Books, Paston Letters

19th January 1454. 2.235. Newsletter Of John Stodeley¹.

As touchyng tythynges, please it you to wite that at the Princes² comyng to Wyndesore, the Duc of Buk' (age 51) toke hym in his armes and presented hym to the Kyng in godely wise, besechyng the Kyng to blisse hym; and the Kyng yave no maner answere. Natheless the Duk abode stille with the Prince by the Kyng; and whan he coude no maner answere have, the Queene come in, and toke the Prince in hir armes and presented hym in like forme as the Duke had done, desiryng that he shuld blisse it; but alle their labour was in veyne, for they departed thens without any answere or countenaunce savyng only that ones he loked on the Prince and caste doune his eyene ayen, without any more.

Item, the Cardinalle (age 74)³ hathe charged and commaunded alle his servauntz to be redy with bowe and arwes, swerd and bokeler, crossebowes, and alle other habillementes of werre, suche as thei kun medle with to awaite upon the saufgarde of his persone.

Item, th'erle of Wiltshire (age 33)⁴ and the Lord Bonvile (age 61) have done to be cryed at Taunton in Somerset shire, that every man that is likly and wole go with theym and serve theym, shalle have vjd. every day as long as he abidethe with theym.

Item, the Duk of Excestre (age 23)⁵ in his owne persone hathe ben at Tuxforthe beside Dancastre, in the north contree, and there the Lord Egremond (age 31)⁶ mette hym, and thei ij. ben sworne togider, and the Duke is come home agein.

Item, th'erle of Wiltshire, the Lord Beaumont, Ponynges, Clyfford, Egremond, and Bonvyle, maken all the puissance they kan and may to come hider with theym.

Item, Thorpe⁷ of th'escheker articuleth fast ayenst the Duke of York, but what his articles ben it is yit unknowen.

Item, Tresham (age 34)⁸, Josep⁹, Danyelle¹⁰, and Trevilian¹¹ have made a bille to the Lordes, desiryng to have a garisone kept at Wyndesore for the saufgarde of the Kyng and of the Prince, and that they may have money for wages of theym and other that shulle kepe the garyson.

Item, the Duc of Buk' hathe do to be made Ml. Ml. [2000] bendes with knottes, to what entent men may construe as their wittes wole yeve theym.

Item, the Duke of Somersetes herbergeour hath taken up all the loggyng that may be goten nere the Toure, in Thamystrete, Martlane, Seint Katerines, Tourehille, and there aboute.

Item, the Queene hathe made a bille of five articles, desiryng those articles to be graunted; wherof the first is that she desireth to have the hole reule of this land; the second is that she may make the Chaunceller, the Tresorere, the Prive Seelle, and alle other officers of this land, with shireves and alle other officers that the Kyng shuld make; the third is, that she may yeve alle the bisshopriches of this land, and alle other benefices longyng to the Kynges yift; the iiijth is that she may have suffisant lyvelode assigned hir for the Kyng and the Prince and hir self. But as for the vth article, I kan nat yit knowe what it is.

Note 1. [Egerton MS. 914, B.M.] There is no evidence that this letter had anything to do with the Paston correspondence, but as a very interesting political letter of the period we have thought it right to give it a place in the collection. The date is quite certain, being after the birth of Prince Edward in October 1453, and before the death of Cardinal Kemp in March 1454.

Note 2. Edward, only son of Henry VI. (age 32), born 13th October 1453.

Note 3. John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury.

Note 4. James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond.

Note 5. Henry Holland.

Note 6. Thomas Percy, third son of Henry, Earl of Northumberland (age 60).

Note 7. Thomas Thorpe, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, who was also Speaker of the House of Commons, but was at this time imprisoned in the Fleet in consequence of an action brought against him by the Duke of York.—(See Rolls of Parl. v. 239.)

Note 8. Thomas Tresham, who as ‘Sir Thomas Tresham, Knight,' was attainted under Edward IV. for fighting on the Lancastrian side at Towton, but his attainder was afterwards reversed in Parliament 7 and 8 Edw. IV., on the ground that he was a household servant of Henry VI. and had been brought up in his service from a child.—Rolls of Parl. v. 616–617.

