Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

John Paston III

PERHAPS TO THOMAS PLAYTER: DRAFT 1461, 03

I recomawnde me to yow, and lete yow wete þat notwythstandyng tydingges come downe, os ye knowe, þat pepill shuld not come vp tyll thei were sent fore, but to be redy at all tymes, this notwithstandyng mech pepill owt of this cuntré have take wages, seying thei woll goo vp to London. But thei have no capteyn ner rewler assigned be the comissioneres to awayte vp-on, and so thei stragyll abowte be them-self and be lyklynes arn not leke to come at London, half of them. And men that come from London sey there have not passid Thetford not passyng

cccc and yet the townes and the cuntré that have waged hem shall thynk thei be dischargid. And therfore if this lordes above wayte aftyr more pepill in this cuntré, be lyklynes it woll not be easy to get wyth-owt a newe comission and warnyng; and yet it woll be thought ryght straunge of hem that have waged pepill to wage any more, for euery towne hath waged and sent forth, and arn redy to send forth as many as thei ded whan the Kyng sent for hem be-fore the feld at Lodlowe, and thoo that arn not goo be in goyng in the same forme.
Item, ther was shrewd rewle toward in this cuntré, for ther was a certeyn person forth-wyth aftyr the jurny at Wakefeld gadered felaship to have mordered John Damme, as it is seyd; and also ther is at the castell of Rysing and in other ij plases made gret gaderyng of pepill and hyryng of harneys, and it is wele vndyrstand they be not to the Kyng ward, but rather the contrary and for to robbe. Wherfore my fadyr is in a dowte whedir he shall send my broþer vp or not, for he wold have his owne men abowte hym if nede were here, but notwythstandyng he wyll send vp Dawbeney, his spere and bowes wyth hym, as Stapilton and Calthorp or other men of worship of this cuntré agree to doo. Wherfore demene yow in doyng of yowre erandes ther-aftyr, and iff ye shall bryng any massage from the lordes take writyng, for Dancortes massage is not verely beleved be-cause he browt no wrytyng.
Item, this cuntré wold fayne take these fals shrewes that arn in oppynion contrary yo the Kyng and his counsell, if they had any auctorité from the Kyng to do so.
Item, my brother is redyn to Yarmowth for to lette brybours that wold a robbed ship vndyr colour of my lord of Warwyk, and longe nothyng to hem ward.

TO JOHN PASTON I 1461, 11, 10

To my most reuerent and worchepfull fadyr John Paston be thys delyueryd in hast.

Most reuerent and worchepfull fadyr, i recomande me to yow lowly, preying yow of yowyr blyssyng and hertly desyiryng to her of yowyr welfare and prosperyté, the whyche i prey God preserue and kepe to hys plesans and to yowyr hertys desyir. Plesyt yow to haue knowlage þat i haue spoke wyth Warwyk and Stwklé fore the plase and þe londys in Arleham, and they wyle not geue but vj d. for an acre, and they to kepe the reparacion of the plase; but so i wold not lete heme haue it. But Stwklé hathe promysyd me þat all the londys schalle be purveyd for as for thys yer. Warwyk was wyth my modyr as thys day, and he desyiryth to haue the londys in Arleham for vij d. an acre as for thys yer. And in as myche as Stwklé had promysyd me to purvey for the londys for thys yer, i cownselyd my modyr þat he schuld not haue heme wyth-owt he wold tak hem for a longer terme. As for Kook, he wole no lenger hold the plase and the xviij acrys nowthyr for vij nor viij d. an acr and to kepe the reparacion of the plase. He wole geue but vj d. for an acr, and he to kepe the reparacion of the plase; and yet he wole not be bownde to repare the plase. And so he wole no lenger haue it but he may haue it for vj d. i haue spoke wyth Dame Alys Neche and Jaferey Spyrlyng, and they haue agreyd bothe þat ther schall be set a tenaunt by bothe ther assenttys

for to ocwpye the londys that they be at debat for tyll ye come home, and as ye determyne the mater when ye come home they bothe hold hem wele payid. And All-mythy God haue yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast on Seynt Martynys Evyn. Yowyr sone and seruaunt John Paston þe yonger

TO JOHN PASTON 1462, 11, 01

To my ryth reuerent and worchepfull fadyr John Paston be thys delyueryd in hast.

Ryth reuerent and worchepfull fadyr, i recomand me on-to yow, besechyng yow lowly of yowyr blyssyng. Plesyt yow to haue knowlage þat my lord is purposyd to send for my lady, and is lyke to kepe hys Crystmas her in Walys, for þe Kyng hathe desyiryd hym to do þe same. Wherfor i beseche yow þat removeye wole wychesaue to send me some mony by the berer herof, for in good feythe, as it is not onknowyng to yow, þat i had but ij noblys in my purse whyche þat Rychard Call took me by yowyr comandement when i departyd frome yow owt of Norwyche. The berer her-of schuld bye me a gowne wyth pert of the mony, if it plese yow to delyuer hym as myche mony as he may bye it wyth; for i haue bot on gowne at Framyngham and an other her, and þat is my leueré gowne and we must wer hem euery day for þe most part, and on gowne wyth-owt change wyll sone be done. As for tydyngys, my lord of Warwyk yed forward in-to Scotlond as on Saterday last past wyth xx ml men, and Syr Wylliam Tunstale is tak wyth þe garyson of Bamborowhg, and is lyke to be hedyd, by þe menys of Syr Rychard Tunstale is owne brodyr.

As sone as i her ony more tydyngys i schall send hem yow, by þe grace of God who haue yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn in hast at the castyremovel of þe Holt vp-on Halowmas Daye. Yowyr sone and lowly seruaunt J. Paston, junior

TO JOHN PASTON II 1462, 12, 11

To my ryth worchepfull brodyr John Paston the older, sone of John Paston, esqwyer, be thys delyueryd in hast.

Ryth worchepfull brodyr, i recomand me to yow. Plesyt yow to wet þat as thys day we had tydyngys her that the Scottys wyll come in-to Inglond wyth-in vij days aftyr the wryttyng of thys letter 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 þe Lord Scalys, and at Donsameborow castyll lythe the Erle of Wyrcetyr, Syr Rafe Grey, and at the castyll of Bameborow lythe the Lord Montagwe and þe Lord Ogyll and othyr dyuers lordys and gentylmen that i knowe not; and ther is to hem owte of New-castyll ordynans jnowe bothe for the segys and for the feld in cas that ther be ony feld takyn, as i trowe ther scremovehall none be not yet, for the Scottys kepe no promes. Lord of Warwyk lythe at þe castyll of Warcorthe but iij myle owt of Alnewyk, and he rydyth dayly to all thes castelys for to ouer-se the segys, and if they want vetaylys or ony othyr thyng he is redy for to puruey 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 Chamberleyn, Rafe Ascheton, and me and Calthorp and Gorge and othyr for to go forthe wyth the vytalys and ordynans on-to my lord of Warwyk, and so we wer wyth my lord of Warwyk wyth þe ordynans and vytalys yesterdaye.

The Kyng lythe at Durham and my lord of Norfolk at New-castyll; we haue pepyll j-now her. In cas we abyd her i pray yow puruey þat i may haue her more mony by Crystmas Evyn at the ferthest, for i may get leue for to send non of my wagyd men home ageyn. No man can get no leue for to go home but if they stell a-wey, and if they myth be knowe they schud be scharply ponyschyd. Mak as mery as ye can, for ther is no joperté toward not yet; and ther be ony joperté i schall sone send yow word, by the grase of God. I wot well ye haue more tydyngys than we haue her, but thes be trewe tydyngys. Yeluerton and Geney ar lek for to be gretly ponyschyd for be-cause they come not hedyr to the Kyng; they ar morkyn well j-now, and so is John Bylyngforthe and Thomas Playter, wher-for i am ryth sory. i pray yow let them haue wetyng ther-of, þat the may puruey ther excuse in hast so that the Kyng may haue 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 puruey that the Kyng schall haue knowlage of ther excuse; for i am well aqueyntyd wyth my Lord Hastyngys and my Lord Dakarys whyche be now gretest a-bowt the Kyngys person, and also i am well aqweyntyd wyth the yonger Mortymer and Fererys, Hawte, Harpor, Crowmer, and Bosewell of the kyngys howse. I pray yow let my grandam and my cosyn Cler haue knolage how that i desyiryd yow to let hem haue knowlage of the tydyngys in thys letyr, for i promysyd for to send them tydyngys. I pray yow let my modyr haue cnowelege howe þat i and my felawscremovehep and your seruauntys are at þe wrytyng of þis lettyr in good hell, blesyd be God. i pray yow let my fadyr haue knowlage of thys lettyr and of the todyr lettyr þat 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 som lettyr how ye do, and of yowyr tydyngys wyth yow, for i thynk longe that i her no word fro my modyr and yow. I pray yow þat thys byll may recomand me to my systyr Margery and to my mastres Jone Gayne and all god mastyrys and felawys wyth-in Castyr. i sent no lettyr to my fadyr neuyr syn i departyd fro yow, for i kowd get no man to London, and neuer sythe. I pray yow in cas ye spek wyth my cosyn Margaret Clere recomande me to hyr; and All-mythy God haue yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Newcastyll on Saterday next aftyr þe Consepsion of Owyr Lady. Yowyr John Paston the yongest. i pray yow let Rychard Call se thys lettyr.

