THE PASTON LETTERS Edward IV
Reading edition
449 JOHN PASTON THE YOUNGEST TO ——265.1
1461
I recomand me to yow, and lete yow wete that notwythstandyng tydinggs come down, as ye know, that pepill shuld not come up tyll thei were sent fore, but to be redy at all tymes; this notwithstandyng, most pepill owt of this cuntre have take wages, seying thei woll goo up to London; but thei have no capteyn, ner rewler assigned be the commissioners to awayte upon, and so thei stragyll abowte be them self, and be lyklynes are not like to come at London half of them. And men that come from London sey, there have not passid Thetford, not passyng CCCC.; and yet the townes and the cuntere that have waged hem shall thynk thei be discharged, and therfore if this Lords above wayte aftyr more pepill in this cuntre, be lyklynes it woll not be easy to get with owt a newe comission and warnyng. And yet it woll be thought ryght straunge of hem that have waged pepill to wage any more, for every towne hath waged and sent firth, and are redy to send forth, as many as thei ded whan the Kyng sent for hem be fore the feld at Lodlowe;266.1 and thei that ar not go, be goyng in the same forme.
Item, ther was shrewd rewle toward in this cuntre, for ther was a certeyn person forth wyth after the jurney at Wakefeld, gadered felaship to have mo[r]dered John Damme, as is seyd; and also ther is at the Castell of Rysing, and in other ij. plases, made gret gaderyng of pepill, and hyryng of harneys, and it is wele undyrstand they be not to the Kyng ward, but rather the contrary, and for to robbe. Wherfore my fadyr is in a dowte, whedir he shall send my brother up or not, for he wold have his owne men abowte hym, if nede were here; but notwythstandyng, he wyll send up Dawbeney, his spere and bowes with hym, as Stapilton and Calthrop or other men of worship of this cuntre agree to doo. Wherfore demene yow in doyng of yowr erandes ther aftyr, and if ye shall bryng any masage from the Lords, take writyng, for Darcorts massage is not verely beleved be cause he browt no wrytyng.
Item, this cuntre wold fayne take these fals shrewes that are of an oppynion contrary to the Kyng and his Counsell, if they had no auctorite from the Kyng to do so.
Item, my brother is redy[n] to Yarmowth for to lette brybers that wold a robbed a ship undyr color of my Lord of Warwyk, and longe nothyng to hem ward.
450 W. PASTON AND THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON266.2
To my maister, John Paston, in hast.
1461 APRIL 4
Please you to knowe and wete of suche tydyngs as my Lady of York hath by a lettre of credens, under the signe manuel of oure Soverayn Lord King Edward, whiche lettre cam un to oure sayd Lady this same day, Esterne Evyn,267.1 at xj. clok, and was sene and red by me, William Paston.
Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld,267.2 and uppon the Munday267.3 next after Palmesunday, he was resseved in to York with gret solempnyte and processyons. And the Mair and Comons of the said cite mad ther menys to have grace be Lord Montagu267.4 and Lord Barenars,267.5 whiche be for the Kyngs coming in to the said cite desyred hym of grace for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace. On the Kyngs parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and Lord Scrop sore hurt; John Stafford, Horne of Kent ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford, William Hastyngs mad knyghts with other; Blont is knygth, &c.
Un the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord Nevyle, Lord Welles, Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord Scales, Lord Harry, and be supposyng the Erle of Northumberland, Andrew Trollop, with many other gentyll and comons to the nomber of xx.ml. [20,000].
Item, Kyng Harry, the Qwen, the Prince, Duke of Somerset, Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, be fledde in to Scotteland, and they be chased and folwed, &c. We send no er [no sooner] un to you be cause we had non certynges tyl now; for un to this day London was as sory cite as myght. And because Spordauns had no certeyn tydyngs, we thought ye schuld take them a worthe tyl more certayn.
Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can telle you. And Jesu spede you. We pray you that this tydyngs my moder may knowe. Be your Broder, W. Paston. T. Playters.
‘On a piece of paper pinned to the above letter,’ says Fenn, ‘is a list of the names of the noblemen and knights, and the number of soldiers slain at the above battle of Towton, as follow:—’
Comes Northumbriæ.
Comes Devon.
Dominus de Beamunde.
Dominus de Clifford.
Dominus de Nevyll.
Dominus de Dacre.
Dominus Henricus de Bokyngham.
Dominus de Well[es].
Dominus de Scales Antony Revers.
Dominus de Wellugby.
Dominus de Malley Radulfus Bigot Miles.
Millites.
Sir Rauff Gray.
Sir Ric. Jeney.
Sir Harry Bekingham.
Sir Andrew Trollop.
With xxviij.ml. [28,000] nomberd by Harralds.
451 THOMAS PLAYTERS TO MASTER JOHN PASTON268.1
To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer.
1461 APRIL 18
Please your Maisterchep to wete, that I have spokyn with Essex, in the matter that ye wete of, and fynd him be his talkyng wel dysposed, not withstandyng he woll not falle to no conclusyon to engrose up the mater, tyll the chef baron268.2 be com to London, and that he be mad privy to the mater, which we loke after this same secund Saterday268.3 after Esterne; and as for Notyngham he is not yet comyn to London.
Item, as for tydyng, it is noysed and told for trouth of men of worchip, and other, that the Erle of Wylchyr is taken, Doctor Morton,269.1 and Doctor Makerell, and be brougth to the kyng at York. Maister William also spak with a man that sey hem.
Item, sir, I herd of Sir John Borceter and Christofer Hanson, that Herry the sext is in a place in York schire is calle Coroumbr; suche a name it hath, or muche lyke. And there is sege leyde abowte, and dyvers squyers of the Erle of Northumbrelands, and gadered them to geder, a v. or vj.ml. [five or six thousand] men, to byger [bicker] with the sege, that in the mene while Herry the sexte myght have ben stole a way at a lytyll posterne on the bak syde; at whiche byker ben slayn iij.ml. [3000] men of the North. Sir Robert of Ocle and Conyrs leyth the sege on our syde, and thei it is that have do this acte. Sum say the Qwen, Somerset and the Prince schuld be there. Item, it is talked now for trouthe, the Erle of Northumberland is ded. Item, the Erle of Devenshire is ded justely.269.2 Item, my Lord Chaunceler is to York. Item, the King and the Lords com not here before Whitsontyde, as it is sayde. Item, sir, sone uppon the chef baron comyng I schall send you a lettre, with Godds grace, who preserve you, and have you in His blyssed kepyng. Your, Thomas Playters.
At Cokermouthe was the Erle of Wylchire taken, and these other Doctors. Item, som men talke Lord Wellys, Lord Wyllouby, and Skales ben on lyve. Item, Sir Robert Veer is slayn in Cornewayll, as it is tok for trouthe.
452 THOMAS PLAYTERS TO JOHN PASTON270.1
To my rigth reverent and worchipfull John Paston, Esquyer, or to my maytres his wyf.
1461 MAY
After my most special recommendacion, lyke your maisterchip wete that the mater for you and my maistrez, your moder, ayens Powtrell and Tanfeld hath ben called uppon as dylygently and as hastely this terme as it mygth be; and al way dayes yeven hem by the Court to answer, and than thei toke smale excepcions, and trifeled forth the Court, and al wey excused them by cause the bylle is long, and his councell had no leysur to se it. And they prayed heryng of the testament of my maister your fader,270.2 and therof made a nother mater, and argued it to putte hem fro it, be cause they had emparled to us by fore; and than Hyllyngworth to dryve it over this terme, allegged varians be twyx the bille and the testament that John Damme was named in the testament John Dawme, in whiche cas now the Court must have sigth of the said testament. Where fore ye must send it up the begynnyng of the next terme, or elles we schall have no sped in the mater. And therfor, Maistres, if my maister be not cum hom, and ye have not the sayd testament in your kepyng, that than it plese you to speke un to my maistres, your moder in lawe,270.3 for the seyd testament, that I mygth redely have it here, and that it be sealed in a box, and sent to me, and I schall kepe it safe, with Godds grace.