Note 9. William Joseph, who, with Thorpe, was frequently accused by the Yorkists of misleading the King.—Rolls of Parl. v. 280, 282, 332, 342.

Note 10. Thomas Daniel, Esq.—See p. 255, Note 2.

9th February 1456. John Bocking To Sir John Fastolf¹.

To the right reverent and worshipful Sir, and my right good maister, my maister Sir John Fastolf, at Castre.

Right reverent and my right worshipful maister, I recomaunde me to yow in my right humble wise. Please hit your right good maistership to wyte that on Sonday laste I sent yow many and divers lettres and writynges, by Lampet, of all matiers that I hadde knowlege at that tyme redy to answere. And now suche tidinges as ar here, but fewe that ar straunge, excepte that this day my Lordes York and Warwik comen to the Parlement in a good aray, to the noumbre of iijc. [300] men, all jakkid² and in brigantiens³, and noo lord elles, wherof many men mervailed. It was seid on Saterday my Lord shuld have ben discharged this same day. And this day was seide, but if he hadde come stronge, he shuld have bene distrussid; and no man knoweth or can sey that ony prefe may be hadde by whom, for men thinken verily there is no man able to take ony suche enterprinse.

The Kyng, as it was tolde me by a grete man, wolde have hym chief and princepall counceller, and soo to be called hise chef counceller and lieutenant as longe as hit shuld lyke the Kyng; and hise patent to be made in that forme, and not soo large as it is by Parlement. But soome men thinken it wil ner can otherwise bee; and men speke and devyne moche matere of the comyng this day in suche array to Westminster. And the Lordes speken this day in the Parlement of a greet gleymyng sterre that but late hathe be seen diverse tymes, merveilous in apperyng. The resumpsion, men truste, shall forthe, and my Lordes of Yorkes first power of protectorship stande, and elles not, &c. The Quene (age 25) is a grete and strong labourid woman, for she spareth noo peyne to sue hire thinges to an intent and conclusion to hir power.

I have seid to the bringer here of more to declare yow alle a longe. And as for hise comyng, ye like to understande that your nevew, my Maister Filongley, hathe laboured and doon that he cowde or myght to hise preferraunce; but as for to make hym freman and at hise ease, to hise profite and worship, it can not bee with owte William Lyne be here, that boughte hise prentishode of his maister, to hise grete hurte and castyng of bakke by ij. or iij. yere of tyme loste; and ne were it that the maister and wardeyns of the Taillours tendre hym, be cause of yow and of Fynynglee, hise firste maister, that solde hym to William Lyne, as weel as the seide Lyne and Richard, shuld alle lese ther fredoms, as ye shall more pleinly understande by the reporte of the seid Richard, &c.

This day was my Lord Devenshire at Westminstre, and shuld have apperid, but he was countermaundid. As to youre matier of Wentworthe, the trety contynueth, and is putte by the arbitrours in Fortescu and Yelverton, and we have day of newe til Friday come sevenyght. God graunte it take a good ende. The lawe is with us clerly, as weel in th'atteynte as therinne as yette, blessid be our Lord, hoo have you in hise most noble governaunce.

Written in your place this Moneday of Fastyngange⁴, ml. cccclv.Your humble servaunt, J. B.

And that ye like to write a good lettre for Richard Fastolf to Sir Roger Chamberleyn, and to Thornton, Chamberleyn of London, and to both of hem, &c.

Note 1. [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 265.]

Note 2. i.e. in coats of mail.—See vol. ii. p. 322, Note 3.

Note 3. See vol. ii. p. 155, Note 2.

Note 4. Fastingong was Shrovetide.—See vol. ii. p. 131, Note 1.

28th October 1455. James Gresham to John Paston¹

To my right worshipfull maister, John Paston, at Norwiche, be this delyvred.

Please it your maistership to wete² ...

Here be many marvaylos tales of thynggs that shall falle this next moneth, as it is seyd; for it is talked that oon Doktor Grene, a preest, hath kalked [calculated?] and reporteth, that by fore Seynt Andreu day next comyng shall be the grettest bataill that was sith the bataill of Shrewisbury³, and it shall falle bytwene the Bisshoppes Inne of Salesbury and Westminster Barres, and there shall deye vij. Lords, whereof iij. shuld be bisshoppes. Althis and meche more is talked and reported. I trust to God it shall not falle so.

