«

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

The
EDWIN J. BEINECKE, '07
FREDERICK W. BEINECKE, '09S
WALTER BEINECKE, 'lo
FUND

•a/aarrO-OtauajJLtr:

lI^tvclt^ IV.

THE
PASTON LETTERS
1422-1509 A.D.
A Reprint of the Edition of 1872-5, which
Contained upwards of Five Hundred
Letters, etc., till then unpublished, to
which are now added others in a
Supplement after the Introduction
EDITED BY
JAMES GAIRDNER
Of the Public Record Office

VOLUME II
EDWARD IV.
1461-1471 A.D.

EDINBURGH: JOHN GRANT
31 GEORGE IV BRIDGE
1910

The Paston Letters.
Edward IV.
384.
AD. 1 46 1. — ^JoHN Paston the Youngest to  .
[From Fenn, i. 226.]
According to Fenn, this letter is in the original " without either date, name,
or direction," the contents only proving it to have been written by " one of
John Paston's sons." Nevertheless, in a very misleading way, the signature
John Paston" is inserted at the foot of the right hand copy, with a refer
ence to a fac-simile of the signature of John Paston the youngest. There is
every appearance, however, that John Paston the youngest really was the
writer, and that the date is, as Fenn supposes, just after the accession of
Edward IV. Recomand me to yow, and lete yow wete that
notwythstandyng tydinggs come down, as ye
know, that pepill shuld not come up tyll thei
were sent fore, but to be redy at all tymes ;
this notwithstandyng, most pepill owt of this cuntre
have take wages, seying thei woll gpo up to London ;
but thei have no capteyn, ner rewler assigned be the
commissioners to awayte upon, and so thei stragyll
abowte be them self, and be lyklynes are not like to
come at London half of them. And men that come
from London sey, there have not passid Thetford, not
passyng CCCC. ; and yet the townes and the cuntere
that have waged hem shall thynk thei be discharged,
and therfore if this Lords above wayte aftyr more
pepill in this cuntre, be lyklynes it woll not be easy to
get with owt a newe comission and wamyng. And
yet it woll be thought ryght straunge of hem that have

4 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. idS'-
waged pepill to wage any more, for every towne hath
waged and sent firth, and are redy to send forth, as
many as thei ded wljan the K}'ng sent for hem be fore
the feld at Lodlowej^ and thei that ar not go, be goyng
in the same forme.
Item, ther was shrewd rewle toward in this cuntre,
for ther was a certeyn person forth wyth after the
jumey at Wakefeld, gadered felaship to have mo[r]dered
John Damme, as is seydj and also ther is at the
Castell of Rysing, and in other ij. plases, made gret
gaderyng of pepill, and hyryng of barneys, and it is
weie undyrstand they be not to the Kyng ward, but
rather the contrary, and for to robbe. Wherfore my
fadyr is in a dowte, whedir he shall send my brother
up or not, for he wold have his owne men abowte hym,
if nede were here ; but notwythstandyng, he wyll send
up Dawbeney, his spere and bowes with hym, as Stapil
ton and Calthrop or other men of worship ofthis cuntre
agree to doo. Wherfore demene yow in doyng of yowr
erandes ther aftyr, and if ye shall bryng any masage
from the Lords, take writyng, for Darcorts massage
is not verely beleved be cause he browt no wrytyng.
Item, this cuntre wold fayne take these fals shrewes that
are of an oppynion contraiy to the Kyng and his Coun
sell, if they had no auctorite from the Kyng to do so.
Item, my brother is redy[n] to Yarmowth for to lette
biybers that wold a robbed a ship undyr color of my
Lord of Warwyk, and longe nothyng to hem ward.

385.
A.D. 146 1, 4 April.
W. Paston and Th. Platters to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 216.]
Thc date ofthis letter is sufficiently apparent &om tbe contents.
I The battle of Mortimer's Cross, near Ludlov, gained by Edward IV.
before he was king, on the 3d Februaiy 1461.

A.D. 1461.] MDIVARD IV.

To my maister, fohn Paston, in hast.
LEASE you to knowe and wete of suche tyd
yngs as my Lady of York hath by a lettre of
credens, under the signe manuel of oure
Soverayn Lord King Edward, whiche lettre
cam un to oure sayd Lady this same day, Esterne
Evyn,i at xj. clok, and was sene and red be me, Wil
liam Paston.
Fyrst, oure Soverayn Lord hath wonne the feld,*
and uppon the Munday ^ next after Palmesunday, he
was resseved in to York with gret solempnyte and
processyons. And the Mair and Comons of the
said cite mad ther menys to have grace be Lord
Montagu* and Lord Barenars,'' whiche be for the
Kyngs coming in to the said cite desyred hym of
grace for the said cite, whiche graunted hem grace.
On tbe Kyngs parte is slayn Lord Fitz Water, and
Lord Scrop sore hurt ; John Stafford, Home of Kent
ben ded; and Umfrey Stafford, William Hastyngs
mad knyghts with other j Blont is knygth, &c.
Un the contrary part is ded Lord Clyfford, Lord
Ncvyle, Lord Welles, Lord Wyllouby, Antony Lord
Scales, Lord Harry, and be supposyng the Erie of
Northumberland, Andrew Trollop, with many other
gentyll and comons to the nomber of xx.™'' [20,000.]
Item, Kyng Harry, the Qwen, the Prince, Duke of
Somerset, Duke of Exeter, Lord Roos, be fledde in to
Scotteland, and they be chased and folwed, &c. We
send no er \no sooner] un to you be cause we had non
certynges tyl now ; for un to this day London was as
sory cite as myght. And because Spordauns had no
certeyn tydyngs, we thought ye schuld take theni a
worthe tyl more certayn.
1 4th April.
^ The battle of Towton, fought on Palm Sunday, the 29th March 1461.
¦ 30th March.
* John NeviU, Lord Montague, brother of the Earl of Warwick.
B Sir Johu Bourchier, Lord Berners.

6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
Item, Thorp Waterfeld is yeldyn, as Spordauns can
telle you. And Jesu spede you. We pray you that
this tydyngs my moder may knowe.
Be your Broder, W. Paston.
T. Playters.

" On a piece of paper pinned to the above letter," says Fenn,
" is a list of the names of the noblemen and knights, and the
number of soldiers slain at the above battle of Towton, as
follow:—"

Comes Northumbriae.
Comes Devon.
Dominus de Beamunde.
Dominus de Clifford.
Dominus de Ne'vyll.
Dominus de Dacre.
f Dominus Henricus de
\ Bokyngham.
Dominus de Well[es].
f Dominus de Scales
( Antony Revers.
Dominus de Wellugby.
i Dominus de Malley
\ Radulfus Bigot MUes.

Millites.
Sir Rauff Gray.
Sir Ric. Jeney.
Sir Harry Bekingham.
Sir Andrew Trollop.
With xxviij."'- [28,000]
nomberd by Harralds.

386.
A.D. 1461, 18 April.
Thomas Playters to Master John Paston.
[From Fenn, L 223.]
This letter relates mainly to occurrences just after the battle of Towton
in April 1461. To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer.
LEASE your Maisterchep to wete, that I have
spokyn with Essex, in the matter that ye
wete of, and fynd him be his talkyng wel

A.P. I46i.] EDWARD IV. 7
dysposed, not withstandyng he woll not faile to no
conclusyon to engrose up the mater, tyll the chef
baron ^ be com to London, and that he be mad pri'vy
to the mater, which we loke after this same secund
Saterday^ after Esteme; and as for Notyngham he is
not yet comyn to London.
Item, as for tydyng, it is noysed and told for trouth
of men of worchip, and other, that the Erie of Wylchyr
is taken, Doctor Morton,^ and Doctor Makerell, and
be brougth to the kyng at York. Maister William also
spak with a man that sey hem.
Item, sir, I herd of Sir John Borceter and Christofer
Hanson, that Herry the sext is in a place in York
schire is calle Coroumbr; suche a name it hath, or
muche lyke. And there is sege leyde abowte, and
d)rvers squyers of the Erie of Northumbrelands, and
gadered them to geder, a v. or yj.™'- [five or six thou
sand] men, to byger [bicker] with the sege, that in the
mene while Herry the sexte myght have ben stole a
way at a lytyU posterne on the bak syde ; at whiche
byker ben slayn iij."'- [3000] men of the North.
Sir Robert of Ocle and Conyrs leyth the sege on
our syde, and thei it is that have do this acte. Sum
say the Qwen, Somerset and the Prince schuld be
there. Item, it is talked now for trouthe, the Erie
of Northumberland is ded. Item, the Erie of Deven-
shire is ded justely.* Item, my Lord Chaunceler is to
York. Item, the King and the Lords com not here
before Whitsontyde, as it is sayde. Item, sir, sone
uppon the chef baron comyng I schall send you a
lettre, with Godds grace, who preserve you, and have
you in His blyssed kepyng. Your,
Thomas Platters.
At Cokemiouthe was the Erie of Wylchire taken,
and these otlier Doctors. Item, som men talke Lord
1 Peter Ardeme. _ ' 18th April in 1461.
s Afterwards Cardinal, the Minister of Henry VII.
* Ke was beheaded at York after the battle of Towton.

8 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
Wellys, Lord Wyllouby, and Skales ben on lyve.
Item, Sir Robert Veer is glayn in Coraewayll, as it is
tok for trouthe.
387.
A.D. 146 r, May.
Thomas Pla-yters to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 2.]
The reference to the Earl of Wiltshire's head having been set on Londoii
bridge shows this letter to have been written not very long after ^e battle of
Towton. The exact date is probably about the beginnmg of MaV.^as it
appears, by the Privy Seal dates in the Record Office, that Edward IV. was
at Middleham on the Sth of that month on his way southwards, having gone
on to Durham and Newcastle after the victory.
To my rigth reverent and worchipfull John Paston,
Esquyer, or to my maytres his wyf.
FTER my most special recommendacion, lyke
your maisterchip wete that the mater for
you and my maistrez, your moder, ayens
Powtrell and Tanfeld hath ben called uppon
as dylygently and as hastely this terme as it mygth be ;
and al way dayes yeven hem by the Court to answer,
and than thei toke smale excepcions, and trifeled
forth the Court, and al wey excused them by cause the
bylle is long, and his councell had no leysur to se it
And they prayed heryng ofthe testament of my maister
your fader,^ and therof made a nother mater, and argued
it to putte hem fro it, be cause they had emparled to
us by fore ; and than Hyllyngworth to dryve it over
this terme, allegged varians be twyx the bille and the
testament that John Damme was named in the testa
ment John Dawme, in whiche cas now the Court must
have sigth of the said testament. 'Where fore ye must
send it up the begynnyng of the next terme, or elles we
schall have no sped in the mater. And therfor, Maist-
res, if my maister be not cum hom, and ye have not
I William Paston, the Judge, who died in 1444.

A.D.1461.] EDIVARD IV. 9
the sayd testament in your kepyng, that than it plese
you to speke un to my maistres, your moder in lawe,*
ibr the seyd testament, that I mygth redely have it
here, and that it be sealed in a box, and sent to me,
and I schall kepe it safe, with Godds grace.
And as for tytyngs, in good feyth we have non,
seve the Erie of Wylchir'' is hed is sette on London
Brigge. Mayster William is reden hom to my Maistrs Pon-
yngs J and as for Maister Ponyngs hymself, sche letteth
as thow sche wyst not where he were. A gentylman
that kam fro York told me my maister was heyl and
mery, and rode to mete the Kyng comyng fro Mydlam
Castell. Berwyk ^ is full of Scottys, and we loke be lyklyhod
after anoyther batayll now be twyx Skotts and us.
And I pray Jesu have you in His blyssed kepyng.
Your, Thomas Playter.

388.
AD. 1461, 10 May.
John Smyth to John Paston, Senior.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter was evidently written in the beginning of Edward IV.'s reign ;
and as it appears by No. 302 that Paston had already been dispossessed of
Caister, not indeed by the Duke of Suffolk, but by the Duke of Norfolk,
as early as the 5th June 1461, we may presume that this letter, dated in
May, belongs to that year. The margm of the letter is slightly mutilated ;
but the words which are lost are obvious, and have been supplied in brackets.
To Ays tvorschcpfull mayster, John Paston the Eldest-,
Esquier.
YGHT worschepfuU and my synguler mayster,
I recomaunde me to you. If it plese your
maysterschepe to wete, the cause of my
1 Agnes Paston, the widow of the Judge.
^ James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond.
8 Henry VI. and his Queen after the battle escaped to Bermck, and fram
thence retired to Edinburgh- — F.

10 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. d. 1461-
wryghtyng is thys. I have understande be comunyng
with othyr credybell men that many and the more
part of the feffeys of the landys late Sir John Fas
tolf, and also thei that pretende to ben executores
of the seyd Sir John, purpose them to sell to my Lord
of Suffolk, thow he recuver not be tayle, or to othyr
myghty lordys, a gret part of the landys of the seyd
Sir John, to the entent that ye schal not have them ;
upon wech sale thei wole make astate and entre and
put you to your accion, and thow ye recuver in the
lawe, as I am enformyd, ye schall recuver of hard and
but a part, the qwech schuld be dere of the sute.
Qwer it semyth to me, yt wer necessarye to you to se
remedy for thys mater, and eyther putt it in award or
elles that my Lord of Wa[rwick], the qwech is your good
Lord, may meve that the Kyng, or hym sylf, or my Lord
Chawmbyrleyn or sum othyr wytty me[n], may take a
rewle betwexe you and your adversatyes ; for yf ye may
not holde the forseyd landys ther schal growe [great]
losse bothe to the dede and to you, and men schal
putt you in defa'wte therof; your frendys schal be
soty. It is [better to] bere a lyttell losse than a gret
rebuke. Your mater hangyth longe in the audyens.
Yf ye hadde ther your entent your ad[versaries should]
cese the rather. I beleve vetyly yf ye do your part to
have pees, God of Hys gret grace schal graunte it to
you, the q[wech give] you the speryte of w)'sdam to
gyde you on to Hys pleser. Amen.
We desyre to se your maysterschep in Norffolk ;
your pr[esens] there be necessatye.
From Norwych the x. day of May.
Your clerk, [John] Smyth.
389.
AD. 146T, May.
Thomas Denyes to John Paston.
[From Feim, iv. 10.]
The writer of this letter speaks of having served with the Earl of Warwick

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV, II
at the battle of ^Northampton in July 1460, and again at the second battle
of St. Alban's in February 1461. 'We know from later letters that he was
murdered in the beginning of July following. As he dates from York, and
speaks of being " here in the King's house," the date would appear to be
about the loth of May, on which day we find by the dates of the Privy
Seals that Edward IV. was at York.

To my Afaister Paston,
ilGHT wurshipfuU and myn especiall good
maister, I recomaund me to yow with all my
service, besechyng you hertily, at the rever
ence of God, to helpe me now in the grettest
extremite that I cam at sith my greet trobil with Ing
ham.* It is not oute of your remembraunce how Twyer
in Norff[olk] vexith me bothe by noise and serchyng
myn house for me, so that theer I can not be in quyete ;
and all that, I am verily acerteyned, is by Heydens
crafft And heer in the Kyngs house annenst Howard,*
wher I had hopid to a' relevid myself, I am supplanted
and cast oute from hym by a clamour of all his ser
vaunts at onys, and ne wer oonly that his disposicion
acordyth not to my pouer conceyte, which maketh me
to gif lesse force, be cause I desire not to dele ther
[where] bribery is Uke to be usid, ellis by my trouth this
unhappy unkyndenes wold I trow a' killed me. I pray
yow, at the reverence of Jesu Criste, to enfourme my
Lord of Warwyk of me. Parde I haf do hym service;
I was with hym at Northampton, that all men knew;
and now agayn at Seynt Albones, that knowth James
Ratcliff; and ther lost I xxii wurth horse, hemeys, and
mony, and was hurte in diverse places. I pray yow to
gete me his good Lordship, and that I may be toward
hym in Norffolk in his Courts holdyng, or ellis, if ony
thyng he haf to do ; and that ye wole gete me a letter
to Twyer to late me to sit in rest. For now if I made
any felaship agayn Twyer, I can haf no colour now
the Shirref and I be oute, so I must kepe me aparte,
which I am lothe to do, be God, if I myght better da
1 Stt Nos. 198, 199.
3 Sir John Howard, who was sheriff of Ncrfolk this year.

ti THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1461.
I besech yow to send me your intent by the next
man that come from yow. I shuld a' come to zow,
but, so help me God, my purs may no ferther. The
Holy Trinite preserve yow.
Wretyn hastily at York, &c.
Your to his power,
Denyes.

390-
A.D. 1461, 31 May.
Th e Earl of Oxford to John Paston.
[Douce MS. 393, f. 85.]
The date of this letter may, with great probability, be attributed to the
year 1461. It certainly cannot be later, as the writer was executed for high
treason in February 1462. He was found to have been corresponding with
Margaret of Anjou for the restoration of Henry VI., but the discoveiy must
have been much later than May 1461. Sir John Howard, who, for his
services to the House of York, was afterwards made ^ Duke of Norfolk,
appears to have had great influence just after the accession of Edward IV.,
which he used in a very overbearing manner ; and we have already seen, by
the last letter, that the Earl of Oxford's servant, 'Thomas Denyes, was at this
very time sufi'ering much persecution at his hand&
To 07vre right trusty and welbeloved John Paston.
Th'erl of Oxenford.
|IGHT trasty and welbeloved, we grete yow
well, and pray yow, as oure trast is in yow,
that if ye or any of yowre men here that
Howard purposith hym to make any aray at
o^vre manor of Wynche, that ye woll lete John Keche,
owre kepere ther of, haue wetyng by tymes, for and
he have wamyng he will kepe it in to the tyme that
we come thedir, with the grace of Cod, wiche have
yow in His kepyng. Wretyn in owre manor of
Wy vynho the last day of May.
Oxenford.

A.D. u6l.] EDWARD IV, 13
391.
A.D. 1461. — Thomas Playter to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 230.]
It is evident from the contents that this letter was written some time before
the coronation of Edward IV.
To my right good maister, John Paston, in all hast.
IFTER my most special recommendacion,
please your maisterchip wete, the Kyng,
be cause of the sege a boute Carelylle,
chaunged his day of Coronacion to be upon
the Sunday^ nexst after Seynt John Baptyste, to the'n-
tent to spede hym northward in all hast; and how
be it, blessed be God, that he hath now good tydynggs,
that Lord Mountagu hath broken the sege, and slayn
of Scotts 'vj.™!- [6000] and ij. knyghes, whereof Lord
Cliffords brother is one, yet not wythstandyng he wol be
crowned the sayd Sunday. And John Jeney enformed
me, and as I have verely lerned sethen, ye ar inbylled
to be made knygth at this Coronacion.* Wheder ye
have understandyng before hand, I wot not; but and
it lyke you to take the worchip uppon you, consyderyng
the comfortable tytynggs afore seyd, and for the glad-
nesse and plesour of al your welwyllers, and to the
pyne and dyscomfort of all your ille wyllers, it were
tyme your gere necessatye on that by halfe were
purveyd fore, and also ye had nede higth you to
London, for as I conceyve the knygthes schuld be
made uppon the Saterday by for the Coronacion ; and
as moche as may be purveyed for you in secrete wyse
wythouten xost I schall by speke for you, if nede
be, ayens your comyng, in trast of the best; neverthe
lesse, if ye be dysposed, ye had nede send a man by
I 38th June.
_' John Paston was not made knight at the Coronation of Edward IV., but
his eldest son was made knight, pitibably as a substitute for himself, within
two years after.

14 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. I46l.
fore in all hast, that no thing be to seke. William
Calthorp is inbylled, and Yelvertoun is inbylled, whiche
caused Markham; because Yelverton loked to have
ben chef juge, and Markham thynketh to plese hym
thus. And as for the mater ayens Poutrell, we can no
farther procede, tyl we have my maister your faders
testament I sent my maistres a letter for it. No more,
but I pray Al myghty Jesu have you in His kepyng.
Your, Thomas Playter.

392.
A.D. 1461, 5 June.
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 6.]
The date of this letter, like that of the last, is shown by a reference to the
approaching Coronation of Edward IV,
To my right reverent worschipfull master, my Master
fohn Paston,
ilGHT reverent and worschipfull master, I lowly
recomande me unto your good masterschip.
Plesith you to witte that I have ben at Frame-
lyngham, and spake Ric Sothwell to hafe hes
ad'vice in this mater; wherin he wolde geve me but
litell councell, and seide ze were straungely disposed,
for ye trusted no man, and had moche langage, weche
the berer herof schal enforme your masterschip.
And as for the letters, they were delivered my Lorde^
at the Logge, but I cowde not speke with hese Lorde-
schip. And suche tyme as they were delyvered Fitz
William whas there, weche is now keper of Castre ; and
what tyme as my Lorde had sene the lettres, he
comaunded hym to avoide, and so he did. .\nd
I The Duke of Norfolk, who appears by this time to have taken possessioa
of Caister, and appointed a keeper for it

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. IJ
thanne my Lorde sent for SothwelL And in the meene
tyme my Lorde sent a man to me, and axed me where
ye were, and I tolde hem ye were with the Kyng; and
so he sent me worde that an answere schulde be made
be Sothwel to the King, seyng that ii. or iij. eyers [heirs]
had ben with my Lorde, and shewed her [i.e. their] evi
dence, and delyvered it to my Lorde, seyng they have
had gret wrong, besechyng my Lorde that it myght be
reformed. Wherfor he comaunded me that I shulde go
hom, for other answer cowde I non have. So I aboude
upponSothwel to a'knowmy Lordes answerto theKyng;
weche answere Sothwel tolde me was, that he writeth to
the Kyng that certeine points in your lettres be untrew,
and that he schal prove suche tyme as he cometh befor
the Kyng, besechyng the Kyng to take it to no dis-
plesur ; for he is advised to kepe it still unto the tyme
that he hath spaken vvith his Highnesse, for he trasteth
to God to schewe suche evidence to the Kyng and to
the Lords, that he schulde have best right and titill
therto ; and so he sent a man forthe to the Kyng this
day. It were right weie don ye awayted upon hes man
comyng, that ye myght knowe the redy entent of my
Lordes writyng.
Berthelmew Elysse hathe ben with my Lorde, and
made a relesse to my Lord ; and Sir Will Chamberleine
was ther ij. dayes afore I come thirder, I can thynke
for the sam mater. And Thomas Fastolf whas there
the same tyme that I was ther ; and as I am enformed,
they have delyvered my Lorde serteine evidence.
Wherfore me semeth it were right weie don, sa'vyng
your better advice, to com hom and sele up your evi
dence, and have hem with you to London, to prove
his titill noght. Ther be but ij. or iij. men with in the
place, and if ye thynke it best to do it, send word, and
I suppose a remedy schal be had.
Also I here no word of Master William, nor of the
writts for the Parlament. Also it is tolde here that
Tudenham ^ and Heydon have a pardon of the Kyng,
1 Sir Thomas Tuddenham was beheaded in February following.

i6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.n. 1461.
and that they schal come up to London with the Lady
of Suflblk to the Coronacion. Also as for the letter
that ye sent to Thomas Wyngfeld, I have it still, for
he is at London. Some men sey he meved my Lord
for to entre, and some sey Fitz William is in defaute.
So I can see ther is but fewe goode. Also my master
Sir Thomas Howys schol send a letter to the person
ye wote of, for to deliver you the gere at London the
next week. My right wourschipfuU and reverent master,
Almyghti God preserve you.
Wreten at Nonveche, on the morwe after Corpus
Christi Day. Your pore servant and bedman,
R.C

393.
A.D. 1461, 19 June.
Robert Lethum to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
As we find by tbe last letter that John Paston was with the King in the
begiiming of June r46i, this may with great probability be attributed to the
same year.
A tres reverent Sire, John Paston, Esquier, demouraunt
ou lostell le Roy soit d\onne\.
IlGHT worshipful! sir, I recomaund me to you.
And, sir, yesterday I resceived of you a lettre
from oure sovereign lord the Kyng directe to
John Fulman, dyvers othir, and me, by the
quych, for certeyn causes that meved hym, and for the
well and save gard of his person and this his realme,
he desired we chuld fynd men for kepyng of the see.
I said to you that I hade beyn dyvers tymes spoled
and robbed, as ye have herd, and also gretely vexed
and sued to me [fny] unportab[l]e [charges] •} nevir the
J'is, to my pouer, with my body and my gode, I chall
> Omitted in MS.

A.D. t46i.] EDWARD IV. 1?
be redy to do hym servyce in resistyng his enmyse
and rebelles. Also I said I dwelled uppon the cost
of the see here, and be langage hit were more neces-
s.are to with hold men here than take from hit The
said the Kyng hade wreton to dyvers persones here
quych hade promysed men, querappon I promysed a
man, quych chall be redy at such tyme I have knowe-
lege quere the shippyng chall be, to waite uppon yow,
or quane the Kyng comaundes. I write to you of my
promyse as ye comaund me, and pray you I may have
a copy of the said lettre. And I pray Godd kepe you.
Wrete at Plumsted on the Fest of Seynt Gervaise and
Prothase.^ Your, Robt. Lethum.

394.
A.D. 1461, 21 June.
James Gresham to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 232].
Uke Nos. 391 and 392, this letter refers to the approachbg Coronation of
Edward IV.
To my right worshipfuU maister, John Paston, at
Heylesdon in Norffolk, in hast.
FTER due recomendacion hadde; please it
your Maistership to witte, that as for Plaiter
he shall excuse the writte of the parlement,
&c. As touchyng my maister Howard,^ I can
not yet speke with hym, ne with Moungomerye' nether.
But as for the day of Coronacion of the Kyng, it shall
be certeynly the Moneday next after Mydsomer, and
it is told me that ye among other ar named to be
made knyght atte Coronacion, &c.
I 19th June.
» Sir John Howard. * Sir Thomas Montgomoy.
II C

l8 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. US'-
Item, it is seid that the Coronacion do, the Kyng
wole in to the north part forthwith ; and therfor shall
not the parlement holde, but writtes shall goo in to
evety shire to gyve them, that ar chosyn knyghtes of
the shire, day after Michelmesse ; this is told me by
suyche as am right credible. Maister Brakle shall
preche at Poules on Sunday next comyng as he tolde
me, and he tolde me, that for cause Childermesse
dayi fal on the Sunday, the Coronacion shall on the
Moneday, &c.
Wretyn in hast at London, the Sunday next tofore
Mydsomer, Your right pouere servant,
James Gresham.

395.
A.D. 1461, 26 June.
Clement Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Elizabeth Fasten, who, as we have seen (No. 322), had been ^married to
Robert Poynings by the beginning of the year 1459, becanie his widow in
1461, her husband being killed in the second battle of St. Alban's on the 17th
February. It would appear by this letter that she was immediately after

I Childermas, or Holy Innocents' Day, the 38th of December, fell on Sun*
day m the year 1460. The day of the week on which it fell used to be
considered ominous or unlucky during the whole ensuing year. This
superstition seems to have continued as late as the beginning of last century,
and is aUuded to by Addison in the 7th number of tie " Spectator." It is
not true, however, that Edward's Coronation was put off till Monday. It
took place on the Sunday which had been originally appointed for it, but the
processions and pageantry were deferred till next day. _ The following is the
account of the matter given in a contemporary chronicle in the Cottonian MS.,
Vitellius, A. xvi.
"And upon the morn, Sunday, which was St. Peter's Even, and the aSth
day of June, he was crowned at Westminster with great solemnity of bishops
and other temporal lords. And upon the mom after, the King went crowned
again in Westminster Abbey, in the worship of God and St. Peter. And
upon the next mom he went also crowned in St. Paul's in the worship of God
and St. Paul ; and there the angel came down and censed him. At which
time was as great a multitude of people in Paul's as ever was seen afore in
any days."

A.D. I46l.] EDWARD IV. 19
dispossessed of her husband's lands by Eleanor, Cuuntesei of Northumber
land, who was Baroness Poynings in her own right.
To my rytlie worchypfull broder, John Paston, be thys
delyveryd in haste.
IRODER, I recomawnde me to zow, desyeiyng
to here of yowre welfare, the qwyche I pray
God mayntene. Plesse yow to wette that 1
have sent my moder a letter for mony for my
swster;^ and if ze wyll agre that I may have xx''/«1
[;^2o], I xall zeve zow acowmpts ther of, and ze xall
be payyd azen of the obligacyon that my moder hathe,
or ellys I xall take a swerte of my suster. I 'wysse
obligacion mwste nedes be swyd, and a doseyn accions
more in her name, and sche doo well thys terme; and
it wyll be doo 'widi in fowertenyut The Cowntas of
Northumberlond* and Robarde Fenus* ocupie all her
lond, and that is a gret myscheffe. I prey zow spe[ke]
to my moder her of, and lat me have a awnswer within
this sevenyut Also, broder, Wyndham is come to
town, and he seyd to me he wyll goo gett hym a
mayster, and me thovvte by hym he wold be in the
Kynges servise, and he saythe that he wyll have
Felbryg azen or Myhelmes, or ther shal be v.<=- [500]
beds broke ther fore. Brodere, I pray zow delyver
the mony that I xwld have in to swm prior of swm
abbey to s-wm mayster of swm colage to be delyveryd
qwan I can espy ony londe to be porchasyd. I pray
zow send me word wyder ze wyll doo thus or no. No
more, but owre Lord have zow in Hys kepyng. Wtytyn
on Ftyday nexst after Seynt John is day.
^•j zour broder,
Clement Paston.

1 Elizabeth Paston, now widow oi ftowrt Poynings.
2 Eleanor, widow of Henry Percy, third Earl, who was slain at Towtnn
ID 1461.
SFenys.

20 THE PASTON LETTERS. tA.D. i46«-

396.
A.D. 146 1, Juue.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter appears from intemal evidence to have been written some lime
after the second battle of Sl Alban's, which was fought in February r46i, and
before the murder of Thomas Denys in July foUowing. . But to all appearance
it was not very long before the latter date. The MS. is mutilated, and a few
words are lost in eight consecutive lines.
To my right worchepfull hosbond, fohn Paston, be this
letter deliveryd in hast.
p^IGHTworchepfull hosbond, I recommand me to
'®** you. Please you to wete that thys day in the
momyng the parson of Snoryng came to
Thomas Denys and fechyd hym owt of hys
hows, and beiyth hym a hand,^ that he shuld a mad
byllys agayns Twyer and hym, and hathe a leed hym
ferthe with hem. Hys wyf hathe no knowlege of it
Ferther more the seid parson scythe that the seyd
Thomas Denys shuld a take sowdyors owt of hys
felachep whan he went to Seynt Albons;* that hys a
nother of hys compleynts. Item, anothyr of hys com-
pleynts ys, a betyth the seyd Thomas a hand,i that he
had awey a hors of John Coppyng of Btyslee, and a
nother of Kyng of Donham, the wyche hors were stole
be the seyd ij. personys. Wher for the seyd Thomas
toke hem as a comyshaner and delyvetyd hem to the
exchetor, Frances Costard, and one of thein he bowt of
the seyd Fraunces. And the seyd parson hathe a wey
the seyd hors, and seyth that he woUe the seyd thevys
shuld be recompenst be Thomas Denys. Thys I am
enformyd of all thesse maters be hys wyffe, and sche
prayythe yow in the reverence of God ye woUe be hyr
good maister, and helpe that hyr hosbond may have
1 i.e. accuses him. See Vol. i. p. 90, Note.
3 Thomas Denys was at the second battle of St. Alban's in February 1461,
See Na 389.

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 21
sume remedy be your labor in thys mater, [for she]
seythe syn that hyr hosbond ys the Kyngs offycer, that
they owt to spar hym the r.ather. But they that hathe
hym take no  told me that they hope
to have a newe chonge in hast
Item, Pers that was with my unkyll Barney^ sent you
a l[etter]  er desyryng to have your
good masterchep, and he woll fyynd sufficient suerte*
for hym for to com  whan som ever
ye woll require hym. I' good feyth it ys told me hys
leggs ar all  [Send] me word, encas
the suerte be sufficient, in what sum ye woll have hem
bovmd for hy  te in bayle. Item,
it ys told me that ther be many Freynche shyppys of
se a geyns Yarmothe, a[nd  tjhey
woll do harme on the coste. I pray yow hertely that
ye woll send me word in hast howe that ye do with
my [Lord] of Norffolk, and with your adversaryys. Item,
I have do purveyed in thys wareyn xj.""- [eleven score]
r.-ibets and sent up be the berer herof. The biyssyd
Trinite have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow the
better of all your adversariis, and good sped in all
your maters. Wretyn in hast, the same day that ye
departyd hens.
Item, I pray yow that ye wolle remembre my unkyll
Barneys mater tochyng the executyng of hys wylie,
and how ye wolle that we be demenyd for kepyng of
hys yerday, and that it lekyth you to send me word be
Mr. John Smy[th.]
397.
A.D. 1 46 1, July.
Thomas Denyes to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv., 18].
This letter speaks of the county of Norfolk as being in an unquiet state, and
of John Paston as having been elected knight of the shire. It wiU be seen by
1 John Berney,
2 "See Letter 362, ^'hich it thus appears was written aoout this time, and not
in the preceding year.

22 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1461.
No. 392 that wilts for an election were expected as early as the sth of June
in 1461, and as I find that the writer of tnis letter was murdered on the 4th
of July foUowing, the date is probably about the very beginning of that
month. From what is said at the beginning of the letter about Paston's
absence fiY}m home, it was evidently some time after the last, which was
written on the very day of his departure.
To my right noble and wurshipfuU mastresse, my Mas-
tresse Paston, or to William Paston if she be absent.
|IGHT noble and wurshipfuU mastresse, I re
comaund me to yow 'with my pouer servise.
And for so moche as I here no thyng of my
maister your husbonds com)T3g hastly home,
— and though he cam or come not, it were expedient
that the Kyng were infourmed of the demenyng of the
shire, — therfore I send to yow a testymonyall, which
is made by a greet assent of greet multitude of comons,
to send to the Kyng. I pray you for the good spede
therof that in all hast possible ye like to send it to my
said maister, if he be with the Kyng ; ellis fynde the
meane to send it to the Kyng, thogh my maister be
thens ; beside forthe that ye vouchsauf to late diligent
labour be made to a sufficient nombir to assele for my
Maister Paston allone, for if bothe holde not, I wolde
oon helde.
I pray yow that it lyke you to send for my Maister
AVilliam Paston, and shew hym all thys, and that it
were hastid ; for on the adversaire parte Judas slepith
not Bemey promised to a' sent, but for our Lords love
trast not that ; for I se his slouthe and sely labour,
which is no labour. And I wold ful fayn speke with
yow, &c.
My maister your husbond wole peraventure blame
us all, if this mater be not applied ; for he may not of
reson do so largely heryn by his myght, be cause he is
elyted, as the Comons myght wisely do 'with help of
his favour, if it wer wisely wrought If my Maister
William Paston ride hastly from a x. daies to London,
I wole with hym, if he send me word. The Holy

A.D. I46i.] EDWARD IV. 23
Trinite preserve yow. Wretyn radely in hast the
Sunday, &c.
Men sey, send a wiseman on thy erand, and sey
liteU to hym, wherfor I write brefly and litell.
Thomas Denyes.

398.
A.D. 146 1, 3 July.
Richard Call to Margaret Pastok.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter seems to have been written in 1461, just before Thomas Denys
was murdered, in consequence of the occurrences mentioned in No. 396.
To my most reverent and worshipfuU mastresse, my
Mastresse Margaret Paston, this be delyuered.
iLESITH it your mastresseship that my mastre"^
wolde that ye alowe the berer hereof for hes
costs in asmoch as he come hether for that
matre, and for non other; but ye must lete
Thomas Denys wif be prevy therto, for my mastre wol
that she bere the cost, for it is her matre ; and that ye
make her goode cheere, and if ye wol have her hom to
you for a seacon, unto the tyme sche be out of her
trouble, my mastre is agreed. And if sche sende to
my mastre for any matre, let her sende her owne man
upon her owne coste, thowe ye paye the money for a
secon, unto the tyme that sche may pay you a yein,
mastre holdeth hym content My right wurshipful
mastresse, Almyghti Jesu kepe you. Wreten at Lon
don the iij. day of Jul.
Your poore seruaunt and bedman,
Ric Call.
On the back ofthis letter is the following memorandum : — " Memorandum
of j. comb whete, whereof was mad iiij.**. and x. [fourscore and ien] brown
Ipvis and iiij."- and xvj. white lovis, after vj. j.d. price the . ,"
' John Paston.

24 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1461.
399.
A.D. 1461, 6 July.
William Lomner to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
From the reference to the Coronation, it is quite evident that this letter
must have been written in the first year of Kuig Edward the Fourth.
To the right worchipfuU and my good maister
fohn Paston.

p^YGHT worchipfull and my good mayster I
^'¦^ recomaunde me to yow. And, sir, yf the Co
ronacion had be on Relik Sunday,^ as it was
apoyntyd, I shuld have waytid on yow. And
as for my Lord of Norffolks mene, I told my mastres
your wyfe, here disposission as I coude know, the
wheche I sopose she told yow, as I can espye some of
his meny was grette cause of T. D.^ deth, &c. Also
ye have knowlych how Fastolff^ is com yn to my Lord
of Norffolks hous, for ij. causez, as I understande ; on
is to enfors my Lords entre yn Castre be his cleym ; an
other is to helpe his fader yn lawe* ayens Felbrigge, &c.
For love of Good take good awayte to your person, for
theword [world] is right wilde, and have be sythyn Hey-
donz sauffe gard was proclamyd at Walsyngham; for
yn good feyth I trow, but \i[i.e. unless] he be ponysshid
the countre wille rise and doo moche harme, and also
for the comyssion Sir Miles Stapilton and Calthorp, that
am among the comunes ought of conseite and reputid
the Kyngs enmez, as the brenger of this bille can telle
yow, to whom I beseche yow to be good mayster, for
he hath doo the Kyng good servyse as ony pore man
of our contre, and yet is he callid traitor be sweche as
he can telle yow, soporrid be Roger Bolwer and Aleyn
I July 12, in 1461.
> Tho; ~

homas Denys. _ s "Thomas Fastolf of Cowhaw.
his would seem to be John W' "
relationship between him and Fastol

* This would seem to be John Wyndham, but I find no mention of such a
 " &

A.D. 1461.1 EDWARD IV. 25
Roos, Heidonz owyai men [chif constablez].^ And it
plese yow that John Yve and John Brigge myght have
your warentez for cheffe constable, &&, for they ocupye
yn Kyng Herris name. Forther, site, I am gretly yn
your danger and dette for my pension, for it is told me
ye have paied, and at your comyng I shalle make
amendez with your good maistreship, and suche ser
vyse as lith yn my pore powere is, and shalbe, redy at
alle tymez with Godds grace, how have yow yn His
kepyng. Wretyn yn hast at Dallyng, on Sent Thoraas
Even, &c Be your Servaunt, L.
400.
A.D. 146 1, 9 July.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter clearly relates to the afi'airs of Thomas Denys's wife, after the
murder of her husband in 1461. John Paston and William Rokewood were
trustees of his lands, and ^Iarga^et's cousin, John Beniey of Witchingham,
it wiU be: seen, wrote more than one letter to them about this time.
To my ryth worchepfull hosbond, fohn Paston, be
thys deliverid in hast.
pGHT worchepful hosbond, I recommand me to
yow. Please yow to wete that I have spoke
with Thomas Denys wyffe, and she recom
mand hyr to your good masterchep, and she
prayeth yow to be her good master, and prayet yow
of your good masterchep, that ye wolle geve her your
advice howe to be demenid for hyr person and hyr
goodes. For as towchyng hjT: owne person, she dare
not goo home to hyr owne place, for she is thret if
that she myght be take, she shuld be slayne or be put
in ferfull place, in shortyng of hyr lyve dayes, and so
she standyth in gret hevynes, God her helpe. Ferther
1 Interlined.

26 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
more she is nowe put be her brother in Norwich with
Awbty, and she tiiynkyth the place is right conver-
saunt of pupyll for hyr to abeyd in, for she kepyth
hyr as close as she may for spyyng. Item, as I went
to Seynt Levenard ward, I spake with Maister John
Salct, and commonyd with hym of hyr, and me thowgt
be hym that he howyth hyr ryght good wylie. And
than I haskyd hym howe she myght be demenyd with
hys^ goodes and hyr. He cownseld me that she shuld
get hyr a trosty frend, that war a good, trewe, poor man,
that had not moche to lese, and wold be rewlyd after
hyr, and to have a letter of ministracion ; and so I told
hyr. Than she seyd she wold have hyr broder advice
therin. Item, she seyth ther be no mor feffes in
hys londes but ye and Rokwood, and she prayeth yow
that it please yow to speke to Rokwood that he make
no relesse but be your ad'vice, as she trostyth to yowr
good masterchep. Item, the last tyme that I spake
¦with hyr she mad suche a petows mone and seyd that
she wost ner howe to do for mony, and so I lent -vjs.
vii}d. Item, I sent my cosyn Barney the bylle that
John Pampyng wrot be yowr commanddement to me,
and he hath sent a letter of hys entent to yow and to
Rokwod therof, and also but if it please yow to take
better hed to hys mater than he can do hym self, I
can thynk he shall ellis fare the wors for i' feyth he
standyth daly in gret fere, for the false contraty party
ageyns hym. Item, at the reverence of God, be ware
howe ye tyd or go, for nowgty and evyll desposyd
felacheps. I am put en fere daylyfor myn abydyng here,
and cownsellyd be my moder and be other good frendes,
that I shuld not abeyd here but yf the world wher in mor
quiete than it is. God for hys merci send us a good
world, and send yow helthe in body and sowle, and
good speed in all your maters. Wreten in hast the
Thursday next afler Seynt Thomas. By your, M. P.
I i.e. her husbtuid'^

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV. 27
401.
A.D. T461, 10 July. — John Berney to John
Paston and Wylliam Rokewode.
[From Fenn, i. 236.]
To tlie worshipfuU yohn Paston and Wylliam Roke
wode, Squyeris, and to every ch of them.
IlGHT worshipful! cosynes, I recummaund me
to yow. And for as mech as I am credybilly
informyd how that Sir Myles Stapylton knyght
with other yll dysposed persones, defame and
falsly noyse me in morderyng of Thomas Denys the
Crowner, and how that I intend to make insurexyones
contrari unto the law; and that the seyd Stapylton
ferthermore noyseth me 'with gret robries ; in whech
defamacyones and fals noysyngs the seyd Stapylton,
and in that his saying he is fals, that knowith God, &c.
And for my playn acquitayll, yf he or any substancyall
gentylman vryll say it, and avow it, I say to it contrari,
and by lisens of the Kyng to make it good as a
gentylman. And in this my playn exskeus, I pray
yow to opyn it unto the Lords, that the seyd Stapylton,
&c., makyn gret gaderyngs of the Kyngs rebelyones,
lying in wa)rte to morder me. And in that I may make
opyn proff. Wretyn in hast the x. day of July anno
regni Regis E. iiij. primo. John Berneye.
Remembre to take a wr/ht to chese crowneres in
Norffolk.

402.
A.D. 1461, 12 July.
John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 20.]
This letter aad the next, which is an answer to it, are evidently of the
fia;ne year as Na 4155.

28 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
To my cosyn, Margaret Paston
Recomaund me to yow, let)aig yow wete tha
the Undershreve doughtyth hym of John
Bemey ; wherfore I pray yow bryng hem to
gedyr, and set hem acord, if ye can, so that
the seyd Ondershreve be sure that he shall not be hurt
be hym, ner of hys cuntrymen. And eyf he woll not,
lete hym verely understonde that he shall be compellyd
to fynd hym suerte of the pes to agty in thys heed,
and that shall nowther be profitabyll, ner worchepfuL
And lete hym wete that there have be many compleynts
of hym be that knavyssh knyight, Sir Miles Stapilton,
as I sent yow word before ; but he shall come to hys
excuse weie inow, so he have a mannys hert, and
the seyd Stapylton shall ben ondyrstand as he ys, a
fals shrewe. And he and hys wyfe and other have
blaveiyd here of my kynred in hedermoder ; ^ but, be
that tyme we have rekned of old dayes and late dayes,
myn shall be found more worchepfull thanne hys and
hys wyfes, or ellys I woll not for hys gilt gypcer.
Also telle the seyd Bemey that the Shreve ys in a
dought whedyr he shall make a newe eleccion of
knyghts of the shyre, be cause of hym and Grey;
where in it were bettyr for hym to have the Shreves
good wyll.
Item, me thynkyth for quiete of the cuntre it were
most worchepfull that as weie Bemey as Grey shuld
get a record of all suche that myght spend xLf. ayere,
that were at the day of eleccon, whech of them that
had fewest to geve it up as reson wold. Wretyn at
London, on Relyk Sonday.
Item, that ye send abought for sylver acordyng to
the old bylle that I sent yow from Lynne.
John Paston.
' In hugger-mugger, i.e. clandestinely.

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV. 29
403.
A.D. 1461, 15 July.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 24.]
See preliminary note to preceding letter.
Recomand me to yow. Please yow to wete
that I have sent to my cosyn Barney, acord
yng to your desyr in the letter that ye deed
wright on Relec Sonday to me, wheropon he
hathe wreten a letter to yow and anothyr bylle to me,
the wyche I send yow. He tolde the masanger that
I sent to hym that the Undershereve nedyth not to fer
hym nor non of hys ; for he seyd, after the aleccion
was doo, he spak with hym at the Grey Fryers, and
prayyd hym of hys good masterchep, and seyd to hym
that he feryd no man of bodely harme, but only Twyer
and hys felachep.
Item, Sir John Tatersalle and the baly of Walsyns-
ham and the constabyll hathe take the parson of
Snoryng and iiij. of hys men, and sete hem fast in the
stokkys on Monday at nyght ; and, as it is seyd, they
shuld be carryyd up to the Kyng in hast. God defend
yt but they be shastysyd as the lawe wolle. Twyer
and hys felachep betyth a gret ^vyght of Thomas
Denys dethe in this contry abowght Walsynham ; and
it is seyd ther yf John Osberne hade owght hym as
good wylie, as he deed befor that he was acqueyntyd
with Twyer, he shuld not adyyd [have died], for he
myght rewlyd al Walsynham as he had lyst, as it
ys seyd.
Item, Will Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and
swyche other as he is vnth hym, goo fast abowght in
the contr, and ber men a hand,' prests and others, they
be Skotts, and take btybys of hem and let hem goo
ageyn. He toke the last wek the parson of Freton,
and but for my cosyn Jamyngham the younger,^ ther
I See p. 20, Note i.
3 John Jerningham, Junior, son of John Jemmgham, Senior, of Somer-
leyton, Suffolk.

30 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1461.
wold a led hem forthe with hem ; and he told hem
pleynly yf they mad any suche doyngs ther, but [i.e.,
unless] they had the letter to schewe for hem, they shuld
aley on her bodyys. It wer welle do that they wer
met widi be tymys. It is told me that the seyd Will
reportyth of yow as shamfully as he can in dyvers place.
Jesu have yow in Hys kepyng. Wreten in hast, the
Wednysday after Relec Sonday.
Yf the Undershereve come home, I woll a say to
do for hym as ye desytyd me in your letter. As for
mony, I have sent abowght, and I can get non but
xiijj. mjd. syn ye went owght I wolle do my parte
to get mor as hastely as ye may.
By yowr, M. P.
404.
A.D. 1461, 16 July.
John Berney to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 238.]
To the worshipfuU fohn Paston, and to my cosyn,
Wylliam Rokewode, Squyer, with my Lord of
Cantyrburi. |IGHT worshipfuU sir, I recummaund me to
yow, praying yow hertyli to labour for that
the Kyng may \vryte unto me, gevyng me
thankyng of the good wyll and servyse that
I haff doo unto hym, and in beyng 'with hym a yens
his adversaries and rebelyones, as well in the North,
as in this cuntre of Norffolk. And in that the Kyng
shold please the Comynnes in this cuntre ; for they
gradge and sey, how that the Kyng resayvith sych of
this cuntre, &a as haff be his gret eanemyes, and
opresseors of the Comynes ; and sych as haff assystyd
his Hynes, be not rewardyt ; and it is to be consederyd,
or ellys it wyll hurt, as me semyth by reason. And in
ayd of this chaungebyll rewle, it wer nessessaty to move
the good Lords Spiretuall and Temperali, by the whech

A.D. 1461.1 EDWARD IV. Ji
that myght be reformyd, &c. And in cas that any of
myn olde enemyes, Tudynham, Stapylton, and Hey
don, 'with theyr affenyte labur the Kyng and Lords
unto my hurt, I am and wylbe redy to come to my
souverayn Lord for my exskeus, soo that I may come
saff for unlawfull hurt, purveyed by my seyd ennemyes.
No more at this tyme, but God preserve yow in gras.
Wretyn at Wychyngham the xvj. day in the moneth of
July, anno regni Regis E. iiij''- primo. John Berneye.
Please it yow to move this unto my Lords Cauntyr-
buri, Ely, Norwych, &c.
405.
AD. 1461, 17 July.
John Berney to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 28.]
To the ryght worshipfuU fohn Paston, Squyer, in hast.
I recomaund me to zow, &c. And as for
my playn dysposyssyon towards the Undyr-
shrewe, I wyll hym no bodyli hurt, nor shal
not be hurt by me nor by noo man that I
may rewle. But the Comynnes throw all the schyer
be movyd agayn hym, for cause of his lyght demean-
yng towards them for this elexsyon of knygtts of the
shyer for the Parlement And I suppose yf that he
wyll, he may be hastyli easyd as thus : — lat hym make
notys unto the seyd Comynnes that this theyr eleccyon
shall stande, or ellys lat hym purchas a new wryt, and
lat hym make wtytyng unto them what day they shall
come, and they to make a new eleccyon acordyng
unto the law. And, sir, I pray zow, sey to hym that
it is nott his ones'tC to lye upon too many men, noysyng
them rebyhones of Norff[olk], and Bemey theyr
c . . . No more to zow at this tyme, but I haff sent
zow ij. letteris within this 'viij. dayes. Wretyn the xvij.
day of July anno regni Regis E. iiij''- i"""-
JoHN Berney.

32 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1461.
406.
AD. 1461, 18 July.
I*L\rgaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 30.]
llie date of this letter is certain, as it refers to the murder of Thoinas
Denys. To my worchepful hosbonde, fon Pastun, this letter be
delyvered in hast.
|YTH worchepful husbond, I recomawnd me to
yow. Plesyt yow to wete that I am desyrid
be Sir John Tatersale to wtyte to yow for a
comyssion or a noyr in termyner [oyer and
terminer] ' for to be sent down in to tliis cuntre to sit
uppon the parson of Snoryng, and on soche as was
cause of Thomas Denyssys dethe, and for many and
gret horebyl robryys ; and as for die costs ther of the
cuntre weie pay therfor, for they be sor aferd but [i.e, un
less] the seyd dethe be chastysed, and the seyd robryys,
they ar aferde that mo folks xai be servyd in lyke wyse.
As for the prest and vj. of hese men that be takyn, they
be delyvetyt to Twer [Twyer], and iiij. be with hem of
the cuntreys cost, for to be sent with to the Kyng; and
yf they be browt up at the reverens of God, do yowr
parte that they schape not, but that they may have the
jugement of the lawe, and as they have deservyd, and
be comytyt to prison, not to departe tyl they be
inquetyd of her forseyd robety be soche a comyssion
that ye can get, that the Keng and the Lords may
hondyrstonde wat rewle they have be of, not hondely
for the modetys and the robbtyys, but as weie for the
gret insurrexsin that they were lyke amade -within the
shyre. The preests of Castyr they be streytely take
hede at be Roberd Harmerer and hoder, so that the
seyde prestys may have no thyng out of ther owne, ne
of hodyr menys, but they be rassakyt, and the plase ys
I See Vol L p. 138, Note s.

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 33
watchyd bothe day and nyth. The prestys thynk ryth
longe tyl they tydynggs fro yow. At the reverens of
God, be ware hou ye goo and ryde, for that ys told
me that ye thret of hem that bd" nowty felawys that
hathe be inclynyng to them, that hathe be your hold
adversarys. The biyssyd Trenyte have yow in hys kepyng.
Wretyn in hast, the Saturday nex be fore Sent
Margarete. Be yours, M. P.

407.
AD. 1461, 27 July. — Grant from the Crown.
[From Patent Roll, I .Edw. IV., Part 3, No. 13.]
Pro Johanne Paston.
|EX omnibus ad quos &c. salutem. Cum Noi,
indebitati sumus Johanni Paston armigero et
Thomse Hows clerico in septingentis marcis
legalis monetae regni nostri Anglias eisdem
Johanni et Thomae solvendis juxta formam cujusdam
billae manu nostra signatae cujus tenor sequitur in hsec
verba : —
Edward, Kyng of Inglond and of Frauns, Lord of
Irlond, recorde and knoweleych that we have receyvyd
of John Paston, Squyer, and Thomas Hows, clerk, be
the assent of oure trasty and welbelovyd cosyn Thomas
Archebysshop of Caunterbury, [and?] Mayster John
Stokys, clerk, an nowche of gold with a gret poynted
diamaunt set upon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche
of gold in facion of a ragged staff with ij. ymages of
Inan and woman garnysshed with a raby, a dyamaunt
a.nd a gret perle, which were leyd to plegge by oure
fader, whom Crist assoyle, to Sir John Fastolff, knyght,
for CCCC. xxxlvij//.; and also an obligacion wherby
oure seid fader was bound to the seid Sir John Fastolff
in an C. marc ; for which we graunt and promitt in
n. D

34 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
the word of a kyng to pay to the seid John Paston and
Thomas Hows, clerk, orto her assignez, D.CC. mark of
lawfull money of Englond at days underwritte, that is
to sey ; att the Fest of All Seyntes than next foloNvyng
after the date of thys bUle CC. mark, and other CC.
mark at the Fest of All Seyntis than next folowyng, and
other CC. mark at the Fest of All Seyntes than next
folowyng, and an C. mark at the Fest of All Seyntys
thaone next folowyng. And also we graunte that the
seid John Paston and Thomas Hows shall have a
signement sufficient to hem aggreabill for the seid pay
ment And if it fortune that the same John and
Thomas be unpayd by the seid assignement of any of
the seid paymentis at any of the seid Festis, thanne we
graunt upon notice made to us therof by the same
John or Thomas to pay hem or her assignez that pay
ment so behynd onpaid oute of oure cofirs withoute
delay. In witnesse werof we have signed this bill -with
oure hand the xij. day of Jule the first yere of [our]i
reign. Nos solutionem summae illius prasfatis Johanni et
Thomae fieri et haberi volentes, ut tenemur, con
cessimus et per praesentes concedimus eisdem Johanni
Paston et Thomae Hows septingentas marcas monetae
praedictae percipiendas modo et fonna subsequentibus,
'videhcet, centum marcas inde annuatim percipiendas
de primis denariis prevenientibus et crescentibus de
feodi firma civitatis nostrae Nor^vici et de omnibus aliis
firmis, exitibus, proficuis et reventionibus de eadem
civitate prevenientibus per manus majoris, custodis,
¦vicecomitum, ci'vium seu balli voram ejusdem ci-vitatis
pro tempore existentium aut alioram receptoram,
firmarioram seu appraatoram eorandem feodi firmaram,
exituum, proficuoram et reventionum dictae civitatis pro
tempore existentium, et centum marcas inde annuatim
percipiendas de firmis, redditibus, exitibus, proficuis et
aliis commoditatibus quibuscumque de comitatibus
nostris Norff' et Suff' prevenientibus per manus ¦vice
comitum eoramdem comitatiium pro tempore exis-

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 35
tentium, quousque septingentae marcae eisdem Johanni
Paston et Thomae Hows plenarie persolutae fuerint
In cujus &c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium,
xxvij. die JuliL Per ipsuvi Regem oretenus.

408
A.D. 1 46 1, I Aug.
John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is printed from a draft which is partly in John Paston's own
band. The contents clearly refer to, first, the Norfolk election of 1461, which
it was proposed to confirm by a new meeting of the electors at the shire
house ; and secondly, the necessity of electing a new coroner after the
murder of Thomas Denys. The date is therefore certain.
To my mastres Paston and Richard Calle.
|IRST, that Richard Calle fynde the meane that
a distresse may be taken of such bestes as
occupie the ground at Stratton, and that
cleyme and contynuauns be made of my pos
session in any wise, and that thei be not suffrid to
occupie withowt thei compoune with me; and that aftir
the distresse taken the undirshreve be spokewith all that
he make no replevyn with out agrement or apoynte-
ment taken, that the right of the lond may be undir-
stand. ij. Item, I here sey the peple is disposed to be
at the shire at Norwich on Sen Lauerauns Day for
th'affermyng of that thei have do afore, wherof I hold
me weie content if thei do it of her owne disposicion,
but I woll not be the cause of the labour of hem; ner
bere no cost of hem at this tyme, for be the lawe I am
suer befor, but I am wel a payed it shall be on han
halyday for lettyng of the peples werk. I undirstand
ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is
labour made to me for my good wyll here, and I wyll
nothyng graunt 'withowt the under shreves assent, for
he and I thought that Richard Bloumvyle were good

36 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
to that occupacion. Item, ye shall undirstand that
the undirshreve was some what fleketyng whill he was
here, for he informyd the Kyng that the last eleccion
was not peasibill, but the peple was jakkyd and
saletted, and riottously disposid, and put hym in fere
of his lyfe. Wherefore I gate of hym the writte whech
I send yow herwith, to that entent, thow any fals shrewe
wold labour, he shuld not be sure of the writ, and dier-
fore ye most se that the undirshreve have the writ at
the day, in case the peple be gadered, and thanne lete
th'endentures be made up or er they departe.
iij. Item, that ye remembyr Thomas Denys wyfe that
her husbond had divers billes of extorcion don be Hey
don and other, whech that he told me that his seid wyfe
beryid whan the ramour was, so that thei were ny rotea
Bidde her loke hem up and take hem yow.
iiij. Item, as for the seyd distreynyng at Stratton, I
wold that Dawbeney and Thomas Bon shuld knowe the
closes and the ground, that thei myght attende ther
to, that Richard were not lettyd of other occupacions,
and I wold this were do as sone as is possibili, or I
come home. Notwithstandyng, I trowe I shall come
home or the shire, but I woll nat it be knowe till the
same day, for I will not come there with owt I be sent
fore be the peple to Heylisdonne. Notwithstandyng,
and the peple were weie avertised at that day, they
shuld be the more redy to shewe the oribyll extorcions
and briberys that hath be do upon hem to the Kyng
at his comyng, desyring hym that he shuld not have
in favor the seyd extorcioners, but compelle hem to
make amendes and sethe [satisfaction] to the pore peple.
V. Item, that Bemey and Richard Wright geve suche
folkys wamyng as wyll compleyne to be redy with
her billes if thei list to have any remedy.
vj. Itera, that the maters ayens Sir Miles Stapilton
may at Aylesham be remembyrd.
vij. Also if ye can be any craft get a copy of the
bille that Sir Miles Stapilton hath of the corte rolles of
Gemyngham, that ye fayie not, but assay and do yowr

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 37
devyr, for that shuld preve some men shamefully fals.
Master Brakle seyd he shuld a get oon of Freston. I
wold he shuld assay, or ellys peraventure Skypwith, or
ellys Master Sloley; for if Stapilton were boren in
hande that he shuld be founde fals and ontrewe, and
first founder of that mater, he wold bothe shewe the
bille and where he had it.i
viij. Item, I wold the prestis of Caster were content
for Midsomer term.
ix. Item, ther is a whith box with evidens of Stratton,
in on of the canvas baggis in the gret cofir, or in the
sprase chest Ric. Calle knowith it well, and ther is
a ded of feffement and a letter of atome mad of the
seyd londs in Stratton to John Damm, W. Lomner,
Ric. Calle, and John Russe. I wold a new dede and
letter of atome were mad owth theroff be the feffees of
the same laund to Thome Grene,^ Thome Playter, the
parson of Heyhsdon, Jacobo Gloys, klerke,^ Johanni
Pamping, and that the ded bere date nowh, and that it
be selid at the next shire ; for than I suppose the seyd
feffes will be ther if it may not be don er that tyme.
I wold have the seyd dedis leyd in a box, both old
and new, and left secretly at Ric. Thornis hows at
Stratton, that whan I com homwar I mygh fynd it
ther, and mak seson [seisin] and stat to be take whil
I wer ther. Wret at London on Lammes Day.

409.
A.D. 1461, 23 Aug. — John Russe to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 42.]
Edward IV. went into the Marches oi Wales, as mentioned in this Idler,
in the autumn of 1461. He was at Gloucester on the nth September, and 3t
Ludlow on the 21st, as appears by the dates of his privy seals. The matter
1 Between this and the next paragraph is the following sentence crossed
out: — " Item, I send yow a writ direct to the Meyer and Shreves of Nor
wich for to receyve of hem an C, [hundred-] mark yerly for suche jowellys as
the Kyng hath of me."
'¦* Tnis name is substituted for three others cro-ssed out, viz. " John Greno-
feld, Thomas Playter, Water Wrottisle, Squyer."
^ Here occurs the name, ** Christofere Grcnacre,'' crossed out-

38 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
mentioned in the postscript is doubtless Howard's contention with Paston in
the Shire-house at Norwich, to which aUusion is made in the letter foUowing.
To my right worshypfull and reverent maistyr, fohn
Paston, at Norwich.
|YGHT worshypfull sir, and my right honour
able maister, I recomaunde me louly to you.
And plese youre maistirshyp to wete that my
Maister Clement, youre brothyr, and Plater,
wrot a letter to my mayster yore sone ^ yistirday, the
tenure of whych was how ye were entretyd there. And
as ye desyred me, so I enformyd hem the mater along,
for they wist not of it til I told hem ; and they wrete
the more pleynerly inasmych as a worshypfull man
rood the same day, and bare the letter to my seyd
maister youre sone.
The Lord Bourgcher is with the Kynge, and my
Lord Warwyk still in the North, &c.
Item, sir, thys day cam on John Waynflet from the
Kyng streyt weye, and he is of myn aqueyntaunce ;
and he teld me there was no voyse nor spekyng aboute
the Kyng of that mater; and I teld hym all the mater
along hou ye were intretyd, whych he -wyll put in
remembraunce in ony place that he cometh in in
Suffolk or Esex as he goth homward, for he owyth no
good wil to youre adversary. And the seyd Waynflet
teld me that he knowyth for serteyn that the Kyng
cometh not to Northefolk til he hathe been upon the
Marchys of Walys, and so there is no serteynte of hyse
comyng thys many dayez. He teld me he lefte the
Kyng with a smal felashyp aboute hym.
And I enquetyd hym of the gyding of my maystyr
yore sone, whiche he comendyd gretly, and seyd that
he stood well inconseyt, and dayly shuld increse; and
he was well in acqueyntaunce and be lovyd with
jentilmen aboute the Kyng. But he seyd ther shal no
thyng hurte hym but youre streytnesse of mony to hym,
for withoute he have mony in hyse purse, so as he may
^ John Paston. the eldest son.

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV. 39
resonably spende among hem, ellys they wyll not sette
by hem ; and there be jentilmen sones of lesse reputa-
cion that hath mony more lyberal x. tymez than he
hath, and soo in that they seyd Waynflet seyd it were
full necessary for you to remembre, &c.
As for tydyngs here bee noon newe, &c I traste
I shal brynge you a letter from my mayster your sone,
or thanne I come, for whych I shal rather thanne fayle
abyde on day the lenger. And Jesu have you, my
right honourable maister, in Hyse mercyfuU govern
aunce, and preserve you from adversyte. Wretyn at
London, on Seynt Bertylmewys E-vyn.
I can speke -with noo raan but that thynke the
gydyng of youre adversaty hath been in many causez
tyght straunce, and as it is soposyd that he shal undyr
stonde at the Parlament; but for Gods sake have men
inow aboute yow, for ye undyrstonde is on manerly
dysposecion. Your bedeman and servaunt,
John Russe.
410.
A.D. 1461, 23 Aug.
John Paston, the Eldest Son, to his Father.
[From Fenn, iv. 46.]
Allusion is made in this letter, as in the last, to Edward the Fourth's going
into Wales in 1461. The writer appears to have been with the King, and ex
pecting to accompany him on the joumey. Edward was at Battle on the
2ist August 1461, according to the dates of his privy seals.
To my rythg reverent and worchypfoU fader, fohn
Paston, Esquyer, dwellyng in Heylysdon, be thys
letter delyvered in haste.
HOST reverent and worschepfuU fadyr, I rekom-
awnd me hertyly, and submytt me lowlely to
your good faderhood, besechyng yow for
cheryte of yowr dayly blyssyng. I beseche
yow to hold me ascewsyd that I sente to yowe none

40 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
erste no wrythgtyng, for I kowd not spede to myn
intent the maters that ye sent to me for. I have
labotyd dayly my Lord of Essexe, Treserer of Ynglond,
to have mevyd the Kyng bothe of the maner [of]
Deddham and of the byll copye of the Corte Roll,
evetye momyng ore he went to the Kyng, and often
tymys inqueiyd of hym and he had mevyd the Kyng
in these matyers. He answetyd me naye, seyyng it was
no tyme, and seyd he wold it war osse fayne spedd os
I myselfe, offed tymys de layding me that in trouthe I
thowt to have send yowe word that I felyd by hym
that he was not wyllyng to meve the Kyng ther in.
Neverthe lesse I lawbetyd to hym contynually, and
prayed Barronners hys man to remembyr hym of it
I told offten tyms to my seyd Lord that I had a man
teryyn in town, that I schuld a sente to yow for othyr
sundty maters, and he teryid for no thyng but that I
mythg send yowe by hym an answer of the seyd mat
yers; othyr tyms besechyng h)mi to spede me in theys
matyers for thys cawse, that ye schulde thynke no de-
fawte in me for remembryng in the seyd maters.
And nowe of late, I, rememberyng hym of the same
mater, inqueryd if he had mevyd the Kyngs Hythgnes
therin ; and he answetyd me that he hadde felte and
mevyd the Kyng ther in, rehersyng the Kyngys answer
therin ; how that, when he had mevyd the Kyng in the
seyd maner of Dedham, besechyng hym to be yowr
good Lord ther in, konsyderyng the servyse and trewe
part that ye have done, and owthg to hym, and in
espesyal the tygth that ye have therto, he seyd he
wold be your good Lord therin as he wold be to the
porest man in Inglond. He wold hold 'with yowe in
yowr rygth ; and as for favor, he wyll nogth be under
stand that he schal schewe favor mor to one man then
to anothyr, nowgth to on in Inglond.
And as for the bille copyd of the Cort Rolle, when
he mevyd to him of it, he smylyd and seyd that suche
a bylle ther was, seyyng that ye wold an oppressyd
sundreys of yowr contremen of worchypfull men, and

A.D. 1461.J EDWARD IV. 41
the for he kepyd it stylU Never the lesse he seyd he
schuld loke it uppe in haste, and he schuld have it
Baronners undertoke to me twyes ore thryes that he
schuld so a' remembred hys lord and master,^ that I
schuld au had it with inne ij. or iij. dayes. He is often
tyms absent, and therfor I have it nowthg yyt ; when
I kan gete it, I schall send it yowe, and of the Kyngs
mowth, hys name that take it hym.
I scend you home Pekok a geyn. He is not for me.
God send grace that he may do yow good servyse,
that be extymacion is not lykelye. Ye schall have
knowleche aftyrward how he hathe demenyd hym her
with me. I wold, savyng yowr dysplesure, that ye were
delyvered of hym, for he schalle never do yow profyte
ner worchyp.
I suppose ye understand that the monye that I
hadde of yowe att Londun maye not indur with me
tyll that the Kyng goo in to Walys an kome ageyn,
for I under stand it schall be long or he kome ageyn.
Wher for I have sent to Londun to myn onkyl Clement
to gete an Cr. of Christofyr Hansom yowr servaunt, and
sene [send] it me be my seyd servaunt, and myn hemeys
with it, whyche I lefte at Lundun to make klene.
I beseche yowe not to be dysplesyd with it, for I
kowd make non othyr obeysaunce [arrangement] but I
schuld a boruyed it of a strange man, sum of my felawys,
who I suppose schold not lyke yowe, and ye herd of it
a nothyr tyme. I ame in suerte wher as I schall have
a nothyr maun in the stede of Pekoke.
My Lord of Estsexe seythe he wyll do as myche for
yowe as for any esquyer in Inglond, and Beronners
hys man telht me, seyy[n]g, " Yowr fadyr is myche be
holdyng to my Lord, for he lovyth hym well." Bern-
ners mevyd me ons, and seyd that ye must nedys do
sum wate for my Lord and hys, and I seyd I wost
well that ye wold do for hym that laye in yowre powar.
And he seyd that ther was a lytyl mony be twyxe yowe
and a jantylman of Estsexe, callyd D)Tward, seyyng
I Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex

42 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
that ther is as myche be wem [between] my seyd Lord
and the seyd jantylman, of the wyche mony he
desietyth yowr part
It is talkyd here how that ye and Howard schuld a'
strevyn togueder on the scher daye, and on of Howards
men schuld a' strekyn yow twyess with a dagere, and
soo ye schuld a ben hurt but for a good dobelet that
ye hadde on at that tyme. Biyssyd be God that ye
hadde it on. No mor I wtyth to yower good faderhod
at thys tym, but All myghty God have yowe in Hys
kepyng, and sende yowe 'vyttotye of yowr elmyes
[enemies], and worschyp in cressyng to yowr lyvys end
yn. Wrytyn at Lewys, on Seynt Bertylmwes Eve.
Be yowr servaunt and elder sone,
John Paston.

411.
AD. 1461, 25 Aug.
Clement Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 52.]
The references to Howard's conduct, and to John Paston the son being
vith the King, prove this letter to be of the year 1461. Com ' *
paragraph of the letter immediately preceding with the first of t

with the king, prove this letter to be of the year 1461. Compare the last
'iof the' ¦ ¦¦ ¦ 
To hys rythe reverent and worchypfwll broder, John
Paston.

|YTHE reverent and worchypfwll broder, I
recomawnde me to yowr good broderhood,
desieryng to herre of zour welfar and good
prosperite, the gwyche I pray God encresse to
His pies wr and zowr herts hesse [heart' sease]) certyfyyng
zow that I have spok with John Rwsse.and Playter spok
with him bothe, on Ftyday be for Seynt Barthelmw.
He tolde us of Howards gydyng, gwyche mad us rythe
sory tyl we herde the conclusion that ze hadde non
harme. Also I understond by W. Pekok that my nevew

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 43
hadde knowleche ther of also up on Saterday nexst be
for Seynt Barthelmwe, in the Kyngs howse. Not with
standyng, up on the same day Playter and I wryte
letters on to him, rehersyng al the mater, for cause if
ther wer ony questionys mevyd to hym ther of, that he
xwlde telle the trowthe, in cas that the qwestions wer
mevyd by ony worchypfwll man, and namyd my Lord
Bowcher,^ for my Lord Bowcher was with the Kyng at
that tyme.
I fele by W. Pekok that my nevew is not zet verily
aqweyntyd in the Kyngs howse, nor with the ofiicers of
the Kyngs howse he is not takyn as non of that howse;
for the coks [c(!?(7,5.r] be not charged to serve hym, nor
the sewer ^ to gyve hym no dyche, for the sewer wyll
not tak no men no dyschys till they be coma-svndyd by
the coivnterroller. Also he is not aqweyntyd with no
body but with Weks ; ^ and Weks ad told hym that he
wold bryng hym to the Kyng, but he hathe not zet do
soo. Wherfor it were best for hym to tak hys leve
and cum hom, till ze hadd spok with swm body to
helpe hym forthe, for he is not bold y now to put
forthe hym selfe. But than I consyderyd that if he xwld
now cum hom, the Kyng wold thyng [think] that wan
he xwld doo hym ony servie som wer, that than ze wold
have hym hom, the qwyche xwld cause hym not to be
hadde in favor; and also men wold thynke that he
wer put owte of servie. Also W. Pekok tellythe me
that his mony is spent, and not tyotesly, but wysly and
discretly, for the costs is gretter in the Kyngs howse
qwen he rydythe than ze wend it hadde be, as Wyllam
Pekok can tell zow ; and therof wee must gett hym
iCs. at the lest, as by Wyllam Pekoks seyyng, and zet
that will be to lytill, and I wot well we kan not get
xli/. of Christifyr Hanswm. So I xall be fayn to lend it
hym of myn owne silver. If I knew verily zour entent
1 Henry, Viscount Bourchier, who had been created Earl of Essex on the
30th June preceding. The writer had forgotten his new dignity.
2 An officer who had the ordering of the dishes, &c.
3 John Wykes was an usher of the King's chamber, and a friend and
cousm of J. Paston's. — F.

44 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
wer that he xwld cum hom, I wold send hym non.
Ther I wyll doo as me thynkithe ze xwld be best plesyd,
and that me thynkythe is to send him the silver
Ther for I pray zow hastely as ze may send me azen
V. mark, and the remnawnte, I trow, I xall get up on
Christofir Hanswm and Lwket I pray zow send me it
as hastely as ze may, for I xall leve my selfe rythe
bare ; and I pray zow send me a letter how ze woll
that he xuU be demenyd. Wr}'tyn on Twsday after
Seynt Barthelmwe, &c. Christus vos conservet !
Clement Paston.

412,
A.D. 1461, 28 Aug.
Lord Beauchamp to Sir Thomas Howes.
[From Fenn, iv. 96.]
This letter was probably written in the year I46r, if not in the year preced
ing. The disputes about Fastolf s wiU came before the Spiritual Court in the
year r46s ; but at the date of this letter they could not have proceeded very far.
To myn welbeloved frende, Sir Thomas Jfbwys, Parson
of £ lof eld,
|ELBEL0VED frende, I grete you well. And
for as muche as I understonde that William
Wurcester, late the ser\'ant unto Sir John
Fastolf, Knyth, whois soule God assoyle, ys
not had in favour ne trast with my right welbeloved
frende, John Paston, nether with you, as he seyth,
namely in such maters and causes as concerneth the
wylie and testament of the said Sir John Fastolf; and
as I am informed the said WilHam purposeth hym to
go into his cuntre, for the whiche cause he hath desired
me to wryte unto you that ye wolde ben a special good
frend unto hym, for his said raastris sake, to have alle
suche things as reason and consciens requireth, and
that ye wolde be meane unto Paston for hym in this
mater to schewe hym the more favour at thys tyme for

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV, 45
this my -writyng in doyng of eny truble to hym, trasting
that he wole demeane hym in suche ^vyse that he shal
have no cause unto hym, but to be his good master, as
he seyth. And yf ther be eny thing that I can do for
you, I wole be right glad to do it, and that knoweth
Almyghty God, whiche have you in his keping. Wretin
at Grenewyche, the xxviij"' day of August J. Beauchami'.

413.
A.D. 1461, 30 Aug.
Lord Hungerford and Robert Whityngham to
Margaret of Anjou.
[From Fenn, i. 246.]
That this letter was written in the year 1461 is sufficiently evident from its
contents.^ The MS. from which it was printed by Fenn was a copy in the
handwriting of Henrj- Windsor, and was manifestly the enclosure referred to
in his letter No. 416. It bore the same paper mark as that letter.
A la Reyne D'Engleterre [eii] Escote.
I'ADAM, please it yowr gode God, we have sith
our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes
thryes. The last we sent by Brages, to be
sent to you by the first vessell that went into
Scotland ; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the
ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the
oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon
thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the
Kyng your uncles^ deth, whom God assoyll, and
howe we sta[n]de arest \a,rrcsted\ and doo yet ; but
on Tuysday next we crust and understande, we shall
up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn.^ His Comys-
saries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters
and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng
my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes,°
1 Charles VII. of France. He died on the 22d July 1461.
= Lewis XI., son of Charles VII.
* Arques, in Normandy, south of Dieppe.

46 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff
conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But
on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the
said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys
presence, and ar charged to bring us up. Monsieur de
Cressell, nowe Baillyf of Cause, and Monsieur de la
Mot Ma dam, ferth [fear] you not, but be of gode com
fort, and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne
my Lord the Prynce,^ by the See, till ye have oder word
firom us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as
ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and
for God sake the Kyngs Highnes be advysed the same.
For as we be enformed, Th'erll of March ^ is into
Wales by land, and hafh sent his na-vy thider by see;
and. Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be
del)rvered, but that we woll come streght to you,
withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trast
he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible
ayene in your Reame ; the which we besech God soon
to see, and to send you that your Highnes desireth.
Writen at Depe the xxx'' dey of August
Your trae Subgettes and Liege men.
Hungerford.
Whityngham.
At the bottom ofthe Copy of the Letter is added: —
These ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland
with the Quene. The Kyng Heny is at Kirkhowbre
witli iiij. men and a childe.
Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.
The Lord Roos and his son.
John Ormond. Sir Edmund Hampdea
William Taylboys. Sir Henty Roos.
Sir John Fortescu. John Courteney.
Sir Thomas Fyndem. Myrfyn of Kent.
I Edward, son of Henry VI.
' Edward IV., whom the Lancastrians did not yet recognise as Kin^

A.D. I461.]

EDWARD IV.

47

Waynesford of London.
Thomas Thompson of
Guynes.
Thomas Brampton of
Guynes.
John Audeley of Guynes.
Langheyn of Irland.
Thomas Philip of G[i]p-
peswich.

Dauson.
Thomas Bumby.
Borret of Sussex.
Sir John Welpdalle.
Mr. RogerClerk, ofLondon.
John Retford, late Coubiit
Giles Senctlowe.
John Hawt

414.
AD. 1 46 1, 6 Sept
John Pampyng to John Paston, Senior.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
In the letter of James Gloys, which foUows (No, 413), wiU be found an allu
sion to a recent " revel done in Suffolk " by Yelverton and Jenney. That the
affair aUuded to was the same which is described in this letter, wiU appear
beyond doubt if the reader wiU refer to Letter 420.
To my righi worshipfuU master John Paston, the
older, Squier.
|LEASE your mastirship to wete that I have
be at Cotton, and spoke with Edward Dale,
and he told me that Yelverton and Jenney
were there on Friday,^ and a toke distresse
of xxvj. or more buUokks of the seid Edwards in the
Park, and drofe hem to a town therby ; and a neygh-
bore there undirstandyng the bests were Edward
Dahs,^ and bond hym to pay the ferme, or ellis to
bryng in the bests be a day. And whan the seid
Edward undirstod the takyng of the seid bests he went
to Yelverton and Jenney, and bond hym in an obliga
con of -xli., to pay hem his ferme at Mighelmes ; whech
I told hj-m was not well do, for I told hym ye had be
abiil to save hym harmeles. And because of discharge
of liis neyghbour he seid he myght non other mse do.
1 Sept. 4.
^ Apparently the writer has omitted a word or more here.

48 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
Nevirthelesse as for mony thei get none of hym redely,
ner ofthe tenaunts nowthyr, as he can thynk yet The
seid Yelverton dyned on Friday at Cotton, and there
chargid the tenaunts thei shuld pay no mony but to
hym, and hath flaterid hem, and seith thei shall be
restorid ayen of such wrongs as thei have had be Sir
PhiUp Wentwordi and other for Master Fastolff; and
because of such tales, your tenaunts owe hym the bettir
wUL And I purposid to have gon to Cotton and
spoke with the tenaunts, and Edward Dale told me
he supposid thei wold be this day at Nakton. And
because [I desired]^ to speke with hem as ye
comaundid me, I terid not but rod to Ipwich to my
bed, and there at the Sonne was the seid Yelverton
and Jenney and Thomas Fastolff; and myn ost told
me, that the same aftir none thei had be at Nakton, but
what thei ded there I can not telle, and whan I was
undu-stand your man, Hogon, Jenneys man, askyd
suerte of pes of me ; and Jenney sent for an officer to
have hed me to prison ; and so myn ost undirtoke for
me that nyght And this day in the momyng I wente
to Sen Lauerauns Chirche ; and there I spak to hem
and told hem ye merveylid that thei wold take any
distresse or warne any of your tenaunts that thei shuld
pay yow no mony. And Yelverton seid ye had take
a distresse falsly and ontrewly of hym that ought yow
no mony ner hem nowther. And he seid he was in-
feffid as well as ye ; and as for that I told hym he
wost odre [hiew the contrary], and thow he were it was
but your use, and so I told hyra that men were infeffid
in his lond, and that he shuld be servid the same
withinne fewe dayes. And he seid he wost well ye
were not infeffid in his lond, and if ye toke upon yow
to make any trobill in his lond ye shall repente it.
And also he seid that he wold do in like 'wise in alle
maners that were Sir John Fastolffs in Norfolk as thei
have begonne, and other langage as I shall telle yow.
And so I am with the gayler, with a clogge unon
1 Omitted in MS.

A.D. I46i.] EDWARD IV.

49

myn hele for suerte of the pees; wherefore please
your mastirship to send me your avise.
Item, John Andrews was with hem at Cotton, and
thei have set a man of the seid Andrews to kepe the
plase. Item, Wymondham, Debenham and Tympirle come
to Yelverton this day at masse and speke with hym ;
and I speke to Tymperle in your name that he wold
not comforte ner be with hem ayein in this mater;
and he seid he undirstod no such thyng, ner it was not
his comyng hedir. Wretyn at Ipwych the Sonday
next before the Nativite of O^vr Lady.
Yowr servaunt,
John Pampyng.
The back is covered with some rough memoranda in Richard Calle's hand,
of moneys received at different times of year by Richard Charlys, "Thomas
Howys, WUliam Berton. baker, of Southwark, Ralph Lovel, John Prentyng,
Richard Coomber, and John de Dorylot. Some of these payments are made
through Dawbeney, John Paston, Junior, and John Paston, Senior(/tfr 7nanus
yohannis Paston Senioris-).

415.
AD. 1461, 24 Sept. — James Gloys to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 58,]
On the back of this letter, Fenn found the foUowing memorandum in a con
temporaneous hand : — " Ric'o Calle p. ord'm b'm 1 pro ij. annis terminatis ad
Mic anno primo regni Regis E. iiij. . . . xxvjj. viiyd." This shows that
the letter itself could not have been written later than 1461, and as there was
no " Lord of Gloucester " before that year, it could not have been earlier.
To the right reverent and wurchepfull Sir, and my gode
mayster, John Paston, Esquyer.
|IGHT reverent and wurchepfull sir, I re
comand me to your gode maystershep,
prayng you to wete that I was at Blakkes,
and spake with his wiffe ; and she seth he
\vas not at hame this iij. weks, — he ridith up the
1 V/'hat is the meaning of these three words ? The first two doubtless ore
tobe read "per ordinationeni." But what is "b'm!"
II. E

so THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1461.
countre to take accompts of balys [bailiffs], — and that
this day sevennyght he shuld have satyn in Caystr by
you up on accounts, and fro thens he shuld have redyn
to Lynne, and that he shall be at home un Monday at
nyght next comyng. Wherfor I have left my heraund
with her. But she seth that he shall not mo-wn com)rn
[be able to come] to you, for my Lady ^ have sent for hym
in gret hast, bothyn be a letter and be a tokyn, to
comyn to her as hastly as he may ; notwithstandyng
she shall do the herand to hym.
As for Yelverton, I dede a gode fele to enquer of
Yemmys Skynner whan the seid Yelverton shuld go
to London. He seid not this sevynnyght He cowde
not tell what day till he had spokyn with his son. His
sone shuld come to hym or his master shuld ridyn.
I shall enquer mor at Walsyngham. And for Godds
love be not to longe fro London, for men seyn ther, as
I have be [told], that my Lord of Glowcetir^ shuld have
Cayster, and ther is gret noyse of this revell that was
don in Suffolk be Yelverton and Jeney; and your
weie willers thynkyn that if thei myght prevayle in this,
thei wold attempt you in other. But seas ther pore
and malyce, and preserve you from all evill. And at
the reverence ot God lete sum interposicion go a twix
you and my mastres your moder or ye go to London,
and all that ye do shall spede the better ; for she is
set on gret malyce, and eveiy man that she spekith
vdth knowith her hert, and it is Hke to be a fowle
noyse [over] all the countre with aught it be sone sesid.
Also, sir, it is told me that my Lord of Norfolk is
comyn to Framlyngham, and that ye be gretly comen
dyd in his howshold. Therfor it wer weie do, me
semyth, that ye spake with hym. The Holy Trynyte
kepe you.
Wretyn at Norwich, the Thursday next after Sent
Mathewe. Your pore prest,
James Gloys.
I Alice, Duchess of SuflToUc
« Richard, the King's brother, afterwards Richard HI.

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. $1
416.
AD. 1461, 4 Oct
Henry Wyndesore to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 240.]
For the date of this letter, compare No. 413.
To my full worshipfuU, speciali gode maister, fohn
Paston, Squyer, abidyng at Norwich,
|IGHT worshipfuU sir, and some tyme my
moost speciali gode master, I recommaunde
me unto your gode maistership, with all my
pour service, if it may in any -wise suffice;
and farthermore, sir, I beseche you, nowe beyng in
your countre, where ye may deily call unto you my
maister Sir Thomas Howys, ones to remembre my
pour mater, and by your discretions to take such a
direction theryn, and so to conclude, as may be to
your discharge and to my furtherance, accordyng to
ithe -will of hym that is passed unto Gode, whose sauli
I pray Jesu pardone ! for traly, sir, ther was in hym
no faute, but in me onely; yf it be not as I have
remembred your maistership affore thy[s] tyme. For
traly, sir, I der say I shuld have had as speciaU and as
gode a maister of you, as any pour man, as I am,
withyn England shuld have hadd of a worshipfuU man,
as ye ar, yf ye had never meduUed the godes of my
maister F., and as moche ye wold have done, and
labored for'^ me, in my right, if it hadde byn in the
handes of any oder man than of your self anely. But,
I traste in Gode, at your next comyng to have an
i answere, such as I shalbe content with. And yf it
may be so, I am and shalbe your servaunt in that I
lean or may, that knoith our Lord Jesu, whom I besech
^save and sende you a gode ende in aU your maters, to
yourpleiser and worship everljistyng. Amen. Written
at London, iiij'" die Octobris.

52 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
As fore tidyngs, the Kyng wolbe at London withyn
iij. deies next comyng ; and all the castelles and holdes
in South Wales, and in Nerth Wales, ar gyfen and
yelden up into the Kynges hand. And the Due of
Excestre^ and th'erle of Pembrok^ ar floon and taken
the mounteyns, and dyvers Lordes with gret puissans
ar after them ; and the moost part of gentilmen and
men of worship ar comen yn to the Kyng, and have
grace, of all Wales.
The Due of Somerset, the Lord Hungerford, Robert
AVhityngham, and oder iiij. or v. Squyers are comen
into Normandy out of Scotland, and as yette they
stand strete under arest ; and as merchauntes that ar
comen late thens sey, they ar like to be demed and
jugged prisoners. My Lord Wenlok, Sir John Cley,
and the Dean ef Seynt Severyens, have abiden at
Cales thise iij. wikes, and yette ar there, abidyng a
saufconduit, goyng uppon an ambassate to the Frenshe
Kyng; and Sir Wauter Blount, Treserer of Cales,
with a grete feleship of souldeours of Cales, and many
Oder men of the Marches, have leyn, and yette doo,
at a seege afore the Castell of Hampmes, by side
Cales, and deily make gret werre, either parte toother.
Item, I send unto you a copy ef a letter that was
taken uppon the see, made by the Lord Hungerford
and Whytyngham.
Item, we shall have a gret ambassate out of Scotland
in aU hast of Lordes.
At your comaundement and Servaunt,
Henry Wyndesore.
417.
A.D. 1461, II Oct
Clement Paston to John Paston.
This letter is reprinted from the Norfolk Arckaohgy, vol. iv., p. 26,
where it is edited from a transcript contained in a MS. genealogy of the
1 Henry Holland. He married Anne, sister of King Edward IV., but
remained a steady Lancastrian, and was attainted this year in Parliament.
" jasper Tudor, half brother of Henry VI.

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD tv, S3
Paston family drawn up by Sandford, author of the Genealogical History oJ
England. The references to Howard's animosity against Paston. and to an
approaching Parliament, prove clearly that this letter is of thc year 1461.
To Ilis right reverent and worshipfuU broder, John
Paston, Esquier, be this delivered in great haste.
jROTHER, 1 recommende me to you. Alter
I aU dewe recommendacions, &c. Sir, it was
 ! tolde rae by rythe a worshipful! man that
loveth you rythe well, and ye him, and ye
sail knowe his name hereafter, but put all things out
of doubt he is such a man as will not lye : on the xj'h
day of October the Kinge said, " We have sent two
privy sealys to Paston by two yeomen of our chamber,
and he disobeyeth them ; but we will send him anoder
tomorrowe, and by Gods mercye, and if he come not
then he sail dye for it We will make all oder raen
beware by him how they sail disobey our writinge. A
servant of our hath made a complainte of him. I can-
net thinke that he hath informed us aU traely, yet not
for that, we will not suffer him to disobey our writinge ;
but sithen he disobeyeth our writinge, we may beleve
the better his gydinge is as we be informed." And
therwith he made a great avowe that if he [ye] come
not at the third commandement ye xulde dye therefore.
This man that told me this is as welj leamed a man as
any is in England ; and the same xjth day of October,
he ad'vised me to send a man to yow in all the hast
tiiat might be to lett yow have knowlache, and that ye
xulde not lett for none excuse, but that ye xulde
make the man good cheere and come as hastily ye
might to the Kinge, for he understandeth so much that
the King wiU keep his promise. Notwithstanding, by
mine advice, if ye have his letter or the messenger come
to you, come to the Kinge wards or ye meet with him,
and when ye come ye must be suer of a great excuse.
Also if ye doe well, come right stronge, for Howards
wife made her best that if any of her husbands men
might come to yow ther yulde goe noe penny for your

54 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1461.
life ; and Howard hath with the Kinge a great fellow
ship. This letter was written the same day that the Kinge
said these words, and the same day that it was told
me, and that day was the xj"" day of October as
abovesaid ; and on the next moming send I forth a
man to yow with this letter, and on the same day send
the Kinge the third privye seale to you. Also he that
tolde me this seid that it were better for yow to come
up than to be fotte out of your house •with streingth,
and to abide the Kings judgement therin, for he will
take your contumacy to great displeasure. Also, as
I understand, the Duke of Norffolk hath made a great
complaint of yow to the King, and my Lord of Suffolk^
and Howard and Wyngfelde helpe well to evety day
and call upon the King against yow. The Kinge is
at this day at Grenewich, and ther ^vill be still till the
Parliament beginne. Some say he wiU goe to Walsing
ham, but Mr. Sotyll seid in the aulle in the Temple
that he harde no werde of any such pilgrimage. No
more, &c. Written the xj'^* day of October at mid
night. My nevew John tolde me also that he supposed
ther were out proclamacions against yow, &c the
same day.
By Clement Paston,
your broder.
418.
AD. 1461, 13 Oct
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
On comparing this letter with No. 414, no one will doubt that both were
wntten in the same year.
1 John de la Pole, son and heur of William, Duke of SuffoUc, who was
attainted in 1450^ was not restored to the Dukedom tiU the 23d of March
1463; but bemg m favour at court, and having married Edward the Fourth's
»^r, he seems even at this time to have been popuUily called " my Lord of

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV, 55
To my ryght reverent and wurschipfull maystre, my
mastre John Paston,
|LESITH it your maystreschip to witte that
Mr. John and I, with ether mo, have ben at
Cotton on Friday ^ last passed, and there
Jenney had do warned the corte there to be
the same Friday, and he was at Eye at the cescions
the Thorsday before ; and on the Friday in the
momynge he was comyng to Cotton to hoolde the
corte there. And it fortuned we had entred the place
or he come ; and he herd therof and tumed bac a yein
to Oxon 2 to my Lorde ef Norwiche, and there dyned
with hym. And my Lorde sent Mr. John CoUeman to
Cotton Halle to speke with you; and at hes comyng he
undrestode ye were not there, and if ye had, my Lorde
desired you to come and spoken with h)an, and that
my Lorde desired to put your matre in a trety ; in so
moche that Mr. John CoUeman tolde to my master,
John Paston, that diverse of your elmees [enemies] had
labored to my Lorde to have a trety if he cowde brynge
it aboute, &c And as for the tenaunts they wolde not
come at the place en to the tyme that I sent for hera,
for they sey pleynly they woU not have a do with hem ;
and so the certe whas holden in your name, and the
tenaunts lyght weele plesed ther of, excepte Thum-
beme and Agas, and as for any socour, they have there
ryght noone at all. And so Mr. John whas ther Friday
aU day and Saterday tyll none ; and than he toke hes
horse with xxx. men with hym and rode to Jeney place,
and toke there xxxvj. heede of nete, and brought hem
in to Norfolk ; and so whas I left still at Cotton with
xij. men with me, be cauce they reporte and we abode
there ij. dayes we schulde be pult out be the heeds.
And so we a mode [? abode] there v. dayes and kepte
the place, and I walked aboute all the lordeschippes
and spake with all the fermours and tennaunts that
longen to the maner to undrestande her dispesessyon
t October g. ' Hoxnc.

56 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
and to receyve money of hem ; and I fynde [them]
tyght weele disposed to you. And be cauce the corte
whas wamed in ther name and net in youre, therfore
they pmvey no money ; but they have promysed me
to pay no money te no man but to you, so that ye woll
safe hem harmeles ; and I told hem ye wold safe hem
harmeles. They have apoynted with me to make redy
her money withinne a fomyght aftre Halewemesse, &a
I have receyved of the tenaunts that I undrestod out
[owetf] you werst wyll 'viij. marc, &c. And as for Edward
Dalys money it is redy, so that your maistreschip woU
se that he be not hurt be hes obligacion. Ferthermore,
plesit your maistreschip to sende worde if they entre
into the maner ayein, howwe schall be rwled and gidyd ;
for the tenaunts fere hem they wol entre whan we be
gon, and than wol they distreyne the tenaunts, for they
sey there that my Lorde of Cauntyrbutyand other Lords
well relese to hem, notwithstandyng that I have en
formed hera other wice ; wherfore, sa'vyng your better
advice, me semethe it were tyght weele doo that ye had
a letter of my Lorde ef Cauntirbuty, and other to the
tenaunts ef Cotton that it is her wyll and entent that
ye schulde have the rwle and gouemaunce, and receyve
the money of that maner, and other that were Sir John
Fastolff", on whom God have mercy, for I dought not
and suche a lettre came downe to the tenaunts there
schulde no man sey nay to it Besechyng your
maystreschyp to have an answere of how we schall be
gided and rwled, &c. Item, to sende worde howe we
schaU doo with the geere that wee teke out at the
Wyght Freris, wether it schall be sent to you or
nought And Jesu preserve you. Wreten at Norwiche
upon Sein Edwards Day. By your servaunt and bedman,
Ric. Calle.
Endorsed in a- lutnd nsarly eoiue^^oraiu^Ks : "Litlcr' sirca 3.U10 Isic)
t. 4" UJ. vel iiijo."

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV. 57

419.
AD. 1461, Oct
William Naunton to John Paston, Senior.
[From Fenn, iii. 414.]
This letter corresponds so closely with the ne.\t in what is said about the
occupants of Cotton HaU, that it is clear they were both written about the
same time.
To my Master Paston, the eider, be thys letter delyveryd
in hast.
^YGHT wurchypful sir, I recommend me to
zour good masterchyp. The cause qwy I
\vtyth I let zour have knowlech of the mene
that be in Cotton HaUe, how they be strangely
v-Lja^juziyA ageyns zow; for, as I here say, they make
revell there. They melt led and brek down zour bregg,
and make that ne man go in to [the] place but on a
ledder, and make them as strong as they kan a geyns
zow be the supportacion of Jeney and Debenham, and
hys sone ; for they seye ther that Jeney hath sold the
lyflod on te Debynham, and that hys son the knyth
shall dwell ther, and ther forr they have warnyd a cort
ageyns Munday, and now they ar a vysed to kepyt en
Saturday be forr Munday. Qwat they mene therby I
wot never, but as for the felechyp in the place that ys
there now, and have be here al thys weke, there ys no
man of substans, as we here, and there have be but
¦vij. or viij. al thys wyke; but there wyll be a gret
felechyp thys nyth or to morwe up on Saturday, for
than they wyl kepe the cort And as for Edward
Dale, he dar not abyde wyl at hem [home?], they thret
hym so, be cause he wyl send them no vytaly. And
as for me self, Edward Dale dar not let me wyU [well]
be there for takyng in suspecyon. And jas for the
tenaunts, they be wel dysposyd except j. or ij., so that
ze wyl support them in hast, fer they may newt kepe

58 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1461.
of ther katel of the ground long; and specyally they
desyr to have zowr owne presens, and they wold be of
gret cownfort. Ne mor I wryth to zour, but the
Holy Gest have zour in kepyng. Wretyn on the
Ftyday after my departyng.
Be your Servaunt,
Wyllyam Nanton.