TO JOHN PASTON I 1464, 03, 01

To my ryȝte reuerent and worchepfull fadyr John Paston, dwellyng in Castyr, be thys delyueryd.

Ryth reuerent and worchepfull fadyr, i recomand me on-to yow, besechyng yow lowly of youyr blyssyng, desyiryng to her of youyr wellfar and prosperyté, the whyche i pray God preserue on-to hys plesans and to yowyr hertys desyir; besechyng yow to haue me excusyd þat ye had no wrytyng fro me syth þat i departyd frome yow, for so God me helpe, i send yow a lettyr to London a-non aftyr Kandylmas by a man of my lordys and he for-gat to delyuer yt to yow, and so he browt to me the lettyr a-yen, and sythe þat tyme i kowd get no messenger tyll now. As for tydyngys, syche as we haue her i send yow. My lord and my lady ar in good hele, blyssyd be God, and my lord hathe gret labor and cost her in Walys for to tak dyuers gentyll-men her whyche wer consentyng and helpyng on-to þe Dwke of Somersettys goyng; and they wer apelyd of othyr seremoverteyn poyntys of treson. And thys mater, and by-cause the Kyng sent my lord woord to keep thys contré, is cause that my lord terythe her thus longe. And now the Kyng hathe geue my lord power whedyr he wole do execussyon vpon thes gentyllmen or pardon hem, whedyr that hym lyst; and as fertheforthe as i kan vndyrstand yet they schall haue grase. And as sone as thes men be com in, my lord is porposyd to come to London, whyche i supose schall be wyth-in thys fortnyth. The menys namys þat be apechyd ar thes.John Hanmer and William hys sone, Roger Pulyston and Edward of Madok. These be men of worchepe þat schall come in. The comonys in Lancasher and Chescher wer vp to the nombyr of a x ml or mor, but now they be downe a-yen, and on or ij of hem was hedyd in Chestyr as on Saterday last past. Thomas Danyell is her in Chesscher, but i wot not in what plase. He hathe sent

iij or iiij letyrys to Syr John Howard syn my lord come hedyr. And othyr tydyngys her we none her but þat i supose ye haue herd be-for. i supose veryly þat it schall be so nye Estern er euer my lord come to London þat i schal not moue come home to yow be-for Estern, wher-for i beseche yow þat ye wole wychesaue that on of youyr men may send a byll to myn oncyll Clement or to some othyr man, who þat ye wole, in youyr name, þat they may delyuer me the mony tharemovet i am be-hynd of þis quarter syne Crystmas, and for the next qwarter in parte of þat some þat it plesyd yow to grant me by yer, for by my trowthe the felawchep haue not so myche mony as we wend to haue had be ryth myche, for my loremoverd hathe had gret cost syn he cam hedyr; wherfor i beseche yow that i may haue þis mony at Estern, for i haue borowyd mony þat i must paye a-yen at Estern. And i pray to All-myty God haue yow in kepyng. Wretyn in þe castyll of the Holte in Walys the fyrst daye of Marche. Youyr sone and lowly seruant John Paston þe yongest

TO JOHN PASTON I 1464, 06, 02

Ryth reuerent and worchepfull fadyr, i recomand me on-to yow, besremoveechyng yow lowly of youyr blyssyng. Plesit yow to haue knowlage how þat i haue be in Sowthefolk for syche materys as my cosyn Dawbeney took my modyr a byll of towchyng the materys be-twyx yow and Jenney, and of all the jentylmen that ye wold my modyr schold send to for thys mater ther ar no more at home bot John Alyremovengton; and i schewyd hym the byll of the namys of the jnqwest, and removehe knew no more of hem all bot thes: John Depden, Thomas Wodborne, John Donemowe, Herry Chesten, and Adam Wrene. And to all them Alyremovengton sent a man of hys for to fele

hem how they wer dysposyd. Thys was the answer of John Depden and Thomas Wodborne: they seyd the last tyme they wer at London iche of ther costys stood hem on x s., and they seyd they wold no mor come at London bot if they knew who schod pay for ther costys; bot me thowt by Alyngtonys man that they wold haue had a brybe of yow, be-syd þe paying for ther issuys, for to haue bedyn at home, for they haue non othyr leuyng but brybys. As for John Donemow and Herry Chesten, so that ther issuys may be payd they wyll not come ther, nor in trowthe they schall not come ther; wher-for Alyremovengton prayith yow þat ther issuys may be payid. Adam Wrene was not spok to, for he is Jenneys baly or hys fermour. As for the quest, they are not yet somonyd to aper, and but if they be somonyd þer schall non of hem all aper. The most part of the todyr dwell a-bowt Ippyswyche, and they be Debnamys tenauntys and Brewsys; and i kowd get no man to spek wyth hem but if i schold haue spok wyth hem myselue, and my spekyng wyth hem schold rather apeyryd the mater than a-mendyd it. And also i hyid me the faster home a-geyn for i lay at my cosyn Louedays on Corpus Cristi Day at nyth, and he told me that the Duches of Sofokys consell wold entre in-to Calcot Hall, and they wold kep it tyll the Duches knew who schold be her tenaunt, owthyr ye or Debnam. Thus told on of the men of the seyd cowncell to Loueday, whyche man schold ryd thedyr wyth hem, and thys schold be do as to-morow at aftyr non; bot i trow they wole but tak a distres for the seruys of the maner whyche is dwe, but i haue sent word to Rysyng and to the tenauntys that they schold dryue a-wey ther catell. And as for the maner, my brodyr and i schall kepe it so þat they schall not entyr as that daye, by the grase of God, nor aftyr nowthyr and we may knowe of it, but if ye send vs othyr-wys word. As for the namys that ye wold haue for to pase vpon the mater betwyx yow and Hogan, i spak to Alyremovengton and Loueday ther-of, and Loueday seyd he knew non þat wold pas vp-on ony jnquest for hym, for he medylyd wyth no syche men; and Alyngton seyd that he kowd assyne me non men for serteyn, not tyll he had spok wyth some, whyche he seyd wold aske gret leyser for he knew bot fewe in Sofolk - if it had be in Cambryge-schyre he kowd haue get yow j-now. My modyr spak wyth old Banyard of Sibton Abbey for the same mater, and he knew non þat wold pase vpon þe mater at his desyir, but he asygnyd dyuers men þat loue not Jeney, whyche he kowd thynk wold pase vpon it at yowr desyir if ye spak wyth hem youyrselue or at þe lest iche of hem kowd get yow ij or iij men that wold sey as they wold in cas ye spak wyth hem youyr-selue, whoys namys i send yow in a byll by Loueday.

Item, as for þe gape at Nakton, Rychard Call seyth that it was a thorn busche was leyd in wyth-owt a stake be-twyx ij thornys þat grew; and as for Jeneys net, ther was not on lost her calfe that i can jnquer of. And i pray God forther yow in all youyr materys to hys plesans and to youyr hertys desyir. Wretyn in hast at Hallysworthe the Saterday next aftyr Trinité Sonday. My cosyn Heuenyremovengham is at London, and he kowd asygne yow men that wold sey as he wold, mor than Syr John Wyremovengfeld, Alyremovengton, and all. youyr sone and lowly seruant John Paston þe yongest

TO MARGARET PASTON 1465, 09, 14

To my mastras Margaret Paston be thys delyueryd in hast at London.

Aftyr all humbyll and most dwe recomendacion, as lowly as i can i beseche yow of youyr blyssyng. Plesyt yow to wet þat i haue sent to my fadyr to haue an answer of syche maters as i haue sent to hym for in hast, of whyche materys the grettest of substans is for the maner of Cotton; besechyng yow to remembyr hym of the same mater, þat i may haue an answer in þe most hasty wyse. Also i pray yow that myn ante Poonyngys may be desyiryd to send me an answer of syche materys as sche wotyth of by hym þat schall brynge me an answer of þe mater of Cotton. Also, modyr, i beseche yow þat ther may be purueyd some meane þat i myth haue sent me home by þe same mesenger ij peyir hose, j peyir blak and an othyr peyir of roset, whyche be redy made for me at the hosers wyth þe crokyd bak next to þe Blak Freyrs gate wyth-in Ludgate; John Pampyng knowyth hym well j-now. i suppose and þe blak hose be payid for, he wyll send me þe roset vnpayd for. I beseche yow þat þis ger be not forget, for i haue not an hole hose for to do on. I trowe they schall cost bothe peyr viij s.

My brodyr and my sustyr Anne and all þe garyson of Heylysdon fare well, blyssyd be God, and recomand hem to yow euerychon. i pray yow vysyt þe Rood of Northedor, and Seynt Sauyour at Barmonsey amonge whyll ye abyd in London, and let my sustyr Margery goo wyth yow to prey to them þat sche may haue a good hosbond or sche com hom ayen. And now i pray yow send vs some tydyngys as ye wer wonte to comand me. And the Holy Trinyté haue yow in kepyng, and my fayir mastras of þe Fleet. Wretyn at Norwhche on Holy Rood Daye. Youyr sone and lowly seruaunt J. Paston þe yongest

TO JOHN PASTON I 1465, 10, 03

To my ryth reuerend and worchepfull fadyr John Paston be thys delyueryd.

