Part 11

Edward that was called Prynce. Lord John of Somerset. Erle of Devenshire. Lord Wenlok. Sir William Vaus. Sir Edmond Hamden. Sir John Seymour. Sir William Bermoth. Water Barrow. Mr. William Henmar. Mr. Feldyng.[104-2] Hervy, recorder.[104-3] Mr. Herry, capteyn of Brystowe. Sir Roberte Whetyngham. Knoyll.

_Thes be men that were heveded._[104-4]

The Duke of Somerset. The Lord of Sent Jones.[104-5] Sir Jerveys Clyfton. Humfrey Awdeley. Lowes Miles. Forey of Fraunce. Sir John Delvys.[104-6] Lord Foskew on lyffe. Sir William Carre. Sir Hew Courteney. Sir Thomas Tressham. Sir Herry Tressham. Sir William Newbery. Mr. Gower.[105-1] Mr. Awdeley.[105-2] Robert Clerke. Lechefeld, mason of Westmynster. Sir William Grymesby yet on lyffe.

_Thes be the Knyghtes that the Kyng mad in the Feld._

Lord Cobham. Sir George Nevel. Sir Philip Courtenay. Sir Herry Bemonde. Sir Moreys of Barkley. Sir Richard Hastynges. Sir Roberte Haryngton. Sir Thomas Gray. Sir James Terell. Sir John Feres. Sir Herry Feres. Sir Herry Purpeynt. Sir John Parre. Sir John Downe. Sir Roger Kyngstone. Sir John Crokere. Sir ---- Skerne. Sir James Crowmere. Sir William Sandalle. Sir John Deverys. Sir Herry Grey. Sir Edward Wodehous. Sir Richard Croft. Sir John Pylkyngton. Sir John Byngham. Sir John Harley. Sir John Boteler. Sir Christofer Morysby. Sir John Clay. Sir Robert Wylleby. Sir Robert Grene. Sir Roger Ree. Sir Richard Radclyffe. Sir John Saundes. Sir Thomas Strikelande. Sir George Browne. Sir William Motton. Sir Tery Robsert. Sir Thomas Cromewell. Sir Robert Corbet. Sir Nicholas Langford. Sir John Seyntlowe. Sir William Brandon.

[Footnote 104-1: [From MS. Phillipps 9735, No. 279.] This paper is in a contemporary handwriting, and undoubtedly refers to the battle of Tewkesbury.]

[Footnote 104-2: Sir William Fielding, according to Warkworth’s Chronicle.]

[Footnote 104-3: These words, ‘Hervy, recorder,’ are written over ‘Herry, capteyn,’ as a correction; but the latter are not erased. Warkworth mentions Sir Nicholas Hervy.]

[Footnote 104-4: Beheaded.]

[Footnote 104-5: Sir John Longstruther, Prior of St. John’s.]

[Footnote 104-6: Originally written ‘Mr. Delvys,’ and corrected.]

[Footnote 105-1: James Gower, according to Warkworth.]

[Footnote 105-2: Sir Humphrey Audeley.]

778

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[106-1]

[Sidenote: 1471 / JULY 5]

Most worchepfull and my ryght specyall good modyr, as humbylly as I can, I recomand me on to yow, besechyng yow of your blyssyng. Please it yow to undyrstand that thys day I spake with Batcheler Water, whiche let me have undyrstandyng of your welfare, wherof I thank God with all my hert. Also he leet me have knowlage that the Lord Scalys had grauntyd yow to be my good lord, wherof I am no thyng prowd, for he may do leest with the gret mastyr; but he wold depert ovyr the see, as hastyly as he may; and because he wenyth that I wold go with hym, as I had promyseyd evyr, and he had kept foorthe hys jornay at that tyme, thys is the cause that he wyll be my good lord and help to get my pardon. The Kyng is not best pleasyd with hym for that he desyerthe to depert, in so myche that the Kyng hathe seyd of hym, that wen evyr he hathe most to do, then the Lord Scalys wyll sonest axe leve to depert, and weenyth that it is most be cause of kowardyese. As for pardon, I can never get, withowght I schold paye to myche money for it, and I am not so purveyd. As for Herry Hallman, my brodyr wyll axe hym no sylver tyll ye be payeyd; therfor ye may send to hym and have it.