Also there is gret varyance bytwene the Erll of Devenshire (age 41) and the Lord Bonvyle (age 63), as hath be many day, and meche debat is like to growe therby; for on Thursday at nyght last passed, the Erll of Denshyres sone and heir come with 60 men of armes to Radford's⁴ place in Devenshire, whiche was of counsell with my Lord Bonvyle; and they sette an hous on fyer at Radfords gate, and cryed and mad an noyse as though they had be sory for the fyer; and by that cause Radfords men set opyn the gats and yede owt to se the fyer; and for with th'erll sone forseid entred into the place and intreted Radford to come doun of his chambre to sp[e]ke with them, promyttyng hym that he shuld no bodyly harm have; up on whiche promysse he come doun, and spak with the seid Erll sone.

In the mene tyme his menye robbe his chambre, and ryfled his huches⁵, and trussed suyche as they coude gete to gydder, and caryed it awey on his own hors. Thanne th'erll sone seid, 'Radford, thou must come to my lord my fadir.' He seid he wold, and bad oon of his men make redy his hors to ride with hem, whiche answerd hym that alle his hors wern take awey; thanne he seid to th'erll sone, ' Sir, your men have robbed my chambre, and thei have myn hors, that I may not ride with you to my lord your fadir, wherfor, I pray you, lete me ride, ifor I am old, and may not go.'

It was answerid hym ageyn, that he shuld walke forth with them on his feete; and so he dede till he was a flyte⁶ shote or more from his place, and thanne he was ... softly, for cawse he myght not go fast. And whanne thei were thus departed, he turned ... oon; forwith come ix. men ageyn up on hym, and smot hym in the hed, and fellid ... of them kyt his throte.

This was told to my Lord Chaunceler (age 37)⁷ this fornoon .... messengers as come of purpos owt of the same cuntre. This matier is take gretly .... passed at two after mydnyght rod owt of London, as it is seid, more thanne .... the best wyse. Summe seyne it was to ride toward my Lord of York, and summe .... k, so meche rumor is here; what it menyth I wot not, God turne it .... at Hertford⁹, and summe men ar a ferd that he is seek ageyn. I pray God .... my Lords of York, Warwyk, Salesbury and other arn in purpos to conveye hym .... &c. The seid N. Crome, berer her of, shall telle you suche tydynggs .... in hast, at London, on Seint Simon day and Jude.

Yowr poer J. GR.

Note 1. [From Fenn, i. 114.] This letter was written in 1455, at the time of the King's second attack of illness, which happened while he was under the control of the Duke of York and the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury, as mentioned at the end of the letter. In the latter part of the letter some words are lost by the decay of the original MS.

Note 2. Here, says Fenn, follows an account of some law business, etc.

Note 3. Fought in 1403 between King Henry iv. and the rebel Percies.

Note 4. 'Nicolas Radford,' says Fenn in a note, 'was an eminent lawyer, and resided at Poghill, near Kyrton.' In Pole's Description of Devonshire, p. 219, we find that one Nicolas Radford dwelled at Upcot in Henry vi.'s time, 'after whose death controversy arose betwixt John Radford of Okeford and Thomazin, sister of the said Nicholas,' who had married Roger Prous.

Note 5. A hutch was a coffer or chest standing on legs.

Note 6. A flight was 'a light arrow formed for very long and straight shots.'-^Halliwell.

Note 7. Archbishop Bourchier.

Note 8. The King was at Hertford, as appears by the Privy Seals, in August and September 1455, and not improbably in October also.

18th April 1461. Thomas Playters To Master John Paston¹

To my maister, John Paston, Esquyer.

Please your Maisterchep to wete, that I have spokyn with Essex, in the matter that ye wete of, and fynd him be his talkyng wel dysposed, not withstandyng he woll not falle to no conclusyon to engrose up the mater, tyll the chef baron be com to London, and that he be mad privy to the mater, which we loke after this same secund Saterday after Esterne; and as for Notyngham he is not yet comyn to London.

Item, as for tydyng, it is noysed and told for trouth of men of worchip, and other, that the Erle of Wylchyr is taken, Doctor Morton, and Doctor Makerell, and be brougth to the kyng at York. Maister William also spak with a man that sey hem.