Aftyr all humbyll and most dwe recomendacion, as lowly as i can i beseche yow of youyr blyssyng. Plesyt yow to haue knowlege þat, as on Sonday next be-for Myhelmas Day, as my modyr came fro London ward sche cam homward by Cotton; and sche sent for me to Heylysdon to come to hyr thedyr, and so i haue ben in the plase euer sethyn. And as sone as Myhelmas Day was past i be-gane to dystreyne the tenauntys and gadryd some sylluyr, as myche i trowe as wyll pay for ouyr costys, and yet i cepe here ryth a good felawschep, and mor wer promysyd me whyche þat came not to me, wherby i was ner deseyuyd; for when Debnam herd sey how þat i began to gadyr syluyr he reysyd many men wyth-in j daye and an halfe, to þe nombyr of iijc men, as i was credebly assartaynyd by a yeman of þe chambyr of my lordys that connythe me good wyll, whech yeman, as

sone as he had sene ther felauschep, rod streyth to my lord and jnformyd hym of it; and also he informyd my lord how þat i had gadryd a-nothyr gret felawschep, whyche felawschep he namyd more then we wer by jc and an halfe and yett more. And he seyd on-to my lord and my lady and to ther consell þat wyth-owt that my lord took a dyreccyon in the mater that ther wer leek to be do gret harme on bothe ouyr pertyes, wheche wer a gret dysworchep to my lord, consederyng how þat he takyth vs bothe for hys men and so we be knowyn well j-now; vpon whyche jnformacion and dysworchep to my lord þat tweyn of hys men schold debat so ner hym, contrary to þe Kyngys pese, consedryd of my lord and lady and ther cownsell, my lord sent for me and Syr Gylberd Debnam to come to hym to Framlyngham bothe. And as it fortunyd well, my modyr come to me to Cotton not half an owyr be-for þat the mesenger cam to me fro my lord, wheche was late vpon Twysday last past at nyth, and the next day on the mornyng i rod to my lord to Framlyngham, and so ded Syr Gylberd also. And as sone as we wer come we wer sent for to come to my lord, and when we came to my lord he desiyryd of vs bothe þat we schold neythyr gadyr no felawschep, but syche men as we had gadryd þat we schold send hem home a-yen and þat the coort schold be contenuyd in-to the tyme þat my lord, or syche as he wold asyngne, had spok bothe wyth yow and Yeluerton and Jenney, and þat on jndeferent man chosyn by us bothe schold be assynyd to kep the plase in-to þe tyme þat ye and they wer spook wyth. And then i answremoveered my lord and seyd how þat at that tyme i had my mastyr wyth-in þe maner of Cotton, whyche was my modyr, and in-to the tyme þat i had spook wyth hyr i cowd geue none answer; and so my lord sent Rychard Fulmerston, berer her-of, to my modyr thys day for an answer, whyche answer he schold bryng to my lord to London, for my lord rod to Londonward as yesterday, and þe soner be-cause he trustyd to haue a good end of þis mater and alle othyr be-twyx yow, whyche he takyth for a gret worchep to hym ward and a gret auantage bothe and he cowd bryng þis mater abowt; for then he wold trust to haue youyr seruyse alle, whyche wer to hym gret tresour and auantage. And þis was the answer þat my modyr and i gaue hym, þat at þe instans of my lord and my ladye we wold do þus myche as for to put þe coort in contenuans and no more to receyue of þe profytys of þe maner than we had, and had dystresid for, tyll in-to þe tym that sche and i had word ayen fro my lord and yow if so wer þat þey wold neythyr mak entreys nor dystreyn the tenauntys nor cepe no coort more then we wold do; and we told Rychard Fulmerston that thys my modyr and i ded at þe jnstans and gret request of my lord because

my lord intendyd pes, whyche resonably we wold not be ayenst, and yet we seyd we knew well þat we schold haue no thank of yow when ye knew of it wyth-owt it wer be-cause we ded it at my lordys jnstans. But be-for thys answer we had receyvyd as myche syluyr full nye as Rychard Calle sent vs bokys of for to gadyr yt bye, and as for þe possessyon of þe plase, we told hym þat we wold kepe it, and Syr Gylberd agreyd so that Yeluerton and Jeney wold do þe same, for it was tyme for hym to sey so for my lord told hym þat he wold set hym fast by the feet ellys to be suyr of hym þat he schold make non jnsurreccions in-to þe tyme þat my lord came ayen fro London. I wene, and so dothe my modyr bothe, þat thys appoyntment was mad in good tyme, for i was deseyuyd of bettyr than an c men and an halfe þat i had promyse of to haue come to me when i sent for hem. Thys promes had i be-for i sent to yow the last lettyr the daye aftyr Seynt Myhell. Jenney herd sey ow þat i cepyd Cotton, and he rod to Nacton and ther held a cort and receyuyd þe profytys of the maner. I beseche yow þat i may haue knowlage in hast fro yow how ye wyll þat i be demenyd in thys mater and in all othyr, and i schall aplye me to fulfyll youyr intent in them to my power, by the grace of God, whom i beseche haue yow in guydyng and sende yow yowyr hertys desyir. Wretyn at Hemnalle Halle in Cotton the Thursday next be-for Seynt Feythe. My modyr recomandyth hyr to yow, amd preyith yow to hold hyr excusyd that sche wrytyth not to yow at thys tyme for sche may haue no leyser. The berer her-of schall informe yow whedyr Jeney wyll agré to thys appoyremoventment or not. I thynk he dar do non othyr wyse. Yowyr sone and lowly seruaunt John Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1467, 01, 27

To my mastyr Syr John Paston logyng in Fletstret be thys delyueryd.

Syr, lyekyth it yow to wet þat thys day my modyr sent me your lettyrs, wer-by i vndyremoverstand, blessyd be God, all thyng standyth in good wey. Also i vndyrstand by your lettyr sent to my modyr and me þat ye wold haue your lyuelod gadyrd as hastyly as we myght do it. Syr, as to that, and othyr folk do no wers ther deuer in gaderyng of othyr manerys then we haue don in Caster, i tryst to God that ye schall not be long vnpayid; for thys day we had in the last comb of barly that eny man owyth in Caster towne, not wyth standyng Hew Awstyn and hys men hathe crakyd many a gret woord in the tym þat it hathe ben in gaderyng. And twenty comb Hew Awstyns man had don cartyd, redy for to haue led it to Yermowth, and when i herd ther-of i let slype a sertyn of whelpys, that gaue the cart and the barly syche a torn þat it was fayne to tak couert in your bakhous systern at Caster Halle; and it was wet wyth-in an owyr aftyr þat it cam hom, and is nye redy to mak of good malt ale, ho ho. William Yeluerton hathe ben at Gwton, and hathe set in a new bayly ther and hathe dystreynyd the tenauntys, and hathe gen hem day tyll Candyllmas to pay syche mony as he axyth of hem. Also the seyd Yelluerton hathe ben at Saxthorp, and hathe dystreynyd the fermour ther and takyn of hym swerté to paye hym. And thys day the seyd Yeluerton and viij men wyth hym, wyth jakys and trossyng dobletys all þe felawshep of hem, wer redy to ryd, and on of the sam felawshep told to a man that sye hem all redy þat they shold ryd to tak a dystres in serteyn maners þat wer Syr John Fastolffys. Wher-for i suppose veryly that they be to Gwton and Saxthorp, wher-for to-morow i purpose to send Dawbeney thedyr to wet what they do, and to comand the tenauntys and fermors that they pay no mony to no body bot to yow. John Grey, othyrwyse callyd John de les Bay, and John Burgeys, they be Yeluertons kapteyns, and they ryd and go dayly, as well in Norwyche as in othyr plasys of yours and othyr menys in the contré, in ther trossyng dowbelettys. wyth bombardys and kanonys and chaseueleyns, and do what so euer they wyll in the contré. Ther dar no pore man dyremovesplese theym, for what so euyr they do wyth ther swordys they make it lawe, and they tak dystressys owt of menys howsys, horse or catell or what they wyll, thow it be not on that fee that they ask the dwté for. Wher-for me thynkys wyth esy menys ye myth get a preuy seall of the Kyng to be dyrectyd to the meyir of Norwyche, as for the towne of Norwyche, and for the contré a-nothyr preué seall dyrect to me and and to som othyr good felaw, Syr Willremoveiam Calthorp, for he hatyth Grey, for to arest the seyd felaws for

syche ryot, and to bryng hem to the next preson ther to abyed wyth-owt bayle tyll syche tym as the Kyng sendyth othyrwyse woord; and they that the preué sale shall be dyrect to to be chargyd vpon peyne of ther alegeans to execut þe Kyngys comandment. And thys done i warant your lyuelod þat my lord delys not wyth shall be gadyrd pesybylly. As to þat lyuelod þat my lord clemys, i schall do my deuer, ouyr logyng kep, to tak as myche profyt of it as i may, by the grase of God, whom i pray send yow the acomplyshement of your hertys desyir, and othyr por folys thers. All my felawshep ar mery and well at ease, blyssyd be God, and recomandyth hem all on-to yow. Wretyn the Twysday next be-for Kandylmas. your brodyr J.P. I pray yow let me and my felawshep not be long wyth-owt tydyngys from yow

