Part 26
Item, the Duke of Burgoyne hath conqueryd Loreyn, and Quene Margreet shall nott nowe be lykelyhod have it; wherffor the Frenshe Kynge cheryssheth hyr butt easelye; but afftr thys conquest off Loreyn, the Duke toke grete corage to goo uppon the londe off the Swechys [_Swiss_] to conquer them, butt the [_they_] berded hym att an onsett place, and hathe dystrussyd hym, and hathe slayne the most parte off hys vanwarde, and wonne all hys ordynaunce and artylrye, and mor ovyr all stuffe thatt he hade in hys ost with hym; exceppte men and horse ffledde nott, but they roode that nyght xx. myle; and so the ryche saletts,[258-3] heulmetts, garters, nowchys[258-4] gelt, and alle is goone, with tents, pavylons, and alle, and soo men deme hys pryde is abatyd. Men tolde hym that they weer ffrowarde karlys, butte he wolde nott beleve it, and yitt men seye, that he woll to them ageyn. Gode spede them bothe.
Item, Sir John Mydelton toke leve off the Duke to sporte hym, but he is sett in pryson att Brussellys.
I praye yowe sende me som worde iff ye thynke likly that I may entr Caster when I woll, by the next messenger.
Wretyn at Caleys, in resonable helthe off bodye and sowle, I thanke Good, the xxj. daye off Marche, anno E. iiij^ti xvj^{o}.
J. P., K.
[Footnote 257-1: [From Fenn, ii. 198.]]
[Footnote 257-2: Hastings.]
[Footnote 258-1: John, sixth Earl of Ormond.]
[Footnote 258-2: John, Lord Scrope of Bolton.]
[Footnote 258-3: Light head-pieces.--F.]
[Footnote 258-4: Embossed ornaments, chains, buckles, etc.--F.]
[[departyng xij. myle on thyse-halff Roome _printed with ambiguous hyphen at line break_]]
890
JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[259-1]
_To the ryght worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght, lodgyd at the George, by Powlys Wharf, in London._
[Sidenote: 1476 / MAY 6]
Aftyr all dewtes of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to wet, that to my power ye be welcom ayen in to Inglond. And as for the Castell of Shene, ther is no mor in it but Colle and hys mak, and a goose may get it; but in no wyse I wold not that wey, and my modyr thynkyth the same. Take not that wey, if ther be eny other.
I undyrstand that Mastres Fytzwater hathe a syster, a mayd, to mary. I trow, and ye entretyd hym, she myght come into Crysten menys handys. I prey yow spek with Mastyr Fytzwater of that mater for me, and ye may telle hym, synse that he wyll have my servyse, it wer as good, and syche a bargayn myght be mad, that bothe she and I awaytyd on hym and my mastress hys wyff at oure owne cost, as I a lone to awayt on hym at hys cost; for then he shold be swer that I shold not be flyttyng, and I had syche a qwarell to kepe me at home. And I have hys good wylle, it is non inpossybyll to bryng a bowght.
I thynk to be at London with in a xiiij. dayes at the ferthest, and peraventure my mastress also, in consayll be it clatryd. God kepe yow and yours.
At Norwyche, the vj. day of May, anno E. iiij^ti xvj^{o}.
J. P.
[Footnote 259-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
891
SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[260-1]
_To Mestresse Margret Paston, in Norwyche, or to hyr sone John Paston, Knyght._
[Sidenote: 1476 / MAY 27]
Please it yow to weete that as for my materes, and theye appeyre nott,[260-2] the doo, blessyd be Godde, as weell as I wolde they dyd, saffe that it shalle cost me grett mony, and it hathe cost me moche laboor. It is soo that the Kynge most have C. marke, and other costes will drawe xl. marke. And my mater is examynyd by the Kynges Cowncell, and declaryd affoor alle the Lordes, and now lakkythe noo thynge but [the Pry]vy Seals, and wryghtyng to Master Colv[ill][260-3] to avoide; for the[260-3] [Kyng hath p]romysed me as moche as I wolde he sholde fullefille, and alle the Lordes, Juges, Serjauntes, have affermyd my title goode. Nott withstandyng Sowthewell, James Hubberde, and Sir W. Braundon, where at ther owne desyrs, offryd to afferme and advowe my tytell for goode, and that my Lorde off Norffolk that ded is had noo tytell, thatt they knywe, they tolde my tale as ille as they cowde, and yitt a lye or too to helpe it, and yit it servyth them nott, they be knowen as they ar (in Cowncell be it seyde, and so most all thys letter be).
