The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Paston Letters, Volume VI (of 6), Part 1 (Letters, Chronological Table), Edited by James Gairdner

[This text] uses UTF-8 (Unicode) file encoding. If the apostrophes and quotation marks in this paragraph appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable fonts. First, make sure that your browser’s “character set” or “file encoding” is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change the default font.

The Gairdner edition of the Paston Letters was printed in six volumes. Each volume is a separate e-text; Volume VI is further divided into two e-texts, Letters and Index. Volume I, the General Introduction, will be released after all other volumes, matching the original publication order.

All brackets are in the original, as are parenthetical question marks and (sic) notations. Series of dots representing damaged text are shown as printed. Note that the printed book used z to represent original yogh ȝ. This has not been changed for the e-text. The copy number (first page of each volume) is hand-written.

The year of each letter was printed in a sidenote at the top of the page; this has been merged with the sidenote at the beginning of each letter. Footnotes have their original numbering, with added page number to make them usable with the full Index. They are grouped at the end of each Letter or Abstract.

Text lightly shaded in violet indicates the site of a typographical error. Hover the cursor over the shaded text, and the explanation should appear. Typographical errors are listed again at the end of the Letter, after any footnotes. In the primary text, errors were only corrected if they are clearly editorial, such as missing italics, or mechanical, such as u-for-n misprints. Italic “d” misprinted as “a” was a recurring problem. The word “invisible” means that there is an appropriately sized blank space, but the letter or punctuation mark itself is missing.

Some Specifics: The spelling “Jhon” is not an error. Gresham and Tresham are different people. Conversely, the inconsistent spelling of the name “Lipyate” or “Lipgate” in footnotes is unchanged.

[The Paston Letters: Edward IV]
[The Paston Letters: Edward V]
[The Paston Letters: Richard III]
[The Paston Letters: Henry VII]
[Wills]
[Chronological Table]
[Contents of this Volume]

If you are comfortable typing directly into your browser’s address bar, you can go straight to any page or letter. Simply add #pageN or #letterN to the end of the file name, where “N” is the number of the page or letter.

This edition, published by arrangement with Messrs. Archibald Constable and Company, Limited, is strictly limited to 650 copies for Great Britain and America, of which only 600 sets are for sale, and are numbered 1 to 600.

No. . . 47 . . .

THE PASTON LETTERS
A.D. 1422-1509

[Text of Title Page]

Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty

[THE PASTON LETTERS]
Edward IV

[936]
SIR JOHN PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[1.1]

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

1478
AUG. 25

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;[1.2] and then it is supposyd that he shalle to my Lady off Norffolk.[1.3] 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[1.4] off the beneffyse, as they ded with the beneffice off 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[2.1] 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[2.2] hathe pleyid 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 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,[3.1] anno E. iiij^ti xviij^o. John Paston, K.

[1.1] [From Fenn, ii. 270.]

[1.2] Joan, sister to Henry, Duke of Buckingham, was the second wife of Sir William Knevet, Knight, of Bokenham Castle, in Norfolk.—F.

[1.3] Elizabeth, widow of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.—F.

[1.4] Agnes Paston, grandmother to Sir John, presented Thomas Everard to the Rectory of Oxnead in 1475, and in 1479, she again presented William Barthulmew, so that the Duke of Suffolk either did not attempt to disturb her right; or at least did not succeed, if he endeavoured to do it.—F. It will be seen by No. 935 that before presenting William Barthulmew she presented Dr. Richard Lyncoln.

[2.1] A word at this time, implying a friend, or intimate acquaintance, who really slept in the same bed. See Steevens’ Shakspeare, Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 2.—F.

[2.2] John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, had been for several years a prisoner in the Castle of Hammes, in Picardy. He became a favourite of Henry VII. and died in the reign of Henry VIII.—F.

[3.1] St. Bartholomew’s Day is the 24th August. ‘The day next St. Bartholomew’ should be the 25th, unless the writer meant to say ‘next before.’

