Part 23
John Paston, I send yow Godds blyssyng and myn, letyng yow wete, that I hadd non er thys lettyr than on Sent Matheus Evyn; yf I myth a had an massenger or thys tym I had sent yt yow. I con yow thank for the lettyr that ye sent to my cosyn Calthorpp and me of the tydyngs; I wold ye shuld do soo mor. As ye may remembyr that I spak to yow for the xx^ti_li._ for my cosyn Clere, spek to yowr hunkyll therof, and send me an answer therof in hast. And for the lycens that I spak to yow for, to have the Sacrement in my Chapell, yf ye cannot getyt of the Busshop of Norwych, getyt of the Busshop of Caunterbery, for that ys most swyr for all plase. God kepe yow.
Wretyn on Mydlent Sunday.
[Footnote 227-1: [From Fenn, ii. 178.] This letter was written on the back of Letter 861.]
867
RICHARD SOUTHWELL TO JOHN PASTON[227-2]
_To the right worshippfull, and my right feithfull gode cosin, John Paston, Esquier._
[Sidenote: 1475 / MARCH 26]
Right worshippfull and my right feithfull gode cosin, I recomaunde me unto you, and, as hertily as I can, thanke you of your right gentill and kynde remembraunce, that I consceyve well by your late writyng that ye have to me wardes, undeserved in dede, but not in will, so God helpe me, as ye shuld weell knowe, if my power might accorde with my will. And, cosin, in the mater that it liked you to remembre me in, bothe to my worshipp and pleaser, I feere me that nouther my pouere doughter nor pouere purs can nor may be to his pleaser; wold God outher might; and I shuld take me right neere to his pleaser, savyng myself, I ensure you by my trouth. And howe to understand his pleaser and disposicion therin, I see no mean as thus advised, but if [_unless_] it might please you by your wisdam to attempte it forther, as ye seme moste conveniente, and theruppon I to be guyded by your gode advise, as the cas shall require; wherin ye shall bynde me herefter to do that may be to your pleaser to my power, and yette with no better will than I have had, so God help me, Who have you ever in His kepinge, and sende you your hertes desire to His pleaser; and if it pleas you to remembre further in the premisses, I trust ye shall leese no labour on my pouere parte; howe be it I fere me sore, as I be gan, bothe of my pouere doughter and purs.
Writon at Woderysyng, the morn efter Our Lady Day, in haste.
I require you this bill may be secrete.
By your trewe cosin,
RIC. SUTHWELL.
[Footnote 227-2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Fenn thinks the gentleman here referred to was John Berney of Reedham, Esquire, who married Alice, daughter of Richard Southwell, Esquire, of Wood Rising, the writer of this letter. He accordingly dates it about the year 1475, and I see no reason to question his opinion.]
868
JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[228-1]
_To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston, at Mawtby._
[Sidenote: 1475(?) / [MAR. 29]]
Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all humbyll recomendacyons, as lowely as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. Pleasyt yow to wete that late yester nyght I cam to Norwyche, purposeing to have been as thys day with yow at Mawtby, but it is so that I may not hold my purpose, for he that shall pay me my quarter wagys for me and my retenew, is in Norwyche, and waytyth ourly when hys money shall com to hym. It is oon Edmund Bowen of the Cheker, a specyall frend of myn, and he avysyth me to tery tyll the money be com, lest that I be unpayed, for who comyth fyrst to the mylle, fyrst must grynd.
And as I was wryghtyng thys byll, on of the gromys of my lords chambyr cam to me, and told me, that my lady wyll be here in Norwyche to morow at nyght towards Walsyngham, whyche shall, I wot well, be a nother lett to me; but I had more need to be other wyse ocupyed then to awayte on ladyse, for ther is as yett, I trowe, no sperre that shall go over the see, so evyll horsyd as I am. But it is told me that Rychard Call hathe a good horse to sell, and on John Becher of Oxborough hathe an other; and if it myght please yow to geve Syme leve to ryd in to that contre at my cost, and in your name, seying that ye wyll geve on of your sonys an horse, desyryng hym that he wyll geve yow a penyworthe for a peny, and he shall, and the pryse be resonabyll, hold hym pleasyd with your payment ought of my purse, thow he knowe it not or hys horse depert fro hys lands. Modyr, I bese[che] yow, and it may please yow to geve Syme leve to ryde on thys message in your name, that he may be here with me to morow in the mornyng be tymys, for wer I onys horsyd, I trowe I wer as ferforthe redy as some of my neyghborows. I herd a lytyll word that ye purposeid to be here in Norwyche thys next week. I prey God it be thys week. Modyr, beseche yow that I may have an answer to morow at the ferthest of thys mater, and of eny other servyse that it please yow to comand me, whyche I wyll [be] at all seasons redy to acomplyshe with Gods grace, Whom I beseche to preserve yow and yours.