Item, sir, I herd of Sir John Borceter and Christofer Hanson, that Herry the sext is in a place in York schire is calle Coroumbr; suche a name it hath, or muche lyke. And there is sege leyde abowte, and dyvers squyers of the Erle of Northumbrelands, and gadered them to geder, a v. or vj.ml. [five or six thousand] men, to byger [bicker] with the sege, that in the mene while Herry the sexte myght have ben stole a way at a lytyll posterne on the bak syde; at whiche byker ben slayn iij.ml. [3000] men of the North. Sir Robert of Ocle and Conyrs leyth the sege on our syde, and thei it is that have do this acte. Sum say the Qwen, Somerset and the Prince schuld be there. Item, it is talked now for trouthe, the Erle of Northumberland is ded. Item, the Erle of Devenshire is ded justely.

Item, my Lord Chaunceler is to York. Item, the King and the Lords com not here before Whitsontyde, as it is sayde. Item, sir, sone uppon the chef baron comyng I schall send you a lettre, with Godds grace, who preserve you, and have you in His blyssed kepyng.

Your, Thomas Playters.

At Cokermouthe was the Erle of Wylchire taken, and these other Doctors. Item, som men talke Lord Wellys, Lord Wyllouby, and Skales ben on lyve. Item, Sir Robert Veer is slayn in Cornewayll, as it is tok for trouthe.

Note 1. [From Fenn, i. 222.] This letter relates mainly to occurrences just after the battle of Towton in April 1461.

1461. Thomas Playter To John Paston

To my right good maister, John Paston, in all hast.

After my most special recommendacion, please your maisterchip wete, the Kyng, be cause of the sege a boute Carelylle, chaunged his day of Coronacion to be upon the Sunday nexst after Seynt John Baptyste, so the'ntent to spede hym northward in all hast; and how be it, blyssed be God, that he hath now good tydynggs, that Lord Mountagu hath broken the sege, and slayn of Scotts vj^ml [6000] and ij. knyghes, whereof Lord Cliffords brother is one, yet not wythstandyng he wol be crowned the sayd Sunday. And John Jeney enformed me, and as I have verely lerned sethen, ye ar inbylled to be made knygth at this Coronacion.Wheder ye have understandyng before hand, I wot not; but and it lyke you to take the worchip uppon you, consyderyng the comfortable tytynggs afore seyd, and for the gladnesse and plesour of al your welwyllers, and to the pyne and dyscomfort of all your ille wyllers, it were tyme your gere necessarye on that by halfe were purveyd fore, and also ye had nede higth you to London, for as I conceyve the knygthes schuld be made uppon the Saterday by for the Coronacion; and as moche as may be purveyed for you in secrete wyse wythouten cost I schall by speke for you, if nede be, ayens your comyng, in trust of the best; neverthelesse, if ye be dysposed, ye had nede send a man by fore in all hast, that no thing be to seke. William Calthorp is inbylled, and Yelvertoun is inbylled, whiche caused Markham; because Yelverton loked to have ben chef juge, and Markham thynketh to plese hym thus. And as for the mater ayens Poutrell, we can no farther procede, tyl we have my maister your faders testament. I sent my maistres a letter for it. No more, but I pray Al myghty Jesu have you in His kepyng.

Your, Thomas Playter.

30th August 1461. 3.480. Lord Hungerford and Robert Whityngham to Margaret Of Anjou¹.

A la Reyne D'Engleterre [en] Escote.

Madam, please it yowr gode God, we have sith our comyng hider, writen to your Highnes thryes. The last we sent by Bruges, to be sent to you by the first vessell that went into Scotland; the oder ij. letters we sent from Depe, the ton by the Carvell in the whiche we came, and the oder in a noder vessell. But, ma dam, all was oon thyng in substance, of puttyng you in knolege of the Kyng your uncles² deth, whom God assoyll, and howe we sta[ n ]de arest [arrestea], and doo yet; but on Tuysday next we trust and understande, we shall up to the Kyng, your cosyn germayn³. His Comyssaries, at the first of our tarrying, toke all our letters and writyngs, and bere theym up to the Kyng, levyng my Lord of Somerset in kepyng atte Castell of Arkes⁴, and my felowe Whityngham and me, for we had sauff conduct, in the town of Depe, where we ar yete. But on Tyysday next we understand, that it pleaseth the said Kyngs Highnes that we shall come to hys presence, and ar charged to bring us up, Monsieur de Cressell, no we BailIyf of Canse, and Monsieur de la Mot.

