame and good governaunce that were hated be the sayd Robert Ledhaum, and promittyng the sayd Roger harmeles and to sew his pardon be the mene of Danyell ; to the which promyse the sayd Rogger aggreed, and was arested and take be the sayd Ledham be covyne betwixt hem, and appeched suche persons as they lust, to the entente that the sayd sub- stanciall men of the countre shuld be by that mene so trowblyd and indaungered that they shuld not be of power to lette and resist the mys rewle of the sayd Ledham and his mysgoverned felawshipp, the whiche mater ys confessid by the sayd Roger Chirch. Item, William Breton and John Berton, and other of the sayd ryottes, come into the place of on Robert Spany of Poswyke and serched his housez, hous be hous, for to have bete hym yf they myght have founde hym. Item, William Donmowe, servaunt of the sayd Robert Ledham, and by his comaundement, the same yere bete the parson of Hashyngham, and brake his hede in his owyn chauncell. Item, the sayd Thomas Bery, Elys Dukworth, Thomas Cokowe, George of Chamer, the v. day of Novembre last past, with divers other onknowyn men, onto the nombre of xx. persons, and noman of reputacion among hem, comen, under color of huntyng, and brake uppe gatys and closys of Osburne Monford atte Brayston ; and xij. persons of the same 312 HENRY VI felowshipp, with bowys bent and arowys redy in thair handys, 1454 abode alone betwixt the maner of Brayston and the chirche, and there kept hem from vij. of the clokke on the mornyng unto iij. of the clokk after none, lyyng in awayte oppon the servauntez of the sayd Osburne Monford, lorde of the sayd maner, so that nonne durst comen ouut for doute of thair lyves. Item, viij. of the sayd felowshipp, on the Wennesday next after, prevely in an hole layn in awayte oppon William Edworth and Robert Camplyon, servauntz to the sayd Osburn Montford, comyng from Okill x market, till that tyme that the said William Owell and Robert come uppon hem onwarre, and theruppon chasid hem so that yf they had not be well horssyd and well askapped, they had ben dede and slayne. Item, vj. or vij. of the sayd Ledamys men dayly, boyth werkeday and haly day, use to goo aboute in the countrey with bowys and arowys, shotyng and playng in mennys closis among men catall, goyng from alhous to alhousez and manass- yng suche as they hated, and soght occasion and quarels and debate. Item, notwithstandyng that all the lyvelod that the sayd Ledham hath passith not xx/*. [^20], be sydes the reparacion and outcharges, and that he hath no connyng ne trew mene of getyng of any good in this countre, as for as any man may conceyve, and yette xypith in his house dayly xx. men, besydes women and gret multitude of such mysgoverned peple as ben resortyng to hym, as ys above sayd, to the whiche he yevith clothyng, and yitte bysyde that he yevith to other men that be not dwellyng in his household ; and of the sayd xx. men ther passith not viij. that use occupacion of husbondrye ; and all they that use husbondrye, as well as other, be jakked and salettid redy for to werre, which yn this countrey ys thoght ryght straunge, and ys verely so conceyved that he may not kepe this countenance be no good menes. Item, the sayd Ledham hath a supersedias oute of the chauncerie for hym and divers of hys men, that no warant of justice of pees may be served agayn hem. i Acle. 313 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 Item, please unto your Lordshipp to remembre that the sayd Ledham and his sayd mysgoverned feloushipp be endited of many of these articles and of many moo not comprehendit here, and in especiall of the sayd rysyng agayn the Kyng. Wherfore, though the sayd Ledham can prove the sayd enditement of treson voyde in the lawe for symplenesse of them that gaffe the verdit, that it lyke you, for the Kyngs availl, not redely to suffre the sayd Ledham to departe atte large unto the tyme that the mater of the sayd enditement be better enquered of for the Kyngs avayll, and that the sayd Ledham fynde surte of his good aberyng ; and the inhabi- tauntz of the sayd hundred of Blofeld shall pray for you. And els they be lyke to be destruyd for ever. 242 JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 Un to ryth reverent Sir, and my good mayster, John Paston. About I- % YTH wurthy and wurchypfull Sir, and my ryth good H54 r^ mayster, I recomaunde me on to you, thankyng you evermore of your gret jentylness and good maystyrhod shewyd on to me at all tymys, and specyally now to my herthys ease, qwyche on my part can nowt be rewardyd, but my sympyll service is ever redy at your comaundement. Ferthemor, as for the mater that ye wete of, I have laboryd so to my feydr that your entent as for the jointoure xal be fulfellyd ; and, Sir, I besheche you sethyn that I do my part to fullefelle your wyll, that ye wolle shew me your good maystyrhod in here chambyr, as my full trust is, in so moche that it xall nowth hurthe you nor non of youris, and the profite ther of xal be on to the avayle of my maystress your suster, and to me, and to non odyr creature. And also my maystress, your modyr, xall nouth be charchyd the with her bourd aftyr the day of the mariage, 1 [From Fenn, iii. 192.] The exact year of this letter is uncertain, but from what John Paston writes to Lord Grey on the i5th of July 1454, about proposals having been recently made for his sister, it is not unlikely to be that year. 3*4 HENRY VI but I to discharge her of here persone, and to ease me that About hat here chambyr may be non contradiccion. H54 And, Sir, I am redy, and alwey wolle to performe that I have seyd on to you, &c. Ferthemor, lykyd you to wete I was a Thursday last passyd at Cavendyshe, to dylyver an astate to Wentworth in the londe that was my brothyr Cavendyche, as I tolde you wan I was last with you. And ther I spak with Crane ; and he be sowthe me that I wolde sende over to my maystress your modyr for his excuse, for he myth nowth be with here at this tyme, but on the Saterday in Esterne wyke he wolle nouth fay 11 to be with her. So he counsellyd me that I and my brothyr Denston xulde mete with hym there ; and so, withoute your better avyse, I and my brothyr purpose us to be with you ther at that tyme ; for the sonner the levyr me, for, as to my conceythe, the dayys be waxyn wondyrly longe in a scorte tyme. Qwerfor I besheche you sende me your avyse how ye wolle have me rewlyd, &c. No more I wrythe to you at this present tyme, but be schechyng you to recomaunde in the lowlyest wyse. And the Trinite preserve you body and sowle. Wretyn with my chauncery hand, in ryth gret haste, on the Fryday be forn Palmesoneday. Your, JOHN CLOPTON. 