420.
AD. 1461, Oct
Richard Calle to John Paston, Junior.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter was written in a year in which the morrow of All Souls' Day
{i.e., the 3d November) fell on "Tuesday. "The Dominical letter of the year
must therefore be D. This was the case in 1461, and no other year wiU suit
a letter addressed to John Paston, Junior. For if we go back there is no
earlier year in which D. was the Dominical letter tiU we come to r450, when
John Paston, Junior, was only ten years old ; and if we go forward the next
IS 1467, which was after John Paston, the father's death.
To the right worschipfull sir and maistre, John Paston,
fun., esquyer.
|YGHT worschipfull sir, I recomaunde me unto
your mastreschip, certifiyng you that Jenney
and Yelverton hathe certified up in to the
Kynges Benche inssurrecions [and] congrega-
cions a yenste me ; wherapon tiiey have sente to the
scheryff a writte chargyng hym in peyne of CIL to brynge
me in to the Kyngs Benche the morwe after Sein
Marteyn. And this daye the seide Jenney hathe sent
doune to the scheryff an other writte called an habeas
corpus retomable crastino Animarum, weche schalbe on
Twesday next comyng be cauce they were in dought
and in greete feere that I schulde have ben aquytte of
the inditement of feUony now at this gayle delyvetye.
And also my maistre hathe sente an other writte for
me retomable at the seid crastino Anitnarum. And

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV, 59
SO I am like to ride to London warde te morwe. And
die scheryff wold make me to fynde suerte that I
schulde appere in tiie Kyngs Benche the seid daye ;
aud yet, that notwithstandyng, he wolde send me with
strengthe of men as a presoner; and if any thynge
schall cauce me that I goo net up to London, it
schalbe be cauce I woU fynde ne suerte; for in cas he
wold have suffred me to have gon up be my selfe at
myn owne coste, I wolde have founde hym suertee.
And se at the makyng of this bUle we were not fully
condesended hough we schulde doo. My mastre is
in goode hele, blissed be Godd, and dothe and schaU
doo ryght weele in alle hes maters. Ther is an on-
gracious felaschip of hem and a fals. They have sent
for Fitzraff and Schipdam, be a citacion for the profie
ofthe testement, and alle is but for te delay it; yet it
were weele done ye rode over to Fitzraff and felte hes
disposicion how he woll be disposed, and in like wice
with Schipdam, for I have spoken with hem of that
matre, in cas that any citacion come doun for hera,
how they wolde be disposed, and I have founde the
too straunchely disposed. God send us a good scheryf
thys yere, and thanne we schalle do weele inough, be
the grace of Ged.
And, sir, your man tolde me that ye desired to
knowe the demenyng at Cotten of the tenaunts and
other. I lete you wete the moste parte of alle the
tenaunts have bene here with me for to see me, and
they have tolde me all the demenyng as it is undre-
wrete. Furst, as for the money that they receyved
there it drwe upon a xxiiij'' li and more silver, for
the tenaunts myght not cheese but they moste nedes
paye, for they distreyned on my Lords of Suffolk fee,
my Lords ef Norwich fee, and on all men grounde, so
that they myght not have her catell in reste, weche
cauced hem to paye her money. I knowe weele i
nough who payed and wo paied not. All the grete
fermours have payed. And as for the kepyng of the
place ther be therin iiij. men, and on of Debenham

6o THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
men, called Sokelyng, and hes wyff, and on Mannyng,
a tenaunt, a fals knave ; and they have enforced tiiem
as stronke as they kan, and they have broken doune
the brigge and have leide a planke over, in cas that
ye go theder ye may not come at Dale is howce in no
waie, for he have had meche trouble for my mastre
and for me ; but and ye wolde gete my Lords meane
and puUe the knaves out be the heede, it were weele
dene. I purpose me to com hom warde that same
wey. Item, I lete you witte that the gayle delyvetye
holdeth not this daye, and alle is doone be cauce of
mee, Jenney wolde not lete the clerke of peas come
hether this daye for feere that I schulde have been
aquytte of the felonye, for in treuthe and tho it had
holden, I had founde the meane for to have ben
quytte, for I whas threugh with the scheryff and panel
made aftyr myn avice ; but though the gayle delyver
had holden, I cowde not have ben delyverd, becauce
of thes writtes that be comc downe. Item, the
scheryff hathe a grete losse that this daye holdethe
not, for ther schulde have ben quytte 3d. men this
daye. Item, the scheryff tolde me that my maistre
tolde hym that I whas assent to my takyng at Scoolys,
weche was to me ryght greete hevynes and discom-
forture nough in my trouble. And God knoweth it
was never my wylie ner myn entent, as I mot be saved
at the dredful day of Dome; for ther is no man so sore
hurte as I am be tiie takyng, bothe in losse, and also
in reprefe of myn owne persoune and of my frends,
withoute that my mastre be my good maistre, as I
traste he woUe be, or elles I am disseyved. He hathe
my trewe servyce and shal have whyUe th^t I leve,
what so ever his mastreschip do to me, but I can
thynke he hathe be enformed be myn elmyes [erumies]
that wold make hym disp[l]esed with me, and to be myn
evy [heavy] mastre, but dissimulacion do the muche
harme, &c I reporte me, &c. No more to you at this
tyme, but Jesu kepe you, and send you as much fortune
and grace as I wolde ye had, &a I beseche [you] to be

A.D. 1461.] ED WARD IV, 61
my goode mastre as ye have be, for I never deserved
nor wol desen^e the contrary. Your servaunt, Ric Calle,
presoner.

421.
A.D. 146T, 2 Nov.
Margaret Paston to John Paston,
[From Fenn, iv, 232.]
Tlus letter is ascribed by Fenn to the year 1465, in consequence of the
allusion to John Paston's imprisonment in the Fleet. But there were more
occasions tnan one on which he was confined there. Fenn himself knew of
two. Paston was comnutted to the Fleet, as we know from William
Worcester, on Saturday, the 3d November 1464. He was'also confined there
in Au£^ust and September 1465, and may very possibly have been released by
the beginning of November. But I am inclmed to think this letter refers to
an imptisonment prior to either of these. For, in the first place, the news of
it seems only to have been recent. It had become general subject of conver
sation at Norwich, " on Saturday last," whereas in X465 it must have been
known two months earlier. Secondly, Sir William Chamberlain, whose in
fluence Sir Thomas Howes hopes will be of service, must have died in the
spring of 1462. According to Blomefield (Hist, of Norfolk, i. 321), his will
was dated the 3d March 1461 (which would be in the modem computation
1462), and was proved on the 2ist April 1462. It may be presumed, there
fore, that on receiving the letter from his brother Clement (No, 417), written
on the nth October 1461, John Paston hastened up to LfOndon and was im
mediately thrown into pnson. By this letter, however, we find that he was
soon afterwards released, and his great enemy Howard sent to prison in his
stead. A Lettre to J, Fasion^ Armig.,from his wife, skewing
his imprisonment in the Fleeted
|YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to
yow. Pies)^ yow to wet that I receyvyd
yowyr lettyr that ye sent rae by John Holme
on Wednysday last past, and also 1 receyvyd
a nothyr lettyr on Fryday at nyt, that ye sent me by
Nycolas Newmanys man, of the whyche lettyrs I thane
yow ; for I schold ellys a' thowt that it had be wers
with yow than it hathe be, or schal be, by the grace of
Almyty God. And yet I kowd not be mery, sethyn I
1 There is no direction to the letter, but the words abQvc inserted are writ-
tol in an ancient hand upon th*" back of it — F»

62 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
had the last lettyr tyU thys day that the Meyir sent to
me, and sent me werd that he had knowlege for vety
trewthe that ye wer delyvetyd owt of the Fiet, and that
Howard was comytyd toward fordyvers gret comple)mts
that wer mad to the Kyng of hym. It was talkyd in
Norwyche and in dyvers othyr plasys in the contre on
Saterday last past, that ye wer comytyd to Fiet, and in
good feyth, as I herd sey, the pepyle was ryth soty
ther of, bothe of Norwyche and in the contre. Ye
ar ryth myche bownde to thank God, and all tho that
love yow, that ye have so gret love of the pepyll as ye
have. Ye ar myche behold to the Meyir ^ and to
Gylberd,* and to dyvers othyr of the aldyrmen, for
feythfiiUy they owe yow good wyll to ther potys.
I have spoke with Syr Thomas Howys for swyche
thyngys as ye wrot to me for, and he promysyd me
that he schold labour it aftyr yowyr intent as fast as
he kowd ; and in good feyth, as my brodyr and Playter
kan teU yow, as be hys seying to us, he is and wole be
feythfiiU to yow. Aoid as for Wylliam Wyrcestyr, he
hathe be set so up on the hone, what by the parson
and by othyr, as my brodyr and Playter schall teUe yow,
that diey hope he wole do well i now. The parson
seyd ryth weU and pleynly to hym. The parson tolde
me that he had spook with Syr Wylliam Chambyrleyn,'
and with hys wyfe, and he thynkyth that they wole do
well i now aftyr yowyr intent, so that they be plesantly
intretyd. The parson tolde me that he wyst weU
that Syr WyUiam Chambyrleyn cowd do more ese in
swyche matyers as ye wrot of, towchyng my Lord of
Bedford,* than ony man kowd do that leveyth at thys
day. Also he tolde me that he felt by hem that they
wold owe yow ryth good wyll, so that ye wold owe
I William Norwich was Mayor of Norwich in 1461.
V J?*?.,^;.'""".?;'^ ^^^X°r " H59 and in 1464. He died in 1472.
» Sir WUham Cliamberlam of Gedding, Suffolk, a Knight of the Garter
who had served under the Regent Bedford in the French wars. He manied
Anne, daughter and heir of Sir Robert de HerUng, who, though she lone
T'ir"''T'' ^o' ^^ ''?i'?"° husbands after him, the second of whom w£
lohn. Lord Scrope of Bolton, was buried by her own desire beside her firet
husband, in the chancel of HerUng Church.
* John, Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, died at Paris in 1435.— F

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV. 63
hem good wyll. The parson hopyth verily to make
yew acordyd when he comyth to London.
Item, my brodyr and Playter wer with Calthorp*
to inquer of the mater that ye wrot to me of What
answer he gave hem, they schall tell yow. I sent the
Parson of Heylysdon ^ to Gumay ^ to spek to hym of
the same mater, and he seyth feythefuUy ther was no
swyche thyng desyiryd of hym, and thow it had be
desyiryd, he weld nowthyr a' seyd nor done a yens
yow. He seyd he had ever fownde you lov)mg and
feythfuU to hym, and so he seyd he wold be to yow to
hys power, and desyiryng me that I wold not thynk
hym the contraty. As for John Gros, he is at Slole;
ther for he myth not be spok with.
I pray yow that ye wole send me word whedyr ye
wole that I schall remeve frome hens, fer it begynyth
to wax a cold abydyng her. Syr Thomas Howys and
John Rus schall make an end of aU thyngys aftyr
yowyr intent, as myche as they can do ther in this wek,
and he purposyth to come forward to yow on the
Monday next aftyr Seynt Leonardys Day.
My brodyr and Playter schold a be with yow er
thys tym, but that they weld a byd tyl thys day wer
past, be cause of the schyer. I spok to my brodyr
Wylliam as ye bad me, and he told me, so God hym
help, that he hyryd ij. horse ij. dayis be for that ye
redyn, that he myth a' ryde forthe with yow ; and be
cause that ye spak not to hym to ryde with yow, he
seyd that he wend* ye wold^ have had hym with yow.
Thomas Fastolfys modyr was her on the next day
aftyr ye wer redyn, to have spoke with yow fer hyr
sone. Sche* prayith yow, at the reverens of God,
- Qvr»y. If Sir William Calthorpe, Knight, High Sheriff of Norfolk, &c, in
1464. and died very old in 1494. — F.
3 I'homas Hert was instituted to the Rectory of Hellesdon in 1448.— F.
s Thomas Gurney of Norwich, Esq., died in 14)1.— F.
* " Woud " in Fenn in the original text, but this is evidently a misprint
The right hand copy reads "wend," ie. weened or thought, and the note
immediately following shows that this was the reading intended.
B Theword "not" seems here to have been omitted in the origirial letter. — F.
6 ITie word " Hc " occurs in the text before ** Sche," but is evidently «
mistake.

64 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1461.
that ye wole be hys good mastyr, and to help hym in
hys tyth, that he may have hom hys lyvelod owt of ther
handys that have had it in hys nownage. Sche _ seyth
that they wold mak hym a yer yonger than he is, but
sche seyth that he is more thane xxj., and upen that
sche dare take an othe.
And the Biyssyd Trynyte have yow in Hys kepyng,
and send yow good sped in aU yowyr matyrs, and
send the vyctary of aU yowyr enmyis.
Wretyn in hast, on Sowlemas Daye.''
By yowyrs, M. P.

422.
A.D. 146 1, 20 Nov.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter seems to have been -written in 1461, the year of John Paston'i
great dispute with Howard.
To my ryth worchepfull [hus]bond, John Paston, be thys
delyveryd in hast.
|YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to
yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I receyvyd
yowyr lettyr that ye sent by the gold smyth,
as thys day in the mornyng. As for Syr
Thomas, he sent me word he schold to yow ward as on
Twysday last past ; if he fayle ony thyng that ye sent
word he schold bryng with hym, it is not for no lak of
remembrans, for I sent to hym thryis or fowyr tymys
ther for, and that he schold hast hym ther in. As for
Rychard CaU, he was not at home thys fortnyth. When
he comyth I schaU do yowir erendys to hym ; and as
for all yowyr odyr erendys I schall do hem as well as
I can. I sent yow a byll yestyrday by old Taverham,
I All-Souls', otherwise Soulmas Day, ad of November. — F.

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 65
and a byll of Jone Gaynys mater, the whyche byUe I
pray yow may be delyveiyd to Thomas Playter. I
spak to hym of the same mater or he yed hens, and I
pray yow, if it plese yew, to geve hym yowyr avyse what
ye thynk is best to do ther in. Sche seyth sche is ryth
sory, and if hyr old mastyr demene hym not well to
yew sche prayith yow that ye wole be hyr good mastyr,
and I that sche fare never the werse for hys defawtys.
And also I pray yow that ye weie be John Lysterys
good mastyr in hys mater. He spak to Playter ther
of, and Playter seyd he hopyd to fynd a mene aftyr
that he had spook witli yew, that schold ese hym ther
in. I thank yow hertly fer yowyr lettyr, for it was to
me gret corafort to her fro yow. Ged knowyth my
modyr and I thowt ryth longe tyll we herd tydyngys
fro yew. And the biyssyd Trinite have yew in Hys
kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Seynt Edmundys Day
the Kyng. By yowyr M. P.
The pepyll was nevyr bettyr dysposyd to yow than
they be at thys owyr. The byll that Howard hathe
mad a yens yew and odyr hathe set the pepyll in thys
centre a rore. God yeve grace it be ne werse than it
is yet

423.
Year uncertain.
Roger Taverham to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 252.]
This letter and the next are placed here merely for convenience. The two
are evidently some years apart in point of date, and nothing is quite clrar
about the date of either, except that the latter must havc been written m the
reigu of Edward IV., and of course before the death of John Paston m 1^66.
This, which is several years earlier than the other, was almost certainly
written in the reign of Henry VI. The writer was probably the old
Taverham" mentioned by Margaret Paston in thc last letter.
II. F

66 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1461.

To my reverent and most be trusted maister, John Paston,
Esquyer, duelling in the fnner Temple, be this
delyvered. lYGHT reverent and most be trusted maister,
I recommaunde me in the most lowly wise un
te your good and prevyd maysterchep, and
desiring many days to here of your welfare,
whiche I be seche God encrese un te his plesauns and
un to the prosperite and welfare of your person, and
of all youres. And I be seche you of the goed con-
tynuaunce ef your maysterchep at diverses tymes befor
this writing shewed un te me; and, sir, ther is non
man a Ivye that I trust more to than I doo un to you,
and I am your bedman, and so shall remayn be the
grace of God all the days of myn Iiff. And, sir, I
suppose I shall never see you no more, nor non of
myn frendes, whiche is to me the grettest lamentacion
that myght come un to myn herte; for, sir, by the
grace of God, I shall go to Reme and in to oder holy
places, to spende myn dayes of this present lifif in the
servise of God. For I hadde lever liffe in gret
tribulacion in the service of God in this present Iiff,
than for to folowe the wretchednesse of this worlde.
And, syr, of on thing I be seche speciaUy your
good maysterchep that ye wolle shew your good
maistershep un to my fader in tyme of his nede, and
that ye wolle recomaunde me in the most lowly wise
with aU reverence un to his good faderhode, be secliyng
hym that he wole yeff me every day, during the dayes
of his Iiff, his patemaU bUssing. And I have marvayle
san that I have writen so many letters un to hym be
for this tyme, that I hadde never non letter ageyn,
whiche is to me the grettest lamentacion that ever
come to my hert ; and nowe knowing that I shall never
see hym more, nor you, nor non other of my frendes,
marvayle ye not thow sorowe is imprended in myn hert.
But, reverent maister, myn singuler trust remaynetli

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD rv. 67
nowe in your person, for, sir, and it please you, I most
nedes write un to your good maisterchep, in the whiche
my most tmst remayneth. For, syr, and it please
you, as fer myn inheritaunce and other things whiche
shulde come to me after the deth of my fader, whoes
ILff God preserve to his long plesauns, knowing that I
shall never com ther, I hadde lever that by your good
a vise that ye wolde take it unto you, for I hadde
lever that ye hadde it rather than any person in the
worlde during my Iiff, with all the profites ther of; and
if that ye wole make as good evidences for you in that
partye as ye can, and I shall a seale hem. And as
you semeth best, and in the most secret wise, rewle
you in this mater.
And, sir, I be seche you to recomaunde me in the
most lowly wise to myn reverent Maister Willam
Lumnour, seyeng hym that I am and shall be his per-
petuaU bedman, and as ye thenk best, ye may teUe
hym of all these maters. And, syr, I be seche you to
recomaunde me with all reverence un to my masteras
your wiff, and to aU other maysters and frendes ther.
And, sir, that ye wolle thank the bringer of this letter,
whiche hathe ben in my gret tribulacion my good
frende; and, sir, whan ye speke with my fader, re
comaunde me un to hyra with all reverence, and sey
un to hym I shall send hym a letter in aU hast
pessible. And, syr, as for this mater, demene you as ye wolle,
and I shaU doo your plesauns as moche as in me is.
And, reverent maister, remitte me summe letter by the
bringer her of of all thes maters, for he duellith with
my Lorde, and he is ryght moche be trusted, for I
knowe weie he wole yef a tendaunce un to you for to
have summe letter from you ; for, syr, it shaU not be
longe or that I go to P.ome, by the grace of God.
And as sone as I have a letter from you at this tyme,
I shaU send you a noder ageyn.
No more at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite have
you in His blissed keping. Wreten at Sarum, the

68 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
Monday aftyr Mydsomer Day. And lete these maters
be kept secrete by your best a vise.
Be youre poure servaunt,
Roger Taverham.

424.
A.D. 1461? — Roger Taverham to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 258.]
The mention of Lord Wenlock in this letter proves that it cannot be earlier
than 1461 : but if the writer bCj as we have surmised, the " old Taverham "
mentioned by Margaret Fasten m No. 422, it is most probably of that year.
To my right wourshipful maister, fohn Paston,
Esquyer, be this letter delyvered,
|IGHT wourshipful maister, I recommaunde
me un to your maistership, and I thank your
maistership that hit pleased your maistership
to sende me wourde a yen of my letter that
I sende you by the brynger herof Sir, as I am en-
fourmed, ye sent me wourde how that my fader was
dede long tyme passed, and also ye desired to knowe
my titylle of ryght. Sir, I am very heyre, by the
disceas of my fader, to a place caUed Keswyk, in
Taverham, with all the apportenauncez, and that
comyth by enherytaunce and discente to me, for I am
the helder and heyr ; and though my Lorde CromweU^
hath taken Thomas Taverham, my yonger brother, as
warde for the same enheritaunce, that maketh no mater
to me, in so moche I am helder brother. Wher for I
beseche you to sende me a letter of attoumay made
to you in my name in the strengest wise that ye can,
for to entre in to the same lyvelode, and I shall asseal
that, and than I shall do my service and feaute to the
seid Lorde Cromwell in all thing as by the tenure of
the same lyvelode of olde tyme aught to be done.
And herin I kno well the King shal cause my Lorde
1 Htunphrcy Bourcliier. Lord CromweU, so created in 1461.

A.D. i46i.] EDWARD IV. 69
Cromwel to do me bothe lawe and right ; and also my
Lorde Chaunceler, with oder Lordes diverse, shall do
the same. And, sir, I beseche your maistership to do
and to take possession in the saide place with the
apportenaunce in short tyme, for losyng of the rent
this yer passed.
And, sir, as for the place of Attylbrigge that my
moder in lawe now duellith in, sir, your maistershep shal
right not [naught] attempte ther now in ; for my Lorde
of Warwik^ hath seen how the same place was yeven me
by testament by Sir Roger Dallyng after the disease of
my fader, whiche is redy te be shewed. And therupon
my Lorde of Warwik hath comaunded certeyn gentil
men to entre in the same place, and your maistership
hadde be meved ther in or this, but for cause that ye
love wel Lumpnour,^ and that my moder in lawe is
his sister; but I knowe wel hit woul cost CCC//., but
that she shal be dispossedded of that place in short
t)rme. And, maister, how ye woul be rewled in the
seid place of Keswyk, I be seche you to sende me
wourde, as my sengler trust is in you; for and ye
woulde not take possession in the saide place, my
Lorde Wenlok ^ woulde have that ful fayne, for all the
contray knowith while that while I leve, I am heyr
and non other. And therfor I beseche you in all hast
sende me wourde by the bryngger herof in hast, quia
mora trahit periculum. And, sir, I would come speke
with you. I am seke, and may not goo ; but teUe the
bryngger heroff all your entent. For my Iiff dutyng I
hadde lever that ye hadde that place for ']d. than a
nother man, thow he woulde yeff me meche mony, for
your maistership ther shewed to me in my yong age.
And God kepe you, &c.
Your chapeleyn, Roger Taverham.
I Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.
2 ^Villiam Lumner, of Mannington, in Norfolk. — F.
3 John Wenlock was created Baron Wenlock in 1461 by Edward IV. ; but
he afterwards left the York party, and joined that of Lancaster. _ He was
cleft down with a battle-axe by the Duke of Somerset for not coming up in
time at the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, whereby that battle was lost. — F.

70 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
425.
A.D. 1461, 20 Nov. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Richard Calle to JohiJ Paston.
Since I left you I have received at Cotton £^ : 2s., with whicli
I have made purchases of linen shirts, &c. for you. Shall have
raore money before Christmas. Debenham, Jenney, nor none of
his men " come not there sen' that I was there. A letter of
attorney is made for Nakton in your name to Sir John Hevening-
ham, and a rental and fermal sent him. We kept a court this
week at Calcotte but could get little money, not so much as I
paid my Lady of Suffolk's officers. Farmers will not occupy
there till appomtment be made between Paston and Debenham ;
nor Risynge till he hear from Paston. Can get no day for
Mautby. They will not give a noble, nor even 6 shillings, for a
cow. Dey occupies your lands there till you come home.
Risynge would take them and the closes at Castre if he is not to
have Calcotte. The prests shall be paid as soon as we get money,
I hope this week. Wheat 12^. a comb, barley &/., malt gd. and
lod. No good price for malt, "saving, as we understand, it is
gfod Flanders." John Russe and Robert Glover are sending a
ship with com over, and we have ventured with them lOO comb
malt. You should make Some bargain with your beer brewers.
Can get no money from Aleynes, farmer of Gresham, since ye
rode, but 40J. Has laid in sufficient beef for Paston's household
till "Fastegang" (Lent). Sir Thomas Howys advises my
mistress not to send Edmund Paston to Cambridge or elsewhere
till after Christmas. Please ask Clement, your brother, to get a
writ against Geoffirey Clerk of West Somerton for the 2Qr. fliat
Belys gave him to pay Clement. Remember the letter 1 sent
you last week.
Caister, St. Edmund's Day.
[From what is here said of the levying of rents at Cotton, and from the
mention of Debenham and Jenney in connection with it, we may presume this
letter was written in 1461. With this supposition agrees thc reference to John
Paston's brother, Clement, who, as wc see by No. 417, was in London in
October.]
426.
A.D. 1461, 1 Dec. — ^Agnes Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
TTie year in which this letter was written is detennined by the mention of
John Northale as Sheriff of Norwich.

A.D.1461.] EDWARD IV. 71
To John Paston, at London, be this delyverd in hast.
I grete you welle, and lete you wete that this day Berth' Elys
of Paston come to Norwych to me, and shewet me a rentall for
the terme of Seynt Mich., the yer of Kyng H. vj. xxxix"; and
in the ende of the seyd rentall, of Waryn Kynges hand is wretyn
" Agnes Paston viji/. 06. [I^d.] Item, the same Agnes for v.
acre lond xxrf." Item, Aleyn Bayfeld askyth the same rent for
the yer last past at Mich. Item, I have knowlech be a trew
man that whan Sharpe the reseyvor was at Gemyngham last,
Waryn Herman was dyvers dayes with hym, and put hym in
mynde that the mercyment for makynge of the walle chuld be
askyd ageyn and be distreynyd ther for. Item, I sent you be
Doctor Aleyns man the restew \.residue-\ of Waryn Herman, and
seche names as Cullynge and Sammys putt in of her owyn fre
wylie befor John Northales, shereve of Norwyche,' under her
sells. God be with you and send you His blyssyng and myn.
Wretyn at Norwych the Tuisday next after Seynt Andrew.
Item, the seyd Berth' Elis seyth that the seyd reseyver wold
not alowe the rent in Tranche nor the mercyments for my sute to
the curL Gonnor wold suflyr no man to answer for me.
Be your moder, Agnes Paston.

427.
A.D. 1461, 12 Dec.
Six John Hevenyngham to John Paston, Senior.
[From Pa.ston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is evidently of the same year as No. 423. The contents, niore
over, seem to show that the date cannot be far distant from that of Richard
Calle's letter of the ist of February following.
To myn ryght worchipffull cosyn, John Paston the elder, Esquyer,
be this letter delivered in hast.
Ryght worchipffull cosyn, I recomaunde me to you in as
hertely wyse I can, desyryng ever to here off your welffare,
whiche I beseche our Lord Jesu to preserve to your hertes
pleaser, &c. Sir, ye sent me a letter of atomey to reseyv-e and
to ocupye in your name the maner called Burnevyles in Nakton.
Sir, as for that ocupacion, I can litil skylle en, ne I wel not take
up on me non suche ocupacionis ; wherffor I beseche you holde
me excused, for it is no werd [world] for me to take suche
ocupacionis. I have as moche as I may to gader myn ownne
lyfflode, and truli, cosyn, I can not gader that well. _ And
therffor, cosyn, I pray you take it to non displeaser. Sir, that
1 He was Sheriff of Norwich in the ist year of Edward IV.

72 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
I may worchepfiilli doo for you, ye shal fynde me redy be the
grace of Jesu, whom I hertely beseche to have you in Hise
merqrfiill kepyng. Wretyn at Hevenyngham on Seynt Lucye
Even. Be your cosyn, John Hevenyngham, knyght
428.
A.D. i46i(?), Dec — Anonymous to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 64.]
The date of this letter is a little uncertain, but it seems to have been
written at the beginning of the dispute between Paston and Yelverton about
Fastolf s will, and the year 1461 appears to me on the whole most probable.
|YGHT worchefuU master, I recommend me on
to yow, &C. The cause of my wrytyng is
this; I was at Blofeld on Sent Andruys Day^
wyt the person,^ and he understode non
noder but that I cam to se is master chepe, for it was
hese cheve day,' and that I mevyd in to hym of the
lond in Sochewerk, how I hard sey qwan I was in Soche-
folk that Geney mad hys avaunt that he had zon [given]
zow and hym a cheppe of xx. pownd of lond. And in
centynent he telde me al the mater beter than I cowde
telle hym, and as I cowde understond in hym be my
sympyl 'wyt, that he was of knoleche of alle the mater;
for he seyd that Yelverton cam don fro the benche,
and plete the mater, and fer cause ye wer to laches,
and cam not in tyme, the mater yede a mys. And so
I understode be hym that he is dysposyd to excuse
Yelverton in al materys rather than yow ; but never de
les make good cher to the person, as thow ye under
stode that he wer your frend, tyl tyme ye have your in
tente. But be warr and trost hym net, but make yow
so strong in lorchepe and in the lawe, that ye reeke
not meche qwder he be good or bad, &c
Item, ye be meche be held on to Tomas Grene and
Edmund Wydewel, broder to Heu k Fen, for thei
J 30th November. s Thomas Howes.
' The day ofhis chief ot patron sainL Blofield Church is dedicated to St
.Andrew.

A.D. I46I.] EDWARD IV. 73
reporte meche worchepe of your master chepe in al
maters, and that cause the substans of the towne to
howe yow servese, and be wel dysposyd on to yow
masterchepe, and that understonde I hevery day.
And 3^ that plese yow, qwan we partyt at Norwyche
in yowr plase, ye seyd on to me ye wold som qat do
be my sympyl a wyse ; and this is myn a wyse that in
ony wyse ye make Heu k Fen and Tomas Grene on your
censel, yf ye can fyne in yow herte. For I dare sey,
as I her and understonde, that thei hew yow ryth
good well and servyse, for a man may her be the halfe
qwat the hole menyth, and therfor for Godds lowe
remember yow wel in this mater ; for and it stode on
myn lyfe, I wold do as I awyse yow, &c.
Item, for hoivr Lords love, goo tharow with Wyll
Weseter, and also plese Chrewys as ye thynke in yow
hert best for te do ; for it is a coraen proverbe, " A man
must sumtyme set a candel befor the Devyle ; " and
therfor thow it be not alder most mede and profytabyl,
yet of ij. harrays the leste is to be take.
Item, ye xui eonderstonde that the parson telde me
that dey wer sorauned to cum for the probat of the
testement at Convercyon of Sent Powle ; ^ and therfor
I wolde avyse yow in ony wyse that ye xuld under
stond the mater wysely her ye com hom, for I sopose
that Yelverton and he is confydett and acorde to
geder. Item, qwan I was at Blofeld with the parson, ther
cam Robert Fyrass to hym, seyyng that he is compeld
be the Kyngs Commycyoners to have hames after is
degre, and that the parson sent hym to my mastras
that che xuld delyver hym hames, and I understond
che wylie not tylle ye com hom. But ye xui under
stond it is an haimes dede to do hym good, under
stondyng is nesessyte and nede that he stond in, and
also understondyng that he was kynnyes man to my
master, and it is a comon proverbe, " A man xuld kepe
fro the blynde and gevyt to is kyn ; " and hevery man
1 Jan. 25.

74 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461.
wyl sey wel ther of, the mor cause he is a gentylman,
and of is kyne, and in gret penur. And therfor, for
the love of God, rememb)T seche maters.
No mor at this tyme, but God have yow in Hys
kepyng, bothe body and sowle, and sqede yow in yowr
maters as wel as wel as I wolde ye xulde do.

429.
A.D. i46i(?), [3] Dec.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 106.]
Except that it seems to be of the reign of Edwarxl IV., the date of this
letter is about as uncertain as that of the last ; but as they are both written
about thesame time of year, and both recommend John Paston to use the
counsel of Hugh Fenn, it is highly probable that they are of the same year.
Perhaps the last letter may have oeen written by thc vicar mentioned in
this. To my right wurchepfull husband, fohn Paston.
|IGHT wurchepfuU husbond, I recomaund me
to you. Please it you to wete that myn
awnte is dissesid, whos sowle God assoylL
And if it please you to send word how ye
wull that we do for the lifilode that she had at Walcote,
wheder ye wull that any body take possession thir in
your name or not And if it like you to have with you
my cosyn WiUiam her sone, I trow ye shuld fynde
hym a necessary man to take hede to yowr howshold,
and to bye all maner of stuffe nedefuU therto, and to
se to the rewle and gode gidyn therof. It hath be
told me be for that he can gode skiU of such thyngs ;
and if ye wull that I send for hym and speke with
hym ther of, I shall do as ye send me word, for in
feyth it is tyme to crone your old officers for diverse
thyngs wher of I have know parte be Dawbeney, and
more I shall telle you whan ye come hame.
Also it is thought be my cosyn EUzabeth Clere, and
tlie viker ^ and other that be your frends, that it is
1 The vicar of Paston 1 Robert Williamson was vicar of Paston at this time.

AD. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 75
right necessary for you to have Hew of Fen to be your
frende in your maters ; for he is callid right feythfuU
and trosty to his frends that trost hym, and it is
reported her he may do myche with the Kyng and the
Lords, and it is seid that he may do myche with hem
that be your adversaryes : and therfor, Godds sake,
if ye may have his gode wiUe, forsake it not Also it
is thought the more lemed men that ye have ef your
owyn contre of your councell, the more wurchepful it
is to you.
Also if ye be at home this Cristmes, it wer weie do
ye shuld do purvey a gamyssh or tweyn of pewter
vesshell, ij. basanes, and ij. hewers, and xij. candle-
stikes, for ye have to few of any of thes to serve this
place. I am a ferd to purvey mych stuffe in this
place till we be suerrer therof. The Blissid Trinyte
have you in His blissid kepyng.
Wretyn the Thursday next after Sent Andrew.
Be yowr M. P.
430.
A.D. 1461, Dec.
Thomas Playter to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The mention of Tuddenham and Heyden in this letter proves that it cannot
be of later date than the year 1461, as the former was executed in February
1462. At the same time the reference to John Paston, Junior, could not be
much earlier, and the message from the King to the people of Norfolk cer
tainly could not have come from Henry VI. only a year or two before. The
date must therefore be 1461 precisely. Further it iviU appear by the corre
spondence of this letter with No. 134 that the editor was mistaken in attri
buting that letter to the year 1450. It also must be of the year 1461, and its
date proves this letter to have been written in Deceraber.
To fohn Paston, the older, in hast, and if he be not at Lon
don, than to be delyvered to Clement Paston in hast.
YKE your maisterchip wete that at the last
cessyons Erpyngham hundred and other hun-
dredys ther aboute were not wamed, and the

76 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1461.
schreff excused hym be cause he cowde not knowe
who was officer there. Item, Yelverton lete the
pepoli understand that the Kyng wold have his
lawes kept, and that he was dysplesed with the maner
of ther gaderyng, and that he weld have it amendyd ;
for he conceyveth that the hele body of the shire is
well dysposed and that the iUe dysposed pepoU is but
of a corner of the hele shire ; and yet that ther mys-
doyng growyth not of ther owyn dysposysyon but of
the abbettement and steryng of sum ille dysposed
persones whiche is understand and knowe to the Kynges
hygthnesse. Item, he lete hem wete that the Kyng
had commandyd hym to sey if ther were any man,
pore or ryche, that had cause to complayne of any
person that he schuld put up his bylle to the
shref and hym, and they schuld set a reule be twyx
hem; and if he weld net abyde ther reule they
schuld delyver the sayd bylle of compleynt to the
Kynges bignesse, and he schuld set the rewle and
suche dyreccion that the party complejoiaunt or
defendaunt schuld be punysshed for his dysebey-
sauns of the said rewle if the case requyred ; and also
more over, if ther were ony person that put up ony
suche byUe, and it mygth apere to them by ther exam-
inacien or other wyse fals or untrewe, or elles be
cause of malyce, that than suche compleynaunts schuld
.sharpely be punysshed. And than whan he had sayd
this and moche more, in dyscoragyng to the pepoli to
put bylles, as after my conseyt, he reported hym to the
schref ther present, that the Kyng thus comanded hem
thus to sey, desyreng the said schref if ony thyng of the
Kyngs comaunded were be hynd unspoken by hym
self that he wold remembre and helpe forthe to telle
it And than the schref said, lyke as he rehersed the
Kyng comanded, and more over that the Kyng named
ij. men, by name Tudenham and Haydon, and if eny
man wold put bylles a yens them, he said in feythfull
wyse he wold help hem, and ferther the mater to the
Kyng higthnesse. And for his demenyng ther every

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV. 77
man thougth hym rigth wel dysposed ; but Yelverton
had for yeten to expresse the names of Tudham and
Haydon. Item, the schref desyred the jentylmen to go with
[him] to Felbryg Halle, and speciaUy he requyred
Mr. John P., the younger; but he cowde no pepoli
gete, and so he cam not there. Item, there was a
byUe set up on the shirehous dore, and the content
ther of was but of the favour to you ward, Barney,
Knyvet and Felbiygge, and of the hatered of
other; it was but of sum lewde dysposed person it
semeth. Item, sir, at the last shire was moche pepoU
and ille governed for they wold not be rewled be no
body, they had almost a slayne the underschref, for
they teld hym wryttes of eleccion was sent doun and
he kept it on syde te be gyle hera, and to raake hem
labour ayen, and ther for he that kepyth it is to blarae,
me thynketh. Item, sir, please you to telle Mr.
Clement, we have goten a reles of al raaner accions
and appelles of Margret Clerk, made to Gymniynghara,
on of the pryncypalles, and that he woll inqiiyre
wheder it be suffycyant for alle, and send me word,
and weder it dyvers fro trespas and dette, wher
damages is to be recovered, for in this appell is no
damages to be recovered, but only an execucion,
whiche non of them may be contributory to other
execucion as is in other cases. Nevertheles, I hope it
be sufficiant for all, for sche is in the cas to have the
lyf in stede of damages.
Your Thomas Pl.
431.
Note.
As mentioned in the preliminary note to last No., Letter 134
has been erroneously attributed to the year 1450, and ought to be
placed here as of the year 1461. The same is the case with
Letter 135, which must be read in connection with the former.
In restoring these letters lo their tnie date, we must observe that
?he sheriff therein mentioned must be not John Jermyn, but Sir

78 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1461
Thoinas Montgomery, wh« was sheriff of Norfolk from Michael
mas 1461 to 1463. This explains the remark in the former letter
" As for a knight there was none in the King's house that might
worse 'a be forbore than the sheriff might at that time." Also in
No. 135 it must be noted that "Master Bemey" is not Philip
Bemey, as the editor had supposed, but John Bemey of Witch
ingham. John Paston and John Bemey had been elected knights
of the shire for Norfolk in the preceding summer, and in conse
quence of the eflorts of Su: John Howard, who was sheriff" at that
time, to set aside the election, they were both summoned up to
London, and the case was heard before the King {See No. 417).
Their long detention in the capital it seems gave rise to appre
hensions 3iat it would be decided against them, and even on tlie
28th of December there was a riot in the shire-house at Norwich,
from the suspicion entertained that the under-sheriff had a writ
for a new election.
Letter 136 was placed after No. 135, not as being of the same
year, but as referring to the same subject. Its precise dale is
tmcertain and immaterial, but it, too, probably belongs to the reign
of Edward IV., as the farm at Boyton seems to have been part
of the lands of Sir John Fastolf, and only came to Jolm Paston
after his deatb.

432.
A.D. 1 46 1 ? — Anonymous to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 104.]
This letter appears to have been addressed to Margaret Paston ata period
when her husband was a man of some influence, and perhaps the year X461 is
not far from the true date. It is not unlikely to have been written about the
same time as No. 430, which also refers to a meeting at the sliire or county
court To my right worchepfull Mastres Paston.
Recomawnde me to your good mastreschep,
besechyng yow in the weye of charyte, and
as I maye be your bedeman and servaunt,
that ye wyll lete me have wetyng hoghe I
maye be rewelyd ageyns the next schyer. It is seyd
that ther xai be mych more pepyll than was the last ;
and also if I be in my Ladys place, or in ony other in
the town, I xall be takyn owte. Also, mastres, that
my Maystyr Radclyffs xai take all my catell and all

A.D. 1461.] EDWARD IV, 79
ether pore goed that I have, and so but I maye have
helpe of my mayster and of yow, I am but lost. Also
my servaunt Maryot wyll go fro my wyfe to my ryght
gret hurte. Wherfore, mastres, I besech your help in
all thes, and I xai content the costs as ye xall be
plesyd, be the grace of God, hoo ever preserve
yow, &c.
Also, mastres, I can not be with owte your contynuaU
help, but I must selle or lete to ferme aU that I have.
Mastres, my Lady sent to Cawnbrygg for a docteur
of fesyk. If ye wyll ony thyng with hym, he xai abyde
this daye and to morwe. He is ryght a konnyng man
and gentyll.
433.
A.D. 1 46 1-6.
Elizabeth Mundeford to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 108.]
The date of this letter must lie between the years 1461 and 1466. The
writer's husband, who is spoken of as dead, was put to death in June 1460,
and John Paston, the person addressed, died in May 1466.
To my right worchipfull sir, and my right good neveu,
John Paston, Squyer, be this lettre delyva-cd, &¦¦€.
ilGHT worchipfull sir, and my right good
neveu, I recomand me un to you with all
myn herte. Piece it you to undyrstande the
grete nessessyte of my wrytyng to you is this,
that ther was made an exchaunge be the graunsyre of
my hosbonds Mundeford, un hose sowle God have
mercy, of the maner of Gressenale with the aunsetrys
of Rows for the maner of Estlexham, the qwych is
parte of my juntor, and my grauntfadyr Mundeford
recoweryd the said maner of Estlexham be assyze - a
geyne the aunsetrys of Rows, and so madyt clere; and
1 Assize is a writ directed to the sheriff of the county for recovery of the
possession of things immoveable, whereof yourself or ancestors have been
dispossessed.^F.

So THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1461.
nowe have Edmund Rows ^ claymyt the seyd maner
of Estlexham be the verteu of a tayle [an entail], and
hathe takyn possesseon, and made a feffement to my
Lord of Ware>vyke,2 and Water Gorge,^ and to Curde.*
And un Fryday be fer Seynt Walentyne is Day Water
Gorge and Curde enteryd and toke possessyon for my
seyd Lord of Warewyke, and so bothe the forseyd
maneiys were ontayled, and at the tyme of the
exchaunge made, the tayles and evydens of bothe fer
seyd manerys were delyvered un to the partyes inde-
ferently be the avyse of men lemyd. Qwerfor I
beshech you that it plese you to take the grete labor
upon you to informe my Lordys good Lordchep of the
trowthe in the forme a bowyn wreten, and that it plese
you to undyrstand qwedyr that my Lord wyll a byde
be the feffment raade to hym or not ; and that it shall
plese my Lord that I may have right as lawe requeiyt,
for I trust to God be soche tyme as ray Lord shall be
inforrayd of the trowthe be you, that hese Lordchip
wyll not supportt the forseyd Rows a geyne my right.
And if I hadde very undyrstandyng that my Lord
would take no parte in the mater a bowe seyd, I weuld
trust te Godds mersy, and te you, and ether of my
good fryndes, to have possession a geyne in right hasty
tyme, beshechyng you to pardon me of my symple
wrytyng, for hadde no leyser. Right worchipfull and
my right good neveu, I beshech the Blyssed Trenyte
have you in Hese gracyous kepyng.
Wreten at Norwych in gret hast, the Tewysday aftyr
Seynt Walentyne is Day.
Youre ouyn, Elizabeth Mundeford.^
1 Edmund Rous was second son of Henry Rous, Esq. of Dennington, in
Suffolk, the ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.
2 Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.
3 Walter Gorges, Esq., married Mary, the daughter and heir of Sir Wil
liam Oldhall, and was at this time Lord of the Manor of Oldhall, in Great
Fransham. He died in 1466. His son and heir. Sir Edmund Gorges, after-
wards married a daughter of Sir John Howard, Knight, the first Duke of
Norfolk of that family.— F.
< John Curde was Lord of the Manor of Curde's Hall, in Fransham. — F.
5 Elizabeth Mundeford was the widow of Osbert Mundeford, Esq. of Hock-
wold, in Vorfolk, and was daughter of Jolm Berney, Esq., by which means
she was '»«int to J. Paston. — F.

A.D.I460-4.] EDWARD IV, 8l
434.
A.D. 1460-4.
Sir Robert Williamson to Agnes Paston.
[From Ferm, iii. 48.]
The writer of this letter was Vicar of Pa.ston from 1460 to 1464, and as he
dates from Bromholm, which is in the immediate neighbourhood of Paston,
we may presume that it was written during the time he held that benefice.
To' my right reverent mastras, Agnes Paston, be this
lettre delyveryd in haste.
|YGH wurchepful mastres, I recomaund me un
to yow, thankyng yow of the gret chere that
ze made me the last tyme that I was with
zow. Mastres, in alle zour godys and ocu-
pacyons that lyth in my simpil power to de in wurd,
wil and dede, I have de my dylygens and my power
therto, so I be savyd be fore God, and have owyn to
your person ryght herty love; for the qwych I am
ryght ille aqwyt, and it be as I understande yt ; for it
is do me to wete that I am swid with mor of my
paiyshchons for a reskuse makyng up on the offycers
of the slirewys [sheriff], and I take God to record that
it is wrongfuUy do on to us. And the gret fray that
the [they] mad in the tyme of masse it ravyched my
witts and mad me ful hevyly dysposyd. I pray Jesu
gef hem grace to repent hem therof" that the [they] that
caused it may stand out of perei of soule.
Maystras, at the reverens of God, and as evyr I may
do servyce that may be plesyng on to yow, send me
justyly wurd be the brynger of this bylle ho ze wil that
I be gydyd ; for it is told me that if I be take I may
no other remedy havyn but streyth to prison. For the
whiche I have sold away xxs. wurth of stuffe ; and the
reswd [residue] of my stuff, I have put it in swier hande,
for trwly I wil not abyde the joparte of the swth, — I
have levir to go as far as my fet may ber me. Nevir
the less as ze komand me te do, so it be not to my
'I. G

82 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 146a.
gret hurt, I wil fulfiUe it Nomor to zow at this tyme,
but God send yow that grace that ze may kome to
His blyss.
Wreten at Bromholm in gret haste,
Be your Sir Robert Willyamson.
435.
A.D. T462, 7 Jan.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The contents ofthis letter clearly show that it was written in January n6a,
nine days after the misplaced letter No. 134. Compare Note, No. 431.
To my ryth worchepfull husbond, fohn Paston, be thys
delyveryd in hast,
|YTH worchepfull husbond, I recomand me to
yow. Plesyt yow to wet that I sent yow a
lettyr by my cosyn Barneys man of Wychyng
ham wyche was wretyn on Seynt Thomas
Day in Ctystmas,i and I had no tydyngys nor lettyr
of yew sene the wek befor Ctystmas; wher of I mervayle
sore. I fere me it is not well with yow be cawse ye
came not home or sent er thys tyme. I hopyd verily
ye schold have ben at home by Twelthe at the ferthest
I pray yow hertly that ye wole wychesave to send me
word how ye do as hastly as ye may, for my hert schall
nevyr be in ese tyU I have tydyngys fro yow. Pepyll
of this contre begynyth to wax wyld, and it is seyd her
that my Lord of Clarans and the Dwek of Suthfolk and
serteyn jwgys with hem schold come downe and syt
on syche pepyll as be noysyd tyotous in thys contre.
And also it is seyd here, that there is retomyd a newe
rescwe up on that that was do at the scher. I suppose
swyche talkynge comyth of false schrewys that wold
mak a rwmor in this contre. The pepyll seyth here
1 See No. ijt

A. D. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 83
that they had levyr go up hole to the Kynge and com
pleyne ef siche false screwys as they have be wrongyd
by a fore, than they schold be compleynyd of with owt
cause and be hangyd at ther owne dorys. In good feyth
men fere sore here of a coraone tysyng but if [ie. unless]
a bettyr remedy may be had to a pese the pepyU in hast,
and that ther be sent swyche downe to tak a rewyU as
the pepyll hathe a fantsy in, that wole be indeferent.
They love not in no wyse the Dwke of Sowtlifolk nor
hys modyr. They sey that all the tretoutys and ex-
torsyonetys of thys contre be meynteynyd by them and
by syche as they get to them with her goodys, to that
intent to meynten suche extorsyon style as hathe be do
by suche as hathe had the rewyll undyr them be fore
tyme. Men wene, and the Dwke of Sowthfolk come ther
schoU be a schrewd reuell but if [unless] ther come odyr
that be bettyr belovyd than he is here. The pepyU fetyth
hem myche the more to be hurt, because that ye and
my cosyn Bamey come not home; they sey they wot
welle it is net well with yow and if it be not well with
yow, they sey they wot well, they that wole do yow
wronge wole sone do them wronge, and that makyth
them all most mad. God for Hys holy mersy geve
grace that ther may be set a good rewyll and a sad in
this contre in hast, for I herd nevyr sey of so myche
robty and manslawter in thys contre as is now within
a lytyU tyme. And as for gadyryng of mony, I sey
nevyr a werse seson, for Rychard Calle seyth he can
get but lytyll in substans of that is owyng, nowthyr of
yowyr lyvelod nor of Fastolfys th'eyr. And John
Paston seyth, they that raay pay best they pay werst ;
they fare as thow they hopyd to have a newe werd
[world]. And the biyssyd Trinite have yow in Hys
kepyng and send us good tydyngys of yow.
Yelverton is a good thredbare frend for yow and for
odyr in thys contre, as it is told me.
Wretyn in hast on the Thorsday nex aftyr Twelthe
By yowyr
Margaret Paston.

84 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1462.

436.
A.D. 1462, 27 Jan.
Marcvret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter relates to the prisoner Piers mentioned In Nos. 361, aSa, and
363. He seems to have been delivered by a general pardon issued at ths
commencement of the reign of Edward IV. The letter bears no address, it
is endorsed, but in a much later hand : — " A lettre to J. Paston, Ar., from
his wife."
jsgjYTH worchepfiill husbond, I recomand me to
¦^^ yow. Plesyt yow to wet that Perse was
delyvetyd owt [of] preson by the generall
pardon that the Kynge hathe grantyd, whyche
was op)aily proclamyd in the Gyld Hall. A none as
he was del)rvetyd he cam hed)T to me, God wote in an
evyll plyte, and he desyityd me wep)mg that I wold be
hys goed mastres and to be mene to yow to be hys
good mastyr, and swore sore that he was nevyr defawty
in that ye have thowte hym defawty in. He seyd
that if ther wer ony coyne in the cofyr that was at
Wylliam TavemetyS it was ther withowt hys knowlage,
for hys mastyr wold nevyr lat hym se what was in that
cofyr, and he told me that the keyis wer sent to Thomas
Holler^ by mastyr John Smyth. What HoUer leyd in
or took owte he wot not as he swetyth. He offyrd me
to be rewlyd as ye and I wold have hym, and if I wold
comand hym, to go ageyn to preson, whedyr I wold
to the CastyU or to the Gyld HaU, he wold obey my
comandment And seth that he came of hys owne
fre wyll withowt ony comandment of ony man or
desyir, I seyd I wold not send hym ageyn to preson,
so that he wold abyde yowyr rewyll when ye came
home. And so he is here with me and schall be tyll ye
send me word how ye wole that I do with hym.
I He was John Berney's executor-

A.D. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 85
Where fore, I pray yow that ye wole lete me have know
lage in hast how ye wole tliat I do with hym.
Item, I have spok with John Dame and Playter fer
the lettyr testymonyall, and John Dame hathe pro
mysyd to get it, and Playter schaU bryng it to yew to
London. Item, I have purveyd yew of a man that
schall be here in Barsamys sted and ye wole, the wyche
can bettyr chetysch yowyr wood, bothe in fellyng and
fensyng there of than Barsam can; and he schall mak
yow as many hyrdyUys as ye nede fer yowyr fold, ot
yowyr owne wood at Drayton, and schaU tak as lytyU
to hys wagys as Barsam dothe; and he is holdyn a trew
man. Item, Playter schall tell yow of a woman that
compleynyd to the Dwk of Sowthefolk of yow, and ±e ¦
sey[d] Playter schall teU yow of the demenyng and
answeryng of the scheryfe fer yow, and also of the
demenyng of the seyd Dwke, and of othir matetys the
wyche wer to longe mater to put in wtyttyn. The
fiepyU of that kentre be ryth glad that the day yed
went] with yow on Monday as it ded. Ye wer nevyr
so welcome in to Norfolk as ye schall be when ye come
home, I trowe. And the biyssyd Trynyte have yow
in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast en Wednysday next
aftyr Seynt Augnet the Fyrst By yowyr M. P.
Item, Ria Calle teld me that he hathe sent you s
answer of aU erands that ye wold shuld be do to Sir
Thomas Howes. Sir Thomas Howes cam nowther to
me nor sent syn that he cam home from London.
WiU Worceter was at me in Cristemes at Heylysdon,
and he told [me] that he spake with you dyvers tymys
at London the last terme; and he told me that he hopyd
that ye wolle be hys good master, and seyd he hopyd
ye shuld have non other cause but for to be hys god
maister. I hope and so do my moder and my cosyn
Clere, that he woUe do well inowe, so that he be fayre
fare with Dawbeney and Playter. Avise me to lete

86 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1462.
Peers go at large and to take a promys of hym to com
to me a mong unto your comyng hom, and in the
mene while his demenyng may be kno wyn and espyed
in mo thyngs.

437,
John Dowbigging to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is evidently earlier in date than the last, and may perhaps have
been written at the close of the year 1460, but as it refers to the same prisoner
as the preceding No. we place it here for convenience. It is printed in the
fifth volume of Fenn's edition as a letter of Henry VIL's time owing to a
misreading of the address, which might easily convey the impression that it
was directed to " Sir John Paston."
To the ryght reverent and worship sir, fohn Paston,
sum tyme Lord of Gresham, and now fermour tho'of,
as hit is seide.
ERYS of Legh come to Lynne opon Cristyn-
messe Even in the fresshest wise, and there he
dyned so as was; bot when my Lorde of
Oxenforde herde hereof he with his feliship
and suche as I and other your presoneres come tydyng
unto Lynne, and even unto the Bysshop gaole where
the seid Petys dyned with other of his feliship. My
Lorde puUed hym oute of the seid gaole and made to
kest hym opon an horse, and tyed an halter by his
arme, and so ledde hym furtli like hym selff And
even furthwith the seid Bysshop, the Mair, and other
their feliship mette with my seide Lorde and your
presoneres, and also the seide Perys tyed by an halter,
the Bysshop havyng thies wordes unto my Lorde with
his piUion^ in his handes, " My Lordp.s, this is a presoner,
ye may knowe by his tepet and staiff. What will ye
do with hym ? " Therto my Lorde seide, " He is my
presoner nowe." Wherto the Bysshop seid, " Where
^ The hat wom by a Doctor of Divinity.

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 87
is youre warraunt or comraission therto ? " My Lorde
seide, " I have warraunt suffi ciaunt to me." And
thus they departed, the Mair and all the cominaltie of
Lynne kepyng theire sUence. Bot when we weren
goon, and PetyS ef Legh fast in Rysyng CasteU, then
the yates of Lynne, by the Bysshop comaundement
weren fast sperred [shut] and keped with men of armes.
And then the Bysshop and his squyers rebuked the
Mair of Lynne and seid that he hade shamed both hym
and his toun for ever, with muche other langage, &c.
The Bysshop shulde have keped his Cristenmesse
at Gaywode, bot yet he corae not oute of Lynne. In
faith, my Lorde dyd quyte hym ais curageousely as ever
I wist man do. The Bysshop come to the toun with
lx. persones the same tyme, and made to sper the yates
after hym, bot when we mette, ther bede not with hym
over xij. persones atte the most, with his serjaunt of
armes; whiche serjaunt was fayn to lay doun his mase;
and so atte the same yates we come in we went oute,
and no blode drawen, God be thanked.
Yf ye wUl any thyng atte I may do, send me worde;
hit shaU be doon te my power, &c. Comaunde me
to my maistresse your wyff, &c. And yf ye dar
joperdie your suyrtie of C. marc I shall come and se
you. And elles have me excused, for, &c.
From youre oune,
John Douebiggyng.
438.
A.D. 1462, I Feb.
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The manor of Bumeviles m Nacton, near Ipswich, was part of the lands
of Sir John Fastolf which Paston inherited by his will ; but his claim was
disputed by Jenney, one of the executors. As Jenney is here said to have
complained that his fee was two years in arrear, we may presume that it was
little over two years since Fastolf s death when this letter was written. For
further evidences of date compare No. 427. It may also be observed that we

88 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1462.
find undoubted evidence that John Paston was residing in the Inner Temple
six weeks later (See No. 442), whereas in the precedioe year he was in
Norfolk, where his brother Clement wrote to him news from London (No. 367>
To the ryght reverent and my mooste worschipftd master, my
Master John Paston, in tlie Inneer Tempyll.
Plesith it your maisterschip to witte that I have been at Bume-
wyll in Nacton to rece)r7e the rentes and fermys ofthe tenauntes.
And I imdrestande be them, and be Robert Goordon that Mastre
Jenney whas there and helde a coorte on the Mondaye next aftre
Tlwelthe, and wamed the tenamites that they schulde pay no
money to no man onto the tyme they had worde firom hym,
seyng that he whas on of the feffeys of the same maner, and that
he whas feed with Sir John Fastolff, of weche fee he was be
hynde for ij. yere ; wherfore he desired the tenauntes that they
schulde not be redy in payement onto the tyme they had word
from hym, but that he myght be payed of his seide fee, lyke as
the wylie of the deede was. Wherfore I can gete no money of
them unto the tyme they have knowleche how it stond be twyx
your maistership and Mr. Jenney ; for withoute Jenney write to
hem or come hom ward that wey, and have the tenauntes to
gether and lete hem witte that ye ought to have the rentes and
fermes of the seid maner, I can not see that ye be like to have
but litell money there, withoute ye woll do distreyne throuout all
the lordeschip. I have sette dayes to purvey her \their-\ money
ayenst the first welce of cleene Lenton, and than they schul have
an answere who shal receyve it Wherfore that it please your
maistership to remembre to speke to Mastre Jenney. The blissed
Trinite preserve you and kepe you from all advercyte. Wreten
at Yebbyshep ^ the fiirst daye of Februare.
Your pore servaunt and bedman,
R. Calle.
Item, the maner of Stratton shuld paye of rente xxvjj. viij<^.,
weche the fermour seythe my mastresse Brandon is acorded with
you. He is be hynde for certeine yeres, &c.

439.
A.D. 1462, 9 Feb. — John Paston to  — .
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The MS. is a rough draft signed by John Paston the eldest, and corrected
in his hand. It seems to have been wntten on the cover of a letter addressed
to liimself; for on the back is this dizvction in another hand : — ** To my most
reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston the eldest, Esquier, be this
dchveryd in hast."

' Ipswich?

a. D. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 89
We have inserted this letter in the year 1462, as this was the first year after
Fastolf 's death, when John Paston appears to have been residing in London
m the beginning of February. The only other possible years are 1463, 1465,
and 1466. JIGHT trusty and welbeloved, 1 grete yow
hartUy weU, and wiU ye %vite that where
hit is so, that Sir John Fastolf, whom God
assoyle, with other, was sum tyme by Sir
Heny Inglese enfeffed of trast of his maner effe Pyke-
wurthe in Rutlande, the which made his wiUe, proved,
that the seid maner sholde by solde by Robert Inglose
and Edmunde Wychingham his executeurs, to whom
the seid Sir John hath relesed, as his dute was to do ;
now it is so that for John Browne ^ ther is shewed a
dede under seall of armes betynge date byfore his
reles made to the Duke of Norffoke, Henty Inglose
and other, contrarie te the wiUe of the seid Sir Herry
and the trast of the feoffement that the seid Sir John
Fastolff was enfeffed inne. And a letter of Attemey
under the same seale of armes to yow, to deliver
seison acordynge to the same feffement, to the gret
disclaundre of the seid Sir John and all his, yef this
be trae. Wherfore I preie yow hertili that ye feith-
fuUy and truly rescribe to me in all the hast ye may
what ye knowe in this mater such as ye wull stonde
by with outen glose, and how ye can imagine that this
crafte shulde be practised, and specially whether ye
yourself deUvered seison in Rutlond er noo. And
this and what incedentes ye knowe, I preie yow by
wrytinge certefie me in all hast, that I may be the more
ripe to answer to this, to the wurship of the seid Sir
John, that was your maister, so that thorowh yoiur
defaute your seid maisters soule ther for Ue not in
pereU, but this disclaundre may be eesed and cesed as
reson requireth, to the wurship of hym and all that
longe to hym. And this I pray yow faUe not offe as
I traste yow. Wret at Londo[n] the ix. day of Febraar.
Yowr frend, JoN Paston.
1 This name is substituted for " Herry Inglose," struck out

90 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 146a.
440.
A.D. 1462, [Feb.]
Sir Thomas Howes to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 68.]
For evidence of the date of this letter, Fenn quotes the followmg extracts
from the Institution Books in the Registry of the Bishop of Norwich : —
** Draiton
" Reg. xi. X24. 39 Januaiy 1460-1. Johannes Bullock ad praesentationem
Joh'is Paston arm. et Tho. Howys capellani.
"Reg. xL X31. z5 March 1461-2. Joh'es Flourdew ad presentationem
eorundem." It thus appears that the living was resigned by John Bullock in 1461-2, and
on tbe 15th March John Flourdew was presented to it, not the person here
recommended by Howes.
To the ryght wurshipfuU sir and meyster, myn Mayster
fohn Paston, Squier.
|YGHT worshipfuU sire and mayster, I reco
maunde me to yow. And please yow that
the chirche of Drayton is or shal be resyngned
in hast in to the Bysshopys hands by Sir
John BuUok, desyr)Tig yew hertly that ye lyke I may
have the presentacien of the next avoydaunce for a
newew of myn, callyd Sir Reynold Spendleve, whiche
I traste youre maystership wold agree to make in
youre name and myn as was last, &c. And, sir, please
yow also that I have hadde diverse communicacions
with Worcestr sethe Ctystmesse,^ and I fele by hym
otterly that he wole not appoynt in other fourme than
to have the londs of Feyrechildes and other londes in
Drayton to the sume of x. marc of yow proprely, by syde
that that he desyreth of myn mayster, whom God
assoyle, whiche mater I remytte to your noble dis-
crecion. And as for answere of the byUes that I have, I have
ben so sekelew sethe Ctystmasse that I myght net
yette don hem, but I shal in alle hast, wher inne ye
may excuse yow by me if ye please tyl the next temie,
1 This word is indicated by Fenn as indistinct in the MS.

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 91
at whiche tyme aUe shal be aunswered, be Godds grace,
who preserve yow and send yow th' accomplyshement
of youre desyres, &c.
Item, sere, please youre maystership hit was leten
me wete in tyght secrete wyse that a pyssaunce is redy
to aryve in thre parties of this londe, by the meane of
Kyng Herty and the Quene that wes, and by the
DewkSomercete and others, of vi.'^- m.i- [i 20,000] men;
and here dey, if wynde and weder hadde servyd theyra,
shuld a' ben here sene upen Candelmasse; at Trente to
London werdes thei shuld a' ben by Candelmasse or
sone after, one parte of theym, and another parte
comyng from Walys, and the thredde fro Yemessey
and Gamesseye. Wher fore it is weel don ye enforme
myn Lord Warwyk, that he may speke te the Kyng
that good provy[s]ion be hadde for withstandyng there
maUcyous purpose and evyl wylie, whiche God graunt
we may our come the)rm ; and so we shuld, I dought
not, if we were aUe on [one]. There ben many mede-
lers, and they ben best chetyshed, whyche wold hurt
moche if these come to, as God diffende, &c.
T. Howys.

441.
A.D. 1462, March.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 288.]
It appears by the dates of the Privy Seal writs that Edward IV. was at
Cambridge on the 2d and 3d March 1462, and this is probably the visit
alluded to, although we do not find that the King went on to Sandwich
afterwards. To my ryth worchepfull husbond, fohn Paston, be this
delyveryd in hast.
LESYTH yow to wete that John Wellys and
hys brodyr told me thys nyth that the Kyng
lay at Cambty-ge as yestyrsnyth to Sand-

92 THE PASTON LETTERS, f A.D. 1462.
wyche ward, for ther is gret dyvysyen be twyx the
Lordys and the schypmen ther, diat causyth hym to
goo thedyr to se a remedye therfor.
I thank God that John Paston yed non erst [went
no earlier] forthe, for I trast to God aU schall be do
er he comyth. And it is told me that Syr John
Howard is lek to lese hys hed.
If it plese yow to send to the seyd WeUys, he schall
send yew mor tydyngys than I may -vnyt at thys tjmie.
God have yew in Hys kepyng.
Wretyn in hast at Thetford, at xj. ofthe clok in the
nyth, the same day I departyd fro yow.
I thank Pampyng of hys good wyll, and them tliat
wer cause of changyng of my hors, for they ded me a
bettyr torne than I wend they had do, and I schaU
aquyt them anothyr day, and I maye.
By yor M. P.

442.
A.D. 1462, 13 March.
John Paston, the Elder, to his Father.
[From Fenn, iv. 126.]
It appears hy the dates of the Privy Seal writs that Edward the Fourth was
at Stamford, from the 9th to the 17th March in the second year of his reign,
i.e. in 1462. This letter belongs therefore to that year.
To myn ryth reverent and worschypfull fader, John
Paston, beyng in the fnder Temple,
|YGHT reverent and wyrshypfuU fader, I reco
mand me un to you, be sychyng you of your
blessyng and gode faderhode. Pleasyt it
you to understond the grete expens that I
have dayly travelyng mth the Kyng, as the berour
here of can enfourme you ; and howe long that I am
lyke to taty here in thys countty or I may speke with
you a gayn, and howe I am chargyd to have myn hors

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV, 93
and hamys redy, and in hasty wyse, besykyng you to
consyder theys causes, and so to remembr me that I
may have suche thynges as I may do my mayster
servys with and pleasur, trusting in God it schall be to
your wyrshyp and to myn and vayll [avail]. In espe
ciall I besyche you, that I may be sur where to have
mony somwhat be fore Estem, other of you, or by myn
uncle Clement, when nede ys. Of othir causes the
berour hereof can enfourme you. No more to you at
thys tyme, but God have you in Hys kepyng.
Wtyten at Stamford, the xiij. day of March.
Be yowr sone and servant,
John Paston, the Older.
443.
A.D. 1462, March. — Report of French Prisoners.
[From Fenn, i. 250.]
This letter evidently refers to the state of niatters in the beginning of the
year 1462, when Henry VI. and Margaret of Anjou were in Scotland, and
when tiie Earl of Oxford had just been beheaded for conspiring against
Edward IV. The date of Oxford's execution was the aoth of February.
This confession ofthe Frenchmen is dated in the third week of Lent, that is
to say, between the 14th and the aoth of March.
Memorandum. This is the confessyon qf xvj. Frenshe
men with the Mastyr, takyn at Sheryngam, the iif.
wek of Lent,
IlGHT worshipful! sir, I recomaund me to you,
and lete you wytte, that I have be at Shiryng-
ham, and examyned the Frenshmen to the
nombre of xvj. with the maister. And thei
teUe that the Duke of Somerset is in to Scotland ; and
thei sey the Lord Hungyrforthe was on Monday last
passed afore Sheryngham in to Scotland ward, in a
kervyle [carvel] of Depe, no gret power with hym, ne
with the seid Duk neyther. And thei sey that the Duk
of Burgoyn^ is poysened, and not like to recevere. And
I Philip the Good.

94 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1462.
as for powers to be gadered ayenst our weelfare ; thei
sey, there shulde come in to Seyne CC. gret forstages^
owt of Spayne, from the Kyng there ;2 and CCC.
shippes from the Duk of Bretayne * with the navy pf
Fraunce, but thei be not yet assembled, ne vitayU there
purveyd, as thei sey, ne men. And the Kyng of
Fraunce* is in to Spayne on pilgrymage with fewe
hors as thei sey; what die purpose is thei can not teUe
certeyn, &c. In hast at Norwich.
The Kyng of Frauns hath comitted the rewle of
Bordews en to the marchaunds of the toun, and the
browd * tha[t] be therin to be at ther wages ; and like
as Caleys is a Stapole of wolle here in England, so is
that made staple of wyne.
John Fermer, presoner, seyth, on [one] John Gylys,
a clerk that was with the Erie of Oxforthe, wych was
some tym in Kyng Henys hows, was a prevy secretary
with the Erie of Oxforthe ; and if any wrytyng wer
made by the seyd Erie, the seyd Gylys knew ther of in
this gret matyeres.
444.
A.D. 1462, 24 March.
James Gresham to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 76.]
It does not appear that Edward IV. ever did spend an Easter at Eury,
as here projected. He was, however, at Cambridge in the beginning of
March 1462 ; from which he proceeded to Peterborough, Stamford, Newark,
and Lincohi, and at Easter (i8th April) he seems to have been at Leicester.
To my right singler maister, J.Pasion, Squyer, in hast, <S»^.
FTER due recomendacion, please it your
maistership to wyte Maister Yelverton, justice,
seid in the Sessions that the Kyng shulde
1 Large ships with forestages or forecastles.
! Henry Yf., King of Castile.
» Francis IL, the last Duke. « Lewis XL
* This word, says Fenn, is imperfect in the originaL

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV. 95
kepe his Estem at Buty, and from thens come
unto this cuntre and se suyche riottes as have be in
this cuntre punyshed in suche fourme as happely
summe shulde hange by the nekke. And he tolde
what thank he had of the Kyng at Cambrigg for cause
he declarid so well the charge of extorcions doon by
Shirefs and other officers, &c., fer the whiche declara
cion the Kyng tooke hym by the hand, and seid he
cowde hym grett thanke, and prayed hym so to de in
this cuntre, &&
In hast, at Norwich, the Wednesseday next tofore
th'Annunciacion, &c.
Your povere, J. Gresham.

445.
A.D. 1462, 25 March.
John Wykes to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 252.]
As this letter relates to the arrest of a confederate of the Earl of Oxford
and his son, who were executed in February 1462, for conspiring against
Edward IV., the date must be referred to that year.
To my right trusti and welbelovid frend, fohn Paston,
Esquier.
jIGHT worshipfuU, and myn enterly welbelovyd
frend, I recomaund me un to you, hertely
thankyng you of your gret present of fisch,
and of the felyshipp that my cosyn your
Sonne shewid unto me att Norwiche, purposyng be the
grace of God to deserve it un to you in tyme to come,
in such place as I may do for you.
Desityng you specyally, wher as a tenaunt of myne
of Lavenham, called John Fermour, is sesid and
arestid with in the towne of Yermowth, be cause he
dweUid with the Erie of Oxonfords son, and purposid
to have passid the see withou[t] lycence, and stondyth

96 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
out of the conceyte of much peple, I wold desyre you,
that ye wold wryte to the Baylyffs of Yermouth to
delyver the seid John Fermer to my servaunt John
Brenerigg, brynger of this, with an officer of the seid
Towne, to be caried unto the Kyngs CasteU of Rysing
at my cest ; ther te be examynid of certeyne Artycules,
which I may not disclose, til I have spoke with the
Kyngs Highnes : praying you to wtyte to the seid
Bayliffs, that I shall be her suffisant discharge ayenst
the Kynge. Desytyng yow to geve credence to the
brynger herof, as my verray trast is in yow.
Wretyn at Lavenham, the xxv'''- day of Marche.
Your trew and feithfiiU frend,
havyng no blame for my gode
wylie. John Wykes,
Ussher of the Kyngs Chambre.

446.
A.D. 1462, April?
John Russe to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 112.]
This letter must have been written before the X4th of April 1462, on wlucli
day the Earl of Worcester was appointed Treasurer of the Exchequer.
(Patent Roll, 2 Edw. IV. p. i. m. 19).
To the right reverent and worshipfuU sir, and my right
honourable maystyr, fohn Paston.
|IGHT worshipfuU sir, and my right honourable
maistir, I recomaunde me to you in my most
humble wise. And plese it youre good
maistirshyp to wete that it is seyd here that
my Lerd Worcestre is lyk te be Treserer, with whom
I traste ye stonde right wel in conseit, with whiche
God contynwe. Wherfor I beseke youre maistirshipp
that if my seid Lord have the seid office, that it lyke

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV, 97
you to desyre the nemynacion of on of the officez,
eythyr of the countroUer or serchorship of Jememuth,
fer a servaunt of yowrez, and I shuld so gyde rae in
the office as I truste shuld be most profit to my seyd
Lord. And if youre maistirshyp lyked to gete graunt
thereof, that than it plesyd you to lycense on ef
youre servaunts to take out tlie patent of the seyd
office; and if it cost v. or vj. or viij. marke, I shal
trewly contente it ageyn; and yeerly as longe as I
myght have the officez, or any of hera, I shal geve my
maister youre sene v. marke toward an haukeney.
It shuld be to me right a good mean to stendyn as
weU in the trast as in the conseyt amongs marchaunts,
with whom and with aUe men I caUe myself a servaunt
of yourez, and soo wU do, if it plese you, which boldyth
me the more to caUe upon youre right wurshipful
maistyrshyp in this mater, where in I beseke you to
forgeve me my boldneyse in thys behalve. Aiid if I
knew that my Lord shuld have the office in serta3Ti,
than I wold wayte upon youre good maystyrshyp there
to opteyne the patent, if it plesyd youre good maystir-
ship te gete me the graunt, &c.
No more on to you, my right honourable maister,
at thys t)Tne, but Jesu I beseke sende you a good
conclu cyon in aU yore maters, and graunt you ever
youre herts desyre.
Yore contynwal servaunt and bedeman,
John Russe.

447.
A.D. 1462, 4 May. — ^W. C. to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The manor of Weeting, in Norfolk, came to John Vere, 12th Earl of Ox
ford, by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John Howard,
Esquire, son and heir of Sir John Howard, Knight. This Earl was beheaded
in February 1462, for treason against Edward IV., and the present letter
seems to have been written 'n May following.
n. H

98 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A. u. 1462.

To myn ryght worshipfuU attd ryght singler good mayster, myn
Mayster John Paston.
Myn ryght worshipfuU mayster, I recomaunde me to yow in
myn ryght homble wyse. And please your maystership that I
have ben at Wetyng and there haid the court and lete on Hok-
monday' as hit hath bene of olde tyme accostomed; and the
tenauntes have attorned and bene full gladde that myn lady
shuld rejoyse hit and kepe here possession. The priour of Brom-
hill that was fermoure his terme is expired, and wole sewe to myn
lady and hir councell to have a newe terme ; but lete myn lady
be ware, for, as I here seyn, he bydeth but a tyme that he myght
gete a summe of money to geders of myn ladyes lyilode, and to
gone ther with^ a love of his sojomyng as yette in Hokehold.
She hath bene dreven fro town to town for his sake. Hit is weie
done ye advertyse myn lady, if she be in that cas that she hath
governaunce of hir owen londes, that she do no thyng to that
lyflode ner non other in Norffolk, with ought advyse of theym
that have vysyted and overseen theym ; for there hath bene
straunge rewle, bothe in woodsales and sale of londes helde at
wylie for fre rent, as ye shal knowe here after. Thoresby, a man
that was generall attorney for myn Lord Oxenford that was, told
me that the Kynge hadde made Keche generall receyvoure by
priveseale of alle londes that were the Erie of Oxenford and
Dame Elyzabet, ecept tho that Howard hadde entered and Lan-
ham and an other graunted to Wykes, and certeyn lyflode in
Kent that was assigned to the tresorer of howshold of the Kynges
hows ; and she shuld have bc Keches hande v.e- [500] mark, ij.c and
1. [250] mark to bene payed at this Estem and the remulant at
Mihelmasse. And of the remulant the Kyng shuld be answered.
Ye shal sone understande how it is ; and if hit be so, hit [is]" but
foly to laboure any ferther. I wold fayn knowe, for the courtes
for the half yere wold bene holde for nede. And otir Lord be
with youre maystership and sende yow th'accomplyshement o."
youre noble desyres. Wreten hastely at Norwyche, the iiijte
day of May. Youre servaunt to his power,
W.C.
And whan ye comon with myn lyght worshipfuU lady I
beseche yow remembre myn pore maters in whiche is gre<;t
concyens, &c.
1 Hock Monday was a fortnight after Easter Monday. In 1462 it fell on
the 3d May, the day before this letter was written.
" }Vith repeated in MS. 8 Omitted in MS.

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV. 99

448.
A.D. 1462, 18 May.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is evidently^ not far removed in date from No. 422, in which
" Joan Gayne's matter '* is also mentioned. The year, however, cannot be
1461, as Wdliam Paston was in London that year as early as the 4th April.
It seems also from this letter that John Paston had recently left home, which
could not have been the case in 1461 if No. 388 be of that year. We have
therefore little doubt that the true date is 1462, and that the substance of the
letter relates to proceedings taken by the widow of Thoinas Denys against
her husband's murderers.
To my ryght wurschipful maister, fohn Paston.
recomaunde me unto you. Plesith it you to
witte that I have spoken with Furbuschour
and other of the raatre that ye spake to me
off, and they have promysed me to be as
feythefuU in it as it where for hem selfe. Also I have
spoken with my modre and seide to here as ye desired
me to doo, and sche seide sche knewe the massache
weele inowe before be other persones in like wice as
ye comaunded hem to sey to her ; and sche seide she
wode fayne that ye dede weele what so ever ye sey and
fiUe forthe in other talkyng. Me semethe che is dis-
plesed that ye came net to her or than ye roode foorthe.
I schall telle you more whan that ye come home.
Thomas Denys wyff whas at me, and desired me that
I schulde sende to you and desire you that che myght
have knowleche from you how ye woll that sche schall
doo with her matre ; sche seithe her brother and other
of her frendes thynke that she schulde up to London
and calle uppon her matre there, but she seithe pleynly
sche woll nought doo therin withoute your advice. It
whas toolde me that Bacon and Gonnor whas here to
speke with me for the matre that Bacon spake to you
of, and at that tyme I whas at Norweche and I herde
no more of hem sethen. And as for my brother

100 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1462.
WiUiam, he is not purposed to come to London tyll
aftre Pentecost; but my brother Clement is purposed
to come forward en Monday or on Twesday next
comyng at the ferthest No more at this tyme but the
blissed Trinite preserve you. Wreten the xviij. day oi
May. Your Margaret Paston.
I prey yow that ye woll wete safe to remembre
Johane Gayne matre, and that ye woU take John
Fasten that he remembre you of i^ for Dawbeney and
Pampyng woll sone for gete it.

449.
A.D. 1462, May.
John Paston, Junior, to his Father.
[From Fenn, iv. 100.]
On the S9th May 1462 a commission was granted to Sir John Howard and
sir Thomas Walgrave to arrest the ships, the Mary Talhoi and the Mary
Thomson, both of Lynn, and other vessels in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
for a fleet which the King was fitting out (see Patent Roll, a Edw. IV.,
p. X, m. i4| in dorso). Sir Thomas Walgrave may perhaps have been the
person designated in this letter as the Master of Carbrooke. At all events,
the date is clearly about this time.
To my ryght wurschipfull fadre, John Paston.
|LESIT you to wete that I am at Leyn, and
under stande be dyvers personys, as I am
in formed, that the Mayster of Carbroke ^
wold take a rewle in the Mari Talbot as for
capteyn, and to yeve jaketes of his levety to dyvers
personis qwych be waged be oder men, and nouth be
hym, beyng in the said shep. Qwerfor in as moch as
I have but few sowdeors in myn levety her, to stren-
keth me in that qwych is the Kynges commandement,
I kepe with me yowr teo men, Dawbenney and CaUe,
qwich I purpose shaU seyle with me to Yermeth ; for
. ^_At Carbrooke, in Norfolk, was a commandry formerly belonging to the
Knights Templars, which, like most of the possessions of the order, when it
was suppressed in Edward II.'s time, was given to the Knights of St Johiv

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV. lot
I have purveyed hameyse for hem. And ye shall weU
understande, be the grace of God, that the said
Mayster of Carbroke shall have non rewle in the
sheppes, as I had purposid he shuld have had, because
of his besynesse, and for this is on of the specyaU
causes I kepe yowr said men with me, besechyng you
ye takyt to non dysplesur of ther taryng with me.
Nat withstandyng, ther herden 1 at WyggenaUe shaU be
don this day be the grace of God, Whoe have you in
kepyng. Wreten at Leynn, the morow after my departyng
from you.
Item, as far such tydynges as be here, Th. shall in
forme you. John Paeton.
450.
A.D. 1462, 6 June. — Abstract.
[From MS. Phillipps, 973S, No. 354].
Inventory of household stuff remaining at Castre, 6 Jui"? 2
Edward IV., viz., of robes, jewels, arras, &c
451.
Note.
Among some MSS., which seem fonnerly to have belonged to
the Paston Collection in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, is one
endorsed — " A Pedigree showing how the manor of Caister was
divided," tracing its descent from earlier owners to Sir John
Fastol£
452.
A.D. 1462, 3 July. — J. Daubeney to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 138].
The date ofthis letter is shown by an entry on the Patent Roll, 2 Edward
IV., p. I, m- 7, in dorso. On the 27th June 1462, a commission was given to
• I do not understand the meaning of the word " herden."— F.

102 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
Gilbert Debenham, Jun., Esquire, Walter Alderiche, master of the George of
Yarmouth, and John Childe, to arrest for the King's service a ship called 7%^
Barge of Vamumth, alias The George, with victuals, masters, and manners
for the same.
To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, fohn
Paston, dweUyng at Heylysdon, be this delyveryd.
Ih's.
fOST reverent and worchepfuU master, I re-
commaund me onto your god masterchep.
Please you to have knowlage, on the Ftyday
at aftemoon next after Seynt Peter, there was
at the taveran in London old Debnam and young
Debnam, Thoinas Edmonds, and I; and ther the seyd
Thomas Edmonds fell in communicacion with old
Debnam, and seyd that my Lord Treserer^ had put
hym to a gret charge fer the vetelyng of Mary Talbot^
seyyng to old Debnam that he hard sey that he had a
C. bulleks to seUe, the wyche the seyd Edmonds woUe
bey so that they may a cord of the price. Than the
seyd old Debnam answerd ageyn, and seyd he wold,
so that he myght have good payment, or elles the seyd
Edmonds te be bound in abligacion to pay hym at
suche dayys as they myght a cord. And noon upon
thys same langwage, yong Debnam spake to hys
fader, " Sir, I pray you that ye woUe take avisment of
this mater tiUe to morowe, for I trost to your good
faderhod that ye wolle late me have a serteyn of your
bulleks for the vetelyng of the Barge of Yermothe, and
I shaU fynd you sufficiant suerte for the payment
therof for Edmonds. I wolle that ye knowe I have be
ther, and spoke with the owner and with the maister
of the seyd barge, and they knowyn myn oppoynt-
raent" Than the seyd Edmonds answered to yong Debnam,
and teld hym that the sety of Norwic and Yermothe
hathe grauntyd, and send wrytyng to the Kynge and
1 John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester. He was beheaded in October 147a — F.
• -See Preliminary Note to Na 449.

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV.

103

to the Lords that they woUe manne and veteylle the
seyd barge of her owne cost fro the tym of hyr goyng
owt tylle hyr corayng home; and thus the seyd
Edmonds told hym that my Lord Tresorer and all the
Lords that be at London thynk they do ryght well her
devyer, and be worthey moche thanke ef the Kyng.
" WeU," quod yong Debnam, " I had in coraraaund
ment for to have the rewle of the seyd baige, and I
woUe be at Yermothe as thys day iiij. dayys, and man
hyr and bryng hyr downne to the Gylys of HuUe, for
that ys my chype."
Also he seyd mor, with out that he myght have the
seyd barge, he woUe note goo to see but hym self and
hys xxiiij. men. And thus, yf please your maisterchep,
he departyd from the taveran ; and at hys departyng,
he told the seyd Thomas Edmonds, " Thys ys Paston
labor." Than the seyd Edmonds answerd hym ageyn,
and seyd playnly he was to blame for te reporte so of
your masterchep, fer he knoythe vetyly he seyd on
trewly of you and of my master your son bothe, aud
ther on he wold take a hethe. And so, yf it please
your goed masterchep, late the cety of Norwic and
Yermothe have knowlage of hys gret crakyng and
host, and let hym of hys purpose by the autorite that
they have.
Item, my master your son wolle have te hys jakets
muny ^ and tany [tawny], and that it please yow sum
of my felachep may spek to on of the drapers for to
ordeyn yt ageyns hys comyng hom, for I trowe it shaU
be thys day sevenyght ar he comithe home.
Item, sir, if please you, Skrowpe hathe sent to you
to London be Byngham for the mony that ye knowe
of, zit I spake not with hyra ; but I shall telle hyra
that I suppose ye shall be here in the last end of die
terme, and I shall send your masterchep word what
answer I have of hym.
Item, sir, if pleese suche tydyngs as I her of, I send
you word. My Lord of Warwek hathe be in Skotlond,
I Dark red or purple and yellowish colour. — F.

104 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
an take a casteU of the Skoots ; and upon thys ther
came the Quene of Skoots ^ with other Lords of her
contre, as ye shaU her the namys, in basetty [embassy]
to my seyd Lord of Werwek, and a trews is take betwyx
thys and Seynt Bertylmew Day in Auguste. Thes is
the last tydyngs that I knowe. No mor to your god
masterchep at this tyme, but Jesu have [you] in
kepyng. Wretyn on the Saturday next after Seynt Peter.
By your por servaunt,
J. Daubeney.
453.
A.D. 1462.
Richard Calle to John Paston, Junior.
[From Fenn, iv. 144.]
This and the next letter were evidently written not very long after the last.
To my maistre, fohn Paston the yonger, be this delyvered.
|ERE, I have receyved your lettre, wherin I
undrestand that my maistre desired that my
maistre your brother myght have the gidyng
and governaunce of the Barge of Yermouthe.
As to that, and men of Yermouthe had knowen my
maistre entend a fomyght a goo, he had ben swer of
it, but nough it is so that Debenham hathe a comys-
cion of the Kyng expressed oonly for that schip named
in hes comyscien; and he hathe ben here at Yer
mouthe, and spoken with the balyffs and with the
owners of the seide schip, and takyn suche a direccion
that they may graunted it ne man but hym. And
moreover he hathe endented with the owners of the
schip what daye it schulbe redy as well vetayUed as
manned; and also he hathe brought downe letters
1 Mary, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelders, and mother to Jaines HI.,
King of Scotland.

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV. 105
from my Lord Tresorer to all priours and gentlemen in
this centre to helpe hym and assiste hym to vetayle
and manne the seide schip, and hes men is here dayle,
and gothe abought and gathereth whete, malt, money,
and what so ever any man well geve, &c.
The bUssed Trinyte preserve you. Wreten at Castre,
the Friday next aftre I receyved your lettre.
Item, is talked here that my maistre your brother
and Debenham were at words at London, and that
Debenham shuld have streken hym, had nought
Howard a' beene, &c., wherof I am tyght soty, &c.
Neverthelesse I trust to God aU schul be weell.
Your servuant, Ric. Calle.

454.
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iii. 430.]
To my maistre, fohn Paston.
|LESITH your maisterschip to wit that I whas
at Seele, and spake with Alblastre, John
Sadeler, and with other good yeraen of the
contre to undrestonde how they were gided
for the vetelyng of the Barge of Yermouth. And I
undrestonde be them that there [their] hundred have
payed ; nevertheles it is but litell. Ther was gatherd
in that hundred xviijj'. and certein com, and some
other hundred vj. marc and corne, and so they have
payed in aU the hundreds and townys here a boute,
that is to sey, Est Flegge and West Flegge and up to
Blofeld, Tunsted and up to Stalom, I undrestand, be
the comiscion that Debenham hath. It is more large
thanne master John is, as ye schal undrestand, wherof
I send you a copy, weche causeth me that I labour no

to6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
ferther therin. Notwithstandyng your maisterschip
schal have knowleche what evety hundred geve, and
Yermeth bothe.
Wreten at Wynterten, the morwe aftre I departed
frem your maisterschip. Your poore bedman, Ric. Calle.

455.
A.D. 1462? [s July].— Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Richard Calle to John Paston.
Cannot inform him how much malt he has at Castre, " for the
malters have not moten all up yet," — probably 400 quarters new
and 160 comb old malt of Castre and Mauteby, of which 40
quarters wiU be spent in the hotisehold by Hallowmas. At Yar
mouth it is now 2s. 2d. a bushel — it was 2s. dd. But London is
a better market. Thinks the price will fall here, as the fields are
reasonably fair in Flegge, and so up to Norwich. The carriage
from Yarmouth to London will be dd. per quarter, "and I
understand j. quartre of Yermothe mette makethe at London but
vij. busschell."
Norwich, Monday after St. Peter's Day.
[As John Paston does not seem to have been in undisturbed possession of
Caister before 1462, and we have evidence of Richard Calle having heen
there in that year about the time of year when this letter was written, we
may with great probability refer it to that year.]

456.
A.D. 1462 (?) IS July.
John Russe to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 120].
The precise year in which_ ihis letter was written is a little uncertain, ttiit
from the date and contents it wouT;^ appear that Russe was now in posses
sion of the office, which, in No. 446, he tui^ asked Paston to procure for him ;
so that it cannot be earlier than 1463.

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV. 107
To tlie right worshypful my right honourabyl mayster,
John Paston.
ilGHT worshipfuU sir, and my right honourabiU
maister, I recomaund me to you in my most
humble wyse, and please your maistirship to
wete that her is on Thomas Chapman, an
evyl disposyd man al wey ayens you, as I have
informyd youre maistirship many tymes, and now he
hathe laboutyd to my Lord Treserer to subplante me,
and brought down wtyghting from the Kyng and ray
Lord Tresorer; but or hise wryting cara, Wydwell
fond the meanys, be the supportacion of Maistir Feen,
that we had a discharge fer hym eut of the Chauncety;
wherfor the seyd Chapman proposyth to be at London
in all haste, and to avertise the Kyng and my Lord
Treserer ageyn me to the grettest hurt he can imagyne.
Wherfor I beseke youre maystirship, consedtyng is
evyl dispesecion to yow, and also the rather at my
pore instaunce, that ye lyke that my Lord Tresorer
myght undyrstonde that the seyd Chapman is ef no
reputacion, but evyl disposyd to btyboty of straungers,
and be colour of hise office of supervisor of the searche
shal gretly hurte the port. The seyd Chapman sup
porters is Blakeney, clerk of the sygnet, and Avety
Comburght, yoraan of the Kynges chaumbre. He
hathe here of Avereyes xxiiij. tune wyn, whereof
at the long wey he shal make the seyd Averey a lewd
rekenyng. The seyd Chapman lovyth not you, nor
no man to yow wards, &c.
Sir, I prey God brynge you onys to regne amongs
youre cuntre men in love, and to be dred. The
lenger ye contynwe there the more hurt growyth to
you. Men sey ye will neyther folwe the avyse of
youre owyn kynred, nor of youre counseU, but con
tynwe your owyn wylfuUnesse, whiche, but grace be,
shal be youre distrucion. It is my part to enfourme
youre maistirshyp as the comown voyse is, God betir
it, and graunt yow onys herts ease ; for it is half a deth

lo8 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1462.
to me to here the generaU voyse of the pepyll, whiche
dayli encreassyth, &c.
Sir, I beseke youre maistirshyp to remembre my
maystresse for the lytU sylvir, whiche for serteyn
thyngs delyverid to youre use is dewe to me. I have
nede of it now. I have bought salt and other thyngs,
whiche hathe brought me out of myche sylvir. I wold
trust, and I nedyd to borwe xx/i., your maistirshyp
wold ease me for a tyme, but thys that I desyre is
myn owyn dute. And Jesu graunt yow ever yowr
herts desyre to youre worshyp and profyt, and preserve
yow my right honourabyll maister from all adversyte.
Wretyn at Jememuthe, the xv. day of July. Here
is a kervyl [carvel] of Cane in Normandy, and he
takyth Duchemen, and raunsumyth hem grevously.
Yore servaunt and bedman,
John Russe.

457.
A.D. 1462, July.
William Paston to John Pastom.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The reference to the death of Christopher Han.son proves this letter to have
been written in July 146a, as the precise date of his death is given in letter
459- To myn wurchipfull broder, Jon Paston.

lYTHTHE wurchipfiiU broder, I recomand [me]
to zow. Lekit it zo w to wethe [wit], Jon of Dam
is come to towne, and purposit hym to taty
here a day ar ij. ar lengar, I can thynk, and
he be desytyd. Were fore I pray zow, and as I have
afore this tyme desityd zow the same, that suche
materis as hathe be comunyd now lathe be twyx myn
moder, zow and hym, may take some good conclucyon

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 109
be twyx owre selff here at hom. And in myn consayt,
savyng zow better avyse, it were so most convenyent
and wurchipfull for us all, and comforthe to aU owre
fryndis. Aiid fer this ententhe I weld taty here the
lengar ; for I weld be as glad as any man a lyve that
suche an ende mythe be take be twix us that iche off
us aU schuld inyoy the wyUeffar off odyr, qweche I
trust with zowr good help schall be tythe wyU, and I
dowthe nat myn mastyr Markam wyll be will plesyd
thus. I have tydynges from London, and a monge odyr
tydynges I have knowlage that Cirstofre Hansen is
passid te God on Saterday last past, at ij. of clok after
mydnythe. It is good to take hede there to, &a
Item, I sent to zow to have had zowre avyse qwat
menys were best to make for the mater towchyng the
Lord Scrop, qwere in I had an answer, but me thowthe
it was not to the poynthe. I sopose, and I purposyd
to make the labore that ze sent me word I schuld do
towchjTig me, I can thynk I schuld sone be answerid,
meche sonar than he. I must send some answer to hym,
were in I wold have zowr consayU ; for he desirid the
same, and I wold not he schold thynk that he were
forgotyn be us. Be zowr pere broder, William Paston.
I can thynk and he were here he wold be a feyth
fuU ftynd to zow ; but and se were that ze thowthe
that it were for to labore for any oder man, me thynkit
it were for zow to remembre myn nevew. That were
semewat lykly, and there to wold I be glad to help
and lene to the toder. For as for me, I know so
moche that sche will none have but iff he have, ar
be leke to have, meche more lond than I have ; and
iff I knewe the contraty, it schuld nat be left for the
labere, but I wold not be in a foUs paradyce, and ze
be myn good brodir. I trust thow to do tythe wiU,
&C.

IIO THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
458.
A.D. 1462, July.
Thomas Playter to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 124.]
This letter, like the last, is dated by the letter following.
To my rigth good maister, John Paston the oldest, beyng
at Heylesdon, besyde Norwiche, in liast.
|LEASE your maistership wete that Christofer
Hansen is ded and betyed; and as for
executor or testament, he mad non.
As fer tydyngs, the Eries of Warrewyk, of
Essex, Lord Wenlok, Bysshop of Dereham, and otiier
go in to Scotland of inbassat And as for the sege of
Kaleys, we here no mor ther ef, blyssed be God, ho
have you in His kepying.
Item, as for Christofers papers that longeth to youi
tenants, I have goten of WiUiam Worcester ; and as
fer all the remnaunt of Christofer good, William Wor
cester hath the reule as hym semeth most convenient
Your, Thoms Playter.
459.
A.D. 1462, July.
Playter to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 270].
This letter seems to have been penned immediately after the lost was sent o£f.
To my maister, John Paston, at Heylesdon.
TEM, plese you wete of other tytyngs. These
Lords in your other letter,' with Lord Hast
yngs and ether, ben to Karlyle to resseve in
^ Le. the other letter to you — meaning Na 458.

A.D. 1462.1 EDWARD IV. Ill
the Qwen of Scotts;* and uppon this appoyntement,
Erie Duglas ^ is comaunded te come thens, and as a
sorwefuU and a sore rebuked raan lyth in the Abbey of
Seynt Albons ; and by the said appoyntement schaU
not be reputed, nor taken, but as an Englyssheman,
and if he come in the daunger of Scotts, they to sie
hym. Item, Kyng Hany and his Aderents in Scotland
schaU be delyvered ; and Lord Dakres ef the Northe
is wonne and yelden, and the seid Lord, Sir Richard
Tunstall, and on Byllyngham in the said Castell ben
taken and heded.
Item, the Qwen and Prince ben in Fraunce and ha
mad moche weyes and gret peple te cora to Scotland
and ther trust to have socour, and thens to cora in to
Inglond : what schall faUe I can not sey, but I herd
that these appoyntements were take by the yong Lords
of Scotiand, but not by the eld.
Your, Plaiter.
Christofer dyed on the Satarday next be for Seynt
Margret,' Anno . E. ij'^"-
460.
A.D. 1462, September.
John Russe to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 260.]
This letter must have been written in the year 1462 before the Duke of
Somerset was received into favour. Proclamations !.iniilar to those mentioned
in this letter were issued on the 6th March 1461 and the nth May 1464 ; but
neither of these can be the case referred to. The coming of the King to
London must have been in the beginning of September 1^62. He was in
London on the 14th of that month, and had been at Fotheringay on the ist,
as the dates of privy seals inform us.
1 Mary of Gueldres, widow of James II.
2 James, Earl of Douglas, who had been banished from Scotland, but was
made by Edward IV. a Knight of the Garter.
8 St Margaret's Day was the zoth July. Thc Saturday before it in 146a
was the 17th.

112 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 146Z
To my right honorabil attd worshypfull maister, my
Maister Paston.
|LEASE it youre worshipfuU maistyrsh)^ to
wete, that it is informyd me thys day
scretly, that there is dyrected out a com-
myssion to mayster Yelw)Tton and maister
Jenney, which shall tomorwyr syttyn be vertu of the
same at Seynt Oleffes ;' and the substaunce of jentil
men and yemen of Lodyngland be assygned to be
afore the seyd commesyoners ; and it is supposed it is
for my maisters londs, for as the seyd persone in
formyd me, the seyd comesyoners have been at Cotton,
and there entred, and holdyn a ceurt I can not in
forme youre maystyrship that it is thus in serteyn, but
thus it was told me, and desytyd me to kepe it secret ;
but be cause I conseyve it is ageyn your maistyrship,
it is my part to geve you relacion thereof.
I sende you a letter which coraeth from Worcestyr^
to my maister youre brothyr. I wold ye undyrstod the
intente of it, for as for Worcester, I knowe well he is
not good. Sum men ar besy to make werre, for p' ^ the
absentyng of my maister, the parson comyth not of
hyse owyn mocyon, but I wold youre maistyrship
knewe be whom it is mevyd. I herd you never caUe
hym false ptyst, be my trouth, nor other language that
is rehersyd hym, but Gode sende a good accord, for of
vatyaunce comyth gret hurt of tyn tyme, and I beseche
Jesu sende youre maistyrship youre herts desyre, and
amende hem that wold the contraty.
Sir, yesterevyn a man came from London, and he
seyth, the Kyng cam to London on Satyrday, and
there dede make a proclamacion that all men that
were be twyx lx. and xvj. shuld be redy to wayte upon
hym whan so ever they were callyd ; and it is seyd,
that my Lord Warwyk had sent te the Kyng, and
1 St Olave's, in Suffolk. 2 William Worcester.
' p'.— So in Fenn's left hand copy. The word seems to have been am
biguous in the original MS., and is rendered "iy" (in italics) in the modem
version.

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV. 113
informyd hyse Hyghnesse that the Lord Summyrset
had wretyn to hym to come to grace ; but of the fleet
of shyppis there is no tydings in serteyn at London on
Monday last past Youre bedman and servaunt,
John Russe.
461.
A.D. 1462?
John Paston to the Lord Chancellor.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This is a draft bill in Chancery prepared by John Paston with a view to
the commencement of a suit against Yelverton and Jenney for their entry
into the manor of Cotton and other lands of Su- John Fastolf in Suffolk. The
document may have been drawn up in the latter part of the year 1461 ; but
from the contents of the preceding letter it is not unlikely to have been a
year later. Two copies of this document exist, with the very same correc
tions and interlineations in both.
JHEWYTH and lowly compleynith on to
your good Lordship John Paston, the older,
Squier, that where Sir John Fastolf, Knyght
cosyn to your seid besecher, was seasid of
diveris maners, londs, and tenements in Norfolk,
Suffolk, and Norwich, the xxvij. yere of Kyng Herre
that was, and therof infeffid diveris persones to execute
and performe his will, and mad his will in especiall
that a coUege of vij. monks shuld be stabihsshed,
founded, and indewed withinne a plase late be the
seid Sir John edified at Caster be tlie see in Norfolk,
and certeyn Uvelode to be immortesid^ therto, to prey
for his sowle, his faders and moders, in forme and
maner as in his will mad at that tyme more pleynly
specifyth ; whech will and feffment continued till the
xxxv. yere ofthe seid late Kyng. And aftir, upon divers
communicacions had be divers personis with the seid
Sir John Fastolff, and upon divers consideracions mevid
to hym, the seid Sir John Fastolff conceyvid that such
1 Amortized, or granted in mortmain.
II. I

il4 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
be monkys hym there to be indewed shuld not be of
power to susteyne and kepe the seid plase edified, or
the lond that shuld be immortesid ther to, acordyng to
his seid entent and wiU ; wherfore, and for good will
that the seid Sir John Fastolff had to the profenyng
of your seid besecher mevyd hym to have the seid
plase and certeyn ef his livelode of gretter valew than
the charge of the seid coUege schuld drawe, and to
found the seid college and to bere the reparacion and
defens therof. Upon whech mocion the seid Sir John
Fastolff and your seid besecher apoynted be word
withowt writyng at that tyme mad that your seid
besecher shuld, aftir the decese of the seid Sir John
Fastolff, have the seid plase in Caster, and all the
maners that were the seid Sir John Fastolffs or any
other to his use in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, up
trust that the same John Paston shuld founde there a
college of vij. monkes or prestes havyng a certeyn
pension for her sustentacion payid clerly in meny
withowt any charge, cost, reparacion, or joperde of
defens of the seid plase or of any other livelode to be
bore be the seyd coUegians, and more over to paye a
certeyn somme of mony of the revenews of the seid
maners, londes and tenementes to be disposid yerly be
certeyn yeres forthesowle of theseid Sir J ohn Fastolff till
the summe of v."^ [5°°°] mark were so disposed. Upon
wech apoyntement it was acordyd be thwyx the seid Sir
John and your seid besecher, for as moch as your seid
besecher had non astate in the seid maners and londes
and tenementes, that for his more suerte, and upon
trust that the seid Sir John had to your seid besecher
in this behalfe that a newe feffement shuld be mad of
the seid plase and of the maner of Caster, and all the
seid maners, londs and tenements to your seid be
secher, and divers other personys to the use of the
seid Sir ^ John, terme of his lif, and aftir his decese to
the use of your seid besecher. And moreover, for as
moch as your seid besecher was in dowte whedir God
1 " Sir." — ^This word is omitted in the first copy.

