Note 21.2 — THE PASTON LETTERS Henry VI
Reading edition
[From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, being dated in November, was probably written before Nos. 11 and 12 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.
21.3 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 11th of Edward III., and Robert, in the 14th 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.
21.4 ‘Commoigne,’ i.e. brother monk. The writer also calls him apostata, i.e. a monk who has run away and renounced his order.
22.1 These words occur in the draft, but are crossed out.
22.2 Thomas Brancaccio, Cardinal Bishop of Tricarico. He was made a cardinal by his uncle, Pope John XXIII., and is said to have been a man of very bad morals.
22.3 Interlined, and afterwards erased.
23.1 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 ecclesiæ de Testerton in Com’ Norff. Gees Cuttyng. Joh’ persona ecclesiæ de Yermuth (?), Alicia Gosloth (?).’
23.2 Sic.
23.3 The title ‘Sir’ was at this time commonly prefixed to a priest’s name.
23.4 The ‘vij.’ is struck out.
23.5 Contiañce, MS. here and after.
23.6 Struck out.
24.1 Here occur the following words, crossed out:— ‘Ferthermore, touchant my persone, I mervaille that the seyd —— Ferthermore.’
24.2 Struck out.
24.3 Omitted in MS.
24.4 The draft here ends abruptly.