Item, I am sory that ye have fadyrd my hors that was at Caster to be my Brodyr Edmundys, for I had leveer that they had hym style then owght ellys; wherfor thow they profyr hym yow from hense foorthe, let not my brodyr Edmund take hym, but let him sey whedyr they wyll let hym have hym or not, that I have promyseyd my brodyr Edmund a bettyr hors for hym, so that he wyll not cleyme the same for hys. As for tydyngs her be non but that the Scottys and Walyshe men be besy; what they meane I can not seye. My cosyn John Loveday can tell yow, and ther be eny odyr flyeyng talys, for he hathe walkyd in London, and so do not I. When I may I wyll come hom with Godys grace, whom I beseche to sende you your hertys desyeyr. Wretyn the v. daye of Julle.

Be yowr humblest sone and servant,

J. P.

[Footnote 106-1: [From Fenn, iv. 116.] From the mention of Lord Scales in this letter it might be supposed that it was written not later than the year 1469, when Anthony Woodville, the last Lord Scales, became Earl Rivers by the death of his father; but I believe the date to be 1471, and that the writer is simply speaking of Earl Rivers by his old title. In the first place there is no appearance of either of the John Pastons requiring a royal pardon before the year 1471; secondly, it is not probable that either of them would have spoken so slightingly of the value of Lord Scales’s intercession at an earlier period; and thirdly, it seems doubtful whether Edmund Paston could have been old enough to own a war-horse many years before. Finally, we find by Letter 780 following that John Paston, the youngest, succeeded in obtaining a pardon signed by the King on the 17th July 1471. If the reference to the autograph plate in Fenn is correct, this letter was in the hand of his elder brother, Sir John Paston, Knight; but as it is not signed, like most of his letters, ‘John Paston, K.,’ we are inclined to suspect that it was really written by the younger brother, like No. 780.]

779

ABSTRACT[107-1]

[Sidenote: 1471 / JULY 12]

Norff. and Suff. Deeds, No. 5. ‘Relaxatio Johannis Paston militis, Davidi Husband et Will. Gyfford totius juris in maneriis de Saxthorp, Tichwell, Haineford, Essex in Hickling, etc., Calcote, Leystoft, Habland, Broweston, Gorleston alias Spitlings, quæ quondam fuerunt Johannis Fastolf mil., et quæ Will. Waynflet episcopus Winton’ habuit ex dono Rad. Boteler domini de Sudley, et prædicti David et Willielmus ex dono episc. prædicti, necnon de et in 25 _markes redd._ precipiend. de priori de Hickling. Julii 12, Edw. IV. 11. With a scedule annexed touching the same release.’

[Footnote 107-1: [From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]]

780

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[107-2]

_To my most worchepfull Modyr, Margaret Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast._

[Sidenote: 1471 / JULY 17]

Ryght worchepfull modyr, I recomand me to yow, and as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of yowr blyssyng. Please yow to undyrstand that thys Wednysday Sir Thomas Wyngffeld sent to me, and let me wet that the Kyng had syngnyd my bylle of perdon, whyche the seid Sir Thomas delyveryd me; and so by Fryday, at the forthest, I tryst to have my perdon ensealyd by the Chanceler, and soone aftyr, so as I can fornyshe me, I tryst to se yow, if so be that eny of the Kynges hows com in to Norwyche. I wold fayne my gray horse wer kept in mewe for gnattys. Also, modyr, I beseche yow that Dollys and his felawe may be sent to, that I may have my money redy ayenst that I come home, whyche is dew to be payid, for thys mater hathe cost me the settyng over. Also that it may please yow that Purdy at Heylysdon maye be sent to for the horse that he hathe of myne, and that the horse may be kept well, and have as myche mete as he wyll eate be twyx thys and that I come home, and that Jakys nage have mete i now also. Also, and Syr Thomas Wyngfeld come to Norwyche, that he may have as good chere as it please yow to make on to that man that I am most behold to for hys gret kyndnesse and good wyll, for he takyth full my part ayenst my gretest enmyeys, Brandons and hys brodyr William; for at my fyrst comyng to Sir Thomas Wyngfeld, bothe William Wyngfeld and William Brandon the yonger wer with Sir Thomas, and had gret wordys to myn owne mowthe, and in cheff W. Wyngfeld; and wher so evyr he may met me on evyn grownd he wyll do myche; but and we met evynly, no fors, so I have yowr blyssyng. I prey yow, with owght it be to my Lady Calthorp, let ther be but fewe woordys of thys perdon. No more, but I prey God preserve yow and yours.

Wretyn the Wednysday next before Mary Mawdelen,

By your humblest sone,

J. P.

[Footnote 107-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter refers to a pardon granted by the King to John Paston the younger, for having taken part with the Lancastrians at the battle of Barnet. Though the ‘bill’ for this pardon was signed by the King on the 17th July, the pardon itself did not pass the Great Seal till the 7th February following, under which date it is enrolled on the Pardon Roll of 11 Edw. IV., memb. 9.]

