|b{The_Paston_Letters,}
|b{ed._James_Gairdner._Repr._(Microprint,_Gloucester:}
|b{Alan_Sutton_Publishing,_1983).}
|b{vol._6}
|b{pp.1-185}

|b[PASTON_LETTERS]



|p1


                       |r936

      SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
To John Paston, Esquyer, be thys lettre delyveryd, or to my
    mestresse, hys wyffe, at Norwych, to delyver to hym.

[1478, Aug. 25]   |r<b> BROTHER John, I recomaund me to yow, and I thanke
God, my sustr yowr wyffe, and yow, off my ffayr
nevywe Crystofore, whyche I undrestande ye have,
wher off I ame ryght gladde, and I praye God sende yow
manye, if it be Hys plesyr; nevertheless ye be nott kynde,
that ye sende me no wetyng ther off; I hadde knowlege by
ffootemen, or ever ye kowde ffynde any messenger on horsbak
to brynge me worde theroff.
   Sir, it is soo, that the Duke off Bokyngham shall come on
pilgrymage to Walsyngham, and so to Bokenham Castell to
my lady hys sustr; and then it is supposyd that he shalle to
my Lady off Norffolk. And myn oncle William comythe
with hym; and he tellyth me, that ther is like to be troble in
the maner off Oxenhed; wherffor I praye yow take hedde lesse
that the Duke off Suffolk councell pley therwith now at the
vacacion off the beneffyse, as they ded with the beneffice off



|p2


Drayton, whyche by the helpe off Mr. John Salett and Donne
hys man, ther was a qweste made by the seyde Donne, that
ffownde that the Duke off Suffolk was verrye patrone, whyche
was ffalse, yitt they ded it ffor an evydence; but nowe iff any
suche pratte scholde be laboryd, it is I hope in bettr case, ffor
suche a thynge most needs be ffownde byffor Master John
Smyth, whyche is owr olde ffreende; wherffor I praye yow
labor hym, that, iff neede bee, he maye doo use a ffreends torne
therin.
   Item, bothe ye and I most neds take thys mater as owr
owne, and it weer ffor noon other cawse butt ffor owr goode
grawnt dames sake; neverthelesse ye woote well, thatt ther is
an other entresse longyng to usse afftr her dyscease; iffe ther
be any suche thynge begune ther by suche a fryer or prest, as
it is seyde, I mervayle that ye sente me no worde ther off;
butt ye have nowe wyffe and chyld, and so moche to kar ffor,
thatt ye fforgete me.
   As for tydyngs her, I her telle that my cosyn Sir Robert
Chamberleyn hathe entyrd the maner of Scolton uppon yowr
bedffelawe  Conyerse, wheroff ye sende me no worde.
   Item, yonge William Brandon is in warde and arestyd ffor
thatt he scholde have by fforce ravysshyd and swyvyd an olde
jentylwoman, and yitt was nott therwith easyd, butt swyvyd
hyr oldest dowtr, and than wolde have swyvyd the other sustr
bothe; wherffor men sey ffowle off hym, and that he wolde
ete the henne and alle hyr chekynnys; and som seye that the
Kynge entendyth to sitte uppon hym, and men seye he is lyke
to be hangyd, ffor he hathe weddyd a wedowe.
   Item, as ffor the pagent that men sey that the Erle off
Oxenforde hathe pleyd atte Hammys, I suppose ye have
herde theroff; itt is so longe agoo, I was nott in thys contre
when the tydyngs come, therfor I sent yow no worde theroff.
   But ffor conclusion, as I her seye, he lyepe the wallys, and
wente to the dyke, and in to the dyke to the chynne; to



|p3


whatt entent I can nott telle; some sey, to stele awey, and
some thynke he wolde have drownyd hymselffe, and so it is 
demyd.
   No mor, but I ame nott sertayne whether I shall come
home in haste or nott.
   Wretyn at London, the daye nexte Seynt Bartelmewe,
anno E. iiijti xviijo.                 JOHN PASTON, K.

                       |r937

                    |rABSTRACT

     WILLIAM PASTON TO NICHOLAS GOLDEWELL

                       |r938

                   |rABSTRACT

     WILLIAM PASTON TO WILLIAM POPE OF BACTON



|p4


                     |r939

   WILLIAM PASTON, JUNIOR, TO JOHN PASTON
  To hys worchepful brodyr, John Paston, be thys
            delyvered in hast.

[1478, Nov. 7]   |r<b> RYGHT reverent and worchepful brodyr, I recomaunde
me on to yow, desyrynge to here of yowre welfare
and prosperite; letynge yow wete that I have re_sevyd
of Alwedyr a lettyr and a nobyll in gowlde therin.
Ferthermor my creansyr [creditor], Mayster Thomas, hertely
recomandyd hym to yow, and he praythe yow to sende hym
sum mony for my comons; for he seythe ye be xxtis. in hys 
dette, for a monthe was to pay for when he had mony laste.
   Also I beseche yow to sende me a hose clothe, one for the
halydays of sum colore, and a nothyr for the workyng days,
how corse so ever it be it makyth no matyr; and a stomechere, 
and ij. schyrtes, and a peyer of sclyppers. And if it lyke yow
that I may come with Alwedyr be watyr, and sporte me with 
yow at London a day or ij. thys terme tyme, than ye may let
all thys be tyl the tyme that I come, and than I wol telle you 



|p5


when I schall be redy to cone from Eton, by the grace of
God, Whom have yow in Hys kepyng.
   Wretyn the Saturday next aftyr All Halown Day, with
the hand of your brodyr,
                                        WYLLIAM PASTON.

                        |r940

             ERRANDS TO MARLINGFORD

[1479, Jan. 18]   |r<b> DO Gerald of Marlingford come to me, and know were
he ys become; in qw[at] place he hydyth hym, he
dothe but distroyh hym selff.
   Do on Steward [of] Colton, a tenaunte of Marlingford,
come to me.
   Do Sir John Chapman, parson of Oure Ladies Chyrche,
send hider the bill of rekenyng of Richard Hervy, shewyng
what stokke was delivered be Richard Hervy to Harry Hervy,
and also a bille what costes that Richard H[ervy] . . . .
of at that tyme.
   Do John Brigg come to me and bryng me suyrte for hys
dette, and know qwat wey the parson off Melton takyth with
hym.
   . . de the par[sone] off Melton come to me to Nor_wych,
for tell [him that] and he come nat hastely he schall nat
fynd me here.
   Item, pray the parson off Melton to call up on the parte_culer
tenauntes off Melton that have had parteculer fermys
fro Michaelmas xvij. til Michaelmas xviij. to pay ther fermys.



|p6


                         |r941

      WILLIAM PYKENHAM TO MARGARET PASTON
  To my Mastresse M[argaret Paston], att Norwiche.

[1479, Feb. 2]   |r<b> MY worschypfull mastresse, I recomende me un to yow,
and thanke yow of yowr approvyd ensewryd gyude_nesse
evermore shewde, and so I pray yow to con_tenew.
I have resyvyd yowr letter, and undrestonde yowr
desyre, wyche ys ageyns the lawe for three causys. Oon ys,
for yowr son Watre ys nott tonsewryd, in modre tunge callyd
Benett; a nodre cause, he ys not xxiiij. yeer of aghe, wyche
ys requiryd complete; the thyrde, ye owte [he ought] of ryzte
to be preyst within dwelmothe after that he ys parson, wyth
owte so were he hadd a dyspensacion fro Rome be owre Holy
Fadre the Pope, wyche I am certen can not be hadde. Ther_for
I present not yowr desyre un to my lorde, lest ye [he]
wolde have takyn yt to a dysplesur, or else to take a grete
sympylnesse in yowr desyre, wyche shulde cause hym, in
suche matres as xall fortune yow to spede with hym a nodre
tyme, to shew un to yow the rigur of the lawe, wyche I
wolde be lothe; therfor present a nodre man abyll. Haske
consell of Mr. John Smythe, and sease of yowr desyre in
thysse partey, for yt ys not goodely nether Goddely; and lete
not yowr desyre be knowyn, aftyr my avyse. Be not wrothe,
thowe I sende un to yow thusse playnyly in the matre; for I
wolde ye dede as wele as any woman in Norfolke, [that ys,
wyth rygth], to yowr honor, prosperite, an to the plesur of



|p7


Godde, with yowre and all yowres, Ho have yow in Hyse
blessyd kepyng. 
   From Hoxne on Candylmasse Day.
                                       WILLIAM PYKYNHAM.

   I sende yow yowr presente agen in the boxe.


                        |r942

       WILLIAM PASTON, JUNIOR, TO JOHN PASTON 
    To his worchepfull broder, John Paston, be thys
                delyvered in hast.

[1479, Feb. 23]   |r<b> RYGHT reverent and worchepfull broder, after all dewtes 
of recomendacion, I recomaunde me to yow, desyryng
to here of your prosperite and welfare, whych I pray
God long to contynew to Hys plesore, and to your herts
desyr; letyng yow wete that I receyved a letter from yow, in
the whyche letter was viijd. with the whyche I schuld bye a
peyer of slyppers.
   Ferthermor certyfying yow, as for the xiijs. iiijd. whyche
ye sende by a jentylmannys man, for my borde, cawlyd
Thomas Newton, was delyvered to myn hostes, and soo to
my creancer [creditor], Mr. Thomas Stevenson; and he
hertely recomended hym to yow.
   Also ye sende me worde in the letter of xijli. fyggs and
viijli. reysons. I have them not delyvered, but I dowte not I
shal have, for Alwedyr tolde me of them, and he seyde that
they came aftyr in an other barge.
   And as for the yong jentylwoman, I wol certyfye yow how
I fryste felle in qweyntaince with hyr. Hir ffader is dede;
ther be ij. systers of them; the elder is just weddyd; at the
whych weddyng I was with myn hostes, and also desyryd by



|p8


the jentylman hym selfe, cawlyd Wylliam Swanne, whos dwyll_ynge
is in Eton.
   So it fortuned that myne hostes reportyd on me odyrwyse
than I was wordy; so that hyr moder comaundyd hyr to
make me good chere, and soo in good feythe sche ded. Sche
is not a bydynge ther sche is now; hyr dwellyng is in London;
but hyr moder and sch come to a place of hyrs v. myle from
Eton. were the weddyng was, for because it was nye to the
jentylman whych weddyd hyr dowtyr. And on Monday next
comynge, that is to sey, the fyrst Monday of Clene Lente,
hyr moder and sche wyl goo to the pardon at Schene, and soo
forthe to London, and ther to abyde in a place of hyrs in Bowe
Chyrche Yerde; and if it plese yow to inquere of hyr, hyr
modyrs name is Mestres Alborow, the name of the dowtyr is
Margarete Alborow, the age of hyr is be all lykelyod xviij. or
xix. yere at the fertheste. And as for the mony and plate,
it is redy when soo ever sche were weddyd; but as for the
lyvelod, I trow not tyll after hyr modyrs desese, but I can not
telle yow, for very certeyn, but yow may know by inqueryng.
And as for hyr bewte, juge yow that when ye see hyr, yf so
be that ye take the laubore, and specialy beolde hyr handys,
for and if it be as it is tolde me, sche is dysposyd to be thyke.
   And as for my comynge from Eton, I lake no thynge
but wersyfyynge, whyche I troste to have with a lytyll con_tynuance.
   Quritur, Quomodo non valet hora, valet mora? Unde
dicitur?

     Arbore jam videas exemplum. Non die possunt,
         Omnia suppleri; sed tamen illa mora.

   And thes too verse afore seyde be of myn own makyng.
   No more to yow at thys tyme, but God have yow in Hys
kepyng.
   Wretyn at Eton the Even of Seynt Matthy the Apostyll
in haste, with the hande of your broder.
                                    WYLL'M PASTON, Junr.



|p9


                         |r943

               PARSONAGE OF OXNEAD

[1479]   |r<b> MEMORANDUM. -- The day that the lapse went out,
which is such day vj. monethes as the seid parson
died, was on Tewesday, Our Lady Day, the Nativite,
the viijte day of Septembre last past, anno xviijo.
   The day of vj. monethes affter Our seide Lady Day, the
Nativite was on Seint Mathes Day the Apostell, last past,
whiche was the xxiiij. day of Februare, and so I deme eyther
the Bisshoppe of Norwiche hath presented or els it is in the
gifft of my Lord Cardinall nowe. Inquere this mater, for the
Bisshoppe of Norwich lythe in London, and shall doo till Our
Ladys Day this Lenton, as it is said here.
   My moder delivered Sir William Holle his presentacion
the xiij. day of August, anno xviijo, which was nere a monethe
or the day of the vj. monethes went out and past. Wherfore
the Bisshoppe ought to present my moders clarke. Neverthe_lesse
the Bisshoppys officeres aunsware this sayng, that if
sondry persones deliver ij. sondrye presentacions for to diverse
clarkes to the Bisshoppes officers for ore benefice, that then
the seid partyes shuld sue to the Bisshop at ther cost to have
out an inquerre to inquere de vero patrono, sayng forther more,
that if they sue nat out this inquerre with affect, and that the
lapse fall, than it is lefull for the Bisshop to present, and it
is told me that the lawe is this, that the Bisshoppe, be his
office with out any sute of the parties, shall call an inquerre
afore hym to inquere de vero patrono, and he shall assign them
a day to bryng in a verdett, and he shall warne bothe partyes
to be ther at, and he shall amytte his clarke that is founde
patron.



|p10


   Yet the Bisshopp useth nat to do this, but there as bothe
partyes that present are myghty [and wher as he thynketh it
were a jopardy to hym] to sue the Bisshoppe if he did them
any wrong, and wher as ther is a doubtable mater; but in this
case the prest that troubleth my moder is but a simple felowe,
and he is appostata, for he was somtyme a White Frere, and of
simple repetacyon, and of litill substans, as my moder can tell,
wherfore Bisshoppys use nat in suche litill casys to take so
streyte an inquerre, and specyally wher as one hath contynued
patron with out interupcion so long as my moder hath done,
for she hath contynued more than 1. wynter; wherfore I pray
yow shewe my cousyn Lovell this bill, and fynde some meanes
to intrete the Bisshopp by the meane of James Hobard, which
is grete with the Bisshopp, and is nowe Reder of Lyncoln Inne
this Lent. And late my lady speke to James Hobard in the
mater. If it please my moder ther is a prest callde Sir  -- 
which is thought by the tenauntes of Oxned a metely man to
be parson ther; the most thyng that I dowte, bicause Sir
William Holle, whom my moder presented, is ronne away,
and if the Bisshop will nat present my moders clarke in her
title, than I wold that the labour myght be made to the
Bisshopp, that he myght present my moders clarke, suche on
as shoe will name, in his one title.
   Ric. Lee, like as ze may understand be this writing, where
as I understod that the Bisshopp myght have kept the benefice
but vj. monethes after the patrons vj. monethes war worn out,
now I understand the contrary, for I understand he may kepe
it a twelmo[nethe] and a day |r.... [several lines lost]
|r....
   Also, if ze knew any yong preste in London that setteth
billis upon Powlys dorr per aventure wold be glad to have it,
and woll be glad also to serve my lady and my moder for it
for a season, I can no more say but purvay a mean to the
Bisshopp, that som mon may be put in by my moders title.
|r..... of the consistore in Norwich, and he hath



|p11


a broder in the Tower, is master of the Mynt under Brice,
called Bartilmew Rede, and a nother broder is a goold smyth
dwellyng in the Chepe Side called  --  Reede. And he is
eyther loged with on of these, his breder, or els at the Jorge
in Lumbard Strete, or els at the Cok and the Bell at Billinges
gate, a brue hous, for the sei[d] gold smyth hath maried a
bruewyf, and kepeth the brue hous, |r(?) and he can good skylle
to helpe in this mater of the benefice of Oxned.
   Also, Ric. Lee, who so ever shalbe [presented to the]
benefice of Oxned, he muste tell hym, I must pay xiiij. marc
to the frutes, and ther for shall he have [da]yes of payment to
pay a marc azey[n] if he d[o] gete hym frendschip. And also,
Richard, at the makyng of this letter I mend ( ?) to have ben
sure |r(?) . . . . . . and now I in na . . . . .
for if it please my moder, me thynke it was well done, Sir
William Storor had . . . .

             |r[The_rest_unintelligible.]

                        |r944

         EDMUND ALYARD TO MARGARET PASTON
   To his worshepful mastres, Mastres Margaret Paston.

[1479, March 4]   |r<b> RIGHT worshepful mastres, I recommande me unto yow
as lowly as I kan, thankyng yow for your goodnes at
all tymis; God graunt me to deserve it, and do that
may plese yow.
   As for your son Water, his labor and lernyng hathe be,
and is, yn the Faculte of Art, and is well sped there yn, and
may be Bacheler at soche tyme as shall lyke yow, and then to
go to lawe. I kan thynk it to his preferryng, but it is not



|p12


good he know it on to the tyme he shal chaunge; and as I
conceyve ther shal non have that exibeshyon to the Faculte of
Lawe. Therfore meve ze the executores that at soche tyme as
he shal leve it, ye may put a nother yn his place, soche as shal
lyke you to prefer. If he shal go to law, and be made Bacheler
of Art be fore, and ye wolle have hym hom this yere, then
may he be Bacheler at Mydsomor, and be with yow yn the
vacacion, and go to lawe at Mihelmas. Qwhat it shal lyke
yow to commande me yn this or eny odir, ye shal have myn
service redy.
   I pray yow be the next masenger to send me your entent,
that swech as shal be necessary may be purveyid yn seson.
And Jesu preserve yow.
   At Oxinforth, the iiij. day of March.
                    Your scoler,
                                         EDMUND ALYARD.

                        |r945

        WALTER PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
  To hys ryth reverend broder, Sir John Paston, at Caster
                Hall, in Norfolk.

[1479, May 22]   |r<b> AFTER all dw reverens and recomendacions, likyth yt
yow to understond that I reseyvyd a letter fro my
broder John, where by I understod that my moder
and yow wold know what the costes of my procedyng schold
be. I sent a letter to my broder John, certyfyyng my costes,
and the causys why that I wold procede; but as I have sent
word to my moder, I purpose to tary now tyll yt be Mychyl_mas,
for yf I tary tyll than, sum of my costys schall be payyd;
for I supposed, whan that I sent the letter to my broder John,
that the Qwenys broder schold have procedyd at Mydsomer,
but he woll tary now tyll Michylmas; but as I send word to



|p13


my moder, I wold be Inceptor be fore Mydsomer, and there
fore I besechyd her to send me sum mony, for yt woll be sum
cost to me, but not mych.
   And, syr, I besech yow to send me word what answer ye
have of the Buschopp of Wynchester for that mater whych ye
spak to hym of for me whan I was with yow at London. I
thowth for to have had word there of or thys tyme. I wold
yt wold come, for owr fyndyng of the Buschopp of Norwych
begynnyth to be slake in payment. And yf ye know not
whath thys term menyth, `Inceptor,' Master Edmund, that
was my rewler at Oxforth, berar here of, kan tell yow, or ellys
any oder gradwat.
   Also I pray yow send me word what ys do with the hors I
left at Totnam, and whyder the man be content that I had yt
of, or nat. Jesu preserve yow to Hys pleswre and to yowr
most hartys desyyr.
   Wretyn at Oxforth, the Saturday next after Ascensyon of
Yowr Lord.
                                            WALTER PASTON.

                         |r946

          WALTER PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
To hys ryth trusty and hartyly belovyd broder, John Paston, abydyng
   at the Georg, at Powlys & wharfe, in London, be this letter
   delyveryd.

[1479, June 30]   |r<b> RYGTH worchypfull and hartyly belovyd broder, I
recomaund me on to yow, desyeryng feythfoly to here
of yowr prosperyte, qwhych God preserve, thankyng
yow of dyverse letterys that yow sent me. In the last letter
that yow sent to me, ye wryt that yow schold have wryt in the
letter that yow sent by Master Brown, how that I schold send
yow word what tyme that I schold procede, but ther was non
such wrytyng in that letter. The letter is yet to schew, and



|p14


yf yow come to Oxon, ye schal see the letter, and all the leterys
that yow sent me sythynnys I came to Oxon.
   And also Master Brown had that same tyme mysch mony
in a bage, so that he durst nat bryng yt with hym, and that
same letter was in that same bage, and he had for gete to take
owt the letter, and he sent all to geder by London, so that yt
was the next day after that I was maad Bachyler or than the
letter cam, and so the fawt was not in me.
   And yf ye wyl know what day I was maad Baschyler, I
was maad on Fryday was sevynyth, and I mad my fest on the
Munday after. I was promysyd venyson a geyn my fest of
my Lady Harcort, and of a noder man to, but I was deseyvyd
of both; but my gestes hewld them plesyd with such mete as
they had, blyssyd be God, Hoo have yow in Hys kepyng.
Amen.
   Wretyn at Oxon, on the Wedenys day next after Seynt
Peter.
                                             W. PASTON.

                        |r947

                     |rABSTRACT

                        |r948

                     |rABSTRACT

        WILLIAM PASTON TO THOMAS LYNSTED



|p15


                       |r949

        WILLIAM PASTON TO HENRY WARYNS

[1479, July 19]   |r<b> HARRY WARYNS, I grete you well, and I thanke
you for youre labour. And as for the tenauntez of
Knapton, I understand by youre writing that they
take non oder consideration to my sendyng but that I call so
fast on my fee, for cause they thynke that I am aferd lest I
shuld have it no longer; and as for that, I pray yow tell them
for ther ungentilnes I woll have my fee of them, and in that
maner and in non oder place; and ferthermor I shall fynd the
mene that they shall paye it more hastely here after. And as
for the money that they offyr to pay at the fest of Advincula
Sancti Petri, receyve ye it off them and I shall assign one to
receyve it azen of yow. As for the delivere of the catell, I
fele be zowr wrytyng they will non sounar pay it thow ther
catell shuld dye ffor ffawte off mete. Wer for, affor the
money be paid I putt that in zour discresseon wheder ze will
deliver them or nay; as ze do I hold me content.
   Also as for Thomas Child, I understand be zour wrytyng
he will not seale the indenture be cawse ther is no some of
mony sertayne ne days of payment sett in the indentur; and
as for that, I will neyther sett some nor days after his will;
and if he will nat seale that, he shall never seale none for me;
and at last I am sure he shall sell. I send zow azen the same
indenture that ze sent me, that ze may kepe it still as long as



|p16


Thomas Chyld abyde now at Paston, in aventure the casse
may hap that he will sell yt herafter; and yff he be on
departid, than send me both the indenture[s] to London be
some massenger. As for Waryn Kynge, wer I understand be
zour wrytyn that he seyth he delyver me all evydens, I under_stand
not that; and as for rentall I am sure he deliver me
none, and yff so be that he can make the rentall be hart, I
wold he did make on [one], for it war necessare for me; for I
understand be zow that ther was no rent gaderid this xv. ar
xvj. zer for defallte off a rentall; and therfor yt is I had a call
on the prior of Bromholm for the xxx. comb malt that ze toke
hym.    Wrytyn at Norton the xix. day of Jull'
                                        By         W.PASTON.
|r[Endorsed_by_the_writer: --]
`A letter to Harry Waryns the xix day of Jule, Ao xix E. iiijti by John
Ancell off Paston.'

                          |r950

                WILL OF WALTER PASTON

[1479, Aug. 18] |r{13_lines_of_Latin_text}



|p17


|r{26_lines_of_Latin_text}

                         |r951

              WILLIAM PASTON'S PLATE

[1479, Aug. 19]   |r<b> THIS indenture made the xix. day of August, anno xixo
[witnesseth] that I, Richard Lee, have delivered to
Mr. John Russhe thes parcellis folowyng of plate
[and]  of silver: --



|p18


First, a bason and an ewer with iij. combis in a skochyn.
Item, a silver potte.
A layer of silver, parte gilte with an acorne on the knoppe.
A gilte stonding couppe ponsid with a cover.
A chasid pece with a cover aparte gilte.
ij. playne pecys.
j. deppe disshis.
x. sponys.
A white playne coppe with a starre in the botom with a cover.
A standing coppe gilte with a cover.
A candellstik of silver with a sokette.
A trevett of silver.
A salt of silver with a brokyn cover.
A cover for a playn pece, the knoppe gravid with armys.
                                           RICHARD LEE.

[Endorsed -- ] `Plate of William Paston left with John Russhe, the xiij. day of Sept.,
ao xixo.'

                        |r952

        [EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON]

[1479, Aug. 21]   |r<b> SUER dydynges arn com to Norwyche that my grandam
is dyssessyd, whom God assoyle. Myn uncle had a
messenger zesterday that she shuld not escape, and this
day cam a nother at suche tyme as we were at masse for my
brother Water, whom God assoyle! Myn uncle was comyng
to have offered, but the last messenger retornyd hym hastely,
so that he toke hys hors incontynent to enforme more of owr
hevynes. My syster ys delyverd, and the chyld passyd to
God, Who send us Hys grace.
   Dokkyng told me sekretly that for any hast myn uncle
shuld ryde by my Lady of Norffolk to have a iij. skore
persons, whyther it is to convey my grandham hyder or



|p19


nowght he cowde not sey; I deme it is rather to put them
in possessyon of some of her londes.
   Wretyn the Saterdaye the xxi. daye of August, anno E.
iiijti xixo.

                        |r953

                     |rABSTRACT

              MANOR OF MARLINGFORD

                       |r954

                   MEMORANDA

[1479, Aug.]   |r<b> MEMORANDUM, uppon the presse at the ferther
ende is a box with ij. or iij. bondellis with evydence
off Oxenhed and Hawteyn.
   Memorandum, that ther is rollis tytelyd uppon them
`Contra Willelmum Pas[ton],' and they be owther uppon the



|p20


presse, or on the cowntre, or on the shelffe by the cowntre,
or ellys in the cowntre on . . . that syde next the
shelffe.
   To enquire, off myn, oncle William, off Jane, off my
grauntd[ames] wylle, and whoo wrot itt, and whether she
be buried or noo, and who were present at hyr wylle makyng,
and iff she spoke . . . . . owte off her londes.
   Inquire -- 
       Off the Kynge,
       The Chaunceler,
       Milorde Chamberleyn,
       Sir Thomas Mongomere,
       Mi Lorde Cardynall,
       Master Bele, and hys clerke, ffor my faderes wille.

                        |r955

         RICHARD CALLE TO MARGARET PASTON

[1479, or earlier]   |r<b> Plesith it your mastresship to witte, that I sende you a boxe with evidence of
Baktons londes, weche plesith it you to delyver to my master, Sir John, so
that I may have my money that is behynde. And as for Sporle, I sende you
an endenture of the bercars and iij. obligacions eche of v. marke. And as
for any endenture of the wode sale I made non, but a noote breefely of the
effecte, wech I sende you, as I tolde my mastre at Cristemas, and that tyme
he seide to me he was the better plesid, and so I ded no more therto; and an
obligacion of Cli. weche they be bounde to hym to performe ther ther covi_nauntes;
weche remayneth in the handes of the veker of Sporle. And I send
you also ij. billes of the parcell of the wode sale, bothe the wynter sale and
the somer sale, wherof the veker of Sporle and William Halman have the other
parties of them, as he comaunded hym selfe at the begynnyng. And lete my
countrelle doo what hym liste. I fynd hym a trewe man; he dothe as he hath
reported that he shuld go on my harond, and so I undrestond from the[m] he
hath do; but thow I have lost a frende of hym in that quarter, I have mo
frendes in that contre the[n] hee, etc. Mastres, it were goode to remembre



|p21


your stuffe of heryng nough this fisshyng tyme. I have goten me a frende in
Lestoftot to helpe to purvey me of an vij. or viij. barell, and shal not stonde
me upon above vjs. viijd. a barell, so that he may have money nough in the
begynnyng, ye shal do more nough, with xls. then ye shal do at Cristemes with
v. marke. The fisshyng at Yermouth wol not be so goode as it wolbe at
Leystoft, for the haven wol not prove yette, etc. Almyghty God kepe you.
Wrete this daye.
                                            Be your servaunt, R.C.


                         |r956

        SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON 
   To the ryght worshypfull mestresse, Margret Paston,
                be thys delyveryd.

[1479, Oct. 29]   |r<b> PLEASE it yow to weet, that I have ben heer at London a
xiiij. nyght, wheroff the ffyrst iiij. dayes I was in suche
ffeer off the syknesse, and also ffownde my chambr and
stuffe nott so clene as I demyd, whyche troblyd me soor; and
as I tolde yow at my departyng, I was nott weell monyed, ffor I
hadde nott paste x. marke, wheroff I departyd xls. to be
delyveryd off my olde bedfelawe; and then I rode be yonde
Donstaple, and ther spake with on off my cheffe witnessis,
whyche promysed me to take labor, and to gete me wryghtyngs
towchyng thys mater bytwyen me and the Duke of Suffolk,
and I rewardyd hym xxs.; and then, as I informyd yow, I
payed v. marke incontynent uppon my comyng hyddr to
replegge owte my gowne off velwett and other geer.
   And then I hopyd to have borowyd some off Townesend,
and he hath ffoodyd me  fforthe evyrsynys, and in effecte I
cowde have at the most, and at the sonest yisterdaye xxs.
wherffor I beseche yow to purveye me Cs. and also to wryght
to Pekok, that he purveye me as moche, Cs. whyche I



|p22


supose that he hathe gaddryd at Paston and other places, by
thys tyme; ffor with owte I have thys xli., as God helpe me,
I ffer I shalle doo butt litell goode in noo mater, nor yitt I
woote nott howe to come home, but iff I have it.
   This geer hathe troblyd me so, that itt hathe made me
moor than halffe seke, as God helpe me.
   Item, I undrestande that myn oncle William hathe made
labor to th' Exchetor, and that he hathe bothe a wrytte off
essend. clowsyth extr.; and also a supercedeas. I have wretyn
to the Exchetor ther in off myn entent, iff myn oncle hadde
hys wyll in that, yitt sholde he be never the nerre the londe,
butt in effecte he shold have thys advantage, whyche is
behovefull ffor a weyke mater to have a colour, or a clooke,
or a botrase.
   But on Tywesdaye I was with the Bysshop off Hely,
whyche shewyth hymselffe goode and worshypfull; and he
seyde that he sholde sende to myn oncle William, that he
sholde nott procede in no suche mater, till that he speke with
hym; and moor ovyr that he sholde cawse hym to be heer
hastelye; in whyche mater is no remedy as nowe, but iff it
wer soo, that the Exchetor, iff he be entretyd to sytte by myn
oncle William, whyche percase he shall nott, that iff my brother
John and Lomnor have knowleche off the daye, and they
myght be ther; Lomnor can geve evydence i now in that
mater with owte the boke; and mor ovyr that they see bothe
the letter and the other noote, that I sente to the Exchetor,
and with helpe off the Exchetor all myght be as beste is; and
iff my brother and Lomnor take labor her in, I shal recompence
ther costs.
   Wretyn in haste with schort advisement on the Frydaye
next Seynt Symonds and Jude, anno E. iiijti xixo.
   Late my brother John se thys bille, for he knoweth mor
off thys mater.
                                          JOHN PASTON, K.



|p23


                        |r957

       JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
         To Syr John Paston, Knyght.

[1479, Nov. 6]   |r<b> SYR, aftyr all dwtes of recomendacyon, pleasyt to undyr_stand,
that, acordyng to your lettre sent me by Wyllson,
Lomnore and I mett at Norwyche and drew ought a
formable bylle ought of your, and send it ayen to th'Exchetore
Palmer by my brodyr Edmund, whyche had an other erand in
to that contre to spek with H. Spylman, to get hys good wyll
towardes the bargayn lyek to be fynyshed hastyly betwyx
Mastres Clyppysby and hym. And, syr, at the delyvere of
the bylle of inquisicyon to th'Exchetour, my brodyr Edmund
told hym that accordyng to your wryghtyng to me, I spak
with myn oncle William, and told hym that I undyrstood by
yow that my Lord of Elye had aswell desyred hym in wryght_yng
as you by mouthe, that non of you shold swe to have the
inquisycion fond aftyr your intentys tyll other weyes of pese
wer takyn betwyx you; wherfor my brodyr Edmund desyred
hym that with ought myn oncle labord to have it fond for
hym, ellys that he shold not procede for yow; but th'Exchetour
answerd hym that he wold fynd it for you, aftyr your byll, of
hys owne autorite; and so it was fond. But, syr, ye must
remembre that my Lord of Ely desyred myn oncle as well as
you to surcease, as I put myn oncle in knowlage, and myn
oncle at the fyrst agreid that he wold make no more sute a
bought it, in trust that ye wold do the same, acordyng to my
Lord of Elys desyer; wherfor ye had ned to be ware that
th'Exchetor skyppe not from you, when he comyth to London,
and sertyfye it, or ye spek with hym. Th'Exchetor shalbe at
London by Twysdaye or Wednysday next comyng, at John



|p24


Leeis house, for he shall ryd forwardys as on Monday next
comyng be tymys, &c.
   Syr, your tenauntes at Crowmer sey that they know not
who shalbe ther lord; they marvayll that ye nor no man for
yow hathe not yet ben there. Also, when I was with myn
oncle, I had a longe pystyll of hym, that ye had sent Pekok to
Paston, and comandyd the tenauntes ther that they shold pay
non areragys to hym, but if [unless] they wer bond to hym by
obligacyon for the same; myn oncle seythe it was other wyse
apoyntyd be for the arbytrorys; they thought, he seythe, as
well my Mastyr Fytzwalter as other, that he shold receyve
that as it myght be gadryd; but now he seythe, that he
wottyth well some shall renne away, and some shall wast it, so
that it is nevyr lyek to be gadryd, but lost, and so I trow it is
lyek to be of some of the dettors, what for casuelte of dethe
and thes other causes befor rehersyd; wherfor me thynkyth if
it were apoyntyd befor the arbytrors that he shold receyve
theym, as he seythe, it wer not for you to brek it, or ellys if
he be pleyn executor to my grauntdam, then also he ought to
have it. I spek lyek a blynd man, do ye as ye thynk, for I was
at no syche apoyntment befor th'arbytrors, nor I know not
whethyr he is executor to my grauntdam or not, but by hys
seyng.
   Also, syr, ye must of ryght, consyderyng my brodyr
Edmundys diligence in your maters, sythe your departyng,
helpe hym forwardys to myn oncle Syr George Brown, as my
brodyr Edmund preyid yow in hys lettyr that he sent on to
yow by Mondys sone of Norwyche, dwellyng with Thomas
Jenney, that myn oncle Syr George may gett to my brodyr
Edmund of the Kyng the wardshepp of John Clyppysby, son
and heyer to John Clyppysby, late of Owby, in the conte of
Norffolk, Sqwyr, dwryng the nonnage of my Lord and Lady of
York, thow it cost iiij. or v. mark the swte. Let myn oncle



|p25


Syr George be clerk of the haniper, and kepe the patent, if it
be grantyd, tyll he have hys mone, and that shall not be
longe to.
   Myn oncle Syr George may enforme the Kyng for trowthe,
that the chyld shall have no lond duryng hys yong modyrs
lyff, and ther is no man her that wyll mary with hym withought
they have some lond with hym, and so the gyft shall not be
gret that the Kyng shold geve hym; and yet I trow he shold
get the modyr by that meane, and in my conseyt the Kyng
dothe but ryght if he graunt my brodyr Edmund Clyppysbys
son in recompense for takyng my brodyr Edmundes son,
otherwyse callyd Dyxsons, the chyldys fadyr being alyve.
Dyxson is ded, God have hys sowle, Whom I beseche to send
you your most desyred joye.
   Wretyn at Norwyche, on Seynt Leonardes Day.
                                            J. PASTON.