I have moche payne to gete so moche mony. Neverthelesse, but iff myne oncle schewe hym selfe werse than ever he was, I shalle nott fayle, if he kepe me promyse, and thatt is but as he dyde last, that is butt to be my sywerte, and I to make hym sywerte ageyn.
The Kynge departythe thys daye, and wille nott be heer tyll Frydaye, whyche lettyth me, or ellys by thatt daye I wolde have hopyd to have comen homeward, and erst per aventure. No moor, but Jesus have yow in kepyng.
Wretyn at London, the xxvj. daye of Maye, the Mondaye next Holy Thurrysdaye, the Assencion.
* * *
The Kynge wold have bowte it, but he was enfformyd off the trowthe, and that it was nott for a prynce, and off the greet pryse that I wolde selle it att; for that I myght nott for bere it, for he scholde have payed m^{l.}m^l. marke or moor, iff he hadde hadde it.
Your sone,
J. PASTON, K.
[Footnote 260-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter relates to Sir John Paston’s claim to Caister after the Duke of Norfolk’s death, which claim he succeeded in establishing in June 1476, as appears by the letter following. The date 26th May at the end of the letter is an error. The ‘Monday next Holy Thursday’ was the 27th.]
[Footnote 260-2: _i.e._ if they do not get worse.]
[Footnote 260-3: Paper decayed.]
[[Salutation ... or to hyr sone John Paston, Knyght. _printed as shown: misreading of Fenn’s header?_ To Mestresse Margret Paston, in Norwyche or to hyr Sone John Paston K^t]]
892
SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[261-1]
_To John Paston, Esquier, beyng at the Syngne of the George, at Powles Wharffe._
[Sidenote: 1476 / JUNE 30]
I recomaunde me to yow, letyng yow weete that I hav receyvyd yowr letter, wretyn the next daye aftre Mydsomer; for answer wheroff I thynke that to be bownde in v^c. [500] marke, I thynke it is to moche, where as I felt by yow ye sholde have with the gentylwoman but iiij^c [400]; neverthelesse I agree. But ye shall undrestande that I wyll not be bownde for yow that ye shall make hyr joyntour past xx_li._ by yer, within a sertayne daye lymyted; be it j. yere or ij., that is the largest that ye maye performe. For as for the maner of Sparham, my moodre and ye acorde notte in yowr saynges; she wyll nowght graunte yow ther in, whylse she levyth, saff, as she seythe to me, she hathe grauntyd yow x. marke by yeer tyll xl_li._ be payed, that is but vj. yeer; and aftre hyr dyscease she woll agree with goode will, so that it maye be yowr proferment, that ye sholde have that maner in joynture with yowr wyffe to the lenger lyver off yow bothe, payng x. marke by yeer, soo or th . . . as she wyll that it shall be. Therfore, as for l. marke joynture, I pray yow bynde me in no suche clawse, butt iff it be for xx_li._ by a resonable daye, and xx. marke aftre the dyssease off my moodre. Take example at Derby.
Item, ye make yow sywerer than I deme yow bee, for I deme that her frendes wyll nott be content with Bedyngfeldes sywerte, nor yowres. I deme thys mater will ocopy lenger leyser than ye deme for.
Item, I remembre thatt thys mony that she sholde have is nott redy, but in the handes of marchauntes of the Estaple, whyche at a prove ye shall fynde per case so slakke payeres, that ye myght be deseyvyd ther by. I knowe dyverse have lost mony er they cowde gete ther dywtes owte off the Staple. God spede yow, and sende yow that ye wolde have.
I sende yow the obligacion here with acordyng to yowr desyr, and a letter to Bedyngfelde, thankyng hym for yow, and more over letyng hym know of myn entent. Opyn it, and close it ageyn, if ye lyst.
Item, where I tolde yow that the gowne clothe off olde chamlott, I wolde have it hoome for my suster Anne; ye for gate it. I praye yow sende it home by the next massenger, and a letter with it of suche tydynges as ye knowe.
Item, blissed be God, I have Castre at my will. God holde it better than it doone her to foore.