And as for tytyngs, in good feyth we have non, seve the Erle of Wylchir271.1 is hed is sette on London Brigge.
Mayster William is reden hom to my Maistrs Ponyngs; and as for Maister Ponyngs hymself, sche letteth as thow sche wyst not where he were. A gentylman that kam fro York told me my maister was heyl and mery, and rode to mete the Kyng comyng fro Mydlam Castell.
Berwyk271.2 is full of Scottys, and we loke be lyklyhod after anoyther batayll now be twyx Skotts and us.
And I pray Jesu have you in His blyssed kepyng. Your, Thomas Playter.
453 JOHN SMYTH TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR271.3
To hys worschepfull mayster, John Paston the Eldest, Esquier.
1461 MAY 10
Ryght worschepfull and my synguler mayster, I recomaunde me to you. If it plese your maysterschepe to wete, the cause of my wryghtyng is thys. I have understande be comunyng with othyr credybell men that many and the more part of the feffeys of the landys late Sir John Fastolf, and also thei that pretende to ben executores of the seyd Sir John, purpose them to sell to my Lord of Suffolk, thow he recuver not be tayle, or to othyr myghty lordys, a gret part of the landys of the seyd Sir John, to the entent that ye schal not have them; upon wech sale thei wole make astate and entre and put you to your accion, and thow ye recuver in the lawe, as I am enformyd, ye schall recuver of hard and but a part, the qwech schuld be dere of the sute. Qwer it semyth to me, yt wer necessarye to you to se remedy for thys mater, and eyther putt it in award or elles that my Lord of Wa[rwick], the qwech is your good Lord, may meve that the Kyng, or hym sylf, or my Lord Chawmbyrleyn or sum othyr wytty me[n], may take a rewle betwexe you and your adversaryes; for yf ye may not holde the forseyd landys ther schal growe [great] losse bothe to the dede and to you, and men schal putt you in defawte therof; your frendys schal be sory. It is [better to] bere a lyttell losse than a gret rebuke. Your mater hangyth longe in the audyens. Yf ye hadde ther your entent your ad[versaries should] cese the rather. I beleve veryly yf ye do your part to have pees, God of Hys gret grace schal graunte it to you, the q[wech give] you the speryte of wysdam to gyde you on to Hys pleser. Amen.
We desyre to se your maysterschep in Norffolk; your pr[esens] there be necessarye.
From Norwych the x. day of May. Your clerk, [John] Smyth.
454 THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON272.1
To my maister Paston.
1461
I lowly recomaund me to your maistership, thankyng you as a pouer man may do his maister for soccuryng my wyf, which I wete wele is wo begone; praying you for love of our Lord Jhesu Criste to take no displesir though I not sent ne wrote to you herbeforn in this troble that I haf. For parde ye may conceyve that I was besy j nogh to shifft my self til now. Truly the noise cam sodeynly and I was withynne the walles of your Cite, God sauf the governour therof, for he was besy to trappe me, more besy than he wole be a know, et per fenestram in sporta dimissus sum per murum, et sic effugi manus ejus; but he shal abye, by God, if I lyf, for serchyng myn house. And, Sir, as for the fals noise, sauf your reverence, that he leyth on me and on tweyn servauntz of myn, he lyeth falsly, your reverence savid; for I may haf an C. persones notable and thrifty, whan tyme comyth, that wole prove and make good by every meane, that my servauntz, which he nameth, wer that same our at Brisle which is thens more than xvj. myle, and that the same our and the same day and a greet space bothe beforn and afftir. But ever I besech your maistership of contynuaunce, and that ye like to do my wif help and comfort in hir dissese; for if she wer not, God knowith, I shuld soone shyfft. And truly I haf no thought ne sorwe but for hir. Wherfore I beseche you lowly for His love that all socourith and susteyneth to be good maister and comfort to her. It shal not be long to but that I shall send to hir to labour hir to other place, as for ony thyng touchyng me ellis but that. I pray you also, if the boy that is hurt dey, to meve your tenauntz in that hundrid wher he was bete to do for me and myn; ellis can I not desire ne write at this tyme for lak of remembraunce, for I am not yet myn own man. Besechyng yow alwey of good maistership, for Almyghty God knowith that the mater was falsly begunne on me and usurie it is and acursid, so wold our Lord I never had knowyn it; but sith I delid therwith I myght never reche it to handle the mater to trouth or reson. Wherfore I am compellid to do therwith unresonably. But, gentill Sir, socour my wif, and be not displesid with me, and than shal I do wele with Goddis mercy, Who Almyghty preserve yow for His mercy. Wretyn onavised, &c.
I pray you socour my wif, for she is wedow yet for me, and shal be til more is done, sith I se that neyther plee, trety ne werre may make my peas; for I leve hir undir your proteccion til I write to hir to go thens, which shal be hastily, I suppose, praying you to be alwey hir good maister, for I purpose not to se hir of a while, though she remeve. Wrete with sorwfull hert, &c. Yours, Denyes.
455 THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON274.1
To my Maister Paston.
1461 MAY
Right wurshipfull and myn especiall good maister, I recomaund me to yow with all my service, besechyng you hertily, at the reverence of God, to helpe me now in the grettest extremite that I cam at sith my greet trobil with Ingham.274.2 It is not oute of your remembraunce how Twyer in Norff[olk] vexith me bothe by noise and serchyng myn house for me, so that theer I can not be in quyete; and all that, I am verily acerteyned, is by Heydens crafft. And heer in the Kyngs house annenst Howard,274.3 wher I had hopid to a’ relevid myself, I am supplanted and cast oute from hym by a clamour of all his servaunts at onys, and ne wer oonly that his disposicion acordyth not to my pouer conceyte, which maketh me to gif lesse force, be cause I desire not to dele ther [where] bribery is like to be usid, ellis by my trouth this unhappy unkyndenes wold I trow a’ killed me. I pray yow, at the reverence of Jesu Criste, to enfourme my Lord of Warwyk of me. Parde I haf do hym service; I was with hym at Northampton, that all men knew; and now agayn at Seynt Albones, that knowth James Ratcliff; and ther lost I xxli. wurth horse, herneys, and mony, and was hurte in diverse places. I pray yow to gete me his good Lordship, and that I may be toward hym in Norffolk in his Courts holdyng, or ellis, if ony thyng he haf to do; and that ye wole gete me a letter to Twyer to late me to sit in rest. For now if I made any felaship agayn Twyer, I can haf no colour now the Shirref and I be oute, so I must kepe me aparte, which I am lothe to do, be God, if I myght better do.
I besech yow to send me your intent by the next man that come from yow. I shuld a’ come to zow, but, so help me God, my purs may no ferther. The Holy Trinite preserve yow.
Wretyn hastily at York, &c. Your to his power, Denyes.
456 THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON275.1
To owre right trusty and welbeloved John Paston.
Th’erl of Oxenford.
1461 MAY 31
Right trusty and welbeloved, we grete yow well, and pray yow, as oure trust is in yow, that if ye or any of yowre men here that Howard purposith hym to make any aray at owre manor of Wynche, that ye woll lete John Keche, owre kepere ther of, haue wetyng by tymes, for and he have warnyng he will kepe it in to the tyme that we come thedir, with the grace of God, wiche have yow in His kepyng. Wretyn in owre manor of Wyvynho the last day of May. Oxenford.
457 THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON276.1
To my right good maister, John Paston, in all hast.