   Syr, it is told me that Nycolas Barlee, the Scyuer, hathe
takyn an axion of dett ayenst me thys terme. I prey yow let
Whetley or some body spek with hym, and lete hym wet that
if he swe me softly thys terme, that he shall be payed or the
nexte terme be at an end. It is a bought vjli., and in feythe
he shold have had it or thys tyme, and our threshers of
Sweynsthorp had not dyed upp; and if I myght have payed it
hym a yer ago, as well as I trust I shall sone aftyr Crystmass,
I wold not for xijli. have brokyn hym so many promessys as I
have.
   Also, syr, I prey yow send me by the next man that
comyth fro London ij. pottys of tryacle of Jenne, -- they shall
cost xvjd., -- for I have spent ought that I had with my yong
wyf, and my yong folkys, and my sylff, and I shall pay hym
that shall bryng hem to me, and for hys caryage. I pray you
lett it be sped.
   The pepyll dyeth sore in Norwyche, and specyally abought
my house, but my wyff and my women come not ought, and
fle ferther we can not; for at Sweynsthorpe, sythe my depart_yng
thens, they have dyed, and ben syke nye in every house
of the towne.



|p26


                        |r958

        WILLIAM PASTON TO ROBERT WALSH

[1479, Nov. 22]   |r<b> YET wold I tary, all be yt I have taryd your comyg this
halff yer, for I deme her suche men as schall well
undyrstond myn titill good; yff any man have good
ty tyll I am suyr that myn is gode. I dar well juperde to take
a dystres, wedyr they come or nat, and so I wyll ze know.
Wer for, in so much as I left myn distress for iowr dysyr, so
that I be answerid off myn mony acordyng to myn ryth, ar
else send me answer, one ar oder [one or other], and lett me
take the avantage that the Kynge lawys will zeff me be
dystress qweche I have delayed, me thynk to long, for any
thank that I have.
   Wretyn at Norwich, the xxij. Novembre.

                       |r959

             JULLYE TO HIS FATHER

[1479, Nov.]   |r<b> Well beloved fader, my master prayed you that ye will sende knowlach be
my broder as sone as these men be come to Knapton, and that ye may laye a
weche to knowe ho sone they be come, and sende me be your sone ar else be
some other trusty man; and I have take your son a grote for his laubour. And
do this in hast; for wheder they com or nat I wille take a distresse ther, and
thatt will abide till I knowe the dealing of them this ij. ar iij. dayes for to
know wheder they wille come or nat, and ther after shall I be demeaned.

   [Endorsed in William Paston's hand] -- A letter fro  -- Jullye, clark of Sent
Edmundes, to his fadyr, to North Walsham, the  --  day Novembr', anno xix.



|p27


                           |r960

                   MANOR OF KNAPTON

   Mr. Thomas Pasche of Wynsowr toke the astate and retorne to the Dean
and Colage of Wynsowr infra Castrum.
   And one  --  Holme, atornay off corte, is recognis |r(?) and was at stat
takyn.
   Robert Walsch off Colby j. myl. et di' fro Blyklyng is steward.
   Here folow revys of Knapton: -- 
      Fro M. xvij. till xviijo, Martyn Smyth.
      F[ro] M. xviij. till xix0, Roberd Fraunk |r(?), his place bonde.
      Fro M. xix. till xxo, Thomas Frank, his place fre.

                         |r961

                 CRESSINGHAM MANOR

[1479, Nov. 25]   |r<b> RECEYVED at Cressingham, the Thirsday nex aftyr
Seynt Edmund at the corte ther vli. xs. by the
handes of me, John Paston, Sqwyer.
Wherof payed to my modyr for costys don
   up on the berying of Walter Paston, and
   whyll he lay sek, and for the hyer of a
   man comyng with the seyd Water fro
   Oxenford xxd. . . . . . . . . . xxixs. xjd.
Item, payed to William Gybson for j. horse
   sadyll and brydyll lent to Water Paston
   by the seyd William, . . . . . . xvjs.
Item, gevyn the seyd man comyng fro Oxen_ford
   with the seyd Water by the handys
   of J. Paston, . . . . . . . . . xxd.



|p28


Item, payed for dyvers thynges whyll Water
   Paston lay sek, . . . . . . . . iiijd.
Item, for the costes of John Paston rydyng
   to kepe the coort at Cressingham, anno
   supradicto, whych was iiij. dayes in doing,
   for the styward mygh not be ther at the
   day prefyxid, . . . . . . . . . iijs. iiijd.

                         |r962

         JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON
 To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston, at Seynt
                 Peter of Hundgate.

[1479, Nov.]   |r<b> RYGHT worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtes of humble
recomendacyon, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of
your dayly blyssyng and preyeres. And, moder,
John Clement, berer heroff, can tell yow, the mor pite is, if
it pleasyd God, that my brodyr is beryed in the Whyghte
Fryers at London; whych I thought shold not have ben, for I
supposyd that he wold have ben beryed at Bromholme, and
that causyd me so sone to ryd to London to have purveyd
hys brynging hom, and if it had ben hys wylle to have leyn at
Bromholm, I had purposyd all the wey as I have redyn to
have brought hom my grauntdame  and hym to gedyrs; but
that purpose is voyd as now. But thys I thynke to do when
I com to London to spek with my Lord Chamberleyn, and to
wynne by hys meanys my Lord of Ely, if I can; and if I
may by eny of ther meanys cause the Kyng to take my
servyse and my quarrell to gedyrs, I wyll, and I thynk that



|p29


Sir George Brown, Sir Jamys Radclyff, and other of myn
aqueyntance, whyche wayte most upon the Kyng, and lye
nyghtly in hys chamber, wyll put to ther good wyllys. Thys
is my wey as yet. And, modyr, I beseche yow, as ye may
get or send eny messengers, to send me yowr avyse and my
cosyn Lomeners to John Leeis hows, taylere, with in Lud_gate.
I have myche more to wryght, but myn empty hed
wyll not let me remembre it.
   Also, modyr, I prey that my brodyr Edmond may ryd to
Marlyngforthe, Oxenhed, Paston, Crowmer, and Caster, and
all thes maners to entre in my name, and to lete the tenants of
Oxenhed and Marlyngfor know that I sent no word to hym
to take no mony of theym but ther attornement; wherfor he
wyll not, tyll he her fro me ayen, axe hem non, but lete hym
comand theym to pay to servaunts of myn oncles, nor to hym_sylff,
nor to non othyr to hys use, in peyne of payment ayen
to me. I thynk if ther shold be eny money axid in my name,
peraventure it wold make my Lady of Norfolk ayenst me, and
cause hyr to thynk I dellt more contrary to hyr plesure than
dyd my brodyr, whom God pardon of Hys gret mercy. I
have sent to entre at Stansted and at Orwellbery, and I have
wretyn a bylle to Anne Montgomery and Jane Rodon to
make my Lady of Norffolk, if it wyll be.
           Your sone and humble servaunt,
                                             J. PASTON.

                         |r963

         WILLIAM LOMNOR TO JOHN PASTON
To the ryght worchypfull John Paston, Squyer, yn haste.

[1479, Nov. 28]   |r<b> MY Master Paston, I recomaunde me to yow, preyyng
God to have mercy on my master your brother
sowle, to whom ye ar heyre, and also to my mastras
your graurtdam. Wherfore be th'avyse of my mastras your



|p30


carful moder, your brothere Edmund, on Sunday next before
Sent Andrew, rod to Marlyngforth, and before alle the
tenauntez, examynid on James, kepere ther for Will. Paston,
where he was the weke next before Sent Andrew, and there
he seyd that he was not at Marlingforth from the Monday
unto the Thorday at evyn, and soo there was no man there
but your brothers man at the tyme of his decese; so be that
your brothere dyyd sesid, and your brothere E. bad your man
kepe possession to your behoffe, and warned the tenauntez to
pay noo man, til ye hadde spoke them. I mesemyth that
ys a remyttir to your old taylyd titell; comon with your con_cell.
Forther, at afternoon he was at Oxned to understande
how they had doo, and Peris kepyd your brotheres possession
at that tyme; and your oncle his man was not there, but he
assyned anothere pore man to be ther. Whethere that con_tynuid
the possession of W. Paston or not be remembrid, &c.
   And after the decese, &c., W. Paston sent the man that
kepyd possession to fore to entre and kepe possession, wheche
was noo warent be tha poyntment, for ye stande at your liberte
as for ony apoyntment or comunycacion hadde before, and
soo men seme it wer good for yow to stande at large til ye
here more; yf ye myght have my Lord Chamberleyns good
faver and lordship, it were ryght expedyent. As for my
Lord of Ely, dele not wyth hym be owr avyse, for he woll
move for trete, and elles be displesid. Your brother Edmund
sent to John Wymond, and he sent word he wolle be a mene
of trete, but wold take noo parte, and as I sopose that was be
Heydons avyse; for your uncle sent to me to be with hym,
and also the same man rodd to Heydon and Wymondham,
&c. The brenger of this letter can tell, for he was with
your brothere E. at these placez.
   Forther, my mastras your moder gretyth yow well, and
sendyth yow her blessyng, requiryng yow to come oute of
that here [air] alsone as ye may; and your brothere E.
comaundid hym to yow, and he doth hys dylygens, and parte
for yow full well and saddely yn many behalvys, and hath
brought my maistras your wife to Topcrofte on Friday last,
and they fare all well there; and he yntendith to see my



|p31


Master Fitz Water, whech lythe at Freton, ner Long
Stratton. And God be your gide yn all your maters, and
brenge yow sone home.
   Wretyn at Norwyche, on Sonday at nyght next before
Sent Andrew, and delyverd on Monday next be the morwyn.
           Be your,                         W. LOMNOUR.

                         |r964

                      |rABSTRACT

          [WILLIAM PASTON TO ROBERT WALSH]

                         |r965

          JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON
    To my ryght worchepfull and most kynd modyr,
                  Margarett Paston.

[1479, Dec.]   |r<b> RYGHT werchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutes of humble
recomendacyon, as lowly as I can, I beseche yow of
your dayly blessyng and preyer. Pleasyt yow to
undyrstand that wher as ye wyllyd me by Poiness to hast me
ought of the heyer that I am in, it is so that I must pwt me
in God, for her must I be for a season, and in good feyth I



|p32


shall never, whyll God sendyth me lyff, dred mor dethe than
shame; and thankyd be God, the sykness is well seasyd here,
and also my besyness puttyth awey my fere. I am drevyn to
labore in lettyng of th'execucyon of myn unkynd onclys entent,
wher in I have as yet non other dyscorage, but that I trust in
God he shall fayle of it.
   I have spokyn with my Lord of Ely dyvers tymys, whyche
hathe put me in serteynte by hys woord, that he wyll be with
me ayenst myn oncle in iche mater that I can shewe that he
entendyth to wrong me in; and he wold fayne have a reson_able
end betwyx us, wher to he wyll helpe, as he seythe. And
it is serteyn my brodyr, God have hys soule, had promysed to
a byde the reule of my Lord Chamberleyn and of my Lord
Ely; but I am not yett so far forthe, nor not wyll be, tyll I
know my Lord Chamberleyns intent, and that I purpose to do
to morow, for then I thynk to bewith hym, with Godes leve.
And sythe it is so that God hathe purveyd me to be the
solysytore of thys mater, I thank Hym of Hys grace for the
good lordes, mastrys, and frendys that He hathe sent me,
whyche have perfytely promysyd me to take my cause as ther
owne, and those frendes be not a fewe.
   And, modyr, as I best can and may, I thank yow and my
cosyn Lomenore of the good avyse that ye have sent me,
and I shall aplye me to do ther aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseche
you on my behalf to thank myn cosyn Lomnorre for the kind_ness
that he hathe shewyd on to me in gevyng of hys answer
to myn onclys servaunt, whyche was with hym.
   Modyr, I wryght not so largely to yow as I wold do, for
I have not most leyser; and also when I have ben with my
Lord Chamberleyn, I purpose not to tery longe aftyr in
London, but to dresse me to yow wardes; at whyche tyme
I trust I shall brynge yow more serteynte of all the fordell
[advantage] that I have in my besyness then I can as yett
wryght.
   I am put in serteynte by my most specyall good mastyr,
my Mastyr of the Rollys, that my Lord of Ely is, and shal be



|p33


bettyr lord to me then he hathe shewyd as yet, and yet hathe
he delt with me ryght well and honourably.
   Modyr, I beseche yow that Pekok may be sent to purvey
me as myche money as is possybyll for hym to make ayenst
my comyng home, for I have myche to pay her in London,
what for the funerall costes, dettes, and legattes that must be
content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease. Also I wold
the ferme barly in Flegge, as well as at Paston, if ther be eny,
wer gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold
or putt to the maltyng; but I wold at Caster that it were
ought of the tenauntes handys for thynges that I here (kepe
ye consell thys fro Pekok and all folkys), whyche mater I shall
appese, if God wyll geve me leve.

                        |r966

       JOHN PASTON AND HIS UNCLE WILLIAM

[After 1479]   |r<b> THES be th'enjuryes and wrongys done by William
Paston to John Paston, hys nevew.
   Fyrst, the maners of Marlyngforthe, Stansted, and
Horwellbery wes gev[en to] William Paston, Justyce, and to
Agnes, hys wyff, and to th'eyers of ther tw . . . . to
whom the seyd John Paston is cosyn and heyer, that is to
sey, son to John, son and heyer to the seyd William and
Agnes.
   Item, wher the [seyd William Paston was seasyd of the maner
of  -- ], Ed. Clere with other infeofyd to the use of the seyd
Will[iam]  and of hys heyres, the whyche William made hys
wyll that th[e said Agnes], hys [wife], shold have the seyd
maner for terme of hyr lyff. And aftyr th[at he] dyed, and
the seyd Agnes occupyed for terme of hyr seyd lyff . . . .
of the seyd feoffes the seyd maner; and aftyrwardes the seyd



|p34


. . . . . . Afftyr whoys dethe Sir John Paston, Knyght,
as cosyn and heyer to t[he said William], in to the seyd maner
entred, and dyed with ought issue of hys bodye. . . . . .
John as brodyr and heyer to the seyd Sir John, [and cosyn and
heyer is lett . .], . . seyd maner entred, and is lettyd
to take the profytys of the same by . . . . of the maners
of Marlyngforthe, Stansted, and Horwelbery befor r . . . .
by the meanys of the seyd Wylliam.

                         |r967

                JOHN PASTON TO  -- 

[1479-80]   |r<b> SIR, I pray yow that ye will send sum chyld to my Lord
of Bukingham place, and to the Crown, wich as I con_seive
is called Gerardes Hall, in Bred Stret, to inquere
whedir I have any answer of my letter sent to Caleys, whech
ye know off; and that ye will remembre my brotheris ston,
so that it myth be mad er I cumm ageyn, and that it be klenly
wrowgth. It is told me that the man at Sent Bridis is no
klenly portrayer; [the]rfor I wold fayn it myth be portrayed
be sum odir man, and he to grave it up.
   Sir, it is informyd sum personis in this cuntre that ye
know that the frere will sew a nodir delegaci fro Rome, direkt
to sum byschop of Ingland, to amend his mater, &c.; and
how be it that it may not gretly hurt, yet the seyd persones,
&c., wold not he shuld have his entent, in asmoch as his
suggestion is untrew, but rather they wold spend mony to
lette it. I suppose the Abbot of Bery shuld labor for him
rather than anodir, becawse the sey Abbot is a perteynor to
the lord that is the freris mayntener, &c.; wherefor, ser, my
moder and I pray yow enquere after a man callid Clederro,



|p35


whych is solisitor and attorne with Master Will. Grey, that
late was the Kingges proktor at Rome, and the seyd Clederro
sendith matiers and letters owth of Ingelond to his seyd master
ever[y] monith, &c. He is well knowe in London, and among
the Lumbardes, and with the Bischop of Winchesteris men,
but I wot not wher he dwellit in London, and I suppos if ye
speke with him, he knowith me. Plese yow to comone with
him of this mater, but let him not wete of the mater atwix my
modir and him; but desir him to wryth to his master to lett
this, if it may be, or elles to se the best wey that he have not
his intent, and to comon with the proktor of the Whith Freris
at Rome to hep forth, for the freris here have laborid to my
moder, and praid her to lette his ontrewe intent, and have
wrete to her proketor befor this. And I suppose if ye speke
to the prior of the freris at London, he will writh to her seyd
proktor, &c., but tell the prior no word that I know [ther]of,
but let him wete if he will wryth to his proktor, odir men shall
help forth.
   More over, that ye will tell Cledero that I am not seker
that the frere laborith thus, but be talis of freris and odir;
nevertheles let him writh to his master that [for] whatsomevyr
he do herin, he shall be truly content for his labor and costes.
And if ye think that Cledro will writh effectually herin, geff
hym j. noble, [bid] hym let his master know that my Lord of
Wynchester  and Danyell ow godwill to the part that he shall
labor for. And if thar be fown no sech sewth be the seyd
[fre]re, yet wold I have sum thing fro Rome to anull the old
bull, &c., or to apeyr [impair] it [if] it myth be do esily, &c.,
and tyding wheder ther be any sech sute, &c.
                        Your own, &c.

   [For] how beit that it may nowthir avayl ner hurt, yet my
moder will this be do. [I] send yow the copi of the bull, and
how execucion was do, and informacion of the mater imparte,
&c. And, sir, I sha content your noble, &c. And I pray
yow red it over, and spede yow homeward, and bring this
letter home with yow, &c.



|p36


                         |r968

             AN INVENTORY OF PLATE

[1479]
In primis, a sallt with j. cover, . . xx. unces di. & di. quart.
j. stumpe of a salte,         . . . . ij. unces & di.
j. flat salt with a squyrell,    . . . j. unce iij. quarters.
iiij. Parys cuppis with a cover, with a
   rose in the botom, weyeng,        . . lvj. unces j. quarter.
ij. holowe disshes,           . . . . xxix. unces iij. quarter di.
j. chafre of silver,          . . . . ix. unces j. quarter.
xij. sylver spones, wereof my lady hath
   one.
j. lytil spone of Rippyngales,    . . j. quarter & di. quarteri j. d. ob.
	qa. di.
j. lityll spone for egges,      . . . j. quarter & di. quarter ob.
j. prikettes nuper Howis.       . . . ix. unces ij. d. weight,
j. preket nuper Howis,          . . . viij. unces iij. quarters & di.
j. long sokett.
j. nother long soket.
vj. soketes, with branches to remeve.
iij. wherwilles to the same.
j. playne pees for potage, per estima_cionem,
                          . . . . . . xj. unces j. quarter.
j. playn pees nuper Frere Water,  . . iiij. unces j. quarter.
j. nother playn peece nuper Frere
  Walter,                 . . . . . . iiij. unces di. quarter.
j. chaleis,               . . . . . . xv. unces & di. quarter.
ij. cruettes,               . . . . . vij. unces iij. quarters.
a paxbred,                  . . . . . iij. unces di. quarter j. d.
j. holowe barbore bason, bought of Colet.
j. standing pece couvered, bought of
   Elingham.                          xv. unces & j. quarter.
iij. gilt spones.
j. spone for grene gynger, gilt,  . . j. unce j. quarter j. qa. & di.
j. gilte cup covered, wel shapen with
   trayle, with j. knop with a kroune
   enamelid,                   . . . . . xxxiij. unces & di. & di. quarter.
j. nothir cupp standing covered, gilt, bell
   shapen with trailles, with a playn knopp
   not enamelid,            . . . . . xxiij. unces & j. quarter.



|p37


j. maser Sipton.
ij. masers.
iij. gilt spones.
j. gynger spone.
j. bag whiteleder, wherin is all this stuff
   folowyng this lyne: --
     -----------------
iij. girdels Staunton.
j. girdel upholdester.
Fawcon Skern coppe.
Hans Eborlyn girdel.
Purs gold with Jane Aske harnes.
ij. lynen bagges lityll with broke silver
   and j. old harneis gilt.

Furst, a standing cuppe with a cover
   therto plommed, weyeng             . . . xxiiij. unces di.
Item, a standing coppe curid gilt, weyeng   xxxvj. unces.
Item, a nother standing cupp cuerid gilt,
  weying                          . . . . . xv. unces iij. qa. & di.
Item, a goblette of silver and gilt covered xiiij. unces j. quarter & di.
Item, a nother goblett gilt, weyeng       . xij. unc' & j. d. weight.
Item, a nothir goblet gilt, weyeng      . . vij. unc'.
Item, a standing white pees with a cover
  withoute a knoppe, weyeng             . . xxij. unces.
Item, a salt with a pale covered,       . . xiiij. unc' j. quarter.
Item, a rounde salt covered,            . . xix. unc' j. quarter di.
Item, a rounde salt uncovered,          . . viij. unces.
Item, a basonne of                  . . . . xxxv. unc' j. quarter.
Item, an ewer to the same of            . . xv. unc' & di. quarter.
Item, an ewer,                    . . . . . xiiij. unc' di. quarter.
Item, vj. silver sponys with square sharp
  knoppes of                      . . . . . v. unces iij. quarter j. d. wight.
Item, spone for grene gynger of         . . iij. quarters & ij. d. wight.
Item, a grete gilt chalis with a patent
  longing to the same, weying           . . xlij. unces j. quarter.
Item, a litil standing pece chacid plumtes,
  with a kover to the same,             . . x. unces j. quarter.
Item, a blak notte standing of silver and
  gilt, with a kover to the same, weying    xviij. unc'.
Item, a grete maser with a prend in the
  botom, and the armes of Seint Jorge,
  weying                        . . . . . . xv. unc' j. quarter & di.
Item, a nother maser sownde in the botom
  and a sengilboode,                . . . . viij. unc' & j. quarter.
Item, a lytil maser with a foote, weying  . viij. unc'.
Item, a nother maser with s lytill foote,
  weing                         . . . . . . viij. unc'.



|p38


Item, a nothir litill maser with an higher
  foote, weying                    . . . . . x. unces & j. quarter.
Item, xxti spones on a bundell, weying     . xvj. unc. j. quarter.
Item, vj. spones with acorns, weying       . v. unc' & di. quarter.
Item, a peyre bedes of corall with pater_nostris
  of silver and gilt, and a knopp
  of smale perle, weying               . . . vj. unc' j. quarter.
In primis, j. standing cuppe covered
  playne with a rounde knoppe, weyeng        xxv. unces.
j. nodir cuppe of golde covered playne
  with a chacid knoppe, weying           . . xxiij. unces iij. quarters.
j. layer of gold with a crokid spoute,
  weyeng                         . . . . . . xiij. unces iij. quarters.
j. nothir layer of golde, weyeng         . . xiij. unces j. quarter j. d.
j. chaleis of fyne golde in pecis broken,  . xxiiij. unces.
j. coppe of golde covered, chacid with a
  perle,                         . . . . . . xxj. unces.
j. salte covered with a berall gairneshid, . v. unces j. quarter.
j. nothir salt covered, garnyshed with
  stones,                        . . . . . . v. unces iij. quarter.
j. par of gilt basouns covered, weyeng     . viijxx. xix. unces & di.
j. salte gilte, weyeng               . . . . xxviij. unces di. quarter.
j. cover to the same, weyeng,            . . viij. unces j. quarter.
j. nothir salte gilte withoute a cover,    . xxvij. unces iij. quarters.
j. standing pees gilte, with a cover Skern,  xxxvij. unces j. quarter.
j. nothir standing pees gilte with a cover,
   A. P.                         . . . . . . xxj. unces di. & di. quarter.
j. flatte pees covered, gilt, A. P.      . . xviij. unces & di.
j. potte for grene gynger gilte,         . . x. unces & di. iiij. d. ob.
j. cover to the same, weying             . . j. unce & j. quarter.
j. stonding cuppe covered parcell gilt, Sir
  Buk,                           . . . . . . xvj. unces & j. quarter.
j. salt covered parcell gilt, Sir Ric.',   . xij. unces & di.
j. paxe parcell gilte, Staunton,         . . xiij. unces.
j. standing cuppe with a kever, parcell
  gilt, Staunton,                    . . . . xix. unces & di.
j. goblett for Rynesh wyne covered,        . xj. unces & di. quarter.
j. powder boxe,                    . . . . . vj. unces j. quarter di. quarter.
j. noder powder boxe,                  . . . viij. unces j. quarter.
j. candilstykke with a lous [loose] sokett
   and j. preket, P,                 . . . . xvij. unces di. quarter.
ij. candilstikkes with ij. lous preketes,
   Skern,                        . . . . . . xxxj. unces j. quarter di.
di. doss. [half a dozen] sylver spones,
  Shipton,                         . . . . . vj. unces di. & di. quarter.
di. doss. spones, Stanton,             . . . vij. unces.
j. bason, P.                       . . . . . xlv. unces di.



|p39


j. bason, Sparke,                    . . . . lx. unces.
j. bason, Sturmer, with a spoute,        . . xxxiiij. unces. j. quarter j. d. q.
j. bason, Sturmer, withoute a spoute,      . xxxij. unces j. quarter di. quarter j.
                                               d. qa.
j. bason, Rous,                   . . . . . l. unces iij. quarters.
j. ewer, P.                        . . . . . xvj. unces & di. & di. quarter.
j. ewer, Sparke,                     . . . . xx. unces.
j. ewer, Sturmer,                    . . . . xiiij. unces j. quarter and di. quar_ter
                                               qa.
j. ewer, Sturmer,                    . . . . xiiij. unces di. di. quarter j. d. ob.
                                               qa.
j. ewer, Rous,                     . . . . . xviij. unces.
j. pott, Hous,                     . . . . . lvij. unces.
j. pott, P.                        . . . . . xxviij. unces iij. quarter di. ij.
j. pott, S. . . . lett,              . . . . xv. unces.
j. pott, Rous,                     . . . . . xxxv. unces.
j. pott, Spark,                    . . . . . xxvij. unces j. quarter.
j. flagon,                       . . . . . . xxxix. unces.
j. layer,                        . . . . . . ix. unces a quarter & di.
j. layer,                        . . . . . . ix. unces j. quarter & ij. di.
vj. Parys cuppis with a cover, Skerne,     . lxx. unces iij. quarters di.
j. grete boll pees, with a cover, Noris,   . xl. unces j. quarter.
xxiij. disshis of sylver, Skerne,        . . xvijxx.vj. unces di.
iiij. chargeours,                  . . . . . vxx.x. unces.
xxvij. dishes,                     . . . . . xxxx.xj. unces di. & di. quarter.
xxiij. sawcers,                    . . . . . vjxx.xv. unces.
xij. flatt cuppis of silver, P. and
   Staunton,                       . . . . . vxx.v. unces iij. quarters.
iij. coveres to the same, P. and
   Staunton,                       . . . . . xl. unces.
j. chargeour priour |r(?) water,           . . xlvj. unces j. quarter di.


                         |r969

                       |rABSTRACT

        WILLIAM PASTON TO HIS BROTHER EDMUND PASTON



|p40


                         |r970

            WILLIAM PASTON TO JOHN KYNG
    To John Kynge, Fermour of my Maner of Hartwelbury,
      in Kelsall, besides Royston, be this delyverd.

[1480, Feb. 24]   |r<b> JOHN KYNG, I grete yow hartely well; and I under_stond
as well by my frende, Syr William Storar, as by
Ric. Browne, that as well my kynnesman Syr John
Paston that dede is, as my kynnesman John Paston that now
leveth, have ben with yow, and yovyn yow many grete thretis,
for that ye acordyng to the trowth, tolde unto them that ye
ocupyed my maner of Harwelbury be my leese, and be my
ryght. And further more I understond, notwithstondyng the
seyde grete thretis, that ye, lyke a full trewe, harty frende,
have delyd and fastely abedyn in my tytill, and wolde not
retorne to none of them. Wherfor I hartely thank yow; and
furthar more to corage yow in yowr fast dealyng, I schew
onto yow that I have ryght bothe in law and in concience,
wherby I promyse yow on my feythe to defende yow and save
yow harmeles for the occupacion of the londe, or any thynge
that ye schall doo in my titill a gaynst hym, and it schulde
cost me as moche as the maner is worth, and also another
tyme to doo as moche for yow, and it ly in my powre, yf ye
have ony mater to doo ther as I may doo for yow.



|p41


   And, also, I here say, by my seid frende, Syr William
Storar, and by Ric. Brown, that ye ar of suche substaunce,
and of suche trust, and suche favor in the contre ther, that it
lithe in yowr powre to do a goode turne for yowr frende.
   Wretyn at London, the xxiiijti day of Februari.
                                        Be WILLIAM PASTON.

                        |r971

      GEORGE, SERVANT TO WILLIAM PASTON,
                   TO JOHN KYNG
   To John Kyng of Therfeld, in Herdfordshire.

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> Right trusty and welbeloved frende, I comaunde me to you. And, Ser, I
tolde my maister that ye wolde have ben with him or this; for which cause he
mervaileth ye kepe nat your promyse. Wherfore I avise you to come and
bryng my maister his money afore this fest of Cristmasse.
   And, also, ye ar yerly behynde of a boore or els ren shillinges after the
price of oon bore. And where ye be owyng your boore for ij. yerys, I wolde
avyse you to delyver unto Ser William Storer the seid dute, or els I counceile
you to send my maister a resonable somme of money with thies boores afore
Cristmasse for your thanke, consideryng his kynde dealyng, as well in suffer_aunce
of your money as in your owne matier.
   Writen at London, the xvjth day of Decembre.
                                          Be your frende, GEORGE,
                                       servaunte to Mr. W. PASTON.

                         |r972

      JOHN, PRIOR OF BROMHOLM, TO JOHN PASTON
 To my right worchipful maister, John Paston, Sqwyer.

[1480-7]   |r<b> RIGHT worchipful maister, I recomaunde me un to yow,
desiryng to knowe of youre welfare and prosperyte,
wheche Jesu maynteyne and encreese to His pleser
after youre hertys desyre, thankyng yow ever of youre good



|p42


maistership to me shewed at alle tymes withoute deserte on
my behalve, prayng yow, and hirtely besechyng of youre
goode contynuance. Please it yowre maistership, for as
moche as it [is] moved on to the my good maisters, the
counsell of the Duche of Lancastr, that they be weelwillyng
to make laboure on to my Sovereyn Lady the Qween at
youre good instaunce for certeyn tymber toward my dortour
at Bromholm, in wheche myn specyall desyre is to have viij.
princypall beemys, everych on in length xj. zerds. I am
not expeert in makyng of any supplicacion, besechyng youre
maistership to take it uppon you to do it make after your
avyce, alegged all poverte, as youre worchipfull discrecion can
moche better than I can enforme; and I remitte all to youre
wysdam, ever besechyng you to calle this matyer to youre
remembraunce. No more at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite
mote have yow in His governaunce, and sende you longe lyf
to endure to His pleser.
   Wreten the xiiije day of Octobr.
                Youre preest and chapeleyn,
                             JOHN, Priour of Bromholm.



|p43


                         |r973

                       |rABSTRACT

                         |r974

           EDMUND PASTON TO WILLIAM PASTON
  To my brother, Wylliam Paston, be this delyverd.

[About 1481 |r(?)]   |r<b> I HARTELY recomawnd me to zow. Here is lately
fallyn a wydow in Woorstede, whyche was wyff to one
Bolt, a worstede marchaunt, and worth a ml.li., and gaff
to hys wyff a C. marke in mony, stuffe of howsold, and plate
to the valew of an C. marke, and xli. be zere in land. She is
callyd a fayer jantylwoman. I wyll for zour sake se her. She
is ryght systyr, of fader and modyr, to Herry Ynglows. I
purpose to speke with hym to gett hys good wyll. Thes
jantylwoman is abowght xxx. zeres, and has but ij. chyldern,
whyche shalbe at the dedes charge; she was hys wyff but v.
zere. Yf she be eny better than I wryght for, take it in
woothe I shew the leeste. Thus lete me have knowlache of



|p44


zowr mynde as shortly as ze can, and whan ze shall moun be
in this cuntre. And thus God send zow good helth and good
aventure.
   From Norwyche, the Saterday after xijthe day.
                   Your,                      E. PASTON.

                         |r975

        EDMUND PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON
 To my ryght wurchypfull and especiall good mother,
                Margaret Paston.