781

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[109-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston, or to John Paston, Esqier, hyr sone, in hast._

[Sidenote: 1471 / SEPT. 15]

Ryght well belovyd brother, I comende me to yow, letyng yow wete that I am in wellffar, I thanke God, and have ben evyr syns that I spake last with yow; and mervayle for that ye sent never wryghtynge to me syns ye departyd; I herde nevyr synes that tyme any worde out off Norffolk; ye myght aft Bertlemai Feyr[109-2] have had messengers i nowe to London, and iff ye had sent to Wykys, he scholde have conveyed it to me. I herde yisterdaye, that a Worsted man of Norffolk, that solde worstedys[109-3] at Wynchester, seyde that my Lord of Norffolk and my Lady wer on pylgrymage at Our Lady[109-4] on ffoot, and so they went to Caster; and that at Norwyche on scholde have had large langage to yow, and callyd yow traytor, and pyked many quarellys to yow. Sende me worde ther off; it wer well doo, that ye wer a lytell sewrer off yowr pardon than ye be: avyse you, I deme ye woll her afftr ellys repent yow.

I undrestonde that Bastarde Fauconbryge[109-5] is owther hedyd or lyke to be, and hys brother bothe; some men seye he wolde have deservyd it, and som sey naye.

I purpose to be att London the ffyrst daye off the terme; send me worde whethyr ye schall be ther or nott.

Item, I wolde wete whether ye have spoken wyth my Lady off Norffolk or not, and off hyr disposicion and the howsoldys to me and to yow wardes, and whether it be a possible to have Caster ageyn and ther goodewylles or not; and also I praye yow undrestande what ffelaschyp and guydyng is in Caster, and have a spye resortyng in and owt, so maye ye know the secretys among them. Ther is moche adoo in the Northe, as men seyn; I pray yow be ware off yowr guydyng, and in cheff off yowr langage, and so that ffro hense fforthe by yowr langage noo man perceyve that ye ffavor any person contrary to the Kynges plesur. I undrestonde that the Lord Ryvers hathe lycence off the Kynge to goo to Portyngale now within thys vij. nyght. I pray yow recomande me to my modre, and beseche hyr off hyr blyssyng on my be halve.[110-1]

Item, I praye yow sende me worde iff any off owr ffrendys or wellwyllers be dede, ffor I feer that ther is grete dethe in Norwyche, and in other Borowgh townese in Norffolk, ffor I ensur you it is the most unyversall dethe that evyr I wyst in Ingelonde; ffor by my trowthe, I kan not her by pylgrymes that passe the contre, nor noon other man that rydethe or gothe any contre, that any Borow town in Ingelonde is ffree ffrom that sykenesse; God sease it whan it pleasyt Hym. Wherffor, ffor Goddysake, let my moodre take heede to my yonge brytheren that they be not in noon place wher that sykenesse is regnyng, nor that they dysport not with noon other yonge peple whyche resortythe wher any sykenesse is, and iff ther be any off that sykenesse ded or enffect in Norwyche, ffor Goddes sake, lete hyr sende them to som ffrende off hyrse in to the contre, and do ye the same by myn advyce; late my moodre rather remeve hyr howsesolde in to the contre.

Even now Thyrston browt me word ffro London that it was Doctor Aleyn that cawsyd yowr troble that ye had at Norwych; and that John Pampyng roode ffor a dyscharge ffor yow, and that he hathe sped well, but howghe, that wot I nott; iff ye be cleer owt off Doctor Aleyn danger, kepe yow ther, and her afftr ye maye schoffe as well at hys carte. I praye yow sende me worde off all the fforme off hys delyng with yow.

I had almost spoke with Mestresse Ann Hault, but I dyd not; nevyrthelesse thys next terme I hope to take on weye with hyr or other; sche is agreyd to speke with me, and sche hopythe to doo me ease as sche saythe.

I praye yow sende me worde hoghe ye doo with my Lady Elysabeth Boghscher; ye have a lytell chaffyd it, but I can not tell howe; sende me worde whether ye be in better hope or werse. I her seye that the Erle off Oxenffordys bretheryn be goon owt off Sceyntewarye. Sir Thomas Fulfforthe[111-1] is goon owt off Sceyntewarye, and a gret ffelaschyp ffettchyd hym, a iij.^xx., and they sey that with in v. myle off London he was CC. men; and no man watethe wher he is become not yit.

The Lordes Hastyngs and Howerd be in Caleys, and have it pesebely; and Sir Walter Wrettesle and Sir Jeffrey Gate be comyn thense, and woll be at London thys daye as it is seyde.