1461
After my most special recommendacion, please your maisterchip wete, the Kyng, be cause of the sege a boute Carelylle, chaunged his day of Coronacion to be upon the Sunday276.2 nexst after Seynt John Baptyste, so the’ntent to spede hym northward in all hast; and how be it, blyssed be God, that he hath now good tydynggs, that Lord Mountagu hath broken the sege, and slayn of Scotts vj.ml. [6000] and ij. knyghes, whereof Lord Cliffords brother is one, yet not wythstandyng he wol be crowned the sayd Sunday. And John Jeney enformed me, and as I have verely lerned sethen, ye ar inbylled to be made knygth at this Coronacion.276.3 Wheder ye have understandyng before hand, I wot not; but and it lyke you to take the worchip uppon you, consyderyng the comfortable tytynggs afore seyd, and for the gladnesse and plesour of al your welwyllers, and to the pyne and dyscomfort of all your ille wyllers, it were tyme your gere necessarye on that by halfe were purveyd fore, and also ye had nede higth you to London, for as I conceyve the knygthes schuld be made uppon the Saterday by for the Coronacion; and as moche as may be purveyed for you in secrete wyse wythouten cost I schall by speke for you, if nede be, ayens your comyng, in trust of the best; neverthelesse, if ye be dysposed, ye had nede send a man by fore in all hast, that no thing be to seke. William Calthorp is inbylled, and Yelvertoun is inbylled, whiche caused Markham; because Yelverton loked to have ben chef juge, and Markham thynketh to plese hym thus. And as for the mater ayens Poutrell, we can no farther procede, tyl we have my maister your faders testament. I sent my maistres a letter for it. No more, but I pray Al myghty Jesu have you in His kepyng. Your, Thomas Playter.
458 RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON277.1
To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master John Paston.
1461 JUNE 5
Right reverent and worschipfull master, I lowly recomande me unto your good masterschip. Plesith you to witte that I have ben at Framelyngham, and spake Ric Sothwell to hafe hes advice in this mater; wherin he wolde geve me but litell councell, and seide ze were straungely disposed, for ye trusted no man, and had moche langage, weche the berer herof schal enforme your masterschip.
And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde277.2 at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lordeschip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre; and what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. And thanne my Lorde sent for Sothwell. And in the meene tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [heirs] had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [i.e. their] evidence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude uppon Sothwel to a’ know my Lordes answer to the Kyng; weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew, and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no displesur; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme that he hath spaken with his Highnesse, for he trusteth to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill therto; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this day. It were right wele don ye awayted upon hes man comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my Lordes writyng.
Berthelmew Elysse hathe ben with my Lorde, and made a relesse to my Lord; and Sir Will Chamberleine was ther ij. dayes afore I come thirder, I can thynke for the sam mater. And Thomas Fastolf whas there the same tyme that I was ther; and as I am enformed, they have delyvered my Lorde serteine evidence. Wherfore me semeth it were right wele don, savyng your better advice, to com hom and sele up your evidence, and have hem with you to London, to prove his titill noght. Ther be but ii. or iij. men with in the place, and if ye thynke it best to do it, send word, and I suppose a remedy schal be had.
Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that Tudenham278.1 and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng, and that they schal come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute. So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the next week. My right wourschipfull and reverent master, Almyghti God preserve you.
Wreten at Norweche, on the morwe after Corpus Christi Day. Your pore servant and bedman, R. C.
459 ROBERT LETHUM TO JOHN PASTON279.1
A tres reverent Sire, John Paston, Esquier, demouraunt ou lostell le Roy soit d[onne].
1461 JUNE 19
Right worshipfull sir, I recomaund me to you. And, sir, yesterday I resceived of you a lettre from oure sovereign lord the Kyng directe to John Fulman, dyvers othir, and me, by the quych, for certeyn causes that meved hym, and for the well and save gard of his person and this his realme, he desired we chuld fynd men for kepyng of the see. I said to you that I hade beyn dyvers tymes spoled and robbed, as ye have herd, and also gretely vexed and sued to me [my] unportab[l]e [charges];279.2 nevir the les, to my pouer, with my body and my gode, I chall be redy to do hym servyce in resistyng his enmyse and rebelles. Also I said I dwelled uppon the cost of the see here, and be langage hit were more necessare to with hold men here than take men from hit. The said the Kyng hade wreton to dyvers persones here quych hade promysed men, queruppon I promysed a man, quych chall be redy at such tyme I have knowelege quere the shippyng chall be, to waite uppon yow, or quane the Kyng comaundes. I write to you of my promyse as ye comaund me, and pray you I may have a copy of the said lettre. And I pray Godd kepe you. Wrete at Plumsted on the Fest of Seynt Gervaise and Prothase.279.3 Your, Robt. Lethum.
460 JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON280.1
To my right worshipful maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon in Norfolk, in hast.
1461 JUNE 21
After due recomendacion hadde; please it your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter he shall excuse the writte of the parlement, &c. As touchyng my maister Howard,280.2 I cannot yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye280.3 nether. But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and it is told me that ye among other ar named to be made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.
Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng wole in to the north part forthwith; and therfor shall not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to every shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of the shire, day after Michelmesse; this is told me by suyche as arn right credible. Maister Brakle shall preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde me, and he told me, that for cause Childermesse day280.4 fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the Moneday, &c.
Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore Mydsomer, Your right pouere servant, James Gresham.
461 CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON281.1
To my rythe worchypfull broder, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.
1461 JUNE 26
Broder, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeryng to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that I have sent my moder a letter for mony for my swster;281.2 and if ze wyll agre that I may have xxtili. [£20], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe, or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I wysse obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and it wyll be doo with in fowertenyut. The Cowntas of Northumberlond281.3 and Robarde Fenus281.4 ocupie all her lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke] to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within this sevenyut. Also, broder, Wyndham is come to town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a mayster, and me thowte by hym he wold be in the Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.c. [500] heds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm abbey to swm mayster of swm colage to be delyveryd qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wrytyn on Fryday nexst after Seynt John is day. By zour broder, Clement Paston.
462 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON282.1
To my right worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be this letter deliveryd in hast.
1461 JUNE
Right worchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to you. Please you to wete that thys day in the mornyng the parson of Snoryng came to Thomas Denys and fechyd hym owt of hys hows, and beryth hym a hand,282.2 that he shuld a mad byllys agayns Twyer and hym, and hathe a leed hym ferthe with hem. Hys wyf hathe no knowlege of it. Ferther more the seid parson seythe that the seyd Thomas Denys shuld a take sowdyors owt of hys felachep whan he went to Seynt Albons;282.3 that hys a nother of hys compleynts. Item, anothyr of hys compleynts ys, a beryth the seyd Thomas a hand,282.2 that he had awey a hors of John Coppyng of Bryslee, and a nother of Kyng of Donham, the wyche hors were stole be the seyd ij. personys. Wher for the seyd Thomas toke hem as a comyshaner and delyveryd hem to the exchetor, Frances Costard, and one of them he bowt of the seyd Fraunces. And the seyd parson hathe a wey the seyd hors, and seyth that he wolle the seyd thevys shuld be recompenst be Thomas Denys. Thys I am enformyd of all thesse maters be hys wyffe, and sche prayythe yow in the reverence of God ye wolle be hyr good maister, and helpe that hyr hosbond may have sume remedy be your labor in thys mater, [for she] seythe syn that hyr hosbond ys the Kyngs offycer, that they owt to spar hym the rather. But they that hathe hym take no . . . . . . told me that they hope to have a newe chonge in hast.
Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney283.1 sent you a l[etter] . . . . . . er desyryng to have your good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte283.2 for hym for to com . . . . . . whan som ever ye woll require hym. I’ good feyth it ys told me hys leggs ar all . . . . . . [Send] me word, encas the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem bownd for hy . . . . . . te in bayle. Item, it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of se a geyns Yamothe, a[nd . . . . . . t]hey woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item, I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.xx. [eleven score] rabets and sent up be the berer herof. The blyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye departyd hens.