AD. 1462.] EDWARD IV. IIS
wold send hym tjnue of life te execute the seid apoynte
ment intendyng that th'effect of the old purpose of the
seid Sir John Fastolff schuld not be all voyded, thow it
so fortuned your seid besecher cowd not performe the
seid apoyntement mevid the seid Sir John Fastolff
that not withstandyng the seid apoyntement that he
aftir the seid feffement mad shuld make his will for the
seid college, to be mad in aU maner wise as thow the
seid Sirjohn Fastolff and your seid besecher shuld not
make ^ the seid apoyntement ; and that aftir that, the
seid apoyntement to be ingrosid and made so that
the seid college shuld hold be the same apoyntement
of your seid besecher, and ellis this seid will of the seid
Sir John Fastolff to stand in effect for executyng of his
seid purpose. And sone aftir this comunicacion and
apoyntement the seid feffement was mad acordynge,
and season deliverid to your seid besecher at the seid
plase edified in Caster, as well as at the seid maners,
lends, and tenements, the seid Sir John Fastolff beyng
present at deUvety of season mad to your seid besecher
of the seid plase and maner of Caster, where the seid
Sir John, more largely expressyng the seid will and
entent deliverid your seid besecher possession with
his owne hands, declaryng to notabill personys there
the same feffement to be made to the use of the seid
Sir John as for terme of his lif only, and aftir his decese
to the use of your seid besecher and his heyrs ; and
divers tymes in divers yeres aftir declared his entent in
like wise to divers personys. And aftir, be gret de
liberacion and oft communicacion of the seid mater,
the seid Sir John Fastolff and your seid besecher
comenauntyd^ and apoynted be Avrityng thoroughly
for the seid mater so that your seid besecher shuld
have the seid plase and aU the seid maners, londs, and
tenements in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich, to hyra
and to his heyrs ; and that he shuld found a coUege of
vij. monkesor prestes withinne the seid plase perpetuaUy
1 "Shuld not make." — These words are interlined in place of lhe word
"left," which is erased. '^ So spelt in both copies.

1X6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
as is before seid, and to pay iiij.°J- [4000] mark to be dis
posed in certeyn yers for the sowle of the seid Sir John
Fastolff; the whech apoyntement declarid and red
before the seid Sir John Fastolff, be good dehberacien
was be the seid Sir John fully cencludid, agreyd and
stabiUsshid for his last wUl in that behalve.
And also the seid comenauntes and apo)mtementes
eftsonis caUid to remembraunce be the seid Sir John
Fastolff, the same Sir John, for certeyn consideracions
movyng hym, be his word, withowt writyng, dischargid
your seid besecher ef the seid somme of iiij.™'- mark,
desiryng hym so to ordeyne that ich of the seid monkes
or prestes shuU yerly have as the prestes ofthe chauntty
of Heylesdon had, and that vij. pore men shuU also be
founde yerly in the seid plase inperpetuite to pray for
the sowles above sayd.
[And aftir, that is to sey the Satirday, Sonday,
and Monday next before the decese of the seid Sir
John, the same Sir John, remembryng divers maters
and intents in his mynd necessaty^ for the weie of his
sowle, wheche were net expressid in the seid wUl and
apoyntement nowther in his testament, and that he
wold have one wiU mad and wrete conteynyng the seid
apoyntements, as weU as the seid other maters not
declarid in his intent and wiU acordyng, comaundid to
have it so ingrosid and wrete.] ^ Aid where your seid
besecher hath don his part acordyng to the wiU and
apoyntements of the seid Sir John, as weU in fyndyng
of the seid prestes and pore men as in aU other thyngs
that to hym belongyth to do in that behalfe ; and, this
not with standyng, William Yelverton, Knyght, and
WUliam Jenney, whech be infeffid joyntly with your
seid besecher in divers of the seid maners, londs and
tenements, have * mad a sympUl entre in aU the seid
maners in Suffolk, and chargid the baylifs, fermors, and
tenaunts of all the seid maners to pay hem the profitez
and revenews of the same maners, londs, and tene-
1 The clause between brackets is cancelled in the first copy.
* This word is interlined in the second copy only.

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV, 117
ments ; and thus, contraty to th'entent of the seid feffe
ment, and contrary to the wiU ef the seid Sir John
Fastolff, thei trobiU and lette your seid besecher te take
the profitez of the seid maners, londs, and tenements ;
of whech your seid besecher hath no remedy at the
comen lawe. Wherfore please yom: good and gracious
Lordship to direct severaU writts of subp ena to the seid
WiUiam and William, chargyng hem severally upon a
peyne convenient to appere before your Lordship in the
Chauncety at a certeyn day be your Lordship to be
limityd, to answer to these premisses, and to do as right
and censiens requirith. And your seid besecher shall
pray God for yow.
The following article is added in thefirst copy with many
corrections : —
And aftir, late before the discese of the seid Sir John Fastolff,
he wold and ordeynid that on wryting shuld be mad of the
fimdacion of the seid college aftir the forme of the seid apoynte
ment mad with your seid besecher, and of diverses othir articles
conteynid in his seid former willes, not conseming the seyd colegge
and also of divers maters wheche he remembrid necessary for the
weie of his sowle, that were nevir expressid in writyng before,
joyntly to geder expressyng his hole and inter and last will and
intent in all.
462.
A.D. 1462. — John Russe to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 262.]
This letter was evidently written not very long after No. 460. The fleet
mentioned here and in that letter is that referred to in the preliminary note
to Na 449.
To my right honourabyl and worshypfull maister, my
Maister John Paston.
|LESE your worshypfull maistership to wette,
here is a ship of Hith, wyche seith that John
Cole cam from the west cost on Wednysday
last past ; and he seyth that the fleet of
shippis of this londe met with lx. seUe of Spanyards,

Ii8 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
Brettenys,and Frensheraen, and there tok of hem 1. [50],
wherof xij. shyppys were as gret as the Grace de Dewe;
and there is slayn on thys partyes the Lords Clynton ^
and Dakyr,^ and many jentilmen juve (?) * and othyr,
thenombreof iiij."^- [4000]; and theseid Spanyards were
purposyd with marchaundise in to Flaundres. My
Lord of Warwyks shyp, the Mary Grace a-nd the Trenyte,
hadde the grettest hurt for they wer forraost Ged
send grace, thys be trew. On Thursday last past at
London was no tydings in serteyn where the flet was,
nor what they had doon, and therfore I fere the tydings
the more.
Itera, sir, as for tydings at London, ther were
atystyd be the tresorer xl. seyles lyeng in Temse,
wherof raany sraale shyppis ; and it is seyd it is to catye
men to Caleyse in all haste, for feer of the Kjmg of
Fraunce for a sege. And it was told me secretly there
were CC. in Caleyse swom contraty to the Kyngs weU,
and for defaute of there wages ; and that Qwen Mar-
get was redy at Boleyn with myche sylver to paye the
soudyers, in cas they wold geve here entresse. Many
men be gretly aferd of thys mater, and so the tresorer
hath mych te do for thys cause.
Item, sir, as for tydings out ef Ireland, ther wer
many men at London at the feyre of the centres next
them of Ireland, and they sey thys iij. wyks came there
neythyr shyp nor boot out of Irelond to bryng no
tydings ; and so it semyth there is myche to doo there
be the Erie of Pembrook.* And it is seyd that the
Kyng shuld be at London as on Satyrdav or Sonday
last past, and men deme that he wold to Caleyse hym
selfe; for the soudyors are so wyld there, that they
wyll not lette in ony man but the Kynge or my Lord
Warwyk.

1 John, Lord Clinton, ITie rumour w.-is false, as he was sununoncd to
Parliament in 1463. Nicolas supposes he died about '465.
2 Richard Fynes, Lord Dacre of the South, who was Lord Clinton's father-
in-law. ^ He did not really die till 1484.
8 This word, Fenn says, is doubtful in the original MS.
* Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, half-brother to Henry VI

A.D.1462.] EDWARD IV. 119
Othyr tydings the were come to London, but they
were not publyshyd; but John Wellys shal abyde a
day the lenger to know what they are.
-No mere un to you, my right honourable maister, at
thys tyme, but Jesu send yew youre herts desyre, and
amende hem that wold the contraty.
Your bedman and conty[n]wal servaunt, John Russe.

463.
A.D. 1462, I Nov.
John Paston, Junior, to his Father.
[From Fenn, i. 266.]
In the month of October 1462, as we leam from William Worcester,
Margaret of Anjou came out of France, whither she had fled in spring, with
a force of zooo men, landed on the coast of Northumberland, and laid siege to
Bamborough, which she took and placed in the keeping of the Duke of
Somerset. To my ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr , fohn Paston,
be thys delyveryd in hast.
|YTH reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I reco
mand me on to yow, beseechyng yow lowly
of your blyssyng. Plesyt you te have know
lage that my Lord ^ is purposyd to send for
my Lady, and is lyke to kepe his Ctystmas here in
Walys, for the Kyng hathe desyered hym to do the
same. Wherfor I beseche yow that [ye] ^ wole wyche
save to send me sume mony by the berer herof; for,
in good feythe, as it is not on knowyng to yow that I
had but ij. noblys in my purse, whyche that Rychard
Call took me by your comandement when I departyd
from yow owt of Norwyche. The berer herof schuld
bye me a gowne with pert ofthe mony, if it plese yow
to delyver hym as myche mony as he may bye it with;
1 The Duke of Noifolk. ^ Omitted in origins].

120 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1462.
for I have but on gowne at Framyngham and an other
here, and that is my levere gowne, and we must were
hem evety day for the mor part, and one gowne with
owt change wyll sone be done.
As for tydyngs, my Lord of Warwyk yed forward in
to Scotland as on Saterday^ last past with xx."^
[20,000] men ; and Syr Wylliam Tunstale is tak with
the gatysen of Bamborowth, and is lyke to behedyd,
and by the menys of Sir Rychard Tunstale ^ is owne
brodyr. As sone as I here any more tydyngys, I schall send
hem yow by the grace of God, who have yow in Hys
kepyng. Wretyn in hast, at the Castie of the Holte,'
upon Halowraas Daye.
Your sone and lowly servaunt,
J. Paston, Junior.
464.
A.D. 1462, II Dec.
John Paston the youngest to John Paston the
ELDER.
[From Fenn, L 272.]
The sieges mentioned in this letter took place, according to Wark'm>rth, in
December of the jfrsi year of Edward IV, i.e., 1461 ; but according to
(Villiam Worcester in 1462. The dates of the Privy Seal writs prove that the
atter is right, and that Edward IV. was at Durham in December X462.
To my ryth worchepful brodyr fohn Paston, the elder,
sone of fohn Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyveryd in
liast. YTH worchepfuU brodedyr, I recomaunde me
to yow. Plesyt yow to wet, that as thys day
we had tydjTigs here, that the Scottys wyll
come in to Inglend with in vij. days aftyr the
1 30th October.
' Sir Richard Tunstal was on Queen Margaret's side, while his brother
William, it seems, was on that of King Edward.
* In Denbighsliire.

AD.1462.] EDWARD IV, 121
wrytyng of thys lettyr, for te rescue these iij. casteUys,
Alnewyk, Donsamborowe ^ and Bameborowe, whyche
casteUys wer besegyd, as on yesterdaye. And at the
sege of AUnewyk lythe my Lord of Kent and the
Lord Sealys; and at Donsameborow castyU Ij^the the
Erie of Wyrcetyr [and] Syr Rafe Grey; and at the
castyU of Bameborow lythe the Lord Montagwe and
Lord Ogyll, and othyr dyvers Lordys and gentylmen
that I knowe not; and ther is to hem owt of Newe
CastyU ordynans inowe, bothe for the segys and for
the feld, in cas that ther be ony feld takyn, as I trow
there shall none be not yet for the Scottys kepe no
promes. My Lord of Warwyk lythe at the castyU of
Warcorthe, but iij. myle owt of Alnewyk, and he
tydyth dayly to aU thes castelys for to overse the
segys; and if they want vataylys, or any othyr thyng,
he is redy to pervey it for thera to hys power. The
Kyng comandyd my Lord of Norfolk^ for to condyth
vetaylys and the ordynans owt of New CastyU on to
Warcorthe CastyU, to my Lord of Warwyk; and so my
Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr John Howard, Syr
WUliam Peche, Syr Robert Chamberlyen, Rafe Ascheton
and me, Calthorp and Gorge, and othyr, for to go
forthe with the vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord
of Warwyk; and so we wer with my Lord of Warwyk
with the ordynans and vytalys yesterdaye. The Kyng
Ijrthe at Durham, and my I^ord of Norfolk at New
CastyU. We have pepyll inow here. In cas we abyd
here, I pray you purvey that I may have here more
mony by Ctystmas Evyn at the ferthest for I may get
leve for to send non of my wagyd men home ageyn;
ne man can get no leve for to go home but if they
stell a wey, and if they myth be knowe, they schuld be
scharply ponyschyd. Mak as meny as ye can, for
ther is no joperte toward not yet. And ther be any
joperte, I schall sone send yow word, by tiie grase ol
1 Dunstanborough.
3 John Mowbray, who succeeded his father in the Dukedom of Noriblk in
1461. He was at this time only eighteen years of age.

122 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1462.
God. I wot weU ye have more tydyngys then we have
here, but thes be true tydyngs.
Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly
ponyschyd, for because they came not hedyr to the
Kyng. They ar morkyn [marked] weU inowe, and so
is John Bylyngforthe and Thomas Playter; wherefor I
am ryth soty. I pray yow let them have wetyng therof,
that they may purvey their excuse in hast so that the
Kyng may have knowlage why that they come not to
hym in ther one personys; let them come or send
ther excuse to me in wtytyng, and I schaU purvey that
the Kyng schaU have knowlage of ther excuse; for I
am well aqueyntyd with my Lord Hastyngys, and my
Lord Dakatys,! whyche be now gretest abowt the
Kyngys person ; and also I am weU aqueyntyd with
the yonger Mortymere, Feretys, Hawte, Harper,
Crowmer, and Bosewell, of the Kyngys howse.
I pray yow let my grandam^ and my cosyn Clere'
have knowlage hew that I desytyd you to let hem
have knowlage of the tydyngys in thys letyr, for I pro
mysyd for te send them tydyngs.
I pray yew let my modyr* have cnowelage how that
I, and my felawscep, and your servauntys ar, at the
Wtytyng of this lettyr, in good heU, blesyd be God.
I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys
lettyr, and of the todyr lettyr that I sent to my modyr
by Felbtyggys man; and how that I pray bothe hym
and my modyr lowly of her blyssyngys.
I pray yow that ye wole send me some lettyr how
ye do, and of your tydyngys with yow, for I thynk
longe that I here no word fro my modyr and yow.
I pray yow that thys biU may recomand me to my
systyr Margety, and to my mastres Jone Gayne, and
to aU gode mastytys and felawys within Castyr. I
sent no lettyr te my fadyr, never syn I departyd fro
yow, for I kowd get no man to London, and never
sythe. .'iee p. 118, Note 2. s Agnes Paston.
• Elizabeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby. * Margaret Paston

AD. 1463.] EDWARD tv. 123
I pray yow in cas ye spake with my cosyn Margaret
Clere, recomande me to hyr; and Almythy God have
yow in Hys kepyng.
Wretyn at NewcastyU on Saterday next aftyr the
Consepsien of owyr Lady.
Your, John Paston, the
Yongest
I pray yow let Rychard CaU se thys lettyr.

465.
A.D. 1463, 19 Jan.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 150.]
This letter refers to a coming election of knights of the shire, which seems
to be for the Parliament which met on the agth April 1463. No other general
election of Edward IV.'s time will suit the date, and it is quite certain that It
was written during Edward's reign.
To my right worchepful hosbond, fohn Paston, be this
letter deliveryd in hast.
|IGHT worchepfuU hosbond, I recommand me
to you. Please you to wete that I received a
letter frome you on the Sonday^ next after
Twelfthe day, weche was sent be a prest of
Seynt Gregotys patyche of Norwic; and wher as ye
mervaylyd I sent you no wtytjaiggs of suche letters as
ye sent me be for, I sent you a answer of the substauns
of suche maters as ye have wretyn of me be for (be
Playter), the weche he told rae a sent hem to you to
London. And as towchyng the erands that ye sent
to me for to do to Richard Calle, I have do as ye
command me to do, and callyd upon hym therfor,
bothe be for your writyng and sithyn; he thar have
non excuse for defaute ef leyser, for he hathe be but
1 January g.

124 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1463.
tyght UtiU her syn ye departyd hens. He is owght
at this tyme, and whan that he cemythe heme I shaU
make hym make yew a cier byUe ef the receyt of your
lyvelod, and Fastolf bothe; and I shale send yow a
cier byUe of my recej^ts, and also of my payments
owght thereof ageyn; and as for suche erands that shuld
be do te Sir Thomas Howys, I have shewyd Richard
CaUe your writyng, and told hym your entent as for
suche thyngs as ye wold he shuld sey to hym on hys
none heed. Also I have do your erands to my moder
and to my cosyn Cier ^ after your writyng. Item, I
have spoke to John Adam and to Playter of your
entent of the last byUe that ye sent me, and they sey
they wolle do after your entent as meche as they may,
and ye shall have a answer therof in hast
Item, Sir Robert Coniers dinid with me this day,
and shuyd me a letter that came frome the Kyng to
hym, desytyng hym that he shuld a wayt upen hys
weUe be lovyd broder the Duke of Suffolk, at Norwiche,
on Monday next comyng, fer to be at the alectien of
knyghts of the chyer [shire] ; and he told me that evety
jentylman of Norffolk and Suffolk that ame of any
repetacion hathe writyng from the Kyng in lyke wyse
as he had. I feUe hym be his seyyng that he ys right
welle disposyd to you ward; he seythe ther shaU no
man make hym to be a gejms you in no mater. Skyp-
with shaU teUe you suche tydyngs as bethe in this
contre, and of Thomas Gomay and of his man; hym
self is clerk cenvicte, and hys man is hangyn; ye shaU
here her after what they and oder wer purposyd to a
do to her master.
I thank you hertely of your writyng to me be for
that John Paston came home, for God knowith I
thowght right longe tyle I hard frome you; I shaUe
send werd in writyng of suche tydings as we have her
on Monday in hast Daubeney deseytyht te wet what
tyme that it please you that he shuld come ageyn to you.
My moder and many other folkys makyth moche of
1 Elizabeth, widow of Kobert Clere of Ormesby.

AD. 1463.] EDWARD IV. 125
your son John, the elder, and right glad of hys comyng
hom, and lekyth reght welle hys demenyng. Heydon^
sonhathebor owght thesyyd stowtly her this Critstemes,
and whan that he tydyth, he hathe iiij. or v. men with
hym in a clothyng ; but he hathe but lytyl fafor in this
contre but yf [unless] it be of the Bischop ^ and of the
Prior of Norwic' The seyd prior hathe grauntyd hym
the stewerdchep that hys feder had 
. he hathe it under the Covent Seals, and Spylman,^
his tutor, to leme hym howe he shuld be demenyd .
 it is seyd abowght Bakjrnstorp that
Heity Heyden shuld a seyd that it wer weUe do that
men of the  shuld make redy her
[their] bald batts ^ and her clot shon ^ and go feche
hom her knygtsef chyer [j/5«>^] 
Bamey; and it is promysyd hjTn that he shall be met
with be cause of hys langage 
us a good world and a pesybyll. I shaU purvey fer
all thjmgs that ye have sent to me for, so that I ween
ye shal be pleasyd. The biyssyd Trinite have you in
Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast the Wednysday next
. . . . Seynt Agnet Your,
M. P.

466.
A.D. 1463, Jan.— Extract.
Thomas Playter to John Paston.
The following extracts are quoted by Fenn from a letter now lost, in refer
ence to what is said in the last letter about Thomas Gurney and his man.
1 This must be Henry, son of John Heydon, Esq., Recorder of Nor
wich.— F.
2 Walter Lyhert, Bishop from 1445 to 1472. — F.
' lohn Molet or Mowth, Prior from 1453 to 1471. — F.
< Henry Spihnan, afterwards Recorder of Norwich ; he was the founder ot
the Spilmans of Narborough, by marrying Ela, daughter and heir of WiUiam
de Narboru'jgh. — F. , „ . ^ i.
• Baldlaits seem to mean here ball bats, or bats to playat ball with.— F.
6 Clot shoen, clouted shoes— shoes shod with thin plates of uron. — F.

126 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1463.
Please your maistership -wete, that as for my Lord of Norwich
cosyns deth, Thomas Gum eys man hath confessed that he slewe
hym by commaundment of his maister, and confessed over that
the same dager he slewe hym -with, he kest it in a sege [ajahes]
whiche is founden and taken up al to-bowyd [bent togetherj, for he
cowde not breke it, and in prison is bothe he and his maister.
Also on Thursday next after Cristemasse was a man slayn, by
whom no man woot, nor what he is that was slayn no man
knowe, his face is so mangled.
467.
A.D. 1463, [Feb.]
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
As the writ, ofwhich a copy is subjoined to this letter, is dated on the 31st
January in the 2d year of Edward IV. (1463), the letter itself must have been
written in February.
To my ryght reverent and wurschip[fuU] mayster, my
Mayster fohn Paston in tlte Ynner Temple at London.
|LESITH your goode maystrechip to witte that
ther comen doune to the undrescheryff ef
Norwiche, a writte to a tache Mr. John P.
the yongere, wherof I sende you a copy
closed herin, but they woU not a reeste hym within
Norwich ; but I ilndrestande ther is comen an other
writte to the undrescheryff of Norfolk bothe for hym
and me, and for all theo that ben indyghted. Wher
fore I purpose me to ride to Hoonyng to the scheiyff
thys day, to undrestande how he is disposed, and to
desire hym to shewe favour to your pore tenaunts;
and as I feele hym disposed I schall send your may-
streship answer.
And as for tidyngs here in this contre, we have
noon but that ther be many Frenchemen upon the see
and do moche answer upon the coosts. Mr Yelver[tonj
knew of the corajmg up of the teste within ij. dayes
after they were goon, &c. My ryght reverent and wur-

A.D. 1463.] EDWARD IV, 127
schipful maystre, the blissed Trinite preserve and kepe
and ferther you in all your maters.
Sir WiUiam Wyllugby whas at Risynge CasteU, and
yesterday he come home a yenne. On Tentale hathe
entred in to a parte of Felbregge lyvelod, and a corte
holden, and the tenaunts retorned. Item, as for the
cort that Deben[ham] schuld holde at Calcot we here
not of it Your pore servaunt and
bedraan, R. C.
Rex vi[ce]comitibus Norwici, salutem. Prsecepimus vobis quod
capiatis Johannem Paston juniorem, nuper de Norwico, armi-
gerum, si inventus fiierit in balliva vestra, et eum salvo custo
diatis, ita quod habeatis corpus ejus coram nobis a die Paschse
in unum mensem ubicunque tunc werimus in Anglia, ad respon
dendum nobis de quibusdam feloniis et transgressionibus unde in
comitatu nostro Suffolchise indictatus est. Et si przedictus
Johannes in balliva vestra inveniri non poterit, tunc ad duos
comitatus in balliva vestra citra terminum prasdictum proximo
tenendos juxta formam statuti in hujusmodi casu provisi pro-
clamari faciatis quod idem Johannes sit coram nobis ad prsefatum
terminum ad respondendum nobis de premissis. Et habeatis ibi
hoc breve. Teste Johanne Markham apud Westmonasterium,
xxxjo die Januarii, anno regni nostri secundo. Croxton.
Rotulo xxvjo R. Per contr' Anno secundo Regis Ed. iiiJH r. xiij. Irrotu-
latur coram Rege de recordo, termino Hillarii anno secundo I^egis Ed. iiijtl,
prout patet in rotulo infrascripto.l

468.
About A.D. 1463. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
[John Paston] to John Pampyng, Richard Calle, and
William Wykes.
Remember my instructions about bills and actions against
Debenham by my tenants at Calcot. Make a " remembrance
apart" of the ground on which every trespass has been commit-
1 This note is to imply that the writ is enrolled among what are called the
Records on the Coram Rege Roll of Hilary term, 2 Edw. IV., rot. 26, a
former writ against John Paston, jun., being enrolled in the Controlment
RoU, 2 Edw. IV., rot. 13.

128 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1463.
ted, whether it be in my lands or in those of my tenants, and
whether the land was holden of me by Calcote Hall fee, or
Freton Hall fee, lest Debenham justify [on the plea that] he took
them elsewhere. As my tenants at Cotton have been compeUed
to pay much money to Jenney and Debenham against their wills,
I would, as I have told John Paston the younger, that he should
ride to Cotton with Richard Calle and such friendship as he can
get, and demand my duties, except from those who had been
compelled to pay the others. The latter to take actions next
term against Debenham. WiU respite them for this once aU
they have paid, tiU it may be recovered by law; that is, provided
they ask it : otherwise, wiU politicly put fliem in jeopardy of los
ing their farms. Desires Cdle to make a roU of the tenants and
when he comes to Cotton enter therein how much cattle has been
distrained fi-om each.
It appears by the last letter that a writ was issued, evidently at the suit of
Debenham, against John Paston, Junior, and the other agents of his father in
Suffolk. From the present paper it would seem that John Paston also insti
tuted a prosecution on behalf of his tenants against Debenham. We shall
find by later letters that these suits were going on in X463, and were not ter
minated in the beginning of the following year. The MS. from which the
above abstract has oeen made is a draft witn a heading in John Paston's hand.
On the back are notes of the Statutes of Westminster and of Richard II.
touching scandalum magnatum, &^c.
469.
A.D. 1463, 19 March.
Ralph Lampet's Testimony.
[Tanner MS. 106, f. 35 b.]
|0 all tho to whom this present wiytyng shall
come, Rauff Lampet, Squier, sendyth gretyng
in our Lord. And forasmoch as it is meri-
toty to bere witnesse of trought, and that I
knowe and herd the disposicion and will of Ser John
Fastolff, knyght, aftir the forme folowyng, and am
requered to sey the trought, I record and testifie, and
bere witnesse that Ser John Fastolff, knyght, abought
the tyme of hervest was v. yere, that was the yere of
our Lord M'cccclvij., at Caster, fast by MekyU Yar
mouth, in the Shire of Norffolk, in presens of divers
persones that tyme callid to by the seid Ser John, ded
make estat and feffement and livety of seison of the
maner of Caster aforeseid, and other maners, londs,

AD. 1463.] EDWARD IV. 129
and tenements in Norffolk to John Paston, Squier, and
otiier. And at that livery of season thereof delivered,
as well by the hands of the seid Ser John as be other,
the seid Ser John Fastolff by his owne mouth declared
his wUl and entent of that feffement and Uvery of
season, mad to the use of the seid Ser John as for
duryng his life only, and aftir his decese to the use of
the seid John Paston and his heyrs. And also the
seid Ser John seid and declared, tbat the seid John
Paston was best frend, and helper, and supporter to
the seid Ser John, and that it was his will that the
seid John Paston shuld have and inherite the same
maners, londs, and tenements, and ether, aftir his
decese, and ther to dwelle and abide, and kepe how-
sold, seying that he knew well that the disposicion of
the seid Paston was to do good in the centty, and be
non oppressor of the pore pepUl. And the seid Ser
John desired rae, and Daune WiUiam Bokenham,
that tyme Prier ef Yarmouth, beynge presente, to
record as he had seid to us. And this I record and
witnesse for trought be the feyght that I owe to God
and all SejTits. In witnesse wherof to this my writyng
I have set to my seall and signe raanuell the xix. day
of March, the third yer of the reigne of Kyng Edward
the Fourth. R. Lampet.
470.
Date uncertain. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Raff Lampet to his Cousin Daubeney.
Reminds him that he spoke to him at Redham, in the church,
about certain lands 'which John of Bemey bought of me,' and
for which there is still owing to him 13s. 4d., and a rent of 6d.
four years in arrear. Begs him to speak to Master Paston to
get him the money.
We place this letter immediately after another document signed by Ralph
Lampet, the exact date being uncertain aud immaterial. It is probably,
however, about this period, as it may be surmised to be after the death of
John Bemey. II. K

1^0 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1463.
471.
A.D. 1463, 6 April. — Abstract.
[From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 280.]
Testimony of Sir Roger Chamberlain, witnessed by Reginald
Tylneye, prior of Ixworth, and Sir John Rose [a brother of the
house], that he was with the Duke of Norfolk in September
before Sir John Fastolf died, when my Lord urged Fastolf to seU
him the reversion of Caister, or (as he wished to give it to the
Abbey of St Benet's) to exchange it for a manor of my Lord's in
South Walsham, which lay more convenient for the Abbey. Sir
John, however, begged him not to press it, as he had appointed
with his cousin, John Paston, to have Caister and aU his other
livelode in Norfolk and Suffolk in order to endow a college of
seven priests and seven poor men. My Lord said, many thought
Sir John would make Paston his heir ; to which he replied that
there was no man living that he would like better to be his heir,
and begged my Lord to be his good lord if it so fortuned, which
the Duke promised to do. Has heard the Duke since often
acknowledge that Sir John had declared plainly he would make
Paston his heir. Not having his own seal present, has sealed
this with that of the prior of Ixworth, and requested him to put
his seal to it besides. Ixworth, 6 April 1463.
472.
A.D. 1463, 6 May.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 188.]
Our reason for believing this letter to have been written in the year 1463.
will be seen in a footnote.
To my rytz wurchepfull mayster, Jon Paston, in hast.
|YT wurschipfull hosbond, I recommand me to
zou, desyring hertyly to her of zour wellfar,
praying zou to wete, that I [have] spoken with
Strawngs wyf of the matter that ze spoken to
me of; and sche seyth pleynly to me, be her feyth, that
sche knew never non seche ne never herd of non
scheche, and told to me in lyk wyse as sche had seyd

AD. 1463.] edwaRd IV. 131
to Jamys Gloys. And sche seyd te me if sche kowd
inquier of any other that sche thinght xuld have know-
ledie of any seche, sche xuld wetyn of hem, and letyn
me have knowleche therof; and if ze soppose that any
other be in this contre that ye thync xuld have know
leche of this forseyd mater, yf ye wyU send me word
ther of, I xall do my part ther in.
Also I have ben att Swejmgsthorp and spoken with
Kokett, and he seyth that he woU den lyche as ye bad
me that I xuld sey to hym for te don. And I have
spokjm with the sexteyn, and seyd to hym as ye bad
me that I xuld don, and he axid me tyt feythftiUy hw
ye sped in zour matetys.
I teld hym that ze haddyn fayr be bests, and I seyd
I hopyd that ze xuld don rytz well therin; and he seyd
that he supposyd that D.^ wold don for zou ; but he
seyd he was ne hasty laborer in non mater. He seyd
be hys feyth he wost qher a man was that labotyd te
hjrm for amater tyth along tjnn, and alwey he be
hestyd that he wold labor itt effectualy, but qhyll he
sewyd to hjmi that he kowd never have remedy of his
mater; and than qhan he thowth that he xuld no remedy
have to sew to hym, he spak with Fynys,^ that is now
Speker of the Parlment and prayid hym that he wold
don for hym in hys mater, and zaf hjon areward ; and
withinne tyth short tym after his mater was sped. And
the seyd sexteyn ' and other folkys that ben yowr tyth
weie wiUers have kownselyd me that I xuld kownseU
1 Possibly John Damme.
3 This looks Uke a mistake, for no Speaker of the name of Fynes is met
with during this period. The expression, however, suggests that the letter
was written about the beginning ofa new Parliament, which could only havc
been that which met on the 29th April 1463. On the following day the
Commons elected John Say as their Speaker, who, I am almost inclined to
think, may have been a brother or near relation of WiUiam Fenys, Lord Say,
the trusty friend of Edward IV. who accompanied him into exile when he
fied from his kingdom in 1470, for it was not uncommon in those days to use
a family title as a surname. I find no mention, however, of a John Fenys of
the Say family in Dugdale.
* The Sacnst or Sexton of the Priory of Norwich, was thc officer who had
the care of Sacra, or Holy Things, as the Church Plate, Copes, &c. ; he was
likewise Secretary, Auditor, and Chancellor of the Convent, and had a Sub-
sacrist or Deputy to perform the servile parts of his office. In 1444 Brother
Richard de Walsliam was appointed Sacrist. — F.

132 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1463.
ZOU to maken other menys than ye liave made to
ether folks, that wold spede your matetys better than
they have don thatt ye have spoken to therof be for this
tym. Sendety folks have seyd te me that they thynk
vetyly, but if [unless] ye have my Lord of Suffolks ^
godelorchyp, qhyU the werd [world] is as itt is, ye kan
never leven in pese with owth ye have his godelordschep ;
therfor I pray that with aU myn berth, that ye wyU
den yowr part to have his godelordschep and his love in
ese of aU the materis that ye have to don, and in esyng
of myn hert also ; for be my trowth I am afferd ellys
bethen of these matetys the qhyche ye have in hand
now, and of other that ben not don to yett t>ut if he
wyl don for zou and be your godelord. I pray yow
hertj'lye send me werd hew ze don, and how ye speden
in zour matetyS ; and I pray you as for seche thjmgs
as Jamys hath a byll of, that I may have hem as hastyly
as ze may ; and that ze wyll vowchesave to bey apese
of blak bukram for te lyn with a gown for me, I xuld
bey me amurrey gown to gon in this somer, and leyn
in the koler the satyn that ze zeve me for an hodde ;
and I kan gettyn non gode bokeram in this town to
lyn it with. The Holy Trinyte have yow in His kepyng,
and send zou helth and good spede in all yowr maters.
Wretyn att Norwyche, on ye Ftyday nexst after
Crowchemesse Day.^ Yours, M. P.
473.
A.D. 1463, July.
[James Gresham] to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter seems to be in James Gresham's handwriting. It is evident
that it was written shortly after Midsummer. Rather more than a year and
a day had elapsed since a murder committed on the morrow of St. Peter's
Day (i.e. on the 30th June), and it is mentioned that Convocation was to sit
liome little time after Relic Sunday, which always falls in the middle of July.
ohn de la Pole, Duke of Suflblk.— K.
'rouchmas Day, or the Invention of the Cross, was on the 3d of May. — F.

»Ci

AD. 1463.] EDWARD IV, 133
Further, the King is said to be at Northampton, which he was m July 1463,
and no other year appears to suit.
To mygth rigth good and speciali maister, John Paston,
dwellyng at Heylesdon be syde Norwich.
IIGTH reverent &c. Please your maisterchip
wete that I resseived your letterwhiche ye sent
by Crome, and as for the examinacion of, &c.
that I wrot to you of in my former letter to
be taken on the Munday or on Tewysday, &c. this was
the cause. Ye yaff me informacion at my last de
partyng fro you that the murdre was don uppon the
day nexst after Seynt Petre. And for doute lesse ye
had be ougth at the comyng of my seid letter, and for
dowte that I supposed that my maistres, your wyf, had
not be remembred of the day, it caused me, accordyng
to your informacion, to wryte the utterraost day for her
remembrans. Neverthelesse, if ye certifie that ye toke
the examinacion with in the yere and day, and sette the
day in certayn, your certificat is sufficiant in lawe and
shall bynd any of the parries to sey the contraty. And
also the writte is that ye schuld certefie sine dilatione,
and no day expresly yoven you whan to certifie it;
wherfor ye may kepe uncertefiet tyl the nexst terme.
And so do sir, for it schal do no hurt ; but if ony
questions or jangelyng schuld be mad when the
examinacion was, let a sufficiant day with inne the
yere be noysed, and if the teste be to schort we schal
fjmd the mene it schal be amendyd by hjnn that wrot
it For after the informacion that I had of Crome the
Sunday was the uttermest day, and therefor it was
happy that sche was examined thenne. And where
that ye weld I schuld tak the advise of Maister Mark
ham, &c., if all thyng were laufuU, and elles not, it is
full hard to my self to determine the certaynte of evety
circumstans of the mater, and it is not gretely to be
comuned of mth other, nor to comune of casez lyke ;
for whan the mater schuld come in revelysshon it
wold cause prevy titlers and flaterers ougth of suche

134 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1463.
questions to ymagyn, and contrj^e mater of distour-
bans. Wherfor uppon the certeynte of myn deter
minacion I brak the mater to Master Markham, which
caUed to hym Master Byngham, and so thei ij. meved
Y.^; and after that mocion he kept not his owyn
councell but brak. to evety man of it Hou be it he
was sore mevyd with it I wote it well, and glad to take
avyse and comfort of other personez than of Masters
Markham and Byngham. Al curcumstans were to
long to Wtyte, but I hepe to speke with you be tymes
i nougth or ye schall nede to certefye, &c. And, sir,
in conclucion, Masters Markham and Byngham thynk
it sufficiant i nougth to take his promys and his othe with
ougth obligacion that he schal mak araends if profe here
after can be mad uppon hym. And to this Maister
Markham prayed you to agre by the sarae teken ye
mevyd hym te sette an ende be tvvyx you and mymasters
your brethern. Neverthelesse if ye thynk this wey not
sufllciant ye may lete sum other handele the mater
at hom to hym if that ye hope to gete good pref in the
mater, fer with ougth evydent proffe tiie mater schall
be but noysefuU to you, and cause men to thynk that
it growyth of your Ule wyll to hym ward, &c. ; for he
noyseth and seyth, because of ille wyll ye have caused
a mad woman to take apeU a yens hym.
Item, sir, as for Leukenore he is not at London, but
peraventure I schal make hym to be meved in the
mater here after.
Item, I dede your erand to my maister your son.
Item, as for John Say,^ he recomendyth hym to
you, bothe for your biUes and for your labour, and
prayeth you if ony land that lyth for the priour ease
mygth be aspyed, that ye wold help to gete it hym
and send hym word ; and as for the morteysyng
 and at his cost and labour.
Item, as fer tydyngs, the Kyng and the counsell is
1 Yelverton.
2 Probably the Speaker of the Parliament of 1463, whom Margaret Paston
named Fynes in Letter 473. See page 131, Note 2.

A.D. 1463.] EDWARD IV. 13s
at Northampton,^ and the Convocacion schall be .
 after Relyk Sunday. And
ther be ij. marchaunts corae fro Caleys, and they
mygth no leve have to com[e] 
. schuld bere the Kyng certeyn lettres and juste
tytyngs that sege is comyng to Caleys. And trew[s]
 [ou]re Lady Day, as I herd
sey. Item, it is talked that Duchemen and Englysshe-
men ben at contraversie with in 
474.
A.D. 1463. — James Gresham to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 130.]
John Paston's eldest son appears to have been knighted in the course of the
year 1463. The earliest notice which I find of him as knight is in a writ
dated nth July, 3 Edward IV., entered on the Coram Rege Roll of Trinity
term, 3 Edward IV. This letter is not unlikely to have been written about
that time, as it appears by a subsequent letter (No. 478) that Sir John Paston
remained for some time at home in Norfolk, when the friends of the family
thought he ought to be abroad in the world.
To my right wnrshepfull mastres, my Mastres Margret
Paston, at Caster.
LEASE it your good mastresship to wete that
a fieri facias is come out of the Exchequir
for Hue Fen to the Shireff of Norffolk to make
levy of CC. mark of the propir goods and
catels of my ma.sters, as executor of Sir John Fastolf;
of whech fieri facias we sent my master word, whech
sent us word ayen by Bemey that we shuld lete the
Shiref undirstand that my master nevir toke upon hym
as executor, and so for that cause that writte was no
warant to take my masters goods ; and also that my
master mad a dede of gift of all his goods and catels
to Master Prewet and Clement Paston and other, so that
my master hath no goods whereof he shuld make levy
of the forseid summe ; and if the Shireff wold not take
1 According to the dates of the Privy Seals the King was at Northampton
from the Sth to the 28th July 1463 ; also on the 2d May 1464.

136 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A. D. 1463.
this for non answere, that thanne my master wold !ie
shuld be lettidinMasterProwetts and Clement Fastens
name. Nevirthelesse we spak with the Shireff this day,
and lete hym undirstand the causes aforeseid, and he
agreid, so that he myght have suerte to safe hym
harmeles, to mak such retorne as my master or his
counseU coud devise. And because my master wrote by
Bemey that he wold not fynd the Shureff no suerte, we
wold not apoynt ivith hym in that wyse ; and so we
toke avyse of Thomas Grene, and by cause the Undir-
Shireff shaU be on Monday at Hygham, by Bastewyk
btygg, and he and we thought tiiat it was best that
Master Prewet shuld mete with the Shireff there, and
require and charge hym that by colour ef the fereseid
/fori facias that he make no levy of any goods and
catels of the seid Prowetts and Clement Fastens ayens
tiie seid John Fastens, letyng hym vete that such
goods as the seid Paston had, be now the seid
Prowetts and Clement Fastens by vertu of a dede ef
gift mad to hem almost ij. yere agoe; and if the
Shireff woU be besy aftir that to take any cateU, that he
be lettid in Master Prowetts name and Clement
Fastens by Daubeney and other ; whech besines of
the Shireff shall be ou Tuisday or Wednesday, and as
we understand at Heylesdon. Wherfor ye must send
thedir Daubeney with Pecok, and the may gete hym
here more felasep by the avise of Master .Sir John
Paston. James Gresham.
475.
A.D. 1463, 15 Aug. — ^Abstract,
[From Add. Charter 14,514, B.M., D. Turner's CoU.]
Deed poll whereby Elizabeth, widow of John Vere, Earl of
Oxford, Lady of the manor of Ejiapton, Norfolk, grants to Agnes,
widow of WUliam Paston, the right of removing obstructions in
two water-courses belonging to the mill called W(3myU in Bacton ;
the first of which water-courses flows out of Knapton Fen, and
the second from the miU of the Abbot of St. Benet's of Holms.
Stratford ofthe Bowe, iSth Aug. 1463, 3 Edward IV.
Fine Seal,

A.D. 1463.] EDWARD IV. 137
476.
A.D. 1463, 31 Aug.
The Duke of Norfolk to John Paston, Senior.
[From Fenn, iv. 250.]
John_ Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, the writer of this letter, succeeded his
father in the dukedom in November 1461, being at the time only seventeen
years of age. A jrear afterwards, in November 1462, we find him living at
his castle of Holt in Denbighshire, where he proposed to spend Christmas
(See No. 463), but before that season came, he was sent for by the King to
serve agamst the Scots (No. 46A I am inclined to think this letter was
written in the August of 1463 ; for although the Duke was again living at
Holt in March following, it seems probable that he would have visited his
chief family seat at Framlingham in the meanwhile. John Paston, the
youngest, who was attached to his household, was certainly at home with
lus family iu the latter part of this year (See No. 486).
To oure right trusty and entierly welbelovid servaunt,
John Paston th' elder.
The Due of Norff.
|IGHT trusty and entierly welbelovid servaunt,
we grete you hertily well, and specially prajdng
you that ye will be with us at FramljTigham
on Sonday next comyng, that we may comon
with you there, and have youre sadde advise in suche
matiers as concernj^th gretly to oure weel, whiche shaU
be mynestred unto you at youre comyng. Prayng you
that ye fayle not herof, as our speciali tmst is in you.
And our Lord preserve you in His keping.
written at Framlyngham the xxxj. day of August.
Norff.
477.
A.D. 1463, 4 Sept.
The Abbot of Langley to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 146.]
The date of this letter is clear, from the statement it contains as to the
length of time which has elapsed since the decease of Sir John Fastolf.

138 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1463.
To the ryght worcheppful Sere John Pastoii, Knyght, be
this delyvered.

^YGHT worchepful ser, and tendyrly belovyd
^^ in our Lord God, I comend me to you,
^H sendyng you knowyng that I dede your
erand to my brother, the persoon of Blofeeld,
on Wednysdaye was sevenyght, after the undyrstandyng
that I had of you and from you be this btynger ; whech
man I felte tyght weie and faverabelye dysposyd to
you ward, and more favorable wole be than to ony
other jentylman levand, the wyUe of the dede per-
formyd, and his conscyens savyd; and mere thinges
seyd favoiabely for yew which I entytelyd in a scrowe
to a' certyfyed to your servaunt Calle, yf he had come,
as ye sent me woord he sculd ado, and xuld, as ye
behestyd me, abrowte me our ferme fer Heylesdon,
which not don, causeth me to wtyte, prayng your
jantylnesse that I send no more therfore, for it is
unpayed for the zeer afore the Halwemesse that my
Mayster Fastolf deyed, and for the same zer that he
deyed in, and sythen for ij. zer, and vj. unpayed of a
zer, and come Myhelmesse nexte xai be another zer
unpayed. Thus is iiij. zer unpayed and vj., and at
Myhelmesse next xai be v. zer and vs.
This thus kepte from Holy Chirche that is Holy
Chirchez good, may not be withoute grete pareUe of
soule ; wher the pareUe is God knoweth, I pray God
amend it, and geve hem grace that have his goods so
to dyspose them, that thei and the dede both may be
oute of pareUe. And the Trynyte have you in His
mercyfiil kepyng. Wretyn at Langle, on Soneday, at
evyn late, next after Seynt Johne Daye DecoUacion.i
Be your welewylland,
Aebot of Langeleye.
1 The Decollation of St John the Baptist was observed on the a9th
August.

A.D. 1463.] EDWARD IV. 139
478.
A.D. 1463 (?)
R. C. V. C. TO John Paston the Eldest.
[From Fenn, iv. 128.]
In the preceding letter Sir John Paston seems to have been at home ; in
Letter 480, we find that he had left home without leave. It is very probable
therefore that the present letter was written in the interval between them ;
seeing that the writer complains of Sir John being kept at home.
To my worcheppefull master, Master Paston the heldest.
[lYTH worchepfuU master, I recommend me on
to zowr masterchepe. And of on mater at
reverens of God take hede, for ui trowth I
her meche talkyng therof, and that is both in
Norffolk, Suffolk, and Norwyche, among haile men of
worchepe, as welle that love zow as oder, and that is
of my master, your son, Sjt Jon, causse he is se at
home, and no noderwyse set for. Summe sey that ze
and he beth stond howth of the Kyngs good gras, and
summe sey that ze kepe hym at home for negard chepe,
and wyll no thyng ware [spend] up on hjmi; and so heche
man sey is avyse as it plese hem to talke. And I have
hanqwertyd [inquired], and seyd the mest cause is
inparty for cause ze har so meche howte, that he is the
rather at home for the save gard of the costs. But at the
referens of God, excheuyng of coramon langage, se that
he may worchepfull be set for, heyder in the Kyngs
servyse, or in matyache; fer as towchjTig the Lady
Chaberlen^ that mater is don, for I spake with the
1 This Lad^ Chamberlayne was Anne, daughter and sole heir of Sir Robert
HerUng, Knight, by Jane, daughter and heir of John Gonvile, Esq. She
married to her first husband, SirWilliam Chamberlayne, Knight of theparter,
a renowned and valiant soldier, who died in 1462. She was at this time his
widow, and inherited from her father a very considerable fortune.
She afterwards married Sir Robert Wingfield, and after his decease she
became the wife of tohn, Lord Scroop of Bolton.
By the name of Lady Scroop she founded and endowed a Fellowship in the
CoUege of Gonville and Caius at Cambridge, originally founded by an ancestor
of her Ladyship's.
She was oom in 1426, and was alive in 1502.
At the time this letter was writing she must have been nearly forty years old,
when Sir John Paston could not have been much above twenty. — F.

140 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1463.
parson therof, and I hard be hym that that mater wyll
not pre [proceed?]
No more, but God spede zow as weU in all maters,
as I wold ze xuld de, I be seche zow that this leter
be kept secrete. Be zow[r] bede man,
R. C. V. C.
479.
A.D. 1463, 13 Nov.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 88.]
I have found no letters of Margaret Paston dated from Caister hefore tbe
year 1463 ; hut I am inclined to think that this and the letter following both
belong to that year. The latter, being addressed to Sir John Paston, at least
cannot be earlier, and my rea.sons for oelieving it to be of that very year will
be seen in the note prefixed to it. It is just possible that this letter may be
of a different date, but considering that both were written in November, and
both of them certainly between the isth and the 19th, and that in both Mar
garet Paston not only dates from Caister, but speaks of Daubeney as being
with her, the presumption, I think, is pretty strong that they are of the same
year. To my ryght worchipfull hosbond, John Paston, be thys
letter delyveryd in hast.
IHT worchepfuU liusbond, I recommand me
to you. Please you to wete that I was at
Norwic this wek to purvey suche thyngs as
nedythe me ageyns thys wjmter ; and I was
at my modder, and wille I was ther, ther cam in en
Wrothe, a kynnysnian of Elysabet Clers, and he sey
your dowter, and preysyd hyr to my moder, and seyd
that she was a goodly yong woman ; and my moder
prayd hym for te gett for hyr on good mariage yf he
knewe any ; and he seyd he knewe on shuld be of a
CCC. mark be yer, the wyche is Sir John Cley sen,
that is Chamberlejm with my Lady of York,^ and he
1 Cecily, Duchess of York, widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York,
and mother of Edward IV. She died in an advanced age, at her Castle of
Berkhamstead, in May 1495, and was buried near her husband, iu the Choir
ofthe Collegiate Church of Fotheringhay, in Northamptonshire. — F.

A.D.1463.] EDWARD IV. 141
ys of age of xviij. yer old. Zyf ye thynk it be for to be
spok of, my moder thynkyth that it shuld be get for
lesse mony nowe in thys world than it shnld be her
after, owthyr that j. [one], or sum other good mariage.
Item, I spake with Master John Estgate for Peke-
rynes mater after your entent of the mater of the letter
that ye sent home, and he seyd to me he shuld write
to yow howe he had don ther in ; and so he sent you
a letter, the wyche was sent you be John Wodows ^
man with other letters.
As for answer [of] other mater, Daubeney tellythe me
he wret to you. I be seche AUe myghty God have
you in Hys kepyng. Wretyn at Caster, the Sonday
next after Seynt Marteyne.
Be your M. Paston.

480.
A.D. 1463, 15 Nov.
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 16S.]
As Sir John Paston was knighted in the year 1463, and his father died in
May 1466, thc date of this letter must lie between the years 1463 and 1465
I think the fiirst of these years is probably the true date. Sir Jomi Paston, it
seems, had left home without letting his mother know of his intention.
Whither had he gone ? Not to London, because he addressed a letter to his
father there ; besides he had passed by Lynn. One would naturally suppose,
therefore, that he had gone to wait upon the King, at a time when Edward
was at a distance from the capital And in this view we are confirmed by the
passage in which Margaret desires her son to speak with Wykes, who,
as we know by Letter 445, was an usher of the King's Chamber. Now
Edward IV. was in Yorkshire, .slaying, for the most part, at Pomfret, during
October and November 1463, while about the same time of year in 1464 he
was at Reading, and in 1465 at GreenwiclL Sir John would naturally have
passed through Lynn on his road to the North.
To my welbelovyd son. Sir John Paston, bc this deliveryd
in hasi.
1 John Wodehouse, Esq. of Kimberley, son of the renowned John Wode
house, Esq., who gained so much honour at the battle of Agincourt; he died
in 1465, and lies buried in Kimberley Chancel.— F

142 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1463.
GRET yow weUe, and send yow Godds
bUssyng and myn, latyng yew wet that I
have receyved a letter from you, the wyche
ye deUvetyd to Master Roger at Lynne,
wherby I conseyve thar ye thynke ye ded not well
that ye departyd hens withowt my knowlage. Wherfor
I late yow wett I was tyght evyll payed with yow.
Your fader thowght, and thynkyth yet, that I was
asentyd to your departyng, and that luthe causyd me
to have gret hevinesse. I hope he woUe be your
good fader hereafter, yf ye demene you welle, and do
as ye owe to do to hym ; and I charge you upon my
blyssyng that in any thyng towchyng your fader that
shuld be hys worchep, profyte, or avayle, that ye do
your devoyr and dylygent labor to the fortherans tiierin,
as ye wuUe have my good wiUe, and that shaU cause
your fader to be better fader to you.
It was told me ye sent hym a letter to London.
What the entent therof was I wot not, but thowge he
take it but lyghtly, I wold ye shuld not spar to write
to hym ageyn as lowly as ye cane, besechyng hym to
be your good fader ; and send hym suche tydyngs as
be in the centre thir ye bethe in, and that ye war
[beware] of your expence bettyr and ye have be befor
thys tyme, and be your owne purse berer, I trowe ye
shall fyndyt most profytable to you.
I wold ye shuld send me word howghe ye doo, and
howghe ye have schevyfte for yourself syn ye departyd
hens, be som trosty man, and that your fader have no
knowlage therof. I durste not late hym knowe of the
laste letter that ye wrot to me, be cause he was so sor
dyspleasyd with me at that tyme.
Item, I wold ye shuld speke with Wekis, and knowe
hys dysposysion to Jane Walsham. She hathe seyd, sjai
he departyd hens, but [unless] she myght have hym, she
wold never maryd, hyr hert ys sor set on hym ; she told
me that he seyd to hyr that ther was no woman in the
world he lovyd so welle. I wold not he shuld jape
hyr, for she menythe good feythe ; and yf he woUe

A.D.1463.] EDWARD IV. 143
not have hyr, late me wete in hast, and I shall purvey
fer hyr in othyr wysse.
As for your barneys and ger that ye left here, it ys in
Daubeneys kepyng; it was never remevyd sjm your
departyng, be cause that he had not the keyes. I trowe
it'shaU apeyer [get injured], but if it be take hed hate
[unless it be taken heed at, or to] be tymys. Your fader
knowjrthe not wher it is.
I sent your grey hors to Ruston to the ferror, and
he seythe he shuU never be nowght to rood, nowthyr
tyght good to plowe nor to carte ; he seyth he was
splayyd, and hys shulder rent from the body. I wot
net what to do with hym.
Your grandam wold fayne here sum tydyngs frora
yow. It wer welle do that ye sent a letter to hyr hewe
ye do, as astely as ye may. And God have you in Hys
kepyng, and make yew a good man, and zj^f yow grace
to do as weU as I wold ye shuld do.
Wretyn at Caster, ye Tewisday next befor Seynt
Edmund the Kynge. Your moder, M. Paston.
I wold ye shuld make mech of the parson [of] Fylby,
the berer herof, and make hjin goed cher yf j-e may.
481.
A.D. 1463, 10 Dec. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Indenture, lOth Dec. 3 Edward IV., between Robert Wod-
lark. Provost of the College of St. Mary and St. Nicholas,
Cambridge, and John Paston, Esq., witnessing a loan by Paston
to the college of 100 marks till the octaves of St. Hilaiy, 1464,
\i.e. 1464-5] upon certain plate.'
I/ote below in a different hand: — "Memorandum quod Mr.
Alexander Lye erit apud Norwicum in die Martis pro[ximo]
post diein Camiprivii.'
1 The plate specified in this document is the same as that contained iu the
ucond list in No. 4S7, at p. 154.

144 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D 1464-

482.
A.D. 1464, 26 Jan.
James Gresham to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 156.]
The date of this letter is abundantly evident, first from the circumstance
that the 26th of Januarjr (the morrow of St. Paul) was a Thursday, and
secondly, from the mention of the King's going into Gloucestershu-e. In
January 1464, Edward IV. was at Northampton, and on the gth of February
ne was at Gloucester.
To my right worshipfuU mayster, John Paston, at Castre,
in Norfolk.
FTER due recomendacion hadde, please it
your maistership to wytte that this day the
plee by twene Ogan and yow was sore argued
in the Kynggs Bench by your counsell, in
lettyng of the jugement, and to morwe have they day
te argue ageyn. And for lak of copies of the plee, I
am fayn te sewe for newe copies therof for your
counseU. Your counsell hopeth to do weel therin.
These argued for yow, Maisters Grenefeld,i Catesby,*
Pyget,' Notyngham,* and Starky,* &c. And yesterday
was the matier by twene Debenham and yow called
by Geney* for an answer. I have spoken onto Catesby,
and deljrvered hjmi your enfromacion, and to be
advysed, and to commune with Maister Grenefeld, &c.
The two Chefe Juges ^ and Maister Lyttleton * arn
1 John Greenfield. He and the two next named were made serjeants-at-
aw in November 1463.
2 John Catesby. He was appointed Judge of the Common Pleas in 1481.
S Richard Pygot.
•1 William Nottingham. He was appointed Chief Baron ofthe Exchequer
in 1470.
S Humphrey Starkey. He was made a serjeant in 1478-
6 William Jenney was made a serjeant in 1463, and a Justice of the King's
Bench in Z481.
7 John Markham, Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Robert Danby,
Chief Justice of the Cominon Pleas, both appointed in 14S1.
** Thomas Lyttelton, the famous lawyer, was created a serjeant in 14S3,
and appointed a Judge of the Common Pleas in 1466. He died in 1481,
aged 79, as Fenn here tells us in a footnote ; but Foss, in his Lives of tbe
Judges, says nothing of his age.

A. D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 145
awaytyng up on the Kyng, for the Kyng is purposed
in to Gleucestreshire, &c.
It is seid that my Lord Chaunceller^ shuU be here
en Saterday or on Moneday next comjmg, as the
maisteres of the Chauncetye sayn. I write to yow
this by cause ye seid to me if ye wyst that my Lord
Chaunceller shuld be here, thanne wolde ye come
bidder, and ell[es] wolde ye not come here this terme.
As touchyng Rysyng, he hath his day, Utas^ Purifica
tionis, but I have that weye that his presence is recondet
for al this terme.
Maister Clement^ tellyth me that Wysseter hath put
excepcion on to your wyttenesseres,* &c.
It is seid that the Kyng wold ride Sussex, Kent,
Essex, Suffolk, and Norffolk, and so to the Pariement,
for he hath sent for alle his feed men to awayte up on
hym in their best aray in al hast.
Wretyn at London, the Thursday in the morwe
after Seynt Poule. Your ewen poure man,
Jams Gresham.

483.
A.D. 1464, 28 Jan.
Henry Berry to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 278.]
By the mention of Sir John Paston it is evident that this letter was written
after 1463, but of course the date caimot be later than 146(5, in which year
John aston the father died, to whom this letter is addressed. It appears
also to have been written shortly after the death oi James Sevenoke, Abbot
of St. Augustine's, Canterbury, which Fenn, I know not on what authority,
says occurred in 1463. Even the new edition of Dugdale does not give the
date ; but Fenn's date is in all probability right.
1 George Neville, now Bishop of Exeter, but soon after the writing of thi:.
letter translated to York.
s "The Utas or Octave of a feast is the seventh day after it.
» Clement Paston, brother to John Paston.
4 This relates to the disputes concerning Sir John Fastolf s wiU.
II. L

146 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1464.
To my Rygth worsschipful cosyn, fohn Paston, Squyer,
be this Letter delyveryd, Gfc.
JYGHT worsschypfuU and reverent cosyn, I
recomaunde me on to you wj^ al myn hert,
as your feythful kynnesman and orateur,
desyrynge to here of the goode prosperite
and welfare ef your worsschipfuU modyr my Lady and
cosyn, wyth your wyff, Sir John Fasten, your brethern
Wylliam and Clement, with all your sonys and
doughters, to whom I beseche you hertely that I may
be recomaundyd. God of His hyghe mercy preserve
you all un to Hys mercy and grace, and save you fi-om
all adversite.
WorsschipfuU cosyn, my special] writynge and
hertys desire afore rehersyd, nature naturaly so me
cempellyth. Watt thou I be putt fer ought of conceyte and syght,
I have you all in remembrance both day and nyght;
besechynge you, gentyll cosyn, to tender my writynge.
I take God to my wyttnesse, I wold as fayn do that
myght be un to your honor, worsschippe, and profit as
any herthly man can thynke.
Worfor now late deyde the Abbot ef our Monastety,
and lefte us in grete ded [debt]; the brynger heroff is
my special! frende : the holdyst brother in our place
never hard nor saw our chirche in that mysere that is
now ; we have cast the perellys amongys us, and there
is nowne other helpe, butt evety brother that hath any
worsschipfuU kynne or frendys, evety man to do his
part to the well fare, socour, and releve of our monas-
teri ; therfor, worsschipfuU cosyn, I, a brother of that
worsschipfuU monastety, wer inne begoon the feyth of
aU thys lend, mekely besechyth you in the reverence
of AUraygty God to render help, and socour us in our
grete necessite; for in London lyth to wedde many
tyche jowells of ouris, wth other grete detts, wych my
brother wyll enforme you of.

AD.1464.] EDWARD TV. 147
Plesyth your goodnesse, for Godys sake, and aU
the Seyntts of evyn, and att my sympyll request, to
have compassion upon us, ye havynge dooe swerte [due
surety] both in obligacions and pleggs ; in the reverens
ef All myghti God, do your allraesse and cli.iritej hitt
schall cause you to be prayed for, and aU your kynne as
long as the chirche stantt; and be this menys, I trust te
AU myghty God, to se my cosyn WUUam, or Clement,
to be stward of our londys, and so to have an intresse
in Kentt, to the worsschippe of God and you all, wych
ever have you in His kepynge. Amen.
Writyn at Caunterbity in hast the xxviij" day of
Januare. Also I beseche you, schew the btynger of this letter
sum humanite and worsschipe, that when he comyth
home, he may reporte as he fyndeth.
^ [This is the cause evety weie thi putt my kynne
in my herd, sejdnge, I am come of lordys, knygtes,
and ladys. I wold they wer in your daunger a m'-
merke, that they mygte know you, &c.]
Be your cosyn and bedman,
Henry Berry.

484.
A.D. 1464, 27 Feb.
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 72.]
This_ letter and the next both mention assizes at Thetford. The latter,
which is dated on Wednesday, the last (29th) day of Febmary, and which was
certailJy written in the year 1464, mention them as being held on that very
day. "The present letter, dated on the second Monday in Lent, sa_ys they
are io he held on Wednesday following. Now the second Monday m Lent
1464 fell on the 27th of February, that is to say just two days before that
particular Wednesday on which we know that the assizes really were held.
This alone seems almost sufficient evidence of the date of the letter. As for
the King's going up to London, it appears by the dates of the Privy Seals
that on me 9th February he was at Gloucester, on the i6th and 17th at Kim
bolton ; and it is stated in the next letter that he was at Waltham on the 27th,
which shows that he really was moving towards the capital. This was not
1 This last paragraph is crossed out in the original MS.

148 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1464.
the case in 1462, the year to which Fenn assigns the letter ; nor do I know
his authority for stating that there was a Burgundian Embassy in the begin
ning of that year.
To my mooste reverent and wurchipfull mastre, my
Mastre fohn Paston, be this delyverd.
|LESITH it your goode mastreschip to undre
stande that I have receyved a byll of John
Boteler, weche speketh of your heygh at
Heylesdn, and of your barly in other places,
but I undrestand not what ye wold I schulde do
therin ; nevertheles I schal do make it redy. And as
for your heygh I schull tell you whan I come hume ;
and as fer money at Heylesdon I can non gete, and
at Sueynesthorp I have take iiij. marc.
Item, as for tidyngs the Sescions schal be at Thetford
on Wednesday next comyng, where I undrestande Mr.
Bemey wol be with moche people, be cauce ther is
come te hym a Prevy Seale that he schuld be with the
Kjmg within vj. dayes that the Prevy Seale whas
delyverd hym, weche he can not deo, for the yj. day
is to morwe. Ther is on comen to Felbrigge, to WiUiam
Yelverton en ether, and to Robert Rough an other,
and non of them wol goe to the Kyng; and the Undre-
scherif telde me that ther is comen a comyscien doun
to hes maistre, that in cas they corae not up to the
Kyng be ther Prevy Scales, that than he rere the
contre and take hem and btyng hem to the Kyng
wher so ever he be.
Item, Jamys Gresham teUethe me the same, and as
for tidyngs fro London we here non, but that John
Colman teUeth me that if Bemey or Robert Rough
come up they are like to die.
Ther be come to London Embasetors from the
Duke of Burgundy, weche cauced the Kyng to spede
hym the rather to London.
Item, as for any newe assises at Thetford ther is
nen but that hathe hanged this v. yere, as the Scherif
teUethe me.

A.D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 149
I whas purposed to be at home this nyght tell I had
your biUe, weche cauceth me to ride on to Drayton
for divers thyngs, &c. Almyghty Jesu preserve you.
Wreten at Norwiche, the ij. Munday ef clene Lente.
Your pore beedeman and servaunt,
Ric Calle.

485.
A.D. 1464, 29 Feb.
John Pampynge to John Paston, Senior.
[From Fenn, iv. 158.]
The circumstance of the last day of February falling on a Wednesday, fixes
the date of this letter to the year 1464. There is no evidence in the dates of
Privy Seals that the King was at Waliham in the end of Februaryj or that
he had previously visited Cambridgeshire, in any year during the period when
this letter must have been written ; but it is quite possible that he was at
Waltham on the 27th February 1464, and if so, that he had passed throuEh
Cambridgeshire on his way from Kimbolton, where he had been on the 17U1.
To my right worshipfuU master, fohn Paston, the
elder, Squier.
|LEASE your mastership to wete that the Assise
holde this day at Thetford ; and as for any
newe Assise, that ye spak of, ther is non, ner
non other savyng on for a man a bought
Bnmham. I spak with Herward, and I askyd hym if ther was
any gret day at Buty, and he seid ther was but a small
day, and as for any assises ther wer non but old ; and
he teld me that Debenham and the Undershireff were
faUe ought. Debenham bare the Shireff on hand^ that
he had do indited an hundred men son he cam in to
his office, and the Shireff told hym that the Kyngs
bokkes apperid whedir it was so or nought ; and he
told Debenham that he coud indite an hundred at on
tyme whan ye wer indited, and named yow the cause
of ther brekyng. ^ i.e., accused him See Vol. I. p. 9a

15° THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1464.
Ther was a man kyUid now late in Suffolk, and he
that ded it was on of Debenhams men ; and Herward
told me that the Shireff seid to hym he wold do
Debenham a shrewd tume and he coud.
Item, it was told me at Norwich that Master Bemey
shuld have be here with a gret felaship, and it is not
so, ner no man betyth of hys comyng, ner her is but
liteU pepUl nowther, ther wer not se few this iij. yer,
as men say.
Item, Herward askyd me where John Gayn was,
and I askyd why, and he seid ther is a capias ought
ayens hym upon the condempnaceon,^ and the Shireff
hath it, he bad me geve hym wamyng; it is retamabiU
XV. Pasch.2
Item, thei sey here that the Kyng was on Monday
at Waltham.
Item, Nicholas Colman hath brought home your
fardell ; it is at Norwich.
Item, ther be no more Juges here but Sir Pers
Ardeyn.^ Wretyn at Thetford, the Wednesday the last day of
Februar. Item, WjTnondham* is here, and was at the shirehows
this day, and the Kyngs livety abaught his nekke, and
ther stood be the Juge, whUl a lettir of the Kyngs was
red. The effect was, as it was told me, that the Kyng
will that justice be had, and that aU risers ayens the
pees, and oppressers of the pepiU, be chasteised, letyng
hem weet ^ that he was late in Cambrigge Shire, and
there such as had offendid askyd grace, whech thei had,
savyng such as wer rewlers, whom he woU somwhat
1 Query, as to this word, it being not perfect in the original? — F.
2 Quindena Paschse, the fifteenth day after Easter.
' Su: Peter Ardem, Knight, was appointed Chief Baron ofthe Exchequer,
and also a Justice of the Common Pleas in 1448 ; but in 146a a new Chief
Baron was appointed, and Ardem retained only the judgeship in the Common
Pleas. He died in r467.
* John Wymondham, Esq., the i>urchaser of Felbrigg ; he died there in
147s, and was buried in the Augustine Friars at Norwich. — F.
' The word " weet " is omitted in Fenn's original text, but occurs in tlie
ir.odem copy.

A.D. 1464.] 'EDWARD IV. 151
bee punyshid, purposyng to be in this contty abought
Estem, &C. Your servaunt, &c. John Pampynge.
486.
A.D. 1464, I March.
John Paston the youngest to John Paston,
HIS Father.
[From Fenn, i. 284.]
"The Duke of Somerset's going" here referred to cannot well be his flight
to Scotland in 1462 (See No. 443), though the time of year at which this
letter is dated would a^ee very well with that supposition ; for it appears by
Letter 442 that John Paston, the father, was at that time residing inthe
Temple and not at Caister ; nor indeed have we distinct evidence of his being
at the latter place before 1464. Moreover, in the beginning of 1463, Somerset
had just made his peace with King Edward and been received into favour,
but early in X464 he rebelled again. There can be little doubt, therefore, that
this year is the true date.
To my rygte reverent and worchepfull fadyr, fohn
Paston, dwellyng in Castyr, be thys delyva-yd.
|YTH reverent and worchepfuU fadyr, I re
comand me on to yow, besechjTig yow lowly
of your blyssjmg, desytyng to here of yewjrr
wellfar and prosperyte, the whyche I pray
God preserve on te Hys plesans, and to yowjr hertys
desyir; besechjmg yow to have me excusyd that ye
had no wtytyng fro me syth that I departyd frome
yow ; for so God me helpe, I send yow a lettyr to
London anon aftyr Kandylmas, by a man of my
Lordys; and he forgat to delyver yt to yow, and so
he browt to me the lettyr ayen; and sythe that tyme
I kowd get no messenger tyll now.
As for tydjTigs, syche as we have here I send yow.
My Lord and my Lady^ ar in good hele, biyssyd be
God, and my Lord hathe gret labore and cost here in
1 John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, and Elizabeth, his wife.

152 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1464.
Walys for to take dyvers gentyllraen here whyche wer
consentyng and helpyng on te the Duke of Semersettys
goyng; and they were apelyd of othyr se[r]teyn poyntys
of treson, and thys mater. And bycause the Kyng
sent my Lord woord to keep thys centre, is cause that
my Lord tetythe here thus longe. And now the Kyng
hathe geve my Lord power, whedyr he wole do exe
cusyon upon thes gentyllmen, or pardon hem, whedyr
that hyra lyst; and as fertheforthe as I kan undyr
stand yet, they shaU have grase. And as sone as thes
men be come in, my Lord is perposyd to come to
London, whyche I supose schall be within thys fort-
nyght. The menys namys that be apechyd ar thes,
John Hanmer, and Wylliam hys sone, Roger Pulyston,
and Edward of Madok; these be men of worchepe that
schaU come in.
The Comenys m Lancasher and Chescher wer up
to the nombyr ef a x. m'- [10,000] or more, but now
they be downe ayen; and one or ij. of hem was hedyd
in Chestyr as on Saterday last past.
Thomas Danyell^ is here in Chesscher, but I wot
net in what plase, he hathe sent iij. or nij. letytys to
Syr John Howard, sjoie my Lord come hedjT.
And othyr tydynggs her we none here, but that I
supose ye have herd before; I supose vetyly that it
schall be so nye Esteme^ er ever my Lord come to
London, that I schal not move [q. mowef i.e., be able]
come home to yow before Estem ; wherfor I besech
yow, that ye wole wyche save [vouchsafe] that one of
your men may send a byll to myne oncyU Clement,
or to som othyr man, who that ye wole, in youyr
name, that they may delyver me the mony that I am
behynd of this quarter syn Cty'stmas, and for the next
quarter, in parte of that some that it plesid yow to
1 This gentleman had a reversionary grant of the constableship of Rising
Castle in 14485 27 H. VI. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert
Howard, and sister of Sir John, afterwards Duke of Norfolk. He is said to
have been actainted in the i E. IV., but fully restored both in blood and pos
sessions in the 14th of thc same King. He was esquire of the body to
Henry VI.-F.
* In 1464 Easter Day fell on the ist of ApriL

A.D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 153
grant me by yer; for by my trowthe, the felawchep
have not so myche meny as we wend to have had be
tyth myche; fer my Lord hath had gret costs syn hc
came hedyr. Wherfore I besech yow, that I may
have this mony at Estem, fer I have berowyd mony
that I must paye ayen after Estem: and I pray to
AUmyty God have yow in kepyng.
Wretyn in the CastyU of the Holte, in Walys, the
fyrst day of Marche. Your sone and lowly servant,
John Paston, the yongest.
487.
A.D. 1464, II April. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Copy of an indenture bearing date nth April, 4 Edward IV.,
witnessing the delivery to Richard Calle, servant of John Paston,
Esquire, by John, prior of the monastery of Holy Trinity, Nor-
widi, by virtue of the King's writ, of a red box containing
seventeen bundles of evidences, with £^o of silver in groats, and
80 nobles of gold, in a bag, and other valuables.
An inventory of the articles^ referred to in the foregoing indenture is con
tained in a separate paper mutilated in the right hand margin, which we give
verbatim as follows : —
This is the parcell be endenture received by Richard Calle of
 day of Aprile the forthe yere
 as it apperit by the copye that the seyde
Richard sendeth me by John Threcher.
Unam cistam rubeam cum xvij. bundellis evidenciarum in
eadem cista contentis.
Quadraginta libras argenti in grossis et iiij>''' nobil.
Duo turribula^ argenti et deaurata.
Unam pixidem argenti et deauratam
Unum osculatorium cum imagine Sancti Jacobi et . . . .
Unum cniett argenti et deauratum. Ileflnocmet
Unum crismatorium rotundum. Md.' in the cofer.a
Unum calicem argenti et deauratum. ) I left non
Unum alium calicem cum imagine Sancta; Trinitatis./ soch in the
cofer but
' Thuribula, censers, from thus. chalis of
' These marcinal notes are in John Paston's hand. Kold."

»S4

THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1464.

Thes to
chalis afler
the une' XX. J.
ar worth
xliij. £.>
This is worth
xiij. li. XV. &s
Thes be
worth, after
xxx. d. the
[inch xxviij.
li. xiij 8. ijb
1>

This is the copy of a bille drawin in Englyche that I sent home
[of all] manner of suche stuff as was in myne coffre in the abb[ey]
 by a letter sent with the same bylle that he
chowlde take hede that . . . yf he fonde aney more, well
be it, as it aperit in the seyd lett[er] . . . wouUe be lokyd
[loched] uppe.
Unum calicem de auro playne ponderis duas li[bras].
Unum alium calicem de auro cum scriptura " Cal[icem salutaris
accipiam,"' ponderis xix. une'].
Unam tabulam de auro cum imagine Sancti J[acobi positam
cum lapidis pretiosb,] ponderis xiij. une' et iij. quarteria.
Unum par turribulorum argenti et deaurat' cum scriptura, viz.,
in prima parte " Dat' est eis," &c. ; et in secunda parte
" Ascendit fiimus," pond' xiij. lb. et [x. une'].
Unam pixidem argenti pro sacramento deaurat' cum cruce [in
summitate ac chased cum] liliis, pond' v. lb. et iij. une' di'.
Unam ampuUam argenti deaurat' pond' i. lb.8
•All this was put in apaner togyddre and .... for to
berit in to the cofte.
Item, xl. mark in noblis and xl. IL in gro[ds].
Item, evydens.
488.
A.D. 1464, April-Nov. — ^Abstract.
[From MS. Phillipps, 9309.]
Depositions touching Sir J. Fastolf's Will.
These depositions, of which we shall only_ attempt to give some of the
principal points, were produced in the Spiritual Couit by ^Sir WiUiam
Yelverton and William Worcester in opposition to the claim of John
Paston and Thomas Howes to he Sir John FastolTs executors, llie exami-
nations were taken at intervals during the years 1464, 1465, and 1466, and
the suit was not terminated when John Paston died. "The MS. volume here
referred to contains three distinct bundles of these depositions bound up in a
wrong order. A volume containing similar matter among the Paston MSS.
in the British Museum, will be found entered in the year 1465.
"Primum testes reprobatorii product! per Yelverton, contra
testes Paston principaliter productos &c.
" Facta fuit sequens examinatio testium subscriptorum secrete
et singillatim, videlicet, Domini Johannis Davy capellani vice
simo octavo die mensis Aprilis, Thomae Upton quinto, Johannis
Bockyng duodecimo, Ni-holai Newman xvj'o diebus mensis
Maii; Johannis Loer, Willelmi Eton quarto, Roberti Lynne
quinto, diebus mensis Jtmii; Bartholomei Elys tercio, magistri
Roberti Wylly sexto, Johannis Marshall, Johannis Davy tercio-
1 Psalm cxv. [cxvi.] 13. s See Note 2 on last page.
* The plate in this list is the same as that described in Ko. 481, by which
the words lost in this MS. have been supplied.
* Added in John Paston's hand.

A.D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 155
decimo et Willelmi Lyne ultimo, diebus mensis Julii; Anno
Domini millesimo quadringentesimo sexagesimo quarto, Indictione
duodecima, pontificatus Sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini
nostri, domini Pii Divina prudencia Papae Secundi anno sexto. In
Domo Thesaurarii ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli, London,
infi'a parochiam Sancti Gregorii civitatis London situat', per
venerabilem virum magistrum Johannem Druell, utriusque juris
doctorem, examinatorem et commissarium ad infra scripta
specialiter deputatum. In prsesentia mei Nicholai Parker notarii
auctoritate Apostolica, publici scribas in hae parte de et super
exceptionibus infra scriptis, per partem domini Willelmi Yelver
ton et Willelmi Worceter productorum."
I. John Davy chaplain, staying at the University of Cambridge,
liberce conditienis, 30 years old and more, examined super excep-
iionOtis infrascriptis of which the tenors are quoted, viz., on the
part of Yelverton and Worceter against John Russe, Robert
Cutteler elk.. Master Clement Felmyngham, Rob. Boteler,
Ralph Lampet, Brother Will. Bokyngham, and Master Robert
Popy, witnesses on the opposite side, whose testimony is dis
credited "eo quod parte sua non presenti juraverunt et super
non juratis deposuerunt, ac in depositionibus suis fuerint et sint
varii, contrarii, singulares negativam asserentes, causas dictorum
suorum minime reddentes, imumque et eundem prasmeditatum
sermonem proferentes, a testatore non vocati aut rogati perhibere
testimonium, nee sufficienter probantes in hae parte, prout ex
inspectione depositionum suarum liquere poterit intuenti."
Further, John Russe was illiterate, and did not understand Latin
when he made his deposition, and he contradicted the other
witnesses on his own side : viz., to the 9th interrogatory he said. Sir
J. Fastolf's will was not written before his death, which Clement
Felmyngham and Robt. Cutteler in their reply to the 3d said
it was. Moreover he expected advantage to himself from his
testimony, and was discharged by Howys of ;f 300 that he owed
Fastolf. He had also secretly abstracted certain muniments and
charters of the testator, which were in the custody of Will. Wor
ceter, in the house of John To vy, at Castir, Norwich dioc, in Nov.
1459. Moreover he was supravisor et locator of the testator's
lands called Akethorpe, yearly value 9 marks, appointed by
Paston or Howys, who promised to sell them to him much under
value for his testimony. Further, his statement that he was
present in guadam bassa camera at Caister between 8 and 9
a.m. on the Saturday before Sir J. FastolFs death, was a
perjury, for he was really all that time in other places a long
way off. His declaration that he was no servant or tenant of
those who brought him forward was untrue: he had hired a
house of Howys in the town of Yarmouth, value 40s. a year.
He was inconsistent in his testimony about the hour Sir J.
declared his wiU. He also pretended never to have seen Fastolf's

156 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1464.
will before his death, although he wrote the said pretended will
with his own hand with the date at the head, which at the be
ginning of this suit he caused to be cut off from the writing and
hidden. Also the said Rob. Cutteler chaplain, when he made his de
position, was " levis opinionis, malae conscientiae et de mensa Joh'is
Paston ac tenens ipsius, prout ad primum interrogatorium exami-
nationis suae primae et secundae respondebat." Also he was
perjured ; because in April 1457 in par. of Holy Trin., Castir, he
beat and maimed one Jo. Flemyng, and boasted of it {ac sic
factum nomine suo ratum habuit), but being taken before Sir J.
Fastolf, justice of the peace, he swore he had not done so. — Proofs
that he was not disinterested.
Exceptions to Rob. Popy: He was a tenant of Paston's, &c. &c
Davy says John Rus was at Yarmouth on the Saturday in
question, as he usually was on Saturdays, to buy victuals for
Fastolf's house, &c. (Proof declared insufficient in the margin).
Sir J. Fastolf was so ill, that, as Davy had heard he was unable
to speak from 22d Oct. "Quae quidem infirmitas vocabatur
judicio medicorum, sincope, quas ipsum vexabat singulis hoiis et
ipsum deduxit ad extasim de scientia istius jurati, qui continue
conversabatur cum eo usque ad ipsius mortem."
2. Thos. Upton, one of the clerks of the King's kitchen,
litcratus, "liberae conditionis," forty years old and over ; 2d.
witness. Mentions that W. Worceter gave Jo. Rus a casket to keep
containing certain documents, which Rus delivered to Howys after
Fastolf's death. Was clerk of the kitchen to Fastolf when Rus
used to go on Saturday to Yarmouth, &c.
9 May. Jo. Bokkyng produced by Jo. Naseby, proctor of Yel
verton and Worceter, before Master Tho. Wynterton, LL.D.,
auditor of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, at his house in the
parish of St. Martin, in presence of Robert Kent, proctor of
John Paston. — Examination committed to John Druell, LL.D.
who on the I zth May examines him secretly in the house of the
treasurer of St. Paul's.
"Dicit quod Johannes Tovy quaedam munimenta et evidencias'
in certis bagis et pixidibus contenta quce Willelmus Worceter
eidem Johanni Tovy Hberavit custodienda." Rus was and is
Howys' tenant for the house he lives in. After Fastolf's death
Upton delivered to Clement Felm)mgham a signet or gold ring,
"ad signandum sigilla dicti domini Johannis Fastolf," in a little
bag, which was to be retumed "post signacionem hujusmodi,"
but afterwards he said he had lost it. Touchyng brother W.
Bukyngham, it was publicly noised at Yarmouth that Robert
Brown, a chaplain of that town, had killed one Seman Burton,
that Bukyngham knowingly received him, and that by his advice
1 There is no verb in the MS., to govern munimenta et evithncias.

AD. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 157
he fled. To the last exception he says he believes Fastolf did
not release Paston from the payment of the said 4000 marks,
"quia iste juratus non intellixit in tota vita sua tantam liberalita
tem in dicto domino Johanne Fastolf." Fastolf had such diffi-
cullT in breathing for five or six days before his death that he
could hardly speak.
Interrogatories proposed on the part of Paston and Howys, and
administered to witnesses.
" In primis, interrogetur quilibet testis hujusmodi cujus sit con
ditionis et an sit famulus, 1 serviens aut tenens partis eum pro-
ducentis, et cui parti magis fevet partium praedictarum." Secondly,
ivhether he be in the pay of any one. There are six interrogatories
in all, and they are numbered.
Then follow answers of some one whose name does not appeatr,
to each of these six interrogatories ; and other answers by —
I. Nich. Newman, Usher of the Chamber to Lady Catherine,
Duchess of Norfolk.
2. John Loer, servant of tbe Abbot of Langley.
3. Will. Eton.
4. Rob. Lynne of Bucklande.
5. Barth. Elys of Yarmouth, " literatus liberae conditionis,"
fifty years old and more (proves Rus's absence, but his testimony
is declared in the margin to be improbable, and not to agree
with Davy's.)
6 July. Naseby produces Rob. Wylly on the part of Yelverton
and Worcester. Examined on the 9th. — Says he was required by
Paston and Howys to see Fastolf s will, and " ad impediendum
[impendendum-] consilium suum:" — that on a Sunday in the
summer after Fastolf s death, John Paston showed him, at
Fastolf s house in Southwark, Sir John's will written on paper,
in presence of Clement Felmyngham and John Bracley, and
asked his opinion if it was valid. Thought it insufficient to
overthrow any previous will. A clause mentioning Tudenham
and Heydon as executors was cancelled by this deponent's
advice, " eo quod erat contra caritatem."
13 July at Bow Church. Naseby produces John Marshall and
John Davy, whose examinations follow.
19 Oct. 1464. Druell examines Hen. Wenstall at the treasurer's
house of St. Paul's.
15 Nov. 1464. Druell examines Rob. Hert.
I Dec. Naseby produces Rob. Fyztrauf, whose production
Kent opposes ; who tries to prove Rus's absence (insufficiently,
as remarked in the margin), because he was constantly with
Fastolf, except half an hour that moming, and held the basin
1 The text is continued here at another part of the volume, the leaves being
misplaced.

IS8 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1464.
while Henry Barbour lathered the beard {lavit barbam) of the
said Sir John Fastolf.
" Responsiones personaliter factae per dominum 'Thomam
Howys unum executorum domini Joh'is Fastolf, ultimo die
mensis Aprilis A" Dni 1464," &c., "coram Ven. viro Mag'ro
Thoma Wynterboume, LL.D.," &c., " in camera ejusdem infra
manerium Rev"' patris apud Lamehith, Winton dioc' situat*, in
praesenncia mei Nicholai Parker," &c.
Howys says he did not see Coteler or Rus in Fastolf s chamber
that Saturday before he went to dinner. On Saturday and Sunday
before his death Fastolf spoke so low he could hardly be heard
by any one, and Howys heard him only by putting his ear close
to his mouUi. Fastolf s mind was clear.
489.
A.D. 1464, 12 May. — ^Abstract.
[From MS. in Bodleian Library.]
Power of attomey by Roger Fidyon, clerk, and Williani
Bondys to Richard Lynstede, John Holme, and John Brikkes, to
enter and take possession of the manor of Hornynghall, in Castre,
by Yarmouth, with appurtenances in Castre, Maudeby, Ormesby,
Filby, and Scroudeby, or elsewhere in the hundred of East
Flegge, Norfolk, which the said Roger and William have of the
gift of Edmund Clere ; and thereafter to deliver seisin therein to
Agnes Paston, William Paston, Elizabeth, Countess of Oxford,
John Veer, Earl of Oxford, John Scroop, Knight, Lord Scroop,
Sir William Yelverton, Elizabeth Cleere ; WilUam Jennay, John
Grenefeld, John Catesby, Serjeants-at-Law ; John Hastynges,
John Clopton, John Calthorp, Hugh Fen, Thomas Comewaleys,
Thomas Howes, clerk, Roger Marchall of London, Henty Spil-
man, William Lomnour, Bartholomew Whyte, William Whyte,
John Applyerd, James Arblaster, William Wurcetyr, and Rieliard
Maryot, according to a charter granted to them by the said Roger
and William.
Castre, 12th May, 4 Edward IV.
490.
A.D. 1464, 8 June.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 176.]
The commission to Lord Scales and Sir John Howard mentioned in thii

AD. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 159
letter seems to havc reference to a proclamation dated the nth May 1464, by
which all men between the ages of sixty and sixteen were ordered to attend
the King. The date is confinned by the reference in the postscript to the
death of" Rous of Suffolk," for Reginald Rous of Denington died in r464.
(See Weever's Funeral Monuments, p. 782.)
To myn ryght worshypful hosbond, fohn Paston, be thys
delyveryd in haste.
|YGHT worshypful hosbond, rekomaund me on
to you. Pleasjfth you to wete that I sent
yisterday Loveday to Norwyche to speke
wyth the Vykyi of Derham ^ for the mater
betwen Master Constantyn and hym; and he seyth
that as for that mater. Master Constantyn sewyd hym
fer feyth and trewth brekyng, and he sewed Master
ConstantjTi in the Temporall Curte uppon an obliga
cion of x//.; and ther was made appojTitment be twen
hem by the advyce of bothe ther Conceylis, be for
Master Robert Popy, that eche of hem shuld relece
othyr, and so they dede, and the sewtys wer wyth-
drawjm on bothe partyes, and iche of hem aquyt-
auncyd ethjT; and as for any copy of the plee, he
had never non, ner he ner Master John Estegate, that
was hys atomay, remembryth nat that it was regestryd;
and Master John Estegate seythe, if it schuld be
scergyd in the regester it wold take a fortenyght werk,
and yit peraventur never be the nerer.
SjT Thomas Howes hathe ben ryght besy thys weke
at Bloofeld, in wrytyng and lokyng uppe of ger, and
John Russe hathe ben with hym ther the moste parte
of alle thys weke, and thys day was Robert Lynne
ther with hym ; what they have do I wote nat, but I
schal wete if I may.
It was told me that Syr Thomas desyiyd of John
Russe to make hym a new inventory of Syr John
Fastolffs goods. John Russe myght not be spoke with
1 Constantine Dalby was instituted to the Vicarage of East Dereham ia
1431, and was succeeded in 1458 by Robert Sheringham.

l6o THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1464.
yit, for the letter that he shuld a wretyn, whych ye
sente me werd of.
Item, it is telde that the Dwke of Suffolk ^ is kome
home, and owthjT he is ded, or ellys lyght seke, and
not lyke to eskape ; and Sjrr John Howard is kome
hom; and it is seyd that the Lord Skalys* and he
have a comyssyon te enquer whye they of this contre
that were sent for kame not hastylar uppe afftyr they
wer sent for. It is reportyd that the Kyng is gretly
dyspleasyd ther with. At the reverence of God, arme
yowr selve as myghtyly as ye kan ageyn yowr enmyes,
for I know verrayly that they wyl do agejTi yow as
myghtyly as they kan with all ther power.
It is told me that Sjr Thomas shal kom uppe in
haste, and othyr, suche as he kan make for hys
partye. Also for Goddys sake be war what medesyns ye
take of any fysissyans of London ; I schal never trust
to hem be cause of your fadr and myn onkyl, wheys
sowlys God assoyle.
The blissyd Trynyte have yew in Hys kepyng, and
sende yow helthe and good spede in aU yowr materis.
Wretyn in haste, on the Fryday next befor Sceynt
Bernabye. By yowrs, M. P.

Alle the jentylmen of thys contre that went uppe to
the Kyng ar contrmaundyd, and ar com home ageya
It is told me that Rowse of Suffolk ^ is ded. If John
Gayn myght have any releese of his sone, if it myght
do hym ese, it wer a good torne for hym.
1 John De la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.
• Anthony Widville was created Lord Scales in 1461.— F.
> Reginald Rous, Esq. of Denington, in SuSblk, died in 14(4. Hcwaa the
ancestor of the present Earl of Stradbroke.

At). 1464.] EDWARD IK I61
491.
A.D. 1464, 28 June.
Richard Calle to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter refers to the suit brought by Jenney against Paston in 1464, in
which, as will be seen hereafter, Paston failed to appear at four successive
county courts held at Ipsivich, and was at last outlawed in Michaelmas
term. See Na 494.
To my ryght wurschipfull my mastre, John Paston, be
this delyverd in haste.
|LESITH it youre goode maisterchippe to witte
that I have be with my Mastre Calthorppe
for the matre ye wrote to hym fore, wherin
I have founde hym ryght weele disposed
and favorabley; nevertheles he tolde me that William
Jenney hath bene hes goode frende and have ben of
hes councell this ij. yere in all hes matres towchyng
the lawe, but he seide lever he hadde lose the lesser
frende than the greete frende, and so he hathe graunted
favour accordyng to youre desire, and wrote a lettre te
the undrescheryff of Norfolk that he schuld take
suerte sufficient to save hym harmeles, and that done
to write a letter to the undrescheryff of Suffolk and lete
hym witte that he hath taken suerte that ye schall
appere in the crastino Animarum upon the exigents
returnable, or elles to brjmg a super sedias'^ lauful before
that daye, chargyng hym that he do sece [cause to cease]
the callyng of the writts, and to retorne that ye appered
the furst day. Weche suerte is taken, and a letter
wreten to the undrescheryff of Suffolk acordynge herto.
Item, as for Sir Thomas Howes, he lythe most at
Norwiche. I can thynke he come not up to London
tyll Michelmes.
Item, I rode over to Techewelle whan that I whas at
Mastre Calthorppes for to have money of the fermours,
1 Super seai.is. .So spelt in MS.
II. M

i62 THE PASToN LETTERS. [a.D. 1464.
and Yelverton and Sir Thomas hathe sent to hem that
they schol pay to you no more money, for that they
had payed te you they schulde payed [pay it] ayene to
them; and so I gane [can] gete no money of hem.
Wherfore I went for to distreyne hem; and so they seide
that I myght not distreyne hem, for I come before the
daye, for her [their] day is at Midsomer. Nevertheles
I wold not lette, for that Simond Miller and other pro
mysed te Mr. William Cotyng and to me that I schuld
have the money aftre Midsomer, so that I brought
with me a quetaunce of suche money as ye have
receyved of hem, or elles a generall quetaunce; and
the tene I purposed te do in haste be the advice of
the seide Mastre W. Cetynge. For, and I tomed, I can
thynke it schuld hurte. I am purposed to lete it in
youre name te other folks or to them ayen, and suerte
founde to you, &a And Almyghty God preserve and
kepe you. Wreten at Norwiche on Sen Petres Even.
Your pore servaunt and
bedman, Ric. Calle.

492.
A.D. 1464. — John Paston to Edward IV.
[From MSS. in the Bodleian Library.]
This, and the altemative petition which follows, seem to have been drawn
up in the year 1464, as one or other ofthem must have been the subject of
the agreement of the loth September in that year (No. 493). The two are
printed from two parchment MSS. in the Bodleian Library. There is also,
among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum, a third copy, fair written
on parchment like the other two, ofwhich the text corresponds in the begin
ning to the second petition, and in the latter part to the first.
To the Kyng, our Liege Lord.
ESECHYTH lowly your humble servaunt,
John Paston the older, squier, that it please
youre good grace, for such a fyne as your
highnes hath apojTited your seid besecher
to content yow, wherof ye be put in suerte, to graunt

A.ft.1464.] EDWARD IV. 163
on to your seid besecher jour gratious lettirs patentes
of licence to found, stabilissh, and endewe in the gret
inancion of Caster in Flegge in Norffolk, that late was
John Fastolffs, knyght, cosyn to your seid besecher,
a college of vij. prestes, wherof one to be master, and
of vij. porefolk, to pray for your noble astate and fer
the soule of the seid John Fastolff and such other as
he was behold to inperpetuite, aftir ordinauns by your
seid besecher in that behalff te be made; and to
inmortese, geve and graunt to the seid prestes and to
ther successours, fer the sustentacion of hem and ef
the seid porefolk CXX. mark of annuite and rent
charge, or annuites and rentes charge, yerly goyng out
of the maners callid Redhams, Vau.x, and Bosomes,
in Caster forseid, Begviles in Wynterten, Reppis in
Bastewyk, Spencers in Heryngby, Loundhall in Sax-
thorp, Heylesdon, Drayton, Heynesford, Guton in
Brandeston, Beyton, Techewell, and of the thrid part
of the maner of Runham -with th'apportenauns in the
shire of Norffolk, and of the maners of Hemnales in
Cotton, Bumeviles in Nakton, Akthorp in Leystoft,
Calcotes, Havelound, Spitlyngges,with th'apportenauns
in the shire ef Suffolk, and out of any part of fhe seid
maners, with a clause of distresse for defaut of pay
ment of the seid rente, and vj. acres of lond in the
seid towne of Caster, and the avowsons of the chirches
of the same town, and the fourth part of the seid
mancion, or any part therof for the habitacion of the
seid prestes and porefolk, to be reparid at the costs of
j''Our seid besecher, and his heires or assignes for evir.
And also by youi seid lettirs patentes to graunt the
same prestes to be one body incorperate and to have
succession perpetuall, and a comon seall, and to be
persones abiil to piede and to be impletid, and to
purchase and alienyn all maner londes, goodes and
catell, by the name of the master and his brethyrn of
the college of Sen John Baptist ef Castre aforeseid.
And also by your seid lettirs patentes to hcence the
seid prestes to take and reseyve, and to hold to them

l64 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1464-
and to ther successours the seid annuite, rent charge,
vj. acres of lond, aveusons, and the seid  ^ part
of the seid mancion, for evir. And to geve your
Chaunceler of Inglond fer the tyme beyng, comaunde
ment, power, and auctorite that where as in this peti-
sion is not comprehendid the certeynte of termes,
maters, clauses, and ether circumstaunces convenient
and requisite after forme of lawe fer licens of the seid
fundacion, that your seid Chaunceler, that notwith
standyng, do make your seid lettirs patentes in forme
of lawe effectuall and sufficient in that behalf after the
very entent aforeseid, not excedyng the valew and
somme before specifyd, without any fyne or fee ether
thanne is afore specifyd to be payd for the seid lettirs
patentes, licens, or grauntes, by your seid besecher or
by the seid prestes; and thei shall pray hertly to God
for yow.
Endorsed in a later Ao«rf:— Supplicatio Jo. Paston [pro] fundacione
Collegii apud Caistor [secundum] formam testamenti Jo. Fastolff miL
IL
To the Kyng, our Sovereyn Lord.
Please it yowr highnes to graunte unto yowr humble servant
John Paston the older, Squier, yowr gracious lettres patents of
licence to fownde, stabelysh, and endewe in the gret mancion of
Castre be MekyU Yermowth in Norffolk, that late was John Fastolfis,
knyght, cosyn to yowr seyd besecher, a colage of vij. prystes
wheroff on to be master, and vij. pounnen, to praye for your noble
astate, and for the sowle of the said Fastolff and suche othir as he
was be holde to inperpetuite, and to inmortese and gyve to the
seyd prystes, and to ther successours for the sustentacion of hem,
and of the seyd pourmen C. marke of annunite and rent charge,
yerly goyng owt of all maneres, londes, and tenementz that were
the seyd Fastolffs within the Shyres of Norffolk and Suffolk, and vj.
acres of londe in the sayd town of Castre, and the iiij. parte of
the sayd mancion for the habitacion of the sayd prystes and
pourmen, to be repared at the costes of yonr seyd besecher and
hys heyres and assignes for ever, as suerly and lawfully as your
seyd besecher can devise. And also be your letters patentz to
1 A blank on an erasure.