[Between 1481-4]   |r<b> RYGHT worchypfull and moste especialle good modyr,
in my moste umble wyse, with alle my dute and ser_vyse,
I recomawnd me to yow, besechynge zow of
zour blyssyng, whyche is to me moste joy of erthely thynge;
and it plese zow to be so good and kynd modyr to me to for_geve
me, and also my wyffe, of owr leude offence that we have
not don ower dute, whyche was to have seyn and ave waytyd
up on zow or now. My huswyffe trustythe to ley to zow her
huswyferey for her excuse, wyche I muste beseche zow not
to accepte, for in good faythe I deme her mynde hathe ben
other weys ocapyed than as to huswyfery, whyche semyth
welle by the latchesnes of the tylthe of her landdes. I beseche
God for the forderawnce of them as now rewarde zow and
the good parson of Mautby, and also Mastyer Baley, who I
wende woold not have balkyd this pore loggeyng to Norwyche
wardes.
   I undyrstand by the bryngger here of that ze entende to
ryde to Walsyngham; yf it please zow that I may wete the
seayson, as my dute is, I shalle be redy to awayte up on zow



|p45


   Plese it zow that the brynggar here of cam to me for xs. B
viijd. whyche I shuld ow hys fadyr; trew it was at my laste
departyng from hym, I owte hym somych, but sertaynly or I
cam at Thetfford homewardes, I thowt of concyence he owte
to have restoryd me as myche. I had my horsse with hym at
lyvery, and amonge alle one of them was putte to gresse and
to labur, so that he dyed of a laxe by the wey. I payed for
hard mete ever to hym.
   Plese it zow to delyver Kateryn vs., wyche I send zow in
this bylle. I am not assartaynd how she is purveyde of mony
towardes her jornay. Yf her fadyr cowde not acleymed jd. of
me, I woold not se her dysporveyd, yf I myght, nor the poreste
chyld that is belonggyng to hys loggeyng.
   Modyr, my wyffe is boold to send zow a tokyn. I
beseche zow pardon alle thyngges not done acordyng to dute.
I beseche God send zow the accomplyshment of zour moste
and woorchypfull desyers.
   At Owby, the Saterday next before Candylmes.
              Zour umble son and servant,
                                           EDMOND PASTON.

                         |r976

             MONASTERY OF ST. FAITH

[1481, Aug.] |r{12_lines_of_old_Latin_text}
                                             JOHANNES DE MALTB[Y].



|p46


                         |r977

                     |rABSTRACT

      ANONYMOUS TO MRS. [MARGARET PASTON?]

                         |r978

              MARGARET PASTON'S WILL.

[1482, Feb. 4]   |r<b> IN the name of God, amen. I, Margaret Paston, widowe,
late the wiff of John Paston, Squier, doughter and heire
to John Mauteby, Squier, hole of spirit and mynde, with
perfite avisement and good deliberacion, the iiijte day of Febru_ary,
in the yer of Our Lord God a ml.cccclxxxj. make my testa_ment
and last wille in this fourme folowyng. First, I betake
my sowle to God Almyghty and to Our Lady His blissid
Moder, Seint Michael, Seint John Baptist, and to Alle Seintes,
and my body to be beried in the ele of the cherch of Mauteby,
byfore the ymage of Our Lady there. In which ele reste the
bodies of divers of myn aunceteres, whos sowles God assoile.
   Item, I bequethe to the high awter of the seid cherch of
Mauteby xxs.
   Item, I wulle that the seid ele in which my body shalbe
beried be newe robed, leded, and glased, and the walles therof
heyned [heightened] convenyently and werkmanly.
   Item, I wulle that myn executours purveye a stoon of
marble to be leyde alofte upon my grave within a yer next
after my decesse; and upon that stoon I wulle have iiij.
scochens sett at the iiij. corners, wherof I wulle that the first



|p47


scochen shalbe of my husbondes armes and myn departed, the
ijde of Mawtebysarmes and Berneys of Redham departed, the
iijde of Mawtebysarmes and the Lord Loveyn departed, the
iiijte of Mawtebysarmes and Sir Roger Beauchamp departed.
And in myddys of the seid stoon I wull have a scochen sett
of Mawtebysarmes allone, and under the same thise wordes
wretyn, `In God is my trust,' with a scripture wretyn in the
verges therof rehersyng thise wordes, `Here lieth Margret
Paston, late the wif of John Paston, doughter and heire of
John Mawteby, Squier,' and so forth, in the same scripture
rehersed the day of the moneth and the yer that I shall
decesse: `on whos sowle God have mercy.'
   Item, I wulle that myn executours shall purveye xij. pore
meen of my tenauntes, or other if they suffice not, the whiche
I wulle shalbe apparailled in white gownes with hodes accord_ing,
to holde xij. torches abowte myn herse or bere at such
tyme as I shalbe beried, during the exequies and masse of my
berying; which xij. torches I wille remayne in the seid cherch
of Mawteby whil they may last for my yerday.
   Which yerday I wull myn heire kepe in the same cherch
for me my seid husbond and myn aunceteres yerly during the
terme of xij. yeres next after my decesse;  and I wulle that
ich of the seid xij. pore meen the day of my beriing have iiijd.
Also, I wulle that iche preste being at my berying and masse
have viijd., and ich clerk in surplys iijd. Also, I wull that the
preste which shall berie me have vjs. viijd., so that he seye
over me at the tyme of my berying all the whole service that
to the berying belongeth.
   Also, I wulle that from the day and tyme that I am beried
unto the ende of vij. yeres than next folowyng be ordeyned a
taper of wexe of ali. to brenne upon my grave ich Sonday and
haliday at alle divine service to be seid or sunge in the seid
cherch and dailly at the masse of that preest that shalle singe
there in the seid ele for my sowle.
   Item, I wulle that vj. tapers, ich of iiijli., brenne abowte
myn herse the day of my beryng, of which I wull that iiij.



|p48


yerly be kept to brenne abowte myn herse whan my yerday
shalbe kept aslong as they may honestly serve.
   Item, I wulle have an honest seculer prest to synge and
pray in the seid ele for my sowle, the sowles of my father and
mother, the sowle of the seid John Paston, late my husband,
and for the sowlys of his aunceteres and myn during the
terme of vij. yeres next after my decesse.
   Item, I wulle that myn executours purveye a compleet
legende in oon book, and an antiphoner in an other book,
which bookes I wull be yeven to abide ther in the seid cherch
to the wursship of God aslonge as they may endure.
   Item, I wulle that every houshold in Mauteby as hastily as
it may be convenyently doo after my decesse have xijd.
   Item, to the emendyng of the cherch of Freton in Suffolk
I bequethe a chesiple and an awbe.
   And I wulle that ich houshold being my tenaunt there
have vjd.
   And I bequethe to the emendement of the cherch of
Basyngham a chesiple and an awbe.
   And I wulle that every houshold there have viijd.
   Item, I bequeth to the emendyng of the cherch of Mate_lask
a chesiple and an awbe.
   And I wull that every pore houshold that are my tenauntes
there have viijd.
   Item, I bequethe to the emendyng of the cherch of
Gresham a chesiple and an awbe.
   And I wulle that ich pore houshold that be my tenauntes
there have vjd.
   Item, I wulle that ich pore houshold late my tenauntes at
Sparham have vjd.
   Item, to the reparacion of the cherch of Redham there as I
was borne I bequeth v. marc and a chesiple of silk with an
awbe with myn armes therupon to the emendement of the
same cherche.



|p49


   Item, to iche of the iiij. houshes of Freres in Norwich,
xxs.
   Item, to iche of the iiij. houshes of Freres of Yermouth
and at the South toun to pray for my sowle I bequeth xxs.
   Item, to the ankeres at the Frere Prechours in Norwich I
bequeth iijs. iiijd.
   And to the ankeres in Conesford I bequeth iijs. iiijd.
   Item, to the anker at the White Freres in Norwich I
bequethe iijs. iiijd.
   Item, to iche hole and half susters at Normans in Nor_wich,
viijd.
   Item, to the Deen and his bretheren of the Chepell of
Feld, to the use of the same place to seye a dirige and a masse
for my sowle, xxs.
   Item, to the hospitalle of Seint Gile in Norwich, also for
a dirige and a masse for my sowle, xxs.
   Item, to iche of the iiij. pore meen, and to either of the
susters of the seid hospitall, ijd.
   Item, to the mother cherche of Norwiche for a dirige and
masse, xxs.
   Item, to iche lepre man and woman at the v. Yates in
Norwich, iijd.
   And to iche forgoer at every of the seid yates, ijd.
   Item, to iche lepre without the North gates at Yermouth,
iijd.; and to the forgoer ther, ijd.
   Item, to iche houshold of the parish of Seint Peter of Hun_gate
in Norwich that wull receyve almes, have iiijd.
   Item, I wull have a dirige and a masse for my sowle at
the parisshe cherche of Seint Michael of Coslany in Norwich,
and that every preste ther havyng his stipend being therat
have iiijd., and iche clerk in surplys of the same parissh than
ther being have ijd., and the parissh clerk vjd., and the curat
that shall seye high masse have xxd., and I bequeth to the
reparacion of the bellys of the same cherche vjs. viijd.,
and to the sexteyn there to rynge at the seid dirige and masse,
xxd.
   Item, I wull that myn executours shall geve to the susten_tacion
of the parson or preste that shall for the tyme mynystre



|p50


the sacramentez and divine service in the cherch of Seint Petre
of Hungate in Norwich, xxli. of lawfull money;  whiche xxli.
I will it be putt in the rule and disposicion of the cherch reves
of the same cherche for the tyme being by the oversight of
the substancialle persones of the seid parissh, to this intent,
that the seid cherch reves, by the oversight as is before-seid,
shall yerly yeve, if it so be that the profites of the seid cherch
suffice not to fynde a prest after ther discrecions, part of the
seid xxli. to the seid parson or preste, unto the seid xxli. be
expended.
   Item, I bequeth to Edmund Paston, my sone, a standing
pece white covered, with a white garleek heed upon the knoppe,
and a gilt pece covered with an unicorne, a fetherbedde and a
traumsom at Norwich, and the costers of worsted that he
hath of me.
   Item, I bequeth to Katerine his wiff a purpill girdill
harneisid with silver and gilt and my bygge bras chafour,  a
brasen morter with an iren pestell, and a stoon morter of
cragge.
   Item, I yeve and graunte to Robert, sone of the seid
Edmund, alle my swannes morken with the merke called
Dawbeneys merk, and with the merk late Robert Cutler,
clerk, to have hold and enjoye the seid swannes with the seid
merkes to the seid Robert and his heirs for evermore.
   Item, I bequeth to Anne, my doughter, wiff of William
Yelverton, my grene hangyng in my parlour at Mauteby, a
standing cuppe with a cover gilt with a flatte knoppe and a
flatte pece with a cover gilt withoute, xij. silver spones,  a
powder boxe with a foot and a knoppe enamelled blewe, my
best corse girdill blewe herneised with silver and gilt, my
primer, my bedes of silver enamelled.
   Item, I bequeth to the seid Anne, my fetherbedde with
sillour, curteyns and tester in my parlour at Mauteby, with
a white covering, a peire blankettes, ij. peire of my fynest
shetes iche of iij. webbes, a fyne hedshete of ij. webbes, my



|p51


best garnyssh of pewter vessell, ij. basyns with ij. ewres, iij.
candelstekes of oon sorte, ij. bras pottes, ij. bras pannes, a bras
chafour to sett by the fyre, and a chafour for colys.
   Item, I require myn executours to paie to the seid William
Yelverton and Anne the money that I shall owe them of ther
mariage money the day of my decesse of such money as shalbe
receyved of such londes as I have putte in feffement to accom_plissh
my wille.
   Item, I bequeth to William Paston, my sone my standing
cuppe chased parcell gilt with a cover with myn armes in the
botom and a flatte pece with a traill upon the cover, xij. silver
spones, ij. silver saltes wherof oon is covered the hole bedde
of borde alisaundre as it hangeth on the gret chaumber at
Mauteby, with the fetherbedde, bolster, blankettes, and cover_yng
to the same, ij. peire shetes, ij. pilwes, and my best palet,
a basyn, an ewre, and a litel white bedde that hangeth over the
gresyngges in the litell chaumber at Mauteby for a trussyng
bedde.
   Item, I bequeth an C. marc in money to be paied and be_stowed
to the use and byhoff of the seid William Paston after
this forme folowyng; that is to sey, in purchasyng of as
moche lond to him and to his heires as may be had with the
same money, or ellys to bye a warde to be maried to him if
eny suche may be goten, or ellys to be paied to him assone as
it may be convenyently gadered and receyved of sucche londes
as by me are put in feffement as is beforseid after the ele in
Mauteby cherche be fynsshed and performed as is beforseid,
and after the stipend of the preste lymyted to singe for me be
yerly levied, as well as the money be dispended upon the kep_ing
of my yerly obite. And if the seid William dye or he
come to the age of xxj. yer, than the seid C. marc to be dis_posed
for the wele of my sowle by myn executours.
   Item, I bequeth to John Paston my sone a gilt cuppe
standyng with a cover and a knoppe liche a garkeek heed, vj.
gobelettes of silver with oon cover.
   Item, I bequeth to Margery Paston, the wif of the seid
John, my pixt of silver with ij. silver cruettes and my masse_book
with all myn awterclothes.



|p52


   Item, I bequeth to William Paston, sone of the seid John
Paston, and Elizabeth his suster, C. marc whan they come to
laufull age, to be take and receyved of the londes beforseid;
and if either of them die or they come to the seid age, than I
wull that the part of him or hir so deying remayne to the
survyver of them at laufull age, and if they bothe dye or they
come to the seid age, than I wull that the seid C. marc be
disposed for the helth of my sowle by th'avise of myn
executours.
   Item, I bequeth to Custaunce, bastard doughter of John
Paston, Knyght, whan she is xx. yer of age, x. marc, and if
she die bifore the seid age, than I wull that the seid x. marc
be disposed by myn executours.
   Item, I bequeth to John Calle, sone of Margery my
doughter, xxli. whan he cometh to the age of xxiiij. yer, and
if the seid John dye or he cometh to the seid age, than I wull
that the seid xxli. evenly be divided attwen William and
Richard, sones of the seid Margery, whan they come to the
age of xxiiij. yer; and if either of the seid William and
Richard dye or he come to the seid age, than I wull that the
part of him so dying remayne to the survyver; and if bothe
the seid William and Richard dye or the come to the seid age,
than I wull that the seid xxli. be disposed by the good advys
of myne executours for me and my frendes.
   Item, I bequethe to Marie Tendalle, my goddoughter, my
peir bedys of calcidenys gaudied with silver and gilt.
   Item, I wull that iche of myn other godchilder be rewarded
by th'avyse of John Paston, my sone.
   Item, I bequeth to Agnes Swan my servaunt, my muster_develys
gown furred with blak, and a girdell of blak harneised
with silver gilt and enamelled, and xxs. in money.
   Item, to Simon Gerard my silver gobelet cured and a flatt
pece with verges gilt, and myn hole litel white bedde in my chapell
chaumber at Mauteby with the fetherbedde liche as it is nowe



|p53


in the seid chapell, with a peire blankettes, a peire shetes, and
a pilwe of doune.
   Item, to John Heyth a materas with a traunsom, a peire
shetes, a peire blankettes, and a coverlight.
   Item, I wull that myn housholt be kept after my decesse
by half a yer, and that my servauntes wages be truly paied at
ther departing, and also that every persone being my servaunt
the day of my decesse have a quarter wages beside that they at
her departing have do service fore.
   Item, I wull that alle suche maners, londes, and tenementes,
rentes and services whiche are descended unto me by weye of
inheritaunce immediatly after my decesse remayne unto myn
heires accordyng to the last wille of Robert Mauteby, Squier,
my grauntfader, except suche londes as I have putte in feffe_ment
to accomplissh therof my last wille, and except v. marc
of annuyte which I have graunted out of the maner of Freton
in Suffolk to Edmund Paston, my sone, Katherine his wiff, and
Robert, ther sone, for terme of ther lyves.
   Item, I bequeth to Anne, my doughter, xli. to hir propre
use.
   And to Osbern Berney x. marc of the money comyng of
the londes by me put in feffement as is beforseid.
   Item, I wull that the residewe of the stuffe of myn houshold
unbiquothen be divided equally betwen Edmund and William,
my sones, and Anne, my doughter.
   The residewe of all my godes and catalle and dettes to me
owing I yeve and comitte to the good disposicion of myn
executours to performe this my testament and last wille, and
in other dedes of mercye for my sowle, myn aunceterez sowlez,
and alle Cristen sowles, to the most pleaser of God and profit
to my sowle.
   Of this my testament, I make and ordeyne the seid John
Paston, Squier, my sone, Thomas Drentall, clerk, Simon Gerard
and Walter Lymyngton myn executours.
   And I bequeth to the seid John Paston for his labour xli.
   And to iche of myn other executours for their labour v. marc.
   In witnesse wherof to this my present testament I have
putto my seal. Yevyn day and yer biforseid.



|p54


                         |r979

          JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON
  To my ryght worchepfull modyr, Margaret Paston.

[1482 |r(?)]   |r<b> RYGHT worchepfull modyr, in my most humble wyse I
recomand me to yow, besechyng yow of your dayly
blyssyng. And when I may, I wyll with as good wyll
be redy to recompence yow for the cost that my huswyff and I
have put yow to, as I am now bond to thank yow for it, whyche
I do n the best wyse I can. And, modyr, it pleasyd yow to
have serteyn woordys to my wyff at hyr depertyng, towchyng
your remembrance of the shortness that ye thynk your dayes
of, and also of the mynd that ye have towardes my brethryn
and systyr your chyldyr, and also of your servauntes, wher in
ye wyllyd hyr to be a meane to me, that I wold tendyr and
favore the same. Modyr, savyng your plesure, ther nedyth
non enbasatours nor meanys betwyx yow and me; for ther is
neyther wyff nor other frend shall make me to do that that
your comandment shall make me to do, if I may have know_lage
of it; and if I have no knowlage, in good feyth I am
excuseabyll bothe to God and yow. And, well remembred, I
wot well ye ought not to have me in jelusye for one thyng nor
other that ye wold have me to accomplyshe, if I overleve yow;
for I wot well non oo man a lyve hathe callyd so oft upon yow
as I, to make your wylle and put iche thyng in serteynte, that
ye wold have done for your sylff, and to your chyldre and
servauntes. Also at the makyng of your wylle, and at every
comunycacyon that I have ben at with yow towchyng the same,
I nevyr contraryed thyng that ye wold have doon and per_formyd,
but alweyso ffyrd my sylff to be bownde to the same.
But, modyr, I am ryght glad that my wyff is eny thyng your
favore or trust; but I am ryght sory that my wyff, or eny
other chyld or servaunt of your shold be in bettyr favore or



|p55


trist with yow then my sylff; for I wyll and must forbere and
put fro me that, that all your other chyldre, servauntes, prestys,
werkmen, and frendys of your that ye wyll ought bequethe to,
shall take to theym. And thys have I, and evyr wylbe redy
on to, whyll I leve, on my feyth, and nevyr thought other, so
God be my helpe, Whom I beseche to preserve yow and send
yow so good lyff and longe, that ye may do for youre sylff and
me aftyr my dyssease; and I beshrewe ther hertys that wold
other or shall cause yow to mystrust, or to be unkynd to me
or my frendys.
   At Norwyche, thys Monday, with the hand of your sone
and trwest servaunt,
                                             JOHN PASTON.

                         |r980

              T. CRYNE TO JOHN PASTON
To my wurshepfull and tendrest maister, John Paston, Esquyer.

[1482, April 10]   |r<b> RIGH wurshepfulle, one of my most kyndest and tenderest,
and undeserved most contynuell maister, I recomaunde
me to you. And where your trusty maistershep willeth
me to come to Norwich, pleas it you I may not; for ever, as
in long tyme passed, on Thursday in Esterne Weke, begynne
Maister Heydons courtes and letes, the vieu of the halfyere of
the houshold accompte, the closyng up fynally of th'accomptes
of alle baillievs, so that the resceyvour may make his fynall
accompte, which wille extende in alle to xiiij. dayes and more;
and to this season is my duete, and elles I shulde not faill
your pleasure.
   Moreover, pleas it you, my Lord Riviers in his owne
persone hath bene atte Hikelyng, and his counseill lerned, and
serched his fees for his homages, among which ye be for
Begvyles pasture in Somerton, and, I suppose, Wynterton,
late Sir John Fastolfes; my maistres your modre for Mawte_byes
in Waxham; wherein I beseche you previde, for I have
done therein hertofore, asfer as I myght, &c. What it



|p56


meneth, my lord is sette sore to approwement and husbondry.
His counseill hath tolde him he may sette his fynes for respite
of homage at his pleasure, &c.
   I besech you my maistresse may have worde of this. And
otre blessed Lord ever mutte preserve you, and be your
governour and defender.
   Wreten at Thorplond, this Wednesday in Esterne Weke,
fallyng the x. day of Aprill, anno E. iiijti xxij.
                         Your servaunt,         T. CRYNE.

                         |r981

                      |rABSTRACT

                         |r982

           MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
To my right worshipfull master, John Paston, in haste.

[1482 |r(?), Nov. 1]   |r<b> RIGHT reverent and worshipfull sir, in my moste umble
vice, I recomaunde me unto yow, as lowly as I can, &c.
Plese you to wete, John Howes, Alexander Qwharteyn,
John Fille, with the parson and the newe myller of Marlyng_forthe,
have goten Thom' At Welles carte of Estetodenham,



|p57


fermour to myn uncle William Paston, Herry Hervy of
Meelton Magna, fermour and baly to my seide uncle, Ric.
Barkers carte of the seide towne of Meelton, late fermour, and
yette is in daunger to  my seide uncle, and William Smythes
carte of Brandon juxta Bernham Broom, late fermour and baly,
and also in daunger to  my seide uncle, on Monday and Twes_day
last past, caryed a wey from Merlyngforth in to the place
at Seint Edmondes in Norwich, xij. of yowr greete plankes, of
the weche they made vj. loodes, beryng a bowte the seide
cartes, bowes and gleves, for feere of takyng a wey. Sir, as
for yowr servauntes of Marlyngforth, they withholde her catell
and hem selfe bothe from the coorte, and come not within the
lordship, nor make noon attornment, exept Thon' Davy and
John Water, weche absentyng of the tenauntes is to them a
greet hurt and los, for lak of sedyng ther londes with ther
wynter corn; besechyng you for Godes sake to remembre som
remedy for them.
   My Lady Caltorp hath ben at Geppeswich on pilgry
mache, and came homward be my Lady of Norffolk, and ther
was moche communicacion of yowr mater be twix you and
myn uncle, seyng to my Lady Caltorp, ye nede not a gonne
to London, ye myght have an ende at home; rememberyng
to my seid Lady Caltorp of the mocion that he made towchyng
the maner of Sporle, promyttyng to my lady to abyde that,
and to write and seale as largely as any man wol desire hym.
And at his departyng from my lady he was not mery, what
the cauce was I wot not [but he was not mery of your depart_yng].
My Lady Calthorp desireth me to write to yow to
have ende, for he intendes largely to have a peace with yow,
as he seth; but truste hym not to moche, for he is not goode.
   My mother in lawe thynketh longe she here no word from
you. She is in goode heele, blissed be God, and al yowr
babees also. I mervel I here no word from you, weche
greveth me ful evele; I sent you a letter be Brasiour sone
of Norwiche, wher of I here no word. No more to you



|p58


at this tyme, but Almyghty Jesu have you in Hes blissed
kepyng.
   Wreten at Norwich, on Allowmes Day at nyght.
             Be yowr servaunt and bedewoman,
                                     MARGERY PASTON.

Sir, I prey yow, if ye tary longe at London, that it wil
plese to sende for me, for I thynke longe sen I lay in yowr
armes.

                         |r983

          MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
  To my ryght wurchupfull mayster, John Paston, Esquyer,
         be this letter delyverd in hast.

[1482, Nov. (3)]   |r<b> MYNE owyn swete hert, in my most humylwyse, I
recomaund me on to you, desyryng hertly to here
of your welfar, the wheche I beseche Alle myghty
God preserve and kepe to His plesur, and your hertes desyer.
   Ser, the cause of my wrytyng to you at this tyme: on
Friday att nyght last past come Alexander Wharton, John
Hous, and John Fille, with ij. good carts well mannyd and
horsyd with hem to Marlyngford, and there at the maner of
Malyngford and at the mille lodyn bothe cartes with mestlyon
and whete, and betymys on Saturday, in the mornyng, they
departyd fro Marlyngford towardes Bongey, as it is seyd; for
the seyd cartes come fro Bongey, as I soppose, by the send_ynge
of Bryon, for he goth hastyly over the se, as it is seyd.
And as I suppose he wyll have the mestlyon over with hym, for
the most part of the cart loodes was mestlyon, &c.
   Item, ser, on Saturday last past, I spacke with my cosyn
Gornay, and he seyd, if I wold goo to my Lady of Norffolk,



|p59


and beseche hyr good grace to be your good and gracyous
lady, she wold so be, for he seyd that one word of a woman
should do more than the wordes of xx. men, yiffe I coude
rewyll my tonge, and speke non harme of myn unkyll. And
if ye comaund me so for to do, I trist I shuld sey nothynge to
my ladys displesure, but to your profyt; for me thynkyth bi
the wordes of them and of your good fermore of Oxned, that
thei wyll sone drawe to an ende. For he cursyth the tyme
that ever he come in the ferme of Oxned, for he seyth that
he wotyth well that he shall have a grette losse, and yet he
wyll not be a knowyn wheder he hathe payd or nought; but
whan he sethe his tyme, he wyll sey trowth.
   I understond by my seyd cosyn Gornay that my lady is
nere wery of hyr parte, and he seyth my lady shal come on
pylgremage in to this towne, but he knowth not wheder afore
Cristmes or aftyr; and if I wold thanne gete my Lady
Calthorpe, my moder in lawe, and my moder, and myselfe,
and come before my lady, besechyng hyr to be your good and
gracyous lady, he thynkyth ye shull have an ende; for fayne
she wold be redde of it with hyr onowr savyd, but yette money
she wold have.
   No more to you at this tyme, butte I mervell sore that I
have no letter from you, but I prey God preserve you, and
send me good tydynges from you, and spede you well in your
materes. And as for me, I have gotyn me anothyr logyn
felawe, the ferst letter of hyr name is Mastras Byschoppe.
She recomaundyth hyr to you by the same tokyn that ye wold
have had a tokyn to my Mayster Bryon.
   Att Norwych, the Sonday next after the Fest of All
Seyntes.
          Be yowr servaunt and bedewoman,
                                         MARGERY PASTON.



|p60


                         |r984

                B. R. TO JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipfull John Paston, squier, with
                 my lord Chamburlayn.

[1479-83]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull sir, y recommaunde me to you, as
hartily as y can, desiring to undrestand zour welefare,
and also to knowe somwhat certainly hou your matier
dothe with your uncle, and hou fer ye be, for in thes parties y
assertayne you, moche mater is shewed and proclaimed in
worshipful presence, fer fro th'entent of your welewillers, of
the discorage and reprofe in maner of you, and by such as
men supposed you to have ben right wele favoured with, and
the contrary shewed in the presence of right worshipfull, and
right many, and as it is said, iij. scor in nombre, with such
termes and under such forme, as it is reported, as is full hevy
to diverse here for to here. Hou it is ye knowe beste, and
hou it is I pray you lete your frendis in this cuntre undirstand;
for right a worshipfull persone told me of this, to the which
y coude not answer, I se al day the world so unsure. But,
Sir, ye did of policy some thingis that peradventure, and it
were to do, ye wold take anothir avise, &c. I can nomore but
sapienti pauca, &c. And I biseche you, Sir, send me some
tidingis of the parties beyonde the se, for owr wyves here
speke of many thingis, &c. Moreovir, Sir, Margarete Ronhale
told me late that my maistres your wif fareth wele, blissed be
Almighti God, and all your other frendis here, blissed be God.
Sir, it is so that, as y am enformed, there is a soudiour of
Caleis called John Jacob, of olde tyme duelling in Lynne. I
pray you to inquir secretly what maner man he ys, and in



|p61


what condicion there, for I know a man hath to do with him;
but be ye beknowen of no thinge, but that ye list wisely to
enquere what he is and of what condicion, &c. And if there
be any thing in thies parties that y can do you service yn, I
pray you commaunde you, and I shalbe as redy to the accom_plisshment
therof to my power, as any man lyvyng; and that
knowith God, Who I biseche to send me good tidingis fro
you, and you your noble desires. From Weston.  -- By yours,
                                                       B.R.

                         |r985

      WILLIAM PASTON AND SIR JOHN FASTOLF

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> TO alle maner of pepill to whome this present wrytyng
shall come unto, se, or here, we, William Barker, late
of Blofeld, in the cownte of Norffolk, clark, and
Margret Wyssetour, wedow, late the wyf of William Wyssetyr,
late of Pokethorp, be Norwich, gentylman, dyssesid, send
gretyng in our Lord God Everlastyng.
   For as meche as it is merytory to wytnesse and testyfy the
treuth in materes dowtabill or beyng in varyaunce, whan ony
persons is lefully ther to requyred, It is so that I, the seid
William Barker, was late howshold servaunte be the space of
xxj. yere with Sir John Fastolf, Knyght, dyssesid, and had
wedded Annes, late dyssesid, that was the hoole syster, bothe
on to Sir Thomas Howes, clerk, dyssesid, and also hoole syster
to Isabell, modyr to the seid Margret Wyssetyr, which forseid
Thomas Howys and William Wyssetyr were bothe howshold



|p62


servauntes many yerys to the seid Sir John Fastolf, and were
with hym in such syngler trust that he made them bothe his
feoffes in alle his landes with in the reame of Ynglond, and
also his exsecutores: Be it knowen to alle maner persons that
we, the seid William Barker and Margret Wyssetyr, testyfy,
depose, and wytnesse for trouthe that we have full serteyn
prof and knowlache that William Paston, of the seid counte of
Norffolk, jentylman, was kynnysman unto the seid Sir John
Fastolf, and was with hym in ryght syngler gode favour and
trust; wherupon the seid Sir John Fastolf made the seid
William Paston one of his seid feoffes in all his seyd maneres,
londes, and tenementes, rentes, and servyces with in this seid
reame of Ynglond, and made this seid William prevy to many
of his materys of gret charge, and putt the seid William Paston
to many lawbores in his lyf, which the seid William Paston
ded of gode love and kynd dysposycion, for he never had of
the seid Sir John Fastolf fee ne reward in hys lyf; notwith_stondyng
he had for the seid Syr John Fastolf and for his
materes many grete lawboures, costes, jornays, and besynesse
in the lyf of the seid Sir John Fastolf, and ded for hym many
kynd dedes at his owne charge, for the which the seid Sir
John, and he had contenuyd lyff, wold have largely have
recompensed. And also the seid William Paston had, aftir
the desesse of the seid Sir John Fastolf, at the desyr and
instans of the exsecutores of the seid Syr John, had many gret
lawboures, costes, and jurnays to his gret peyne, as well in
rydyng to London many and sundry tymes, contenuyng many
yeres to help suche materes as were devysyd ayens the seid
exsecutors, and also to answer to suche accions and sutys and
byll putt into the Kynges Chauncery, wherupon wryttes of
subpena dyvers and many tymes made upon gret peynys were
delyvered to the seid William to appere in the Kynges
Chauncery, which were taken be gret astates and be suche
myghty persons as wold have recoveryd the lond wrongfully,
and thus trobelyd the seid William Paston, be cause he was
a feffee, and taryd hym there and his councell to his gret
inportunabill charges. Wherupon we, the seid William Barker
and Margret Wyssetyr depose, wytnesse, and be this present



|p63


sertyfye for trouthe that we war present whan the seid Sir
Thomas Howys and William Wyssetyr, in parcell of recom_pens
of suche forseid lawbours and costes as the seid William
Paston had had, as wele in the lyfe of the seid Sir John as
after his dyssese, graunted and yaf to the seid William Paston
a peyer of basons coveryd of sylver of Parysh towche and over
gylt, powncyd and imbossyd with rooses, and with grete large
amellys [enamels] in the botome of bothe basons, with serteyn
bestys inbossyd stondyng with inn an hegge of sylver and gylt
upon the seid amellys, which bothe basons ded way of Troy
weyt ixxx. unces, and also a gredeyren of sylver of Parysse
towche, not gylt, weying of Troy weyth  --  unces, and also
a gret chargeour of sylver of Parysse towche, not gylt, weying
of Troy weyth  --  unces, to have and to hold to the seid
William, his eyres, excecutores, and assignes, as his own
godes for ever. And also we wytnesse that we ware also
present whan, for a serteyn som of mony to be payd be the
seid William Paston, whereof a parte be comenawnt was payd
be the seid William Paston to the seid Sir Thomas Howys,
and a parte to on Edmond Holkham, and the remenaunt was
payd to one Margret Holkham, syster to the seid Edmond;
and so the seid William Paston had clerly payed all the seid
mony. The seid Thomas Howse and William Wyssetyr
bargayned, sold, and graunted to the seid William Paston, his
eyres, exsecutores, and assignes, in fee sympille for ever, a
tenement called Methis, otherwyse called Holkham, with alle
the londes and tenementes, rentes and servyces, free or bond,
and with all the apportenaunces ther to belongyng, in the town
of Cayster ond oder townnys adjoynyng with inne the seid
cownte of Norffolk, and delyvered to the seid [William] Paston
and to his assignes a state of all the seid tenementes, londes,
rentes, and servyces, with all the seid aportenaunces . . .
. . . . sold and bargayned to the seid William Paston
alle suche londes, rente, and servyces as the seid Sir John
Fastolf . . . . . . . . or be the ryght of ony
manere that he or ony man to his use had in possession, or
that the seid Thoma[s] . . . . . . . ony other be


64



|pthe reson that they were feffes of trust of the seid John Fastolf
had or claymed to have . . . . . . . or claymed to
have to be yssant or chargeabill oute or upon the seid tenement
called Methe[s] . . . . . . . . . . londes, tene_mentes,
rentes, servyces at ony tyme afore or than longyng to
the seid tenement or owt . . . . . . . a manere
called Hornynghall, with the apportenaunces, late Clerys, in
the seid town of Castyr, to have [and to hold to the said
William] Paston, his eyres and assygnes, the seid lond, rent,
and servyce for ever mor. And utterly be ther dede and
. . . . . . . . . . . . . and dyscharged the
seid William Paston, his eyres and his assygnes for yeldyng of
payment of ony . . . . . . . . . . servyce; and
also dyscharged all the seid tenement and the seid manere, and
alle oder the premysses, with alle the . . . . . . . .
. . as now have or shalle here aftir be possessoneres of the
seid tenement or manere with the aportenaunces . .  . .
. . . . . . more. Alle whiche mater afore rehersid,
and every parte therof, we, the seid William Barker and
Margre[t Wyssetyr . . . . . . . ] trew, and we,
and iche one of us, will at alle tyme be redy to wytnesse and
depose the same be ony suche . . . . . . . . .
persones outh to do or may do afore ony Juge Spyrytualle or
Temperall as we will answer a fore God [at the dreadful] day
of Dome. In wytnesse wherof we, the seid William Barker
and Margret Wyssetyr, to this present have sett to our
[sealles]. 
Wretyn the  --  day of the  --  yer of the reyn
of Kyng.
(L. S.)                                       (L. S.)



|p65


                         |r986

                      |rABSTRACT

         W. BARKER TO [MARGARET PASTON ?]

                         |r987

                JOHN PASTON'S BOOKS
 The Inventory off Englysshe Boks off John . . . . . made
     the v. daye of Novembre, anno regni Regis E. iiij. . . . .