Ma dam, ferth [ftar] you not, but be of gode comfort, and beware that ye aventure not your person, ne my Lord the Prynce,⁵ by the See, till ye have oder word from us, in less than your person cannot be sure there as ye ar, [and] that extreme necessite dryfe you thens; and for God sake the K yngs Highnes be advysed the same. For as we be enformed, Th' erll of March⁶ is into Wales by land, and hath sent his navy thider by see; and, Ma dame, thynketh verily, we shall not soner be delyvered, but that we woll come streght to you, withaut deth take us by the wey, the which we trust he woll not, till we see the Kyng and you peissible ayene in your Reame; the which we besech God soon to see, and to sen you that your Highnes. desireth. Writen at Depe the xxx tl dey of August. Your true Subgettes and Liege men.

Hungerford. Whityngham.

At the bottom of the Copy of the Letter is added:

Theese ar the names of those men that ar in Scotland with the Qyene. The Kyng Herry is at Kirkhowbre with iiij. men and a childe.

Quene Margaret is at Edenburgh and hir son.

The Lord Roos (age 33) and his son.

John Ormond, Sir Edmund Hampden, William Taylboys, Sir Henry Roos, Sir John Fortescu, John Courteney, Sir Thomas Fyndern, Myrfyn of Kent, Waynesford of London, Dauson, Thomas Thompson of Guynes, Thomas Burnby, Borret of Sussex. Thomas Brampton of Guynes, Sir John Welpdalle, Mr. Roger Clerk, of London, John Audeley of Guynes, John Retford, late Coubitt, Langheyn of Irland. Giles Senctlowe, Thomas Philip of G[i]ppeswich, John Hawt.

Note 1. [From Fenn, i. 246.] That this letter was written in the year 1461 is sufficiently evident from its contents. The MS. from which it was printed by Fenn was a copy in the handwriting of Henry Windsor, and was manifestly the enclosure referred to in his letter No. 483. It bore the same paper-mark as that letter.

Note 2. Charles VII of France. He died on the 22nd July 1461.

Note 3. Lewis Xl, son of Charles VII.

Note 4. Arques, in Normandy, south of Dieppe.

Note 5. Edward, son of Henry VI.

Note 6. Edward IV, whom the Lancastrians did not yet recognise as king.

1st November 1462. John Paston, Junior, To His Father¹

To my ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr, John Paston, be thys delyveryd in hast.

Ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I recomand me on to yow, beseechyng yow lowly of your blyssyng. Plesyt you to have knowlage that my Lord² is purposyd to send for my Lady, and is lyke to kepe his Crystmas here in Walys, for the Kyng hathe desyered hym to do the same. Wherfor I beseche yow that [ye] wole wychesave to send me sume mony by the berer herof; for, in good feythe, as it is not on knowyng to yow that I had but ij. noblys in my purse, whyche that Rychard Call took me by your comandement, when I departyd from yow owt of Norwyche. The berer herof schuld bye me a gowne with pert of the mony, if it plese yow to delyver hym as myche mony as he may bye it with; for I have but on gowne at Framyngham and an other here, and that is my levere gowne, and we must were hem every day for the mor part, and one gowne withowt change wyll sone be done.

As for tydyngs, my Lord of Warwyk yed forward in to Scotland as on Saterday [30th October 1462] last past with xx.ml. [20,000] men; and Syr Wylliam Tunstale is tak with the garyson of Bamborowth, and is lyke to be hedyd, and by the menys of Sir Rychard Tunstale³ is owne brodyr.

As sone as I here any more tydyngys, I schall send hem yow by the grace of God, who have yow in Hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast, at the Castle of the Holte [Map], upon Halowmas Daye.

Your sone and lowly servaunt,

J. Paston, Junior.

Note 1. [From Fenn, i. 266.] In the month of October 1462, as we learn from William Worcester, Margaret of Anjou came out of France, whither she had fled in spring, with a force of 2000 men, landed on the coast of Northumberland, and laid siege to Bamborough, which she took and placed in the keeping of the Duke of Somerset.