[937]
ABSTRACT[3.2]

William Paston to Nicholas Goldewell

1478
OCT. 9

Spoke to him on Sunday about a clerk presented by William Paston’s mother to the Church of Oxnead, and not admitted, though the presentation was delivered to Master John Bulman, my lord’s deputy, within the time limited by law. Requests him to get the Bishop to do him justice. The living is of small value, and the delay can be of little benefit to my lord. Desires an answer by the bearer, Sir William Upgate, Vicar of Castre.

Norwich, 9 Oct.

[The MS. is a corrected draft partly in William Paston’s own hand, endorsed ‘The copy of a lettre to Mr. Nicholas Goldewell, broder to the Busshopp of Norwich, ix^o Octobris, anno xviij^o E. iiij^ti, by Sir William Ubgate, Vicar of Castre.’]

[3.2] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

[938]
ABSTRACT[3.3]

William Paston To William Pope of Bacton

1478
OCT. 17

Cannot be at the Court at Paston on Monday next. Bids him warn the tenants to keep the Court on Friday instead, and to bring their rents, for he will be there himself. He is also to warn the tenants of Bakton to-morrow openly in the church of the said Court to be kept on Friday next; also the tenants of Swaffeld, Mundesley,[4.1] Edyngthorpe, and Wytton.

Norwich, Saturday after St. Edward,[4.2] the —— October.

[The MS. is a draft with corrections in the handwriting of William Paston, endorsed—‘The copy of a lettre to William Pope of Bacton, the xvij. day of Octobre, anno xviij^o E. iiij^ti, by William Dam of Rughton.’]

[3.3] Ibid.

[4.1] This name is very ill written, and looks more like ‘Maxsley’; but Mundesley is the only place in the neighbourhood that seems at all probable.

[4.2] Translation of St. Edward the Confessor, 13th October. The Saturday after it in 1478, was the 17th, but the writer has left only a blank for the day.

[939]
WILLIAM PASTON, JUNIOR, TO JOHN PASTON[4.3]

To hys worchepful brodyr, John Paston, be thys delyvered in hast.

1478
NOV. 7

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 resevyd of Alwedyr a lettyr and a nobyll in gowlde therin. Ferthermor my creansyr [creditor], Mayster Thomas,[4.4] hertely recomandyd hym to yow, and he praythe yow to sende hym sum mony for my comons; for he seythe ye be xx^tis. 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 when I schall be redy to come 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.

[4.3] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] William Paston, the writer of this letter, was a younger son of old John Paston, and brother of the John Paston to whom the letter is addressed. He was born, as Fenn tells us, in 1459, and it will be seen by what is said of him in Letter 842 that he could not possibly be older. He was now at Eton finishing his education, and we have a letter from him written there on the 23rd of February 1479, which gives good reason for attributing this to the November immediately before.

[4.4] Thomas Stevenson. See [Letter 942] post.

[940]
ERRANDS TO MARLINGFORD[5.1]

1479
JAN. 18

Do[5.2] 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[5.2] Sir John Chapman,[5.3] 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.[5.4]

Do[5.2] 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 Norwych, 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 parteculer tenauntes off Melton that have had parteculer fermys fro Michaelmas xvij. til Michaelmas xviij. to pay ther fermys.

[5.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a paper of memoranda by William Paston, partly in his own handwriting, endorsed—‘Erandes to Marlyngford, the xvij. day of Januar, anno xviij^o, wer off a copy was delyvered at Sent Edmundes the same d[ay].’

[5.2] ‘Do,’ i.e. cause.

[5.3] He was rector of St. Mary’s Church, Melton.

[5.4] This paragraph is crossed out in the MS.

[Sidenote] JAN. 18
date printed as shown, but see first footnote

Footnote 5.1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]
comma missing or invisible

[941]
WILLIAM PYKENHAM TO MARGARET PASTON[6.1]

To my Mastresse M[argaret Paston], att Norwiche.

