THE PASTON LETTERS Henry VI (continued 2)
Reading edition
Vc. marc.
Item, the seyd Fastolf hauying the yeft of the Baronyes and Lordshipp of Sillie Guillem57.1 and Lasuze, in the countee of Mayn, to hym and to his assignes for ever, the which weren goten by the seyd Fastolf, and no charge to the King, for the value and denombrement [number] of iiij. ml. saluz57.2 of yerly rent, he was commaunded by the Kinges lettres to deliver upp the sayd baronyes and lordshipps to the Kyngs commissioners, promyssyng hym, by the Kyngs commaundement to have be recompensed therefor, as the seyd Fastolf hath to shewe, and he not recompensed nor rewarded no thing for the levyng of his seyd baronyes and lordship, to the damages of the seyd Fastolf of the somme of
ml. ml. v.c [2,500] marc.
Item, wher as the seyd Fastolf had a prisonner of his owen taking, called Guill’m Remond,58.1 which was raunsonned, and agreed to pay hym for his raunson with the marks the somme of xxxij. ml. saluz, the prisonner, withoute knowelege or licence of the seyd Fastolf, was take awey from hym by the Duc of Bedford, then beyng the Kyngs Regent of Fraunce; and with the seyd prisonner he caused the towne of Compyn, than leyng in the Frensh partye ys gouvernaunce, for to be yeldyn to the Kyng, and to his seyd Regent in his name; and the seyd Fastolf, after long pursewts made to the Kyng and his conseill, was recompensed but to the value of ml. vjc. saluz in lands in Normandye, when they fortuned to falle into the Kyngs hands, which lands he hath also lost. And also the seyd Fastolf hath lost the residue of the seyd raunson, besyde the seyd lands, to the somme of
ml. ml. ml. ml. marc.
Item, the seyd Fastolf ys yhyt owyng for his porcion and part for the recompens and reward that shuld grow and be dewe to hym for the takyng of John, callyng hym Duc of Alauncon, at the batayle of Vernell,59.1 which that payd for hys raunson xl. ml. marks, which rewarde, besyde the Lord Wyllughbye ys part, shuld extend to the somme of
ml. ml. ml. ml. marc.
Item, ys dewe to the seyd Fastolf, by the execucion of the last wylle and testament of John, Duc of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, for prestys and othir charges for saufgarde and keping of certeyn forteresses, castellys, and townes, and for othir costs, prests, and charges by hym born in his service, as it may appiere in certeyn articles writen in a rolle partic’lerly of the same, the somme of
iiijml. Dc. iiijxx. xix. [4,599] marc, vs. 6d.
Summa totalis xxjml. iiijxxxix. [21,099] marc, vs. 6d.
Item, seth the last comyng over of the seyd Fastolf into this royaume, as by the space of xv. yere and more, he hath born grete costs, charges, and expenss, at alle tymes intending uppon the Kyngs highnesse and the Lordes of his counseille, as he hath had in commaundement, and was his part to doo; for the which and for all the service that he hath doo to the right noble Prince Kyng Herry the iiijthe, ayle [grandfather] to our Souvragn Lord that now ys, and to the most victorious Prince and Kyng, his fader, whos soulys God assoyle, and also to our seyd Souvereyn Lord, he hath had, nouther fee, wagys, reward, ne recompense in this his royaume of England, but hath born it of hys own propre godys, at all tymys to the Kyngs honour and prouffit as to his power, which ys to hym right grevouse and chargeable, trusting to have be considered and rewarded as othir men of suche deservyng have be in the tymes of the right noble progenitours of our seyd Souvreyn Lords, late Kyngs of this seyd reaume.
There is a corrected draft of the above paper, in William Worcester’s handwriting, among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, on the back of which are the following additional memoranda:—
Thees been the prestys and sommes of money that the [sic] Sir John Fastolf, knyght, hath lent to oure seid Soverayn Lorde that now is, at his commaundement in his grete necesitees, at divers tymes with in this his reaume of England:—
Item, the seid Fastolf lent to oure seid Soverayn Lorde, in the moneth of September, the xv. yer of his seid regne, as it appereth at the seid recept of Westminster, the somme of
ml li.
It is also to be remembred that the seid Fastolf hath lent to oure seid Soverayn Lord, in the moneth of Feverer, the seid xv. yer of his noble regne, as it appereth at the Kynges receyt of Westminster, the somme of
ml marc.
Item, the seid Fastolf lent to our seid Soverayn Lorde, for the viage of Sir Thomas Kiriel, and of his retinue in to the Duchie of Normandye, in the xxviij. yer of his noble regne the somme of CC. marc. Also afore that tyme in the Kynges grete necessite ageyn the coronacion of the Quene, at his forseid commaundement, the somme of Cli. Somme of bothe
iijc. xxxiijli. vjs. viijd.60.1
Item, the seyd Fastolf lent to the voyage that Thomas Danyell made in to Breteyn, as it is notorily knowen, of which he ys not yhyt payd, the somme of
Cli.
Item, the seyd Fastolf hath born grete charge and cost of a lone made for the spede and help of a voyage whych the Erle of Shrewysbury now last made in to the Kynges Duchee of Gyen,
———60.2
310 FASTOLF’S CLAIMS AGAINST THE CROWN61.1
A Declaracion of the Costs which Sir John Fastolf was at, ben without this royaume.
The declaracions of certeyn prests, costys, and chargys don and born by Sir John Fastolf, aswel in the tyme of the moste noble and victoryouse Princes of blessed memorie, Kyng Herry the iiijthe, Kyng Herry vth, as in the tyme of our Souvereyn Lord Kyng that now is, in hys werrys by yend the see, as by the articles that folowen more pleynly apperyth:—
First, it ys to be remembred that to the sayd Fastolf ys owyng for divers costys and chargis by hym born for the tyme that he occupied th’office of the Constabulrye of Burdeux for the saufgarde of the Kyngys Duchie of Guyen, as it apperith pleynlye by accompt made of the sayd office of Constabulrye, remaynyng in the Kyngs Cheker at Westminster of record, wherof he yet nouther had payement nor assignement of, the somme of
ijc. xxvijli. xvs. iijd. ob.
Item, in like wyse there ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for wagys for hys service don to the Kyng, and to the Duc of Clarence, beyng the Kyng ys Lieutenant in the seyd Duchie of Guyen, as it may appere under suffisaunt writing, the somme of
ijc ijli. xs.
Item, in lyke wyse ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for costys and chargys that he bare when he was Lieutenant of the towne of Harflew62.1 in Normandie, as yt shewith by a debentur made to the seyd Fastolf, with hym remaynyng,
Cxxxiijli. vjs. viijd.
Item, in lyke wyse ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for the keping and vytaylyng of the Bastyle of Saint Anthoyne in Paris, as it apperith by writing suffisaunt and by the creditours of Sir John Tyrell, Knyght, late Tresourier of the Kyngs house, remaynyng in the Escheker of Westminster of record, the somme of
xlijli.
Item, there ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for the saufgarde of the toune of Fount Melank62.2 in the parties of Fraunce, as it apperith by accompt therof made in the Kyngs Escheker of England of record, the somme of
iiijxx ixli. xs. iiijd. ob. q.
Summa xlij. marc ixs. q.
And in semblable wyse, over all this ys owyng to the seyd Fastolf for prests and wagys of hym and his retenues beyng in the Kings service in his royaume of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie, as wel abowte the saufgarde and gouvernaunce of his tounys, castell, and forteresses of Alaunson, Fresney Le Vicounte, Vernell, Honneflete, as for othir grete causys and charges born and payd in the Kyng our Souvereyn Lord ys dayes that nowys, for the avauncement of his conquest, the good and utilite of hym, of his seyd royaume and duchie forseid, as it apperyth oppenly by accomptys made in the Chambre of Accompts of Paris and Roon, wherof the vidimus remaynen with the seyd Fastolf, and also by certeyn debentur conteynyng the seyd sommes, redy to shewe, wherof the seyd Fastolf hiderto hath had nouther payement nor assignacion, the somme of
v. ml. iiijxx ij. marc, xiijs. iijd. ob. sterling.
Summa totalis vj. ml. cxxv. marc, ixs. ob. q.
There are two drafts of the preceding statement among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, besides an imperfect draft hereafter mentioned. These appear to have been drawn up as early as the year 1452. One of these is in William Worcester’s handwriting; the other is a fair copy from it, with further corrections, in his hand. The document printed above embodies all the corrections in the second paper, and corresponds with it almost exactly in every point, except that the latter places the second item relating to the Duke of Clarence at the very end of the account, and contains the following additional entries:—
And beside all this, there is yet owyng to the sayd Fastolf uppon the voyage that Thomas Danyell made into Bretayn, as it is openly knowen, the somme of
Cli.
Item, overe this the seyd Fastolf lent to the voyage that Sir Thomas Kyryell made into Normandye, in the xxviij. yere of the regne of the Kyng our Souverain Lorde, the somme of CC. marc; also lent to the Kyng afore that tyme in his necessite the somme of Cli. The somme of both,
ijc. xxxiijli. vjs. viijd.
And also the seyd Fastolf hath borne grete charge and cost of alone made for the spede and helpe of the voyage whiche the Erle of Shrowysbury64.1 now last made into the Kynges duchie of Guyenne, to whom God graunte good expedicion, as it shewith by suffisaunt writyng, for whiche at the commaundement of my Lord Cardynalle64.2 the seyd Fastolf made a chevyssaunce and leyd to wedd [i.e. pawned] the substaunce of his pore juellys, in the whiche chevyssaunce the seyd Fastolf hath lost xxxvijli., and is like to lese more herafter, by cause he is not of poer to quyte hem oute; the seyd juellys lyne as yet to plegge for the somme of
iiijcli.
Somme of the prestys and debtys abofe rehersed,
ijml. xlv. markes, vjs. vd. ob.
The following is written on a separate paper, on the back of which occurs the imperfect draft above referred to.