A.D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 165
graunt the same prystes to be one bodie incorperate, and to liave
succession perpetuall, and a comon seall, and to be persones abyll
to piede and be impletid, and to purchase and alienyn all maner
londs, tenements, godes, and catell, be the name ofthe master and hys
brethym of the collage of Saynt John Baptiste of Castre aforsayd.
And also be your letters patentz to licence the sayd prystes to
take and receyve, and to holde to theym and to ther successours
vhe sayd annaunite, rente charge, vj. acres of lond, avowsons, and
the seyd iiij. parte ofthe said mancion for ever, with owte eny ffyne
or fe to be payde for the sayd lettres patentz, licens or grauntes
be your sayd besecher, or be the said pristes. And thei shall pray
hertly to God for you.
Endorsed in a inter hand: — Peticio Joh'is Paston Arm' ad Regem pro
collegio in Caister.

493.
A.D. 1464, 10 Sept
Foundation of Caister College.
[From Fenn, iv. 182.]
Apunctuamenf Regis pro fundacione Collegij apud
Caistre, c5^'r.
^HE Kyng, for the soume of CCC. mark of
^" lawfull meny of Inglond, or ef silver plate to
the valew therof, grauntith to John Paston
the older, Squier, to have licens, lawfully mad,
to make and found a College of vij. prests and vij.
pore folk at Caster, in Flegge in NerSolk, for the seule
of Sir John Falstolf, Knyght ; thei to be indued with
certeyn rent, and otherwise aftir the intent and effect
as is specifijd in a bille therof, signed by the Kyng ;
and that he shall showe his good grase, favour, and
assistence to have the said fundacon inacted and
auctorised in the ];)arlement next holden, and discharge
the seid John Paston and the seid prests of any other
fyne or fee to be mad in the Chauncerie for the seid
fundacion; and that the Kyng shall signe and graunt
warants for seid licens, and shewe his good grace and

l66 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1464.
favour in the expedision therof what tyme he be sued
to therfore by the seid John Paston.
Also, the Kyng grauntith to be good and favorabill
Lord to the seid John Paston, and inespeciall in all
thyngs touchyng the execucion of the will of the seid
Sir John Fastolf, and also to be good and favorabill
Lord to the seid John Paston, in supportyng and
helpyng hym, in that the Kjmgs Highnesse may law-
fulle do, in such maters as are in debate athwjrx the
seid John Paston and William Yelverton, or William
Jenney, or any other, concernyng the lends and tene
ments, goods or cattell, that were the seid Sir John
Fastolfs. Also the Kyng grauntith to help and support
the seid John Paston to opteyne and have to the use
of the seid Sir John Fastolf such goods as were the
seid Fastolfs deseitfully aloj'ned eut of the possession
and knowlech of the seid John Paston ; and that the
Kyng shall graunt the seid John Paston such lawfull
writynggs and lettirs from the Kyng, directed to such
persones as shall be behovefull for the same, what
tyme the seid John Paston suyth to the Kyngs High
nesse therfore.
Also where Yelverton, or Jenney, or any Justise of
the Peas of the Shire of Suffolk hath recorded any riot,
trespas, or offenses to be do ayens the Kyngs peas,
by the seid John Paston, his servaunts, or tenaunts, or
frends; or where any inditement or presentment is
found ayens them, or any of them, before any of the
seid Justises, for any such riot, offenses, trespas, or for
any other mater remaynyng of record in the Kyngs
Benche, or in any other plase, the Kyng grauntith to
the seid John Paston, and all ether persones named
in the seid records or inditements, or in any of hem, and
te alle her boroughs [sureties] and plegges, and to ich of
hem that woll sue it, a pardon of all riotes, trespas,
offenses, felonys, forfetures doon ayens the Kyngs peas,
and of fynes therefore dempt [adjudged], or to be dempt,
and of all other thyngs generally, treason except, and
that the Kyng shall signe warants lawfull of the seid

A.D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 167
pardons, what tyme his Highnesse be requerid by the
seid John Paston or his attornys.
And also that his Highnesse shall do inquere and
examinacion be mad whedir the seid record of the seid
Justises and presentments, and other informacions or
compleynts mad ayens the seid John Paston, were do
trewly and lawfully or nought ; and if it be found that
thei were do otherwise thanne trought, lawe, or cen
siens woll, thanne the Kyng grauntyth to cause the
doers therof to recompense the seid John Paston and
the seid other persones, as far as lawe and good cen
siens woll in that behalf
And that if it fortune any compleynt to be mad
ayens the seid John Paston, by any persone in tyme
comyng, te the Kyng, that he shall take no displeasir
to the seid John Paston till the tyme he come to his
answer, and be found in defaut
And that the Kyng shall recejrve an CU. of the seid
CCC. mark, what tyme he send for it, and the remnaunt
as sone as the seid fundacion take effect; and also that
his Highnesse shall gete the assent of the reverent
fader in Ged, the Archebisshop of Caunterbury, in such
apejmtments as is mad athwjrx the KjTig and the seid
John Paston, of such goods as were tiie seid Sir John
Fastolfs, fer the delivere therof; and that if the seid
John Paston refuse the administracion of the goods
and catell that were the seid Sir John Fastolfs, sufferyng
other to take it opon hem, the Kyng, at the instauns
of the seid John Paston, grauntith to be good and
favorabill Lord to such other as the coors of the lawe,
and assent of the seid John Paston, shall take the seid
administracion in execucion of the seid Fastolfs will,
touchyng the administracion of the goods and catell
forseid, acordyng to the same wyll; and that the KjTig
shall not cleyme nor desire any of the londs or tene
ments, goods or catell, that were the seid Sir John
Fastolf, ayens the seid John Paston, or any other
executor, administror, or feffe of the seid Sir John
Fastolf, nor support or favour any other persone iij

i68 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1464
cleymyng any of the seid londs or tenements, goods
or catell, ayens any the seid administers, executores,
or feffes.
And the Kyng grauntith that where as this bille is
not sufficiently mad in clauses and termes accordyng to
th'entent therof, that his Highnesse woll take and execute
the very entent therof, notwithstandyng the insufficiens
of any such temies and clauses in thes bille. Wretyn
at Marleburgh, the Monday next after the Nativite of
oure Lady, the fourthe yere of the reigne of the Kyng.

494.
A.D. 1464, 20 Nov. — Abstracts.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Outlawry of John Paston.
The following writs and copies of writs stood originally on a file in the order
in which they are here noticed.
I. Edward IV. to the Prior of Norwich. — Orders him to
deliver to the bearer all goods in his hands belonging to John
Paston, Esq., who is outlawed. Reading, 20 Nov.
II. Writ to Edmund Clyre, Escheator of Norfolk, touching the
above outlawry. — John Paston is here called " the elder." Dated
20 Nov.
III. Supersedeas addressed to the Escheator of Cos. Cambridge
and Hunts to stay confiscation of the goods of John Paston, who
has been outlawed, first for trespass against William Jenney, and
secondly for trespass against William Hogan ; of which he was
convicted in Suffolk on Monday, lO Sept., 4 Edw. IV. Both
cases are removed by writs of error into the King's Bench. —
Teste J. Markham apud Westin., 28 Nov., 4 Edw. IV.
IV. Copy of supersedeas on the exigent issued at Jenney's suit
to the Sheriff of Suffolk. — ^Teste J. Markham apud Sekbrok, 24
Aug., 4 Edw. IV. With the retum on the writ of exigent,
notifying Paston's non-appearance when proclaimed at the county
courts held at Ipswich on Monday 21 May, Monday 18 June,
Monday 16 July and Monday i^ Aug., 4 Edw. IV. The super-

A.D. 1464.] EDWARD IV. 169
sedeas was delivered to the sheriff by Richard Calle in Paston's
name on the 29 Aug.
V. Edward IV. to Sir John Markham, Chief Justice of the
King's Bench. — Commands him to raake supersedeas upon the
exigents. For, as the King understands, Jenney obtained a judg
ment against Paston for £23 : los., and William Hogan by the
support of Jenney took another action, and obtained a judgment
of ^l6 ! 13 :4 "against conscience and law, as we be informed."
If Paston has delivered to the sheriff any writs of error to send
the actions to our court of parliament, he is to comply, according
to the usual course in such cases. — Fotheringay, 3 Aug.
VI. Edward IV. to Thomas Croxton, Clerk of the Crown. —
Commanding him to search the records and see that the processes
of outlawry against John Paston liave been well and sufiiciently
made out. — Reading, 3 Oct
Memorandum subjoined, " that William Jenney's counsel hath
openly vaunted in Westminster Hall that the King hath sent
another letter to the sheriff, commanding him to certify John
Paston outlawed." *^* v. and VI. are copies on the same paper.

495.
A.D. 1464, 27 Nov. — Note.
A letter, which must at one time have belonged to the Paston
collection, is noticed by Blomefield in his account of the Priors of
Norwich, (Hist, of Norfolk, iii. 604), as follows : —
"JohnMolet, doctor ofthe decrees, late sub-prior, was confirmed
prior by the Bishop, Jan. 29. 1453. He was a favorite of John
Paston, as appears by an original letter" {penes me, says the
author in a footnote), "of Sir Walter Blount's then Treasurer of
England, dated at London, 27 Nov., 1464, when the said John
was outlawed; in which the treasurer tells him that the King is
advertised that he is entrusted with 7 or 8,000 maiks of the said
John's, all which the King is intituled to, and therefore if it be
in his hands, or within his monastery, he commands him not to
part with anything, but keep all for the King's use. But how
ever, it was so managed, that Paston's son got it out of tlie
priory, without the prior's knowledge, as was pretended, "

170 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1464*
496.
A.D. 1464? 3 Dec.
Anonymous to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iii. 418,]
It is difficult to assign with confidence either a date or a meaning to thi«
strangely worded epistle. The signature itself is a mystery. The order of
the Temple of Sion is unknown to archaeologists, and the place from which
the letter is dated cannot be identified. From the peculiar aevice used as a
signature, resembling what in heraldry represents a fountain, Fenn threw out
a suggestion that Fountaine was the writer's name, remarking that a family
of that name resided at Salle, in Norfolk, and might have been related to
Paston as the writer claimed to be. But there seems to be an air of irony about
the whole communication which forbids us to construe any of its statements
seriously ; nor do we flnd the slightest allusion to this letter or its contents in
all the rest of the correspondence. For my part, I am inclined to think it
was a mocking letter addressed to John Paston by one of the prisoners in the
Fleet, where Paston had himself been confined in Z464. His imprisonment
on that occasion was probably of short duration, but I cannot tell the precise
dateof his release. He was committed to the Fleet, as we are informed by
WiUiam Worcester (Itinerary, p. 366^, on Saturday the 3d November. If I
am right in my conjecture about this letter, he had, perhaps, been already
liberated ; but some of his late fellow-prisoners, probably members of the
Inner or Middle Temple like himself, who had formed themselves into a fancy
** Orderof the Temple of Sion," amused themselves by speculating on the
Erobability that he was not yet quite clear of the toils of the law, and that
^ e would be obliged to come back and spend Christmas in gaol, among the
jolly companions whom he had recently deserted. I may remark that the
name of Thomas Babington occurs inDugdale's Origines yuridiciales^ p.
163, as having been elected a reader in the Inner Temple in 22 Hen- VIL,
when he seems to have been an old man ; for, owing to his sight failing, he
was excused from reading, and John Port, who was afterwards Attomey
General, and later still. Justice of the filing's Bench, read in his place.
To my ryght worshipfuU maister and brother^ John
Paston, this letter he taketi,
lYGHT worshipful! and reverend mayster and
brother, with alle my service I recommaunde
me on to yow. Please hit onto your grete
wysedom to have yn your descrete remem-
brauns the streite Ordre on which we ben professid,
and on which ze er bownden to kepe your residens,
and specially on this tyme of Crystmas amonggis your
confrerys of this holy Ordre, the Temple of Syon ; for
yulesse than ze kepe dewly the poynts of your holy
Religion, owr Maister Thomas Bab5aigton, maister
and soverayn of owr Order of th'assent of his
brythryn beu avysed to awarJe a?enste yow ryght

A.n.1464.] EDWARD TV, 171
sharp and hasty proces to do calle yov/ to do your
obcervauns, and to obeye the poynts of your Religion,
which wer on to me grete hevynesse. Wherfore I, as
he that hath most grettest cause, and ys most bownden
on to your grete gentylnesse, and also whom nature
and kynde most specially byfore every of alle owr
breth[r]yn bynden me to owe and wilne yow goode
wylie and trewe hert, consyderyng tlie grete tyme of
penawns that ze havyn ben yn fro sone upon Mighel-
mas hederto, that ys to say, yn relevyng and susten-
awns of your evyn Crysten,^ and also yn the charytable
and meritory dede of almyssdoyng, that ys to say yn
plenteous and liberali zeftis, which ys more precyusseur
than goolde er sylver, which hath nat be at alle tymys
to your grete ease, neyther hertis plesauns, but rathei
to your grete desese and yntollerable peyne. And
wher Godds lawe and manys lawe acorden that hit
shall nat be lawful to non erthely man to be so lyberall
and plenteous of that that God sendith hym, that he
sholde so despose hit so that he sholde nowgch have
to lyve by ; and forasmych as I have perfite knowlich
ofyourfreell [fraiP] and naturall disposiseon so set
on to theym that ben nedy and hunggery that of your
selfe ze have no myght, neyther power to absteyne and
rewle yourself, but also long as God sendith and
zevyth yow whereof to dispose and help your evyn
Crysten ze most nedis despose hit forth a monggus
your evyn Cristen, I conseile yow that yn also hasty
and goodely tyme as ze kan to come on to your holy
brytheryn that ben of that devowt and clos conversa-
cion, to th'entent that ze myght ben advertysid and
lemyd by theym the goode rewle and messur that ze
owght and sholde have yn the despociscion and
delyng of your almys.
And also, sethnys ze haven chosen zow a place yn
this seson of Avent, yn which ze have had a resonable
r i.e., Your fellow-Christians.
s Fenn interprets this viori/rte "mil, which I cannot think to tie the mean
ing intended.

172 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.
leysour and space to do your penauns yn, which drawith
fast to a ende; which hath been a convenyent place as
for the ceson of the yer ; and now hit drawith fast on
to Cristmas, on which tyme every trewe Crysten man
sholde be mery, jocunde, and glad. And sethnys ther
is no place which by lyklyhod of reason ze shulde
fynde yn your hert to be so gladde and yocunde yn
as ze sholde be yn the place of your profession a
mounggis your holy brytheryn; yn which place yn
this ceson of the yer hit ys a custumyd to be alle
maner of desport, lyke as hit is nat unknowe to your
wisse descrescion; wherfore, as my symple reason
ledith me your grete descrescion sholde rewle you that
ze sholde approche nygh the plase of your holy
relegion yn also hasty tyme as ze code er myght, of
of Avhos comyng alle your saide bretheryn wolde be
glade and fayn, and yn especiall I, your servaunt and
brother, lyke as I am most syngguler bownden to
th'encresse of your prosperite and welfar, which I
shall ever desir with Godds mersy, which have yow
undir His blessid and favorable proteccion. Wrytten
yn the Temple of Syon, iij<i- day of December, yn
grete hast By your Servaunt and brother,

^^^^

497.
A.D. 1465, 7 Feb.
John Wykes to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 134.]
This letter must be later than the year 1463, as Sir John Paston does not
appear to have been knighted so early as February in that year. But as John
J'aston, the father, was 3t Caister and not af London in the early part of the

A.D. 1465.7 EDWARD IV, 173
year 1464, it cannot be that year. Neither can we assign it to I46«, the last
year of John Paston's life, as it appears by a letter written on the 17th February
m that year, that although John Paston was in London, his son Sir John
could not have been there for some time before. We are therefore shut up to
thc year 1465 as the only possible date for tliis letter.
Unto my maystres, Margageret Paston, be thys letter
delyveryd in hast, &'c.
lYGHT wyrshypfuU maystres, I recomaund me
un to your gode maystresshyp. Please it
you to wyte that my mayster your hosbond,
my maystres youre moder, my mayster Sir
John, Mr. Wyllyam, Mr. Clement, and all ther men,
wer in gode helth whon thys letter was wryten,
thankyd be Jesu, and also ther maters be in a gode
wey, for my Lord Chaunseler ys ther syngeler gode
Lord in thys mater at thys tyme ; and that it provyth
so ... he was yesterday in the Escheker, and
ther he had a foren hym alle the Juges, all the Barons
of the Escheker, and all the Shurgents, and ther argued
wher that the Barons of the Escheker shold award any
such Comyssyon or not, and uppon that the seyd
Comyssyon shull be broght uppon Fryday unto the
Chaunsery, and ther to be provyd, wher it be lafuU or
not, &c.
Item, and yf it please it you to gyve Daveney ^
knowlych that ther ys jugement gyven uppon the
condempnacion a yenst Hall,^ that he claymed for hys
bond man, and the jugement ys gyven a yenst
Daveney, Ric. Call, and Thomas Bon, and ther ys
comen owte proces for to take ther bodys thys same
day, and if thay or any of them be taken thay shull
never gon oute of prison on to the tyme that they have
satesfyed the party of viij^'' marc, and ther for lete
1 So in Fenn, but the name ought certain'y to be Daubeney, perhaps spelt
Dabeney. 3 Robert Hall. I find that hc brought an action in Trinity term, 3 Edward
IV., against John Daubeney of Norwich, gentleman, and Thomas Boon and
Richard Calf of Norwich, yeomen, for havmg, in conjunction with William
Daubeney of Sharyngton, Norfolk, Esq., unlawfully imprisoned him at Nor
wich for three hours on the 20th February, 39 Hen. VL (1461), until he gavs
them a bond of ;£ioo for his ransom.

174 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.p. 1465.
them be ware. And the Holy Trinyte have you in
Hys kypjTig. Wryten at London, uppon Thursday
next after the Purificacion of our Lady, &c.
By your Servaunt,
John Wyks.

498.
A.D. 1465, 31 March.
William Worcester to —

[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
In this letter reference is made to a " testament " drawn uj) by Sir John
Fastolf eight years previously. This, however, cannot be his fast will, as
that would cany the date to a year after John Paston's death, who seems to
be here spoken of as living. The settlement referred to is doubtless the testa
mentary declaration of 1457 mentioned in No. 469.
I LEASE your maistersh)rp to wete that aftyr
recomendacion that I sende Thomas More
to myne oncle the parson^ wyth certeyn
credence to hafe aunsuer uppon by hym for
myn acquytailie another day, yff onye thyng faile sinis-
trely only yn theyr deffau t, as God defend, not be my
wille, for I hafe as feythfuUe demesned me setli I rode
to London thys terme, and hedertoo as anye maner
creatur yn reson coude desyre me; and hafe demened
me at London accordyng to the message sent me by
the baylly of Drayton, and I vele but littille that my
gode wille ys allowed.^ I hafe also, seth I came to
Norwiche, enformed hym whate profFyt ease and
avaylle I may help stand hem both yn my maister
godes and yn hys lyvelode; yflf he or hys frendys set
littlle by it, I may nat do wyth all. And the blessed
Trinite be with yow, because ye wolle the wellfare off
my maister, whoos soule God hafe pytie on and bryng
hym owte of peyn, as the wellfare of the parties it
meovyth me wryte to yow the rathyr. I enformyd
1 Sir Thomas Howes.
¦ i.e.. Little credit is given me for my good wifl

A.D. I4<5S.] EDWARD IV. 175
yow for trouth, and as I wille prefe, that I was the
principali doer and cause that both Maister Paston
and myne oncle came fyrst yn the testament viij. yeer
goon, to a gode entent; and yff they wold wyrke
ayenst me to minussh my power, theyr disposicion woll
be construed ferther than they wille it were, and they
not so avaylled as they weene yn all thynges. The
blessed Trinete be wyth yow. Wryt on Passyon
Sonday. Your W. Wyrcestre.
Memorandum to Thomas More that because ye
myzt foryete myne erand to Maister Bemay, I pray
you rede hym my bille, and that he wille take it to a
gode entent; for how so evyr I wryte I meene well,
and so shall

499.
A.D. 1465, 8 Apri].
Margaret Paston to John Pastok.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Tlie claims laid by the Duke of Suffolk to Drayton and Hellesden occupy
a prominent place in this correspondence during the year 1465, and I do not
find them alluded to in any letter of an eju-lier date. Moreover, the purchase
by virtue of which the Duke laid claim tothe latter manor, which is reported
here as a secret, is mentioned again as a piece of news in a letter undoubtedly
written on the loth May 1465. There can be Uttle doubt therefore that this
letter is of the same year. The apostyle, or set of marginal notes appended,
is in the handwritmg of John Paston.
To my ryght worchepfull hosbond, Jon Paston, be this
deliveryd in hast.
1IGHT worchepfull hosbond, I recomand me
to you. Please you to wet that I send you a
copy of the deed that Jon Edmonds of
Taveram sent to me, be the menys of Dor-
let. He told Dorlet that he had suche a deed as he

176 THE PASTON LETTERS. tA.C. 1465.
Carte supposyd, that wold don ease in prevyng of the tytyll
Drayton, jj,^^ ^^ jj^j^ q|- Suffolk clcymythe in Drayton; for the
same deed that he sent me, the seale of armys is lyke
onto the copy that I send you, and noo thyng leke
to the Duk of Suffolks auncesters.
Item, the seyd Edmond seythe, yf he may fynd any
other thyng that may do yow ease in that mater he
wolle do hys part therin.
Item, Jon Russe sent me word that Barker and
Herry Porter told hym in councell that the Duk of
Suffolk hathe bowght one Biytyeff ryghte, the wyche
Hcyiisdon, makythe a cleyme on to Heylysdon, and the seyd Duke
B^ker™' i^ proposyd to entere within shorte tyme after Esterne,
Porter.' for in so moche the seyd Russe felle be the seyd
Barber and Porter that all the feffees wolle make a
relees on to the Duk and helpe hym that they can in
to her power, for to have hys good lorchep.
Item, yf it please you, me thynkythe it war ryght
Bracium. nessessary that ye send word howe that ye wolle your
old malte be purveyed for; for and any bote weder
come affter ±at it hathe leyne this wynter season, it
shall be but lost but yf [unless] it be sold be tymys, for as
for the pryse [price] here, it is sore faile. I have sold a
C. comb of malt that came fro Guton, to Jamys
Golbeter, clenefyed, and strek met, and non inmet, (?)
for ijs. ijd., the comb, and to be payed at Mydsomer
and Lammes.
sirpi pro Item, ther be dyvers of your tenantrys at Mauteby
repara- that had gret ned for to be reparyd, at[? but] the tenaunts
Mautby. be SO por that they ar not a power to repare hem ;
wherfor yf leke you, I wold that the marche that Bryge
had myght be kept in yourowne hand this yer, that the
tenaunts myght have ruschis to repare with her howsys.
And also ther is wynfall wod at the maner that is of
noo gret valewe, that myght helpe hem with toward the
reparacion, yf it leke you to late hem have it that
hathe most need therof. I have spoke with Borges that
mS^; ^^ shuld heyne [raise] the price of the mershe, or ellis I
Mautebjf. told hym that he shuld no lenger have it, for ye myght

A.n. 1465.] EDWARD IV, 177
[have] 1 other fermors therto that wold geve therfor as
It was late befor, and yf he wold geve therfor as moche as
another man wold, ye wold that he shuld have it befor
any other man; and he seyd he shuld geve me answer
be a fortenyght after Esterne. I can get non other
fermor therto yet.
Item, I understand be Jon Pampyng that ye wolle
not that your sone be take in to your hows, nor holpe peratfone
be you, tylle suche tyme of yere as he was put owt johannis
therof, the wiche shall be abowght Seynt Thomas
messe.2 For Gods sake,sir, a pety on hym ; remembre
yow it hathe bed a long season syn he had owt of yow
to helpe hym with, and he hathe obeyed hym to yow
and wolle do at all tymis, and wolle do that he can or
may to have your good faderood. And at the rever
ence of God be ye hys good fader, and have a faderly
hert to hym; and I hope he shall ever knowe hym-
selff the better here after, and be the more ware to
exchewe suche thyngs as shuld dysplease you, and for
to take hed at that shuld please you. Pecoke shaUe
telle you be mothe of more thyngs than I may write
to you at this tyme. The biyssyd Trinite have you in
Hys kepyng. Wretyn at Caster in hast, the Monday
next after Palme Sonday. Your M. P.
500.
A.D. i46S> 3 May.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Holy Rood Day, on which this letter is dated, commonly raeans the I4lh of
September (feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross). Here I suspect it is
the 3d May (Invention ofthe Holy Cross), as the contents ofthe letter suit that
date in the year 1465. It will be seen that Margaret Paston dates from Caister,
and proposes next week to be at Hellesden. Her next letter, dated the loth
May, is from Hellesden, and shows that she carried out the intention here ex
pressed of sending men to collect money at Drayton, and had left her eldest
1 Omitted in MS.
' This might be the translation of St Thomas the Martyr, 7th July, or St.
Thomas Apostle's Day, 21st December ; but most probably it means the daj
of St. Thomas il Becket, 29th December.
11. N

Drayton

178 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.
son at Caister to keep the place. There is also a close agreement betweoi dat
letter and this, in what is said about the demeanour of the tenants and Mr.
Philip's conduct. The apostyle of this letter, as of the preceding, is in the
hand of John Paston, very ill written, and occasionally ambiguous.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU husband, John Paston, be thys
delyveryd in hast.
|YGHT wyrshipful husbond, I recomaunde me
unto you. Pleasyd you to wyte that I have
 spokyn thys wyke with dyvers of youre ten-
iiSSS naunts of Drayton and put hem in comfort
wetK i' ^^^ ^^^ shalbe well hereafter by the grace of God; and
" ° '^' I fyle well by hem that they wylbe ryght glad to have
ayen there olde mayster, and so wold they all except j.
or ij. that be fals shrewys. And thys next wyke I
purpose on Wensday or Thursday to be at Haylesdon,
and to a byde ther a wyke or ij., and send oure men
aboute to gedere money at Drayton and Haylesdon ;
and yf ye wyll I woll do kepe a corte at Drayton or I
com thens. I pray yow send me word how ye wyll
that I doo there in. I recevyd ij. letters from you of
Nicholl Tolman yesterday, werin ye desyre that we
Malt, shuld purvey for your malte and barley; and soo shall
we doo as well as we cann, and send you word howe
that we may doo therewith in hast.
Item, yesterday Master Phylyp^ toke Dorlets hors up
pon Drayton lond as they went to the plowe for the
hole yere ferm; and as it ys told me the tenaunts of
Drayton tolde hym that he dyde hym wrong to make
hym pay for the hole yere, for non of the tenaunts had
payd hym but for the di' [half] yere and he say thohg
TCrS' " they had not payd but for the di' yere, Paston shuld
M.P. pay for the other di' yere, and for moo yers also )'f
he lyvyd. But I trow to gyte Dorlet ayen hys hors or
els Mr Phylyp ys lyke to be unhorssyd ons, and we
lyve all. Your son ^ shall com hom to moryn, as I
trowe, and as he demenyth hym hyr after I shall lete
J. P., sen. you have knowlych ; and I pray you thynk not in me
1 Philip Lipgate, the Duke of Sufiblk's bailiff. * Sir John Paston.

barly.

Dorlat et

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 179
that I wyll supporte hym ne favour hym in no lewdnesse,
for I wyl not. As I fynd hym hereafter, soo I wyll
lete you have knowlych. I have put your evydens
that com owte of the abbay ^ in a seek and enseylyd
hem under Ric. Call ys seall that he shal not say but Rotuli
they eryn as he left hem ; but as for the place where p™"'' '•'^
they ern kypt he hath no knowlych 
 As for the gentylwoman that ye wrote
to me for yn youre lettere, I 
. . . . there, yf it lykyd all folks as well as it
shold doo me, I trow  a bowte
yf her frends were as well a gr}'ed therto, and as they
 parte, yf ye wyll that it be
movyd ofmore hereafter I wyll 
wyll make a newe parson, at Drayton. Also it ys sayd
that  there, by cause it hath
stond so long voyd; yet and any sh 
had lever that he com in by the Byshop then by a
 doo therein yf ye wyll send
hom any presentacion selyd 
we shall a say to gyte som gode priste and sette hym
 Wryten in haste at Caster on
Holy Rode Day &a
As  doo therein as well as I
cann. I have gyte a replevyn 
CC shype, and yi they may not be hadde ayen, then
he grau[nteth]  We fynd hym Data
ryght gode in that we desyre of him for you, and ther- °^omln
fore yf it lyke you I wold he were th  proovibu*
501.
A.D. 1465, 6 May.
John Russe to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
As this tetter refers to the Duke of Suffolk's daim to the manor of Dray
ton, the date must be 1465. The original MS. is mutilated to some extent id
both margins. 1 See No. 487.

l8o THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1465.
To the rigllt worshypfull sir, my right honourabyll
maister, fohn Paston, at London.
|IGHT worshipfuU sir and my right honorabyll
maister, I recomaund me to you in the most
humble wise. And please youre maistir ship
to wete that my maistresse hathe dyverse
tymes spokyn to me to helpe to purvey a merchaunt
for sum of youre malt ; but in good feyth I can gete no
man that wyll geve at the most more than xxij//. for a
quarter, for soo men selle dayli at the moste, and sum
tyme xx//. a combe. My maistresse is right hevy ther
for, but I can not remedy it ; if ony good marchaunt
were there, after my sympil conseyt it were good to
take hym, for the yeer passith faste and the [feldes]^
be right plesaunt to wards, &c. Sir, at the reverence
of Jesu, laboure the meanys to have peas ; for be my
trowth the contynwaunce [of this] trobill shall short the
dayez of my maistresse, and it shall cause you to gret
losse, for serteyn she is in gre[t hevi]nesse as it ap-
perith at  11 covertly
she consederith the gret decay of youre lyflode, the
gret detts that hange in detours hands and h . . .
 [she speaket]h not thus
to me, but I conceyfe this is cause of here gret hevy
nesse ; me semyth of ij. hurts the leste is mos[t] .
 well the
dayli contynewyng maleyse of youre insessiabyll
enemyes, how they contryve and seke occacions to
 informyd, more wyll doo every
foot of grownd withinne fewe dayez, and rather to
geve it awey for nowght tha[n]  it
Where as they many tymes have meovyd a trety and
never it taketh to noo conclucion, and as they have
seyd in youre d  Sir, after my sym
pyll conseyt it were well doon to agree to a trety, and
be that ye shuld knowe ther desyre and the uttir . .
 the lond were dubyll the val we that it
3 The tops of the letters f. 1. d. viable.

A.ti. 1465.] EDWARD tv. 181
is. Worsestyr shewyth hem presedents what every
maner cost at the f3Tst byeng, and ther ....
. . . rekne the bargeyne shuld avayle you foure
tymes mor than it shall ; and in thys they be gretly
blyndyd ; my maister the parson hathe ....
to rellesse in serte)Ti londs whiche he refus[eth to]
doo, but I conseyve, and ye drawe not to a con
clucion thys terme that he wyll be as redy to rellesse
. . . . men, truste ye thys for serteyn ; and soo
he [told] me serteynly. He hathe be meovyd to re
voke Maister Roberd Kente and to take the avoket
or proctor [that] Maister Yehvirton hathe. What it
myght hurtyn if he soo dede I knowe not, but they
have made gret labour to hym therfor. He gaf me a
gret reb[uke] .... the bill that was put in
ayens Elyse Davy and otheris, to whiche I answeryd
hym as me thowght and soo in maner made my peas, &c.
Maister .... was here and in presence of men
of the most substance in Jeremuth he be havyd hym
to you wards in full goodly termys, soo God helpe
. . . . and after my conseyt he wyll not be redy
to relesse in ony of the londs. A man of hyse teld me
secretlythat Maister Yelwyrton and otheres blamyd hym
and seyd .... to hym be cause he was so redy
be hym self to agree to trete and make hyse peas with
yow, neyther he seyd to me to trete nor the contrary
nor had but langwage to me as he had to othyr. I
askyd my maister the parson if he undyrstod that
Maister Yelwyrton yaf ony favour to my Lord of Suffolk
in Drayton, and he seyd he supposyd Maister Yelwyrton
was not cier of that mater, but Mayster Jenney was in
nowyse pleasyd with all, &c. Sir as for the wytnesse that
were desyred to be redy whan nede requirith in thys
mater, R. Calle can avertise youre maistirshyp. Sir, at
the reverence of Jesu consedre how many yeers it is
past that my good lord and maister deseasyd and how
lytill is doon for .... of the grete substaunce
that he hade it is hevy to remembre ; ye sey the de
faute is not in yow after your conseyt, but I can here

l82 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1465
no .... in that of youre openyon, for thys I
knowe for serteyn and it had pleasyd you to have endyd
be the meanys of trety, ye had ma[de] . . . peas to
the gret well ofthe dede with the forthe part of the mony
that hathe be spent, and as men sey only of very wylful-
[nesse of your] owyn person. For the mercy of God
remembre the onstabylnesse of thys wold hou it is not
a menut space in comparyson to ever ....
, . . leve wylfullnesse whyche men sey ye occupye
to excessifly. Biyssyd be God ye had a fayre day laste
whiche is noysyd cost yow .... to iiij. lords,
but a newe mater anewe cost and many smale growe
to a gret summe, and summe mater on recurabyll, formen
seyd .... is lyk to stonden in a perplextif if
ye take not a conclucion in haste, and if it were doo it
were hard to have recovery ; but as my [maister] the
parson seyd, thys terme they wyll prove if ye wyll
agree to trete, and if ye refuse they all wyll do the
uttirmest I conseyve well [your] maistirshyp hathe a
conseyt that if a man of good will meove yow or re
membre you to trete, that that man, what soo ever he
be, shuld be meovyd be youre adversaiyez to meove
you in that mater, and soo in that it hertyth you gretly
that they shuld seke to you for peas. Be my trowth,
sir, there was nor is no man, savyng onys, as I teld you,
Maister Jenney spake to me, that ever I knewe wold
seke or feythefuUy desyre to have peas with yow,
savyng because of the exspence of the good so onpro-
fitably in the lawe, and that is the prynsypal cause of
meovyng of ther peas, &c. I wold well God helpe me soo
it grevyth me to here that ye stonde in no favour with
jentylmen nor in no gret awe with the comowns. Ye
truste the jury of Suffolk; remembre what promyse
Daubeney hade of the jury and what it avaylid ; it is a
dethe to m[e] to remembre in what prosperite and
in what degre ye myght stonde in Norfolk and Suffolk
and ye had peas and were in herts ease, and what
worshyp my maisters your sones and my maistresse
youre douters myght have be proferryd to if ye had be in

A.D.1465.] EDWARD IV. 183
reste. A day lost in idyll can never be recoveryd, &c.
Sir, I beseke youre maistershyp for yeve me that I wryte
thus boldly and homly to you ; me thynkyth my hert
. . . . not be in ease but if I soo doo, for ther was,
nor never shal be, no mater that ever was soo ner
myn herte, that knowy[th God,] whom I beseke for
Hese infenyt mercy preserve you and my maistresse
and aU youres from all adversyte and graunt yow
. . . . herts desyre. Wretyn at Jememuthe the
vj. day of May. Youre contynw[al bedesman]
and servaunt, John [Russe].
502.
A.D. 1465, 10 May.
Margaret Paston to John Pasto::.
[From Paston MSS., P.M.]
The date of tliis letter is rendered certain by the mention of Thomas EUis,
as having been elected Mayor of Norwich. He was so elected for the second
time in 1465. Hc had been Mayor before in 1460-1, and was again after this
in 1474-5 '. hut neither of these latter dates will suit the other contents of this
letter. Like some others of this year, this letter is apostyled by John Paston.
To my mayster, fohn Paston the oldest be thys delyveryd
in hast.
|YGHT wyrshypfuU husbond I recomaund me
unto you. Pleysed you to wyte that on Wens
day last passyd Dabeney, Naunton, Wykes
and John Love werr at Drayton for to speke
with your tenaunts ther to put hem in comfort and for
to aske money of hem also. And Pyrs Waryn, other- Disti*
wyse callyd Pyrs at Sloth, whych ys a flykeryng felowe ^^^
and a besy with Mr Phylyp and the Bayly of Cosshay,
he had a plowe goyng in your lond in Drayton, and
ther your seyd servaunts at that tyme toke hys plowe
ware, that ys to say ij. marys, and broght hem to
Heylysdon, and ther they be yet. And on the next

184 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
momyng after Mr Phylyp and the Baylly of Cosshay
com to Haylysdon with a grete nomber of pepeU, that
ys to say viij.™- men and mor in hamysse, and ther
toke from the persons plowe ij. hors, pris iiij. marc
and ij. hors of Thomas Stermyns plowe, pris x\s.,
Disti* saying to hem that ther was taken a playnt ayenst
«^tSs ^^'^ ^ ^^^ hunderd by the seyd Pyrs for takj'ng of
de Heyiis- the forseyd plowarre at Drayton, and but they wold
""^ be bond to com to Drayton on Tewysday next com
yng to awnswer to such maters as shalbe sayd to them
ther they shold not have ther bests ayen; whych they
refusyd to do on to the tyme that they had an awnswer
from you; and so they led the bestes forth to Drayton,
and from Drayton forth to Cosshay. And the same
after none folwyng the parson of Haylesdon send hys
mau to Drayton with Stermyn for to speke with Mr
Phylyp to know a way yf they shuld have ayen ther
cattell or not; and Master Phylyp awnsweryd them yf
that they wold bryng home ther destresse ayen that
was taken of Pyrs Waryn, that then he wold delyver
hem thers, or els not; and he lete hem playnly wyte
Oak. that yf ye or any of your servaunts toke any dystresse
in Drayton that were but the valew of an hen, they
wold com to Haylesdon and take ther the valew of
an ox therefore; and yf thay cannot take the valew
therof there, that then they wyll do breke your
tenaunts howsys in Haylesdon, and take as moch as
they cowd fynd therein; and yf they be lettyd therof,
wych shall never lye in your power for to do, for the
Duck of Suffolk ys abyll to kepe dayly in hys hows
more men then Dabeney hadde heiys on hys hede, yf
hym lyst; and as for Dabeney he ys a lewde felowe,
and so he shalbe servyd herafter, and I wold he were
here. And therfore yf ye take uppon you to lette
them so for to do, that then they wold goo in to any
lyflode that ye had in Norfolk or SuffoUc, and to take
a destresse in lykewysse as they wold do at Haylysdon.
And other awnswerr cowde they non g>-te, and so they
departyd. Ric. Calle axid the parson and Sternijn yf

A.b. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 185
they wold take an accyon for ther catell, and the par
son ^ seyd he was agyd and syklow, and he wold not ^"jjrise,
be trobelyd herafter ; he sayd he had lever lose hys sturmyn.
catell, for he wyst well yf he dyde so he shold be
endytyd, and so vexid with hem that he shold never
have rest by hem. As for Stermyn, he sayd at that
tyme he durst not take no sute ayenst hem nother ;
but after that Ric. was rydyn, I spake with hym, and
he sayd he wold be rulyd as ye wold have hym, and I
fond hym ryght herty and wel dysposyd in that mater ;
and he is bownde to you an obligacyon of x//. sengyll
with outen condycyon that he shall abyde by such
accyons as shalbe takyn by your advyse in hys name ;
wherfore I have send you a tytelyng therof in a byll
closyd herin. I axyd Thomas Gryne avyse when
they had take the dystresse hyre, and he avysyd me
that herre destresse shold be delyveryd a yen to
them so that we myzt have ayen ours ; and me thoght
it was non awnswer after myn entent, and wold
not therof but axyd avyse of Skypwith what hym
thoght that were best to doo there in, and most wyr
shypfuU. He seyd by hys avyse that I shold send to you
in al the hast that I cowde, and that ye shuld fynde
a mene therfore above, by the avyse of youre lemyd
counsell to have a wrytte from above for to delyver yt
of lesse then the undershyrff werre other wysse dys
posyd to you then we fynde hym, for it symyth that he
ys made of the other party. And as for the replevyn
for the CC. shype ys not yet servyd. Skypwyth Replevin
thynkyth that ye myzt have a ^vrytte both for the
shype and the destresse now taken at Haylysdon, I
pray you that ye wyll send word in hast how [ye j woll that
we doo in thys maters. Skypwith went with me to
the Byshop of Norwych, and I lyte hym have know
lych of the ryotous and evyll dysposicyon of Master
Phylyp, desyryng hys Lordshyp that he wold see a
1 Thomas Hert, perhaps a relation of the Bishop of Norwich, was presented
to the rectory of Hellesden by Sir John Fastolf in 1448, but how long he
held itis uncertain, as the list of rectors is very defective, and the next name
that appears on it is George Gardiner in 1579.

l86 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1465.
Episcopus mene tlia[t] a correccyon myzt be hadde, in as
Norwic'. jjjQ^jj ^ j^g ^^g ^jjgf jjjgfjj, Qf tijg Peas and hys
ordynare, and inasmoch as he was a piest^ and under
hys correccyon that he shold have understondyng of
hys dysposicyon ; and I made Dabeney to tell hym
all the mater howt it was ; and he seyd he wold send
for hym and speke with hym. And he told me of
dyvers thyngs of the demenyng of hym, wherby I
understode he lykyd not by hys dysposicyon nor
demenyng in thys mater nor in no nothyr ; for it symyd
he had provyd hym what he ys in other maters.
Episcojjus My lord seyd to me that he wold ryght fayn that ye
Norwic'. jja^ a gQ(jg conclusyon in your maters, and seyd by
hys trouth, that he ought you ryght gode wyll, and
wold ryght fayn that ye wer com home, and seyd to
me that it shold be a grete confort to your frends and
neghbors, and that your presens shold do more amongs
hem, than a C. of your men shold do in your absens,
and more, your enmys wold ferr to do ayens you yf
ye myght be at home, and steryng amonges hem, and
seyd fuU playnly in meny other thyngs it were to long
to wryte at thys tyme, as Skypwith shall teU you when
Skipwith. he comyzt to you. I pray you thanke Skypwith of
hys gode wyU, for he was ryght well wyllyd to go with
me and yeve me hys avyse, me thynkyth he ys lyzt
well wyUyd to you.
Per" Item, I pray you send hastely word how that ye
Heyi'd.1 ^yi] fjjat we be gydyd with thys place, for as it ys
told me, it ys lyke to stond in as grete jupardy in hast
as othere don. On Thursday al day there were kept
in Draton logge in to lx. persons, and yet as it ys
told me, ther be within dayly and nyztly in to a xvj.
or XX. persons.
Elys. Item, it ys told me that Thomas Elys of Norwych,
whych nowe ys chosyn Mayer, seyd at Drayton that
yf my Lord of Suffolk nede a C. men he wold purvey
^ Philip Lepeyate was presented to the rectory of Salle in Norfolk, in 1460,
by Thomas Brewse, Esq., afterwards father-in-law of John Paston, the youngest.
3 i.e. Periculum Heylesdon.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 1S7
hyra. therof, and yf any men of the town wold go to
Paston he wold do lay hem faste in prison. I wold .^ ^
youre men mygh have a super scdias^ owte of the chaun- secfcas.

cere, and be owte of the danger of there men here ;
and I pray you let not WyU Naunton be foryete therin. Naunton.
Ric. Calle and other can tell you of hys demenyng ;
and I pray you that ye be not dysplesyd for his abyd
yng with me, for in gode feth he hath ben a grete
comfort to me syn ye departyd hens, as I wyll lete you
wyte hereafter. I pray you yf hys brother com to
you for a relesse of hys londe, lette him non have on to
the tyme that ye see hys faderes wyll, the whych I
wote wher it ys, and that it like you to desyre hym to
be gode brother to him.
Item, I have left John Paston the older at Caster, J; ^^J^
to kype the place there, as Ric. can tell you ; for I m. p. at
had lever, and it pleasyd you, to be captensse here ^^ ^°"'
then at Caster ; yet I was nothyng purposyd to abyde
here when [I] come from home but for a day or ij.,
but I shall abyde here tyll I here tydjmgs from you.
Item, it ys told me that the Duck of Suffolk hath
boght or shal by in hast the ryzt that on Bryghtylhed Brightied.
hath in Haylesdon &c.
Item, as for the evydens that Watkyn Shypdam
hadd, he delivered to hys wyffe a box enselyd with hys Evidens.
owyn seall by hys lyffe for to be delyveryd to you, ^'''«™8.
whych box she delyveryd to Ric. Call under the same
seall after hys dessesse. Ric. can teU you of the gyd
yng ofthe cofere with other boks that were at Shypdams
And as for all your other evydens ye ther not feer as Evidens.
for the syzt of hem, for ther hath nor shall no man *'°"'"=
sen hem tyll ye com hom. I can not fynd that ye
send to me fore to have oute of the rolle.
Item, I here no word of Colte of New Castell, nor Coit.
of no nother from you that shold have your malte, but
I have spoken to the Viker, John Rus and Robert
Boteler, to help for to sell your malte, and as we can
do therein, we shall send you word. The Provest of
1 So in MS.

i88 THE PASTON LETTERS. tA.D. m^S-
PrEpositus Cambrygge ys com into thys contry and Dabeney
fcantab].! shall reccve of hym that longyth to you on Monday
or Tewysday, and he shaU have hys delyveryd accord
yng to your wrytyng.
Item, my moder told me that she thynkyth ryght
Mater. strange that she may not have the profects of Clyre ys
*''"^ place in peasabyU wyse for you, she seyt it ys hers
and she hath payd most therfore yet, and she sayth
she wyll have the profects therof, or eUs she wyU make
more folk to speke therof. She seyth she knowyt
not what ryght ne titeU that ye have therin but yf ye
luste to trobell with herre, and that shold be no wyrshep
to you ; and she sayth she wylbe ther thys somer and
repayre the housyng ther. In gode feyth I hyre moch
langage of the demenyng betwene you and herre. I
wold ryght fayn, and so wold many moo of youre
frendes, that it were otherwyse bytwene you then it ys,
and yf it were I hope ye shold have the beter spyde
in aU other maters. I pray God be your gode spyde in
all your maters, and yef yow grace to have a gode
conclusyon of hem in haste for thys ys to wyry a lyffe
to a byde for you and aU youre. Wryten in haste at
Haylysdon the x. day of May.
The cause that 1 send to you this hastely ys to have
an awnswer in haste from you. Your M. P.

503.
A.D. 1465, 13 May.
Margaret Paston to John Pastok.
[From Fenn, iv. 164.]
There can be little doubt this letter was written in the year 1465, when
Margaret was troubled by Mr. Philip Lipyate and the Duke of Suffolk's
bailiff of Cossey. It may be observed also that Margaret here dates from
Hellesden, and speaks of having been recently at Caister. Compare Nos.
500 and 502. Further, the name of John Jenney is found on the Commission
of the Peace for Norfolk, dated the 1st April 1465 (Patent, 5 Edward IV., p.
1 This word is left blank by Paston.

A.D. 1465] EDWARD IV. 189
I, m. 32). but it is not on the commission issued on the 20th February following
(,ti., m. 27) ; so that John Paston seems to have acted on his wife's suggestion
and been successful in getting him removed.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU mayster, John Paston the
oldest, be this delyveryd in haste.
Recomaund me, &c.
Yf it pleasyd you, I wold ryght fayn that
John Jenney werre putte oute of the Comys
syon of the Peas, and that my brother Wyll.
Lumner wer set yn hys stede, for me thynkyth it wer
ryght necessere that ther were such a man in that
county that oght you gode wyll, and I knowe verely
he owyth you ryght gode wyll; he was with me at
Caster but late. Yf ther be made any labour for
Doctour Alyn to be Justice of the Peas, I pray you for
Gods sake let it be lettyd yf ye may, for he wyll take
to moch upon hym yf he werr. I wold not that he
wer remembyrd of your parte but yf [unless] he be
spokyn of of other parts : he ys ryght grete with Master
Phylyp Lypzate and the Baylyf of Coshay.
Yf it please yow to wyte that Wyks dyde a reste one
Wyll. Dylmyn of Norwych, as Pampyng can enforme
you of, for sertyn hamys wych he delyveryd hym at New
Castell for to cary to Yarmoth by water, and ther to
delyver it to hym ayen ; whych harnys he kypt styll, and
may not be delyveryd ; and now ther ys com down an
liabeas corpus for hym, and most appyr at the Comyn
Place [Common Pleas] on Fryday next comyng. Wher
for yf it pleased you that ther myght be taken an accyon
in Wyks name of trespas under such forme as ther may
be a capias a wardyd a yenst hys comyng ; for after
that he was arestyd he dyde Daubeney to be arestyd
for mayntenyng; and as for the hamys Wyks delyveryd
it to hym the x. day of Januar, the ij. yer of Kyng E.^
in Pylgryme strete, at New Castell : Inprimis, a peyr
brygandyrs, a salet, a boresper, a bawe, xviij. arwys,
1 A.D. 1463. This was at the time thc King was in the north, whtfn
Alnwick Castle surrendered to him.

ipo THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1465.
ij. payr polronds [shoulder pieces], a standard of mayle,
a payr slyvys of plate, to the valew of v. marc. And
at the reverens of God, slowth not your maters nowe,
and make any end of hem, other purvey you to make
hym or to marre hem in haste, for thys ys to orybyll
a coste and trobell that ye have and have had, for to
endur any whyle, and it ys grete hevenys to your
frends and welwyUers, and grete joy and comfort to
your ennemyes. My Lord of Norwych seyd to me
that he wold noth abyde the sorow and trobeU that ye
have abyden, to wyn all Sir John Fastolf ys gode.
And God be your spede in aU yor maters. Wryten
at Haylesdon the xiij. day of May.
I thynk ryght long to hyr tydyngs tyU I have tydyngs
from you. Your M. P.

504.
A.D. 1465, 20 May.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 200.]
A comparison of this letter with No. 502 will leave no doubt that they were
both written in the same year.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU husbond, John Paston, by thys
delyvery[d] in hast.
|LEASE it you to wyte that on Satourday last
your servaunts Naunton, Wyks, and other,
wer at Drayton, and ther toke a dystresse
for the rent and ferm that was to pay, to the
nomber of Ixxvij. nete, and so broght them hom to
Hayllesdon, and put them in the Pynfold, and so kept
hem styll ther from the seyd Satour day momyng un to
Monday 1 at iij. at clok at after non. Fyrst on the same
I This was the day the letter was written.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 191
Satour day the tenants folwyd uppon, and desyryd to
have ther cateU ayen ; and I awunsweryd hem, yf they
wold do pay such dewts as they oght for to pay to
you, that then they shold have ther catell delyveryd
ayen ; or els yf they wer not a power to pay redy
money, that then they to fynd suffycyant suerty to pay
the money at such a day as they mygh agrye with me,
and therto to be bonden to you by obligacyon ; and
that they seyd they durst not for to take uppon hem
for to be bonden, and as for money they had non for
to pay at that tyme, and therfor I kept stylle the
bestys. Harleston was at Norwych, and send for the tenants
the seyd Satour day at after non, and ther, by the
menys of the Bayllyf of Coshay, put the tenants in
such feer, sayng that yf they wold pay such dewts, or
els for to be bonden to pay, that then they wold put
hem owte of such londs as they huld bondly of the
Lordshyp, and so to dystrayn hem and trobell hem,
that they shuld be wery of ther part; and that put
hem [in] such feer that they drust nother pay nor be
bonden. And on the same day at evyn-song time Harleston
com to me to Haylesdon, desyryng me that I wold
delyver a yen the seyd dystresse; and as for such
dystressys as they had taken here of your tenants shold
be delyveryd a yen in lyke forme ; and I seyd I wold
not delyver hem soo, and I told hem that I wold
delyver hem as ys wryten a fore and other wyse not,
and other wyse I wold not delyver hem but by the
form of lawe. And other comynycacyon was had by
twene us at that tyme of dyvers maters whych wer to
long to wiyte at thys tyme, but ye shall have knowlych
therof in hast.
And on Monday next after at ix. at clok ther com
Pynchemor to Haylesdon with a replevyn,^ whych
yas made in Harleston ys name as Understewerd ofthe
1 This is a writ for restitution of cattle that have been distrained or
impounded. It was commonly granted by the sheriff on security being givea
that the party would bring the matter to an issue at law.

192 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1465.
Duche[Z'«(r>4)'],sayng that the bests were taken uppon the
Duche Fee, wherfor he desyryd me to mak hym Ievery
of the seyd bests so taken ; and I seyd I wold not
delyver hem on to the tyme that I had examenyd the
tenants ofthe trough [trath]. And so T send theder Wyks
with Pynchemor to understond what they wold say ;
and the tenants seyd that ther was taken non uppon the
Duche at ther knowlych, save only Pyrs Wanyn the
yonger. And Paynter seyd that ther catell was taken
uppon the Duche, whych they connot prove by non
record, save only by ther awyn sayng ; and so we wold
not a bey that replevyn, and so they departyd. And at
iij. at clock at after non Pynchemor come to Haylysdon
a yen with ij. men, whych broght with hem a replevyn
from the Shyryff, whos namys be John Whytherley
and Robert Ranson, whych requyryd me by the same
replevyn to make them delyvery of the seyd bestys
taken at Drayton; and so I, syyng the Shyryffs
replevyn and under hys seale, bade my men delyver
hem, and soo they wer delyveryd.
And as for all other maters that ye have wretyn to
[me] of, I wyll spede me to send you a awnswer as
hastely as I may, for I may no leysor have to wryte no
more to you thys tyme. The biyssyd Trynyte have you
in His kepyng. Wryten at Haylesdon, the xx. day of
May. By yours, M. P.

505.
A.D. 1465, 27 May,
Margaret Paston to John Pastoi:.
[From Fenn, iv. 206.]
What is said here about the tenants of Hellesden and Drayton, and about
Master Philip Lipyate, leaves no doubt that this letter was written in 1465.
It contains, moreover, a distinct reference to Letter 503.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU husbond, John Paston, li
thys delyveryd in haste.

A.D.1465.] EDWARD IV. 193
j|YGHT wyrshypfuU husbonde, I recomaunde me
to you. Please it you to wyte that I have send
to Master John Smyth and to Master Stephyn
to have avyse for the church of Drayton ; and
they send me word tiiat ther moste be had a comyssion
from the Byshop to calle in the person Flowredew,i
and that most be proclaymyd in the church of Drayton
iij. tymes by a Deen,^ and after that yff he appyre not
with in vj. monthys after the fyrst proclamacion, that
then he for to be depryvyd, and the patron to present
whom he luste, and ells your presentacyon ys not
suflicyant And I have so purveyd that a comyssyon
ys hadde, and shal be servyd as hastely as it may be.
As for John Rysyng, I have sent to hym to wyte
the cause that he ys not broght up to London, and he
sayth that he callyd uppon the Shyrff that he myght be
had up for [to] com to hys awnswer, and the Shyrff told
hym that he wold not bryng hym up at hys owyn
coste ; and John Andres seyd that he wold not have
hym up, and so he ys styll in prison at Ipswych ; and
so shall he be but yf ye canne fynde the beter mene
for to have hym oute. I have sent to hym xiijs- jjijd. tg
help hym sylf ther with; he payth for hys borde wykely
xx<i- And Hopton and Smyth be ther styll aUso, and
they have money ynogh, wher som ever that they have
it. Rysyng dymeth that they have confort of the other
party ; and I send you a copy of the warant that they
wer a restyd by, &c.
I spake not with my moder syn. Rychard CaUe
broght me the letter from you tochyng her mater, for
I myght have no lesor. When I speke with her at
leysure I wyll remember her in that mater, acordyng
to your wrytyng. And as for your tenants of Drayton,
as I canne understond by hem, they be ryght gode
1 John Flowerdew was instituted to the Rectory of Drayton on the 15th of
March 1461, on the presentation of John Paston, Esq., and Thomas Howes,
Qerk.— F.
3 This means the Rural Dean, who had a district of ten churches in the
country,^ wherein be exercised a jurisdiction of great advantige to ecclesi
astical discipline,_and the sentences of superior Ecclesiastical Courts were to
be executed by him. — F.
n. o

194 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
and trew hertyd to you to ther powers, and full fayn
wold that ye had it a yen in peasse, for they had as
leffe al most be tenants to the Devell as to the Duke,
except WylL Heme, Pers at Sloth, and on Knott of
the same towne, for they be not gode.
All your tenants at Haylesdon and Drayton, except
thes iij., be ryght glad that we ert ther a mongs hem,
and so be many other of our olde nebers and frends ; and
but yf [unless] ye com hom by Wensday or Thursday *
in Wytson wyke, I purpose me to ssee you in secrete
wyse by Trynyte Sonday,'' but yf [unless] ye send to me
contraiy comaundement er that tyme; and I pray you
send me yeur avyse how ye wyll that we doo a yenst
the next shyr, whych shulbe the Monday next after
Trynyte Sonday, as for callyng uppon the replev)m
that the bests of Drayton wer delyveryd by.
Item, Richard Calle told me that ye desyryd to
have Master Phylyp ys name, and hys name ys Phylyp
Lypzeate, and I send you a letter^ by Henre Wylton
ys man, wherin I wrote Master Phylyp ys name ; anH
in the same letter I wrote to you for WyU. Lumnor.
I pray you send me word yf ye have it. And the
Blysshyd Trynyte have you in Hys kypyng. Wryten
the Monday next after Assencyon Day.*
By yours, M. P.

506.
A.D. 1465, II June.
Margaret Paston to John Pastok.
[From Paston MSS.]
This letter, in which it is anticipated that the Duke of SuSblk will obtain
poMession, first of Drayton, and then of Hellesden, is evidently a little later
in date than Nos. 499 and 502, and can only be of the year 1463.
I S'h or 6th of June. s 9th of June.
'No. 503. '23d of May.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 19s
To my ryght wyrshypfuU husbond, John Paston, be thys
letter delyveryd.
|YGHT wyrshypfuU husband, I recomaunde me
unto you. Please it you to wyte that I recevyd
letters from you on Wensday laste passyd, the
were wryten the Monday next before, wherof
I thanke you of the letter that ye send to me. I wolde
fayn doo well yf I cowde, and as I canne I wol doo to
youre pleasure and profet; and in such thyngs as I can
not skyle of, I wyll take a vyse of such as I know that
be youre frendes and doo as well as I canne. Wher as
ye wrote to me that Lydham told you that I told hym
that the Ducks men werre not so besy as they had be
by fore, no more thay were not at that tyme, but sythen
thay have be bysyer. What confort that thay have I
canne not have no knowlych as yet, but I suppose and
aU your felshyp were gode, thay shold not have so grete
confort as they have, or ells they wold not be so besy
as thay have be. Grete bost they make that the Duck
shold have Drayton in peas, and after thys Haylesdon,
and that with in short tyme ; thay er moch the bolder,
I suppose, by cause that ye be wher as ye be. At the
reverens of God, yf ye may by any wyrshypfuU or
resonabell mene, com oute therof as sone as ye may
and come home amonges your frends and tennaunts,
and that shold be to hem the grettyst confort that thay
myzt have and the contrary to your enmys.
It ys sayd here that the Duck of Suffolk shall com to
Coshayinhaste and logge therfor a season; Ifyle well by
your tenaunts that yf ye were peaseabyly possessyd and
your cort holden in peaseabyU wyse, and that they myzt
be in pease a yenst the other many, than they wold take
accyons a yenste hem for such wrongs as have be don to
hem, and ells they say that they thernot [dare not] take it
uppon hem, for they dwelle so ney to the other many that
thay knowe well thay shold never be in ease yf thay
dydesoowhylethatthaydeleamongshem. On Thursday
last John Doket, the Bayly ys son y lawe, and Thomas

196 THE PASTON LETTERS. tA.D. 1465.
Ponte, with other, erly in the momyng, an owre by fore
the Sonne rose, com to your fold, and drove away the
flock at Drayton, both Colyet and other, in to Coshay
fee, or ever that the shipherd myght have knowlych
therof and then he fowlyd one and desyryd to have hem
a yen, and thay wold not suffer hym to have them no
more but the Colyet and ther were c. and j. of yours
and tho had thay forth with hem to Coshay, and the
same day we had a replevyn for the cc. shype and
replevyn for the hors that wer taken at Haylesdon, and
how that thay were obbeyd Ria CaU shaU enforme
you, and of other maters also, the whych I may not
wryte to you of at thys tyme.
Item, I have spoke with [John] Strange of the mater
that ye wrote to me of, and in gode feyth I^ fynd hym,
as me symyth, ryght well disposyd to you wards ; and he
hath, acordyng to your desyre, spoken with Yelverton
yesterday to fyle his dysposicion in that mater, and
Yelverton, as it symyth by hym, roght not gretely thogh
the mater brake, so that he myght have any resonabell
colour to breke, he ys so callyd uppon by Wa)rte and
other of the Duck of Suffolk ys counseU that he ote
[wot] not where to hold hym, and he ys put in so gret
confort, as I am enformyd, to receve money for the lond,
and that temptyth hym ryght sore; forwithmoney hewold
fayn be in handelyng, as ye know he hath nede therof.
He told John Straunge that it ys informyd hym that
ye have up an enquest to depreve ther wytnesse and
ther with ys he sore movyd 
that yf any thyngs be don in temporall maters other in
spyryt[uall]  maters tochyng execu
tors or feoffeys or wyttnes tyll the day of . . .
. . . trety be passyd, he wyll not abyde no trety
therin, but do as  thynkyth
best for to do therein. I told John Straunge that I
kn[ew]  thogh it were soo that
shold passe any such enquest it shol n 
 of them in provyng of her trothys, the
* The MS. has " in " instead of "I," evidently by mistake.

A. a 1465.] EDWARD IV. 197
whych shold be no hurt  for
John Straunge desyryd me that I shuld send to you in
al haste that  any such folks
that thay shold not doo in the mater till the day of .
 may have knowlych howe he and
other wold doo in such maters as sh 
. . he wold be loth that he shold have any colour to
breke for any thyng  and Yelver
ton sayth it shall not breke thorf his defaute yf ye wyll
n[ot]  be ryght glad to have
your gode wyll and to goo thorgh in all maner mate[rs]
 eschewyng of wastfuU expens
ofthe dede ys godes and that the godes myzt be dyspendyd
to the welle of the dede. Straunge desyryd to knowe
what appoyntements he desyryth to have in the trety,
and he sayd he wold not let that be understond tyll the
tyme of trety cam. Me symyth, save your beter avyse,
it were wel do that thay that be com up for you myzt
be kypt in som seciyte place and not do [naught done?]
in the mater tyll the tyme of the trety were passyd.
The cost there of shall not be grete to that it myzt hurte
yf the trety were broken by that meane and then ye
may have hem nyer ; and yf ye thynk it be to doo ye
may have hem to go to ther mater after the seyd tyme,
for of ij. hurtes the grettyst ys best to be eschewyd.
Item, as for youre houshold at Caster, savyng your
beter avyse, me thynkyth that v. or vj. of your folkes,
such as ye wyll assyngne, were [enough to ?]^ kype the
place, and they for to go to bord with the prustes, and
ye not to kype no houshold ther yet ; and that ye shall
fynd more profettabyll than for to doo as we do nogh;
for ther expens, as I understond, have not be moch
the lesse by fore Wytsontyde than it shold be thogh I
had be at home by cause of resortyng of pepell theder;
and yf the houshold were broke thay myzt have a gode
excuse in that, whosome ever come. Ric. Call shall en
forme you of thys maters, and mo other, more playnly
than I may do wryte at thys tyme. It is necessary that
1 Paper decayed.

198 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. r46s.
possessyon be kypt hyre yett tyll ye be more ferther forth
in othermaters. The Blessyd Trynyte have you [in] Hys
kypyng, and send you gode spyde in aU your maters,
and send you grace to have a gode conclusyon in hem
in haste. Wryten on the Tewysday nex before Corpus
Chris tL By your faynt houswyff at thys tyme,
M.P.

507.
A.D. 1465, 15 June.
Richard Calle to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter seems to have reference to the depositions touching Sir John
Fastolf's will in the suit brought by Sir William Yelverton and William Wor
cester against John Paston and Thomas Howes. Robert Popy seems to baye
been examined in the spring of 1464 (See No. 488); but the suit was still
going on in 1465, and in a letter of Margaret Paston's of the 24th June fol
lowing, Richard Calle is mentioned as lukving recently left her and gone to
her husband in London.
To my ryght reverent and worschippfull master, Sir
fohn Paston, Knyght.
|LESITH it your gode masterschip to wete that
as for the examynacion of Master Robert
Popy, his examinacion was wreten in a longe
bille of parchemyn accordyng to the deposi-
cion in the SpirituaU Coorte. And Master Robert
come in to the Chauncery, and was swome that all
that was wreten in the seide bille was trewe, and so
delyverd the same bille to the Mastre of the Rolles ;
and he bare it forthe with hym in his hande, for it was
delyverd hym at the risyng of the Coorte. Tounesende
was by and I bothe, &c. And as for delyveryng of
money to Dawbeney, I do that I may do, and more
thenne I may weele doo, for I have put my selfe in
gret daunger for that I have borwyd, &c Almyghty

A.D.I46S.] EDWARD IV. 199
God spede you in all your maters, &c. Wreten the
Saterday next after Corpus Christi Daye.
Your servaunt R. C.

508.
A.D. 1465, 18 June.
John Rysyng to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The imprisonment of John Rysing is referred to in Margaret Paston's letter
of the 27tn May 1465 (No. 505), and in another of the 34th June following
(No. 510). There can be no doubt this letter is of the same year.
Onto my ryght reverent and worchipfull maister, fohn
Paston, Esquyer, be this letta- delyvered.
|YGHT reverent and worchipfull sir, I reco
mende me onto your good maisterchip in the
moste lowly wise that I can or may, letyng
your masterchippe understonde howe that
John Smyth, of Freton, and John Hopton, of Freton,
and I were attached and led onto Gippeswich, and
there putte into the Kynges pryson by cawse of the fyn
which was sessed upon the forsaid John Smyth, John
Hopton, and me, as your maisterchippe knowith well.
And as for John Smyth and John Hopton, they had
labored the meanes onto Master Jenney, that they
were delyvered owt of pryson or than the massenger
come ageyn to theym which they sent onto yow; and
I remayne stiUe in pryson, and I can not knowe but
that they labour the meanes to make me to paye the
money for theym. And so I can not se non other
meane but that I shaU ly stille in pryson, and been
ondo for ever withoute your good masterchippe shewed
to me at this tyme; for as I am enformed that Jenney
hath promysed theym that I shall paye the fyne for
theym, and also aUe the costes that haith be spent ther

200 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.
upon, and shall be spent, for thei say that I am suflfi
cient to bere the hole daunger. And my keper yafe me
licence to goon home, and thei had hevyed the peple
that dwelle ther, and that gretly, and said playnly how
that ye myght not beere the dawnger a geyns Jenney
for your self; therfor the seiden that ye myght not
helpe them owt of dawnger when thatte ye myght not
helpe your self. Wherfor I pray your masterchippe to
lete me have word in as hasty tyme as ye may, to
knowe whether that I shall abyde her stylle or not,
and if I myght do yow any good at London, I pray
your mastershippe that ye will sende for me, and I
will come up to yow. And if ther be non other remedy
but that the money most nedys be paid, I pray your
masterchippe that ye will make such purveyaunce
therfor that it may be to myn delyveraunce at the
reverence of God, and in the weye of charite as myn
hole tmste is in your masterchippe, for I can not seke
to no man, nor will not but only to yow. Wherfor
I pray yow that ye will tenderly understond this letter,
as I may pray for yow onto God, who have yow in ^i-!,.
kepyng. Wretyn at Gippeswich the xviij. day of Junc.
These ar the nanies of theym that have parte of my
catell, Gilbert Nicoll, of Sprowton, WiUiam Merssh and
John Woode of Gippeswich, bocher.
By your man and feithfull
servant, John Rysyng.

509.
A.D. 1465, June. — ^Abstract.
[From MS. Phillipps, 9309].
Examinations talcen at the house of the treasurer of St. Paul's
Cathedral, London, of the following witnesses in the matter Sir
John Fastolf's will, viz. .-—of Thomas Torald and Robert Lawe on
the 18th; of William Waterman on the igtli; of John Osberr
and John Heydon on the 20th; of William Pykeryng, Tohn
Symmys and John Shawe on the 21st days of June 1465.

A.D.1465.] EDWARD IV. aoi
510.
A.D. 1465, 24 June.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
As this letter refers to Paston's disputes with the Duke of Suffolk and his
ofiicers, the date must be 1465.
To my ryght wyrshipfull husband, fohn Paston, be thys
delyveryd in hast.

lYGHT wyrshypfuU hosbond, I recomaund me
^ _ _ to you. Please it you to wyte that the same
rl'ayl Wensday that Ric. CaU departyd hens I send
Ric. Charlys to speke with the undershiyf,
requyiyng hym that he shold serve the replevyn for the
shype and hors that were take, &c.; and the shyrf sayd
playnly that he wol not, nor derst not serve it, not
thogh I wold yeve hym xx //. to serve it. And Ric.
Charlys axhyd the cause why, and he sayd, for he wold
not have to doo with that felshyp, and so it ys yet un-
servyd. I suppose that Ric. Calle hath told you what
revell ther was by the Bayllyf of Coshay and his felaw
uppon your men that shold have servyd the replevyn.
Item, the same Wensday that Ric. Call rode from
hens the were endytyd v. of men by the enquest of
Fourhoo hunder, as Crome can enforme you, and on
Fryday last paste John Paston, the yonger, Wykes and
Thomas Honewerth were endytyd at Dyram, by what
menys the berour herof Crome shall [en]forme you. I
send theder Ric. Charlys, John Seve, and iij. or iiij.
other gode felows, for to have don other folks as gode
atome; but it wold not be, for the Juge ys soo parcyaU
with the other party that I trowe ther shalbe sped no
maters before hym for you, nor for non of yours tyl it
be otherwyse by twene you than it ys. Crome shall tell
you of hys demenyng at the last sessyons at Dyrham.
I send you a copy of both the endytements. Your son
John Paston the yonger, I hope shal be with you thys

202 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.146S.
wyke and enforme you of mo thyngys, and howe myn
hors and hys sadell and hamys ys prysoner at Coshaye
HaUe and have ben ever syn Wensday last
Item, I recevyd a letter from you on Satorday last,
whych was wryten on Monday next before and I have
sent to Sir Thomas Howys the same day for such
maters as ye wrote to me of, and he sent me word that
Wyllyam Worceter had a boke of remembraunce of
recaytys that hath be recevyd by Sir John Fastolf or
any of hys sythen the iiij."- yere Kyng Harry, both of
hys owyn lyflode or of any other mannys that he had
to doo wyth all. He sayd, yf ye wold send to WylL
Worceter to loke therfore he sayd he wyst weU he wold
lete you have knowlych yf any such thjrng may be
founde, and also he sayd that he wold send to the seyd
WylL to serche therfore, and as for such bokys as he
hath hyre at hom he wol doo loke yf any remembraunce
canne be founde therof, and ye shaU have knowlych
ther of, as he hath promysyd, by Satourdaynext comyng.
And as for the woman tiiat made the clayme that ye
wrote of he ys wellwyllyd that she shold be seyn to in
the way of almys. And as I here say, it s)Tn)rth by
hym that in any thyng that he canne doo tochyng the
savacyon of the dedys gode,^ other in lyflode, other in
other godys, he sayth that he wyll doo. I canne not
have no knowlych that Haydon mellyth in the mater
of Drayton ; yf he do oght therin, he doyth it closely,
as he ys wont to doo, and wayshyth hys hondys ther
of as Pylate dyde. It shalnot be long to or that I send
to yow; of such tythynges as we have I shaU lete
you have knowlych ther of. I fynd Crome ryght wel-
wyllyng to you in such thyngys as lyth in hym for to
do. I pray you lete hym be thankynd therfor, and
that shaU cause hym to be the beter wyllyd ; he hath
not be rewardyd as yet but by Ric. Call, as he canne
teU you. The Biyssyd Trynyte have you in His
kepyng and send you gode spyde in all your maters.
Wryten in hast on Mydsomer day.
^ i.e.. The dead man's goods.

A,D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 203
As for Rysyng, but yf [unless] ye purvey for hym he
canne no helpe have at home. By yours, M. P.

51L
A.D. 1465, 6 July?
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is not addressed on the back, nor is the handwriting that of
Margaret Paston, but from the subscription it would appear to have been
wntten by her to one of her sons ; and as John Paston the younger is
mentionea in the body of the letter, the person addressed was evidently
Us elder brother. The letter seems to have been written shortly before the
Duke of Suffolk's attempt on Hellesden mentioned in the next No., probably
on the Saturday precedmg it.
GRETE yow weie, letyng yow wetyn that I am
informyd for certeyn the Due of Suffolk
reysyth grete pepyl bothe in Norffolk and
Suffolk to comyn doune with hym to putte
us to a rebeuc and thei may ; querfor I wold in ony
wyse that ze make yow as strong as ze can wyth iime
[in the] place, for I and other moo suppose that zyff
they fynd zow not here they wyl seke yow there ze
arn. I wold John Paston the zonger schuld ryde
azyn to my Lady of Norffolk and be wyth hyr styUe tyl
we haff other tydyngs, and ther may he do sum good,
after that he heryth tydyngs, in goyng forth to hys
fadyr or in to sum other place quere we may hafe
remedy; for yt [is] told me that there ar come to
Cossay onward more than ij. hundred, and ther ys
comyng, as yt ys seyd, more than a thowsand. I wold
that ze sende hyder Lytyl John that I mygth sende
hym abowte on myn errandys. Sende me worde how
that ze doo by summe of the tenantes that be not
knowyn. Item, byd Richard CaUe send me word in a bylle,
of how many materys that he hath sent myn husbonci
an answere of, the quych he sendt hom in divers

204 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D 1465.
letters for to be sped here and of the fermours of
TychweUe. Item, zyf Sir Jamys Gloys may come to Norwych to
Adam Talyours hows I wold he come on Munday by-
tymys, and I schal sende to hym thyder. God kepe
yow alle. Wretyn in hast on Satyrday.
By your Modyr.
Item, yt ys told me that zong Heydon reysyth mych
pepyl in the sokyn and in other place.
Item, I wold ze schuld do Rychard CaUe hye hym of
makeng of aUe the acountes and, zyf nede, lete hym
gete help and kepe Thomas Hunnworth stiUe wyth
yow, and be war of Pykyng [Pickering I'l

512.
A.D. 1465, 10 July.
Richard Calle to John Pastom.
[From Fenn, iv. 212.]
From what has been already s^d about the Duke of Sufiblk's claim to the
manor of Hellesden, it is clear that this letter is of the year 1465. Later it
cannot be, as John Paston was dead before July 1466.
To my mastre, fohn Paston, in hast.
ILESITH it youre maysterschip to wtte of the
rwle and disposicion of the Master Philip and
the Balyf of Cossey, with others of my Lorde
ofSuffolkesmen. On Monday last past, at aftre-
noon, [theyjwerat Heylesdon, with thenombreof CCC.
men, for to have entred, notwithstandyng they seyde
they come not for to entre; but withoute dought, and
they had been strong inough for us, they wolde have
entred, and tliat we undrestonde nough, but we know
yng of ther comyng and purveyed so for hem, that we
wer strong j nough. We had lx. men withinne the
place, and gonnes, and suche ordynauns, so that if

a. D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 205
they had satte uppon us, they had be distroyed. And
ther my mastres was withine, and my mastre. Sir John,
and hathe gate hym as grete worschip for that day as
any gentleman myght doo, and so is it reported of the
partye and in aU Norwiche. And my Lorde of Nor
wiche sent theder Master John Salett and Master John
BuUeman for to trete, and so they ded ; and the Due
men seide they had a warant for to attache John
Dawbeney, Wyks, Calle, Hunewrthe, and Bliclyng
and other, weche they wuld have; and my master, Sir
John, answerd them, and seide that they were not
withine, and though we had ben, they shuld not have
had hem ; and so they desired oon of our men. And
so Naunton stede by my mastres and haxed hem whom
they wold have, and seyde if they wold have hem he
wold go with hem, and so he ded. And on the next
day they caryed hym forthe to my Lord of Suffolk to
Claxton, through Norwich ; and ther we had founde a
remedy for h)an for to heve lette hym ; and he wold
not, but nedys go forthe with hem; but like a jentelman
he was entreated amongs hem. And Harleston desyred
at Heylesdon to speke with my mastre, Sir John, and
so he ded, and seyde to hym it were ryght weele don
that he rode to my Lord of Suffolk and desired
hym in any wice that he schulde do so, and seyde that
it was hes dwte so for to do, in asmoche as my Lorde
was come to contre, and that he wolde ryde with hym,
and brynge hym to my Lorde ; and he answerd and
seide to hym, whan that he undrestode that my Lord
were hes fathers goode Lord and hes, that thanne he
wolde se hes Lordship, and ell[es] he had non aronde to
hym; and so they departed. And thanne appoynte
ment was taken that they shull sende home ther men,
and we schuld send home oure. And nough my Lord
of Suffolks men come from Claxton to Norwich, and face
us and fray uppon us, this dayly. Ther fyUe uppon me
befor Sevayne dore xij. of hes men, viij. of them in
hameys, and ther they wold have rayscheved me and
the Scheryf letted hem and other, and they make ther

2o6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1465.
awaunte were that I may be goten I schul dye; and
so they lye in a wayte for to myscheve me, Dawbeney,
and Wyks ; and so I dare not ryde out alone withoute
a man with me. And I undrestonde ther is comyn an
Heyre Determyner^ to enquer of aU ryots, and my Lord
of Suffolk and Yelverton be Comyscioners; and so they
sey as money of us as can be taken shal be endyted
and hanged forth with; and so the people here are
dysmayed with ther rwle. Wherfore that it like you to
sende werd how my mastres schal do at Heylesdon,
and we in aU other maters ; and wether ye wol that
we feche a yene the flok of Heylesdon, for they are
nough dreven to Causton, and there go they on the
heyth ; and my Lord of Suffolk wolbe at Drayton on
Lames Daye, and kepe the Coort ther; wherefor ye
must seke an remedy for it, or eU[es] it woU not do weele.
If my Lord of Norffolk wold come, he schulde make
aU weele, for they feere hym above aU thyngs, for it is
noyced here that my Lord of Norffolk hathe taken
partye in thes mater, and aU the cuntre is cladde of it,
seyng that if he come they wooll hooly go with hym.
And me senethe it were weie don to meve my Lord
in it, though ye schuld geve hym the profyghts of
Heylesdon and Drayton for the kepyng, and som
money be side ; for ye must seke som other remedy
than ye do, or ell[es] in my conseyte it schull go to the
DiveU, and be distroyed, and that in ryght schorte
tyme. And therfore at the reverence of God take som
appoyntement with Master Yelverton, suche as ye
thynke schuld most hurt.
I beseche you to pardon me of my writyng, for I
have pitte to se the trybulacion that my mastres hathe
here, and aU youre frends, &c
Almyghty Jesu preserve and kepe you. Wreten the
Wednesday next Semt Thomas Daye.
Your pore servaunt and bedman,
Ric. Calle.
1 An Oyer and Terminer, or Special CommissioiL

A.D.146S.] EDWARD IV. 207

513.
A.D. 1465, 12 July.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 218].
It is needless to point out that this letter must have been written in the
same year as the last.
To my right worschipfuU husbond, fohn Paston, in hast.
|YGHT worshypful husbond, I recomaund me
to yow, preyeng you hertyly that ye wyl seke
a meen that yowr servauntys may be in pees,
for they be dayly in fer of ther lyvys. The
Duke Suffolks men thretyn dayly Dawbeney, Wykys, and
Richard Calle, that wher so ever they may gete them they
schold dye; and affrayes have ben made on Rychard
Calle this weke, so that he was in gret jupperte at
Norwych among them; and gret affrayes have ben
made uppon me and my felashep her on Monday last
passyd, of whych Rychard CaUe teUyth me that he
hath sent yow word of in wryghtyng, mor pleynly than
I may doo at thys tyme, but I shal informe yow mor
pleynly heraftyr.
I suppose ther shal be gret labor ageyn yow and
yowr servaunts at the Assysis and Cescions her; wher
for me semyth, savyng your better advyce, it wer weie
do that ye shold speke with the Justicys or they com
her ; and yf ye wol that I compleyn to them or to any
other, if Good fortune me lyfe and helth, I wol do as
ye advyse me to do, for in good feyth I have ben
symply intretid among them ; and what with syknesse,
and troble that I have had, I am browte ryght lowe
and weyke, but to my power I wyl do as I can or may
in your maters.
The Duk of Suffolk and both the Duchessys shal com
to Claxton thys day, as I an informyd, and thys next
weke he shal be at Cossey; whether he wol com ferther

208 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1465.
hyddyr ward or not, I wot not yit. Itis seyd that he schold
com hyddyr, and yet hys men seyd her on Monday
that he cleymyd no tytyl to thys place ; they seyd ther
comyng was but to take out such ryotus peple as was
her within thys place, and suche as wer the Kyngys
felonys, and indytyd and outlawyd men. Neverthe lesse
they wold schew no warauntys wherby to take non
such, thow ther had suche her; I suppose if they
myght have com in pesably, they wold have made an
other cause of ther comyng.
Whan alle was doo and they scholde departe,
Harlyston and other desytyd me that I schold
com and se myn olde Lady, and sewe to my Lorde,
and if any thyng wer amysse it schold be amendyd.
I said if I scholde sewe for any remedye, that I
scholde sewe ferther, and lete the Kynge and alle the
Lordys of thys lond to have knowlech what hathe be
don to us, if so wer that the Deuk wolde meynten
that hathe be don to us by hys servauntys, if ye wolde
geve me leve.
I pray yow sende me worde if ye wyl that I make
any compleynt to the Duke or the Duchesse; for as it
is tolde me, they know not the pleynesse that hathe
ben done in such thyngys as hathe ben don in her
[their] namys.
I schold wtyght muche mor to yow but for lak of
leyser. I comaundyd my Mayster Tom thys day to have
com ageyn by me from Norwych, when he had spokyn
with Rychard CaUe, but he cam not I wolde he wer
qwyte of hys indytments, so that he wer qwyte of yowr
servyce; for by my trowthe, I holde the place the mor
ongracyous that he is in, for hys dysposycion in dyverce
thyngys, the whych ye schal be informed of her after.
The Trynyte have yow in kepyng. Wretyn the
Ftyday next after Seynt Thomas.
By yowr, M. P.

A.D.1465.] EDWARD ly. iOg
514.
A.D. 1465, 13 July.
John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
As this letter is dated on a Saturday, and refers to the Duke of Suffolk's
attempt on Hellesden as having been made on the Monday preceding, here
can be no difficulty in iixing the precise date, both of day and year.
To my cosyn, Margrd Paston.
Recummand me to yow, I thank of yow of
yo\vr labour and besynes with the unraly
felechep that cam befor yow on Monday last
past, wherof I herd report be John Hobbis.
And in god feyth ye aqu)rt yow tygth wel and discretly
and hertyly to yowr wurchep and myn, and to the
shame of your adversarijs, and I am wel content that
ye avowid that ye kept possession at Dra)rton and so
wold doo. Wherfor I pray yow, make yowr word god
if ye may, and at the lest, let myn adversarijs not
have it in pees if ye may. Jon Hobbys teUith me
tiiat ye be seekly, whech me lekith not to here ; pray
ing yow hartyly that ye take what may do yowr eese
and spar not, and in any wyse take no thowth no to
moch labor for thes maters, ne set it not so to yowr
hert that ye fare the wers for it And as for the
mater, so they overcome yow not with fors ne hosting,
I shall have the maner sewrlyer to me and myn, than
the Dewk shall have Cossey, dowt ye not And in
cas I come not home within thre wekis, I pray you
come to me, and Wykes hath promisid to kepe the
plase in yowr absens. Nevertheles whan ye come
set it in sech rewle as ye seme best and most suer,
bothe for Castre and Heylisdon if the werr hold. In
cas ye have pees send me word.
As for that it is desyrid I shuld show my tytiU and
evydens to the Dewk, me thynkyth he had evyll cowd-
IL P

210 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1465,
ceU to entre in opon me, trasting I shuld shew hym
evydens. And [if] ye seme it may do yow god or eese,
lete my Lord of Norwich wet that the maner of Drayton
was a marchants of London callid Jon Heylisdon longe
er any of the Polls that the seyd Dewk comyth of wer
bome to any lond in Norfolk or Suffolk; and if they wer
at that tyme bom to no lond, how may the seyd Dewk
klaym Drayton be that pedegre? As for the seyd
John Heylisdon, he was a por man bom, and from
hym the seyd maner dessended to Alice his dowt)^,
hos estat I have, and I soppose the seyd Dewk com
yth not of hem.
Item, as for the pedegre of the seyd Dewk, he is
sone to WiUiam PooL Dewk of Suffolk, sone to
Mychell Pool, Erl of Suffolk, sone to Mychel PooL the
furst Erl of Suffolk of the Polls, mad be King Richard
seth my fader was bom ; and the seyd fiirst MycheU
was sone to on WUliam Pool of HuU, whech was a
wurchepfull man grow be fortwne of the werld. And
he was furst a marchant, and after a knygth, and after
he was mad baneret ; and if any of thees hadde the
maner of Drayton I wUl los CU. so that any persone
for the Dewk wiU be bond in as moch to prove the
contraty ; and I wot weel the seyd Dewkis Co\vnceU
wil not claym the seyd maner be the tytiU of the fader
of the seyd William PooL And what the fader of the
seyd WUUam was, as be the pedegre mad in the seyd
last Dewkis fadirs daijs I know tygt weell: wherof
I informyd Herty Boteler to teU my old Lady of
Suffolk, becawse he is of her cowncell; and more
wiu I not tell in thes mater, but if [unless] I be desyrid
or compellid.
Item, let my Lord of Norwich wete that it is not
profitabe ner the comen weU of gentilmen that any
jentilman shuld be compeUid be an entre ofa lord to
shew his evidens or tytiU to his lond, ner I wil not
begine that exsample ne thraUdam of gentilmen ner of
other ; it is god a lord take sad cownceU, or he begyne
any sech mater.

A.D. 1465.1 EDWARD IV. 211
And as for the Pools that owth Drayton, if ther wer
C. of hem levyng, as ther is non, yet have they no
tytiU to the seyd maner. God kepe yow. Wret the
Satirday, &c. Yowr Jon Paston.
I pray yow be as mety with yowr feluchep as ye kan.
Item, I send hom writt and prasens for yowr
servaunts and myn.
Item, I may sell you woll for xLf. the ston, redi
mony, as Arblaster can tell yow, and malt for iiijj.
the quarter at days xxj. for xx. delivered of Yermouth
mesur. If ye fayle mony ye most make it of yowr wole
or malt
I send you hom writts of replevin for the shep and
the horses that wer take, and avise yow lete the writtis
be deliverd be fore my Lord of Norwich, and god
rekord ; and if ye may make men with fors to take the
catell agey[n] be waran of replevyn, spar not rather
tiian fayle.
On the back of the letter is the following memorandum in a
different hand : —
Md. there lefte behynde of Heylesdon folde of my mastre schepe xij.
modreschep. Item of lambes xxxiiij. Item of my mastres xij. modreschcp.
Item ofher lambes xij.

515.
A.D. 146s, [July?]
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Margaret Paston, as will be seen by subsequent letters, was in London with
her husband in September 1465. ^This letter seems to have beeu written not
long before, when she first entertained the thought of going thither.
|IGHT worchepful hosbond, I recommand me
to yow, and pray you hertely at the reverence
of God that ye be of good comfort, and
trost vetyly be the grase of God that ye shaU
overcome your enemys and your trobelows maters

212 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A. D. 1465.
ryght weUe, yf ye woUe be of good comfort, and not
take your maters to hevely that ye apeyr not your sel^
and tiiynk vetyly that ye be strong inowe for aUe your
enemys be the grace of God. My moder is your good
moder, and takyth your maters tyght hertely. And zit
ye thynnk that I may do good in your maters yf I
come up to you, after I have knowlage of your entent
it shall not be longe or I be with you be the grace of
God. And as for any othyr thyngs of sharge that be
in this contre, I hope I shaU so ordeyn therfore that
it shall be safe. I have delyvetyd your older sonne
XX. mark that I have received of Ric CaUe, and I
kowd no more of hym syn ye departyd. [And I send
yow another bage of mony that was in your square
cofyr.i] And I pray God hertely send us good tydyngs
of yow, and send the victoty of your enemys. Wretyn
in hast on Saterday. Your M. P.
Item, I take your sonne of your faders oode mony,
that was in the lytyU trassyng cofyr x. mark, for my
broder Clement seythe that xx. mark was to lytyll
for hym. 516.
A.D. 1465?
[Margaret Paston?] to  ,

[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The MS. ofthis letter seems to be a draft in a hand like that of James
Gresham. It is anonymous and without address. Even the writer is very
uncertain. But it may not unlikely be a draft letter from Margaret Paston
to some neighbour who, while the Duke of Sufiblk was laying claim to
Hellesden and Drayton, was not too mindful of John Paston's rights.
Brandeston is about eleven miles from Norwich, eight miles beyond Drayton.
Thoinas Hoop was parson of Brandeston from 1448 to 1475. He was pre
sented to the Uving by Sir Johu Fastolf.
Cosyn, I recommaunde me to yow, letyng yow wete that I am
informid that the parson of Brandeston is tSke be yowr sowdiors
and led forth with hem, and they have ryfelid his godis, and
summe of myne husbondes also, and of his ballyes, weche were
left with the seyd parson to kepe. Wherfore I avise yow, and
1 This seuteuce is stiuck out.

A.D.1465.] EDWARD IV. 213
ptaye that he maye be lete go agayn, and to have ower godes as
were take fro hym j for and yowr sowdioris be of sweche dis
posicion that they wyll take that they may gete it, shall no
wurchip be to you, nor profite in tyme to come ; and therof wolde
I be sory. And if the seyd parson be othirwyse disposid thanne
he owth to be, I wyll helpe that he shall be chaysteysid as
conciens and lawe requerith. I wolde ye shulde remembre that
ye have bore blame for sweche thynges before this tyme that
nath be do othirwise thanne lawe hath requerid. And God have
yow in His kepyng. Wrete at Norwiche.

517.
A.D. 1465, 30 July.
John Wyke to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The date of this letter is sufficiently apparent from the reference in the
beginning to " the entry made at Hellesden in the Duke of Suffolk's name."
To my ryght wyrshypfuU mayster. Sir fohn Paston, be
thys letter delyveryd.
|LEA.SE it your maystershyp to wyte, uppon
Satourday last, Mayster WyU. Paston and I
werre with my Lord the Byshoppe of York,
and enformyd hys Lordshyp of the entre
that was made at Haylesdon in the Duk of Suffolks
name. And my Lord asked of ous whether the C.
marc wer payd or not, and we awnswered that it was
payd many day a goon. And than he sayd, " I dar
swer uppon a boke that the Duchesse of Suffolk hath
no knowlych therof." And so he comaundyd ous to
a wayte uppon hym, for he wold be at London a yen
uppon Tewysday next; and soo we have non awnswer
as yet
Item, I have spoken with Mayster Robert Kent for
your maters, and byddeth that ye shold not dowte
therof; and as for the neglygens of your wytnes,
Mayster Robert sayth it ys but a jape, and shall be no
hurt And the copys therof wer delivetyd or than I cam

214 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1465.
hom from Parker ys hands, and that causyd me to spake
no word to hym therof.
Item, the Lord Scales sayd at a soper where as he
soped within thys iiij. nyztys that he wold tyde home
and enter in ij. fayre maners in hys contray, and
desyred Stanhope that shall wed Gemyngham ys
suster to tyde with hym. I suppose it be to enter in
to Caster and Cotton; wherfor maketh gode wache
be tyme, for it ys mery to piede in possession, &c
Item, I have send you an unce of myvers (?) by the
beror of thys letter, and thay cost me iiij.f. iiij^.
Item, your gesseren^ and gaunteletts shall be send
hom by the next caryours, for there be non hyre yete,
&C. No more to you at thys tyme. The Holy Ttynyte
have you in Hys kypyng. Wryten at London uppon
Tewysday next after Seynt Anne.
By youre servaunt, John Wyke.
518.
A.D. 1465, 7 August
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This is another of the series of letters relating to Paston's dispute with the
Duke of Suffolk about Drayton and Hellesden m 1465.
To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston, be this
delyverd in hast.
ilGHT wurchepfuU husbond, I recomaund me
to you. Please it you to wete that I sent on
Lammesse day^ to Drayton, Thomas Bonde
and Sir James Gloys to hold the court in
your name, and to clayme your tytiU; for I cowde gete
none other body to kepe the court, ner that wuld go
theder but the seide Thomas Bonde, be cause I sup
pose thei were a ferd of the pepill that shuld be there
1 a sleeveless coat of nail " August <.

A.P. I46S.] EDWARD IV. 215
of the Duke of Suffolks parte. The said Thomas and
James, as the Duke of Suffolks men, that is to sey,
Harlesdon, the parson of Salle, Mayster PhUlip and
WUliam Yelverton, the which was styward, with a lx.
persones or more be estymacion, and the tenauntes of
the same town, sum of hem havyng rasty poUexis and
byllys, comyn in to the maner yard to kepe the courte,
met with them, and told them that thei were comyn to
kepe the court in your name, and to clayme your titiU.
Wherfore the seid Harlesdon, with ought any mor
words or occasion yovyn of your men, comytted the
seid Thoraas Bonde to the kepyng of the new Baly
of Drayton, William Dokett, seyng that he shuld go
to my lord and do his herand hym self, notwithstandyng
that Sir James dede the erands to them, and had the
words ; wherfor thei toke the seid Thomas with ought
occasion. Thei wuld have mad the seid Thomas to have
had the words, and the seid James told hem that had
hem, because he was the more pesibill man, whan after
ward thei bade avoyde, and sithen led forth Thomas
Bonde to Cossey, and bownde his armes be hynde
hym with whippe cord hke a theffe, and shuld have
led hym forth to the Duke of Suffolk, ner had be that
I had spokyn with the juges in the morwyn or thei
yede to the shirehous and enformed hem of such tyottes
and assaugthis as thei had mad up on me and my
men ; the baly of Cossey and all the Duke of Suffolks
councell beyng ther present, and all the lerned men of
Norffolk, and WiUiam Jenney and my[che] pepill ofthe
contre ; the juge callyng the baly of Cossey befor them
aU, and yaffe hym a gret rebuke, comaundyng the
shereffe to se what pepill thei had gadred at Drayton ;
which came after to Helesdon to se the pepill ther,
with weche [pe]pUl he held hym weie content ; and
fro thens he rode to Drayton to se ther pepill, which
wer avoyded or he came. And ther he desired to
have delivered the seid Thom. Bonde to hym ; and
thei excusid hem and seid thei had send hym to the
Duke of Suffolk Notwithstandyng, afterward thsi

2l6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1465.
sent hym to Norwhich to hym, desiryng hym that he
shuld delivere hym not withought he mad a fyne, be
cause he trobiUed the Kynges lete; for which thei
mad 1 .... to juges. But after that I under-
stod it, I sent Danyell of Mershlond and Thornas
Bonde ^ to enforme the juges how the seide
Thomas was intreted amonges hem ; and so he ded.
And the juges were gretly  with the
Dukes men, and forwith comaunded the sheryf to
delyver the seide Bone withoute any fyne m[aking],
seyng that he out non to make. And in goode feythe
I founde the juges tyght genteU and forborable to me
in my matres, notwithstandyng the Duckes counceU
had made her compleynt to them or I come in ther
werst wice, noysyng us of gret gatheryng of peopell and
many riotes thynges don be me and your men. And
after I enformed the juges of ther untrouthe and of
ther gidyng, and of our gidyng in like wice. And
after the juges undrestod tiie trouthe he gave the baly
of Cossey befor me and many other a passyng gret
rebuke, seyng without he amended hes condicion and
governaunce, thei wuld enforme the Kynge and helpe
that he schuld be punyschet And wher as ye avyced
me  a felaschip to kepe the coorte at
Drayton with easy cost, it was thought be your coun
ceU it wer better otherwise, and not to gather no people,
for it was told me that the Dukes men had to the
nombre of v. C men, and your councel avised me to
gete a felischip to kepe my place at Heylesdon, for it
was told me that they schuld come and puUe me out
of the place, weche cauced me to kepe the place the
strenger at that tyme. And as for kepyng of any
coort for you at Drayton, I can not wete how it cowde
be brought a boute withoute helpe of other but if there
schuld growe gret inconvenyence of it And at the
1 At this point the letter is continued in a different ink upon a new sheet
of paper, which was formerly stitched to the first sheet. A line which was
formerly covered by the sewing shows that Margaret Paston intended at first
to have written : "to the justice, and he  {^ve -words illegible.
iiu faper heing cui) thei toke the seid Thomas with ought warant, afilre
trobillyng of the lete."

A.D.I46S.] EDWARD IV. 217
ass[izes] .... made gret labor to endite your
men, notwithstandyng it was letted. And as for the
writtes of replevyn, they were delyverd openly be for
the juges to the scheryf, and also other writtes wech
Jamys Gresham brought; and aftre that Ric. CaUe
spake with the high scheref for the servyng of hem.
And so he promysed to serve it and to send men of
hes owne to serve it; and so he sent ij. of his men
with Ric Lynsted, and with ij. of Scheperdes to Cossey
for the sdiepe. And ther they wer answer that
Yelverton cleymeth the properte, and so wer they
answerd in all other places wher as any catell was.
And so they departed and come to the scheryf and
enformed hym ; and I undrestande the scheryf taketh
it for an answere ; nothwithstandyng I send h3ma word
withoute that Yelverton had ben ther in hes owne
persone he myte not cleyme the properte, and aviced
hym to be ware what retome he made that he were
not hurte by it And so he hathe made no retome
yet What he wul doo I wat ner. He is styUe in this
contre yet and schal be this iiij. or v. dayes, but your
counceU thynketh it were well don that ye gete an
aUiaf- and a pluries that it myght be sent don to the
scheiyf and than he can mak non excuse but nedys
 ^ it weU (?) to make a retome as he wol
abide by. I can not wete how the catell woll be goten
ayen withoute other processe be had more than we
have yet
Item, on Tuesday next comyng schal the sescions
of the pees be at Wolsyngham. What schal be do
ther I wot not yet ; for as for any indy tem entes that
we schuld labor a yenst them it is but wast werk;
for the scheryf ner the jurrours wol no th3Tig do ayenst
them. Item, wher as ye desire to knowe what gentelmen
wolde do for you at this tyme, in goode feythe I founde
Herty Greye, Lomnor, Alblastre, Wer .... (?),
BemeyofRedham,Skyppewith,andDanyeUof Merche-
1 So in MS. s A word iUegible.

