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-ïğżThe Project Gutenberg eBook, The Paston Letters, Volume II (of 6), Edited
-by James Gairdner
-
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
-almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
-re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
-with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
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-
-
-
-
-Title: The Paston Letters, Volume II (of 6)
-       New Complete Library Edition
-
-
-Editor: James Gairdner
-
-Release Date: October 8, 2012  [eBook #40989]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-
-***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PASTON LETTERS, VOLUME II (OF
-6)***
-
-
-E-text prepared by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made
-available by Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries
-(http://archive.org/details/toronto)
-
-
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40989 ***
 
 Note: Images of the original pages are available through
       Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See
@@ -15175,363 +15140,4 @@ END OF VOLUME II
   Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
   at the Edinburgh University Press
 
-
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-***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PASTON LETTERS, VOLUME II (OF
-6)***
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+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40989 ***
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@@ -1,15538 +0,0 @@
-The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Paston Letters, Volume II (of 6), Edited
-by James Gairdner
-
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
-almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
-re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
-with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
-
-
-
-
-
-Title: The Paston Letters, Volume II (of 6)
-       New Complete Library Edition
-
-
-Editor: James Gairdner
-
-Release Date: October 8, 2012  [eBook #40989]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
-
-
-***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PASTON LETTERS, VOLUME II (OF
-6)***
-
-
-E-text prepared by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made
-available by Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries
-(http://archive.org/details/toronto)
-
-
-
-Note: Images of the original pages are available through
-      Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See
-      http://archive.org/details/pastonlettersad02gairuoft
-
-
-      Project Gutenberg has the other volumes of this work.
-         Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43348
-         Volume III: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41024
-         Volume IV: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41081
-         Volume V: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42239
-         Volume VI, Part 1 (Letters, Chronological Table): see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42240
-         Volume VI, Part 2 (Index): see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42494
-
-
-Transcriber's note:
-
-      This e-text comes in two forms: Unicode (UTF-8) and Latin-1.
-      Use the one that works best on your text reader.
-
-        --If "oe" displays as a single character, and apostrophes
-        and quotation marks are "curly" or angled, you have the
-        UTF-8 version (better). If any part of this paragraph
-        displays as garbage, try changing your text reader's
-        "character set" or "file encoding". If that doesn't work,
-        proceed to:
-        --In the Latin-1 version, "oe" is two letters, but French
-        words like "étude" have accents and "ĉ" is a single
-        letter. Apostrophes and quotation marks will be straight
-        ("typewriter" form).
-
-      The Gairdner edition of the Paston Letters was printed in six
-      volumes. Each volume is a separate e-text; Volume VI is further
-      divided into two e-texts, Letters and Index. Volume I, the
-      General Introduction, will be released after all other volumes,
-      matching the original publication order.
-
-      Except for footnotes and sidenotes, all brackets are in the
-      original, as are parenthetical question marks and (_sic_)
-      notations. Series of dots representing damaged text are as in
-      the printed original.
-
-      The year was shown in a sidenote at the top of each page; this
-      has been merged with the sidenote at the beginning of each
-      Letter or Abstract.
-
-      A carat character is used to denote superscription. The
-      character(s) following the carat is superscripted (example:
-      xxviii^me). Braces { } are used only when the superscripted
-      text is immediately followed by non-superscripted letters
-      or period (full stop). Errata and other transcriber's notes
-      are shown in [[double brackets]]. The notation "corrected by
-      editor" refers to the Errata printed in Volume VI.
-
-      Footnotes have their original numbering, with added page
-      number to make them usable with the full Index. They are
-      grouped at the end of each Letter or Abstract.
-
-      Typographical errors are listed at the end of each Letter,
-      after the footnotes. In the primary text, errors were only
-      corrected if they are clearly editorial, such as missing
-      italics, or mechanical, such as u-for-n misprints. Italic "d"
-      misprinted as "a" was a recurring problem. The word "invisible"
-      means that there is an appropriately sized blank space, but the
-      letter or punctuation mark itself is missing. The spelling
-      "Jhon" is not an error. Gresham and Tresham are different
-      people.
-
-      Note that the printed book used z to represent original small
-      letter yogh. This has not been changed for the e-text.
-
-
-
-
-
-This edition, published by arrangement with Messrs. ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE
-AND COMPANY, LIMITED, is strictly limited to 650 copies for Great
-Britain and America, of which only 600 sets are for sale, and are
-numbered 1 to 600.
-
-  No. 44.
-
-  [[The number 44 is handwritten.]]
-
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-           *       *       *       *
-
-
-              THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-                A.D. 1422-1509
-
-
-           *       *       *       *
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-A.D. 1422-1509
-
-New Complete Library Edition
-
-Edited with Notes and an Introduction
-
-By
-JAMES GAIRDNER
-of the Public Record Office
-
-_VOLUME II_
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-London
-Chatto & Windus
-
-[Decoration]
-
-Exeter
-James G. Commin
-1904
-
-Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
-
-
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-_Early Documents_
-
-
-Before entering upon the correspondence of the Paston family, in the
-reign of Henry VI., we have thought it well to give the reader a brief
-note of such deeds and charters of an earlier date as appear either to
-have been preserved in the family, or to have any bearing on its
-history. The following is a list of those we have been able to meet with
-either in the originals or in other quarters, such as Blomefield's
-_History of Norfolk_, where notices are given of several documents,
-which appear now to have got into unknown hands. The documents seen by
-Blomefield, and those from the Paston and Dawson-Turner collections, now
-in the British Museum, were probably all at one time part of the Paston
-family muniments. The three Harleian charters seem to have been derived
-from a different source.
-
-  A Deed is cited by Blomefield (_Hist. Norf._ vi. 480), by which
-  Anselm, Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme, and the Convent there, gave to
-  Osbern, the priest (said by Blomefield to have been a son of Griffin
-  de Thwait, the founder of the Paston family), the land of St.
-  Benet's of Paston (_terram Sancti Benedicti de Paston_), in fee, for
-  half the farm of one _caruca_, as his ancestors used to pay for the
-  same.
-
-  Also a Deed of William the Abbot (who lived in King Stephen's
-  reign), granting to Richer de Pastun, son of Osbern, son of Griffin
-  de Thwete, all the land that the Convent held in Pastun, with their
-  men, and other pertinencies.
-
-  Also a Deed of Covenant between Richer de Paston and Reginald the
-  Abbot, and Convent of St. Benet's, Holme, that when peace should be
-  settled in England, and pleas held in the Court of our Lord the
-  King, the said Richer would, at the request and at the expense of
-  the Abbot, give him every security in Court to release the lands in
-  Pastun.
-
-  'Ralph de Paston was son, as I take it' (says Blomefield) 'of this
-  Richer, and appears to have had two sons, Richard and Nicholas.
-
-  'Richard, son of Ralph de Paston, by his deed, _sans_ date, granted
-  to Geoffrey, son of Roger de Tweyt, lands in this town (Oxnead),
-  paying 9d. per ann. for his homage and service, 40s. for a fine
-  (_in gersumam_), and paying to him and his heirs on the feasts of
-  St. Andrew, Candlemas, Pentecost, and St. Michael, on each feast,
-  2s. _ob._ He sealed with one _lis_. Laurence de Reppes, William and
-  John, his brother, William de Bradfield, &c., were witnesses.'
-  --Blomefield, vi. 480-1.
-
-  'There was also another branch of this family, of which was Wystan,
-  or Wolstan, de Paston, which I take to be the lineal ancestor of Sir
-  William Paston, the Judge, and the Earls of Yarmouth. This Wolstan
-  lived in the reign of Henry II. and Richard I., and married, as is
-  probable, a daughter of the Glanvilles, as appeared from an
-  impalement of Paston and Glanville in the windows of Paston Hall in
-  Paston. His son and heir styled himself Robert de Wyston and Robert
-  de Paston; who, dying in or about 1242, was buried at Bromholm, and
-  left Edmund de Paston. To this Edmund, son of Robert, son of Wolstan
-  de Paston, Sir Richard de Paston gave the land in Paston which
-  Robert, his father, held of him and Nicholas, his brother, by deed
-  _sans_ date.' --Blomefield, vi. 481.
-
-  Undated Deed of Nicholaus filius Radulfi Diaconi de Paston, granting
-  to Robert, son of Wistan de Paston, two parcels of land--one of them
-  abutting on the lands of Eudo de Paston. Witnesses--Richard de
-  Trunch; Will. Esprygy; Ralph de Reppes; Roger de Reppes; Richard,
-  s. of Ralph de Baketon; John de Reppes; Roger, s. of Warin de Paston;
-  Hugh, s. of Will. de Paston, &c.--Add. Charter 17,217, B.M. (Paston
-  MSS.).
-
-  Undated Deed of Richard, son of Ralph de Pastune, granting to
-  Edmund, son of Robert Wistan de Pastune, lands in Pastune,
-  &c.--(_Seal attached, in fine condition._)--Add. Charter 17,218,
-  B.M. (Paston MSS.).
-
-  Blomefield also mentions (vi. 481) that Nicholas, son of Ralph de
-  Paston, gave lands to Robert, son of Wystan de Paston, by deed _sans
-  date_. Witness, Roger de Repps.
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, by which Richard, the son of Ralph, Deacon of
-  Paston, grants to Edmund, the son of Robert Wiston of Paston,
-  certain lands at Paston.--Add. Charter 14,810, B.M. (D. Turner's
-  Collection of Deeds relating to Norfolk).
-
-  Richard, son of Ralph de Paston, according to Blomefield (xi. 24),
-  gave 12_d._ a year rent in Paston to the Priory of Bromholm. This
-  gift is also mentioned by Richard Taylor in his Index Monasticus of
-  the Diocese of Norwich, p. 15, where the purpose of the endowment is
-  said to be 'to keep their books in repair.'
-
-  Deed, cited by Blomefield (vi. 481), by Richard, son of John, son of
-  Richard de Paston, granting to Richer Alunday and his heirs his
-  native Alan de Tilney, with all his family, &c. (_cum tota
-  sequela_), and 7 acres of land in Paston and Knapton, with
-  messuages, &c., for 4 marks of silver _in gersumam_, and a rent of
-  22_d._ a year.
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, whereby William, the son of Robert Barrett,
-  grants to Edmund, the son of Robert Whiston of Paston, certain lands
-  in the Common Field of Paston.--Add. Charter 14,813, B.M.
-  (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Undated Indenture between Clement Parcerit of Gimmingham, and Cecil,
-  his wife, and Edmund, the son of Robert de Paston, concerning lands
-  in Paston Field.--Add. Charter 14,814, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, by which Richard de Lessingham grants to William,
-  son of Robert de Paston, certain lands in the Common Field of
-  Paston.--Add. Charter 14,812 (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Ancient Deed of Nich. Chancehose of Baketun granting to Edmund, fil.
-  Roberti Wistan de Pastun, and his heirs, for 30_s._, a _tresroda_ of
-  land in Pastun.--Add. Charter 17,219, B.M. (Paston MSS.).
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, by which Richard, son of John de Paston, grants
-  to Roger, his brother, certain lands in Paston Field.--Add. Charter
-  14,811, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, whereby Hugh, son of William de Pastun, grants to
-  Walter, son of Edmund de Pastun, and his heirs, a _tresroda_ of land
-  in the fields of Pastun, 'inter terram quĉ fuit Osberti Salr. (?),
-  ex parte Austri, et terram quĉ fuit Ricardi Chaumpeneys ex parte
-  Aquilonis, et abuttat super forreram quĉ fuit Roberti Carpentar'
-  versus Orientem, et super liberam et terram ecclesiĉ de Past' versus
-  Occidentem.' --Add. Charter 2004, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1313, 16 Oct. 'William de Paston obtains a pardon as an
-  adherent of the Earl of Lancaster for his participation in the death
-  of Gaveston, and the disturbances occasioned thereby.' 16 Oct.,
-  7 Edw. II.--Palgrave's Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii. div. iii. p.
-  1262.
-
-  A.D. 1324, 22 Jan. Deed Poll, dated on Sunday after the Feast of St.
-  Agnes, 17 Edward II., whereby Henry de Mundham, parson of Oxnead,
-  and another, grant to William Hautayne and Alice, his wife,
-  a certain messuage and premises in Oxnead.--Add. Charter 14,804,
-  B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  A.D. 1324, 19 Feb. Quit-Claim by Edmund, son of Robert de Neketone,
-  to Robert de Paston, Tabernarius, of lands in the fields without the
-  West Gate of Bury St. Edmund's. Sunday after St. Valentine's Day,
-  17 Edw. II. Seal attached.--Harl. Charter 54 A. 31, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1329, 24 Dec. Deed Poll of Margery, daughter of Robert de
-  Neketon, granting to Robert de Paston lands in the fields of St.
-  Edmund's. St. Edmund's Bury, Sunday, Christmas Eve, 3 Edw.
-  III.--Harl. Charter 54 A. 32, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1330. Petition to Parliament 4 Edw. III. of John de Claveryng,
-  complaining that John Payne of Dunwich, Constantine de Paston,
-  Austin Fitzwilliam, and others of Dunwich, took by force and arms
-  five ships and a boat belonging to him, at Wallerswyke, and goods to
-  the value of £300, after having beat, shipwrecked, and imprisoned
-  (_baterent, naufrerent, et enprisonerent_) the said John's servants.
-  The king's answer: 'Eyt en Chauncellerie oyer et terminer pur le
-  horibilite du trespas, devant covenables justices.' --Rolls of Parl.
-  ii. 33.
-
-  A.D. 1333, 29 April. Deed Poll, dated Thursday next before the Feast
-  of the Invention of the Holy Cross, 7 Edward III., whereby Alice,
-  widow of William Hautayne, grants to Henry de Colby and others a
-  messuage, with the appurtenances in Oxnead.--Add. Charter 14,805,
-  B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  A.D. 1341, 28 Aug. Deed Poll of Robert de Paston granting to William
-  de Bradeleghe and William Child, Chaplains, lands in the fields of
-  St. Edmund's Bury, without the West Gate at Stanywerp, &c. St.
-  Edmund's Bury, Tuesday after St. Bartholomew, 15 Edw. III.--Harl.
-  Charter 54 F. 37, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1341. Indenture of 15 Edw. III. between John de Knapeton,
-  rector of Freugges, and Clement de Paston and Will. his son.--Add.
-  Charter 17,221, B.M. (Paston MSS.).
-
-  A.D. 1361. Charter of Sir Rob. de Mauteby to the Prior of St.
-  Olave's, Herlyngflet, 35 Edw. III.--Add. Charter 17,222 (Paston
-  MSS.), B.M.
-
-  Notes of Proceedings in Outlawry of the time of Edward III. Judgment
-  by Sir John Hody, mentioned in a more modern hand.--Paston MSS.,
-  B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1382, 5 Oct. Deed Poll, dated on Sunday next after the Feast of
-  St. Michael, 6 Richard II., by which Robert de Paston grants to John
-  Gant certain lands in Paston field.--Add. Charter 14,817, B.M.
-  (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  A.D. 1404, 1 Oct. Deed by which Mary, Lady Mortimer, mother of Sir
-  John Fastolf, grants to her said son her manors of Caister and
-  Caister Hall, together with her manor of Repps and the advowson of
-  the free Chapel of St. John, within the said manor of Caister, to
-  hold to him and his heirs for ever. 1 Oct., 6 Henry IV.--Add.
-  Charter 14,597, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-_Henry V_
-
-
-
-
-1
-
-HENRY V.'S CONQUESTS IN FRANCE[5.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1417-9]
-
-These be the names of Townes, Castell, Citees, and Abbeys that the [King
-did][5-2] gete in his secund viage:--
-
-  The Town of Cane and the Castell.
-  The Town of Valeis [_Falaise_] and the Castell.
-  The Town of Argenton and the Castell.
-  The Town of Bayeux and the Castell.
-  The Town of Alawnsom and the Castell.
-  The Town of Frezsne le Vicont and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Savers de Vive and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Jakes de Beueron and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Jakes de Burvam and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Low and the Castell.
-  The Town of Valence and the Castell.
-  The Cytee of Averense and the Castell.
-  The Cytee of Sees.
-  The Cytee of Leseaux.
-  The Cytee of Everose.
-  The Town of Louerse.
-  The Town of Counsheux.
-  The Town of Vire.
-  The Town of Karentine.
-  The Town of Chyrbourgh and the Castell.
-  The Town of Vernoile and ij. Castell.
-  The Town of Morteyn and the Castell.
-  The Town of Powntlarche and the Castell.
-  The Town of Esey and the Castell.
-  The Town of Dounfrount and the Castell.
-  The Town of Pountedomer and the Castell.
-  The Town of Turve and the Castell.
-  The Town of Costaunce and the Castell.
-  The Cytee of Roon and the Castell.
-  The Town of Galion and the Castell.
-  The Town of Galdebek [_Caudebec_].
-  The Town of Mustirvilers.
-  The Town of Depe.
-  The Town of Ve and the Castell.
-  The Town of Vernoile suz Seyne and the Castell.
-  The Town of Mawnt and the Castell.
-  The Castell of Towk.
-  The Castell of Morvile.
-  The Castell of Overs in Awge.
-  The Abbey of Seint Savers suz Deve.
-  The Abbey of Seint Peers suz Dive.
-  The Abbey of Seint Stevenis of Cane.
-  The Bole Abbey of Cane.
-  The Castell of Cursy.
-  The Castell of Gundy.
-  The Castell of Nevylebeke.
-  The Castell of Vermus.
-  The Castell of Garcy.
-  The Castell of Oo [_Eu_].
-  The Castell of Vileine.
-  The Castell of Egyll.
-  The Castell of Regyll.
-  The Castell of Curton.
-  The Castell of Fagernon.
-  The Castell of Chamberexs.
-  The Castell of Ryveers.
-  The Castell of Bewmanill.
-  The Castell of Bewmalyn.
-  The Castell of Harecourt.
-  The Abbey of Behelwyn.
-  The Castell of Parlevesque.
-  The Castell of Semper.
-  The Castell of Tracy.
-  The Castell of Tylly.
-  The Castell of Groby.
-  The Castell of Carsell.
-  The Castell of Hommbe.
-  The Castell of Seynt Denise.
-  The Castell of Bonvile.
-  The Castell of Grennevile.
-  The Castell of Perers.
-  The Castell of Seint Gilerinz.
-  The Castell of Bewmound.
-  The Castell of Asse la Rebole.
-  The Castell of Tanny.
-  The Castell of Antony.
-  The Castell of Balon.
-  The Castell of Mountfort.
-  The Castell of Tovey.
-  The Castell of Lowdon.
-  The Castell of Noaus.
-  The Castell of Seynt Romains in Plaine.
-  The Castell of Daungell.
-  The Castell of Peschere.
-  The Castell of Bolore.
-  The Castell of Keshank.
-  The Castell of Turre.
-  The Castell of Seint Imains.
-  The Castell of Seint Germains.
-  The Castell of Bomstapyll.
-  The Castell of Croile.
-  The Castell of Bakuile.
-  The Castell of Bellacombyr.
-  The Castell of Douyle.
-  The Castell of Likone.
-  The Castell of Ankyrvile.
-  The Abbey of Seint Katerinz.
-
-These er the gates names of Roon, and how the lordys lay in sege, and to
-fore what gate, and also the derth of vitailes withyn the forseyd Cytee
-of Roon.
-
-_Le Port Causches._ To fore thys gate, lay my Lord of Clarense[8.1] vnto
-riversyde of Seyne with mykyl of hys howsold and a grete market; and
-then fro that gate upward lay my Lord of Urmound,[8.2] my maistre
-Corwayle[8.3] with the Lord Talbotts meyne. _Le Port de Castell._ At
-thys gate my Lord Marchall,[8.4] the Lord of Haryngton. _Le Port de
-Bewvoisyn._ At thys gate lay my Lord of Excester. _Le Port de
-Vowdelagate._ To fore thys gate lay the Lord Roos, the Lord Wylleby, the
-Lord Fyhew,[8.5] Sir John Gray, and Sir William Porter. _Le Port Seint
-Yllare._ To fore thys gate lay the kyng and my Lord of Glowcestyr. _Le
-Port de Martynvile._ To fore thys lay my Lord of Warwyk and Sir Phelip
-Leche. _Le Port debut de Pount._ To fore thys gate lay my Lord of
-Huntyngdon, my Lord of Sawlisbyry, my maistre Nevile, and my mayster
-Umphirvile. _Le Port de Vicount._ Thys ys the chefe Watergate of the
-town, and at thys gate cometh in al maner marchawndys and vitailes.
-
-Furthyrmore as towchyng to the derth of vytayles withyn this forseyd
-Cytee, j. [_one_] Buschell of Whete was worth v. scutys, j. lofe j.
-frank, j. dog j. frank, j. kat ij_s._ sterlinges, j. rat vj_d._
-sterlinges. And as towchyng all other vitailes, it was spendit or that
-we com in to the Cytee.
-
-  Urbis Rotomagi Wulstano captio claret,
-  Quam Rex Henricus Quintus sexto capit anno.
-
-    [Footnote 5.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 5.2: Parchment mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.1: Thomas, Duke of Clarence, the King's brother.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.2: James Butler, Earl of Ormond.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.3: Sir John Cornwall, afterwards Lord Fanhope.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.4: John Mowbray, Earl Marshal, afterwards Duke of
-    Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.5: Fitz-Hugh.]
-
-
-2
-
-AMYE BOWET TO ----[9.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1417-9]
-
-Trescher et mon tresfiable amy je vous salue tressouvent de tout mon
-cuer, desirant pur savoir et oier bons noveles de vous, et que vous
-soiez en prosperitee. Et, mon tresfiable amy, vous face assavoir que
-monsieur mon baron covient sey apparailler et ordenyier envers le Roy
-ore en y ceste proschein viage en la presence oue le Duc de Excestre,
-pur la quelle luy covient faire graundes expenses entour son arraie en
-salvacion de son honour, lequel je vorreie faire ma diligence pur saluer
-et encrescer a mon poair, come je suy graundement tenuz; et vous estez
-la persone en la quelle je plus graundement maffie devaunt aucune altre
-ore vivant. Pur quey je vous emprie tresespecialment de trestout mon
-cuer que vous please pur faire a tant pur moy quant a ore pur moy faire
-chevyceance de xl. marcz come pur voie dapprompt ore en y ceste nostre
-graunde busoigne, promittant de certeyne que sereez bien et loialment
-repaiez a aucune jour reisoignable que vous veuilliez assigner; et si
-vous ne osez pleignement affier en y ceste ma promys pur peril quent
-purra avenir en temps avenir, vous auerez tiel seuretee come vous
-veuillez deviser. Trescher et mon tresfiable amy, pluisours a vous nay
-escrier au present, mays que vous veuillez doner foie et credence a une
-gentile feme portour dycestes. Et pri al Saint Espirit qil vous ait touz
-jours en sa tressaintisme garde. Escript en haste a Wrentham, le
-xxviii^me jour de Mars.
-
-  AMYE BOWET.
-
-  On the back is written in a different hand:--
-
-    'Thomas Lente et Matillda uxor mea petunt de Galfrido Somerton
-  xiij_s._ iiij_d._ quos Willelmus Lyster et dicta Matillda, circa
-  xxiiij. annos elapsos quum ipsi levaverunt finem de tenementis in
-  Castre inter ipsos et Walterum Gase; et dicit quod dicta Matillda
-  quando ipsa examinata fuit per Justiciarios apud Jernemuth qui
-  sedebant super Rayes (?) in ecclesia Fratrum Carmelitarum, dictus
-  Justiciarius dedit dictos xiii_s._ iiii_d._ quos ipse habere
-  debuisset pro labore suo dictĉ Matilldĉ, et dictus Galfridus dictos
-  xiii_s._ iiii_d._ posuit in loculo suo proprio et nullatenus illos
-  dictĉ Matilldĉ solvit: et ad festyngong per iiii. annos elapsos le
-  boteler apud Somerton audivit quod dictus Galfridus promisit dictĉ
-  Matilldĉ et dicto Thomĉ tunc viro suo dictos xiii_s._ iiii_d._'
-
-    [Footnote 9.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 141.] This letter appears to
-    be of a very early date. If its contents refer, as seems
-    probable, to the preparations for Henry V.'s expedition in
-    France, it is of the year 1417, and so earlier than No. 1;
-    which, however, it may follow as bearing on the same subject.]
-
-  [[lequel je vorreie faire  _error for "vorroie"?_]]
-
-
-3
-
-[THE PARSON OF EDINGTHORPE] TO WILLIAM SEWARDBY[10.1]
-
-_A mon trescher et honure sieur, William Sewardby._
-
-[Sidenote: 1417-9?]
-
-Trescher et honure sieur, jeo me recomaund a vous si tresentierement de
-t . . . . . . . . . . . doyere et de savore bonez novells de vous et de
-vostre entiere estat et souereyn . . . . . . . tres bonz de vous auore
-et savore com vous mesmes lez sauera meltz devisere ou . . . . . . et si
-de moy le vostre. Vous plese savore, a la fesaunce de cestez j'estoy en
-bon saunte. [Et quant a] vostre boys de denz le boys de Baketon vous
-plese savore que le Prieur de Bromholm est (?) [nostre] parochen, et
-nous ade prie pur avore vostre dit boys dissevere et departie a son boys
-issint . . . . boys que est parcel a vostre boys pur lour profit et
-saunz damage de vostre dit boys, mes Richa[rd] . . . . . . . disseveryng
-fere saunz vostre volunte ou autre maundement de vous, come le portour
-de . . . . . . . ment que jeo ne puis ore escrire. Et touchant vostre
-manere illuques si longuement com . . . . . . . maynez de dit priour,
-vous, ne null de voz bien voliauncez y aueroyent nulle conyschaun[ce]
-. . . de vostre manere as autrez de lours seigneuries, et ensi vous et
-vostrez serrount en temps avenir . . . . . . . que vous les tenez en voz
-maynez proprez et sure tiele colour si vous plese Richard Causton . . .
-. . . . et payr omez a vous si taunt come le priour avaundit fet a
-termes et jours par vous assign[ez] . . . . . . pur avore par voz
-tenauntz lez ditz terez, rentz et tenementz, boys et autres comoditez
-. . . . . . . disseverez et departez. Et vous covyent avore i. seneschal
-pur tenire vostres courtez iluque[s] . . . . . . . de dit priour ne en
-son daungere, mes tiel homme que nad null dom de eux et tiele . . .
-. . . vous luy voliez bien rewardere pur son travail. Trescher et
-honoure sieur, de ceste matere et de . . . . . . . par le portour de
-cestz, et nous ferrouns nostre powere et diligence de lez accomplere a
-vostre . . . . . . . Sieur, jeo prie a Dieux quil vous doyne tresbon vie
-et long honour et souereyn joye de . . . . . . . A Edythorp juxta
-Bromholm, le primer jour de Jul'.
-
-    [Footnote 10.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 142.] This letter appears
-    also to be of a very early, but quite an uncertain date. It is
-    unfortunately mutilated, some words being lost on every line on
-    the right hand side of the MS.]
-
-
-4
-
-ABSTRACT[11.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1420 / 24 MARCH]
-
-Marriage Settlement of William Paston, dated the Eve of the Annunciation
-of the Virgin, 8 Henry V.--It is agreed between Sir Edmund Berre, Kt.,
-on the one part, and William Paston of Paston on the other, that the
-latter shall marry Agnes, daughter of the said Sir Edmund, and that his
-trustees of the manor of Oxenede, Norf., shall demise the same to the
-said William and Agnes, and the heirs of their bodies, &c. Also Sir
-Edmund's trustees, either of the manor of Estodenham, co. Norf., or of
-the manor of Hollewellebury, Herts, at the option of William Paston,
-shall deliver one or other manor to the said William and Agnes, and the
-heirs of their bodies, &c. If Estodenham be chosen, Paston is to make to
-Sir Edm. and his wife Alice an estate for life, either in the manors of
-Marlingford, Norf., and Stanstede, Suff., or in the manors of Elghe and
-Willyngham, Suff., &c.
-
-
-5
-
-ABSTRACT[11.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1422]
-
-Inspeximus of a Deed of Thos. Pecke, clk., dated 10 Hen. V., granting
-the reversion of the manors of Breydeston, Caston, &c., then held by Sir
-John Carbonell and Margery, his wife, to Sir Rob. Brewys, John
-Fitz-Rauff, and others.--(_See_ Blomefield's _Norfolk_, ii. 285.)
-
-    [Footnote 11.1: [Add. Charter 17,225, B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 11.2: [Add. Charter 17,243.]]
-
-
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-_Henry VI_
-
-
-
-
-6
-
-INFORMATION AGAINST WALTER ASLAK[12.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1424]
-
-Be it remembred that where, on the nyght next biforne the feste of the
-Circumcision of owre Lord Jesu, the [second][12.2] yeer of the regne of
-Kyng Henry the Sexte, certeyns maffaisours, felons, and brekeres of the
-kynges peas vnknowyn, to the noumbre of iiij^xx [_four score_] and more
-by estimacion, of malice and imaginacion forne thowght felonowsly, the
-dwellyng place of John Grys of Wyghton, in Wyghton, in the shyre of
-Norffolk, brokyn, and with carpenteres axes the yates and the dores of
-the seyd place hewen, and the seyd John Grys, and hys sone, and a
-servaunt man of hese by here bodyes tokyn, and fro the seyd dwellyng
-place by the space of a myle to a payre gawles ledden, there hem for to
-have hangyd; and by cause hem fayled ropes convenient to here felonowse
-purpos, the seyd John Grys, hese sone, and hys man there felonowsely
-slowen and mordered in the most orrible wyse that ever was herd spoken
-of in that cuntre. Wher up on Walter Aslak, purposyng and imaginyng to
-putte William Paston in drede and intollerable fere to be slayn and
-mordered in the seyd forme with force and ageyn the kinges peas, on the
-shyre day of Norffolk, halden at Norwiche, the xxviij day of August, in
-the seyd secunde yeer, beyng there thanne a grete congregacion of poeple
-by cause of the seyd shyre, in hese owne persone, and by Richard
-Kyllynworth, that tyme hese servaunt, to the seyd William Paston swiche
-and so many manaces of deth and dismembryng maden and puttyn by certeyns
-Englische billes rymed in partye, and up on the yates of the Priorie of
-the Trinite chirche of Norwiche, and on the yates of the chyrche of the
-Freres Menures of Norwiche, and the yates of the same Cite called
-Nedeham yates and Westewyk yates, and in othre places wyth inne the seyd
-Cite by the seyd Walter and Richard sette, makyng mension and berying
-this undyrstondyng that the seyd William, and hese clerkes, and
-servauntes schuld be slayn and mordered in lyke forme as the seyd John
-Grys in the seyd forme was slayne and mordered: conteyning also these
-too words in Latyn, _et cetera_, by which wordes communely it was
-undyrstandyn that the forgeers and makers of the seyd billes imagyned to
-the seyd William, hese clerkes and servauntes, more malice and harm than
-in the seyd billes was expressed. Wherfore the seyd William, hese seyd
-clerkes and servauntz, by longe tyme aftyr were in gret and intolerable
-drede and fere by the sayd maffaisours and felons to be slayn and
-mordered. Wherfore the seyd William, hese clerkes and servauntes, ne
-durst not at here fredom nothyr goon ne ryde.
-
-Wher up on the seyd William, for hese owyn persone, affermyd a pleynt of
-trespas ageyn the seyd Walter and Richard, processe contynued ther up on
-til the seyd Walter and Richard were founden gilty of the seyd trespas
-by an iniquisicion ther of takyn in dwe and lawefull forme, by whiche
-inquisicion the damages of the seyd William for the seyd trespas were
-taxed to cxx^li [£120]. Aftyr which pleynte affermyd, and to fore ony
-plee up on the seyd pleynt pleded, the seyd Walter and William, by
-Thomas Erpyngham, Knyght, a myghty and a gret supportour of the seyd
-Walter in alle these matiers and circumstaunces ther of ageyn the seyd
-William, were induced to trete in the same matier in the forme that
-folwith: That is to seyne, that the seyd William schuld sue forth the
-seyd pleynt and the execucion ther of at hese owne will, and the seyd
-Walter schuld defende hym self in the seyd pleynt at hese owne will,
-except that he schuld no benefice take by noon proteccion, ne wrytte of
-_corpus cum causa_, ne of no lordes lettres up on the seyd sute. And
-what so ever fortunyd in the seyd pleynt, the proces, execucion, or the
-sute ther of, the seyd Walter and William schuld stonde and obeye to the
-ordinaunce of certeyns persones by the seyd William and Walter
-arbitratores that tyme named, if thei myghten accordyn, and ellys of
-anoonpier also that same tyme named, of alle the seyd trespas, pleynt,
-and sute, and alle the circumstaunces ther of, so that the seyd
-arbitrement and ordinaunce of the seyd arbitratores, or ellys of the
-seyd nounpier, were made withinne xl. dayes next folwyng aftyr the
-jugement geven in the seyd pleynt.
-
-And aftyrward, the Thursday next biforn Pentecost, the thrydde yeer of
-the regne of the seyd kyng, at London, in the presence of the right
-excellent, high and myghty prynce, the Duc de Gloucestre,[14.1] and by
-hese commaundement, atte sute and instaunce of the seyd Thomas
-Erpyngham, it was accordyd bytwen the seyd William and Walter that thei
-schuld stande and obeye to the ordinaunce and award of alle the seyed
-matiers of twenye of these iiij. persones, William Phelip, Knyght, Henry
-Inglose, Knyght, Oliver Groos, and Thomas Derham, chosen on the partye
-of the seyd William Paston, and tweyne of those iiij. persones, Symond
-Felbrygge, Knyght, Bryan Stapilton, Knyght, Roberd Clyfton, Knyght, and
-John of Berneye of Redeham, chosen on the partie of the seyd Water, and
-elles the decree and jugement of a nounpier to be chosen by the same
-arbitrores. The whiche William Phelip, Bryan Stapilton, Roberd Clyfton,
-Oliver Groos, John of Berneye, and Thomas Derham, takyng up on hem the
-charge of the makyng of the seyd award and ordinaunce by the assent of
-the seyd Thomas Erpyngham, the Fryday next aftyr the feste of the
-Assumpcion of Owre Lady, in the seyd thrydde yeer, at Norwiche, tokyn
-ensurans of the seyd William and Walter by here fayth and here trowthez
-to stande and obeye to here ordinaunce of alle the seyd matiers, and the
-same day biforne noon, maden here full ordinaunce and arbitrement of
-alle the same matiers in the chyrche of the Greye Freyrys at Norwich;
-and aftyrward, up on the same award and ordinaunce mad, hadden a
-communicacion ther of with the seyd Thomas Erpyngham; and aftyr the same
-communicacion, the same day aftyr noon, the same ordinaunce and award
-wretyn was red byforn the seyd arbitrores and the seyd Walter and
-William, and examyned, agreed, and assented, and by the seales of the
-same vj. arbitrores and the seyd Walter and William, was affermed and
-ensealed and left in the handes of the seyd Sir Bryan, saveliche to be
-kept in playne remembraunce of the seyd award and ordinaunce; the whiche
-award and ordinaunce the seyd William was at all tymes redy to obeye and
-performe, on to the seyd feste of Michelmesse, that the seyd Walter to
-holde or performe the seyd award pleynly refused.
-
-And where the seyd Walter, by jugement of the Chaunceller of Inglond,
-the xvj. day of Jull' the seyd thrydde yeer, was remytted to the kynges
-prison at Norwich by cause of the seyd sute, the seyd Walter yede at
-large owt of warde fro the seyd xvj. day of Jull' to the seyd day of the
-makyng of the seyd arbitrement and award, and fro that day in to
-Michelmesse thanne next aftyr; the seyd William that meene tyme evermore
-supposyng that the seyd Walter wolde have holde and performyd the sayd
-ordinaunce, arbitrement, and award. And at the comyng of the right high
-and myghty prynce the Duc of Norfolk fro his Castell of Framyngham to
-the Cetie of Norwyche, aftyr the seyd day of the makyng of this
-arbitrement and ordinaunce, and to fore the feste of Michelmesse than
-next folwyng, the seyd Walter by hese sotill and ungoodly enformacion
-caused the seyd Duke to be hevy lord to the seyd William. Where the seyd
-William the tyme of the seyd enformacion was with Sir John Jermy,
-Knyght, and othre of the counseill of the seyd Duk of Norffolk in hys
-lordshipes in Norffolk and Suffolk, thanne to hym falle [_fallen_] by
-the deth of the right worthy and noble lady hys modyr, occupied abowte
-the dwe service of wryttes of _diem clausit extremum_[16.1] aftyr the
-deth of the seyd lady. And where as the seyd William Paston, by
-assignement and commaundement of the seyd Duk of Norffolk, at hese fyrst
-passage over the see in to Normandye, in the kynges tyme Henry the
-Fyfte, was the Styward of the seyd Duc of Norffolk, of alle hese
-lordshipes in Norffolk and Suffolk fro hys seyd passage un to the seyd
-feste of Michelmesse; [And[16.2] over that as sergeaunt of lawe, thow he
-be unworthy, withholdyn with the seyd Duc of Norffolk alle the tyme that
-he was sergeaunt bifore the same feste of Michelmesse. And all be it
-that the fees and the wages of the seyd William for hys seyd service
-unpayed draweth a gret some to hys pouere degree, if the seyd Duk of
-Norffolk lyked, of hys noble and plentifous grace, to graunte to the
-seyd William, in right, ony part of the favour of hese good lordship,
-the seyd William wolde evere be hys pouere and trewe bedeman, and evere
-in hys herte thenke alle hys seyd service, and alle the service that
-ever he dede to the seyd [Duke] of Norfolk, plentefeousely weell
-rewarded.[16.3]]
-
-And where the seyd Walter, the tyme of the seyd trespas and of the seyd
-bylles makyng ne long to fore, ne never aftyr biforn the seyd comyng of
-the seyd Duc of Norffolk to Norwich, ne no tyme hangyng the seyd sute,
-ne the tyme of makyng of the said arbitrement and ordinaunce, never was
-servaunt to the seyd Duc of Norffolk at fees, ne at wages, ne wythhaldyn
-in hese service, ne to hym sued to be supported by hese high Lordship in
-this seyd matier, to the knowleche of the seyd William, ne to no commune
-knowleche, in the shyres of Norffolk, Suffolk, ne Norwiche; the sute
-that the seyd Walter made for supportacion in this seyd matier was be
-the meene of the seyd Thomas Erpyngham to the seyd Duk of Gloucestre, by
-whose reule and commaundemente the seyd arbitrement and award was mad in
-the forme aforn seyd. And not with stondying the seyd trespas and
-grevaunce by the seyd Walter doon the seyd William, ne that the seyd
-William ne is not satisfied of the seyd cxx^li., ne no peny therof,
-and hath absteyned hym of al maner of execucion, sewyng of godes or
-catelles, that by force of the seyd processe, or ony othyr, he myght
-have had ageyn the seyd Walter or hese borwes [_sureties_], ne that the
-seyd William hath suffred the seyd Walter to gon at large by long tyme
-whan he myght have had hys body in warde in lawfull forme: The seyd
-Walter, be billes in the too last parlementz holden at Westminster and
-at Leycestre, and at divers tymes in divers other maneres hath noysed
-and skaundered the seyd William ungoodly and othyr wyse than othyr
-[_either_] gentilnesse or trowthe wolde; and, overmore, caused the seyd
-William orribly to be manassed of hys deth, betyng and dismembryng of
-hys persone by certeyns servauntz of the Lordes Fitz Wauter and othre
-persones, and by ferefull and overe felle lettres and sondes. Wherfore
-the seyd William, nothyr hese frendes, ne hese servauntz in hys
-companye, at here fredam sithen the seyd parlement at Leycestre durst
-not, ne yet ne dar not rydyn ne goo abowte swyche occupacion as he arn
-used and disposed, to here grete and unportable drede and vexacion in
-here spirites, and gret harme and damage and losse of here pouere
-goodes.
-
-[Overmore,[17.1] the seyd Walter hath sued, and yet rigorously suethe a
-wrytte of _decies tantum_[17.2] ageyns x. persones of the seyd
-Inquisicion and ij. of the servauntz of the seyd William and iiij. othre
-persones; supposyng by hese seyd sute hem to have taken of the seyd
-William in hys seyd syte lxij^li [£62] and more of moneye. The whiche
-sute of _decies tantum_ the seyd Walter, betwyx God and hym, knewith
-verraly is untrewe. And also the seyd Walter hath sued, and yet persuyth
-Adam Aubre, on of the seyd Inquisicion in the court of the said Duc of
-Norffolk of hys manoir of Fornsete, by cause and occasion of the seyd
-matiers, in whiche sute in the seyd court it is proceded ageyn the seyd
-Adam in other maner thanne othyr lawe, conscience, or good fayth
-wolde.[18.1]]
-
-Overmore the seyd William, atte commaundement of the seyd Duc of
-Norffolk, hath submytted hym to stonde to the ordinaunce of divers
-persones of alle the seyd matiers: ones at Leyceetre, the Wednesday next
-biforn Palm Soneday, the iiij. yeer of the regne of the syd kyng;
-anothyr tyme at Reed clyf in Aprill the same iiij. yeer, aftyr the forme
-of certeyns billes endented ther of made. The whiche submission, with
-alle the circumstaunces ther of, the seyd William hath be at alle tymes
-redy to obeye. The cause why the seyd Walter, by the seyd Englishe
-bylles, and in othyr forme, putte and sette the seyd William, and hys
-seyd clerkes and servauntz, in drede and fere intollerable to be slayn
-and mordered, and to hem trespaced in the forme aforn seyd, was onely
-for as moche as the seyd William was with the prior of Norwiche of
-counseille in hese trewe defence ageyn the entent of the seyd Walter in
-a sute that he made ageyn the seyd priour of a voweson of the chyrche of
-Sprouston in the counte of Norffolk, wher to the seyd Walter hath nothyr
-title suffisaunt ne right in no maner wyse by ony matier by hym declared
-byforn thys tyme.
-
-This scrowe is mad only for the informacion of the worthy and
-worshipfull lordes the arbitrores; savyng evere to the maker the
-benefice reasonably to adde and amenuse, his ignoraunce in swiche
-occupation and defaute of leyser also tendrely considered.
-
-    [Footnote 12.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper refers to
-    proceedings as late as the fourth year of Henry VI., and
-    therefore cannot be earlier than 1426; but as it mainly relates
-    to outrages committed in the second year of Henry VI., _i.e._
-    1424, we have arranged it under that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 12.2: This word is omitted in the MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 14.1: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Protector of
-    England.]
-
-    [Footnote 16.1: These were writs issued on the death of a tenant
-    _in capite_ of the Crown, and directed to the escheators in the
-    different counties in which his lands lay, directing them to
-    inquire by jury what lands he held, and of what value, and who
-    was his nearest heir, and what was the heir's age.]
-
-    [Footnote 16.2: Over this word is written 'va,' the first
-    syllable of _vacat_, showing that the passage is cancelled.]
-
-    [Footnote 16.3: Here is written 'cat.' --_See_ Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 17.1: Here is written 'va.' --_See_ p. 16, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 17.2: A writ against a juror who had been bribed, by
-    which the prosecutor could recover from him ten times the amount
-    of the bribe, dividing the proceeds with the King.]
-
-    [Footnote 18.1: Here is written 'cat.' --_See_ p. 16, Note 2, and
-    p. 17, Note 1.]
-
-  [[anoonpier also that same tyme named
-    _error for "a noonpier" with space?_]]
-
-  [[othyr wyse than othyr [_either_] gentilnesse or trowthe wolde
-    _bracketed gloss printed in roman (non-italic) type_]]
-
-  [[the seyd parlement at Leycestre durst not
-    _anomalous long s in original_]]
-
-  [[ones at Leyceetre  _text unchanged: error for "Leycestre"?_]]
-
-
-7
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN STAYNFORD[19.1]
-
-_To my weel beloved John Staynford of Furnyvales Inne_.
-
-[Sidenote: 1425]
-
-The instruccion to comune of to John Robynson of Carleton bysyde Snayth.
-
-To enquerre and wyte whether the stoon may be sawed or nought. Whether
-it wille chippe or chynne or affraye with frost or weder or water.
-
-Also that every pece of the stoon be iij. foote longe, and that xv.
-tunne tyght of the stoon be every stoon weel bedded into the walle and a
-foote thikke that it ryse in heighte a foote in the walle; and x. stones
-of the stoan must be ii. foote broad, and at the lest a foote and an
-half thikke. A stoon wil drawe the wighte of a pipe, as I suppose; the
-gret stones and nought the smallere stones shuld be sawed, so that every
-pece sawed shud holde the seid lengthe of iij. foote, and the seid brede
-of ij. foote, and to be, after it is sawed, half a fote or lesse on
-thikkenesse, and thenne the brode sawed stones shulde evere stond in the
-werk betwen the seid weel bedded stonys that shuld ryse but a fote in
-the walle and ben ankered iche of hem with other; and this werk shal be
-strong j nowe, as werkmen seyn, and drawe but litill cariage. I wold
-have swiche stoan a xx^ti tunne tight caried to Moneslee[19.2] in
-Norffolk between Crowmere and Bromholm, and but a myle from Bromholm.
-
-To reporte plein answere of this bylle writen and how sone I myght have
-the seid stone caried to Monesle aforn seid, and for what price.
-
-This werk is for a . . .
-
-W. PASTON.
-
-  On the back is written, also in the Judge's hand:--
-
-  'Sount due a mon sieur Will. Bardolf de ses gages en les lyueres a
-  . . . de mon tres honneure seigneur le Count de Warrwick, capitayn
-  illeoqes, iusques al iiij.^e jour de febr. lan de Roy Henri Sysme
-  tierce, ccccxiii_li._ xvj_s._ x_d._ q^a.'
-
-  Below this is written in Fenn's hand: '14 Feb^y 3 H. 7. 1487'
-  --a great misreading of the date.
-
-    [Footnote 19.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 213.] This letter appears
-    from the postscript to be of the year 1425, as Bardolf's wages,
-    due on the 4th February in that year, had not yet been paid.]
-
-    [Footnote 19.2: Mundesley.]
-
-
-8
-
-NICHOLAS PRIOR OF BROMHOLM TO WILLIAM PASTON[20.1]
-
-_A Will' Paston soit donne._
-
-[Sidenote: 1425 / JULY 5]
-
-Dere Syre and weel be loved, I grete yow weel, and do yow to wetyn that
-Dawn John Pastone was atte Norwiche on Munday last passed, and dede
-settyn on Cryste Chyrche gates divers litteres, a lytyl tyme, and ij.
-copiis wheche stondyn ther yet, for somounnyn me to the curt of Rome.
-And we supposyn to have hym at Bromholm, or sum man in hys name wyth
-inne a lytyl tyme; for dawn Robert of Yorke was atte Norwiche be
-sendynge of my lady of Murlee, and spak wythe hym in hyre hous on Munday
-afornseyd, and ther he told the forseyd dawn Robert that he wolde nedys
-ben Priour of Bromholm, to levyn and deyin ther upon. Also he seyde, as
-for the composissioun of Bromholm, he hadde do sherchyd att Clunye; and
-ther inne he standyth clere as he seythe; and as for provisyoun, he
-seyde he hadde spokyn wyth the Chaunceler and the chef Justyse and
-Ascam, and thei demptyne hym clere as ther inne, and he seyth; and other
-dowte is ther none inne be hys tale. And after this the forseyd dawn
-John askyd obedience of the forseyd dawne Robert in my ladyis presens,
-and dawn Robert seyde agayne he xulde noghte done that atte that tyme,
-but he badde hym provyn owt hys purpos as for the composissioun and
-provisioun to an hende, and than he wolde do hys dever to hym; and thus
-he departyd. Where for, yif ony thing may be don whyl ye arn now atte
-Londone for oure helpe and his lettyng, gode Syre, helpythe atte this
-tyme if it maybe godely, we be seche yow. Dawn Thomas of Cane was atte
-my lord of Norwiche for helpe in this matier, and he seyde he was
-inhibytyd and alle hys clerkes be the curt of Rome in this matier, and
-he seyde by yowre advys, yif it lyke yow, wryttes may ben taken agens
-hym, and that is best remedye ther inne; j. [_one_] wrytte is _ne
-ingrediatur manu forti_. The Holy Trinite have yow in governaunce.
-Wretyn atte Bromholm the v. day of July,
-
-  _per_ NICH. PRIOREM DE BROMHOLM.
-
-    [Footnote 20.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 1.] This letter is
-    evidently of the year 1425. Comp. No. 10.]
-
-
-9
-
-ABSTRACT[21.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1425 / SEPT. 24]
-
-Bill witnessing a concord made 24 Sept. 4 Hen. VI. between John
-Kertelyng, clerk, general attorney to Sir John Fastolf, on the one part,
-and Richard Boson, Esq., on the other, viz.: That Fastolf shall have in
-fee-simple the manor of the said Richard in Castre called Bosons of the
-gift of the said Richard before Easter next, and that the said Richard
-shall have Fastolf's manor in Titeleshale called Peekhalle, in
-fee-simple, of the gift of Fastolf, paying to Fastolf £60 within the
-next four years.
-
-    [Footnote 21.1: [From a Bodl. MS.]]
-
-
-10
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO ----[21.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1425 / NOV. 5]
-
-Right worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recommaunde me to yow, and thank
-yow for the good, trew, and diligent labour ye have hadde for the matier
-betwen the Priour of Bromholme[21.3] and his commoigne[21.4] apostata,
-Johne Wortes, that namythe hym self Paston, and affermith hym untrewely
-to be my cousyn. [I have many pouere men of my kyn, but so fals, and so
-pouere,--but he was nevere of my kyn.][22.1] God defende that any of my
-saide kyn shuld be of swyche governaunce as he is of! Maister John
-Ixworthe told me that he hadde lettres fro a frende of yowres in the
-courtt of Rome, that is of the seyd prioures counseill in this mater as
-ye be, whos name I knowe nought, specifyeng that the seyd John Wortes
-adversarius prioris desperat in causa et concordiam quĉrit. It is told
-me sithen that the seyd John Wortes is in the cite of Rome, sacred a
-bysshop of Irland, videlicet episcopus Corcagensis, wherby it is seyd
-here that his pretense of his title to the priourie of Bromholme is
-adnulled, and voide in your lawe. The seyd John Wortes, and a contreman
-of myne in the seyd court, Maister John Urry, have sent me lettres,
-wherof I sende yow copies and a trewe instruccion of the seyd matier
-closed with this bille, the whiche lettres and the matier ther of me
-semyth mervaillous and straunge. A prest of Norffolk, that spak with yow
-in Julie or August last passed, told me that he yede with yow to the
-cardinales hous, Trikaricensis,[22.2] to espie if any swyche processe
-were sued ageyn me as the seyd lettres specifien, and that ye told the
-same prest at alle tymes ther was than no swiche processe sued, ne had;
-the whiche relacion I trust and beleve bettre than the seyd lettres.
-I have, by advys of counseill, in makyng a procuracie _ad agendum,
-defendendum, provocandum, et appellandum_ to yow and the seyd Maister
-John Urry and the Wynsalaw (?) de Swysto; and also a general appelle,
-the engrossyng of wyche the messager of this bill myght nought abide;
-the whiche procuracie and appelle I shal sende to yowr persone,
-tantummodo [cum pecuniis],[22.3] with moneye onward, on trust. My will
-is, ye have the chief governaunce of this matier, and that this article
-be counseille [_i.e._, secret]; wher upon I prey yow hertily to be
-saddely avysed in these matiers, and, as nede is, so to governe hem by
-your wysdom, that the seyd prioures estat and honeste, and myn also, to
-yowr worshepe be saved; and that, in alle haste resonable, ye lyke to
-sende me redes lettres of alle the seyd matier, and the circumstances
-ther of, and who ye wil I be governed in this mater. I was nevere
-somouned, ne never hadde tydynges of this matier but by seyd lettres and
-other fleyng tales that I heve herd sithen, ne nevere hadde to do more
-with the seyd John Wortes than is specified in the seyd instruccion. Al
-myghty God have yow in His governaunce. Writen at London, the v. day of
-Novembre.
-
-  Yowre frend unknowen.[23.1]
-
-  _A Instruccion and Information of the verray trewe matier betwen the
-  Priour and the Covent of Bromholm and the seyd John and me, as I am
-  enformed, and as I knowe touchant my persone and the_[23.2] ----.
-
-[Sidenote: Ista litera missa non fuit.]
-
-Right worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recomaunde to yow, preyeng yow to
-wite that I have resceyved yowr goodly lettres makyng mencion that Sir
-John Paston,[23.3] ut asserit, hath optyned me condempnyd to hym in
-CCC[vij.][23.4] marcz and C._s._; and that the same John, atte
-reverence of your right worthy persone, hathe cesed of his sute of
-certeins processes ageyns me up on the seyd condempnacion, takyng
-continuance[23.5] of the same matier unto Cristemasse next comyng; by
-which lettres ye conseille me to make ende with the seyd John, ne
-deterius inde contingat. I [s]end yow, closed with this bille,
-[the][23.6] copie of un frendly lettre that the seyd John hathe sent to
-me late, touchant the same matier. The seyd priour hath sent also to
-yow, and to Mayster William Swan, whiche longe hathe be his procurator,
-a procuracie for my person, and v. marcz of moneye onward. Wher up, in
-the seyd prioures name, and in myn own also, I prey yow hertily to sette
-al these matieres in continuaunce un to yowr comyng in to Ingeland; and
-because ye arn here beneficed, owr cuntreman, and of worshepe and
-cunnyng worthyly endowed, the seyd priour and his brether, and I also,
-willen gladdely in these matieres be treted by yow; and if this mesure
-be accepted, and we may have knowyng here ther of, it shall cause the
-attemptacion of diverses matieres a geyn summe frendes of the seyd John
-to cese. And if this continuance be refused, I prey yow, with al my
-power, that of your wysdom and good discrecion ye wille, in the seyd
-prioures name, and myn, defenden the seyd sutes, and alle other that the
-seyd Johne sueth ageyn the seyd priour and me, in your best maner, and
-to be of owr counseill in these matieres; and as ye lyke resonablely to
-write to us, so we wil be governed in yowre rewarde, and al other
-circumstaunces of the same matieres.[24.1] I conceyve by your seyd
-lettres that the grece of the matier conteigned in the same ye have of
-the informacion and assercion of the seyd John, and as he hath enformed
-yow, I wot weel ye trewely writen; but I hope and trust verrayly the
-matier of his informacion is untrewe [for he hathe no cause to swe to
-me, ne I was nevre somouned ne cited].[24.2] The priour of Bromholm sued
-ageyn the seyd John and other in Ingeland a wryt of _prĉmunire facias_,
-and I was therin of the same prioures counseill as the lawe of Ingelond
-and myn office willen, and more I have nought hadde to do with the seyd
-Johne, and I can nought beleve that in this cas the same Johne myght by
-your lawe any swich sute have ageyn me as your lettre specifieth. Also
-William, the prest specified in yowr [letter],[24.3] told me that he,
-after that ye told hym of this matier, lyke as yewrce (?), he comuned
-with Maister William Swan, and he told the seyd prest ther no processe
-in the courte ageyn me in no maner ----.[24.4]
-
-  The above two documents are from a corrected draft, written on one
-  side of a broad sheet of paper. On the other side is a long Latin
-  pleading, also much corrected, relative to the Abbey of Bermondsey;
-  prefixed to which are the following words, in the same hand as the
-  preceding letters:--
-
-  'Sir, do writen ij. copies of this note in papier, wyde writen, and
-  gete a copie of the writte in the Eschekyr ageyn.'
-
-  The pleading referred to is in a different hand, and begins as
-  follows:--
-
-  'Et prĉdictus abbas dicit quod ipse de prĉmissis domino Regi
-  compotum reddere non debet; quia dicit quod diu ante erectionem,
-  fundationem sive erectionem prioratus de Bermundeseye qui nunc
-  erectus est in prĉdictam Abbatiam, Willielmus Rufus filius Willelmi
-  Conquestoris nuper Rex Angliĉ fuit seisitus de manerio de
-  Bermundeseye,' etc.
-
-    [Footnote 21.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, being
-    dated in November, was probably written before Nos. 11 and 12
-    which follow, though evidently very near them in point of date.
-    The chief evidence of the time when they all must have been
-    written will be seen in No. 12.]
-
-    [Footnote 21.3: Who this Prior was we cannot say, the list of
-    the Priors of Bromholm being very defective. Blomefield says,
-    that a Prior John has been met with in the 11th of Edward III.,
-    and Robert, in the 14th of Henry VI.--that is to say, in 1435 or
-    1436, just ninety-nine years later. Nothing is known of the
-    Priors between these dates, even by the latest editors of
-    Dugdale.]
-
-    [Footnote 21.4: 'Commoigne,' i.e. brother monk. The writer also
-    calls him _apostata_, _i.e._ a monk who has run away and
-    renounced his order.]
-
-    [Footnote 22.1: These words occur in the draft, but are crossed
-    out.]
-
-    [Footnote 22.2: Thomas Brancaccio, Cardinal Bishop of Tricarico.
-    He was made a cardinal by his uncle, Pope John XXIII., and is
-    said to have been a man of very bad morals.]
-
-    [Footnote 22.3: Interlined, and afterwards erased.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.1: Above these words, and in the place where the
-    signature might have been expected, occur these names, one above
-    another--
-      'Thomas Abbas de Leyston, in Com' Suff.
-      'Ricardus Fremelyngham, concanonichus ibidem.'
-    They do not, however, appear to be connected with the letter.
-    The following words are also scrawled between this letter and
-    the next:-- 'N. persona ecclesiĉ de Testerton in Com' Norff.
-    Gees Cuttyng. Joh' persona ecclesiĉ de Yermuth (?), Alicia
-    Gosloth (?).']
-
-    [Footnote 23.2: _Sic._]
-
-    [Footnote 23.3: The title 'Sir' was at this time commonly
-    prefixed to a priest's name.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.4: The 'vij.' is struck out.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.5: Contiañce, MS. here and after.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.6: Struck out.]
-
-    [Footnote 24.1: Here occur the following words, crossed
-    out:-- 'Ferthermore, touchant my persone, I mervaille that the
-    seyd ---- Ferthermore.']
-
-    [Footnote 24.2: Struck out.]
-
-    [Footnote 24.3: Omitted in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 24.4: The draft here ends abruptly.]
-
-  [[fuit seisitus de manerio  _text has "d emanerio"_]]
-
-
-11
-
-JOHN PASTON _ALIAS_ WORTES[25.1]
-
-_Venerables et discretes persones les courtesans demorans en l'ostel
-du Templebar en la cité de Londres, Mes treschiers et treshonnourés
-seigneurs et amis._
-
-[Sidenote: 1426]
-
-Treschiers et treshonnourés seigneurs et grans amis, toutte
-recommendation premise, plaisir vous soit de scavoir que je vous notifie
-et avertich pour le present que Wilhelmus Paston le Sargant est
-denunciés escommuniés, que plus plainement poes perchevoir per
-Instrument que vous envoye. Et pour tant, mez treschiers seigneurs, que
-je disire moult le salut de votre ames et l'onneur de cascun de vous,
-comme faire le doy, affin que vous u [_ou_] aucun de vous n'ayes aucune
-conversation u participation auvecquels le dit Wilhelmus, car il est
-aggrevés a cloquettes sonans, et tant que pour faire cesser en touttes
-eglises leur il voldroit aler. Mais jou qui suy homme d'eglise et sur
-touttes choses desire et convoite l'onneur et le bien dou Royaulme, car
-gy suy tenus, je ne envoye point pour le present les dittes aggravances,
-ne ossi voillans faire si grand mal que poroye jusquels a che que j'aray
-certaines novelles et responses comment li dis Wilhelmes se voldra
-ordonner en mes affaires, car nous avons en le loy que nuls os
-excumeniés ne puet et ne doit estre admis devant juge quelcunque. Mes
-treschiers seigneurs, se aucune chose vo plaise que faire puisse, mande
-le me et le feray de bon cuer. E le sancte Dieuls qui vous ait tous et
-cascun de vous en sa sancte garde. Et osy, mes treschiers et
-treshonourés seigneurs, plaise vous scavoir que encelle meyme cause li
-dis Wilhelmes est redevaules et enquews envers moy, par sentence
-diffinitive que j'ay obtenu pour moy, en mille deuls cens et trente
-ducas, et que li dis Wilhelmes ne puet yestre jamays absols sy non qu'il
-soit d'acort auvecquels moy. Escript a en la ville de Bruges le xxiij^e
-jour de Jenvier.
-
-  JOHANNES PASTON,[26.1] en temps passé Priour
-  de Broholm, et pour le present evesquels
-  de Corkagen, le tout vostre.
-
-    [Footnote 25.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] William Paston, who is
-    here spoken of as a Serjeant, attained that degree in 1421, and
-    was made Judge of the Common Pleas in 1429. But a closer
-    approximation to the date of this letter may be made by
-    comparing it with that which follows, which is certainly much
-    about the same time.]
-
-    [Footnote 26.1: William Paston, as appears by Nos. 12 and 14
-    following, disputed this writer's right to call himself Paston,
-    and asserted that his real name was Wortes. It is curious that
-    neither in the list of the Bishops of Cork, nor in that of the
-    Priors of Bromholm, is the name either of Paston or Wortes to be
-    met with.]
-
-
-12
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO WILLIAM WORSTED AND OTHERS[26.2]
-
-_A mez treshonnourés Meistres Will'm Worstede, John Longham, et Meistre
-Piers Shelton soit donné._
-
-[Sidenote: 1426 / MARCH 1]
-
-Right worthy and worshepefull sires and maistres, I recomand me to yow,
-and thank yow with al my herte, of the gret tendrenesse ye lyke to have
-of the salvacion of my symple honeste, preying yow evermore of your good
-continuance. I have, after the advys of your lettre, doon dewely
-examyned the instrument by the wysest I coude fynde here, and in
-especial by on Maister Robert Sutton,[27.1] a courtezane of the Court of
-Rome, the which is the chief and most chier man with my Lord of
-Gloucestre, and his matier in the said court for my lady, his
-wyff;[27.2] and here aunswere is that al this processe, though it were
-in dede preceded as the instrument specifieth, is not suffisant in the
-lawe of Holy Cherche, and that hem semyth, by the sight of the
-instrument and by the defautes [that] ye espied in the same and other,
-and in maner by the knowelech of the notarie, that the processe, in gret
-part ther of, is fal[se and un]trewe. I have taken advys of Maister
-Robert Bruus, chauncellor with my Lord of Cantirbury,[27.3] and Maister
-Nicholl Billesdon,[27.4] cha[uncellor] of my Lord of Wynchestre,[27.5]
-and Maister John Blodwelle,[27.6] a weel lerned man holden, and a
-suffisant courtezan of the seyd court, and all these acorden to the seyd
-Maister Robert Sutton. Nought with stondyng that I herde nevere of this
-matier no maner lykly ne credible evidence unto that I sey your lettre
-and the instrument, yet I made an appell and a procuracie, and also a
-provocacion, at London, longe biforn Cristemasse, by the a[dvys] of
-Maister David Aprys, Maister Symond Kempston, and Maister James Cole,
-and sent al this, with an instruccion of al the matier, w[ith] my
-procuratours to Rome by your frere, my Maister Suppriour, and geff hym
-gold that he was content: and, evermore, nowe here by advys I make this
-day a newe appelle and a newe procuracion, and upon this alle the seyd
-worthy men here seyn and informe me pleynly I have no maner cause in
-lawe ne in conscience to drede aught in this matier. Myn
-adversarie[27.7] is become Bysshop of Cork in Irland, and ther arn ij.
-other persones provided to the same bysshopriche yet lyvyng, beforn my
-seyd adversarie; and by this acceptacion of this bysshopriche, he hath
-pryved hym self of the title that he claymed in Bromholm, and so
-adnulled the ground of his processe ageyn me, and also the tyme of his
-grevaunce pretendid, and the tyme of his sute he was _apostata_, and I
-trowe is yet, and so unable to sue any swich processe. I purpose me to
-come homward be London, to lerne more in this matier, if I may. I prey
-the Holy Trinite, lord of your cherche and of alle the werld, delyvere
-me of my iij. adversaries, of this cursed bysshop for Bromholm, Aslak
-for Sprouston,[28.1] and Julian Herberd for Thornham. I have nought
-trespassed ageyn noon of these iij., God knowing, and yet I am foule and
-noysyngly vexed with hem, to my gret unease, and al for my lordes and
-frendes matieres, and nought for myn owyn. I wot not whether it were
-best in any sermon or other audience, in your cherche or elles where, to
-declare aught of this matier in stoppyng of the noyse that renneth in
-this case. I submitte me and alle this matier to your good discrecion;
-and evere gremercy God, and ye, who ever have yow and me in His gracious
-governance. I suppose to see yow on Palm Sunday. Writen at Leycestre,
-the Friday the thredde wyke of Lente.
-
-Alle the seyd lerned men telle me trewely ther is nother perill ne
-doubte in the takyng doun of the instrument and the bille to no
-creature. Which instrument and bille I send yow ageyn by the berare of
-this, which I prey you to kepe as pryve as ye may.
-
-  Yowr man,
-
-  W. PASTON.
-
-I have preyed my Maister Hammond to write yow tydyngges, and smale (?)
-lesynges among.
-
-    [Footnote 26.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] About the year 1425 the
-    question of the validity of the Duke of Gloucester's marriage
-    with Jacqueline of Hainault was before the Court of Rome. This
-    letter must have been written in the spring of the year
-    following, when Parliament was sitting at Leicester. The
-    original is slightly mutilated at the edge in one place.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.1: Prebendary of Lincoln, 1435-9. Died 1439.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.2: Jacqueline of Hainault, whom Humphrey, Duke of
-    Gloucester, married, pretending that her former marriage with
-    John, Duke of Brabant, was void by consanguinity. The question
-    which of the two marriages was valid was at this time before the
-    Pope.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.3: Archbishop Chicheley.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.4: Dean of Salisbury, 1435-41. Died 1441.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.5: Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards
-    Cardinal.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.6: LL.D. Prebendary of Hereford about 1433, and of
-    Lichfield 1432-43.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.7: John Paston or Wortes, the writer of the
-    preceding letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 28.1: A lordship in Sprouston was acquired by John
-    Aslake of Bromholm in 14 Richard II., and seems to have
-    continued some time in that family. Blomefield notes that a
-    Walter Aslake, Esq. of Sprouston, had a protection in the 10th
-    of Henry VI., being in France in the retinue of John, Duke of
-    Bedford (Blomefield's _Norfolk_, x. 462). Probably this was the
-    same Walter Aslak mentioned in No. 6 preceding. --_See_ p. 18.]
-
-
-13
-
-ABSTRACTS[29.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1426]
-
-(1) _Capias_ against William Stayard of Great Yarmouth, late lieutenant
-of Thomas Chaucer,[29.2] chief butler of Henry V., for debts to the
-Crown.
-
-(2) Release by William Steyard of Great Yarmouth, to Elizabeth, widow of
-John Rothenhale, Knight, of all personal actions against her as her
-husband's executor. 7 April, 4 Hen. VI.
-
-
-14
-
-ABSTRACT[29.3]
-
-JOHN PASTON _alias_ WORTES.
-
-[Sidenote: 1426 / DEC. 1]
-
-i. Draft writ to the Sheriff of Norwich to attach and bring before the
-Council John Paston _alias_ Wortes and others for violation of the
-statutes of Provisors 25 Edw. III. and 16 Ric. II., on the complaint of
-John Brundale, prior of Bromholm that although he, Brundale, was
-canonically elected prior, the said Paston or Wortes had crossed the sea
-without royal license, obtained a provision of the said priory in the
-Court of Rome, and got himself installed as prior, and the other
-expelled. Also the said John Paston or Wortes, and John Gees,
-a Carmelite friar of Norwich, Edmund Alderford, late of Norwich, clerk,
-Barth. Waryn, parson of Trunche, William Cuttyng of Worsted, clerk, John
-Gees of Crowemer, merchant, and Ralph Gunton of Norwich, scrivener,
-received the said instruments at Bakton, and put them into
-execution.--Dated 1 Dec.
-
-ii. On the back of the preceding is another draft writ of the same date
-against the same parties for endeavouring to draw the prior out of the
-kingdom by a suit in the Court of Rome.
-
-The paper is endorsed--'S. (?) Billĉ vis. Veneris prox. post diem
-antedictum (?) Anno H. vj. v^to, et non necessario festinant'. Iterum
-supervidendum.'
-
-  _Endorsed in a later hand_-- 'Towchynge Sir John Fastolffes landes
-  in Norffolk and Surrye.'
-
-    [Footnote 29.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 29.2: He is believed to have been son of Geoffrey
-    Chaucer, the famous poet, and his daughter Alice married William
-    De la Pole, at this time Earl, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 29.3: [From a Bodl. MS.]]
-
-  [[Barth. Waryn, parson of Trunche  _text has "Barth," with , for ._]]
-
-
-15
-
-ABSTRACT[30.1]
-
----- ---- TO WILLIAM PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1426(?)]
-
-'Dear and well-beloved Cousin.' --Is in good health, but ill at ease,
-being informed that she is in debt to Steyard for my lord's debt, whose
-soul God assoil, £7 and a pipe of wine. Knew nothing of it in my lord's
-life, except of 2 pipes for herself, and one for her mother-in-law, of
-which she has paid 20s. Since my Lord's death, Steyard has never asked
-her for it. 'For which time, as I was at Jernemouth abiding in the Frere
-Carmes the time of the pestilence, his wife came unto me,' asking the
-writer to be good lady to him; and he asked no more then than the above
-3 pipes. He asked no more last harvest when he was sick and like to die,
-when John of Berneye was present. Thinks, therefore, his asking is
-untrue. My Lord would have made me or some of his council privy to such
-a debt. Hopes Paston, whom my Lord made one of his feoffees, will see
-'that ye and I be discharged anemps the King as for the debt of
-Steyard.' --Dated Castre, the day after the Conversion of St. Paul.
-Addressed, 'A mon tres cher et bien ame cousin, Will'm Paston soit
-donné.'
-
-  [This letter is endorsed in another hand, 'W. Paston, j. feoffatorum
-  et executorum Johannis Rothnale per lit' Cz. (?)' It seems,
-  therefore, to have been written by the Lady Elizabeth, widow of Sir
-  John Rothenhale, whose name occurs in No. 13 in connection with
-  William Steyard of Great Yarmouth. She was the daughter of Sir
-  Philip Branch, Kt., and had been previously married to John Clere of
-  Ormesby. She died at Caister, the place from which this letter is
-  dated, in 1440; and by her will, which was dated at Caister, 16th
-  October 1438, she bequeathed all her goods at Ormesby to her son
-  Robert Clere, and all her goods at Horning Hall, in Caister, to her
-  son Edmund. --_See_ Blomefield's _Norfolk_, iv. 35, vi. 392, xi.
-  210.]
-
-    [Footnote 30.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-  [[whose name occurs in No. 13
-      _corrected by editor from "No. 8"_]]
-
-
-16
-
-ABSTRACT[30.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1426-7]
-
-Depositions on the ---- day of ----, 5 Hen. VI., by Richard Wyoth,
-executor of Margery, daughter and heir of Edmund Bakon, touching the
-manor of Gressam which Bakon purchased, _temp._ Edw III. After the death
-of two brothers, Margery became sole possessor, and gave it to Wyoth and
-other executors to perform her will, with proviso that Philip Vache and
-Eliz., his wife, should have it during their lives, but that the
-reversion of it should be sold, giving William, son of Robert Moleyns,
-the first option of purchase. It was accordingly offered to him, but he
-refused to buy. On the death of said Eliz., however, he bought the manor
-for 420 marks, and held it two years, when Wyoth re-entered because part
-of the purchase-money was unpaid. W. Moleyns's wife, however, induced
-him to accept security from Thos. Fawkoner, merchant of London, whose
-daughter the said William agreed that his son should marry, when he came
-of age; and it was arranged that meanwhile Fawkoner and Wyoth should be
-jointly enfeoffed of the manor, which was to be given in jointure, if
-the marriage took effect. The marriage did not take effect, and Fawkoner
-re-entered upon the manor according to the enfeoffment, but paid Wyoth
-nothing, till Thos. Chawsers,[31.1] Esq., a kinsman of the said Margery,
-made him understand that Wyoth might enter on his own portion, and had
-even a prior right to himself. At length Fawkoner sold his right to
-Chaucers and Wyoth, and released the manor on security for the payment.
-Wyoth then said he should have little advantage by the bargain, except
-in having easy days of payment; 'et quod dictus Thomas Chaucers, pro
-bona voluntate quod (_sic_) erga dictum Willelmum Paston gessit,
-episcopum Londoni de emptione ejusdem manerii per longum tempus
-dilatavit, intentione ut idem Willelmus illud emeret si voluerit.'
-
-
-17
-
-ABSTRACT[31.2]
-
-RAUF, Parson of Cressyngham, to WILLIAM PASTON, Justice.
-
-[Sidenote: 1427-43]
-
-Is he to deliver to John Halleman Paston's evidences belonging to the
-manor of Wodhalle in Pagrave, and under what form? Hopes to see him at
-Norwich, on Tuesday or Wednesday after Michaelmas-day. Cressingham,
-20 Sept.
-
-On the back are written, in William Paston's hand, some notes of a case
-touching 'Frater Kensale.'
-
-  [Ralph Wolman _alias_ Harple was incumbent of Cressingham from 1427
-  to 1460; but this letter could not have been written later than
-  1443, as William Paston died in August of the following year.]
-
-    [Footnote 30.2: _Ibid._]
-
-    [Footnote 31.1: _See_ Note 2 on page 29. _See also_ Blomefield,
-    viii. 127.]
-
-    [Footnote 31.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-18
-
-ABSTRACT[31.3]
-
-Mutilated Letter in French, from JOHN VAUX, Parson of Edythorp, to ----.
-
-[Sidenote: 1426]
-
-Only the right-hand half of the letter remains. Names mentioned--Richard
-de Causton, William Coule. Date lost.
-
-  [John Vaux was Rector of Edingthorp in Norfolk, in 1388. His
-  successor was John Prentys, who was presented to the living in 1429
-  by the feoffees of the duchy of Lancaster.--Blomefield, xi. 29.]
-
-    [Footnote 31.3: _Ibid._]
-
-
-19
-
-ABSTRACT[32.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1426 / DEC. 7]
-
-'A grant of the Monastery of Bury to make William Paston, justice,
-brother of the Chapter-House.' Day of St. Ambrose 1429.
-
-  [The description is taken from an endorsement. The document itself
-  is printed in Yates's _Bury St. Edmunds_, p. 156.]
-
-    [Footnote 32.1: [Add. Charter 17,226, B.M.]]
-
-
-20
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO THE VICAR OF THE ABBOT OF CLUGNY[32.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1430(?)]
-
-My ryghte worthy and worshopeful lord, I recomaunde me to yow. And for
-as meche [as I] conseyve verrayly that ye arn Vicar general in Inggelond
-of the worthy Prelate, the Abbot of Clunie, and have hys power in many
-grete articles, and mong other in profession of monkes in Inggelond of
-the seyd ordere. And in my cuntre, but a myle fro the place where I was
-born, is the poure hous of Bromholm of the same ordre, in wheche arn
-divers vertuous yongge men, monkes clad and unprofessyd, that have
-abedyn there. . . . Abbyte ix. or x. yeer; and be lenger delaye of here
-profession, many inconvenientez arne lyke to falle. And also the priour
-of . . . hath resigned in to your worthy handes by certeins notables and
-resonables causes, as it apperyth by an instrument, and a symple lettre
-under the comune seal of the seyd hous of Bromholm, which the berare of
-this hath redy to shewe yow, wher up on I prey yow wyt al my herte, and
-as I evere may do yow service, that it lyke to your grace to graunte of
-your charite, by yowr worthy lettres to the priour of Thetford in
-Norfolk, of the seyde ordre of Clunye, autorite and power as your
-ministre and depute to professe in dwe forme the seyd monkes of Bromholm
-unprofessed. And that it lyke yow evermore to accepte and admitte the
-seyd resygnacion by your seyd autoritie and power, wyth the favour of
-your good lordshepe in comfort and consolacion of your pouere prestes,
-the monkes of the seyd hous of Bromholm, and there up to graunte your
-worthy lettres, wittenessyng the same acceptacion and admyssion of the
-seyd resignacion, and al your seyd lettres to delyvere to my clerke, to
-wham I prey yow to gyve feith and credence touchant this matier, and to
-delivere it hym in alle the hast resonable. And I am your man, and evere
-will be by the grace of God, which evere have yow in his kepyng. Writen
-at Norwich the     [33.1] of Aprill.
-
-  Yowres,
-
-  WILL. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 32.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed
-    from a rough draft written on paper, corrected in William
-    Paston's own hand, and scribbled over, after his fashion, with
-    numerous other drafts and jottings on both sides. Some of these
-    occur upside down between the lines of this letter. At the head
-    of the memoranda on the back are the words, 'In parliamento,
-    anno H. vj. viijş.' from which we may infer the date to be at
-    least as early.]
-
-    [Footnote 33.1: Blank in MS.]
-
-
-21
-
-ABSTRACT[33.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1429-30]
-
-A Memorandum, dated 8 Henry VI., that Sir Simon Felbrigge, William
-Paston, &c., recovered certain land in Edithorp, Bakton, and
-Northwalsham, against Richard, Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme, John Roys,
-and others.
-
-    [Footnote 33.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-22
-
-ABSTRACT[33.3]
-
-ROBERT, LORD OF WILLUGHBY AND BEAUMESNIL, TO WILLIAM PASTON, ESQ.
-
-[Sidenote: 1431 / JAN. 8]
-
-Notifying that he has granted to Sir William Oldhall and Margaret, our
-sister, his wife, for moneys which Oldhall has lent and paid for him at
-need, an annuity of 120 marks on lands in Norfolk and Suffolk, in which
-ye (William Paston, Esq.) stand enfeoffed, to our behoof. Pont de
-l'Arche, 8 Jan. 1430, 9 Hen. VI.--_Signed. Fine seal, mutilated._
-
-    [Footnote 33.3: [Add. Charter 17,227, B.M.]]
-
-
-23
-
-ABSTRACT[34.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1432 / MAY 1]
-
-Deed Poll, whereby Robert York, Prior of the church of St. Andrew of
-Broomholme, and the Convent of the same place, grant to Sir Simon
-Felbrygg, Knt., William Paston of Paston, and others, certain lands in
-Bacton Wood, &c., 1 May, 10 Henry VI. (_Fragment of seal._)
-
-    [Footnote 34.1: [Add. Charter 14,313, B.M. (Dr. Turner's
-    Coll.)]]
-
-
-24
-
-EDUCATION OF HENRY VI[34.2]
-
-_Articles de Monsr. de Warrewyk[34.3] touchant le bon regime du Roy,
-etc._[34.4]
-
-[Sidenote: 1432 / NOV. 9]
-
-For the goode reule, demesnyng and seuretee of the Kynges persone, and
-draught of him to vertue and connyng, and eschuyng of eny thing that
-mighte yeve empeschement or let therto, or cause eny charge, defaulte,
-or blame to be leyd upon the Erle of Warrewyk at eny tyme withouten his
-desert, he, considering that perill and besinesse of his charge aboute
-the Kinges persone groweth so that that auctoritee and power yeven to
-him before suffiseth him nought without more therto, desireth therfor
-thees thinges that folowen.
-
-Furst, that considering that the charge of the reule, demesnyng, and
-governance, and also of nourture of the Kinges persone resteth upon the
-said Erle whiles it shal like the king, and the perille, daunger, and
-blame if eny lak or defaulte, were in eny of thees, the whiche lak or
-defaulte mighte be caused by ungodely or unvertuous men, if eny suche
-were aboute his persone; he desireth therfore, for the goode of the
-King, and for his owne seuretee, to have power and auctoritee to name,
-ordeigne, and assigne, and for cause that shal be thought to him
-resonable to remoeve thoo that [shal] be aboute the Kinges persone, of
-what estate or condicion that thei be, not entending to comprehende in
-this desir the Stuard, Chamberlein, Tresoror, Contrerollor, ne Sergeantz
-of offices, save suche as serve aboute the Kinges persone and for his
-mouth.
-
-_Responsio._ As toward the namyng, ordeignance, and assignacion
-beforesaid, it is agreed, so that he take in noon of the iiij. knightes
-ne squyers for the body without th'advis of my Lord of Bedford,[35.1]
-him being in England, and him being out, of my Lord of Gloucestre[35.2]
-and of the remenant of the Kinges Counsail.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle desireth that where he shal have eny persone in his
-discrecion suspect of mysgovernance, and not behoveful nor expedient to
-be aboute the King, except th'estates of the hous, that he may putte hem
-from excercise and occupacion of the Kinges service till that he shal
-mowe have speche with my Lordes of Bedford or of Gloucestre, and with
-the other Lordes of the Kinges Counsaile, to that ende that, the
-defaulte of eny suche persone knowen unto him, shal mowe ordeigne
-therupon as theim shel thenke expedient and behoveful.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle desireth that, for sikenesse and other causes
-necessaries and resonables, he may, by warnyng to my Lordes of Bedford
-or Gloucestre and the Kinges Counsail, be and stande freely descharged
-of the saide occupacion and besinesse about the Kinges persone, under
-the favour and goode grace of the King, my Lordes of Bedford and
-Gloucestre, and other Lordes of the Kinges Counsail.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, that considering howe, blessed be God, the King is growen in
-yeers, in stature of his persone, and also in conceite and knouleche of
-his hiegh and royalle auctoritee and estat, the whiche naturelly causen
-him, and from day to day as he groweth shul causen him, more and more to
-grucche with chastising, and to lothe it, so that it may resonably be
-doubted leste he wol conceive ayeins the said Erle, or eny other that
-wol take upon him to chastise him for his defaultes, displesir, or
-indignacion therfore, the whiche, without due assistence, is not easy to
-be born: It like, therfore, to my Lord of Gloucestre, and to alle the
-Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, to promitte to the said Erle, and assure
-him, that thei shul fermely and trewely assisten him in the excercise of
-the charge and occupacion that he hathe aboute the Kinges persone,
-namely in chastising of him for his defaultes, and supporte the said
-Erle therinne; and if the King at eny tyme wol conceyve for that cause
-indignacion ayeins the said Erle, my said Lord of Gloucestre, and
-Lordes, shul do alle her [_i.e._ their] trewe diligence and power to
-remoeve the King therfro.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle desireth that for asmuche as it shal be necessarie
-to remoeve the Kinges persone at diverse tymes into sundry places, as
-the cases mowe require, that he may have power and auctoritee to remoeve
-the King, by his discrecion, into what place him thenketh necessarie for
-the helthe of his body and seuretee of his persone.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, sith the said Erle hath take upon him the governance of the Kinges
-persone, he desireth that alle th'estates, officers, and servantz of the
-Kinges hous, of what estate and condicion thei be, have special
-commandement and charge yeven by my Lordes of Bedford and Gloucestre,
-and by the Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, that in alle manere thinges
-seyn and advised by the said Erles descrecion, that is, for the Kinges
-estate, worship, helthe, and profit, by his commandement and
-ordeignance, thei be attendant and obeissant in accomplisshing therof.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, for asmuche as the said Erle hath knouleche that in speche that
-hath be had unto the King at part and in prive, not hering the said Erle
-nor eny of the knightes set aboute his persone, nor assigned by the said
-Erle, he hath be stured by summe from his lernyng, and spoken to of
-diverse materes not behovefull, the seid Erle doubting the harme that
-mighte falle to the King, and the inconvenientz that mighte ensue of
-suche speche at part if it were suffred, desireth that in al speche to
-be had with the King, he or oon of the iiij. knightes, or sum persone to
-be assigned by the said Erle, be present and prive to it.
-
-_Responsio_. This article is agreed, excepting suche persones as for
-nieghnesse of blood, and for their estate, owe of reson to be suffred to
-speke with the King.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, to th'entent that it may be knowen to the King that it procedeth
-of th'assent, advis, and agreement of my Lord of Gloucestre, and alle my
-Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, that the King be chastised for his
-defaultes or trespasses, and that for awe therof he forbere the more to
-do mys, and entende the more besily to vertu and to lernyng, the said
-Erle desireth that my Lord of Gloucestre, and my said other Lords of the
-Counsail, or great part of hem, that is to say, the Chanceller and
-Tresorer, and of everych estate in the Counsail, spirituell and
-temporell, summe come to the Kinges presence, and there to make to be
-declared to him theire agreement in that behalve.
-
-_Responsio._ Whan the King cometh next to London, all his Counsail shal
-come to his presence, and there this shal be declared to him.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle, that all his dayes hath, aboven alle other erthely
-thinges, desired, and ever shal, to kepe his trouthe and worship
-unblemysshed and unhurt, and maye not for all that lette malicious and
-untrewe men to make informacions of his persone, suche as thei may not,
-ne dare not, stand by, ne be not trewe, besecheth therfore my Lord of
-Gloucestre, and alle my said Lords of the Counsail, that if thei, or eny
-of hem, have be enformed of eny thing that may be or soune to his charge
-or defaulte, and namely in his occupacion and reule aboute the Kinges
-persone, that the said Erle may have knowleche therof, to th'entent that
-he may answer therto, and not dwelle in hevy or synistre conceit or
-opinion, withoute his desert and without answere.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed.
-
-                                      CROMWELL.
-
-    H. GLOUCESTRE.
-
-            J. EBOR.      P. ELIEN.
-
-  W. LINCOLN.    J. BATHON., Canc.    J. ROFFEN.
-
-            SUFFOLK.      H. STAFFORD.
-
-    J. HUNTYNGTON.
-
-  The foregoing document is written on a skin of parchment docqueted
-  with the words printed in italics at the head. The following
-  memorandum is also endorsed-- 'xxixş die Novembris anno undecimo
-  apud Westm. lecti fuerunt prĉsentes articuli coram dominis infra et
-  subscribentibus et ad eosdem Responsiones dabantur secundum quod
-  infra patet, prĉsentibus dominis infrascriptis.' There are also
-  other endorsements, but of a later date.
-
-    [Footnote 34.2: [Add. Charter 17,228, B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 34.3: Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who died
-    in 1439.]
-
-    [Footnote 34.4: This title is taken from a contemporary
-    endorsement.]
-
-    [Footnote 35.1: John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, the
-    King's uncle, brother of the late King Henry V.]
-
-    [Footnote 35.2: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Protector of
-    England, another uncle of the King, being the youngest brother
-    of Henry V. He was called 'the Good Duke Humphrey.']
-
-
-25
-
-DALLING'S PETITION[38.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1433(?)]
-
-  Prefixed to this document in Fenn is the following title:--
-  'A Petition to the Commons of England against Sir William Paston,
-  Knight, a Judge of the Common Pleas, by William Dalling.' This
-  heading, however, has been taken from a more modern endorsement. No
-  contemporaneous document, so far as I am aware, gives Judge Paston
-  the designation of knight, or speaks of him as Sir William. In this
-  petition itself he is called simply William Paston, one of the
-  Justices; and although his name occurs frequently on the Patent
-  Rolls, in commissions of the peace, of gaol delivery, and the like,
-  down to the year of his death, the word 'miles' is never appended to
-  it.
-
-The original commencement of this document has been crossed out. It was
-in these words:--
-
-  Plesit to the righte sage and wyse Communes of this present
-  Parlement, that wher every Justice of the Kyng is sworne that he
-  shulde not take no fees ne reward for to be of councell with noo
-  man, but oonly wyth our Soverayne Lorde the Kyng, and therto thei be
-  swore. And ther is oon Will' Paston, one of the Justice of our
-  Soverayne Lorde in the Comene Place, taketh fees and rewarde.
-
-  On the back of the original document is written, in a hand of the
-  time, 'Falsa billa Will'i Dalling, ad Parliamentum tempore quo Henr.
-  Grey fuit vicecomes ante annum terciodecimum Regis Henr. vj^{ti}.'
-  Henry Grey was sheriff of Norfolk in 1430, and again in 1433-4. The
-  Parliament referred to must either have been that of 8 Hen. VI.
-  (1429-30) or that of 12 Hen. VI. (1433), which sat till 21st
-  December. Probably the latter.
-
-[Sidenote: 1434(?)]
-
-Plese it to Commines of the present Parlement, that William Paston, on
-of the Justice of oure Saverayne Lorde Kyng, takyth diverse fees and
-rewardes of diverses persones withinne the shir of Norffolk and Suffolk,
-and is with holde with every matere in the sayde contrees, that is for
-to sey:--Of the Toune of Yernemuth, 1_s._ yerly; of the Abot of Seyn
-Benetys. xxvj_s._ viij_d._; of the Prior of Seyn Feithes, xx_s._; 'and
-of my Lady Rothenhale,[39.1] xx_s_'; and of the Prior of Norwich, x_s._;
-and of the Prior of Penteney, xx_s._; and of the Toun of Lenn, xl_s._;
-and of the Prior of Walsyngham, xx_s._; and of Katherine Shelton,[39.2]
-x. mrc. ayeins the Kyng for to be of hir councell for to destroye the
-right of the Kyng and of his warde, that is for to sey, Raf,[39.3] soon
-and eyer of John Shelton.
-
-    [Footnote 38.1: [From Fenn, iii. 14.]]
-
-    [Footnote 39.1: This sentence in the original has a line drawn
-    over it. She was a widow of Sir John Rothenhale, Knight, and
-    dying at Caister, by Yarmouth, in 1440, was buried in Norwich
-    Cathedral.--F. _See_ Nos. 13 and 15, _ante_.]
-
-    [Footnote 39.2: Catharine, widow of William Shelton, Esq., and
-    daughter of Simon Barret, was grandmother to Ralph, and died in
-    1456.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 39.3: Sir Ralph Shelton, Knight, son and heir of John
-    Shelton, Esq., was born in 1430. He married Margaret, daughter
-    of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, and was High Sheriff of
-    Norfolk.--F.]
-
-
-26
-
-ABSTRACT[39.4]
-
-[Sidenote: 1435 / SEPT. 26]
-
-Lease made at Castre, on Monday before Michaelmas 14 Henry VI., by
-Geoffrey Walle, surveyor of the manors of Sir John Fastolf, to John
-Rakesond, son of Geoffrey Rakesond of Ormesby, of a messuage of
-Fastolf's in Ormesby, called Reppes Place, etc.
-
-    [Footnote 39.4: [Phillipps MS., 9,735, No. 264.]]
-
-
-27
-
-ABSTRACT[40.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1435 / SEPT. 30]
-
-A _vidimus_ or official attestation of two indentures relative to the
-custody of the castle of Le Mans between Sir John Fastolf, governor of
-Anjou and Maine, and captain of Le Mans under the Duke of Bedford, and
-Matthew Goth [Gough] and Thomas Gower as his lieutenants. The first
-indenture is for the quarter from 1st October to 31st December 1434,
-the second for the three quarters following, to 30th September 1435.
-A retinue is to be maintained of twenty-four lances and the 'archiers de
-la personne dudit Mathieu,' viz., sixty mounted and fourteen on foot,
-and 222 archers besides. Mounted archers to have 12_d._ a day, etc.
-
-The document is authenticated by the _garde du scel des obligations de
-la Viconté de Rouen_, on the 8th March 1448 (i.e. 1449).
-
-
-28
-
-NOTE[40.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1432-5]
-
-Building accounts of William Granere, master of the works at Caistre in
-11, 12, and 13 Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 40.1: [Add. Charter 17,237, B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 40.2: [Add. Charters 17,229-31, B.M.]]
-
-
-29
-
-JOHN GYNE TO JOHN PASTON[40.3]
-
-_To the worthy and worshipful sir and my good maister, John Paston of
-Trynyte hall in Cambrigge_
-
-[Sidenote: 1435-6]
-
-Right worthy and worshipfull sir, and my good maister, I comaund me to
-yow. Like it yow to witte that on the Soneday next after the Ascencion
-of oure Lord, in the high weye betwex Cambrigge and the Bekyntre toward
-Newmarket, I fonde a purs with money ther inne. Th'entent of this my
-symple lettre is this, that it please to your good Maistership by weye
-of charite, and of your gentilnesse, to witte if ony of youre knowleche
-or ony other, swich as yow semeth best in your discrecion, have lost
-swich a purs, and, the toknes ther of told, he shal have it ageyn, what
-that ever he be, by the grace of oure Lord, Who ever have yow in his
-blissed kepyng. Wretyn at Sneylewell the Moneday next after the seid
-Soneday. By youre pover servaunt,
-
-  JOHN GYN.
-
-    [Footnote 40.3: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 4.] Fenn has written on the
-    MS. of this letter the date '_circa_ 1435-6,' which, I agree
-    with him, must have been about the time that it was written.]
-
-
-30
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO LORD ----[41.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1436]
-
-Paston recomaund hym to youre good lordeship, willyng with all his herte
-to doo yow servise to his symple power. And as touching the maner of
-Walsham he seyth that at your comaundement he wille be redy to shewe yow
-and preve that the seid maner and all the vesture and crop therof this
-yeer by trewe title in lawe and conscience is his owen trewly, bowth and
-in gret party payed for, and that John Roys never hadde non estate in
-the seid maner, but oonly occupied it by suffraunce of the seid Paston
-and other feffes in the seid maner, and that be bargayn of the seid
-maner th'estate that the seid Roys shuld have hadde in the seid maner
-and in stoor therof shul have be condicionel to be voide and nought for
-defaute of payement, and that the seid John Roys ne kept not his dayes
-of the payementz, &c.; and that the seid William Paston, in the lyve of
-the seid John Roys, for defaute of payment entred in the seid maner with
-the seid the crop and the vesture of this yeer therof than therupon, and
-that the seid John Roys never at noo tyme payed to the seid John Baxtere
-sith the seid bargeyn, nother for the seid bargeyn ne for the dette he
-aught to hym, more thaune an C. and xl. marcz, wherof he borwed ageyn of
-the seid John Baxtere xl_li._; and over that he oweth and beforn the
-seid bargeyn aught by his obligacion to the seid John Baxtere, of trew
-dette of mony borwed, other xl_li._, and hath hadde and taken the
-profitz of the seid maner by iij. hool yer before his deth to the value
-of xxx_li._ and more, and that he receyved in his said bargayn of the
-seid John Baxtere xl. marcz worth of stoor; the which iiii^{xx}li. of
-dette and xxx_li._ of the profitz of the seid maner, and xl. marcz worth
-of stoor, maketh the somme of Cxxxvi_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._ Wherof,
-thogh the lawe wille it not, were abated, if conscience required it,
-Cxl. marcz payed by the seid John Roys and x_li._ for the value of the
-seid crop, over the value of the verray ferme of the seid maner for this
-yeer, yet remanyneth dwe to the executoures of the seid John Baxter
-liij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._, and all the title and interesse of the seid
-John Roys his heyres and assignes in the seid maner lawfully and in
-conscience extincted and adnulled. Wher upon the said Paston lowly
-besecheth your good lordeship that if it may be preved this mater be
-trew that ye wille not be displesed thogh he desire to have his fre
-disposicion of the seid maner.
-
-  On the back of this letter are the following memoranda:--
-
-  'Hĉc billa . . . . . . [testatur][42.1] quod Johannes Baxtere
-  vendidit Johanni Roys mesuagium suum [vocatum][42.1] Walccham place,
-  cum toto stauro ibidem vivo et mortuo in Bryanes, cum omnibus aliis
-  terris et tenementis suis, liberis et nativis, cum pertinentiis, ex
-  parte occidentali ecclesiĉ North Walsham, et molendinum ventriticum
-  et mesuagium nuper Rogeri atte Hille, cum omnibus redditibus et
-  servitiis pertinentibus dictis mesuagio et tenemento ubicumque
-  fuerint in comitatu Norffolk, pro iijC. marcis et l. marcis; unde
-  dictus Johannes Roys solvit dicto Johanni Baxtere die Jovis proximo
-  ante festum Apostolorum Simonis et Judĉ anno regni regis Henrici VI.
-  xij., C. m., et habet diem solvendi residuum, videlicet ad festum
-  Nativitatis Domini et festum sancti Michaelis proximo futurum xl.
-  marcas annuatim, quousque dictĉ CCC. marcĉ et l. marcĉ plenarie
-  persolvantur. Datum die Jovis prĉdicto. Hĉc prĉdicta de manu Thomĉ
-  Whitewelle.'
-
-  Then after two further imperfect entries relating to the same
-  matter:--
-
-  'Memorandum, quod licet esset concordatum quod W. Roys haberet
-  barganium, &c., quod, ut credo, non ita erit, tunc in festo
-  Nativitatis Domini anno regni regis Henrici VI. xvş debentur
-  executoribus de eodem barganio C. marcĉ prĉter et ultra Cxl. marcas
-  per Johannem Roys in vita sua solutas et xl_li._ de antiquo per
-  dictum Johannem Roys Johanni Baxter debitas, videlicet per
-  obligacionem suam xxxv_li._ inde, et ex mutua sua obligacione v_li._
-  de Perey Noble (?), ut patet per papirum dicti Baxter, et ultra
-  xl_li._ per dictum Johannem Baxter post dictum barganium dicti
-  Johanni Roys per obligacionem . . . ejusdem Johannis Roys prĉstitas.
-  Memorandum eciam quod dictus Johannes Roys nec uxor ejus unquam
-  protulerunt aliquem denarium solvendum dictis . . . dicti Johannis
-  Baxter nec Willelmo Paston post mortem dicti Baxter. Set circa
-  Nativitatem Domini anno regni dicti regis xiiijş et in quadragesima
-  tunc proximo sequente uxor dicti Roys apud Paston dixit quod habuit
-  xx. marcas paratas ad solvendum. Et sic dixit Johannes Roys tempore
-  quo Domina Skales fuit apud Paston, videlicet ix. die Januarii dicto
-  anno xiiijş et sic omnibus temporibus quibus dictus J. Roys et uxor
-  ejus ut prĉdicitur dixerunt quod habuerunt xx. marcas paratas ad
-  solvendum semper fuerunt arretro xl_li._ absque dictis xl_li._ novi
-  debiti et xl_li._ antiqui debiti.'
-
-    [Footnote 41.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 140.]]
-
-    [Footnote 42.1: Mutilated.]
-
-
-31
-
-NOTE
-
-[Sidenote: 1436 / MAY 19]
-
-Fenn mentions an indenture, dated 19th May 1436, 14 Henry VI., and
-signed by the Earl (afterwards Duke) of Suffolk, from which he has given
-a facsimile of Suffolk's signature. See vol. i. p. 36.--The original of
-this indenture I have not met with.
-
-
-32
-
-ABSTRACT[43.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1438 / AUG. 18]
-
-Sir H. Inglose notifies his agreement with John Topy of Wyndham, jun.,
-in an action for trespass done to him at Stalham. Dilhams, Monday after
-the Assumption of Our Lady, 16 Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 43.1: [Add. Charter 17,232, B.M.]]
-
-
-33
-
-JOHN WILLOUGHBY TO LORD BEAUMONT[44.1]
-
-_To my ryght noble and ryght [dra]dde lord, my Lord Beaumont._
-
-[Sidenote: 1432-40]
-
-Ryght wursshipfull sire, my ryghte noble, and ryghte dradde lorde, after
-dyw recommendacion to yowr reverens, please hit yow to know that yowr
-lordesship luste to empointe me to abyde yowr noble avys touching the
-landis of Latemer, which my Lorde Latemer holdith ate this day. My lord,
-I muste, and owe of dywte, abyde yowre empoyntement, and shall; how be
-hit I have be confortid to complaine me to my lordis and yow of the
-grete wronge that I have. But, sir, y have soe verray truste one yowre
-lordesship that I refuse all counsaille, abyding yowre empointemente and
-rewell, as my diwte is to doo; byseching yow, my lord, to remembre yow
-and compasse of yowre servaunt, and that ye lust of yowr grace to comyne
-with my Lord of Salisbury, and to fele him in the mater, and as ye fele
-him, hit please yowre lordesship I may have knowlege; and whate yowre
-pore bedman may do to yowre plesire, I ame redy ate yowre comaundement
-ate all howris, which knowith God, Hoe have yow, my ryghte noble lord,
-in His blessid gouvernauns.
-
-Write ate Broke, the v. day of Marche.
-
-  Your pore bedman and servant,
-
-  JOHN WYLUGHBY.
-
-    [Footnote 44.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this
-    letter was the father of Robert, first Lord Willoughby de Broke,
-    who afterwards laid claim to the barony of Latimer, as being
-    descended from Elizabeth, sister and sole heir of John Nevill,
-    fifth Lord Latimer, who died in 1430. He was, however,
-    unsuccessful, as the title had been revived in 1432 by a writ of
-    summons to George Nevill, a son of Ralph, first Earl of
-    Westmoreland. This George died in 1469, and was succeeded by his
-    grandson, Richard Neville, then an infant of two years old, who
-    had summons to Parliament as Lord Latimer in 1492. The Lord
-    Latimer here spoken of seems to be George Nevill, and it is
-    probable that the letter was written between 1432 and 1440, as
-    John, Lord Beaumont, was created Viscount in the latter year,
-    while he is not so addressed here.]
-
-
-34
-
-AGNES PASTON TO WILLIAM PASTON[45.1]
-
-_To my worshepefull housbond, W. Paston, be this letter takyn_
-
-[Sidenote: 1440(?)]
-
-Dere housbond, I recomaunde me to yow, &c. Blessyd be God I sende yow
-gode tydynggs of the comyng, and the brynggyn hoom, of the
-gentylwomman[45.2] that ye wetyn of fro Redham, this same nyght,
-acordyng to poyntmen [_appointment_] that ye made ther for yowr self.
-
-And as for the furste aqweyntaunce be twhen John Paston[45.3] and the
-seyde gentylwomman, she made hym gentil cher in gyntyl wise, and seyde,
-he was verrayly your son. And so I hope ther shall nede no gret trete be
-twyxe hym.
-
-The parson of Stocton[45.4] toold me, yif ye wolde byin her a goune,
-here moder wolde yeve ther to a godely furre. The goune nedyth for to be
-had; and of colour it wolde be a godely blew, or erlys a bryghte
-sangueyn.
-
-I prey yow do byen for me ij. pypys of gold.[45.5] Your stewes[45.6] do
-weel.
-
-The Holy Trinite have you in governaunce.
-
-Wretyn at Paston, in hast, the Wednesday next after _Deus qui
-errantibus_,[45.7] for defaute of a good secretarye. Yowres,
-
-  AGN. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 45.1: [From Fenn, i. 2.] This letter must have been
-    written some little time before the marriage of John Paston and
-    Margaret Mauteby, which seems to have been about 1440.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.2: Margaret, daughter and heir of John Mauteby,
-    shortly afterwards married to John Paston, Esq.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.3: Son of William and Agnes Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.4: Laurence Baldware was rector of Stockton 'about
-    1440.' --Blomefield, viii. 49.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.5: Gold thread on pipes or rolls, for needlework or
-    embroidery.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.6: Ponds to keep fish alive for present use.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.7: The Collect for the Third Sunday after Easter.]
-
-
-35
-
-ABSTRACT[46.1]
-
-[Sidenote: About 1440]
-
-Draft Lease by Sir Simon Felbrygge; Oliver Groos, Esq.; John Berney of
-Redham, Esq.; William Paston of Paston; Thomas Stodhagh; Roger Taillour
-of Stafford Bernyngham; and Thomas Newport of Runham, executors of
-Robert Mawteby and John his son, to Margery, widow of the said John, of
-'two parts of manors, &c.' and the reversion, &c., which they lately
-held along with Sir Miles Stapleton, Sir William Argenten, Sir John
-Hevenyngham, Sir John Carbonell, Sir William Calthorpe, John Boys, Esq.,
-and William Caston, Esq., now deceased, by deed of Robert Mawteby. The
-remainder, after Margery's death, is to go to Margaret, daughter of the
-said John and Margery, and the heirs of her body; then to Peter Mauteby,
-son of Robert and uncle of Margaret; then to Alianora, widow of Robert;
-then to Alianora, widow of William Calthorp and sister of Robert
-Mawteby, with reversion to the trustees to fulfil the will.
-
-  [This paper is addressed to John Berney of Reedham, and appears, by
-  an endorsement, to have been transmitted along with a letter of
-  William Paston. The date is fixed by the contents within pretty
-  narrow limits, for it is after the death of John Boys, Esq., which
-  was in August 1439 (Inquis. _post mortem_, 18 Hen. VI., No. 2), and
-  before that of Sir Simon Felbrigg in 1442 (Inquis. _p. m._, 21 Hen.
-  VI., No. 33). It is easy to see, in fact, that the document had
-  something to do with the marriage settlement of John Paston and
-  Margaret Mauteby, which was about 1440.]
-
-
-36
-
-ROBERT REPPS TO JOHN PASTON[46.2]
-
-_A mon tresreverent et treshonerable Maister John Paston soit doné._
-
-[Sidenote: 1440 / NOV. 1]
-
-Salvete, &c. Tytyngs, the Duk of Orlyawnce[46.3] hath made his oath upon
-the Sacrement, and usyd it, never for to bere armes ayenst Englond,
-in the presence of the Kyng and all the Lordes, except my Lord of
-Gloucestre.[46.4] And proving my seyde Lord of Gloucestre agreyd never
-to hys delyveraunce, qwan the masse began he toke his barge, &c.
-
-God yef grace the seide Lord of Orlyaunce be trewe, for this same weke
-shall he to ward Fraunce.
-
-Also Freynchmen and Pykardes, a gret nowmbre, kome to Arfleet,[47.1] for
-to arescuyd [_have rescued_] it; and our Lordes wyth here smal pusaunce
-manly bytte [_beat_] them, and pytte hem to flyte, and, blyssyd be our
-Lord, have take the seide cite of Arflet; the qwych is a great juell to
-all Englond, and in especiall to our cuntre.
-
-Moreover there is j. [_i.e._ one] kome in to Englond, a Knyght out of
-Spayne, wyth a kercheff of plesaunce i wrapped aboute hys arme; the
-qwych Knyght wyl renne a cours wyth a sharpe spere for his sovereyn lady
-sake; qwom other [_either_] Sir Richard Wodvyle[47.2] or Sir Christofore
-Talbot[47.3] shall delyver, to the wyrchip of Englond and of hem selff,
-be Goddes grace.
-
-Ferthermore, ye be remembryd that an esquyer of Suffolk, callyd John
-Lyston, recoveryd _in assisa novĉ disseisinĉ_[47.4] vij^c [700] marc in
-damages ayenst Sir Robert Wyngfeld, &c. In avoydyng of the payement of
-the seid vij. c. marc, the seide Sir Robert Wyngfeld sotylly hath
-outlaywed the seide John Lyston in Notyngham shir, be the vertue of qwch
-outlagare, all maner of chattell to the seide John Lyston apperteynyng,
-arn acruwyd on to the Kyng, &c. And anon as the seide utlagare was
-certyfyed, my Lord Tresorer[47.5] graunted the seid vij. c. marc to my
-Lord of Norffolk, for the arrerag of hys sowde [_pay_] qwyl he was in
-Scotland; and, acordyng to this assignement forseide, taylles
-[_tallies_] delyvered. And my Lord of Norffolk hath relesyd the same
-vij. c. marc to Sir Robert Wyngfeld. And here is greet hevyng an shovyng
-be my Lord of Suffolk and all his counsell for to aspye hough this mater
-kam aboute, &c.
-
-Sir, I beseche recomende me on to my mastres your modyr, to my mastres
-your wyff, and to my mastres your suster, _et omnibus alijs quorum
-interest_, &c.
-
-Sir, I pray you, wyth all myn hert, hold me excusyd that I wryte thus
-homly and briefly on to you, for truly convenable space suffycyd me
-nowt.
-
-No more atte this tyme, butte the Trynyte have you in proteccion, &c.;
-and qwan your leysyr is, resorte ageyn on to your college, the Inner
-Temple, for ther ben many qwych sor desyr your presence, Welles and
-othyr, &c.
-
-Wretyn in le fest de touts Seynts, entre Messe et Mateyns, _calamo
-festinante_, &c.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  ROB. REPPES.
-
-    [Footnote 46.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 46.2: [From Fenn, i. 4.] This letter was written in
-    1440, the year of the release of the Duke of Orleans.]
-
-    [Footnote 46.3: Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was taken prisoner
-    at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, and had never since been
-    released.]
-
-    [Footnote 46.4: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, uncle of the King,
-    and before this time Protector.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.1: Harfleur.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.2: Afterwards Earl Rivers, father of Elizabeth,
-    Queen of Edward IV.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.3: Third son of John, the famous Earl of
-    Shrewsbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.4: _i.e._, in an assize of novel disseisin--an
-    ancient law process.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.5: Ralph, Lord Cromwell.]
-
-
-37
-
-ABSTRACT[48.1]
-
----- ---- TO FRIAR BRACKLEY (?).
-
-[Sidenote: About 1440 (?)]
-
-Touching a suit of Reynold Rowse against William Burgeys. This suit was
-instituted originally for 5_s._ 4_d._ of rent; but when Rouse found he
-could not prevail by right, he maliciously sued the other for trespass
-in having fished his water, and driven him away by force. He afterwards
-got him arrested for treachery upon an obligation (_i.e._, a bond).
-Burgeys complained to Justice Paston, who counselled him not to plead;
-'For zyf thu do, he seyd, thu xalte hafe the werse, be thi case never so
-trewe, for he is feid with my Lord of [N]orthfolke, and mech he is of he
-[_sic_] counsel; and also, thu canst no man of lawe in Northfolke ne in
-Sowthfolke to be with the azens hym; and, for [s]othe no more myth I
-qwan I had a ple azens hym; and therfor myn counsel is, that thu make an
-end qwat so ever the pay, for he xal elles on do the and brynge the to
-nowte.'
-
-  [This letter is mutilated, and in part defaced. It is addressed on
-  the back-- 'Be this take to Mayster Brele (?) of the Greye Freres.'
-  Although the name seems to be written Brele, it was probably
-  intended for Friar Brackley of Norwich, of whom we have several
-  letters of a later period. The date must be between the year 1429,
-  when William Paston was made a judge, and 1444, when he died; and as
-  the name of Reginald Rows occurs in Blomefield (_Hist. of Norfolk_,
-  ix. 441) 'about 1440,' this letter will probably not be far out of
-  its true place if inserted in that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 48.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-38
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[49.1]
-
-_To my worshepfull husbond, John Paston, abidyng at Petyrhous in
-Cambrigg._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1440]
-
-Ryth reverent and worsepful husbon, I recomawnde me to zow with alle myn
-sympyl herte, and prey zow to wete that there come up xi. hundyr Flemyns
-at Waxham, quereof wer takyn, and kylte, and dronchyn [_drowned_] viij.
-hundryte. And thei had nowte a be, ze xul a be atte home this
-Qwesontyde, and I suppose that ze xul be atte home er owte long be.
-
-I thanke yow hertely for my lettyr, for I hadde none of zow syn I spooke
-with zow last of for the matyr of Jon Mariot; the qwest passyd nowte of
-that day, for my Lorde of Norfolke was in towne for Wedyrbys
-matyr,[49.2] qwer for he wolde nowt latyd pase off, for further (?) of I
-kowe [_know_?] Fynch ne Bylbys makethe no purwyans for hys gode.
-
-No mor I wryte to zow atte this tyme, but the Holy Trenyte hawe zow in
-kepyng. Wretyn in Norweche, on Trenyte Sune day.
-
-  Yowr,
-
-  MARKARYTE PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 49.1: [From Fenn, iii. 18.] The date of this letter is
-    uncertain. From the fact of John Paston's residence at Peter
-    House in Cambridge, it would appear, as Fenn remarks, to have
-    been written early in his married life, and we know that he was
-    married as early as 1440.]
-
-    [Footnote 49.2: Probably Thomas Wetherby, who was Mayor of
-    Norwich in 1432-3, is referred to. He took offence at the
-    Aldermen and Commons of the city for not naming the person he
-    wished as his successor, and for some years afterwards showed
-    his hostility by instigating prosecutions against the city,
-    causing their attorneys to abandon their pleas, and so forth.]
-
-
-39
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO HENRY INGLOSE AND JOHN BERNEY[50.1]
-
-_To my ryght wel belovyd cosyns, Herry Inglese and Johan Berney,
-Escuiers._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1440 (?)]
-
-Ryght wel belovyd cosyns, I comaund me to yow. And please you to hafe in
-knoulege that at whyche tyme ye were delyvered out of pryson by the
-moyen of ij. prysonners that y delyvered yow, whyche, as ye know wel,
-one was Burd Vynollys and the other Johan de Seint Johan dit Dolot, and
-in lyke wyse I boughte anothyr prysonner clepyt Johan Villers for the
-delyveraunce of Mautbye[50.2] Sqwyer, whyche mater ye knowythe welle.
-And for as moche as my wrytynges that makyth mencion of that
-delyveraunce of the said Mautbye be not in my warde, y pray you that ye
-wolle undre your seelys certyffye me the trouthe how the said Mautbye
-was delyveryd by my moyen. Y hafe found a cedule that makyth mencion of
-that prysonner, of whyche I sende you a double, to be better avertysed
-of the mater. And therfor, as my trust ys yn yow that ye sende me your
-gode remembraunce in as goodly haste as ye may. And our Lord kepe you.
-Wryt at Londone the v. day of November.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, _Chevalier_.
-
-    [Footnote 50.1: [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] The date
-    of this letter is quite uncertain; but as Fastolf is believed to
-    have returned from abroad about 1440, we presume it was not
-    earlier than that year.]]
-
-    [Footnote 50.2: No doubt John Mauteby, son-in-law of John Berney
-    and father of Margaret Paston. _See_ Blomefield's _Norfolk_, xi.
-    228.]
-
-  [[Herry Inglese  _text unchanged: normal spelling is "Inglose"_]]
-
-
-40
-
-ABSTRACT[50.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1441 / MAY 7]
-
-Letters Patent, dated 7th May 19 Henry VI., by which Richard, Duke of
-York, Earl of March, etc., lieutenant and governor of France, grants to
-his beloved councillor, Sir John Fastolf, an annuity of £20.
-
-    [Footnote 50.3: [Add. Charter 14,598, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)]]
-
-
-41
-
-ABSTRACT[51.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1441 / OCT. 14]
-
-Sir Thomas Keryell, lieutenant of Calais, notifies that his servant,
-John à Bekkes, mariner, master of his ship _Bonaventure_, has sold it to
-Sir John Fastolf, and that he agrees to the sale. Calais, 14th October
-1441. Signed 'R. Wenlok.' (_Fine seal, mutilated._)
-
-    [Footnote 51.1: [Add. Charter 17,233, B.M.]]
-
-
-42
-
-NOTE
-
-[Sidenote: 1442]
-
-A proviso occurs for William Paston and Robert and Esmond Clere in an
-Act of Parliament 20 Henry VI., securing to them certain copyhold lands
-with two mansions thereon in Paston and Edithorp, Norfolk, held by the
-feoffees of the duchy of Lancaster, in exchange for other lands, called
-Charterhold, with two mansions thereon, in the same places.--_Rolls of
-Parliament_, v. 59.
-
-
-43
-
-ABSTRACT[51.2]
-
-JOHN AND MARGARET PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1442 / APRIL 15]
-
-Indenture tripartite, whereby Sir Simon Felbrigge, Oliver Groos, Esq.,
-and William Paston, feoffees of Robert Mauteby, Esq., deceased, at the
-request of Margaret, wife of John Paston, daughter and heir of John
-Mauteby, son and heir of said Robert, and in consideration that the said
-John Paston and Margaret now have issue a son, John, whereby John Paston
-the father is by the law of England, for term of his life of the
-inheritance of his said wife, ---- grant and confirm to the said John
-Paston the manors of Mauteby, Sparham, Basyngham, Westbekham, Matelask,
-and Briston, the manor of Salle called Kirkehalle, and the manor called
-Fleghalle in Wynterton, Somerton, Ormesby, Martham, Horseye,
-Waxstonesham, and Pallyng, and 100_s._ rent in Castre by Norwich and
-Merkeshale, Norfolk; and the manor of Freton in Suffolk; with certain
-reversions on the death of Eleanor, wife of Thomas Chambre, Esq.,
-formerly wife of the said Robert Mauteby, Margery, wife of Ralph
-Garneys, Esq., mother of the said Margaret, formerly wife of John
-Mauteby, and of Edward Mauteby, Esq., and Thomas Mauteby, Esq., sons of
-the said Robert. To hold to the said John Paston, with remainder to
-Margaret and the heirs of her body; with contingent remainders in tail
-to Edw. Mauteby, Thomas Mauteby, &c.
-
-  Dated Mauteby, 15 April, 20 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 51.2: [From a Bodl. MS.]]
-
-
-44
-
-ABSTRACT[52.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1442 / APRIL 20]
-
-Grant by John, Duke of Norfolk, to William Berdewell, Esq., of an
-annuity of 10 marks out of Stonham, Suffolk. Framlingham, 20th April 20
-Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 52.1: [Add. Charter 17,234, B.M.]]
-
-
-45
-
-ABSTRACT[52.2]
-
-ELEANOR CHAMBRE TO WILLIAM PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: About 1442]
-
-Thanks him for what he did for her at Sparham at their last interview.
-He then expected to have more leisure to attend to her affairs at London
-after this Hallowmass, when he would ordain that she should have lawful
-estate for life in the partition made 'betwixt you and me, to for such
-that was there for my husband and for me at that time.' Begs him to do
-it now, and deliver it to her brother, John Chambre, or her servant,
-John Coke, the bearer. Sends the deed of annuity under her husband's
-signet and hers, which she must pay to Paston's children.
-
-Welouby, Sunday after St. Martin.
-
-  [Alianore, widow of Robert Mauteby, Esq., remarried Thomas Chambers,
-  Esq., lord of Sparham in her right, in 20 Henry VI. Her son, John
-  Mauteby, was the father of Margaret, wife of John Paston. --_See_
-  Blomefield, xi. 228.]
-
-    [Footnote 52.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-46
-
-DEPOSITION AGAINST JOHN HAWTEYN[52.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1443 / SEPT. 8]
-
-Primo suggessit Sanctissimo Papĉ mentiendo quod coactus et constrictus
-[fuisset] metu parentum ordinem[52.4] intrare; secundo quod in
-insufficienti et prohibita ĉtate et in eodem ordine invite esset
-professus; Et tertio, quod ita fuerat invallatus et inclusus in ordinis
-arctitudine ut sibi tempus opportunum exeundi acquirere nequiret. Contra
-quĉ sic depono, non per ficta et fantastice ymaginata, sed per visa et
-audita a fide dignis denunciata. Et primo, contra primum articulum,
-viz., quod metu parentum etc. quia, ut asserunt fide media quam plures
-fide digni quorum nomina perlongum esset enarrare, quod alter parentum,
-suple pater, neci submersionis suffocatus fuerat in Themisia diu
-antequam ordinem ingressus est prĉnotatus Johannes; ergo, dissonum
-videtur quod metu parentum ingressus est, sed tantum alterius parentis.
-Secundo, contra secundum articulum, scilicet quod ex insufficienti etc.,
-quia per vere visa et audita a fide dignis personis contra illud
-testimonium perhibere volentibus verum est asserere quod xiiij^cim
-annorum fuerat ĉtatis antequam indutus esset; quod sic evidet, quia
-natus erat in Swapham Markett, in loco qui Delgate dicitur, ubi parentes
-ejus commorabantur, quando primo intraverant villam antedictam pro
-annuali stipendio dato Thomĉ Delgate, cujus erat ipsa mansio, et istud
-ad testimonium Adĉ Ram, Roberti Sergaunte, Agnetis Ymay commatris[53.1]
-sĉpedicti Johannis Hawteyn et Katerinĉ Gannok, uxoris compatris[53.1]
-Johannis Hawteyn prĉdicti, viz. Johannis Gannok qui obiit anno Domini
-mccccxxxiiijş. Istis transactis, parentes dicti Johannis, viz. Haymundus
-Hawteyn, pater ejus, et Claricia Hawteyn mater ejus, conjunctim emerunt
-mansionem in eadem villa, viz. Swapham Markett, a Martino Waron anno
-regni Regis Ricardi Secundi post conquestum xxijş, quod datum, suple
-Regis Ricardi, prĉcessit nativitas Johannis Hawteyn in Delgate per
-testimonia prĉallegata. De facili ergo, probatur quod sit ĉtatis annorum
-xliiijşr ad minus, enumerando a xxijş anno regni Regis Ricardi Secundi
-post conquestum usque ad annum xxj^m Henrici Sexti.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Omnia in hac cedula quo ad Hawteyn dicta fuerunt Jacobo Gresham viijş
-die Septembris anno Regis Henrici vj^ti xxijş, prout scribuntur. Frater
-Johannes Alburugh dicit quod hoc medio intravit Johannes Hawteyn in
-ordinem. Circa xij. annum ĉtatis suĉ missus fuit London' essend' cum
-quodam Thoma Brown modo apprenticii; quod actum fuit, quodque sibi non
-bene complacuit, et cucurrit ad Fratres et dixit quod fuit nepos
-Alburugh, et ea de causa Reverendus Magister Walden[54.1] interrogavit
-eum si vellet esse frater, et dixit quod vellet et humiliter rogavit ex
-caritate. Et veraciter scit quod fuit ĉtatis xiiij. annorum et amplius
-tempore professionis suĉ et moram traxit ibidem per iij. vel iiij.
-annos. Et postea fuit apud Maldon per duos annos, et ab illo loco exiit.
-Deinde captus et Norwico incarceratus per dimidium annum. Et postea in
-domo de Blakney per iiijşr annos mansit, et ibidem fuit terminarius et
-hospes; et cucurrit ab inde cum vestibus officii de domo hospicii
-furtive et cepit librum (?) Alburugh avunculi sui et canciavit illum
-apud Aylesham pro iiij. marcis et dimidia, quas dictus Alburugh solvit
-pro libro rehabendo.
-
-Et addidit idem Johannes Hawteyn vel Alburugh frater et avunculus dicti
-Johannis Hawteyn quod Johannes Hawteyn apostata fuit natus apud Swafham
-Market circa iiij. annum post transitum patris sui a Scheryngton usque
-Swafham. Et dicit quod Robertus frater ejus fuit pluris ĉtatis quam
-Johannes fuit per iiijşr annos, et dictus Robertus fuit natus apud
-Scherynton.
-
-Et serviens Daubeney dicit quod Hamond Hawteyn transivit a Scheryngton
-usque Swafham tempore quo Thomas Erpyngham custodivit Regem R. in Turre
-London.[54.2]
-
-Stephanus Plattyng de Aylesham pro vero dicit quod ad Festum
-Purificationis Beatĉ Mariĉ anno regni Regis Henrici vj^ti xxjş elapsi
-fuerunt xxviijş anni postquam ipse primo habitavit in dicta villa de
-Aylesham; quo tempore Claricia quĉ fuit uxor Hamonis Hawteyn fuit vidua
-et commorans in messuagium nunc Johannis Draper de Aylesham, et postea
-nupta fuit Petro Fysch, cĉco, qui insimul vixerunt vj. vel vij. annos,
-et post obitum dicti Petri dicta Claricia cepit in virum Willelmum
-Punyant de Aylesham. Et ad dictum festum Purificationis Beatĉ Mariĉ
-dicto anno xxjş dicti Ponyant et Claricia insimul in matrimonio
-cohabitaverunt per xxij. annos. Hoc de Pounyant cum Claricia affirmant.
-Et dicit idem Ponyant quod frater Johannes Hawteyn professus fuit post
-matrimonium inter ipsum et prĉfatam Clariciam et quod ipse ad ultimum
-exitum suum de ordine prĉdicto dimisit capam suam in domo dicti Ponyant
-apud Aylesham.
-
-Willelmus Barbour dicit quod quo ad nativitatem Johannis Hawteyn penitus
-ignorat, sed dicit quod habet quendam (_sic_) filiam ĉtatis xliiijşr
-annorum, et ultra vel circa, et dicit quod Johannes Hawteyn est talis
-ĉtatis. Et dicit quod Tiphania soror Hawteyn est manens in villa ultra
-London vocata Hawehunte, sed in quo comitatu ignorat.
-
-  This paper is endorsed, 'Hauteyn, Oxened.'
-
-    [Footnote 52.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 52.4: The Order of Carmelites. --_See_ Note 1 on page
-    54.]
-
-    [Footnote 53.1: _Compater_ and _commater_ (in French _compère_
-    and _commère_) correspond in meaning to the old English word
-    _gossip_, _i.e._ god-sib, or related in baptism--generally
-    applied to godfathers and godmothers.]
-
-    [Footnote 54.1: The celebrated Thomas Netter of Walden,
-    provincial of the Carmelite order in England; a great opponent
-    of Wycliffe.]
-
-    [Footnote 54.2: Richard II. was committed to the Tower in 1399,
-    just before his formal resignation of the crown.]
-
-
-47
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[55.1]
-
-_To my rygth worchepful husbond, John Paston, dwellyng in the Inner
-Temple at London, in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1443 / SEPT. 28]
-
-Ryth worchipful hosbon, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to her
-of yowr wilfar, thanckyng God of yowr a mendyng of the grete dysese that
-ye have hade; and I thancke yow for the letter that ye sent me, for be
-my trowthe my moder and I wer nowth in hertys es fro the tyme that we
-woste of yowr sekenesse, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My moder
-be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of yow to oyer Lady of
-Walsyngham, and sche sent iiij. nobelys to the iiij. Orderys of Frerys
-at Norweche to pray for yow, and I have be hestyd to gon on pylgreymmays
-to Walsingham, and to Sent Levenardys[55.2] for yow; be my trowth I had
-never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the tyme that I woste of yowr
-sekenesse tyl I woste of yowr a mendyng, and zyth myn hert is in no
-grete esse, ne nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze ben very hal. Your
-fader[56.1] and myn was dysday sevenyth [_this day se'nnight_] at
-Bekelys for a matyr of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gerlyston
-that nyth, and was ther tyl it was ix. of the cloke, and the toder day.
-And I sentte thedyr for a goune, and my moder seyde that I xulde have
-dan [_then_], tyl I had be ther a non, and so thei cowde non gete.
-
-My fader Garneyss[56.2] senttee me worde that he xulde ben her the nexch
-weke, and my emme [_uncle_] also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys,
-and thei xulde have me hom with hem; and so God help me, I xal exscusse
-me of myn goyng dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have
-tydyngys from yow herr dan I xulde have ther. I xal sende my modyr a
-tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is cum that I xulde
-sendeth her, yf I kepe the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have
-tolde yow wat it was. I pray yow hertely that [ye] wol wochesaf to sende
-me a letter as hastely as ze may, yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow, and
-that ye wollen wochesaf to sende me worde quowe your sor dott. Yf I
-mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne yow er dystyme; I wolde ye wern
-at hom, yf it wer your ese, and your sor myth ben as wyl lokyth to her
-as it tys ther ze ben, now lever dan a goune zow [_though_] it wer of
-scarlette. I pray yow yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to
-ryde, wan my fader com to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and com hom
-wan the hors xul be sentte hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kepte as
-tenderly herr as ze ben at London. I may non leyser have to do wrytyn
-half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey [_say_] to yow yf I myth speke
-with yow. I xall sende yow a nothyr letter as hastely as I may. I thanke
-yow that ze wolde wochesaffe to remember my gyrdyl, and that ze wolde
-wryte to me at the tyme, for I sopose that wrytyng was non esse for yow.
-All myth God have yow in his kepyn, and sende yow helth. Wretyn at
-Oxenede, in ryth grete hast, on Sent Mikyllys Evyn.
-
-  Yorys,
-
-  M. PASTON.
-
-My modyr grette yow wel, and sendyth yow Goddys blyssyng and hers; and
-sche prayeth yow, and I pray yow also, that ye be wel dyetyd of mete and
-drynke, for that is the grettest helpe that ye may have now to your
-helthe ward. Your sone[57.1] faryth wel, blyssyd be God.
-
-    [Footnote 55.1: [From Fenn, iii. 20.] This letter was written
-    after the birth of John Paston's eldest son, who was born in
-    1442, and cannot be later than 1443, as William Paston, who is
-    mentioned, died in August of the year following.]
-
-    [Footnote 55.2: St. Leonard's Priory, Norwich.]
-
-    [Footnote 56.1: William Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 56.2: Perhaps her godfather. The family of Garneys
-    were Lords of Gelderstone, the place called by Margaret Paston
-    Gerlyston, a few lines above.]
-
-    [Footnote 57.1: Almost certainly his eldest son, John,
-    afterwards Sir John Paston.]
-
-  [[yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow
-    _text unchanged: error for "wrytyn"?_]]
-
-
-48
-
-ABSTRACT[57.2]
-
-LAND IN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1443 / OCT. 17]
-
-Warrant to Sir Roger Frenles, Knight, Chief Steward of the Duchy lands
-in Norfolk and other counties, and Sir Thomas Tudenham, particular
-Steward of the lordship and manor of Gymyngham, to demise (_dimittere et
-tradere_) to the undertenants (_bassis tenentibus_) specified in an act
-of Parliament, certain charterhold land in Paston and Edithorp granted
-to the King by William Paston, Robert Clere, and Edmund Clere in
-exchange for certain parcels of copyhold land, in accordance with an act
-of the last Parliament holden at Westminster. The copyhold land granted
-to them consisted of 36½ acres 9 perches 1½ qr. of a perch and 1 pekke
-of land, pasture, heath, and marsh, with two houses built on certain
-parcels thereof, with ĵ of a rood of waste land [not belonging to the
-Duchy?] in Paston; and it was given in recompense for 36½ acres 26½
-perches and half a quarter of a perch, half a 'pekke' and one 'naylle'
-of land, pasture, and heath, called 'Chartrehold,' with two houses built
-on certain parcels thereof, in Paston and Edithorp, which are to be
-annexed to the Duchy. These parcels are specified in an inquisition
-dated 18 May 18 Hen. VI., remaining in the treasury of the Duchy, which
-was taken by virtue of letters of the Cardinal to Lord Bardolf and
-others.
-
-  17 Oct. 22 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 57.2: [From the Chancery Roll of the Duchy of
-    Lancaster, 22 Hen. VI., Y. 2 c., No. 79.]]
-
-
-49
-
-WILLIAM PASTON AND WILLIAM JOYE[58.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444]
-
-Hec sunt hostilmenta et vutensilia domus, bona et catalla, que Willelmus
-Paston, in indentura presentibus annexa nominatus, tradidit et dimisit
-Willelmo Joye in eadem indentura nominato, secundum formam ejusdem
-indenture, ex communi assensu eorundem Willelmi et Willelmi, per
-Robertum Gynne, Johannem Albon de Paston et alios appreciata, assignata
-et specificata, modo subsequenti, videlicet: tres equi precii quinque
-marcarum; quatuor vacce, quelibet precii vij_s._ vj_d._; una juvenca
-brendyt precii v_s._; unus tauriculus, precii iiij_s._; una juvencula
-dowet precii iij_s._; due sues, quelibet precii iij_s._ iiij_d._; tres
-porculi, quilibet precii xvj_d._; tres porcelli, quilibet precii
-xij_d._; quatuor alii porcelli, quilibet precii viij_d._; una carecta,
-precii vj_s._ viij_d._; apparatus carette, videlicet una sella, unum par
-des stroppys; duo paria dez trayses, precii ij_s._; due caruce cum les
-hokys et stappilles; unum par rotarum; due herpice, precii v_s._;
-quatuor paria dez trayses ad aratrum, precii viij_d._; due furse fimose,
-precii vj_d._; una vanga, precii iij_d._; unus tribulus, precii iij_d._
-
-Hec sunt blada et alia hostilmenta et utensilia domus, bona et catalla,
-per predictum Willelmum Paston predicto Willelmo Joye secundum formam
-dicte indenture similiter dimissa et non appreciata, videlicet: sex
-quarteria frumenti; xxv. quarteria ordei; viij. quarteria avenarum;
-quidam tassus pisarum in fine australi antique grangie messuagii
-predicti, qui est altitudinis iij. virgarum et iij. quarteriorum unius
-virge, et quidam alius tassus vescarum in boriali fine ejusdem grangie,
-altitudinis iij. virgarum et j. quarterii unius virge; qui quidem duo
-tassi fuerunt vesture xij. acrarum et dimidii, et dimidii rode terre;
-iij. vasa vocata Kelerys; j. Gilyngsat; iiij. stondes pro servitio; j.
-stonde in coquina; ij. patelle cum ligaminibus ferreis; j. parva patella
-cum ligamine ferreo; j. magna olla ennea [_ĉnea_]; alia olla ennea
-minor; j. parva olla ennea; j. tabula; j. par des trostelles; j. longum
-hostium jacens in boteria; j. par des trestelles, j. trow, ij. bolles,
-j. morter, j. thede, j. temse, j. mashsterell, j. tankard cum ligamine
-ferreo; j. bultyngpoke, j. magna trow pro farina, cista pro farina, j.
-fleshoke, j. tripes ferreum, j. veru ferreum; j. aunderun, j. par de
-tongys, j. lach'gres ennua, j. seturis, j. magnum lavacrum pendens, j.
-kynderkyn, ij. soos leeke, j. par de belwes, j. magnum planke super
-mensam coquine hargour; iij. perapsides; iij. disci; iij. sauserys de
-pewter; iij. perapsides; iij. disci; j. magnus discus, vj. sissorn, iij.
-ciphi de ligno, j. chayer; duo longa scanna, j. scannum mediocre
-longitudinis; ij. scanna vocata buffet stoles; ij. bankar; j. gladius,
-ij. ferra vocata aplates; j. chirne; j. chyrnyng staf; j. curta falx; j.
-candelabrum ferreum; j. parvum salerium; j. beryngsceppes, unum par dez
-pepyrquens, ij. uteri, j. cadus cum vergous; j. parva cista in boteria;
-j. selura supra servisiam; j. metesetell; j. pykforke; iij. longa
-bordclothis; j. towayll, j. san . . . et j. walet pro autumpno; j.
-lucerna; ij. vomeri et ij. cultri que ponderant xvij. li. et dim.; j.
-carectula, Anglice, a carre; j. sunvectorium (?); ij. novi rowintrees et
-j. curtum lignum in le carthows; ij. veteres bige; j. par rotarum
-ferratarum; ij. kemell cum hopys ferreis; j. frena, j. pelvis; viij.
-sacci; iiij. longa ligna fraxinora in pistrina; j. fetyrlok.
-
-  _In dorso_--
-
-    Summa catall' infrascriptorum et appreciat', v_li._ 19_s._ 8_d._
-    Summa granorum infrascriptorum ultra persas (?) et vesias,
-        iiij_li._ xviij_s._ iiij_d._
-      Quarterium frumenti ad iiij_s._, quarterium ordei ij_s._
-        iiij_d._, et querterium avenarum ad ij_s._
-    Item, vestura xij. acrarum et di., et di. rod. pisarum et vescar'.
-    Item, dicta vestura piseii et vescar. ad l_s._, lacr' ad iiij_s._
-        de xij. acr' et di. rod. non lax.
-
-  Summa totalis, xiiij_li._ viij_s._
-
-    [Footnote 58.1: [From Douce Charters in Bibl. Bodl., No. 18.]]
-
-
-50
-
-OXNEAD AND FRIAR HAWTEYN[60.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1443-9]
-
-This day at x. of the clok Edmund Paston and the parson of Oxened went
-owth of the Manor doun to Wantown Gapp, for thei herd tydynges that the
-freyr[60.2] was comyng; and with the seyd frier came John Cates and on
-Whalter Herman of Wheytte, and Wylliam Yemmys of Burgh, the frieres man.
-And Edmund Paston seyd to John Cates Welcome, and he askyd hem what
-here[60.3] cause was in commyng. The Frier seyd he cam for to speke with
-the gode lady, and Edmund seyd that he shuld speke with her. At this
-tyme sche was so ocupied he myth not speke with her. And he seyd that he
-shuld assay; and he cam redyng fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate; and
-there he lyted and knokkyd on the gate; and we folwyd as yarn as we
-myth; and ther was with in John Jaallere and John Edmundes, and asked
-the friere what he wold; and he seyd that he wuld comyn inne for to
-speke with the gode ladi of the hows. And thei seyd nay, he shuld not
-come in. And than cam on Edmund Paston and the parson, and asked hym
-what was cause of his comyng at this tyme. And he seyd for to entre in
-the maner of Oxened, the which his fader was possessid of and his
-auncestres from kyng Edward the thred on to Colbys tyme, and that he had
-fownd a tayll ther of in the kynges bokes. And than Edmund Paston
-answeryd hym and seyd that it wher best declaryng of his evydence in
-Westminster hall. And he seyd a geyn, so he shuld whan he myth. And he
-seyd to hem that come with hym, 'Serys, I chargge yow ber record how
-that I am kept owth with stronge hand, and may not take poscession.' And
-evyn forth with he presyd to the gate ward to a leyd hand on the gate.
-And than the seyd Edmund put hym fro the gate and seyd, 'Ne wer for
-reverence of thy lord and myn, and thow leyst any hand on the gate I
-xall sey thye hert blod or thow myn.' And than the seyd frier seyd
-scornfully that he myth thanke his mayster. And than the seyd Edmund
-seyd that he myth sey his lord ryght wele; and than he stowpyd doun and
-toke up herd and delivered to his man, seying to hem that come with hym,
-'I charge yow all of the kynges behalffe ye bere record that I take here
-poscession of myn inheritance.' And Edmund seyd that this takyng of
-poscession skylled nowgt. And than the friere seyd that sen he myth not
-have it nowe, he shuld come a geyn a nothir tyme. Edmund is rede forth
-to Heydon. It was told us this afternon that ther wer iij. men come fro
-Skeyton and mette with the frier in the feld and spoke with hym a gode
-while, and than redyn the same wey that they come.
-
-    [Footnote 60.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 19.] This paper, like No.
-    63, which also refers to Friar Hauteyn's claim to Oxnead, can be
-    assigned to no definite year; but its date must be before the
-    death of Edmund Paston in 1449. It is indorsed in a later hand:
-    'A Frier came to take possession of the mannor of Oxned.']
-
-    [Footnote 60.2: John Hauteyn.]
-
-    [Footnote 60.3: _here_ (or _her_) for _their_.]
-
-  [[fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate
-    _text unchanged: error for "Gate"?_]]
-
-
-51
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO WILLIAM PASTON[61.1]
-
-_To my right worthy and worshepfull Lord, William Paston, Justice, in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1444 / JAN. 29]
-
-Please it your good Lordship to wete that the Chief Justice of the
-Kynggs Benche[61.2] recomaundeth hym to yow, and is right sory of the
-matier that is cause of your noun comyng hedir, but he wole do al that
-he can or may for yow. He hath hadde a cyetica [sciatica] that hath
-letted hym a gret while to ride, and dar not yet come on non horses bak,
-and ther for he hath spoke to the Lordes of the Conseill, and enformed
-hem of your sekenesse and his also, that he may not ride at these next
-assizes to Estgrynsted; and though thoe assizes discontynue _puer noun
-venue dez Justicez_, he hopeth to be excused and ye also. And as for the
-remenant of the assizes, he shall purvey to be ther by water. And
-Almyghty Jesu make yow heyle and strong.
-
-Wretyn right simply the Wednesseday next to fore ye Fest of the
-Purificacion of Our Lady at London.
-
-  By your most symple servaunt,
-
-  JAMYS GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 61.1: [From Fenn, iii. 26.] 'From a memorandum,' says
-    Fenn, 'on the back of this letter, dated in April 1444, it is
-    probable that it was written on the 30th of January 1443.' Did
-    Fenn mean the 30th of January 1443-4? In the side-note
-    immediately below the letter, he dates it in his usual exact
-    manner, 'Wednesday, 30th of January 1443, 22 H. vi.' But
-    unfortunately there is an error here. January in the 22d year of
-    Henry VI., means January 1444 according to the modern
-    computation, or 1443 in the style formerly in use, by which the
-    year was reckoned from the 25th of March. But the 30th of
-    January was a Wednesday in 1443, only according to the modern
-    computation of the year,--that is to say, it was a Wednesday in
-    the year 1442-3, not in 1443-4. I imagine, however, that the
-    '30th of January' should have been '29th of January,' and that
-    Fenn really meant 1443-4, corresponding with the 22nd year of
-    Henry VI.; for the memorandum to which he refers is a draft
-    agreement, dated on Passion Sunday, 22 Hen. VI., A.D. 1444.]
-
-    [Footnote 61.2: The celebrated Sir John Fortescue.]
-
-
-52
-
-JOHN GYNEY TO WILLIAM PASTON[62.1]
-
-_To the worthy and worshipfull Sir and good Lord and Maister, William
-Paston, on of the Justices of oure Sovereign Lord, of his Commone Benche
-at Westminster._
-
-[Sidenote: Not later than 1444]
-
-Right worthy and worshipfull Sir, and my good Lord and Maister,
-I recomaund me to yow. And where as ye, by your lettre direct to my
-Lady, your wyf, wold that my seid Lady shuld have Robert Tebald and me
-to geder, as sone as she myght, and the evidences which the seid Robert
-receyved of yow at your last beyng at Norwich, and that I shuld amende
-the defautes therinne, and that that doon there shuld of Baxteres Place
-of Honyng be taken estate to yow and to other, as your seid lettre
-requireth: Prey and beseche yow to witte that, on the Friday next after
-your departyng fro Paston, Thomas Walysh and William Burgh, in his owen
-persone, and the seid Thomas by William Inges and William Walsyngham,
-his attornies, by his lettre under his seal, where [_were_] at Honyng,
-and delyvred to my Lady Scarlet seson [_seisin_] in the seid place, and
-Colbyes and Donnynges in Walsham. And the seid Thomas Walyssh, as the
-seid Tebald told me, wold not enseale the seid lettre of attornie til
-the parson of Ingeworth come to hym therfore, and required hym to don
-it. Wychyngham in his owen persone in the nyght next beforn the seid
-Friday, as the seid Tebald infourmeth me, come to the same Tebaldes
-hows, and desired hym to enseale acquytaunce, as he seid, and the same
-Robert refused to don it.
-
-Nertheless, whether it were acquytaunce or were not, the same Robert kan
-not seye, for he myght noo sight have there of. And the seid Wychyngham
-the same nyght rood to John Willyot, and desired of hym the same, and
-refused also to don it. What is the best to be don in this matier my
-seid Lady, your wyf, kan not thynke with owt your advis and counseile.
-Wherfore as touchyng the takyng of th'estate to yow and other, as in
-your seid lettre is conteigned, is yet right nought doon.
-
-The Holy Trinite have yow in his blissed kepyng. Wretyn at North
-Walsham, the Thursday next after the Purificacion of oure Lady.
-
-My seid Lady, your wyf, preyeth yow to be remembred of here grene gynger
-of almondes for Lente, and of the leche of Orwelde, for here seknes
-encreseth dayly upon here, whereof she is sore a ferd.
-
-  By youre servunt,
-
-  JOHN GYNEY.
-
-    [Footnote 62.1: [From Fenn, iii. 28.] There is nothing to be
-    said of the date of this letter, except that it is not later
-    than 1444, when William Paston died.]
-
-
-53
-
-ABSTRACT[63.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444 / MARCH 15]
-
-Indenture between the Prior and Convent of the Monastery of St. Andrew,
-Bromholme, impropriators of the Church of St. Margaret, Paston, and John
-Partrik, vicar of the said church, of the first part, William Paston of
-Paston, of the second part, and Edmund Palmer of Wytton, of the third
-part, relative to lands in Baketon and Wytton, and containing amongst
-other things a grant by the Prior and Convent to the said John Partrik,
-at the instance of the said William Paston, in consideration of which
-masses, called _certeynes_, are to be performed every Friday for the
-souls of William Paston and Agnes his wife, and the obit of Clement
-Paston, William's father, is to kept yearly on St. Botolph's day (17th
-June). Dated 15th March 22 Henry VI. Confirmed by Walter, Bishop of
-Norwich, and John, the Prior of the Cathedral of Norwich, and the
-chapter of that church, 11th and 21st March 1446[-7].
-
-    [Footnote 63.1: [Add. Charter 14,571, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)]]
-
-  [[Confirmed by Walter  _text has "Comfirmed"_]]
-
-
-54
-
-ABSTRACT[64.1]
-
-JOHN MARYOT TO WILLIAM PASTON, Justice.
-
-[Sidenote: Before 1444]
-
-Is ready to fulfil the indentures of Becham made by W. P. with his late
-mother, if W. P. will send 'the indenture of our part,' that Maryot may
-know the terms and his own title. Will make no bargain else.--Crowmer,
-Monday after Our Lady's Nativity.
-
-    [Footnote 64.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the following
-    letter are quite uncertain in point of date, except that they
-    were of course written before the death of William Paston, to
-    whom they were addressed.]
-
-
-55
-
-ABSTRACT[64.2]
-
-WILLIAM WOTTON DE PAGRAVE TO JUSTICE PASTON.
-
-Sends his wife to him to explain some business about lands in Lytyl
-Pagrave, of which a woman of Sporle has already spoken to him; also
-touching some land at Castleacre.--_On parchment._
-
-    [Footnote 64.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-56
-
----- ---- TO JOHN PASTON[64.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444]
-
-Righte reverent and my most worshipful maister, I recomaund me to yow.
-Please it yow to wite that I sende yow a copie of a verdite take before
-my maister Roberd Clere by vertu of a writ _diem clausit
-extremum_,[64.4] whiche writ I sende yow also with this, of whiche
-verdite the wordis arn as it folwith:--
-
-_Inquisicio capta apud Wynterton, secundo die Novembris anno regni Regis
-Henrici vj^ti post conquestum vicesimo tertio, coram Roberto Clere
-escaetore domini Regis in com. Norfolk et Suffolk, virtute brevis domini
-Regis sibi directi et presenti Inquisitioni consuti, per sacramentum
-Johannis Berkyng, Nicholai Pikeryng, Johannis Chapell, Johannis Jekkys,
-Willelmi Stiwardson, Roberti Hosele, Johannis Topy, Johannis Wacy,
-Johannis Rychers, Thomĉ Broun, Walteri Heylok, Willelmi Stotevyle, Thomĉ
-Mason, Roberti Marche, Johannis Kechon, legalium et proborum hominum in
-hac parte pro domino Rege juratorum: Qui dicunt super sacramentum suum
-quod Willelmus Paston nominatus in dicto brevi nulla terras et tenementa
-tenuit de domino Rege in capite die quo obiit in comitatu predicto. Et
-quod obiit quarto decimo die mensis Augusti, anno regni domini Regis
-predicti xxij. Et quod Johannes Paston filius ipsius Willelmi est hĉres
-ejus propinquior, et ĉtatis xxiij. annorum._
-
-Ther is founde more of other thyngges be the same verdite touchyng other
-matieris, whiche he will not certifie yet. And for as moche as my
-maister Clere wetyth well that the seid verdite touchyng my maister your
-fader, hoes soule God assoyle, must have other maner of makyng thanne he
-kan make, he recomaundith hym to my maistres your moder, and yow also;
-and prey yow that ye will do it make as effectuel and availeabill for
-the wel of my maister your fader and yow as ye kan, and sele it with
-your seall, or what seall ellys ye will, in his name, and sealle it also
-with as many of other seales as ther be jerores, and delyvere it to
-William Bondes, his depute, to delyvere into the Chauncelre. And if
-William Bondes be fro London or this may be redy, thanne purveye ye for
-the speed of this matier in youre best wise; and what so ever ye do, or
-sey, or write, or seale, or avouche in this matier in my maister Cleris
-name, he shall avowe it, and [_i.e._ if] it shulde coste hym gret parte
-of his good.
-
-Sir, ther is noon enquerre take in Suffolk, for as moche as my maister
-your fader helde no londe ther but be my maistres your moder; but if ye
-will that he shall inquere ther as sone as he may wete it, it shall be
-doo; and if this forseide verdite may serve for bothe, he is right glad
-therof. He tolde me that he seide to the jurores, whiche have sealed her
-verdite: 'Seris, I wot well this verdite after my makyng is not
-effectuel in lawe, and therfore may happe it shall be makid newe at
-London, and ellys peraventure I shulde be amercied in the Kyngges
-Courte; and therfore I truste yow, and [_i.e._ if] it be newe mad and
-newe sealed, ye will avowe it.' And thei seide with a good herte ya;
-these wordes wern seide _in secreta confessione_ to v. or vj. of the
-reuleris of the seide jurre whiche he kan truste righte well. He preyith
-yow to holde hym excused that he writyth not to yow for this matier, for
-he is ocupied in other wise. He badde me write in this fourme to yow,
-which he supposith ye will beleve, and he knoweth alle this writyng, and
-is well concented and agreed therto. Sir, ther arn xv. jurores abowe to
-certifie ye, as many as ye will: but lete these men that be tottid be
-certified, for thei be the rewleris and t . . . . he spk (?) &c. Sir,
-atte reverence of God, if I shall make ony purvyaunce in this cuntre for
-my maistres comyng hom, lete me have reson[able] warnyng, and so God me
-helpe, and I shall do my dever. I here no tydyngges of Thom' yet. My
-maistres Garneys, your moder, . . . . . .[66.1] Berney, and my maisteris
-your sonys and my maister your brother arn heyle and mery, and recommend
-hem to yow. And I beseche your [mastership][66.1] that this sympil
-skrowe may recomaund me to my reverant and worshipful maistres, your
-moder. And I prey our Lord of his . . . . . .[66.1] bothe moche worship
-and wilfare, and graunte me to do and labour that is to your bothenerys
-pleaser.[66.2]
-
-Writen the Saterday next. . . . . . .[66.3]
-
-  This letter appears to have been used as a wrapper for others. It is
-  endorsed, 'Literĉ diversorum directĉ J. Paston receptĉ apud London
-  per diversos annos ante festum Michaelis anno xxxiiij Hen. VI.
-  Literĉ Fastolff pro Costid (?). Literĉ W. Wayt pro tempore suĉ
-  tribulationis. Literĉ Windham.'
-
-    [Footnote 64.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is without
-    a signature or address, and who the writer was does not appear.
-    It was evidently written soon after the taking of the
-    inquisition on the death of William Paston, the Judge, the date
-    of which is given in the extract as 2nd November 23 Henry VI.,
-    _i.e._ 1444.]
-
-    [Footnote 64.4: _See_ p. 16, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 66.1: Mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 66.2: _I.e._, that which is to the pleasure of you
-    both (?).]
-
-    [Footnote 66.3: A little mutilated at bottom.]
-
-  [[quarto decimo die mensis Augusti  _printed "dccimo"_]]
-
-
-[[In the following letter, interlineations (Footnotes 67-2, 68-1) are
-shown in brackets [ ] immediately after the original word.]]
-
-57
-
-WILL OF EDMUND NORMAN[67.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444 / DEC. 6]
-
-In Dei nomine, amen. Ego Edmundus Norman de Fylby, compos mentis, die
-Dominica in festo sancti Nicholai Episcopi, anno domini M^lmo iiij^c xl.
-iiij.^to, condo testamentum meum in hunc mundum (_sic_). In primis do et
-lego animam meam Deo Patri, &c., corpusque meum sepeliendum in ecclesia
-sancti Petri de Crowmere. Item, summo altari ecclesiĉ prĉdictĉ xl_d._
-[vjs. viijd.[67.2]] Item, emendacioni ejusdem ecclesiĉ xl_d._ [vjs.
-viijd.[67.2]] Item, summo altari ecclesiĉ de Fylby xl_d._ Item,
-emendationi ecclesiĉ de Fylby prĉdictĉ vel fenestrĉ de novo faciendĉ et
-intrando in parte boriali ecclesiĉ prĉdictĉ in fine occidentali, x.
-marcas. Item, Edmondo, capellano sancti Johannis Baptistĉ in eadem
-ecclesia, xl_d._ Item, volo quod omnes feoffati in terris et tenementis
-remittant jus suum Edmundo Clere armigero, magistro meo, ut ipse vendat
-et disponat cum aliis executoribus meis pro salute animĉ meĉ, et patris,
-matris, et omnium quibuscumque teneor. Item, cuilibet ordini fratrum de
-Jernemoth, vj_s._ viii_d._ Item, fratribus ordinis Minorum de Walsyngham
-vj_s._ viii_d._ Item, lego Willelmo Bondis omnia bona mea existentia in
-hospicio meo London', [de Clifforde] videlicet lectum et indumenta mea.
-Item, lego Roberto Baketon et uxori ejus, firmario meo in Fylby, omnia
-utencilia mea infra mansionem meam ibidem prĉter lectum plumale postea
-legatum. Item, Edmundo filio dicti Roberti, filiolo meo, xl_s._ Item,
-filiabus ejusdem Roberti, Elizabethĉ et Margaretĉ, cuilibet xx_s._ Item,
-Edmundo filio Roberti Norman de Ormesby, vj_s._ viii_d._ Item, Ricardo
-Kemp, xxvj_s._ viij_d._ Item, Johanni Grave, sonam meam deargent'.[67.3]
-Item, Nicholao Pekeryng de Fylby, meum optimum lectum plumale infra
-mansionem meam apud Fylby. Item, Johanni Spencer de Crowmere, xx_s._
-Item, uxori Johannis Couche, pro labore et diligentia suis circa me dum
-infirmabar, vj_s._ viij_d._ Item, Edmundo Bataly capellano vj_s._
-viii_d._ [xxs. [68.1]] Item, lego Thomĉ Stalham et uxori ejus meum
-lectum plumale apud Norwicum. Item, die obitus mei ad exequias, cuilibet
-capellano iiij_d._ et clerico, j_d._ Item, ad distribuendum inter
-pauperes die sepulturĉ, xl_d._ Residuum vero bonorum meorum non
-legatorum do et lego executoribus meis, quos ordino et constituto
-Edmundum Clere, armigerum, Magistrum meum Robertum Clere, Willelmum
-Bondes, Nicholaum Pekeryng, Magistrum Johannem Semecrofte et Ricardum
-Kemp, ut ipsi disponant pro salute animĉ meĉ.
-
-[68.2]Et lego dicto Edmundo Clere pro labore suo x_li._ si vult. Et
-Roberto Clere C_s._, et similiter cuilibet aliorum executorum xl_s._
-
-Item, lego Pers. de Crowmere iij_s._ iiij_d._
-
-Item, volo quod in fenestra ecclesiĉ de Fylby tres[68.3] ymagines,
-videlicet, una ymago sancti Edmundi, alter[a] Sancti Johannis Baptistĉ,
-alia Sanctĉ Mariĉ, et ibidem fiat scriptio:--_Orate pro animabus
-Johannis Norman seniori, Margaretĉ uxoris ejus, et Edmundi filii
-prĉdicti_ et tale armo (_sic_). [_Here follows a sketch of a shield,
-the upper part marked as silver and the lower black, with the word
-_'Katerwole'_ (?) upon it._]
-
-    [Footnote 67.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 10.]]
-
-    [Footnote 67.2: Interlineations by another hand.]
-
-    [Footnote 67.3: Here occurs an illegible interlineation, in
-    which only 'xs.' is visible.]
-
-    [Footnote 68.1: Interlineations by another hand.]
-
-    [Footnote 68.2: What follows is in a different hand, apparently
-    the same as that of the interlineations noticed above.]
-
-    [Footnote 68.3: Corrected from 'quatuor.']
-
-
-58
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[68.4]
-
-_To our right trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Squier. The Duc of
-Norff._
-
-[Sidenote: Before 1444 (?)]
-
-Trusti and right welbelovid, we grete you weel, lating you witte that
-for the trust that as weel we, as the heires of Edmund Swathyng, have
-unto you, we have appointed you to be one of the makeres up
-indifferently of the evydences betwix us and the seide heires. Wherfor
-we pray you hertily, that ye wil yeve attendaunce at such day and place
-as ye and our right trusti and welbelovid frende William Yelverton, with
-oure welbelovid servaunt Jenney, shal mow attende to the making up of
-the seide evidencez; and we shal send summe of our servauntz to awayte
-upon you for your reward and costis, that ye shal be pleasid with by the
-grace of God, who have you ever in his keping.
-
-Wreten undir our signet in oure Castel of Framlyngham,
-
-  the xviij. day of ----.
-
-  { JOHN[69.1] } NORFF.
-  { MOWBRAY.   }
-
-    [Footnote 68.4: [From Fenn, i. 10.] Fenn thinks this letter must
-    have been written before 1444, when Yelverton was made a judge.
-    This is, doubtless, most probable. There is, however, an Edmund
-    Swathing, Esq., mentioned by Blomefield (_Hist. of Norfolk_,
-    viii. 42) as alive in 1446, and if it be his executors who are
-    referred to, the date would appear to be later.]
-
-    [Footnote 69.1: The name 'John Mowbray' is represented by a
-    curious monogram, in which every letter both of the Christian
-    and the surname can be traced.]
-
-
-59
-
-JOHN PASTON'S PETITION[69.2]
-
-_To the Kyng our Soverayn Lord._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1444]
-
-Ples your Hyghnes of your abundante grace, an consyderacion of the
-servys and plesure that your Hyghnes knowyth to yow don by William
-Paston, late one of your judgys, and old servaunt to that nobyll Prinse
-your fadyr, to graunte onto John Paston, Esquyer, sonn and heyir of the
-seyd Wylliam, your lettrys patents under the seel of yowr Duche of
-Lancastre, being in the keping of Thomas Chesham, aftyr affecte of note
-folowyng; and he schall pray to God for yow.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Rex, etc. Sciatis, quod de gracia nostra speciali et ex mero motu
-nostro, ac pro bono et laudabyli servicio quod dilectus et fidelis nobis
-Willelmus Paston, nuper unus Justiciariorum nostrorum, defunctus, nobis
-in vita sua inpendydit, consessimus et hac presenti carta nostra
-confirmavimus, in quantum in nobis est, Johanni Paston armigero, filio
-et heredi dicti Willelmi, viginti tria mesuagia, quingintas triginta et
-iiij. acras pasture, bruere et marissy in villis de Paston, Edythorp, et
-Bakton, in comitatu nostro Norff. quas diversi tenentes nostri ibidem de
-nobis separatim native tenent ad voluntatem nostram per virgam sive
-copiam et per serta redditus et servissia, nativa annualia inde nobis
-reddend., que ad valorem novem librarum annuatim exeunt vel infra.
-Concessimus eciam eidem Johanni curiam lete, seu visus franciplegii
-nostri, in villis de Paston et Edithorp predictis, que est annui valoris
-viij. solidorum per estimacionem; ad quatuor libratas, quatuor solidatas
-et octo denariatas redditus. Redditum octo boschellorum avenarum et
-trium caponum cum pertinentiis in villis predictis, ac in villis Wytton
-et Easewyk in comitatu predicto, percipiendum anuatim de omnibus et
-singulis liberys tenentibus nostris ibidem pro tenementis suis qui de
-nobis separatim tenent in eisdem villis, una cum fidelitatibus et aliis
-serviciis eorundem tenentium et eorum cujuslibet, de, seu pro,
-tenementis illis et eorum qualibet parcella nobis debitis sive
-pertinentibus. Concessimus etiam eidem Johanni et heredibus suis
-officium parcarie ac costidie[70.1] parci nostri de Grymygham in com.
-nostro predicto, una cum proficuo agistamenti bestiarum ejusdem parci
-pro vadiis suis pro officio predicto annuatim percipiend: salvis no . .
-et hodierna sufficienti pastura ferarum nostrarum ibidem ut tempore
-nostro prius usitatum fuit; quod quidem proficuum agistamenti ad valorem
-x. marcarum extendit per annum. Habenda, tenenda et percipienda predicta
-messuagia, terram, pasturam, brueram, mariscum, curiam lete, et visus
-franciplegii, redditus, et servissia, officium et agistament' proficu'
-cum pertinentiis, prefato Johanni et heredibus suis de nobis et
-heredibus nostris, per fidelitatem et redditum unius rose rubie ad
-Festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptiste annuatim nobis solvendum,
-si petatur, pro omnibus serviciis, exaccionibus et demandis. Eo quod
-messuagia, terra, pastura, bruera, mariscus, curia lete, redditus,
-servicia predicta, officium et agistament' profic', valorem supra
-specificatum excedant, vel valorem illum non attingant, aut aliquo actu,
-restriccione seu mandato facto, edito aut proviso non obstante. Volumus
-etiam et assignavimus quod omnes illi qui per nos seu ad usum nostrum,
-jus, titulum, seu statum in premissis, seu aliquo premissorum habuerunt
-seu habent, nobis antehac non relaxatum, jus, titulum et statum illa
-prefato Johanni et heredibus suis dimittent et relaxent. In cujus . . .
-
-    [Footnote 69.2: [From Tanner MS. 95, f. 82.] This is a draft in
-    the handwriting of William Worcester, very illegible from the
-    number of the corrections, and also from the ink being very much
-    faded. Of its date I cannot tell except that it was clearly
-    written in the reign of Henry VI. and after the death of Judge
-    Paston in 1444.]
-
-    [Footnote 70.1: _Sic_, _pro_ custodiĉ.]
-
-
-60
-
-CATHERINE, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO JOHN PASTON[71.1]
-
-_To our right trusty and hertily welbeloved John Paston, Squier._
-
-  {_Kateryn, Duchesse_}
-  {_of Norff._        }
-
-[Sidenote: After 1444 (?)]
-
-Right trusty and entierly welbeloved, we grete you wel hertily as we
-kan. And for as moche as we purpose with grace of Jesu to be at London
-within bryff tyme, we pray you that your place ther may be redy for us,
-for we wole sende our stuff thedir to for [_tofore_, _i.e._ before] our
-comyng; and siche agrement as we toke with you for the same, we shall
-duely performe yt with the myght of Jesu, who haff you in his blissed
-keping.
-
-  Wretyn at Eppeworth, ij^de day of Octobre.
-
-    [Footnote 71.1: [From Fenn, iii. 16.] The writer of this letter
-    was the widow of John Mowbray, second Duke of Norfolk, who died
-    in 1432. After the Duke's death, she married again no less than
-    three times; and Fenn thinks this letter, which is dated from
-    Epworth in Lincolnshire, a seat of the Duke of Norfolk's, was
-    probably written during her first widowhood. It must be
-    remarked, however, that in 1432 John Paston was only twelve
-    years old at the utmost, so that this letter could hardly have
-    been written till at least ten years after. It is, besides,
-    hardly probable that John Paston would have been addressed as
-    the owner of a 'place' in London, before his father's death in
-    1444. The exact year, however, is quite uncertain.]
-
-
-61
-
-ABSTRACT[72.1]
-
-ROBERT, LORD WYLUGHBY [of Eresby], TO JOHN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: Between 1444 and 1451]
-
-Desires him to favour Reginald Balden who 'hath ado with you for certain
-lyflode which was his father's, wherein your father was enfeoffed.'
-Boston, 16th December.
-
-  [The date of this letter is probably after the death of William
-  Paston in 1444, and cannot be later than 1451, as the writer died on
-  St. James's day (25th July) 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-62
-
-AGNES PASTON TO EDMUND PASTON[72.2]
-
-_To Edmond Paston of Clyffordis Inn, in London, be this Lettre take._
-
-[Sidenote: 1445 / FEB. 4]
-
-To myn welbelovid sone, I grete yow wel, and avyse yow to thynkk onis of
-the daie of youre fadris counseyle to lerne the lawe, for he seyde manie
-tymis that ho so ever schuld dwelle at Paston, schulde have nede to
-conne defende hym selfe.
-
-The Vikare[72.3] of Paston and yowre fadre,[72.4] in Lenttyn last was,
-wher [_were_] thorwe and acordidde, and doolis[72.5] sette howe broode
-the weye schulde ben,[72.6] and nowe he hath pullid uppe the doolis, and
-seithe he wolle makyn a dyche fro the corner of his walle, ryght over
-the weye to the newe diche of the grete cloose. And there is a man in
-Truntche, hyzht Palmer to, that hadde of yowre fadre certein londe in
-Truntche over vij. yere or viij. yere agoone for corn, and trewli hathe
-paide all the yers; and now he hathe suffrid the corne to ben with sette
-for viij_s._ of rentte to Gymmyngham, wich yowre fadre paide nevere.
-Geffreie axid Palmere why the rentte was notte axid in myn husbonddis
-tyme; and Palmere seyde, for he was a grete man, and a wyse man of the
-law, and that was the cawse men wolde not axe hym the rentte.
-
-I sende yow the namis of the men that kaste down the pittis, that was
-Gynnis Close, wretyn in a bille closid in this lettre.
-
-I sendde yow not this lettre to make yow wery of Paston; for I leve in
-hoope, and ye wolle lern that they schulle be made werye of her werke,
-for in good feyth I dar welseyne it was yowr fadris laste wille to have
-do ryzht wel to that plase, and that can I schewe of good profe, thowe
-men wolde seye naye. God make yow ryzht a good man, and sende Goddis
-blessyng and myn.
-
-Wrettyn in haste, at Norwich, the Thorsdaie aftir Candelmasse daie.
-
-Wetith of yowre brothere John now manie gystis [_joists_] wolle serve
-the parler and the chapelle at Paston, and what lenghthe they moste be,
-and what brede and thykknesse thei moste be; for yowre fadris wille was,
-as I weene veryli, that thei schuld be ix. enchis on wey, and vij.
-another weye. And porveythe therfor that thei mow be squarid there, and
-sentte hedre, for here can non soche be hadde in this conttre. And seye
-to yowre brothir John it weer wel don to thinkke on Stansted
-Chirche;[73.1] and I praye yow to sende me tydynggs[73.2] from be yond
-see, for here thei arn a ferde to telle soche as be reportid.
-
-  By yowr Modre,
-
-  AUGNEIS PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 72.2: [From Fenn, iii. 32.] This letter must have been
-    written in February 1445, as it appears from the contents that
-    William Paston was dead, but had been alive in the preceding
-    Lent.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.3: John Partrick of Swathfield was Vicar of Paston,
-    from 1442 to 1447.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.4: William Paston, the Judge.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.5: Landmarks. 'Dolestones' are still spoken of in
-    Norfolk in this sense. --_See_ Latham's Edition of Johnson's
-    _Dictionary_.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.6: On the 6th July 1443 a licence was granted to
-    William Paston to enclose a portion of the highway at Paston,
-    and another at Oxnead, on his making two other highways in place
-    thereof.--_Patent Roll_, 21 Henry VI. p. 1, m. 10.]
-
-    [Footnote 73.1: Stansted Church in Suffolk.--Dame Agnes had
-    possessions in that parish.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 73.2: These tidings relate to our foreign
-    transactions, the giving up of Maine, Truces, &c. &c. on the
-    King's marriage, which had taken place in November.--F.]
-
-
-63
-
-JOHN HAWTEYN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY[74.1]
-
-_To the most reverent Fader in God the Archebisshop of Caunterbury,
-Chanceler of Englond._
-
-[Sidenote: 1444-9]
-
-Besecheth mekely zour gracious Lordship, zour owne servant and oratour
-John Hauteyn, chapeleyn, that wher he hath dyvers seutees and accions in
-lawe to be sewed a zent A., that was the wife of W. Paston, of the maner
-of Oxenedes, in the countee of Northfolk; and for as meche as zour seid
-besecher can gete no counsell of men of court to be with hym in the seid
-matiers, by cause that the seid W. P. was one of the Kynges Justices,
-and John P., son and heir to the seid W. P., is al so a mon of court;
-that hit plese zour good Lordship to assigne, and most streytly to
-comaund John Heydon,[74.2] Thomas Lyttylton,[74.3] and John Oelston to
-be of counsell with zour seid besecher in the seid matiers, and oder
-that he hath to do azenst the seid Anneys and oder; and zour said
-besecher shal contente hem well for their labour. And that this be doo
-in the reverence of God, and wey of charite.
-
-  JOHN HAUTEYN, Chapeleyn.
-
-    [Footnote 74.1: [From Fenn, iii. 36.] This is a petition
-    addressed to John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, as
-    Chancellor, after the death of William Paston in 1444. Stafford
-    was made Archbishop in 1443. His appointment as Chancellor was
-    even earlier, and he held the office till the 31st of January
-    1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 74.2: A lawyer and recorder of Norwich.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 74.3: Afterwards the famous Judge Lyttelton.--F.]
-
-
-64
-
-SIR ROGER CHAMBERLAIN TO AGNES PASTON[75.1]
-
-_To my right worchepfull Cosyn, Agnes Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1444]
-
-Right worchepfull cosyn, I comand me to you. And as for the mater that
-ye sent to me fore, touchyng the maner callid Walshams, in Walsham, the
-trouth is, youre husbond soldyt to my moder upon condition that she
-shuld never sel it but to youre sones, John or William; and for the
-suerte of the seid condition, youre seid husbond, as I conseyve, ded the
-seid maner be charged with a gret annuyte upon the same condition, or
-the tyme that my seid moder toke estate, of the whech I suppose ye shall
-fynde sufficiant evydens, if ye serge youre evydences therfor. And I be
-seche almyty God kepe you.
-
-Wretyn at Geddyng, the xv. day of September.
-
-  Your Cosyn,
-
-  SIR ROGER CHAMBERLEYN.
-
-    [Footnote 75.1: [From Fenn, iii. 38.] Nothing can be said as to
-    the date of this letter, except that it is evidently after the
-    death of William Paston.]
-
-
-65
-
-THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM TO THE VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[75.2]
-
-_To the right worshipful, and with all myn herte right entirely belovid
-brother, the Viscounte Beaumont._
-
-[Sidenote: Between 1442 and 1455]
-
-Right worshipful, and with all myn herte right entierly beloved brother,
-I recomaunde me to you, thenking right hertili youre good brotherhode
-for your gode and gentill letters, the whiche it hath liked you to sende
-unto me nowe late; and like it you to knowe I perseeve by the tenor of
-the seid lettre, your gode desire of certein dubete that I owe unto you.
-In gode faith, brother, it is so with me at this tyme, I have but easy
-stuffe of money withinne me, for so meche as the seison of the yer is
-not yet growen, so that I may not plese youre seide gode brotherhode,
-as God knoweth my will and entent were to do, and I had it.
-
-Nevertheless, and it like you, I sende you, bi my sonne Stafford,[76.1]
-an obligacion wherof, of late tyme, I have rescevid part of the dubete
-therinne comprisid; the residue of whiche I prai you to resceve bi the
-seid obligacion, and that I may have an acquitance therof, and to yeve
-credence unto my seid sonne in such thing as he shall say unto your gode
-brotherhode on my behalve.
-
-Right worshipfull, and with all myn herte right entirely belovid
-brother, I beseche the blissed Trinite, preserve you in honor and
-prosperite.
-
-Writen at my Castell of Makestok,[76.2] the xvij. day of Marche.
-
-  Yowre trew and fethfull broder,
-
-  H. BUKINGHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 75.2: [From Fenn, i. 16.] There appear to be no means
-    of ascertaining the exact year when this letter was written; but
-    as the writer was created Duke of Buckingham on the 14th
-    September 1441, and his son, the Earl of Stafford, was killed at
-    the battle of St. Albans on the 22nd May 1455, the date must lie
-    between these two limits.]
-
-    [Footnote 76.1: Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, the Duke's eldest
-    son, who was slain at St. Albans in 1455.]
-
-    [Footnote 76.2: In Warwickshire.]
-
-
-66
-
-WILLIAM YELVERTON TO JOHN PASTON[76.3]
-
-_To my ryght wurchepfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquier._
-
-[Sidenote: Between 1444 and 1460]
-
-Right worchepful cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow, thankyng yow as hertyly
-as I kan for my selff, &c., and specially for that ye do so moche for
-Oure Ladyes hous at Walsyngham, which I trust veryly ye do the rather
-for the grete love that ye deme I have therto; for trewly if I be drawe
-to any worchep or wellfare, and discharge of myn enmyes daunger,
-I ascryve it unto Our Lady.
-
-Preyng yow therfore that ye woln ben as frendly to Our Ladyes hous as I
-wote well ye have alwey ben, and in especyall now, that I myght have of
-yow the report certeynly be your letter of that, that Naunton your cosyn
-informyd yow, and told yow be mouth of all maters towchyng Oure Ladyes
-hous of Walsyngham.
-
-For me thynkyth be that I have herde be Oure Ladys prest of Walsyngham,
-if I understode weel that mater, that it shuld do moch to the gode spede
-of the mater; and dought yow not our Lady shall quyte it yow and here
-poer priour here aftyr, as he may, &c.
-
-Preying yow also, cosyn, and avysyng for the ease of us both, and of our
-frendes, and of many other, that ye be at London be tymes this terme,
-and if we spede well now, all well all this yere aftir; for I knowe
-veryly ther was nevyr made gretter labour thanne shall be made now, and
-therfore I pray to Our Lady, help us, and her blissid Sone, which have
-you in His holy kepyng.
-
-Wreten at your poer place of Bayfeld, on Sent Fraunces day,[77.1] in
-hast.
-
-  Your cosyn,
-
-  WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justis.
-
-    [Footnote 76.3: [From Fenn, i. 20.] The date of this letter is
-    not earlier than 1444, when William Yelverton was appointed a
-    Justice of the King's Bench; and, as Fenn remarks, it is
-    probably not later than 1460, when he was made a Knight of the
-    Bath, otherwise he would have signed himself Knight as well as
-    Justice.]
-
-    [Footnote 77.1: St. Francis' day is the 4th of October.]
-
-
-67
-
-ABSTRACT[77.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1446 / OCT. 30]
-
-Indenture, dated 30 Oct. 25 Henry VI., by which Agnes Paston grants a
-lease to John Downing, miller, and others, of the mill called Woodmill,
-in Paston.
-
-    [Footnote 77.2: [Add. Charter 14,819, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)]]
-
-
-68
-
-THE BAILIFF AND JURATS OF JERSEY TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[78.1]
-
-_A nos treshonorés et nobles Signours Visconte Beaumont, Connestable
-d'Engleterre et Seigneur de Sudele, grant mestre de hostel de nostre
-Souverayn Seigneur le Roy d'Engleterre et France._
-
-[Sidenote: 1447]
-
-Treshonorablez et noblez seigneurs, nous nous recommandons tant que
-faire le povons a voz honnorablez seignouriez. Et vous plese savoir que
-le samedy xv^me jour du moys de Aprille nous avons receu unez lettrez
-patentes de nostre Souverain Seigneur le Roy d'Engleterre et de France,
-contenant comme il vous a donné la guarde dez islez de Jersey et
-Guernesey durant le non aage de l'er de mon Seigneur de Warwyk, et unez
-aultrez lettrez a nous directes de par vous, presentées de par voz
-servitours John Morin et Robert Haxby. Et pour cause que eulx n'avoyent
-point de procuracions, ou feisions difficultey, et non obstant a voz
-ditz servitours a estey delivrée et baillie la pocession de la dicte
-isle de Jersey, et ont juré et promis par lours serementz de guarder le
-loys et coustumez et anciens usagez de la dicte isle, et nous envoier
-lettrez soubz lez seaulx de voz armez, comme voz promettez tenir en
-fermete ce que eulx ont promis, et de ce nous ont bailly plege Sire John
-Bernard, cappitaine desdictez islez, quer aultrement nous ne lez eussons
-point receus, comme il apparest par le certificat a eulx par nous donné,
-quer tous lez seigneurs, guardes, cappitaines, juges, et aultrez
-officers de audevant de cez hourez ont estey juréz a nous lois,
-coustumez et anciens usagez, lez queilz ont estey guardéz et seront en
-tempz advenir avecquez l'aide de Dieu, qui vous ayt en sa sainte guarde.
-
-Escript en Jersey le xvij^me jour du moys de Aprill.
-
-  De par lez vostrez le Bailiff [et]
-  Jurés de l'Isle de Gersy.
-
-    [Footnote 78.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The custody of the
-    islands of Jersey and Guernsey, &c., during the minority of Ann,
-    daughter and heir of Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, was
-    granted in 25 Henry VI. to John, Viscount Beaumont, and Sir
-    Ralph Butler, Lord Sudley. --_See_ Dugdale's _Baronage_, ii. 54.]
-
-  [[nous nous recommandons
-    _printed "recommandous" (the doubled "nous" is not an error)_]]
-
-
-69
-
-EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[79.1]
-
-_Tradatur Johanni Paston, of the Inner In in the Temple, att London._
-
-[Sidenote: 1447(?)]
-
-Ryth worschipfull brothir, I recomaund me to yow, &c. I preye write to
-myn modre of your owne hed as for to consell her howh that sche kepe her
-prevye, and tell no body ryth nowth of her counsell; for sche woll tell
-persones many of her counsell this day, and to morwe sche woll sey be
-Goddis faste that the same men ben false. I have seen parte of the
-evydence, and the maner[79.2] hath be pourchasid be parcell, and certeyn
-feffement mad of the avowson, and certeyn pecis of lond enterlessant the
-maner; and I wote well ye have on collaterall rellesse wyth a warente of
-on of the wyffys of Hauteyn[79.3] of all the holl maner.