Item, I pray yow that ye wolle remembre my unkyll Barneys mater tochyng the executyng of his wylle, and how ye wolle that we be demenyd for kepyng of hys yerday, and that it lekyth you to send me word be Mr. John Smy[th].
463 THOMAS DENYES TO MARGARET PASTON284.1
To my right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Paston, or to William Paston if she be absent.
1461 JULY
Right noble and wurshipfull mastresse, I recomaund me to yow with my pouer servise. And for so moche as I here no thyng of my maister your husbonds comyng hastly home,—and though he cam or come not, it were expedient that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the shire,—therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons, to send to the Kyng. I pray you for the good spede therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my said maister, if he be with the Kyng; ellis fynde the meane to send it to the Kyng, thogh my maister be thens; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf to late diligent labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde oon helde.
I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister William Paston, and shew hym all thys, and that it were hastid; for on the adversaire parte Judas slepith not.
Berney promised to a’ sent, but for our Lords love trust not that; for I se his slouthe and sely labour, which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn speke with yow, &c.
My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame us all, if this mater be not applied; for he may not of reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is elyted, as the Comons myght wisely do with help of his favour, if it wer wisely wrought. If my Maister William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London, I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn rudely in hast the Sunday, &c.
Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey litell to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell. Thomas Denyes.
464 RICHARD CALL TO MARGARET PASTON285.1
To my most reverent and worshipfull mastresse, my Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered.
1461 JULY 3
Plesith it your mastresseship that my mastre285.2 wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes costs, in asmoch as he come hether for that matre, and for non other; but ye must lete Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol that she bere the cost, for it is her matre; and that ye make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein, mastre holdeth hym content. My right wurshipful mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at London the iij. day of Jul. Your poore seruaunt and bedman, Ric. Call.
On the back of this letter is the following memorandum:— ‘Memorandum of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.xx. and x. [fourscore and ten] brown lovis and iiij.xx. and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.d. price the . . . .’
465 WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON286.1
To the right worchipfull and my good maister John Paston.
1461 JULY 6
Ryght worchipfull and my good mayster I recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Coronacion had be on Relik Sunday,286.2 as it was apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of his meny was grette cause of T. D.286.3 deth, &c. Also ye have knowlych how Fastolff286.4 is com yn to my Lord of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande; on is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym; an other is to helpe his fader yn lawe286.5 ayens Felbrigge, &c. For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for the word [world] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Heydonz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for yn good feyth I trow, but if [i.e. unless] he be ponysshid the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that arn among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as he can telle yow, soportid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn Roos, Heidonz owyn men [chif constablez].286.6 And it plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have your warentez for cheffe constable, &c., for they ocupye yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, sire, I am gretly yn your danger and dette for my pension, for it is told me ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make amendez with your good maistreship, and suche servyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thomas Even, &c. Be your Servaunt, L.
466 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON287.1
To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys deliverid in hast.
1461 JULY 9
Right worchepful hosbond, I recommand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recommand hyr to your good masterchep, and she prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr goodes. For as towchyng hyr owne person, she dare not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with Awbry, and she thynkyth the place is right conversaunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John Salet, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylle. And than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with hys287.2 goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man, that had not moche to lese, and wold be rewlyd after hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion; and so I told hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make no relesse but be your advice, as she trostyth to yowr good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent vjs. viijd. Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me, and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i’ feyth he standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contrary party ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware howe ye ryd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd felacheps. I am put en fere dayly for myn abydyng here, and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes, that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the Thursday next after Seynt Thomas. By your, M. P.
467 JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON AND WYLLIAM ROKEWODE288.1
To the worshipfull John Paston and Wylliam Rokewode, Squyeris, and to everych of them.
1461 JULY 10
Right worshipfull cosynes, I recummaund me to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght with other yll dysposed persones, defame and falsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas Denys the Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton ferthermore noyseth me with gret robries; in whech defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton, and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c. And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall gentylman wyll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari, and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton, &c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones, lying in wayte to morder me. And in that I may make opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij. primo. John Berneye.
Remembre to take a wryht to chese crowneres in Norffolk.
468 JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON289.1
To my cosyn, Margaret Paston.
1461 JULY 12
I recomaund me to yow, letyng yow wete tha the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John Berney; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not, lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agry in thys heed, and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepful. And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts of hym be that knavyssh knyght, Sir Miles Stapilton, as I sent yow word before; but he shall come to hys excuse wele inow, so he have a mannys hert, and the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have blaveryd here of my kynred in hedermoder;290.1 but, be that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes, myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.
Also telle the seyd Berney that the Shreve ys in a dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey; where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves good wyll.
Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were most worchepfull that as wele Berney as Grey shuld get a record of all suche that myght spend xls. ayere, that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at London, on Relyk Sonday.
Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne. John Paston.
469 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON290.2
1461 JULY 15
I recomand me to yow. Please yow to wete that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acordyng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me, the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer hym nor non of hys; for he seyd, after the aleccion was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer and hys felachep.
Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsynsham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the stokkys on Monday at nyght; and, as it is seyd, they shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer and hys felachep beryth a gret wyght of Thomas Denys dethe in this contry abowght Walsynham; and it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as good wylle, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [have died] for he myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it ys seyd.
Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and swyche other as he is with hym, goo fast abowght in the contr, and ber men a hand,291.1 prests and others, they be Skotts, and take brybys of hem and let hem goo ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton, and but for my cosyn Jarnyngham the younger,291.2 ther wold a led hem forthe with hem; and he told hem pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [i.e. unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer met with be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place. Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the Wednysday after Relec Sonday.
Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to do for hym as ye desyryd me in your letter. As for mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but xiijs. iiijd. syn ye went owght. I wolle do my parte to get mor as hastely as ye may. By yowr, M. P.
470 JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON291.3
To the worshipfull John Paston, and to my cosyn, Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of Cantyrburi.
1461 JULY 16
Right worshipfull sir, I recummaund me to yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that the Kyng may wryte unto me, gevyng me thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng with hym a yens his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North, as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre; for they grudge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of this cuntre, &c. as haff be his gret eanemyes, and opresseors of the Comynes; and sych as haff assystyd his Hynes, be not rewardyt; and it is to be consederyd, or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessary to move the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperall, by the whech that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes. No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras. Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of July, anno regni Regis E. iiijti. primo. John Berneye.
Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyrburi, Ely, Norwych, &c.
471 JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON292.1
To the ryght worshipfull John Paston, Squyer, in hast.
1461 JULY 17
Sir, I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyrshrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demeanyng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the shyer for the Parlement. And I suppose yf that he wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus:—lat hym make notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and lat hym make wrytyng unto them what day they shall come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that it is nott his oneste to lye upon too many men, noysyng them rebyliones of Norff[olk], and Berney theyr c . . . No more to zow at this tyme, but I naff sent zow ij. letteris within this viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij. day of July anno regni Regis E. iiijti. 1mo. John Berney.
472 MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON293.1
To my worchepful hosbonde, Jon Pastun, this letter be delyvered in hast.
1461 JULY 18
Ryth worchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid be Sir John Tatersale to wryte to yow for a comyssion or a noyr in termyner [oyer and terminer]293.2 for to be sent down in to this cuntre to sit uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and gret horebyl robryys; and as for the costs ther of the cuntre wele pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [i.e. unless] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys, they ar aferde that mo folks xal be servyd in lyke wyse.
As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they be delyveryt to Twer [Twyer], and iiij. be with hem of the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr parte that they schape not, but that they may have the jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be inqueryd of her forseyd robery be soche a comyssion that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely for the moderys and the robbryys, but as wele for the gret insurrexsin that they were lyke amade within the shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told me that ye thret of hem that be nowty felawys that hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold adversarys.
The blyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent Margarete. Be yours, M. P.
473 GRANT FROM THE CROWN294.1
Pro Johanne Paston.