243 JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON 1 Mary age Artydes betwix Anneys Paston, &c. on the one partie, and William Clop ton, Squyer, on the other partie. THIS indenture, made betwix Anneys that was the wyfe of William Paston, John Paston hir sone, and John Dam on the one partie, and William Clopton, Squyer, on the other partie, witnesseth that accord is take attwyn the i [From Fenn, iii. 196.] The date of this draft settlement is no doubt about the same period as that of the preceding letter, whatever may have been the exact that it was written. 3 ! 5 THE PASTON LETTERS seid parties that John Clopton, sone and heir of the seid William Clopton, by the grace of God, shall wedde Elizabeth, the doughter of the seid Anneys. For which mareage the seid Anneys, &c. shall paye to the seid John Clopton CCCC th marc in hand of lawfull mony of England ; and over that, yf the seid mareage be holdyn with the seid Anneys, the seid Anneys shall bere the costages therof the day of the weddyng, with swech chaumbeyr as shall be to the plesir of the seid Anneys; and the seid William Clopton shall do his feffees make a lawfull estate to the seid William of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to the yerly value of xl/z. over all chargez born, to have and to hold to hym terme of his lyfe, withoutyn empechement of wast, the remaindr therof to the seid John and Elizabeth, and to his heirs male of hir body lawfully begotyn, withoute impechement of wast, withynne xij. dayes after the seid weddyng. And over that, withynne the seid xij. dayes the seid John shall do lawfull estate to be made to the seid William of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to the yerly value of xl. marc over all charges born ; to have and hold to the seid William terme of his lyfe, withoute empechement of wast ; the re- mayndre therof to the seid Elizabeth, to have and hold to hir terme of hir lyfe withoute empechement of wast. Also it is accorded that the seid William shall make estate of all the residue of his londs which he is sesid of, or any other man to his use, to swech personys as the seid John shall name, to the use of the seid John. Also the seid John Clopton shall do lawfull estate to be made to the seid Elizabeth of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to the yerly value of xxx/z. over all chargez born, to have and hold to hir duryng the lyfe of the seid William. And moreover the seid John permytteth and ensureth be the feith of his body that he shall leve, over the xl//. worth lond aboveseid to his heirs and issue male of the body of the seid Elizabeth begotyn, londes in fee symple or in taill to the yerly value of xl. marc, in cas the same issue male be governyd to the seid John as the sone oweth to be to the fadir. And, &c. 316 HENRY VI 244 THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN P ASTON 1 To my maister Paston. RIGHT Reverend and wurshipfull Sir, myn especyall 1454 good maister, I recomaund me to you. And for as APRIL 8 moch as adversite and prosperite bothe ly in the disposicion of o [one] man above, I thank God, and late you wete that I stand yet in as greet treble as ever I dede or gretter ; praying you ever to be my good maister and to contynue your benyvolens as I am ever bounde to you. Myn hevynes is sum whet incresid, for a fals harlot, sauf your reverens, one James Cook, a servaunt of myn, falsly and traitourously is hired bi Watte Ingham and hath accused and difFamed me and my wif of settyng up billes agayn lordis, that, Almighti God I take to record, I not am ne never was gilty therof ; but the same theef and Asshcote han made an appoyntement to come and robbe me of suych littel goodis of myn as thei can gete in Norffblk or Norwich. Wherfore I beseche your maistership for charite of your help and socour to my servauntz if such case falle. For I trowe this is a treble that never man suffrid non like in such case, and ther- fore, gentill Sir, as God hath indued you of myght and power to socour suych troubles, shew your bounte to me in this nede, and that for Goddes love, Who Almighti preserve you. Wretyn in Flete the viij. day of Aprill. Your wofull servant, DENYES. The said Asshcote can counterfete my hand and therfore I drede he wole stele by sum fals letters suych as he myght gete. I haf wretyn my servantz theraftir. 1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 94.] That the year in which this letter was written was 1454 is evident from its being dated from the Fleet. See Nos. 239 and 245. 