-
-Steward, the chiffe constable, told me he was enpanellyd up on the
-assise be twex yow and Frauncesse; he axyd me counsell what he myght do
-ther inne, for he told me it was take in Sir Thomas Tudham name. He wold
-fayne be chalengyd. I concellyd him swere the trewthe of the issue that
-he shall be swore to, and thanne he nedyd never to drede hym of noon
-atteynte. I yave him this counsell, and noon othir. He enqueryd me of
-the rewle of myn master Danyell[80.1] and myn Lord of Suffolke,[80.2]
-and askyd wheche I thowte schuld rewle in this schere; and I seyd bothe,
-as I trowh, and he that survyvyth to hold be the vertue of the survyvyr,
-and he to thanke his frendes, and to aquite his enmyys. So I fele by him
-he wold forsake his master, and gette him a newh yf he wyste he schuld
-rewle; and so wene I meche of all the contre is so disposyd. The holy
-Trenyte kepe yow.
-
-Wrete at Norwiche, on the Wednysday after Seynt Peter[80.3] in hast.
-
-  Your Brother,
-
-  E. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 79.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the conversation
-    here reported touching the anticipated ascendancy of Daniel and
-    the Marquis, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk, this letter may be
-    referred to the year 1447. In April of the year following, the
-    influence of Suffolk was paramount, and Daniel was said to be
-    out of favour, as will be seen by Letter 75 following.]
-
-    [Footnote 79.2: The manor of Oxnead. --_See_ Blomefield, vi.
-    478.]
-
-    [Footnote 79.3: Probably Robert, father of John Hauteyn, the
-    friar.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.1: Thomas Daniel.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.2: William de la Pole, at this time Marquis,
-    afterwards Duke, of Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.3: St. Peter's day is the 29th June.]
-
-  [[att London  _printed "Lonaon" (recurring error with italic "d")_]]
-
-
-70
-
-ABSTRACT[80.4]
-
-[Sidenote: 1447 / SEPT. 3]
-
-Deed by which William Pope, perpetual Vicar of Paston, confirms to
-Agnes, widow of William Paston, and John Bakton, their estate in a piece
-of land, particularly described; and also binds himself to celebrate
-mass every Friday for the souls of said William and Agnes, &c. &c.,
-exhort his parishioners to put up prayers for them every Sunday, called
-'certeynys,' and celebrate William Paston's obit on the 13th August.
-
-  Dated at Paston, 3rd September 26 Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 80.4: [Add. Charter 17,235, B.M. (Paston MSS.)]]
-
-
-71
-
-ABSTRACTS[80.5]
-
-[Sidenote: 1447 / OCT. 21, 26]
-
-21 Oct., at London.--Letter from Fastolf to Thomas Howys and John Grene,
-desiring them to procure information about one Robert Eccles, cousin and
-heir to John Eccles, whom the counsel for the prior of Hickling propose
-to call to give evidence about the rent of 25 marks.
-
-1447, [26 Oct.] 'Thursday byfore S. Symond and Jude,' 26 Hen. VI. at
-Castre. Long letter from Thomas Howys in reply to the preceding, with
-the results of searches made in the Bishop's registry for wills of the
-Eccles family, with particulars about various members of the family,
-etc.
-
-  [For these abstracts I am indebted to Mr. Macray, and also for those
-  immediately following, which are from the same source.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.5: [From MSS. Hickling, 130, 140, in Magd. Coll.,
-    Oxf.]]
-
-
-72
-
-ABSTRACTS[81.1]
-
-THE PRIOR OF HICKLING.
-
-_Hickling 71._
-
-[14 . . ] At Westminster.
-
-_Letter_ [on paper, in English] from two counsel, _William Wangeford_
-and _William Jenney_, to Sir John Fastolf, giving their opinion on his
-claim against the prior of Hickling. Sir John cannot recover the £20
-forfeit, because the condition of the obligation only extended to the
-heirs of Sir Hugh Clifford, and not to his assigns, and Sir John is only
-an assign; but the rent of 25 marks is sure to him, and he can recover
-it, if denied by the prior, by process of law; they will consult with
-justices and serjeants whether he can recover it by distraint.
-
-_Hickling 74._
-
-[14 . . ] Friday in the 2nd week after Easter at Lenne.
-
-_Letter_, [in English, on paper] from _Henry Notyngham_ to Sir Henry
-Barton, Alderman of London. Has counselled with Paston, and finds him
-more friendly and ready to help in Barton's matter than ever before;
-supposes that the cause is, that the prior that was obstinate is dead,
-and another appointed, who Paston trusts will be more easy to stir.
-Desires that Paston may be thanked. Sends a letter which he desires
-'a child of zours' may carry to Mistress Jenkin Leventhorpe the younger;
-and ask at my lord's inn of Doreham or of Ratclyff or some other which
-he may think best, if he (_i.e._ my Lord of Durham) shall be at this
-Parliament. Send to Thomelin Grys, spicer at Norwich, some 'loder,' as
-soon as he can goodly buy it, which comes each week to Rossamez Inn in
-St. Laurence's Lane.
-
-_Hickling 75._
-
-[14 . . ] 14 Apr., at Norwich.
-
-_Letter_, [in English, on paper] from _H[enry] Notyngham_ to Sir Henry
-Barton, alderman of London. Delivered Paston the copy of the deeds;
-shewed his letter to the prior and convent, but gained nothing; they
-said they would please Barton full fain, but all their counsel are full
-against their binding themselves by any such confirmation; they were
-bound to the former owner and his heirs, but not to his assigns. Advises
-him to get good counsel, and thinks nothing can be done unless he gets
-Paston's assent and grant to help the matter.
-
-_Hickling 89._
-
-[1450 _or_ 1451?] 18 Aug. Norwich.
-
-_Letter_ [in English, on paper] _from_ '_W. [Hart], Bisshope of
-Norwich_,' to Sir John Fastolf. Has put himself greatly in his devoir to
-put an end to the controversy between Fastolf and the house of Hykelyng,
-and has been so importunate that Lord Scales has advised him not to
-meddle in the matter, because he is taken as a suspect person; if he
-could do him more profit, he would not spare labour or cost, on account
-of Fastolf's towardness and gentleness to condescend unto right and
-reasonable mean, the which he conceives not in the other party. Had
-hoped his good and devout purpose towards the place of St. Bennett's
-would have grown to some good conclusion; was there the Sunday before
-St. Laurence's Day, and greatly rejoiced at such work and cost as he has
-done there. Heartily desires him to come here to the air of his natural
-birth, where he will find my Lord of Norfolk and such attendance as the
-Bishop and other gentles of the country may do, ready unto him at all
-times; his coming would be to his health and heart's ease, and the cause
-of much peace in the country.
-
-  Small seal, fastened _on_ the letter; a stag; a straw round it.
-
-  _Hickling 104._
-
-[   ]
-
-_Letter_, [in English, on paper] from _Lord Scales_ to Sir John Fastolf,
-asking him to withdraw an outlawry which has been issued against John
-Dowebegyng, servant of the former, for a debt of £100 due to Fastolf by
-Thomas Danyell, Esq., for which Dowebegyng had become bound.
-
-Signed by Lord Scales, who adds a postscript in his own hand that
-Fastolf has been as faithful and kind to him since he came into England
-as he was in France, and that there is no one of his estate for whom he
-would do so much.
-
-  Small seal, on the paper, with a straw round it.
-
-    [Footnote 81.1: [From MSS. in Magd. Coll., Oxf.]]
-
-  [[The empty brackets after "Hickling 104" are in the original.]]
-
-
-73
-
-ABSTRACT[82.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1447 / NOV. 29]
-
-Indenture, dated St. Andrew's Eve, 26 Henry VI., between Agnes Paston
-and Waryn Baxter, the former agreeing that Baxter shall have, at the
-will of the lord of the manor of Knapton, the lands, &c. that were
-Richard Redys [Rede's], with reservations.
-
-    [Footnote 82.1: [Add. Charter 17,236, B.M. (Paston MSS.)]]
-
-
-74
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[83.1]
-
-_To my right worshipfull mayster, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / MARCH 11]
-
-Worthy and worshipful sir, and my right good maister, I recomaund me to
-yow. And do yow wete that this nyght at soper I was with my maistresse
-your wyff at my maistresse Cleres, and blissed be God thei fare weel and
-hopyn that [you[83.2]] shall sende themme good tidyng of your matier,
-Whanne ye knowe the certeynte therof, &c. And my maistresse your modir
-come thedir and fareth well and sendeth yow Goddis blissyng and heris,
-and she bad me write to yow that she hath verey knowelage by a trewe and
-trusty man, whos name she shall telle yow by mouthe atte your next
-metyng, that ther was purposed a gret meyne of a wondir gaderyng of
-shipmen abowte Conorhithe for to have come to Oxened, and putte me owt
-there in a wers wyse thanne ye were put owt at Gresham; and this was
-purposed for to have ben at Oxened and a ryfled and put in the
-preest[83.3] there, but this purpose helde not, for thei were
-countermandet, by what mene I can not knowe yeet. And[83.4] it is do hir
-to wete that thei be purposed to be at Ox[n]ede a bowt midlent, and I am
-promitted that I shall have ii. days warnyng by a good freend. And
-therfor she prayeth yow that ye aspie besily if the preest come into
-thir countre or noght. For if ought shall be doo I trowe the Frere wole
-be there atte doyng. And if ye can aspie that he come hider, send my
-maistresse word as hastily as ye may, and of your avyse and of all other
-thyngges as ye seme, &c. And God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn at ix.
-on the clokke at evyn the noneday (_sic_) nex to fore Sent Gregory day
-in hast.
-
-My brother Bekke and his felawship shall telle yow more by mowthe thanne
-I can telle yow now.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  J. GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 83.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 178.] St. Gregory's Day is
-    doubtless that of St. Gregory the Pope (12 March), and this
-    letter may be referred with certainty to the year 1448, just
-    after Paston's first expulsion from Gresham. The Monday before
-    St. Gregory's Day in that year would be the very day preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 83.2: Omitted in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 83.3: Friar John Hawteyn.]
-
-    [Footnote 83.4: 'and' repeated in MS.]
-
-
-75
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[84.1]
-
-_To my ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be this lettyr delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / APRIL]
-
-Ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to zw, desyryng hertyly to heryn
-of zour wel fare, praying zw to wete that I was with my Lady
-Morley[84.2] on the Satyrday next after that ze departyd from hens, and
-told here qhat answer that ze had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it ryth
-straw[n]gely, and seyd that sche had told zw, and schewyd zw i now
-[_enough_], qher by ze myth have knowleche that the releve owt [_ought_]
-to ben payd to her. And sche seyd sche wyst wel that ze delay it forthe,
-that sche xuld nowth have that longyth to her ryth. And sche told me hw
-it was payd in Thomas Chawmbers tym, qhan her dowther Hastyngs[84.3] was
-weddyd; and sche seyd sythyn that ze wyl make none end with her, sche
-wyl sew therfore as law wyl.
-
-I conseyvyd be here that sche had cwnsel to labore azens zw therin
-withyn ryth schort tym. And than I prayd her that sche wuld vwche save
-nowth to labowr azens zw in this mater tyl ze kom hom; and sche seyd
-nay, be her feyth, sche wuld no more days zeve [_give_] zw therin. Sche
-seyd sche had sett zw so many days to a kord with her, and ze had broke
-them, that sche was ryth wery therof; and sche seyd sche was but a
-woman, sche must don be her cownseyl, and her cwnseyle had avysyd her,
-so sche seyd sche wyld do. Than I prayd her azyn that sche wuld teryn
-[_tarry_] tyl ze kom hom, and I seyd I trostyd veryly that ze wuld don
-qhan ze kom hom, as itt longeth to zw to don; and if ze myth have very
-knowleche that sche awyth of ryth for to have itt, I seyd I wyst wel
-that ze wuld pay it with ryth gode wyl, and told her that ze had sergyd
-to a fownd wrytyng therof, and ze kwd non fynd in non wyse. And sche
-sayd sche wyst wele there was wrytyng therof inow, and sche hath wrytyng
-therof hw Syr Robert of Mawthby, and Sir Jon, and my grawnsyre, and
-dyverse other of myn awncesterys payd it, and seyd nevyre nay therto.
-And in no wyse I kwd not geyn no grawnth of her to sesyn tyl ze kom hom;
-and sche bad me that I xuld don an erand to my moder, and qhan I kam
-hom, I dede myn erand to her. And sche axyd me if I had spokyn to my
-lady of this forseyd mater, and I told her hw I had do, and qhat answer
-I had; and sche seyd sche xuld gon to my Lady Morles on the nexst day,
-and sche xuld speken to her therof, and a say to getyn grawnt of her to
-sesyn of the forsayd mater tyl that ze kom hom. And truly my moder dede
-her dever ryth feythfully therin, as my cosyn Clare[85.1] xal tellyn zw
-qhan that he speketh with zow; and sche gete grawnt of my seyd lady that
-there xuld nowth ben don azens zw therin, and ze wold acordyn with her,
-and don as ze owyn to do be twyx this tym and Trinyte Sunday.
-
-Laueraw[n]ce Rede of Mawthhy recommawndeth hym to zu, and prayt zw that
-ze wyl vwchesave to leten hym byn [_buy_] of zw the ferm barly that ze
-xuld have of hym, and if ze wyl laten hym have it to a resonabyl pris,
-he wyl have it with ryth a gode wyl; and he prayit zw if ze wyl that he
-have it, that ze wyl owche save [_vouchsafe_] to send hym word at qhat
-pris he xuld have the kowmb as hastyly as ze may, and ellys he must be
-purvayd in other plase.
-
-As twchyng other tydyngs, I sopose Jon of Dam xal send zw word in a
-letter. As it is told me veryly, Heydon xal not kom at London this term.
-
-It is seyd in this contre that Danyell[86.1] is owth of the Kyngs gode
-grase, and he xal dwn and all hys mene, and all that ben hys wele
-wyllers; there xal no man ben so hardy to don nether seyn azens my Lord
-of Sowthfolk,[86.2] nere non that longeth to hym; and all that have don
-and seyd azens hym, they xul sore repent hem. Kateryn Walsam xal be
-weddyd on the Munday nexst after Trinyte Sonday, as it is told me, to
-the galaunte with the grete chene; and there is purvayd for her meche
-gode aray of gwnys, gyrdelys, and atyrys, and meche other gode aray, and
-he hathe purcheysyd a gret purcheys of v. mark be zer to zevyn her to
-her joynture.
-
-I am aferd that Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, that he wyl sett
-hys gode to morgage to Heydon, or to sum other of ywre gode frendys, but
-if [_i.e._ unless] I can hold hym inne the better, ere ze kom hom. He
-hath ben arestyd sythyn that ye went, and hath had moche sorw at the
-sewte of mayster Joh Stoks of London for x. mark that Sparham owt to
-hym; and in gode feyth he hath had so moche sorow and hevynesse that he
-wyst nowth qhat he myth don. I fell hym so disposyd that he wold asold
-and asett to morgage all that he hath, he had nowth rowth to qhom, so
-that he myth an had mony to an holpyn hym self wyth; and I entretyd hym
-so, thatt I sopose he wyll nother sellyn ner sett to morgage, nother
-catel ner other gode of hese, tyl he speke with zw. He soposeth that al
-that is don to hym is att the request of the Parson of Sparham and
-Knatylsale. I sopose it is almas to comfort hym, for in gode feyth he is
-ryth hevy, and hys wyf al so. He is nowth nw under arest, he hath payd
-hys feys, and goth at large; he was arestyd att Sparham, of on of
-Knatysales men.
-
-Hodge Feke told me thatt Sym Schepherd is styl with Wylly,[86.3] and if
-ze wyl I xal purvey that he xal be browth hom er ze kom hom. It is told
-me that he that kept zour schep was owth lawyd on Munday at the swth of
-Sir Thomas Todynham, and if it be so, ze arn nowth lyk to kepe hym
-longe. And as twchyng that that ze badeyn me spekyn for to Bakton, he
-seyth he is wel avysyd that sche seyd sche wuld never have to don with
-all, ner he kan not pek that sche seyd sche hath non ryth to have it,
-and he wyl say lyche as he hath herd her seyd; and if sche speke to hym
-therof, he wyll rather hold with zw than with her. I pray ye that ze wyl
-vwche save to send me word hw ze spede in zour matter twchyng Gressam,
-and hw Danyel is in grace. Harry Goneld hath browth to me xl_s._ of
-Gressam syn ze zede, and he seyth I xal have more or Qhythson tyd, if he
-may pyk it up.
-
-I sopose Jamys Gressam hath told zw of other thyngs that I have sped syn
-ze zedyn hens. If I her any strawnge tydyngs in this contre, I xall send
-zw word. I pray zw that I may ben recommawndyd to my Lord Danyel.
-
-The Holy Trynyte have zw in hys kepyng, and send zw helth and gode spede
-in al zour maters twchyng zour ryth.
-
-Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Wedenys day nexst after thatt ze partyd hens.
-
-  Yors,
-
-  MARGARETE PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 84.1: [From Fenn, iii. 54.] The date of this letter is
-    fixed by an endorsement in these words, 'Literĉ termino Paschĉ
-    anno xxvj.,' showing that it was written in Easter term, in the
-    26th year of Henry VI. Easter term in that year lasted from the
-    10th of April to the 6th of May.]
-
-    [Footnote 84.2: Isabel, widow of Thomas, Lord Morley, who died
-    in 1435. She was the daughter of Michael de la Pole, Earl of
-    Suffolk. Fenn confounds her with the widow of the Lord Morley
-    who died in 1417, who was a daughter of Edward, Lord Dispencer,
-    and had previously married Sir Hugh Hastings. But this lady died
-    about 1426 (Blomefield, ii. 440), and cannot be the lady
-    mentioned in the text.]
-
-    [Footnote 84.3: Ann, married to John Hastyngs. --_See_
-    Blomefield, ii. 430.]
-
-    [Footnote 85.1: Probably William, eldest son of Robert Clere of
-    Ormesby, who died in 1446. --_See_ Blomefield, vi. 336.]
-
-    [Footnote 86.1: Thomas Daniel.]
-
-    [Footnote 86.2: _See_ p. 80, note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 86.3: William Paston, son of the Judge (?).]
-
-  [[Laueraw[n]ce Rede of Mawthhy
-    _text unchanged: error for "Mawthby"?_]]
-
-  [[mayster Joh Stoks of London
-    _text unchanged: error for "Joh." or "Jon"?_]]
-
-
-76
-
-LORD SCALES TO THOMAS GNATESHALE[87.1]
-
-_To Thomas Gnateshale._
-
-[Sidenote: Date uncertain]
-
-Thomas Gnateshale, I wul ze wite it was oute of my remembrance that
-Paston hade pout in my determinacion the discort betwene you and hym.
-I was the more favourable to your entent, but in so mych as I had
-forgete that beforesaid, I praye you that ye suffre the cornes in mene
-hand til that I have determined the matier betwene you too be the advis
-of lerned men whech han knowelich in such causses, the which thing I wul
-do in as short tyme as may, wherof ze shal have knowelich.
-
-Writen at Myddelton, the xiiij. day of August.
-
-  THE LORD SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 87.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The person to whom this
-    is addressed is probably the same 'Knatysale' mentioned in the
-    preceding letter, and as it contains no evidence of any definite
-    date, we think best to insert it here.]
-
-
-77
-
-ABSTRACT[88.1]
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO HER HUSBAND (_not addressed_).
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / MAY 19]
-
-On Friday last, the Parson of Oxened 'being at messe in one Parossh
-Chirche, evyn at levacion of the sakeryng, Jamys Gloys had been in the
-town, and come homeward by Wymondam's gate,' when he was attacked by
-Wymondham who had two of his men with him, and driven into 'my mother's
-place' for refuge. With the noise of this, my mother and I came out of
-the church from the sakeryng, and Wymondham 'called my mother and me
-strong whores, and said, ye Pastons and all her kin were . . . . . . .
-yngham said he lied, knave and churl as he was.' After noon my mother
-and I reported this to the Prior of Norwich, who sent for Wymondham;
-and Pagrave came with us. While Wymondham was with the Prior, and we at
-home, Gloys was assaulted again in the street, 'as he stood in the Lady
-Hastyngs' chamber,' by Thomas Hawys, one of Wymondham's men. This last
-assault the Parson of Oxened saw. Sends Gloys to her husband for fear of
-further trouble. The Lady Morle 'would have the benefice of her
-obligacion,' as her counsel tells her it is forfeit, and she would not
-have the relief till she have your homage. The Lord Moleyns' man is
-collecting the rent at Gresham 'a great pace,' as James Gresham will
-report to you.
-
-  Trinity Sunday, at even.
-
-  Further statement about the assault added in a different hand
-  (qu. Agnes Paston's?).
-
-  [From the fact of Lord Molyns being in possession of Gresham, and
-  collecting rents there, it is clear that the date of this letter is
-  1448. This date also agrees with what is said in Letter 75 about a
-  relief claimed by Lady Morley.]
-
-    [Footnote 88.1: [From Phillipps MS. 9735, No. 256.]]
-
-
-78
-
-JOHN NORTHWOOD TO JOHN, VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[88.2]
-
-_To my worschypful and reverent Lord, John, Vicont Beaumont._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / MAY 28]
-
-Rygth worschypfull, and my reverent and most spesiall Lord, y recomaund
-me un to yowr good grace in the most humble and lowly wyse that y canne
-or may, desyryng to her of your prosperite and well fare [as to
-my][88.3] most syngeler joy and spesiall comfort.
-
-And gyf hyt plees your Hygnes, as towchyng the soden aventuer that fell
-latly at Coventre, plees hyt your Lordshyp to her that, on Corpus
-Christi Even[89.1] last passed, be twene viij. and ix. of the clok at
-a[fternon],[89.2] Syr Umfrey Stafford[89.3] had browth my mayster Syr
-James of Urmond[89.4] towa[r]d hys yn [_inn_] from my Lady of
-Shrewesb[ery,[89.5] and][89.2] reterned from hym toward hys yn, he met
-with Syr Robert Harcourt[89.6] comyng from hys moder towards hys yn, and
-pass[ed Syr][89.2] Umfrey; and Richard, hys son, came somewhat be hynd,
-and when they met to gyder, they fell in handes togyder, and [Sir
-Robert][89.2] smot hym a grette st[r]oke on the hed with hys sord, and
-Richard with hys dagger hastely went toward hym. And as he stombled, on
-of Harcourts men smot hym in the bak with a knyfe; men wotte not ho hyt
-was reddely. Hys fader hard noys, and rode toward hem, and hys men ronne
-befor hym thyder ward; and in the goyng downe of hys hors, on, he wotte
-not ho, be hynd hym smot hym on the hede with a nege tole, men know not
-with us with what wepone, that he fell downe; and hys son fell downe be
-fore hym as good as dede. And all thys was don, as men sey, in a Pater
-Noster wyle. And forth with Syr Umfrey Stafford men foloed after, and
-slew ij. men of Harcowrttus, on Swynerton, and Bradshawe, and mo ben
-hurt; sum ben gonne, and sum be in pryson in the jayll at Coventre.
-
-And before the coroner of Coventre, up on the sygth of the bodyes, ther
-ben endited, as prynsipall for the deth of Richard Stafford, Syr Robert
-Harcourt and the ij. men that ben dede. And for the ij. men of Harcourts
-that ben dede, ther ben endited ij. men of Syr Umfrey as prynsipall. And
-as gytte ther hath ben no thyng fownden before the Justice of the Pees
-of Coventre of thys riot, be caws the shreffe of Warwyk shyre is
-dede,[90.1] and they may not sytt in to the tyme ther be a new shreve.
-
-And all thys myschef fell be cawse of a nold debate that was be twene
-heme for takyng of a dystres, as hyt is told.
-
-And All mygthty Jesu preserve yowr hye astat, my spesiall Lord, and send
-yow long lyve and good hele.
-
-Wryten at Coventre on Tewusday next after Corpus Christi day, &c.
-
-  Be yowr own pore Servant,
-
-  JOHN NORTHWOD.
-
-    [Footnote 88.2: [From Fenn, i. 12.] The date of this letter will
-    appear by a foot-note.]
-
-    [Footnote 88.3: The bracketed words are noted by Fenn as
-    'imperfect in the original, the paper being chafed.']
-
-    [Footnote 89.1: 22nd May.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.2: The bracketed words are noted by Fenn as
-    'imperfect in the original, the paper being chafed.']
-
-    [Footnote 89.3: Killed in an engagement with Jack Cade in June
-    1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.4: Probably Sir James Butler, son and heir-apparent
-    of James, fourth Earl of Ormond, who in 1449 was created Earl of
-    Wiltshire.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.5: Wife of John Talbot, the famous Earl of
-    Shrewsbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.6: He signalised himself in the wars of Henry VI.
-    and Edward IV., was a Knight of the Garter, and in November
-    1470, 10 Edward IV., was slain by the Staffords, perhaps in
-    revenge for this murder of Richard Stafford.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 90.1: Thomas Porter was sheriff of the counties of
-    Warwick and Leicester in 26 Henry VI., and died in his year of
-    office on Monday after Corpus Christi day (27th May 1448), the
-    day before this letter was written.--Inquisition _post mortem_,
-    27 Henry VI., No. 13.]
-
-
-79
-
-LORD MOLYNS TO THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER[90.2]
-
-_To the worschypful Fader yn God, and my ryth gode Lord, the Bysshop of
-Wynchestyr.[90.3]_
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / JUNE 13]
-
-Worschypful Fader yn God, and my rythe gode Lord, as hertely as y canne,
-y recomaund me to your gode Lordschyp; to the wyche plese hyt to wyt
-that y have resayvyd your lettre, by the wyche y oundyrstond the dayely
-sute to your Lordschyp as of Pastun, as for the mater betwyx hym and me,
-wer yn also y fele that he ys wyllyd that comynycasyon and trete schold
-be had betwyxt hys counsayle and myne, now at Mydsomer; to the wyche, my
-Lord, y am at the reverens of your Lordschyp wel agreyd, and have send
-to my counsayle at Loundon, aftyr the seyng of thys your last letter,
-as for the trete by twyxt hym and me, and that they schold yeve ful
-attendauns to the end of the mater by twne the sayde Pastun and me, as
-thow y were present with hem.
-
-And, my Lord, hyt were to grete a thyng, and hyte laye yn my power, but
-y wold do at the reverens of your Lordschyp, yn las than hyt schold hurt
-me to gretly, wyche y wote wel your Lordschyp wol nevyr desyr.
-
-And God for hys mercy have you, rythe worschypful Fadyr yn God, and my
-rythe gode Lord, yn hys blessyd kepyng.
-
-Wrytyn with my noune chaunsery hand, yn hast, the xiij. daye of June,
-at Teffaunt.
-
-  Vere hartely your,
-
-  MOLYNS.
-
-    [Footnote 90.2: [From Fenn, i. 190.] It appears, by John
-    Paston's petition presented to Parliament two years later, that
-    after he had been dispossessed of Gresham by Lord Molyns in
-    February 1448, communications passed between his counsel and
-    that of Lord Molyns on the subject until Michaelmas following.
-    This letter must refer to the first overtures.]
-
-    [Footnote 90.3: The celebrated William of Waynflete.]
-
-
-80
-
-ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON[91.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1448]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-Worchepeful mayster I recomend me to yow: and I pray yow to wete I was
-at Katefeld in Cobbes place for to se the armes as ye comaunded me, and
-the feld is gold wyth iii. bukkeles of sylver mad on the wyse as it is
-her, wyth floweris of sylver on the bukkelis mad of iiij. lyke a
-trewlove. Also, syr, I have spoke to a fryer that is conversaunt at
-Wykelwode wyth Randolffis dowter and he hath behestid me for to gete me
-Randolffis armes of hese dowter Wyltones wyf; but I have not yet spoke
-wyth the frier a yen. Also I pray yow to wete that I was at Mauteby and
-ye have there CC. combz of malt if ye wyl gef for xiiii_d._ a combz in
-the comes and xxi. for xx. ye shal have redy mony, as I suppose, for
-Pykeryng sellyth for xi_d._ and xii_d._ the lest that hath, as the
-parson of Mauteby tellyth me. And the parson and I have do throche your
-qwete for it was ete wyth myse to petowsly for to se; and if it plese
-yow I pray yow that ye wyl send me word qwhedyr ye wyl selle your malt
-and your qhete aftyr the pryse of the countre or (?) it shal be purveyid
-for to kepe it til ye may sett. And I have spoke to Lawrauns Reede for
-the ferme; but he wyl not take it, as I conseyve, til he speke wyth yow.
-I suppos for to a made a covienaunt wyth hym, but he hath no sewerte
-yet, and the londis shal not be in your handis til myhelmes as he
-seyeth; ther for he is the mor terying, &c. I beseche all myti Jhesu
-spede yow and kepe yow.
-
-  [_Not signed._]
-
-  On the back are some names of families in a contemporary hand, and
-  five shields of arms tricked in a modern hand, the latter being
-  apparently the armorial bearings of ancestors of the Earl of
-  Yarmouth, to whom there is a letter addressed by 'Wm. Smyth' upon
-  this subject at f. 146 of the MS.
-
-    [Footnote 91.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 143.] This letter is
-    neither signed nor addressed, but there is no doubt the person
-    for whom it was intended was John Paston the eldest, who
-    possessed property at Mautby in right of his wife. The reference
-    to Laurence Reede seems further to show that it is of the year
-    1448. See p. 85.]
-
-
-81
-
-JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[92.1]
-
-_To my Ryght Wurchepfull master John Paston be this deliuered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / DEC. 3]
-
-Right reverent and wurchepfull sir, I recommande me to yow, desyryng to
-here of yowr welfare, the which gracyows God contynually preserve and
-kepe to yowr gostly hele and bodily welfare; praying yow to wete that as
-for the broke sylver that my mastres wend for to a sent yow whan she
-dede wryte her letter, ther is none in your forcer; she supposyd that ye
-left it at Norwiche in yowr cofere, wher of ye have the key. Also my
-mastres yowr moder grete yow wele, and pray yow to send her word how she
-shall do with Edward of Whode of Paston; for she dede seys his corn on
-the lond the last hervest, and he led it a wey after that it whas seysyd
-with awth licens and leve of here or any of here offyceris. Item, my
-mastres yowr syster recommand her hertly to yow, and pray yow that and
-ye wold wochesaff to speke to my master Edmund, and pray hym if that he
-hath bowth here ger that she sent to hym fore, that he wold send it her
-home; in cas that[93.1] he have not bowth it, that he wold be it and
-sent it here in all the hast that he may goodly. Forthermore if it plese
-yow to her of my master Berney, he was at Gresham with my mastres on the
-Tuysday next after Halwemasday, the same day that we dystreynyd Jamys
-Rokkysson, and I had mette a litill a fore with Pertrych, and he thrett
-me, and sayd that we shuld not long kepe the dystresse, and there for my
-mastres dede us don on owr jakkys and owr salettis. My master Berney cam
-in and the parson of Oxened with hym and sey us in owre jakkis, and he
-wexe as pale as any herd and wold right fayn a ben thens. So my mastres
-dede hym dyne, and whill thei wher at dynar Herry Collys told my mastres
-openly among us all that the same tyme that Pertrych entryd a geyn up on
-yow, his master was at Causton to yow ward, and there it was told hym
-that Pertrych had putt yow owth and all your men, and that ye and my
-mastres wher redyn a geyn to Norwhich, and all your howshold, and that
-causyd hym that he cam no forther that tyme; and my Master Berney
-confermyd all this and seyd that it was so. Whan thei had etyn he had
-mych hast to a be thens, so my mastres desyryd and prayd hym that he
-wold come a geyn or aght long; and so with mych praying he be hest her
-if he mythe. And Herry Collys stode ther bysyde and seyd to my felachep,
-'What shuld my master do here,' quod he, 'lete yowr master send after
-his kynnysmen at Mautby, for thei have nowth that thei mawn lese.' And
-so thei redyn her wey. And with in a sevenygt after my master Berney
-sent Davy to my mastres, and prayd my mastres that she wold hold his
-master excusyd, for he had hurt his owyn hors that he rode up on; and he
-dede Davy sadillyn an oder hors; and he stode by and made water whill he
-sadyllyd hym, and as Davy shuld a kyrt the hors, he slenkyd behynd and
-toke his master on the hepe suyche a stroke that never man may trust hym
-after, and brake his hepe. And he had sent Herry Collys to Norwhich for
-medycynys, so he must ryde hom the same nygt; for his master had no man
-at home. So my mastres was rygth sory, and wend that it had be trowth,
-but I know wele that it was not so. It happyd that I rod the next day to
-Norwhich, and I rood in to my mastres your moder, and she dede aske me
-after my master Berney, and I told here how he was hurt. And she askyd
-the parson of Oxened if he wer hurt, and he seyd nay; for Davy lay with
-hym the same nygt a fore and told hym that he was heyll and mery, and
-prayd hym that he wold be with hym the Sonday next after; and so Davy
-lay the same nygt after that he had told my mastres the tale with the
-parson of Oxened. I beseche yow of yowre gode masterchep that ye wold
-not do wreythe this letter, for and my mastres knew that I sent yow
-suyche a letter I were never abyll to loke up on her, nor to abyde in
-her heysyte. My mastres yowr moder hath sent yow ij. letteris; she hath
-in dosyd hem to my master Edmunde, and she wuld wete if ye had hem or
-nawth. The Holy Trynyte have yow in kepyng. Wrytyne at Norwhich on Sent
-Clementis evyn. In hast.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  JAMIS GLOYS.
-
-    [Footnote 92.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 57.] This letter bears upon
-    the dispute about Gresham, and is probably of the year 1448, for
-    it is to be presumed that Edmund Paston died shortly after the
-    date of his nuncupative will, 21st March 1449.]
-
-    [Footnote 93.1: The word 'that' is repeated in the MS. by
-    inadvertence.]
-
-  [[she hath in dosyd hem to my master Edmunde
-    _text unchanged: error for "in closyd" or "in dorsyd"?_]]
-
-
-82
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[94.1]
-
-_To my ryght worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / JAN. 31]
-
-Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, praying yow to wete
-that I have receyved your letter this day that ye sent me be Yelvertonys
-man. As for your signette, I fond itt uppon your bord the same day that
-ye went hens, and I send it yow be Richrad Heberd, bringer herof. As for
-your eronds that ye wrete to me fore, Richard Charles is owte abough
-your eronds abowte Gresham, and for his awyn maters also, and I suppose
-he komyth not hom tyll it be Tesday or Weddenesday next komyng; and
-alssone as he komyth hom, he shall go abowte your eronds that ye wrete
-to me fore.
-
-I sent yow a letter wreten on Tesday last past, whiche, as I suppose,
-Roger Ormesby delyveryd yow. I toke it to Alson Pertryche. She rod with
-Clyppysbys wyff to London.
-
-I pray yow if ye have an other sone that you woll lete it be named
-Herry, in remembrans of your brother Herry;[95.1] also I pray yow that
-ye woll send me dats and synamun as hastyly as ye may. I have speke with
-John Damme of that ye bad me sey to hem to sey to Thomas Note, and he
-sey he was wel payd that ye seyd and thowgh therin as ye dede. Ner'les I
-bad hym that he shuld sey to the seyd Thomas therin as it wer of hymself
-with owte your avys or any others; and he seyd he shuld so, and that it
-shuld be purveyd for this next weke at the ferthest. The blyssed Trinyte
-have yow in his kepyng.
-
-Wretyn att Norwyche, in hast, the Fryday next befor Candelmesse day.
-
-  Be your gronyng wyff,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 94.1: [From Fenn, iii. 408.] Fenn thinks this was
-    written about 1460, but I do not see on what evidence. From the
-    reference to Gresham, I should rather suppose it belongs to
-    1449. By the subscription, it would appear that the writer was
-    very near the time of lying in; but we cannot tell the exact
-    date of the birth of any of her children. Lord Molyns
-    dispossessed John Paston of the lordship of Gresham on the 17th
-    of February 1448. After repeated remonstrances on the subject to
-    no purpose, Paston went and took up his quarters there again on
-    the 6th October 1449, and succeeded in keeping possession till
-    the 28th January 1450, when the place was attacked, in his
-    absence, by Lord Molyns' men, who undermined the walls, and
-    drove out Paston's wife. The 'errands about Gresham' probably
-    refer to the time of Lord Molyns' first occupation.]
-
-    [Footnote 95.1: No notice is taken elsewhere of John Paston
-    having a brother named Harry.]
-
-
-83
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[95.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / FEB. 28]
-
-Begs him not to be displeased though she be out of the place he left her
-in; for she heard such tidings that she durst not abide there. Divers of
-my Lord Moleyns' men said if they might get her they would steal her and
-keep her in the castle; 'and than they said they would that ye should
-fetch me out. They said it should be but a little heartburning to you.'
-After that I could have no rest till I was here. I did not venture out
-of the place till I was ready to ride, and no one knew an hour before
-but the good wife, whom I told that I was coming here to get gear made
-for me and the children. I beg you will keep secret the cause of my
-coming away till I see you. I spoke with your mother on my way hither,
-who offered to let me abide in her place if you wished me to stay in
-Norwich, and to give me such gear as she could spare till you can be
-purveyed of a place of your own. Let me know what to do. I should be
-sorry to dwell so near Grassam as I did, till the matter between you and
-the Lord Moleyns is settled. Barow said there was no better evidence in
-England than Lord M. had of Gressam. I said I supposed they were such as
-William Hasard spoke of, the seals of which were not yet cold, and that
-you had evidence with seals 200 years older. Do not on any account trust
-Lord Moleyns and his men, or eat or drink with them, though they speak
-ever so fair. Roger Foke of Sparham dare not leave his house for the
-suit Heydon and Wyndham have against him. Watkin Shipdam wishes you to
-speak to Sir J. Fastolf about the harness you had of him, etc.
-
-  Norwich, Friday after Pulver Wednesday.
-
-    [Footnote 95.2: This abstract was made from one of the Roydon
-    Hall MSS. shown to the Editor in 1875. Since that date he has
-    not seen the original.]
-
-  [[the harness you had of him, etc.  _final . missing or invisible_]]
-
-
-84
-
-ROBERT, PRIOR OF BROMHOLM, TO JOHN PASTON[96.1]
-
-_To my Sovereyn, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / MARCH 5]
-
-I recomend me hertily, thankyng yow for the tydings, and the good awysse
-that ze sent me be the Parson of Thorpe;[96.2] latyng zow wittin that
-the Byschope of the todir syde of the see sent laate to me a man, the
-qwych wuld abydin uppon my leyser, for to an had me ovyr wyt hym to the
-seyd Byschope, and so forth to the Courte.[96.3] So the seyd man and I
-arryn a poynted that he schal comyn ageyn a purpose fro the Byschope, to
-be my gyde ovyr the see, and so I purpose me fully forthe a noon aftir
-this Estryn. I mak me evyre day fulli redy as privyli as I can, be
-sekyng zow, as I trost on zow, and as I am zour trow bede man, as labor
-for me her that I mythe haf a wyrte of passagche directid un[to] swyche
-men as zow thyng that schyd best yife me my schargche.
-
-The best takyng of schepynge is at Yernemuthe er Kyrley, or som othir
-place in Norfolk syde. I schal haf favour he now [_enough_] wyt ther
-seergiours [_searchers_]; bod all my goode spede and all my wel lythe in
-you heer, for ther on I trost fully.
-
-Som cownsel me to haf a letter of exschawnge, thow it wer bode of xl_s._
-er lees, bod I comitte all my best in this matir to zour wysdam, and
-qwat at evyr ze pay in this matir, I schal truly at owr metyng repay
-ageyn to zow. Bod for Godds love purvey for my sped her, for ell
-[_else_] I lees all my purvyans, and ther too I schyd jaape[97.1] the
-Byschope man, and caus hym to com in to Yngland, and lees all his
-labour. For Goddis love, send me down this wyrte, er ell bryng it wyt
-zow, that I mythe haf fro zow a letter of tydings and comforthe; for I
-had nevyr verray need of zour labor til now, bod my hert hangithe in
-gret langor.
-
-All my brethir wenyth that I schyd no forthir goo than to the Byschope,
-and undir that colour schal I weel go forthe to the Courte. I haf gret
-stody til I haf tydings fro zow. Avyr mor All mythi Good haf zow in
-kepyng, bodi and soule.
-
-Writtin in hast, the Wednesday in the fyrst week of clen Lent.[97.2]
-
-  Your Orator,
-
-  ROBT., P. OF B.
-
-I sent zow a letter, bod I hade non answer ageyn.
-
-    [Footnote 96.1: [From Fenn, iii. 80.] There is no distinct clue
-    to the date of this letter; but Fenn throws out a conjecture
-    which, in default of any better guide, may be accepted as not
-    improbable, that 'the Bishop of the other side of the sea' was
-    Walter Lyhert, Bishop of Norwich, who in the beginning of 1449
-    must have been in Savoy, having been sent thither by the King to
-    persuade the anti-pope Felix V. to renounce his claim to
-    Nicholas V. for the peace of the Church. This Felix actually did
-    in the beginning of this year, and Wharton considers Bishop
-    Lyhert to have been the cause of his doing so (Angl. Sac. i.
-    418). Fenn, however, dates this letter 1450, on the supposition
-    that the Bishop would have been still abroad in the beginning of
-    that year, which is a mistake, as his name appears in the Rolls
-    of Parliament as a trier of petitions as early as February.]
-
-    [Footnote 96.2: Robert Rogers was parson of Thorpe from 1445 to
-    1476.]
-
-    [Footnote 96.3: Court of Rome.]
-
-    [Footnote 97.1: Deceive.]
-
-    [Footnote 97.2: The first week in Clean Lent means the first
-    _entire_ week in Lent beginning on a Sunday.]
-
-
-85
-
-NUNCUPATIVE WILL OF EDMUND PASTON[98.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / MARCH 21]
-
-Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos prĉsens scriptum pervenerit, Nos,
-Willelmus May, Magister Novi Templi, London', Johannes Bakton gentilman,
-Thomas Parker, civis et cissor Londoni, et Johannes Osbern, salutem in
-Domino sempiternam. Sciatis quod xxj. die Martij Anno Domini
-mccccxlviij.[98.2] Edmundus Paston de comitatu Norff., armiger, in bona
-memoria ac sana mente existens, languens in extremis, in nostra
-prĉsentia, condidit et declaravit testamentum suum nuncupativum in hunc
-modum:--In primis, legavit animam suam Deo Omnipotenti, Beatĉ Mariĉ
-Virgini et omnibus Sanctis, corpusque suum ad sepeliendum in ecclesia
-Templi prĉdicti, sive in ecclesia Fratrum Carmelitarum London' [ad
-electionem sui confessoris[98.3]]. Item dictus Edmundus, pro eo quod
-noluit circa bona sive negocia temporalia mentem sive animam suam
-affligere seu occupare, set ad ĉternam felicitatem se prĉparare, dedit,
-legavit ac commisit omnia bona et catalla sua prĉdilecto fratri suo
-Johanni Paston, ex magna confidencia in ipso habita ut ea disponeret pro
-bono animĉ suĉ, prout melius videret Deo placere ac animĉ suĉ prodesse.
-Et dictum Johannem Paston ordinavit et constituit executorem suum. In
-cujus rei testimonum prĉsentibus sigilla nostra apposuimus.
-
-  _Endorsed_--Copia ultimĉ voluntatis Edmundi Paston.
-
-  _Endorsed in a later hand_--Testamentum Edmundi Paston secundi filii
-  Willelmi Paston Justiciarii.
-
-    [Footnote 98.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 98.2: This is 1449 according to the modern
-    computation, which begins the year on the 1st of January instead
-    of the 25th March.]
-
-    [Footnote 98.3: These words are erased.]
-
-
-86
-
-LORD MOLYNS TO THE TENANTS OF GRESHAM[99.1]
-
-_To my trusty and wel belovyd, the Vycary and Tenaunts of my Lordschepe
-of Gressham._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / MARCH 24]
-
-Trusty and welbeloved frendys, I grete yowe well, and putte yowe all
-owte of doute for all that ye have doon for me; and the money that ye
-pay to my welbeloved servaunt, John Partrich, I will be your warant as
-for your discharge, and save yowe harmeles ayenst all thoo that wold
-greve yowe, to my power. And, as hertly as I can, I thanke yow of the
-gud wyl ye have had, and have, toward me. And as to the tytyll of rigth
-that I have to the Lordship of Gressam schal with in short tyme be
-knoweyn, and be the lawe so determynyd, that ye schall all be glad that
-hathe ought me youre gud wyll therin.
-
-And All Myghty God kepe yow; and, be His grace, I schall be with yowe
-son aftyr the Parlement es endyd.
-
-Wrytten atte London, on Oure Lady evyn last past.
-
-  R. H., LORD MOLYNS.
-
-    [Footnote 99.1: [From Fenn, i. 192.] Lord Molyns took possession
-    of Gresham, as already shown--see page 94, note 1,--on the 17th
-    of February 1448; but the reference to Parliament as sitting at
-    the date of this letter proves it to belong either to 1449 or
-    1450. The latter date, however, is not very probable.]
-
-
-87
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[99.2]
-
-_To my rytz wurschipful Mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyverid in hast,
-dwelling in the Inner Tempill._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / APRIL 2]
-
-Rytz wurschipful hosbond, I recommawnd me to zu, praying zu to wete that
-my kosyn Cler[99.3] dynyd with me this day; and sche told me that Heydon
-was with her yister evyn late, and he told her that he had a letter from
-the Lord Moleynys, and schewyd her the same letter, praying hym that he
-wold seyn to his frends and wele willerres in this contre that he
-thanketh hem of her godewill, and for that thei have done for hym; and
-also praying Heydon that he wold sey to Rychard Ernold of Crowmer that
-he was sory and evyl payd that his men maden the afray up on hym, for he
-seyd it was not be his will that his men xuld make afray on noman in
-this contre with owth rytz grett cause. And as for that was don to zu if
-it mytz ben prevyd that he had don otherwise to zu than rytz wold as for
-the mevabyl godis, ze xuld ben content, so that ze xuld have cawse to
-kon hym thank; and he prayd Heydon in the letter that it xuld ben
-reportid in this kontre that he wold don so, if he had don otherwyse
-than he owth to don.
-
-The frere[100.1] that cleymyth Oxned was in this town zastyrday and this
-day, and was ledgid att Beris, and this afternon he rod, but qhedder I
-wote not. He seyd pleynly in this town that he xal have Oxnede, and that
-he hath my lord of Suffolkes[100.2] good lordschip, and he wol ben his
-good lord in that mater. There was a persone warnyd my moder with in
-this to days that sche xuld ben ware, for thei seyd pleynly sche was lyk
-to ben servyd as ze were servyd at Gressam with in rytz schort tyme.
-Also the Lord Moleyns wrott in his forseyd letter that he wold mytyly,
-with his body and with his godis, stand be all tho that had ben his
-frends and his wel willers in the mater towching Gressam, and preyd
-Heydon that he wold sey to them that thei xuld not ben aferd in non
-wyse, for that was don it xuld ben abedyn by.
-
-My moder prayith zu that ze wil send my brother Willyam to Kawmbrege
-anomynale[100.3] and abok of sofystre of my brother Emundes[100.4], the
-qheche my seyd brother be hestid my moder the last tyme he spak with
-her, that he xuld asent [_should have sent_] to my brother Willyam.
-The blisseful Trinyte have zu in his keping.
-
-Wretyn at Norwyche in hast, on the Wodenysday next be for Palm Sonday.
-
-  Zowres,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 99.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter
-    is evidently both after Paston's expulsion from Gresham by Lord
-    Molyns in February 1448, and after the death of Edmund Paston in
-    1449. It cannot, however, be so late as 1450, else Hauteyn would
-    not have expected to obtain possession of Oxnead through the
-    Duke of Suffolk's influence.]
-
-    [Footnote 99.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.1: John Hawteyn. --_See_ Nos. 46 and 50.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.2: William De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.3: A _nominale_.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.4: Edmund Paston, who must have died very shortly
-    after declaring his will on the 21st of March 1449.]
-
-
-88
-
-[MARGARET PASTON] TO [JOHN PASTON][101.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?)]
-
-Ryt wurchipful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to zu, and prey zw to gete som
-crosse bowis, and wyndacs[101.2] to bynd them with, and quarrels;[101.3]
-for zour hwsis her ben so low that ther may non man schet owt with no
-long bowe, thow we hadde never so moche nede.
-
-I sopose ze xuld have seche thyngs of Ser Jon Fastolf, if ze wold send
-to hym; and also I wold ze xuld gete ij. or iij. schort pelleaxis to
-kepe with doris, and als many jakkys, and ye may.
-
-Partryche[101.4] and his felaschep arn sor aferyd that ze wold entren
-azen up on them, and they have made grete ordynaw[n]ce with inne the
-hwse, as it is told me. They have made barris to barre the dorys crosse
-weyse, and they have made wykets on every quarter of the hwse to schote
-owte atte, bothe with bowys and with hand gunnys; and the holys that ben
-made forr hand gunnys, they ben scarse kne hey fro the plawncher
-[_floor_], and of soche holis ben made fyve. There can non man schete
-owt at them with no hand bowys.
-
-Purry felle in felaschepe with Willyum Hasard at Querles, and told hym
-that he wold com and drynk with Partryche and with hym, and he seyd he
-xuld ben welcome, and after none he went thedder for to aspye qhat they
-dedyn, and qhat felachep they hadde with them; and qhan he com thedder,
-the dors were fast sperid [_fastened_], and there wer non folks with hem
-but Maryoth, and Capron and hys wyf, and Querles wyf, a[n]d another man
-in ablac (?) zede sum qhate haltyng, I sopose be his words that it was
-Norfolk of Gemyngham; and the seyd Purry aspyde alle this forseyd
-thyngs. And Marioth and his felaschep had meche grette langage that xall
-ben told zw qhen ze kom hom.
-
-I pray zw that ze wyl vowche save to don bye for me j. li. [1 _lb._] of
-almands and j. li. of sugyr, and that ze wille do byen sume frese to
-maken of zour child is gwnys; ze xall have best chepe and best choyse of
-Hayis wyf, as it is told me. And that ze wyld bye a zerd of brode clothe
-of blac for an hode fore me of xliiij^_d._ or iiij^_s._ a zerd, for ther
-is nether gode cloth ner god fryse in this twn. As for the child is
-gwnys, and I have them, I wel do hem maken.
-
-The Trynyte have zw in his keping, and send zw gode spede i[n] alle zour
-materis.
-
-    [Footnote 101.1: [From Fenn, iii. 314.] 'The direction of this
-    curious letter,' says Fenn, 'is obliterated, but it is plainly
-    from Margaret Paston to her husband; and the paper is likewise
-    so completely filled with writing, that she has not even either
-    subscribed or dated it, but by the mentioning of Sir John
-    Fastolf it must have been written before 1459.' It appears to us
-    most probably to belong to the year 1449, when Paston was making
-    preparations to re-enter Gresham, which he actually did in
-    October of that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 101.2: Windacs are what we now call grappling irons,
-    with which the bow-string is drawn home.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 101.3: Properly _quarreaux_. They were square pyramids
-    of iron shot out of crossbows.--Grose's _Milit. Antiq._ i. 149.]
-
-    [Footnote 101.4: John Partrich, one of Lord Molyns's retainers.]
-
-
-89
-
-WILLIAM COTYNG TO JOHN PASTON[102.1]
-
-_To the right reverent sir my most worshipful maister, my maister John
-Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1449 / APRIL]
-
-Right reverent and my most worshipful maister, I recomaund me to yow.
-Please it yow to wete that the man whiche I wolde have hadde to a be
-youre fermour at Snaillewelle hath tolde me that he will not therof,
-and this he makith his excuse; he seythe that he shall dwelle with his
-wyffes fader and fynden hym for his good as longe as he levyth and he
-will no forther medill in the werde. I fele well by hym that he hath
-inquered of the maner, for he coude telle me well that olde Briggeman
-aught my maister, your fader, whom God assoile, moche good, and how that
-he hadde al that was ther whanne Briggeman was ded; and that this
-Briggeman owith yow moche good at this tyme. I answered therto, as for
-olde Briggeman, I seide that it was his will that my maister shulde have
-his good, be cause he was a bonde man and hadde no childer. And as for
-this Briggeman, I seide that he hath bought a faire place sithe he was
-your fermour, and payed therfor; but for this I kan not turne hym.
-Wherfor, and it like yow to sende to me a bille of the value of the
-maner, I shall inquere if any other may happe to be gete, and sende yow
-worde therof; and in this and what ye will comaunde me ellys I shall do
-my parte by the grace of our Lord, Who ever have yow in His kepyng.
-Amen. Writen at Cambrigge the Sunday nexte before the fest of Seynt
-George.
-
-My maister your brother[103.1] recomaundeth hym to yow, as me semyth he
-is in right febill hele. he will not telle me qwy, save he seyth he
-compleyned onys and hadde no remedy, and therfor he seythe he shall
-suffer for a seoson. Forsothe I suppose he is not intreted as he aught
-to be.
-
-  Your servaunt and bedeman,
-
-  W. COTYNG.
-
-    [Footnote 102.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 164.] This letter must
-    have been written about the year 1449, when William Paston, son
-    of the Judge, was a student at Cambridge.]
-
-    [Footnote 103.1: William Paston.]
-
-  [[he will not telle me qwy  _lower-case "he" in original_]]
-
-
-90
-
-ROBERT WENYNGTON TO THOMAS DANIEL[103.2]
-
-_To my Reverend Mayster, Thomas Danyell, Squier for the Kyngs Body, be
-thys letter delyverd in haste._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / MAY 25]
-
-Most reverend mayster, I recomaund me on to yowr graceus maystreschup,
-ever deseryng to her of yowr wurschupfull ustate, the whyche All myghte
-God mayntayne hyt, and encrese hyt on to hys plesans: Plesyng yow to
-know of my wellfare, and of all yowr men, at the makyng of thys letter,
-we wer in gode hele of body i blessyd be God.
-
-Mo over, mayster, I send yow word, by Rauly Pykeryng, of all maters, the
-whyche I be seche yow yeve hym credens, as he wyll enforme yow of all;
-so, sur, I beseche yow, in the reverens of God, that ye wyll enforme owr
-Soverayn Lord the Kyng of all maters that I send yow in thys letter,
-lyke as I have send a letter to my Lord Chaunseler and to all my Lordys
-by the sayd Pykeryng; the whyche letter I beseche yow that ye take and
-delyver to my Lord and all my Lordys by yowr awne handys, and lete the
-sayd Pykeryng declare all thyngs as he hath sayn and knoweth.
-
-Furst, I send yow word that when we went to see, we toke ij. schyppys of
-Brast comyng owte of Flaundrys; and then after, ther ys made a grete
-armyng in Brytayne to mete with me and my felyschyp, that ys to say, the
-grete schyp of Brast, the grete schyp of the Morleys, the grete schyp of
-Vanng, with other viij. schyppis, bargys, and balyngers, to the number
-of iij. m^li [3000] men; and so we lay in the see to me[te] with them.
-
-And then we mette with a flotte of a c. [_a hundred_] grete schyppys of
-Pruse, Lubycke, Campe, Rastocke, Holond, Selond, and Flandres, betwyte
-Garnyse [_Guernsey_] and Portland; and then I cam abord the Admirall,
-and bade them stryke in the Kyngys name of Englond, and they bade me
-skyte in the Kyngs name of Englond; and then I and my feleschyp sayd,
-but [_unless_] he wyll streke don the sayle, that I wyld over sayle ham
-by the grace of God, and God wyll send me wynd and wether; and dey bade
-me do my wurst, by cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale, that they
-scornyd with me. And as God wuld, on Fryday last was, we had a gode
-wynd, and then we armyd to the number of ij. m^l. [2000] men in my
-felyschyp, and made us redy for to over sayle them; and then they
-lonchyd a bote, and sette up a stondert of truesse, and com and spake
-with me. And ther they were yolded all the hundret schyppys to go with
-me in what port that me lust and my felawys; but they faothe with me the
-day before, and schotte atte us a j. m^l. [1000] gonnys, and
-quarell[105.1] owte of number, and have slayn meny of my felyschyp, and
-meymyd all soo. Wherfor me thyngkyt that they haye forfett bothe schypps
-and godys at our Soverayn Lord the Kyngys wyll. Besechyng yow that ye do
-yowr parte in thys mater, for thys I have wrytyn to my Lord
-Chaunseler[105.2] and all my Lordys of the Kyngys Counsell; and so I
-have brofte them, all the c. [_hundred_] shyppys, within Wyght, in spyte
-of them all.
-
-And ye myght gete leve of owr Soverayn Lord the Kyng to com hydder, hyt
-schall turne yow to grete wurschup and profett, to helpe make owr a
-poyntement in the Kyngs name, for ye sawe never suche a syght of
-schyppys take in to Englond this c. wynter; for we ly armyd nyght and
-day to kepe them, in to the tyme that we have tydengs of our Soverayn
-and hys counsell. For truly they have do harme to me, and to my
-feleschyp, and to yowr schyppys more [than] ij. m^l. li.[105.3] worth
-harme; and therfor I am avesyd, and all my feleschyp, to droune them and
-slee them, withoute that we hafe tydyngs from owr Soverayn the Kyng and
-hys counsell. And therfor, in the reverens of God, come ye yowr self,
-and ye schall have a grete avayle and wurschup of yowr comyng to see a
-suche syght, for I der well sey that I have her at this tyme all the
-cheff schyppys of Duchelond, Holond, Selond, and Flaundrys, and now hyt
-wer tyme for to trete for a fynell pese as for that partyes.
-
-I writ no more to yow at this tyme, but All myghty Jesus have yow in hys
-kepyng. I writ in hast, within Wyght, on Soneday at nyght after the
-Ascencion of owr Lord.
-
-  By yowr owne Servant,
-
-  ROBT. WENYNGTON.
-
-    [Footnote 103.2: [From Fenn, i. 208.] On the 3rd April 1449
-    royal letters were issued in favour of Robert Wynnyngtone of
-    Devonshire, who was bound by indenture to do the King service on
-    the sea 'for the cleansing of the same, and rebuking of the
-    robbers and pirates thereof, which daily do all the noisance
-    they can.' --Stevenson's _Letters and Papers illustrative of the
-    Wars of the English in France_, i. 489.]
-
-    [Footnote 105.1: _See_ p. 101, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 105.2: John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 105.3: Fenn says the reading of the original is
-    indistinct, and he could not determine whether £2000 or £3000
-    was meant.]
-
-
-91
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[106.1]
-
-_To myn most reverent and [w]urchepful broder, Jon Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1449]
-
-To myn most reverent and wurchepful brodur, I recummend me hartely to
-zow, desiryng speciali to hare of zowre wellefare and prosperite, qweche
-Almyty God contenu to zowre gosteli hele and bodili welfare. And if it
-plase zowre goode broderod to here of myn wellefare, at the makyng of
-this bylle I was in good hele. And if it leke zowre good broderod to
-remembre the letter that I sent to zow of the noyse that was telde of
-zow, that ze schuld a be on of the capetayns of the ryserse in Norfolk,
-and how that j. scholere of Cambryg, qweche is parsone of Welle, schuld
-an utteryd ferthere to zowr grete schalndyr [_slander_]; besechyng zow
-to undyrstond that the seyde parsone of Welle was sone [after?][106.2]
-that tyme at Lundon, were he harde sey of j. swyr of ij. c. marc be zere
-[_of one squire of 200 marks by year_] that ze and Master Thomas Wellys
-wolde sewe the seyd Parsone Welle for zowre schalndyr; and the seyde
-parsone come to Cambryg sothyn, and hathe pekyd a qwarell to on Mastyr
-Recheforthe, a knythys sone of Norforfolke,[106.3] and seyd to
-Rychechefor[106.3] that he had because that ze schuld sewe hym; and the
-seyd Parsone Welle thretyd Rycheferthe that wat some ever that ze causyd
-Parson Welle to lese be zowre sewtes, that Rycheferthe schul lese the
-same to the Parson of Welle. Werefor this jeltylmon Rycheforthe taketh
-grete thowt, and pray me to wrythe to zow that ze wulde sese zowre suthe
-tylle the tyme that ze wulde asyne that I mythe speke wythe zow, and
-odyr sundry have speke with zow of the same mater; for yt ware pithe
-that Rycheforthe chuld have ony hurthe thereby. I beseche zow holde me
-excusyd, thow I wryt no better to zow at thys tyme, for in good feyth I
-had no leysere. The brynggar of thys letter can telle zow the same. God
-have zow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Cambryg, on Fryday [sa]nyth[107.1]
-nexste before Mydsommer Evyn.
-
-In case ze come ba come [_back home?_] be Cambryg, I schal telle zow mo
-of it. I am sory I may wrythe no bettyr at this tyme, but I trust ze
-wylle [have] paciens.
-
-  Be zowre pore Broder,
-
-  W. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 106.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As it appears from
-    Margaret Paston's letter of the 2nd April 1449 that William
-    Paston was a student at Cambridge in that year, the date of this
-    must be about the same period.]
-
-    [Footnote 106.2: Word omitted.]
-
-    [Footnote 106.3: So in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 107.1: This is written 'sanyth' but there is a stroke
-    through the _a_, which was perhaps intended to have been carried
-    through the _s_ also.]
-
-
-92
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[107.2]
-
-_To the Worshypful Sir, and my ryght well beloved cosen, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / JULY 10]
-
-Worshypfull and ryghte welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to you. Please you
-to here that the Pryore and Convent of Norwyche have wythhalden certeyn
-rent for landes that they halden of me wythinne my maner of Haylysdon,
-and the ij. tapers of wax of ij. lbs. wyght, by the space of xviij.
-yere, that mountyth xxj_s._[107.3] valued in money. And the lordes of
-the seyd maner beyng before me, and y yn my tyme, have been seised and
-possessed of the seyd rent. Prayng you to speke wyth the Pryore, or
-comaundyng me unto hym. And that ye lyke to move hym to make me payment
-as his dewtee ys, so as y have no cause to gowe further, and to do as
-justice requyreth. He hahyth xxx. acres lande or more by the seyd rent,
-and whyht ought to pay me othyr rent more by myn evidense. More over y
-pray you, cosen, that I may speke with you or [_before_] y ryde, and
-that on Thursday by the ferthest; and then y shall tell you tydyngs off
-the Parlement, and that ye fayle not, as my trust ys yn you. I pray God
-have you in Hys guidance.
-
-  Wreten at Castor, the x. day off Julie 1449[108.1].
-
-  Your Cosen,
-
-  JOHN FASTOLFE.
-
-    [Footnote 107.2: [From Palmer's _Foundacion and Antiquitye of
-    Great Yermouthe_, p. 61.]]
-
-    [Footnote 107.3: 'xxj.o,' as printed by Palmer, but the 'o' no
-    doubt should be '_s._']
-
-    [Footnote 108.1: So the date is given in the book from which
-    this letter is copied, but the year is certainly wrong, as the
-    writer did not go to reside at Caister till 1454. The date
-    indeed would have been suspicious apart from this, as the mode
-    of dating is quite unusual in these letters. Probably in the
-    original MS. (which the Editor has not seen) '1449' was inserted
-    after 'Julie' in a later hand.]
-
-
-93
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[108.2]
-
-_To John Paston be this letter delyveryd._
-
-[Sidenote: Not after 1449]
-
-Soon, I grete zow wel with Goddis blyssyng and myn, and I latte zow
-wette that my cosyn Cler[108.3] wrytted to me that sche spake with
-Schrowpe[108.4] after that he had byen with me at Norwyche, and tolde
-her what cher that I had made hym, and he seyde to her he lyked wel by
-the cher I made hym.
-
-He had swyche wordys to my cosyn Cler that lesse than ze made hym good
-cher, and zaf hym wordys of conforth at London, he wolde no mor speke of
-the matyr.
-
-My cosyn Cler thynkyth that it were a foly to forsake hym lesse than ze
-knew of on owdyr as good or better; and I have assayde zowr
-suster,[108.5] and I fonde her never so wylly to noon as sche is to hym,
-zyf it be so that his londe stande cleer.
-
-I sent zow a letter by Brawnton for sylke, and for this matyr befor my
-cosyn Cler wrote to me, the qwyche was wrytten on the Wednysday nexzt
-aftyr Mydsomer day.
-
-Sir Harry Ynglows is ryzth besy a bowt Schrowpe for one of his dozthers.
-
-I prey zow, for zette nozth to brynge me my mony fro Horwelbery, as ze
-com fro London, edyr all or a grete parte. The dew dette was at
-Crystemesse last paste, no thynge a lowyd, vij_li._ xiiij_s._ viij_d._,
-and at this Mydsomer it is v_li._ more; and thow I a low hym all his
-askyng, it is but xxvj_s._ vj_d._ less, but I am nozth so avysyth zytt.
-As for the Frer,[109.1] he hath byen at Sent Benetts, and at Norwyche,
-and made grete bowste of the sewte that he hath azens me, and bowzthe
-many boxes, to what intent I wett never. It is wel doen to be war at
-London, in drede gyf he bryng ony syse at Sent Margarets tyme.
-
-I kan no more, but Almyzty God be owr good lorde, who have zow ever in
-kepyng. Wryten at Oxnede in grete hast, on the Satyr next aftyr
-Mydsomer.
-
-  By yowr Modyr,
-
-  A. P.
-
-    [Footnote 108.2: [From Fenn, iii. 202.] This letter is dated by
-    Fenn 1454, with some others relating to matches proposed for
-    Elizabeth Paston; but the date of this cannot be later than
-    1451, as Sir Harry Inglos died that year. Moreover, it cannot be
-    either 1451 or 1450, as 'the Saturday next after Midsummer' when
-    this letter is dated, preceded 'the Wednesday next after
-    Midsummer day' in both these years. Thus 1449 is the latest
-    possible date.]
-
-    [Footnote 108.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby,
-    Esq.]
-
-    [Footnote 108.4: Stephen Scrope, a son of Sir John Fastolf's
-    wife by a former husband.]
-
-    [Footnote 108.5: Elizabeth Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 109.1: John Hawteyn. --_See_ Nos. 46, 50, and 63.]
-
-
-94
-
-ELIZABETH CLERE TO JOHN PASTON[109.2]
-
-_To my Cosyn, John Paston, be thys letter delivered._
-
-[Sidenote: Not after 1449]
-
-Trusty and weel be loved cosyn, I comaunde me to zow, desyryng to here
-of zowre weelfare and good spede in zowre matere, the qwech I prey God
-send zow to his plesaunce and to zoure hertys ease.
-
-Cosyn, I lete zow wete that Scrope[109.3] hath be in this cuntre to se
-my cosyn zoure sustyr, and he hath spoken with my cosyn zoure moder, and
-sche desyreth of hym that he schuld schewe zow the endentures mad be
-twen the knyght that hath his dowter and hym, whethir that Skrop, if he
-were maried and fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld
-enheryte his lond, or his dowter, the wheche is maried.
-
-Cosyn, for this cause take gode hede to his endentures, for he is glad
-to schewe zow hem, or whom ze wol a sygne with zow; and he seith to me
-he is the last in the tayle of his lyflode, the qweche is CCCL. marke
-and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he hath take a compt of his
-liflode dyvers tymes; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a
-sone an eyre, his dowter that is maried schal have of his liflode L.
-marke and no more; and therfore, cosyn, me semeth he were good for my
-cosyn zowre sustyr, with[out] that ye myght gete her a bettyr. And if ze
-can gete a better, I wold avyse zow to labour it in as schort tyme as ze
-may goodly, for sche was never in so gret sorow as sche is now a dayes,
-for sche may not speke with no man, ho so ever come, ne not may se ne
-speke with my man, ne with servauntes of hir moderys but that sche
-bereth hire an hand[110.1] otherwyse than she menyth. And sche hath sen
-Esterne the most part be betyn onys in the weke or twyes, and som tyme
-twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cosyn,
-sche hath sent to me by Frere Newton in gret counsell, and preyeth me
-that I wold send to zow a letter of hir hevynes, and prey yow to be hir
-good brothyr, as hir trost is in zow; and sche seith, if ze may se be
-his evydences that his childern and hire may enheryten, and sche to have
-resonable joynture, sche hath herd so mech of his birth and his
-condicions, that and ze will sche will have hym, whethyr that hir moder
-wil or wil not, not withstandyng it is tolde hir his persone is symple,
-for sche seyth men shull have the more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire
-to hym as sche awte to do.
-
-Cosyn, it is told me ther is a goodly man in yowre Inne, of the qweche
-the fadyr deyed litte, and if ze thynk that he were better for hir than
-Scroop, it wold be laboured, and yif Scroop a goodly answere that he be
-not put of tyl ze be sure of a bettyr; for he seid whan he was with me,
-but if [_i.e._ unless] he have som counfortable answer of zow, he wil no
-more laboure in this mater, be cause he myght not se my cosyn zoure
-sustyr, and he seyth he myght a see hire and sche had be bettyr than she
-is; and that causeth hym to demyr that hir moder was not weel willyng,
-and so have I sent my cosyn zowre moder word. Wherfore, cosyn, thynk on
-this mateer, for sorow oftyn tyme causeth women to be set hem otherwyse
-than thei schuld do, and if sche where in that case, I wot weel ze wold
-be sory. Cosyn, I prey zow brenne this letter, that zoure men ne non
-other man se it; for and my cosyn zowre moder knew that I had sent yow
-this letter, sche shuld never love me. No more I wrighte to zow at this
-tyme, but Holy Gost have zow in kepyng. Wretyn in hast, on Seynt Peterys
-day,[111.1] be candel lyght.
-
-  Be youre Cosyn,
-
-  ELIZABETH CLERE.
-
-    [Footnote 109.2: [From Fenn, iii. 204.] This letter appears from
-    the contents to be of the same year as the preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 109.3: Stephen Scrope. --_See_ p. 108, Note 4.]
-
-    [Footnote 110.1: To bear one on hand, means to assert or
-    insinuate something to a person.]
-
-    [Footnote 111.1: June 29.]
-
-
-95
-
-JOHN DAMME TO JOHN PASTON[111.2]
-
-_To my ryght worshepfull master John Paston at London in the Inner
-Temple._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / NOV. 30]
-
-Plese it your good maistershep to knowe that my maisteresse your wyff
-recomaundeth here to yow and fareth well, blyssed be God, and all your
-menye faren well also and recomaunde hem to yaw, &c. I was with my lord
-of Oxenford and dede myn erand, and I found his good lordshep well
-disposed towardys yow, for he seid if he were sent to for to come to,
-&c., if it kepe faire weder he wold not tarye, and if it reygned he wold
-not spare. More over I spak with Pertrych as touchyng the letter sent to
-my lord Moleyns; he seyth that he was privy to the wrytyng and wele a
-vowe it by record of xx. persons, but he wold name to me no persone; and
-so he and I accorded not fully. And I bad hym remembre hym that he myght
-not abyde there if ye wold have hym owt. And he seid he knewe well that.
-But he seid, if ye put heem out, ye shuld be put owt sone after a geyn.
-And I seyd if it happe it so thei shuld not longer reste there. And
-Mariot stod by and seyd that were no merveyll whill thei were but ij.
-men, but it shuld not be best so. And I seyd that I lete them wete it
-shuld be so if ye wold, thow they made all the strenght which they coude
-make. And ther to Mariot seyd stately, that myght not be performed; and
-more langage ther was, to long to wryte at this leyser. Pertrych and his
-felaw bere gret visage and kepe gret junkeryes and dyneres, and seyn
-that my lord Moleynes hath wrytyn pleynly to hem that he is lord there
-and well be, and shall be, and ye not to have it; but I trust to Goddes
-ryghtwysenes of better purvyaunce. Lyke it yow to remembre what Heydon
-doth and mayde by colour of justice of the pees, beyng of my lordes
-councell and not your good frend nor weell wyller, and to comon with
-your sad councell what ye must suffre by the lawe, and where inne ye may
-resiste. On Sunday last passed Gunore and Mariot and John Davy and other
-dyned with Pertrych, &c.; and after eveson [_evensong_] Gonore spake to
-my maisteresse that she shuld make here men to leue here wyfeles and
-here jackes; and she answered that thei purposed to hurte no man of here
-owyn sykyng; but for it was seid that she shuld be plukkyd owt of here
-howse, she were loth to suffre that; and therfore she sayde thei shuld
-goo soo til ye come hom. And he seid stately, but if thei left here aray
-it shuld be plukked from them. I trust he must have a better warant,
-from his stately langage, or ells he shall not have it from hem esily.
-All this I remitte to your good remembraunce with Goddes help, to Whom I
-pray to gyde your ryght to his worshep and your hertes desire.
-
-  Wrytyn at Sustede on Seynt Andrewe day, &c.
-
-  Yowres,
-
-  J. DAMME.
-
-Were but well, as me semyth, that ye myght ordeygne now a fetys jacke
-defensable for your self, for there con they do best and best chep, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 111.2: [Add. 34,888, f. 32.] This letter was evidently
-    written in 1449, after John Paston had re-entered Gresham, and
-    his wife was keeping it for him. See No. 88.]
-
-
-96
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON][113.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / OCT. 16]
-
-'The King is now into the Marches of Wales, as it is said, to the intent
-he may be near the country if my Lord of Buckingham, which is
-commissioner now in Wales for divers offences done there to the Crown,
-would sue to have his commission to be enlarged, if he were repyned.' It
-is not known when the King will be in London again, but he is expected
-here at the beginning of the Parliament. I have your writs of error, but
-can see nothing wrong. Thos. Denys asked me why you did not follow his
-suggestion about the removing of the strength at Gresham, and thinks it
-should be done yet. Francis Costard is not yet well at ease, for his
-_venire facias_ between Will. Prentys and him and Hen. Halman comes in
-very inopportunely. You had better come hither as soon as possible and
-get the favor of the sheriff that shall be next year.
-
-  London, 16 Oct.
-
-    [Footnote 113.1: This abstract was made from one of the Roydon
-    Hall MSS. shown to the Editor in 1875. Since that date he has
-    not seen the original.]
-
-
-97
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN FASTOLF AND JOHN KIRTELING[113.2]
-
-_To my ryght tristy and welbelovede Cosin and Frende, John Fastolf,
-and Sir John Kirtelinge, Parson of Arkesay._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / OCT. 31]
-
-Trusty and welbeloved frendz, y grete yow wel. And for as moche as y
-have appointed with my sone, Stephen Scrope, lyke as y sende yow the
-appointement writen hereafter in this letter, the whiche appointement y
-woll ye fulfylle be the avys of my counsel in that at longeth to my
-party, like as hit ys writen.
-
-Thys ys the appointement made be twene Sir John Fastolf, Knight, and
-Stephen Scrope, Squier, in the maner as here after hit ys writen:--
-
-Fyrst, for as moche as the mariage of the saide Stephen Scrope was
-solde[114.1] to Sir William Gascoyng, the Chefe Justice of Englonde, for
-v^c. [500] marke, with the whiche mariage was deliverd in hande to the
-sayde Gascoyng the maner of Wyghton on the Wolde, in Yorke schyre, with
-the apertenance of the saide maner; and whan the sayde Gascoyng hade
-hym, he wolde have solde hym agayn, or maried the saide Stephen Scrope
-ther [_where_] he schulde have byn despareiged: wherefore, at the
-request of the sayde Scrope and hys frendes, the saide Fastolf boght the
-ma[ri]age of the saide Scrope of the saide Sir William Gascoyng for v^c.
-marke, wherby the saide Fastolf hath mariage of the saide Stephen
-Scrope, or elles to have the saide somme of v^c. marke that he payde for
-hym, like as hit ys above sayde.
-
-Item, for as moche as the sayde Stephen Scrope ys comyn to the saide
-Fastolf, sayinge that he hath fownde wey to be maried at his lyst, and
-also for his worschippe and profyt, so that the saide Fastolf woll
-consent therto, that ys to say, to Fauconeris doughter of London, that
-Sir Reynalde Cobham[114.2] had weddid.
-
-Item, for as hit ys the saide Fastolf ys wille to forther and helpe the
-saide Scrope in any wize ther he may be fortherede, the sayde Fastolf
-consenteth that the sayde Scrope marie hym to the Fauconeris doughter,
-with that that the sayde Fauconer gyf to the sayde Fastolf the saide
-somme of v^c. marke, the whiche he payde for the saide Scrope.
-
-Item, yf that the sayde Stephen Scrope pay or do pay the somme afore
-sayde of v^c. marke sterling, than the sayde Sir John Fastolf and Dame
-Mylicent,[114.3] his wyf, schall make astate of the said maner of
-Wyghton on the Wolde in Yorke schyre, with the apertenaunce of the sayde
-maner, to the saide Stephen Scrope and to the woman, the whiche schalbe
-his wyf, and to here eyres of here bodyes begete be twix hem two.
-
-Item, yef the sayde Stephen dye with oute eyre of his body begeten, than
-the sayde maner of Wyghton, after the descece of the saide hys wyf,
-schall retourne agayne to the sayde Fastolf and Dame Mylicent, his wyf,
-and to the eyres of the sayde Mylicent.
-
-Item, yf so be that the sayde Fauconer wilnot pay the sayde somme of
-v^c. marke, bot peraventure wolde gyf a lesse somme, then the sayde
-Fastolf wyl deliver to the mariage of the saide Scrope certayn londe,
-havynge rewarde to the somme that the sayde Fauconer wil gyf, havyng
-rewarde to the afferrant of xl. pounde worthe land and v^c. mark of
-golde.
-
-Item, if that the sayde Fauconer wilnot gyf no somme of golde for the
-sayde mariage, the sayde Fastolf wyl take the mariage of the childe that
-ys eyre to the forsaide Sir Reynolde Cobham, and that the sayde Scrope
-forto conferme the estat hys moder has made to the saide Fastolf, yf so
-be that the consel of the saide Fastolf se by thaire avys that hit be
-for to do, and that the said mariage may be [as] moche worth to the said
-Fastolf as v^c. mark.
-
-Item, ze sende me be Raufm[an an] answare o[f] the letters that y sende
-yow, that I may have ve[ray] knolage how that hit standys with me ther
-in al maner of thynges, and that I [h]ave an answare of every article
-that y wrote to yow.
-
-Item, for as moche as that I am bonden for my Lord Scales[115.1] to my
-Lord Cardnale[115.2] in v^c. mark, the qu[ech] somme he kan not fynd no
-way to pay hit, on lese then that he sel a parcel of his land; quer fore
-he sendis ower a man of his called Pessemerche, with whom I wil that ze
-spek, and se be zore avis whech of the places of my said Lord Scales
-that standis most cler to be solde; and if the place that is beside
-W[a]lsyngham stand cler, I have hit lever then the tother; and therfore
-I pray [z]ow that ze make apointement with the said Pesemerche in the
-best wise that ze may, athir of the ton place or the tother, and or ze
-let take hit after xx. zere, havyn[g] rewarde to the verray val[u]
-therof, and as ze don send me worde be the next massager.
-
-Item, my Lord of Hungerford[116.1] has writen to me for to have the
-warde of Robert Monpyns[on]is sone, wher of I am agreed that he schal
-[have] hit like as I has wretyn to hym in a letter, of the whech I send
-zow a cope closed here in: wher fore I pray zow to enquere of the verray
-valu of the land that Monpynson haldis of me, and sendis me word in
-hast; for my said Lord Hungerford sais in his letter that hit is worth
-bot xl_s._ a zere aboufe the rentis, as ze may se the letter that he
-sent me, the q[uec]h I send zow be my son Scrope. And I pray zow to
-demene zow to my said Lord as eesely as ze may in this mater and al
-other that I have to do with hym, as ze may se be the cope aforesaid.
-And or (_sic_) have zow in his kepyng. Wretyn at Roan (?)[116.2] the
-last day of October.
-
-  J. FASTOLFE.
-
-  _Endorsed_ Appunctuamentum factum pro Stephano Scroope anno xxviijş
-  Regis H. vj. ad maritandum.
-
-    [Footnote 113.2: [From the Castlecombe MSS. in the B.M., Add.
-    MS. 28,212, No. 21.] According to the endorsement, this letter
-    should have been written in the year 1449; but the reader will
-    see by the footnotes that there are grounds for doubting the
-    accuracy of this date.]
-
-    [Footnote 114.1: The marriage of wards in those days used to be
-    sold to men of property, who would compel them to marry their
-    own sons or daughters, or whatever other persons suited them.
-    The only restriction to this right was, that the ward might, on
-    coming of age, have an action against his guardian in case of
-    _disparagement_, that is to say, if he was married beneath his
-    station.]
-
-    [Footnote 114.2: Sir Reginald Cobham of Sterborough, in Surrey,
-    who died in 1446. He was the father of the notorious Eleanor
-    Cobham, the mistress, and afterwards wife, of Humphrey, Duke of
-    Gloucester.--Brayley's _Hist. of Surrey_, iv. 159.]
-
-    [Footnote 114.3: Milicent, wife of Sir John Fastolf, is known to
-    have been alive in the 24th year of Henry VI. (1446). William
-    Worcester says the allowance for her chamber was paid until that
-    date; but as he says nothing more, it has been supposed she did
-    not live longer. Mr. Poulett Scrope also believes her to have
-    died in 1446, on the authority of a contemporary MS., which says
-    she and Fastolf lived together thirty-eight years.--_Hist.
-    Castlecombe_, 263.]
-
-    [Footnote 115.1: Thomas de Scales, 8th Lord.]
-
-    [Footnote 115.2: John Kemp, Archbishop of York, afterwards of
-    Canterbury; or, if this document be some years earlier, Cardinal
-    Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester.]
-
-    [Footnote 116.1: Walter, 1st Lord Hungerford, died in August
-    1449, and was succeeded in the title by his son Robert.]
-
-    [Footnote 116.2: The name is a little indistinct from the decay
-    of the paper, but the first and last letters are clear, and it
-    is scarcely possible to doubt that Rouen was the place here
-    intended. Yet if this be so, the letter must be much earlier
-    than the date assigned to it in the endorsement.]
-
-
-98
-
-RICHARD, EARL OF WARWICK, TO SIR THOMAS TODENHAM[117.1]
-
-_To owr ryght trusty and welbelovyd Frend, Ser Thomas Todenham._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / NOV. 2]
-
-Ryght trusty and welbelovyd frend, we grete you well, hertely desyryng
-to here of yowr welfare, which we pray God preserve to yowr herts desyr;
-and yf yt please yow to here of owr welfare, we wer in goud hale atte
-the makyng of this lettre, praying you hertely that ye wyll consider owr
-message, which owr Chapleyn Mayster Robert Hoppton shall enforme you of.
-For as God knowyth we have gret besynesse dayly, and has had here by for
-this tyme. Wherfor we pray you to consyder the purchas that we have made
-wyth one John Swyffhcotte, Squier of Lyncolnshyr, of lxxx. and viij_li._
-by yer, whereuppon we must pay the last payment the Moneday nexte after
-Seynt Martyn' day, which sum ys CCCC. and lviij_li._; wherfor we pray
-you wyth all owr herte that ye wyll lend us x_li._, or twenty, or whet
-the seyd Maister Robert wants of hys payment, as we may do for you in
-tym for to com; and we shall send yt you ageyn afor Newyers day wyth the
-grace of God, as we ar trew knyght. For there is nonne in your cuntre
-that we myght wryght to for trust so well as unto you; for, as we be
-enformyd, ye be owr well wyller, and so we pray you of goud
-contynuaunce.
-
-Wherfore we pray you that ye consyder our entent of this mony, as ye
-wyll that we do for you in tym to com, as God knowyth, who have you in
-hys kepyng.
-
-Wreten atte London, on All Salwyn [_All Souls'_] day, wyth inne owr
-loggyng in the Grey Freys [_Friars_] wyth inne Newgate.
-
-  RIC., ERLE WARWYKE.[117.2]
-
-    [Footnote 117.1: [From Fenn, i. 84.] Richard Nevill, Earl of
-    Warwick, afterwards famous as the 'King-maker,' succeeded to the
-    title in 1449, and this letter is not unlikely to have been
-    written in that very year. Certainly it is not many years later.
-    In 1449 and 1450 Warwick was probably in London to attend the
-    Parliament.]
-
-    [Footnote 117.2: 'The seal of this letter' says Fenn, 'is of red
-    wax, on which is the Bear and Ragged Staff, the badge of this
-    nobleman, with his motto,--the whole very fair and curious, and
-    around it is a braid of twine.']
-
-
-99
-
-ABSTRACT[118.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / DEC. 11]
-
-Copy of a Grant from the Crown to John Bray for services against the
-King's enemies. Caen, 11th December 14[4]9, 28 Henry VI.
-
-  [This document is very mutilated and decayed. It is written in
-  French, the spelling of which is very peculiar, and is probably a
-  bad copy by some one who did not know the language.]
-
-    [Footnote 118.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-100
-
-WILLIAM TAILBOYS TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[118.2]
-
-_To my right honorabull and right wurshipful Lord, my Lord Viscont
-Beaument._
-
-[Sidenote: Before 1450]
-
-Right honorabull and my right wurshipfull Lord, I recomaund me unto your
-gode Lordship with all my service, evermore desireng to here of your
-prosperitie and welfare, the which I pray God encres and contynue to his
-plesur, and after your oone herts desire; thankyng you of the gode
-Lordship that ye have shewed me at all tymes, beseching you alway of
-gode contynuance.
-
-Plesid your gode Lordship to be remembred how afore this tyme Hugh
-Wythom hath said he wold be in rest and peese with me, and not to
-maligne agayn me otherwise than lawe and right wold; that
-notwithstandyng, upon Munday last past, he and iij. men with him come
-unto a servaunt hous of myn in Boston, cald William Shirref, and there,
-as he sete at his werke, stroke him upon the hede and in the body with a
-dagger, and wondet him sore, and pulled him out of his hous, and set him
-in prison without any cause resonabull, or without writ, or any other
-processe shewid unto him; and that me semes longs not for him to do, bot
-as he says he is endited, and as your gode Lordship knawes wele, I and
-all my servaunts are in like wise; bot and any man shuld have done hit,
-it longs either to the shirref or to your baliff as I conceyve, and
-other cause he had non to him as fer as I kan knawe, bot awnly for the
-malissiousness that he hath unto me, ne I kan think non other bot it is
-so. And now yistre nyght my Lord Welles[119.1] come to Boston with
-iiij^xx [_four score_] horses, and in the mornyng foloyng toke hym out
-of prison, saying afore all peepll, 'Fals thefe, you shall be hanged,
-and as mony of thy maistre men as may be goten' --as your servaunt John
-Abbot kan report unto your gode Lordship,--and hath taken him away with
-him to Tatessall, what to do with him I kan not say, bot as I suppose to
-have him to Lincoln Castell: wherfor I besech your gode Lordship in this
-matier to be my gode Lord, and it please your gode Lordship to write a
-letter to the kepere of the Castell of Lincoln, that it liked him to
-deliver him out of prison undre a sufficient seurety had for him, for
-and thai may kepe him still be this meyne, thai may take all the
-servaunts that I have, and so I may do agayn in like wise.
-
-And also, as I am enformed, without he be had out of prison in hast,
-it will be right gravewis to him to heile of his hurt, he is so sore
-streken; and if there be any service that your gode Lordship will
-comaund me to do in any cuntre, plesid you to send me word, and it shal
-be done to my power with the grace of God, which have you, my right
-honorabull and wurshipfull Lord, alway in his blessid kepyng. Writen at
-Kyme,[119.2] upon Wednesday next after our Ladi day the
-Assumpcion.[119.3]
-
-Also plesid your gode lordship to wit, after this letter was made, there
-come a man fro Tatessall into my fenne, which owght me gode will, and be
-cause he wold not be holden suspect, he speke with wemen which were
-mylkand kyne, and bad theme goo to a preest of myn to Dokdike, and bid
-him fast goo gif me warnyng how that my Lord Wilughby,[120.1] my Lord
-Cromwell,[120.2] and my Lord Welles[120.3] proposid theme to set a
-sessions, and hang the said William Shirref, and thai myght bryng ther
-entent abowte; and so, as I and your servaunt John Abbot stode to geder,
-the prest come and gaf me warnyng herof, which I trust for my worship
-your gode Lordship wold not shuld happen, for it wer to me the grettest
-shame that myght falle; bot and it plese your gode Lordship to write to
-all your servaunts in this cuntre, that thai will be redy upon a day
-warnyng to come when I send theme word, I trust to God thai shal not
-hang him agayn the lawe, bot I, with help of your gode Lordship, shall
-be abull to let hit.
-
-  By your Servaunt,
-
-  WILLIAM TAILBOYS.[120.4]
-
-    [Footnote 118.2: [From Fenn, iii. 282.] This letter is dated by
-    Fenn between 1455 and 1460, but cannot be later than the former
-    of these years, as Lord Cromwell died in the beginning of 1456.
-    It seems, further, beyond a doubt that the Lord Willoughby,
-    mentioned along with him, was Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby,
-    who was connected by marriage both with Lord Cromwell and with
-    Lord Welles; and if so the date cannot be later than 1451, as
-    this Lord Willoughby died in July 1452. Indeed, I have very
-    little doubt it is before 1450, as both Tailboys and Beaumont
-    were of the Duke of Suffolk's party, and it is not likely that
-    the former would have ventured to complain of his powerful
-    neighbours, Lords Willoughby, Cromwell, and Welles after the
-    Duke's fall, especially as we know that in the beginning of 1450
-    he was in prison for an attempt to murder Lord Cromwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 119.1: Leo, Lord Welles.]
-
-    [Footnote 119.2: In Lincolnshire, between Tattershall and
-    Sleaford.]
-
-    [Footnote 119.3: 15th August.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.1: Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby, who married
-    Maud Stephen, a niece of Lord Cromwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.2: Ralph, Lord Cromwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.3: Leo, Lord Welles, whose son Richard married
-    Joan, a daughter of Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.4: William, afterwards Sir William, Tailboys of
-    South Kyme, in Lincolnshire, who was attainted under Edward IV.
-    as an adherent of the House of Lancaster. His family was
-    afterwards ennobled as Barons Talboys. He is most unfavourably
-    mentioned in the impeachment of the Duke of Suffolk, of whom he
-    appears to have been a great adherent, and is accused of having
-    made an attempt to murder Lord Cromwell in the Star Chamber at
-    Westminster, on the 28th November 1449.--See _Rolls of
-    Parliament_, v. 181-200.]
-
-
-101
-
-IMPEACHMENT OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK[120.5]
-
-_To the King oure Soverayn Lord._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / FEB. 7]
-
-Sheweth and piteuously compleyneth youre humble trewe obeisantes Comunes
-of this youre nobile reaume, in this youre present Parlement, by your
-high autorite assembled for the seurte of your moste high and royall
-persone, and the welfar of this your nobile reaume, and of your trewe
-liege peple of the same, that William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, late
-of Ewelme, in the counte of Oxenford, falsly and treyterously hath
-ymagined, compassed, purposid, forethought, done, and commytted divers
-high, grete, heynous, and horrible treasons ayenst your most roiale
-persone, youre corones of your raumes of England and Fraunce, your
-duchiee of Guyan and Normandie, and youre holde enheritaunce of your
-countee of Anjoye and Mayne, the estate and dignite of the same, and the
-universall wele and prosperite of all your trewe subgettes of raumes,
-[duchies] and counte in maner and in forme ensewyng.
-
-First, the seid Duke the xxti day of Juyll the xxv. yere[121.1] of youre
-blissid regne, in youre citee of London, in the parich of Sepulcr, in
-the ward of Faringdon infra, ymagynyng and purposing falsly and
-treyterously to distroy your moste roiall persone, and this your seid
-realme, thenne and ther trayterously excited, councelled, provoked,
-and comforted the Erle of Donas[121.2] [bastard][121.3] of Orliaunce,
-Bertrande, Lord Pressigny, Maister William Cusinet,[121.4] enemys to you
-Soverayne Lord, and other your enemeys, subgettes and ambassiators to
-Charles,[121.5] calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grettys
-adversarie and enemey, to meve, councell, ster, and provoke the same
-Charles to come in to this your realme, to leve, reise, and make open
-werr ayenst you, Soverayne Lord, and alle this your reaume with a grete
-puissaunce and arme to distroy your most roiall persone, and your trewe
-subgettes of the same realme, to the entente to make John, sone of the
-same Duke, [King] of this your seid realme, and to depose you of your
-heigh regalie therof; the same Duke of Suffolk havyng thenne of your
-graunte the ward and mariage of Margarete, doughter and heire to John,
-the late Duke of Somerset, purposing here to marey to heis said sonne,
-presuming and pretendyng her to be nexte enheritable to the Corone of
-this your realme, for lak of issue of you Soverayn Lord, in
-accomplishement of heis seid traytours purpose and entent, wheroppon the
-same Duke of Suffolk, sith the tyme of heis areste, hath do the seid
-Margarete to be maried to heis seid sonne.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being most trostid with you, and prevyest
-of your councell of fullong tyme, prepensing that your seid grete
-enemeye and adversarie Charles schuld conquerr and gete be power and
-myght your seid realme of Fraunce, duchies, and countee, the xx^ti day
-of January the xvij. yer[122.1] of your regne, at Westminster, in the
-shir of Middlesex, and divers othir tymes and places within your seid
-realme of Engeland, falsly, trayterously, by sotel menes and
-ymaginacyons, for grete corrupcion of good, taking of money, and other
-excessyf promises to him made by Charles, Duke of Orliaunce,[122.2] your
-enemye, councelled and stered of hym selfe only, your heighnesse to
-enlarge and deliver out of prison the same Duke of Orliaunce, enemye to
-you Soveren Lord, and to the most victorious noble prince of blyssid
-memory, the king youre fadir, whom God assoile! takyn be hem prisonere,
-to th'entent that the seid Charles, calling hym self king of Fraunce,
-schuld recover, gete, and have be false conqueste, and other desayvabile
-menes ayenst you, your heirz and successors, your seid realme of
-Fraunce, duches and counte, be the wyle, subtill councell, might, and
-ayde of the seid Duke of Orliaunce.
-
-Notwithstanding that be the late wylle and ordinaunce of your seid
-fadir, for divers thingis moveyng his grete wysdome, contrary ther of
-was avysed and declared, by wiche councell and stering only of the seid
-Duke of Suffolk the seid Duke of Orliaunce was soverd [_suffered_] at
-his liberte to departe of this youre realme to the partee of Fraunce.
-
-Afore wich departer the first day of May the seid xvij. yerr[122.1] of
-your regne, at London, in the parich of Sent Martyne, in the ward of
-Farindon infra, the same Duke of Suffolk, trayterously adherent to the
-seid Charles, calling hym selfe kyng of Fraunce, then and ther falsly
-and trayterously counseiled, coumforted, stered, and provoked the seid
-Duke of Orlyaunce to excite and moeve the same Charles, calling hym
-selfe kyng of Fraunce, your grete enemeye and adversarie, to make and
-reyse open werr ayenst you in your seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of
-Normandy, to conquer, and to opteyn falsly be force, myght, and other
-menes ayenst you, your heiriz and successours, your seid realme of
-Fraunce and duche of Normandy, Uppon wich adherence, councell, and
-counfort of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Charles calling hym selfe
-kyng, hath made open werr a yenst you in your seid realme of Fraunce,
-and hath it attrochid unto hym, and the most party of your duchie of
-Normandy, and takyn prisonyrs the ful nobile Lordys and coragyouse
-Knytys, the Erle of Schrouesbery[123.1] and the Lord Faconberge,[123.2]
-with many othir nobles and people of your trewe leiges, to ther likly
-fynall ondoing, your gretest disheritaunce, and oure grete lamentable
-losse that ever comen a fore this to you, or ony of your ful noble
-progenitors, or to your trewe subgettes.
-
-Item, wher the seid Duke of Suffolk late was on of your ambassitours
-with othir to youre seid adversarie Charles, calling hem self kyng of
-Fraunce, he, above heis instruccion and power to hym be you committyng,
-promised to Reyner,[123.3] King of Cesile, and Charles Daungers,[123.4]
-heis brothir, your grete enemeys, the deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne,
-without the assent andvyse or knowyng of other your seid ambassitours
-with him thenne accompanyd; and theroppon after heis comyng in to this
-realme from the same ambassiate, in performing of heis seid promyse, he
-falsly and trayterously, for grette rewardes and lucre of good to hym
-yeven by your enemes, caused the said Reyner and Charles Daungers to
-have deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne aforeseid, to your over grete
-disheritaunce and loss irreparable, enforsing and enrychyng of your seid
-enemes, and grettest mene of the losse of your seid duche of Normandye;
-and so was the seid Duke of Suffolk falsly and trayterously adherent,
-aidant, and confortant to your grete enemeys and adversaries.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being reteyned with you in your wages of
-werr in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandye, and therby
-strostid be you and alle your councellers to knowe the privite of your
-councell ther, and the purviaunce of your armes, the defence and keping
-of your townes, forteresses, and places, sieges, purveaunce, and
-ordinaunce of werr in the same parties for you to be mad, knowyng all
-[such] privite, and being adherent to your seid grete enemeye, calling
-hem self kyng of Fraunce, hath eften and many divers tymes falsly and
-trayterously discoverd and openned to hym, and to heis capytaynes and
-conductors of heis werr, your enemes, the privite, ordinaunce, and
-provision of your seid councell, purveaunces of armes, defence keping,
-townes, forteresses, places, syeges, and ordinaunce, werby your grete
-adversarie and enemeys have geton and takyn, be the menes of this is
-treason and falshode, ful many lordchepes, townnes, casteles, fortesses,
-and places within your seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie,
-and letted your capitaynes of your werres to conquer, keppe, and acheve
-your rithfull enheritaunce ther.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk beyng of your grete Privey Councell, and
-with you best trostid, knowyng the secrenesse therof and of this your
-realme, the xvj. day of Juyll the xxv^ti yerr[124.1] of your regne,
-at London, in the parich of Sent Laueraunce Pulteney, in the ward of
-Sandewyke [_Candewyke_] Strette, and at othir divers tymes and places,
-falsly and trayterously beyng adherent and aidant to the seid Charles,
-calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grete enemeys, the seid xvj.
-day, and in the parich of Sent Laurence aforeseid, openned, declarid,
-and discovered to the seid Erle of Danas, Bastard of Orlyaunce,
-Bertrand, Lord Presigni, Maister William Cosinet, your enemeys,
-subgettes, ambassiatours and conncellours to the seid Charles, calling
-hem self king of Fraunce, the privitees of your councell, aswell of this
-your realme for the comyn wele of the same, as for the governauns and
-ordinaunce for the conquest, conservacion, saufgard, tuycyon of your
-seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandy; [whereby the great part
-of your said realm of France and duchy of Normandy][125.1] at that tyme
-being in your in handys, as [_should be_, is] be the seid Charles,
-calling hem selfe kyng of Fraunce, and [his] armes goton and takyn out
-of your handes.
-
-Item, suth the matier first moeved of the convencyon of trewes and pees
-by twenne you and your seid grette enemeye Charlys, callyng hem selfe
-kyng of Fraunche, wheroppon by grete diberacyon ye, by the advyse of
-your Councell, have send many solempne ambassatours to the same Charles
-for the god of pees to be hadde be twyn you and this your realme, and
-your subjettes in your realme of Fraunche, duchie of Normandye, and
-othir places under your obeysauns, and the same Charles and heis
-subgettes, the seid Duke of Suffolk being next and grettest of your
-Councell, havyng knowlach of the power and auctorite comytted to alle
-your ambassiatours send in this be half, hath deseyvabely and
-trayterously by heis lettres and messages discovered and opened to your
-seid grete enemeye Charlys, calling hym self kyng of Fraunce, alle
-ynstrucciouns and informaciouns yeven to your seid ambassatours afore
-their comyng in to Fraunce, werby the effectuale concord and trewes that
-schuld have folowed of suche ambassiat by tywnne both the seid realmes
-and subgettes, have take non effectualle conclusyon, but by his fals,
-fraudelent, traiterous werkes, dedes, and deceyvable yma gynacyons, your
-grete enheritaunce, seygnyouries, lordshippis, townes, castell,
-forteresses, and possessions in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie
-of Normandye, by cause of heis false messages, sendyngs, and wrytyngys
-have be takyn by reft, and gotten fro you be your seid enemeys.
-
-In proof of the wich treson the seid Duke of Suffolk, sittyng in your
-Councell in the Stere Chambre, in your pales of Westminster, seid and
-declarid openly be for the Lordis of your Councell ther being, that he
-had his place in the Councell hows of the French kyng as he had ther,
-and was ther as wel strostid as he was here, and couth remeve from the
-seid French kynge the prevyest man of heis Councell yf he wold.
-
-Item, whan in this your roialme ful oftyn tymes provicyon hath be mad
-for divers armes to be sent in to your seid realme of Fraunche, duches
-of Normandy and Gyand, the seid Duke of Suffolk, by the instaunce and
-meenes mad to hym be your seid enemeys and adversareys for grette
-outeragyous yeftes and rewardes of them takyn, trayterously hath
-restrayned, and utterly lettyd the passage of such armees in favour and
-supporte of your seid enemeys.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk, as your ambassatours by twene you and
-Charles, callyng hym self kyng of Fraunche, in fortefyeng of hem and
-enchresing of his myght, hath not comprised in trewes, taken in your
-party the Kyng of Arregon,[126.1] your old allye and frend, nother the
-Duke of Breten,[126.2] but sufferd and causid the seid Duke of Bretayne
-to be compremysid of the party of the seid Charles as his subget,
-frende, and allye, wherby ye have ben estraunged from the god loffe and
-assistence of the seid King of Arregon, and therby and be othir on trewe
-and falce conjectours of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Duke of
-Breteyn is become your enemeye; and Gyles[126.3] of Breten, his brothir,
-the wiche is, and of long tyme hath ben, your trewe and welvylled man
-and servaunt, put in gret dures of pricon, and likely to be potte to the
-dethe or distroid for his trewe feith and welle that he hath to you.
-
-And of alle tresons and offensys in alle theis seid arteculys specyfied
-and conteyned, we your seid Comens accuse and empeche the seid William
-de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and pray that this be enacte in this your
-High Courte of Parlement, and theroppon to precede in this your High
-Courte of Parlement, as the mater and caas aforseid requireth for the
-surete and welfar of your most roiale person, and savacyon of this your
-realme, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 120.5: [From Fenn, iii. 62.] These are the articles of
-    impeachment exhibited against the Duke of Suffolk, as printed by
-    Fenn from a contemporaneous copy among the Paston MSS., endorsed
-    'Coumpleyntys ayens the Dewke of Suffolk.' Another copy will be
-    found in the _Rolls of Parliament_, v. 177. The day of the
-    Duke's impeachment was the 7th February 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.1: A.D. 1447.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.2: John, Count of Dunois, one of the most renowned
-    warriors of the times. He was a grandson of Charles V. of
-    France, a natural son of Louis, Duke of Orleans, and
-    half-brother of Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was prisoner in
-    England.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.3: Blank in Fenn.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.4: Cousinot.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.5: Charles VII.]
-
-    [Footnote 122.1: A.D. 1439.]
-
-    [Footnote 122.2: Charles, Duke of Orleans. --_See_ p. 46, Note
-    3.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.1: John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, the
-    great hero of the French wars, slain at Castillon in 1453.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.2: William Nevill, Lord Fauconberg.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.3: René, Duke of Anjou, father of Queen Margaret.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.4: Charles of Anjou, Count of Maine.]
-
-    [Footnote 124.1: A.D. 1447.]
-
-    [Footnote 125.1: These words are omitted in Fenn, and are
-    supplied from the _Rolls of Parliament_.]
-
-    [Footnote 126.1: Alfonso V., King of Arragon.]
-
-    [Footnote 126.2: Francis I., Duke of Brittany.]
-
-    [Footnote 126.3: Giles of Brittany, the duke's brother, who was
-    murdered in April 1450, after having been kept four years in
-    prison by the duke.]
-
-  [[your duchiee of Guyan and Normandie ... your countee of Anjoye
-  and Mayne  _text unchanged (correct if "Guyenne and Normandy" and
-  "Anjou and Maine" were each a single unit)_]]
-
-
-102
-
-JOHN PASTON'S PETITION[127.1]
-
-_To the Kyng, oure Soverayn Lord, and to the right wyse and discrete
-Lordis, assemblyd in this present Parlement._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-Besechith mekly your homble liege man, John Paston, that where he, and
-oder enfeffed to his use, have be pecybily poscessyd of the maner of
-Gresham, within the counte of Norffolk, xx. yere and more, til the xvij.
-day of Februarij, the yere of your nobill regne xxvi.,[127.2] that
-Robert Hungerford, Knyght, the Lord Molyns, entred in to the seyd maner;
-and how be it that the seyd John Paston, after the seid entre, sued to
-the seid Lord Molyns and his councell, in the most louly maner that he
-cowde, dayly fro tyme of the seid entre on to the fest of Mihelmes than
-next folwyng, duryng which tyme divers communicasyons were had betwix
-the councell of the seid Lord and the councell of your besecher. And for
-asmych as in the seid communicasions no titill of right at any tyme was
-shewed for the seid Lord but that was fully and clerly answeryd, so that
-the seid Lords councell remitted your seid besecher to sewe to the seid
-Lord for his finall and rightfull answer. And after sute mad to the seid
-Lord be your seid besecher, as well at Salysbery as in other places to
-his gret coust, and non answer had but delays, which causyd your seid
-besecher the vj. day of Octobre last past to inhabite hym in a mansion
-with in the seid town, kepyng stille there his poscession, on tille the
-xxviij. day of Januarij last past, the seid Lord sent to the seid
-mansion a riotous peple, to the nombre of a thowsand persones, with
-blanket bendes[128.1] of a sute as riseres ageyn your pees, arrayd in
-maner of werre, with curesse, brigaunders, jakks, salettes, gleyfes,
-bowes, arows, pavyse,[128.2] gonnes, pannys with fier and teynes
-brennyng therein, long cromes[128.3] to drawe doun howsis, ladders,
-pikoys, with which thei myned down the walles, and long trees with which
-thei broke up yates and dores, and so came in to the seid mansion, the
-wiff of your besecher at that tyme beyng ther in, and xij. persones with
-her; the which persones thei dreve oute of the seide mansion, and myned
-down the walle of the chambre wher in the wiff of your seid besecher
-was, and bare here oute at the yates, and cutte a sondre the postes of
-the howses and lete them falle, and broke up all the chambres and
-coferes within the seid mansion, and rifelyd, and in maner of robery
-bare awey all the stuffe, aray, and money that your seyd besecher and
-his servauntes had ther, on to the valew of cc_li._ [£200], and part
-therof sold, and part ther of yaffe, and the remenaunt thei departed
-among them, to the grete and outrageous hurt of your seid besecher,
-sayng openly, that if thei myght have found ther yowr seid besecher and
-on John Damme,[128.4] which is of councell with hym, and divers oder of
-the servauntes of your seid besecher, thei shuld have died. And yet
-divers of the seid mysdoeres and ryotous peple onknowyn, contrary to
-your lawes, dayly kepe the seid maner with force, and lyne [_i.e._ lien,
-lie] in wayte of divers of the frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes of
-your seid besecher, and grevously vexe and trobill hem in divers wise,
-and seke hem in her howsis, ransakyng and serchyng her shevys and strawe
-in her bernes and other places with bore speris, swerdis, and
-gesernys,[128.5] as it semyth, to sle hem if thei myght have found hem;
-and summe have bete and left for ded, so that thei, for doute of here
-lyves, dare not go home to here houses, ner occupy here husbondry, to
-the gret hurte, fere, and drede, aswele of your seid besechere as of his
-seid frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes. And also, thei compelle pore
-tenauntes of the seid maner, now within ther daunger, ageyn ther wille,
-to take feyned pleyntes in the courtes of the hundred ther ageyn the
-seid frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid besecher, whiche
-dare not apere to answere for fere of bodily harme, ne can gete no
-copiis of the seid pleyntes to remedi them be the lawe, because he that
-kepyth the seid courtis is of covyn with the seid misdoers, and was on
-of the seid ryseres, which be coloure of the seid pleyntes grevously
-amercy the seid frendes, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid
-besecher, to the[ir] outrageous and importabille hurte.
-
-Please it your hynesse, consideryng that if this gret insurreccyon,
-ryottis, and wrongis, and dayly continuans ther of so heynosly don a
-geyn your crowne, dignite and peas, shuld not be your hye myght be duly
-punysshed, it shall gefe grett boldnesse to them, and alle other
-mysdoers to make congregacyons and conventicles riottously, on abille to
-be seysed, to the subversyon and finall distruccyon of your liege peple
-and lawes: And also, how that your seid besecher is not abille to sue
-the commone lawe in redressyng of this heynos wrong, for the gret myght
-and alyaunce of the seid Lord: And also, that your seid besecher canne
-have non accyon be your lawe ageyn the seid riotous peple for the godis
-and catellis be hem so riottously and wrongfully take and bore awey,
-because the seid peple be onknowe, aswelle here names as here persones,
-on to hym;--To purvey, be the avyse of the Lordis spirituall and
-temporall assembled in this present Parlement, that your seid besechere
-may be restoryd to the seid godis and catellis thus riottously take
-away; and that the seid Lord Molyns have suche comaundment that your
-seid besecher be not thus with force, in maner of werre, hold oute of
-his seide maner, contrary to alle your statutes mad ageyn suych
-forcibille entrees and holdyngs; and that the seid Lord Molyns and his
-servauntes be sette in suche a rewle, that your seid besechere, his
-frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes, may be sure and saffe from hurt of
-here persones, and pesibly ocupy here londs and tenements under your
-lawes with oute oppressyoun or onrightfull vexasioun of any of hem; and
-that the seid riseres and causeres therof may be punysshed, that other
-may eschewe to make any suche rysyng in this your lond of peas in tyme
-comyng. And he shalle pray to God for yowe.
-
-    [Footnote 127.1: [Add. Charter 17,240, B.M.] The date of this
-    petition must be during the sitting of Parliament, in the
-    beginning of the year 1450. The first expulsion of John Paston
-    from Gresham is here clearly dated in February 1448. The
-    'October last' in which he re-entered might, so far as appears
-    in this petition, have been in the same year, but the letters
-    referring to this dispute in 1449 compel us to put it a
-    twelvemonth later.]
-
-    [Footnote 127.2: A.D. 1448.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.1: Bands of white woollen cloth?]
-
-    [Footnote 128.2: Pavises were large shields.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.3: Crome is a Norfolk word, signifying a staff
-    with a crook at the end of it.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.4: This person was returned to Parliament for
-    Norwich in October 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.5: Battle-axes.]
-
-
-103
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[130.1]
-
-_To my rytz wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyvered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / FEB. 21]
-
-Ryt wurchipful hosband, I recommawnd me to zu, desyryng hertyly to heryn
-of zour wele fare, preying zu to weten that I commawndyd Herry Goneld to
-gon to Gunnore to have copys of the pleyntes in the hundrede, and
-Gunnore was not at home; but the seyd Herry spake with his clerk, and he
-told hym pleynly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late hym have no
-copys, thow he wor at home, tyl the nexst hundred; qher for I send zou
-that byl that was wownd abowt the relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng
-wold adysavowyd here swtes rytz fayn the last hundred, as I herd sayn of
-rytz thryfty men; but the Lord Moleynys men thrett hem that bothe they
-xuld ben betyn and lesen here hows and lond and alle here goods, but if
-[_unless_] they wold avow it; and after that Osborn was gon,
-Hasard[130.2] intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow the swtys after that they
-hadde disavowyd itt, and zave hem mony to zef to the clerkes to entren
-azen the pleyntes. But if[130.3] ze seke a remedy in hast for to remeve
-itt, I soppose they wyl distreyn for the mersymentes er the nexst
-hundred.
-
-As for Mak, he gate respyt that he xuld not sew tyl the nexst hundred.
-As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd zysterday for rent and ferm, and
-he must pay it to morue, xxij_s._, or elles lesyn his dystresse. They
-gadder mony fast of all the tenawntes. All the tenawntes ben chargyd to
-pay al her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday.[131.1] It ys told me that
-the Lord Moleynys xuld kepe his Fastyngong att Jon Wynters plase.
-
-The seid Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday last past; qhat tydyngs
-they hadde I wote nott; but on the nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas
-Bampton, a man of the Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and
-they that ben at Gressam waytyn after an answer of the letter in hast.
-Barow, and Hegon, and all the Lord Moleynys men that wer at Gressam qhan
-ze departyd hens bene there styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom
-another; and I here sey thei xul abyd here styll tyl her lord kom
-. . . .[131.2] to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt the cawse was
-that thei thrett men . . . .[131.2] Goneld and other of zour servawnts
-and wele willers to zow, the qheche wer namyd to hym that were
-thrett. . . . .[131.2] [s]wore pleynly that they were never thrett; but
-I know veryly the contrary, for of his owyn felaschep lay[d] in awayt
-sondery dayis and nytis abowt Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and
-som of them zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys [ho]usys, bothen in the hallys
-and the bernys, and askyd qher thei were, and thei were answeryd that
-they were owth; and thei seydyn azen that they xuld meten with hem
-another tyme. And be dyvers other thyngs I know, if thei mytz aben kawt,
-other [_either_] they xuld aben slayn or sor hurt.
-
-I sent Kateryn on this forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it,
-and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt; and sche desyryd of Barow
-to have an answer of her masage, and if these forseyd men mytz levyn in
-pese for hem, and seyd ther xuld elles ben purveyd other remedy for hem.
-And he made her grett chere, and hem that wer ther with her, and seyd
-that he desyryd for to spekyn with me, if it xuld ben non displesans to
-me; and Kateryn seyd to hym that sche supposyd that I desyryd not to
-speken with hym. And he seyd he xuld com forby this plase on huntyng
-after non, and ther xuld no mor com with hym but Hegon and on of his
-owyn men; and than he wold bryng seche an answere as xuld plese me. And
-after none they come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if thei mytz
-speken with me, and praying that thei mytz speken with me, and they
-abedyn styl with owtz the zatys; and I kam owth to hem, and spak with
-hem with owt, and prayid hem that thei wold hold me exkusyd that I
-browth hem not in to the plase. I seyd in as meche as thei wer nott wele
-wyllyng to the gode man of the plase, I wold not take it up on me to
-bryng hem in to the jantylwoman. They seyd I dede the best, and than we
-welk forthe, and desyryd an answer of hem for that I hadde sent to hem
-for. Thei sayd to me thei had browtz me seche an answer as thei hopyd
-xuld plese me, and told me how thei had comownd with all her felaschep
-of soche materis as I had sent to hem fore, and that thei durst under
-take that ther xud no man ben hurt of hem thatt wer rehersyd, ner no man
-that longeth to zu, nother for hem ner non of her felaschep, and that
-they answeryd me be her trowthis. Never lese I trest not to her promese,
-in as meche as I fend hem ontrew in other thyngs.
-
-I conseyvyd wele be hem that they wer wery of that thei haden don. Barow
-swor to me be his trowth that he had lever than xl_s._, and xl. that his
-lord had not comawndyd hym to com to Gressam; and he seyd he was rytz
-sory hidderward, in as meche as he had knowleche of zw before, he was
-rytz sory of that that was don. I seyd to hym that he xuld have
-compascion on zu and other that wer disseysyd of her lyvelode, in as
-meche as he had ben dissesyd hym self; and he seyd he was so, and told
-me that he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and wold don
-tyl he may gete his gode azen. I seyd to hym that ze had sewyd to my
-Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for the maner of Gressam syth ze wer
-dissesyd, and ze cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of hym; and ther
-fore ze entred azen, as ye hopid that was for the best. And he seyd he
-xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for the entre in his lyvelode, for
-he seyd my seyd lord was sett ther up on be the informacion of a fals
-schrew; and I seyd to hym in lyke wyse is the matier be twyx the Lord
-Moleynys and zu. I told hym I wost wele he sett never ther upon be no
-tytyl of rytz that he hadde to the maner of Gressam, but only be the
-informacion of a fals schrew.[133.1] I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be
-hem that thei wost ho I ment. Meche other langage we hadde, qhyche xuld
-taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem that it xuld abe seyd
-thatt I xuld not longe dwell so ner hem as I dewe and they for swer it,
-as thei do other thyngs more that it was never seyd, and meche thyngs
-that I know veryly was seyd.
-
-I here seyn that ze and Jon of Damme ben sore thrett alway, and seyn
-thow ze ben at London, ze xul ben met with ther as wele as thow ze were
-her; and ther for I pray zu hertyly be ware how ze walk ther, and have a
-gode felaschep with zu qhan ze xul walk owt. The Lord Moleynys hathe a
-cumpany of brothell with hym that rekk not qhat they don, and seche ar
-most for to drede. Thei that ben at Gressam seyn that they have not don
-so moche hurte to zu as thei were commawndyd to don. Rabert Lauerawns is
-wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He seyth pleynly he wyl compleyn
-of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he hath cause. Bek
-and Purry dare not abyd att hom tyl thei here other tydyngs. I wold not
-Jon of Damme xuld com hom tyl the cuntre be storyd otherwyse than it is.
-I pray Godde grawnt that it mot sone ben otherwyse than it is. I pray zu
-hertyly that ze wil send me word how ze don, and how ze spede in zour
-materis, for be my trowth I kan not ben wel att ese in my hert, ner not
-xal ben tyl I here tydynges how ze don. The most part of zour stuff that
-was at Gressam is sold, and zovyn away. Barow and his felaw spak to me
-in the most plesawnt wyse, and me semyth be hem thei wold fayn plese me.
-Thei seyd thei wold do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres
-to don owth for me, save only in that that longeth to her lordes rytz.
-I seyd to hem, as for seche servys as they had do to zw and to me,
-I desyr no mor that thei xuld do nother to zw ner to me. Thei seyd I myt
-an had of them att Gressham qhat I hadde desyryd of hem, and had as
-moche as I desyryd. I seyd, nay; if I mytz an had my desyr, I xuld
-nother a departid owth of the place, ner from the stuff that was ther
-in. Thei seyd, as for the stuff it was but esy. I seyd ze wold not a
-zoven the stuff that was in the place qhan thei com in, not for C_li._
-Thei seyd the stuff that thei sey [saw] ther was skars worth xx_li._ As
-for zour moder and myn, sche faryth wel, blissid be God, and she had no
-tydynges but gode zett, blissid be God. The blissyd Trynyte have zou in
-his kepyng, and send zou hele, and gode spede in al your maters. Wretyn
-at Sustede,[134.1] on the Satyrday next after Seynt Valentynys day.
-
-Here dare no man seyn a gode wurd for zu in this cuntre, Godde amend it.
-
-  Yowres,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 130.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From an allusion in
-    the latter part of this letter, it is evident that it was
-    written in 1450, after Margaret had been driven out of Gresham,
-    as mentioned in John Paston's petition, No. 102 preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 130.2: William Hasard. --_See_ Letter No. 88.]
-
-    [Footnote 130.3: But if, _i.e._ unless.]
-
-    [Footnote 131.1: Fastyngong was a popular name for Shrovetide.
-    Fastingong Sunday I believe to have been the Sunday _after_
-    Shrove Tuesday, which would be the 22nd of February in 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 131.2: Mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 133.1: John Heydon, Esq. of Baconsthorpe, appears to
-    have been the person referred to. --_See_ No. 135 following.]
-
-    [Footnote 134.1: Sustead was John Damme's place (_see_
-    Blomefield, viii. 168). It is in the immediate neighbourhood of
-    Gresham.]
-
-
-104
-
-ABSTRACT[134.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, CLERK, WILLIAM COLE, AND WATKYN
-SHIPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MARCH 7]
-
-The beginning of this letter, which is more than half lost by
-mutilation, speaks of 'a bill in the Parliament of the extortions done
-[to me]' from the 17th year [of Henry VI.] hitherto. The rest seems to
-be partly memoranda of things to be entered in this 'bill,' viz. of
-sheep distrained at Drayton, of a matter of trespass between Lady
-Bardolf and Fastolf, of 'Chevers mater in Blyclyng,' of an unpaid
-annuity at Hiklyng, of decays at Tichewell, etc. They are to learn from
-Nich. Bokkyng, to whom the £100 for Busshop was paid. Thinks two men
-should occupy Castre and Wynterton which Broun holds alone. It is too
-much for one to occupy well; 'and in the same wise at Heylesden and
-Drayton.' Let me know what Lampet has done in my matter, and if you find
-him friendly. Both my ships have arrived in safety, thank God.
-
-London, 7 March 28 Henry VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 134.2: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 225.]]
-
-
-105
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[135.1]
-
-_To John Paston, dwellyn in the Inder In of the Tempyll, att London,
-be thys letter delyverd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MARCH 11]
-
-Son, I grete yow, and send yow Godds blyssyng, and myn; and as for my
-doughtyr your wyfe, che faryt well, blyssyd be God, as a woman in hyr
-plyte may do, and all your sonys and doughtrys.
-
-And for as meche as ye will send me no tydyngs, I send yow seche as ben
-in thys contre. Rychard Lynsted cam thys day fro Paston, and letyt me
-wete that on Saturday last past Dravale, halfe brother to Waryn Harman,
-was takyn with enemyis, walkyn be the se syde, and have hym forthe with
-hem; and they tokyn ij. pylgremys, a man and a woman, and they robbyd
-the woman, and lete hyr gon, and ledde the man to the see, and whan they
-knew he was a pylgreme, they geffe hym monei, and sett hym ageyn on the
-lond. And they have thys weke takyn iiij. vesselys of [_i.e._ off]
-Wyntyrton; and Happysborough and Ecles men ben sore aferd for takyn of
-mo [_i.e._ more (?)], for ther ben x. grete vesselys of the enemyis; God
-yeue grace that the see may be better kepte than it is now, or ellys it
-chall ben a perlyous dwellyng be the se cost.
-
-I pray yow grete well your brethyrne, and sey hem that I send hem Goddis
-blyssyn and myn; and sey William that if Jenett Lauton be not payd for
-the krymson cort wheche Alson Crane wrote to hyr for in hyr owyn name,
-that than he pay hyr, and see Alson Cranys name strekyn owt of hyr boke,
-for che seithe che wyll aske no man the money butt Alson Crane. And I
-pray yow that ye wyll remembr the letter that I sent yow last, and God
-be with yow.
-
-Wretyn att Norwyche, the Wedenesday next before Sent Gregory.
-
-  AUGNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 135.1: [From Fenn, iii. 304.] Fenn assigns this letter
-    to the year 1458, but not very confidently. The similarity of
-    its contents, in part, to those of the letter immediately
-    following, appears to me to render the year 1450 the more
-    probable date.]
-
-
-106
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[136.1]
-
-_To my rytz worchypful maystyr, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MARCH 12]
-
-Rytz worchipful hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, desyring hertyly to her
-of zour wellfar, &c.[136.2] . . . . Wyllyam Rutt, the whiche is with Sir
-Jon Hevenyngham, kom hom from London zesterday, and he seyd pleynly to
-his master, and to many other folks, that the Duke of Suffolk is
-pardonyd, and hath his men azen waytyng up on hym, and is rytz wel at
-ese and mery, and is in the Kyngs gode grase, and in the gode conseyt of
-all the Lords, as well as ever he was.
-
-Ther ben many enemys azens Yermowth and Crowmer, and have don moche
-harm, and taken many Englysch men, and put hem in grett distresse, and
-grettely rawnsommyd hem; and the seyd enmys been so bold that they kom
-up to the lond, and pleyn hem on Caster Sonds, and in other plases, as
-homely as they were Englysch men. Folks ben rytz sore afred that they
-wel don moche harm this somer, but if [_i.e._ unless] ther be made rytz
-grett purvyans azens hem.
-
-Other tydyngs know I non at this tym. The blysseful Trinyte have zow in
-his kepyng.
-
-Wryten at Norwyche, on Seynt Gregorys day.
-
-  Yowrs,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 136.1: [From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke
-    of Suffolk's pardon proves this letter to have been written in
-    the year 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 136.2: Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as
-    he says, to some common business about Paston's farms and
-    tenants.]
-
-
-107
-
-ABSTRACT[137.1]
-
-SIR JO. FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, PARSON OF CASTLCOMBE, WILL. COKE,
-AND WATKIN SHYPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / APRIL 16]
-
-Bids 'Sir Parson' send in all haste 'the utmost knowledge of all
-grievances' done to him by John Heydon this thirteen years. You have
-sent me the costs of the pleas, but not declared particularly how often
-I have been wrongfully distrained by the enforcing of the said Heydon.
-'I took never plea in the matter because the world was alway set after
-his rule, and as I would have engrossed up [_upon_] my bill.'
-
-London, 16 April 28 Henry VI.
-
-Search the accounts of Drayton Heylesdon, &c., these thirteen years.
-
-    [Footnote 137.1: [From a modern copy by Blomefield on the
-    fly-leaf of a Letter addressed to him. Headed, 'Gave this
-    original letter of Sir John's to Sir Andrew Fountain.'
-    --MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 229.]]
-
-
-108
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[137.2]
-
-_To my right trusty and right enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston,
-Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / APRIL 22]
-
-Right t[r]usty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle, and wyll
-ze wite that a man of Osberd Monford hath declared me how the said
-Osberd is infourmed that Danyelle shuld be pourposed to enter in the
-place of Braystone. And as fer as I can undirstande, Danyelle is come in
-to this cuntre, for none other cause but for to have suche as the Kyng
-hath gifen hym in Rysyng, which lieth not in me ner in none of the
-Kynges subgectes to go ageyns hise graunte and plesaunce. And in cas the
-said Danyelle wold enter upon the said Osberd otherwise than lawe wold,
-seyng the said Osberd is my tenaunt and homager, it is my part to holde
-with hym rather than with Danyelle in hise right, which I wylle do to my
-pouer. And as zet I can not apperceyve that Danyelle wylle labore in any
-maters in this cuntre; and if he wylle be of good governance, I am wel
-paied. And in cas that he wold do wrong to the lesse gentilman in the
-chirre, it shal not lye in hise pouer be the grace of God. He letethe me
-wite that he wylle be wel governed in tyme commyng.
-
-Right trusty and enterly wel beloved frend, I pray God have you in hise
-governance. Writen at Midelton, the xxij. day of Aprille.
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 137.2: [Douce MSS. 393, f. 100.] It appears by a
-    paper, which will be found further on (No. 119), that Daniel
-    entered the manor of Braydeston or Brayston during the
-    Parliament which was held at Leicester in the spring of 1450.
-    This letter must have been written at that time.]
-
-
-109
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[138.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and welbeloved frende, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly wel, and wul ye
-wite that Wotton is ever creyng and callyng upon me to write un to you
-for hise londe; wherfore at the reverence of Good, consideryng the
-symplenesse of hem all, I pray you that ye put hem at a certen, and lete
-hem all that they aught to have of right, for thaire creyng cause men to
-thinke ye do hem grete wrong, which I wote wel ye wold be sory to do.
-
-Oure Lord have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xvj. day
-of October.
-
-  Youre frende,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 138.1: [From Fenn, iii. 364.] This and the six letters
-    following, all but one of which are, like the last, written by
-    Lord Scales to John Paston, are placed here merely for
-    convenience, the years in which they were written being quite
-    uncertain, though probably not very far apart. The one letter
-    among them of which Lord Scales is not the writer, is inserted
-    in abstract on account of its bearing on that which immediately
-    precedes it.]
-
-
-110
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[138.2]
-
-_To my right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and for as
-mych as there is vareaunce betwene William Wotton and hise moder and the
-fermour there, wherfore I pray you that ze wyll [fynde][138.3] a weye
-accordyng to right for to put hem in rest and pees. For in as mych as
-they be yo[ur] tenantes, ze aught to have the reule of them before any
-other, praying you to do youre part to put hem oute of trouble.
-
-I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xiij.
-day of Aprille.
-
-  Youre frend,
-
-  THE LORD SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 138.2: [Douce MS. 393, f. 99.]]
-
-    [Footnote 138.3: Mutilated.]
-
-
-111
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[139.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusti and wel beloved frend, John Paston, Sqyer._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I comande me to you, and for certain
-maters that I have for to do, for the which ma[ters I] sende unto you a
-squier of myne called Elyngham; praying you to gefe hym faythful
-credence of that he shall declare you on myne behalfe as for this tyme.
-God have you in Hise keping. Writene at Midleton, the xviij. day of
-Julle.
-
-  Yowre frend,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 139.1: [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] This
-    letter evidently was written in the same year as the next, but
-    there is no evidence what that year was. Below the signature is
-    a note in a modern hand erroneously identifying the writer with
-    Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales. He was certainly Thomas, Lord
-    Scales, of Henry VI.'s time.]
-
-
-112
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[139.2]
-
-_To [my] right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and as touchyng
-the mater that Elyngham and ze comuned to giders of the last tyme he was
-with you, I pray you that ze wylle assigne such a day as you liketh
-best, so that it be with inne this viij. dayes, and sende me worde what
-day ze wylle be here be the bringer herof.
-
-I pray God have you in governance. Writen at Midelton, the iij. day of
-August.
-
-  Youre frend,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 139.2: [Douce MS., f. 101.]]
-
-
-113
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[140.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as myche as
-there is certayn vareaunce betwene Elizabeth Clere and a servaunt of
-myne, called William Stiwa[r]desson, prayng you feithfully that ze wylle
-labore and intrete the said Elizabeth to such appointement as the
-brynger of this letter shal informe you of, and do your trewe dilligence
-in this mater, as ze wyll I do for you in any thyng ze may have ado in
-this cuntre, whiche I will do with al my herte.
-
-Oure Lord have yow in hise keping. Writen at Myddelton, the last day of
-August.
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 140.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 102.]]
-
-
-114
-
-ABSTRACT[140.2]
-
-ELIZABETH CLERE TO JOHN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Stywardesson came to her on Easter even to church, and made a very
-humble submission. He at first denied having slandered her, or said that
-he was beaten, only that he was sore afraid; but at last acknowledged he
-had untruly charged her men with coming into his place with force and
-arms, and that he was beaten, for which his master took an action
-against her. Called her tenants to bear witness to his recantation. Said
-she would give him no answer now but by advice of her friends, and his
-master must leave his maintenance. Promised him an answer on Saturday in
-Easter week. He told another man that Heidon promised his master it
-should be put in award by Palm Sunday; 'for he is double both to him and
-to me, and so is William Geney and mo of my counsel.' He is willing to
-make a release. His barn which his men entered to distrain, he says, is
-frank, and he may give the rent when he pleases. Wishes Paston's advice
-what answer to make.--Easter Monday.
-
-    [Footnote 140.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-115
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[141.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and wel be loved frend, Jhon Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I grete you wel, thankyng you
-hertely for the gentilnes and good wylle I have founde in you at alle
-tymes. And for as myche as I and other stonde feffed in the landes of
-Thomas Canon, which is in vareaunce betwene you and hym, if ye wylle do
-so myche as for your part chese ij. lerned menn and the said Canon shal
-chese other ij., they to juge this mater as they shal seme of right and
-resoun. And if so be that the said Canon wylle not do so, I wylle not
-lete you to suye hym after the forme of the Kynges lawe. And if ze
-thinke it to many lerned men, take ze one, and he another; and if they
-may not accorde, ze and I to be umpere, for we stande bothe in like cas.
-And we shal make a good ende be the grace of oure Lord, which have you
-in hise governance.
-
-Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Octobre.
-
-  Zowr frend,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 141.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 103.]]
-
-
-116
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[141.2]
-
-_To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you hertly well, praying you
-that ye wyll sende me a coppie of the awarde that was made be you and my
-cousyn Sir Miles[141.3] betwex my cousyn Bryan Stapylton and Elizabeth
-Clere, and that ze wyll sende me the said awarde be the bringer herof.
-I pray God have you in governance.
-
-Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Novembre.
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 141.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 141.3: Sir Miles Stapleton.]
-
-
-117
-
-THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO HIS SON[142.1]
-
-_The copie of a notable Lettre, written by the Duke of Suffolk to his
-Sonne,[142.2] giving hym therein very good counseil.[142.3]_
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / APRIL 30]
-
-My dere and only welbeloved sone, I beseche oure Lord in Heven, the
-Maker of alle the world, to blesse you, and to sende you ever grace to
-love hym, and to drede hym; to the which, as ferre as a fader may charge
-his child, I both charge you, and prei you to sette alle spirites and
-wittes to do, and to knowe his holy lawes and comaundments, by the which
-ye shall with his grete mercy passe alle the grete tempestes and
-troubles of this wrecched world. And that also, wetyngly, ye do no thyng
-for love nor drede of any erthely creature that shuld displese hym. And
-there as any freelte maketh you to falle, be secheth hys mercy soone to
-calle you to hym agen with repentaunce, satisfaccion, and contricion of
-youre herte never more in will to offend hym.
-
-Secondly, next hym, above alle erthely thyng, to be trewe liege man in
-hert, in wille, in thought, in dede, unto the Kyng oure alder most high
-and dredde sovereygne Lord, to whom bothe ye and I been so moche bounde
-to; chargyng you, as fader can and may, rather to die than to be the
-contrarye, or to knowe any thyng that were ayenste the welfare or
-prosperite of his most riall person, but that as ferre as your body and
-lyf may strecthe, ye lyve and die to defende it, and to lete his
-highnesse have knowlache thereof in alle the haste ye can.
-
-Thirdly, in the same wyse, I charge you, my dere sone, alwey, as ye be
-bounden by the commaundement of God to do, to love, to worshepe youre
-lady and moder, and also that ye obey alwey hyr commaundements, and to
-beleve hyr councelles and advises in alle youre werks, the which dredeth
-not, but shall be best and trewest to you. And yef any other body wold
-stere you to the contrarie, to flee the councell in any wyse, for ye
-shall fynde it nought and evyll.
-
-Forthe[rmore],[143.1] as ferre as fader may and can, I charge you in any
-wyse to flee the company and councel of proude men, of coveitowse men,
-and of flateryng men, the more especially and myghtily to withstonde
-hem, and not to drawe, ne to medle with hem, with all youre myght and
-power. And to drawe to you and to your comp[any good][143.1] and
-vertuowse men, and such as ben of good conversacion, and of trouthe, and
-be them shal ye never be deseyved, ner repente you off. [Moreover never
-follow][143.1] youre owne witte in no wyse, but in alle youre werkes,
-of suche folks as I write of above, axeth youre advise a[nd
-counse]l;[143.1] and doyng thus, with the mercy of God, ye shall do
-right well, and lyve in right moche worship, and grete herts rest and
-ease. And I wyll be to you as good lord and fader as my hert can thynke.
-
-And last of alle, as hertily and as lovyngly as ever fader blessed his
-child in erthe, I yeve you the blessyng of oure Lord and of me, which of
-his infynite mercy encrece you in alle vertu and good lyvyng. And that
-youre blood may by his grace from kynrede to kynrede multeplye in this
-erthe to hys servise, in such wyse as after the departyng fro this
-wreched world here, ye and thei may glorefye hym eternally amongs his
-aungelys in hevyn.
-
-Wreten of myn hand,
-
-The day of my departyng fro this land.[143.2]
-
-  Your trewe and lovyng fader,
-
-  SUFFOLK.
-
-    [Footnote 142.1: [From Fenn, i. 32.] The date of this letter is
-    sufficiently clear from the last words of it.]
-
-    [Footnote 142.2: John de la Pole, who succeeded him as Duke of
-    Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 142.3: This heading looks as if copied by Fenn from an
-    endorsement, which is probably not quite contemporaneous.]
-
-    [Footnote 143.1: These words in brackets were chafed and
-    illegible in the original MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 143.2: According to William Worcester, the Duke
-    embarked on Thursday, the 30th April.]
-
-
-118
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[144.1]
-
-_To owre Ryght trusty and right welbeloved Frend, Johan Paston,
-Esquier._
-
-The Erle of Oxenford.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / APRIL 30]
-
-Right tristy and welbeloved frend, we grete you right hertily well. And
-for asmuche as we be enformed that on [_one_] Thomas Kecham, a servaunt
-of owre right welbeloved brothir, Sir Richard de Veer, knyght, hath to
-done with Sir Henry Inglose knyght in a certeyn matier in wich youre
-good maisterschep may cause his singuler ease and a vaile as anenst the
-said knyght, as Thomas Kecham hath enformed us; We pray you hertily
-that, at the reverence of us and this oure writyng, ye woll take the
-labour upon you to speke unto the said Sir Henry, conceyving a mene and
-the weye of an ende to be had be twix thaym of right, causyng the said
-knyght to sease of hese malice and wrongful suette as a nenst the said
-Thomas. And ferthermore we pray you to see that the said knyght take no
-benefeys ne prevayle not as a nenst the Gaoyler of the Castell of
-Norwich for the suerte of the said Thomas Kecham, as we verily trust ye
-will; in wich feithfully doyng we shall kun you hertily thanke. And
-right trusty and welbeloved, the Trynitie have yow in Hese kepyng.
-Wreton at oure Manour of Wevenhoo, the last day of Aprill.
-
-  Below the text of this letter is written in another hand, 'Smalwode
-  Sparhawk.'
-
-    [Footnote 144.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 164.] This letter cannot
-    be later than 1451, as Sir Henry Inglose died in June of that
-    year. The date may be about 1450, like that of some other
-    letters of the Earl of Oxford.]
-
-  [[we shall kun you hertily thanke
-    _text unchanged (expected editorial gloss)_]]
-
-
-119
-
-ABSTRACT[145.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450-2]
-
-A paper of memoranda in William Worcester's handwriting, of which the
-principal contents are as follows:--
-
-A commission of _oyer_ and _terminer_, dated 1 August 28 Henry VI.--A
-session at Swaffham, on Thursday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
-29 Henry VI. (17 September 1450).--A note of six other sessions:--1. At
-Norwich before the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Oxford and Yelverton,
-Tuesday after St. Mathias' day, 29 Henry VI. (2 March 1451); 2. At
-Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Monday after St. Martin in Winter,
-29 Henry VI. (16 November 1450); 3. At Norwich, before Oxford and
-Yelverton, Wednesday after the Conception of St. Mary (15 December),
-continued seven days; 4. At Lynn, before Oxford, Scales, and Yelverton,
-Tuesday after Epiphany (13 January); 5. At Norwich, before John Prysot
-and Yelverton, Thursday in Easter week, 29 Henry VI. (29 April 1451);
-6. At Walsingham, before Scales and Prysot, Monday _in crastino clausi
-Paschĉ_ (3 May 1451).
-
-'Parliamentum apud Leyseter ---- anno xxviijş.--Durante illo Parliamento
-intravit T. Daniell manerium de Braydeston.--Will'us, Dux Suff' obiit
-tertio die Maii anno xxviijş Regis Henry VI^{ti}.--Jak Cade, proditor
-de Kent, fugit de le Blakheth xxij. die Junii anno xxviij. H. VI.,
-[     ] Julii mense decapitatus fuit.--Injuria Plumbsted post hoc (?)'
---Mundford and Heydon entered Braysto[ne] on the eve of the Nativity of
-St. Mary anno 29 (7 September 1450). Thomas Danyell entered Braydeston
-a second time, 30 Henry VI.
-
-Between Mich. 30 and 31 Henry VI. (1451 and 1452) Norfolk, Oxford,
-Scales, and a great number of others were at Norwich holding sessions.
-The same year 'John P.' was with John, Earl of Oxford, at Whevenho on
-the Nativity of St. Mary (8 September). The same year, before all these
-things, Thomas Danyell was married at Framlyngham.
-
-'Testimonium Commissionariorum et cognitio Milonis Stapulton quo ad
-impanellationem juratorum.
-
-'Item, testimonium concilii quoad mutationem actionum in indictamentis
-et recordum apparet et declaratio Johannis Geney facta Thomĉ Gurney.
-
-'Item, testimonium concilii et Thomĉ Grene quoad absenciam Johannis
-Porter. Et testimonium hominum de Bliclyng. Item, missio pro Johanne
-Porter pro pecunia et placito proprio. (Memorandum, quando Porter fuit
-juratus, J. Andru fuit extractus de indictamento.)
-
-'Item, testimonium juratorum de non procuratione. Et indictamentum
-Johannis Andrew in Suff. causa fugationis ejus.
-
-'Item, antiquum debat' supposit' inter Andrews et Porter erat pro
-districtione capta de Johanne Andrews apud Weston pro debito domini
-Bardolf; pro qua causa idem Johannes Andrews implacitare vellet dictum
-Johannem Porter ad terminum (?) nisi pro dicto domino Bardolf; sic
-dictus Andrews continuavit maliciam suam erga prĉdictum Johannem Porter,
-et e contra quod et malicia Heydon erat causa conspiracionis per
-ipsum. . . .'
-
-  [As this document is a key to the dates of several of the letters
-  during the years 1450 to 1452, we have thought it best to insert it
-  in the beginning of the period to which it refers, instead of the
-  date at which it may be supposed to have been written.]
-
-    [Footnote 145.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-120
-
-WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON[146.1]
-
-_To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 5]
-
-Ryght worchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that
-I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys,
-that on ethes ye shalle reede it.
-
-As on Monday[146.2] nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London,
-that on Thorsday[146.3] before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes
-of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the
-qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid
-men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym
-mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng
-on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas
-hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes
-shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym
-selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to
-Caleys ward, &c.
-
-And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or
-iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and
-whanne he come, the master badde hym, 'Welcom, Traitor,' as men sey; and
-forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the
-duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on
-the Nicolas tyl Saturday[146.4] next folwyng.
-
-Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke [_thing_] to be delyverd to the Kynge,
-but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.
-
-And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the
-appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.
-
-Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he
-remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr,
-he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he
-was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of
-the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and
-oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he
-should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd,
-and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his
-gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body
-on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by
-it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye.
-And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to
-the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.
-
-Forther I wotte nott, but this fer (?) is that yf the proces be
-erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.
-
-Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer[147.1] also,
-&c.
-
-Sir Thomas Keriel[147.2] is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse,
-and abowte iij. m^l. [3000] Englishe men slayn.
-
-Mathew Gooth[147.3] with xv^c. [1500] fledde, and savyd hym selffe and
-hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. m^l. Frenshe men
-and more, &c.
-
-I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have
-yow all yn his kepyn.
-
-I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and
-wyfe, &c.
-
-James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.
-
-Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.
-
-  By yowr wyfe.[148.1]
-
-  W. L.
-
-    [Footnote 146.1: [From Fenn, i. 38.] The date of this letter is
-    perfectly determined by the events to which it relates.]
-
-    [Footnote 146.2: 4th May.]
-
-    [Footnote 146.3: 30th April.]
-
-    [Footnote 146.4: 2nd May.]
-
-    [Footnote 147.1: An allusion to Friar Hauteyn's suit or Oxnead.]
-
-    [Footnote 147.2: Sent to France to carry succours to the Duke of
-    Somerset, but defeated and taken prisoner at the battle of
-    Fourmigni, 15th April 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 147.3: Matthew Gough, a celebrated captain in the
-    French war.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.1: This singular subscription Fenn believes to
-    have been owing to a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the
-    writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of acting as
-    Margaret Paston's secretary in writing to her husband.]
-
-
-121
-
-JOHN CRANE TO JOHN PASTON[148.2]
-
-_To my right worshupfull cosygne, John Paston of Norwyche, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 6]
-
-Right worshupfull sir, I recomaunde me unto yow in the most goodly wyse
-that y can; and forasmuche as ye desired of me to sende yow worde of
-dyvers matirs here, whiche been opened in the Parliament openly, I sende
-yow of them suche as I can.
-
-First moost especiall, that for verray trowthe upon Saterday[148.3] that
-last was, the Duke of Suffolk was taken in the see, and there he was
-byheded, and his body with the appurtenaunce sette at lande at Dover,
-and alle the folks that he haad with hym were sette to lande, and haad
-noon harme.
-
-Also the Kyng hath sumwhat graanted to have the resumpsion agayne in
-summe, but nat in alle, &c.
-
-Also yef ye purpose to come hydre to put up your bylles, ye may come now
-in a good tyme; for now every man that hath any, they put theme now
-inne, and so may ye, yif ye come with Godds grace to your pleasur.
-
-Ferthermore, upon the iiij^th day of this monthe, the Erle of
-Devenesshire[148.4] come hydre with iij^c. [300] men wel byseen, &c.
-
-And upon the morow after my Lord of Warrewyke[148.5] with iiij^c. [400]
-and moo, &c.
-
-Also, as hyt ys noysed here Calys shal be byseged withynne this vij.
-dayes, &c.
-
-God save the Kyng, and sende us pees, &c.
-
-Other tithyngs be ther noon here, but Almyghty God have yow in his
-kepyng.
-
-Writen at Leycestre, the vj. day of May.
-
-  Your cosigne,
-
-  JOHN CRANE.[149.1]
-
-    [Footnote 148.2: [From Fenn, i. 44.] The date of this letter, as
-    of the preceding, is clearly proved by internal evidence.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.3: 2nd May.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.4: Thomas Courtenay.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.5: Richard Nevill. --_See_ Letter 98.]
-
-    [Footnote 149.1: Probably John Crane of Woodnorton, of whom
-    there are some notices in Blomefield (_Hist. Norf._ viii. 313,
-    316; x. 282).]
-
-
-122
-
-ABSTRACT[149.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, 'being at
-Castre.'
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 7]
-
-Begs him to solicit the expedition of the matters of which he wrote
-since Easter.--Debts of Thos. Symmys for rents and sale of wools not yet
-paid to F. in Dedham.--As for the matter of Rydlyngfold and Hykele,
-'seth it ys soo the world is changed gretely over it was, y pray you,
-and charge you, parson, labour ye to my frendz Lampet and others' to get
-a copy of their evidences; for 'howbeit the said prioress say that her
-evidence be in the Duke of Suffolk's keeping or his counsel,' she had a
-book in which all the evidence is copied. The thing would have been sped
-long ere this, if 'my Lord Norwich['s] Chancellor' or Master Pope, had
-labored as they promised. For God's sake send me a good answer. 'If an
-inordinate book be made, remembering the deliverance' of cloths, &c.
-into F.'s wardrobe, let the indentures be engrossed. Wonders Howys
-cannot furnish him with a full account of the damages sustained by F.
-and his tenants these ten or twelve years past. He has only sent a
-declaration of costs in defending some of them. Get a letter of Nich.
-Bokkyng of the £100 to whom it was paid.
-
-London, 7 May 28 Henry VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 149.2: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 223.]]
-
-  [[_footnote marker misprinted as 1_]]
-
-
-123
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[150.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 13]
-
-I recomaund me unto your good maistership; and as for tidings, Arblaster
-come home to my Lord[150.2] on Munday, at sopertyme; and my Maister
-Danyell[150.3] is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent,
-and Arblastr seith he hath made me his undirstyward.
-
-And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord Beamond[150.4] hath
-it, and the Lord Rivers[150.5] Constable of Inglond.
-
-As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tudenham had a joynte
-patent with the Duke of Suffolk,[150.6] which, if it be resumed, Sir
-Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed therof.
-
-My lord wole not to Leicestre.[150.7] My Maister Danyell desireth yow
-thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by tymes.
-
-Wretyn in hast at Wynche,[150.8] the xiij. day of May.
-
-I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your wyf, for my
-mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fully conquered my lady sith ye
-went, so that I haf hir promisse to be my good lady, and that she shall
-help me by the feith of hir body.
-
-  Your servant,
-
-  DENYES.
-
-    [Footnote 150.1: [From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn
-    vaguely assigned to the latter part of the reign of Henry VI.,
-    may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The mention of
-    Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier
-    than 1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke
-    in 1448, and at a later date than the 13th of May. The reference
-    to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to have been long
-    after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from
-    Monday being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future,
-    that the letter was written on a Wednesday. Had it been on a
-    Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been spoken of as
-    'yesterday' or Friday as 'to-morrow.' Now, the 13th of May was a
-    Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in
-    this letter are, therefore, those consequent on the fall of the
-    Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as will be seen by a
-    foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.2: John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.3: Thomas Daniel. --_See_ p. 80.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.4: John, Viscount Beaumont.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.5: Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th
-    May 1448; afterwards earl.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.6: William de la Pole. --_See_ p. 80, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.7: Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May
-    1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.8: A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King's Lynn,
-    in Norfolk.]
-
-
-124
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[151.1]
-
-_To our right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and right intierly welbeloved, we grete you hertly wele.
-And it is so, as ye know wele your self, we haf and long tyme haf had
-the service of Thomas Denyes, by continuance wherof we wend to haf had
-his attendaunce at our lust; and nevertheless we haf so strictly
-examynid his demenyng that we fele and pleynly conceyve that the love
-and effeccion which he hath to a gentilwoman not ferre from yow, and
-which ye be privy to, as we suppose, causith hym alwey to desire toward
-your cuntre, rather than toward suych ocupacion as is behovefull to us.
-We write therfore to yow, prayng yow hertly as ye love us, that it like
-you to do that labour at our instaunce be suych men [_mean_] as your
-wisdom can seme, to meve that gentilwoman in our behalf for the wele of
-this mater, undirtakyng for us that we wole shew our bounte to thaym
-bothe, if it plese hir that this mater take effect, so that be reason
-she shall haf cause to take it in gree. And if the comyng thider of our
-persone self shuld be to plesir of hir, we wole not leve our labour in
-that: wherfore we pray you that ye wole do your part heryn, as ye wole
-we do for yow in tyme comyng, and that ye se us in hast. The Holy
-Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wevenho, the xvij. day of May.
-
-  The Erle of Oxenford.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 151.1: [From Fenn, iii. 360.] This letter cannot well
-    be of the same year as the last, but is probably not many years
-    earlier, and certainly not many years later. The reasons against
-    its being of the same year are--first, that it seems to be
-    implied in the letter preceding that the Earl of Oxford was at
-    Winch, near Lynn, in Norfolk, on the 13th May 1450, which makes
-    it improbable that he would be at Wivenhoe in Essex four days
-    after; and, secondly, that he is not likely to have offered to
-    go into Norfolk (especially after having just come out of
-    Norfolk) on a matter touching the private affairs of one of his
-    own adherents, when he declined to go to the Parliament at
-    Leicester.]
-
-
-125
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS[152.1]
-
-_To my trusty and welbelovyd frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of
-Castellcombe._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 27]
-
-Trusty and welbelovyd frende, I grete you well.[152.2] . . . . And I
-pray you sende me word who darre be so hardy to keck agen you in my
-ryght. And sey hem on my half that they shall be qwyt as ferre as law
-and reson wolle. And yff they wolle not dredde, ne obey that, then they
-shall be quyt by Blackberd or Whyteberd; that ys to sey, by God or the
-Devyll. And therfor I charge yow, send me word whethyr such as hafe be
-myne adversaries before thys tyme, contynew still yn her wylfullnesse,
-&c.
-
-Item, I hyre oft tymys manye straunge rapports of the gouvernaunce of my
-place at Castre and othyr plasys, as yn my chatell approvyng,[152.3] yn
-my wynys, the kepyng of my wardrobe and clothys, the avaylle[152.4] of
-my conyes at Haylysdon, &c., and approwement[152.3] of my londys;
-praying you hertly as my full trust ys yn you to help reforme it, and
-that ye suffre no vityouse man at my place of Castre abyde, but well
-gouverned and diligent, as ye woll aunswer to it.
-
-Allmyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, xxvij. day of Maij anno xxviijş
-regni Regis Henrici VI.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, Kt.
-
-    [Footnote 152.1: [From Fenn, i. 52.]]
-
-    [Footnote 152.2: Here, says Fenn, follow some orders respecting
-    his affairs at Caister.]
-
-    [Footnote 152.3: Approving lands or chattels meant turning them
-    to profit, and in the former case commonly implied increasing
-    the rents.]
-
-    [Footnote 152.4: Use or profit.]
-
-
-126
-
-J. PAYN TO JOHN PASTON[153.1]
-
-_To my ryght honurabyll maister, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 (written in 1465)]
-
-Ryght honurabyll and my ryght enterly bylovyd maister, I recomaunde me
-un to yow, with al maner of due reverence, in the moste louly wyse as we
-ought to do, evermor desyryng to here of your worshipfull state,
-prosperite, and welfar; the which I beseke God of his aboundant grace
-encrece and mayntene to his moste plesaunce, and to your hartis dssyre.
-
-Pleasyth it your gode and gracios maistershipp tendyrly to consedir the
-grete losses and hurts that your por peticioner haeth, and haeth jhad
-evyr seth the comons of Kent come to the Blakheth,[153.2] and that is at
-xv. yer passed, whereas my maister Syr John Fastolf, Knyght, that is
-youre testator,[153.3] commandyt your besecher to take a man, and ij. of
-the beste orsse that wer in his stabyll, with hym to ryde to the comens
-of Kent, to gete the articles that they come for. And so I dyd; and al
-so sone as I come to the Blakheth, the capteyn[153.4] made the comens to
-take me. And for the savacion of my maisters horse, I made my fellowe to
-ryde a wey with the ij. horses; and I was brought forth with befor the
-capteyn of Kent. And the capteyn demaundit me what was my cause of
-comyng thedyr, and why that I made my fellowe to stele a wey with the
-horse. And I seyd that I come thedyr to chere with my wyves brethren,
-and other that were my alys and gossippes of myn that were present
-there. And than was there oone there, and seid to the capteyn that I was
-one of Syr John Fastolfes men, and the ij. horse were Syr John
-Fastolfes; and then the capteyn lete cry treson upon me thorought all
-the felde, and brought me at iiij. partes of the feld with a harrawd of
-the Duke of Exetter[154.1] before me in the dukes cote of armes, makyng
-iiij. _Oyes_ at iiij. partes of the feld; proclaymyng opynly by the seid
-harrawd that I was sent thedyr for to espy theyre pusaunce, and theyre
-abyllyments of werr, fro the grettyst traytor that was in Yngelond or in
-Fraunce, as the seyd capteyn made proclaymacion at that tyme, fro oone
-Syr John Fastolf, Knyght, the whech mynnysshed all the garrisons of
-Normaundy, and Manns, and Mayn, the whech was the cause of the lesyng of
-all the Kyngs tytyll and ryght of an herytaunce that he had by yonde
-see. And morovyr he seid that the seid Sir John Fastolf had furnysshyd
-his plase[154.2] with the olde sawdyors of Normaundy and abyllyments of
-werr, to destroy the comens of Kent whan that they come to Southewerk;
-and therfor he seyd playnly that I shulde lese my hede.
-
-And so furthewith I was taken, and led to the capteyns tent, and j. ax
-and j. blok was brought forth to have smetyn of myn hede; and than my
-maister Ponyngs, your brodyr,[154.3] with other of my frendes, come and
-lettyd the capteyn, and seyd pleynly that there shulde dye a C. or ij.
-[_a hundred or two_], that in case be that I dyed; and so by that meane
-my lyf was savyd at that tyme. And than I was sworen to the capteyn, and
-to the comens, that I shulde go to Southewerk, and aray me in the best
-wyse that I coude, and come ageyn to hem to helpe hem; and so I gote
-th'articles, and brought hem to my maister, and that cost me more emongs
-the comens that day than xxvij_s._
-
-Wherupon I come to my maister Fastolf, and brought hym th'articles, and
-enformed hym of all the mater, and counseyled hym to put a wey all his
-abyllyments of werr and the olde sawdiors; and so he dyd, and went
-hymself to the Tour, and all his meyny with hym but Betts and j. [_i.e._
-one] Mathew Brayn; and had not I ben, the comens wolde have brennyd his
-plase and all his tennuryes, wher thorough it cost me of my noune propr
-godes at that tyme more than vj. merks in mate and drynke; and nought
-withstondyng the capteyn that same tyme lete take me atte Whyte Harte in
-Suthewerk, and there comandyt Lovelase to dispoyle me oute of myn aray,
-and so he dyd. And there he toke a fyn gowne of muster dewyllers[155.1]
-furryd with fyn bevers, and j. peyr of Bregandyrns[155.2] kevert with
-blew fellewet [_velvet_] and gylt naile, with legharneyse, the vallew of
-the gown and the bregardyns viij_li._
-
-Item, the capteyn sent certeyn of his meyny to my chamber in your rents,
-and there breke up my chest, and toke awey j. obligacion of myn that was
-due unto me of xxxvj_li._ by a prest of Poules, and j. nother obligacion
-of j. knyght of x_li._, and my purse with v. ryngs of golde, and
-xvij_s._ vj_d._ of golde and sylver; and j. herneyse [_harness_]
-complete of the touche of Milleyn;[155.3] and j. gowne of fyn
-perse[155.4] blewe furryd with martens; and ij. gounes, one furryd with
-bogey,[155.5] and j. nother lyned with fryse;[155.6] and ther wolde have
-smetyn of myn hede, whan that they had dyspoyled me atte White Hart. And
-there my Maister Ponyngs and my frends savyd me, and so I was put up
-tyll at nyght that the batayle was at London Brygge;[155.7] and than
-atte nyght the capteyn put me oute into the batayle atte Brygge, and
-there I was woundyt, and hurt nere hand to deth; and there I was vj.
-oures in the batayle, and myght nevyr come oute therof; and iiij. tymes
-before that tyme I was caryd abought thorought Kent and Sousex, and ther
-they wolde have smetyn of my hede.
-
-And in Kent there as my wyfe dwellyd, they toke awey all oure godes
-mevabyll that we had, and there wolde have hongyd my wyfe and v. of my
-chyldren, and lefte her no more gode but her kyrtyll and her smook. And
-a none aftyr that hurlyng, the Bysshop Roffe[156.1] apechyd me to the
-Quene, and so I was arestyd by the Quenes commaundment in to the
-Marchalsy, and there was in rygt grete durasse, and fere of myn lyf, and
-was thretenyd to have ben hongyd, drawen, and quarteryd; and so wold
-have made me to have pechyd my Maister Fastolf of treson. And by cause
-that I wolde not, they had me up to Westminster, and there wolde have
-sent me to the gole house at Wyndsor; but my wyves and j. coseyn of myn
-noune that were yomen of the Croune, they went to the Kyng, and got
-grase and j. chartyr of pardon.
-
-  Per le vostre,
-
-  J. PAYN.
-
-    [Footnote 153.1: [From Fenn, i. 54.] This letter was actually
-    written in the year 1465; but as the circumstances to which it
-    relates belong to the year 1450, and are connected with the
-    memorable insurrection of Jack Cade, we have thought it right,
-    as Fenn did, to place it under the earlier year.]
-
-    [Footnote 153.2: Jack Cade and his followers encamped on
-    Blackheath on the 11th June 1450, and again from the 29th of
-    June to the 1st July. Payn refers to the latter occasion.]
-
-    [Footnote 153.3: Sir John Fastolf (who is dead at the date of
-    this letter) left Paston his executor, as will be seen
-    hereafter.]
-
-    [Footnote 153.4: Jack Cade.]
-
-    [Footnote 154.1: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. During the civil
-    war which followed, he adhered to the House of Lancaster, though
-    he married Edward IV.'s sister. His herald had probably been
-    seized by Cade's followers, and pressed into their service.]
-
-    [Footnote 154.2: Sir John Fastolf had a residence in Southwark.]
-
-    [Footnote 154.3: Robert Poynings, who, some years before this
-    letter was written, had married Elizabeth, the sister of John
-    Paston, was sword-bearer and carver to Cade, and was accused of
-    creating disturbances on more than one occasion afterwards.
-    He was slain at the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th Feb.
-    1461.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.1: 'A kind of mixed grey woollen cloth, which
-    continued in use to Elizabeth's reign.' --Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.2: A brigandine was a coat of leather or quilted
-    linen, with small iron plates sewed on. --_See_ Grose's _Antient
-    Armour_. The back and breast of this coat were sometimes made
-    separately, and called a pair.--Meyrick.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.3: Milan was famous for its manufacture of arms
-    and armour.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.4: 'Skye or bluish grey. There was a kind of cloth
-    so called.' --Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.5: Budge fur.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.6: 'Frieze. A coarse narrow cloth, formerly much
-    in use' -- Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.7: The battle on London Bridge was on the 5th
-    July.]
-
-    [Footnote 156.1: Fenn gives this name 'Rosse' with two long s's,
-    but translates it Rochester, from which I presume it was written
-    'Roffe' for _Roffensis_. The Bishop of Rochester's name was John
-    Lowe.]
-
-  [[Footnote 154.3: He was slain...
-    _final sentence added by editor in Errata; see also note 135.1
-    in Volume III._]]
-
-
-127
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[156.2]
-
-_To my right worshipfull [mai]ster John Paston at Wynchestre be this
-delyuered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / JULY 3]
-
-After al due recomendacion had, I recomaunde me to yow and prey yow to
-wete that Heydon seweth in his accion a geynst Osebern x. _tales_
-retournable xv^a. Johannis. _Ideo mittetur vel loquatur Vicecomiti
-Norffolk_, &c. And I suppose that as for Costardis accions thei wole
-have _nisi prius_, &c. As touchyng the matier of Oxened the frere[156.3]
-leveth his delagacie a abideth up on our plee of profession by as meche
-as we sey that long to fore the writte purchaced he was professed a
-frere and sey not and yet is professed, &c. And Sotyll and other of your
-counseill thynk the law is on our syde. Brampton brought me a lettre and
-a clowt sowed clos with thynggis therin, and a letter endorsed to yow
-from my maistresse your moder, whiche I sende yow with this. The lord
-Moleyns man brought ij. writtes to the Shirrefis depute of Norfolk, oon
-a geynst yow, myn eme[157.1] and James Gloys _quare clausum suum apud
-Gresham fregerunt_, &c., the othir writte a geynst yow and J. Gloys
-_quare vi et armis in hominis et servientes ipsius apud Gresham insultum
-fecerunt_, &c. And whanne the seid lord Moleyns man delyvered these
-wrettys, Lomnour stode be side and aspied it. And thanne the seid man
-desired to have ageyn the writtis, and toke hem a geyn; and whanne he
-had theym he seid they shuld not come in their handes a vii. nyght
-after. And so he kepeth theym stille. And Caly and Yates also have
-promysed me that ther shall no writte be retourned a geyn yow but that
-ye shall have copies ther of at reasonable tyme to make your avantage as
-the law wole, &c., to caste your esson[157.2] or suyche other, &c. Sir,
-I prey God yeld yow for your letter ye sent me by Lethom, whiche I
-receyved yistereuyn right late. Wherby I hope and conceyve that ye be in
-good cas for your maner of Gr[esham], for truly I was right weel
-comforted therof. As touchyng Skyner and his borwys the attachementes
-may not be wretyn but by the recordes of the reconysance, and alle the
-recordes of Chauncerye be at Wynchestre. _Ideo_, &c. I prey God be your
-good speed in all your matiers, Amen. Wretyn in hast at London the
-Friday next after seint Petir day.
-
-  Your servant,
-
-  J. GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 156.2: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 73.] The legal
-    proceedings mentioned in this letter show that the year is the
-    same as that of Gresham's other letter immediately following
-    (No. 128).]
-
-    [Footnote 156.3: John Hauteyn.]
-
-    [Footnote 157.1: 'eme,' _i.e._ uncle.]
-
-    [Footnote 157.2: _Essoin_, a legal expression, meaning an excuse
-    admitted for non-appearance in Court.]
-
-
-128
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO MASTER WHITE[158.1]
-
-_To my Maister Whyte, Esquyer, with my Lord Cardynall,[158.2] for to
-take to John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / JULY 8]
-
-After al due recomendacion, I recomaund me to yow, and do yow wete that
-this same Wednesseday I receyved your lettre whiche was wretyn on
-Saterday last passed, wherby ye willed me to send yow worde of your
-matiers, &c. As touchyng the frere,[158.3] he abydeth in lawe up on our
-plee of profession, like as I sent yow word by wrytyng, whiche I sent
-yow in a box with other stuf by a man of the Archedeken of Rychemond.
-I endorsed it thus, 'To William Plumstede, with my Lord of
-Winchestre,[158.4] or to John Paston.'
-
-We shuld have amendet our plee of profession, but thanne your counseyll
-fereth he wolde take an issue that he is not professed, and that
-shuld[158.5] be tried by the certificat of the Dean of Poulys, _sede
-vacante_; and therfore we abide in lawe, and wole not amende our plee.
-The day of th'assises in Norffolk is _die Veneris proximo post Festum
-Nativitatis Beatĉ Mariĉ apud Norwicum_, and Costards _nisi prius_ is
-take owt ageynst that day, and Prentis _nisi prius_ ageynst Halman also.
-
-As touchyng the sute ageyns Osebern and Foke, he hath geve day xv.
-Johannis with x. _tales_, as I have wretyn to yow to fore this tyme;
-and I suppose that he wole have a _nisi prius_ of the same atte seid
-assises. As touchynge the fyn in the Kyngs Benche for Osebern and Foke,
-the fyne were cessed this terme, but I hadde no leyser to talke with
-Croxton ther of yet, &c. Your bedfelawe seigh bothe my other writynge
-and this, and he recomaundeth hym to yow, and shuld have wretyn to yow,
-if he had not be prevy to my writyng. Ye ar meche hold to hym, for he is
-diligent for yow, &c.
-
-As touchyng Drewe Barantyn, I myght not yet speke with hym, &c.
-_Circumspecte agatis_, and be war of lordis promysses, for it is tolde
-me in counseil ther is a writte of forcyble entre[159.1] in framyng
-ageynst yow.
-
-Almyghty God be your gyde. Wretyn in hast with inne an hour after the
-resceyte of your lettre, at Wesminster, the Wednesseday next after Seint
-Thomas day.[159.2]
-
-  Yours JAMES GRE.
-
-    [Footnote 158.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter appears
-    to have been written in the year 1450, when Gresham was in
-    London looking after John Paston's interests in various
-    lawsuits. Mr. White, to whom it is directed for the purpose of
-    being conveyed to Paston, was a servant of Cardinal Kemp, who
-    had been made Lord Chancellor in the beginning of the year. It
-    is evident from other letters that John Paston took counsel of
-    the Lord Chancellor's servant in his causes.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.2: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.3: John Hawteyn. --_See_ Nos. 46 and 63.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.4: William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.5: The word 'it' is interlined in the original
-    after 'shuld,' but is clearly superfluous.]
-
-    [Footnote 159.1: For Gresham?]
-
-    [Footnote 159.2: The translation of St. Thomas was on the 3rd
-    July.]
-
-  [[die Veneris proximo  _text has "aie" (Italic a for d)_]]
-
-
-129
-
-ABSTRACT[159.3]
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON?].
-
-[Sidenote: About 1450]
-
-Inquiry made as to the injury of Sporle wood for lack of hedging. The
-three years' growth of the wood availeth no man. The farmers now cannot
-sell it the better, so it must be either to your hurt or Halman's. Hopes
-the wastes at Cressingham will be amended. Your tenants are treated
-unfairly about the Sheriff's turn by those of the Prior of Norwich and
-John Coo. Can get no money, for Fulchier hopes he is not so far in
-arrear as you think. Halman can get no money; his corns are so cheap he
-will not sell, but he hopes to make purveyance at Michaelmas.
-
-Calybut says he never asked the Vicar of Sporle to be bound for him.
-They will meet with me at Gressenhale on St. Bartholomew's day and seal
-the other part, so that they have notice from you at Swaffham Market,
-Saturday next before.
-
-_Accounts of Sneylewell, Cressingham, and Sparham on the back._
-
-  [We have placed this letter after the preceding as being probably
-  not many years apart from it in date, if not the very same year. The
-  name of Halman occurs in both, and also in a letter of the Vicar of
-  Sporle, which will be found a little further on.]
-
-    [Footnote 159.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-130
-
-ABSTRACT[160.1]
-
-SIR J. FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, at Caister.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / AUG. 8]
-
-Has sent home letters by John Bedford. Sends by the bearer Thomas Medew
-eight writs of 'green wax'[160.2] for certain processes he has in
-Norfolk, with a _distringas_ for Sir John Shypton, which he must get
-served with the advice of Thomas Grene and other of Fastolf's trusty
-friends. The inquest must be certified of the truth and Shypton's
-falsehood proved. Will give his testimonial, when needful, 'that I never
-sealed none such quittance.' Let Greene correct the roll of articles I
-send by Bedford. I hear you have omitted several of the extortions done
-to me (_in margin_, 'eyer and determiner'). London, 8 August 28
-Henry VI.
-
-Let Master Doket have a copy of the evidence of Rydlyngfeeld.
-
-'Item, purvey me at the leest v. doseyn long bowes, with shot longyng
-thertoo. And purveyeth also quarell[160.3] hedys to be made ther, for
-the price ys derer heer then ther; and let no langage be had of
-ordenances makyng.'
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 160.1: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, f. 224.]]
-
-    [Footnote 160.2: Writs under the seal of the Court of Exchequer,
-    which was of green wax, directing the sheriff of a county to
-    levy certain fines.]
-
-    [Footnote 160.3: _See_ page 101, Note 3.]
-
-
-131
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[160.4]
-
-_To my right especiall maister, John Paston,[160.5] in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / AUG. 19]
-
-Ryght worthy worshipfull sir, and myn especiall maister, I recomaund
-me to yow, and pray yow wete that I was [yesterdaye atte][160.6]
-. . . .[160.6] my lord Chauncellers[160.7] hous, and there I spake with
-White; and he tolde me that he hadde the letter that ye sewed for from
-. . . . . . . .[161.1] directed to the Lord Moleyns of that substance
-that ye hadde sued to hym for an especiall assise[161.2] and an _oier_
-and _determiner_,[161.3] [and][161.1] . . . . .[161.1] that he shuld
-comaunde his men beyng at Gresham to departe thens, and that the
-profitez thereof shuld be receyved by an endifferent [person][161.1]
-. .[161.1] saufly to be kepte til the right were determyned be twen yow
-and my Lord M., &c., whiche letter White sente forthe [by][161.1] a man
-of my Lord Chaunceller to the Lord Moleyns. And he sent his answer in
-writyng of this substance, that it shuld not like my Lord Chaunceller
-to graunte assise, &c., for als moche as the Lord M. hadde sore be
-laboured in his cuntre to peas and stille the poeple[161.4] there to
-restreyngne them from rysyng, and so he was dayly laboured there abowt
-in the Kynggs servyce, and that considered, he trustid veryly that there
-shuld non assise be graunted to your entent. And he seid forther in his
-answer, if he myght attende to be in Norffolk, and leve the necessary
-servyce that he dede to the Kyng now in Wyltshire, he wolde be but weel
-pleased that ye hadde your assise; for he knewe his title and his
-evydence so good for his part, that he durst weel putte it in my Lord
-Chaunceller, and in what juge he wolde calle to hym. And wher my Lord
-Chaunceller desired hym to avoyde his men from Gresham, he trustid that
-my Lord wolde not desire that, by cause he hadde his possession, and
-that it was his wyffs ryght, and so hym thought it a geynst reason that
-he shuld a voide utterly his possession.
-
-This same Moneday goth my Lord Chaunceller and my Lord of Buk[161.5]
-into Kent to sytte up on an _oier_ and _determyner_[161.6] at
-Rorchestre; and Whyte told me that there is wretyn an generall _oier_
-and _determyner_ to be in Norffolk, and what ther[fore][162.1] and for
-the Lord Moleyns writyng, hym semyth it is not to your avayll to sewe
-for an especiall assise, ne for an _oier_ and _determyner_.
-
-Whan I come hiddirward, I mette with my Lord of Norffolk betwen Berkewey
-and Baburgham homward, and whethir he shall come agayn hiddir or noght I
-wot not, but I trowe rather yes thanne nay; for it is seid that alle the
-Lords be sent for to be here on Moneday or Tuysday next comyng for a
-counseyll.
-
-The Chief Justice[162.2] is not here, ne noon other Justice, except
-Danvers[162.3] is now made Juge of the Comune Place, and is forth into
-Kent with the Lords, &c.
-
-Al this tofore was wretyn on the Moneday next after our Lady day. And
-this same Wednesseday was it told that Shirburgh[162.4] is goon, and we
-have not now a foote of londe in Normandie, and men arn ferd that Calese
-wole be beseged hastily, &c.
-
-Pynchamour shall telle yow by mowthe more thanne I have leyser to write
-now to yow. I wrot to myn em'[162.5] that there were ix. or x. m^l.
-[_nine or ten thousand_] men up in Wiltshire, and I hadde it of the
-report of Whittocks mede; but I trowe it is not so, for here is now
-littel speche therof; ner the lesse, if I here more, I shall sende yow
-worde her after by sum loders that come to Seynt Bertilmews
-[fayre].[162.1]
-
-Wretyn in hast at London, the Wednesseday next after our Lady day, &c.
-
-  Your own symple servaunt,
-
-  JAMES GR.
-
-    [Footnote 160.4: [From Fenn, iii. 86.] The date of this letter
-    is ascertained by the news contained in the last paragraph of
-    the fall of Cherbourg, besides other internal evidence.]
-
-    [Footnote 160.5: 'After John Paston had received this letter,'
-    says Fenn, 'it seems as if he had sent it to my Lord Oxford, for
-    on the back of it, in John Paston's handwriting, is the
-    following direction: "To the rith worspfull and my rith speciall
-    lord, my Lord of Oxenford."']
-
-    [Footnote 160.6: These passages, in which the text is broken by
-    brackets or dots, are indicated by Fenn as illegible in the
-    original.]
-
-    [Footnote 160.7: John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of York,
-    afterwards of Canterbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.1: These passages, in which the text is broken by
-    brackets or dots, are indicated by Fenn as illegible in the
-    original.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.2: A writ directed to the sheriff for recovery of
-    possession of things immoveable, whereof yourself or ancestors
-    have been disseised.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.3: Is a commission especially granted to certain
-    persons for the hearing and determining of causes, and was
-    formerly only in use upon some sudden outrage or insurrection in
-    any place.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.4: These disturbances among the people were the
-    remains of Cade's rebellion, which had been lately
-    suppressed.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.5: Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, fell in
-    the battle of Northampton in July 1460.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.6: These commissions of _oyer_ and _determiner_
-    were to try those who had been concerned in the late rebellion
-    under Cade.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.1: _See_ Note 1, p. 161.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.2: John Hody was at this time Chief Justice of the
-    King's Bench.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.3: Robert Danvers became a Judge of the Common
-    Pleas 14th of August 1450.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.4: Cherbourg surrendered to the French on the 12th
-    August 1450. --_See_ Stevenson's _Reductio Normanniĉ_, p. 367.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.5: 'Quĉre this abbreviated word,' says Fenn. It is
-    probably _eme_, meaning uncle.]
-
-
-132
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[163.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / AUG. 21]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele, and wole and
-pray you that ye dispose your self to be with my Lord of Norffolk in al
-hast goodly, to that intent that where it was desired by dyvers
-gentilmen of this shire[163.2] that I shuld my self a be with his
-Lordship at Framyngham, to excuse me to his Lordship; for truly I haf
-suych writyn to my said Lord for myn excuse, which writyng I send to yow
-by Thomas Denyes, to whome I pray you to gif credens. And the Trinite
-kepe yow. Wretyn at Bury Seynt Edmond, the xxj. day of August.
-
-I pray you to speke with Sir Miles Stapilton and Brewes, and to delyver
-to thaym my lettres, wherof I send you copies, and make Brewes to send
-over a man to me with th'entent of my Lord of Norffolk, and with
-th'effect of your deligens, with a more credible message than Brewes ded
-to my wif; for I had never a wers jurney for a jape in my lif, ne a
-lewder, as ye shal wele conceyve.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 163.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 88.] From the similarity of
-    the contents of this and the two following letters, it is
-    evident that they belong to the same year; and the mention of
-    Thomas Denyes, from whom the Earl of Oxford was afterwards
-    estranged, proves that it must have been before 1454. In the
-    summer of 1450, there was disaffection in Norfolk, which led to
-    the issuing of a special commission of _oyer and terminer_ in
-    September. These three letters may, therefore, have belonged to
-    that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 163.2: 'This shire' should be Suffolk, as the Earl
-    dates from Bury St. Edmunds, but I should think Norfolk was
-    intended, which the Earl had probably just left on his way up to
-    London. Compare next number.]
-
-
-133
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD (?) TO SIR MILES STAPLETON AND THOMAS BREWES[164.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusti and wyth all myn hert intyerly welbelovyd Sir Mylys
-Stapelton, Knyght._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / AUG. 21]
-
-Ryght trusty and wyth all myn hert entierly welbelovyd, I grete yow
-wele, and wol that ye wete that a gentelman of your ally haghe [_hath_]
-ben wyth me, at whos instans and steryng and by hese good avyes I wold
-ful fayne amet [_have met_] wyth yow at Framyngham; but I may no lenger
-abyde here for the strayte comaundment that I have to be wyth the Kyng.
-Wherfore I pray yow to comown wyth Brews and Paston, and to put in
-artycles be ther avyses and be your wysdom the indisposicion of the
-people of this counte, and what were most necesary to be desierid of the
-Kyng and of my Lordis of the Councell for the restreynte of ther
-mourmour and the peas, and to sende it me be the brynger herof, to whom
-I pray yow gef credens. And the Holy Ternyte kepe yow. Wretyn at Wynche,
-the xxj. day of August.