1461 JULY 27
Rex omnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Nos indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et Thomæ Hows clerico in septingentis marcis legalis monetæ regni nostri Angliæ eisdem Johanni et Thomæ solvendis juxta formam cujusdam billæ manu nostra signatæ cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba:—
Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be the assent of oure trusty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of man and woman garnysshed with a ruby, a dyamaunt and a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght, for CCCC. xxxlvijli.; and also an obligacion wherby oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff in an C. marc; for which we graunt and promitt in the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows, clerk, or to her assignez, D.CC. mark of lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is to sey; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng after the date of thys bille CC. mark, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys thanne next folowyng. And also we graunte that the seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid payment. And if it fortune that the same John and Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that payment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill with oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our] reign.
Nos solutionem summæ illius præfatis Johanni et Thomæ fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, concessimus et per præsentes concedimus eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows septingentas marcas monetæ prædictæ percipiendas modo et forma subsequentibus, videlicet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de primis denariis provenientibus et crescentibus de feodi firma civitatis nostræ Norwici et de omnibus aliis firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem civitate provenientibus per manus majoris, custodis, vicecomitum, civium seu ballivorum ejusdem civitatis pro tempore existentium aut aliorum receptorum, firmariorum seu appruatorum eorundem feodi firmarum, exituum, proficuorum et reventionum dictæ civitatis pro tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus nostris Norff’ et Suff’ provenientibus per manus vicecomitum eorumdem comitatuum pro tempore existentium quousque septingentæ marcæ eisdem Johanni Paston et Thomæ Hows plenarie persolutæ fuerint. In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xxvij. die Julii. Per ipsum Regem oretenus.
474 THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON296.1
To maister John Paston Esquyer in hast.
1461 AUG. 1 (?)
Please your maistership wete that Danyell of Grayes In enfourmed me that Kyng of Dounham whiche slewe Thomas Denys is arested and in hold at Wysbyche and had ben delyvered nor had Fraunceys Costard a taken suerte of pees of hym; and so he is kept in by non other meane but al onely by suerte of pees. And as I felt by the said Danyell if he be craftyly handeled he woll accuse many other; but Danyell is loth to name hem, but I suppose he ment by Twyer and yet other mo, right sufficient, and kalled of substans. Item, Haydon hath payed ccccc. marks and is delivered. Item it is talked the parlement schal be proroged tyl the iiij. day of Novembre and the kyng wol in to Scotland in al hast. Wretyn in hast uppon the day of the Advencion.296.2 —Youris, Thomas Plaiter.
475 JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON296.3
To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle.
1461 AUG. 1
First, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that a distresse may be taken of such bestes as occupie the ground at Stratton, and that cleyme and contynuauns be made of my possession in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid to occupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir the distresse taken the undirshreve be spoke with all that he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoyntement taken, that the right of the lond may be undirstand.
ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for th’affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold me wele content if thei do it of her owne disposicion, but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem, ner bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll nothyng graunt withowt the under shreves assent, for he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that the undirshreve was some what flekeryng whill he was here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and therfore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete th’endentures be made up or er they departe.
iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Heydon and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe beryid whan the rumour was, so that thei were ny roten. Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.
iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions, and I wold this were do as sone as is possibill, or I come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng, and the peple were wele avertised at that day, they shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to make amendes and sethe [satisfaction] to the pore peple.
v. Item, that Berney and Richard Wright geve suche folkys warnyng as wyll compleyne to be redy with her billes if thei list to have any remedy.
vj. Item, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton may at Aylesham be remembyrd.
vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of Gemyngham, that ye fayle not, but assay and do yowr devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals. Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I wold he shuld assay, or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton were boren in hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and first founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the bille and where he had it.298.1
viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content for Midsomer term.
ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton, in on of the canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the spruse chest. Ric. Calle knowith it well, and ther is a ded of feffement and a letter of atorne mad of the seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner, Ric. Calle, and John Russe. I wold a new dede and letter of atorne were mad owth theroff be the feffees of the same laund to Thome Grene,298.2 Thome Playter, the parson of Heylisdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,298.3 Johanni Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it be selid at the next shire; for than I suppose the seyd feffes will be ther if it may not be don er that tyme. I wold have the seyd dedis leyd in a box, both old and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at Stratton, that whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it ther, and mak seson [seisin] and stat to be take whil I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.
476 JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON299.1
To my right worshypfull and reverent maistyr, John Paston, at Norwich.
1461 AUG. 23
Ryght worshypfull sir, and my right honourable maister, I recomaunde me louly to you. And plese youre maistirshyp to wete that my Maister Clement, youre brothyr, and Plater, wrot a letter to my mayster yore sone299.2 yistirday, the tenure of whych was how ye were entretyd there. And as ye desyred me, so I enformyd hem the mater along, for they wist not of it til I told hem; and they wrete the more pleynerly inasmych as a worshypfull man rood the same day, and bare the letter to my seyd maister youre sone.
The Lord Bourgcher is with the Kynge, and my Lord Warwyk still in the North, &c.
Item, sir, thys day cam on John Waynflet from the Kyng streyt weye, and he is of myn aqueyntaunce; and he teld me there was no voyse nor spekyng aboute the Kyng of that mater; and I teld hym all the mater along hou ye were intretyd, whych he wyll put in remembraunce in ony place that he cometh in in Suffolk or Esex as he goth homward, for he owyth no good wil to youre adversary. And the seyd Waynflet teld me that he knowyth for serteyn that the Kyng cometh not to Northefolk til he hathe been upon the Marchys of Walys, and so there is no serteynte of hyse comyng thys many dayez. He teld me he lefte the Kyng with a smal felashyp aboute hym.
And I enqueryd hym of the gyding of my maystyr yore sone, whiche he comendyd gretly, and seyd that he stood well inconseyt, and dayly shuld increse; and he was well in acqueyntaunce and be lovyd with jentilmen aboute the Kyng. But he seyd ther shal no thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym, for withoute he have mony in hyse purse, so as he may resonably spende among hem, ellys they wyll not sette by hem; and there be jentilmen sones of lesse reputacion that hath mony more lyberal x. tymez than he hath, and soo in that they seyd Waynflet seyd it were full necessary for you to remembre, &c.
As for tydyngs here bee noon newe, &c. I truste I shal brynge you a letter from my mayster your sone, or thanne I come, for whych I shal rather thanne fayle abyde on day the lenger. And Jesu have you, my right honourable maister, in Hyse mercyfull governaunce, and preserve you from adversyte. Wretyn at London, on Seynt Bertylmewys Evyn.
I can speke with noo man but that thynke the gydyng of youre adversary hath been in many causez ryght straunce, and as it is soposyd that he shal undyrstonde at the Parlament; but for Gods sake have men inow aboute yow, for ye undyrstonde is on manerly dysposecion. Your bedeman and servaunt, John Russe.
477 JOHN PASTON, THE ELDEST SON, TO HIS FATHER301.1
To my rythg reverent and worchypfoll fader, John Paston, Esquyer, dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys letter delyvered in haste.
1461 AUG. 23
Most reverent and worschepfull fadyr, I rekomawnd me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to your good faderhood, besechyng yow for cheryte of yowr dayly blyssyng. I beseche yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have laboryd dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond, to have mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of] Deddham and of the byll copye of the Corte Roll, everye mornyng ore he went to the Kyng, and often tymys inqueryd of hym and he had mevyd the Kyng in these matyers. He answeryd me naye, seyyng it was no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne spedd os I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe I thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym that he was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in. Neverthe lesse I lawberyd to hym contynually, and prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr hym of it. I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that I had a man teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr sundry maters, and he teryid for no thyng but that I mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd matyers; othyr tyms besechyng hym to spede me in theys matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no defawte in me for remembryng in the seyd maters.
