Note 106.1 — THE PASTON LETTERS Henry VI (continued 2)

[From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is dated by the writer in the 35th year of Henry VI., but he does not say in what month it was written. The 35th of Henry VI. was reckoned from the 1st September 1456 to the 31st August 1457. Taken in connection with the postscript of Botoner’s letter immediately preceding (the date of which letter this partly confirms), it is not unlikely that this was written about October. Perhaps ‘Wednesday after messe’ should have been ‘Wednesday after Michaelmesse.’ If so, the exact date would be October 6th.

106.2 The wardship of Thomas Fastolf was at first granted to John Paston and Thomas Howes, by patent of the 6th June 1454, and for this they agreed to pay 100 marks into the Exchequer. But, for some reason or other, a new arrangement was made, and the wardship was granted by another patent, dated 12th December 1454, to John Bokkyng and William Worcestre, who offered the King 20 marks over what Paston had offered, i.e. £80 in all.—See Patent Roll, 33 Hen. VI., p. 1, m. 10.