-
-_To my ryght trusty and entierly welbelovyd Thomas Brewes, Squyer._
-
-Ryght trusty and intyerly welbelovid, I grete yow wele. And for as
-mouche as ye were with my wyf at Wynche in the name and behalve of the
-substaunce of the gentelys of this shyer, and cause my wyf to wryte to
-me for to turne agayn into Norffolk, be wheche wrytyng, and be your
-report it semyd to me that a gret asemble had be purposid wythin the
-counte heer. I therfore sayd unto yow, wolyng and mevyng yow aftyr your
-trowth, and as ye know, that ye do put in artycles the indisposicion of
-the people, and what your avyce is to be do for the restreynyng of the
-same; and this articles I pray yow set to your seal, and cause other
-gentelmen with wham ye have comonyng set ther seales, for this is
-necessary, and that I may schew it to the Kyng and to my Lordis of hese
-Councell, and that I fayle not here of for your honeste and myn excuse.
-And the Ternyte kepe yow. Wreten at Wynche, the xxj. day of August.
-
-    [Footnote 164.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The two letters
-    following are from contemporaneous copies written on the same
-    paper. Being dated the same day as the preceding letter of the
-    Earl of Oxford, and addressed to the two persons named in the
-    postscript, we should have every reason to suppose they are the
-    copies there mentioned, were it not for the circumstance that
-    the Earl of Oxford's seat at Wynche, near Lynn, in Norfolk, must
-    have been a good day's journey from Bury St. Edmunds. The
-    internal evidence, however, is in other respects so strong that
-    we have no doubt at all upon the subject. The difficulty as to
-    the date may be accounted for by supposing that these two
-    letters were really written at Wynche the day before, but that
-    the date 21st August was filled in by the Earl at Bury St.
-    Edmunds at the time he despatched his letter of the same date to
-    John Paston.]
-
-
-134
-
-[THE EARL OF OXFORD TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK][165.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / [AUG.]]
-
-Ryght high and myghty Prynce and my right good Lord, I recomaunde me un
-to youre good Lordshep. And for asmouch as I am enformed [that] certeyn
-notable knyghtis and squyers of this counte dispose thaym self to be
-with youre Lordshep in hasty tyme at Fram[yngham], theer to have
-comonyngs with youre good Lordshep for the sad rule and governaunce of
-this counte, wych standyth ryght . . . . . indisposyd, God amend it;
-for qwych sad rule and governaunce to be had I wold full fayn a ben with
-your good [Lordship]. But for asmouch as the Kynge hath geve to me
-straitly in charge to be with hys Highnesse at Westminstre on
-Saterda[y]. . . . . . [I must] departe towards London. Therfore therof I
-beseche your good Lordship that ye vouchesaf to comon with the seyd
-k[nyghtes and squyers] as with your feytfull servaunts; and I trost to
-God to se youre good Lordship at Framyngham as I shall . . . . . And yf
-your Lordshep seme necessary that I now beynge at Westminster shall any
-thynge laboure or des[ire for the rule] and governaunce of the counte
-forsayd, or for reformacion of suche wronge as the peples herts most
-agrugge as . . . . . . . . lyke that I meve to the Kynge and the Lordes
-of the Counceyll, so wyll I meve, and none otherwyse as . . . . . . . .
-Wheryn I beseche your grace to know your entente by the brynger her of.
-And my service is redy to your Lords[hip] . . . . . mercy who kepe who
-kepe[166.1] nebbey (?) for hese grace.
-
-    [Footnote 165.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This would seem by
-    internal evidence to be the letter of excuse written by Oxford
-    to the Duke of Norfolk, which the Earl mentions in his letter to
-    John Paston of the 21st August. The original from which it is
-    taken is a copy without signature or address, and mutilated in
-    the margin.]
-
-    [Footnote 166.1: So in MS.]
-
-
-135
-
-JOHN PASTON AND LORD MOLEYNS[166.2]
-
-_Un to the right reverent fadir in God and my right gracioux Lord, the
-Cardinal Archebisshop of York, Prymat and Chaunceller of Inglond._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?)]
-
-Besecheth mekely John Paston that where Robert Hungerford, Knyght, Lord
-Molens, and Alianore, his wyff, late with force and strength, and grete
-multitude of riottous peple, to the noumbre of a thousand persones and
-mo, gadered by th'excitacion and procuryng of John Heydon[166.3] a yenst
-the Kynggs pees, in riotous maner entred up on your seid besecher and
-othir enfeoffed to his use in the manoir of Gresham with
-th'appurtenaunces in the shire of Norffolk; whiche riotous peple brake,
-dispoiled, and drew doun the place of your seid besecher in the seid
-toun, and drafe out his wiff and servauntes there beyng, and ryfled,
-took, and bare awey alle the goodes and catalx that your seid besecher
-and his servauntes hadde there to the value of cc_li._ [£200] and more;
-and the seid manoir, after the seid riottous entre, kept with strong
-hande in manere of werre, as weel ayenst your seid besecher and his
-feffees, as ayenst oon of the Kyngges justicez of the pees in the seid
-shire, that come thedir to execute the statutes ordeigned and provyded
-ayenst suche forcible entrees and kepyng of possessions with force,
-as it appiereth by recorde of the seid justice certifyed in to the
-Chauncerie; and yet the seid Lord Molens the same manoir kepith with
-force and strengthe ayenst the fourme of the seid statutes: Please it
-your reverent Faderhood and gracioux Lordship, these premisses
-considered, to graunte on to your seid besecher for his feffees by hym
-to be named a special assise[167.1] ayenst the seid Lord Molens,
-Alianore, and John Heidon, and othir to be named by your seid besecher,
-and also an oyer and determyner[167.2] ayenst the seid Lord Molens, John
-Heidon, and othir of the seid riotous peple in like fourme to be named,
-to enquere, here and determyn all trespaces, extorcions, riottes,
-forcible entrees, mayntenaunces,[167.3] champerties,[167.4]
-embraceries,[167.5] offenses, and mesprisions[167.6] by hem or ony of
-hem doen, als weel atte sute of our sovereign Lord the Kyng, as of your
-seid besecher and his seid feffees, and every of hem, or of ony othir of
-the Kyngges lieges: atte reverence of God, and in weye of charite.
-
-    [Footnote 166.2: [Add. Charter 17,239, B.M.] This is a bill
-    addressed to Cardinal Kemp as Lord Chancellor, to which
-    reference will be found to be made in the succeeding letter.
-    Kemp was appointed Lord Chancellor on the 31st January 1450. The
-    acts here complained of were therefore those connected with
-    Paston's second expulsion from Gresham.]
-
-    [Footnote 166.3: John Heydon, Esq. of Baconsthorpe, a lawyer,
-    who was recorder of Norwich from 1431 to 1433, and sheriff in
-    1431-2.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.1: _See_ p. 161, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.2: _See_ p. 161, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.3: Unlawful support given to a disputant by one
-    not concerned in the cause.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.4: Bargains made with litigants for a share in
-    what may be gained by the suit.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.5: Attempts to corrupt juries.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.6: Treason or felony committed by oversight or
-    wilful neglect of a duty.]
-
-
-136
-
-JOHN PASTON TO JAMES GRESHAM[168.1]
-
-_The copie of the letter of J. P._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 4]
-
-James Gresham, I prey yow laboure forth to have answer of my bille for
-myn especial assise, and the oyer and termyner,[168.2] accordyng to my
-seid bille that I delyvered to my Lord Chaunceler,[168.3] letyng hym
-wete that his Lordship conceyved the graunt of suyche a special matier
-myght cause a rumour in the cuntre. Owt of dowte the cuntre is not so
-disposed, for it is desired ageyn suche persones as the c[untre] wolde
-were ponysshid; and if they be not ponysshid to refourme that they have
-do amysse, by liklynesse the cuntre wole rise up on th[em]. Men talke
-that a general oier and termyner is graunted to the Duke of Norfolk, my
-Lord of Ely, the Erll of Oxenford, the Lord Scales, Sir John Fastolf,
-Sir Thomas Fulthorp, and William Yelverton, and men be right glad
-therof. Yet that notwithstondyng, laboure ye forth for me. F[or] in a
-general oyer and termyner a _supersedeas_ may dassh al, and so shall not
-in a special. And also if the justicez come at my request, they shall
-sytte als long as I wole, and so shall thei not by the generall. And as
-for commyssioners in myn, &c., Sir John Fastolf must be pleyntyf als
-weel as I my self, and so he may not be commyssioner; and as for alle
-the remenant, I can thynke them indifferent inow in the matier, except
-my Lord Scales, whos wyff is aunte to the Lady Moleyns.
-
-And as for that the Lord Moleyns hath wretyn that he dar put the matier
-in awarde of my Lord Chaunceler, and in what juge he wole take to hym,
-&c. (which offre as I suppose shall be tolde to yow for to make yow to
-cesse your labour), thanne lete that be answerid, and my Lord
-Chaunceller enfourmed thus: The matier was in trete by th'assent of the
-Lord Moleyns a twene his counseil and myn, whiche assembled at London
-xvj. dyvers dayes, and for the more part there was a sergeant and vj.
-or vij. thrifty apprentisez; at whiche tyme the Lord Moleyns title was
-shewed, and clerly answerid, in so meche that his own counseil seide
-they cowde no forther in the matier, desiryng me to ride to Salesbury to
-the Lord Moleyns, promyttyng of their part that thei wolde moeve the
-Lord Moleyns, so that thei trusted I shuld have myn entent or I come
-thens; of whiche title and answer I send yow a copie that hath be put in
-to the Parlement, the Lord Moleyns being there present, whereto he cowde
-not sey nay. Also by fore this tyme I have agreed to put it in ij.
-juges, so thei wolde determyne by our evydences the right, moevyng
-nother partie to yeve other by ony mene, but only the right determyned,
-he to be fully recompensed that hath right. Whereto he wold not agree,
-but alle tymes wolde that thoe juges shulde entrete the parties as they
-myght be drawe to by offre and profre to my conceyte as men bye hors.
-Whiche matiers considerid, my counseil hath alwey conceyved that the
-tretees he offred hath be to non othir entent but to delaye the matier,
-or ellis to entrete me to relese my damages, for title hath he non. And
-he knowith weel the title shall never better be undirstond thanne it
-hath be by his counseil and myn atte seid comunycacions. And also my
-Lord Chaunceler undirstond that the Lord Moleyns men toke and bar away
-more than cc_li._ [£200] worth of my goodes and catalles. Wherof I
-delyvered hym a bylle of every parcell, wherto al the world knoweth he
-canne make no title. And if he were disposed to do right, my counseil
-thynketh he shuld restore that, for therfor nedith nowthir comunycacion
-nor trete. And with owt he wole restore that, I trowe no man can thynk
-that his trete is to no good purpose.
-
-I preye yow hertily laboure ye so to my Lord Chaunceller that owther he
-wole graunte me my desire, or ellis that he wole denye it. And lete me
-have answer from yow in wrytyng how ye spede. If my Lord Chaunceler hath
-lost my bille that I delyvered hym, wherof I sende yowe a copie, that
-thanne ye put up to hym an othir of the same, takyng a copie to your
-self.
-
-Recomand me to my cosyn William Whyte,[170.1] and prey hym to gyf yow
-his help in this, and lete hym be prevye to this letter. And lete hym
-w[ete] that my cosyn his suster hath childe, a doughter. Wretyn at
-Norwich, the iiij. day of Septembre.
-
-Dyverse men of my freendis avyse me to entre in to the maner of Gresham
-by force of my writte of restitution, whiche I wole not do by cause the
-maner is so decayed by the Lord Moleyns occupacion, that where it was
-worth to me l. marks clerly by yeer, I cowde not now make it worth
-xx_li._; for whiche hurt, and for othir hurtis, by this special assise I
-trust to have remedye.
-
-    [Footnote 168.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident that
-    this letter was written partly in answer to Gresham's of the
-    19th August 1450. The year is therefore the same. The letter is
-    printed from a copy in Gresham's handwriting.]
-
-    [Footnote 168.2: _See_ p. 161, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 168.3: Cardinal Kemp. --_See_ last No.]
-
-    [Footnote 170.1: Cardinal Kemp's servant. --_See_ No. 128.]
-
-
-137
-
-ABSTRACT[170.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, THOMAS GRENE, AND WATKYN SHYPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 7]
-
-Has no word from them of the correction and engrossing of the damages
-done to him by divers men in Norfolk, of part of which he sent a roll to
-them at Castre a month ago. Sends John Bokkyng for an answer. Was often
-damaged by the Duke of Suffolk's officers in Lodylond, both by undue
-amerciaments and distraining cattle at Cotton, and by the officers of
-Cossey, of which there should be remembrances at Castre. Wrote also that
-they should see the Bishop of Norwich about the letter left with him
-concerning the award of Dedham. Is particularly anxious to know what
-they have done about Rydlyngfeld, &c.
-
-  London, 7 Sept. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 170.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 245.]]
-
-
-138
-
-ABSTRACT[171.1]
-
-_Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howys_, at Castre, or at Pokethorp in
-Norwich, or at Haylydon Manor.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 15]
-
-Has received his letter by Thomas Fastolf touching his diligence about
-the recovery of the letter with the Bishop of Norwich, and of the
-evidences of Rydlyngfeld, with a copy of a certain indenture which F.
-has already sealed. Has no answer of the correction of the articles F.
-sent home to him two months ago. As my Lord of Norfolk is at Norwich to
-sit upon the oyer and terminer, you must labor to shew forth my
-grievances. Nothing can be done till after Michaelmas about the _venire
-facias_ for the jury of Sybton. Has written this week by the Parson of
-Estharlyng to Berney, who, he hears, has been shewing favor to his
-adversaries. Refers him further to John Bokkyng, who is now in Norfolk.
-
-  London, 15 Sept. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 171.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 253.]]
-
-
-139
-
-HENRY VI. TO JOHN PASTON[171.2]
-
-_To oure trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Squier._
-
-By the King.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 18]
-
-Trusty and welbeloved, for asmuche as oure right trusty and welbeloved
-the Lord Moleyns is by our special desire and comaundement waitting upon
-us, and now for divers consideracions moeving us, we purpose to sende
-hym in to certaine places for to execute oure commaundement, for the
-whiche he ne may be attendant to be in oure countees of Northfolk and
-Suffolk at the time of oure Commissioners sitting upon oure commission
-of oier determiner within the same oure counties: We therfore desire and
-praye that considering his attendance upon us, and that he must applie
-hym to execute oure commaundement, ye wol respite as for any thing
-attempting ayenst hym as for any matiers that ye have to do or seye
-ayenst hym, or any other of his servants, welwillers, or tenaunts, by
-cause of hym, unto tyme he shal mowe be present to ansuere there unto;
-wherein ye shall ministere unto us cause of pleasure, and over that,
-deserve of us right good thanke. Yeven under oure signet at oure Palois
-of Westmynster, the xviij. day of September.
-
-    [Footnote 171.2: [From Fenn, iii. 362.] The bearing of this
-    letter upon the contents of Nos. 135 and 136 proves it to be of
-    the same year.]
-
-
-140
-
-ABSTRACT[172.1]
-
-THE VICAR OF SPORLE TO JOHN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / SEPT. 29]
-
-Reports the disposition of 'my master,' the Provost. Francis Costard
-brought his evidence to my master's presence, where it was examined. He
-wondered what title you would claim to the land. I said, men said it was
-once free till it was soiled by a bondman. He gave more weight to the
-evidence of John Aleyn and Nicholas Waterman. Aleyn says he was steward
-of the manor, in Garleke's days, forty years, and never knew it claimed
-for bond ground; and the said Nicholas says it was he who moved your
-father to buy the manor. Many others have set their seals to corroborate
-this. Asked him to be good unto Henry Halman, who was amerced in his
-court for chastising a servant of his, a bondman of yours. My master
-asked mockingly if a man might not beat his own wife.
-
-Sporle, Michaelmas morning.
-
-  [This letter would seem to belong to the same year as No. 128, in
-  which 'Costard's _nisi prius_' and an action against Halman are
-  referred to. No. 129 also mentions Halman and the writer of this
-  letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 172.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-141
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[173.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 4]
-
-Right worshipfull and my right good maister, I recomaund me to you. And
-like you wete that it is now . . . . I haf for Danyels sake put my self
-withynne the maner of Rydon; and her is with me a kynnesman [of] my
-mastres your wifes, John Bendyssh. And as yestirday cam John Wodehous
-with a xij. hors to Geyt[on]; on the othre side cometh Fitz William with
-xx. hors; and on the third parte, oon Hoberd of Midelton hath redy a xx.
-felaws; and on the fourth parte, stant the toune of Lynne redy with
-Herry Wodehous; and thei all be gon thedir this nyght. This day folwyng
-cometh to thaym Herry Tudenham, William Narburgh, Thomas Trusbut, Thomas
-Kervile, and Shuldham servauntez, Salesbury and William Owayn. It is so
-that of my lorde[173.2] gete I no socour, and lever I had to dy than gif
-up the place sith I am ther yn. And I wene if thei gete the place upon
-me ther helpith my lif no pardon. Wherfore I lowly beseche yow, maister
-Paston, advertise in your wisdom that this was the first porpose of
-Tudenham and Heydon whils thei regned, to gete this place; and to that
-intent thei brought hider the lord Roos, which now is full simpely
-thought on with my maister that I serve. And ye wete wele that I have
-most encountred the entent of Tudenham and Heydon of ony pouer man on
-lyve; And if I be lost or put to an ungoodly rebuke heryn my service is
-the lesse of valu to you that be gentils of the shire. Wherfore I
-requyre your maistership to come hider in your persone with suych as ye
-seme not to that intent to take party in the mater, but to that intent
-to help to set peas in the shire, and to stire my lord for his honour.
-For yisterday my lord sent to Lynne and made a cry to be made that he
-wold be named in the writ of the statute of Northampton, and that cry
-hath caused the common pople of the toun of Lynne to stere the more.
-Neverthelesse all the substaunce of the toun is in peas and peasid by
-the wisdam of the Meir theer, but not for than sum of thaym come with
-Harry Wodehous, so that I deme he hath a vj^xx. persones in all on all
-sides. I beseche you to send me hider sum socour beside forth, with John
-Osbern and John Lister with thaym, and come ye aftir a parte by your
-good wisdome soukyng (_sic_) their demenynges, and send me your advyse.
-Wretyn the nyght of the Sunday a forn seynt Feithesday.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  THOMAS DENYES.
-
-This day I deme thei come beforn us. If ye help not now, Tudenham and
-Heydon shal achieve in their desese the conquest that thei coude never
-achieve in their prosperite.
-
-    [Footnote 173.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 45.] This is evidently the
-    same year as No. 142, in which William Wayte writes to Paston
-    that Denyes ought to withdraw his garrison from Roydon. The MS.
-    is slightly mutilated at the top in the right-hand corner.]
-
-    [Footnote 173.2: The Earl of Oxford.]
-
-
-142
-
-WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON[174.1]
-
-_To my mayster, John Paston, in ryght gret hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 6]
-
-Syr, and it plese, I was in my Lord of Yorks[174.2] howse, and I herde
-meche thynge more thanne my mayster[174.3] wrytyth un to yow of; I herde
-meche thynge in Fletestrede. But, Sir, my Lord was with the Kynge, and
-he vesaged so the mater that alle the Kynges howshold was and is aferd
-ryght sore; and my seyd Lord hayth putte a bille to the Kynge, and
-desyryd meche thynge, qwych is meche after the Comouns desyre, and all
-is up on justice, and to putte all thos that ben indyted under arest
-with owte suerte or maynpryce, and to be tryed be lawe as lawe wyll;
-in so meche that on Monday Sir William Oldhall was with the Kynge atte
-Westminster more thanne to houres, and hadde of the Kynge good cher. And
-the Kynge desyryd of Sir William Oldhall that he shuld speke to hese
-cosyn York, that he wold be good Lord to John Penycock, and that my Lord
-of York shuld wryte un to hese tenance that they wold suffyr Peny Cocks
-officers go and gader up hys rents fermes with inne the seyd Dukes
-lordsheps. And Sir William Oldhall answherd ayen to the Kynge, and
-preyed hym to hold my Lord escusyd, for thow my Lord wrotte under hese
-seale of hys armes hys tenantez wyll not obeyet; in someche that whanne
-Sir Thomas Hoo mette with my Lord of Zork be yon Sent Albons, the
-Western men felle upon hym, and wold a slayne hym, hadde [not?] Sir
-William Oldhall abe [_have been_], and therfor wold the Westerne men
-affalle up on the seyd Sir William, and akyllyd hym. And so he tolde the
-Kynge.
-
-Sir Borle Jonge and Josse labour sore for Heydon and Tudenham to Sir
-Wilem Oldhall, and profyr more thanne to thowsand pownde for to have
-hese good Lordshep; and therfor it is noon other remedye but late
-Swhafham men be warned to mete with my seyd Lord on Fryday nest comyng
-atte Pykenham on horssebak in the most goodly wyse, and putte sum bylle
-un to my Lord of Sir Thomas Tudenham, Heydon, and Prentys, and crye owte
-on hem, and that all the women of the same town be there also, and crye
-owte on hem also, and calle hem extorcionners, and pray my Lord that he
-wyll do sharp execucyons up on hem. And my mayster counceyll yow that ze
-shuld meve the Meyer and all the Aldermen with all her Comoners to ryde
-ayens my Lord, and that ther ben madde byllez, and putte them up to my
-Lord, and late all the towne cry owte on Heydon, Todenham, Wyndham, and
-Prentys, and of all here fals mayntenours, and telle my Lord how meche
-hurte thei have don to the cetye, and late that be don in the most
-lamentabyl wyse; for, Sir, but yf [_unless_] my Lord here sum fowle
-tales of hem, and sum hyddows noys and crye, by my feyth thei arne ellys
-lyke to come to grace. And therfor, Sir, remember yow of all these
-maters.
-
-Sir, also I spake with William Norwych, and asked hym after the Lord
-Moleyns how he stod to my Lord ward; and he told me he was sor owte of
-grace, and that my Lord of York lovyth hym nought. William Norwych tolde
-me that he durste undertake for to brynge yow un to my Lord, and make
-hym your ryght good Lord; and, Sir, my mayster counceyllyd yow that ze
-shuld not spare, but gete yow hese good Lordshep.
-
-Sir, be war of Heydon, for he wold destroyed yow be my feyth. The Lord
-Scales and Sir William Oldhall arne made frendys.
-
-Sir, labour ze for [to] be knyth of the shire, and speke to my Mayster
-Stapulton[176.1] also that he be yt; Sir, all Swafham, and they be
-warned, wyll zeve yow here voyses. Sir, speke with Thomas Denys, and
-take hese good avys therin. Sir, speke to Denys that he avoyde hys
-garyson atte Rydon, for there is non other remedy but deth for Danyell,
-and for all thos that arne indyted. Sir, labour ze to the Meyer that
-John Dam[176.2] or Will Jenney be burgeys for the cetye of Norwych,
-telle them that he may be yt as well as Yonge is of Brystow, or the
-Recordor is of London, and as the Recordour of Coventre is for the cite
-of Coventre, and it so in many places in Ingland. Also, Sir, thynk on
-Yernemouth that ze ordeyne that John Jenney, or Limnour, or sum good man
-be burgeys for Yernemouth. Ordeyne ze that Jenneys mown ben in the
-Parlement, for they kun seye well.
-
-Sir, it wore wysdam that my Lord of Oxenford wayte on my Lord of Yorke.
-In good feyth, good Sir, thynke on all these maters; meche more I hadde
-to wryte on to yow, yf I kowde a remembryd me, but I hadde no leyser be
-my fyth. Hold me escused of my lewde rude wrytyng. Late John Dam be ware
-for the Lorde Moleyns; and, Sir, late the cetye be ware, for he wyll do
-hem a velony, but yf he may have hese men; and, Sir, yf he come to
-Norwych, look there be redy to wayte up on the Mayer a good fellawshep,
-for it is seyd her that they arne but bestys.
-
-Sir, my mayster bad me wryte un to yow that ze shuld store the Mayer and
-alle the Alderman to crye on my Lord that they mown have justyce of
-these men that be indyted, and that my Lorde wyll speke un to the Kynge
-therof. And, Sir, in divers partes in the town there [_where_] my Lord
-comyth, there wolde be ordeyned many porcions of Comeners to crye on my
-Lord for justice of these men that arne indyted, and telle her nammes,
-in speciall Todenham, Heydon, Wyndham, Prentys. Sir, I cende yow a copy
-of the bylle[177.1] that my Lord of Yorke putte un to the Kynge; and,
-Sir, late copyes go abowte the cetye i now, for the love of God, wy[c]he
-have yow in hese kepyng.
-
-Wretyn on Seynt Feyth daye, in hast.
-
-  Be your Servaunt,
-
-  W. WAYTE.
-
-    [Footnote 174.1: [From Fenn, iii. 154.] This letter must have
-    been written just after the Duke of York came over from Ireland
-    in 1450, when he demanded that justice should be fairly
-    administered against persons accused. A Parliament was summoned,
-    which met on the 6th November, and Sir William Oldhall was
-    chosen as Speaker.]
-
-    [Footnote 174.2: Richard, Duke of York, afterwards Protector,
-    the father of King Edward IV.]
-
-    [Footnote 174.3: The writer was clerk to Judge Yelverton.]
-
-    [Footnote 176.1: Sir Miles Stapleton.]
-
-    [Footnote 176.2: John Dam actually was returned to Parliament
-    for the city of Norwich in November 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 177.1: _See_ next No.]
-
-
-143
-
-RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK, TO KING HENRY VI[177.2]
-
-_Richard, Duke of York, his Peticion to Kyng Henry for the punyshement
-of Treytors, &c._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-Please it your Hyghnes tendirly to consider the grett grutchyng and
-romer that is universaly in this your reame of that justice is nouth
-dewly ministred to such as trespas and offende a yens your lawes, and in
-special of them that ben endited of treson, and other beyng openly
-noysed of the same; wherfore for gret inconveniens that have fallen, and
-grett is lyke to fallen her after in your seid reame, which God defende,
-but if [_unless_] be your Hyghnesse provysion convenable be mad for dew
-reformacion and punyshment in this behalf; Wherfore I, your humble suget
-and lyge man, Richard, Duke of York, willyng as effectually as I kan,
-and desiryng suerte and prosperite of your most roiall person, and
-welfare of this your noble reame, councel and advertyse your excellent,
-for the conversacion [_conservation_] of good tranquillite and pesable
-rewle among all trew sogetts, for to ordeyn and provyde that dewe
-justice be had a yenst all such that ben so endited or openly so noysed:
-wher inne I offre, and wol put me in devour for to execute your
-comaundements in thes premises of such offenders, and redresse of the
-seid mysrewlers to my myth and power. And for the hasty execucion herof,
-lyke it your Hyghnes to dresse your letteres of prevy seale and writts
-to your officers and ministres to do take, and areste all soch persons
-so noysed or endited, of what astatte, degre, or condicion so ever thei
-be, and them to comytte to your Tour of London, or to other your
-prisons, there to abyde with outen bayle or maynprice on to the tyme
-that they be utterly tryed and declared, after the cours of your lawe.
-
-    [Footnote 177.2: [From Fenn, i. 64.] The MS. from which this was
-    printed by Fenn was doubtless the copy of my Lord of York's
-    'bill' which William Wayte sent to John Paston, as mentioned in
-    the end of the last letter.]
-
-
-144
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS AND WILLIAM BARKER[178.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusty freende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe,
-beyng at Castre, and William Barker, in haste, at Castre Yn, by
-Jermuth._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 15]
-
-Ryght trusty and welbelovyd freende, I grete you well. And as for Hygham
-place to be sold, as ye avysen me to bye it at the some of C. mark or
-wythynne, and reserve yn the said payment myne oune dewtee, and pay the
-remenant in wolle to the said Hygham credytes as your lettre makyth
-mencion; I hafe undrestand that William Jenney shall be her thys wek,
-and I shall veele hym how neere it may be sold; for yff the wydow wolle
-sylle it after xiiij. yeer or xv. yeere that it may be leten, sendyth me
-utterly word, for I wolle not melle of it ellys thus avysed. And sende
-ye me word how mech more yn value yn a stoon shall I syle my wolle, and
-how [much?] anothyr chapman wole gefe me for the place when I hafe
-bought it; but after xiiij. yeer I wold by the place.
-
-Wretyn at London, the xv. day of October anno xxix. regni Regis Henrici
-VI.
-
-  J. FASTOLF.
-
-    [Footnote 178.1: [From Fenn, iii. 92.]]
-
-
-145
-
-ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON[179.1]
-
-_To my cosyn, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. (?)]
-
-I recomawnde me un to yow the best wyse I kan. Whanne I cam to Ware,
-ther herd I furst tydynges that the Lord Moleyns shuld come in to
-Norfolk in hast with grette pupyll, and, as on of hys men seyd ther,
-with the vij^xx [_sevenscore_]. Also a man of the Lady Morles[179.2] cam
-thedyr owte of Wyllshire ther thanne, and seyd that the seyd Lord was
-comyng thedyrward with grette pupyll. And atte London a man of hys hedde
-large langage, and seyd that my Lord shuld come to Norffolk, and do
-meche thyng agayns hem that hadde do indite hym and hys men, and also
-for the personyng of hys men atte Norwych. This is sopposyd verely to be
-Heydons werke that wyll sette hym verely to do the utterest ayens yow
-and John Dam in the werst wyse that he can. Ze have both lordshep and
-frendshep in your countre, and also good inow to reciste hym yf he wyll
-do yow wronge, and peraventur that shuld brynge thys matier nyer and
-ende thanne it is now. Whedder it be to done or not, I remitte that to
-youre counceyll.
-
-Also, my Lord[179.3] shall be atte Walsyngham on Sonday nest comynge,
-a from thens he shall go to Norwych. For any thynge in the werd
-[_world_] meve my Lord of Oxenford and my cosyn Sir Miles Stapulton that
-they awayte up on my seyd Lord in the most wurchepfull wyse that they
-kun, and do hym as good attendaunce and plesaunce as they mown. And ye
-do the same also; and that the cyte of Norwych mete with hym in the best
-wyse also; and also that they and ze also cherse and wirchep well Sir
-William Oldhalle. And ther be good informacion made ayens T. T. and
-H.,[180.1] for they wyll spend m^l. m^l. _li._ [£2000] for to come in
-ther, and that were petye. Spende sum what of your good now, and gette
-yow lordshep and frendshep ther, _quia ibi pendet tota lex et prophetĉ_.
-And send som man to aspye of the governaunce, and of the comyng of the
-Lord Moleyns, and take hed to your self. And byd John Dam be war of hym
-self. Sum men suppose that my Lord of York cherse not meche the seyd
-Lord Moleyns. And send sum men hedyr often to London that mown he them
-here and brynge yow tydynges. And I pray God spede yow in alle youre
-werkes.
-
-  Youre Cosyn,
-
-  NAMELES ATTE THIS TYME.
-
-  _Endorsed:_ Literĉ Fastolff, Yelverton, circa le oyrdeterminer.
-  --Memorandum de billa actus justic' apud Walsingham.
-
-    [Footnote 179.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The tone of this
-    letter so closely resembles that of William Wayte of the 6th
-    October 1450, especially in its warnings to Paston and John
-    Damme, and in the information it contains as to Lord Moleyns not
-    being in favour with the Duke of York, that it may be safely
-    inferred to have been written about the same period.]
-
-    [Footnote 179.2: _See_ page 84, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 179.3: Probably the Duke of York.]
-
-    [Footnote 180.1: Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon.]
-
-
-146
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[180.2]
-
-_To my worshipfull Maister Paston, at Norwich, in haste, be this
-delyvered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / [OCT.]]
-
-Please it yow to wete that I come to London the Wednesseday at even late
-next after my departyng from yow, and it was told me that my Maister
-Calthorp hadde writyng fro my Lord of York to awayte on hym at his
-comyng in to Norffolk to be oon of his men, and that no gentilman of
-Norffolk had writyng to awayte on hym but he; and sum folke wene that it
-is to th'entent that he shuld bo outhir shiref or knyght of the shire,
-to the fortheryng of othir folks, &c.
-
-The Kyng is remevid from Westminster, summe men sey to Fysshwick,[181.1]
-and summe sey to Bristowe. And it is seid that he hath do wretyn to alle
-his men that be in the chekroll[181.2] to awayte on hym atte Parlement
-in their best aray; why, no man can telle. Heydon[181.3] was with my
-Maister Yelverton,[181.4] and desired hym to see the recordes of his
-endytementz, and axed of hym if he were indited of felonye; and my
-Maister Yelverton told hym it was. And thereto H. seide 'Sir, ye wole
-recorde that I was never thef;' and he seid he trowed right weel that he
-cowde telle why he took Plumpsteds goods, and othir words whiche were
-long to write. And my Maister Y. seid to hym he cowde not knowe the
-laborer of th'endytement, and H. seid ageyn he knewe weel the laborer
-thereof; and my Maister Y. conceyte is H. ment yow. Wherfor he advyseth
-yow that in onywyse ye make Plumpsted to take apell accordyng; for if he
-so do, thanne is H. barred of his conspirace, and also of his damages,
-though that he be nonnsewed therin, or though it be afterward
-discontynued, &c., and ellis are ye in jopardy of a conspirace, for H.
-hopeth to have the world better to his entent thanne it is nowe. For it
-is told me that rather thanne he shuld fayle of a shiref this yeer
-comyng for his entent, he wole spende m^{l.}_li._ [£1000].
-
-This communicacion be twene them was on Moneday last passed, and on
-Tewisday last passed H. mette with Maister Markham,[181.5] and he tolde
-H. his part how that he levid ungoodly in puttyng awey of his wyff, and
-kept an other, &c.; and therwith he turned pale colour, and seid he
-lyved not but as God was pleased with, ne dede no wrong to no person.
-And therupon Maister Markham reherced how he demened hym a genst men of
-Court, and named yow and Genneye; and H. seid, as touchyng the peple
-that rifled yow, and the doyng thereof, he was not privy therto, for he
-was that tyme here at London; and as touchyng the Lord Moleyns title, H.
-enforced gretly, and seid his title was better thanne yours.
-
-Yisterday was my Maister Yelverton at dyner with my Maister
-Fastolf,[182.1] and there among other thei were avysed that my Maister
-F. shall write to my Lord of Norffolk that he certifie the Kyng and his
-Counseill how the cuntre of N. and S. [_Norfolk and Suffolk_] stonde
-right wildely, withowt a mene may be that justice be hadde, whiche wole
-not be but if a man of gret byrthe and lyflod there be shiref thes yer
-comyng, to lede the peple in most peas; and therto thei named Maister
-Stapilton,[182.2] if it wole happe, &c. Also that my Lord Norffolk shall
-certifie the Kyng and his Counseill that but if the day of the oyer and
-termyner stonde, it wole be full harde, by cause the peple is so wylde.
-
-Also that alle knyghtes and escuyers of the same cuntre shuld certifie
-the same, for summe of H. part have boosted that all . . . . at Norwich
-shuld not be worth an haughe. _Ideo_, &c.
-
-Item, Prentise is now in the Mydle Inne, and Dynne . . . . .
-
-Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after my
-departyng. . . . .
-
-  Your,
-
-  J. GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 180.2: [From Fenn, iii. 94.] This letter, though it
-    has no date except of the day of the week, must have been
-    written about October 1450, after the Duke of York had come over
-    from Ireland, and before the elections for the Parliament which
-    met in November, and the appointment of sheriffs in the
-    different counties for the ensuing year. The references to the
-    affair of Lord Moleyns and to the indictment of Heydon cannot
-    belong to a later year.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.1: In Lancashire, now in the suburbs of Preston.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.2: The check-roll is a roll or book, containing
-    the names of such persons as are attendants, and in pay to the
-    King, or other great men, as their household servants, &c.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.3: _See_ page 166, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.4: William Yelverton, a Justice of the King's
-    Bench.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.5: John Markham, one of the Judges of the King's
-    Bench, who became Chief Justice in 1461.]
-
-    [Footnote 182.1: Sir John Fastolf.]
-
-    [Footnote 182.2: Sir Miles Stapleton.]
-
-  [[he shuld bo outhir shiref or knyght
-    _text unchanged: error for "be"?_]]
-
-
-147
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[183.1]
-
-_To my worshipfull maister, John Paston, Escuyr, dwellynge att Norwich,
-in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-After that myn letter was wretyn, I spak with Maister Yelverton, and
-tolde hym the substance of my letter to yow. And he bad me write to yow
-that as touchyng the matier of my Lord of Oxeford, he shall lette the
-awardyng and th'entre therof als long as he may; and he demyth veryly
-that H. Wodehous coude never have take up on his knowelage to have
-called up on the matier with owt counseil and enformacion of Heydon, and
-it were weel do that my Lord of Oxeford knewe it.
-
-Item, Maister Yelverton told me that the Lord Moleyns was enfourmed that
-he and alle his men wern endited of felonye in Norffolk, whiche caused
-hym and his to be right wroth toward my maister and yow. And Maister
-Yelverton hath tolde a man of the Kyngges Benche called Styrop, whiche
-is a man of the Lord Moleyns, the trouth that nothir he ner noon of his
-is endited, and Stirop is now in to Wiltshire, and shall telle it to the
-Lord M.; for that shall squage weel his hete of wrethe. And as touchyng
-Germyn,[183.2] if he be Shiref, William Genney wole undirtake for hym
-that he shall and wole be ruled weel inow, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 183.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is
-    anonymous, but is in the handwriting of James Gresham. It must
-    have been written in the autumn of the year 1450, while Lord
-    Molyns was in Wiltshire, and when the nomination of John Jermyn
-    as Sheriff of Norfolk was expected, but had not yet been decided
-    on, or at least not known to the writer. It was therefore
-    certainly written after the preceding number, though the latter
-    is probably not the letter to which it was intended to serve as
-    a postscript.]
-
-    [Footnote 183.2: John Jermyn was actually appointed Sheriff in
-    the end of the year 1450.]
-
-
-148
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[184.1]
-
-_To oure trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Squier._
-
-_The Duc of Norffolk._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / OCT. 16]
-
-Right trusti and welbelovid, we grete you well. And forasmoche as oure
-unkill of York and we have fully appoynted and agreed of such ij.
-persones for to be knightes of shire of Norffolk as oure said unkill and
-we thinke convenient and necessarie for the welfare of the said shire,
-we therfor pray you, in oure said unkill name and oures bothe, as ye
-list to stonde in the favour of oure good Lordshipp, that ye make no
-laboure contrarie to oure desire. And God have you in his keping.
-
-Wreten at Bury Seynt Edmondis, the xvj. day of Octobr.
-
-    [Footnote 184.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 92.] This letter and that
-    which follows clearly refer to the same matter. The time of year
-    and the part taken by the Duke of York in the election are
-    circumstances which in themselves create a pretty strong
-    presumption in favour of the year 1450. And this presumption
-    almost becomes a certainty, when we observe that the date of
-    this letter--16th October--was a Friday in that year; for the
-    meeting of York and Norfolk is stated in the next letter to have
-    been on a Thursday and Friday, and this letter would doubtless
-    have been written as soon as a decision had been come to between
-    the two Lords.]
-
-
-149
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[184.2]
-
-_To owr welbeloved John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 18]
-
-Right welbeloved, I grete yow well. And as towchyng for tydyngs, I can
-none, savyng that my Lord of Norffolk met with my Lord of York at Bury
-on Thursday, and there were to gedre til Friday, ix. of the clokke, and
-than they departed. And there a gentilman of my Lord of York toke unto a
-yeman of myn, John Deye, a tokene and a sedell of my Lords entent, whom
-he wold have knyghtts of the shyre, and I sende you a sedell closed of
-their names in this same lettre, wherfore me thynkith wel do to performe
-my Lords entent.
-
-Wretyn the xviijş day of Octobr, at Wynche.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-  _Com. Norff'_, {Sir William Chambirlayn.[185.1]}
-                 {Henry Grey.                }
-
-    [Footnote 184.2: [From Fenn, i. 98.] For evidence of date, see
-    note to preceding letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 185.1: The names actually returned by the Sheriff of
-    Norfolk and Suffolk for this Parliament were--for Norfolk, Sir
-    Miles Stapleton and Henry Gray; for Suffolk, Sir _Roger_
-    Chamberleyn and Sir Edmund Mulso.]
-
-
-150
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[185.2]
-
-_To oure right trusty and welbeloved servaunt, John Paston, Squier._
-
-_The Duc of Norfolk_.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 22]
-
-Right trusti and right welbelovid, we grete yo hertily well, prayng you
-specially that ye will make you redy to awayte upon us at Yippiswich
-toward the Parlement the viij. day of Novembre in youre best aray, with
-as many clenly people as ye may gete for oure worship at this tyme; for
-we will be there like oure estate in oure best wise without any delay.
-Yeven under oure signet in oure Castell of Framlyngham, the xxij. day of
-Octobre.
-
-  [Illustration {signature}]
-
-    [Footnote 185.2: [Douce MS. 393, f. 93.] This letter must have
-    been written either in 1449 or in 1450, in both of which years
-    Parliament met on the 6th of November; and as we have other
-    letters, both of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Oxford,
-    relating to the Parliament of 1450, we are inclined to think
-    this also belongs to the later year. Framlingham, the seat of
-    the Duke of Norfolk, is not more than thirty-two miles from
-    Bury, from which he wrote on the 16th.]
-
-
-151
-
-JOHN DAMME AND JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[186.1]
-
-_To my worshipfull and good maister, John Paston, Escuyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
-
-Please it yow to wete that Sir William Oldhall is chosyn Speker of the
-Parlement, and admytted by the Kyng, &c. Item, the day of oier and
-termyner shall holde at Norwich on Moneday next comyng, and by that
-cause my Lord of Oxenford shall be disported of his comyng to the
-Parlement for to attende to the Sessions of oier, &c.
-
-Item, the Lord Moleyns hadde langage of yow in the Kynggs presence as my
-Maister Yelverton can telle yow by mouthe. Your presence shuld have do
-meche ease here in your own matiers and other, as your weel willers
-thynkyn, and your absence do non ease here; netheles my Maister
-Yelverton shall telle you all, &c.
-
-It is seid here that the Duke of York and the Duke of Norffolk shulln
-not come here this vii. nyght.
-
-Item, it is supposed that an oier and determyner shall come hastily into
-Norwich. William Dynne abydeth therfore.
-
-As touchyng Shirefs, ther arn none chosyn ne named, and as men suppose,
-non shall be chosyn til my Lord of Yorks comyng, &c.
-
-Wretyn in hast at Westminster, Mercur' in Festo Sancti Martini.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  J. D. and GR.
-
-It is apoynted that who shall sue any bille in the Parlement, thei must
-be put into the Commone Hous by for Seint Edmunds day[186.2] atte
-ferthest, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 186.1: [From Fenn, iii. 100.] The date of this letter
-    is determined by the fact mentioned in the first sentence. Sir
-    William Oldhall was chosen Speaker of the Parliament which met
-    on the 6th November 1450. John Damme represented Norwich in this
-    Parliament. Moreover, the date at the end of the letter shows
-    that St. Martin's day fell on Wednesday in the year it was
-    written, which was the case in 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 186.2: 20th November.]
-
-
-152
-
-RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[187.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and most wurschipfull Maistre my Maister John
-Paston the eldre, esquyer, at London in the Inner Tempyll._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
-
-Ryght reverent and my mooste wurschipful maistre, I recommaunde me unto
-youre goode maisterschip. Like you to witte that I have taken astate in
-the londe at Gresham as your maisterschep aviced me; wherfore I besche
-you that ther may be taken an axion in my feffes name and myn a yenst
-Jamys Gatte, as you semeth beest, and as hasty processe as may be had a
-yenst hym, with your goode avice I wold; for what tyme as I had taken
-astate he labored to men of the toun to have putte it in a ward, but I
-wold not tyll I had spoken with your masterschip, &c. Also John Warles
-schal gather the rente and ferme of Basyngham this yere. Item, William
-Smythe schal occupie hes ferme this yere, and Croumer. And as for the
-yeris aftre I have founde a meane that all your landis schall be letten
-as weele as ever they weere in that maner, with helpe of one Robert
-Coole, weche Robert fereth hym sore of the affence weche he ded a yenst
-John Herbynger; for he is informed that your maisterschip hath taken a
-axion a yenst hym, and John Herbynger hath du hym lost in the hundred
-xl_d._, and he hath hym in the scheryffis turne. Wherfore that it like
-you to withdrawe if any axion ye have a yenst hym for he will a bide any
-ij. men award ther aboute; and more over he is the most able man to take
-a ferme of lond that I knowe in your lordeship, and he schal be a gret
-fermour of your the next yere. Ferthermore, ther is on Robert Wyghte,
-otherwise Farbusschour, aftre that your officer of Matelask had seased
-al Lyghtfot catell for suche dwtees as whas owynge the seid Robert
-Wyght, come upon your bonde grounde, and brak doun the gardeyn dike of
-the seid Lyghtfotes and toke a wey a bullok of ij. yere age and hath
-caryed it a wey out of your lordschip; wherfore the tenauntes desireth
-your maisterschip that ye well take an axion a yenst hym that he may be
-punyssched. Item, as for a dey at Mauteby we can non geete, for Wynston
-woll not of it in no wice. And as for tidinges here we here non but my
-lord of Wurcestre lithe at Blakney and kepith housold there in the
-Frieri. Item, Wymondham had entred in to Felbryge and he whas put out be
-the comens and like if had beden to have lost hes heed. My ryght
-wurschipful mastre, All myghty Jhesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten at
-Heyneford on Sein Marteyn Day. Be your pore servaunt and bedman,
-
-  RIC. CALLE.
-
-    [Footnote 187.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 160.] This letter must
-    have been written in 1450. We know already that John Paston
-    recovered possession of Gresham between September 1450 and March
-    1451 (see pp. 170, 219). Here we find that he deputed Richard
-    Calle to take possession for him in November.]
-
-
-153
-
-ABSTRACT[188.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, PARSON OF CASTLECOMBE.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
-
-'Right trusty and welbeloved friends,' I thank you for the quittance of
-Richard Sellyng you have sent me by Worcestre, with a quittance of
-Fauconere for the purchase of Davyngton, and another of Roys for the
-purchase of Tychewell. Ask my cousin Herry Sturmer's wife to search for
-an indenture and other writings between me and Sellyng or Lady
-Wiltshire. As you inform me that Sir Thomas Todenham has sent to John
-Clerc to be at London, you must ask him and his wife to go before the
-bailiffs of Yarmouth, and certify how it was Bysshop's wife did not
-receive the £100 I was ruled to pay her. John Clerc must not come up
-till I send for him.--(_In margin_, 'eyer and determiner.') Special
-labour has been made that Justice Yelverton should not come down this
-Martinmas, but the King and Lords have determined that he shall keep his
-day; 'and the labour that ye, with my cousin Paston, made late to my
-Lord Norfolk was right well avised, in case that the Justice should be
-countermanded.' Urge my friends to do their very best for me now in the
-matters 'labored last at the oyer and terminer,' that they may take a
-worshipful end. Thank Nicholas Bokkyng for what he did about the
-certificate of the jury in the office[188.2] of Tychewell, and beg him
-to get it sealed in time, which will be a great evidence for the
-recovery of my manor. Sends home some horses 'to be occupied in the
-cart.' Commendations to his cousin John Berney.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-Send for William Cole about the accounts, and thank the Parson of
-Haylesdon[189.1] for the three writings of Wiltshire's will and Gorney
-he sent me by Worcester; but say I prayed him to search for more.
-
-London, St. Martin's day.
-
-  [This letter is dated on Martinmas day, at which date in the year
-  1450 it will be seen by the preceding number that Justice Yelverton
-  was going down into Norfolk, and an _oyer and terminer_ was going to
-  be held at Norwich. The reference to the 'office,' or inquisition,
-  of Tychewell also proves the year to be 1450. --_See_ Nos. 162 and
-  164, pp. 199-201.]
-
-    [Footnote 188.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 226.]]
-
-    [Footnote 188.2: An inquisition taken by the escheator of a
-    county by virtue of his office was frequently called an
-    'office.' Its object was to ascertain the King's title to
-    certain lands.]
-
-    [Footnote 189.1: Thomas Hert was presented to Haylesdon by Sir
-    John Fastolf in 1448.]
-
-
-154
-
-JUSTICE YELVERTON TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[189.2]
-
-_A Lettre to Sir John Fastoff from Justice Yelverton._[189.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV.]
-
-My moste worshypfull and best betrusted maister, I recommaund me to yow,
-thankyng yow for manye grete gentlenesse and kyndnesse that ye hafe
-showed unto me, and for the grete ease that I had of your man and your
-horsys also.
-
-As for tydyngs owte of thys contree, here ys a marveyllous disposed
-contree, and manye evylle wylled peple to Sir Thomas Tuddenham and
-Heydon, and but yff they been putt in comfort there by the meene of a
-good shyreve and undreshyreve, they may hafe remedye now by the ordre of
-lawe, and ellys grete inconvenices arn lyke for to folowe ther off.
-Therfor, Sir, for the weele of all our gode contree, mewyth the Kyng, my
-Lord Chaunceller,[190.1] and all othyr Lordes as ye thynk best for thys
-matier on thys behalf.
-
-Also, Sir, yff they noysse me by thee meene of my Lord Scalys, or by
-anye othyr meene, or by onye bylle sewed by Brygg, or by onye othyr man
-by her [_i.e. their_] craft, that it please yow to sey for me yn
-savacion of my pore worshyp, whych I wote well they may not hurt but
-they doo me wrongs, to the Kyng, my Lord Chaunceller, my Lord of
-Wynchester,[190.2] my Lord Cromewell, and in othyr places, as ye semyth,
-that no credence be goven to myne hurt yn myne absence.
-
-Also, Sir, that William Geney and Brayn, the clerks of the Sessions, ben
-hastyed hedreward as well as they may; and, Sir, my cousyn Paston and my
-brothyr Cleere can tell yow moch more thyng that I shuld wryte off to
-yow, and I had leyser; but I shall wythynne short tyme sende yow more
-tydyngs owte of thys contree, by the grace of God, whych hafe yow yn hys
-holye kepyng.
-
-  By your old Servaunt,
-
-  WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justice.
-
-    [Footnote 189.2: [From Fenn, iii. 50.] This would appear to have
-    been written in 1450, just after Yelverton's arrival in Norfolk,
-    whither, it will be seen by the last two letters, he was going
-    in November. The nomination of sheriffs had not yet taken place,
-    and was anxiously expected by many, in the hope that it would
-    lessen the influence of Sir Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon, who had
-    hitherto been very powerful in Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 189.3: This is only an endorsement on the MS., and is
-    not even contemporaneous. The MS. itself is not addressed,
-    being, as shown in the margin, only a copy, marked 'Copia' in
-    the same hand as the document.]
-
-    [Footnote 190.1: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-    [Footnote 190.2: The celebrated William de Waynflete, Bishop of
-    Winchester.]
-
-
-155
-
-JUSTICE YELVERTON TO JOHN BOCKING[190.3]
-
-_To my welbeloved cosyn, John Bockyng._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV.]
-
-Worshipfull and right welbeloved cosyn, I comaunde me to you, prayng you
-to recomaunde me to my Maister Fastolf, and thank hym in my name hertily
-for his man and his hors. And also for to meve hym for that we may have
-a good shereve and a good undershereve that neythir for good favore no
-fere wol returne for the Kyng, ne betwix partie and partie, none othir
-men but such as ar good and trewe, and in no wyse will be forsworne; for
-the pepil here is loth to compleyne til thei here tidynges of a good
-shereve. And that William Jenney and Brayne, the clerk of the Cessions,
-and Thomas Denys, ben hastid hydirward as fast as thei may, and than men
-supposen he nedith not to dowghtyn his materes. And also that my cosyn
-Paston be so hastily holpen in his maters that he may sone come hedir
-ageyn. And also that my maistir be my sheld and my defense ageyns all
-fals noyses and sclaundres meved ayens me by her menes in myn absens.
-
-At Walsyngham, and in othir places in the duche of Lancastre, men shal
-be redy to seche Heydon at hom in his own hous, if he come home; and in
-lyke wyse standith Sir Thomas Tudenham his neighburs to hymward as the
-more part of the pepil seth in this cuntre. His men have told here the
-falsest tales of Sir William Oldhall and of me that evere I herd speke
-of. It wer ful necessarye and profitable to the Kyng and to his pepil
-for to have othir officers in his duche.
-
-Asay how ye can sett hem a werk in the Parlement, for if this maters be
-sped as it is aforn desired, thei ar lyke to be sett a werk here well
-inough, by the grace of God, which have you in holy kepyng.
-
-  By your cosyn,
-
-  WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justice.
-
-    [Footnote 190.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The correspondence of
-    this letter with the last is such as to leave no doubt that they
-    were written at the same period. The MS. is a contemporaneous
-    copy.]
-
-
-156
-
-ABSTRACT[191.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Pastor of Castlecombe, JOHN BOKKYNG, and
-WATKIN SHYPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 23]
-
-Thanks the Parson for a letter by Robert Botiller, and one by John
-Clerc, advising that Bokking and William Jenney be 'in that parties'
-betimes for the _oyer and terminer_. Has received instruction of the
-first purchase of Haylysdon. Is glad John Clerc is come. Much strange
-labour has been made to him by Tasborough and Swolle. Complains of the
-untruth of Appulzerd of Norwich in the Lady Bardolf's matter. A bailly
-of Hikelyng maintains the Prior in his wrong against Fastolf. William
-Barker had a box of evidences of the farm of Lady Bardolf's lands, and a
-deed of Norman's feoffment with evidences of Saxthorp, which cannot be
-found here, and must have been left at Norwich or Castre. Don't forget
-Norman's matter, and the maintainers of the false inquest of Beyton
-Bradwell. Wyndham wants to be friends with me about the Lady Bardolf's
-matter. The master of St. Giles has been with me for the purchase of
-Mundham Maner with appurtenances in Cyselond, and I have agreed with him
-for 200 marks. Don't forget the bailly of Hykelyng, who said I should
-forge [_i.e._ had forged] evidence, &c.
-
-London, 23 Nov. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-  [An extract from the latter part of this letter is printed by
-  Blomefield, _Hist. Norf._ iv. 388-9 (Note 9).]
-
-    [Footnote 191.1: [From an original, sold by Messrs. Puttick and
-    Simpson on the 2nd March 1870.]]
-
-
-157
-
-ABSTRACT[192.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 28]
-
-Power of attorney by John, Cardinal Archbishop of York, and others, to
-John Est and others, including William Worcestre and Geoffrey Sperlyng,
-to deliver seisin to Walter Leyhert, Bishop of Norwich, and others, of
-and in the manor of Mundham, &c.--28 Nov. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-_20 Seals, of which three are lost._
-
-  Endorsed by Blomefield-- 'Sir John Fastolff's Feoffees Release,'
-  &c., with a reference to his _History of Norfolk_, vol. ii. 762
-  (fol. ed.).
-
-    [Footnote 192.1: [From Add. Charter 17,238, B.M.]]
-
-
-158
-
-ABSTRACT[192.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Parson of Castlecombe, WILLIAM JENNEY,
-and JOHN BOKKYNG.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 2]
-
-Thanks them for their diligence. Has respited the matter against Wyndham
-touching the Lady Bardolf till next term, as he offers to come to an
-agreement.[192.3] Is ready to agree with all persons who will find
-sufficient surety, except Sir Thomas Tudenham, Heydon, and _Pykering_
-(_underlined_). Master John Botewright has sent him a letter of great
-loss and damage done by Tudenham and Heydon to the 'comyn' of Swaffham,
-'benymmyng (?) 600 acres lond of her comyn.' Has written to 'my brother
-Yelverton,' and would write also to my Lord of Oxford, but that he is so
-vexed in spirit 'in thys trouble seson,' that at times he cannot abide
-the signing and sealing of a letter. Prays them to see well to the
-accountants and auditors' charges.
-
-London, 2 Dec. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-'And because I might [not] abide till the writing of the matters that I
-commanded Worcester to write, I signed the letter so near the beginning;
-but I will ye tender, nevertheless, my letter and articles for my most
-profit and avail.'
-
-    [Footnote 192.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 235.]]
-
-    [Footnote 192.3: Fastolf's signature is placed here, near the
-    beginning of the letter, after the first paragraph.]
-
-
-159
-
-ABSTRACT[193.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-Memoranda signed by Sir John Fastolf (_mutilated at the head_) viz.
-about the Prior of Hikelyng; that John Ulveston and John Andrew be
-indicted for forging the office of Boyton, as well as for Bradwell in
-Suffolk; Brayn to deliver copies; if they sit in Suffolk, to take heed
-of Sypton's matter. Nicholas Apleyard will doubtless appear to the bill
-of maintenance; so the Prior and Sacristan and Sir H. Inglose must be
-'laboured' to give information. Process against Dynne, Prentis, &c.
-Obligation of 200 marks that Brian Stapleton has in keeping. The Parson
-of Castlecombe to speak with John Emond of Taverham secretly about one
-who pretended title to Dedham, &c. 'That ready word come alway atwix
-Norwich and this of the tidings that are there.' Matter of Margaret
-Brygge, &c. 'That Paston conceive the crossed letter, and say therein to
-my Lady Felbrigg.' To speak to Paston and Jenney about various matters.
-To speak to Reppys 'that he feel my Lord Scales and the Prior of
-Hikelyng jointly if they will yet treat, as my Lord Scales and my master
-were agreed at London,' &c.
-
-  [From the reference to Sypton's matter, it would appear that this
-  paper is a little before the two following in point of date.]
-
-    [Footnote 193.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 277.]]
-
-
-160
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS AND JOHN BOCKING[194.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusty frende and servaunt, Sir Thomas, Parson of
-Castellcombe, and John Bokkyng, at Prynce Inne yn Norwych, or at
-Beklys._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 4]
-
-Ryght trusty and welbelevyd servaunt, I grete you well. And forasmoch as
-I undrestand that on Monday next the oyer and terminer shall be holden
-at Beklys, and ye avysen to sende yow a certificat for cause of the
-forged quytaunce by Sir John Sypton, whych wrytyng I scende you by the
-berer here of, prayng you that ye solicit to my councell that the said
-Sir John Sypton be endited thereuppon, and that ye foryete not Ulveston,
-Andreus, and the othyrs that forged a fals office[194.2] to cast my
-maner of Bradwell yn to the Kyngs hand.
-
-Item, I sende you a copie of Sibieton ple and quytaunce forged to
-grounde your bille by it.
-
-No more for haste, but God kepe you. Wryt at London, iiij. day of
-December, anno xxixş regni Regis H. VI.
-
-Item, Sir John Bukk, Parson of Stratford, physshed my stankys at Dedham,
-and holp brake my damme, destroyed my new mille, and was ayenst me
-allwey at Dedham, to the damage of 20_l._, which may be endyted allso.
-
-Item, he and John Cole hath by force this yeer, and othyr yeers, take
-out off my waters at Dedham, to the nombre of xxiiij. swannys and
-signetts, and I pray you thys be not foryeted.
-
-  J. FASTOLF.
-
-    [Footnote 194.1: [From Fenn, iii. 102.]]
-
-    [Footnote 194.2: _See_ p. 188, Note 2.]
-
-
-161
-
-ABSTRACT[195.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Parson of Castlecombe, and JOHN BOKKING,
-in haste, at Princes Inn, in Norwich.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 5]
-
-As the oyer and terminer in Suffolk is to be on Monday next, desires
-them to get Sir John Sypton indicted for forging the false acquittance,
-and Bury his advocate also. Has inquired of his tenants at Dedham who
-were the chief counsel of breaking his mill-dam, and they say Sir John
-Squyer was chief, but John Waryn was of counsel and court-holder there;
-also Sir John Buk, Parson of Stratton, who fished his stanks, &c. John
-Cole of Stoke has also taken in years past more than twenty of his
-swans. Let them be presented. The late Parson of Cotton got F.'s late
-bailly, Henry Holm (now dead), pledged out by false representations of
-the sufficiency of his bail, &c.
-
-London, 5 Dec. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 195.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 247.]]
-
-
-162
-
-FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS[195.2]
-
-_To my ryght trusty and welbelovyd frendys, Sir Thomas, Parson off
-Castellcombe._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 20]
-
-Ryght trusty frendys, I grete you well. And lete you wete that I have
-resseyved your lettre thys day, which was wryt xv. day of December, and
-undre[stand] well your ryght gode mocions and causes shewed of
-inconvenients that myght fall, yff the shyreve have not a gode
-undreshyreff whyche were not enclynyng to the partie of T. H.[195.3] And
-there as ye meoffe me to wryte to ij. Lordys for the said cause, they be
-both forth to theyr contre, and shall therfor wryte unto hem uppon the
-tenor of your lettrez in that at y can or may, as forre as reson and
-justice wolle, for such an officer as woll not, for no mede, hate, or
-losse, execut[196.1] dewlye his office to the weele of the contre.
-
-Item, the day of thys lettre wrytyng, John Bokkyng ys com to me, and
-hath expressley enformyd me by mouth as by wrytynges the greete labour
-and diligence whych ye have take uppon yow, seth Martismasse, in
-especiall, abowte the expedition of my processe of _oyer and terminer_
-before the Kyngs Commyssioners attained; and I vele ryght well by the
-avauncement of my processe your faithfull diligence, for whych y can you
-ryght gode thank, and trustyng uppon your gode continuance. And seth the
-Commissioners shall sytt at Lynne after the Epiphanye, such of my maters
-as have take none ende, but hang yn processe for deffaut of aunsuer or
-apparaunce of my partie, I pray you that the said maters may be called
-uppon of the new, and dew processe had as ferre as justice and gode
-concience wolle.
-
-Item, it ys so, as I undrestand, that the Lord Scalys woll be at Lynne
-thys Cristmasse, and at the oyer and terminer halden there, and Sir
-Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon wolle appere, of which I am well content;
-and it ys lyke that grete labour and speciall pursute shall be made to
-the Lord Scalys that he wolle meynteyn the said Tuddenham and Heydon in
-all he can or may, and thus I have herd sey. Wherfor such persones as
-have founde hem soore greved by extorcion as I have ben, and have
-processe or wolle hafe processe before the Commissioners, they most
-effectuelly labour to my Lord Oxford, and to my brothyr Zelverton,
-Justice, that they wolle as ferre as justice, reson, and concience do
-that justice may [be] egallie mynistred, and not to wythdrawe theyr
-couragez well sett from the pore peple; for and they hald not the hand
-well and stedfast yn thys mater from hens forth whyle it shall dure, as
-they have herebefore, the pore peple and all the grete part of both
-shyres of Norffolk and Suffolk be destroyed. For it shewyth well by what
-manyfold undewe menys of extorcion they have lyved yn myserie and grete
-pouverte by manye yeers contynewed that the moste part of the comyners
-have litill or nought to meynteyn their menage and housold, ne to pay
-the Kyngs taskys, nothyr theyr rents and servises to the Lordz they be
-tenants un too, as it shewyth daylie to all the world, whych ys overe a
-grete pitie to thynk. And when the said pore peple have be by such
-injuries overladd and so undoon, nedz most the gentlemen that have they
-pore lyvelode amongs hem be gretely minisshed and hyndered of their
-increse and levyng.
-
-Item, where as I undrestand by a lettre sent to me from my welbelovyd
-frende Maister John Botewryght, that grete extorcion have be don by the
-officers of the duchee in takyng awey cxl. acres pasture at Swaffam,
-whych ys of the Kyngs demeynz and of hys enheritaunce as of the duchee
-of Lancaster, for whych pastures, yff it com not ynne ayen, it woll be
-grete disheritaunce to the Kyng, and fynall destruccion of the tenauntes
-there, for whych the said Maistre John desyryth and prayeth of remedie
-yn the name of all the toune of Swaffam. As to thys such as wold here
-the encrese and wellfare of hym, of hys parysshons, and off all thoose
-mysdon untoo, most by the avice of som lerned man to put theyr
-oppressions and grevaunces in wrytyng, well grounded, and as the trouth
-of the mater ys, and that the said wrytyng or bille may be enseled wyth
-the seles of such gentlemen that have lyvebode there, and wyth the men
-that be cowthest knowen,[197.1] and that wrytyng so enseled to be
-directed to the Kyng, and to the Lordz of hys Councell. And then it ys
-and woll be of more credence to the Kyng and the Lordys then a simple
-lettre. And thys doon wyth the labours that they may make there in
-shewyng theyr grevaunces to the Commissioners; and the seid grevaunces
-shewed also here amongs the Kyng and the Lordz, it ys verrayly to thynk
-that they shall be purveyd of a remedie. And foryete not to sende or
-wryte to Maister Botewryght in goodly haste of thys article wyth your
-correccion to be had where the avertisementes of you and my frendz that
-have more particuler knowlege yn such maters.
-
-Item, I have grete mervaylle that yong Jenney, whych ys of my Lord
-Cromewell councell, and Robert Ledam, also off hys councell, and hys man
-be not spoke with there, that they doo not attaine an accion ayenst Sir
-Thomas Tudden[ham], Heydon, and John Gent, whyche have and wold dayly
-labour to disseisse my Lord Cromewell of a knyghten service in Saxthorp,
-which ye have ryght suffisaunt evidenses by an endentures of Kyng Edward
-iij^d dayes enseled, as of Kyng Herry dayes the iiij^the, that the seid
-maner ys hald by the iiij^the part of a knyzt fee[198.1] of my Lord
-Cromewell as of the maner of Tateshale. And the seid Tuddenham and
-Heydon wold after theyr voulente have it hald yn meen of the maner of
-Hetersete, whych sufficient evidenses that ye have specifyeth no thyng
-soo. And I have lost xx^li. yeerly yn approwement[198.2] of my chatell,
-for cause my Lord Cromewell, throw neglicence of hys officers in
-Norffolk, have not meynteyned hys ryght. And there as John Bokkyng seith
-that John Jenney hath no commaundment of my Lord to pursue hys ryght, it
-shewyth off reson that seth he ys of hys councell in especiall for that
-shyre, he ought doo hys ryzt to be savyd and kept of hys dewtee. And
-thertoo he knouyth well that my said Lord hath commaunded hym dyvers
-tymys to take kepe hys ryzt be savyd in thys mater. Wherfor I pray you
-requyre hym on my Lord ys behalf[198.3] to compleyn to Justice at thys
-_oyer_ [_and terminer_ for a] remedie, and that the [bi]lle be made yn
-my Lordys name. And then to . . . . . . have commaundment ryzt sone of
-my Lord eftsonys, and [_i.e._ if] he wolle sende unto hym by suche as
-goth dayly into that contre to Tateshale. And I had send hym hys
-speciall [com]maundment, had he sent me suche word betyme whyle he was
-heere. I pray you remembre ye so John Jenney and Robert Ledham as I have
-no cause to [wri]te more, ne to compleyn to my Lord of theyr necligence.
-
-Item, Sir Parson, where it ys soo that my cosyn Boys ys passed to God,
-whoos soule God assoyle, ye shall fynde amonges my bokes of accomptes at
-Castre, or amonges othyr wrytynges, he owed me money for a ferm he heeld
-of me, as Watkyn Shypdam ys remembred; and also I lent hym xl^s. whych I
-shuld have an obligacion at Castre off, praying you to inquire off thys
-dewteez, and see recuvere may be made off it.
-
-Item, I seende a lettre at thys tyme to my cosyn Wychyngham, to hys
-modre also, for a mater that touchyth my cosyn Robert Fitzrauff ys
-amercement, and the partie also. Whych lettre I woll ye breke to
-undrestand my wrytyng and the substaunce off it the more. And y pray you
-hertly to speke wyth the partie at Norwych as well as wyth my ryght
-welbelovyd cosyn Sir Herry Inglose, and wyth my cosyn Wychyngham assone
-as ye goodly may. And meoffe ye the said mater yn such wyse as your
-discrecioun can well consider that the rathyr the said mater may take a
-gode ende, yff it may be yn ony wyse; yn whych mater ye shall do me
-ryght singler plesyr, and that thys be not slewthed, for taryeng drawth
-perell. I wryte but briefflye, for I . . . . . . . . . .[199.1]
-
-Item, where as Brome ys not well wyllyng yn my maters, whych for the
-wrong takyng and wyth haldyng my shepe I ought take a accioun ayenst
-hym; for declaracioun in whate wyse he dyd it, John Bele my sheperefe
-can enforme you best, for he laboured about the recuvere of it. My Lady
-Norfolk sent me a lettre viij. yere goon, whych I shuld hafe, desyryng
-that the processe I was purposed take ayenst hym shuld be respited, and
-all that reson wold he shuld obbey. I am avysed therfor let som man
-about my Lord Norfolk and my Lady have wetyng, or I begynne. Yhyt I wold
-ye had declaracioun before of the conduyt and grounde of thys mater.
-
-Item, where my cosyn Inglose avyse me fully to take a speciall assise on
-the priorye of Hykelyng for my rent, I have abydden uppon my cosyn
-Paston that he and I shuld take one to ghedyr, and I vele hym no thyng
-spede in it. Let me know how he woll doo thys next terme, for elles am I
-fully avysed to take myne owt, and to traverse all iij. offices[199.2]
-for Beyton, Bradwell, and Tychewell, wyth the help of my frendz, Not
-elles at thys tyme; but I pray you comfort all thoo that fynde hem
-greved to abyde by theyr ryzt, and that ye woll contynew forth for my
-worshup and proffyt as ferre as ryzt wolle. Whych I trust to God shall
-better have hys cours then it hath beforn; who have you in hys kepyng.
-Wryt at London, the xx. day of Decembre anno xxixş regni Regis H. VI.
-
-Item, that thys lettre commaund me to my cosyn John à Berney.
-
-  J. FASTOLF.
-
-(_On the back_)--Item, I have sende ij. lettres to my Lord Erle of
-Oxford, the ton by Robson ys man, a squyer of my Lordys. And the grete
-substaunce of the lettre ys that the issues forfeted may be sent upp be
-tyme to my Lord Tresorer; for there shall be none assignment made, ne
-may not, till it com yn wrytyng; it be don, had it be sent. Grete sute
-ys made to pardon it, but the Kynges Councell woll not suffre it. The
-ij. lettre Nicholas Bokkyng beryth for excuse of my cosyn Inglose,
-because grete labor hath be made to my Lord York ayenst my cosyn Inglose
-and Seggeford, that they shuld endyte the Priour of Walsyngham tenaunt
-yn Salle. Wheruppon my Lord York, unadvertised of the trouth, sent a
-lettre to my Lord Oxford to support the Pryor ys tenaunt ayenst
-Seggeford namely.
-
-Item, I desyre that and John Berney or onye man can mete wyth Dallyng,
-that fals undre eschetor, in onye place proviable, that he may by force
-brought to Castre without damage of hys bodye, and there to be kept yn
-hold, that he may confesse the trouth of the fals office he forged off
-my maner of Tychewell.
-
-Item, forasmoche as ye shall have to doon at Lynne for my maters there
-as for Tychewell and othyr, therfor I wolle that yee doo purvey of gode
-frendys as be aboute Flegg that passen yn jureez, that they may wayt
-uppon yow there at Lynne, and other suche trusty men that ye can ghete
-to spede my processe. And that ye do hem goode chier and cost uppon hem
-after that the case shall requyre. I commyt thys mater to be ruled by
-your wysdom, that it be net forzeten.
-
-    [Footnote 195.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M., and MS. Phillipps,
-    9735, No. 248.] The original of this letter has been torn in
-    two, and the first portion is now among the Paston MSS. in the
-    British Museum, while the latter part is in the library of Sir
-    Thomas Phillipps at Cheltenham.]
-
-    [Footnote 195.3: Tuddenham and Heydon.]
-
-    [Footnote 196.1: 'Forbear to execute' doubtless was intended.]
-
-    [Footnote 197.1: Most publicly known.]
-
-    [Footnote 198.1: A knight's fee was an amount of land sufficient
-    to maintain a knight, and held subject to a knight's service.]
-
-    [Footnote 198.2: _See_ p. 152, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 198.3: Here begins the portion in the Phillipps MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 199.1: Three words indistinct.]
-
-    [Footnote 199.2: _See_ p. 188, Note 2.]
-
-
-163
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[201.1]
-
-_To our welbeloved John Paston._
-
-Th'erl of Oxenford.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 23]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved, we grete you well. And for as moche as the
-qwene and my Lord of York have writyn to us for a matier that is
-depending betwix the toun of Salle and on [_one_] Sechforth of the same
-toune, we pray yow that at such tyme as we purpose yow to be with us now
-this Cristemesse at Wynche that ye lete the sayd Sechforth have wetyng
-ther of, and that he may be with us that same tyme, for diverse matiers
-wich that we have to speke with hym; and that ye fayle not, as we trust
-yow. Wretyn in owr manor of Wynche, the xxiij^ti. day of Decembre.
-
-    [Footnote 201.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 168.] The subject of this
-    letter is evidently referred to in the postscript of the last.]
-
-
-164
-
-ABSTRACT[201.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN BERNEY AND SIR THOMAS HOWYS.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 27]
-
-Begs them to have heed to his matters to be sped on Tuesday after the
-Twelfth, especially 'to labor the jury that was supposed to 'a past in
-the office found for Tychewell,[201.3] that they may appear at Lynne,
-and there make a certificate before my Lord of Oxford, and the Justice
-William Yelverton, that they were never privy nor consenting to such an
-office-finding.' On this an action may be founded against Dallyng, 'the
-false harlot.' Would like Berney rewarded for his labor, if it were
-secretly done, and Dynne also. 'Ye wete what I mean. I pray you see well
-forth, for _Mitte sapientem_, &c.'
-
-London, in haste, St. John's day in Christmas;[201.4] 'for he cam to
-Castre, and there seye myn evydence, and than made the office therby,
-and for Suffolk also, the fals offices found there in likewise, &c.' You
-must sue him to the utmost.
-
-  [The date of this letter is determined by the reference made in it
-  to the Sessions held at Lynn, in the January following, before the
-  Earl of Oxford and Justice Yelverton. --_See_ No. 167. At the foot of
-  the original MS. is this inscription:-- 'Donum Rev. Fra. Blomefield,
-  10 Dec. 1735.']
-
-    [Footnote 201.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 237.]]
-
-    [Footnote 201.3: _See_ No. 153; also _PS._ to No. 162.]
-
-    [Footnote 201.4: This, which is written after the date, would
-    appear to apply to Dallyng.]
-
-
-165
-
-ANONYMOUS TO ----[202.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-I prey zu if ze have any old gownys for lynynges and old schetys and old
-schertys that may non lenger seven zu, I prey zu send hem hom in hast,
-for I must okupye seche thyngis in hast. Wyndham hath medyd the juryorys
-and yaf hem mony that xuld passe on the qwhest be twyn zour modyr and
-hym; if ther myt ben purveyd any mene that it myt ben dasched in cas wer
-that it xuld passe azens zour modyr, it wer a good sport; for than he
-wold ben wode. He sent with his men to the afray iij. gunnys in very
-trowth. I have inquiryd veryly ther after. He is wode wroth that Daniel
-is amrel, for it is told me that on of his men is indytyd in the
-amrellys cort sythyn that Danyel was made amerel. I pray zu bewar in
-qhat felaschep ze ryd qhan ze com homward, for ther gon many fals
-shrewys and thevys in this contre.
-
-Thomas Skipping rod to Londonward on Friday last past in gret hast and
-purposyd hym for to ben at London on Sonday be none on erandys of his
-maysterrys: qhat the cawse is I wote nott. On sent me word her of that
-knowth it for trowth.
-
-    [Footnote 202.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 150.] The date of this
-    letter seems to be towards the close of the year 1450; for
-    though I have not met with the date of Daniel's appointment as
-    Admiral, which would prove the year, it will be seen by the last
-    paragraph of No. 142 that Wyndham was indicted at that time
-    along with Toddenham and Heydon, as one of the makers of
-    disorder in Norfolk.]
-
-
-166
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF[203.1]
-
-  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
-
-Item, that Sir John Ingelose and the Meyer be spoke to for here worship
-that the man weche that herd Heydon seye the langage upon wheche he is
-endyted, be sent heder; for that aught not to be kept prevye but
-oplyshed, seyng any thyng towchyng or sownyng to treson. And, on the
-other part, it is to grett necye (?) to noyse any man with ought cause,
-&c. Hit is not here worship this mater, if hit be trew, is so longe kept
-prevye with theym, &c.
-
-  J. FASTOLFE.
-
-    [Footnote 203.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a mere
-    fragment, containing nothing but the postscript of a letter, the
-    date of which must be either towards the end of the year 1450,
-    or the beginning of 1451. A passage to the same effect will be
-    found in a letter of Fastolf's, written on the 7th January
-    1451.]
-
-
-167
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN JERMYN[203.2]
-
-_To my ryght trusty and intierly welbeloved John Jermyn, Shirreve of
-Norffolk._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 2]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele. And where late
-by the Kyngs comaundment in the tyme of his Parliament, holden now last
-at Westminster, I was in persone at Norwich, holdyng Sessions of oir
-determyner[203.3] with Yelverton, on of the Kyngs Juges, by greet space
-and greet attendaunce, which for to a do with suych diligence in the
-Parliament tyme I wold a be right lothe, but for the pupplyk wele of all
-the shire.
-
-It is also not oute of your remembraunce what indisposicion the Commons
-of bothe countes in the ende of somer last passed wer of, and how the
-Kyng, by the hole advyse of all the greet Councell of Ingland, to sese
-their rumour, send hider his said Commission; and how I have do my part
-therynne, I reporte me to all the world. I here a gruggyng,
-neverthelesse, that trow favour in your office to the pople that hath
-compleyned by many and grete horible billes agayn certeyn persones shuld
-not be shewid at this next Sessions at Lenn, ne ferther in the said
-Comission, which, if it so were, as God defend, myght cause a latter
-errour wurs than the first.
-
-I pray yow, therfore, that ye wole write to me your disposicion how ye
-purpose to be demened, and how I shal take yow for th'execucion of the
-Kyngs Comission, and the pupplik wele of all the shire; and aftir that
-that ye write to me, so wole I take yow, latyng yow wete that I were
-lothe to labour ferther but if I wist that the Commons shuld be easid as
-Godds law wold; and if ony errour grow, the defaute shal not be founde
-in me.
-
-I pray yow more over to gif credence to the berer her of, and the
-Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wynch, the second day of January.
-
-  THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 203.2: [From Fenn, iii. 106.] As this letter was
-    written in the year that John Jermyn was Sheriff of Norfolk, the
-    date must be 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 203.3: _See_ page 161, Note 3.]
-
-
-168
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[204.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolff, Knyght._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / JAN. 2]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele, and pray yow to
-be right sadly advysed of the contynue of a bille of instruccion closid
-her ynne; and therupon, as I trust yow, to comon with suych my Lords of
-the Kyngs Councell as be present now at this tyme, in especiall my Lord
-Chaunceller, and that ye wole send me instruccyon agayn of their avise,
-and how I shal demene me. And the Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn at Wynch,
-the second day of January.
-
-  THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 204.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, which is
-    dated at the same place and on the same day as the preceding,
-    was probably written in the same year also.]
-
-
-169
-
-JOHN BOCKING TO WILLIAM WAYTE[205.1]
-
-_To William Wayte._[205.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 2]
-
-Rith feithful and welbelovyd brother, Wiliam Wayte, I comaunde me to yow
-as the lord may to his tenant, praying you effectualy to recomaunde me
-to my singuler gode mayster and yours, excusyng me that I write not to
-hym, for I dar not envolde me in the same. And as for tydyngs her,
-I certifye you that all is nowght, or will be nowght. The Kyng borweth
-hes expense for Cristemesse; the Kyng of Aragon,[205.3] the Duc of
-Myleyn,[205.4] the Duc of Ostrich,[205.5] the Duc of Burgoyn[205.6]
-wolde ben assistent to us to make a conquest, and nothyng is aunswered,
-ner agreed in maner, save abydyng the grete deliberacon that at the last
-zall spill all to goder, &c.
-
-The Chief Yistice[205.7] hath waited to ben assauted all this sevenyght
-nyghtly in hes hous, but nothing come as yett, the more pite, &c. On
-_oyr and determiner_[205.8] goth in to Kent, and Commissioners my Lord
-the Duc of York, Bouchier, my mayster,[206.1] that will not come there,
-_de prodicionibus_, &c., but Kent praeth hem to hang no men when thei
-come.
-
-Other tydyngs as yett can I non tell you, save Ulveston is Styward of
-the Mydill Inne, and Isley of the Inner Inne, be cause thei wold have
-officz for excuse for dwellyng this tyme from her wyves, &c. Sir
-T. T.[206.2] lost hes primer at the Tour Hill, and sent his man to
-seche [_fetch_ (?)] it, and a good felaw wyshed hit in Norffolk, so he
-wold fetch hit there, &c. Men ween that Norffolk men wer hardier thanne
-thei be.
-
-God graunte, and at the reverence of God help too that an outas[206.3]
-and clamour be made upon the Lord Scalez,[206.4] preying hym for well of
-the cuntre, neyther susteyn ner help hym ner Heydon in no wyse, and that
-ye crye upon my mayster and yours that he obeye not the syrcorar
-[_certiorari_] as yett, as ye may se be hes lettre from my mayster,
-rudely and in hast be me endited, of which I pray excuse, &c. And pray
-Blake[206.5] to do Swafham men sey sum what to the matier.
-
-I wote well T. and H.[206.6] wil not come there at this tyme, as it is
-verily reported, &c. _Mitte sapientem, &c._ Brayn and I shalbe with you
-on Saturday nest at evyn, with the grace of Jesu, to whom I be take you.
-In hast, at London, the ij^de day of Januar.
-
-  By
-
-  J. BOCKYNG.
-
-    [Footnote 205.1: [From Fenn, iii. 134.] The evidence on which
-    this letter has been assigned to the year 1451 will be seen in a
-    footnote.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.2: This is supplied by the Editor, there being no
-    address in the MS. itself.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.3: Alfonso V.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.4: Francis Sforza, one of the most able and
-    successful generals of the time. He was a soldier of fortune, of
-    peasant origin, and succeeded to the Duchy of Milan by his
-    marriage with Bianca Maria, natural daughter of Philip Maria,
-    the preceding Duke, whose interests he had at one time opposed
-    as general of a league formed by the Pope and the Venetian and
-    Florentine Republics against the Duchy.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.5: Albert, surnamed the Prodigal, brother of the
-    Emperor Frederic III.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.6: Philip the Good.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.7: Sir John Fortescue.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.8: A commission of _oyer and terminer_ for Kent
-    and Sussex was issued in December 1450 to Richard, Duke of York,
-    Lord Bourchier, Sir John Fastolf, and others.--Patent Roll, 29
-    Hen. VI. p. 1, m. 16 _indorso_.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.1: Sir John Fastolf, whose servant Bocking was.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.2: Sir Thomas Tuddenham.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.3: An outcry.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.4: _See_ p. 196.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.5: Elsewhere mentioned as bailiff of Swaffham.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.6: Tuddenham and Heydon.]
-
-
-170
-
-WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON[207.1]
-
-_To my Ryght seuere and ryght worchepfull mayster, my mayster Paston, in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 3]
-
-Ryght Reverent and ryght wurchepfull sir, I recomaunde me un to youre
-good maysterchep. Late yow wete that Blake the baly of Swafham cam hom
-from London on the Saterday after that my mayster departed from yow atte
-myn lord of Oxenfordis. And he told my mayster that he cam to London on
-Seint John day atte nyte. And he yede streyt to my lord Chaunceler and
-told my seyd lord that yf the Kyng pardoned sir Thomas Tudenham and
-Heydon her issewes that the shire of Suffolk wold paye no taxe; for what
-nedyth the kynge for to have the taxe of hese pore puple whanne he wyll
-not take hese issues of thos rych extorssioners and oppressours of hese
-puple. And also he told my seyd lord Chaunceler and many more lordes
-that yf the kynge pardon hym or graunted any _supersedeas_, London shuld
-with inne short tyme have as moche for to do as they hadde for to kepe
-London Brygge whanne the Capteyn[207.2] cam thedir; for he told hym that
-ther was up in Norffolk redy to ryse V M^l. comons yf they have not
-execucion of the _oyre_ and _terminer_. And whanne my lord Chaunceler
-herd this he was ryte glade therof, and dede Blake telle all this and
-moche more a forn the kynge and all hese lordes, that they blyssed him
-whanne they herden yt. And yf he hadde not a seyd this they shuld an
-hadd and _supersedeas_ and pardon also, for ther was made a gret
-suggestion that it hadde be don of grette malyce. And so the lord Scales
-meyntenyth Sir Thomas Tudenham in all that he may goodly, but he wyll
-not awow yt; but he shall come don to the _oyre determiner_ sekerly, and
-for to make anende atwex sir T. Tudenham and Swafham; for [he] hayth
-made and genttyl letter un to the parson, the bayly and the inhabitaunce
-of Swafham, and seth that he wyll do hese parte to sette them in reste
-and peas. And so my mayster understande that yf Swafham and he werne
-accorded that thei shuld sette lytyll be Norwych. And therfore my
-mayster prayeth yow that ye wyll speke with the Mayer and hese brethern
-that they purvey that ther be atte Lenn a sufficiaunt fellawshep to
-gedyr, and that ther be madde a grette noyse up on the lord Scales,
-bothe of Tudenham and Heydon, and for all thos that arne of that sekt,
-and that wyse purvyaunce ordenance he hadde how they shull be demened;
-for this same day was the parson of Swafham with my mayster, and they
-arne accorded that ther shall be of here lordshep and sufficiaunt
-fellawshep and they shall have here loggyng atte the Frere Menours atte
-Lenn. And they wyll not assentte to noone ende but as the Cety doyth.
-And it is here avyse that the meyre shuld purveye for hem in sum other
-Freres. For Tudenham and H[eydon] wyll brynge with hem sufficiaunt
-counceyll as any kun they gete in London; And also the Cetye must purvey
-that as many sufficiaunt mene as can be gette or spoke to, that they be
-redy yf it happe of any tryall. Also the Cetye hadde nede to have Sir
-Miles Stapulton ther show they shuld helpe to hese costys. Ware, Sir,
-atte the reverens of God be thenke yow well of all these maters. Blake
-was atte London on Thursday and herd no word of the stretes,[208.1] ne
-of Robson my lord of Oxffordis man, and or Blake cam to London Sir T.
-Terell hadde labored to Sir John Fastolf that Sir T. Tudenham shuld ave
-[been[208.2]] bownde to Sir John Fastolf in foure thowsand pounde to
-stande to hese rule and ordenance; and so whanne Blake cam and deysshsed
-all to gedyr, and so he dede Sir John Fastolf labor to the kynge and to
-the Chaunceler for to lette the _supersedeas_ and the pardon; and ther
-was grette langage atwex Blake and Tudenham; it wor to moche to wryte yt
-un to yow, but he hayth sore noyssed my mayster to the Kynge and to the
-lordes. Also Tudenham is owte of the kynges hows, and Cotton is
-Warderopper, my mayster shall on Monday dyne with. Also, sir, it wore
-grette wysdam that my mayster hadde knowleche atte Walsyngham on Fryday
-nest comyng how the Maire and ze be accorded, for my mayster wyle be
-recaled therafter. William Geney sent un to my mayster for to ascuse hym
-that he shuld not come to Lenn un to the Wedenesday. And, Sir, that were
-agrette hurte bothe to the Cyte of Norwych and for Swafham; and therfor
-my mayster wold that the Mayer shuld send for hym, that he be ther be
-tyme on the Tuesday, and that moo bille be made ayens Tudenham and
-Heydon, what so ever falle. The Holy Gost have you and yours in hese
-kepyng. Wretyn atte Rougham, the Sonday nyte nest after newe zers day in
-hest as it semyth.
-
-  Be your servaunte,
-
-  W. WAYTE.
-
-    [Footnote 207.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 63.] The date of this
-    letter is sufficiently evident.]
-
-    [Footnote 207.2: Jack Cade.]
-
-    [Footnote 208.1: _I.e._ the _estreats_.]
-
-    [Footnote 208.2: Omitted in MS.]
-
-  [[Ryght seuere and ryght worchepfull mayster  _printed "ana"_]]
-
-
-171
-
-ABSTRACT[209.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN A BERNEY AND SIR THOMAS HOWES.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 7]
-
-Sends John Bokkyng on matters to be sped at the oyer and terminer. They
-must remember a _certiorari_ is out of the King's Bench, and a
-_procedendo_ was granted at one time 'for certain which had not appeared
-in the place and pleaded.' Has received all the stuff contained in a
-bill dated 28th November, made by John Davye of Yarmouth, and delivered
-to one Roger Metsharp, master of the little boat called _The Blythe_.
-Wonders they did not send the great ship with malt. Desires provisions
-for Lent by next ship. Remind my cousin Inglos that the man that
-'appeched' Heydon be sent hither, if he dare stand by his words. All the
-indictments against Heydon are not worth a halfpenny. Howes must take
-John à Berney's advice about this matter.
-
-London, Thursday after Twelfth, 29 Hen. VI.
-
-Let all who were on the inquest for Bardolf's matter be indicted,
-whatever it cost.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 209.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 246.]]
-
-
-172
-
-WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON[210.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and ryght worchepfull mayster, my mayster Paston
-in hest posybyll._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 9]
-
-Syr, lyke yt yow to know that my lord Scalys sent hese pursevaunt unto
-my mayster[210.2] on the Twelthe day, that my mayster shuld mete wyth
-hym atte Wynche aforn my Lord of Oxenford on the Thursday nest folwyng.
-And whanne my mayster cam thedyr, he delyvered my mayster a letter from
-my Lord Chauncheler, quych my mayster wyll shew yow atte Lenn. I shuld
-send yow a copy therof, but it is so longe that I had no leyser to wryte
-it. My mayster rode to Walsyngham on the Fryday folwyng, and ther he
-mette with the shereve, and the shereve lyveryd my mayster a letter from
-my Lord of Norffolk, qwych I send yow a copy of. And atte Walsyngham my
-mayster resceyvyd a letter from Osberne youre man. And ther Heydonis man
-made hese avaunte that he was the Justice of the Pease on Caustonheythe;
-and so it semyth be here contenaunce that they trost of a good zere.
-And, Syr, whanne my mayster cam hom on Saterday ther was lyvered my
-mayster a letter from Sir John Fastolf, and a neyther letter cam to me
-from John Bokkynge,[210.3] qwych I send you a copy of. Sir, God send us
-a fayre day atte[210.4] Lenn. And that ther may be pople jnow to crye up
-on the Lord Scales that he mayntene not Sir T. T. and H. in here
-wronges, as the copy of B letter makyth mencion. And, Sir, atte the
-reverens of God, laborth youre materis wysely and secretely, for Wyndam
-noysed yow sore aforn my Lord of Oxenford and my Lorde Scales that ze
-shuld reyse meche puple with grette arey owte of Norwyche. And therfor,
-Sir, late the puple be wysely and manly gydyd in here frekynge and
-demenynge. Also my Lord Scales sent for the parson of Sw[a]fham and
-divers men of the same town to mete with hym aforn my Lord of Oxenford
-the seyd Thursday, for to trete with hem for Sir Thomas Tudenham; and
-ther was the baly of Swafham and Sir Thomas Tudenham prest. And so my
-Lord Scales yave the parson of S. grette langage and to men of same
-towne. Y. and the parson answherd my Lord Scales manly in the best wyse.
-And ther was grette langage twexen Blake the baly and Tudenham prest
-that my lordys and my mayster worne acornberd therof. And so it is lyke
-that my Lord Scales shall make ther no loveday; and so Swafham wylbe
-ther in here best array. Also, Sir, Brygge was atte Walsyngham; and ther
-he craked grette wordes, and seyd to many divers men that it shuld be
-thanked alle tho that labored a yens hem. And he seyd that it worne but
-viij. personys, and yf men be men now it shuld be thanked hym and told
-hym atte Lenn. In the lest wysse he is now with the Lord Scales; the
-Lord Scales wyte Thomas Denyes, John Lyster and me all those
-indytementis. And the Lord Scales seyth that I made all the bylles and
-the panell; and so he is hevy lord to me and to Thomas Denyes. Prentys
-is atte hom with the Lord Scales; the shereve told me that he wyll do
-for the Cyte of Norwych as meche as he may. Sir, I wold ther worne a
-thowsand of good Maudby men to crye owte on Tudenham, Heydon, Prentys
-and Brygge for here falsse exstorciones. Also, Sir, atte the reverens of
-God, make an ende atwexen Sexeford and men of Salle; it lyeth in your
-power. I shall make redy youre forsebyll entres ayens Lenn, with the
-grace of God, Qwych have yow in Hese kepynge. Wretyn atte Rougham on
-Saterday nyte in hest.
-
-Sir, I send yow and lewde letter be Richerd Yenneys. I beseche yow be
-ware to whom ze shew your letters; lete them be brente.--Be your
-servaunt,
-
-  W. WAYTES.
-
-    [Footnote 210.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 230.] This letter was
-    evidently written on the Saturday after the same writer's letter
-    of the 3rd January immediately preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 210.2: Judge Yelverton. He was lord of the manor of
-    Rougham, from which this letter is dated.]
-
-    [Footnote 210.3: No. 169.]
-
-    [Footnote 210.4: _Atte_ repeated in MS.]
-
-
-173
-
-ABSTRACT[212.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THOMAS HOWYS, Clerk, and JOHN BOKKYNG, in haste.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 12]
-
-Begs them to labour his matters, and forget not 'that old shrew,
-Dallyng, for he is sore at my stomach.' Sends by the Parson a
-_procedendo_ against Tudenham, which he has got out with great labour,
-with a letter to my brother Yelverton. 'And as to an assize for
-Hikkelyng, I shall be there on in the beginning of this term; and for
-Tichewell in like wise.' Bokkyng must remind my cousin Inglos about the
-indictments for treason of Heydon, 'that the man might be sent up to
-preve the said matter.' Fears it has slept too long. Wishes his ship
-_The Blythe_ sent to him.
-
-London, 12 Jan. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-Get my Lord [Oxford] and Yelverton to write a letter to Blake of the
-King's house, thanking him for his friendliness to the country; 'and
-forget not that Dallyng be had before my Lord and Yelverton, and make
-his confession before hem, &c. And let the great men that have most
-matters against [him] help somewhat to this good end.'
-
-    [Footnote 212.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 230.]]
-
-
-174
-
-ABSTRACT[212.2]
-
-SIR J. FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS AND JOHN BERNEY at Castre, in hast; or
-at his place in Pokethorp, at Norwich.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 28]
-
-Master Hue Acton has been with him for the new evidences ensealed for
-the manor of Mundham, which F. has sold to the use of the Church of St.
-Giles that he is master of, &c. Thanks them for what they have done for
-him in his causes before the Commissioners of _oyer and terminer_ at
-Lynne, &c. Hears Appulzerd's son expects the inquest of Mancroft in
-Norwich to be reversed. Speak to my cousin Inglose about this. Fastolf's
-audit books. My cousin John Berney puts me in great comfort by seeing to
-the safeguard of my place in my absence. Would be sorry he should be
-injured by having respited his entry into Rokelond Toffts at my request.
-
-Make friends in Norwich against Easter when the _oyer and terminer_ is
-to be held again, for I must proceed in the matter against Appulzerd.
-
-London, 28 Jan. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-Begs them to send his grain and malt in a good vessel, well accompanied,
-with a good wind, as he has had great losses before. Speak to the Mayor
-of Norwich about Appulzerd's matter; 'for there was no city in England
-that I loved and trusted most upon, till they did so unkindly to me and
-against truth in the Lady Bardolf's matter.'
-
-  [This letter is referred to by Blomefield (_Hist. of Norf._ iv. 388,
-  Note 9), and two short extracts are given from the beginning,
-  relating to the Hospital of St. Giles.]
-
-    [Footnote 212.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 236.]]
-
-
-175
-
-MEMORANDA FOR PROSECUTIONS[213.1]
-
-_Prĉsentationes factĉ et fiendĉ in audiendo et determinando._[213.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451]
-
-For as meche as the _oyer and termyner_ is thus restreynyd, not
-vythstandyng the wrytyngs and all the materis utterid be my Lord of
-Oxenford, but if ther folow sumwhat lyke to the perell lyke to be
-conceyved be maters that so wern utterid and be the seyd wrytyngs, ellis
-shall it gretly sowndyn ageyns the worchep and the weel of all the
-personys, lordis, and other that eyther have wreten or utterid owght,
-and lyke wyse of hem in whos name seche materis hath ben utterid, soo
-that hereaftyr, whan they have ryght gret nede to be herd, and to be wel
-spedde, they shul the rather fayle thereof bothen, and here enemyes the
-heyer up and the more bold, &c. And therfore herein men must hold fote
-as manhod woll wyth wysdom; and ellis _novissimus error pejor priori_.
-
-Item, in the cyte of Norwyche must the falshodys and the fals getyngs of
-good ther don ben fowndyn, and thow summ maters ben not presentable, or
-peraventure in seche forme not corigyble ther, yet so that the mater in
-the self be orible and fowle, and so that summe other be sufficient, yet
-it semyth summe men best that all go forthe and be taken, and namely
-[_especially_] in this werd [_world_] that now is, &c.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse must it be in the shier, ther me thynkyt it is reson
-that my Lordys sett bothe the day and the place of the Sessions, and all
-men kepe that wern the robberis at Gresham and to Plumstede, the
-shippyng of wolle ageyn the statute, that is felonye, and the lycence
-than, if ony be, ther shull come to lyght and disputed, and I suppose
-veryly be other statutes and be lawe fownde voyde, and the leveryes that
-Heydon hatht yoven to hem that arn not hese menyall men.
-
-Item, the presonment of John Porter of Blykelyng.
-
-Item, the presonment of John Langman of Swafham.
-
-Item, the presonment of Robert Patgrys of Burnham.
-
-Item, the extorcions in her [_their_] cortes.
-
-Item, the prisonynge of Dallynge, and of hese obligacion mad to Sir
-Thomas Todenham, and howe he was presonyd at Norwyche, at Thetforthe, at
-Lynne, and also of many other that ben don soo too.
-
-Item, to remembre T. Denyes of the tale that Fyncheham told whan he cam
-hom for Sir T. Todeham, that he be ware therof, &c.
-
-Item, for to indyte Pryntys of a voluntary eschete that where on Symond
-Hamond of Patesle wheche was indyted of felonye, and because of hese
-goods he lete hym owte of the castell _anno xvjş Regis nunc_.
-
-Item, for to indyte the same Prentys and William Goodwen of Swafham for
-the robbynge of Geffrey Sowle.
-
-Item, the same Prentys and Goodwyn robbed Thomas Irynge of Myleham _anno
-xxş Regis nunc_.
-
-Item, the same Prentys toke of Wylliam Dallynge at Norwyche v. mark for
-smytynge of of hese feteris whan he was there in preson _anno xixş Regis
-nunc_.
-
-Item, to indyte the baly of Swaffham, T. Todenham, Heydon, Prentys, of
-felonye as excercarys [_accessaries_].
-
-Item, to speke to Feraris for hese mater at Thyrnyng. Item, to indyte a
-cowper at Geyton wheche slow a tenaunt of Danyell at Geyton. Hese name
-is Thomas Dowce that was slayn; and ther kan no man indyte hym, for Sir
-T. Todenham maynteynyth hym, and therfore he were worthy to be indyted
-as excercary, _anno xxvş Regis nunc_.
-
-Item, to indyte Heydon, because he rydyth armyd ayens the statute and
-the commyssion of the peas.
-
-Item, for takyng awey of John of Berneys haborjoun at Walsyngham.
-
-Item, to inquere what they dede to Alexaunder Reve of Cokely Clay.
-
-Item, what they dedyn to Shragger, and to hese sone, for they stokked
-hym and hese sone at Swafham.
-
-Item, what they deden to Gachecroft at Methewold.
-
-Item, to enquere what they deden to a chanon of Ingham; he was arestid,
-and set in prison at Swafham, and [they] dede hym make a obligacioun
-[_forced him to give a bond_].
-
-Item, how that be her comaundment Emond Wyghtton was arestid at Hempton,
-and put in the stokks at Fakenham more than iij. dayis, till he made a
-fyn of v. marks, and yet he spent and yave xl_s._ besyde.
-
-Item, for to endyte Knatesale, John of Woode, Robert of Woode, for
-Ferers mater.
-
-Item, that William Kelynge of Castlelaker under eschetor, how that he
-rydyth armed, and reysith many men ayens the peas; he met wyth the
-Byschop at West Dereham with x. men of armys.
-
-Item, of extorcious amerciaments take of the Prior of Westacre at
-Narforthe and Swafham, and hese man there set openly and shamefully and
-gret oppression in stokks, and a flok of hoggs taken; and be whyche
-appressions and extorcions was the Prior of Westacre compellid to yeven
-Sir T. Todenham a fee of xl_s._ a yere, and to make Shuldam her styward,
-and yeven hym a fee of xl_s._ a yere there. W. Yelverton and all other
-aforn hym had but xxvj_s._ viij_d._; but of these and of many mo wers it
-is a gret foly to laboren in as for any indytements, but if ye be ryght
-seker of the sherefes office; for if he lyst, he may returne men i nowe
-of Swafham, and seche as ye wold have for the enquest of the hunderid,
-and it is the more to drede of the undyrschereff that they arn asented,
-and drawe all aftyr her draught. And that they wold that no sessions
-shuld be because of the massage that he sent to my mayster be Nicholas
-Dowyldays clerks, and therfore ther must be the begynnynge of all these
-maters, as ye wold save your worchepis, and eschewe shame and the
-peryll, &c.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-(_At the bottom of the page_)--M^dm of [_blank_] groond and of the
-extorcions of Sporlle.
-
-  On the back of this document occur the following further memoranda
-  in two columns:
-
-_Maters sterid to hurt of both parties._
-
-  Sir John Fastolf,} Est'.[216.2]
-  Bisshoppis Wif.  }
-
-  The Priour of Norwich,}
-  The Cite.             }
-
-  The Abbot of Wendlyng,} Est'.
-  The Cite.             }
-
-  The Abbot of Leiston,} Est'.
-  William Jeney.       }
-
-  Gregory Guybon,     }
-  --[216.3] Perpoynt. }
-
-  John Tatleshale, }
-  Robert Mortymer. }
-
-  The Lady Bardolf,}
-  Sir John Fastolf.}
-
-  The Lord Moleyns,}
-  John Paston.     }
-
-_Ambidexter._[216.1]
-
-  Dux Norff.} Stockton,
-  Dux Suff. }   Est'.
-
-  Ed. Wynter, }
-  John Mariot.}
-
-  Ferrers,    } Est'.
-  Hobbes Wif. }
-
-  Prior Walsyngham,} Est'.
-  Ric. Doget.      }
-
-  Mondford,} Est'.
-  Danyell. }
-
-  Sir John Curson,   } Est'.
-  Maister John Selet.}
-
-  Sir John Curson,} Est'.
-  Will. Thurton.  }
-
-    [Footnote 213.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper must belong
-    to the early part of the year 1451, when it was proposed to
-    indict Tuddenham and Heydon at Norwich.]
-
-    [Footnote 213.2: This title is taken from a contemporaneous
-    endorsement.]
-
-    [Footnote 216.1: This term is applied to a juror who receives
-    money of both parties in a suit.]
-
-    [Footnote 216.2: This abbreviated word is probably _Estreat_,
-    indicating that an extract or official copy of the indictment
-    had been made.]
-
-    [Footnote 216.3: Blank in MS.]
-
-
-176
-
-OPPRESSIONS OF TUDDENHAM AND HEYDON[216.4]
-
-These be names of men that arne myschevesly oppressed and wronged by Sir
-T. Tudenham and Heydon and here adherentes:--
-
-  Yelverton.
-  Fastolf.
-  Gregorius Gybon.
-  Joh. Maryot.
-  Paston.
-  Ferrers.
-  Berney.
-  Straunge.
-  Framyngham.
-  Trenchemer.
-  Joh. Jenney, Senior.
-  Joh. Damme.
-  Nicholaus Grome.
-  Joh. Ode.
-  Joh. Knevet.
-  Robert Clyfton.
-  Thomas Hypgame.
-  Homines de Swafham.
-  Joh. atte Howe of Helloughton.
-  Simon Blake.
-  Joh. Botwryghe, Clerk.
-  Item, many men indyted in Norffolk and Suffolk be Tudenham and
-    Heydon, &c.
-  Ric. Wryght of Saham.
-
-    [Footnote 216.4: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper no doubt
-    belongs to the same period as the last.]
-
-  [[_The intended order of the list is ambiguous. The names _Yelverton,
-  Fastolf, // Paston_ and _Gybon, Maryot, // Ferrers_ were shown in
-  two columns straddling a page break, followed by the remaining names
-  in a single column._]]
-
-
-177
-
-FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON[217.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?)]
-
-Primo. Sciat vestra veneranda discretio quod Episcopus hujus diocesis
-est Thomĉ Danyell et suis fautoribus maxime benevolus et in ipso
-episcopo T. T., J. H.,[217.2] et suis complicibus est ipsius confidentia
-maxima, &c.
-
-2ş Si justiciarii pacis hujus comitatus omnes et singuli debeant sua
-autoritate pacis media pro eorum posse per totum Norfolch. comitatum
-diligenter conservare et pacis ejusdem perturbatores carceri vel castro
-proprio mancipari facere, quĉritur quare dictus episcopus, pacis,
-ut creditur, justiciarius, non vult in hac parte hujusmodi pacis
-perturbatoribus resistere; sed magis eisdem in talibus insolenciis
-favorem et auxilium in omnibus prĉbere.
-
-3ş Si quĉrantur consiliarii dicti Episcopi, certum est quod Prior
-monachorum, M. J. Celot, J. Bulman, T. T.,[218.1] J. H.,[218.2] J.
-W.,[218.3] Johannes Yates cum consimilibus ceteris sunt etiam
-consiliarii dicti Danielis.
-
-4ş Cum, secundum Apostolum,[218.4] furta, homicidia et talia vicia eis
-similia sunt abhominabilia Deo et hominibus, ac utriusque legis divinĉ
-et humanĉ contraria sacratis sanccionibus, in tantum quod non solum qui
-talia agunt digni sunt morte, sed etiam qui conscenciunt agentibus; ex
-quibus certe verisimiliter concluditur quod non solum Kervere, latro, et
-Daniel famulus, furator equi ac murre satis notorius, puniretur una cum
-fautoribus ejus.
-
-5ş Vestra discretio dicta Christi in Ewangelio diligenter consideret,
-'Si in viridi ligno hĉc faciant, in arido quid fiet?'[218.5]
-
-6ş Non solum hĉc pensare debetis pro vestrĉ personĉ defensione seu
-vestrĉ familiĉ, sed magis movere vos debet zelus et amor rei publice
-totius vestrĉ patriĉ.
-
-7ş Si ista indilate et cum omni possibili celeritate citius non
-reformaveritis, timendum valde supponitur de insurreccione plebis, quod
-absit omnino.
-
-8ş Novitque discretio vestra ex paucis indigestis plura politice
-percipere. Statui pro prĉsenti tempore finem scribendi imponere.
-
-    [Footnote 217.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 158.] This undated letter
-    may have been written in February or March 1451, when Tuddenham
-    and Heydon hoped to regain their ascendency. Though not
-    addressed, we may presume that it was written to John Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 217.2: Sir Thomas Tuddenham and John Heydon.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.1: Sir Thomas Tuddenham.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.2: John Heydon.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.3: John Wyndham.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.4: The reference appears to be to Romans i.
-    29-32.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.5: Luke xxiii. 31.]
-
-
-178
-
-JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[219.1]
-
-_To my right reverente and wurchepfull Mayster, John Paston, Esquyer,
-be this delivered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 1]
-
-Right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, I recomand me to you, besechyng you
-to wete that Wharles told me that Partrych seid that his lord[219.2]
-knewe wele that ye were entred pesibilly in the maner of Gresham; where
-fore, he seid, thow the tenauntes and fermors pay you the rents and
-fermes the tyme that ye be in possession, his seid lord, thow he entre
-ageyn, wuld never aske it them. Item, the seid Partrych seid to Wharles
-that his lord wull come down hym self and entre in the seid maner within
-short tyme. Wharles wull not discharge your baly of xvvj_s._ and
-viij_d._, which he toke the seid baly enseled in a purs. The seid
-Wharles told my mayster, John of Berney, at the court, that he repented
-hym that he payd you any peny till he had be distreyned; and he seid
-than pleynly that he wull nomore pay till he were distreyned. I have be
-there divers tymes for to distreyn hym, and I cowde never do it but if
-[_unless_] I wuld a distreyned hym in his moders hous, and there I durst
-not for her cursyng. The baly of the hundred told me that Wharles spake
-to hym in cas he had be distreyned that he wold have gete hym a replevy;
-and the baly bad hym kete a replevy of his mayster and he wold serve it.
-
-Item, the maner londs at Gresham, with othre tenaunts londs that be
-fallyn in your hands ben letyn to ferme. I can gete no tenaunte to dwell
-in the maner hous. And if the rede shuld be caryed thens, the tenaunts
-shuld thynk that ye fered sum new entre, and it shuld sore discomfort
-hem, for thei whisshed whan it was caried to the maner that it had be
-leyd ther thus pesibly ij. yer afore. Asfor the obligacyon that ye shuld
-have of the parson of Cressyngham, he seth he cam never at Cressyngham
-syth he spake with you, and that he be heste it you not till
-Fastyngong.[220.1] His hors ben stolyn, and therfore he may not ryde.
-
-Item, Gonnore kept a court at Routon the Thursday[220.2] next after
-Seynt Mathy[220.3] the Appostell, and it was told me that Bettes was
-ther with hym; wherefore I rode theder. And be cause that it was a
-fraunchised town and within the Duchye,[220.4] and also that Gonnor had
-gret rewle in the seid town, I toke with me the baly of the hundred and
-set hym with me in my Lord of Norffolks warant, and than yede in to the
-court ther as Gonnor and Bettes wern. The seid baly told Gonnor of this
-warant, and Gonnor rebuked hym so that he durst not a rest the seid
-Bettes. Than I toke it up on me and arested hym myself as he sate be
-Gonnor. Gonnor desired than to se my warant, and I shewed it hym, and he
-seid he wold obey it as the lawe wold. And he proferyd me suerte, men of
-the seid town of Routon. Than I told hym, and [_i.e._ if] he wold be
-bownd hym self with othre I would agre ther to, but I wuld have no
-shipmen that had nought, ner such men that rought [_cared_] never, and
-thei were onys on the see, wheder thei come ageyn or noght. Than Bettes
-toke Gonnor a _supersedias_ that he had of Wychyngham twelmoneth ago for
-anothre man that asked suerte of the seid Bettes. I wold have had it,
-and he wold not lete me have it, ner shewe it me but in his hands. Than
-I told hym that it was noght, and he seid it was gode i nowe. I bad hym
-take it me for my discharge, and he seid pleynly I shuld not have it.
-Than I told hym I wold have my prisoner. The seid Gonnor seid I shuld
-not have hym, and dede set alle the tenaunts up on me and made a gret
-noyse, and seydyn alle pleynly I shuld not have hym yf he wold abyde
-with hem. Than I told Gonnor that I shuld certifie a rescuse, and prayd
-the baly of the hundred that he wold record the same. Item, the seid
-Gonnor seid I myght have favoryd the seid Bettes the more be cause the
-seid Bettes was my mayster Stapylton man, and that his men shuld not be
-bownd and I shuld go lose. He seid I shuld be tyed or aght longe and
-alle my feleshep bothyn; but, God yeld hym, he hath yovyn me iiij. days
-respyte. Than I told hym it shuld never ly in his power to bynde me, ner
-non of my feleshep so fast but that it shuld be in your power to make
-hym to losyn us, and if that he abode in Norffolk he shuld be made to
-seke the skyrts of his sadill or Esterne. And if he had kept his wey
-that nyght I shuld have kept hym trewe covenaunte, for I lay on wayte up
-on hym on the heth as he shuld have comen humward, and if I myght have
-met with hym I shuld have had Bettes from hym; but he had leyd such
-wetche that he had aspied us or he cam fully at us; and he remembered
-Wyndhams manhood, that iiij. swyft fete were better than ij. hands, and
-he toke his hors with the spores and rode to Felbrygge Hall as fast as
-he myght rydyn, and I suppose he lay ther all that nyght.
-
-Item, the seid Gonnor manased and thret John of Beston for he wuld not
-warn hym her of; and he dede sease alle his lond in Routon, and warned
-hym that he shuld not occupy his lyme kyll ner no lond that he had in
-Routon; and he mad his avaunte whan I was gon, if that I had not brought
-the baly of the hundred with me I shuld never have go thens; and yet,
-not withstandyng that I brought the baly with me, and thei had wust
-where myn hors had stond I shuld have be wele betyn. All this language
-had thei whan that I was gon.
-
-Item, the seid Gonnor seid after that I was gon to the tenaunts of the
-seid town, that his _supersedias_ was noght, and as for the rescuse, he
-shuld purvey a mene to excuse it. Where fore and it pleasyd you to send
-my mastres word how that I shuld be demened with the seid Bettes, and
-wheder that ye wuld I shuld a rest hym ageyn or nought, and to purvey
-such a mene for Gonnor that he myght ley his bost, it shuld be gret
-comfort to all yowr frendes and tenauntes ther abowtyn.
-
-Item, I have be at my mayster Stapilton with your writtes, and he made
-it right straunge for to ensele hem. He seid that he knew of nown such
-inquiscion takyn at Swafham beforn hym; he seid if it were presented
-ther, it was presented in his absens, whill that he was in his inne;
-wherfore he seid he wold not ensele hem till he sey the bokes. Whan I
-had answeryd hym ther to, than he seid he wold comown with my mayster
-Yelverton her of whan he come home, and til he had spok with hym he wold
-not ensele hem. I told hym my mayster Yelverton had enseled hem. Thann
-he seid he knew not my mayster Yelverton seale. He shewed it to Gonnor,
-and asked hym wheder it was his seall or noght. Gonnor seid it was his
-sealle. Than my mayster Stapilton brake ought of this mater and spake to
-me of the a restyng of Bettes and makyng of affray up on Gonnor. He seid
-Gonnor cam to hym to compleyn up on me. I told hym that Gonnor had
-enformed hym as it plesyd hym, for I had yove hym no cause to compleyn
-of me, and if it pleased hym to her myn excuse he shuld fynd me in no
-defaute. Whan he had herd myn excuse, he cowde not blame me. Meche othre
-langage we had, for I was with hym ner an ower. Than he asked me wheder
-the inquisicion was taken be fore the justice of the peas or the justice
-of the _oyer determyner_. I told hym be for the justic of the peas, for
-I seid it was the cessyons of the peas at Swafham. Than he bad me put up
-my warants, for he seid he wold not ensele hem till he had comowned with
-my maister Yelverton. I told hym it shuld not nede to comown with my
-mayster Yelverton, ner labor hym therfore, for I seid it myght not hurt
-thow he enseled hem not; for I seid the writts were executed, and that
-the shereff had mad ought warants of them, and his warants were
-executed, and so the seid writts shuld stand you in litill avayll, save
-only, I told hym, ye desiryd his sealle, because it was fownd before
-othre lords with hym, and that he stode in the _teste_ of the said
-writts, and that was cause of my comyng theder. Than he wend I had comyn
-for to assayn hym, for forthwith he enseled hem, but me thynk be his
-langage he hath be labored of the toder part.
-
-Item, and it pleased your gode maystershep to gete of my mayster
-Yelverton a _supersedias_ for John Osborn and an othre for me. We
-suppose that Gonnor and Bettes wull do us arest, and we wuld the
-_supersedias_ that we haue ought of the Chauncery were kept till more
-nede were. My mastres[222.1] recomand her to you, and prayth you to hold
-her excused that she write yow no letter, for myche of the mater that
-she shuld have wrete to you I had wrete in my letter or she knew ther
-of; and also she knew not of so redy a massanger as I had. And it plesyd
-your gode maystershep to send us a pardon for to assoylyn Gonnor this
-holy tyme of Lentyn, the rather be cause of this gret bulle,[223.1] we
-shuld leve in the more reste and peas, and kepe the more our pacyence
-than we do. The Holy Trynyte have you in His kepyng. Wretyn on the
-Monday next after Seynt Mathie[223.2] the Appostell, in hast.
-
-  Your pore servaunte,
-
-  JAMES GLOYS.
-
-    [Footnote 219.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was
-    written in the spring of 1451, when John Paston had re-entered
-    Gresham.]
-
-    [Footnote 219.2: Lord Molyns.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.1: Fastingong, or Shrove Tuesday, fell upon the
-    9th March in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.2: 25th February.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.3: St. Matthias, whose day was the 24th February.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.4: The Duchy of Lancaster.]
-
-    [Footnote 222.1: Margaret Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 223.1: Probably a bull of indulgence issued at the
-    close of the year of jubilee 1450, for the benefit of those who
-    had not been able to visit Rome that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 223.2: St. Matthias. His day was the 24th February.]
-
-
-179
-
-JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[223.3]
-
-_To my right reverent and wurchepfull mayster, John Paston, Esquyer,
-be this delivered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 2]
-
-Right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, I recomaund me to you, prayng you to
-wete that I have labored divers men that ben enpaneld atwix my mastres,
-your moder, and Wyndham.[223.4] Ther be many of them woll do her parte,
-and ther ben summe that wull not passe ther upon, for thei ben aferd
-that the werd [_world_] shuld turne. It is noysed in Norwhich that my
-Lord of Oxenford, my mayster Yelverton, and ye, and John Damme shuld be
-endited in Kent for mayntenaunce of the _oyer determyner_ in Norffolk;
-and this, with othre feryth sore men of Norwhich. I trow my mastres
-writyth to you here of more clerly. Item, Wyndham hath be divers tymes
-at my mastres Cler, and mad hym erands to her, and told her that he was
-sued in my mastres, your moders name but he supposyd that she knew not
-there of. He thought that ye and James Gresham had do it un malyce, my
-mastres your moders unknowyng. But whan he knew that I labored the
-enqueste, than he sent my mastres Clere word how that he knew wele that
-it was my mastres your moders labore. Item, he told my Lady of
-Morle[224.1] of this sute, and he seid that he wend that my seid lady
-had mad an hend a twix them for the seid sute. Item, Heydons men brought
-his awyn hors and his sadyll thourgh Aylsham on Monday, and thei comyn
-in at the Busshoppes gates at Norwhich and comyn over Tomelond and in to
-the Abbey. Thei a bedyn there all that nyght, and ij. days after, wenyng
-to men of the town that Heydon had go over the fery, and so in to the
-Abbey; and sythyn thei seid thei shuld go to London for Heydon. Item,
-sum seyn that Heydon shuld be mad a knyght, and myche othre langage ther
-is which causyth men to ben aferd, wenyng that he shuld have a rewle
-ageyn. Item, there were ij. men at John Betes of Holt; thei had langage
-of the Lord Moleyns. If it please yow to enquere of Symond, brynger of
-this letter, he shall enforme you of her langage. Item, Gonnor was
-wetched at Felbrygge Halle with xl. persones of the Lady
-Felbryggs[224.2] tenaunts and mor that night that I lay on wayte up on
-hym, and he durst not go home on the next day till they brought hym
-home. Thei mad a compleynt to my Lady Felbrygge, and my mastres had
-excused it. Item, the manase Burflet, and wull sease his lond. Symond
-shall telle yow how thei wer answered. Item, as for the subsidy that Sir
-Herry I[nglos] and the Lady Felbrygge shuld payn, the meyr knowe not yet
-veryly what thei schuld pay, for thei have not cast the valew of her
-londs. The bill closyd in this letter maketh mensyon of the valew of
-divers gentelmens londs that [ben] examyned in Norwhich. We can not know
-what Calthorp payth, for we can not speke with the shereffe, ner the
-undre [shereffe], ner no man that gadered that hundred ther as Calthorp
-dwellytht. The Holy Trynyte have you in his kepyng. Wr[etyn] the Tuesday
-next after Seynt Mathie,[225.1] in hast.
-
-  Your pore servaunt,
-
-  JAMES GLO[YS].
-
-    [Footnote 223.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From what it mentions
-    about Gonnor, this letter will be seen to be of the same year as
-    the last. The fears entertained of Heydon recovering his
-    influence are also indicative of the spring of 1451. The letter
-    is slightly mutilated in the margin at the bottom.]
-
-    [Footnote 223.4: John Wyndham, Esq. of Felbrigg.]
-
-    [Footnote 224.1: _See_ p. 84, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 224.2: Catherine, widow of Sir Simon Felbrigg, was
-    lady of the manor of Felbrigg, of which Wyndham only had the
-    lease at this time, though he afterwards became the
-    proprietor. --_See_ Blomefield, viii. 112.]
-
-    [Footnote 225.1: St. Matthias. --_See_ p. 223, Note 2.]
-
-
-180
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[225.2]
-
-_To my rith wurshepfull hosbond, Jon Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 3]
-
-Rith worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying you to wete
-that ther is a gret noyse in this town, that my Lord of Oxforth and
-Yelverton and ye ben endytid in Kent for mayntenyng of the oyer
-determyner; and Jon Dame is endytyd ther also of treson, be cawse that
-he dede Heydon endytyn[225.3] of treson for takyng down of the quarter
-of the man. And the pepyll that ben ayens Ser Thomas Todenham and Heydon
-ben sore aferd be cawse of this noyse, and of other langage that is had
-bothe in this town and in the contre, that these seyd Todenham and
-Heydon shuld ben as well at ese, and have as grett rewill as ever they
-hadde.
-
-Jamys Gloys tellith me that he hath sent yow word of Heydonys hors and
-of other thyngs, mor of whiche I was purposid to asent yow word of. The
-Holy Trinyte have yow in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwiche, the Weddenysday
-next after Seynt Mathy.[225.1]
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 225.1: St. Matthias. --_See_ p. 223, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 225.2: [From Fenn, iii. 288.] It will be seen that
-    this letter contains a distinct reference to the last which was
-    written the day before it. Indeed, the information contained in
-    this letter is nearly all anticipated in that of Gloys.]
-
-    [Footnote 225.3: _i.e._ caused Heydon to be indicted.]
-
-
-181
-
-DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[226.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 4]
-
-Right wurshipfull sir, and my right good maister, I recomaunde me to
-yow. It is so that up on an hasty sodeyn warnyng I departid from London
-and spake not with yow at my departyng, Wherof I was full sory. I pray
-yow, neverthelesse, that ye wole eftsones speke to William White with my
-Lord Cardinall, for I desire his maistership and good will and wole do
-to my power. And as touchyng to that that he semith I haf don agayn hym,
-in good feith I wole abide your rule or, by Seynt Kateryne, his owen
-rule. He is a gentilman and I wole don it with good will. I am right
-sory ye had not set me thorgh with hym erst I went, for I haf prayed yow
-ther of, as ye know your self dyvers tymes. The Holy Trynite preserve
-yow. Wretyn at Wevenho the iiii. day of Merche.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  DENYES.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Sir, my Lord[226.2] hath kept sessions at Colchestre, and my maister
-Yelverton with hym, and he desired me to write to yow to be wel ware if
-ony fals suggestion or lesynges wer made by Tuddenham and Heydon and
-that to your power thei be answerd in his absence. As for my Lord
-Scales, her be seven of housold meny indited of felony, which are strong
-thefes. Item, I pray yow, write in hast to the Meir of Norwich to gif
-credens to me whan I come to hym, and if ye so do I shal shape their
-articles in billes in to a nother facion I trust, and make thaym redy
-and delyver thaym resonably wele. My Lord purposeth to be at London the
-ende of the first weke of Lent, and not erst. I pray your maistership,
-se sum meane that White do me not that harme in the Chauncery wherof ye
-sent me word by Brayn, for, as God sauf my soule at the day of Jugement,
-I fonde surete for the pees, but the Maister of the Rolles[227.1] ful
-untruly recordeth that surete takyn as a baile, wher of treuth it was
-otherwise, and ful synnefully ruleth that mater, and never wold suffir
-me to execute the acte but lettid me, notwithstandyng it is a law
-private in the self as I shal clerly declare whan I come. The Holy
-Trinite preserve yow. I write to yow thus that ye may kyt awey this
-lower part of this lettre.
-
-    [Footnote 226.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 169.] This letter must
-    have been written in a year when Easter fell after the 20th
-    April, as Lent does not appear to have begun on the 4th March;
-    and as it was during the life of Cardinal Kempe, we may pretty
-    safely fix it to the year 1451. The year 1454, indeed, might be
-    possible as regards Easter, but there is no indication here of
-    those troubles of which the writer complains so bitterly in that
-    year on the 20th March. _See_ No. 239.]
-
-    [Footnote 226.2: The Earl of Oxford.]
-
-    [Footnote 227.1: Thomas de Kirkeby.]
-
-
-182
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[227.2]
-
-_To my Ryth worshipfull hosband, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 15]
-
-Rith wurchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desiring hertily to
-her of yowr welfar; preying you to wete that Herry Halmannys wif sent to
-me word on Saterday last past that Prentys thretyth her hosbond sor, and
-John Robyns, for suche thynges as Prentys seyth that they haue donn
-ayens hym; he seyth he shall make hem so besy or he leve hem that he
-shall make hem not wurth apeny; and they ben aferd that he woll hold hem
-conuawnt if he have powyr ther to. It is seyd her that the kyng shuld
-com in to this contre, and sir Thomas Todenham and Heydon arn well
-cheryeshid with hym. And also it is seyd they shall have as grett rewill
-in this contre as evyr they hadde, and many more folkes arn sory
-therfore than mery. Sir Thomas Todenhamys man and Heydonys sowyn this
-sedde all abowte the contre, that here maysteris shull cum hom in hast
-in here prosperite and be als well att esse as ever they wer. As for
-that ye dessyryd that I shuld enquyr wher any stuff is of yowris, I wot
-not how to don ther with, for if ever wer aspyid that hath of yowr
-stuff, and we had it from hym, other that have more ther of wold ben
-ware be hym, and avoyd seche stuff as they have of yowris. I suppose
-John Osbern shall tell yow whan ye com hom agode meen to wete wher meche
-ther of is becom. Jamys Gloys is ayen to Gressam and I suppose John
-Damme shall tell yow what he hath donn ther. Yowr tenawntis wold fayn
-that summe mene of yowris shuld abyde amongis hem, for they ben in gred
-diswyr what they may do; the langage is so grett on the tother party
-that it maketh the tenawntis sor afferd that ye shuld not regoyse itt.
-I send to yow a letter be Colynys of Frawnceys Costard what dedis he
-woll don. It was told me also that the Lord Molyns was lyke to have aday
-ayens yow att Thetford at the next assyse. On [_one_] that loueth yow
-rythwell told me how it was told hym so, and warnyd me therof in secrete
-wyse. Itt is gode to ben war of ther falsed. I pray yow that ye woll
-send me word in hast, if ye woll have red to your levery as ye wer
-avysid, and if ye woll not, &c. And also I pray yow that ye woll do bey
-ij. gode hattis for your sonys for I can none getyn in this town. Mor
-tydynges can I not send yow yett. The Holy Trinyte have yow in his
-kepyng. Wretyn att Norwiche on the fyrst Monday of Lent.
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 227.2: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 55.] This letter would
-    appear to be of the same year as No. 184, written a fortnight
-    later. Both letters speak of rumours that Tuddenham and Heydon
-    will regain their ascendency.]
-
-
-183
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[228.1]
-
-_To my right wurchipfull husbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / [MAR. 22]]
-
-Right wurchipfull hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, beseching yow that ye
-be not displeasid with me, thow my symplenesse cawsed yow for to be
-displeasid with me. Be my trowth, it is not my will nother to do ne sey
-that shuld cawse yow for to be displeasid; and if I have do, I am sory
-therof, and will amend itt. Wherefor I beseche yow to forgeve me, and
-that ye bere none hevynesse in your hert ayens me, for your displeasans
-shuld be to hevy to me to indure with.
-
-I send yow the roll that ye sent for, in selyd, be the brynger her of;
-it was fownd in your trussing cofor. As for hering, I have bowt an
-horslode for iiij^s. vj^d. I can gett none ell [_eels_] yett; as for
-bever [_i.e. drinkables_], ther is promysid me somme, but I myt not gete
-it yett. I sent to Jone Petche to have an answer for the wyndowis, for
-she myt not come to me. And she sent me word that she had spoke therof
-to Thomas Ingham, and he seyd that he shuld speke with yow hymself, and
-he shuld accord with yow wel jnow, and seyd to her it was not her part
-to desyr of hym to stop the lyts; and also he seyd itt was not his parte
-to do itt, be cawse the place is his but for yeris.
-
-And as for all other eronds that ye have commandid for to be do, thei
-shal be do als sone as thei may be do. The blissid Trynyte have yow in
-his keping. Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Monday next after Seynt Edward.
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 228.1: [From Fenn, iii. 238.] The date of this letter
-    is quite uncertain. Fenn assigns it to the year 1454, when Lent
-    began very late, as it is evident the herrings and eels referred
-    to were intended as provision for that season. This conjecture
-    may be correct; but it must be noted that John Paston was at
-    home at Norwich, if not in the beginning of Lent, at least on
-    the fourth Sunday of Lent in 1454. Moreover, if the date of this
-    letter, 'Monday next after St. Edward,' means after the 18th
-    March, which was the day of St. Edward the King and Martyr, the
-    year 1451 would suit rather better than 1454; for, in the former
-    year, the Monday after St. Edward's day would be the 22nd of
-    March, and Ash Wednesday the 10th, while in the latter the
-    Monday after St. Edward would be the 25th, and Ash Wednesday the
-    6th, so that the provision of herrings would be very late.]
-
-
-184
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[230.1]
-
-_To my right wurchepfull husbond, John Paston, [be]yng in the Inner
-Tempill, be this delivered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 30]
-
-Right wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you, prayng you to wete
-that myn unkyll Phylyp Berney[230.2] was at Lynne this last weke, and he
-was at inne at the baylyffes hows of Lynne, and Partrych[230.3] came in
-to the same place whill myn unkyll was ther. And the seid Partrych was
-wele aqueyntyd with the balyffe, and the balyffe told hym that he sent a
-letter to the Lord Molyns, and that the Lord Molyns had sent hym a
-nother letter, letyng hym wete that he purposyd hym to be at Lynne thes
-weke. Than Partrych seid that he had word that the seid lord purposyd
-hym to be ther at that tyme; but he seid summe men supposyd that he wuld
-not come here; and the balyffe seid that he was right glad that he shuld
-come in to this countre. On of myn unkyll men herd all this langage, and
-told it myn unkill. The baly ner Patrych knewe not at that tyme what myn
-unkyll was to us ward. Also I purposyd me to have sent to Stapylton,
-as ye sent me word be James Gresham, and it is told me that he is to
-London. Item, it is noysed abowte Gresham and all that contre that the
-Lord Molyns shuld be there in hast. Item, Gonnore had right gret
-langage, and he trostyd that the word [_world_] shall turne sumwhat
-after ther entent. Othre tydynges have we non, but that Tudenham and
-Heydon shuld have ageyn the rewle in this contre, assmych as ever thei
-had or more. The Holy Trynyte have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwhich un
-the Tuesday next before Mydlentesonday.[230.4]
-
-  Yowre,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 230.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, like
-    several of those preceding, speaks of a juncture in which it was
-    expected that Tuddenham and Heydon would regain their influence.
-    The adherents of Lord Molyns were also in hopes that he would
-    shortly be in Norfolk and re-enter Gresham. The date must
-    therefore be 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 230.2: Philip Berney, Esq. of Caston. He was a brother
-    of Margaret Mauteby, who was Margaret Paston's mother.]
-
-    [Footnote 230.3: _See_ p. 101, Note 4.]
-
-    [Footnote 230.4: Mid-Lent Sunday fell on the 4th April in 1451.]
-
-
-185
-
-PETITION FROM THE TOWN OF SWAFFHAM[231.1]
-
-_To the ryght wise, noble, and discrete Comons of this present
-Parlement._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451]
-
-Mekely besechyn, bewailyn, and shewyn the pouer and simple inhabitaunts
-in the toun of Swafham, in the counte of Norfolk, that where Sir Thomas
-Tudenham of Oxburgh, knyght, this xvj. yeeris last passid before the day
-of the Acte of Resumpcion in the last Parlement before this,[231.2] hath
-ocupied and governed the lordship and maner of Swafham forsaid, with the
-appertenauncez, as styward and fermer of the same; in which ocupacion
-and governaunce the said Sir Thomas, and othre his servauntz and
-adherentz in a rolle to this peticion annexed named, han petously and
-synnefully don and comitted the trespasez, offencez, wronges,
-extorcyons, mayntenauncez,[231.3] imbraceryes,[231.4] oppressions, and
-perjuryes in the seid rolle conteyned; and of dyverse and many articles
-ther of, and of many othre wrongs, and of that that the said Sir Thomas
-is a comon extorcioner, the same Sir Thomas be fore the ryght noble,
-true, and pleyn lord, our good and gracious lord the Erle of Oxenford,
-and othre the Kyngs commissioners of _oire determyner_ withynne the same
-shire, the said Sir Thomas Tudenham, and othre his servauntz and
-adherentz arn indited.
-
-Please it your noble wisdamis to conceyve that it hath be the comon law
-of the land of long tyme that if a comon theef were, in ony cuntre, so
-often indited or detect of so many offencez he shuld not, by the law of
-the lande, be late to baile ne meynprise, but be kept in prison til he
-were put to answere of swich crymes as he were so detect of. And also
-please your greet wisdams to conceyve that all the Juges of the Kynges
-Benche, of long and late tyme sittyng in their place, laudablely han
-usid to comitte to prison, with oute baile or meynprise, for a tyme, al
-persones that han be detecte before theym of any ryot or greet cruel
-offence agayn the peas, which offence myght a be subvercyon of the law
-by ony liklynesse; and advertisyng the greet mischeves that this noble
-roialme hath oftyn standyn in for the greet extorcyons and oppressions
-that hath be don in the same,[232.1] and how greet a subvercyon of the
-lawe and of the polityk governaunce of the land suych extorcyon is; and
-of your prudent and sage wisdams lyke yow to make requisicion to the
-Kyng our soverain Lord, and to the Lords espirituallx and temporelx in
-this present Parlement assembled, that by the consideracion that the
-said Sir Thomas wold never apere, in his persone, ne by his atturney, at
-no sesions of _oir determyner_ holden in the said counte; plese the Kyng
-and Lords forsaid, to comitte the said Sir Thomas Tudenham to preson,
-ther to abide til in to the tyme that he to the said inditements hath
-answerid, and to the billes and compleynts of the said inhabitauntz in
-fourme of law.
-
-And more over, where that the said Sir Thomas Tudenham hath, among many
-othre greet wrongs, ful synnefully causid a writte of assise of novell
-dissessyn[232.2] to be brought ageyn John Aleyn and xxiij othre of the
-said toune, in the name of the Abbot of Sawtre,[232.3] and causid that
-assise to passe by perjury, as in the first article in the rolle to this
-peticion annext it is more opinly conteyned, please your greet wisdams,
-for the reverens of God by that concideracion, that the jurry of the
-said assise durst not, for drede of the horrible menaces of the said Sir
-Thomas, othrewise do but be for sworn in gevyng their verdite in the
-same assise, in which case the said inhabitauntz, for pyte and remorce
-of their concyencez, wer lothe to sew a writ of atteynte,[233.1] to pray
-the Kynge and Lords forsaid to ordeyn, by auctorite of this present
-Parlement, that the said writ of assisse, verdit, recoverer, and the
-jugement ther of, with every othre circumstaunce therof, be voide,
-revokd, and adnulled, for the love of God.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-[233.2]Item, compleyneth John Bladsmyth of Swafham of that that where
-John, late Pryour of Penteney,[233.3] predecessor of the prior that now
-is, and the covent of the same place, the Munday next aftir the fest of
-Seynt Mathew the Evangelist, the xiij. yeer of the kyng, our soverain
-lord that now is, at Swafham forsaid, lete to ferme to the forsaid John
-Bladsmyth certeyn londs, rents, tenements, and pasture,[233.4]----
-
-    [Footnote 231.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a rough draft
-    of a Petition which seems to have been intended for presentation
-    to Parliament in the beginning of the year 1451. Parliament was
-    prorogued on the 18th December 1450 till the 20th January
-    following, but it did not actually meet again for despatch of
-    business till the 29th April. It would appear from this Petition
-    that Sir Thomas Tuddenham and his adherents were indicted before
-    the Earl of Oxford at the sessions of _oyer and terminer_ which
-    sat on the 2nd March 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 231.2: This must be the Act of Resumption of 28
-    Henry VI.--See _Rolls of Parliament_, v. 183.]
-
-    [Footnote 231.3: _See_ p. 167, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 231.4: _See_ p. 167, Note 5.]
-
-    [Footnote 232.1: [Original note here in margin.] Answer neyther
-    to the billes ne inditeing forseid, ne to non of theym.]
-
-    [Footnote 232.2: _See_ p. 47, Note 4.]
-
-    [Footnote 232.3: A Cistercian monastery in Huntingdonshire.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.1: A writ to inquire whether a jury gave a false
-    verdict.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.2: This is written on the back.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.3: John de Tyrington. He was succeeded in 1449 by
-    Richard Pentney.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.4: The sentence breaks off thus abruptly in the
-    MS.]
-
-
-186
-
-ABSTRACT[233.5]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, at Castre.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / APRIL 13]
-
-Received a letter from them, 3rd April, with the last account of Sir Jo.
-Kyrtelyng and Intewod. Understands Rob. Norwych will not occupy as
-undersheriff, because Jenneys had given him language not to his
-pleasure, and so Aleyn is to occupy, who is not F.'s wellwiller; but
-Howys has provided a remedy with the sheriff. When the _venire facias_
-is made out, I will try and get it sent you, and I shall have Paston's
-advice. Knows well the obstinate will of false Dallyng, but Bokkyng must
-speak with him, and entreat him in his best manner.--Margaret Bryg's
-matter.
-
-As to the oyer and terminer, it is certain Heydon and Tuddenham will be
-at Norwich with all the maintenance and fellowship they can. It is said
-Justice Prysot will be there. You must do your best to keep your friends
-steadfast; and I in the meantime will labour here, and send you word how
-the world is set. Men of the city of Norwich have good audience and
-favour among the Lords, and are waiting an answer of their matters. Has
-delivered up the shipmen, and left the ship here for causes which he
-will write; 'for the rayse hath been full costuys, except they came in
-saufftee.'
-
-  London, 13 April, 29 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 233.5: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 231.]]
-
-
-187
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[234.1]
-
-_To my right wurchepfull howsbond, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / APRIL 16]
-
-Right wurchepfull howsbond, I recomand me to yow, prayng yow to wete
-that the Parson of Oxened[234.2] told me that Wyndham told hym that
-Sweynnysthorp[234.3] is hold of the Kyng be the therd part or the fourt
-part of a knyt fye, and ho so ever had the maner of Sweynsthorp, he
-shuld fynde an armyd man, in tyme of werre in the castell of Norwhic,
-xl. days to his owyn cost, and that ye shuld pay xxx^s. to the Kyng
-yerly owth of the seyd maner; and it is fond also that your fader shuld
-a died seysyd, and that ye shuld a entyryd ther in as heyr after your
-fader dysseys, and that ye shuld be now up on the age of xxx. wynter.
-
-The Trinite have yow in hys kepyng. Wreten at Norwhic, the Friday next a
-fore Seynt George.
-
-  Yowrs,
-
-  M. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 234.1: [From Fenn, iii. 84.] The date of this letter
-    depends upon the age of John Paston, who, in November 1444, was
-    found to be twenty-three years old. As he is now 'upon the age
-    of thirty winters,' this letter was probably written in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 234.2: His name was Laurence Baldewar.]
-
-    [Footnote 234.3: In 1444, according to Blomefield (_Hist. of
-    Norf._ iv. 40), a rent-charge out of the manor of Swainsthorp
-    was settled by John and Agnes Paston, the eldest son and the
-    widow of William Paston, the Justice, to find a priest to sing
-    for the soul of the said William in the chapel of our Lady the
-    Great in Norwich Cathedral.]
-
-
-188
-
-ABSTRACT[234.4]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, at Castre in Flegg.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / APRIL 21]
-
-Sends two _venire facias_ for Beyton in Norfolk and Bradwell in Suffolk,
-returnable _in quindena Paschĉ_, which is a short day. You must deliver
-them in haste to the Sheriff by Paston's advice, by whom I send them.
-Labour to the Sheriff for the return of such panels as will speak for
-me, and not be shamed, for great labour will be made by Wentworth's
-party. 'Entreat the Sheriff as well ye can by reasonable rewards, rather
-than fail,' for they have taken as false an issue as can be with me 'by
-H. [_i.e._ Heydon's] advice for cold love.' I had traversed the plea in
-the inquisition that I had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf; but they put it
-now that I had only a joint interest in the manor. The names you sent
-for Bradwell are like to do well, except Hopton, who has married with
-the Lady Wentworth. I am also in doubt of one Reppes of Heringflete, who
-is Heydon's man. Had purposed to have been at the oyer and terminer this
-time, but cannot, &c.
-
-Horshighdoun, 21 April, 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 234.4: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 243.]]
-
-
-189
-
-DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY, AND WHITE TO JOHN PASTON[235.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY 2]
-
-Maister Paston, we comaund us to you, lattyng you witt that the Sheriff
-is noght so hole as he was, for now he wille shewe but a part of his
-frendeshippe. And also there is grete prese off pepill, and fewe
-frendes, as ferr as we can feel yitt. And therfore be ye sadly avised
-wheder ye seme best to come your self, or send or, &c., for we will
-assay in as much as in us is to prevaile to your entente. And yett, if
-it neded, we wolde have a man to giffe us informacion, or shewe evidence
-after the case requireth. Also the Shereffe enformed us that he hath
-writyng from the Kyng that he shall make such a panell to aquyte the
-Lord Moleynes. And also he tolde us, and as ferr as we can conceyve and
-feel, the Shereff wille panell gentylmen to aquyte the Lorde, and
-jowroures to a quyte his men; and we suppose that it is be the mocion
-and meanes of the othir party. And yif any meanes of tretie be proferd,
-we know not what meane shulde be to your pleasir. And therfore we wolde
-fayne have mor knowlege, yiff ye think it were to doo.
-
-No more at this tyme, bot the holy Trinite have you in his kepyng.
-Wretin at Walsyngham, in hast, the secund day of May.--Be your trewe and
-feithfull frendes,
-
-  DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY, AND WHITE.
-
-And also, Sir, as we conceyve, the Lord Moleynes shall not be quyte
-before Thurseday; in as muche as he was indyted before the Justice, we
-undirstand he shall not be quyte but before the Justice. Wherfore we
-avise you, iff ye think it be to doo, to send your frendes in the meane
-tyme, and come your self to your place at Sperham, and there abyde unto
-tyme that we have knowlege how the saide mater will drawe, and till that
-we may have worde from you, and ye from us, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 235.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter speaks
-    of the indictment and expected acquittal of Lord Molyns, the
-    date must be 1451. This letter is written on parchment.]
-
-
-190
-
-W. LOMNOR TO JOHN PASTON[236.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY (?)]
-
-Ryght worchipfulle Sir, yours goode cosynes and frendes avyse yow to
-come to Walsyngham, and that ye be there to morw betymes at vj. on the
-clok; for the Lord Moleyns offreth a trete for the goodes, and amendes
-to be made, or he goth ought of this contre, and if it be not taken,
-his men shulle justifie; wherupon your title might be hurte. The Lord
-Skales, the Justis, and other knygtes and squyeres merveyle grettly ye
-come not, and thow they that have not so true and evident mater as ye
-have concelle yow to be absent; yet I wolde ye dede as ye be desyrd be
-that felaship, for many wolde yow right welle. Whanne ye come, I shalle
-telle yow more.
-
-The Lorde Moleyns shulde not have be aquyte of his comaundement, hadde
-he not sworen on a boke, sweche evidens was ayens hym; and ther is no
-jentelman wolde aquite his men for no goode, &c.
-
-  W. LOMNOR.
-
-    [Footnote 236.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter has no
-    address, but there can be no doubt from the contents it was
-    intended for John Paston. It was evidently written about the
-    same time as the last, while the Sessions was sitting at
-    Walsingham, and Paston's suit against Lord Molyns was still
-    pending.]
-
-
-191
-
-SIR JOHN HEVENINGHAM TO MARGARET PASTON[237.1]
-
-_To my ryght worchipffull cosyn, Margarete Paston, be this letter
-delivered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / MAY 7]
-
-Ryght worchipffull and welbeloved cosyn, I commaunde me to you as
-herteli as I can, thankyng you off your goode chere the last tyme I was
-with you. And, worchippffull cosyn, please that you to calle un to your
-remembrauns I wrote un to you for my cosyn Anneys Loveday to have ben in
-your service, and I reseyved from you a letter that your wyll was goode,
-but durst not to in to the tyme ye hadde spoke with my cosyn your
-husbonde.
-
-Worchippffull cosyn, I have labored for hir in othir placez, but I can
-not have my entent as yet. Wherffor yff that hit please you to have hyr
-with you to in to the tyme that a mastris may be purveyeid for hir,
-I pray you ther off, and I shall contente you ffor hir boarde, that ye
-shal be wel pleased; for, cosyn, and I hadde a wyff, I wolde not care
-for hir. And ther as she is, she is not well at hir ease, for she is at
-Robert Lethum; and therfor I pray you herteli that ye wyll tendre this
-my writyng, and I beseche you that in cas be that ye wyll fulffylle hit
-that ye wel sende my cosyn Will Staunton for hir, and I shal kepe you
-trewe promys, as I have be for wretyn. And I beseche Almyghti Jesu
-preserve you. Wretyn at Hevenyngham, on the vij. day off May, &c.
-
-  Your oune cosyn,
-
-  JOHN HEVENYNGHAM, Knyght.
-
-    [Footnote 237.1: [From Fenn, iii. 144.] The date of this letter
-    is doubtful, but it was evidently written at a time when John
-    Paston had been for some considerable time absent from Norwich,
-    which appears to have been the case in the beginning of May
-    1451. The writer of this letter died in July 1453.]
-
-
-192
-
-SIR THOMAS HOWYS TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[238.1]
-
-_To my reverent and worchepfull mayster, Sir John Fastolf, Knyght,
-be this lettre delyvered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY 9]
-
-Right reverent and worchipfull maister, I recomaunde me louly un to yow.
-Please you to wete the Sonday next after the Fest of the Invencion of
-the Cros,[238.2] the ix. day of May, at Castre, I receyved a lettre from
-you by your clerk, W. Barker, the tenure wherof I shall do spede in all
-hast goodly. But for the more special cause of my wrytyng at this tyme
-is to gef you relacion of the un true demenyng of this oure determyner,
-by the parcialte of the Jugez of it; for whan the Counsell of the cite
-of Norwich, of the toun of Swafham, youres, my Maister Inglose,[238.3]
-Pastons, and many other playntyfs had put in and declared, bothe by
-writyng and by woord by fore the Jugez, the lawfull excepcions in many
-wise, the Juges by ther wilfulnesse myght nat fynde in ther hert to gef,
-not als moche as a bek nor a twynclyng of ther eye toward, but toke it
-to deriscion, God reforme such parcialte; and by cause Prisot[238.4]
-thought that yf the Sessions of the oyer determyner had be holden at
-Norwich as they bygonne, he supposed it shuld nat so fast passe to
-th'entent of Tudenham and Heydon and ther felawes, as it shuld do
-ell[es] in other place, but enjorned to Walsyngham, wher they have
-grettist rule, ther to be holden on Tuesday, iiij^te day of May.
-
-This knowing, my Maister Yelverton,[238.5] Genney, and other myght weel
-conceyve how the governaunce of the oyer determyner shuld procede, for
-it was the most parcial place of alle the shire, and thedre wer cleped
-alle the frendez, knyghteys, and esquiers, and gentilmen that wolde in
-nowise do other wise than they wolde. And the seid Tudenham, Heydon, and
-other oppressours of ther set come doun theder, as I understand, with
-iiij^c. [400] hors and more; and consideryng how ther wellwillers wer
-ther assembled at ther instaunce, it had be right jowpertous and
-ferefull for any of the pleyntyfs to have be present, for ther was nat
-one of the pleyntyfs ner compleynuantez ther, but your right feithfull
-and trusty weel willer John Paston. And my Maister Yelverton seid full
-discretly, and countrolled the seid Prisot when he seid, sittyng, in the
-Guyhalle of Norwich, these wordys to the Meyre and Commonalte, 'A, Sir
-Meyre and your brethren, as to the processe of youre compleyntez, we
-wole put them in contynuance, but in all other we wole procede;' which
-wordys Yelverton thought right parciall. And by side this the seid
-Prisot wolde suffre no man that was lerned to speke for the pleyntyfs,
-but took it as a venom, and took them by the nose at every thred woord
-whiche myght weel by knowe for open parcialte.
-
-And as for the Lord Scalys, ye knowe well what he is toward you, and
-namely for Hikelyng matter. Also to knowe som of your feynt frendes,
-at that tyme that my Lord Norffolk sat at Norwich up on the oyer
-determyner, Sir John Hevyngham myht nat fynde it in his hert to go iiij.
-furlong from his duellyng place to the shirehouse, but now he cowd ryde
-from Norwich to Walsyngham to syt as one of the Commyssioners. As to the
-rule of other, that ye wolde have supposed your wellewillers, how they
-have byhavyd them at Walsyngham, I shall sende yow woord in all hast
-whan Bernay[239.1] come hom to Castr, for he is nat yet come from
-Walsyngham. But this I knowe well, that they founde none obstacle ner
-impedyment in ther consciens in all your matter; but how they have do
-with Norwich, Swafham, and Paston, I am nat yet clerly informed;
-I suppose they arn put in respite. I here sey Heydon seweth for an ende
-to be had with the cite of Norwich, and as to the namys of them that
-passed on ther acquitaile ayenst yow, Broyn can weell informe yow.
-I understand that Sir Robert Conyers, Calthorp, Mundford wer capteyns,
-and Maister Ric. Doget also.
-
-Item, as for the ij. _venire facias_ ye sent to be retorned for your
-manorz of Bradwell and Beyton, I have do them to be retorned of suche
-namys as I have sent woord before, savyng sume be take, and except out.
-Moreover, as for the mater of Sir John Sibton, Geney and Raulyns gef ful
-counsell that it shuld abyde tyl the mater of Bradwell myght procede, so
-that bothe maters myght take up on a day, for they sey it wold drawe xx.
-marc to labour the Jure to London, and yet it wer hard to bryng about.
-And they gef you counsell in all wise that ye labour to have Yelverton
-Juge at that tyme, and in all wise bothe in that materz and in all
-other, that ye be war that Prisot have not to have do in any wise, for
-than all wole be nought. Of alle other materz I shall send you woord in
-all hast goodly, for at thys tyme I had no leyser by cause of the hasty
-comyng up of Hug Fen, whom I beseche yow to fele of the demenyng of the
-oyer determyner, for he can telle yow moche and [_i.e._ if] he wole;
-whether he wole or nay, I can nat sey, for I know wele he was at
-Walsyngham. And I beseche All myghty Jesu have yow in his mercyfull
-governaunce. Wrete at Castre, the Sonday, ix. day of May anno xxixş
-Regis Henrici vj^ti.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-_On the back of the letter is written--_
-
-I prey yow be nowth displesed thow I have nowt subscribed my name
-withinne forth, for it is of neclygens, quoth Howys, Parson of
-Castlecomb.
-
-    [Footnote 238.1: [From Fenn, iii. 116.]]
-
-    [Footnote 238.2: The 3rd of May.]
-
-    [Footnote 238.3: Sir Harry Inglos.]
-
-    [Footnote 238.4: John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-    [Footnote 238.5: William Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench,
-    afterwards knighted by Edward IV.]
-
-    [Footnote 239.1: Probably Philip Berney.]
-
-
-193
-
-JOHN OSBERN TO JOHN PASTON[241.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and worchepful Master, John Paston, be this
-delyverid._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY 27]
-
-Plese it your masterchep to wete that I have spoke wyth the
-Shereff[241.2] at hese placez, mevyng to hym, as for that that was left
-wyth hese Under shereff, it is your wyl he shuld send a man of hese for
-it; for thow it were more ye wold gladly he shuld take it; he thanked
-yow, and sayde hese Under shereff was at London, and hymselff had non
-deserved, and if he had he wold a take it. And whan I departyd from hym,
-I desyerid hym a yen to send therffore, and than he seyde it shuld abyde
-tyl ye come hom, wherby I conceyve he wold have it, and be gladde to
-take it. Moreover, I remembred hym of hese promyses made before to yow
-at London, when he took hese oth and charche, and that ye were wyth hym
-when he toke hese oth, and oder dyvers tymes; and for tho promyses made
-be hym to yow at that tyme, and other tymes at the oyer determyner at
-Lynne, ye proposed yow be the trust that ye have in hym for to atempte
-and rere accions that shuld be to the avayle of hym and of hese office.
-He wold a know what the accions shuld be. I sayde I coude not telle hym,
-and than he seyde he wold do for yow that he may, excepte for the
-aquitell of the Lord Molyns men, in so meche as the Kyng hath wrete to
-hym for to shewe favour to the Lord Moleyns and hese men, and as he
-seyth the indytement longyth to the Kyng, and not to yow, and the Lord
-Molyns a gret lord. Also, as he seyth, now late the Lord Molyns hath
-sent hym a letter, and my Lord of Norffolk anoder, for to shew favour in
-these indytements, he darnot abide the joporte of that, that he shuld
-offende the Kinges commaundment. He know not how the Kyng may be
-informed of hym, and what shal be seyde to hym.
-
-And than I sayde as for any joporte that he shuld abyde in any thing
-that he doth for yow, or be your desyre, you have offered hym, and wol
-performet, sufficient sewerte for to sawe hym harmeles, and therfore I
-supposid ther wold non resonable man thynk but that he myght do for yow
-wyth owte any joporte. And then he seyde he myth non sewerte take that
-passid C_li._; and the Lord Molyns is a gret lord, he myght soon cause
-hym to lese that, and meche mo. Than I sayde, be that meane, in defawte
-of a Shereff, every man may be put from hese lyvelod; and thann he seyde
-iff it were for the lyvelode, men wold take hem the nerer for to abyde a
-joporte; but be hese feyth, as he swore, if the Kyng wryte ayan to hym
-he wol no lenger abyde the joporte of the Kyngges wrytyng, but he
-trustyth to Godde to inpanell seche men as shuln to hise knowleche be
-indeferent, and non comon jurors. As me semyth it wold do goode and
-[_if_] ye wolde gett a comaundment of the Kyng to the Shereff for to
-shew yow favour, and to inpanell jantelmen, and not for to favour non
-seche riotts, &c.; for he seyde that he sent yow the letter that the
-Kyng sent hym, and ye seyde a man shuld gete seche on for a noble.
-
-Item, I remembred hym of the promyses that he hath made to Temperley,
-and that if he wold make yow very trew promys, ye wold rewarde hym as
-meche as he wold desire, or any other resonable man for him, and asmoche
-and mor then any adverserry ye have wold gef hym; than he seyde he toke
-never no mony of non of hem alle. There was proferid hym at Walsyngham
-for the Lord Molyns xx. nobles, he had not a peny; moreover, I proferid
-hym, if he wold make yow promys that ye myght veryly trust upon hym, ye
-wold geff hym in hande as he wold desire, or to leve a summe if he wold
-a named it in a mene mannys hand, and seche as he hath trust to. And
-then he seyde, if he myght do for yow, or if he do any thyng for yow,
-then he wol take yowre mony wyth a good wyl; and other promys I coude
-not have of hym, but that he wol do for yow all that he may, excepte for
-the inditements. I conceyve veryly he hath made promys to do hese part
-that they shul be a quytte, but I suppose he hath made non other promys
-ayens yow for the lyvelode; but he lokyth aftyr a gret brybe, but it is
-not for to trust hym veryly wyth owte that he may not chese. I suppose
-he had no wrytyng fro my Lord of Norffolk as he seyde.
-
-I was at Framyngham for to a spoke wyth Tymperley, Debnam, or Berry,
-and they were all ought. My Lord, as he came from London, he was at
-Yepysweche on Moneday, and when he wythowth the town toward Framyngham,
-he had all hese men ryde forth afore a gret pase, for he wolde felwe
-softely; and when hese men were owte of syght, he rode wyth v. men to a
-squieris place of hese therby, and on Tewsday, rodde my Lady to hym; and
-so I dede nought at Framyngham. No more at thys tyme, but All myghty
-Jesu spede yow, and have yow in hese kepyng. Wrete at Norwiche, the
-Thursday next aftyr Sent Austyn, &c.
-
-  Be your servunt,
-
-  JOHN OSBERN.
-
-    [Footnote 241.1: [From Fenn, iii. 308.] At the date of this
-    letter Lord Molyns had probably been acquitted, but the action
-    against his men was still pending. The year must therefore be
-    1451. The date 'Thursday next after St. Austin' is understood by
-    Fenn to be after the Feast of St. Austin, or Augustine, Bishop
-    of Hippo, which was celebrated on the 28th of August; but the
-    dates of the preceding letters make it more probable that the
-    writer means St. Augustine, the apostle of England, whose day
-    was the 26th of May.]
-
-    [Footnote 241.2: John Jermyn. --_See_ page 183, Note 2.]
-
-
-194
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[243.1]
-
-_To [Herry][243.2] Barker of Synt Clements Parys, in Norwych, to delyver
-to my Master John Paston, in haste_.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later]
-
-On Thurisday the wall was mad zarde hey, and a good wylle be fore evyn
-it reyned so sore that they were fayne to helle the wall, and leve
-werke. And the water is fallyn so sore that it standyt ondyr the wall a
-fote deppe to Ballys warde [i.e. _towards the land of a neighbour named
-Ball_]. And on Friday after sakeryng, one come fro cherch warde, and
-schoffe doune all that was thereon, and trad on the wall and brake sum,
-and wente over; but I cannot zet wete hoo it was. And Warne Kynges wyfe,
-as she went over the style, she cursyd Ball, and seyde that he had zevyn
-aweye the waye, and so it prevyt be John Paston is words. And after,
-Kyngs folke and odyr come and cryid on Annes Ball, seying to her the
-same. Zystyrnevyn wan I xul goo to my bede, the Vycare[244.1] seyde that
-Warne Kyng and Warne Harman, betwyxte messe and matynsse, toke Sir
-Roberd[244.2] in the vestry, and bad hym sey to me, verely the wall
-xulde doun a gayne. And wan the Vycar tolde me I wyste ther of no worde,
-nor zet do be Sir Roberde, for he syth he were loth to make any stryfe.
-And wan I com out of the cherch, Roberd Emundes schowyd me how I was
-amercyde for seute of corte the laste zer vj_d._, and seyd it was
-xij_d._ tylle Warne Kyng and he gat it awey vj_d._
-
-I send zou word how John Jamys was demenyd at Cromere, to send to Jamys
-Gressham how he xall be demenyd. Gaffrey Benchard, Alexander Glover,
-heywards,[244.3] tokyn a dystresse of John Jamys or the bond tenent of
-A. Paston, calde Reynalds, in Cromer, the xxviij^ti yer of thys Kyng,
-and W. Goodwyn, Baly of Cromer, with the seyd J. Jamys, with forsse toke
-awey the dysstres, wech was ij. horsse and a plowe. And Good be with
-zou.
-
-  Be ANNES PASTON, your Modur.
-
-    [Footnote 243.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter refers
-    to the 28th year of Henry VI., seemingly as a past date, it
-    cannot well be earlier than 1451. But probably it is not much,
-    if at all, later.]
-
-    [Footnote 243.2: The Christian name _Herry_ is crossed out, and
-    _Meye_ (?) appears to be written over.]
-
-    [Footnote 244.1: William Pope was vicar of Paston from 1447 to
-    1455.]
-
-    [Footnote 244.2: Probably the Vicar's Curate.]
-
-    [Footnote 244.3: Haywards were (originally) persons who guarded
-    a farm and crops in the night, and blew a horn on an alarm or
-    robbers.--Halliwell.]
-
-
-195
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[245.1]
-
-_To John Paston be thys byll deliverd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later]
-
-I spacke thys day with a man of Paston syde, and he told me that a man
-of Paston told hym that Paston men wold not goo presessyon ferther than
-the chyrche yerde on Sent Markys day,[245.2] for he seyd the presessyon
-wey was stoppyd in, and seyd with in chort tyme men hopyd that the wall
-chuld be broke doun ageyn. Item, he seyd that I was amercyid for
-stoppyng of the seyd [way][245.3] at the last generall court, butt he
-cowd not tell who meche the mercyment was. And he that told it me askyd
-the man that told it hym if he had the mercyment in hys exstrete for to
-distreyn there fore; and he seid nay, but seyd he that chuld do it chuld
-bettyr doe take it up on hym than he chuld. Item, the same man told me
-that he mett with a man of Blyclyng, hyght Barker, that cam late fro
-London, and he told hym that I had a sute att London ageyn Wareyn Herman
-of Paston, and seyd that Roberd Branton was hys attornnye, and seyd he
-seygh hym ryght besy for hym att London. And for yete not yor
-sustyr;[245.4] and God have yow in kepyng. Wretyn att Norwyche the xij.
-day of May,
-
-  Be yor modyr,
-
-  A. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 245.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter has the
-    appearance, to judge from its contents, of being perhaps a few
-    weeks later than the preceding one. It is, however, in a
-    different hand.]
-
-    [Footnote 245.2: April 25.]
-
-    [Footnote 245.3: Omitted in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 245.4: Elizabeth Paston?]
-
-
-196
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[246.1]
-
-_John Paston, dwellyng in the Tempyll at London, be thys letter delyverd
-in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later]
-
-I grete yow wele, and lete yow wete that on the Sonday befor Sent
-Edmond, after evyn songe, Augnes Ball com to me to my closett and bad me
-good evyn, and Clement Spycer with hyr. And I acsyd hym what he wold?
-And he askyd me why I had stoppyd in the Kyngs wey? And I seyd to hym I
-stoppyd no wey butt myn owyn, and askyd hym why he had sold my lond to
-John Ball? And he sor [_swore_] he was nevyr a cordyd with your fadyr;
-and I told hym if hys fadyr had do as he dede, he wold a be a chamyd to
-a seyd as he seyd. And all that tyme Waryn Herman lenyd ovyr the
-parklos[246.2] and lystynd what we seyd, and seyd that the chaunge was a
-rewly chaunge, for the towne was un do therby, and is the werse by an
-C_li._ And I told hym it was no curtese to medyll hym in a mater butt if
-he wer callyd to councell; and prowdly goyn forthe with me in the
-cherche, he seyd the stoppyng of the wey xuld coste me xx. nobylls, and
-zet it shuld downe ageyn. And I lete hym wete he that putte it downe
-chull pay therfor. Also he seyd that it was well don that I sett men to
-werke to owle[246.3] meney whyll I was her, butt in the ende I chale
-lese my coste. Than he askyd me why I had a wey hys hey at Walsham,
-seyng to me he wold he had wyst it whan it was karryd, and he chuld a
-lettyd it; and I told hym it was myn owyn grownde, and for myn owyn I
-wold holde it; and he bad me take iiij. acre and go no ferther. And thus
-churtly he departyd from me in the cherche zerde. And syt [_since_] I
-spacke with a serteyn man, and acsyd hym if he herd owt sey why the
-dyner was mad att Norfolkys howse, and he told me [he] herd sey that
-serteyn men had sentt to London to gete a commyssyon owt of the
-chaunstre to putt downe ageyn the wall and the dyk.
-
-I receyvyd yor letter by Robert Reppys thys day after thys letter wretyn
-thus far. I have red it, butt I conn yeve yow non aunswer mor than I
-have wretyn, save the wyfe of Harman hathe the name of owr Lady, whos
-blyssyn ye have and myn. Wretyn at Paston, on the day after Sent
-Edmond,[247.1]
-
-  Be yowyr modyr,
-
-  AUGNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 246.1: [From Fenn, iii. 44.] This letter of Agnes
-    Paston's refers to the same subject of dispute as the two
-    preceding, and was probably written after them; but the exact
-    year is not certain.]
-
-    [Footnote 246.2: The half door of her 'closet' or pew in
-    church.]
-
-    [Footnote 246.3: 'To owl,' says Fenn, 'may signify to deceive,
-    as an owler is a person who carries contraband goods in the
-    night; though I rather think it means in this place to oil, that
-    is, to smooth to her purpose; but q.?' The explanation certainly
-    is not very satisfactory. From the definition of 'owler' we
-    might perhaps conjecture with more probability that 'to owl' was
-    to work in the night time. Did Agnes Paston, to avoid
-    interruption, set men to build the wall by night?]
-
-    [Footnote 247.1: St. Edmund's day was the 16th November.]
-
-
-197
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[247.2]
-
-_To my rygth worshipfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / [JUNE 3]]
-
-Rygth wurchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desyring hertyly to
-her of your welfar, preying yow to wete that itt was told me this weke
-that ther is afayr plase to sell in Seynt Laueransis parysch, and stant
-ner the chirche, and by the water syde, the whiche place Toppis hath to
-sell. Pyte alyster [_a dyer_] bowgth itt of Toppis and now, for defawt
-of payment, Toppis hath enterid ayen therinne, and shall selle itt in
-hast, as it is told me. The seyd lyster dwellyth therinne at this tym,
-but he shall owte, for he is hald rygth apore man. I suppose if ye lyke
-to bye itt when ye com hom, ye shall mowe have itt of Toppis als
-godechepe or better than another shuld. Als for tydyngs, we have none
-gode in this contre; I pray God send us gode. Itt was told me that
-Rychard Sowthwell hath enterid in the maner of Hale,[248.1] the whiche
-is the Lady Boysys,[248.2] and kepyth itt with strength with seche
-another felashep as hath be att Brayston, and wastyth and dispoylyth all
-that theris; and the Lady Boys, as it is told me, is to London to
-compleyn to the Kyng and to the Lordys ther of. Itt semyth it was not
-for nowgth that he held with Charlys and his felashep. I prey yow that
-ye wol vowchesawf to speke to Jamys Gloys to bye the Ungwentum Album
-that I spake to hym for; and that ye woll remembr your fayr dowgteris
-gyrdyl. I hope ye shull be at hom so sone that I woll do wryte nomor
-tydyngs to yow. The blyssid Trinyte have yow in his keping, and send yow
-gode spede in all that ye woll spede well inne. Wretyn at Norwyche on
-the Asencion day.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 247.2: [From Fenn, iii. 424.] Reference is made in
-    this letter to the forcible entry of Daniel into Brayston in
-    1450, and, from the terms of the allusion, that event must have
-    been pretty recent. The date of this letter, however, cannot be
-    earlier than 1451, as Lady Boys must have been a widow at the
-    time, and she only became so in December 1450. --_See_ Letter
-    162, p. 198.]
-
-    [Footnote 248.1: Holm Hale.]
-
-    [Footnote 248.2: Sibilla, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Ylley,
-    and widow of Sir Roger Boys, Knight. She was alive after
-    1450.--F.]
-
-
-198
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON][248.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / June?]
-
-Please it your maistership to wete that, as touchyng Blake of the
-Kyngges hous, I spak with hym, and he told me that if the Lord Moleyns
-wold take suyche appoyntement as ye agreed to, that he shuld lete me
-wete therof on Satirday after noon, as I tolde yow whanne ye dyd on your
-botes, &c. And sith that tyme I herd no word of hym. Item, there is
-laboured a _supersedeas_ for alle them that th'exigend[248.4] is ageyn,
-that arn convycted by record of my Lord of Oxenford, except ij. men
-which the Lord M. gyveth no fors of. Item, I send yow Treshams letter
-and a copie of the same. Item, I send yow the _cerciorari_ for my
-maistresse your modir. Item, I send yow the _scire facias_ for Osbern
-and Foke _versus_ Heydon and Wyndam. Item, I send yow a _distringas_
-ageynst Tudenham, &c. Item, I beseche yow if it may be in cas my Lord of
-Oxenford have not Holt hundred, that ye wole take it to suyche on as yow
-seme best, for it is told me that Pertriche laboureth therfore. And that
-is by the setting on of Heydon, &c. As touchyng the _capias_ ageynst
-Pertrich, and the _pros._ a geynst Costard, &c., it wole not be hadde,
-&c.
-
-    [Footnote 248.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is
-    anonymous, but it is in James Gresham's handwriting. In Letter
-    190 we have Lord Molyns offering to treat with Paston for the
-    injury done to his property at Gresham. Apparently Paston has
-    now mentioned what terms he would accept. From what is said of
-    the _supersedeas_, it would seem that this letter was written
-    not long before the next, which is dated on Trinity Sunday.]
-
-    [Footnote 248.4: A writ of _exigent_ lies where the defendant in
-    a personal action cannot be found, or anything of his to
-    distrain. The sheriff is therein directed to proclaim him on
-    five county court days, requiring him to appear on pain of
-    outlawry.]
-
-
-199
-
-JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON[249.1]
-
-_To the Ryght worshpful John Paston, Esquyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JUNE 20]
-
-Ryght worshipfull, &c. Please zou to comfort and help my pouer tenaunt,
-Symond Sparre, whech ys a restyd by warant, at the sute of the Lord
-Scalys, for Sir T. Tudynham shepp. And, Sir, uppon Fryday last passyd,
-Blake, the Kynges secratory, tolde me that there was delyvered a
-_supersedyas_ for all men in that sute. But, Sir, as my verry trust is
-in zou for this, lat it be easyd, as I may doo for zou, &c.; for, Sir,
-I may not attent, by cause I am ocupyed with my suster, for hir husbond,
-Sir Rychard Veuuter,[249.2] dessessyd upoon Fryday last, &c. Wretyn in
-gret hast upon Trenyte Sunday.
-
-  Be zoure pouer cosyn,
-
-  JOHN BERNEYE.
-
-    [Footnote 249.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] For the date of this
-    letter see Note 3 on last page. Trinity Sunday fell on the 20th
-    of June in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 249.2: Blomefield mentions a Sir Richard Veutre, who
-    presented to the living of Cockthorp in 1450.--_Hist. Norf._ ix.
-    218.]
-
-
-200
-
-NOTE
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JUNE 28]
-
-A letter of Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howes, dated 28th June 1451,
-29 Henry VI., is mentioned by Fenn in vol. iii., p. 133, in a footnote,
-and the following sentence extracted:-- 'The untrouthe of the Pryour of
-Hykelyng draweth away my devotion in such causes.' The original of this
-letter I have not met with.
-
-
-201
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[250.1]
-
-_To my rygth worshypfull hosbond Jon Paston, be this delyverd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JULY 1]
-
-Rygth worchypfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desyryng hertyly to
-her of yowr wellfar, preying yow to wete that I have spoke with my Lady
-Felbrygg[250.2] of that ye bad me speke to her of, and she seyd pleynly
-to me that she wold not, ne nevyr was avysyd, neyther to lete the Lord
-Moleyns ne non other to have ther intents as for that mater, whyll yet
-she levyth. And she was rygth evyll payd with Sawtr that he shuld
-reporte as itt was told yow that he shuld have reportyd; and she made
-rygth moche of yow, and seyd that she wold nowgth that no servaunte of
-herys shuld reporte no thyng that shuld be ayens yow other wyse than she
-wolld that your servawnts shud do or seyn ayens her; and if other your
-servawnts dede ayens her, or any of her ayens yow, she wold that itt
-shuld be reformyd be twyx yow and her, and that ye mygth ben all on;
-for she seyd in good feyth she desyryth your frendshep; and as for the
-report of Sawtr, she seyd she supposyd that he wold nowgth reporte so;
-and if she mygth know that he dede, she wold blame hym therfor. I told
-her that itt was told me syth that ye reden [? yeden, i.e. went], and
-that itt grevyd me mor that the seyd Sawtr shuld reporte as he dede than
-itt had be reportyd of another, in als moche as I had awgth hym goodwyll
-befor; and she prayid me that I shud not beleve seche reports tyll I
-knewe the trowth.
-
-I was att Toppys at dyner on Seynt Petyrs day; ther my Lady Felbrygg and
-other jantyll women desyryd to have hadde yow ther. They seyd they shuld
-all abe [_have been_] the meryer if ye hadde ben ther. My cosyn Toppys
-hath moche car tyll she her goode tydyngs of her brotheris mater. Sche
-told me that they shuld kepte a day on Monday next komyng be twyx her
-brother and Ser Andrew Hugard and Wyndham. I pray yow send me word how
-they spede, and how ye spede in yowr owyn materys also. Also I pray yow
-hertyly that ye woll send me a potte with treacle in hast; for I have
-ben rygth evyll att ese, and your dowghter bothe, syth that ye yeden
-hens, and on of the tallest younge men of this parysch lyth syke and
-hath a grete myrr'. How he shall do God knowyth. I have sent myn unkyll
-Berney[251.1] the potte with treacle that ye dede bey for hym. Myn awnte
-recommawndeth her to yow, and prayith yow to do for her as the byll
-maketh mencion of that I send you with this letter, and as ye thenk best
-for to do therinne.
-
-Ser Henry Inglose is passyd to God this nygth, hoys sowle God asoyll,
-and was caryid forthe this day at ix. of the clok to Seynt Feythis, and
-ther shall be beryid. If ye desyer to bey any of hys stuff, I pray you
-send me word therof in hast, and I shall speke to Robert Inglose and to
-Wychyngham therof; I suppose thei ben executors. The blyssyd Trinyte
-have you in his kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche in hast on the Thursday next
-after Seynt Peter.[251.2]
-
-I pray yow trost nott to the sheryve[251.3] for no fayr langage.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 250.1: [From Fenn, iii. 124.] The mention made of the
-    death of Sir Harry Inglos at the end of this letter proves it to
-    have been written in the year 1451. According to the inquisition
-    _post mortem_ 29 Hen. VI., No. 9, he died on the 1st July 1451,
-    which corresponds exactly with 'the Thursday next after St.
-    Peter,' the day this letter was written.]
-
-    [Footnote 250.2: _See_ p. 224, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 251.1: Philip Berney.]
-
-    [Footnote 251.2: St. Peter's day was the 29th June.]
-
-    [Footnote 251.3: John Jermyn was sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk
-    this year.]
-
-
-202
-
-ABSTRACT[252.1]
-
-SIR J. FASTOLF to SIR THOMAS HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / JULY 20]
-
-Has received his letter by Herry Hansson. Does not think he authorised
-Howys to have Andrews and his other adversaries noted and corrected at
-_oyer and determyner_; but if there was any letter to that effect, F.
-will bear him out. Thinks even if there was any letter to that effect
-sent by negligence, Howys should have taken counsel, and he would not
-have been sued for conspiracy. If Andrews and the others had been sued
-in Suffolk instead of Norfolk, they could have had no grounds of action.
-
-  London, 20 July.
-
-  [John Andrews was one of Heydon's adherents who gave trouble to
-  Fastolf and his friends on more than one occasion; but this letter
-  seems to have reference to the proceedings taken against several of
-  that faction in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 252.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 258.]]
-
-
-203
-
-ABSTRACT[252.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN BERNEY, SIR THOS. HOWYS, AND WALTER SHIPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / SEPT.]
-
-Begs them to hasten Rob. Boothe to London. Hears that the _oyer and
-termyner_ is to be at Norwich on Thursday[252.3] after Holyrood day,
-and that Will. Yelverton, justice, is to be there. Ascertain, therefore,
-how the substantial men of Norwich are inclined in my matter against
-Appulzerd, and take Paston's advice in proceeding. Is advised to send
-John Bokkyng or Will. Barker to them before the time. Bids them send an
-indenture of Cornelys Floryson about wheat and malt. Has arrested the
-ship. As to the matter against Applierd, if Todenham, Heydon, Wymondham,
-&c., or any of them, will labour for their acquittal against me in the
-Lady Bardolf's matter, you must oppose it. Trusts the present mayor and
-his predecessor know what he has done for the town, and Will. Jenney and
-his brother can testify to Applierd's demeanour. You must get a copy of
-the indictment, lest he deny the presentment. Sends a lease of Lady
-Sterburgh's part and Bardolf's, made by Wichingham and Blake, and a
-confirmation of Sir Reynold Cobham,[253.1] and the said Lady Sterburgh
-his wife, &c. Commend me to my Lord of Ely[253.2] and my Lord of Oxford
-if they be there, and my coz. Yelverton, and ask my Lord of Norwich for
-tidings of Hikelyng. 'Item, blessed be God of his visitation! I have
-been sore sick and am well amended, and trust to our Lord to see you
-hastily and other of my friends.'
-
-  (_Signature not F.'s own._)
-
-    [Footnote 252.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 233.] From the
-    reference to the date of the _oyer and termyner_ mentioned in
-    this letter, it is clear that it was written in the same year as
-    the letter following, and probably a few days earlier.]
-
-    [Footnote 252.3: September 16th, Holy Rood day being the 14th.]