3 J 7 THE PASTON LETTERS 245 THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON * ^To my Maister Pas ton. 1454 T^ IGHT reverent and wurshipfull Sir, and myn especiall MAY ^ i\ gd rnaister, I recomaund me to you. And for as *- ^ moche as oon Lord above gifFeth and takith as hym plesith, I thank His grace of every thyng ; and for the bounte that ye shew to me in this treble, I haf no spirite to thank you as I shuld. Sir, as for certeyn evidence of myn touchyng your place in Seint Andrues Parissh, my wif tellith me that she lefft thaym in a chest at Ovyes shette ; the key ther of she hath sent now to Ovy also. And as for more evidence, sum is in the kepyng of Frere John Mendham, wherto I beseche your maistership that ye wole se for the sauf and secreet kepyng therof. God wote my wif delyvered all, myn unwetyng ; ever therfore I doute, trustyng with such hope as is be lefft me to the best, with Godds grace. Othre evidence of myn is at Folsham, I wote not with whome. I thank God of my conyng ; but as sone as I may know, I shal write to you. Wherfore, sith it is thus, I beseche your maistershep disdeigne not, but for our Lords love ye vouchsauf to take it to you, or to se that it be sauf, if it plese you. And that ye wole send for John Maile, for I conceyve hym right feithfull to me, and I am enfourmed that he is gretly manasid for me. And that ye vouchsauf to do put hym in comfort that I lese not his good wille, and that ye shew hym your good maistership and favor that he be holpen and not hurt for me. Ferthermore, I wrote to you for such smal thynges as I had leid to plegge to you for such good as that I 1 [From Paston MSS., B.M.] For the date of this letter it may be sufficient to refer the reader to Letters 238 and 239 preceding. Both Denyes and his wife are here still in prison, but he expresses himself grateful to Paston for efforts made in his behalf. HENRY VI borwid of you. Wheryn I beseche your maistership that if 1454 my frends pay you accordyng to my writyng, that ye than MAY 3 vouchsaf to do the said plegges be sent hider to me by such conduyte as your wisdam like to avise, and that they myght be here by the iiij to die of the X v ciml of Ester, for than is my grettest jouparte touchyng myn imprisonement ; for sith myn enmyes coude not avail to send me to the castel of Bristow (which was their purpose, whan thei undirstood the disposicion of the Comons Hous agayn their billes), ever sith they make a privy labor to haf me remevid, and I wote not whedir, ne wethir that tyme I shal be sent to the Kynges Bench, and abide ther, or remittyd hider agayn. Neverthelesse, if I haf releve of such pouer godes as shuld be myn by reson, than I hope to do better, and sumwhat to aquyte, wherby I hope to put my frends in gretter corage to do for me. And if I haf no releve, than can I nomore, but all refere to God as I do daily. Wherefore, if ye be not paied, I pray you to councell my said frendes to send me suche mony as thei may gete of myn agayn that day, ever your maistership and wisdam seyng to the conduyte therof. More over, I doute lest that Richard Davy of his untrouth enfourme myn enmys wher such pouer thyng as I haf is, to that intent that thei may riffel and dispoil all. Wherof, if such case hapne, I can no ferthre, but I besech your help in every thyng. It is yours all, ther is a dede of gifFt therof to you among myn evidence, as ye vouchsauff to do or do to be don in every thyng I holde me content. And Al myghti God preserve you. Wretyn in non hertis ease at Flete, the iij. day of Maii. WOFUL DENYES. 1 The fourth day of the quinzaine of Easter. THE PASTON LETTERS 246 LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my right and welbeloved frend^ John Paston, Squier. 1454 ~\ IGHT trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel ; MAY 17 m* an d f or as m ych as I have understande that ze have ^ do take a distresse of certayn bestes upon certayn land, which I stande infeffed in, in the town of Pagrave, for what cause I knowe not ; wherfor I pray you that ze wyll make deliverance ageyn of the said bestes, and if any thing ze can axe be dute of right, setteth a day, and lete your evydences and right be shewed, and I shall assigne conceill of myn to be there to se it ; and all that reson or lawe wyll, I wyll be right glad ze have, and otherwise I trowe ze wold not desire. And if ze wyll do this, I wyll be wel paied, and elles ze constreyn me to pourveye other wise, as lawe may gyde me. Oure Lord have you in governance. Writen at Walsyngham, the xvij. day of May. Youre frend, THE LORD SCALES. 247 BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON 2 To my Maister Pas ton. JUNE 8 "T "T TORSHYPFULL Syr, and my gode maister, after \I \J dewe recomendacion, wyth alle my trewe servyce precedyng, lyke you wete that as to nouveltees, &c., the Prince shall be create at Wyndesour, uppon Pentecost 1 [From Fenn, iii. 200.] This letter is dated by a contemporary note at the bottom of the original, which is given thus in Fenn : 'Li't aa Mich. xxxiijV But for ' aa,' according to the Errata in vol. iii., we should read 'ae,' i.e. 'Litterae ante Mich. [Festum S. Michaelis] xxxiij.' [i.e. anno Regis xxxiii.]. 2 [From Fenn, i. 76.] 320 HENRY VI Sonday, 1 the Chaunceller, 2 the Due of Bokyngham, and manye 1454 othyre Lordys off astate, present wyth the Quene. JUNE 8 As to my Lord Yorke, he abydyth aboute Yorke tille Corpus Crist Feste 3 be passyd, and wyth grete worship ys there resseyved. And certeyn Justices, Prysot, 4 Byngham, 5 Portyngton, 6 and &c., be thedre for execucion of justice uppon such as hafe offendended yn cause creminall. It ys seyd the Due of Exceter 7 ys here coverdtlye. God send hym gode councell hereafter. And the Pryvee Sele 8 ys examynyd how, and yn whate maner, and be whate autorite prevye selys were passed forthe in that behalf, whych ys full innocent and ryght clere yn that mater, as it ys welle knowen. The Frenshmen hafe be afore the Isles of Gersey and Gernessey, and a grete navey of hem, and v c - [500] be taken and slayn of hem by men of the seyd trew Isles, &c. Syr Edmond Mulso ys come from the Due of Burgoyne ; 9 and he seyth, by hys servaunts rapport, that he wolle not dis- charge the godes of the mrchaunts of thys land, but so be that justice be don uppon the Lord Bonevyle, or els that he be sent to hym to do justice by hym self, as he hath deserved, or satisfaccion be made to the value. Yowr mater 10 is enseled as of the thyng ye wote of. I can no more for haste and lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you. Wryt hastly viij . of June. 1 June 9 in 1454. 