Item, overe all thys grete debtes dew at thys day to the seyd Fastolf, he desyryth and prayth that it may be pondered and concydered the grete lossez and damages that he hath susteyned and born, as well in the parties of Fraunce as in thys land; as at one tyme lost the somme and value of iiijml. mark for Guillem Remond, hys prysonnere, that agreed to pay for hys raunsom xxxijml. salux. The seyd prisonnere was take awey from hym, and delyvered the toune of Compyne in to the obbeissaunce of our Souvereyn Lord. Also the reward that the seyd Fastolf shuld hafe hys part for the takyng of the Duc off Allaunson, whych shuld mount for hys seyd part iiijml. [4000] markes, the grete losse that he hath in delyveryng upp the baronye of Syllye Guillem, in the counte of Mayn, be thout [without] recompense or reward, whych was gevyn to hym and hys assigneez in the value of ml. ml. [2000] salux off yerly rent. Also the lesyng of hys pore lyvelode in Normandie that was of the yerly value of 65.1 mark. The grete importune lossez and damages that he hath had seth he came into England, whych hys evylle wyllers the officers and servauntes of the Duc of Suffolk have, be thout [without] cause resonable, made hym leese, as in causyng hym to be disseised wrongysly of iiij. of hys maners of Dedham, Beyton, Bradwell, Hykelyng, and Tychewell, to the value of ijc. [200] mark of yeerly rent; besyde othyr damages and lossez by colours of the lawe, and by menys of extorcions, as it may shew by a rolle of articles to the value of vjml. [6000] markes.
iiijxx ixli. xs. iiijd. ob. q. text has italic “a” for “d” in “iiijd.”
311 NOTE
‘Many of the letters in this collection,’ says Fenn (iii. 261, Note 1), ‘mention the disputes between the Duke of Suffolk and Sir John Fastolf concerning different manors and estates.’ This remark is made with reference to the complaints against Suffolk in No. 309 preceding. Only two of these letters have been seen by the present editor.
312 ABSTRACT65.2
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.
Sends by his servant an instruction to be engrossed, corrected by Paston’s advice, and a remembrance concerning Walsingham, which I hope by your help ‘shall be corryged.’ Certain friends of yours and mine have been here, and desire me to write to you ‘for your friendship and good will, passing all other men’s.’
[The date of this letter is quite uncertain, but it was probably written some time during those later years of his life when Sir John Fastolf resided at Caister. The signature, like some others during that period, is not in Fastolf’s own hand.]
No. 239. . after “No.” invisible
313 LORD CROMWELL TO JOHN PASTON66.1
To my right trusty ffrend, John Paston, Squier.
Before 1456
Trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wele. And for as much as hit is don me to understande that there is a greet straungenesse betwix my right trusty frend John Radcliff and you, withoute any matier or cause of substaunce, as I am lerned; wherfore, in as much as I love you wele bothe, I am not content hit shulde so be.
Praying you hertly to forbere the said straungenesse on your partie to suche tyme as I speke with you next my self, leting you wite I have wreten to him to do the same; and that ye faile not herof, as I may do any thing for you herafter. And our Lorde have you in His keping.
Wretin at London, the x. day of Fevrier. Cromwell.
314 BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON66.2
To my maister, John Paston.
1456 JAN. 6
Please your maistershyp to wete that I had sent yow word of the god chiere that the persons ye wote off had here uppon New Yeer Day, and how well they toke it, but W. Barker coude playnly enforme yow. And John Sadler of Ocle told me how they avaunted of it when he of Lynne came by hym at nyzt lyeng, that he had neider better chier, &c.
My maister demaundyth me sondry tymes when ye shall be here. I coude not sey till thys day be passed. William Geney shall be here to morn, so wold Jesus ye were her then. I asked licence to ryde yn to my contree, and my maistr dyd not graunt it; he seyd hys wille was for to make, &c. Y aunsuerd it fyt not me to know it. God gefe hym grace of holsom councell, and of a gode disposicion; non est opus unius diei, nec unius septimanæ.
My Lord Bedford wylle was made yn so bryeff and generall termys, that yn to thys day by the space of xx. yeer can neider hafe ende, but all wey new to constrew and oppynable; so a generallte shall ne may be so gode as a particuler declaracion.
I wryte blontly. I had foryete to hafe told yow Maister Fylongley meoved me to enforme my maister to hafe a generalle pease, so it myzt be worshypfull. Y hafe seyd no word, for I can not medle yn hygh maters that passyth my wyt; and therfor yff ye and W. Geney mete to gheders, ye know and can devyne best what ys to be doon. Our Lord be with yow.
Wryt hastly, vj. day Januar. W. Botoner, H.R.
315 BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON67.1
1456(?)
Please yow to wete that my maister67.2 yn allwyse wille that I ryde to Dedham to speke with Broke as well as wyth the stuard, and to gefe aunsuer to Broke yn whate wyse he wille depart for the reuersyn; he was ryd or I came home. And my maister wille comyn with yow for the moyens of a chauntuarye to be founded of the place ye wote off; y seyd hym such chargeable maters wold be doo betyme to know the certeyntee. And a greter lak ys yn hym, he taryeth so long to put all thynges of charge yn a sure wey; hyt ys for lake of sad councell to moove hym. And I most be at Castre by Thursday next; and I pray yow let me not be lete of my voyage yn to my contree, and I shall kepe Yorkesshyre with Spyrlyng, or such as shall ryde. The parson68.1 with yow shall do well sort my maister evidences, and that ys one the grettist thyng nedefull for the seurtee of hys lyfelode; and so it wold be remembred hym, for now all thyng ys sett at appoynt, how it standyth with hys debtys and officers, except that mater of grettist charge, and also to provyde for the approwement of hys lyfelode. W. Botoner.
And, syr, yff ye thynke to done (think it to be done), to meofe Cler of the acre lond, but gefe hym no credence yn the contrarye, for I shall preffe it trewe yn my seyng for onye man lyvyng. He that wille dysseyve hys servaunt yn maryage for so litell a thyng, he wold disseyve another frende yn a gretter thyng. He sekyth occasyons and querell to colour hys brekyng off.
316 BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON68.2
About 1456
Please yow to wete that as for ease of my maisters68.3 tenaunts in Dedham, yff a lettre were devysed by Maister Geney yn my maister name or youres to Thomas Hygham, one of the justices of pease in Suffolk that toke the veredyt, he myzt do grete ease, as yn disavowyng of it or yn wythdrawyng it owte of the bokes. Robert Dene, clerk of the pese, seyth that lete my maister councell avise that whych he may do undammaged hymsylf, and he wille with all hys hert. John Bokkyng ys well remembred that my maister caused the seyd Thomas Hygham, by Maister Geney mocion, to be one of the justice of pease, and one Jermyn of Suffolk also. Whych both Hygham and Jermyn hath suffred my maister hafe, savyng your reverence, tweyn shrewde tornys seth that they mizt hafe letted, as now the seyd Thomas Hygham myzt hafe letted the presentment or a moderated othyrwyse, &c.
At reverence of God, beyth as sone as ye may with my maister to ease hys spyryttes. He questioneth and desputyth with hys servauntes here, and wolle not be aunsuerd ne satisfyed som tyme but after hys wylfulnesse, for hyt suffysyth not our simple wyttes to appease hys soule; but when he spekyth wyth Maister Zelverton, yow, or wyth William Geney and suche othyrs as be auctorised yn the law, and wyth haboundance of godes, he ys content and haldeth hym pleased wyth your aunsuers and mocions, as reson ys that he be. So wold Jesus, one of yow iij., or som suche othyr yn your stede, myzt hang at hys gyrdyll dayly to aunsuer hys materes.
I had but litille thyng to done when I scrybled thys bille. Your, W. Botoner.
317 ABSTRACT69.1
Sir John Fastolf ‘to the worshipful Lady and my right wellbeloved Sister, Whytyngham.’
1456 JAN. 20
As all the executors of my Lord Regent, except himself, are dead, and as he would not have her troubled in her age ‘for execution of my said Lord’s goods,’ nor for the evidences of his purchased lands, etc., which were left in keeping ‘with my brother your husband,’ sends John Paston and other his attorneys to common with her, and settle the matter, which will be a great discharge for her husband’s soul.
Castre, 20 Jan.
[This letter must have been written after the death of Lord Cromwell, who was one of Bedford’s executors, and who died on the 4th January 1456.—See his Epitaph in Dugdale’s Baronage, ii. 46.]
318 ABSTRACT69.2
Sir John Fastolf to John Bokking or William Barker, to deliver to John Paston at London.
1456 JAN. 25
Copy of a letter of Fastolf’s to the wife of Sir Robert Whytyngham (the copy examined by Botoner) to the same effect as the preceding No., but with some slight differences in the wording, and dated 25th January instead of 20th.
On the back is written:— ‘Cousin Paston, I pray you take Nicholas Molyneux, Thomas West, or Robert Waryn, whether ye may hafe at leyser, with you, to go speke with the gentlewoman.’
319 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON AND OTHERS70.1
To my right trusty frendes, John Paston, Nicholas Molyneux, and Thomas West, Escuiers.
1456 JAN. 26
Worchipfull Sirs, and my right trusty frendis, I commaunde me to you. And lyke you to wite that I desire to knowe in certayn, or evere I laboured to London, by whate menys in the lawe spirituell or temporell I might labour, or ellys my frendes and atturneys in my name and in myne absence myght laboure best, for the recuvere of the goodes of my Lord of Bedford, whos soule God assoyle, and that his purchaced londes might be sold to fulfille his wille and pay his debtes. And if it were thought that the most spedyest and seurest wey were to have it doon by act of Parlement, than I desire and pray you, as my singuler trust is in you, that ye wille do make a substanciall bille in my name upon the said mater and for the said cause, to be grounded and devised by avis of substanciall lerned man, as Thomas Yonge and othir suche, and of civille lawe, and the said bille to be put up to the Kyng, whiche is chief supervisor of my said Lordis testament, and to the Lordes Spirituelle and Temporelle, as to the Comyns, of this present Parlement, so as the iij. astates may graunte and passe hem cleerly. And the said bille may be grounded with so grete resons by your wysdomes and good enformacion, and so rightfull and of conscience that it shall not be denyed, ne letted to passe amonges the Lordes Spirituell and Temporell, neythir amonges the Comyns, whan it comyth before hem. And if this said bille, after it is devised and made, and sent me a copie of hit, hit shold be to me a singuler confort; for or evere I came to London, I wold that alle thing shuld be made redy to my hande. And it were exspedient and according that my Lord Chaunceller71.1 were meoved that it might please his good Lordship to write a lettre to me, in case I must come up for the said cause, and that by as muche he is in the mater as souverain juge and ordinarie principalle under the Pope in a cause testamentarie, and also by cause the wille of my said Lord is aproved in his court before his predecessour. And Alle myghty God kepe you.
Writ at Castre, the xxvj. day of Januar. Your, J. Fastolf.
And I wolde this bille were devised by my Lord of Caunterbury is avis and agreement, to th’entent that he may tender the mater the more whan it shalle come in revolucion before hym. And I pray you hertely to take this mater tendirlye to hert, for it shall be to me my most singuler comfort, and for my discharge a grete record as of myne acquitayle to my said Lordis soule. Also ye must make frendes of suche as be nere aboute my said Lord of Caunterbury, and may do, as Maister John Stokys and his styward, for to remembre his good Lordship as ofte as nede is. And that Davy Breknok ne Sir Robert Whitingham wyffe be not foryeete.