-
-    [Footnote 253.1: Sir Reginald Cobham of Sterborough in Surrey,
-    father of the notorious Eleanor Cobham.]
-
-    [Footnote 253.2: Thomas Bourchier, afterwards Archbishop of
-    Canterbury.]
-
-
-204
-
-ABSTRACT[253.3]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN A BERNEY, JOHN PASTON, AND SIR THOMAS HOWYS.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / SEPT. 14]
-
-As the _oyer and termyner_ is to be at Norwich on Thursday next,[253.4]
-sends John Bokkyng to wait upon his counsel there to see to his matter
-against Appulzerd. They are to spare no cost to bring it to a good end,
-especially the bill of maintenance against Appulzerd, who was the
-greatest cause that the inquest passed against F. so untruly.
-
-  (_Signature not F.'s own._)
-
-  London, 14 Sept. 30 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 253.3: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 251.]]
-
-    [Footnote 253.4: 16th September.]
-
-
-205
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWES[253.5]
-
-_To my trusty frendys, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe, beyng
-at Castre._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / SEPT. 23]
-
-Ryght trusty frendys, I grete you well. Item where as the Bysshop of
-Norwych[253.6] makyth but delayes in my resonable desyre for an eende to
-be had in the xxv. marc of Hykelyng, y am uppon a appoyntement and throw
-wyth the heyr of Clyfford, that he shall entree in the hole maner that
-ys chargeable wyth my xxv. marc rent, which the Pryour and Convent have
-forfeted the seid hole manor to the heyers undre her Convent seele of
-record, because of myne nonne payment of xxv. marc; and so then the
-Pryour shall lese for ever iiij^xx [_four score_] marc of rent, and that
-wythout onye concience, for they have be fals both to the Clyffordys and
-to me thys vij. yeere day. And y trust to God to correct hem so by
-spirituell law and temporell law, that all othyr Relygyoux shall take an
-example to breke the covenant or wille of anye benefactor that avauncyth
-hem wyth londs, rents, or gode; and my confessours have exorted me
-gretely ther too. And Almyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, the xxiij.
-day of September anno xxxş R. H. VI.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, Kt.
-
-There is one Walsam wold desyre acquitaunce of pardon for the wydow of
-Hygham, I hafe no cause, for hyr husband left hyr whereoff to pay hyr
-debts suffisaunt, and for me he ferre the better. The wydow noysyth you,
-Sir Thomas, that ye sold a wey salt but for xx_s._ that she might hafe
-had xl_s._ for every wey, I pray you aunswer that for your acquytaille.
-
-Item, sende me the value of Goold ys tenement in Drayton, wyth xx. acres
-lond therto, what it was worth yeerly when it stode hoole; for Sellyng
-seith it was worth but j. noble by yeer.
-
-    [Footnote 253.5: [From Fenn, iii. 132.]]
-
-    [Footnote 253.6: Walter Lyhart or Hart.]
-
-
-206
-
-RICHARD SOUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON[254.1]
-
-_To my mastir, John Paston, Esquier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / DEC. 18]
-
-Right worshippful sir, I recomaunde me unto you. And please it you to
-witte of oure newe tydinges here; as this day com writing both to my
-Lorde[254.2] and to my Lady from London, that there be certein lettres
-directed to my Lorde from my Lady his moder,[255.1] and diverse other
-Lordes for to have Danyell[255.2] in his favour a geyne, and as it is
-supposed by the meanes of the Duc of Somersette,[255.3] for he hath ben
-right conversaunte with hym all this quarter of this yere. And also thei
-that sente this writing sayn playnly that the Lorde Skales is gode lorde
-to hym, and that he hath promysed hym to make Sir Thomas Tudenham,
-Heydon, and hym accorded, and other men in the cuntre, and that he shall
-be suffred to entre in to Brayston, and kepe it to th'entente that the
-cuntre shall thinke, and my Lord also, that he hathe grete favour amonge
-the Lordes of the Counsell, and cause men to fere hym the more. Whethir
-it be thus or non I can not say; never the lesse me thinketh ye shall
-sone knowe if Mounford will agree that he shall entre in to Brayston,
-and if that be trewe, all the remenant shall seme the more likly.
-
-I pray you brenne this letter when ye have redde it. My Lorde and my
-Lady sayn ye shall be right welcome and ye will se theym this
-Crisemasse. I reporte me to your wisdom, and God have you in his keping.
-Writon at Framlyngham, the xviij. day of Decembre.
-
-  RIC. SOUTHWELL.
-
-    [Footnote 254.1: [From Fenn, iii. 366.] This letter must have
-    been written in 1451. It appears from No. 119 that Daniel
-    entered the manor of Brayston or Braydeston during the sitting
-    of the Parliament at Leicester in the spring of 1450. He was
-    dispossessed by Mundford and Heydon on the 7th September
-    following, but he entered the place a second time in the 30th
-    year of Henry VI., _i.e._ some time between the 1st September
-    1451 and the 31st August 1452. In this letter it is anticipated
-    that he will be enabled to enter the place by his influence with
-    Lord Scales and the Duke of Somerset. This cannot refer to his
-    first entry, as Somerset was in France for a long time before.]
-
-    [Footnote 254.2: John Mobray, Duke of Norfolk, married Ellenor,
-    daughter of William Bourchier, Earl of Ewe, in Normandy.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 255.1: Catharine, daughter of Ralph, Earl of
-    Westmoreland, and widow of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 255.2: Thomas Daniel, Esq., was Constable of Rising
-    Castle, and married Margaret, sister of John Howard, afterwards
-    Duke of Norfolk.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 255.3: Edmund Beaufort.]
-
-
-207
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[255.4]
-
-_To John Paston dwyllyng in the Tempyll at London be this letter
-delyverid in haste._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later / NOV.]
-
-I gret zou well, and lete zou wete that Warne Harman on the Sonday after
-Hallumesday after ensong seyd oponly in the cherch zerde that he wyst
-wyll that and the Wall were puddoun, thou he were an hundryd myle fro
-Paston he wyste well that I wolde sey he ded yt and he xuld bere the
-blame, seying Telle yte here ho so wyll, thou it xuld coste me xx.
-nobyllys it xall be puddoun azen. And the seyd Warnys wyfe with a lowd
-vosse seyd All the deuyllys of hell drawe her sowle to hell for the weye
-that she hat mad. And at euyn a sertyn man suppyd with me and tolde me
-that the patent[256.1] grantyt to closse but a perch on bred, and that I
-had clossyd more than the grant of the patent is as men seyd. And John
-Marchall tolde me that there was a thryfty woman come forby the
-watteryng and fond the weye stoppyde and askyd hym ho had stoppyd the
-weye, and he seyd, they that had pore to zeue it, and askyd here Wat was
-freer than zyfte, and he seyd she sey the day that Paston men wold not
-asofferyd that. And God be with zou. Wretyn at Paston on Monday after
-Hallumys day.
-
-  Be zour modyr,
-
-  ANNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 255.4: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 76.] This letter is
-    evidently of the same year as Nos. 194 and 196, which must be
-    1451 at the earliest.]
-
-    [Footnote 256.1: The patent granted to her husband in 1443
-    (21 Hen. VI.). _See_ Introduction.]
-
-  [[_See_ Introduction.  _printed in Roman (non-Italic) type_]]
-
-
-208
-
-OSBERT MUNDFORD TO JOHN PASTON[256.2]
-
-_To Right Worshipful sir and my gode maister Johan Paston, escuier, &c._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / FEB. 9]
-
-Right worshipful Sir, and my Right gode Maister, I Recommaunde to yow
-with al myne hert. Plese yow that I have understanden that Daniel hath
-entred in to Brayston, and put owte my servantes and dispoiled my godes,
-notwithstandinge I am here in the Kinges service and under his
-proteccion, which was shewed him; for the whiche owtrage I write to the
-King at this tyme and to other my gode lordes, for to be kepte in my
-pocession, and to be restored again to my godes. And if so be that I may
-not have my pocession ayene and be restored to my godes as I desire,
-I wol take an accion be your avis of forsable entre in my name and my
-wifes for owre title, &c., and an accion of trespasse for dispoiling of
-my godes ayenst him and al tho that were helpinge or consenting therto,
-&c., and assisse of a novel Disseson in my sonnes name, Johan of Berney,
-for to trye the title and ende debate with Goddes help and youres, &c.;
-for the whiche matere I write unto my fader, to myne Eme[257.1] Adam, to
-my Cosyn Fyncheham, to Edmond Piers, and to other divers of my frendes
-to be my helpers in thes mater in myne absence. For I may not come nor I
-wol not come, though I shulde lese al Brayston, and it were myne,
-considering that the enemyes drawen dailly hedirward, as it is openly
-said, &c. Wherfore I praye yow, as my ful trust is in yow, to tendre
-this matere in myne absence. And that it shal plese yow to recommaund me
-to my worshipful maistresse and gossip, your wif. And my maistresse
-recommaundes her vnto yow, and to her worshipful nece, and to al youres.
-Prayinge Almighty God to have yow in his kepinge and sende yow right
-gode lif and longe, after your awne hertes desire. And, Sir, if it plese
-yow to come to Calais with the king, ye shul have a stope of bere to
-comforte yow after your travaille of the see. And if ther be any service
-that ye wol commaund me to do for you here, ye shul fynde me your owne
-man. Written at Calais, the ix^e. day of Feveree, &c.--Your awne
-seruant,
-
-  OSBERNE MUNDEFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 256.2: [Add. 34,888, f. 79.] It appears by No. 119
-    that Daniel entered the manor of Braydeston, or Brayston, first
-    during the time of the Parliament at Leicester, 28 Hen. VI.
-    (_i.e._ May or June 1450), and a second time during the
-    thirtieth year of the King, _i.e._ 1451-2. As this letter is
-    dated February, 1452 must be the year.]
-
-    [Footnote 257.1: 'Eme,' _i.e._ uncle.]
-
-
-209
-
-JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON[258.1]
-
-_Unto myn right worshipfull sir, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL 1]
-
-Right worshipfull Sire and myn good maister, I recomaund me unto you,
-thankyng you of your gentilness chewed unto me; praying you of
-contenuance as myn full trust is. Furthermore, and it please you to be
-atte aleyser un Seynt Markis day next comyng and to be at Thetford, myn
-brodir Tyrell and I wole awayte uppon you ther for the matere ye woet
-of. And I praye you to hold me excused that I myght not kepe myn day in
-the Passion wike, for in good feight I was so occupied I myght not. And,
-Sire, yif this day may be hol . . I praye you sendith me woord that I
-myght send warnyng to the todir party. Also, Sire, I have warned your
-atteynt accordyng to your comawndment. Sir, the kyng hath sent unto me
-by Howard to be frendly to the lord Moleyns; not with stondyng myn
-service shall be redy at your comawndement in that matere er any othir
-by the grace of God, Who preserve you, body and sowle. Wreten at
-Melford, the furste day of Aprill.
-
-  Be youris,
-
-  J. CLOPTON.
-
-    [Footnote 258.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 60.] The date of this
-    letter must no doubt be referred to the year when the writer was
-    Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, which he was from November 1451
-    to 1452.]
-
-
-210
-
-PROCLAMATION BY THE DUKE OF NORFOLK[258.2]
-
-The Duc of Norffolk
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / [APRIL]]
-
-Be hit knowen to alle the Kyngs trewe liege peple, the cause of our
-comynge in to this contre ys, by the comandement of the Kynge our
-soverayn Lorde, for to enquer of suche gret riotts, extorcyons, oryble
-wrongis and hurts as his Highnesse ys credybyly enformyd ben don in this
-contre, and to know in serteyne, by yow that knowe the trowthe, by what
-persone or personys the seyde gret riotts, extorcions, oryble wrongis
-and hurts be done. Wherfor we charge yow alle, on the Kyngs behalve our
-soverayne Lorde, that ze spar neyther for love, drede, ne fer that ze
-have to any persone of what estat, degre, or condicion he be, but that
-ze sey the soth by whome suche offences be done, and that ze spar no man
-that ze knowe gilty; and be the feyth that we owe to our soverayn Lorde,
-they schal be chastysid after ther desert, and hit reformyd as lawe
-requyrith.
-
-Also hit ys opunly puplysschid that serteyne servaunts of the Lord
-Scales schulde in his name manasse and put men in feer and drede to
-compleyne to us at this tyme of the seide hurts and greves, seynge that
-we wolde abyde but a schort tyme her, and aftir our departynge he wolde
-have the rewle and governaunce as he hath had affore tyme. We lete yow
-wete that nexst the Kynge our soverayn Lord, be his good grace and
-lycence, we woll have the princypall rewle and governance throwh all
-this schir, of whishe we ber our name whyls that we be lyvynge, as ferre
-as reson and lawe requyrith, hoso ever will grutche or sey the
-[contrary[259.1]]; for we woll that the Lord Scales, Sir Thomas
-Tudenham, Sir Mylis Stapylton, and John Heydon have in knowleche, thowh
-our persone be not dayly her, they schal fynde our power her at all
-tymes to do the Kynge our soverayn Lord servyse, and to support and
-mayntene yow alle in your right that ben the Kyngs trewe lige men. For
-hit may non ben seyde nay, but that her hath ben the grettest riotts,
-orryble wrongs and offences done in thise partyes by the seide Lord
-Scales, Thomas Tudenham, Mylis Stapilton, John Heydon, and suche as ben
-confedred on to theym that evir was seen in our dayes; and most
-myschiffe throwh ther maliciouse purpose lyke to have fallyn amonge the
-Kyngs trewe liege peple now late at Norwiche, ne had we better providid
-therfor. And also that God fortunyd us to withstande ther seyde
-malicious and evill disposid purpose.
-
-Wherfor makith billiz of your grevance, and come to us, and we schal
-brynge yow to the Kynges presence our selfe, whos presence wyll be her
-in all the hast with the mercy of God, and see the reformacion ther of
-his owyn persone.
-
-    [Footnote 258.2: [From Fenn, iii. 248.] The intended royal visit
-    to Norfolk mentioned in the end of this proclamation appears to
-    tally best with the date of April 1452, when, it will also be
-    seen from the letters following, the Duke of Norfolk was at
-    Framlingham, hearing complaints from the gentlemen of Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 259.1: Indicated by Fenn as illegible in MS.]
-
-  [[by whome suche offences de done  _text has "be done"_]]
-
-
-211
-
-SOME GENTLEMEN OF NORFOLK TO [THE SHERIFF?][260.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL 23]
-
-Right wurchipfull, we commawnd us to yow. Please it yow to wete that we
-and other jentilmen of the shyer of Norffolk hath be in purpose assewyd
-[_have sued_] to the hygh and myghty Prynce and owr ryght gode Lord the
-Duke of Norffolk to Framlyngham, to have enformyd his Highnesse of
-dyvers assaughtes and ryottes made be Charles Nowell and other ageyn the
-Kyngs lawe and peas, withowte any cause or occacion, up on John Paston
-and other of owre kynne, frendes and neyghborys, ne had be that dayly
-this x. days it hath be do us to wete that his Highnesse shuld come in
-to Norwych or Claxton, we not beyng in certeyn yet whedyr he shall
-remeve; praying yow as we trust, that ye woll tender the welfare of this
-shyer and of the jentylmen ther in, that ye woll lete owr seyd Lord have
-knowyng of owr entente in this, and after to send us answher wheder it
-please his Highnesse we shuld come to his presens, and in what place, or
-to send owr compleynt to hym if mor informacion be thowch behoffull,
-trostyng to his gode Lordshep of remedy in this mater; whiche do [i.e.
-_done_], semyth us, shall be owr seyd Lordys honur and gret rejoyng to
-all the jentylmen of the shyer, and cause the peas to be kept her after
-be the grace of God, how have yow in hys blyssed kepyng. Wretyn at
-Norwyche, on Seynt Georgys day.
-
-  SIR JOHN HEVENYNGHAM.   JOHN FERRERS.   THO. GURNAY.
-
-  JOHN GROOS.   W. ROKEWODE.   JOHN BAKON, Senior.   JOHN BAKON,
-  Junior.[261.1]
-
-  J. PAGRAVE.   ROBT. MORTIMER.   NICHOLAUS APPILYARD.
-
-    [Footnote 260.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There are two copies
-    of this paper, besides a draft written on the back of that which
-    follows. The date both of this and of the two following letters
-    will be seen by comparing them with No. 217 following.]
-
-    [Footnote 261.1: The names subscribed thus far are in the same
-    handwriting as the document. Those below may perhaps be
-    autograph signatures, although the names of Pagrave and Mortimer
-    are in a hand much like that of John Paston.]
-
-
-212
-
-JOHN PASTON TO [THE SHERIFF OF NORFOLK?][261.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL 23]
-
-Reverent and ryth wurshepfull sir, and my god maister, I recommaund me
-to yow. Plese yow to wete that Charles Nowell with odir hath in this
-cuntre mad many riot and sautes; and, among othir, he and v. of his
-felachip set upon me and mo (?) of my servants at the Chathedrall chirch
-of Norwich, he smyting at me, whilis on of his felawis held myn armes at
-my bak, as the berer herof shall mor playnly inform yow. Whech was to me
-strawnge cas, thinking in my conseyth that I was my Lords man and his
-homagier, or Charlis knew hys Lordschipe, that my Lord was my god Lord,
-and that I had be with my Lord at London within viij. [days?][261.3] bey
-for Lent, at which tyme he grantyd my his god lordship, so lagerly
-[_largely_] that it must cause me ever to be his trew servant to myn
-pow[er]. I thowt also that I had never geff cawse to non of my Lords
-hous to ow me evill will, ne that ther was non of the hows but I wold
-have do fore as I cow (_sic_) desir anioone (?) to do for me, and yet
-will except my adversare; and thus I and my frendes haff miusid of this
-and thowt he was hard to do thus. And this notwithstanding, assone as
-knolech was had of my Lords coming to Framlingham, I never attemptid to
-precede ageyns hym as justis and law wuld, but to trust to my seyd Lord
-that his Hyghnes wold se this punischichid (_sic_), and desirid my
-master (?) H. . . . . . mi cosin (?) Tymperle, the dene and odir to
-(?)[262.1] and dayly hath be redy with such jentilmen as dwelle here
-abought that can record the trought to have come (_sic_) compleyn to my
-Lord; but we have had contynually tydynges of my Lordes comyng heder
-that causid us for to abide ther up un, besechyng your gode maystershep
-that ye wull lete my Lord have knowlech of my compleynt. And that ye
-wull tender the gode spede of the entente of the letteris wretyn to you
-fro jentilmen of this shire. Prayng yow that ye woll yeve credens to the
-berer herof, and be his gode mayster in cas any man make any qwarell to
-hym. And what that I may do be your comaundment shall be redi with the
-grace of God, how have in his blissid kepyng. Wretyn at Norwhich, un
-Seynt Georges day.
-
-    [Footnote 261.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is printed from
-    a rough draft in John Paston's handwriting, on the back of which
-    is a draft of the preceding letter. The date of both letters is
-    the same. The reading of particular words in this draft is very
-    uncertain, owing to the cramped handwriting used in corrections
-    and interlineations, and the manner in which several of the
-    words are abbreviated.]
-
-    [Footnote 261.3: Word omitted.]
-
-    [Footnote 262.1: The preceding words from 'and desirid' are a
-    peculiarly illegible interlineation, and do not appear to form a
-    consecutive sense along with the passage following. Perhaps the
-    words 'and daily hath' should have been erased, which would make
-    the connection intelligible.]
-
-
-213
-
-JOHN PASTON TO ----[262.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL]
-
-Ryth worchepfull sir and cosyn, I recommaund me to yow, [and] pray yow
-that ye will in mi behalf inform my Lord of the domag of Charlis Nowell
-to meward, withow occacion gef on min part, as the berer herof knoweth
-(?).[262.3] I am and was my Lords man and homagier, or the seyd Charlis
-knew my Lord, and will do my Lord sech servis as I can, and that ye will
-tendre the god sped of the mater of the letter direct to you from
-serteyn jentilmen of thes shir, with whech jentilmen or odir to bere
-recor of this thowt, I have bene dayly toward my Lord to compleyne to
-his Lorship, but the continuall tydings of my seyd Lords coming heder
-hath cawsid us to awayt ther opon. Beseching yow, cosine, as my trust is
-in yow, that ye will help to kepe the god rewll of thes shir, and my por
-honeste, and geff credens to the berer herof, and be his god master if
-any querel be mad to him. And what I may do for you, I am and ever shall
-be redi to do it be the grace of God, hoo ----
-
-    [Footnote 262.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, like the
-    preceding, is from a rough draft in Paston's handwriting. It is
-    clearly of the same date as the two last, or perhaps a day or
-    two later. There is nothing to show with certainty who was the
-    person addressed; but we should think it was probably Sir John
-    Fastolf.]
-
-    [Footnote 262.3: The reading is very uncertain, being partly
-    interlined in a very cramped hand, partly corrected in the
-    text.]
-
-
-214
-
-THE SHERIFF OF NORFOLK TO THE KING AND COUNCIL[263.1]
-
-_To the Kyng and the Lordes of his Councell._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / [APRIL 30]]
-
-I John Clopton, Shereffe of Norffolk, certifie that wher oon John
-Falyate and othre were take within the hundred of Blofeld in the seid
-shire, and led to the castell of Framlyngham in the counte of Suffolk,
-I, the forseid Shereffe, be the comaundement of my Lord of Norffolk,
-the last day of Aprill receyved at the seid castell a bille of divers
-knowlech and confessyons which were enformyd me shuld have be mad in the
-presens of my seid Lords Councell be Roger Chirch and othre, which the
-seid John Falyate, as it was enformed me, shuld have confessid to have
-be trewe. After which bille receyved and be me red and understand,
-callyng befor me the seid John Falyate and alle othre that where
-examyned, except the seyd Roger Chirch, in the presens of divers of my
-Lords Councell there, I red to the seid John Falyate the tale comprised
-in the seid bille seid be the seid Roger Chirch, demawndyng hym of the
-trought her of; wherto he answered, and seid that he wust wele ther was
-no wey with hym but deth, and therfore, as he wuld answer afore God, he
-wuld sey the trought, and seid that the substaunce of the tale told be
-the seid Roger Chirch was untrewe, and feyned and imagyned be the same
-Chirch, and that he never had knowleched that the tale to be trewe.
-Neverthelesse he seid that he was with a felesshep gadered undre
-Possewykwode be the prokeryng of the seid Chirch, which feleshep, whan
-thei were all togeder, passid not the nombre of xv. persones. And that
-the seid Chirch wast the furst that ever mevid hym for to come theder,
-seying that he shuld have feleshep i nowe and do goode, for he was
-balyffe of the hundred, and be colour of his office he shuld send in men
-i now, and that he knew a gode name for her capteyn, that shuld be John
-Amend Alle. More over I the seid Shereffe asked the seid Falyate if thei
-whan thei wer to geder spoke of Paston and othre gentilmen named in the
-seid bille to have assisted hem; and he seid pleynly nay, but that thei
-and othre thryfty men were noysid be the seid Chirch and be his
-councellores sith the tyme of the gaderyng of the seid feleshep, and
-never was spokyn of ther. In like wyse seid othre that were examyned in
-the seid bille.
-
-    [Footnote 263.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] John Clopton was
-    Sheriff of Norfolk from Michaelmas 1451 to Michaelmas 1452.]
-
-
-215
-
-JOHN OSBERN TO JOHN PASTON[264.1]
-
-_To my right reverent and worchepful maister John Paston in the Iner In
-of the Temple be this delyverid in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / MAY 14]
-
-Please it your maisterchep to weete that John Reyner and Nicholas
-Strecok of Sparham have gete a respyte of Nicholas Byschop for the
-distresse that the seid Byschop had take, as ye knowe wele, tyl seche
-tyme as ye may speke wyth Symond Blake for the trought of the mater; not
-wythstandyng this respite myght never be gete tyll that Byschop had a
-reward of mony; it is told me he toke viij_d._ for hese reward. The
-dryvers ought of the catell fro Sparham ground to Lyng grownd were Hugo
-Sadde of Baldeswell, Byschoppis man, Nicholas Gatesend, Roberd Joye,
-Jacobis Baxter of Lyng. James Gloys hath a bill of the tyme and day.
-I pray your maisterchep to know that on Fryday in the afftyr none I spak
-with my lord of Norwiche in hese chamber more than the space of j. owre
-and ther I dede to hym myn erand that ye commaunded me for to a do to
-chalanches, and when my lord woost that ye were to London he was right
-sory that he had not a spoke wyth yow or that ye reden; he told me that
-he had iij. letters fro my lord of Norffolk the day before. Alle I wet
-wel were they not for yowre mater of Charlys Nowell. Aftyer that he had
-told me of these letteris he askid me how ye dede. I sayde wel, for I
-trostid to my lord of Norffolkis lordchep and ritewesnesse that he wold
-see that Charles shuld be sharply correctyd for hese trespasse and
-mysrewle, or ellis the jentelmen of the shire must to giddyer purvey
-anodyer meane; and he seid it wold never odyerwyse be, but if he had
-spoke wyth yow or ye redyn to London he hopid be your avys he shuld a
-perveyd a meane to a set that in correccion, and also the trobyl for the
-maner of Brayston, for that was cause of all. For he seide he had spoke
-wyth my lord Skales and he is wel disposid to yow and vn the best wyse
-and wel do . . . yow that he can, so that he wold forsake Danyell. This
-was seyde in a diswere, savyng he told me he must . . . . pleayne he
-told me many more thyngges and tales I pray you of your maistechep
-(_sic_) hold me excusid that I wryte hem [not], but they were not alle
-of gret substans, &c. I had gret cher, he comaunded me to be had into
-the seler, and for to drynk wyne and ale bothe; and so I had and goode
-chere. My mastras recomendith her to yow and pray yow that ye wol do the
-cost vn my mastras Margery for to do make her a new gyrdyl a yens
-Witsontyde, for she shal never have, my mastras seith, till she hath
-nede; and my mastras prayith yow to send her tydyngges, as hastely as ye
-may, how ye do in your maters. The Holy Trenyte have yow in hese kepyng.
-Wrete at Norwiche the xiiij. day of Maii.
-
-  Be your seruaunt,
-
-  JOHN OSBERN.
-
-    [Footnote 264.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 83.] The reference to the
-    outrages of Charles Nowell, the bailiff of Bradeston, and the
-    trouble about that manor, show that this letter must be of the
-    year 1452.]
-
-
-216
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[266.1]
-
-_To my rygth wirchipfel hosbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / JULY 4]
-
-Ryth worshipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desyryng hertyly to
-her of your welfar, praying yow that ye woll send me word in hast how ye
-be agreid with Wychyngham and Inglose[266.2] for that mater that ye
-spake to me of at your departyng; for if I shuld purvey other wood or
-hey, it shuld be bowgth best chepe be twixt this and Seynt Margretys
-messe,[266.3] as itt is told me. As for Applyard, he com not yett to
-this town syn he com from London. I have sent to Sir Bryse to lete me
-have knowleche when he comyth to town, and he hath promysid that I shall
-have knowleche, and when he comyth I shall do your commawndement. My
-moder bad me send yow word that Waron Herman hath dayly fyshid hyre
-water all this yer, and therfor she prayith yow to do therfor while ye
-be att London as ye thynk best.
-
-Chyrche[266.4] of Byrlyngham was toke and browte to the castell
-yisterday be the Beshopys men, and all his godys ben seysid for that he
-owyth to the Boshop. And the seid Chirche seyth as for that he hath seyd
-of hem that he hath appelyd befor this tyme, he woll awow itt and abyd
-therby; and seyth that he woll appele one that hath mor nobelys than
-they have all that he hath spoke of yett, and that shall avayll the King
-more than they have all that he hath speke of yett; but what he is, he
-woll not name tyll he know mor. I trow but if that be the grett labour
-made ayens hym, he is lyke to have grett favour of hem that have be his
-supportors. Men thenk that have spoke with hym that he hopeth to have
-good helpe. I pray God that the trewth mote be knowyn.
-
-I pray yow that ye woll vouchesaff to send me an other sugor loff, for
-my old is do; and also that ye well do make a gyrdill for your dowgter,
-for she hath nede therof. The blyssid Trinyte have yow in his kepyng.
-Wretyn at Norwyche in hast, on the Tewysday next befor Seynt Thomas
-day.[267.1]
-
-Paper is deynty.[267.2]
-
-  Yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 266.1: [From Fenn, iv. 14.] What is said in this
-    letter about Church of Burlingham clearly shows that it belongs
-    to the same year as the last and the letters following.]
-
-    [Footnote 266.2: _See_ p. 251.]
-
-    [Footnote 266.3: 20th July.]
-
-    [Footnote 266.4: Roger Church. --_See_ p. 263.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.1: Translation of St. Thomas, Apostle, 7th July.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.2: Fenn says that the letter is written upon a
-    piece of paper nearly square, out of which a quarter had been
-    cut before the letter was written.]
-
-
-217
-
-INFORMATION OF OUTRAGES[267.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452]
-
-Charlys Nowel, Otywell Nowell, Robert Ledeham, John the sone of Hogge
-Ratkleff, Robert Dallyng, Herry Bangge, Roger Cherche, Nicholas
-Goldsmyth, Robert Taylor, Christofer Grenescheve, ----[267.4] Dunmowe,
-Elis Dokworth, Christofer Bradle, Jon Cokkow, assemblyng and gadderyng
-to hem gret multitude of mysrewled people, kepe a frunture and a forslet
-at the hows of the seid Robert Ledeham, and issu ought at her pleser,
-sumtyme vj., sumtyme xij., sumtyme xxx^ti and mo, armed, jakked, and
-salattyd with bowis, arwys, speris, and bylles, and over ride the contre
-and oppresse the people, and do many orible and abhomynable dedis lyke
-to be distruccion of the shire of Norffolk, wythoute the Kyng owre
-Sovereyn Lord seth it redressid.
-
-Un Mydlent Soneday[267.5] certeyn of the seid felechep in the chirche of
-Byrlyngham made a fray upon tweyne of the servauntes of the reverent
-fadyr in Godde, Byschop of Norwiche,[267.6] the seid servaunts at that
-tyme knelyng to see the usyng of the Masse; and there and than the seid
-felechep wold have kelled the seid two servauntes at the prestis bakke,
-ne had they be lettyd, as it semed.
-
-[268.1][Item, un the Moneday[268.2] next before Esterne daye, sex of the
-seid persones made a saute upon John Paston and hese two servauntes at
-the dore of the cathedrall cherche of Norweche, wyth swerdes, bokeler,
-and dagareis drawe smet at the seid Paston, on of them holdyng the seid
-Paston be bothe armes at hese bakke, as it semyth purposyng there to
-have morderid the seid Paston and they had not a be lettyd; and also
-smet on of the servaunts of the seid Paston upon the naked hed wyth a
-swerd, and poluted the seyntewary.]
-
-Item, on the Monday[268.2] next before Esterne day, x. of the seid
-persones lay in awayte in the hey weye undyr Thorp Woode up on Phelep
-Berney, Esquier, and hese man, and shet at hem and smet her hors wyth
-arwes, and then over rede hym and brake a bowe on the said Phelippis hed
-and toke hym presoner, callyng hym traytor. And when they had kepte hym
-as long as thei lyst, thei led hym to the seyd Byshop of Norwiche and
-askid of hym swerte of the peas, and forwyth relessid her suerte and
-went her way.
-
-Item, iij. of the seid felechep lay unawayte upon Emond Brome,
-jentelman, and with nakid swerds fawte wyth hym be the space of a
-quarter of a owre and toke hym presoner; and when they had kepte hym as
-long as they lyst, lete hym goo.
-
-Item, xl^ti of the same felechep come rydyng to Norwiche jakked,
-and salettyd, with bowys and arwys, byllys, gleves, un Maundy
-Thursday,[268.3] and that day aftyr none, when service was doo, they,
-in lyke wyse arrayid, wold have brake up the Whyte Freris dores,
-where,[268.4] seying that they came to here evesong; howbeit that they
-made her avaunt in towne they shuld have sum men owt of town (?), qwhyke
-or deede; and there made a gret rumor, where the mayre and the aldermen,
-with gret multitude of peple, assembled, and therupon the seyd felischep
-departid.
-
-Item, dyvers tymes serteyn of the seid felechep have take fro John
-Wylton, wythoute any cause, hese net, hese shep, and odyr cattell, and
-summe there of have saltyd and eten, sume thereof have aloyned,[269.1]
-so that the seid Wylton wot not where for to seke hese bestes; and un
-the morwe[269.2] next aftyr Esterne day last past, they toke fro hym xj.
-bestis, and kepte hem two dayis wythowte any cause.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse they have do to John Coke and Kateryn Wylton.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse they have take the goodys and catelles of Thomas
-Baret and many odyr.
-
-Item, certeyn of the seid felechep late made a sawte upon John Wylton in
-Plumsted cherche yerd, and there beete hym so the [_that_] he was [in]
-dowth of his liff.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse upon John Coke of Wytton, brekyng up hese dores at
-xj. of the clok in the nyght, and with her swerdis maymed hym and gaf
-hym vij. grete woyndis. Item, smet the modyr of the seid Coke, a woman
-of iiij^xx [_four score_] yeres of age, upon the crowne of the heed wyth
-a swerd, wheche wownde was never hol to the daye of her deth.
-
-Item, the seyd Dunmowe, on of the seid feleche[p], now lete beet the
-parson of Hasyngham, and brake hese hed in hese owne chauncell.
-
-[269.3][Item iii^xx [_three score_] of the seid felechep, arayid as men
-of werre, now late enterd with fors upon Phelep Berney and dissesid hym
-of the maner of Rokelandtoftys, wheche darnot, for feer of mordyr,
-reentre hese owne londe; how be it, he and hese aunseters have be
-pesibely possessid therof many yeris.]
-
-Item, Alredis sone of Erll Some, fast be Framyngham, un the
-Saterday[269.4] next before Palme Soneday last past was pullid ought of
-a hows and kyllid. Whedyr any of the seid felechep were there or not men
-kan not sey, there be of hem so many of wheche many be unknowe people.
-
-Item, the seid felechep make seche affrayis in the contre abowte the
-seid Ledehams place, and so frayith the people that dyvers persones for
-feer of mordyr darnot abyde in her howses, ne ride, ne walke abowte ther
-ocupacions, wyth owte they take gretter people abowte hem then acordith
-to her degre, wheche they wol not do in evel exaumple gevyng.
-
-Item, the seid felechep of a fer cast maleys and purpose now late toke
-Roger Cherche, on of ther owne felechep, be hese owne assent, wheche
-Roger Cherche be her assent had movid and sterid a rising in the hundred
-of Blofeld, and hath confessed hym self to be at that arysyng, and hath
-enbylled, as it is seid, divers jentelmen and the most part of the
-trysty yomen and husbondis and men of good name and fame of the hundred
-abowte the seid Ledehams place, where the seid felechep is abydyng, and
-nameth hem wyth odyr suspecious people for risers, to the entent to hide
-and cover her awn gylt, and to holde them that be trw men and innosent
-in that mater in a dawnger and feer that they shuld not gader peopell,
-ner atempte to resiste ther riotows governauns of the seid reotows
-felechep.
-
-[270.1][Item, it is conceyved that if the seyd riotows felechep, and
-they that drawe to them were dewly examyned, it shuld be knowe that if
-there were any seche rysyng, it was conjectyd, don, imagened, and
-labored be the seid reotows felechep and be ther meanes; for aswele the
-seid Cherche, as dyvers of the most suspeciows persones be the seid
-Cherche enbelled for rysers, as it is seid, be and have be of long tyme
-dayly in compeny wyth the seid reotows felechep.
-
-Item, on of the seid felechep of late tyme, as it is seide, to encresse
-her maliciows purpose, hath proferid rewardis and goode to anodyr
-persone for to take upon hym to apele certeyn persones, and afferme the
-seying of the seid Roger Cherche.]
-
-In wytnesse of these premesses, dyvers knytes and esquieres, and
-jentelmen whos names folwen, wheche knowe this mater be seying, heryng,
-or credible reporte, to this wrytyng have set her seall, besechyng your
-Lordcheppis to be meanes to the Kyng owre sovereyn Lord for remedy in
-this behalve. Wrete, &c.
-
-  On the lower margin of this paper, and on the back are scrawled a
-  few additional memoranda, of which the following are the most
-  important. One paragraph, which is in the handwriting of John
-  Paston, is so carelessly written that the names contained in it are
-  quite uncertain.
-
-Memorandum, that Jon, sone of Roger Ratkliff, bet T. Baret, and Beston
-and Robyn Taylor tok and imprysonyd Thomas Byrdon of Ly[n]gwode. Item,
-Robert Dalling bet Nicholas Chirch at Stromsaw Chirch. Memorandum of
-manassing of the quest at Hengham. Item, Robert Dallyng bete Thomas
-Dallyng.
-
-Roger att Chirche, Robert Dallyng and Herry Bang with other went with
-fors and armys, and fechid William Clippisby oute of his faders hous,
-and brought hym to the town of Walsham, and kept hym there ij. days and
-ij. nytys, and fro thens had hym to Romgey (?), and there inpresonyd hym
-and made hym [give] to Eusdale (?) an oblygacion of C. libr. made after
-her owyn desyr.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The misdemeanours of
-    Roger Church, who is here complained of among other malefactors,
-    must refer to the same period as Letter 214. The date is
-    rendered even more certain by a comparison with the letter
-    following.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.4: Blank in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.5: Midlent Sunday fell on the 19th March in 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.6: Walter Lyhart or Hart.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.1: This paragraph is crossed in the MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.2: April 3, Easter day being the 9th April in
-    1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.3: April 6.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.4: After the word 'where' the original text had
-    'the seid Paston dwellith,' but these words have been struck
-    out, and other alterations made in the paragraph.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.1: Eloined (French _éloigne_), removed to a
-    distance.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.2: April 10.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.3: This paragraph is crossed out.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.4: April 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 270.1: These paragraphs are crossed through.]
-
-  [[had movid and sterid  _text has "and and"_]]
-
-
-218
-
-A PETITION TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR[271.1]
-
-_To the right reverent fader in God, Cardynale Archebusshop of
-York[271.2] and Chaunceler of Inglond._
-
-Please it yowre gode Lordeshep to know that oon Roger Cherche, other
-wyse callyd Roger Bylaugh, Roger Wryte, and Roger Baly, late[271.3] was
-at a gaderyng and assemble of xv. persones in a feleshep under a wode in
-the town of Possewyke, in the counte of Norffolk, which feleshep, as it
-is seid be hem, was procured and gaderyd be the seid Roger Cherche and
-be his councelores, the same Roger seyng to summe of the same
-feleshep,[271.4] he had remembred a gode name for her capteyn, that
-shuld be John Amend Alle; and the seyd Roger aftyr the seyd gaderyng
-aggreyd hym self to be take and examyned be persones of his own covyne,
-and be color of his seid feleshep of xv. persones be hym gaderyd,
-enbilled divers gentilmen, and many thrifty and substanciall yomen, and
-thryfty husbondes, and men of gode name and fame, noysyng and diffamyng
-to the Kyng and his Councell that the seid gentilmen, yomen, and thryfty
-husbondes, with other, to the nombre of ccc. persones, shuld have mad a
-gaderyng and a risyng ageyn the Kynges peas under the seid wode,
-contrary to the trought; which is veryly conceyved to be don of malyce
-to put the seid gentilmen and yomen in feer and trobill that thei as
-wele as alle the contre shuld not be hardy to attempt, ne lette the
-purposyd malyce of the seid Cherche and his councellores in divers
-riottes, extorciouns, forsibil entreys and unlawfull disherytauns of
-gentilmen and other of the Kynges liege peple in the seid shire that
-thei dayly use, which riottes, extorcions, aswele as the seid untrewe
-diffamacions, causyth gret grudgyng, trobill, and comocyon in the seid
-shire. Please it yowre gode grace, these premysses considered, not to
-suffre the seid Cherche to have no pardon of the comune grace graunted
-be the Kyng owre soverayn Lord un Gode Fryday last past,[272.1] un to
-the tyme that he hath fownde sufficient suerte of wel namyd persones of
-the seid shire of his gode beryng; and to direct a comyssion un to such
-notabill persones in the seid shire as please you, to take and examyn
-the seid Roger Cherche, as wele as othre that them semyth necessary to
-examyn in this behalf, so that thei that be giltles in this may be so
-declared, and that thei that be gilty may be ponysshed acordyng to her
-demerytes; and to beseche the Kyng owre soverayn Lord in the behalf of
-the gentilmen of the seid shire that his Hignesse wull not take hem,
-ne any of hem, in conceyt to be of such rewle and disposicion up un
-enformacion of such a mysse rewled and encredibill man as the seid
-Roger. And thei shall pray to God for you.
-
-    [Footnote 271.1: [Add. Charter 17,241, B.M.] The date of this
-    petition will be seen by a footnote.]
-
-    [Footnote 271.2: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-    [Footnote 271.3: Here the words 'before Crystmasse last past'
-    originally stood in the text, but are crossed out.]
-
-    [Footnote 271.4: Here occurs a caret referring to some illegible
-    words in the margin.]
-
-    [Footnote 272.1: On Good Friday the 7th April 1452, Henry VI.
-    offered general pardons for offences against himself to all who
-    would sue them out of Chancery. --_See_ Whethamstede, 317, 319.]
-
-
-219
-
-PARTIES IN NORFOLK[273.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452]
-
-Itt is to remembre under hos rule that the gode lord[273.2] is at this
-day, and whiche be of his new cownseyll.
-
-Item, that Debenham, Lee, Tymperle, and his old cownseyl and attendans,
-as well as the gode ladijs servawntys, be avoydyd, and Tymperle of malys
-apelyd of treson.
-
-Item, that the sescionys of the pees wyth owte cause was warnyd in the
-myddys of hervest, to grette trobill of the contre, whiche was never se
-in Norffolk at seche tym of the yere; and itt was unlawfully warnyd to
-appere with inne iiij. or v. days after the warnyng. Howbeitt the contre
-was before warnyd at the shyer day to have had the sescionys the
-Tewysday befor Michelmes.
-
-Item, that at the seid sescionys was non other cawse of settyng thereof
-declaryd but a commysyon beryng date before Estern, &c., to arest, take,
-and expungne traytorys and rebellys, of whiche, be Goddis grace, is no
-nede in this contre at this tyme, &c.
-
-Item, be the demenyng of the seyd sescionys was verily conseyvid be the
-jantylmen of the shyer that it was set of purpose to have, be
-indytements, defowlyd seche personys as wer of the old counseyl with the
-seid Lord, and seche as kepe Wodhows lond, or seche as help or confort
-Osbern Munford, marchale of Kalys, in his rygth of the maner of
-Brayston, of whiche he is now late wrongfully dyssesyd,[273.3] and
-generally to have hurt all other that wold not folwe the oppynyons of
-the seyd new cownseyll; whiche malysiows purposid oppynyon the jantylmen
-of the seyd shyer that wer sworyn att the seyd sescions kowd not fynde
-in her conciens to observe, but dede the contrarye as it apperyth be
-here verdyte if itt be shewyd, &c. Remembre the verdyt of Brayston, &c.
-
-And where on Roger Chirche, wyth on Robert Ledham, Charlys Nowell, John
-son of Hodge Ratcleff, and on Robert Dallyng had the rewle and kepyng of
-the seid maner of Brayston to the use of Thomas Danyell after the
-dyssesing of the seyd Osbern Monford, the seyd Roger be the comon ascent
-of his seyd felashep, be the colowre of xv. personys gadderid be the
-exitation of the seyd Roger Chyrche and his felashep, accusid many
-notable and thryfty men that were well willid to the seyd Munford for
-the seid maner of Brayston, to be ryseris, wher as the seyd thrifty men,
-as well as all that contre, hath at all tymys be pesyble and of no seche
-disposicion: It was purposid after the seid sescions, whan the intents
-of the seyd new cownseyl mygth not be executyd be indytements, than to
-have had the seyd Roger Chirche owte of the Kyngs gayle, seying that he
-shuld appele for the Kyng, and wold have do the sheryff delyverid hym
-owt of prison, howbeit he was comyttyd thidder be the justyse of assyse
-and gayle delyvere be cawse he was indyted of fellonye, and that ther
-apperid not suffycient inquest to delyver hym.
-
-Item, day seth thei labour feynid materis to hurt jentilman and odir be
-soch acusements, &c.
-
-Memorandum, as itt semyth be the confescion of dyvers of the seid xv.
-personys that thei were innocent and knew not whi thei assemelyd but
-only be the excitacion of the seyd Chirche and his menys, and after the
-tyme of that they conseyvid itt was do to no good intent, thei never
-medillid forther in the mater. Item, to remembre how suttely the seyd
-Chirche was, be his owyn assent, led to my Lord of Norffolk be his owyn
-felashep to the entent to accuse and defame seche as they lovyd not.
-
-Memorandum, of the sescion at Norwich. Memorandum, of my Lord of
-Somerset and of the Blak frers.
-
-Memorandum, that Charlys Nowell is baly of Brayston, and hath ther
-ij_d._ on the day, and of that mater growyth his malys.
-
-Item, memorandum of them that for fer of disclosid of her falsenes
-acusid odyr that they shuld not be thowth gilti hemself, and labour to
-have the mater handlid be her frends that the trowth shuld not be triid
-owt.
-
-    [Footnote 273.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper bears upon
-    the same matters as the last, and must be attributed to the same
-    date. The MS. is a draft, with corrections in John Paston's
-    handwriting.]
-
-    [Footnote 273.2: The Duke of Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 273.3: Mountford was disseised of Brayston by Daniel
-    in the spring of 1450, but recovered possession on the 23rd
-    September. I find no note of his having been disseised again,
-    but I should think he must have been, as this paper is certainly
-    two years later.]
-
-  [[the gode lord[273.2] is at  _footnote marker [2] invisible_]]
-
-
-220
-
-EDMUND WYCHYNGHAM TO JOHN PASTON[275.1]
-
-_To my ryth trusty Cosyn, John Paston, escwier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452-3 / OCT.]
-
-Ryth reverent and trusty Cosyn, I recomande me to zow, thankyng zow of
-zour good wil and counseill. Like zow to wete, I cam hom be myn Lord of
-Oxeford and told hym of the greet labour of Sir Thomas Tudenham and
-Heydon for schirevez of owr schire, and namyd the personez quom thei
-laboryd fore, and myn Lord agreeyth not to tweyne of hem; to the knyth
-he seyd not moch to, but I felt my lord he wold labore for William
-Dorward, myn neview.[275.2] And thanne I answerd, Sir, he may not
-profite me in myn matere for he hath weddyd myn nece. Also I felt myn
-Lord that myn Lord Crumwell laboryth for Stonham of Huntyngton schire,
-Sir John Tirell howe [_who_] weddyd hese modir, hese sone executour to
-my Lady Clyfton, with Heydon and othir memento, &c. And to fore I cam to
-Framyngham myn lord of Norffolk hadde wrytyn for Sir Robert Conyers,
-takyng promys of hym to be rewlyd in alle matterez as myn Lord of
-Norffolk wil avyse hym, and as an undirschireve ze schall be acounseill
-therof. And as touchyng Lee, as I am enformyd, ther ys no man that he
-wil do lesse for thanne for Sir Thomas Tudenham. And as touchyng myn
-seyd Lord of Norffolk, he hath wrytyn, or I cam, be Debenham, as he may
-not wel returne, and the personez ben Sir Robert Conyers, Henry Gray,
-Thomas Brews. And I suppose as for Thomas Brews he schall be translate
-in to myn brothir John Blake, but myn seyd Lord of Norffolk hath previly
-(?) wrytyn to the Kyng for Sir Robert Conyers promisyd[276.1] be the
-seyd Sir Robert that he schall non undirshireve, ne non othir officer
-make, but be the avyse of myn seyd Lord of Norffolk counseill, to qwhom
-ze schall be prevy to And I have no dowte zour owyn materez schall ben
-speed aftir zour entent myn seyd Lord of Norffolk wil with alle hese
-herte that Blake schuld be it, or ellez the seyd Sir Robert with alle
-hese herte. And yf myn Lord of Norffolk, to for myn comyng, hadde be a
-vertysyd, he wold a do hese trew parte ther to, as I suppose he schall
-have vere knalich from myn Lord. I preye zow remembre William Bury for
-myn _venire facias_. And yf it likyd myn brothir Blake to remembre my
-welbelovyd mayster Sir John Bawryte (?) of myn mater I trust he wold
-remembre the Kyng ther of atte hese leyser; for he knowyth the matere,
-and that Debenham hath greet charge to labore myn seyd Lordys materez of
-Norffolk, levying the favour of Sir Thomas Tudenham. Aftir I here I
-schall send zow be wrytyn. I preye zow in like forme. God preserve zow
-to Hese grace. Wrytyn atte Framyngham the Fryday next to fore the feste
-of Simon and Jude.
-
-  E. WYCHYNGHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 275.1: [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 1.] The year when this
-    letter was written is not exactly certain, but seems to have
-    been either 1452 or 1453. It might be 1450, except that one
-    would have expected in October of that year to hear something
-    about the parliamentary election, as well as the election of
-    sheriffs.]
-
-    [Footnote 275.2: William Dorward, according to Blomefield
-    (_Hist. of Norf._ vi. 519), married Margaret, daughter of
-    Nicholas Wichingham, who thus appears to have been a brother of
-    Edmund the writer of this letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 276.1: The sentence here is a little confused, and we
-    forbear to supply punctuation.]
-
-
-221
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[276.2]
-
-_To my right worchepful husbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452(?) / NOV. 5]
-
-Right worchepful husbond, I comaund me to yow. I pray yow that ye wol do
-bye ij. doseyn trenchors, for I can none gete in this town. Also I pray
-yow that ye wol send me a booke wyth chardeqweyns[276.3] that I may have
-of in the monynggs, for the eyeres be nat holsom in this town; therfor I
-pray yow hertely lete John Suffeld bryng it hom wyth hym.
-
-No more but the blyssid Ternyte have yow in Hese kepyng, and send yow
-good sped in all yowre maters. Wrete on Sent Leonard even.
-
-My uncle Phelyppe[277.1] commaund hym to yow, and he hath be so seke
-sith that I come to Redham, that I wend he shuld never a askapid it, nor
-not is leke to do but if he have redy help; and therfore he shal into
-Suffolk this next weke to myn aunt, for there is a good fesician, and he
-shal loke to hym.
-
-My Lady Hastyngs[277.2] told me that Heydon hath spoke to Geffrey
-Boleyn[277.3] of London, and is a greid wytht hym that he shuld bargeyn
-wyth Sir John Fastolff to bye the manor of Blyklyng as it were for
-hymselff, and if Boleyn byet in trowght Heydon shal have it.
-
-  Yowr,
-
-  M. P.
-
-I cam to Norwiche on Sowlemesday.
-
-    [Footnote 276.2: [From Fenn, iii. 168.] This letter was written
-    during the life of Philip Berney, most probably in 1452, while
-    he lay sick of the wounds, of which he afterwards died. _See_
-    No. 227 further on.]
-
-    [Footnote 276.3: A preserve made of quinces. --_See_ Index to
-    Furnivall's _Manners and Meals in Olden Times_. In the
-    ordinances of the household of George, Duke of Clarence,
-    'charequynses' occur under the head of spices, their price being
-    five shillings 'the boke,' or £2, 10s. for 10 lbs.--See _The
-    Society of Antiquaries' Collection of Ordinances for the Royal
-    Household_, p. 103. The word also occurs pp. 455, 471 of same
-    volume.]
-      [[_Early English Meals and Manners_, Project Gutenberg ebook
-      24790.]]
-
-    [Footnote 277.1: Philip Berney.]
-
-    [Footnote 277.2: Margery, widow of Sir Edward Hastings of
-    Elsing, Norfolk, who styled himself Lord Hastings and
-    Stutvill. --_See_ Blomefield, viii. 112, and ix. 513, 514.]
-
-    [Footnote 277.3: An ancestor of Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth.
-    He was Mayor of London in 1457.]
-
-
-222
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[278.1]
-
-_This lettre be delyvered to John Paston, beynge at London, in the
-Innere In of the Temple._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452(?) / NOV. 16]
-
-I grete you well, and sende you Goddes blissyng and myn. And as touchyng
-the mater wheche ye desyryd my cosyn Clere shulde write fore, she hath
-doo, and I sende you the copy closed in this lettre. As for the enquerre
-I have sent by Pynchemore to enquere and sent myn owen men to William
-Bakton, and don hem enquered in dyverse placs, and I can here no woord
-of noon suych enquerans; I wot not what it menyth. Roberd Hill was at
-Paston thys wyke, and the man that dwelled in Bowres place is oute ther
-of, and seid to Roberd he durst no lenger abyde ther in, for Waryn
-Herman seyth to him it is his place. As for Cokets mater, my doughter
-your wyf told me yester even the man that suyth him will not stonde to
-your awarde.
-
-Bertilmow White is condemnyd in Forrenecet Court in xl. marc, as it is
-seid.
-
-Item, as for Talfas, the Sherevis hav be hest to do all the favour thei
-may. I sente the Parson of Seynt Edmundes to Gilberd, and he seide ther
-was come a newe writ for to have him up by the xv. day of Seynt Martyn,
-and how Caly hadde ben at hem,[278.2] and desired to carye up Talfas on
-his owen cost, and yeve hem goode wages.
-
-Item, John Osbern seide to me this day that he supposed thei will not
-have him up be forn Estern, and Margerete Talfas seide to me the same
-day that men tolde hire that he shulde never have ende till he wer at
-London, and asked me counsell wheder she myte yeve the Sherevys sylver
-or non; and I tolde hire if she dede, I supposed she shulde fynde hem
-the more frendly.
-
-Item, as for Horwelbur, I sende you a bill of all the rescyts syn the
-deth of your fader, and a copy wrete on the bak how your fader lete it
-to ferme to the seide Gurnay. I wulde ye shulde write Gurnay, and charge
-him to mete with you fro London warde, and at the lest weye lete him
-purveye x_li._ for [he] owyth be my reknyng at My helmesse last passed,
-be syde your faddes dette, xviij_li._ xiiij_s._ viij_d._ If ye wolde
-write to him to brynge suerte for your fadyrs dette and myn, and pay be
-dayes, so that the man myte leven and paye us, I wolde for yeve him of
-the olde arrerags x_li._; and he myte be mad to paye xx. marc be yer, on
-that condicion I wolde for yeve him x_li._, and so thynketh me he shulde
-hav cause to praye for your fader and me, and was it leten in my fadres
-tyme. I fele by Roberd, his wif is right loth to gon thens, she seide
-that sche had lever I shulde have all her gode after her day, than thei
-schulde go out ther of.
-
-Item, John Dam teld me that the Lady Boys[279.1] will selle a place
-called Halys,[279.2] but he seith sehe speketh it privyly, and seith it
-is not tayled, as John Dam kno, wech will she hath seide as largely of
-other thyngs that hath not be so.
-
-Item, he tolde me, as he herd seyn, Ser John Fastolf hath sold Heylysdon
-to Boleyn[279.3] of London; and yf it be so, it semeth he will selle
-more. Wherfor I praye you, as ye will have my love and my blissyng, that
-ye will helpe and do your devoir that sumthyng were purchased for your
-ij. bretheren. I suppose Ser John Fastolf, and he wer spake to, wold be
-glader to lete his kensemen have parte than straunge men. Asay him in my
-name of suych placs as ye suppose is most cler.
-
-It is seid in this contre that my Lord of Norfolk seith Ser John Fastolf
-hath yoven him Castr, and he will hav [it] pleynly. I sende you a bill
-of Osbern hand, whech was the ansuer of the Sheref and John of Dam.
-
-Jon, brynge me my lettre hom with you, and my cosyn Cler is copy of her
-lettre, and the copy of the reseyth of Horwelbury; and recomaunde me to
-Lomnor, and tell him his best be loved fareth well, but sche is not yet
-come to Norwich, for thei deye yet, but not so sor as thei dede. And God
-be wyth you. Wreten at Norwych, in right gret hast, the xvj. day of
-Novembr.
-
-  By your moder,
-
-  ANNEYS PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 278.1: [From Fenn, iii. 162.] This letter is certainly
-    not earlier than 1451 or later than 1453; for it was written
-    some time after Lady Boys became a widow, which was in December
-    1450 (_see_ p. 198), and before Sir John Fastolf's removal from
-    London into Norfolk, which, as will be seen hereafter, was in
-    the autumn of 1454. Probably the true date is 1452, for in the
-    summer following, owing to Gurney's utter inability to pay his
-    rent, we find Agnes Paston urging her son seriously to look out
-    for another tenant for Orwellbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 278.2: The modernised version in Fenn reads 'at
-    home.']
-
-    [Footnote 279.1: _See_ p. 248, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 279.2: Holm Hale. --_See_ p. 248.]
-
-    [Footnote 279.3: Geoffrey Boleyn. --_See_ p. 277, Note 3.]
-
-
-223
-
-THE DUKE OF YORK AND SIR JOHN FASTOLF[280.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / DEC. 18]
-
-This endenture witnesseth that where Richard, Duc of York, by his lettre
-of saal [_sale_] bering date the xv. day of the monneth of Decembre, the
-xxxj^ti yere of the regne of oure soverain Lord Kyng Henry the Sext,
-hath bargaigned, aliened, solde, graunted, and confermed unto John
-Fastolf, Knyght, the jowelles undrewriten:--That is to wite, a nowche of
-gold with a greet poynted diamand sette up on a roose enameled white;
-a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staf, with ij. ymages of man and
-woman garnysshed with a ruby, a diamande, and a greet peerle; and a
-floure of gold, garnysshed with ij. rubyes, a diamande, and iij. hanging
-peerles. To have, holde, and rejoyce the same jowelles to the saide
-John, his executors and assignees, frely, quietly, and pesibly for evere
-more, like as in the saide lettre of saal more openly is conteened.
-Nevertheles the saide John wolle and graunteth herby that yif the saide
-Duc paie or doo paie to the same John or to his attornee, his heires or
-to his executors, in the Fest of the Nativitee of Sainte John Baptist
-next commyng, iiij^c xxxvij_li._ [£437] sterlinges withouten delay, that
-than the saide letter of saal to bee hold for notht; but he to delivere
-ayein unto the saide Duc, or to his attornee paieng the saide iiij^c
-xxxvij_li._ sterlinges in the saide Fest, the saide jowelles. And yif
-defaulte bee made in the paiement of the saide iiij^c xxxvij_li._ in
-partie or in all ayenst the fourme aforesaide, than wolle and graunteth
-the saide Duc herby that the forsaide lettre of saal, by him as is
-abouve saide made, stande in ful strengh and vertu, this endenture
-notwithstanding. In witnesse wherof, to the parte of this saide
-endenture remaynyng towards the saide John the saide Duc hath sette his
-seel. Yeven at Fodringey, the xviij^e day of the saide monneth of
-Decembre, the xxxj^ti yere of the regne of oure saide souverain Lord
-King Henry the Sext.
-
-  R. YORK.
-
-  Seal attached mutilated.
-
-    [Footnote 280.1: [Add. Charter 17,242, B.M.]]
-
-
-224
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[281.1]
-
-_To my right worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / JAN. 30]
-
-Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, desyring to here of
-your welfar; praying yow to wete that Sir Thomas Howes hath purveyed
-iiij. dormants[281.2] for the drawte chamer,[281.3] and the malthouse,
-and the browere, wherof he hath bought iij., and the forte, that shall
-be the lengest and grettest of all, he shall have from Heylesdon, whiche
-he seyth my Mayster Fastolf shall geve me, be cause my chamer shall be
-made ther with. As for the laying of the seyd dormants, they shall be
-leyd this next weke, be cause of the malthous, and as for the remenant,
-I trow it shall abyde tyll ye come hom, be cause I can nother be
-purveyed of pysts [_posts?_], ne of bords not yette.
-
-I have take the mesure in the draute chamer, ther as ye wold your cofors
-and cowntewery[281.4] shuld be sette for the whyle; and ther is no space
-besyde the bedd, thow the bedd wer remevyd to the dore, for to sette
-bothe your bord and your kofors ther, and to have space to go and sitte
-be syde. Wherfor I have purveyd that ye shall have the same drawte
-chamer that ye had befor ther, as ye shall ly to your self; and whan
-your gerr is remevod owte of your lytil hous, the dore shall be lokkyd,
-and your baggs leyd in on of the grete koforis, so that they shall be
-sauff, I trost.
-
-Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched hom the chyld[282.1] from
-Rokelond Toftes, and it is apraty boy; and it is told me that Wyll is
-att Blyklyng with a pore man of this town. A yonge woman that was
-sometyme with Burton of this town sent me word therof; I pray yow send
-me word if ye woll that any thyng that ye woll be do to hym or ye com
-hom. Richard Charles sendeth yow word that Wylles hath be at hym here,
-and offerd hym to make hym astate in all thyngs according to ther in
-dentur, and if he do the contrary ye shall sone have word.
-
-My moder prayith yow to remembr my suster, and to do your parte
-feythfully or ye com hom to help to gette her agode mariage. It semyth
-be my moders langage that she wold never so fayn to have be delyveryd of
-her as she woll now.
-
-It was told here that Knyvet the heyer is for to mary; bothe his wyff
-and child be dede, as it was told here. Wherfor she wold that ye shuld
-inquyr whedder it be so or no, and what hys lyvelode is, and if ye
-thynke that it be for to do, to lete hym be spoke with therof.
-
-I pray yow that ye be not strange of wryting of letters to me be twix
-this and that ye come hom. If I myght I wold have every day on from yow.
-The blyssed Trinyte have yow in his kepyng. Wrete att Norwyche, on the
-Tesday next after the Convercion [of] Seynt Poull.
-
-  Be yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 281.1: [From Fenn, iii. 324.] The beginning of this
-    letter refers to building operations, which I presume to be the
-    same as those to which the next letter relates, and therefore of
-    the same date. They were probably at Caister Castle.]
-
-    [Footnote 281.2: Large beams.]
-
-    [Footnote 281.3: Draught chamber. A
-    withdrawing-room.--Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 281.4: Cowntewery must mean his counter, desk, or
-    board to sit and write, etc., at.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 282.1: Probably a member of the Berney family (_see_
-    Sir John Fastolf's letter of the 28th January 1451). Philip
-    Berney, as will be seen by No. 217, was disseised of the manor
-    of Rockland Tofts during the year 1452.]
-
-
-225
-
-JOHN PASTON TO JOHN NORWODE[283.1]
-
-_To John Norwode._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453]
-
-I lete you wete that Hache hath do no werk of myn wherfore he aught to
-have receyvid any mony, savyng only for the makyng of the litill hous
-above the halle wyndownes, for the remenaunte was that fell down in his
-diffaute. And as for the makyng of that litill hous, he toke that in a
-comenaunte [_covenant_], with makyng of too chymnyes of Sir Thomas Howys
-for xl_s._, which comenaunte may not hold, be cause that I must have
-thre chymnyes and in a nother place.
-
-Item, the seid litill hows drawyth not v. thowsand tyle, which after
-xvj_d._ the thowsand shuld drawe vj_s._ viij_d._ Notwithstandyng, if Sir
-Thomas thynk that he shuld be alowyd mo, he shall be. And ye must
-remembre how that he hath receyvid vj_s._ viij_d._ of you, and of Robert
-Tolle before Halwemesse, as apperith in his accompt, viij_s._ And he
-hath receyvid of Tolle sith Halwemesse v_s._ iiij_d._ And than be this
-rekenyng he shuld be xiij_s._ iiij_d._ a fore hand, which I wold ye
-shuld gader up in this newe werk aswele as ye myght, for I am be hold to
-do hym but litill favour.
-
-Item, be war ther leve no firsis in the deke that ye reparre, and that
-the wode be mad of fagot and leyd up forthwoth as it is fellid for
-taking away. I wold ye wer her on Satirday at evyn thow ye yed ageyn on
-Moneday.
-
-  JON PASTON.
-
-  _The following memoranda occur on the back of this letter:--_
-
-  Rec' W. Hach.
-  Rec' de Joh'e Paston, anno xxxş, vj_s._ viij_d._
-  Item, de Roberto Telte, xiij_s._ iiij_d._
-  De Thoma Howis, xx_d._
-  Item, de Joh'e Norwod, anno xxxj. pro camino l_s._
-          Summa, lxxj_s._ viij_d._
-  Will' Hach fecit quandam kaminam v. mark, et pro le closet x_s._
-          Summa, lxxvj_s._ viij_d._
-
-  Sic debentur dicto Hach, per Joh'em Paston, v_s._; et dedit ei
-  xv_s._ in recompensationem cujusdam billĉ ibe (?) et omne jus ipsum
-  et Mo (?) Unde tradidi ei xiiij_s._ iiij_d._ per plegios Thomĉ Howis
-  qui manusepit (_sic_) quod dictus Will' perimplot [_perimpleret?_]
-  barganium suum et in fine operis haberet de me vj_s._ viij_d._
-  residuum.
-
-    [Footnote 283.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the memoranda on
-    the back of this letter, it would appear to belong to the 31st
-    year of Henry VI.]
-
-
-226
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[284.1]
-
-_To my right wurshipfull Mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / APRIL 20]
-
-Right wurshipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, preying yow to wete,
-&c.[284.2] . . .
-
-As for tydyngs, the Quene[284.3] come in to this town on Tewysday last
-past after none, and abode here tyll itt was Thursday, iij. after none;
-and she sent after my cos. Elysabeth Clere[284.4] by Sharynborn, to come
-to her; and she durst not dysabey her commandment, and come to her. And
-when she come in the Quenys presens, the Quene made ryght meche of her,
-and desyrid here to have an hosbond, the which ye shall know of here
-after. But as for that, he is never nerrer than he was befor.
-
-The Quene was right well pleasid with her answer, and reportyht of her
-in the best wyse, and seyth, be her trowth, she sey no jantylwoman syn
-she come into Norffolk that she lykit better than she doth her.
-
-Blake, the bayle[285.1] of Swaffham, was here with the Kyngs
-brother,[285.2] and he come to me, wenyng that ye had be at hom, and
-seyd that the Kyngs brother desyrid hym that he shuld pray yow in his
-name to come to hym, for he wold right fayn that ye had come to hym, if
-ye had ben at home; and he told me that he west wele that he shuld send
-for yow when he come to London, bothe for Cossey and other thyngs.
-
-I pray yow that ye woll do your cost on me ayens Witsontyd, that I may
-have somme thyng for my nekke. When the Quene was here, I borowd my
-coseyn Elysabeth Cleris devys, for I durst not for shame go with my beds
-among so many fresch jantylwomen as here were at that tym. The blissid
-Trinyte have yow in his kepyng.
-
-Wretyn at Norwych on the Fryday next befor Seynt George.
-
-  Be yowrs,
-
-  M. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 284.1: [From Fenn, i. 68.] According to Blomefield
-    (_Hist. of Norf._ iii. 158), Margaret of Anjou, Queen of
-    Henry VI., visited Norwich in the spring of 1452; but by the
-    same authority, it would appear that she had returned to
-    Westminster before the 17th of March in that year, which would
-    not suit the date of this letter. Besides, John Paston was at
-    Norwich in April 1452, and dates a letter at Norwich on St.
-    George's day, complaining of the assault made upon him at the
-    door of Norwich Cathedral on Monday before Easter. It is
-    impossible, therefore, that Margaret Paston could have written
-    to him from Norwich two days before St. George's day in that
-    year. From an undated entry in the Norwich city records, which
-    bears internal evidence of having been made in the year 1453, it
-    would appear that the King's half-brothers, Edmund, Earl of
-    Richmond, and Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, visited Norwich in that
-    year.--(_See_ fol. 19 of a volume, entitled _An Old Free Book_,
-    in the Norwich city archives.) As to the Queen's visit I find no
-    direct evidence, but I think it possible she may have come with
-    _one_ of the King's brothers, and that the other may have come a
-    little later.]
-
-    [Footnote 284.2: Here (says Fenn) follows some account of money
-    received, etc.]
-
-    [Footnote 284.3: Margaret of Anjou.]
-
-    [Footnote 284.4: Widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, who
-    died in 1446. Fenn says his daughter, but no notice is found of
-    a daughter of that name, while the widow occurs frequently in
-    this correspondence.]
-
-    [Footnote 285.1: Bailiff.]
-
-    [Footnote 285.2: Either Edmund Tudor, who was created Earl of
-    Richmond about November 1452, or Jasper, who was created Earl of
-    Pembroke at the same time. They were half-brothers to the King,
-    being sons of his mother, Catherine, Queen of Henry V., by her
-    subsequent marriage to Sir Owen Tudor.]
-
-
-227
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[285.3]
-
-_To my welbelovyd Son, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / JULY 6]
-
-Sone I grete yow well and send you Godys blessyng and myn, and lete you
-wete that Robert Hyll cam homward by Horwelle bery, and Gurney tellyd
-hym he had byn at London for mony and kowd nat spedyng, and behestyd
-Robert that he shuld send me mony be you. I pray for getyt not as ze com
-homward, and speke sadly for i. nothyr fermor.
-
-And as for tydyngs, Phylyppe Berney[286.1] is passyd to God on
-Munday[286.2] last past wyt the grettes peyn that evyr I sey man; and on
-Tuysday Ser Jon Henyngham zede to hys chyrche and herd iij. massys, and
-cam hom agayn nevyr meryer, and seyd to hese wyf that he wuld go sey a
-lytyll devocion in hese gardeyn and than he wuld dyne; and forthwyth he
-felt a feyntyng in hese legge and syyd don. This was at ix. of the clok,
-and he was ded or none.
-
-Myn cosyn Cler[286.3] preyt you that ze lete no man se her letter,
-wheche is in selyd undir my selle. I pray you that ze wyl pay your
-brothir William for iiij. unces and j. half of sylke as he payd, wheche
-he sende me by William Tavyrner, and bryng wyt yow j. quarter of j. unce
-evyn leke of the same that I send you closyd in thys letter; and sey
-your brothyr William that hese hors hath j. farseyn and grete rennyng
-sorys in hese leggis. God have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche on Sent
-Thomas evyn in grete hast.[286.4]
-
-  Be your modyr,
-
-  A. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 285.3: [From Fenn, iii. 182.] Sir John Heveningham,
-    whose death is mentioned in this letter, was found, by an
-    inquisition taken on the 29th September 32 Henry VI., to have
-    died on the 3rd of July preceding, which was in the year
-    1453.--(Inquis. _post mortem_, 31 Hen. VI., No. 7.) He left a
-    son named John, over twenty-three years old, who was afterwards
-    knighted.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.1: Third son of John Berney, Esq. of Reedham, who
-    was the father of Margaret Paston's mother.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.2: July 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of
-    Ormesby.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.4: The Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr
-    (Becket) was celebrated on the 7th July.]
-
-
-228
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[286.5]
-
-_To my ritht worchipfull Mayster John Paston, be this deliveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / JULY 6]
-
-Rytht worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying yow to wete
-that I have spoke with Newman for his place, and I am thorow with hym
-therfor, but he wold not lete it in no wyse lesse than v. marc. I told
-hym that sekyrly ye shuld not know but that I hyrid it of hym for
-iij_li._ I seyd as for the noble,[287.1] I shuld payt of myn owyn purse,
-that ye shuld no knowlech have therof. And this day I have had inne ij.
-cartfull of hey, and your stabyl shall be made I hope this next weke.
-I kowd not gette no grawnt of hym to have the warehows; he seyth if he
-may in any wyse forber itt her after, ye shall have itt, but he wull not
-grawnt itt in no convawt [_covenant_]. He hath grawntyd me the hows be
-twix the vowte and the warehows, and that he seyd he grawntyd not yow.
-
-And as for the chamer that ye assygnyd to myn unkyl,[287.2] God hath
-purveyd for hym as hys will is; he passyd to God on Monday last past, at
-xj. of the clok befor none, and Sir John Hevenyngham passyd to God on
-Tewysday last past; hois sowlys both God assoyle. His sekenesse toke hym
-on Tewysday, at ix. of the clok befor none, and be too after none he was
-dedd.
-
-I have begonne your inventare that shuld have be made or this tym, if I
-had ben well at ease. I hope to make an ende therof, and of other thyngs
-both this next weke, and ben in that other place, if God send me helth.
-I must do purvey for meche stuff or I come ther, for ther is nother
-bords ne other stuff that must neds be had or we come there. And Richard
-hath gadderid butt lytill mony syth he come from yow. I have sent John
-Norwod this day to Gresham, Besigham, and Matelask to gete als meche
-mony as he may. The blissid Trinyte have yow in his keping. Wretyn at
-Norwych, on the Utas day of Peter and Powll.[287.3]
-
-  Yowrs,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 286.5: [From Fenn, iii. 186.] This letter chronicles
-    the same two deaths as the preceding, and is therefore of the
-    same date.]
-
-    [Footnote 287.1: A noble was a coin of the value of 6s. 8d.
-    A mark was 13s. 4d. Five marks therefore were equal to £3, 6s.
-    8d.; but Margaret said she would pay the odd noble, or 6s. 8d.,
-    out of her own purse, and not let Paston know but that he had
-    the place for £3. A little artifice for accepting terms which
-    she had doubtless told Newman her husband could never agree to.]
-
-    [Footnote 287.2: Philip Berney. --_See_ p. 251, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 287.3: The day of St. Peter and Paul is the 29th of
-    June. The _utas_ or octave of a feast is the eighth day of the
-    feast--that is to say, the seventh day after, which in this case
-    is the 6th of July.]
-
-
-229
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[288.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / SEPT. (?)]
-
-Ryth worchepfull howsbonde, I recomende me on to yow. Plesyt yow to wete
-that I sent Tomas Bon to Edwarde Coteler to have one ansuer of the mater
-that ye spak to hym of, and he sent me worde that he hade spok to hys
-man therof, and he tolde hym that he hade no wrytynge nor evidens of no
-swyche thyng as ye spak to hym of, ner not wyst were he scholde have
-cnowlage of no swyche thyng, save that he tolde hym that he receyvyd
-onys j.c._s._ [100_s._] of the same rent; but and he may have cnowlage
-of ony man that havyth ony wrytyng or ony thyng that may out prevayle,
-he schal late yow have cnoulage therof.
-
-As for Wylliam Yellverton, he come here never syn ye yede. As for my
-Lady Stapullton, att the wrytyng of thys letter sche was not come home.
-Wyndhamys[288.2] erand to my Lady of Southefolk[288.3] was to desiyr hyr
-gode Ladychep and to beseche hyr that sche wold spek to my cosyn
-Evenyngham[288.4] that he myt have hys gode wyll, for he levith in hope
-to have hys modyr, and he hath made menys to have her by John Gros and
-hys wyf, and by Bokynham and by odyr dyvers, and profuryth hyr to find
-suerte to acquitt hyr housbondys dettes, the qwyche is CCC. marc, and to
-payit doune on j. day. And by thys mene, as he seyth, he hathe bargeynid
-with j. marchande of London, and hath solde to hym the manage of hys
-son, for the qwyche he scal have vij. C. [700] marc, and of that the
-iij. C. [300] marc schoulde be payd for the forseyd dettes; and also he
-proforyth to yeve hyr the maner of Felbryg to hyr joyntour, and odyr
-la[r]ge profors as ye schal here eraffter. As for the good wyll of my
-cosyn Hevenyngham, he seyth Wyndh[am][289.1] he schall never have hytt,
-nott for to have hyr gode konyth he [abydyth][289.2] hys soull hevy
-therof, for he is aferde that and if the large profors may be
-perfor[m]yd, that sche wyll have hym. My seyd cosyn preyith yow, att the
-reverens of Gode, that ye wyll do yowyr [devoir][289.3] therin to brec
-it and ye can. He schall be here ayen on Mychaell mas evyn. He was full
-sory that ye wer outt att this tyme, for he hopyd that ye schoulde have
-do myche goode att this tyme. He hathe seyde as myche ther ageyns as he
-dar do to have hyr gode modyrchep. My Lady of Southfolce sent j. letter
-to hyr yesterday by Stanle, the qwyche is callyd j. well cherysyd man
-with my seyd Lady, and desyiryng hyr in the letter that sche wolde owe
-hyr godde wyll and favor to Wyndham in that that he desyiryd of hyr, and
-of more matterys that ye schall here er after, for I suppose sche wyll
-schew yow the same letter and mak yow of hyr counsel in many thyngys,
-and I schall do my part as feythfully as I can to lett Wyndhamys porpose
-tyl ye come home. I pray yow sende me a copy of hys petygre, that I may
-schew to hyr how worchepphull it is, for in goode feythe sche is
-informyd bi hyr gentyll son Gros and Bokenham that he is mor
-worcheppfull in berthe and in lyvelode therto than they or ony odyr can
-preve, as I suppose. I pray yow lett nott thys mater be discuyryd tyl ye
-her more therof or after, for my cosyn Hevenyngham tolde myche here of
-in secret wyse, and of odyr thyngis qwyche ye schall have cnoulage of
-qwan ye come home, &c.
-
-  In hast, all in hast.
-
-    [Footnote 288.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There is neither
-    signature nor address to this letter, but it is undoubtedly from
-    Margaret Paston to her husband. The handwriting is the same as
-    that of her other letters. The date seems to be after the death
-    of Sir John Heveningham in 1453, and is not likely to have been
-    a later year, as the Duchess of Suffolk's influence must have
-    been diminished when the Duke of York came into power, though it
-    may possibly have been powerful again in 1456.]
-
-    [Footnote 288.2: John Wyndham, Esq. of Felbrigg.]
-
-    [Footnote 288.3: Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of
-    Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 288.4: John, son of Sir John Heveningham. --_See_ p.
-    227, Note 3.]  [[_error for p. 285, n. 3 (Letter 227)_]]
-
-    [Footnote 289.1: Mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 289.2: Erased in MS. Apparently some further
-    correction should have been made.]
-
-    [Footnote 289.3: Omitted in MS. 'Do your devoir,' _i.e._
-    endeavour, seems to have been the phrase intended.]
-
-
-230
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK'S PETITION[290.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1453]
-
-My Lordes, ye know well ynough the grete peynes, labours, and diligences
-that before thys tyme y have doon, to th'entent that the over greete
-dishonneurs and losses that ben come to thys full noble royaume of
-England by the fals menes of som persones that have take on theym over
-grete autoritee in thys royaume shulde be knowen, and that the persones
-lyvyng that have doon theym shulde be corrected aftyr the merites of her
-desertes. And to that entent y have denounced and delyverd to you in
-wrytyng certeyn articles ayenst the Duc of Somerset, whych ys one of
-theym that ys gylty thereoff, whertoo the Duc of Somerset have aunsuerd;
-and to that that he hath aunsuerd y have replyed yn such wyse that y
-trowe to be sure ynough that there shall no vayllable thyng be seyd to
-the contrarie of my seyd replicacion, and asmoch as he woold sey shall
-be but falsnesse and lesyngs, as be the probacions that shall be made
-thereuppon shall mow appiere; how be it that to alle people of gode
-entendement, knowyng how justice owyth to be ministred, it ys full
-apparaunt that the denunciacions ayenst hym made ben sufficiently preved
-by the dedes that have folowed thereoff; whereuppon y have requyred to
-have ouverture of justice by yow, whych ye have not yhyt doon to me,
-whereoff y am so hevy that y may no lenger beere it, speciallie seth the
-mater by me pursued ys so worshipfull for all the royaume, and for you,
-and so greable to God, and to alle the subgettys of thys royaume, that
-it may be no gretter. And it ys such that for anye favour of lignage, ne
-for anye othyr cause there shulde be no dissimulacion, for doubt lest
-that othyr yn tyme comyng take example thereoff, and lest that the full
-noble vertue of justice, that of God ys so greetly recommaunded, be
-extinct or quenched by the fals oppinions of som, that for the grete
-bribes that the seyd Duc of Somerset hath promysed and yoven them, have
-turned theyr hertys from the wey of trouth and of justice; some seyeng
-that the cases by hym committed ben but cases of trespasse, and othyr
-takyng a colour to make an universell peas. Whereoff every man that ys
-trewe to the seyd Coroune auyth gretely to marveylle, that anye man wold
-sey that the losse of ij. so noble duchees as Normandie and Guyen, that
-ben well worth a greet royaume, comyng by successions of fadres and
-modres to the seyd Coroune, ys but trespasse; where as it hath be seen
-in manye royaumes and lordshyps that, for the losse of tounes and
-castells wythoute sege, the capitaynes that hav lost theym han be deede
-and beheded, and her godes lost; as in Fraunce one that lost
-Chyrborough; and also a knyght that fledd for dred of bataille shulde be
-byheded, soo that alle these thyngs may be founden in the lawes wryten,
-and also yn the boke cleped _L'arbre de Bataille_. Wherfor, for to
-abbregge my langage, y requyre you that forasmech as the more partie of
-the dedes committed by the seyd Duc of Somerset ben committed yn the
-royaume of Fraunce, that by the lawes of Fraunce processe be made
-thereuppon; and that all thyng that y have delyvered and shall delyvere
-be seen and understand by people havyng knoulige theroff, and that the
-dedes committed by hym in thys royaume bee yn lyke wyse seen and
-understand by people lerned yn the lawes of thys land; and for preffe
-thereoff to graunt commissions to inquere thereoff, as by reason and of
-custom it owyth to be doon, callyng God and you all my Lordes to
-wytnesse of the devoirs by me doon in thys seyd matere; and requyeyng
-you that thys my bille and alle othyr my devoirs may be enacted before
-you. And that y may have it exemplified undre the Kyngs grete seele for
-my discharge and acquytaille of my trouth, makyng protestacion that in
-case ye make not to me ouverture of justice upon the seyd caas, y shall
-for my discharge do my peyn that my seyd devoirs and the seyd lak of
-justice shall be knowen through all the royaume.
-
-  _Einsi signé_,
-
-  J. M. NORFF.
-
-    [Footnote 290.1: [From Fenn, iii. 108.] This paper is headed
-    'Copia' in the MS. It is entitled by Fenn, 'The Speech of John
-    Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, against Edmund Beaufort, Duke of
-    Somerset, in the House of Lords.' This title, however, is
-    clearly no part of the original document, which has much more
-    the character of a petition to the Privy Council than of a
-    speech in Parliament. The paper itself professes to be a 'bill'
-    signed by its author, who demands that the conduct of the Duke
-    of Somerset in France and in England should be made the subject
-    of investigation by separate tribunals according to the laws of
-    either country. Now the House of Lords, being only a branch of
-    the English Legislature, would have had no right to authorise a
-    judicial investigation in France. The date of this petition must
-    have been in the end of the year 1453, after the loss of
-    Guienne. The Duke of Somerset appears to have been committed to
-    the Tower a little before Christmas in that year; for, after his
-    liberation on the 4th March 1455, he declared before the Council
-    that he had been confined there 'one whole year, ten weeks, and
-    more.' --_See_ Rymer, xi. 362.]
-
-
-231
-
-WILLIAM REYNOLDS, OF CROMER, TO AGNES PASTON[292.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and wourchipfull mastras, my Mastras Paston, the
-modyr of my maister John Paston, be this delyvered._
-
-Ryght reverent and wourchipful Mastras, with most humble and louly
-servyce in moste goodly wice I recomaund me to your contynuell
-supportacion. Please it your good grace to have notycion that I have
-late a place of yours in quiche John Rycheman dvellyd, for it stode at a
-grete dyspeyr and I have late it for xv_s._, but up your good grace, for
-the lockis of the dores arn pulled of and born a waye, and the wyndowes
-ben broken and gone and other bordys ben nayled on in the stede of the
-sayd wyndowes. Also, the swynysty ys doun, and all the tymbyr and the
-thatche born a way; also the hedge ys broken or born a wey, quiche
-closed the gardeyn; querthorgh the place ys evyl apeyred to the tenaunt.
-On Sent Marckes daye I entred the seid place and lete it to your be
-hove, and on the day after cam Henry Goneld and seyd my latyng schald
-not stond, and went and seled the dores; querfor I beseche your graciows
-favor that my latyng may stond, for I have late alle your londis
-everychone. I know not oon rode unlate, but alle ocupyed to your
-profyghte. The tenaunt quich by your lycens schuld have youre place to
-ferme by my latyng ys gretely be hated with oon Johane, the wyfe of
-Robert Iclyngham, chapman, quich ys voysed for amysse governyd woman of
-hyr body by the most parte of owr town wel recordyth the same, and sche
-dvellyth al by your seyd place; and by cause this seid tenaunt ys
-gretely ayens hir for hir ungoodly governaunce, therfor sche mad menys
-to one Abraham Whal, quiche ys one of hir supportores, and he hath spoke
-with the seyd Henry Gonelde that he myght seke a remedye to cause this
-seyd tenaunt to be a voydyd and kept oute your seid place and not come
-ther inne.
-
-He that is bryngger of this bylle ys the man to quich I have late to
-ferme by the licens of you; therfore I beseche your gracaus favor to be
-schewed onto hym, and mekeli I beseche your contynuell supportacion that
-ye wuld send me wrytyng under your seele how I schal be demened. Nomor,
-&c. Wrytin at Crowmer the nest day after Sent Marc.--Be your servaunt at
-alle tymes,
-
-  WILLIAM REYNOLDES of Crowmer.
-
-_The following memoranda are written on the back:--_
-
-  Firmale terrĉ ten' Roperes in Crowmer Anno xxxjş.
-
-  In primis Gylmin (?) tenet ad firmam ij. acras ad terminum
-      ---- [293.1] annorum et reddit per annum                  xx_d._
-
-  Item, Johannes Parnell tenet iij. rodas ad terminum xij. annorum et
-      reddit per annum                                         xij_d._
-
-  Item, Willelmus Reynoldes pro iij. rodis in ij. peciis ad terminum
-      x. annorum et reddit per annum                            ix_d._
-
-  Item, Thomas tenet pars (_sic_) terrĉ et reddit per annum
-                                                          ij_d._ _ob._
-
-  Item, Ricardus Child pro prato et j. inclausura vocata Longclos ad
-      terminum annorum et reddit per annum            iij_s._ iiij_d._
-
-  Item, Rogerus Caryour pro j. orto per annum                    x_d._
-
-    [Footnote 292.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 225.] This letter is shown
-    by the memoranda on the back to be of the year 1453, _i.e._ 31
-    Henry VI. Agnes Paston had tenants at Cromer, and her property
-    there descended to her grandchildren, as she outlived her son
-    John.]
-
-    [Footnote 293.1: Blank in MS.]
-
-
-232
-
-THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[294.1]
-
-[_To my_] _right trusty and welbeloved Jon Paston, Esquier._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1454]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbelovyd, I grete you wele. Prayng you as I
-specially trust you that ye wole be good frend to James Arblaster in his
-mater touchyng the maner of Smalbergh, as I wote wele ye haf ever be to
-hym ryght especiall frend; and thogh it so be that the sayd James had
-gret trebles, losses, and adversite herbeforn, neverthelesse he shall
-not be so bare of frendys ner goodes but that I wole se hym holpyn with
-the mercy of God. In performmyng wherof the berer of this shal enforme
-you of myn inten and disposicion more largely than I wole put in
-wrytyng. And the Trinite have you in hys kepyng. Wretyn at
-Wefnow,[294.2] the vij. day of August.
-
-  ELIZABETH VER, Countes of Oxenford.
-
-    [Footnote 294.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] At the bottom of the
-    letter is a contemporary note which appears to show that it was
-    filed along with others of various dates before Michaelmas
-    1454:-- 'Literĉ de diversis annis ante Michaelem xxxiij.' More
-    precise evidence of its date does not seem to be attainable.]
-
-    [Footnote 294.2: Wivenhoe, near Colchester, in Essex.]
-
-
-233
-
-THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[294.3]
-
-_To John Paston, Sqwyer, dwellyng in Norwich._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Ryght entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, and pray yow that ye woll
-be good frende un to Arblaster in suche matiers as he shal enfo[rme]
-yow, and I thanke yow for the good frendship that ye have shewed to hym.
-And I sent a letter to Margaret Gurnay byfore Cristemesse of certeyn
-langage that I herd, wich plesed me nowght, and so I prayed my Lord to
-gif me leve to wrytte to hir; and therfore and ye here any thyng,
-answere, as my trust is in yow. Right entierly welbeloved, the Holy Gost
-have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast the first day of February.
-
-  OXENFORD,          }
-                     }
-  ELYZABETH DE VEER. }
-
-    [Footnote 294.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the letter
-    immediately following are inserted here merely on account of
-    their similarity to the last. Their dates are quite uncertain.]
-
-
-234
-
-THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[295.1]
-
-_To my right, entierly welbeloved John Paston of Norwich, Squyer._
-
-Right entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, thankyng yow of the gret
-jentylnesse that ye have shewed un to my right welbeloved James
-Arblaster, prayng yow of contynuaunse; and if ther be any thyng that I
-may doo for yow or any of yowres, here or in any other place, I pray yow
-let me wete and I shall be redy to do it, with the grace of God, ho have
-yow in his kepyng. And I pray yow to be frendly unto my right welbeloved
-Agneys Arblaster, wich is to me gret plesier and hertes ease and ye so
-be. Wretyn at Wevenho the xiij^e day of Aprill.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-  ELYZABETH.
-
-    [Footnote 295.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 82.]]
-
-
-235
-
-NEWSLETTER OF JOHN STODELEY[295.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JAN. 19]
-
-As touchyng tythynges, please it you to wite that at the Princes[295.3]
-comyng to Wyndesore, the Duc of Buk' toke hym in his armes and presented
-hym to the Kyng in godely wise, besechyng the Kyng to blisse hym; and
-the Kyng yave no maner answere. Natheless the Duk abode stille with the
-Prince by the Kyng; and whan he coude no maner answere have, the Queene
-come in, and toke the Prince in hir armes and presented hym in like
-forme as the Duke had done, desiryng that he shuld blisse it; but alle
-their labour was in veyne, for they departed thens without any answere
-or countenaunce savyng only that ones he loked on the Prince and caste
-doune his eyene ayen, without any more.
-
-Item, the Cardinalle[296.1] hathe charged and commaunded alle his
-servauntz to be redy with bowe and arwes, swerd and bokeler,
-crossebowes, and alle other habillementes of werre, suche as thei kun
-medle with to awaite upon the saufgarde of his persone.
-
-Item, th'erle of Wiltshire[296.2] and the Lord Bonvile have done to be
-cryed at Taunton in Somerset shire, that every man that is likly and
-wole go with theym and serve theym, shalle have vj_d._ every day as long
-as he abidethe with theym.
-
-Item, the Duk of Excestre[296.3] in his owne persone hathe ben at
-Tuxforthe beside Dancastre, in the north contree, and there the Lord
-Egremond[296.4] mette hym, and thei ij. ben sworne togider, and the Duke
-is come home agein.
-
-Item, th'erle of Wiltshire, the Lord Beaumont, Ponynges, Clyfford,
-Egremond, and Bonvyle, maken all the puissance they kan and may to come
-hider with theym.
-
-Item, Thorpe[296.5] of th'escheker articuleth fast ayenst the Duke of
-York, but what his articles ben it is yit unknowen.
-
-Item, Tresham,[296.6] Josep,[296.7] Danyelle,[296.8] and
-Trevilian[296.9] have made a bille to the Lordes, desiryng to have a
-garisone kept at Wyndesore for the saufgarde of the Kyng and of the
-Prince, and that they may have money for wages of theym and other that
-shulle kepe the garyson.
-
-Item, the Duc of Buk' hathe do to be made M^{l}. M^{l}. [2000] bendes
-with knottes, to what entent men may construe as their wittes wole yeve
-theym.
-
-Item, the Duke of Somersetes herbergeour hath taken up all the loggyng
-that may be goten nere the Toure, in Thamystrete, Martlane, Seint
-Katerines, Tourehille, and there aboute.
-
-Item, the Queene hathe made a bille of five articles, desiryng those
-articles to be graunted; wherof the first is that she desireth to have
-the hole reule of this land; the second is that she may make the
-Chaunceller, the Tresorere, the Prive Seelle, and alle other officers of
-this land, with shireves and alle other officers that the Kyng shuld
-make; the third is, that she may yeve alle the bisshopriches of this
-land, and alle other benefices longyng to the Kynges yift; the iiij^th
-is that she may have suffisant lyvelode assigned hir for the Kyng and
-the Prince and hir self. But as for the v^th article, I kan nat yit
-knowe what it is.
-
-Item, the Duke of York wole be at Londone justly on Fryday next
-comyng[297.1] at night, as his owne men tellen for certain, and he wole
-come with his houshold meynee, clenly beseen and likly men. And th'erle
-of Marche[297.2] cometh with hym, but he will have a nother feliship of
-gode men that shall be at Londone before hym . . . that he is come;
-and suche jakkes, salettes, and other herneys as his meyne shulle have,
-shalle come to Londone with hem, or before hem in cartes. The Erle of
-Salesbury[297.3] wille be at Lon[don] on Monday[297.4] or Tywesday next
-comyng with seven score knyghtes and squyers, beside other meynee. The
-Erles of Warwyk,[297.5] Richemond,[297.6] and Pembroke[298.1] comen with
-the Duke of Yorke, as it is seide, everych of theym with a godely
-feliship. And natheles th'erle of Warwyk wole have M^{l}. men awaityng
-on hym beside the feliship that cometh with hym, as ferre as I can
-knowe. And as Geffrey Poole seithe, the Kynges bretherne ben like to be
-arrested at their comyng to Londone, yf thei come. Wherfore it is
-thought by my Lordes[298.2] servauntz and welwillers here that my Lord,
-at his comyng hider, shalle come with a gode and clenly feliship, suche
-as is likly and accordyng to his estate to have aboute hym; and their
-harneys to come in cartes, as my Lord of Yorkes mennes harneys did the
-last terme, and shalle at this tyme also. And over that, that my Lord
-have a nother gode feliship to awaite on hym and to be here afore hym,
-or els sone after hym, in like wise as other Lordes of his blode wole
-have.
-
-And for the more redynesse of suche feliship to be hade redy, that my
-Lord send sadde and wise messagers to his servauntz and tenauntz in
-Sussex and elswhere, that they be redy at London ayenst his comyng, to
-awaite on my Lord; but lete my Lord beware of writyng of lettres for
-theym, lest the lettres be delivered to the Cardynalle and Lordes, as
-one of my Lordes lettres was nowe late, for perill that myght falle,
-for that lettre hathe done moche harme and no gode.
-
-And as for suche tydynges as ben contened in the lettre sent home by
-John Sumpterman, I can nat hiderto here the contrarie of any of theym,
-but that every man that is of th'opynion of the Duke of Somerset[298.3]
-makethe hym redy to be as stronge as he kan make hym. Wherfore it is
-necessarie that my Lord loke wele to hym self and kepe hym amonge his
-meyne, and departe nat from theym, for it is to drede lest busshementes
-shuld be leide for hym. And yf that happed, and my Lord came hiderward,
-as he hathe ben used for to come, he myght lightly be deceyved and
-betrapped, that God defende. And therfore lete my Lord make gode wacche
-and be sure.
-
-The Duke of Somerset hathe espies goyng in every Lordes hous of this
-land; some gone as freres, som as shipmen taken on the sea, and som in
-other wise; whiche reporte unto hym all that thei kun see or here
-touchyng the seid Duke. And therfore make gode wacche, and beware of
-suche espies.
-
-And as touchyng the privee scale and my Lordes seurtee, it is necessarie
-that my Lord be advertised that yf the Chaunceller,[299.1] or any other,
-make any question to my Lord of his comyng contrarie to the teneur of
-the seid privee seall, that my Lord by his grete wisdom make answere
-that he was credibly enformed that aswele the Duke of Somerset beyng
-prisoner, as other beyng at large, holdyng his opynyon ayenst the wele
-of the Kyng and of the land, made grete assemblees and gaderyngs of
-people, to mayntene th'opinion of the seid Duke of Somerset and to
-distrusse my Lord; and that the comyng of my Lord in suche forme as he
-shalle come is onely for the saufgarde of his owne persone, and to none
-other entent, as my Lord hym self can sey moche better than any that is
-here kan advertise hym.
-
-Thise thinges aforseid ben espied and gadred by my Lord Chaun   ,[299.2]
-John Leventhorpe, Laurence Leventhorpe, Maister Adam, William Medwe,
-Robert Alman, John Colvyle, Richard of Warderobe, and me, John Stodeley.
-And as sone as we kun knowe any more in substance we shull send home
-word. Writen at London, the xix. day of Janyvere.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-The meire and merchauntz of London, and the mair and merchauntz of the
-staple of Caleys, were with the Chaunceller on Monday last passed[299.3]
-at Lamhithe, and compleyned on the Lord Bonvile for takyng of the
-shippes and godes of the Flemmynges and other of the Duke of Burgoynes
-Lordships, and the Chaunceller yeve theym none answere to their plesyng;
-wherfore the substaunce of theym with one voys cryed alowde, 'Justice,
-justice, justice!' wherof the Chaunceller was so dismayed that he coude
-ne myght no more sey to theym for fere.
-
-    [Footnote 295.2: [Egerton MS. 914, B.M.] There is no evidence
-    that this letter had anything to do with the Paston
-    correspondence, but as a very interesting political letter of
-    the period we have thought it right to give it a place in the
-    collection. The date is quite certain, being after the birth of
-    Prince Edward in October 1453, and before the death of Cardinal
-    Kemp in March 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 295.3: Edward, only son of Henry VI., born 13th
-    October 1453.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.1: John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.2: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.3: Henry Holland.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.4: Thomas Percy, third son of Henry, Earl of
-    Northumberland.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.5: Thomas Thorpe, one of the Barons of the
-    Exchequer, who was also Speaker of the House of Commons, but was
-    at this time imprisoned in the Fleet in consequence of an action
-    brought against him by the Duke of York.--(See _Rolls of Parl._
-    v. 239.)]
-
-    [Footnote 296.6: Thomas Tresham, who as 'Sir Thomas Tresham,
-    Knight,' was attainted under Edward IV. for fighting on the
-    Lancastrian side at Towton, but his attainder was afterwards
-    reversed in Parliament 7 and 8 Edw. IV., on the ground that he
-    was a household servant of Henry VI. and had been brought up in
-    his service from a child.--_Rolls of Parl._ v. 616-617.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.7: William Joseph, who, with Thorpe, was
-    frequently accused by the Yorkists of misleading the
-    King.--_Rolls of Parl._ v. 280, 282, 332, 342.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.8: Thomas Daniel, Esq. --_See_ p. 255, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.9: John Trevilian.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.1: 25th January.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.2: Afterwards Edward IV., the Duke of York's
-    eldest son.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.3: Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, father of
-    Warwick the King-maker.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.4: 21st January.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.5: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, afterwards
-    known as 'the King-maker.']
-
-    [Footnote 297.6: Edmund Tudor, the King's half-brother. He was
-    the father of King Henry VII.]
-
-    [Footnote 298.1: Jasper Tudor, brother of the Earl of Richmond,
-    and half-brother to the King.]
-
-    [Footnote 298.2: Probably the Duke of Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 298.3: _See_ p. 255, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 299.1: Cardinal Kemp was at this time
-    Chancellor. --_See_ p. 296, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 299.2: So in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 299.3: 14th January.]
-
-
-236
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[300.1]
-
-_To my right wurshipfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454(?) / JAN. 29]
-
-Right worshipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying yow to wete
-that I spak yistirday with my suster,[300.2] and she told me that she
-was sory that she myght not speke with yow or ye yede; and she desyrith
-if itt pleased yow, that ye shuld yeve the jantylman, that ye know of,
-seche langage as he myght fele by yow that ye wull be wele willyng to
-the mater that ye know of; for she told me that he hath seyd befor this
-tym that he conseyvid that ye have sett but lytil therby, wherefor she
-prayth yow that ye woll be here gode brother, and that ye myght have a
-full answer at this tym whedder it shall be ya or nay. For her moder
-hath seyd to her syth that ye redyn hens, that she hath no fantesy
-therinne, but that it shall com to a jape; and seyth to her that ther is
-gode crafte in dawbyng; and hath seche langage to her that she thynkyt
-right strange, and so that she is right wery therof, wherefor she
-desyrith the rather to have a full conclusyon therinne. She seyth her
-full trost is in yow, and as ye do therinne, she woll agre her therto.
-
-Mayster Braklee[300.3] be her yisterday to have spoke with yow; I spak
-with hym, but he wold not tell me what his erond was.
-
-It is seyd her that the cescions shall be at Thetford on Saterday next
-komyng, and ther shall be my Lord of Norffolk and other with grette
-pupill [_people_], as it is seyd.
-
-Other tydyngs have we none yett. The blissefull Trynyte have yow in his
-kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Tewysday next befor Candelmasse.
-
-I pray yow that ye woll vowchesawf to remembr to purvey a thing for my
-nekke, and to do make my gyrdill.
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-My cosyn Crane recommawndeth her to yow, and praytth yow to remembr her
-mater, &c., for she may not slepe on nyghtys for hym.
-
-    [Footnote 300.1: [From Fenn, iii. 170.] The request made at the
-    end of this letter that John Paston would procure his wife an
-    ornament for her neck, is noted by Fenn as one that she had made
-    in April 1452, and of which this was probably a repetition nine
-    months afterwards. There seems no better evidence of date to go
-    by, so we follow the same mode of inference; but as we have
-    placed the letter containing the first petition for the necklace
-    in 1453 instead of 1452, we must attribute this letter to the
-    year 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 300.2: Elizabeth Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 300.3: John Bracklee or Brackley was a brother of the
-    Convent of Grey Friars, or Friars Minors, in Norwich. He took a
-    Doctor of Divinity's degree, and was a famous preacher.--F.]
-
-
-237
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[301.1]
-
-_Thys letter be delyverd to John Paston, dwellyn in the Inder In of the
-Tempyll at London, in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1454]
-
-I grete yow well, and lete yow wete that thys day I was with my doughtyr
-yor wyfe, and che was in good hele att the makyn of thys letter, thankyd
-be God! and sche lete yor sustyr and me wete of a letter wheche ye sent
-hyr, that ye have be laboryd to for Ser William Oldhall to have your
-sustyr, and desyryng in the seyd letter to have an answer in schort
-tyme, who [_how_] sche wyll be demenyd in thys mater.
-
-Yor suster recomaundyt hyr to yow, and thankyt yow hertyly that ye wyll
-remembyr hyr, and lete hyr have knowleche ther of, and prayt yow that ye
-wyll do your dever to bryng it to a good conclusyon; for sche seythe to
-me that sche trystyt that ye wyll do so, that it xall be bothe for hyr
-worchup and profyt. And as for me, if ye can thynke that hys lond
-standyt cler, in as meche as I fele your sustyr well wyllyd ther to,
-I hold me well content.
-
-And as for the oblygacyon of the persen of Marlynferthe, wheche I sent
-yow by John Newman, I pray yow lete it be suyd; and as for the Parson
-and Lyndesey, they be a cordyd. And God have yow in kepyn, and send yow
-hys blyssyn and myn. Wretyn at Norwyche on Pulver Wedenesday.[302.1]
-
-  Be yor moder,
-
-  AUGNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 301.1: [From Fenn, iii. 188.] This letter refers to a
-    proposal for Paston's sister which was probably in or a little
-    before 1454, as in a letter of the 15th July in that year Paston
-    states that several such offers had been under consideration.]
-
-    [Footnote 302.1: If in 1454, Ash-Wednesday was the 6th of
-    March.]
-
-
-238
-
-INGHAM'S PETITION[302.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454]
-
-Ful mekely bisecheth your humble liege man, Walter Ingham of youre
-schire of Norffolk, gentylman, that where the seide Walter was in Goddes
-pees and youres at Dunston in the seid shire the xj. daye of the monthe
-of January, the yere of youre rengne the xxxij., oone Thomas
-Denyes,[302.3] of ful grete malice, prepensed ungodely soore agaynste
-gode feithe and concience, imagynyng utterly to destroye youre seyde
-besecher, contryved a lettre in the name of my Lord of Oxenforde, he not
-knowyng of ony soch lettre comaundyng youre seide besecher to be with
-the seide Lorde at Wevenho, in your shire of Essex, the xiij. day of the
-seide monthe of January, for divers grete maters towchyng my seide
-Lorde. The seide Thomas, thenkyng in his conceite that youre seid
-besechere wolde in noo wyse disobeye the seide wrytyng, but that he
-wolde putte hym in his devoyre to fulfill my seide Lords desyre, layde
-dyvers folks arraied in maner of werre with jakkes, saletts,
-langedebiefs,[302.4] and boore speres in ij. busshements for youre seide
-besecher in ij. places, knowyng wele that youre seide besecher must come
-oone of thes ij. weyes for, tho [_there_] were no moo, to that intent
-that they [might] murdre your seide besecher be cause he had laboured
-for his fadir in a wryte _sub pena_ agaynst the seide Thomas Denys and
-Anneys his wyf for a notable somme of money that the seide Anneys shulde
-have payede to the fadir of your seide besecher; the seide Thomas
-comaundyng the seide mysdoers in any wyse whech of theym that mette
-first with youre seide besecher shulde sle hym, and they shol be
-nota[b]ly rewardet for ther laboure, and the seide Thomas shulde kepe
-and save theyme harmeles. Bicause of whech comaundement oone of the
-seide busshements mette with the forsaide besechere the xij. day of the
-seide month, as he came toward my seide Lorde of Oxenforde acordyng to
-his lettre at Dunstone afore seide, and hym than and there grevosly
-bette and woundet, aswell upon his hede as uppon his leggs, and other
-ful grevous strokes and many gaf hym upon his bakke, so that youre seide
-besecher is mahaymed upon his ryght legg, and feyne to goo on crucches,
-and so must do al dayes of his lif to his utter undoyng; notwithstandyng
-the seide mysdoers and riotous peple in this conceite [lef]te youre
-seide besecher for dede. Uppon the whech ryot it was complayned to my
-Lord Chauncelere[303.1] by the frends of yowre besecher, desyryng of hym
-by ca[use of th]e grete ryote doone by the seide Thomas, and also for
-the sauf garde of youre seyde besechere, that oone of your serjantes of
-armes myght be comaundement [go][303.2] and areste the seide Thomas to
-appere before you in your Chauncerie for the seide ryot, because the
-seide Thomas was at that tyme at London; bi force of [whech
-com]aundement oone of youre serjants of armes went to Lyncolne Inne to
-arreste the sayde Thomas. The whech areste the seide Thomas utterly
-diso[beyed in] grete contempte of your highnesse; nevertheles he is now
-in the warde of the Wardeyne of the Flete by the comaundement of my
-Lorde Chaunceler. [Wher]fore plese it your highnes of youre most noble
-and habundante grace, by the assente of your Lordes Spirituel and
-Temporel, and of your Comons in this your present Par[lement assem]bled,
-and by auctorite of the same, to ordeyne and estabelessche that the
-seide Thomas Denys may abide in the seide prisone of the Flete, and not
-to be [admitted to bayl] nor meynprise in noo wyse in to soch tyme that
-the seide Thomas have answered to soch accion or accions as youre seide
-besecher schal take agaynst hym for the seide mahayme and betyng, and
-also unto soch tyme as the same accions ben folly discussed and
-determyned bi twene your seide besecher and the seide Thomas Denys,
-consideryng that if the same Thomas scholde go at large, he wolde never
-answere your seide besecher but hym delay by protecions and other weies,
-so that the same besecher schulde never be content nor agreed, for the
-exhorbitant offence done to hym; and also un to the tyme the seide
-Thomas fynde sofficient suerte of his gode beryng fro this tyme forthe.
-And he shal pray to God for youre moste noble astate.
-
-    [Footnote 302.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a petition to
-    the King in Parliament which, supported by the influence of
-    Cardinal Kemp, appears to have met with a favourable hearing
-    from the House of Lords. The date will appear by the letter
-    following.]
-
-    [Footnote 302.3: _See_ Nos. 123 and 124.]
-
-    [Footnote 302.4: The _langue-de-boeuf_ was a kind of glaive with
-    a double edge half down the blade.]
-
-    [Footnote 303.1: John Kemp, Archbishop of Canterbury and
-    Cardinal.]
-
-    [Footnote 303.2: Mutilated.]
-
-
-239
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[304.1]
-
-_To my right wurshipfull maister, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MARCH 20]
-
-Right wurshipfull and myn especiall good maister, I recomaund me to you
-with all service and prayer to my power. And like it you to wete that
-how be a full straunge acte is passid agayn me in the Higher House
-before the Lords, wherof I send you a copie. Neverthelesse I hope to God
-that it shal not passe in the Comon House; but me is be falle the most
-sorwfull infortune that ever por man had, standyng in suych case as I
-do, for my Lordis the Cardenale and of Oxenford haf imprisoned my wif in
-the countour, and how thei shal guyde hir forth, God knoweth. Which
-standith to nygh myn hert, if Godds will were; but wel I know that by
-thes vengeable malics don to hir and me thei wole [not?] be content,
-for Ingham lithe beside that to take awey my wyves doughter out of
-Westminster to make an end of my wif if he can, and also to arest my
-servauntz, that I drede that she nor I shal haf no creature to attend us
-ne help us; and suych malice haf I never herd of herbeforne. And it is
-told me that beside that thei wole dispoil, if any good thei can fynde
-of myn in Norwich or Norffolk, and imprisone my servauntz there.
-Wherfore I lowly beseche your maistership, for our Lords mercy, that ye
-vouchsauff to socour theym in this necessite; and if ony entree be made
-or shuld be made upon myn wifes place in Norwich, that ye vouchsauff to
-socour my servauntz, and do ther inne after your wisdam for Crists love
-and seynt charite.
-
-Beside this, a frend and kynnesman of myn, oon Robert Clement of Betele,
-hath writen to me that he is arestid, and like to be imprisoned bi a
-writte of dette, take agayn hym upon an obligacion of C_li._ [£100] in
-which he and I and other wer bounde to my Lorde of Oxenford xiiij. yeer
-agone, wherof I haf many acquitaunces. Wherfore I pray your good
-maistership to send to the Shirreve that my said kynnesman may ben
-easid, and no retourne made ageyn hym, but that he may answer the next
-tyme bi attourney; for truly that writte was take oute in the end of the
-terme aftir I was arestid, and aftir it was aperid to.
-
-I pray your maistership, for Godds sake, to be not displesid, ne wery to
-do for me in these materes of your charite, for I had lever gif the said
-Robert suych good, litell if it be, as I haf, than he wer undone for me,
-or ony man ellis that ever ded for me. And I hope, if God vouchsaf that
-the mater may come to reson, to sauf hym harmles, and all other with
-Godds mercy, ever prayng you of your maistership and socour for Godds
-love, who ever kepe for his mercy.
-
-Wretyn in Flete, the Wednesday the second weke of Lent.
-
-Mor over, in augmentyng of my sorwe, I wend my wif shuld a dyed sith,
-for aftir she was arestid she laboured of hir child, that she is with
-all, waityng either to dye or be delyvered, and she hath not gon viij.
-weks quykke. What shal be falle Almighti God knoweth, and shull dispose
-mercifully.
-
-Aftirward my wif was sum dele easid bi the labour of the Wardeyn of
-Flete, for the cursed Cardenale had sent hir to Newgate. God forgif his
-sowle. Now she is take to baile til Tuesday. The Cardenale is dede, and
-the Kyng is relevid.[306.1]
-
-    [Footnote 304.1: [From Fenn, iii. 174.] This letter is without a
-    signature, and the writer was unknown to Fenn; but a comparison
-    with the letter which follows (now printed for the first time)
-    leaves no doubt that it was written by Thomas Denyes, whom we
-    have already met with as a dependant of the Earl of Oxford
-    (_see_ Letters 123, 124, and 132). The date is fixed by the
-    reference to the death of Cardinal Kemp in the postscript.]
-
-    [Footnote 306.1: This last sentence must have been added a few
-    days after the date of the letter, for Cardinal Kemp died on the
-    22nd of March 1454. Wednesday in the second week of Lent was the
-    20th March.]
-
-
-240
-
-JOHN PASTON TO [THE EARL OF OXFORD][306.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MARCH 31]
-
-Right wurchepfull and my right especiall Lord, I recomaund me to your
-gode Lordshep, besechyng your Lordshep that ye take not to displesauns
-thow I write you, as I here say that Agnes Denyes, be the meanes of your
-Lordshep and of my Lord the Cardynall,[306.3] hos sowle God assoyle and
-forgeve, was set in preson, beyng with child--which, and the sorough and
-shame there of, was nygh her deth--and yet dayly is vexed and trobled,
-and her servauntes in like wyse, to the uttermest distruccion of her
-person and godes. In which, my Lord, at the reverens of God, remembre
-sche was maried be you and be my meanes, be your comaundement and
-writyng, and draw therto full sore ageyn her entent in the begynnynge;
-and was worth v.^c. [500] marc and better, and shuld have had a
-gentilman of this contre of an C. marc of lond and wele born, ne had be
-your gode Lordshep and writyng to her and me. And this considered in
-your wise discrecion, I trost, my Lord, thow her prisonyng were of
-oderes labore, ye wuld helpe her; and if she be destroyd be this
-mariage, my conscyens thynketh I am bownd to recompense her after my
-pore and sympill power. My Lord, ye know I had litill cause to do for
-Thomas Denyes, savyng only for your gode Lordshep. Also, my Lord, I know
-wele that Water Ingham was bete, the mater hangyng in myn award, right
-fowle and shamefully; and also how the seid Thomas Denyes hath, this
-last terme, ageyn your nobill estat, right unwysely demened hym to his
-shame and grettest rebuke that ever he had in his lyve. Where fore it is
-right wele do his person be ponysshed as it pleaseth you. But this not
-withstondyng for Godds love, my Lord, remembre how the gentilwoman is
-accombred only for yowr sake, and help her; and if aught lyth in my
-power to do that that myght please yowr Lordshep, or cowde fynde any way
-for Water Ingham avayll and wurchep, I wull do it to my power; and the
-rather if your Lordshep support the jentilwoman, for I know the mater
-and that longe plee is litill avayll, and every thyng must have an ende.
-I have told my brother Mathew Drury more to enforme yowre Lordshep than
-I may have leyser to write for his hasty departyng. Right wurchepfull
-and my right especiall Lord, I besech All myghty God send you asmych joy
-and wurchep as ever had any of my Lords yowr aunceters, and kepe you and
-all yowres. Wretyn at Norwich the iiij. Sonday of Lent.
-
-  Yowre servaunte to his powr,
-
-  JOHN PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 306.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was so
-    manifestly written on the receipt of the last, that there can be
-    no question about the date. It bears no address upon the back,
-    so that it is probably only a copy, or, if an original, it
-    certainly was not sent; but the person for whom it was intended
-    was evidently the Earl of Oxford.]
-
-    [Footnote 306.3: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-
-241
-
-INFORMATION AGAINST ROBERT LEDHAM[307.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454]
-
-Thees be the persons that enformyd the Justicez of the Kyngis Benche the
-last terme of suche ryottis as hath be done be Robert Ledham: The Lord
-Skales, Sir Thomas Todenham, Sir John Chalers, Edmond Clere, Water
-George, John Alyngton, Gilbert Debenham, John Denston, William Whit,
-William Alyngton, Reynald Rows, John Berney, Richard Suthwell, John
-Paston, John Henyngham, Raff Shelton, Henry Grey.
-
-These be the names of the knyghtes and esquyers that endittyd Robert
-Ledham:--Thomas Todenham, knyght, Andrew Ogard, knyght, John Henygham,
-knyght, William Calthorp, esquyer, Bryan Stapelton, esquyer, Osbert
-Mondford, esquyer, John Groos, esquyer, William Rokwod, esquyer, Thomas
-Morle, esquyer, Thomas Scholdham, esquyer, John Wyndham, esquyer, John
-Berney, esquyer, William Narbow, esquyer, John Chippysby, esquyer,
-William White, esquyer, John Bryston, esquyer, John Paston, esquyer.
-
-These be dyvers of the ryottis and offensis done in the hundred of
-Blofeld in the counte of Norffolk, and in other townys be Robert Lethum,
-otherwyse callyd Robert Ledham of Wytton, be Blofeld in the counte of
-Norffolk, and by his ryottys men and by other of his affinitez and
-knowleche, whos names folowyn, and that they contynually folow and
-resorte unto his hous, and ther be supported and maynteynet and
-confortid.
-
-These be the principall menealle men of the sayd Robert Ledham ys hous
-be the whiche the sayd ryottys have be done, that use in substaunce non
-other occupacion but ryottys:--_In primis_, John Cokett, Thomas Bury,
-Thomas Cokowe, Cristofer Bradlee, Elys Dukworth, William Donmowe,
-Cristofer Grenesheve, Roger Chirche. Notwythstondyng the sayd Robert
-Ledham kypith dayly many mo in his house and chaungeth such as have be
-oppenly knowyn for riottis and takith other for hem as evill as they.
-And these be the most principale persons comyng and resortyng unto the
-house of the sayd Robert Ledham, and ther be supportid and mayntened in
-ryottes be whom the sayd ryottes have be don, that ys to sey: _In
-primis_, Robert Taillor, Henry Bang, Robert Dallyng, John Beston,
-Charles Navell, John, the sone of Roger Ratclyff, Robert Berton;
-notwythstondyng ther be money moo whos names ben unknowyn. With the
-which persons, and many moo unknowyn, the sayd Robert Ledham kept atte
-his hous in maner of a forcelet and issith ouute atte here pleaysour and
-atte his lust, the sayd Ledham to assigne, somtyme vj. and sometyme
-xij., somtyme xxx^ti and moo, armyd, jakkid, and salettyd, with bowys
-and arrowys, speris, billys, and over ryde the countrey and oppressid
-the Kyngs peple, and didde mony oryble and abhomynable dedes, like to
-have be destruccion of the enhabitantes in the sayd hundred, in the
-forme that folowyth, and warse.
-
-_In primis_, on the Monday[309.1] next before Ester day and the shire
-daye, the xxx. yere of oure soverayne Lord the Kyng, x. persons of the
-sayd riottors, with a brother of the wyff of the sayd Robert Lethum,
-laye in awayte in the hyght way under Thorpe Wode upon Phillip Berney,
-esquyer, and his man comyng from the shire, and shette atte hym and
-smote the hors of the sayd Phillipp with arowes, and than over rode hym,
-and toke hym and bette hym and spoillid hym. And for thayr excuse of
-this ryot, they ledde hym to the Bysshopp of Norwiche, axyng seuerte of
-the peas wher they hadde never waraunt hym to areste. Which affray
-shorttyd the lyffdayes of the sayd Phillippe, whiche dyed withynne
-shorte tyme after the said affray.[309.2]
-
-Item, iij. of the sayd riottys feloshippe the same day, yere, and place,
-laye on awayte uppon Edmond Broune, gentilman, and with naked swerdes
-and other wepyng faght wyth hym be the space of on qaurte (_sic_) of an
-houre, and toke and spoillyd hym, and kepte hym as long as them lyst,
-and after that lette hym goo.
-
-Item, xl^ti of the sayd riottys felowshipp, be the comaundement of the
-same Robert Lethum, jakket and saletted, with bowes, arowys, billys, and
-gleyves, oppon Mauyndy Thursday,[309.3] atte iiij. of the clokke atte
-after nonne, the same yere, comyn to the White Freres in Norwyche, and
-wold have brokyn theyr yates and dorys, feynyng thaym that they wold
-hire thayre evesong. Where they ware aunswered suche service was non
-used to be there, nor withyn the sayd citee atte that tyme of the daye,
-and prayd them to departe; and they aunswered and sayd that affore
-thayre departyng they wold have somme persons ouute of that place,
-qwykke or dede, insomuch the sayd freris were fayn to kype thaire place
-with forsse. And the mayr and the sheriffe of the sayd cite were fayn to
-arere a power to resyst the sayd riotts, which to hem on that holy tyme
-was tediose and heynous, consedryng the losse and lettyng of the holy
-service of that holy nyght. And theroppon the sayd ryotors departid.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, on the Monday[310.1] nest after Esterne
-day, the same yere, toke from on John Wilton iiij. neet for rent arere,
-as he said, and killed hem and layd them in salte, and afterward ete
-hem.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, with vj. of his sayd ryottes, the same
-yere made assaute uppon John Wilton in Plumstede churche yerde, and
-theer so bete hym that he was in doute of his lyff; and also dede to hym
-many grete wronggys and oppressioun, unto the undoyng of the sayd John
-Wilton.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse the sayd Robert Lethum and his men assauted on John
-Coke of Witton, in brekyng uppe his dorys atte a xi. of the cloke in the
-nyght, and wyth thaire swerdys maymed hym and gaff hym vij. grete
-wondys, and toke from hym certayn goodys and catalls, of the whiche he
-hadde, nor yitte hath, no remedy nor restitution.
-
-Item, the same day and yere they bete the moder of the same John Coke,
-she beyng iiij^xx. [_four score_] yere of age and more, and smote hure
-uppon the crowne of here hed with a swerd; of the whiche hurte she myght
-never be helyd into the day of hure deth.
-
-Item, John, the sone of Hodge Ratleffe, and other of the sayd
-felowshipp, toke on Thomas Baret of Byrlygham out of his house, and bete
-hym and wondid hym that he kept his bedde a month, and toke from hym
-certayn goodes and catells.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Taillor, because the sayd Thomas Baret complayned
-of the same betyng, lay in awayte oppon hym, with other of his
-feloushippe, and bete hym agayn.
-
-Item, John Beston and the sayd Robert Taillor, and other of the sayd
-riottes felowshipp, toke on Thomas Byrden of Lyngewod and bete hym and
-prisoned hym till unto such tyme that he was delyvered by the mene of my
-Lord of Norwych; and for that sorow, distres, and grete payne and
-betyng, the sayd Thomas Byrden toke suche kynesse that he dyed.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Dallyng and Herry Bange, and other of the sayd
-felowshippe, toke and bete on Nicholas Chirche atte Strumpeshawe, beyng
-in the church of the same towne, that he was [in] dout of his lyff.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Dallyng lay on awayt uppon on Thomas Dallyng,
-and hym grevously bete.
-
-Item, on Middleynt Sunday,[311.1] the xxx^ti yere of oure soveraigne
-Lorde the Kynge that now ys, Robert Dallyng, Robert Churche, Robert
-Taillor, Herry Bang, Adam atte More, with other unknowyn, be the
-comaundement and assent of the sayd Robert Ledham, made affray uppon
-Herry Smyth and Thomas Chambre atte Suthbirlyngham, the sayd Herry and
-Thomas and that tyme knelyng to see the usyng of the masse, and than and
-ther wold have kyllyd the sayd Herry and Thomas atte the prestys bakke,
-ne had they be lettyd.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, with his sayd ryottis felawshipp, the same
-yere dide and made so many ryottes in the hundred where he dwellyth that
-dyvers and many gentilmen, frankeleyns, and good men, durst not abyde in
-here mansyon place, ne ryde, nother walke aboute thaire occupacions
-without mo persons, arrayd in maner and forme of werre attendyng and
-waytyng uppon them than thayr lyvelode wold extende to fynde hem. And
-so, for savacion of thaire lyves, and in eschewyng of suche inordinat
-costys as never was seen in that countrey befor, many of them forsoke
-and leffte thaire owyn habitacion, wyff and childe, and drewe to
-fortresses and good townes as for that tyme.
-
-_In primis_, Phillipp Berney, esquyer, Edmond Broom to Castre; Thomas
-Holler, John Wylton to Norwych; Oliver Kubyte to Seynt Benetts; Robert
-Spany to Aylesham; Thomas Baret, with many others, to Meche Yarmouth and
-to other placys of strenght.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Ledham, contynuyng in this wyse, callyd unto hym
-his sayd mysgoverned felowshipp, consydryng the absence of many of the
-well-rewlyd people of the sayd hundred of affere cast malice, and
-congected, purposed and labored to the sheriff of the shire that the
-sayd Roger Chirche, on of the sayd riottous felawshipp, was made bailly
-of the hundred; and after causid the same Roger to be begynner of
-arysyng and to take oppon hym to be a captayn and to excite the peple of
-the countrey therto. And ther oppon, be covyne of the sayd Robert
-Ledhaum, to appeche all these sayd well rewlyd persones, and as well
-other divers substanciall men of good fame and good governaunce that
-were hated be the sayd Robert Ledhaum, and promittyng the sayd Roger
-harmeles and to sew his pardon be the mene of Danyell; to the which
-promyse the sayd Rogger aggreed, and was arested and take be the sayd
-Ledham be covyne betwixt hem, and appeched suche persons as they lust,
-to the entente that the sayd substanciall men of the countre shuld be by
-that mene so trowblyd and indaungered that they shuld not be of power to
-lette and resist the mys rewle of the sayd Ledham and his mysgoverned
-felawshipp, the whiche mater ys confessid by the sayd Roger Chirch.
-
-Item, William Breton and John Berton, and other of the sayd ryottes,
-come into the place of on Robert Spany of Poswyke and serched his
-housez, hous be hous, for to have bete hym yf they myght have founde
-hym.
-
-Item, William Donmowe, servaunt of the sayd Robert Ledham, and by his
-comaundement, the same yere bete the parson of Hashyngham, and brake his
-hede in his owyn chauncell.
-
-Item, the sayd Thomas Bery, Elys Dukworth, Thomas Cokowe, George of
-Chamer, the v. day of Novembre last past, with divers other onknowyn
-men, onto the nombre of xx. persons, and noman of reputacion among hem,
-comen, under color of huntyng, and brake uppe gatys and closys of
-Osburne Monford atte Brayston; and xij. persons of the same felowshipp,
-with bowys bent and arowys redy in thair handys, abode alone betwixt the
-maner of Brayston and the chirche, and there kept hem from vij. of the
-clokke on the mornyng unto iij. of the clokk after none, lyyng in awayte
-oppon the servauntez of the sayd Osburne Monford, lorde of the sayd
-maner, so that nonne durst comen ouut for doute of thair lyves.
-
-Item, viij. of the sayd felowshipp, on the Wennesday next after, prevely
-in an hole layn in awayte oppon William Edworth and Robert Camplyon,
-servauntz to the sayd Osburn Montford, comyng from Okill[313.1] market,
-till that tyme that the said William Owell and Robert come uppon hem
-onwarre, and theruppon chasid hem so that yf they had not be well
-horssyd and well askapped, they had ben dede and slayne.
-
-Item, vj. or vij. of the sayd Ledamys men dayly, boyth werkeday and haly
-day, use to goo aboute in the countrey with bowys and arowys, shotyng
-and playng in mennys closis among men catall, goyng from alhous to
-alhousez and manassyng suche as they hated, and soght occasion and
-quarels and debate.
-
-Item, notwithstandyng that all the lyvelod that the sayd Ledham hath
-passith not xx_li._ [£20], be sydes the reparacion and outcharges, and
-that he hath no connyng ne trew mene of getyng of any good in this
-countre, as for as any man may conceyve, and yette xypith in his house
-dayly xx. men, besydes women and gret multitude of such mysgoverned
-peple as ben resortyng to hym, as ys above sayd, to the whiche he yevith
-clothyng, and yitte bysyde that he yevith to other men that be not
-dwellyng in his household; and of the sayd xx. men ther passith not
-viij. that use occupacion of husbondrye; and all they that use
-husbondrye, as well as other, be jakked and salettid redy for to werre,
-which yn this countrey ys thoght ryght straunge, and ys verely so
-conceyved that he may not kepe this countenance be no good menes.
-
-Item, the sayd Ledham hath a _supersedias_ oute of the chauncerie for
-hym and divers of hys men, that no warant of justice of pees may be
-served agayn hem.
-
-Item, please unto your Lordshipp to remembre that the sayd Ledham and
-his sayd mysgoverned feloushipp be endited of many of these articles and
-of many moo not comprehendit here, and in especiall of the sayd rysyng
-agayn the Kyng. Wherfore, though the sayd Ledham can prove the sayd
-enditement of treson voyde in the lawe for symplenesse of them that
-gaffe the verdit, that it lyke you, for the Kyngs availl, not redely to
-suffre the sayd Ledham to departe atte large unto the tyme that the
-mater of the sayd enditement be better enquered of for the Kyngs avayll,
-and that the sayd Ledham fynde surte of his good aberyng; and the
-inhabitauntz of the sayd hundred of Blofeld shall pray for you. And els
-they be lyke to be destruyd for ever.
-
-    [Footnote 307.1: [From Add. Charter 16,545, B.M.] This paper
-    refers mainly to events of 1452 and 1453, but was probably drawn
-    up in 1454, after the Duke of York had come into power.]
-
-    [Footnote 309.1: 3rd April 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 309.2: Philip Berney died, as we have seen, on the 2nd
-    July 1453, fifteen months after the date assigned to the
-    outrage.]
-
-    [Footnote 309.3: 6th April 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 310.1: 10th April 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 311.1: 19th March 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 313.1: Acle.]
-
-  [[she beyng iiij^xx. ... yere of age
-    _printed "vere" (error or broken "y")_]]
-
-  [[toke suche kynesse that he dyed
-    _text unchanged: error for "sykynesse" or equivalent?_]]
-
-
-242
-
-JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON[314.1]
-
-_Un to ryth reverent Sir, and my good mayster, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1454]
-
-Ryth wurthy and wurchypfull Sir, and my ryth good mayster, I recomaunde
-me on to you, thankyng you evermore of your gret jentylness and good
-maystyrhod shewyd on to me at all tymys, and specyally now to my herthys
-ease, qwyche on my part can nowt be rewardyd, but my sympyll service is
-ever redy at your comaundement. Ferthemor, as for the mater that ye wete
-of, I have laboryd so to my feydr that your entent as for the jointoure
-xal be fulfellyd; and, Sir, I besheche you sethyn that I do my part to
-fullefelle your wyll, that ye wolle shew me your good maystyrhod in here
-chambyr, as my full trust is, in so moche that it xall nowth hurthe you
-nor non of youris, and the profite ther of xal be on to the avayle of my
-maystress your suster, and to me, and to non odyr creature.
-
-And also my maystress, your modyr, xall nouth be charchyd the with her
-bourd aftyr the day of the mariage, but I to discharge her of here
-persone, and to ease me that hat here chambyr may be non contradiccion.
-
-And, Sir, I am redy, and alwey wolle to performe that I have seyd on to
-you, &c.
-
-Ferthemor, lykyd you to wete I was a Thursday last passyd at Cavendyshe,
-to dylyver an astate to Wentworth in the londe that was my brothyr
-Cavendyche, as I tolde you wan I was last with you. And ther I spak with
-Crane; and he be sowthe me that I wolde sende over to my maystress your
-modyr for his excuse, for he myth nowth be with here at this tyme, but
-on the Saterday in Esterne wyke he wolle nouth fayll to be with her.
-So he counsellyd me that I and my brothyr Denston xulde mete with hym
-there; and so, withoute your better avyse, I and my brothyr purpose us
-to be with you ther at that tyme; for the sonner the levyr me, for, as
-to my conceythe, the dayys be waxyn wondyrly longe in a scorte tyme.
-Qwerfor I besheche you sende me your avyse how ye wolle have me rewlyd,
-&c.
-
-No more I wrythe to you at this present tyme, but be schechyng you to
-recomaunde in the lowlyest wyse. And the Trinite preserve you body and
-sowle.
-
-Wretyn with my chauncery hand, in ryth gret haste, on the Fryday be forn
-Palmesoneday.
-
-  Your,
-
-  JOHN CLOPTON.
-
-    [Footnote 314.1: [From Fenn, iii. 192.] The exact year of this
-    letter is uncertain, but from what John Paston writes to Lord
-    Grey on the 15th of July 1454, about proposals having been
-    recently made for his sister, it is not unlikely to be that
-    year.]
-
-
-243
-
-JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON[315.1]
-
-_Maryage Artycles betwix Anneys Paston, &c. on the one partie, and
-William Clopton, Squyer, on the other partie._
-
-This indenture, made betwix Anneys that was the wyfe of William Paston,
-John Paston hir sone, and John Dam on the one partie, and William
-Clopton, Squyer, on the other partie, witnesseth that accord is take
-attwyn the seid parties that John Clopton, sone and heir of the seid
-William Clopton, by the grace of God, shall wedde Elizabeth, the
-doughter of the seid Anneys. For which mareage the seid Anneys, &c.
-shall paye to the seid John Clopton CCCC^th marc in hand of lawfull mony
-of England; and over that, yf the seid mareage be holdyn with the seid
-Anneys, the seid Anneys shall bere the costages therof the day of the
-weddyng, with swech chaumbeyr as shall be to the plesir of the seid
-Anneys; and the seid William Clopton shall do his feffees make a lawfull
-estate to the seid William of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to
-the yerly value of xl_li._ over all chargez born, to have and to hold to
-hym terme of his lyfe, withoutyn empechement of wast, the remaindr
-therof to the seid John and Elizabeth, and to his heirs male of hir body
-lawfully begotyn, withoute impechement of wast, withynne xij. dayes
-after the seid weddyng.
-
-And over that, withynne the seid xij. dayes the seid John shall do
-lawfull estate to be made to the seid William of londs, tenementz,
-rentz, and servysez to the yerly value of xl. marc over all charges
-born; to have and hold to the seid William terme of his lyfe, withoute
-empechement of wast; the remayndre therof to the seid Elizabeth, to have
-and hold to hir terme of hir lyfe withoute empechement of wast.
-
-Also it is accorded that the seid William shall make estate of all the
-residue of his londs which he is sesid of, or any other man to his use,
-to swech personys as the seid John shall name, to the use of the seid
-John.
-
-Also the seid John Clopton shall do lawfull estate to be made to the
-seid Elizabeth of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to the yerly
-value of xxx_li._ over all chargez born, to have and hold to hir duryng
-the lyfe of the seid William.
-
-And moreover the seid John permytteth and ensureth be the feith of his
-body that he shall leve, over the xl_li._ worth lond aboveseid to his
-heirs and issue male of the body of the seid Elizabeth begotyn, londes
-in fee symple or in taill to the yerly value of xl. marc, in cas the
-same issue male be governyd to the seid John as the sone oweth to be to
-the fadir. And, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 315.1: [From Fenn, iii. 196.] The date of this draft
-    settlement is no doubt about the same period as that of the
-    preceding letter, whatever may have been the exact time that it
-    was written.]
-
-
-244
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[317.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / APRIL 8]
-
-Right Reverend and wurshipfull Sir, myn especyall good maister,
-I recomaund me to you. And for as moch as adversite and prosperite bothe
-ly in the disposicion of o [_one_] man above, I thank God, and late you
-wete that I stand yet in as greet troble as ever I dede or gretter;
-praying you ever to be my good maister and to contynue your benyvolens
-as I am ever bounde to you. Myn hevynes is sum whet incresid, for a fals
-harlot, sauf your reverens, one James Cook, a servaunt of myn, falsly
-and traitourously is hired bi Watte Ingham and hath accused and diffamed
-me and my wif of settyng up billes agayn lordis, that, Almighti God I
-take to record, I not am ne never was gilty therof; but the same theef
-and Asshcote han made an appoyntement to come and robbe me of suych
-littel goodis of myn as thei can gete in Norffolk or Norwich. Wherfore I
-beseche your maistership for charite of your help and socour to my
-servauntz if such case falle. For I trowe this is a troble that never
-man suffrid non like in such case, and therfore, gentill Sir, as God
-hath indued you of myght and power to socour suych troubles, shew your
-bounte to me in this nede, and that for Goddes love, Who Almighti
-preserve you. Wretyn in Flete the viij. day of Aprill.--Your wofull
-servant,
-
-  DENYES.
-
-The said Asshcote can counterfete my hand and therfore I drede he wole
-stele by sum fals letters suych as he myght gete. I haf wretyn my
-servantz theraftir.
-
-    [Footnote 317.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 94.] That the year in
-    which this letter was written was 1454 is evident from its being
-    dated from the Fleet. _See_ Nos. 239 and 245.]
-
-
-245
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[318.1]
-
-_To my Maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MAY 3]
-
-Right reverent and wurshipfull Sir, and myn especiall good maister,
-I recomaund me to you. And for as moche as oon Lord above giffeth and
-takith as hym plesith, I thank His grace of every thyng; and for the
-bounte that ye shew to me in this troble, I haf no spirite to thank you
-as I shuld. Sir, as for certeyn evidence of myn touchyng your place in
-Seint Andrues Parissh, my wif tellith me that she lefft thaym in a chest
-at Ovyes shette; the key ther of she hath sent now to Ovy also. And as
-for more evidence, sum is in the kepyng of Frere John Mendham, wherto I
-beseche your maistership that ye wole se for the sauf and secreet kepyng
-therof. God wote my wif delyvered all, myn unwetyng; ever therfore I
-doute, trustyng with such hope as is be lefft me to the best, with Godds
-grace.
-
-Othre evidence of myn is at Folsham, I wote not with whome. I thank God
-of my conyng; but as sone as I may know, I shal write to you. Wherfore,
-sith it is thus, I beseche your maistershep disdeigne not, but for our
-Lords love ye vouchsauf to take it to you, or to se that it be sauf, if
-it plese you. And that ye wole send for John Maile, for I conceyve hym
-right feithfull to me, and I am enfourmed that he is gretly manasid for
-me. And that ye vouchsauf to do put hym in comfort that I lese not his
-good wille, and that ye shew hym your good maistership and favor that he
-be holpen and not hurt for me. Ferthermore, I wrote to you for such smal
-thynges as I had leid to plegge to you for such good as that I borwid of
-you. Wheryn I beseche your maistership that if my frends pay you
-accordyng to my writyng, that ye than vouchsaf to do the said plegges be
-sent hider to me by such conduyte as your wisdam like to avise, and that
-they myght be here by the iiij^to die of the xv^cim[319.1] of Ester, for
-than is my grettest jouparte touchyng myn imprisonement; for sith myn
-enmyes coude not avail to send me to the castel of Bristow (which was
-their purpose, whan thei undirstood the disposicion of the Comons Hous
-agayn their billes), ever sith they make a privy labor to haf me
-remevid, and I wote not whedir, ne wethir that tyme I shal be sent to
-the Kynges Bench, and abide ther, or remittyd hider agayn.
-
-Neverthelesse, if I haf releve of such pouer godes as shuld be myn by
-reson, than I hope to do better, and sumwhat to aquyte, wherby I hope to
-put my frends in gretter corage to do for me. And if I haf no releve,
-than can I nomore, but all refere to God as I do daily. Wherefore, if ye
-be not paied, I pray you to councell my said frendes to send me suche
-mony as thei may gete of myn agayn that day, ever your maistership and
-wisdam seyng to the conduyte therof. More over, I doute lest that
-Richard Davy of his untrouth enfourme myn enmys wher such pouer thyng as
-I haf is, to that intent that thei may riffel and dispoil all. Wherof,
-if such case hapne, I can no ferthre, but I besech your help in every
-thyng. It is yours all, ther is a dede of gifft therof to you among myn
-evidence, as ye vouchsauff to do or do to be don in every thyng I holde
-me content. And Al myghti God preserve you.
-
-Wretyn in non hertis ease at Flete, the iij. day of Maii.
-
-  WOFUL DENYES.
-
-    [Footnote 318.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] For the date of this
-    letter it may be sufficient to refer the reader to Letters 238
-    and 239 preceding. Both Denyes and his wife are here still in
-    prison, but he expresses himself grateful to Paston for efforts
-    made in his behalf.]
-
-    [Footnote 319.1: The fourth day of the quinzaine of Easter.]
-
-
-246
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[320.1]
-
-_To my right and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MAY 17]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as mych as I
-have understande that ze have do take a distresse of certayn bestes upon
-certayn land, which I stande infeffed in, in the town of Pagrave, for
-what cause I knowe not; wherfor I pray you that ze wyll make deliverance
-ageyn of the said bestes, and if any thing ze can axe be dute of right,
-setteth a day, and lete your evydences and right be shewed, and I shall
-assigne conceill of myn to be there to se it; and all that reson or lawe
-wyll, I wyll be right glad ze have, and otherwise I trowe ze wold not
-desire. And if ze wyll do this, I wyll be wel paied, and elles ze
-constreyn me to pourveye other wise, as lawe may gyde me. Oure Lord have
-you in governance. Writen at Walsyngham, the xvij. day of May.
-
-  Youre frend,
-
-  THE LORD SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 320.1: [From Fenn, iii. 200.] This letter is dated by
-    a contemporary note at the bottom of the original, which is
-    given thus in Fenn: 'Li't a{combining double macron}a Mich.
-    xxxiijş.' But for 'a{combining double macron}a,' according to
-    the Errata in vol. iii., we should read 'a{combining double macron}e,'
-    _i.e._ 'Litterĉ _ante_ Mich. [Festum S. Michaelis] xxxiij.'
-    [_i.e._ anno Regis xxxiii.].]
-
-
-247
-
-BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON[320.2]
-
-_To my Maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JUNE 8]
-
-Worshypfull Syr, and my gode maister, after dewe recomendacion, wyth
-alle my trewe servyce precedyng, lyke you wete that as to nouveltees,
-&c., the Prince shall be create at Wyndesour, uppon Pentecost
-Sonday,[321.1] the Chaunceller,[321.2] the Duc of Bokyngham, and manye
-othyre Lordys off astate, present wyth the Quene.
-
-As to my Lord Yorke, he abydyth aboute Yorke tille Corpus Crist
-Feste[321.3] be passyd, and wyth grete worship ys there resseyved.
-
-And certeyn Justices, Prysot,[321.4] Byngham,[321.5] Portyngton,[321.6]
-and &c., be thedre for execucion of justice uppon such as hafe
-offendended yn cause creminall.
-
-It ys seyd the Duc of Exceter[321.7] ys here coverdtlye. God send hym
-gode councell hereafter.
-
-And the Pryvee Sele[321.8] ys examynyd how, and yn whate maner, and be
-whate autorite prevye selys were passed forthe in that behalf, whych ys
-full innocent and ryght clere yn that mater, as it ys welle knowen.
-
-The Frenshmen hafe be afore the Isles of Gersey and Gernessey, and a
-grete navey of hem, and v^c. [500] be taken and slayn of hem by men of
-the seyd trew Isles, &c.
-
-Syr Edmond Mulso ys come from the Duc of Burgoyne;[321.9] and he seyth,
-by hys servaunts rapport, that he wolle not discharge the godes of the
-mrchaunts of thys land, but so be that justice be don uppon the Lord
-Bonevyle, or els that he be sent to hym to do justice by hym self, as he
-hath deserved, or satisfaccion be made to the value.
-
-Yowr mater[10] is enseled as of the thyng ye wote of.
-
-I can no more for haste and lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you. Wryt
-hastly viij. of June.
-
-I sende a lettre to Maister Berney to lete you see for the gouvernaunce
-yn Yorkshyr.
-
-  BOTO-H.R.-NER.[322.1]
-
-    [Footnote 320.2: [From Fenn, i. 76.]]
-
-    [Footnote 321.1: June 9 in 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.2: Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was
-    appointed Chancellor on the 2nd April 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.3: June 20 in 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.4: John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.5: Richard Bingham, a Justice of the King's
-    Bench.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.6: John Portington, a Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.7: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 11th May
-    this year he had been ordered to appear before the Council on
-    the following Thursday (16th May). --_See_ Nicolas's _Privy
-    Council Proceedings_, vi. 180.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.8: His name was Thomas Lyseux.--See _Patent Roll_,
-    32 Hen. VI., m. 14.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.9: Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.10: Doubtless the grant of the wardship of Thomas
-    Fastolf of Cowhawe. --_See_ p. 322, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.1: William Worcester, or Botoner, as he called
-    himself indifferently, secretary to Sir John Fastolf. He
-    frequently introduces the letters 'H. R.' into or above his
-    signature, and sometimes at the top of his letter. Fenn reads
-    the name 'Botener,' which is certainly wrong according to the
-    facsimile given of the signature in this place.]
-
-
-248
-
-R. DOLLAY TO JOHN PASTON[322.2]
-
-_Un to my ryght worshypfull Mastyr Paston, be thys byll delyveryd in
-haste._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JUNE 29]
-
-Ryght trusty and well belovyd master, I recomande me un to yow, desyryng
-to her of your good prosperite and wellfar. And as towchyng for Ser
-Phylyp Wentforde, he rood on to London ward up on Seynt Jon ys day, and
-on the evyn afor he sent to my master for to have sum of hys men for to
-ryd with hym to Colchester; and for be cawse he shulde not have no
-suspesion to me, I rod myself and a felaw with me; and he rood with an
-C. [_hundred_] hors with jakks[322.3] and saletts,[322.4] and rusty
-habyrjons;[322.5] and ther rood with hym Gyboun of Debnem, and Tympyrle,
-and all the felashyp that they cowd make. And Gyboun seyde that he wolde
-endyte as many as he cowde understonde that wer of the toder party; and
-longe Bernard was ther also; and he mad Ser Phylyp Wentforde to torne
-ageyn, and maad every men to beende her bowys, and lyth down of her hors
-for to wyte and ony man wolde come ageynstem, and he seyde how he shulde
-not let hys wey nor for Ser John Fastolf nor for Paston, nor for noon of
-hem all.
-
-And as for the ward,[323.1] he was not ther, but ther was had anoder
-chyld lyk hym, and he rood next hym, and whan that he was ij. myle be
-zonde Colchester, he sent hym hoomageyn with a cer tey[n] meyny. And Ser
-Phylyp Wentforde, and Gyboun of Debnem, and Tymperle, and Bernard, they
-took a man of Stratford, a sowter,[323.2] and hys name ys Persoun; and
-they enqueryd hym of every manys name of the toder party, and he tolde
-hem as many as he cowde; and they bad hym enquer ferther for to knowe
-all, for they desyryd of hym for to enquer as fer as he cowde, and he
-shulde have well for hys labor.
-
-No mor to yow at thys tyme, but the Holy Gost have yow in hys kepyng.
-
-Wretyn at Hadley, the Saturday after Seynt John ys day. And I beseeche
-yow hertyly recomande me to my Master Alblaster.
-
-  By yowr man,
-
-  R. DOLLAY.
-
-    [Footnote 322.2: [From Fenn, iii. 210.] This letter gives an
-    account of certain proceedings for taking possession of the
-    person of a minor in opposition to the claims of Paston and Sir
-    John Fastolf as guardians. Fenn supposes the ward in question to
-    have been Thomas Fastolf of Ipswich; but it appears, by a
-    petition afterwards presented to Parliament (see _Rolls of
-    Parl._ v. 371), that he was another Thomas Fastolf, viz. the son
-    of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe, Suffolk, whose wardship was
-    granted on the 6th June 1454 to John Paston, Esq., and Thomas
-    Howes, clerk. The St. John's day mentioned in this letter is
-    therefore St. John the Baptist's day, 24th June, not St. John
-    the Evangelist's, 27th December.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.3: The jack or jacket was a military vestment,
-    calculated for the defence of the body, composed of linen
-    stuffed with cotton, wool, or hair quilted, and commonly covered
-    with leather.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.4: A salet was a light helmet of various
-    construction.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.5: The haubergeon was a coat composed either of
-    plate or chain-mail without sleeves. For a fuller account and
-    view of these, the reader is referred to Mr. Grose's accurate
-    _Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons_, 4to, 1785.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 323.1: Thomas, son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe.]
-
-    [Footnote 323.2: A shoemaker.]
-
-
-249
-
-WILLIAM BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON[323.3]
-
-_To my gode maister, John Paston, Escuier, in Norwich, and yn hys
-absence, to John Berney, at Caister, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 5]
-
-Worshypfull Sirs, I recomaund me to yow. Lyke yow wete that as to the
-waraunts and copes that ye remembred to be gheten owt, it ys laboured
-for, &c.
-
-And as to the assisse, it shall hald at Norwych, the Monday next com
-fortendayes.
-
-The Duc of York, the Lord Cromewell, and othyr Lordys of the North that
-were wyth my seyd Lord York, comen hedre by Monday next, as it ys
-credybly seyd. The Lordys that be appoynted to kepe the see maken hem
-redye yn all haste; and the Tresourer also, the Lord Wyltshyre[324.1]
-for the west coost. And a stately vessell, only for the warre, ys made
-new at Brystow by the Mayr, called Sturmyn[324.2]. And the seyd toune
-with the west coosts wolle do her part, and [i.e. _if_] they may be
-supported or favoured.[324.3]
-
-Mastere Pownyngs[324.4] hath day tille the next terme by a remayner.
-Manye a gode man ys hert he hath.[325.1] God comfort hym in ryght!
-
-And justice ys don dayly uppon thevys and malefactours, and people be
-glad that justice may precede.
-
-The Lord Bourchier hath a gode renomee of hys wyse demenyng at Calis,
-but he ys not yhyt comen.
-
-The Soudeours be more temperat then they were. Not ell[es] for lak of
-leyser, but our Lord kepe you.
-
-Wryt at L. [London], the v. day of Jullet.
-
-Gressam qwyts hym well yn your erandys doyng to me.
-
-  Your,
-
-  W. BOTONER.
-
-    [Footnote 323.3: [From Fenn, i. 140.] The year in which this
-    letter was written must be that of the mayoralty of Robert
-    Sturmy at Bristol, as shown in p. 324, Note 2. It certainly
-    could not be 1457, Fenn's date, as Lord Cromwell died in January
-    1456.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.1: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He
-    was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the 15th March 1455
-    (Patent, 33 Henry VI., p. 2, m. 20), but on the 29th May
-    following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry,
-    Viscount Bourchier (_Ib._ m. 12). But this letter, which is
-    dated in July, cannot be in 1455; indeed, we have positive
-    evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the
-    manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above? It is just
-    possible--though not likely, as Wiltshire was a
-    Lancastrian--that his appointment may have been enrolled in the
-    wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the
-    15th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve
-    the difficulty best:-- 'The Lords that be appointed to keep the
-    see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also: the
-    Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.' John Tiptoft, Earl of
-    Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the 11th February
-    1454.--See _Rolls of Parl._ v. 238.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.2: The name was printed by Fenn 'St'myn',' and in
-    the modern version on the opposite page, 'St. Myn.' Robert
-    Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453-4. It was probably
-    this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of
-    which disaster there is the following notice in the MS.
-    Calendars of Bristol:-- 'Mr. Robert Sturney [_alias_ Sturmey],
-    who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the
-    Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much
-    wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be
-    planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa
-    in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he
-    arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and
-    imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good
-    the loss; so that they were charged with £6000 indebted to Mr.
-    Sturney.' --Seyer's _Memoirs of Bristol_, ii. 189.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.3: 'The said town,' it would appear, did 'do her
-    part' on the occasion; for besides this ship fitted out by the
-    Mayor, Bristol subscribed £150 to a loan raised by the Duke of
-    York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may
-    appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London
-    itself only subscribed £300, and Southampton, which was the next
-    largest contributor, only £100, while Norwich and Yarmouth
-    contributed the latter amount between them.--Seyer's _Bristol_,
-    ii. 188; see also _Rolls of Parl._ v. 245. We must remember,
-    however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times
-    their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison
-    with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his
-    native town.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.4: Robert Poynings. --_See_ p. 154, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 325.1: 'Many a good man's heart he hath.' --We should
-    have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his
-    modern version, gives the following most extraordinary
-    rendering:-- 'Many a good man is hurt (_that_) he hath.']
-
-
-250
-
-EDMUND, LORD GREY OF HASTINGS TO JOHN PASTON[325.2]
-
-_To my trusty and wele belovid John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre
-delivered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 11]
-
-Trusty and welebelovid frend, I comaund me to zow, certifying zow that
-and zour sustyr be not zit maried, y trust to God y know that where she
-may be maried to a gentylman of iii. C. [300] marc of lyvelod, the which
-is a grete gentylman born, and of gode blode; and yf ze think that y
-shall labore ony ferder therynne, y pray zow send me word by the bringer
-of this lettre, for y have spoke with the parties, and they have granted
-me that they wolle precede no ferder therynne tyll y speke with hem
-azen; and therefore, y pray zow, send me word in hast how that ze wylle
-be desposed therynne; and God have zow in hys kepyng. W[r]ettin at
-Ampthill, the xj. day of July last past.
-
-  By EDMOND GREY, LORD OF HASTYNGES, WAIFFORD, AND OF RUTHYN.
-
-    [Footnote 325.2: [From Fenn, iii. 214.] This letter is dated by
-    a memorandum at the bottom of the original, in the handwriting
-    of John Paston-- 'Liberat. per Will. Aleyn, valetum dicti domini
-    xiiij. die Julii anno xxxijş. H. vi.']
-
-
-251
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THOMAS HOWYS[326.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusty frende Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castelcombe._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 12]
-
-Ryght trusty frende, I grete you well, and wolle ye wete that I thynk it
-to greete merveylle of your trouth and wysdom that ye shuld haf, that ye
-hafe noysed me, and seyd to John Andreus at Yeppyswych, in presence of
-dyvers men, that ye have suffisaunt waraunts undre my lettre and sele to
-safe you harmlese, in case ye be condempned yn the somme this Andreus
-sewyth you for. And know for certeyn, there passed no such warauntis
-undre my sele; nothyr I comaunded you not for to labour ne do thyng that
-shuld be ayenst the law, nether unlawfully ayenst ryght and trouth. And
-therfor y ought not ne wolle not pay for yow. Wherfor I charge you sende
-me your warauntis and lettres or acomp of them, and of whoos hand
-wrytyng they ben; and whate evidences, instruccions and informacions ye
-had and by whom, as well as of my lerned councell as of othyrs. And also
-that ye comyn with my cosyn John Paston, &c., and take his gode avice
-whate remedie ys best, whethyr to sew an atteynt ayenst th'enquest a
-_decies tantum_ in your oune name or by the parlement; for y wolle do
-seke all the remedies that may be had ayenst the seyd Andreus. And kepe
-ye close and sure from hym in all maner wyse, for your oune welfare; for
-know ye for certeyn that Andreus wolle ley all the wayt and aspies of
-such as ye wene to take for your true frendys to arrest you; and then be
-ye as it were be thout remedie, for ye not be tyme to sende me the
-materes abofe specyfied.
-
-Item, Robert Inglose hath spoke wyth me and hath offred me to by lond to
-satisfye my dewtee that lyeth in Rakhyth, and y am avysed to by it,
-if ye can send thedre som trusty man that can telle whate it ys worth
-cleerly, and off whome it ys halde, and also yf it be sure lyvelode, and
-your avice wythall; but beware that ye com not owt, God kepe you. Wryt
-at London in haste the xij. day of Julle, Aş. xxxij^do. Regni Regis
-Henrici VJ.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, ch'l'r.
-
-    [Footnote 326.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 102.]]
-
-
-252
-
-JOHN PASTON TO LORD GREY[327.1]
-
-_Dominus de Grey._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 15]
-
-Right worshipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I recomand me to yowr gode
-Lordship. And where as it pleasyd yowr Lordship to dyrecte yowr letter
-to me for amaryage for my por suster to a jantylman of yowr knowleth of
-CCC. marc lyflod, in cas she wer not maryd; wherfor I am bownd to do
-your Lordship servyse; forsothe, my Lord, she is not maryd, ne insurid
-to noman; ther is and hath be, dyvers tymys and late, comunycacion of
-seche maryages wyth dyvers jantylmen not determynyd as yett, and whedder
-the jantylman that yowr Lordchip menith of be on of hem or nay I dowth.
-And wher as your seyd letter specyfyith that I shall send yow word
-whedder I thowght ye shuld labour ferther in the mater or nay, in that,
-my Lord, I dare not preswme to wryte so to yow wythowte I knew the
-gentylmans name,--notwythstandyng, my Lord, I shall take uppe on me,
-wyth the avyse of other of here frendys, that she shall nother be maryd
-ner inswryd to no creatwr, ne forther prosede in no seche mater befor
-the fest of the Assumpcion of owr Lady next comyng, dwryng whyche tyme
-yowr Lordship may send me, if itt please yow, certeyn informacion of the
-seyd gentylmanys name, and of the place and contrey where hys lyfflod
-lyth, and whedder he hath any chylder, and, after, I shall demene me in
-the mater as yowr Lordship shall be pleasyd; for in gode feyth, my Lord,
-it were to me grette joy that my seyd pore suster were, according to
-hier pore degre, marijd be yowr avyse, trustyng thanne that ye wold be
-here gode Lord.
-
-Ryght wurchipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I beseche Almyghty God to have
-yow in His kepyng. Wrete att Norwych, the xv. day of Jull.
-
-    [Footnote 327.1: [From Fenn, iii. 216.] This letter is the
-    answer to No. 250, originally printed from a copy in Paston's
-    own handwriting, without signature.]
-
-
-253
-
-THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[328.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and worshipfull maister, John Paston, be this
-dylyverd at London, and ellys sent to hym to Norwic._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 20]
-
-Rygth worshipfull Sir, and my rygth good maister, I recomend me to you.
-Lyke you to wete I have spoken wyth my lord Chaunceler[328.2] and put
-the bylle by for hym and all the lordis upon Wednesday at after non last
-past, wenyng to me to have an answer upon Thursday. And my lord
-Chaunceler told me that they sped no partycler mater yet syn they cam,
-nor han no leyser to attend swych maters. I have spoken to my Lord
-Wylchyre,[328.3] and he promysed to help forth that he can, and my Lord
-Beauchamp[328.4] bothe. Fenyngley cam but on Thursday at evyn. Item,
-Sir, I have do made a new bylle whyche I purpose to delyver to the kyng.
-And, Sir, the lordes merveyle sore of the entre that was made by the
-straunge man or my lord entred; they thynk that was a straunge werk and
-a sotyll. Item, I spake to my Lord Chaunceler how my maister[328.5] and
-ye and your frendis were pute owte of the comyssyon of pees; neverthe
-les he hath not graunted yet non newe. And as for the questyon that ye
-wylled me to aske my lord, I fond hym yet at no good leyser. Item, Sir,
-after the lordys seying, the Councell schuld breke up on Monday next
-comyng. And as for the Archebysshop of York[329.1] is heyll and mery,
-&c. Wretyn the xx. day of July.
-
-  By your man and servaunt,
-
-  THOMAS PLAYTER.
-
-    [Footnote 328.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 217.] The reference to
-    Lord Wiltshire proves the date of this letter to lie between
-    1449 and 1460, and it would seem to be 1454 when the 20th July
-    was a Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday being spoken of as past
-    dates and Monday as a future one.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.2: Richard, Earl of Salisbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.3: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.4: John, Lord Beauchamp.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.5: Sir John Fastolf.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.1: William Booth was Archbishop of York from 1452
-    to 1464. If the letter had been earlier Cardinal Kemp would have
-    been Archbishop of York, and would have been called 'Cardinal of
-    York.']
-
-
-254
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[329.2]
-
-_To his wurchypfull Brodyr, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / [JULY]]
-
-Ryth wurchypfull broder, I recomande to yow; and as for tedyng, my Lord
-of Yorke hathe take my Lord of Exsater[329.3] in to hys awarde. The Duke
-of Somerset[329.4] is styll in prison, in warse case than he was. Syr
-Jon Fastolf recomande hym to yow, &c. He wyll ryde in to Norfolke ward
-as on Trusday, and he wyll dwelle at Caster, and Skrop[329.5] wyth hym.
-He saythe ye ar the hartyest kynysman and frynd that he knowyts. He
-wolde have yow at Mawdeby dwellyng.
-
-I had gret cher of Byllyng be the way, and he told me in cownsayle wathe
-he sayd to Ledam.
-
-Ledam wulde a do hys wyse to a mad a complent to Pryothe[329.6] in the
-scher-howse of yow, and Byllyng consallyd hym to leve, and tolde Ledam
-ye and he wer no felawys, and sayd to Ledam, 'That is the gyse of yowr
-contre men, to spend alle the good they have on men and lewery gownys,
-and hors and harnes, and so beryt owth for j wylle [_bear it out for a
-while_], and at the laste they arn but beggars; and so wyll ye do.
-I wylde ye schull do wyll, be cause ye ar a felaw in Grays In, wer I was
-a felaw. As for Paston, he ys a swyr [squire] of wurchyp, and of gret
-lyvelode, and I wothe he wyll not spend alle hys good as [_at?_] onys,
-but he sparyt yerly C. mark, or j. C. _li._ [£100]; he may do his ennemy
-a scherewd turne and never far the warse in hys howsholde, ner the lesse
-men abowthe hym. Ye may not do so, but if yt be for j. [_one_] sesun.
-I consayll yow not to contenu long as ye do. I wulle consalle yow to
-seke reste wyth Paston.'
-
-And I thankkyd Byllyng on yowr behalfe.
-
-God have yow in hys kepyng.
-
-Be yowr por Brodyr,
-
-  WYLLYAM PASTON.
-
-Meche odyr thyng I can telle an I had lesur. Recomande me to my suster
-Margeth [and] my cosyn Elizabeth Clyr, I pray yow.
-
-    [Footnote 329.2: [From Fenn, i. 72.] The date of this letter is
-    fixed by the fact referred to in Note 3, and by Sir John
-    Fastolf's going into Norfolk, which, though delayed a little
-    later than is here projected, certainly did take place in 1454.
-    See another letter of William Paston further on, dated 6th
-    September.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.3: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 24th July
-    the Duke of York was charged by the Privy Council to convey him
-    to Pomfret Castle. --_See_ Nicolas's _Privy Council Proceedings_,
-    vi. 217.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.4: Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was
-    committed to the Tower in the end of the year 1453. --_See_ p.
-    290, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.5: Stephen Scroope, Sir John Fastolf's ward, son
-    of Lady Fastolf, by her former husband.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.6: John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-
-255
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO MARGERY PASTON[330.1]
-
-_To his rythe worchypfull and harthy wellebelovyd suster, Margere
-Paston, dwellyng in Norwyche._
-
-[Sidenote: [1454] / AUG. 10]
-
-Rythe harthely well belovyd suster, I recomand me, &c. And I have
-received zowre letteres. And as for my nevewes, they lerne rythe well
-bothe, and there gownys and there gere schall be mad for hem a cordyng
-the enthenthe of zowre letter, and all oder thynggis that behovyth on to
-here profythe harddely to my powere. And, Suster, God zelde zow for
-zowre labore fore me, for gaderyng of my mony. And I pray, as sone as ze
-receyvyth, send it heder be some trusty man; and that it plese to calle
-ther on, &c. My suster and my broder recomand hem to zow bothe, and I
-may say to zow in counsayll sche is op on poyn of mariage, so that moder
-and my broder sett frendely and stedfastely there on, leke as I wothe
-well ze wolld, and it lay in zow as it dothe in hem, &c. I pray zow do
-zoure parthe to kall theron. It were to long to wrythe on to zow all the
-maner of demenyng of this mater; and therfor I have spoke to Wyllyam
-Worseter and to Wethewell to tell it zow holly as it is. I wothe ryth
-well zow (_sic_) good labore may do moche; and send me word how ze here
-as hastely as ze may. Item, Howard spak of a mariage betwex his sone and
-my neece Margery, zowr dother: it wer well do such materes wer nawthe
-sclawfully laboryd; it is wurchypfull, &c. Send me word, and Gog (_sic_)
-have zow in His kepyng. Wretyn at London on Sent Lawrens day in
-hast.
-
-  Be zowre brodyre,
-
-  WYLLYAM PASTON.
-
-Item, send zow a letter directyd to Wollysby. I pray zow lethe it be
-delyvered hym as hastely as ze may; and if ze come to this contre I am
-leke to se zow, and we schall make rythe mery I trust.
-
-    [Footnote 330.1: [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 5.] This letter is in the
-    handwriting of William Paston, son of the judge; but the
-    'Margery' Paston to whom it is addressed seems to be his brother
-    John's wife, Margaret. His nephews, John Paston's sons, were at
-    school in London. His sister Elizabeth, who was married to
-    Robert Poynings in 1458, is here said to be upon the point of
-    marriage, but no doubt this refers to the negotiations of the
-    year 1454, as the eldest of John Paston's sons must have been
-    sixteen in 1458. St. Laurence's day, on which the letter was
-    written, is the 10th August.]
-
-
-256
-
-RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK, TO JOHN PASTON[331.1]
-
-_To our right trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Esquire._
-
-_The Duc of York._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / AUG. 19]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved, we grete yow hertily wel. And of your
-benivolence, aide, and tendre love by yow, at th'instance and at the
-reverence of us, to our right trusty and welbeloved in God, the prior
-and convent of the hows of Our Lady of Walsingham, of our patronage, in
-suche matres as they had adoo for certain lyvelood by tham claymed to
-belonge unto the seid hows, favorably and tendrely shewed,--as hertily
-as we can we thank yow, and desire and pray yow of your good
-continuance; and as far as right, lawe, and good conscience wol, to have
-in favorable recommendacion suche personnes as been or shal bee
-committed to take possession and saison, in the name and to the use of
-our ful worshipful nepveu, th'erl of Warrewic, in and of the manoirs and
-Lordeships of Boules and Walcots,[332.1] with th'appertenauntes in Litel
-Snoring in the countee of Norffolk, as our grete trust is unto yow. And
-God have yow in His keping.
-
-Yeven undre our signet at our castel of Sandhall the xix. day of August.
-
-  R. YORK.
-
-    [Footnote 331.1: [From Fenn, i. 92.] This and the following
-    letter could hardly have been written in any year except 1454 or
-    1455, when the Duke of York was in power. In the former year he
-    is very likely to have been at his own castle of Sandal on the
-    19th August, seeing that on the 24th July he was commissioned to
-    convey the Duke of Exeter to Pomfret Castle.]
-
-    [Footnote 332.1: According to Blomefield (vii. 186), Catherine,
-    widow of John Cokerell of Albergh Wykes in Suffolk, died seised
-    of the manors of Walcotes and Boles in 6 Henry VI., which she
-    left, with others, to Catherine, daughter of John Cokerell,
-    junior, her son, who died before his father. This younger
-    Catherine died a minor in 10 Henry VI., and the jury knew not
-    who was her heir. In 29 Henry VI. George Heath of Mildenhall
-    released to Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, all his rights in
-    Walcotes and Boles; but in the 18th of Henry VII. Christopher
-    Conyers and Alice his wife conveyed it to the Heydons. Of its
-    having been purchased by the Earl of Warwick or having belonged
-    to the Prior of Walsingham, as stated in the next letter,
-    Blomefield tells us nothing except that Richard, Earl of
-    Warwick, presented to the rectory of Snoring Parva in 1460 and
-    1466.]
-
-
-257
-
-THE EARL OF WARWICK TO JOHN PASTON[332.2]
-
-_To the worshipfull and my right trusty frende John Paston, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / AUG. 23]
-
-Worshipfull and my right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you well.
-And forasmuch as I have purchased of the worshipfull and my welbeloved
-frende, Priour of Walsyngham, ij. maners in Lityl Snoryng, with
-thappurtenants, in the Counte of Norffolk, which maners be cleped Bowles
-and Walcotes,--I desir and hertily praye yow, that ye woll shewe to me,
-and my feoffes in my name, your good will and favour, so that I may by
-your frendship the more peasably rejoy my forsaid purchase.
-
-And more over I praye you to yeve credens in this mater to my welbeloved
-chapellayn, Syr John Suthwell, berer of this my lettre, and in the same
-mater to be my feithfull frende, as my gret trust is in you, wherin ye
-shall do to me a singular pleasir, and cause me to bee to yow right good
-lord, which sumtyme shall be to you available by the grace of God, who
-preserve you and sende you welfare.
-
-Yeven under my signet at Midilham, the xxiij. day of August.
-
-  RICHARD, ERL OF } R. WARREWYK.
-  WARREWIK.       }
-
-    [Footnote 332.2: [From Fenn, i. 88.] See preliminary note to the
-    last letter (p. 331, Note 1).]
-
-
-258
-
-WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON[333.1]
-
-_To my Maister Paston._
-
-_H. R._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454(?) / SEPT. 2]
-
-Aftyr dewe recomendacion wyth my simple service precedyng, please your
-maistershyp to wete, that as to such remembraunce that ye desyre me to
-contynew forth to the uttermost, I shall wyth gode wille, so as my
-maister wille licence me, as oft as I can, th'officer to hafe leysure to
-be wyth me, for ye know well I can not do it alone, &c.
-
-And where as ye of your pleasure wryte me or calle me Maister Worcestr,
-I pray and requyre yow foryete that name of maistershyp, for I am not
-amended by my maister of a ferthyng yn certeynte, but of wages of
-housold in comune _entaunt come nows plaira_. By Worcestr or Botoner I
-hafe v_s._ yerly, all costs born, to help pay for bonetts that I lose.
-I told so my maister thys weke, and he seyd me yerstenday he wyshed me
-to hafe be a preest, so I had be disposed, to hafe gofe me a lyvyng by
-reson of a benefice, that anothyr most gefe it, as the Byshop, but he
-wold; and so I endure _inter egenos ut servus ad aratrum_.
-
-Forgefe me, I wryte to make yow laugh; and our Lord bryng my maister yn
-a better mode for othyrs as for me.
-
-At Caistr, ij^d day of September.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-I pray yow displeser not your servaunt be so long, for my maister lettet
-hym.
-
-  Your,
-
-  W. WYRCESTYR.
-
-    [Footnote 333.1: [From Fenn, iii. 318.] This and the next letter
-    were certainly written on the same day, but the precise year may
-    be questioned. From a comparison of the two together, with
-    William Barker's letter of the 3rd Nov. following (No. 265),
-    I am inclined to think all three belong to the year 1454, when
-    Sir John Fastolf had just come to settle for the rest of his
-    days in Norfolk. Sir John Fenn, I think rightly, considers this
-    first letter to have been written between jest and earnest; and
-    this tone may be very well explained by the supposition, that on
-    Fastolf's settlement at Caister, Worcester expected to have had
-    some position of importance assigned to him in his master's
-    household. That such would be his fortune was probably the
-    expectation of others as well as himself, and apparently John
-    Paston had written to him in the belief that Worcester's
-    influence with Sir John might occasionally be of value to him.]
-
-
-259
-
-THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON[334.1]
-
-_To my maister, John Paston, Squier, be this delyvered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454(?) / SEPT. 2]
-
-Ryght worshypfull Sir, I recommaund me to yow. And my maister hertly
-thankyth yow for the venyson that ye sent hym from my Lord of Oxford,
-and prayeth yow that he may be recommaunded to hys noble Lordshyp. And
-God thank yow for your speciall remembraunce of my mater that ye hafe it
-so tendyrly to hert, for ye may know weel the gode spede of that ys my
-wellfare and the contrarye ys my utter undoyngs. I hafe sent to John
-Porter to wete verrayly how it standyth with hym, as ye shall wete the
-certeynte thys weke. As for the mater wryt to Bokkyng he hath rad ys
-lettre, and wille remember your desyre, and also of William Geney
-comyng, yn case he know of it rathyr then ye.
-
-And my maistre herd the substaunce of your lettre red, and lyked it ritz
-well. And as for the mater of Worcester remembraunce, he shall geve hys
-attendaunce therto yn that he can. And where ye calle hym maister, he ys
-displesed wyth that name, for he may spend v_s._ yerly more by the name
-of Worcestr or Botoner, and by hys maister not a ferthyng yn certeynte.
-He prayth yow foryete it.
-
-I pray God kepe yow. Wryt at Castr hastly ij^d day of September.
-
-  Your oune,
-
-  T. HOWES.
-
-Item, yn case Jankyn[335.1] be hole, my Lord of Norffolk hath graunted
-[him] by moyen of Robert Wyngfeld, to be yn my seyd Lord ys houshold,
-as my maister hath it by lettre from Wyngfeld.
-
-    [Footnote 334.1: [From Fenn, iii. 320.] With regard to the date
-    of this letter, see the preliminary note to the last (p. 333,
-    Note 1).]
-
-    [Footnote 335.1: This appears to be the John or Jankyn Porter
-    above named, who will be found mentioned hereafter.]
-
-
-
-
-END OF VOLUME II
-
-
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 </body>
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diff --git a/40989.txt b/40989.txt
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-The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Paston Letters, Volume II (of 6), Edited
-by James Gairdner
-
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
-almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
-re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
-with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
-
-
-
-
-
-Title: The Paston Letters, Volume II (of 6)
-       New Complete Library Edition
-
-
-Editor: James Gairdner
-
-Release Date: October 8, 2012  [eBook #40989]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
-
-
-***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PASTON LETTERS, VOLUME II (OF
-6)***
-
-
-E-text prepared by Louise Hope, Chris Curnow, and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made
-available by Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries
-(http://archive.org/details/toronto)
-
-
-
-Note: Images of the original pages are available through
-      Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See
-      http://archive.org/details/pastonlettersad02gairuoft
-
-      Project Gutenberg has the other volumes of this work.
-         Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43348
-         Volume III: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41024
-         Volume IV: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41081
-         Volume V: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42239
-         Volume VI, Part 1 (Letters, Chronological Table): see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42240
-         Volume VI, Part 2 (Index): see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42494
-
-
-Transcriber's note:
-
-      The Gairdner edition of the Paston Letters was printed in six
-      volumes. Each volume is a separate e-text; Volume VI is further
-      divided into two e-texts, Letters and Index. Volume I, the
-      General Introduction, will be released after all other volumes,
-      matching the original publication order.
-
-      Except for footnotes and sidenotes, all brackets are in the
-      original, as are parenthetical question marks and (_sic_)
-      notations. Series of dots representing damaged text are as in
-      the printed original.
-
-      The year was shown in a sidenote at the top of each page; this
-      has been merged with the sidenote at the beginning of each
-      Letter or Abstract.
-
-      A carat character is used to denote superscription. The
-      character(s) following the carat is superscripted (example:
-      xxviii^me). Braces { } are used only when the superscripted
-      text is immediately followed by non-superscripted letters
-      or period (full stop). Errata and other transcriber's notes
-      are shown in [[double brackets]]. The notation "corrected by
-      editor" refers to the Errata printed in Volume VI. "(o)" is
-      used to represent the male ordinal.
-
-      Footnotes have their original numbering, with added page
-      number to make them usable with the full Index. They are
-      grouped at the end of each Letter or Abstract.
-
-      Typographical errors are listed at the end of each Letter,
-      after the footnotes. In the primary text, errors were only
-      corrected if they are clearly editorial, such as missing
-      italics, or mechanical, such as u-for-n misprints. Italic "d"
-      misprinted as "a" was a recurring problem. The word "invisible"
-      means that there is an appropriately sized blank space, but the
-      letter or punctuation mark itself is missing. The spelling
-      "Jhon" is not an error. Gresham and Tresham are different
-      people.
-
-      Note that the printed book used z to represent original small
-      letter yogh. This has not been changed for the e-text.
-
-
-
-
-
-This edition, published by arrangement with Messrs. ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE
-AND COMPANY, LIMITED, is strictly limited to 650 copies for Great
-Britain and America, of which only 600 sets are for sale, and are
-numbered 1 to 600.
-
-  No. 44.
-
-  [[The number 44 is handwritten.]]
-
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-           *       *       *       *
-
-
-              THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-                A.D. 1422-1509
-
-
-           *       *       *       *
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-A.D. 1422-1509
-
-New Complete Library Edition
-
-Edited with Notes and an Introduction
-
-By
-JAMES GAIRDNER
-of the Public Record Office
-
-_VOLUME II_
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-London
-Chatto & Windus
-
-[Decoration]
-
-Exeter
-James G. Commin
-1904
-
-Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
-
-
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-_Early Documents_
-
-
-Before entering upon the correspondence of the Paston family, in the
-reign of Henry VI., we have thought it well to give the reader a brief
-note of such deeds and charters of an earlier date as appear either to
-have been preserved in the family, or to have any bearing on its
-history. The following is a list of those we have been able to meet with
-either in the originals or in other quarters, such as Blomefield's
-_History of Norfolk_, where notices are given of several documents,
-which appear now to have got into unknown hands. The documents seen by
-Blomefield, and those from the Paston and Dawson-Turner collections, now
-in the British Museum, were probably all at one time part of the Paston
-family muniments. The three Harleian charters seem to have been derived
-from a different source.
-
-  A Deed is cited by Blomefield (_Hist. Norf._ vi. 480), by which
-  Anselm, Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme, and the Convent there, gave to
-  Osbern, the priest (said by Blomefield to have been a son of Griffin
-  de Thwait, the founder of the Paston family), the land of St.
-  Benet's of Paston (_terram Sancti Benedicti de Paston_), in fee, for
-  half the farm of one _caruca_, as his ancestors used to pay for the
-  same.
-
-  Also a Deed of William the Abbot (who lived in King Stephen's
-  reign), granting to Richer de Pastun, son of Osbern, son of Griffin
-  de Thwete, all the land that the Convent held in Pastun, with their
-  men, and other pertinencies.
-
-  Also a Deed of Covenant between Richer de Paston and Reginald the
-  Abbot, and Convent of St. Benet's, Holme, that when peace should be
-  settled in England, and pleas held in the Court of our Lord the
-  King, the said Richer would, at the request and at the expense of
-  the Abbot, give him every security in Court to release the lands in
-  Pastun.
-
-  'Ralph de Paston was son, as I take it' (says Blomefield) 'of this
-  Richer, and appears to have had two sons, Richard and Nicholas.