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b>   1. A boke had off myn ostesse at the George . . . .
off the Dethe off Arthr begynyng at Cassab[elaun, Guy Earl of]
Warwyk, Kyng Ri. Cur de Lyon, a Cronic[le] . . . . .
to Edwarde the iij., prec. . . .
     2. Item, a Boke of Troylus whyche William Bra . . .
. . hath hadde neer x. yer, and lent it to Dame . . . .
Wyngfelde, and ibi ego vidi; valet . . . . .
     3. Item, a blak Boke with the Legende off Lad[ies, la Belle
Dame] saunce Mercye, the Parlement off Byrd[es, the Temple of]



|p66


Glasse, Palatyse and Scitacus, the Me[ditations of . . .  . ]
the Greene Knyght; valet, -- 
     4. Item, a Boke in preente off the Pleye off the [Chess].
     5. Item, a Boke lent Midelton, and therin is Bele Da[me sans]
Mercy the Parlement of Byrds, Balade . . . . . . off
Guy and Colbronde, off the Goos th . . . . ., the
Dysputson bytwyen Hope and Dyspeyr, . . . . . . Mare_haunts,
the Lyffe of Seynt Cry[stofer].
     6. A reede Boke that Percyvall Robsart gaff m[e] . .
. . . . . . off the medis off the Masse, the Lamentacion
. . . . . . . . off Chylde Ypotis, a Preyer to the
Vernyclr . . . . . . . . callyd the Abbeye off the
Holy Goost, . . . . . . . .
     7. Item, in quayers: -- Tully de Senectute in . . . . .
. . . . . wheroff ther is no mor cleer wretyn . . .
. . . .
     8. Item, in quayers: -- Tully, or Cypio, de Ami[citia]
leffte with William Worcester; valet . . . . . .
     9. Item, in qwayers, a Boke of the Polecye of In . .
. . .
     10. Item, in qwayers, a Boke de Sapiencia . . . . . .
wherin the ij. parson is liknyd to Sapi[ence] . . . . .
     11. Item, a Boke de Othea, text and glose, valet . . .
. . . in quayers.

     Memorandum, myn olde Boke off Blasonyngs off a[rms].
     Item, the nywe Boke portrayed and blasoned.
     Item, a copy off Blasonyngs off armys and th . . .
names to be fownde by letter.
     Item, a Boke with armys portrayed in paper . . . . .
     Memorandum, my Boke of Knyghthod and the man[er]



|p67


off makyng off Knyghts, off Justs, off Tor[neaments] ffyghtyng
in lystys, paces holden by so[ldiers] . . . . . and
chalenges, statuts off weer, and de Regim[ine Principum], valet
. . . . . . . . .
     Item, a Boke off nyw Statuts ffrom Edward the iiij.

                         |r988

                 VERSES BY A LADY

Verses written by a Lady in the reign of Henry VI. or Edward IV.
      to an absent Lord with whom she was in love.

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> MY ryght good lord, most knyghtly gentyll knyght,
On to your grace in my most humbyll wyse,
I me comand, as it is dew and ryght,
Besechyng yow at leyser to advise
Upon thys byll, and pardon myn empryse,
Growndyd on foly, for lak of provydence,
On to your lordshep to wryght with owght lycence.

But wher a man is with a fevyr shake,
Now hot, now cold, as fallyth by aventure,
He in hys mynd conjecte wyll, and take
The nyghest meane to worche hys cuyre,
More pacyently hys peynys to endure;
And ryght so I, so it yow not dysplease,
Wryght in thys wyse my peytys to apease.

For when I cownt and mak a reknyng
Betwyx my lyfe, my dethe, and my desyer,
My lyfe, alas ! it servyth of no thyng
Sythe with your partyng, depertyd my plesyer.



|p68


Wyshyng your presence setyth me on fyer;
But then your absence dothe my hert so cold,
That for the peyne I not  me wher to hold.

O owght on absence, ther foolys have no grace,
I mene mysylf, nor yet no wytt to gwye
Theym owt of peyne to com on to that place,
Wher as presence may shape a remedye;
For al dysease, now fye on my folye,
For I dyspeyryd am of your soone metyng,
That God I prey me to your presence bryng.

Farwell, my lord, for I may wryght no more,
So trowblyd is my hert with heyynesse;
Envye also, it grewyth me most sore,
That thys rude byll shall put hym sylf in presse
To se your lordshepe of hys presumptuousnesse
Er I my sylf; but yett ye shall not mysse
To have my hert to for my byll, I wys.

Whyche I comytt and all my hole servyse
Into your hands, demeane it as you lyst;
Of it I kepe  to have no more franchyse
Then I hertlesse swyrly me wyst,
Savyng only that it be as tryst,
And to yow trew as evyr was hert, and pleyn
Tyll cruell dethe depart yt up on tweyn.

Adew dysport, farwell good companye,
In all thys world ther is no joye I weene;
For ther as whyleom I sye with myn iee,
A lusty lord leepyng upon a grene,
The soyle is soole, no knyghts ther be seen,
No ladyse walk ther they wer wont to doone;
Alas, some folk depertyd hense to soone.



|p69


Some tyme also men myght a wageor make,
And with ther bowys a ffeld have it tryed,
Or at the Paame ther, ther plesure for to take,
Then wer they loose, that now stand as tyed,
I not wher to thys world may be aplyed;
For all good cher on evyn and on morow,
Whyche then was made, now tornyth me to sorow


                   |r989-991
                   |rABSTRACTS



|p71


                   |r992

        RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, TO
                     LORD NEVILL
            To my Lorde Nevyll, in hast.

[1483, June 11]   |r<b> MY Lorde Nevyll, I recommaunde me to you as hartely
as I can; and as ever ye love me, and your awne
weale and securty, and this Realme, that ye come to
me with that ye may make, defensably arrayde, in all the hast
that ys possyble, and that ye wyll yef credence to . . . . .



|p72


Richarde Ratclyff, thys beerrer, whom I nowe do sende to
you, enstructed with all my mynde and entent. 
   And, my lord, do me nowe gode servyce, as ye  have
always befor don, and I trust nowe so to remember you as
shalbe the makyng of you and yours. And God sende you
goode fortunes.
   Wrytten att London, xj. day of Jun, with the hande of
your hertely lovyng cousyn and master,

                                             R. GLOUCESTER.

                         |r993

      ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK, TO
                     JOHN PASTON
             On to Jan Paston, in haste.

[Not after 1483]   |r<b> MASTYR PASTON, I pray yow that it may plese yow
to leve yowr logeyng for iij. or foro days tyl I may
be porved of anodyr, and I schal do as musche to
yowr plesyr. For Godys sake, say me not nay; and I pray
yow rekomaund me to my Lord Chambyrleyn.
               Yowr frend,                    ELIZABETH.



|p73

                    Richard III.

                         |r994

      JOHN, DUKE OF NORFOLK, TO JOHN PASTON
    To my right welbeloved frynde, John Paston,
             be this delivred in hast.

[1483, Oct. 10]   |r<b> RIGHT welbeloved frynde, I comaunde me to you. It
is soo that the Kentysshmen be up in the weld, and
sey that they wol come and robbe the cite, which I
shall lett yf I may.
   Therefore I pray you that with alle diligence ye make you
redy and com hidder, and bring with you six talle felaws in
harnesse, and ye shall not lyse yowr labour, that knoweth God,
Whoo have you in His keping.
   Written at London, the xth day of October.
              Yowr frend,                  J. NORFFOLK.



|p74


                         |r995

                      |rABSTRACT

                         |r996

                      |rABSTRACT

                         |r997

   THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO THOMAS JEFFREYS

                 The Duc of Suffolk.

 To Thomas Jeffreys our ffermour of Maundevills, greting.

[1484, May 1]   |r<b> WE wole and streitly charge you that ye content and
paie unto the bringer herof for money imployed in
our houshold thre pound threttenne shillings and
foure pens for such stuff as we our owne person have promysed,



|p75


and not to be failed upon our worship. Of the which some
of lxxiijs. iiijd. so by you contented and paied, we wole and
also stretly charge our auditors for the tyme being, by virtu
of this our writing, signed with our hand, to make you dew
and pleyn allowaunce at your next accompt.
   At Wingfeld, the first day of May in the first yer of Kyng
Richard the IIIde.
                                               SUFFOLK.

     And ffayle not on peyn [of] losyng off yor fferme.

                         |r998

      COMPLAINTS OF JOHN PASTON AGAINST HIS
                   UNCLE WILLIAM

[1484]   |r<b> All so the seyde John Paston, now compleynaunt, seyth that John Paston,
fadyr off the same John, was seased off the maner callyd Hollwellhawe, wyth
th'appurtenaunces in Estodenham, joyntly wyth all the londis, tenementes,
rentes, and services, whyche sume tyme were John Jerham, Ewstase Rows,
John Davy, vikere off the chyrche off Estodenham, ande Water Danyell, or
any off thers, lyeng in the townys off Estodenham, Mateshalle, Mateshalebergh,
and othir townys adjoynyng, ande off all the londis and tenementes, rentes,
services, and lybertes wyth ther appurtenaunces callyd Toleys, lyeng in the
townys off Wymondham and Carleton and othir townys adyoynyng, whyche
sume tyme were William Thuxston; and off the scite off on mese [messuage]
wyth a pece londe lyenge in a croffte to the same mese adyoynyng, wyche is
accomptyde xiiij. acres off londe wyth th'appurtenaunces, callyd Colneys, othyr
wys callyd Whynnes in Carleton  --  in hys demeane as off ffee; ande so
beyng seased ther off, up on trust enffeffede William Yelverton, Justys, John
Fastolff, Knyght, Myles Stapelton, Knyght, and othir, to be hadde to them
and theyr heyrs for ever, be the fores wher off they were ther off seased in
theyr demeane as off ffee, ande afftyr the seyd ffeffment in forme afforseyd mad,
the seyd John Paston the fadyr disseassed. The ryght off the whyche maner,
londis, tenementes, and othir the premysses, afftyr the desses of the seyd John



|p76


the fadyr, owith to come to the seyd John, now compleynaunt, as sone and heyr
off the seyd John Paston, ffor as myche as the seyd John the fadyr made no
wylle nor mencyon of the aforseyd maner, londis, tenementes, nor off othir the
premysses, whyche maner, londis, and tenementes, and othir the premysses the
seyd William Paston hath, and agenst the cours of the lawe ocupyeth.
   Item, the seid John requerith an astate to be takyn in those londys lymyted
to William the sone for deffaut off issu off Clement Paston by the will of there
fadir accordyng to the seid will, as well as in those londis that ar or shuld be
purchased with the ml. [1000] mark accordyng to th'endentur mad by twyn
th'executors of William Paston, Justice, that is to sey, to the seid William the
son, and to the eyres of his body, and for defaute of yssue of his bodye, to
remayn to th'eyers of William Paston, Justice, which the seid John is.
   All so the seyd John Paston, now compleynaunt, seyth that ther be decayed
at Marlyngfford and Oxenhed be meane off th'enterupsion off the seyd William
tweyn water melles, wher off iche was letyn ffor x. marke be yer. And
all so othir howsyng be the same ockasion at Oxenhed, Marlyngfford, Stansted,
and Orwelbury decayed to the hurt off the seyd John Paston off v. C. [500]
mark whech the seyd John Paston desyreth to be recompensede.
   Item, the seid John axith of the seid William for wast don in the maner of
Paston for lak of reparacion, xlli.
   Item, the seid William hath takyn awey owth of the maners of John Paston,
that is to sey, of hes maners of Paston, Oxened, Marlyngford, Stansted, and
Horwelburye, siche stoff and greynys, catell and hotilementis of the seid maners
as were agreyd be the executors of the seyd William Paston, Justyse, to be left
and latyn with the seid maners to the value of xlli.
   Item, the seid John axith to be restored to all the evydence longyng to the
maners aforesaid and other the premysses which the seid William wrongfully
witholdith.
   Item, the seid John axith to hys possession which he hath of [and] in the
maner of Caster and other maners adyongnyng, the relesse of all such title and
interest as the seid William hath be wey of feffement in the foresaid maner and
maners, in like forme as other his cofeffes have in tyme past relassed to Sir John
Paston, whoos eyre the seid John is.
   Also, the seid John Paston desireth the performance of diverse comenauntis
and articles conteyned in diverse indentures and writynges mad be the avise of
the reverend fadir in God, William, Bisschoppe of Lyncolne, supervisour of
the testement of the seid William Paston, Justice, bytwix th'executors of the
same William Paston for kepyng of the trewe intent and will of the seid
William Paston, Justice, as by the same indentures and writynges redye to
be schewed more pleynlye shall appere, the entent and performance of which
writyng is interupted and brokyn by the seid William Paston and his meanys to
the hurt and damage off the seyd John Paston, now compleynaunt off  -- .
   Item, the seid William hath, contray to trouuth and conscience, vexed and
trouubled and put to cost and charge the seid John nowe be the space of v. yer
saffe a quarter, and hath distorbede the same John to take and perceyve th'issus



|p77


and profetes off the same maners, to the hurt and damage off the seyd John in
defendyng of his right off and in the maners afforeseyd of ij. ml. mark, besyde
greffe, gret labour and disseace that the seid John hath dayly be putt onto by
th'okcasion afforseyd.
   Item, accordyng to the will of William Paston, Justice, the seid John axith
to be restored to parth of such goodis as hath ben dispendid by John Paston the
fader, Sir John Paston, and the seid John nowe compleynaunt, in defence,
kepyng, and recoveryng of such londis as were William Paston, Justice, which
draweth above the summa of mlli.
   Item, where on  --  Lomnot had a cofur in kepyng and and P.ml.
mark in the same be extymasion to the use of John Paston, fadir of the forsayed
Sir John and John, the seid William Paston fraudelently atteyned the seid
cofur wyth the seyd sume of money after the dissece of the seid John the fadir,
and had it in his kepyng serteyn dayes, and did with it his pleasur unknowyn
to the seid Sir John Paston and John Paston, his brother; and after at Herry
Colettes house the seid William brought the seid cofur to the seid John
Paston, Knyght, and there openyd the seid cofur, where was then lefte but CC.
old noblis which wer by extymacion in value Cli. And the seid William
toke ther the seid gold awey with hym, ageyn the will of seid Sir John, and
witholdith the same, whereof the seyd John preyeth to be restored.
   Item, the seid William atteynyd and gate a payer of basons of silver and
parte or all gilt from the seid Sir John Paston and John Paston, now compleynaunt,
abouuth such season as he toke the cofur and coyne aforerehersed,
which basons were in value C. mark; and the seid William yet witholdith the
seid basons, to the whyche the seyd John preyeth also to be restored.
   Item, the seid William gate in to his possession a charger of silver in value
x. marke, and iij. bollys of silver that were in kepyng of Bacheler Water, a
Frier Carmelit of Norwich, to th'entent that a certeyn coost shuld have ben
doon upon the liberarye of the Friers Carmelites aforesaid for the sowlis of
William Paston, Justice, and Augnes, his wiff; which charger and bollys the
seid William yet withholdith and kepith to his owne use, and therfore the seid
charges ar not fulfylled.
   Item, the seid John axith restitucion of suche inportable charges as the seid
William hathe put the forsaid Sir John onto by the space of many yeres, as in
plesures doyng and rewardis, which apperith by writyng of the hande of the
seid Sir John; which pleasures and charges the seid Sir John was constreyned
to doo in defence of the seid William; wher of the seid John axeth to have
amendys of Cl. mark.
   Item, by the occacion and meanys of the seid William, the seid Sir John
was constreyned to lende onto the Reverende Fadere in God, George, late
Archeb[y]schop of York ml. mark, which was nat payed ageyn by the summa of
Cli. The seid John axith to be restorid ther of.
   Item, the seid William hath fellyd tymbre and wodys in the. maners of the



|p78


seid John, that is to sey, the maners of Oxened and Marlyngford, to the hurth
of the seid John of xxli.
   Item, the seyd John Paston, compleynaunt, axith to be restoryd to alle
syche money as hathe be takyn and dyspendyd by alle siche persones as have
ben assigned by meanes of the seyd Wylliam to distorbe and interupt the seyd
John, compleynaunt, of hys ryght, tyghtyll, possessyon, entrest, of and in the
maners, londis, and tenementes, and other the premysses dwryng the seyd v.
yer sauff a quarter, as well as to all syche money as hathe ben dyspendyd dwryng
the seyd v. yer sauff a quarter by the servauntys of the seyd compleynaunt
by hym assigned to tery and abyd up on the seyd maners, londes, and tene_mentes,
and other the premysses ther, to kepe the possessyon of the seyd
compleynaunt, whyche exendith to the some of xlli. and above.
   Item, the seyd John, compleynaunt, axith to be restoryd to all syche money
as hathe bene receyved by meanys of the seyd William, dwryng the seyd v. yer
sauff a quarter, of syche as ar or have ben fermors or tenauntes of the maners,
londis, and tenementis aforseyd duryng the seyd season, as well as to all syche
money as is not levyable of dyvers of the seyd fermors and tenauntes fallyn in
poverte sythe the trowblows season of the v. yer sauff a quarter befor rehersed,
whyche extendeth to the some of CCli. or above.

                         |r999

           MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
  To my ryght worschipful husbond, John Paston.

[1484 |r(?), Dec. 24]   |r<b> RYGHT worschipful husbond, I recomaund me onto you.
Plese it you to wete that I sent your eldest sunne to
my Lady Morlee to have knolage wat sports wer
husyd in her hows in Kyrstemesse next folloyng aftyr the
decysse of my lord, her husbond; and sche seyd that ther wer
non dysgysyngs, ner harpyng, ner lutyng, ner syngyn, ner non



|p79


lowde dysports, but pleyng at the tabyllys, and schesse, and
cards. Sweche dysports sche gave her folkys leve to play and
non odyr.
   Your sunne dede hese heyrne [errand] ryght wele as ye
shal her aftyr this. I sent your yonger sunne to the Lady
Stabylton, and sche seyd acordyng to my Lady Morlees
seyng in that, and as sche hadde seyn husyd in places of
worschip  ther as sche hathe beyn.
   I pray you that ye woll asur to your some man at Caster
to kepe your botry, for the mane that ye lefte with me woll
not take upon hym to breve dayly as ye commandyt. He
seyth he hath not usyd to geve a rekenyng nothyr of bred nor
alle [ale] tyll at the wekys end; and he seyth he wot well that
he shuld not condenyth [give satisfaction] and therfor I soposse
he shall not abyd, and I trow ye shall be fayne to purveye
another man for Symond, for ye har never the nerer a wysse
man for hym.
   I ham sory that ye shall not [be] at hom be for Crystemes.
I pray you that ye woll come as sone as ye may. I shall
thynke myself halfe a wedow, because ye shal not be at home,
&c. God have you in Hys kepyng.
   Wretyn on Crestemes Evyn.      By yor,        M. P.

                         |r1000

                       |rABSTRACT

              STANSTED AND HARWELLBURY



|p80



|p81


                         |r1001

        PROCLAMATION AGAINST HENRY TUDOR

                          R.R.

    Ricardus, etc. salutem. Precipimus tibi, etc.

[1485, June 23]   |r<b> FORASMOCHE as the Kyng our sovereign Lord hath
certeyn knowlege that Piers, Bisshop of Exeter, Jasper
Tydder, son of Owen Tydder, callyng hymself Erle
of Pembroke, John, late Erle of Oxon, and Sir Edward
Wodevyle, with other dyvers his rebelles and traytours, dis_abled
and atteynted by the auctorite of the High Court of
Parlement, of whom many be knowen for open murdrers,
advoutrers [adulterers], and extorcioners, contrary to the
pleasure of God, and a yenst all trouth, honour, and nature,
have forsakyn there naturall contrey, takyng them first to be
under th'obeisaunce of the Duke of Bretayn, and to hym



|p82


promysed certeyn thyngs whiche by him and his counsell were
thought thynggs to gretly unnaturall and abominable for them
to graunt, observe, kepe, and perfourme, and therfore the
same utterly refused.
   The seid traytours, seyng the seid Duke and his counsell
wolde not aide nor socour theym ner folowe there wayes,
privily departed oute of his contrey in to Fraunce, and  there
takyng theym to be under the obeisaunce of the Kynggs
auncient enemy, Charlys, callyng hymself Kyng of Fraunce,
and to abuse and blynde the comons of this seid Realme, the
seid rebelles and traitours have chosyn to be there capteyn one
Henry Tydder, son of Edmond Tydder, son of Owen Tydder,
whiche of his ambicioness and insociable covetise encrocheth
and usurpid upon hym the name and title of royall astate of
this Realme of Englond, where unto he hath no maner interest,
right, title, or colour, as every man wele knowyth; for he is
discended of bastard blood bothe of ffather side and of mother
side, for the seid Owen the graunfader was bastard borne, and
his moder was doughter unto John, Duke of Somerset, son
unto John, Erle of Somerset, sone unto Dame Kateryne Swyn_ford,
and of ther indouble  avoutry [adultery] gotyn, wherby it
evidently apperith that no title can nor may [be]  in hym,
which fully entendeth to entre this Reame, purposyng a con_quest.
And if he shulde atcheve his fals entent and purpose,



|p83


every man is lif, livelod, and goddes shulde be in his hands,
liberte, and disposicion, wherby sholde ensue the disheretyng
and distruccion of all the noble and worshipfull blode of this
Reame for ever, and to the resistence and withstondyng wherof
every true and naturall Englishman born must ley to his hands
for his owen suerte and wele.
   And to th'entent that the seid Henry Tydder myght the
rather atcheve his fals intent and purpose by the aide, supporte,
and assistence of the Kynggs seid auncient enemy of Fraunce,
hath covenaunted and bargayned with hym and all the counsell
of Fraunce to geve up and relese inperpetuite all the right,
title, and cleyme that the Kyng[es] of Englond have, had, and
ought to haye, to the Crowne and Reame of Fraunce, to gether
with the Duchies of Normandy, Anjoy, and Maygne, Gascoyn
and Guyne, castell[es] and townys of Caleys, Guysnes, Hammes,
with the marches apperteynyng to the same, and discevir and
exclude the armes of Fraunce oute of the armes of Englond
for ever.
   And in more prove and shewing of his seid purpose of
conquest, the seid Henry Tidder hath goven as well to dyvers
of the seid Kynggs enemys as to his seid rebelles and traitours,
archebisshoprikes, bisshoprikes, and other dignitees spirituels,
and also the ducheez, erledomez, baronyes, and other posses_sions
and inheritaunces of knyghts, squyres, gentilmen, and
other the Kynggs true subjetts withynne the Reame, and
entendith also to chaunge and subverte the lawes of the same,
and to enduce and establisse newe lawes and ordenaunces
amongez the Kynggs seid subjetts. And over this, and beside
the alienacions of all the premyssez into the possession of the
Kynggs seid auncient enemys to the grettest anyntisshment,
shame, and rebuke that ever myght falle to this seid land, the
seid Henry Tydder and others, the Kynggs rebelles and
traitours aforeseid, have extended [intended] at there comyng,



|p84


if they may be of power, to do the most cruell murdrers,
slaughterys, and roberys, and disherisons that ever were  seen
in eny Cristen reame.
   For the wich, and other inestymable daungers to be
escheuved, and to th'entent that the Kynggs seid rebelles,
traitours, and enemys may be utterly put from there seid
malicious and fals purpose and sone discomforted, if they
enforce to land, the Kyng our soveraign Lord willith,
chargeth, and comaundith all and everyche of the naturall and
true subgetts of this his Reame to call the premyssez to there
mynds, and like gode and true Englishmen to endover them_selfs
with all there powers for the defence of them, there wifs,
chylderyn, and godes, and heriditaments ayenst the seid
malicious purposes and conspiracions which the seid auncient
enemes have made with the Kynggs seid rebelles and traitours
for the fynall distruccion of this lande as is aforesaid. And
our said soveraign Lord, as a wele willed, diligent, and corag_ious
Prynce, wel put his moost roiall persone to all labour and
payne necessary in this behalve for the resistence and subduyng
of his seid enemys, rebells, and traitours  to the moost com_forte,
wele, and suerte of all his true and feithfull liege men
and subgetts.
   And over this, our seid soveraign Lord willith and
comaundith all his seid subgetts to be redy in there most
defensible arraye to do his Highnes servyce of werre, when
thy be opyn proclamacion, or otherwise shall be comaunded so
to do, for the resistence of the Kynggs seid rebelles, traitours,
and enemyes. Et hoc sub periculo, &c. -- T. me ipso apud
Westmonasterium, xxiij. die Junij, Anno regni nostri secundo.



|p85


                       |r1002

     THE DUKE OF NORFOLK TO JOHN PASTON
  To my welbelovyd frend, John Paston, be thys byll
                delyveryd in hast.

[1485, Aug.]   |r<b> WELBELOVYD frend, I cummaunde me to yow,
letyng yow to undyrstond that the Kyngs enmysse
be a land, and that the Kyng wold hafe set forthe
as uppon Monday but only for Howre Lady Day; but for
serten he gothe forward as uppon Tewsday, for a servant of
myne browt to me the sertente.
   Wherfor, I pray yow that ye met with me at Bery, for, be
the grace of God, I purposse to lye at Bery as uppon Tewsday
nyght, and that ye brynge with yow seche company of tall men
as ye may goodly make at my cost and charge, be seyd that ye
have promysyd the Kyng; and I pray yow ordeyne them
jakets of my levery, and I shall contente yow at your metyng
with me.
            Yower lover,                         J. NORFFOLK.



|p86


                      Henry VII.

                         |r1003

        DAME ELIZABETH BROWNE TO JOHN PASTON
 To my ryght worchepfull and hertly belofed nevew,
                 John Paston, Sqwyer.

[1485, Sept. 23]   |r<b> RIGHT worchepfull, and my ryght hertly beloved nevew,
I recomand me to yow.  And wher as ye desier me
to send yow woord whether my brodyr John Paston,
your fadyr, was with my fadyr and hys, whom God assoyle,
duryng hys last syknesse and at the tyme of hys dissease at
Seynt Brydis, or nowght.
   Nevew, I assarteyn yow upon my feythe and poore honore
that I was xiiij., xv. yer or xvj. yer old, and at Seynt Brydis
with my fadyr and my modyr when my fadyrs last syknesse took
hym, and tyll he was disseassid; and I dare depose befor ony
persone honorable that when my fadyrs last siknesse tooke
hym, my brodyr your fadyr was in Norffolk, and he came not
to London tyll aftyr that my fadyr was disseassid, and that can
Sir William Cootyng and Jamys Gressham record, for they



|p87


bothe were my fadyrs clerkys at that tyme. And I remembre
and wot well that Jamys Gressham was with my fadyr at Seynt
Brydys duryng all hys siknesse and at hys disseasse, and thys
wyll I wyttnesse whyle I leve for a trowthe, as knowith God,
Whom I beseche to preserve you and yours.
   And, nevew, I prey yow recomand to my neese your wyff,
whom I wold be glad to se onys a yen in London, wher thys
bylle was wretyn, signed with myn hand, and sealed with my
seale [the Thursday next befor Whyghtsonday, the second yer
of Kyng Richard the Thred, the xxiij. daye of September the
first yer of the reyngne of Kyng Herry the vijth.
          Your loveing awnte,          EL[IZA]BETH BROWNE.

                          |r1004

         ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF SURREY, TO
                      JOHN PASTON
 To myn ryght worshepfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer.

[1485, Oct. 3]   |r<b> MYN ryght worshipfull cosyn, I recomawnde me hertly 
to you, thankyng you of your greet kyndnes and
lovyng disposicion towardys myn lord and me at all
tymes, which I pray God I may leve to see the acquytell ther
of to your plesure, prayeng you of your good continuans.
   Cosyn, I shewyd you myn mynde that I wolde have myn
shildern to Thorpe, wher in, God yelde you, it pleasyd you to
sey that I shulde have hors of you to help to conveye them
thyder; but now I undirstonde myn Lord Fitz Walter hath
dischargyd myn lordys servauntes thens, affermyng up on



|p88


them that they shulde have had unfittyng langage of the
Kynges Grace. Cosyn, I trust that ye and all the jentilmen of
the shire, which have had knowleche of myn lordes servauntes,
kan sey that her to for they have not ben of that disposicion
to be lavas of theyr tungys, whan they had moore cause of
booldnes than they have nowe. I wolde not have thowght
myn Lord Fitzwalter wolde have takyn so ferforth displeasure
for the keepyng of x. or xij. men at Thorpe; I woot weell ther
exceded not iij. mees meet, good and bad. I truste, all thow
I weer a soel woman, to mayntene so many at the leeste, what
so evyr I dyde moore.
   I trustyd to have fowndyn myn Lord Fitzwalter better
lord to me, seyng whan I was wyth myn Lord of Oxenforth,
up on myn desyre and request at that tyme made un to hym,
he promysed me to be good lord to myn lord and me, wher of
I praye you to put hym in remembrauns, trustyng yit be the
meene of you to fynde hym better lord to me her aftyr.
   I have fownde myn Lord of Oxenforth singuler very good
and kynde lord to myn lord and me, and stedefaste in hys
promys, wher by he hath wonne myn lordys service as longe
as he leevyth, and me to be hys trewe beedwoman terme of
myn lyve; for hym I drede mooste, and yit as hyther to I
fynde hym beste. I pray you good cosyn, the rather by your
meane, that I may have the continuauns of hys good lordship,
and to myn poore power I truste to deserve it. I pray you,
cosyn, that thys byll may recomawnde [me] to myn Lady
Brews and to myn cosyn, your wyf.
   From Mynster, in the Yle of Shepey, the iijde day of
Octobre. I pray you yeve credens to the berer of thys, and
to Thomas Jenney, whan he comyth to you.
        Your faythefoull cosyene,               E.SURREY.



|p89


                         |r1005

     ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF SURREY, TO WILLIAM
                        HARWARD

[1485, or later]   |r<b> WYLIAM HARWARD, I woll that ze delyver to
Robert Thorppe of Norwych v. marc off the next
money that ze gadyr; for he hath lent it me, and
I have sygned hym to be payed of yow as sone he comyth
hom.
                                            E. SURREY.

                        |r1006

        THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TO JOHN PASTON
 To our trusty and welbeloved John Paston, Sheriff of
               Suffolk and Norffolk.

               THE DUC OF SUFFOLK.

[1485, Oct. 20]   |r<b> RIGHT welbeloved, we grete you well. And for asmuche
as the King our sovereigne Lord hath late addressed
his letters of comission undre his seale unto us, reciting
by the same that his highnesse undrestondith certayn his rebells
associate to his old enmys of Scotlond, entending not only to
trowble his peax, the nobles and subjects of this Realme to
destroy, their goods and possessions to spoill, and reward at
thair liberties, but also the lawes of this lond and holy Chirche
to subvert.
   Our said moost drad soverayn Lord, as a Cristen Prince,
. . . . . . . . his said enmys and rebels to resist,
hath assigned and comaunded us to do all maner . . . .
and others defensible able to labour, as well archers as hob_byllers,



|p90


to come before us and charge them . . . . .
armed and arayed, every man aftre his degre and power, to
attend uppon his person, and uppon us, to do him service in
defence as well of the Chirche as of the said nobles and subjects
of this Realm, against his said enmys and rebels.
   We therfore wull, and in our said sovereigne Lords name
straitly charge and comaunde you, that in all possible hast ye
do this to be proclamed: -- And that all maner men able to do
the King service, as well knights, esquiers, and gentlemen, as
townships and hundreds, as well within franchesse and libertes
as without, within the counties of Suffolk and Norffolk, and
that they be charged to be redy at all tymes uppon an howre
warnyng, and ordered according to the last comission afore
this, to attend uppon his Grace and uppon us to do him
service, whatsoever they shalbe comaunded, not failing herof,
as ye wull answer at your perile. Goven at Long Stratton,
the xx. day of October.
   And forthermore, that ye yeve credence unto our servaunt
this bringer, as this same day we receyved the Kings com-mission
at iiij. aftre none.
                                         SUFFOLK, yor frende.

                         |r1007

          MARGERY PASTON TO JOHN PASTON
    To my mastyr, John Paston, be this delyvird.

[1486, Jan. 21]   |r<b> RYGHT reverent and wortshepfull syre, in my most
umbill weysse I recomaunde me to you, desyryng to
here of your welfare, the wytche I beseche God to
preserve to His plesur and so your hartes desyir. Syr, I
thank you for the venyson that ye sent me; and youre schepe
is seylyd owt of the havene as this daye.
   Syr, I send you be my brodyr Wyllem your stomachere of
damaske. As for youre teppet of velvet, it is not here; An
seythe that ye put yt in your casket at London.



|p91


   Syr, your chyldryn be in goode helle, bellsside be God.
   Syr, I prey you sende me the gowild, that I spak to you of
be the nexst man that comythe to Norwytche.
   Syr, your mast that laye at Yermowyth is letyn to a
scheppe of Hull for xiijs. iiijd., and if there fawyll ony hurt
ther to, ye schall have a newe mast ther for.
   No mor to you at this time, but Almyty God have you in
His kepyng. Wretyn at Castyr Hawill, the xxj. daye of
Janever, in the furst yere of Kyng Harry the vijth.
           Be your servaunt,                  MARGERY PASTON.

   I prey God no ladyis no more ovyr com you, that ye
geve no lenggar respyt in your materys.

                         |r1008

        ALICE, LADY FITZHUGH, TO JOHN PASTON
  To my right trusty and welbeloved son, Sir John Paston,
                 be this delyvered.