2i8 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
lond, tyght weele disposed to you ward at this t)Tne
in helpyng and in zevyng ther goode avice to me for
suche maters as I had to doo. Ye schal have more
pleyne undrestondyng of all thynges her after than I
may write to you at this tyme.
Item, the supersedias^ and the supplicavit"^ is delyverd
to Alblastre and to Wechyngham, and they have mad
out bothe warantes and supersedias;'^ nevertheles ther
is non servyd yet
Item, I received the box with the writt and the
letter that Bemey sent to me on Friday last and non
er [no earlier].
Item, as for the pris of malte it is fallen here sore,
for it is worthe but \]s. viija?'. j. quarter at Yermoth.
Item, as for your wolle, I may selle a stoone for
xld., so that I wol geve halfe yere day of pa)Tnent I
prey you sende me word how I shal do in this matre
and in all other, &c. And God kepe you. Wreten in
haste the Wednesday next aftre Lammes daye.
Your M. Paston.
519.
A.D. 1465, 7 Aug.
John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
It is sufficiently clear from the reference to accounts of the 4th year of
Edward IV., that this letter cannot be earlier than 1465, which is th.8 last
year of the writer's life.
To my cosyn, Margaret Paston, at Heylisdonn.
Recomaund me to you. And as for the Irttci-
that I send yow touchyng John Russe, I wiU
that ye and your counsell see it openly; and
kepe this bille to your self or to some secret
frend of yours. And I pray yow remembir ij. thynges;
1 So iu MS.
^Supersedeas is a writ lo stay certain ^jroceedings ; supflicavit a writ for
taking surety of the peace when violence Is threatened by any on*

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 219
on, if ye fynd hym in any maner wise disposed to leve
his bargeyn, take it at his offer, and take ayen the
writyng that he hath of that bargeyn, or a writyng of
his owne hand of relesyng his bargeyn to me ; for
peraventure at this tyme he woU be glad to leve his
bargeyn, as I undirstand, and whanne he sethe that I
have peas he woUe calle theron ayen. Wherfore I
pray yow werk wisely herin, for he may in no maner
wise aske the money of me and kepe his bargeyn, for
he hathe divers tymes desired me to have take of hym
more masse (?) therfore. Another, as sone as ye may,
or ye breke this mater with John Russe, make due
serche with the fermours at Akthorp what mony Russe
hath reseyved ther in my tyme, that is to sey, for
Mighelmes the first, the ij., iij., iiij. yeres of Kyng E.,
of whech he hath reseyved ij. payments, that is xij//.
at the lest, or er the maner was trobelid by Jenney or
Yelverton. And I deme that he hath reseyvid some
sithen, but that he kepith counseU.
Item, for as moch as Sir Thomas Howes gaderid
for the xxxix. yere of Kyng Heny, the seid John
Russe woU, under colour of that surmytte, that he
reseyvid in my tyme was therfore, wherfore ye must
make a serche what he hath reseyvid sith Sir John
Fastolff dyed, and what tyme ; and therupon ye shall
undirstand what he hath reseyvid for me, and what
for hym; and in case he hathe reseyvid xii//., and
Richard hath payd hym his dute as he promised,
thanne growyth nat to John Russe past iiij. orv//. /
notwithstandyng fare fayre with hym and resonabilly,
so that he leve his bargeyn, and lend hym the remnaunt
of the xx//. upon suerte for xx//. He desireth to have
outher his dewte or borowyng at this tyme.
Item, he that shall speke with the fermours of
Akthorp, whos name is Langham, he must inquere
generally what mony he hath payd to all men sith Sir
John Fastolff dyed, and see his biUes of payment, and
take therof a titelyng. Ric. Calle hath a bUle of
parcelhs of every mannes ferme, and he can serche

220 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1465.
this best, in case he be not to favorabiU to John
Russe, wherfore I remitte this to your discrecion ; but
I suppose John Russe woU telle yow what he hath
reseyvid for hand bifore this tyme wretyn by his
seying what he had reseyvid, and I suppose and he
remembird that he seid to me, he wold not aske his
mony in this forme ; nevirthelesse it shaU do good, so
he leve his bargeyn by this meane.
I merveyU that I here no tidyngges from yow hough
ye have do at the assises. The berer of this lettir is
a comon carier, and was at Norwich on Satirday, and
brought me lettirs from other men, but your servaunts
inquere nat diligently after the comyng of cariers and
other men. Wretyn at London the Wednesday next
after Lammes day.
Ye shaU have lettirs of me this weke.
John Paston.
520.
A.D. 1465, 7 Aug.
John Paston to Margaret Paston and Others.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This is evidently the letter referred to in the beginning of the last
To my mastresse, Margret Paston, James Gresham
and Ric. CaUe.
Recomaund me to yow, and have reseyvid
ij. lettirs from John Russe, wherin he remem-
birth me that I shuld owe hym xix//., or
therupon, for divers parcelles whech he seith
he shuld have deliverid in to myn hows, wherof he
seith xiiij//. was deUverid in to myn howse ij. yere
g[oon], and that I had a biUe deliverid me therof, and
the remnaunt sithen, and desireth of me payment of
the seid xix//. Wherfore I certi[fye] yow as I undir
stand in the mater; ye may lete John Russe come to
yow and take such a direccion in the mater as reason

A. D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 221
and trought woU. I lete yow wete that abought ij.
yer goo the seid John Russe deliverid me first a biUe
of the seid xiiij. [//.], and I examined the parceUes ;
and as I remembir xj//. was my dewte, wherof the
certeyn somme is writen in my blak book of foreyn
reseytes that yere, and the remnaunt was Ric. Calles
dewte, wherof he was aUowed, savyng apart was Elys
dewte. And as for the seid xj//., I offend the seid
John Russe payment in hand at that tyme, and desired
hym he shuld no more send in to myn howse, and
wamyd yow and Richard that ye shuld no more stuffe
take in to myn hows without ye payd in hand, nowther
of hym ner of non other. And the seid John Russe
prayd me to remembir that I had grauntyd hym the
maner of Akthorp in Leystoft, at a certeyn prise, as it
appetyd by writyng undir my seall, and desired me
that I wold take the seid somme in party of payment.
And I told hym that as for such mony that shuld
come from hym for that lond, I wold take it of hym
and ley it up by the self, that I myght purchase other
lond therwith, bicause I wold lesse Fastolffs lyvelode
for the college, but I wold pay hym his dewte without
any stoppage. And he thanne desired me to take
that same xj//. and ley it up to the same use, seying to
me that it was as good to do so as I for to take it
hym, and he to take it me ayen. And thus he and I
agreed, and departed, and thanne he prayd me to take
more chafar of hym, whech I denyed. And nough I
merveyU what shuld cause hym to aske mony for
that dewte ; neverthelesse I deme he supposith that
he coud not opteyne his bargeyn by me, bicause
of the trobill that it standyth in; and for that or
for some other cause he repentyth his bargeyn and
woll nomore of it Wherfore send for hym, and take
James Gresham or some of your frends and Richard
Calle, and fele what he menyth; and if ye can fynd hym
disposed to leve his bargeyn yet, though I myghte kepe
stille the seid mony I wold he shuld not lese therby.
Nevirthelesse if he woU refuse his bargeyn, thanne take

222 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
ayen the writyng that he hath of that bargeyn and a
writyng of his hand that he dischargyth me of the
graunt that I mad hym of that same bargeyn. And
thanne loke that ye enquere what mony he hath
reseyvid of the seid maner in my tyme, wherof the
ferme is vj//. yerly whech I suffird hym to occupie to
his owne use by fors of the seid bargeyn all my tyme ;
and aftir the parcellis cast what I have had of hym ;
abbate therof the mony that he hath reseyvid of the
seid maner, and also as moch ofthe xiiij//. as the seid
Ric. CaUe and Elys owen, wher of he is alowid ; and
thanne see that the seid John Russe be content of the
remnaunt of his parceUis that is dew by me, but loke
ye pay non other mennes dewtes.
Also the seid John Russe writyth in his lettir that
rather thanne he shuld fayle this mony that I wold lend
hym asmoch to pay ayen at Cristemasse ; wherfore, if
he leve his bargeyn I woll ye lend hym asmoch mony
over his dewte as shall make up xx//., takyng of hym
suerte to pay ayen at Cristemasse, as he writyth ; in
case be that he wUl kepe stiUe his bargeyn, thanne
ye may answere hym it is no reason that he shuld
aske me any part of that mony ayen, for he owyth
that and moch more.
Item, the seyd John Rus sent me heder a man for
this mater only with in thes ij. daijs. Wherfor let him
know an ansue letyng (?) for I fel weU (?) he hath mad
agret bargen but late, wherfor he hath mor nede of
mony now, and I wol do for hym that I may resonably.
Nevertheles his wtyting merveylith me that he askith
thes mony as dewte, wheche he toke me for parte of
my payment I deme it comith not all of his owne
disposicion. Inquier ye that ye can what it menith.
God kepe yow. Wret the Wednisday nex Lammes.
Yowr John Paston.
In cas ye han Drayton in any quiete take sewertie
of yowr tenants for paiment as I have wret befor.

4.D.1465.] EDWARD IV, 223
521.
A.D. 1465. — John Estgate to  .
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The writer of this letter is reported to be dead in No. 523, which was
written on the xSth August 1465. We have little doubt, however, that this
belongs to the same year, as the names of Robert Ippeswell and John Salet
occur m the correspondence more than once about uus time.
|ER, ze sent to me a letter conteynyng the
substaunce of the processe off Mr. Robert
Ippyswell for the mater off the codicUl of
Nicholas Pykeryng, &c. Me mervelyt gretly
off the certificat off Mr. Robert in that be halve, for this
is the trathe as forth forth as I kan remembre me. The
codicil! had nether day nor place lymyte, qwer or
qwan it xuld a ben mad ; qwerfor to a reprovyd that
that nether was qualifyid \vith day nor place it had be
gret foly, &c. Therfor I askyd off the juge hys accounts,
and specyaUy the deposicionys and attestacionys off the
wytteness that wer swor in the seyd codicUl, &c. ; by the
qwyche it mowth appere clerly qwan and qwere this
codiciU xuld a be made and wrete. And this sen I
mad protestacion to for the seyde Mr. Robert that I
wolde impugne the mater as lawe requiryd. The qwych
peticion 1 made diverse tyme to fore moche recorde,
judicialy syttyng the seyde M. R.,^ &c. The qwyche
peticion he wold not her, but seyde expresse that
nether WiU. Pykeryng nor non other man xuld sen his
accounts nor knowe qwat the deposicion wer in that
parte this mater was comownyd to for Mr. John Selet
and my mayster and yours diverse tymys, and ever he
seyde we xuld not sen the seyde deposicions. And so
qwat sum ever he hathcertyfyid, this is the truthe, God to
wetenesse and all Seynts, qwo preserve zow evermore.
And I pray zow to declare this to my mayster aud
zours ; and comende me hertly to hys good mayster
chep. And God sende hym victotye off all hys elmyes,
and so pray all hys weU wyllers at Norwich.
John Estgate.
1 Master of the Rolls.

224 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.

522.
A.D. 1465.
Will of Nicholas Pickering.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
From the contents ofthe preceding letter it is probable that this document
was dravm up in 1465. Blomefield, indeed, states (vol. ii. ^p. asx) that
Nicholas Pickering was buried in the steeple of Filby church in X466. But
the date may be an error, for he certainly seems to have been dead in or
before 1465.
To alle trewe Cristen pepill the wiche these present letteres
schall se or here, Roberd Banyngham, confessour to Nicholas
Pekeryng of Filby, Aison the wyfe of the seide Nicholas, Roger
Silveryn, John Herte of Cowteshall, Robarde Yoxsale, Richarde
Hawe, Robarde Manufrac (?), John Case, servaunt of the forseid
Nicholas, and Hemy Becham, servaimt of the seide Nicholas,
and Thomas Page of Beston, sende gretyng in oure Lorde. Where
it is merytory nedefiill to Ijere wytenesse of troughthe, alle ye
mot knowe us that we herde the forseide Nicholas Pekeryng
seyn, lying on his dede bedde, these wordes folwyng, as we
willen answere before God, that whanne William Pekeryng, sone
ofthe seide Nicholas rekenyd with his fadir for xx. quarteres barly
that the seid William cleymed of his faderys yifte to his mariage ;
and for vij. dayes cariage of come in hervest, and for ais a thou
sande waityle that his fadir had firo ye seide Williams wyfes
place, the vriche reknyng greved the seide Nicholas his fadir,
and seide, "Thou comyst in with many bak rekenyngges.
Remembre the that thou hast be the costlyest childe that evere
I hadde, and how that I yaf ye x. acres of fre londe, and ^ a
place in mariage, and many othir thyngges that is muche better
than all thi baki rekinyngges. And I have now yove ye other
X. acres of fre londe aftir my discesse ; and me thynketh be the
thou heldest the not lowest, but woldest have all. But on thyng
I shall sey to the ; if thou trouble John, thy brother, or ony of
myn executores, or cleyme ony more londes or goodys that evere
were myne, 1 shal yeve ye Goddys curse and myn, for thou hast
be ever frowarde to me." In- witnesse and recorde herof we
have sette dure sealys.
To alle trewe Cristen pepill the qvTiche these presente letters
shal see or here, John Herte of Couteshale, Roberd Yoxhale,
Roger Silveryn, Thomas Dawes, and Thomas Drye, sende
gretyng in oure Lorde. Where it is merytory, nedefull and
medefuU to bere witnesse of trought, all ye mot knowe us, that
1 a^b/ repeated in MS.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 225
we herde William Pekeryng, sone of Nicholas Pekeryng, seyn
that hLs fadir wolde he shulde have but x. acres of fre londe aftir
his decesse be syde other x. acres of fre londe that he yaf hym in
maryage. In vrittenesse and recorde heer of we have setto oure
scales. Endorsed*. A Testymonyall.

523.
A.D. 1465, 18 Aug.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iii. 370.]
That this letter was written in the year 1465, appears clearly by the
reference to the Assizes held at Walsingham {.See No. 518), and the intention
which the writer intimates of visiting her husband in London. Moreover,
the first sentence of the letter, and also the postscript, are evidently written in
answer to her husband's complaint in No. 519, that she had not written to bim
what she had done at the Assizes.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU mayster, John Paston, be thys
letter delyveryd in haste.
lYGHT wyrshypfuU husbond, I recomaund me
to you. Please it you to wyte that the cause
that I wrote to you non er [earlier] than I
dyde after the sessyons was by cause that
Yelverton held sessyons at Dyrham and Walsyngham
the next wyke after the assyses, and to have knowlech
what labour that was made ther, and to have send yow
werd therof. Ther was grete labours made by the
bayly of Coshay and other for to have endytyd your
men both at Dyrham and at Walsyngham, but I pur-
vayd a mene that her [their] purpose was lettyd at
tiios ij. tymes.
Hugh a Fen ys in Flegge. Richard CaU spake with
hym thys wyke, and he sayd to Richard that he and
his wyff wold be with me here thys wyke toward a place
of hys that he hath purchasyd of Godehreds. Yf he
come I shaU make hym gode chyre, for it ys told me
of dyvers folks that have spoke with hym sythen he
IL Q

226 THE PAStON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
com in to Norffolk as thay fele by hys sayng that he
awyth you ryght gode wyle.
Item, as for my comyng to you, yf it please you that
I come, y hope I shuU purvey so for al thyngs or I com
that it shuU be sayff y nogh by the grace of God tyU
I com ayen ; but at the reverens of God, yf ye may
purvey a mene that ye may com hom your sylf; for
that shall be most profortabeU to you, formen cut large
thongs here of other mens lether. I shuU wtyte to you
ayen as hastely as I may. God have you in Hys
kypyng. Wryten in haste at Haylesdon, the Sonday
next after the Assumpsyon of our Lady.
Item, my cosyn Elysabeth Clere ys at Ormesby and
your moder purposyth to be at her place at Caster thys
wyke, for the pestylens ys so fervent in Norwych that
thay ther [dare?] no lenger abyde ther, so God help; me
thynkyth by my moder that she wold ryght fajm that
ye dyde well and that ye myght spyde tyght well in
your mater. And me thynkyth by my cosyn Clere that
she wold fayn have youre gode wyU, and that she hath
sworyn ryght faythfuUy to me that ther shall no
defaute be founde in her, nor noght hath be yf the
trogh myght be understond, as she hopyth it shull be
herafter. She sayth ther ys no man a lyff that she hath
put her truste in so moch as she hath doon in you.
She sayth she wote well such langage as hath be re
portyd to you of her other wyse then she hath deservyd
causyth you to be other wyse to her then ye shuld be.
She had to me thys langage wypyng, and told me of
dyvers other thyngs the whych ye shaU have knowlych
of herafter.
As for the hygh shyrf [sherifi^] he demenyd hym
tyght weU her to me, and he sayd to me, as for replevyns
he wold aske counseyU of lemyd men what he mygt
doo therin, and as largely as he mygt do ther in, or in
any other mater touchyng you, savyng hymsylf harmlys,
he wold doo for you and for yours that he mygt do.
Item, I have do layd in [caused to be laid in] the
presentacyon of Drayton, and have presentyd Sir

A.U. I46q.] EDWARD IV, 22?
Thomas Hakon, parson of Felthorp, the whych is hold
tyght a gode man and wel dysposyd, and the Duck of
Suffolk hath layd in a nother ; and ther shall be take
an inquisicyon ther uppon, and Mr. Styven ys your a
voked [your advocate] therin. Mr. John Estgade ys
passyd to God on Thursday last passyd, whos sawle
God assoyle ! Wherof in gode feyth I am tyght soty,
for I fynd hym tyght fayth fuU to you. They deyy
tyght sore in Norwych.
John Rus sayth the profets that hath be take of the
maner of Caister syn Sir John Fastolf deyd hath be
take by Sir Thomas Howys and Jenney. By yours, M. P.
I mervayll that ye had no tythyngs from me at that
tyme that your letter was wryten, for I send you a
letter by Chytockys son that ys prenteys in London,
and the seyd letter was of the demenyng at the assyes
at Norwych and of divers other maters. I pray you
send me word yf ye have it As for the replevyns
Richard Calle sayth he hath send you a awnswere of
hem, and also the copys of them.

524.
Note.
In the Introduction to Volume I., p. xxi., will be found a
document entitled " A remembrance of the worshipful kin and
ancestry of Paston, born in Paston in Gemyngham Soken." This
paper which was printed in the Preface to Vol. V. of the original
edition, p. xliv., appears to have been composed during the life
time of John Paston by some one who owed the family no good
vrill, not unlikely by Sir William Yelverton. The contents agree
very well with the imputation made on John Paston, for which he
was imprisoned in 1465, that he was a bondman to the King.
The original of this dociuient I have not met with.

228 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
525.
A.D. 1465, Aug. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Examinations touching Fastolf's Will.
Among the Paston MSS. in the British Museum is a small volume (Addit
MS. 27,450) of 13a pages, with a contemporary parchment cover, consisting
entirely of examinations of witnesses touching Sir John Fastolf's WilL ^ It is
in two parts, separated by a blank page, the first containing the depositions
of John Paston, taken in 1465, and the second those of the_ witnesses brought
forward by Yelverton and Worcester, which were taken in 1466. We give
here the substance of Fart I. only. An abstract of Fart II. will be found
under its proper date.
John Paston examined by a commission of Thomas, Archbishop
of Canterbury, addressed to John Druell, LL.D., in the cause
between Sir WiUiam Yelverton, Knight, and William Worcester,
pretensed executors of Sir John Fastolf, and John Paston, Esq.,
and Thomas Howys, executors, as is said, dated 8 JiJy 1465.
I. Whether Sir John Fastolf made his will, dated 14 June
1459, in English, and sealed by him vrith his seal of arms?
Answer. He made a note of articles in his will, deponent thinks
in Latin, probably on that day, but it was not then sealed, and
no executor was named.
2. Whether before the will was fair copied an original note
of it was made on paper, and corrected and interlined by Paston?
And whether that note fair copied was the true will which was
sealed by Fastolf? — There was such a note, which being made,
Paston went to London and waited some time, when WUliam
Worcester informed him it had been fair copied in the beginning
of July. Had seen an old will long before, in which some of the
articles were the same, but Fastolf altered them from time to
time in consultations held with this deponent Does not know if
he did interline, but the note will show, which was then in the
keeping of William Worcester, Fastolf's clerk ; nor does he know
if the will was drawn up from it, as he was not present at the
engrossing or sealing, but hears there were several things altered.
3. Where the will is, in whose custody, and whether he have
power to execute it? — The parchment sealed by Fastolf, which
Worcester says was his will, was kept some time after his death
at Caister, and afterwards produced in audience of the Arch
bishop, and there remains.
28 Aug. Examined in the Fleet. — Said he was a prisoner,
wished first to speak with his counsel, and desired another notary
joined with Nicholas Parker, who was not indifferent.
ID, II, 12 Dec. Appeared before the commissary in the
treasurer's house of St Paul's Cathedral, London. Examination
continued.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 229
4. Whether the said will was kept in the tower called the
treasury of Sir John Fastolf at Caister till his death, and whether
Paston and Howys afterwards entered and took it, and what was
then done with it ? Whether, since Fastolf's death it was exem
plified in Latin, and sealed with Fastolfs seal, and by whom ?
And whether the Latin contained more or less than the English ?
Who exhibited the English will in audience of Canterbury?
Was it the true will, or was it written and sealed after Fastolf's
death? — Soon after Fastolfs death the said parchment was
exhibited to Paston by Howes and Worcester. It afterwards
remained in the keeping of Howes and Paston, and has since
been exhibited in the audience of Canterbury. It was not trans
lated into Latin after Fastolf's death, nor sealed, to Paston's
knowledge. Does not know any will, Latin or EngUsh, to have
been sealed after Fastolf's death.
5. Whether Paston exhibited any English will sealed in the
audience of Canterbury? — The note made in June contained an
article relative to Fastolf's college, and lands in Norfolk and
Suffolk granted conditionally on their being refused by Paston.
When Paston went to London, and after a time Worcester came
to him, Worcester told him this note was put in parchment and
sealed, with the other articles, by advice of Master Jolm Brakley,
about the beginning of July. William Bukman, now Abbot of
Wymondham, then Prior of Yarmouth, was present when it was
sealed, and named as a witness. He and Thomas Ingham
reported that Fastolf told them at the time it was his will that
Paston should have those things he had granted at the time of
the seisin of the said feoffment delivered, whatever was written
in the parchment. The said parchment (English) remains in the
court As to the Latin, Fastolf made on paper a schedule of
executors for the Latin parchment, and told Paston and Hov^ys
that he did not mean all the executors to have administration of
his goods. He also told Paston, Bracley, and Clement Felmyng
ham, after Paston retumed from London, that he was informed
the Latin will gave equal powers to all the executors, wliich he
never intended. Fastolf made his last will in November, not
altogether the same.
6. Who kept Fastolf's seal of arms and signet after his death,
how long did it remain whole, and how many vsritings did Paston
seal with them? — At Fastolf's death his seal was in a purse
sealed with his signet, and placed in a chest. The signet was on
his finger at death, but was afterwards placed in the chest in
presence of deponent and Thomas Hov/ys, Master John Bracley,
Master Clement Felmyngham, and three servants of Fastolf's
chamber, and sealed with the seals of deponent, Howys, and
others. The chest remained in Fastolf's chamber, sometimes in
custody of his servants, and sometimes in that of Hovi^s. After
wards tlje seals were placed in a white box sealed in the presence

230 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1465.
of divers men in the hall of the manor, which box was delivered
along with certain rings to John Stokys, who opened the box,
and after inspecting the seals and rings, sealed it up again and
delivered it to Roger Malmesbury, in whose custody they now
remain. TTiis deponent sealed nothing with them.
7. Whether, after Fastolf's death, Paston or any other virote
on a schedule of paper a certain grant or bargain, viz., that
Paston should have Fastolf's lands and tenements in Norfolk,
Suffolk, and Norwich, for 4000 marks, and that Paston and
Howys should have sole administration of his goods so long as
Paston was alive ; and whether after Fastolf's death it was so
recently written that Paston, to dry the writing, scattered ashes
over it ? And if he say it was written during Fastolf's life, by
whom was it written? By himself, or John Russe, or Friar
Brakley, or whom ? And hovr long before Fastolf's death, and in
whose presence ? And whether that sum was specified in the
schedule or a blank left for it ? And whether the contents of
this schedule were extracted and put in a new one ? and by whom
was that written ? Whether by J. Russe? And what time elapsed
between the two writings ? And whether the second schedule
contained more than the first, and what the additional matter
was, and by whom added ? And whether this asserted will of
Fastolf, made, as Paston pretends, on Saturday, 3 Nov. 1459,
was extracted or imagined fi-om the contents of the said bills, or
either of them ? And what was the matter in the said will added
to the matters in the schedules ? And how long it was before
the said pretended will could be formed to the satisfaction of
John Paston?
For two years before his death Fastolf had granted that Paston
should have the above lands after his death, without any condi
tion, but for the purpose that he shonld found a college at Caister
of seven monks or priests, and pay 5000 marks to be distributed
for the soul of Sir John Fastolf ; and about that time he enfeoffed
Paston and others in the said lands, declaring that that enfeoff
ment was to the use of the said Sir John for life, and afterwards
of Paston. After this, viz., in the said month of June, Fastolf
made the said articles in certain paper notes in Latin and English.
Master John Brakley kept copies, which he showed to Paston
after his return to London. After that, viz., in September and
October, Fastolf several times requested Paston to engross the
agreements made between them about the college, saying he
would remit to him 1000 marks of the said 5000 marks. And
in October and November he recited in certain vmtings that in
order that he might not be disquieted with worldly affairs he had
bai^ained vrith this deponent that he should have the control of
all his lands fi-om which any profit might be derived in England,
and of the households and foreign expenses belonging to him,
«o that he should put aside as much of his dues as hc could spare

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 231
for the college ; and that he should have all his lands in Norfolk,
Suffolk, and Norwich, for 4000 marks, which he was to pay on
certain stated days to Fastolf's executors for the benefit of his
soul. Two paper writings were made of the premises, one by
the hand of Paston and the other by Mr. John Brakley, which
are severally remaining with them. This agreement Brakley,
by Fastolf's order, got written out in parchment indented, and
read to Fastolf, who sealed it in his presence as Brakley reported
to Paston. Afterwards, another of the said writings was read to
Fastolf in the presence of Paston, Brakley, Mr. Clement Felmyng
ham, and others, several times in October and November. Com
ments were made on the reading of it by Fastolf on one occasion,
when he said a certain clause was not consistent with his intention,
which was that Paston and Howys should be sole administrators
of his goods, and that as to his lands in Norfolk, Suffolk, and
Norwich, and the college to be founded, he would dispose of
them according to his agreement with Paston, — the master to
have a stipend of ;^I0, and each of the fellows of 10 marks, and
that seven poor men should be found with 40s. a year each, as
stated in the will. Fastolf desired his will dated in June to be
corrected in these particulars, and vmtten anew by Walter
Shipdam, for whom he frequently sent on this business. Mean
while Brakley and Paston wrote another paper in English as a
memorial of Fastolf's intention, of which deponent delivered a
copy under his own hand in Court. The last two lines this
deponent wrote and dried with ashes in presence of Thomas
Howys. The will of 14 June and that exhibited by Paston and
Howys differ little or nothing in effect, except in these articles
touching the college, and the sole administration given to Paston
and Howys.
As to new writings after Fastolf's death. Brakley translated
those words about the sole administration from English into
Latin, partly before his death and partly after. After Fastolf's
death Paston, Howys, and Brakley caused the said Walter
Shipdam to put into form {fecerunt dictum W. S. formare) the
last will and testament of the said Fastolf, both of the said
college and of the said single administration {de dicta singulari
administratione), and of other things in the will of June not con
trary to his last will and declaration, of which several vnritings
were drawn by Shipdam, first in paper and afterwards in
parchment As to the writing of the agreements, Brakley kept
It during Fastolf's whole life, and a year after, and a copy
remained with this deponent after Fastolfs death ; at which time
deponent and Howrys were sitting in the hall of the manor of
Caister at supper when William Worcester came into the hall,
and Paston and Howys, rising from suppei-, had a talk with
Clement Felmyngham, John Brakley, and William Worcester,
immediately after Fastolf's death. At that time, by the advice

232 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
of Brakley, a copy of the agreement was delivered to William
Worcester, at his request, folded up and sealed that night by
Brakley, Clement Felmyngham, and Howys. It remained in
Worcester's keeping till he rode to London, and then he left it
with the said Master John Brakley, Clement Fehnyngham, and
Thomas Howys. Its tenor was transcribed on parchment by
Shipdam shortly afterwards.

526.
A.D. 1465, 14 Sept
John Paston the youngest to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 224.]
It appears by Letter 529 following that Margaret Paston was in London in
September 1465. This letter must therefore have been written in that year.
To my mastras, Margaret Paston, be this deliveryd in
liast, at London.
|FTYR all humbyll and most dwe recomenda
cion, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of
your blyssyng. Plesyt yow to wet that I
have sent to my fadyr to have an answer of
syche maters as I have sent to hym for in hast, of
whyche matyrs the grettest of substans is for the
maner of Cotton, besechyng yow to remembyr hym
of the same mater, that I may have an answer in the
most hasty wyse.
Also I pray yow that myn Ante Poonyngys ^ may
be desyityd to send me an answer of syche matctys
as sche wotyth of, by hym that schall brynge me an
answer of the mater of Cotton.
Also, modyr, I beseche yow that ther may be pur
veyd some meane that I myth have sent me home
by the same mesenger ij. peyir hose, j. peyir blak and
an othyr payir roset, whyche be redy made for me at
1 Elizabeth Fasten, now widow of Robert Poynings ; afterwards married
to Sir George Brown of Betchworth Castle, Surrey.

A.n. 1465.] EDWARD TV. 233
the hosers with the crokyd bak, next to the Blak
Freyrs Gate, within Ludgate ; John Pampyng knowyth
hym well jnow I suppose. And [if] the blak hose be
payid for he wyll send me the roset un payd for. I
beseche yow that this ger be not forget, for I have not
an hole hose for to doon; I trowe they schall cost
both payr viijj.
My brodyr 1 and my sustyr Anne*, and aU the
gatyson of Heylysdon fare well, biyssyd be God, and
recomand hem to yow evetychon.
I pray yow voysyt the Rood of Northedor^ and
Seynt Savyour, at Barmonsey,* amonge whyU ye abyd
in London, and lat my sustyr Margety ' goo with yow
to pray to them that sche may have a good hosbond
or sche com hom ayen ; and now I pray yow send us
some tydyngys as ye wer wonte to comand me ; and
the Holy Trinyte have yow in kepyng, and my fa)nr
mastras of the Fleet Wretyn at Norwyche on Holy
Rood Daye. Your sone and lowly servaunt,
J. Paston the youngest.
527.
A.E' . 1465, Sept ?
Anonymous to Margaret Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter was probably written about or before the beginning of Se|Aember
1465, as the proceedings of Salet and Ipyswell on the commission of inquiry
here referred to are alluded to in a letter of Margaret Paston to her husband
on the 27th of that month.
To my mestresse, Margaret Paston, by thys letter delivered.
1 Sir John Paston.— F.
' Anne Faston, afterwards the wife of William Yelverton. — F.
S The Cross at the north door of St Paul's.
* The Abbey of Saint Saviour at Bermondsey, in Surrey, was founded m
1081, ISth William the Conqueror, by Alwin Child of London ; it was sur
rendered in IJ39, 31 H. VIIL, when it was pulled down, and a Fair House
built on the site by Sir Tliomas Pope, Knight. — F.
' Margery Fasten ; sbe afterwaiils marned Richard Calte— F.

234 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.p. 1465.
LEASE your good mastreschep to have know
lage that as thys day was Master Stevyn of
Norwich at Caster, and ther he told me he
was yesterday at Hoxhon with the Byschop
of Norwych ; and ther he seythe that ther is gret labor
mad be Master Phylyp ^ and be the baly of Cossey;
in so moche ther is mad a comission on to Master
John Salet and Master Robert IpysweU for an inqueny
that the parson '^ that my master^ mad last at Drayton
ys deed, as they sey, and in so moche they purpose to
put in die parson of Felthorp, as he hard sey, for the
Duk of Suffolk. And thes he thynkyth it were a gret
urt to my master tytyU. And also another inqueny
howe [who] ys patome of the seyd chyrche ; and thys
is leke to come in reveUcion but yf [unless] ther be gret
labore mad to morowe be tymys and that ye have a
man at Hoxhon in all hast for a newe comicion; and in
that commysion Master Stevyn wold that ye shuld have
Master Jon Salet, Master Symond Thomaham, Master
Nicholl Stanton. And that it be mad be the avice of
Master Jon Bulman; for he told Master Stevyn he wold
do for you that he may, in so moche Master Stevyn
hathe promyssyd hym a nobyll; and so the seyd Master
Stevyn wold ye shuld send hym a letter and late hym
have knolage that Master Stevyn shall reward hym
that he shall hold hym pleasyd.
Item, a told me that a sent a letter to Sir WUliam
Matyys of all this mater yesterday, weder ye have er
not he can not sey, but in noo wyse that ye dyskure
not Master Stevyn, for he wold not for an CU. that it
ware knowe that ye knewe ther of by hym, for he
seythe gold gothe gret plenty at Hoxhon on ther part.
And yf it be labord be tymys it may be remevyd to
Caunterbury. Also yet it is good to send to Norwich
to the seyd Sir WUliam for the letter ar the massanger
goth, &c
1 Doubtless Philip Lypgate.
' Tliis must be John Flowerdew, presented by John Paston and Thomx?
Tlowes in 1461.
' John PastDD.

A.D.146S.] EDWARD TV. 235
528.
A.D. 1465, [21] Sept
John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 90.]
From the mention of "this cold winter " at the beginning of this letter we
might naturally suppose that the feast " of Sent Mathe," on or about which
it was written, was that of St. Matthias, which occurs on the 24th of Februaiy.
But we believe the day of SL Matthew to have been intended, so thai the
expression must have had reference to some unusually cold weather in Sep
tember. It is clear from the contents of the letter that Margaret Faston had
recently^ been with her husband in London, and had iust left him in company
with Richard Calle on her retum towards NorfoUc. Letters for ber and
Richard Calle had arrived from her two sons since they departed. Now the
only time, so far as I can find, that Margaret Faston ever visited her husband
in London, — at all events when her sons were grown up, — was in September
X465 ; and on that occasion Calle was with her, and everything else agrees.
Indeed, no one can doubt that the latter portion of the letter immediately
following was written in answer to this letter.
To my Cosyn Margret Paston.
|YN owne dere sovereyn lady, I recomaund
me to yow, and thank yow of the gret chere
±at ye mad me here to my gret cost and
charge and labour. No more at thys tyme,
but that I pray yow ye woll send me hedir ij. clue of
worsted ^ for dobletts, to happe me thys cold wynter j
and that ye inquere where William Paston bought hig
tepet of f3me worsted, whech is almost like silk, and if
that be mech fyner thanne that he shuld bye me after
vij. or viij.^, thanne by me a quarter and the nayle
therof for colers, thow it be derer thanne the tother,
for I wold make my doblet all worsted for worship of
Norffolk, rather thanne like Gonnores doblet.
Item, as for the mater of the jx.'°'-/». askyd by my
Lady of Bedford^ for the maner of Westthirrok,
1 Worsted is a small market-town in the most east part of the county of
Norfolk, formerly famous for the manufacture of those stuffs which still bear
its name, and of which, for the worship of Norfolk, J. Paston desired his
doublet to be made. — F.
3 Jaquetta, daughter of Peter of Luxembourg, Earl of Saint Fol, was tlie
second wife of Jolm, Duke of Bedford, the Regent of France during Henry
VI.'s minority. She was married to him in 1433, and after his decease, in
1^35, she becaiQe the wife of Sir Richard WydvUe, and died in 1472.

236 TIIE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.
where as Sir Thomas Howes saith that he hath no
wrytyng therof, but that Sir John Fastolf purchased
the seid maner, and payd serteyn money in ernest,
and aftirward graunted his bargeyn to the Due of
Bedford, and so the money that he toke was for the
mony that he had payd. Peraventure Sir _ Thomas
hath writyng therof, and knowyth it not; for if ther be
any such mony payd upon any bargeyn he shall fynd
it in Kyrtlyngs bocks that was Sir John Fastolfs
reseyver, and it was abought such tyme as the Due
of Bedford was last in Inglond, whech, as it is told
me, was the viij. yere of Kyng Herry the fift, or the
viij. yere of Kyng Herty the sext, and the somme
that he payd for the seid bargeyn was CCC. marks.
Also he shaU fynd, the xxij. yere of Kyng Heny or
ther abought, in the acompts of on of Fastolfs Re-
se)rvors at London, that ther was take of Sir Thomas
TyreU, and of the Duchesse of Excestre,^ that was wif
to Sir Lowes John, fermours of the seid maner, serteyn
mony for repayment of part of the seid CCC marks.
Also he shall fynd in yeres after that, or in that yere,
or ther aboutes, that Sir John Fastolf reseyved mony
of my Lord Revers ^ that now is, by the name of
Richard Wydevile, for his owne dette dew to Sir John
Fastolf; wherfore, if Sir Thomas be trewe to his
1 Anne, eldest daughter of John Montacute, third Earl of Salisbuiy,
married, ist.. Sir Richard Hankford, Knight ; adly. Sir Lewis John, Knight
(whose will was proved in 1442) ; and 3dly, John Holland, who was
created Duke of Exeter 6th January 1443, and died in 1446. Fenn erro
neously supposed the lady to have been the widow of Thomas Beaufort, a
previous Duke of Exeter, who died in ^1426. _This Beaufort, Duke of Exeter,
married Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Nevill, but his wife
did not survive him, as Fenn supposed, for at his death he was found to
have been tenant of her lands for life by the law of England. Fenn's note
on this passage is, however, so interesting that we must quote a part of it
Beaufort, Duke of Exeter, was buried in the Abbey of Bury St Edmund's.
" On dig^ng," he says, "amongst the ruins of this Abbey, the body ofthe
Duke was found, on the 20th of Februaiy 1772, wrapt in lead, and eutire.
The face, hair, and every part were perfect, and the flesh solid, but being
exposed to the air, the body soon became offensive  I procured
some of the hair, which was of a fine brown colour, and very flexible.**
s Sir Richard Wydvile, in 1448, was created Baron Rivers of Grafton, in
Northamptonshire, and elected a Knight of the Garter. His daughter
Elizabeth afterwards became the Queen of Edward IV., who then advanced
her father tu the dignity of Earl Rivers. He was seized by the Lancaster
(Butioeers, and beheaded at Banbury in 1469. — F.

A.D.146S.] EDWARD IV. 237
master, lete hym do his devoir to make that Worseter,
whech is uphold be hym with the deds goods, to be
trewe to his master, or eUis it is tyme for Sir Thomas
to forsake hym, and helpe to punyssh hym, or men
mast sey that Sir Thomas is not trewe ; and more over
lete Sir Thomas examine what he can fynd in this
mater that I sent hym werd of, whech mater he shaU
fynd in the seid Reseyvours bocks, if he list to seke it
Item, on the day after your departyng, I reseyved
letters by Will. Ros from your sones to me, and to*
yow, and to Ric. Calle, &c.
Item, I shall telle you a tale,
Pampyng and I have picked your male ^
And taken out pesis ^ v.,
For upon trust of Calles promise, we may soon
onthryve ;
And, if Calle btyng us hedir xx//..
Ye shall have your peses ayen, good and round ;
Or eUis, if he woll not pay yow the valew of the
peses, there
To the post do nayle his ere ;
Or ellis do hym some other wrongs,
For I will no more in his defaut borough ;
And but if the reseyvjmg of my Uvelod be better
plyed
He shall Crists ours and mine clene tryed ; *
And loke ye be mery and take no thought.
For thys lyme is cunnyngly wrought
My Lord Persy * and aU this house
Recomaund them to yow, dogge, catte, and niowse.
And wysshe ye had be here stUle,
I Male, or Mail, is a trunk or portmanteau. It is to be observed, that in
the original letter the verses do not finish the line but are written as
pro.se.— F.
2 Pieces of money.
n I do not understand this line. — F. — Surely " ours" must be a misreading
of " curs " (curse) ?
* Henry, Lord Percy, son and heir of Henry Percy, Earl of Northum
berland, who was killed at the battle of Towton in 1461, by Eleanor, grand
daughter and heir of Robert, Lord Poynings.
His father having been attainted, he contmued to be called Lord Percy;
but he was afterwards fully restored both in blood and title.

238 'fHE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. i46t
For the sey ye are a good gille.^
No more to you at this tyme,
But God hym save that mad this ryme.
Wret the of Sent Mathe,^
By yowr trew and trustie husband, J. P.

529.
A.D. 1465, 27 Sept
^L\RGARET Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is apostyled in the handwriting of John Paston, and numbered
•' IIII." at the head, showing that it is of the same sequence as the next,
which is numbered "V." and dated on the very same day. In fact, the
latter is clearly nothing but a postscript to this, and bears tie addreis upon
the back, which this does not.
I YGHT wourchipful husbonde, I recomaunde
me to yow, dyssytyng hertely to here of yowr
welfare, thankyng yow of yowr grett chere
that ye made me, and of the coste that ye
dede on me. Ye dede more cost thanne my wylie
was that ye choulde do, but that it plesyd yow to do
so, God gyf me grase to do that may plese yow.
Plesyt yow to wet that on Ftyday after myn departyng
frome yow I was at Sudbuty and spake with the
yjg schreve, and Ria Calle toke hym the ij. writts, and
Norfolk he brake them, and Ric. hathe the copes of them ;
proowbus. ^^^ j^g seyde he wolde send the writts to hys undre-
schtyf and a leter therwyth, chargyng hym that he
schowlde do ther ine as largely as he owt to do. And
Answer of I and Ric. informyd hym of the demenyng of hys
Indof'Ae undrchryf, how parciaU he hade be with the other
replevyn. partye, bothe in that mater, and also for the accionnys
beyng in the scher ; and he was nothyng wel plesyd
of the demenyng of hys undreschef, and he hat
wretyn to hym that he choulde be indeferent for bothe
1 An agreeable companion. — F.
^ St. Matthew's Day is the 21st September.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 239
partyes acordyng to the lawe, bothe for that matetyS
and for aUe other. What the undreschryf wyUe do
therin I wot ner, for he is not yet spokyn with.
Item, as for Cotton, I enttyd in to the plase as on
Sunday last was, and ther I abode tyll un Wednysday
last pasyd. I have left ther John Paston the yonger, Pmi™"'*
Wykes, and other xij. men for to receive the profyttes '""^^'.'
r-l 1 , -t /-, /, manenum
01 the maner ; and ayenst the day of kepyng of the Cotton die
corte, I hope ther shall be more to streynkyth them, ^rmi^
yf it nede. John Paston hath be with my lorde of ?"'«
Norfolk seyth [since] we enttyd, and dyssytyd his MidSeiis.
good lorchyp to streynth hym with hys howsolde men i thank
and other yf nede be; and he hath promysyd he would \°Z°L-
do so. And I sent Ric. Calle on Tusday to Knevett, menyng at
dysyryng hym that he woulde sende to hys baley and "°°'
tenaunts at Mendlesham, that thei choulde be redy to Remembir
come to John Paston whan he sent for them ; and he ^*'"°""
sent a man of his forthwith, chargyng them in aney
wyse that they choulde do so. And he sent me wourde
be Ric. and hys sonne also, yf wee were not stronge
inough, that owther he or hys sonne, or bothe yf nede
were, would come with suche feleschipp as they coude
gett abowt them, and that thei woulde do as feythfuUy
as they kowde for yow, bothe in that mater and in aUe
other. Item, on Saterday last was, Jenney ded warne a
corte at Calcotte to be holde ther in hys name as on
Tusday last was, and Debenham de[d] charge another
court ther the Sunday next afler to be holde ther the
same Tusday in hys name. And Daubeney had
knowleche ther of, and he dede send on Sunday at
nyght to yowr elder sonne, for to have some men fro
thens ; and so he sent Wykes and Bernay to hym on jiokenge
Monday in the momyng. And assone as thei were of jenney
come to Castre thei sent for men ther in the contre, Debenham
and so they gett them in to a iij.''"- men ; and Dau- a^tCaicotes
beney and Wekes and Bemay rod to Calcott the same Tuisday
Munday at nyght with ther felechyp, and ther kept If^ ''"°'«
them prevye in the pl[a]se, so that non of aUe the MigcheU.

240 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A. D. 146s-
tenaunts kneue them ther, saf Rysyngs wyff and her
howsolde, tyUe the Theusday at x. of the cloke. And
SrtV°" than Sir Thomas Brews, Debunham the fadre,i and
doon, con- ^g ^y^ jjys sonne,^ Jenney, Mykelfylde younger,
yoS'™^ Jermyn, and younge Jemyngham, and the Baley of
«ratg^ Motforde, with other to the noumbre ofa iij.'==^ persones,
and your coum fro the scssionnys at Becklys, the whech thei
f^l'^ hade keppt ther on the day byfor, coume to Seynt
"^dt'u Olevys, and ther thei tetyed and dynyd. And whan
^e promts thei had dynyd, Sir Gylberde Debenham came to
go^y Calcott with xx. hors for to wett what felechipp ther
East, and yfas in the plase. And than Wekes aspyed them com-
lee' '""^ myng ; and he and Bemay and ij. with them rode owt
forSus ^° ^' spoke with them. And whan Sir Gilberd aspyd
trobill them comyng, he and his felechipp flede and rode
'y""- ayen to Seynt Olovys. And than they sent young
Jernyngham and the Baley of Mottforde to yowr men
lettyng hem wete that the Justice of the Pese wer
coum doune with Debunham and Jenney, to se that
the pese choulde be kepte, and that thei choulde entre
and kepe the courte in pesible wyse. And yowr
men answetyd and seyd that they knewe no man was
possessyd ther in, ner hade no tyght therin but ye,
and so in your name, and in your tyght they seyd
they woulde kepyt And so they yede ayen with thys
answer, and wer put fromme ther purp[o]se that day.
And all the tenaunts bestes wer put fro Calcalcott'
fee, and challe be tyUe other remedy maye be hadde.
Yowr men woulde not kepe ther a cort that daye by
cause it was warnyd by the tother parte, but we wyl
do wame a corte and kepyt, I hope in hast. Ye wyll
laugh for to here alle the processe of the demenyng
ther, wheche wer to longe to writt at thys tyme.
Veneatt«c] Bemay challe telle yow whane he come ; but he chaUe
Barney. jjQt (.Qme to yow tyUc after Seynt Feythesmesse,* that
he maye btyng yow answeres of other matetyS. It is
NOTrid* tolde me the sessionys chouUe be her at Norwiche
I Gilbert Debenham, Sen., Esq.
s Sir Gilbert Debenham. * So in MS. * Oct 6tL

A.D.1465.] EDWARD IV, 24r
on Tusday next comyng, and in Suffolk the Sessionys "Dunwici
challe be the same Tusday owther at Dounwyche or at proximo
Ypswyche. I suppose ther chaUe be labowr ayenst \lll.^-a,
soume of our folks ther, but we choUe assay to lete Micheiis.
ther pourpose yf we maye. It is tolde me yf ther Depmden-
hade no folks a' be left here in thys plase whyU I have ^'tiSif '""
be owt, they choulde a' be neue masters her by thys Heyies-
tyme ; therfor it is not good to leve it alone yett Tenentes
Item, Arblaster hathe sent a letter to myn Lorde of com'tjs
Oxenefords tenaunts that be nerrest abowt Cotton to pro"""^
h^lp John Paston yf they be sent to, &c. cSto?
.item, I was thys daye with myn Lorde of Norwyche Episcopus
at Thorppe, and informyd hym of the demenyng of ?|^™'''^'
the mater for Drayton chyrche, and of alle the demen- ecclesia de
yng and parcialte of Master John Solatt and Ypswell; ^"y'™-
and also I informyd what disposission that they were
of that were upon the quest And in good feyth me Lete yowr
thynkyth by hym that he is tyght ille plesyd that the "^^^^l
mater was so gydyt. He seyde to me tyght pleynly with hym,
that the Jugis dede not therin as thei owght to do, ^y'sey
and he seyd thowe I hadde hade noo councell, the *<=y
he howght of ryght to have assyngyd me counceU myiT' "
suche as I hadde dyssyrid ; but he seyde he wyst well no/tM,
he dede in that mater as he have do in other materys ner have'
byfor. Me thynkyth by suche thynges I harde ther 3° by m"
that the seyd Master John ner the tother is not grettly ^^{^^^
in conseyt at thys tyme ; and so tolde me Aschefylde yow
in councelL What the cause was he myght have no |o^°%
leyser to teUe me. I mevyd my lorde in the mater hough i
acordyng to the intent of yowr wiytyng yf aney axcion ^yn
wer take ; and he seyd feythefuUy yf it myght prevayle ^^|'°^*^j
yow, he woulde with tyght good vtyUe that it choulde in that
be doo ; and ellys he woulde not in noo wyse that it h^veL^
choulde be doo. And he dyssytyde me to sende to good titeU
hym suche as be of yowr councell lemyd, that they ^Norwldi
myght comune with hym therin, for he seyd he woulde ^5''^^?.^^
not ye choulde take non axcion therin withowt it of Thorp.
myght provayle. He was weU payed that I tolde hym
^Jiat ye woulde not do therin withowt hys knowleche
u. "^

242 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1465.
and assent ; and he seyd he woulde do therin as he
woulde do yf the mater wer hys owne. Be avyse of
yowr counceU, I purpose to sende Loumnowr and Play
ter to commone with hym therin. He seyd he woulde
feyne that ye wer owt of troble ; and he seyd, yf he
myght doo owght to helppe yow forwarde in aney of
yowr matetyS, he swore by heys feytlie he wode do hys
Episcopus parte feythfuUy tlierin. He purp[o]syd to beatLondon
London. ^^^^ tcime, and thanne he seyd he woulde speke with
yow of maney thyngs ; he -wycheyd herteley that he
myght have spoke with yow on owr. He mevyd to
Comwayie me of a mater of a jentyllman of Comale. He seyd.
he woulde speke with yow therof her after ; yf it myghft
be browt to, it myght do meche good in maney thyngis.
I harde yow onys speke of the same ; ye tolde me ye
hade be mevyd to therof by other.
Item, I received at letter frome yow yesterday,!
wherof I thanke yow hertely, and I praye yow that I
maye be as ye writt And as for suche matetys as Sir
Thomas Howys choulde be spoke to for^ I sent Ric.
Calle this day to speke with hym, but he myght not
speke with hym ; but as hastely as I may I challe do
myn parte to spede the erands and other. It is tolde
deMaut\ ™^ *¦ ^^ Thomas wyll ressyng Mautby chyrche,
^' and yf it plesyd yow to geve it to on Sir Thomas
Lyndis, I truste verely that ye choulde leke hym
ryght well, for he is rit a ptystly man and vertusly
dysposyd. I have knowe hym this xx. yer and
mor; he was brother to the goode parsone of
Seynt Michellys that ye lovyd ryght weU ; and yf he
myght havyt he woulde kepe an howsolde therupon
and bylde (?) well the plase (?); and therof have it
grete nede, for it is now rit evyll repatyd, and I wott
well he woll be rulyd and gydyt as ye wyU have hym,
I praye yow, yf it plese yow that he have it, that it
Wursted. lekyth yow to sende me an answer by the berrer herof.
Item, I have do spoke for yowr worstede ^ but ye
may not have it tyUe Halowmesse ; and thane I am
» See No. 528. 2 Sec No. 598.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD IV. 243
promysyd ye challe have as fyne as maye be made.
Ria CaUe challe bryng it up with hym.
Wretyn the Fryday next before Michelmas day.

530.
A.D. 1465, 27 Sept
Margaret Paston to John Paston,
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is apostyled in the handwriting of John Faston, and numbered
" V " at the head. As it refers to Paston's dispute with the Duke of Suffolk
about the manors of Hellesden and Drayton, it must belong to the year 1465.
The reader will also perceive that it contains an allusion to John Fastens
imprisonment in the Fleet, and to my Lord Percy, wbo is mentioned in Letter
538, and who must have been a fellow prisoner of Paston's.
To my ryght worschipfull husbond, John Paston, in haste.
TEM, it was tolde me thys day that Master
John Salatt hathe made a serge in the regestre To get a
this monethe aftre the wylies and testemeiits that'the
of suche as bought the maners of Heylesdon J'** ^^j.
and Drayton this c. yere, and be that hathe they founde notwith-
suche evidence as schal be gret strenghthyng to the [i]°w«?
Duks tittle, as it is seide. I undrestonde verely that «^" 'hei
Mastre John Salet is all on that partye, and no thyng nonsuch
with you. ^^^ens^;^
Item, as for the bUl that ye sent to Sir Thomas
Howys touchyng on Edmond Carvyll and on Fraunces,
I wote ner whether he had hem or nought, for he is
not spoken with yett in the maters. As wee spede owr
matetyS, we chall sende yow answers of them as has
tely as we maye. At the reverense of God, spede ye
yowr matetyS that ye maye come owte of that loggyng
that ye ar in as hastely as ye maye, for I have non
fansey with some of the felechipp. I tolde yow, as
me thowth, I praye yow be ware, &c.
I praye yow yf it plese yow that I may be recom-
maundyd to my Lorde Percy, and to myn mastres, and

244 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.
to my Lorde Abott And I pray God bryng yow and
them owt of troble, and send yow good spede in alle
yowr matetyS. Wretyn in hast, the Ftyday next afor
Michellmes. Be yowr, M. P.
Yf it plese yow to send aney thyng by the berer
herof, he is trusty inough.

531.
A.D. 1465, 3 Oct
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 80.]
The signature of this letter, according to the fac-simile referred to by Fenn,
is that of Sir John Paston, the eldest son of the person addressed. The date
is undoubtedly 146s, as it will be seen by Letter 529 that Margaret Paston
entered Cotton on Sunday before Michaelmas in that year.
To my ryth reverrend and worchepfuU fcuiyr, fohn
Paston, be thys delyveryd,
|FTYR all humbyll and most due recomenda
cion, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of your
blyssyng. Plesyt yow to have knowlege that
as on Sonday next be for Myhelmas Day, as
my modyr came fro London ward, sche cam homward
by Cotton, and sche sent for me to Heylysdon to
come to hyr thedyr, and so I have ben in the plase
ever sethyn. And as sone as Myhelmas Day was past,
I begane to dystreyne the tenants, and gadtyd some
syllvyr, as myche, I trowe> as wyU pay for our costs ;
and yet I cepe here ryth a good felawschep, and
mor wer promysyd me, whyche that came not to me,
wherby I was ner deseyvyd. For when Debnam herd
sey how that I began to gadyr sylvyr, he reysyd many
men with in j. daye and an halfe, to the nombyr of
iij<=- men, as I was credebly assartaynyed by a yeman
of the chambyr of my Lordys ^ that owythe me good
^ The Duke of Norfolk.

A.b.i46sJ EDWARD IV, 245
wyU, whech yeman, as sone as he had sene ther
felauschep, rod streyth to my Lord and informyd hym
of it ; and also he informyd my Lord how that I had
gadryd a nothyr gret felashschep, whyche felawschep
he namyd more then we wer by j'=- and an halfe and
yett more. And he seyd on to my Lord and my Lady,
and to their conseil, that with owt that my Lord took
a dyrectyon in the mater, that ther wer leek to be do
gret harme on bothe oure pertyes, wheche wer a gret
dysworchep to my Lord, consederyng how that he
takyth us bothe for hys men, and so we be knowyn
well inow. Upon whyche informacion, and dyswor
chep to my Lord, that tweyn of hys men schold debat
so ner hym, contraty to the Kyngs pese, consedtyd of
my Lord and my Lady and ther cownsell, my Lord
sent for me and Syr Gylberd Debnam to come to h)Tn
to Framlyngham bothe, and as it fortunyd well my
modyr come to me to Cotton not half an owyr be for
that the mesenger came to me fro my Lord, wheche
was late upon Twysday last past at nyth; and the next
day on the momyng I rod to my Lord to Framlyng
ham, and so ded Syr Gylberd also. And as sone as we
wer come, we wer sent for to come to my Lord, and
when we come to my Lord, he desiyryd of us bothe
that we schold neythyrthyr gadyr no felawschep, but
syche men as we had gadtyd that we schold send hem
home a yen, and that the coort schold be contenuyd
in to the tyme that my Lord, or suche as he wold
asyngne, had spok bothe with yow and Yelverton and
Jenney, and that on indeferent man chosyn by us
bothe schold be assynyd to kepe the plase in to the
tyme that ye and they wer spook with.
And then I answed my Lord, and seyd how that at
that tyme I had my maistyr within the maner of Cotton,
whyche was my modyr, and in to the tyme that I had
spook with hyr I cowd geve none answer ; and so my
Lord sent Rychord Fulmerston, berer hereof, to my
modyr thys day for an answer, whyche answer he
schold btyng to my Lord to London, for my Lord rod

246 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1465.
to Londons word as yesterday, and the soner be cause
he tmstyd to have a good end of this mater and alle
othyr be twyx yow, whyche he takyth for a gret wor
chep to hym, and a gret avantage bothe, and he cowd
btyng this mater abowt, for then he wold trust to have
your servyse, aUe whyche wer to hym gret tresour
and avantage.
And this was the answer that my modyr and I gave
hym, that at the instans of my Lord and my Ladye we
wold do thus myche as for to put the coort in con-
tenuans, and no more to receyve of the profyts of the
maner than we had, and had dystresid for tyll in to
the tym that sche and I had werd ayen fro my Lord
and yow, if so wer that they wold ne3rthyr mak entreys
nor dystreyn the tenanlys, nor chepe no coort mor then
we wold do. And we told Rychord Fulmerston that
thys my modyr and I ded at the instans and gret
request of my Lord, be cause my Lord intendyd pes,
whyche resonably we wold not be ayenst, and yet we
seyd we knew well that we schold have no thank of
yow when ye knew of it, with owt it wer be cause we
ded it at my Lordys instans. But be for thys answer
we had receyvyd as myche sylvyr full ner as Rychord
CaUe sent us bokys of for to gadyryt bye ; and as for
the possessyon of the plase, we told hym that we wold
kepe it, and Syr Gylberd agreyd, so that Yelverton and
Jeney would do the same; for it was tyme for hym to
sey so, for my Lord told hym that he wold hym fast
by the feet eUys, to be suyr of hym, that he schold
make non insurreccions in to the tyme that my Lord
came ayen fro London.
I wene, and so dothe my modyr bothe, that thys
appoyntment was mad in good tyme ; for I was de
seyvyd of bettyr than an C. men and an halfe that I had
promyse of to have come to me when I sent for hem.
Thys promes had I befor that I sent to yow the last
lettyr the daye aftyr Seynt Myhell. Jenney herd seye
that I cepyd Cotton, and he rod to Nacton, and ther
held a cort and receyvyd the profytys of the maner.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD tv, 247
I beseche yow that I may have knowlage in hast fro
yow how ye wyU that I be demenyd in thys mater and
in al othyr, and I schal aplye me to fulfyll your intent
in them to my power by the grace of God, whom I
beseche have yow in guydyng, and sende yow yowyx
herts desyir. Wretyn at Hemnalle HaUe, in Cotton,
the Thursday next befor Seynt Feythe.
My modyr recomandyth her to yow, and preyith
yow to hold hyr excusyd that sche wrytyth not to yow
at thys tyme, for sche may have no leyser. The berer
her of schall informe yow whedyr Jeney wyU agre to
thys appoyntment or not I thynk he dar do non
othyr wyse. Your sone and lowly servaunt,
John Paston.

532.
A.D. 1465, r2 Oct — The Duke of Norfolk to
John Paston, the youngest,
[From Fenn, iv. 62.]
John Mowbray, third Duke of Norfolk, died on the 6th November i46r.
It appears by the Inquisitions /^^j^ mortem-, i Edward IV., No. 46, that John,
his son and successor in the title, was seventeen years old on SL Luke's Day
(18th October) in that year. He must therefore have been bom on the i8th
October 1444, and would have been of full age on Friday, i8th October 1465.
The John Paston, Esq., to whom this letter was addressed, must have been
tbe youngest of that name, who, as we have seen already, had been serving in
the Duke s household. His father was at this time a prisoner in the Fleet,
BO that the letter could not have been intended for him.
To owr trusty and enterly beloved servaunt, fohn Paston,
Esquyr,
The Deuke of Norff.
YGHT welbeloved servaunt, y grete yow hertly
weUe, sertefyng that we shulle be at fuUe age
on Fryday nexst comyng. Wherfor, weie
consayled be the Lordes of owr Consayle
and oder of owr Consayle, that ye, on of owr servaunts
of howsholde, with oder, be with us at London on

248 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1465.
Ftyday or Saterday nexst comyng at the ffurdest, too
a companye us thann too owr worshyp, for we shuU
have thann levety of owr landes and offyces ; and that
ye ffayle us not, as ye woll have ov/r good Lordeshyp
in tyme comyng; and also that ye doo warne owr
ffeede men ^ and servaunts, suche as be nye too yow,
that they be ther thann in owr leverey. Y wreton
the xij. day of October. Norff.

533.
A.D. 1465, 17 Oct
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter is not addressed, but seems undoubtedly to have been intended
tor the writer's husband. ' 'The attack upon the lodge at Hellesden here
referred to was in 1465, as appears by the letter immediately following.
|N Tuesday in the morwyn whas John BotiUer,
othenvyse callid John Palmer, and Davy
Arnald your cook, and WUliam Malthows of
Aylsham, takyn at Heylesdon be the balyf of
Ey caUid Bottisforth, and led for to Cossey, and ther
thei kepe hem yet vnth ought any warant or autoryte
of Justice of Peas. And thei saye thei wUl carie hem
forth to Ey preson, and as many as thei may gete more
of your men and tenaunts, that thei may know that
owe yow good \vyll or hath be to you ward, thei be
thret to be slayn or presoned. The Duke came to
Norwich ^ on Tuesday at x. of clok with the nombre
of V. hundred men. And he sent after the Meyr and
Alderman with the Sherefs desiryng hem in the Kyngs
name that thei shuld take an enqueraunce of the
constablys of evety ward with in the cyte what men
shuld a go on your party to have holpyn or socowtyd
your men at any tyme of thes gaderyngs, and if any
1 Those who held lands of the Duke as their superior.
2 " Norwich." — This word is interlined, thc wnter having originally wtit-
teu ** this town," and afterwards struck out the word " town."

A.D. i46s.] EDWARD IV. 249
thei cowde fynde, that thei shuld take and arest hym
and correct hym, and also certifie hym fhe names on
Wyndenesse day [ Wednesday] be viij. of clok. Which
the Meyr dede, and wull do anythyng that he may for
hym and his. And her up on the Meyr hath arestid
on that was with me callid Roberd Lovegold, braser,
and threte hym that he shaU be hanged be the nek;
wherfor I wuld that ther myght come down a -writ to
remeve hym if ye thynk it be to do. He was not with
me not save that Harleston and other mad the assaught
up on me and Lammesse ; he is right good and feyth
full on to you, and therfore I wuld he had help. I
have non man at this tyme to avayte upon me that
dare be avowyd but Litill John. William Nawton is
here with me, but he dare not ben avowyd, for he is
sore thret. It is told me the old Lady and the Duke
is set fervently ageyn us be the enformacion of
Harlesdon, the Bayly of Cossey and Andrewys and
Doget the balys sone, and suych other fals shrewys
the which wuld have thes mater bom ought for ther
owyn pleser ; the which causith an^ evyll noyse in this
contre and other places. And as for Sir John Heven
yngham, Sir John Wyndefeld and other wurchepfull
men ben mad but her doggeboldes ; ^ the whiche I
suppose wull tume hem to diswurchep here after. I
spake with Sir John Hevenyngham and enformed hym
with the trough of the mater, and of all owyr demenjmg
at Drayton, and he seid he wuld that aU thyng wer
weie, and that he wuld enforme my lord as I seid to
hym, but Harleston had aU the words and the rewle
with the Duke here, and after his avyse and Doctor
Aleynes he was avysed here at this tyme.
The logge and the remenaunte of your place was
betyn down on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the
Duke rode on Wednysday to Drayton and so for to
1 an—&, MS.
2 The old word 'Mogbolt" seems to have meant a servile follower, or one
bound to wait the commands of another. Thus in Lilly's * ' Tragicall Comedie
of Alexander and Campaspe," where Manes complains that he serves a
master whose house is a tub, Granichus remarks " "That Diogenes that dog
should have Manes that dogbolt it grieveth nature and spiteth art."

250 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.
Cossey whiUe the logge at Heylesdon was in the
betyng down. And this nyght at mydnyght Thomas
Sleyforth, Grene Porter, and Joh. Botesforth the
Baly of Eye, and other, had a cart and fetched
awey fetherbeddes, and all the stuffe that was left at
the parsones, and Thom Wateres hows to be kept of
owrs. I shaU send you bUles er after, as ner as I may,
what stuffe we have forbom. I pray you send me
word how ye wiU that I be demened, wheder ye wuU
that [I]^ abide at Cayster or come to you to London.
I have no leyser to write more. God have yow in
His kepyng. Wretyn at Norwich on Sent Lukes Evyn.
M. P.

534.
A.D. 1465, 27 Oct
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 226.]
The Eve of St. Simon and Jude is the 27th October. It fell on Sunday in
the year 1465.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU hosbond, fohn Paston, be thys
delyveryd in hast.
||YGHT wyrshypfuU hosbond, I recomand me
to you. Please it you to wyte that I was at
Haylesden uppon Thersday laste passyd, and
sey the place ther, and in gode feyth ther
wyll no ctyatur thynke how fowle and ombelly it ys
arayed but yf they sey it Ther comyth moch pepyll
dayly to wonder ther uppon, both of Norwych and of
other placys, and they speke shamfully therof. The
Duck had be beter then a m'.//. that it had never be
don ; and ye have the more gode wyll of the pepyU
that it ys so foylle dpn. And they made youre ten-
1 Omitted in MS.

A.D. 1465.] EDWARD TV. 2^1
auntys of Haylesdon and Drayton, with other, to help
to breke down the wallys of the place and the logge
both, — God knowyth full evyll ayenst ther wyllys, but
that they derst no notherwysse don for ferre. I have
spoken with your tenauntys of Haylesdon and Drayton
both, and putte hem in comfort as well as I canne.
The Duck ys men rensackyd the church, and bare a
way all the gode that was lefte ther, both of ours and
of the tenaunts, and lefte not so moch but that they
stode uppon the hey awter, and ransackyd the images,
and toke a way such as they myght fynd, and put a
way the parson owte of the church tiU they had don,
and ransackyd evety mans hous in the towne v. or vj.
tymys. And the chyff maysters of robbyng was the
Baylly of Ey, the Baylly of Stradbroke, Thomas Sly-
ford, and Porter ; and Slyford was the chyff robber of
the cherch, and he hath most of the robbety next the
Baylly of Ey. And as for lede, bras, pewter, yren,
dotys, gatys, and other stuffe of the hous, men of
Coshay and Causton have it, and that thay myght not
caty, thay have hewen it a sonder in the most dys-
spytuose wyse. Yf it myght be, I wold som men of
wyrshop myght be send from the Kyng to see how it
ys both ther and at the logge, or than any snowys^ com,
that they may make report of the troth, eUys it shall
not mo be seyn so playnly as it may now.
And at the reverens of God, spyde your maters
nowe, for it ys to otybell a cost and trobell that we
have now dayly, and most have tyll it be other wyse ;
and your men dar not goo abowte to geder uppe your
lyfflode, and we kype here dayly more than xxx. persons
for savacyon of us and the place, for, in vety trowght,
and the place had not be kypyd strong, the Duck had
come hether. Arblaster thynketh verely that Hugh a
1 Fenn remarks that if we may judge from the mention of snow in this
place, the winters began earlier in tbose days than they do now. But per
haps Margaret was only urging the necessity of timely action, taking into
consideration the ordinary delays of suitors. We havc seen, bowever, from
Letter 528 that in the year r46s there must have beeu unusually cold weather
even in the beginning of September.

4S2 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. d. 1465.
Fen may do moch in your maters, and he thynkyth
that he wole do for you faythfuUy, yf ye wyll, &c
At the reverens of God, yf any wyrshypfuU and pro-
fetabile mene may be take yn your maters, for sake it
not in eschuyng of our trobell and gret costs and
charges that we have, and may growe here after. It ys
thoght here that yf my Lord of Norffolk woUd take
uppon hym for you, and that he may have a comyssyon
for to enquer of such tyotts and robbetyes as hath be
don to you and other in thys contray, that then aU the
contray wyU a wayte uppon hym, and serve your
entent ; for the pepyU lovyth and dredyth hym more
then any other lord except the Kyng and my Lord of
Warwyk, &c.
God have you in Hys kypyng, and send ous gode
tydyngs from you. Wtyten in haste, uppon the Son-
day Seynt Symon and Jude ys Evyn.
By yours, M. P.

535.
Message to Sir William Yelverton.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This appears to be a message from the King rebuking Judge Yelverton for
partizansnip in assisting the Duke of Suffolk against Paston in his entry into
the manor of Drayton. The date is therefore 1465. The MS., however, is
only a corrected draft, and it is not certain that such a message was actually
sent. This is the Lnstruccion for tlie Messenger.
HAT ye grete well Sir WiUiam Yelverton,
letyng hym wete in our behalf we be informed
that certeyn persones, in the name of the
right worshipfuU our cosyn the Due of Suffolk,
have enterid in the manoir of Drayton that was Fas-
tolffes, and have dreven from the seid manoir and other
xiij<=- shep and, other bestes pastured upon the seid
manoir. Notwithstandyng, we merveyle gretly that the

A,D. 1465.] EDWARD IV, 253
seid Sir William, his sones and servauntes, as it is seid,
assiste and comfort the seid persones soo entryng and
withdrawyng the seid catell, seying that he is named
both feffe and executour. And all be it so that there
is variaunce bithwene hym and our welbelovid John
Paston in our coort, consernyng as well the seid
manoirs as other goodes that were Sir John Fastolffes,
whom God assoyle, yit is may not acorde with worship
and consiens for the seid Sir William to assiste the
distmccion of the seid manoirs and goodes in the
meane tyme. Wherfore we desire hym that he woll
do his devoir eft'ectually to help to save the seiJ
manoirs from all such pretense of titell, and to cause
the seid catels to be restored to the manoirs aforeseid,
and not to be withdrawen and distroyed as they be ;
and that he do his feithfull part in this behalf acordyng
to the trust that he was put in, as we may do for hym
in tyme to come.

536.
A.D. 1465 (?), 10 Nov.
John Wymondham to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 240.]
As to the date of this letter, we can only reproduce what is said of it hy Sir
iohn Fenn: — "John Wymondham, Esq., the writer of this letter, married
largely, the daughter of Sir Robert Clifton, Knight, of Denver, in Norfolk,
and widow of Sir Edward Hastings, of Eising, Knight. He therefore calls
her ' My Lady.' He died in 1475.
" He purcliased the manor and estate at Felbrigg, of the trustees of Sir
Simon Felbrigg, wbere he had resided ; but once in his absence Sir John
Felbrigg made a forcible entty, and dragging out his lady by the hair of her
head, who had locked herself up in a chamber to^keep possession, got into
possession, and retained it till Wymondham obtained the King's order to
Thomas Montgomery, Esq., High Sheriff of the county, to put him again into
possession. "Hie dispute was then settled with Sir John Felbrigg, and upon
Wymondham's paying to him soo marks [£i^^ : 6 : 8] he released his claims,
&C. " This letter seems to have been written during the time that he was dis
possessed of Felbrigg, and which must have been cither before the year 1461
or 14W, those being the years iu which _Sir Thomas Montgomery was Sheriff
of Norfolk, and as J. Paston at this time seems to have been under mis
fortunes, it was probably near the latter year. I have therefore ventured,
tbough doubtful^, to date the letter in 1465."

254 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1465.

To my worchipfiU cosyn, fohn Paston,
jYGTH worchipful cosyn, I comaunde me to
yow. And forasmoch as ther was a child
ded at Asteles, and on other lik to be ded in
the same place, what tyme that I rode oute
aboute my litU livelod, my lady and I bothe thoughte
pite on my mastres your wif to se her abide ther, and
desirid here to com to my pore hous on to soch tjnne
as ye shuld a be othirwise avised, wyche, if it plese yow,
I am right wel apaied.
Sythen, I undirstande be my lady that ye desire to
knowe whedyr that I shulde abide here stille or nowe
[or no]. As to that, I have non other place that I wold
abide at, and my lady seith how she is avised to ende
hir lif here. Also she seith how ye desire to have a stabil
with inne my plas ; and as to that, afeith, sir, I have
none, but that must nedis serve for my wode. As for
a chambre, ye shall have on for your men al redy, and
as touching a stabil. Sir John Sparham and I have gote
yow on ther [where] your hors stode the last tyme ye
were in this town, and an hows to ley inne hey and straw,
and cost yow not but making of a rak and a mangeour,
and more to your ease there than here ; and yf ye wyl
that it be made redy for yow, send werd be the bringer
of this letter. And, cosyn, as towching to paiment, I
can not sey how ye shal be pleasid with my pore fare,
but aftir that ye am com home, and am aqweintid
there with, we shal so acorde as shal be plesir to us
bothe, with the grace of God, which have [you] in
His bUssid govemaunce, and send yow your moderis
blissing. Wreten at Norwich, on Seint Martyn is Even.
Your poer cosyn and ffrend,
J. Wymondham.
And how that ever ye do, hold up your manship.

A.D. I46S.] EDWARD IV, 255
537.
Note.
The letter of John Payn to John Paston (No. 99), which, on
account of tlie circumstances to vfhich it refers, we have placed
iu the year 1450, was written, as appears by the contents, fifteen
years later, i.e., in 1465. We therefore call the reader's atten
tion to it in this place.
538.
A.D. 1466 (?) [20] Jan.
Sir John Felbrigge to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 242.]
The date of this letter cannot be ascertained with very great precision ;
but as it belongs most probably to about the same period as Letter 536, which
we have referred to November 1465, we may assign this to the January
following. To my Cosyn Paston, be thys letter delyverd yn haste.
|YGHT reverent and worshyppeful cosyn, y
comawnd me on to you, desyryng to her off
your welfare, the whyche Almyghty Jesu
preserve to Hys plesawns, and to your own
herts desyres. Forthermore and yff yt please your
gentylnesse to be my trusty frend, as my ful tmste ys
yn you, as for swyche matetys as the brynger off this
lettre shall enforme you, and beth effectualy my frend,
and biynge yt abowte, and by my trowthe y shaU geve
you an C. marke for your labowr. For )m trowthe y
am aferde that Roberd Radclyff hathe deseyvyd me,
for he labotyd to me dayly by my Lords comawnde-
ment off Warwyk, and brought with hym YUyngworthe
and oder off my Lords cownsel, and seen my evydens ;
and so we stoden uppon apoyntement, and y for to
have had an unswere sent to Felbtygge HaUe, and yff
ne had be for ffendyng off my Lords lordschyppe, y

2S6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a-D. 146&
myght have had my money for my tyght or y cam owt
off London, as my man schaU enforme you. For yn
trowthe y muste now make an schiffte, for Wyndham
hathe sold hys tyght, and rathere than yt schuld go that
way to, y had lever my Lord had yt ij. C. marke with
yn the ptyse that y grawnt yt laste, and therfor y be
scheche you to labowr to my Lord that y may have an
unswer. And thies many townes longithe thereto,
Felbtygge, Aylinton, Ronton, Colby, Bannyngham,
Ingworthe, Styrston, besyde hamelets.
No mor to you at this tyme, but the Holy Trinyte
have you yn His kepyng. Wryten at Felbtygg, the
Monday affor Seynt Augnetes Day.^
By your cosyn, John Felbrygge.

539.
A.D. 1466, 17 Feb.
John Wykes to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 246.]
As this letter was written after Edward IV.'s marriage, and before the death
of John Paston the father, the date must be either 1465 or 146S. Fenn
assigns it to the latter year, and I think he is right, though he does not state
his reasons. I find that John, Lord Lovel, died on the 9th January 1465,
leaving his son and heir, Francis, only nine years old, so that even if we date
this letter t466, the young lad was married at the early age of ten. This was
probably owing to his wardship having been obtained by Lord Fitzhugh, or
some person interested ; but as the inc^uisition on his father's death ijng. p. m.,
4 Edw. ly.. No. 27) was not taken till October 1465, there seems no ground
for believing that he could have been forced into wedlock a month sBter he
was left an orphan.
Un to the ryght wyrshypfuU mayster. Sir fohn Paston,
Knygt, be thys letter delyveryd,
jYGHT wyrshypfuU and my especyaU gode
mayster, I recomaund me unto your gode
maystershyp, letyng you wyte that the berour
1 'Hie modem version m Fenn reads " the Monday after Saint Agnes's
Day," and the date subjoined at the bottom of the page is in accordance with
this readmg. But it is more likely the text as printed in the old spelling is
correct. St Agnes' Day is the arst January. The Monday before it would
kave been the aotb in 1466.

A. D. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 257
herof told me that yc had grete mervyU that I send to
you no word ne letter of awnswer of the letters that ye
had send to me to London. As for on letter ye send
to me by Rychard Playtorys man, and therof I send
you an awnswer in a letter by a man of the Prior of
Bromholm ; and as for other letters, ther com no more
to me but that on.
Item, Mayster Flemmyng lokyth dayly for hys hors,
and at evety tyme that I mete with hym, he askyth of
me when hys hors shuld com, and when I here any
word from you. Wherfore I pray you send me word
in a letter how he shaU be awnswerd, and yf the hors
shall com, lette me knowe when ; for and he had not
tmstyd themppon, he wold have purveyd hym in a
nother place, &c.
Item, John Oter ys not yet payd, but as I suppose
it shaU not be long to tyll he have it, for he hath
spoken to my mayster your fader a yer therfor ; and
as for Gylmyn, he hath not spoken to my mayster as
yet, &C.
Item, I tmste he wylbe your gode fader, for John
Say hath told hym playnly of hys demenyng ayenst
you, and told hym that he had the lasse favour for
your sake, &c.
Item, the Erie of Arandell ys^ son hath weddyd the
Quyne ys suster.
Item, the Lord Lovell ys son'' hath weddyd my
Lady Fytzhugh ys doghter, &c.
Item, Jenney desytyth a trety with my mayster, and
spake to my mayster therof hym sylf in Westminster
HaU. Item, all felaws in the Kyngs hows fareid weU, and
wold have you ther.
1 Thomas Fitz Alan, Lord Maltravers, eldest son of William Fitz Alan,
Earl of Arundel, marned Margaret, second daughter of Richard Widville,
Earl Rivers, and sister to Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV. He succeeded
his father as Earl of Arundel in 1487, 3 Hen. VIL, and died in 1524, 16 Hen.
VIIL— F.
2 Francis Lovel, son and heir to John, Lord Lovel, married Anne, daughter
of Henry, Lord Fitz Hugh. It is curious that she is here called "Lady
Fitz Hugh's daugliter," when her father was alive.
n. s

258 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1466.
No more to you at thys tyme, but the Holy Trynyte
have you [in] kepyng. Wtyten at London, the Mon
day next after Seynt Volentyn.
Your servant, John Wykys.

540.
A.D. 1466, 18 March.
Clement Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston Letters, B.M.]
The reference to the dispute between Elizabeth Poynings and the Earl of
Kent, which is alluded to in a subsequent letter, proves this letter to have been
written in the year 1466. The earl m question was only so created on the 3d
of May 1465, and John Paston, to whom the letter is addressed, died in May
1466. To hys rythe worchypfwll mayster, fohn Paston, Sqwyer.

HYTHE worchypfwll broder, I recomawnde me
^j to zow. And as for zour letter to my Lorde
^ Chawnceler I have not delyvetyd it; for I
askyd avysse there in, and I was aunswetyd
there in that sythen he was takyn to baylle, the Chawn-
celerer^ cowde not compelle the swertes to btyng hym
in befor hys day. Also me thowte zour letter was not
most plesauntly wtytyn to take to swyche a lorde. And
as for the tresorer, hys name is Sir John Fooge, but he
is not in London nor wythe the Kyng, so I kan [not]
have the letter sent hym but if I hyetyd a man to bere
it. And as for zour question of the patentes, Grenfeld
and Catesby and Sterkey holdyn it a good question, for
the statute is, Patentes dez tenements dount null titill est
trouve pur le roy de recorde sount voydez, anno xviij. H.
VT. ca. vj. But I trowe in zour cas that be ther
opiniounis the Acte of the Parlement is a tytyll of
recorde. It is said to the contraty intent, thow the
londs be forfetyd of record, yet ther is no certificacion
of recorde qwat londes they be, nor wer [where] nor in
1 So in MS.

A. n. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 259
qwat place they lye ; but and thys clawsc be in the
patents, Non obstante quod nulla inquisicio pro nobis
inde est inventa, by Grenfelde is consayle the patents
xwld be clerly goode. But me semythe that amendyt
not the mater, for be for the makyng of the statute
above sayde, patents graunttyd of londs be fore inquisi-
cion were goode and effectuell and the statute is gene
rall: — Patents dount nulltytill 6fC. sount voydez. Thanne
it folow)rt well if the Acte of Parlement be no tytyll
for tlie Kyng thann is ther no tytyU for the Kyng of
recorde, for that clawse in the patente is no tytyll;
than if ther [be] no tytyll, ergo the patents voyde.
My suster^ standythe in the same casse with my Lord
of Kent.
Broder, I pray zow send mor mony for my nevew
John, for he mwst ellys com hom azen ; for the Kyng
gothe into Scotlonde, and he is nowther horsyd nor
hameysyd, for his grett hors is lykly to dye; and if ze
wyll sende it to me or to Christofyr Hanyngton it xall
be save for h)Tn. I send zow a letter from hym closyde
herin. And I pray spek to my moder that my hors
faylle not on Passyon Swnday,^ for thann xall I be
redy and thanne xall ower redyng be don. Wrytyn on
Twesday nexst after Seynt Gregory is Day.
Zowr broder,
Clement Paston.
On the bach. — The man wold not tak my letter but I wass
fayen to gyve hym ijd. for the beryng.

541.
A.D. 1466, 12 May.
Friar John Mowth to John Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 256.]
Friar Brackley, who is here mentioned as dead,_ is spoken of in John
Paston's deposition of December 1465, without any indication that he was
1 Elizabeth, widow of Robert Poyningb,
s March 23.

26o THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1466.
at that time deceased (See No. 525). We may presume, therefore, that he
died between that time and May 1466, in '^ "'" **
Paston, to whom this letter is addressed.

To 7ny worchepful mayster, fohn Paston the holdest,
be this letter delyveryd in hast.
|YTH reverent and worchepful sire, I hartyly
recomende me on to your reverens, thank
yng yow for the gret cher and comfortabyU
words that ye yovyn on to me wat tyme that
I was last yn yowr presens ; desyryng ful specyaly of
Almity God, owt of al your wordly tribulacyonys and
adversyte, gracyowus delyverans, and yn al vertuows
prosperite, good encres and contynuans. If yt like
your maysterchep to know the cause of this wtytyng,
it ys thys; it is nowth unknow^ on to yow that
Mayster Brakle (Ctyst rest hys sowle !), delyvetyd to
Wyllam Paston, your broder, certayn oblygacyonys, of
the weche the dute xuld grow to my convent yn Nor
wyche. I have spoke on to Wyllam Paston her of,
and he excuseth hym and seyth on this wyse ; that be
the wyl of Mayster Brakle, wat tyme that Sire Tomas
Todenham,^ Knyth, xuld be put on to hys deth, he
delyvetyd hem on to hys confessor ; the weche, as he
seth, xuld a be Grey ftyer, hows name he knowyth
nowt ; also he seyth that after the deth of the forseyd
Knyt, he spakewith the Ftyer, confessor on to the Knyth,
and hasked hym aftyr the forseyd oblygacyonys, and
as he seyth, the Ftyer seyd on to hym that he had
delyvetyd hem on to [the] Knyth MarchalL Werfor I
beseche you, as specyaly as I may, that, now wyl your
broder is at London, that ye of your grace wyl know
the trowthe in this mater, for the comfort of the dede,
and profyth of my convent. Nomor at this tyme, but
that I be seche Almyty God in Trinyte conserve your,
and kepe yow in all vertuows prosperite. Amen.
1 Nowth unknow.. I believe this to be the true reading of the original MS.
Fenn prints it " nowthn know."
s Hc was beheaded on Tower Hill in February 1462.

A.D.I466.] EDWARD IV. 261
Wretyn at Heylysdon in gret hast, the xij. day of
May, in your maner aftyr mete. The cause wy the
mayster delyvetyd hem to hym mor than to yow, was,
as he seyd on to me, for as meche as ye had so many
maters yn hand for yowr self, and also for the dede,
tliat he durst not attempt yow with all ; and al so be
cause he had lesse for to do hys hope was that he
xuld asped yt mor redyly.
Fr[e]re WiUam Thorp dweUyng at Salisbuty.
By yowr pore orator and bedraan,
Frier Jan Mowth.

542.
Year uncertain. Nov.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
I find no very satisfactory evidence touching the date of this letter.
Allusion is made to John Paston having been at Lincoln. The occasion
referred tcumight have been in 1458, when, as we know by No. 321, he went
into tbe North as far as Doncaster ; or it may have been in the Spring of
1461. (See Nos. 387 and 392.) It is not probable, however, that this letter
was earlier than the latter date, as there is no appearance at that time of any
dispute having arisen between John Paston and his brother William. On
the contrary, William Paston is in correspondence with his brother in April
1461 (No. 385). On the other band, if the occasion referred to when Joh.i
Paston was at Lincoln was in the Spring of 1461, this letter could hardly nave
been written in the same year ; for it cannot be supposed that he left books
at Caister on his retum south, when Caister was m the possession of the
Duke of Norfolk. The date, however, being so uncertain, I prefer to place
this letter at the end of John Paston's correspondence rather than assign it
doubtfully to any particular year.
To my right wurchipfull husbond, foim Paston, be this
deliverd in hast.
|YTH worchepfull husbonde, I recomande me
to yow. Plesyth yow to weet that Thomas
Grene was with me as on Saterday last paste,
and let me have knowlage that the scherre
schold be as thys day at the Gyld HaU in Norwyche,

262 THE PASTON LETTERS. [.A.0.1466.
and be desyityd me that the swte that ye have ageyns
Thomas Jeryng and othyr myth be sesyd as for thys
schere ; and I seyd that I durste do ryth not there in.
And he tolde me that Thomas Jeryng was with yow
in Flegge the laste tyme that ye wer ther, and ye seyd
to hym that he scholde not be hurte by the swte.
And Thomas Grene told me that if the seyd Jeiyng
and othyrs in the same wtyte mad not an end with
yow by the nexte schere, the whyche schaU be thys day
monyth, that he the seyd Thomas Grene wole purchese
a new wtyte of hys owne coste ayens that daye. I
woste not that the scher shuld be so sone when I wrote
to yow yowyr laste lettyr. And he remembytyd the
trobulus werd [world] that is nowe, and also that they
wer nowtye felawys that ye suyd, and ther fore he thowte
that it war best to let it be respyte at thys tyme, and so
they schaU be respyth at thys tyme. I have sent to
Jaferay Spyrlyng for the bokys tiiat ye sent to me fore,
and he seyth that he hathe none there of, for he seyth he
lefte hem with yow when he was with yow in the Northe
contre ; for he seyth ye left hym behynd yow at Lynk-
colne. He supposyth they be at Kaster.
Item, my cosyn Crane recomandyth h)T to yow,
and prayith yow that ye wole wychesave to spek to
Jamys Gresham for to swe ferthe the mater betwyx
Dame Margaret Spurdans and hyr; and sche prayith
yow at the reverens of God that ye wole tendyr that
mater weU, for all hyr troste is in yow.
Item, the tenauntys at Sweynysthorp prayid me for
to Wtyte to yow for to pray yow for Goddys sake that
ye wole help for to get hem a good baly of the
hundytyd that they be in ; for they sey that they have
be gretly hurte by swyche offysetys as they have had
ther be fore tyme. Folk wold fayne in thys contre that
Heydon scholde be purveyd for, that he goo not so at
large as he dothe, for he is in thys towne nere evety
wek, and hathe be ever syne ye yd hens. And also it
is seyd in thys towne that ye have be good maister
thys terme to Yatys, and many be tyth soty ther of,

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD tv. 263
and that hedothe so well as it [is] seyd herethathedothe.
It is seyd that he is scapyd aU dangetys, and he hathe
tak new accionys ageyns hys neybotys, as it is seyd.
Otliyr tydyngys have we none here but that ye have
more pleynly there. And the Biyssyd Trinyte have
yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good sped in aU
yowyr matetys. Wretyn in haste at Norwyche the
Monday next be fore Seynt Edmunde the Kynge.
By yowyr, M. P.
My modyr wold tyth fayne know how that ye and
my brodyr Wyllam wer acordyd, sche wold tyth fayne
tiiat aU wer well betwene yow.

543.
B. D. M. S. TO John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 262.]
There ia no evidence of the date either of this or of the four following
letters beyond the fact that this and the two next are addressed to John
Paston, while the two last are addressed to Margaret Paston during her
husband's life. None of them, therefore, can be later than 1466.
Be this delyvered to Mastyr fohn Paston,
RECOMAUNDE me unto you as unknowyn.
And as for the wtyting I send unto you, the
cause why yt was nate endossed was, for the
berer ther of knew yow wel i now. And as
for youre Cossyn Maty, she ys no longer with us, as a
pon Seynt Mathewys Evyn she departyd from me, and
went to Awdty Croxeston, and she told me that ye
wold pay for her borde ther. But on thyng I let you
know ; she hatiie demenyd her ful symply bothe for
youre worship and also for her a'wne. Ther ys but
few within oure plasse but they know how yt is with
her, and al by her awne bessynes of her tunge. And

204 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1466.
I had knowyn as myche at the begynnyng as I have
don sythe, I wold not have delt in the mater nat for
xl. pound ; for I wys she ys no thyng so sadde as I
wold she wer.
No more to you at thys tyme, but the Holy Gost
have you in His kepyng, and send you youre hertys
esse. I pray you hertly that I may sp[e]ke with you.
B. D. M. &

544.
Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., P.M.]
Richard Suthwell to John Paston, Esquire.
Thanks him for speaking to the Mayor and Recorder for the
appearance of certain persons at this last session, as he wrote
from Walsingham, Thomas Wolvesby and Colyns make great
labor for the poor men's undoing. Begs him to move the Mayor
to have pity, considering their trouble at Walsingliam, when
they vfere prisoners.
¦Thetford, Shere-Thursday.
545.
Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
John Paston, Junior, to his Father, John Paston.
Has spoken " with Warwyk and Stwkle " for the place and
lands in Arleham. Declined their offer of dd. an acre, they
keeping the place in repair ; but Stwkle has promised all the
lands shall be purveyed for, as for this year. Wanvyk this day
offered my mother 7^. an acre for the lands in Arleham, but I
counselled her to hold out for a longer term. Kook will no
longer hold the place for jd. or Sd. an acre, and will only give
dd., if he is to keep it in repair. Has spoken with Dame Alice
Weche and Geoffrey Spyrlyng, who have agreed to set a tenant
to occupy the lands in dispute till Paston comes home.
St Martin's Even.

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 265
546.
Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Thomas Gnatyshale to Mrs Pas ion.
I hope the young man I sent will please " my master and you.''
I hope you will not receive him at this time, and when my master
comes home refiise him. As for your lands at Sparham, there
are not many lands to let. Has inquired at Salle. Master
Edward* is clearly answered of ;^i8 a year and 7^. or 8.r. more.
Bryston, Thyrnyng, and Owleton are let, which belong to the
manor of Salle. So he is clearly answered twice a year at London,
besides the fees, viz., of the receiver ids. Sd., of the steward 2od.,
and of the bailliff 2ds. Sd.
Sparham, Wednesday before Ascension.
547.
Date uncertain. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
T. Gnatyshale to Mrs Paston.
James and Robert Radclef mean to take away my goods, and
I shall be taken if I be at Norwich at next shire. Pray let my
master know. I suppose it was by their commandment that my
two neat were taken on Saturday last at Lyng, " for one that is
tmder bailly of Richmond took hem." John Everyton will tell
you more. The receipts of the manor of Sparham with costs are
;^lo, y. il^d. If any man of yours come to Norwich please
send me your advice. (Signed) " T. Gnat."
548.
Abstrach".
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
James Arblaster to John Paston, [Squire].^
John & Bemey of Wychyngham wishes to disinherit him of his
1 Probably Edward, son of Robert Mauteby. He was Margaret Paston's
oncle. ' This designation is added on the address, but is struck out

266 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1466.
liberty of faldage in Colyette. Desires the help of one of Paston's
men. As for my Lady of Oxford, " I have get you a trusty man
against Tuesday or Wednesday next "
[There is no distinct evidence of the date of this letter, except that it is
probably not later that 1466, when John Paston died, tiiough it may have
been addressed to his younger son John. Compare Nos. xga, Z93, and X94I
549.
A.D. 1466.
John Paston's Funeral.
[From Blomefield's Norfolk, vi. 483.1]
The original of this document was probably among the Paston MSS. when
Blomefield composed his History of Norfolk, but wbere it is at present can
not be ascertained. It is cited by Blomefield, or perhaps byhis continuator, Mr.
Parkin, as " a very long but narrow roll,'' then in his possession. The text,
however, does not seem to be printed entire, as die Editor only professes to
give " several particulars therein."
Expences paid by Gloys at Norwich the day tlie Cors
was ther and befor.

|YRSTE. The iiii. orders of fryers, viii/.
Item, almesse, iij. -vWd. Item, to xxiii
susters of Normandys,'* with the gardian
eche of them, iiii//., and the gardian, vmd. —
viiij. Item, in offering on Pentecost Tuesday^ for
my master, id. ; for the herse, xlr. For xxiiii. yerdes
of brod wythtys for gowns, xxviij. ymd, ; for dyeng of
the same, iiiij. For settyng on the tents, -nd. For
xxii. yerdes and iii. quarters of brod wythts, xxxiiiij.
md. For grownedyng, iiij. n\id. For dyeng, iiiir. To
xxxviii. prests at the dytyge at Norwyche, when the
cors lay ther, xiij. vmd. To xxxi.x. schyldem with
surplyces within the schurche and widiout, iiij. iiii^.
To xxvi. clerks with iiil kepers of the torches, eche of
them ii//., iiij. imd. To the clerks of St Peters and
St. Stevens for the tyngers ageyn the cors, iLf. To the
iiii. orders of ftyers that rede ageyn the cors  . To the
Prioress of Carow, vij. viii//. To a maide that came
1 Folifl edition, iii. 692. s At Norwich. ' May 37th in n(&.

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 267
with her, xxd. To the ancors [anchoress f] xL/. In
almesse, xvj. To a woman that came from London
with the cors to Norwyche, vij. viii[(/].
Payments be Gloys and Calle at Bromholme.
Fyrste. To the Prior, be my masters bequest, xLf.
To ix. monks, eche of them vij. viii//., iii/. To an
other monke, who was of the same place, xx//. For
brinnyng of the Abbes with the torches, xx//. To the
Priors boteler for bred, iir. x//. For wasshyng of
napry, xii/. To the boteler for hys reward, xx//. To
the baker for cccx. eggs, xix//. To him for hys reward,
iiif. iiii/. To xxviii bedds with  of clothys, and
wasshyng of the same, vj. To ii men that fyllyd the
grave, ymd. To brueng of v. kome malte, xxd. For
ix. pownd candyl, xi//. To the clerks of Bromholm,
viiii/. For viii peces of peuter lost of the Priors, xxd.
Geven among the men of the bakhouse, xx^. To the
parisshe schyrche of Bromholm, xj. To xii. schyrchys,
Ij. viii/. To the prest that cam with the cors from
London, iiir. iiii/. To servytors that awaytyd upon
hym by the komawndment of W. Paston, xxi/. To
Playters for hys offering, iiii/. To the vyker of Upton,
iif. To the sexton of Bromholm for xxii. crossys geven
to Marget and Modeley, per John Paston, iiiij. vi/.
To xiiii rynggars, viLr. To xxiiii. servertors, eche of
them iiii//., viiij. To lxx. servertors, eche of them
md., xviLf. vi//. Paid to Dawbeny for servertors, viij.
For fyshh the day after the enterment, vij. xd. For
vi bareUs bere, xiij. For a roundlet of red wine of
XV. gaUonys, &c., xiij. xi//. To a hors hyer for iii
days for Sir James, xii//. For a quarter malte, vj.
For iiii bushels wete, xxxii//. For a quarter of otys,
iij. viii//. For x. kombe malte brueng, xl//. For the
boord of Rychard Hermer, wiythe, iii. days, and for
hys hyer the sayde tyme, xmd.ob. For William
Yonge, harbor, v. days mete and drynke, and hys
hyer the sayde tyme, xvi//. For vi. pownd candyL

268 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1466.
vii//. ob. To xii. pore men beryng torches from
London to Norfolk be vi. day, ij, takyng eche of them
on the day imd, and for iii dayes in goyng homerward,
takynge evety day vi//. Geven to Martyn Savage and
Densdiers awaytyng upon my master at London be
vn. dayes before that he was catyed, iir. xd. For bred
bowthe, xxiiiij. For vii. barels bere, xviij. vi//. For
a barel of the grettest assyse, iiif. iiii//. For iiii bareUs
of alee, xiiij. iiii/. For bred and alee for xii men
that bare torches, xiii/. ob. To a dole at Bromholm,
\l. xiiij. iiii//. To WUUam Colens, one of the botelers
at Bromholm, xii//. To Wate Webster, another
boteler, xii/. To Greg. Worsteler, one of the porters
at Bromholm, iiii//. The parson at Mauteby,^ and Sir
Thomas Lynes, to the prestes at the detyge at Brom
holm, xliiif. In almesse, xlviir. vi//; more, xxj. To
the glaser for takyn owte of ii panys of the wyndows
of the schyrche for to late owte the reke of the torches
at the detyge, and sowderyng new of the same, xxd,
[This part of the roll, according to Blomefield, or his
continuator, seemed to be written by Gloys, above
mentioned, in. an indifferent hand. The remainder is
in a vety neat and curious old hand, which was sup
posed to be that of Margaret Paston.]
VUtelles bought by Richard Charles,
First, For xxvii gees, xviij. For xxvii. frankyd
gees, vij. viii//. Ixx caponnes, xviij. vii//. For xxix.^
xvii. chekons, xvij. y\d. For x. chekons, xd.
For xli pygges, xiiLr. xd. For xlix calvys, iiii/. xiiij.
iiii//. For xxxiiii lambys, xxviij. ii/. For xxii. shep,
xxxviij. v//. X. nete, iiii/. xvij. id. For ii napronnes
to Richard Lynstede, xd. For claretts and fawcetts,
vi//. MCCC eggs, vij. vi//. For xx. galons milk, xx^.
For viii. galons creme, iij. viii//. For iiii pints of
butter, myi. For i quarter and ii. bushels of whete
1 Robert Coteler, who was presented to the living by John Paston in 1465,
on the resignation of Thomas Howys.
' A short blank occurs in Blomefield after " xxLx.'' and bcforc " xvii."