And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same mater, inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes therin; and he answeryd me that he hadde felte and mevyd the Kyng ther in, rehersyng the Kyngys answer therin; how that, when he had mevyd the Kyng in the seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng hym to be yowr good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse and trewe part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in espesyal the rygth that ye have therto, he seyd he wold be your good Lord therin as he wold be to the porest man in Inglond. He wold hold with yowe in yowr rygth; and as for favor, he wyll nogth be under stand that he schal schewe favor mor to one man then to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.
And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when he mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche a bylle ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd sundreys of yowr contremen of worchypfull men, and the for he kepyd it styll. Never the lesse he seyd he schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he schuld have it.
Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he schuld so a’ remembred hys lord and master,302.1 that I schuld au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often tyms absent, and therfor I have it nowthg yyt; when I kan gete it, I schall send it yowe, and of the Kyngs mowth, hys name that take it hym.
I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me. God send grace that he may do yow good servyse, that be extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have knowleche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her with me. I wold, savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were delyvered of hym, for he schalle never do yow profyte ner worchyp.
I suppose ye understand that the monye that I hadde of yowe att Londun maye not indur with me tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn, for I under stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn. Wher for I have sent to Londun to myn onkyl Clement to gete an Cs. of Christofyr Hansom yowr servaunt, and sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt, and myn herneys with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene.
I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I kowd make non othyr cheysaunce [arrangement] but I schuld a boruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys, who I suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it a nothyr tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have a nothyr maun in the stede of Pekoke.
My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for yowe as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners hys man telht me, seyy[n]g, ‘Yowr fadyr is myche be holdyng to my Lord, for he lovyth hym well.’ Bernners mevyd me ons, and seyd that ye must nedys do sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I seyd I wost well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre powar. And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe yowe and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd Dyrward, seyyng that ther is as myche be wern [between] my seyd Lord and the seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he desieryth yowr part.
It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a’ strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards men schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that ye hadde on at that tyme. Blyssyd be God that ye hadde it on. No mor I wryth to yower good faderhod at thys tym, but All myghty God have yowe in Hys kepyng, and sende yowe vyttorye of yowr elmyes [enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys end yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve. Be yowr servaunt and elder sone, John Paston.
478 CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON303.1
To hys rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, John Paston.
1461 AUG. 25
Rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me to yowr good broderhood, desieryng to herre of zour welfar and good prosperite, the gwyche I pray God encresse to His pleswr and zowr herts hesse [heart’s ease]; certyfyyng zow that I have spok with John Rwsse, and Playter spok with him bothe, on Fryday be for Seynt Barthelmw. He tolde us of Howards gydyng, gwyche mad us rythe sory tyl we herde the conclusion that ze hadde non harme.
Also I understond by W. Pekok that my nevew hadde knowleche ther of also up on Saterday nexst be for Seynt Barthelmwe, in the Kyngs howse. Not with standyng, up on the same day Playter and I wryte letters on to him, rehersyng al the mater, for cause if ther wer ony questionys mevyd to hym ther of, that he xwlde telle the trowthe, in cas that the qwestions wer mevyd by ony worchypfwll man, and namyd my Lord Bowcher,304.1 for my Lord Bowcher was with the Kyng at that tyme.
I fele by W. Pekok that my nevew is not zet verily aqweyntyd in the Kyngs howse, nor with the officers of the Kyngs howse he is not takyn as non of that howse; for the coks [cooks] be not charged to serve hym, nor the sewer304.2 to gyve hym no dyche, for the sewer wyll not tak no men no dyschys till they be comawndyd by the cownterroller. Also he is not aqweyntyd with no body but with Weks;304.3 and Weks ad told hym that he wold bryng hym to the Kyng, but he hathe not zet do soo. Wherfor it were best for hym to tak hys leve and cum hom, til ze hadd spok with swm body to helpe hym forthe, for he is not bold y now to put forthe hym selfe. But than I consyderyd that if he xwld now cum hom, the Kyng wold thyng [think] that wan he xwld doo hym ony servie som wer, that than ze wold have hym hom, the qwyche xwld cause hym not to be hadde in favor; and also men wold thynke that he wer put owte of servic. Also W. Pekok tellythe me that his mony is spent, and not ryotesly, but wysly and discretly, for the costs is gretter in the Kyngs howse qwen he rydythe than ze wend it hadde be, as Wyllam Pekok can tell zow; and therof wee must gett hym jCs. at the lest, as by Wyllam Pekoks seyyng, and zet that will be to lytill, and I wot well we kan not get xld. of Christifyr Hanswm. So I xall be fayn to lend it hym of myn owne silver. If I knew verily zour entent wer that he xwld cum hom, I wold send hym non. Ther I wyll doo as me thynkithe ze xwld be best plesyd, and that me thynkythe is to send him the silver. Ther for I pray zow hastely as ze may send me azen v. mark, and the remnawnte, I trow, I xall get up on Christofir Hanswm and Lwket. I pray zow send me it as hastely as ze may, for I xall leve my selfe rythe bare; and I pray zow send me a letter how ze woll that he xull be demenyd. Wrytyn on Twsday after Seynt Barthelmwe, &c. Christus vos conservet! Clement Paston.
479 LORD BEAUCHAMP TO SIR THOMAS HOWES305.1
To myn welbeloved frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Blofeld.
1461 AUG. 28
Welbeloved frende, I grete you well. And for as muche as I understonde that William Wurcester, late the servant unto Sir John Fastolf, Knyth, whois soule God assoyle, ys not had in favour ne trust with my right welbeloved frende, John Paston, nether with you, as he seyth, namely in such maters and causes as concerneth the wylle and testament of the said Sir John Fastolf; and as I am informed the said William purposeth hym to go into his cuntre, for the whiche cause he hath desired me to wryte unto you that ye wolde ben a special good frend unto hym, for his said mastris sake, to have alle suche things as reason and consciens requireth, and that ye wolde be meane unto Paston for hym in this mater to schewe hym the more favour at thys tyme for this my writyng in doyng of eny truble to hym, trusting that he wole demeane hym in suche wyse that he shal have no cause unto hym, but to be his good master, as he seyth. And yf ther be eny thing that I can do for you, I wole be right glad to do it, and that knoweth Almyghty God, whiche have you in his keping. Wretin at Grenewyche, the xxviijth day of August. J. Beauchamp.
480 LORD HUNGERFORD AND ROBERT WHITYNGHAM TO MARGARET OF ANJOU306.1
A la Reyne D’Engleterre [en] Escote.
1461 AUG. 30
Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles306.2 deth, whom God assoyll, and howe we sta[n]de arest [arrested], and doo yet; but on Tuysday next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn.306.3 His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,306.4 and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Canse, and Monsieur de la Mot.
Ma dam[, ferth [fear] you not, but be of gode comfort, and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,307.1 by the See, till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed, Th’erll of March307.2 is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and to send you that your Highnes desireth. Writen at Depe the xxxti dey of August. Your true Subgettes and Liege men. Hungerford. Whityngham.
At the bottom of the Copy of the Letter is added:—
These ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland with the Quene. The Kyng Herry is at Kirkhowbre with iiij. men and a childe.
Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.
The Lord Roos and his son.
John Ormond.
William Taylboys.
Sir John Fortescu.
Sir Thomas Fyndern.
Waynesford of London.
Thomas Thompson of Guynes.
Thomas Brampton of Guynes.
John Audeley of Guynes.
Langheyn of Irland.
Thomas Philip of G[i]ppeswich.
Sir Edmund Hampden.
Sir Henry Roos.
John Courteney.
Myrfyn of Kent.
Dauson.
Thomas Burnby.
Borret of Sussex.
Sir John Welpdalle.
Mr. Roger Clerk, of London.
John Retford, late Coubitt.
Giles Senctlowe.
John Hawt.
481 JOHN PAMPYNG TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR308.1
To my right worshipfull master John Paston, the older, Squier.