Wretyn at Norwyche, thys Wednysday in Estern Week.
By your sone and servaunt,
J. P.
[Footnote 228-1: [From Fenn, iv. 444.] This letter was evidently written in 1475, when John Paston and one or more of his younger brothers were about to go over to France with the King’s army.--_See_ Letter 871. Margaret Paston was at that time continually resident at Mautby.]
869
WILLIAM PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[230-1]
_To my right worshupfull sistir, Margaret Paston._
[Sidenote: 1475 / APRIL 7]
Right worshupfull sustir, I recomaunde me to you, praying you to undirstonde, the priour of Bromeholme hath sent ayen to me for xx_li._; and my cosyn William Whyte desired me to wryte to you for the rewarde that was offird hym to his churche and xx_li._ of my brothirs goodys to be lent hym upon sufficient suertee, and by a yeeris ende payd ayen; he hath and may doo for you and for my nevewe, Sir John, in many thynges, and is his kynnesman, and it were a gode frendely dede and no jopardy nor hurt. The Abbot of Wymondham hath sent to me too tymes. Frendship may not hang by the wynde, nor for faire eyne, but causis must be shewid; men wene that I hadd your coffers and my brothirs and maistir Fastolffes in myne awarde, and that ye wote wele, &c. Send your avise to my nevewe, Sir John, by the next messynger. Ye sent to me oonys for the same mater, but I may not leene my money to defende othir men is causis; your discrecion (?) thenkith that it were no reason. I have tolde them your saying; and as it is s[o] that ye may nat come to the coffers but all be togedir. Therfor ye must sende to my nevewe and to Arblastir how ye will have this answerd; for the Abbot will be heere on Monday at the sene, and labour must bee desired the next terme. Hit nedis nat to put you in remembrance of my mater touchyng my Fadirs soule, my modir and me, and God kepe you. Wreton at Norwich the vij^th day of Aprill.
I have tolde thes folkis, as ye have seid to me all weys, that your will is gode, but that ye may not come theretoo withoute th’assent of all your felowes.
Item, I pray you remembre the obligacion that Wix hath, and that I may have my money of the parsone of Maudeby.
By your brothir,
WILLIAM PASTON.
[Footnote 230-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 215.] As Margaret Paston, at the date of this letter, is not at Norwich and her son Sir John seems to be there, we may infer that it was written in the year 1475. _See_ No. 868 (preliminary note).]
870
EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[231-1]
_To John Paston, Esquyer._
[Sidenote: 1475(?) / [MAY 13]]
Syr, I recummawnd me to zow. Please yt zow to wette that my modyr hathe causyd me to putte Gregory owte of my servyse, as, God help, I wrythe to zow the very cause why. Yt happyd hym to have a knavys loste, in pleyn termes to swhyve a quene, and so dyd in the Konyneclosse. Yt fortunyd hym to be a spyed be ij. plowemen of my modyrs, whyche werne as fayne as he of that mater, and desyerd hym to have parte, and as kompany requeryd, seyd not nay; in so myche that the plowemen had her alle a nythe in ther stabylle, and Gregory was clere delyvered of her, and as he swherys had not a do with her within my modyrs place. Not with standdyng my modyr thynkks that he was grownd of that matier; wherfor ther is no remedy but he moste a voyde. And in so myche that at the laste tyme that ze wer her, [ye] desyerd hym of me, yf that he schuld departe from me, I send zow the very cawse of hys departyng, as my modyr sethe; but I am in serteyn the contrary is true. Yt is nomor but that he can not plese all partys. But that jantylman[231-2] is hys woords Lord, he hathe seyd that he woold lyfte them whom that hym plese, and as that scheweyt welle, he lyftyd on [_one_] xiiij. myle in a mornyng, and nowe he hath ben caw sar of hys lyfte, I wot not how far, but yf that ze be hys better master; but and we a mong us geve not hym a lyfte, I pray God that we never thryve. And that is hys intente, I trowe, to bryng us to; wherfor I requer zow, yf that yt plese zow to have hym, that ze wylle be the better master to hym for my sake, for I am he that is as sory to departe from hym as any man on lyve from hys servant, and be my trowthe, as farforthe as I knowe, he is as true as any on lyve.