[1486, Feb. 24]   |r<b> JON PASTON, I recommaunde me to you in my moste
hertely maner. And wher I understande be my doghter
Lovell, ye desyre to know whedir I woll have the bar_gane
ye made for me in Norwich or nay, and if I wol, I moste
content therfor now in mercs; Son, in good faith it is so, I
shal receyve no mony of the revenowse of my lyvelod afore
Mydsommer; and also I have payd accordyng to my promise
to Sir William Cabell a great payment, the which ye knowe
wel was due to be payde, so that I can not be of power to



|p92


content therfore, for the which I am right sory, for I know
well I shall never have such a bargane.
   Also my doghtyr Lovell makith great sute and labour
for my sone hir husbande. Sir Edwarde Franke hath bene in
the North to inquire for hym; he is comyn agayne, and cane
nogth understonde wher he is. Wherfore her benevolers
willith hir to continue hir sute and labour; and so I can not
departe nor leve hir as ye know well; and if I might be there,
I wold be full glad, as knowith our Lorde God, Whoo have
you in His blissid kepynge.
   From London, the xxiiijth day of February.
                        Your loving moder,
                                    ALISE, LADY FITZHUGH.

                         |r1009

      MARGARET, COUNTESS OF OXFORD, TO JOHN
                        PASTON
To my right trusti and welbiloved John Paston, Shrieve
                of Norffolk and Suffolk.

[1486, May 19]   |r<b> RIGHT trusti and welbiloved, I recomaund me unto you.
And for as moche as I am credebly enfourmed that
Fraunceis, late Lorde Lovell, is now of late resorted
into the Yle of Ely, to the entente by alle lykelyhod, to finde
the waies and meanes to gete him shipping and passage in
your costes, or ellis to resorte ageyn to seintuary, if he can
or maie;
   I therfor hertily desire praie you, and neverthelesse, in the
Kinges name, streitly chargie you that ye in all goodly haste



|p93


endevore your self that suche wetche or other meanes be used
and hadde in the poorts, and creks, and othre places wher ye
thinke necessary by your discrecion, to the letting of his seid
purpose; and that ye also use all the waies ye can or maie by
your wisdom, to the taking of the same late Lorde Lovell.
And what pleasur ye maie do to the Kings Grace in this matier,
I am sure, is not to you unknowen. And God kepe you.
   Wretyn at Lavenham, the xix. day of May.
                                            MARGARET OXYNFORD.

                         |r1010

             HENRY VII. TO JOHN PASTON
To our trusty and welbeloved John Paston, one of our Esquiers
for our Body, Shreife of our countys of Norffolk and Suffolk.

                    BY THE KING.

[1486, Aug. 12]   |r<b> TRUSTY and welbeloved, we greet you well. And
whereas we send at this time our trusty and welbe_loved
clerke and counseilor, Mr. Edmunde Chaderton,
to do and execute certein things by our commandement in
those parties, like as he can shew to you more at large; We
desire and pray you that ye not only yeve unto him therein
credence, but also, for the effectuall and speedy performance
of the same, ye will be unto him from time to time in every_thinge,
as the case shall require, adviseinge, aidinge, and
assistinge, as we singularly trust you, and as ye desire to do
us pleasure.
   Yeven under our Signet at our mannor of Shene, the
xijth day of August.



|p94


                         |r1011

        JOHN, LORD FITZWALTER, TO JOHN PASTON
  To my right wurshipfull cosyn, John Paston, esquyer.

[1486, Sept. 19]   |r<b> RIGHT wurshipfull cosyn, I recomaunde me to you,
certifyeng you that, where as I understond ye have
distreyned Richard Caus of Byngham for issuez
ronne uppon hym in th'escheker to the summe of iiijli. and
odde sylver, I pray you that ye wull, the rather for my sake,
showe hym the favour that ye may doo, savyng youre sylfe,
and that ye wulle not be harde uppon hym; but if ye kan by
th'advys of councell this next terme fynde the meanes for
youre discharge uppon youre acompte in th'escheker, that
than ye wull lete hym be so in reste and peas withoute more
paymentz for that cause; the which I prey you to tendre the
rather because I fynde the seid Richard Cans at all tymez my
trewe servaunt, and I shall be as redy to the acomplyshment
of all youre resonable desirez with Goddis grace, Who kepe
you. At Attelburgh, this Tuesday next before Seint Mathuz
Day. -- Zowr Cosyn and frend,
                                       J.SIEUR FYTZWAUTER.



|p95


                         |r1012

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO JOHN PASTON
  To my right trusty and right welbelovyd Councellor,
                John Paston, Esquier.

[1487, Jan. 24]   |r<b> JOHN PASTON, I comaund me to you. And as for
such tithynge as ye have sent hider, the Kyng had
knowlech therof more than a sevyn-nyght passed. And
as for such names as ye have sent, supposyng theym to be
gone with the Lord Lovell, they be yitt in England, for he is
departyng with xiiij. personys and no moe. At the Kynges
comyng to London I wold advise you to see his Highnes.
And Almyghty God kepe you.
   Writen at Wyndesore, the xxiiijth day of January.
                                              OXYNFORD.
Endorsed: The Countis of Oxfordes lettre.

                         |r1013

          JOHN, PRIOR OF NORWICH, TO  -- 

[1487]   |r<b> RIGHT worchupfull serys, we recomaunde us all unto
you in oure most herty wyse. And it is so that
longe and many yerys ther hath ben hangyng a grete
variaunce and a growge bitwix Annes Paston deceassed, late
the wyff of William Paston, Justice, and William Paston now
lyvyng, and Clement Paston deceassid, ther sones, one the



|p96


oone parte, and John Paston, the sone of the seide William
Paston, Justice, and of the seide Annes his wifff, also deceassid,
and Ser John Paston, Knyght, deceassed, and John Paston yet
lyvyng, sones to the seide John deceassid, on the othir parte.
And now the seide variaunce contynueth betwixe the seide
William and John that now is lyvyng of and upon the right,
title, and possessioun of the maners of Sporle, Woodhall,
Pagrave, Cressyngham, Swaynesthorpe, and Est Bekham, all
[in] this cuntre of Norffolk.
   Likith it you to wete that the seide William Paston,
Justice, in his lyve was a speciall lover and frende to our
monastery, and for synguler love and trust that he hadde to
be remembred amonge us after hys deceasse, not with stond_yng
h[e de]yed at London, yet he bequest his body to be
beryed, and is beryed in the chapell of Our Lady with inne
oure monastery. [And] the seide William Paston, Justice,
oftyn and many tymes in his pleyn lyfe, the seide Annes beyng
present, he shewed unto the Priour of our monastery that was
than, called Dawn John Heverlonde, and to Dawn John
Molett, that was Priour after, to Dawn John Fornsett,
Doctour of Devynyte, Dawn Richerd Walsham, our sexten,
and to Dawn John Wechyngham, and to many dyverse other
that were of his acqueyntaunce, and that he had trust unto to
breke his mynde for the wele of his soule, that were thanne
olde fadirs of our monastery, and arn now decessed, that it
was his verry last will that ought of the seide maners schuld
be perpetually immortaysed a serteyn londe, or annuyte of
suche valewe, that every suche monke that syngith the last
messe in the seide chapell, wher the body of the seide William
Paston light beryed, schuld have that day that he songe messe
ther iiijd. to pray for the soules of the seide William, and of
Annes his wif, and for ther auncetrys, kynred, consanguynyte,
affynyte, and frendes, and for all Cristen soules; and over
that, a serteyn summe of money yerly to be payed to have
the obytt of the seide William and Annes zerly kept with
dirige and masse in the seide chapell.



|p97


   And it is so that many yeres aftir the decesse of the
seide William, Justice, ther were many men lyvyng bothe of
olde brethern of oures afore rehersyd, and of other that cowde
aborne witnesse in this mater, and that knewe the mynde of
the seide William Paston, Justice, that it was his last will, of
whiche men many now be deceassed; and no merveill, for it is
upon a xliij. yere past sithen the seide William, Justice, deyed.
And also the seide Annes that was hys wif lyved more thanne
xxx. wynter aftir hir husbonde, and was in singuler trust with
her husbonde, and one of his executours, and wele knowen in
this cuntre, a woman of vertuos lyvyng and disposicion, and
of goode discrecioun and conscience, and knewe hir husbondes
mynde and last will as wele as ony lyvyng creature; she
witnessed alway that it was hire husbondes last will to have
this perpetuall messe, and called on it all the dayes of hir lyfe,
and also atte her decesse; and sche seide that [it] was the will
of her husbonde that the annuyte schulde go oute of the seide
maner of Swaynesthorpe. The seide John Paston decessed
wolde have hadde it graunted owte of the seide maner of
Cressyngham; and summe of the executours wolde have
hadde the seide messe to a contynued but for the terme of
iiijxx. yere, and wolde have made writyng accordyng; but the
seide Annes wolde not ther of, but seide alway that it was the
last will of hir husbonde to have the messe made perpetuall,
and the executours schewid to us that they wolde se the wyll
perfourmed; and ther upon the executours, be ther comon
assent, lefte a cofre with a grete substaunce of money of the
goodes of the seide William, Justice, to be kepte with inne
our monastery, and tolde and schewed to us that the seide
gode schuld never be departid nor hadde oute of our place
till we wer made sure of the seide annuyte. And duryng all
that season that the seide cofer with the goodes was with ynne
our monastery, it was alway schewid to us that the seide
annuyte schulde be mortaysed in perpetuyte, and duryng all
that season that the seid cofer was in our place, we hadde
money yerly yoven us to pray for his soule to kepe [his
obytt]; and be menys devysed with oute the knowleche of



|p98


the seide Annes, or of ony of our brethern, all the goode that
was in the seide cofre was conveyed oute of our monastery,
and after that dede done, ther was no more money yoven us,
nowther to kepe the seide obit, ner to pray for the soull of
the seide William, as be the seide executours, savyng that the
seide Annes, duryng her lyve, yaff us of hir owne cost yerly to
remembre the soule, and that that hath be done sythen, hath
be don of our owne devocion, and this many zerys ther hath
no thing be yoven us, notwithstondyng of our own devocion
we have rehersid his name in oure bede rolle every Sonday.
   And now it is informed us that as wele the seide William
as the seide John hath putt all ther title and interest, as wele
in and of all the seide maners, londes, and tenementys as of
the seide goodes in the awarde and jugement of the Right
Reverend Fader in God, my Lord of Ely, Chaunceler of
Inglond, Ser Reynold Bray, Knyght, and in you tweyne.
And in asmoche as ze be of our cuntre and speciall frendes
to our monastery, and longest acqueyntyd with you, that
makith me and all my brethren the more bolde to schewe
this our mater and interest unto you, beseching yow bothe to
tendre the mater, and to schewe it bothe to my Lorde of Ely
and to Ser Reynolde Bray, that atte suche tyme as ze have the
examynacion of the title of theise seide maners, that ze will
vouche saff of your charite to schewe this mater and our
interest in this behalf, and of the seide annuyte, and how
that we aught of right to have a graunt of it oute of the
seide maners.
   And in this mater we hertily pray yow to take remem_braunce
and speciall labour, so that we may trust that it
schall not askape your handes, nowe that the mater is putte
in yowe; and all our monastery schall pray for you, and also
rewarde you to your plesur, and over that, ze schall do her in
suche a goode dede that God schall rewarde you.
   Wretyn in our monastery, the  --  day of  --, the
secunde yer of the regne of Kyng Herry the vijth.
                          By JOHN, Prior off Northwich
                            and the Covent.



|p99


                         |r1014

      SIR EDMUND BEDINGFIELD TO JOHN PASTON
 Un to my ryght wurshypfull cosyn, John Paston, Esquyer,
                    for the Body.

[1487, May 16]   |r<b> RYGHT wurshypfull cosyn, I recomawnd me un to you
as hertly as I can, letyng you wytte I was with my
Lorde Stuarde as on Munday laste paste, by the
desyir of them that I myght not sey ney to. I herde all that
was seyd there, but they gaate non avawntage, wurde, nor
promyse off me; but they thought in asmoche as they ware
the beste in the shere, that every man owghte to wayte and go
with them. Wherto yt was answerd that oure master, nexte
the Kynge, havynge hys commysshon, muste nedys have the
jentylmen and the contre to a wayte up on hym by the vertu
of the same; but yt was thought I owght not to obeye no
copy of the commisshon, withoute I had the same under wexe,
where in hathe ben gret argument, whyche I understoode by
reporte a fortnyte paste, and that causyd me to sende unto my
lorde to have the very commysshon, whyche he sente me, and
a letter, where off I sende you the copy here in closyd.
   As for you, ye be sore takyn in sum place, seying that ye
intende swyche thynges as ys lyke to folow gret myscheffe. I
seyd I undyrstood non swyche, nor thynges lyke it; and yt ys
thoughte ye intende nat to go forthe thys jorneye, nor no
jentylman in that quarter but Robert Brandon that hath
promysyd to go with them, as they seye.
   I understonde Sir Wylliam Bolen and Sir Harry Heydon



|p100


ware at Thetforde in to Kente ward, but they returnyd in to
Norffolk a geyne; I thynke they wull not goo thys jorney, yff
the Kynge nede. Ser Harry was at Attylborow on Saterday.
I wene he had a vyce there to turne a zen; wher for, cosyn,
yt ys good to understonde the sertente what jentylmen intende
to goo, and be assuryd to go together, that I may have wurde;
my cosyn Hoptun hathe promysyd that he wull be oon. As
fore Wysman, he seythe he wull be off the same, but I can
have no holde.
   Furthermore, cosyn, yt ys seyd that after my lordys
departyng to the Kynge ye ware mette at Barkwey, whyche ys
construid that ye had ben with the Lady Lovell, but wrathe
seyd never well; and in asmoche as we understonde my
lordys plesur, yt ys well doon we dele wysly therafter. And,
nexte to the Kynge, I answerd pleynly I was bownde to do
him service, and to fullfylle hys comaundment to the uttermest
off my powere, by the grace off God, Who ever preserve you
to Hys plesur.
   Wretyn at Oxburgh, the xvj. day of Maye.
                Your cosyn,                    E.BEDYNGFELD.

                         |r1015

      [THE EARL OF OXFORD?] TO SIR EDMUND
                     BEDINGFIELD

[1487, May |r(?)]   |r<b> WHERE AS I understonde by your late wrytyng un
to me, that ye have ryght well endevyrd you to
th'execusion of the Kynges comission and comawnd_ment,
in preparyng your selffe with the jentylmen and other of



|p101

the contre, to be redy to do the Kyng servyce, whyche I have
shewid un to the Kynges Hyghnes, so that hys Grace ys ryght
well content and ryght thankfully acceptyth the same, under_stondynge
the ryght good myndys and dysposyschon off you
and off other jentylmen there towardes hys Grace. How be
yt, hys Hyghnes wull not as zytte put you to ony further
labur or charge, for somoche as hys rebellys and enemyes be in
to Irlande; neverthelesse hys Grace wull that the contre be
redy at all tymis to do hys Hyghnes servyce up on resonabull
warnyng; for so moche as the Kynges Grace intendythe to
make provysyon to sende an armi in to Irlonde in haaste, nat
knowyng as zytte whether that ye, and other aboute you shall
be desyird to bere ony charge there to or no. And where as
yt ys mervellyd that ye had not the Kynges comysshon, under
hys gret seall, I send yt to you with thys my wrytyng, wyll_ynge
you nat to procede further to eny execushon theroff tyll
swyche tyme as ye have other wise in comawndment, alwey
thankyng hertyly the jentylmen, and all other for ther good
wyllys towardes me.

                         |r1016

       KNIGHTS MADE AT THE BATTLE OF STOKE

[1487, June 16]
Sir Edmond Benyngfeld.            [Sir Richard De]levere.
Sir Jamys Blount.                 Sir J[ohn] Mortumer.
Sir Richard Croft.                Sir William Troutbeke.
Sir [Humfrey] Stanley.



|p102


         Knyghtes made at the same Batayll.

The sone and heyr of the Lord Audeley.
Sir Edward Noreys.          Sir Gregory . . . .
Sir Robert Clyfford.        Sir Thomas Bl[ount].
Sir George Hopton.          Sir Robert Cheyny.
Sir John Paston.            Sir William Car[ew].
Sir Thomas Lovell.          Sir John Wy[ndham].
Sir Humfrey Savage.         Sir Simond . . . .
Sir Herry Willoughby.       Sir Roger Be[llingham].
Sir John Sapcotes.          Sir John . . . . .
Sir William Vampage.        Sir George Nevil . .
Sir Antony Brone.           Sir Robert Radcly[ff].
. . . .                     Sir Jamys Par[ker].
. . . .                     Sir Edward Dar[ell].
. . . .                     Sir Edward Pekeryn[g].
. . . .                     Sir Thomas of W[olton].
. . . .                     Sir William Sand[es].

A mutilated endorsement in Sir John Paston's hand reads. ` . . . . . prisoners
. . . . . fownd.'

                         |r1017

      DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To my rytth worchupfull son, Sir Jon Paston, be thys
               byll delyvyrd in hast.

[1487, or later]   |r<b> RYTH worchupfull son, I recommend me on to zow and
to my lady zowyr wyf, and thankyng zow harttyly
for the grett labyr thatt ze had on Thorys day for me,
and for zowyr kyndnes; for and odyr had don asse ze ded, I



|p103


had had my purpos; qwerfor I prey God do be them asse they
do be me.
   Son, I must prey zow to have a dosseyn men in harnes,
with bowys and wepyn convenyent for them, that I may feche
my stres ageyn. The schrevys man wasse here wythe me, and
[j. of] yowyres, he seyth he ys, and he hatth mad me feythful
promes that he wol be wyth me ageyn on Monday, qwerfor I
prey zow harttyly, son, and reqwere zow that zowyr men may
be wyth me on Monday, as my werry tros ys in zow, qwo
sknowyth blyssyd Jesu, Hom haff zow and zowyr in Yss
keppyng.
                Be zowyr trew modyr,
                      DAM ELYSABETHE BREWYSSE.

                         |r1018

     DAME ELIZABETH BREWS TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To my right worshipfull son, Sir John Paston, Knyght,
                 be this delyverd.

[1488 |r(?)]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull son, I recommaund me unto you and
to my lady my doughter your wyfe, and I send you
both Cristes blyssyng and myne. And, son, I thank
you hertely for my son, William Brews; and I moste pray
you for the reverens of Jesu to help hym for your tenauntes
and myne, or els John Dynne will owver rewle them. And,
son, God thank you, ye helpyd ons Whyte of Metfeld, and so
I must beseche you nowe to do, and that it wold pleas you to
gyffe credans unto the Priour of the Wyhte Freres, for I have
shewed unto hym my mynd; and as ye do, I hold me content.
   And, son, we ladys and jentil women in this contrey that is



|p104


wedows, be sore trobyld with the Bysshop of Chester, and
haskith of us more than we may pay, and that knowith All
myghty Jesu, Who have you in His blyssed kepyng.
                 Be your moder,
                                 DAME ELIZABETH BREWS.

                         |r1019

     SIR JOHN PASTON TO DAME MARGERY PASTON
        To Dame Margery Paston, at Oxenhed.

[1486-95]   |r<b> MASTRESS MARGERY, I recomand me to yow. And
I prey yow in all hast possybyll to send me, by the
next swer messenger that ye can gete, a large playster
of your flose ungwentorum for Kynges Attorney, Jamys Hobart,
for all hys dysease is but an ache in hys knee. He is the man
that brought yow and me togedyrs, and I had lever then xlli.
ye koud with your playster depart hym and hys peyne. But
when ye send me the playster, ye must send me wryghtyng
hough it shold be leyd to and takyn fro hys knee, and hough
longe it shold abyd on hys kne unremevyd, and hough longe
the playster wyll laste good, and whethyr he must lape eny
more clothys aboute the playster to kepe it warme or nought.
And God be with yow.
                          Your,                JOHN PASTON.



|p105


                         |r1020

        THE QUEEN TO THE EARL OF OXFORD
To oure right trusty and enterly beloved cosyn, Th'Erll of Oxon.

                     BY THE QUENE.

[1487-1502]   |r<b> RYGHT trusty and entierly beloved cosyn, we grete you
well, lattyng you wete hou it is commen un to oure
knowlege that where as ze newly entred upon oure
welbeloved Symon Blyant, gentilman, in to the maner of Hem_nals
in Cotton, descended and belongyng unto hym by right of
enheritaunce, as it is seid, ze ther upon desired the same Symon
to be agreable for hys part to put all maters of variance thenne
dependyng atwene hym and oon Sir John Paston, Knyght,
pretendyng a title unto the seid maner into th'award and juge_ment
of two lenerd men, by you named and chosen as arbritrours
atwene them; and in case that the same arbritrours of and upon
the premisses neither yave oute nor made suche awarde be for
the brekyng up of Pasche [Easter] terme nowe last passed, ze
of your owne offre graunted and promysid unto the seid Symon,
as we be enformed, to restore hym forwyth there upon unto hys
possession of the seid maner. And how it be that the same
Symon, at youre mocion and for the pleasir of youre lordshyp,
as he seith, aggreed un to the seid compromyse, and ther upon
brought and shewed hys evydence concernyng, and sufficiently
provyng hys ryght in the seid maner un to the seid arbritrours,
and that they have not made nor yolden out betwene the said
parties any suche awarde; yet have not we restored the same
Symon unto hys possession of the seid maner, but contynuelly
kepe hym owt of the same, wich, yf it so be, is not only to hys
right grete hurt and hinderaunce, but also oure mervaile. Wher_fore



|p106


we desire and pray you ryght affectueusly that ze woll the
rather at the contemplacion of thees oure lettres, shew unto the
said Symon, in hys rightfull interesse and title in the seid
maner all the favorable lordshyp that ze goodely may, doyng
hym to be restored and put in to hys lawfull and peasible
possession of the same, as fer as reason, equite, and good
conscience shall require, and youre seid promise, in suche wyse
that he may undyrstond hym selfe herynne to fare the better
for oure sake, as oure verray trust is in you.
   Yeven under oure signet at my Lordes Palois of West_mynstre,
the xxv. day of Juyn.
                                            [ELEZEBETH.]
                                Subskrybyd with the Quenys hand.

                         |r1021

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
   To our hertly welbilovyd John Paston, Knyght.

[1487-1502]   |r<b> RIGHT hertly welbilovyd, I grete you wele. And where
Sir John Howard, Knyght, Sir Gilberde Debenham,
Knyght, gederith grete feloship of men, purposyng
on Monday next comyng to take stresses of the Lady
Roos; and I deme that they undre the colour of the same
entende to set on Coton, and to gete it if they may; I therfor
councelle you to sende downe a certeine of your men or elles
come your silfe for the save garde of the said Coton. Also
that ye yeve credence un to the brynger herof. And our
Lorde kepe you.
   Writyn at the lodge in Lavenham the last day of Juylle.
                                                   OXYNFORD.



|p107


                         |r1022

        JOHN DAUBENEY TO [SIR JOHN PASTON]

   PLEASE your masterchep to have knowlage that my Lord
Archebyschop of Yorke is in god helle, blyssyd be
God. And I came to hym as on Monday last past,
and toke hym your letter. And whan I had takyn hym and
he had over sey it, he merveylle sor of hyr dysposicion, a bad
me not care, ye shuld do welle i nowe. And than he told me
that he had spokyn to Master William Paston for a note of a
letter, hewghe it is best to write to hyr. And so on Tewysday
Master William and I, and Skerne of my Lord of Oxenfordis
hows, and mad |r(sic) toke hym on Wednysday o |r[i.e._one] not
of a letter the wyche I send you; and whan he sey it he thowght
it to long, and mad one after his ownne entent, the wiche I
send yow a copy of. Also I send yow a copy of the letter
that the quene sent to my Lord of Oxenford for the maner of
Cotton for Blyaunt; but my Lord of Yorke told to Skerne
that he wold in any wysse that my Lord of Oxenford shuld
help yow to kepe possession. And so Skerne purposythe to
be with in thys v. deyes at home, for to enforme my Lord of
Oxenford of my Lord of Yorke is entent, and that he se in no
wysse that no man do yow no wrong as moche as my Lord of
Oxenford powyr may help yow; for Skerne came from my
Lord of Oxenford to my Lord of Yorke for the same
mater, for that my Lord of Yorke shuld informe the
quene of the mater, and be cause the quene hathe take hyr
chambre my Lord of Yorke toke Skerne a rynge for a tokyn
to my Lord Tresorer that he shuld excuse my Lord of Oxen_ford
to the quene, for as moche as ye hathe |r(sic) infeffid my
Lord of Oxenford in a trost in the maner of Cotton he may



|p108


no lesse doo but helpe yow. Item, thys day is the massenger
gone to my Lady of Suffolk with my Lordis letter. I shall
have a answer at the morn on Monday, I trost to God, ryght
god, &c., it cowd non ere be sped. My Lord hath be all this
weke at the Cowncell at Chelchyche and j. day at Chenne.
Item, I send yow iij. writtis for feleneys and trespace and ij.
for Mariete mater. Also your flowyr; Also a letter of Cablys;
Also a write for Playter, a letter to Mestres Clere. Item, my
Lord wylle in any wyse that ye kepe welle all the lyvelod that
ye have of Sir John Fastolff, and that ye suffyr no man to
entre no lond nor place, lord nor other personys, what sum
ever they be. Ye may veryly thynke he ys your speciall god
lord, and that ye shall knowe in tyme comyng. I understand
that Calle dothe passyngly welle in your maters in the spirituall
lawe, as his letter makyth mencion, &c. Wretyn at London
the Satyrday before Seynt Lawrens day.
                Your servaunt,              JOHN DAUBENEY.

                         |r1023

                       |rABSTRACT

      R[OBERT] CLERE TO SIR JOHN PASTON, KNIGHT



|p109


                         |r1024

      JOHN, LORD FITZWALTER, TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To my right worshipfull cosyn, Syr John Paston, Knight,
             be thys lettre delyvered.

[1488 |r(?), April 7]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull cosyn, in my most herty wise I
[comme]nd me to you. And where I am enformed
that ye have takyn a disthresse within the [Du]chy of
Lankastir for suche money as was commyng toward you of
ryght for the tyme that ye were shiryef, me seme, cosyn, ye
aught not to take it within the said Duchy of noon auncyen
demene holdyn upon the King; for there be places inow to
gadir it upon without the said auncyen demene, and so ye
cannot lose it. And also, cosyn, I am enformed that it is
paied alredy to oon John Burnam, which is of sufficyency
inow. For whiche cause mesemythe it werne resone to levey
it upon hym than ther where as is noon auctorite to levey it
upon. Wherfore, cosyn, I pray you to be good mastir for my
sake to thies pore men, whiche be the Kingz tenauntz, and to
shew them the favour that ye may. And I shall be as glad to
doo you as gret plesure in tyme commyng, by Goddz grace,
Who preserve you.
   Wretyn at Attylborow, the vij. daie of Apryll.
                    Zowir cosyn and frend,
                                [J.] SIR FYTZ WAUTER.



|p110


                         |r1025

       LORD FITZWALTER TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To my right wourschippfull and hertely welbeloved cousyn,
       Sir John Paston, Knyght, this be delyvered.

[1488-94]   |r<b> RIGHT wourschippfull cousyn, in as hertely wyse as I
 cane, I recommaund me to you. And forasmoche
as ther was appoynted a day that ye and my cousyn
Heydon, Sir Robert Brandon, the Kynges Attorney, and other
of the worschippfull of this schyr, should have mett here before
this tyme of Estren, it was so longe or the Kynges Attorney
was commen in to the contre, and the tyme so shorte, that it
hathe bene thowght there myght be non convenable tyme affor
this. Wherfor they be agreed that they and ye should mete
here on Thursday next commyng. Prayinge you, therfor,
that ye wolbe here at that tyme, trustynge to Godes mercy
that a right good wey shalbe hadde betyx yow that all grugges
and rancores shalbe layd a parte. And therfor, cousyn, I
praye yow that ye wol not fayle for to be here, and what
I canne do for yow, ye shall fynde it redy with Godes grace,
Who have yow in His most blessed and assured kepyng.
   Wreten on Good Fryday last passed.
                            Zowir lofyng cosyn,
                                         J. SIR FITZ WAUTER.



|p111


                         |r1026

        WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
  To Sir John Paston, be thys lettyr delyvered.

[1488, May 13]   |r<b> AFTYR all dewe recomendacion, pleasyt yow to undyr_stonde
that my lorde hathe ben with the Kynge in
Wyndesour at Seynt Georgys Feste, and ther at
the same feste were bothe the inbacetours of Breten and of
Flaundyrs, as well fro the Kynge of Romayns as fro the
yonge Duke. But I can not schew yow the certeyn whedyr
we schall have with them warre or pease; but I undyrstonde
for certeyn that all suche capeteyns as wente to the see in
Lente, that is to sey, Sir Charlys Somersett, Sir Richard
Hawte, and Syr Wylliam Vampage, makythe them redy to
goo to the see ageyn as schortely as they can, to what intente
I can not sey.
   Also, where as it was seyde that my Lord Woddevyle and
other schulde have gone over in to Breten, to have eyded the
Duke of Breten, I can not tell of non suche eyd. Butt upon
that seynge ther came many men to Sowthehamton, where
it was seyd that he schulde have takyn schyppyng, to have
waytyd upon hym over; and soo whan he was countyr_maundyd,
thos that resortyd thedyr, to have gone over with
hym taryde there styll in hope that they schuld have ben
lycensyd to have gone over; and whan they sey [saw] no
lykeleod that they schuld have lycens, there was ij.C. of them
that gete them in to a Breten schyppe, the whyche was late
come over with salte, and bad the mayster sett them a lond in



|p112


Breten. And they had nott seylyd not paste vj. leges butt
they aspied a Frencheman, and the Frencheman mad over to
them; and they ferde as thow they wolde not have medylde
with them, and all the Englysche men went undyr the hetchys,
soo that they schewyd no more but those that came to Sowthe_hamton
with the schype, to cawse the Frenchemen to be the
more gladder to medyll with them; and soo the Frencheman
burdyd them, and then they that were undyr the hetches
came up, and soo toke the Frencheman, and caryed the men,
schyppe, and all in to Breaten.
   Also, ther was ther an inbacetour fro the Kynge of
Schottes, who is now put in grete trobyll be hys son and
other of the lordes of hys londe.
   Syr, as I came homewerde be London, I spake there with
Emonde Dormand, and he seyd that he had wretyn onto
yow, but he had none aunswere; wherfor he prayd me that if
I knew ony man comynge towerdes Norwhyche, and I wold
wrythe on to yow that he ferythe, if ye see none other dyrec_cion,
that he schall be comittyd to the Flete.
   Also, he schewyd me that Herry Wyott wholde fynde the
mene to have yow condemnyd, and recover the obligacion of
xlli. ageyns yow, and soo he seythe he whote nott how to doo,
for he is halfe dysmayd; he ferythe lesse that he schall never
come home. But he intendythe to plede the obligacion ful_fylyd
at Norwyche, for he seythe ther is non other remedy to
save yow fro the condemnacion, tyl that he herythe otherwyse
from yow, whyche he thynketh longe aftyr.
   Wretyn at Henyngham, the xiijte day of May, with the
hand of your brodyr,
                                           WYLLIAM PASTON.



|p113


                         |r1027

        THOMAS ANDREW TO WILLIAM PASTON
   To the ryght . . . . . . . . William Paston Squyer
   . . . . . my Lord of Ox[ford].

[1488 |r(?), Dec. 1 |r(?)]   |r<b> RYGHT worchipfull sir, in my best maner I recommend
me unto you as he that is and shalbe at your com_mandment.
Sir, I beseche you to showe my good
lord and yours that a cordyng to his commandment I have
sesed the good of the parson of Testerton and of Henry
Fox, exsepe thos goodis of the sayd Fox that whare formerly
sesed be the servantis of my Lord of Surrey; and, Sir, all thos
goodis that I have sesed of them both are nat worthe lytyll
mony lytyll past xls. or iijli. at the m[os]t, exsepe the parsons
corne; and if that may betakyn a way thane the Chyrche may
not be served, and that whar pety. I besech you that I may
knowe my Lordis plesur in that be halfe, for els I thynke the
baly of the franches will have all, for Testyrton is in the
Dowchy. And so I am leek to have lytyll or nowt for all my
lawbour and costis withowt my Lord be my good lord in that
be halff be your mene.
   Sir, I pray you tell my Lord that the fryer of Lynne that
. . . ak . . . . . . . . cheff, for he served a cherche in Nor_folk
callyd Hornyngtoft and ther . . . . . . rd a p . . . . s
callyd Master Thomas Mertyn, and as I wene he had felows
privy to that robery |r(?) an[d ot]her that be nat yet knowyn,
and if he whare well a posed he wold tel[l], &c.
   Also Henry Fox and the parson of Testerton whar gretely
|r(?) acuequyentyd and conversand with one Sir William, a



|p114


chanon of Hempton Abbay, cause my Lord to inquere if he
whar owt privy of the mony makyng or eny other of that
Abbay of Hempton. I know nothyng but that they whar
gret to gether, &c. Sir, I besech you, be good master to Fox
wyff if ye may; how be it he is nowght, but peraventure he
may amend, but she is ryght a good woman be my troughe,
and it whar gret pety but she and her chyld myght have som_wat.
And, my Lord, or ye send me eny letter ye may send
it me be John a More, this brynger, if he cum agayne, or els
be Fox wyff if her husband be not gone to London. And
ever Jhesu preserve you to your most gentyll hertis desyer.
At Ryburgh this Monday next Sent Andrew. -- Your servant,
                                            THOMAS ANDREW.

                         |r1028

        THOMAS ANDREW TO WILLIAM PASTON
To the ryght worchipfull mayster, William Paston, Squyer,
with my Lord of Oxynford, [be t]his bill delyverd in hast.