1479
FEB. 2

My worschypfull mastresse, I recomende me un to yow, and thanke yow of yowr approvyd ensewryd gyudenesse evermore shewde, and so I pray yow to contenew. 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. Therfor I present not yowr desyre un to my lorde,[6.2] 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],[6.3] to yowr honor, prosperite, an to the plesur of Godde, with yowre and all yowres, Ho have yow in Hyse blessyd kepyng.

From Hoxne on Candylmasse Day. William Pykynham.[7.1]

I sende yow yowr presente agen in the boxe.

[6.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] Walter Paston, to whom this letter refers, died in August 1479. This letter was probably written in the beginning of the same year. The date certainly cannot be 1478, if No. 926 has been assigned to the right year, for it will be seen that the writer was then in London, and so much occupied that he had little prospect of visiting Norfolk for some time.

[6.2] James Goldwell was consecrated by Pope Sextus IV. Bishop of Norwich in 1472. He resided much at his manor of Hoxne, where he died in 1498.—F.

[6.3] These words are struck through with the pen.

[7.1] William de Pykenham became Chancellor of Norwich and Archdeacon of Suffolk in 1471, and was also some time Rector of Hadleigh in Suffolk, where he built the grand gate or tower before the parsonage. He died in 1497.—F.

[942]
WILLIAM PASTON, JUNIOR, TO JOHN PASTON[7.2]

To his worchepfull broder, John Paston, be thys delivered in hast.

1479
FEB. 23

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 the jentylman hym selfe, cawlyd Wylliam Swanne, whos dwyllynge 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 sche 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 contynuance.

Quæritur, Quomodo non valet hora, valet mora? Unde dicitur?

Arbore jam videas exemplum. Non die possunt,

Omnia suppleri; sed tamen illa mora.[8.1]

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, Jun^r.

[7.2] [From Fenn, i. 296.] This letter was written on the 23rd of February, and the Monday following the date was the first Monday of Lent. These particulars prove the letter to have been written in 1479, when William Paston was between nineteen and twenty years of age.

[8.1] I am favoured by Lady Beatrice Pretyman with a facsimile of this Latin theme and distich from the original MS. My reading of the contracted words differs from that printed originally by Fenn.

but hyr moder and sche come to a place of hyrs
text has “sch come”: corrected from Fenn

[943]
PARSONAGE OF OXNEAD[9.1]

1479

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 viij^te day of Septembre last past, anno xviij^o.

The day of vj. monethes affter Our seide Lady Day, the Nativite was on Seint Mathes Day[9.2] 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[9.3] 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 xviij^o, 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. Neverthelesse the Bisshoppys officeres aunsware this sayng, that if sondry persones deliver ij. sondrye presentacions for to diverse clarkes to the Bisshoppes officers for one 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.

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][10.1] 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 l. 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,[10.2] 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 ——[10.3] 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 . . . . [several lines lost] . . . . . .

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.

. . . . . of the consistore in Norwich, and he hath 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 ———[11.1] 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, (?) 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 (?) . . . . . . and now I in na . . . . . for if it please my moder, me thynke it was well done, Sir William Storor had . . . .

[The rest unintelligible.]

[9.1] [Add. Charter 17,251, B.M.] It is sufficiently evident that the date of this paper must be later than the 24th February, 1479. It appears to be a set of memoranda or instructions by William Paston, addressed to his servant Richard Lee. The MS. is a small roll of paper very mutilated and partly illegible from the effect of damp.

[9.2] St. Matthias’ Day (not St. Matthew’s) is meant.

[9.3] Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.

[10.1] Crossed out in MS.

[10.2] Afterwards Attorney-General to Henry VII. He was Reader of Lincoln’s Inn in Lent, 18 Edward IV.

[10.3] Blank in MS.

[11.1] Blank in original.

[944]
EDMUND ALYARD TO MARGARET PASTON[11.2]

To his worshepful mastres, Mastres Margaret Paston.

1479
MARCH 4

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 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.

[11.2] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It appears by subsequent letters that Walter Paston actually took a degree at Oxford at Midsummer, and it will be seen by next letter, which is dated by its endorsement, that he must have done so in 1479—the year of his death.

[945]
WALTER PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[12.1]

To hys ryth reverend broder, Sir John Paston, at Caster Hall, in Norfolk.