320 WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON71.2
To the worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier.
1456 JAN. 27
Worshypfull, aftyr dew recomendacion, please your gode maistershyp to wete that where as my maister wrytith to yow so homelye of so manye materes to yow of hys, to be remembred unto hys councell lerned by mene of yow and of hys frendz and servauntz there, y pray yow and requyre yow not to wyte [impute] it me that y am the causer of it that my seyd maister noyeth yow with so manye materes, for, be God, hym sylf remembryth the moste part of hem; albe it the particler rehersell of the materes be fressher yn my remembraunce then yn hys. And, Sir, yn trouth he boldyth hym to wryte to yow for the grete lofe and singler affeccion he hath yn yow before all othyr yn hys causes spedyng, and that ye wille moste tendyrlye of ony othyr remembre hys servauntes as well as othyrs to whom belongyth to spede the materes. He desyryth my Lord Chauncellor shuld wryte to hym speciallye yff he most nedes com upp, and a bille to be made yn to Parlement for recuvere of my Lord Bedford godes.
Sir, there ys one Haryngton of Doncastre, a besye soule, that damagyth my maistre to gretely in Bentley. And Herry Sotehille ys of my maister councell, but no thyng that ys profytable ys don to hym to remedye it, ye shall see by one Sir John Vincentes letter sent to yow now, and W. Barker can enforme yow. Yn the ende of thys terme y suppose to be at London, and yn to west contre. My maistre wrytith to yow for a rent of viijli. of annuite charged of a touneshyp called Batham Wyly, that Maister Scrope he shall be beneficed yn the ryzt of it. Ye have nede fare fayre with hym, for he ys full daungerouse when he wille. Y gate hym gode evidensis of the seyd rent that my maister ne my lady had nevere, and he can not know it, &c. Also my maister hath wreten to yow for avice of a new feffement to be made for the maners of Tychewell and Beytone, and betyme he desyryth to be sent hym. Y pray yow, and ye se Maister Yng at a leyser to commaund me to hym, and trustyng hys gode maistershyp that he wille be of my councell ayenst one William Fouler of Bokyngham thath kepyth from me a litelle lond. And yff he wille contynew hys gode maistershyp to me, ye may sey hym that I cast duelle yn my contree, and wayt uppon hym to help ghete ayen a pore gode of myn, for heere y thryve not, but lose my tyme. Y pray our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.
Wryt hastlye, the xxvij. day of Januare. Your, W. Wyrcestre.
321 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON73.1
To the worshypfull Sir, and my ryght welbelovyd cosyn, John Paston; and in hys absence, to John Bokkyng and William Barker.
1456 FEB. 5
Worshypfull Sir and cosyn, I recomaund me to yow. And lyke yow to wete that y have a taylle73.2 with my cosyn Fenne73.3 of vc. [500] marc and more, for to be chaunged uppon such places as a man myght have moste spedye payment; and I pray yow hertlye to comyn wyth the seyd Fenne, that y myght be ensured of the seyd taylle to be eschaunged; and for whate rewarde competant to be yeven uppon the same, I wolle agree it.
Item, I desyre to know who ben the residew, the remenant of the co-executors of the Lord Wyllughbye,73.4 now the Lord Cromewell73.5 ys decesed; for thys cause. Hyt was so, that there was dew to the Lord Wyllughbye and to me x. ml. [10,000] marc for a reward, to be payd of my Lord Bedford ys godes, for the takyng of the Duc of Allauncon.73.6 And the seyd Lord Wyllughbye had but one thowsand marc payd, and I ml. [1000] mrc, soo viij. ml. [8000] levyth [remains] yhyt to pay; of whych somme iiij. ml. [4000] most grow to the executors of the seyd Lord Wyllughby to dispose. And therfor y desyre that the executors, and such as most have intrest in the Lord Wyllughby goodes, may be comyned wyth; that they may [make] purseute for payment of the seyd iiij. ml. [4000] marc, for hys part to be had, and y shall make for my part.
And [i.e. if] Maister Nevyle,74.1 the whych hath wedded my Lady Wyllughbye, have power or intrest to resseyve the Lord Wyllughby ys debts, then he to be labured untoo. And my Lord of Salysburye woll be a grete helper yn thys cause.
The Kyng, whych ys Supervisor of my Lord Bedford testament, hath wreten and comaunded by sondry lettres, that the seyd Lord Wyllughbye shuld be content for hys part. And so moch the mater ys the furtherer.
And ther ys one Yon’, a servaunt of the Lord Wyllughbye, whych pursewed thys mater; yff he were yn London, he coude geve gode enformacion uppon thys mater.
Y pray yow wryte to me how my maters doth, and of such noveltees as ye have there. And our Lord have yow yn hys kepyng.
Wreten at Castr hastlye, v. day of Feveryer, anno xxxiiijto Regis Henrici VI. Your cosyn, J. Fastolf.
322 JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF74.2
To the right reverent and worshipful Sir, and my right good maister, my maister Sir John Fastolf, at Castre.
1456 FEB. 9
Right reverent and my right worshipful maister, I recomaunde me to yow in my right humble wise. Please hit your right good maistership to wyte that on Sonday laste I sent yow many and divers lettres and writynges, by Lampet, of all matiers that I hadde knowlege at that tyme redy to answere. And now suche tidinges as ar here, but fewe that ar straunge, excepte that this day my Lordes York and Warwik comen to the Parlement in a good aray, to the noumbre of iijc. [300] men, all jakkid75.1 and in brigantiens,75.2 and noo lord elles, wherof many men mervailed. It was seid on Saterday my Lord shuld have ben discharged this same day. And this day was seide, but if he hadde come stronge, he shuld have bene distrussid; and no man knoweth or can sey that ony prefe may be hadde by whom, for men thinken verily there is no man able to take ony suche enterprinse.
The Kyng, as it was tolde me by a grete man, wolde have hym chief and princepall counceller, and soo to be called hise chef counceller and lieutenant as longe as hit shuld lyke the Kyng; and hise patent to be made in that forme, and not soo large as it is by Parlement. But soome men thinken it wil ner can otherwise bee; and men speke and devyne moche matere of the comyng this day in suche array to Westminster. And the Lordes speken this day in the Parlement of a greet gleymyng sterre that but late hathe be seen diverse tymes, merveilous in apperyng. The resumpsion, men truste, shall forthe, and my Lordes of Yorkes first power of protectorship stande, and elles not, &c. The Quene is a grete and strong labourid woman, for she spareth noo peyne to sue hire thinges to an intent and conclusion to hir power.
I have seid to the bringer here of more to declare yow alle a longe. And as for hise comyng, ye like to understande that your nevew, my Maister Filongley, hathe laboured and doon that he cowde or myght to hise preferraunce; but as for to make hym freman and at hise ease, to hise profite and worship, it can not bee with owte William Lyne be here, that boughte hise prentishode of his maister, to hise grete hurte and castyng of bakke by ij. or iij. yere of tyme loste; and ne were it that the maister and wardeyns of the Taillours tendre hym, be cause of yow and of Fynynglee, hise firste maister, that solde hym to William Lyne, as weel as the seide Lyne and Richard, shuld alle lese ther fredoms, as ye shall more pleinly understande by the reporte of the seid Richard, &c.
This day was my Lord Devenshire at Westminstre, and shuld have apperid, but he was countermaundid. As to youre matier of Wentworthe, the trety contynueth, and is putte by the arbitrours in Fortescu and Yelverton, and we have day of newe til Friday come sevenyght. God graunte it take a good ende. The lawe is with us clerly, as weel in th’atteynte as therinne as yette, blessid be our Lord, hoo have you in hise most noble governaunce.
Written in your place this Moneday of Fastyngange,76.1 ml. cccclv. Your humble servaunt, J. B.
And that ye like to write a good lettre for Richard Fastolf to Sir Roger Chamberleyn, and to Thornton, Chamberleyn of London, and to both of hem, &c.
323 ABSTRACT76.2
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston
1456 FEB. 12
Thanks him for the pains he takes in his ‘chargeable matters,’ especially the ward of T. F., and his advice for the recovery of my Lord of Bedford’s goods. My servants Bokkyng and Barker have written to me for writings making mention of the jewels and goods of my Lord delivered to Sir Robert Whitingham that they cannot find there. I send, therefore, W. Worcestre with a copy of Whitingham’s account, which, however, is not a complete statement.
Castre, 12 Feb.
P.S.—Has just received a letter from Paston, for which he thanks him.
[This letter was evidently written in the same year as No. 317.]
324 HUGH A FENNE TO JOHN PASTON77.1
To the right worchepfull Sir, John Paston, at Norwich.
1456 MARCH 1
Ryght worchepfull Sir, I recumaunde me un to you. Leke you to wete my Maister Fastolf compert77.2 is spedde and demyd in the Eschequyer for hym a yens the Kyng, wher in was crafti labour and cloos to the seid spede, and laked no dylygence, for the matter was defused and dubble intendementz after dyverse mennys appynyons.
Her is Williem Brandon, late Eschetour,77.3 and wold have a non molestando77.4 for Fulthorp; and be cause ye spake to me that no mo shuld be sued owte, and I can gete no lybarate77.5 in that case, therfore, as it is tolde me, he wyll have oon up on Wenteworth is patente, and that wer to my maister bothe velleny and hurte. I pray you send me heryn your avyse. It is no grete maistre to gader up that mony, if it wer wele labord. I have somwhat affrayed them, and made hem spend mony, as I wot well ye shall her therof. Ye and I been discharged of our maynprys.
Now, Sir, for Goddis sake, as I have meved you a fore, help to sette my maister in a worchepful dyreccion of his maters to his honour, his profyte, and his hertis ease, that which so doon he shall have the better leysour to dysspose hym self godly, and be sette his londs and his goodys to the plesour of God, and the wele of his sowle, that all men may sey he deyeth a wyse man and a worchepfull. Yf ye wyste what worchep shuld growe to you in favour and conseyte of all men thus to do, I wot well ye wolde be right spedy therin, for I beleve fully ye ar ryght well wylled therto; and if owte I cowde helpe therto at myn nexte comyng, yf I knew your entent, I wold do that I cowde. Yf it like you to wryte your avyse in a bylle that I myght have it by Good Fryday at Seint Benettys, Williem Norwyche wol send it theder. The Holy Trinyte conserve you in honour and prosperite.