2 Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was appointed Chancellor on the 2nd April 1454. 3 June 20 in 1454. * John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 6 Richard Bingham, a Justice of the King's Bench. 6 John Portington, a Justice of the Common Pleas. 7 Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the nth May this year he had been ordered to appear before the Council on the following Thursday (i6th May). See Nicolas's Privy Council Proceedings, vi. 180. 8 His name was Thomas Lyseux. See Patent Roll, 32 Hen. vi., m. 14. 9 Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. 10 Doubtless the grant of the wardship of Thomas Fastolf of Cownawe. See p. 322, Note 2. VOL. II.- 321 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 I sende a lettre to Maister Berney to lete you see for the JUNE 8 gouvernaunce yn Yorkshyr. BOTO-H.R.-NER. 1 248 R. DOLLAY TO JOHN PASTON 2 Un to my ryght worshypfull Mastyr Paston, be thys by II delyveryd in haste. JUNE 29 - YGHT trusty and well belovyd master, I recomande me un to yow, desyryng to her of your good prosperite and wellfar. And as towchyng for Ser Phylyp Went- forde, he rood on to London ward up on Seynt Jon ys day, and on the evyn afor he sent to my master for to have sum of hys men for to ryd with hym to Colchester ; and for be cawse he shulde not have no suspesion to me, I rod myself and a felaw with me ; and he rood with an C. [hundred] hors with jakks 3 and saletts, 4 and rusty habyrjons ; 5 and ther rood with hym Gyboun of Debnem, and Tympyrle, and all the felashyp that they cowd make. And Gyboun seyde that he wolde 1 William Worcester, or Botoner, as he called himself indifferently, secretary to Sir John Fastolf. He frequently introduces the letters 'H. R.' into or above his signature, and sometimes at the top of his letter. Fenn reads the name ' Botener,' which is certainly wrong according to the facsimile given of the signature in this place. 2 [From Fenn, iii. 210.] This letter gives an account of certain proceedings for taking possession of the person of a minor in opposition to the claims of Paston and Sir John Fastolf as guardians. Fenn supposes the ward in question to have been Thomas Fastolf of Ipswich ; but it appears, by a petition afterwards presented to Parliament (see Rolls of Parl. v. 371), that he was another Thomas Fastolf, viz. the son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe, Suffolk, whose wardship was granted on the 6th June 1454 to John Paston, Esq., and Thomas Howes, clerk. The St. John's day mentioned in this letter is therefore St. John the Baptist's day, 24th June, not St. John the Evangelist's, 27th December. 3 The jack or jacket was a military vestment, calculated for the defence of the body, composed of linen stuffed with cotton, wool, or hair quilted, and commonly covered with leather. F. 4 A salet was a light helmet of various construction. F. 5 The haubergeon was a coat composed either of plate or chain-mail without sleeves. For a fuller account and view of these, the reader is referred to Mr. Grose's accurate Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, 410, 1785. F. 322 HENRY VI endyte as many as he cowde understonde that wer of the toder 1454 party ; and longe Bernard was ther also ; and he mad Ser JUNE 29 Phylyp Wentforde to torne ageyn, and maad every men to beende her bowys, and lyth down of her hors for to wyte and ony man wolde come ageynstem, and he seyde how he shulde not let hys wey nor for Ser John Fastolf nor for Paston, nor for noon of hem all. And as for the ward, 1 he was not ther, but ther was had anoder chyld lyk hym, and he rood next hym, and whan that he was ij. myle be zonde Colchester, he sent hym hoomageyn with a cer tey[n] meyny. And Ser Phylyp Wentforde, and Gyboun of Debnem, and Tymperle, and Bernard, they took a man of Stratford, a sowter, 2 and hys name ys Persoun ; and they enqueryd hym of every manys name of the toder party, and he tolde hem as many as he cowde ; and they bad hym enqtier ferther for to knowe all, for they desyryd of hym for to enquer as fer as he cowde, and he shulde have well for hys labor. No mor to yow at thys tyme, but the Holy Cost have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Hadley, the Saturday after Seynt John ys day. And I beseeche yow hertyly recomande me to my Master Alblaster. By yowr man, R. DOLLAY. 249 WILLIAM BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON 3 To my gode maister, John Paston, Escuier, in Norwich, and yn hys absence, to John Berney, at Caister, Squyer. WORSHYPFULL Sirs, I recomaund me to yow. JULY 5 Lyke yow wete that as to the waraunts and copes that ye remembred to be gheten owt, it ys laboured for, &c. i Thomas, son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe. 2 A shoemaker. 3 [From Fenn, i. 140.] The year in which this letter was written must be that of the mayoralty of Robert Sturmy at Bristol, as shown in p. 324, Note 2. It certainly could not be 1457, Fenn's date, as Lord Cromwell died in January 1456. 323 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 And as to the assisse, it shall hald at Norwych, the Monday JULY 5 ne xt com fortendayes. The Due of York, the Lord Cromewell, and othyr Lordys of the North that were wyth my seyd Lord York, comen hedre by Monday next, as it ys credybly seyd. The Lordys that be appoynted to kepe the see maken hem redye yn all haste ; and the Tresourer also, the Lord Wyltshyre * for the west coost. And a stately vessell, only for the warre, ys made new at Brystow by the Mayr, called Sturmyn. 