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD IV, 269
mele, viLr. xd. To the parson of Crostweyt for i.
quarter of whete, vij. For xuii galons of ale, iir. To
a labourer for iii. days, xii//. To xxiiii. galons of ale,
iiiis. For xiii salt fysshe, iiiir. iiii//. For the pur
veying of bred, ale, and fysshe, iiij. iiii/. To William
Reynolds for lodgyng of Master Prowet, the Prior of
the White Freres, the parson of Mautby, Sir Thomas
Lynds, and other, by ii. nyghtis, vi/. For bred, ale,
and possets to the same persons, vi//. To Herman,
fleying bests by iii. days, iij., and to John Foke, by
in. days, xxd. For purveying of aU the velys, lambes,
x. beefins. certain piggs and polaly [poultry], xl//.
Bill of the Prior of Bromholm.
Memorandum. The Prior toke to bord diverse
persons labotyng abought the enterment, begynnyng
the Thursday in Pentecost weke, the vi yere of Kyng
Edward the iiiith.
On Thursday I ^ find 3 persons who had xii/. for
their board and hire ; on Friday 5 who had xv//. ; on
Saturday 8 who had xxiii//. On Monday all were
employed ; and on the day after 1 find 4 to be aUowed
for their board iiii/. ob., and for their hires vd., — ixd. ob.
Dehvered by the Prior to Richard Charles : — Fyrst,
V. quarters of otes, xiiif. iiii//. ; v. swyne, xiij. vi/. ; ii
bushel of mestlyn, xv//. ; v. pownd of candell, \d. ;
XX. quarters of malte, xiiif. iiii//., and with gryndyng
and brewyng, xviiij. For a cartful! of hey, iiif. iiii/.
For ii swyne, vj. For ii bushel otes, -mid. For a
quarter of henyng, vi/. For half a quarter makerell,
vii//. ob. To the parson of St. Peters for his fee of the
wax abought the coors, beside ii candels of i lb. and
i hert candel of a pound, xxd. At my masters xxx.
day for offeryng, id. Geven to churches and in almes
by Gresham, toward Bromholm, v. marks. To the
clerk of St. Peters of Hungate* his felaship for
1 Blomefield or his continuator here speaks in his own person.
* A church in Norwich, rebuilt by John Fastoti in 1460, the advowson
having been acquired by him and Margaret, his wife, in 14^:8. The date of
the rebuilding is ergraved in stone on a buttress by the north door.

270 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1466.
ryngyng when the coors was in the church, xii//. To
Dawbeney for bests and other stuffe for the enterment,
xxt. To him in gold for to chaunge into smaU mony for
the dole, xl/. To W. Pecok, in iii bags to bere to Brom
holm, in copper, the 20th day, xxvi. marks. To Medeley
for his reward, uii marks, and the same to Matyot. To
Matyot for costs he bare by the way to Bronaholm, iiiZ
xii//. More to Medeley for mony paid by him, xlir. xd.
To the keper of the inne where myne husband dyed,
for his reward, xxj. To Paston chirch, xj. To Bakton
chirch, vir. viiid. To Gresham the London carrier, in
fuU payment for the Chaundeler of London, vl, xixj. iiii//.
More in almes mony, vij. viii//. More for wyne and bere,
vii. marks. To the parson of St Peters, vij. viii//. For
wyneforthe seingerswhen the coors was at Norwich, xxj.
To Skolehouse in part of his bille for torches and wax
made at Bromholm, for to brenne upon the grave, iiii
marks. For x. yerds of narow blak for the viker of Dal-
lynge and Robert GaUawey, and for iii yerds and quarter
of brod cloth for lUee, xxj. xd. To Freton chirch, vij.
viii//. For a cope called a frogge of worsted for the
Prior of Bromholm, xxvij. viii/. For bred at the enter
ment, ixj. In almes, viiij. iiii//. In wyne and spices, Lr.
To Dom. John Loveday for cloth for a ridyng cope
for himself, xiiiij. ii//. To the makyng of Redham
StepUl, viiij. iiii/. To John Orford, wax chandeler,
for xii torches and one candell of i. lb., Ivj. ii//. ob.
To John Dewe for grey lynen cloth and sylk frenge
for the hers, vi/. xvif. ii//. Given to the Austeners at
the chapter at the  of Yarmouth,
Ixxvj. To Daubeney for to kepe the yere day at
Bromholm the first yere after his dethe, viii/. iir. iiii//.
Given at Castor to xxv. howsholders, evety houshold
iii//. the said tyme, vij. iii/. To viii. pore men the
said tyme, xviiu/. To the master of the CoUege the
said tyme, vij. viii//. To Master Clement Felmyng
ham the said tyme, vij. viii//. To viii prests at Castor
the said tyme, iir. viii//. To childem in surplices and
other pore folk at the said tyme, xiiii/. To the

An. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 271
parson of Hungate, vir. viiid. To the said parson for
a certeyn ^ unto Mighelmesse next after the said yere
day, viiif. viiid. To Skolous, wax chandeler, for
makyng of the hers at Bromholm, xxiii. ixs. viiid. To
PhiUp Curson, draper, for cloths, ix/. iiij. ob. To
Aubrey, draper, xxxiiiir. For a quarter of makerell,
xii/. To the Prior of Bromholm for malte spent at
the enterment, xIj. For light kept on the grave, xj.
Geven at Cristemasse next after the said yereday, to
eche of the iiii orders of friers, xj., — xIj. To the
vyker of Dallyng for btyngyng home of a pardon from
Rome, to pray for alle our frends sowles, viiif. iiii//.
For a black gowne to the said viker, viiif.
550.
A.D. 1466, May and June. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Examinations touching Sir John Fastolf's will.
The following examinations are contained in the same volume as the
depositions of John Paston of which an abstract will be found in No. 525.
They begin at page ax, immediately after Paston's depositions, a single blank
page intervening.
A.D. 1466. The following witnesses were examined secretly
and apart on behalf of Sir William Yelverton, "deceased,"* in
the house ofthe treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral by John Draell,
LL.D. i—
May 1 7. John Monke alias Smyth.
19. John Dawson and John Gyrdyng.
20. William Boswell, Robert Inglys, Ric. Home, and
Thos. Pykeryng.
31. Henry Clerke, John Tovy, Thos. Hert, William
Shawe, and Nich. Cherche.
22. Thos. Newton, Th. Spycer, and Thos. Neve.
23. John Rugge, John Clerke, and Rob. Bunche.
June 10. Stephen Scrope.
II. Ric. Fastolf.
1 See No. 39.
* By a singular mistake in the record. Sir William Yelverton is here spoken
of as deceased instead of John Faston : — "per partem venerabilis viri (£>inini
Willelmi Yelverton militis defuncti contra testes Johannis Faston armigeri et
domini Thoms Howys." Yelverton certainly lived for some years after this,
and was continued as judge by Henry VI. on his restoration (see Fosj.), but
John Faston died on the 36th May 1466.

872 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a-D. 146&
L John Monke, a smith of the parish of St James, Pokethorpe,
in Norvrich, illiterate, of free condition, thirty-two years old
and over, alleges bribery of vritnesses by Paston and Howys,
who offered to sell John Russe lands at Leystofte at little more
than half thta." Value. Howes made Russe a present of salt,
barley, and malt to the value of ;f 20, and promised him a fiiU
discharge of his account for goods of the testator in his custody
to the value of ;f20O and over. He paid Robert Cutteler, vicar
of Caster, " colore cujusdam ultimi vale dicti testatoris prius non
debite" {sic), money and com to the value of 20 marks, and
promised to present him to the living of Mawdeby whenever
Thomas Howse resigned it They gave Felmyngham an annuity
of 8 marks, and 40s. to a boy who is his servant They gave
Robert Boteler a fee {feodum) of S marks [a year] for life, and
the farm of a close called Mawdeby close, besides some other
gifts which are specified. Hence the said John Russe, Rob.
Cutteler, Clement Felmyngham, and Rob. Butteler, falsely de
posed in answer to the second interrogatory that on the Saturday
before the testator's death they were present in a certain low room
{bassa camera) in the manor of Caister, where the testator was prin
cipally between the hours of 8 and 1 1 a.m., and that with them were
the said John Paston and John Btakley, and no others ; for in reaUty
there were present in the chamber with the testator on that day,
and especially during those hours, the said Rob. Fitzrauf, Nich.
Newman, and Johu Loer continually, and the said Dan John
Davye, Dan Thomas Howys, Friar John Bemard, physician, and
Hemy Barbour, and several others [at intervals]. Moreover,
Cutteler, Felmyngham, and Butteler, said Russe was present on
that occasion, whereas both he and Cutteler were in other places.
Moreover, bribes were given by Paston and Howes in various
forms during the months of January, Febraary,£ind March l462[-3],
and at other times in the parishes of Caister and Yarmouth,
and in the city of London, to Ralph Lampet, brother William
Bukenham, and the said Rob. Cutteler. Paston promised to
promote Bukenham to the priory of Yarmouth, and also, as
a reward for his testimony, to give him 13 acres of the testator's
land in Scroudby and Caister called IsabeU, to the use of the
prior and convent of Norwich. Hence the testimony of these
witnesses was false, that Fastolf, about the beginning of Autvunn
five years ago, had made to John Paston estate and feoffinent and
livery of seisin of his manor of Caister, and other lands in Cos.
Norf. and Suff., and the city of Norwich, to the use of the said
testator while he lived, and afterwards to that of the said John
Paston and his heirs ; for if any such thing was done (which is
not admitted) it vras on the i6th October 1457, in the 36th year of
Henry VL, after the Autumn of the said year, and not to the use
of Paston and his heirs, but to the use of Fastolf himself, and for
the accomplishment of his will. Further, the testimony of Russe,
Cutteler, Bukenham, Felmyngham, and Butteler, was imtrue as to

A.t). 1466.] EDWARD I>. 273
the alleged will of Fastolf that John Paston should obtain the
King's license for the foundation of a college at Caister. It was
in tmth Fastolfs will that the executors should obtain the King's
license to found a college there of seven Benedictine monks of
the same profession as the monastery of St Benet at Hulme, of
whom one should be prior, and of seven poor men, and that they
should be endowed out of his lands to the extent of 300 marks
a year, all charges deducted, to pray for the soul of Lady Milicent,
his wife, his parents and benefactors ; and if the executors were
unable to obtain this license, they were to give the abbot and
convent of St Benet's lands and money for the maintenance of
six new monks and seven poor men in that monastery with a like
object Further, it is not trae as alleged that on Saturday before
his death, viz. , 3d Nov., between eight and eleven a. m. , the testator
openly declared his will with a clear voice iii the hearing of by
standers, for he was so ill and weak from want of breath that he
was tmable to speak distinctly at any time that whole day,
especially during the hours above mentioned.
Moreover, bribes were offered by Paston and Howes in May
and June 1465, in the parishes of Caister and Yarmouth, and in
the city of London, to Thomas Thorald, Robert Lawes, Will.
Waterman, John Osbern, John Heydon, Will. Pykeryng, John
Symmys, and John Shawe, for their testimony in this matter, viz.,
that they should have 20s. besides travelling expenses and divers
other sums which were offered to them m Paston's name by
Cutteler, vicar of Caister, and Ric. Calle ; and John Paston
promised the said William Pykeryng that he should recover
certain lands in the tenure ofhis brother John Pykeryng, in Fylby,
to the value of 40s. Influenced by these bribes, Thos. Thorald
deposed that on the Saturday before Fastolfs death, Bartholomew
Elys and John Davy came to his house in Belton, two miles and
more from Yarmouth, about eight a.m., when he was in his grange,
and asked him to come with them to divers manors of the said
Sir John, to receive certain grain from his farmers ; after which
they drank in Thorald's house, and he went with them to Freton,
and to the manor called Calcote hall, and other places in
Lothynlond until midday. Robert Lawes also deposed that on
Friday before Fastolfs death he went to Becclys, and next day,
viz., Saturday, retuming homeward {rediens domorsum), met on
the way the said Bartholomew Elis, John Davy, and Thomas
Thorald going to Freton, when Davy called him and bade him
tell Thomas Howys or John Rus that on Monday or Tuesday
next he would go to Caister and give an account of his steward
ship. Aftenvards, about two p.m., Lawes came to Caister and
told John Rus his business in the absence of Howys. But the
said William Waterman, being bribed as aforesaid, falsely declares
that on the Saturday before Fastolfs death Barth. Elys and
John Davy came to his house at Gorlyston aboutsevena.m., and that
he went with them to Thorald's house, and that they went and
II. T

i?4 The ^ASTOIf LETTERS. [A.n. 1466.
spoke vrith Thorald at the grange while he waited for them at
the gate. Afterwards they all entered the hall of Thomas Thorald
and drank beer together, and all four went together to Calcote-
halle and waited there till ten a.m., when Watynnan left the other
three and retumed home. And about two p.m. Elys and Davy
retumed and drank beer at Watyrman's house. But the trath is
that Elys and Davy were at Yarmouth that day from seven till
past eleven a.m.
Further, John Osbeme, Will. Pykerynge, and John Heydon
were corrapt witnesses. John Osbeme said that on Saturday
before the Feast of St Leonard, when Fastolf was ill of his last
illness, the said Osbeme, Pykerynge, and Heydon came to
Caister to receive certain monies of John Rus for barley sold to
him by Osbeme ; that about eight a.m. they entered the hall of the
manor and found Robert Hert and others, servants of Fastolf,
sitting at breakfast ; and that John Russe immediately came to
Osbeme and talked to him about the payment At last Russe
took them into the claustrum, and leaving them, entered Fastolfs
chamber ; then, after remaining two hours and more, retumed iuto
the claustrum and delivered the money to Osbem. This testi
mony was confirmed by Heydon and Pykeryng ; but the trath is
that Russe that Satuniay, from seven bll near twelve o'clock {a
principio horee septima usque ad finem horee undecimce) and Robert
Hert from seven to ten a.m., were at Yarmouth, three miles off.
Further, John Symmys and John Shawe were corrapt witnesses,
the former saying that Robert Hert was present in the said manor
house of Caister at eighta.m. onthesaidday, and even at nine o'clock
at dinner time {tempore prandii), and that he saw the said Robert
Hert sitting among Fastolf's other servants at breakfast {jenta-
culum) ; and that he (Symmys) and Hemy Wynstall, Fastolfs
barber, were occupied together in shoeing horses in the said manor
from breakfast time aforesaid to dinner time, and that at dinner
time Symmys saw the said Henry sitting in the hall with others ;
and that on the said Saturday, about eight a.m., and even at noon,
Symmys saw John Rus in the haU of the said manor. Aiso
John Shawe deposed that on the Saturday before Fastolfs death
he saw John Rus and Henry Wynstall in the hall of the said
manor, both at eight a.m. at breakfast and at dinner at midday, and
he also saw Robert Hert, porter at the gate of the manor, at those
hours ; and that between breakfast and diimer Shawe and Wyn
stall were occupied along with John Symmys in shoeing Sir
John's horses. But the trath is that both Rus and Hert were
absent as above mentioned, and Wynstall was with Fastolf in his
chamber fix)m niue a.m. to half-past ten. Also Symmys, William
Pykeryng, Heydon, Osbeme, and Lawes were all absent the whole
of that Saturday, and certainly between eight and eleven a.m.
And notwithstanding that the contrary is alleged against them,
John Davy, Barth. Elys, John Bokkyng, John Davy, chaplain,
Thos. Upton, Nich. Newman, John Loer, Wm. Eton, Robert

A.D.I466.] EDWARD IV. 275
Lynne, John Marshall, Wm. Lynne, Henry Wynstall, Robert
Hert, and Robert Fitzrauff, gave honest testimony in behalf of
Yelverton and Worceter, being men of good repute, sufficiently
rich, and well worthy of credit.
Additional exceptions on the part of Yelverton and Worcester
to the testimony of John Rus and Clement Fehnyngham, shovring
that Paston had offered to let to the former a tenement in Yar
mouth for less than its trae value, and had promised the latter
100 marks for the Austin Friars at South-Town,^ which was not
bequeathed in Fastolfs will ; also that he had given Master
Robert Popy, besides his expenses, 20 marks for his testimony,
and remitted to him iQs. of the rent of a fishery which was five
years in arrear, and that he had also released to him 40 marks
of a penalty of 100 marks due by Popy upon a bond ; in conse
quence ofwhich Popy deposed that on the 30th October three years
previously,' John Paston had reported to him at Caister that he
had made an agreement with Fastolf by which he was to have all
Fastolfs lands in Norfolk, Suffolk, and the city of Norwich, after
his death, paying for the same 4000 marks, and was to found a
college in the manor, &c ; on hearing which Popy retumed to
Fastolf, and related to him what Paston had said to him, and Sir
John confirmed it, requesting hmi to show the same goodwill
towards Paston, as he had done to himself. But in trath Fastolf
never asserted or confirmed any such thing.
Answers to interrogatories by the same deponent, viz. — I. As
to his knowledge of the parties and witnesses.
2. As to the aUeged instances of bribery, and the absence of
Rus on the day referred to. The latter fact deponent says he
knows, because he and Rus lay together in the chamber of Thomas
Howys, and on Friday before Fastolfs death Rus went to Yar
mouth to buy victuals, and left with him the key of the chamber,
Howys being then at Blowfeld ; and Rus remained at Yarmouth all
that Friday and the Saturday foUovring, and retumed on Sunday.
4. As to the condition of Fastolf on the Saturday before his
death. He was so weak for want of breath that he could not
speak distinctly ; those about him could not hear what he said
without inclining their ears to his mouth, and even then they
could hardly understand him. And this deponent says he knows,
because on Friday and Saturday before his death he was frequently
in Sir John's chamber, and when people spoke to him to comfort
him in his iUness he only answered by sighs, so that deponent
and others could not tell what he meant Moreover, Sir John
was accustomed when in health daily to say certain prayers with
1 South-Town, Yarmouth, sometimes called Little Yarmoutli.
s " Quod dictus Johannes Paston apud Castre penultimo die Octobris ultimo
pi^tento ad tres annos proxime elapses sibi retulit.'* It would seem by tbis
that Popy's testimony must have been given within three years of Fastoli's
death.

2j6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1466.
his chaplain, but on that day the chaplain said the service alone,
while Fastolf lay on his bed and said nothing.
6. As to Russe and Hert being at Yarmouth, he says he heard
Thomas Howys that Saturday moming order the latter to take
hoise and ride thither to get provisions for the household, and he
saw him ride out of themanor accordingly aboutsevena.m., and also
saw him return with the provisions about ten a.m. [In the margin
here is written " Nititur deponere de absencia Hert, sed non
probat"] 7. Knows that Heniy Wynstall was absent from the hall of the
manor from about nine to half-past ten, for he saw him enter the
chamber with his instruments to shave Sir John, and wait there
an hour and a half, and he could not have left without deponent
seeing him. Moreover, John Symmys did not shoe horses in the
manor that Saturday, for deponent had the custody of the forge
and kept the keys.
Answers to another set of interrogatories proposed on behalf of
Paston and Howes, and here quoted at length, to the foUowing
effect, viz. : — I. Where each witness has lived since he was bom,
and whether he be in the service of the party producing him ? 2.
As to his knowledge of the witnesses on the other side. 3. What
particulars he can give as to any bribery he imputes to them, and
what was its special object? 4. By what means he knew it, and
by whom he has been asked to give testimony, and whether he
has conferred with his fellow- vritnesses; whether they have received
instmctions what to depose ; how often he has come up to London
to give evidence and retumed vrithout being caUed ; and how much
he was promised for coming? J. Each witness is to declare how
he knows the facts, and to be charged not to reveal to the others
on what subjects he was qu&stioned.
The only point of interest in these replies is that deponent was
asked by WiUiam Worcester in the city of Norwich on Sunday
eight days to give his testimony in the cause. He denies aU com
munication with his feUow-witnesses, &c.
tilote. — The evidence ofthis first witness runs to five or six times
the length of anyother, and we have noted all the material points
in it. Of the depositions of the others we shaU not give any
summary, but mention briefly any new statements that seem to
be of interest : —
II. John Dawson, husbandman {agricultor), of Blowfeld, where
he has been for four years, having formerly lived five years in the
manor of Caister, and befoie that in Cambridge three years,
literatus, libera conditionis, about thirty yeais old.
His testimony generally agrees wii that of Monke, and he
says tlie covenant of Akethorpe was made in the Febraary before
Fastolfs death. Between Christmas and Easter after his death
deponent heard Howes in the manor of Caister say to Robert
Cutteler the vicar that he should have 6 marks for his labour in

A.D. u66.] EDWARD IV. 277
giving evidence about Fastolfs will ; and aftenvards Howes in
his chamber in the said manor paid him 6 marks. Paston also
promised him a benefice worth 40 marks. He says, about a month
before Fastolfs death, he heard Howes and Paston frequently
repeat publicly in the household the tenor of Sir John Fastolf's
wiU. About St. John Baptist's day last he was at Yarmouth, and
heard John Symmys and jfohn Shawe say they were hired by Pas
ton and Howes to give evidence in the proving of Fastolfs will.
HI. John Gyrdynge of Fretenham, where he has Uved four
years; before which time he lived with the Prior of St Faith's
two years, before that in the manor of Caster four years, before
that with John Emeryngale of Wroxham two years, and before
that in Nonvich as an apprentice with Henry Toke five years ;
a cook, iUiterate and of free condition, thirty-two years old and
over.i Agrees with the evidence of cormption against Rus and
others. Was preseut in Fastolf's room that Saturday forenoon,
and saw the two chaplains celebrating mass. H. Wynstall the
barber was present till ten a.m.
IV. WUliam BosweU of Thetford, who was four years wilh
Friar Bracley, &c., literatus, of free condition, thirty years old
and more. Heard Howys, Paston, and Rus frequently confer at
Caister about the sale of a house in Yarmouth, which Howys, at
the request of Paston, at length granted to Rus at ;£'20 less than
its value, to the end that Rus might bear witness in their favour
in the proving of Fastolf's will. [Here occurs a marginal note
by another hand, " Male sonat Quod alius consensit non pro-
batur." At the head of this deposition also it is said that tliis
witness has been proved corrapt]
V. Robert Inglys of Lodon, gentleman, who has Uved there
two years, and before that in the parish of Hopton three years,
before that with Henry None, Esq., for more than a year, before
that with Sir John Fastolf two years, before that with the Abbot
of Langley two years, and before that in Hopton with his father;
iUiterate, and of free condition, thirty years old and more.
VI. Richard Home of BrandaU, Norwich diocese, husbandman
{agricultor), who has lived there four years, and before that with
Thomas Howys six years, and before that in the parish of St
George, Southwark, three years; Uliterate, of free condition,
twenty-six years old.
VIL Thomas Pykeryng of Wroxham, Norwich diocese, who has
been a schoolmaster at Norwich and Aylesham, and is now clerk
to Robert Norwich, steward of the Abbot of St. Benet's, Hulme.
VIII. Henry Clerke of Blowfeld,husbandman [agricultor),aa!ix
in the service of Sir John Fastolf, illiterate, twenty-eight years
old, of free condition. Says that on the Saturday before Fas-
1 The residences of every one of the witnesses are given from the time of
his birth ; but we have given these detaUs only in une or two cases as
specimens.

278 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1466.
tolf's death Hov^ys sent him and John Shawe to Yarmouth about
seven a.m., vrith a cart-load of malt to one named Chiiche ; that
they arrived about eight, and were spoken to by John Rus and
Robert Cutteler in the market-place; that they waited with their
cart till two p.m., when deponent took leave of Rus and Cutteler
in the street, having repeatedly seen them there in the intervaL
Also that at eight and nine a.m. he saw Robert Hert in Yar
mouth, who soon after his arrival delivered him a sack containing
meat, bought, as he said, by Rus for Fastolf's household. He
sa3rs also that between eight and nine he spoke with the said John
Symmys, William Pykeryng, and John Osbem in Yarmouth.
Marginal notes are appended to the above statements, affirming
tliat bnbery had been proved against this vritness by four others,
and that he stood alone in his testimony.
XI. John Tovy of Caister, where he has lived ever since he was
bom, agricultor, literatus, of free condition, twenty-four years
old and more ; cannot depose of his owm knowledge to the
bribery of John Rus and the others. He says John Rus was not
present in the manor on the said Saturday, having to be at Yar
mouth to provide victuals for the household. About eight a.m.
witness conveyed to the said manor some linen, which his mother
had washed, for she was Sir John's washerwoman, and waited
there, sometimes in the hall and sometimes in Sir John's chamber,
till after mid-day, but did not see John Rus or any of the others
named, as he would have done if fliey had been present
X. Thomas Hert of Caister, agricultor, who has lived there
from his birth, illiterate, of free condition, twenty-three years old.
Cannot depose to bribery except from hearsay. Was sent to
Caister by his father on the Saturday before Fastolf's death with
capons to be sold to John Rus, purveyor of victuals for the house
hold, but on inquiring for him, found he was absent, and de
livered the capons to Sir Thomas Howes. Waited till nine a.m.
and saw neither Rus, Cutteler, Boteler, nor Robert Hert, but
was told Rus was at Yarmouth, and Boteler sick in his chamber.
John Symmys had nothing to do with the shoeing of Sir John's
liorses that day. Was asked to bear witness in this cause a fort
night ago by Sir William Yelverton's servant at Caister.
XI. WiUiam Shave, roper of Yarmouth, illiterate, of free con
dition, fifty-eight years old. On the Saturday before Fastolf's
death, was at the house of John Balle, at the sign of the Cock, in
Yarmouth, in a parlour near the public street, when Sir Thomas
Howes informed John Rus, there present, that he had been desired
by John Paston to remit to him £20 of the price of a house sold
to Rus by the said Thomas, and thereupon he remitted to him
the said ^20 and 5 marks, in which he was bound to Sir John
Fastolf. He also promised him the lands of Akethorp Hall for
40 marks less than any other, provided he would favour the
intention of Howes and Paston. [It is remarked in the margin
that witness does not say wlrnt intention.] William Lyhde, a

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 279
servant of Sir John Fastolf, was present, besides others. He saw
Rus and Cutteler that Saturday at Yarmouth, between nine and
twelve a.m., and spoke with them and drank in the hotue of
Thomas Lounde. As to Thomas Torald, witness was at Yar
mouth one Saturday, when he heard Robert Cutteler and Torald
conversing; and the former told the latter that Sir Thoinas
Howes loved him weU, and that John Paston could do him much
good, and in the name of Paston and Howes he promised Torald
20s. for his labour, besides expenses, if he would depose for them.
Knows that on the Saturday before Fastolfs death Bartholomew
Elys was in Yarmouth from half-past eight to eleven a.m., for
he and witness bought fish called roches together, sold some, and
divided others in Elys's house. That day he saw John Rus in
Yarmouth several times every hour from seven to eleven a.m. ,
for he was in the market-place all that time on his business, and
at vespers he saw John Rus in the parish church of the said town.
Next day, Sunday, he also saw him there at matins and at mass.
XII. Nicholas Chirche of Yarmouth, merchant, /z/^r/z/aj, offree
condition, forty years old and more. Testifies conceming a con
versation held in John Balle's parlour at the Cock in Yarmouth
after the Christinas following Fastolf's death, with Sir Thomas
Howes, John Paston, John Rus, Friar Clement Felmyngham,
Dan Robert Cutteler, Robert Boteler, Thomas Neve, and others,
when Howes remitted to John Rus ;(f 20 of the price of a house
he had sold him, and 5 marks of the airears of his accounts.
He also testifies to other acts of the same nature on that occasion,
and to the absence of Rus and Cutteler at Yarmouth on the
Saturday above referred to, &c.
[In the margin it is remarked that this witness has been proved
corrapt by three others.]
On the 22d May John Naseby, proctor for Yelverton and
Howes, produced as a witness one Jolm Rugge in presence of
Master Robert Kent, Paston's proctor.
XIII. Thomas Newton of Burgh, agricultor, illiterate, of free
condition, fifty years old and more.
XIV. Thomas Spycer of Southtown, by Yarmouth, tailor, illi
terate, of free condition, fifty years old and more.
XV. Thomas Neve of Jememuth \YarmoutK\, merchant,
literatus, of free condition, forty years old and more.
XVI. John Rugge, mariner, of Yarmouth, ilUterate, of free
condition, fifty years old.
XVII. John Clerke of Gorlaston, agricultor, illiterate, of free
condition, fifty years old. Heard Clement Felmyngham report
to him at the Austin Friars in Southtovm that Paston and Howes
had given him a pension of 8 marks a year for life, and 40J. for
his servant, to say masses for the soul of Sir John Fastolf. Can
not witness of bribery otherwise. A little after Michaelmas,
two years before Fastolf's death, WiUiam Worceter in Fastolf's
name deUvered possession of six of his manoi-s in Lodylond, viz.,

28o THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1466.
Spytlyng in Gorlaston, Bradwell HaU m Bradwell, Hadlounde
in Bradwell, Calcotes in Freton, Beytons in Belton, and Ake
thorpe in Leystoft, to Sir Thomas Howes and others, his
co-feoffees named in a charter of enfeoffment, to the use of Sir
John during his life, and to execute his wiU afterwards. This he
knows, because he rode with Howes to the said manors when he
took possession, and saw and heard Worceter deUver possession
thereof. Thomas Torald reported to witness in Lent last that
Paston and Howes had promised and paid him 20J. , besides his
expenses, to give evidence in the proving of Fastolf's will, and
had given each of his fellow-vritnesses as much.
XVIII. Robert Bundle of Yarmouth, mariner, literatus, of free
condition, fifty years old. Swears to having seen John Rus that
Saturday at Yarmouth between seven and eight. [A marginal
note says that being afterwards produced as a witness by Paston,
he admitted having been suborned, and having deposed falsely.]
On the 22d July Yelverton's proctor, Naseby, produced in
presence of Paston's proclor, Kent, two witnesses, viz. — Stephen
Scrope, Esq., and Richard Fastolf.
xix. Stephen Scrope, Esq., of free condition, seventy years
old or about. Says he was several times with Sir John Fastolf
in his manor of Caister within the two years before his death,
when Sir John told him hc had made his vrill, and had ordered
his executors to erect a coUege of six or seven monks and seven
poor men at Caister, and that they should have lands and goods
to the value of 300 marks a year, if a license could be obtained
from the King to that effect ; otherwise that the number of monks
at St. Benet's should be increased, and seven poor men supported
in the monastery. [In the margin it is remarked that this wit
ness proves nothing against the accused vritnesses, but only
endeavours to depose conceming the will of the deceased.]
XX. Richard Fastolfe, of the parish of St. Mary Eldermaiy, in
London, tailor, where he has lived for two years, and before that
in the parish of St. Micha- , Crokydlane, London, for a quarter
of a year, formerly with the Duke of York, literatus, of free con
dition, thirty-two years old. Went to Caister about the Feast
of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross preceding Fastolf's death,
along with one Thomas Plummer, scriptor, of London, now
deceased. Found Sir John walking about his chamber led by
two servants, when Plummer petitioned him to help deponent
with goods that he might marry, as he was one of Sir John's
relations. To this 'i5ir John made answer that he had within a
few [days] preceding made his will, which he would not alter,
and that he had made mention of deponent therein. He also
said to Plummer that if he had come in good time, he should
have written his vrill.
[Throughout all the aboye depositions will be found marginal comments in
another hand, a few of which we have noticed incidentally, tending to shew
hat -he testimony given is insufficient to prove tne bribery of Paston's wit-
38saB, .^r 10 JuvaliUace their jtAtemenis.^

».b. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 281
" Responsiones personaliter factce per Johannem Paston, armi-
gerum, xxixo die mensis Julii anno Domini MoCCCClxvto, In
dictione xiij ma, pontificatus sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini
nostri, domini Pauli Divina providencia Papa Secundi anno
primo, in domo habitationis venerabiUs mulieris Elisabethae Venor
m le Flete vulgariter nuncupat' infra parochiam Sanctae Brigidas
Virginis in suburbeis ciritatis London' situata, [et] x., xj., et xijmo
diebus mensis Decembris anno Domini supradicto, Indictione
xiiijma, pontificatus dicti sanctissimi patris domini Pauli Papse
Secundi anno secundo, in domo thesaurarii ecclesise Cathedralis
Sancti PauU London in parochia Sancti Gregorii civitatis
London' situata, coram venerabili viro Magistro Johanne Draell,
utriusque juris doctore, commissario et examinatore in hae
• parte specialiter deputato, in praesentia mei, Nicholai Parker,
notarii publici, scribaein ea parte assumpti et deputati, de et super
interrogatoriis per partem venerabiUs viri dommi Willelmi Yel
verton militis et Willelmi Worceter, executoram testamenti
domini Jolmnnis Fastolf militis ministratis, productum."
551.
Note.
Extract from "An Index to Deeds and Writings in
the Tower, Magdalen College, Oxford."
" 34. The testimony of Th. Howes conceming the testament
of Sir John Fastolf, touching which controversies arose between
John Paston the elder, and Thos. Howes of the one party, and
William Yelverton, Knight, and William Worcetyr on the other."
552,
A.D. 1466, 17 July.
ElDWARD IV. TO THE BAILIFFS OF YARMOUTH,
This letter is reprinted from the Norfolk A rc/iaology, where it was first
published by Mr. Worship from a transcript made by Sandford in his MS.
Genealogy of the Paston family^ compiled in 1674. Sandford states that
"theoriginai] under the King's seale remaineth iu the custody of Edward
Faston, Esq." The date is rendered certain by the warrant subjoined.
By THE Kinge (Edward the Fourth).^
RUSTY and welbeloved, we greet yow well,
letting yow wete that our trusty and welbe
loved knight Sir John Paston, our welbeloved
William Paston, and Clement Paston, with
1 We have placed the words " Edward the Fourth " in parenthesis, though
ihey are not so printed by Mr. Worship, and are probably not so written in
Sandford's MS., because we suspect that they were not in the text of the
original docuijient, but were added by Sandford by way of explanatioj}.

282 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1466.
Other, have been before us and our councell worship-
fully declared of the surmise of great charge that was
laid on our behalfe unto John Paston deceased and
them, jointly and severally ; so that we hold them and
every of them sufficiently declared in that matter, and
take and repute them as gentlemen descended lineally
of worshipfuU blood sithen the Conquest hither ; and
over that, have commanded that plenare restitution of
the mannor of Castor, and of all other lands and tene
ments, with goods and cattell, that the said John
Paston deceased had of the gift and purchase of Sir
John Fastolfe, Knight, shall wholly be restored unto
our said Knight Sir John Paston, like as the said John
Paston deceased had in any time of his daies. Where
fore, in as much as our said Knight intendeth to make
his abideing in Castor, we desire and pray yow that,
for our sake and contemplation, ye will be friendly and
neighbours unto him in his right, and such other tilings
as may be to his profitt and ease, wherein ye shall do
unto us full and good pleasure. Yeaven under our
signet in our Castle of Windsore the xvij'"* day of
July. Subjoined to the above in Sandford's Genealogy is "the coppie of a
warrant sent from Kinge Edward the Fourth to restore Sir John Paston to
the lands and jwssessions which he purchased of Sir John Fastolfe, whereof
the originall remaineth in the custody of Edw. Paston, Esq." It is addressed
" To all tenaunts, fermors, or occupiers of all the lands and tenements, and
of every part of them, that late were John Paston's, Esq., now deceased, by
way of mheritance, or Agnes Paston, Margaret Paston, WiUiam Paston, and
Clement Paston, or any of them, and to all such persons what so they be, now
heing in the mannor or place of Castor, or in aiiy lifelodc that was the s^d
John Paston, Esq., by way of gifte or purchase of late Sir John Fastolfe, or
of any other, within our counties of Norff., Suff., and Norwich, and to all the
tenants, fermors, haylies, or occupiers of the same, and of every part thereof ;
and to all mayers, shreves, eschetors, bayliffs, and ether our officers, as well
within franchise as without our counties aforesaid, hereing or seeing these our
letlers." The King mentions in this warrant that "great part of the said
lands, tenements, arid manors had been seized into our hands ;" and the
tenants, farmers, bailiffs, and occupiers of the said lands are charged thence
forth to pay the whole issues and profits thereof to Sir John Paston ; and the
mayors, sheriffs, escheators, and others the King's officers are charged to be
" assisting, helping, and strengthening." The warrant is " Yeven under our
tt^et at Windsore, the xxvjth day of July, the sixth yeare of our reigne."

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD TV. 283
553.
A.D. 1466 (?) 20 July. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Latter clause of a writ of supersedeas to an escheator directing
him not to make iaopisilioti post mortem on the lands of John
 , until further notice.
Westminster, 20 J uly.
[From the time of year at wbich this writ is dated, it may have been issued
lifter the death of John P^ton, who died in May 1466, the inquisition on his
lands not havine been taken till October following. But it may possibly have
appUed to the lands of Sir John Fastolf, who died in November 1459, the
iuquisition after his death not having been taken till October X460.]
554.
Ancestry of the Pastons.
The followmg doatment is derived from a transcript made by Sandford in
the Genealogy mentioned in No. 552, and some previous papers, and is
likewise rcprmted from Mr. Worship's article. Preuxed to it in Sandford's
MS. are these words : — " The Briefe foUowinge was deUvered to Edward
Paston, Esq., amonge other evidence, by his uncle Clement Paston, and it is
written in an old hand." It would appear, howevetj from the wording, not
to be a " brief" or abstract, as Sandford considered it, but an extract from
some certiiicate made in the King's name in behalf of Sir John Paston, setting
fortli wbat had been proved on examination as to the gentility of hts
ancestry. |HEY shewed divers great evidences and
court rolles, how that they and their
ancetors had been possessed of a court
and senioiy in the town of Paston, and of
many and sundry bondmen, sithen the time that no
mind is to the contrary ; and how that Agnes Paston,
wife to the said William Paston, father to the said
John, William, and Clement, in title of her dower, is
in possession of bondholders, and also of bondmen,
whose ancetors have been bondmen to the ancetors
of the said John Paston sithen the time that no minde
is to the contrary. And they shewed divers fines,
some leavyed in the time of the begining of the reigne
of our noble progenitor, Edward the First, son of
Kinge Henry, son of King John, of liveloude whereof

284 THE PASTON LETTERS, [.ld. 1466.
they and theire ancetors have been possessed ever
since to this day.
Also they shewed divers inquests which is matters
of record. Also they shewed divers deeds and grants
before time of mind, how that their ancetors had
licence to have a chaplen and have divine service
within them. And that divers of their ancetors had
given lyvelyhood to houses of religion to be prayed
for, and confirmacions under the Great Seale of our
noble ancestor Kinge Henry the Third, son of Kinge
John, confirming the same grants.
AJso they shewed divers old deeds, some without
date, insealed under autenticke scales, of divers par
tictdar purchases in the town of Paston, reciting in the
said deeds that the land was holden of the ancetors
of the said  Paston, as of tlie chiefe
lord of the fee, and by homage, and had ward, marriage
and reUefe. Also they shewed how their ancestors
were infeofifed in divers men's mannors and lands in
trust Also they shewed a great multitude of old
deeds, without date and with date, wherein their
ancetors were alwaies sett first in witness, and before
all other gendemen. Also they shewed how their
ancetors had, in old time and of late time, married
with worshipful! gentlemen ; and proved, by deeds of
marriage and by other deeds, how their ancetors had
indowed their wives, and by discents of livelyhood,
and by testaments and wills of their ancestors under
seale; and made open by evident proofe, how they
and their ancetors came lineally descended of right
noble and worshipful! blood, and of great lords, some
time liveing in this our realme of Ingland. And also
they made open proofe how they were nere of kin
and blood to many of the worshipfullest of the country,
and also nere to many and sundry great estates and
lords of this realme, and was openly proved and
affirmed, without contradiction or proofe to the
contrary. They shewed how they had kept pl'ce with divers

A.D. 1466.] EDWARD IV. 285
.... and with Plays that had wedded the Earle
Warren's daughter, the third yeare of Edward the
First They shewed a lineall discent, how their first
ancetor, Wulstan, carae out of France, and Sir WilUam
Glanvile together, his kinsman, that after founded the
pryory of Bromholme by the towne of Paston and the
towne of Bentley; and how Wulstan had issue Wulstan,
which bare armes gould flo\vret azure; and how he
had issue, Raffe and Robert; which Raffe, senior, bare
armes as his father, and Robert the younger bare
silver flowret azure. And Robert had issue Edmund
and Walter; wliich Edmumd the elder bare as his
father; and his brother, because he married Glan-
vile's daughter, a cheife indented gold, the field silver,
flowret azure; and how their ancetors after bare with
lesse number ; and how Sir John Paston was heire to
all those, for they died sans issue. And this was
shewed by writinge of olde hand, and by old tesU-
ments and evidences.
555.
A.D. 1466, 16 Sept.
Will of Agnes Pastom.
[From Paston MSS., P.M.]
Jo all to whom this present writting xai come, I,
Agnes Paston, late the wife of William Paston,
Justice, send greting in God everlasting,
lating hem know that I, the forseid Agnes, of
goode and hole mende, the xvj. day of Septembre, the
vj. yere ofthe reigne of Kyng E. the iiij''' and the yere
of our Lord a M'CCCClxvj., make and ordeyne my last
wil! in al the maners, londes, tenementes, rentes, ser
vices, mesuages, and places, that ony person or persones
bene seased of to myn use and behof with in Norwiche,
Norffolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshere, or in any other
shere with in Englond, praying and desiring al the
personez so feffed to myn use, after this my will, writtyn

286 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1466.
and inceled under my seale, be shewed tmto them, that
they wol make astate to the persones lemited in my
seid will according.
And inasmoche as myn husbond, whos soule God
assoile, d)fverse tymes, and specialy among other the
day of the moneth, rehersed to me that the lyvelod
whiche he had assigned to his ij. yongest, William and
Clement, by his will in writting, was so littill that tliey
mizt not leve thereon ^-ithouzt they shuld hold the
plowe to the tayle; and ferthermore, seying that he
had dyvers oder maners, that is to say, the maner of
Sporle, Sweynsthorp, and Bekham; which maner of
Beldiam he was purposed to chaunge with the maner
of Pagrave; and if he myzt bring it abouzt,
then xuld on of his ij. yongest sones have the
seid maners of Sporle and Bekham, and no more, and
the other yongest sone xuld have al the remenaunt
And he that had the maner of Sweynsthorp xuld be
bound in a gret some to ±e prior of the Abbey of
Norwiche, to paie dayly for ever to the monke that for
that day singeth the masse of the Holy Goste in our
Lady Chapell in Norwiche, where he purposed to leye
his body, every day iiijrf., to sing and pray for his
sowle and myn, and al the sowles that he and I have
hade any goode of or be beholdyn to pray for. And
after that the  ^ day of  1 next folowing
my seid husbond lying seke in his bed, in the presens
of John Paston, his sone and myn, John Bakton, John
Dame, and of me, declared his will towching certein
of his children and me, at whiche tyme he assigned to
the seid John Paston the maner of Gressham in honde,
and the revercion of suche lyvelode as he zave me
after my decesse, askyng hym the question wheder he
held hym not content so, seying to him in these
termes, "Sir, and thow do not I doo, for I will not geve
so mekyll to on that the remenaunt xai have to littill
to leve on. At the whiche ^ . ."
1 Blanks in MS.
• Here the fragment ends at the bottom ofa leaf written only on onr side.

A.D.1466.} EDWARD IV. 287
556.
Will of Agnes Paston.
[From Paston MSS.]
The foUowing appear to be three separate fragments of an original draft
of Agnes Paston's will, written on two sides of a small scrap of paper. Two
of tbese fragments have the letters B and £) prefixed to them, snowing that
they were intended as insertions in a part of the text now lost.
B. — ^And after that the  day of the monethe
my seyd husbond lyyng seke on hys bede sent
for me, John Paston, Bakton, and John a Dame,
to here hiis wyll rede ; and in owr presens all he
began to reede hiis wylie, and spak fyst of me, and
assynyid to me the maners of Paston, Latymer,
and Schypden and Ropers, in Crowmer, for terme of
my lyffe, and the manerys of Merlyngforthe, Ston-
sted, and Horwelbury, whyche wasse myn owne
enheritans, and Oxned, whyche wasse my jontor, and
[prayd me to hold me contente so, for]i hadde do
to lityll to ony it wasse to me, for somme he faryd
the better, and so devedede(?) he ded for not of
hem all, but he hadde more to care for, wyche myn as
well as hys. And than he red John parte, and assynyd
to hym and to hys wyffe the maner of Gressam,and after
my desesse the maner of Oxned ; and he, thynkyng
by John Pastons demenyng that he wasse not plesyd
because ....
C. — Swynne of slowyth that hiis wyll wasse not made
up, but wot swm ever cwm of me. Dame, I wyll ze
know my wyll, and seyd that swyche lond as he hadde
not wrytyn in hiis wyll wott xwlde he do with all, he
wold his ij. yongest sonnys, Wyllam and Clement,
xwlde have, and owte of Sweynthorpe to have hiis
perpetuel! masse. And of thys prayd me to reporte
recorde and berre wyttnesse; in qwyche disposicion and
intent he continuyd in on to the day of hiis dethe, and I
darre rytgh largely deposse that that same wasse hiis last
wyll the tyme of hiis dethe ; qwyche wyll immediatly
after my husbondes decesse I liopynd and declaryd to
1 These words ^'e struck through with the pen.

288 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1466.
John Paston and al the other executores of my husbond,
desyeiyng hem to have performyd it And the seyd
John Paston wold in no wysse agree ther to, seyyng
that by the lawe the seyd manerys xulde be hiis, in as
moche as my husbonde made no wyl! of hem in
wrytyn, and gatte the dedis owte of my possession and
estat of the feffees in the seyde manerys, myn un-
knowyng. And after that swyche tresowre of my husbons
as wasse leyde in the Abbey of Norwyche by the
seyd John Paston, John Bakton, John Dam, and
me, to delyvere azen to us all, the seyde John
Paston owte of the seyde Abbey unknowyn to the
priour or ony oder person of the seyde Abbey, and
withowte my wetyn[g] and assente, or ony of owre
felawys, toke and bare awey all, and kepyng it styll
azens my wyll and all the tother executores wyllys,
nothere restoryng the seid Wyllam and Clement to
the forseyd land, nother recompensyng them of my
liusbonds tresor, and ordeynyng for my husbonds
sowle in havyng of hiis perpetueU masse acordyng to
his wyll. Werfor, in as moche as I know and under
stonde verrely that it wasse my husbonds wyll the tyme
of hys dethe, that the seyd Wyllam and Clement xwlde
have the seyd manerys of Sporle, Sweynsthorp, and
Bekham, and the annuyte for hys perpetuel! masse to
be going owte of the seyde maner of Sweynthorp, and
that the possessioners of the seyd manerys at thys
day wyll in no wysse by any fayer menez or spekyng
tender my seyd liusbonds sowle and myn, ner perform
the wyl! of my seyd husbond, I wyll liave and xall
by the gras[e] of swyche lyvelode as I have in my
possession, that is for to sey, the maners of Stonsted,
Marlyngforthe, and Horwellbury, that swm tym wasse
my faders and my moders, and cwm on to me by them
as myn enheritance. And after my decesse if I wolde
soffer it to desend, xwld goo to the wronge posses-
siMiers of the seyd manerys of Sporle, Sweynsthorp,
and Beldiam, qwyche xall not bc lettyd for me, but

A.D.1466.] EDWARD IV. «89
if it be thorow her owne defaute, make, sta[b]!esse and
ordeyn myn husbonds perpetuel! masse and mjoi, and
of the remenaunt, as swerly as can be made by the
lawe, I wyll the seyd Wyllam and Clement be recom
pensyd to the valew of the seyde manerys of Sporle,
Sweynthorpe, and Bekltam, zeily[yearly], on to the tyme
that they be restoryd to the forseyd manerys of Sporle,
Sweynthorp, and Beldcam, in lik forme, and lyke astat
as xall be afterwards lymytyd in thys my last^ [will ;
chargyng and requiryng the seyd Wyllam and Clement
that after that they be restoryd to the manerys of Sporle,
Sweynsthorp, and Bekam, they restore myn heyres to
Marlyngfordie, Stons[ted], and Orwelbury.]
557.
Note.
In the Paston Genealogy drawn up by Sandford, to which we
have several times before alluded, occurs another extract from
the will of Agnes Paston, as follows : —
"Also I bequeath to the Whight Fryers of the said city of
Norwich, for I am there a suster, to helpe to pay hir [their-] debts,
xxti., which I will be gathered of the arrerage of my lyvelode.
Also I bequeath to the auter of Gracion of the said House,
whereas mine husband and I have a perpetuall masse, a vestment
which they have for a prist to judge in or [oft] rede satem. Also
to the mendinge of the chappell of our Ladie within the said place,
whereas Sir Thonus Gerbrege, my grandfather, and Dame Eliza
beth his wife, and Sir Edmond Berrye my father, and Dame
Alice his wife, be buried, and Clement Paston my sonn."
558.
William Paston's Will.
[From Fenn, iii. 15.]
The following memorandum relative to the death of her husband was
written by Agnes Paston, probably about the time she made her will.
|N the Thurseday at nyght before Our Ladys
Day the Assumpcion,^ betwixt xj. and xij. of
the clokk, in the yer of Our Lord God
MCCCC. and xiiiij., the Sondays lettre on
1 The word "will" is omitted in the MS., and the words "my last"
repeated. What follows is crossed out.
'¦> The Assumption of Our Lady was the isth August
II. U

290 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1466.
the D., died my husbond, God assoyle his sowle.
And on the Fryday after I sent for John Paston, John
Dam, &c. And on the Wedynysday after cam John
Paston, &C. And on the Fryday John Paston, John
Dam and I yede into the chambre, and they desyred
of me to see the wyll. I lete them see it. And John
Dara redde it; and when he had redde it, John
Paston walkyd up and down in the chambere. John
Dara and I knelyd at the beddys fete.
559.
Abstract.
[Addit. Roll, 17,258, B.M.]
Roll of paper containing a draft in English of part of the
inquisition on the death of John Paston, relating more especially
to the foundation of Fastolf's college. In the latter part the
jury find that John Paston died on the 22d May^ last, and that
Sir John Paston, Knight, is his son and next heir, and b of the
age of 24 years and more.
*«* Copies of the original inquisition, as retumed into Chancery, and of
that on the death of Sir John Fastolf, exist among the Paston MSS. in the
Bodleian library.
560.
A.D. 1466, 29 Oct
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 272.]
The date of this letter is shown by the contents to be shortly after John
Paston the father's death, probably in the same year.
To my ryght wyrshypfuU mayster, Sir John Paston,
Knyzt, be thys letter delyveryd in hast.
j GRYTTE you well, and send you God ys
I blessyng and myn, desyryng you to send me
J werd how that ye spede in youre maters, for
I thynk ryght leng tyll I here tydyngys from
you ; and in alwyse I avyse you for to be ware that ye
kepe wysly your wrytyngys that ben of charge, that it
com not in her [their] handys that may hurt you herafter.
Your fader, wham God assole, in hys trobyll seson set
1 The date in the inquisition retumed into Chancery (6 Edw. IV., No. 44)
isaii/Ma). . T-»»

A.D.1466.] EDWARD IV, 291
more by hys wrytyngys and evydens than he dede by
any of hys moveabell godys. Remember that yf the
wer had from you, ye kowd never gyte no moo such
as the be for your parte, &c.
Item, I wold ye shold take hyde that yf any processe
com owte a yenst ine, or a yenst any of tho that wer
endyted a fore the coroner, that I myght have know
lych therof, and to purvey a remedy therfor.
Item, as for your fader ys wyll, I wold ye shold take
ryght gode counsell therin, as I am enformyd it may
be prevyd, thogh no man take no charge thys twelf-
month. Ye raay have a letter of mynystracyon to
such as ye wyll, and mynyster the godys and take no
charge. I avyse you that ye in no wyse take no
charge therof tyl! ye know more than ye doo yet ; for
ye may verely knowe by that your unkel! Will, seyd to
you and to me, that thay wyll lay the charge uppon
you and me for moo thyngys then ys exprest in your
fader ys wyll, the whych shud be to grete for you or
me to bere ; but as for me, I will not be to hesty to
take it uppon me, I ensure you.
And at the reverens of God, spede your maters so
thys terrae, that we may be in rest herafter, and lette
not for no labour for the season, and reraember the
grete cost and charge that we have had hedyr toward,
and thynk verely it may not lenge endur. Ye know
what ye left when ye wer last at hom, and wyte it
verely ther ys no mor in thys countray to bere owte
no charge with. I awyse you enquer wysely yf ye
canne gyte any more ther as ye be, for els by my feth
I feer els it will not be well with ous ; and send me
word in hast hough ye doo, and whether ye have your
laste dedys that ye fayled, for playnly they er not in
thys contrey. It ys told me in conseil that Ric. Calle
hath nyer conqueryd your uncle Will, with fayre pro
myse twochyng hys lyflode and other thyngs, the
whych shold prevayll hym gretly, as he saytli. Be
ware of hym and of hys felowe be myn avyse. God
sende you gode spede in all your maters.

292 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1466.
Wiyten at Caster, the moreu next after Symon and
Jude, wher as I wold not be at thys tyme but for your
sake, so mot I ches. By your Moder.
561.
A.D. 1466 (?) 10 Nov. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., P.M.]
Sir James Gloys to Sir John Paston.
Was at Snaylwell on Sunday, but could get no money.
Most of the tenants away at Canterbury or elsewhere. The
rest said when you were there last you had given them till
Candlemas, " so that thei myght malt ther com and biynge it to
the best prefFe." Wamed them to be ready by Tuesday before
St. Edmond the King, when Richard Calle would visit them.
A thrifty man beside Bery is wUling to take tlie farm ; but
every one says the last farmer was undone by it Advises
Paston not to overcharge his farms. I have seen Catelyn's
com, and your tenants say it is suificient to content you. Your
shepherd wishes to know if you will continue him, for no one
has spoken to him since my master your father died. Men of
Fordham have occupied your ground these two years that my
master has been in trouble. I think you should speak to my
Lord of Worcester, as he and Woodhous are lords of the town.
I have bid the farmers at Snaylwell sow some wheat land, and
have wamed the tenants at Sporle, Pagrave, and Cressingham
to be ready to pay. Advises him to keep up his place at
Langham's. If " my master" had lived he would have exchanged
it for the parsonage. Supped on Monday night at a place of the
Duke of Suffolk's with the parson of Causton, a chaplain of the
Duchess, "and they talked sore of my Lady's bargain, and were
right sorry that she should forsake it." The parson asserted
that the feoifees had put her in possession of the manors. Talk
over this with your counsel ; for if the feoffees be compelled to
release in Chancery it will be nought, because of the estate they
made before ; so when you expect to be most quiet you will be
most troubled. There was also the parson of Brampston, and
he said W. Yelverton had sent a letter to the bailiff he has set at
Guton, but what it meant I could not find out W. Yelverton
has put the parson of Heynford out of his farm. I did not speak
with your mother before vmting this, as she was at Caister.
Norwich, St. Martin's Even.
From the mention of John Paston the father as dead, and the trouble he
had been in for two years, it would appear that this letter must have been
written in 1466, the year of his deaui. The letter is endorsed in a con
temporary hand : "Litcnc anno vj. et vij. Edwardi iiijtl.''

A.D.1466.] EDWARD IT. ^93
562.
A.D. 1466, 22 Dec. — ^Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Thomas Grene to William Yelverton, Esq.
Desires his favor for Frere John Chesteyn and John Russe of
Yarmouth, who are suspected by Lord Scales of having treasures
or jewels of my Master Paston s. He never trusted them with
any, knowing Uiey were familiar with William Jenney and Sir
Thomas Howes. Is sure he put no treasure into any place in
that town, religious or other, for he often said he wondered any
thrifty man would live in it, " there were so much riotous people
therein." Begs his favor for my mistress Paston, "which is now
under your governance." Hopes to see her hereafter "as
wotshipfiU and well at ease as ever she was, and a great deal
better when these troubles be passed ; for I am sekir whan God
woll that she be passed them she would not suffer them again for
right great riches."
Norwich, morrow of St Thomas Apostle.
[This letter has a great appearance of having been written shortly after
John Paston's death. We place it therefore in the year in which he died.]
563.
Date uncertain.
Sir John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 264.]
This and the two letters foUowing are without any certain date, but they
are all addressed to Margaret Paston, most probably after her husbands
death. To Mestresse Mar grete Paston, be thys delyveryd.
LEASE it yow to weete that I sende yow by
Barker, the berer heroff, iij. trade pottes o
Geane [Genoa] as ray potecarie swerytht on to
me, and mooreovyr that they weerneverondoo r
syns that they come from Geane. Wheroff ye shalle
take as many as pleasyth yow; neverthe lesse my
brother John sente to me for ij., therfor I most beseche
yow that he maye have at the lest on. Ther is on
potte that is morkyn ondre the bottome ij. tymes with'iC

294 tH£ PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1466.
thyes letteris M. P., whyche potte I have best truste
on too, and nexte hym to the wryghe potte; and I
mystruste moost the potte that hathe a krotte abovyn
in the toppe, lesse that he hathe ben ondoone. And
also the other ij. pottys be prentyd with that mar-
chauntys marke too tymes on the coveryng, and that
other pott is butt onys morkyn but with on prente,
notwithstondyng I hadde lyke othe and promyse for
on as well as for alle.' 564.
Date uncertain. — ^Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Edward Mawdby to his Niece Margaret Paston.
Has a tenant, a widow in Sail, building a house on his ground.
She has been threatened with having it pulled down. Send for
Aleyn Roos, my receiver, and take his counsel what is to be done.
London, 24 Nov. Signed " By your nevew Edward Mawdby ; "
although addressed " my most trasty and well beloved niece.'
565.
Date uncertain. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
E. Clere' to Margaret Paston.
My little cousin your son' is a fair child. Wishes certain
evidences of Frethorp, which she delivered to Margaret Paston's
husband to make award between her and Rammesbury, a paper
book ofthe customs of Ormesby and a roll called "domjrsday,"
&c. Your father-in-law* was of counsel both with my mother' and
with my mother-in-law.' Supposes there may be other evidences,
as of Tacolneston, Therston, Reynthorp, Rustejmes in Wymond
ham, Kesewik, and Stratton. Sends back some rolls brought
by a man from Norwich, which belong to Margaret Paston and
not to the writer.
1 The signature ofthis letter, Fenn says, is tom off the original MS.
2 EUpbeth, widow of Robert Clere of Ormesby. She died in 1492.
^ This must be one ofthe younger sons of John and Margaret Faston.
4 William Paston, Justice.
6 Margaret, wife of Thos. Owydale or Dovedale, of Tacolneston, daughter
and heir of William Reeves.
' Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Branch, and wife of John Clere, Esq. of
Ormesby ; after whose death she married again Sir John Rothenhale. See
Ko. 9.

A.D.1466.] EDWARD IV. 493
566.
A.D. 1466 ? — Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The MS. from which this letter is printed is a drafl in the handwriting of
Sir John Paston There can be little doubt it was addressed to his broUier
Johii, and as it refers to the administration of their father's will, we place it in
ttie year of his death.
ITEM, Arb[l]aster must mak a proctyr by yowr
advyce, and iff he lyst to make the seyd
Master John Halfnothe he maye, elles he
must sende uppe an other ; and he most also
make a letter of waraunt to the seyde Master John
Halfnothe undre hys selle by yowre advyce in thys
forme : —
Master John, &c. I recomande me, &c., letyng yow weet
that I have made yow my proctor towchyng the testement off
John Paston, Esquier; wherffor I praye yow that ye on my behalve
reffuce the admynystracion of hys seyde testamen, fur I woU nowt
have ado ther with. Wherfro[r] loke that ye on my behalve
reffiice all admynestracion, entresse or besynesse, that I myght
have there by. And thys shewys yow my wyll here in, and shall
be to yow a dyscharge att any tyme. No moor, &c.
Yowr frend. Tames Arblaster.
I wolde nat that myn oncle William scholde cawse
hym to take on hym as hys felawe, for iff rayn oncle
William doo thus moche in the corte I suppose it may
here afftre doo ease. For as God helpe me I cannot
sey verrely iff my fadre (God have hys sowle !) agreyd
that he shold be one, but in my sowle he never thowt
that he sholde be, for he never namyd no moor butt my
modre and me, and afftre, yow, whan I rehessyd myn
oncle Clement, yow and Arblaster, and than he chase
yow, seyng he thoght that ye were good and trewe.
Kepe thys secrett. Iff myn oncle be noon executor, it
maye happely brynge ageyn a trussyng coffre with CC.
old peyse noblis, whyche he toke from me as executor.

296 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A-D I467-9-
567.
Between A.D. 1467-9.
J. Strange to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 286.]
^ This letter being addressed to Sir John Paston touching a proposal of mar
riage for his sister, must have been ^ter the death of his father m 2466, and,
of course, before the actual marriage of Margery Paston to Richard Call,
which seems to have takeu place towards the close of 1469.
To my rith worchipfull and good master, Ser John
Paston, Knyght.
lUpSYTH worchupful ser, afterdewe recomendacion,
11^^ plesyt zow to understond the cause of my
|IK^K| wrytyng ys for a maryage for my Masterys
Nargery, zowr suster. For my nevyewe, John
Straunge, wold make her sur of -xUi. joynture and CC.
marke be zer of inherytaunce ; and yf zee and zour
frendes wole agreve herto, I trost to God that xall take
a conclusion to the plesur of God, and worchup to both
partyes. Moreover, and yt plesyth zow to wete, I am sore
troblyd with Bedston, as weie be the wey of tache-
raents owte of the Chauncer as oderwyse. I must
beseche zow of zowr good mastershepe and help in
secrete maner as the Ser Thomas Lynes, the brynger
of thys, shall enforme zow. I xall be att London in
the begynnyng of thys terme, be the grace of God,
qwych preserve zowe.
Wretyn att Norwych in hast, the Monday after
Tweltlie Day. By yowr, J. Strange.
568.
A.D. 1467 (?) 29 Jan.
T. Daverse to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 172.]
T'he precise date of this letter is by no means certain. Fenn dates it merely

A.D. 1467.] SDWARD IV. 297
between 1463 and 1469 ; but if it be " my Lady of Oxford," and not " my
Lord," who is spoken of near the end {see page 298, foot-note 2J, it may be many
years later. The Earl of Oxford was committed to the Tower in the latter part
of the year 1468. In 1470 he took part in the brief restoration of Henry VL,
and on the retum of Edward IV. he was obliged to quit the country. If the
Earl, therefore, is alluded to as living in England, the date cannot well be
later than 1468. Probably it is about the year 1467. In that year the 29th
January fell on a Thursday, which would allow a reasonable time for the
writer to suggest to Sir John Paston the expediency of Ilis being in London
on Monday or Tuesday following.
To my right good mayter, Sirjohn Paston, Knyght.
right especiall good mayster, I recomand me
to yow, thankyng you right hertely of your
gentell letter late send to me. And as to
Pyn Chester mater, &c., I wulde I were youre
nygh kynnesman, yef hit plesed God, and than shuld
I know yef hit shuld greve your herte asmeche as hit
dothe other of my kynne and frendes to see me thus
cowardly hurte and maimed^ by Pynchester, causeles ;
and of myn entente in that mater, Wylliam Rabbes
shall telle you more. All so I beseche yow to reco
mand me to my Lordes good grace, as to hym whom
of erthely estates, next ray dewte, I moste love and
drede, and that shuld he well knowe and hit lay in my
power, praying you hertely to declare his Lordship
such mater as Wylliam Rabbes shall enfourme yow,
and to send me ray Lordes answere.
All so in asmoche as I understode by yow that
money shuld cause you conclusion in your mater this
next terme, and ye wull be at London on Monday at
nyght or Tewsday by none, I truste that I have studyed
such a mene that, up on surete as ye may make, to
gete yow an CU. or CC. mark to be lante un to yow
for an halfe yere, with oute any chevysshaunce or losse
of good by yow, as Wylliam Rabbes shall telle you
more, &c.
And as to Ovyde " De Arte Amandi," I shall send
hym you this next weke, for I have hyt not now redy ;
r The words " and maimed " are inserted from the right hand copy in Fenn.
They are not in the left hand copy, having been overlooked, apparently, by
the transcriber.

298 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1467-
but me thenkeythOvide "De Remedio"were more mete
for yow, but yef [unless] ye purposid to faile hastely in
my Lady Anne P.^ lappe, as white as whales bon, &c.
Ye be the best cheser of a genteU woman that I
knowe, &c. And I pray you to recomaunde me to
my Lord of Oxford,^ and to my goods Maysters Nede-
ham, Richemond, Chyppenham, Stavely, Bloxham,
Stuard, and Ingulton in speciaU, and all other good
masters and frendes in generall, &c. And, sir, Mays
tres Gaydade recomand me [? her] to yow and said
bessyng fare for charite, and she said me she wuld
fayne have a new felet, &c.
Wreten at London, this xxix. day in Janyver.
With herte and servyse your, T. D.»
569.
A.D. 1467, 7 Feb.
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 276.]
This^ letter must have been written in February 1467. It was evidently
after Sir John Paston had succeeded to his father's estates, but before any
arrangement had been come to between him and Yelverton. It will be found
hereafter that on the ixth January 1.^68 Sir John Fastolf's executors, includ
ing Yelverton, released their rights m Caister and other manors to Sir John
Paston. On the back of this letter, Fenn says, is written in an ancient liand,
" Testes idonei ad negandum veritatem, ut patet infra."
[YR, it is SO that thys Saterday John Rus sent
me word by Robert Botler, that William
Yelverton hathe ben thys iij. dayis in Yer
mothe for to get new wytnessys up to London;
and, as it is thowt by the seid John Rus and Robert
Botler, ther wytnessyng is for to prove that it was Sir
John Fastolfs wyll that ther schold be morteysyd
iij.=- mark by yer to the colage, and also that syche
astat as my fadyr took her at Caster at Lames next
1 Who my Lady Anne P. was I caimot tell The expression " as white as
whale's bone" is rather a strange one.
p rhe modem version in Fenn reads "my Lady ofOxford."
^ Fenn says this subscription is explained by " T. Daverse " being writteu
under the direction, as he believes, in the hand ofthe receiver.

A.D.1467.] EDWARD IV. 299
befor that Sir John Fastolf dyid, was delyveryd to my
fadyr to the intent for to perform the seyd wyll.
Bartholomew Elys, John Appylby, and John Clerk
ar the \vytnessys ; and as for Barthew Elys, he is owt-
lawyd, and also men say in Yermowthe that he is
bawde betwyx a clerk of Yermowthe and hys owne
wyfe; and as for John Appylby, he is half frentyk,
and so take in the towne, notwithstand)Tig he is an
attomy, as Barthew Elys is, in the Baylys Coort of
Yermowthe ; and as for John Clerk of Gorleston, he
is owtlawyd at Sir John Fastolfys swte, and at dyvers
othyr menys, notwithstandyng he is thorow with Sir
T. Howys ^ for Sir John Fastolf, for thys cause, that the
seyd Clerk was on of Sir T. Howys ^ last wytnessys befor
thys. I trow John Loer shall be anothyr wyttnesse. As
for Barthew Elys and John Appylby, they lye thys
nyht at Blyborowgh onward on her wey to London-
ward. Make good weche on hem.
I pray yow send us some good tydyngs. Wretyn
the Saterday, lat at nyght, next aftyr Kandylmas Day.
I pray yow remembyr John Grey and John Burgeys.
We have hom the most part of your barly, save fro
Wynterton, and that I trost to have this next wek, or
ellys we wyll strat [distrain ?] for it by the grace of
God, whom I beseche raak yow good.
I thynk ther comyng up is for to dysprove your
wyttnessys that he had in to the Chancery. J. P.a
570.
A.D. 1467, March.
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 326.]
This letter is evidently of the same year as No. 573 following, and a little
earlier in point of date.
t Fenn has " Sir Thowys" in his left hand copy, which we cannot help
tliinking a misreading of ''Sir T. Howys."
3 Fenn says this letter " has neither subscription nor date ;" nevertheless
these initials stand at the foot of the text as he has printed it

300 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1467.
To my brother, John Paston.
|YGHT worschypful and verrely welbelovyd
brother, I hertely comande me to yow,
thankyng yow of yowr labor and dyligence
that ye have in kepyng of my place at Castr
so sewerly, both with yowr hert and mynde, to yowr
gret bisynesse and troble; and I ageyn warde have
hadde so lyteU leyser that I have not spedde bot fewe
of yowr erendys, ner kannot befor thys tyme.
As for my Lady Boleynes^ dysposicion to yow
werds, I kannot in no wyse fynde hyr a greable
that ye scholde have her dowter, for all the prevy
meanes that I kowde make, inso moche I hadde so
lytell corafor by all the meanes that I kowde make,
that I dysdeyned in myn own p[e]rson to comon with
hyr ther in. Neverthelesse, I undrestande that sche
seythe, " What if he and sche kan agre I wyll not lette
it, but I will never advyse hyr therto in no wyse."
And uppon Tewesday last past, sche rood hom in to
Norfolke. Wherfor as ye thynke ye may fynde the
meane to speke with hyr yowr selfe, for with owt that,
in myn conceyt, it wyl not be.
And as for Crosseby, I undrestand not that ther is
no maryage concluded betwen them, neverthelesse
tlier is gret langage that it is lyke to be. Ye be per
sonable, and peraventure yowr beyng ones in the syght
of the mayde, and a lytele descuveiyng of your good
wyl to her, byndyng hyr to kepe it secret, and that ye
kan fynde in yowr hert, with som comfort of hyr, to
fynde the meane to brynge suche a mater abowt as
schall be hyr pleasur and yowrs, but that thys ye kan
not do with owt som comfort of hyr in no wyse ; and
ber yor selfe as lowly to the moder as ye lyst, but to
the mayde not to lowly, ner that ye be to gladde
1 Anne, widow of Sir Geoffrey Boleyn. She was daughter of Thomas,
Lord Hoo and Hastings. Sir Geoffrey had by her three daughters, of whom
the youngest, Alice, is here referred ta This Alice was afterwards married
to Sir John Fortescue.

A.D. 1467.] EDWARD IV. 301
to spede, ner to sory to fayle. And I alweys schall
be your herault bothe her, if sche com hydder, and at
home when I korae hora, whych I hope hastly with in
xl. dayes at the ferthest. My modre hathe a letter,
whych can teU you mor, and ye may lat Dawebeney
se it John Paston, K.
I suppose and ye kaU weUe upon R. CaUe, he
schaU purvey yow mony. I have wretyn to hym inow.

571.
A.D. 1467, 3 ApriL
Richard Calle to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This letter seems to relate to the summoning of witnesses to London for
the probate of Fa-stolf 's will, and being addressed to ^Sir John Paston, we
may presume that it was written in tne year after his fatber's death, and
hcfurc tbe final settlement of the dispute.
To my ryght reverent and worschipfuU mayster, Sir
John Paston, Knight,
|LESITH it you to wete that I have spoken
with Henre Inglouse, and I fynde hym dis
posid weele ; hough be it he hath be labored
to nough of late be divers, nevertheles he
woll not come withoute he have a suppena, and if he
come up be suppena, he can sey nor nought woU sey,
any thynge that schulde be prejudice or hurte to your
mater, and so he hathe tolde them that hath labored
to hym for it, weche hym thynkyth causith them to
have no grete hast to have hym up. He teUith me
that the Abbot of Langley schal come up and Wich-
yngham. Thes have her writtes of suppena delyverd
unto them. Also ther cometh up Doctor Vergraunt
and Frier Bemard. And as for Robert Inglouse, I
have spoken with hym, and I fynde hym no thyng so
weele disposid as his brother is; he hath be sore

302 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1467.
labored be the meanes of my Lord of Norffolk and of
my Lord of Suffolk ; he seyth largely that he knoweth
moche of this mater, seyng to me that if he schulde be
examyned be for a juge, he wolde my master your
uncle 1 wer his juge, for he knoweth the mater as
weele as any man. He seith if he be swom be fore
my Lorde Chaunceler, he woll desire of my Lord that
Maister William schulde be swom as weele as he;
nevertheles I have so mevyd hym that withoute ther
come a suppena for hym he woll not come, as he seth
it is hard to truste hym. It were weele doo if ther
were no suppena out for hym to cauce that ther schulde
non come, nouther to hym nor to hes brotlier, &c I can
not undrestonde of no moo that schulde come up yet,
but I schal enquere, and sende you word as hastely as
I can. I have not spoken with John Maryot yet, but
I schall speke with hym within this iij. dayes and sende
you worde, &c.
Ferthermore, sir, like you to remembre the lees of
the maner of Sporle ; your fermours goth out at Michel
mes next comyng. Henry Halraan wolde have it for
his sones, and if he schulde have it he wolde wete at
this tyrae, be cauce he wolde somerlay^ and tylle the
londe, otherwise then it is ; it were tyine to lete it, wo
so ever schulde have it Henry woll geve for it but
xxii, ; wherfor, if ye wol that he have it, plese you to
sende word how we schal do with all, &c. Alrayghty
Godde spede you in all youre maters, and sende you
hastely a goode ende in hem. Wreten at Castre on
Friday next after Esterne Day.
Your own Servaunt, Ric. C
572.
A.D. 1467, ApriL
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
The foUowing extract from a letter of Sir John Faston to bis biother is
1 William Paston.
3 Halliwell gives the expression " to summerland a ground " which is used
iu Suffolk, meaning to lay if &II0W a year. For this he refers to Rar,

A.D.1467.] EDWARD IV. 303
quoted in Sandford's MS. Genealogy of the Paston family, and is here
reprinted from Mr. Worship's article on that genealogy in the korfotk
Arelutology. The original letter I have not been able to find. The tourna
ment here refened to probably took place shortly after Easter. The next
letter is evidently written in reply to tliis.
hand was hurte at the tomey at Eltham
|l|| upon Wednesday last. I would that you had
been there and seen it, for it was the good
liest sight that was sene in Inglande this forty
yeares of so fewe men. There was upon the one side,
within, the Kinge, my Lord Scalles, myselfe, and
SeUenger; and without, my Lord Chamberlyn, Sir
John Woodvyle, Sir Thomas Mountgomery, and John
Aparre, &c. By your brother,
John Paston, MiL
573.
A.D. 1467, ApriL
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 330.]
This letter appears by tbe contents to have been written more than a week
after Easter. The year must be 1467, as the dispute with Yelverton touching
Sir John Fastolf's will seems to have come to an end before the January fol
lowmg {see No. 581).
|YR, plesyth yow to weet that my modyr and I
comonyd this day with Freyr Mowght to
undyrstand what hys seying shall be in the
coort when he cometh up to London, wheche
is in this wyse: — He seyth at syche tyme as he had
shrevyn Master Brakley, and howsyllyd hym bothe, he
let hym wet that he was enformyd by dyvers personys
that the seyd Master Brakley owt for to be in gret
consyens for syche thyngys as he had doone and seyd,
and causyd my fadyr, whom God asoyle, for to do and
seye also, in proving of Sir John Fastolfys W}-11. To
whom the seyd Mastyr Brakley answerd thus agayne :
" I am ryght glad that it comyth to yow in mynd for
to meve me with thys mater in dyschargyng of my

304 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1467.
consyens ayenst God," seying ferther mor to the seyd
Freyr Mowght, be the wey that hys sowle shold to,
that the wyll that my fadyr put into the coort was as
veryly Sjt: John Fastolfys wyU as it was trew that he
shold onys deye. This was seyd on the Sonday when
the seyd Brakley wend to have deyid then. On the
Monday he revyvyd a yen, and was well amendyd tyU
on the Wednysday, and on the Wednysday he sekyned
a yen, supposyng to have dyeyd forthe with. And in
hys syknes he callyd Freyr Mowght, whyche was con
fessor on to hym, of hys owne mosyon, seyng on to
hym in thys wyse: — "Syr, wher as of your owne
mosyon ye mevyd me the last day to teU you aftyr my
consyens of Sir John Fastolfys wyU lyek wyse as I
knew, and now of myn owne mocyon, and in dis-
chargyng of my sowle, for I know weU that I may not
askape, but that I must dye in hast, wharfor I desyr
you that wyU report after my dethe, that I took it
upon my sowle at my dying that that wyU that John
Paston put in to be provyd was Syr John Fastolfys
wyU." And the seyd Brakley dyid the same Wed-
nesdaye. And wher as ye wold have had Rychard CaUe to
yow as on Sonday last past, it was thys Twyisday or I
had your lettyr; and wher as it plesyth yow for to
wyshe me at Eltam, at the tomay, for the good syth
that was ther, by trowththe I had lever se yow onys
in Caster Hall then to se as many Kyngs tomay as
myght be betwyx Eltam and London.
And, syr, whar as it lyekyth yow to desyir to have
knowlage how that I have don with the Lady Boleyn,^
by my feythe I have don nor spokyn nowght in that
mater, nor not wyU do tyU tyme that ye com hom, and
ye com not thys vij. yer. Not withstandyng, the Lady
Boleyn was in Norwyche in the week aflyr Estem, firo
the Saterday tyU the Wednysday, and Heydons wyfe *
and Mastras Alys * bothe, and I was at Caster, and
1 See Note i, p. 300.
' Anne, second daughter of Sir Geoffrey Boleya.
» Third daughter of Sir GeoOrey Boleyn.

A.D.1467.] EDWARD IV. 30s
wyst not of it Hyr men seyd that she had non
othyr erend to the towne but for to sport hyr ; bot
so God help me, I suppose that she wend I wold have
ben in Norwyche for to have sen hyr dowghter. I
beseche yow with all ray hart hye yow hom, thow ye
shold tery but a day; for I promyse yow your folk
thynk that ye have forgetyn hem, and the most part of
them must depart at Whytsontyd at the ferthest, they
wyll no lenger abyd. And as for R. Calle, we can not
get half a quarter the mony that we pay for the bare
housold, besyd menys wagys. Daube nor I may no
mor with owt coynage. Your, J. Paston.
574.
A.D. 1467, I May. — Abstract.
[From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 192].
" Bill indented " 1 May 7, Edw. IV., between Sir John Paston
and Thomas Lomnor, whereby the latter sells to the fonner an
ambling horse " upon this condition, that if the marriage betwixt
the Lord Charles, son and heir to the Duke of Burgon, and the
Lady Margaret, sister to our Sovereign Lord the King" take
effect within two years. Sir John agrees to pay 6 marks for the
horse on the day of the marriage ; but if it do not take effect
within that period he will pay only 40 shillings.
[There is a modem copy of this document in the Heralds' College, in the
collection called Brooke s " Aspilogia," VoL I., f. 47, where a drawing is given
of sir John Paston's seal, which seems to have been attached to it when the
transcript was made. It has been since removed at some time or other.]
575.
A.D. 1467 (?) 2 July.
James Gresham to Simon Damme.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
As this letter has reference to the disputes between thc Duke of Suffolk and
the Paston family about Drayton, it mi^ht be supposed to have been written
about the year 1464, but tKat the entire absence of any mention of John
Paston the father makes it probable that the true date is after his death. It
is therefore not unlikely to be of the same year as No. 576, in which Margaret
Paston mentions the probability of Hellesdon being taken again out of their
II. X

3o6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1467.
hands, and also desires an answer to a letter that she had sent to ber son. Sir
John, '* by James Gresham's man."
To my worshipfuU cosyn, Symond Damme, [at] Lyncoln
fnne, at London, [be] this delyvered.
|IGHT worshipfuU sir, and as in my trost my
veray speciali good maister, I recomande
me to you with al the servyce I can and
may. Lyke it you to \vytte that I have do
my bysynes to enquere for suyche dedes as ye wrot
for on to me, and, so God me helpe, I can not wytte
where I shuld spede to have ony suyche dedes. I
spak to a persone that is your good lover, the whiche
tolde me tiiat ther was a gret plee bytwene my Lord
of Suffolk and Sir John Fastolf for the maner of
Drayton, for whiche matier William Wysetre was sent
to enquere for evydencez touchyng the Pooles l3rv6-
lond in suyche places as thei were lords of in their
dayes. And the seid Wysetre fonde evydencez that
touched a maner called Mundham maner, sum tyme
longyng to the Pooles that were owenners of Drayton,
the whiche evydences eased meche Sir John Fastolf;
but the seid persone that enfourmed me of this can
not telle the armes, ne what evydencez tho shuld be in
certeyn, savyng he thynkyth indoubted that William
Worcetre shuld not be unremembred of this. Wherfore
it is thought to the same persone that enfourmed me
of this and by me also, that it shuld be expedyent for
you to comune of this matier by your wysdam with
the same William Wysetre, now beyng at London, for
he by lyklyhod can telle you a certeynte. And as
touchyng my maister. Sir Thomas Mongomery, I trost
veryly tJiat he nothyr hath ne shall have cause of
grudger by my defaut, for I can not understond ony
cause of grudger ; for ever whanne my cosyn Damme^
1 As it appears by the postscript that this letter was hurriedly despatched,
we may pernajps presume that it was intended in the first instance for Sir
John Faston, out tnat as " my cousin Damme " required to be informed of
the same particulars, it was afterwards addressed to him, with instructioiM
to communicate the contents to Sir Jolm.

A.D.1467.] EDWARD IV. 307
hath spoken with my seid maisters attoume to have
knowelage by writyng of what thyng shuld be the
cause of callyng on you, he answerith that my maister,
W. Paston, hath a bille therof, but my cosyn can non
gete. Wherfor I deme that the seid attoume meneth
not weel. I entende noon other but in ais meche as
in me is to se your indempnyte with the grace of
God, who ever mote be your guyde and protector.
Wretyn at Norwich the ij. day of Juylle.
Your servaunt in that he can and may
to his powar, I, James Gresham.
Cosyn, an noon after this was wretyn, had I knowe
lage of the massageris comyng to London berar of
this, and I had thought to have wretyn the letter above
wretyn newe, by cause ofthe foule wrytyng and inter-
lynyeng, but now I lakke leyser. Wherfor I pray you
understond the pyth of my seid wrytyng, and enfourme
my seid maister Sir John P. of the same, for I wold
fayne do that shulde please hym, &c. And the persone
that enfourmed me dar not be a knowe of his name,
ne he wold not it shuld be understond to them that
be of counsell ageyn my maister. It was the parson
of Heylesdon, &c. More over, as I have wretyn to
you of late, Palmer, undershireve of Norffolk, hath
sent his letter to his depute to acomplyssh our entent
for Chyldes matier as ye and I were accordet. This
told Wykes me for verray certeyn, &c., the ij . day of Juylle.
On the back of this letter are some scribblings in another hand, yiz. : —
First, a partial copy of the address; second, the name ** John Dode;"
third, the following inscription, " Orate pro anima Johnnes (sic) dc Boys
armengtr dc Londonn." 576.
A.D. 1467, II July.
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 294.]
This letter must have been written some time after Sir John Pastou had

3o8 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1467.
obtained possession of Caister by virtue of the King's warrant of the 17th
July 1466 (No. 552), and before the Duke of Norfolk laid claim to it again in
1469. Thus the date is certainly either 1467 or 1468. But in the latter year
Sir John Paston and his brother were both in Flanders at the marriage of the
Princess Margaret to the Duke of Burgundy : and Daubeney could not have
been with them, as he was when this letter was written, for John Paston the
younger says he had sent him^ live shillings by Calle's man. Tlius 1467
appears Co be the only year possible.
To Sirjohn Paston, Knyght, be this tlelivered in hast,
GRETE you weie, and send you Godds blissyng
and myn, letyng you wete that Blykklyng of
Heylesdon came fro London this weke, and
he is right mery, and maketh his bost that
with in this fourtnyght at Heylesdon shuld be bothe
new lords and new officers. And also this day was
brought me word fro Caystr that Rysyng of Freton
shuld have herd seid in diverse places, ther as he was
in Suffolk, that Fastolf of Coughawe maketh all the
strenght that he may, and proposith hjon to assaught
Caystr, and to entre ther if he may, .in samych that it
is seyd that he hath a v. score men redy, and sendyth
dayly aspies to understand what felesshep kepe the
place. Be whos power, or favour, or supportacion
that he wull do this, I knowe not ; but ye wote weie
that I have ben affrayd ther befor this tyme, whan that
I had other comfort than I have now, and I can not
Avele gide ner rewle sodyours, and also thei set net be
a woman as thei shuld set be a man. Therfor I wold
ye shuld send home your brothers, or ell[es] Dawbenye,
to have a rewle, and to takyn in such men as wer neces
sary for the saffegard of the place ; for if I wer ther
withought I had the mor sadder or wurchepfull per
sones abought me, and ther comyn a meny of knavys,
and prevaylled in ther entent, it shuld be to me but a
vylney. And I have ben abought my liffelode to set
a rewle ther in, as I have wretyn to you, which is not
yet all performed after myn desyre, and I wuld not
goo to Caystr till I had don. I wull no mor days
make ther abowtyn if I may; therfor in any wyse send
sume body home to kepe the plac«. and whan that I

A.D.1467.] EDWARD IV. 309
have do and performed that I have be gunne, I shall
purpose me thederward if I shuld do ther any good,
and ell[es] I had lever be thens.
I have sent to Nicholas, and such as kepe the place,
that thei shuld takyn in sume feles [fellows] to assiste
and strengh them till ye send hame sume other word, or
sume other man to goveme them that ben therin, &c.
I marvayll gretly that ye send me no word how that
ye do, for your elmyse [enemies] begynne to wax right
bold, and that puttith your frends bothyn in grete fere
and dought. Therfor purvey that thei may have sume
comfort, that thei be no more discoraged ; for if we
lese our frends, it shall hard in this troubelous werd
[world] to kete them ageyn.
The blissid Trynyte spede you in your mater, and
send you the victory of your elmyse, to your herts eas
and ther confusyon. Wretyn at Norwich, the Sater
day next befor Relyke Sonday,^ in hast.
I pray you remembre weie the maters that I wrote
to you for in the letter that ye had be James Gres-
hames man, and send me an answer ther of be the
next man that comyth, &c.
Be your moder, M. P.

577.
A.D. 1467, 28 Aug. — Note.
The following is an extract from " An Index to Deeds and
Writings in the Tower, Magdalen College, Oxford : " —
Documents relating to Norf. and Suffolk, No. 47.
" Thomas Archiep. Cant., Willielmus Episcopus Winton.,
et Johannes Beauchamp dominus de Beauchamp, juxta formam
barganise et effectum ultimas voluntatis Johannis Fastolf in curia
Audientise, &c., concedunt Johanni Paston militi totum jus in
maneriis de Castre vocatis Vaux, Bosoms, et Redhams, Spensers
in Heringby, Reggisley, Reps, cum aliis terris in diversis villis ;
necnon in manerio de C uton cum advocatione ecclesia: de Hein-
1 Relick Sunday (the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) was the 12th
July in 1467.

310 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1467.
ford in Saxthorp vocat Loundhall, cum aliis terris in diversis
villis, et in manerio de Caldecots et Akethorp, Spitlings, Habe-
land, &c, habit, ex feoffamento Rad. dom. de Sudley et alionmi.
Aug. 28. Edw. IV. 7."
578.
A.D. 1467, 31 Aug. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
A small slip of paper close written on both sides with accotints
of wages. In the margin on one side is the name John Braham,
with the memorandum, " Thys wrytynge, made the iiij'l' yere of
Kynge Edward the iiij''', and in the monyth of Novembre,
wytnessez ofthe wagez that my master payith to his men." A
blank seems to have been lefl below this at first, but it was
afterwards filled up in a different hand : " Memorandum that
the ve yer of Kyng Edward the iiije I rekenyd wyth my master
at Stoke j and on the v. day of Aprylle for the ye^ that I have
be wyth my mastyr, whesche shal be at Hodce Monday next
cumyng vc yer and an halfe ; for the whesche yerys I have re-
seyvyd at sondery tymeys yii. and iiij/., and thys seyd v. day I
reseyvyd of my master v. marcs."
On the other side, in the first hand, is an account extending
from the llth April, S Edw. IV. (1465) to the last day of August
7 Edw. IV. (1467), of payments to a female named Rose,^ for
wages by " my master, Braham and Thorpe. These sums vary
from y. 4^/. to 8.r. 41/., at a time ; but there are also two items
for presents made to her, viz., for 4 ells of Holland cloth at 8^(/.
the ell, 2s. lo^d., and for a pair of hosen, l2d. On the 7th Oct
6 Edw. IV. (1466) it is said " My master toke her for wages at
Stoke, 5J."
579.
A.D. 1467, 2 Oct. — Note.
The following is another extract firom the Index referred to
in No. 577 :—
" 12. Concessio Joh. Paston militis Johanni Duci Norfolk et
aliis manerii sui vocati Hemnales in Cotton in Com.' Suff., ac
manerii sui de Haynford, et advocationis ecclesiae ejusdem in
Com.' Norff., habit' ex dono Th. Archiepisc. (^ant. et Willielmi
Episc. Wynton., cum littera attor. ad deliberandum seisinam.
Oct 2. Edw. IV. 7."
1 It appears Ly other letters that she was a servant " dwelling before Mr&
Fastens gate."

A.D. 1467.] EDWARD IV. 311
580.
A.D. 1467, or later. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Petition of John Herlyng of Basyngham to "Lady"
Paston.
Requests "her Highness" to confirm some grants of her late
husband to him of land at Basyngham. William Swan claims,
and has taken from him 2 perches of ground in breadth near his
(Swan's) gate, which has always been parcel of Herlyng's tene
ment of Greyve's during his and his father's time. John Pykerell,
too, has made mean to the Abbot of St. Benet's to remove a
boundary stone which has stood there sixty years. Pykerell also
took the writer's horse and used it in his field without leave, on
Friday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 6 Edw. IV.,
which made the beast unserviceable till Fastegong next following.
Pykerell has also done him other injuries.
[As this petition refers to the " Fastegong" or Shrovetide after Holy-
Rood day 6 Edw. IV. as a past date, it cannot have been drawn up earlier
than the year 1467. The manor of Basingham, in Norfollc, belonged to the
Mauteby family, and came to John Faston by marriage. This paper, there
fore, was addressed to his widow Margaret.]
581.
A.D. 1468, II Jan. — Abstract.
[MS. in Bodleian Library.]
Release by William Bishop of Winchester, John, Lord Beau
champ, Sir John Howard, Sir William Yelverton, Justice of the
King's Bench, Thomas Lytelton, Justice of the Common Pleas,
William Jenney, Serjeant-at-Law, William Paston, Esq., Thomas
Howys, clerk, and William Grene, to Sir John Paston, Knight,
of the manors of Castre, in Flegge, called Vaux and Bosoms,
and the lands in Castre called Redham, the manors or tenements
in Heryngby called Spensers and Fennes, a third part of the
manor of Rimham, the manor of Wynterton, called Begvyles,
with a windmill, the manor of Reppes in Bastewyk, and messu
ages, &c , in Yarmouth ; the lands called Billes in Stokesby
and Cattes in Heryngby, &c. ; the manors of Guton in Brande
ston, Heynford, the manor of Saxthorp, called Loundhalle, with
a watermill, the manor of Lincolnhalle, in Boyton, &c., in Nor
folk ; and the manor called Caldecotes in Freton, Suff. ; the
manors of Akethorp in Lowestoft and Spitlyngges in Gorleston,
ond lands called Hav$loun4 in Bradwell, &c. ; also in the manor

312 THEPASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1468.
of Tichewell, &c., in the hundred of Smethedon, Norf. ; and
the manor of Hempnales in Cotton, and Burnevyles in Naketon,
Suff. ; all which the said Bishop and the others had, inter alia,
of the gift of Ralph, Lord Sudeley, Sir William Oldhall, Richard
Waller, Esq., Thomas W^est, Esq., William Wangibid, and
Nicholas Girlyngton.
Dated nth Jan. 7 Edw. IV.
582.
A.D. 1468?
William Worcester to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 2S0.]
It seems probable tbjit this letter was written about the beginning of the
year 1468. As to the time_ of year, we may jud^e by one expression that it
was not very long after Christmas ; and as the wnter congratulates Mai|;arct
Faston that Caister is to be at her command, we may wim great probability
suppose the date to be about the same as that of the preceding document
To my ryght worshypfull maistras, Margyt Paston,
wedowe.
|YGHT worchypfull maistras, aftyr dew re
comendacion, please your gode maistrasshyp
to wete that I comyned late wyth your entier
welbelovyd son. Sir John Paston, of the fun
dacion of my Maister Fastolf Collage myght ben at
Cambrygge, yn case hyt shall nat bee at Castre, nether
at Seynt Benetts, because that Universyte lyeth neere
the cuntree of Norffolk and Suffolk ; for albe it my
Lord of Wynchestr ys disposed to found a Collage yn
Oxford for my seyd maister to be prayd for, yhyt wyth
moch lesse cost he myght make som othyr memorialle
also yn Cambrygge, and yt weere of ij. clerkys, iij. or
iiij. scolers, founded at leest wyth the value of gode
benefices and lyche parsonages, that myght be purs-
chased the advowsons, wyth moch lesse goodes then
lordshyppes or maners may; and I fonde your son
well disposed to meofe and excyte my seyd Lord.
Also now the Cristmasse weke next before the feest
att London, my Lord Wynchester called me to hym

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD IV. 313
yn presence of Sir John, and desyrid hym effectually
to be my gode wyllerj and maister wold hale no
wordes rehersed on my behalf, and he seyd full welle.
Wold Jesu, Maistras, that my gode maister that was
som tyme your husbond, yn my seyd Maister Fastolf
lyfe dayes, as he shewed to me, their coude hafe
founded yn hys hert to hafe trusted and lovyd me as
my Maister Fastolf dyd, and that he wold not hafe
geven credence to the malyciouse contryved talys that
Frere Brakley, W. Barker, and othyrs yniagyned
ontnily, sayvng your reverence, of me. And now ye
may opynly ondrestand the sothe, and your son Sir
John also; and yhyt for all that I put nevyr my
Maister Fastolf lyfelode yn trouble, for alle the
unkyndnesse and covetuse that was shewed me, as I
hafe declared to the berer heroff, that I know ye trust
welle, to whom yn thys ye may gefe credence at thys
tyme. God amend J. Russe. I wold he had ben at Irland
for one day ys sake. Your, W. W.
And I thank you hertly for my pore woman, she
shuld com to you at your commaundment late or
rathe, but for gelosye and mysdemyng of peple that
hafe me yn greete awayt ; and ye know welle, maistras,
better ys afrende unknow then knowen ; the world ys
to mysdemyng and redy to make dyvysyon and debate
that comyth of an envyouse disposicion. And I am
ryght glad that Castr ys and shall be at your comaund-
ment, and yowres yn especialle. A ryche juelle yt ys
at neede for all the cuntre yn tyme of werre ; and
my Maister F. wold rather he had nevyr bylded yt
then hyt shuld be yn the gouvemaunce of eny sove
reyn that wole oppresse the cuntree. And I fynde
the relygyoux of Seynt Benetts full unkynde toke away
a chambre, the elder Abbot had put me yn possessyon
for my solace, when I myzt com thedr and desport
me, and toke that chambre to Maister John Smyth,

314 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1468.
that Sir Thomas Howys seyd to me, was none holsom
counceller yn the reformacion of the last testament
made but ij. executors to hafe the rule allone. I wold
he had nevyr medled of yt, that councell made moch
trouble. I pray you kepe thys letter close to your
sylf, as I trust you and Sir Jamys, and also yn R.
Toly that I undrestand hym close and just
I had no tyme to speke withyn now late, when I
was but one day at Norwych. W. Barker sclaundred
me yn certeyn maters of gode to the some of v«- mark
that Reynold Hameys shuld kepe and take me half.
Wold Jesu B[a]rker had seyd true, hyt myzt hafe do me
moch gode ! And, Maistras, as I dar desyre you, I pray
you recomaund me to my best maistras, your moder
Agnes, for she favorued me and dyd me grete cherjrtee,
to be the better disposed to hyr son, Maister John,
and by my soule yt made me the hertyer to safe the
lyfelode fro trouble or from claymes, as I support me
to alle the world, I put nevyr maner ne lyfelode of
my Maister Fastolf yn trouble, ne entitled no crettur
to na place, and ye may speke wyth hyr herof when ye
be allone.
583.
A.D. 1468 [12 April].
Hugh Fenn to Sir John Paston.
[From Ferm, iv. 290.]
This letter was written on the Tuesday before Easter, probably in the
year 1468, i*., after the other executors of Fastolf had released to Sir John
Paston. The date could hardly be later than 1469 wben Sir John was driven
out of Caister by the Duke of Norfollc ; and in 1469 he does not seem to have
been residing there about Easter.
To the right worchepfuU Sirjohn Paston, Knyght.
IGHT worchepfull sir, I recommand me to
you. Like you wete a distresse was take in
Caster by Thomas Pekok, I trowe your
servant, a besy man, called of a full true

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD IV. 313
sowle, John Hadynet of Haryngby, a pore man, his
plow hath loyn ever sith, he seith ; I understonde it
is for Catts landes. I sent my clerk to my mastresse,
your moder, and the seid John with hym therfor;
and my mastresse wold hym come ageyn a nother
day, for Pecok was not thanne at home ; so he ded,
and can not have it, as he seith, but that ye wold I
shuld speke with you at Castr therof, and of other
maters he tolde me this day. And by cause of my
moders yereday holden this day, God have hir sowle,
and to morwe shal be a good day, I wol by Goddes
grace dispose me to His mercy ageyns Thursday, as I
have used; therfor I pray you pardon my comyng. In
the weke after Ester, I entend to se you and my seid
mastresse certeynly; it is loong seth I sy hir, me
semeth. And if ye be not thanne at Castr, I pray you
send me worde that I may come soner to you to
comon with you in this mater, and in all other what ye
wil, and sone departe to London fro thens; and ther
for I wil abide with you a good while.
Sir, as to Catts ye be remembred what I seid to
you at London at ij. tymes. I am the same man ; I
have sith I cam geten th'evidences in to myn handes,
and I am redy to shewe them what lemed man her
that ye wol assigne. The mater is cier to my thynkyng.
Titleshale that solde it to Sir J. Fastolf myght as weie
a solde hym your lande or myn ; and if the sale be
lawfull, I shal leve my hands at the first as I said at
London. The distresse to be kept for that, I wisse it
nede not, and it was unlawfully taken. Like it you to
do delyvere the pore man his goods ageyn, I am redy
to answer you for elde and new as right wol. I shal
breke no day to be assigned, for to leve all other
thyngs. By the blissed Lady I beleve that ye wol dispose
you weie, and so I pray God ye do, and have you in
His blissed govemaunce. Wretyn at the hede town of
Norffolk this Tuysday. Your owen, H. atte Fenne.