Note 2. The Duke of Norfolk.

Note 3. Sir Richard Tunstal was on Queen Margaret's side, while his brother William, it seems, was on that of King Edward.

11th December 1462. John Paston the Youngest to John Paston the Elder

To my ryth worchepful brodyr John Paston, the elder, sone of John Paston, Esquyer, be thys delyveryd in hast.

Ryth worchepfull brodedyr, I recomaunde me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet, that as thys day we had tydyngs here, that the Scottys wyll come in to Inglend with in vij. days aftyr the wrytyng of thys lettyr, for to rescue these iij. castellys, Alnewyk, Donsamborowe and Bameborowe, whyche castellys wer besegyd, as on yesterdaye. And at the sege of Allnewyk lythe my Lord of Kent and the Lord Scalys; and at Donsameborow castyll lythe the Erle of Wyrcetyr [and] Syr Rafe Grey; and at the castyll of Bameborow lythe the Lord Montagwe and Lord Ogyll, and othyr dyvers Lordys and gentylmen that I knowe not; and ther is to hem owt of Newe Castyll ordynans inowe, bothe for the segys and for the feld, in cas that ther be ony feld takyn, as I trow there shall none be not yet, for the Scottys kepe no promes. My Lord of Warwyk lythe at the castyll of Warcorthe, but iij. myle owt of Alnewyk, and he rydyth dayly to all thes castelys for to overse the segys; and if they want vataylys, or any othyr thyng, he is redy to pervey it for them to hys power. The Kyng comandyd my Lord of Norfolk for to condyth vetaylys and the ordynans owt of New Castyll on to Warcorthe Castyll, to my Lord of Warwyk; and so my Lord of Norfolk comandyd Syr John Howard, Syr William Peche, Syr Robert Chamberlyen, Rafe Ascheton and me, Calthorp and Gorge, and othyr, for to go forthe with the vytalys and ordynans on to my Lord of Warwyk; and so we wer with my Lord of Warwyk with the ordynans and vytalys yesterdaye. The Kyng lythe at Durham, and my Lord of Norfolk at New Castyll. We have pepyll inow here. In cas we abyd here, I pray you purvey that I may have here more mony by Crystmas Evyn at the ferthest, for I may get leve for to send non of my wagyd men home ageyn; ne man can get no leve for to go home but if they stell a wey, and if they myth be knowe, they schuld be scharply ponyschyd. Mak as merry as ye can, for ther is no joperte toward not yet. And ther be any joperte, I schall sone send yow word, by the grase of God. I wot well ye have more tydyngys then we have here, but thes be true tydyngs.

Yelverton and Jeney ar lek for to be gretly ponyschyd, for because they came not hedyr to the Kyng. They ar morkyn [marked] well inowe, and so is John Bylyngforthe and Thomas Playter; wherefor I am ryth sory. I pray yow let them have wetyng therof, that they may purvey their excuse in hast, so that the Kyng may have knowlage why that they come not to hym in ther one personys; let them come or send ther excuse to me in wrytyng, and I schall purvey that the Kyng schall have knowlage of ther excuse; for I am well aqueyntyd with my Lord Hastyngys, and my Lord Dakarys, whyche be now gretest abowt the Kyngys person; and also I am well aqueyntyd with the yonger Mortymere, Fererys, Hawte, Harpor, Crowmer, and Bosewell, of the Kyngys howse.

I pray yow let my grandam [Agnes Barry] and my cosyn Clere have knowlage how that I desyryd you to let hem have knowlage of the tydyngys in thys letyr, for I promysyd for to send them tydyngs.

I pray yow let my modyr have cnowelage how that I, and my felawscep, and your servauntys ar, at the wrytyng of this lettyr, in good hell, blesyd be God.

I pray yow let my fadyr have knowlage of thys lettyr, and of the todyr lettyr that I sent to my modyr by Felbryggys man; and how that I pray bothe hym and my modyr lowly of her blyssyngys.

I pray yow that ye wole send me some lettyr how ye do, and of your tydyngys with yow, for I thynk longe that I here no word fro my modyr and yow.