TO JOHN PASTON II 1476, 02, 07

Syr, it is so þat thys Saterdaye John Rus sent me word by Robert Botler þat William Yeluerton hathe ben thys iij dayis in Yermothe for to get new wytnessys vp to London, and it is thowt by the seyd John Rus amd Robert Botler ther wytnessyng is for to proue þat it was Syr John F. wyll þat ther schold be morteysyd iijc mark by yer to þe colage, and also þat syche astat as my fadyr took her at Caster at Lames next be-for þat Syr John F. dyid was delyueryd to my fadyr to þe intent for to perforemoverm þe seyd wyll. Bartholomew Elys, John Appylby. and John Clerk ar the wytnessys. And as for Bartholomew Elys, he is owtlawyd, and also men sey in Yermowthe þat he is bawde be-twyx a clerk of Yermowthe and hys owne wyfe. And as

for John Appylby, he is halff frentyk, and so take in the towne, not wythstandyng he is an attorny, as Bartholomew Elys is, in the baylys coort of Yermowthe.And as for John Clerk of Gorleston, he is owtlawyd at Syr John Fastolfys swte, and at dyuers othyr menys, not wythstandyng he is thorow wyth Syr T. Howys for Syr J.F., for thys cause þat the seyd Clerk was on of Syr T. Howys last wytnessys be-for thys. I trow John Loer shall be a-nothyr wyttnesse. As for Bartholomew Elys and John Appylby, they lye thys nyht at Blyborowgh onward on her wey to Londonward; make good weche on hem. I pray yow send vs some good tydyngys. Wretyn the Saterday lat at nyght next aftyr Kandylmas Day. i pray yow remembyr John Grey and John Burgeys. We haue hom the most part of your barly saue fro Wynterton, and þat i trost to haue þis next wek, or ellys we wyll scrat for it, by the grace of God, whom i beseche mak yow good. I thynk ther comyng vp is for to dysproue your wyttnessys þat ye had in-to the Chancery.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1467, 04

Syr, plesyth yow to weet þat my modyr and i comonyd þis day wyth Freyr Mowght to vndyrstand what hys seying shall be in the coort when he comyth vp to London, wheche is in þis wyse. He seyth at syche tyme as he had shreuyn Master Brakley and howsyllyd hym bothe, he let hym wet that he was enformyd by dyuers personys that the seyd Master Brakley owt for to be in gret consyens for syche thyngys as he had doone and seyd, and causyd my fadyr, whom God asoyle, for to do and seye allso, in prouyng of Syr John Fastolfys wyll; to whom the seyd Mastyr Brakley answerd thus agayne: 'i am ryght glad that it comyth to yow in mynd for to meue me wyth thys mater in dyschargyng of my consyens ayenst God,'

seying ferther-mor to the seyd Freyir Mowght, be the wey þat hys sowle shold to, that the wyll þat my fadyr put in to the coort was as veryly Syr John Fastolfys wyll as it was trew that he shold onys deye. Thys was seyd on the Sonday, when þe seyd Brakley wend to haue deyid. Then on the Monday he revyvyd a-yen and was well amendyd tyll on the Wednysday. And on the Wednysday he sekynd a-yen, supposyng to haue dyeyd forthe-wyth; and in hys syknes he callyd Freyr Mowght, whyche was conffessor on-to hym, of hys owne mosyon, seyng on-to hym in thys wyse: 'Syr, wher as of your owne mosyon ye meuyd me the last day to tell yow aftyr my consyens of Syr John Fastolfys wyll lyek wyse as i knew, and now of myn owne mocyon and in dyschargyng of my sowle, for i know well þat i may not askape but þat i must dye in hast, wherfor i desyir yow that removeye wyll report aftyr my dethe þat i took it vpon my sowle at my dying þat that wyll þat John Paston put in to be prouyd was Syr John Fastolfys wyll.' And the seyd Brakley dyid the same Wednysdaye. And wher as ye wold haue had Rychard Calle to yow as on Sonday last past, it was thys Twyisday or i had your lettyr; and wher as it plesyth yow for to wyshe me at Eltam at the tornay for the good syth þat was ther, by trowththe i had leuer se yow onys in Caster Halle then to se as many kyngys tornay as myght be betwyx Eltam and London. And, syr, wher as it lyekyth yow to desyir to haue knowlage how þat i haue don wyth þe Lady Boleyn, by my feythe i haue don nor spokyn nowght in þat mater, nor not wyll do tyll tyme þat ye com hom, and ye com not thys vij yer. Not wythstandyng, þe Lady Boleyn was in Norwyche in the week aftyr Estern, fro the Saterday tyll the Wednysday, and Heydons wyfe and Mastras Alys bothe; and i was at Caster and wyst not of it. Hyr men seyd þat she had non othyr erend to the towne but for to sport hyr; bot so God help me i supose þat she wend i wold haue ben in Norwyche for to haue sen hyr dowghtyr. I beseche yow wyth all my hart, hye yow hom, thow ye shold tery but a day; for i promyse yow your folk thynk þat ye haue forgetyn hem, and the most part of them must depart at Whytsontyd at the ferthest, they wyll no lenger abyd. Your J. Paston And as for R. Calle, we can not get half a quarter þe mony þat we pay for þe bare housold, besyd menys wagys. Daube nor i may no mor wyth-owt coynage.

TO MARGARET PASTON Perhaps 1467, about 10

Ryght worshepfull modyr, i recomand me on-to yow, lowly besechyng yow of your blyssyng. Plesyt yow to weremovet þat my brodyr and i be in good hele, blyssyd be God, and all ouyr felawshep; and as for me, i tryst to God to se yow by Halowmes or wyth-in iiij dayis aftyr at the ferthest, at whyche tyme i tryst to fynd þe menys to dyscharge yow of syche folk as ye kepe of my brodyrs. And þat must i do by myn owne menys, for as for my brodyr, by my trowthe he is not of power to do it; for þis i ensure yow, so God help me, he hathe at thys season not a peny in hys purs nor wotys not wher to get eny. And as for Bekham, i warant and ye wyll send the plate whyche ye and i comond of for to helpe to paye hys dettys and for to swe forthe for hys jwgement thys terme, it shall neythyr be morgagyd nor sold. Wherfor, modyr, i and he bothe beseche yow þat ye wyll send hym the plate by Jwdé, or ellys, so God help me, i wot not how he shall do; for by the feythe þat i ow to God he lokyth euery day to be arestyd, and so i wene he shall, so God helpe me. Jwdé had ned to be sped hastyly lest syche arestys falle in the tyme. And as for my lord of Norffolk, jt is promysyd me to haue hys good lordshep, but i must tery a whylle, as my lady told yow, for the maners sake. And as for tydyngys her, so God help, neythyr the Kyng nor the lordys can as yet vndyrstand no serteynté whedyr they shall go to-gydyr a-yen by the werre or not. When i here þe serteynté i shall send yow word. Ye may send mony by Jwdé for my sustyr Annys hood and for þe tepet of sersenet, viij s. a yerd of damask and v s. for sarsenet; hyr hood wyll take iij quarters.

No mor for lak of leyser; but i pray God send you your hertys desyir and othyr pore folys thers. Your sone and humbyll seruant J. Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II Probably 1468, 03

To my mastyr Syr John Paston, knyght, in Fletstret.

Syr, &c., jt is so that wyth-owght ye haue hasty reparacyon doon at Caster ye be lyek to haue doubyll cost in hast, for the reyn hathe so moystyd the wallys in many plasys that they may not tylle the howsys tyll the wallys be reparyd, or ellys ye shall haue doubyll cost for to vntylle your howsys ayen at syche tyme as ye shall amend the wallys; and if it be not do thys yer many of the wallys wyll lye in the moot or longe to. Ye knowe the febyllnesse of the vtter coort of old. John Pampyng hathe had home to Caster as good as x ml tylle fro the plase at Yermouthe, and it wer peté that the tyll wer lost, and the lenger þat it lythe vnleyd the wers it wyll be. I haue thys day bespok as myche lyme as wyll serue for the tyll, wherfor i prey you remembyr the cost of the werkmanshep and puruey the money by oo mean or othyr, what shefte so euyr ye make. And for your owne profyte remembyr to goo thorow wyth Hwghe of Fen, for by my trowthe ye wyll ellys repent yow or owght longe, for bothe ye shall loose hys good wyll and lett par auenture that auantage that he myght do yow in your lond recoueryng, wher as he may do yow harme and he wyll, and then to late wyse.
Item, that ye remembyr your relesys and gounys of my lord of Norffolk er ye com hom.
Item, i send yow by the berer herof a lettyr dyrect to yow that a man of my lord of Oxenfortheys delyuerd me, whych lettyr comyth fro the Kyng.

Item, that ye remembyr in eny wyse to serche for the fyne in syche plasys as my modyr sent yow woord of in a lettyr, for myn oncyll and my grauntdam report that they haue serchyd in all plasys ther as it shold be, but they can not fynd no thyng of it. Also that ye look whedyr the fyne was reryd to eny feoffeys mor then to my grauntfadyr and my grauntdam and ther issu, for and ther wer eny feoffeys namyd in the fyn it is the bettyr for yow. My lady and my grantdam be com to London for the same mater, wherfor it wer well do that the jwgys wer enformyd of your mater befor they spak wyth theym. I prey yow hye yow hom hastyly and se your owne profyt your-sylf. Pampyng and i shall clowt vp your howsys as we may wyth the money þat we haue tyll more com, but ye shold do bettyr your-sylf. i prey red thys byll onys on a day tyll ye haue sped thes maters wretyn her-in. Thowe it be to your peyne to labore theym, remembyr your profyt. Nomor, &c., but God kep yow thys Lent fro lollardy of fleshe. Wretyn at Norwyche the Twysday next aftyr that i depertyd fro yow. J.P.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1468, 07, 08

To my ryght reuerend and worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston, dwellylng at Caster, be thys delyueryd in hast.