From London, the furst day of Marche. Your, Hugh a Fenne.
325 JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON78.1
To my right worshipfull Maister, John Paston.
1456(?) [MAR. 24]
After due recomendacion had, please it your maistership to wytte that William Yelverton was mevid by me to comene with my maister his fadir, as I wrot to yow from Norwich. And now he tellith me that he hath comened with his fadir; and he undirstondith that his fadir seyth that he hath not knowelaged Fennes78.2 obligacion. And he seyth that Maister Fastolf undirstood that Fen hadde title to the maner of Haryngby, and therfor wold he that Fen shuld have it after Maister F. lyve; and, by liklynes, ther shall be labour made by Fenn to have releses of Maister Yelverton, &c., but he hath not yet relesed. He can no more undirstond of hym as yet. If he can undirstond ony more pleynly this day, I shall have knowelage at Norwich on Friday or Saterday next comyng. Please it you to have pacience, though I write so brefly.
In hast, at Walsyngham, the Wednesseday next to fore Esterne. Youre pouere servaunt, James Gr.
326 ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF79.1
To the right worshipfull, and my right entierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolf, Knight.
1456 MARCH 27
Right worshipful, and my right entierly welbeloved, I grete you right hertly wele, thanking you specialy, and in full herty wise, for the verray geantle goodnesse that ye have shewid unto me at all tymes, praying you of good contynuance.
And as touching suche matiers as ye sente unto me fore, I truste to God verraly, insomuche as the rule is amendid heer, and the wedder waxeth seesonable and pleasante, to see you in thise parties within short tyme, at whiche tyme I shal commune and demeene unto you in suche wise, that ye shal be right wele pleasid.
And as for the matier concernyng my Lord of Bedford, thinketh nat contrarye, but that ye shal finde me hertly wel-willid to doo that I can or may for th’accomplesshment of youre desire, as wel in that matier as in other, like as your servaunte John Bokking, berer hereof, can clierlier reporte unto you on my behalve; to whom like hit you to yeve feith and credence in this partie. And the blissid Trinitee have you everlastingly in His keping.
Written in my Manoir of Lamehith, the xxvj. daie of March. Your feithfull and trew, Th. Cant.
327 DAME ALICE OGARD TO JOHN PASTON80.1
To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer.
1456 MARCH 30
Ryght worshippfull and enterly belovyd cosyn, I comaund me to yow hertyly; latyng yow wete that there ys a contraversie mevyd be twix my cosyn John Radeclyff80.2 of Attylburgh and me for the advoweson of the chirch of Attylburgh, the whech ys now voide, wheroff the title is myn veryly as God knowith, the whech shall be oppenyd unto yow; and upon Thursday next atte Wymondham, there shall be take an enquerre de jure patronatus afore Master Robert Popy and Master Symond Thornham, atte whech day I may nought be my selff as God knowyth, and thow I myght, yt were not convenyent.
And therfore, ryght trusty cosyn, consideryng that I am a wedowe impotent as of body, tendyrly and hertily I pray you, yf yt lyke yow, to be there assistyng my councell in my right as reson and lawe will upon Thursday next, be viij. of the clokke; and Fyncham,80.3 Spelman, and othir of my councell shall be than there waytyng upon yow. And, jentyll cosyn, have me excused thowh I wryte thus brefly and homly to yow, for in trouth I do it of a synguler trust and affection, the wheche I have in yow, consideryng the goode nome and fame of trouth, wysdom, and good conducte, the which I here of you. And therfor, and ye may to youre well, I beseche you hertyly to be there, and ye shall nought lese therby with the grace of Almyghty Jesu, the wheche evyr preserve and promote you, gentill cosyn, in moche worship to youre hertys ease.
Atte Bokenham Castell, on Teuysday in Pache weke, in hast. D. A. Ogard.81.1
328 HUGH FENN TO JOHN PASTON81.2
To the worchepfull sir, John Paston esquyer.
1456(?) APRIL 25
Worchepfull Sir, my reverent and right trusty maister and cosyn, I recommaunde me to you. Lyke you to wyte that wher I have made my fyne of Ikburgh with Nicholas Waterman, thanne beyng feodary to my Lorde of Yorke, as the same Nicholas wil recorde, wherof sufficient writyng is had; the which payment, so made, is sufficient in the lawe; in the which caas noo newe feodary is chargeable nor I demaundable, but the seide Nicholas owe to answere therof in his accompt; and if he concele, my Lorde may have good remedy ageyns hym, and so owe to do. The which not withstandyng, oon I trowe called Osbarn, som tyme your servant, now my Lordis feodary, hath often meved to do I wote not, and now late hath distreyned my cattel, and seith he wil dryve hem awey, &c., and wil have Cs. for fyne, wher my uncle paied xxvjs. viijd., Herry Somer xxs., and so many other ded. Sir, he may do me a pety shame in distreyning and dryvyng awey to make me hevy, and hym not glad I hoop at the loong, but wroong shal he nor any other do me, wher I may gete remedy by the lawe in any place throw Goddis mercy. Wherfor, sir, if he be stille in your servyse, lyke you I myght have knowlech, and thanne if your discreccion semith any thyng that I owe to do, by you I wil be advertysed and ruled; and if I coude conceyve that I owe to pay ageyn, as I understonde clerly the contrary, forsothe in right hasty seson wold I provyde and send hym from my seid lorde a sufficient discharge for myn more availl, that he shuld noght lose by me. And that is reson aswele, for that I wil not, by Goddis grace be hurted by hym, nor geve hym cause by my wil. I deserve my lordis good lordeship as wele as any other of my simple poer her. I besech you that by this simple bille I may be recommaunded to my worchepful maistresse. The blissid Trinite have you in His holy governaunce. Written, London xxv. day of Aprill. Youris owen, Hugh a Fenne.
329 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON82.1
To my worchepfull Cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast goodly.
1456 MAY 2
Worchepfull Cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. Lyke yow to wete that for als moche as my lord of Norwich shal the next wyke visite the hous of Hykelyng, as on Thursday, as I understand, I pray yow that ye lyke to informe my lord how it is appoynted atwix the prior of the said hous and me that my title of xxv. marc of yerly rente is put in the ordynaunce of yow and Fyncheham, and if any variaunce fortune by twix yow that thanne we shall stand to the rule and ordynaunce of my lord of Caunterbury and of my seid lord of Norwich, they callyng to them ij. temporall juges suche as them please, the ij. chef juges only except. Wherfor that it please his good lordship to commaunde the seid priour to be bound by obligacion to stand to the seid appoyntement in lyke form as I at all tymes lefull am redy soe to do, to th’entent that my lord may verily knowe that the complysshyng of the seid appoyntement is nat deferred ner delayed by me. Forthermore, Cosyn, I understand that ye have a feodary concernyng all the knyght fees in this shire, and for als moche as the lord Scalys cleymeth an homage of my place called Essex in Hikelyng I pray yow that ye lyke to sende me woord if it can be understand by the seid feodary if suche an homage owe to be do or nay. Moreover like yow to remembre that lateward I meved unto yow that I wold do kyt out a litell fleet rennyng by twix the Comouns of your lordship of Maulteby and Castre there it was of old tyme, and now is over grounded and growen by reedes. Wherfor lyke yow to write on to your baly of Mauteby to take your tenauntes with hym to have a sight of the seid water and ground, and that they bere half costes for ther part, and I wole bere the other part. And all though my wrytyngges put yow many tymes to gret labour and besynesses, I pray yow to take it that I do it for the synguler affiaunce and feythful trust unto yow. Besehyng All myghty God have yow, my worchepful Cosyn, in his mercifull governaunce. Writ at Castre, the ijde. day of Maij.
And that ye lyke to come in to these partyes byfore ye ryde to London, I pray yow hertely that I may speke with yow for dyvers maters that I have to comowne with yow, &c. J. Fastolf.
330 JOHN BOCKYNG TO JOHN PASTON84.1
To my worshipful maister, John Paston, Squier.
1456 MAY 8
Sire, please it your maistership to wyte that on Wednesday, the v. day of Maij, I received a lettre from you by the prestis man of Walsyngham, and the Ascencion Day,84.2 in the mornyng, I received a lettre from yow bi the handes of John Frays, my maisteris man, in whiche bothe moche thinge is conteyned whiche alle at this tyme I may not answere un to my comyng the nexte weke. And as to our atteynte,84.3 the Chief Justice hathe, sithe this day sevenyght, kept the Gildehalle in London with alle the Lordes and Juges, sauf one in eche place. My Maister Markham yesterday rode owte of London be tymes. Notwithstandyng we called ther upon, and hadde at the barre Chokke,84.4 Letelton,84.5 Jenney,84.6 Illyngworth,84.7 John Jenney, and Dyne, and remembrid the longe hangyng and the trouthe of the matier, with the grete hurte of the partie in the tyme; and we have rule the next terme betymes, and non otherwise, for to morwe the juges sitten ayen in the toune. Mayster Yelverton can not be myry for Wyrmegey, and as for the distresse, it is a non omittas, and therfore Poley may and wil retorne what isseus he will. If thei be smale, we shall suffre at this time; if thei be grete, we must appere for Wyngfelde; and moche labour we have to conceyve a goode warant of attorney. We shal plede the next terme, for as at this tyme we wold on Monday enparle and we may.
Ye must suerly entrete the shireve, for we have moche to doo with hym, as yesterday hadde we a grete day also in th’eschequer. Myn maister85.1 is moche bounde to Haltofte, and there we ar assigned day over to the next terme, and dwelle in law. Our counsail was longe or thei come, but at the laste thei acquitte them weel. The bille was thought not by all that stode at the barre that wer of nother partie. We ar joyned in the sute of the obligacion in the Comon Place ayenst Jenney and Howes. As for attachement, ye may none have withowte ye or on of yow make your othe in propre persone before the barons. I wolde have doon it; I cowde not be amytted. And as for other processe, it is advised that by the cors of th’eschequer I shall take a venire facias ayenst Wentworthe, Andrews, longe Barnard, and Deyvill ad respondendum quare in possessionem, &c. ingressi sunt. And we must telle where other Coughawe or Kirkeley, I suppose; and therupon a distresse and an attachement; nevertheles by your othe, &c., hereafter. And it is thought good that the same men shal be in the writte of ravyshment. Jenney hath advised us to ley it in Blithinge hundred, and I have taken of hym names; for as for London it is to nyghe enbracerye, as ye thought well, and soo is Middlesex. Maister Yelverton conceyvith it weel to your entent. There are aboughte and in Suffolk but fewe men as of gentilmen and men of substance, but if [unless] it be in Blithing hundre, were Hopton is grete; but Jenney dredeth it not we may have good men at large; and as for the hundre, he wil doo inow thereinne.