1479
MAY 22

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 Mychylmas, 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[12.2] schold have procedyd at Mydsomer, but he woll tary now tyll Michylmas; but as I send word to 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.

[12.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is endorsed in a contemporary hand, apparently Sir John Paston’s own, ‘anno xix^o,’ showing that it was written in the nineteenth year of Edward IV.

[12.2] Lionel Woodville, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury.

[946]
WALTER PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[13.1]

To hys ryth trusty and hartyly belovyd broder, John Paston, abydyng at the Georg, at Powlys Qwharfe, in London, be this letter delyveryd.

1479
JUNE 30

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 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.

[13.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] See preliminary note to Letter 944, [p. 11, note 2].

[947]
ABSTRACT[14.1]

1479
JULY 7

Bill witnessing the delivery of plate by Geoffrey Hunt on behalf of William Paston to John Davy and Alice, his wife, late wife of John Gygges of Burnham, 7 July, 19 Edw. IV. The parcels are:—‘A round salt covered, parcel gilt at the borders, weighing 19 oz. 1½ qr., and also 6 silver spoons, square sharp knoppys, weighing 5 oz. 3 qr. 1 dwt.’; which Davy and his wife engage to keep safely, and redeliver to William Paston or Geoffrey Hunt before the feast of St. Faith next coming.

[Two seals.]

[14.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

[948]
ABSTRACT[14.2]

William Paston to Thomas Lynsted

1479
JULY 11

Hears that he has felled wood and firs, etc. ‘Also Jullis hath do made saw (?) zattes.’ Desires him to ‘find the means that the young spring may be saved, and the wood fenced. . . . . And also let me be answered both for the old payment and the new of wood sale.’

11 July.

P.S.—‘If Jullis have made a gate, it is the better for the spring,’ etc.

[The MS. is a very illegible note in William Paston’s hand, written on a small scrap of paper, and endorsed ‘A letter to Thomas Linsti[d], the —— (blank) day of Julii, anno xix. E. iiij^ti.’]

[14.2] Ibid.

[949]
WILLIAM PASTON TO HENRY WARYNS[15.1]

1479
JULY 19

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 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 to London be some massenger. As for Waryn Kynge, wer I understand be zour wrytyn that he seyth he delyver me all evydens, I understand 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.

Endorsed by the writer:—

‘A letter to Harry Waryns the xix day of Jule, A^o xix E. iiij^ti by John Ancell off Paston.’

[15.1] [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 133.] The year of this letter appears by the endorsement. The MS. is a draft, partly in a clerk’s hand, corrected and continued in that of William Paston himself.

[950]
WILL OF WALTER PASTON[16.1]

1479
AUG. 18

In Dei nomine, Amen. Ego, Walterus Paston, clericus, in bona et sana memoria existens, condo testamentum meum apud Norwicum xviiij^o die mensis Augusti in hunc modum. Inprimis lego animam meam Deo Omnipotenti, Beatæ Mariæ et omnibus Sanctis, et corpus meum ad sepeliendum in ecclesia Sancti Petri de Hundegate, coram ymagine Sancti Johannis Baptistæ. Item, lego summo altari præfatæ ecclesiæ, iijs. iiijd. Item, lego reparacioni ecclesiæ supradictæ, ijs. vjd. Item, Fratri Johanni Somerton, bachalaureo, vs. Item, lego Magistro Edmundo unam togam penulatam cum manicis de mynkys. Item, lego Roberto Wulff unam togam viridem ——[16.2] cum chamelet. Item, lego Roberto Holand, filio spirituali, togam meam curtam. Item, lego Magistro Roberto Hollar unam togam penulatam cum gray. Item, lego Johanni Parker mantellum meum rubeum. Item, lego Magistro Roberto Hollere unum pulvinar vocatum le bolstar. Item, lego Magistro Edmundo Alyard unum pulvinar. Item, lego Ricardo Richardson unam togam penulatam ad manus cum menyver. Item, volo quod residuum bonorum meorum in Oxonia sit ad usum Magistri Edmundi Alyard, sic quod solvat . . . .[17.1] Johanni Skelton et Thomæ Coco. Item, volo quod oves meæ, quas habet Willelmus Bataly senior in villa de Mawteby, dividantur equaliter inter fratrem meum Edmundum Paston, et sororem meam Annam Yelverton, et sororem meam Margeriam Paston, uxorem fratris mei Johannis Paston. Item, lego terras et tenementa manerij mei de Cressyngham, si possum dare, fratri meo Johanni Paston armigero, sibi et hæredibus suis, sub condicione ista, quod si contingat fratrem meum prædictum, Johannem Paston, esse hæredem patris mei, quod nullo modo habeat terras et tenementa prædicta, sed quod frater meus Edmundus Paston habeat terras et tenementa prædicta sibi et suis hæredibus. Residuum vero bonorum non legatorum lego et do disposicioni executorum meorum, ut et ipsi fideliter disponant pro anima mea.