3l6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1468.
584.
A.D. 1468, 18 April
Edward IV. to Sir John Paston.
This letter is reprinted from Mr. Worship's article on Sandford's Genea
logy of the Paston family in the Norfolk Archirology. The original was
transcribed by Sandford, but is not now to be found. Margaret, sister of
Edward IV., was married to Charles the Eold, Duke of Burgundy, at Bruges,
on tlie 3d July 1468.
To our trusty and welbeloved Sir John Paston, Knig/it.
By the King.
|RUSTY and welbeloved, we greet yow well
And where it is accorded betwixt us and our
cozen the Duke of Burgundye that he shall
wedde our derrest sister, Margaret, and that
in shorte while we intende to sende her into the parts
of Flanders for the accomplishment and solempniza-
cion of the marriage so concluded ; at the which time
it behoveth her to be accompanied with great nobility
of this realme, for the honour thereof, of us and our
said sister : We therefore, weie understanding and
remembering the good affection ye bere towards us
all, our pleasure is, and our said sister, whereupon we
greatly trust, desire and pray yow right effectuously
that, every excuse or delaye laide aparte, ye will dis
pose yourselfe to the saide intent and purpose against
the first day of June next cominge, according to your
honour and degree, and that ye faile not so to doe, as
we singularly trust yow, and as ye intend to do us
justys, pleas!"- Yeven under our signet at our raannor
of Greenwich, the xviij. day of AprilL
1 So, as printed in the Norfolk Archsology.

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD TV. 317
585.
A.D. 1468, 8 July.
John Paston the Younger to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 2.]
As tlus letter gives an account of the marriage of the Princess Margaret
to Charles, Duke of Burgundy, there is no doubt of the year in which it was
written. 7b my ryght reverend and worchepfull modyr, Margaret
Paston, dwellyng at Caster, be thys delyvery ed in hast.

"^lYTH reverend and worchepfull modyr, I re-
^ comaund me on to you as humbylly as I can
I ^ ll thynk, desynyng most hertly to her of your
welfare and herts ese, whyche I pray God
send yow as hastyly as my hert can thynL Pies yt
yow to wete, that at the makyng of thys byll, my
brodyr and I, and all our felawshep, wer in good helle,
biyssyd be God. As for the gydyng her in thys contre,
it is as worchepfull as all the world can devyse it, and
ther wer never Englyshe men had so good cher owt
of Inglong that ever I herd of.
As for tydyngs her, but if it be of the fest, I can
non send yow ; savyng my Lady Margaret^ was maryd
on Sonday^ last past, at a towne that is callyd the
Dame, iij. myle owt of Brugys, at v. of the clok in the
momjmg ; and sche was browt the same day to
Bruggys to hyr dener ; and ther sche was receyvyd as
worchepfuUy as all the world cowd devyse, as with
presession with ladys and lordys, best beseyn of eny
pepyll, that ever I sye or herd of Many pagentys wer
pleyed in hyr wey in Bryggys to hyr welcomyng, the
best that ever I sye. And the same Sonday my Lord
the Bastard,' took upon hym to answere xxiiij. knyts
and gentylmen, with in viij. dayes at jostys of pese ;
1 Margaret, sister of King Edward IV. ' J"'*' J"
' Anthony, Count de la Roche, commonly called the Bastard of cargundy.
a uitural son of Duke Philip the Good.

3i8 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.i>.I467-
and when that they wer answeryd, they xxiiij. and hym
selve schold tomey with othyr xxv. the next day aftyr,
whyche is on Monday next comyng; and they that
have jostyd with hym into thys day, have ben as
rychely beseyn, and hymselve also, as clothe of gold,
and sylk and sylvyr, and goldsmyths werk, myght mak
hem ; for of sydie ger, and gold, and perle, and
stanys, diey of the Dwkys coort, neythyr gentylmen
nor gentylwomen, they want non ; for with owt that
they have it by wyshys, by my trowthe, I herd nevyr
of so gret plente as ther is.
Thys day my Lord Sealys " justyd with a Lord of
thys contre, but not with the Bastard ; for they mad
promyse at London that non of them bothe shold
never dele with othyr in armys ; but the Bastard was
one of the Lords that browt the Lord Sealys in to the
feld, and of mysfortwne an horse strake my Lord
Bastard on the lege, and hatlie hurt hym so sore, that
1 can thynk he shalbe of no power to acomplyshe up
hys armys ; and that is gret pete, for by my trowthe
I trow God mad never a mor worchepfull knyt
And as for the Dwkys coort, as of lords, ladys and
gentylwomen, knyts, sqwj'ers, and gentylmen, I hert
never of non lyek to it, save Kyng Artourys cort And
by my trowthe, I have no wyt nor remembrans to
wryte to yow, half the worchep tiiat is her ; but that
lakyth, as it comyth to mynd I shall tell yow when I
come home, whyche I tryst to God shal not be long
to ; for we depart owt of Br}'gys homward on Twys
day next comyng, and all folk that cam with my Lady
of Burgoyn owt of Inglond, except syche as shall abyd
her styll with hyr, whyche I wot well shall be but fewe.
We depart the soner, for the Dwk^ hathe word that
the Frenshe Kyng' is purposyd to mak wer upon hym
hastyly, and that he is with in iiij. or v. dayis jomey
of Brugys, and the Dwk rydyth on Twysday next
comyng, forward to met with hym; God geve hym
1 Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales, afterwards Earl lUvers.
a Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. 3 I«nis XI.

A.n.1468.1 EDWARD IV. 311)
good sped, and all hys ; for by my trowthe they are
the goodlyest felawshep the ever I cam among, and
best can behave them, ahd most lyek gentylmen.
Othyr tydyngs have we non her, but that the Dwke
of Somerset,* and all hys bands depertyd welbeseyn
owt of Brugys a day befor that my Lady the Dwches
cam tiiedyr, and they sey her, that he is to Qwen
Margaret that was, and shal no more come her ayen,
nor be holpyn by the Dwk. No more ; but I beseche
yow of your blyssyng as lowly as I can, whyche I
beseche yow forget not to geve me ever day onys.
And, modyr, I beseche yow that ye wolbe good
mastras to my lytyll man, and to se that he go to
scole. I sent my cosyn Dawbeney vj. by Callys man, for
to bye for hym syche ger as he nedyth ; and, modyr,
I pray yow thys byll may recomend me to my sustyrs
bothe, and to the mastyr, my cosyn Dawbeney, Syr
Jamys,2 Syr John Stylle, and to pray hym to be good
mastyr to lytyll Jak, and to leme hym well; and I
pray yow that thys byll may recomand me to all your
folkys, and my wellwyllers. And I pray God send
yow your herts desyr.
Wretyn at Bruggys the Fryday next aftyr Seynt
Thomas. Your sone and humbyll servaunt,
J. Paston, the yonger.

586.
A.D. 1468, 16 July. — Abstract.
[From Add. Charter 17,248, B.M.]
General pardon to William Paston, son of the judge, for
offences committed before the 15th April last. The grantee
is described by different aliases, as William Paston of London,
of Caster, of Norwich, and of Wymondham, gentleman, West
minster, l6th July, 8 Edw. IV. Great Seal attached.
1 Edmund Beaufort, Dnke of Somerset.
S Sir James Gloys, a priest.

320 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 146S.

587.
A.D. 1468 (?) 18 July.
The Earl of Oxford to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 26].
The writer of this letter was committed to the Tower in November r468,
and though afterwards released, it was not long before he became a declared
enemy of Edward IV. ; so that, after the brief restoration of Henry VI. in
1470 he was obliged to leave tbe kingdom. The date of this letter, therefore,
is not likely to be later than the present year, but it may be a year or two
earlier. To Sirjohn Paston, Knyght,
I IGHT worshipMl, and my especiall trae hertid
frende, I commaunde me un to you, preying
you to ordeyne me iij. horsse hameys as
godely as ye and Genyn kan devyse, as it
were for yourselfe ; and that I may have thyme in all
hast, ordere. Also Skeme saith ye wolde ordeyne ij.
standarde stavys ; this I pray you to remembre, and
my wife shalle deliver you silver, — and yit she most
borowed it ; vj. or vij//. I wold be stowe on a horsse
barneys, and so Skerne tolde me I might have. The
Lord Hastings had for the same price, but I wolde not
myne were lik his ; and I trust to God we shalle do
right welle, who preserve you. Wreten at Canterbury
in hast, the xviij. day of Juyll.
Oxvnford.

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD IV, 321

588.
A.D. 1468, 22 July.
Sir John Paston to Mrs Anne.
[From Fenn, ii. 294.]
The Mrs Anne to whom this letter was addressed seems to have been a
Mrs Anne Haute, to whom Sir John was for a long time engaged. That it
was written before the year 1469 will appear probable on refemng to Margaret
Paston's letter written on Easter Monday (3d April) in that year, in which
she wishes to know for certain if he be engaged ; and we have therefore little
difficulty in referring it to the year r468, when Sir John was over in Flanders
at the marriage of the Princess Margaret to Clurles of Burgundy. Mrs
Anne appears to have been a lady of English extraction, who was either bom
abroad or had passed most of her life on the Continent She was, moreover,
related to Lord Scales, and is therefore not unlikely to have been the
daugbter of one William Haute of Kent, who married at Calais, in r429,
the daughter of a certain Richard WydeviUe.— (See Excerpta Historica,
p. 249.) But she could speak and even read English ; and Sir John, who
was now retuming homewards to England, designed in this letter to open a
corres|K)ndence with her. He appears, however, not to have despatched it, as
the original remained among the papers of the Faston family ; or else,
perhaps, it was retumed to him on the breaking oflf of the engagement
To Mastresse Annes.
|YTHE it is so that I may not, as oft as I wold,
be ther as [i.e. where] I might do my message
myselff, myn owne fayir Mastresse Annes, I
prey yow to accept thys byU for my messanger
to recomand me to yow in my most feythfull wyse, as
he that faynest of all other desyreth to knowe of yowr
welfare, whyche I prey God encresse to your most
plesure. And, mastresse, thow so be that I as yet have govyn
yow bot easy [i.e. little] cause to remembyr me for leke
of aqweyntacion, yet I beseche yow, let me not be
forgotyn when ye rekyn up all yowr servaunts, to be
sett in the nombyr with other.
And I prey yow, Mastresse Annes, for that servyse
that I owe yow, that in as short tyme as ye goodly may
that I myght be assarteynyd of yowr entent and of
your best frends in syche maters as I have brokyn to
yow of, whyche bothe your and myn ryght trusty frends
John Lee, or ellys my mastresse hys wyff, promysyd
befor yow and me at our fyrst and last being togedyr,
IL Y

322 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1468.
that as sone as they or eyther of theym knewe your
entent and your frendys that they shold send me woord.
And if they so do, I tryst sone aftyr to se yow.
And now farewell, myn owne fayir lady, and God
geve yow good rest, for in feythe I trow ye be in bed.
Wretyn in my wey homward on Mary Maudeleyn
Day at mydnyght Your owne,
John Paston.
Mastresse Annes, I am prowd that ye can reed
Inglyshe ; wherfor I prey yow nqweyat yow with thys
my lewd [uncouth] hand, for my purpose is that ye shal
be more aqweyntyd with it, or ellys it shalbe ayenst
my wyll ; but yet, and when ye have red thys byll, I
prey yow brenne it or kepe it secret to yoursylff, as
my feythefull trust is in yow.
589.
A.D. 1468, ro Oct
Thomas Howes to Cardinal Bourchier.
[From Fenn, iv. 298.]
To my moste honor abyl fiord Cadenall, and Archibushop
of Caunterbury.
^OSTE reverent and my ryght good Lord, I
recomaund me to your gracyous Lordshyp
yn my moste humble wyse. Please your
Lordshyp to wete that my Lord Norffolk
councell hath now late mevyd Sir Wylliam Yelverton,
Knyght, and me to be prefenyd for to purchasse the
maner of Castre, and certeyn other lordshypps that
wer my Maystyr Fastolf, whom God pardon, owt
excepted the maner of Gunton that yowr Lordshyp
desyryth to purchasse, and othyr certeyn maners that
my Mastyr Fastolf frendys hafe desyred to be pre-

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD IV. 323
ferryd. And be cause the pretens bargayn that John
Paston yn hys lyffe surmytted, bye colour of which he
entended to hafe all my Mastyr Fastolf londes in
Norffolk and Suffolk for nought, savyng the hygh
reverence of your astate, was not juste ne trew ; and
be cause that I wyth othyr of my Master Fastolf
executors may have wher of to dyspospose yn cheryte
full dedys to do for hys sowle ; I have condescended
the rather that my seide Lord of Norffolk shall be
preferryd to the purchasse of the seyde maner of
Castre, and othyr maners that may be sparyd to th'en
cresse of hys lyfelode yn thys land; and thys covenantys
to be engroced upp wythynne shorth tyme, as by all
Halowaunce, in case yowr Lordshyp be agreed and
plesyd wyth all ; wher uppon I wold beseche yowr
nobyll Lordshyp to lete me wete your good plesur
and avice yn thys behalfe.
And be cause my seyd Lord Norffolk ys so nere
of blode to yowr hyghnesse knyghted, that meevyd me
to be the more wylljTig to condescend to the forseyd
purchasse, and so trastyng your Lordshyp wold be
ryght well pleased wyth alle. Wretyn at Norwich the
x. day of Octobyr, anno viij. R. E. iiij''-
Yowr pore chapleyn,
T. HowYS.

590.
Abstract.
[From a MS. in Magdalen College, Oxford.]
The following Abstract is derived from Mr. Macray's Report on the Muni
ments of Magdalen College, printed in the Fourth Report of the Historical
MSS. C^mnussioD.
[Circa 1468.] Long declaration in English (on a paper roll)
by Thomas Howes, "for the discharge of his conscience,"
impugning the authenticity of the will nuncupative, said to have
been made by Sir J. Fastolf on the day of his death, and pro
pounded by John Paston and the said Thomas in opposition

324 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1468.
to an earlier will propounded by Sir W. Yelverton and W.
Worcetyr ; containing details intended to prove that the allied
will was fabricated by Paston. Amongst other things, Howes
says that at Paston's desire he did, a year before Fastolf's death,
move Fastolf that Paston might buy three of his manors and live
in his college, "and the seyd Fastolf, mevyd and passy oned
gretely in his soule, seyd and swar by Cryst ys sides, ' And I
knewe that Paston woolde by ony of my londes or my godes he
shulde nevyr be my feffe, nother myn executor.' Albeyt he seyde
that he wolde suffer that the said Paston for terme of hys lyf
shall have a loggyng yn a convenyent place yn the seyd maner
of Castre withoute denyance of ony havyng intrest yn the seyd
maner."

591.
A.D. 1468, 28 Oct
Anonymous to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., P.M.]
The reference to the Earl of Pembroke, who was only so created in 1468,
and who was beheaded in July 1469, fixes die date of this letter to the former
year. To Maistyr Syr John Paston, Knyght, at London, with
my Lorde the Archebisshop of Yorke, be this letter
delyverid. Recommand me unto you. It is tolde me
that the man that ye wote of cam ridyng by
my Lady Suthfolk and by Cotton, which is
in gret decay; and Bamay tolde him that
Edward Dale tolde hem he durst no lenger serve him
of ale, for it was wamid hym that my Lady Suffolk ^
wolde entyr, and whan she shulde enter few men
shulde knowe, it shulde be do so sodenly. She taryeth
but of tythynges firo London. He spak nat with hyr.
I pray you speke to my Lorde of Zorke* for the sub-
pena in the Chanceri ayen William Paston that he
take noon hurte. He desyrith to write to yow for it
My Lorde of Northfolk men have wamid the tenantis
1 Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.
* George Nevill, Archbishop of York^

JL.1).1468.] EDWARD IV. 325
to pay you no mony, and thai speke alle in the Kynges
name. Ye may tell my Lorde of Yorke that it is open
in every mannys mouth in this contre the language
that my Lorde of Yorke and my Lord of Warwik had
to my Lorde of Norfolk in the Kings chambre, and
that my Lorde of Yorke saide, rathir than the londe
shulde go so, he wolde com dwell ther hym sliff. Ye
wolde mervaile what harts my Lords hath goten, and
how this language put peeple in comforte. My Lorde
of Norffolk answerde that he wolde speke to my Lady
his wiff, and entret hir. And your adversarys reherce
that my Lorde shall never be Chanceleer til this mateer
be spede,^ for ther bargans ar made condicionall, to
holde and nat holde as afftir my Lorde be Chaunceler
and nat Sothwell is all the doar, and he hath saide
that my Lorde of Zorke hcensid hym to labour in the
mateer. My Lorde of Norwich shuld by xL marke of
Jie same lond. Thai entende to have a man of my
Lady of Suthfolks sheryve, and specially Harcort. My
Lorde coude nat bileve it but if [i.e. unless] he harde
it how it is rejoysshid in som place that he is nat
Chaunceleer. Ther cam 00 man into the contre with
a newe patent saying that my Lorde was Chanceler, and
at that was the first patent that was sealid sithen he
was officeer. The tythandes did goode pro tempore.
Ther are witnes labourid, as it is said, to witnes and
swere ageyn you of men of di. a yeer, and many oder
men, som that knew never of the mateer nor never
harde Sir John Faskolff speke ; ye know what jure is
in this contre in maters that ar favoured by them
that ar now ageyn you. It is harde whan a mateer
restid by jure in this contre, som of the same quest
that founde you bondeman shall witnesse ayens you.
Syr Thomas Howys comyth to London, and if my
Lorde of Zorke wolde entret frendely my Lorde of
Ely,'' and get feithfuUy his promyse that my Lorde of
1 The Great Seal was taken from Archbishop Nevill on the Sth June 1467.
Apparently in 1468 he was hoping to be made Chancellor again.
a William Grey, Bishop of Ely.

326 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1468.
Ely sende for Hawys, he shulde make Hawys to go
home ageyn and leve all his fellowis post allon ; and
that my Lorde wolde entret my Lorde Tresaurer, my
Lord Penbrok,^ my Lady Bedford,^ and remembre the
bargan is not yit made, it may be better lettid affor
than afftyr ; and if the mateer spede my Lorde getith
gret worshipp and gret thanke. I doute not he undir-
stondyth it, for it is well undirstonde what he hath
saide. And pray his Lordeshipp to remembre a shereve
this yeer, for ther is mych to be undirstonde in the
shereve. And sende me worde if my Lorde Penbrok be
go, and if my Lorde be Chaunceler. Et memorandum.
Sir William Terell your testimonial!. Et memorandum,
my Lord Cardynall to sende answer to Sir Thomas
Howys ; and though my Lorde Cardynall be nat ther
now, yit lat Townysende make it redy ageyns my
Lords commyng. If Sir Thomas Howys wer handelyd
by Maister Tressam and made byleve and put in hope
of the moone shone in the water and I wot nat what,
that such labor wer made that eythir he shulde be a
pope or els in dyspeyr to be depryved de omni beneficio
ecclesiastico for symony, lechory, perjoiy, and doubble
variable pevyshnesse, and for admynystryng without
auctoryte; and how he promisid bi his feith to my
Lord t 'obey his rewle and brak it, and what he hath
saide to my lords in this mateer ; and if ye recur in
the courte, he shall be undo, and this mateer tolde
hym by my Lorde of Ely and Maister Tresham, halff
in game and halff in emest, it shulde make hym to
departe, for Yelvyrton and he ar halff at variance now.
And entret my Lords servaunts to speke in your maters
to all such persones as nede is. And I shall be hastyly
with you by the grace of God, whom have yow in
kepyng. Writen on Seynt Simonde Day and Jude.
By your owne.
1 William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.
• See page 1^34, Note 2.

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD IV. 327
592.
A.D. 1468, 9 Nov.
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 302.]
Thft original of this letter, Fenn Informs us, was written upon a whole sheet
of paper, ofwhich a quarter was cut away before the letter was finished, so
that the bottom part of it was only half the width of the upper. Roger Ree
was made Sheriff of Norfolk in 1468, which fixes the date.
To my ryght welbelovyd brother, John Paston, Esqer,
beyng at Caster, or to John Dawbeney there, be this
letter delyvered.
|YGHT welbelovyd brother, I comand me to
yow, letyng yow wete that I have wagyd for
to helpe yow and Dawbeney to kepe the
place at Castr, iiij. wel assuryd and trew
men to do al maner of thyng what that they be
desyryd to do, in save gard or enforcyng of the seyd
place ; and mor ovyr they be provyd men, and
connyng in the werr, and in fetys of armys, and they
kan weie schote bothe gonnys and crossebowes. and
amende and stiynge them, and devyse bolwerkys, or
any thyngs that scholde be a strenkthe to the place ;
and they wol, as nede is, kepe wecche and warde.
They be sadde and wel advysed men, savyng on of
them, whyche is ballyd, and callyd Wylliam Peny,
whyche is as goode a man as gothe on the erthe, sav
yng a lytyll he wol, as I understand, bea lytel copschotyn
[high-crested], but yit he is no brawler, but ful of
cortesye, meche uppon James Halman ; the other iij.
be named Peryn Sale, John Chapman, Robert Jakys
Son, savyng that as yit they have non hameyse comyn,
but when it komyth it schall be sent to yow, and
in the meane whyle I pray yow and Dawbeney to
purvey them some.
Also a copie of beddys they most nedys have,
whyche I pray yow by the help of my modre to

328 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1468.
purvey for them, tyl that I com home to yow. Ye
schall fynde them gentylmanly, comfortable felawes,
and that they wol and dare abyde be ther takelyng;
and if ye undrestond that any assawte schold be
towardys, I sende yow thes men, becawse that men of
the contre ther about yow scholde be frayed for fer of
losse of ther goods ; wherfor if ther wer any suche
thyng towards, I wolde ye take of men of the contre
but few, and that they wer well assuryd men, for ellys
they myght discorage alle the remenant
And asfor any wryghtyng fro the Kyng, he hathe
promysyd that there schall come non ; and if ther do
his unwarys [without his knowledge], yowr answer may
be thys, how the Kyng hathe seyd, and so to delay
them tyll I may have worde, and I schall sone purvey
a remedy. I understond that ye have ben with my Lorde of
Norfolke now of late. What ze have done I wete not ;
we se that he shal be her ageyn thys daye. Mor ovyr,
I trow John Alforde schall not longe abyde with my
Lorde ; I schall sende yow tydyng of other thyngys in
haste, with the grace of God, who, &c. Wretyn on
Wednysday nexte befor Seynt Martyn. John Paston.
I fer that Dawbeney is not aither best storyd to
contenew howsold longe ; lete hym send me worde in
hast, and I wyll releve hym to my power, and or longe
to I hope to be with yow.
Roger Ree is scheryff of Norfolke, and he schall be
good jnow. Th'excheter I am not yit assertaynyd of.
Also, that thes men be at the begynnyng entretyd
as corteysly as ye can.
Also, I pray yow to sende me my flowr ^ be the
next massanger that comyth.
Also, as for my Lorde Fytz Waters oblygacion, I
know non suche in myn adward as yit
Also, the obligacion of the Bisshop of Norwychys
1 This may mean flour for household use ; or it may signify his flower, his
device or cognizance — F.

A.D. I46S.] EDWARD IV, 339
oblygacion, I never sye it that I remembre ; wherfor I
wolde and prey my modre to loke it up.
Also, as for the Byble ^ that the master hath, I wend
the uttermost pryse had not passyd v. mark, and so I
trowe he wyl geve it : wet, I pray yow.
Also, as for Syr Wylliam Barber and Syr Wylliam
Falyate, I wolde, if they kan purvey for them selfe,
folfayne be dyschargyd of them.

593.
About A.D, 1468, 15 Dec.
Elizabeth Poynings to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 266.]
Elizabeth Paston, as we have seen (No 322), had married Robert Poynings
by the be^nning of January 1459. We must, however, correct a slight in
accuracy in the preliminary note to that letter, where it is said that by the
Sear 1470 they must have been married several years. Their union, in fact,
LSted little more than two years ; for Robert Poynings was slain at the
second battle of St. Alban's on the 17th February 1461. The inquisition /^j/
mortem taken some years afterwards (9 and xo Edw. IV., No. 49) gives that
day as the date ofhis death. His son and heir, Edward, named m this letter
(who was afterwards Lord-Deputy of Ireland in thereign of Henry VII.), was
probably bom towards the close of the year 1450, for he is mentioned at the
date of the inquisition (31 Jan. 49 and x Hen. VL, i.e. 1471) as eleven years
old and over. Elizabeth Poynings must have remained a widow some years ;
but before 1472 she had married Sir George Browne of Betchworth, Surrey.
This letter is certainly of later date than No. 540, for the lands which she
was then endeavourmg to recover from the Earl of Kent were now occupied
by the Earl of Essex. It may perhaps have been a year or two after 1466,
but it was probably not later than 1469, as in 1470 Henry VL was restored,
and Essex, being a Yorkist, would not have been so powerful. The year 1468
must be a tolerable approximation to the true date.
To ihe worshipful Sir John Paston^ Knyght^ be thys
delveryd in hast,
ORSHIPFULL and with all myn hert interly
wilbeloved nevoue, I recomaunde me to
yow, desyryng to here of your prosperite
and wilefayr, which I pray All mighti God
maynteyn and encres to His plesour and your herts
1 This must mean some MS. copy, for at this time there was only one
printed edition of the Bible, which would have sold even then for a mucb
greater sum than is here mentioned. I mean " Biblia lAtina Mogunt. per J.
I'ust et P. Schoiffer, 1463."— F.

33° THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1468.
desir, thankyng God of your amendyng and helth ;
forthermore, certefying yow tliat Sir Robert Fenys
hath doon grete hurte in the lyvelode whiche per-
teyned to my husbond and me in the Shire of Kent,
wherein William Kene and other persones am enfeffid,
and gretly troubleth hit, and receyveth the issuez and
profitez of gret part of theym. And as of my seid
husbonds lyvelode, aswell in the same shire as in other
shirez, besyde m)m jounter, my seid husbond, whan he
departyd towarde the feld of Saint Albons, made and
ordeyned his wille, that I shuld have the rewell of
all his lyvelode, and of Edwarde his soon and myn,
and to take the issuez and profitez of the seid lyvelode,
to the fyndyng of his and myn seid son, to paie his
dettez, and to kepe the right and title of the same
lyvelode, which I myght nat accordyng occupie for
Sir Edwarde Ponyngs, myn seid husbonds brother;
and so sith myn seid husbonds departyng, I assigned
that the seid Sir Edwarde for certeyn yereez shuld
have and take the revenuez ofthe maners of Westwode,
Estwell, Levelond, Horsmonden, Totyndon, Eccles,
Staundon, and Conibesdon, parcell of the seid lyvelode,
which am clerely yerely worth Ixxvj//. xiijj. iiijd., to
the entent that the seid Sir Edwarde shuld paye myn
husbonds dettez, for he wold not suffer me to be in
rest without that he myght have a rewell in the lyve
lode ; and after the seid assignement made, the seid
Robert Fenes, contrary to trowth, and withoute cause
of right, intempted me and the seid Sir Edwarde, as-
well of and in the seid maners as of other maners undir-
^vretyn; wher uppon the same Sir Edwarde suet unto
the Kyngs Highnesse, and hade the Kyngez honorable
lettres undir his signet, directed to the said Sir Robert
Fenys, the tenour wherof I send unto yow herin
inclosid; and as for residue of the lyvelode of myn
seid husbonds and myn, within the same shire of
Kent, wherin the said William Kene and other am
enfeffed, that is to say, the maner of Tyrlyngham,
Wolverton, Halton, Newyngton, Bastram, Rokesley,

A.D. 1468.] EDWARD IV, 33t
and Northcray, with th'appurtenauncez, I of them, by
myn seid_ husbonds wille, shuld have residue, and
take the issuez and profitez of theym, contrarye to
right sind conciens, takyng away my ryght, and brekyng
my said husbonds wille, the seid Robert Fenys hath
doon gret wast and hurte ther, and long tym hath take
upe the revenuez and profitez of the same, wher
thorough I have not my ryght, and the seid wille may
not be performed.
Wherfor I hertely pray yow that ze will labour unto
the Kynges Highnes, at yt lyketh hym addres his
honorable lettres to be directed to the seid Robert
Fenys, dischargyng hym utterly of the menuraunce,
occupacion, and receyt of the revenuez of the said
maners of Tyrlyngham and other, accordyng to the
tenour of the lettres labored by Sir Edwarde, for the
maners assigned to hym from the Kyngs Highnes,
directyd to the same Robert Fynes, or strayter if hit
may be, and that I and myn assignez may peasseble
rej oie theym; and if eny person wold attempt to do
the contrarye, that a comaundement, yf it pies the
Kyngs Hignes, by hym myght be yevyn to my Lorde
Chaunceller to seall writtyngs sufficiaunt with his gret
seall, in eydyng and assisting me and myn assignez in
this same.
And as for the maners of Esthall, Faukham, Asslie,
and Chelsfeld, with th'appurtenauntez in the seid
schire of Kent, whereof my hysbond at his departur
was seassed, and my son sethens, unto the tyme that
the Erie of Kent ^ without eny inquission or title of
right for the Kyng, by colour of the Kynges lettres
patentes, entret into theym, and hym therof put owte,
and now my Lorde of Essex ^ occupieth them in lyke
maner and forme ; yf eny remedy therin wilbe hade,
I pray yow attempt hit.
Also, forther more, I hertely pray yow that if eny
1 Edmund Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and Baron Hastings, who was
created Earl of Kent in 1465.
• Henry, Viscount Bourchier, created Earl of Essex in 1461.

332 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. d. 1468.
generall pardon be grauntyd, that I may have on for
John Dane my servaunt, whom the said Robert F*^nys
of gret malice hath endyted of felonye, and that ze
secretly labour this, and send me an aunswer in
writtyng in as godly hast as ze may. As soon as that
may pies yow to send me passels of costes and
expences ze bere and pay for the said causez, I will
truely content yow hit of the same, and over that
rewarde yow to your plessour by the grace of Jesu,
quo have yow in His blessed keping. Wrettyn in
Suthwerk the xv* daie of Decembyr.
By your awnt, Elizabeth Ponyngs.

594.
About A.D. 1468. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
The King to Sir Robert Fynys.
Commanding him not to levy the rents of Westwode, Estwell,
Levelond, Horsmonden, Totyngdon, Eccles, Stondon, and
Comebesdane in Kent.
[This was evidently the copy of the writ obtained by Sir Edward Poynings
referred to in the preceding; letter. Below is written, " The copie of the
lettre myssyve endossid by the Kynges awn handes."]
595.
Date uncertain.
Sir George Browne to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. too.]
'I'he writer of this brief and enigmatical letter was the second husband of
Elizabeth Paston, as mentioned in the preliminary note to No. 593 preceding.
If the John Faston, Esquire, to whom it is addressed be the first of that name,
that is to say, Elizabeth Paston's brother, the date is not later than 1466 ; but
as it was certainly some years later before the writer became connected with
the Pastons by marriage, the person addressed is more probably Jobn Paston
the youngest, brother of Sir John. The date of this communication, however,
is unimportant. Its purport, of which Fenn has suggested rather a compli
cated explanation, appears to me simply a promise of secrecy on some sub
ject: " LoyauU, aimi(i.e., Honour bnght, my dear fnend)i It shall never
come out for me."

A.D. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 333
To my trusty and welbelowyd cosyn, Jhon Paston,
Esquyer, in haste,
Loyawlte Ayme. Be zowr howne G. Browne.
Hyt schal newyr cum howt for me.
596.
A-D. 1469?
William Ebesham to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. lo.]
By the date of one item in the account subjoined to this letter, it must have
been written after the year 1468, probably in the year followmg.
To my moost worshupfuU maister, Sirjohn Paston,
Knyght,
Ji1EI'|if moost woorshupfull and moost speciaU
t J. Lv maister, with all my servyce moost lowly I
gl-Jj recomande unto your gode maistirship, be
sechyng you most tendirly to see me sumwhat
rewardid for my labour in the Grete Booke ^ which I
wright unto your seide gode maistirship. I have often
t3Tnes writyn to Pampyng accord)'ng to your desire, to
enforme you hou I have labourd in wrytyngs for you;
and I see weie he speke not to your maistership of
hit And God knowith I ly in seint warye [sanctuary]
at grete costs, and amongs right unresonable askers.
I movid this mater to Sir Thomas ^ late, and he tolde
me he wolde move your maistirship therein, which Sir
Thomas desirid me to remembir weie what I have had
in money at soondry tymes of hym.'
And in especiall I beseche you to sende me for
almes oon of your olde gownes, which will countirvale
1 TTiis "great book" is now Volume 285 among the Lansdowne MSS.
3 sir Thomas Lewis, apriest.
3 Here (according to fenn) foUows the account as stated more at large in
the subjoined Bill.

334 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1469.
much of the premysses I wote weie ; and I shall be
yours while I lyve, and at your comandement ; I have
grete myst of it, Gk)d knows, whom I beseche preserve
you from all adversite. I am sumwhat acqueyntid
with it Your verry man, W. Ebsham.
Folowyng apperith, parcelly, dyvers and soondry
maner of writyngs, which I William Ebesham have
wreetyn for my gode and woorshupfull maistir. Sir John
Paston, and what money I have resceyvid, and what
is unpaide. First, I did write to his mais
tership a litill booke of Pheesyk,
for which I had paide by Sir
Thomas Leevys^ in Westminster, xxd.
Item, I had for the wrytyng
of half the prevy seale of Pam
pyng  viij//.
Item, for the wrytynge of the
seid hole prevy seale of Sir
Thomas  ijs.
Item, I wrote viij. of the Wit-
nessis in parchement, but aftir
xiiij"*- a peece, for which I was
paide of Sir Thomas - - - . xs.
Item, while my seide maister was
over the see in Midsomerterme.
Calle sett me a warke to
wryte two tymes the prevy seale
in papir, and then after cleerely
in parchement ..... iiijj, yiijii
And also wrote the same tyme
oon mo of the lengist witnessis,
and other dyvers and necessaiy
wrytyngs, for which he promisid
me x^- whereof I had of Calle
but iiij^ viij"^ car. v^ iiij"^ . - vj. mjti.
-' Fenn's modem transcript reads Lewis. Is "Leevys'* in the otker •
misprint Ior " Lewys?"

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 335
I resceyvid of Sir Thomas at
Westminster, penultimo die Oct.,
anno viij.  iijj. iiij^.
Item, I did write to quairs of
papir of witnessis, every quair
conteynyng xiiij. leves after ij"*- a
leff  iiijf. viij//.
Item, as to the Grete Booke
— First, for wrytyng of the Coro
nacion, andothertretys of Knyght-
hode, in that quaire which
conteyneth a xiij. levis and more,
ij"^ a lef  ijj. 'ud.
Item, for the tretys of Werre
in iiij. books, which conteyneth
bc levis aftir ij<i- a leaff - - - xr.
Item, for Othea * pistill, which
conteyneth xliij. leves ... viif. ij//.
Item, for the Chalengs, and
the Acts of Armes which is
xxviij'i less  iiijj. viij//.
Item, for De Regimine Prin
cipum, which conteyneth xlv"
leves, aftir a peny a leef, which
is right weie worth - - - - iijj. ixd.
Item, for Rubrissheyng of all
the booke ----- - iiir. iiij//.
Summa rest' ---.-- xxijj. iiij//.
Summa non solut' - - - xljj. jd., unde
pro magno'libro scriptoxxvij.cum diu'chal.'' 
Summa Totalis  iij//. iijj. vd.

William Ebesham.

1 Othta means a treatise on Wisdom. — F. The name is derived from the
Greek '0 Sib., but was used in the Middle Ages as a proper name. See
a poem beginning "Othea of prudence named godessc,"
mentioned in the Third Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, p. i83.
2 tnaptc. "m'*"in Fenn.
3 So m Fenn. Qu. cutn diumali challengiorum f Fenn omits the whole
of this clause, »ff,^ .... f^/', but notices its occurrence in a footnote.

336 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1469.
_Xa further illustration of the payments made in that age for writing, &c..
Sir John Fenn gives the followmg extracts irom an origih quarto MS. then
in his possession, containing —
The various expences of Sir John Howard, Knight, of Stoke,
by Neyland, in Suffolk (afterwards Duke of Norfolk), page 136.
Item, the vijth yere of Kynge Edward tlie iiij*, and the xxviij.
day of July (1467). My master rekened with Thomas Lympnour
of Bury, and my master peid hym —
For viij. hole vynets . . . prise the vynett, xiid. , viij j.
Item, for xxj. demi vynets . . . prise the demi
vynett, iiij<t ..... vijj.
Item, for Psalmes lettres xv«. and di' . . . the
prise of C, iiij//. .....
Item, for p'ms letters bdijc . . . priseof a C,j/i
Item, for wrytynge of a quare and demi . . .
prise the quayr, ixd. ....
Item, for wrytenge of a calender.
Item, for iij. quayres of velym, prise the quayr, xxrf.
Item, for notynge of v. quayres and ij. leves, prise
of the quayr, viij[5.] ....
Item, for capital diawynge iijc and di', the prise.
Item, for floryshynge of capytallis, vc -
Item, for byndynge of the boke, . - . Cf. iyd.
The wyche parcellis my master paid hym this day, and he
is content
This is an account of a limner or illuminator of manuscripts, who resided
at Bury.

597.
A.D. 1469 (?) 7 Jan.
The Earl of Oxford to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
It will be seen by No. 591, that in October 1468, the Duchess of Sufiblk
had a design of suddenly entering the manor of Cotton and di.<70ssessing Sir
John Paston. This letter in whidi it is said she proposes to hold a court mere
was probably written in the beginning of the following year.
To the worshipfuU, and with alle myn hert right entierly
liilovyd Sirjohn Paston, Knyght, this lettre be delivered.

vs. V.

ij/f.
n]d.

ijj. vs.

v]d.
id]d.

iijj.

uja. yd.

xijj.

A.D. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 337
Th'Erle of Oxinford.
||IGHT hertly welbilov)-d, I grete you weie. And
where I am for trowth enformyd that the
Duchesse of Suffolk wolle hold a court on
Monday next commyng at Coton, to th'entent
that she wolle fynde the maner of Thempnals holde of
hir by knyghts service and they that ben possessioners
of the same shulde payle certeine of the Parke of
Weverston ; and by cause this is nat performyd nor
don, thoo that ben possessioners shall at the said court
be amersid. And it is agreed that Sir WiUiam Yelver
ton, Sir Thomas Hoo, shalle be at the said court and
wolle pay the amercyment, and to delyver the said
Duchesse possession of the said service and palyng,
and so by this meane to be come tenauntes to the said
Duchesse. And what wolle be faile more herof I kan
nat sey. Wherfor me thinkith it were welle don ye
were at the said court with your councell, and to do
therin as they wolle avise you. Also as ye come to
the said court take your wey by the said Duchesse to
th'entent that ye come to se hir welfare, &c. Do herin
as your councell wolle avyse you. I wolde ye dud welle.
And to my power I wolle help you. And our Lorde kepe
yow. Writyn at Tatyngston the vij. day of Januer.
E?idcrsedl Th'Erle off Oxenfford.
598.
A.D. 1469, 9 Jan. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
W. CoTiNG TO John Cook, draper ofNorwich, "and that he
deliver or send this bill to Richard Kalle in all goodly haste, for
the matter is of substance."
This day in the grey moming three men of my Lord of Nor
folk with long spears carried off three good horses from John
Poleyn, " one of your farmers at Tichewell," telling him to treat
vrith my Lord of Norfolk. Wishes to know what to do, " for
such an open wrong unremedied knew I never." Saturday
after Epiphany.
" Anno viijo " is written below.
II. Z

33^ tHE PASTON LETTERS, [a. n. 1469-
[The signature of this letter is -wriiLen in an abbreviated form,
" W. Cot." According to Blomefield, W. Cotyng was rector of
Titchwell firom 1450 to 1457, and he had been previously rector
of Swainsthorp, to which he was presented by Judge Paston in
1444. This letter is twelve years later than the date at which his
incumbency of Titchwell is said to have terminated ; but doubt
less he is the writer. He is referred to as living even in the year
1485, in a letter written by Dame Elizabeth Browne, who sajrs that
he and James Gresham were clerks to her father Judge Paston].
599.
A.D. 1469, 18 Jan.
Edward IV. to Sir John Paston.
This letter is reprinted from the Paston Genealogy in the Norfolk
Arckaoloey, to which we have already several times referred {See Nos. 417,
552, 554, Sc.) Edward IV. was at Salisbury in January 1469, one of his
privy seals being dated there on the x6th of the month.
To our trusty and welbeloved Sir John Paston, Knight.
By THE KiNGE.
JRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete yow well.
And how be it that we late addressed unto
yow our letters, and commanded yow by the
same, for the consideracions in them con
teined, to have ceased of makinge any assemblye of
our people for the matter of variance dependinge be
twixt yow on that one partie, and our right trustie and
right entirely beloved cosin the Duke of Norffolk on
that other, and to have appeared before the Lords of
our Councell at our Palleys of Westminster at a certeine
day in our said letters specified ; yett nevertheless we
understonde not as yet if ye have conformed yow to
the performinge of our said commandement or not.
We therefore eftsones write unto yow, willing and
straitly charging yow to cease of the said ryotts and
assemblies; and that incontinent upon the sight of
these our letters that ye dispose yow personally to
appear afore the said Lords of our Councell at our
said Pallis, there to answere to such thinges as in that
behalfe by them shall be laid and objected against

a. n. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 339
yow, not failinge hereof, all excuses laid aparte, as ye
will avoide our displeasure. Yeven under our signet
at our citye of Salesbury, the xviij. day of January.
600.
A.D. 1469, 17 March.
Sir John Paston to John Paston'.
[From Fenn, iv. 308.]
Sir Thomas Howes appears to have died in the latter part ofthe year X468.
Before the end of that year his living of Pulham was vacant, and his death is
alluded to in a letter of Margaret Paston's, wntten on the 30th September
X469, as having occurred " within this twelvemonth.'* It would appear by
the following extiactj quoted by Fenn, from the Institution Books of the Bishop
of Norwich, that Sur John's presentation referred to in this letter was not
allowed, or was not made out in time, and that the Bishop presented by a
lapse: — "Cantaria in Cayster-hall.
"Lib. xi. p. 170, 21 Mar. 1468. Mr. Joh'es Yetton, S.T.P. ad col. Ep'i.
per laps'.'*
To myght' wdl belovyd brother, John Paston, or to John
Dawbeney, in his absence.
jYGHT worschypful and well belovyd brother,
I comand me to yow, letyng yow wete that
Sir Thomas Howes hadde a free chapell at
Castr, wher ofthe gyfte longyth to me, whyche
chapell, as I understande, scholde be in the olde tyme,
er the place at Caster wer bylte, with in the motte,
wherfor I ame but the better pleased ; and soo it is
now that at the speciali request of the Qwen and
other especiall good Lordes of myn, I have gevyn it
to the berer her of, callyd Master John Yotton, a
chapleyn of the Qwenys. Neverthelle[ss] in tyme passyd
I proposyd that the master of the colegg scholde have
hadd it, and so er longe to I hope he schall, wherfor
I thynke he most take possession, and that is the
cawse of hys comyng. Wherfor I pray yow make hym
good cher. He is informyd that it scholde be worthe
Cf. be yer, whyche I belyve not ; I thynke it der jnow
xlr. by yeer. He most have it as it was hadde befor.
Item, thys daye I understonde that ther be comen

34° THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. D. 1469.
letteris from my moder and yow, and Dawbeney,
wherin I schall sendeyowanswerwhen I have seyn them.
No mor at this tyme, for within this iij. dayes I
shall lette yow have kneleche of other maters.
Wretyn the xviij. day of Marche.
Whether he nedyth indoccion, or institucion, or non,
I wot not ; if it nede, brother, ye may seale any suche
thynge as well as I. Master Stevyn kan tell all suche
thynges. John Paston, K-
601.
A.D. 1469, 3 April.
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 312.]
Allusion is made in this and the next letter to the expected visit of
Edward IV. to Norfolk in 1469. Owing to the proposed marriage of Sir
John Paston with his kin.swoman, Anne Haute, Lord Scales appears at this
time to have interested himself in Sir John's behalf. On the back of this
letter, Fenn tells us, is a note, but whether ina contemporaneous hand he does
not say : "The L. Scales is now frend to Sr. J. Paston."
To Sirjohn Paston.
GRETE you weie, and send you Godds
blissyng and myn, thankyng you for my seall
that ye sent me; but I am right sory that ye
dede so grete cost ther up on, for on of xld.
should have sen'ed me right weie. Send me ward
what it cost you, and I shall send you money therfor.
I send you a letter be a man of Yarmoth ; send me
word if ye have it, for I marveyll ye sent me non
answer ther of be Juddy.
I have non very knowleche of your ensuraunce[/'«^/z^/*-
jnent], but if ye be ensured I pray God send you j oy and
^vurchep to geder, and so I trost ye shull have, if it be as
it is reported ofher ; ^ and a nemps God, ye am as gretly
bownd to her as ye were maried, and therfor I charge
you up on my blissyng, that ye be as trew to her as she
wer maried on to you in all degrees, and ye shall have
the mor grace and the better spede in all other thyngs.
1 The lady here referred to is Anne Haute.

An. 1460.] EDWARD IV. 341
Also, I wuld that ye shuld not be to hasly to be
maried till ye wer more suer of your lyvelode, for ye
must remembr what charge ye shall have, and if ye
have not to mayntene it, it wull be gret rebuke ; and
therfor labour that ye may have releses of the londs,
and be in more suerte of your lond, or than ye be maried.
The Duchesse of Suffolk ^ is at Ewhelm, in Oxford
shir, and it is thought be your frends her that it is do
that she myght be ferr and ought of the wey, and the
rather feyne excuse be cause of age or sikenesse, and
if that the Kyng wuld send for her for your maters.
Your elmyse [enemies] be as bold her as thei wer befor,
wherfor I cannot thynk but that thei have sume comfort.
I sent to Cayster that thei shuld be war in kepyng of
the place, as ye dede wright to me. Hast you to spede
your maters as spedily ye can, that ye may have lesse
felesshep at Cayster, for the expences and costs be grete,
and ye have no nede therof and [if] ye remembre you
weie what charges ye have beside, and how your liffe
lode is dispoyled and wasted by your adversaries.
Also I wuld ye shuld purvey for your suster ^ to be
with my Lady of Oxford,' or with my Lady of Bedford,*
or in sume other wurchepfull place, wher as ye thynk
best, and I wull help to her fyndyng, for we be eyther
of us werye of other. I shall tell you more whan I
speke with you. I pray you do your devyr her in as
ye wull my comfort and welefar, and your wurchep, for
diverse causes which ye shall understand afterward, &c.
I spake with the Lord Skales at Norwich, and
thanked h-ym for the good lordshep that he had
shewed to you, and desired his Lordship to be your
contynuaU good lord ; and he swore be his trought he
wold do that he myght do for you ; and he told me that
Yelverton the Justice had spoke to hym in your maters,
1 Alice, widow of William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.
* This was most probably Margery Paston, with whom the whole family
were, very soon after the writing of this letter, so much displeased for having
without their consent contracled herself in m.arriage to Richard Calle. — K.
3 Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Howard. Knight, and widow of John
de Vere, Earl of Oxford, who was beheaded in 1461-2. — F.
* See page 335, Note 3.

342 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D. 1469.
but he told me not what ; but I trow, and ye desired
hym to telle you, he wulA Ye ar be holdyng to my
Lord of his good report of you in this contre, for he re
ported better of you than I trow ye deserve. I felt be
hym that ther hath be profered hym large proferes on
your adversaries parte ageyn you.
Send me word as hastly as ye may after the begyn
nyng of the terme, how ye have sped in all your maters,
for I shall thynk right long till I her sume good tidyngs.
Item, I pray you recomaund me to the good mayster^
that ye gaffe to the chapell of Cayster, and thank hym
for the gret cost that he dede on me at Norwych ; and
if I wer a grette lady he shuld understand that he shuld
far the better for me, for me semyth be his demenyng
he shuld be right a good man.
Item, I send you the nowche^ with the dyamaunch,
be the berer herof. I pray yow forgate not to send me
a kersche ' of Cr'melle for nekkerchys for your syster
Anne, for I am schente of the good lady that sche
is with, be cawse she hathe non, and I can non gette
in all thys towne.
I xuld wrythe mor to yow but for lakke of leyser.
God have yow in Hys kepyng, and send yow good spede
in alle your maters. Wryten in haste on Eestem
Munday. Be your Moder.
602.
A.D. 1469, 7 April.
John Paston to Sir John Pastoi;.
[From Fenn, iv. 318.]
For the date ofthis letter see preliminary note to the last.
1 Dr. John Yotton. See No. 600.
^^ An ouch is a collar of gold, formerly worn by women ; a gold button, set
with some jewel, is likewise .so called, and that most ptobably was the orna
ment here mentioned to be scut to Sir John by his mother ; we may suppose
it was intended as a present to his betrothed bride.— F.
» A kersche of Cr melle, perhaps means a kerchief of Cremell, crewel or
iiorsted, to be made into neck-handkerchiefs for her daughter Anue, who
appears to have been for educaiion and board with some lady of coB-
Ncquence. — F,

A.n. 1469.] EDWARD IV, 343
To Master Syr John Paston,
|YR, I pray yow recomand me to my Lord
Sealys good lordshep, and to let hym weet
that, in lyek wyse as hys Lordshep gave me
in comandement, I have enqweryd what the
gentyllmanys answer was that my Lord of Norffolk
sent to to awayte up on hym at the Kyngs comyng in
to thys contre. Hys answer was to my Lord of Norfolks
messenger, that he had promysyd my Lord Sealys to
awayte up on hym at the same seson, and in as myche
as he had promysyd my Lord Sealys, he wold not false
hys promesse for no man on lyve. I fond the menys
that the seyd gentylemanys wyfe mevyd hyr husbend
with the same mater as thow she had axyd hym of hyr
awne hed, and he told hyr that he had gevyn thys
answer. Thys gentylman is SirWilliam Calthorp;* but
I pray yow tell my Lord Sealys that ye undyrstand not
who it is, for he preyid me to be secret ther in.
I pray with all my hart, hye yow hom in hast, for we
thynk longe tyll ye coome. And I pray yow send me
woord whedyr ye shall be mad a Crysten man or ye
com home, or nowt ; and if so be that ye send eny man
hom hastely, I pray yow send me an hat and a bonet
by the same man, and let hym bryng the hat upon hys
hid for mysfacyonyng of it. I have ned to bothe, for I
may not ryd nor goo owt at the doorys with non that
I have, they be so lewde [shabby]. A murry bonet, and
a blak or a tawny hat. And God send yow your
desyr. Wretyn at Caster, the viij. day of Apryll.
Your J. Paston.
603.
A.D. 1469, 10 April.
Lord Scales to the Council of the Duke of
Norfolk.
[From Fenn, iv. 322.]
1 Sir William Calthorpe, Knight, had been High Sheriff of Norfolk and
Suffolk, both m this and the preceding reign, and died very old in 1494. His
second wife was Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of §ir Miles Stapleton,
Knii^ht, of Ingham. — P,

344 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
This u'ld the following letter were printed by Fenn from contemporaneous
copies, written on the same paper without signature or address. On^ the
back, however, was the following memorandum: — "Copea litSrz Dili de
Scales ad Concilia Due' Norff' et aliis {sic) in favore J. Paston mil. eo quod
m:..ritaret cognata suam Anna Hawte." The date is clearly in tlie year 1469,
w hen the Duke of Norfolk laid claim to Caister.
Ih's.
lYRSHYPFULL and my ryght gode frend, I
comaund me to you. And where as I am
enformed that my Lorde of Norffolk pre
tendeth title to serteyn londys of Sir John
Pastons whych were late of Sir John Fastolf, it is sayd
that by the comaundement and supportacyon of my
sayd Lord, sertayn hys servaunts felleth wode, maketh
grete wast, and destrayned the tenants ofthe seyd lands,
to the grete damage of the seyd Sir John Paston and
hys sayd tenants ; and also that my sayd Lord entendyth
to entre sertayn places of the same. And for asmoch as
maryage ys fully concluded by twyx the seyd Sir John
Paston and on of my nerrest kynneswomen, I dout not
that your reason weie conceyveth that nature must
compelle nie the rather to shewe my gode wylie,
assystens, and favour unto the seyd Sir John in such
thyngs as concerne hys enherytans. And because I am
on of my said Lordys councayll, and must and will
tendre hys honour, I hertely pray you that it may lyke
you to advertyse and avyse my sayd Lord and yourys,
that all such entres, fellyng of wode, destraynyngs of
tenants, and all such maters lyke touchjmg the sayd
londes or any part of them, be cessyd unto such tyme
as a resonabell meane may be founde by my sayd
Lords counsayll, my Lord my faders * and other cousyns
and frendes of my seyd kynneswoman thys next terme,
as may be to my sayd Lordys honour, and to the
savyng of the ryght tytle of the seyd Sir John Paston.
Over thys I pray you that ye wille enforme my gode
frend James Hobard of the premysses, that he may
advertyse my seyd Lord in lyke wyse ; and that ye will
1 Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers.

AD. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 345
yeve credens unto William Paston, and I shal be wel-
willed to do that may be to your plesur, with Godds
mercy. Fro Westmynstre, the x. day of AprylL

604.
A.D. 1469, 10 April.
Lord Scales to 

[From Fenn, iv. 324.]
See preliminary note to the last letter.
lYGHT trusty and welbelovyd, I grete you well.
And for asmoch as a maryage ys fully con
cluded bytwyx Sir John Paston and my ryght
nere kynneswoman Hawte, I will that ye and
all other my servaunts and tenants understand that my
Lord, my fader,^ and I must ofnature and reason shewe
unto hym our gode assystens and favour in such maters
as he shall have a doo. Wherfor I pray you hertely that
ye will take the labour to come to Norwych, to comen
vrith William Paston, and to yeve credens unto hym in
such maters as he shall enforme you of myne entent,
and of sertayn persones with whom ye shall comen by
th'avyse of the seyd William Paston, of such maters as
touch the sayd Sir John Paston ; pra)mg you to tendre
thys mater as ye wolde do myne owne.
Fro Westmynstre, the x. day of AprilL
605.
A.D. 1469, 5 May. — Abstract.
[Add. Charter, 18,249, B.M.]
CitationbyThomas,Cardinal Archbishop of Cant erbuiy, to Wil
liam [Waynflete], Bishop of Winchester, and John Beauchamp,
Knight, XA)rd Beauchamp, to appear before the Archbishop in
I See page 344, Note i.

346 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
fifteen days after being summoned, and take upon them the charge
of the execution of Sir John Fastolf's will, if they so will to do.
Lambeth, 5th May 1469, in the 15th year of the Archbishop's
translation. [The MS. belongs to the Castle Combe collection.]

606.
A.D. 1469 (?) 7 May.
Archbishop Nevill to Sir John Pastok.
[From Fenn, ii. 34.]
This letter was almost certainly written between the years 1467 and T469,
and is not unlikely to be of the latter year, before the Nevills and the Arch
blshop had come to be regarded as open enemies of Edward IV.
To my rigllt trusty and welbeloved Sir Jolm Paston.
Ih's.

IlGHT trusty and welbeloved, I grete you
hertely well, and sende you by Thomas
your childe xx.'"-, prayng you to spare me as
for eny more at this tyme, and to hold you
content with thessame, as my singlr truste is in you ;
and I shalle within bref tyme ordeigne and purveye
for you such as shalbe unto your pleasir, with the grace
of Almightty God, who have you in His proteccion and
keping. Writen in the manoir of the Mor^ the vij'"* daye of
Maye. G. Eborac.
607.
A.D. 1469, [May].
John Paston to Sir John Paston,
[From Fenn, iv. 344.]
¦.,?'• '*•"," "PP"" ty the contents to have been written a little before
Whitsuntide after the death of Sir Thomas Howes, and when the Duke of
1 The Moor in Hertfordshire, a seat ofthe Archbishops of York,

AD. 1469.] EDWARD TV. 347
Norfolk was preparing to make good a claim to the manor of Caister, which,
as we shall see, ne regularly besieged and took in September 1469. The
date is therefore certain.
|YR, plesyth it to undyrstand, that I conceyve,
by your lettyr whyche that ye sent me by
Jwde, that ye have herd of R. C.^ labor
whyche he makyth by our ungracyous
sustyrs * assent ; but wher as they wryet that they have
my good wyll ther in, savyng your reverence, they
falsly lye of it, for they never spake to me of that
mater, ner non othyr body in ther name. Lovell axyd
me onys a qwestyon whedyr that I undyrstood how it
was betwyx R. C. and my suster. I can thynk
that it was by Callys menys, for when I axyd hym
whedyr C. desyird hym to meve me that qwestyon
or not, he wold have gotyn it aweye by humys and by
hays, but I wold not so be answeryd ; wherfor at the
lest he told me that hys oldest sone desyird hym to
spere [inquire] whedyr that R. C. wes swyr of hyr or
nowt, for he seyd that he knew a good maryage for hyr,
but I wot he lyeyd, for he is hole with R. Cale
in that mater. Wherfor to the entent that he nor they
sholl pyck no comfort of me, I answerd hym, that and
my fadyr, whom God asoyle, wer a lyve, and had con
sentyd ther to, and my modyr, and ye bothe, he shold
never have my good wyll for to make my sustyr to selle
kandyll and mustard in Framlyngham ; and thus, wythe
mor whyche wer to longe to wryet to you, we
departyd. And wher as it plesythe you in your lettyr to crye
me mercy for that ye sent me not syche ger as I sent
yow mony for, I crye yow mercy that I was so lewde
[bold] to encomber yow with eny so sympyll a mater,
consyderyng the grette maters and weyghty that ye
have to doo; but need compellyd me, for in thys
contre is no syche stuffe as I sent to yow for.
Also, wher as it plesyth yow to send to Rychard
Calle to delyver me monye, so God help me, I wyll
1 Richard Calle's. ^ Margery Piston.

348 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. d. 1469.
non axe hym for my sylfe, nor non had I of hym, nor of
non othyr man but of myne owne, syne ye depeityd ;
but that lytyll that I myght forbere of myne owne, I
have delyveryd to Dawbeney for howsold, and pay it
for yow in menys wagys ; and ther for who ever sendys
yow word that I have spent yow eny mony syne ye
went hens, they must geve yow an othyr reknyng,
sa\'yng in met and drynk, for I eete lyek an horse, of
purpose to eete yow o\vte at the dorys. But that nedythe
not, for ye com not within them ; wherfor, so God help
me, the felaushep her thynkys that ye have forgetyn us
alle. Wherfor and eny thyng be ille rewlyd when ye
come home, wyet it [impute it to] your selfe for defawt
ol oversyght
Also, I undyrstand for verry se[r]teyn, and it is sent me
so woord owt of my Lordys howse, that thys Pentcost is
my Lordys conseil at Framlyngham, and they purpose
thys week and the next to hold coortys her at Caster,
and at all othyr maners that wer Sir John F.,^ and
purchasyd of Yelverton and of Syr T. H.,^ whom
God asoyle, and how that my demenyng sholbe,
it is to late to send to yow for avyse ; wherfor, and I
do well I axe no thank, and if I do ille, I pray yow
leythe the defawt on over lytyll wyte, but I purpose to
use the fyrst poynt of hawkyng, to hold fast and I maye ;
but so God help me, and they myght pulle downe the
howse on our hedys, I wyet [blame] hem not, whyche I
trust to God to help hem from ; for by God that bowght
me, the best Erie in Inglond wold not dele so with my
Lord and my Lady as ye do, withowt makyng of some
menys to them ; so God help me, whoso ever avyse yow
to do so, he is not your frend. And I may, I trust to
God to se yow abowght Mydsomer or befor, for in good
feythe I wene ye purpose yow that it shall be Estem
er ye come hom, for all your servants her wen [liere
ween] that ye purpose ne more to dele with them, but
to leve hem her [here] in ostage to my Lord of Norfolk.
Also, syr, I pray yow purvey what Ine that my
1 Fastolfs. •- Sjr Thomas Howes.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 349
brodyr Edmund shall be in, for he losythe sore hys
tyme her, I promyse yow ; I pray yow send me word by
the next messenger that comyth, and I shall eythyr
send hym or bryng hym up with me to Londoa
Also, syr, we pore sanz deners of Castr have brook
iij. or iiij. stelle bowys ; wherfor we beseche yow, and
ther be eny maker of Steele bowys in London whyche
is very kunnyng, that ye wyll send me woord, and I shall
send yow the bowys that be broken, whyche be your
owne greet bowe, and Roberd Jacksonys bowe, and
Johon Pampyngs bowe ; thes iij. have kast so many
calvys, that they shall never cast qwarellys^ tyll they be
new mad.
I praye yow fynd the menys that my Lord have some
resonable meane profyrd, so that he and my Lady may
undyrstand that ye desyr to have hys good lordshep.
I promyse yow it shall do yow ease and your tenaunts
bothe, and God preserve. J. P.
608.
A.D. 1469, 22 May. — ^Abstract.
Richard Calle to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
I would have been with you on Sunday before Ascension Day,
nad I received any command to that effect. Henry Wheler told
me my day of the surety of peace was quindena Trinitatis, " and
thereof he made me a bill. He is foully to blame to serve me
so." I am much bound to you, nevertheless, for the safeguard
of my sureties. Gives an account of monies disbursed since
partingwithSir John at London. Repaid " my mistress " 66j. 8</.,
part of lOOs. she lent for Mariot s matter. Paid Dawbeney
for household since Midlent, 30?. Received from the fanner of
the dairy, £1 1, I Is. 4//. Delivered " to the master of the college
onward for his hire," 5ar. Has received of Paston's "lifelode"
since he came from London but ;^l8, los. Has spent ;^I2,
IOf. more than he received, and has borrowed of John Wellys
and others. Could borrow nothing of Mr. William. " And of
all this twelvemonth I have not had one penny for my wages.
There is none of them that hath purveyed nor chevised have so
1 See VoL L, page Sz, Note 4.

350 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
much as I have done. Here is no man paid of their wages, bnt
all spent in household." Cannot get a penny in all Suffolk or
Fle^e, of Paston's " lifelode," nor in Boyton nor Heynefortl.
Can get money only at Gughton, which I must gather myself,
for the bailiff will not come there. Much malt made, which had
better be sold to pay the men's wages, who complain grievously,
" and the master ofthe college and Sir John Stille bom." AVill
obtain for Dawbeney in ten days 6 or 7 marks more, which
should keep the houseJiold for the next seven or eight weeks.
The price of malt is but 2orf. a quarter, but it would be better to
sell some than that the men should be unpaid. Wonders he has
no word fi'om him about letting Spoorle. Cannot give Mariot
an (^tate in Bekham as Paston directs, for Paston has the deed
which James Andrewes sealed, but wUl talk with him and see
how he is disposed; for it would be well that Paston were
through with him. He is not trusty, but seeks pretexts for delay.
Jekson's crossbow is broken. Shall he send it to London to be
mended? Caster, Monday in Pentecost week.
rrhe mention of Jekson*s crossbow being broken proves this letter to 1>e cf
the year 1469. Compare last letter.]

609.
A.D. 1469.
Richard Calle to Margery Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 350.]
This letter was evidently written about the same period as No. 607. The
original appears to have had no addre-ss, although Fenn prints one in the
nght hand copy ; but on the back was the following memorandum, evitlently
not quite contemporary, '¦ Litera Ric'i Calle Margerise Paston filix Joh'is
Faston ar'i quam postea duxit in uxorem."
|YN owne lady and mastres, and be for God
very trewe wyff, I with herte full sorowefuU
recomaunde me unto you, as he that can not
be mery, nor nought shalbe tyll it be othe-
wise with us then it is yet, for thys lyf that we lede
nough is nowther plesur to Godde nor to the woride,
consederyng the gret bonde of matrymonye that is made
be twix us, and also the greete love that hath be, and
as I truste yet is be twix us, and as on my parte never
gretter; wherfor I beseche Almyghty Godde comfort
us as sone as it plesyth Hym, for we diat ought of very

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 3SI
ryght to be moost to gether armoostasondre; mesemyth
it is a m"- [tliousand] yere a goo son that I speke withyou.
I had lever thenne all the goode in the worlde I myght
be with you. Alas, alas ! goode lady, full litell remembre
they what they doo that kepe us thus asunder ; iiij.
tymes in the yere ar they a cursid that lette matry
monye; it causith many men to deme in hem they
have large consyence in other maters as weie as herin.
But what lady suffre as ye have do ; and make you as
mery as ye can, for I wys, lady, at the longe wey
Godde woll of Hys ryght wysnes helpe Hys servants that
meane truly, and wolde leve accordyng to Hes lawys, &c.
I undrestende, lady, ye have hadde asmoche sorwe
for me as any gentelwoman hath hadde in the worlde,
aswolde Godd all that sorwe that ye have hadde had
rested upon me, so that ye hadde be discharged of it,
for I wis, lady, it is to me a deethe to her that ye be
entreted other wise thene ye ought to be. This is a
peyneful lyfe that we lede. 1 can not leve thuswithoute
it be a gret displesure to Godde.
Also like you to wete that I had sent you a letter be
my ladde from London, and he tolde me he myght not
speeke with you, ther was made so gret awayte upon
hym and upon you boothe. He told me John Threscher
come to hym in your name, and seide that ye sent hym
to my ladde for a letter or a token, weche I shulde have
sent you, but he truste hym not ; he wold not delyver
hym noon. After that he brought hym a rynge, seyng
that ye sent it hym, comaundyng hym that he schulde
delyver the letter or token to hym, weche I conceyve
sethen be my ladde it was not be your sendyng, it was
be my mastres and Sir Jamys * a vys. Alas, what meane
they? I suppose they deeme we be not ensuryd to
gether, and if they so doo I merveyU, for thene they ar
not weie avised, remembryng the pleynes that I breke
to my mastres at the begynnyng, and I suppose be you
bothe, and ye dede as ye ought to do of very ryght; and
if ye have do the contrare, as I have be enformed ye
1 Sir James Cloys, a priest

352 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a-D. 1469.
have do, ye dede nouther concyensly nor to the plesure
of Godde, withoute ye dede it for feere, and for the
tyme to please suche as were at that t3Tiie a boute you ;
and if ye so dede it for this service it was a resonable
cause, consederyng the grete and importable callyng
upon that ye hadde, and many an on trewe tale was made
to you of me, weche God knowt I was never gylty of.
My ladde tolde me that my mastres your modre axyd
hym if he hadde brought any letter to you, and many
other thyngs she bare hym on hande,^ and a monge all
other at the last she seide to hym that I wolde not
make her prevy to the beg)ainyng, but she supposyd I
wolde at the endyng ; and as to that, God knowt sche
knewe furst of me and non other. I wott not what her
mastreschip meneth, for be my trowthe ther is no
gentylwoman on lyve that my herte tendreth more then
it dothe her, nor is lother to displese, sa-vyng only your
person, weche of very ryght I ought to tendre and love
beste, for I am bounde therto be the lawe of Godde,
and so wol do whyle that I leve, what so ever faile of
it. I supose, and ye telle hem sadly the trouthe, they
wold not dampne ther soules for us ; though I telle hem
the trouthe they woll not be leve me as weele as they
woll do you ; and ther for, goode lady, at the reverence
of Godde be pleyne to hem and telle the trouthe, and
if they woll in no wise agree therto, betwix God, the
Deelf, and them be it, and that perell that we schuld
be in, I beseche Godde it may lye upon them and not
uponus. I am hevy and sory to remembre ther dis
posicion, God sende them grace to gyde all thyngs
weele, as weie I wolde they dede ; Godde be ther gide,
and sende them peas and reste, &c.
I mervell moche that they schulde take this mater so
heedely as I undrestonde they doo, remembryng it is
in suche case as it can not be remedyed, and my desert
upon every be halfe it is for to be thought ther shulde
be non obstacle a yenst it ; and also the worchipfull
tliat is in them, is not in your mariage, it is in ther
1 See Vol. I., page 90, Note i.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 353
owne mariage, weche I beseche Godde sende hem
suche as may be to ther worschip and plesur to Godde,
and to ther herts ease, for ell[es] were it gret pety.
Mastres, I am aferde to write to you, for I undrestonde
ye have schewyd my letters that I have sent you be for
this tyme ; but I prey you lete no creatur se thig letter.
As sone as ye have redde it lete it be brent, for I wolde
no man schulde se it in no wise ; ye had no wrytyng
from me this ij. yere, nor I wolle not sende you no mor,
therfor I remytte all this matre to your vsysdom.
Almyghty Jesu preserve, kepe, and [give] you your
hertys desire, weche I wotte weele schulde be to
Goods plesur, &c.
Thys letter was wreten with as greete peyne as ever
wrote I thynge in my lyfe, for in goode feyth I have
be ryght seke, and yet am not veryly weele at eas^
God amend it, &c.
610.
A.D. 1469, 22 May.
James Hawte to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 16.]
The King's visit to Norfolk and the creation of Lord Stafford as Earl of
Devonshire both fix the date of this letter as 1469. The writer seems to be
the brother of Anne Hawte, to whora Sir John Paston was engaged, and he
accordingly calls him his brother.
To my worchypfull brother. Sir John Paston, be thys
byll delyvered in hast.
|YGTH worchipfull brother, I recomaund me
onto you, lettyng you to wytte, that my
Lorde Stafford ^ was made Erie of Devene-
schere apon Sonday ; and as for the Kyng,
as I understond, he departyt [departeth] to Walsyng-
1 Humphrey Stafford, Lord Stafford of Southwick, was created Earl of
Devonshire on Sunday, yth May 1469 ; so that the writer ought to have said,
not "upon Sunday," but " upon Sunday fortnight"
IL 2 A

354 THE PASTON LETTERS, (a.^. 1469.
game apon Fryday com vij. nygth, and the Quene also,
yf God send hyr good hele.
And as for the Kyng [he] was apoyntyd to goo to
Calys, and now hyt ys pute of. And also as for the
goyng to the see, my Lord of Warwyke schyppys gothe
to the see, as I understond. None other tydynggys
I can none wtyte unto you, but Jesu have you in Hys
kepyng. Wretyn at Wyndysore on Monday after Whytsonday,
in hast, &c. By your brother,
James Hawte.

611.
A.D. 1469, June.
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 22.]
This letter must have been written in the begitming of June T469. Edward
IV., as appears by the dates of his privy seals, was at Windsor on the 29th
May and at Norwich on the 19th June in that year. Fenn says he was also
in Norfolk in the year 1474, but I can find no evidence ofthe fact
To my Modr, and to my brother, John Paston.

ROTHER, it is so that the Kyng schall come
in to Norffolk in hast, and I wot nat whethyT
that I may come with hym or nowt; if I
come I most do make a livere of xx'' gownes,
whyche I most pyke owt by your advyse ; and as for
clothe for suche persones as be in that contre, if it
myght be had ther at Norwyche, or not, I wot not ;
and what persones I am not remembtyd.
If my modre be at Caster, as ther schall be no dowt
for the kepyng of the place whyl the Kynge is in that
contre, that I may have the most parte at Caster ; and
whether ye woll offre your selfe to wayte uppon the
Lorde of Norfolk or not, I wolde ye dyde that best
wer to do ; I wolde do my Lorde plesur and servyse,

AD. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 355
and so I wolde ye dyde, if 1 wyst to be sur of hys
gode_ lordeschyp in tyme to kome. He schall have
CC. in a lyvetye blewe and tawny, and blew on the
leffte syde, and bothe darke colors.
I pray yow sende me worde, and your advyse by
Judd of what men and what horse I cowde be pur
veyd off, if so be that I most nedys kome, and of your
advyse in all thyngs be wryghtyng, and I schall send
yow hastely other tydyngs. Late Sorell be well kept
John Paston, Kt

612.
A.D. 1469, June.
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 334.]
Edward IV. arrived at Norwich in the middle of the month of June r469.
There are privy seals dated at Bury on the rsth and r6th of the month, at
Norwich on the r9th and 2ist, at Wal.singham on the aist and 22d, at Lynn
on tlie 26th, and at Stamford on the ^th j uly. Edward did not retum with
tbe Queen as he intended, but she visited Norwich without him a little later.
See a paper on the subject of her visit by Mr. Harrod, in the Norfotk Arc/ue-
oloffy, vol. v., p. 32.
TO begyn, God yeld yow for my hatys. The
Kyng hathe ben in this contre, and worchep
fuUy receyvyd in to Norwyche, and had tyght
good cher and gret gyftys in thys contre,
wherwythe he holdyth hym so well content that he wyll
hastyly be her agayn, and the Qwen allso, with whom,
by my power avyse, ye shall com, if so be that the terme
be do by that tym that she com in to this contre. And
as for yowr maters her, so God help me, I have don as
myche as in me was, in labotyng of theym, as well to my
Lord Revers ^ as to my Lord Sealys,^ Syr John Wyd-
wyll,* Thomas Wyngfeld, and othyr abowt the Kyng.
1 Richard Woodv'Jle, Earl Rivers, father to the Queen, Lord Treasure!
and Constable of England.
2 Anthony WoodvUle, Lord Scah's, eldest son of the Earl Rivers.
> A younger son of Earl Rivers.

3S<5 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1469-
And as for the Lord Revers, he seyd to mjm oncyll
WiUiam, Fayrfax, and me, that he shold meve the Kyng
to spek to the two Dukys of Norffolk and Suffolk, that
they sliold leve of ther tytyls of syche lond as wer Syr
John Fastolfs. And if so be that they wold do nowt at
the Kyngs reqwest, that then the Kyng shold comand
theym to do no wasts, nor mak non assawtys nor frayis
upon your tenants nor plasys, tyll syche tym as the
lawe hathe determynd with yow or ayenst yow ; this
was seyd by hym the sam day in the momyng that he
depertyd at noon. Whedyr he meved the Kyng with it
or nowt I can not sey, myn oncyll Wyllyam thynkys
naye. And the same aftyr none folowyng I told my
Lord Sealys that I had spokyn with my Lord hys fadyr,
in lyek forme as I have rehersyd, and axyd hym whedyr
that my Lord hys fadyr had spokyn to the Kyng or
nowt, and he gave me thys answer, that whedyr he had
spokyn to the Kyng or nowt, that the mater shold do
well inow.
Thomas Wygfeld told me, and swore on to me, that
when Brandon meuvyd the Kyng, and besowght hym
to shew my Lord favour in hys maters ayenst yow, that
the Kyng seyd on to hym ayen, " Brandon, thow thou
can begyU the Dwk of Norffolk, and bryng hjmi abow
the thombe as thow lyst, I let the wet thow shalt not
do me so ; for I undyrstand thy fals delyng well inow."
And he seyd on to hym, more over, that if my Lord of
Norffolk left not of hys hold of that mater, that Brandon
shold repent itt, evety vayn in hys hert, for he told hym
that he knew well inow that he myght reauyll [rule] my
Lord of Norffolk as he wold ; and if my Lord dyd eny
thyng that wer contraty to hys lawys, the Kyng told
hym he knew well inow that it was by no bodys menys
but by hys ; and thus he depertyd fro the Kyng.
Item, as by wordys, the Lord Sealys and Syr John
WydwyU tok tendyr your maters mor then the Lord
Revers. Item, Syr John Wydvyll told me, when he was on
horsbak at the Kyngs depertyng, that the Kyng had

A.D. 1469] E D WA RD IV. 357
comandyd Brandon of purpose to tyd forthe fro Nor
wych to Lyne, for to tak a conclusyon in your mater
for yow ; and he bad me that I shold cast no dowghtys
but that ye shold have your entent, and so dyd the
Lord Sealys also ; and when that I preyd them at eny
tjrme to shew ther favor to your mater, they answered
that it was ther mater as well as yours, consydetyng
the alyans ^ betwyx yow. Comon with Jakys Hawt,
and he shall tell yow what langage was spekyn betwen
the Duk of Suffolks conseil, and hym, and me ; it is
to long to Wtyght, but I promyse yow ye ar be held
to Jakys, for he spatyd not to spek.
Item, the Kjoig rod thorow Heylysdon Waren towads
Walsyngham, and Thomas Wyngfeld promysyd me that
he wold fynd the menys that my Lord of Glowsestyr ^
and hym sylf bothe shold shew the Kyng the loge
that was breke down, and also that they wold tell hym
of the brekyng down of the plase. Contraty to thys
maters, and all the comfort that I had of my Lord
Sealys, Sir John Wydvyll, and Thomas Wyngfeld, myn
•oncyll WyUiam sethe that the Kyng told hym hys
owne mowthe, when he had redyn for by the loge in
Heylysdon Waren, that he supposyd as well that it
myght fall downe by the self as be plukyd downe, for
if it had be plukyd down, he seyd that we myght have
put in our byllys of it, wehn hys jugys sat on the oyeer
determyner in Norwyche, he beyng ther. And then
myn oncyll seythe how that he answered the Kyng,
that ye trustyd to hys good grace that he shold set yow
thorow with both the Dwkys, by mene of trete ; and
he seythe that the Kyng answerd hym that he wold
neythyr tret nor spek for yow, but for to let the lawe
proced, and so he seyth that they depertyd. And by
my trowthe, and my Lord Tresorer encorage you not
more than he dyd us her, ye shall have but esy [in
different] help as on that party. Wherfor labor your
1 This refers to the contract betweea Sir John Paston and Anne Hawte.
— F.
S Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard III. — F.

3S8 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1469.
maters effectually ; for by my trowthe it is nedy[s], for,
for aU ther wordys of plesur, I cannot undyrstand what
ther labor in thys contre hathe don good ; wherfor be
not ovyr swyft tyll ye be swyr of your lond, but labor
sore the lawe, for by my trowthe tyll that be passyd
with yow, ye get but esy help as I can undyrstand.
I had with me on day at dener in my modyrs plase,
she beyng owt, the Lord Sealys, Sir John WydvyU, Sir
John Haward, Nicolas Haward, John of Par, Thomas
Garnet, Festux Cheyny, Trussell, the Knyghts son,
Thomas Boleyn, quapropter, Brampton, Barnard, and
Brom, Perse, Howse, W. Tonstale, Lewes Debretayll,
and othyr, and mad hem good cher, so as they held
them content
Item, my Lord of Norffolk gave Bernard, Broom,
nor me no gownys at thys seson, wherfor I awajrtyd
not on hym ; notwithstandyng I ofyrd my servyse for
that seson to my Lady, but it was refusyd, I wot by
avyse ; wherfor I purpose no more to do so. As for
Bernard, Bamey, Broom, and W. Calthorp, ar swom
my Lord of Glowsetyrs men, but I stand yet at large ;
not withstandyng my Lord Sealys spok to me to be
with the Kyng, but I mad no promes so to be, for I
told hym that I was not woorthe a groote withowt yow,
and therfor I wold mak no promes to nobody tyll
they had your good wyU fyrst ; and so we depertyd.
It was told me that ther was owt a preve seall for
yow to attend upon the Kyng northeward ; and if it be
so, I thynk vetyly it is do to have yow fro London be
craft, that ye shold not labor your maters to a con
clusyon thys terme, but put them [in] delaye. I pray yow
purvey yow on it to be at hom as sone as the terme is
doone, for be God I take gret hurt for myn absence in
dyvers plasys, and the most part of your men at Caster
wyU deperte withowt abod, and ye be not at hom
within thys fortnyght I pray yow btyng hom poynts
and lasys of sylk for yow and me. J. P.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 359
613.
A.D. 1469, 3 July. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Richard Calle to Sir John Paston.
Has arranged with Mariot's debtors at Bekham, and discharged
him of the debt of £id. Has thus taken an open estate in the
manor, as Paston desired. Had much trouble to bring Mariot,
and especially his wife, [to reason], but with fair words and
money got her out of the house. Lord Scales has sent to-day to
Mr Roos and others for men to come to Middleton on Wednes
day, — short warning enough; and we were in doubt "what
purveyance ye had made at London." I believe my mistress
and my master your brother have sent you word of the demean
ing of the King and the Lords here.
Norwich, Monday after St Peter's day.
[The reference to the King's being in Norfolk fixes th date of
this letter to the year 1469]. 614.
A.D. 1469, 9 July.
John Aubry^ to Sir Henry Spelman.
[From Fenn, ii. 18.]
To the right revermt Sir Henry Spelman, Recordor oj
the Cite of Norwich, be this Letter delivered.
jIGHT reverent sir, I recomaunde me to you.
Plese it you to knowe, this same day com to
me the Shirreve of Norffolk^ hymself, and
tolde me that the Quene shall be at Norwich
up on Tuysday^ cometh sevenyght suyrly. And I
desired to have knowe of hym, by cause this shuld be
hir first comyng hedir, how we shuld be rulyd, as well
in hir resseyvyng, as in hir abidyng here. And he
seide, he wold nat ocupie hym ther wyth, but he
1 Mayor of Norwich in 1469.
* Roger Ree was Sheriff of Norfolk this year. " July i8th-

360 THE PASTON LETTERS. [.\.d. 1469.
councelid us to wtyte to you to London, to knowe of
hem that ben of counsell of that cite, or wyth other
wurshepfuU men of the same cite, that ben knowyng
in that behalf, and we lo be ruled ther aftir, as were
acordyng for us ; for he lete me to wete that she woll
desire to ben resseyved and attendid as wurshepfuUy
as evir was Quene a fom hir. Wherefore, sir, I, be
the assent of my Bretheren Aldermen, &c., prey you
hertily to have this labour for this cite. And that it
plese you, if it may be, that at that day ye be here in
propre persone; and I trust in God, that outher in
rewards, or ellys in thankynges, both of the Kyngs
comyng, and in this, ye shall ben plesid as worthy is.
Wrete in hast at Norwich the vj. day of Juyll Anno
ixo Regis E. q-aarti. By your weelwyller,
John Aubry, &a
615.
A.D. 1469, 9 July.
Edward IV. to the Duke of Clarence, &C.
[From Fenn, ii. 40.]
The dates of Edward the Fourth's privy seals show that he was at Notting
ham in July 1469. He was not there in i4;^o, the year to which Fenn assigns
these letters ; and both Clarence and Warwick were then in France. It would
appear, therefore.^ that these letters were written at the time of Robin of
Redesdale's rebellion, which the King was going Northwards to suppress.
Hiese iif. letteres undirwreten, the Kyng of his own hand
wrote unto my fjjrds Clarence, Warrewyke, and
Archbishop of York. The credence wherof in sub
staunce was, that every of them shulde in suech pesibil
wise, as tliei have be accustttmed to ryde, come unto
his flighness,
R. E. To our Brother of Clarence,
RODIR, we pray you to yeve feight [faith]
and credence to our welbeloved Sir Thoinas
Mongomery and Morice Berkley, in tliat on

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 361
our behalf thei shal declare to you. And we traste
ye wole dispose you accordyng to our pleser and
comaundement And ye shal be to us right welcome.
At Notyngham the ix. day of Jull.
To our Cosyn Tli erl of Wari'.
OSYN, we grete you weU, and pray you to yeve
feight and credence to Sir Thomas Mon-
gomety and Morice Berkley, &c. And we
ne trust that ye shulde be of any suech
disposicion towards us, as the mmour here renneth,
consedetyng the trast and affeccion we bere in yow.
At Notyngham the ix. day of JulL And, cosyn, ne
tliynk but ye shalbe to us welcome.
To our Cosyn Th' archbyshop of Yorke.
lOSYN, we pray you that ye wul, accordyng to
the promyse ye made us, to come to us as
sone as ye goodely may. And that [ye] yeve
credence to Sir Thomas Mongomety and
Morice Berkley, in that un our behalve thei shal sey to
you ; and ye shalbe to us welcome. At Notyngham
the ix. day of Jul. 616.
A.D. 1469, 31 Aug.
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 366.]
This letter was written after the Duke of Norfolk had begun to besie*
Caister, which he did in the year 1469.
To Sir John Paston, be ihis delivered in hast.
GRETE you weie, and send you Godds
blyssyng and myn, letyng you wete that Sir
John Hevenyngham was at Norwich this day.

362 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1469,
and spake with me at my moders, but he wuld not that
it shuld be understand, for my Lord hath mad hym on
of the capteynes at Caystre of the pepill that shuld
kepe the wetche abaught the place, that no mann shuld
socour them, if my Lord departed. I desired hym to
favour them, if any man shuld come to them fro me or
you, and he wuld not graunte it, but he desired me to
write to you to understand if that my Lord myght be
mevyd to fynde suerte to recompense you all wrongs,
and ye wuld suffre hym to entre pesibilly, and the lawe
after his entre wuld deme it you. Be ye avysed what
answer ye wuld yeve.
Item, sith that that I spake with hym, and the same
day a feythfull frende of owrs came on to me and
mevyd me if that my Lord myght be entreted to suffre
endifferent men to kepe the place, and take the profites
for bothe parties till the right be determyned be the
lawe ; and my Lord for his parte, and ye for your parte,
to fynde suflScient suerte that you nowther shuld vex,
lette, ner trobiUed the seid endifferent men to kepe
pesibiley the possession of the seid place, and to take
the profights on to the tyme to be determyned be the
lawe, to his behowe that the lawe demeth it And the
seid persones that so endifferently kepe possession
befor ther entre into the seid place, to fynde also
sufficient suerte to answer the parte that the lawe
demeth it to, of the profits duryng ther possession, and
to suffre hym pessibilly to entre, or any in his name,
whan so ever thei be required be the parte to whom
the right is demyd of all thes premyses. Send werd
how ye will be demened be as good advyse as ye can
gete, and make no longer delay, for thei must neds have
hasty socour that be in the place, for thei be sore hurt,
and have non help. And if thei have hasty help it
shall be the grettest wurchip that ever ye had, and if
thei be not holpen it shall be to you a gret diswurchep;
and loke never to have favour of your neybors and
frends but if this spede weie; therfor pretend it in
your mend, and purvey therfor in hast How so ever ye

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV, 363
do, God kepe you, and send yow the vittoty of your
elmyse, and geve yow and us al grace to leve in peas.
Wretyn on Sent Gyles Evyn,i at ix. of the belle at
nyght Robyn came home yester evyn, and he brought me
nowther writyng from you, ner good answer of this
mater, which grevyth me right ill that I have sent you
so many messangers, and have so febiU answers ageyn.
Be your Moder.
617.
A.D. 1469.
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 358.]
This letter has reference to the contract of marriage between Richard
Calle and Margery Paston in 1469. See No. 607, precedine. The last para
graph seems to have reference to the propositions mentionea in the preceding
letter. GRETE zow wel, and send zow Godds
blyssyng and myn, letyng zow wete that on
Thutysday last was my moder and I wer
with my Lord of Norwych,^ and desyerd hym
that he woold no mor do in the mater towscheyng
zowr syster, tyl that ze and my brother and other that
wem executors to zowr fader mythe beyn her to geder,
for they had the mle of her as weel as I ; and he sayde
playnly that he had be requetyd so oftyn for to
exameyn her, that he mythe not nor woold no longar
delay yt, and schargyd me, in peyn of cursyng, that sche
schuld not be deferred, but that she xuld a per beforn
hym the nexte day ; and I sayd pleynly that I woold
nowder btyng her nor send her ; and than he sayd that
he woold send for her hym sylfe, and schargyd that
she schuld be at her lyberte to cume wan he sent for
her ; and he seyd be hys trowthe that he woold be as
sory for her and [if] sche ded not weUe, as he wold be
1 St Giles' Day is the ist September ; St. Giles' Eve the 31st August.
» Walter Lyhert,

364 T?IE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1469.
and sche wer tyth ner of hys kyn, bothe for my moder ys
sake and myn, and other of her frendds, for he woost
welle that her demenyng had stekyd soor at our harts.
My moder and I in formyd hym that we kowd never
onderstond be her sayyng, be no language that ever
sche had to hym, that neyther of hem wer bownd to
other, but that they myth schese bothe. Than he seyd
that he woold sey to her as weie as he kowde, before
that he exameynd her ; and so that was told me be
dyverse persones that he ded as weUe and as pleynly
as sche had be tythe ner to hym, wych wer to long to
wtythe at thys tyme : her aftyr ye xalle wete, and hoo
wer laberers ther in. The schanseler^ was not so gylty
her in as I wend he had ben.
On Ftyday the Bysschope he sent for her be Assche-
feld and other that am tyth soty of her demenyng.
And the Bysschop seyd to her tyth pleynly, and put
her in rememberawns how she was bom, wat kyn and
frendds that sche had, and xuld have mo yf sche wer
ralyd and gydyd aftyr hem ; and yf she ded not, wat
rebuke, and schame, and los yt xuld be to her, yf sche
wer not gydyd be them, and cause of forsakyng of her
for any good, or helpe, or kownfort that sche xuld have
of hem ; and seyd that he had hard sey, that sche loved
schecheon [such one] that her frend[es] wer not plesyd
with that sche xuld have, and therfor he had her be ryth
weel avysyd how sche ded, and seyd that he woold undyr
stand the woords that sche had seyd to hym, wheyther
that mad matrimony or not And sche reh ersyd wat sche
had seyd, and seyd, yf thoo wordds mad yt not suher, she
seyd boldly that sche wold make that suerher or than
sche went thens, for sche seyd sche thowgthe in her
conschens sche was bownd, wat so ever the wordds
wem. Thes lend wordds greveth me and her grandam
as myche as alle the remnawnte. And than the
1 Fenn thinks this was Dr. John Saresson, otherwise Wigenhale, who, h«
tells us, was Chancellor to tbe Bishop from 1435 to 1471, and had other church
flreferment in the Diocese. But I am a little doubtful whether he lived so
ong, as it does not appear that he kept any other of his preferments to so late
a date. We know that Dr. William Pykenham was Chancellor in 1471.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV, 365
Bysschop and the Schaivnseler bothe seyd that ther
was neyther I ner no frend of hers wold reseyve [her].
And than Calle was exameynd aparte be hym sylfe,
that her wordds and hys acordyd, and the tyme, and
wher yt xuld a be don. And than the Bysschop sayd
that he supposyd that ther xuld be fownd other thynggs
ageyns hym that mythe cause the lettyng ther of; and
ther for he say he wold not be to hasty to geve sentens
ther upon, and sayd that he wold geve overe day tyl the
Wednsday or Thursday aftyr Mykylmes, and so yt tys
delayyd. They woold an had her wyl perfomiyd in
haste, but the Bysschope seyd he woold non other wyse
than he had seyd.
I was with my moder at her plase whan sche was
exameynd, and wan I hard sey what her demenyng-
was, I schargyd my servaunts that sche xuld not be
reseyved in my hows. I had zeve hir wamyng, sche
m}'the a be war a for, yf sche had a be grasyows ; and
I sent to on or ij. mor that they xuld not reseyve her
yf sche cam ; sche was browthe a geyn to my place for
to a be reseyved, and Sir Jamys ^ tolde them that browthe
her that I had schargyd hem alle and sche xuld not
be reseyved ; and soo my Lord of Nonvych hath set
her at Roger Bests, to be ther tyle the day befor sayd,
God knowyth fule evei ageyn hys wyle and hys wyvys,
yf they durst do other wyse. I am soty that they am
a cumyrd with her, but zet I am better payed that sche
isther for the whyle, that sche had ben in other place be
cause of the sadnes and good dysposysion of hys sylfe
and hys -ivyfe, for sche xai not be sou'd [suffered!] ther
to pleye the brethele.^ I pray zow and requer zow that
ye take yt not pensyly, for I wot weie yt gothe tyth ner
zowr hart, and so doth yt to myn and to other ; but
remembyr zow, and so do I, that we have lost of her
but a brethele,^ and set yt the les to hart, for and sche
had be good, wherso ever sche had be, yt xuld not aben
as it is, for and he wer ded at thys owyr, she xuld never
1 Sir James Gloys.
3 Bretltele or hretlielyng signified a worthless person.

366 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1469.
be at myn hart as sche was. As for the devors [divorce]
that ze write to me of, I supose wat ze ment, but I scharge
zow upon my blyssyng that ze do not, ner cause non
other to do, that xuld offend God and zour conschens,
for and ze do, or cause for to be do, God wul take ven-
gawns ther upon, [and] ye xuld put zour sylfe and other
in gret joparte ; for wettyt weie, sche xai ful sor repent
her leudnes her aftyr, and I pray God sche mute soo.
I pray zow for myn hard ys hese [hearf s ease], be ze
of a good cownfort in alle thynggs ; I tmst God xai
helpe tyth weie, and I pray God so do in alle our maters.
I wuld ze toke hed yf ther weher any labor mad in
the kort of Cawnttybety for the lend mater forsayd.
But yf [i.e. unless] the Duke^ be purveyd for, he and
hys wyse kow[n]sel xaUe lefe thys cuntre ; yt is told me
that he seythe that he wul not spar to do that he is pur
posyd, for no Duke in Ynglond. God helpe at nede.
618.
A.D. 1469 [Sept]
Sir John Paston to Master Writtill.
[Fom Fenn, iv. 370.]
Master Writtill, to whom this and the next letter are addressed, is mentioned
later as a servant of the Duke of Clarence, by whose means Sir John was
endeavouring to arrange a suspension of hostilities with the Duke of Norfolk,
who was now besieging Caister.
To Mastyr Wryttyll.
IJASTER WRYTTYLL, I recomande me to yow,
besechyng yow hertely, as myn holl trust is in
yow, that ye doo yowr devoyr to contynew
trews tyll Ftyday or Saturday in the momyng,
by whych tyme I hope the massanger shall come, and
that ye be not dryven to take an appoyntment if ye kan
undrestand by any lyklyed that itt be able to be abydyn
and recystyd, and that ye fele my brothetys dysposycion
therin, as my trast is in yow, prayng yow to remembre
1 The Duke of Norfolk.

Aft. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 367
that it restythe, as God helpe me, on all my well. For
as God helpe me, I hadd levyr the place wer brennyd,
my brother and servants savyd, than the best appoynt
ment that evyr ye and I comonyd of scholde be my
goode wyll be takyn, if this massage from the Kynge
may reskwe it And if it be so, that my Lorde be
remevyd by the Kynges comandement, whyche restythe
with hys honour, I mayin tyme to kome do hym servyse,
as schaU recompence any grodge or dysplesur that he
evyr had, or hathe to me or myn; and ye, if it the
rather by your wysdam and polesye the moene above
Wtyten may be hadd, schall be as sewr of the servyce
of my trewe brother and servantys, and me, as ye kan
devyse by my trowthe ; for in goode feythe thys mater
stykyth mor nyghe myn hart and me than I kan wtyght
on to yow, and to my brother and servaunts mor ner
than as God knowyth they wot off. Wherfor, Master
WtyttyU, all owre welfare restyth in yow, besechyng
yow to remembre it For thys mater is to all usse
eyther makyng or marryng.
Item, asfor Arblaster or LoveU, I kan not thynke
that they or any of them may be with yow. Wherfor
in yow is all, and God have yow in kepyng.
Wretyn at London, the day next affor yowr depart
yng. I schall sende yow mor knowleche to morrow,
with Godds grace. Yowrs,
John Paston, K.
619.
A.D. 1469, 10 Sept
Sir John Paston to Master Writtill.
[From Fenn, iv. 372.]
See preliminary note to last letter. We have adopted a different punctua
tion from that of Fenn in some parts of this letter.
YGHT wershypfull syr, I recomaund me to
you, thankyng you of your grete labour
whych I have nozt as yet, but I shall deserve

368 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1469
to my power ; and ferthermore lyke yow to wyte that
I have thoght ryght long after you; nevyrthelesse I
remember weU that ye delt wythe tyght delayous peple.
My Lord Archbyshop and other of my Lords, and I,
dempte by cawse of your long tanyng, that by youre
sad dyscrescyon all hadde ben sett thorow. Never
thelesse I understend by your wtytyng that my Lord
of Norffolks concell thynketh that hys entent, whych
ye sertefyed me by your wiytyng, sholde be more to
hys wyrshep than the appoyntements and rewll made
by the Lords of the Kyngs conceU whych be to my
seyd Lord of Norffolk ner kyne [near kin] ; whych ap
poyntements sythen yourr departyng hath be largely
remembtyd amongs tiie seyd Lords here, thynkyng it
in hem self so honorabyU to my Lord of Norffolk, that
ther shuld non of my Lords concell well avysed mevyd
to the contraty.
Jamys Hobard ^ was sent fro my [Lord] of Norffolk
heder, and spake with my Lord Archbyshop,^ and answer
he had of my seyd Lord ; and howe my Lord tendtyd
the mater yet and wyll I trowe he have told you, and yf
he have not, the btynger her of schall informe you ; and
he broght diys same appoyntement from my Lord, that
my Lord was well agtyed that I shulde ocupye. For
my parte, iff I shud take no other apoyntement but
acordyng to your letter, it wer hard for me and for my
tytell to putte my Lord in that possessyon ; for ther ys
thyngs in erthe [uneath, i.e. scarcely] to myn esse in your
letter, gode for me in that appoyntement, savyng the
suerty of my brothers lyffe and my servants, whych ye
thynke dowtefull yf so be that thay lakke stuff, shotte, and
vytayll; mervayljoigsore, and thynk it impossybeU in thys
shorte season, or in iiij. tyme the season heder towards,
that thayshuld lakkother[«Vy%«r], with owte it soo be that
my Lords men have enterd owght the place, and so had
ther stuffe from hem, whych I cannot thynk. Also, sir,
1 This most probably was James Hobart, who, in 1478, was Lent-Reader at
Lincoln's Inn, and in 1487 Attomey-GeneniL — F.
* George Neville, Archbishop of York-

AD. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 369
for [fore] the tyme of your comyng to my Lord of Norf
folk, servaunts of [my Lords wer with]i my moder at Nor
wych, mevyng to send to my brother hyr sone, to delyver
the place under such a forme as youre lettere specefyeth,
and so I cannot understand what regard my Lords
concell takyth to my Lords letter, and to your labour
in thys behalf, but that they offetyd as largely afore.
Ze wtyteth in your letter that ye durst not passe your
credens ; please you to remember that seyd your credens
affore the Lords was tyght large, and as large as myght
well be in thys mater, both to my Lords concell of
Norffolk to withdrawe the seege, with moor other mater
as ye knowe ; and to the Justice of the Peas and to the
Shyryff and hys o%cers, your awtotyte was grete inow
to iche of them.
Wherfor, Mayster WreteU, I never for this, nere zet
wyll, take appoyntement in thys mater, but as my Lords
wyU and my Lord Archbyshop, whych, as well as I
my self, have holy putte our ttyst to youre dyscrete
dyreccyon ; and my seyd Lord sythen youre departer,
zour zoyng,^ thynkyng you alls mete a man in executyng
ther comaundement as cowde be chosyn. Neverthelesse
for awnswer to you at thys season, my Lord Archbyshop
ys north wards towards the Kyng; how be it, it ys seyd,
uppon a metyng with my Lord of Clarens, my Lord
shuld retoume a yen ; and as zester evyn he send a
servaunt of hys to me, wenyng to hys Lordship that
Sir Humfray ^ and ye wer in Caster as was appoynted,
and ye shuld send to hys Lordshyp answer of the
gydyng ther by wtytyng, comaundyng me that yff any
such wtytyngs cam from you, yf hys Lordshyp wer not
past xx. myle fr[om Lond]on,i to com to hys Lordshyp
with the same. Understandyng for sertayn that he ys
nott yet so ferr, wherfor I will in althe hast possybeU
tyde nygt and day tiU I see hys Lordshyp, and after
comunicacyon had with hys Lordshyp, as sone as ys
1 The original MS. was indistinct in these places.
* The words " zour zoyng " (your going) seem to be redundant.
s Sir Humphrey 'Talbot was a Captain at this siege, under the Duke oi
Norfolk.— F.
II. 2 B

370 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 1469.
possybeU that a man may go be twext, ye shall have
an answer of hys dysposicyon ; for hys intres is such
that, as I have wtyten, I shall never do therin withoute
hym, as my cosyn, brynger herof, more playnly shall
enforme you ; for I canne thynke tyght well, that as ze
wry teth to me, my broder wyll not delyver the place
to non erthly person, but yf he see wtytyng fro my
Lord. It semyt be yowr wtytyng that my Lord of Norffolk
conseyll intende not that my Lord Archbyshop shuld
dele in thys mater, for he ys not named in your letter,
wherof I mervayle ; for it was movyd to you at your
departyng hens, the Kyngs concell shuld have take
dyreccyon in thys mater, or els my Lord Cardenall,^
my Lord of Clarens, my Lord Archbyshop, and my
Lord of Essex," &c. Neverthelesse, Mayster Wryttyll,
all profytht, maner, or lyflod, leyd apart, if it be so
that thorow reklesnese my brother and servaunts be in
such joperte as ye have wryten to me (whych shold be
half impossybeU in my mynd that thay shold myssuse
so mech stuff in iiij. tymes the space), and that ye have
evident knowlych by my seyd brother hym self therof,
I woU praye yow to se hym and them in suerte of ther
lyffys, what so ever shold fall of the lyfflode ; how be
it I wold not that my brother and servaunts shold
gyft upp the place not for a mV/., yf thay myght in any
wyse kepe it and save ther lyves. And therfor, at the
reverens of God, sycht it ys so, that my Lord Arch
byshop and my Lords all, and I, have putte our tmst
in you, that ye wyll do your devoyer to have the
verrey knowlech of my brother hymself, and not of
ray Lords men, wheder he stante in such jopertye as
your letter specefyeth or net, for I dowte not uppon
the syzth of thys letter, and of the letter that ye had
before, that my brother will put no mystrast in you,
consyderyng that he knowyth that ye com firom my
Lords, and my Lord Archbyshop, and have my wtyt-
1 Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Cardinal.
Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex.