-
-  'Richard, son of Ralph de Paston, by his deed, _sans_ date, granted
-  to Geoffrey, son of Roger de Tweyt, lands in this town (Oxnead),
-  paying 9d. per ann. for his homage and service, 40s. for a fine
-  (_in gersumam_), and paying to him and his heirs on the feasts of
-  St. Andrew, Candlemas, Pentecost, and St. Michael, on each feast,
-  2s. _ob._ He sealed with one _lis_. Laurence de Reppes, William and
-  John, his brother, William de Bradfield, &c., were witnesses.'
-  --Blomefield, vi. 480-1.
-
-  'There was also another branch of this family, of which was Wystan,
-  or Wolstan, de Paston, which I take to be the lineal ancestor of Sir
-  William Paston, the Judge, and the Earls of Yarmouth. This Wolstan
-  lived in the reign of Henry II. and Richard I., and married, as is
-  probable, a daughter of the Glanvilles, as appeared from an
-  impalement of Paston and Glanville in the windows of Paston Hall in
-  Paston. His son and heir styled himself Robert de Wyston and Robert
-  de Paston; who, dying in or about 1242, was buried at Bromholm, and
-  left Edmund de Paston. To this Edmund, son of Robert, son of Wolstan
-  de Paston, Sir Richard de Paston gave the land in Paston which
-  Robert, his father, held of him and Nicholas, his brother, by deed
-  _sans_ date.' --Blomefield, vi. 481.
-
-  Undated Deed of Nicholaus filius Radulfi Diaconi de Paston, granting
-  to Robert, son of Wistan de Paston, two parcels of land--one of them
-  abutting on the lands of Eudo de Paston. Witnesses--Richard de
-  Trunch; Will. Esprygy; Ralph de Reppes; Roger de Reppes; Richard,
-  s. of Ralph de Baketon; John de Reppes; Roger, s. of Warin de Paston;
-  Hugh, s. of Will. de Paston, &c.--Add. Charter 17,217, B.M. (Paston
-  MSS.).
-
-  Undated Deed of Richard, son of Ralph de Pastune, granting to
-  Edmund, son of Robert Wistan de Pastune, lands in Pastune,
-  &c.--(_Seal attached, in fine condition._)--Add. Charter 17,218,
-  B.M. (Paston MSS.).
-
-  Blomefield also mentions (vi. 481) that Nicholas, son of Ralph de
-  Paston, gave lands to Robert, son of Wystan de Paston, by deed _sans
-  date_. Witness, Roger de Repps.
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, by which Richard, the son of Ralph, Deacon of
-  Paston, grants to Edmund, the son of Robert Wiston of Paston,
-  certain lands at Paston.--Add. Charter 14,810, B.M. (D. Turner's
-  Collection of Deeds relating to Norfolk).
-
-  Richard, son of Ralph de Paston, according to Blomefield (xi. 24),
-  gave 12_d._ a year rent in Paston to the Priory of Bromholm. This
-  gift is also mentioned by Richard Taylor in his Index Monasticus of
-  the Diocese of Norwich, p. 15, where the purpose of the endowment is
-  said to be 'to keep their books in repair.'
-
-  Deed, cited by Blomefield (vi. 481), by Richard, son of John, son of
-  Richard de Paston, granting to Richer Alunday and his heirs his
-  native Alan de Tilney, with all his family, &c. (_cum tota
-  sequela_), and 7 acres of land in Paston and Knapton, with
-  messuages, &c., for 4 marks of silver _in gersumam_, and a rent of
-  22_d._ a year.
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, whereby William, the son of Robert Barrett,
-  grants to Edmund, the son of Robert Whiston of Paston, certain lands
-  in the Common Field of Paston.--Add. Charter 14,813, B.M.
-  (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Undated Indenture between Clement Parcerit of Gimmingham, and Cecil,
-  his wife, and Edmund, the son of Robert de Paston, concerning lands
-  in Paston Field.--Add. Charter 14,814, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, by which Richard de Lessingham grants to William,
-  son of Robert de Paston, certain lands in the Common Field of
-  Paston.--Add. Charter 14,812 (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Ancient Deed of Nich. Chancehose of Baketun granting to Edmund, fil.
-  Roberti Wistan de Pastun, and his heirs, for 30_s._, a _tresroda_ of
-  land in Pastun.--Add. Charter 17,219, B.M. (Paston MSS.).
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, by which Richard, son of John de Paston, grants
-  to Roger, his brother, certain lands in Paston Field.--Add. Charter
-  14,811, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  Undated Deed Poll, whereby Hugh, son of William de Pastun, grants to
-  Walter, son of Edmund de Pastun, and his heirs, a _tresroda_ of land
-  in the fields of Pastun, 'inter terram quae fuit Osberti Salr. (?),
-  ex parte Austri, et terram quae fuit Ricardi Chaumpeneys ex parte
-  Aquilonis, et abuttat super forreram quae fuit Roberti Carpentar'
-  versus Orientem, et super liberam et terram ecclesiae de Past' versus
-  Occidentem.' --Add. Charter 2004, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1313, 16 Oct. 'William de Paston obtains a pardon as an
-  adherent of the Earl of Lancaster for his participation in the death
-  of Gaveston, and the disturbances occasioned thereby.' 16 Oct.,
-  7 Edw. II.--Palgrave's Parliamentary Writs, vol. ii. div. iii. p.
-  1262.
-
-  A.D. 1324, 22 Jan. Deed Poll, dated on Sunday after the Feast of St.
-  Agnes, 17 Edward II., whereby Henry de Mundham, parson of Oxnead,
-  and another, grant to William Hautayne and Alice, his wife,
-  a certain messuage and premises in Oxnead.--Add. Charter 14,804,
-  B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  A.D. 1324, 19 Feb. Quit-Claim by Edmund, son of Robert de Neketone,
-  to Robert de Paston, Tabernarius, of lands in the fields without the
-  West Gate of Bury St. Edmund's. Sunday after St. Valentine's Day,
-  17 Edw. II. Seal attached.--Harl. Charter 54 A. 31, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1329, 24 Dec. Deed Poll of Margery, daughter of Robert de
-  Neketon, granting to Robert de Paston lands in the fields of St.
-  Edmund's. St. Edmund's Bury, Sunday, Christmas Eve, 3 Edw.
-  III.--Harl. Charter 54 A. 32, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1330. Petition to Parliament 4 Edw. III. of John de Claveryng,
-  complaining that John Payne of Dunwich, Constantine de Paston,
-  Austin Fitzwilliam, and others of Dunwich, took by force and arms
-  five ships and a boat belonging to him, at Wallerswyke, and goods to
-  the value of L300, after having beat, shipwrecked, and imprisoned
-  (_baterent, naufrerent, et enprisonerent_) the said John's servants.
-  The king's answer: 'Eyt en Chauncellerie oyer et terminer pur le
-  horibilite du trespas, devant covenables justices.' --Rolls of Parl.
-  ii. 33.
-
-  A.D. 1333, 29 April. Deed Poll, dated Thursday next before the Feast
-  of the Invention of the Holy Cross, 7 Edward III., whereby Alice,
-  widow of William Hautayne, grants to Henry de Colby and others a
-  messuage, with the appurtenances in Oxnead.--Add. Charter 14,805,
-  B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  A.D. 1341, 28 Aug. Deed Poll of Robert de Paston granting to William
-  de Bradeleghe and William Child, Chaplains, lands in the fields of
-  St. Edmund's Bury, without the West Gate at Stanywerp, &c. St.
-  Edmund's Bury, Tuesday after St. Bartholomew, 15 Edw. III.--Harl.
-  Charter 54 F. 37, B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1341. Indenture of 15 Edw. III. between John de Knapeton,
-  rector of Freugges, and Clement de Paston and Will. his son.--Add.
-  Charter 17,221, B.M. (Paston MSS.).
-
-  A.D. 1361. Charter of Sir Rob. de Mauteby to the Prior of St.
-  Olave's, Herlyngflet, 35 Edw. III.--Add. Charter 17,222 (Paston
-  MSS.), B.M.
-
-  Notes of Proceedings in Outlawry of the time of Edward III. Judgment
-  by Sir John Hody, mentioned in a more modern hand.--Paston MSS.,
-  B.M.
-
-  A.D. 1382, 5 Oct. Deed Poll, dated on Sunday next after the Feast of
-  St. Michael, 6 Richard II., by which Robert de Paston grants to John
-  Gant certain lands in Paston field.--Add. Charter 14,817, B.M.
-  (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-  A.D. 1404, 1 Oct. Deed by which Mary, Lady Mortimer, mother of Sir
-  John Fastolf, grants to her said son her manors of Caister and
-  Caister Hall, together with her manor of Repps and the advowson of
-  the free Chapel of St. John, within the said manor of Caister, to
-  hold to him and his heirs for ever. 1 Oct., 6 Henry IV.--Add.
-  Charter 14,597, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.).
-
-
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-_Henry V_
-
-
-
-
-1
-
-HENRY V.'S CONQUESTS IN FRANCE[5.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1417-9]
-
-These be the names of Townes, Castell, Citees, and Abbeys that the [King
-did][5-2] gete in his secund viage:--
-
-  The Town of Cane and the Castell.
-  The Town of Valeis [_Falaise_] and the Castell.
-  The Town of Argenton and the Castell.
-  The Town of Bayeux and the Castell.
-  The Town of Alawnsom and the Castell.
-  The Town of Frezsne le Vicont and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Savers de Vive and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Jakes de Beueron and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Jakes de Burvam and the Castell.
-  The Town of Seint Low and the Castell.
-  The Town of Valence and the Castell.
-  The Cytee of Averense and the Castell.
-  The Cytee of Sees.
-  The Cytee of Leseaux.
-  The Cytee of Everose.
-  The Town of Louerse.
-  The Town of Counsheux.
-  The Town of Vire.
-  The Town of Karentine.
-  The Town of Chyrbourgh and the Castell.
-  The Town of Vernoile and ij. Castell.
-  The Town of Morteyn and the Castell.
-  The Town of Powntlarche and the Castell.
-  The Town of Esey and the Castell.
-  The Town of Dounfrount and the Castell.
-  The Town of Pountedomer and the Castell.
-  The Town of Turve and the Castell.
-  The Town of Costaunce and the Castell.
-  The Cytee of Roon and the Castell.
-  The Town of Galion and the Castell.
-  The Town of Galdebek [_Caudebec_].
-  The Town of Mustirvilers.
-  The Town of Depe.
-  The Town of Ve and the Castell.
-  The Town of Vernoile suz Seyne and the Castell.
-  The Town of Mawnt and the Castell.
-  The Castell of Towk.
-  The Castell of Morvile.
-  The Castell of Overs in Awge.
-  The Abbey of Seint Savers suz Deve.
-  The Abbey of Seint Peers suz Dive.
-  The Abbey of Seint Stevenis of Cane.
-  The Bole Abbey of Cane.
-  The Castell of Cursy.
-  The Castell of Gundy.
-  The Castell of Nevylebeke.
-  The Castell of Vermus.
-  The Castell of Garcy.
-  The Castell of Oo [_Eu_].
-  The Castell of Vileine.
-  The Castell of Egyll.
-  The Castell of Regyll.
-  The Castell of Curton.
-  The Castell of Fagernon.
-  The Castell of Chamberexs.
-  The Castell of Ryveers.
-  The Castell of Bewmanill.
-  The Castell of Bewmalyn.
-  The Castell of Harecourt.
-  The Abbey of Behelwyn.
-  The Castell of Parlevesque.
-  The Castell of Semper.
-  The Castell of Tracy.
-  The Castell of Tylly.
-  The Castell of Groby.
-  The Castell of Carsell.
-  The Castell of Hommbe.
-  The Castell of Seynt Denise.
-  The Castell of Bonvile.
-  The Castell of Grennevile.
-  The Castell of Perers.
-  The Castell of Seint Gilerinz.
-  The Castell of Bewmound.
-  The Castell of Asse la Rebole.
-  The Castell of Tanny.
-  The Castell of Antony.
-  The Castell of Balon.
-  The Castell of Mountfort.
-  The Castell of Tovey.
-  The Castell of Lowdon.
-  The Castell of Noaus.
-  The Castell of Seynt Romains in Plaine.
-  The Castell of Daungell.
-  The Castell of Peschere.
-  The Castell of Bolore.
-  The Castell of Keshank.
-  The Castell of Turre.
-  The Castell of Seint Imains.
-  The Castell of Seint Germains.
-  The Castell of Bomstapyll.
-  The Castell of Croile.
-  The Castell of Bakuile.
-  The Castell of Bellacombyr.
-  The Castell of Douyle.
-  The Castell of Likone.
-  The Castell of Ankyrvile.
-  The Abbey of Seint Katerinz.
-
-These er the gates names of Roon, and how the lordys lay in sege, and to
-fore what gate, and also the derth of vitailes withyn the forseyd Cytee
-of Roon.
-
-_Le Port Causches._ To fore thys gate, lay my Lord of Clarense[8.1] vnto
-riversyde of Seyne with mykyl of hys howsold and a grete market; and
-then fro that gate upward lay my Lord of Urmound,[8.2] my maistre
-Corwayle[8.3] with the Lord Talbotts meyne. _Le Port de Castell._ At
-thys gate my Lord Marchall,[8.4] the Lord of Haryngton. _Le Port de
-Bewvoisyn._ At thys gate lay my Lord of Excester. _Le Port de
-Vowdelagate._ To fore thys gate lay the Lord Roos, the Lord Wylleby, the
-Lord Fyhew,[8.5] Sir John Gray, and Sir William Porter. _Le Port Seint
-Yllare._ To fore thys gate lay the kyng and my Lord of Glowcestyr. _Le
-Port de Martynvile._ To fore thys lay my Lord of Warwyk and Sir Phelip
-Leche. _Le Port debut de Pount._ To fore thys gate lay my Lord of
-Huntyngdon, my Lord of Sawlisbyry, my maistre Nevile, and my mayster
-Umphirvile. _Le Port de Vicount._ Thys ys the chefe Watergate of the
-town, and at thys gate cometh in al maner marchawndys and vitailes.
-
-Furthyrmore as towchyng to the derth of vytayles withyn this forseyd
-Cytee, j. [_one_] Buschell of Whete was worth v. scutys, j. lofe j.
-frank, j. dog j. frank, j. kat ij_s._ sterlinges, j. rat vj_d._
-sterlinges. And as towchyng all other vitailes, it was spendit or that
-we com in to the Cytee.
-
-  Urbis Rotomagi Wulstano captio claret,
-  Quam Rex Henricus Quintus sexto capit anno.
-
-    [Footnote 5.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 5.2: Parchment mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.1: Thomas, Duke of Clarence, the King's brother.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.2: James Butler, Earl of Ormond.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.3: Sir John Cornwall, afterwards Lord Fanhope.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.4: John Mowbray, Earl Marshal, afterwards Duke of
-    Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 8.5: Fitz-Hugh.]
-
-
-2
-
-AMYE BOWET TO ----[9.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1417-9]
-
-Trescher et mon tresfiable amy je vous salue tressouvent de tout mon
-cuer, desirant pur savoir et oier bons noveles de vous, et que vous
-soiez en prosperitee. Et, mon tresfiable amy, vous face assavoir que
-monsieur mon baron covient sey apparailler et ordenyier envers le Roy
-ore en y ceste proschein viage en la presence oue le Duc de Excestre,
-pur la quelle luy covient faire graundes expenses entour son arraie en
-salvacion de son honour, lequel je vorreie faire ma diligence pur saluer
-et encrescer a mon poair, come je suy graundement tenuz; et vous estez
-la persone en la quelle je plus graundement maffie devaunt aucune altre
-ore vivant. Pur quey je vous emprie tresespecialment de trestout mon
-cuer que vous please pur faire a tant pur moy quant a ore pur moy faire
-chevyceance de xl. marcz come pur voie dapprompt ore en y ceste nostre
-graunde busoigne, promittant de certeyne que sereez bien et loialment
-repaiez a aucune jour reisoignable que vous veuilliez assigner; et si
-vous ne osez pleignement affier en y ceste ma promys pur peril quent
-purra avenir en temps avenir, vous auerez tiel seuretee come vous
-veuillez deviser. Trescher et mon tresfiable amy, pluisours a vous nay
-escrier au present, mays que vous veuillez doner foie et credence a une
-gentile feme portour dycestes. Et pri al Saint Espirit qil vous ait touz
-jours en sa tressaintisme garde. Escript en haste a Wrentham, le
-xxviii^me jour de Mars.
-
-  AMYE BOWET.
-
-  On the back is written in a different hand:--
-
-    'Thomas Lente et Matillda uxor mea petunt de Galfrido Somerton
-  xiij_s._ iiij_d._ quos Willelmus Lyster et dicta Matillda, circa
-  xxiiij. annos elapsos quum ipsi levaverunt finem de tenementis in
-  Castre inter ipsos et Walterum Gase; et dicit quod dicta Matillda
-  quando ipsa examinata fuit per Justiciarios apud Jernemuth qui
-  sedebant super Rayes (?) in ecclesia Fratrum Carmelitarum, dictus
-  Justiciarius dedit dictos xiii_s._ iiii_d._ quos ipse habere
-  debuisset pro labore suo dictae Matilldae, et dictus Galfridus dictos
-  xiii_s._ iiii_d._ posuit in loculo suo proprio et nullatenus illos
-  dictae Matilldae solvit: et ad festyngong per iiii. annos elapsos le
-  boteler apud Somerton audivit quod dictus Galfridus promisit dictae
-  Matilldae et dicto Thomae tunc viro suo dictos xiii_s._ iiii_d._'
-
-    [Footnote 9.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 141.] This letter appears to
-    be of a very early date. If its contents refer, as seems
-    probable, to the preparations for Henry V.'s expedition in
-    France, it is of the year 1417, and so earlier than No. 1;
-    which, however, it may follow as bearing on the same subject.]
-
-  [[lequel je vorreie faire  _error for "vorroie"?_]]
-
-
-3
-
-[THE PARSON OF EDINGTHORPE] TO WILLIAM SEWARDBY[10.1]
-
-_A mon trescher et honure sieur, William Sewardby._
-
-[Sidenote: 1417-9?]
-
-Trescher et honure sieur, jeo me recomaund a vous si tresentierement de
-t . . . . . . . . . . . doyere et de savore bonez novells de vous et de
-vostre entiere estat et souereyn . . . . . . . tres bonz de vous auore
-et savore com vous mesmes lez sauera meltz devisere ou . . . . . . et si
-de moy le vostre. Vous plese savore, a la fesaunce de cestez j'estoy en
-bon saunte. [Et quant a] vostre boys de denz le boys de Baketon vous
-plese savore que le Prieur de Bromholm est (?) [nostre] parochen, et
-nous ade prie pur avore vostre dit boys dissevere et departie a son boys
-issint . . . . boys que est parcel a vostre boys pur lour profit et
-saunz damage de vostre dit boys, mes Richa[rd] . . . . . . . disseveryng
-fere saunz vostre volunte ou autre maundement de vous, come le portour
-de . . . . . . . ment que jeo ne puis ore escrire. Et touchant vostre
-manere illuques si longuement com . . . . . . . maynez de dit priour,
-vous, ne null de voz bien voliauncez y aueroyent nulle conyschaun[ce]
-. . . de vostre manere as autrez de lours seigneuries, et ensi vous et
-vostrez serrount en temps avenir . . . . . . . que vous les tenez en voz
-maynez proprez et sure tiele colour si vous plese Richard Causton . . .
-. . . . et payr omez a vous si taunt come le priour avaundit fet a
-termes et jours par vous assign[ez] . . . . . . pur avore par voz
-tenauntz lez ditz terez, rentz et tenementz, boys et autres comoditez
-. . . . . . . disseverez et departez. Et vous covyent avore i. seneschal
-pur tenire vostres courtez iluque[s] . . . . . . . de dit priour ne en
-son daungere, mes tiel homme que nad null dom de eux et tiele . . .
-. . . vous luy voliez bien rewardere pur son travail. Trescher et
-honoure sieur, de ceste matere et de . . . . . . . par le portour de
-cestz, et nous ferrouns nostre powere et diligence de lez accomplere a
-vostre . . . . . . . Sieur, jeo prie a Dieux quil vous doyne tresbon vie
-et long honour et souereyn joye de . . . . . . . A Edythorp juxta
-Bromholm, le primer jour de Jul'.
-
-    [Footnote 10.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 142.] This letter appears
-    also to be of a very early, but quite an uncertain date. It is
-    unfortunately mutilated, some words being lost on every line on
-    the right hand side of the MS.]
-
-
-4
-
-ABSTRACT[11.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1420 / 24 MARCH]
-
-Marriage Settlement of William Paston, dated the Eve of the Annunciation
-of the Virgin, 8 Henry V.--It is agreed between Sir Edmund Berre, Kt.,
-on the one part, and William Paston of Paston on the other, that the
-latter shall marry Agnes, daughter of the said Sir Edmund, and that his
-trustees of the manor of Oxenede, Norf., shall demise the same to the
-said William and Agnes, and the heirs of their bodies, &c. Also Sir
-Edmund's trustees, either of the manor of Estodenham, co. Norf., or of
-the manor of Hollewellebury, Herts, at the option of William Paston,
-shall deliver one or other manor to the said William and Agnes, and the
-heirs of their bodies, &c. If Estodenham be chosen, Paston is to make to
-Sir Edm. and his wife Alice an estate for life, either in the manors of
-Marlingford, Norf., and Stanstede, Suff., or in the manors of Elghe and
-Willyngham, Suff., &c.
-
-
-5
-
-ABSTRACT[11.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1422]
-
-Inspeximus of a Deed of Thos. Pecke, clk., dated 10 Hen. V., granting
-the reversion of the manors of Breydeston, Caston, &c., then held by Sir
-John Carbonell and Margery, his wife, to Sir Rob. Brewys, John
-Fitz-Rauff, and others.--(_See_ Blomefield's _Norfolk_, ii. 285.)
-
-    [Footnote 11.1: [Add. Charter 17,225, B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 11.2: [Add. Charter 17,243.]]
-
-
-
-
-THE PASTON LETTERS
-
-_Henry VI_
-
-
-
-
-6
-
-INFORMATION AGAINST WALTER ASLAK[12.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1424]
-
-Be it remembred that where, on the nyght next biforne the feste of the
-Circumcision of owre Lord Jesu, the [second][12.2] yeer of the regne of
-Kyng Henry the Sexte, certeyns maffaisours, felons, and brekeres of the
-kynges peas vnknowyn, to the noumbre of iiij^xx [_four score_] and more
-by estimacion, of malice and imaginacion forne thowght felonowsly, the
-dwellyng place of John Grys of Wyghton, in Wyghton, in the shyre of
-Norffolk, brokyn, and with carpenteres axes the yates and the dores of
-the seyd place hewen, and the seyd John Grys, and hys sone, and a
-servaunt man of hese by here bodyes tokyn, and fro the seyd dwellyng
-place by the space of a myle to a payre gawles ledden, there hem for to
-have hangyd; and by cause hem fayled ropes convenient to here felonowse
-purpos, the seyd John Grys, hese sone, and hys man there felonowsely
-slowen and mordered in the most orrible wyse that ever was herd spoken
-of in that cuntre. Wher up on Walter Aslak, purposyng and imaginyng to
-putte William Paston in drede and intollerable fere to be slayn and
-mordered in the seyd forme with force and ageyn the kinges peas, on the
-shyre day of Norffolk, halden at Norwiche, the xxviij day of August, in
-the seyd secunde yeer, beyng there thanne a grete congregacion of poeple
-by cause of the seyd shyre, in hese owne persone, and by Richard
-Kyllynworth, that tyme hese servaunt, to the seyd William Paston swiche
-and so many manaces of deth and dismembryng maden and puttyn by certeyns
-Englische billes rymed in partye, and up on the yates of the Priorie of
-the Trinite chirche of Norwiche, and on the yates of the chyrche of the
-Freres Menures of Norwiche, and the yates of the same Cite called
-Nedeham yates and Westewyk yates, and in othre places wyth inne the seyd
-Cite by the seyd Walter and Richard sette, makyng mension and berying
-this undyrstondyng that the seyd William, and hese clerkes, and
-servauntes schuld be slayn and mordered in lyke forme as the seyd John
-Grys in the seyd forme was slayne and mordered: conteyning also these
-too words in Latyn, _et cetera_, by which wordes communely it was
-undyrstandyn that the forgeers and makers of the seyd billes imagyned to
-the seyd William, hese clerkes and servauntes, more malice and harm than
-in the seyd billes was expressed. Wherfore the seyd William, hese seyd
-clerkes and servauntz, by longe tyme aftyr were in gret and intolerable
-drede and fere by the sayd maffaisours and felons to be slayn and
-mordered. Wherfore the seyd William, hese clerkes and servauntes, ne
-durst not at here fredom nothyr goon ne ryde.
-
-Wher up on the seyd William, for hese owyn persone, affermyd a pleynt of
-trespas ageyn the seyd Walter and Richard, processe contynued ther up on
-til the seyd Walter and Richard were founden gilty of the seyd trespas
-by an iniquisicion ther of takyn in dwe and lawefull forme, by whiche
-inquisicion the damages of the seyd William for the seyd trespas were
-taxed to cxx^li [L120]. Aftyr which pleynte affermyd, and to fore ony
-plee up on the seyd pleynt pleded, the seyd Walter and William, by
-Thomas Erpyngham, Knyght, a myghty and a gret supportour of the seyd
-Walter in alle these matiers and circumstaunces ther of ageyn the seyd
-William, were induced to trete in the same matier in the forme that
-folwith: That is to seyne, that the seyd William schuld sue forth the
-seyd pleynt and the execucion ther of at hese owne will, and the seyd
-Walter schuld defende hym self in the seyd pleynt at hese owne will,
-except that he schuld no benefice take by noon proteccion, ne wrytte of
-_corpus cum causa_, ne of no lordes lettres up on the seyd sute. And
-what so ever fortunyd in the seyd pleynt, the proces, execucion, or the
-sute ther of, the seyd Walter and William schuld stonde and obeye to the
-ordinaunce of certeyns persones by the seyd William and Walter
-arbitratores that tyme named, if thei myghten accordyn, and ellys of
-anoonpier also that same tyme named, of alle the seyd trespas, pleynt,
-and sute, and alle the circumstaunces ther of, so that the seyd
-arbitrement and ordinaunce of the seyd arbitratores, or ellys of the
-seyd nounpier, were made withinne xl. dayes next folwyng aftyr the
-jugement geven in the seyd pleynt.
-
-And aftyrward, the Thursday next biforn Pentecost, the thrydde yeer of
-the regne of the seyd kyng, at London, in the presence of the right
-excellent, high and myghty prynce, the Duc de Gloucestre,[14.1] and by
-hese commaundement, atte sute and instaunce of the seyd Thomas
-Erpyngham, it was accordyd bytwen the seyd William and Walter that thei
-schuld stande and obeye to the ordinaunce and award of alle the seyed
-matiers of twenye of these iiij. persones, William Phelip, Knyght, Henry
-Inglose, Knyght, Oliver Groos, and Thomas Derham, chosen on the partye
-of the seyd William Paston, and tweyne of those iiij. persones, Symond
-Felbrygge, Knyght, Bryan Stapilton, Knyght, Roberd Clyfton, Knyght, and
-John of Berneye of Redeham, chosen on the partie of the seyd Water, and
-elles the decree and jugement of a nounpier to be chosen by the same
-arbitrores. The whiche William Phelip, Bryan Stapilton, Roberd Clyfton,
-Oliver Groos, John of Berneye, and Thomas Derham, takyng up on hem the
-charge of the makyng of the seyd award and ordinaunce by the assent of
-the seyd Thomas Erpyngham, the Fryday next aftyr the feste of the
-Assumpcion of Owre Lady, in the seyd thrydde yeer, at Norwiche, tokyn
-ensurans of the seyd William and Walter by here fayth and here trowthez
-to stande and obeye to here ordinaunce of alle the seyd matiers, and the
-same day biforne noon, maden here full ordinaunce and arbitrement of
-alle the same matiers in the chyrche of the Greye Freyrys at Norwich;
-and aftyrward, up on the same award and ordinaunce mad, hadden a
-communicacion ther of with the seyd Thomas Erpyngham; and aftyr the same
-communicacion, the same day aftyr noon, the same ordinaunce and award
-wretyn was red byforn the seyd arbitrores and the seyd Walter and
-William, and examyned, agreed, and assented, and by the seales of the
-same vj. arbitrores and the seyd Walter and William, was affermed and
-ensealed and left in the handes of the seyd Sir Bryan, saveliche to be
-kept in playne remembraunce of the seyd award and ordinaunce; the whiche
-award and ordinaunce the seyd William was at all tymes redy to obeye and
-performe, on to the seyd feste of Michelmesse, that the seyd Walter to
-holde or performe the seyd award pleynly refused.
-
-And where the seyd Walter, by jugement of the Chaunceller of Inglond,
-the xvj. day of Jull' the seyd thrydde yeer, was remytted to the kynges
-prison at Norwich by cause of the seyd sute, the seyd Walter yede at
-large owt of warde fro the seyd xvj. day of Jull' to the seyd day of the
-makyng of the seyd arbitrement and award, and fro that day in to
-Michelmesse thanne next aftyr; the seyd William that meene tyme evermore
-supposyng that the seyd Walter wolde have holde and performyd the sayd
-ordinaunce, arbitrement, and award. And at the comyng of the right high
-and myghty prynce the Duc of Norfolk fro his Castell of Framyngham to
-the Cetie of Norwyche, aftyr the seyd day of the makyng of this
-arbitrement and ordinaunce, and to fore the feste of Michelmesse than
-next folwyng, the seyd Walter by hese sotill and ungoodly enformacion
-caused the seyd Duke to be hevy lord to the seyd William. Where the seyd
-William the tyme of the seyd enformacion was with Sir John Jermy,
-Knyght, and othre of the counseill of the seyd Duk of Norffolk in hys
-lordshipes in Norffolk and Suffolk, thanne to hym falle [_fallen_] by
-the deth of the right worthy and noble lady hys modyr, occupied abowte
-the dwe service of wryttes of _diem clausit extremum_[16.1] aftyr the
-deth of the seyd lady. And where as the seyd William Paston, by
-assignement and commaundement of the seyd Duk of Norffolk, at hese fyrst
-passage over the see in to Normandye, in the kynges tyme Henry the
-Fyfte, was the Styward of the seyd Duc of Norffolk, of alle hese
-lordshipes in Norffolk and Suffolk fro hys seyd passage un to the seyd
-feste of Michelmesse; [And[16.2] over that as sergeaunt of lawe, thow he
-be unworthy, withholdyn with the seyd Duc of Norffolk alle the tyme that
-he was sergeaunt bifore the same feste of Michelmesse. And all be it
-that the fees and the wages of the seyd William for hys seyd service
-unpayed draweth a gret some to hys pouere degree, if the seyd Duk of
-Norffolk lyked, of hys noble and plentifous grace, to graunte to the
-seyd William, in right, ony part of the favour of hese good lordship,
-the seyd William wolde evere be hys pouere and trewe bedeman, and evere
-in hys herte thenke alle hys seyd service, and alle the service that
-ever he dede to the seyd [Duke] of Norfolk, plentefeousely weell
-rewarded.[16.3]]
-
-And where the seyd Walter, the tyme of the seyd trespas and of the seyd
-bylles makyng ne long to fore, ne never aftyr biforn the seyd comyng of
-the seyd Duc of Norffolk to Norwich, ne no tyme hangyng the seyd sute,
-ne the tyme of makyng of the said arbitrement and ordinaunce, never was
-servaunt to the seyd Duc of Norffolk at fees, ne at wages, ne wythhaldyn
-in hese service, ne to hym sued to be supported by hese high Lordship in
-this seyd matier, to the knowleche of the seyd William, ne to no commune
-knowleche, in the shyres of Norffolk, Suffolk, ne Norwiche; the sute
-that the seyd Walter made for supportacion in this seyd matier was be
-the meene of the seyd Thomas Erpyngham to the seyd Duk of Gloucestre, by
-whose reule and commaundemente the seyd arbitrement and award was mad in
-the forme aforn seyd. And not with stondying the seyd trespas and
-grevaunce by the seyd Walter doon the seyd William, ne that the seyd
-William ne is not satisfied of the seyd cxx^li., ne no peny therof,
-and hath absteyned hym of al maner of execucion, sewyng of godes or
-catelles, that by force of the seyd processe, or ony othyr, he myght
-have had ageyn the seyd Walter or hese borwes [_sureties_], ne that the
-seyd William hath suffred the seyd Walter to gon at large by long tyme
-whan he myght have had hys body in warde in lawfull forme: The seyd
-Walter, be billes in the too last parlementz holden at Westminster and
-at Leycestre, and at divers tymes in divers other maneres hath noysed
-and skaundered the seyd William ungoodly and othyr wyse than othyr
-[_either_] gentilnesse or trowthe wolde; and, overmore, caused the seyd
-William orribly to be manassed of hys deth, betyng and dismembryng of
-hys persone by certeyns servauntz of the Lordes Fitz Wauter and othre
-persones, and by ferefull and overe felle lettres and sondes. Wherfore
-the seyd William, nothyr hese frendes, ne hese servauntz in hys
-companye, at here fredam sithen the seyd parlement at Leycestre durst
-not, ne yet ne dar not rydyn ne goo abowte swyche occupacion as he arn
-used and disposed, to here grete and unportable drede and vexacion in
-here spirites, and gret harme and damage and losse of here pouere
-goodes.
-
-[Overmore,[17.1] the seyd Walter hath sued, and yet rigorously suethe a
-wrytte of _decies tantum_[17.2] ageyns x. persones of the seyd
-Inquisicion and ij. of the servauntz of the seyd William and iiij. othre
-persones; supposyng by hese seyd sute hem to have taken of the seyd
-William in hys seyd syte lxij^li [L62] and more of moneye. The whiche
-sute of _decies tantum_ the seyd Walter, betwyx God and hym, knewith
-verraly is untrewe. And also the seyd Walter hath sued, and yet persuyth
-Adam Aubre, on of the seyd Inquisicion in the court of the said Duc of
-Norffolk of hys manoir of Fornsete, by cause and occasion of the seyd
-matiers, in whiche sute in the seyd court it is proceded ageyn the seyd
-Adam in other maner thanne othyr lawe, conscience, or good fayth
-wolde.[18.1]]
-
-Overmore the seyd William, atte commaundement of the seyd Duc of
-Norffolk, hath submytted hym to stonde to the ordinaunce of divers
-persones of alle the seyd matiers: ones at Leyceetre, the Wednesday next
-biforn Palm Soneday, the iiij. yeer of the regne of the syd kyng;
-anothyr tyme at Reed clyf in Aprill the same iiij. yeer, aftyr the forme
-of certeyns billes endented ther of made. The whiche submission, with
-alle the circumstaunces ther of, the seyd William hath be at alle tymes
-redy to obeye. The cause why the seyd Walter, by the seyd Englishe
-bylles, and in othyr forme, putte and sette the seyd William, and hys
-seyd clerkes and servauntz, in drede and fere intollerable to be slayn
-and mordered, and to hem trespaced in the forme aforn seyd, was onely
-for as moche as the seyd William was with the prior of Norwiche of
-counseille in hese trewe defence ageyn the entent of the seyd Walter in
-a sute that he made ageyn the seyd priour of a voweson of the chyrche of
-Sprouston in the counte of Norffolk, wher to the seyd Walter hath nothyr
-title suffisaunt ne right in no maner wyse by ony matier by hym declared
-byforn thys tyme.
-
-This scrowe is mad only for the informacion of the worthy and
-worshipfull lordes the arbitrores; savyng evere to the maker the
-benefice reasonably to adde and amenuse, his ignoraunce in swiche
-occupation and defaute of leyser also tendrely considered.
-
-    [Footnote 12.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper refers to
-    proceedings as late as the fourth year of Henry VI., and
-    therefore cannot be earlier than 1426; but as it mainly relates
-    to outrages committed in the second year of Henry VI., _i.e._
-    1424, we have arranged it under that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 12.2: This word is omitted in the MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 14.1: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Protector of
-    England.]
-
-    [Footnote 16.1: These were writs issued on the death of a tenant
-    _in capite_ of the Crown, and directed to the escheators in the
-    different counties in which his lands lay, directing them to
-    inquire by jury what lands he held, and of what value, and who
-    was his nearest heir, and what was the heir's age.]
-
-    [Footnote 16.2: Over this word is written 'va,' the first
-    syllable of _vacat_, showing that the passage is cancelled.]
-
-    [Footnote 16.3: Here is written 'cat.' --_See_ Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 17.1: Here is written 'va.' --_See_ p. 16, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 17.2: A writ against a juror who had been bribed, by
-    which the prosecutor could recover from him ten times the amount
-    of the bribe, dividing the proceeds with the King.]
-
-    [Footnote 18.1: Here is written 'cat.' --_See_ p. 16, Note 2, and
-    p. 17, Note 1.]
-
-  [[anoonpier also that same tyme named
-    _error for "a noonpier" with space?_]]
-
-  [[othyr wyse than othyr [_either_] gentilnesse or trowthe wolde
-    _bracketed gloss printed in roman (non-italic) type_]]
-
-  [[the seyd parlement at Leycestre durst not
-    _anomalous long s in original_]]
-
-  [[ones at Leyceetre  _text unchanged: error for "Leycestre"?_]]
-
-
-7
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN STAYNFORD[19.1]
-
-_To my weel beloved John Staynford of Furnyvales Inne_.
-
-[Sidenote: 1425]
-
-The instruccion to comune of to John Robynson of Carleton bysyde Snayth.
-
-To enquerre and wyte whether the stoon may be sawed or nought. Whether
-it wille chippe or chynne or affraye with frost or weder or water.
-
-Also that every pece of the stoon be iij. foote longe, and that xv.
-tunne tyght of the stoon be every stoon weel bedded into the walle and a
-foote thikke that it ryse in heighte a foote in the walle; and x. stones
-of the stoan must be ii. foote broad, and at the lest a foote and an
-half thikke. A stoon wil drawe the wighte of a pipe, as I suppose; the
-gret stones and nought the smallere stones shuld be sawed, so that every
-pece sawed shud holde the seid lengthe of iij. foote, and the seid brede
-of ij. foote, and to be, after it is sawed, half a fote or lesse on
-thikkenesse, and thenne the brode sawed stones shulde evere stond in the
-werk betwen the seid weel bedded stonys that shuld ryse but a fote in
-the walle and ben ankered iche of hem with other; and this werk shal be
-strong j nowe, as werkmen seyn, and drawe but litill cariage. I wold
-have swiche stoan a xx^ti tunne tight caried to Moneslee[19.2] in
-Norffolk between Crowmere and Bromholm, and but a myle from Bromholm.
-
-To reporte plein answere of this bylle writen and how sone I myght have
-the seid stone caried to Monesle aforn seid, and for what price.
-
-This werk is for a . . .
-
-W. PASTON.
-
-  On the back is written, also in the Judge's hand:--
-
-  'Sount due a mon sieur Will. Bardolf de ses gages en les lyueres a
-  . . . de mon tres honneure seigneur le Count de Warrwick, capitayn
-  illeoqes, iusques al iiij.^e jour de febr. lan de Roy Henri Sysme
-  tierce, ccccxiii_li._ xvj_s._ x_d._ q^a.'
-
-  Below this is written in Fenn's hand: '14 Feb^y 3 H. 7. 1487'
-  --a great misreading of the date.
-
-    [Footnote 19.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 213.] This letter appears
-    from the postscript to be of the year 1425, as Bardolf's wages,
-    due on the 4th February in that year, had not yet been paid.]
-
-    [Footnote 19.2: Mundesley.]
-
-
-8
-
-NICHOLAS PRIOR OF BROMHOLM TO WILLIAM PASTON[20.1]
-
-_A Will' Paston soit donne._
-
-[Sidenote: 1425 / JULY 5]
-
-Dere Syre and weel be loved, I grete yow weel, and do yow to wetyn that
-Dawn John Pastone was atte Norwiche on Munday last passed, and dede
-settyn on Cryste Chyrche gates divers litteres, a lytyl tyme, and ij.
-copiis wheche stondyn ther yet, for somounnyn me to the curt of Rome.
-And we supposyn to have hym at Bromholm, or sum man in hys name wyth
-inne a lytyl tyme; for dawn Robert of Yorke was atte Norwiche be
-sendynge of my lady of Murlee, and spak wythe hym in hyre hous on Munday
-afornseyd, and ther he told the forseyd dawn Robert that he wolde nedys
-ben Priour of Bromholm, to levyn and deyin ther upon. Also he seyde, as
-for the composissioun of Bromholm, he hadde do sherchyd att Clunye; and
-ther inne he standyth clere as he seythe; and as for provisyoun, he
-seyde he hadde spokyn wyth the Chaunceler and the chef Justyse and
-Ascam, and thei demptyne hym clere as ther inne, and he seyth; and other
-dowte is ther none inne be hys tale. And after this the forseyd dawn
-John askyd obedience of the forseyd dawne Robert in my ladyis presens,
-and dawn Robert seyde agayne he xulde noghte done that atte that tyme,
-but he badde hym provyn owt hys purpos as for the composissioun and
-provisioun to an hende, and than he wolde do hys dever to hym; and thus
-he departyd. Where for, yif ony thing may be don whyl ye arn now atte
-Londone for oure helpe and his lettyng, gode Syre, helpythe atte this
-tyme if it maybe godely, we be seche yow. Dawn Thomas of Cane was atte
-my lord of Norwiche for helpe in this matier, and he seyde he was
-inhibytyd and alle hys clerkes be the curt of Rome in this matier, and
-he seyde by yowre advys, yif it lyke yow, wryttes may ben taken agens
-hym, and that is best remedye ther inne; j. [_one_] wrytte is _ne
-ingrediatur manu forti_. The Holy Trinite have yow in governaunce.
-Wretyn atte Bromholm the v. day of July,
-
-  _per_ NICH. PRIOREM DE BROMHOLM.
-
-    [Footnote 20.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 1.] This letter is
-    evidently of the year 1425. Comp. No. 10.]
-
-
-9
-
-ABSTRACT[21.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1425 / SEPT. 24]
-
-Bill witnessing a concord made 24 Sept. 4 Hen. VI. between John
-Kertelyng, clerk, general attorney to Sir John Fastolf, on the one part,
-and Richard Boson, Esq., on the other, viz.: That Fastolf shall have in
-fee-simple the manor of the said Richard in Castre called Bosons of the
-gift of the said Richard before Easter next, and that the said Richard
-shall have Fastolf's manor in Titeleshale called Peekhalle, in
-fee-simple, of the gift of Fastolf, paying to Fastolf L60 within the
-next four years.
-
-    [Footnote 21.1: [From a Bodl. MS.]]
-
-
-10
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO ----[21.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1425 / NOV. 5]
-
-Right worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recommaunde me to yow, and thank
-yow for the good, trew, and diligent labour ye have hadde for the matier
-betwen the Priour of Bromholme[21.3] and his commoigne[21.4] apostata,
-Johne Wortes, that namythe hym self Paston, and affermith hym untrewely
-to be my cousyn. [I have many pouere men of my kyn, but so fals, and so
-pouere,--but he was nevere of my kyn.][22.1] God defende that any of my
-saide kyn shuld be of swyche governaunce as he is of! Maister John
-Ixworthe told me that he hadde lettres fro a frende of yowres in the
-courtt of Rome, that is of the seyd prioures counseill in this mater as
-ye be, whos name I knowe nought, specifyeng that the seyd John Wortes
-adversarius prioris desperat in causa et concordiam quaerit. It is told
-me sithen that the seyd John Wortes is in the cite of Rome, sacred a
-bysshop of Irland, videlicet episcopus Corcagensis, wherby it is seyd
-here that his pretense of his title to the priourie of Bromholme is
-adnulled, and voide in your lawe. The seyd John Wortes, and a contreman
-of myne in the seyd court, Maister John Urry, have sent me lettres,
-wherof I sende yow copies and a trewe instruccion of the seyd matier
-closed with this bille, the whiche lettres and the matier ther of me
-semyth mervaillous and straunge. A prest of Norffolk, that spak with yow
-in Julie or August last passed, told me that he yede with yow to the
-cardinales hous, Trikaricensis,[22.2] to espie if any swyche processe
-were sued ageyn me as the seyd lettres specifien, and that ye told the
-same prest at alle tymes ther was than no swiche processe sued, ne had;
-the whiche relacion I trust and beleve bettre than the seyd lettres.
-I have, by advys of counseill, in makyng a procuracie _ad agendum,
-defendendum, provocandum, et appellandum_ to yow and the seyd Maister
-John Urry and the Wynsalaw (?) de Swysto; and also a general appelle,
-the engrossyng of wyche the messager of this bill myght nought abide;
-the whiche procuracie and appelle I shal sende to yowr persone,
-tantummodo [cum pecuniis],[22.3] with moneye onward, on trust. My will
-is, ye have the chief governaunce of this matier, and that this article
-be counseille [_i.e._, secret]; wher upon I prey yow hertily to be
-saddely avysed in these matiers, and, as nede is, so to governe hem by
-your wysdom, that the seyd prioures estat and honeste, and myn also, to
-yowr worshepe be saved; and that, in alle haste resonable, ye lyke to
-sende me redes lettres of alle the seyd matier, and the circumstances
-ther of, and who ye wil I be governed in this mater. I was nevere
-somouned, ne never hadde tydynges of this matier but by seyd lettres and
-other fleyng tales that I heve herd sithen, ne nevere hadde to do more
-with the seyd John Wortes than is specified in the seyd instruccion. Al
-myghty God have yow in His governaunce. Writen at London, the v. day of
-Novembre.
-
-  Yowre frend unknowen.[23.1]
-
-  _A Instruccion and Information of the verray trewe matier betwen the
-  Priour and the Covent of Bromholm and the seyd John and me, as I am
-  enformed, and as I knowe touchant my persone and the_[23.2] ----.
-
-[Sidenote: Ista litera missa non fuit.]
-
-Right worthy and worshepefull Sir, I recomaunde to yow, preyeng yow to
-wite that I have resceyved yowr goodly lettres makyng mencion that Sir
-John Paston,[23.3] ut asserit, hath optyned me condempnyd to hym in
-CCC[vij.][23.4] marcz and C._s._; and that the same John, atte
-reverence of your right worthy persone, hathe cesed of his sute of
-certeins processes ageyns me up on the seyd condempnacion, takyng
-continuance[23.5] of the same matier unto Cristemasse next comyng; by
-which lettres ye conseille me to make ende with the seyd John, ne
-deterius inde contingat. I [s]end yow, closed with this bille,
-[the][23.6] copie of un frendly lettre that the seyd John hathe sent to
-me late, touchant the same matier. The seyd priour hath sent also to
-yow, and to Mayster William Swan, whiche longe hathe be his procurator,
-a procuracie for my person, and v. marcz of moneye onward. Wher up, in
-the seyd prioures name, and in myn own also, I prey yow hertily to sette
-al these matieres in continuaunce un to yowr comyng in to Ingeland; and
-because ye arn here beneficed, owr cuntreman, and of worshepe and
-cunnyng worthyly endowed, the seyd priour and his brether, and I also,
-willen gladdely in these matieres be treted by yow; and if this mesure
-be accepted, and we may have knowyng here ther of, it shall cause the
-attemptacion of diverses matieres a geyn summe frendes of the seyd John
-to cese. And if this continuance be refused, I prey yow, with al my
-power, that of your wysdom and good discrecion ye wille, in the seyd
-prioures name, and myn, defenden the seyd sutes, and alle other that the
-seyd Johne sueth ageyn the seyd priour and me, in your best maner, and
-to be of owr counseill in these matieres; and as ye lyke resonablely to
-write to us, so we wil be governed in yowre rewarde, and al other
-circumstaunces of the same matieres.[24.1] I conceyve by your seyd
-lettres that the grece of the matier conteigned in the same ye have of
-the informacion and assercion of the seyd John, and as he hath enformed
-yow, I wot weel ye trewely writen; but I hope and trust verrayly the
-matier of his informacion is untrewe [for he hathe no cause to swe to
-me, ne I was nevre somouned ne cited].[24.2] The priour of Bromholm sued
-ageyn the seyd John and other in Ingeland a wryt of _praemunire facias_,
-and I was therin of the same prioures counseill as the lawe of Ingelond
-and myn office willen, and more I have nought hadde to do with the seyd
-Johne, and I can nought beleve that in this cas the same Johne myght by
-your lawe any swich sute have ageyn me as your lettre specifieth. Also
-William, the prest specified in yowr [letter],[24.3] told me that he,
-after that ye told hym of this matier, lyke as yewrce (?), he comuned
-with Maister William Swan, and he told the seyd prest ther no processe
-in the courte ageyn me in no maner ----.[24.4]
-
-  The above two documents are from a corrected draft, written on one
-  side of a broad sheet of paper. On the other side is a long Latin
-  pleading, also much corrected, relative to the Abbey of Bermondsey;
-  prefixed to which are the following words, in the same hand as the
-  preceding letters:--
-
-  'Sir, do writen ij. copies of this note in papier, wyde writen, and
-  gete a copie of the writte in the Eschekyr ageyn.'
-
-  The pleading referred to is in a different hand, and begins as
-  follows:--
-
-  'Et praedictus abbas dicit quod ipse de praemissis domino Regi
-  compotum reddere non debet; quia dicit quod diu ante erectionem,
-  fundationem sive erectionem prioratus de Bermundeseye qui nunc
-  erectus est in praedictam Abbatiam, Willielmus Rufus filius Willelmi
-  Conquestoris nuper Rex Angliae fuit seisitus de manerio de
-  Bermundeseye,' etc.
-
-    [Footnote 21.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, being
-    dated in November, was probably written before Nos. 11 and 12
-    which follow, though evidently very near them in point of date.
-    The chief evidence of the time when they all must have been
-    written will be seen in No. 12.]
-
-    [Footnote 21.3: Who this Prior was we cannot say, the list of
-    the Priors of Bromholm being very defective. Blomefield says,
-    that a Prior John has been met with in the 11th of Edward III.,
-    and Robert, in the 14th of Henry VI.--that is to say, in 1435 or
-    1436, just ninety-nine years later. Nothing is known of the
-    Priors between these dates, even by the latest editors of
-    Dugdale.]
-
-    [Footnote 21.4: 'Commoigne,' i.e. brother monk. The writer also
-    calls him _apostata_, _i.e._ a monk who has run away and
-    renounced his order.]
-
-    [Footnote 22.1: These words occur in the draft, but are crossed
-    out.]
-
-    [Footnote 22.2: Thomas Brancaccio, Cardinal Bishop of Tricarico.
-    He was made a cardinal by his uncle, Pope John XXIII., and is
-    said to have been a man of very bad morals.]
-
-    [Footnote 22.3: Interlined, and afterwards erased.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.1: Above these words, and in the place where the
-    signature might have been expected, occur these names, one above
-    another--
-      'Thomas Abbas de Leyston, in Com' Suff.
-      'Ricardus Fremelyngham, concanonichus ibidem.'
-    They do not, however, appear to be connected with the letter.
-    The following words are also scrawled between this letter and
-    the next:-- 'N. persona ecclesiae de Testerton in Com' Norff.
-    Gees Cuttyng. Joh' persona ecclesiae de Yermuth (?), Alicia
-    Gosloth (?).']
-
-    [Footnote 23.2: _Sic._]
-
-    [Footnote 23.3: The title 'Sir' was at this time commonly
-    prefixed to a priest's name.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.4: The 'vij.' is struck out.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.5: Contiance, MS. here and after.]
-
-    [Footnote 23.6: Struck out.]
-
-    [Footnote 24.1: Here occur the following words, crossed
-    out:-- 'Ferthermore, touchant my persone, I mervaille that the
-    seyd ---- Ferthermore.']
-
-    [Footnote 24.2: Struck out.]
-
-    [Footnote 24.3: Omitted in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 24.4: The draft here ends abruptly.]
-
-  [[fuit seisitus de manerio  _text has "d emanerio"_]]
-
-
-11
-
-JOHN PASTON _ALIAS_ WORTES[25.1]
-
-_Venerables et discretes persones les courtesans demorans en l'ostel
-du Templebar en la cite de Londres, Mes treschiers et treshonnoures
-seigneurs et amis._
-
-[Sidenote: 1426]
-
-Treschiers et treshonnoures seigneurs et grans amis, toutte
-recommendation premise, plaisir vous soit de scavoir que je vous notifie
-et avertich pour le present que Wilhelmus Paston le Sargant est
-denuncies escommunies, que plus plainement poes perchevoir per
-Instrument que vous envoye. Et pour tant, mez treschiers seigneurs, que
-je disire moult le salut de votre ames et l'onneur de cascun de vous,
-comme faire le doy, affin que vous u [_ou_] aucun de vous n'ayes aucune
-conversation u participation auvecquels le dit Wilhelmus, car il est
-aggreves a cloquettes sonans, et tant que pour faire cesser en touttes
-eglises leur il voldroit aler. Mais jou qui suy homme d'eglise et sur
-touttes choses desire et convoite l'onneur et le bien dou Royaulme, car
-gy suy tenus, je ne envoye point pour le present les dittes aggravances,
-ne ossi voillans faire si grand mal que poroye jusquels a che que j'aray
-certaines novelles et responses comment li dis Wilhelmes se voldra
-ordonner en mes affaires, car nous avons en le loy que nuls os
-excumenies ne puet et ne doit estre admis devant juge quelcunque. Mes
-treschiers seigneurs, se aucune chose vo plaise que faire puisse, mande
-le me et le feray de bon cuer. E le sancte Dieuls qui vous ait tous et
-cascun de vous en sa sancte garde. Et osy, mes treschiers et
-treshonoures seigneurs, plaise vous scavoir que encelle meyme cause li
-dis Wilhelmes est redevaules et enquews envers moy, par sentence
-diffinitive que j'ay obtenu pour moy, en mille deuls cens et trente
-ducas, et que li dis Wilhelmes ne puet yestre jamays absols sy non qu'il
-soit d'acort auvecquels moy. Escript a en la ville de Bruges le xxiij^e
-jour de Jenvier.
-
-  JOHANNES PASTON,[26.1] en temps passe Priour
-  de Broholm, et pour le present evesquels
-  de Corkagen, le tout vostre.
-
-    [Footnote 25.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] William Paston, who is
-    here spoken of as a Serjeant, attained that degree in 1421, and
-    was made Judge of the Common Pleas in 1429. But a closer
-    approximation to the date of this letter may be made by
-    comparing it with that which follows, which is certainly much
-    about the same time.]
-
-    [Footnote 26.1: William Paston, as appears by Nos. 12 and 14
-    following, disputed this writer's right to call himself Paston,
-    and asserted that his real name was Wortes. It is curious that
-    neither in the list of the Bishops of Cork, nor in that of the
-    Priors of Bromholm, is the name either of Paston or Wortes to be
-    met with.]
-
-
-12
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO WILLIAM WORSTED AND OTHERS[26.2]
-
-_A mez treshonnoures Meistres Will'm Worstede, John Longham, et Meistre
-Piers Shelton soit donne._
-
-[Sidenote: 1426 / MARCH 1]
-
-Right worthy and worshepefull sires and maistres, I recomand me to yow,
-and thank yow with al my herte, of the gret tendrenesse ye lyke to have
-of the salvacion of my symple honeste, preying yow evermore of your good
-continuance. I have, after the advys of your lettre, doon dewely
-examyned the instrument by the wysest I coude fynde here, and in
-especial by on Maister Robert Sutton,[27.1] a courtezane of the Court of
-Rome, the which is the chief and most chier man with my Lord of
-Gloucestre, and his matier in the said court for my lady, his
-wyff;[27.2] and here aunswere is that al this processe, though it were
-in dede preceded as the instrument specifieth, is not suffisant in the
-lawe of Holy Cherche, and that hem semyth, by the sight of the
-instrument and by the defautes [that] ye espied in the same and other,
-and in maner by the knowelech of the notarie, that the processe, in gret
-part ther of, is fal[se and un]trewe. I have taken advys of Maister
-Robert Bruus, chauncellor with my Lord of Cantirbury,[27.3] and Maister
-Nicholl Billesdon,[27.4] cha[uncellor] of my Lord of Wynchestre,[27.5]
-and Maister John Blodwelle,[27.6] a weel lerned man holden, and a
-suffisant courtezan of the seyd court, and all these acorden to the seyd
-Maister Robert Sutton. Nought with stondyng that I herde nevere of this
-matier no maner lykly ne credible evidence unto that I sey your lettre
-and the instrument, yet I made an appell and a procuracie, and also a
-provocacion, at London, longe biforn Cristemasse, by the a[dvys] of
-Maister David Aprys, Maister Symond Kempston, and Maister James Cole,
-and sent al this, with an instruccion of al the matier, w[ith] my
-procuratours to Rome by your frere, my Maister Suppriour, and geff hym
-gold that he was content: and, evermore, nowe here by advys I make this
-day a newe appelle and a newe procuracion, and upon this alle the seyd
-worthy men here seyn and informe me pleynly I have no maner cause in
-lawe ne in conscience to drede aught in this matier. Myn
-adversarie[27.7] is become Bysshop of Cork in Irland, and ther arn ij.
-other persones provided to the same bysshopriche yet lyvyng, beforn my
-seyd adversarie; and by this acceptacion of this bysshopriche, he hath
-pryved hym self of the title that he claymed in Bromholm, and so
-adnulled the ground of his processe ageyn me, and also the tyme of his
-grevaunce pretendid, and the tyme of his sute he was _apostata_, and I
-trowe is yet, and so unable to sue any swich processe. I purpose me to
-come homward be London, to lerne more in this matier, if I may. I prey
-the Holy Trinite, lord of your cherche and of alle the werld, delyvere
-me of my iij. adversaries, of this cursed bysshop for Bromholm, Aslak
-for Sprouston,[28.1] and Julian Herberd for Thornham. I have nought
-trespassed ageyn noon of these iij., God knowing, and yet I am foule and
-noysyngly vexed with hem, to my gret unease, and al for my lordes and
-frendes matieres, and nought for myn owyn. I wot not whether it were
-best in any sermon or other audience, in your cherche or elles where, to
-declare aught of this matier in stoppyng of the noyse that renneth in
-this case. I submitte me and alle this matier to your good discrecion;
-and evere gremercy God, and ye, who ever have yow and me in His gracious
-governance. I suppose to see yow on Palm Sunday. Writen at Leycestre,
-the Friday the thredde wyke of Lente.
-
-Alle the seyd lerned men telle me trewely ther is nother perill ne
-doubte in the takyng doun of the instrument and the bille to no
-creature. Which instrument and bille I send yow ageyn by the berare of
-this, which I prey you to kepe as pryve as ye may.
-
-  Yowr man,
-
-  W. PASTON.
-
-I have preyed my Maister Hammond to write yow tydyngges, and smale (?)
-lesynges among.
-
-    [Footnote 26.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] About the year 1425 the
-    question of the validity of the Duke of Gloucester's marriage
-    with Jacqueline of Hainault was before the Court of Rome. This
-    letter must have been written in the spring of the year
-    following, when Parliament was sitting at Leicester. The
-    original is slightly mutilated at the edge in one place.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.1: Prebendary of Lincoln, 1435-9. Died 1439.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.2: Jacqueline of Hainault, whom Humphrey, Duke of
-    Gloucester, married, pretending that her former marriage with
-    John, Duke of Brabant, was void by consanguinity. The question
-    which of the two marriages was valid was at this time before the
-    Pope.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.3: Archbishop Chicheley.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.4: Dean of Salisbury, 1435-41. Died 1441.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.5: Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, afterwards
-    Cardinal.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.6: LL.D. Prebendary of Hereford about 1433, and of
-    Lichfield 1432-43.]
-
-    [Footnote 27.7: John Paston or Wortes, the writer of the
-    preceding letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 28.1: A lordship in Sprouston was acquired by John
-    Aslake of Bromholm in 14 Richard II., and seems to have
-    continued some time in that family. Blomefield notes that a
-    Walter Aslake, Esq. of Sprouston, had a protection in the 10th
-    of Henry VI., being in France in the retinue of John, Duke of
-    Bedford (Blomefield's _Norfolk_, x. 462). Probably this was the
-    same Walter Aslak mentioned in No. 6 preceding. --_See_ p. 18.]
-
-
-13
-
-ABSTRACTS[29.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1426]
-
-(1) _Capias_ against William Stayard of Great Yarmouth, late lieutenant
-of Thomas Chaucer,[29.2] chief butler of Henry V., for debts to the
-Crown.
-
-(2) Release by William Steyard of Great Yarmouth, to Elizabeth, widow of
-John Rothenhale, Knight, of all personal actions against her as her
-husband's executor. 7 April, 4 Hen. VI.
-
-
-14
-
-ABSTRACT[29.3]
-
-JOHN PASTON _alias_ WORTES.
-
-[Sidenote: 1426 / DEC. 1]
-
-i. Draft writ to the Sheriff of Norwich to attach and bring before the
-Council John Paston _alias_ Wortes and others for violation of the
-statutes of Provisors 25 Edw. III. and 16 Ric. II., on the complaint of
-John Brundale, prior of Bromholm that although he, Brundale, was
-canonically elected prior, the said Paston or Wortes had crossed the sea
-without royal license, obtained a provision of the said priory in the
-Court of Rome, and got himself installed as prior, and the other
-expelled. Also the said John Paston or Wortes, and John Gees,
-a Carmelite friar of Norwich, Edmund Alderford, late of Norwich, clerk,
-Barth. Waryn, parson of Trunche, William Cuttyng of Worsted, clerk, John
-Gees of Crowemer, merchant, and Ralph Gunton of Norwich, scrivener,
-received the said instruments at Bakton, and put them into
-execution.--Dated 1 Dec.
-
-ii. On the back of the preceding is another draft writ of the same date
-against the same parties for endeavouring to draw the prior out of the
-kingdom by a suit in the Court of Rome.
-
-The paper is endorsed--'S. (?) Billae vis. Veneris prox. post diem
-antedictum (?) Anno H. vj. v^to, et non necessario festinant'. Iterum
-supervidendum.'
-
-  _Endorsed in a later hand_-- 'Towchynge Sir John Fastolffes landes
-  in Norffolk and Surrye.'
-
-    [Footnote 29.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 29.2: He is believed to have been son of Geoffrey
-    Chaucer, the famous poet, and his daughter Alice married William
-    De la Pole, at this time Earl, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 29.3: [From a Bodl. MS.]]
-
-  [[Barth. Waryn, parson of Trunche  _text has "Barth," with , for ._]]
-
-
-15
-
-ABSTRACT[30.1]
-
----- ---- TO WILLIAM PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1426(?)]
-
-'Dear and well-beloved Cousin.' --Is in good health, but ill at ease,
-being informed that she is in debt to Steyard for my lord's debt, whose
-soul God assoil, L7 and a pipe of wine. Knew nothing of it in my lord's
-life, except of 2 pipes for herself, and one for her mother-in-law, of
-which she has paid 20s. Since my Lord's death, Steyard has never asked
-her for it. 'For which time, as I was at Jernemouth abiding in the Frere
-Carmes the time of the pestilence, his wife came unto me,' asking the
-writer to be good lady to him; and he asked no more then than the above
-3 pipes. He asked no more last harvest when he was sick and like to die,
-when John of Berneye was present. Thinks, therefore, his asking is
-untrue. My Lord would have made me or some of his council privy to such
-a debt. Hopes Paston, whom my Lord made one of his feoffees, will see
-'that ye and I be discharged anemps the King as for the debt of
-Steyard.' --Dated Castre, the day after the Conversion of St. Paul.
-Addressed, 'A mon tres cher et bien ame cousin, Will'm Paston soit
-donne.'
-
-  [This letter is endorsed in another hand, 'W. Paston, j. feoffatorum
-  et executorum Johannis Rothnale per lit' Cz. (?)' It seems,
-  therefore, to have been written by the Lady Elizabeth, widow of Sir
-  John Rothenhale, whose name occurs in No. 13 in connection with
-  William Steyard of Great Yarmouth. She was the daughter of Sir
-  Philip Branch, Kt., and had been previously married to John Clere of
-  Ormesby. She died at Caister, the place from which this letter is
-  dated, in 1440; and by her will, which was dated at Caister, 16th
-  October 1438, she bequeathed all her goods at Ormesby to her son
-  Robert Clere, and all her goods at Horning Hall, in Caister, to her
-  son Edmund. --_See_ Blomefield's _Norfolk_, iv. 35, vi. 392, xi.
-  210.]
-
-    [Footnote 30.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-  [[whose name occurs in No. 13
-      _corrected by editor from "No. 8"_]]
-
-
-16
-
-ABSTRACT[30.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1426-7]
-
-Depositions on the ---- day of ----, 5 Hen. VI., by Richard Wyoth,
-executor of Margery, daughter and heir of Edmund Bakon, touching the
-manor of Gressam which Bakon purchased, _temp._ Edw III. After the death
-of two brothers, Margery became sole possessor, and gave it to Wyoth and
-other executors to perform her will, with proviso that Philip Vache and
-Eliz., his wife, should have it during their lives, but that the
-reversion of it should be sold, giving William, son of Robert Moleyns,
-the first option of purchase. It was accordingly offered to him, but he
-refused to buy. On the death of said Eliz., however, he bought the manor
-for 420 marks, and held it two years, when Wyoth re-entered because part
-of the purchase-money was unpaid. W. Moleyns's wife, however, induced
-him to accept security from Thos. Fawkoner, merchant of London, whose
-daughter the said William agreed that his son should marry, when he came
-of age; and it was arranged that meanwhile Fawkoner and Wyoth should be
-jointly enfeoffed of the manor, which was to be given in jointure, if
-the marriage took effect. The marriage did not take effect, and Fawkoner
-re-entered upon the manor according to the enfeoffment, but paid Wyoth
-nothing, till Thos. Chawsers,[31.1] Esq., a kinsman of the said Margery,
-made him understand that Wyoth might enter on his own portion, and had
-even a prior right to himself. At length Fawkoner sold his right to
-Chaucers and Wyoth, and released the manor on security for the payment.
-Wyoth then said he should have little advantage by the bargain, except
-in having easy days of payment; 'et quod dictus Thomas Chaucers, pro
-bona voluntate quod (_sic_) erga dictum Willelmum Paston gessit,
-episcopum Londoni de emptione ejusdem manerii per longum tempus
-dilatavit, intentione ut idem Willelmus illud emeret si voluerit.'
-
-
-17
-
-ABSTRACT[31.2]
-
-RAUF, Parson of Cressyngham, to WILLIAM PASTON, Justice.
-
-[Sidenote: 1427-43]
-
-Is he to deliver to John Halleman Paston's evidences belonging to the
-manor of Wodhalle in Pagrave, and under what form? Hopes to see him at
-Norwich, on Tuesday or Wednesday after Michaelmas-day. Cressingham,
-20 Sept.
-
-On the back are written, in William Paston's hand, some notes of a case
-touching 'Frater Kensale.'
-
-  [Ralph Wolman _alias_ Harple was incumbent of Cressingham from 1427
-  to 1460; but this letter could not have been written later than
-  1443, as William Paston died in August of the following year.]
-
-    [Footnote 30.2: _Ibid._]
-
-    [Footnote 31.1: _See_ Note 2 on page 29. _See also_ Blomefield,
-    viii. 127.]
-
-    [Footnote 31.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-18
-
-ABSTRACT[31.3]
-
-Mutilated Letter in French, from JOHN VAUX, Parson of Edythorp, to ----.
-
-[Sidenote: 1426]
-
-Only the right-hand half of the letter remains. Names mentioned--Richard
-de Causton, William Coule. Date lost.
-
-  [John Vaux was Rector of Edingthorp in Norfolk, in 1388. His
-  successor was John Prentys, who was presented to the living in 1429
-  by the feoffees of the duchy of Lancaster.--Blomefield, xi. 29.]
-
-    [Footnote 31.3: _Ibid._]
-
-
-19
-
-ABSTRACT[32.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1426 / DEC. 7]
-
-'A grant of the Monastery of Bury to make William Paston, justice,
-brother of the Chapter-House.' Day of St. Ambrose 1429.
-
-  [The description is taken from an endorsement. The document itself
-  is printed in Yates's _Bury St. Edmunds_, p. 156.]
-
-    [Footnote 32.1: [Add. Charter 17,226, B.M.]]
-
-
-20
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO THE VICAR OF THE ABBOT OF CLUGNY[32.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1430(?)]
-
-My ryghte worthy and worshopeful lord, I recomaunde me to yow. And for
-as meche [as I] conseyve verrayly that ye arn Vicar general in Inggelond
-of the worthy Prelate, the Abbot of Clunie, and have hys power in many
-grete articles, and mong other in profession of monkes in Inggelond of
-the seyd ordere. And in my cuntre, but a myle fro the place where I was
-born, is the poure hous of Bromholm of the same ordre, in wheche arn
-divers vertuous yongge men, monkes clad and unprofessyd, that have
-abedyn there. . . . Abbyte ix. or x. yeer; and be lenger delaye of here
-profession, many inconvenientez arne lyke to falle. And also the priour
-of . . . hath resigned in to your worthy handes by certeins notables and
-resonables causes, as it apperyth by an instrument, and a symple lettre
-under the comune seal of the seyd hous of Bromholm, which the berare of
-this hath redy to shewe yow, wher up on I prey yow wyt al my herte, and
-as I evere may do yow service, that it lyke to your grace to graunte of
-your charite, by yowr worthy lettres to the priour of Thetford in
-Norfolk, of the seyde ordre of Clunye, autorite and power as your
-ministre and depute to professe in dwe forme the seyd monkes of Bromholm
-unprofessed. And that it lyke yow evermore to accepte and admitte the
-seyd resygnacion by your seyd autoritie and power, wyth the favour of
-your good lordshepe in comfort and consolacion of your pouere prestes,
-the monkes of the seyd hous of Bromholm, and there up to graunte your
-worthy lettres, wittenessyng the same acceptacion and admyssion of the
-seyd resignacion, and al your seyd lettres to delyvere to my clerke, to
-wham I prey yow to gyve feith and credence touchant this matier, and to
-delivere it hym in alle the hast resonable. And I am your man, and evere
-will be by the grace of God, which evere have yow in his kepyng. Writen
-at Norwich the     [33.1] of Aprill.
-
-  Yowres,
-
-  WILL. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 32.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is printed
-    from a rough draft written on paper, corrected in William
-    Paston's own hand, and scribbled over, after his fashion, with
-    numerous other drafts and jottings on both sides. Some of these
-    occur upside down between the lines of this letter. At the head
-    of the memoranda on the back are the words, 'In parliamento,
-    anno H. vj. viij(o).' from which we may infer the date to be at
-    least as early.]
-
-    [Footnote 33.1: Blank in MS.]
-
-
-21
-
-ABSTRACT[33.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1429-30]
-
-A Memorandum, dated 8 Henry VI., that Sir Simon Felbrigge, William
-Paston, &c., recovered certain land in Edithorp, Bakton, and
-Northwalsham, against Richard, Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme, John Roys,
-and others.
-
-    [Footnote 33.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-22
-
-ABSTRACT[33.3]
-
-ROBERT, LORD OF WILLUGHBY AND BEAUMESNIL, TO WILLIAM PASTON, ESQ.
-
-[Sidenote: 1431 / JAN. 8]
-
-Notifying that he has granted to Sir William Oldhall and Margaret, our
-sister, his wife, for moneys which Oldhall has lent and paid for him at
-need, an annuity of 120 marks on lands in Norfolk and Suffolk, in which
-ye (William Paston, Esq.) stand enfeoffed, to our behoof. Pont de
-l'Arche, 8 Jan. 1430, 9 Hen. VI.--_Signed. Fine seal, mutilated._
-
-    [Footnote 33.3: [Add. Charter 17,227, B.M.]]
-
-
-23
-
-ABSTRACT[34.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1432 / MAY 1]
-
-Deed Poll, whereby Robert York, Prior of the church of St. Andrew of
-Broomholme, and the Convent of the same place, grant to Sir Simon
-Felbrygg, Knt., William Paston of Paston, and others, certain lands in
-Bacton Wood, &c., 1 May, 10 Henry VI. (_Fragment of seal._)
-
-    [Footnote 34.1: [Add. Charter 14,313, B.M. (Dr. Turner's
-    Coll.)]]
-
-
-24
-
-EDUCATION OF HENRY VI[34.2]
-
-_Articles de Monsr. de Warrewyk[34.3] touchant le bon regime du Roy,
-etc._[34.4]
-
-[Sidenote: 1432 / NOV. 9]
-
-For the goode reule, demesnyng and seuretee of the Kynges persone, and
-draught of him to vertue and connyng, and eschuyng of eny thing that
-mighte yeve empeschement or let therto, or cause eny charge, defaulte,
-or blame to be leyd upon the Erle of Warrewyk at eny tyme withouten his
-desert, he, considering that perill and besinesse of his charge aboute
-the Kinges persone groweth so that that auctoritee and power yeven to
-him before suffiseth him nought without more therto, desireth therfor
-thees thinges that folowen.
-
-Furst, that considering that the charge of the reule, demesnyng, and
-governance, and also of nourture of the Kinges persone resteth upon the
-said Erle whiles it shal like the king, and the perille, daunger, and
-blame if eny lak or defaulte, were in eny of thees, the whiche lak or
-defaulte mighte be caused by ungodely or unvertuous men, if eny suche
-were aboute his persone; he desireth therfore, for the goode of the
-King, and for his owne seuretee, to have power and auctoritee to name,
-ordeigne, and assigne, and for cause that shal be thought to him
-resonable to remoeve thoo that [shal] be aboute the Kinges persone, of
-what estate or condicion that thei be, not entending to comprehende in
-this desir the Stuard, Chamberlein, Tresoror, Contrerollor, ne Sergeantz
-of offices, save suche as serve aboute the Kinges persone and for his
-mouth.
-
-_Responsio._ As toward the namyng, ordeignance, and assignacion
-beforesaid, it is agreed, so that he take in noon of the iiij. knightes
-ne squyers for the body without th'advis of my Lord of Bedford,[35.1]
-him being in England, and him being out, of my Lord of Gloucestre[35.2]
-and of the remenant of the Kinges Counsail.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle desireth that where he shal have eny persone in his
-discrecion suspect of mysgovernance, and not behoveful nor expedient to
-be aboute the King, except th'estates of the hous, that he may putte hem
-from excercise and occupacion of the Kinges service till that he shal
-mowe have speche with my Lordes of Bedford or of Gloucestre, and with
-the other Lordes of the Kinges Counsaile, to that ende that, the
-defaulte of eny suche persone knowen unto him, shal mowe ordeigne
-therupon as theim shel thenke expedient and behoveful.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle desireth that, for sikenesse and other causes
-necessaries and resonables, he may, by warnyng to my Lordes of Bedford
-or Gloucestre and the Kinges Counsail, be and stande freely descharged
-of the saide occupacion and besinesse about the Kinges persone, under
-the favour and goode grace of the King, my Lordes of Bedford and
-Gloucestre, and other Lordes of the Kinges Counsail.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, that considering howe, blessed be God, the King is growen in
-yeers, in stature of his persone, and also in conceite and knouleche of
-his hiegh and royalle auctoritee and estat, the whiche naturelly causen
-him, and from day to day as he groweth shul causen him, more and more to
-grucche with chastising, and to lothe it, so that it may resonably be
-doubted leste he wol conceive ayeins the said Erle, or eny other that
-wol take upon him to chastise him for his defaultes, displesir, or
-indignacion therfore, the whiche, without due assistence, is not easy to
-be born: It like, therfore, to my Lord of Gloucestre, and to alle the
-Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, to promitte to the said Erle, and assure
-him, that thei shul fermely and trewely assisten him in the excercise of
-the charge and occupacion that he hathe aboute the Kinges persone,
-namely in chastising of him for his defaultes, and supporte the said
-Erle therinne; and if the King at eny tyme wol conceyve for that cause
-indignacion ayeins the said Erle, my said Lord of Gloucestre, and
-Lordes, shul do alle her [_i.e._ their] trewe diligence and power to
-remoeve the King therfro.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle desireth that for asmuche as it shal be necessarie
-to remoeve the Kinges persone at diverse tymes into sundry places, as
-the cases mowe require, that he may have power and auctoritee to remoeve
-the King, by his discrecion, into what place him thenketh necessarie for
-the helthe of his body and seuretee of his persone.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, sith the said Erle hath take upon him the governance of the Kinges
-persone, he desireth that alle th'estates, officers, and servantz of the
-Kinges hous, of what estate and condicion thei be, have special
-commandement and charge yeven by my Lordes of Bedford and Gloucestre,
-and by the Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, that in alle manere thinges
-seyn and advised by the said Erles descrecion, that is, for the Kinges
-estate, worship, helthe, and profit, by his commandement and
-ordeignance, thei be attendant and obeissant in accomplisshing therof.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed as it is desired.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, for asmuche as the said Erle hath knouleche that in speche that
-hath be had unto the King at part and in prive, not hering the said Erle
-nor eny of the knightes set aboute his persone, nor assigned by the said
-Erle, he hath be stured by summe from his lernyng, and spoken to of
-diverse materes not behovefull, the seid Erle doubting the harme that
-mighte falle to the King, and the inconvenientz that mighte ensue of
-suche speche at part if it were suffred, desireth that in al speche to
-be had with the King, he or oon of the iiij. knightes, or sum persone to
-be assigned by the said Erle, be present and prive to it.
-
-_Responsio_. This article is agreed, excepting suche persones as for
-nieghnesse of blood, and for their estate, owe of reson to be suffred to
-speke with the King.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, to th'entent that it may be knowen to the King that it procedeth
-of th'assent, advis, and agreement of my Lord of Gloucestre, and alle my
-Lordes of the Kinges Counsail, that the King be chastised for his
-defaultes or trespasses, and that for awe therof he forbere the more to
-do mys, and entende the more besily to vertu and to lernyng, the said
-Erle desireth that my Lord of Gloucestre, and my said other Lords of the
-Counsail, or great part of hem, that is to say, the Chanceller and
-Tresorer, and of everych estate in the Counsail, spirituell and
-temporell, summe come to the Kinges presence, and there to make to be
-declared to him theire agreement in that behalve.
-
-_Responsio._ Whan the King cometh next to London, all his Counsail shal
-come to his presence, and there this shal be declared to him.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Item, the said Erle, that all his dayes hath, aboven alle other erthely
-thinges, desired, and ever shal, to kepe his trouthe and worship
-unblemysshed and unhurt, and maye not for all that lette malicious and
-untrewe men to make informacions of his persone, suche as thei may not,
-ne dare not, stand by, ne be not trewe, besecheth therfore my Lord of
-Gloucestre, and alle my said Lords of the Counsail, that if thei, or eny
-of hem, have be enformed of eny thing that may be or soune to his charge
-or defaulte, and namely in his occupacion and reule aboute the Kinges
-persone, that the said Erle may have knowleche therof, to th'entent that
-he may answer therto, and not dwelle in hevy or synistre conceit or
-opinion, withoute his desert and without answere.
-
-_Responsio._ It is agreed.
-
-                                      CROMWELL.
-
-    H. GLOUCESTRE.
-
-            J. EBOR.      P. ELIEN.
-
-  W. LINCOLN.    J. BATHON., Canc.    J. ROFFEN.
-
-            SUFFOLK.      H. STAFFORD.
-
-    J. HUNTYNGTON.
-
-  The foregoing document is written on a skin of parchment docqueted
-  with the words printed in italics at the head. The following
-  memorandum is also endorsed-- 'xxix(o) die Novembris anno undecimo
-  apud Westm. lecti fuerunt praesentes articuli coram dominis infra et
-  subscribentibus et ad eosdem Responsiones dabantur secundum quod
-  infra patet, praesentibus dominis infrascriptis.' There are also
-  other endorsements, but of a later date.
-
-    [Footnote 34.2: [Add. Charter 17,228, B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 34.3: Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who died
-    in 1439.]
-
-    [Footnote 34.4: This title is taken from a contemporary
-    endorsement.]
-
-    [Footnote 35.1: John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, the
-    King's uncle, brother of the late King Henry V.]
-
-    [Footnote 35.2: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Protector of
-    England, another uncle of the King, being the youngest brother
-    of Henry V. He was called 'the Good Duke Humphrey.']
-
-
-25
-
-DALLING'S PETITION[38.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1433(?)]
-
-  Prefixed to this document in Fenn is the following title:--
-  'A Petition to the Commons of England against Sir William Paston,
-  Knight, a Judge of the Common Pleas, by William Dalling.' This
-  heading, however, has been taken from a more modern endorsement. No
-  contemporaneous document, so far as I am aware, gives Judge Paston
-  the designation of knight, or speaks of him as Sir William. In this
-  petition itself he is called simply William Paston, one of the
-  Justices; and although his name occurs frequently on the Patent
-  Rolls, in commissions of the peace, of gaol delivery, and the like,
-  down to the year of his death, the word 'miles' is never appended to
-  it.
-
-The original commencement of this document has been crossed out. It was
-in these words:--
-
-  Plesit to the righte sage and wyse Communes of this present
-  Parlement, that wher every Justice of the Kyng is sworne that he
-  shulde not take no fees ne reward for to be of councell with noo
-  man, but oonly wyth our Soverayne Lorde the Kyng, and therto thei be
-  swore. And ther is oon Will' Paston, one of the Justice of our
-  Soverayne Lorde in the Comene Place, taketh fees and rewarde.
-
-  On the back of the original document is written, in a hand of the
-  time, 'Falsa billa Will'i Dalling, ad Parliamentum tempore quo Henr.
-  Grey fuit vicecomes ante annum terciodecimum Regis Henr. vj^{ti}.'
-  Henry Grey was sheriff of Norfolk in 1430, and again in 1433-4. The
-  Parliament referred to must either have been that of 8 Hen. VI.
-  (1429-30) or that of 12 Hen. VI. (1433), which sat till 21st
-  December. Probably the latter.
-
-[Sidenote: 1434(?)]
-
-Plese it to Commines of the present Parlement, that William Paston, on
-of the Justice of oure Saverayne Lorde Kyng, takyth diverse fees and
-rewardes of diverses persones withinne the shir of Norffolk and Suffolk,
-and is with holde with every matere in the sayde contrees, that is for
-to sey:--Of the Toune of Yernemuth, 1_s._ yerly; of the Abot of Seyn
-Benetys. xxvj_s._ viij_d._; of the Prior of Seyn Feithes, xx_s._; 'and
-of my Lady Rothenhale,[39.1] xx_s_'; and of the Prior of Norwich, x_s._;
-and of the Prior of Penteney, xx_s._; and of the Toun of Lenn, xl_s._;
-and of the Prior of Walsyngham, xx_s._; and of Katherine Shelton,[39.2]
-x. mrc. ayeins the Kyng for to be of hir councell for to destroye the
-right of the Kyng and of his warde, that is for to sey, Raf,[39.3] soon
-and eyer of John Shelton.
-
-    [Footnote 38.1: [From Fenn, iii. 14.]]
-
-    [Footnote 39.1: This sentence in the original has a line drawn
-    over it. She was a widow of Sir John Rothenhale, Knight, and
-    dying at Caister, by Yarmouth, in 1440, was buried in Norwich
-    Cathedral.--F. _See_ Nos. 13 and 15, _ante_.]
-
-    [Footnote 39.2: Catharine, widow of William Shelton, Esq., and
-    daughter of Simon Barret, was grandmother to Ralph, and died in
-    1456.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 39.3: Sir Ralph Shelton, Knight, son and heir of John
-    Shelton, Esq., was born in 1430. He married Margaret, daughter
-    of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, and was High Sheriff of
-    Norfolk.--F.]
-
-
-26
-
-ABSTRACT[39.4]
-
-[Sidenote: 1435 / SEPT. 26]
-
-Lease made at Castre, on Monday before Michaelmas 14 Henry VI., by
-Geoffrey Walle, surveyor of the manors of Sir John Fastolf, to John
-Rakesond, son of Geoffrey Rakesond of Ormesby, of a messuage of
-Fastolf's in Ormesby, called Reppes Place, etc.
-
-    [Footnote 39.4: [Phillipps MS., 9,735, No. 264.]]
-
-
-27
-
-ABSTRACT[40.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1435 / SEPT. 30]
-
-A _vidimus_ or official attestation of two indentures relative to the
-custody of the castle of Le Mans between Sir John Fastolf, governor of
-Anjou and Maine, and captain of Le Mans under the Duke of Bedford, and
-Matthew Goth [Gough] and Thomas Gower as his lieutenants. The first
-indenture is for the quarter from 1st October to 31st December 1434,
-the second for the three quarters following, to 30th September 1435.
-A retinue is to be maintained of twenty-four lances and the 'archiers de
-la personne dudit Mathieu,' viz., sixty mounted and fourteen on foot,
-and 222 archers besides. Mounted archers to have 12_d._ a day, etc.
-
-The document is authenticated by the _garde du scel des obligations de
-la Viconte de Rouen_, on the 8th March 1448 (i.e. 1449).
-
-
-28
-
-NOTE[40.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1432-5]
-
-Building accounts of William Granere, master of the works at Caistre in
-11, 12, and 13 Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 40.1: [Add. Charter 17,237, B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 40.2: [Add. Charters 17,229-31, B.M.]]
-
-
-29
-
-JOHN GYNE TO JOHN PASTON[40.3]
-
-_To the worthy and worshipful sir and my good maister, John Paston of
-Trynyte hall in Cambrigge_
-
-[Sidenote: 1435-6]
-
-Right worthy and worshipfull sir, and my good maister, I comaund me to
-yow. Like it yow to witte that on the Soneday next after the Ascencion
-of oure Lord, in the high weye betwex Cambrigge and the Bekyntre toward
-Newmarket, I fonde a purs with money ther inne. Th'entent of this my
-symple lettre is this, that it please to your good Maistership by weye
-of charite, and of your gentilnesse, to witte if ony of youre knowleche
-or ony other, swich as yow semeth best in your discrecion, have lost
-swich a purs, and, the toknes ther of told, he shal have it ageyn, what
-that ever he be, by the grace of oure Lord, Who ever have yow in his
-blissed kepyng. Wretyn at Sneylewell the Moneday next after the seid
-Soneday. By youre pover servaunt,
-
-  JOHN GYN.
-
-    [Footnote 40.3: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 4.] Fenn has written on the
-    MS. of this letter the date '_circa_ 1435-6,' which, I agree
-    with him, must have been about the time that it was written.]
-
-
-30
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO LORD ----[41.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1436]
-
-Paston recomaund hym to youre good lordeship, willyng with all his herte
-to doo yow servise to his symple power. And as touching the maner of
-Walsham he seyth that at your comaundement he wille be redy to shewe yow
-and preve that the seid maner and all the vesture and crop therof this
-yeer by trewe title in lawe and conscience is his owen trewly, bowth and
-in gret party payed for, and that John Roys never hadde non estate in
-the seid maner, but oonly occupied it by suffraunce of the seid Paston
-and other feffes in the seid maner, and that be bargayn of the seid
-maner th'estate that the seid Roys shuld have hadde in the seid maner
-and in stoor therof shul have be condicionel to be voide and nought for
-defaute of payement, and that the seid John Roys ne kept not his dayes
-of the payementz, &c.; and that the seid William Paston, in the lyve of
-the seid John Roys, for defaute of payment entred in the seid maner with
-the seid the crop and the vesture of this yeer therof than therupon, and
-that the seid John Roys never at noo tyme payed to the seid John Baxtere
-sith the seid bargeyn, nother for the seid bargeyn ne for the dette he
-aught to hym, more thaune an C. and xl. marcz, wherof he borwed ageyn of
-the seid John Baxtere xl_li._; and over that he oweth and beforn the
-seid bargeyn aught by his obligacion to the seid John Baxtere, of trew
-dette of mony borwed, other xl_li._, and hath hadde and taken the
-profitz of the seid maner by iij. hool yer before his deth to the value
-of xxx_li._ and more, and that he receyved in his said bargayn of the
-seid John Baxtere xl. marcz worth of stoor; the which iiii^{xx}li. of
-dette and xxx_li._ of the profitz of the seid maner, and xl. marcz worth
-of stoor, maketh the somme of Cxxxvi_li._ xiij_s._ iiij_d._ Wherof,
-thogh the lawe wille it not, were abated, if conscience required it,
-Cxl. marcz payed by the seid John Roys and x_li._ for the value of the
-seid crop, over the value of the verray ferme of the seid maner for this
-yeer, yet remanyneth dwe to the executoures of the seid John Baxter
-liij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._, and all the title and interesse of the seid
-John Roys his heyres and assignes in the seid maner lawfully and in
-conscience extincted and adnulled. Wher upon the said Paston lowly
-besecheth your good lordeship that if it may be preved this mater be
-trew that ye wille not be displesed thogh he desire to have his fre
-disposicion of the seid maner.
-
-  On the back of this letter are the following memoranda:--
-
-  'Haec billa . . . . . . [testatur][42.1] quod Johannes Baxtere
-  vendidit Johanni Roys mesuagium suum [vocatum][42.1] Walccham place,
-  cum toto stauro ibidem vivo et mortuo in Bryanes, cum omnibus aliis
-  terris et tenementis suis, liberis et nativis, cum pertinentiis, ex
-  parte occidentali ecclesiae North Walsham, et molendinum ventriticum
-  et mesuagium nuper Rogeri atte Hille, cum omnibus redditibus et
-  servitiis pertinentibus dictis mesuagio et tenemento ubicumque
-  fuerint in comitatu Norffolk, pro iijC. marcis et l. marcis; unde
-  dictus Johannes Roys solvit dicto Johanni Baxtere die Jovis proximo
-  ante festum Apostolorum Simonis et Judae anno regni regis Henrici VI.
-  xij., C. m., et habet diem solvendi residuum, videlicet ad festum
-  Nativitatis Domini et festum sancti Michaelis proximo futurum xl.
-  marcas annuatim, quousque dictae CCC. marcae et l. marcae plenarie
-  persolvantur. Datum die Jovis praedicto. Haec praedicta de manu Thomae
-  Whitewelle.'
-
-  Then after two further imperfect entries relating to the same
-  matter:--
-
-  'Memorandum, quod licet esset concordatum quod W. Roys haberet
-  barganium, &c., quod, ut credo, non ita erit, tunc in festo
-  Nativitatis Domini anno regni regis Henrici VI. xv(o) debentur
-  executoribus de eodem barganio C. marcae praeter et ultra Cxl. marcas
-  per Johannem Roys in vita sua solutas et xl_li._ de antiquo per
-  dictum Johannem Roys Johanni Baxter debitas, videlicet per
-  obligacionem suam xxxv_li._ inde, et ex mutua sua obligacione v_li._
-  de Perey Noble (?), ut patet per papirum dicti Baxter, et ultra
-  xl_li._ per dictum Johannem Baxter post dictum barganium dicti
-  Johanni Roys per obligacionem . . . ejusdem Johannis Roys praestitas.
-  Memorandum eciam quod dictus Johannes Roys nec uxor ejus unquam
-  protulerunt aliquem denarium solvendum dictis . . . dicti Johannis
-  Baxter nec Willelmo Paston post mortem dicti Baxter. Set circa
-  Nativitatem Domini anno regni dicti regis xiiij(o) et in quadragesima
-  tunc proximo sequente uxor dicti Roys apud Paston dixit quod habuit
-  xx. marcas paratas ad solvendum. Et sic dixit Johannes Roys tempore
-  quo Domina Skales fuit apud Paston, videlicet ix. die Januarii dicto
-  anno xiiij(o) et sic omnibus temporibus quibus dictus J. Roys et uxor
-  ejus ut praedicitur dixerunt quod habuerunt xx. marcas paratas ad
-  solvendum semper fuerunt arretro xl_li._ absque dictis xl_li._ novi
-  debiti et xl_li._ antiqui debiti.'
-
-    [Footnote 41.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 140.]]
-
-    [Footnote 42.1: Mutilated.]
-
-
-31
-
-NOTE
-
-[Sidenote: 1436 / MAY 19]
-
-Fenn mentions an indenture, dated 19th May 1436, 14 Henry VI., and
-signed by the Earl (afterwards Duke) of Suffolk, from which he has given
-a facsimile of Suffolk's signature. See vol. i. p. 36.--The original of
-this indenture I have not met with.
-
-
-32
-
-ABSTRACT[43.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1438 / AUG. 18]
-
-Sir H. Inglose notifies his agreement with John Topy of Wyndham, jun.,
-in an action for trespass done to him at Stalham. Dilhams, Monday after
-the Assumption of Our Lady, 16 Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 43.1: [Add. Charter 17,232, B.M.]]
-
-
-33
-
-JOHN WILLOUGHBY TO LORD BEAUMONT[44.1]
-
-_To my ryght noble and ryght [dra]dde lord, my Lord Beaumont._
-
-[Sidenote: 1432-40]
-
-Ryght wursshipfull sire, my ryghte noble, and ryghte dradde lorde, after
-dyw recommendacion to yowr reverens, please hit yow to know that yowr
-lordesship luste to empointe me to abyde yowr noble avys touching the
-landis of Latemer, which my Lorde Latemer holdith ate this day. My lord,
-I muste, and owe of dywte, abyde yowre empoyntement, and shall; how be
-hit I have be confortid to complaine me to my lordis and yow of the
-grete wronge that I have. But, sir, y have soe verray truste one yowre
-lordesship that I refuse all counsaille, abyding yowre empointemente and
-rewell, as my diwte is to doo; byseching yow, my lord, to remembre yow
-and compasse of yowre servaunt, and that ye lust of yowr grace to comyne
-with my Lord of Salisbury, and to fele him in the mater, and as ye fele
-him, hit please yowre lordesship I may have knowlege; and whate yowre
-pore bedman may do to yowre plesire, I ame redy ate yowre comaundement
-ate all howris, which knowith God, Hoe have yow, my ryghte noble lord,
-in His blessid gouvernauns.
-
-Write ate Broke, the v. day of Marche.
-
-  Your pore bedman and servant,
-
-  JOHN WYLUGHBY.
-
-    [Footnote 44.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The writer of this
-    letter was the father of Robert, first Lord Willoughby de Broke,
-    who afterwards laid claim to the barony of Latimer, as being
-    descended from Elizabeth, sister and sole heir of John Nevill,
-    fifth Lord Latimer, who died in 1430. He was, however,
-    unsuccessful, as the title had been revived in 1432 by a writ of
-    summons to George Nevill, a son of Ralph, first Earl of
-    Westmoreland. This George died in 1469, and was succeeded by his
-    grandson, Richard Neville, then an infant of two years old, who
-    had summons to Parliament as Lord Latimer in 1492. The Lord
-    Latimer here spoken of seems to be George Nevill, and it is
-    probable that the letter was written between 1432 and 1440, as
-    John, Lord Beaumont, was created Viscount in the latter year,
-    while he is not so addressed here.]
-
-
-34
-
-AGNES PASTON TO WILLIAM PASTON[45.1]
-
-_To my worshepefull housbond, W. Paston, be this letter takyn_
-
-[Sidenote: 1440(?)]
-
-Dere housbond, I recomaunde me to yow, &c. Blessyd be God I sende yow
-gode tydynggs of the comyng, and the brynggyn hoom, of the
-gentylwomman[45.2] that ye wetyn of fro Redham, this same nyght,
-acordyng to poyntmen [_appointment_] that ye made ther for yowr self.
-
-And as for the furste aqweyntaunce be twhen John Paston[45.3] and the
-seyde gentylwomman, she made hym gentil cher in gyntyl wise, and seyde,
-he was verrayly your son. And so I hope ther shall nede no gret trete be
-twyxe hym.
-
-The parson of Stocton[45.4] toold me, yif ye wolde byin her a goune,
-here moder wolde yeve ther to a godely furre. The goune nedyth for to be
-had; and of colour it wolde be a godely blew, or erlys a bryghte
-sangueyn.
-
-I prey yow do byen for me ij. pypys of gold.[45.5] Your stewes[45.6] do
-weel.
-
-The Holy Trinite have you in governaunce.
-
-Wretyn at Paston, in hast, the Wednesday next after _Deus qui
-errantibus_,[45.7] for defaute of a good secretarye. Yowres,
-
-  AGN. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 45.1: [From Fenn, i. 2.] This letter must have been
-    written some little time before the marriage of John Paston and
-    Margaret Mauteby, which seems to have been about 1440.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.2: Margaret, daughter and heir of John Mauteby,
-    shortly afterwards married to John Paston, Esq.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.3: Son of William and Agnes Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.4: Laurence Baldware was rector of Stockton 'about
-    1440.' --Blomefield, viii. 49.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.5: Gold thread on pipes or rolls, for needlework or
-    embroidery.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.6: Ponds to keep fish alive for present use.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 45.7: The Collect for the Third Sunday after Easter.]
-
-
-35
-
-ABSTRACT[46.1]
-
-[Sidenote: About 1440]
-
-Draft Lease by Sir Simon Felbrygge; Oliver Groos, Esq.; John Berney of
-Redham, Esq.; William Paston of Paston; Thomas Stodhagh; Roger Taillour
-of Stafford Bernyngham; and Thomas Newport of Runham, executors of
-Robert Mawteby and John his son, to Margery, widow of the said John, of
-'two parts of manors, &c.' and the reversion, &c., which they lately
-held along with Sir Miles Stapleton, Sir William Argenten, Sir John
-Hevenyngham, Sir John Carbonell, Sir William Calthorpe, John Boys, Esq.,
-and William Caston, Esq., now deceased, by deed of Robert Mawteby. The
-remainder, after Margery's death, is to go to Margaret, daughter of the
-said John and Margery, and the heirs of her body; then to Peter Mauteby,
-son of Robert and uncle of Margaret; then to Alianora, widow of Robert;
-then to Alianora, widow of William Calthorp and sister of Robert
-Mawteby, with reversion to the trustees to fulfil the will.
-
-  [This paper is addressed to John Berney of Reedham, and appears, by
-  an endorsement, to have been transmitted along with a letter of
-  William Paston. The date is fixed by the contents within pretty
-  narrow limits, for it is after the death of John Boys, Esq., which
-  was in August 1439 (Inquis. _post mortem_, 18 Hen. VI., No. 2), and
-  before that of Sir Simon Felbrigg in 1442 (Inquis. _p. m._, 21 Hen.
-  VI., No. 33). It is easy to see, in fact, that the document had
-  something to do with the marriage settlement of John Paston and
-  Margaret Mauteby, which was about 1440.]
-
-
-36
-
-ROBERT REPPS TO JOHN PASTON[46.2]
-
-_A mon tresreverent et treshonerable Maister John Paston soit done._
-
-[Sidenote: 1440 / NOV. 1]
-
-Salvete, &c. Tytyngs, the Duk of Orlyawnce[46.3] hath made his oath upon
-the Sacrement, and usyd it, never for to bere armes ayenst Englond,
-in the presence of the Kyng and all the Lordes, except my Lord of
-Gloucestre.[46.4] And proving my seyde Lord of Gloucestre agreyd never
-to hys delyveraunce, qwan the masse began he toke his barge, &c.
-
-God yef grace the seide Lord of Orlyaunce be trewe, for this same weke
-shall he to ward Fraunce.
-
-Also Freynchmen and Pykardes, a gret nowmbre, kome to Arfleet,[47.1] for
-to arescuyd [_have rescued_] it; and our Lordes wyth here smal pusaunce
-manly bytte [_beat_] them, and pytte hem to flyte, and, blyssyd be our
-Lord, have take the seide cite of Arflet; the qwych is a great juell to
-all Englond, and in especiall to our cuntre.
-
-Moreover there is j. [_i.e._ one] kome in to Englond, a Knyght out of
-Spayne, wyth a kercheff of plesaunce i wrapped aboute hys arme; the
-qwych Knyght wyl renne a cours wyth a sharpe spere for his sovereyn lady
-sake; qwom other [_either_] Sir Richard Wodvyle[47.2] or Sir Christofore
-Talbot[47.3] shall delyver, to the wyrchip of Englond and of hem selff,
-be Goddes grace.
-
-Ferthermore, ye be remembryd that an esquyer of Suffolk, callyd John
-Lyston, recoveryd _in assisa novae disseisinae_[47.4] vij^c [700] marc in
-damages ayenst Sir Robert Wyngfeld, &c. In avoydyng of the payement of
-the seid vij. c. marc, the seide Sir Robert Wyngfeld sotylly hath
-outlaywed the seide John Lyston in Notyngham shir, be the vertue of qwch
-outlagare, all maner of chattell to the seide John Lyston apperteynyng,
-arn acruwyd on to the Kyng, &c. And anon as the seide utlagare was
-certyfyed, my Lord Tresorer[47.5] graunted the seid vij. c. marc to my
-Lord of Norffolk, for the arrerag of hys sowde [_pay_] qwyl he was in
-Scotland; and, acordyng to this assignement forseide, taylles
-[_tallies_] delyvered. And my Lord of Norffolk hath relesyd the same
-vij. c. marc to Sir Robert Wyngfeld. And here is greet hevyng an shovyng
-be my Lord of Suffolk and all his counsell for to aspye hough this mater
-kam aboute, &c.
-
-Sir, I beseche recomende me on to my mastres your modyr, to my mastres
-your wyff, and to my mastres your suster, _et omnibus alijs quorum
-interest_, &c.
-
-Sir, I pray you, wyth all myn hert, hold me excusyd that I wryte thus
-homly and briefly on to you, for truly convenable space suffycyd me
-nowt.
-
-No more atte this tyme, butte the Trynyte have you in proteccion, &c.;
-and qwan your leysyr is, resorte ageyn on to your college, the Inner
-Temple, for ther ben many qwych sor desyr your presence, Welles and
-othyr, &c.
-
-Wretyn in le fest de touts Seynts, entre Messe et Mateyns, _calamo
-festinante_, &c.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  ROB. REPPES.
-
-    [Footnote 46.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 46.2: [From Fenn, i. 4.] This letter was written in
-    1440, the year of the release of the Duke of Orleans.]
-
-    [Footnote 46.3: Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was taken prisoner
-    at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, and had never since been
-    released.]
-
-    [Footnote 46.4: Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, uncle of the King,
-    and before this time Protector.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.1: Harfleur.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.2: Afterwards Earl Rivers, father of Elizabeth,
-    Queen of Edward IV.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.3: Third son of John, the famous Earl of
-    Shrewsbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.4: _i.e._, in an assize of novel disseisin--an
-    ancient law process.]
-
-    [Footnote 47.5: Ralph, Lord Cromwell.]
-
-
-37
-
-ABSTRACT[48.1]
-
----- ---- TO FRIAR BRACKLEY (?).
-
-[Sidenote: About 1440 (?)]
-
-Touching a suit of Reynold Rowse against William Burgeys. This suit was
-instituted originally for 5_s._ 4_d._ of rent; but when Rouse found he
-could not prevail by right, he maliciously sued the other for trespass
-in having fished his water, and driven him away by force. He afterwards
-got him arrested for treachery upon an obligation (_i.e._, a bond).
-Burgeys complained to Justice Paston, who counselled him not to plead;
-'For zyf thu do, he seyd, thu xalte hafe the werse, be thi case never so
-trewe, for he is feid with my Lord of [N]orthfolke, and mech he is of he
-[_sic_] counsel; and also, thu canst no man of lawe in Northfolke ne in
-Sowthfolke to be with the azens hym; and, for [s]othe no more myth I
-qwan I had a ple azens hym; and therfor myn counsel is, that thu make an
-end qwat so ever the pay, for he xal elles on do the and brynge the to
-nowte.'
-
-  [This letter is mutilated, and in part defaced. It is addressed on
-  the back-- 'Be this take to Mayster Brele (?) of the Greye Freres.'
-  Although the name seems to be written Brele, it was probably
-  intended for Friar Brackley of Norwich, of whom we have several
-  letters of a later period. The date must be between the year 1429,
-  when William Paston was made a judge, and 1444, when he died; and as
-  the name of Reginald Rows occurs in Blomefield (_Hist. of Norfolk_,
-  ix. 441) 'about 1440,' this letter will probably not be far out of
-  its true place if inserted in that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 48.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-38
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[49.1]
-
-_To my worshepfull husbond, John Paston, abidyng at Petyrhous in
-Cambrigg._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1440]
-
-Ryth reverent and worsepful husbon, I recomawnde me to zow with alle myn
-sympyl herte, and prey zow to wete that there come up xi. hundyr Flemyns
-at Waxham, quereof wer takyn, and kylte, and dronchyn [_drowned_] viij.
-hundryte. And thei had nowte a be, ze xul a be atte home this
-Qwesontyde, and I suppose that ze xul be atte home er owte long be.
-
-I thanke yow hertely for my lettyr, for I hadde none of zow syn I spooke
-with zow last of for the matyr of Jon Mariot; the qwest passyd nowte of
-that day, for my Lorde of Norfolke was in towne for Wedyrbys
-matyr,[49.2] qwer for he wolde nowt latyd pase off, for further (?) of I
-kowe [_know_?] Fynch ne Bylbys makethe no purwyans for hys gode.
-
-No mor I wryte to zow atte this tyme, but the Holy Trenyte hawe zow in
-kepyng. Wretyn in Norweche, on Trenyte Sune day.
-
-  Yowr,
-
-  MARKARYTE PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 49.1: [From Fenn, iii. 18.] The date of this letter is
-    uncertain. From the fact of John Paston's residence at Peter
-    House in Cambridge, it would appear, as Fenn remarks, to have
-    been written early in his married life, and we know that he was
-    married as early as 1440.]
-
-    [Footnote 49.2: Probably Thomas Wetherby, who was Mayor of
-    Norwich in 1432-3, is referred to. He took offence at the
-    Aldermen and Commons of the city for not naming the person he
-    wished as his successor, and for some years afterwards showed
-    his hostility by instigating prosecutions against the city,
-    causing their attorneys to abandon their pleas, and so forth.]
-
-
-39
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO HENRY INGLOSE AND JOHN BERNEY[50.1]
-
-_To my ryght wel belovyd cosyns, Herry Inglese and Johan Berney,
-Escuiers._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1440 (?)]
-
-Ryght wel belovyd cosyns, I comaund me to yow. And please you to hafe in
-knoulege that at whyche tyme ye were delyvered out of pryson by the
-moyen of ij. prysonners that y delyvered yow, whyche, as ye know wel,
-one was Burd Vynollys and the other Johan de Seint Johan dit Dolot, and
-in lyke wyse I boughte anothyr prysonner clepyt Johan Villers for the
-delyveraunce of Mautbye[50.2] Sqwyer, whyche mater ye knowythe welle.
-And for as moche as my wrytynges that makyth mencion of that
-delyveraunce of the said Mautbye be not in my warde, y pray you that ye
-wolle undre your seelys certyffye me the trouthe how the said Mautbye
-was delyveryd by my moyen. Y hafe found a cedule that makyth mencion of
-that prysonner, of whyche I sende you a double, to be better avertysed
-of the mater. And therfor, as my trust ys yn yow that ye sende me your
-gode remembraunce in as goodly haste as ye may. And our Lord kepe you.
-Wryt at Londone the v. day of November.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, _Chevalier_.
-
-    [Footnote 50.1: [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] The date
-    of this letter is quite uncertain; but as Fastolf is believed to
-    have returned from abroad about 1440, we presume it was not
-    earlier than that year.]]
-
-    [Footnote 50.2: No doubt John Mauteby, son-in-law of John Berney
-    and father of Margaret Paston. _See_ Blomefield's _Norfolk_, xi.
-    228.]
-
-  [[Herry Inglese  _text unchanged: normal spelling is "Inglose"_]]
-
-
-40
-
-ABSTRACT[50.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1441 / MAY 7]
-
-Letters Patent, dated 7th May 19 Henry VI., by which Richard, Duke of
-York, Earl of March, etc., lieutenant and governor of France, grants to
-his beloved councillor, Sir John Fastolf, an annuity of L20.
-
-    [Footnote 50.3: [Add. Charter 14,598, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)]]
-
-
-41
-
-ABSTRACT[51.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1441 / OCT. 14]
-
-Sir Thomas Keryell, lieutenant of Calais, notifies that his servant,
-John a Bekkes, mariner, master of his ship _Bonaventure_, has sold it to
-Sir John Fastolf, and that he agrees to the sale. Calais, 14th October
-1441. Signed 'R. Wenlok.' (_Fine seal, mutilated._)
-
-    [Footnote 51.1: [Add. Charter 17,233, B.M.]]
-
-
-42
-
-NOTE
-
-[Sidenote: 1442]
-
-A proviso occurs for William Paston and Robert and Esmond Clere in an
-Act of Parliament 20 Henry VI., securing to them certain copyhold lands
-with two mansions thereon in Paston and Edithorp, Norfolk, held by the
-feoffees of the duchy of Lancaster, in exchange for other lands, called
-Charterhold, with two mansions thereon, in the same places.--_Rolls of
-Parliament_, v. 59.
-
-
-43
-
-ABSTRACT[51.2]
-
-JOHN AND MARGARET PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1442 / APRIL 15]
-
-Indenture tripartite, whereby Sir Simon Felbrigge, Oliver Groos, Esq.,
-and William Paston, feoffees of Robert Mauteby, Esq., deceased, at the
-request of Margaret, wife of John Paston, daughter and heir of John
-Mauteby, son and heir of said Robert, and in consideration that the said
-John Paston and Margaret now have issue a son, John, whereby John Paston
-the father is by the law of England, for term of his life of the
-inheritance of his said wife, ---- grant and confirm to the said John
-Paston the manors of Mauteby, Sparham, Basyngham, Westbekham, Matelask,
-and Briston, the manor of Salle called Kirkehalle, and the manor called
-Fleghalle in Wynterton, Somerton, Ormesby, Martham, Horseye,
-Waxstonesham, and Pallyng, and 100_s._ rent in Castre by Norwich and
-Merkeshale, Norfolk; and the manor of Freton in Suffolk; with certain
-reversions on the death of Eleanor, wife of Thomas Chambre, Esq.,
-formerly wife of the said Robert Mauteby, Margery, wife of Ralph
-Garneys, Esq., mother of the said Margaret, formerly wife of John
-Mauteby, and of Edward Mauteby, Esq., and Thomas Mauteby, Esq., sons of
-the said Robert. To hold to the said John Paston, with remainder to
-Margaret and the heirs of her body; with contingent remainders in tail
-to Edw. Mauteby, Thomas Mauteby, &c.
-
-  Dated Mauteby, 15 April, 20 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 51.2: [From a Bodl. MS.]]
-
-
-44
-
-ABSTRACT[52.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1442 / APRIL 20]
-
-Grant by John, Duke of Norfolk, to William Berdewell, Esq., of an
-annuity of 10 marks out of Stonham, Suffolk. Framlingham, 20th April 20
-Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 52.1: [Add. Charter 17,234, B.M.]]
-
-
-45
-
-ABSTRACT[52.2]
-
-ELEANOR CHAMBRE TO WILLIAM PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: About 1442]
-
-Thanks him for what he did for her at Sparham at their last interview.
-He then expected to have more leisure to attend to her affairs at London
-after this Hallowmass, when he would ordain that she should have lawful
-estate for life in the partition made 'betwixt you and me, to for such
-that was there for my husband and for me at that time.' Begs him to do
-it now, and deliver it to her brother, John Chambre, or her servant,
-John Coke, the bearer. Sends the deed of annuity under her husband's
-signet and hers, which she must pay to Paston's children.
-
-Welouby, Sunday after St. Martin.
-
-  [Alianore, widow of Robert Mauteby, Esq., remarried Thomas Chambers,
-  Esq., lord of Sparham in her right, in 20 Henry VI. Her son, John
-  Mauteby, was the father of Margaret, wife of John Paston. --_See_
-  Blomefield, xi. 228.]
-
-    [Footnote 52.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-46
-
-DEPOSITION AGAINST JOHN HAWTEYN[52.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1443 / SEPT. 8]
-
-Primo suggessit Sanctissimo Papae mentiendo quod coactus et constrictus
-[fuisset] metu parentum ordinem[52.4] intrare; secundo quod in
-insufficienti et prohibita aetate et in eodem ordine invite esset
-professus; Et tertio, quod ita fuerat invallatus et inclusus in ordinis
-arctitudine ut sibi tempus opportunum exeundi acquirere nequiret. Contra
-quae sic depono, non per ficta et fantastice ymaginata, sed per visa et
-audita a fide dignis denunciata. Et primo, contra primum articulum,
-viz., quod metu parentum etc. quia, ut asserunt fide media quam plures
-fide digni quorum nomina perlongum esset enarrare, quod alter parentum,
-suple pater, neci submersionis suffocatus fuerat in Themisia diu
-antequam ordinem ingressus est praenotatus Johannes; ergo, dissonum
-videtur quod metu parentum ingressus est, sed tantum alterius parentis.
-Secundo, contra secundum articulum, scilicet quod ex insufficienti etc.,
-quia per vere visa et audita a fide dignis personis contra illud
-testimonium perhibere volentibus verum est asserere quod xiiij^cim
-annorum fuerat aetatis antequam indutus esset; quod sic evidet, quia
-natus erat in Swapham Markett, in loco qui Delgate dicitur, ubi parentes
-ejus commorabantur, quando primo intraverant villam antedictam pro
-annuali stipendio dato Thomae Delgate, cujus erat ipsa mansio, et istud
-ad testimonium Adae Ram, Roberti Sergaunte, Agnetis Ymay commatris[53.1]
-saepedicti Johannis Hawteyn et Katerinae Gannok, uxoris compatris[53.1]
-Johannis Hawteyn praedicti, viz. Johannis Gannok qui obiit anno Domini
-mccccxxxiiij(o). Istis transactis, parentes dicti Johannis, viz. Haymundus
-Hawteyn, pater ejus, et Claricia Hawteyn mater ejus, conjunctim emerunt
-mansionem in eadem villa, viz. Swapham Markett, a Martino Waron anno
-regni Regis Ricardi Secundi post conquestum xxij(o), quod datum, suple
-Regis Ricardi, praecessit nativitas Johannis Hawteyn in Delgate per
-testimonia praeallegata. De facili ergo, probatur quod sit aetatis annorum
-xliiij(o)r ad minus, enumerando a xxij(o) anno regni Regis Ricardi Secundi
-post conquestum usque ad annum xxj^m Henrici Sexti.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Omnia in hac cedula quo ad Hawteyn dicta fuerunt Jacobo Gresham viij(o)
-die Septembris anno Regis Henrici vj^ti xxij(o), prout scribuntur. Frater
-Johannes Alburugh dicit quod hoc medio intravit Johannes Hawteyn in
-ordinem. Circa xij. annum aetatis suae missus fuit London' essend' cum
-quodam Thoma Brown modo apprenticii; quod actum fuit, quodque sibi non
-bene complacuit, et cucurrit ad Fratres et dixit quod fuit nepos
-Alburugh, et ea de causa Reverendus Magister Walden[54.1] interrogavit
-eum si vellet esse frater, et dixit quod vellet et humiliter rogavit ex
-caritate. Et veraciter scit quod fuit aetatis xiiij. annorum et amplius
-tempore professionis suae et moram traxit ibidem per iij. vel iiij.
-annos. Et postea fuit apud Maldon per duos annos, et ab illo loco exiit.
-Deinde captus et Norwico incarceratus per dimidium annum. Et postea in
-domo de Blakney per iiij(o)r annos mansit, et ibidem fuit terminarius et
-hospes; et cucurrit ab inde cum vestibus officii de domo hospicii
-furtive et cepit librum (?) Alburugh avunculi sui et canciavit illum
-apud Aylesham pro iiij. marcis et dimidia, quas dictus Alburugh solvit
-pro libro rehabendo.
-
-Et addidit idem Johannes Hawteyn vel Alburugh frater et avunculus dicti
-Johannis Hawteyn quod Johannes Hawteyn apostata fuit natus apud Swafham
-Market circa iiij. annum post transitum patris sui a Scheryngton usque
-Swafham. Et dicit quod Robertus frater ejus fuit pluris aetatis quam
-Johannes fuit per iiij(o)r annos, et dictus Robertus fuit natus apud
-Scherynton.
-
-Et serviens Daubeney dicit quod Hamond Hawteyn transivit a Scheryngton
-usque Swafham tempore quo Thomas Erpyngham custodivit Regem R. in Turre
-London.[54.2]
-
-Stephanus Plattyng de Aylesham pro vero dicit quod ad Festum
-Purificationis Beatae Mariae anno regni Regis Henrici vj^ti xxj(o) elapsi
-fuerunt xxviij(o) anni postquam ipse primo habitavit in dicta villa de
-Aylesham; quo tempore Claricia quae fuit uxor Hamonis Hawteyn fuit vidua
-et commorans in messuagium nunc Johannis Draper de Aylesham, et postea
-nupta fuit Petro Fysch, caeco, qui insimul vixerunt vj. vel vij. annos,
-et post obitum dicti Petri dicta Claricia cepit in virum Willelmum
-Punyant de Aylesham. Et ad dictum festum Purificationis Beatae Mariae
-dicto anno xxj(o) dicti Ponyant et Claricia insimul in matrimonio
-cohabitaverunt per xxij. annos. Hoc de Pounyant cum Claricia affirmant.
-Et dicit idem Ponyant quod frater Johannes Hawteyn professus fuit post
-matrimonium inter ipsum et praefatam Clariciam et quod ipse ad ultimum
-exitum suum de ordine praedicto dimisit capam suam in domo dicti Ponyant
-apud Aylesham.
-
-Willelmus Barbour dicit quod quo ad nativitatem Johannis Hawteyn penitus
-ignorat, sed dicit quod habet quendam (_sic_) filiam aetatis xliiij(o)r
-annorum, et ultra vel circa, et dicit quod Johannes Hawteyn est talis
-aetatis. Et dicit quod Tiphania soror Hawteyn est manens in villa ultra
-London vocata Hawehunte, sed in quo comitatu ignorat.
-
-  This paper is endorsed, 'Hauteyn, Oxened.'
-
-    [Footnote 52.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 52.4: The Order of Carmelites. --_See_ Note 1 on page
-    54.]
-
-    [Footnote 53.1: _Compater_ and _commater_ (in French _compere_
-    and _commere_) correspond in meaning to the old English word
-    _gossip_, _i.e._ god-sib, or related in baptism--generally
-    applied to godfathers and godmothers.]
-
-    [Footnote 54.1: The celebrated Thomas Netter of Walden,
-    provincial of the Carmelite order in England; a great opponent
-    of Wycliffe.]
-
-    [Footnote 54.2: Richard II. was committed to the Tower in 1399,
-    just before his formal resignation of the crown.]
-
-
-47
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[55.1]
-
-_To my rygth worchepful husbond, John Paston, dwellyng in the Inner
-Temple at London, in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1443 / SEPT. 28]
-
-Ryth worchipful hosbon, I recomande me to yow, desyryng hertely to her
-of yowr wilfar, thanckyng God of yowr a mendyng of the grete dysese that
-ye have hade; and I thancke yow for the letter that ye sent me, for be
-my trowthe my moder and I wer nowth in hertys es fro the tyme that we
-woste of yowr sekenesse, tyl we woste verely of your a mendyng. My moder
-be hestyd a nodyr ymmage of wax of the weytte of yow to oyer Lady of
-Walsyngham, and sche sent iiij. nobelys to the iiij. Orderys of Frerys
-at Norweche to pray for yow, and I have be hestyd to gon on pylgreymmays
-to Walsingham, and to Sent Levenardys[55.2] for yow; be my trowth I had
-never so hevy a sesyn as I had from the tyme that I woste of yowr
-sekenesse tyl I woste of yowr a mendyng, and zyth myn hert is in no
-grete esse, ne nowth xal be, tyl I wott that ze ben very hal. Your
-fader[56.1] and myn was dysday sevenyth [_this day se'nnight_] at
-Bekelys for a matyr of the Pryor of Bromholme, and he lay at Gerlyston
-that nyth, and was ther tyl it was ix. of the cloke, and the toder day.
-And I sentte thedyr for a goune, and my moder seyde that I xulde have
-dan [_then_], tyl I had be ther a non, and so thei cowde non gete.
-
-My fader Garneyss[56.2] senttee me worde that he xulde ben her the nexch
-weke, and my emme [_uncle_] also, and pleyn hem her with herr hawkys,
-and thei xulde have me hom with hem; and so God help me, I xal exscusse
-me of myn goyng dedyr yf I may, for I sopose that I xal redelyer have
-tydyngys from yow herr dan I xulde have ther. I xal sende my modyr a
-tokyn that sche toke me, for I sopose the time is cum that I xulde
-sendeth her, yf I kepe the be hest that I have made; I sopose I have
-tolde yow wat it was. I pray yow hertely that [ye] wol wochesaf to sende
-me a letter as hastely as ze may, yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow, and
-that ye wollen wochesaf to sende me worde quowe your sor dott. Yf I
-mythe have had my wylle, I xulde a seyne yow er dystyme; I wolde ye wern
-at hom, yf it wer your ese, and your sor myth ben as wyl lokyth to her
-as it tys ther ze ben, now lever dan a goune zow [_though_] it wer of
-scarlette. I pray yow yf your sor be hol, and so that ze may indur to
-ryde, wan my fader com to London, that ze wol askyn leve, and com hom
-wan the hors xul be sentte hom a zeyn, for I hope ze xulde be kepte as
-tenderly herr as ze ben at London. I may non leyser have to do wrytyn
-half a quarter so meche as I xulde sey [_say_] to yow yf I myth speke
-with yow. I xall sende yow a nothyr letter as hastely as I may. I thanke
-yow that ze wolde wochesaffe to remember my gyrdyl, and that ze wolde
-wryte to me at the tyme, for I sopose that wrytyng was non esse for yow.
-All myth God have yow in his kepyn, and sende yow helth. Wretyn at
-Oxenede, in ryth grete hast, on Sent Mikyllys Evyn.
-
-  Yorys,
-
-  M. PASTON.
-
-My modyr grette yow wel, and sendyth yow Goddys blyssyng and hers; and
-sche prayeth yow, and I pray yow also, that ye be wel dyetyd of mete and
-drynke, for that is the grettest helpe that ye may have now to your
-helthe ward. Your sone[57.1] faryth wel, blyssyd be God.
-
-    [Footnote 55.1: [From Fenn, iii. 20.] This letter was written
-    after the birth of John Paston's eldest son, who was born in
-    1442, and cannot be later than 1443, as William Paston, who is
-    mentioned, died in August of the year following.]
-
-    [Footnote 55.2: St. Leonard's Priory, Norwich.]
-
-    [Footnote 56.1: William Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 56.2: Perhaps her godfather. The family of Garneys
-    were Lords of Gelderstone, the place called by Margaret Paston
-    Gerlyston, a few lines above.]
-
-    [Footnote 57.1: Almost certainly his eldest son, John,
-    afterwards Sir John Paston.]
-
-  [[yf wryhyn be non dysesse to yow
-    _text unchanged: error for "wrytyn"?_]]
-
-
-48
-
-ABSTRACT[57.2]
-
-LAND IN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1443 / OCT. 17]
-
-Warrant to Sir Roger Frenles, Knight, Chief Steward of the Duchy lands
-in Norfolk and other counties, and Sir Thomas Tudenham, particular
-Steward of the lordship and manor of Gymyngham, to demise (_dimittere et
-tradere_) to the undertenants (_bassis tenentibus_) specified in an act
-of Parliament, certain charterhold land in Paston and Edithorp granted
-to the King by William Paston, Robert Clere, and Edmund Clere in
-exchange for certain parcels of copyhold land, in accordance with an act
-of the last Parliament holden at Westminster. The copyhold land granted
-to them consisted of 36-1/2 acres 9 perches 1-1/2 qr. of a perch and 1
-pekke of land, pasture, heath, and marsh, with two houses built on certain
-parcels thereof, with 1/4 of a rood of waste land [not belonging to the
-Duchy?] in Paston; and it was given in recompense for 36-1/2 acres 26-1/2
-perches and half a quarter of a perch, half a 'pekke' and one 'naylle'
-of land, pasture, and heath, called 'Chartrehold,' with two houses built
-on certain parcels thereof, in Paston and Edithorp, which are to be
-annexed to the Duchy. These parcels are specified in an inquisition
-dated 18 May 18 Hen. VI., remaining in the treasury of the Duchy, which
-was taken by virtue of letters of the Cardinal to Lord Bardolf and
-others.
-
-  17 Oct. 22 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 57.2: [From the Chancery Roll of the Duchy of
-    Lancaster, 22 Hen. VI., Y. 2 c., No. 79.]]
-
-
-49
-
-WILLIAM PASTON AND WILLIAM JOYE[58.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444]
-
-Hec sunt hostilmenta et vutensilia domus, bona et catalla, que Willelmus
-Paston, in indentura presentibus annexa nominatus, tradidit et dimisit
-Willelmo Joye in eadem indentura nominato, secundum formam ejusdem
-indenture, ex communi assensu eorundem Willelmi et Willelmi, per
-Robertum Gynne, Johannem Albon de Paston et alios appreciata, assignata
-et specificata, modo subsequenti, videlicet: tres equi precii quinque
-marcarum; quatuor vacce, quelibet precii vij_s._ vj_d._; una juvenca
-brendyt precii v_s._; unus tauriculus, precii iiij_s._; una juvencula
-dowet precii iij_s._; due sues, quelibet precii iij_s._ iiij_d._; tres
-porculi, quilibet precii xvj_d._; tres porcelli, quilibet precii
-xij_d._; quatuor alii porcelli, quilibet precii viij_d._; una carecta,
-precii vj_s._ viij_d._; apparatus carette, videlicet una sella, unum par
-des stroppys; duo paria dez trayses, precii ij_s._; due caruce cum les
-hokys et stappilles; unum par rotarum; due herpice, precii v_s._;
-quatuor paria dez trayses ad aratrum, precii viij_d._; due furse fimose,
-precii vj_d._; una vanga, precii iij_d._; unus tribulus, precii iij_d._
-
-Hec sunt blada et alia hostilmenta et utensilia domus, bona et catalla,
-per predictum Willelmum Paston predicto Willelmo Joye secundum formam
-dicte indenture similiter dimissa et non appreciata, videlicet: sex
-quarteria frumenti; xxv. quarteria ordei; viij. quarteria avenarum;
-quidam tassus pisarum in fine australi antique grangie messuagii
-predicti, qui est altitudinis iij. virgarum et iij. quarteriorum unius
-virge, et quidam alius tassus vescarum in boriali fine ejusdem grangie,
-altitudinis iij. virgarum et j. quarterii unius virge; qui quidem duo
-tassi fuerunt vesture xij. acrarum et dimidii, et dimidii rode terre;
-iij. vasa vocata Kelerys; j. Gilyngsat; iiij. stondes pro servitio; j.
-stonde in coquina; ij. patelle cum ligaminibus ferreis; j. parva patella
-cum ligamine ferreo; j. magna olla ennea [_aenea_]; alia olla ennea
-minor; j. parva olla ennea; j. tabula; j. par des trostelles; j. longum
-hostium jacens in boteria; j. par des trestelles, j. trow, ij. bolles,
-j. morter, j. thede, j. temse, j. mashsterell, j. tankard cum ligamine
-ferreo; j. bultyngpoke, j. magna trow pro farina, cista pro farina, j.
-fleshoke, j. tripes ferreum, j. veru ferreum; j. aunderun, j. par de
-tongys, j. lach'gres ennua, j. seturis, j. magnum lavacrum pendens, j.
-kynderkyn, ij. soos leeke, j. par de belwes, j. magnum planke super
-mensam coquine hargour; iij. perapsides; iij. disci; iij. sauserys de
-pewter; iij. perapsides; iij. disci; j. magnus discus, vj. sissorn, iij.
-ciphi de ligno, j. chayer; duo longa scanna, j. scannum mediocre
-longitudinis; ij. scanna vocata buffet stoles; ij. bankar; j. gladius,
-ij. ferra vocata aplates; j. chirne; j. chyrnyng staf; j. curta falx; j.
-candelabrum ferreum; j. parvum salerium; j. beryngsceppes, unum par dez
-pepyrquens, ij. uteri, j. cadus cum vergous; j. parva cista in boteria;
-j. selura supra servisiam; j. metesetell; j. pykforke; iij. longa
-bordclothis; j. towayll, j. san . . . et j. walet pro autumpno; j.
-lucerna; ij. vomeri et ij. cultri que ponderant xvij. li. et dim.; j.
-carectula, Anglice, a carre; j. sunvectorium (?); ij. novi rowintrees et
-j. curtum lignum in le carthows; ij. veteres bige; j. par rotarum
-ferratarum; ij. kemell cum hopys ferreis; j. frena, j. pelvis; viij.
-sacci; iiij. longa ligna fraxinora in pistrina; j. fetyrlok.
-
-  _In dorso_--
-
-    Summa catall' infrascriptorum et appreciat', v_li._ 19_s._ 8_d._
-    Summa granorum infrascriptorum ultra persas (?) et vesias,
-        iiij_li._ xviij_s._ iiij_d._
-      Quarterium frumenti ad iiij_s._, quarterium ordei ij_s._
-        iiij_d._, et querterium avenarum ad ij_s._
-    Item, vestura xij. acrarum et di., et di. rod. pisarum et vescar'.
-    Item, dicta vestura piseii et vescar. ad l_s._, lacr' ad iiij_s._
-        de xij. acr' et di. rod. non lax.
-
-  Summa totalis, xiiij_li._ viij_s._
-
-    [Footnote 58.1: [From Douce Charters in Bibl. Bodl., No. 18.]]
-
-
-50
-
-OXNEAD AND FRIAR HAWTEYN[60.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1443-9]
-
-This day at x. of the clok Edmund Paston and the parson of Oxened went
-owth of the Manor doun to Wantown Gapp, for thei herd tydynges that the
-freyr[60.2] was comyng; and with the seyd frier came John Cates and on
-Whalter Herman of Wheytte, and Wylliam Yemmys of Burgh, the frieres man.
-And Edmund Paston seyd to John Cates Welcome, and he askyd hem what
-here[60.3] cause was in commyng. The Frier seyd he cam for to speke with
-the gode lady, and Edmund seyd that he shuld speke with her. At this
-tyme sche was so ocupied he myth not speke with her. And he seyd that he
-shuld assay; and he cam redyng fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate; and
-there he lyted and knokkyd on the gate; and we folwyd as yarn as we
-myth; and ther was with in John Jaallere and John Edmundes, and asked
-the friere what he wold; and he seyd that he wuld comyn inne for to
-speke with the gode ladi of the hows. And thei seyd nay, he shuld not
-come in. And than cam on Edmund Paston and the parson, and asked hym
-what was cause of his comyng at this tyme. And he seyd for to entre in
-the maner of Oxened, the which his fader was possessid of and his
-auncestres from kyng Edward the thred on to Colbys tyme, and that he had
-fownd a tayll ther of in the kynges bokes. And than Edmund Paston
-answeryd hym and seyd that it wher best declaryng of his evydence in
-Westminster hall. And he seyd a geyn, so he shuld whan he myth. And he
-seyd to hem that come with hym, 'Serys, I chargge yow ber record how
-that I am kept owth with stronge hand, and may not take poscession.' And
-evyn forth with he presyd to the gate ward to a leyd hand on the gate.
-And than the seyd Edmund put hym fro the gate and seyd, 'Ne wer for
-reverence of thy lord and myn, and thow leyst any hand on the gate I
-xall sey thye hert blod or thow myn.' And than the seyd frier seyd
-scornfully that he myth thanke his mayster. And than the seyd Edmund
-seyd that he myth sey his lord ryght wele; and than he stowpyd doun and
-toke up herd and delivered to his man, seying to hem that come with hym,
-'I charge yow all of the kynges behalffe ye bere record that I take here
-poscession of myn inheritance.' And Edmund seyd that this takyng of
-poscession skylled nowgt. And than the friere seyd that sen he myth not
-have it nowe, he shuld come a geyn a nothir tyme. Edmund is rede forth
-to Heydon. It was told us this afternon that ther wer iij. men come fro
-Skeyton and mette with the frier in the feld and spoke with hym a gode
-while, and than redyn the same wey that they come.
-
-    [Footnote 60.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 19.] This paper, like No.
-    63, which also refers to Friar Hauteyn's claim to Oxnead, can be
-    assigned to no definite year; but its date must be before the
-    death of Edmund Paston in 1449. It is indorsed in a later hand:
-    'A Frier came to take possession of the mannor of Oxned.']
-
-    [Footnote 60.2: John Hauteyn.]
-
-    [Footnote 60.3: _here_ (or _her_) for _their_.]
-
-  [[fro Wantown Gappe to the grete Cate
-    _text unchanged: error for "Gate"?_]]
-
-
-51
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO WILLIAM PASTON[61.1]
-
-_To my right worthy and worshepfull Lord, William Paston, Justice, in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1444 / JAN. 29]
-
-Please it your good Lordship to wete that the Chief Justice of the
-Kynggs Benche[61.2] recomaundeth hym to yow, and is right sory of the
-matier that is cause of your noun comyng hedir, but he wole do al that
-he can or may for yow. He hath hadde a cyetica [sciatica] that hath
-letted hym a gret while to ride, and dar not yet come on non horses bak,
-and ther for he hath spoke to the Lordes of the Conseill, and enformed
-hem of your sekenesse and his also, that he may not ride at these next
-assizes to Estgrynsted; and though thoe assizes discontynue _puer noun
-venue dez Justicez_, he hopeth to be excused and ye also. And as for the
-remenant of the assizes, he shall purvey to be ther by water. And
-Almyghty Jesu make yow heyle and strong.
-
-Wretyn right simply the Wednesseday next to fore ye Fest of the
-Purificacion of Our Lady at London.
-
-  By your most symple servaunt,
-
-  JAMYS GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 61.1: [From Fenn, iii. 26.] 'From a memorandum,' says
-    Fenn, 'on the back of this letter, dated in April 1444, it is
-    probable that it was written on the 30th of January 1443.' Did
-    Fenn mean the 30th of January 1443-4? In the side-note
-    immediately below the letter, he dates it in his usual exact
-    manner, 'Wednesday, 30th of January 1443, 22 H. vi.' But
-    unfortunately there is an error here. January in the 22d year of
-    Henry VI., means January 1444 according to the modern
-    computation, or 1443 in the style formerly in use, by which the
-    year was reckoned from the 25th of March. But the 30th of
-    January was a Wednesday in 1443, only according to the modern
-    computation of the year,--that is to say, it was a Wednesday in
-    the year 1442-3, not in 1443-4. I imagine, however, that the
-    '30th of January' should have been '29th of January,' and that
-    Fenn really meant 1443-4, corresponding with the 22nd year of
-    Henry VI.; for the memorandum to which he refers is a draft
-    agreement, dated on Passion Sunday, 22 Hen. VI., A.D. 1444.]
-
-    [Footnote 61.2: The celebrated Sir John Fortescue.]
-
-
-52
-
-JOHN GYNEY TO WILLIAM PASTON[62.1]
-
-_To the worthy and worshipfull Sir and good Lord and Maister, William
-Paston, on of the Justices of oure Sovereign Lord, of his Commone Benche
-at Westminster._
-
-[Sidenote: Not later than 1444]
-
-Right worthy and worshipfull Sir, and my good Lord and Maister,
-I recomaund me to yow. And where as ye, by your lettre direct to my
-Lady, your wyf, wold that my seid Lady shuld have Robert Tebald and me
-to geder, as sone as she myght, and the evidences which the seid Robert
-receyved of yow at your last beyng at Norwich, and that I shuld amende
-the defautes therinne, and that that doon there shuld of Baxteres Place
-of Honyng be taken estate to yow and to other, as your seid lettre
-requireth: Prey and beseche yow to witte that, on the Friday next after
-your departyng fro Paston, Thomas Walysh and William Burgh, in his owen
-persone, and the seid Thomas by William Inges and William Walsyngham,
-his attornies, by his lettre under his seal, where [_were_] at Honyng,
-and delyvred to my Lady Scarlet seson [_seisin_] in the seid place, and
-Colbyes and Donnynges in Walsham. And the seid Thomas Walyssh, as the
-seid Tebald told me, wold not enseale the seid lettre of attornie til
-the parson of Ingeworth come to hym therfore, and required hym to don
-it. Wychyngham in his owen persone in the nyght next beforn the seid
-Friday, as the seid Tebald infourmeth me, come to the same Tebaldes
-hows, and desired hym to enseale acquytaunce, as he seid, and the same
-Robert refused to don it.
-
-Nertheless, whether it were acquytaunce or were not, the same Robert kan
-not seye, for he myght noo sight have there of. And the seid Wychyngham
-the same nyght rood to John Willyot, and desired of hym the same, and
-refused also to don it. What is the best to be don in this matier my
-seid Lady, your wyf, kan not thynke with owt your advis and counseile.
-Wherfore as touchyng the takyng of th'estate to yow and other, as in
-your seid lettre is conteigned, is yet right nought doon.
-
-The Holy Trinite have yow in his blissed kepyng. Wretyn at North
-Walsham, the Thursday next after the Purificacion of oure Lady.
-
-My seid Lady, your wyf, preyeth yow to be remembred of here grene gynger
-of almondes for Lente, and of the leche of Orwelde, for here seknes
-encreseth dayly upon here, whereof she is sore a ferd.
-
-  By youre servunt,
-
-  JOHN GYNEY.
-
-    [Footnote 62.1: [From Fenn, iii. 28.] There is nothing to be
-    said of the date of this letter, except that it is not later
-    than 1444, when William Paston died.]
-
-
-53
-
-ABSTRACT[63.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444 / MARCH 15]
-
-Indenture between the Prior and Convent of the Monastery of St. Andrew,
-Bromholme, impropriators of the Church of St. Margaret, Paston, and John
-Partrik, vicar of the said church, of the first part, William Paston of
-Paston, of the second part, and Edmund Palmer of Wytton, of the third
-part, relative to lands in Baketon and Wytton, and containing amongst
-other things a grant by the Prior and Convent to the said John Partrik,
-at the instance of the said William Paston, in consideration of which
-masses, called _certeynes_, are to be performed every Friday for the
-souls of William Paston and Agnes his wife, and the obit of Clement
-Paston, William's father, is to kept yearly on St. Botolph's day (17th
-June). Dated 15th March 22 Henry VI. Confirmed by Walter, Bishop of
-Norwich, and John, the Prior of the Cathedral of Norwich, and the
-chapter of that church, 11th and 21st March 1446[-7].
-
-    [Footnote 63.1: [Add. Charter 14,571, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)]]
-
-  [[Confirmed by Walter  _text has "Comfirmed"_]]
-
-
-54
-
-ABSTRACT[64.1]
-
-JOHN MARYOT TO WILLIAM PASTON, Justice.
-
-[Sidenote: Before 1444]
-
-Is ready to fulfil the indentures of Becham made by W. P. with his late
-mother, if W. P. will send 'the indenture of our part,' that Maryot may
-know the terms and his own title. Will make no bargain else.--Crowmer,
-Monday after Our Lady's Nativity.
-
-    [Footnote 64.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the following
-    letter are quite uncertain in point of date, except that they
-    were of course written before the death of William Paston, to
-    whom they were addressed.]
-
-
-55
-
-ABSTRACT[64.2]
-
-WILLIAM WOTTON DE PAGRAVE TO JUSTICE PASTON.
-
-Sends his wife to him to explain some business about lands in Lytyl
-Pagrave, of which a woman of Sporle has already spoken to him; also
-touching some land at Castleacre.--_On parchment._
-
-    [Footnote 64.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-56
-
----- ---- TO JOHN PASTON[64.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444]
-
-Righte reverent and my most worshipful maister, I recomaund me to yow.
-Please it yow to wite that I sende yow a copie of a verdite take before
-my maister Roberd Clere by vertu of a writ _diem clausit
-extremum_,[64.4] whiche writ I sende yow also with this, of whiche
-verdite the wordis arn as it folwith:--
-
-_Inquisicio capta apud Wynterton, secundo die Novembris anno regni Regis
-Henrici vj^ti post conquestum vicesimo tertio, coram Roberto Clere
-escaetore domini Regis in com. Norfolk et Suffolk, virtute brevis domini
-Regis sibi directi et presenti Inquisitioni consuti, per sacramentum
-Johannis Berkyng, Nicholai Pikeryng, Johannis Chapell, Johannis Jekkys,
-Willelmi Stiwardson, Roberti Hosele, Johannis Topy, Johannis Wacy,
-Johannis Rychers, Thomae Broun, Walteri Heylok, Willelmi Stotevyle, Thomae
-Mason, Roberti Marche, Johannis Kechon, legalium et proborum hominum in
-hac parte pro domino Rege juratorum: Qui dicunt super sacramentum suum
-quod Willelmus Paston nominatus in dicto brevi nulla terras et tenementa
-tenuit de domino Rege in capite die quo obiit in comitatu predicto. Et
-quod obiit quarto decimo die mensis Augusti, anno regni domini Regis
-predicti xxij. Et quod Johannes Paston filius ipsius Willelmi est haeres
-ejus propinquior, et aetatis xxiij. annorum._
-
-Ther is founde more of other thyngges be the same verdite touchyng other
-matieris, whiche he will not certifie yet. And for as moche as my
-maister Clere wetyth well that the seid verdite touchyng my maister your
-fader, hoes soule God assoyle, must have other maner of makyng thanne he
-kan make, he recomaundith hym to my maistres your moder, and yow also;
-and prey yow that ye will do it make as effectuel and availeabill for
-the wel of my maister your fader and yow as ye kan, and sele it with
-your seall, or what seall ellys ye will, in his name, and sealle it also
-with as many of other seales as ther be jerores, and delyvere it to
-William Bondes, his depute, to delyvere into the Chauncelre. And if
-William Bondes be fro London or this may be redy, thanne purveye ye for
-the speed of this matier in youre best wise; and what so ever ye do, or
-sey, or write, or seale, or avouche in this matier in my maister Cleris
-name, he shall avowe it, and [_i.e._ if] it shulde coste hym gret parte
-of his good.
-
-Sir, ther is noon enquerre take in Suffolk, for as moche as my maister
-your fader helde no londe ther but be my maistres your moder; but if ye
-will that he shall inquere ther as sone as he may wete it, it shall be
-doo; and if this forseide verdite may serve for bothe, he is right glad
-therof. He tolde me that he seide to the jurores, whiche have sealed her
-verdite: 'Seris, I wot well this verdite after my makyng is not
-effectuel in lawe, and therfore may happe it shall be makid newe at
-London, and ellys peraventure I shulde be amercied in the Kyngges
-Courte; and therfore I truste yow, and [_i.e._ if] it be newe mad and
-newe sealed, ye will avowe it.' And thei seide with a good herte ya;
-these wordes wern seide _in secreta confessione_ to v. or vj. of the
-reuleris of the seide jurre whiche he kan truste righte well. He preyith
-yow to holde hym excused that he writyth not to yow for this matier, for
-he is ocupied in other wise. He badde me write in this fourme to yow,
-which he supposith ye will beleve, and he knoweth alle this writyng, and
-is well concented and agreed therto. Sir, ther arn xv. jurores abowe to
-certifie ye, as many as ye will: but lete these men that be tottid be
-certified, for thei be the rewleris and t . . . . he spk (?) &c. Sir,
-atte reverence of God, if I shall make ony purvyaunce in this cuntre for
-my maistres comyng hom, lete me have reson[able] warnyng, and so God me
-helpe, and I shall do my dever. I here no tydyngges of Thom' yet. My
-maistres Garneys, your moder, . . . . . .[66.1] Berney, and my maisteris
-your sonys and my maister your brother arn heyle and mery, and recommend
-hem to yow. And I beseche your [mastership][66.1] that this sympil
-skrowe may recomaund me to my reverant and worshipful maistres, your
-moder. And I prey our Lord of his . . . . . .[66.1] bothe moche worship
-and wilfare, and graunte me to do and labour that is to your bothenerys
-pleaser.[66.2]
-
-Writen the Saterday next. . . . . . .[66.3]
-
-  This letter appears to have been used as a wrapper for others. It is
-  endorsed, 'Literae diversorum directae J. Paston receptae apud London
-  per diversos annos ante festum Michaelis anno xxxiiij Hen. VI.
-  Literae Fastolff pro Costid (?). Literae W. Wayt pro tempore suae
-  tribulationis. Literae Windham.'
-
-    [Footnote 64.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is without
-    a signature or address, and who the writer was does not appear.
-    It was evidently written soon after the taking of the
-    inquisition on the death of William Paston, the Judge, the date
-    of which is given in the extract as 2nd November 23 Henry VI.,
-    _i.e._ 1444.]
-
-    [Footnote 64.4: _See_ p. 16, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 66.1: Mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 66.2: _I.e._, that which is to the pleasure of you
-    both (?).]
-
-    [Footnote 66.3: A little mutilated at bottom.]
-
-  [[quarto decimo die mensis Augusti  _printed "dccimo"_]]
-
-
-[[In the following letter, interlineations (Footnotes 67-2, 68-1) are
-shown in brackets [ ] immediately after the original word.]]
-
-57
-
-WILL OF EDMUND NORMAN[67.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1444 / DEC. 6]
-
-In Dei nomine, amen. Ego Edmundus Norman de Fylby, compos mentis, die
-Dominica in festo sancti Nicholai Episcopi, anno domini M^lmo iiij^c xl.
-iiij.^to, condo testamentum meum in hunc mundum (_sic_). In primis do et
-lego animam meam Deo Patri, &c., corpusque meum sepeliendum in ecclesia
-sancti Petri de Crowmere. Item, summo altari ecclesiae praedictae xl_d._
-[vjs. viijd.[67.2]] Item, emendacioni ejusdem ecclesiae xl_d._ [vjs.
-viijd.[67.2]] Item, summo altari ecclesiae de Fylby xl_d._ Item,
-emendationi ecclesiae de Fylby praedictae vel fenestrae de novo faciendae et
-intrando in parte boriali ecclesiae praedictae in fine occidentali, x.
-marcas. Item, Edmondo, capellano sancti Johannis Baptistae in eadem
-ecclesia, xl_d._ Item, volo quod omnes feoffati in terris et tenementis
-remittant jus suum Edmundo Clere armigero, magistro meo, ut ipse vendat
-et disponat cum aliis executoribus meis pro salute animae meae, et patris,
-matris, et omnium quibuscumque teneor. Item, cuilibet ordini fratrum de
-Jernemoth, vj_s._ viii_d._ Item, fratribus ordinis Minorum de Walsyngham
-vj_s._ viii_d._ Item, lego Willelmo Bondis omnia bona mea existentia in
-hospicio meo London', [de Clifforde] videlicet lectum et indumenta mea.
-Item, lego Roberto Baketon et uxori ejus, firmario meo in Fylby, omnia
-utencilia mea infra mansionem meam ibidem praeter lectum plumale postea
-legatum. Item, Edmundo filio dicti Roberti, filiolo meo, xl_s._ Item,
-filiabus ejusdem Roberti, Elizabethae et Margaretae, cuilibet xx_s._ Item,
-Edmundo filio Roberti Norman de Ormesby, vj_s._ viii_d._ Item, Ricardo
-Kemp, xxvj_s._ viij_d._ Item, Johanni Grave, sonam meam deargent'.[67.3]
-Item, Nicholao Pekeryng de Fylby, meum optimum lectum plumale infra
-mansionem meam apud Fylby. Item, Johanni Spencer de Crowmere, xx_s._
-Item, uxori Johannis Couche, pro labore et diligentia suis circa me dum
-infirmabar, vj_s._ viij_d._ Item, Edmundo Bataly capellano vj_s._
-viii_d._ [xxs. [68.1]] Item, lego Thomae Stalham et uxori ejus meum
-lectum plumale apud Norwicum. Item, die obitus mei ad exequias, cuilibet
-capellano iiij_d._ et clerico, j_d._ Item, ad distribuendum inter
-pauperes die sepulturae, xl_d._ Residuum vero bonorum meorum non
-legatorum do et lego executoribus meis, quos ordino et constituto
-Edmundum Clere, armigerum, Magistrum meum Robertum Clere, Willelmum
-Bondes, Nicholaum Pekeryng, Magistrum Johannem Semecrofte et Ricardum
-Kemp, ut ipsi disponant pro salute animae meae.
-
-[68.2]Et lego dicto Edmundo Clere pro labore suo x_li._ si vult. Et
-Roberto Clere C_s._, et similiter cuilibet aliorum executorum xl_s._
-
-Item, lego Pers. de Crowmere iij_s._ iiij_d._
-
-Item, volo quod in fenestra ecclesiae de Fylby tres[68.3] ymagines,
-videlicet, una ymago sancti Edmundi, alter[a] Sancti Johannis Baptistae,
-alia Sanctae Mariae, et ibidem fiat scriptio:--_Orate pro animabus
-Johannis Norman seniori, Margaretae uxoris ejus, et Edmundi filii
-praedicti_ et tale armo (_sic_). [_Here follows a sketch of a shield,
-the upper part marked as silver and the lower black, with the word
-_'Katerwole'_ (?) upon it._]
-
-    [Footnote 67.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 10.]]
-
-    [Footnote 67.2: Interlineations by another hand.]
-
-    [Footnote 67.3: Here occurs an illegible interlineation, in
-    which only 'xs.' is visible.]
-
-    [Footnote 68.1: Interlineations by another hand.]
-
-    [Footnote 68.2: What follows is in a different hand, apparently
-    the same as that of the interlineations noticed above.]
-
-    [Footnote 68.3: Corrected from 'quatuor.']
-
-
-58
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[68.4]
-
-_To our right trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Squier. The Duc of
-Norff._
-
-[Sidenote: Before 1444 (?)]
-
-Trusti and right welbelovid, we grete you weel, lating you witte that
-for the trust that as weel we, as the heires of Edmund Swathyng, have
-unto you, we have appointed you to be one of the makeres up
-indifferently of the evydences betwix us and the seide heires. Wherfor
-we pray you hertily, that ye wil yeve attendaunce at such day and place
-as ye and our right trusti and welbelovid frende William Yelverton, with
-oure welbelovid servaunt Jenney, shal mow attende to the making up of
-the seide evidencez; and we shal send summe of our servauntz to awayte
-upon you for your reward and costis, that ye shal be pleasid with by the
-grace of God, who have you ever in his keping.
-
-Wreten undir our signet in oure Castel of Framlyngham,
-
-  the xviij. day of ----.
-
-  { JOHN[69.1] } NORFF.
-  { MOWBRAY.   }
-
-    [Footnote 68.4: [From Fenn, i. 10.] Fenn thinks this letter must
-    have been written before 1444, when Yelverton was made a judge.
-    This is, doubtless, most probable. There is, however, an Edmund
-    Swathing, Esq., mentioned by Blomefield (_Hist. of Norfolk_,
-    viii. 42) as alive in 1446, and if it be his executors who are
-    referred to, the date would appear to be later.]
-
-    [Footnote 69.1: The name 'John Mowbray' is represented by a
-    curious monogram, in which every letter both of the Christian
-    and the surname can be traced.]
-
-
-59
-
-JOHN PASTON'S PETITION[69.2]
-
-_To the Kyng our Soverayn Lord._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1444]
-
-Ples your Hyghnes of your abundante grace, an consyderacion of the
-servys and plesure that your Hyghnes knowyth to yow don by William
-Paston, late one of your judgys, and old servaunt to that nobyll Prinse
-your fadyr, to graunte onto John Paston, Esquyer, sonn and heyir of the
-seyd Wylliam, your lettrys patents under the seel of yowr Duche of
-Lancastre, being in the keping of Thomas Chesham, aftyr affecte of note
-folowyng; and he schall pray to God for yow.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Rex, etc. Sciatis, quod de gracia nostra speciali et ex mero motu
-nostro, ac pro bono et laudabyli servicio quod dilectus et fidelis nobis
-Willelmus Paston, nuper unus Justiciariorum nostrorum, defunctus, nobis
-in vita sua inpendydit, consessimus et hac presenti carta nostra
-confirmavimus, in quantum in nobis est, Johanni Paston armigero, filio
-et heredi dicti Willelmi, viginti tria mesuagia, quingintas triginta et
-iiij. acras pasture, bruere et marissy in villis de Paston, Edythorp, et
-Bakton, in comitatu nostro Norff. quas diversi tenentes nostri ibidem de
-nobis separatim native tenent ad voluntatem nostram per virgam sive
-copiam et per serta redditus et servissia, nativa annualia inde nobis
-reddend., que ad valorem novem librarum annuatim exeunt vel infra.
-Concessimus eciam eidem Johanni curiam lete, seu visus franciplegii
-nostri, in villis de Paston et Edithorp predictis, que est annui valoris
-viij. solidorum per estimacionem; ad quatuor libratas, quatuor solidatas
-et octo denariatas redditus. Redditum octo boschellorum avenarum et
-trium caponum cum pertinentiis in villis predictis, ac in villis Wytton
-et Easewyk in comitatu predicto, percipiendum anuatim de omnibus et
-singulis liberys tenentibus nostris ibidem pro tenementis suis qui de
-nobis separatim tenent in eisdem villis, una cum fidelitatibus et aliis
-serviciis eorundem tenentium et eorum cujuslibet, de, seu pro,
-tenementis illis et eorum qualibet parcella nobis debitis sive
-pertinentibus. Concessimus etiam eidem Johanni et heredibus suis
-officium parcarie ac costidie[70.1] parci nostri de Grymygham in com.
-nostro predicto, una cum proficuo agistamenti bestiarum ejusdem parci
-pro vadiis suis pro officio predicto annuatim percipiend: salvis no . .
-et hodierna sufficienti pastura ferarum nostrarum ibidem ut tempore
-nostro prius usitatum fuit; quod quidem proficuum agistamenti ad valorem
-x. marcarum extendit per annum. Habenda, tenenda et percipienda predicta
-messuagia, terram, pasturam, brueram, mariscum, curiam lete, et visus
-franciplegii, redditus, et servissia, officium et agistament' proficu'
-cum pertinentiis, prefato Johanni et heredibus suis de nobis et
-heredibus nostris, per fidelitatem et redditum unius rose rubie ad
-Festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptiste annuatim nobis solvendum,
-si petatur, pro omnibus serviciis, exaccionibus et demandis. Eo quod
-messuagia, terra, pastura, bruera, mariscus, curia lete, redditus,
-servicia predicta, officium et agistament' profic', valorem supra
-specificatum excedant, vel valorem illum non attingant, aut aliquo actu,
-restriccione seu mandato facto, edito aut proviso non obstante. Volumus
-etiam et assignavimus quod omnes illi qui per nos seu ad usum nostrum,
-jus, titulum, seu statum in premissis, seu aliquo premissorum habuerunt
-seu habent, nobis antehac non relaxatum, jus, titulum et statum illa
-prefato Johanni et heredibus suis dimittent et relaxent. In cujus . . .
-
-    [Footnote 69.2: [From Tanner MS. 95, f. 82.] This is a draft in
-    the handwriting of William Worcester, very illegible from the
-    number of the corrections, and also from the ink being very much
-    faded. Of its date I cannot tell except that it was clearly
-    written in the reign of Henry VI. and after the death of Judge
-    Paston in 1444.]
-
-    [Footnote 70.1: _Sic_, _pro_ custodiae.]
-
-
-60
-
-CATHERINE, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO JOHN PASTON[71.1]
-
-_To our right trusty and hertily welbeloved John Paston, Squier._
-
-  {_Kateryn, Duchesse_}
-  {_of Norff._        }
-
-[Sidenote: After 1444 (?)]
-
-Right trusty and entierly welbeloved, we grete you wel hertily as we
-kan. And for as moche as we purpose with grace of Jesu to be at London
-within bryff tyme, we pray you that your place ther may be redy for us,
-for we wole sende our stuff thedir to for [_tofore_, _i.e._ before] our
-comyng; and siche agrement as we toke with you for the same, we shall
-duely performe yt with the myght of Jesu, who haff you in his blissed
-keping.
-
-  Wretyn at Eppeworth, ij^de day of Octobre.
-
-    [Footnote 71.1: [From Fenn, iii. 16.] The writer of this letter
-    was the widow of John Mowbray, second Duke of Norfolk, who died
-    in 1432. After the Duke's death, she married again no less than
-    three times; and Fenn thinks this letter, which is dated from
-    Epworth in Lincolnshire, a seat of the Duke of Norfolk's, was
-    probably written during her first widowhood. It must be
-    remarked, however, that in 1432 John Paston was only twelve
-    years old at the utmost, so that this letter could hardly have
-    been written till at least ten years after. It is, besides,
-    hardly probable that John Paston would have been addressed as
-    the owner of a 'place' in London, before his father's death in
-    1444. The exact year, however, is quite uncertain.]
-
-
-61
-
-ABSTRACT[72.1]
-
-ROBERT, LORD WYLUGHBY [of Eresby], TO JOHN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: Between 1444 and 1451]
-
-Desires him to favour Reginald Balden who 'hath ado with you for certain
-lyflode which was his father's, wherein your father was enfeoffed.'
-Boston, 16th December.
-
-  [The date of this letter is probably after the death of William
-  Paston in 1444, and cannot be later than 1451, as the writer died on
-  St. James's day (25th July) 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-62
-
-AGNES PASTON TO EDMUND PASTON[72.2]
-
-_To Edmond Paston of Clyffordis Inn, in London, be this Lettre take._
-
-[Sidenote: 1445 / FEB. 4]
-
-To myn welbelovid sone, I grete yow wel, and avyse yow to thynkk onis of
-the daie of youre fadris counseyle to lerne the lawe, for he seyde manie
-tymis that ho so ever schuld dwelle at Paston, schulde have nede to
-conne defende hym selfe.
-
-The Vikare[72.3] of Paston and yowre fadre,[72.4] in Lenttyn last was,
-wher [_were_] thorwe and acordidde, and doolis[72.5] sette howe broode
-the weye schulde ben,[72.6] and nowe he hath pullid uppe the doolis, and
-seithe he wolle makyn a dyche fro the corner of his walle, ryght over
-the weye to the newe diche of the grete cloose. And there is a man in
-Truntche, hyzht Palmer to, that hadde of yowre fadre certein londe in
-Truntche over vij. yere or viij. yere agoone for corn, and trewli hathe
-paide all the yers; and now he hathe suffrid the corne to ben with sette
-for viij_s._ of rentte to Gymmyngham, wich yowre fadre paide nevere.
-Geffreie axid Palmere why the rentte was notte axid in myn husbonddis
-tyme; and Palmere seyde, for he was a grete man, and a wyse man of the
-law, and that was the cawse men wolde not axe hym the rentte.
-
-I sende yow the namis of the men that kaste down the pittis, that was
-Gynnis Close, wretyn in a bille closid in this lettre.
-
-I sendde yow not this lettre to make yow wery of Paston; for I leve in
-hoope, and ye wolle lern that they schulle be made werye of her werke,
-for in good feyth I dar welseyne it was yowr fadris laste wille to have
-do ryzht wel to that plase, and that can I schewe of good profe, thowe
-men wolde seye naye. God make yow ryzht a good man, and sende Goddis
-blessyng and myn.
-
-Wrettyn in haste, at Norwich, the Thorsdaie aftir Candelmasse daie.
-
-Wetith of yowre brothere John now manie gystis [_joists_] wolle serve
-the parler and the chapelle at Paston, and what lenghthe they moste be,
-and what brede and thykknesse thei moste be; for yowre fadris wille was,
-as I weene veryli, that thei schuld be ix. enchis on wey, and vij.
-another weye. And porveythe therfor that thei mow be squarid there, and
-sentte hedre, for here can non soche be hadde in this conttre. And seye
-to yowre brothir John it weer wel don to thinkke on Stansted
-Chirche;[73.1] and I praye yow to sende me tydynggs[73.2] from be yond
-see, for here thei arn a ferde to telle soche as be reportid.
-
-  By yowr Modre,
-
-  AUGNEIS PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 72.2: [From Fenn, iii. 32.] This letter must have been
-    written in February 1445, as it appears from the contents that
-    William Paston was dead, but had been alive in the preceding
-    Lent.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.3: John Partrick of Swathfield was Vicar of Paston,
-    from 1442 to 1447.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.4: William Paston, the Judge.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.5: Landmarks. 'Dolestones' are still spoken of in
-    Norfolk in this sense. --_See_ Latham's Edition of Johnson's
-    _Dictionary_.]
-
-    [Footnote 72.6: On the 6th July 1443 a licence was granted to
-    William Paston to enclose a portion of the highway at Paston,
-    and another at Oxnead, on his making two other highways in place
-    thereof.--_Patent Roll_, 21 Henry VI. p. 1, m. 10.]
-
-    [Footnote 73.1: Stansted Church in Suffolk.--Dame Agnes had
-    possessions in that parish.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 73.2: These tidings relate to our foreign
-    transactions, the giving up of Maine, Truces, &c. &c. on the
-    King's marriage, which had taken place in November.--F.]
-
-
-63
-
-JOHN HAWTEYN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY[74.1]
-
-_To the most reverent Fader in God the Archebisshop of Caunterbury,
-Chanceler of Englond._
-
-[Sidenote: 1444-9]
-
-Besecheth mekely zour gracious Lordship, zour owne servant and oratour
-John Hauteyn, chapeleyn, that wher he hath dyvers seutees and accions in
-lawe to be sewed a zent A., that was the wife of W. Paston, of the maner
-of Oxenedes, in the countee of Northfolk; and for as meche as zour seid
-besecher can gete no counsell of men of court to be with hym in the seid
-matiers, by cause that the seid W. P. was one of the Kynges Justices,
-and John P., son and heir to the seid W. P., is al so a mon of court;
-that hit plese zour good Lordship to assigne, and most streytly to
-comaund John Heydon,[74.2] Thomas Lyttylton,[74.3] and John Oelston to
-be of counsell with zour seid besecher in the seid matiers, and oder
-that he hath to do azenst the seid Anneys and oder; and zour said
-besecher shal contente hem well for their labour. And that this be doo
-in the reverence of God, and wey of charite.
-
-  JOHN HAUTEYN, Chapeleyn.
-
-    [Footnote 74.1: [From Fenn, iii. 36.] This is a petition
-    addressed to John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury, as
-    Chancellor, after the death of William Paston in 1444. Stafford
-    was made Archbishop in 1443. His appointment as Chancellor was
-    even earlier, and he held the office till the 31st of January
-    1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 74.2: A lawyer and recorder of Norwich.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 74.3: Afterwards the famous Judge Lyttelton.--F.]
-
-
-64
-
-SIR ROGER CHAMBERLAIN TO AGNES PASTON[75.1]
-
-_To my right worchepfull Cosyn, Agnes Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: After 1444]
-
-Right worchepfull cosyn, I comand me to you. And as for the mater that
-ye sent to me fore, touchyng the maner callid Walshams, in Walsham, the
-trouth is, youre husbond soldyt to my moder upon condition that she
-shuld never sel it but to youre sones, John or William; and for the
-suerte of the seid condition, youre seid husbond, as I conseyve, ded the
-seid maner be charged with a gret annuyte upon the same condition, or
-the tyme that my seid moder toke estate, of the whech I suppose ye shall
-fynde sufficiant evydens, if ye serge youre evydences therfor. And I be
-seche almyty God kepe you.
-
-Wretyn at Geddyng, the xv. day of September.
-
-  Your Cosyn,
-
-  SIR ROGER CHAMBERLEYN.
-
-    [Footnote 75.1: [From Fenn, iii. 38.] Nothing can be said as to
-    the date of this letter, except that it is evidently after the
-    death of William Paston.]
-
-
-65
-
-THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM TO THE VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[75.2]
-
-_To the right worshipful, and with all myn herte right entirely belovid
-brother, the Viscounte Beaumont._
-
-[Sidenote: Between 1442 and 1455]
-
-Right worshipful, and with all myn herte right entierly beloved brother,
-I recomaunde me to you, thenking right hertili youre good brotherhode
-for your gode and gentill letters, the whiche it hath liked you to sende
-unto me nowe late; and like it you to knowe I perseeve by the tenor of
-the seid lettre, your gode desire of certein dubete that I owe unto you.
-In gode faith, brother, it is so with me at this tyme, I have but easy
-stuffe of money withinne me, for so meche as the seison of the yer is
-not yet growen, so that I may not plese youre seide gode brotherhode,
-as God knoweth my will and entent were to do, and I had it.
-
-Nevertheless, and it like you, I sende you, bi my sonne Stafford,[76.1]
-an obligacion wherof, of late tyme, I have rescevid part of the dubete
-therinne comprisid; the residue of whiche I prai you to resceve bi the
-seid obligacion, and that I may have an acquitance therof, and to yeve
-credence unto my seid sonne in such thing as he shall say unto your gode
-brotherhode on my behalve.
-
-Right worshipfull, and with all myn herte right entirely belovid
-brother, I beseche the blissed Trinite, preserve you in honor and
-prosperite.
-
-Writen at my Castell of Makestok,[76.2] the xvij. day of Marche.
-
-  Yowre trew and fethfull broder,
-
-  H. BUKINGHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 75.2: [From Fenn, i. 16.] There appear to be no means
-    of ascertaining the exact year when this letter was written; but
-    as the writer was created Duke of Buckingham on the 14th
-    September 1441, and his son, the Earl of Stafford, was killed at
-    the battle of St. Albans on the 22nd May 1455, the date must lie
-    between these two limits.]
-
-    [Footnote 76.1: Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, the Duke's eldest
-    son, who was slain at St. Albans in 1455.]
-
-    [Footnote 76.2: In Warwickshire.]
-
-
-66
-
-WILLIAM YELVERTON TO JOHN PASTON[76.3]
-
-_To my ryght wurchepfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquier._
-
-[Sidenote: Between 1444 and 1460]
-
-Right worchepful cosyn, I recomaunde me to yow, thankyng yow as hertyly
-as I kan for my selff, &c., and specially for that ye do so moche for
-Oure Ladyes hous at Walsyngham, which I trust veryly ye do the rather
-for the grete love that ye deme I have therto; for trewly if I be drawe
-to any worchep or wellfare, and discharge of myn enmyes daunger,
-I ascryve it unto Our Lady.
-
-Preyng yow therfore that ye woln ben as frendly to Our Ladyes hous as I
-wote well ye have alwey ben, and in especyall now, that I myght have of
-yow the report certeynly be your letter of that, that Naunton your cosyn
-informyd yow, and told yow be mouth of all maters towchyng Oure Ladyes
-hous of Walsyngham.
-
-For me thynkyth be that I have herde be Oure Ladys prest of Walsyngham,
-if I understode weel that mater, that it shuld do moch to the gode spede
-of the mater; and dought yow not our Lady shall quyte it yow and here
-poer priour here aftyr, as he may, &c.
-
-Preying yow also, cosyn, and avysyng for the ease of us both, and of our
-frendes, and of many other, that ye be at London be tymes this terme,
-and if we spede well now, all well all this yere aftir; for I knowe
-veryly ther was nevyr made gretter labour thanne shall be made now, and
-therfore I pray to Our Lady, help us, and her blissid Sone, which have
-you in His holy kepyng.
-
-Wreten at your poer place of Bayfeld, on Sent Fraunces day,[77.1] in
-hast.
-
-  Your cosyn,
-
-  WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justis.
-
-    [Footnote 76.3: [From Fenn, i. 20.] The date of this letter is
-    not earlier than 1444, when William Yelverton was appointed a
-    Justice of the King's Bench; and, as Fenn remarks, it is
-    probably not later than 1460, when he was made a Knight of the
-    Bath, otherwise he would have signed himself Knight as well as
-    Justice.]
-
-    [Footnote 77.1: St. Francis' day is the 4th of October.]
-
-
-67
-
-ABSTRACT[77.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1446 / OCT. 30]
-
-Indenture, dated 30 Oct. 25 Henry VI., by which Agnes Paston grants a
-lease to John Downing, miller, and others, of the mill called Woodmill,
-in Paston.
-
-    [Footnote 77.2: [Add. Charter 14,819, B.M. (D. Turner's Coll.)]]
-
-
-68
-
-THE BAILIFF AND JURATS OF JERSEY TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[78.1]
-
-_A nos treshonores et nobles Signours Visconte Beaumont, Connestable
-d'Engleterre et Seigneur de Sudele, grant mestre de hostel de nostre
-Souverayn Seigneur le Roy d'Engleterre et France._
-
-[Sidenote: 1447]
-
-Treshonorablez et noblez seigneurs, nous nous recommandons tant que
-faire le povons a voz honnorablez seignouriez. Et vous plese savoir que
-le samedy xv^me jour du moys de Aprille nous avons receu unez lettrez
-patentes de nostre Souverain Seigneur le Roy d'Engleterre et de France,
-contenant comme il vous a donne la guarde dez islez de Jersey et
-Guernesey durant le non aage de l'er de mon Seigneur de Warwyk, et unez
-aultrez lettrez a nous directes de par vous, presentees de par voz
-servitours John Morin et Robert Haxby. Et pour cause que eulx n'avoyent
-point de procuracions, ou feisions difficultey, et non obstant a voz
-ditz servitours a estey delivree et baillie la pocession de la dicte
-isle de Jersey, et ont jure et promis par lours serementz de guarder le
-loys et coustumez et anciens usagez de la dicte isle, et nous envoier
-lettrez soubz lez seaulx de voz armez, comme voz promettez tenir en
-fermete ce que eulx ont promis, et de ce nous ont bailly plege Sire John
-Bernard, cappitaine desdictez islez, quer aultrement nous ne lez eussons
-point receus, comme il apparest par le certificat a eulx par nous donne,
-quer tous lez seigneurs, guardes, cappitaines, juges, et aultrez
-officers de audevant de cez hourez ont estey jurez a nous lois,
-coustumez et anciens usagez, lez queilz ont estey guardez et seront en
-tempz advenir avecquez l'aide de Dieu, qui vous ayt en sa sainte guarde.
-
-Escript en Jersey le xvij^me jour du moys de Aprill.
-
-  De par lez vostrez le Bailiff [et]
-  Jures de l'Isle de Gersy.
-
-    [Footnote 78.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The custody of the
-    islands of Jersey and Guernsey, &c., during the minority of Ann,
-    daughter and heir of Henry de Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, was
-    granted in 25 Henry VI. to John, Viscount Beaumont, and Sir
-    Ralph Butler, Lord Sudley. --_See_ Dugdale's _Baronage_, ii. 54.]
-
-  [[nous nous recommandons
-    _printed "recommandous" (the doubled "nous" is not an error)_]]
-
-
-69
-
-EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[79.1]
-
-_Tradatur Johanni Paston, of the Inner In in the Temple, att London._
-
-[Sidenote: 1447(?)]
-
-Ryth worschipfull brothir, I recomaund me to yow, &c. I preye write to
-myn modre of your owne hed as for to consell her howh that sche kepe her
-prevye, and tell no body ryth nowth of her counsell; for sche woll tell
-persones many of her counsell this day, and to morwe sche woll sey be
-Goddis faste that the same men ben false. I have seen parte of the
-evydence, and the maner[79.2] hath be pourchasid be parcell, and certeyn
-feffement mad of the avowson, and certeyn pecis of lond enterlessant the
-maner; and I wote well ye have on collaterall rellesse wyth a warente of
-on of the wyffys of Hauteyn[79.3] of all the holl maner.
-
-Steward, the chiffe constable, told me he was enpanellyd up on the
-assise be twex yow and Frauncesse; he axyd me counsell what he myght do
-ther inne, for he told me it was take in Sir Thomas Tudham name. He wold
-fayne be chalengyd. I concellyd him swere the trewthe of the issue that
-he shall be swore to, and thanne he nedyd never to drede hym of noon
-atteynte. I yave him this counsell, and noon othir. He enqueryd me of
-the rewle of myn master Danyell[80.1] and myn Lord of Suffolke,[80.2]
-and askyd wheche I thowte schuld rewle in this schere; and I seyd bothe,
-as I trowh, and he that survyvyth to hold be the vertue of the survyvyr,
-and he to thanke his frendes, and to aquite his enmyys. So I fele by him
-he wold forsake his master, and gette him a newh yf he wyste he schuld
-rewle; and so wene I meche of all the contre is so disposyd. The holy
-Trenyte kepe yow.
-
-Wrete at Norwiche, on the Wednysday after Seynt Peter[80.3] in hast.
-
-  Your Brother,
-
-  E. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 79.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the conversation
-    here reported touching the anticipated ascendancy of Daniel and
-    the Marquis, afterwards Duke, of Suffolk, this letter may be
-    referred to the year 1447. In April of the year following, the
-    influence of Suffolk was paramount, and Daniel was said to be
-    out of favour, as will be seen by Letter 75 following.]
-
-    [Footnote 79.2: The manor of Oxnead. --_See_ Blomefield, vi.
-    478.]
-
-    [Footnote 79.3: Probably Robert, father of John Hauteyn, the
-    friar.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.1: Thomas Daniel.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.2: William de la Pole, at this time Marquis,
-    afterwards Duke, of Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.3: St. Peter's day is the 29th June.]
-
-  [[att London  _printed "Lonaon" (recurring error with italic "d")_]]
-
-
-70
-
-ABSTRACT[80.4]
-
-[Sidenote: 1447 / SEPT. 3]
-
-Deed by which William Pope, perpetual Vicar of Paston, confirms to
-Agnes, widow of William Paston, and John Bakton, their estate in a piece
-of land, particularly described; and also binds himself to celebrate
-mass every Friday for the souls of said William and Agnes, &c. &c.,
-exhort his parishioners to put up prayers for them every Sunday, called
-'certeynys,' and celebrate William Paston's obit on the 13th August.
-
-  Dated at Paston, 3rd September 26 Henry VI.
-
-    [Footnote 80.4: [Add. Charter 17,235, B.M. (Paston MSS.)]]
-
-
-71
-
-ABSTRACTS[80.5]
-
-[Sidenote: 1447 / OCT. 21, 26]
-
-21 Oct., at London.--Letter from Fastolf to Thomas Howys and John Grene,
-desiring them to procure information about one Robert Eccles, cousin and
-heir to John Eccles, whom the counsel for the prior of Hickling propose
-to call to give evidence about the rent of 25 marks.
-
-1447, [26 Oct.] 'Thursday byfore S. Symond and Jude,' 26 Hen. VI. at
-Castre. Long letter from Thomas Howys in reply to the preceding, with
-the results of searches made in the Bishop's registry for wills of the
-Eccles family, with particulars about various members of the family,
-etc.
-
-  [For these abstracts I am indebted to Mr. Macray, and also for those
-  immediately following, which are from the same source.]
-
-    [Footnote 80.5: [From MSS. Hickling, 130, 140, in Magd. Coll.,
-    Oxf.]]
-
-
-72
-
-ABSTRACTS[81.1]
-
-THE PRIOR OF HICKLING.
-
-_Hickling 71._
-
-[14 . . ] At Westminster.
-
-_Letter_ [on paper, in English] from two counsel, _William Wangeford_
-and _William Jenney_, to Sir John Fastolf, giving their opinion on his
-claim against the prior of Hickling. Sir John cannot recover the L20
-forfeit, because the condition of the obligation only extended to the
-heirs of Sir Hugh Clifford, and not to his assigns, and Sir John is only
-an assign; but the rent of 25 marks is sure to him, and he can recover
-it, if denied by the prior, by process of law; they will consult with
-justices and serjeants whether he can recover it by distraint.
-
-_Hickling 74._
-
-[14 . . ] Friday in the 2nd week after Easter at Lenne.
-
-_Letter_, [in English, on paper] from _Henry Notyngham_ to Sir Henry
-Barton, Alderman of London. Has counselled with Paston, and finds him
-more friendly and ready to help in Barton's matter than ever before;
-supposes that the cause is, that the prior that was obstinate is dead,
-and another appointed, who Paston trusts will be more easy to stir.
-Desires that Paston may be thanked. Sends a letter which he desires
-'a child of zours' may carry to Mistress Jenkin Leventhorpe the younger;
-and ask at my lord's inn of Doreham or of Ratclyff or some other which
-he may think best, if he (_i.e._ my Lord of Durham) shall be at this
-Parliament. Send to Thomelin Grys, spicer at Norwich, some 'loder,' as
-soon as he can goodly buy it, which comes each week to Rossamez Inn in
-St. Laurence's Lane.
-
-_Hickling 75._
-
-[14 . . ] 14 Apr., at Norwich.
-
-_Letter_, [in English, on paper] from _H[enry] Notyngham_ to Sir Henry
-Barton, alderman of London. Delivered Paston the copy of the deeds;
-shewed his letter to the prior and convent, but gained nothing; they
-said they would please Barton full fain, but all their counsel are full
-against their binding themselves by any such confirmation; they were
-bound to the former owner and his heirs, but not to his assigns. Advises
-him to get good counsel, and thinks nothing can be done unless he gets
-Paston's assent and grant to help the matter.
-
-_Hickling 89._
-
-[1450 _or_ 1451?] 18 Aug. Norwich.