Hujus autem testamenti mei executores condo per præsentes, fratrem meum Johannem Paston, armigerum, pro ista patria, et Magistrum Edmundum Alyard pro bonis meis remanentibus Oxoniæ.

[16.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It will be seen by the next letter that Walter Paston was dead before the 21st August 1479. This will was probably drawn up on the very day he died, or just before.

[16.2] Blank in MS.

[17.1] Here occurs a short word, which is to me unintelligible. It seems to be written ‘pⁱuli.’

[Sidenote] AUG. 18
printed as shown, but text of letter says “xviiij” (19)

[951]
WILLIAM PASTON’S PLATE[17.2]

1479
AUG. 19

This indenture made the xix. day of August, anno xix^o [witnesseth][17.3] that I, Richard Lee, have delivered to Mr. John Russhe thes parcellis folowyng of plate [and][17.4] of silver:—

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.

ij. 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., a^o xix^o.’

[17.2] [Add. MS. 27,451, f. 2, B.M.]

[17.3] Omitted in MS.

[17.4] Erased.

[952]
[EDMUND PASTON TO JOHN PASTON[18.1]]

1479
AUG. 21

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 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. iiij^ti xix^o.

[18.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is neither signed nor addressed, but is in the handwriting of Edmund Paston, and is endorsed by John Paston the younger, ‘Dies mortis A. P.’

[953]
ABSTRACT[19.1]

Manor of Marlingford

1479
AUG. 26

Declaration by Robert Mill, John Hobbes, John Claryngton, Thomas Davy, John Brygge, John Watyr, and William Parson, tenants of the manor of Marlyngford, before the Abbot of St. Benet’s, John [R]adclyf Fywater,[19.2] Mr. John Smyth, Robert Ippeswell, William Lomnor, John Paston, Esq., William Yelverton, senior, John Coke, alderman, William Bastard, gentleman, and William Fuller, that they have always held of the manor in the name of Agnes Paston, daughter, and one of the heirs of Edmund Bery, Knt., and in her name only, till Saturday [21 Aug.] before St. Bartholomew Apostle, 19 Edw. IV., when her son, William Paston, desired them to attorn to him without showing writing or evidence.

Done in the parlour of John Cooke, 26 Aug., 19 Edw. IV. Signed: ‘Thomas, Abbot of Seynt Benettes of Hulme.’—‘J. Radclyff Fytzwauter.’—‘John Smyth, clerk.’—‘Robert Ipeswell.’—‘Will. Lomnor.’—‘W. Yelverton.’—‘John Cook.’—‘Will’m Bastard.’—‘Will. Fuller.’

[19.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

[19.2] John Radcliff, son and heir of Sir John Radcliff, called Lord Fitzwalter in No. 450 (vol. iii.). He was summoned to Parliament as Lord Fitzwalter in the first year of Henry VII.

[954]
MEMORANDA[19.3]

1479
AUG.

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 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.

[19.3] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] These memoranda are in the handwriting of Sir John Paston. From the inquiry whether Agnes Paston was yet buried the date is evidently in August 1479.