[1488 |r(?), Dec. 16]   |r<b> RYGHT worchipfull sir, I recomaund me un to you in
my best maner, acordyng to my deute. Sir, I sent
you a letter by Henre Fox wyff, and I had non answer
from you of it. On of the gretest thynges that I wrot to
you of, was that the fryer shuld be aposed, howo was prevy
with hym, whan he robbed Master Martyn, the prest, at
Hornyngtoft in Norffolk; also that Fox and the parson of
Testerton, shuld be aposed if eny of Hempton Abbay whar
out [were aught] prevy to the mony makyng.
   Sir, now I beseche you to send me a copy of thes mony
makers confeschon, and ther namys, for I ame bothe sworne
on the quest of the oyer determiner, and also on the quest at
large, and of that we most make our verdyte at the sessyons



|p115


after Crystmes for the quest at large; for we toke day over
at the last sessyons tyll the sessyons after Crestmes for the
quest at large. Lytefot, of your hows, is sworne on the oyer
determiner.
   I beseche you to speke with my lord, to know of his good
lordchepe how we shall demene ourselff in that be half; and I
beseche you send me word as sone as ye can.
   I thynk that Yelvertons servant, that is with you in preson,
shall com a gayne hether, and he may bryng your letter to me.
He bryngythe you this letter, and if it may be nat a fendyng,
I pray you be good master to Yelverton for my sake. I have
fownd hym a good persone.
   Sir, I shall not be with my lady is grace this Crystmes, far
her grace shalbe with the Kynges Grace after Crystmes; and
thane I shall awayt on her grace, wher ye shall have my
servyce be the grace of Jesu, He preserve you.
   At Ryburgh, the xvj. day of December.
   And ye hepe [help] nat, l am leke to losse moche mony of
my costes for thes mony makers. I pray helpe, &c.
                       Your servant,
                                              THOMAS ANDREW.

                         |r1029

          T. GRIGGS TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the Right Honorable Sir John Paston, Knyght, be
                  this delyverid.

[1489, Feb. 2]   |r<b> RIGHT reverent and honorable, after the ordre of all
diew recommendacion had, I recomaunde me un to
your maistership. Sir, it is so that John Talyour of
Brytcham, debite [deputy] in your office of Th'admirallte, was



|p116


with me this mornyng to have myn advyce in this mater
folowyng, the whiche is this.
   There was taken ageyns Thornham, in the Kynges streeme,
leyng ij. fadam and an halff depe upon the see, a whalle fyssh,
by Thornham men labouryng all nyght on Sunday nyght last
was, and so have slayn it, and brought to lande; upon the
whiche your said debite hath ben ther as yister day, and seysed
my lordes part therof; wherof the puple was glad it shuld so
be. Than John a Lowe was there, and he seyd to your debite
that he wold have the Kynges part in this wise, that the Kyng
and my lord shuld part the halff. Sir, the lawe cyvylle seyth
thus, `If any fyssh ryall be founde on the se, that is to say,
whalle, bales, sturgion, porpeys, or gra[m]peys, that my Lord
Admyrall shall have the halvendele,' &c.
   I thynke my lord hath the Kynges prerogatyff upon the
see, the whiche I remytte to your discrecion, &c.
   Sir, by lyklyhode, without ye take hede and send thedir
som of youres, my lordes part shall be litill. It is a greet
fissh and a ryall; your debite sheweth me it is xj. fadam and
more of length, and ij. fadam of bygnes and depnes in the
mydde fyssh.
   Sir, remembre what ye have to do; there came not suche
a casualte in your tyme of your office, &c. Wherfore this, by
th'enfourmacion of your sayd debite, cause me to wryte un to
you this sympill bille, praying you to pardone me of the writ_yng,
for it was don in hast; and this bille I sent to Willyam
Brykkes your servant, to Matelask, by masse tyme, to brynke
it to you. And this day they purpose to breke it. Do
hereyn now as it please you, and Allmighti God have you
and all youres in Hese kepyng; besechyng you that this
symple bille may recomaunde my pouer wiff un to your
maistershipp.
   Wretyn on Candilmas Day, in hast, at Welles.
                 Your,                     T. GRIGGES.



|p117


                         |r1030

        MARGERY PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
   To my rygth wurchypfull mastyr, Syr John Paston,
       Knyth, this lettyr be delyvered in hast.

[1489, Feb. 10]   |r<b> RYGTH reverent and worchypfull sir, in the most
owmble wyse I recomand me un to yow, desyryng
to here of yowre welfare, the qwech God long
contynew.
   Sir, myn brodyr Wyllyam recomawnd hym on to yow.
And as for the lettyr that ze sent o to hym, he hath schewyd
my lord the entent ther off, and he thynkyth hym self, that it
is no part of hys dute to have any part of the fysch, or any
mony that schuld grow ther of. Never the lasse, my lord,
acordyng as yowr desyre was in the letter, had qwestyond
John a Lowe of thys fych, afor the comyng of John Danyel,
what he had doon with all; and he answerd, as for the nedyr
chavyll [jaw] therof, he had put it in sewrte, and leyd it in a
howse, be cawse youre debyte [deputy] seasyd it to myn lords
use, tyll it myth be undyrstond wedyr the propyrte ware in
the Kyng or in my lord; and so my lord held hym well
content it schud be so, in so moche as the Kyng and my lord
have comawndyd John a Lowe that thys forsayd chavyll schuld
be browth up to the Kyng in all goodly hast.
   Fardermore, my brodyr Wyllyam perseyvyd be yowre



|p118


wrytyng that ye cowd make the remnawnth of the fych worth
a iiijli. to my lord. My lord wold ze schuld not trobyll yowre
self no more with all, becawse he thynkyth that the propyrte
is not in hym. And also anodyr, my brodyr Wyllyam heryth
sey in the corte, that the Kyng and my lord be content
that the remenaunt of the fych be to the use of them of
the cuntre, the wech ze schall here the more serteyn therof
here after.
   Also my broder Wyllyam seyth, that my lord wyllyd yow
that ze schuld send the retorne of the comyscion as hastyly as
ze can, and mervell that ze hath not sent it up or thys.
   As touards the brekyng up of the Parlement, many
lykelywoodes ther be, that it schuld contynew no wyle, and
these be they. My Lord the Archebyschop of Yorke departyd
as zysterday, and my Lord of Northethomyrlond schall goo
as on Fryday; and also all schuch folkys as schall goo in to
Breten schall be at Portysmowth on Satyrday cum forthnyth,
and the Munday after on see bord, at wech seassun the Kyng
intentyd to be ther to take the mustyrs.
   And as for thos jantylmen that toke schyppyng to a gon
over in to Breten up on a fortnyth a goo, that is to sey, Syr
Richard Egecum, the cowntroller, Sir Roberd Clyfford, Sir
John Trobylvyll, and John Motton, sarjant porter, be a ryvyd
ageyn up on the cost of Yngland, save all only Syr Richard
Egecum, wech londyd in Breten, and ther was in a towne
callyd Morleys, wech a non up on hys comyng was besegyd
with the Frenchmen, and so skapyd hardly with hys lyff, the
wech towne the Frenchemen have gotyn, and also the town
callyd Breest; how be it the castell holdyth, as we here say.
   And ther be apoyntyd serteyn captens at thys seasun, wech
be Lord Bruke, Sir John Cheney, Sir John of Arundell, Sir
John Becham, Sir John Gray, myn broder Awdley, myn unkyll
Syr Gylberd Debnam, and Thomas Stafford, and many odyr
knytys and esqwyrys.



|p119


   And, sir, I thanke yow for the lettyr that ze sent me.
Also, syr, I have fulfyllyd myn pylgremage, thanke it be
God.
   Also, sir, we undyrstond that it is anactyd of every x.
marke of mevable goodes xxd. to the Kyng, besyd the tennyth
of every mannys londys.
   And, sir, my brodyr Heydon schall send yow the serteyn
of all odyr thyngys grawntyd at thys Parlement, for he hath
cawsed John Danyell to tery all thys day for hys letter, be
cawse he was with the Kyng at Westmestre, that he myth not
entend to wryth it tyl nyth.
   Also, sir, Master Calthorp hath payd j.C. marke to the
Kyng. Also, sir, I have delyverd the xli. to Master Hawes,
and reseywed of hym the oblygacion. Also, I have delyverd
the xxti marke to Edmund Dorman, be my brodyr Heydons
comawndment.
   No more to yow at thys tyme, but God and the Holy
Trinyte have yow in Her kepyng. And myn syster Anne,
with all the company, recomawnd hem on to yow.
   Wretyn at Lndon, the x. day of Februar.
            Be yowr servaunt,           MARGERY PASTON.



|p120


                         |r1031

         WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To hys broder, Sir John Paston, be thys letter delyvered.

[1489, March 7]   |r<b> SIR, I recomaunde me to yow, letynge yow wete that . .
 . . . . . . .
   As for my Lord Treserer, he was not with the
Kynge of all the counsell tyme, the whyche was endyd on the
iijde day of Marche. And theder come my Lorde of Northe_thombyrland
the fyrste day of Marche, and departyd the even
afore the makyng of thys letter, and hath endentyd with the
Kynge for the kepynge owt of the Schottys and warrynge on
them, and schall have large money, I can not telle the some
for certeyn.
   Also ther is an rover takyn at Brystowe, on [one] Cowper,



|p121


as I wene, and he is lyke to be hanged, and he confessythe
more of hys felawis. Also Edward Heestowe of Dovere is
apechyd of treson of many straunge poynts; and hys accuser
and he were bothe afore the Kynge, and then they were takyn
apert. And he hymselfe confessyd it that hys accusere accusyd
hym of, and many other thyngs more than he was accusyd of.
And he had many lords and gentylmen to aunswere for hys
trowthe and his demenynge afore tyme, for, as I hard sey,
bothe the Kynge in a maner, nor non of the tother lords nor
gentylmen belevyd not hys accuser, tyl that he confessyd it
hym selfe; and so he is in the Towre and lyke to be dede.
   As for the Kynges comynge into the contre. On Monday
come fortenyght he well lye at the Abbey of Stratteforde and
so to Chelmnsford, than to Syr Thomas Mongehombrey, than
to Hevenyngham, than to Colchestyr, than to Ipswyche, than
to Bery, than to Dame Anne Wyngfelds, and so to Norwych;
and there woll he be on Palme Sunday Evyn, and so tary
there all Ester, and than to Walsyngham. Wherefore ye had
nede to warne Wylliam Gogyne and hys felaws to purvey them
of wyne i now, for every man berythe me on hande that the
towne schalbe dronkyn drye as Yorke was when the Kynge
was there.
   Syr, Mayster Sampson recomaunde hym on to yow, and
he hathe sende yow a rynge be Edmonde Dorman, and besydys
that he requeryd me to wryte on to yow that it were best for
yow to purvey yow of some gentyl meny thynges ageyns the
Kyngs comyng, for suere he well brynge yow gests i now, and
therfore purvey yow theraftyr. Also he sendythe yow worde
that it is my lords mende that my syster with all other godely
folkys there abowt scholde acompeny with Dame Elsebethe
Calthrop because there is noo grete lady ther abowte ageyns
the Kyngs comyng, for my lorde hathe made grete boste of
the fayre and goode gentylwomen of the contre, and so the
Kynge seyd he wolde see them sure.



|p122


   Syr, my lorde hathe sente on to the most parte of the
gentyl men of Essex to wayte upon hym at Chelmnysford,
where as he entendythe to mete with the Kynge, and that
they be well apoyntyd, that the Lankeschere men may see
that ther be gentylmen of as grete sobestaunce that thei be
able to bye alle Lankeschere. Men thynke that ye amonge
yow wol doo the same. Your contre is gretely bostyd of, and
also the inabytors of the same. I beseche you to remembr
my hors that ye promisyd me. God kepe yow.
   Wretyn at Schene in haste, the vij. day of Marche, with
the hande of your brodyr,
                                           WYLLIAM PASTON.

                         |r1032

        THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the righte worshipfull and my righte intierly belovyd
            Sir John Paston, Knyghte.

[1489, March 12]   |r<b> RIGHTE worshipfull and righte intierly belovyd, I
commaunde me to you. And acording to the Kyng
our soverayne Lordis commaundemente late to me
addressid, I desire and pray you that ye woll in all godely
haste, upon the sighte hereof, prepare youre selfe to be in a
redinesse with as many personnes as ye herbyfore grauntid to
do the Kyng servyce in my company diffensibely arayed and
therupon so to resorte unto me in all godely haste possyble
upon a day warnyng, horsid and harnessid, to be at the
Kynges wayges. And God kepe yow.
   Writen at my castelle of Hedingham, the xij. day of
Marche.                                       OXYNFORD.



|p123


                         |r1033

       WILLIAM PASTON TO THE BAILIFF OF MAUTBY
               To the Baly of Mawlteby.

[1489]   |r<b> MAYSTER Baly, I recomaunde me on to yow, praynge
yow that ye woll sende me be Wylliam Kokkys 
berer her of, iiij. nobylles in golde, putt in to the
same boxe that thys byll is in, as thow it wer evydens; for I
have tolde the masengere that he schulde brynge me nothyng
but evydens, for he is in a manere departyng owt of my
servyse, wherfore I wold nott he knew so myche of my
counsell. And as for the remenaunte, I wellde ze schulde
kepe it tyll I come my selfe.
   And if Bayard be onsolde, I pray yow late hym be made
fatte ageyns the Kynge come in to the contre, what so ever I
pay for the kepyng of hym, and I schall wete how goode a
corser I schall be my selfe, at my comyng in to the contre, be
the grace of God, Who have yow in kepyng.
   Wretyn at Henyngham.
                Be your,                     WYLLIAM PASTON.



|p|r124


                         |r1034

        THE EARL OF OXFORD TO EDMUND PASTON
    To my right welbiloved Edmond Paston, Esquier.

[Between 1486-9]   |r<b> RIGHT welbiloved, I grete you wele. And where as
certein landes which late were the Lord Scales by
title of enheritaunce, be discendid to me, and to my
welbiloved cousin William Tyndale, it is accordid bitwixt me
and my said cousin that the profites of the said landes, shalle
neither be taken by my resceivoire nor his, but that an in_different
persone shalle take and resceive the same profittes to
the use of us bothe till suche tyme as a resonable particion
may laufully be made in that behalf. Wherfore as wele as I
my said cousin, havyng speciall confidence and trust in you,
desire and hertly pray you to take the laboure and peyn atte
oure costes and charges, to take and resceive the profites of
alle the said landes, to oure use and behofe, deliveryng alwey
the oon moyte of your receites to my resceivoure, and the
other moitee to my said cousin Tyndale, whan so ever the
said profites by you so shalle be taken and resceived. Yevyng
you full auctorite and power by this my writyng to execute
the same.
     Written atte Newe Market the vijth day of Aprill.
                                                OXYNFORD.



|p125


                         |r1035

                 THE SCALES LANDS

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> EDMUND PASTON, receyvor of the Scalys landes,
askyth to be allowed of xijli. xijs. viijd. whiche
hangith over his hede in his accompte made bifore
Robert Sharp at the Feste of the Pureficacion of our Lady
laste paste, for his costes and expenses for two yeres, as hyt
apperith in the sayde accomptes.
   Item, the sayde Edmund askyth to be allowed for his
costes and expenses of this yere, Cxviijli. iiijd., beside his
costes commynge and goynge to this accompte.
   Item, for his rewarde of the saide iij. yeres ad placitum
dominorum. Whereof ys allowed for his costes by the
comaundement of my lorde,                       xli.
   Item, allowed by the 

           Endorsed in same hand as the MS., Billa Edmundi Paston.

                         |r1036

         HENRY VII. TO THE EARL OF OXFORD

[1489, April 22]   |r<b> RIGHT trusty and entierly beloved cousin, we grete
you well. Inasmuch as it hath liked God to sende
us good tidinges oute of Bretayn, such as we dought
not but that ye be desirous to undrestonde, we wryte unto
you of them as thay be comen to our knowlage, and as
foloueth.
   The Lord Malpertuis, now late with us in ambassade from
our dere cousine, the Duchesse of Bretayne, shippid at our



|p126


porte of Dortmouth, and arrived at Saynt Powle de Lyon, in
Bretayn, on Palme Sonday, at iiij. after noone, from whens he
wrote us the disposicion and the state of the countre there,
and of the landyng and the demeanyng of oure armee. We
received his wrytyng on Monday last, at evynsong tyme; and
be cause he was of Bretayn borne, and favorable to that partie,
we ne gave such trust to his tidinges, as was thought to us
surete to wryte to you theruppon.
   This daye, aftre High Masse, comyth unto us from oute
of Bretayne forsaid, and with a new ambassade from our said
cousine, Fawcon, oon of our pursivantes, that ratifieth the
newes of the seid Lord Malpertuis, which ben these.
   After the garysson of Frenshmen in the towne of Gyng_ham
had certeinte of the landyng of our armee, thei drewe
downe the fabours of Gyngham, and made thayme mete to
defende a siege; but assone as thei undirstode that our said
armee jornayned towardes theim, thei left the same Gyngham,
where our said armee arrived the Thursday next before Palme
Sonday, and was received with procession, logged and received,
refreshed in the town iiij. dayes. And goyng towardes the
said Duchesse, thei must passe to the castell and borugh of
Monconter. In that castell was also a garnisson of Frenshe_men,
which incontinently, upon worde that our said armee
drwe towardes theym, the Frenshmen did cast downe gret
parte of the walles, and fled from thens; in that castell and
borugh our seid armee kept thair Estre. The castell of
Chawson, adjoyning nere to the towne of Saynt Bryak, was
also garnisond with Frenshmen; that castell they set on fire,
and soo fled in the townes of Henebone and Vannes were
garnisond with Frenshmen, which breke downe the walles of
the townes, and putte them selff to fligth. Th'inhabitantes a
bought Brest have layd siege therunto, and goten the Base
Courte of the Frenshmen or the departyng of our said pursi_vaunt.
The garnson of the towne of Concarnewe, which is
oon of the grettest strenghes of all Bretayn, was besieged in



|p127


like wyse, and drevyn to that necessite that thei with in
offerid, ar his said departyng, to avoyde the towne with staffe
in hande; how that is takyn, or what is more done sithens, he
cannot telle.
   Oure said cousine, the Duchesse, is in her citee of Raynes;
and our right trusti knyght and counsellour, Sir Richard
Eggecombe, there also, havyng cheeff rule abowte her; and
the Marchall of Bretayn arredieth hym to joyne with them in
alle haste with a gode band of men. Mony noble men of
that countree repair to our said armee to take their partie.
   These premisses in substaunce we have be wrytyng, aswell
from the cheff capytaynes of our said armee, as from our
comptrollour forsaid. And that our said armee, blessid be
God, hath among theyme selfe kepte such love and accorde,
that no maner of fray or debate hath bene bitwene theym
sithens the tyme of thair departing out this our Reame.
Yoven under our signed, at our castell at Hartford, the xxij.
day of Aprill.

   Syr, thys is the copye of the lettyr that the Kynge sente
my Lorde of Oxynford of tydyynges owte of Breten.
             Be yowre brodyr,                WYLLAM PASTON.

                         |r1037

       THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
   To the right worshipfull and my right welbeloved
             Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[1489, April 30]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right welbeloved, I comaunde
me to you. And for as moche as it is certeinly
unto the Kynges Grace shewed that my Lord of
Northumberland havyng the auctorite to se the Kynges



|p128


money levied in the North parties, had knowleche that cer_teyne
persones of combnes wer assembled at Topclif, and at
a nother lordship of his nygh to the same, saying that they
wolde pay no money; my seid Lord of Northumberland her_yng
therof, and that they wer but naked men, addressed hym
self towardes theym withoute eny harneys in pesible maner,
trustyng to have appeased theym. Howe be it, as hit is seid,
that he is distressed and that they have take hym or slayne
hym; whiche the Kyng entendeth to punysshe. I therfore
desire and hertely pray you in all godely haste to be with me
at Hedyngham, there for to knowe more clierly the Kynges
plesir in this behalve. Writen at Hertford the last day of
Aprile.
   Also I send to you a comyssion of licence to shepp corne,
which I pray you to do to be proclaymed in alle haste.
                                                OXYNFORD.

                         |r1038

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
   To the right worshipfull and my right welbeloved
        counceilour, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[1489, May 6]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right welbeloved counceilour, I
comaunde me to you. And where as I understand
by your wrytyng that a grete shippe is perisshed with
you in thoo parties, and that ye have ben gretely occupied
aboute the savyng of the goodes of the same; and that the
merchauntes therof ben disposed to put their wynes to sale, of
the whiche ye maye by a ton for Cs. and litel more; I may by
in this cuntrey for iiijli., wherfore if ye may by there eny
better chepe, I pray you to purveye for me, such as ye seme
necessary.
   And forsomoche as ye may nat be here with me at this
tyme, I desire and pray you to prepare and ordeyne your self



|p129


with as many men in harneys as ye godely may, to do the
Kyng service in my company, at the Kynges charge and
costes, so as ye and they may be with me at Cambrige, Ipon
Tewesday next comyng; and that ye faile nat herof, as my
right especial trust is in you.
   Writen at my castell of Hedyngham, the vj. daye of May.
                                             OXYNFORD.

                         |r1039

        WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
          To hys brodyr, Syr John Paston.

[1489, May]   |r<b> SYR, I recomaunde me on to yow. And where as ye
desyre that I schulde sende yow worde of suche tydyng
as Phylyp Lewes and Wyndesor bryngythe fro the
corte, they be come thens bothe, but we here of no tydynges
that they brynge, but that yondyr folkys abyde stylle abowte
the place where as thys onhappy dede was done, and not with
no grete nowmbyr, they sey not paste with v. or vj. C., where
they were moste. Howbeyt they have made proclamacions
in the cuntrey to mete with oder of ther affynyte as on Tues_day
last past, as it aperythe in the copy of ther proclamacion
heraftyr folowyng. Also they schewe the Kynge intendythe
to holde on hys jurney. And Phylyp Lewes is redyn ageyn
to the Kyng, and schall brynge with hym money for all ther
wages that schall be in my lordys retynew, as yow and vj. of
Syr Wylliam Bolens servauntes and od[yrs].
   Syr, Mr. Clopton sye [saw] yowre lettyr, and a seythe he
knew my lordes mende suche, that he durste not meve hym
with it. Ther was Syr Wylliam Say, but Clopton wolde not



|p130


it schulde be knowen of non other but your selfe. He sent
my lorde be a servaunt of hys xlli. to have excusyid hym, and
it wolde not be takyn, and that I mervell of. Howbeyt he
brake thus fer to my lorde; he asched hym how many he
apoyntyd yow to brynge with yow, and he answerde hym
xxti, and than he schewyd hym yowr charges that ye have had.
My lorde seyd ye myght have men a nowe, and ther wages
schal be payd for. Clopton aunswerde how that it wolde
coste yow large money, besyde ther wages, to hors them and
hernes them; and how that, to sey the trowthe, ye were not
well at ese.
   Not withstandynge all thys, my lorde wyllyd that ye
schulde come to hym to Cambryge on Tuesday at nyght, with
as many as ye myght, and ye and he schulde do well i now.
So Clopton thyngyth that and ye brynge a dosen with yow,
it is suffycyent; howbeyt that Syr Emonde Bedvngfeld, Syr
Thomas Tyrell, and Syr Ryc. Lewes have ben with my lorde,
and yche of them have offyrde to mete with my lorde at
Cambryge with xxx. men a pese of them. So I wolde not ye
schulde be to ferre undyr them; wherfor I thynke best that
ye purvey yow so as and ye schulde goo forthe yor selfe, for I
can perseve non othyr wyse.
   My bedfelawe Cornwaleys is maryed in the Northe, and
he came as yesternyght to my lorde streyt owt of the contre,
and he scheythe [showeth] non othyr wyse but as I have wretyn
here afore in thys lettyr.
   Ye schall have for yor self and for yche of your servauntes
horsyd and hernessyd xxs. in hande at Cambryge for a monthe,
and I truste we schal have done or xx. days to an ende, with
the grace of God, Who have yow in kepynge.
     At Henyngham.
                     Be your brodyr,
                                             WYLLIAM PASTON.

                 [The Rebels' Proclamacion.]

   To be knowyn to all the northe partes of England, to
every lorde, knyght, esquyer, gentylman, and yeman that they



|p131


schalbe redy in ther defensable aray, in the est parte, on
Tuysday next comyng, on Aldyrton More, and in the west
parte on Gateley More, the same day, upon peyne of losyng
of ther goodes and bodyes, for to geynstonde suche persons as
is abowtward for to dystroy oure suffereyn Lorde the Kynge
and the Comowns of Engelond, for suche unlawfull poyntes as
Seynt Thomas of Cauntyrbery dyed for; and thys to be ful_fyllyd
and kept by every ylke comenere upon peyn of dethe.

   And thys is in the name of Mayster Hobbe Hyrste, Robyn
Godfelaws brodyr he is, as I trow.

                         |r1040

      THE BISHOP OF DURHAM TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshypful sire, and my right trusty and right entierly
             wel beloffyd freynde, Sire John Paston, Knyght.

                         IH. Xps.

[1490, Jan. 27]   |r<b> RYGHT wortchipful sire, and myne especial and of long
tyme apprevyd, trusty and feythful frende, I in
myne hertyeste wyse recommaunde me un to you.
And for as myche as I hafe coles and odyr thynges in thise
parties, and also ye hafe in those parties cornes, wyne, and
wax, and as I am enfourmyd ye be noght evyl wyllyd to
dele with me, no more than I am to dele with you in utter_yng,
and also in receyvyng of suche thynges, the whiche
myght be to the profete of us bothe, I ther fore send un to
you at thys tyme thys berer, William Walkere, gentylman
usshere of my chamber, to commune with you herein, so that
by delyberation suche a wey may be takyn in thys byhalfe as
may be to the profete of either of us, and wher by our
familiarite and frendeship may be encrescyd in tyme to cum.
Where un to for our old acquayntance to gedyr, ye shal fynde
me ful redy after my powere, by the grace of our Lorde,



|p132


Who ever kepe you, and send you myche worship and long
prosperite.
   Scribyllyd in the moste haste, at my castel or manoir of
Aucland, the xxvij. day of January 1489.
             Your own trewe luffer and frende,
                                              JOHN DURESME.

                         |r1041

         LUMEN HARYSON TO [SIR JOHN PASTON]

[About 1490 |r(?)]   |r<b> ONERABYLL and well be lovyd knythe, I commend
me on to zour masterchepe and to my lady zowyr
wyffe. I thanke zowyr mastyrchepe that ze have
don for me. I sen my lady a lytyll pes of Renysch wyne of
the best, of x. gallons, and halfe a hondyrd orrygys. I schall
send hyr mor a geyns Pencost that sche may have fresche.
And Renold have not gyve me the to nobyls and xljd., that ze
told me off for the wyne. And my servys be nyzt and be day
to zowr commawndment. Zyff zowyr mastyrchep wyll ony
thyng wyth me, I xall be at Cley. No more than God be
wyth zow.
   Wrytyn up on the Tuysday aftyr Palme Sonday.
                                          LUMEN HARYSON.
                                       At zowyr comawndment.



|p133


                         |r1042

       SIR JOHN PASTON TO [LORD FITZWALTER]

[About 1490 |r(?)]   |r<b> HUMBLY besecheth your good lordshepe, your dayly
servaunt and beedman, John Paston, more kayteff
than knyght, that it may please you of your specyall
grace to dyrect ought your lettres, sygned with your hand and
sealid with your seall, to the dreedfull man, Jamys Radcliff of
Byllingforth, Sqwyer, fermour of your wareyn ther, ought of
wheys wareyn no maner of man nor vermyn dare take on
hym, for dought of your seyd dredfull [man], to take or carye
awey eny of your game ther, for fere [of being] hangyd up
among other mysdoers and forfaytours, as wesellis, lobsters
[stoats], polkattys, bosartys [hawks], and mayne currys, -- that
the seyd Jamys shall, upon the syght of your seyd wryghtyng,
delyver, or cause to be delyverd, to your seyd besecher or to
hys depute, delyverer of your seyd lettres, at hys fyrst syght
of the same, vj. coupyll blake conyes or rennyng rabbettys, or
some blake and some whyght to the seyd nombre, to store
with a newe grownd of your seyd besechers at Oxenhed, more
lyeke a pynnefold than a parke. And your seyd besecher
shall daylye prey to God for the preservacyon of your noble
estate longe t'endure.



|p134


                          |r1043

         THE EARL OF SURREY TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To my right worshipfull cousine, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[1490, or later]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull cousine, in right harty wyse I com_maunde
me unto you. And where I understand by
Thomas Hartforde, a bower of Norwiche, berer herof,
hath been putt to grete vexacion and trouble by oon Thomas
Hogan, scomaker, of Norwiche, and that I perceyve ye have
harde the matier depending in travers bitwixt the saide parties;
I therfore desire you that, in the right of the forsayd Thomas
Hartford, ye wolbe unto hym gode maistir, and the bettir for
this myn instaunce, as my singler trust is in you.
   And where I conceyve also that the same Thomas is noysed
in Norffolk for a Scotesman borne, ye shall understande that I
perceyve wele, by suche honest folkes as I have hard speke
within the citie of York, that the saide Thomas was borne
their, and his fathir there inhabityng, and his god fathirs and
mothers, the which bee right honest persones; and for that
this is true, and not feyned, ye shall understand the Maiour
of the citie of York and his brethern hath made grete instaunce
unto me to writ for the saide Thomas, for whom I must nedes
do, because thaye arre my nye neighbours, as our Lord
knoweth, Who have you in His blissid saufegard.
     Written in the castell of Shirethoton, the xxiiijth day of
Aprill.
              Your lovyng cousin,               THOMAS SURREY.



|p135


                         |r1044


      THE EARL OF SURREY TO SIR JOHN PASTON
  To my right worshipfull Cousin, Sir John Paston.

[1490, or later]   |r<b> COUSIN Paston, in my most herty wyse I recomaund
me unto you, and thank you for many kindnesses of
tyme past, and also for that ye have bene so good maister
unto my sarvaunt William May, and now at his comyng to me
ye have at your greate coste sent him to me dressed in suche
wise as is veray necessary for me to have men appareled; for
the whiche your kindnesse I think myselfe right muche
beholden to do you pleasure and it moght lye in my power,
which I wuld right gladly do, as knoweth our Lord, whom I
beseche to send you moche harte pleasure. Wreten at Sherif_hoton,
the vjth day of July, with the hand of
           Your lovyng Cousin,              THOMAS SU[RREY].

                         |r1045

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipfull and my right intierly welbelovyd
       counsellour, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[1491 |r(?), March 27]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right intierly welbelovyd coun_cellour,
I commaund me hertely to you. And
forasmoche as for certayne especiall causes moving,
there be sessions appoynted to be holden at Gyppiswiche, the



|p136


Friday sevenyght aftre Estre, which shall be the xv. day of
Aprile, where I purpose then certaynly to be, and to have
aswell the matere by twene Sir Edmounde Benyngfeld and
Yelverton there to be harde and commenyd, as diverse othre
grete maters in that contrey necessary to be had in comynyca_cion;
I therfor desire and pray you that ye fayle nat to be
there the same day, bryngyng with you the forseide Yelverton,
trusting that ther suche direccion shall be takyn in that matere
as can be thought resonable, and to the weale of the parties;
nat doubting but that Sir Edmound Benyngfeld shall be there
in like wise. And Almyghty God kepe you.
   Wretin at my castell of Hedingham, the xxvij. day of
Marche.
                                                  OXYNFORD.

                         |r1046

          HENRY VII. TO THE EARL OF OXFORD

[1491, April 6]   |r<b> RYGHT trusty and ryght welbelovyd cousyn, we grete
yow well, &c. In that ye desyer all the dogers
[fishing smacks] of thos partes schuld have our licens
to departe in the viage towardes Islond, as they have ben
accustommyd to do yerly in tyme passyd, and that ye woll
undertak they shall have with them no more quantites of
graynes then woll only suffice for ther vitallyng and expensis;
we late yow witte that owr fully interly belovyd cousyn the
Kyng of Demarke hath showyd and compleynyd un to us by
dyverse his letters, that when our subjectes come to the seid
Islelond, beyng in hys obeissiance, they stelle, robbe, and
exstorte his subjectes ther ageynse ryght and conciens. Wher_fore,
the seyd doggeres fyndyng sufficient surte be forne yow,
such as ye will answer unto us, that they shall not have with
them no graynes mo then shall only suffice for ther vitallyng,



|p137


nor odyr thyng woth them that ys for bedyn, and that also
they shall not in goyng, comyng, nor in ther beyng at the seyd
Islond, take noo thyng but that they treuly pay or agre for,
and frendly entrete our seyd cousyns subjectes withowth eny
robbyng or exstartyng them in there bodyes ner goodys; we
be content the seyd doggeres make ther viages thedyr at ther
libertes, eny our wrytyng or comandment mad in to the con_trary
nat withstandyng; and ellys we woll that our restraynte
of ther thedyr goyng stond styll in his strenthe and vertu.
   Yovyn ondir our signet, at our maner of Shene, the vjth
day of Aprile.

   JOHN VER, Erle of Oxynford, Gret Chambyrleyn and
Admirall of Ynglond, Viscount Bulbek, and Lord Skalys, to
all them that this present writyng shall see or here, gretyng.
And for asmuch as I late have recevyd the Kyng our Sovereyn
Lords letters, beryng date the vjth day of this monyth of
Aprile, accordyng to a copy of the same, signyd with myn
hand, wiche my ritht trusty servant, John Rowe, Marchall of
my Admyralite, hath for to showe;
   Know ye that I, the seyd Erle and Admirall, have assygned
and deputyd my seyd servant to see our seyd Sovereyn Lordes
lettyrs pleynly executyd acordyng to the tenure of the same,
and by thys present wrytyng have yevyn to hym full autoryte
and pouer to put undyr arest all such doggeres as be dysposyd
to mak the viage towardes Islond, to such tyme as they have
fownd surte afor me, accordyng to owr seyd Sovereyn Lordys
comandment, for ther demenyng in the seyd viagys.
   Yovyn under myn signett and signee manuell, the xth day
of Aprile the vj. yere of the reygne of our seyd Sovereyn Lord
Kyng Henry the vijth



|p138


                         |r1047

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
  To the right worshipfull and my right welbeloved
             Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[1491 |r(?), July 31]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right welbeloved, I comaunde me
to you. And where as I late receyved your wrytyng,
beryng date the xxvj. day of this present monthe, by
the whiche I understand that one Richard Calle toke certeyne
men of werre robbyng upon the coste there; and in somoche
as I understand that they be under the obeissaunce of the
Kyng of Denmarke, I wolle and desyre you that ye delyver
theym unto the seid Richard Calle to take his avauntage of
theym as prisoners, seyng my dutee reserved in every thyng,
as my trust is in you. And Almyghty God kepe you.
   Writen at my castell of Hedyngham, the last day of Jule.
                                                    OXYNFORD.