No moore, but wretyn the next daye aftre Seynt Petre, anno E. iiij^ti xvj^{o}.
J. PASTON, K.
[Footnote 261-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]
893
SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[262-1]
_To Mestresse Margret Paston._
[Sidenote: 1476 / [AUG. 30]]
Please it yow to wete that I was uppon Tywesdaye, the daye that I departyd froo yowe, with my brother John at Atelborow by viij. of the clokke at evyn, and founde hym in suche case as iff ye had seyn hym than ye wolde have be as gladde of hym osse off a nywe sone. I wenyd nott that he sholde nott have levyd tyll the mornyng; in so moche that by my trowthe I dare seye that iff it had nott fortunyd us to have comyn to hym, he had not been on lyve on Wednysdaye. For syns Saterday slepyd he nott iiij. howris, and yitt iij. of them was syns I come thydyr, on to thys nyght; and thys nyght, blessyd be God, he hathe slepyd well, and with Goddys grace I dowte not but thatt he shall do weell. For his agywe is goone, and alle that laye in hys stomak and undre hys syde it weryth aweye, and within a daye or ij. I hope he shall be so stronge that I maye come frome hym; and he hopyth to see yowe with in fewe days affter, as he seyth. On Wednysdaye I wysshed to hym that he and I hadde been at Norwyche; wheruppon he harpyd all that nyght, and for cawe (_sic_) he hadde not so goode rest as he wolde, it fylle in hys brayne to come to Norwyche; and he in an angyr wolde nedys to horse. He wolde non horsse litter, he was so stronge. Neverthelesse we wenyd nott that he sholde have been able to have redyn a myle, and wenyd that it had nott been possible to have passid Wyndham; bott whan he was uppe for that, we seyde he roode so welle he ledde uss a dawnce faster than alle we cowde weell folowe. He was at Wyndham, by my trowthe, in lesse than an howr by a large quarter, and ther restyd hym an howre, and to horse ageyne and was heer in lesse than an howr and one halffe. And now he dowteth nott to slepe weell, for he seyth that he never ffaylyd to slepe weel in that bedde that he hathe chosyn now at Frenshys, and thusse I hope he be sauffe. And I am in dowte whethyr I shall within ij. dayes owther come home to yow or ellis to goo forthe as ye woote off. No moore, &c. Wretyn on Frydaye next the Decollacion of Seynt John Baptyst.
Item, I have the wrythynges off Richard Calle.
Your sone,
J. PASTON, K.
[Footnote 262-1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 188.] Strangely enough there is no mention elsewhere of the serious illness of young John Paston mentioned in this letter, by which we might fix the year when it was written. But perhaps we may surmise that it was 1476, after he had been at Calais, where he was expected in the spring. The fact that he was ill at Attleborough agrees with this supposition, for that was the seat of the Fitzwalter family, and ‘Master Fitzwalter’ is mentioned in No. 888 as at Calais showing much interest in the Paston family. It may be observed also that in 1476, Friday ‘next’ the Decollation of St. John Baptist (29th August) would be the very next day.]
894
DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[264-1]
_To my wurschypfull cosyn, John Paston, be thys bill delyvered, &c._
[Sidenote: 1476 or 1477]
Ryght wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un to yowe, thankyng zowe hertely for the grette chere that ze made me the last tyme that ze were with me at Norwych, &c.
And, cosyn, as for the mater that was put in my nowncle Hastynges and Henry Heydon, I ondyrstand be myn uncle, that ther was made non ende therin, whech I am ryght sory for. Cosyn, ze be remembred what ze promysed me that, and so were that myn uncle and Herry Heydon made none ende therin, that ze wold put the mater in me; and if it please zowe so for to do, in good faith, cosyn, I schall goo as wele and as ryghtfully and consciensly as I can for both the partyes. And, cosyn, if it please zowe to com to Topcroft, and poynt ze what dey when ze will com, I schall sende for my cosyn to be ther the same day. And, cosyn, I pray zowe to sende me worde agayn be the brynger of thys letter, howe ze will do, &c.
And Almyghty Jesus hafe zowe in kepyng, &c.
Be zour cosyn,
Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.
