Note 1.1 — THE PASTON LETTERS Henry VI
Reading edition
[From Fenn, iii. 220.] There is abundant evidence that the year in which this letter was written was 1454. The references to Lord Grey’s offer of a husband for Elizabeth Paston, and to Sir John Fastolf’s going into Norfolk, of which William Paston had before written by anticipation, though a little prematurely, in No. 254, are in themselves sufficient to fix the chronology; but the mention of fealty having been done by a new Archbishop of Canterbury and a new Bishop of Ely removes any possible doubt on the subject.
1.2 Thomas Billing was made a serjeant in 1453, and about 1469 was appointed Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.
1.3 Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthyn.—See Letter 250.
2.1 Stephen Scroope.—See vol. ii. p. 108, Note 4.
2.2 Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was appointed chancellor in April 1454.
2.3 Richard, Duke of York, at this time Protector.
2.4 Thomas Bourchier, who was translated from the Bishopric of Ely to Canterbury in April 1454.
2.5 William Grey. He received his temporalities by a patent of the date of this letter, 6th September 1454, which shows that he had by that time done fealty.