Wretyn at Waltham besyd Winchester the daye nex Holy Roode Daye.[111-2]

J. P., K.

[Footnote 109-1: [From Fenn, ii. 72.] Apart from the reference to John Paston’s pardon, the date of this letter is fixed by what is said of the bastard Falconbridge.]

[Footnote 109-2: Bartholomew Fair, in Smithfield.]

[Footnote 109-3: Worsted, in Norfolk, a town formerly famous for the spinning of the fine thread with which the yarn called Worsted is made.--F.]

[Footnote 109-4: Of Walsingham.]

[Footnote 109-5: Thomas Nevill, a natural son of William, Lord Fauconberg. He was beheaded in 1471, and, as mentioned in Letter 782 following, his head was placed on London Bridge.]

[Footnote 110-1: Here follow, says Fenn, some directions about payments of money.]

[Footnote 111-1: Sir Thomas Fulford was son of Sir Baldwin Fulford, beheaded at Bristol in 1461; he likewise ended his life on the scaffold.]

[Footnote 111-2: Holyrood Day, 14th of September.]

[[I pray yow recomande me to my modre _text has “recomande mo”: corrected from Fenn_]]

782

SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[111-3]

_To hys well belovyd John Paston, Esquier, at Norwyche, or to Mestresse Margret, his Modre._

[Sidenote: 1471 / SEPT. 28]

I comande me to yow, letyng yow weet that, &c.[111-4]

I wolde ffayne have the mesur wher my ffadre lythe at Bromholm; bothe the thyknesse and compase off the peler at hys hed, and ffrom that the space to the alter, and the thyknesse off that alter, and imagery off tymbre werk; and what hyght the arche is to the grounde off the ilde, and how hye the grounde off the qwyr is hyer than the grownde off the ilde.

Item, I praye yowe late the mesur by pekthred be taken or elt mesured by yerde, how moche is ffrom the northe gate, ther the brygge was, at Gressham to the sowthewall, and in lyke fforme ffrom the este syde to the west, also the hyght off the estewall, and the hyght of the sowthest towr ffrom the grownde, iff ye maye easely. Also what bredde every towr is within the wall, and whych towr is moor then other within.

Alsso how manye ffote, or what brede eche towr takythe within iche corner off the quadrate[112-1] ovyrthwert the dorys, and how many taylors yards is from the moote syde, wher the brygg was, to the hyghe weye, or to the heddge all a longe the entre, and what brede the entre is be twyen the dykys. I praye yow, iff ye have a leyser in any wyse, se thys doone yowrselffe iff ye maye; or ellys iff Pampyng do it, or who that ye thynke can doo it, I wolle spende xx_d._ or as ye seme to have the sertayn off every thyng her in. And as for my ffaders tombe, I charge yow se it yowr selffe, and when I speke with yow I woll tell yow the cawses why that I desyr thys to be doon.

As ffor tydyngs, the Kyng, and the Qwyen, and moche other pepell, ar ryden and goon to Canterbery, nevyr so moche peple seyn in Pylgrymage hertofor at ones, as men seye.

Alsso it is seyde that the Erle of Penbroke[112-2] is taken on to Brettayn; and men saye that the Kynge schall have delyvere off hym hastely, and som seye that the Kynge off France woll se hym saffe, and schall sett hym at lyberte ageyn.

Item, Thomas Fauconbrydge hys hed was yesterdaye sett uppon London Brydge, lokyng into Kent warde; and men seye that hys brother was sor hurte, and scope to seyntwarye [_sanctuary_] to Beverle.

Sir Thomas Fulfforthe escaped owt of Westminster with an C. sperys, as men seye, and is in to Devenshyr; and ther he hathe strekyn off Sir John Crokkers hed, and kylt an other knyght off the Corteneys, as men seye. I wolde ye hadd yowr verry pardon at onys; wherfor I praye yow ffayle not to be at London within iiij. daye afftr Seynt Feythe;[113-1] ye schall do goode in many thynges, and I praye yow sende me worde heroff by the next massenger; and if it come to Mestresse Elysabeth Hyggens, at the Blak Swan, sche schall conveye it to me, ffor I woll not ffayle to be ther at London ageyn within thys vj. dayes.

Mestresse Elysabeth hathe a son, and was delyveryd within ij. dayes afftr Seynt Bertelmew;[113-2] and hyr dowtr A. H. was the next daye afftr delyveryd off an other sone, as sche seythe, xj. weks er hyr tyme; it was crystened John, and is ded. God save all! No mor tyll I speke with yow.

Wretyn at London on Mychellmesse Evyn.