-
-_Letter_ [in English, on paper] _from_ '_W. [Hart], Bisshope of
-Norwich_,' to Sir John Fastolf. Has put himself greatly in his devoir to
-put an end to the controversy between Fastolf and the house of Hykelyng,
-and has been so importunate that Lord Scales has advised him not to
-meddle in the matter, because he is taken as a suspect person; if he
-could do him more profit, he would not spare labour or cost, on account
-of Fastolf's towardness and gentleness to condescend unto right and
-reasonable mean, the which he conceives not in the other party. Had
-hoped his good and devout purpose towards the place of St. Bennett's
-would have grown to some good conclusion; was there the Sunday before
-St. Laurence's Day, and greatly rejoiced at such work and cost as he has
-done there. Heartily desires him to come here to the air of his natural
-birth, where he will find my Lord of Norfolk and such attendance as the
-Bishop and other gentles of the country may do, ready unto him at all
-times; his coming would be to his health and heart's ease, and the cause
-of much peace in the country.
-
-  Small seal, fastened _on_ the letter; a stag; a straw round it.
-
-  _Hickling 104._
-
-[   ]
-
-_Letter_, [in English, on paper] from _Lord Scales_ to Sir John Fastolf,
-asking him to withdraw an outlawry which has been issued against John
-Dowebegyng, servant of the former, for a debt of L100 due to Fastolf by
-Thomas Danyell, Esq., for which Dowebegyng had become bound.
-
-Signed by Lord Scales, who adds a postscript in his own hand that
-Fastolf has been as faithful and kind to him since he came into England
-as he was in France, and that there is no one of his estate for whom he
-would do so much.
-
-  Small seal, on the paper, with a straw round it.
-
-    [Footnote 81.1: [From MSS. in Magd. Coll., Oxf.]]
-
-  [[The empty brackets after "Hickling 104" are in the original.]]
-
-
-73
-
-ABSTRACT[82.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1447 / NOV. 29]
-
-Indenture, dated St. Andrew's Eve, 26 Henry VI., between Agnes Paston
-and Waryn Baxter, the former agreeing that Baxter shall have, at the
-will of the lord of the manor of Knapton, the lands, &c. that were
-Richard Redys [Rede's], with reservations.
-
-    [Footnote 82.1: [Add. Charter 17,236, B.M. (Paston MSS.)]]
-
-
-74
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[83.1]
-
-_To my right worshipfull mayster, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / MARCH 11]
-
-Worthy and worshipful sir, and my right good maister, I recomaund me to
-yow. And do yow wete that this nyght at soper I was with my maistresse
-your wyff at my maistresse Cleres, and blissed be God thei fare weel and
-hopyn that [you[83.2]] shall sende themme good tidyng of your matier,
-Whanne ye knowe the certeynte therof, &c. And my maistresse your modir
-come thedir and fareth well and sendeth yow Goddis blissyng and heris,
-and she bad me write to yow that she hath verey knowelage by a trewe and
-trusty man, whos name she shall telle yow by mouthe atte your next
-metyng, that ther was purposed a gret meyne of a wondir gaderyng of
-shipmen abowte Conorhithe for to have come to Oxened, and putte me owt
-there in a wers wyse thanne ye were put owt at Gresham; and this was
-purposed for to have ben at Oxened and a ryfled and put in the
-preest[83.3] there, but this purpose helde not, for thei were
-countermandet, by what mene I can not knowe yeet. And[83.4] it is do hir
-to wete that thei be purposed to be at Ox[n]ede a bowt midlent, and I am
-promitted that I shall have ii. days warnyng by a good freend. And
-therfor she prayeth yow that ye aspie besily if the preest come into
-thir countre or noght. For if ought shall be doo I trowe the Frere wole
-be there atte doyng. And if ye can aspie that he come hider, send my
-maistresse word as hastily as ye may, and of your avyse and of all other
-thyngges as ye seme, &c. And God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn at ix.
-on the clokke at evyn the noneday (_sic_) nex to fore Sent Gregory day
-in hast.
-
-My brother Bekke and his felawship shall telle yow more by mowthe thanne
-I can telle yow now.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  J. GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 83.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 178.] St. Gregory's Day is
-    doubtless that of St. Gregory the Pope (12 March), and this
-    letter may be referred with certainty to the year 1448, just
-    after Paston's first expulsion from Gresham. The Monday before
-    St. Gregory's Day in that year would be the very day preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 83.2: Omitted in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 83.3: Friar John Hawteyn.]
-
-    [Footnote 83.4: 'and' repeated in MS.]
-
-
-75
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[84.1]
-
-_To my ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, Jon Paston, be this lettyr delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / APRIL]
-
-Ryth wyrchypful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to zw, desyryng hertyly to heryn
-of zour wel fare, praying zw to wete that I was with my Lady
-Morley[84.2] on the Satyrday next after that ze departyd from hens, and
-told here qhat answer that ze had of Jon Butt, and sche toke it ryth
-straw[n]gely, and seyd that sche had told zw, and schewyd zw i now
-[_enough_], qher by ze myth have knowleche that the releve owt [_ought_]
-to ben payd to her. And sche seyd sche wyst wel that ze delay it forthe,
-that sche xuld nowth have that longyth to her ryth. And sche told me hw
-it was payd in Thomas Chawmbers tym, qhan her dowther Hastyngs[84.3] was
-weddyd; and sche seyd sythyn that ze wyl make none end with her, sche
-wyl sew therfore as law wyl.
-
-I conseyvyd be here that sche had cwnsel to labore azens zw therin
-withyn ryth schort tym. And than I prayd her that sche wuld vwche save
-nowth to labowr azens zw in this mater tyl ze kom hom; and sche seyd
-nay, be her feyth, sche wuld no more days zeve [_give_] zw therin. Sche
-seyd sche had sett zw so many days to a kord with her, and ze had broke
-them, that sche was ryth wery therof; and sche seyd sche was but a
-woman, sche must don be her cownseyl, and her cwnseyle had avysyd her,
-so sche seyd sche wyld do. Than I prayd her azyn that sche wuld teryn
-[_tarry_] tyl ze kom hom, and I seyd I trostyd veryly that ze wuld don
-qhan ze kom hom, as itt longeth to zw to don; and if ze myth have very
-knowleche that sche awyth of ryth for to have itt, I seyd I wyst wel
-that ze wuld pay it with ryth gode wyl, and told her that ze had sergyd
-to a fownd wrytyng therof, and ze kwd non fynd in non wyse. And sche
-sayd sche wyst wele there was wrytyng therof inow, and sche hath wrytyng
-therof hw Syr Robert of Mawthby, and Sir Jon, and my grawnsyre, and
-dyverse other of myn awncesterys payd it, and seyd nevyre nay therto.
-And in no wyse I kwd not geyn no grawnth of her to sesyn tyl ze kom hom;
-and sche bad me that I xuld don an erand to my moder, and qhan I kam
-hom, I dede myn erand to her. And sche axyd me if I had spokyn to my
-lady of this forseyd mater, and I told her hw I had do, and qhat answer
-I had; and sche seyd sche xuld gon to my Lady Morles on the nexst day,
-and sche xuld speken to her therof, and a say to getyn grawnt of her to
-sesyn of the forsayd mater tyl that ze kom hom. And truly my moder dede
-her dever ryth feythfully therin, as my cosyn Clare[85.1] xal tellyn zw
-qhan that he speketh with zow; and sche gete grawnt of my seyd lady that
-there xuld nowth ben don azens zw therin, and ze wold acordyn with her,
-and don as ze owyn to do be twyx this tym and Trinyte Sunday.
-
-Laueraw[n]ce Rede of Mawthhy recommawndeth hym to zu, and prayt zw that
-ze wyl vwchesave to leten hym byn [_buy_] of zw the ferm barly that ze
-xuld have of hym, and if ze wyl laten hym have it to a resonabyl pris,
-he wyl have it with ryth a gode wyl; and he prayit zw if ze wyl that he
-have it, that ze wyl owche save [_vouchsafe_] to send hym word at qhat
-pris he xuld have the kowmb as hastyly as ze may, and ellys he must be
-purvayd in other plase.
-
-As twchyng other tydyngs, I sopose Jon of Dam xal send zw word in a
-letter. As it is told me veryly, Heydon xal not kom at London this term.
-
-It is seyd in this contre that Danyell[86.1] is owth of the Kyngs gode
-grase, and he xal dwn and all hys mene, and all that ben hys wele
-wyllers; there xal no man ben so hardy to don nether seyn azens my Lord
-of Sowthfolk,[86.2] nere non that longeth to hym; and all that have don
-and seyd azens hym, they xul sore repent hem. Kateryn Walsam xal be
-weddyd on the Munday nexst after Trinyte Sonday, as it is told me, to
-the galaunte with the grete chene; and there is purvayd for her meche
-gode aray of gwnys, gyrdelys, and atyrys, and meche other gode aray, and
-he hathe purcheysyd a gret purcheys of v. mark be zer to zevyn her to
-her joynture.
-
-I am aferd that Jon of Sparham is so schyttyl wyttyd, that he wyl sett
-hys gode to morgage to Heydon, or to sum other of ywre gode frendys, but
-if [_i.e._ unless] I can hold hym inne the better, ere ze kom hom. He
-hath ben arestyd sythyn that ye went, and hath had moche sorw at the
-sewte of mayster Joh Stoks of London for x. mark that Sparham owt to
-hym; and in gode feyth he hath had so moche sorow and hevynesse that he
-wyst nowth qhat he myth don. I fell hym so disposyd that he wold asold
-and asett to morgage all that he hath, he had nowth rowth to qhom, so
-that he myth an had mony to an holpyn hym self wyth; and I entretyd hym
-so, thatt I sopose he wyll nother sellyn ner sett to morgage, nother
-catel ner other gode of hese, tyl he speke with zw. He soposeth that al
-that is don to hym is att the request of the Parson of Sparham and
-Knatylsale. I sopose it is almas to comfort hym, for in gode feyth he is
-ryth hevy, and hys wyf al so. He is nowth nw under arest, he hath payd
-hys feys, and goth at large; he was arestyd att Sparham, of on of
-Knatysales men.
-
-Hodge Feke told me thatt Sym Schepherd is styl with Wylly,[86.3] and if
-ze wyl I xal purvey that he xal be browth hom er ze kom hom. It is told
-me that he that kept zour schep was owth lawyd on Munday at the swth of
-Sir Thomas Todynham, and if it be so, ze arn nowth lyk to kepe hym
-longe. And as twchyng that that ze badeyn me spekyn for to Bakton, he
-seyth he is wel avysyd that sche seyd sche wuld never have to don with
-all, ner he kan not pek that sche seyd sche hath non ryth to have it,
-and he wyl say lyche as he hath herd her seyd; and if sche speke to hym
-therof, he wyll rather hold with zw than with her. I pray ye that ze wyl
-vwche save to send me word hw ze spede in zour matter twchyng Gressam,
-and hw Danyel is in grace. Harry Goneld hath browth to me xl_s._ of
-Gressam syn ze zede, and he seyth I xal have more or Qhythson tyd, if he
-may pyk it up.
-
-I sopose Jamys Gressam hath told zw of other thyngs that I have sped syn
-ze zedyn hens. If I her any strawnge tydyngs in this contre, I xall send
-zw word. I pray zw that I may ben recommawndyd to my Lord Danyel.
-
-The Holy Trynyte have zw in hys kepyng, and send zw helth and gode spede
-in al zour maters twchyng zour ryth.
-
-Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Wedenys day nexst after thatt ze partyd hens.
-
-  Yors,
-
-  MARGARETE PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 84.1: [From Fenn, iii. 54.] The date of this letter is
-    fixed by an endorsement in these words, 'Literae termino Paschae
-    anno xxvj.,' showing that it was written in Easter term, in the
-    26th year of Henry VI. Easter term in that year lasted from the
-    10th of April to the 6th of May.]
-
-    [Footnote 84.2: Isabel, widow of Thomas, Lord Morley, who died
-    in 1435. She was the daughter of Michael de la Pole, Earl of
-    Suffolk. Fenn confounds her with the widow of the Lord Morley
-    who died in 1417, who was a daughter of Edward, Lord Dispencer,
-    and had previously married Sir Hugh Hastings. But this lady died
-    about 1426 (Blomefield, ii. 440), and cannot be the lady
-    mentioned in the text.]
-
-    [Footnote 84.3: Ann, married to John Hastyngs. --_See_
-    Blomefield, ii. 430.]
-
-    [Footnote 85.1: Probably William, eldest son of Robert Clere of
-    Ormesby, who died in 1446. --_See_ Blomefield, vi. 336.]
-
-    [Footnote 86.1: Thomas Daniel.]
-
-    [Footnote 86.2: _See_ p. 80, note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 86.3: William Paston, son of the Judge (?).]
-
-  [[Laueraw[n]ce Rede of Mawthhy
-    _text unchanged: error for "Mawthby"?_]]
-
-  [[mayster Joh Stoks of London
-    _text unchanged: error for "Joh." or "Jon"?_]]
-
-
-76
-
-LORD SCALES TO THOMAS GNATESHALE[87.1]
-
-_To Thomas Gnateshale._
-
-[Sidenote: Date uncertain]
-
-Thomas Gnateshale, I wul ze wite it was oute of my remembrance that
-Paston hade pout in my determinacion the discort betwene you and hym.
-I was the more favourable to your entent, but in so mych as I had
-forgete that beforesaid, I praye you that ye suffre the cornes in mene
-hand til that I have determined the matier betwene you too be the advis
-of lerned men whech han knowelich in such causses, the which thing I wul
-do in as short tyme as may, wherof ze shal have knowelich.
-
-Writen at Myddelton, the xiiij. day of August.
-
-  THE LORD SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 87.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The person to whom this
-    is addressed is probably the same 'Knatysale' mentioned in the
-    preceding letter, and as it contains no evidence of any definite
-    date, we think best to insert it here.]
-
-
-77
-
-ABSTRACT[88.1]
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO HER HUSBAND (_not addressed_).
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / MAY 19]
-
-On Friday last, the Parson of Oxened 'being at messe in one Parossh
-Chirche, evyn at levacion of the sakeryng, Jamys Gloys had been in the
-town, and come homeward by Wymondam's gate,' when he was attacked by
-Wymondham who had two of his men with him, and driven into 'my mother's
-place' for refuge. With the noise of this, my mother and I came out of
-the church from the sakeryng, and Wymondham 'called my mother and me
-strong whores, and said, ye Pastons and all her kin were . . . . . . .
-yngham said he lied, knave and churl as he was.' After noon my mother
-and I reported this to the Prior of Norwich, who sent for Wymondham;
-and Pagrave came with us. While Wymondham was with the Prior, and we at
-home, Gloys was assaulted again in the street, 'as he stood in the Lady
-Hastyngs' chamber,' by Thomas Hawys, one of Wymondham's men. This last
-assault the Parson of Oxened saw. Sends Gloys to her husband for fear of
-further trouble. The Lady Morle 'would have the benefice of her
-obligacion,' as her counsel tells her it is forfeit, and she would not
-have the relief till she have your homage. The Lord Moleyns' man is
-collecting the rent at Gresham 'a great pace,' as James Gresham will
-report to you.
-
-  Trinity Sunday, at even.
-
-  Further statement about the assault added in a different hand
-  (qu. Agnes Paston's?).
-
-  [From the fact of Lord Molyns being in possession of Gresham, and
-  collecting rents there, it is clear that the date of this letter is
-  1448. This date also agrees with what is said in Letter 75 about a
-  relief claimed by Lady Morley.]
-
-    [Footnote 88.1: [From Phillipps MS. 9735, No. 256.]]
-
-
-78
-
-JOHN NORTHWOOD TO JOHN, VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[88.2]
-
-_To my worschypful and reverent Lord, John, Vicont Beaumont._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / MAY 28]
-
-Rygth worschypfull, and my reverent and most spesiall Lord, y recomaund
-me un to yowr good grace in the most humble and lowly wyse that y canne
-or may, desyryng to her of your prosperite and well fare [as to
-my][88.3] most syngeler joy and spesiall comfort.
-
-And gyf hyt plees your Hygnes, as towchyng the soden aventuer that fell
-latly at Coventre, plees hyt your Lordshyp to her that, on Corpus
-Christi Even[89.1] last passed, be twene viij. and ix. of the clok at
-a[fternon],[89.2] Syr Umfrey Stafford[89.3] had browth my mayster Syr
-James of Urmond[89.4] towa[r]d hys yn [_inn_] from my Lady of
-Shrewesb[ery,[89.5] and][89.2] reterned from hym toward hys yn, he met
-with Syr Robert Harcourt[89.6] comyng from hys moder towards hys yn, and
-pass[ed Syr][89.2] Umfrey; and Richard, hys son, came somewhat be hynd,
-and when they met to gyder, they fell in handes togyder, and [Sir
-Robert][89.2] smot hym a grette st[r]oke on the hed with hys sord, and
-Richard with hys dagger hastely went toward hym. And as he stombled, on
-of Harcourts men smot hym in the bak with a knyfe; men wotte not ho hyt
-was reddely. Hys fader hard noys, and rode toward hem, and hys men ronne
-befor hym thyder ward; and in the goyng downe of hys hors, on, he wotte
-not ho, be hynd hym smot hym on the hede with a nege tole, men know not
-with us with what wepone, that he fell downe; and hys son fell downe be
-fore hym as good as dede. And all thys was don, as men sey, in a Pater
-Noster wyle. And forth with Syr Umfrey Stafford men foloed after, and
-slew ij. men of Harcowrttus, on Swynerton, and Bradshawe, and mo ben
-hurt; sum ben gonne, and sum be in pryson in the jayll at Coventre.
-
-And before the coroner of Coventre, up on the sygth of the bodyes, ther
-ben endited, as prynsipall for the deth of Richard Stafford, Syr Robert
-Harcourt and the ij. men that ben dede. And for the ij. men of Harcourts
-that ben dede, ther ben endited ij. men of Syr Umfrey as prynsipall. And
-as gytte ther hath ben no thyng fownden before the Justice of the Pees
-of Coventre of thys riot, be caws the shreffe of Warwyk shyre is
-dede,[90.1] and they may not sytt in to the tyme ther be a new shreve.
-
-And all thys myschef fell be cawse of a nold debate that was be twene
-heme for takyng of a dystres, as hyt is told.
-
-And All mygthty Jesu preserve yowr hye astat, my spesiall Lord, and send
-yow long lyve and good hele.
-
-Wryten at Coventre on Tewusday next after Corpus Christi day, &c.
-
-  Be yowr own pore Servant,
-
-  JOHN NORTHWOD.
-
-    [Footnote 88.2: [From Fenn, i. 12.] The date of this letter will
-    appear by a foot-note.]
-
-    [Footnote 88.3: The bracketed words are noted by Fenn as
-    'imperfect in the original, the paper being chafed.']
-
-    [Footnote 89.1: 22nd May.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.2: The bracketed words are noted by Fenn as
-    'imperfect in the original, the paper being chafed.']
-
-    [Footnote 89.3: Killed in an engagement with Jack Cade in June
-    1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.4: Probably Sir James Butler, son and heir-apparent
-    of James, fourth Earl of Ormond, who in 1449 was created Earl of
-    Wiltshire.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.5: Wife of John Talbot, the famous Earl of
-    Shrewsbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 89.6: He signalised himself in the wars of Henry VI.
-    and Edward IV., was a Knight of the Garter, and in November
-    1470, 10 Edward IV., was slain by the Staffords, perhaps in
-    revenge for this murder of Richard Stafford.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 90.1: Thomas Porter was sheriff of the counties of
-    Warwick and Leicester in 26 Henry VI., and died in his year of
-    office on Monday after Corpus Christi day (27th May 1448), the
-    day before this letter was written.--Inquisition _post mortem_,
-    27 Henry VI., No. 13.]
-
-
-79
-
-LORD MOLYNS TO THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER[90.2]
-
-_To the worschypful Fader yn God, and my ryth gode Lord, the Bysshop of
-Wynchestyr.[90.3]_
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / JUNE 13]
-
-Worschypful Fader yn God, and my rythe gode Lord, as hertely as y canne,
-y recomaund me to your gode Lordschyp; to the wyche plese hyt to wyt
-that y have resayvyd your lettre, by the wyche y oundyrstond the dayely
-sute to your Lordschyp as of Pastun, as for the mater betwyx hym and me,
-wer yn also y fele that he ys wyllyd that comynycasyon and trete schold
-be had betwyxt hys counsayle and myne, now at Mydsomer; to the wyche, my
-Lord, y am at the reverens of your Lordschyp wel agreyd, and have send
-to my counsayle at Loundon, aftyr the seyng of thys your last letter,
-as for the trete by twyxt hym and me, and that they schold yeve ful
-attendauns to the end of the mater by twne the sayde Pastun and me, as
-thow y were present with hem.
-
-And, my Lord, hyt were to grete a thyng, and hyte laye yn my power, but
-y wold do at the reverens of your Lordschyp, yn las than hyt schold hurt
-me to gretly, wyche y wote wel your Lordschyp wol nevyr desyr.
-
-And God for hys mercy have you, rythe worschypful Fadyr yn God, and my
-rythe gode Lord, yn hys blessyd kepyng.
-
-Wrytyn with my noune chaunsery hand, yn hast, the xiij. daye of June,
-at Teffaunt.
-
-  Vere hartely your,
-
-  MOLYNS.
-
-    [Footnote 90.2: [From Fenn, i. 190.] It appears, by John
-    Paston's petition presented to Parliament two years later, that
-    after he had been dispossessed of Gresham by Lord Molyns in
-    February 1448, communications passed between his counsel and
-    that of Lord Molyns on the subject until Michaelmas following.
-    This letter must refer to the first overtures.]
-
-    [Footnote 90.3: The celebrated William of Waynflete.]
-
-
-80
-
-ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON[91.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1448]
-
-[Illustration]
-
-Worchepeful mayster I recomend me to yow: and I pray yow to wete I was
-at Katefeld in Cobbes place for to se the armes as ye comaunded me, and
-the feld is gold wyth iii. bukkeles of sylver mad on the wyse as it is
-her, wyth floweris of sylver on the bukkelis mad of iiij. lyke a
-trewlove. Also, syr, I have spoke to a fryer that is conversaunt at
-Wykelwode wyth Randolffis dowter and he hath behestid me for to gete me
-Randolffis armes of hese dowter Wyltones wyf; but I have not yet spoke
-wyth the frier a yen. Also I pray yow to wete that I was at Mauteby and
-ye have there CC. combz of malt if ye wyl gef for xiiii_d._ a combz in
-the comes and xxi. for xx. ye shal have redy mony, as I suppose, for
-Pykeryng sellyth for xi_d._ and xii_d._ the lest that hath, as the
-parson of Mauteby tellyth me. And the parson and I have do throche your
-qwete for it was ete wyth myse to petowsly for to se; and if it plese
-yow I pray yow that ye wyl send me word qwhedyr ye wyl selle your malt
-and your qhete aftyr the pryse of the countre or (?) it shal be purveyid
-for to kepe it til ye may sett. And I have spoke to Lawrauns Reede for
-the ferme; but he wyl not take it, as I conseyve, til he speke wyth yow.
-I suppos for to a made a covienaunt wyth hym, but he hath no sewerte
-yet, and the londis shal not be in your handis til myhelmes as he
-seyeth; ther for he is the mor terying, &c. I beseche all myti Jhesu
-spede yow and kepe yow.
-
-  [_Not signed._]
-
-  On the back are some names of families in a contemporary hand, and
-  five shields of arms tricked in a modern hand, the latter being
-  apparently the armorial bearings of ancestors of the Earl of
-  Yarmouth, to whom there is a letter addressed by 'Wm. Smyth' upon
-  this subject at f. 146 of the MS.
-
-    [Footnote 91.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 143.] This letter is
-    neither signed nor addressed, but there is no doubt the person
-    for whom it was intended was John Paston the eldest, who
-    possessed property at Mautby in right of his wife. The reference
-    to Laurence Reede seems further to show that it is of the year
-    1448. See p. 85.]
-
-
-81
-
-JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[92.1]
-
-_To my Ryght Wurchepfull master John Paston be this deliuered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1448 / DEC. 3]
-
-Right reverent and wurchepfull sir, I recommande me to yow, desyryng to
-here of yowr welfare, the which gracyows God contynually preserve and
-kepe to yowr gostly hele and bodily welfare; praying yow to wete that as
-for the broke sylver that my mastres wend for to a sent yow whan she
-dede wryte her letter, ther is none in your forcer; she supposyd that ye
-left it at Norwiche in yowr cofere, wher of ye have the key. Also my
-mastres yowr moder grete yow wele, and pray yow to send her word how she
-shall do with Edward of Whode of Paston; for she dede seys his corn on
-the lond the last hervest, and he led it a wey after that it whas seysyd
-with awth licens and leve of here or any of here offyceris. Item, my
-mastres yowr syster recommand her hertly to yow, and pray yow that and
-ye wold wochesaff to speke to my master Edmund, and pray hym if that he
-hath bowth here ger that she sent to hym fore, that he wold send it her
-home; in cas that[93.1] he have not bowth it, that he wold be it and
-sent it here in all the hast that he may goodly. Forthermore if it plese
-yow to her of my master Berney, he was at Gresham with my mastres on the
-Tuysday next after Halwemasday, the same day that we dystreynyd Jamys
-Rokkysson, and I had mette a litill a fore with Pertrych, and he thrett
-me, and sayd that we shuld not long kepe the dystresse, and there for my
-mastres dede us don on owr jakkys and owr salettis. My master Berney cam
-in and the parson of Oxened with hym and sey us in owre jakkis, and he
-wexe as pale as any herd and wold right fayn a ben thens. So my mastres
-dede hym dyne, and whill thei wher at dynar Herry Collys told my mastres
-openly among us all that the same tyme that Pertrych entryd a geyn up on
-yow, his master was at Causton to yow ward, and there it was told hym
-that Pertrych had putt yow owth and all your men, and that ye and my
-mastres wher redyn a geyn to Norwhich, and all your howshold, and that
-causyd hym that he cam no forther that tyme; and my Master Berney
-confermyd all this and seyd that it was so. Whan thei had etyn he had
-mych hast to a be thens, so my mastres desyryd and prayd hym that he
-wold come a geyn or aght long; and so with mych praying he be hest her
-if he mythe. And Herry Collys stode ther bysyde and seyd to my felachep,
-'What shuld my master do here,' quod he, 'lete yowr master send after
-his kynnysmen at Mautby, for thei have nowth that thei mawn lese.' And
-so thei redyn her wey. And with in a sevenygt after my master Berney
-sent Davy to my mastres, and prayd my mastres that she wold hold his
-master excusyd, for he had hurt his owyn hors that he rode up on; and he
-dede Davy sadillyn an oder hors; and he stode by and made water whill he
-sadyllyd hym, and as Davy shuld a kyrt the hors, he slenkyd behynd and
-toke his master on the hepe suyche a stroke that never man may trust hym
-after, and brake his hepe. And he had sent Herry Collys to Norwhich for
-medycynys, so he must ryde hom the same nygt; for his master had no man
-at home. So my mastres was rygth sory, and wend that it had be trowth,
-but I know wele that it was not so. It happyd that I rod the next day to
-Norwhich, and I rood in to my mastres your moder, and she dede aske me
-after my master Berney, and I told here how he was hurt. And she askyd
-the parson of Oxened if he wer hurt, and he seyd nay; for Davy lay with
-hym the same nygt a fore and told hym that he was heyll and mery, and
-prayd hym that he wold be with hym the Sonday next after; and so Davy
-lay the same nygt after that he had told my mastres the tale with the
-parson of Oxened. I beseche yow of yowre gode masterchep that ye wold
-not do wreythe this letter, for and my mastres knew that I sent yow
-suyche a letter I were never abyll to loke up on her, nor to abyde in
-her heysyte. My mastres yowr moder hath sent yow ij. letteris; she hath
-in dosyd hem to my master Edmunde, and she wuld wete if ye had hem or
-nawth. The Holy Trynyte have yow in kepyng. Wrytyne at Norwhich on Sent
-Clementis evyn. In hast.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  JAMIS GLOYS.
-
-    [Footnote 92.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 57.] This letter bears upon
-    the dispute about Gresham, and is probably of the year 1448, for
-    it is to be presumed that Edmund Paston died shortly after the
-    date of his nuncupative will, 21st March 1449.]
-
-    [Footnote 93.1: The word 'that' is repeated in the MS. by
-    inadvertence.]
-
-  [[she hath in dosyd hem to my master Edmunde
-    _text unchanged: error for "in closyd" or "in dorsyd"?_]]
-
-
-82
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[94.1]
-
-_To my ryght worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / JAN. 31]
-
-Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, praying yow to wete
-that I have receyved your letter this day that ye sent me be Yelvertonys
-man. As for your signette, I fond itt uppon your bord the same day that
-ye went hens, and I send it yow be Richrad Heberd, bringer herof. As for
-your eronds that ye wrete to me fore, Richard Charles is owte abough
-your eronds abowte Gresham, and for his awyn maters also, and I suppose
-he komyth not hom tyll it be Tesday or Weddenesday next komyng; and
-alssone as he komyth hom, he shall go abowte your eronds that ye wrete
-to me fore.
-
-I sent yow a letter wreten on Tesday last past, whiche, as I suppose,
-Roger Ormesby delyveryd yow. I toke it to Alson Pertryche. She rod with
-Clyppysbys wyff to London.
-
-I pray yow if ye have an other sone that you woll lete it be named
-Herry, in remembrans of your brother Herry;[95.1] also I pray yow that
-ye woll send me dats and synamun as hastyly as ye may. I have speke with
-John Damme of that ye bad me sey to hem to sey to Thomas Note, and he
-sey he was wel payd that ye seyd and thowgh therin as ye dede. Ner'les I
-bad hym that he shuld sey to the seyd Thomas therin as it wer of hymself
-with owte your avys or any others; and he seyd he shuld so, and that it
-shuld be purveyd for this next weke at the ferthest. The blyssed Trinyte
-have yow in his kepyng.
-
-Wretyn att Norwyche, in hast, the Fryday next befor Candelmesse day.
-
-  Be your gronyng wyff,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 94.1: [From Fenn, iii. 408.] Fenn thinks this was
-    written about 1460, but I do not see on what evidence. From the
-    reference to Gresham, I should rather suppose it belongs to
-    1449. By the subscription, it would appear that the writer was
-    very near the time of lying in; but we cannot tell the exact
-    date of the birth of any of her children. Lord Molyns
-    dispossessed John Paston of the lordship of Gresham on the 17th
-    of February 1448. After repeated remonstrances on the subject to
-    no purpose, Paston went and took up his quarters there again on
-    the 6th October 1449, and succeeded in keeping possession till
-    the 28th January 1450, when the place was attacked, in his
-    absence, by Lord Molyns' men, who undermined the walls, and
-    drove out Paston's wife. The 'errands about Gresham' probably
-    refer to the time of Lord Molyns' first occupation.]
-
-    [Footnote 95.1: No notice is taken elsewhere of John Paston
-    having a brother named Harry.]
-
-
-83
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[95.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / FEB. 28]
-
-Begs him not to be displeased though she be out of the place he left her
-in; for she heard such tidings that she durst not abide there. Divers of
-my Lord Moleyns' men said if they might get her they would steal her and
-keep her in the castle; 'and than they said they would that ye should
-fetch me out. They said it should be but a little heartburning to you.'
-After that I could have no rest till I was here. I did not venture out
-of the place till I was ready to ride, and no one knew an hour before
-but the good wife, whom I told that I was coming here to get gear made
-for me and the children. I beg you will keep secret the cause of my
-coming away till I see you. I spoke with your mother on my way hither,
-who offered to let me abide in her place if you wished me to stay in
-Norwich, and to give me such gear as she could spare till you can be
-purveyed of a place of your own. Let me know what to do. I should be
-sorry to dwell so near Grassam as I did, till the matter between you and
-the Lord Moleyns is settled. Barow said there was no better evidence in
-England than Lord M. had of Gressam. I said I supposed they were such as
-William Hasard spoke of, the seals of which were not yet cold, and that
-you had evidence with seals 200 years older. Do not on any account trust
-Lord Moleyns and his men, or eat or drink with them, though they speak
-ever so fair. Roger Foke of Sparham dare not leave his house for the
-suit Heydon and Wyndham have against him. Watkin Shipdam wishes you to
-speak to Sir J. Fastolf about the harness you had of him, etc.
-
-  Norwich, Friday after Pulver Wednesday.
-
-    [Footnote 95.2: This abstract was made from one of the Roydon
-    Hall MSS. shown to the Editor in 1875. Since that date he has
-    not seen the original.]
-
-  [[the harness you had of him, etc.  _final . missing or invisible_]]
-
-
-84
-
-ROBERT, PRIOR OF BROMHOLM, TO JOHN PASTON[96.1]
-
-_To my Sovereyn, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / MARCH 5]
-
-I recomend me hertily, thankyng yow for the tydings, and the good awysse
-that ze sent me be the Parson of Thorpe;[96.2] latyng zow wittin that
-the Byschope of the todir syde of the see sent laate to me a man, the
-qwych wuld abydin uppon my leyser, for to an had me ovyr wyt hym to the
-seyd Byschope, and so forth to the Courte.[96.3] So the seyd man and I
-arryn a poynted that he schal comyn ageyn a purpose fro the Byschope, to
-be my gyde ovyr the see, and so I purpose me fully forthe a noon aftir
-this Estryn. I mak me evyre day fulli redy as privyli as I can, be
-sekyng zow, as I trost on zow, and as I am zour trow bede man, as labor
-for me her that I mythe haf a wyrte of passagche directid un[to] swyche
-men as zow thyng that schyd best yife me my schargche.
-
-The best takyng of schepynge is at Yernemuthe er Kyrley, or som othir
-place in Norfolk syde. I schal haf favour he now [_enough_] wyt ther
-seergiours [_searchers_]; bod all my goode spede and all my wel lythe in
-you heer, for ther on I trost fully.
-
-Som cownsel me to haf a letter of exschawnge, thow it wer bode of xl_s._
-er lees, bod I comitte all my best in this matir to zour wysdam, and
-qwat at evyr ze pay in this matir, I schal truly at owr metyng repay
-ageyn to zow. Bod for Godds love purvey for my sped her, for ell
-[_else_] I lees all my purvyans, and ther too I schyd jaape[97.1] the
-Byschope man, and caus hym to com in to Yngland, and lees all his
-labour. For Goddis love, send me down this wyrte, er ell bryng it wyt
-zow, that I mythe haf fro zow a letter of tydings and comforthe; for I
-had nevyr verray need of zour labor til now, bod my hert hangithe in
-gret langor.
-
-All my brethir wenyth that I schyd no forthir goo than to the Byschope,
-and undir that colour schal I weel go forthe to the Courte. I haf gret
-stody til I haf tydings fro zow. Avyr mor All mythi Good haf zow in
-kepyng, bodi and soule.
-
-Writtin in hast, the Wednesday in the fyrst week of clen Lent.[97.2]
-
-  Your Orator,
-
-  ROBT., P. OF B.
-
-I sent zow a letter, bod I hade non answer ageyn.
-
-    [Footnote 96.1: [From Fenn, iii. 80.] There is no distinct clue
-    to the date of this letter; but Fenn throws out a conjecture
-    which, in default of any better guide, may be accepted as not
-    improbable, that 'the Bishop of the other side of the sea' was
-    Walter Lyhert, Bishop of Norwich, who in the beginning of 1449
-    must have been in Savoy, having been sent thither by the King to
-    persuade the anti-pope Felix V. to renounce his claim to
-    Nicholas V. for the peace of the Church. This Felix actually did
-    in the beginning of this year, and Wharton considers Bishop
-    Lyhert to have been the cause of his doing so (Angl. Sac. i.
-    418). Fenn, however, dates this letter 1450, on the supposition
-    that the Bishop would have been still abroad in the beginning of
-    that year, which is a mistake, as his name appears in the Rolls
-    of Parliament as a trier of petitions as early as February.]
-
-    [Footnote 96.2: Robert Rogers was parson of Thorpe from 1445 to
-    1476.]
-
-    [Footnote 96.3: Court of Rome.]
-
-    [Footnote 97.1: Deceive.]
-
-    [Footnote 97.2: The first week in Clean Lent means the first
-    _entire_ week in Lent beginning on a Sunday.]
-
-
-85
-
-NUNCUPATIVE WILL OF EDMUND PASTON[98.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / MARCH 21]
-
-Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos praesens scriptum pervenerit, Nos,
-Willelmus May, Magister Novi Templi, London', Johannes Bakton gentilman,
-Thomas Parker, civis et cissor Londoni, et Johannes Osbern, salutem in
-Domino sempiternam. Sciatis quod xxj. die Martij Anno Domini
-mccccxlviij.[98.2] Edmundus Paston de comitatu Norff., armiger, in bona
-memoria ac sana mente existens, languens in extremis, in nostra
-praesentia, condidit et declaravit testamentum suum nuncupativum in hunc
-modum:--In primis, legavit animam suam Deo Omnipotenti, Beatae Mariae
-Virgini et omnibus Sanctis, corpusque suum ad sepeliendum in ecclesia
-Templi praedicti, sive in ecclesia Fratrum Carmelitarum London' [ad
-electionem sui confessoris[98.3]]. Item dictus Edmundus, pro eo quod
-noluit circa bona sive negocia temporalia mentem sive animam suam
-affligere seu occupare, set ad aeternam felicitatem se praeparare, dedit,
-legavit ac commisit omnia bona et catalla sua praedilecto fratri suo
-Johanni Paston, ex magna confidencia in ipso habita ut ea disponeret pro
-bono animae suae, prout melius videret Deo placere ac animae suae prodesse.
-Et dictum Johannem Paston ordinavit et constituit executorem suum. In
-cujus rei testimonum praesentibus sigilla nostra apposuimus.
-
-  _Endorsed_--Copia ultimae voluntatis Edmundi Paston.
-
-  _Endorsed in a later hand_--Testamentum Edmundi Paston secundi filii
-  Willelmi Paston Justiciarii.
-
-    [Footnote 98.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 98.2: This is 1449 according to the modern
-    computation, which begins the year on the 1st of January instead
-    of the 25th March.]
-
-    [Footnote 98.3: These words are erased.]
-
-
-86
-
-LORD MOLYNS TO THE TENANTS OF GRESHAM[99.1]
-
-_To my trusty and wel belovyd, the Vycary and Tenaunts of my Lordschepe
-of Gressham._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / MARCH 24]
-
-Trusty and welbeloved frendys, I grete yowe well, and putte yowe all
-owte of doute for all that ye have doon for me; and the money that ye
-pay to my welbeloved servaunt, John Partrich, I will be your warant as
-for your discharge, and save yowe harmeles ayenst all thoo that wold
-greve yowe, to my power. And, as hertly as I can, I thanke yow of the
-gud wyl ye have had, and have, toward me. And as to the tytyll of rigth
-that I have to the Lordship of Gressam schal with in short tyme be
-knoweyn, and be the lawe so determynyd, that ye schall all be glad that
-hathe ought me youre gud wyll therin.
-
-And All Myghty God kepe yow; and, be His grace, I schall be with yowe
-son aftyr the Parlement es endyd.
-
-Wrytten atte London, on Oure Lady evyn last past.
-
-  R. H., LORD MOLYNS.
-
-    [Footnote 99.1: [From Fenn, i. 192.] Lord Molyns took possession
-    of Gresham, as already shown--see page 94, note 1,--on the 17th
-    of February 1448; but the reference to Parliament as sitting at
-    the date of this letter proves it to belong either to 1449 or
-    1450. The latter date, however, is not very probable.]
-
-
-87
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[99.2]
-
-_To my rytz wurschipful Mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyverid in hast,
-dwelling in the Inner Tempill._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / APRIL 2]
-
-Rytz wurschipful hosbond, I recommawnd me to zu, praying zu to wete that
-my kosyn Cler[99.3] dynyd with me this day; and sche told me that Heydon
-was with her yister evyn late, and he told her that he had a letter from
-the Lord Moleynys, and schewyd her the same letter, praying hym that he
-wold seyn to his frends and wele willerres in this contre that he
-thanketh hem of her godewill, and for that thei have done for hym; and
-also praying Heydon that he wold sey to Rychard Ernold of Crowmer that
-he was sory and evyl payd that his men maden the afray up on hym, for he
-seyd it was not be his will that his men xuld make afray on noman in
-this contre with owth rytz grett cause. And as for that was don to zu if
-it mytz ben prevyd that he had don otherwise to zu than rytz wold as for
-the mevabyl godis, ze xuld ben content, so that ze xuld have cawse to
-kon hym thank; and he prayd Heydon in the letter that it xuld ben
-reportid in this kontre that he wold don so, if he had don otherwyse
-than he owth to don.
-
-The frere[100.1] that cleymyth Oxned was in this town zastyrday and this
-day, and was ledgid att Beris, and this afternon he rod, but qhedder I
-wote not. He seyd pleynly in this town that he xal have Oxnede, and that
-he hath my lord of Suffolkes[100.2] good lordschip, and he wol ben his
-good lord in that mater. There was a persone warnyd my moder with in
-this to days that sche xuld ben ware, for thei seyd pleynly sche was lyk
-to ben servyd as ze were servyd at Gressam with in rytz schort tyme.
-Also the Lord Moleyns wrott in his forseyd letter that he wold mytyly,
-with his body and with his godis, stand be all tho that had ben his
-frends and his wel willers in the mater towching Gressam, and preyd
-Heydon that he wold sey to them that thei xuld not ben aferd in non
-wyse, for that was don it xuld ben abedyn by.
-
-My moder prayith zu that ze wil send my brother Willyam to Kawmbrege
-anomynale[100.3] and abok of sofystre of my brother Emundes[100.4], the
-qheche my seyd brother be hestid my moder the last tyme he spak with
-her, that he xuld asent [_should have sent_] to my brother Willyam.
-The blisseful Trinyte have zu in his keping.
-
-Wretyn at Norwyche in hast, on the Wodenysday next be for Palm Sonday.
-
-  Zowres,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 99.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The date of this letter
-    is evidently both after Paston's expulsion from Gresham by Lord
-    Molyns in February 1448, and after the death of Edmund Paston in
-    1449. It cannot, however, be so late as 1450, else Hauteyn would
-    not have expected to obtain possession of Oxnead through the
-    Duke of Suffolk's influence.]
-
-    [Footnote 99.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.1: John Hawteyn. --_See_ Nos. 46 and 50.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.2: William De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.3: A _nominale_.]
-
-    [Footnote 100.4: Edmund Paston, who must have died very shortly
-    after declaring his will on the 21st of March 1449.]
-
-
-88
-
-[MARGARET PASTON] TO [JOHN PASTON][101.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?)]
-
-Ryt wurchipful hwsbond, I recomawnd me to zu, and prey zw to gete som
-crosse bowis, and wyndacs[101.2] to bynd them with, and quarrels;[101.3]
-for zour hwsis her ben so low that ther may non man schet owt with no
-long bowe, thow we hadde never so moche nede.
-
-I sopose ze xuld have seche thyngs of Ser Jon Fastolf, if ze wold send
-to hym; and also I wold ze xuld gete ij. or iij. schort pelleaxis to
-kepe with doris, and als many jakkys, and ye may.
-
-Partryche[101.4] and his felaschep arn sor aferyd that ze wold entren
-azen up on them, and they have made grete ordynaw[n]ce with inne the
-hwse, as it is told me. They have made barris to barre the dorys crosse
-weyse, and they have made wykets on every quarter of the hwse to schote
-owte atte, bothe with bowys and with hand gunnys; and the holys that ben
-made forr hand gunnys, they ben scarse kne hey fro the plawncher
-[_floor_], and of soche holis ben made fyve. There can non man schete
-owt at them with no hand bowys.
-
-Purry felle in felaschepe with Willyum Hasard at Querles, and told hym
-that he wold com and drynk with Partryche and with hym, and he seyd he
-xuld ben welcome, and after none he went thedder for to aspye qhat they
-dedyn, and qhat felachep they hadde with them; and qhan he com thedder,
-the dors were fast sperid [_fastened_], and there wer non folks with hem
-but Maryoth, and Capron and hys wyf, and Querles wyf, a[n]d another man
-in ablac (?) zede sum qhate haltyng, I sopose be his words that it was
-Norfolk of Gemyngham; and the seyd Purry aspyde alle this forseyd
-thyngs. And Marioth and his felaschep had meche grette langage that xall
-ben told zw qhen ze kom hom.
-
-I pray zw that ze wyl vowche save to don bye for me j. li. [1 _lb._] of
-almands and j. li. of sugyr, and that ze wille do byen sume frese to
-maken of zour child is gwnys; ze xall have best chepe and best choyse of
-Hayis wyf, as it is told me. And that ze wyld bye a zerd of brode clothe
-of blac for an hode fore me of xliiij^_d._ or iiij^_s._ a zerd, for ther
-is nether gode cloth ner god fryse in this twn. As for the child is
-gwnys, and I have them, I wel do hem maken.
-
-The Trynyte have zw in his keping, and send zw gode spede i[n] alle zour
-materis.
-
-    [Footnote 101.1: [From Fenn, iii. 314.] 'The direction of this
-    curious letter,' says Fenn, 'is obliterated, but it is plainly
-    from Margaret Paston to her husband; and the paper is likewise
-    so completely filled with writing, that she has not even either
-    subscribed or dated it, but by the mentioning of Sir John
-    Fastolf it must have been written before 1459.' It appears to us
-    most probably to belong to the year 1449, when Paston was making
-    preparations to re-enter Gresham, which he actually did in
-    October of that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 101.2: Windacs are what we now call grappling irons,
-    with which the bow-string is drawn home.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 101.3: Properly _quarreaux_. They were square pyramids
-    of iron shot out of crossbows.--Grose's _Milit. Antiq._ i. 149.]
-
-    [Footnote 101.4: John Partrich, one of Lord Molyns's retainers.]
-
-
-89
-
-WILLIAM COTYNG TO JOHN PASTON[102.1]
-
-_To the right reverent sir my most worshipful maister, my maister John
-Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1449 / APRIL]
-
-Right reverent and my most worshipful maister, I recomaund me to yow.
-Please it yow to wete that the man whiche I wolde have hadde to a be
-youre fermour at Snaillewelle hath tolde me that he will not therof,
-and this he makith his excuse; he seythe that he shall dwelle with his
-wyffes fader and fynden hym for his good as longe as he levyth and he
-will no forther medill in the werde. I fele well by hym that he hath
-inquered of the maner, for he coude telle me well that olde Briggeman
-aught my maister, your fader, whom God assoile, moche good, and how that
-he hadde al that was ther whanne Briggeman was ded; and that this
-Briggeman owith yow moche good at this tyme. I answered therto, as for
-olde Briggeman, I seide that it was his will that my maister shulde have
-his good, be cause he was a bonde man and hadde no childer. And as for
-this Briggeman, I seide that he hath bought a faire place sithe he was
-your fermour, and payed therfor; but for this I kan not turne hym.
-Wherfor, and it like yow to sende to me a bille of the value of the
-maner, I shall inquere if any other may happe to be gete, and sende yow
-worde therof; and in this and what ye will comaunde me ellys I shall do
-my parte by the grace of our Lord, Who ever have yow in His kepyng.
-Amen. Writen at Cambrigge the Sunday nexte before the fest of Seynt
-George.
-
-My maister your brother[103.1] recomaundeth hym to yow, as me semyth he
-is in right febill hele. he will not telle me qwy, save he seyth he
-compleyned onys and hadde no remedy, and therfor he seythe he shall
-suffer for a seoson. Forsothe I suppose he is not intreted as he aught
-to be.
-
-  Your servaunt and bedeman,
-
-  W. COTYNG.
-
-    [Footnote 102.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 164.] This letter must
-    have been written about the year 1449, when William Paston, son
-    of the Judge, was a student at Cambridge.]
-
-    [Footnote 103.1: William Paston.]
-
-  [[he will not telle me qwy  _lower-case "he" in original_]]
-
-
-90
-
-ROBERT WENYNGTON TO THOMAS DANIEL[103.2]
-
-_To my Reverend Mayster, Thomas Danyell, Squier for the Kyngs Body, be
-thys letter delyverd in haste._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / MAY 25]
-
-Most reverend mayster, I recomaund me on to yowr graceus maystreschup,
-ever deseryng to her of yowr wurschupfull ustate, the whyche All myghte
-God mayntayne hyt, and encrese hyt on to hys plesans: Plesyng yow to
-know of my wellfare, and of all yowr men, at the makyng of thys letter,
-we wer in gode hele of body i blessyd be God.
-
-Mo over, mayster, I send yow word, by Rauly Pykeryng, of all maters, the
-whyche I be seche yow yeve hym credens, as he wyll enforme yow of all;
-so, sur, I beseche yow, in the reverens of God, that ye wyll enforme owr
-Soverayn Lord the Kyng of all maters that I send yow in thys letter,
-lyke as I have send a letter to my Lord Chaunseler and to all my Lordys
-by the sayd Pykeryng; the whyche letter I beseche yow that ye take and
-delyver to my Lord and all my Lordys by yowr awne handys, and lete the
-sayd Pykeryng declare all thyngs as he hath sayn and knoweth.
-
-Furst, I send yow word that when we went to see, we toke ij. schyppys of
-Brast comyng owte of Flaundrys; and then after, ther ys made a grete
-armyng in Brytayne to mete with me and my felyschyp, that ys to say, the
-grete schyp of Brast, the grete schyp of the Morleys, the grete schyp of
-Vanng, with other viij. schyppis, bargys, and balyngers, to the number
-of iij. m^li [3000] men; and so we lay in the see to me[te] with them.
-
-And then we mette with a flotte of a c. [_a hundred_] grete schyppys of
-Pruse, Lubycke, Campe, Rastocke, Holond, Selond, and Flandres, betwyte
-Garnyse [_Guernsey_] and Portland; and then I cam abord the Admirall,
-and bade them stryke in the Kyngys name of Englond, and they bade me
-skyte in the Kyngs name of Englond; and then I and my feleschyp sayd,
-but [_unless_] he wyll streke don the sayle, that I wyld over sayle ham
-by the grace of God, and God wyll send me wynd and wether; and dey bade
-me do my wurst, by cause I had so fewe schyppys and so smale, that they
-scornyd with me. And as God wuld, on Fryday last was, we had a gode
-wynd, and then we armyd to the number of ij. m^l. [2000] men in my
-felyschyp, and made us redy for to over sayle them; and then they
-lonchyd a bote, and sette up a stondert of truesse, and com and spake
-with me. And ther they were yolded all the hundret schyppys to go with
-me in what port that me lust and my felawys; but they faothe with me the
-day before, and schotte atte us a j. m^l. [1000] gonnys, and
-quarell[105.1] owte of number, and have slayn meny of my felyschyp, and
-meymyd all soo. Wherfor me thyngkyt that they haye forfett bothe schypps
-and godys at our Soverayn Lord the Kyngys wyll. Besechyng yow that ye do
-yowr parte in thys mater, for thys I have wrytyn to my Lord
-Chaunseler[105.2] and all my Lordys of the Kyngys Counsell; and so I
-have brofte them, all the c. [_hundred_] shyppys, within Wyght, in spyte
-of them all.
-
-And ye myght gete leve of owr Soverayn Lord the Kyng to com hydder, hyt
-schall turne yow to grete wurschup and profett, to helpe make owr a
-poyntement in the Kyngs name, for ye sawe never suche a syght of
-schyppys take in to Englond this c. wynter; for we ly armyd nyght and
-day to kepe them, in to the tyme that we have tydengs of our Soverayn
-and hys counsell. For truly they have do harme to me, and to my
-feleschyp, and to yowr schyppys more [than] ij. m^l. li.[105.3] worth
-harme; and therfor I am avesyd, and all my feleschyp, to droune them and
-slee them, withoute that we hafe tydyngs from owr Soverayn the Kyng and
-hys counsell. And therfor, in the reverens of God, come ye yowr self,
-and ye schall have a grete avayle and wurschup of yowr comyng to see a
-suche syght, for I der well sey that I have her at this tyme all the
-cheff schyppys of Duchelond, Holond, Selond, and Flaundrys, and now hyt
-wer tyme for to trete for a fynell pese as for that partyes.
-
-I writ no more to yow at this tyme, but All myghty Jesus have yow in hys
-kepyng. I writ in hast, within Wyght, on Soneday at nyght after the
-Ascencion of owr Lord.
-
-  By yowr owne Servant,
-
-  ROBT. WENYNGTON.
-
-    [Footnote 103.2: [From Fenn, i. 208.] On the 3rd April 1449
-    royal letters were issued in favour of Robert Wynnyngtone of
-    Devonshire, who was bound by indenture to do the King service on
-    the sea 'for the cleansing of the same, and rebuking of the
-    robbers and pirates thereof, which daily do all the noisance
-    they can.' --Stevenson's _Letters and Papers illustrative of the
-    Wars of the English in France_, i. 489.]
-
-    [Footnote 105.1: _See_ p. 101, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 105.2: John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 105.3: Fenn says the reading of the original is
-    indistinct, and he could not determine whether L2000 or L3000
-    was meant.]
-
-
-91
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[106.1]
-
-_To myn most reverent and [w]urchepful broder, Jon Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1449]
-
-To myn most reverent and wurchepful brodur, I recummend me hartely to
-zow, desiryng speciali to hare of zowre wellefare and prosperite, qweche
-Almyty God contenu to zowre gosteli hele and bodili welfare. And if it
-plase zowre goode broderod to here of myn wellefare, at the makyng of
-this bylle I was in good hele. And if it leke zowre good broderod to
-remembre the letter that I sent to zow of the noyse that was telde of
-zow, that ze schuld a be on of the capetayns of the ryserse in Norfolk,
-and how that j. scholere of Cambryg, qweche is parsone of Welle, schuld
-an utteryd ferthere to zowr grete schalndyr [_slander_]; besechyng zow
-to undyrstond that the seyde parsone of Welle was sone [after?][106.2]
-that tyme at Lundon, were he harde sey of j. swyr of ij. c. marc be zere
-[_of one squire of 200 marks by year_] that ze and Master Thomas Wellys
-wolde sewe the seyd Parsone Welle for zowre schalndyr; and the seyde
-parsone come to Cambryg sothyn, and hathe pekyd a qwarell to on Mastyr
-Recheforthe, a knythys sone of Norforfolke,[106.3] and seyd to
-Rychechefor[106.3] that he had because that ze schuld sewe hym; and the
-seyd Parsone Welle thretyd Rycheferthe that wat some ever that ze causyd
-Parson Welle to lese be zowre sewtes, that Rycheferthe schul lese the
-same to the Parson of Welle. Werefor this jeltylmon Rycheforthe taketh
-grete thowt, and pray me to wrythe to zow that ze wulde sese zowre suthe
-tylle the tyme that ze wulde asyne that I mythe speke wythe zow, and
-odyr sundry have speke with zow of the same mater; for yt ware pithe
-that Rycheforthe chuld have ony hurthe thereby. I beseche zow holde me
-excusyd, thow I wryt no better to zow at thys tyme, for in good feyth I
-had no leysere. The brynggar of thys letter can telle zow the same. God
-have zow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Cambryg, on Fryday [sa]nyth[107.1]
-nexste before Mydsommer Evyn.
-
-In case ze come ba come [_back home?_] be Cambryg, I schal telle zow mo
-of it. I am sory I may wrythe no bettyr at this tyme, but I trust ze
-wylle [have] paciens.
-
-  Be zowre pore Broder,
-
-  W. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 106.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As it appears from
-    Margaret Paston's letter of the 2nd April 1449 that William
-    Paston was a student at Cambridge in that year, the date of this
-    must be about the same period.]
-
-    [Footnote 106.2: Word omitted.]
-
-    [Footnote 106.3: So in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 107.1: This is written 'sanyth' but there is a stroke
-    through the _a_, which was perhaps intended to have been carried
-    through the _s_ also.]
-
-
-92
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN PASTON[107.2]
-
-_To the Worshypful Sir, and my ryght well beloved cosen, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / JULY 10]
-
-Worshypfull and ryghte welbelovyd cosyn, I comaund me to you. Please you
-to here that the Pryore and Convent of Norwyche have wythhalden certeyn
-rent for landes that they halden of me wythinne my maner of Haylysdon,
-and the ij. tapers of wax of ij. lbs. wyght, by the space of xviij.
-yere, that mountyth xxj_s._[107.3] valued in money. And the lordes of
-the seyd maner beyng before me, and y yn my tyme, have been seised and
-possessed of the seyd rent. Prayng you to speke wyth the Pryore, or
-comaundyng me unto hym. And that ye lyke to move hym to make me payment
-as his dewtee ys, so as y have no cause to gowe further, and to do as
-justice requyreth. He hahyth xxx. acres lande or more by the seyd rent,
-and whyht ought to pay me othyr rent more by myn evidense. More over y
-pray you, cosen, that I may speke with you or [_before_] y ryde, and
-that on Thursday by the ferthest; and then y shall tell you tydyngs off
-the Parlement, and that ye fayle not, as my trust ys yn you. I pray God
-have you in Hys guidance.
-
-  Wreten at Castor, the x. day off Julie 1449[108.1].
-
-  Your Cosen,
-
-  JOHN FASTOLFE.
-
-    [Footnote 107.2: [From Palmer's _Foundacion and Antiquitye of
-    Great Yermouthe_, p. 61.]]
-
-    [Footnote 107.3: 'xxj.o,' as printed by Palmer, but the 'o' no
-    doubt should be '_s._']
-
-    [Footnote 108.1: So the date is given in the book from which
-    this letter is copied, but the year is certainly wrong, as the
-    writer did not go to reside at Caister till 1454. The date
-    indeed would have been suspicious apart from this, as the mode
-    of dating is quite unusual in these letters. Probably in the
-    original MS. (which the Editor has not seen) '1449' was inserted
-    after 'Julie' in a later hand.]
-
-
-93
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[108.2]
-
-_To John Paston be this letter delyveryd._
-
-[Sidenote: Not after 1449]
-
-Soon, I grete zow wel with Goddis blyssyng and myn, and I latte zow
-wette that my cosyn Cler[108.3] wrytted to me that sche spake with
-Schrowpe[108.4] after that he had byen with me at Norwyche, and tolde
-her what cher that I had made hym, and he seyde to her he lyked wel by
-the cher I made hym.
-
-He had swyche wordys to my cosyn Cler that lesse than ze made hym good
-cher, and zaf hym wordys of conforth at London, he wolde no mor speke of
-the matyr.
-
-My cosyn Cler thynkyth that it were a foly to forsake hym lesse than ze
-knew of on owdyr as good or better; and I have assayde zowr
-suster,[108.5] and I fonde her never so wylly to noon as sche is to hym,
-zyf it be so that his londe stande cleer.
-
-I sent zow a letter by Brawnton for sylke, and for this matyr befor my
-cosyn Cler wrote to me, the qwyche was wrytten on the Wednysday nexzt
-aftyr Mydsomer day.
-
-Sir Harry Ynglows is ryzth besy a bowt Schrowpe for one of his dozthers.
-
-I prey zow, for zette nozth to brynge me my mony fro Horwelbery, as ze
-com fro London, edyr all or a grete parte. The dew dette was at
-Crystemesse last paste, no thynge a lowyd, vij_li._ xiiij_s._ viij_d._,
-and at this Mydsomer it is v_li._ more; and thow I a low hym all his
-askyng, it is but xxvj_s._ vj_d._ less, but I am nozth so avysyth zytt.
-As for the Frer,[109.1] he hath byen at Sent Benetts, and at Norwyche,
-and made grete bowste of the sewte that he hath azens me, and bowzthe
-many boxes, to what intent I wett never. It is wel doen to be war at
-London, in drede gyf he bryng ony syse at Sent Margarets tyme.
-
-I kan no more, but Almyzty God be owr good lorde, who have zow ever in
-kepyng. Wryten at Oxnede in grete hast, on the Satyr next aftyr
-Mydsomer.
-
-  By yowr Modyr,
-
-  A. P.
-
-    [Footnote 108.2: [From Fenn, iii. 202.] This letter is dated by
-    Fenn 1454, with some others relating to matches proposed for
-    Elizabeth Paston; but the date of this cannot be later than
-    1451, as Sir Harry Inglos died that year. Moreover, it cannot be
-    either 1451 or 1450, as 'the Saturday next after Midsummer' when
-    this letter is dated, preceded 'the Wednesday next after
-    Midsummer day' in both these years. Thus 1449 is the latest
-    possible date.]
-
-    [Footnote 108.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby,
-    Esq.]
-
-    [Footnote 108.4: Stephen Scrope, a son of Sir John Fastolf's
-    wife by a former husband.]
-
-    [Footnote 108.5: Elizabeth Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 109.1: John Hawteyn. --_See_ Nos. 46, 50, and 63.]
-
-
-94
-
-ELIZABETH CLERE TO JOHN PASTON[109.2]
-
-_To my Cosyn, John Paston, be thys letter delivered._
-
-[Sidenote: Not after 1449]
-
-Trusty and weel be loved cosyn, I comaunde me to zow, desyryng to here
-of zowre weelfare and good spede in zowre matere, the qwech I prey God
-send zow to his plesaunce and to zoure hertys ease.
-
-Cosyn, I lete zow wete that Scrope[109.3] hath be in this cuntre to se
-my cosyn zoure sustyr, and he hath spoken with my cosyn zoure moder, and
-sche desyreth of hym that he schuld schewe zow the endentures mad be
-twen the knyght that hath his dowter and hym, whethir that Skrop, if he
-were maried and fortuned to have children, if tho children schuld
-enheryte his lond, or his dowter, the wheche is maried.
-
-Cosyn, for this cause take gode hede to his endentures, for he is glad
-to schewe zow hem, or whom ze wol a sygne with zow; and he seith to me
-he is the last in the tayle of his lyflode, the qweche is CCCL. marke
-and better, as Watkyn Shipdam seith, for he hath take a compt of his
-liflode dyvers tymes; and Scrop seith to me if he be maried, and have a
-sone an eyre, his dowter that is maried schal have of his liflode L.
-marke and no more; and therfore, cosyn, me semeth he were good for my
-cosyn zowre sustyr, with[out] that ye myght gete her a bettyr. And if ze
-can gete a better, I wold avyse zow to labour it in as schort tyme as ze
-may goodly, for sche was never in so gret sorow as sche is now a dayes,
-for sche may not speke with no man, ho so ever come, ne not may se ne
-speke with my man, ne with servauntes of hir moderys but that sche
-bereth hire an hand[110.1] otherwyse than she menyth. And sche hath sen
-Esterne the most part be betyn onys in the weke or twyes, and som tyme
-twyes on o day, and hir hed broken in to or thre places. Wherfor, cosyn,
-sche hath sent to me by Frere Newton in gret counsell, and preyeth me
-that I wold send to zow a letter of hir hevynes, and prey yow to be hir
-good brothyr, as hir trost is in zow; and sche seith, if ze may se be
-his evydences that his childern and hire may enheryten, and sche to have
-resonable joynture, sche hath herd so mech of his birth and his
-condicions, that and ze will sche will have hym, whethyr that hir moder
-wil or wil not, not withstandyng it is tolde hir his persone is symple,
-for sche seyth men shull have the more deyute of hire if sche rewle hire
-to hym as sche awte to do.
-
-Cosyn, it is told me ther is a goodly man in yowre Inne, of the qweche
-the fadyr deyed litte, and if ze thynk that he were better for hir than
-Scroop, it wold be laboured, and yif Scroop a goodly answere that he be
-not put of tyl ze be sure of a bettyr; for he seid whan he was with me,
-but if [_i.e._ unless] he have som counfortable answer of zow, he wil no
-more laboure in this mater, be cause he myght not se my cosyn zoure
-sustyr, and he seyth he myght a see hire and sche had be bettyr than she
-is; and that causeth hym to demyr that hir moder was not weel willyng,
-and so have I sent my cosyn zowre moder word. Wherfore, cosyn, thynk on
-this mateer, for sorow oftyn tyme causeth women to be set hem otherwyse
-than thei schuld do, and if sche where in that case, I wot weel ze wold
-be sory. Cosyn, I prey zow brenne this letter, that zoure men ne non
-other man se it; for and my cosyn zowre moder knew that I had sent yow
-this letter, sche shuld never love me. No more I wrighte to zow at this
-tyme, but Holy Gost have zow in kepyng. Wretyn in hast, on Seynt Peterys
-day,[111.1] be candel lyght.
-
-  Be youre Cosyn,
-
-  ELIZABETH CLERE.
-
-    [Footnote 109.2: [From Fenn, iii. 204.] This letter appears from
-    the contents to be of the same year as the preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 109.3: Stephen Scrope. --_See_ p. 108, Note 4.]
-
-    [Footnote 110.1: To bear one on hand, means to assert or
-    insinuate something to a person.]
-
-    [Footnote 111.1: June 29.]
-
-
-95
-
-JOHN DAMME TO JOHN PASTON[111.2]
-
-_To my ryght worshepfull master John Paston at London in the Inner
-Temple._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / NOV. 30]
-
-Plese it your good maistershep to knowe that my maisteresse your wyff
-recomaundeth here to yow and fareth well, blyssed be God, and all your
-menye faren well also and recomaunde hem to yaw, &c. I was with my lord
-of Oxenford and dede myn erand, and I found his good lordshep well
-disposed towardys yow, for he seid if he were sent to for to come to,
-&c., if it kepe faire weder he wold not tarye, and if it reygned he wold
-not spare. More over I spak with Pertrych as touchyng the letter sent to
-my lord Moleyns; he seyth that he was privy to the wrytyng and wele a
-vowe it by record of xx. persons, but he wold name to me no persone; and
-so he and I accorded not fully. And I bad hym remembre hym that he myght
-not abyde there if ye wold have hym owt. And he seid he knewe well that.
-But he seid, if ye put heem out, ye shuld be put owt sone after a geyn.
-And I seyd if it happe it so thei shuld not longer reste there. And
-Mariot stod by and seyd that were no merveyll whill thei were but ij.
-men, but it shuld not be best so. And I seyd that I lete them wete it
-shuld be so if ye wold, thow they made all the strenght which they coude
-make. And ther to Mariot seyd stately, that myght not be performed; and
-more langage ther was, to long to wryte at this leyser. Pertrych and his
-felaw bere gret visage and kepe gret junkeryes and dyneres, and seyn
-that my lord Moleynes hath wrytyn pleynly to hem that he is lord there
-and well be, and shall be, and ye not to have it; but I trust to Goddes
-ryghtwysenes of better purvyaunce. Lyke it yow to remembre what Heydon
-doth and mayde by colour of justice of the pees, beyng of my lordes
-councell and not your good frend nor weell wyller, and to comon with
-your sad councell what ye must suffre by the lawe, and where inne ye may
-resiste. On Sunday last passed Gunore and Mariot and John Davy and other
-dyned with Pertrych, &c.; and after eveson [_evensong_] Gonore spake to
-my maisteresse that she shuld make here men to leue here wyfeles and
-here jackes; and she answered that thei purposed to hurte no man of here
-owyn sykyng; but for it was seid that she shuld be plukkyd owt of here
-howse, she were loth to suffre that; and therfore she sayde thei shuld
-goo soo til ye come hom. And he seid stately, but if thei left here aray
-it shuld be plukked from them. I trust he must have a better warant,
-from his stately langage, or ells he shall not have it from hem esily.
-All this I remitte to your good remembraunce with Goddes help, to Whom I
-pray to gyde your ryght to his worshep and your hertes desire.
-
-  Wrytyn at Sustede on Seynt Andrewe day, &c.
-
-  Yowres,
-
-  J. DAMME.
-
-Were but well, as me semyth, that ye myght ordeygne now a fetys jacke
-defensable for your self, for there con they do best and best chep, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 111.2: [Add. 34,888, f. 32.] This letter was evidently
-    written in 1449, after John Paston had re-entered Gresham, and
-    his wife was keeping it for him. See No. 88.]
-
-
-96
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON][113.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / OCT. 16]
-
-'The King is now into the Marches of Wales, as it is said, to the intent
-he may be near the country if my Lord of Buckingham, which is
-commissioner now in Wales for divers offences done there to the Crown,
-would sue to have his commission to be enlarged, if he were repyned.' It
-is not known when the King will be in London again, but he is expected
-here at the beginning of the Parliament. I have your writs of error, but
-can see nothing wrong. Thos. Denys asked me why you did not follow his
-suggestion about the removing of the strength at Gresham, and thinks it
-should be done yet. Francis Costard is not yet well at ease, for his
-_venire facias_ between Will. Prentys and him and Hen. Halman comes in
-very inopportunely. You had better come hither as soon as possible and
-get the favor of the sheriff that shall be next year.
-
-  London, 16 Oct.
-
-    [Footnote 113.1: This abstract was made from one of the Roydon
-    Hall MSS. shown to the Editor in 1875. Since that date he has
-    not seen the original.]
-
-
-97
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN FASTOLF AND JOHN KIRTELING[113.2]
-
-_To my ryght tristy and welbelovede Cosin and Frende, John Fastolf,
-and Sir John Kirtelinge, Parson of Arkesay._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / OCT. 31]
-
-Trusty and welbeloved frendz, y grete yow wel. And for as moche as y
-have appointed with my sone, Stephen Scrope, lyke as y sende yow the
-appointement writen hereafter in this letter, the whiche appointement y
-woll ye fulfylle be the avys of my counsel in that at longeth to my
-party, like as hit ys writen.
-
-Thys ys the appointement made be twene Sir John Fastolf, Knight, and
-Stephen Scrope, Squier, in the maner as here after hit ys writen:--
-
-Fyrst, for as moche as the mariage of the saide Stephen Scrope was
-solde[114.1] to Sir William Gascoyng, the Chefe Justice of Englonde, for
-v^c. [500] marke, with the whiche mariage was deliverd in hande to the
-sayde Gascoyng the maner of Wyghton on the Wolde, in Yorke schyre, with
-the apertenance of the saide maner; and whan the sayde Gascoyng hade
-hym, he wolde have solde hym agayn, or maried the saide Stephen Scrope
-ther [_where_] he schulde have byn despareiged: wherefore, at the
-request of the sayde Scrope and hys frendes, the saide Fastolf boght the
-ma[ri]age of the saide Scrope of the saide Sir William Gascoyng for v^c.
-marke, wherby the saide Fastolf hath mariage of the saide Stephen
-Scrope, or elles to have the saide somme of v^c. marke that he payde for
-hym, like as hit ys above sayde.
-
-Item, for as moche as the sayde Stephen Scrope ys comyn to the saide
-Fastolf, sayinge that he hath fownde wey to be maried at his lyst, and
-also for his worschippe and profyt, so that the saide Fastolf woll
-consent therto, that ys to say, to Fauconeris doughter of London, that
-Sir Reynalde Cobham[114.2] had weddid.
-
-Item, for as hit ys the saide Fastolf ys wille to forther and helpe the
-saide Scrope in any wize ther he may be fortherede, the sayde Fastolf
-consenteth that the sayde Scrope marie hym to the Fauconeris doughter,
-with that that the sayde Fauconer gyf to the sayde Fastolf the saide
-somme of v^c. marke, the whiche he payde for the saide Scrope.
-
-Item, yf that the sayde Stephen Scrope pay or do pay the somme afore
-sayde of v^c. marke sterling, than the sayde Sir John Fastolf and Dame
-Mylicent,[114.3] his wyf, schall make astate of the said maner of
-Wyghton on the Wolde in Yorke schyre, with the apertenaunce of the sayde
-maner, to the saide Stephen Scrope and to the woman, the whiche schalbe
-his wyf, and to here eyres of here bodyes begete be twix hem two.
-
-Item, yef the sayde Stephen dye with oute eyre of his body begeten, than
-the sayde maner of Wyghton, after the descece of the saide hys wyf,
-schall retourne agayne to the sayde Fastolf and Dame Mylicent, his wyf,
-and to the eyres of the sayde Mylicent.
-
-Item, yf so be that the sayde Fauconer wilnot pay the sayde somme of
-v^c. marke, bot peraventure wolde gyf a lesse somme, then the sayde
-Fastolf wyl deliver to the mariage of the saide Scrope certayn londe,
-havynge rewarde to the somme that the sayde Fauconer wil gyf, havyng
-rewarde to the afferrant of xl. pounde worthe land and v^c. mark of
-golde.
-
-Item, if that the sayde Fauconer wilnot gyf no somme of golde for the
-sayde mariage, the sayde Fastolf wyl take the mariage of the childe that
-ys eyre to the forsaide Sir Reynolde Cobham, and that the sayde Scrope
-forto conferme the estat hys moder has made to the saide Fastolf, yf so
-be that the consel of the saide Fastolf se by thaire avys that hit be
-for to do, and that the said mariage may be [as] moche worth to the said
-Fastolf as v^c. mark.
-
-Item, ze sende me be Raufm[an an] answare o[f] the letters that y sende
-yow, that I may have ve[ray] knolage how that hit standys with me ther
-in al maner of thynges, and that I [h]ave an answare of every article
-that y wrote to yow.
-
-Item, for as moche as that I am bonden for my Lord Scales[115.1] to my
-Lord Cardnale[115.2] in v^c. mark, the qu[ech] somme he kan not fynd no
-way to pay hit, on lese then that he sel a parcel of his land; quer fore
-he sendis ower a man of his called Pessemerche, with whom I wil that ze
-spek, and se be zore avis whech of the places of my said Lord Scales
-that standis most cler to be solde; and if the place that is beside
-W[a]lsyngham stand cler, I have hit lever then the tother; and therfore
-I pray [z]ow that ze make apointement with the said Pesemerche in the
-best wise that ze may, athir of the ton place or the tother, and or ze
-let take hit after xx. zere, havyn[g] rewarde to the verray val[u]
-therof, and as ze don send me worde be the next massager.
-
-Item, my Lord of Hungerford[116.1] has writen to me for to have the
-warde of Robert Monpyns[on]is sone, wher of I am agreed that he schal
-[have] hit like as I has wretyn to hym in a letter, of the whech I send
-zow a cope closed here in: wher fore I pray zow to enquere of the verray
-valu of the land that Monpynson haldis of me, and sendis me word in
-hast; for my said Lord Hungerford sais in his letter that hit is worth
-bot xl_s._ a zere aboufe the rentis, as ze may se the letter that he
-sent me, the q[uec]h I send zow be my son Scrope. And I pray zow to
-demene zow to my said Lord as eesely as ze may in this mater and al
-other that I have to do with hym, as ze may se be the cope aforesaid.
-And or (_sic_) have zow in his kepyng. Wretyn at Roan (?)[116.2] the
-last day of October.
-
-  J. FASTOLFE.
-
-  _Endorsed_ Appunctuamentum factum pro Stephano Scroope anno xxviij(o)
-  Regis H. vj. ad maritandum.
-
-    [Footnote 113.2: [From the Castlecombe MSS. in the B.M., Add.
-    MS. 28,212, No. 21.] According to the endorsement, this letter
-    should have been written in the year 1449; but the reader will
-    see by the footnotes that there are grounds for doubting the
-    accuracy of this date.]
-
-    [Footnote 114.1: The marriage of wards in those days used to be
-    sold to men of property, who would compel them to marry their
-    own sons or daughters, or whatever other persons suited them.
-    The only restriction to this right was, that the ward might, on
-    coming of age, have an action against his guardian in case of
-    _disparagement_, that is to say, if he was married beneath his
-    station.]
-
-    [Footnote 114.2: Sir Reginald Cobham of Sterborough, in Surrey,
-    who died in 1446. He was the father of the notorious Eleanor
-    Cobham, the mistress, and afterwards wife, of Humphrey, Duke of
-    Gloucester.--Brayley's _Hist. of Surrey_, iv. 159.]
-
-    [Footnote 114.3: Milicent, wife of Sir John Fastolf, is known to
-    have been alive in the 24th year of Henry VI. (1446). William
-    Worcester says the allowance for her chamber was paid until that
-    date; but as he says nothing more, it has been supposed she did
-    not live longer. Mr. Poulett Scrope also believes her to have
-    died in 1446, on the authority of a contemporary MS., which says
-    she and Fastolf lived together thirty-eight years.--_Hist.
-    Castlecombe_, 263.]
-
-    [Footnote 115.1: Thomas de Scales, 8th Lord.]
-
-    [Footnote 115.2: John Kemp, Archbishop of York, afterwards of
-    Canterbury; or, if this document be some years earlier, Cardinal
-    Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester.]
-
-    [Footnote 116.1: Walter, 1st Lord Hungerford, died in August
-    1449, and was succeeded in the title by his son Robert.]
-
-    [Footnote 116.2: The name is a little indistinct from the decay
-    of the paper, but the first and last letters are clear, and it
-    is scarcely possible to doubt that Rouen was the place here
-    intended. Yet if this be so, the letter must be much earlier
-    than the date assigned to it in the endorsement.]
-
-
-98
-
-RICHARD, EARL OF WARWICK, TO SIR THOMAS TODENHAM[117.1]
-
-_To owr ryght trusty and welbelovyd Frend, Ser Thomas Todenham._
-
-[Sidenote: 1449(?) / NOV. 2]
-
-Ryght trusty and welbelovyd frend, we grete you well, hertely desyryng
-to here of yowr welfare, which we pray God preserve to yowr herts desyr;
-and yf yt please yow to here of owr welfare, we wer in goud hale atte
-the makyng of this lettre, praying you hertely that ye wyll consider owr
-message, which owr Chapleyn Mayster Robert Hoppton shall enforme you of.
-For as God knowyth we have gret besynesse dayly, and has had here by for
-this tyme. Wherfor we pray you to consyder the purchas that we have made
-wyth one John Swyffhcotte, Squier of Lyncolnshyr, of lxxx. and viij_li._
-by yer, whereuppon we must pay the last payment the Moneday nexte after
-Seynt Martyn' day, which sum ys CCCC. and lviij_li._; wherfor we pray
-you wyth all owr herte that ye wyll lend us x_li._, or twenty, or whet
-the seyd Maister Robert wants of hys payment, as we may do for you in
-tym for to com; and we shall send yt you ageyn afor Newyers day wyth the
-grace of God, as we ar trew knyght. For there is nonne in your cuntre
-that we myght wryght to for trust so well as unto you; for, as we be
-enformyd, ye be owr well wyller, and so we pray you of goud
-contynuaunce.
-
-Wherfore we pray you that ye consyder our entent of this mony, as ye
-wyll that we do for you in tym to com, as God knowyth, who have you in
-hys kepyng.
-
-Wreten atte London, on All Salwyn [_All Souls'_] day, wyth inne owr
-loggyng in the Grey Freys [_Friars_] wyth inne Newgate.
-
-  RIC., ERLE WARWYKE.[117.2]
-
-    [Footnote 117.1: [From Fenn, i. 84.] Richard Nevill, Earl of
-    Warwick, afterwards famous as the 'King-maker,' succeeded to the
-    title in 1449, and this letter is not unlikely to have been
-    written in that very year. Certainly it is not many years later.
-    In 1449 and 1450 Warwick was probably in London to attend the
-    Parliament.]
-
-    [Footnote 117.2: 'The seal of this letter' says Fenn, 'is of red
-    wax, on which is the Bear and Ragged Staff, the badge of this
-    nobleman, with his motto,--the whole very fair and curious, and
-    around it is a braid of twine.']
-
-
-99
-
-ABSTRACT[118.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1449 / DEC. 11]
-
-Copy of a Grant from the Crown to John Bray for services against the
-King's enemies. Caen, 11th December 14[4]9, 28 Henry VI.
-
-  [This document is very mutilated and decayed. It is written in
-  French, the spelling of which is very peculiar, and is probably a
-  bad copy by some one who did not know the language.]
-
-    [Footnote 118.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-100
-
-WILLIAM TAILBOYS TO VISCOUNT BEAUMONT[118.2]
-
-_To my right honorabull and right wurshipful Lord, my Lord Viscont
-Beaument._
-
-[Sidenote: Before 1450]
-
-Right honorabull and my right wurshipfull Lord, I recomaund me unto your
-gode Lordship with all my service, evermore desireng to here of your
-prosperitie and welfare, the which I pray God encres and contynue to his
-plesur, and after your oone herts desire; thankyng you of the gode
-Lordship that ye have shewed me at all tymes, beseching you alway of
-gode contynuance.
-
-Plesid your gode Lordship to be remembred how afore this tyme Hugh
-Wythom hath said he wold be in rest and peese with me, and not to
-maligne agayn me otherwise than lawe and right wold; that
-notwithstandyng, upon Munday last past, he and iij. men with him come
-unto a servaunt hous of myn in Boston, cald William Shirref, and there,
-as he sete at his werke, stroke him upon the hede and in the body with a
-dagger, and wondet him sore, and pulled him out of his hous, and set him
-in prison without any cause resonabull, or without writ, or any other
-processe shewid unto him; and that me semes longs not for him to do, bot
-as he says he is endited, and as your gode Lordship knawes wele, I and
-all my servaunts are in like wise; bot and any man shuld have done hit,
-it longs either to the shirref or to your baliff as I conceyve, and
-other cause he had non to him as fer as I kan knawe, bot awnly for the
-malissiousness that he hath unto me, ne I kan think non other bot it is
-so. And now yistre nyght my Lord Welles[119.1] come to Boston with
-iiij^xx [_four score_] horses, and in the mornyng foloyng toke hym out
-of prison, saying afore all peepll, 'Fals thefe, you shall be hanged,
-and as mony of thy maistre men as may be goten' --as your servaunt John
-Abbot kan report unto your gode Lordship,--and hath taken him away with
-him to Tatessall, what to do with him I kan not say, bot as I suppose to
-have him to Lincoln Castell: wherfor I besech your gode Lordship in this
-matier to be my gode Lord, and it please your gode Lordship to write a
-letter to the kepere of the Castell of Lincoln, that it liked him to
-deliver him out of prison undre a sufficient seurety had for him, for
-and thai may kepe him still be this meyne, thai may take all the
-servaunts that I have, and so I may do agayn in like wise.
-
-And also, as I am enformed, without he be had out of prison in hast,
-it will be right gravewis to him to heile of his hurt, he is so sore
-streken; and if there be any service that your gode Lordship will
-comaund me to do in any cuntre, plesid you to send me word, and it shal
-be done to my power with the grace of God, which have you, my right
-honorabull and wurshipfull Lord, alway in his blessid kepyng. Writen at
-Kyme,[119.2] upon Wednesday next after our Ladi day the
-Assumpcion.[119.3]
-
-Also plesid your gode lordship to wit, after this letter was made, there
-come a man fro Tatessall into my fenne, which owght me gode will, and be
-cause he wold not be holden suspect, he speke with wemen which were
-mylkand kyne, and bad theme goo to a preest of myn to Dokdike, and bid
-him fast goo gif me warnyng how that my Lord Wilughby,[120.1] my Lord
-Cromwell,[120.2] and my Lord Welles[120.3] proposid theme to set a
-sessions, and hang the said William Shirref, and thai myght bryng ther
-entent abowte; and so, as I and your servaunt John Abbot stode to geder,
-the prest come and gaf me warnyng herof, which I trust for my worship
-your gode Lordship wold not shuld happen, for it wer to me the grettest
-shame that myght falle; bot and it plese your gode Lordship to write to
-all your servaunts in this cuntre, that thai will be redy upon a day
-warnyng to come when I send theme word, I trust to God thai shal not
-hang him agayn the lawe, bot I, with help of your gode Lordship, shall
-be abull to let hit.
-
-  By your Servaunt,
-
-  WILLIAM TAILBOYS.[120.4]
-
-    [Footnote 118.2: [From Fenn, iii. 282.] This letter is dated by
-    Fenn between 1455 and 1460, but cannot be later than the former
-    of these years, as Lord Cromwell died in the beginning of 1456.
-    It seems, further, beyond a doubt that the Lord Willoughby,
-    mentioned along with him, was Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby,
-    who was connected by marriage both with Lord Cromwell and with
-    Lord Welles; and if so the date cannot be later than 1451, as
-    this Lord Willoughby died in July 1452. Indeed, I have very
-    little doubt it is before 1450, as both Tailboys and Beaumont
-    were of the Duke of Suffolk's party, and it is not likely that
-    the former would have ventured to complain of his powerful
-    neighbours, Lords Willoughby, Cromwell, and Welles after the
-    Duke's fall, especially as we know that in the beginning of 1450
-    he was in prison for an attempt to murder Lord Cromwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 119.1: Leo, Lord Welles.]
-
-    [Footnote 119.2: In Lincolnshire, between Tattershall and
-    Sleaford.]
-
-    [Footnote 119.3: 15th August.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.1: Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby, who married
-    Maud Stephen, a niece of Lord Cromwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.2: Ralph, Lord Cromwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.3: Leo, Lord Welles, whose son Richard married
-    Joan, a daughter of Robert, Lord Willoughby of Eresby.]
-
-    [Footnote 120.4: William, afterwards Sir William, Tailboys of
-    South Kyme, in Lincolnshire, who was attainted under Edward IV.
-    as an adherent of the House of Lancaster. His family was
-    afterwards ennobled as Barons Talboys. He is most unfavourably
-    mentioned in the impeachment of the Duke of Suffolk, of whom he
-    appears to have been a great adherent, and is accused of having
-    made an attempt to murder Lord Cromwell in the Star Chamber at
-    Westminster, on the 28th November 1449.--See _Rolls of
-    Parliament_, v. 181-200.]
-
-
-101
-
-IMPEACHMENT OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK[120.5]
-
-_To the King oure Soverayn Lord._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / FEB. 7]
-
-Sheweth and piteuously compleyneth youre humble trewe obeisantes Comunes
-of this youre nobile reaume, in this youre present Parlement, by your
-high autorite assembled for the seurte of your moste high and royall
-persone, and the welfar of this your nobile reaume, and of your trewe
-liege peple of the same, that William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, late
-of Ewelme, in the counte of Oxenford, falsly and treyterously hath
-ymagined, compassed, purposid, forethought, done, and commytted divers
-high, grete, heynous, and horrible treasons ayenst your most roiale
-persone, youre corones of your raumes of England and Fraunce, your
-duchiee of Guyan and Normandie, and youre holde enheritaunce of your
-countee of Anjoye and Mayne, the estate and dignite of the same, and the
-universall wele and prosperite of all your trewe subgettes of raumes,
-[duchies] and counte in maner and in forme ensewyng.
-
-First, the seid Duke the xxti day of Juyll the xxv. yere[121.1] of youre
-blissid regne, in youre citee of London, in the parich of Sepulcr, in
-the ward of Faringdon infra, ymagynyng and purposing falsly and
-treyterously to distroy your moste roiall persone, and this your seid
-realme, thenne and ther trayterously excited, councelled, provoked,
-and comforted the Erle of Donas[121.2] [bastard][121.3] of Orliaunce,
-Bertrande, Lord Pressigny, Maister William Cusinet,[121.4] enemys to you
-Soverayne Lord, and other your enemeys, subgettes and ambassiators to
-Charles,[121.5] calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grettys
-adversarie and enemey, to meve, councell, ster, and provoke the same
-Charles to come in to this your realme, to leve, reise, and make open
-werr ayenst you, Soverayne Lord, and alle this your reaume with a grete
-puissaunce and arme to distroy your most roiall persone, and your trewe
-subgettes of the same realme, to the entente to make John, sone of the
-same Duke, [King] of this your seid realme, and to depose you of your
-heigh regalie therof; the same Duke of Suffolk havyng thenne of your
-graunte the ward and mariage of Margarete, doughter and heire to John,
-the late Duke of Somerset, purposing here to marey to heis said sonne,
-presuming and pretendyng her to be nexte enheritable to the Corone of
-this your realme, for lak of issue of you Soverayn Lord, in
-accomplishement of heis seid traytours purpose and entent, wheroppon the
-same Duke of Suffolk, sith the tyme of heis areste, hath do the seid
-Margarete to be maried to heis seid sonne.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being most trostid with you, and prevyest
-of your councell of fullong tyme, prepensing that your seid grete
-enemeye and adversarie Charles schuld conquerr and gete be power and
-myght your seid realme of Fraunce, duchies, and countee, the xx^ti day
-of January the xvij. yer[122.1] of your regne, at Westminster, in the
-shir of Middlesex, and divers othir tymes and places within your seid
-realme of Engeland, falsly, trayterously, by sotel menes and
-ymaginacyons, for grete corrupcion of good, taking of money, and other
-excessyf promises to him made by Charles, Duke of Orliaunce,[122.2] your
-enemye, councelled and stered of hym selfe only, your heighnesse to
-enlarge and deliver out of prison the same Duke of Orliaunce, enemye to
-you Soveren Lord, and to the most victorious noble prince of blyssid
-memory, the king youre fadir, whom God assoile! takyn be hem prisonere,
-to th'entent that the seid Charles, calling hym self king of Fraunce,
-schuld recover, gete, and have be false conqueste, and other desayvabile
-menes ayenst you, your heirz and successors, your seid realme of
-Fraunce, duches and counte, be the wyle, subtill councell, might, and
-ayde of the seid Duke of Orliaunce.
-
-Notwithstanding that be the late wylle and ordinaunce of your seid
-fadir, for divers thingis moveyng his grete wysdome, contrary ther of
-was avysed and declared, by wiche councell and stering only of the seid
-Duke of Suffolk the seid Duke of Orliaunce was soverd [_suffered_] at
-his liberte to departe of this youre realme to the partee of Fraunce.
-
-Afore wich departer the first day of May the seid xvij. yerr[122.1] of
-your regne, at London, in the parich of Sent Martyne, in the ward of
-Farindon infra, the same Duke of Suffolk, trayterously adherent to the
-seid Charles, calling hym selfe kyng of Fraunce, then and ther falsly
-and trayterously counseiled, coumforted, stered, and provoked the seid
-Duke of Orlyaunce to excite and moeve the same Charles, calling hym
-selfe kyng of Fraunce, your grete enemeye and adversarie, to make and
-reyse open werr ayenst you in your seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of
-Normandy, to conquer, and to opteyn falsly be force, myght, and other
-menes ayenst you, your heiriz and successours, your seid realme of
-Fraunce and duche of Normandy, Uppon wich adherence, councell, and
-counfort of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Charles calling hym selfe
-kyng, hath made open werr a yenst you in your seid realme of Fraunce,
-and hath it attrochid unto hym, and the most party of your duchie of
-Normandy, and takyn prisonyrs the ful nobile Lordys and coragyouse
-Knytys, the Erle of Schrouesbery[123.1] and the Lord Faconberge,[123.2]
-with many othir nobles and people of your trewe leiges, to ther likly
-fynall ondoing, your gretest disheritaunce, and oure grete lamentable
-losse that ever comen a fore this to you, or ony of your ful noble
-progenitors, or to your trewe subgettes.
-
-Item, wher the seid Duke of Suffolk late was on of your ambassitours
-with othir to youre seid adversarie Charles, calling hem self kyng of
-Fraunce, he, above heis instruccion and power to hym be you committyng,
-promised to Reyner,[123.3] King of Cesile, and Charles Daungers,[123.4]
-heis brothir, your grete enemeys, the deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne,
-without the assent andvyse or knowyng of other your seid ambassitours
-with him thenne accompanyd; and theroppon after heis comyng in to this
-realme from the same ambassiate, in performing of heis seid promyse, he
-falsly and trayterously, for grette rewardes and lucre of good to hym
-yeven by your enemes, caused the said Reyner and Charles Daungers to
-have deliveraunce of Maunce and Mayne aforeseid, to your over grete
-disheritaunce and loss irreparable, enforsing and enrychyng of your seid
-enemes, and grettest mene of the losse of your seid duche of Normandye;
-and so was the seid Duke of Suffolk falsly and trayterously adherent,
-aidant, and confortant to your grete enemeys and adversaries.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk being reteyned with you in your wages of
-werr in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandye, and therby
-strostid be you and alle your councellers to knowe the privite of your
-councell ther, and the purviaunce of your armes, the defence and keping
-of your townes, forteresses, and places, sieges, purveaunce, and
-ordinaunce of werr in the same parties for you to be mad, knowyng all
-[such] privite, and being adherent to your seid grete enemeye, calling
-hem self kyng of Fraunce, hath eften and many divers tymes falsly and
-trayterously discoverd and openned to hym, and to heis capytaynes and
-conductors of heis werr, your enemes, the privite, ordinaunce, and
-provision of your seid councell, purveaunces of armes, defence keping,
-townes, forteresses, places, syeges, and ordinaunce, werby your grete
-adversarie and enemeys have geton and takyn, be the menes of this is
-treason and falshode, ful many lordchepes, townnes, casteles, fortesses,
-and places within your seid realme of Fraunce and duchie of Normandie,
-and letted your capitaynes of your werres to conquer, keppe, and acheve
-your rithfull enheritaunce ther.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk beyng of your grete Privey Councell, and
-with you best trostid, knowyng the secrenesse therof and of this your
-realme, the xvj. day of Juyll the xxv^ti yerr[124.1] of your regne,
-at London, in the parich of Sent Laueraunce Pulteney, in the ward of
-Sandewyke [_Candewyke_] Strette, and at othir divers tymes and places,
-falsly and trayterously beyng adherent and aidant to the seid Charles,
-calling hem selfe king of Fraunce, your grete enemeys, the seid xvj.
-day, and in the parich of Sent Laurence aforeseid, openned, declarid,
-and discovered to the seid Erle of Danas, Bastard of Orlyaunce,
-Bertrand, Lord Presigni, Maister William Cosinet, your enemeys,
-subgettes, ambassiatours and conncellours to the seid Charles, calling
-hem self king of Fraunce, the privitees of your councell, aswell of this
-your realme for the comyn wele of the same, as for the governauns and
-ordinaunce for the conquest, conservacion, saufgard, tuycyon of your
-seid realme of Fraunche and duchie of Normandy; [whereby the great part
-of your said realm of France and duchy of Normandy][125.1] at that tyme
-being in your in handys, as [_should be_, is] be the seid Charles,
-calling hem selfe kyng of Fraunce, and [his] armes goton and takyn out
-of your handes.
-
-Item, suth the matier first moeved of the convencyon of trewes and pees
-by twenne you and your seid grette enemeye Charlys, callyng hem selfe
-kyng of Fraunche, wheroppon by grete diberacyon ye, by the advyse of
-your Councell, have send many solempne ambassatours to the same Charles
-for the god of pees to be hadde be twyn you and this your realme, and
-your subjettes in your realme of Fraunche, duchie of Normandye, and
-othir places under your obeysauns, and the same Charles and heis
-subgettes, the seid Duke of Suffolk being next and grettest of your
-Councell, havyng knowlach of the power and auctorite comytted to alle
-your ambassiatours send in this be half, hath deseyvabely and
-trayterously by heis lettres and messages discovered and opened to your
-seid grete enemeye Charlys, calling hym self kyng of Fraunce, alle
-ynstrucciouns and informaciouns yeven to your seid ambassatours afore
-their comyng in to Fraunce, werby the effectuale concord and trewes that
-schuld have folowed of suche ambassiat by tywnne both the seid realmes
-and subgettes, have take non effectualle conclusyon, but by his fals,
-fraudelent, traiterous werkes, dedes, and deceyvable yma gynacyons, your
-grete enheritaunce, seygnyouries, lordshippis, townes, castell,
-forteresses, and possessions in your seid realme of Fraunche and duchie
-of Normandye, by cause of heis false messages, sendyngs, and wrytyngys
-have be takyn by reft, and gotten fro you be your seid enemeys.
-
-In proof of the wich treson the seid Duke of Suffolk, sittyng in your
-Councell in the Stere Chambre, in your pales of Westminster, seid and
-declarid openly be for the Lordis of your Councell ther being, that he
-had his place in the Councell hows of the French kyng as he had ther,
-and was ther as wel strostid as he was here, and couth remeve from the
-seid French kynge the prevyest man of heis Councell yf he wold.
-
-Item, whan in this your roialme ful oftyn tymes provicyon hath be mad
-for divers armes to be sent in to your seid realme of Fraunche, duches
-of Normandy and Gyand, the seid Duke of Suffolk, by the instaunce and
-meenes mad to hym be your seid enemeys and adversareys for grette
-outeragyous yeftes and rewardes of them takyn, trayterously hath
-restrayned, and utterly lettyd the passage of such armees in favour and
-supporte of your seid enemeys.
-
-Item, the seid Duke of Suffolk, as your ambassatours by twene you and
-Charles, callyng hym self kyng of Fraunche, in fortefyeng of hem and
-enchresing of his myght, hath not comprised in trewes, taken in your
-party the Kyng of Arregon,[126.1] your old allye and frend, nother the
-Duke of Breten,[126.2] but sufferd and causid the seid Duke of Bretayne
-to be compremysid of the party of the seid Charles as his subget,
-frende, and allye, wherby ye have ben estraunged from the god loffe and
-assistence of the seid King of Arregon, and therby and be othir on trewe
-and falce conjectours of the seid Duke of Suffolk, the seid Duke of
-Breteyn is become your enemeye; and Gyles[126.3] of Breten, his brothir,
-the wiche is, and of long tyme hath ben, your trewe and welvylled man
-and servaunt, put in gret dures of pricon, and likely to be potte to the
-dethe or distroid for his trewe feith and welle that he hath to you.
-
-And of alle tresons and offensys in alle theis seid arteculys specyfied
-and conteyned, we your seid Comens accuse and empeche the seid William
-de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, and pray that this be enacte in this your
-High Courte of Parlement, and theroppon to precede in this your High
-Courte of Parlement, as the mater and caas aforseid requireth for the
-surete and welfar of your most roiale person, and savacyon of this your
-realme, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 120.5: [From Fenn, iii. 62.] These are the articles of
-    impeachment exhibited against the Duke of Suffolk, as printed by
-    Fenn from a contemporaneous copy among the Paston MSS., endorsed
-    'Coumpleyntys ayens the Dewke of Suffolk.' Another copy will be
-    found in the _Rolls of Parliament_, v. 177. The day of the
-    Duke's impeachment was the 7th February 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.1: A.D. 1447.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.2: John, Count of Dunois, one of the most renowned
-    warriors of the times. He was a grandson of Charles V. of
-    France, a natural son of Louis, Duke of Orleans, and
-    half-brother of Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was prisoner in
-    England.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.3: Blank in Fenn.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.4: Cousinot.]
-
-    [Footnote 121.5: Charles VII.]
-
-    [Footnote 122.1: A.D. 1439.]
-
-    [Footnote 122.2: Charles, Duke of Orleans. --_See_ p. 46, Note
-    3.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.1: John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, the
-    great hero of the French wars, slain at Castillon in 1453.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.2: William Nevill, Lord Fauconberg.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.3: Rene, Duke of Anjou, father of Queen Margaret.]
-
-    [Footnote 123.4: Charles of Anjou, Count of Maine.]
-
-    [Footnote 124.1: A.D. 1447.]
-
-    [Footnote 125.1: These words are omitted in Fenn, and are
-    supplied from the _Rolls of Parliament_.]
-
-    [Footnote 126.1: Alfonso V., King of Arragon.]
-
-    [Footnote 126.2: Francis I., Duke of Brittany.]
-
-    [Footnote 126.3: Giles of Brittany, the duke's brother, who was
-    murdered in April 1450, after having been kept four years in
-    prison by the duke.]
-
-  [[your duchiee of Guyan and Normandie ... your countee of Anjoye
-  and Mayne  _text unchanged (correct if "Guyenne and Normandy" and
-  "Anjou and Maine" were each a single unit)_]]
-
-
-102
-
-JOHN PASTON'S PETITION[127.1]
-
-_To the Kyng, oure Soverayn Lord, and to the right wyse and discrete
-Lordis, assemblyd in this present Parlement._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-Besechith mekly your homble liege man, John Paston, that where he, and
-oder enfeffed to his use, have be pecybily poscessyd of the maner of
-Gresham, within the counte of Norffolk, xx. yere and more, til the xvij.
-day of Februarij, the yere of your nobill regne xxvi.,[127.2] that
-Robert Hungerford, Knyght, the Lord Molyns, entred in to the seyd maner;
-and how be it that the seyd John Paston, after the seid entre, sued to
-the seid Lord Molyns and his councell, in the most louly maner that he
-cowde, dayly fro tyme of the seid entre on to the fest of Mihelmes than
-next folwyng, duryng which tyme divers communicasyons were had betwix
-the councell of the seid Lord and the councell of your besecher. And for
-asmych as in the seid communicasions no titill of right at any tyme was
-shewed for the seid Lord but that was fully and clerly answeryd, so that
-the seid Lords councell remitted your seid besecher to sewe to the seid
-Lord for his finall and rightfull answer. And after sute mad to the seid
-Lord be your seid besecher, as well at Salysbery as in other places to
-his gret coust, and non answer had but delays, which causyd your seid
-besecher the vj. day of Octobre last past to inhabite hym in a mansion
-with in the seid town, kepyng stille there his poscession, on tille the
-xxviij. day of Januarij last past, the seid Lord sent to the seid
-mansion a riotous peple, to the nombre of a thowsand persones, with
-blanket bendes[128.1] of a sute as riseres ageyn your pees, arrayd in
-maner of werre, with curesse, brigaunders, jakks, salettes, gleyfes,
-bowes, arows, pavyse,[128.2] gonnes, pannys with fier and teynes
-brennyng therein, long cromes[128.3] to drawe doun howsis, ladders,
-pikoys, with which thei myned down the walles, and long trees with which
-thei broke up yates and dores, and so came in to the seid mansion, the
-wiff of your besecher at that tyme beyng ther in, and xij. persones with
-her; the which persones thei dreve oute of the seide mansion, and myned
-down the walle of the chambre wher in the wiff of your seid besecher
-was, and bare here oute at the yates, and cutte a sondre the postes of
-the howses and lete them falle, and broke up all the chambres and
-coferes within the seid mansion, and rifelyd, and in maner of robery
-bare awey all the stuffe, aray, and money that your seyd besecher and
-his servauntes had ther, on to the valew of cc_li._ [L200], and part
-therof sold, and part ther of yaffe, and the remenaunt thei departed
-among them, to the grete and outrageous hurt of your seid besecher,
-sayng openly, that if thei myght have found ther yowr seid besecher and
-on John Damme,[128.4] which is of councell with hym, and divers oder of
-the servauntes of your seid besecher, thei shuld have died. And yet
-divers of the seid mysdoeres and ryotous peple onknowyn, contrary to
-your lawes, dayly kepe the seid maner with force, and lyne [_i.e._ lien,
-lie] in wayte of divers of the frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes of
-your seid besecher, and grevously vexe and trobill hem in divers wise,
-and seke hem in her howsis, ransakyng and serchyng her shevys and strawe
-in her bernes and other places with bore speris, swerdis, and
-gesernys,[128.5] as it semyth, to sle hem if thei myght have found hem;
-and summe have bete and left for ded, so that thei, for doute of here
-lyves, dare not go home to here houses, ner occupy here husbondry, to
-the gret hurte, fere, and drede, aswele of your seid besechere as of his
-seid frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes. And also, thei compelle pore
-tenauntes of the seid maner, now within ther daunger, ageyn ther wille,
-to take feyned pleyntes in the courtes of the hundred ther ageyn the
-seid frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid besecher, whiche
-dare not apere to answere for fere of bodily harme, ne can gete no
-copiis of the seid pleyntes to remedi them be the lawe, because he that
-kepyth the seid courtis is of covyn with the seid misdoers, and was on
-of the seid ryseres, which be coloure of the seid pleyntes grevously
-amercy the seid frendes, tenauntes, and servauntes of your seid
-besecher, to the[ir] outrageous and importabille hurte.
-
-Please it your hynesse, consideryng that if this gret insurreccyon,
-ryottis, and wrongis, and dayly continuans ther of so heynosly don a
-geyn your crowne, dignite and peas, shuld not be your hye myght be duly
-punysshed, it shall gefe grett boldnesse to them, and alle other
-mysdoers to make congregacyons and conventicles riottously, on abille to
-be seysed, to the subversyon and finall distruccyon of your liege peple
-and lawes: And also, how that your seid besecher is not abille to sue
-the commone lawe in redressyng of this heynos wrong, for the gret myght
-and alyaunce of the seid Lord: And also, that your seid besecher canne
-have non accyon be your lawe ageyn the seid riotous peple for the godis
-and catellis be hem so riottously and wrongfully take and bore awey,
-because the seid peple be onknowe, aswelle here names as here persones,
-on to hym;--To purvey, be the avyse of the Lordis spirituall and
-temporall assembled in this present Parlement, that your seid besechere
-may be restoryd to the seid godis and catellis thus riottously take
-away; and that the seid Lord Molyns have suche comaundment that your
-seid besecher be not thus with force, in maner of werre, hold oute of
-his seide maner, contrary to alle your statutes mad ageyn suych
-forcibille entrees and holdyngs; and that the seid Lord Molyns and his
-servauntes be sette in suche a rewle, that your seid besechere, his
-frendis, tenauntes, and servauntes, may be sure and saffe from hurt of
-here persones, and pesibly ocupy here londs and tenements under your
-lawes with oute oppressyoun or onrightfull vexasioun of any of hem; and
-that the seid riseres and causeres therof may be punysshed, that other
-may eschewe to make any suche rysyng in this your lond of peas in tyme
-comyng. And he shalle pray to God for yowe.
-
-    [Footnote 127.1: [Add. Charter 17,240, B.M.] The date of this
-    petition must be during the sitting of Parliament, in the
-    beginning of the year 1450. The first expulsion of John Paston
-    from Gresham is here clearly dated in February 1448. The
-    'October last' in which he re-entered might, so far as appears
-    in this petition, have been in the same year, but the letters
-    referring to this dispute in 1449 compel us to put it a
-    twelvemonth later.]
-
-    [Footnote 127.2: A.D. 1448.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.1: Bands of white woollen cloth?]
-
-    [Footnote 128.2: Pavises were large shields.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.3: Crome is a Norfolk word, signifying a staff
-    with a crook at the end of it.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.4: This person was returned to Parliament for
-    Norwich in October 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 128.5: Battle-axes.]
-
-
-103
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[130.1]
-
-_To my rytz wurchipful mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyvered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / FEB. 21]
-
-Ryt wurchipful hosband, I recommawnd me to zu, desyryng hertyly to heryn
-of zour wele fare, preying zu to weten that I commawndyd Herry Goneld to
-gon to Gunnore to have copys of the pleyntes in the hundrede, and
-Gunnore was not at home; but the seyd Herry spake with his clerk, and he
-told hym pleynly he wost wele his mayster wuld not late hym have no
-copys, thow he wor at home, tyl the nexst hundred; qher for I send zou
-that byl that was wownd abowt the relefys. Custans, Mak, and Kentyng
-wold adysavowyd here swtes rytz fayn the last hundred, as I herd sayn of
-rytz thryfty men; but the Lord Moleynys men thrett hem that bothe they
-xuld ben betyn and lesen here hows and lond and alle here goods, but if
-[_unless_] they wold avow it; and after that Osborn was gon,
-Hasard[130.2] intretyd Kentyng and Mak to avow the swtys after that they
-hadde disavowyd itt, and zave hem mony to zef to the clerkes to entren
-azen the pleyntes. But if[130.3] ze seke a remedy in hast for to remeve
-itt, I soppose they wyl distreyn for the mersymentes er the nexst
-hundred.
-
-As for Mak, he gate respyt that he xuld not sew tyl the nexst hundred.
-As for Herry Goneld, he was dystreynyd zysterday for rent and ferm, and
-he must pay it to morue, xxij_s._, or elles lesyn his dystresse. They
-gadder mony fast of all the tenawntes. All the tenawntes ben chargyd to
-pay al her rent and ferm be Fastyngong Sonday.[131.1] It ys told me that
-the Lord Moleynys xuld kepe his Fastyngong att Jon Wynters plase.
-
-The seid Lordes men haddyn a letter on Thursday last past; qhat tydyngs
-they hadde I wote nott; but on the nexst moruenyng be tymys Thomas
-Bampton, a man of the Lord Moleynys, rod with a letter to his lord, and
-they that ben at Gressam waytyn after an answer of the letter in hast.
-Barow, and Hegon, and all the Lord Moleynys men that wer at Gressam qhan
-ze departyd hens bene there styll, save Bampton, and in his stede is kom
-another; and I here sey thei xul abyd here styll tyl her lord kom
-. . . .[131.2] to Barow as ze komawndyd me to weten quhatt the cawse was
-that thei thrett men . . . .[131.2] Goneld and other of zour servawnts
-and wele willers to zow, the qheche wer namyd to hym that were
-thrett. . . . .[131.2] [s]wore pleynly that they were never thrett; but
-I know veryly the contrary, for of his owyn felaschep lay[d] in awayt
-sondery dayis and nytis abowt Gunnelds, Purrys, and Bekks plasis, and
-som of them zedyn in to Bekks and Purrys [ho]usys, bothen in the hallys
-and the bernys, and askyd qher thei were, and thei were answeryd that
-they were owth; and thei seydyn azen that they xuld meten with hem
-another tyme. And be dyvers other thyngs I know, if thei mytz aben kawt,
-other [_either_] they xuld aben slayn or sor hurt.
-
-I sent Kateryn on this forseyd masage, for I kowd geten no man to do it,
-and sent with her Jamys Halman and Herry Holt; and sche desyryd of Barow
-to have an answer of her masage, and if these forseyd men mytz levyn in
-pese for hem, and seyd ther xuld elles ben purveyd other remedy for hem.
-And he made her grett chere, and hem that wer ther with her, and seyd
-that he desyryd for to spekyn with me, if it xuld ben non displesans to
-me; and Kateryn seyd to hym that sche supposyd that I desyryd not to
-speken with hym. And he seyd he xuld com forby this plase on huntyng
-after non, and ther xuld no mor com with hym but Hegon and on of his
-owyn men; and than he wold bryng seche an answere as xuld plese me. And
-after none they come hydder, and sent in to me to weten if thei mytz
-speken with me, and praying that thei mytz speken with me, and they
-abedyn styl with owtz the zatys; and I kam owth to hem, and spak with
-hem with owt, and prayid hem that thei wold hold me exkusyd that I
-browth hem not in to the plase. I seyd in as meche as thei wer nott wele
-wyllyng to the gode man of the plase, I wold not take it up on me to
-bryng hem in to the jantylwoman. They seyd I dede the best, and than we
-welk forthe, and desyryd an answer of hem for that I hadde sent to hem
-for. Thei sayd to me thei had browtz me seche an answer as thei hopyd
-xuld plese me, and told me how thei had comownd with all her felaschep
-of soche materis as I had sent to hem fore, and that thei durst under
-take that ther xud no man ben hurt of hem thatt wer rehersyd, ner no man
-that longeth to zu, nother for hem ner non of her felaschep, and that
-they answeryd me be her trowthis. Never lese I trest not to her promese,
-in as meche as I fend hem ontrew in other thyngs.
-
-I conseyvyd wele be hem that they wer wery of that thei haden don. Barow
-swor to me be his trowth that he had lever than xl_s._, and xl. that his
-lord had not comawndyd hym to com to Gressam; and he seyd he was rytz
-sory hidderward, in as meche as he had knowleche of zw before, he was
-rytz sory of that that was don. I seyd to hym that he xuld have
-compascion on zu and other that wer disseysyd of her lyvelode, in as
-meche as he had ben dissesyd hym self; and he seyd he was so, and told
-me that he had sewyd to my Lord of Suffolk dyvers tymys, and wold don
-tyl he may gete his gode azen. I seyd to hym that ze had sewyd to my
-Lord Moleynys dyvers tymys for the maner of Gressam syth ze wer
-dissesyd, and ze cowd never gete no resonabyl answer of hym; and ther
-fore ze entred azen, as ye hopid that was for the best. And he seyd he
-xuld never blame my Lord of Suffolk for the entre in his lyvelode, for
-he seyd my seyd lord was sett ther up on be the informacion of a fals
-schrew; and I seyd to hym in lyke wyse is the matier be twyx the Lord
-Moleynys and zu. I told hym I wost wele he sett never ther upon be no
-tytyl of rytz that he hadde to the maner of Gressam, but only be the
-informacion of a fals schrew.[133.1] I rehersyd no name, but me thowt be
-hem that thei wost ho I ment. Meche other langage we hadde, qhyche xuld
-taken long leysyr in wrytyng. I rehersyd to hem that it xuld abe seyd
-thatt I xuld not longe dwell so ner hem as I dewe and they for swer it,
-as thei do other thyngs more that it was never seyd, and meche thyngs
-that I know veryly was seyd.
-
-I here seyn that ze and Jon of Damme ben sore thrett alway, and seyn
-thow ze ben at London, ze xul ben met with ther as wele as thow ze were
-her; and ther for I pray zu hertyly be ware how ze walk ther, and have a
-gode felaschep with zu qhan ze xul walk owt. The Lord Moleynys hathe a
-cumpany of brothell with hym that rekk not qhat they don, and seche ar
-most for to drede. Thei that ben at Gressam seyn that they have not don
-so moche hurte to zu as thei were commawndyd to don. Rabert Lauerawns is
-wele amendyd, and I hope xall recure. He seyth pleynly he wyl compleyn
-of his hurt, and I soppose Bek wyl compleyn also, as he hath cause. Bek
-and Purry dare not abyd att hom tyl thei here other tydyngs. I wold not
-Jon of Damme xuld com hom tyl the cuntre be storyd otherwyse than it is.
-I pray Godde grawnt that it mot sone ben otherwyse than it is. I pray zu
-hertyly that ze wil send me word how ze don, and how ze spede in zour
-materis, for be my trowth I kan not ben wel att ese in my hert, ner not
-xal ben tyl I here tydynges how ze don. The most part of zour stuff that
-was at Gressam is sold, and zovyn away. Barow and his felaw spak to me
-in the most plesawnt wyse, and me semyth be hem thei wold fayn plese me.
-Thei seyd thei wold do me servyse and plesans, if it lay in her powres
-to don owth for me, save only in that that longeth to her lordes rytz.
-I seyd to hem, as for seche servys as they had do to zw and to me,
-I desyr no mor that thei xuld do nother to zw ner to me. Thei seyd I myt
-an had of them att Gressham qhat I hadde desyryd of hem, and had as
-moche as I desyryd. I seyd, nay; if I mytz an had my desyr, I xuld
-nother a departid owth of the place, ner from the stuff that was ther
-in. Thei seyd, as for the stuff it was but esy. I seyd ze wold not a
-zoven the stuff that was in the place qhan thei com in, not for C_li._
-Thei seyd the stuff that thei sey [saw] ther was skars worth xx_li._ As
-for zour moder and myn, sche faryth wel, blissid be God, and she had no
-tydynges but gode zett, blissid be God. The blissyd Trynyte have zou in
-his kepyng, and send zou hele, and gode spede in al your maters. Wretyn
-at Sustede,[134.1] on the Satyrday next after Seynt Valentynys day.
-
-Here dare no man seyn a gode wurd for zu in this cuntre, Godde amend it.
-
-  Yowres,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 130.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From an allusion in
-    the latter part of this letter, it is evident that it was
-    written in 1450, after Margaret had been driven out of Gresham,
-    as mentioned in John Paston's petition, No. 102 preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 130.2: William Hasard. --_See_ Letter No. 88.]
-
-    [Footnote 130.3: But if, _i.e._ unless.]
-
-    [Footnote 131.1: Fastyngong was a popular name for Shrovetide.
-    Fastingong Sunday I believe to have been the Sunday _after_
-    Shrove Tuesday, which would be the 22nd of February in 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 131.2: Mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 133.1: John Heydon, Esq. of Baconsthorpe, appears to
-    have been the person referred to. --_See_ No. 135 following.]
-
-    [Footnote 134.1: Sustead was John Damme's place (_see_
-    Blomefield, viii. 168). It is in the immediate neighbourhood of
-    Gresham.]
-
-
-104
-
-ABSTRACT[134.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, CLERK, WILLIAM COLE, AND WATKYN
-SHIPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MARCH 7]
-
-The beginning of this letter, which is more than half lost by
-mutilation, speaks of 'a bill in the Parliament of the extortions done
-[to me]' from the 17th year [of Henry VI.] hitherto. The rest seems to
-be partly memoranda of things to be entered in this 'bill,' viz. of
-sheep distrained at Drayton, of a matter of trespass between Lady
-Bardolf and Fastolf, of 'Chevers mater in Blyclyng,' of an unpaid
-annuity at Hiklyng, of decays at Tichewell, etc. They are to learn from
-Nich. Bokkyng, to whom the L100 for Busshop was paid. Thinks two men
-should occupy Castre and Wynterton which Broun holds alone. It is too
-much for one to occupy well; 'and in the same wise at Heylesden and
-Drayton.' Let me know what Lampet has done in my matter, and if you find
-him friendly. Both my ships have arrived in safety, thank God.
-
-London, 7 March 28 Henry VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 134.2: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 225.]]
-
-
-105
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[135.1]
-
-_To John Paston, dwellyn in the Inder In of the Tempyll, att London,
-be thys letter delyverd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MARCH 11]
-
-Son, I grete yow, and send yow Godds blyssyng, and myn; and as for my
-doughtyr your wyfe, che faryt well, blyssyd be God, as a woman in hyr
-plyte may do, and all your sonys and doughtrys.
-
-And for as meche as ye will send me no tydyngs, I send yow seche as ben
-in thys contre. Rychard Lynsted cam thys day fro Paston, and letyt me
-wete that on Saturday last past Dravale, halfe brother to Waryn Harman,
-was takyn with enemyis, walkyn be the se syde, and have hym forthe with
-hem; and they tokyn ij. pylgremys, a man and a woman, and they robbyd
-the woman, and lete hyr gon, and ledde the man to the see, and whan they
-knew he was a pylgreme, they geffe hym monei, and sett hym ageyn on the
-lond. And they have thys weke takyn iiij. vesselys of [_i.e._ off]
-Wyntyrton; and Happysborough and Ecles men ben sore aferd for takyn of
-mo [_i.e._ more (?)], for ther ben x. grete vesselys of the enemyis; God
-yeue grace that the see may be better kepte than it is now, or ellys it
-chall ben a perlyous dwellyng be the se cost.
-
-I pray yow grete well your brethyrne, and sey hem that I send hem Goddis
-blyssyn and myn; and sey William that if Jenett Lauton be not payd for
-the krymson cort wheche Alson Crane wrote to hyr for in hyr owyn name,
-that than he pay hyr, and see Alson Cranys name strekyn owt of hyr boke,
-for che seithe che wyll aske no man the money butt Alson Crane. And I
-pray yow that ye wyll remembr the letter that I sent yow last, and God
-be with yow.
-
-Wretyn att Norwyche, the Wedenesday next before Sent Gregory.
-
-  AUGNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 135.1: [From Fenn, iii. 304.] Fenn assigns this letter
-    to the year 1458, but not very confidently. The similarity of
-    its contents, in part, to those of the letter immediately
-    following, appears to me to render the year 1450 the more
-    probable date.]
-
-
-106
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[136.1]
-
-_To my rytz worchypful maystyr, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MARCH 12]
-
-Rytz worchipful hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, desyring hertyly to her
-of zour wellfar, &c.[136.2] . . . . Wyllyam Rutt, the whiche is with Sir
-Jon Hevenyngham, kom hom from London zesterday, and he seyd pleynly to
-his master, and to many other folks, that the Duke of Suffolk is
-pardonyd, and hath his men azen waytyng up on hym, and is rytz wel at
-ese and mery, and is in the Kyngs gode grase, and in the gode conseyt of
-all the Lords, as well as ever he was.
-
-Ther ben many enemys azens Yermowth and Crowmer, and have don moche
-harm, and taken many Englysch men, and put hem in grett distresse, and
-grettely rawnsommyd hem; and the seyd enmys been so bold that they kom
-up to the lond, and pleyn hem on Caster Sonds, and in other plases, as
-homely as they were Englysch men. Folks ben rytz sore afred that they
-wel don moche harm this somer, but if [_i.e._ unless] ther be made rytz
-grett purvyans azens hem.
-
-Other tydyngs know I non at this tym. The blysseful Trinyte have zow in
-his kepyng.
-
-Wryten at Norwyche, on Seynt Gregorys day.
-
-  Yowrs,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 136.1: [From Fenn, i. 28.] The reference to the Duke
-    of Suffolk's pardon proves this letter to have been written in
-    the year 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 136.2: Here Fenn has omitted a passage, relating, as
-    he says, to some common business about Paston's farms and
-    tenants.]
-
-
-107
-
-ABSTRACT[137.1]
-
-SIR JO. FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, PARSON OF CASTLCOMBE, WILL. COKE,
-AND WATKIN SHYPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / APRIL 16]
-
-Bids 'Sir Parson' send in all haste 'the utmost knowledge of all
-grievances' done to him by John Heydon this thirteen years. You have
-sent me the costs of the pleas, but not declared particularly how often
-I have been wrongfully distrained by the enforcing of the said Heydon.
-'I took never plea in the matter because the world was alway set after
-his rule, and as I would have engrossed up [_upon_] my bill.'
-
-London, 16 April 28 Henry VI.
-
-Search the accounts of Drayton Heylesdon, &c., these thirteen years.
-
-    [Footnote 137.1: [From a modern copy by Blomefield on the
-    fly-leaf of a Letter addressed to him. Headed, 'Gave this
-    original letter of Sir John's to Sir Andrew Fountain.'
-    --MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 229.]]
-
-
-108
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[137.2]
-
-_To my right trusty and right enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston,
-Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / APRIL 22]
-
-Right t[r]usty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle, and wyll
-ze wite that a man of Osberd Monford hath declared me how the said
-Osberd is infourmed that Danyelle shuld be pourposed to enter in the
-place of Braystone. And as fer as I can undirstande, Danyelle is come in
-to this cuntre, for none other cause but for to have suche as the Kyng
-hath gifen hym in Rysyng, which lieth not in me ner in none of the
-Kynges subgectes to go ageyns hise graunte and plesaunce. And in cas the
-said Danyelle wold enter upon the said Osberd otherwise than lawe wold,
-seyng the said Osberd is my tenaunt and homager, it is my part to holde
-with hym rather than with Danyelle in hise right, which I wylle do to my
-pouer. And as zet I can not apperceyve that Danyelle wylle labore in any
-maters in this cuntre; and if he wylle be of good governance, I am wel
-paied. And in cas that he wold do wrong to the lesse gentilman in the
-chirre, it shal not lye in hise pouer be the grace of God. He letethe me
-wite that he wylle be wel governed in tyme commyng.
-
-Right trusty and enterly wel beloved frend, I pray God have you in hise
-governance. Writen at Midelton, the xxij. day of Aprille.
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 137.2: [Douce MSS. 393, f. 100.] It appears by a
-    paper, which will be found further on (No. 119), that Daniel
-    entered the manor of Braydeston or Brayston during the
-    Parliament which was held at Leicester in the spring of 1450.
-    This letter must have been written at that time.]
-
-
-109
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[138.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and welbeloved frende, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you hertly wel, and wul ye
-wite that Wotton is ever creyng and callyng upon me to write un to you
-for hise londe; wherfore at the reverence of Good, consideryng the
-symplenesse of hem all, I pray you that ye put hem at a certen, and lete
-hem all that they aught to have of right, for thaire creyng cause men to
-thinke ye do hem grete wrong, which I wote wel ye wold be sory to do.
-
-Oure Lord have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xvj. day
-of October.
-
-  Youre frende,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 138.1: [From Fenn, iii. 364.] This and the six letters
-    following, all but one of which are, like the last, written by
-    Lord Scales to John Paston, are placed here merely for
-    convenience, the years in which they were written being quite
-    uncertain, though probably not very far apart. The one letter
-    among them of which Lord Scales is not the writer, is inserted
-    in abstract on account of its bearing on that which immediately
-    precedes it.]
-
-
-110
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[138.2]
-
-_To my right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and enterly welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and for as
-mych as there is vareaunce betwene William Wotton and hise moder and the
-fermour there, wherfore I pray you that ze wyll [fynde][138.3] a weye
-accordyng to right for to put hem in rest and pees. For in as mych as
-they be yo[ur] tenantes, ze aught to have the reule of them before any
-other, praying you to do youre part to put hem oute of trouble.
-
-I pray God have you in hise governance. Writen at Midelton, the xiij.
-day of Aprille.
-
-  Youre frend,
-
-  THE LORD SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 138.2: [Douce MS. 393, f. 99.]]
-
-    [Footnote 138.3: Mutilated.]
-
-
-111
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[139.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusti and wel beloved frend, John Paston, Sqyer._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I comande me to you, and for certain
-maters that I have for to do, for the which ma[ters I] sende unto you a
-squier of myne called Elyngham; praying you to gefe hym faythful
-credence of that he shall declare you on myne behalfe as for this tyme.
-God have you in Hise keping. Writene at Midleton, the xviij. day of
-Julle.
-
-  Yowre frend,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 139.1: [MS. in Pembroke College, Cambridge.] This
-    letter evidently was written in the same year as the next, but
-    there is no evidence what that year was. Below the signature is
-    a note in a modern hand erroneously identifying the writer with
-    Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales. He was certainly Thomas, Lord
-    Scales, of Henry VI.'s time.]
-
-
-112
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[139.2]
-
-_To [my] right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you welle; and as touchyng
-the mater that Elyngham and ze comuned to giders of the last tyme he was
-with you, I pray you that ze wylle assigne such a day as you liketh
-best, so that it be with inne this viij. dayes, and sende me worde what
-day ze wylle be here be the bringer herof.
-
-I pray God have you in governance. Writen at Midelton, the iij. day of
-August.
-
-  Youre frend,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 139.2: [Douce MS., f. 101.]]
-
-
-113
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[140.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as myche as
-there is certayn vareaunce betwene Elizabeth Clere and a servaunt of
-myne, called William Stiwa[r]desson, prayng you feithfully that ze wylle
-labore and intrete the said Elizabeth to such appointement as the
-brynger of this letter shal informe you of, and do your trewe dilligence
-in this mater, as ze wyll I do for you in any thyng ze may have ado in
-this cuntre, whiche I will do with al my herte.
-
-Oure Lord have yow in hise keping. Writen at Myddelton, the last day of
-August.
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 140.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 102.]]
-
-
-114
-
-ABSTRACT[140.2]
-
-ELIZABETH CLERE TO JOHN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Stywardesson came to her on Easter even to church, and made a very
-humble submission. He at first denied having slandered her, or said that
-he was beaten, only that he was sore afraid; but at last acknowledged he
-had untruly charged her men with coming into his place with force and
-arms, and that he was beaten, for which his master took an action
-against her. Called her tenants to bear witness to his recantation. Said
-she would give him no answer now but by advice of her friends, and his
-master must leave his maintenance. Promised him an answer on Saturday in
-Easter week. He told another man that Heidon promised his master it
-should be put in award by Palm Sunday; 'for he is double both to him and
-to me, and so is William Geney and mo of my counsel.' He is willing to
-make a release. His barn which his men entered to distrain, he says, is
-frank, and he may give the rent when he pleases. Wishes Paston's advice
-what answer to make.--Easter Monday.
-
-    [Footnote 140.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-115
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[141.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and wel be loved frend, Jhon Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and wel beloved frend, I grete you wel, thankyng you
-hertely for the gentilnes and good wylle I have founde in you at alle
-tymes. And for as myche as I and other stonde feffed in the landes of
-Thomas Canon, which is in vareaunce betwene you and hym, if ye wylle do
-so myche as for your part chese ij. lerned menn and the said Canon shal
-chese other ij., they to juge this mater as they shal seme of right and
-resoun. And if so be that the said Canon wylle not do so, I wylle not
-lete you to suye hym after the forme of the Kynges lawe. And if ze
-thinke it to many lerned men, take ze one, and he another; and if they
-may not accorde, ze and I to be umpere, for we stande bothe in like cas.
-And we shal make a good ende be the grace of oure Lord, which have you
-in hise governance.
-
-Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Octobre.
-
-  Zowr frend,
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 141.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 103.]]
-
-
-116
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[141.2]
-
-_To my right trusty and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you hertly well, praying you
-that ye wyll sende me a coppie of the awarde that was made be you and my
-cousyn Sir Miles[141.3] betwex my cousyn Bryan Stapylton and Elizabeth
-Clere, and that ze wyll sende me the said awarde be the bringer herof.
-I pray God have you in governance.
-
-Writen at Midelton, the ix. day of Novembre.
-
-  SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 141.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-    [Footnote 141.3: Sir Miles Stapleton.]
-
-
-117
-
-THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO HIS SON[142.1]
-
-_The copie of a notable Lettre, written by the Duke of Suffolk to his
-Sonne,[142.2] giving hym therein very good counseil.[142.3]_
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / APRIL 30]
-
-My dere and only welbeloved sone, I beseche oure Lord in Heven, the
-Maker of alle the world, to blesse you, and to sende you ever grace to
-love hym, and to drede hym; to the which, as ferre as a fader may charge
-his child, I both charge you, and prei you to sette alle spirites and
-wittes to do, and to knowe his holy lawes and comaundments, by the which
-ye shall with his grete mercy passe alle the grete tempestes and
-troubles of this wrecched world. And that also, wetyngly, ye do no thyng
-for love nor drede of any erthely creature that shuld displese hym. And
-there as any freelte maketh you to falle, be secheth hys mercy soone to
-calle you to hym agen with repentaunce, satisfaccion, and contricion of
-youre herte never more in will to offend hym.
-
-Secondly, next hym, above alle erthely thyng, to be trewe liege man in
-hert, in wille, in thought, in dede, unto the Kyng oure alder most high
-and dredde sovereygne Lord, to whom bothe ye and I been so moche bounde
-to; chargyng you, as fader can and may, rather to die than to be the
-contrarye, or to knowe any thyng that were ayenste the welfare or
-prosperite of his most riall person, but that as ferre as your body and
-lyf may strecthe, ye lyve and die to defende it, and to lete his
-highnesse have knowlache thereof in alle the haste ye can.
-
-Thirdly, in the same wyse, I charge you, my dere sone, alwey, as ye be
-bounden by the commaundement of God to do, to love, to worshepe youre
-lady and moder, and also that ye obey alwey hyr commaundements, and to
-beleve hyr councelles and advises in alle youre werks, the which dredeth
-not, but shall be best and trewest to you. And yef any other body wold
-stere you to the contrarie, to flee the councell in any wyse, for ye
-shall fynde it nought and evyll.
-
-Forthe[rmore],[143.1] as ferre as fader may and can, I charge you in any
-wyse to flee the company and councel of proude men, of coveitowse men,
-and of flateryng men, the more especially and myghtily to withstonde
-hem, and not to drawe, ne to medle with hem, with all youre myght and
-power. And to drawe to you and to your comp[any good][143.1] and
-vertuowse men, and such as ben of good conversacion, and of trouthe, and
-be them shal ye never be deseyved, ner repente you off. [Moreover never
-follow][143.1] youre owne witte in no wyse, but in alle youre werkes,
-of suche folks as I write of above, axeth youre advise a[nd
-counse]l;[143.1] and doyng thus, with the mercy of God, ye shall do
-right well, and lyve in right moche worship, and grete herts rest and
-ease. And I wyll be to you as good lord and fader as my hert can thynke.
-
-And last of alle, as hertily and as lovyngly as ever fader blessed his
-child in erthe, I yeve you the blessyng of oure Lord and of me, which of
-his infynite mercy encrece you in alle vertu and good lyvyng. And that
-youre blood may by his grace from kynrede to kynrede multeplye in this
-erthe to hys servise, in such wyse as after the departyng fro this
-wreched world here, ye and thei may glorefye hym eternally amongs his
-aungelys in hevyn.
-
-Wreten of myn hand,
-
-The day of my departyng fro this land.[143.2]
-
-  Your trewe and lovyng fader,
-
-  SUFFOLK.
-
-    [Footnote 142.1: [From Fenn, i. 32.] The date of this letter is
-    sufficiently clear from the last words of it.]
-
-    [Footnote 142.2: John de la Pole, who succeeded him as Duke of
-    Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 142.3: This heading looks as if copied by Fenn from an
-    endorsement, which is probably not quite contemporaneous.]
-
-    [Footnote 143.1: These words in brackets were chafed and
-    illegible in the original MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 143.2: According to William Worcester, the Duke
-    embarked on Thursday, the 30th April.]
-
-
-118
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[144.1]
-
-_To owre Ryght trusty and right welbeloved Frend, Johan Paston,
-Esquier._
-
-The Erle of Oxenford.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / APRIL 30]
-
-Right tristy and welbeloved frend, we grete you right hertily well. And
-for asmuche as we be enformed that on [_one_] Thomas Kecham, a servaunt
-of owre right welbeloved brothir, Sir Richard de Veer, knyght, hath to
-done with Sir Henry Inglose knyght in a certeyn matier in wich youre
-good maisterschep may cause his singuler ease and a vaile as anenst the
-said knyght, as Thomas Kecham hath enformed us; We pray you hertily
-that, at the reverence of us and this oure writyng, ye woll take the
-labour upon you to speke unto the said Sir Henry, conceyving a mene and
-the weye of an ende to be had be twix thaym of right, causyng the said
-knyght to sease of hese malice and wrongful suette as a nenst the said
-Thomas. And ferthermore we pray you to see that the said knyght take no
-benefeys ne prevayle not as a nenst the Gaoyler of the Castell of
-Norwich for the suerte of the said Thomas Kecham, as we verily trust ye
-will; in wich feithfully doyng we shall kun you hertily thanke. And
-right trusty and welbeloved, the Trynitie have yow in Hese kepyng.
-Wreton at oure Manour of Wevenhoo, the last day of Aprill.
-
-  Below the text of this letter is written in another hand, 'Smalwode
-  Sparhawk.'
-
-    [Footnote 144.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 164.] This letter cannot
-    be later than 1451, as Sir Henry Inglose died in June of that
-    year. The date may be about 1450, like that of some other
-    letters of the Earl of Oxford.]
-
-  [[we shall kun you hertily thanke
-    _text unchanged (expected editorial gloss)_]]
-
-
-119
-
-ABSTRACT[145.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450-2]
-
-A paper of memoranda in William Worcester's handwriting, of which the
-principal contents are as follows:--
-
-A commission of _oyer_ and _terminer_, dated 1 August 28 Henry VI.--A
-session at Swaffham, on Thursday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
-29 Henry VI. (17 September 1450).--A note of six other sessions:--1. At
-Norwich before the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Oxford and Yelverton,
-Tuesday after St. Mathias' day, 29 Henry VI. (2 March 1451); 2. At
-Norwich, before Oxford and Yelverton, Monday after St. Martin in Winter,
-29 Henry VI. (16 November 1450); 3. At Norwich, before Oxford and
-Yelverton, Wednesday after the Conception of St. Mary (15 December),
-continued seven days; 4. At Lynn, before Oxford, Scales, and Yelverton,
-Tuesday after Epiphany (13 January); 5. At Norwich, before John Prysot
-and Yelverton, Thursday in Easter week, 29 Henry VI. (29 April 1451);
-6. At Walsingham, before Scales and Prysot, Monday _in crastino clausi
-Paschae_ (3 May 1451).
-
-'Parliamentum apud Leyseter ---- anno xxviij(o).--Durante illo Parliamento
-intravit T. Daniell manerium de Braydeston.--Will'us, Dux Suff' obiit
-tertio die Maii anno xxviij(o) Regis Henry VI^{ti}.--Jak Cade, proditor
-de Kent, fugit de le Blakheth xxij. die Junii anno xxviij. H. VI.,
-[     ] Julii mense decapitatus fuit.--Injuria Plumbsted post hoc (?)'
---Mundford and Heydon entered Braysto[ne] on the eve of the Nativity of
-St. Mary anno 29 (7 September 1450). Thomas Danyell entered Braydeston
-a second time, 30 Henry VI.
-
-Between Mich. 30 and 31 Henry VI. (1451 and 1452) Norfolk, Oxford,
-Scales, and a great number of others were at Norwich holding sessions.
-The same year 'John P.' was with John, Earl of Oxford, at Whevenho on
-the Nativity of St. Mary (8 September). The same year, before all these
-things, Thomas Danyell was married at Framlyngham.
-
-'Testimonium Commissionariorum et cognitio Milonis Stapulton quo ad
-impanellationem juratorum.
-
-'Item, testimonium concilii quoad mutationem actionum in indictamentis
-et recordum apparet et declaratio Johannis Geney facta Thomae Gurney.
-
-'Item, testimonium concilii et Thomae Grene quoad absenciam Johannis
-Porter. Et testimonium hominum de Bliclyng. Item, missio pro Johanne
-Porter pro pecunia et placito proprio. (Memorandum, quando Porter fuit
-juratus, J. Andru fuit extractus de indictamento.)
-
-'Item, testimonium juratorum de non procuratione. Et indictamentum
-Johannis Andrew in Suff. causa fugationis ejus.
-
-'Item, antiquum debat' supposit' inter Andrews et Porter erat pro
-districtione capta de Johanne Andrews apud Weston pro debito domini
-Bardolf; pro qua causa idem Johannes Andrews implacitare vellet dictum
-Johannem Porter ad terminum (?) nisi pro dicto domino Bardolf; sic
-dictus Andrews continuavit maliciam suam erga praedictum Johannem Porter,
-et e contra quod et malicia Heydon erat causa conspiracionis per
-ipsum. . . .'
-
-  [As this document is a key to the dates of several of the letters
-  during the years 1450 to 1452, we have thought it best to insert it
-  in the beginning of the period to which it refers, instead of the
-  date at which it may be supposed to have been written.]
-
-    [Footnote 145.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-120
-
-WILLIAM LOMNER TO JOHN PASTON[146.1]
-
-_To my ryght worchipfull John Paston, at Norwich._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 5]
-
-Ryght worchipfull sir, I recomaunde me to yow, and am right sory of that
-I shalle sey, and have soo wesshe this litel bille with sorwfulle terys,
-that on ethes ye shalle reede it.
-
-As on Monday[146.2] nexte after May day there come tydyngs to London,
-that on Thorsday[146.3] before the Duke of Suffolk come unto the costes
-of Kent full nere Dower with his ij. shepes and a litel spynner; the
-qweche spynner he sente with certeyn letters to certeyn of his trustid
-men unto Caleys warde, to knowe howe he shuld be resceyvyd; and with hym
-mette a shippe callyd Nicolas of the Towre, with other shippis waytyng
-on hym, and by hem that were in the spyner, the maister of the Nicolas
-hadde knowlich of the dukes comyng. And whanne he espyed the dukes
-shepis, he sent forthe his bote to wete what they were, and the duke hym
-selfe spakke to hem, and seyd, he was be the Kyngs comaundement sent to
-Caleys ward, &c.
-
-And they seyd he most speke with here master. And soo he, with ij. or
-iij. of his men, wente forth with hem yn here bote to the Nicolas; and
-whanne he come, the master badde hym, 'Welcom, Traitor,' as men sey; and
-forther the maister desyryd to wete yf the shepmen woldde holde with the
-duke, and they sent word they wold not yn noo wyse; and soo he was on
-the Nicolas tyl Saturday[146.4] next folwyng.
-
-Soom sey he wrotte moche thenke [_thing_] to be delyverd to the Kynge,
-but thet is not verily knowe. He hadde hes confessor with hym, &c.
-
-And some sey he was arreyned yn the sheppe on here maner upon the
-appechementes and fonde gylty, &c.
-
-Also he asked the name of the sheppe, and whanne he knew it, he
-remembred Stacy that seid, if he myght eschape the daunger of the Towr,
-he should be saffe; and thanne his herte faylyd hym, for he thowghte he
-was desseyvyd, and yn the syght of all his men he was drawyn ought of
-the grete shippe yn to the bote; and there was an exe, and a stoke, and
-oon of the lewdeste of the shippe badde hym ley down his hedde, and he
-should be fair ferd wyth, and dye on a swerd; and toke a rusty swerd,
-and smotte of his hedde withyn halfe a doseyn strokes, and toke awey his
-gown of russet, and his dobelette of velvet mayled, and leyde his body
-on the sonds of Dover; and some sey his hedde was sette oon a pole by
-it, and hes men sette on the londe be grette circumstaunce and preye.
-And the shreve of Kent doth weche the body, and sent his under shreve to
-the juges to wete what to doo, and also to the Kenge whatte shalbe doo.
-
-Forther I wotte nott, but this fer (?) is that yf the proces be
-erroneous, lete his concell reverse it, &c.
-
-Also for alle your other maters they slepe, and the freer[147.1] also,
-&c.
-
-Sir Thomas Keriel[147.2] is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse,
-and abowte iij. m^l. [3000] Englishe men slayn.
-
-Mathew Gooth[147.3] with xv^c. [1500] fledde, and savyd hym selffe and
-hem; and Peris Brusy was cheffe capteyn, and hadde x. m^l. Frenshe men
-and more, &c.
-
-I prey yow lete my mastras your moder knowe these tydyngis, and God have
-yow all yn his kepyn.
-
-I prey yow this bille may recomaunde me to my mastrases your moder and
-wyfe, &c.
-
-James Gresham hath wretyn to John of Dam, and recomaundith hym, &c.
-
-Wretyn yn gret hast at London, the v. day of May, &c.
-
-  By yowr wyfe.[148.1]
-
-  W. L.
-
-    [Footnote 146.1: [From Fenn, i. 38.] The date of this letter is
-    perfectly determined by the events to which it relates.]
-
-    [Footnote 146.2: 4th May.]
-
-    [Footnote 146.3: 30th April.]
-
-    [Footnote 146.4: 2nd May.]
-
-    [Footnote 147.1: An allusion to Friar Hauteyn's suit or Oxnead.]
-
-    [Footnote 147.2: Sent to France to carry succours to the Duke of
-    Somerset, but defeated and taken prisoner at the battle of
-    Fourmigni, 15th April 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 147.3: Matthew Gough, a celebrated captain in the
-    French war.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.1: This singular subscription Fenn believes to
-    have been owing to a momentary forgetfulness on the part of the
-    writer, William Lomner, who had been in the habit of acting as
-    Margaret Paston's secretary in writing to her husband.]
-
-
-121
-
-JOHN CRANE TO JOHN PASTON[148.2]
-
-_To my right worshupfull cosygne, John Paston of Norwyche, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 6]
-
-Right worshupfull sir, I recomaunde me unto yow in the most goodly wyse
-that y can; and forasmuche as ye desired of me to sende yow worde of
-dyvers matirs here, whiche been opened in the Parliament openly, I sende
-yow of them suche as I can.
-
-First moost especiall, that for verray trowthe upon Saterday[148.3] that
-last was, the Duke of Suffolk was taken in the see, and there he was
-byheded, and his body with the appurtenaunce sette at lande at Dover,
-and alle the folks that he haad with hym were sette to lande, and haad
-noon harme.
-
-Also the Kyng hath sumwhat graanted to have the resumpsion agayne in
-summe, but nat in alle, &c.
-
-Also yef ye purpose to come hydre to put up your bylles, ye may come now
-in a good tyme; for now every man that hath any, they put theme now
-inne, and so may ye, yif ye come with Godds grace to your pleasur.
-
-Ferthermore, upon the iiij^th day of this monthe, the Erle of
-Devenesshire[148.4] come hydre with iij^c. [300] men wel byseen, &c.
-
-And upon the morow after my Lord of Warrewyke[148.5] with iiij^c. [400]
-and moo, &c.
-
-Also, as hyt ys noysed here Calys shal be byseged withynne this vij.
-dayes, &c.
-
-God save the Kyng, and sende us pees, &c.
-
-Other tithyngs be ther noon here, but Almyghty God have yow in his
-kepyng.
-
-Writen at Leycestre, the vj. day of May.
-
-  Your cosigne,
-
-  JOHN CRANE.[149.1]
-
-    [Footnote 148.2: [From Fenn, i. 44.] The date of this letter, as
-    of the preceding, is clearly proved by internal evidence.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.3: 2nd May.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.4: Thomas Courtenay.]
-
-    [Footnote 148.5: Richard Nevill. --_See_ Letter 98.]
-
-    [Footnote 149.1: Probably John Crane of Woodnorton, of whom
-    there are some notices in Blomefield (_Hist. Norf._ viii. 313,
-    316; x. 282).]
-
-
-122
-
-ABSTRACT[149.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, 'being at
-Castre.'
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 7]
-
-Begs him to solicit the expedition of the matters of which he wrote
-since Easter.--Debts of Thos. Symmys for rents and sale of wools not yet
-paid to F. in Dedham.--As for the matter of Rydlyngfold and Hykele,
-'seth it ys soo the world is changed gretely over it was, y pray you,
-and charge you, parson, labour ye to my frendz Lampet and others' to get
-a copy of their evidences; for 'howbeit the said prioress say that her
-evidence be in the Duke of Suffolk's keeping or his counsel,' she had a
-book in which all the evidence is copied. The thing would have been sped
-long ere this, if 'my Lord Norwich['s] Chancellor' or Master Pope, had
-labored as they promised. For God's sake send me a good answer. 'If an
-inordinate book be made, remembering the deliverance' of cloths, &c.
-into F.'s wardrobe, let the indentures be engrossed. Wonders Howys
-cannot furnish him with a full account of the damages sustained by F.
-and his tenants these ten or twelve years past. He has only sent a
-declaration of costs in defending some of them. Get a letter of Nich.
-Bokkyng of the L100 to whom it was paid.
-
-London, 7 May 28 Henry VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 149.2: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 223.]]
-
-  [[_footnote marker misprinted as 1_]]
-
-
-123
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[150.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 13]
-
-I recomaund me unto your good maistership; and as for tidings, Arblaster
-come home to my Lord[150.2] on Munday, at sopertyme; and my Maister
-Danyell[150.3] is Styward of the Duche of Lancastre by yonde Trent,
-and Arblastr seith he hath made me his undirstyward.
-
-And as for the Chamberleynship of Inglond, the Lord Beamond[150.4] hath
-it, and the Lord Rivers[150.5] Constable of Inglond.
-
-As for the Duche on this side Trent, Sir Thomas Tudenham had a joynte
-patent with the Duke of Suffolk,[150.6] which, if it be resumed, Sir
-Thomas Stanley hath a bille redy endossed therof.
-
-My lord wole not to Leicestre.[150.7] My Maister Danyell desireth yow
-thedir. I shall ride thiderward on Friday by tymes.
-
-Wretyn in hast at Wynche,[150.8] the xiij. day of May.
-
-I pray yow to thynk upon my mater to my mastresse your wyf, for my
-mastresse Anne, for in good feith I haf fully conquered my lady sith ye
-went, so that I haf hir promisse to be my good lady, and that she shall
-help me by the feith of hir body.
-
-  Your servant,
-
-  DENYES.
-
-    [Footnote 150.1: [From Fenn, i. 162.] This letter, which Fenn
-    vaguely assigned to the latter part of the reign of Henry VI.,
-    may be pretty safely attributed to the year 1450. The mention of
-    Lord Rivers and the Duke of Suffolk could not have been earlier
-    than 1449, as the one was only created lord, and the other duke
-    in 1448, and at a later date than the 13th of May. The reference
-    to the Duke of Suffolk again is not likely to have been long
-    after his decease. Further, there is a strong presumption, from
-    Monday being spoken of as a past date, and Friday as a future,
-    that the letter was written on a Wednesday. Had it been on a
-    Tuesday or Thursday, Monday would have been spoken of as
-    'yesterday' or Friday as 'to-morrow.' Now, the 13th of May was a
-    Wednesday in 1450. The changes in officers of state mentioned in
-    this letter are, therefore, those consequent on the fall of the
-    Duke of Suffolk. There is, besides, as will be seen by a
-    foot-note, an allusion to the Parliament at Leicester.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.2: John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.3: Thomas Daniel. --_See_ p. 80.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.4: John, Viscount Beaumont.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.5: Richard Woodville, created Baron Rivers 29th
-    May 1448; afterwards earl.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.6: William de la Pole. --_See_ p. 80, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.7: Parliament was sitting at Leicester in May
-    1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 150.8: A seat of the Earl of Oxford, near King's Lynn,
-    in Norfolk.]
-
-
-124
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[151.1]
-
-_To our right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Esquyer._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Right trusty and right intierly welbeloved, we grete you hertly wele.
-And it is so, as ye know wele your self, we haf and long tyme haf had
-the service of Thomas Denyes, by continuance wherof we wend to haf had
-his attendaunce at our lust; and nevertheless we haf so strictly
-examynid his demenyng that we fele and pleynly conceyve that the love
-and effeccion which he hath to a gentilwoman not ferre from yow, and
-which ye be privy to, as we suppose, causith hym alwey to desire toward
-your cuntre, rather than toward suych ocupacion as is behovefull to us.
-We write therfore to yow, prayng yow hertly as ye love us, that it like
-you to do that labour at our instaunce be suych men [_mean_] as your
-wisdom can seme, to meve that gentilwoman in our behalf for the wele of
-this mater, undirtakyng for us that we wole shew our bounte to thaym
-bothe, if it plese hir that this mater take effect, so that be reason
-she shall haf cause to take it in gree. And if the comyng thider of our
-persone self shuld be to plesir of hir, we wole not leve our labour in
-that: wherfore we pray you that ye wole do your part heryn, as ye wole
-we do for yow in tyme comyng, and that ye se us in hast. The Holy
-Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wevenho, the xvij. day of May.
-
-  The Erle of Oxenford.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 151.1: [From Fenn, iii. 360.] This letter cannot well
-    be of the same year as the last, but is probably not many years
-    earlier, and certainly not many years later. The reasons against
-    its being of the same year are--first, that it seems to be
-    implied in the letter preceding that the Earl of Oxford was at
-    Winch, near Lynn, in Norfolk, on the 13th May 1450, which makes
-    it improbable that he would be at Wivenhoe in Essex four days
-    after; and, secondly, that he is not likely to have offered to
-    go into Norfolk (especially after having just come out of
-    Norfolk) on a matter touching the private affairs of one of his
-    own adherents, when he declined to go to the Parliament at
-    Leicester.]
-
-
-125
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS[152.1]
-
-_To my trusty and welbelovyd frende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of
-Castellcombe._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / MAY 27]
-
-Trusty and welbelovyd frende, I grete you well.[152.2] . . . . And I
-pray you sende me word who darre be so hardy to keck agen you in my
-ryght. And sey hem on my half that they shall be qwyt as ferre as law
-and reson wolle. And yff they wolle not dredde, ne obey that, then they
-shall be quyt by Blackberd or Whyteberd; that ys to sey, by God or the
-Devyll. And therfor I charge yow, send me word whethyr such as hafe be
-myne adversaries before thys tyme, contynew still yn her wylfullnesse,
-&c.
-
-Item, I hyre oft tymys manye straunge rapports of the gouvernaunce of my
-place at Castre and othyr plasys, as yn my chatell approvyng,[152.3] yn
-my wynys, the kepyng of my wardrobe and clothys, the avaylle[152.4] of
-my conyes at Haylysdon, &c., and approwement[152.3] of my londys;
-praying you hertly as my full trust ys yn you to help reforme it, and
-that ye suffre no vityouse man at my place of Castre abyde, but well
-gouverned and diligent, as ye woll aunswer to it.
-
-Allmyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, xxvij. day of Maij anno xxviij(o)
-regni Regis Henrici VI.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, Kt.
-
-    [Footnote 152.1: [From Fenn, i. 52.]]
-
-    [Footnote 152.2: Here, says Fenn, follow some orders respecting
-    his affairs at Caister.]
-
-    [Footnote 152.3: Approving lands or chattels meant turning them
-    to profit, and in the former case commonly implied increasing
-    the rents.]
-
-    [Footnote 152.4: Use or profit.]
-
-
-126
-
-J. PAYN TO JOHN PASTON[153.1]
-
-_To my ryght honurabyll maister, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 (written in 1465)]
-
-Ryght honurabyll and my ryght enterly bylovyd maister, I recomaunde me
-un to yow, with al maner of due reverence, in the moste louly wyse as we
-ought to do, evermor desyryng to here of your worshipfull state,
-prosperite, and welfar; the which I beseke God of his aboundant grace
-encrece and mayntene to his moste plesaunce, and to your hartis dssyre.
-
-Pleasyth it your gode and gracios maistershipp tendyrly to consedir the
-grete losses and hurts that your por peticioner haeth, and haeth jhad
-evyr seth the comons of Kent come to the Blakheth,[153.2] and that is at
-xv. yer passed, whereas my maister Syr John Fastolf, Knyght, that is
-youre testator,[153.3] commandyt your besecher to take a man, and ij. of
-the beste orsse that wer in his stabyll, with hym to ryde to the comens
-of Kent, to gete the articles that they come for. And so I dyd; and al
-so sone as I come to the Blakheth, the capteyn[153.4] made the comens to
-take me. And for the savacion of my maisters horse, I made my fellowe to
-ryde a wey with the ij. horses; and I was brought forth with befor the
-capteyn of Kent. And the capteyn demaundit me what was my cause of
-comyng thedyr, and why that I made my fellowe to stele a wey with the
-horse. And I seyd that I come thedyr to chere with my wyves brethren,
-and other that were my alys and gossippes of myn that were present
-there. And than was there oone there, and seid to the capteyn that I was
-one of Syr John Fastolfes men, and the ij. horse were Syr John
-Fastolfes; and then the capteyn lete cry treson upon me thorought all
-the felde, and brought me at iiij. partes of the feld with a harrawd of
-the Duke of Exetter[154.1] before me in the dukes cote of armes, makyng
-iiij. _Oyes_ at iiij. partes of the feld; proclaymyng opynly by the seid
-harrawd that I was sent thedyr for to espy theyre pusaunce, and theyre
-abyllyments of werr, fro the grettyst traytor that was in Yngelond or in
-Fraunce, as the seyd capteyn made proclaymacion at that tyme, fro oone
-Syr John Fastolf, Knyght, the whech mynnysshed all the garrisons of
-Normaundy, and Manns, and Mayn, the whech was the cause of the lesyng of
-all the Kyngs tytyll and ryght of an herytaunce that he had by yonde
-see. And morovyr he seid that the seid Sir John Fastolf had furnysshyd
-his plase[154.2] with the olde sawdyors of Normaundy and abyllyments of
-werr, to destroy the comens of Kent whan that they come to Southewerk;
-and therfor he seyd playnly that I shulde lese my hede.
-
-And so furthewith I was taken, and led to the capteyns tent, and j. ax
-and j. blok was brought forth to have smetyn of myn hede; and than my
-maister Ponyngs, your brodyr,[154.3] with other of my frendes, come and
-lettyd the capteyn, and seyd pleynly that there shulde dye a C. or ij.
-[_a hundred or two_], that in case be that I dyed; and so by that meane
-my lyf was savyd at that tyme. And than I was sworen to the capteyn, and
-to the comens, that I shulde go to Southewerk, and aray me in the best
-wyse that I coude, and come ageyn to hem to helpe hem; and so I gote
-th'articles, and brought hem to my maister, and that cost me more emongs
-the comens that day than xxvij_s._
-
-Wherupon I come to my maister Fastolf, and brought hym th'articles, and
-enformed hym of all the mater, and counseyled hym to put a wey all his
-abyllyments of werr and the olde sawdiors; and so he dyd, and went
-hymself to the Tour, and all his meyny with hym but Betts and j. [_i.e._
-one] Mathew Brayn; and had not I ben, the comens wolde have brennyd his
-plase and all his tennuryes, wher thorough it cost me of my noune propr
-godes at that tyme more than vj. merks in mate and drynke; and nought
-withstondyng the capteyn that same tyme lete take me atte Whyte Harte in
-Suthewerk, and there comandyt Lovelase to dispoyle me oute of myn aray,
-and so he dyd. And there he toke a fyn gowne of muster dewyllers[155.1]
-furryd with fyn bevers, and j. peyr of Bregandyrns[155.2] kevert with
-blew fellewet [_velvet_] and gylt naile, with legharneyse, the vallew of
-the gown and the bregardyns viij_li._
-
-Item, the capteyn sent certeyn of his meyny to my chamber in your rents,
-and there breke up my chest, and toke awey j. obligacion of myn that was
-due unto me of xxxvj_li._ by a prest of Poules, and j. nother obligacion
-of j. knyght of x_li._, and my purse with v. ryngs of golde, and
-xvij_s._ vj_d._ of golde and sylver; and j. herneyse [_harness_]
-complete of the touche of Milleyn;[155.3] and j. gowne of fyn
-perse[155.4] blewe furryd with martens; and ij. gounes, one furryd with
-bogey,[155.5] and j. nother lyned with fryse;[155.6] and ther wolde have
-smetyn of myn hede, whan that they had dyspoyled me atte White Hart. And
-there my Maister Ponyngs and my frends savyd me, and so I was put up
-tyll at nyght that the batayle was at London Brygge;[155.7] and than
-atte nyght the capteyn put me oute into the batayle atte Brygge, and
-there I was woundyt, and hurt nere hand to deth; and there I was vj.
-oures in the batayle, and myght nevyr come oute therof; and iiij. tymes
-before that tyme I was caryd abought thorought Kent and Sousex, and ther
-they wolde have smetyn of my hede.
-
-And in Kent there as my wyfe dwellyd, they toke awey all oure godes
-mevabyll that we had, and there wolde have hongyd my wyfe and v. of my
-chyldren, and lefte her no more gode but her kyrtyll and her smook. And
-a none aftyr that hurlyng, the Bysshop Roffe[156.1] apechyd me to the
-Quene, and so I was arestyd by the Quenes commaundment in to the
-Marchalsy, and there was in rygt grete durasse, and fere of myn lyf, and
-was thretenyd to have ben hongyd, drawen, and quarteryd; and so wold
-have made me to have pechyd my Maister Fastolf of treson. And by cause
-that I wolde not, they had me up to Westminster, and there wolde have
-sent me to the gole house at Wyndsor; but my wyves and j. coseyn of myn
-noune that were yomen of the Croune, they went to the Kyng, and got
-grase and j. chartyr of pardon.
-
-  Per le vostre,
-
-  J. PAYN.
-
-    [Footnote 153.1: [From Fenn, i. 54.] This letter was actually
-    written in the year 1465; but as the circumstances to which it
-    relates belong to the year 1450, and are connected with the
-    memorable insurrection of Jack Cade, we have thought it right,
-    as Fenn did, to place it under the earlier year.]
-
-    [Footnote 153.2: Jack Cade and his followers encamped on
-    Blackheath on the 11th June 1450, and again from the 29th of
-    June to the 1st July. Payn refers to the latter occasion.]
-
-    [Footnote 153.3: Sir John Fastolf (who is dead at the date of
-    this letter) left Paston his executor, as will be seen
-    hereafter.]
-
-    [Footnote 153.4: Jack Cade.]
-
-    [Footnote 154.1: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. During the civil
-    war which followed, he adhered to the House of Lancaster, though
-    he married Edward IV.'s sister. His herald had probably been
-    seized by Cade's followers, and pressed into their service.]
-
-    [Footnote 154.2: Sir John Fastolf had a residence in Southwark.]
-
-    [Footnote 154.3: Robert Poynings, who, some years before this
-    letter was written, had married Elizabeth, the sister of John
-    Paston, was sword-bearer and carver to Cade, and was accused of
-    creating disturbances on more than one occasion afterwards.
-    He was slain at the second battle of St. Albans on the 17th Feb.
-    1461.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.1: 'A kind of mixed grey woollen cloth, which
-    continued in use to Elizabeth's reign.' --Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.2: A brigandine was a coat of leather or quilted
-    linen, with small iron plates sewed on. --_See_ Grose's _Antient
-    Armour_. The back and breast of this coat were sometimes made
-    separately, and called a pair.--Meyrick.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.3: Milan was famous for its manufacture of arms
-    and armour.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.4: 'Skye or bluish grey. There was a kind of cloth
-    so called.' --Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.5: Budge fur.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.6: 'Frieze. A coarse narrow cloth, formerly much
-    in use' -- Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 155.7: The battle on London Bridge was on the 5th
-    July.]
-
-    [Footnote 156.1: Fenn gives this name 'Rosse' with two long s's,
-    but translates it Rochester, from which I presume it was written
-    'Roffe' for _Roffensis_. The Bishop of Rochester's name was John
-    Lowe.]
-
-  [[Footnote 154.3: He was slain...
-    _final sentence added by editor in Errata; see also note 135.1
-    in Volume III._]]
-
-
-127
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[156.2]
-
-_To my right worshipfull [mai]ster John Paston at Wynchestre be this
-delyuered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / JULY 3]
-
-After al due recomendacion had, I recomaunde me to yow and prey yow to
-wete that Heydon seweth in his accion a geynst Osebern x. _tales_
-retournable xv^a. Johannis. _Ideo mittetur vel loquatur Vicecomiti
-Norffolk_, &c. And I suppose that as for Costardis accions thei wole
-have _nisi prius_, &c. As touchyng the matier of Oxened the frere[156.3]
-leveth his delagacie a abideth up on our plee of profession by as meche
-as we sey that long to fore the writte purchaced he was professed a
-frere and sey not and yet is professed, &c. And Sotyll and other of your
-counseill thynk the law is on our syde. Brampton brought me a lettre and
-a clowt sowed clos with thynggis therin, and a letter endorsed to yow
-from my maistresse your moder, whiche I sende yow with this. The lord
-Moleyns man brought ij. writtes to the Shirrefis depute of Norfolk, oon
-a geynst yow, myn eme[157.1] and James Gloys _quare clausum suum apud
-Gresham fregerunt_, &c., the othir writte a geynst yow and J. Gloys
-_quare vi et armis in hominis et servientes ipsius apud Gresham insultum
-fecerunt_, &c. And whanne the seid lord Moleyns man delyvered these
-wrettys, Lomnour stode be side and aspied it. And thanne the seid man
-desired to have ageyn the writtis, and toke hem a geyn; and whanne he
-had theym he seid they shuld not come in their handes a vii. nyght
-after. And so he kepeth theym stille. And Caly and Yates also have
-promysed me that ther shall no writte be retourned a geyn yow but that
-ye shall have copies ther of at reasonable tyme to make your avantage as
-the law wole, &c., to caste your esson[157.2] or suyche other, &c. Sir,
-I prey God yeld yow for your letter ye sent me by Lethom, whiche I
-receyved yistereuyn right late. Wherby I hope and conceyve that ye be in
-good cas for your maner of Gr[esham], for truly I was right weel
-comforted therof. As touchyng Skyner and his borwys the attachementes
-may not be wretyn but by the recordes of the reconysance, and alle the
-recordes of Chauncerye be at Wynchestre. _Ideo_, &c. I prey God be your
-good speed in all your matiers, Amen. Wretyn in hast at London the
-Friday next after seint Petir day.
-
-  Your servant,
-
-  J. GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 156.2: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 73.] The legal
-    proceedings mentioned in this letter show that the year is the
-    same as that of Gresham's other letter immediately following
-    (No. 128).]
-
-    [Footnote 156.3: John Hauteyn.]
-
-    [Footnote 157.1: 'eme,' _i.e._ uncle.]
-
-    [Footnote 157.2: _Essoin_, a legal expression, meaning an excuse
-    admitted for non-appearance in Court.]
-
-
-128
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO MASTER WHITE[158.1]
-
-_To my Maister Whyte, Esquyer, with my Lord Cardynall,[158.2] for to
-take to John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / JULY 8]
-
-After al due recomendacion, I recomaund me to yow, and do yow wete that
-this same Wednesseday I receyved your lettre whiche was wretyn on
-Saterday last passed, wherby ye willed me to send yow worde of your
-matiers, &c. As touchyng the frere,[158.3] he abydeth in lawe up on our
-plee of profession, like as I sent yow word by wrytyng, whiche I sent
-yow in a box with other stuf by a man of the Archedeken of Rychemond.
-I endorsed it thus, 'To William Plumstede, with my Lord of
-Winchestre,[158.4] or to John Paston.'
-
-We shuld have amendet our plee of profession, but thanne your counseyll
-fereth he wolde take an issue that he is not professed, and that
-shuld[158.5] be tried by the certificat of the Dean of Poulys, _sede
-vacante_; and therfore we abide in lawe, and wole not amende our plee.
-The day of th'assises in Norffolk is _die Veneris proximo post Festum
-Nativitatis Beatae Mariae apud Norwicum_, and Costards _nisi prius_ is
-take owt ageynst that day, and Prentis _nisi prius_ ageynst Halman also.
-
-As touchyng the sute ageyns Osebern and Foke, he hath geve day xv.
-Johannis with x. _tales_, as I have wretyn to yow to fore this tyme;
-and I suppose that he wole have a _nisi prius_ of the same atte seid
-assises. As touchynge the fyn in the Kyngs Benche for Osebern and Foke,
-the fyne were cessed this terme, but I hadde no leyser to talke with
-Croxton ther of yet, &c. Your bedfelawe seigh bothe my other writynge
-and this, and he recomaundeth hym to yow, and shuld have wretyn to yow,
-if he had not be prevy to my writyng. Ye ar meche hold to hym, for he is
-diligent for yow, &c.
-
-As touchyng Drewe Barantyn, I myght not yet speke with hym, &c.
-_Circumspecte agatis_, and be war of lordis promysses, for it is tolde
-me in counseil ther is a writte of forcyble entre[159.1] in framyng
-ageynst yow.
-
-Almyghty God be your gyde. Wretyn in hast with inne an hour after the
-resceyte of your lettre, at Wesminster, the Wednesseday next after Seint
-Thomas day.[159.2]
-
-  Yours JAMES GRE.
-
-    [Footnote 158.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter appears
-    to have been written in the year 1450, when Gresham was in
-    London looking after John Paston's interests in various
-    lawsuits. Mr. White, to whom it is directed for the purpose of
-    being conveyed to Paston, was a servant of Cardinal Kemp, who
-    had been made Lord Chancellor in the beginning of the year. It
-    is evident from other letters that John Paston took counsel of
-    the Lord Chancellor's servant in his causes.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.2: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.3: John Hawteyn. --_See_ Nos. 46 and 63.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.4: William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester.]
-
-    [Footnote 158.5: The word 'it' is interlined in the original
-    after 'shuld,' but is clearly superfluous.]
-
-    [Footnote 159.1: For Gresham?]
-
-    [Footnote 159.2: The translation of St. Thomas was on the 3rd
-    July.]
-
-  [[die Veneris proximo  _text has "aie" (Italic a for d)_]]
-
-
-129
-
-ABSTRACT[159.3]
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON?].
-
-[Sidenote: About 1450]
-
-Inquiry made as to the injury of Sporle wood for lack of hedging. The
-three years' growth of the wood availeth no man. The farmers now cannot
-sell it the better, so it must be either to your hurt or Halman's. Hopes
-the wastes at Cressingham will be amended. Your tenants are treated
-unfairly about the Sheriff's turn by those of the Prior of Norwich and
-John Coo. Can get no money, for Fulchier hopes he is not so far in
-arrear as you think. Halman can get no money; his corns are so cheap he
-will not sell, but he hopes to make purveyance at Michaelmas.
-
-Calybut says he never asked the Vicar of Sporle to be bound for him.
-They will meet with me at Gressenhale on St. Bartholomew's day and seal
-the other part, so that they have notice from you at Swaffham Market,
-Saturday next before.
-
-_Accounts of Sneylewell, Cressingham, and Sparham on the back._
-
-  [We have placed this letter after the preceding as being probably
-  not many years apart from it in date, if not the very same year. The
-  name of Halman occurs in both, and also in a letter of the Vicar of
-  Sporle, which will be found a little further on.]
-
-    [Footnote 159.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-130
-
-ABSTRACT[160.1]
-
-SIR J. FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, at Caister.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / AUG. 8]
-
-Has sent home letters by John Bedford. Sends by the bearer Thomas Medew
-eight writs of 'green wax'[160.2] for certain processes he has in
-Norfolk, with a _distringas_ for Sir John Shypton, which he must get
-served with the advice of Thomas Grene and other of Fastolf's trusty
-friends. The inquest must be certified of the truth and Shypton's
-falsehood proved. Will give his testimonial, when needful, 'that I never
-sealed none such quittance.' Let Greene correct the roll of articles I
-send by Bedford. I hear you have omitted several of the extortions done
-to me (_in margin_, 'eyer and determiner'). London, 8 August 28
-Henry VI.
-
-Let Master Doket have a copy of the evidence of Rydlyngfeeld.
-
-'Item, purvey me at the leest v. doseyn long bowes, with shot longyng
-thertoo. And purveyeth also quarell[160.3] hedys to be made ther, for
-the price ys derer heer then ther; and let no langage be had of
-ordenances makyng.'
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 160.1: [MS. Phillipps, 9735, f. 224.]]
-
-    [Footnote 160.2: Writs under the seal of the Court of Exchequer,
-    which was of green wax, directing the sheriff of a county to
-    levy certain fines.]
-
-    [Footnote 160.3: _See_ page 101, Note 3.]
-
-
-131
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[160.4]
-
-_To my right especiall maister, John Paston,[160.5] in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / AUG. 19]
-
-Ryght worthy worshipfull sir, and myn especiall maister, I recomaund
-me to yow, and pray yow wete that I was [yesterdaye atte][160.6]
-. . . .[160.6] my lord Chauncellers[160.7] hous, and there I spake with
-White; and he tolde me that he hadde the letter that ye sewed for from
-. . . . . . . .[161.1] directed to the Lord Moleyns of that substance
-that ye hadde sued to hym for an especiall assise[161.2] and an _oier_
-and _determiner_,[161.3] [and][161.1] . . . . .[161.1] that he shuld
-comaunde his men beyng at Gresham to departe thens, and that the
-profitez thereof shuld be receyved by an endifferent [person][161.1]
-. .[161.1] saufly to be kepte til the right were determyned be twen yow
-and my Lord M., &c., whiche letter White sente forthe [by][161.1] a man
-of my Lord Chaunceller to the Lord Moleyns. And he sent his answer in
-writyng of this substance, that it shuld not like my Lord Chaunceller
-to graunte assise, &c., for als moche as the Lord M. hadde sore be
-laboured in his cuntre to peas and stille the poeple[161.4] there to
-restreyngne them from rysyng, and so he was dayly laboured there abowt
-in the Kynggs servyce, and that considered, he trustid veryly that there
-shuld non assise be graunted to your entent. And he seid forther in his
-answer, if he myght attende to be in Norffolk, and leve the necessary
-servyce that he dede to the Kyng now in Wyltshire, he wolde be but weel
-pleased that ye hadde your assise; for he knewe his title and his
-evydence so good for his part, that he durst weel putte it in my Lord
-Chaunceller, and in what juge he wolde calle to hym. And wher my Lord
-Chaunceller desired hym to avoyde his men from Gresham, he trustid that
-my Lord wolde not desire that, by cause he hadde his possession, and
-that it was his wyffs ryght, and so hym thought it a geynst reason that
-he shuld a voide utterly his possession.
-
-This same Moneday goth my Lord Chaunceller and my Lord of Buk[161.5]
-into Kent to sytte up on an _oier_ and _determyner_[161.6] at
-Rorchestre; and Whyte told me that there is wretyn an generall _oier_
-and _determyner_ to be in Norffolk, and what ther[fore][162.1] and for
-the Lord Moleyns writyng, hym semyth it is not to your avayll to sewe
-for an especiall assise, ne for an _oier_ and _determyner_.
-
-Whan I come hiddirward, I mette with my Lord of Norffolk betwen Berkewey
-and Baburgham homward, and whethir he shall come agayn hiddir or noght I
-wot not, but I trowe rather yes thanne nay; for it is seid that alle the
-Lords be sent for to be here on Moneday or Tuysday next comyng for a
-counseyll.
-
-The Chief Justice[162.2] is not here, ne noon other Justice, except
-Danvers[162.3] is now made Juge of the Comune Place, and is forth into
-Kent with the Lords, &c.
-
-Al this tofore was wretyn on the Moneday next after our Lady day. And
-this same Wednesseday was it told that Shirburgh[162.4] is goon, and we
-have not now a foote of londe in Normandie, and men arn ferd that Calese
-wole be beseged hastily, &c.
-
-Pynchamour shall telle yow by mowthe more thanne I have leyser to write
-now to yow. I wrot to myn em'[162.5] that there were ix. or x. m^l.
-[_nine or ten thousand_] men up in Wiltshire, and I hadde it of the
-report of Whittocks mede; but I trowe it is not so, for here is now
-littel speche therof; ner the lesse, if I here more, I shall sende yow
-worde her after by sum loders that come to Seynt Bertilmews
-[fayre].[162.1]
-
-Wretyn in hast at London, the Wednesseday next after our Lady day, &c.
-
-  Your own symple servaunt,
-
-  JAMES GR.
-
-    [Footnote 160.4: [From Fenn, iii. 86.] The date of this letter
-    is ascertained by the news contained in the last paragraph of
-    the fall of Cherbourg, besides other internal evidence.]
-
-    [Footnote 160.5: 'After John Paston had received this letter,'
-    says Fenn, 'it seems as if he had sent it to my Lord Oxford, for
-    on the back of it, in John Paston's handwriting, is the
-    following direction: "To the rith worspfull and my rith speciall
-    lord, my Lord of Oxenford."']
-
-    [Footnote 160.6: These passages, in which the text is broken by
-    brackets or dots, are indicated by Fenn as illegible in the
-    original.]
-
-    [Footnote 160.7: John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of York,
-    afterwards of Canterbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.1: These passages, in which the text is broken by
-    brackets or dots, are indicated by Fenn as illegible in the
-    original.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.2: A writ directed to the sheriff for recovery of
-    possession of things immoveable, whereof yourself or ancestors
-    have been disseised.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.3: Is a commission especially granted to certain
-    persons for the hearing and determining of causes, and was
-    formerly only in use upon some sudden outrage or insurrection in
-    any place.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.4: These disturbances among the people were the
-    remains of Cade's rebellion, which had been lately
-    suppressed.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.5: Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, fell in
-    the battle of Northampton in July 1460.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 161.6: These commissions of _oyer_ and _determiner_
-    were to try those who had been concerned in the late rebellion
-    under Cade.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.1: _See_ Note 1, p. 161.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.2: John Hody was at this time Chief Justice of the
-    King's Bench.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.3: Robert Danvers became a Judge of the Common
-    Pleas 14th of August 1450.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.4: Cherbourg surrendered to the French on the 12th
-    August 1450. --_See_ Stevenson's _Reductio Normanniae_, p. 367.]
-
-    [Footnote 162.5: 'Quaere this abbreviated word,' says Fenn. It is
-    probably _eme_, meaning uncle.]
-
-
-132
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[163.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved John Paston, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / AUG. 21]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele, and wole and
-pray you that ye dispose your self to be with my Lord of Norffolk in al
-hast goodly, to that intent that where it was desired by dyvers
-gentilmen of this shire[163.2] that I shuld my self a be with his
-Lordship at Framyngham, to excuse me to his Lordship; for truly I haf
-suych writyn to my said Lord for myn excuse, which writyng I send to yow
-by Thomas Denyes, to whome I pray you to gif credens. And the Trinite
-kepe yow. Wretyn at Bury Seynt Edmond, the xxj. day of August.
-
-I pray you to speke with Sir Miles Stapilton and Brewes, and to delyver
-to thaym my lettres, wherof I send you copies, and make Brewes to send
-over a man to me with th'entent of my Lord of Norffolk, and with
-th'effect of your deligens, with a more credible message than Brewes ded
-to my wif; for I had never a wers jurney for a jape in my lif, ne a
-lewder, as ye shal wele conceyve.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 163.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 88.] From the similarity of
-    the contents of this and the two following letters, it is
-    evident that they belong to the same year; and the mention of
-    Thomas Denyes, from whom the Earl of Oxford was afterwards
-    estranged, proves that it must have been before 1454. In the
-    summer of 1450, there was disaffection in Norfolk, which led to
-    the issuing of a special commission of _oyer and terminer_ in
-    September. These three letters may, therefore, have belonged to
-    that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 163.2: 'This shire' should be Suffolk, as the Earl
-    dates from Bury St. Edmunds, but I should think Norfolk was
-    intended, which the Earl had probably just left on his way up to
-    London. Compare next number.]
-
-
-133
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD (?) TO SIR MILES STAPLETON AND THOMAS BREWES[164.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusti and wyth all myn hert intyerly welbelovyd Sir Mylys
-Stapelton, Knyght._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / AUG. 21]
-
-Ryght trusty and wyth all myn hert entierly welbelovyd, I grete yow
-wele, and wol that ye wete that a gentelman of your ally haghe [_hath_]
-ben wyth me, at whos instans and steryng and by hese good avyes I wold
-ful fayne amet [_have met_] wyth yow at Framyngham; but I may no lenger
-abyde here for the strayte comaundment that I have to be wyth the Kyng.
-Wherfore I pray yow to comown wyth Brews and Paston, and to put in
-artycles be ther avyses and be your wysdom the indisposicion of the
-people of this counte, and what were most necesary to be desierid of the
-Kyng and of my Lordis of the Councell for the restreynte of ther
-mourmour and the peas, and to sende it me be the brynger herof, to whom
-I pray yow gef credens. And the Holy Ternyte kepe yow. Wretyn at Wynche,
-the xxj. day of August.