To enquire, off myn, oncle William
text unchanged: superfluous comma after “myn”?

[955]
RICHARD CALLE TO MARGARET PASTON[20.1]

1479, or earlier

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[20.2] 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 covinauntes; 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 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.

[20.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter is not addressed, but seems to have been intended for Margaret Paston. The date is not very material, but as it mentions Sir John Paston, it cannot be later than 1479, the year in which he died. Perhaps it is about the year 1472. See Nos. 819, 820.

[20.2] Barkers, or tanners to whom the bark of the woods had been sold.

[956]
SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[21.1]

To the ryght worshypfull mestresse, Margret Paston, be thys delyveryd.

1479
OCT. 29

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,[21.2] 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[21.3] 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 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,[22.1] 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. iiij^ti xix^o.

Late my brother John se thys bille, for he knoweth mor off thys mater. John Paston, K.

[21.1] [From Fenn, ii. 276.]

[21.2] John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk.—F.

[21.3] Fenn reads ‘ffoodyd ne,’ and in the modern copy ‘fooded not forth,’ of which some fanciful explanations are suggested in a footnote. The true reading ought certainly to be ‘me’ and not ‘ne,’ the meaning evidently being ‘he has put me off ever since.’ ‘To fode out with words’ is an expression which, as Halliwell informs us, occurs in Skelton, Harrington, etc.

[22.1] John Morton, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cardinal.

[957]
JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[23.1]

To Syr John Paston, Knyght.

1479
NOV. 6

Syr, aftyr all dwtes of recomendacyon, pleasyt to undyrstand, 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 wryghtyng 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 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 seying.

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,[24.1] late of Owby, in the conte of Norffolk, Sqwyr, dwryng the nonnage of my Lord and Lady of York,[24.2] thow it cost iiij. or v. mark the swte. Let myn oncle 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 departyng thens, they have dyed, and ben syke nye in every house of the towne.

[23.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] It will be seen from the contents that this letter must have been written after the receipt of the last, or of one to the same effect addressed to John Paston.

[24.1] The writer probably intended to say ‘son and heir to William Clippesby,’ who died about this time. His widow Catherine, the daughter of John Spelman, Esq., of Stow Bekerton, soon afterwards married Edmund Paston.

[24.2] Richard, Duke of York, son of Edward IV., at this time a child of seven years old, and Anne Mowbray, daughter of the late Duke of Norfolk, to whom he was married in 1478.

[958]
WILLIAM PASTON TO ROBERT WALSH[26.1]

1479
NOV. 22

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 tytyll 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.

[26.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This letter or fragment of a letter is a corrected draft in William Paston’s hand, and is endorsed by him:—‘A letter to Roberd Walsche of Colby, the —— day off Novembre, anno xix.’

[959]
JULLYE TO HIS FATHER[26.2]

1479
NOV.

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[26.3] 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 ——[26.4] Jullye, clark of Sent Edmundes, to his fadyr, to North Walsham, the ——[26.4] day Novembr’, anno xix.

[26.2] [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

[26.3] ‘Wer I lothe’ has been crossed through, and ‘thatt will abide’ written over.

[26.4] Blanks in MSS.

[960]
MANOR OF KNAPTON[27.1]

Mr. Thomas Pasche of Wynsowr toke the astate and retorne to the Dean and Colage of Wynsowr infra Castrum.

And one ——[27.2] Holme, atornay off corte, is recognis (?) 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 xviij^o, Martyn Smyth.

F[ro] M. xviij. till xix^o, Roberd Fraunk (?), his place bonde.

Fro M. xix. till xx^o, Thomas Frank, his place fre.

[27.1] [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This is a paper of memoranda in the handwriting of William Paston, endorsed ‘A mater tochyng Knapton for my fee.’

[27.2] Blank in MS.

[961]
CRESSINGHAM MANOR[27.3]

1479
NOV. 25

Receyved at Cressingham, the Thirsday nex aftyr Seynt Edmund[27.4] at the corte ther vli. xs. by the handes of me, John Paston, Sqwyer.