As for the tailes of iiijxxli. [four score pounds], as yette we shal doo weel inowghe and thei were contentid; or thei that shal have the silvere, the noyse were the lesse, for it shall, in pledyng, alwey be rehersid by our contrarie party that for x. marc we have alle that evere ther is, &c. I can not here how Wentworthe takith this matier by no meane; what he meneth I wote not. He is no thing pleasid with the matier of the bille in th’eschequer. Thomas Denys come yesterday, and none erste. I wolde Arblaster and he spoke with yow this vacacion. I write noo more til my comyng.
As for tidinges, noon othere thanne I sent yow laste; but forthe on the same, all is as it was with the Quene,86.1 the Prince and myn Lord York ar stille at Tutbury and Sandale, and my Lord of Warrewick at Warrewick. My Lord Bukingham rode on Ascencion Even to Writell, noo thing wel plesid, and sumwhat on easid of herte to his purpose; for the King hathe ley in London Friday, Saterday, Sonday, Monday, Teusday, and Wednesday remevid to Westminster agen. In alle whiche tyme, men of London that wer chargid and sworne wolde not nor hadde noo thing presentid sauf trespas; this day thei shal sitte ayen. The peas is weel kepte, but the straungiers86.2 ar soore a dradde, and dar not come on brode. Here is alle that I knowe as yet. Our Lord Jesu be with yow.
Writen at Suthwerk the viij. day of Maij.
I have paied to Dory Cs., and with moche peyne made hym to ghete day of the other Cs. til the nexterme. Your owen J. B.
Endorsed in a seventeenth-century hand.—L’ra Joh’is Bokking, Attorn. in Communi Banco.
331 JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON86.3
To my Maister Paston.
1456 MAY 15
Worshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow. This day I come home; and as to our materes, I shall be with yow on Monday and Teusday next, be my maisters advys, and enforme yow of all, and of suche as I will not write. Your cofre is at the Prinse Inne; sende for it whane ye like, be the token, I hadde of Margret Goche a boke of lawe that Wigge brought me. As for tidyngs, my maistys your brother faren weel, and recomaunde them to my maistresse, there moder, to yow, and to all, &c.
As for tidings elles, the Kyng is at Shene, the Quene and Prince at Tutbury, but if it be the latter remevyng. Tidings were that the Lord Beaumont was slayn, and my Lord Warrewik sore hurte, ml. [1000] men slayn, and vjxx. [six score] knyghts and squiers hurte, and no thing trewe, blessed be God. As for the Lumbards,87.1 ij. of the trespasers were hanged on Monday, and there ar be this tyme proclamacions made, or shall be, thorwe London, the pees to be kepte up on grete peynes; and the Lumbards to occupie the merchaundizes as thei dide til the Counsail or Parlament have otherwise determyned. And noo more as yet.
The atteynte abidith unreuled til the next terme, as I shal telle yow, and it shal doo weel with God is grace, hoe have yow in kepyng and all youres.
Writen at Caster vigilia Pentecosten. Your owen J. B.
332 HENRY WINDSOR TO JOHN PASTON87.2
1456(?) [MAY 16]
After humble and due recommendacion, please it your gode maistership to understand that atte makyng of this my pour letter ther were no noveltees with us, but suche as yee understode full well afor your departyng, except the Kyng woll in to Scotland in all maner wyse of werre, and that my Lord of Weltshire shal be made Chaunceller. I suppose the better is but a sclaunder, and therfore be ye avised howe ye delyver theym as tidynges.
Also I wotte ful well where I lefte you in suche matiers as it pleassed you to make me of your counsell, as touchyng oon matier specially; and howe that ye said unto me whenne I desired your goode maistership to shewe favour in suche as ye best myght yf any thing shuld be shewed ad lumen, my Maister F. except; and howe that ye answered and said as it pleassed you that I was conquered, in trouth, that shuld preve but a full grete unstabulnes in me with more, &c. But, Sir, I pray you howe some ever my maister rekeneth with any of his servaunts, bring not the matier in revolution in the open Courte, for and it were ones opened afore the Juges howe that any lettre patentes shuld be purchased of an ante date,88.1 and the defaute faunde in me, ye wold be a ml. [thousand] tymes avised, and my Maister F. both, or that ye wold amend me soo much as I shuld be appered therbe. And therfor I beseche you be well avised howe that matier be oponed for myn ease.
I was not desired to write unto you of no on persone, so God be my help, yourself except; but I wold ye wold take avise and counsell of the Preest that hadde you soo long under hand on Shorthursday,88.2 whenne I and my feleship, God thank you, hadde of you right grete chere to our grete comfort and your grete coste, howe that the same Preest understandeth this letter of the Gospell underwriten: ‘Jesus dixit Simoni Petro, Si peccav[er]it in te frater tuus, vade et corripe eum inter te et ipsum solum; si te audierit lucratus es fratrem tuum. Si autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum vel duos, ut in ore duorum vel trium testium stet omne verbum. Quod si non audierit, dic ecclesiæ; si autem ecclesiam non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus,’ etc. And in another place, ‘Tunc accedens Petrus ad Jesum dixit, Domine, quotiens petevit [peccabit] in me frater meus, [et] dimittam ei? usque septies? Dicit illi Jesus, Non dico tibi, usque septies, set usque septuagesies septies.’89.1
My maister can doo no thing, the which shall come in open audience at thise deies, but it shalbe called your dede. Hit is not unknoon that cruell and vengible he hath byn ever, and for the most parte with aute pite and mercy; I can no more but vade et corripe eum, for truly he cannot bryng about his matiers in this word [world], for the word is not for hym. I suppose it wolnot chaunge yetts by likelenes, but I beseche you, Sir, help not to amend hym onely, by [but ?] every other man yf ye kno any mo mysse disposed.
I canno more, but as I can or mey, I shal be his servaunt and youres unto such tyme as ye woll comande me to sursese and leve of, yf it please hym.
Sir, I pray you take this copy89.2 of your statute, it is not examined be me, for I found hit thise v. yeres pessed.
Writan in my slepyng tyme at after none, on Wytsonday. Also, Sir, yf I have rehersed wyttyngly the text of the Gospell syngularly unto your maistership, I beseche you to be had excused. Your own, H. W.
333 JOHN RUSSE TO JOHN PASTON90.1
To my Maister Paston, in haaste.
1456 JUNE 1
Please your good maistirship to wete that my Lord of Norffolk yaf in comaundement to Cristofre and to the balif of Colneise to laboure with us acording to your mocion. And as to Skilly, fermour of Cowhaugh, we enteryd there, and seyd we wold have payment for the half yeer past, and sewrete for the half yeer comynge, or ellys we wold distreyne and put hym out of pocession, and put in a newe fermoure; and so oure demenyng was suche that we toke no distresse, and yit we have hym bounde in an obligacion of xviijli. payabil at Michelmesse without condecion, and vjs. viijd. we receyvid of hym for opocession, for the ferme as yit remayneth on gatherid in the fermourez handes. But I seyd hym I wold be ther ageyn for the recedu of the half yeer ferme past withinne this xiiij. dayes; and he seyd he wold do hise delygence to gather it up. But he spak with Wentworth sethyn, whiche yef hym an uttyr rebuke, as he swor to me, and seyd he wold have hys payment of Skylly, and sewe hise oblygacion this next terme whiche he is bounden in to Wentworth for the yeerly payment of the same ferme; and the seyd Wentworth seyd he wyll takyn an accyon of trespas this next terme ageyn us that were there; and Devyle seyd ye were hender the londes at the begynning of your sute thanne ye be now, and that shalbe knowe be Lammesse next comyng, for he hathe thynges to shewe ye saw nevyr yit. Skilly offerid me xls. to have delyvered hym ageyn hise obligacion, and he wold have put me in pocession of a distresse, and [i.e. if] I wold have delyvered it hym; he seithe he dede nevyr so mad a dede, for Wentworth wold no bettyr mean thane we had takyn a distresse. He shuld sone have remedyed that; but now he seith Skylls is withoute remedy, but he will be payd, &c.
Item, Sir, as to the fermourez of the manor of Langston in Brustal, we have also sewyrte be oblygacion withoute condecion payabil at Michilmesse, and toke no distresse but enteryd the londes; but we had gret peyne to brynge hem ther to, for ther is one John Cook of Braunford hath it in ferme of Wentworth all, and he leteth it out ageyn be parcelles to iij. sondre persones. But he was not at home, where for we have the same fermourez bounde for payment, and they had no mony redy, but they have promysed to delyvere Herry Deye at Yepiswiche this day xxs. in party of payment.
Item, Sir, as to the fermour of the maner of Bentley, clepid Bentley Houses, we have hym bonde in lyke wyse for the ferme of the seyd maner from Michilmesse last past tyl Mychelmesse next comyng, in an obligacion of x. marks payabil at Michilmesse next comyng, without ony condecyon; and in party of payment I have receyvid of hym xiijs. iiijd., and he promyseth me iiij. markes at Lammesse next comyng. And as for Bradwell, my maistir91.1 hathe sewyrte; and as for Kyrley Hawe, I was with the fermour yistirday, but he wyll paye no peny, nor be bounde neithir. Wherfor my maistir shal sende us to take a distresse tomorwyn, and I truste we shal fynde sum meanys to have hym bounde, &c.
Item, John Andrewe hathe in fee yerly of the maner of Coughaugh xxs., and Thomas Denys xiijs. iiijd. of the maner of Foxhole, but as ferre as I can enquere, there is payd no more feez out of non of the maneris to none othir men but to these tweyne.
Item, as for the endenturis, I sende here with a copy of Skyllyez endenture and a copy of Deynis endenture, fermour of the maner of Bentley, clepid Bentley Houses; and Herry Deye shal brynge a copy of John Cooks endenture of the ferme of the maner of Langston in Brustall; and as for Wareyn Bonde, he mad nevyr endenture for the ferme of Kyrkley Hawe, for he hathe ocupyed it but sethin Michilmesse last past; and so he holdith it but be promyse upon compnaunt [covenant ?]. And we shal gete a copy of Sewalys endenture, fermour of Bradwelle, and me semyth, savyng your bettyr avyse, it war right expedient that ye shuld for the sped of this mater be at London in al haste.
Primo die Junii anno xxxiiij.91.2 Youre humble servaunt and bedeman, John Russe.
334 JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON91.3
To my right good maister, John Paston, Squier, at Norwiche, in haste.