I pray yow that thys bill may recomand me to my systyr Margery, and to my mastres Jone Gayne, and to all gode mastyrys and felawys within Castyr. I sent no lettyr to my fadyr, never syn I departyd fro yow, for I kowd get no man to London, and never sythe.

I pray yow in cas ye spake with my cosyn Margaret Clere, recomande me to hyr; and Almythy God have yow in Hys kepyng.

Wretyn at Newcastyll on Saterday next aftyr the Consepsion of owyr Lady.

Your,

John Paston, the Yongest.

I pray yow let Rychard Call se thys lettyr.

1st March 1464. John Paston The Youngest To John Paston, His Father¹

To my rygte reverent and worchepfull fadyr, John Paston, dwellyng in Castyr, be thys delyveryd.

Ryth reverent and worchepfull fadyr, I recomand me on to yow, besechyng yow lowly of your blyssyng, desyryng to here of yowyr wellfar and prosperyte, the whyche I pray God preserve on to Hys plesans, and to yowyr hertys desyir; besechyng yow to have me excusyd that ye had no wrytyng fro me syth that I departyd frome yow; for so God me helpe, I send yow a lettyr to London anon aftyr Kandylmas, by a man of my Lordys; and he forgat to delyver yt to yow, and so he browt to me the lettyr ayen; and sythe that tyme I kowd get no messenger tyll now.

As for tydyngs, syche as we have here I send yow. My Lord and my Lady² ar in good hele, blyssyd be God, and my Lord hathe gret labore and cost here in Walys for to take dyvers gentyllmen here whyche wer consentyng and helpyng on to the Duke of Somersettys goyng; and they were apelyd of othyr se[r]teyn poyntys of treson, and thys mater. And bycause the Kyng sent my Lord woord to keep thys contre, is cause that my Lord terythe here thus longe. And now the Kyng hathe geve my Lord power, whedyr he wole do execusyon upon thes gentyllmen, or pardon hem, whedyr that hym lyst; and as fertheforthe as I kan undyrstand yet, they shall have grase. And as sone as thes men be come in, my Lord is perposyd to come to London, whyche I supose schall be within thys fortnyght. The menys namys that be apechyd ar thes, John Hanmer, and Wylliam hys sone, Roger Pulyston, and Edward of Madok; these be men of worchepe that schall come in.

The Comenys in Lancasher and Chescher wer up to the nombyr of a x. ml. [10,000] or more, but now they be downe ayen; and one or ij. of hem was hedyd in Chestyr as on Saterday last past.

Thomas Danyell³ is here in Chesscher, but I wot not in what plase, he hathe sent iij. or iiij. letyrys to Syr John Howard, syne my Lord come hedyr.

And othyr tydynggs her we none here, but that I supose ye have herd before; I supose veryly that it schall be so nye Esterne⁴ er ever my Lord come to London, that I schal not move [q. mowe? i.e. be able] come home to yow before Estern; wherfor I besech yow, that ye wole wyche save [vouchsafe] that one of your men may send a byll to myne oncyll Clement, or to som othyr man, who that ye wole, in youyr name, that they may delyver me the mony that I am behynd of this quarter syn Crystmas, and for the next quarter, in parte of that some that it plesid yow to grant me by yer; for by my trowthe, the felawchep have not so myche mony as we wend to have had be ryth myche; for my Lord hath had gret costs syn he came hedyr. Wherfore I besech yow, that I may have this mony at Estern, for I have borowyd mony that I must paye ayen after Estern: and I pray to Allmyty God have yow in kepyng.

Wretyn in the Castyll of the Holte, in Walys, the fyrst day of Marche.Your sone and lowly servant,

John Paston, the yongest

Note 1. [From Fenn, i. 284.] ‘The Duke of Somerset's going' here referred to cannot well be his flight to Scotland in 1462 (see No. 512), though the time of year at which this letter is dated would agree very well with that supposition; for it appears by Letter 511 that John Paston, the father, was at that time residing in the Temple and not at Caister; nor indeed have we distinct evidence of his being at the latter place before 1464. Moreover, in the beginning of 1463, Somerset had just made his peace with King Edward and been received into favour, but early in 1464 he rebelled again. There can be little doubt, therefore, that this year is the true date.

Note 2. John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, and Elizabeth, his wife.