-
-_To my ryght trusty and entierly welbelovyd Thomas Brewes, Squyer._
-
-Ryght trusty and intyerly welbelovid, I grete yow wele. And for as
-mouche as ye were with my wyf at Wynche in the name and behalve of the
-substaunce of the gentelys of this shyer, and cause my wyf to wryte to
-me for to turne agayn into Norffolk, be wheche wrytyng, and be your
-report it semyd to me that a gret asemble had be purposid wythin the
-counte heer. I therfore sayd unto yow, wolyng and mevyng yow aftyr your
-trowth, and as ye know, that ye do put in artycles the indisposicion of
-the people, and what your avyce is to be do for the restreynyng of the
-same; and this articles I pray yow set to your seal, and cause other
-gentelmen with wham ye have comonyng set ther seales, for this is
-necessary, and that I may schew it to the Kyng and to my Lordis of hese
-Councell, and that I fayle not here of for your honeste and myn excuse.
-And the Ternyte kepe yow. Wreten at Wynche, the xxj. day of August.
-
-    [Footnote 164.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The two letters
-    following are from contemporaneous copies written on the same
-    paper. Being dated the same day as the preceding letter of the
-    Earl of Oxford, and addressed to the two persons named in the
-    postscript, we should have every reason to suppose they are the
-    copies there mentioned, were it not for the circumstance that
-    the Earl of Oxford's seat at Wynche, near Lynn, in Norfolk, must
-    have been a good day's journey from Bury St. Edmunds. The
-    internal evidence, however, is in other respects so strong that
-    we have no doubt at all upon the subject. The difficulty as to
-    the date may be accounted for by supposing that these two
-    letters were really written at Wynche the day before, but that
-    the date 21st August was filled in by the Earl at Bury St.
-    Edmunds at the time he despatched his letter of the same date to
-    John Paston.]
-
-
-134
-
-[THE EARL OF OXFORD TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK][165.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / [AUG.]]
-
-Ryght high and myghty Prynce and my right good Lord, I recomaunde me un
-to youre good Lordshep. And for asmouch as I am enformed [that] certeyn
-notable knyghtis and squyers of this counte dispose thaym self to be
-with youre Lordshep in hasty tyme at Fram[yngham], theer to have
-comonyngs with youre good Lordshep for the sad rule and governaunce of
-this counte, wych standyth ryght . . . . . indisposyd, God amend it;
-for qwych sad rule and governaunce to be had I wold full fayn a ben with
-your good [Lordship]. But for asmouch as the Kynge hath geve to me
-straitly in charge to be with hys Highnesse at Westminstre on
-Saterda[y]. . . . . . [I must] departe towards London. Therfore therof I
-beseche your good Lordship that ye vouchesaf to comon with the seyd
-k[nyghtes and squyers] as with your feytfull servaunts; and I trost to
-God to se youre good Lordship at Framyngham as I shall . . . . . And yf
-your Lordshep seme necessary that I now beynge at Westminster shall any
-thynge laboure or des[ire for the rule] and governaunce of the counte
-forsayd, or for reformacion of suche wronge as the peples herts most
-agrugge as . . . . . . . . lyke that I meve to the Kynge and the Lordes
-of the Counceyll, so wyll I meve, and none otherwyse as . . . . . . . .
-Wheryn I beseche your grace to know your entente by the brynger her of.
-And my service is redy to your Lords[hip] . . . . . mercy who kepe who
-kepe[166.1] nebbey (?) for hese grace.
-
-    [Footnote 165.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This would seem by
-    internal evidence to be the letter of excuse written by Oxford
-    to the Duke of Norfolk, which the Earl mentions in his letter to
-    John Paston of the 21st August. The original from which it is
-    taken is a copy without signature or address, and mutilated in
-    the margin.]
-
-    [Footnote 166.1: So in MS.]
-
-
-135
-
-JOHN PASTON AND LORD MOLEYNS[166.2]
-
-_Un to the right reverent fadir in God and my right gracioux Lord, the
-Cardinal Archebisshop of York, Prymat and Chaunceller of Inglond._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?)]
-
-Besecheth mekely John Paston that where Robert Hungerford, Knyght, Lord
-Molens, and Alianore, his wyff, late with force and strength, and grete
-multitude of riottous peple, to the noumbre of a thousand persones and
-mo, gadered by th'excitacion and procuryng of John Heydon[166.3] a yenst
-the Kynggs pees, in riotous maner entred up on your seid besecher and
-othir enfeoffed to his use in the manoir of Gresham with
-th'appurtenaunces in the shire of Norffolk; whiche riotous peple brake,
-dispoiled, and drew doun the place of your seid besecher in the seid
-toun, and drafe out his wiff and servauntes there beyng, and ryfled,
-took, and bare awey alle the goodes and catalx that your seid besecher
-and his servauntes hadde there to the value of cc_li._ [L200] and more;
-and the seid manoir, after the seid riottous entre, kept with strong
-hande in manere of werre, as weel ayenst your seid besecher and his
-feffees, as ayenst oon of the Kyngges justicez of the pees in the seid
-shire, that come thedir to execute the statutes ordeigned and provyded
-ayenst suche forcible entrees and kepyng of possessions with force,
-as it appiereth by recorde of the seid justice certifyed in to the
-Chauncerie; and yet the seid Lord Molens the same manoir kepith with
-force and strengthe ayenst the fourme of the seid statutes: Please it
-your reverent Faderhood and gracioux Lordship, these premisses
-considered, to graunte on to your seid besecher for his feffees by hym
-to be named a special assise[167.1] ayenst the seid Lord Molens,
-Alianore, and John Heidon, and othir to be named by your seid besecher,
-and also an oyer and determyner[167.2] ayenst the seid Lord Molens, John
-Heidon, and othir of the seid riotous peple in like fourme to be named,
-to enquere, here and determyn all trespaces, extorcions, riottes,
-forcible entrees, mayntenaunces,[167.3] champerties,[167.4]
-embraceries,[167.5] offenses, and mesprisions[167.6] by hem or ony of
-hem doen, als weel atte sute of our sovereign Lord the Kyng, as of your
-seid besecher and his seid feffees, and every of hem, or of ony othir of
-the Kyngges lieges: atte reverence of God, and in weye of charite.
-
-    [Footnote 166.2: [Add. Charter 17,239, B.M.] This is a bill
-    addressed to Cardinal Kemp as Lord Chancellor, to which
-    reference will be found to be made in the succeeding letter.
-    Kemp was appointed Lord Chancellor on the 31st January 1450. The
-    acts here complained of were therefore those connected with
-    Paston's second expulsion from Gresham.]
-
-    [Footnote 166.3: John Heydon, Esq. of Baconsthorpe, a lawyer,
-    who was recorder of Norwich from 1431 to 1433, and sheriff in
-    1431-2.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.1: _See_ p. 161, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.2: _See_ p. 161, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.3: Unlawful support given to a disputant by one
-    not concerned in the cause.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.4: Bargains made with litigants for a share in
-    what may be gained by the suit.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.5: Attempts to corrupt juries.]
-
-    [Footnote 167.6: Treason or felony committed by oversight or
-    wilful neglect of a duty.]
-
-
-136
-
-JOHN PASTON TO JAMES GRESHAM[168.1]
-
-_The copie of the letter of J. P._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 4]
-
-James Gresham, I prey yow laboure forth to have answer of my bille for
-myn especial assise, and the oyer and termyner,[168.2] accordyng to my
-seid bille that I delyvered to my Lord Chaunceler,[168.3] letyng hym
-wete that his Lordship conceyved the graunt of suyche a special matier
-myght cause a rumour in the cuntre. Owt of dowte the cuntre is not so
-disposed, for it is desired ageyn suche persones as the c[untre] wolde
-were ponysshid; and if they be not ponysshid to refourme that they have
-do amysse, by liklynesse the cuntre wole rise up on th[em]. Men talke
-that a general oier and termyner is graunted to the Duke of Norfolk, my
-Lord of Ely, the Erll of Oxenford, the Lord Scales, Sir John Fastolf,
-Sir Thomas Fulthorp, and William Yelverton, and men be right glad
-therof. Yet that notwithstondyng, laboure ye forth for me. F[or] in a
-general oyer and termyner a _supersedeas_ may dassh al, and so shall not
-in a special. And also if the justicez come at my request, they shall
-sytte als long as I wole, and so shall thei not by the generall. And as
-for commyssioners in myn, &c., Sir John Fastolf must be pleyntyf als
-weel as I my self, and so he may not be commyssioner; and as for alle
-the remenant, I can thynke them indifferent inow in the matier, except
-my Lord Scales, whos wyff is aunte to the Lady Moleyns.
-
-And as for that the Lord Moleyns hath wretyn that he dar put the matier
-in awarde of my Lord Chaunceler, and in what juge he wole take to hym,
-&c. (which offre as I suppose shall be tolde to yow for to make yow to
-cesse your labour), thanne lete that be answerid, and my Lord
-Chaunceller enfourmed thus: The matier was in trete by th'assent of the
-Lord Moleyns a twene his counseil and myn, whiche assembled at London
-xvj. dyvers dayes, and for the more part there was a sergeant and vj.
-or vij. thrifty apprentisez; at whiche tyme the Lord Moleyns title was
-shewed, and clerly answerid, in so meche that his own counseil seide
-they cowde no forther in the matier, desiryng me to ride to Salesbury to
-the Lord Moleyns, promyttyng of their part that thei wolde moeve the
-Lord Moleyns, so that thei trusted I shuld have myn entent or I come
-thens; of whiche title and answer I send yow a copie that hath be put in
-to the Parlement, the Lord Moleyns being there present, whereto he cowde
-not sey nay. Also by fore this tyme I have agreed to put it in ij.
-juges, so thei wolde determyne by our evydences the right, moevyng
-nother partie to yeve other by ony mene, but only the right determyned,
-he to be fully recompensed that hath right. Whereto he wold not agree,
-but alle tymes wolde that thoe juges shulde entrete the parties as they
-myght be drawe to by offre and profre to my conceyte as men bye hors.
-Whiche matiers considerid, my counseil hath alwey conceyved that the
-tretees he offred hath be to non othir entent but to delaye the matier,
-or ellis to entrete me to relese my damages, for title hath he non. And
-he knowith weel the title shall never better be undirstond thanne it
-hath be by his counseil and myn atte seid comunycacions. And also my
-Lord Chaunceler undirstond that the Lord Moleyns men toke and bar away
-more than cc_li._ [L200] worth of my goodes and catalles. Wherof I
-delyvered hym a bylle of every parcell, wherto al the world knoweth he
-canne make no title. And if he were disposed to do right, my counseil
-thynketh he shuld restore that, for therfor nedith nowthir comunycacion
-nor trete. And with owt he wole restore that, I trowe no man can thynk
-that his trete is to no good purpose.
-
-I preye yow hertily laboure ye so to my Lord Chaunceller that owther he
-wole graunte me my desire, or ellis that he wole denye it. And lete me
-have answer from yow in wrytyng how ye spede. If my Lord Chaunceler hath
-lost my bille that I delyvered hym, wherof I sende yowe a copie, that
-thanne ye put up to hym an othir of the same, takyng a copie to your
-self.
-
-Recomand me to my cosyn William Whyte,[170.1] and prey hym to gyf yow
-his help in this, and lete hym be prevye to this letter. And lete hym
-w[ete] that my cosyn his suster hath childe, a doughter. Wretyn at
-Norwich, the iiij. day of Septembre.
-
-Dyverse men of my freendis avyse me to entre in to the maner of Gresham
-by force of my writte of restitution, whiche I wole not do by cause the
-maner is so decayed by the Lord Moleyns occupacion, that where it was
-worth to me l. marks clerly by yeer, I cowde not now make it worth
-xx_li._; for whiche hurt, and for othir hurtis, by this special assise I
-trust to have remedye.
-
-    [Footnote 168.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident that
-    this letter was written partly in answer to Gresham's of the
-    19th August 1450. The year is therefore the same. The letter is
-    printed from a copy in Gresham's handwriting.]
-
-    [Footnote 168.2: _See_ p. 161, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 168.3: Cardinal Kemp. --_See_ last No.]
-
-    [Footnote 170.1: Cardinal Kemp's servant. --_See_ No. 128.]
-
-
-137
-
-ABSTRACT[170.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, THOMAS GRENE, AND WATKYN SHYPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 7]
-
-Has no word from them of the correction and engrossing of the damages
-done to him by divers men in Norfolk, of part of which he sent a roll to
-them at Castre a month ago. Sends John Bokkyng for an answer. Was often
-damaged by the Duke of Suffolk's officers in Lodylond, both by undue
-amerciaments and distraining cattle at Cotton, and by the officers of
-Cossey, of which there should be remembrances at Castre. Wrote also that
-they should see the Bishop of Norwich about the letter left with him
-concerning the award of Dedham. Is particularly anxious to know what
-they have done about Rydlyngfeld, &c.
-
-  London, 7 Sept. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 170.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 245.]]
-
-
-138
-
-ABSTRACT[171.1]
-
-_Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howys_, at Castre, or at Pokethorp in
-Norwich, or at Haylydon Manor.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 15]
-
-Has received his letter by Thomas Fastolf touching his diligence about
-the recovery of the letter with the Bishop of Norwich, and of the
-evidences of Rydlyngfeld, with a copy of a certain indenture which F.
-has already sealed. Has no answer of the correction of the articles F.
-sent home to him two months ago. As my Lord of Norfolk is at Norwich to
-sit upon the oyer and terminer, you must labor to shew forth my
-grievances. Nothing can be done till after Michaelmas about the _venire
-facias_ for the jury of Sybton. Has written this week by the Parson of
-Estharlyng to Berney, who, he hears, has been shewing favor to his
-adversaries. Refers him further to John Bokkyng, who is now in Norfolk.
-
-  London, 15 Sept. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 171.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 253.]]
-
-
-139
-
-HENRY VI. TO JOHN PASTON[171.2]
-
-_To oure trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Squier._
-
-By the King.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / SEPT. 18]
-
-Trusty and welbeloved, for asmuche as oure right trusty and welbeloved
-the Lord Moleyns is by our special desire and comaundement waitting upon
-us, and now for divers consideracions moeving us, we purpose to sende
-hym in to certaine places for to execute oure commaundement, for the
-whiche he ne may be attendant to be in oure countees of Northfolk and
-Suffolk at the time of oure Commissioners sitting upon oure commission
-of oier determiner within the same oure counties: We therfore desire and
-praye that considering his attendance upon us, and that he must applie
-hym to execute oure commaundement, ye wol respite as for any thing
-attempting ayenst hym as for any matiers that ye have to do or seye
-ayenst hym, or any other of his servants, welwillers, or tenaunts, by
-cause of hym, unto tyme he shal mowe be present to ansuere there unto;
-wherein ye shall ministere unto us cause of pleasure, and over that,
-deserve of us right good thanke. Yeven under oure signet at oure Palois
-of Westmynster, the xviij. day of September.
-
-    [Footnote 171.2: [From Fenn, iii. 362.] The bearing of this
-    letter upon the contents of Nos. 135 and 136 proves it to be of
-    the same year.]
-
-
-140
-
-ABSTRACT[172.1]
-
-THE VICAR OF SPORLE TO JOHN PASTON.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / SEPT. 29]
-
-Reports the disposition of 'my master,' the Provost. Francis Costard
-brought his evidence to my master's presence, where it was examined. He
-wondered what title you would claim to the land. I said, men said it was
-once free till it was soiled by a bondman. He gave more weight to the
-evidence of John Aleyn and Nicholas Waterman. Aleyn says he was steward
-of the manor, in Garleke's days, forty years, and never knew it claimed
-for bond ground; and the said Nicholas says it was he who moved your
-father to buy the manor. Many others have set their seals to corroborate
-this. Asked him to be good unto Henry Halman, who was amerced in his
-court for chastising a servant of his, a bondman of yours. My master
-asked mockingly if a man might not beat his own wife.
-
-Sporle, Michaelmas morning.
-
-  [This letter would seem to belong to the same year as No. 128, in
-  which 'Costard's _nisi prius_' and an action against Halman are
-  referred to. No. 129 also mentions Halman and the writer of this
-  letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 172.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
-
-
-141
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[173.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 4]
-
-Right worshipfull and my right good maister, I recomaund me to you. And
-like you wete that it is now . . . . I haf for Danyels sake put my self
-withynne the maner of Rydon; and her is with me a kynnesman [of] my
-mastres your wifes, John Bendyssh. And as yestirday cam John Wodehous
-with a xij. hors to Geyt[on]; on the othre side cometh Fitz William with
-xx. hors; and on the third parte, oon Hoberd of Midelton hath redy a xx.
-felaws; and on the fourth parte, stant the toune of Lynne redy with
-Herry Wodehous; and thei all be gon thedir this nyght. This day folwyng
-cometh to thaym Herry Tudenham, William Narburgh, Thomas Trusbut, Thomas
-Kervile, and Shuldham servauntez, Salesbury and William Owayn. It is so
-that of my lorde[173.2] gete I no socour, and lever I had to dy than gif
-up the place sith I am ther yn. And I wene if thei gete the place upon
-me ther helpith my lif no pardon. Wherfore I lowly beseche yow, maister
-Paston, advertise in your wisdom that this was the first porpose of
-Tudenham and Heydon whils thei regned, to gete this place; and to that
-intent thei brought hider the lord Roos, which now is full simpely
-thought on with my maister that I serve. And ye wete wele that I have
-most encountred the entent of Tudenham and Heydon of ony pouer man on
-lyve; And if I be lost or put to an ungoodly rebuke heryn my service is
-the lesse of valu to you that be gentils of the shire. Wherfore I
-requyre your maistership to come hider in your persone with suych as ye
-seme not to that intent to take party in the mater, but to that intent
-to help to set peas in the shire, and to stire my lord for his honour.
-For yisterday my lord sent to Lynne and made a cry to be made that he
-wold be named in the writ of the statute of Northampton, and that cry
-hath caused the common pople of the toun of Lynne to stere the more.
-Neverthelesse all the substaunce of the toun is in peas and peasid by
-the wisdam of the Meir theer, but not for than sum of thaym come with
-Harry Wodehous, so that I deme he hath a vj^xx. persones in all on all
-sides. I beseche you to send me hider sum socour beside forth, with John
-Osbern and John Lister with thaym, and come ye aftir a parte by your
-good wisdome soukyng (_sic_) their demenynges, and send me your advyse.
-Wretyn the nyght of the Sunday a forn seynt Feithesday.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  THOMAS DENYES.
-
-This day I deme thei come beforn us. If ye help not now, Tudenham and
-Heydon shal achieve in their desese the conquest that thei coude never
-achieve in their prosperite.
-
-    [Footnote 173.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 45.] This is evidently the
-    same year as No. 142, in which William Wayte writes to Paston
-    that Denyes ought to withdraw his garrison from Roydon. The MS.
-    is slightly mutilated at the top in the right-hand corner.]
-
-    [Footnote 173.2: The Earl of Oxford.]
-
-
-142
-
-WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON[174.1]
-
-_To my mayster, John Paston, in ryght gret hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 6]
-
-Syr, and it plese, I was in my Lord of Yorks[174.2] howse, and I herde
-meche thynge more thanne my mayster[174.3] wrytyth un to yow of; I herde
-meche thynge in Fletestrede. But, Sir, my Lord was with the Kynge, and
-he vesaged so the mater that alle the Kynges howshold was and is aferd
-ryght sore; and my seyd Lord hayth putte a bille to the Kynge, and
-desyryd meche thynge, qwych is meche after the Comouns desyre, and all
-is up on justice, and to putte all thos that ben indyted under arest
-with owte suerte or maynpryce, and to be tryed be lawe as lawe wyll;
-in so meche that on Monday Sir William Oldhall was with the Kynge atte
-Westminster more thanne to houres, and hadde of the Kynge good cher. And
-the Kynge desyryd of Sir William Oldhall that he shuld speke to hese
-cosyn York, that he wold be good Lord to John Penycock, and that my Lord
-of York shuld wryte un to hese tenance that they wold suffyr Peny Cocks
-officers go and gader up hys rents fermes with inne the seyd Dukes
-lordsheps. And Sir William Oldhall answherd ayen to the Kynge, and
-preyed hym to hold my Lord escusyd, for thow my Lord wrotte under hese
-seale of hys armes hys tenantez wyll not obeyet; in someche that whanne
-Sir Thomas Hoo mette with my Lord of Zork be yon Sent Albons, the
-Western men felle upon hym, and wold a slayne hym, hadde [not?] Sir
-William Oldhall abe [_have been_], and therfor wold the Westerne men
-affalle up on the seyd Sir William, and akyllyd hym. And so he tolde the
-Kynge.
-
-Sir Borle Jonge and Josse labour sore for Heydon and Tudenham to Sir
-Wilem Oldhall, and profyr more thanne to thowsand pownde for to have
-hese good Lordshep; and therfor it is noon other remedye but late
-Swhafham men be warned to mete with my seyd Lord on Fryday nest comyng
-atte Pykenham on horssebak in the most goodly wyse, and putte sum bylle
-un to my Lord of Sir Thomas Tudenham, Heydon, and Prentys, and crye owte
-on hem, and that all the women of the same town be there also, and crye
-owte on hem also, and calle hem extorcionners, and pray my Lord that he
-wyll do sharp execucyons up on hem. And my mayster counceyll yow that ze
-shuld meve the Meyer and all the Aldermen with all her Comoners to ryde
-ayens my Lord, and that ther ben madde byllez, and putte them up to my
-Lord, and late all the towne cry owte on Heydon, Todenham, Wyndham, and
-Prentys, and of all here fals mayntenours, and telle my Lord how meche
-hurte thei have don to the cetye, and late that be don in the most
-lamentabyl wyse; for, Sir, but yf [_unless_] my Lord here sum fowle
-tales of hem, and sum hyddows noys and crye, by my feyth thei arne ellys
-lyke to come to grace. And therfor, Sir, remember yow of all these
-maters.
-
-Sir, also I spake with William Norwych, and asked hym after the Lord
-Moleyns how he stod to my Lord ward; and he told me he was sor owte of
-grace, and that my Lord of York lovyth hym nought. William Norwych tolde
-me that he durste undertake for to brynge yow un to my Lord, and make
-hym your ryght good Lord; and, Sir, my mayster counceyllyd yow that ze
-shuld not spare, but gete yow hese good Lordshep.
-
-Sir, be war of Heydon, for he wold destroyed yow be my feyth. The Lord
-Scales and Sir William Oldhall arne made frendys.
-
-Sir, labour ze for [to] be knyth of the shire, and speke to my Mayster
-Stapulton[176.1] also that he be yt; Sir, all Swafham, and they be
-warned, wyll zeve yow here voyses. Sir, speke with Thomas Denys, and
-take hese good avys therin. Sir, speke to Denys that he avoyde hys
-garyson atte Rydon, for there is non other remedy but deth for Danyell,
-and for all thos that arne indyted. Sir, labour ze to the Meyer that
-John Dam[176.2] or Will Jenney be burgeys for the cetye of Norwych,
-telle them that he may be yt as well as Yonge is of Brystow, or the
-Recordor is of London, and as the Recordour of Coventre is for the cite
-of Coventre, and it so in many places in Ingland. Also, Sir, thynk on
-Yernemouth that ze ordeyne that John Jenney, or Limnour, or sum good man
-be burgeys for Yernemouth. Ordeyne ze that Jenneys mown ben in the
-Parlement, for they kun seye well.
-
-Sir, it wore wysdam that my Lord of Oxenford wayte on my Lord of Yorke.
-In good feyth, good Sir, thynke on all these maters; meche more I hadde
-to wryte on to yow, yf I kowde a remembryd me, but I hadde no leyser be
-my fyth. Hold me escused of my lewde rude wrytyng. Late John Dam be ware
-for the Lorde Moleyns; and, Sir, late the cetye be ware, for he wyll do
-hem a velony, but yf he may have hese men; and, Sir, yf he come to
-Norwych, look there be redy to wayte up on the Mayer a good fellawshep,
-for it is seyd her that they arne but bestys.
-
-Sir, my mayster bad me wryte un to yow that ze shuld store the Mayer and
-alle the Alderman to crye on my Lord that they mown have justyce of
-these men that be indyted, and that my Lorde wyll speke un to the Kynge
-therof. And, Sir, in divers partes in the town there [_where_] my Lord
-comyth, there wolde be ordeyned many porcions of Comeners to crye on my
-Lord for justice of these men that arne indyted, and telle her nammes,
-in speciall Todenham, Heydon, Wyndham, Prentys. Sir, I cende yow a copy
-of the bylle[177.1] that my Lord of Yorke putte un to the Kynge; and,
-Sir, late copyes go abowte the cetye i now, for the love of God, wy[c]he
-have yow in hese kepyng.
-
-Wretyn on Seynt Feyth daye, in hast.
-
-  Be your Servaunt,
-
-  W. WAYTE.
-
-    [Footnote 174.1: [From Fenn, iii. 154.] This letter must have
-    been written just after the Duke of York came over from Ireland
-    in 1450, when he demanded that justice should be fairly
-    administered against persons accused. A Parliament was summoned,
-    which met on the 6th November, and Sir William Oldhall was
-    chosen as Speaker.]
-
-    [Footnote 174.2: Richard, Duke of York, afterwards Protector,
-    the father of King Edward IV.]
-
-    [Footnote 174.3: The writer was clerk to Judge Yelverton.]
-
-    [Footnote 176.1: Sir Miles Stapleton.]
-
-    [Footnote 176.2: John Dam actually was returned to Parliament
-    for the city of Norwich in November 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 177.1: _See_ next No.]
-
-
-143
-
-RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK, TO KING HENRY VI[177.2]
-
-_Richard, Duke of York, his Peticion to Kyng Henry for the punyshement
-of Treytors, &c._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-Please it your Hyghnes tendirly to consider the grett grutchyng and
-romer that is universaly in this your reame of that justice is nouth
-dewly ministred to such as trespas and offende a yens your lawes, and in
-special of them that ben endited of treson, and other beyng openly
-noysed of the same; wherfore for gret inconveniens that have fallen, and
-grett is lyke to fallen her after in your seid reame, which God defende,
-but if [_unless_] be your Hyghnesse provysion convenable be mad for dew
-reformacion and punyshment in this behalf; Wherfore I, your humble suget
-and lyge man, Richard, Duke of York, willyng as effectually as I kan,
-and desiryng suerte and prosperite of your most roiall person, and
-welfare of this your noble reame, councel and advertyse your excellent,
-for the conversacion [_conservation_] of good tranquillite and pesable
-rewle among all trew sogetts, for to ordeyn and provyde that dewe
-justice be had a yenst all such that ben so endited or openly so noysed:
-wher inne I offre, and wol put me in devour for to execute your
-comaundements in thes premises of such offenders, and redresse of the
-seid mysrewlers to my myth and power. And for the hasty execucion herof,
-lyke it your Hyghnes to dresse your letteres of prevy seale and writts
-to your officers and ministres to do take, and areste all soch persons
-so noysed or endited, of what astatte, degre, or condicion so ever thei
-be, and them to comytte to your Tour of London, or to other your
-prisons, there to abyde with outen bayle or maynprice on to the tyme
-that they be utterly tryed and declared, after the cours of your lawe.
-
-    [Footnote 177.2: [From Fenn, i. 64.] The MS. from which this was
-    printed by Fenn was doubtless the copy of my Lord of York's
-    'bill' which William Wayte sent to John Paston, as mentioned in
-    the end of the last letter.]
-
-
-144
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS AND WILLIAM BARKER[178.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusty freende, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe,
-beyng at Castre, and William Barker, in haste, at Castre Yn, by
-Jermuth._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 15]
-
-Ryght trusty and welbelovyd freende, I grete you well. And as for Hygham
-place to be sold, as ye avysen me to bye it at the some of C. mark or
-wythynne, and reserve yn the said payment myne oune dewtee, and pay the
-remenant in wolle to the said Hygham credytes as your lettre makyth
-mencion; I hafe undrestand that William Jenney shall be her thys wek,
-and I shall veele hym how neere it may be sold; for yff the wydow wolle
-sylle it after xiiij. yeer or xv. yeere that it may be leten, sendyth me
-utterly word, for I wolle not melle of it ellys thus avysed. And sende
-ye me word how mech more yn value yn a stoon shall I syle my wolle, and
-how [much?] anothyr chapman wole gefe me for the place when I hafe
-bought it; but after xiiij. yeer I wold by the place.
-
-Wretyn at London, the xv. day of October anno xxix. regni Regis Henrici
-VI.
-
-  J. FASTOLF.
-
-    [Footnote 178.1: [From Fenn, iii. 92.]]
-
-
-145
-
-ANONYMOUS TO JOHN PASTON[179.1]
-
-_To my cosyn, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. (?)]
-
-I recomawnde me un to yow the best wyse I kan. Whanne I cam to Ware,
-ther herd I furst tydynges that the Lord Moleyns shuld come in to
-Norfolk in hast with grette pupyll, and, as on of hys men seyd ther,
-with the vij^xx [_sevenscore_]. Also a man of the Lady Morles[179.2] cam
-thedyr owte of Wyllshire ther thanne, and seyd that the seyd Lord was
-comyng thedyrward with grette pupyll. And atte London a man of hys hedde
-large langage, and seyd that my Lord shuld come to Norffolk, and do
-meche thyng agayns hem that hadde do indite hym and hys men, and also
-for the personyng of hys men atte Norwych. This is sopposyd verely to be
-Heydons werke that wyll sette hym verely to do the utterest ayens yow
-and John Dam in the werst wyse that he can. Ze have both lordshep and
-frendshep in your countre, and also good inow to reciste hym yf he wyll
-do yow wronge, and peraventur that shuld brynge thys matier nyer and
-ende thanne it is now. Whedder it be to done or not, I remitte that to
-youre counceyll.
-
-Also, my Lord[179.3] shall be atte Walsyngham on Sonday nest comynge,
-a from thens he shall go to Norwych. For any thynge in the werd
-[_world_] meve my Lord of Oxenford and my cosyn Sir Miles Stapulton that
-they awayte up on my seyd Lord in the most wurchepfull wyse that they
-kun, and do hym as good attendaunce and plesaunce as they mown. And ye
-do the same also; and that the cyte of Norwych mete with hym in the best
-wyse also; and also that they and ze also cherse and wirchep well Sir
-William Oldhalle. And ther be good informacion made ayens T. T. and
-H.,[180.1] for they wyll spend m^l. m^l. _li._ [L2000] for to come in
-ther, and that were petye. Spende sum what of your good now, and gette
-yow lordshep and frendshep ther, _quia ibi pendet tota lex et prophetae_.
-And send som man to aspye of the governaunce, and of the comyng of the
-Lord Moleyns, and take hed to your self. And byd John Dam be war of hym
-self. Sum men suppose that my Lord of York cherse not meche the seyd
-Lord Moleyns. And send sum men hedyr often to London that mown he them
-here and brynge yow tydynges. And I pray God spede yow in alle youre
-werkes.
-
-  Youre Cosyn,
-
-  NAMELES ATTE THIS TYME.
-
-  _Endorsed:_ Literae Fastolff, Yelverton, circa le oyrdeterminer.
-  --Memorandum de billa actus justic' apud Walsingham.
-
-    [Footnote 179.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The tone of this
-    letter so closely resembles that of William Wayte of the 6th
-    October 1450, especially in its warnings to Paston and John
-    Damme, and in the information it contains as to Lord Moleyns not
-    being in favour with the Duke of York, that it may be safely
-    inferred to have been written about the same period.]
-
-    [Footnote 179.2: _See_ page 84, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 179.3: Probably the Duke of York.]
-
-    [Footnote 180.1: Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon.]
-
-
-146
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[180.2]
-
-_To my worshipfull Maister Paston, at Norwich, in haste, be this
-delyvered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / [OCT.]]
-
-Please it yow to wete that I come to London the Wednesseday at even late
-next after my departyng from yow, and it was told me that my Maister
-Calthorp hadde writyng fro my Lord of York to awayte on hym at his
-comyng in to Norffolk to be oon of his men, and that no gentilman of
-Norffolk had writyng to awayte on hym but he; and sum folke wene that it
-is to th'entent that he shuld bo outhir shiref or knyght of the shire,
-to the fortheryng of othir folks, &c.
-
-The Kyng is remevid from Westminster, summe men sey to Fysshwick,[181.1]
-and summe sey to Bristowe. And it is seid that he hath do wretyn to alle
-his men that be in the chekroll[181.2] to awayte on hym atte Parlement
-in their best aray; why, no man can telle. Heydon[181.3] was with my
-Maister Yelverton,[181.4] and desired hym to see the recordes of his
-endytementz, and axed of hym if he were indited of felonye; and my
-Maister Yelverton told hym it was. And thereto H. seide 'Sir, ye wole
-recorde that I was never thef;' and he seid he trowed right weel that he
-cowde telle why he took Plumpsteds goods, and othir words whiche were
-long to write. And my Maister Y. seid to hym he cowde not knowe the
-laborer of th'endytement, and H. seid ageyn he knewe weel the laborer
-thereof; and my Maister Y. conceyte is H. ment yow. Wherfor he advyseth
-yow that in onywyse ye make Plumpsted to take apell accordyng; for if he
-so do, thanne is H. barred of his conspirace, and also of his damages,
-though that he be nonnsewed therin, or though it be afterward
-discontynued, &c., and ellis are ye in jopardy of a conspirace, for H.
-hopeth to have the world better to his entent thanne it is nowe. For it
-is told me that rather thanne he shuld fayle of a shiref this yeer
-comyng for his entent, he wole spende m^{l.}_li._ [L1000].
-
-This communicacion be twene them was on Moneday last passed, and on
-Tewisday last passed H. mette with Maister Markham,[181.5] and he tolde
-H. his part how that he levid ungoodly in puttyng awey of his wyff, and
-kept an other, &c.; and therwith he turned pale colour, and seid he
-lyved not but as God was pleased with, ne dede no wrong to no person.
-And therupon Maister Markham reherced how he demened hym a genst men of
-Court, and named yow and Genneye; and H. seid, as touchyng the peple
-that rifled yow, and the doyng thereof, he was not privy therto, for he
-was that tyme here at London; and as touchyng the Lord Moleyns title, H.
-enforced gretly, and seid his title was better thanne yours.
-
-Yisterday was my Maister Yelverton at dyner with my Maister
-Fastolf,[182.1] and there among other thei were avysed that my Maister
-F. shall write to my Lord of Norffolk that he certifie the Kyng and his
-Counseill how the cuntre of N. and S. [_Norfolk and Suffolk_] stonde
-right wildely, withowt a mene may be that justice be hadde, whiche wole
-not be but if a man of gret byrthe and lyflod there be shiref thes yer
-comyng, to lede the peple in most peas; and therto thei named Maister
-Stapilton,[182.2] if it wole happe, &c. Also that my Lord Norffolk shall
-certifie the Kyng and his Counseill that but if the day of the oyer and
-termyner stonde, it wole be full harde, by cause the peple is so wylde.
-
-Also that alle knyghtes and escuyers of the same cuntre shuld certifie
-the same, for summe of H. part have boosted that all . . . . at Norwich
-shuld not be worth an haughe. _Ideo_, &c.
-
-Item, Prentise is now in the Mydle Inne, and Dynne . . . . .
-
-Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn the Thursday next after my
-departyng. . . . .
-
-  Your,
-
-  J. GRESHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 180.2: [From Fenn, iii. 94.] This letter, though it
-    has no date except of the day of the week, must have been
-    written about October 1450, after the Duke of York had come over
-    from Ireland, and before the elections for the Parliament which
-    met in November, and the appointment of sheriffs in the
-    different counties for the ensuing year. The references to the
-    affair of Lord Moleyns and to the indictment of Heydon cannot
-    belong to a later year.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.1: In Lancashire, now in the suburbs of Preston.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.2: The check-roll is a roll or book, containing
-    the names of such persons as are attendants, and in pay to the
-    King, or other great men, as their household servants, &c.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.3: _See_ page 166, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.4: William Yelverton, a Justice of the King's
-    Bench.]
-
-    [Footnote 181.5: John Markham, one of the Judges of the King's
-    Bench, who became Chief Justice in 1461.]
-
-    [Footnote 182.1: Sir John Fastolf.]
-
-    [Footnote 182.2: Sir Miles Stapleton.]
-
-  [[he shuld bo outhir shiref or knyght
-    _text unchanged: error for "be"?_]]
-
-
-147
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[183.1]
-
-_To my worshipfull maister, John Paston, Escuyr, dwellynge att Norwich,
-in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-After that myn letter was wretyn, I spak with Maister Yelverton, and
-tolde hym the substance of my letter to yow. And he bad me write to yow
-that as touchyng the matier of my Lord of Oxeford, he shall lette the
-awardyng and th'entre therof als long as he may; and he demyth veryly
-that H. Wodehous coude never have take up on his knowelage to have
-called up on the matier with owt counseil and enformacion of Heydon, and
-it were weel do that my Lord of Oxeford knewe it.
-
-Item, Maister Yelverton told me that the Lord Moleyns was enfourmed that
-he and alle his men wern endited of felonye in Norffolk, whiche caused
-hym and his to be right wroth toward my maister and yow. And Maister
-Yelverton hath tolde a man of the Kyngges Benche called Styrop, whiche
-is a man of the Lord Moleyns, the trouth that nothir he ner noon of his
-is endited, and Stirop is now in to Wiltshire, and shall telle it to the
-Lord M.; for that shall squage weel his hete of wrethe. And as touchyng
-Germyn,[183.2] if he be Shiref, William Genney wole undirtake for hym
-that he shall and wole be ruled weel inow, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 183.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is
-    anonymous, but is in the handwriting of James Gresham. It must
-    have been written in the autumn of the year 1450, while Lord
-    Molyns was in Wiltshire, and when the nomination of John Jermyn
-    as Sheriff of Norfolk was expected, but had not yet been decided
-    on, or at least not known to the writer. It was therefore
-    certainly written after the preceding number, though the latter
-    is probably not the letter to which it was intended to serve as
-    a postscript.]
-
-    [Footnote 183.2: John Jermyn was actually appointed Sheriff in
-    the end of the year 1450.]
-
-
-148
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[184.1]
-
-_To oure trusti and welbelovid John Paston, Squier._
-
-_The Duc of Norffolk._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450(?) / OCT. 16]
-
-Right trusti and welbelovid, we grete you well. And forasmoche as oure
-unkill of York and we have fully appoynted and agreed of such ij.
-persones for to be knightes of shire of Norffolk as oure said unkill and
-we thinke convenient and necessarie for the welfare of the said shire,
-we therfor pray you, in oure said unkill name and oures bothe, as ye
-list to stonde in the favour of oure good Lordshipp, that ye make no
-laboure contrarie to oure desire. And God have you in his keping.
-
-Wreten at Bury Seynt Edmondis, the xvj. day of Octobr.
-
-    [Footnote 184.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 92.] This letter and that
-    which follows clearly refer to the same matter. The time of year
-    and the part taken by the Duke of York in the election are
-    circumstances which in themselves create a pretty strong
-    presumption in favour of the year 1450. And this presumption
-    almost becomes a certainty, when we observe that the date of
-    this letter--16th October--was a Friday in that year; for the
-    meeting of York and Norfolk is stated in the next letter to have
-    been on a Thursday and Friday, and this letter would doubtless
-    have been written as soon as a decision had been come to between
-    the two Lords.]
-
-
-149
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[184.2]
-
-_To owr welbeloved John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 18]
-
-Right welbeloved, I grete yow well. And as towchyng for tydyngs, I can
-none, savyng that my Lord of Norffolk met with my Lord of York at Bury
-on Thursday, and there were to gedre til Friday, ix. of the clokke, and
-than they departed. And there a gentilman of my Lord of York toke unto a
-yeman of myn, John Deye, a tokene and a sedell of my Lords entent, whom
-he wold have knyghtts of the shyre, and I sende you a sedell closed of
-their names in this same lettre, wherfore me thynkith wel do to performe
-my Lords entent.
-
-Wretyn the xviij(o) day of Octobr, at Wynche.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-  _Com. Norff'_, {Sir William Chambirlayn.[185.1]}
-                 {Henry Grey.                }
-
-    [Footnote 184.2: [From Fenn, i. 98.] For evidence of date, see
-    note to preceding letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 185.1: The names actually returned by the Sheriff of
-    Norfolk and Suffolk for this Parliament were--for Norfolk, Sir
-    Miles Stapleton and Henry Gray; for Suffolk, Sir _Roger_
-    Chamberleyn and Sir Edmund Mulso.]
-
-
-150
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON[185.2]
-
-_To oure right trusty and welbeloved servaunt, John Paston, Squier._
-
-_The Duc of Norfolk_.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / OCT. 22]
-
-Right trusti and right welbelovid, we grete yo hertily well, prayng you
-specially that ye will make you redy to awayte upon us at Yippiswich
-toward the Parlement the viij. day of Novembre in youre best aray, with
-as many clenly people as ye may gete for oure worship at this tyme; for
-we will be there like oure estate in oure best wise without any delay.
-Yeven under oure signet in oure Castell of Framlyngham, the xxij. day of
-Octobre.
-
-  [Illustration {signature}]
-
-    [Footnote 185.2: [Douce MS. 393, f. 93.] This letter must have
-    been written either in 1449 or in 1450, in both of which years
-    Parliament met on the 6th of November; and as we have other
-    letters, both of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Oxford,
-    relating to the Parliament of 1450, we are inclined to think
-    this also belongs to the later year. Framlingham, the seat of
-    the Duke of Norfolk, is not more than thirty-two miles from
-    Bury, from which he wrote on the 16th.]
-
-
-151
-
-JOHN DAMME AND JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON[186.1]
-
-_To my worshipfull and good maister, John Paston, Escuyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
-
-Please it yow to wete that Sir William Oldhall is chosyn Speker of the
-Parlement, and admytted by the Kyng, &c. Item, the day of oier and
-termyner shall holde at Norwich on Moneday next comyng, and by that
-cause my Lord of Oxenford shall be disported of his comyng to the
-Parlement for to attende to the Sessions of oier, &c.
-
-Item, the Lord Moleyns hadde langage of yow in the Kynggs presence as my
-Maister Yelverton can telle yow by mouthe. Your presence shuld have do
-meche ease here in your own matiers and other, as your weel willers
-thynkyn, and your absence do non ease here; netheles my Maister
-Yelverton shall telle you all, &c.
-
-It is seid here that the Duke of York and the Duke of Norffolk shulln
-not come here this vii. nyght.
-
-Item, it is supposed that an oier and determyner shall come hastily into
-Norwich. William Dynne abydeth therfore.
-
-As touchyng Shirefs, ther arn none chosyn ne named, and as men suppose,
-non shall be chosyn til my Lord of Yorks comyng, &c.
-
-Wretyn in hast at Westminster, Mercur' in Festo Sancti Martini.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  J. D. and GR.
-
-It is apoynted that who shall sue any bille in the Parlement, thei must
-be put into the Commone Hous by for Seint Edmunds day[186.2] atte
-ferthest, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 186.1: [From Fenn, iii. 100.] The date of this letter
-    is determined by the fact mentioned in the first sentence. Sir
-    William Oldhall was chosen Speaker of the Parliament which met
-    on the 6th November 1450. John Damme represented Norwich in this
-    Parliament. Moreover, the date at the end of the letter shows
-    that St. Martin's day fell on Wednesday in the year it was
-    written, which was the case in 1450.]
-
-    [Footnote 186.2: 20th November.]
-
-
-152
-
-RICHARD CALLE TO JOHN PASTON[187.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and most wurschipfull Maistre my Maister John
-Paston the eldre, esquyer, at London in the Inner Tempyll._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
-
-Ryght reverent and my mooste wurschipful maistre, I recommaunde me unto
-youre goode maisterschip. Like you to witte that I have taken astate in
-the londe at Gresham as your maisterschep aviced me; wherfore I besche
-you that ther may be taken an axion in my feffes name and myn a yenst
-Jamys Gatte, as you semeth beest, and as hasty processe as may be had a
-yenst hym, with your goode avice I wold; for what tyme as I had taken
-astate he labored to men of the toun to have putte it in a ward, but I
-wold not tyll I had spoken with your masterschip, &c. Also John Warles
-schal gather the rente and ferme of Basyngham this yere. Item, William
-Smythe schal occupie hes ferme this yere, and Croumer. And as for the
-yeris aftre I have founde a meane that all your landis schall be letten
-as weele as ever they weere in that maner, with helpe of one Robert
-Coole, weche Robert fereth hym sore of the affence weche he ded a yenst
-John Herbynger; for he is informed that your maisterschip hath taken a
-axion a yenst hym, and John Herbynger hath du hym lost in the hundred
-xl_d._, and he hath hym in the scheryffis turne. Wherfore that it like
-you to withdrawe if any axion ye have a yenst hym for he will a bide any
-ij. men award ther aboute; and more over he is the most able man to take
-a ferme of lond that I knowe in your lordeship, and he schal be a gret
-fermour of your the next yere. Ferthermore, ther is on Robert Wyghte,
-otherwise Farbusschour, aftre that your officer of Matelask had seased
-al Lyghtfot catell for suche dwtees as whas owynge the seid Robert
-Wyght, come upon your bonde grounde, and brak doun the gardeyn dike of
-the seid Lyghtfotes and toke a wey a bullok of ij. yere age and hath
-caryed it a wey out of your lordschip; wherfore the tenauntes desireth
-your maisterschip that ye well take an axion a yenst hym that he may be
-punyssched. Item, as for a dey at Mauteby we can non geete, for Wynston
-woll not of it in no wice. And as for tidinges here we here non but my
-lord of Wurcestre lithe at Blakney and kepith housold there in the
-Frieri. Item, Wymondham had entred in to Felbryge and he whas put out be
-the comens and like if had beden to have lost hes heed. My ryght
-wurschipful mastre, All myghty Jhesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten at
-Heyneford on Sein Marteyn Day. Be your pore servaunt and bedman,
-
-  RIC. CALLE.
-
-    [Footnote 187.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 160.] This letter must
-    have been written in 1450. We know already that John Paston
-    recovered possession of Gresham between September 1450 and March
-    1451 (see pp. 170, 219). Here we find that he deputed Richard
-    Calle to take possession for him in November.]
-
-
-153
-
-ABSTRACT[188.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS, PARSON OF CASTLECOMBE.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 11]
-
-'Right trusty and welbeloved friends,' I thank you for the quittance of
-Richard Sellyng you have sent me by Worcestre, with a quittance of
-Fauconere for the purchase of Davyngton, and another of Roys for the
-purchase of Tychewell. Ask my cousin Herry Sturmer's wife to search for
-an indenture and other writings between me and Sellyng or Lady
-Wiltshire. As you inform me that Sir Thomas Todenham has sent to John
-Clerc to be at London, you must ask him and his wife to go before the
-bailiffs of Yarmouth, and certify how it was Bysshop's wife did not
-receive the L100 I was ruled to pay her. John Clerc must not come up
-till I send for him.--(_In margin_, 'eyer and determiner.') Special
-labour has been made that Justice Yelverton should not come down this
-Martinmas, but the King and Lords have determined that he shall keep his
-day; 'and the labour that ye, with my cousin Paston, made late to my
-Lord Norfolk was right well avised, in case that the Justice should be
-countermanded.' Urge my friends to do their very best for me now in the
-matters 'labored last at the oyer and terminer,' that they may take a
-worshipful end. Thank Nicholas Bokkyng for what he did about the
-certificate of the jury in the office[188.2] of Tychewell, and beg him
-to get it sealed in time, which will be a great evidence for the
-recovery of my manor. Sends home some horses 'to be occupied in the
-cart.' Commendations to his cousin John Berney.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-Send for William Cole about the accounts, and thank the Parson of
-Haylesdon[189.1] for the three writings of Wiltshire's will and Gorney
-he sent me by Worcester; but say I prayed him to search for more.
-
-London, St. Martin's day.
-
-  [This letter is dated on Martinmas day, at which date in the year
-  1450 it will be seen by the preceding number that Justice Yelverton
-  was going down into Norfolk, and an _oyer and terminer_ was going to
-  be held at Norwich. The reference to the 'office,' or inquisition,
-  of Tychewell also proves the year to be 1450. --_See_ Nos. 162 and
-  164, pp. 199-201.]
-
-    [Footnote 188.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 226.]]
-
-    [Footnote 188.2: An inquisition taken by the escheator of a
-    county by virtue of his office was frequently called an
-    'office.' Its object was to ascertain the King's title to
-    certain lands.]
-
-    [Footnote 189.1: Thomas Hert was presented to Haylesdon by Sir
-    John Fastolf in 1448.]
-
-
-154
-
-JUSTICE YELVERTON TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[189.2]
-
-_A Lettre to Sir John Fastoff from Justice Yelverton._[189.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV.]
-
-My moste worshypfull and best betrusted maister, I recommaund me to yow,
-thankyng yow for manye grete gentlenesse and kyndnesse that ye hafe
-showed unto me, and for the grete ease that I had of your man and your
-horsys also.
-
-As for tydyngs owte of thys contree, here ys a marveyllous disposed
-contree, and manye evylle wylled peple to Sir Thomas Tuddenham and
-Heydon, and but yff they been putt in comfort there by the meene of a
-good shyreve and undreshyreve, they may hafe remedye now by the ordre of
-lawe, and ellys grete inconvenices arn lyke for to folowe ther off.
-Therfor, Sir, for the weele of all our gode contree, mewyth the Kyng, my
-Lord Chaunceller,[190.1] and all othyr Lordes as ye thynk best for thys
-matier on thys behalf.
-
-Also, Sir, yff they noysse me by thee meene of my Lord Scalys, or by
-anye othyr meene, or by onye bylle sewed by Brygg, or by onye othyr man
-by her [_i.e. their_] craft, that it please yow to sey for me yn
-savacion of my pore worshyp, whych I wote well they may not hurt but
-they doo me wrongs, to the Kyng, my Lord Chaunceller, my Lord of
-Wynchester,[190.2] my Lord Cromewell, and in othyr places, as ye semyth,
-that no credence be goven to myne hurt yn myne absence.
-
-Also, Sir, that William Geney and Brayn, the clerks of the Sessions, ben
-hastyed hedreward as well as they may; and, Sir, my cousyn Paston and my
-brothyr Cleere can tell yow moch more thyng that I shuld wryte off to
-yow, and I had leyser; but I shall wythynne short tyme sende yow more
-tydyngs owte of thys contree, by the grace of God, whych hafe yow yn hys
-holye kepyng.
-
-  By your old Servaunt,
-
-  WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justice.
-
-    [Footnote 189.2: [From Fenn, iii. 50.] This would appear to have
-    been written in 1450, just after Yelverton's arrival in Norfolk,
-    whither, it will be seen by the last two letters, he was going
-    in November. The nomination of sheriffs had not yet taken place,
-    and was anxiously expected by many, in the hope that it would
-    lessen the influence of Sir Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon, who had
-    hitherto been very powerful in Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 189.3: This is only an endorsement on the MS., and is
-    not even contemporaneous. The MS. itself is not addressed,
-    being, as shown in the margin, only a copy, marked 'Copia' in
-    the same hand as the document.]
-
-    [Footnote 190.1: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-    [Footnote 190.2: The celebrated William de Waynflete, Bishop of
-    Winchester.]
-
-
-155
-
-JUSTICE YELVERTON TO JOHN BOCKING[190.3]
-
-_To my welbeloved cosyn, John Bockyng._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV.]
-
-Worshipfull and right welbeloved cosyn, I comaunde me to you, prayng you
-to recomaunde me to my Maister Fastolf, and thank hym in my name hertily
-for his man and his hors. And also for to meve hym for that we may have
-a good shereve and a good undershereve that neythir for good favore no
-fere wol returne for the Kyng, ne betwix partie and partie, none othir
-men but such as ar good and trewe, and in no wyse will be forsworne; for
-the pepil here is loth to compleyne til thei here tidynges of a good
-shereve. And that William Jenney and Brayne, the clerk of the Cessions,
-and Thomas Denys, ben hastid hydirward as fast as thei may, and than men
-supposen he nedith not to dowghtyn his materes. And also that my cosyn
-Paston be so hastily holpen in his maters that he may sone come hedir
-ageyn. And also that my maistir be my sheld and my defense ageyns all
-fals noyses and sclaundres meved ayens me by her menes in myn absens.
-
-At Walsyngham, and in othir places in the duche of Lancastre, men shal
-be redy to seche Heydon at hom in his own hous, if he come home; and in
-lyke wyse standith Sir Thomas Tudenham his neighburs to hymward as the
-more part of the pepil seth in this cuntre. His men have told here the
-falsest tales of Sir William Oldhall and of me that evere I herd speke
-of. It wer ful necessarye and profitable to the Kyng and to his pepil
-for to have othir officers in his duche.
-
-Asay how ye can sett hem a werk in the Parlement, for if this maters be
-sped as it is aforn desired, thei ar lyke to be sett a werk here well
-inough, by the grace of God, which have you in holy kepyng.
-
-  By your cosyn,
-
-  WILLIAM YELVERTON, Justice.
-
-    [Footnote 190.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The correspondence of
-    this letter with the last is such as to leave no doubt that they
-    were written at the same period. The MS. is a contemporaneous
-    copy.]
-
-
-156
-
-ABSTRACT[191.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Pastor of Castlecombe, JOHN BOKKYNG, and
-WATKIN SHYPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 23]
-
-Thanks the Parson for a letter by Robert Botiller, and one by John
-Clerc, advising that Bokking and William Jenney be 'in that parties'
-betimes for the _oyer and terminer_. Has received instruction of the
-first purchase of Haylysdon. Is glad John Clerc is come. Much strange
-labour has been made to him by Tasborough and Swolle. Complains of the
-untruth of Appulzerd of Norwich in the Lady Bardolf's matter. A bailly
-of Hikelyng maintains the Prior in his wrong against Fastolf. William
-Barker had a box of evidences of the farm of Lady Bardolf's lands, and a
-deed of Norman's feoffment with evidences of Saxthorp, which cannot be
-found here, and must have been left at Norwich or Castre. Don't forget
-Norman's matter, and the maintainers of the false inquest of Beyton
-Bradwell. Wyndham wants to be friends with me about the Lady Bardolf's
-matter. The master of St. Giles has been with me for the purchase of
-Mundham Maner with appurtenances in Cyselond, and I have agreed with him
-for 200 marks. Don't forget the bailly of Hykelyng, who said I should
-forge [_i.e._ had forged] evidence, &c.
-
-London, 23 Nov. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-  [An extract from the latter part of this letter is printed by
-  Blomefield, _Hist. Norf._ iv. 388-9 (Note 9).]
-
-    [Footnote 191.1: [From an original, sold by Messrs. Puttick and
-    Simpson on the 2nd March 1870.]]
-
-
-157
-
-ABSTRACT[192.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / NOV. 28]
-
-Power of attorney by John, Cardinal Archbishop of York, and others, to
-John Est and others, including William Worcestre and Geoffrey Sperlyng,
-to deliver seisin to Walter Leyhert, Bishop of Norwich, and others, of
-and in the manor of Mundham, &c.--28 Nov. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-_20 Seals, of which three are lost._
-
-  Endorsed by Blomefield-- 'Sir John Fastolff's Feoffees Release,'
-  &c., with a reference to his _History of Norfolk_, vol. ii. 762
-  (fol. ed.).
-
-    [Footnote 192.1: [From Add. Charter 17,238, B.M.]]
-
-
-158
-
-ABSTRACT[192.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Parson of Castlecombe, WILLIAM JENNEY,
-and JOHN BOKKYNG.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 2]
-
-Thanks them for their diligence. Has respited the matter against Wyndham
-touching the Lady Bardolf till next term, as he offers to come to an
-agreement.[192.3] Is ready to agree with all persons who will find
-sufficient surety, except Sir Thomas Tudenham, Heydon, and _Pykering_
-(_underlined_). Master John Botewright has sent him a letter of great
-loss and damage done by Tudenham and Heydon to the 'comyn' of Swaffham,
-'benymmyng (?) 600 acres lond of her comyn.' Has written to 'my brother
-Yelverton,' and would write also to my Lord of Oxford, but that he is so
-vexed in spirit 'in thys trouble seson,' that at times he cannot abide
-the signing and sealing of a letter. Prays them to see well to the
-accountants and auditors' charges.
-
-London, 2 Dec. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-'And because I might [not] abide till the writing of the matters that I
-commanded Worcester to write, I signed the letter so near the beginning;
-but I will ye tender, nevertheless, my letter and articles for my most
-profit and avail.'
-
-    [Footnote 192.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 235.]]
-
-    [Footnote 192.3: Fastolf's signature is placed here, near the
-    beginning of the letter, after the first paragraph.]
-
-
-159
-
-ABSTRACT[193.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-Memoranda signed by Sir John Fastolf (_mutilated at the head_) viz.
-about the Prior of Hikelyng; that John Ulveston and John Andrew be
-indicted for forging the office of Boyton, as well as for Bradwell in
-Suffolk; Brayn to deliver copies; if they sit in Suffolk, to take heed
-of Sypton's matter. Nicholas Apleyard will doubtless appear to the bill
-of maintenance; so the Prior and Sacristan and Sir H. Inglose must be
-'laboured' to give information. Process against Dynne, Prentis, &c.
-Obligation of 200 marks that Brian Stapleton has in keeping. The Parson
-of Castlecombe to speak with John Emond of Taverham secretly about one
-who pretended title to Dedham, &c. 'That ready word come alway atwix
-Norwich and this of the tidings that are there.' Matter of Margaret
-Brygge, &c. 'That Paston conceive the crossed letter, and say therein to
-my Lady Felbrigg.' To speak to Paston and Jenney about various matters.
-To speak to Reppys 'that he feel my Lord Scales and the Prior of
-Hikelyng jointly if they will yet treat, as my Lord Scales and my master
-were agreed at London,' &c.
-
-  [From the reference to Sypton's matter, it would appear that this
-  paper is a little before the two following in point of date.]
-
-    [Footnote 193.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 277.]]
-
-
-160
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS AND JOHN BOCKING[194.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusty frende and servaunt, Sir Thomas, Parson of
-Castellcombe, and John Bokkyng, at Prynce Inne yn Norwych, or at
-Beklys._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 4]
-
-Ryght trusty and welbelevyd servaunt, I grete you well. And forasmoch as
-I undrestand that on Monday next the oyer and terminer shall be holden
-at Beklys, and ye avysen to sende yow a certificat for cause of the
-forged quytaunce by Sir John Sypton, whych wrytyng I scende you by the
-berer here of, prayng you that ye solicit to my councell that the said
-Sir John Sypton be endited thereuppon, and that ye foryete not Ulveston,
-Andreus, and the othyrs that forged a fals office[194.2] to cast my
-maner of Bradwell yn to the Kyngs hand.
-
-Item, I sende you a copie of Sibieton ple and quytaunce forged to
-grounde your bille by it.
-
-No more for haste, but God kepe you. Wryt at London, iiij. day of
-December, anno xxix(o) regni Regis H. VI.
-
-Item, Sir John Bukk, Parson of Stratford, physshed my stankys at Dedham,
-and holp brake my damme, destroyed my new mille, and was ayenst me
-allwey at Dedham, to the damage of 20_l._, which may be endyted allso.
-
-Item, he and John Cole hath by force this yeer, and othyr yeers, take
-out off my waters at Dedham, to the nombre of xxiiij. swannys and
-signetts, and I pray you thys be not foryeted.
-
-  J. FASTOLF.
-
-    [Footnote 194.1: [From Fenn, iii. 102.]]
-
-    [Footnote 194.2: _See_ p. 188, Note 2.]
-
-
-161
-
-ABSTRACT[195.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS, Parson of Castlecombe, and JOHN BOKKING,
-in haste, at Princes Inn, in Norwich.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 5]
-
-As the oyer and terminer in Suffolk is to be on Monday next, desires
-them to get Sir John Sypton indicted for forging the false acquittance,
-and Bury his advocate also. Has inquired of his tenants at Dedham who
-were the chief counsel of breaking his mill-dam, and they say Sir John
-Squyer was chief, but John Waryn was of counsel and court-holder there;
-also Sir John Buk, Parson of Stratton, who fished his stanks, &c. John
-Cole of Stoke has also taken in years past more than twenty of his
-swans. Let them be presented. The late Parson of Cotton got F.'s late
-bailly, Henry Holm (now dead), pledged out by false representations of
-the sufficiency of his bail, &c.
-
-London, 5 Dec. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 195.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 247.]]
-
-
-162
-
-FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWYS[195.2]
-
-_To my ryght trusty and welbelovyd frendys, Sir Thomas, Parson off
-Castellcombe._
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 20]
-
-Ryght trusty frendys, I grete you well. And lete you wete that I have
-resseyved your lettre thys day, which was wryt xv. day of December, and
-undre[stand] well your ryght gode mocions and causes shewed of
-inconvenients that myght fall, yff the shyreve have not a gode
-undreshyreff whyche were not enclynyng to the partie of T. H.[195.3] And
-there as ye meoffe me to wryte to ij. Lordys for the said cause, they be
-both forth to theyr contre, and shall therfor wryte unto hem uppon the
-tenor of your lettrez in that at y can or may, as forre as reson and
-justice wolle, for such an officer as woll not, for no mede, hate, or
-losse, execut[196.1] dewlye his office to the weele of the contre.
-
-Item, the day of thys lettre wrytyng, John Bokkyng ys com to me, and
-hath expressley enformyd me by mouth as by wrytynges the greete labour
-and diligence whych ye have take uppon yow, seth Martismasse, in
-especiall, abowte the expedition of my processe of _oyer and terminer_
-before the Kyngs Commyssioners attained; and I vele ryght well by the
-avauncement of my processe your faithfull diligence, for whych y can you
-ryght gode thank, and trustyng uppon your gode continuance. And seth the
-Commissioners shall sytt at Lynne after the Epiphanye, such of my maters
-as have take none ende, but hang yn processe for deffaut of aunsuer or
-apparaunce of my partie, I pray you that the said maters may be called
-uppon of the new, and dew processe had as ferre as justice and gode
-concience wolle.
-
-Item, it ys so, as I undrestand, that the Lord Scalys woll be at Lynne
-thys Cristmasse, and at the oyer and terminer halden there, and Sir
-Thomas Tuddenham and Heydon wolle appere, of which I am well content;
-and it ys lyke that grete labour and speciall pursute shall be made to
-the Lord Scalys that he wolle meynteyn the said Tuddenham and Heydon in
-all he can or may, and thus I have herd sey. Wherfor such persones as
-have founde hem soore greved by extorcion as I have ben, and have
-processe or wolle hafe processe before the Commissioners, they most
-effectuelly labour to my Lord Oxford, and to my brothyr Zelverton,
-Justice, that they wolle as ferre as justice, reson, and concience do
-that justice may [be] egallie mynistred, and not to wythdrawe theyr
-couragez well sett from the pore peple; for and they hald not the hand
-well and stedfast yn thys mater from hens forth whyle it shall dure, as
-they have herebefore, the pore peple and all the grete part of both
-shyres of Norffolk and Suffolk be destroyed. For it shewyth well by what
-manyfold undewe menys of extorcion they have lyved yn myserie and grete
-pouverte by manye yeers contynewed that the moste part of the comyners
-have litill or nought to meynteyn their menage and housold, ne to pay
-the Kyngs taskys, nothyr theyr rents and servises to the Lordz they be
-tenants un too, as it shewyth daylie to all the world, whych ys overe a
-grete pitie to thynk. And when the said pore peple have be by such
-injuries overladd and so undoon, nedz most the gentlemen that have they
-pore lyvelode amongs hem be gretely minisshed and hyndered of their
-increse and levyng.
-
-Item, where as I undrestand by a lettre sent to me from my welbelovyd
-frende Maister John Botewryght, that grete extorcion have be don by the
-officers of the duchee in takyng awey cxl. acres pasture at Swaffam,
-whych ys of the Kyngs demeynz and of hys enheritaunce as of the duchee
-of Lancaster, for whych pastures, yff it com not ynne ayen, it woll be
-grete disheritaunce to the Kyng, and fynall destruccion of the tenauntes
-there, for whych the said Maistre John desyryth and prayeth of remedie
-yn the name of all the toune of Swaffam. As to thys such as wold here
-the encrese and wellfare of hym, of hys parysshons, and off all thoose
-mysdon untoo, most by the avice of som lerned man to put theyr
-oppressions and grevaunces in wrytyng, well grounded, and as the trouth
-of the mater ys, and that the said wrytyng or bille may be enseled wyth
-the seles of such gentlemen that have lyvebode there, and wyth the men
-that be cowthest knowen,[197.1] and that wrytyng so enseled to be
-directed to the Kyng, and to the Lordz of hys Councell. And then it ys
-and woll be of more credence to the Kyng and the Lordys then a simple
-lettre. And thys doon wyth the labours that they may make there in
-shewyng theyr grevaunces to the Commissioners; and the seid grevaunces
-shewed also here amongs the Kyng and the Lordz, it ys verrayly to thynk
-that they shall be purveyd of a remedie. And foryete not to sende or
-wryte to Maister Botewryght in goodly haste of thys article wyth your
-correccion to be had where the avertisementes of you and my frendz that
-have more particuler knowlege yn such maters.
-
-Item, I have grete mervaylle that yong Jenney, whych ys of my Lord
-Cromewell councell, and Robert Ledam, also off hys councell, and hys man
-be not spoke with there, that they doo not attaine an accion ayenst Sir
-Thomas Tudden[ham], Heydon, and John Gent, whyche have and wold dayly
-labour to disseisse my Lord Cromewell of a knyghten service in Saxthorp,
-which ye have ryght suffisaunt evidenses by an endentures of Kyng Edward
-iij^d dayes enseled, as of Kyng Herry dayes the iiij^the, that the seid
-maner ys hald by the iiij^the part of a knyzt fee[198.1] of my Lord
-Cromewell as of the maner of Tateshale. And the seid Tuddenham and
-Heydon wold after theyr voulente have it hald yn meen of the maner of
-Hetersete, whych sufficient evidenses that ye have specifyeth no thyng
-soo. And I have lost xx^li. yeerly yn approwement[198.2] of my chatell,
-for cause my Lord Cromewell, throw neglicence of hys officers in
-Norffolk, have not meynteyned hys ryght. And there as John Bokkyng seith
-that John Jenney hath no commaundment of my Lord to pursue hys ryght, it
-shewyth off reson that seth he ys of hys councell in especiall for that
-shyre, he ought doo hys ryzt to be savyd and kept of hys dewtee. And
-thertoo he knouyth well that my said Lord hath commaunded hym dyvers
-tymys to take kepe hys ryzt be savyd in thys mater. Wherfor I pray you
-requyre hym on my Lord ys behalf[198.3] to compleyn to Justice at thys
-_oyer_ [_and terminer_ for a] remedie, and that the [bi]lle be made yn
-my Lordys name. And then to . . . . . . have commaundment ryzt sone of
-my Lord eftsonys, and [_i.e._ if] he wolle sende unto hym by suche as
-goth dayly into that contre to Tateshale. And I had send hym hys
-speciall [com]maundment, had he sent me suche word betyme whyle he was
-heere. I pray you remembre ye so John Jenney and Robert Ledham as I have
-no cause to [wri]te more, ne to compleyn to my Lord of theyr necligence.
-
-Item, Sir Parson, where it ys soo that my cosyn Boys ys passed to God,
-whoos soule God assoyle, ye shall fynde amonges my bokes of accomptes at
-Castre, or amonges othyr wrytynges, he owed me money for a ferm he heeld
-of me, as Watkyn Shypdam ys remembred; and also I lent hym xl^s. whych I
-shuld have an obligacion at Castre off, praying you to inquire off thys
-dewteez, and see recuvere may be made off it.
-
-Item, I seende a lettre at thys tyme to my cosyn Wychyngham, to hys
-modre also, for a mater that touchyth my cosyn Robert Fitzrauff ys
-amercement, and the partie also. Whych lettre I woll ye breke to
-undrestand my wrytyng and the substaunce off it the more. And y pray you
-hertly to speke wyth the partie at Norwych as well as wyth my ryght
-welbelovyd cosyn Sir Herry Inglose, and wyth my cosyn Wychyngham assone
-as ye goodly may. And meoffe ye the said mater yn such wyse as your
-discrecioun can well consider that the rathyr the said mater may take a
-gode ende, yff it may be yn ony wyse; yn whych mater ye shall do me
-ryght singler plesyr, and that thys be not slewthed, for taryeng drawth
-perell. I wryte but briefflye, for I . . . . . . . . . .[199.1]
-
-Item, where as Brome ys not well wyllyng yn my maters, whych for the
-wrong takyng and wyth haldyng my shepe I ought take a accioun ayenst
-hym; for declaracioun in whate wyse he dyd it, John Bele my sheperefe
-can enforme you best, for he laboured about the recuvere of it. My Lady
-Norfolk sent me a lettre viij. yere goon, whych I shuld hafe, desyryng
-that the processe I was purposed take ayenst hym shuld be respited, and
-all that reson wold he shuld obbey. I am avysed therfor let som man
-about my Lord Norfolk and my Lady have wetyng, or I begynne. Yhyt I wold
-ye had declaracioun before of the conduyt and grounde of thys mater.
-
-Item, where my cosyn Inglose avyse me fully to take a speciall assise on
-the priorye of Hykelyng for my rent, I have abydden uppon my cosyn
-Paston that he and I shuld take one to ghedyr, and I vele hym no thyng
-spede in it. Let me know how he woll doo thys next terme, for elles am I
-fully avysed to take myne owt, and to traverse all iij. offices[199.2]
-for Beyton, Bradwell, and Tychewell, wyth the help of my frendz, Not
-elles at thys tyme; but I pray you comfort all thoo that fynde hem
-greved to abyde by theyr ryzt, and that ye woll contynew forth for my
-worshup and proffyt as ferre as ryzt wolle. Whych I trust to God shall
-better have hys cours then it hath beforn; who have you in hys kepyng.
-Wryt at London, the xx. day of Decembre anno xxix(o) regni Regis H. VI.
-
-Item, that thys lettre commaund me to my cosyn John a Berney.
-
-  J. FASTOLF.
-
-(_On the back_)--Item, I have sende ij. lettres to my Lord Erle of
-Oxford, the ton by Robson ys man, a squyer of my Lordys. And the grete
-substaunce of the lettre ys that the issues forfeted may be sent upp be
-tyme to my Lord Tresorer; for there shall be none assignment made, ne
-may not, till it com yn wrytyng; it be don, had it be sent. Grete sute
-ys made to pardon it, but the Kynges Councell woll not suffre it. The
-ij. lettre Nicholas Bokkyng beryth for excuse of my cosyn Inglose,
-because grete labor hath be made to my Lord York ayenst my cosyn Inglose
-and Seggeford, that they shuld endyte the Priour of Walsyngham tenaunt
-yn Salle. Wheruppon my Lord York, unadvertised of the trouth, sent a
-lettre to my Lord Oxford to support the Pryor ys tenaunt ayenst
-Seggeford namely.
-
-Item, I desyre that and John Berney or onye man can mete wyth Dallyng,
-that fals undre eschetor, in onye place proviable, that he may by force
-brought to Castre without damage of hys bodye, and there to be kept yn
-hold, that he may confesse the trouth of the fals office he forged off
-my maner of Tychewell.
-
-Item, forasmoche as ye shall have to doon at Lynne for my maters there
-as for Tychewell and othyr, therfor I wolle that yee doo purvey of gode
-frendys as be aboute Flegg that passen yn jureez, that they may wayt
-uppon yow there at Lynne, and other suche trusty men that ye can ghete
-to spede my processe. And that ye do hem goode chier and cost uppon hem
-after that the case shall requyre. I commyt thys mater to be ruled by
-your wysdom, that it be net forzeten.
-
-    [Footnote 195.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M., and MS. Phillipps,
-    9735, No. 248.] The original of this letter has been torn in
-    two, and the first portion is now among the Paston MSS. in the
-    British Museum, while the latter part is in the library of Sir
-    Thomas Phillipps at Cheltenham.]
-
-    [Footnote 195.3: Tuddenham and Heydon.]
-
-    [Footnote 196.1: 'Forbear to execute' doubtless was intended.]
-
-    [Footnote 197.1: Most publicly known.]
-
-    [Footnote 198.1: A knight's fee was an amount of land sufficient
-    to maintain a knight, and held subject to a knight's service.]
-
-    [Footnote 198.2: _See_ p. 152, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 198.3: Here begins the portion in the Phillipps MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 199.1: Three words indistinct.]
-
-    [Footnote 199.2: _See_ p. 188, Note 2.]
-
-
-163
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[201.1]
-
-_To our welbeloved John Paston._
-
-Th'erl of Oxenford.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 23]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved, we grete you well. And for as moche as the
-qwene and my Lord of York have writyn to us for a matier that is
-depending betwix the toun of Salle and on [_one_] Sechforth of the same
-toune, we pray yow that at such tyme as we purpose yow to be with us now
-this Cristemesse at Wynche that ye lete the sayd Sechforth have wetyng
-ther of, and that he may be with us that same tyme, for diverse matiers
-wich that we have to speke with hym; and that ye fayle not, as we trust
-yow. Wretyn in owr manor of Wynche, the xxiij^ti. day of Decembre.
-
-    [Footnote 201.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 168.] The subject of this
-    letter is evidently referred to in the postscript of the last.]
-
-
-164
-
-ABSTRACT[201.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN BERNEY AND SIR THOMAS HOWYS.
-
-[Sidenote: 1450 / DEC. 27]
-
-Begs them to have heed to his matters to be sped on Tuesday after the
-Twelfth, especially 'to labor the jury that was supposed to 'a past in
-the office found for Tychewell,[201.3] that they may appear at Lynne,
-and there make a certificate before my Lord of Oxford, and the Justice
-William Yelverton, that they were never privy nor consenting to such an
-office-finding.' On this an action may be founded against Dallyng, 'the
-false harlot.' Would like Berney rewarded for his labor, if it were
-secretly done, and Dynne also. 'Ye wete what I mean. I pray you see well
-forth, for _Mitte sapientem_, &c.'
-
-London, in haste, St. John's day in Christmas;[201.4] 'for he cam to
-Castre, and there seye myn evydence, and than made the office therby,
-and for Suffolk also, the fals offices found there in likewise, &c.' You
-must sue him to the utmost.
-
-  [The date of this letter is determined by the reference made in it
-  to the Sessions held at Lynn, in the January following, before the
-  Earl of Oxford and Justice Yelverton. --_See_ No. 167. At the foot of
-  the original MS. is this inscription:-- 'Donum Rev. Fra. Blomefield,
-  10 Dec. 1735.']
-
-    [Footnote 201.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 237.]]
-
-    [Footnote 201.3: _See_ No. 153; also _PS._ to No. 162.]
-
-    [Footnote 201.4: This, which is written after the date, would
-    appear to apply to Dallyng.]
-
-
-165
-
-ANONYMOUS TO ----[202.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1450]
-
-I prey zu if ze have any old gownys for lynynges and old schetys and old
-schertys that may non lenger seven zu, I prey zu send hem hom in hast,
-for I must okupye seche thyngis in hast. Wyndham hath medyd the juryorys
-and yaf hem mony that xuld passe on the qwhest be twyn zour modyr and
-hym; if ther myt ben purveyd any mene that it myt ben dasched in cas wer
-that it xuld passe azens zour modyr, it wer a good sport; for than he
-wold ben wode. He sent with his men to the afray iij. gunnys in very
-trowth. I have inquiryd veryly ther after. He is wode wroth that Daniel
-is amrel, for it is told me that on of his men is indytyd in the
-amrellys cort sythyn that Danyel was made amerel. I pray zu bewar in
-qhat felaschep ze ryd qhan ze com homward, for ther gon many fals
-shrewys and thevys in this contre.
-
-Thomas Skipping rod to Londonward on Friday last past in gret hast and
-purposyd hym for to ben at London on Sonday be none on erandys of his
-maysterrys: qhat the cawse is I wote nott. On sent me word her of that
-knowth it for trowth.
-
-    [Footnote 202.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 150.] The date of this
-    letter seems to be towards the close of the year 1450; for
-    though I have not met with the date of Daniel's appointment as
-    Admiral, which would prove the year, it will be seen by the last
-    paragraph of No. 142 that Wyndham was indicted at that time
-    along with Toddenham and Heydon, as one of the makers of
-    disorder in Norfolk.]
-
-
-166
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF[203.1]
-
-  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
-
-Item, that Sir John Ingelose and the Meyer be spoke to for here worship
-that the man weche that herd Heydon seye the langage upon wheche he is
-endyted, be sent heder; for that aught not to be kept prevye but
-oplyshed, seyng any thyng towchyng or sownyng to treson. And, on the
-other part, it is to grett necye (?) to noyse any man with ought cause,
-&c. Hit is not here worship this mater, if hit be trew, is so longe kept
-prevye with theym, &c.
-
-  J. FASTOLFE.
-
-    [Footnote 203.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a mere
-    fragment, containing nothing but the postscript of a letter, the
-    date of which must be either towards the end of the year 1450,
-    or the beginning of 1451. A passage to the same effect will be
-    found in a letter of Fastolf's, written on the 7th January
-    1451.]
-
-
-167
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN JERMYN[203.2]
-
-_To my ryght trusty and intierly welbeloved John Jermyn, Shirreve of
-Norffolk._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 2]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele. And where late
-by the Kyngs comaundment in the tyme of his Parliament, holden now last
-at Westminster, I was in persone at Norwich, holdyng Sessions of oir
-determyner[203.3] with Yelverton, on of the Kyngs Juges, by greet space
-and greet attendaunce, which for to a do with suych diligence in the
-Parliament tyme I wold a be right lothe, but for the pupplyk wele of all
-the shire.
-
-It is also not oute of your remembraunce what indisposicion the Commons
-of bothe countes in the ende of somer last passed wer of, and how the
-Kyng, by the hole advyse of all the greet Councell of Ingland, to sese
-their rumour, send hider his said Commission; and how I have do my part
-therynne, I reporte me to all the world. I here a gruggyng,
-neverthelesse, that trow favour in your office to the pople that hath
-compleyned by many and grete horible billes agayn certeyn persones shuld
-not be shewid at this next Sessions at Lenn, ne ferther in the said
-Comission, which, if it so were, as God defend, myght cause a latter
-errour wurs than the first.
-
-I pray yow, therfore, that ye wole write to me your disposicion how ye
-purpose to be demened, and how I shal take yow for th'execucion of the
-Kyngs Comission, and the pupplik wele of all the shire; and aftir that
-that ye write to me, so wole I take yow, latyng yow wete that I were
-lothe to labour ferther but if I wist that the Commons shuld be easid as
-Godds law wold; and if ony errour grow, the defaute shal not be founde
-in me.
-
-I pray yow more over to gif credence to the berer her of, and the
-Trinite kepe yow. Wretyn at Wynch, the second day of January.
-
-  THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 203.2: [From Fenn, iii. 106.] As this letter was
-    written in the year that John Jermyn was Sheriff of Norfolk, the
-    date must be 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 203.3: _See_ page 161, Note 3.]
-
-
-168
-
-THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[204.1]
-
-_To my right trusty and intierly welbeloved Sir John Fastolff, Knyght._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / JAN. 2]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbeloved, I grete yow wele, and pray yow to
-be right sadly advysed of the contynue of a bille of instruccion closid
-her ynne; and therupon, as I trust yow, to comon with suych my Lords of
-the Kyngs Councell as be present now at this tyme, in especiall my Lord
-Chaunceller, and that ye wole send me instruccyon agayn of their avise,
-and how I shal demene me. And the Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn at Wynch,
-the second day of January.
-
-  THE ERLE OF OXENFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 204.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, which is
-    dated at the same place and on the same day as the preceding,
-    was probably written in the same year also.]
-
-
-169
-
-JOHN BOCKING TO WILLIAM WAYTE[205.1]
-
-_To William Wayte._[205.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 2]
-
-Rith feithful and welbelovyd brother, Wiliam Wayte, I comaunde me to yow
-as the lord may to his tenant, praying you effectualy to recomaunde me
-to my singuler gode mayster and yours, excusyng me that I write not to
-hym, for I dar not envolde me in the same. And as for tydyngs her,
-I certifye you that all is nowght, or will be nowght. The Kyng borweth
-hes expense for Cristemesse; the Kyng of Aragon,[205.3] the Duc of
-Myleyn,[205.4] the Duc of Ostrich,[205.5] the Duc of Burgoyn[205.6]
-wolde ben assistent to us to make a conquest, and nothyng is aunswered,
-ner agreed in maner, save abydyng the grete deliberacon that at the last
-zall spill all to goder, &c.
-
-The Chief Yistice[205.7] hath waited to ben assauted all this sevenyght
-nyghtly in hes hous, but nothing come as yett, the more pite, &c. On
-_oyr and determiner_[205.8] goth in to Kent, and Commissioners my Lord
-the Duc of York, Bouchier, my mayster,[206.1] that will not come there,
-_de prodicionibus_, &c., but Kent praeth hem to hang no men when thei
-come.
-
-Other tydyngs as yett can I non tell you, save Ulveston is Styward of
-the Mydill Inne, and Isley of the Inner Inne, be cause thei wold have
-officz for excuse for dwellyng this tyme from her wyves, &c. Sir
-T. T.[206.2] lost hes primer at the Tour Hill, and sent his man to
-seche [_fetch_ (?)] it, and a good felaw wyshed hit in Norffolk, so he
-wold fetch hit there, &c. Men ween that Norffolk men wer hardier thanne
-thei be.
-
-God graunte, and at the reverence of God help too that an outas[206.3]
-and clamour be made upon the Lord Scalez,[206.4] preying hym for well of
-the cuntre, neyther susteyn ner help hym ner Heydon in no wyse, and that
-ye crye upon my mayster and yours that he obeye not the syrcorar
-[_certiorari_] as yett, as ye may se be hes lettre from my mayster,
-rudely and in hast be me endited, of which I pray excuse, &c. And pray
-Blake[206.5] to do Swafham men sey sum what to the matier.
-
-I wote well T. and H.[206.6] wil not come there at this tyme, as it is
-verily reported, &c. _Mitte sapientem, &c._ Brayn and I shalbe with you
-on Saturday nest at evyn, with the grace of Jesu, to whom I be take you.
-In hast, at London, the ij^de day of Januar.
-
-  By
-
-  J. BOCKYNG.
-
-    [Footnote 205.1: [From Fenn, iii. 134.] The evidence on which
-    this letter has been assigned to the year 1451 will be seen in a
-    footnote.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.2: This is supplied by the Editor, there being no
-    address in the MS. itself.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.3: Alfonso V.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.4: Francis Sforza, one of the most able and
-    successful generals of the time. He was a soldier of fortune, of
-    peasant origin, and succeeded to the Duchy of Milan by his
-    marriage with Bianca Maria, natural daughter of Philip Maria,
-    the preceding Duke, whose interests he had at one time opposed
-    as general of a league formed by the Pope and the Venetian and
-    Florentine Republics against the Duchy.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.5: Albert, surnamed the Prodigal, brother of the
-    Emperor Frederic III.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.6: Philip the Good.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.7: Sir John Fortescue.]
-
-    [Footnote 205.8: A commission of _oyer and terminer_ for Kent
-    and Sussex was issued in December 1450 to Richard, Duke of York,
-    Lord Bourchier, Sir John Fastolf, and others.--Patent Roll, 29
-    Hen. VI. p. 1, m. 16 _indorso_.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.1: Sir John Fastolf, whose servant Bocking was.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.2: Sir Thomas Tuddenham.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.3: An outcry.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.4: _See_ p. 196.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.5: Elsewhere mentioned as bailiff of Swaffham.]
-
-    [Footnote 206.6: Tuddenham and Heydon.]
-
-
-170
-
-WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON[207.1]
-
-_To my Ryght seuere and ryght worchepfull mayster, my mayster Paston, in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 3]
-
-Ryght Reverent and ryght wurchepfull sir, I recomaunde me un to youre
-good maysterchep. Late yow wete that Blake the baly of Swafham cam hom
-from London on the Saterday after that my mayster departed from yow atte
-myn lord of Oxenfordis. And he told my mayster that he cam to London on
-Seint John day atte nyte. And he yede streyt to my lord Chaunceler and
-told my seyd lord that yf the Kyng pardoned sir Thomas Tudenham and
-Heydon her issewes that the shire of Suffolk wold paye no taxe; for what
-nedyth the kynge for to have the taxe of hese pore puple whanne he wyll
-not take hese issues of thos rych extorssioners and oppressours of hese
-puple. And also he told my seyd lord Chaunceler and many more lordes
-that yf the kynge pardon hym or graunted any _supersedeas_, London shuld
-with inne short tyme have as moche for to do as they hadde for to kepe
-London Brygge whanne the Capteyn[207.2] cam thedir; for he told hym that
-ther was up in Norffolk redy to ryse V M^l. comons yf they have not
-execucion of the _oyre_ and _terminer_. And whanne my lord Chaunceler
-herd this he was ryte glade therof, and dede Blake telle all this and
-moche more a forn the kynge and all hese lordes, that they blyssed him
-whanne they herden yt. And yf he hadde not a seyd this they shuld an
-hadd and _supersedeas_ and pardon also, for ther was made a gret
-suggestion that it hadde be don of grette malyce. And so the lord Scales
-meyntenyth Sir Thomas Tudenham in all that he may goodly, but he wyll
-not awow yt; but he shall come don to the _oyre determiner_ sekerly, and
-for to make anende atwex sir T. Tudenham and Swafham; for [he] hayth
-made and genttyl letter un to the parson, the bayly and the inhabitaunce
-of Swafham, and seth that he wyll do hese parte to sette them in reste
-and peas. And so my mayster understande that yf Swafham and he werne
-accorded that thei shuld sette lytyll be Norwych. And therfore my
-mayster prayeth yow that ye wyll speke with the Mayer and hese brethern
-that they purvey that ther be atte Lenn a sufficiaunt fellawshep to
-gedyr, and that ther be madde a grette noyse up on the lord Scales,
-bothe of Tudenham and Heydon, and for all thos that arne of that sekt,
-and that wyse purvyaunce ordenance he hadde how they shull be demened;
-for this same day was the parson of Swafham with my mayster, and they
-arne accorded that ther shall be of here lordshep and sufficiaunt
-fellawshep and they shall have here loggyng atte the Frere Menours atte
-Lenn. And they wyll not assentte to noone ende but as the Cety doyth.
-And it is here avyse that the meyre shuld purveye for hem in sum other
-Freres. For Tudenham and H[eydon] wyll brynge with hem sufficiaunt
-counceyll as any kun they gete in London; And also the Cetye must purvey
-that as many sufficiaunt mene as can be gette or spoke to, that they be
-redy yf it happe of any tryall. Also the Cetye hadde nede to have Sir
-Miles Stapulton ther show they shuld helpe to hese costys. Ware, Sir,
-atte the reverens of God be thenke yow well of all these maters. Blake
-was atte London on Thursday and herd no word of the stretes,[208.1] ne
-of Robson my lord of Oxffordis man, and or Blake cam to London Sir T.
-Terell hadde labored to Sir John Fastolf that Sir T. Tudenham shuld ave
-[been[208.2]] bownde to Sir John Fastolf in foure thowsand pounde to
-stande to hese rule and ordenance; and so whanne Blake cam and deysshsed
-all to gedyr, and so he dede Sir John Fastolf labor to the kynge and to
-the Chaunceler for to lette the _supersedeas_ and the pardon; and ther
-was grette langage atwex Blake and Tudenham; it wor to moche to wryte yt
-un to yow, but he hayth sore noyssed my mayster to the Kynge and to the
-lordes. Also Tudenham is owte of the kynges hows, and Cotton is
-Warderopper, my mayster shall on Monday dyne with. Also, sir, it wore
-grette wysdam that my mayster hadde knowleche atte Walsyngham on Fryday
-nest comyng how the Maire and ze be accorded, for my mayster wyle be
-recaled therafter. William Geney sent un to my mayster for to ascuse hym
-that he shuld not come to Lenn un to the Wedenesday. And, Sir, that were
-agrette hurte bothe to the Cyte of Norwych and for Swafham; and therfor
-my mayster wold that the Mayer shuld send for hym, that he be ther be
-tyme on the Tuesday, and that moo bille be made ayens Tudenham and
-Heydon, what so ever falle. The Holy Gost have you and yours in hese
-kepyng. Wretyn atte Rougham, the Sonday nyte nest after newe zers day in
-hest as it semyth.
-
-  Be your servaunte,
-
-  W. WAYTE.
-
-    [Footnote 207.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 63.] The date of this
-    letter is sufficiently evident.]
-
-    [Footnote 207.2: Jack Cade.]
-
-    [Footnote 208.1: _I.e._ the _estreats_.]
-
-    [Footnote 208.2: Omitted in MS.]
-
-  [[Ryght seuere and ryght worchepfull mayster  _printed "ana"_]]
-
-
-171
-
-ABSTRACT[209.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN A BERNEY AND SIR THOMAS HOWES.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 7]
-
-Sends John Bokkyng on matters to be sped at the oyer and terminer. They
-must remember a _certiorari_ is out of the King's Bench, and a
-_procedendo_ was granted at one time 'for certain which had not appeared
-in the place and pleaded.' Has received all the stuff contained in a
-bill dated 28th November, made by John Davye of Yarmouth, and delivered
-to one Roger Metsharp, master of the little boat called _The Blythe_.
-Wonders they did not send the great ship with malt. Desires provisions
-for Lent by next ship. Remind my cousin Inglos that the man that
-'appeched' Heydon be sent hither, if he dare stand by his words. All the
-indictments against Heydon are not worth a halfpenny. Howes must take
-John a Berney's advice about this matter.
-
-London, Thursday after Twelfth, 29 Hen. VI.
-
-Let all who were on the inquest for Bardolf's matter be indicted,
-whatever it cost.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 209.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 246.]]
-
-
-172
-
-WILLIAM WAYTE TO JOHN PASTON[210.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and ryght worchepfull mayster, my mayster Paston
-in hest posybyll._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 9]
-
-Syr, lyke yt yow to know that my lord Scalys sent hese pursevaunt unto
-my mayster[210.2] on the Twelthe day, that my mayster shuld mete wyth
-hym atte Wynche aforn my Lord of Oxenford on the Thursday nest folwyng.
-And whanne my mayster cam thedyr, he delyvered my mayster a letter from
-my Lord Chauncheler, quych my mayster wyll shew yow atte Lenn. I shuld
-send yow a copy therof, but it is so longe that I had no leyser to wryte
-it. My mayster rode to Walsyngham on the Fryday folwyng, and ther he
-mette with the shereve, and the shereve lyveryd my mayster a letter from
-my Lord of Norffolk, qwych I send yow a copy of. And atte Walsyngham my
-mayster resceyvyd a letter from Osberne youre man. And ther Heydonis man
-made hese avaunte that he was the Justice of the Pease on Caustonheythe;
-and so it semyth be here contenaunce that they trost of a good zere.
-And, Syr, whanne my mayster cam hom on Saterday ther was lyvered my
-mayster a letter from Sir John Fastolf, and a neyther letter cam to me
-from John Bokkynge,[210.3] qwych I send you a copy of. Sir, God send us
-a fayre day atte[210.4] Lenn. And that ther may be pople jnow to crye up
-on the Lord Scales that he mayntene not Sir T. T. and H. in here
-wronges, as the copy of B letter makyth mencion. And, Sir, atte the
-reverens of God, laborth youre materis wysely and secretely, for Wyndam
-noysed yow sore aforn my Lord of Oxenford and my Lorde Scales that ze
-shuld reyse meche puple with grette arey owte of Norwyche. And therfor,
-Sir, late the puple be wysely and manly gydyd in here frekynge and
-demenynge. Also my Lord Scales sent for the parson of Sw[a]fham and
-divers men of the same town to mete with hym aforn my Lord of Oxenford
-the seyd Thursday, for to trete with hem for Sir Thomas Tudenham; and
-ther was the baly of Swafham and Sir Thomas Tudenham prest. And so my
-Lord Scales yave the parson of S. grette langage and to men of same
-towne. Y. and the parson answherd my Lord Scales manly in the best wyse.
-And ther was grette langage twexen Blake the baly and Tudenham prest
-that my lordys and my mayster worne acornberd therof. And so it is lyke
-that my Lord Scales shall make ther no loveday; and so Swafham wylbe
-ther in here best array. Also, Sir, Brygge was atte Walsyngham; and ther
-he craked grette wordes, and seyd to many divers men that it shuld be
-thanked alle tho that labored a yens hem. And he seyd that it worne but
-viij. personys, and yf men be men now it shuld be thanked hym and told
-hym atte Lenn. In the lest wysse he is now with the Lord Scales; the
-Lord Scales wyte Thomas Denyes, John Lyster and me all those
-indytementis. And the Lord Scales seyth that I made all the bylles and
-the panell; and so he is hevy lord to me and to Thomas Denyes. Prentys
-is atte hom with the Lord Scales; the shereve told me that he wyll do
-for the Cyte of Norwych as meche as he may. Sir, I wold ther worne a
-thowsand of good Maudby men to crye owte on Tudenham, Heydon, Prentys
-and Brygge for here falsse exstorciones. Also, Sir, atte the reverens of
-God, make an ende atwexen Sexeford and men of Salle; it lyeth in your
-power. I shall make redy youre forsebyll entres ayens Lenn, with the
-grace of God, Qwych have yow in Hese kepynge. Wretyn atte Rougham on
-Saterday nyte in hest.
-
-Sir, I send yow and lewde letter be Richerd Yenneys. I beseche yow be
-ware to whom ze shew your letters; lete them be brente.--Be your
-servaunt,
-
-  W. WAYTES.
-
-    [Footnote 210.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 230.] This letter was
-    evidently written on the Saturday after the same writer's letter
-    of the 3rd January immediately preceding.]
-
-    [Footnote 210.2: Judge Yelverton. He was lord of the manor of
-    Rougham, from which this letter is dated.]
-
-    [Footnote 210.3: No. 169.]
-
-    [Footnote 210.4: _Atte_ repeated in MS.]
-
-
-173
-
-ABSTRACT[212.1]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THOMAS HOWYS, Clerk, and JOHN BOKKYNG, in haste.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 12]
-
-Begs them to labour his matters, and forget not 'that old shrew,
-Dallyng, for he is sore at my stomach.' Sends by the Parson a
-_procedendo_ against Tudenham, which he has got out with great labour,
-with a letter to my brother Yelverton. 'And as to an assize for
-Hikkelyng, I shall be there on in the beginning of this term; and for
-Tichewell in like wise.' Bokkyng must remind my cousin Inglos about the
-indictments for treason of Heydon, 'that the man might be sent up to
-preve the said matter.' Fears it has slept too long. Wishes his ship
-_The Blythe_ sent to him.
-
-London, 12 Jan. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-Get my Lord [Oxford] and Yelverton to write a letter to Blake of the
-King's house, thanking him for his friendliness to the country; 'and
-forget not that Dallyng be had before my Lord and Yelverton, and make
-his confession before hem, &c. And let the great men that have most
-matters against [him] help somewhat to this good end.'
-
-    [Footnote 212.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 230.]]
-
-
-174
-
-ABSTRACT[212.2]
-
-SIR J. FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS AND JOHN BERNEY at Castre, in hast; or
-at his place in Pokethorp, at Norwich.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JAN. 28]
-
-Master Hue Acton has been with him for the new evidences ensealed for
-the manor of Mundham, which F. has sold to the use of the Church of St.
-Giles that he is master of, &c. Thanks them for what they have done for
-him in his causes before the Commissioners of _oyer and terminer_ at
-Lynne, &c. Hears Appulzerd's son expects the inquest of Mancroft in
-Norwich to be reversed. Speak to my cousin Inglose about this. Fastolf's
-audit books. My cousin John Berney puts me in great comfort by seeing to
-the safeguard of my place in my absence. Would be sorry he should be
-injured by having respited his entry into Rokelond Toffts at my request.
-
-Make friends in Norwich against Easter when the _oyer and terminer_ is
-to be held again, for I must proceed in the matter against Appulzerd.
-
-London, 28 Jan. 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-Begs them to send his grain and malt in a good vessel, well accompanied,
-with a good wind, as he has had great losses before. Speak to the Mayor
-of Norwich about Appulzerd's matter; 'for there was no city in England
-that I loved and trusted most upon, till they did so unkindly to me and
-against truth in the Lady Bardolf's matter.'
-
-  [This letter is referred to by Blomefield (_Hist. of Norf._ iv. 388,
-  Note 9), and two short extracts are given from the beginning,
-  relating to the Hospital of St. Giles.]
-
-    [Footnote 212.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 236.]]
-
-
-175
-
-MEMORANDA FOR PROSECUTIONS[213.1]
-
-_Praesentationes factae et fiendae in audiendo et determinando._[213.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451]
-
-For as meche as the _oyer and termyner_ is thus restreynyd, not
-vythstandyng the wrytyngs and all the materis utterid be my Lord of
-Oxenford, but if ther folow sumwhat lyke to the perell lyke to be
-conceyved be maters that so wern utterid and be the seyd wrytyngs, ellis
-shall it gretly sowndyn ageyns the worchep and the weel of all the
-personys, lordis, and other that eyther have wreten or utterid owght,
-and lyke wyse of hem in whos name seche materis hath ben utterid, soo
-that hereaftyr, whan they have ryght gret nede to be herd, and to be wel
-spedde, they shul the rather fayle thereof bothen, and here enemyes the
-heyer up and the more bold, &c. And therfore herein men must hold fote
-as manhod woll wyth wysdom; and ellis _novissimus error pejor priori_.
-
-Item, in the cyte of Norwyche must the falshodys and the fals getyngs of
-good ther don ben fowndyn, and thow summ maters ben not presentable, or
-peraventure in seche forme not corigyble ther, yet so that the mater in
-the self be orible and fowle, and so that summe other be sufficient, yet
-it semyth summe men best that all go forthe and be taken, and namely
-[_especially_] in this werd [_world_] that now is, &c.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse must it be in the shier, ther me thynkyt it is reson
-that my Lordys sett bothe the day and the place of the Sessions, and all
-men kepe that wern the robberis at Gresham and to Plumstede, the
-shippyng of wolle ageyn the statute, that is felonye, and the lycence
-than, if ony be, ther shull come to lyght and disputed, and I suppose
-veryly be other statutes and be lawe fownde voyde, and the leveryes that
-Heydon hatht yoven to hem that arn not hese menyall men.
-
-Item, the presonment of John Porter of Blykelyng.
-
-Item, the presonment of John Langman of Swafham.
-
-Item, the presonment of Robert Patgrys of Burnham.
-
-Item, the extorcions in her [_their_] cortes.
-
-Item, the prisonynge of Dallynge, and of hese obligacion mad to Sir
-Thomas Todenham, and howe he was presonyd at Norwyche, at Thetforthe, at
-Lynne, and also of many other that ben don soo too.
-
-Item, to remembre T. Denyes of the tale that Fyncheham told whan he cam
-hom for Sir T. Todeham, that he be ware therof, &c.
-
-Item, for to indyte Pryntys of a voluntary eschete that where on Symond
-Hamond of Patesle wheche was indyted of felonye, and because of hese
-goods he lete hym owte of the castell _anno xvj(o) Regis nunc_.
-
-Item, for to indyte the same Prentys and William Goodwen of Swafham for
-the robbynge of Geffrey Sowle.
-
-Item, the same Prentys and Goodwyn robbed Thomas Irynge of Myleham _anno
-xx(o) Regis nunc_.
-
-Item, the same Prentys toke of Wylliam Dallynge at Norwyche v. mark for
-smytynge of of hese feteris whan he was there in preson _anno xix(o) Regis
-nunc_.
-
-Item, to indyte the baly of Swaffham, T. Todenham, Heydon, Prentys, of
-felonye as excercarys [_accessaries_].
-
-Item, to speke to Feraris for hese mater at Thyrnyng. Item, to indyte a
-cowper at Geyton wheche slow a tenaunt of Danyell at Geyton. Hese name
-is Thomas Dowce that was slayn; and ther kan no man indyte hym, for Sir
-T. Todenham maynteynyth hym, and therfore he were worthy to be indyted
-as excercary, _anno xxv(o) Regis nunc_.
-
-Item, to indyte Heydon, because he rydyth armyd ayens the statute and
-the commyssion of the peas.
-
-Item, for takyng awey of John of Berneys haborjoun at Walsyngham.
-
-Item, to inquere what they dede to Alexaunder Reve of Cokely Clay.
-
-Item, what they dedyn to Shragger, and to hese sone, for they stokked
-hym and hese sone at Swafham.
-
-Item, what they deden to Gachecroft at Methewold.
-
-Item, to enquere what they deden to a chanon of Ingham; he was arestid,
-and set in prison at Swafham, and [they] dede hym make a obligacioun
-[_forced him to give a bond_].
-
-Item, how that be her comaundment Emond Wyghtton was arestid at Hempton,
-and put in the stokks at Fakenham more than iij. dayis, till he made a
-fyn of v. marks, and yet he spent and yave xl_s._ besyde.
-
-Item, for to endyte Knatesale, John of Woode, Robert of Woode, for
-Ferers mater.
-
-Item, that William Kelynge of Castlelaker under eschetor, how that he
-rydyth armed, and reysith many men ayens the peas; he met wyth the
-Byschop at West Dereham with x. men of armys.
-
-Item, of extorcious amerciaments take of the Prior of Westacre at
-Narforthe and Swafham, and hese man there set openly and shamefully and
-gret oppression in stokks, and a flok of hoggs taken; and be whyche
-appressions and extorcions was the Prior of Westacre compellid to yeven
-Sir T. Todenham a fee of xl_s._ a yere, and to make Shuldam her styward,
-and yeven hym a fee of xl_s._ a yere there. W. Yelverton and all other
-aforn hym had but xxvj_s._ viij_d._; but of these and of many mo wers it
-is a gret foly to laboren in as for any indytements, but if ye be ryght
-seker of the sherefes office; for if he lyst, he may returne men i nowe
-of Swafham, and seche as ye wold have for the enquest of the hunderid,
-and it is the more to drede of the undyrschereff that they arn asented,
-and drawe all aftyr her draught. And that they wold that no sessions
-shuld be because of the massage that he sent to my mayster be Nicholas
-Dowyldays clerks, and therfore ther must be the begynnynge of all these
-maters, as ye wold save your worchepis, and eschewe shame and the
-peryll, &c.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-(_At the bottom of the page_)--M^dm of [_blank_] groond and of the
-extorcions of Sporlle.
-
-  On the back of this document occur the following further memoranda
-  in two columns:
-
-_Maters sterid to hurt of both parties._
-
-  Sir John Fastolf,} Est'.[216.2]
-  Bisshoppis Wif.  }
-
-  The Priour of Norwich,}
-  The Cite.             }
-
-  The Abbot of Wendlyng,} Est'.
-  The Cite.             }
-
-  The Abbot of Leiston,} Est'.
-  William Jeney.       }
-
-  Gregory Guybon,     }
-  --[216.3] Perpoynt. }
-
-  John Tatleshale, }
-  Robert Mortymer. }
-
-  The Lady Bardolf,}
-  Sir John Fastolf.}
-
-  The Lord Moleyns,}
-  John Paston.     }
-
-_Ambidexter._[216.1]
-
-  Dux Norff.} Stockton,
-  Dux Suff. }   Est'.
-
-  Ed. Wynter, }
-  John Mariot.}
-
-  Ferrers,    } Est'.
-  Hobbes Wif. }
-
-  Prior Walsyngham,} Est'.
-  Ric. Doget.      }
-
-  Mondford,} Est'.
-  Danyell. }
-
-  Sir John Curson,   } Est'.
-  Maister John Selet.}
-
-  Sir John Curson,} Est'.
-  Will. Thurton.  }
-
-    [Footnote 213.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper must belong
-    to the early part of the year 1451, when it was proposed to
-    indict Tuddenham and Heydon at Norwich.]
-
-    [Footnote 213.2: This title is taken from a contemporaneous
-    endorsement.]
-
-    [Footnote 216.1: This term is applied to a juror who receives
-    money of both parties in a suit.]
-
-    [Footnote 216.2: This abbreviated word is probably _Estreat_,
-    indicating that an extract or official copy of the indictment
-    had been made.]
-
-    [Footnote 216.3: Blank in MS.]
-
-
-176
-
-OPPRESSIONS OF TUDDENHAM AND HEYDON[216.4]
-
-These be names of men that arne myschevesly oppressed and wronged by Sir
-T. Tudenham and Heydon and here adherentes:--
-
-  Yelverton.
-  Fastolf.
-  Gregorius Gybon.
-  Joh. Maryot.
-  Paston.
-  Ferrers.
-  Berney.
-  Straunge.
-  Framyngham.
-  Trenchemer.
-  Joh. Jenney, Senior.
-  Joh. Damme.
-  Nicholaus Grome.
-  Joh. Ode.
-  Joh. Knevet.
-  Robert Clyfton.
-  Thomas Hypgame.
-  Homines de Swafham.
-  Joh. atte Howe of Helloughton.
-  Simon Blake.
-  Joh. Botwryghe, Clerk.
-  Item, many men indyted in Norffolk and Suffolk be Tudenham and
-    Heydon, &c.
-  Ric. Wryght of Saham.
-
-    [Footnote 216.4: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper no doubt
-    belongs to the same period as the last.]
-
-  [[_The intended order of the list is ambiguous. The names _Yelverton,
-  Fastolf, // Paston_ and _Gybon, Maryot, // Ferrers_ were shown in
-  two columns straddling a page break, followed by the remaining names
-  in a single column._]]
-
-
-177
-
-FRIAR BRACKLEY TO JOHN PASTON[217.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?)]
-
-Primo. Sciat vestra veneranda discretio quod Episcopus hujus diocesis
-est Thomae Danyell et suis fautoribus maxime benevolus et in ipso
-episcopo T. T., J. H.,[217.2] et suis complicibus est ipsius confidentia
-maxima, &c.
-
-2(o) Si justiciarii pacis hujus comitatus omnes et singuli debeant sua
-autoritate pacis media pro eorum posse per totum Norfolch. comitatum
-diligenter conservare et pacis ejusdem perturbatores carceri vel castro
-proprio mancipari facere, quaeritur quare dictus episcopus, pacis,
-ut creditur, justiciarius, non vult in hac parte hujusmodi pacis
-perturbatoribus resistere; sed magis eisdem in talibus insolenciis
-favorem et auxilium in omnibus praebere.
-
-3(o) Si quaerantur consiliarii dicti Episcopi, certum est quod Prior
-monachorum, M. J. Celot, J. Bulman, T. T.,[218.1] J. H.,[218.2] J.
-W.,[218.3] Johannes Yates cum consimilibus ceteris sunt etiam
-consiliarii dicti Danielis.
-
-4(o) Cum, secundum Apostolum,[218.4] furta, homicidia et talia vicia eis
-similia sunt abhominabilia Deo et hominibus, ac utriusque legis divinae
-et humanae contraria sacratis sanccionibus, in tantum quod non solum qui
-talia agunt digni sunt morte, sed etiam qui conscenciunt agentibus; ex
-quibus certe verisimiliter concluditur quod non solum Kervere, latro, et
-Daniel famulus, furator equi ac murre satis notorius, puniretur una cum
-fautoribus ejus.
-
-5(o) Vestra discretio dicta Christi in Ewangelio diligenter consideret,
-'Si in viridi ligno haec faciant, in arido quid fiet?'[218.5]
-
-6(o) Non solum haec pensare debetis pro vestrae personae defensione seu
-vestrae familiae, sed magis movere vos debet zelus et amor rei publice
-totius vestrae patriae.
-
-7(o) Si ista indilate et cum omni possibili celeritate citius non
-reformaveritis, timendum valde supponitur de insurreccione plebis, quod
-absit omnino.
-
-8(o) Novitque discretio vestra ex paucis indigestis plura politice
-percipere. Statui pro praesenti tempore finem scribendi imponere.
-
-    [Footnote 217.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 158.] This undated letter
-    may have been written in February or March 1451, when Tuddenham
-    and Heydon hoped to regain their ascendency. Though not
-    addressed, we may presume that it was written to John Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 217.2: Sir Thomas Tuddenham and John Heydon.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.1: Sir Thomas Tuddenham.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.2: John Heydon.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.3: John Wyndham.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.4: The reference appears to be to Romans i.
-    29-32.]
-
-    [Footnote 218.5: Luke xxiii. 31.]
-
-
-178
-
-JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[219.1]
-
-_To my right reverente and wurchepfull Mayster, John Paston, Esquyer,
-be this delivered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 1]
-
-Right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, I recomand me to you, besechyng you
-to wete that Wharles told me that Partrych seid that his lord[219.2]
-knewe wele that ye were entred pesibilly in the maner of Gresham; where
-fore, he seid, thow the tenauntes and fermors pay you the rents and
-fermes the tyme that ye be in possession, his seid lord, thow he entre
-ageyn, wuld never aske it them. Item, the seid Partrych seid to Wharles
-that his lord wull come down hym self and entre in the seid maner within
-short tyme. Wharles wull not discharge your baly of xvvj_s._ and
-viij_d._, which he toke the seid baly enseled in a purs. The seid
-Wharles told my mayster, John of Berney, at the court, that he repented
-hym that he payd you any peny till he had be distreyned; and he seid
-than pleynly that he wull nomore pay till he were distreyned. I have be
-there divers tymes for to distreyn hym, and I cowde never do it but if
-[_unless_] I wuld a distreyned hym in his moders hous, and there I durst
-not for her cursyng. The baly of the hundred told me that Wharles spake
-to hym in cas he had be distreyned that he wold have gete hym a replevy;
-and the baly bad hym kete a replevy of his mayster and he wold serve it.
-
-Item, the maner londs at Gresham, with othre tenaunts londs that be
-fallyn in your hands ben letyn to ferme. I can gete no tenaunte to dwell
-in the maner hous. And if the rede shuld be caryed thens, the tenaunts
-shuld thynk that ye fered sum new entre, and it shuld sore discomfort
-hem, for thei whisshed whan it was caried to the maner that it had be
-leyd ther thus pesibly ij. yer afore. Asfor the obligacyon that ye shuld
-have of the parson of Cressyngham, he seth he cam never at Cressyngham
-syth he spake with you, and that he be heste it you not till
-Fastyngong.[220.1] His hors ben stolyn, and therfore he may not ryde.
-
-Item, Gonnore kept a court at Routon the Thursday[220.2] next after
-Seynt Mathy[220.3] the Appostell, and it was told me that Bettes was
-ther with hym; wherefore I rode theder. And be cause that it was a
-fraunchised town and within the Duchye,[220.4] and also that Gonnor had
-gret rewle in the seid town, I toke with me the baly of the hundred and
-set hym with me in my Lord of Norffolks warant, and than yede in to the
-court ther as Gonnor and Bettes wern. The seid baly told Gonnor of this
-warant, and Gonnor rebuked hym so that he durst not a rest the seid
-Bettes. Than I toke it up on me and arested hym myself as he sate be
-Gonnor. Gonnor desired than to se my warant, and I shewed it hym, and he
-seid he wold obey it as the lawe wold. And he proferyd me suerte, men of
-the seid town of Routon. Than I told hym, and [_i.e._ if] he wold be
-bownd hym self with othre I would agre ther to, but I wuld have no
-shipmen that had nought, ner such men that rought [_cared_] never, and
-thei were onys on the see, wheder thei come ageyn or noght. Than Bettes
-toke Gonnor a _supersedias_ that he had of Wychyngham twelmoneth ago for
-anothre man that asked suerte of the seid Bettes. I wold have had it,
-and he wold not lete me have it, ner shewe it me but in his hands. Than
-I told hym that it was noght, and he seid it was gode i nowe. I bad hym
-take it me for my discharge, and he seid pleynly I shuld not have it.
-Than I told hym I wold have my prisoner. The seid Gonnor seid I shuld
-not have hym, and dede set alle the tenaunts up on me and made a gret
-noyse, and seydyn alle pleynly I shuld not have hym yf he wold abyde
-with hem. Than I told Gonnor that I shuld certifie a rescuse, and prayd
-the baly of the hundred that he wold record the same. Item, the seid
-Gonnor seid I myght have favoryd the seid Bettes the more be cause the
-seid Bettes was my mayster Stapylton man, and that his men shuld not be
-bownd and I shuld go lose. He seid I shuld be tyed or aght longe and
-alle my feleshep bothyn; but, God yeld hym, he hath yovyn me iiij. days
-respyte. Than I told hym it shuld never ly in his power to bynde me, ner
-non of my feleshep so fast but that it shuld be in your power to make
-hym to losyn us, and if that he abode in Norffolk he shuld be made to
-seke the skyrts of his sadill or Esterne. And if he had kept his wey
-that nyght I shuld have kept hym trewe covenaunte, for I lay on wayte up
-on hym on the heth as he shuld have comen humward, and if I myght have
-met with hym I shuld have had Bettes from hym; but he had leyd such
-wetche that he had aspied us or he cam fully at us; and he remembered
-Wyndhams manhood, that iiij. swyft fete were better than ij. hands, and
-he toke his hors with the spores and rode to Felbrygge Hall as fast as
-he myght rydyn, and I suppose he lay ther all that nyght.
-
-Item, the seid Gonnor manased and thret John of Beston for he wuld not
-warn hym her of; and he dede sease alle his lond in Routon, and warned
-hym that he shuld not occupy his lyme kyll ner no lond that he had in
-Routon; and he mad his avaunte whan I was gon, if that I had not brought
-the baly of the hundred with me I shuld never have go thens; and yet,
-not withstandyng that I brought the baly with me, and thei had wust
-where myn hors had stond I shuld have be wele betyn. All this language
-had thei whan that I was gon.
-
-Item, the seid Gonnor seid after that I was gon to the tenaunts of the
-seid town, that his _supersedias_ was noght, and as for the rescuse, he
-shuld purvey a mene to excuse it. Where fore and it pleasyd you to send
-my mastres word how that I shuld be demened with the seid Bettes, and
-wheder that ye wuld I shuld a rest hym ageyn or nought, and to purvey
-such a mene for Gonnor that he myght ley his bost, it shuld be gret
-comfort to all yowr frendes and tenauntes ther abowtyn.
-
-Item, I have be at my mayster Stapilton with your writtes, and he made
-it right straunge for to ensele hem. He seid that he knew of nown such
-inquiscion takyn at Swafham beforn hym; he seid if it were presented
-ther, it was presented in his absens, whill that he was in his inne;
-wherfore he seid he wold not ensele hem till he sey the bokes. Whan I
-had answeryd hym ther to, than he seid he wold comown with my mayster
-Yelverton her of whan he come home, and til he had spok with hym he wold
-not ensele hem. I told hym my mayster Yelverton had enseled hem. Thann
-he seid he knew not my mayster Yelverton seale. He shewed it to Gonnor,
-and asked hym wheder it was his seall or noght. Gonnor seid it was his
-sealle. Than my mayster Stapilton brake ought of this mater and spake to
-me of the a restyng of Bettes and makyng of affray up on Gonnor. He seid
-Gonnor cam to hym to compleyn up on me. I told hym that Gonnor had
-enformed hym as it plesyd hym, for I had yove hym no cause to compleyn
-of me, and if it pleased hym to her myn excuse he shuld fynd me in no
-defaute. Whan he had herd myn excuse, he cowde not blame me. Meche othre
-langage we had, for I was with hym ner an ower. Than he asked me wheder
-the inquisicion was taken be fore the justice of the peas or the justice
-of the _oyer determyner_. I told hym be for the justic of the peas, for
-I seid it was the cessyons of the peas at Swafham. Than he bad me put up
-my warants, for he seid he wold not ensele hem till he had comowned with
-my maister Yelverton. I told hym it shuld not nede to comown with my
-mayster Yelverton, ner labor hym therfore, for I seid it myght not hurt
-thow he enseled hem not; for I seid the writts were executed, and that
-the shereff had mad ought warants of them, and his warants were
-executed, and so the seid writts shuld stand you in litill avayll, save
-only, I told hym, ye desiryd his sealle, because it was fownd before
-othre lords with hym, and that he stode in the _teste_ of the said
-writts, and that was cause of my comyng theder. Than he wend I had comyn
-for to assayn hym, for forthwith he enseled hem, but me thynk be his
-langage he hath be labored of the toder part.
-
-Item, and it pleased your gode maystershep to gete of my mayster
-Yelverton a _supersedias_ for John Osborn and an othre for me. We
-suppose that Gonnor and Bettes wull do us arest, and we wuld the
-_supersedias_ that we haue ought of the Chauncery were kept till more
-nede were. My mastres[222.1] recomand her to you, and prayth you to hold
-her excused that she write yow no letter, for myche of the mater that
-she shuld have wrete to you I had wrete in my letter or she knew ther
-of; and also she knew not of so redy a massanger as I had. And it plesyd
-your gode maystershep to send us a pardon for to assoylyn Gonnor this
-holy tyme of Lentyn, the rather be cause of this gret bulle,[223.1] we
-shuld leve in the more reste and peas, and kepe the more our pacyence
-than we do. The Holy Trynyte have you in His kepyng. Wretyn on the
-Monday next after Seynt Mathie[223.2] the Appostell, in hast.
-
-  Your pore servaunte,
-
-  JAMES GLOYS.
-
-    [Footnote 219.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was
-    written in the spring of 1451, when John Paston had re-entered
-    Gresham.]
-
-    [Footnote 219.2: Lord Molyns.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.1: Fastingong, or Shrove Tuesday, fell upon the
-    9th March in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.2: 25th February.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.3: St. Matthias, whose day was the 24th February.]
-
-    [Footnote 220.4: The Duchy of Lancaster.]
-
-    [Footnote 222.1: Margaret Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 223.1: Probably a bull of indulgence issued at the
-    close of the year of jubilee 1450, for the benefit of those who
-    had not been able to visit Rome that year.]
-
-    [Footnote 223.2: St. Matthias. His day was the 24th February.]
-
-
-179
-
-JAMES GLOYS TO JOHN PASTON[223.3]
-
-_To my right reverent and wurchepfull mayster, John Paston, Esquyer,
-be this delivered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 2]
-
-Right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, I recomaund me to you, prayng you to
-wete that I have labored divers men that ben enpaneld atwix my mastres,
-your moder, and Wyndham.[223.4] Ther be many of them woll do her parte,
-and ther ben summe that wull not passe ther upon, for thei ben aferd
-that the werd [_world_] shuld turne. It is noysed in Norwhich that my
-Lord of Oxenford, my mayster Yelverton, and ye, and John Damme shuld be
-endited in Kent for mayntenaunce of the _oyer determyner_ in Norffolk;
-and this, with othre feryth sore men of Norwhich. I trow my mastres
-writyth to you here of more clerly. Item, Wyndham hath be divers tymes
-at my mastres Cler, and mad hym erands to her, and told her that he was
-sued in my mastres, your moders name but he supposyd that she knew not
-there of. He thought that ye and James Gresham had do it un malyce, my
-mastres your moders unknowyng. But whan he knew that I labored the
-enqueste, than he sent my mastres Clere word how that he knew wele that
-it was my mastres your moders labore. Item, he told my Lady of
-Morle[224.1] of this sute, and he seid that he wend that my seid lady
-had mad an hend a twix them for the seid sute. Item, Heydons men brought
-his awyn hors and his sadyll thourgh Aylsham on Monday, and thei comyn
-in at the Busshoppes gates at Norwhich and comyn over Tomelond and in to
-the Abbey. Thei a bedyn there all that nyght, and ij. days after, wenyng
-to men of the town that Heydon had go over the fery, and so in to the
-Abbey; and sythyn thei seid thei shuld go to London for Heydon. Item,
-sum seyn that Heydon shuld be mad a knyght, and myche othre langage ther
-is which causyth men to ben aferd, wenyng that he shuld have a rewle
-ageyn. Item, there were ij. men at John Betes of Holt; thei had langage
-of the Lord Moleyns. If it please yow to enquere of Symond, brynger of
-this letter, he shall enforme you of her langage. Item, Gonnor was
-wetched at Felbrygge Halle with xl. persones of the Lady
-Felbryggs[224.2] tenaunts and mor that night that I lay on wayte up on
-hym, and he durst not go home on the next day till they brought hym
-home. Thei mad a compleynt to my Lady Felbrygge, and my mastres had
-excused it. Item, the manase Burflet, and wull sease his lond. Symond
-shall telle yow how thei wer answered. Item, as for the subsidy that Sir
-Herry I[nglos] and the Lady Felbrygge shuld payn, the meyr knowe not yet
-veryly what thei schuld pay, for thei have not cast the valew of her
-londs. The bill closyd in this letter maketh mensyon of the valew of
-divers gentelmens londs that [ben] examyned in Norwhich. We can not know
-what Calthorp payth, for we can not speke with the shereffe, ner the
-undre [shereffe], ner no man that gadered that hundred ther as Calthorp
-dwellytht. The Holy Trynyte have you in his kepyng. Wr[etyn] the Tuesday
-next after Seynt Mathie,[225.1] in hast.
-
-  Your pore servaunt,
-
-  JAMES GLO[YS].
-
-    [Footnote 223.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From what it mentions
-    about Gonnor, this letter will be seen to be of the same year as
-    the last. The fears entertained of Heydon recovering his
-    influence are also indicative of the spring of 1451. The letter
-    is slightly mutilated in the margin at the bottom.]
-
-    [Footnote 223.4: John Wyndham, Esq. of Felbrigg.]
-
-    [Footnote 224.1: _See_ p. 84, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 224.2: Catherine, widow of Sir Simon Felbrigg, was
-    lady of the manor of Felbrigg, of which Wyndham only had the
-    lease at this time, though he afterwards became the
-    proprietor. --_See_ Blomefield, viii. 112.]
-
-    [Footnote 225.1: St. Matthias. --_See_ p. 223, Note 2.]
-
-
-180
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[225.2]
-
-_To my rith wurshepfull hosbond, Jon Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 3]
-
-Rith worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying you to wete
-that ther is a gret noyse in this town, that my Lord of Oxforth and
-Yelverton and ye ben endytid in Kent for mayntenyng of the oyer
-determyner; and Jon Dame is endytyd ther also of treson, be cawse that
-he dede Heydon endytyn[225.3] of treson for takyng down of the quarter
-of the man. And the pepyll that ben ayens Ser Thomas Todenham and Heydon
-ben sore aferd be cawse of this noyse, and of other langage that is had
-bothe in this town and in the contre, that these seyd Todenham and
-Heydon shuld ben as well at ese, and have as grett rewill as ever they
-hadde.
-
-Jamys Gloys tellith me that he hath sent yow word of Heydonys hors and
-of other thyngs, mor of whiche I was purposid to asent yow word of. The
-Holy Trinyte have yow in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwiche, the Weddenysday
-next after Seynt Mathy.[225.1]
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 225.1: St. Matthias. --_See_ p. 223, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 225.2: [From Fenn, iii. 288.] It will be seen that
-    this letter contains a distinct reference to the last which was
-    written the day before it. Indeed, the information contained in
-    this letter is nearly all anticipated in that of Gloys.]
-
-    [Footnote 225.3: _i.e._ caused Heydon to be indicted.]
-
-
-181
-
-DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[226.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 4]
-
-Right wurshipfull sir, and my right good maister, I recomaunde me to
-yow. It is so that up on an hasty sodeyn warnyng I departid from London
-and spake not with yow at my departyng, Wherof I was full sory. I pray
-yow, neverthelesse, that ye wole eftsones speke to William White with my
-Lord Cardinall, for I desire his maistership and good will and wole do
-to my power. And as touchyng to that that he semith I haf don agayn hym,
-in good feith I wole abide your rule or, by Seynt Kateryne, his owen
-rule. He is a gentilman and I wole don it with good will. I am right
-sory ye had not set me thorgh with hym erst I went, for I haf prayed yow
-ther of, as ye know your self dyvers tymes. The Holy Trynite preserve
-yow. Wretyn at Wevenho the iiii. day of Merche.
-
-  Your servaunt,
-
-  DENYES.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-Sir, my Lord[226.2] hath kept sessions at Colchestre, and my maister
-Yelverton with hym, and he desired me to write to yow to be wel ware if
-ony fals suggestion or lesynges wer made by Tuddenham and Heydon and
-that to your power thei be answerd in his absence. As for my Lord
-Scales, her be seven of housold meny indited of felony, which are strong
-thefes. Item, I pray yow, write in hast to the Meir of Norwich to gif
-credens to me whan I come to hym, and if ye so do I shal shape their
-articles in billes in to a nother facion I trust, and make thaym redy
-and delyver thaym resonably wele. My Lord purposeth to be at London the
-ende of the first weke of Lent, and not erst. I pray your maistership,
-se sum meane that White do me not that harme in the Chauncery wherof ye
-sent me word by Brayn, for, as God sauf my soule at the day of Jugement,
-I fonde surete for the pees, but the Maister of the Rolles[227.1] ful
-untruly recordeth that surete takyn as a baile, wher of treuth it was
-otherwise, and ful synnefully ruleth that mater, and never wold suffir
-me to execute the acte but lettid me, notwithstandyng it is a law
-private in the self as I shal clerly declare whan I come. The Holy
-Trinite preserve yow. I write to yow thus that ye may kyt awey this
-lower part of this lettre.
-
-    [Footnote 226.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 169.] This letter must
-    have been written in a year when Easter fell after the 20th
-    April, as Lent does not appear to have begun on the 4th March;
-    and as it was during the life of Cardinal Kempe, we may pretty
-    safely fix it to the year 1451. The year 1454, indeed, might be
-    possible as regards Easter, but there is no indication here of
-    those troubles of which the writer complains so bitterly in that
-    year on the 20th March. _See_ No. 239.]
-
-    [Footnote 226.2: The Earl of Oxford.]
-
-    [Footnote 227.1: Thomas de Kirkeby.]
-
-
-182
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[227.2]
-
-_To my Ryth worshipfull hosband, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 15]
-
-Rith wurchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desiring hertily to
-her of yowr welfar; preying you to wete that Herry Halmannys wif sent to
-me word on Saterday last past that Prentys thretyth her hosbond sor, and
-John Robyns, for suche thynges as Prentys seyth that they haue donn
-ayens hym; he seyth he shall make hem so besy or he leve hem that he
-shall make hem not wurth apeny; and they ben aferd that he woll hold hem
-conuawnt if he have powyr ther to. It is seyd her that the kyng shuld
-com in to this contre, and sir Thomas Todenham and Heydon arn well
-cheryeshid with hym. And also it is seyd they shall have as grett rewill
-in this contre as evyr they hadde, and many more folkes arn sory
-therfore than mery. Sir Thomas Todenhamys man and Heydonys sowyn this
-sedde all abowte the contre, that here maysteris shull cum hom in hast
-in here prosperite and be als well att esse as ever they wer. As for
-that ye dessyryd that I shuld enquyr wher any stuff is of yowris, I wot
-not how to don ther with, for if ever wer aspyid that hath of yowr
-stuff, and we had it from hym, other that have more ther of wold ben
-ware be hym, and avoyd seche stuff as they have of yowris. I suppose
-John Osbern shall tell yow whan ye com hom agode meen to wete wher meche
-ther of is becom. Jamys Gloys is ayen to Gressam and I suppose John
-Damme shall tell yow what he hath donn ther. Yowr tenawntis wold fayn
-that summe mene of yowris shuld abyde amongis hem, for they ben in gred
-diswyr what they may do; the langage is so grett on the tother party
-that it maketh the tenawntis sor afferd that ye shuld not regoyse itt.
-I send to yow a letter be Colynys of Frawnceys Costard what dedis he
-woll don. It was told me also that the Lord Molyns was lyke to have aday
-ayens yow att Thetford at the next assyse. On [_one_] that loueth yow
-rythwell told me how it was told hym so, and warnyd me therof in secrete
-wyse. Itt is gode to ben war of ther falsed. I pray yow that ye woll
-send me word in hast, if ye woll have red to your levery as ye wer
-avysid, and if ye woll not, &c. And also I pray yow that ye woll do bey
-ij. gode hattis for your sonys for I can none getyn in this town. Mor
-tydynges can I not send yow yett. The Holy Trinyte have yow in his
-kepyng. Wretyn att Norwiche on the fyrst Monday of Lent.
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 227.2: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 55.] This letter would
-    appear to be of the same year as No. 184, written a fortnight
-    later. Both letters speak of rumours that Tuddenham and Heydon
-    will regain their ascendency.]
-
-
-183
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[228.1]
-
-_To my right wurchipfull husbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / [MAR. 22]]
-
-Right wurchipfull hosbond, I recomawnd me to yow, beseching yow that ye
-be not displeasid with me, thow my symplenesse cawsed yow for to be
-displeasid with me. Be my trowth, it is not my will nother to do ne sey
-that shuld cawse yow for to be displeasid; and if I have do, I am sory
-therof, and will amend itt. Wherefor I beseche yow to forgeve me, and
-that ye bere none hevynesse in your hert ayens me, for your displeasans
-shuld be to hevy to me to indure with.
-
-I send yow the roll that ye sent for, in selyd, be the brynger her of;
-it was fownd in your trussing cofor. As for hering, I have bowt an
-horslode for iiij^s. vj^d. I can gett none ell [_eels_] yett; as for
-bever [_i.e. drinkables_], ther is promysid me somme, but I myt not gete
-it yett. I sent to Jone Petche to have an answer for the wyndowis, for
-she myt not come to me. And she sent me word that she had spoke therof
-to Thomas Ingham, and he seyd that he shuld speke with yow hymself, and
-he shuld accord with yow wel jnow, and seyd to her it was not her part
-to desyr of hym to stop the lyts; and also he seyd itt was not his parte
-to do itt, be cawse the place is his but for yeris.
-
-And as for all other eronds that ye have commandid for to be do, thei
-shal be do als sone as thei may be do. The blissid Trynyte have yow in
-his keping. Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Monday next after Seynt Edward.
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 228.1: [From Fenn, iii. 238.] The date of this letter
-    is quite uncertain. Fenn assigns it to the year 1454, when Lent
-    began very late, as it is evident the herrings and eels referred
-    to were intended as provision for that season. This conjecture
-    may be correct; but it must be noted that John Paston was at
-    home at Norwich, if not in the beginning of Lent, at least on
-    the fourth Sunday of Lent in 1454. Moreover, if the date of this
-    letter, 'Monday next after St. Edward,' means after the 18th
-    March, which was the day of St. Edward the King and Martyr, the
-    year 1451 would suit rather better than 1454; for, in the former
-    year, the Monday after St. Edward's day would be the 22nd of
-    March, and Ash Wednesday the 10th, while in the latter the
-    Monday after St. Edward would be the 25th, and Ash Wednesday the
-    6th, so that the provision of herrings would be very late.]
-
-
-184
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[230.1]
-
-_To my right wurchepfull husbond, John Paston, [be]yng in the Inner
-Tempill, be this delivered in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MARCH 30]
-
-Right wurchepfull husbond, I recomaund me to you, prayng you to wete
-that myn unkyll Phylyp Berney[230.2] was at Lynne this last weke, and he
-was at inne at the baylyffes hows of Lynne, and Partrych[230.3] came in
-to the same place whill myn unkyll was ther. And the seid Partrych was
-wele aqueyntyd with the balyffe, and the balyffe told hym that he sent a
-letter to the Lord Molyns, and that the Lord Molyns had sent hym a
-nother letter, letyng hym wete that he purposyd hym to be at Lynne thes
-weke. Than Partrych seid that he had word that the seid lord purposyd
-hym to be ther at that tyme; but he seid summe men supposyd that he wuld
-not come here; and the balyffe seid that he was right glad that he shuld
-come in to this countre. On of myn unkyll men herd all this langage, and
-told it myn unkill. The baly ner Patrych knewe not at that tyme what myn
-unkyll was to us ward. Also I purposyd me to have sent to Stapylton,
-as ye sent me word be James Gresham, and it is told me that he is to
-London. Item, it is noysed abowte Gresham and all that contre that the
-Lord Molyns shuld be there in hast. Item, Gonnore had right gret
-langage, and he trostyd that the word [_world_] shall turne sumwhat
-after ther entent. Othre tydynges have we non, but that Tudenham and
-Heydon shuld have ageyn the rewle in this contre, assmych as ever thei
-had or more. The Holy Trynyte have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwhich un
-the Tuesday next before Mydlentesonday.[230.4]
-
-  Yowre,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 230.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, like
-    several of those preceding, speaks of a juncture in which it was
-    expected that Tuddenham and Heydon would regain their influence.
-    The adherents of Lord Molyns were also in hopes that he would
-    shortly be in Norfolk and re-enter Gresham. The date must
-    therefore be 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 230.2: Philip Berney, Esq. of Caston. He was a brother
-    of Margaret Mauteby, who was Margaret Paston's mother.]
-
-    [Footnote 230.3: _See_ p. 101, Note 4.]
-
-    [Footnote 230.4: Mid-Lent Sunday fell on the 4th April in 1451.]
-
-
-185
-
-PETITION FROM THE TOWN OF SWAFFHAM[231.1]
-
-_To the ryght wise, noble, and discrete Comons of this present
-Parlement._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451]
-
-Mekely besechyn, bewailyn, and shewyn the pouer and simple inhabitaunts
-in the toun of Swafham, in the counte of Norfolk, that where Sir Thomas
-Tudenham of Oxburgh, knyght, this xvj. yeeris last passid before the day
-of the Acte of Resumpcion in the last Parlement before this,[231.2] hath
-ocupied and governed the lordship and maner of Swafham forsaid, with the
-appertenauncez, as styward and fermer of the same; in which ocupacion
-and governaunce the said Sir Thomas, and othre his servauntz and
-adherentz in a rolle to this peticion annexed named, han petously and
-synnefully don and comitted the trespasez, offencez, wronges,
-extorcyons, mayntenauncez,[231.3] imbraceryes,[231.4] oppressions, and
-perjuryes in the seid rolle conteyned; and of dyverse and many articles
-ther of, and of many othre wrongs, and of that that the said Sir Thomas
-is a comon extorcioner, the same Sir Thomas be fore the ryght noble,
-true, and pleyn lord, our good and gracious lord the Erle of Oxenford,
-and othre the Kyngs commissioners of _oire determyner_ withynne the same
-shire, the said Sir Thomas Tudenham, and othre his servauntz and
-adherentz arn indited.
-
-Please it your noble wisdamis to conceyve that it hath be the comon law
-of the land of long tyme that if a comon theef were, in ony cuntre, so
-often indited or detect of so many offencez he shuld not, by the law of
-the lande, be late to baile ne meynprise, but be kept in prison til he
-were put to answere of swich crymes as he were so detect of. And also
-please your greet wisdams to conceyve that all the Juges of the Kynges
-Benche, of long and late tyme sittyng in their place, laudablely han
-usid to comitte to prison, with oute baile or meynprise, for a tyme, al
-persones that han be detecte before theym of any ryot or greet cruel
-offence agayn the peas, which offence myght a be subvercyon of the law
-by ony liklynesse; and advertisyng the greet mischeves that this noble
-roialme hath oftyn standyn in for the greet extorcyons and oppressions
-that hath be don in the same,[232.1] and how greet a subvercyon of the
-lawe and of the polityk governaunce of the land suych extorcyon is; and
-of your prudent and sage wisdams lyke yow to make requisicion to the
-Kyng our soverain Lord, and to the Lords espirituallx and temporelx in
-this present Parlement assembled, that by the consideracion that the
-said Sir Thomas wold never apere, in his persone, ne by his atturney, at
-no sesions of _oir determyner_ holden in the said counte; plese the Kyng
-and Lords forsaid, to comitte the said Sir Thomas Tudenham to preson,
-ther to abide til in to the tyme that he to the said inditements hath
-answerid, and to the billes and compleynts of the said inhabitauntz in
-fourme of law.
-
-And more over, where that the said Sir Thomas Tudenham hath, among many
-othre greet wrongs, ful synnefully causid a writte of assise of novell
-dissessyn[232.2] to be brought ageyn John Aleyn and xxiij othre of the
-said toune, in the name of the Abbot of Sawtre,[232.3] and causid that
-assise to passe by perjury, as in the first article in the rolle to this
-peticion annext it is more opinly conteyned, please your greet wisdams,
-for the reverens of God by that concideracion, that the jurry of the
-said assise durst not, for drede of the horrible menaces of the said Sir
-Thomas, othrewise do but be for sworn in gevyng their verdite in the
-same assise, in which case the said inhabitauntz, for pyte and remorce
-of their concyencez, wer lothe to sew a writ of atteynte,[233.1] to pray
-the Kynge and Lords forsaid to ordeyn, by auctorite of this present
-Parlement, that the said writ of assisse, verdit, recoverer, and the
-jugement ther of, with every othre circumstaunce therof, be voide,
-revokd, and adnulled, for the love of God.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-[233.2]Item, compleyneth John Bladsmyth of Swafham of that that where
-John, late Pryour of Penteney,[233.3] predecessor of the prior that now
-is, and the covent of the same place, the Munday next aftir the fest of
-Seynt Mathew the Evangelist, the xiij. yeer of the kyng, our soverain
-lord that now is, at Swafham forsaid, lete to ferme to the forsaid John
-Bladsmyth certeyn londs, rents, tenements, and pasture,[233.4]----
-
-    [Footnote 231.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a rough draft
-    of a Petition which seems to have been intended for presentation
-    to Parliament in the beginning of the year 1451. Parliament was
-    prorogued on the 18th December 1450 till the 20th January
-    following, but it did not actually meet again for despatch of
-    business till the 29th April. It would appear from this Petition
-    that Sir Thomas Tuddenham and his adherents were indicted before
-    the Earl of Oxford at the sessions of _oyer and terminer_ which
-    sat on the 2nd March 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 231.2: This must be the Act of Resumption of 28
-    Henry VI.--See _Rolls of Parliament_, v. 183.]
-
-    [Footnote 231.3: _See_ p. 167, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 231.4: _See_ p. 167, Note 5.]
-
-    [Footnote 232.1: [Original note here in margin.] Answer neyther
-    to the billes ne inditeing forseid, ne to non of theym.]
-
-    [Footnote 232.2: _See_ p. 47, Note 4.]
-
-    [Footnote 232.3: A Cistercian monastery in Huntingdonshire.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.1: A writ to inquire whether a jury gave a false
-    verdict.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.2: This is written on the back.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.3: John de Tyrington. He was succeeded in 1449 by
-    Richard Pentney.]
-
-    [Footnote 233.4: The sentence breaks off thus abruptly in the
-    MS.]
-
-
-186
-
-ABSTRACT[233.5]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe, at Castre.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / APRIL 13]
-
-Received a letter from them, 3rd April, with the last account of Sir Jo.
-Kyrtelyng and Intewod. Understands Rob. Norwych will not occupy as
-undersheriff, because Jenneys had given him language not to his
-pleasure, and so Aleyn is to occupy, who is not F.'s wellwiller; but
-Howys has provided a remedy with the sheriff. When the _venire facias_
-is made out, I will try and get it sent you, and I shall have Paston's
-advice. Knows well the obstinate will of false Dallyng, but Bokkyng must
-speak with him, and entreat him in his best manner.--Margaret Bryg's
-matter.
-
-As to the oyer and terminer, it is certain Heydon and Tuddenham will be
-at Norwich with all the maintenance and fellowship they can. It is said
-Justice Prysot will be there. You must do your best to keep your friends
-steadfast; and I in the meantime will labour here, and send you word how
-the world is set. Men of the city of Norwich have good audience and
-favour among the Lords, and are waiting an answer of their matters. Has
-delivered up the shipmen, and left the ship here for causes which he
-will write; 'for the rayse hath been full costuys, except they came in
-saufftee.'
-
-  London, 13 April, 29 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 233.5: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 231.]]
-
-
-187
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[234.1]
-
-_To my right wurchepfull howsbond, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / APRIL 16]
-
-Right wurchepfull howsbond, I recomand me to yow, prayng yow to wete
-that the Parson of Oxened[234.2] told me that Wyndham told hym that
-Sweynnysthorp[234.3] is hold of the Kyng be the therd part or the fourt
-part of a knyt fye, and ho so ever had the maner of Sweynsthorp, he
-shuld fynde an armyd man, in tyme of werre in the castell of Norwhic,
-xl. days to his owyn cost, and that ye shuld pay xxx^s. to the Kyng
-yerly owth of the seyd maner; and it is fond also that your fader shuld
-a died seysyd, and that ye shuld a entyryd ther in as heyr after your
-fader dysseys, and that ye shuld be now up on the age of xxx. wynter.
-
-The Trinite have yow in hys kepyng. Wreten at Norwhic, the Friday next a
-fore Seynt George.
-
-  Yowrs,
-
-  M. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 234.1: [From Fenn, iii. 84.] The date of this letter
-    depends upon the age of John Paston, who, in November 1444, was
-    found to be twenty-three years old. As he is now 'upon the age
-    of thirty winters,' this letter was probably written in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 234.2: His name was Laurence Baldewar.]
-
-    [Footnote 234.3: In 1444, according to Blomefield (_Hist. of
-    Norf._ iv. 40), a rent-charge out of the manor of Swainsthorp
-    was settled by John and Agnes Paston, the eldest son and the
-    widow of William Paston, the Justice, to find a priest to sing
-    for the soul of the said William in the chapel of our Lady the
-    Great in Norwich Cathedral.]
-
-
-188
-
-ABSTRACT[234.4]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOS. HOWYS, at Castre in Flegg.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / APRIL 21]
-
-Sends two _venire facias_ for Beyton in Norfolk and Bradwell in Suffolk,
-returnable _in quindena Paschae_, which is a short day. You must deliver
-them in haste to the Sheriff by Paston's advice, by whom I send them.
-Labour to the Sheriff for the return of such panels as will speak for
-me, and not be shamed, for great labour will be made by Wentworth's
-party. 'Entreat the Sheriff as well ye can by reasonable rewards, rather
-than fail,' for they have taken as false an issue as can be with me 'by
-H. [_i.e._ Heydon's] advice for cold love.' I had traversed the plea in
-the inquisition that I had disseised Sir Hue Fastolf; but they put it
-now that I had only a joint interest in the manor. The names you sent
-for Bradwell are like to do well, except Hopton, who has married with
-the Lady Wentworth. I am also in doubt of one Reppes of Heringflete, who
-is Heydon's man. Had purposed to have been at the oyer and terminer this
-time, but cannot, &c.
-
-Horshighdoun, 21 April, 29 Hen. VI.
-
-  _Signed._
-
-    [Footnote 234.4: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 243.]]
-
-
-189
-
-DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY, AND WHITE TO JOHN PASTON[235.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY 2]
-
-Maister Paston, we comaund us to you, lattyng you witt that the Sheriff
-is noght so hole as he was, for now he wille shewe but a part of his
-frendeshippe. And also there is grete prese off pepill, and fewe
-frendes, as ferr as we can feel yitt. And therfore be ye sadly avised
-wheder ye seme best to come your self, or send or, &c., for we will
-assay in as much as in us is to prevaile to your entente. And yett, if
-it neded, we wolde have a man to giffe us informacion, or shewe evidence
-after the case requireth. Also the Shereffe enformed us that he hath
-writyng from the Kyng that he shall make such a panell to aquyte the
-Lord Moleynes. And also he tolde us, and as ferr as we can conceyve and
-feel, the Shereff wille panell gentylmen to aquyte the Lorde, and
-jowroures to a quyte his men; and we suppose that it is be the mocion
-and meanes of the othir party. And yif any meanes of tretie be proferd,
-we know not what meane shulde be to your pleasir. And therfore we wolde
-fayne have mor knowlege, yiff ye think it were to doo.
-
-No more at this tyme, bot the holy Trinite have you in his kepyng.
-Wretin at Walsyngham, in hast, the secund day of May.--Be your trewe and
-feithfull frendes,
-
-  DEBENHAM, TYMPERLEY, AND WHITE.
-
-And also, Sir, as we conceyve, the Lord Moleynes shall not be quyte
-before Thurseday; in as muche as he was indyted before the Justice, we
-undirstand he shall not be quyte but before the Justice. Wherfore we
-avise you, iff ye think it be to doo, to send your frendes in the meane
-tyme, and come your self to your place at Sperham, and there abyde unto
-tyme that we have knowlege how the saide mater will drawe, and till that
-we may have worde from you, and ye from us, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 235.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter speaks
-    of the indictment and expected acquittal of Lord Molyns, the
-    date must be 1451. This letter is written on parchment.]
-
-
-190
-
-W. LOMNOR TO JOHN PASTON[236.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY (?)]
-
-Ryght worchipfulle Sir, yours goode cosynes and frendes avyse yow to
-come to Walsyngham, and that ye be there to morw betymes at vj. on the
-clok; for the Lord Moleyns offreth a trete for the goodes, and amendes
-to be made, or he goth ought of this contre, and if it be not taken,
-his men shulle justifie; wherupon your title might be hurte. The Lord
-Skales, the Justis, and other knygtes and squyeres merveyle grettly ye
-come not, and thow they that have not so true and evident mater as ye
-have concelle yow to be absent; yet I wolde ye dede as ye be desyrd be
-that felaship, for many wolde yow right welle. Whanne ye come, I shalle
-telle yow more.
-
-The Lorde Moleyns shulde not have be aquyte of his comaundement, hadde
-he not sworen on a boke, sweche evidens was ayens hym; and ther is no
-jentelman wolde aquite his men for no goode, &c.
-
-  W. LOMNOR.
-
-    [Footnote 236.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter has no
-    address, but there can be no doubt from the contents it was
-    intended for John Paston. It was evidently written about the
-    same time as the last, while the Sessions was sitting at
-    Walsingham, and Paston's suit against Lord Molyns was still
-    pending.]
-
-
-191
-
-SIR JOHN HEVENINGHAM TO MARGARET PASTON[237.1]
-
-_To my ryght worchipffull cosyn, Margarete Paston, be this letter
-delivered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / MAY 7]
-
-Ryght worchipffull and welbeloved cosyn, I commaunde me to you as
-herteli as I can, thankyng you off your goode chere the last tyme I was
-with you. And, worchippffull cosyn, please that you to calle un to your
-remembrauns I wrote un to you for my cosyn Anneys Loveday to have ben in
-your service, and I reseyved from you a letter that your wyll was goode,
-but durst not to in to the tyme ye hadde spoke with my cosyn your
-husbonde.
-
-Worchippffull cosyn, I have labored for hir in othir placez, but I can
-not have my entent as yet. Wherffor yff that hit please you to have hyr
-with you to in to the tyme that a mastris may be purveyeid for hir,
-I pray you ther off, and I shall contente you ffor hir boarde, that ye
-shal be wel pleased; for, cosyn, and I hadde a wyff, I wolde not care
-for hir. And ther as she is, she is not well at hir ease, for she is at
-Robert Lethum; and therfor I pray you herteli that ye wyll tendre this
-my writyng, and I beseche you that in cas be that ye wyll fulffylle hit
-that ye wel sende my cosyn Will Staunton for hir, and I shal kepe you
-trewe promys, as I have be for wretyn. And I beseche Almyghti Jesu
-preserve you. Wretyn at Hevenyngham, on the vij. day off May, &c.
-
-  Your oune cosyn,
-
-  JOHN HEVENYNGHAM, Knyght.
-
-    [Footnote 237.1: [From Fenn, iii. 144.] The date of this letter
-    is doubtful, but it was evidently written at a time when John
-    Paston had been for some considerable time absent from Norwich,
-    which appears to have been the case in the beginning of May
-    1451. The writer of this letter died in July 1453.]
-
-
-192
-
-SIR THOMAS HOWYS TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[238.1]
-
-_To my reverent and worchepfull mayster, Sir John Fastolf, Knyght,
-be this lettre delyvered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY 9]
-
-Right reverent and worchipfull maister, I recomaunde me louly un to yow.
-Please you to wete the Sonday next after the Fest of the Invencion of
-the Cros,[238.2] the ix. day of May, at Castre, I receyved a lettre from
-you by your clerk, W. Barker, the tenure wherof I shall do spede in all
-hast goodly. But for the more special cause of my wrytyng at this tyme
-is to gef you relacion of the un true demenyng of this oure determyner,
-by the parcialte of the Jugez of it; for whan the Counsell of the cite
-of Norwich, of the toun of Swafham, youres, my Maister Inglose,[238.3]
-Pastons, and many other playntyfs had put in and declared, bothe by
-writyng and by woord by fore the Jugez, the lawfull excepcions in many
-wise, the Juges by ther wilfulnesse myght nat fynde in ther hert to gef,
-not als moche as a bek nor a twynclyng of ther eye toward, but toke it
-to deriscion, God reforme such parcialte; and by cause Prisot[238.4]
-thought that yf the Sessions of the oyer determyner had be holden at
-Norwich as they bygonne, he supposed it shuld nat so fast passe to
-th'entent of Tudenham and Heydon and ther felawes, as it shuld do
-ell[es] in other place, but enjorned to Walsyngham, wher they have
-grettist rule, ther to be holden on Tuesday, iiij^te day of May.
-
-This knowing, my Maister Yelverton,[238.5] Genney, and other myght weel
-conceyve how the governaunce of the oyer determyner shuld procede, for
-it was the most parcial place of alle the shire, and thedre wer cleped
-alle the frendez, knyghteys, and esquiers, and gentilmen that wolde in
-nowise do other wise than they wolde. And the seid Tudenham, Heydon, and
-other oppressours of ther set come doun theder, as I understand, with
-iiij^c. [400] hors and more; and consideryng how ther wellwillers wer
-ther assembled at ther instaunce, it had be right jowpertous and
-ferefull for any of the pleyntyfs to have be present, for ther was nat
-one of the pleyntyfs ner compleynuantez ther, but your right feithfull
-and trusty weel willer John Paston. And my Maister Yelverton seid full
-discretly, and countrolled the seid Prisot when he seid, sittyng, in the
-Guyhalle of Norwich, these wordys to the Meyre and Commonalte, 'A, Sir
-Meyre and your brethren, as to the processe of youre compleyntez, we
-wole put them in contynuance, but in all other we wole procede;' which
-wordys Yelverton thought right parciall. And by side this the seid
-Prisot wolde suffre no man that was lerned to speke for the pleyntyfs,
-but took it as a venom, and took them by the nose at every thred woord
-whiche myght weel by knowe for open parcialte.
-
-And as for the Lord Scalys, ye knowe well what he is toward you, and
-namely for Hikelyng matter. Also to knowe som of your feynt frendes,
-at that tyme that my Lord Norffolk sat at Norwich up on the oyer
-determyner, Sir John Hevyngham myht nat fynde it in his hert to go iiij.
-furlong from his duellyng place to the shirehouse, but now he cowd ryde
-from Norwich to Walsyngham to syt as one of the Commyssioners. As to the
-rule of other, that ye wolde have supposed your wellewillers, how they
-have byhavyd them at Walsyngham, I shall sende yow woord in all hast
-whan Bernay[239.1] come hom to Castr, for he is nat yet come from
-Walsyngham. But this I knowe well, that they founde none obstacle ner
-impedyment in ther consciens in all your matter; but how they have do
-with Norwich, Swafham, and Paston, I am nat yet clerly informed;
-I suppose they arn put in respite. I here sey Heydon seweth for an ende
-to be had with the cite of Norwich, and as to the namys of them that
-passed on ther acquitaile ayenst yow, Broyn can weell informe yow.
-I understand that Sir Robert Conyers, Calthorp, Mundford wer capteyns,
-and Maister Ric. Doget also.
-
-Item, as for the ij. _venire facias_ ye sent to be retorned for your
-manorz of Bradwell and Beyton, I have do them to be retorned of suche
-namys as I have sent woord before, savyng sume be take, and except out.
-Moreover, as for the mater of Sir John Sibton, Geney and Raulyns gef ful
-counsell that it shuld abyde tyl the mater of Bradwell myght procede, so
-that bothe maters myght take up on a day, for they sey it wold drawe xx.
-marc to labour the Jure to London, and yet it wer hard to bryng about.
-And they gef you counsell in all wise that ye labour to have Yelverton
-Juge at that tyme, and in all wise bothe in that materz and in all
-other, that ye be war that Prisot have not to have do in any wise, for
-than all wole be nought. Of alle other materz I shall send you woord in
-all hast goodly, for at thys tyme I had no leyser by cause of the hasty
-comyng up of Hug Fen, whom I beseche yow to fele of the demenyng of the
-oyer determyner, for he can telle yow moche and [_i.e._ if] he wole;
-whether he wole or nay, I can nat sey, for I know wele he was at
-Walsyngham. And I beseche All myghty Jesu have yow in his mercyfull
-governaunce. Wrete at Castre, the Sonday, ix. day of May anno xxix(o)
-Regis Henrici vj^ti.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-_On the back of the letter is written--_
-
-I prey yow be nowth displesed thow I have nowt subscribed my name
-withinne forth, for it is of neclygens, quoth Howys, Parson of
-Castlecomb.
-
-    [Footnote 238.1: [From Fenn, iii. 116.]]
-
-    [Footnote 238.2: The 3rd of May.]
-
-    [Footnote 238.3: Sir Harry Inglos.]
-
-    [Footnote 238.4: John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-    [Footnote 238.5: William Yelverton, Justice of the King's Bench,
-    afterwards knighted by Edward IV.]
-
-    [Footnote 239.1: Probably Philip Berney.]
-
-
-193
-
-JOHN OSBERN TO JOHN PASTON[241.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and worchepful Master, John Paston, be this
-delyverid._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / MAY 27]
-
-Plese it your masterchep to wete that I have spoke wyth the
-Shereff[241.2] at hese placez, mevyng to hym, as for that that was left
-wyth hese Under shereff, it is your wyl he shuld send a man of hese for
-it; for thow it were more ye wold gladly he shuld take it; he thanked
-yow, and sayde hese Under shereff was at London, and hymselff had non
-deserved, and if he had he wold a take it. And whan I departyd from hym,
-I desyerid hym a yen to send therffore, and than he seyde it shuld abyde
-tyl ye come hom, wherby I conceyve he wold have it, and be gladde to
-take it. Moreover, I remembred hym of hese promyses made before to yow
-at London, when he took hese oth and charche, and that ye were wyth hym
-when he toke hese oth, and oder dyvers tymes; and for tho promyses made
-be hym to yow at that tyme, and other tymes at the oyer determyner at
-Lynne, ye proposed yow be the trust that ye have in hym for to atempte
-and rere accions that shuld be to the avayle of hym and of hese office.
-He wold a know what the accions shuld be. I sayde I coude not telle hym,
-and than he seyde he wold do for yow that he may, excepte for the
-aquitell of the Lord Molyns men, in so meche as the Kyng hath wrete to
-hym for to shewe favour to the Lord Moleyns and hese men, and as he
-seyth the indytement longyth to the Kyng, and not to yow, and the Lord
-Molyns a gret lord. Also, as he seyth, now late the Lord Molyns hath
-sent hym a letter, and my Lord of Norffolk anoder, for to shew favour in
-these indytements, he darnot abide the joporte of that, that he shuld
-offende the Kinges commaundment. He know not how the Kyng may be
-informed of hym, and what shal be seyde to hym.
-
-And than I sayde as for any joporte that he shuld abyde in any thing
-that he doth for yow, or be your desyre, you have offered hym, and wol
-performet, sufficient sewerte for to sawe hym harmeles, and therfore I
-supposid ther wold non resonable man thynk but that he myght do for yow
-wyth owte any joporte. And then he seyde he myth non sewerte take that
-passid C_li._; and the Lord Molyns is a gret lord, he myght soon cause
-hym to lese that, and meche mo. Than I sayde, be that meane, in defawte
-of a Shereff, every man may be put from hese lyvelod; and thann he seyde
-iff it were for the lyvelode, men wold take hem the nerer for to abyde a
-joporte; but be hese feyth, as he swore, if the Kyng wryte ayan to hym
-he wol no lenger abyde the joporte of the Kyngges wrytyng, but he
-trustyth to Godde to inpanell seche men as shuln to hise knowleche be
-indeferent, and non comon jurors. As me semyth it wold do goode and
-[_if_] ye wolde gett a comaundment of the Kyng to the Shereff for to
-shew yow favour, and to inpanell jantelmen, and not for to favour non
-seche riotts, &c.; for he seyde that he sent yow the letter that the
-Kyng sent hym, and ye seyde a man shuld gete seche on for a noble.
-
-Item, I remembred hym of the promyses that he hath made to Temperley,
-and that if he wold make yow very trew promys, ye wold rewarde hym as
-meche as he wold desire, or any other resonable man for him, and asmoche
-and mor then any adverserry ye have wold gef hym; than he seyde he toke
-never no mony of non of hem alle. There was proferid hym at Walsyngham
-for the Lord Molyns xx. nobles, he had not a peny; moreover, I proferid
-hym, if he wold make yow promys that ye myght veryly trust upon hym, ye
-wold geff hym in hande as he wold desire, or to leve a summe if he wold
-a named it in a mene mannys hand, and seche as he hath trust to. And
-then he seyde, if he myght do for yow, or if he do any thyng for yow,
-then he wol take yowre mony wyth a good wyl; and other promys I coude
-not have of hym, but that he wol do for yow all that he may, excepte for
-the inditements. I conceyve veryly he hath made promys to do hese part
-that they shul be a quytte, but I suppose he hath made non other promys
-ayens yow for the lyvelode; but he lokyth aftyr a gret brybe, but it is
-not for to trust hym veryly wyth owte that he may not chese. I suppose
-he had no wrytyng fro my Lord of Norffolk as he seyde.
-
-I was at Framyngham for to a spoke wyth Tymperley, Debnam, or Berry,
-and they were all ought. My Lord, as he came from London, he was at
-Yepysweche on Moneday, and when he wythowth the town toward Framyngham,
-he had all hese men ryde forth afore a gret pase, for he wolde felwe
-softely; and when hese men were owte of syght, he rode wyth v. men to a
-squieris place of hese therby, and on Tewsday, rodde my Lady to hym; and
-so I dede nought at Framyngham. No more at thys tyme, but All myghty
-Jesu spede yow, and have yow in hese kepyng. Wrete at Norwiche, the
-Thursday next aftyr Sent Austyn, &c.
-
-  Be your servunt,
-
-  JOHN OSBERN.
-
-    [Footnote 241.1: [From Fenn, iii. 308.] At the date of this
-    letter Lord Molyns had probably been acquitted, but the action
-    against his men was still pending. The year must therefore be
-    1451. The date 'Thursday next after St. Austin' is understood by
-    Fenn to be after the Feast of St. Austin, or Augustine, Bishop
-    of Hippo, which was celebrated on the 28th of August; but the
-    dates of the preceding letters make it more probable that the
-    writer means St. Augustine, the apostle of England, whose day
-    was the 26th of May.]
-
-    [Footnote 241.2: John Jermyn. --_See_ page 183, Note 2.]
-
-
-194
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[243.1]
-
-_To [Herry][243.2] Barker of Synt Clements Parys, in Norwych, to delyver
-to my Master John Paston, in haste_.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later]
-
-On Thurisday the wall was mad zarde hey, and a good wylle be fore evyn
-it reyned so sore that they were fayne to helle the wall, and leve
-werke. And the water is fallyn so sore that it standyt ondyr the wall a
-fote deppe to Ballys warde [i.e. _towards the land of a neighbour named
-Ball_]. And on Friday after sakeryng, one come fro cherch warde, and
-schoffe doune all that was thereon, and trad on the wall and brake sum,
-and wente over; but I cannot zet wete hoo it was. And Warne Kynges wyfe,
-as she went over the style, she cursyd Ball, and seyde that he had zevyn
-aweye the waye, and so it prevyt be John Paston is words. And after,
-Kyngs folke and odyr come and cryid on Annes Ball, seying to her the
-same. Zystyrnevyn wan I xul goo to my bede, the Vycare[244.1] seyde that
-Warne Kyng and Warne Harman, betwyxte messe and matynsse, toke Sir
-Roberd[244.2] in the vestry, and bad hym sey to me, verely the wall
-xulde doun a gayne. And wan the Vycar tolde me I wyste ther of no worde,
-nor zet do be Sir Roberde, for he syth he were loth to make any stryfe.
-And wan I com out of the cherch, Roberd Emundes schowyd me how I was
-amercyde for seute of corte the laste zer vj_d._, and seyd it was
-xij_d._ tylle Warne Kyng and he gat it awey vj_d._
-
-I send zou word how John Jamys was demenyd at Cromere, to send to Jamys
-Gressham how he xall be demenyd. Gaffrey Benchard, Alexander Glover,
-heywards,[244.3] tokyn a dystresse of John Jamys or the bond tenent of
-A. Paston, calde Reynalds, in Cromer, the xxviij^ti yer of thys Kyng,
-and W. Goodwyn, Baly of Cromer, with the seyd J. Jamys, with forsse toke
-awey the dysstres, wech was ij. horsse and a plowe. And Good be with
-zou.
-
-  Be ANNES PASTON, your Modur.
-
-    [Footnote 243.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] As this letter refers
-    to the 28th year of Henry VI., seemingly as a past date, it
-    cannot well be earlier than 1451. But probably it is not much,
-    if at all, later.]
-
-    [Footnote 243.2: The Christian name _Herry_ is crossed out, and
-    _Meye_ (?) appears to be written over.]
-
-    [Footnote 244.1: William Pope was vicar of Paston from 1447 to
-    1455.]
-
-    [Footnote 244.2: Probably the Vicar's Curate.]
-
-    [Footnote 244.3: Haywards were (originally) persons who guarded
-    a farm and crops in the night, and blew a horn on an alarm or
-    robbers.--Halliwell.]
-
-
-195
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[245.1]
-
-_To John Paston be thys byll deliverd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later]
-
-I spacke thys day with a man of Paston syde, and he told me that a man
-of Paston told hym that Paston men wold not goo presessyon ferther than
-the chyrche yerde on Sent Markys day,[245.2] for he seyd the presessyon
-wey was stoppyd in, and seyd with in chort tyme men hopyd that the wall
-chuld be broke doun ageyn. Item, he seyd that I was amercyid for
-stoppyng of the seyd [way][245.3] at the last generall court, butt he
-cowd not tell who meche the mercyment was. And he that told it me askyd
-the man that told it hym if he had the mercyment in hys exstrete for to
-distreyn there fore; and he seid nay, but seyd he that chuld do it chuld
-bettyr doe take it up on hym than he chuld. Item, the same man told me
-that he mett with a man of Blyclyng, hyght Barker, that cam late fro
-London, and he told hym that I had a sute att London ageyn Wareyn Herman
-of Paston, and seyd that Roberd Branton was hys attornnye, and seyd he
-seygh hym ryght besy for hym att London. And for yete not yor
-sustyr;[245.4] and God have yow in kepyng. Wretyn att Norwyche the xij.
-day of May,
-
-  Be yor modyr,
-
-  A. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 245.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter has the
-    appearance, to judge from its contents, of being perhaps a few
-    weeks later than the preceding one. It is, however, in a
-    different hand.]
-
-    [Footnote 245.2: April 25.]
-
-    [Footnote 245.3: Omitted in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 245.4: Elizabeth Paston?]
-
-
-196
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[246.1]
-
-_John Paston, dwellyng in the Tempyll at London, be thys letter delyverd
-in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later]
-
-I grete yow wele, and lete yow wete that on the Sonday befor Sent
-Edmond, after evyn songe, Augnes Ball com to me to my closett and bad me
-good evyn, and Clement Spycer with hyr. And I acsyd hym what he wold?
-And he askyd me why I had stoppyd in the Kyngs wey? And I seyd to hym I
-stoppyd no wey butt myn owyn, and askyd hym why he had sold my lond to
-John Ball? And he sor [_swore_] he was nevyr a cordyd with your fadyr;
-and I told hym if hys fadyr had do as he dede, he wold a be a chamyd to
-a seyd as he seyd. And all that tyme Waryn Herman lenyd ovyr the
-parklos[246.2] and lystynd what we seyd, and seyd that the chaunge was a
-rewly chaunge, for the towne was un do therby, and is the werse by an
-C_li._ And I told hym it was no curtese to medyll hym in a mater butt if
-he wer callyd to councell; and prowdly goyn forthe with me in the
-cherche, he seyd the stoppyng of the wey xuld coste me xx. nobylls, and
-zet it shuld downe ageyn. And I lete hym wete he that putte it downe
-chull pay therfor. Also he seyd that it was well don that I sett men to
-werke to owle[246.3] meney whyll I was her, butt in the ende I chale
-lese my coste. Than he askyd me why I had a wey hys hey at Walsham,
-seyng to me he wold he had wyst it whan it was karryd, and he chuld a
-lettyd it; and I told hym it was myn owyn grownde, and for myn owyn I
-wold holde it; and he bad me take iiij. acre and go no ferther. And thus
-churtly he departyd from me in the cherche zerde. And syt [_since_] I
-spacke with a serteyn man, and acsyd hym if he herd owt sey why the
-dyner was mad att Norfolkys howse, and he told me [he] herd sey that
-serteyn men had sentt to London to gete a commyssyon owt of the
-chaunstre to putt downe ageyn the wall and the dyk.
-
-I receyvyd yor letter by Robert Reppys thys day after thys letter wretyn
-thus far. I have red it, butt I conn yeve yow non aunswer mor than I
-have wretyn, save the wyfe of Harman hathe the name of owr Lady, whos
-blyssyn ye have and myn. Wretyn at Paston, on the day after Sent
-Edmond,[247.1]
-
-  Be yowyr modyr,
-
-  AUGNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 246.1: [From Fenn, iii. 44.] This letter of Agnes
-    Paston's refers to the same subject of dispute as the two
-    preceding, and was probably written after them; but the exact
-    year is not certain.]
-
-    [Footnote 246.2: The half door of her 'closet' or pew in
-    church.]
-
-    [Footnote 246.3: 'To owl,' says Fenn, 'may signify to deceive,
-    as an owler is a person who carries contraband goods in the
-    night; though I rather think it means in this place to oil, that
-    is, to smooth to her purpose; but q.?' The explanation certainly
-    is not very satisfactory. From the definition of 'owler' we
-    might perhaps conjecture with more probability that 'to owl' was
-    to work in the night time. Did Agnes Paston, to avoid
-    interruption, set men to build the wall by night?]
-
-    [Footnote 247.1: St. Edmund's day was the 16th November.]
-
-
-197
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[247.2]
-
-_To my rygth worshipfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / [JUNE 3]]
-
-Rygth wurchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desyring hertyly to
-her of your welfar, preying yow to wete that itt was told me this weke
-that ther is afayr plase to sell in Seynt Laueransis parysch, and stant
-ner the chirche, and by the water syde, the whiche place Toppis hath to
-sell. Pyte alyster [_a dyer_] bowgth itt of Toppis and now, for defawt
-of payment, Toppis hath enterid ayen therinne, and shall selle itt in
-hast, as it is told me. The seyd lyster dwellyth therinne at this tym,
-but he shall owte, for he is hald rygth apore man. I suppose if ye lyke
-to bye itt when ye com hom, ye shall mowe have itt of Toppis als
-godechepe or better than another shuld. Als for tydyngs, we have none
-gode in this contre; I pray God send us gode. Itt was told me that
-Rychard Sowthwell hath enterid in the maner of Hale,[248.1] the whiche
-is the Lady Boysys,[248.2] and kepyth itt with strength with seche
-another felashep as hath be att Brayston, and wastyth and dispoylyth all
-that theris; and the Lady Boys, as it is told me, is to London to
-compleyn to the Kyng and to the Lordys ther of. Itt semyth it was not
-for nowgth that he held with Charlys and his felashep. I prey yow that
-ye wol vowchesawf to speke to Jamys Gloys to bye the Ungwentum Album
-that I spake to hym for; and that ye woll remembr your fayr dowgteris
-gyrdyl. I hope ye shull be at hom so sone that I woll do wryte nomor
-tydyngs to yow. The blyssid Trinyte have yow in his keping, and send yow
-gode spede in all that ye woll spede well inne. Wretyn at Norwyche on
-the Asencion day.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 247.2: [From Fenn, iii. 424.] Reference is made in
-    this letter to the forcible entry of Daniel into Brayston in
-    1450, and, from the terms of the allusion, that event must have
-    been pretty recent. The date of this letter, however, cannot be
-    earlier than 1451, as Lady Boys must have been a widow at the
-    time, and she only became so in December 1450. --_See_ Letter
-    162, p. 198.]
-
-    [Footnote 248.1: Holm Hale.]
-
-    [Footnote 248.2: Sibilla, daughter and heir of Sir Robert Ylley,
-    and widow of Sir Roger Boys, Knight. She was alive after
-    1450.--F.]
-
-
-198
-
-JAMES GRESHAM TO [JOHN PASTON][248.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / June?]
-
-Please it your maistership to wete that, as touchyng Blake of the
-Kyngges hous, I spak with hym, and he told me that if the Lord Moleyns
-wold take suyche appoyntement as ye agreed to, that he shuld lete me
-wete therof on Satirday after noon, as I tolde yow whanne ye dyd on your
-botes, &c. And sith that tyme I herd no word of hym. Item, there is
-laboured a _supersedeas_ for alle them that th'exigend[248.4] is ageyn,
-that arn convycted by record of my Lord of Oxenford, except ij. men
-which the Lord M. gyveth no fors of. Item, I send yow Treshams letter
-and a copie of the same. Item, I send yow the _cerciorari_ for my
-maistresse your modir. Item, I send yow the _scire facias_ for Osbern
-and Foke _versus_ Heydon and Wyndam. Item, I send yow a _distringas_
-ageynst Tudenham, &c. Item, I beseche yow if it may be in cas my Lord of
-Oxenford have not Holt hundred, that ye wole take it to suyche on as yow
-seme best, for it is told me that Pertriche laboureth therfore. And that
-is by the setting on of Heydon, &c. As touchyng the _capias_ ageynst
-Pertrich, and the _pros._ a geynst Costard, &c., it wole not be hadde,
-&c.
-
-    [Footnote 248.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is
-    anonymous, but it is in James Gresham's handwriting. In Letter
-    190 we have Lord Molyns offering to treat with Paston for the
-    injury done to his property at Gresham. Apparently Paston has
-    now mentioned what terms he would accept. From what is said of
-    the _supersedeas_, it would seem that this letter was written
-    not long before the next, which is dated on Trinity Sunday.]
-
-    [Footnote 248.4: A writ of _exigent_ lies where the defendant in
-    a personal action cannot be found, or anything of his to
-    distrain. The sheriff is therein directed to proclaim him on
-    five county court days, requiring him to appear on pain of
-    outlawry.]
-
-
-199
-
-JOHN BERNEY TO JOHN PASTON[249.1]
-
-_To the Ryght worshpful John Paston, Esquyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JUNE 20]
-
-Ryght worshipfull, &c. Please zou to comfort and help my pouer tenaunt,
-Symond Sparre, whech ys a restyd by warant, at the sute of the Lord
-Scalys, for Sir T. Tudynham shepp. And, Sir, uppon Fryday last passyd,
-Blake, the Kynges secratory, tolde me that there was delyvered a
-_supersedyas_ for all men in that sute. But, Sir, as my verry trust is
-in zou for this, lat it be easyd, as I may doo for zou, &c.; for, Sir,
-I may not attent, by cause I am ocupyed with my suster, for hir husbond,
-Sir Rychard Veuuter,[249.2] dessessyd upoon Fryday last, &c. Wretyn in
-gret hast upon Trenyte Sunday.
-
-  Be zoure pouer cosyn,
-
-  JOHN BERNEYE.
-
-    [Footnote 249.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] For the date of this
-    letter see Note 3 on last page. Trinity Sunday fell on the 20th
-    of June in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 249.2: Blomefield mentions a Sir Richard Veutre, who
-    presented to the living of Cockthorp in 1450.--_Hist. Norf._ ix.
-    218.]
-
-
-200
-
-NOTE
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JUNE 28]
-
-A letter of Sir John Fastolf to Sir Thomas Howes, dated 28th June 1451,
-29 Henry VI., is mentioned by Fenn in vol. iii., p. 133, in a footnote,
-and the following sentence extracted:-- 'The untrouthe of the Pryour of
-Hykelyng draweth away my devotion in such causes.' The original of this
-letter I have not met with.
-
-
-201
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[250.1]
-
-_To my rygth worshypfull hosbond Jon Paston, be this delyverd in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / JULY 1]
-
-Rygth worchypfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desyryng hertyly to
-her of yowr wellfar, preying yow to wete that I have spoke with my Lady
-Felbrygg[250.2] of that ye bad me speke to her of, and she seyd pleynly
-to me that she wold not, ne nevyr was avysyd, neyther to lete the Lord
-Moleyns ne non other to have ther intents as for that mater, whyll yet
-she levyth. And she was rygth evyll payd with Sawtr that he shuld
-reporte as itt was told yow that he shuld have reportyd; and she made
-rygth moche of yow, and seyd that she wold nowgth that no servaunte of
-herys shuld reporte no thyng that shuld be ayens yow other wyse than she
-wolld that your servawnts shud do or seyn ayens her; and if other your
-servawnts dede ayens her, or any of her ayens yow, she wold that itt
-shuld be reformyd be twyx yow and her, and that ye mygth ben all on;
-for she seyd in good feyth she desyryth your frendshep; and as for the
-report of Sawtr, she seyd she supposyd that he wold nowgth reporte so;
-and if she mygth know that he dede, she wold blame hym therfor. I told
-her that itt was told me syth that ye reden [? yeden, i.e. went], and
-that itt grevyd me mor that the seyd Sawtr shuld reporte as he dede than
-itt had be reportyd of another, in als moche as I had awgth hym goodwyll
-befor; and she prayid me that I shud not beleve seche reports tyll I
-knewe the trowth.
-
-I was att Toppys at dyner on Seynt Petyrs day; ther my Lady Felbrygg and
-other jantyll women desyryd to have hadde yow ther. They seyd they shuld
-all abe [_have been_] the meryer if ye hadde ben ther. My cosyn Toppys
-hath moche car tyll she her goode tydyngs of her brotheris mater. Sche
-told me that they shuld kepte a day on Monday next komyng be twyx her
-brother and Ser Andrew Hugard and Wyndham. I pray yow send me word how
-they spede, and how ye spede in yowr owyn materys also. Also I pray yow
-hertyly that ye woll send me a potte with treacle in hast; for I have
-ben rygth evyll att ese, and your dowghter bothe, syth that ye yeden
-hens, and on of the tallest younge men of this parysch lyth syke and
-hath a grete myrr'. How he shall do God knowyth. I have sent myn unkyll
-Berney[251.1] the potte with treacle that ye dede bey for hym. Myn awnte
-recommawndeth her to yow, and prayith yow to do for her as the byll
-maketh mencion of that I send you with this letter, and as ye thenk best
-for to do therinne.
-
-Ser Henry Inglose is passyd to God this nygth, hoys sowle God asoyll,
-and was caryid forthe this day at ix. of the clok to Seynt Feythis, and
-ther shall be beryid. If ye desyer to bey any of hys stuff, I pray you
-send me word therof in hast, and I shall speke to Robert Inglose and to
-Wychyngham therof; I suppose thei ben executors. The blyssyd Trinyte
-have you in his kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche in hast on the Thursday next
-after Seynt Peter.[251.2]
-
-I pray yow trost nott to the sheryve[251.3] for no fayr langage.
-
-  Yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 250.1: [From Fenn, iii. 124.] The mention made of the
-    death of Sir Harry Inglos at the end of this letter proves it to
-    have been written in the year 1451. According to the inquisition
-    _post mortem_ 29 Hen. VI., No. 9, he died on the 1st July 1451,
-    which corresponds exactly with 'the Thursday next after St.
-    Peter,' the day this letter was written.]
-
-    [Footnote 250.2: _See_ p. 224, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 251.1: Philip Berney.]
-
-    [Footnote 251.2: St. Peter's day was the 29th June.]
-
-    [Footnote 251.3: John Jermyn was sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk
-    this year.]
-
-
-202
-
-ABSTRACT[252.1]
-
-SIR J. FASTOLF to SIR THOMAS HOWYS, Parson of Castlecombe.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451(?) / JULY 20]
-
-Has received his letter by Herry Hansson. Does not think he authorised
-Howys to have Andrews and his other adversaries noted and corrected at
-_oyer and determyner_; but if there was any letter to that effect, F.
-will bear him out. Thinks even if there was any letter to that effect
-sent by negligence, Howys should have taken counsel, and he would not
-have been sued for conspiracy. If Andrews and the others had been sued
-in Suffolk instead of Norfolk, they could have had no grounds of action.
-
-  London, 20 July.
-
-  [John Andrews was one of Heydon's adherents who gave trouble to
-  Fastolf and his friends on more than one occasion; but this letter
-  seems to have reference to the proceedings taken against several of
-  that faction in 1451.]
-
-    [Footnote 252.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 258.]]
-
-
-203
-
-ABSTRACT[252.2]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN BERNEY, SIR THOS. HOWYS, AND WALTER SHIPDAM.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / SEPT.]