1461 SEPT. 6
Please your mastirship to wete that I have be at Cotton, and spoke with Edward Dale, and he told me that Yelverton and Jenney were there on Friday,308.2 and a toke distresse of xxvj. or more bullokks of the seid Edwards in the Park, and drofe hem to a town therby; and a neyghbore there undirstandyng the bests were Edward Dalis,308.3 and bond hym to pay the ferme, or ellis to bryng in the bests be a day. And whan the seid Edward undirstod the takyng of the seid bests he went to Yelverton and Jenney, and bond hym in an obligacon of xli., to pay hem his ferme at Mighelmes; whech I told hym was not well do, for I told hym ye had be abill to save hym harmeles. And because of discharge of his neyghbour he seid he myght non other wise do. Nevirthelesse as for mony thei get none of hym redely, ner of the tenaunts nowthyr, as he can thynk yet. The seid Yelverton dyned on Friday at Cotton, and there chargid the tenaunts thei shuld pay no mony but to hym, and hath flaterid hem, and seith thei shall be restorid ayen of such wrongs as thei have had be Sir Philip Wentworth and other for Master Fastolff; and because of such tales, your tenaunts owe hym the bettir will. And I purposid to have gon to Cotton and spoke with the tenaunts, and Edward Dale told me he supposid thei wold be this day at Nakton. And because [I desired]308.4 to speke with hem as ye comaundid me, I terid not but rod to Ipwich to my bed, and there at the Sonne was the seid Yelverton and Jenney and Thomas Fastolff; and myn ost told me, that the same aftir none thei had be at Nakton, but what thei ded there I can not telle, and whan I was undirstand your man, Hogon, Jenneys man, askyd suerte of pes of me; and Jenney sent for an officer to have hed me to prison; and so myn ost undirtoke for me that nyght. And this day in the mornyng I wente to Sen Lauerauns Chirche; and there I spak to hem and told hem ye merveylid that thei wold take any distresse or warne any of your tenaunts that thei shuld pay yow no mony. And Yelverton seid ye had take a distresse falsly and ontrewly of hym that ought yow no mony ner hem nowther. And he seid he was infeffid as well as ye; and as for that I told hym he wost odre [knew the contrary], and thow he were it was but your use, and so I told hym that men were infeffid in his lond, and that he shuld be servid the same withinne fewe dayes. And he seid he wost well ye were not infeffid in his lond, and if ye toke upon yow to make any trobill in his lond ye shall repente it. And also he seid that he wold do in like wise in alle maners that were Sir John Fastolffs in Norfolk as thei have begonne, and other langage as I shall telle yow. And so I am with the gayler, with a clogge upon myn hele for suerte of the pees; wherefore please your mastirship to send me your avise.
Item, John Andrews was with hem at Cotton, and thei have set a man of the seid Andrews to kepe the plase.
Item, Wymondham, Debenham and Tympirle come to Yelverton this day at masse and speke with hym; and I speke to Tymperle in your name that he wold not comforte ner be with hem ayein in this mater; and he seid he undirstod no such thyng, ner it was not his comyng hedir. Wretyn at Ipwych the Sonday next before the Nativite of Owr Lady. Yowr servaunt, John Pampyng.
The back is covered with some rough memoranda in Richard Calle’s hand, of moneys received at different times of year by Richard Charlys, Thomas Howys, William Berton, baker, of Southwark, Ralph Lovel, John Prentyng, Richard Coomber, and John de Dorylot. Some of these payments are made through Dawbeney, John Paston, junior, and John Paston, senior (per manus Johannis Paston Senioris).
482 JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON310.1
To the right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, and my gode mayster, John Paston, Esquyer.
1461 SEPT. 24
Right reverent and wurchepfull sir, I recomand me to your gode maystershep, prayng you to wete that I was at Blakkes, and spake with his wiffe; and she seth he was not at hame this iij. weks,—he ridith up the countre to take accompts of balys [bailiffs],—and that this day sevennyght he shuld have satyn in Caystr by you up on accounts, and fro thens he shuld have redyn to Lynne, and that he shall be at home un Monday at nyght next comyng. Wherfor I have left my heraund with her. But she seth that he shall not mown comyn [be able to come] to you, for my Lady310.2 have sent for hym in gret hast, bothyn be a letter and be a tokyn, to comyn to her as hastly as he may; notwithstandyng she shall do the herand to hym.
As for Yelverton, I dede a gode fele to enquer of Yemmys Skynner whan the seid Yelverton shuld go to London. He seid not this sevynnyght. He cowde not tell what day till he had spokyn with his son. His sone shuld come to hym or his master shuld ridyn. I shall enquer mor at Walsyngham. And for Godds love be not to longe fro London, for men seyn ther, as I have be [told], that my Lord of Glowcetir310.3 shuld have Cayster, and ther is gret noyse of this revell that was don in Suffolk be Yelverton and Jeney; and your wele willers thynkyn that if thei myght prevayle in this, thei wold attempt you in other. But seas ther pore and malyce, and preserve you from all evill. And at the reverence of God lete sum interposicion go a twix you and my mastres your moder or ye go to London, and all that ye do shall spede the better; for she is set on gret malyce, and every man that she spekith with knowith her hert, and it is like to be a fowle noyse [over] all the countre with aught it be sone sesid.
Also, sir, it is told me that my Lord of Norfolk is comyn to Framlyngham, and that ye be gretly comendyd in his howshold. Therfor it wer wele do, me semyth, that ye spake with hym. The Holy Trynyte kepe you.
Wretyn at Norwich, the Thursday next after Sent Mathewe. Your pore prest, James Gloys.
483 HENRY WYNDESORE TO JOHN PASTON311.1
To my full worshipfull, speciall gode maister, John Paston, Squyer, abidyng at Norwich.
1461 OCT. 4
Right worshipfull sir, and some tyme my moost speciall gode master, I recommaunde me unto your gode maistership, with all my pour service, if it may in any wise suffice; and farthermore, sir, I beseche you, nowe beyng in your countre, where ye may deily call unto you my maister Sir Thomas Howys, ones to remembre my pour mater, and by your discretions to take such a direction theryn, and so to conclude, as may be to your discharge and to my furtherance, accordyng to the will of hym that is passed unto Gode, whose saull I pray Jesu pardone! for truly, sir, ther was in hym no faute, but in me onely; yf it be not as I have remembred your maistership affore thy[s] tyme. For truly, sir, I der say I shuld have had as speciall and as gode a maister of you, as any pour man, as I am, withyn England shuld have hadd of a worshipfull man, as ye ar, yf ye had never medulled the godes of my maister F., and as moche ye wold have done, and labored fore me, in my right, if it hadde byn in the handes of any oder man than of your self anely. But, I truste in Gode, at your next comyng to have an answere, such as I shalbe content with. And yf it may be so, I am and shalbe your servaunt in that I can or may, that knoith our Lord Jesu, whom I besech save and sende you a gode ende in all your maters, to your pleiser and worship everlastyng. Amen. Writton at London, iiijto die Octobris.
As fore tidyngs, the Kyng wolbe at London withyn iij. deies next comyng; and all the castelles and holdes in South Wales, and in North Wales, ar gyfen and yelden up into the Kynges hand. And the Duc of Excestre312.1 and th’erle of Pembrok312.2 ar floon and taken the mounteyns, and dyvers Lordes with gret puissans ar after them; and the moost part of gentilmen and men of worship ar comen yn to the Kyng, and have grace, of all Wales.
The Duc of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert Whityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they stand strete under arest; and as merchauntes that ar comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley, and the Dean of Seynt Severyens, have abiden at Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Tresorer of Cales, with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo, at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.
Item, I send unto you a copy of a letter that was taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford and Whytyngham.
Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland in all hast of Lordes. At your comaundement, and Servaunt, Henry Wyndesore.