2 And the seyd toune with the west coosts wolle do her part, and [i.e. if~\ they may be supported or favoured. 3 Mastere Pownyngs 4 hath day tille the next terme by a 1 James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the ijth March 1455 (Patent, 33 Henry vi., p. 2, m. zo), but on the zgth May following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry, Viscount Bourchier (Ib. m. 12). But this letter, which is dated in July, cannot be in 1455 ; indeed, we have positive evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above ? It is just possible though not likely, as Wiltshire was a Lancastrian that his appointment may have been enrolled in the wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the i 5th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve the difficulty best: 'The Lords that be appointed to keep the see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also : the Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.' John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the nth February 1454. See Rolls of Parl. v. 238. 2 The name was printed by Fenn ' St'myn',' and in the modern version on the opposite page, 'St. Myn.' Robert Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453-4. It was probably this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of which disaster there is the following notice in the MS. Calendars of Bristol : ' Mr. Robert Sturney [alias Sturmey], who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good the loss; so that they were charged with 6000 indebted to Mr. Sturney.' Seyer's Memoirs of Bristol, ii. 189. 3 ' The said town,' it would appear, did ' do her part ' on the occasion ; for besides this ship fitted out by the Mayor, Bristol subscribed 15010 a loan raised by the Duke of York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London itself only subscribed 300, and Southampton, which was the next largest contributor, only 100, while Norwich and Yarmouth contributed the latter amount between them. Seyer's Bristol, ii. 188 ; see also Rolls of Par I, \. 245. We must remember, however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his native town. 4 Robert Poynings. See p. 154, Note 3. 324 HENRY VI remayner. Manye a gode man ys hert he hath. 1 God comfort 1454 hym in ryght ! jx, LY 5 And justice ys don dayly uppon thevys and malefactours, and people be glad that justice may precede. The Lord Bourchier hath a gode renomee of hys wyse demenyng at Calis, but he ys not yhyt comen. The Soudeours be more temperat then they were. Not ell[es] for lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you. Wryt at L. [London], the v. day of Juliet. Gressam qwyts hym well yn your erandys doyng to me. Your, W. BOTONER. 250 EDMUND, LORD GREY OF HASTINGS TO JOHN PASTON 2 'To my trusty and wele belovid John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delivered. TRUSTY and welebelovid frend, I comaund me to zow, JULY n certifying zow that and zour sustyr be not zit marled, y trust to God y know that where she may be maried to a gentylman of iii. C. [300] marc of lyvelod, the which is a grete gentylman born, and of gode blode ; and yf ze think that y shall labore ony ferder therynne, y pray zow send me word by the bringer of this lettre, for y have spoke with the parties, and they have granted me that they wolle precede no ferder therynne tyll y speke with hem azen ; and therefore, y pray zow, send me word in hast how that ze wylle be des- posed therynne ; and God have zow in hys kepyng. W[r]ettin at Ampthill, the xj. day of July last past. By EDMOND GREY, LORD OF HASTYNGES, WAIFFORD, AND OF RUTHYN. 1 'Many a good man's heart he hath.' We should have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his modern version, gives the following most extra- ordinary rendering : ' Many a good man is hurt (thaf) he hath.' 2 [From Fenn, iii. 214..] This letter is dated by a memorandum at the bottom of the original, in the handwriting of John Paston 'Liberat. per Will. Aleyn, valetum dicti domini xiiij. die Julii anno xxxij . H. vi.' 325 THE PASTON LETTERS 251 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THOMAS HOWYS 1 T0 my ryght trusty frende Sir Thomas Howy's, Parson of Castelcombe. 1454 T"\ YGHT trusty frende, I grete you well, and wolle ye JULY 1 2 r^ we te that I thynk it to greete merveylle of your trouth and wysdom that ye shuld haf, that ye hafe noysed me, and seyd to John Andreus at Yeppyswych, in presence of dyvers men, that ye have suffisaunt waraunts undre my lettre and sele to safe you harmlese, in case ye,be condempned yn the somme this Andreus sewyth you for. And know for certeyn, there passed no such warauntis undre my sele ; nothyr I comaunded you not for to labour ne do thyng that shuld be ayenst the law, nether unlawfully ayenst ryght and trouth. And therfor y ought not ne wolle not pay for yow. Wherfor I charge you sende me your warauntis and lettres or acomp of them, and of whoos hand wrytyng they ben ; and whate evidences, instruccions and informacions ye had and by whom, as well as of my lerned councell as of othyrs. And also that ye comyn with my cosyn John Paston, &c., and take his gode avice whate remedie ys best, whethyr to sew an atteynt ayenst th'en quest a decies tantum in your oune name or by the parle- ment ; for y wolle do seke all the remedies that may be had ayenst the seyd Andreus. And kepe ye close and sure from hym in all maner wyse, for your oune welfare ; for know ye for certeyn that Andreus wolle ley all the wayt and aspics of such as ye wene to take for your true frendys to arrest you ; and then be ye as it were be thout remedie, for ye not be tyme to sende me the materes abofe specyfied. Item, Robert Inglose hath spoke wyth me and hath offred me to by lond to satisfye my dewtee that lyeth in Rakhyth, and y am avysed to by it, if ye can send thedre som trusty man that can telle whate it ys worth cleerly, and off whome 1 [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 102.] 