Ryth reuerend and worchepfull modyr, i recomand me on-to you as humbylly as i can thynk, desyiryng most hertly to her of youyr welfare and hertys ese, whyche i pray God send yow as hastyly as eny hert can thynk. Plesyt yow to wet þat at the makyng of thys byll my brodyr and i and all ouyr felawshep wer in good helle, blyssyd be God. As for the gydyng her in thys contré, it is as worchepfull as all the world can deuyse it, and ther wer neuer Englyshe-men had so good cher owt of Inglond that euer i herd of. As for tydyngys her, but if it be of the fest i can non send yow, sauyng þat my Lady Margaret was maryd on Sonday last past at a towne þat is callyd The Dame, iij myle owt of Brugys, at v of the clok in the mornyng. And

sche was browt the same day to Bruggys to hyr dener, and ther sche was receyuyd as worchepfully as all the world cowd deuyse, as wyth presessyon wyth ladys and lordys best beseyn of eny pepyll that euer i sye or herd of, and many pagentys wer pleyid in hyr wey in Bryggys to hyr welcomyng, the best þat euer i sye. And the same Sonday my lord the Bastard took vpon hym to answere xxiiij knytys and gentylmen wyth-in viij dayis at jostys of pese; and when þat they wer answeryd they xxiiij and hym-selue schold torney wyth othyr xxv the next day aftyr, whyche is on Monday next comyng. And they that haue jostyd wyth hym in-to thys day haue ben as rychely beseyn, and hym-selue also, as clothe of gold and sylk and syluyr and goldsmythys werk myght mak hem; for of syche ger, and gold and perle and stonys, they of the Dwkys coort, neythyr gentylmen nor gentylwomen, they want non, for wyth-owt þat they haue it by wyshys, by my trowthe i herd neuyr of so gret plenté as her is. Thys day my Lord Scalys justyd wyth a lord of thys contré, but nat wyth the Bastard, for they mad promyse at London that non of them bothe schold neuer dele wyth othyr in armys. But the Bastard was on of the lordys þat browt the Lord Scalys in-to the feld, and of mysfortwne an horse strake my lord Bastard on the lege, and hathe hurt hym so sore that i can thynk he shalbe of no power to acomplyshe vp hys armys, and that is gret peté, for by my trowthe i trow God mad neuer mor worchepfull knyt. And asfor the Dwkys coort, as of lordyremoves, ladys, and gentylwomen, knytys, sqwyirs, and gentyllmen, i herd neuer of non lyek to it saue Kyng Artourys cort. By my trowthe, i haue no wyt nor remembrans to wryte to yow halfe the worchep that is her; but þat lakyth, as it comyth to mynd i shall tell yow when i come home, whyche i tryst to God shalnot be long to; for we depert owt of Brygys homward on Twysday next comyng, and all folk þat cam wyth my lady of Burgoyn owt of Inglond, exept syche as shall abyd her styll wyth hyr, whyche i wot well shall be but fewe. We depert the soner for the Dwk hathe word that the Frenshe Kyng is purposyd to mak wer vp-on hym hastyly, and that he is wythin iiij or v dayis jorney of Brugys; and the Dwk rydythe on Twysday next comyng forward to met wyth hym. God geue hym good sped, and all hys, for by my trowthe they ar the goodlyest felawshep tharemovet euer i cam among, and best can behaue them, and most lyek gentyllmen. Othyr tydyngys haue we non her, but that the Dwke of Somerset and all hys bend depertyd welbeseyn owt of Brugys a day be-for that my lady the Dwches cam thedyr; and they sey her that he is to Qwen Margaret þat was, and shall no mor come her a-yen nor be holpyn by the Dwk.

No mor, but i beseche yow of youyr blssyng as lowly as i can, whyche i beseche yow forget not to geue me euery day onys. And, modyr, i beseche yow þat ye wolbe good mastras to my lytyll man, and to se þat he go to scole. I sent my cosyn Dawbeney v s. by Callys man for to bye for hym syche ger as he nedyth. And, modyr, i pray yow thys byll may recomand me to my sustyrs bothe, and to þe mastyr, my cosyn Dawbeney, Syr Jamys, Syr John Stylle, and to pray hym to be good mastyr to lytyll Jak and to lerne hym well; and i pray yow þat thys byll may recomand me to all youyr folkys and my well-wyllers. And i pray God send yow youyr hertys desyr. Wretyn at Bruggys the Fryday next aftyr Seynt Thomas. Your sone and humbyll seruant J. Paston þe yonger

TO JOHN PASTON II 1469, 04, 07

To master Syr John Paston.

Syr, i pray yow recomand me to my Lord Scalys good lordshep, and to let hym weet þat in lyek wyse as hys lordshep gaue me in comandement i haue enqweryd what þe gentyllmanys answer was that my lord of Norffolk sent to, to awayte vp-on hym at the Kyngys comyng in-to thys contré. Hys answer was to my lord of Norfolkys messenger that he had promysyd my Lord Scalys to awayte vp-on hym at the same seson, and in as myche as he had promysyd my Lord Scalys he wold not false hys promesse for no man on lyue. I fond the menys that the seyd gentyllmanys wyfe meuyd hyr husbond wyth the same mater as thow she had axyd hym of hyr awne hed, and he told hyr that he had geuyn thys answer. Thys gentylman is Syr W. Calthorp, but i pray yow tell my Lord Scalys that ye vndyrstand not who it is, for he preyid me to be secret ther-in. I pray wyth all my hart hye yow hom in hast, for we thynk longe tyll ye coome. And i pray yow send me woord whedyr ye shall be mad a crysten man or ye com home or nowt. And if so be þat ye send eny man hom hastely, i pray yow send me an hat and a bonet by þe same man, and let

hym bryng the hat vp-on hys hed for mysfacyonyng of it. I haue ned to bothe, for i may not ryd nor goo owt at þe doorys wyth non þat i haue, they be so lewde: a murry bonet and a blak or a tawny hat. And God send yow your desyr. Wretyn at Caster the vij day of Apryll. Your J. Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1469, 05

Syr, plesyth it to vndyrstand that i conceyue by your lettyr whyche þat ye sent me by Jwdé þat ye haue herd of R.C labor whyche he makyth by ouyr vngracyous sustyrs assent; but wher as they wryet that they haue my good wyll ther-in, sauyng your reuerence þey falsly lye of it, for they neuer spake to me of þat mater, nor non othyr body in ther name. Louell axyd me onys a qwestyon whedyr þat i vndyrstood how it was betwyx R. C. and my sustyr. I can thynk þat it was by Callys menys, for when i axyd hym whedyr C. desyird hym to meue me þat qwestyon or not, he wold haue gotyn it aweye by hummys and by hays. But i wold not so be answeryd, wherfor at þe last he told me þat hys oldest sone desyird hym to spere whedyr þat R. C. wer swyr of hyr or nowt, for he seyd þat he knew a good maryage for hyr. But i wot he lyeyd, for he is hole wyth R. Cale in þat mater; wher-for, to þat entent þat he nor they shold pyek no comfort of me, i answerd hym þat and my fadyr, whom God asoyle, wer a-lyue and had consentyd ther-to, and my modyr and ye bothe, he shold neuer haue my good wyll for to make my sustyr to selle kandyll and mustard in Framlyremovengham; and þus, wythe mor wyhche wer longe to wryet to you, we departyd.

And wher as it plesythe yow in your lettyr to crye me mercy for þat ye sent me not syche ger as i sent yow mony for, i crye yow mercy þat i was so lewde to encomber yow wyth eny so sympyll a mater, consyderyng the grette maters and weyghty þat ye haue to doo; but need compellyd me, for in thys contré is no syche stuffe as i sent to yow for. Also, wher as it plesyth yow to send to Rychard Calle to delyuer me monye, so God help me i wyll non axe hym for my-sylfe, nor non had i of hym, nor of non othyr man but of myne owne, syne ye depertyd; but þat lytyll þat i myght for-bere of myn owne i haue delyueryd to Dawbeney for howsold, and payd it for yow in menys wagys. And ther-for who euer sendys yow word þat i haue spent yow eny mony syne ye went hens, they must geue yow an othyr reknyng, in sauyng in met and drynk, for i eete lyek an horse of purpose to eete yow owte at the dorys; but þat nedythe not, for ye com not wyth-in them, wheremoverfor, so God help me, the felaushep her thynkys þat ye haue forgetyn vs alle. Wherfor, and eny thyng be ille rewlyd when ye come home, wyet it your-selfe for defawt of ouer-syght. Also i vndyrstand for verry seremoverteyn, and it is sent me so woord owt of my lordys howse, that thys Pentcost is my lordys consell at Framlyngham, and they purpose thys week and the next to hold coortys her at Caster and at all othyr maners þat wer Syr John F., purchasyd of Yelluerton and of Syr T. H., whom God asoyle; and how that my demenyng shalbe it is to late to send to yow for auyse, wherfor and i do well i axe no thank and if i do ille i pray yow ley the defawt on ouyr lytyll wyte. But i purpose to vse the fyrst poynt of hawkyng, to hold fast and i maye; but so God help me, and they myht pulle downe þe howse on ouyr hedys i wyet hem not, whyche i trust to God to kep hem from. For, by God that bowght me, the best erle in Inglond wold not dele so wyth my lord and my lady as ye do wyth-owt makyng of some menys to them; so God help me, who so euer auyse yow to do so, he is not your frend. And i may, i tryst to God to se yow a-bowght Mydsomer or be-for, for in good feythe i wene ye purpose yow þat it shall be Estern er ye come hom; for all your seruauntys her wen that ye purpose no more to dele wyth them, but to leue hem her in ostage to my lord of Norfolk. Aremovelso, syr, i pray yow puruey what jne þat my brodyr Edmuremovend shall be in, for he losyth sore tyme her, i promyse yow. I pray yow send me word by the next messenger þat comyth, and i shall eythyr send hym or bryng hym vp wyth me to London.