I troste my fortune schale be better than ever to leve thus her; but yf I wer hens wards, I ensuer zow I wold not schange for none that I knowe. He is profytabylle on dyvers thynggs as ze knowe welle.
Ther has ben a gret breke be twyx Calle and me, as I schal enforme zow at my coming, wyche schalle be on Wedynsday next be the grace of God, who preserve zow.
Wretyn at Mawteby, on Wyteson eve.
EDMOND PASTON.
[Footnote 231-1: [From Fenn, iii. 426.] This letter was wrongly attributed by Fenn to Edmund Paston, son of the Judge. It is in the hand of the Judge’s grandson, also named Edmund, and was written at a time when his mother Margaret was living at Mautby, where he, the writer, was also at the time, though he expected to join his brother John, to whom he writes, in the following week. These circumstances strongly suggest that it was written in 1475, when Margaret Paston certainly was residing at Mautby, as we find Edmund Paston with his brother John in London a month later preparing to go over to Calais. _See_ No. 873. Whitsun Eve in 1475 would be the 13th May.]
[Footnote 231-2: Fenn supposes the person alluded to to be the priest, James Gloys.]
871
MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[232-1]
_Un to Syr John Paston, be this delyvered in hast._
[Sidenote: 1475 / MAY 23]
Ryght welbelovyd son, I grete you well, and send you Cristes blissyng and myne, desyringe to know how ye faire. I mervaile that I have herd no tydynges from you sythe ye sent me the lettyr of an answere of the xx_li._ the which I have layde pleages for to my cosyn Cleere, the which letter was wryten the xxij^ty day of Februar; and as for that money, I can not gete no lenger day therof than Mydsomer, or fourte nyght after; and towardys that money, and the xx^ty_li._ that I send yow by syde to London by Sym, I have receyved no mor money of yowres, but as moch as I send yow wryten in this letter. And as for any discharge that I promysed at the boroeng off the xx^ti_li._ when I leyde the pleages ther fore, I thought not but that your uncle shuld a boroed them owte, and I to have had my pleages, as well as he his; never the less I shall be the warer how I shall dele here aftyr. By my trowth, I wote not how to do ther fore; the Kyng goth so nere us in this cuntre, both to pooer and ryche, that I wote not how we shall lyff, but yff [_unless_] the world amend. God amend it, whan His wyll is. We[233-1] can nother sell corne ner catell to no good preve. Malt is here but at x_d._ a comb; wheete, a comb xxviij_d._; ootes, a comb x_d._; and ther of is but lytell to geet here at thys tyme. William Pecok shall send you a byll what he hath payde for yow for ij. taskes at this tyme; and how he hath purveyde for the remnaunte of your corne; and also off other thynges that be necessary that shuld be purveyd for in your absence. Send me word also whome ye wyll desyre to do for yow in this contre, or ellys where in your absence; and wryte to them to do for yow, and they wyll be the better wylled to do for yow; and I wyll do my devyr for yow also, as well as I can.
The somma off money that I have receyvyd off Wylliam Pecok:--First, xl_s._ off Runnham. Item, off Bastwyk, xx_s._ Item, off Runnham, xx_s._ Item, off him for barly at Runnham, xx_s._ Item, off the fyschynge at Bastwyke, xiij_s._ iiij_d._ Item, for barely sold at Runnham, viij_s._ Summa totalis, vj_li._ xvj_d._
Item, I have receyvyd of Ric. Calle, of Sporle wodd, xxvj_s._ viij_d._, and more shall I hope here aftyr within short tyme; as I receyve for yow, I hope to yeff yow a trew acownt; and this is all that I have receyvyd for yow zytt, sen ye departyd hens. God bryng yow well ageyn to this contre, to His pleasans, and to your wurshyp and profyzt.
