Paston Letters Volume 5 782. SIR JOHN PASTON (age 29) TO JOHN PASTON³

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

28 Sep 1471

I COMANDE me to yow, letyng yow weet that, &c.⁴

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

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

Alsso how manye ffote, or what brede eche towr takythe within iche corner off the quadrate¹ ovyrthwert the dorys, and how many taylors yards is from the moote syde, wher the brygg was, to the hyghe weye, or to the heddge all a longe the entre, and what brede the entre is be twyen the dykys. I praye yow, iff ye have a leyser in any wyse, se thys doone yowrselffe iff ye maye; or ellys iff Pampyng do it, or who that ye thynke can doo it, I wolle spende xxd. or as ye seme to have the sertayn off every thyng her in. And as for my Hiders tombe, I charge yow se it yowr selffe, and when I speke with yow I woll tell yow the cawses why that I desyr thys to be doon.

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

Alsso it is seyde that the Erle of Penbroke (age 39)² is taken on to Brettayn; and men saye that the Kynge schall have delyvere off hym hastely, and som seye that the Kynge off France woll hym saffe, and schall sett hym at lyberte ageyn.

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

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

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

Wretyn at London on Mychellmesse Evyn.

J. P., K.

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

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

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

Note 2. Jasper Tudor.

Note 1. A drawing is here given in the original letter, apparently designed as a plan of the quadrangle of Gresham, of which the subjoined is a facsimile.

Note 1. 5 th of October.

Note 2. 24 th of August.

Hall's Chronicle 1492. After that, all this army was arrayed and even ready to set forward whereof were chieftains and leaders, Jasper Duke of Bedford (age 61), and  John, Earl of Oxford (age 50) beside other the King (age 35) sent Christopher Urswick (age 44) almoner, and syr John Wriothesley knight to Maximilia (age 33), to certify him that the King (age 35) was all in a readiness, and would shortly arrive in the continent land, as soon as he were advertised that Maximilian (age 33) and his men, were ready and prepared to join with him. The Ambassadors sailed into Flanders, and after their message done, they sent two letters in all hast to King Henry (age 35), the which not only sore unquieted and vexed him, but also caused him to take more thought, care and study on him then he did before: for they declared that no prince could be more unprovided or more destitute of men and armure, no more lacking all things, appertaining to war than was Maximilian (age 33), and that he lay lurking in a corner, sore sick of the flux of the purse, so that he had neither men, horses, munitions, armour nor money, nevertheless his mind and will was good, if his power and ability had been correspondent and therefore there was no trust to be put in his aide or puissance. Their letters both appalled and made sorrowful the King of England (age 35), which like a prudent prince did well consider and ponder, that it were both jeopardous and costly, for him alone to enterprise so great a war. And on the other part, if he should desist and leave of his pretended purpose, all me might call him coward and recreant prince. Beside this, he thought that his own nation would not take his tarrying at home in good nor favourable part, considering that syth they had given so large money for the preparation of all things necessary and convenient for the same, they might conceive in their heads and imagine, that under colour and pretence of a dissimulated war he had exacted of the notable sums of money, and now the treasure was once paid, then the war was done, and his coffers well enriched, and the commons impoverished. So that at this time he doubted and cast perils on every side and part, and beside this he was not a little sorry that Maximilia (age 33) author of this war did absent himself and defraud him of his society and assistance. And while he studied and mused what counsel he should best take in such a doubtful and sudden case, he like a grave prince, remembering the saying of the wise man, work by counsel and thou shall not repent the, assembled together all his lords and other of his private counsel, by whose minds it was concluded and determined, that he should manfully and courageously persevere and precede in this broached and begun enterprise, recording well with themselves, and affirming plainly that all chivalry and martial prowess, the more difficult and heard that it is to attain to, the more renowned is the glory, and the fame more immortal of the vanquisher and obtainer. Therefore by this counsel of his friends and senate, he made Proclamation that every man should set forward into France, and yet not opening how Judasly Maximilian had deceived him, least that they knowing the whole fact, should not be so courageous to go toward that battle and precede forward on their journey. And therefore, to provide and force all perils and dangers that might accidentally ensue, he so strengthened, multiplied and augmented his army in such number before he took ship, that he with his own power might discourage and overcome the whole puissance of his adversaries.