Also, syr, we pore sanz deners of Caster haue brook iij or iij stelle bowys; wherfor we beseche yow, and ther be eny maker of steelle bowys jn London whyche is verry kunnyng, þat ye wyll send me woord, and i shall send yow the bowys þat be brokyn, whyche be your owne greet bowe and Roberd Jaksonys bowe and Johon Pampyngys bowe. Thes iij haue kast so many caluys þat they shall neuer cast qwarellys tyll they be new mad. I praye yow fynd the menys that my lord may haue some resonable meane profyrd so þat he and my lady may vndyrstand that ye desyir to haue hys good lordshep. I promyse yow jt shall do yow ease, and your tenauntys both. And God preserue. J.P.

JOHN PASTON II 1469, 06

To begyn, God yeld yow for my hatys. The Kyng hathe ben in thys contré and worchepfully receyuyd in-to Norwyche, and had ryght good cher and gret gyftys in thys contré, wherwythe he holdyth hym so well content that he wyll hastyly be her agayn, and the Qwen allso; wyth whom, by my power auyse, ye shall com if so be that the terme be do by þat tym þat she com in-to þis contré. And as for yowr maters her, so God help me, i haue don as myche as in me was in laboryng of theym as well to my Lord Reuers as to my Lord Scalys, Syr John Wydvyll, Thomas Wyngfeld, and othyr abowt the Kyng. And as for the Lord Reuers, he seyd to myn oncyll William, Fayirfax, and me that he shold meue the Kyng to spek to the two dwkys of Norffolk and Suffolk that they shold leue of ther tytyls of syche lond as wer Syr John Fastolffys, and if so be þat they wold do nowt at the Kyngys reqwest, þat then the Kyng shold comand theyn to do no wastys nor mak non assawtys nor frayis vpon yowyr tenauntys nor plasys tyll syche tym as the lawe hathe determynd wyth yow or ayenst yow. þis was seyd by hym the sam day in the mornyng that he depertyd at noon; whedyr he meuyd the Kyng wyth it or nowt i can not seye. Myn oncyll Wylliam thynkys naye, and the same aftyr-none

folowyng i told my Lord Scalys that i had spokyn wyth my lord hys fadyr in lyek forme as i haue rehersyd, and axyd hym whedyr that my lord hys fadyr had spokyn to the Kyng or nowt; and he gaue me thys answer, that whedyr he had spokyn to the Kyng or nowt þat the mater shold do well j-now. Thomas Wyremovengfeld told me and swore on-to me that when Brandon meuyd the Kyng and besowght hym to shew my lord fauour in hys maters ayenst yow, that the Kyng seyd on-to hym a-yen, 'Brandon, thow thou can begyll the Dwk of Norffolk, and bryng hym abowremovet the thombe as thow lyst, i let the wet thow shalt not do me so, for i vndyrstand thy fals delyng well j-now.' And he seyd on-to hym more-ouer that if my lord of Norffolk left not of hys hold of that mater that Brandon shold repent itt euery veyn in hys hert; for he told hym that he knew well j-now that he myght rewyll my lord of Norffolk as he wold, and if my lord dyd enythyng that wer contrary to hys lawys, the Kyng told hym he knew well j-now that it was by no bodys menys but by hys; and thus he depertyd fro the Kyng.
Item, as by wordys the Lord Scalys and Syr John Wydvyll tak tendyr your maters mor then the Lord Reuers.
Item, Syr John Wydvyll told me when he was on horsbak at the Kyngys depertyng that the Kyng had comandyd Brandon of purpose to ryd forthe fro Norwyche to Lyne for to tak a conclusyon in your mater for yow, and he bad me þat i shold cast no dowghtys but þat ye shold haue your entent; and so dyd the Lord Scalys also. And when þat i preyd them at eny tyme to shew ther fauor to your mater, they answerd that it was ther mater as well as your, consyderyng the alyans betwyx yow. Comon wyth Jakys Hawt, and he shall tell yow what langage was spoken be-twen the Duk of Suffolkys consell and hym and me. It is to long to wryght, but i promyse yow ye ar be-hold to Jakys, for he sparyd not to spek.
Item, the Kyng rod thorow Heylysdon Waren towaremoverdys Walsyremovengham, and Thomas Wyngfeld promysyd me that he wold fynd the menys that my lord of Glowsestyr, and hym-sylf bothe, shold shew the Kyng the loge þat was broke down, and also þat they wold tell hym of þe brekyng down of þe plase. Contrary to thys maters and all the comfort that i had of my Lord Scalys, Syr John Wydvyll, and Thomas Wyremovengfeld, myn oncyll Wylliam seythe that þe Kyng told hym hys owne mowthe when he had redyn forby the loge in Heylysdon Waren that he supposyd as well þat it myght falle downe by the self as be plukyd downe, for if it had be plukyd down he seyd þat we myght haue put in ouyr byllys of it when hys

jugys sat on the oyeer determyner in Norwyche, he beyng ther. And then myn oncyll seythe how that he answerd the Kyng that ye trustyd to hys good grace that he shold set yow thorow wyth bothe þe dwkys by mene of treté, and he seyth þat the Kyng answerd hym that he wold neythyr tret nor spek for yow but for to let the lawe proced; and so he seyth that they depertyd. And by my trowthe, and my lord Tresorer encorage yow not more then he dyd vs her, ye shall haue but esy help as on þat party; wherfor labor your maters effectually, for by my trowthe it is ned, for, for all ther woordys of plesur, i cannot vndyrstand what ther labor in thys contré hathe don good; wherfor be not ouyr swyft tyll ye be swyr of your lond, but labor sore þe lawe, for by my trowthe tyll that be passyd wyth yow ye get but esy help, as i can vndyrstand. I had wyth me on day at dener in my modyrs plase, she beyng owt, the Lord Scalys, Syr John Wydvyll, Syr John Haward, Nycolas Howard, John of Parr, Thomas Garnet, Fostwe Cheyny, Trussell þe knyghtys son, Thomas Boleyn, qua propter, Brampton, Bernard, and Brom, Perse Howse, W. Tonstale, Lewes de Bretayll, and othyr, and mad hem good cher so as they held them content.
Item, my lord of Norffolk gaue Bernard, Broom, nor me no gownys at thys seson, wherfor i awaytyd not on hym; notwythstandyng i ofyrd my seruyse for þat seson to my lady, but it was refusyd, i wot by auyse. Wherfor i purpose no more to do so. As for Bernard, Barney, Broom, and W. Calthorp ar sworn my lord of Glowsetyrs men, but i stand yet at large not wythstandyng my Lord Scalys spak to me to be wyth the Kyng; but i mad no promes so to be, for i told hym þat i was not woorthe a groote wyth-owt yow, and therfor i wold mak no promes to no body tyll they had your good wyll fyrst; and so we depertyd. It was told me þat ther was owt a preué seall for yow to attend vpon the Kyng northeward, and if it be so i thynk veryly it is do to haue yow fro London be craft, þat ye shold not labor your maters to a conclusyon thys terme but put them removein delaye. I pray yow puruey yow on it to be at hom as sone as the terme is doone, for be God i take gret hurt for myn absence in dyuers plasys; and the most part of your men at Caster wyll deperte wythowt abod and ye be not at hom wyth-in thys fortnyght. I pray yow bryng hom poyntys and lasys of sylk for yow and me. J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1469, 09, 25?

Caystre yelded J. P. the obligacion of J. Gressham of c mrk lefft wyth Dawbeneye.

Ryght worchepfull syr, i recomand me on-to yow. And as for the serteynté of the delyuerance of Caster, John Chapman can tell yow how þat we wer enforsyd therto as well as my-sylf.As for John Chapman and hys iij felaws, i have purueyd that they be payid iche of them xl s., wyth the mony þat they had of yow and Dawbeney, and þat is j-now for the seson that they haue don yow seruys. I pray yow geue them ther thank, for by my trowthe they haue as well deseruyd it as eny men þat euer bare lyue; but as for mony, ye ned not to geue hem wyth-owt ye wyll, for they be plesyd wyth ther wagys. Wryttyll promysyd me to send yow the serteynté of the apoyntment. We wer, for lak of vetayll, gonepoudyr, menys hertys, lak of suerté of rescwe, dreuyn ther-to to take apoyntement. If ye wyll þat i come to yow, send me woord and i shall poruey me for to tery wyth yow a ij or iij dayis. By my trowthe, the rewardyng of syche folkys as hathe ben wyth me dwryng the sege hathe putt me in gret danger for the monye. God preserue yow, and i pray yow be of good cher tyll i spek wyth yow; and i trust to God to ese your hert in some thynggys. J. Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1469, 10, 05

To my master Syr John Paston in Flettstret.