326 HENRY VI it ys halde, and also yf it be sure lyvelode, and your avice 1454 wythall; but beware that ye com not owt, God kepe you. JULY 12 Wryt at London in haste the xij. day of Julie, A- xxxij do - Regni Regis Henrici vj. JOHN FASTOLF, chTr. 252 JOHN PASTON TO LORD GREY 1 Dominus de Grey. RIGHT worshipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I recomand JULY me to yowr gode Lordship. And where as it pleasyd yowr Lordship to dyrecte yowr letter to me for amaryage for my por suster to a jantylman of yowr knowleth of CCC. marc lyflod, in cas she wer not maryd ; wherfor I am bownd to do your Lordship servyse ; forsothe, my Lord, she is not maryd, ne insurid to noman ; ther is and hath be, dyvers tymys and late, comunycacion of seche maryages wyth dyvers jantylmen not determynyd as yett, and whedder the jantylman that yowr Lordchip menith of be on of hem or nay I dowth. And wher as your seyd letter specyfyith that I shall send yow word whedder I thowght ye shuld labour ferther in the mater or nay, in that, my Lord, I dare not preswme to wryte so to yow wythowte I knew the gentylmans name, notwythstand- yng, my Lord, I shall take uppe on me, wyth the avyse of other of here frendys, that she shall nother be maryd ner inswryd to no creatwr, ne forther prosede in no seche mater befor the fest of the Assumpcion of owr Lady next comyng, dwryng whyche tyme yowr Lordship may send me, if itt please yow, certeyn informacion of the seyd gentylmanys name, and of the place and contrey where hys lyfflod lyth, and whedder he hath any chylder, and, after, I shall demene me in the mater as yowr Lordship shall be pleasyd ; for in gode feyth, my Lord, it were to me grette joy that my seyd pore i [From Fenn, iii. 216.] This letter is the answer to No. 250, originally printed from a copy in Paston's own handwriting, without signature. 3 2 7 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 suster were, according to hier pore degre, marijd be yowr JULY 15 avyse, trustyng thanne that ye wold be here gode Lord. Ryght wurchipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I beseche Almyghty God to have yow in His kepyng. Wrete att Norwych, the xv. day of Jull. 253 THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON 1 'To my ryght reverent and worship/nil maister, John Paston, be this dylyverd at London, and ellys sent to hym to Norvuic. JULY 20 i -% YGTH worshipfull Sir, and my rygth good maister, I recomend me to you. Lyke you to wete I have spoken wyth my lord Chaunceler 2 and put the bylle by for hym and all the lordis upon Wednesday at after non last past, wenyng to me to have an answer upon Thursday. And my lord Chaunceler told me that they sped no partycler mater yet syn they cam, nor han no leyser to attend swych maters. I have spoken to my Lord Wylchyre, 3 and he pro- mysed to help forth that he can, and my Lord Beauchamp 4 bothe. Fenyngley cam but on Thursday at evyn. Item, Sir, I have do made a new bylle whyche I purpose to delyver to the kyng. And, Sir, the lordes merveyle sore of the entre that was made by the straunge man or my lord entred ; they thynk that was a straunge werk and a sotyll. Item, I spake to my Lord Chaunceler how my maister 5 and ye and your frendis were pute owte of the comyssyon of pees ; neverthe les he hath not graunted yet non newe. And as for the ques- tyon that ye wylled me to aske my lord, I fond hym yet at no 1 [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 217.] The reference to Lord Wiltshire proves the date of this letter to lie between 1449 and 1460, and it would seem to be 1454 when the zoth July was a Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday being spoken of as past dates and Monday as a future one. 2 Richard, Earl of Salisbury. 3 James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde. 4 John, Lord Beauchamp. 6 Sir John Fastolf. "328 HENRY VI good leyser. Item, Sir, after the lordys seying, the Councell 1454 schuld breke up on Monday next comyng. And as for the J UL * 20 Archebysshop of York l is heyll and mery, &c. Wretyn the xx. day of July. By your man and servaunt, THOMAS PLAYTER. 254 WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON 2 To his -wurchypfull llrodyr, John Paston. RYTH wurchypfull broder, I recomande to yow ; and as [JULY] for tedyng, my Lord of Yorke hathe take my Lord of Exsater 3 in to hys awarde. The Duke of Somer- set 4 is styll in prison, in warse case than he was. Syr Jon Fastolf recomande hym to yow, &c. He wyll ryde in to Norfolke ward as on Trusday, and he wyll dwelle at Caster, and Skrop 5 wyth hym. He saythe ye ar the hartyest kynys- man and frynd that he knowyts. He wolde have yow at Mawdeby dwellyng. I had gret cher of Byllyng be the way, and he told me in cownsayle wathe he sayd to Ledam. Ledam wulde a do hys wyse to a mad a complent to Pryothe 6 in the scher-howse of yow, and Byllyng consallyd hym to leve, and tolde Ledam ye and he wer no felawys, and sayd to Ledam, f That is the gyse of yowr centre men, to spend 1 William Booth was Archbishop of York from 1452 to 1464. If the letter had been earlier Cardinal Kemp would have been Archbishop of York, and would have been called ' Cardinal of York/ 2 [From Fenn, i. 72.] The date of this letter is fixed by the fact referred to in Note 3, and by Sir John Fastolf s going into Norfolk, which, though delayed a little later than is here projected, certainly did take place in 1454. See another letter of William Paston further on, dated 6th September. 3 Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 24th July the Duke of York was charged by the Privy Council to convey him to Pomfret Castle. See Nicolas's Privy Council Proceedings, vi. 217. 