484 CLEMENT PASTON TO JOHN PASTON313.1
To his right reverent and worshipfull broder, John Paston, Esquier, be this delivered in great haste.
1461 OCT. 11
Brother, I recommende me to you. After all dewe recommendacions, &c. Sir, it was tolde me by rythe a worshipfull man that loveth you rythe well, and ye him, and ye sall knowe his name hereafter, but put all things out of doubt he is such a man as will not lye: on the xjth day of October the Kinge said, ‘We have sent two privy sealys to Paston by two yeomen of our chamber, and he disobeyeth them; but we will send him anoder tomorrowe, and by Gods mercye, and if he come not then he sall dye for it. We will make all oder men beware by him how they sall disobey our writinge. A servant of our hath made a complainte of him. I cannot thinke that he hath informed us all truely, yet not for that, we will not suffer him to disobey our writinge; but sithen he disobeyeth our writinge, we may beleve the better his gydinge is as we be informed.’ And therwith he made a great avowe that if he [ye] come not at the third commandement ye xulde dye therefore. This man that told me this is as well learned a man as any is in England; and the same xjth day of October, he advised me to send a man to yow in all the hast that might be to lett yow have knowlache, and that ye xulde not lett for none excuse, but that ye xulde make the man good cheere and come as hastily ye might to the Kinge, for he understandeth so much that the King will keep his promise. Notwithstanding, by mine advice, if ye have his letter or the messenger come to you, come to the Kinge wards or ye meet with him, and when ye come ye must be suer of a great excuse. Also if ye doe well, come right stronge, for Howards wife made her bost that if any of her husbands men might come to yow ther yulde goe noe penny for your life; and Howard hath with the Kinge a great fellowship.
This letter was written the same day that the Kinge said these words, and the same day that it was told me, and that day was the xjth day of October as abovesaid; and on the next morning send I forth a man to yow with this letter, and on the same day send the Kinge the third privye seale to you. Also he that tolde me this seid that it were better for yow to come up than to be fotte out of your house with streingth, and to abide the Kings judgement therin, for he will take your contumacy to great displeasure. Also, as I understand, the Duke of Norffolk hath made a great complaint of yow to the King, and my Lord of Suffolk314.1 and Howard and Wyngfelde helpe well to every day and call upon the King against yow. The Kinge is at this day at Grenewich, and ther will be still till the Parliament beginne. Some say he will goe to Walsingham, but Mr. Sotyll seid in the aulle in the Temple that he harde no worde of any such pilgrimage. No more, &c. Written the xjth day of October at midnight.
My nevew John tolde me also that he supposed ther were out proclamacions against yow, &c. the same day. By Clement Paston, your broder.
485 RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON315.1
To my ryght reverent and wurschipfull maystre, my mastre John Paston.
1461 OCT. 13
Plesith it your maystreschip to witte that Mr. John and I, with other mo, have ben at Cotton on Friday315.2 last passed, and there Jenney had do warned the corte there to be the same Friday, and he was at Eye at the cescions the Thorsday before; and on the Friday in the mornynge he was comyng to Cotton to hoolde the corte there. And it fortuned we had entred the place or he come; and he herd therof and turned bac a yein to Oxon315.3 to my Lorde of Norwiche, and there dyned with hym. And my Lorde sent Mr. John Colleman to Cotton Halle to speke with you; and at hes comyng he undrestode ye were not there, and if ye had, my Lorde desired you to come and spoken with hym, and that my Lorde desired to put your matre in a trety; in so moche that Mr. John Colleman tolde to my master, John Paston, that diverse of your elmees [enemies] had labored to my Lorde to have a trety if he cowde brynge it aboute, &c. And as for the tenaunts they wolde not come at the place on to the tyme that I sent for hem, for they sey pleynly they woll not have a do with hem; and so the corte whas holden in your name, and the tenaunts ryght weele plesed ther of, excepte Thurnberne and Agas, and as for any socour, they have there ryght noone at all. And so Mr. John whas ther Friday all day and Saterday tyll none; and than he toke hes horse with xxx. men with hym and rode to Jeney place, and toke there xxxvj. heede of nete, and brought hem in to Norfolk; and so whas I left still at Cotton with xij. men with me, be cauce they reporte and we abode there ij. dayes we schulde be pult out be the heeds. And so we a mode [? abode] there v. dayes and kepte the place, and I walked aboute all the lordeschippes and spake with all the fermours and tennaunts that longen to the maner to undrestande her disposessyon and to receyve money of hem; and I fynde [them] ryght weele disposed to you. And be cauce the corte whas warned in ther name and not in youre, therfore they purvey no money; but they have promysed me to pay no money to no man but to you, so that ye woll safe hem harmeles; and I told hem ye wold safe hem harmeles. They have apoynted with me to make redy her money withinne a fornyght aftre Halowemesse, &c. I have receyved of the tenaunts that I undrestod out [owed] you werst wyll viij. marc, &c. And as for Edward Dalys money it is redy, so that your maistreschip woll se that he be not hurt be hes obligacion. Ferthermore, plesit your maistreschip to sende worde if they entre into the maner ayein, how we schall be rwled and gidyd; for the tenaunts fere hem they wol entre whan we be gon, and than wol they distreyne the tenaunts, for they sey there that my Lorde of Cauntyrbury and other Lords woll relese to hem, notwithstandyng that I have enformed hem other wice; wherfore, savyng your better advice, me semethe it were ryght weele doo that ye had a letter of my Lorde of Cauntirbury, and other to the tenaunts of Cotton that it is her wyll and entent that ye schulde have the rwle and gouernaunce, and receyve the money of that maner, and other that were Sir John Fastolff, on whom God have mercy, for I dought not and suche a lettre came downe to the tenaunts there schulde no man sey nay to it. Besechyng your maystreschyp to have an answere of how we schall be gided and rwled, &c. Item, to sende worde howe we schall doo with the geere that wee toke out at the Wyght Freris, wether it schall be sent to you or nought. And Jesu preserve you. Wreten at Norwiche upon Sein Edwards Day. Be your servaunt and bedman, Ric. Calle.
Endorsed in a hand nearly contemporaneous: ‘Litter’ sirca anno (sic) E. 4 iij. vel iiijo.’
486 WILLIAM NAUNTON TO JOHN PASTON, SENIOR317.1
To my Master Paston, the elder, be thys letter delyveryd in hast.
1461 OCT.
Ryght wurchypful sir, I recommend me to zour good masterchyp. The cause qwy I wryth I let zour have knowlech of the mene that be in Cotton Halle, how they be strangely dysposyd ageyns zow; for, as I here say, they make revell there. They melt led and brek down zour bregg, and make that no man go in to [the] place but on a ledder, and make them as strong as they kan a geyns zow be the supportacion of Jeney and Debenham, and hys sone; for they seye ther that Jeney hath sold the lyflod on to Debynham, and that hys son the knyth shall dwell ther, and ther forr they have warnyd a cort ageyns Munday, and now they ar a vysed to kepyt on Saturday be forr Munday. Qwat they mene therby I wot never, but as for the felechyp in the place that ys there now, and have be here al thys weke, there ys no man of substans, as we here, and there have be but vij. or viij. al thys wyke; but there wyll be a gret felechyp thys nyth or to morwe up on Saturday, for than they wyl kepe the cort. And as for Edward Dale, he dar not abyde wyl at horn, they thret hym so, be cause he wyl send them no vytaly. And as for me self, Edward Dale dar not let me wyll [well] be there for takyng in suspecyon. And jas for the tenaunts, they be wel dysposyd except j. or ij., so that ze wyl support them in hast, for they may nowt kepe of ther katel of the ground long; and specyally they desyr to have zowr owne presens, and they wold be of gret cownfort. No mor I wryth to zour, but the Holy Gost have zour in kepyng. Wretyn on the Fryday after my departyng. Be your Servaunt, Wyllyam Nanton.