Note 3. This gentleman had a reversionary grant of the constableship of Rising Castle in 1448, 27 Hen. VI. He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Robert Howard, and sister of Sir John, afterwards Duke of Norfolk. He is said to have been attainted in the 1 Edw. IV., but fully restored both in blood and possessions in the 14th of the same King. He was esquire of the body to Henry VI.—F.

Note 4. In 1464 Easter Day fell on the 1st of April.

781. Sir JOHN PASTON (age 29) To John Paston³

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

28th September 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.

21st January 1476. John Paston To Margaret Paston¹

To my ryght worchepful modyr., Margaret Paston.

After all dewtes of recomendacyon, pleasyt yow to weet that as yesterday att noon my brodyr Sir John departyd fro Norwyche towardes London; for as now all the sped is with the Kyng for the swerte of the maner of Caster., consyderyng the dyeing seasyd of my Lord of Norffolk (deceased). He trustyth to be in thys contre ayen with in x. or xij. dayes. And at hys departyng he seyd to me that ye sent hym woord to selle the clothe of gold, if he myght selle it well, whyche clothe I thynke may be sold, iff ye wyll agre; not withstandyng I wylIe make no bargayn for it, tyll ye send me woord of the serteyn some what ye wyll have for it, or ellys ye to have it ayen. Sir Robard Wyngfeld offyrd me yesterday xx. mark for it, but I wot well ye shall have more for it, if ye wyll sell it; wher for, as ye wyll deele in this mater, I prey yow send me woord to morew be tymys, for if thys bargayn be forsakyn., I trow it wyll be longe er ye kan get an other bargayn to selle it eny thyng aftyr that is woorthe.

Modyr., in as humbyll wyse as I can, I beseche yow of your blyssyng. I trust fro hense foorthe that we shall have our chyldyr in rest with ought rebwkyng for ther pleying wanton; for it is told me your ostass at Freton hathe gotyn hyr syche a thyng to pley with, that our other chyldyr shall have leve to sporte theym. God send hyr joye of it.

Wretyn at Norwyche, thys Sonday.

Your sone and humbyll servaunt,

John Paston.

Note 1. [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is shown by internal evidence to have been written shortly after the Duke of Norfolk's death, which, as we have seen, took place on the 17th January 1476. It was written on a Sunday, and states that Sir John Paston had left Norwich the day before. The letter following, which is of the 23rd January, is dated by John Paston, 'Tuesday next after your (Sir John's) departing; so that the Sunday on which this was written must certainly have been the 21st.

14th February 1477. Margery Brews to John Paston (age 33)¹.

Unto my ryght welebelovyd Voluntyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this bill delyvered, &c.

Right reverent and wurschypfull, and my ryght welebeloved Voluntyne [Valentine], I recomande me unto yowe, ffull hertely desyring to here of yowr welefare, whech I beseche Almyghty God long for to preserve un to Hys plesur, and yowr herts desyre. And yf it please yowe to here of my welefar, I am not in good heele of body, nor of herte, nor schall be tyll I her ffrom yowe;

For there wottys no creature what peyn that I endure,

And for to be deede, I dare it not dyscure [discover].

And my lady my moder hath labored the mater to my ffadur full delygently, but sche can no mor gete then ye knowe of, for the whech God knowyth I am full sory. But yf that ye loffe me, as I tryste verely that ye do, ye will not leffe me therefor; for if that ye hade not halfe the lyvelode that ye hafe, for to do the grettest labur that any woman on lyve myght, I wold not forsake yowe.

And yf ye commande me to kepe me true wherever I go,

I wyse I will do all my myght yowe to love and never no mo.

And yf my freends say, that I do amys,

Thei schal not me let so for to do,

Myne hene me bydds ever more to love yowe

Truly over all erthely thing,

And yf thei be never so wroth,

I tryst it schall be better in tyme commyng.

No more to yo we at this tyme, but the Holy Trinite hafe yowe in kepyng. And I besech yowe that this bill be not seyn of none erthely creatur safe only your selffe, &c.

And thys letter was indyte at Topcroft, with full hevy herte, &c.

By your own, Margery Brews.

Note 1. [From Fenn, ii. 210.]

Note. This letter is considered by many to be the first Valentine's message.