4 Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was committed to the Tower in the end of the year 1453. See p. 290, Note i. 6 Stephen Scroope, Sir John Fastolf s ward, son of Lady Fastolf, by her former husband. 6 John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 329 THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 alle the good they have on men and lewery gownys, and hors [JULY] an d harnes, and so beryt owth for j wylle [bear it out for a while]) and at the laste they arn but beggars ; and so wyll ye do. I wylde ye schull do wyll, be cause ye ar a felaw in Grays In, wer I was a felaw. As for Paston, he ys a swyr [squire] of wurchyp, and of gret lyvelode, and I wothe he wyll not spend alle hys good as [at ?] onys, but he sparyt yerly C. mark, or j. C. //. [jC 100] ; he may do his ennemy a scherewd turne and never far the warse in hys howsholde, ner the lesse men abowthe hym. Ye may not do so, but if yt be for j. [one] sesun. I consayll yow not to contenu long as ye do. I wulle consalle yow to seke reste wyth Paston.' And 1 thankkyd Byllyng on yowr behalfe. God have yow in hys kepyng. Be yowr por Brodyr, WYLLYAM PASTON. Meche odyr thyng I can telle an I had lesur. Recomande me to my suster Margeth [and] my cosyn Elizabeth Clyr, I pray yow. WILLIAM PASTON TO MARGERY PASTON 1 his rythe worchypfull and harthy wellebelovyd suster, Margere Paston y dwellyng in Norwyche. [1454] |J YTHE harthely well belovyd suster, I recomand me, AUG. 10 i^ & Cf And I have received zowre letteres. And as for my nevewes, they lerne rythe well bothe, and there gownys and there gere schall be mad for hem a cordyng the enthenthe of zowre letter, and all oder thynggis that behovyth on to here profythe harddely to my powere. 1 [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 5.] This letter is in the handwriting of William Paston, son of the judge ; but the ' Margery ' Paston to whom it is addressed seems to be his brother John's wife, Margaret. His nephews, John Paston's sons, were at school in London. His sister Elizabeth, who was married to Robert Poynings in 1458, is here said to be upon the point of marriage, but no doubt this refers to the negotiations of the year 1454, as the eldest of John Paston's sons must have been sixteen in 1458. St. Laurence's day, on which the letter was written, is the loth August. 330 HENRY VI And, Suster, God zelde zow for zowre labore fore me, for [1454] gaderyng of my mony. And I pray, as sone as ze receyvyth, AUG - 10 send it heder be some trusty man ; and that it plese to calle ther on, &c. My suster and my broder recomand hem to zow bothe, and I may say to zow in counsayll sche is op on poyn of mariage, so that moder and my broder sett frendely and stedfastely there on, leke as I wothe well ze wolld, and it lay in zow as it dothe in hem, &c. I pray zow do zoure parthe to kail theron. It were to long to wrythe on to zow all the maner of demenyng of this mater; and therfor I have spoke to Wyllyam Worseter and to Wethewell to tell it zow holly as it is. I wothe ryth well zow (sic) good labore may do moche ; and send me word how ze here as hastely as ze may. Item, Howard spak of a mariage betwex his sone and my neece Margery, zowr dother : it wer well do such materes wer nawthe sclawfully laboryd; it is wurchypfull, &c. Send me word, and Gog (sic] have zow in His kepyng. Wretyn at London on Sent Lawrens day in hast. Be zowre brodyre, WYLLYAM PASTON. Item, send zow a letter directyd to Wollysby. I pray zow lethe it be delyvered hym as hastely as ze may; and if ze come to this contre I am leke to se zow, and we schall make rythe mery I trust. 256 RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK, TO JOHN PASTON 1 our right trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Esquire. 'The Due of Tork. RIGHT trusty and welbeloved, we grete yow hertily wel. 1454 And of your benivolence, aide, and tendre love by AUG. 19 yow, at th'instance and at the reverence of us, to our right trusty and welbeloved in God, the prior and convent of i FFrom Fenn, i. 92.] This and the following letter could hardly have been written in any year except 1454 or i 4 55, when the Duke of York wae , m power, the former yeV he is verV likely to have been at h.s own castle of Sandal on the i 9 th August, seeing that on the 2 4 th July he was commissioned to convey the 1 Exeter to Pomfret Castle. THE PASTON LETTERS 1454 the hows of Our Lady of Walsingham, of our patronage, in AUG. 19 suche matres as they had adoo for certain lyvelood by tham claymed to belonge unto the seid hows, favorably and tendrely shewed, as hertily as we can we thank yow, and desire and pray yow of your good continuance; and as far as right, la we, and good conscience wol, to have in favorable recommendacion suche personnes as been or shal bee committed to take pos- session and saison, in the name and to the use of our ful worshipful nepveu, th'erl of Warrewic, in and of the manoirs and Lordeships of Boules and Walcots, 1 with th'appertenauntes in Litel Snoring in the countee of Norffolk, as our grete trust is unto yow. And God have yow in His keping. Yeven undre our signet at our castel of Sandhall the xix. day of August. R. YORK. 257 THE EARL OF WARWICK TO JOHN PASTON 2 To the worshipful! and my right trusty frcnde John Paston, Squyer. AUG. 23 ^r TT TORSHIPFULL and my right trusty and welbeloved Y V frende, I grete you well. And forasmuch as I have purchased of the worshipfull and my welbeloved frende, Priour of Walsyngham, ij. maners in Lityl Snoryng, with thappurtenants, in the Counte of Norffolk, which maners 1 According to Blomefield (vii. 186), Catherine, widow of John Cokerell of Albergh Wykes in Suffolk, died seised of the manors of Walcotes and Boles in 6 Henry vi., which she left, with others, to Catherine, daughter of John Cokerell, junior, her son, who died before his father. This younger Catherine died a minor in 10 Henry vi., and the jury knew not who was her heir. In 29 Henry vi. George Heath of Mildenhall released to Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, all his rights in Walcotes and Boles; but in the i8th of Henry vii. Christopher Conyers and Alice his wife conveyed it to the Heydons. Of its having been purchased by the Earl of Warwick or having belonged to the Prior of Walsingham, as stated in the next letter, Blomefield tells us nothing except that Richard, Earl of Warwick, presented to the rectory of Snoring Parva in 14.60 and 1466. 