Wryten at Mawteby, the xxiij^ty day of May, and the Tewsday next afftyr Trinyte Sonday.
For Goddes love, and your brether go over the see, avyse them as ye thynk best for her [_their_] save garde. For some of them be but yonge sawgeres, and wote full lytyll what yt meneth to be as a sauger, nor for to endure to do as a sawger shuld do. God save yow all, and send me good tythynges of yow all. And send ye me word in hast how ye doo, for I thynk longe to I here off yow.
Be youre Modyr.
Item, I wold not in no wyse that ye shuld nother sell nor sett to pleage that ye have in Runnham, what som ever fortune of the remnaund; for yt is a praty thyng, and resonable well payde, and nere thys towne. I wold be ryght sory that ye shuld for bere that; I had lever ye for bore that your uncle hath to morgage than that.
[Footnote 232-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is endorsed ‘Mens’ Maii, anno xv^{o}.’ The date is confirmed by the fact that in 1475 the Tuesday after Trinity Sunday was the 23rd of May.]
[Footnote 233-1: _We._ Originally written _I_, and corrected.]
[[the xx^ty_li._ that I send yow by syde _spelling unchanged_]]
872
ABSTRACTS[234-1]
NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK DEEDS, No. 13.
[Sidenote: 1475 / MAY 28]
‘Johannes Paston miles relaxat Willielmo Wynton’ episc. et aliis totum jus de et in manerio de Tichwell, Essex in Hickling, Guton, Beyton, Newton, Calcotes in Fretton, Leyestoft, Habeland, Brodeston, et Gorleston. Maii 28, Edw. IV. 15.’
No. 32.
‘Charta Johannis Paston militis de terris Johannis Fastolf pert. prædict. Johanni, et continens concessionem quarundam evidentiarum episcopo Winton’, et relaxationem orationum, actionum, et demandarum versus prædictum episcopum. Maii 28, Edw. IV. 15.’
[Footnote 234-1: [From MS. Index in Magd. Coll., Oxford.]]
[[Footnote 234-1 ... Magd. Coll., Oxford.] _text has “Oxford].”_]]
873
JOHN PASTON TO JOHN AND EDMUND PASTON[235-1]
_To John Paston, or to hys brother Edmond Paston, at the George, at Powles Wharf._
[Sidenote: 1475 / JUNE 13]
Brother Edmonde, it is soo that I heer telle that ye be in hope to come hyddre, and to be in suche wages as ye schall come lyve lyke a jentylman, wheroff I wolde be gladde. Wherffor, for yowr better speede, I lete you weete that Heugh Beamond is deed; wherffor I wolde ye had hys roome nowe or never, iff ye can brynge it abowt; ellys iff ye dispose yowe to abyde in Inglonde, syns it is so that the Bysshop of Lynkolne[235-2] is Chaunceler, hys servyse is the meter for yow; he is next neyghbour to Norfolk off any astate. God sende yow some good warde of hys.
I praye you, iff yowr leyser be ther aftre to remembre Towneshende, that he, with the advyse and assystence of my Master of the Rollys,[235-3] have one daye off marche with the slawe Bysshop of Wynchester, that he maye kepe me hys promyse, that is to seye, to entrete the Duke and Duchesse of Norffolk for Caster. He promysed to doo it, and to ley owt an C_li._ for the same.
Item, I praye yow sende me some tydynges within v. dayes aftre that ye see thys bylle.
Wretyn at Caleys, the xiij. daye off June.
JOHN PASTON, K.
[Footnote 235-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter must have been written in the year 1475, when, as will be seen by No. 871, some of Sir John Paston’s brothers, among whom doubtless were both John and Edmund, to whom this letter is addressed, were going over to Calais. The Bishop of Lincoln (Rotherham) was Chancellor in 1475. It is true the Great Seal was taken from him on the 27th April, and given to Alcock, Bishop of Rochester, until the 28th September, when it was restored to Rotherham. But it is certain this letter could not have been written in a later year, as the Duke of Norfolk died in January 1476.]