1456 JUNE 7
Sir, please it your maistership to wyte, I have my attachements graunted in open Courte with helpe of Litelton91.4 and Hewe at Fen, and was bide to make redy the names, &c. before the Barons, of which Haltoft91.5 was one. . . . . . . . . .91.6
As for tidings, the Kyng is at Shene, the Quene at Chestre; the Duc of Buk was, as I come hiderward, at Writell, the Erle of Warrewyke at Werrewyke, and the Lords Chaunceller,92.1 Tresorier,92.2 and th’Erle of Sar’ [Salisbury] in London, and noo more Lords at the begynyng this day of the grete Counsail. Many men say that there shuld be, but thei wote not what. The sege shall, as men say, come to Caleys and to Guynes, for moche puple come overe the water of Somme, and grete navies on the see.
Th’Erle of Penbroke92.3 is with the Kyng, and noo more Lordis. Th’Erle of Richemond92.4 and Griffith Suoh (?) are at werre gretely in Wales. The Comons of Kent, as thei werre wo[n]tte, er not all weel disposid, for there is in doyng amongs hem what evere it bee. Of Scotts is here but litell talkyng. My Lord York is at Sendall stille, and waytith on the Quene and she up on hym.
I dide my maistress your moderis erands, as ye have herde of, for Maister William hath writen his entente, and he and Clement faren weel.
Writen at Horshighdone, vijmo die Junij.
Rokewode and Crane faren weel, and thei and I recomaunde hem to my maistress your wif.
And as I understande, the Clerke of the Rolles is owte of charite with Maister Yelverton, and my Lord Chaunceller a litell mevid, &c. Your owen, J. B.
335 ABSTRACT93.1
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston, Esq.
1456 JUNE 18
As to the matters on which Paston sent to him by Will. Barker to desire his advice, Paston knows that Fastolf has put his whole confidence in him, and begs he will do with the advice of Fastolf’s learned counsel whatever they jointly think for his weal; ‘for ye know well I am so visited by the hand of God that I may not deal with such troublous matters, without it should be to great hurt of my bodily welfare, which I trust ye would not desire.’ If you find my Lady of York disposed to visit this poor place, commend me to her, and tell her how it is with me that I cannot receive her as I ought.
Castre, 18 June.
[As it will appear a little further on that the Duchess of York visited Caister in 1456, this letter is probably of that year.]
336 ABSTRACT93.2
Sir J. Fastolf to John Paston.
1456 JUNE 24
To-day my cousin Sir Miles Stapleton, Sir James Braylyes, Andrew Grygges, ‘hyr resseyvor,’ and Grymston have been with Fastolf at Castre, and brought him 253 marks, which they would have paid if he had had the obligation here. Sends therefore a letter by his servant Colyn how Sir S. and he are agreed for its deliverance, etc. Sir S. made many strange insinuations that the money was paid before, partly by assignment to Clyffton, etc. On the 18th and 19th inst. ‘long Bernard, with a priest of Kent, to the number of 16 horse, hafe, at Nacton, Bentley, and other places of F., and entered by colour of a deed of feoffment made to the Lady Roos and others, and hafe right proud language to the farmers, that they will obtain their intent.’ Russe has written more plainly by Nich. Colman.
‘Item, I charge right greatly the matter of my Lord of Bedford for my discharge, and for the recovery of my Lord’s goods.’ Begs Paston to common with the Lord Chancellor and others about it; and desires him to give ‘mine attorney, Raulyns, and my serjeants’ a warning ‘to take more tenderness’ about the process of Hykelyng that has been so many years and days driven off.
St. John Baptist’s Day.
[From the reference to ‘the matter of my Lord of Bedford,’ this letter was most probably written in the year 1456.]
337 ABSTRACT94.1
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.
‘First it is to remember that, upon St. John’s day, there was Sir Symond Brayles, chaplain of my Lady of Suffolk, and in presence of Sir Miles Stapleton and Edward Grymston, said that the 200 marks was paid before in the Duke of Suffolk’s days.’ Can prove by writings that this was not so, and that he ‘offered to put it upon my Lord Chancellor and upon one or two of Lords of the King’s council as my said Lord Chancellor will call unto him,’ that it may be known whether my Lady is wronged or Fastolf. The £100 of the above sum was not paid by assignment to Clyffton. Sir Simon complains that the suit was stolen against Sir Thos. Tuddenham, and judgment given without my Lady’s counsel knowing of it; which can be disproved.
Castre, St. John Baptist’s Day.
‘Item, I remembered Sir Simon for the restitution of my revenues of Dedham 3 year day, and my damage of a mill put down,’ etc. I paid 500 marks for the ward of Sir Rob. Harlyng’s daughter for my Lord to Sir John Clyfton, of which the Duke had no right to receive one penny, for there was no land held of the King.
[This letter corresponds so closely with the last that it must have been written the same day.]
338 FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON95.1
Honorabili viro Johanni Paston armigero ac confratri suo Willelmo germano uterino.95.2
1456(?) [JUNE 29]
Ryte reverent Syre, &c. I am informyd credybily of a secrete frend that S. T. T. [Sir Thomas Tuddenham] and J. H. [John Heydon], with J. A. [John Andrews ?] and other of cursyd covy, wyl bryng with hem many gentylmen of here bende to compleyn upon me at the next chapitle, &c. And there fore, by the grace of God, I dispose me, with help of zour good maysterschip and my Mayster Willyam, zour brother. Where fore, at the reverens of God, that ze do speke with the clerk men clepyn Brayn, that kepyth the bokys of here inditementes at the oyer determyner, anno xxixº regni Regis; and that an extret or a copy myte schortly be wrytyn owt of as many namys as dedyn indyte T. T. and J. H. for trespas, extorsyones, and oppressyonys done to other men, as wele as to my Mayster Fastolff, etc., that I may be redy to schew to my ordre, lyk a kalender, a legende of here lyvys and here rewlyng of the cuntre, in destruccyon and gret myschef of the cuntre in here dayes. At the reverens of Jesu, forzet not this mater, ne the mater of Dedham, etc. I wolde ze askyd my good lord and mayster, Yelverton, yf I sent hym ony letter in the same mater, &c. Dicente Davitico Psalmo:96.1 Ne obliviscaris voces inimicorum tuorum, nam superbia eorum ascendit semper in psalmo; qui et si nunquam ascendant in cœlos, utinam nunquam desendant ab [ad] abissos, &c., etsi anima eorum in malis tabescebat, &c. Scriptum festinacione (?) feria 3a post festum Natalis Sancti Johannis Baptistæ.96.2 Recommendetis me magistro meo W. Paston, confratri vestro, et Thomæ Playter cognato meo, cui dicite quod faciat Willelmum Geneye sibi benivolum quia Sampson filius et heres J. Sampson olim mariti Katerinæ Fastolff apud Owlton mortuus, et ibi sunt duæ viduæ, major et minor, senior et junior. Eligatur quæ sibi melius placet.
Magister Thomas Howys vobis amantissimus se cordialissime recommendat vobis, etc. Item, Willelmus Wigorniensis recommendat se vobis ex toto corde. Scribo vobis, utinam ad placitum. Vester ad vota, F. J. B., Minorum minimus.
I hafe a rolle redy of the inditements, that they were indityd for trespase and extorsyon and oppressyon done to my Mayster Fastolff, in the keping of W. Worceter, &c.
Visa frangatur et in ignem post jaciatur. Si dignemini loqui cum effectu magistro Ricardo Fysscher, secretario domini mei comitis Warwicensis, pro cujus nomine et amore promptissimus sum adhuc plura pati, ut mittatur pro me litera magistro provinciali et diffinitoribus.
339 FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON97.1
Magistro meo venerabili Johanni Paston Armigero detui.
Dixi enim magistro meo gardiano ante meum exitum quod magistri mei generosi et amici alii vellent me juvare pro die Jovis pro pascendo doctores, patres ac cæteros confratres nostri provincialis capituli; et in exitu meo consentire noluit, quia Gurnay suus socius et procurator, frater juvenis nostri conventus et unus sacerdos simplex, curatus de Worsted, et Bukle, cocus, super se diem prædictum assumpserunt. Et ego dixi, ‘Olim fuit modus quod unus ejusdem loci magister esset præferendus in tali diei eleccione. Sed unum scitote, si magistri mei certi generosi et ego cum eis habere non potuerimus diem quem elegimus, certe pro hoc tempore nullum alium diem habere volumus.’ Utinam placeret vobis ut magistra mea, uxor vestra, vellet mittere pro magistro gardiano, et dicere sibi quod ipsa quæsivit a me qualem diem ego haberem pro fratribus pascendis in tempore capituli et quod ego dixi me habiturum illum vel certe nullum aliter. Quæcumque ego potero procurare de pecuniis seu victualibus ego singula venderem et expendere vellem in reparacionibus, &c. Rogo vos ex caritate ut magistræ meæ matri vestræ ac aliis amicis vestris vobis notis, insinuetis nostram indigenciam pro faciliori relevamine capituli provincialis. Sic enim ad vestri et mei magistri mei specialem instanciam præsencialiter habere residenciam teneo, ut alia loca pro præsenti negocio accedere non valeam, &c. Non plura pro præsenti sunt calamo præsentanda, nisi quod vos, vestros et vestra Jesus Christus graciose conservet in prosperis et graciosius dirigat in agendis. Amen.
Recommendetis me, si placeat, uxori et matri et confratribus vestris W., &c. et domino meo Rectori de Blofeld, utinam de Hadle, &c.; cui dicatis quod hac nocte jacuit Colinus Gallicus cum pulcherima Amasia sua in camera conducta per eum, &c. Utinam nunquam vigeat, &c. Ipse proponit in vestra præsentia dicere dicto rectori satis perversa verba. Et spero quod dominus Rector faciat de sua speciali gratia meum negocium per Ricardum famulum suum crastina die summo mane expediendum, quia dies ista est dies ultima, &c. Ex manerio de Castre, Sabbato circa tempus prandii festinantissime.
Magister meus97.2 valde gavisus est quando audivit de vobis quomodo scienter, audacter, viriliter et veraciter respondistis adversariis vestris coram Domino Cancellario aliisque dominis, &c.
Vester præ cæteris orator, F. J. B., Minorum minimus.
340 HENRY FYLUNGLEY TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF98.1
To my ryght worshipfull unkle, and my ryght good master, Syr John Fastalf, Knyght.