J. P., K.

Item, I praye yow late some wytty felaw, or ellys yowrselff, goo to the townes ther as thes ij. women dwelle, and inquire whether they be maryed syns and ageyn or not, ffor I holde the hoorys weddyd; and iff they be, than the appelys wer abbatyd ther by. I remembr not ther names; ye knowe them better then I. Alsso in the Schreffvys bookys ther maye ye ffynde off them.

[Footnote 111-3: [From Fenn, ii. 80.] The evidences of date in this letter are the same as in the last.]

[Footnote 111-4: Here follows an account that the Duchess of Suffolk and Duke of Norfolk intend again commencing appeals against Sir John Paston and his brother, etc., concerning Caister, etc.--F.]

[Footnote 112-1: A drawing is here given in the original letter, apparently designed as a plan of the quadrangle of Gresham, of which the subjoined is a facsimile.

[Illustration]]

[Footnote 112-2: Jasper Tudor.]

[Footnote 113-1: 5th of October.]

[Footnote 113-2: 24th of August.]

783

R. L. TO JOHN PASTON[114-1]

_To hys worshipful master, John Paston, Esquier._

[Sidenote: 1471 / OCT. 21]

Ryght wurchupfull ser, I comaund me to your good maysterchepe, &c. Plese it you to understond that Redford desyryd me on your byhalfe that I chuld goo and comon with the woman that was the fullars wyfe of South Walsham, whech woman is now maryed to on Thom Styward, dwellyng in the parysch of Seynt Gyll in Norwych, whech woman seyd to me that che sewyd never the pele, but that she was by sotyle craft brought to the New In at Norwych, and ther was Maystir Southwell, and he entretyd hyr to be my Lords wewe [_widow_],[114-2] by the space of an hole yer next folwyn, and therto he mad hyr to be bowne in an obligacyon. And whan that yer was past he desyred hyr to be my Lords wedow another yer; and than she seyd that she had lever lose that that she had do, than to lose that and meer; and therfor she seyd pleynly that she wold no mor of that mater. And so she toke hyr an husbond, whech is the seyd Thom Styward; and she seyth that it was full sor ageyn hyr wylle that ever the mater went so forforth, for she had never non avayle therof, butt it was sewyd to hyr gret labor and losse, for she had never of my Lords councell, but berely hyr costs to London. No mor, but God have you in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Norwych, the Monday next after the Fest of Seynt Luke.

By your servant,

R. L.

[Footnote 114-1: [From Fenn, iv. 440.] In the postscript to the preceding letter, Sir John Paston intimates his belief that the two widows who had appealed his brother of the murder of their husbands had married again, and that thereby the appeals were abated. It appears by the present letter that this intelligence was correct as regards one of them.]

[Footnote 114-2: The widow of a tenant in chivalry was called the Lord’s widow.]

784

JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[115-1]

[Sidenote: 1471 / OCT. 28]

Ryght worchepfull m[other, as lowly as] I can I recomand me to yow, besechyng yow of your dayly blyssyng, praying yow to take thys key, and Sir Jam[ys] . . . . . [m]y broder E., or J. Pampyng, and to ondo the kofyr that standith at my bedys feet, and ther in a ly[tyl sqw]are box ye shall fy[nd two de]dys, wher of the seallys be wownd in whyght paper; my brodyr E. sye [_saw_] when I wond them up. The tone [begy]nyth ‘Sciant, &c., quod ego _Matilda Bigota_’; and the todyr begynyth ‘Sciant, &c., quod ego _Rogerus_ . . . . .’ [I pray y]ow lett [them be] sealyd and sent me by _Radley_ with the deedes there in. Sir Jamys knowyth the . . . . . . . But [if so] be that ye fynd not thys box with thes two deedes in that cofyr, then I prey yow take the k[ey] . . . . . . . . teye of the same cofyr, and opyn the cofyr that standyth in the utter chambyr, and ther ye shall fynd . . . . . . . . . [d]edes. My brodyr, Sir John, recomandyth hym to yow, and besechyth yow of your blyssyng; and as for hys mater [there is yet no conclu]syon of no poynt, but I tryst ther shall be with in thes ij. dayeys. Jenney, W. trowbly[th] . . . . . . . [my] brodyrs servauntes with old accyons and all syche thynges as he can renew to stoppe the oblygacio[ns w]hyche he is bownd in on to my broder; but all shall be easeyd, I tryst. As for Mrs. A. Hawlt, the mater is mevyd [by div]ers of the Qwenys consayll, and of ferre by R. Hault, but he wold it shold be fyrst of our mocyon, and we wold [it] shold com of theym fyrst; our mater shold be the bettyr.