AD. 1469.] EDWARD IV. 371
yng; and as for my Lord Archbyshop wTytyng and
aunswere, such as it shalbe, ye shaU have it in all the
haste possybeU. But I thynke vetyly that my Lord
eschewyth to teUe you any thyng without that he
myght speke with you aUone, and me thynketh vetyly
that thayoughtnot to \eiXt[hinder] youtospekewithhym
aUone, consydetyng that ye have auctoryte and wryt
yng from the Lords so to do. And as for the justifica-
cyon of enttyng die place, and sege layng to [the same],'
and the comaundement of the Justice of the Pease and
the Sherewe to assyste my Lord in thys gydyng, I wote
ye understond that tlie Lords knowe aU that mater,
and ye herd it comened, and how thay toke it in ther
consayts. Ther ys no more, Mayster Wtyttell, but I commyth
all thys wiytyng unto your dyscrescyon ; and as ye
thynk best acordyng to such menys desyre as have
entretyd you therin, and for my moyst avayle, I pray
you, sir, soo doo, and I shall se un to your besynes
and labour, that ye shall have cause to do for me in
tyme comyng, and as the btynger herof shaU tell you.
And I pray God have you in Hys kepyng.
Wryten at London, the x. day of Septembr.
By your frend for ever,
John Paston, K.
620.
A.D. 1469, 12 Sept
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 382.]
This and the other letters relating to the siege of Caister are all rendered
certain in point of date by the documents touching its surrender on the 26th
September. GRETE you weie, letyng you wete that your
brother and his felesshep stand iu grete
joperte at Cayster, and lakke vetayU; and
1 Here the original MS. was indistinct

37* THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1469.
Dawbeney ^ and Bemey ^ be dedde, and diverse other
gretly hurt ; and they fayU gunnepowder and arrowes,
and the place sore brokyn with gonnes of the toder
parte, so that, but thei have hasty help, thei be like to
lese bothe ther lyfes and the place, to the grettest
rebuke to you that ever came to any jentilman, for
evety man in this countre marvayUelh gretly that ye
sufire them to be so longe in so gret joperte with
ought help or other remedy.
The Duke hathe be more fervently set themp on,
and more craell, sith that Wretyll, my Lord of Clar-
aunce man, was ther, than he was befor, and he hath
sent for all his tenaunts from evety place, and other,
to be ther at Cayster at Thotysday next comyng, that
ther is than like to be the grettest multitude of pepill
that came ther yet And thei purpose them to make
a gret assaught — for thei have sent for gannes [guns] to
Lynne and other place be the seeys syde — that, with
ther gret multitude of gannes, vrith other shoot and
ordynaunce, ther shaU no man dar appere in the place.
Thei shall hold them so besy with ther gret pepiU,
that it shall not lye in their pore within to hold it
ageyn them with ought God help them, or have hasty
socour from you.
Therfor, as ye wull have my blyssyng, I charge you
and require you that ye se your brother be holpyn in
hast. And' if ye can have nonmeane, rather desire
writyng fro my Lord of Clarens, if he be at London, or
eU[es] of my Lord Archebusshop of York, to the Duke of
Norffolk, that he vniW graunte them that be in the place
her lyfes and ther goodes ; and in eschewyng of insur
reccions with other in convenyens that be like to growe
within the shire of Norffolk, this trobelows werd [world],
be cause of such conventicles and gaderyngs within
1 John Dawbeney, Esq.
3 Osbert Bemey, the other person here mentioned as dead, was not killed
at the 8i_ege._ He survived, and died without issue some years after, when he
was buried in Bradeslon Church in Norfolk, there being a brass plate in the
chancel having the following inscription to his memory: — "Hie jacet
Osberius filius yoh. Bemej, Arnti^. de Redeham Dni. ei de Brayston."
He was tne son of John Bemey, Esq., by Catherine, daughter of Osbert
:^undeford of Hockwell, Esq. — F.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 373
the seid shire for cause of the seid place, thei shaU
suffre hym to entre up on such appoyntment, or other
like takyii be the advyse of your councell ther at
London, if ye thynk this be not good, till the law
hath determyned otherwyse ; and lete hym write a
nother letter to your brother to deliver the place up
on the same appoyntment And if ye think, as I can
suppose, that the Duke of Norffolk wull not aggre to
this, be cause he graunted this aforn, and thei in the
place wuld not accept it, than I wuld the seid massanger
shuld with the seid letters bryng fro the seid Lord of
Clarence, or eU[es] my Lord Archebusshop, to my Lord
of Oxenford, other letters to rescue them forth with,
thowghe the seid Erie of Oxenford shuld have the
place duryng his lyfe for his labour. Spare not this to
be don in hast, if ye wull have ther lyves, and be sett
by in Norffolk, though ye shuld leys the best maner
of all for the rescuse. I had lever ye last the lyffelode
than ther lyfes. Ye must gete a massanger of the
Lords or sume other notabill man to btyng ther letters.
Do your devoir now, and lete me send you no mor
massangers for this maters ; but send me be the berer
her of more certeyn comfort than ye have do be all
other that I have sent be for. In any wyse, lete the
letters that shall come to the Erie of Oxenford comyn
with the letters that shall comyn to the Duke ot
Norffolk, that if he wull not aggree to the ton, that ye
may have redy your rescuse that it nede no mor to
send therfor. God kepe you.
Wretyn the Tuesday next befor Holy Rood Day,
in hast. Be your Moder.

621.
A.D. 1469, 15 Sept
Sir John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 386.]
This letter was clearly written in reply to the last

374 tHE PAStON LETTERS. [A.fi. 1469.
f|OODR, uppon Saterday last was, Dawbeney and
Bernay wer on lyve and mety, and I suppose
ther com no man owt of the place to yow
syn that tyme that cowde have asserteynyd
to yow of ther dethys. And as towchyng the fyrse-
nesse of the Duke or of hys peple schewyd syn that
tyme that Wtyttel departyd, I trowe it was concludyd
that trews and abstynence of werre scholde be hadd
er he departyd, whych shaUe dewr tyl Monday next
comyng ; and by that tyme I trow that trews shaU be
takyn tyll that day vij. nyght aftr, by whych tyme I
hope of a goode dyreccion schall be hadde.
And wher as ye wtyght to me that I scholde sewe
for letteris from my Lordys of Clarans and Yorke,
they be not her, and if they wrot to hym as they have
don ij. tymes, I trow it wolde nat advayle ; and as for
to labor thois letteris and the rescu to gedre, they ben
ij. sendty thyngys, for when the rescu is redy, that the
cost ther of is don. For if I be drevyn therto to rescu
it er they com ther that scholde do it, it shall cost a
m'. escuys, and as meche after, whyh wey wer harde
for me to take, whyll that I maye do it otherwise ; but
as to sey that they schall be rescuyd if all the lands
that I have in Ingelond and frendys maye do it, they
shall, and God be frendly, and that as schertly as it
may goodlely and weie be brout abut And the gret
test defawt erthly is mony and som frendys and
neybotys to helpe ; wherfor I beseche yow to sende
me comfort with what money ye coude fynde the
menys to get or chevysche uppon suerte sufficient, er
uppon lyflod to be inmorgage er yit solde, and what
peple by lyklyed yowr frendys and myn kowde make
uppon a schort wamyng, and to send me worde in all
the hast as it is needfull. But, moodre, I fele by
yowr Wtyghtyng that ye deme in me I scholde not
do my devyr withowt ye wrot to me som hevye tydyngs ;
and, modre, if I had nede to be qwykynyd with a letter
in thys nede, I wer of my selfe to slawe [too slow] a felaw;
but, moodre, I ensur yow that I have herde x. tymes

A.6. 1469.] EDWaRD iV. 375
werse tydyngs syn the assege by gan than aay letter
that ye wrot to me, and somtyme I have herde tyght
goode tydyngs both. But thys I ensure yow that they
that be within have no werse reste than I have, ner
castyth mor jupperte; but whethyr I had goode
tydyngys er ill, I take Gode to wittnesse that I have
don my devoyr as I wolde be don for in case lyke,
!\nd schall doo tyU ther be an ende of it.
I have sent to the Kynge to Yorke, and to the
Lordys, and hope to have ansswer from them by
Wednysday at the ferthest, and after that answer shal?
I be rewlyd, and than send yow word, for tyll that
tyme kan I take non dyreccion. And to encomfort
yow, dy[s]peyre yow not for lak of vytayle ner of gonne
powder, ner be natt to hevy ner to mety therfor ; for
and hevynesse or sorow wolde have be the remedy
ther of, I knew nevyr mater in my lyfe that I kowde
have ben so hevy or soty for, and with Goddys grace
it schall be remedyed well inow ; for by my trowthe
I hadde lever lose tlie maner of Caister than the
symplest mannys lyfe therin, if that may be hys savea-
cion. Wherfor I beseche yow to sende me worde wat
mony and men ye thynke that I am lyke to get in that
contre; for the hasty purchace of mony and men
schall be the getyng and rescu of it, and the sauevacion
of most mennys lyfys, if we take that weye.
Also thys daye I porpose to sende to Yorke to the
Kyng for a thyng, whych same only maye be lyklyod
be the savacion of all. Ye must remembre that the
rescue of it is the last remedy of all, and how it is nat
easy to get ; and also ye sende me worde that I
scholde nat kome hom withowt that I kome stronke.
But if I had hadd on other stronge place in Norfolke
to have comen to, thowe I have browt tyght fewe with
me, I scholde, with Godds grace, have rescued it by
thys tyme, er ellys he scholde have ben fayne to have
besegyd bothe placys or yit, and the Duke had not
kept Yarmoth owthe. But, mother, I beseche yow
sende me som mony, for by my trowth I have but xs.

3l6 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
1 ^ wot not wher to have mor, and moreovyr I have
ben X. tymes in lyke case or werse within thys x.
wekys. I sent to Rychard Call for mony, but he
sendyth me non.
I beseche yow to gyde the evydence that Pekok
can tell yow of, and to se it saffe ; for it is tolde me
that Richard CaU hath hadd right large langage of
them. I wolde nat they com in hys fyngtys. I have
no worde from yow of them, ner whether ye have yit
in yowr kepyng the evydence of Est Bekham owt of
hys handys, ner whethyr ye have sent to my manetys
that they schold not paye hym no mor mony or not
Also that it like yow to geve credence to Robyn in
other thyngs.
Wret the Ftyday next after Holy Roode Day.
John Paston, K.
622.
A.D. 1469 [Sept]
Writtill to the Besiegers of Caister.
[From Fenn, iv. 404- ]
Tliis letter is anonymous, but was evidently written by Writtill during his
negotiations for a suspension of hostilities.
Sir fohn Hevyngham^ Th. Wyngfeld^ Gilbert Deben
ham,^ Wil. Brandon^ and to everych of them
severally in otheris absence.
IT is so that accordyng to such direccion as
was mevid to be desird of my Lords beyng
heer, as for such as heere bee they marveil
gretly therof, thynkyng and remembring in
1 /. The right hand copy in modem spelling reads "and.**
2 Sir John Heveningham, Knight and Banneret, was a descendant of an
ancient family situated at the town of Heveningham, in Suffolk. His son
Thomas became owner of the estate at Ketteringham, in Norfolk, where
this family continued for several generations. — F.
3 Sir Thomas Wingfield was a younger son either of Sir Robert or Sir John
Wingfield of Letheringham, in Suffolk.— F.
* Sir Gilbert Debenham, Knight, was descended of an ancient and knightly
family in the county of Suffolk. — F.
s Sir William Brandon married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Wine-
Geld, and was ancestor to Charles Brandon, afterwards Duke of Suffolk. — I^

AD. 1469-] EDWARD IV. 377
themself that such offre as was made by my credence to
my Lorde,^ and to fore you reported, shuld have sownyd
more to his pleasure and honour than this his desire.
Nevirthelesse my Lords thenke where as they wrote
and desirid joyntly that such credence as ye remembre
myght be observyd and taken, and by you refusid,
nowe yif they shuld assent to the desire of tlus direccion,
hit is thought in them not so to doo ; for it is so for
tuned that dyvers of my Lords, from whome I brought
both Wtytyng and credence, be at the Kyngs high
commaundement hastely departed unto his Highnesse,
trastyng in God to have heetyng in brief tyme of their
hasty ayen comyng, atte which tyme my Lords that
heere be, and they that shal come ayen, shal comon
and speke to gyder of this desire and direccion, and
such answere as they geve and make shall be sent
unto you than with haste possible. Ovir this, me
thenkith for your excuse of burden and charge such
as I hier wiU be leid unto you concernyng the grete
werks that dailly be and ar at the maner of Castre,
yif ye thenk that God shuld have pleasir, and also the
Kyng oure sovereign Lorde, and that my seide Lords
shuld thenk in you gode avise or sad, and that ye
entendid to avoide the sheddyng of Cristyn blode and
the destruccion of the Kyngs liege people, that at your
politik labour and wisedome ye myght bryng my Lord
to th'abstynence of warre, and a trieux to be had and
cont3mued unto tyme of the retoum of my seid Lords,
or els knowlege of their entent; certifieng you for
trouth that ther be messengers sent unto my seid
Lords with lettrez of such answere as I had of you to
youv desire to gyder, knowyng certeinly that ther shal
be hasty relacion of ther entents in the premisis, which
answers ye shaU have atte ferthist by Monday cometh
sevenyght Ferthirmore lettyng you wit that I under
stond for certein that my Lords that be heere eschewe,
for such inconveniense that myght fall, to conclude
any answere by them self, consideryng that my
1 The Duke of Norfolk.

378 THE PASTON LETTERS. [ad.~I469-
credence was geven by all the Lords ; prayng you, as
shal be doon to the continuaunce of this trieux afore
said, that I may be acerteyned, or yif at this houre ye
coude yit thenk my credence resonable and honour
able to be accepted and taken, sendith me woorde in
Wtytyng from you by my servant, brynger of this, al
delaies leid aparte. For I acertein you, as he that
owe you service, I was and yit am gretly blamed for
ray long tarying with you, for dyvers of my Lords
taried heere for me, by th'assent of al my Lords, lenger
than they wold have don, to know myn answere and
guydyng from you.
And ovir this I certyfie you that ye cannot make
my Lords heere to thenk that yif ther be inconvenient
or myshief, murdre, or manslauter had or done, but
and your wiUs and entents were to the contratye, my
Lord is notid so well disposid that, with oute your grete
abettement, he neither will doo nor assent to non such
thyng ; prayng you therfor, as your frende, to remem
bre weie your self, and so to mle you, as my Lords
may have in tyme to come knowlege of your more
sadd disposicion than as yit I feele they thenk in you.
And how that my Lords note sum of you, James
Hobert, beyng of my Lords counsel, can enforme you;
wherefor for Godds sake remembr you, and delyver
my servant, and yif ye thenk my first credence or this
advertisement shal be taken to effect, than I pray you
that my servaunt, btynger hereof, may have sure con-
dyte to speke with John Paston, and to report to hym
these direccions, and upon that to delyver hym a bill
certifyng the same.
623.
A.D. 1469, [Sept]
Writtill to Thomas Wingfield.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
This and tbe letter following are corrected drafts upon the same paper, and
both evidently written at the same time, and by the same writer, as the last
letter.

A 0.1469.] EDWARD tv. 379
(|R. WYNGFELD, I recomande me to you.
Please you to wit I have sent a lettre joyntly
to you and to al my Lordes ^ counsel ; nevir-
theles, for the special favor and service that I
bere and owe to you, I write to you aparte, praying
you to put your hasty devoir to the delyverans of my
servaunt, with th'answere of the same ; and ovir that for
Goddis sake remember you hou that ye stond my Lordes
nygh kynnesman, and by whom my Lordes wuUe gretly
be steerid, that ye eschewe and avoide to be non of
those that my Lordes here thenk shuld set or cause
my Lord to do thynges otherwise than accordith to
the pleasir of my Lordes ; for it is so that there be
dyvers of my Lordes counsel stond in hevy report of
my Lordes, of which I wold ye were non ; certifieng
you that I know so ferre that yif ye any thyng doo in
this mater to the pleasir of my Lordes, it will neither
be unremembrid ne unrecompensid, not doutyng but
that hereafter to have a large thonk of you for this my
counsel ; praying you ferthermor to move Sir John
Hevyngham, and such as ye knowe weie disposid, to
assist you in this ; and that this bille be kept secrete,
as my trast is in you. Wreten at London.
624.
Writtill to John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
See prelinunary note to last letter.
R. PASTON, it is so that sith tyme I spake with
you I sent you a bill which concludith an
abstinence of werre to be had unto Ftyday
last was, trastyng in that season that by the
menes of my Lordes heere a conclusion shal be taken ;
lettyng you wit that before my comyng hider certein
of my Lordes were departid hens towards the Kyng
northwards. And for asmich as I cannot in this
1 The Duke of Norfolk's.

380 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
season have no hasty answere of such lettrez as were
sent unto them concemyng this mater, I have wretjTi
by the meanes of my Lordes heere I have wretyn a
lettre to my Lordes counsell a lettre,^ and amonges
other thynges movid them in the seid lettre to advertise
my Lord for abstynence of werre til Monday come
sevenyght ; and yif my Lordes and his counseU so agree,
I have comaundid my servaunt, btynger hereof, to
geve you knowlege of the same, avisyng you that con-
tenuyng the seid seson to absteyne you from werre
gevyng outward in like wise; and by that season I
hope to have knowlege of my Lordes ententes.
625.
A.D. 1469, 18 Sept
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 394.]
See preliminary note to No. 62a
To fohn Paston, and to non othyr.
Recomand me to yow, and promyse yow
that I have and schaU labore and fynde the
meane that ye schaU have honorof yowrdelyng
as ye have hyddr towards, as all Ingelond and
evety man reportythe ; and moreover I am in weye for
it by many dyverse weys, wherof ther schall be one
exicutyd by thys day xiiij. nyght at the ferthest, and
peraventur within vij. dayes. And iff ye maye kepe it
so longe, I wold be gladde, and aftr that iff ye have
nott from me other wtyghtyng, that than ye do ther in
for yowr saffgarde and yowr felaschep only, and to yowr
worschypys; and as for the place, no force therfor.
Ye knowe thys hande, therfor nedythe no mencion from
whem it comythe ; and more ovyr, they that be abut
yow be in obloquy of all men, and mor ovyr they have
1 So in the MS., the redundant wi.rds being left uncance'Jed.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 381
ben wretyn to by aise speciaU wtyghtyng as myght be,
after the worlde that now is, and promyse yow that
the Dukes concell wolde that they had nevyr be gon
it ; and more ovyr they be chargyd in payne of ther
lyvys, that thow they gate the place, they scholde not
hurt on of yow. Ther is nowther ye ner none with
yow, but and he knewe what is generally reportyd of
hym, he or ye, and God fortewne yow weie, may
thynke hym iiij. tymes better in reputacion of all folk
than ev)T: he was. Be war whom ye make a concell
to thys mater.
Also I lete yow wete that I am in moche mor com
fort of yow than I maye wtyght, and they that be
about yow have cawse to be mor ferde than ye have ;
and also bewar of spendyng of yowr stuffe of qwarellys,
powdr, and stone, so that if they assaut yow er we
come, fhat ye have stuffe to dyffende yow of over, and
than of my lyfe ye get no mor, and that your fela-
schyp be evyr ocopyed in renewyng of your stuffe.
Wretyn the Mondaye next aftr Holy Roode Daye.
I trow, thow ye be not prevy ther to, ther is taken a
trews new tyl thys day vij. nygh,
626.
A.D. 1469, 26 Sept.
Passport to the Besieged on Surrender of
Caister.
[From Fenn, ii. 24].
The Due of Norffolk.
HERE John Paston, esquier, and other
divers persones have, ageyn the peas, kepte
the manoir of Caster with force, ageyne
the wille and entent of us the Due of
Norffolk, to oure grete displeaser; whiche notwith
standing, at the contemplacion of the writing of the

382 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
moost worshipfuU and reverent Fader in God the
Cardenall of England, and our moost trasty and
entierly beloved Unkel the Archbisshop of Canterbuty',
the right noble Prince my Lord of Clarence, and other
Lords of oure blood, and also at the grete labour and
enstaunce of our moost dere and singler belovid wiffe,
we be agreed that the seid John Paston and his seid
fellaship, beyng in the seid maneur, shall depart and
goo out of the seid maneur without delay, and make
therof deliveraunce to suche persones as we vrill
assigne, the seid fellaship havyng their lyves and
goods, horsse, and hameys, and other goods beyng in
the kepyng of the seid John Paston ; except gonnes,
crossebows, and quareUs, and alle other hostelments, to
the seid maneur annexed and belonginge. And to
have XV. dayes respyte aftir their seid departing out,
to goo in to what place shall like theim, without any
accions or quarell to be taken or made by us, in our
name to theim, or any of theim, within our fraunchise
or without, dutyng the seid tyme.
Yoven under our signet at Yemiouth the xxvj. day
of Septembr the ix^'^ yere of King Edward the iiij*-
Norff'. 0^

627.
A.D. 1469, 26 Sept
John Paston and the Surrender of Caister.
[From a MS. in the College of Arms.]
The original of this document, signed and sealed by the Duke of Norfolk
is inserted in the MS. Volume called Brooke's Asfilogia, VoL I., p. 35.
The Due of Norff'.
OHN, Duke of Norffolk, Erie MarshaU of
Sussex, Surrey, and of Nottyngham, Marshall
of Inglonde, Lorde Mowbray of Segreve,

AD.1469.] EDWARD IV. 383
Bromfelde, and Yalle, to al our frendes, servauntes,
and othir Ctystyne people, gretyng. Wher John
Paston, esquier, and othre diverse persones forseble
hath kepte the manoir of Castre, contraty to our
will and pleaser, and aftirwarde by his lowly labour
and gret meanese to us maade, the seide John Paston
hathe maade deliveraunce of the seide manoir to such
persons as we have assignede, and he and his seide
felouship by our lycence to departe out of the same.
Wherefore we pray, wil, and charge you and evetysche
of you, that ye ne vexce, trouble, manase, ne greve
the forseid persones, nor eny of them, for the kepyng
of the seide manere contraty to the Kynge our Sover-
eynge Lordes lawyes, for we have takyne them in our
safe garde. Yevin undir our signet and signmanuell
the xxvj" day of Septembre, the ix'*" yere of Kynge
Edward iiij'- Norff'. G\

628.
A.D. 1469, [Sept.]
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 410.]
Caystr yelded.— -J. P.
|YGHT werchepfuU sir, I recomand me on to
yow. And as for the serteynte of the de-
lyverance of Caster, John Chapman can teU
yow how that we wer enforsyd therto, as
weU as mysylf. As for John Chapman and his iij.
fekws, I have purveyd that they be payid ache of
them x\s., with the mony that they had of yow and
Dawbeney ; and that is inow for the seson that they
have don yow servys. I pray yow geve them ther
thank, for by my trowthe they have as weU deservyd
it as eny men that ever bare lyve ; but as for mony, ye

384 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 146^
ned not to geve hem with owt ye wyll, for they be
plesyd vrith ther wagys. WtyttyU promysyd me to
send yow the serteynte of the apoyntement. We wer
sor^ lak of vetayl, gonepowdyr, menys herts, lak of
suerte of rescwe, drevyn therto to take apoyntement
If ye wyU that I come to yow, send me woord, and
I shall pervey me for to tety with yow a ij. or iij. dayis.
By my trowthe, the rewardyng of syche folkys as hathe
ben with me dwtyng the sege hathe putt me in gret
danger for the monye. God preserve yow, and I pray
yow be of good cher tyll I spek with yow, and I trust
to God to ese your hert in some thynggys.
J. Paston.
629.
A.D. 1469, 22-30 Sept
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 396.]
This is written, as will be seen, in reply to No. 621.
To Sir fohn Paston, iti hast. A matre.
GRETE zow weie, and send zow Godds blys
syng and myn, letyng zow wete that me
thynke be the letter that ze sent me be
Robeyn, that ze thynke that I xuld wtyte to
zow fabyls and ymagynacyons ; but I do not soo. I
have wryt)m as yt have be enformed me, and wulle do.
It was told me that bothe Daubeney and Bemey wer
dedee, but for serten Daubeney is dede, God asoyle
hys sowle ; wher of I ara rythe sety, and yt had plesyd
God that yt mythe abe other wysse.
Remembyr zow, ze have had ij. gret lossys withyne
thys towylemonth, of hym and of Sir Thomas.^ God
wysyth [z'M«Za'^]zowasyt plesythe Hym in sundety wyses ;
Hewooleze xuld know Hym, and serve Hym better than
1 sor. So the word stands in Fenn, and "sore" in the copy in modem
spelling ; but I suspect a misreading of '* for." ^ Sir Thomas Howes.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 383
ze have do be for thys tyme, and than He wull send
zow the mor grace to do weie in ale other thynggs.
And for Godds love, remembyr yt tythe welle, and
take yt pacyentely, and thanke God of Hys vysitacyon ;
and yf ony thyng have be a mysse ony other wyse than
yt howte to have ben befor thys, owther in ptyde or
in laves expences, or in eny other thyng that have
offendyd God, amend yt, and pray Hym of Hys grace
and helpe, and entende weUe to God, and to zour
neybors ; and thow zour poor heraftyr be to aquyte
hem of her maleys, zet be mersyfuUe to hem, and God
xale send zow the mor grace to have your entente in
other thynggs.
I remembyr thys clawsys, be cause of the last letter
that ze sent me. I have sent to Haty Halman of
SpotyUe to helpe to gete as ze desyerd me, and he
canne not gette passyd v. or viij. at the most, and zet
yt wule not be but yf [unless] he cume that ze trast upon
that xuld cume, for they long a parte to hym. And Rys-
chard Sharman hathe asayed on hys parte, and he
cane not gette passyd v. ; for thoo that long to us,
thei long also to our adversarys, and they have be
desyerd be them, and they woold nowte do for hem,
and ther for they thynke to have magety of the toder
parte. As for the jantylman that ye desyerd me to speke
with, I spake with hys wyfe, and sche told me he was
not in thys cuntre, ner nowte woost wan he xuld be
her; and as for the toder man, he hath bowthe [bought]
hym a livery in Bromeholme Ptycty, and have geve upe
the woord [world], Sac
Item, as for mony, I kowde getee but xti. upon
pledges, and that is spent for zour maters her, for
payeng of zour men that wem at Caster, and other
thynggs, and I woot not wer to gette non, nowther for
suerte ner for pleggs ; and as for myn owyn lyvelod, I
am so sympely payed ther of that I fer me I xale be
fayn to borow for my sylfe, or eU[es] to breke up
howsold or bothe.
IL 3C

386 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
As for the zeddyng [yielding] of the place at Caster,
I trowe WretyU hathe told of the pawntements [ap
pointments] how ytts delyvered. I woold that [it] had
be so her [ere] thys tyme, and zan [then] ther xuld not
a ben do so mykyle herte as ther is in dyverse weyes ;
for many of our welewyUers am putte to loosse for
our saks, and I fer me that [it] xale be long her yt
be recumpensyd ageyn, and that xale cause other to do
the lesse for vus her aftyr.
I woold ze xuld [send] zour brother woord, and sum
other that ze traste, to see to zour owyn lyelod to sette
yt in a rale, and to gader ther of that may be had in
haste, and also of Sir John Fastolf lyoeld that may be
gadyrd in pesybyle wyse. For as for Ryschard CaUe,
he wulle no mor gadyr yt but yf ze comaund hym,
and he woold fayn make hys . . acowntte, and
have zour good maystyr schepe, as ytts told me, and
delyvere the evydens of Bekkeham, and alle other
thynggs that longyth to zow, that he tmstythe that ze
vtyllebehysgoodmayster heraftyr. And he sethe he wyUe
not take non newe master tyle ze refuse hys servyse.
Remembyr that zowr lyvelod may be set in soche a
rale that ye may knowe how yXXs, and wat is owyn to
zow ; for be my feythe I have holpyn as mysche as I
may and mor, savyng my sylfe, and therfor take hede
er yt be weers.
Thys letter was begune on Ftyday was vij. nythe,
and enddyd thys day nexte afftyr Mychylmes Day.
God kepe zow, and yeve zow grace to do as weie as I
woold ze dede ; and I scharge zow be war that ze sette
no lond to morgage, for if eny a'vyse zow ther to, they
am not zowr frendds. Be war be tymes myn avyse, &c.
I trow yowr brother wyll geve zow tydyngs in haste.
630.
Note.
[MS. Phillipps, 973S, No. 201.]
Inventory of household goods (including guns) left at Caister
by Sir John Paston at the entry of my Loni of Norfolk.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 387
631.
A.D. 1469, 5 Oct
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 412.]
This is a letter desiring instructions about the garrison of Caister after its
surrender. To my master, Sirjohn Paston, in Flett-Stret.
lYGHT worchepfuU sir, I recomand on to you,
praying yow that ye wyll in all hast send me
word how that ye vtyll that Sir John Style,
John Pampyng, W. Mylsent, Nycolas Mon-
donet, T. Tomson shall be rwlyd, and whedyr that
they shall sek hem newe servysys or not ; and Ma
thewe Bedford also, for he hathe be vrith me this seson,
and is fro my modyr. And if so be that ye wyll have
thes to abyde with yow, or eny of them, send word
whyche that they be ; for betwyx thys and Halowmas
my modyr is agreyd that they shall have met and
drynk of hyr for syche a serteyn wekly as my modyr
and yu and I can acord when we met. Notwith
standyng, if ye kowd get Bamey or eny of thes seyd
folkys, whyche that ye wyll not kepe, eny servyse in
the mene seson, it wer more worchep for yow then to
put them from yow lyek masteries hondys [hounds] ; for
by my trowthe they ar as good menys bodys as eny
leve, and specyally Sir John StyUe and John Pampyng.
And I wer of power to kepe them and aU thes befor
rehersyd, by trowthe they shold never depert fro me
whyU I leveyd.
If ye send me word that I shall come to yow to
London for to comon with yow of eny mater, so God
help me, I have neythyr mony to com up with, nor for
to tety with yow when I am ther but if [unless] ye send
me some ; for by my trowthe thes werkys have causyd
me to ley owt for yow bettyr then x. or xij//., besyd that

388 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1469.
money that I had of my modyr, whyche is abowt on
viijli. God amend defowts; but this I warant yow,
with out that it be Mathew, whyche ye sent woord by
John Thressher that ye wold have to awayt on yow,
ther is no man that was hytyd for the tyme of thys
sege that wyll axe yow a peny.
Also I pray yow send downe acomandment to Stut-
vyUe, or to some awdyter, to take acomptys of Dawb-
neys byllys; for hys executors ar sore callyd upon
for to admynyster by the Byshop, or ellys he seythe
that he wyle seqwester. Dawbeney set in hys dett
that ye owt hym xij/«. and xs. Whedyr it be so or
nowt, hys byllys of hys owne hand wyll not lye, for he
mad hys byllys clere or dien the sege com abowt us.
As for the evydence of Bekham, my modyr sent to
Calle for hem ; and he sent hyr woord that he wold
make hys acompts, and delyver the evydence and all
to gedyr. My modyr hathe sent to hym ayen for hem
thys day. If she sped, they shall be sent to yow in all
hast, or eUys, and ye send for me, I shall bryng hem
with me. Send my modyr and me word who ye wyll
that have the rwyll of your lyvelod her in thys contre,
and in what forme that it shall be delt with. I wyll
not make me mastyrfast with my Lord of Norff., nor
with non othyr, tyle I spek with yow ; and ye thynk
it be to be don, get me a mastyr. '
Dell corteysly with the Qwen and that felawshep,
and with Mastras Anne Hawte for Wappys,^ tyll I
spek with zow. Wretyn on Seynt Feythys E\yn.
J. Paston.
By Sent George, I and my felawshep stand in fer of
my Lord of Noiff. men, for we be thret sore, not with
standyng the save gardys^ that my felavrehep have.
As for me, I have non, nor non of your howsold men,
nor non wyll have ; it wer shame to take it
1 This expression "for wappys" I do not understand.— F. Perhaps it
may be a proper name.
" Savef^ardys. This is printed " same f»rdys " in Fenn, but is evidently
a misreadmg ; in the right hand copy the word is '* safeguards."

AD. 1469-] EDWARD rv, 389
632.
A.D. 1469, [Oct]
Sir John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, i. 292.]
The allu.sion in an unprinted pa.ssage in this letter to the approaching
m.iTTiage of Richard Calle wilh ilajgery Pastou proves it to be of the year
1469. In that year it appears by the dates of the privy seals that Edward
IV. remained during the whole of September in Yorkshire, having been
detEuned by Warwick at Middleham as a prisoner during the month of
August ; but he was in London as early as the X3th October.
To Mestresse Margret Paston, be thys delyveryd.
|YGHT worchypfull Moodre, T comand me to
yow, and beseche yow of yowr blyssyng and
Gods. Thanke yow for yowr tendrenesse
and helpe bothe to me, my brother, and
servants.^ The Kynge is comyn to London, and ther came with
hym, and roode ageyn hym, the Duke of Glowcestr,
the Duke of Suffolke, the Erie of AroundeU, the Erie
of Northumbreland, the Erie of Essex, the Lordes
Harty and John of Bokyngham, the Lord Dakres, the
Lorde Chambreleyn, the Lorde Montjoye, and many
other Knyghtys and Sqwyers, the Meyr of London,
xxij. Aldremen, in skarlett, and of the Crafftys men of
the town to the nombre of CC, all in blewe. The
Kynge come thorow Chepe, thowe it wer owt of hys
weye, be cawse he wold not be seyn, and he was
accompanyed in all peple withm"- horsse, som hameysyd
and som nat My Lorde "Archebysshop ^ com with
hym from Yorke, and is at the Moor,^ and my Lorde
of Oxenfford roode to have mett the Kyng, and he is
with my Lorde Archebysshop at the Moor, and come
nat to town with the Kynge; some sey that they wer
1 Here, according to Feuu, follow passages touching "an account of
monies, debts, &c., a dispute with his uncle William, and a desire to defer
his sister Margery's mamage with Kichard Calle till Christmas."
s George Nevill, Archbishop of York. 3 See page 346, Note i.

390 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.1469.
yesterdaye iij. myle to the Kyng wards from the
Moor, and that the Kyng sent them a massangr that
they scholde com when that he sent for them. I
wot not what to suppose tlierin; the Kyng hymselffe
hathe good langage of the Lords of Clarance, of
Warwyk, and of my Lords of York [and] of Oxenford,
seyng they be hys best frendys; but hys howselde
men have other langage, so that what schall hastely
faile I cannot seye.
My Lorde of Norffolke schall be her thys nyght
I schaU sende yow mor when I knowe mor.
Item, iff Ebysham come not home with myn oncle
W., that than ye sende me the ij. Frenshe bookys
that he scholde have wretyn, that he may wtyght
tliem her, John Paston, Kt
633.
A.D, 1469. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
[John Paston] to [Sir John Paston].
Has reckoned with Maryot. Accounts of Bekham. Has not
spoken with W. Bakton, but will before retuming to Norwich.
Means to visit Bekham on his way thither. Sends copy of the
condition wherein ye be bound to John Maryot As for Sir T.
Mongomere's man, &c.
Richard Calle says he has delivered to me all writings he had
of you except an endenture for letting Saxthorp, which is but a
jape. All but a rental of Snaylwell are but accounts, &c He
has delivered me four or five court rolls of Sir J. Fastolff's lands,
of his own hand. He has done reasonably well about showing
me the arrears of your lifelode. "As for his abiding, itis in
Blakborow nunnery, a little fro Lynn, and our unhappy sister's
also. And as for his service, there shall have no man have it
before you, and ye will. I hear not speak of none other service,
of no lord's that he shall be in." Has not yet spoken with
Daubney's executors, but will on his way homewanis. Sends
copy of the inventory^ he (John Paston) made on leaving Caister.
Means to be at Sporle to-morrow or ITiursday, to see what may
1 See No. 630.

A.D.1469.] EDWARD IV. 391

be made of the wood, and who will g>ve most for it 
{MS. mutitated at the bottom.)
_ tThis letter is in the handwriting of John Paston, but the signature
IS lost. It is quite certain that it was written in 1469 after the surrender
of Caister. ^ Allusion is also made to the unpleasant subject ofthe engage
ment of Richard Calle and Matgery Paston, who seem to havc retired to
Blackborough nunnery prior to their marriage.]

634.
A.D. 1469, 6 Nov. — Abstract.
[Add. Charter, 14,526, B.M.]
Indenture between Sir John Paston, of the one part, and Roger
Townsende, gent, of the other part, containing covenants for
the sale of the manor of Est Beckham, and of all Paston's other
lands in Est Bekham, West Bekham, Bodham, Sherryngham,
Beeston near the Sea, Runeton, Shipden, Felbrigg, Aylmerton,
Sustede, and Gresham, which the said Sir John had of the gift
of John Mariet the elder of Est Bekham, for 100 marks, of which
he has received already ;^S4, leaving ;^I2, 13J. ^. to be paid by
the said Roger at the Feast of St Luke next coming. Dated
6th Nov. 9 Edw. IV. Seal, with inscription, " Si Dieu vuet."

635.
Abstract.
The following abstract is taken firom Mr. Macray's Report on the MSS. in
Magdalen College, Oxford.
1469, 25 Nov., 9 Edw. IV. " In the priory of Saynt Mar)'e
Overy in Suthwarke." Acknowledgment (in English) by Will.
Yelverton, Knt., Just, of IC B., of the receipt from Bishop
Waynflete of f,%T, in full satisfaction of all claims on Sir J.
Fastolf by Jaquet, Duchess of Bedford; solemnly promising
also that he will not hereafter receive any sums, great or small,
on account of Fastolf's goods, debts, or possessions, without the
assent of the Bishop, that he will at all times be ready to seal
such grants, &c, as the Bishop may require to be sealed, and
that he will not himself make or seal any grant, &c., without the
Bishop's will and agreement.

392 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1469.
636.
A.D. 1469, Dec.
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 416.]
It appears by the contents that this letter was written about Christmas
after the siege of Caister. An appeal of murder was a process sued by the
nearest relative of a person killed. It was quite independent of any prosecu
tion for murder by tiie Crown, and no royal pardon was of any avail against
it ; but the appeal had to be brought within a year and a day ofthe fact.
To Master Syr John Paston, Knyglif.
|YGHT worchepfuU syr, I recomand me to
you, &c. It is so that thys day ther cam a
good felaw to me, whyche may not be dys-
coveryd, and let me wet that my Lord of
Norff. consayU hathe this Ctystmas gotyn the two
wydows, whows husbands wer slayn at the sege of
Caster, and have hem bowndyn in a gret some that
they shall swe a peel ayenst me and syche as wer ther
with me within the plase, and they be bownd also that
they shall relese no man within the apell namyd tyll
syche tyme as my Lord of Norff. wyll lycence them.
Item, the cawse is thys, as it is told me by dyvers,
that ye meke no more swte to my Lord for yourself
then ye do, and therfor they do the wors to me for
your sake.
Item, as for my comyng up to London, so God help
me, andl may chese, I com not ther, for argent mefawU,
without apell or an inkyr [inquiry ?] of som specyaU
mater of your cawse it Item, I pray yow remembyr
Caleys, for I am put out of wagys in thys contre.
Item, I pray yow send me some tydyngs how the
world gothe ad confortandum stomaaim.
Item, ye must purvey anewe atorny in thys contre.
As for me, for our maters and clam ore is to gret, and
our purse and wytte to slendyr, but I ivyle mbbe on
as long as I maye bothe with myn owne, and other
menys that wyle do for me tyll better pese be.
Wretyn thys Saturdaye, at Nonvcyche. J. P.

AD. 1470.] EDWARD IV. 393
637.
A.D. 1470, March.
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 28.]
From the reference to the Ring's being about to go into Lincolnshire, and
what is said ofthe Earl of Warwick, it may be clearly inferred that this letter
was_ written on the outbreak of the insurrection of Sir Robert Welles in the
beginning of March 2470.
To John Paston, Esquier, beyng at Norwyche, be thys
letter delyveryd,
Comande me to yow, letyng yow wete, &c^
• ••••¦
Item, as for Mestresse Kateryn Dudle, I
have many tymes recomandyd yow to hyr,
and she is noo thynge displeasyd with itt She
rekk)rthe not howe many gentylmen love hyr ; she is
full of love. I have betyn the mater for yow, your
onknowleche, as I told hyr. She answetythe me, that
sche woll noon thys ij. yer, and I beleve hyr ; for I
thynke sche hathe the lyffe that sche can holde hyr
content with; I trowe she woU be a sore laboryng
woman this ij. yer for mede of hyr sowle.
And Mestresse Gtyseacresse is sure to Selenger,
with my Lady of Exestre, a fowle losse.
Item, I praye yow speke with Harcort off the
Abbeye, for a lyteU clokke, whyche I sent hym by
James Gressham to amend, and that ye woU get it
off hym, and it be redy, and sende it me ; and as for
mony for hys labor, he hathe another cloke off myne,
whyche Sir Thomas Lyndes, God have hys sowle I
gave me ; he may kepe that tyU I paye hym. Thys
klok is my Lordys Archebysshopis, but late not hym
wete off it, and that itt [be] easely catyed hyddre by
yowr advyse.
1 Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of bills and receipts, &&

394 THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.d. 1470.
Also as for orenges, I schaU sende yow a serteyn
by the next catyer. And as for tydynge the berer
hereoff schall infforme yow; ye most geve credence
to hym.
As for my goode spede, I hope well. I am offtyd
yit to have Mestresse Anne Haulte, and I schall have
help i nowe, as some say.*
Item, it is soo that I am halffe in purpose to com
home with in a monythe her afftr, or abowt Med
Lente, or beffor Esteme, ondyr yowr coreccon, iff so
be that ye deme that [my] modre wolde helpe me to
my costys, x. mark or ther abowt ; I praye feele hyr
dysposicion and sende me worde.
Item, I cannot teU yow what woll faile off the
worlde, for the Kyng verrely is dysposyd to goo in
to Lyncoln schyr, and men wot not what wyll faile
ther ofl, ner ther afftre; they wene my Lorde off
Norffolke shaU ^ btynke x."^ men.
Item, ther is comen a newe litell Torke, whyche is
a weie vysagyd felawe, off the age off xL yere ; and
he is lower than Manuell by a hanffuU, and lower
then my lytell Tom by the schordetys, and mor lytell
above hys pappe ; and he hathe, as he seyde to the
Kynge hymselffe, iij. or iiij. sonys, chyldre, iche one
off hem as hyghe and asse lykly as the Kynge hym
selffe ; and he is leggyd tyght i now, and it is reportyd
that hys pynteU is as long as hys legge.
Itera, I praye yow schewe, or rede to my moodre
suche thynges as ye thynke is for her to know, afftre
yowr dyscression ; and to late hyr undrestond off the
article off Iiie trete between Syr Wylliam Yelverton
and me.
Item, my Lorde of Warwyk, as it is supposyd, schall
goo with the Kynge in to Lyncolne schyre; some
1 Here (according to Fenn) follows an account of some disputes between
sir William Yelverton and Sir John Faston, his uncle William, &c., of no
consequence. ^s ihaiL This word is not in Fenn's left hand or literal transcript, but is
given as part of the text in the right hand copy.

AD. 1470.] EDWARD IV, 395
men seye diat hys goyng shall doo goode, and som
seye that it dothe harme.
I praye yow evyr have an eyghe to Caster, to knowe
the rewle ther, and sende me worde, and whyther my
wyse Lorde and my Lady be yit as sottyt [? besotted]
uppon it as they were ; and whether my seyd Lorde
resortythe thyddre as offte as he dyd or nott ; and off
the dysposycion off the Contre. J. P., K.

638.
A.D. 1470, 27 March.
Anonymous to John Paston,
[From Fenn, ii. 36.]
This letter gives an account of the suppression of the rebellion in Lincoln
shire in X47a To my Cosyn, J. Paston,
JHE King camme to Grantham, and ther taried
Thoresday all day; and ther was headed
Sir Thomas Dalalaunde, and on John NeiUe,
a greate capteyn ; and upon the Monday
next after that at Dancastr, and ther was headed Sir
Robert Wellys, and a nothr greate capteyn ; and than
the King hadde warde that the Duk of Clarence and
the Erie of Warwick was att Esterfeld [Chesterfield],
XX. mile from Dancastre.
And upon the Tewesday att ix. of the beU, the
King toke the feld, and mustered his people ; and itt
was seid that wer never seyn in Inglond so many
goodly men, and so well arreiyed in a feld. And my
Lord was whorsshupfuUy accompanyed, no lord ther
so weU; wherfor the King gaffe my Lord a greate
thanke. And than the Duk of Clarence and the Erie of
Warwik harde that the King was comyng to them
warde, in contynent they departed and wente to

39^ THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1470.
Manchestre in Lancasshire, hopyng to have hadde
helpe and socoiu- of the Lord Stanley, butt in con
clucion ther they hadde litill favor, as itt was enformed
the King, and so men sayn they wente westward, and
sommen demen to London. And whan the King
harde they wer departed and gon, he went to York,
and came theder the Thoresday next aftr, and ther
camme in to hym all the gentilmen of the shire ; and
uppon our Lady Day [he] made Percy Erie of Nor
thumberland, and he that was Erie aflbre Markeys
Muntakew. And [so]* the King is purposed to come
southwarde, God send hym god spede.
Writen the xxvij. day of March.
For Trowyth.
639.
A.D. 1470. — Abstract.
[From MS. Titchwell, 120, in Magdalen College, Oxford.]
William Worcester to 
From intemal evidence it would seem that this letter must have been
written shortly before that which follows it The abstracts of these two
letters have been kindly supplied to me by Mr. Macray.
Letter in English, on paper (signed W. W. , but unaddressed),
desiring some one to propose to " my Lord" [the Bishop of Win
chester?] the obtaining of a letter from Sir John Paston to the
tenants of Titchwell that he will not claim any rents from them,
and another from " my Lord," to the same eflfect, on behalf of
Sir William Yelverton ; and the sending a warrant to expend
4 or 6 marks upon making up the sea banks before the
"Titchwell pastures, because at Spring the sea breaks in upon
them. Desires to know whether Sir W. Yelverton's advice shall
be taken upon business matters. " Frere " GefiFrey Westvale is
going to be created Doctor in Theology at Cambridge, at the
Feast of SL John, who twenty years past, when at Yarmouth
convent, belonged to "my Maister Fastolf;" and SirThomas
Howys, a month before his decease, promised to help him on
Mr. Fastolfs order. He would have come now to " my Lord"
to ask his alms had not the writer letted him. Desires to be in
formed whether " my Lord "will help him. "Maister Briston
1 This word is not in the text of Fenn's literal transcript, but it is given
vithout brackets in the tianscript in modem spelling.

A.D. I470.] EDWARD IV. 397
yn lykewyse Master Spicer, and Maister Stevyns, tnistyn appon
me and djrvers others to speke to my Lord for a relyeve,' and
Thomas Fastolf and Milccnt Fastolf, and many others, " that
make me noyed and werye."

640.
A.D. 1470, 17 May. — Abstract.
[From MS. Titchwell, 199, in Magdalen College, Oxford.]
Letter in English from W. Wyrcestre to Bishop Wayneflete. —
Has been at Tychewell to endeavour to let tlie manor and farm,
but none of the farmers there will take it without guarantees from
Sir John Paston and Sir William Yelverton in writing against
any distraint  the younger, who owes £,% will come
to tlie Bishop about the letting. The writer represents his own
poor condition. Has been at cliarges ten years in London, and
m riding on the infinite process of " my Maister Fastolf's testa
ment yn the court of audience." Is now obliged to retire from
London to Cambridge in order to live cheaply. Had been pro
mised 25 marks on Paston's behalf, 20 marks for ever of Fastolf's
lands, 5 marks of fee for his life, and j^l^ worth of land for
ever. Has not had clearly 8 marks.

641.
A.D. 1470, 22 June.
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 428.]
As this letter refers to an incident in the siege of Caister as iiaving taken
place " in August last," there can be no doubt about the date.
To Syr John Paston, Knyght, or to Thomas Stomfys,
to delyver to the seyd Syr John.
[YGHT worchepfull syr, and my specyaU good
brodyr, I recomand me to yow ; and for as
myche as I can not send yow good tydyngs, -
ye shall have syche as I knowe.
It is so that on Wednysday last past ye and I,

398 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1470.
Pampyng, and Edmund Broom were endyttyd of
felonye at the Sessyons her in Norwyche for shotyng
of a gonne at Caster in August last past, whyche goone
slowghe two men, I, Pampyng and Broom as pryncy
paU, and ye as accessaty ; notwithstandyng Townys-
end 1 and Lomner held an oppynyon that the verdytt
is voyd, for ther wer ij. of th'enqwest that wold not
agre to th'endyttment And in as myche as they ij.
wer agreyd in othyr maters, and not in that, and that
they two wer not dyschargyd fro the remnant at syche
tym as that verdyth of yowyr endytment was govyn,
ther oppynyon is that aU the vordyght is voyde, as
well of aU othyr maters as of yowyr. AVhedyr ther
opynyon be good or not, I can not determyne, nor
them sylf neythyr.
I pray yow let not thys mater be slept, for I can
thynk that my Lord of Norff. consaylle wyll cawse the
wedows to tak an apell, and to remeve it up in to the
Kyngs Benche at the begynyng of thys term. Townys-
end hathe promysyd me that he shall be at London
on Twysday next comyng, and then ye may comon
with hym in that mater, and take hys avyse.
Item, Townysend and Lomner thynk that and ye
have good consayU, ye may justyfye the kepyng ofthe
plase for the pesybyll possessyon that ye have had in
it mor then iij. yeer ; but in conclusyon, all thys is doo
for nowght ellys but for to enforse yow to take a
dyreccyon with my Lord of Norff.
I undyrstood by R. SotheweU — forhe and I como
nyd in thys mater tyght largely betwyx hem and me —
in so myche he tellyth me that and I be at London in
the wek next aftyr Seynt Petyr, at whych tyme he shall
be ther hym sylf, he seyth that my Lady hathe pro
mysyd me hyr good ladyshep, and sent me woord by
h3fm, in a.s myche as he spak for me to hyr, that she
wold remembyr myn old servyse, and for get the gret
dysplesyr in syche wyse that I shall undyrstand Qiat
the swtte that I have mad to my Lord hyr husbond
1 Probably Roger Townsend, afterwards Justice oi the Common Pleas.

A.D. I470.] EDWARD IV. 399
and hyr shaU tome to your avantage and myn, more
then we weene as yett or shall undyrstand tyll syche
tyme as I have spokyn with hyr good grace. And
upon thys promesse I have promysyd Sothewell to
meet with hym at London that same weeke next aftyr
Seynt Petyr ; wherfor I wold passyngly fayne that ye
wer in London at that season, or nye abowght London,
so tliat I myght undyrstand at your plase wher that I
myght spek with yow or then I spek with my Lady.
I propose to go to Canterbety^ on foot thys next
week, with Godds grace, and so to com to London
fro thense. I pray yow se that I be safe for Parker
and Henry Coletts mater.
SotheweU ^ told me thys, that if so be that ye wyll
your sylf, ye shall have bothe goode lordshep and
ladyshep, and mony or lond, or both, and all your
maters set cier. What that he menyth, I can not sey.
As for all othyr maters in tliys contre, I shall do as
well as I may for fawt of monye tyll I spek with yow.
I have many collars on, as I shaU tell yow when I
come. No more, but God preserve yow and yours. Wretyn
at Norwyche, Ftyday next aftyr Corpus Christi Daye.
J. P.
I ded as myche as I kowd to have lettyd th'endytt
ment, but it wold not be, as I shall enform you ; and
Townysend knowyth the same.
642.
A.D. 1470, 25 June.
John Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 434.]
This letter, it will be seen, refers m the beginning to ne same matter
the preceding.
I On pilgrimage to the shrine of Siint Thomas Becket, I suppose.— F.
s Richard Southwell, Esq. of Wood-Rising. He acquired this estate by
marrying Amy, daughter and co-heir of Sir Edmund Vj'ichingliam, Knight.
— F.

400 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1470-
To Syr John Paston, Knyght, or to Thomas Stomppys,
to delyver to the seyd Syr yohn.
P I sent yow woord by a lettyr that John
Wymondham browght to London, J. Pam
pyng is endyghtyd of felony, and Edmund
Broon as princypaUys, and ye as axcessaty,
for schotyng of agonne in Awgust last past, whyche
gonne kyUyd ij. men ; and I trowe that my Lord ot
Norff. consayU wyU make on of the wedows, or bothe,
to swe an apell up on the same endyghtment thys
terme. Wherfor I pray yow se well to thys mater, that
when it is sertyfyid in to the Kyngys Benche, Broom
and Pampyng may have wamyng that they may pur
vey for hem self, if ther com eny capyas owght for
hem. Townysend can teU yow all the mater.
Also ye must in eny wyse be ware, for my graunt-
dam ^ and myn Lady Anne ^ and myn Oncyll WyUam
shall be at London within thes viij. or x. dayis, and I
wot weU it is for nowght ellys but to make myn Oncyll
WyUam swyr of hyr lond, notwithstandyng she hath
retyd affyn of it be for Goodreed,* the Justyse, in my
grauntfadyrs dayis, and my modyr teUyth me that ye
have the copye of the same fyne ; I wold av}se yow
to have it redy, what so evyr betyd. I trow they wyll
be the more besy abowght the same mater, because
they thynk that ye dar not com in London, nor at
Westmenstyr to lett [stop] them ; but if so be that ye
have not the copy of the same fynne, look that ye spare
for no cost to do serche for itt, for it wyll stand yow
on hand, I feell by the werkyng.
Thys day sevennyght I tmst to God to be forward
to Caunterbety at the ferthest, and upon Saterday
com sevennygh I ttyst to God to be in London;
I Agnes Paston, widow of William Paston, the Judge.
_ 3 Aiine, daughter of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, married Wil-
liam Paston, the uncle of Sir John Paston. — F.
8 William Goodrede was created a Serjeant-at-Law in 1425. In 143X he
was appointed King's Serjeant, and in 1434 became a Justice of the King's
Beusli.— F.

AD. 1470.J EDWARD tV. 4**
wherfor I pray yow leve woord at yowi plase in Fleet
Strett wher I shall fynd yow, for I purpose not to be
seyn in London tyll I have spook with yow.
I pray yow remembyr thes maters, for all is doon to
make yow to drawe to an ende with thes Lordys that
have your lond fro yow. No more, but I pray God
send yow your herttys desyir in thees maters and in
all othyr.
Wretyn at Norwyche, the Monday next aftjT Seynt
John Baptyst J. P.
643.
A.D. 1470, 3 July. — Abstract.
[From Paston MSS.]
Indenture between Sir John Paston and Edmund Shaa, gold
smith, London, conceming 20 dishes and a saucer of silver
pledged to the latter, 3d July 10 Edw. IV.
644.
A.D. 1470, 8 July. — Abstract.
[From Add. Charter, 17,249, B.M.]
Indenture, dated London, Sth July 10 Edw. IV., whereby Sir
fohn Paston places in pawn to Stephen Kelke, goldsmith, of
London, 16 pottingers, weighing 22 lb. loj oz. Troy weight, for
;^40, till Whitsuntide following.
645.
A.D. 1470, 14 July.— Abstracts.
Fastolf's Lands.
The following entries are taken from the old index of deeds and writings
relating to Norfolk and Suffolk, preserved in the tower of Magdalen College,
Oxford. "II. A triparted indenture betweene William Bishop of Win
ton and John Paston, Knight, and others, touching the intent of
two feoffmentes of the Bishop of Wynton, the one of the mannors
of Drayton and Tolthorp, in the county of Norfolk and the city of
Norwich, which were somtj-mes Sir John Falstofs ; the other of
TI. .D

46* THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1470-
the mannors of Wynterton, cald Bregmiles (?), of Reppys in
Bastwyke, the third part of the mannor of Rowneham, londes and
tenementes cald Cutts in Haringby, and lands cald Buley in
Stokesby, to Guy Fairfax, John Paston, Squier, et aliis. July 14,
Edw. IV. 10."
" 17. Relaxatio Johannis Paston, Georgii Arch. Cant et alio
rum Willielmo Waynflet totius juris de et in omnibus maneriis,
terris &c. quse fiierunt Johannis Falstolf in comit' Norf., exceptis
manerio de Castre et Spensers in Haringby, ac terris vocat' Vaux,
Redham, et Bosoms, et maner' de Hayleydon, Drayton, et Tol
thorp. Julii 14, Edw. IV. 10."
" 28. An indenture contayning mutuall releases ofthe Bishop of
Wynton to John Paston, Knight, et ca. July 14, Edw. IV. 10."
" 29 and 6l. An indenture containing the agreement betweene
Wylliam Wainflet, Bishop of Wynton, and Sir John Paston, con
ceming Sir John Fastolfes landes and goods. July 14, Edw.
IV. 10."
This last document, of which there is another copy or draft,
numbered 36 in the Index, is more fully described, as follows, by
Mr. Macray, in the Fourth Report of the Historical MSS. Com
mission : —
1470, 14 July, 10 Edw. IV. Indenture tripartite (very long,
in English) between Bishop Wayneflete and Sir John Paston,
Knight, containing an agreement for the termination of disputes
between the executors of the will of Sir John Fastolf, whereby
the property of the latter has been much wasted ; dividing the
manors between the Bishop and Paston, and providing for the
foundation of seven priests and seven poor schokrs in Magdalene
College ; Paston to deliver np all deeds and muniments to the
Priory of St Mary Overy, in Southwark, to be put in a chest,
locked with two locks and two keys, of which the Bishop to have
one and Paston the other, and the Bishop to bring thither also
all his deeds ; one part of this indenture to remain with each of
the parties, and the third with the Prior of SL Maty Overy.

646.
A.D. 1470, 15 July.
Pampyng to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Reference is made in this letter to the appeal which the two widows were
to sue against Sir John Paston. See Nos. 641, 642.

AD. 1470.] EDWARD IP'. 403
To my most reverent and worshipfuU master. Sir
John Paston, Knyght.
JIGHT worshipfuU sir and my good master, I
recomaund me unto yow in my moost lowly
wise. And please yow to wete I have with
the mony ye sent me by Judy rewardid my
felaship as ye comaundid, wretyn in a bille closid
herin ; and as for William Mil sent I lete hym wete
hough ye undirstood he was disposed to goo hoom
to his fadere, wherof ye were pleasid and wold he
shuld do so. He said he intendid not to be with his
fadir, ner it was not in his power so to do ; nevirthelesse
he is home to his fadir and ther abidith, but what he
purposith to do I wote not Davy is at home and
takyth heed to his lond. Homeworth is content and
gooth to his labour. As for Stompis, I have be with
the Abbot of Sen Benetts for hym as ye comaundid.
And he recomaundith hym to yow, and said to me he
was right glad that ye wold send to hym for any ser
vaunt ye had, saying that if he coud do any thyng for
yow, and for any servaunt of yours, he wold do it
feithfuUy. And also he said he wold not fayle yow
whill he levid in that he coud and myght do, trastyng
heraftir to have your help and favour in that he shall
have a do. And he told me and Stompis bothe,
whanne so evir he come he shuld be welcome, and
that he wold do as welle to hym as to fewe servauntes
he had for yowr sake, and that he wold kepe hym for
yow. As for my self my mastres saith she woU geve
me mete and drynk for a season ; nevirthelesse I am
wamyd to be ware, for it is told me that ther is pro
cesse out upon the appele ayens me and other ; wher
fore I beseche yow that that mater may be take heed
to as ye may, that we myght have knowlech of any
processe ther be, that we may be ware, for I thynk
verely, and I or any other come in ther hands this
world, we shuld not escape without shame at the leest
Item, as for the remnaunt of the mony biside

404 THE PASTON LETTERS. [A.D.i47a
this bUle, ye owe to the parson of Sent Edmondes
Caster for iiij. combe malt, and ij. combe whete, xj.
whiche I promysid hym to pay ; and Rob. Newton
lymebrenner for lyme, xiijj. iiij^., calling upon me for
it ; and Robert Bety for shoyng, xs.; and if it please
yow that I make payment herof there shall remayne
in my handes xxiijj. iiij^. And what ye woll I do
herin, I beseche yow to send me word. Judy hath
be with Thom Fastolff, he can telle yow answer in
that mater. As for the rewle at Caster, they selle
and make mony of such stuffe as they fond there, and
kepe other rewle that the contre is fiill soty and irk of,
and of my lordes men resortyng to hem, and riden
about the contty onknowen, and by betynges on hand ^
take large bribys. I pray God be your spede and
send yow some good meane for your weie and ease to
them that owe yow servise. Wretyn at Norwich the
Monday next aftir Relik Sonday,
Your pore servaunt,
Pampyng.
647.
A.D. 1470, IS July.
Margaret Paston to Sir John Paston.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.}
'This letter, although subscribed " By your mother," is neither signed nor
addressed. It is, however, undoubtedly from Margaret Paston to her son
Sir John. It is written in Pampyng's hand, and seems to be of the same year
as his own letter immediately preceding, which is dated on the same day.
GRETE yow well and send yow Goddes
blissyng and myne, letyng yow wete that
your fermours have brought me a gret bille
of reparacion, the which I send yow, vrith
Ixj. in mony. I wold have had tlie residue of the
mony of them, and they said it was your agrement
1 See VoL I., page 90, Note r.

AD. 1470.] EDWARD IV. 405
that this reparacion shuld be do and alowed now at this
payment, and so I coud get no more mony of them.
And they say that the parson^ was prevy to the repar
acion. If ye were thus agreed and woll have the
reparacion examined ye may send word ; but I wold
ye shuld purvey for your self as hastely as ye may,
and come home and take heed to your owne and to
myn therto, otherwise thanne ye have do bifore this,
bothe for my profite and for yours, or ellis I shall
purvey for my self otherwise in hast, so that I trast
shall be more ease and avayle for me and non ease
nor profite to yow in tyme to come. I have litell help
nor comfort of non of yow yet, God geve me grase to
have heraftir. I wold ye shuld assay whedir it be
more profitable for yow to serve me thanne for to
serve such masters as ye have servid afore this, and
that ye fynde mooste profitable theraftir do in tyme
to come. Ye have assayed the werld resonabilly, ye
shall knowe your self the bettir heraftir. I pray God
we may be in quyete and in rest with oure own from
hens forth. My power is nat so good as I wold it
were for your sake and other ; and if it were, we shuld
not longe be in daungere. God brynge us oute of it ;
who have yow in His kepynge. Wretyn with onhertes
ease the Monday next aftir Relike Sonday. By your Modir.

648.
A.D. 1470, s Aug.
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 46.]
This letter, as it will be seen from the contents, was written at the period
just before the restoration of Henry VI.
1 Sir Thomas Howes-

4o6 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a.d. 147Q

 Paston, Gfc,
IROTHER, I comand me to yow, &c . .. .^
Also telle John Pampyng that the mayde at
the Bulle at Cludeys at Westminster sent me
on a tyme by hym to the Moor a rynge of
goolde to a tookne, whyche I hadde not off hym.
Wherffor I woUe he scholde sende it hyedre, ffor sche
most have itt ageyn, or ellys vj., ffor it was not hynys.
Item, I praye yow be redye ; the mater q^vykennythe
bothe ffor yowe and yowres as weU as ffor us and
howtys. As ffor tydynges, my Lorde Erchebysshop^ is at the
Moor, but ther is beleffte with hym dyverse off the
Kynges servantes, and as I understond he hathe
lysence to tany ther tyll he be sente ffor. Ther be
many ffolkes uppe in the northe, soo that Percy ^ is
not able to recyst them; and soo the Kynge hathe
sente ffor hys ffeeodmen to koom to hym, for he woll
goo to putt them downe. And soom seye that the
Kynge sholde come ageyn to London, and that in
haste, and as it is sayde Cortenayes be londyd in
Devenschyr, and ther rewle.
Item, that the Lordes Clarance and Warwyk woU
assaye to londe in Inglonde evyrye daye, as ffolkes
ffeer. I praye yow late not John Mylsent be longe fifrom
me, TOth as moch6 as can be gadetyd : and also that
ye Wtyght to me off all thynges that I have wretyn to
yow ffor, so that I may have answer off evety thynge.
Other thynges Bach eler Walter, berer heroff, schaU
informe yow.

* Here follows an order about searching for some writings, &c. — F.
s This must mean George Neville, Archbishop of York, and brother to the
Earl of Warwick, who seems to have been suspected by the King, and left at
the Moor as a kind of state prisoner. — F.
S Henry Percy, who was restored to the Earldom of Northumberland this
year on its surrender by John Nevill, Lord Montague. See No. 638.

A.D. 1470] EDWARD IV. 4° 7
Wretyn at London, the Sondaye nexte beffor Seynt
Lawrence Daye.*
Also my brother Edmonde is not yet remembtyd.
He liathe not to lyff with, thynk on hym, &a
John Paston, Kt.

649.
A.D. 1470, 7 Aug. — Abstract.
[From Add. Charter, 17,250, B.M.]
Indenture, dated London, 7th Aug. 10 Edw. IV., whereby Sir
John Paston puts in pawn to Ric. Rawlyn of London, grocer,
2 chargers and 4 potengers, weighing 1 1 lb. 1 1 oz. silver, for ;f 20,
till Whitsunday following.

650.
Abstract.
The following abstract, like some others peceding, is taken from Mr.
Macray's Report to the Historical MSS. Commission on the Records of Mag
dalen College, Oxford.
1470, 10 Aug. 10 Edw. IV., at Eshher. Undertaking in Eng
lish by John Paston, Esq., son of John Paston, Esq., who was
one of the feoffees and executors of Sir John Fastolf, that whereas
Bishop Waynflete, ako one of the feoffees, and now sole executor,
has taken upon him to perform the will of the said Sir John, so
far forth as it may be performed (it being in most substance not
yet performed, and his property wasted and devoured), out of his
manors and lands in Essex, Surrey, Norfolk, Suffolk, and the
city of Norwich, he (the said John Paston) will do tme and faith
fiil service to the said Bishop, and will be aiding and assisting to
hun and Magdalen College, in order that the lands may be let
to their greatest profit, he being rewarded by the Bishop, to show
his very good will to the due performing of Fastolfs will ; and
that before the Feast of All Samts next he will deliver up to the
said Bishop all charters, deeds, evidences, rentals, accounts, &c.,
pertaining to any of the said manors, excepting such as concem
solely the manor of Castre, which by covenant of the said Bishop
with Sir John Paston, Knight, brother of the said John Paston,
Squire, must remain with the same Sir John.
1 S^ Laurence's day is the loth of August.

4o8 THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 1470,
651.
A.D. 1470. — Abstracts.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
Painter's Work.
I. Account of payments to Robert Spery, servant of Vyol, and
others, for working at the Frerys * in June and July ; also for
vamish, lead, earthen pans, yellow ochre, oil, bristles to make
bmshes, &c., for painter's work.
Endorsed: " Vialles byll comprisid in the iij. rolles of stuff and
werkmanship to A. P. ' place and the Freris, which, as Clargynet
understondi^, is paid to Viall."
" Memorandum : j. copy of this bill remayneth amonges the
billes of werkmanship at the White Freres and Baretts place,
and a noder among the billes of plate and Vialles plegis."
2. " Bill indented," ISth Aug. 10 Edw. IV., between William
Paston, Esq., and Thomas Vyall of Norwich, painter, relative
to the pledging of certain coral beads and plate to the former,
for £5.
3. Account of sums owing to one Vyall for certain persons " at
the Freris," during August, September, and October. Total,
32J. lod.
Endorsed: " Viall's reckoning written in the roll of the Freris
werke not paid, and must be allowed of the £$ that was lent to
ViaU not yet content again.
" Memorandum : one copy of this bill remaineth amongs the
bills of workmanship at the White Freris and Baretts place, and
another bill amongs the bills of plate and pledges."

652.
A.D. 1470, 27 Aug.
Fastolf's College.
The following entry is from the same old index of deeds in Magdalen
College, Oxford, referred to in previous Nos.
"4. John Paston, Squier, bindes himself to doe trae and faith
full service to the Bishop of Winton, and to be ayding tohis college
and other his officers and tenants, for the landes of Sir John
Falstolf, and to deliver to him all deedes, evidences, &c., excepl
such as concerne the manor of Castre. Aug. 27, Edw. IV. 10."
1 Apparently the White Friars at Normch. ' Agnes Paston's f

A.D, 1470.] EDWARD IK 409
653.
A.D. 1470, 7 Sept. — Edward IV. to William Swan.
[From Fenn, iv. 438.]
This letter does not properly belong to the Paston correspondence. It was
copied by Fenn from an original in the library of Brigg Price Fountaine,
Esq, of Narford, in Norfolk, nephew and heir of the celebrated antiquary.
Sir Andrew Fountaine. The MS. was contained in a volume of State Papers,
some of them originals, and some copies, of various dates, whldi hacl be>
longed to Sir Edward Coke.
The date of the document is undoubtedly in September 1470, when Edward
was at York, anticipating the invasion of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick.
aided by the King of France.
To oure welbelovid William Swan, GentUman,
R. E. By the King.

iH

RUSTY and welbeloved, we grete you well.
And for soo muche as we be credibly acer-
ta3Tied that ourauncient ennemyes of Fraunce
and our outward rebells and traitors be drawe
to gadre in acorde, and entende hastily to lande in
our countre of Kent, or in the parties therof ner adjon-
yng, with grete might and power of Frenshemen,
utterly to destroie us and our true subgietts, and to
subverte the comon weie of the same our royalme :
We straitly charge and commaunde you, upon the
feyth and hegeaunce that ye bare unto us, that ye
arredie you with alle the felaship ye can make, and as
sone as ye may undrestonde that thay lande in our
said countie or nerbye, that you draw thider, as we
have comaunded othere our subgietts to doo, and put
you in uttremost devoir with thaim to resiste the
malice of our said ennemyes and traitours ; and if thai
and ye be not of power soo to doo, that thanne ye
drawe you to our citie of London, by which tyme we

410

THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 147a

trust to be there in our owne personne or nerby ; and
if we be not that, that thanne ye do farther all ye shal
bee commaunded by our Counsail there, upon the
payne above said.
Yeven undre oure signet at oure citie of York, the
vij. day of Septembr.

The Paston Letters.
Heftry VI. Restored.
654.
A.D. 1470, 12 Oct.
John Paston to Margaret Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 50.]
The contents of this letter clearly refer to the state of matters on thc
restoration of Henry VI.
To my ryght worchipfuU Modyr, Margaret Paston, be
thys delyuered.

FTYR humbyll and most dew recommenda-
cyon, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of
yowr blyssyng. Plesyt yow to wet that,
biyssyd be God, my brodyr and I be in good
hele ; and I tryst that we shall do tyght well in all
o^vyr maters hastyly ; ffor my Lady of Norff.i hathe
promyssyd to be rewlyd by my Lord of Oxynforthe ^ in
all syche maters as belonge to my brodyr and to me ;
and as for my Lord of Oxynforthe, he is bettyr Lord
to me, by my trowthe, than I can wyshe hym in many
1 Elizabeth, daughter of John Talbot, first Earl of Shrewsbury, was the
wife of John Mowbray, fifth Duke of Norfolk.
a Jomi de Vere, J staunch Lancastrian.

412 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 1470.
maters ; for he sente to my Lady of NorfiF. by John
Bemard only for my mater, and for non othyr cause,
my onwetyng [i.e. without my knowledge], or wythout
eny preyer of me, for when he sente to hyr I was at
London, and he at Colchestyr, and that is a lyeklyod
he remembyrthe me.
The Dwk and the Dwchess swe to hym as humbylly
as evyr I dyd to them ; in so myche that my Lord of
Oxynforth shall have the rwyll of them and thers, by
ther owne desprs and gret meanys.
As for the ofyces that ye wrot to my brodyr for and
to me, they be for no poore men ; but I tryst we shall
sped of othyr ofyseys metly for us, for my Mastyr
the Erie of Oxynforthe bydeth me axe and have. I
trow my brodyr Syr John shall have the Constabyllshep
of Norwyche CastyU, with xx/i. of flfee j all the Lordys
be agreyd to it.
Tydyngs, the Erie of Wyrcestyr^ is lyek to dye this
day, or to morow at the ferthest John Pylkyngton,
Mr. W. att Clyff, and Fowler ar takyn, and in the
CastyU of Pomfrett, and ar lyek to dye hastyly, wiUi
owte they be dead. Sir T. Mongomere and Joudone
be takyn ; what shall faile of hem I can not sey.
The Qwen 2 that was, and the Dwchess of Bedford,^
be in seyntuaty at Westmestyr ; the Bysheop of Ely*
with othyr Bysheopys ar in Seynt Martyns. When I
here more, I shall send yow more. I prey God send
yow all your desyrs. Wretyn at London on Seynt
Edwards Evyn. Your sone and humbyll servant, J. P.
Modyr, I beseche yow that Brome may be spoken
to, to gadyr up my syllvyr at G^vton in all hast pos-
¦*¦ John Tiptoft, Lord Treasurer and Chief-Constable of England. He was
beheaded on a charge of cruelty, iSth Ot,-iober 1470.
2 Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of Edward IV.
S Jaquetta of Luxemburg, Duchess-Dowager of Bedford, widow of Sir
Richard Woodville, the mother of Edward's queen.
¦4 William Gray.

A.D. 1470.] HENRY VI. RESTORED. 413
sybyll, for I have no mony. Also that it lyek yow
that John Mylsent may be spoken to, to kep well my
grey horse, and he be alyve, and that he spare no met
on hym, and that he have konnyng lechys to look to
hym. As for my comyng hom, I knowe no serteynte,
for I terty tyll my Lady of Norff. com to go thorow
with the maters, and she shall not be here tyll Sonday.

655.
A.D. 1470, 22 Oct. — The Duke of Suffolk's Men.
[From Fenn, iv. 448.]
The battle here referred to as " Lincoln Field " is what is commonly called
the battle^ of Stamford, in which the insurrection of Sir Robert Welles in
Lincolnshire was completely defeated in Marcb 1470. Just before the date
of this document, Edward IV. had left the kingdom, and Henry VI. had
been restored ; but perhaps Suffolk was not aware of the situation, or did
not recognise it.
To the Baillies, Constables, and Chamberleyns of our
Burgh of Eye, and to everch of them.
The Duke of Suff.
|0R asmuche as Edmond Lee and John Barker,
which were waged for your town to awaite
upon us in the Kings service to Lincolne
Feld, and from thens to Excestre and ayen,
and for that season, as we be enfourmed, thei ar not
yet fiilly contented and paied of their wages ; wherfore
upon the sighte herof we woll and charge that ye,
with oute any lenger delay, paie them their hooll
duties acording the covenants that ye made with
them, and ye faille not herof as ye entende our pleaser.
Wreten at Wyngefeld, the xxij''' day of Octobr. Suffolk.

4U THE PASTON LETTERS, [ad. 147a
656.
A.D. 1470, 15 Nov.
Sir John Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 450.]
From what is said in this letter about the Earl of Oxford, it is impossible it
could have been written at any other time than during the brief restoration
of Henry VI., which only lasted from October 1470 till April foUowing.
To John Paston, Esquyere, in haste.
ROTHER, I comand me to yow, praying yow
that thys be yow guydyng, if other folkys
wy[ll] agree to the same, that Mr. Roos, olde
Knevett, ye, and the worshypfuUest that wyll
do for owr sake, as Arblaster, John Gyneye, Wodhows,
and al other gentelmen that at the daye wyll be in
Norwyche, that ye all holl as on bodye come to geder,
that my Lorde of Oxenforde maye ondrestande that
som strenkethethe restyth ther by, whyche if it be well
handely[d] and prove in the haiidely[ng], I trow Hey-
donnes parte woll be but an easy compatyson. Never
thelesse ye than most ye bewar of on [one] payn, and that
is thys : Heydon wyll of crafte sende amonge yow for ^
case yj. or mor with hameyse for to sclandre yowr
felawschep, with seyng that they be tyotous peple,
and natt of substance. Requer the gentelmen above
wretyn that if any men be in Norwyche of the contre
that ber any suche hameyse, to do diem leve it or any
glysteryng byll.
The Meyr and siteseynes of Nowyche wher wonte
to have asertayne * in hameyse of men of the tovra to
the nombr of ij. or iij. or v.<=', whyche if they now do in
lyke case, those wole owe better wyll to Mr. Roos and
yow than to other folkys; and if it be so that the
thowt nat to have non suche at thys tyme, I thynke
the Meyr woll do it at the request of Mr. Roos and
yow, if lak of tyme cawse it not.
1 for. The copy in modem spelling reads fr^.
^ A certain. i.e. a number.

AD.1470.] HENRY VL RESTORED. 415
Item, be well war of Clopton, for he hathe avysed
my Lorde to be all to gydre rewled by Heydon, in so
moche he hathe reportyd that all thyng and all matetys
of my Lordes, and in all the contre, scholde guydyd
by Heydon. If Clopton or Hygham or Lowes John
be besy, prese in to my Lorde byfor them, for the be
no Suff.i matetyS, and tell the raylyng; prayng
them not to cawse my Lorde to owe hys favor for the
pleser to som folkys ther present. For if my Lorde
favorj^d or theye owther, by lykelyed my Lorde and
they myght lose yj. tyme as many frendes as he
scholde wjTin by ther meanes. Also if ye cowde
fynde the meanes, Mr. R. and ye, to cawse [the] Meyr in
my Lordes ere to telle hym, thow he scholde bynde
my Lorde to concell, that the love of the contre and
syte restyth on owr syde, and that other folkys be not
belovyd, ner nevyr wer, thys wolde do nonn harme,
if it be soo that that all thynge go olyver currant (?) ;
with mor to remembre that ther is owt of tiiat
contre that be nat at Norw. besyde me, that be tyght
worshypfull, and as worshypfull as few be lengyng
to Norff., that woll and schall do my Lorde servyse
the rather for my sake and Master Rossys, and the
rather if my Lorde semyth nat moche thynge to Hey
don guydyng.
Also, the godely menes wherby ye best can entrete
my cosyn Sir W. Calthorpe at the seyde day, wse
them to cawe hym, if itt wyll be, to come, ye in hys
companye, and he in yow in cheff at yow cheff schew,
and Mr. Roos and he in company, latyng my seyde
cosyn wete that I tolde hym ones that I scholde meve
hym of a thyng I trostyn scholde be encressyng bothe
to hys honor and well.
I sende yow a lettyr, com to Norwyche by lyklyed
to yow on Monday last past It come some what the
lattre, for I wende have dyed nat longe by foer it.
Also I receyved on from yow by Mr. Blomvyle yister
1 I retain this word in the abbreviated form in which it is printed in Fenn's
literal transcript ; the copy in modem spelling reads sn^cieni.

4x6 THE PASTON LETTERS. [AD. 147a
evyn. Tell my cosyn W. Yelverton that he may not
appyr of a whylle in no wyse. I trow my cosyn hys
fadr schall sende hym worde of the same. Do that ye
can secretly that my Lorde be nat hevy Lorde on to
hym. It is undrestande that itt is doon by the craffte
of Heydon. He gate hym in to that oSyce to have to
be ageyn me, and nowe he sethe that he hathe don all
that he can ageyn me, and now may doo no mor;
nowe he wolde remeve hym. The daye is comen that
he fastyd the evyn for, as an holye yonge monke fastyd
mor than all the covent, aftr that for hys hol)messe
and fastyng hopyd to be abbott, whyche afterwarde
was abbott ; than lefte he hys abstynens, seyng, " The
daye was come that he fast the evjTi for."
Brother, I pray yow recomand me to my Lord of
Oxford gode Lordshyp. And wher as I told my Lord
that I shuld have acwayted uppon hys Lordsyp in
Norff., I wold that I myght soo have don lever then a
hundred li ; but in godefeth thos maters that I told
my Lord trewed shold lette me war not fynyshed tyl
yesterday. Wherfor yf that cause, and also syn Halow-
masse evety other day myst not hold uppe myn heed,
nor yet may, in semech that sythen the seyd day, in
Westminster Halle and in other place, I have goon
with a staffe as a goste, as men sayd, more lyke that I
rose owte of the erth then owte of a fayr laydys bedd ;
and yet am in lyke case, savyng I am in gode hope
to amende. Wherfor I beshyche hys Lordshyp to
pardon me, and at a nother tyme I shall make dobell
amends; for by my trouth a man cowyd not have
hyred me for v. mark •with so gode will to have tyden
in to Norff. as to have at thys season ther to have
awaytyd in hys Lordshyp, and also I wold have ben
glad for my Lord shold have knowyn what servys that
I myght have don hys Lordshyp in that contray.
Item, your geer ys send to you, as Thomas Stampes
sayth, savyng Mylsents geer and the shafeson,i whych
I cannot entrete Thomas Stampes to goo therfor thys
1 Chevron, a coverins for a horse's bead, made of iron aad leather.

A.D. 1470.1 HENRY VI. RESTORED. 417
iij. or iiij. days, wherfor I knokkyd hym on the
crowne, &a
Item, loke that ye take hyde that the letter wer not
broken or that it com to your hands, &c. Wryten at
London, on Thursday next after Seynt Erkenwolds
Day, &c John Paston, K.
657.
A.D. 1470, 6 Dec — Abstract.
The following abstract is taken from Mr. Macray's Report on the Docu
ments in Magdalen College, Oxford, already referred to.
[1470] 6 Dec, on paper. Notice in English from the Duke of
Norfolk to Philippe Cosard, William Dux, and other of his
servants and tenants in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, to
depart out of the manor of Castre, and all other manors and lands
which he bought of Sir W. Yelverton and other executors of Sir J.
Fastolf, as soon as they can conveniently remove all his stuff and
their own which is therein, he having consented, at the desire of
the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chancellor of England, and
the Bishop of Winchester, to give up the said manor, &c. Signed
by the Duke, " Norff." Sm^ seal of arms, three lions passant,
in chief, a label of three points, a straw round the seal.
658.
A.D. 1470, II Dec. — Abstract.
This abstract is also taken from Mr. Macray's Report on the Documents in
Magdalen College.
1470, II Dec, 49 Hen. VI., "and of the readepcion of his
roiall power I." Release (in English) from John, Duke of Nor
folk, to Bishop Wayneflete„of the manors of Castre, Wyntertone,
Baytone, Bastwik, and Tolthorpe, in Norfolk, and of Caldecote,
Bumeviles or Bumegyles, in Suffolk, which had been sold to him
by Nicholas, Abbot of Langle, Will. Yelverton, Knight, Justice,
Thomas Howes, clerk, and Will. Worcetre, and of which the
said Yelverton, Howes, and Will. Jenney, as feoffees, with
others, for Sir J. Fastolf, of the said manors, enfeoffed the said
Duke and others by deed, dated ist Oct., 8 Edw. IV. [1468], the
said Duke being informed by the Archbishops of York and
Canterbury, and by the said Bishop of Winchester, that the said
bargain was made contraiy to the will of the said Sir John
Fastolf. Covenants also to deliver up all evidences conceming
the same, specially the said deed of feoffment and two papers,
IL 2 E

4i8 THE PASTON LETTERS, [a. d. 1470.
one with four seals specifying the said bai^ain, and another witn
three seals specifying a license to enter on all Fastolf s manors
till the bargain be performed. And for this reconveyance the
said Bishop pays to the said Duke 500 marks.

659.
A.D. 1470, 24 Dec. — Abstract.
This abstract is from the same report as the two last.
1470, 24 Dec, 49 Hen. VI., "and of the readepcione of his
royall power, thefirst." Acknowledgment by "the highe and
myghti Prynce, John, Duke of Norff. ,'^of the receipt of 100 marks
from the Bishop of Winchester, being part of 250 marks which
the said Bishop has promised to pay upon knowledge of the
delivery of the manor of Castre, and other lordships specified in
a vmting between the said parties, unto the feoffees of the said
Bishop.
660.
A.D. 1470 (?) [28] Dec.
Margaret Paston to John Paston.
[From Fenn, iv. 288.]
This letter was probably written in or about the year 1470. Anne Paston,
the sister of John Paston, here mentioned, was married to William Yelverton,
a grandson of the Judge, in 1^74 (Itin. W. Wyrc. 369), and the match had
been already determined (as will appear in a future letter) before June 1^72.
At the date of this letter she was still staying in Calthorpe's household, into
which, after the manner of the times, she Imd been sent for her education ;
and Calthorpe desiring to reduce his establishment, suggested, somewhat
earlier than her mother anticipated, that it was time to provide a husband
for her.
To John Paston the yonger, be this delivered in hast.
GRETE you weie, and send you Godds blys
syng and myn, latyng you wete that sith ye
departed my Cosyn Calthorp sent me a
letter, comple3rning in his wrytyng that for
asmych as he can not be payd of his tenaunts as he
hat be befor this tyme, he purposith to lesse his hows-

A.ti. t47i] HENRY Vt. RESTORED. 4*9
hold, and to leve the streytlyer. Wharfor he desireth
me to purvey for your suster Anne; he seth she
waxeth hygh, and it wer tyme to purvey her a mariage.
I marveyll what causeth \tyxa. to write so now ; outher
she hath displeased hym, or ell[es] he hath takyn her
with diffaught. Therfor I pray you comune with my
Cosyn Clere at London, and wete how he is dysposyd to
her ward, and send me word, for I shall be fayn to send
for her, and with me she shall but lese her tyme, and
with ought she wull be the better occupied she shall
oftyn tymes meve me, and put me in gret inquiete-
nesse. Remembr what labour I had with your suster,
therfor do your parte to help her forth, that may be to
your wurchiep and myn.
Item, remembr the bill that I spake to you of, to
gete of your brother of such money as he hath receyvid
of me sith your faders disseas. Se your Unkyll
Mautby, if ye may, and send me sume tydyngs as
sonee as ye may. God kepe you.
Wret3Ti the Ftyday next befor Sent Thomas of
Caunterbuty, in hast. By your Moder.
661.
A.D. 1471, 12 Feb. — Abstract.
[From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]
Norfolk and Suffolk Deeds, No. 50. "John Paston, Knighi,
binds himself to performe all appoyntments made betweene him
and W. Wanflet, Byshop of Winton, conceming certayne landes
which were Sirjohn Fastolfes. Feb. 12, Hen VI. 49."

662.
A.D. 1471, 14 Feb. — Abstract.
[From a MS. in the Bodleian Library.]
Release by John Beauchamp, Knight, Lord Beauchamp, lu
John Paston and Roger Townesend, Esqs., of his interest in the

420 THE PASTON LETTERS. [ad. 1471.
manors of Castre called Redhams, Vaus, and Bosoms ; and in the
manors of Begviles in Wyntirton, Spensers in Heryngby, Reppes
in Bastwyk, and a third part of the manor of Runham ; and in
all lands called Billes in Stokesby, Cattes in Haringby, a mes
suage called Dengayns in Yarmouth, and aU lands and tenements
in Sie hundreds of East Flegge and West Flegge in Norfolk ;
which premises Lord Beauchamp lately had in conjunction with
Thomas Archbbhop of Canterbury, William Yelverton, Justice,
William Jenney, Serjeant-at-law, and William Paston, now sur
viving, and John Radclyff of Attylburgh, John Paston, Hen.
Fylongley, Esqs.. Thomas Howe-s, clerk, and Thomas Grene,
now deceased, ofthe gift and feoffinent of Ralph Boteler, Knight,
Lord Sudeley, Sir William Oldhall, Ric Waller, Esq., Thos.
West, Esq., William Wangford, and Nich. Girlyngton.
Dated 14th Feb., 49 and i Hen. VI.

663.
A.D. 147 1, 14 March.
The Earl of Oxford to Thomas Vere.
[From Fenn, iL 54,]
It b sufficiently apparent from the contents that this was written during
the restoration of Henry VI. , and in anticipation of the attempt by King
Edward.which was very soon afterwards successful, to recover his throne.
Edward in fact landed at Ravenspur tbe very day this letter was written.
To my right dere and welbeloved brother, Thomas Veer.
|IGHT dere and welbeloved brother, I com
mand me hertly unto you ; certyfying you that
I have receyved your writing, directed now
laste unto me, by my servant William Cooke,
by which I understande the faithfull gwydyng and dis
posicion of the cuntre, to my gret cumfote and pleaser ;
whichldowbte not shall redunde to the grethest presyng
and worship that ever dide till eny cuntre ; certyfying
you ferdermore that by Nicheson of your other tydyngs
laste send unto me; also thes by Robt Porter. I
have disposed me with all the power that I can make
in Essex and Suffolk, Cambtygeshire, and other places,
to be on Monday next comyng at Bury, which pupose
I intende to observe, with Godds grace, towards you

A.t). I47I.] HENRY VI. RESTORED, 4*'
in to Norffolk, to the assistence of you and the cuntre,
in case Edwarde with his companye had atyved ther,
and yete I shall do the same noughtwithstandyng ; for
if he atyve northwarde, like as ye wete by likelyhode
he shulde, I caste to folow and porsew hym. And
where ye desire that I shulde send you woorde what
disposicion shalbe take in the cuntre wher ye be,
I desire you that ye, by theadvyse of the gentilmen
which ben there, chese iij. or iiij., and send theym to
me at Buty on Monday next ; and than I and they,
with my Counceyle, shall take a direccion for the
suretie of all that cuntre, by Godds grace ; by whome
I shall send than to you relacion, wheder ye shall
remayne still ther your selff, or resorte to me with all
thos that be accompanyed with you. And Jhesu pre
serve you. At Hithingham [Hedinghani], the xiiij. day
of Marche. By your lovyng brothyr,
Oxynford.
664.
A.D. 1471, 19 March.
The Earl of Oxford to Henry Spilman
AND Others.
[From Fenn, ii. 58.]
This letter was evidently written flve days after the last.
To my right trusty and welbelovyd Henry SpUman,
Thos. Seyve, John Seyve, James Radclif, John
Brampton the older, and to eche of them.
|RUSTY and welbeloved, I comende me to
you, lettyng you witte that I have credible
tydyngs that the Kyngs gret enemys and
rebellis,acompanyed with enemys estraungers,
be nowe aryved, and landyd in the north parties of
this his land, to the utter destruction of his roiall per
sone, and subversion of all his realm, if they myght

42S THE PASTON LETTERS. [a.p. 1471-
atayne; whom to encountre and resiste the Kings
Highnesse hath comaunded and assigned me, under
his seall, sufficient power and auctorite to call, reyse,
gader, and assemble, fro tyme to tyme, all his hege peo
ple of the shire of Norff., and other places, to assiste,
ayde, and strenght me in the same entent.
Wherfor, in the Kyngs name, and by auctorite afore
said, I straitly charge and command you, and in my
owne byhalf hertly desire and pray you, that, all excuses
leid apart, ye, and eche of you in your owne persones
defensibly araied, with asmony men as ye may goodly
make, be on Ftyday next comyng at Lynne, and so
forth to Newark, where, with the leve of God, I shall
not faile to be at that tyme ; entendyng fro thence to
goo foorth with the help of God, you, and my fiyndes,
to the recountr of the said enemyes ; and that ye faUl
not hereof, as ye tendre the weele of our said sove
reygne Lord, and all this his realme. Written at Buty,
the xix* day of Marche. Oxynford.

665.
A.D. 1471.
James Gresham to Sir John Paston.
[From Fenn, ii. 60.]
The political news in this letter show that it was written after tbe landing
of Edward IV. in Yorkshire.
To the right worshipfuU and speciali singler maister,
Sirjohn Paston, Knyght, be this delyvered.

¦a

FTER due recomendacion hadde with all my
service, &c  1
As for tydyngs, here in this cuntre be
many tales, and non accorth with other. It
^ " Here," according to Fenn, " follow copies of indictments and appeals
procured against Sir John Paston and his servants ; and likewise other law
busmess." The indictments and appeals in question are doubtless those
referred to in the next No.

AD. 1471.] HENRY VI RESTORED, 423
is tolde me by the Undirshireve that my Lord of
Clarence is goon to his brother, late Kyng; m so
moche that his men have the Gorget^ on their breests,
and the Rose over it. And it is seid that the Lord
Howard hath proclamed Kyng E. Kyng of Inglond
in Suff., &C. Yours, and at your comandement, James Gresham.

666.
Abstract.
[From Paston MSS., B.M.]
A Register of Writs, &c., which was probably sent vrith the
preceding letter. It is addressed on the back, " To Sir John
Paston," and endorsed "James Gresham."
Distringas against Sir John Paston, late of Castre, for his
appearance in the King's Bench, Easter, 8 Edw. IV. "Per
Contr. de Anno viijo E. iiijti Ro. xxviij.' Vynter."
Distringas against Sir John Paston and Ric. Calle, late of
C:astre, vrith capias against William Wykes, late of Castre;
Edmund Brome, late of Redeham ; and John Dawebeney, late
of Castre ; Thurstan Cokesson, alias Starky, late of Castre ; John
Pampyng, late of Castre; and Henry Swete, late of Castre,
yeoman, for their appearance in the King's Bench in Easter to
answer for offences against the statute de ingressibus manu forti.
" Per Contr' de Anno viijo E. iiij'i Ro. xxviij. Vynter."
"Of these ij. writtes ar supersedeas AeiyytKA to the Undir-
shirreve." Writ of exigent against John Pampyng, late of Castre, gent,
and Edmund Brome of Castre, gent., " Oct' Joh'is," appealed by
CeciUa, widow of John Colman, as principals in the death of
her husband. Ro. 67. "Breve istud deliberatur de recordo,
HiU. xlix. Sonde."
Another writ of exigent against Pampyng and Brome at the
King's suit for divers felonies and murders. " Ro. xvj. Per
Contr' de Anno xo E iiijti Ro. xij" Vynter.
Distringas against Sir John Paston and Ric. Calle for their
appearance in the King's Bench in Easter term, on an indictment
for forcible entry. " Per Contr' de Anno viijo E. iiij'i Ro.
xxix." 1 A collar worn round the neck. — F.
3 The Controlment Roll 8 Edw. IV. is now missing.

424 HENRY VL RESTORED. AU 1471.]
Distringas against Sir John Paston and Ric Calle, with tapias
against John Wykes, late of Castre, Edmund Brome, John
Dawebeney, and Thurstan Cokesson, alias Starky, late of CaJstre,
for their appearance in the King's Bench in Easter term, on an
indictment of forcible entry. "Per Contr' de Anno viij. E.
iiijti. Ro. xxviij. Vynter."
Distringas against Sir John Paston and Ric. Calle, with capias
against John Wykes, Edmund Brome, John Dawebeney, and
Thurstan, &c., for Easter. " Per Contr. de Anno viij. Ro.
xxviij. Vynter."
Capias against John Pampjmg, late of Castre, Edmund Brome,
late of Redeham, William Bedford, and Edmond Mason, late of
Bychamwelle, laborer, and Alex. Cok of Norwich, yeoman,
"xv. Pasch.," appealed by Christiana, widow of Thos. Mylys,
in Easter term, as principals in the death of her husband. Also
capias against WiUiam Paston of Norwich and Ralph Lovell
of Bychamwelle, gent., appealed as accessaries. Ro. bdx.
Registram Sonde."
*»* All the above writs are for the county of Norfolk.
667,
A.D. 1471, 10 April. — Abstract.
The followmg is another entry from the old index of deeds in Magdalen
CoUege, Oxford. There is probably some slight error in the date, as Edward
IV. was not acknowledged as king on the loth April> in what would otherwise
have been the eleventn year of his reign. He was so acknowledged a few
days later — i.e., after the battle of Barnet, which was fought on the 14th
April — so that if the date had been, say, April 20, instead of April ." 3, it would
have been quite consistent It is impossible, however, to say where the error
lies, so we place the document under the date actually expressed in it.
" 30. Relaxatio Johannis Paston facta episc. Winton. et aliis
totius juris in maneriis vocat. Akethorp in Leyestoft, Spitlings
in Gorleston, Habland in Bradwell, &c., quae quondam fiienint
Johannis Fastolf. — April 10, Edw. IV, 11,

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