1456(?) JULY 17
Ryght worshipfull unkull, and my ryght good master, I recomaund me to yow wyth all my servys. And, Sir, my brother Paston and I have comened togeder as touchinge to your colage that ye wold have made; and, Sir, hit ys to gret a good that ys axed of yow for youre lycens; for they ax for every C. marc that ye wold amortyse D. marcz, and woll gefe hit noo better chepe.
And, Sir, y told my brother Paston that my Lady of Bargeveney98.2 hath, in dyvers Abbeyes in Lecestershyre, vij. or viij. prestes singinge for her perpetuell, by my brother Darcyes and my unkle Brokesbyes meanes, for they were her executors; and they acorded for money, and gafe a cc. or ccc. marc, as they myzt acord for a prest. And for the suerte that he shuld synge in the same abbey for ever, they had maners of good valew bounden to such persones as plesed the sayd barthern [brethren] Brokkesby and my brother Darcy, that the sayd servyse shulde be kept. And for lytell moore then the Kynge axed hem for a lycence, they went thorgh with the sayd abbots. And y hold this wey as sure as that other. Ye may comen with youre councell therof.
And yf there be any servyse that I can do for yow, hit shall be redy at all tymes, with the grace of God, who have yow in his kepynge.
Wryten at London, the xvij. day of Juyll. Your nevew and servaunt, Henry Fylungley.
341 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON99.1
To my worshipful cousyn, John Paston.
1456 JULY 31
Right trusty and worshipful cousyn, I recomaunde me to yow. And like it yow to wyte, myn attorny, Raulyns, hathe enformed me that the Jugis have ruled processe to goo owte ayenst the priour of Hikelyng of distresse per omnia bona et catalla, of whiche the writte and other ar not yet come fro London. I trust whan thei come, be your good counsail and meane, the Shireve wil doo his devoir; how be it, as I understande, thei have sente the Lord Scales all there evidences, and he wil come and dwelle there hym silf. And I am also enformed, for certeyn, that the Bushop of Norwiche, for all the truste I hadde to hym, that by his meane I shulde have knowen there fundacion, he hathe warned his officeres not to have adoo therinne, by cause of the Lord Scales, &c. Cousyn, I pray yow, in as moche as the matere, by agrement, was putte in you and Fyncham, and how that ye, for the same cause, specially kepte your day at London, and toke not in there defaulte and not myn, that ye wil soo in caas ye see Fyncham remembre, and to othere there as ye seme it shulde profite to be knowen, and that yet nevertheles my sute soo ferforthe I wole yet, as I wolde thanne, and at all tymes am redy; and soo I wolde the priour knewe, and all othere, as weel his weelwillers as otheres, as the bringer herof shall declare you more pleinly. As for tidinges, my folkes ar not yet come fro London. The abbot of Seint Benettes hathe ben with me, and suche as he tolde me the bringer shall enforme you. And our Lord Jesu have you in governaunce.
Writen at Castre, the last day of Julle. Your cousyn, J. F.
342 LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON100.1
To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.
1456 AUG. 10
Right trusty and entierly welbeloved frend, I grete you well, and wull ze wite that Danyell100.2 hath required me to write un to you, praying you that ze wyll kepe the day upon Thursday100.3 vij. dayes nexst comyng, which shal be for the best, as I trust; not with standyng I suppose lerned men wyll not be easy for to gete be cause of this besy tyme of hervest. Almyghty God have you in Hise governaunce.
Writen at Mydelton,100.4 the x. day of August. Your frend, Scales.
343 LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON100.5
To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier.
About 1456(?)
Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly well. And for as mych as I u[ndyrstond] a bill was made at Yermuth ageyns my cousyn Bryan Stapylton and hise wy. . . . have set up the said bill in the Kynges Bench, which bill is in your kepyng, pray[ing] you that ye wyll sende me the same bill be the bringer herof, to the entent I m[ay] se it. And as I am informed be my said cousyn, ye shewed hym grete gentilnesse and benyvolence, wherof I thanke you right hertely. I pray God have you in governance.
Writen at Midelton, the xx. day of Septembre. Zowr frend, Scales.
344 ARCHBISHOP BOURCHIER TO JOHN PASTON101.1
To our right truste and right welbeloved John Paston, Esquier, and William Norwiche101.2 and to either of theym.
1456 SEPT. 7
Right truste and right welbeloved, we grete you hertly wel. And where as Sir Nichol Bowet, Knight, sueth an appeelle in the countee of Norffolk ayenst oon Robert Offord of Berking for the deeth of oon Sir Henry Bowet, clerc, we being enformed that the matier is pitevous, praie you hertly that ye wul in our behalve moeve and entreete the Shirreve of the saide countee to surceese of the execucion of any processe upon the exigent101.3 to hym directed in that behalve unto the next terme, so that resonable meanes maye be founden to save the saide Robert harmelesse; lating hym wite that we have written to the saide Sir Nichol for a convenient treetie to be taken in that behalve, as shalbe thought according to right. And God have you ever in his keping.
Written in our Manoir of Mortelake, the vij. daie of September. T., Archbysshopp of Canterbury.
345 JOHN BOCKING TO JOHN PASTON102.1
To my right worshipful Maister, John Paston.
1456 OCT. 8
Right worshipful Sir, and my good maister, I recomaunde me to yow, and have receyvid a lettre from yow by Sir Thomas is man, berer here of. And as for the accions,102.2 bothe of ravishement and th’attachement, the declaracions ar made tunc solvend’ and not solut’, and as moche amendid as we can or may be favour have amendid. We hadde be beguyled and they hadde not be sen in Norffolk, for here til this day come noo counsaill; and to have per manus Johannis Wyngfelde it wole not be, for we can not bringe it inne, and also it is to late.
And as for iiijxxli. [fourscore pounds],102.3 Fenn and I mette with Worsop this day, and he spake soore to Fenn and me, and we put hym overe, saying we wolde doo as moche as we myghte. I thinke verily that Fenn wole deserve ther inne a thanke, but I can not understande hym what he wolde be doon to, or how rewardid, for whanne I speke of it he is desplesid, and seithe he desirith noo rewarde; but he farith as a man wole sey he wold noo silvere, and lokith awaywardes and takith a noble. And he hath written to yow of the matere of Sir Philip Wentworthe touching this writte of liberate,102.4 whiche is but a color and noo warant sufficient, ner we owe not to doo no thinge that shuld obeye it, ner the Shireve nother dothe but of favor that he dothe to hem, and hym liste otherwise to doo, as Fenn writeth yow more pleinly. And as for a supersedies [sic], there lithe noon, as he seith, up on a liberate.
And as for entryng in Bradwell, thei doo opyn wronge, for after myn patent opteyned, there was a writte to sease it into the Kynges hande, and soo it was and is. And as to your patent, it is counsailled me to have a writte to th’eschetor de custodia liberanda, whiche may not be denyed. And if we myght have una cum exitibus a tempore mortis, it were a sovereigne writte. It shalbe assaied, and doo thertoo what can lete; the fermours be promised to be saved harmeles and chargid not to paie ony thing to them.
And as for the iiijxxli. [fourscore pounds] to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte. It is faire, and we can ghete it on Fulthorp is dette by grete labor for agrement, for I drede it wole be moste agayn us that it is of recorde soo longe unpaied. And Hue at Fenn sueth now to Nailer to ghete owte moo liberates, suche as the last were to the last eschetor. And this God graunte thei take good spede.
And as to your isseus, I shal accordyng to your lettre speke with Gresham whanne he cometh, and the Juges and Barons bothe shalbe enformed of the title of Wentworthe, as ye write, and how it is up on a feyned dede upon surrender, and a patent cancelled, &c., which Fenn hath promisid to doo.
And as to Sir Thomas matier, I write un to yow and hym joinctly what hathe be doon therinne at this tyme. And Jesu have yow in kepyng.
Writen at Suthwerk, the viij. day of Octobre.
As to tidinges, the Kyng and the Quene ar at Coventre.103.1 The Counsail be ganne there yesterday, and my Lord Shrewyshbury,103.2 Tresorier of England, and John Wode shalb [shall be] Under-Tresorer. Thus thei say in the Chequer. Your owen, J. B.
346 BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON104.1
To my Maister Paston.
1456(?) OCT. 12
Please yow to wete that I hafe remembred of the langage that I hafe late lerned W. Barker had to yow and othyrs of his accomptes apposyng,104.2 and of that they be not hole bethyn [between] ws, but yn division, &c. Sir, as I may sey yow, hyt was nevere othyrwyse, ne nevere ys lyke to be; for now they hafe do with Lowys, he that ys next shall be yn the same as he was yn gelosye; for when my maister comaundyth such as of force, by reson of her occupacion, most be nere hym, to do a message to hys felow, or question of hym, hyt shall be ymagyned amonges our felyshyp that he doth make maters to my maister. And so it ys ymagyned of me when I wryte lettres to London, to Bokkyng or Barker, that yn such maters as please hem not, then it ys my doyng; yff it take well to theyr entent, then it ys her [their] doyng. And yn gode feyth, so it was ymagyned of me and othyrs that wrote, by my maister comaundment, to Castre, to the parson of Blofeld, Geffrey Spyrlyng, and othyrs, that of such maters as was lykyng to hem and coude be sped by help of my maister frendes as by theyr solicytyng, then it was seyd that it was theyr avice, labour, and doyng. And yff the maters went not to my maister entent, ne that they coude not bryng aboute the mater, then it was imagyned and jangled that it was my wrytyng and doyng. I bare nevere my maister purs, ne condyt nevere chargeable mater alone of hys yn lawe, for my discrecion ne connyng know not whate such maters menyth. I knew nevere of oyer ne terminer, ne rad nevere patent before, ne my maister knew nevere the condyt of such thynges; and when he wrote of hys grevonse to hys frendys, he commaunded no man to be endyted, for he wyst not whate belonged to such thynges, ne the parson neyther, but remitted it to his councell lerned. There was no man gretter at hert with hym, as Andreus wyth Heydon, because of castyng Bradwell and Tychewell yn the Kynges handes, and toke awey the waarde. And I came nevere at the oyer and terminer.
By God, my maister lost c. marc by a seute of Margyt Bryg upon a defence of atteynt, because a quest passed ayenst hyr of xij. penyworth lond by yeer; and I dar sey and prefe it, my maister never spake of hyr, ne knew hyr not, ne wrote to sew hyr at the oyer and terminer, as I am remembred. Yhyt yt was well deffended, at my maister grete cost and labour, and myne pore labour also. Yhyt ought not I, ne none such yn my stede, beer the wyte [blame] wyth Sir Thomas, ne none othyr; he that takyth the tolle most take the charge, hyt ys hys negligence that wille take the labour more then he may awey. I wold the parson ys wellfare asmoch as man lyvyng, to my wreched power; and yff, or when, ye hyre onye froward ymagynacions, I pray yow gefe no credence tille ye hyre it aunsuerd. I am eased of my spyrytes now that I hafe expressed my leude [ignorant] menyng, because of my felow Barker, as of such othyr berkers ayenst the mone, to make wysemen laugh at her foyle. Our Lord kepe yow.