[Footnote 264-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is the first of a series of letters, some of which were certainly written in February 1477, relating to the engagement of John Paston to Margery Brews. How early they began it is not easy to say precisely. On the back of this letter is written, apparently in the hand of John Paston, to whom it is addressed, ‘Letræ dominæ Elyzabethæ Brews et Margariæ filæ (_sic_) ejus.’]
895
DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[265-1]
_Un to my ryght wurschypffull cosyn, John Paston, be thys lettur delyvered, &c._
Ryght wurschypfull cosyn, I recommande me un [to] yowe, &c. And I send my husbonde a bill of the mater that ze knowe of, and he wrote an other bill to me agayn towchyng the same mater; and he wold that ze schuld go un to my maistresse yowr modur, and asaye if ze myght gete the hole xx_li._ in to zowr handes, and then he wolde be more gladd to marye with zowe, and will gyffe zowe an C_li._ And, cosyn, that day that sche is maryed, my fadur will gyffe hyr l. merk. But and we acorde, I schall gyffe yowe a grettere tresur, that is, a wytty gentylwoman, and if I sey it, bothe good and vertuos; for if I schuld take money for hyr, I wold not gyffe hyr for a m_li._ But, cosyn, I trust zowe so meche that I wold thynke her wele besett on zowe, and ze were worthe meche more. And, cosyn, a lytyll after that ze were gone, come a man fro my cosyn Derby, and broght me wurde that suche a chance fell that he myght not come at the day that was set, as I schall let zowe undyrstond more pleynly, when I speke with zowe, &c. But, cosyn, and it wold please zowe to come agayn what dey that ze will set, I dare undyrtake that they schall kepe the same daye; for I wold be glad that, and myn husbond and ze myght acorde in thys maryage, that it myght be my fortune to make and ende in thys mater betwene my cosyns and zowe, that yche of zowe myght love other in frendely wyse, &c. And, cosyn, if thys byll please not zowr entent, I pray zowe that it may be brent, &c.
No more unto yowe at thys tyme, but Almyghty Jesus preserve zowe, &c.
By zowr cosyn,
Dame ELIZABETH BREWS.
[Footnote 265-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] _See_ preliminary note to last letter.]
896
DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[266-1]
_To my wurschypfull cosyne, John Paston, be this bill delyveryd, &c._
[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]
Cosyn, I recomande me un to yowe, thankyng yowe hertely for the grette chere that ye made me and all my folkys, the last tyme that I was at Norwych; and ye promysyd me, that ye wold never breke the mater to Margery unto suche tyme as ye and I were at a point. But ye hafe made hyr suche advokett for yowe, that I may never hafe rest nyght ner day, for callyng and cryeng uppon to brynge the saide mater to effecte, &c.
And, cosyn, uppon Fryday is Sent Volentynes Day, and every brydde chesyth hym a make [_mate_]; and yf it lyke yowe to come one Thursday at nyght, and so purvey yowe, that ye may abyde there tyll Monday, I trusty to God, that ye schall so speke to myn husband; and I schall prey that we schall bryng the mater to a conclusyon, &c. For, cosyn,
It is but a sympill oke, That [is] cut down at the first stroke.
For ye will be resonabill, I trust to God, Whech hafe yowe ever in Hys mercyfull kepyng, &c.
Be yowr cosyn, Dame ELIZABETH BREWS, otherwes schall be called be Godds grace.
[Footnote 266-1: [From Fenn, ii. 208.] It is clear from internal evidence that this letter was written between the 7th and the 12th of February, and the fact that St. Valentine’s Day (the 14th) fell on Friday, proves the year to have been 1477. Besides which, we have distinct references to the matter further on in the dated correspondence.]
897
MARGERY BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[267-1]
_Unto my ryght welebelovyd Voluntyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this bill delyvered, &c._
[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]
Ryght reverent and wurschypfull, and my ryght welebeloved Voluntyne, I recomande me unto yowe, ffull hertely desyring to here of yowr welefare, whech I beseche Almyghty God long for to preserve un to Hys plesur, and yowr herts desyre. And yf it please yowe to here of my welefar, I am not in good heele of body, nor of herte, nor schall be tyll I her ffrom yowe;
For there wottys no creature what peyn that I endure, And for to be deede, I dare it not dyscure [_discover_].