Ryght worchepfull syr, i recomand removeme on-to you praying yow that ye wyll in all hast send me word how þat ye wyll þat Syr John Styll, John Pampyng, W. Mylsent, Nycolas Mondonet, T. Tomson shall be rwlyd, and whedyr þat they shall sek hem newe seruysys or not, and Mathewe and Bedford also, for he hathe be wyth me þis seson and is fro my modyr. And if so be þat ye wyll haue thes to abyd wyth yow, or eny of them, send word whyche þat they be; for be-twyx thys and Halowmas my modyr is agreyd that they shall haue met and drynk of hyr for syche a serteyn wekly as my modyr and ye and i can acord when we met. Notwythstandyng, if ye kowd get Barney, or eny of thes seyd folkys whyche þat ye wyll not kepe, eny seruyse in the mene seson it wer more worchep for yow then to put them from yow lyek masterles hondys, for by my trowthe they ar as good menys bodys as eny leue, and spescyally Syr John Stylle and John Pampyng. And i wer of power to kepe them, and all thes befor rehersyd, by trowthe they shold neuer depert fro me whyll i leueyd. If ye send me word that i shall come to yow to London for to comon wyth yow of eny mater, so God help me i haue neythyr mony to com vp wyth nor for to tery wyth yow when i am ther but if ye send me some; for by my trowthe thes werkys haue causyd me to ley owt for yow bettyr then x or xii li. besyd þat mony þat i had of my modyr, whyche is abowt an viij li. God amend defawtys, but þis i warant yow, wyth-owt þat it be Mathew whyche ye sent woord by John Thressher that ye wold haue to awayt on yow, ther is no man þat was hyryd for the tyme of thys sege that wyll axe yow a peny. Also i pray yow send downe a comandment to Stutvylle or to some awdytor to take acomptys of Dawbneys byllys, for hys executors ar sore callyd vpon for to admynyster by þe Byshop, or ellys he seythe that he wyll seqwester. Dawbeney set in hys dettys that ye owt hym xij li. and x s. Whedyr it be so or nowt hys byllys of hys owne hand wyll not lye, for he mad hys byllys clere or then the sege cam abowt vs.

As for the euydence of Bekham, my modyr sent to Calle for hem and he sent hyr woord that he wold make hys acomptys and delyuer the euydence and all to-gedyr. My modyr hathe sent to hym ayen for hem thys daye. If she sped they shall be sent to yow in all hast, or ellys and ye send for me i shall bryng hem wyth me. Send my modyr and me word who ye wyll þat haue the rwyll of your lyuelod her in thys contré, and in what forme þat it shall be delt wyth. I wyll not make me mastyrfast wyth my lord of Norffolk nor wyth non othyr tyll i spek wyth yow; and ye thynk it be to be don, get me a mastyr. Dell corteysly wyth the Qwen and þat felawshep, and wyth Mastras Anne Hawte for wappys tyll i spek wyth yow. Wretyn on Seynt Feythys Euyn. J. Paston I pray yow in all hast possybyll send me answer of euery thyng in thys bylle, for it reqweryth hast. My modyr had answer fro Calle er i had wret thys byll, and Call seyth so þat he may haue swerté to saue hym harmeles for the anuyté that he standyth bownd for, and for the oder mony þat he is suerté to pay for Maryot (i trow it be xv or xvj li.) he wyll delyuer the euydense, or ellys not. He wyll not haue yow bownd, and as for me i had leuer he wer hangyd then to be bond to hym. Send me word how thys mater shall be handyld, and also i pray yow send me tydyng of the Kyng and the lordys, and of your master, how he is in fauor and ye wyth hym. By Sent George, I and my felawshep stand in fer of my lord of Norffolkys men, for we be thret sore, not wythstandyng the saue gardys þat my felawshep haue. As for me, i haue non, nor non of your howsold men, nor non wyll haue; it wer shame to take it.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1469, after 09

Syr, i recomand me, &c. And as for Maryot, i haue reknyd wyth hym and payid hym syche mony that he is owyng but v mark for hys anuyté, and all oþer reknyngys in-to thys owyr; whyche v mark and as myche more as Calle is bond for as for Halowmes paye is owyng in the same maner of Bekham, and he is agreyid to take it as it may be gadryd. As for the aqwetans of W. Bakton and John Maryot, i spak not yet wyth Bakton, but i purpose to do er then i com in Norwyche ayen. As for syche euydens as John Maryot hathe of Bekham, he wyll delyuer them to me when i com to Bekham, whyche i purpose to take in my wey homward to Norwyche.
Item, i send yow closyd her-in the copye of the condycyon whyche ye be bownd for to John Maryot.
Item, i can not redyly tell yow what ye be endettyd for John Maryot, wher-for i send yow the copy of the byll of hys dettys closyd her-in.
Item, as for Syr T. Mongomerés man, John Maryot seyth that as for the dett þat he owt to Symkyn Symondys, husbond to the same woman that hathe hym condempnyd, he was onys sewyd for it by on Gargraue, mastyr, and in that mater attorny to the seyd Symkyn, vp-on whyche swte the seyd John Maryot was owtlawyd, of whyche owtlawry he hathe hys chartyr whyche is alowyd not wyth standyng, and ye can agré for xiij s. iiij d. or for xx s. J. Maryot woll well, but he wyll not passe that in no wyse.
Item, in eny wyse remembyr to sew J. Maryottys chartyr for hys last owtlawry for hys det to John Sherman, fyshemonger of Norwyche, or ellys by my trowthe ye do your-sylf a shame and vndo hym.
Item, as for Rychard Call hathe delyueryd me, as he seythe, all syche wrytyngys as he had of your, sauyng an endentur of letyng of þe maner of Saxthorp whyche is but a jape; but all that he hathe delyueryd me sauyng a rentall of Snaylewell ar but acomptys and byllys of reknyremovengys wretyn wyth hys owne hand, sauyng an old bagge wyth as old wrytyremovengys whyche be of no substans. And as i trow he hathe delyueryd me a iiij or v coort rollys of Syr J. Fastolffys londys, of hys own hand also, and ij or iij rollys of your owne cortys in dyuers plasys.
Item, as for the letyng me haue knowlage of the areragys of your lyuelod, he hathe don resonably well hys deuer, as i haue prouyd. As for hys abydyng, itt is in Blakborowgh nonry a lytyll fro Lynne, and ouyr vnhappy sustyrs also; and as for hys seruyse, ther shall no man haue it be-for yow and ye wyll. I her not spek of non othyr seruys of no lordys þat he shold be in.
Item, as for Dawbneys executors, i spak not yet wyth them for your oblygacyon nor for hys byllys, but i purpose to tak it in my wey homward.

Item, i send yow her-in a copy of the inventory whyche i mad at my depertyng fro Caster.
Item, i purpose to be at Sporle to-morow or on Thorsday, and ther to se what may be mad of the wood, and he þat wyll geue most for it in hand and of þe ... yow woord what þat he wyll geue, and tyll i haue answer fro yow... no percillys and ...

TO JOHN PASTON II 1469, 12

To master Syr John Paston, knyght,.

Ryght worchepfull syr, i recomand me to yow, &c. It is so þat thys day ther cam a good felaw to me, whyche may not be dyscoueryd, and let me wet that my lord of Norffolkys consayll hathe thys Crystmas gotyn the two wydows whoys husbondys wer slayn at þe sege of Caster, and haue hem bowndyn in a gret some þat they shall swe a peell ayenst me, and syche as wer ther wyth me wyth-in the plase; and they be bownd also þat they shall relese no man wyth-in the apell namyd tyll syche tyme as my lord of Norffolk wyll lycence them.
Item, the cawse is thys, as it is told me by dyuers, that ye make no more swte to my lord for your-sylf then ye do, and ther-for they do þe wers to me for your sake.
Item, Sandyr Fastolff was her wyth me thys day, and seythe that the sheryff of Suffolk hathe dystreynd hym for isswys that he lost for Maryottys mater of Bekham, so that he hathe payid x s. and must pay othyr x s. at Candylmas, and he thynkyth to be sauyd harmeles by yow ayenst Candylmas, and to haue recompense ayen of the x s. þat he hathe payid. And also he preyth yow þat he may haue þe mony at that day at the ferthest, for he thynkyth þat he hathe deserueyd it in othyr maters.
Item, it is also let me wet þat my lord of Norffolk wyll send a man or two in pesybyll wyse for to entre the maner of Gwton, and if so be þat they that be ther of your men wyll not auoyd possessyon by them, then to send

thydyr mor pepyll so þat your men shall be of no power to a-byd ther malys. I wyll thydyr my-sylf and ned be, and kep possessyon as longe as i may. As for Bekham, Townysend man and i wer ther yersterday and took possessyon bothe, for lesse suspessyon. As for your gowne, your mantyll, crosbowys, and your Normandy byll, Corby shall bryng hem yow thys week at the ferthest, and i shall send yow my byllys as hastyly as i can make hem vp, i tryst wyth-in thes iiij dayis.
Item, i pray you labor effectwally for poore Pykryng, berer her-of; hys tryst is all in yow and in non othyr man.
Item, the person of Heynforthe is sore trowblyd by W. Yeluerton for the oblygacyon of viij li. that he is bownd in, whyche viij li. was payid to Call be-for the makyng of the oblygacyon to W. Yeluerton, and he hathe hym at an exigent.
Item, as for my comyng vp to London, so God help me and i may chose i com not ther, for argent me fawlt, wyth-owt a pell or an jnkyr of som specyall mater of your cawse it.
Item, i pray yow remembyr Caleys, for i am put owt of wagys in thys contré.
Item, i pray yow send me some tydyngys how the world gothe, ad confortandum stomacum.
Item, ye must puruey a newe atorny in thys contré as for me, for ouyr maters and clamore is to gret and owr purse and wytte to slendyr; but i wyll rubbe on as longe as i maye, bothe wyth myn owne and othyr menys þat wyll do for me, tyll bettyr pese be. Wretyn thys Saterdaye at Norwyche. J.P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1470, 01, 23