Wryt at Castre the xij. day of October. Your W. Botoner.
I hafe and do purchasse malgre to remembre of evidenses lakkyng by negligence, &c. And therfor I most be muet and suffre gretter losses but [unless] it be othyrwyse concydered. I sende yow the copie of your patentes,105.1 in parchement, and I hafe remembred as well as I can both the stuard and Bertilmeu Elys for execucion ayenst the pleggs of your seyntuarye, carpenter (?) Snow, that evere ys disposed to breke promysses. Foryefe me of my leude lettre wrytyng, and I pray yow laugh at it.
347 SIR THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON106.1
To my right goode maister, John Paston.
1456 or 1457
Reverent Sir, &c. Please yow to wete that it [is] so that my maister, of his owen frowardness, and of non other mannys mevyng, hat sent a warent to Cristefor that he shuld delyver me no mony tyll the iiijxxli. [fourscore pounds] where payed for Bokkyng and Wurcestre patent;106.2 and yf the seyd Cristefore delyvered me any mony, that he shuld take a sewerte of me therfor, nowthwithstandyng my maister preyed me that I shuld reherce alle thynge in my name, where of I held me content. And now I fele this traytour wrytyng under nethe, and I nowth prevy ther to, at my comyng owt causet me to thynk the more hevynes, &c. Nevertheles, I prey yow that a mene may be taken of trety by the mene of Clopton or Ellys. Sende me word, and I shal seke menys of trety, for, be God, I shal trust no more no fayre wordes; and there to I shall lete alle the Lords of this lond knowe what wrytyngs I have, and his disposicion. Save yowre reverens, Cristyfor sal (?) have swyche a maister, &c. I prey yow, as ever I may do yow service or be yowre bedeman that ye wele sende me yowre avise. I had lever paye xx. marke, or xli. in hande and xli. yerely furthe, with myn enemyndz good love, than to yelde me to preson ayens here entent, and sewe forth the tyncte. And no trost what my maister wele do, for I can right evele beleve that he wele bere owt the cost of the tyncte whan he maket straunge to ley dowun the condempnacion, &c.
Wretyn brevely at Horseydown the Wenesday after messe, anno xxxvto. T. Howys.
I shal nowt leve this mater to serve the most enemy that he hat in Inglond. I wele non of his good. I have lever other men go to the Dille [Devil ?] for his good than I do.
348 JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON107.1
To the right worshipfull and myn especiall maister, John Paston, Esquyer, in hast be this delivered.
1456 OCT. 16
After al due recomendacion, like it you to wete, that the day of your assise is die Lunæ proximo post tres septimanas Sancti Michaelis, whiche is on Moneday come vij. nyght; at whiche tyme I trost ye wole be here, or ellis can I do lytell or nought there inne.
As touchyng your mater ageynst Gunnore, that dwelleth in lawe, I have spoken to Lyttelton,107.2 and comuned with hym there in, but it is not yet spoke of atte barre. Gunnore hath waged his lawe107.3 of that he haade his day to wage it of, &c.
As touchyng your issues at Wentworth sute, it is ijs., and it was retourned er I come here. My Maister Fastolfs councel taketh heed thereto, &c.
As for tydynges, my Lord Chaunceler108.1 is discharged. In his stede is my Lord of Wynchestre.108.2 And my Lord of Shrewisbury108.3 is Tresorer, and Broun108.4 of your Inn is Undertresorer. If ye wold sende to hym to graunte you the namyng of th’eschetorship of Norffolk, &c., it were weel do, for it is told me he wold do moche for you.
Maister Lawrence Bothe108.5 is Prive Seall. And it is seid that my Lord of York108.6 hath be with the Kyng, and is departed ageyn in right good conceyt with the Kyng, but not in gret conceyt with the Whene [Queen]; and sum men sey, ne hadde my Lord of Buks108.7 not have letted it, my Lord of York had be distressed in his departyng.
On Moneday last passed was a gret affray at Coventre bytwene the Duke of Somersets men and the wechemen [watchmen] of the toun, and ij. or iij. men of the toun were kylled there, to gret disturbance of alle the Lords there; for the larom belle was ronge, and the toun arose, and wold have jouperdit to have distressed the Duke of Somerset, &c., ne had the Duke of Buks not have take a direccion therein.
Also it is seid the Duke of Buks taketh right straungely that bothe his brethren108.8 arn so sodeynly discharged from ther offices of Chauncellerie and Tresoryship; and that among other causeth hym that his opynyon is contrary to the Whenes [Queen’s] entent, and many other also, as it is talked. Item, sum men seyn, the counseal is dissolved, and that the Kyng is forth to Chester,109.1 &c. Also summe sey that many of the Lords shall resorte hiddir to London ageynst Alhalwen tyde.
And as touchyng th’eleccion of Shirefs, men wene that my Lord of Canterbury shall have a gret rule, and specyall in our countre.
I can no more, but Almyghty God send us as his most pleaser is.
Wretyn al in hast, the Saterday next after Seint Edwards day. Your Servaunt, James Gresham.
349 ABSTRACT109.2
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston.
1456 NOV. 10
Begs him in the end of the term to come home by Dedham, along with William Worcester and Barker, to see to the accounts of barley and such husbandry as is used there. As to Wighton in Yorkshire, Bokkyng reminds me you spoke to me that my son Scrope and his father-in-law109.3 should have all the lyvelode of my wife’s in farm, to which I agreed, or else that Lord Vesey would have Wighton, as he once had, at a rent of £34—much more than I make it worth yearly. Do as you think best for me. I had rather my son Scrope had it with sufficient surety.
Castre, 10 Nov.
Begs him to common with William Worcester that by means of my Lord of Canterbury, or otherwise, Master William Clyf and others of the executors of John Wellis may be spoken to for the recovery of great good that William Worcester knows Wellis owed to Fastolf.
[The date of this letter appears to be 1456. Of the years when Fastolf resided at Caister, it is not 1454, because in that year Barker could not have been in London on the 10th November (see No. 265). It is not 1455, because Worcester appears to have been at that time at Caister (see Nos. 305 and 306). The same appears to have been the case in 1457, though we can only judge by a letter of the 29th October; and although Worcester certainly was in London in November 1458, Sir John Fastolf was then in London with him.]
350 ABSTRACT110.1
Sir John Fastolf to John Paston at the Temple.
1456 NOV. 15
Received certain letters by Henry Hanson on Thursday last, including one from William Barker written in Lukett’s hand, and two bills of supplication, one of which, in the name of the tenants of Cotton, he has sent to Paston, as he has already written. John Russe and Geoff. Spyrlyng have ridden to Cotton in consequence, and will inform Paston how they speed. Thinks the bill ‘right good and well spoken according to the truth of their riotous demeaning.’ Received at the same time a bill written in his own name, of which he approves. Hears that young Henry Wentworth, young Calthorpe, and young Brews were at the distress-taking, among others. Has perfect confidence in Paston as to the treaty, and hopes to obtain again the manor of Bradwell by some means, as clear as he had it before his unhappy release. Hears that the Chief Justice ‘rectid the matter’ in Parliament before the Lords, and showed how Fastolf was wronged in that it was untruly found by the office that he had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf of the manor, whereas he has documents proving a true sale. My Lady of York has been here, ‘and sore moved me for the purchase of Castre.’ Begs him to devise means for the licence of mortising of certain buildings for the foundation of a college, ‘as ye and I have commoned of before.’ William Worcester can show him a copy of one passed by the King, and signed ready to the late Chancellor Stafford. Desires him to make himself acquainted with two chaplains about my Lord of Canterbury and my Lord Chancellor. William Barker writes of a general treaty, to which he can make no answer further than he has already done to Yelverton and Paston.
Castre, Monday after St. Martin.
[In this letter, as in the last, we have Worcester and Barker both in London, which, we have seen, points to the year 1456. It is clear also that this letter was written just before that which follows.]
351 SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON111.1
To the worshipful and my right welbeloved cosyn, John Paston, at the Temple, or to William Barker, at Suthwerk, be this delvered.
1456 NOV. 18
Worshipful cosyn, I comaunde me to yow. And where as I late wrote unto yow in a lettre by Henre Hansson for the fundacion of my college, I am soore sette therupon; and that is the cause I write now, to remembre yow agayn to meve my Lords of Canterbury111.2 and Wynchestre111.3 for the licence to be opteined, that I might have the morteisying withowte ony grete fyne, in recompence of my longe servise contynued and doon un to the Kyng, and to his noble fader, whom God assoile, and nevere yette guerdoonned or rewarded.
And now sithe I have ordeyned to make the Kyng founder, and evere to be prayed fore, and for his right noble progenitors, hise fader, and uncles, me thinketh I shuld not be denyed of my desire, but the rather to be remembrid and spedde.
Wherfore, as I wrote un to yow, I pray yow acqueynte me and yow, for the rather spede here of, with a chapelleyn of my Lord of Caunterbury, that in your absence may remembre me, and in like wise with my Lord Chaunceller;112.1 for seyng the Kyngs disposicion, and also hise, un to the edyfyeng of God is service, it myght in noo bettyr tyme be mevid, &c.
My Lord of Norffolk is remevid from Framlyngham on foote to goo to Walsyngham,112.2 and deily I wayte that he wolde come hidre. Your cosyn, J. Fastolf.
352 ABSTRACT112.3
Proceedings in a Suit in Michaelmas Term, 35 Hen. VI.
1456 NOV.
I. Writ to the Sheriff of Suffolk to attach John Andrewe of Boylom, and bring him before the Barons of the Exchequer on the morrow of All Souls to answer, along with Sir Philip Wentworth and Thos. Deyvill of Netlestede, to the suit of John Paston and Thomas Howys.
II. Pleadings. The King committed the wardship of Thomas, son and heir of John Fastolf of Cowhawe, to Paston and Howes by patent, 6th June 32 Hen. VI.; but on the 8th June 32 Hen. VI., Andrewe and Deyvill, with force and arms, entered Sholond Hall, Suffolk, and Foxhole, and Bentley Houses, etc., and took rents to the sum of £360, and underwood to the value of £40. Imparlance granted till 26th Nov., when the parties were not agreed. Venire facias was then awarded a die Sancti Helarii in xv. dies.