Note 284.1 — THE PASTON LETTERS Henry VI (continued 6)
Reading edition
[From Fenn, i. 68.] According to Blomefield (Hist. of Norf. iii. 158), Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI., visited Norwich in the spring of 1452; but by the same authority, it would appear that she had returned to Westminster before the 17th of March in that year, which would not suit the date of this letter. Besides, John Paston was at Norwich in April 1452, and dates a letter at Norwich on St. George’s day, complaining of the assault made upon him at the door of Norwich Cathedral on Monday before Easter. It is impossible, therefore, that Margaret Paston could have written to him from Norwich two days before St. George’s day in that year. From an undated entry in the Norwich city records, which bears internal evidence of having been made in the year 1453, it would appear that the King’s half-brothers, Edmund, Earl of Richmond, and Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, visited Norwich in that year.—(See fol. 19 of a volume, entitled An Old Free Book, in the Norwich city archives.) As to the Queen’s visit I find no direct evidence, but I think it possible she may have come with one of the King’s brothers, and that the other may have come a little later.
284.2 Here (says Fenn) follows some account of money received, etc.
284.3 Margaret of Anjou.
284.4 Widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, who died in 1446. Fenn says his daughter, but no notice is found of a daughter of that name, while the widow occurs frequently in this correspondence.
285.1 Bailiff.
285.2 Either Edmund Tudor, who was created Earl of Richmond about November 1452, or Jasper, who was created Earl of Pembroke at the same time. They were half-brothers to the King, being sons of his mother, Catherine, Queen of Henry V., by her subsequent marriage to Sir Owen Tudor.