[Footnote 235-2: Thomas Rotherham.]
[Footnote 235-3: _See_ p. 219, Note 2.]
[[JOHN PASTON TO ... _text unchanged: apparent error for “SIR JOHN”_]]
874
MARGARET PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[236-1]
_To the right worshipffull Sir John Paston, Knyght, in haste._
[Sidenote: 1475 / AUG. 10]
Right welbeloved sone, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[236-2]
As for tidyngs here in this contre, we have non, but that the contry is bareyn of money; and that my Lady of Yorke[236-3] and all her howsold is here at Sent Benetts,[236-4] and purposed to abide there stille, til the Kynge come from be yonde the see, and lenger if she like the eyre ther, as it is seide.
I thynke ryght longe tille I here some tidyngs for [_quære_, from?] you and from your brethren. I prey God sende you and al your company goode spede in your journeys, to His plesure, and to your worshippes and profights.
Wreten at Mauteby, on Sen Lawrens Even, the xv. yere of the regne of Kyng E. the iiijth.
Be yor Moder.
[Footnote 236-1: [From Fenn, ii. 180.]]
[Footnote 236-2: The chief part of this letter relates to Sir John Paston’s private affairs, his rents and lands, and informs him that William Jenney had entered into Holme Halle, in Filby, ‘in the ryght and titell of his douterlawe, weche was Boys doughter,’ etc.--F.]
[Footnote 236-3: Cecily, Duchess of York, daughter of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland, was the widow of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and mother of King Edward IV., etc. She died in 1495, and was buried near her husband in the college of Fotheringay.--F.]
[Footnote 236-4: The Abbey of St. Bennet at Holm.]
875
SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[237-1]
_To Mestresse Margret Paston, at Norwyche._
[Sidenote: 1475 / SEPT. 11]
Ryght reverend and my most tendre and kynde moodre, I recomaunde me to yow. Please it yow to weete that, blessyd be God, thys wyage of the Kynges is fynysshyd for thys tyme, and alle the Kynges ost is comen to Caleys as on Mondaye last past, that is to seye, the iiij. daye of Septembre; and at thys daye many of hys host be passyd the see in to Inglond ageyn, and in especiall my Lorde off Norffolk and my bretheryn.
Item, I was in goode hope to have hadde Caster ageyn. The Kynge spake to my Lorde off Norffolk for it, and it was full lyke to have comyn; but in conclusyon it is delayed tyll this next terme, by whyche tyme the Kynge hat comaundyd hym to take advyce off hys councell, and to be sywer that hys tytle be goode, or ellys the Kyng hathe asserteynyd hym that for any favor he most do me ryght and justyce, &c.
And iff Caster hadde comen, by my feythe I had comyn streyhte home. Notwithstondyng, iff I may do yow servyce or eese, as ye and I have comonyd heer to foor, aftre as I heer from yow, as God helpe me, I purpose to leeffe alle heer, and come home to yow, and be yowr hosbonde and balyff; wher in I spake to my brother John to telle yow myn advyce.
I also mysselyke somwhat the heyr heer; for by my trowte I was in goode heele whan I come hyddre, and all hooll, and to my wetyng I hadde never a better stomake in my lyffe, and now with in viij. dayes I am crasyd ageyn. I suppose that I most be at London at Mychelmesse, and ther to purveye for payment for myn oncle William, by whyche tyme I praye yow that I may heer from yow and off yowr advyce and helpe, iff any thynge be growyn off Sporle woode. For had nott yit that danger have been, I mygh yit have ben at home with yow at thys daye, or with in vij. dayes aftre. No more, but I beseche Jesus have yow in kepyng.
Wretyn at Caleys, the xj. daye of Septembre.
JOHN PASTON, K.
[Footnote 237-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It is evident that this letter was written after the return of King Edward IV. from France in 1475.]
876
JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[238-1]
_To the ryght worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght, lodgyd at the George, by Powlys Wherf, in London._
[Sidenote: 1475 / OCT. 10]