2 [From Fenn, i. 88.] See preliminary note to the last letter (p. 331, Note i). 33 2 HENRY VI be cleped Bowles and Walcotes,-! desir and hertily praye I 4 c 4 yow, that ye woll shewe to me, and my feoffes in my name AUG. 23 your good will and favour, so that I may by your frendship the more peasably rejoy my forsaid purchase. And more over I praye you to yeve credens in this mater to my welbeloved chapellayn, Syr John Suthwell, berer of this my lettre, and in the same mater to be my feithfull frende, as my gret trust is in you, wherin ye shall do to me a singular pleasir, and cause me to bee to yow right good lord, which sumtyme shall be to you available by the grace of God, who preserve you and sende you welfare. Yeven under my signet at Midilham, the xxiii. day of August. RICHARD, ERL OF WARREWIK. WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON 1 To my Maister Paston. H.R. AFTYR dewe recomendacion wyth my simple service precedyng, please your maistershyp to wete, that SEPT. 2 as to such remembraunce that ye desyre me to con- tynew forth to the uttermost, I shall wyth gode wille, so as my maister wille licence me, as oft as I can, th'officer to hafe 1 [From Fenn, iii. 318.] This and the next letter were certainly written on the same day, but the precise year may be questioned. From a comparison of the two together, with William Barker's letter of the 3rd Nov. following (No. 265), I am inclined to think all three belong to the year 14.54, when Sir John Fastolf had just come to settle for the rest of his days in Norfolk. Sir John Fenn, I think rightly, considers this first letter to have been written between jest and earnest j and this tone may be very well explained by the supposition, that on FastolPs settlement at Caister, Worcester expected to have had some position of importance assigned to him in his master's household. That such would be his fortune was probably the expectation of others as well as himself, and apparently John Paston had written to him in the belief that Worcester's influence with Sir John might occasionally be of value to him. 333 THE PASTON LETTERS i454(?) leysure to be wyth me, for ye know well I can not do it SEPT. 2 a lone, &c. And where as ye of your pleasure wryte me or calle me Maister Worcestr, I pray and requyre yow foryete that name of maistershyp, for I am not amended by my maister of a ferthyng yn certeynte, but of wages of housold in comune entaunt come nows plaira. By Worcestr or Botoner I hafe vs. yerly, all costs born, to help pay for bonetts that I lose. I told so my maister thys weke, and he seyd me yerstenday he wyshed me to hafe be a preest, so I had be disposed, to hafe gofe me a lyvyng by reson of a benefice, that anothyr most gefe it, as the By shop, but he wold ; and so I endure infer egenos ut servus ad aratrum. Forgefe me, I wryte to make yow laugh ; and our Lord bryng my maister yn a better mode for othyrs as for me. At Caistr, ij d day of September. I pray yow displeser not your servaunt be so long, for my maister lettet hym. Your, W. WYRCESTYR. 259 THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON 1 70 my maister^ John Paston, Squier, be this delyvered. RYGHT worshypfull Sir, I recommaund me to yow. And my maister hertly thankyth yow for the venyson that ye sent hym from my Lord of Oxford, and prayeth yow that he may be recommaunded to hys noble Lordshyp. And God thank yow for your speciall remem- braunce of my mater that ye hafe it so tendyrly to hert, for ye may know weel the gode spede of that ys my wellfare and the contrary e ys my utter undoyngs. I hafe sent to John Porter to wete verrayly how it standyth with hym, as ye shall 1 [From Fenn, iii. 320.] With regard to the date of this letter, see the pre- liminary note to the last (p. 333, Note i). 334 HENRY VI wete the certeynte thys weke. As for the mater wryt to I454(?) Bokkyng he hath rad ys lettre, and wille remember your SEPT - 2 desyre, and also of William Geney comyng, yn case he know of it rathyr then ye. And my maistre herd the substaunce of your lettre red, and lyked it ritz well. And as for the mater of Worcester remembraunce, he shall geve hys attendaunce therto yn that he can. And where ye calle hym maister, he ys displesed wyth that name, for he may spend vs. yerly more by the name of Worcestr or Botoner, and by hys maister not a ferthyng yn certeynte. He prayth yow foryete it. I pray God kepe yow. Wryt at Castr hastly ij d day of September. Your oune, T. HOWES. Item, yn case Jankyn x be hole, my Lord of Norffolk hath graunted [him] by moyen of Robert Wyngfeld, to be yn my seyd Lord ys houshold, as my maister hath it by lettre from Wyngfeld. 1 This appears to be the John or Jankyn Porter above named, who will be found mentioned hereafter. END OF VOLUME II Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. WAR 6 1959 ID NOV15V RE(TD 10-URB '. MAY 15 1974 WAY 1 4 1974 25 IMC tMlW OCT22!97(i Form L9-32m-8,'57(.C8680s4)444 THE CHIVBRSLTY OF CALIFORNIA U)S ANGELES " SOUTHERN REGIONAL UBRARY FAdLI A 000 227 596 4 t PLEADS DO NOT REMOVE THIS BOOK CARD 1 University Research Library vo o