-
-Begs them to hasten Rob. Boothe to London. Hears that the _oyer and
-termyner_ is to be at Norwich on Thursday[252.3] after Holyrood day,
-and that Will. Yelverton, justice, is to be there. Ascertain, therefore,
-how the substantial men of Norwich are inclined in my matter against
-Appulzerd, and take Paston's advice in proceeding. Is advised to send
-John Bokkyng or Will. Barker to them before the time. Bids them send an
-indenture of Cornelys Floryson about wheat and malt. Has arrested the
-ship. As to the matter against Applierd, if Todenham, Heydon, Wymondham,
-&c., or any of them, will labour for their acquittal against me in the
-Lady Bardolf's matter, you must oppose it. Trusts the present mayor and
-his predecessor know what he has done for the town, and Will. Jenney and
-his brother can testify to Applierd's demeanour. You must get a copy of
-the indictment, lest he deny the presentment. Sends a lease of Lady
-Sterburgh's part and Bardolf's, made by Wichingham and Blake, and a
-confirmation of Sir Reynold Cobham,[253.1] and the said Lady Sterburgh
-his wife, &c. Commend me to my Lord of Ely[253.2] and my Lord of Oxford
-if they be there, and my coz. Yelverton, and ask my Lord of Norwich for
-tidings of Hikelyng. 'Item, blessed be God of his visitation! I have
-been sore sick and am well amended, and trust to our Lord to see you
-hastily and other of my friends.'
-
-  (_Signature not F.'s own._)
-
-    [Footnote 252.2: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 233.] From the
-    reference to the date of the _oyer and termyner_ mentioned in
-    this letter, it is clear that it was written in the same year as
-    the letter following, and probably a few days earlier.]
-
-    [Footnote 252.3: September 16th, Holy Rood day being the 14th.]
-
-    [Footnote 253.1: Sir Reginald Cobham of Sterborough in Surrey,
-    father of the notorious Eleanor Cobham.]
-
-    [Footnote 253.2: Thomas Bourchier, afterwards Archbishop of
-    Canterbury.]
-
-
-204
-
-ABSTRACT[253.3]
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO JOHN A BERNEY, JOHN PASTON, AND SIR THOMAS HOWYS.
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / SEPT. 14]
-
-As the _oyer and termyner_ is to be at Norwich on Thursday next,[253.4]
-sends John Bokkyng to wait upon his counsel there to see to his matter
-against Appulzerd. They are to spare no cost to bring it to a good end,
-especially the bill of maintenance against Appulzerd, who was the
-greatest cause that the inquest passed against F. so untruly.
-
-  (_Signature not F.'s own._)
-
-  London, 14 Sept. 30 Hen. VI.
-
-    [Footnote 253.3: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 251.]]
-
-    [Footnote 253.4: 16th September.]
-
-
-205
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO SIR THOMAS HOWES[253.5]
-
-_To my trusty frendys, Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castellcombe, beyng
-at Castre._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / SEPT. 23]
-
-Ryght trusty frendys, I grete you well. Item where as the Bysshop of
-Norwych[253.6] makyth but delayes in my resonable desyre for an eende to
-be had in the xxv. marc of Hykelyng, y am uppon a appoyntement and throw
-wyth the heyr of Clyfford, that he shall entree in the hole maner that
-ys chargeable wyth my xxv. marc rent, which the Pryour and Convent have
-forfeted the seid hole manor to the heyers undre her Convent seele of
-record, because of myne nonne payment of xxv. marc; and so then the
-Pryour shall lese for ever iiij^xx [_four score_] marc of rent, and that
-wythout onye concience, for they have be fals both to the Clyffordys and
-to me thys vij. yeere day. And y trust to God to correct hem so by
-spirituell law and temporell law, that all othyr Relygyoux shall take an
-example to breke the covenant or wille of anye benefactor that avauncyth
-hem wyth londs, rents, or gode; and my confessours have exorted me
-gretely ther too. And Almyghty God kepe you. Wryt at London, the xxiij.
-day of September anno xxx(o) R. H. VI.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, Kt.
-
-There is one Walsam wold desyre acquitaunce of pardon for the wydow of
-Hygham, I hafe no cause, for hyr husband left hyr whereoff to pay hyr
-debts suffisaunt, and for me he ferre the better. The wydow noysyth you,
-Sir Thomas, that ye sold a wey salt but for xx_s._ that she might hafe
-had xl_s._ for every wey, I pray you aunswer that for your acquytaille.
-
-Item, sende me the value of Goold ys tenement in Drayton, wyth xx. acres
-lond therto, what it was worth yeerly when it stode hoole; for Sellyng
-seith it was worth but j. noble by yeer.
-
-    [Footnote 253.5: [From Fenn, iii. 132.]]
-
-    [Footnote 253.6: Walter Lyhart or Hart.]
-
-
-206
-
-RICHARD SOUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON[254.1]
-
-_To my mastir, John Paston, Esquier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 / DEC. 18]
-
-Right worshippful sir, I recomaunde me unto you. And please it you to
-witte of oure newe tydinges here; as this day com writing both to my
-Lorde[254.2] and to my Lady from London, that there be certein lettres
-directed to my Lorde from my Lady his moder,[255.1] and diverse other
-Lordes for to have Danyell[255.2] in his favour a geyne, and as it is
-supposed by the meanes of the Duc of Somersette,[255.3] for he hath ben
-right conversaunte with hym all this quarter of this yere. And also thei
-that sente this writing sayn playnly that the Lorde Skales is gode lorde
-to hym, and that he hath promysed hym to make Sir Thomas Tudenham,
-Heydon, and hym accorded, and other men in the cuntre, and that he shall
-be suffred to entre in to Brayston, and kepe it to th'entente that the
-cuntre shall thinke, and my Lord also, that he hathe grete favour amonge
-the Lordes of the Counsell, and cause men to fere hym the more. Whethir
-it be thus or non I can not say; never the lesse me thinketh ye shall
-sone knowe if Mounford will agree that he shall entre in to Brayston,
-and if that be trewe, all the remenant shall seme the more likly.
-
-I pray you brenne this letter when ye have redde it. My Lorde and my
-Lady sayn ye shall be right welcome and ye will se theym this
-Crisemasse. I reporte me to your wisdom, and God have you in his keping.
-Writon at Framlyngham, the xviij. day of Decembre.
-
-  RIC. SOUTHWELL.
-
-    [Footnote 254.1: [From Fenn, iii. 366.] This letter must have
-    been written in 1451. It appears from No. 119 that Daniel
-    entered the manor of Brayston or Braydeston during the sitting
-    of the Parliament at Leicester in the spring of 1450. He was
-    dispossessed by Mundford and Heydon on the 7th September
-    following, but he entered the place a second time in the 30th
-    year of Henry VI., _i.e._ some time between the 1st September
-    1451 and the 31st August 1452. In this letter it is anticipated
-    that he will be enabled to enter the place by his influence with
-    Lord Scales and the Duke of Somerset. This cannot refer to his
-    first entry, as Somerset was in France for a long time before.]
-
-    [Footnote 254.2: John Mobray, Duke of Norfolk, married Ellenor,
-    daughter of William Bourchier, Earl of Ewe, in Normandy.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 255.1: Catharine, daughter of Ralph, Earl of
-    Westmoreland, and widow of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 255.2: Thomas Daniel, Esq., was Constable of Rising
-    Castle, and married Margaret, sister of John Howard, afterwards
-    Duke of Norfolk.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 255.3: Edmund Beaufort.]
-
-
-207
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[255.4]
-
-_To John Paston dwyllyng in the Tempyll at London be this letter
-delyverid in haste._
-
-[Sidenote: 1451 or later / NOV.]
-
-I gret zou well, and lete zou wete that Warne Harman on the Sonday after
-Hallumesday after ensong seyd oponly in the cherch zerde that he wyst
-wyll that and the Wall were puddoun, thou he were an hundryd myle fro
-Paston he wyste well that I wolde sey he ded yt and he xuld bere the
-blame, seying Telle yte here ho so wyll, thou it xuld coste me xx.
-nobyllys it xall be puddoun azen. And the seyd Warnys wyfe with a lowd
-vosse seyd All the deuyllys of hell drawe her sowle to hell for the weye
-that she hat mad. And at euyn a sertyn man suppyd with me and tolde me
-that the patent[256.1] grantyt to closse but a perch on bred, and that I
-had clossyd more than the grant of the patent is as men seyd. And John
-Marchall tolde me that there was a thryfty woman come forby the
-watteryng and fond the weye stoppyde and askyd hym ho had stoppyd the
-weye, and he seyd, they that had pore to zeue it, and askyd here Wat was
-freer than zyfte, and he seyd she sey the day that Paston men wold not
-asofferyd that. And God be with zou. Wretyn at Paston on Monday after
-Hallumys day.
-
-  Be zour modyr,
-
-  ANNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 255.4: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 76.] This letter is
-    evidently of the same year as Nos. 194 and 196, which must be
-    1451 at the earliest.]
-
-    [Footnote 256.1: The patent granted to her husband in 1443
-    (21 Hen. VI.). _See_ Introduction.]
-
-  [[_See_ Introduction.  _printed in Roman (non-Italic) type_]]
-
-
-208
-
-OSBERT MUNDFORD TO JOHN PASTON[256.2]
-
-_To Right Worshipful sir and my gode maister Johan Paston, escuier, &c._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / FEB. 9]
-
-Right worshipful Sir, and my Right gode Maister, I Recommaunde to yow
-with al myne hert. Plese yow that I have understanden that Daniel hath
-entred in to Brayston, and put owte my servantes and dispoiled my godes,
-notwithstandinge I am here in the Kinges service and under his
-proteccion, which was shewed him; for the whiche owtrage I write to the
-King at this tyme and to other my gode lordes, for to be kepte in my
-pocession, and to be restored again to my godes. And if so be that I may
-not have my pocession ayene and be restored to my godes as I desire,
-I wol take an accion be your avis of forsable entre in my name and my
-wifes for owre title, &c., and an accion of trespasse for dispoiling of
-my godes ayenst him and al tho that were helpinge or consenting therto,
-&c., and assisse of a novel Disseson in my sonnes name, Johan of Berney,
-for to trye the title and ende debate with Goddes help and youres, &c.;
-for the whiche matere I write unto my fader, to myne Eme[257.1] Adam, to
-my Cosyn Fyncheham, to Edmond Piers, and to other divers of my frendes
-to be my helpers in thes mater in myne absence. For I may not come nor I
-wol not come, though I shulde lese al Brayston, and it were myne,
-considering that the enemyes drawen dailly hedirward, as it is openly
-said, &c. Wherfore I praye yow, as my ful trust is in yow, to tendre
-this matere in myne absence. And that it shal plese yow to recommaund me
-to my worshipful maistresse and gossip, your wif. And my maistresse
-recommaundes her vnto yow, and to her worshipful nece, and to al youres.
-Prayinge Almighty God to have yow in his kepinge and sende yow right
-gode lif and longe, after your awne hertes desire. And, Sir, if it plese
-yow to come to Calais with the king, ye shul have a stope of bere to
-comforte yow after your travaille of the see. And if ther be any service
-that ye wol commaund me to do for you here, ye shul fynde me your owne
-man. Written at Calais, the ix^e. day of Feveree, &c.--Your awne
-seruant,
-
-  OSBERNE MUNDEFORD.
-
-    [Footnote 256.2: [Add. 34,888, f. 79.] It appears by No. 119
-    that Daniel entered the manor of Braydeston, or Brayston, first
-    during the time of the Parliament at Leicester, 28 Hen. VI.
-    (_i.e._ May or June 1450), and a second time during the
-    thirtieth year of the King, _i.e._ 1451-2. As this letter is
-    dated February, 1452 must be the year.]
-
-    [Footnote 257.1: 'Eme,' _i.e._ uncle.]
-
-
-209
-
-JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON[258.1]
-
-_Unto myn right worshipfull sir, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL 1]
-
-Right worshipfull Sire and myn good maister, I recomaund me unto you,
-thankyng you of your gentilness chewed unto me; praying you of
-contenuance as myn full trust is. Furthermore, and it please you to be
-atte aleyser un Seynt Markis day next comyng and to be at Thetford, myn
-brodir Tyrell and I wole awayte uppon you ther for the matere ye woet
-of. And I praye you to hold me excused that I myght not kepe myn day in
-the Passion wike, for in good feight I was so occupied I myght not. And,
-Sire, yif this day may be hol . . I praye you sendith me woord that I
-myght send warnyng to the todir party. Also, Sire, I have warned your
-atteynt accordyng to your comawndment. Sir, the kyng hath sent unto me
-by Howard to be frendly to the lord Moleyns; not with stondyng myn
-service shall be redy at your comawndement in that matere er any othir
-by the grace of God, Who preserve you, body and sowle. Wreten at
-Melford, the furste day of Aprill.
-
-  Be youris,
-
-  J. CLOPTON.
-
-    [Footnote 258.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 60.] The date of this
-    letter must no doubt be referred to the year when the writer was
-    Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, which he was from November 1451
-    to 1452.]
-
-
-210
-
-PROCLAMATION BY THE DUKE OF NORFOLK[258.2]
-
-The Duc of Norffolk
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / [APRIL]]
-
-Be hit knowen to alle the Kyngs trewe liege peple, the cause of our
-comynge in to this contre ys, by the comandement of the Kynge our
-soverayn Lorde, for to enquer of suche gret riotts, extorcyons, oryble
-wrongis and hurts as his Highnesse ys credybyly enformyd ben don in this
-contre, and to know in serteyne, by yow that knowe the trowthe, by what
-persone or personys the seyde gret riotts, extorcions, oryble wrongis
-and hurts be done. Wherfor we charge yow alle, on the Kyngs behalve our
-soverayne Lorde, that ze spar neyther for love, drede, ne fer that ze
-have to any persone of what estat, degre, or condicion he be, but that
-ze sey the soth by whome suche offences be done, and that ze spar no man
-that ze knowe gilty; and be the feyth that we owe to our soverayn Lorde,
-they schal be chastysid after ther desert, and hit reformyd as lawe
-requyrith.
-
-Also hit ys opunly puplysschid that serteyne servaunts of the Lord
-Scales schulde in his name manasse and put men in feer and drede to
-compleyne to us at this tyme of the seide hurts and greves, seynge that
-we wolde abyde but a schort tyme her, and aftir our departynge he wolde
-have the rewle and governaunce as he hath had affore tyme. We lete yow
-wete that nexst the Kynge our soverayn Lord, be his good grace and
-lycence, we woll have the princypall rewle and governance throwh all
-this schir, of whishe we ber our name whyls that we be lyvynge, as ferre
-as reson and lawe requyrith, hoso ever will grutche or sey the
-[contrary[259.1]]; for we woll that the Lord Scales, Sir Thomas
-Tudenham, Sir Mylis Stapylton, and John Heydon have in knowleche, thowh
-our persone be not dayly her, they schal fynde our power her at all
-tymes to do the Kynge our soverayn Lord servyse, and to support and
-mayntene yow alle in your right that ben the Kyngs trewe lige men. For
-hit may non ben seyde nay, but that her hath ben the grettest riotts,
-orryble wrongs and offences done in thise partyes by the seide Lord
-Scales, Thomas Tudenham, Mylis Stapilton, John Heydon, and suche as ben
-confedred on to theym that evir was seen in our dayes; and most
-myschiffe throwh ther maliciouse purpose lyke to have fallyn amonge the
-Kyngs trewe liege peple now late at Norwiche, ne had we better providid
-therfor. And also that God fortunyd us to withstande ther seyde
-malicious and evill disposid purpose.
-
-Wherfor makith billiz of your grevance, and come to us, and we schal
-brynge yow to the Kynges presence our selfe, whos presence wyll be her
-in all the hast with the mercy of God, and see the reformacion ther of
-his owyn persone.
-
-    [Footnote 258.2: [From Fenn, iii. 248.] The intended royal visit
-    to Norfolk mentioned in the end of this proclamation appears to
-    tally best with the date of April 1452, when, it will also be
-    seen from the letters following, the Duke of Norfolk was at
-    Framlingham, hearing complaints from the gentlemen of Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 259.1: Indicated by Fenn as illegible in MS.]
-
-  [[by whome suche offences de done  _text has "be done"_]]
-
-
-211
-
-SOME GENTLEMEN OF NORFOLK TO [THE SHERIFF?][260.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL 23]
-
-Right wurchipfull, we commawnd us to yow. Please it yow to wete that we
-and other jentilmen of the shyer of Norffolk hath be in purpose assewyd
-[_have sued_] to the hygh and myghty Prynce and owr ryght gode Lord the
-Duke of Norffolk to Framlyngham, to have enformyd his Highnesse of
-dyvers assaughtes and ryottes made be Charles Nowell and other ageyn the
-Kyngs lawe and peas, withowte any cause or occacion, up on John Paston
-and other of owre kynne, frendes and neyghborys, ne had be that dayly
-this x. days it hath be do us to wete that his Highnesse shuld come in
-to Norwych or Claxton, we not beyng in certeyn yet whedyr he shall
-remeve; praying yow as we trust, that ye woll tender the welfare of this
-shyer and of the jentylmen ther in, that ye woll lete owr seyd Lord have
-knowyng of owr entente in this, and after to send us answher wheder it
-please his Highnesse we shuld come to his presens, and in what place, or
-to send owr compleynt to hym if mor informacion be thowch behoffull,
-trostyng to his gode Lordshep of remedy in this mater; whiche do [i.e.
-_done_], semyth us, shall be owr seyd Lordys honur and gret rejoyng to
-all the jentylmen of the shyer, and cause the peas to be kept her after
-be the grace of God, how have yow in hys blyssed kepyng. Wretyn at
-Norwyche, on Seynt Georgys day.
-
-  SIR JOHN HEVENYNGHAM.   JOHN FERRERS.   THO. GURNAY.
-
-  JOHN GROOS.   W. ROKEWODE.   JOHN BAKON, Senior.   JOHN BAKON,
-  Junior.[261.1]
-
-  J. PAGRAVE.   ROBT. MORTIMER.   NICHOLAUS APPILYARD.
-
-    [Footnote 260.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There are two copies
-    of this paper, besides a draft written on the back of that which
-    follows. The date both of this and of the two following letters
-    will be seen by comparing them with No. 217 following.]
-
-    [Footnote 261.1: The names subscribed thus far are in the same
-    handwriting as the document. Those below may perhaps be
-    autograph signatures, although the names of Pagrave and Mortimer
-    are in a hand much like that of John Paston.]
-
-
-212
-
-JOHN PASTON TO [THE SHERIFF OF NORFOLK?][261.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL 23]
-
-Reverent and ryth wurshepfull sir, and my god maister, I recommaund me
-to yow. Plese yow to wete that Charles Nowell with odir hath in this
-cuntre mad many riot and sautes; and, among othir, he and v. of his
-felachip set upon me and mo (?) of my servants at the Chathedrall chirch
-of Norwich, he smyting at me, whilis on of his felawis held myn armes at
-my bak, as the berer herof shall mor playnly inform yow. Whech was to me
-strawnge cas, thinking in my conseyth that I was my Lords man and his
-homagier, or Charlis knew hys Lordschipe, that my Lord was my god Lord,
-and that I had be with my Lord at London within viij. [days?][261.3] bey
-for Lent, at which tyme he grantyd my his god lordship, so lagerly
-[_largely_] that it must cause me ever to be his trew servant to myn
-pow[er]. I thowt also that I had never geff cawse to non of my Lords
-hous to ow me evill will, ne that ther was non of the hows but I wold
-have do fore as I cow (_sic_) desir anioone (?) to do for me, and yet
-will except my adversare; and thus I and my frendes haff miusid of this
-and thowt he was hard to do thus. And this notwithstanding, assone as
-knolech was had of my Lords coming to Framlingham, I never attemptid to
-precede ageyns hym as justis and law wuld, but to trust to my seyd Lord
-that his Hyghnes wold se this punischichid (_sic_), and desirid my
-master (?) H. . . . . . mi cosin (?) Tymperle, the dene and odir to
-(?)[262.1] and dayly hath be redy with such jentilmen as dwelle here
-abought that can record the trought to have come (_sic_) compleyn to my
-Lord; but we have had contynually tydynges of my Lordes comyng heder
-that causid us for to abide ther up un, besechyng your gode maystershep
-that ye wull lete my Lord have knowlech of my compleynt. And that ye
-wull tender the gode spede of the entente of the letteris wretyn to you
-fro jentilmen of this shire. Prayng yow that ye woll yeve credens to the
-berer herof, and be his gode mayster in cas any man make any qwarell to
-hym. And what that I may do be your comaundment shall be redi with the
-grace of God, how have in his blissid kepyng. Wretyn at Norwhich, un
-Seynt Georges day.
-
-    [Footnote 261.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is printed from
-    a rough draft in John Paston's handwriting, on the back of which
-    is a draft of the preceding letter. The date of both letters is
-    the same. The reading of particular words in this draft is very
-    uncertain, owing to the cramped handwriting used in corrections
-    and interlineations, and the manner in which several of the
-    words are abbreviated.]
-
-    [Footnote 261.3: Word omitted.]
-
-    [Footnote 262.1: The preceding words from 'and desirid' are a
-    peculiarly illegible interlineation, and do not appear to form a
-    consecutive sense along with the passage following. Perhaps the
-    words 'and daily hath' should have been erased, which would make
-    the connection intelligible.]
-
-
-213
-
-JOHN PASTON TO ----[262.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / APRIL]
-
-Ryth worchepfull sir and cosyn, I recommaund me to yow, [and] pray yow
-that ye will in mi behalf inform my Lord of the domag of Charlis Nowell
-to meward, withow occacion gef on min part, as the berer herof knoweth
-(?).[262.3] I am and was my Lords man and homagier, or the seyd Charlis
-knew my Lord, and will do my Lord sech servis as I can, and that ye will
-tendre the god sped of the mater of the letter direct to you from
-serteyn jentilmen of thes shir, with whech jentilmen or odir to bere
-recor of this thowt, I have bene dayly toward my Lord to compleyne to
-his Lorship, but the continuall tydings of my seyd Lords coming heder
-hath cawsid us to awayt ther opon. Beseching yow, cosine, as my trust is
-in yow, that ye will help to kepe the god rewll of thes shir, and my por
-honeste, and geff credens to the berer herof, and be his god master if
-any querel be mad to him. And what I may do for you, I am and ever shall
-be redi to do it be the grace of God, hoo ----
-
-    [Footnote 262.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter, like the
-    preceding, is from a rough draft in Paston's handwriting. It is
-    clearly of the same date as the two last, or perhaps a day or
-    two later. There is nothing to show with certainty who was the
-    person addressed; but we should think it was probably Sir John
-    Fastolf.]
-
-    [Footnote 262.3: The reading is very uncertain, being partly
-    interlined in a very cramped hand, partly corrected in the
-    text.]
-
-
-214
-
-THE SHERIFF OF NORFOLK TO THE KING AND COUNCIL[263.1]
-
-_To the Kyng and the Lordes of his Councell._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / [APRIL 30]]
-
-I John Clopton, Shereffe of Norffolk, certifie that wher oon John
-Falyate and othre were take within the hundred of Blofeld in the seid
-shire, and led to the castell of Framlyngham in the counte of Suffolk,
-I, the forseid Shereffe, be the comaundement of my Lord of Norffolk,
-the last day of Aprill receyved at the seid castell a bille of divers
-knowlech and confessyons which were enformyd me shuld have be mad in the
-presens of my seid Lords Councell be Roger Chirch and othre, which the
-seid John Falyate, as it was enformed me, shuld have confessid to have
-be trewe. After which bille receyved and be me red and understand,
-callyng befor me the seid John Falyate and alle othre that where
-examyned, except the seyd Roger Chirch, in the presens of divers of my
-Lords Councell there, I red to the seid John Falyate the tale comprised
-in the seid bille seid be the seid Roger Chirch, demawndyng hym of the
-trought her of; wherto he answered, and seid that he wust wele ther was
-no wey with hym but deth, and therfore, as he wuld answer afore God, he
-wuld sey the trought, and seid that the substaunce of the tale told be
-the seid Roger Chirch was untrewe, and feyned and imagyned be the same
-Chirch, and that he never had knowleched that the tale to be trewe.
-Neverthelesse he seid that he was with a felesshep gadered undre
-Possewykwode be the prokeryng of the seid Chirch, which feleshep, whan
-thei were all togeder, passid not the nombre of xv. persones. And that
-the seid Chirch wast the furst that ever mevid hym for to come theder,
-seying that he shuld have feleshep i nowe and do goode, for he was
-balyffe of the hundred, and be colour of his office he shuld send in men
-i now, and that he knew a gode name for her capteyn, that shuld be John
-Amend Alle. More over I the seid Shereffe asked the seid Falyate if thei
-whan thei wer to geder spoke of Paston and othre gentilmen named in the
-seid bille to have assisted hem; and he seid pleynly nay, but that thei
-and othre thryfty men were noysid be the seid Chirch and be his
-councellores sith the tyme of the gaderyng of the seid feleshep, and
-never was spokyn of ther. In like wyse seid othre that were examyned in
-the seid bille.
-
-    [Footnote 263.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] John Clopton was
-    Sheriff of Norfolk from Michaelmas 1451 to Michaelmas 1452.]
-
-
-215
-
-JOHN OSBERN TO JOHN PASTON[264.1]
-
-_To my right reverent and worchepful maister John Paston in the Iner In
-of the Temple be this delyverid in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / MAY 14]
-
-Please it your maisterchep to weete that John Reyner and Nicholas
-Strecok of Sparham have gete a respyte of Nicholas Byschop for the
-distresse that the seid Byschop had take, as ye knowe wele, tyl seche
-tyme as ye may speke wyth Symond Blake for the trought of the mater; not
-wythstandyng this respite myght never be gete tyll that Byschop had a
-reward of mony; it is told me he toke viij_d._ for hese reward. The
-dryvers ought of the catell fro Sparham ground to Lyng grownd were Hugo
-Sadde of Baldeswell, Byschoppis man, Nicholas Gatesend, Roberd Joye,
-Jacobis Baxter of Lyng. James Gloys hath a bill of the tyme and day.
-I pray your maisterchep to know that on Fryday in the afftyr none I spak
-with my lord of Norwiche in hese chamber more than the space of j. owre
-and ther I dede to hym myn erand that ye commaunded me for to a do to
-chalanches, and when my lord woost that ye were to London he was right
-sory that he had not a spoke wyth yow or that ye reden; he told me that
-he had iij. letters fro my lord of Norffolk the day before. Alle I wet
-wel were they not for yowre mater of Charlys Nowell. Aftyer that he had
-told me of these letteris he askid me how ye dede. I sayde wel, for I
-trostid to my lord of Norffolkis lordchep and ritewesnesse that he wold
-see that Charles shuld be sharply correctyd for hese trespasse and
-mysrewle, or ellis the jentelmen of the shire must to giddyer purvey
-anodyer meane; and he seid it wold never odyerwyse be, but if he had
-spoke wyth yow or ye redyn to London he hopid be your avys he shuld a
-perveyd a meane to a set that in correccion, and also the trobyl for the
-maner of Brayston, for that was cause of all. For he seide he had spoke
-wyth my lord Skales and he is wel disposid to yow and vn the best wyse
-and wel do . . . yow that he can, so that he wold forsake Danyell. This
-was seyde in a diswere, savyng he told me he must . . . . pleayne he
-told me many more thyngges and tales I pray you of your maistechep
-(_sic_) hold me excusid that I wryte hem [not], but they were not alle
-of gret substans, &c. I had gret cher, he comaunded me to be had into
-the seler, and for to drynk wyne and ale bothe; and so I had and goode
-chere. My mastras recomendith her to yow and pray yow that ye wol do the
-cost vn my mastras Margery for to do make her a new gyrdyl a yens
-Witsontyde, for she shal never have, my mastras seith, till she hath
-nede; and my mastras prayith yow to send her tydyngges, as hastely as ye
-may, how ye do in your maters. The Holy Trenyte have yow in hese kepyng.
-Wrete at Norwiche the xiiij. day of Maii.
-
-  Be your seruaunt,
-
-  JOHN OSBERN.
-
-    [Footnote 264.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 83.] The reference to the
-    outrages of Charles Nowell, the bailiff of Bradeston, and the
-    trouble about that manor, show that this letter must be of the
-    year 1452.]
-
-
-216
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[266.1]
-
-_To my rygth wirchipfel hosbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / JULY 4]
-
-Ryth worshipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, desyryng hertyly to
-her of your welfar, praying yow that ye woll send me word in hast how ye
-be agreid with Wychyngham and Inglose[266.2] for that mater that ye
-spake to me of at your departyng; for if I shuld purvey other wood or
-hey, it shuld be bowgth best chepe be twixt this and Seynt Margretys
-messe,[266.3] as itt is told me. As for Applyard, he com not yett to
-this town syn he com from London. I have sent to Sir Bryse to lete me
-have knowleche when he comyth to town, and he hath promysid that I shall
-have knowleche, and when he comyth I shall do your commawndement. My
-moder bad me send yow word that Waron Herman hath dayly fyshid hyre
-water all this yer, and therfor she prayith yow to do therfor while ye
-be att London as ye thynk best.
-
-Chyrche[266.4] of Byrlyngham was toke and browte to the castell
-yisterday be the Beshopys men, and all his godys ben seysid for that he
-owyth to the Boshop. And the seid Chirche seyth as for that he hath seyd
-of hem that he hath appelyd befor this tyme, he woll awow itt and abyd
-therby; and seyth that he woll appele one that hath mor nobelys than
-they have all that he hath spoke of yett, and that shall avayll the King
-more than they have all that he hath speke of yett; but what he is, he
-woll not name tyll he know mor. I trow but if that be the grett labour
-made ayens hym, he is lyke to have grett favour of hem that have be his
-supportors. Men thenk that have spoke with hym that he hopeth to have
-good helpe. I pray God that the trewth mote be knowyn.
-
-I pray yow that ye woll vouchesaff to send me an other sugor loff, for
-my old is do; and also that ye well do make a gyrdill for your dowgter,
-for she hath nede therof. The blyssid Trinyte have yow in his kepyng.
-Wretyn at Norwyche in hast, on the Tewysday next befor Seynt Thomas
-day.[267.1]
-
-Paper is deynty.[267.2]
-
-  Yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 266.1: [From Fenn, iv. 14.] What is said in this
-    letter about Church of Burlingham clearly shows that it belongs
-    to the same year as the last and the letters following.]
-
-    [Footnote 266.2: _See_ p. 251.]
-
-    [Footnote 266.3: 20th July.]
-
-    [Footnote 266.4: Roger Church. --_See_ p. 263.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.1: Translation of St. Thomas, Apostle, 7th July.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.2: Fenn says that the letter is written upon a
-    piece of paper nearly square, out of which a quarter had been
-    cut before the letter was written.]
-
-
-217
-
-INFORMATION OF OUTRAGES[267.3]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452]
-
-Charlys Nowel, Otywell Nowell, Robert Ledeham, John the sone of Hogge
-Ratkleff, Robert Dallyng, Herry Bangge, Roger Cherche, Nicholas
-Goldsmyth, Robert Taylor, Christofer Grenescheve, ----[267.4] Dunmowe,
-Elis Dokworth, Christofer Bradle, Jon Cokkow, assemblyng and gadderyng
-to hem gret multitude of mysrewled people, kepe a frunture and a forslet
-at the hows of the seid Robert Ledeham, and issu ought at her pleser,
-sumtyme vj., sumtyme xij., sumtyme xxx^ti and mo, armed, jakked, and
-salattyd with bowis, arwys, speris, and bylles, and over ride the contre
-and oppresse the people, and do many orible and abhomynable dedis lyke
-to be distruccion of the shire of Norffolk, wythoute the Kyng owre
-Sovereyn Lord seth it redressid.
-
-Un Mydlent Soneday[267.5] certeyn of the seid felechep in the chirche of
-Byrlyngham made a fray upon tweyne of the servauntes of the reverent
-fadyr in Godde, Byschop of Norwiche,[267.6] the seid servaunts at that
-tyme knelyng to see the usyng of the Masse; and there and than the seid
-felechep wold have kelled the seid two servauntes at the prestis bakke,
-ne had they be lettyd, as it semed.
-
-[268.1][Item, un the Moneday[268.2] next before Esterne daye, sex of the
-seid persones made a saute upon John Paston and hese two servauntes at
-the dore of the cathedrall cherche of Norweche, wyth swerdes, bokeler,
-and dagareis drawe smet at the seid Paston, on of them holdyng the seid
-Paston be bothe armes at hese bakke, as it semyth purposyng there to
-have morderid the seid Paston and they had not a be lettyd; and also
-smet on of the servaunts of the seid Paston upon the naked hed wyth a
-swerd, and poluted the seyntewary.]
-
-Item, on the Monday[268.2] next before Esterne day, x. of the seid
-persones lay in awayte in the hey weye undyr Thorp Woode up on Phelep
-Berney, Esquier, and hese man, and shet at hem and smet her hors wyth
-arwes, and then over rede hym and brake a bowe on the said Phelippis hed
-and toke hym presoner, callyng hym traytor. And when they had kepte hym
-as long as thei lyst, thei led hym to the seyd Byshop of Norwiche and
-askid of hym swerte of the peas, and forwyth relessid her suerte and
-went her way.
-
-Item, iij. of the seid felechep lay unawayte upon Emond Brome,
-jentelman, and with nakid swerds fawte wyth hym be the space of a
-quarter of a owre and toke hym presoner; and when they had kepte hym as
-long as they lyst, lete hym goo.
-
-Item, xl^ti of the same felechep come rydyng to Norwiche jakked,
-and salettyd, with bowys and arwys, byllys, gleves, un Maundy
-Thursday,[268.3] and that day aftyr none, when service was doo, they,
-in lyke wyse arrayid, wold have brake up the Whyte Freris dores,
-where,[268.4] seying that they came to here evesong; howbeit that they
-made her avaunt in towne they shuld have sum men owt of town (?), qwhyke
-or deede; and there made a gret rumor, where the mayre and the aldermen,
-with gret multitude of peple, assembled, and therupon the seyd felischep
-departid.
-
-Item, dyvers tymes serteyn of the seid felechep have take fro John
-Wylton, wythoute any cause, hese net, hese shep, and odyr cattell, and
-summe there of have saltyd and eten, sume thereof have aloyned,[269.1]
-so that the seid Wylton wot not where for to seke hese bestes; and un
-the morwe[269.2] next aftyr Esterne day last past, they toke fro hym xj.
-bestis, and kepte hem two dayis wythowte any cause.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse they have do to John Coke and Kateryn Wylton.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse they have take the goodys and catelles of Thomas
-Baret and many odyr.
-
-Item, certeyn of the seid felechep late made a sawte upon John Wylton in
-Plumsted cherche yerd, and there beete hym so the [_that_] he was [in]
-dowth of his liff.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse upon John Coke of Wytton, brekyng up hese dores at
-xj. of the clok in the nyght, and with her swerdis maymed hym and gaf
-hym vij. grete woyndis. Item, smet the modyr of the seid Coke, a woman
-of iiij^xx [_four score_] yeres of age, upon the crowne of the heed wyth
-a swerd, wheche wownde was never hol to the daye of her deth.
-
-Item, the seyd Dunmowe, on of the seid feleche[p], now lete beet the
-parson of Hasyngham, and brake hese hed in hese owne chauncell.
-
-[269.3][Item iii^xx [_three score_] of the seid felechep, arayid as men
-of werre, now late enterd with fors upon Phelep Berney and dissesid hym
-of the maner of Rokelandtoftys, wheche darnot, for feer of mordyr,
-reentre hese owne londe; how be it, he and hese aunseters have be
-pesibely possessid therof many yeris.]
-
-Item, Alredis sone of Erll Some, fast be Framyngham, un the
-Saterday[269.4] next before Palme Soneday last past was pullid ought of
-a hows and kyllid. Whedyr any of the seid felechep were there or not men
-kan not sey, there be of hem so many of wheche many be unknowe people.
-
-Item, the seid felechep make seche affrayis in the contre abowte the
-seid Ledehams place, and so frayith the people that dyvers persones for
-feer of mordyr darnot abyde in her howses, ne ride, ne walke abowte ther
-ocupacions, wyth owte they take gretter people abowte hem then acordith
-to her degre, wheche they wol not do in evel exaumple gevyng.
-
-Item, the seid felechep of a fer cast maleys and purpose now late toke
-Roger Cherche, on of ther owne felechep, be hese owne assent, wheche
-Roger Cherche be her assent had movid and sterid a rising in the hundred
-of Blofeld, and hath confessed hym self to be at that arysyng, and hath
-enbylled, as it is seid, divers jentelmen and the most part of the
-trysty yomen and husbondis and men of good name and fame of the hundred
-abowte the seid Ledehams place, where the seid felechep is abydyng, and
-nameth hem wyth odyr suspecious people for risers, to the entent to hide
-and cover her awn gylt, and to holde them that be trw men and innosent
-in that mater in a dawnger and feer that they shuld not gader peopell,
-ner atempte to resiste ther riotows governauns of the seid reotows
-felechep.
-
-[270.1][Item, it is conceyved that if the seyd riotows felechep, and
-they that drawe to them were dewly examyned, it shuld be knowe that if
-there were any seche rysyng, it was conjectyd, don, imagened, and
-labored be the seid reotows felechep and be ther meanes; for aswele the
-seid Cherche, as dyvers of the most suspeciows persones be the seid
-Cherche enbelled for rysers, as it is seid, be and have be of long tyme
-dayly in compeny wyth the seid reotows felechep.
-
-Item, on of the seid felechep of late tyme, as it is seide, to encresse
-her maliciows purpose, hath proferid rewardis and goode to anodyr
-persone for to take upon hym to apele certeyn persones, and afferme the
-seying of the seid Roger Cherche.]
-
-In wytnesse of these premesses, dyvers knytes and esquieres, and
-jentelmen whos names folwen, wheche knowe this mater be seying, heryng,
-or credible reporte, to this wrytyng have set her seall, besechyng your
-Lordcheppis to be meanes to the Kyng owre sovereyn Lord for remedy in
-this behalve. Wrete, &c.
-
-  On the lower margin of this paper, and on the back are scrawled a
-  few additional memoranda, of which the following are the most
-  important. One paragraph, which is in the handwriting of John
-  Paston, is so carelessly written that the names contained in it are
-  quite uncertain.
-
-Memorandum, that Jon, sone of Roger Ratkliff, bet T. Baret, and Beston
-and Robyn Taylor tok and imprysonyd Thomas Byrdon of Ly[n]gwode. Item,
-Robert Dalling bet Nicholas Chirch at Stromsaw Chirch. Memorandum of
-manassing of the quest at Hengham. Item, Robert Dallyng bete Thomas
-Dallyng.
-
-Roger att Chirche, Robert Dallyng and Herry Bang with other went with
-fors and armys, and fechid William Clippisby oute of his faders hous,
-and brought hym to the town of Walsham, and kept hym there ij. days and
-ij. nytys, and fro thens had hym to Romgey (?), and there inpresonyd hym
-and made hym [give] to Eusdale (?) an oblygacion of C. libr. made after
-her owyn desyr.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] The misdemeanours of
-    Roger Church, who is here complained of among other malefactors,
-    must refer to the same period as Letter 214. The date is
-    rendered even more certain by a comparison with the letter
-    following.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.4: Blank in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.5: Midlent Sunday fell on the 19th March in 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 267.6: Walter Lyhart or Hart.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.1: This paragraph is crossed in the MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.2: April 3, Easter day being the 9th April in
-    1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.3: April 6.]
-
-    [Footnote 268.4: After the word 'where' the original text had
-    'the seid Paston dwellith,' but these words have been struck
-    out, and other alterations made in the paragraph.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.1: Eloined (French _eloigne_), removed to a
-    distance.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.2: April 10.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.3: This paragraph is crossed out.]
-
-    [Footnote 269.4: April 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 270.1: These paragraphs are crossed through.]
-
-  [[had movid and sterid  _text has "and and"_]]
-
-
-218
-
-A PETITION TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR[271.1]
-
-_To the right reverent fader in God, Cardynale Archebusshop of
-York[271.2] and Chaunceler of Inglond._
-
-Please it yowre gode Lordeshep to know that oon Roger Cherche, other
-wyse callyd Roger Bylaugh, Roger Wryte, and Roger Baly, late[271.3] was
-at a gaderyng and assemble of xv. persones in a feleshep under a wode in
-the town of Possewyke, in the counte of Norffolk, which feleshep, as it
-is seid be hem, was procured and gaderyd be the seid Roger Cherche and
-be his councelores, the same Roger seyng to summe of the same
-feleshep,[271.4] he had remembred a gode name for her capteyn, that
-shuld be John Amend Alle; and the seyd Roger aftyr the seyd gaderyng
-aggreyd hym self to be take and examyned be persones of his own covyne,
-and be color of his seid feleshep of xv. persones be hym gaderyd,
-enbilled divers gentilmen, and many thrifty and substanciall yomen, and
-thryfty husbondes, and men of gode name and fame, noysyng and diffamyng
-to the Kyng and his Councell that the seid gentilmen, yomen, and thryfty
-husbondes, with other, to the nombre of ccc. persones, shuld have mad a
-gaderyng and a risyng ageyn the Kynges peas under the seid wode,
-contrary to the trought; which is veryly conceyved to be don of malyce
-to put the seid gentilmen and yomen in feer and trobill that thei as
-wele as alle the contre shuld not be hardy to attempt, ne lette the
-purposyd malyce of the seid Cherche and his councellores in divers
-riottes, extorciouns, forsibil entreys and unlawfull disherytauns of
-gentilmen and other of the Kynges liege peple in the seid shire that
-thei dayly use, which riottes, extorcions, aswele as the seid untrewe
-diffamacions, causyth gret grudgyng, trobill, and comocyon in the seid
-shire. Please it yowre gode grace, these premysses considered, not to
-suffre the seid Cherche to have no pardon of the comune grace graunted
-be the Kyng owre soverayn Lord un Gode Fryday last past,[272.1] un to
-the tyme that he hath fownde sufficient suerte of wel namyd persones of
-the seid shire of his gode beryng; and to direct a comyssion un to such
-notabill persones in the seid shire as please you, to take and examyn
-the seid Roger Cherche, as wele as othre that them semyth necessary to
-examyn in this behalf, so that thei that be giltles in this may be so
-declared, and that thei that be gilty may be ponysshed acordyng to her
-demerytes; and to beseche the Kyng owre soverayn Lord in the behalf of
-the gentilmen of the seid shire that his Hignesse wull not take hem,
-ne any of hem, in conceyt to be of such rewle and disposicion up un
-enformacion of such a mysse rewled and encredibill man as the seid
-Roger. And thei shall pray to God for you.
-
-    [Footnote 271.1: [Add. Charter 17,241, B.M.] The date of this
-    petition will be seen by a footnote.]
-
-    [Footnote 271.2: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-    [Footnote 271.3: Here the words 'before Crystmasse last past'
-    originally stood in the text, but are crossed out.]
-
-    [Footnote 271.4: Here occurs a caret referring to some illegible
-    words in the margin.]
-
-    [Footnote 272.1: On Good Friday the 7th April 1452, Henry VI.
-    offered general pardons for offences against himself to all who
-    would sue them out of Chancery. --_See_ Whethamstede, 317, 319.]
-
-
-219
-
-PARTIES IN NORFOLK[273.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452]
-
-Itt is to remembre under hos rule that the gode lord[273.2] is at this
-day, and whiche be of his new cownseyll.
-
-Item, that Debenham, Lee, Tymperle, and his old cownseyl and attendans,
-as well as the gode ladijs servawntys, be avoydyd, and Tymperle of malys
-apelyd of treson.
-
-Item, that the sescionys of the pees wyth owte cause was warnyd in the
-myddys of hervest, to grette trobill of the contre, whiche was never se
-in Norffolk at seche tym of the yere; and itt was unlawfully warnyd to
-appere with inne iiij. or v. days after the warnyng. Howbeitt the contre
-was before warnyd at the shyer day to have had the sescionys the
-Tewysday befor Michelmes.
-
-Item, that at the seid sescionys was non other cawse of settyng thereof
-declaryd but a commysyon beryng date before Estern, &c., to arest, take,
-and expungne traytorys and rebellys, of whiche, be Goddis grace, is no
-nede in this contre at this tyme, &c.
-
-Item, be the demenyng of the seyd sescionys was verily conseyvid be the
-jantylmen of the shyer that it was set of purpose to have, be
-indytements, defowlyd seche personys as wer of the old counseyl with the
-seid Lord, and seche as kepe Wodhows lond, or seche as help or confort
-Osbern Munford, marchale of Kalys, in his rygth of the maner of
-Brayston, of whiche he is now late wrongfully dyssesyd,[273.3] and
-generally to have hurt all other that wold not folwe the oppynyons of
-the seyd new cownseyll; whiche malysiows purposid oppynyon the jantylmen
-of the seyd shyer that wer sworyn att the seyd sescions kowd not fynde
-in her conciens to observe, but dede the contrarye as it apperyth be
-here verdyte if itt be shewyd, &c. Remembre the verdyt of Brayston, &c.
-
-And where on Roger Chirche, wyth on Robert Ledham, Charlys Nowell, John
-son of Hodge Ratcleff, and on Robert Dallyng had the rewle and kepyng of
-the seid maner of Brayston to the use of Thomas Danyell after the
-dyssesing of the seyd Osbern Monford, the seyd Roger be the comon ascent
-of his seyd felashep, be the colowre of xv. personys gadderid be the
-exitation of the seyd Roger Chyrche and his felashep, accusid many
-notable and thryfty men that were well willid to the seyd Munford for
-the seid maner of Brayston, to be ryseris, wher as the seyd thrifty men,
-as well as all that contre, hath at all tymys be pesyble and of no seche
-disposicion: It was purposid after the seid sescions, whan the intents
-of the seyd new cownseyl mygth not be executyd be indytements, than to
-have had the seyd Roger Chirche owte of the Kyngs gayle, seying that he
-shuld appele for the Kyng, and wold have do the sheryff delyverid hym
-owt of prison, howbeit he was comyttyd thidder be the justyse of assyse
-and gayle delyvere be cawse he was indyted of fellonye, and that ther
-apperid not suffycient inquest to delyver hym.
-
-Item, day seth thei labour feynid materis to hurt jentilman and odir be
-soch acusements, &c.
-
-Memorandum, as itt semyth be the confescion of dyvers of the seid xv.
-personys that thei were innocent and knew not whi thei assemelyd but
-only be the excitacion of the seyd Chirche and his menys, and after the
-tyme of that they conseyvid itt was do to no good intent, thei never
-medillid forther in the mater. Item, to remembre how suttely the seyd
-Chirche was, be his owyn assent, led to my Lord of Norffolk be his owyn
-felashep to the entent to accuse and defame seche as they lovyd not.
-
-Memorandum, of the sescion at Norwich. Memorandum, of my Lord of
-Somerset and of the Blak frers.
-
-Memorandum, that Charlys Nowell is baly of Brayston, and hath ther
-ij_d._ on the day, and of that mater growyth his malys.
-
-Item, memorandum of them that for fer of disclosid of her falsenes
-acusid odyr that they shuld not be thowth gilti hemself, and labour to
-have the mater handlid be her frends that the trowth shuld not be triid
-owt.
-
-    [Footnote 273.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This paper bears upon
-    the same matters as the last, and must be attributed to the same
-    date. The MS. is a draft, with corrections in John Paston's
-    handwriting.]
-
-    [Footnote 273.2: The Duke of Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 273.3: Mountford was disseised of Brayston by Daniel
-    in the spring of 1450, but recovered possession on the 23rd
-    September. I find no note of his having been disseised again,
-    but I should think he must have been, as this paper is certainly
-    two years later.]
-
-  [[the gode lord[273.2] is at  _footnote marker [2] invisible_]]
-
-
-220
-
-EDMUND WYCHYNGHAM TO JOHN PASTON[275.1]
-
-_To my ryth trusty Cosyn, John Paston, escwier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452-3 / OCT.]
-
-Ryth reverent and trusty Cosyn, I recomande me to zow, thankyng zow of
-zour good wil and counseill. Like zow to wete, I cam hom be myn Lord of
-Oxeford and told hym of the greet labour of Sir Thomas Tudenham and
-Heydon for schirevez of owr schire, and namyd the personez quom thei
-laboryd fore, and myn Lord agreeyth not to tweyne of hem; to the knyth
-he seyd not moch to, but I felt my lord he wold labore for William
-Dorward, myn neview.[275.2] And thanne I answerd, Sir, he may not
-profite me in myn matere for he hath weddyd myn nece. Also I felt myn
-Lord that myn Lord Crumwell laboryth for Stonham of Huntyngton schire,
-Sir John Tirell howe [_who_] weddyd hese modir, hese sone executour to
-my Lady Clyfton, with Heydon and othir memento, &c. And to fore I cam to
-Framyngham myn lord of Norffolk hadde wrytyn for Sir Robert Conyers,
-takyng promys of hym to be rewlyd in alle matterez as myn Lord of
-Norffolk wil avyse hym, and as an undirschireve ze schall be acounseill
-therof. And as touchyng Lee, as I am enformyd, ther ys no man that he
-wil do lesse for thanne for Sir Thomas Tudenham. And as touchyng myn
-seyd Lord of Norffolk, he hath wrytyn, or I cam, be Debenham, as he may
-not wel returne, and the personez ben Sir Robert Conyers, Henry Gray,
-Thomas Brews. And I suppose as for Thomas Brews he schall be translate
-in to myn brothir John Blake, but myn seyd Lord of Norffolk hath previly
-(?) wrytyn to the Kyng for Sir Robert Conyers promisyd[276.1] be the
-seyd Sir Robert that he schall non undirshireve, ne non othir officer
-make, but be the avyse of myn seyd Lord of Norffolk counseill, to qwhom
-ze schall be prevy to And I have no dowte zour owyn materez schall ben
-speed aftir zour entent myn seyd Lord of Norffolk wil with alle hese
-herte that Blake schuld be it, or ellez the seyd Sir Robert with alle
-hese herte. And yf myn Lord of Norffolk, to for myn comyng, hadde be a
-vertysyd, he wold a do hese trew parte ther to, as I suppose he schall
-have vere knalich from myn Lord. I preye zow remembre William Bury for
-myn _venire facias_. And yf it likyd myn brothir Blake to remembre my
-welbelovyd mayster Sir John Bawryte (?) of myn mater I trust he wold
-remembre the Kyng ther of atte hese leyser; for he knowyth the matere,
-and that Debenham hath greet charge to labore myn seyd Lordys materez of
-Norffolk, levying the favour of Sir Thomas Tudenham. Aftir I here I
-schall send zow be wrytyn. I preye zow in like forme. God preserve zow
-to Hese grace. Wrytyn atte Framyngham the Fryday next to fore the feste
-of Simon and Jude.
-
-  E. WYCHYNGHAM.
-
-    [Footnote 275.1: [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 1.] The year when this
-    letter was written is not exactly certain, but seems to have
-    been either 1452 or 1453. It might be 1450, except that one
-    would have expected in October of that year to hear something
-    about the parliamentary election, as well as the election of
-    sheriffs.]
-
-    [Footnote 275.2: William Dorward, according to Blomefield
-    (_Hist. of Norf._ vi. 519), married Margaret, daughter of
-    Nicholas Wichingham, who thus appears to have been a brother of
-    Edmund the writer of this letter.]
-
-    [Footnote 276.1: The sentence here is a little confused, and we
-    forbear to supply punctuation.]
-
-
-221
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[276.2]
-
-_To my right worchepful husbond, John Paston, be this delyverid in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452(?) / NOV. 5]
-
-Right worchepful husbond, I comaund me to yow. I pray yow that ye wol do
-bye ij. doseyn trenchors, for I can none gete in this town. Also I pray
-yow that ye wol send me a booke wyth chardeqweyns[276.3] that I may have
-of in the monynggs, for the eyeres be nat holsom in this town; therfor I
-pray yow hertely lete John Suffeld bryng it hom wyth hym.
-
-No more but the blyssid Ternyte have yow in Hese kepyng, and send yow
-good sped in all yowre maters. Wrete on Sent Leonard even.
-
-My uncle Phelyppe[277.1] commaund hym to yow, and he hath be so seke
-sith that I come to Redham, that I wend he shuld never a askapid it, nor
-not is leke to do but if he have redy help; and therfore he shal into
-Suffolk this next weke to myn aunt, for there is a good fesician, and he
-shal loke to hym.
-
-My Lady Hastyngs[277.2] told me that Heydon hath spoke to Geffrey
-Boleyn[277.3] of London, and is a greid wytht hym that he shuld bargeyn
-wyth Sir John Fastolff to bye the manor of Blyklyng as it were for
-hymselff, and if Boleyn byet in trowght Heydon shal have it.
-
-  Yowr,
-
-  M. P.
-
-I cam to Norwiche on Sowlemesday.
-
-    [Footnote 276.2: [From Fenn, iii. 168.] This letter was written
-    during the life of Philip Berney, most probably in 1452, while
-    he lay sick of the wounds, of which he afterwards died. _See_
-    No. 227 further on.]
-
-    [Footnote 276.3: A preserve made of quinces. --_See_ Index to
-    Furnivall's _Manners and Meals in Olden Times_. In the
-    ordinances of the household of George, Duke of Clarence,
-    'charequynses' occur under the head of spices, their price being
-    five shillings 'the boke,' or L2, 10s. for 10 lbs.--See _The
-    Society of Antiquaries' Collection of Ordinances for the Royal
-    Household_, p. 103. The word also occurs pp. 455, 471 of same
-    volume.]
-      [[_Early English Meals and Manners_, Project Gutenberg ebook
-      24790.]]
-
-    [Footnote 277.1: Philip Berney.]
-
-    [Footnote 277.2: Margery, widow of Sir Edward Hastings of
-    Elsing, Norfolk, who styled himself Lord Hastings and
-    Stutvill. --_See_ Blomefield, viii. 112, and ix. 513, 514.]
-
-    [Footnote 277.3: An ancestor of Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth.
-    He was Mayor of London in 1457.]
-
-
-222
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[278.1]
-
-_This lettre be delyvered to John Paston, beynge at London, in the
-Innere In of the Temple._
-
-[Sidenote: 1452(?) / NOV. 16]
-
-I grete you well, and sende you Goddes blissyng and myn. And as touchyng
-the mater wheche ye desyryd my cosyn Clere shulde write fore, she hath
-doo, and I sende you the copy closed in this lettre. As for the enquerre
-I have sent by Pynchemore to enquere and sent myn owen men to William
-Bakton, and don hem enquered in dyverse placs, and I can here no woord
-of noon suych enquerans; I wot not what it menyth. Roberd Hill was at
-Paston thys wyke, and the man that dwelled in Bowres place is oute ther
-of, and seid to Roberd he durst no lenger abyde ther in, for Waryn
-Herman seyth to him it is his place. As for Cokets mater, my doughter
-your wyf told me yester even the man that suyth him will not stonde to
-your awarde.
-
-Bertilmow White is condemnyd in Forrenecet Court in xl. marc, as it is
-seid.
-
-Item, as for Talfas, the Sherevis hav be hest to do all the favour thei
-may. I sente the Parson of Seynt Edmundes to Gilberd, and he seide ther
-was come a newe writ for to have him up by the xv. day of Seynt Martyn,
-and how Caly hadde ben at hem,[278.2] and desired to carye up Talfas on
-his owen cost, and yeve hem goode wages.
-
-Item, John Osbern seide to me this day that he supposed thei will not
-have him up be forn Estern, and Margerete Talfas seide to me the same
-day that men tolde hire that he shulde never have ende till he wer at
-London, and asked me counsell wheder she myte yeve the Sherevys sylver
-or non; and I tolde hire if she dede, I supposed she shulde fynde hem
-the more frendly.
-
-Item, as for Horwelbur, I sende you a bill of all the rescyts syn the
-deth of your fader, and a copy wrete on the bak how your fader lete it
-to ferme to the seide Gurnay. I wulde ye shulde write Gurnay, and charge
-him to mete with you fro London warde, and at the lest weye lete him
-purveye x_li._ for [he] owyth be my reknyng at My helmesse last passed,
-be syde your faddes dette, xviij_li._ xiiij_s._ viij_d._ If ye wolde
-write to him to brynge suerte for your fadyrs dette and myn, and pay be
-dayes, so that the man myte leven and paye us, I wolde for yeve him of
-the olde arrerags x_li._; and he myte be mad to paye xx. marc be yer, on
-that condicion I wolde for yeve him x_li._, and so thynketh me he shulde
-hav cause to praye for your fader and me, and was it leten in my fadres
-tyme. I fele by Roberd, his wif is right loth to gon thens, she seide
-that sche had lever I shulde have all her gode after her day, than thei
-schulde go out ther of.
-
-Item, John Dam teld me that the Lady Boys[279.1] will selle a place
-called Halys,[279.2] but he seith sehe speketh it privyly, and seith it
-is not tayled, as John Dam kno, wech will she hath seide as largely of
-other thyngs that hath not be so.
-
-Item, he tolde me, as he herd seyn, Ser John Fastolf hath sold Heylysdon
-to Boleyn[279.3] of London; and yf it be so, it semeth he will selle
-more. Wherfor I praye you, as ye will have my love and my blissyng, that
-ye will helpe and do your devoir that sumthyng were purchased for your
-ij. bretheren. I suppose Ser John Fastolf, and he wer spake to, wold be
-glader to lete his kensemen have parte than straunge men. Asay him in my
-name of suych placs as ye suppose is most cler.
-
-It is seid in this contre that my Lord of Norfolk seith Ser John Fastolf
-hath yoven him Castr, and he will hav [it] pleynly. I sende you a bill
-of Osbern hand, whech was the ansuer of the Sheref and John of Dam.
-
-Jon, brynge me my lettre hom with you, and my cosyn Cler is copy of her
-lettre, and the copy of the reseyth of Horwelbury; and recomaunde me to
-Lomnor, and tell him his best be loved fareth well, but sche is not yet
-come to Norwich, for thei deye yet, but not so sor as thei dede. And God
-be wyth you. Wreten at Norwych, in right gret hast, the xvj. day of
-Novembr.
-
-  By your moder,
-
-  ANNEYS PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 278.1: [From Fenn, iii. 162.] This letter is certainly
-    not earlier than 1451 or later than 1453; for it was written
-    some time after Lady Boys became a widow, which was in December
-    1450 (_see_ p. 198), and before Sir John Fastolf's removal from
-    London into Norfolk, which, as will be seen hereafter, was in
-    the autumn of 1454. Probably the true date is 1452, for in the
-    summer following, owing to Gurney's utter inability to pay his
-    rent, we find Agnes Paston urging her son seriously to look out
-    for another tenant for Orwellbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 278.2: The modernised version in Fenn reads 'at
-    home.']
-
-    [Footnote 279.1: _See_ p. 248, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 279.2: Holm Hale. --_See_ p. 248.]
-
-    [Footnote 279.3: Geoffrey Boleyn. --_See_ p. 277, Note 3.]
-
-
-223
-
-THE DUKE OF YORK AND SIR JOHN FASTOLF[280.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1452 / DEC. 18]
-
-This endenture witnesseth that where Richard, Duc of York, by his lettre
-of saal [_sale_] bering date the xv. day of the monneth of Decembre, the
-xxxj^ti yere of the regne of oure soverain Lord Kyng Henry the Sext,
-hath bargaigned, aliened, solde, graunted, and confermed unto John
-Fastolf, Knyght, the jowelles undrewriten:--That is to wite, a nowche of
-gold with a greet poynted diamand sette up on a roose enameled white;
-a nowche of gold in facion of a ragged staf, with ij. ymages of man and
-woman garnysshed with a ruby, a diamande, and a greet peerle; and a
-floure of gold, garnysshed with ij. rubyes, a diamande, and iij. hanging
-peerles. To have, holde, and rejoyce the same jowelles to the saide
-John, his executors and assignees, frely, quietly, and pesibly for evere
-more, like as in the saide lettre of saal more openly is conteened.
-Nevertheles the saide John wolle and graunteth herby that yif the saide
-Duc paie or doo paie to the same John or to his attornee, his heires or
-to his executors, in the Fest of the Nativitee of Sainte John Baptist
-next commyng, iiij^c xxxvij_li._ [L437] sterlinges withouten delay, that
-than the saide letter of saal to bee hold for notht; but he to delivere
-ayein unto the saide Duc, or to his attornee paieng the saide iiij^c
-xxxvij_li._ sterlinges in the saide Fest, the saide jowelles. And yif
-defaulte bee made in the paiement of the saide iiij^c xxxvij_li._ in
-partie or in all ayenst the fourme aforesaide, than wolle and graunteth
-the saide Duc herby that the forsaide lettre of saal, by him as is
-abouve saide made, stande in ful strengh and vertu, this endenture
-notwithstanding. In witnesse wherof, to the parte of this saide
-endenture remaynyng towards the saide John the saide Duc hath sette his
-seel. Yeven at Fodringey, the xviij^e day of the saide monneth of
-Decembre, the xxxj^ti yere of the regne of oure saide souverain Lord
-King Henry the Sext.
-
-  R. YORK.
-
-  Seal attached mutilated.
-
-    [Footnote 280.1: [Add. Charter 17,242, B.M.]]
-
-
-224
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[281.1]
-
-_To my right worchippfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / JAN. 30]
-
-Right worchipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, desyring to here of
-your welfar; praying yow to wete that Sir Thomas Howes hath purveyed
-iiij. dormants[281.2] for the drawte chamer,[281.3] and the malthouse,
-and the browere, wherof he hath bought iij., and the forte, that shall
-be the lengest and grettest of all, he shall have from Heylesdon, whiche
-he seyth my Mayster Fastolf shall geve me, be cause my chamer shall be
-made ther with. As for the laying of the seyd dormants, they shall be
-leyd this next weke, be cause of the malthous, and as for the remenant,
-I trow it shall abyde tyll ye come hom, be cause I can nother be
-purveyed of pysts [_posts?_], ne of bords not yette.
-
-I have take the mesure in the draute chamer, ther as ye wold your cofors
-and cowntewery[281.4] shuld be sette for the whyle; and ther is no space
-besyde the bedd, thow the bedd wer remevyd to the dore, for to sette
-bothe your bord and your kofors ther, and to have space to go and sitte
-be syde. Wherfor I have purveyd that ye shall have the same drawte
-chamer that ye had befor ther, as ye shall ly to your self; and whan
-your gerr is remevod owte of your lytil hous, the dore shall be lokkyd,
-and your baggs leyd in on of the grete koforis, so that they shall be
-sauff, I trost.
-
-Richard Charles and John Dow have fetched hom the chyld[282.1] from
-Rokelond Toftes, and it is apraty boy; and it is told me that Wyll is
-att Blyklyng with a pore man of this town. A yonge woman that was
-sometyme with Burton of this town sent me word therof; I pray yow send
-me word if ye woll that any thyng that ye woll be do to hym or ye com
-hom. Richard Charles sendeth yow word that Wylles hath be at hym here,
-and offerd hym to make hym astate in all thyngs according to ther in
-dentur, and if he do the contrary ye shall sone have word.
-
-My moder prayith yow to remembr my suster, and to do your parte
-feythfully or ye com hom to help to gette her agode mariage. It semyth
-be my moders langage that she wold never so fayn to have be delyveryd of
-her as she woll now.
-
-It was told here that Knyvet the heyer is for to mary; bothe his wyff
-and child be dede, as it was told here. Wherfor she wold that ye shuld
-inquyr whedder it be so or no, and what hys lyvelode is, and if ye
-thynke that it be for to do, to lete hym be spoke with therof.
-
-I pray yow that ye be not strange of wryting of letters to me be twix
-this and that ye come hom. If I myght I wold have every day on from yow.
-The blyssed Trinyte have yow in his kepyng. Wrete att Norwyche, on the
-Tesday next after the Convercion [of] Seynt Poull.
-
-  Be yours,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 281.1: [From Fenn, iii. 324.] The beginning of this
-    letter refers to building operations, which I presume to be the
-    same as those to which the next letter relates, and therefore of
-    the same date. They were probably at Caister Castle.]
-
-    [Footnote 281.2: Large beams.]
-
-    [Footnote 281.3: Draught chamber. A
-    withdrawing-room.--Halliwell.]
-
-    [Footnote 281.4: Cowntewery must mean his counter, desk, or
-    board to sit and write, etc., at.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 282.1: Probably a member of the Berney family (_see_
-    Sir John Fastolf's letter of the 28th January 1451). Philip
-    Berney, as will be seen by No. 217, was disseised of the manor
-    of Rockland Tofts during the year 1452.]
-
-
-225
-
-JOHN PASTON TO JOHN NORWODE[283.1]
-
-_To John Norwode._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453]
-
-I lete you wete that Hache hath do no werk of myn wherfore he aught to
-have receyvid any mony, savyng only for the makyng of the litill hous
-above the halle wyndownes, for the remenaunte was that fell down in his
-diffaute. And as for the makyng of that litill hous, he toke that in a
-comenaunte [_covenant_], with makyng of too chymnyes of Sir Thomas Howys
-for xl_s._, which comenaunte may not hold, be cause that I must have
-thre chymnyes and in a nother place.
-
-Item, the seid litill hows drawyth not v. thowsand tyle, which after
-xvj_d._ the thowsand shuld drawe vj_s._ viij_d._ Notwithstandyng, if Sir
-Thomas thynk that he shuld be alowyd mo, he shall be. And ye must
-remembre how that he hath receyvid vj_s._ viij_d._ of you, and of Robert
-Tolle before Halwemesse, as apperith in his accompt, viij_s._ And he
-hath receyvid of Tolle sith Halwemesse v_s._ iiij_d._ And than be this
-rekenyng he shuld be xiij_s._ iiij_d._ a fore hand, which I wold ye
-shuld gader up in this newe werk aswele as ye myght, for I am be hold to
-do hym but litill favour.
-
-Item, be war ther leve no firsis in the deke that ye reparre, and that
-the wode be mad of fagot and leyd up forthwoth as it is fellid for
-taking away. I wold ye wer her on Satirday at evyn thow ye yed ageyn on
-Moneday.
-
-  JON PASTON.
-
-  _The following memoranda occur on the back of this letter:--_
-
-  Rec' W. Hach.
-  Rec' de Joh'e Paston, anno xxx(o), vj_s._ viij_d._
-  Item, de Roberto Telte, xiij_s._ iiij_d._
-  De Thoma Howis, xx_d._
-  Item, de Joh'e Norwod, anno xxxj. pro camino l_s._
-          Summa, lxxj_s._ viij_d._
-  Will' Hach fecit quandam kaminam v. mark, et pro le closet x_s._
-          Summa, lxxvj_s._ viij_d._
-
-  Sic debentur dicto Hach, per Joh'em Paston, v_s._; et dedit ei
-  xv_s._ in recompensationem cujusdam billae ibe (?) et omne jus ipsum
-  et Mo (?) Unde tradidi ei xiiij_s._ iiij_d._ per plegios Thomae Howis
-  qui manusepit (_sic_) quod dictus Will' perimplot [_perimpleret?_]
-  barganium suum et in fine operis haberet de me vj_s._ viij_d._
-  residuum.
-
-    [Footnote 283.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] From the memoranda on
-    the back of this letter, it would appear to belong to the 31st
-    year of Henry VI.]
-
-
-226
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[284.1]
-
-_To my right wurshipfull Mayster, Jon Paston, be this delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / APRIL 20]
-
-Right wurshipfull hosbond, I recommand me to yow, preying yow to wete,
-&c.[284.2] . . .
-
-As for tydyngs, the Quene[284.3] come in to this town on Tewysday last
-past after none, and abode here tyll itt was Thursday, iij. after none;
-and she sent after my cos. Elysabeth Clere[284.4] by Sharynborn, to come
-to her; and she durst not dysabey her commandment, and come to her. And
-when she come in the Quenys presens, the Quene made ryght meche of her,
-and desyrid here to have an hosbond, the which ye shall know of here
-after. But as for that, he is never nerrer than he was befor.
-
-The Quene was right well pleasid with her answer, and reportyht of her
-in the best wyse, and seyth, be her trowth, she sey no jantylwoman syn
-she come into Norffolk that she lykit better than she doth her.
-
-Blake, the bayle[285.1] of Swaffham, was here with the Kyngs
-brother,[285.2] and he come to me, wenyng that ye had be at hom, and
-seyd that the Kyngs brother desyrid hym that he shuld pray yow in his
-name to come to hym, for he wold right fayn that ye had come to hym, if
-ye had ben at home; and he told me that he west wele that he shuld send
-for yow when he come to London, bothe for Cossey and other thyngs.
-
-I pray yow that ye woll do your cost on me ayens Witsontyd, that I may
-have somme thyng for my nekke. When the Quene was here, I borowd my
-coseyn Elysabeth Cleris devys, for I durst not for shame go with my beds
-among so many fresch jantylwomen as here were at that tym. The blissid
-Trinyte have yow in his kepyng.
-
-Wretyn at Norwych on the Fryday next befor Seynt George.
-
-  Be yowrs,
-
-  M. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 284.1: [From Fenn, i. 68.] According to Blomefield
-    (_Hist. of Norf._ iii. 158), Margaret of Anjou, Queen of
-    Henry VI., visited Norwich in the spring of 1452; but by the
-    same authority, it would appear that she had returned to
-    Westminster before the 17th of March in that year, which would
-    not suit the date of this letter. Besides, John Paston was at
-    Norwich in April 1452, and dates a letter at Norwich on St.
-    George's day, complaining of the assault made upon him at the
-    door of Norwich Cathedral on Monday before Easter. It is
-    impossible, therefore, that Margaret Paston could have written
-    to him from Norwich two days before St. George's day in that
-    year. From an undated entry in the Norwich city records, which
-    bears internal evidence of having been made in the year 1453, it
-    would appear that the King's half-brothers, Edmund, Earl of
-    Richmond, and Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, visited Norwich in that
-    year.--(_See_ fol. 19 of a volume, entitled _An Old Free Book_,
-    in the Norwich city archives.) As to the Queen's visit I find no
-    direct evidence, but I think it possible she may have come with
-    _one_ of the King's brothers, and that the other may have come a
-    little later.]
-
-    [Footnote 284.2: Here (says Fenn) follows some account of money
-    received, etc.]
-
-    [Footnote 284.3: Margaret of Anjou.]
-
-    [Footnote 284.4: Widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of Ormesby, who
-    died in 1446. Fenn says his daughter, but no notice is found of
-    a daughter of that name, while the widow occurs frequently in
-    this correspondence.]
-
-    [Footnote 285.1: Bailiff.]
-
-    [Footnote 285.2: Either Edmund Tudor, who was created Earl of
-    Richmond about November 1452, or Jasper, who was created Earl of
-    Pembroke at the same time. They were half-brothers to the King,
-    being sons of his mother, Catherine, Queen of Henry V., by her
-    subsequent marriage to Sir Owen Tudor.]
-
-
-227
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[285.3]
-
-_To my welbelovyd Son, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / JULY 6]
-
-Sone I grete yow well and send you Godys blessyng and myn, and lete you
-wete that Robert Hyll cam homward by Horwelle bery, and Gurney tellyd
-hym he had byn at London for mony and kowd nat spedyng, and behestyd
-Robert that he shuld send me mony be you. I pray for getyt not as ze com
-homward, and speke sadly for i. nothyr fermor.
-
-And as for tydyngs, Phylyppe Berney[286.1] is passyd to God on
-Munday[286.2] last past wyt the grettes peyn that evyr I sey man; and on
-Tuysday Ser Jon Henyngham zede to hys chyrche and herd iij. massys, and
-cam hom agayn nevyr meryer, and seyd to hese wyf that he wuld go sey a
-lytyll devocion in hese gardeyn and than he wuld dyne; and forthwyth he
-felt a feyntyng in hese legge and syyd don. This was at ix. of the clok,
-and he was ded or none.
-
-Myn cosyn Cler[286.3] preyt you that ze lete no man se her letter,
-wheche is in selyd undir my selle. I pray you that ze wyl pay your
-brothir William for iiij. unces and j. half of sylke as he payd, wheche
-he sende me by William Tavyrner, and bryng wyt yow j. quarter of j. unce
-evyn leke of the same that I send you closyd in thys letter; and sey
-your brothyr William that hese hors hath j. farseyn and grete rennyng
-sorys in hese leggis. God have you in kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche on Sent
-Thomas evyn in grete hast.[286.4]
-
-  Be your modyr,
-
-  A. PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 285.3: [From Fenn, iii. 182.] Sir John Heveningham,
-    whose death is mentioned in this letter, was found, by an
-    inquisition taken on the 29th September 32 Henry VI., to have
-    died on the 3rd of July preceding, which was in the year
-    1453.--(Inquis. _post mortem_, 31 Hen. VI., No. 7.) He left a
-    son named John, over twenty-three years old, who was afterwards
-    knighted.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.1: Third son of John Berney, Esq. of Reedham, who
-    was the father of Margaret Paston's mother.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.2: July 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.3: Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere, Esq. of
-    Ormesby.]
-
-    [Footnote 286.4: The Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr
-    (Becket) was celebrated on the 7th July.]
-
-
-228
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[286.5]
-
-_To my ritht worchipfull Mayster John Paston, be this deliveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / JULY 6]
-
-Rytht worchipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying yow to wete
-that I have spoke with Newman for his place, and I am thorow with hym
-therfor, but he wold not lete it in no wyse lesse than v. marc. I told
-hym that sekyrly ye shuld not know but that I hyrid it of hym for
-iij_li._ I seyd as for the noble,[287.1] I shuld payt of myn owyn purse,
-that ye shuld no knowlech have therof. And this day I have had inne ij.
-cartfull of hey, and your stabyl shall be made I hope this next weke.
-I kowd not gette no grawnt of hym to have the warehows; he seyth if he
-may in any wyse forber itt her after, ye shall have itt, but he wull not
-grawnt itt in no convawt [_covenant_]. He hath grawntyd me the hows be
-twix the vowte and the warehows, and that he seyd he grawntyd not yow.
-
-And as for the chamer that ye assygnyd to myn unkyl,[287.2] God hath
-purveyd for hym as hys will is; he passyd to God on Monday last past, at
-xj. of the clok befor none, and Sir John Hevenyngham passyd to God on
-Tewysday last past; hois sowlys both God assoyle. His sekenesse toke hym
-on Tewysday, at ix. of the clok befor none, and be too after none he was
-dedd.
-
-I have begonne your inventare that shuld have be made or this tym, if I
-had ben well at ease. I hope to make an ende therof, and of other thyngs
-both this next weke, and ben in that other place, if God send me helth.
-I must do purvey for meche stuff or I come ther, for ther is nother
-bords ne other stuff that must neds be had or we come there. And Richard
-hath gadderid butt lytill mony syth he come from yow. I have sent John
-Norwod this day to Gresham, Besigham, and Matelask to gete als meche
-mony as he may. The blissid Trinyte have yow in his keping. Wretyn at
-Norwych, on the Utas day of Peter and Powll.[287.3]
-
-  Yowrs,
-
-  M. P.
-
-    [Footnote 286.5: [From Fenn, iii. 186.] This letter chronicles
-    the same two deaths as the preceding, and is therefore of the
-    same date.]
-
-    [Footnote 287.1: A noble was a coin of the value of 6s. 8d.
-    A mark was 13s. 4d. Five marks therefore were equal to L3, 6s.
-    8d.; but Margaret said she would pay the odd noble, or 6s. 8d.,
-    out of her own purse, and not let Paston know but that he had
-    the place for L3. A little artifice for accepting terms which
-    she had doubtless told Newman her husband could never agree to.]
-
-    [Footnote 287.2: Philip Berney. --_See_ p. 251, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 287.3: The day of St. Peter and Paul is the 29th of
-    June. The _utas_ or octave of a feast is the eighth day of the
-    feast--that is to say, the seventh day after, which in this case
-    is the 6th of July.]
-
-
-229
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[288.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1453 / SEPT. (?)]
-
-Ryth worchepfull howsbonde, I recomende me on to yow. Plesyt yow to wete
-that I sent Tomas Bon to Edwarde Coteler to have one ansuer of the mater
-that ye spak to hym of, and he sent me worde that he hade spok to hys
-man therof, and he tolde hym that he hade no wrytynge nor evidens of no
-swyche thyng as ye spak to hym of, ner not wyst were he scholde have
-cnowlage of no swyche thyng, save that he tolde hym that he receyvyd
-onys j.c._s._ [100_s._] of the same rent; but and he may have cnowlage
-of ony man that havyth ony wrytyng or ony thyng that may out prevayle,
-he schal late yow have cnoulage therof.
-
-As for Wylliam Yellverton, he come here never syn ye yede. As for my
-Lady Stapullton, att the wrytyng of thys letter sche was not come home.
-Wyndhamys[288.2] erand to my Lady of Southefolk[288.3] was to desiyr hyr
-gode Ladychep and to beseche hyr that sche wold spek to my cosyn
-Evenyngham[288.4] that he myt have hys gode wyll, for he levith in hope
-to have hys modyr, and he hath made menys to have her by John Gros and
-hys wyf, and by Bokynham and by odyr dyvers, and profuryth hyr to find
-suerte to acquitt hyr housbondys dettes, the qwyche is CCC. marc, and to
-payit doune on j. day. And by thys mene, as he seyth, he hathe bargeynid
-with j. marchande of London, and hath solde to hym the manage of hys
-son, for the qwyche he scal have vij. C. [700] marc, and of that the
-iij. C. [300] marc schoulde be payd for the forseyd dettes; and also he
-proforyth to yeve hyr the maner of Felbryg to hyr joyntour, and odyr
-la[r]ge profors as ye schal here eraffter. As for the good wyll of my
-cosyn Hevenyngham, he seyth Wyndh[am][289.1] he schall never have hytt,
-nott for to have hyr gode konyth he [abydyth][289.2] hys soull hevy
-therof, for he is aferde that and if the large profors may be
-perfor[m]yd, that sche wyll have hym. My seyd cosyn preyith yow, att the
-reverens of Gode, that ye wyll do yowyr [devoir][289.3] therin to brec
-it and ye can. He schall be here ayen on Mychaell mas evyn. He was full
-sory that ye wer outt att this tyme, for he hopyd that ye schoulde have
-do myche goode att this tyme. He hathe seyde as myche ther ageyns as he
-dar do to have hyr gode modyrchep. My Lady of Southfolce sent j. letter
-to hyr yesterday by Stanle, the qwyche is callyd j. well cherysyd man
-with my seyd Lady, and desyiryng hyr in the letter that sche wolde owe
-hyr godde wyll and favor to Wyndham in that that he desyiryd of hyr, and
-of more matterys that ye schall here er after, for I suppose sche wyll
-schew yow the same letter and mak yow of hyr counsel in many thyngys,
-and I schall do my part as feythfully as I can to lett Wyndhamys porpose
-tyl ye come home. I pray yow sende me a copy of hys petygre, that I may
-schew to hyr how worchepphull it is, for in goode feythe sche is
-informyd bi hyr gentyll son Gros and Bokenham that he is mor
-worcheppfull in berthe and in lyvelode therto than they or ony odyr can
-preve, as I suppose. I pray yow lett nott thys mater be discuyryd tyl ye
-her more therof or after, for my cosyn Hevenyngham tolde myche here of
-in secret wyse, and of odyr thyngis qwyche ye schall have cnoulage of
-qwan ye come home, &c.
-
-  In hast, all in hast.
-
-    [Footnote 288.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] There is neither
-    signature nor address to this letter, but it is undoubtedly from
-    Margaret Paston to her husband. The handwriting is the same as
-    that of her other letters. The date seems to be after the death
-    of Sir John Heveningham in 1453, and is not likely to have been
-    a later year, as the Duchess of Suffolk's influence must have
-    been diminished when the Duke of York came into power, though it
-    may possibly have been powerful again in 1456.]
-
-    [Footnote 288.2: John Wyndham, Esq. of Felbrigg.]
-
-    [Footnote 288.3: Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of
-    Suffolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 288.4: John, son of Sir John Heveningham. --_See_ p.
-    227, Note 3.]  [[_error for p. 285, n. 3 (Letter 227)_]]
-
-    [Footnote 289.1: Mutilated.]
-
-    [Footnote 289.2: Erased in MS. Apparently some further
-    correction should have been made.]
-
-    [Footnote 289.3: Omitted in MS. 'Do your devoir,' _i.e._
-    endeavour, seems to have been the phrase intended.]
-
-
-230
-
-THE DUKE OF NORFOLK'S PETITION[290.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1453]
-
-My Lordes, ye know well ynough the grete peynes, labours, and diligences
-that before thys tyme y have doon, to th'entent that the over greete
-dishonneurs and losses that ben come to thys full noble royaume of
-England by the fals menes of som persones that have take on theym over
-grete autoritee in thys royaume shulde be knowen, and that the persones
-lyvyng that have doon theym shulde be corrected aftyr the merites of her
-desertes. And to that entent y have denounced and delyverd to you in
-wrytyng certeyn articles ayenst the Duc of Somerset, whych ys one of
-theym that ys gylty thereoff, whertoo the Duc of Somerset have aunsuerd;
-and to that that he hath aunsuerd y have replyed yn such wyse that y
-trowe to be sure ynough that there shall no vayllable thyng be seyd to
-the contrarie of my seyd replicacion, and asmoch as he woold sey shall
-be but falsnesse and lesyngs, as be the probacions that shall be made
-thereuppon shall mow appiere; how be it that to alle people of gode
-entendement, knowyng how justice owyth to be ministred, it ys full
-apparaunt that the denunciacions ayenst hym made ben sufficiently preved
-by the dedes that have folowed thereoff; whereuppon y have requyred to
-have ouverture of justice by yow, whych ye have not yhyt doon to me,
-whereoff y am so hevy that y may no lenger beere it, speciallie seth the
-mater by me pursued ys so worshipfull for all the royaume, and for you,
-and so greable to God, and to alle the subgettys of thys royaume, that
-it may be no gretter. And it ys such that for anye favour of lignage, ne
-for anye othyr cause there shulde be no dissimulacion, for doubt lest
-that othyr yn tyme comyng take example thereoff, and lest that the full
-noble vertue of justice, that of God ys so greetly recommaunded, be
-extinct or quenched by the fals oppinions of som, that for the grete
-bribes that the seyd Duc of Somerset hath promysed and yoven them, have
-turned theyr hertys from the wey of trouth and of justice; some seyeng
-that the cases by hym committed ben but cases of trespasse, and othyr
-takyng a colour to make an universell peas. Whereoff every man that ys
-trewe to the seyd Coroune auyth gretely to marveylle, that anye man wold
-sey that the losse of ij. so noble duchees as Normandie and Guyen, that
-ben well worth a greet royaume, comyng by successions of fadres and
-modres to the seyd Coroune, ys but trespasse; where as it hath be seen
-in manye royaumes and lordshyps that, for the losse of tounes and
-castells wythoute sege, the capitaynes that hav lost theym han be deede
-and beheded, and her godes lost; as in Fraunce one that lost
-Chyrborough; and also a knyght that fledd for dred of bataille shulde be
-byheded, soo that alle these thyngs may be founden in the lawes wryten,
-and also yn the boke cleped _L'arbre de Bataille_. Wherfor, for to
-abbregge my langage, y requyre you that forasmech as the more partie of
-the dedes committed by the seyd Duc of Somerset ben committed yn the
-royaume of Fraunce, that by the lawes of Fraunce processe be made
-thereuppon; and that all thyng that y have delyvered and shall delyvere
-be seen and understand by people havyng knoulige theroff, and that the
-dedes committed by hym in thys royaume bee yn lyke wyse seen and
-understand by people lerned yn the lawes of thys land; and for preffe
-thereoff to graunt commissions to inquere thereoff, as by reason and of
-custom it owyth to be doon, callyng God and you all my Lordes to
-wytnesse of the devoirs by me doon in thys seyd matere; and requyeyng
-you that thys my bille and alle othyr my devoirs may be enacted before
-you. And that y may have it exemplified undre the Kyngs grete seele for
-my discharge and acquytaille of my trouth, makyng protestacion that in
-case ye make not to me ouverture of justice upon the seyd caas, y shall
-for my discharge do my peyn that my seyd devoirs and the seyd lak of
-justice shall be knowen through all the royaume.
-
-  _Einsi signe_,
-
-  J. M. NORFF.
-
-    [Footnote 290.1: [From Fenn, iii. 108.] This paper is headed
-    'Copia' in the MS. It is entitled by Fenn, 'The Speech of John
-    Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, against Edmund Beaufort, Duke of
-    Somerset, in the House of Lords.' This title, however, is
-    clearly no part of the original document, which has much more
-    the character of a petition to the Privy Council than of a
-    speech in Parliament. The paper itself professes to be a 'bill'
-    signed by its author, who demands that the conduct of the Duke
-    of Somerset in France and in England should be made the subject
-    of investigation by separate tribunals according to the laws of
-    either country. Now the House of Lords, being only a branch of
-    the English Legislature, would have had no right to authorise a
-    judicial investigation in France. The date of this petition must
-    have been in the end of the year 1453, after the loss of
-    Guienne. The Duke of Somerset appears to have been committed to
-    the Tower a little before Christmas in that year; for, after his
-    liberation on the 4th March 1455, he declared before the Council
-    that he had been confined there 'one whole year, ten weeks, and
-    more.' --_See_ Rymer, xi. 362.]
-
-
-231
-
-WILLIAM REYNOLDS, OF CROMER, TO AGNES PASTON[292.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and wourchipfull mastras, my Mastras Paston, the
-modyr of my maister John Paston, be this delyvered._
-
-Ryght reverent and wourchipful Mastras, with most humble and louly
-servyce in moste goodly wice I recomaund me to your contynuell
-supportacion. Please it your good grace to have notycion that I have
-late a place of yours in quiche John Rycheman dvellyd, for it stode at a
-grete dyspeyr and I have late it for xv_s._, but up your good grace, for
-the lockis of the dores arn pulled of and born a waye, and the wyndowes
-ben broken and gone and other bordys ben nayled on in the stede of the
-sayd wyndowes. Also, the swynysty ys doun, and all the tymbyr and the
-thatche born a way; also the hedge ys broken or born a wey, quiche
-closed the gardeyn; querthorgh the place ys evyl apeyred to the tenaunt.
-On Sent Marckes daye I entred the seid place and lete it to your be
-hove, and on the day after cam Henry Goneld and seyd my latyng schald
-not stond, and went and seled the dores; querfor I beseche your graciows
-favor that my latyng may stond, for I have late alle your londis
-everychone. I know not oon rode unlate, but alle ocupyed to your
-profyghte. The tenaunt quich by your lycens schuld have youre place to
-ferme by my latyng ys gretely be hated with oon Johane, the wyfe of
-Robert Iclyngham, chapman, quich ys voysed for amysse governyd woman of
-hyr body by the most parte of owr town wel recordyth the same, and sche
-dvellyth al by your seyd place; and by cause this seid tenaunt ys
-gretely ayens hir for hir ungoodly governaunce, therfor sche mad menys
-to one Abraham Whal, quiche ys one of hir supportores, and he hath spoke
-with the seyd Henry Gonelde that he myght seke a remedye to cause this
-seyd tenaunt to be a voydyd and kept oute your seid place and not come
-ther inne.
-
-He that is bryngger of this bylle ys the man to quich I have late to
-ferme by the licens of you; therfore I beseche your gracaus favor to be
-schewed onto hym, and mekeli I beseche your contynuell supportacion that
-ye wuld send me wrytyng under your seele how I schal be demened. Nomor,
-&c. Wrytin at Crowmer the nest day after Sent Marc.--Be your servaunt at
-alle tymes,
-
-  WILLIAM REYNOLDES of Crowmer.
-
-_The following memoranda are written on the back:--_
-
-  Firmale terrae ten' Roperes in Crowmer Anno xxxj(o).
-
-  In primis Gylmin (?) tenet ad firmam ij. acras ad terminum
-      ---- [293.1] annorum et reddit per annum                  xx_d._
-
-  Item, Johannes Parnell tenet iij. rodas ad terminum xij. annorum et
-      reddit per annum                                         xij_d._
-
-  Item, Willelmus Reynoldes pro iij. rodis in ij. peciis ad terminum
-      x. annorum et reddit per annum                            ix_d._
-
-  Item, Thomas tenet pars (_sic_) terrae et reddit per annum
-                                                          ij_d._ _ob._
-
-  Item, Ricardus Child pro prato et j. inclausura vocata Longclos ad
-      terminum annorum et reddit per annum            iij_s._ iiij_d._
-
-  Item, Rogerus Caryour pro j. orto per annum                    x_d._
-
-    [Footnote 292.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 225.] This letter is shown
-    by the memoranda on the back to be of the year 1453, _i.e._ 31
-    Henry VI. Agnes Paston had tenants at Cromer, and her property
-    there descended to her grandchildren, as she outlived her son
-    John.]
-
-    [Footnote 293.1: Blank in MS.]
-
-
-232
-
-THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[294.1]
-
-[_To my_] _right trusty and welbeloved Jon Paston, Esquier._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1454]
-
-Right trusty and intierly welbelovyd, I grete you wele. Prayng you as I
-specially trust you that ye wole be good frend to James Arblaster in his
-mater touchyng the maner of Smalbergh, as I wote wele ye haf ever be to
-hym ryght especiall frend; and thogh it so be that the sayd James had
-gret trebles, losses, and adversite herbeforn, neverthelesse he shall
-not be so bare of frendys ner goodes but that I wole se hym holpyn with
-the mercy of God. In performmyng wherof the berer of this shal enforme
-you of myn inten and disposicion more largely than I wole put in
-wrytyng. And the Trinite have you in hys kepyng. Wretyn at
-Wefnow,[294.2] the vij. day of August.
-
-  ELIZABETH VER, Countes of Oxenford.
-
-    [Footnote 294.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] At the bottom of the
-    letter is a contemporary note which appears to show that it was
-    filed along with others of various dates before Michaelmas
-    1454:-- 'Literae de diversis annis ante Michaelem xxxiij.' More
-    precise evidence of its date does not seem to be attainable.]
-
-    [Footnote 294.2: Wivenhoe, near Colchester, in Essex.]
-
-
-233
-
-THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[294.3]
-
-_To John Paston, Sqwyer, dwellyng in Norwich._
-
-[Sidenote: Year uncertain]
-
-Ryght entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, and pray yow that ye woll
-be good frende un to Arblaster in suche matiers as he shal enfo[rme]
-yow, and I thanke yow for the good frendship that ye have shewed to hym.
-And I sent a letter to Margaret Gurnay byfore Cristemesse of certeyn
-langage that I herd, wich plesed me nowght, and so I prayed my Lord to
-gif me leve to wrytte to hir; and therfore and ye here any thyng,
-answere, as my trust is in yow. Right entierly welbeloved, the Holy Gost
-have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn in hast the first day of February.
-
-  OXENFORD,          }
-                     }
-  ELYZABETH DE VEER. }
-
-    [Footnote 294.3: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This and the letter
-    immediately following are inserted here merely on account of
-    their similarity to the last. Their dates are quite uncertain.]
-
-
-234
-
-THE COUNTESS OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON[295.1]
-
-_To my right, entierly welbeloved John Paston of Norwich, Squyer._
-
-Right entierly welbeloved, I grete yow well, thankyng yow of the gret
-jentylnesse that ye have shewed un to my right welbeloved James
-Arblaster, prayng yow of contynuaunse; and if ther be any thyng that I
-may doo for yow or any of yowres, here or in any other place, I pray yow
-let me wete and I shall be redy to do it, with the grace of God, ho have
-yow in his kepyng. And I pray yow to be frendly unto my right welbeloved
-Agneys Arblaster, wich is to me gret plesier and hertes ease and ye so
-be. Wretyn at Wevenho the xiij^e day of Aprill.
-
-  OXENFORD.
-
-  ELYZABETH.
-
-    [Footnote 295.1: [Douce MS. 393, f. 82.]]
-
-
-235
-
-NEWSLETTER OF JOHN STODELEY[295.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JAN. 19]
-
-As touchyng tythynges, please it you to wite that at the Princes[295.3]
-comyng to Wyndesore, the Duc of Buk' toke hym in his armes and presented
-hym to the Kyng in godely wise, besechyng the Kyng to blisse hym; and
-the Kyng yave no maner answere. Natheless the Duk abode stille with the
-Prince by the Kyng; and whan he coude no maner answere have, the Queene
-come in, and toke the Prince in hir armes and presented hym in like
-forme as the Duke had done, desiryng that he shuld blisse it; but alle
-their labour was in veyne, for they departed thens without any answere
-or countenaunce savyng only that ones he loked on the Prince and caste
-doune his eyene ayen, without any more.
-
-Item, the Cardinalle[296.1] hathe charged and commaunded alle his
-servauntz to be redy with bowe and arwes, swerd and bokeler,
-crossebowes, and alle other habillementes of werre, suche as thei kun
-medle with to awaite upon the saufgarde of his persone.
-
-Item, th'erle of Wiltshire[296.2] and the Lord Bonvile have done to be
-cryed at Taunton in Somerset shire, that every man that is likly and
-wole go with theym and serve theym, shalle have vj_d._ every day as long
-as he abidethe with theym.
-
-Item, the Duk of Excestre[296.3] in his owne persone hathe ben at
-Tuxforthe beside Dancastre, in the north contree, and there the Lord
-Egremond[296.4] mette hym, and thei ij. ben sworne togider, and the Duke
-is come home agein.
-
-Item, th'erle of Wiltshire, the Lord Beaumont, Ponynges, Clyfford,
-Egremond, and Bonvyle, maken all the puissance they kan and may to come
-hider with theym.
-
-Item, Thorpe[296.5] of th'escheker articuleth fast ayenst the Duke of
-York, but what his articles ben it is yit unknowen.
-
-Item, Tresham,[296.6] Josep,[296.7] Danyelle,[296.8] and
-Trevilian[296.9] have made a bille to the Lordes, desiryng to have a
-garisone kept at Wyndesore for the saufgarde of the Kyng and of the
-Prince, and that they may have money for wages of theym and other that
-shulle kepe the garyson.
-
-Item, the Duc of Buk' hathe do to be made M^{l}. M^{l}. [2000] bendes
-with knottes, to what entent men may construe as their wittes wole yeve
-theym.
-
-Item, the Duke of Somersetes herbergeour hath taken up all the loggyng
-that may be goten nere the Toure, in Thamystrete, Martlane, Seint
-Katerines, Tourehille, and there aboute.
-
-Item, the Queene hathe made a bille of five articles, desiryng those
-articles to be graunted; wherof the first is that she desireth to have
-the hole reule of this land; the second is that she may make the
-Chaunceller, the Tresorere, the Prive Seelle, and alle other officers of
-this land, with shireves and alle other officers that the Kyng shuld
-make; the third is, that she may yeve alle the bisshopriches of this
-land, and alle other benefices longyng to the Kynges yift; the iiij^th
-is that she may have suffisant lyvelode assigned hir for the Kyng and
-the Prince and hir self. But as for the v^th article, I kan nat yit
-knowe what it is.
-
-Item, the Duke of York wole be at Londone justly on Fryday next
-comyng[297.1] at night, as his owne men tellen for certain, and he wole
-come with his houshold meynee, clenly beseen and likly men. And th'erle
-of Marche[297.2] cometh with hym, but he will have a nother feliship of
-gode men that shall be at Londone before hym . . . that he is come;
-and suche jakkes, salettes, and other herneys as his meyne shulle have,
-shalle come to Londone with hem, or before hem in cartes. The Erle of
-Salesbury[297.3] wille be at Lon[don] on Monday[297.4] or Tywesday next
-comyng with seven score knyghtes and squyers, beside other meynee. The
-Erles of Warwyk,[297.5] Richemond,[297.6] and Pembroke[298.1] comen with
-the Duke of Yorke, as it is seide, everych of theym with a godely
-feliship. And natheles th'erle of Warwyk wole have M^{l}. men awaityng
-on hym beside the feliship that cometh with hym, as ferre as I can
-knowe. And as Geffrey Poole seithe, the Kynges bretherne ben like to be
-arrested at their comyng to Londone, yf thei come. Wherfore it is
-thought by my Lordes[298.2] servauntz and welwillers here that my Lord,
-at his comyng hider, shalle come with a gode and clenly feliship, suche
-as is likly and accordyng to his estate to have aboute hym; and their
-harneys to come in cartes, as my Lord of Yorkes mennes harneys did the
-last terme, and shalle at this tyme also. And over that, that my Lord
-have a nother gode feliship to awaite on hym and to be here afore hym,
-or els sone after hym, in like wise as other Lordes of his blode wole
-have.
-
-And for the more redynesse of suche feliship to be hade redy, that my
-Lord send sadde and wise messagers to his servauntz and tenauntz in
-Sussex and elswhere, that they be redy at London ayenst his comyng, to
-awaite on my Lord; but lete my Lord beware of writyng of lettres for
-theym, lest the lettres be delivered to the Cardynalle and Lordes, as
-one of my Lordes lettres was nowe late, for perill that myght falle,
-for that lettre hathe done moche harme and no gode.
-
-And as for suche tydynges as ben contened in the lettre sent home by
-John Sumpterman, I can nat hiderto here the contrarie of any of theym,
-but that every man that is of th'opynion of the Duke of Somerset[298.3]
-makethe hym redy to be as stronge as he kan make hym. Wherfore it is
-necessarie that my Lord loke wele to hym self and kepe hym amonge his
-meyne, and departe nat from theym, for it is to drede lest busshementes
-shuld be leide for hym. And yf that happed, and my Lord came hiderward,
-as he hathe ben used for to come, he myght lightly be deceyved and
-betrapped, that God defende. And therfore lete my Lord make gode wacche
-and be sure.
-
-The Duke of Somerset hathe espies goyng in every Lordes hous of this
-land; some gone as freres, som as shipmen taken on the sea, and som in
-other wise; whiche reporte unto hym all that thei kun see or here
-touchyng the seid Duke. And therfore make gode wacche, and beware of
-suche espies.
-
-And as touchyng the privee scale and my Lordes seurtee, it is necessarie
-that my Lord be advertised that yf the Chaunceller,[299.1] or any other,
-make any question to my Lord of his comyng contrarie to the teneur of
-the seid privee seall, that my Lord by his grete wisdom make answere
-that he was credibly enformed that aswele the Duke of Somerset beyng
-prisoner, as other beyng at large, holdyng his opynyon ayenst the wele
-of the Kyng and of the land, made grete assemblees and gaderyngs of
-people, to mayntene th'opinion of the seid Duke of Somerset and to
-distrusse my Lord; and that the comyng of my Lord in suche forme as he
-shalle come is onely for the saufgarde of his owne persone, and to none
-other entent, as my Lord hym self can sey moche better than any that is
-here kan advertise hym.
-
-Thise thinges aforseid ben espied and gadred by my Lord Chaun   ,[299.2]
-John Leventhorpe, Laurence Leventhorpe, Maister Adam, William Medwe,
-Robert Alman, John Colvyle, Richard of Warderobe, and me, John Stodeley.
-And as sone as we kun knowe any more in substance we shull send home
-word. Writen at London, the xix. day of Janyvere.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-The meire and merchauntz of London, and the mair and merchauntz of the
-staple of Caleys, were with the Chaunceller on Monday last passed[299.3]
-at Lamhithe, and compleyned on the Lord Bonvile for takyng of the
-shippes and godes of the Flemmynges and other of the Duke of Burgoynes
-Lordships, and the Chaunceller yeve theym none answere to their plesyng;
-wherfore the substaunce of theym with one voys cryed alowde, 'Justice,
-justice, justice!' wherof the Chaunceller was so dismayed that he coude
-ne myght no more sey to theym for fere.
-
-    [Footnote 295.2: [Egerton MS. 914, B.M.] There is no evidence
-    that this letter had anything to do with the Paston
-    correspondence, but as a very interesting political letter of
-    the period we have thought it right to give it a place in the
-    collection. The date is quite certain, being after the birth of
-    Prince Edward in October 1453, and before the death of Cardinal
-    Kemp in March 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 295.3: Edward, only son of Henry VI., born 13th
-    October 1453.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.1: John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.2: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.3: Henry Holland.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.4: Thomas Percy, third son of Henry, Earl of
-    Northumberland.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.5: Thomas Thorpe, one of the Barons of the
-    Exchequer, who was also Speaker of the House of Commons, but was
-    at this time imprisoned in the Fleet in consequence of an action
-    brought against him by the Duke of York.--(See _Rolls of Parl._
-    v. 239.)]
-
-    [Footnote 296.6: Thomas Tresham, who as 'Sir Thomas Tresham,
-    Knight,' was attainted under Edward IV. for fighting on the
-    Lancastrian side at Towton, but his attainder was afterwards
-    reversed in Parliament 7 and 8 Edw. IV., on the ground that he
-    was a household servant of Henry VI. and had been brought up in
-    his service from a child.--_Rolls of Parl._ v. 616-617.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.7: William Joseph, who, with Thorpe, was
-    frequently accused by the Yorkists of misleading the
-    King.--_Rolls of Parl._ v. 280, 282, 332, 342.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.8: Thomas Daniel, Esq. --_See_ p. 255, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 296.9: John Trevilian.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.1: 25th January.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.2: Afterwards Edward IV., the Duke of York's
-    eldest son.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.3: Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, father of
-    Warwick the King-maker.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.4: 21st January.]
-
-    [Footnote 297.5: Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick, afterwards
-    known as 'the King-maker.']
-
-    [Footnote 297.6: Edmund Tudor, the King's half-brother. He was
-    the father of King Henry VII.]
-
-    [Footnote 298.1: Jasper Tudor, brother of the Earl of Richmond,
-    and half-brother to the King.]
-
-    [Footnote 298.2: Probably the Duke of Norfolk.]
-
-    [Footnote 298.3: _See_ p. 255, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 299.1: Cardinal Kemp was at this time
-    Chancellor. --_See_ p. 296, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 299.2: So in MS.]
-
-    [Footnote 299.3: 14th January.]
-
-
-236
-
-MARGARET PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[300.1]
-
-_To my right wurshipfull hosbond, John Paston, be this delyveryd in
-hast._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454(?) / JAN. 29]
-
-Right worshipfull hosbond, I recommawnd me to yow, praying yow to wete
-that I spak yistirday with my suster,[300.2] and she told me that she
-was sory that she myght not speke with yow or ye yede; and she desyrith
-if itt pleased yow, that ye shuld yeve the jantylman, that ye know of,
-seche langage as he myght fele by yow that ye wull be wele willyng to
-the mater that ye know of; for she told me that he hath seyd befor this
-tym that he conseyvid that ye have sett but lytil therby, wherefor she
-prayth yow that ye woll be here gode brother, and that ye myght have a
-full answer at this tym whedder it shall be ya or nay. For her moder
-hath seyd to her syth that ye redyn hens, that she hath no fantesy
-therinne, but that it shall com to a jape; and seyth to her that ther is
-gode crafte in dawbyng; and hath seche langage to her that she thynkyt
-right strange, and so that she is right wery therof, wherefor she
-desyrith the rather to have a full conclusyon therinne. She seyth her
-full trost is in yow, and as ye do therinne, she woll agre her therto.
-
-Mayster Braklee[300.3] be her yisterday to have spoke with yow; I spak
-with hym, but he wold not tell me what his erond was.
-
-It is seyd her that the cescions shall be at Thetford on Saterday next
-komyng, and ther shall be my Lord of Norffolk and other with grette
-pupill [_people_], as it is seyd.
-
-Other tydyngs have we none yett. The blissefull Trynyte have yow in his
-kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche, on the Tewysday next befor Candelmasse.
-
-I pray yow that ye woll vowchesawf to remembr to purvey a thing for my
-nekke, and to do make my gyrdill.
-
-  Yowris,
-
-  M. P.
-
-My cosyn Crane recommawndeth her to yow, and praytth yow to remembr her
-mater, &c., for she may not slepe on nyghtys for hym.
-
-    [Footnote 300.1: [From Fenn, iii. 170.] The request made at the
-    end of this letter that John Paston would procure his wife an
-    ornament for her neck, is noted by Fenn as one that she had made
-    in April 1452, and of which this was probably a repetition nine
-    months afterwards. There seems no better evidence of date to go
-    by, so we follow the same mode of inference; but as we have
-    placed the letter containing the first petition for the necklace
-    in 1453 instead of 1452, we must attribute this letter to the
-    year 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 300.2: Elizabeth Paston.]
-
-    [Footnote 300.3: John Bracklee or Brackley was a brother of the
-    Convent of Grey Friars, or Friars Minors, in Norwich. He took a
-    Doctor of Divinity's degree, and was a famous preacher.--F.]
-
-
-237
-
-AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[301.1]
-
-_Thys letter be delyverd to John Paston, dwellyn in the Inder In of the
-Tempyll at London, in hast._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1454]
-
-I grete yow well, and lete yow wete that thys day I was with my doughtyr
-yor wyfe, and che was in good hele att the makyn of thys letter, thankyd
-be God! and sche lete yor sustyr and me wete of a letter wheche ye sent
-hyr, that ye have be laboryd to for Ser William Oldhall to have your
-sustyr, and desyryng in the seyd letter to have an answer in schort
-tyme, who [_how_] sche wyll be demenyd in thys mater.
-
-Yor suster recomaundyt hyr to yow, and thankyt yow hertyly that ye wyll
-remembyr hyr, and lete hyr have knowleche ther of, and prayt yow that ye
-wyll do your dever to bryng it to a good conclusyon; for sche seythe to
-me that sche trystyt that ye wyll do so, that it xall be bothe for hyr
-worchup and profyt. And as for me, if ye can thynke that hys lond
-standyt cler, in as meche as I fele your sustyr well wyllyd ther to,
-I hold me well content.
-
-And as for the oblygacyon of the persen of Marlynferthe, wheche I sent
-yow by John Newman, I pray yow lete it be suyd; and as for the Parson
-and Lyndesey, they be a cordyd. And God have yow in kepyn, and send yow
-hys blyssyn and myn. Wretyn at Norwyche on Pulver Wedenesday.[302.1]
-
-  Be yor moder,
-
-  AUGNES PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 301.1: [From Fenn, iii. 188.] This letter refers to a
-    proposal for Paston's sister which was probably in or a little
-    before 1454, as in a letter of the 15th July in that year Paston
-    states that several such offers had been under consideration.]
-
-    [Footnote 302.1: If in 1454, Ash-Wednesday was the 6th of
-    March.]
-
-
-238
-
-INGHAM'S PETITION[302.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454]
-
-Ful mekely bisecheth your humble liege man, Walter Ingham of youre
-schire of Norffolk, gentylman, that where the seide Walter was in Goddes
-pees and youres at Dunston in the seid shire the xj. daye of the monthe
-of January, the yere of youre rengne the xxxij., oone Thomas
-Denyes,[302.3] of ful grete malice, prepensed ungodely soore agaynste
-gode feithe and concience, imagynyng utterly to destroye youre seyde
-besecher, contryved a lettre in the name of my Lord of Oxenforde, he not
-knowyng of ony soch lettre comaundyng youre seide besecher to be with
-the seide Lorde at Wevenho, in your shire of Essex, the xiij. day of the
-seide monthe of January, for divers grete maters towchyng my seide
-Lorde. The seide Thomas, thenkyng in his conceite that youre seid
-besechere wolde in noo wyse disobeye the seide wrytyng, but that he
-wolde putte hym in his devoyre to fulfill my seide Lords desyre, layde
-dyvers folks arraied in maner of werre with jakkes, saletts,
-langedebiefs,[302.4] and boore speres in ij. busshements for youre seide
-besecher in ij. places, knowyng wele that youre seide besecher must come
-oone of thes ij. weyes for, tho [_there_] were no moo, to that intent
-that they [might] murdre your seide besecher be cause he had laboured
-for his fadir in a wryte _sub pena_ agaynst the seide Thomas Denys and
-Anneys his wyf for a notable somme of money that the seide Anneys shulde
-have payede to the fadir of your seide besecher; the seide Thomas
-comaundyng the seide mysdoers in any wyse whech of theym that mette
-first with youre seide besecher shulde sle hym, and they shol be
-nota[b]ly rewardet for ther laboure, and the seide Thomas shulde kepe
-and save theyme harmeles. Bicause of whech comaundement oone of the
-seide busshements mette with the forsaide besechere the xij. day of the
-seide month, as he came toward my seide Lorde of Oxenforde acordyng to
-his lettre at Dunstone afore seide, and hym than and there grevosly
-bette and woundet, aswell upon his hede as uppon his leggs, and other
-ful grevous strokes and many gaf hym upon his bakke, so that youre seide
-besecher is mahaymed upon his ryght legg, and feyne to goo on crucches,
-and so must do al dayes of his lif to his utter undoyng; notwithstandyng
-the seide mysdoers and riotous peple in this conceite [lef]te youre
-seide besecher for dede. Uppon the whech ryot it was complayned to my
-Lord Chauncelere[303.1] by the frends of yowre besecher, desyryng of hym
-by ca[use of th]e grete ryote doone by the seide Thomas, and also for
-the sauf garde of youre seyde besechere, that oone of your serjantes of
-armes myght be comaundement [go][303.2] and areste the seide Thomas to
-appere before you in your Chauncerie for the seide ryot, because the
-seide Thomas was at that tyme at London; bi force of [whech
-com]aundement oone of youre serjants of armes went to Lyncolne Inne to
-arreste the sayde Thomas. The whech areste the seide Thomas utterly
-diso[beyed in] grete contempte of your highnesse; nevertheles he is now
-in the warde of the Wardeyne of the Flete by the comaundement of my
-Lorde Chaunceler. [Wher]fore plese it your highnes of youre most noble
-and habundante grace, by the assente of your Lordes Spirituel and
-Temporel, and of your Comons in this your present Par[lement assem]bled,
-and by auctorite of the same, to ordeyne and estabelessche that the
-seide Thomas Denys may abide in the seide prisone of the Flete, and not
-to be [admitted to bayl] nor meynprise in noo wyse in to soch tyme that
-the seide Thomas have answered to soch accion or accions as youre seide
-besecher schal take agaynst hym for the seide mahayme and betyng, and
-also unto soch tyme as the same accions ben folly discussed and
-determyned bi twene your seide besecher and the seide Thomas Denys,
-consideryng that if the same Thomas scholde go at large, he wolde never
-answere your seide besecher but hym delay by protecions and other weies,
-so that the same besecher schulde never be content nor agreed, for the
-exhorbitant offence done to hym; and also un to the tyme the seide
-Thomas fynde sofficient suerte of his gode beryng fro this tyme forthe.
-And he shal pray to God for youre moste noble astate.
-
-    [Footnote 302.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a petition to
-    the King in Parliament which, supported by the influence of
-    Cardinal Kemp, appears to have met with a favourable hearing
-    from the House of Lords. The date will appear by the letter
-    following.]
-
-    [Footnote 302.3: _See_ Nos. 123 and 124.]
-
-    [Footnote 302.4: The _langue-de-boeuf_ was a kind of glaive with
-    a double edge half down the blade.]
-
-    [Footnote 303.1: John Kemp, Archbishop of Canterbury and
-    Cardinal.]
-
-    [Footnote 303.2: Mutilated.]
-
-
-239
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[304.1]
-
-_To my right wurshipfull maister, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MARCH 20]
-
-Right wurshipfull and myn especiall good maister, I recomaund me to you
-with all service and prayer to my power. And like it you to wete that
-how be a full straunge acte is passid agayn me in the Higher House
-before the Lords, wherof I send you a copie. Neverthelesse I hope to God
-that it shal not passe in the Comon House; but me is be falle the most
-sorwfull infortune that ever por man had, standyng in suych case as I
-do, for my Lordis the Cardenale and of Oxenford haf imprisoned my wif in
-the countour, and how thei shal guyde hir forth, God knoweth. Which
-standith to nygh myn hert, if Godds will were; but wel I know that by
-thes vengeable malics don to hir and me thei wole [not?] be content,
-for Ingham lithe beside that to take awey my wyves doughter out of
-Westminster to make an end of my wif if he can, and also to arest my
-servauntz, that I drede that she nor I shal haf no creature to attend us
-ne help us; and suych malice haf I never herd of herbeforne. And it is
-told me that beside that thei wole dispoil, if any good thei can fynde
-of myn in Norwich or Norffolk, and imprisone my servauntz there.
-Wherfore I lowly beseche your maistership, for our Lords mercy, that ye
-vouchsauff to socour theym in this necessite; and if ony entree be made
-or shuld be made upon myn wifes place in Norwich, that ye vouchsauff to
-socour my servauntz, and do ther inne after your wisdam for Crists love
-and seynt charite.
-
-Beside this, a frend and kynnesman of myn, oon Robert Clement of Betele,
-hath writen to me that he is arestid, and like to be imprisoned bi a
-writte of dette, take agayn hym upon an obligacion of C_li._ [L100] in
-which he and I and other wer bounde to my Lorde of Oxenford xiiij. yeer
-agone, wherof I haf many acquitaunces. Wherfore I pray your good
-maistership to send to the Shirreve that my said kynnesman may ben
-easid, and no retourne made ageyn hym, but that he may answer the next
-tyme bi attourney; for truly that writte was take oute in the end of the
-terme aftir I was arestid, and aftir it was aperid to.
-
-I pray your maistership, for Godds sake, to be not displesid, ne wery to
-do for me in these materes of your charite, for I had lever gif the said
-Robert suych good, litell if it be, as I haf, than he wer undone for me,
-or ony man ellis that ever ded for me. And I hope, if God vouchsaf that
-the mater may come to reson, to sauf hym harmles, and all other with
-Godds mercy, ever prayng you of your maistership and socour for Godds
-love, who ever kepe for his mercy.
-
-Wretyn in Flete, the Wednesday the second weke of Lent.
-
-Mor over, in augmentyng of my sorwe, I wend my wif shuld a dyed sith,
-for aftir she was arestid she laboured of hir child, that she is with
-all, waityng either to dye or be delyvered, and she hath not gon viij.
-weks quykke. What shal be falle Almighti God knoweth, and shull dispose
-mercifully.
-
-Aftirward my wif was sum dele easid bi the labour of the Wardeyn of
-Flete, for the cursed Cardenale had sent hir to Newgate. God forgif his
-sowle. Now she is take to baile til Tuesday. The Cardenale is dede, and
-the Kyng is relevid.[306.1]
-
-    [Footnote 304.1: [From Fenn, iii. 174.] This letter is without a
-    signature, and the writer was unknown to Fenn; but a comparison
-    with the letter which follows (now printed for the first time)
-    leaves no doubt that it was written by Thomas Denyes, whom we
-    have already met with as a dependant of the Earl of Oxford
-    (_see_ Letters 123, 124, and 132). The date is fixed by the
-    reference to the death of Cardinal Kemp in the postscript.]
-
-    [Footnote 306.1: This last sentence must have been added a few
-    days after the date of the letter, for Cardinal Kemp died on the
-    22nd of March 1454. Wednesday in the second week of Lent was the
-    20th March.]
-
-
-240
-
-JOHN PASTON TO [THE EARL OF OXFORD][306.2]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MARCH 31]
-
-Right wurchepfull and my right especiall Lord, I recomaund me to your
-gode Lordshep, besechyng your Lordshep that ye take not to displesauns
-thow I write you, as I here say that Agnes Denyes, be the meanes of your
-Lordshep and of my Lord the Cardynall,[306.3] hos sowle God assoyle and
-forgeve, was set in preson, beyng with child--which, and the sorough and
-shame there of, was nygh her deth--and yet dayly is vexed and trobled,
-and her servauntes in like wyse, to the uttermest distruccion of her
-person and godes. In which, my Lord, at the reverens of God, remembre
-sche was maried be you and be my meanes, be your comaundement and
-writyng, and draw therto full sore ageyn her entent in the begynnynge;
-and was worth v.^c. [500] marc and better, and shuld have had a
-gentilman of this contre of an C. marc of lond and wele born, ne had be
-your gode Lordshep and writyng to her and me. And this considered in
-your wise discrecion, I trost, my Lord, thow her prisonyng were of
-oderes labore, ye wuld helpe her; and if she be destroyd be this
-mariage, my conscyens thynketh I am bownd to recompense her after my
-pore and sympill power. My Lord, ye know I had litill cause to do for
-Thomas Denyes, savyng only for your gode Lordshep. Also, my Lord, I know
-wele that Water Ingham was bete, the mater hangyng in myn award, right
-fowle and shamefully; and also how the seid Thomas Denyes hath, this
-last terme, ageyn your nobill estat, right unwysely demened hym to his
-shame and grettest rebuke that ever he had in his lyve. Where fore it is
-right wele do his person be ponysshed as it pleaseth you. But this not
-withstondyng for Godds love, my Lord, remembre how the gentilwoman is
-accombred only for yowr sake, and help her; and if aught lyth in my
-power to do that that myght please yowr Lordshep, or cowde fynde any way
-for Water Ingham avayll and wurchep, I wull do it to my power; and the
-rather if your Lordshep support the jentilwoman, for I know the mater
-and that longe plee is litill avayll, and every thyng must have an ende.
-I have told my brother Mathew Drury more to enforme yowre Lordshep than
-I may have leyser to write for his hasty departyng. Right wurchepfull
-and my right especiall Lord, I besech All myghty God send you asmych joy
-and wurchep as ever had any of my Lords yowr aunceters, and kepe you and
-all yowres. Wretyn at Norwich the iiij. Sonday of Lent.
-
-  Yowre servaunte to his powr,
-
-  JOHN PASTON.
-
-    [Footnote 306.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter was so
-    manifestly written on the receipt of the last, that there can be
-    no question about the date. It bears no address upon the back,
-    so that it is probably only a copy, or, if an original, it
-    certainly was not sent; but the person for whom it was intended
-    was evidently the Earl of Oxford.]
-
-    [Footnote 306.3: Cardinal Kemp.]
-
-
-241
-
-INFORMATION AGAINST ROBERT LEDHAM[307.1]
-
-[Sidenote: 1454]
-
-Thees be the persons that enformyd the Justicez of the Kyngis Benche the
-last terme of suche ryottis as hath be done be Robert Ledham: The Lord
-Skales, Sir Thomas Todenham, Sir John Chalers, Edmond Clere, Water
-George, John Alyngton, Gilbert Debenham, John Denston, William Whit,
-William Alyngton, Reynald Rows, John Berney, Richard Suthwell, John
-Paston, John Henyngham, Raff Shelton, Henry Grey.
-
-These be the names of the knyghtes and esquyers that endittyd Robert
-Ledham:--Thomas Todenham, knyght, Andrew Ogard, knyght, John Henygham,
-knyght, William Calthorp, esquyer, Bryan Stapelton, esquyer, Osbert
-Mondford, esquyer, John Groos, esquyer, William Rokwod, esquyer, Thomas
-Morle, esquyer, Thomas Scholdham, esquyer, John Wyndham, esquyer, John
-Berney, esquyer, William Narbow, esquyer, John Chippysby, esquyer,
-William White, esquyer, John Bryston, esquyer, John Paston, esquyer.
-
-These be dyvers of the ryottis and offensis done in the hundred of
-Blofeld in the counte of Norffolk, and in other townys be Robert Lethum,
-otherwyse callyd Robert Ledham of Wytton, be Blofeld in the counte of
-Norffolk, and by his ryottys men and by other of his affinitez and
-knowleche, whos names folowyn, and that they contynually folow and
-resorte unto his hous, and ther be supported and maynteynet and
-confortid.
-
-These be the principall menealle men of the sayd Robert Ledham ys hous
-be the whiche the sayd ryottys have be done, that use in substaunce non
-other occupacion but ryottys:--_In primis_, John Cokett, Thomas Bury,
-Thomas Cokowe, Cristofer Bradlee, Elys Dukworth, William Donmowe,
-Cristofer Grenesheve, Roger Chirche. Notwythstondyng the sayd Robert
-Ledham kypith dayly many mo in his house and chaungeth such as have be
-oppenly knowyn for riottis and takith other for hem as evill as they.
-And these be the most principale persons comyng and resortyng unto the
-house of the sayd Robert Ledham, and ther be supportid and mayntened in
-ryottes be whom the sayd ryottes have be don, that ys to sey: _In
-primis_, Robert Taillor, Henry Bang, Robert Dallyng, John Beston,
-Charles Navell, John, the sone of Roger Ratclyff, Robert Berton;
-notwythstondyng ther be money moo whos names ben unknowyn. With the
-which persons, and many moo unknowyn, the sayd Robert Ledham kept atte
-his hous in maner of a forcelet and issith ouute atte here pleaysour and
-atte his lust, the sayd Ledham to assigne, somtyme vj. and sometyme
-xij., somtyme xxx^ti and moo, armyd, jakkid, and salettyd, with bowys
-and arrowys, speris, billys, and over ryde the countrey and oppressid
-the Kyngs peple, and didde mony oryble and abhomynable dedes, like to
-have be destruccion of the enhabitantes in the sayd hundred, in the
-forme that folowyth, and warse.
-
-_In primis_, on the Monday[309.1] next before Ester day and the shire
-daye, the xxx. yere of oure soverayne Lord the Kyng, x. persons of the
-sayd riottors, with a brother of the wyff of the sayd Robert Lethum,
-laye in awayte in the hyght way under Thorpe Wode upon Phillip Berney,
-esquyer, and his man comyng from the shire, and shette atte hym and
-smote the hors of the sayd Phillipp with arowes, and than over rode hym,
-and toke hym and bette hym and spoillid hym. And for thayr excuse of
-this ryot, they ledde hym to the Bysshopp of Norwiche, axyng seuerte of
-the peas wher they hadde never waraunt hym to areste. Which affray
-shorttyd the lyffdayes of the sayd Phillippe, whiche dyed withynne
-shorte tyme after the said affray.[309.2]
-
-Item, iij. of the sayd riottys feloshippe the same day, yere, and place,
-laye on awayte uppon Edmond Broune, gentilman, and with naked swerdes
-and other wepyng faght wyth hym be the space of on qaurte (_sic_) of an
-houre, and toke and spoillyd hym, and kepte hym as long as them lyst,
-and after that lette hym goo.
-
-Item, xl^ti of the sayd riottys felowshipp, be the comaundement of the
-same Robert Lethum, jakket and saletted, with bowes, arowys, billys, and
-gleyves, oppon Mauyndy Thursday,[309.3] atte iiij. of the clokke atte
-after nonne, the same yere, comyn to the White Freres in Norwyche, and
-wold have brokyn theyr yates and dorys, feynyng thaym that they wold
-hire thayre evesong. Where they ware aunswered suche service was non
-used to be there, nor withyn the sayd citee atte that tyme of the daye,
-and prayd them to departe; and they aunswered and sayd that affore
-thayre departyng they wold have somme persons ouute of that place,
-qwykke or dede, insomuch the sayd freris were fayn to kype thaire place
-with forsse. And the mayr and the sheriffe of the sayd cite were fayn to
-arere a power to resyst the sayd riotts, which to hem on that holy tyme
-was tediose and heynous, consedryng the losse and lettyng of the holy
-service of that holy nyght. And theroppon the sayd ryotors departid.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, on the Monday[310.1] nest after Esterne
-day, the same yere, toke from on John Wilton iiij. neet for rent arere,
-as he said, and killed hem and layd them in salte, and afterward ete
-hem.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, with vj. of his sayd ryottes, the same
-yere made assaute uppon John Wilton in Plumstede churche yerde, and
-theer so bete hym that he was in doute of his lyff; and also dede to hym
-many grete wronggys and oppressioun, unto the undoyng of the sayd John
-Wilton.
-
-Item, in lyke wyse the sayd Robert Lethum and his men assauted on John
-Coke of Witton, in brekyng uppe his dorys atte a xi. of the cloke in the
-nyght, and wyth thaire swerdys maymed hym and gaff hym vij. grete
-wondys, and toke from hym certayn goodys and catalls, of the whiche he
-hadde, nor yitte hath, no remedy nor restitution.
-
-Item, the same day and yere they bete the moder of the same John Coke,
-she beyng iiij^xx. [_four score_] yere of age and more, and smote hure
-uppon the crowne of here hed with a swerd; of the whiche hurte she myght
-never be helyd into the day of hure deth.
-
-Item, John, the sone of Hodge Ratleffe, and other of the sayd
-felowshipp, toke on Thomas Baret of Byrlygham out of his house, and bete
-hym and wondid hym that he kept his bedde a month, and toke from hym
-certayn goodes and catells.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Taillor, because the sayd Thomas Baret complayned
-of the same betyng, lay in awayte oppon hym, with other of his
-feloushippe, and bete hym agayn.
-
-Item, John Beston and the sayd Robert Taillor, and other of the sayd
-riottes felowshipp, toke on Thomas Byrden of Lyngewod and bete hym and
-prisoned hym till unto such tyme that he was delyvered by the mene of my
-Lord of Norwych; and for that sorow, distres, and grete payne and
-betyng, the sayd Thomas Byrden toke suche kynesse that he dyed.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Dallyng and Herry Bange, and other of the sayd
-felowshippe, toke and bete on Nicholas Chirche atte Strumpeshawe, beyng
-in the church of the same towne, that he was [in] dout of his lyff.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Dallyng lay on awayt uppon on Thomas Dallyng,
-and hym grevously bete.
-
-Item, on Middleynt Sunday,[311.1] the xxx^ti yere of oure soveraigne
-Lorde the Kynge that now ys, Robert Dallyng, Robert Churche, Robert
-Taillor, Herry Bang, Adam atte More, with other unknowyn, be the
-comaundement and assent of the sayd Robert Ledham, made affray uppon
-Herry Smyth and Thomas Chambre atte Suthbirlyngham, the sayd Herry and
-Thomas and that tyme knelyng to see the usyng of the masse, and than and
-ther wold have kyllyd the sayd Herry and Thomas atte the prestys bakke,
-ne had they be lettyd.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Lethum, with his sayd ryottis felawshipp, the same
-yere dide and made so many ryottes in the hundred where he dwellyth that
-dyvers and many gentilmen, frankeleyns, and good men, durst not abyde in
-here mansyon place, ne ryde, nother walke aboute thaire occupacions
-without mo persons, arrayd in maner and forme of werre attendyng and
-waytyng uppon them than thayr lyvelode wold extende to fynde hem. And
-so, for savacion of thaire lyves, and in eschewyng of suche inordinat
-costys as never was seen in that countrey befor, many of them forsoke
-and leffte thaire owyn habitacion, wyff and childe, and drewe to
-fortresses and good townes as for that tyme.
-
-_In primis_, Phillipp Berney, esquyer, Edmond Broom to Castre; Thomas
-Holler, John Wylton to Norwych; Oliver Kubyte to Seynt Benetts; Robert
-Spany to Aylesham; Thomas Baret, with many others, to Meche Yarmouth and
-to other placys of strenght.
-
-Item, the sayd Robert Ledham, contynuyng in this wyse, callyd unto hym
-his sayd mysgoverned felowshipp, consydryng the absence of many of the
-well-rewlyd people of the sayd hundred of affere cast malice, and
-congected, purposed and labored to the sheriff of the shire that the
-sayd Roger Chirche, on of the sayd riottous felawshipp, was made bailly
-of the hundred; and after causid the same Roger to be begynner of
-arysyng and to take oppon hym to be a captayn and to excite the peple of
-the countrey therto. And ther oppon, be covyne of the sayd Robert
-Ledhaum, to appeche all these sayd well rewlyd persones, and as well
-other divers substanciall men of good fame and good governaunce that
-were hated be the sayd Robert Ledhaum, and promittyng the sayd Roger
-harmeles and to sew his pardon be the mene of Danyell; to the which
-promyse the sayd Rogger aggreed, and was arested and take be the sayd
-Ledham be covyne betwixt hem, and appeched suche persons as they lust,
-to the entente that the sayd substanciall men of the countre shuld be by
-that mene so trowblyd and indaungered that they shuld not be of power to
-lette and resist the mys rewle of the sayd Ledham and his mysgoverned
-felawshipp, the whiche mater ys confessid by the sayd Roger Chirch.
-
-Item, William Breton and John Berton, and other of the sayd ryottes,
-come into the place of on Robert Spany of Poswyke and serched his
-housez, hous be hous, for to have bete hym yf they myght have founde
-hym.
-
-Item, William Donmowe, servaunt of the sayd Robert Ledham, and by his
-comaundement, the same yere bete the parson of Hashyngham, and brake his
-hede in his owyn chauncell.
-
-Item, the sayd Thomas Bery, Elys Dukworth, Thomas Cokowe, George of
-Chamer, the v. day of Novembre last past, with divers other onknowyn
-men, onto the nombre of xx. persons, and noman of reputacion among hem,
-comen, under color of huntyng, and brake uppe gatys and closys of
-Osburne Monford atte Brayston; and xij. persons of the same felowshipp,
-with bowys bent and arowys redy in thair handys, abode alone betwixt the
-maner of Brayston and the chirche, and there kept hem from vij. of the
-clokke on the mornyng unto iij. of the clokk after none, lyyng in awayte
-oppon the servauntez of the sayd Osburne Monford, lorde of the sayd
-maner, so that nonne durst comen ouut for doute of thair lyves.
-
-Item, viij. of the sayd felowshipp, on the Wennesday next after, prevely
-in an hole layn in awayte oppon William Edworth and Robert Camplyon,
-servauntz to the sayd Osburn Montford, comyng from Okill[313.1] market,
-till that tyme that the said William Owell and Robert come uppon hem
-onwarre, and theruppon chasid hem so that yf they had not be well
-horssyd and well askapped, they had ben dede and slayne.
-
-Item, vj. or vij. of the sayd Ledamys men dayly, boyth werkeday and haly
-day, use to goo aboute in the countrey with bowys and arowys, shotyng
-and playng in mennys closis among men catall, goyng from alhous to
-alhousez and manassyng suche as they hated, and soght occasion and
-quarels and debate.
-
-Item, notwithstandyng that all the lyvelod that the sayd Ledham hath
-passith not xx_li._ [L20], be sydes the reparacion and outcharges, and
-that he hath no connyng ne trew mene of getyng of any good in this
-countre, as for as any man may conceyve, and yette xypith in his house
-dayly xx. men, besydes women and gret multitude of such mysgoverned
-peple as ben resortyng to hym, as ys above sayd, to the whiche he yevith
-clothyng, and yitte bysyde that he yevith to other men that be not
-dwellyng in his household; and of the sayd xx. men ther passith not
-viij. that use occupacion of husbondrye; and all they that use
-husbondrye, as well as other, be jakked and salettid redy for to werre,
-which yn this countrey ys thoght ryght straunge, and ys verely so
-conceyved that he may not kepe this countenance be no good menes.
-
-Item, the sayd Ledham hath a _supersedias_ oute of the chauncerie for
-hym and divers of hys men, that no warant of justice of pees may be
-served agayn hem.
-
-Item, please unto your Lordshipp to remembre that the sayd Ledham and
-his sayd mysgoverned feloushipp be endited of many of these articles and
-of many moo not comprehendit here, and in especiall of the sayd rysyng
-agayn the Kyng. Wherfore, though the sayd Ledham can prove the sayd
-enditement of treson voyde in the lawe for symplenesse of them that
-gaffe the verdit, that it lyke you, for the Kyngs availl, not redely to
-suffre the sayd Ledham to departe atte large unto the tyme that the
-mater of the sayd enditement be better enquered of for the Kyngs avayll,
-and that the sayd Ledham fynde surte of his good aberyng; and the
-inhabitauntz of the sayd hundred of Blofeld shall pray for you. And els
-they be lyke to be destruyd for ever.
-
-    [Footnote 307.1: [From Add. Charter 16,545, B.M.] This paper
-    refers mainly to events of 1452 and 1453, but was probably drawn
-    up in 1454, after the Duke of York had come into power.]
-
-    [Footnote 309.1: 3rd April 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 309.2: Philip Berney died, as we have seen, on the 2nd
-    July 1453, fifteen months after the date assigned to the
-    outrage.]
-
-    [Footnote 309.3: 6th April 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 310.1: 10th April 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 311.1: 19th March 1452.]
-
-    [Footnote 313.1: Acle.]
-
-  [[she beyng iiij^xx. ... yere of age
-    _printed "vere" (error or broken "y")_]]
-
-  [[toke suche kynesse that he dyed
-    _text unchanged: error for "sykynesse" or equivalent?_]]
-
-
-242
-
-JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON[314.1]
-
-_Un to ryth reverent Sir, and my good mayster, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: About 1454]
-
-Ryth wurthy and wurchypfull Sir, and my ryth good mayster, I recomaunde
-me on to you, thankyng you evermore of your gret jentylness and good
-maystyrhod shewyd on to me at all tymys, and specyally now to my herthys
-ease, qwyche on my part can nowt be rewardyd, but my sympyll service is
-ever redy at your comaundement. Ferthemor, as for the mater that ye wete
-of, I have laboryd so to my feydr that your entent as for the jointoure
-xal be fulfellyd; and, Sir, I besheche you sethyn that I do my part to
-fullefelle your wyll, that ye wolle shew me your good maystyrhod in here
-chambyr, as my full trust is, in so moche that it xall nowth hurthe you
-nor non of youris, and the profite ther of xal be on to the avayle of my
-maystress your suster, and to me, and to non odyr creature.
-
-And also my maystress, your modyr, xall nouth be charchyd the with her
-bourd aftyr the day of the mariage, but I to discharge her of here
-persone, and to ease me that hat here chambyr may be non contradiccion.
-
-And, Sir, I am redy, and alwey wolle to performe that I have seyd on to
-you, &c.
-
-Ferthemor, lykyd you to wete I was a Thursday last passyd at Cavendyshe,
-to dylyver an astate to Wentworth in the londe that was my brothyr
-Cavendyche, as I tolde you wan I was last with you. And ther I spak with
-Crane; and he be sowthe me that I wolde sende over to my maystress your
-modyr for his excuse, for he myth nowth be with here at this tyme, but
-on the Saterday in Esterne wyke he wolle nouth fayll to be with her.
-So he counsellyd me that I and my brothyr Denston xulde mete with hym
-there; and so, withoute your better avyse, I and my brothyr purpose us
-to be with you ther at that tyme; for the sonner the levyr me, for, as
-to my conceythe, the dayys be waxyn wondyrly longe in a scorte tyme.
-Qwerfor I besheche you sende me your avyse how ye wolle have me rewlyd,
-&c.
-
-No more I wrythe to you at this present tyme, but be schechyng you to
-recomaunde in the lowlyest wyse. And the Trinite preserve you body and
-sowle.
-
-Wretyn with my chauncery hand, in ryth gret haste, on the Fryday be forn
-Palmesoneday.
-
-  Your,
-
-  JOHN CLOPTON.
-
-    [Footnote 314.1: [From Fenn, iii. 192.] The exact year of this
-    letter is uncertain, but from what John Paston writes to Lord
-    Grey on the 15th of July 1454, about proposals having been
-    recently made for his sister, it is not unlikely to be that
-    year.]
-
-
-243
-
-JOHN CLOPTON TO JOHN PASTON[315.1]
-
-_Maryage Artycles betwix Anneys Paston, &c. on the one partie, and
-William Clopton, Squyer, on the other partie._
-
-This indenture, made betwix Anneys that was the wyfe of William Paston,
-John Paston hir sone, and John Dam on the one partie, and William
-Clopton, Squyer, on the other partie, witnesseth that accord is take
-attwyn the seid parties that John Clopton, sone and heir of the seid
-William Clopton, by the grace of God, shall wedde Elizabeth, the
-doughter of the seid Anneys. For which mareage the seid Anneys, &c.
-shall paye to the seid John Clopton CCCC^th marc in hand of lawfull mony
-of England; and over that, yf the seid mareage be holdyn with the seid
-Anneys, the seid Anneys shall bere the costages therof the day of the
-weddyng, with swech chaumbeyr as shall be to the plesir of the seid
-Anneys; and the seid William Clopton shall do his feffees make a lawfull
-estate to the seid William of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to
-the yerly value of xl_li._ over all chargez born, to have and to hold to
-hym terme of his lyfe, withoutyn empechement of wast, the remaindr
-therof to the seid John and Elizabeth, and to his heirs male of hir body
-lawfully begotyn, withoute impechement of wast, withynne xij. dayes
-after the seid weddyng.
-
-And over that, withynne the seid xij. dayes the seid John shall do
-lawfull estate to be made to the seid William of londs, tenementz,
-rentz, and servysez to the yerly value of xl. marc over all charges
-born; to have and hold to the seid William terme of his lyfe, withoute
-empechement of wast; the remayndre therof to the seid Elizabeth, to have
-and hold to hir terme of hir lyfe withoute empechement of wast.
-
-Also it is accorded that the seid William shall make estate of all the
-residue of his londs which he is sesid of, or any other man to his use,
-to swech personys as the seid John shall name, to the use of the seid
-John.
-
-Also the seid John Clopton shall do lawfull estate to be made to the
-seid Elizabeth of londs, tenementz, rentz, and servysez to the yerly
-value of xxx_li._ over all chargez born, to have and hold to hir duryng
-the lyfe of the seid William.
-
-And moreover the seid John permytteth and ensureth be the feith of his
-body that he shall leve, over the xl_li._ worth lond aboveseid to his
-heirs and issue male of the body of the seid Elizabeth begotyn, londes
-in fee symple or in taill to the yerly value of xl. marc, in cas the
-same issue male be governyd to the seid John as the sone oweth to be to
-the fadir. And, &c.
-
-    [Footnote 315.1: [From Fenn, iii. 196.] The date of this draft
-    settlement is no doubt about the same period as that of the
-    preceding letter, whatever may have been the exact time that it
-    was written.]
-
-
-244
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[317.1]
-
-_To my maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / APRIL 8]
-
-Right Reverend and wurshipfull Sir, myn especyall good maister,
-I recomaund me to you. And for as moch as adversite and prosperite bothe
-ly in the disposicion of o [_one_] man above, I thank God, and late you
-wete that I stand yet in as greet troble as ever I dede or gretter;
-praying you ever to be my good maister and to contynue your benyvolens
-as I am ever bounde to you. Myn hevynes is sum whet incresid, for a fals
-harlot, sauf your reverens, one James Cook, a servaunt of myn, falsly
-and traitourously is hired bi Watte Ingham and hath accused and diffamed
-me and my wif of settyng up billes agayn lordis, that, Almighti God I
-take to record, I not am ne never was gilty therof; but the same theef
-and Asshcote han made an appoyntement to come and robbe me of suych
-littel goodis of myn as thei can gete in Norffolk or Norwich. Wherfore I
-beseche your maistership for charite of your help and socour to my
-servauntz if such case falle. For I trowe this is a troble that never
-man suffrid non like in such case, and therfore, gentill Sir, as God
-hath indued you of myght and power to socour suych troubles, shew your
-bounte to me in this nede, and that for Goddes love, Who Almighti
-preserve you. Wretyn in Flete the viij. day of Aprill.--Your wofull
-servant,
-
-  DENYES.
-
-The said Asshcote can counterfete my hand and therfore I drede he wole
-stele by sum fals letters suych as he myght gete. I haf wretyn my
-servantz theraftir.
-
-    [Footnote 317.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 94.] That the year in
-    which this letter was written was 1454 is evident from its being
-    dated from the Fleet. _See_ Nos. 239 and 245.]
-
-
-245
-
-THOMAS DENYES TO JOHN PASTON[318.1]
-
-_To my Maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MAY 3]
-
-Right reverent and wurshipfull Sir, and myn especiall good maister,
-I recomaund me to you. And for as moche as oon Lord above giffeth and
-takith as hym plesith, I thank His grace of every thyng; and for the
-bounte that ye shew to me in this troble, I haf no spirite to thank you
-as I shuld. Sir, as for certeyn evidence of myn touchyng your place in
-Seint Andrues Parissh, my wif tellith me that she lefft thaym in a chest
-at Ovyes shette; the key ther of she hath sent now to Ovy also. And as
-for more evidence, sum is in the kepyng of Frere John Mendham, wherto I
-beseche your maistership that ye wole se for the sauf and secreet kepyng
-therof. God wote my wif delyvered all, myn unwetyng; ever therfore I
-doute, trustyng with such hope as is be lefft me to the best, with Godds
-grace.
-
-Othre evidence of myn is at Folsham, I wote not with whome. I thank God
-of my conyng; but as sone as I may know, I shal write to you. Wherfore,
-sith it is thus, I beseche your maistershep disdeigne not, but for our
-Lords love ye vouchsauf to take it to you, or to se that it be sauf, if
-it plese you. And that ye wole send for John Maile, for I conceyve hym
-right feithfull to me, and I am enfourmed that he is gretly manasid for
-me. And that ye vouchsauf to do put hym in comfort that I lese not his
-good wille, and that ye shew hym your good maistership and favor that he
-be holpen and not hurt for me. Ferthermore, I wrote to you for such smal
-thynges as I had leid to plegge to you for such good as that I borwid of
-you. Wheryn I beseche your maistership that if my frends pay you
-accordyng to my writyng, that ye than vouchsaf to do the said plegges be
-sent hider to me by such conduyte as your wisdam like to avise, and that
-they myght be here by the iiij^to die of the xv^cim[319.1] of Ester, for
-than is my grettest jouparte touchyng myn imprisonement; for sith myn
-enmyes coude not avail to send me to the castel of Bristow (which was
-their purpose, whan thei undirstood the disposicion of the Comons Hous
-agayn their billes), ever sith they make a privy labor to haf me
-remevid, and I wote not whedir, ne wethir that tyme I shal be sent to
-the Kynges Bench, and abide ther, or remittyd hider agayn.
-
-Neverthelesse, if I haf releve of such pouer godes as shuld be myn by
-reson, than I hope to do better, and sumwhat to aquyte, wherby I hope to
-put my frends in gretter corage to do for me. And if I haf no releve,
-than can I nomore, but all refere to God as I do daily. Wherefore, if ye
-be not paied, I pray you to councell my said frendes to send me suche
-mony as thei may gete of myn agayn that day, ever your maistership and
-wisdam seyng to the conduyte therof. More over, I doute lest that
-Richard Davy of his untrouth enfourme myn enmys wher such pouer thyng as
-I haf is, to that intent that thei may riffel and dispoil all. Wherof,
-if such case hapne, I can no ferthre, but I besech your help in every
-thyng. It is yours all, ther is a dede of gifft therof to you among myn
-evidence, as ye vouchsauff to do or do to be don in every thyng I holde
-me content. And Al myghti God preserve you.
-
-Wretyn in non hertis ease at Flete, the iij. day of Maii.
-
-  WOFUL DENYES.
-
-    [Footnote 318.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] For the date of this
-    letter it may be sufficient to refer the reader to Letters 238
-    and 239 preceding. Both Denyes and his wife are here still in
-    prison, but he expresses himself grateful to Paston for efforts
-    made in his behalf.]
-
-    [Footnote 319.1: The fourth day of the quinzaine of Easter.]
-
-
-246
-
-LORD SCALES TO JOHN PASTON[320.1]
-
-_To my right and welbeloved frend, John Paston, Squier._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / MAY 17]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved frend, I grete you wel; and for as mych as I
-have understande that ze have do take a distresse of certayn bestes upon
-certayn land, which I stande infeffed in, in the town of Pagrave, for
-what cause I knowe not; wherfor I pray you that ze wyll make deliverance
-ageyn of the said bestes, and if any thing ze can axe be dute of right,
-setteth a day, and lete your evydences and right be shewed, and I shall
-assigne conceill of myn to be there to se it; and all that reson or lawe
-wyll, I wyll be right glad ze have, and otherwise I trowe ze wold not
-desire. And if ze wyll do this, I wyll be wel paied, and elles ze
-constreyn me to pourveye other wise, as lawe may gyde me. Oure Lord have
-you in governance. Writen at Walsyngham, the xvij. day of May.
-
-  Youre frend,
-
-  THE LORD SCALES.
-
-    [Footnote 320.1: [From Fenn, iii. 200.] This letter is dated by
-    a contemporary note at the bottom of the original, which is
-    given thus in Fenn: 'Li't a{combining double macron}a Mich.
-    xxxiij(o).' But for 'a{combining double macron}a,' according to
-    the Errata in vol. iii., we should read 'a{combining double macron}e,'
-    _i.e._ 'Litterae _ante_ Mich. [Festum S. Michaelis] xxxiij.'
-    [_i.e._ anno Regis xxxiii.].]
-
-
-247
-
-BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON[320.2]
-
-_To my Maister Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JUNE 8]
-
-Worshypfull Syr, and my gode maister, after dewe recomendacion, wyth
-alle my trewe servyce precedyng, lyke you wete that as to nouveltees,
-&c., the Prince shall be create at Wyndesour, uppon Pentecost
-Sonday,[321.1] the Chaunceller,[321.2] the Duc of Bokyngham, and manye
-othyre Lordys off astate, present wyth the Quene.
-
-As to my Lord Yorke, he abydyth aboute Yorke tille Corpus Crist
-Feste[321.3] be passyd, and wyth grete worship ys there resseyved.
-
-And certeyn Justices, Prysot,[321.4] Byngham,[321.5] Portyngton,[321.6]
-and &c., be thedre for execucion of justice uppon such as hafe
-offendended yn cause creminall.
-
-It ys seyd the Duc of Exceter[321.7] ys here coverdtlye. God send hym
-gode councell hereafter.
-
-And the Pryvee Sele[321.8] ys examynyd how, and yn whate maner, and be
-whate autorite prevye selys were passed forthe in that behalf, whych ys
-full innocent and ryght clere yn that mater, as it ys welle knowen.
-
-The Frenshmen hafe be afore the Isles of Gersey and Gernessey, and a
-grete navey of hem, and v^c. [500] be taken and slayn of hem by men of
-the seyd trew Isles, &c.
-
-Syr Edmond Mulso ys come from the Duc of Burgoyne;[321.9] and he seyth,
-by hys servaunts rapport, that he wolle not discharge the godes of the
-mrchaunts of thys land, but so be that justice be don uppon the Lord
-Bonevyle, or els that he be sent to hym to do justice by hym self, as he
-hath deserved, or satisfaccion be made to the value.
-
-Yowr mater[10] is enseled as of the thyng ye wote of.
-
-I can no more for haste and lak of leyser, but our Lord kepe you. Wryt
-hastly viij. of June.
-
-I sende a lettre to Maister Berney to lete you see for the gouvernaunce
-yn Yorkshyr.
-
-  BOTO-H.R.-NER.[322.1]
-
-    [Footnote 320.2: [From Fenn, i. 76.]]
-
-    [Footnote 321.1: June 9 in 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.2: Richard Nevill, Earl of Salisbury, was
-    appointed Chancellor on the 2nd April 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.3: June 20 in 1454.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.4: John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.5: Richard Bingham, a Justice of the King's
-    Bench.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.6: John Portington, a Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.7: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 11th May
-    this year he had been ordered to appear before the Council on
-    the following Thursday (16th May). --_See_ Nicolas's _Privy
-    Council Proceedings_, vi. 180.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.8: His name was Thomas Lyseux.--See _Patent Roll_,
-    32 Hen. VI., m. 14.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.9: Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.]
-
-    [Footnote 321.10: Doubtless the grant of the wardship of Thomas
-    Fastolf of Cowhawe. --_See_ p. 322, Note 2.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.1: William Worcester, or Botoner, as he called
-    himself indifferently, secretary to Sir John Fastolf. He
-    frequently introduces the letters 'H. R.' into or above his
-    signature, and sometimes at the top of his letter. Fenn reads
-    the name 'Botener,' which is certainly wrong according to the
-    facsimile given of the signature in this place.]
-
-
-248
-
-R. DOLLAY TO JOHN PASTON[322.2]
-
-_Un to my ryght worshypfull Mastyr Paston, be thys byll delyveryd in
-haste._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JUNE 29]
-
-Ryght trusty and well belovyd master, I recomande me un to yow, desyryng
-to her of your good prosperite and wellfar. And as towchyng for Ser
-Phylyp Wentforde, he rood on to London ward up on Seynt Jon ys day, and
-on the evyn afor he sent to my master for to have sum of hys men for to
-ryd with hym to Colchester; and for be cawse he shulde not have no
-suspesion to me, I rod myself and a felaw with me; and he rood with an
-C. [_hundred_] hors with jakks[322.3] and saletts,[322.4] and rusty
-habyrjons;[322.5] and ther rood with hym Gyboun of Debnem, and Tympyrle,
-and all the felashyp that they cowd make. And Gyboun seyde that he wolde
-endyte as many as he cowde understonde that wer of the toder party; and
-longe Bernard was ther also; and he mad Ser Phylyp Wentforde to torne
-ageyn, and maad every men to beende her bowys, and lyth down of her hors
-for to wyte and ony man wolde come ageynstem, and he seyde how he shulde
-not let hys wey nor for Ser John Fastolf nor for Paston, nor for noon of
-hem all.
-
-And as for the ward,[323.1] he was not ther, but ther was had anoder
-chyld lyk hym, and he rood next hym, and whan that he was ij. myle be
-zonde Colchester, he sent hym hoomageyn with a cer tey[n] meyny. And Ser
-Phylyp Wentforde, and Gyboun of Debnem, and Tymperle, and Bernard, they
-took a man of Stratford, a sowter,[323.2] and hys name ys Persoun; and
-they enqueryd hym of every manys name of the toder party, and he tolde
-hem as many as he cowde; and they bad hym enquer ferther for to knowe
-all, for they desyryd of hym for to enquer as fer as he cowde, and he
-shulde have well for hys labor.
-
-No mor to yow at thys tyme, but the Holy Gost have yow in hys kepyng.
-
-Wretyn at Hadley, the Saturday after Seynt John ys day. And I beseeche
-yow hertyly recomande me to my Master Alblaster.
-
-  By yowr man,
-
-  R. DOLLAY.
-
-    [Footnote 322.2: [From Fenn, iii. 210.] This letter gives an
-    account of certain proceedings for taking possession of the
-    person of a minor in opposition to the claims of Paston and Sir
-    John Fastolf as guardians. Fenn supposes the ward in question to
-    have been Thomas Fastolf of Ipswich; but it appears, by a
-    petition afterwards presented to Parliament (see _Rolls of
-    Parl._ v. 371), that he was another Thomas Fastolf, viz. the son
-    of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe, Suffolk, whose wardship was
-    granted on the 6th June 1454 to John Paston, Esq., and Thomas
-    Howes, clerk. The St. John's day mentioned in this letter is
-    therefore St. John the Baptist's day, 24th June, not St. John
-    the Evangelist's, 27th December.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.3: The jack or jacket was a military vestment,
-    calculated for the defence of the body, composed of linen
-    stuffed with cotton, wool, or hair quilted, and commonly covered
-    with leather.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.4: A salet was a light helmet of various
-    construction.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 322.5: The haubergeon was a coat composed either of
-    plate or chain-mail without sleeves. For a fuller account and
-    view of these, the reader is referred to Mr. Grose's accurate
-    _Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons_, 4to, 1785.--F.]
-
-    [Footnote 323.1: Thomas, son of John Fastolf, Esq. of Cowhawe.]
-
-    [Footnote 323.2: A shoemaker.]
-
-
-249
-
-WILLIAM BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON[323.3]
-
-_To my gode maister, John Paston, Escuier, in Norwich, and yn hys
-absence, to John Berney, at Caister, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 5]
-
-Worshypfull Sirs, I recomaund me to yow. Lyke yow wete that as to the
-waraunts and copes that ye remembred to be gheten owt, it ys laboured
-for, &c.
-
-And as to the assisse, it shall hald at Norwych, the Monday next com
-fortendayes.
-
-The Duc of York, the Lord Cromewell, and othyr Lordys of the North that
-were wyth my seyd Lord York, comen hedre by Monday next, as it ys
-credybly seyd. The Lordys that be appoynted to kepe the see maken hem
-redye yn all haste; and the Tresourer also, the Lord Wyltshyre[324.1]
-for the west coost. And a stately vessell, only for the warre, ys made
-new at Brystow by the Mayr, called Sturmyn[324.2]. And the seyd toune
-with the west coosts wolle do her part, and [i.e. _if_] they may be
-supported or favoured.[324.3]
-
-Mastere Pownyngs[324.4] hath day tille the next terme by a remayner.
-Manye a gode man ys hert he hath.[325.1] God comfort hym in ryght!
-
-And justice ys don dayly uppon thevys and malefactours, and people be
-glad that justice may precede.
-
-The Lord Bourchier hath a gode renomee of hys wyse demenyng at Calis,
-but he ys not yhyt comen.
-
-The Soudeours be more temperat then they were. Not ell[es] for lak of
-leyser, but our Lord kepe you.
-
-Wryt at L. [London], the v. day of Jullet.
-
-Gressam qwyts hym well yn your erandys doyng to me.
-
-  Your,
-
-  W. BOTONER.
-
-    [Footnote 323.3: [From Fenn, i. 140.] The year in which this
-    letter was written must be that of the mayoralty of Robert
-    Sturmy at Bristol, as shown in p. 324, Note 2. It certainly
-    could not be 1457, Fenn's date, as Lord Cromwell died in January
-    1456.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.1: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond. He
-    was appointed Lord Treasurer of England on the 15th March 1455
-    (Patent, 33 Henry VI., p. 2, m. 20), but on the 29th May
-    following the office was taken from him, and given to Henry,
-    Viscount Bourchier (_Ib._ m. 12). But this letter, which is
-    dated in July, cannot be in 1455; indeed, we have positive
-    evidence that it is in 1454. How, then, are we to explain the
-    manner in which Wiltshire is referred to above? It is just
-    possible--though not likely, as Wiltshire was a
-    Lancastrian--that his appointment may have been enrolled in the
-    wrong year, and that he was really made Lord Treasurer on the
-    15th March 1454. A difference in punctuation will perhaps solve
-    the difficulty best:-- 'The Lords that be appointed to keep the
-    see maken hem ready yn all haste, and the Treasourer also: the
-    Lord Wyltshyre for the west coast.' John Tiptoft, Earl of
-    Worcester, is mentioned as Lord Treasurer on the 11th February
-    1454.--See _Rolls of Parl._ v. 238.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.2: The name was printed by Fenn 'St'myn',' and in
-    the modern version on the opposite page, 'St. Myn.' Robert
-    Sturmy was Mayor of Bristol in the year 1453-4. It was probably
-    this very ship that was captured by the Genoese in 1457, of
-    which disaster there is the following notice in the MS.
-    Calendars of Bristol:-- 'Mr. Robert Sturney [_alias_ Sturmey],
-    who was Mayor in 1453, had this year a ship spoiled in the
-    Mediterranean Sea by the Genoese, which ship had gotten much
-    wealth as having been long forth. She had spices fit to be
-    planted here in England, as was reported, but the men of Genoa
-    in envy spoiled her. Which wrong, when King Henry understood, he
-    arrested the Genoa merchants in London, seized their goods, and
-    imprisoned their persons, until they gave security to make good
-    the loss; so that they were charged with L6000 indebted to Mr.
-    Sturney.' --Seyer's _Memoirs of Bristol_, ii. 189.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.3: 'The said town,' it would appear, did 'do her
-    part' on the occasion; for besides this ship fitted out by the
-    Mayor, Bristol subscribed L150 to a loan raised by the Duke of
-    York from the seaports for the protection of trade. This sum may
-    appear insignificant for a flourishing seaport; but London
-    itself only subscribed L300, and Southampton, which was the next
-    largest contributor, only L100, while Norwich and Yarmouth
-    contributed the latter amount between them.--Seyer's _Bristol_,
-    ii. 188; see also _Rolls of Parl._ v. 245. We must remember,
-    however, that these sums probably represent about fifteen times
-    their value in modern currency. At all events, by comparison
-    with other places, Botoner had no cause to be ashamed of his
-    native town.]
-
-    [Footnote 324.4: Robert Poynings. --_See_ p. 154, Note 3.]
-
-    [Footnote 325.1: 'Many a good man's heart he hath.' --We should
-    have thought this explanation unnecessary, but that Fenn, in his
-    modern version, gives the following most extraordinary
-    rendering:-- 'Many a good man is hurt (_that_) he hath.']
-
-
-250
-
-EDMUND, LORD GREY OF HASTINGS TO JOHN PASTON[325.2]
-
-_To my trusty and wele belovid John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre
-delivered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 11]
-
-Trusty and welebelovid frend, I comaund me to zow, certifying zow that
-and zour sustyr be not zit maried, y trust to God y know that where she
-may be maried to a gentylman of iii. C. [300] marc of lyvelod, the which
-is a grete gentylman born, and of gode blode; and yf ze think that y
-shall labore ony ferder therynne, y pray zow send me word by the bringer
-of this lettre, for y have spoke with the parties, and they have granted
-me that they wolle precede no ferder therynne tyll y speke with hem
-azen; and therefore, y pray zow, send me word in hast how that ze wylle
-be desposed therynne; and God have zow in hys kepyng. W[r]ettin at
-Ampthill, the xj. day of July last past.
-
-  By EDMOND GREY, LORD OF HASTYNGES, WAIFFORD, AND OF RUTHYN.
-
-    [Footnote 325.2: [From Fenn, iii. 214.] This letter is dated by
-    a memorandum at the bottom of the original, in the handwriting
-    of John Paston-- 'Liberat. per Will. Aleyn, valetum dicti domini
-    xiiij. die Julii anno xxxij(o). H. vi.']
-
-
-251
-
-SIR JOHN FASTOLF TO THOMAS HOWYS[326.1]
-
-_To my ryght trusty frende Sir Thomas Howys, Parson of Castelcombe._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 12]
-
-Ryght trusty frende, I grete you well, and wolle ye wete that I thynk it
-to greete merveylle of your trouth and wysdom that ye shuld haf, that ye
-hafe noysed me, and seyd to John Andreus at Yeppyswych, in presence of
-dyvers men, that ye have suffisaunt waraunts undre my lettre and sele to
-safe you harmlese, in case ye be condempned yn the somme this Andreus
-sewyth you for. And know for certeyn, there passed no such warauntis
-undre my sele; nothyr I comaunded you not for to labour ne do thyng that
-shuld be ayenst the law, nether unlawfully ayenst ryght and trouth. And
-therfor y ought not ne wolle not pay for yow. Wherfor I charge you sende
-me your warauntis and lettres or acomp of them, and of whoos hand
-wrytyng they ben; and whate evidences, instruccions and informacions ye
-had and by whom, as well as of my lerned councell as of othyrs. And also
-that ye comyn with my cosyn John Paston, &c., and take his gode avice
-whate remedie ys best, whethyr to sew an atteynt ayenst th'enquest a
-_decies tantum_ in your oune name or by the parlement; for y wolle do
-seke all the remedies that may be had ayenst the seyd Andreus. And kepe
-ye close and sure from hym in all maner wyse, for your oune welfare; for
-know ye for certeyn that Andreus wolle ley all the wayt and aspies of
-such as ye wene to take for your true frendys to arrest you; and then be
-ye as it were be thout remedie, for ye not be tyme to sende me the
-materes abofe specyfied.
-
-Item, Robert Inglose hath spoke wyth me and hath offred me to by lond to
-satisfye my dewtee that lyeth in Rakhyth, and y am avysed to by it,
-if ye can send thedre som trusty man that can telle whate it ys worth
-cleerly, and off whome it ys halde, and also yf it be sure lyvelode, and
-your avice wythall; but beware that ye com not owt, God kepe you. Wryt
-at London in haste the xij. day of Julle, A(o). xxxij^do. Regni Regis
-Henrici VJ.
-
-  JOHN FASTOLF, ch'l'r.
-
-    [Footnote 326.1: [Add. MS. 34,888, f. 102.]]
-
-
-252
-
-JOHN PASTON TO LORD GREY[327.1]
-
-_Dominus de Grey._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 15]
-
-Right worshipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I recomand me to yowr gode
-Lordship. And where as it pleasyd yowr Lordship to dyrecte yowr letter
-to me for amaryage for my por suster to a jantylman of yowr knowleth of
-CCC. marc lyflod, in cas she wer not maryd; wherfor I am bownd to do
-your Lordship servyse; forsothe, my Lord, she is not maryd, ne insurid
-to noman; ther is and hath be, dyvers tymys and late, comunycacion of
-seche maryages wyth dyvers jantylmen not determynyd as yett, and whedder
-the jantylman that yowr Lordchip menith of be on of hem or nay I dowth.
-And wher as your seyd letter specyfyith that I shall send yow word
-whedder I thowght ye shuld labour ferther in the mater or nay, in that,
-my Lord, I dare not preswme to wryte so to yow wythowte I knew the
-gentylmans name,--notwythstandyng, my Lord, I shall take uppe on me,
-wyth the avyse of other of here frendys, that she shall nother be maryd
-ner inswryd to no creatwr, ne forther prosede in no seche mater befor
-the fest of the Assumpcion of owr Lady next comyng, dwryng whyche tyme
-yowr Lordship may send me, if itt please yow, certeyn informacion of the
-seyd gentylmanys name, and of the place and contrey where hys lyfflod
-lyth, and whedder he hath any chylder, and, after, I shall demene me in
-the mater as yowr Lordship shall be pleasyd; for in gode feyth, my Lord,
-it were to me grette joy that my seyd pore suster were, according to
-hier pore degre, marijd be yowr avyse, trustyng thanne that ye wold be
-here gode Lord.
-
-Ryght wurchipfull and my ryght gode Lord, I beseche Almyghty God to have
-yow in His kepyng. Wrete att Norwych, the xv. day of Jull.
-
-    [Footnote 327.1: [From Fenn, iii. 216.] This letter is the
-    answer to No. 250, originally printed from a copy in Paston's
-    own handwriting, without signature.]
-
-
-253
-
-THOMAS PLAYTER TO JOHN PASTON[328.1]
-
-_To my ryght reverent and worshipfull maister, John Paston, be this
-dylyverd at London, and ellys sent to hym to Norwic._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / JULY 20]
-
-Rygth worshipfull Sir, and my rygth good maister, I recomend me to you.
-Lyke you to wete I have spoken wyth my lord Chaunceler[328.2] and put
-the bylle by for hym and all the lordis upon Wednesday at after non last
-past, wenyng to me to have an answer upon Thursday. And my lord
-Chaunceler told me that they sped no partycler mater yet syn they cam,
-nor han no leyser to attend swych maters. I have spoken to my Lord
-Wylchyre,[328.3] and he promysed to help forth that he can, and my Lord
-Beauchamp[328.4] bothe. Fenyngley cam but on Thursday at evyn. Item,
-Sir, I have do made a new bylle whyche I purpose to delyver to the kyng.
-And, Sir, the lordes merveyle sore of the entre that was made by the
-straunge man or my lord entred; they thynk that was a straunge werk and
-a sotyll. Item, I spake to my Lord Chaunceler how my maister[328.5] and
-ye and your frendis were pute owte of the comyssyon of pees; neverthe
-les he hath not graunted yet non newe. And as for the questyon that ye
-wylled me to aske my lord, I fond hym yet at no good leyser. Item, Sir,
-after the lordys seying, the Councell schuld breke up on Monday next
-comyng. And as for the Archebysshop of York[329.1] is heyll and mery,
-&c. Wretyn the xx. day of July.
-
-  By your man and servaunt,
-
-  THOMAS PLAYTER.
-
-    [Footnote 328.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 217.] The reference to
-    Lord Wiltshire proves the date of this letter to lie between
-    1449 and 1460, and it would seem to be 1454 when the 20th July
-    was a Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday being spoken of as past
-    dates and Monday as a future one.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.2: Richard, Earl of Salisbury.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.3: James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.4: John, Lord Beauchamp.]
-
-    [Footnote 328.5: Sir John Fastolf.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.1: William Booth was Archbishop of York from 1452
-    to 1464. If the letter had been earlier Cardinal Kemp would have
-    been Archbishop of York, and would have been called 'Cardinal of
-    York.']
-
-
-254
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[329.2]
-
-_To his wurchypfull Brodyr, John Paston._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / [JULY]]
-
-Ryth wurchypfull broder, I recomande to yow; and as for tedyng, my Lord
-of Yorke hathe take my Lord of Exsater[329.3] in to hys awarde. The Duke
-of Somerset[329.4] is styll in prison, in warse case than he was. Syr
-Jon Fastolf recomande hym to yow, &c. He wyll ryde in to Norfolke ward
-as on Trusday, and he wyll dwelle at Caster, and Skrop[329.5] wyth hym.
-He saythe ye ar the hartyest kynysman and frynd that he knowyts. He
-wolde have yow at Mawdeby dwellyng.
-
-I had gret cher of Byllyng be the way, and he told me in cownsayle wathe
-he sayd to Ledam.
-
-Ledam wulde a do hys wyse to a mad a complent to Pryothe[329.6] in the
-scher-howse of yow, and Byllyng consallyd hym to leve, and tolde Ledam
-ye and he wer no felawys, and sayd to Ledam, 'That is the gyse of yowr
-contre men, to spend alle the good they have on men and lewery gownys,
-and hors and harnes, and so beryt owth for j wylle [_bear it out for a
-while_], and at the laste they arn but beggars; and so wyll ye do.
-I wylde ye schull do wyll, be cause ye ar a felaw in Grays In, wer I was
-a felaw. As for Paston, he ys a swyr [squire] of wurchyp, and of gret
-lyvelode, and I wothe he wyll not spend alle hys good as [_at?_] onys,
-but he sparyt yerly C. mark, or j. C. _li._ [L100]; he may do his ennemy
-a scherewd turne and never far the warse in hys howsholde, ner the lesse
-men abowthe hym. Ye may not do so, but if yt be for j. [_one_] sesun.
-I consayll yow not to contenu long as ye do. I wulle consalle yow to
-seke reste wyth Paston.'
-
-And I thankkyd Byllyng on yowr behalfe.
-
-God have yow in hys kepyng.
-
-Be yowr por Brodyr,
-
-  WYLLYAM PASTON.
-
-Meche odyr thyng I can telle an I had lesur. Recomande me to my suster
-Margeth [and] my cosyn Elizabeth Clyr, I pray yow.
-
-    [Footnote 329.2: [From Fenn, i. 72.] The date of this letter is
-    fixed by the fact referred to in Note 3, and by Sir John
-    Fastolf's going into Norfolk, which, though delayed a little
-    later than is here projected, certainly did take place in 1454.
-    See another letter of William Paston further on, dated 6th
-    September.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.3: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter. On the 24th July
-    the Duke of York was charged by the Privy Council to convey him
-    to Pomfret Castle. --_See_ Nicolas's _Privy Council Proceedings_,
-    vi. 217.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.4: Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was
-    committed to the Tower in the end of the year 1453. --_See_ p.
-    290, Note 1.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.5: Stephen Scroope, Sir John Fastolf's ward, son
-    of Lady Fastolf, by her former husband.]
-
-    [Footnote 329.6: John Prisot, Chief Justice of the Common
-    Pleas.]
-
-
-255
-
-WILLIAM PASTON TO MARGERY PASTON[330.1]
-
-_To his rythe worchypfull and harthy wellebelovyd suster, Margere
-Paston, dwellyng in Norwyche._
-
-[Sidenote: [1454] / AUG. 10]
-
-Rythe harthely well belovyd suster, I recomand me, &c. And I have
-received zowre letteres. And as for my nevewes, they lerne rythe well
-bothe, and there gownys and there gere schall be mad for hem a cordyng
-the enthenthe of zowre letter, and all oder thynggis that behovyth on to
-here profythe harddely to my powere. And, Suster, God zelde zow for
-zowre labore fore me, for gaderyng of my mony. And I pray, as sone as ze
-receyvyth, send it heder be some trusty man; and that it plese to calle
-ther on, &c. My suster and my broder recomand hem to zow bothe, and I
-may say to zow in counsayll sche is op on poyn of mariage, so that moder
-and my broder sett frendely and stedfastely there on, leke as I wothe
-well ze wolld, and it lay in zow as it dothe in hem, &c. I pray zow do
-zoure parthe to kall theron. It were to long to wrythe on to zow all the
-maner of demenyng of this mater; and therfor I have spoke to Wyllyam
-Worseter and to Wethewell to tell it zow holly as it is. I wothe ryth
-well zow (_sic_) good labore may do moche; and send me word how ze here
-as hastely as ze may. Item, Howard spak of a mariage betwex his sone and
-my neece Margery, zowr dother: it wer well do such materes wer nawthe
-sclawfully laboryd; it is wurchypfull, &c. Send me word, and Gog (_sic_)
-have zow in His kepyng. Wretyn at London on Sent Lawrens day in
-hast.
-
-  Be zowre brodyre,
-
-  WYLLYAM PASTON.
-
-Item, send zow a letter directyd to Wollysby. I pray zow lethe it be
-delyvered hym as hastely as ze may; and if ze come to this contre I am
-leke to se zow, and we schall make rythe mery I trust.
-
-    [Footnote 330.1: [Add. MS. 33,597, f. 5.] This letter is in the
-    handwriting of William Paston, son of the judge; but the
-    'Margery' Paston to whom it is addressed seems to be his brother
-    John's wife, Margaret. His nephews, John Paston's sons, were at
-    school in London. His sister Elizabeth, who was married to
-    Robert Poynings in 1458, is here said to be upon the point of
-    marriage, but no doubt this refers to the negotiations of the
-    year 1454, as the eldest of John Paston's sons must have been
-    sixteen in 1458. St. Laurence's day, on which the letter was
-    written, is the 10th August.]
-
-
-256
-
-RICHARD, DUKE OF YORK, TO JOHN PASTON[331.1]
-
-_To our right trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Esquire._
-
-_The Duc of York._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / AUG. 19]
-
-Right trusty and welbeloved, we grete yow hertily wel. And of your
-benivolence, aide, and tendre love by yow, at th'instance and at the
-reverence of us, to our right trusty and welbeloved in God, the prior
-and convent of the hows of Our Lady of Walsingham, of our patronage, in
-suche matres as they had adoo for certain lyvelood by tham claymed to
-belonge unto the seid hows, favorably and tendrely shewed,--as hertily
-as we can we thank yow, and desire and pray yow of your good
-continuance; and as far as right, lawe, and good conscience wol, to have
-in favorable recommendacion suche personnes as been or shal bee
-committed to take possession and saison, in the name and to the use of
-our ful worshipful nepveu, th'erl of Warrewic, in and of the manoirs and
-Lordeships of Boules and Walcots,[332.1] with th'appertenauntes in Litel
-Snoring in the countee of Norffolk, as our grete trust is unto yow. And
-God have yow in His keping.
-
-Yeven undre our signet at our castel of Sandhall the xix. day of August.
-
-  R. YORK.
-
-    [Footnote 331.1: [From Fenn, i. 92.] This and the following
-    letter could hardly have been written in any year except 1454 or
-    1455, when the Duke of York was in power. In the former year he
-    is very likely to have been at his own castle of Sandal on the
-    19th August, seeing that on the 24th July he was commissioned to
-    convey the Duke of Exeter to Pomfret Castle.]
-
-    [Footnote 332.1: According to Blomefield (vii. 186), Catherine,
-    widow of John Cokerell of Albergh Wykes in Suffolk, died seised
-    of the manors of Walcotes and Boles in 6 Henry VI., which she
-    left, with others, to Catherine, daughter of John Cokerell,
-    junior, her son, who died before his father. This younger
-    Catherine died a minor in 10 Henry VI., and the jury knew not
-    who was her heir. In 29 Henry VI. George Heath of Mildenhall
-    released to Humphrey, Duke of Buckingham, all his rights in
-    Walcotes and Boles; but in the 18th of Henry VII. Christopher
-    Conyers and Alice his wife conveyed it to the Heydons. Of its
-    having been purchased by the Earl of Warwick or having belonged
-    to the Prior of Walsingham, as stated in the next letter,
-    Blomefield tells us nothing except that Richard, Earl of
-    Warwick, presented to the rectory of Snoring Parva in 1460 and
-    1466.]
-
-
-257
-
-THE EARL OF WARWICK TO JOHN PASTON[332.2]
-
-_To the worshipfull and my right trusty frende John Paston, Squyer._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454 / AUG. 23]
-
-Worshipfull and my right trusty and welbeloved frende, I grete you well.
-And forasmuch as I have purchased of the worshipfull and my welbeloved
-frende, Priour of Walsyngham, ij. maners in Lityl Snoryng, with
-thappurtenants, in the Counte of Norffolk, which maners be cleped Bowles
-and Walcotes,--I desir and hertily praye yow, that ye woll shewe to me,
-and my feoffes in my name, your good will and favour, so that I may by
-your frendship the more peasably rejoy my forsaid purchase.
-
-And more over I praye you to yeve credens in this mater to my welbeloved
-chapellayn, Syr John Suthwell, berer of this my lettre, and in the same
-mater to be my feithfull frende, as my gret trust is in you, wherin ye
-shall do to me a singular pleasir, and cause me to bee to yow right good
-lord, which sumtyme shall be to you available by the grace of God, who
-preserve you and sende you welfare.
-
-Yeven under my signet at Midilham, the xxiij. day of August.
-
-  RICHARD, ERL OF } R. WARREWYK.
-  WARREWIK.       }
-
-    [Footnote 332.2: [From Fenn, i. 88.] See preliminary note to the
-    last letter (p. 331, Note 1).]
-
-
-258
-
-WILLIAM WORCESTER TO JOHN PASTON[333.1]
-
-_To my Maister Paston._
-
-_H. R._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454(?) / SEPT. 2]
-
-Aftyr dewe recomendacion wyth my simple service precedyng, please your
-maistershyp to wete, that as to such remembraunce that ye desyre me to
-contynew forth to the uttermost, I shall wyth gode wille, so as my
-maister wille licence me, as oft as I can, th'officer to hafe leysure to
-be wyth me, for ye know well I can not do it alone, &c.
-
-And where as ye of your pleasure wryte me or calle me Maister Worcestr,
-I pray and requyre yow foryete that name of maistershyp, for I am not
-amended by my maister of a ferthyng yn certeynte, but of wages of
-housold in comune _entaunt come nows plaira_. By Worcestr or Botoner I
-hafe v_s._ yerly, all costs born, to help pay for bonetts that I lose.
-I told so my maister thys weke, and he seyd me yerstenday he wyshed me
-to hafe be a preest, so I had be disposed, to hafe gofe me a lyvyng by
-reson of a benefice, that anothyr most gefe it, as the Byshop, but he
-wold; and so I endure _inter egenos ut servus ad aratrum_.
-
-Forgefe me, I wryte to make yow laugh; and our Lord bryng my maister yn
-a better mode for othyrs as for me.
-
-At Caistr, ij^d day of September.
-
-   *   *   *
-
-I pray yow displeser not your servaunt be so long, for my maister lettet
-hym.
-
-  Your,
-
-  W. WYRCESTYR.
-
-    [Footnote 333.1: [From Fenn, iii. 318.] This and the next letter
-    were certainly written on the same day, but the precise year may
-    be questioned. From a comparison of the two together, with
-    William Barker's letter of the 3rd Nov. following (No. 265),
-    I am inclined to think all three belong to the year 1454, when
-    Sir John Fastolf had just come to settle for the rest of his
-    days in Norfolk. Sir John Fenn, I think rightly, considers this
-    first letter to have been written between jest and earnest; and
-    this tone may be very well explained by the supposition, that on
-    Fastolf's settlement at Caister, Worcester expected to have had
-    some position of importance assigned to him in his master's
-    household. That such would be his fortune was probably the
-    expectation of others as well as himself, and apparently John
-    Paston had written to him in the belief that Worcester's
-    influence with Sir John might occasionally be of value to him.]
-
-
-259
-
-THOMAS HOWES TO JOHN PASTON[334.1]
-
-_To my maister, John Paston, Squier, be this delyvered._
-
-[Sidenote: 1454(?) / SEPT. 2]
-
-Ryght worshypfull Sir, I recommaund me to yow. And my maister hertly
-thankyth yow for the venyson that ye sent hym from my Lord of Oxford,
-and prayeth yow that he may be recommaunded to hys noble Lordshyp. And
-God thank yow for your speciall remembraunce of my mater that ye hafe it
-so tendyrly to hert, for ye may know weel the gode spede of that ys my
-wellfare and the contrarye ys my utter undoyngs. I hafe sent to John
-Porter to wete verrayly how it standyth with hym, as ye shall wete the
-certeynte thys weke. As for the mater wryt to Bokkyng he hath rad ys
-lettre, and wille remember your desyre, and also of William Geney
-comyng, yn case he know of it rathyr then ye.
-
-And my maistre herd the substaunce of your lettre red, and lyked it ritz
-well. And as for the mater of Worcester remembraunce, he shall geve hys
-attendaunce therto yn that he can. And where ye calle hym maister, he ys
-displesed wyth that name, for he may spend v_s._ yerly more by the name
-of Worcestr or Botoner, and by hys maister not a ferthyng yn certeynte.
-He prayth yow foryete it.
-
-I pray God kepe yow. Wryt at Castr hastly ij^d day of September.
-
-  Your oune,
-
-  T. HOWES.
-
-Item, yn case Jankyn[335.1] be hole, my Lord of Norffolk hath graunted
-[him] by moyen of Robert Wyngfeld, to be yn my seyd Lord ys houshold,
-as my maister hath it by lettre from Wyngfeld.
-
-    [Footnote 334.1: [From Fenn, iii. 320.] With regard to the date
-    of this letter, see the preliminary note to the last (p. 333,
-    Note 1).]
-
-    [Footnote 335.1: This appears to be the John or Jankyn Porter
-    above named, who will be found mentioned hereafter.]
-
-
-
-
-END OF VOLUME II
-
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