                         |r1048

     THE OLD AND NEW BAILIFFS OF YARMOUTH
                 TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To oure right reverent and worshipfull and special good
                maister, Maister Paston.

[1491, (Sept.)]   |r<b> RIGHT reverent and worshipfull sir, and oure veray
lovyng and curteys good mayster, we recomaund us
on to you in as feythefull wyse as on oure part aper_teynith;
and hertely we thanke you for your labour and letter,



|p139


whiche ye sent to us be your servaunt, be the whiche we wer
asserteynid of the Kynges pleasure, and to acomplyshe the
same, we with the assistens of youre maistirship wyll put us in
oure devoir.
   We were at your manoir of Castir to have sen your
maistirshyp, but ye were departyd as well from Yermouth
yistirday, as this day from Castre. We wold have ben joyous
to have seen your maistirship, if our fortune so had ben.
   Sir, we be enfourmyd that ore old special good Lord of
Oxford, in whom we founde as gret favour be the mediacion
of your maystirship, as ever we had of any creature, as we have
wryting to shewe, in recumpens of whiche at all tymes sethyn
hise lordshyp hathe had our preyeris; and now we wold have
waytid upon hise lordshyp, but your maystirship knowith well
we may not be absent on Mychilmesse Day for dyverse con_sederacions.
Wherfore we beseke your good maystirshyp, ye
lyke of your jentilnesse, to recomaund us unto our seyd good
lord, and to make our exkuse to hym, and to do hyse lord_shyp
[to be] presentyd with a porpeyse, whiche we send yow
be the brynger of thys; and if we had any othyr deyntes to
do hym a pleasure, we wold, that knowyth God, Whom we
beseke of Hyse infenit mercy to preserve the Kyng our
Soverayn Lord, and oure seyd good lord, and you, and all the
frutys of you from all adversite.
                       Youre loveres and bedmen, the old
                           Baliffes of Yermouth, and the newe
                           Balyffes that now shalbe.



|p140


                         |r1049

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipfull and my right intierly welbelovyd
            counceillor, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[About 1491 |r(?), Oct. 20]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right intierly welbelovyd coun-ceillor,
I comaund me to you. And where as I late
have receyved your writing, wherby I . . . .
. . the demeanyng of Richard Barkeley and his shipp as
other, I have ta . . . . . . . . of hym to be redy
at all tymes to answer to all suche thynges as can be I . . .
. . . . . . he demeanyng. I woll therfor that ye suffre
hym, his men and shippys, . . . . . . . . d as for
a last of hering and an half, whiche I undirstond by hy . .
. . . . of his, I woll that ye delyver hit to the countroller
of my howshold. A . . . . . . . o put undyr
suertie all suche hering so takyn or revid by the carveyll of
. . . . . . . any other. And God kepe you.
   Wretin at Melford, the xx. day of Octobre.

   And where as I am enformyd that ye take hym nat for
my servaunt, and so he ys noysed in the contrey ther, I woll
that hit be knowin that I take hym as my servaunt, and so
will do as long as I know no cause of the contrary.
                                                OXYNFORD.



|p141


                         |r1050

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipfull and my right intierly welbelovyd
        councellour, Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[About 1491 |r(?), Oct.]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right intierly welbeloved coun_cellour,
I comaund me to you. And where as I
undirstond, by your writing to me delyverid by this
berar, the roborye and dispoyling of certayn Corvers of
Holond and Selond, done by the shipp callyd the Foole, wherof
Robert Spenser was maister, aswell in herryng, vitayle, and
takelyng, as ye be enfourmyd by iij. personnys of the same
shippe, and of th'entent and disposicion of the master and
feleshyp of the same, whiche shewe, as ye write, that Barkeley,
aswell with that shipp as with a prise that he hathe bought,
late takyn of the Frenchemen, were disposid and determenyd
to do myche harme, wherupon ye have indevorid you to breke
the same; how be hit that the seid Barkeley hath be late with
me, and found suertie in a Cli. to answer to all suche demean_yng,
when he shall be callyd; and therupon I wrote to you to
suffre hym, his men, and shippis to departe at libertie; yet
nevyrtheless, concidering your large writing, I can nat be
content in my mynde to suche tyme as I may here bothe you
and Barkeley to geder; willing therf[or that ye do] kepe the
shippys and goodes in suertie, and to be with me your selfe
. . . . . . . . well may, bringyng with you suche
iij. personnys as have . . . . . . . . . certaynte
of this mater; and so I have wretin to Barkeley . . . . .
se to answer to the same. And God kepe you.
   Wretin . . . . . . . of Octobre.

     Also yf the be eny of the Duchemen . . . . . .
. . any sute for ther gode, that ye then cause one of . .
. . . . . to shewe and clayme ther owne.
                                                  OXYNFORD.



|p142


                         |r1051

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipfull and my right welbeloved counceilour,
               Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[About 1491 |r(?), Oct. 28]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right welbeloved counceilour, I
comaunde me to you. Certifieint you that I wolde
have be right glad to have had you, the iij. persones
that enformed you of Berkeleys demenyng, and Berkeley to_geder,
to th'entent that I myght have had ripe knowleche of
their demenyng, to have shewed the Kynge at my comyng
unto His Grace. Nevertheles, sith I understand by your late
wrytyng, to me brought by the seid Berkeley the xxviij. day
of this present monthe, beryng date the Monday next before
Seynt Symond Day and Jude, that ther is nat so grete defaute
in the same Berkeley as ye by your former writinges to me
sent wend [thought] ther had be, and that the defaute, if eny
be, is in one Spenser, maister of the shippe belongyng to the
seid Berkeley, and that ye thynke also that such suretee as I
have take of the same Berkeley is sufficient inogh, better or
more than nedeth for that cause, and that in your mynde ye
thynke he woll be of gode guydyng and demenyng in tyme
comyng; I woll and desire you that ye delyver hym his
shippes, men, and goodes, accordyng to my first wrytyng to
you sent in that behalve. And Almyghty God kepe you.
   Writen at my castell of Hedingham, the xxviij. day of
Octobre.                                          OXYNFORD.



|p143


                         |r1052

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To my righte trusty and righte welbelovyd counceillours,
       Sir Rauff Shelton and Sir John Paston, Knyghtes.

|r[Year_uncertain]   |r<b> RIGHTE trusty and righte welbelovyd counceillours, I
comaunde me to you. And ffor as moche as one
Thomas Charlys of Norwiche late hathe presentid
unto me a bille of complaynte agaynste Symonde White,
gentylman, dwellyng in Shotesham, shewing by the same suche
wrongis as the saide Symonde hathe done and daily dothe to
the saide Thomas, as by the saide bille, whiche I sende you
with this, more playnely apperith; I therfor desire and pray
you that ye woll do calle the saide parties byfore you, and
upon due examinacion had upon the mater conteyned in the
saide bille, ye take suche direction as may acorde with righte
and gode consciens, so as the saide Thomas Charlis heraftur
have no cause to resorte to me complaynyng. And Almightie
God kepe you.
   Writen at my castelle of Hedingham, the xv. daye of
Septembre.                                         OXYNFORD.

                         |r1053

       WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To the ryght worchepfull Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[1492, Feb. 18]   |r<b> AFTYR all dew recomendacion, lyke it yow to undyr_stond
that Syr Herry Heydon schewyd me that it is
agreyd be Syr Edmond Bedyngfeld, that the mater
betwyx hym and my brodyr Yelverton schalbe comynd at



|p144


Norwyche, and there a dyreccion to be takyn in the same
mater, mete for them bothe.
   Syr, the Kyng sendythe ordynaunce dayly to the see syde,
and hys tentes and alys [pavilions] be a makyng faste, and
many of them be made; and there is also grete provysyon
made be gentylmen that scholde goo wythe Hys Grace or
hors, harnese, tents, halys, gardyvyans [knapsacks], cartes, and
othyr thynges that scholde serve them for thys jurney that the
Kynge entendythe to take on hand, soo that belykelyod Hys
Grace wolbe goyng sone upon Ester. And so I entende, aftyr
that I here heaftyr, to goo to Caleys to purvey me of harneys,
and suche thynges as I schall nede besydes hors, undyr that
forme that my costes schalbe payd fore.
   Syr, I am as yet no bettyr horsyd thar I was whan I was
wythe yow, nor I wote not where to have none, for hors
flesche is of suche a price here that my purce is schante [scarce]
able to bye one hors; wherfor I beseche yow to herkyn
[hearken] for some in yowre contre. Syr, my cosyn, John
Heydon, tolde me that the Prior of Waburnes horse was rially
amendyd, and that the Abott of Seynt Benetes schewed hym
there was a bay hors of a persons nyght onto Seynt Benetis,
and that the abot wolde gete hym for my cosyn Heydon at a
resonable price. Syr, my cosyn, John Heydon, woll geve me
hys entrest in that hors, if the abot have bowght hym, and so ye
may lete the abot have knowlege; and if he have not bowght hym,
I beseche yow sende to see hym, for I wote not how to do with_owt
yowre helpe aswell in horsyng of me as in other thynges.
   At the makyng of thys lettyr, I cannot acerteyn yow what
person it is that owythe thys hors. If I can know, I wolle
send yow worde in a bylle I sende to Thomas Jullys be the
berer herof.
   Syr, as towardes my jurney to Caleys, the whyche I entende
[intended] to have tane at my laste beyng with yow, it was so,
I was dysapoyntyd of Thomas Dey and an other man I scholde
have had be hys menys, as ye have had knowlege of or now;
and also I had went [thought] to have had folkys a mette with
me at Hedyngham, whyche ded nott. My lorde, seyng me



|p145


dysesyd, and also none otherwyse purveyd, wyllyd me in ony
wyse to tary on tyl hys comyng to London, and sent myn
excuse to my Lorde Dawbeney undyr thys forme how that I
was sore disesyd; notwythestondyng I was welewyllyd to have
come to fulfyll my promesse, but he cowde not sofyr me,
seyng me soo dysesyd; and so my Lord Dawbeney was sory
of my dysese and content that I taryd.
   Syr, I beseche yow to holde me excusyd for kepyng of
Thomas Lynsted, yowr servaunt, and hym bothe. It is soo
that he and I bothe have ben in hand with my unkyll for hys
mater, and yett wee have hym at noo good poynt; but I
troste we schall have. Syr, if I take thys jurney to Caleys, I
moste beseche yow to forbere hym lenger, and if I goo not to
Caleys, thow I be lothe to forbere hym, yet I schall brynge
hym with me schortly in to Norfolke, ye to have hym, if ye
lyste, with the grace of God, Who have yow in kepyng.
   Wretyn at London, the xviij. day of February, with the
hande of yowre pore brodyr,
                                             WYLLIAM PASTON.

                         |r1054

      ROGER L'ESTRANGE TO SIR JOHN PASTON
  To the ryth worchypfull Syr John Paston, Knyth,
                  be thys delyveryd.

[1492, April 16]   |r<b> MASTYR PASTON, I recomawnd me to yow. Syr,
so it is that I am not yet purveyd of men to my
nowmbyr of archers, suych as chold go hovyr see
with me; wer for, syr, I be ceche yow that it wold plese yow
at thys tyme to do so mych for me as to a purveyd me of ij.
or iij., such as ye thynk chold be for me.
   Syr, I undyrstond Syr Tery Robstertt lyth but lyttyll



|p146


from yow, were, as I trow, he myde help me of j. by yowyr
menys, and as for ther wages, they xall have the Kynges wages
and some what elles, so that I trost that they xall be plessyd.
Syr, I be cech yow to tak the peyne for me at thys tyme, and
I xall do yow that servys that lyth in me, by the grace of
Jesu, Ho preserve you.
   On Monday next aftyr Palme Sonday, by yowyr howne to
hys pouyr,                               ROGER LESTRAUNGE.

   Syr, I be sech yow that thys byll may recomawnd me on
to my lady, and I trost I xall a wayt on you sone on Estyr.

                         |r1055

         WILLIAM BARNARD TO WILLIAM PASTON
To his right wurchipfull master, William Paston, and Mr. Deryk
     dwellyng with my Lord of Oxinford, this lettir be delyyvered
     in hast.

[About 1492]   |r<b> RIGHT wurchipfull Maister William Paston, with myn
good Lord of Oxinford, and myn welbelovyd Mr.
Deryk, I recomaund me on to you. And it is soo
that I kepe a prisoner of my lordis to answer to William
Greve, maryner of Gret Yermouth, the wiche he brought
hym to me by my lordis auctorite of a warand from Bell
Key; and the seid William Greve chargid me with his
prisoner, named Phillyp Barbour, and chargid me with hym
for xli., and so I kepe hym, and have kept hym this ij. yer
and an half. And I have aftyr and many tymes askyd and
requyred of the seid William Greve of mony for his bord, for
he promysid and appoynted with me for every weke ijs., and I
to take charge for to answer hym of hys prysoner aforseid;



|p147


and so I have be chargith with hym ij. yeris and an half to my
gret cost and charge, and nowh the seid William Greve in_tendith
to pay me noon mony, butt he is a bowght to remeve
the prysoner by a pryvy seall to abarre me from myn mony.
Wher I am enformyd that noon prysoner of my lordis shuld
nat be remevyd out of my lordis pryson, nor crafftid so out
of pryson till he had answerd ther to seche causes as he lyth
fore, and specially for alle suche costis and chargis as his kepar
is charged for hym for his costis of exspensis; and that doon,
I woll be redy to delyver hym to the seid William Greve [to]
pay me for his costis as it shalbe demyd with reason. Be_sechynd
and prayeng you bothen too to be so good ma[istris
unto] me that ye woll shewe this mater on to my lord, and
to knowe my lordis meend whedyr it shall please hym that I
shall delyver hym by a pryvy seall in this causis or nay, for
the bryngar herof is the prysoner. And if it be my lordis
mend that the prysoner shall appere to that pryvy seall, that
it woll plese my lord to be so good and gracyous lord on
to the prysoner to send hym to his councell to London, to
tendyr this mater for the pore prysoner, and to consydre the
gret losse that the seid William Greve intendith to putto his
servaunt William Barnard, marchall and kepar of [my] lordis
gayle in Yermouth, and servaunt [to?] Robert Crowmer,
depute for my lord in the partyes of Norffolk and Suffolk.
I shuld a browte up my silf, but we be now in gret besynes
in kepyng of my lordis honorabyll courtis in Norffolk and
Suffolk.
     Wretyn the last day of Aprill.
                                   By your, WILLIAM BARNARD,
                                   that I can or may.



|p148


                         |r1056

         EDMUND PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To the ryght wurshupfull Sir John Paston, Knyghtt,
                 be this delyvered.

[Before 1493]   |r<b> RYGHT wurshypfull Sir, I recomawnd me to zow. As
zesterday I was with my cosyn Clere;  he lythe at
Borow, and my mastres hys wyveffe, be cause the
plage reygnyth at Ormysby. And so of hys own mocyon he
mevyd to me of the maryage of my nevew zour soon, and as
glad foolkes woold be to bargayn as ever ze wyste, and soo
hathe shewyd me that ze shuld have as myche as Sir E.
Bedyngfelld, whyche was v. C. marke. Moore over he
shewyd that he woold depart with it to Sir Roger T. or to
Harry Colett, whyche he shewyd ze woold not of, but to
have the mony at zour dysposyssyon; and me semys be hys
report that he knowyth well that yf ze delle with Sir H. H.,
he wyll be in a suerte that the mony that he shuld depart with
shuld goo to the redemyng of zour landes, and other zowr
dawngeres. More over he shewyd me that the mony whyche
ze skyftyd of H. Colett was th[oug]ht be Sir Harry H. that
Sir R. Townesend shuld have ben contentte with it, whyche is
knowyn the contrary, and causyd hym to geve delay in that be
halffe to zow. I know well this jantylman berythe zow as
good mynde as any man alyve, my mastres hys mother, and
allso my mastres hys wyve in lyeke wyesse; and me semys he



|p149


makys not the dowghttes to delyver zow hys mony that other
men do of the delyverye of thers. Foor trowthe, he shewythe
me hys mynde, whyche is thus: yf ze wyll putt lande in feffe_ment
for zeres, to the full contentacyon of Townesend, Colett,
and of my uncle, whyche he and all men thynke ze muste be
charged to, or ever ze goo thorow, and that zour next frendes
have the receyte of it tyll it be full contente and payed, thus,
or suche a suer weye to be had for the well of all parteys, I
darre say he is not alyve wyll indevour hym with better wyll
to deele with zow, and, as my mynde servys me, streytte hym_sylffe,
as it may be booryn, be syde my mastes hys modyrs v.
C. My mastres hys wyffe, on my feythe I darr say, the moste
harty body to zow wordes in this be halffe that is alyve, and
the fayneeste body woold be to have it accomplyshyd.
   Syr, I thenke ze be to wardes London, and well I woot
zowre mynde is to ease zour sylffe as hastely as ze may; I
pray God ze do to zour honur, and to zour moste well to
gederys.
   Marchandes or new jantylmen I deme wyll proferr large;
noon other dyspreysed, ze know the contynewance of this
man, and how he is alyed. Well I woott yf ze depart to
London, ze shall have proferes large; yf zour jornay be not
but to ease yow in that be halfe, be my poor avyce slake for iij.
or iiij. days, for ever me semys I shuld not have ben brokyn
to so largely, but that they entende it hastely to say to zow.
Sythe I was ther, I undyr stande yf it had not happyd me to
have seyne them as zester day, she wold this day have made
her cowntenance to have seyn her nes, Bothas |r(?) dowter,
wyche is at Pallynges for fere of the plage, and have comyn
seyne [come and seen] my wyffve, and specyally to have de syrid
us to meve zow towardes them, and in trowthe so she hasse.
   I pray God ze do as well to zour honur as I woold do my
sylfe. Yf ze wyll tery thys lytell season be foor rehersyd, yf
ze lyste, I woott well ze may have the mater moor largely
comyned; and yf ze tary tyll Monday, I wyll awayte on zow
to Hynengham, with Godes grace, Who ever preserve zow and
zours.
                   Your,                         E.PASTON.



|p150


                         |r1057

       SIR HENRY HEYDON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To myn ryght worchypfull cosyn, Sir John Paston, knyght.

[1488-92, March 4]   |r<b> COSYN Paston, I recommend me to you and wn to
myne good ladie your wiff. As for your mater
betwyx you and your wncle, I have shewid it soe to
my ladie of Norffolk and to hym, that it is agreed yee to
entre in to Marlyngford and all other maners in debate in
your name, and to kepe your courtes, sell your wodis, and to
doo therwith as with your own. Wherupon I avise you, as
soone as ye may, send som discrete man to kepe your courtis
and to lette your fermys and selle your wodis to your most
avayll. Your presens theer shall bee costly, and what is bee
heende in the fermourz or tenauntz handez sethyn the reken_yng
last be ffor myne ladiez servauntz and yourz, that thei
bee warnyd kurtesly to paie it by a day, except in ony wise I
avyse you nat to make ony thretis to ony fermour or tenaunt,
for ony dealing affor this tyme, but to gett in fayernesse till I
speke with you; and in ony wyse that yee nor ony your ser_vauntz
have noon wordis in this mater, but that it is agreed
bee myne ladie you to have your peasebill possession. And
as for Huntingffeldis, as yee have beffore ocupyed, ocupie
still without noyse. I pray you folowe myne avise in this.
I have hadde laubour, I trust thorowe your cause it shall nat
be in vain laboraverunt, and suffyr this bill hyddyr too to
speke to your sellf in privite, and to noon other. How yee
and myne ladie, and in what sylk or clooth yee will have
these tweyn yong innocentis maried inne, iff it shuld bee pur_veyed



|p151


veyed at London to send me word, or ellys at Norwich, as it
shall please you and myne ladie, ther after I shall applie me.
For it must bee ordyrd be you in the yong husbondis name.
Your penauns off your wncles mater shall yee knowe whan I
kom hoome. Ther is non other meane but to sell your wodis
and tymber in all your manors to your most avayll, except
theere as it kan nat bee forborn for diverse causys. And iff
you list to command mee ony thyng in these partyez, send me
word be myn servaunt, berer heerof.
   Wretin the iiijth day off March. -- Your own to his powr,
                                                     H.HEYDON.

                         |r1058

          SIR T.LYNG TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To my rigth wurchypful master, Sir John Paston, Knyth, in hast.

[1494, Nov.]
   MEMORANDUM, that thes be the namys that war
mad Knytes of the Bath, the Thwrsday be for
Alhalow Day.

     Fyrst, My Lord Herry, Duke of Yorke.
     My Lord Haryngton, Lord Marcas sun.
     My Lord Clyfford.
     My Lord Fyvaren.
     My Lord Dakyr of the Sowth.
     My Lord Strange. Lord Stranges sun.
     Sir John Arundell of the West.
     Sir Water Grefyth of Lonkaschyre.
     Sir Jarveys a Clyffton of Yorkechyre.
     Sir Roberd Harcorth of the West.
     Sir Edmund Trayford.
     Sir Herry Marney of Esexe.



|p152


     Sir Roger Newborow.
     Sir Raff Rither of Yorkechyre.
     Sir Thomas Bawd of Harforth chyre.
     Sir John Speke.
     Sir Houmfrey Fulford.
     Sir Roberd Lytton.
     Sir Pers Egecome.
     Sir Roberd Clere.
     Sir Thomas Fayrefaxe.
     Sir Richard Knythley.
     Sir Wyllem Cheke.

   Also Master Robert Southwell is Hey Schreve of Nor_ffolke.
   Memorandum, that saforn is at xvjs. jli. the lowest price.
Also, the Kynge and the Qwene went crowned on Halow_messe
Day last; and my Lord of Schrewsbery bare my Lord
Harry, Duke of Yorke, in hys harmys; and x. byschopis, with
myters on ther hedes, goyng be for the Kyng that day rownd
a bowt Westmynster Hawle, with many odyr gret astates.
   Sir, ther hath be so gret cownsell for the Kynges maters,
that my Lord Chawnsler kept not the Ster Chawmber thys
viij. days, but one day at London, on Sent Lenardes Day.
                   Be yowre pore prest and servaund,
                                         SIR T.LYNG.

     The lowest pryse of saforn is xvjs.
     Item, the Knytes of the Bath.
     Item, the Knytes of the Schyre.
     Item, of recordes a yenst me.
     Syr, ther hath record a yenst me, Syr John Seyve, Vecry of
Barton, John Anond, Richard Elwyn of Wytton, John Bowlond
of Totyngton, sumnor, whech arne all forsworyn on the
Crwsifyxe a yenst me.



|p153


                         |r1059

         THE CORPORATION OF YARMOUTH TO
                    SIR JOHN PASTON
 To our right honorable and especyall good maister, Ser
John Paston, Knyght, this letter be delyvered in hast.

[1495, July 11]   |r<b> RIGHT wurchipfull ser, we recomaund us onto your good
maistership, sertefyeng you that Robart Albon of
Yermouth with many more of our neybors, this Sater_day
arn comen hom from Caunterbury. And Robart Albon
hath spokyn with the English captayns of the Kynges rebellys
ther, part of theym that arn takyn; and Robart Albon and his
company seith that ther wer takyn and slayn to the noumbre of
vijxx., wherof were v. captayns, iiij. of them he named, oon
Mounford, Whyght, Belt, and Corbett: he coude nott telle
the fyfft capteyns name. And they told hym that they have
apoynted to have a town of strength, for they wold an had
Sandwich, and the countre had nott a resistid them. And so
Belt seid on to Robart Albon he wyst weell that he was but a
deed man, and for asmoche as he wist that he was of Yermouth,
he shewid hym that they woll have Yermouth or they xall dye
for it, as Robart seyth to us.
   And this is a mater of trewth, and therfore we desyre and
pray your good maistership, that we may have your myghty
help of ayde and socowr, and that it woll please you to comon
with Maister Mayer of Norwiche, to meve hym of hys sokour,
but in especyall that we may have your maistership amongs us,
with suche strength of your good councell, as your maistership
shall thynk most best for the Kynges pleasur, and for the
sewyrtye of us alle; for we putt us in devyr to furnysh the
town with all that we can doo, for we know noon oder but
that they may be here by possybylyte this nyght or to morow



|p154


att nyght at the ferdest. No more to you, but Jesu preserve
you.
     Wretyn at Yermouth, in hast, this Saterday, the xj. day of
July.
                              Be your owyn, the Balyffes of Yer_mouth,
                                 with our Brethern and
                                 Comons of the same Town.

                         |r1060

        ROBERT CROWMER TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To my right especyall and syngler good maister, Ser
     John Paston, Knyght, this letter be delyvered.

[1495, July 12]   |r<b> WURCHIPFUL ser, I recomaund me on to you.
Maister Balyffes, with alle myn Maisteris of the
town of Yermouth, thankith you hartilly, and
trustyng feythfully of your ayde and comford at neede; and
if any suche cause happith with us, they woll feythfully send
you word in all the hast possyble, up on the syght of the
shippis.
   Ser, ferdermor, ther is a ship of our town come hom from
Seint John of Amyas, and he seyth that on Seint Thomas Day
ther came to Seint Wallrens, in Normandie, an hoye of Dor_deryght,
with viij. horsis, with many saddilles and brydilles;
ther in wer viij. or ix. Englysh men, the wiche toke the
shippes boot, and went on lond at Staplis, and arn renne a
wey up in to the cuntre. And the Admiralles Depewty
sesonyd the ship and hors, and all that they found ther in,
to the Kyng our soverayn Lordes behooff; and the Duche
men were leyde in pryson. This is a mater of trowth, for



|p155


William Carre of our town, maryner, and oder of our town,
see this doon in deed. And as for the shippes with the
Kynges rebellars, they be furth out of Cambyr westwards;
whyder they be, thei can not sey, but the Duche men seid to
William Carre that they trustid on one man shuld help them
with many men. Thes is suche tydynges as the Amyas men
brout hom.
   Ser, if it woll please your maistership that ye myght have
leyser, I desyre and pray you to come sporte you, and to see
how weell we have appareld and furnyshid our town, I wold
be right gladd, and I trust to Almyghty God that it wold
please your maistership right weell, and with your betyr
advyce we woll doo more to our power, that knowith God,
the wiche Lord preserve you.
   Wretyn at Yermouth, on Relyk Sonday.
               By your servaunt,          ROBART CROWMER.

                         |r1061

         ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO
          SIR WILLIAM KNIVET AND OTHERS
To my ryght entyerly and welbelovid frendes, Sire William
   Knevette, Sire John Paston, Sire Robert Clere, Knyghtes, the
   Kynges Attorney, Phelippe Calthorpe, Richard Suthwell,
   Squyers, and to yche of theym.

           ELIZABETH, DUCHESSE OF NORFFOLK.

[1495, Sept. 14]   |r<b> RIGHT entyerly welbelovyd frendys, I comaunde me to
you. And for as moche as I understande that Sire
Harry Grey, that is the verry owner and possessioner
of the maner of Ketryngham, is nowe in gret age, and as it is



|p156


seide, of right seekely disposicion, and that after his deceasse
the right and title therof shall of right belonge to my right
welbelovid servaunt Thomas Martyn, and his nevewe and
heyre of blood, and his eyre therof by reason of entaylys: --
What the seid Sire Harry entendith to do therin, I knowe
not, but it rennyth in reporte, that he is in purpose to dis_herite
the seid Thomas Martyn therof, contrary to all right
and good conscience. In eschuenge wherof, I desire and pray
you as hertely as I can, that it wull leeke you to be so good
maistyrs to the seid Thomas as, by your wisdams and dis_crecion,
the seid Sire Harry, by you or some of you, may be
moved of conscience and of kyndenesse to his blood to have
regard to the seid right, and not to do eny thyng that shuld
be disheryson to his seid nevewe, and to have the more tender
consideracion to your mocion, for that the seid Thomas is to
dyverse of you of kynne and aliaunce, and to many other
gentilmen within the shere in leeke cas. And for the con_sideracion
that I have, that the seid Sire Harry and Thomas
his nevewe, were of my lordes nere blode, whoes soule Jesu
pardon and assoyle, it were to gret a pete to see hym by dis_heryson
to falle to penury and poverte, wher by your good
exortacion in consideracion of the premissis, and mo odir by
your wisdamys to be remembred, in the lif of the seid Sire
Harry suche inconveniences may be better remadyed; wherin
ye shall not only do an almas dede, and a gret pleasir to God,
but also to me for that blodes sake a singuler pleasir, and
cause me heraftir therather to considir thynge that shall con_cerne
your resonabill pleasir, with Goddes grace, Who ever
kepe you.
   At Erle Soham, this xiiijne day of Septembyr.



|p159


                         |r1062

        WILLIAM PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON
 To my most special good father, Ser John Paston, Knyght.

[About 1495 |r(?)]   |r<b> AFTER most humbyl wyse of recommandacion, in my
most lovyngly wyse, I beseche yow of your dayly
blyssyng, showyng yow that I am at Ser John Fortescu
place, be cause they swet so sor at Cambryge. Also I shew
yow that Mr. Thomas Clark ys desessyd, hows sowle God
have mercy.
   Also, I beseche yow that ye wol se a remedy for the comun
of Snaylwel, for the Bayly of Snaylwel and on of your fermors
war with my tutor and me, and sheuyd me that all the comun
shuld a be takyn away butt for Mr. Cotton and the Vecur of
Fordan, hom I beseche yow to thank. Fro Pamsborow.
                Be your most humbyl servaunt,
                                           WILLIAM PASTON.



|p158


                         |r1063

      MARGARET, COUNTESS OF RICHMOND, TO --

                 BY THE KYNGES MODER.

[Between 1497 and 1503]   |r<b> TRUSTY and right welbeloved, we greet you well. And
wher by the meanes of our trusty and right wel_beloved
Sir Reynold Bray, Sir Thomas Lovell, and
Sir Henry Heydon, Knights, there was a full agreement made
and concluded, and also put in writinge, betwen our trusty
and right welbeloved Sir John Savile, Knight, and Gilbert
Talbot, Esquier, on th'one partie, and yow on th'other, for
divers lands which they ought to have in the right of their
wives, daughters and heyers to William Paston, Esquier, their
late fader deceassed, which lands ye by mighty power kepe and
withholde from them without any just title, as they afferme;
and albeit the said agrement was made by your minde and
consent, yet ye ne doe performe the same, to our merveile, if
it be so. Wherefore we desier and also counsell yow without
delay upon the sight hereof now shortly to ride to the court to
the said arbitrators, now ther being, with whom ye shall finde
your adverse partie, or other in their names fully authorized,
to abide such final ende and conclusion in the premisses as
shall be consonant with the said agrement, without further
troubles or busines therin hereafter to be had; and that ye
will thus do in any wise, so as we be not driven (through
your defalte) to put to our hands for further remedye to be
had in the premisses.
   Yeven under our signet at our mannor of Colly Weston,
the xth day of February.



|p|r159


                         |r1064

        ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, TO
                    SIR JOHN PASTON
To my right welbeloved frende, Sire John Paston, Knyght.

              ELIZABETH, DUCHES OF NORFFOLK.

[1497 |r(?), Feb. 28]   |r<b> I COMMAUNDE me to you, thankyng you as hartely as
I can for your labour and substancyall serching owte of
Thomas Martynz matyr, preing you of contenuance, and
of your best advyse therin, how he shall breke the mater so as,
by your helpe and wysdam, a frendely comunycacion may be
hadde, so as the mater may be had in examynacion by suche
gentylmen as shalbe named by th'assent of bothe parties, suche
as tendyr and love the wele of bothe parties, and also the pees
and tranquyllyte of the cuntre, and love to eschewe variaunce
and parties in the cuntre, wherin ye shall not only do a greete
pleasure to me, but a grete dede of charyte for the profight and
ease of both parties, and also a pleasure to God, Who have
you in keping.
   At Erle Soham lodge, this xxviij. day of February.
                                                     N.E.N.



|p160


                         |r1065

      THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
                      AND ANOTHER
To my right trusty and tight welbel[oved Sir] John Paston,
     Knyght, and Sir . . . . . Knyght, . . . .
     of them.

[1499, Aug. 20]   |r<b> RIGHT trusty and welbeloved councellours, I comaunde
me to you. And where the Kinges Grace is lately
acerteinyed that Th'Erl of Suffolk is departid owt of
this his Realme, Hys Grace hath commaundid me to wryte
unto you that ye incontynent uppon the sight of this my
writing endeovour you to enquyre aswell of such persones
as be departid over with the seid Erle as of theim that accom_panyed
hym in his repayre to the see, and retornyd ageyn,
or in any wyse were prevy to the same, and theruppon, in
as goodly hast as ye kan, to put them and every of them
in suertie savely to be kept, and therof t'acerteyn me, to
th'entent ye maye knowe his ffurther pleasure in the same.
And if ye shall at any tyme herafter perceyve any suspect
person nyghe unto the see costes which shall seme unto you
to be of the same affynyte, than His Grace will that ye put
them in lyke suertie. And Almighti God have you in His
keping.
   Written at Gaddishill, in the Ile of Wight, the xxti daye of
August.                                                 OXYNFORD.



|p161


                         |r1066

         HENRY VII. TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To our trusty and welbeloved knight, Sir John Paston.

                    BY THE KINGE.

[1500, March 20]   |r<b> TRUSTY and welbeloved, we grete yow well, letting
yow wete that our derest cousins, the Kinge and
Queene of Spaine, have signified unto us by their
sundry letters that the right excellent Princesse, the Lady
Katherine, ther daughter, shal be transported from the parties
of Spaine aforesaid to this our Realme, about the moneth of
Maye next comeinge, for the solempnization of matrimony
betweene our deerest sonne the Prince and the said Princesse.
Wherfore we, consideringe that it is right fittinge and necess_arye,
as well for the honor of us as for the lawde and praise
of our said Realme, to have the said Princesse honourably
received at her arriveall, have appointed yow to be one
amonge others to yeve attendance for the receivinge of the
said Princesse; willinge and desiringe yow to prepare your_selfe
for that intent, and so to continue in redynesse upon an
houres warninge, till that by our other letters we shall adver_tise
yow of the day and time of her arrivall, and where ye
shall yeve your said attendance; and not to fayle therin, as
ye tender our pleasure, the honor of yourselfe, and of this our
foresaid Realme.
   Yeven under our signet at our mannor of Richmount, the
xxty day of Marche.



|p162


                         |r1067

       RICHARD CALLE TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right reverent and honurable, my master, Sir John
                    Paston, Knyght.