And my lady my moder hath labored the mater to my ffadur full delygently, but sche can no mor gete then ye knowe of, for the whech God knowyth I am full sory. But yf that ye loffe me, as I tryste verely that ye do, ye will not leffe me therefor; for if that ye hade not halfe the lyvelode that ye hafe, for to do the grettest labur that any woman on lyve myght, I wold not forsake yowe.
And yf ye commande me to kepe me true wherever I go, I wyse I will do all my myght yowe to love and never no mo. And yf my freends say, that I do amys, Thei schal not me let so for to do, Myne herte me bydds ever more to love yowe Truly over all erthely thing, And yf thei be never so wroth, I tryst it schall be better in tyme commyng.
No more to yowe at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite hafe yowe in kepyng. And I besech yowe that this bill be not seyn of none erthely creatur safe only your selffe, &c.
And thys letter was indyte at Topcroft, with full hevy herte, &c.
By your own,
MARGERY BREWS.
[Footnote 267-1: [From Fenn, ii. 210.]]
898
MARGERY BREWS TO JOHN PASTON[268-1]
_To my ryght welebelovyd cosyn, John Paston, Swyer, be this letter delyveryd, &c._
[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]
Ryght wurschypfull and welebelovyd Volentyne, in my moste umble wyse, I recommande me un to yowe, &c. And hertely I thanke yowe for the lettur whech that ye sende me be John Bekarton, wherby I undyrstonde and knowe, that ye be purposyd to come to Topcroft in schorte tyme, and withowte any erand or mater, but only to hafe a conclusyon of the mater betwyx my fader and yowe; I wolde be most glad of any creatur on lyve, so that the mater myght growe to effect. And ther as ye say, and ye come and fynde the mater no more towards you then ye dyd afortyme, ye wold no more put my fader and my lady my moder to no cost ner besenesse, for that cause, a good wyle aftur, wech causyth myne herte to be full hevy; and yf that ye come, and the mater take to none effecte, then schuld I be meche mor sory and full of hevynesse.
And as for my selfe, I hafe done and undyrstond in the mater that I can or may, as Good knowyth; and I let yowe pleynly undyrstond, that my fader wyll no mor money parte with all in that behalfe, but an C_li._ and l. marke, whech is ryght far fro the acomplyshment of yowr desyre.
Wherfore, yf that ye cowde be content with that good, and my por persone, I wold be the meryest mayden on grounde; and yf ye thynke not yowr selffe so satysfyed, or that ye myght hafe mech mor good, as I hafe undyrstonde be yowe afor; good, trewe, and lovyng volentyne, that ye take no such labur uppon yowe, as to come more for that mater, but let is [_it ?_] passe, and never more to be spokyn of, as I may be yowr trewe lover and bedewoman duryng my lyfe.
No more un to yowe at thys tyme, but Almyghty Jesus preserve yowe, bothe body and sowle, &c.
Be your Voluntyne,
MARGERY BREWS.
[Footnote 268-1: [From Fenn, ii. 214.]]
899
THOMAS KELA TO JOHN PASTON[269-1]
_Un to my ryght wurschypfull maister, John Paston, Swhyer, be this bill delivered, &c._
[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB.]
Ryght wurschypfull sir, I recomande me un to yowe, lettyng yowe knowe, as for the yonge gentylwoman, sche owyth yowe hyr good herte and love, as I knowe be the comynicacion that I hafe hade with hyr for the same.
And, sir, ye knowe what my maister and my lady hath profered with hyr CC. merke. And I dar sey, that hyr chambr and areyment schall be worthe C. merk. And I harde my lady sey, that and the case required, both ye and sche schuld hafe yowr borde with my lady iij. yer aftr.
And I understand by my lady, that sche wold that ye schuld labur the mater to my maister, for it schuld be the bettr.
And I harde my lady sey,
That it was a febill oke, That was kit down at the first stroke.
And ye be beholdyng un to my lady for hyr good wurde, for sche hath never preysyd yowe to mech.
Sir, lyke as I promysyd yowe, I am yowr man, and my good will ye schall hafe in worde and dede, &c.
And Jesus hafe yowe in Hys mercyfull kepyng, &c.
Be yor man,
THOMAS KELA.
[Footnote 269-1: [From Fenn, ii. 216.]]
900
SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[270-1]
_To John Paston, Esquyer, at Norwyche, in hast._
[Sidenote: 1477 / FEB. 14]