[Before 1503]   |r<b> PLESITHT it your mastership to remembre, I shewyd
onto you in Lente that I had bought Baktons place.
Sir, it is so that John Bakton graunted to John Trovy
hes sone in lawe, hes mese with all the londes and tene_ments,
&c., takyng of the seide John Trovy viij. marke of
annuyte yerly, terme of hes lyf; wherupon endenture were
made and a state delyverd. Upon the weche I bargeyned with
Trovy, payng to hym for hes parte c. marke and x., wherof
he hadde in hande iiijli. vjs. viijd. and xvli. xiijs. iiijd. shulde
be payd at such tyme as I had a lawfull astate, weche was
apoynted before Michelmes last past; weche is not yet done.
Wherfore he hath forfeted an obligacion of xlli. that he was
bounde in to me for the same astate; ther was no defaute
in me, for my money was there redy. And, sir, in the same
weke after your mastership departed out of this contre, Bakton
and the seide Trovy come to Bakton, and sent for me, and
there were we appoynted for the same bargeyn and accorded,
wenynge to me and to all tho that were there it had ben fully
concl[uded] . . . . . my suertes and for all other
thynges. And sodenly Bakton departed hem be the avice of
[the Prior of Bro]mholme, and John Bowle and other, weche
meved Bakton that I shulde not have my bargein; and so they
entende to putte me from my bergein. And master Fitzlawes,
Kn[i]ght, of Esex, hath sent me a letter, weche I sende you
closed herin; and at hes enstaunce I have graunted Trovy an



|p163


ende for vjli. and my iiijli. vjs. viijd., and my costes that I have
done on the place, weche with these mony and costes drawith
xijli. If I may have all thes money payd onto me within xiiij.
dayes after Cristemas, I wol take non avauntage of the obliga_cion,
weche Trovy is bounde to me. I suppose Mr. Lawes
woll speke to you of thes mater. I beseche you that ye wol
be goode master to me herin, for I am lothe to be putte from
my bergein. I am in suerte there is no man wol geve so
moche for it as I wolde, and they nede not to fere them of
ther payment, for I ofer them iiij. suertes, the worste of them
is worthe all the lande; yet Bakton mystrustes me, and nede
not. If I had it, I wolde truste to make it a goode thynge,
for ther is moche thynge ther by that myght be had in to it,
weche causeth me to be the more desirous to it. I shewe
your mastership the previte of my mynde, trustynge ye wolbe
good mastre to me, and I shal pray to God for you and for
all youres.
   Wreten at Felmyngham, the Saterday next before Sein
Marteyn.
                 Be your servaunt,
                                                   R. CALLE.

                         |r1068

                       |rABSTRACT
       [RICHARD CALLE] TO [SIR JOHN PASTON?]



|p164


                         |r1069

       SIR JOHN KENDAL TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipful and my right entierly welbeloved
      cosin and frende, Sir John Paston, Knight.

[Before 1503]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull sir, I recommaunde me unto you. I
wryte this onely unto you, to advise you that I was
mynded that my cousin Clippesby, berer herof, shuld
wele have maryed here in thies partes, wherin your nyce
toke hevy conceyte, thinking in hir mynde, that I was not
willing that my said cousin shulde marye with hir.
   At that tyme I knewe not what love was bitwix them, but
now I undrestand that bothe there myndes is to mary to
geders; wherunto on my parte, I am agreble and wel content,
desiring and praying you to be the same, and to be the better
frende unto them at this my prayer and instaunce. And what
pleasir as I may doo unto you in thies partes shal be redye, in
that I may, at your desires. And I pray you to recommaunde
me to my cousin your nyce. And Jesu preserve you.
   Writen at London, the first day of Juyn.
Your own, the Priour of Saint Johns,
                                              SIR JOHN KENDAL.



|p165


                         |r1070

       MARGARET, COUNTESS OF OXFORD, TO SIR
                      JOHN PASTON
 To my right trusty and hertely wilbilovede sone, Sir John
                     Paston, Knyght.

|r[Year_uncertain]   |r<b> RIGHT trusty and hertely wilbiloved sole, I recom_mennde
me to you, and send you Godes blyssynge
and myn. And where oon John Malpas my olde
servaunt, brynger herof, hath purchacede a writt directede to
you and othre Justices of Peace in the shires of Norffolk and
Suffolk, and also to the Sheryff of the same, for to put hym in
pessible possescion in such certayn landes of his, accordynge
to the Kynges writt; I pray you therefor hertely, and of my
blyssynge charche you that at this my pour request and desir
ye wole pute you in your faythfull devoir with othere Justaces
associete with you, to see the execuscion doon and performyede
accordynge to the saide writt. And Almyghty God evere
more preserve you, my nown dere sone.
   Writene in my lordes castell of Hethyngham, the xv. day
of January.
                                             MARGRET OXYNFORD.



|p166


                         |r1071

         SIR JOHN PASTON TO WILLIAM PASTON
               AND RICHARD LIGHTFOOTE
To my brother William Paston and my cosyn Richard Lightfoote,
               and to iche of theym.

[1503]   |r<b> MASTYRS bothe, I recomand me to yow, and send yow
closid herin a booke of the seying of dyvers folkis,
whiche testyfiee ayenst Thomas Rutty and other. I
prey yow shewe it to my lordys good lordshepe, and that I
may know hys plesur ferther in as hasty wyse as may be, that
I may ordre me ther aftyr. I had gret labore to come by the
woman that was in servyse with Rutty, whiche sie [saw] all
ther conversacyons many yeris. She is now in servyse with
Richard Calle. And I have Thomas Bange in prison at Nor_wyche
with the Shrevys of Norwych. The woman seythe he
is as bold a theffe as eny is in Ingland; but he wyll nowghte
confesse, nor I handelyd hym not sore to cause hym to con_fesse.
But and Ruty knewe that he and the woman be in hold,
and hathe told talis, I thynke it wyll cause Rutty to shewe the
pleynesse.
   Clerk and Roger Heron are endightid at this sessyons at
Norwyche, last holdyn on Twysday last past, for robbing of



|p167


the pardoner; and so is Rotty and all his felawshepe that the
woman hathe apechid. According to hir apechement, Raff
Taylour is over the see; Robert Fenne is dede; John Baker
and William Taylour ar yett untakyn. If my lord send for
T. Bange or the woman, some of my lordis servauntes had
need to come for theym; for I can not do in the cause for
lake of men and horse, for my wyff ridith this next week in to
Kente, to the wydow, hir doughtir Leghe.
   And as for Ramesey, liek a prowde, lewde, obstynat foole,
he wyll not come befor my brothe[r] Sir R. Clere, nor me,
but he seythe he wyll be with my lord hastyly, and shewe hys
mynde to his lordshepe, whiche I beleve not. The substan_cyall
marchantys of Norwyche hathe shewid ther myndys to
my brother Sir R. Clere and me that he entendith to William
Bayly gret wronge in his reknynges.

                         |r1072

     THE EARL OF OXFORD TO SIR JOHN PASTON
To the right worshipfull and my right entierly welbelovyd
                Sir John Paston, Knyght.

[After 1503 |r(?)]   |r<b> RIGHT worshipfull and right intierly belovyd, I com_maund
me hartely to you. And where as your broder
William, my servaunte, ys so troubelid with sekenes
and crasid in his mynde, that I may not kepe hym aboute me,
wherfor I am right sory, and at this tyme sende hym to you,
prayng especially that he may be kepte surely and tendirly
with you, to suche tyme as God fortune hym to be bettyr
assurid of hym selfe and his myndes more sadly disposid,
whiche I pray God may be in shorte tyme, and preserve you
longe in gode prosperite.
     Writen at my place in London, the xxvj. day of Juyn.
                                                 OXYNFORD.



|p168


                         |r1073

       THE EARL OF OXFORD'S STEWARD TO THE
                     `BLACK KNIGHT'

|r[Date_uncertain] |r{25_lines_of_old_Latin_text}



|p169


                         |r1074

                     EAST BECKHAM

[1503, Feb. 6]   |r<b> WHERE Sir John Paston and Roger Townesende have
agreed and promysed to obey as we, Jamys Hobart
and John Yaxley will devyse for the varians of the
maner of Estbekham: We devyse and a warde that Sir John
Paston shall have the seid maner to hym, and to his heires;
and he therfor shall paye to the seid Rogyr xlli. at Pentecoste
nexte, and at Halowmesse nexte aftyr that xlli., and at Pente_coste
next aftyr that xxli.; and the same Syr John shall have
the arrerages of the seid maner. And if the seid Sir John
refuse to have the maner, then the seid Rogyr to have the
same maner, with the arrerages as is a forseid, payeng to the
seid Sir John the seid Cli. at the dayes aforseid; and the seid
Syr John to geve answer which he will chose the viij. daye of
this moneth.
   Yevyn the vj. daye of Februarii, anno R. R. H. vij.
xviijo.
   And all this to be perfurmyd and put in surte after our
avise. And we devise that he that shall have the land, shall
paie to th'other at Halwemes come twelvemonyth, ten mark,
besides the seid Cli., because th'arrerages have ben long in
the tenauntes handes.
                                                   JOHN YAXLEE.
                                                   JAMYS HOBART.



|p170


                         |r1075

       ARCHBISHOP WARHAM TO WILLIAM PASTON
         To my cousyn Master William Paston.

[1503, Sept. 6]   |r<b> COUSYN PASTON, I recommaunde me unto you, and
have received your letter, by the which I have undre_stand
of the deth of my cousyn your fadre, whose
soule Jesu assoile. I wol counsaile and exhorte you to take it
as wel and as paciently as ye can, seeyng that we al be mortal
and borne to dey. And where as ye desire to have a letter ad
colligendum, after myne advise ye shal doo wel to be here with
me at Michaelmas next commyng, and at your then commyng
I shalbe glad to doo you the best confort and helpe that I can;
counsailing that ye in the meane tyme doo not entremedyll in
any wise with th'admynystring of any parte of your faders
goodes, nor with the receiving of his debtes, for divers causes,
as at your comyng hudre ye shal knowe more.
   The meane season, loke that ye be of as confortable chere
as ye can, exhorting my lady, your modre in lawe, to be in
like wise, to whom I pray you to have me recommendyd.
Thus fare ye hertily wel.
     From London, the vjth day of Septembre.
                     Your,          WILLIAM, ELECTE OF LONDON.



|p171


                         |r1076

        JOHN KENDAL TO [WILLIAM PASTON ?]

[1503 or later |r(?)]   |r<b> YOUR pore servaunt and bedeman, John Kendale, be
secheth your good and gracious masterschepp, at the re_verence
of God and in the wey of charyte, to remembre
that my maister your fader, on whos soule God have mercy,
had fro me x. acres of free londe that I bout of the executours
of Nicholas Pekeryng of Filby for xx. marc paid on j. day,
to pay to executours of Edmonde Norman for purchase of ij.
partes of Holm Halle, somtyme Edmonde Norman.
   Also my seide maister, your fader, had fro John Kendale
the croppe of the seide x. acres londe, sowen with barly and
peson, wherof v. acres were weel somerlayde to the seid
barly, the whiche croppe the seide John Kendale schulde a
made worth to hym iiijli. xiijs. iiijd., althow ther had be but
xx. quarteres barly growyng on viij. acres and half of londe,
that is to seyn up on an acre ij. quarter, iiij. busshelz, and the
half acre in avayle, besyde j. acre and an half of peson, for the
seide John Kendale solde his malt at Ormesby mad of the
barly growyng the same yer that the foreseid croppe was taken
fro hym, for iiijs. viijd. a quartere; and so he myght a solde
the same and meche more if he had had it.
   Also my seid maister, your fader, hath caused the foreseid
John Kendale to a foreborne the ferme of the seide x. acres



|p172


of londe be the space of ix. yer, be the yer xvjs. & viijd., that
is, the ferme of j. acre xxd., wherof the somme conteyneth
vijli. xs. beside j. yer receyved of Hagh.

                         |r1077

                       |rABSTRACT

                         |r1078

      WILLIAM MAKEFYRR TO DARCY AND ALYNGTON

To the ryght worschypfull Master Roger Darsy and Master Gylys
   Alyngton, beyng at the Jeorge, in Lumberd Strett, be thys
   delyveryd in hast.

[1506, Jan. 17]   |r<b> RYGHT worschypfull masters, I recomend me un to you,
certyfying you that the Kynges Grace and the Kyng
of Castyle mett this day at thre of the cloke, apon
Cleworth Greyn, ij. mylle owt of Wyndesower, and ther the
Kyng reseyvyd hym in the goodlyest maner that ever I sawe,
and ech of them enbracyd oder in armys.
   To schew you the Kynges aparell of Yngland, thus it was:
-- hys hors of bay, trappyd with nedyll warke; a gown of pur_puyr
velvyt, a cheyn with a joerge of dyamondes, and a hood
of purpuyr velvyt, whych he put not of at the mettyng of the



|p173


syd Kyng of Castylle; hys hatt and hys bonett he avalyd,
and the Kyng of Castylle in cas lyke. And the Kyng of
Castyll rod apon [a] sorellyd hoby, whych the Kyng gave un
to hym; hys apparell was all blak, a gown of blak velvytt, a
blak hood, a blak hatt, and hys hors harnes of blake velvytt.
   To schew you of the Kynges company, my Lord Harry of
Stafforth rod in a gown of cloth of tuyssew, tukkyd, furryd
with sabulles, a hatt of goldsmyth worke, and full of stons,
dyamondes, and rubys, rydyng apon a sorellyd courser bardyd
with a bayrd of goldsmythes wark, with rosys and draguns
red.
   And my Lord Markas rydyng apon a bald sorelyd hors,
with a deyp trapper full of long tassels of gold of Venys, and
apon the crowper of hys hors a whytt fedyr, with a cott apon
hys bak, the body goldsmyths wark, the slevys of cremysyne
velvyt, with letters of gold.
   My Lord of Kent apon a sorelyd hors, bald, the harnes of
Venys gold, with a deyp frynges of half zerd of lengh. My
Lord of Kent cott was on barr of cloth of gold, an oder of
cremysyn velvyt, pyrlyd with a demy manche cut of by the
elbowe. Thyes be the lords that bare the bruyt.
   Sir Hew Waghan apon a bay hors trappyd with cremysyn
velvyt full of gylt bels, a gown of blak velvyt, and a cheyn of
gold, bawdryk wys, worth v. hondreth pownd.
   Thys be the sperys: Master Sant John apon a blak hors,
withh arnes of cloth of gold with tasselles of plunkytt and
whytt, a cott of plunkytt and whytt, the body of goldsmyths
werk, the s[l]evys full of spanguls.
   John Carr and William Parr cotts lyke, the horsys gray,
of Parr trappyd with cremysyn velvyt with tasselles of gold,
and bels gylt. Carr hors bay with an Almayn harnes of sylver,



|p174

an ynch brod of betyn sylver, both the cottes of goldsmythes
wark the bodys, the slevys on stryp of syllver, the oder gylt.
   Edward Nevell apon a gray hors trappyd with blak velveyt
full of small belles, hys cott the on half of greyn velvyt, the
oder of whytt cloth of gold; thyse to the rutters of the spers,
with oder dyvers well appontyd.
   On the Kyng of Castylles party, the Lord Chamberlayn
cheyff, I can not tell hys name as yett; hys apparell was sad,
and so was all the resydeu of hys company with clokes of sad
tawnye blake, gardyd, sum with velvyt and sum with sarsnyt,
not passyng a dosyn in nowmber. It is sayd ther is many by
hynd, wych cums with the Queyn of Castyll, wych schall cum
apon Teyusday.
   When the Kyng rod forth to Wyndesouer Castyle, the
Kyng rode apon the ryght hand the Kynges of Castylle, how
be it the Kynges Grace offeryd hym to take hym apon the
ryght hand, the whych he refussyd. And at the lyghtyng the
Kyng of Castylle was of hys hors a good space or owr Kyng
was a lyght; and then the Kynges Grace offeryd to take hym
by the arm, the whych he wold not, bot toke the Kyng by the
arme, and so went to the Kynges of Castylle chamber, whych
is the rychestly hangyd that ever I sawe; vij. chambers to
geder hangyd with cloth of arras wroght with gold as thyk as
cowd be; and as for iij. beds of astate, no kyng Crystyned can
schew sych iij.
   Thys is as fer as I can schew you of this day, and when I
can know mor, ye schall have knowlege.
   From Wyndesouer this Saterday, at v. of the cloke.
                 By yours,                 WILLIAM MAKEFYRR.



|p175


                         |r1079

                     AN INVENTORY

|r[Date_uncertain]
James Gloys, j. dongge,                   . . . . iijs.
Item, a coverlete,                      . . . . . vs.
Item, ij. blankettes,                  . . . . . vjs. viijd.
Item, j. pare of shettes,                 . . . . xs.
Item, a sellore,                        . . . . . xijd.
Item, a rosour,                       . . . . . .      viijd.
Item, v. shertes,                       . . . . . viijs.
Item, j. roset cape,                       . . . . .   iiijd.
Item, iiij. gownes,                     . . . . .  xxvjs. viijd.
Item, a curt baron,                          . . . . .  xld.
Item, iij. gyrdylles,                         . . . . . vjd.
Item, iij. payre of hossen,                 . . . . vjs.
Item, j. song boke, pris                        . . . . xxd.
Item, j. dowbelet of fustian,               . . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, j. grene cotte,                   . . . . . ijs.
Item, ij. payre schone,                        . . . . xiiijd.
Item, j.box with j. porse of cloth of gold,           . xld.
Item, j. crosse silver,                      . . . . . xld.
Item, j. sawtere,                       . . . . . vjs. viijd.
Item, j. premere,                       . . . . . ijs.
Item, j. boke of statutis,                     . . . . xld.
Item, j. boke of vitas Patrum,              . . . ijs.
Item, j. purs in the bedstraw with            . . xxs.
Item, j. boke of xij. chapetyrs of Lynccoln,
   and a boke of safistre,                     . . . xs.
Item, vj. steyned paperis,                     . . . . xijd.
Item, ij. scochenes,                     . . . . . vijd.



|p176


Item, a swerd, pris,                    . . . . . vjs. viijd.
Item, a towayle,                             . . . . . xd.
Item, a supersedyas of Gloys, Osborn and
    Snallewell.
Item, a bleu gown of William Tavernerys,        . xs.
Item, a blake cloke,                   . . . . . vjs.
Item, a bottell for wine of a potell,              . . xijd.
Item, a peyre of tabille of horne and box,           . xvjd.
Item, a confessionall,                   . . . . ijs.

Herre Boll, a dongge,                          . . . . xld.
Item, a traunsom,                      . . . . . ijs.
Item, a paire of schettis,               . . . . iiijs.
Item, a blanket,                       . . . . . iijs.
Item, a coverlet,                      . . . . . ijs.
Item, a pillow of down,                        . . . . xijd.
Item, ij. curteynes,                   . . . . . ijs.
Item, gownes,                        . . . . . . xs.
Item, a dowblet of fostian,                      . . . xld.
Item, iij. schertes,                   . . . . . vs.
Item, a towayle,                            . . . . . viijd.
Item, a blake hod,                     . . . . . ijs.
Item, ij. cofforys stuffet,              . . . . ijs.
Unde, j. was sprwys chyst with,            . . . xxs.
Item, j.clasp of sylver,                     . . . . xijd.
Item, of payse money,                         . . . . xijd.
Item, ix. ferthynges,                       . . . . . ijd. ob.
Item, a lytyll chyst,                       . . . . . vjd.
Item, ij. pors with,                   . . . . . ijs. vijd. ob.
Item, iiij. rynges,                    . . . . . iijs.
Item, a box with bedys, qwere of ij. payre of
    jett, with Paternosterys of corall,             . xld.
Item, a poyre of jett, pris,                   . . . . xijd.
Item, v. payre of box,                        . . . . xd.
Item, a payre of ambre,                      . . . . xviijd.
Item, a purs of welwet,                      . . . . viijd.
Item, iij. payre of knyffes,                   . . . . xd.
Item, a payr of hernishede knyffes,              . . xijd.



|p177


Item, v. napettes,                           . . . . . vd.
Item, iij. hedkercheffes, pris                   . . . xijd.
Item, a box with sylke and perryll,           . . iijs.
Item, a powche of rosset damaske,                  . . xxd.
Item, a payre of gold weghtes in a case,       . ijs.
Item, a broch of sylver with a crown,              . . xvjd.
Item, a payre of beddes of segamore,               . . iiijd.
Item, a box of tene with sylver wire.
Item, iij. new gyrdyll, pris                   . . . . ixd.

Item, in the second coffer was bokes, pris           . xvjd.
Item, a boke of Seynt Thomas de Veritati_bus,
    pris                         . . . . . . xs.
Item, a red boke with Hugucio and Papie,       . xxs.
Item, iij. bokes of soffistre,                    . . . xxd.
Item, maney other smale bokes,              . . . xs.
Item, iij. cappis,                            . . . . . xd.
Item, a surplice,                             . . . . . xld.
Item, iij. letterys of pardon,              . . . xs.
Item, a stevynyd clothe, a crucifix,               . . xxd.
Item, a payre of dowbyll glovys, furredde
    with lambe,                               . . . . . vjd.
Item, ij. payr of hosson,                        . . . . vs.
Item, a combe of veveri,                        . . . . vjd.

John Osborn, a cott of rosset, pris            . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, a stomaucher of a zerd of gode new
     hollond clothe,                            . . . . . xd.
Item, iiij. payre of sokkes, pris                 . . . viijd.
Item, ij. payre of lyncloys,                      . . . viijd.
Item, ij. payre of hossen,                  . . . . iiijs.
Item, a payre of schone,                        . . . . vijd.
Item, a payre schettes,                    . . . . iiijs.
Item, iij. gyrdyll,                            . . . . . ixd.

Jamus Halmon, iiij. schettes,                 . . . xs.
Item, ij. schertis and a quarter of lynclothe,      ijs.  vjd.



|p178


Item, a pelow bere,                             . . . . . vja.
Item, ij. payre of sockes,                        . . . . iijd.
Item, a gown furret with blake lom,              . . xs.
Item, a payre of cremessen hossen,              . . iijs.
Item, a payre spores, a pare of glovis,                 . xvjd.
Item, iij. gyrdyll,                             . . . . . ixd.
Item, a stomaker of lenclothe,                     . . . viijd.
Item, a payre of shone,                           . . . . vijd.
Item, staffe, pris                             . . . . . iiijd.
Item, a sakke,                               . . . . . . viijd.

Syngleton, a payr of bottes and a parre of
    sporis                              . . . . . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, a sadyll, a paytrell and a brydoll and
    ij. gerthis,                          . . . . . xs.
Item, a payre of dowbelet slevys of blake,}         iijs.
Item, a payre of slevys of rosset,        }
Item, a payr of stokes of fustian,                   . . [viijd.]
Item, a pare of schone,                           . . . . vijd.
Item, a schyrt,                               . . . . . . xxd.
Item, a purs with                          . . . . . ijs.
Item, a gyrdyll, a payre of patanys,                  . . iiijd.
Item, a dagar knyffe, pris                        . . . . iiijd.

Katryn Wilton, a donge,                      . . . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, a coverlet,                          . . . . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, a blanket,                           . . . . . iijs.
Item, a payr of shettes,                    . . . . iiijs.
Item, a pelow of doun,                             . . . . xijd.
Item, a payre of new hosson,                         . . . viijd.
Item, a gown and a kertyll,                     . . . vjs. viijd.
Item, a cors harnesshet with blake, pris                 . xxd.
Item, a hod,                              . . . . . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, a kercher of lawn, pris                         . . . xxd.
Item, ij. kercher of therd,                         . . . . xijd.
Item, a payre off bedys of ambre,                       . . xxd.
Item, a new canvasse.



|p179


Jane Belton, a blanket,                       . . . . iijs. iiijd.
Item, a shette,                           . . . . . . ijs.
Item, a kerchey therd, and ther in was vjs. viijd. of gold.
Item, a payre of beydys of jette with Patter
     nosteris of corall, pris                          . . . xxd.
Item, a payre of turnerys of lawn,                      . . xxd.
Item, a yerd of lynclothe,                         . . . . viijd.
Item, a payre of hossen,                           . . . . viijd.
Item, a smoke,                                    . . . . . xxd.
Item, a kercher of thred,                          . . . . viijd.

Symond Houston, a payre of bottes, a payre
     of sporis,                           . . . . . . iiijs.

Purrey, a blw gown,                         . . . . . viijs.
Item, a bridull and a feterloke,                      . . . xvjd.
Item, a payr of hossen, a payr of schon,             . ijs. vijd.
Item, a pare of furred glovys.

Frere John Alderiche, ij. quaris of prayeris.
   Item, a powtenere with a payre of bedys
   of jette. Item, a scapelerey with an
   hodde,                                  . . . . . . vjs. viijd.

John Keduray, a payre of lynclothys, j. gown
   of blw,                                 . . . . . . vjs. viijd.
Item, a payre of hossen,                            . . . . xxd.
Item, a payre of schone,                            . . . . xijd.
Item, a payre of glovys and a hatt,                     . . xijd.

Simond Sadiller, a payre of sporis,                      . . xijd.
Item, a knyff hernyshid with sylver,                    . . xijd.

Robert Fen, a gown,                            . . . . vjs.
Item, a cappe,                                  . . . . . . iiijd.
Item, a peyre of hossen,                            . . . . xvjd.
Item, a chart |r(?), pris                             . . . . xvjd.



|p180


Richard Charlys, a peyr of hossen,                      . . xvjd.
Item, a dager,                                  . . . . . . xvjd.
Item, a gyrdyll,                                  . . . . .  ijd.
Item, a cappe of rosset,                            . . . . iiijd.

Jhon Faster, a horne,                               . . . . viijd.

John Judde, a chert, pris                           . . . . xvjd.
Item, a peyr of bedys of jett,                         . . . viijd.

William Bemond, a custell, pris                       . . . xvjd.
Item, a perre of bottes, pris                     . . . ijs.
Item, a peyre of glovys of otter.

Water Wynter, a shert,                               . . . . xijd.
A dager,                                       . . . . . . . xijd.
A purs with                                       . . . . . . xd.

Sander Koke, a mourey gown,                        . . . vjs.
Item, a cotte of moster develers,                         . . xld.
Item, a blanket,                               . . . . . iijs.
Item, a peyre of shettes,                       . . . . iiijs.
Item, iij. peyr of shoys,                             . . . . xxd.
Item, a peyr of sokkes,                               . . . . ijd.
Item, a hatt,                                     . . . . . . xijd.
Item, a peyr of patanys, a cappe of violet,   }               xijd.
Item, iij. gyrdyll, and a cerchey [kerchief], }
Item, ij. of of hossen, pris                       . . . iijs.

Snallewell, a schet, pris                             . . . . xxd.
Item, ij. shurtes, a peyr ofe lynclothis,                  . xxd.
Item, ij. dowbelettes, pris                          . . . . xld.
Item, iij. gyrdyll, ij. cappes,                        . . . xvd.
Item, ij. peyr of hossen,                            . . . . xld.
Item, a lyneng to a gown,                            . . . . xxd.
Item, an hodde,                                     . . . . . xld.



|p181


John Bube |r(?), ane hatt, pris                           . . . xd.
Item, a bowe, pris                                  . . . . . vjd.
Item, a peyr of bottes,                             . . . . .xvjd.
Item, a purs with                                    . . . . iiijd.
Item, a cappe,                                     . . . . . iiijd.

Herry Gunnold, tablys and stolys, pris                  . vs.

                         |r1080

                    WYKES'S BILL
               Towardis my Lord of Oxford.

|r[Date_uncertain]
In primis at Brentwode for horsmete,                     . . ijd.

                      Chelmesford

Item for our dyner there,                           . . . . iiijd. ob.
Item for horsmete there,                             . . . . ijd.

                      Brambtre

Item for horsmete there,                             . . . . jd.
Item for drynke there,                               . . . . ob.

                     Hydyngham

Item for oure soper there,                          . . . . iiijd.
Item for horsmete there,                            . . . . iiijd.
Item for wayshyng of my shert and botes,                     . id. ob.

                      Laneham

Item for horsmete there,                               . . . . jd.



|p182


                      Hadlegh

Item for horsmete there,                               . . . . jd.
Item for brede and drynke there,                           . . jd.

                     Taderston

Item for horsmete there,                               . . . . ijd. ob.
Item for Williamis dyner there,                          . . . ijd.

                   Coylchestere

Item for horsmete there,                               . . . . ixd.
Item for the sadelere,                                 . . . . iijd.
Item payd to the smyth,                                . . . . vijd.
Item for brede and drynke there,                           . . ijd.

                      Wytham

Item for horsmete there,                               . . . . jd.
Item for brede and drynke there,                           . . jd. ob.

                   Chelmesford

Item for oure dyner there,                             . . . . iiijd
Item for horsmete there,                                . . . . ja.

                   Brentwoae

Item for horsmete there,                                . . . . ja.
Item for brede and drynke there,                            . . jd. ob.
Item for a dosyn poyntis,                                . . . . ijd.
             Summa expens,                         . . . vs.



|p183


                         |r1081

              T. BALKEY TO JOHN PASTON
  To his ryght wurshipfull maister, John Paston, Esquier,
             this byll be delyverid in hast.

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> RYGHT wurshipfull and myne especyall good maister, I
comaund me vonto your good maistership. Sir, it is
so that there hath ben a gret rumour and mervelous
noyse of yower departyng ffro Yermoth; for summe seid that
ye were departed in a Duch ship and some seid in aspaynessh
ship and some seid in yower ship, and some seid ayein your
wyll ye were departed; of wych departyng my lord Steward
hadde knowleche and comaunded a noon after your old ser_vaunt
Rychard Fitzwater to ryde to Norwich, and so to
Yermoth, to knowe the trowth. And at Norwich I spoke
with your seid servaunt, and ther he shewed vonto me that
my lord hadde send another of his servauntis vonto my Lord
of Oxynford to shew vonto his lordship of your departyng,
&c., and fferthermore he shewed vonto me prevyly that my
Lord hath imagyned and purposed many grevous thyngis
ayens your Maistership; for wych cawse he shewed wnto me
that in any wyse your mastership shuld not come that wey,
and I shall shewe your maistership moch more at your
comyng, with the grace of God, whoo ever preserve your
good maistership. At Norwich the Sonday next after Sent
Marke. -- Your servaunt,                      T. BALKEY.



|p184


                         |r1082

           ANONYMOUS TO MASTER PASTON

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> MAISTER PASTON, it is so that my Lord desireth to
have his lyverey as for this yere to be of the colour
that he hadde him self a demye gowne of, and his
childern hadde of the same ayenst Cristmasse laste was; I
wot never whether ye remembre it or nay. Yt was a medelled
tawney, som what rede, and it was bought at Watkyn Stal_worthes.
I pray you assaye among the clothe makers in your
countre howe a man may bye a cloth of them. Ye muste
remembre the gentilmen muste have better than the yomen,
and the yomen better than the gromes. And ye knowe well
that ye and I the laste yere pourvoied my lord of the gentil_menes
lyverey and the yomens for iijs. a yerde, one with a
nother, and the gromes for ijs. viijd., and boughte all at the
drapers in London. Wherfore my Lord woll thinke to be
served of better clothe and lesse price at the clothe makers. I
wolde have sente you an example but I can not gette it.

                         |r1083

      ROBERT KYLLYGREWE TO RICHARD WASSE
 Thys letter be delyvyrde on to my fadyrynlav Rychard Wasse
             dewelly yn the parris of Morton.

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> WELLE belovyd fadyr, y recommende me on to you,
and y thonke you of your gode cherre to me beyng
vyt you laste, &c. Fadyr, hyt ysso asfor the
promysse that ys by twyxt you and me, y hope to God to



|p185


contayne you of my promysse. I by that y am so lenge on
y payde on to you, Fadyr, hyt ysso ye have y lefte me yn so
grete a danger wyt the reparasyon of Wolston ande wythe
Benet Barnarde that y am so lenge byhynde vyt you of my
promys; nere the les y have sende you by Herry Penennec
iiij. mark a fore Crystmas, ande the wederyng fyl so fowle a
konnot go on to you. Fadyr, hyt yesso y have payde Benet
Barnarde viij. marke for the fe that ye made on to hym, and
more y moste pay hym for you, for he axyt of you yn holle
xijli. wyt the fe, ande hys labor that a dyde for you yn
London. For he sayt that ye nevyr payde hym of no fyne,
nodyr for no odyr coste that a dyde for you wylle ye werre yn
thys contray. Therfore y pray you to sende on to me a dys_charge
for the sayde xijli., or ellys a wolle dystrayne me and
put me to scharge an coste as a hath strayne my tenenttes
byfore for thys mater and costys. For dermore Boryng hath
take an accion yn the comyn law ayenst us bothe, entendyng
to dryve us to a new particion, for a shewyth owre to tenentes
to tempe ande meve them to cry fore a noder particion, ande
to have suche as plesyth hym to hys reteyne; and therfore,
but we have the better consayle hyt woll cost moch mony
wyth owt dowt. Ther fore send me suche evydens as may
dyscharge and save bothe you and me, wyche byth yn your
hon dysposal; hyt hath coste me xls. for the accion that he
hath take ayenst Tomas Snel and Wyllyam Snell, for bycause
that T. Snell forbede Bouryng ys tenents fro my wode yn
Boter towne, which bythe alders. Your doctor [daughter] re_commende
hyr on to you and prayyt of your dayly blessyng,
and sche hat a son, bleste by God. Namore to you at thys
tymme. God have you yn Hys kepyng. -- By your Son,
                                   ROBERTE KYLLY GREWE.

                         |r1084

                      MEMORANDUM

|r[Date_uncertain]   |r<b> Memorandum to speke with William Byrde be the same tokne, I came
home from London to Norwich on Mydsomer evyn last past, and the same
even I cam home to his howse, and brough hym xs. for a gyrdyll off myn
that he had in his kepyng for a plegge off myn; and if so be that he wilnat ley
out thes money, let hym send me the bill indentyd off my jowellys closyd in a
letter with a signet off myn that my wiff hath in her keping.
                   Endorsed -- Vyall.

                         |r1085-8
                        |rABSTRACTS