To my ryght worchepfull brodyr Syr John Paston, knyght, be thys delyueryd.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow in my best wyse. Lyekyth it yow to wet that, acordyng to yowyr desyir in dyuers of your lettyrs sent on-to me, I haue spook wyth Heydon for the deed of Bekham whyche he hathe; and he answeryth me that John Maryot owyth hym xxx li., and at syche tym as he is payid of that mony he seyth he is redy to delyuer the deed, and in-to syche tyme as he be payid of þat monye he wyll no deed delyuer to no man.
Item, I haue spook wyth Storour, the vndyrsheryff of Norffolk, and am acordyd wyth hym for all maner of proses a-yenst yow or eny of your seruauntys tyll the next proses com owt, sauyng for a fieri facias is awardyd owt of the Chekyr vp-on your londys of lviij s. whyche is geuyn to the Blak Freyrs of Oxenforthe. And that haue I fownd swerté and am bownd to hym in v mark that he shall be payid by viij dayis aftyr Kandyllmas.
Item, ye must tak good heed that ye and your meen may be in swerté wyth-owt arest for the forsybyll entré thys terme er eny more proses com owt ayenst yow or them, or ellys they that be in thys contré ar lyek to be trowblyd hastyly.
Item, yerstyrday W. Gornay entryd in-to Saxthorp, and ther was he kepyng of a coort, and had the tenauntys attornyd to hym. But er the coort was all doon I cam thedyr, wyth a man wyth me and no more, and ther be-for hym and all hys felawchep, Gayne, Bomsted, Hoppys, and iij or iiij mor, I chargyd the tenauntys that they shold proced no ferther in ther coort vp-on peyn þat myght falle of it; and they lettyd for a season, but they sye that I was not abyll to make my pertye good, and so they prosedyd forthe. And I sye that, and set me downe by the stward and blottyd hys book wyth my fyngyr as he wrot, so that all the tenauntys afermyd that the coort was enterupte by me as in yowyr ryght; and I reqweryd them to record that ther was no pesybyll coort kepet, and so they seyd they wold. W. Gornay and I dynyd to-gedyr the same daye, and he told me that he had spokyn to yow of the same mater.

Item, ye must take hed for on Reed swyth dyuers of þe tenauntys of Gwton for ocupying of serteyn londys in Gwton callyd Bullys londys, and he hathe them at an exigent at thys terme, so þat the seyd tenauntys dar not paye yow nor ocupye non of the seyd londys, and they wer letyn for xxx s. be yer and more, and serteyn barly.
Item, the person of Heynforth is swyd by W. Yeluerton, and is at an exygent also for viij li. whyche he payid to Rychard Calle. Ye must se that he be sauyd harmles, bothe for consyens and shame.
Item, I haue thys day delyueryd your mantyll, your raye gowne, and your crosbowys wyth telers and wyndas, and your Normandy byll to Korby to bryng wyth hym to London. Item, in eny wyse, and ye can, axe the probate of my fadyrs wyll to be geuyn yow wyth the bargayn þat ye make wyth my lord of Canterbery, and I can thynk that ye may haue it; and as soone as it is prouyd ye or I may haue a lettyr of mynystracyon vp-on the same and a qwetance of my lord Cardnalle euyn foorthe-wyth, and thys wer on of the best bargaynys that ye mad thys ij yer, I enswyr yow. And he may make yow a qwetance, or get yow on of the Bysheop of Wynchestyr, for Syr John Fastolfys goodys also; and in my reson thys wer lyght to be browght a-bowght wyth the same bargayn. And ye purpose to bargayn wyth hym ye had need to hye yow, for it is told me that my lord of Norffolk wyl entyr in-to it hastyly, and if he so doo it is the wers for yow, and it wyll cawse them to profyr the lesse syluyr.
Item, I pray yow send me some secret tydyngys of the lyklyod of the world by the next messenger that comyth betwen, that I may be eythyr myryer or ellys mor sory then I am, and also þat I may gwyd me theraftyr.
Item, as for Syr R. Wyngfeld, I can get no x li. of hym, but he seyth þat I shall haue the fayirest harneys thatt I can bye in London for syluyr; but mony can I non get. I can not yet make my pesse wyth my lord of Norffolk nor my lady by no meane, yet euery man tellyth me that my lady seyth passyremovengly well of me allweys. Notwythstandyng I trowe þat they wyll swe the apell thys term, yet ther is no man of vs jndytyd but if it wer doon afor the crowners or then we cam owte of þe plase. Ther is now but iij men in it, and the bryggys alwey drawyn. No mor, but God lant yow, myn her. Wretyn the Twysday nex aftyr Seynt Agnet þe fyrst. J. P. Thys day Edmuremovend Reed, sowter of Norwyche, sone and heyir to Red that swyth your tenauntys at Gwton, cam to Gwton and as to-morow he purposeyth to entre Bullys londys; but I wyll lett hym and I can, I tryst

to God, who preserue yow. And need be I com to yow, or ellys nowt; and all the lordys com removeto London I pray yow recomand removeme to John Leuenthorp and Penne and all good felaws. Send tydyngys in hast, I pray yow.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1470, 03, 01

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow aftyr þe old maner, sertyfying yow þat I haue comonyd wyth my modyr for your comyng hom, but I can not fynd by hyr þat she wyll depert wyth eny syluyr for your costys, for she and hyr cwrate alegge mor pouerté then euer wasse.
Item, as for your clok at Harcortys, it wyll be nye Estern er it be redy, for ther is stolyn owt of hys chambyr some of the ger þat belongyd therto, and þat must haue leyser to be mad ayen.
Item, the caryer forgat your byll behynd hym, but it was delyueryd all to-gedyr; but it shall be browght yow, and þe wyndas wyth þe teler, by the next caryer, as myn orangys shall com to me, I tryst. Dame Elyzabet Calthorp is a fayir lady and longyth for orangys, thow she be not wyth chyld.
Item, I pray yow that ye wyll make aqwetance on-to the person of Mawtby and to John Seyue as executors to John Dawbeney, for they wyll take non admynystracyon of hys goodys tyll they be aqwetansyd of you and my modyr. Ye maye do it well j-nowgh, so God help me, for I wot well ye owt hym mony and he nat yow, if so be þat he wer trewe when he dyid, and I wot well we fond hym neuyr ontrew in hys lyue. But hys frendys and othyr of the contré putt grett defawt in me þat ther is no-thynk don for hym, seying that he myght do no more for vs but lose hys lyfe in your seruyse and myn, and now he is half forgotyn among vs; wherfor I pray yow let thys be sped.

Item, as for Doctor Pykenham, J. Pampyng can tell yow he is not in Norwyche. When he comyth I shall spek wyth hym and send yow hys answer.
Item, as for myn oncyll Wylliam, I haue grant to haue a byll of hym what euery thyng lythe for, but all thyng is not yet in rest ayen þat was remeuyd for the chyrchyng of my Lady Anne. As sonne as I haue the byll I shall send it yow, and hys answer whyche he wyll fyrst haue plegyd owght, and also whethyr he purposyth to do as he seyd by my graundamys lond.
Item, Gefrey Spyrlyng hathe ofte spokyn to me to send to yow for to vndyrstand how ye wyll deell wyth hym for hys place in Norwyche, for he seythe that he had leuer haue your good mastyrshep ther-in then eny othyr manys good lordshep; for and ye wyll be hys good mastyr he wyll swe no ferther, or ellys he must.
Item, aremoves for myn old reknyng, I shall make it vp in hast and send it yow for your bettyr remembrance, for as me thynkyth by your wrytyng ye haue nye forgetyn it; but I am rype j-now in it for myn owne dyscharge.
Item, I pray yow take in-to your a-ward a short murry jornade of myn whyche Jacobyn, Wykys woman, hathe, lest that she be flyttyng and þat it be exchetyd.
Item, I prey yow send me swyr tydyremovengys of the world in hast. As for the Bysheop of Wynchestyr, W. Wyrcetyr told my modyr that he had takyn charge x dayis or then Pampyng cam hom, but he wenyth that the Byshop wyll be a-yenst yow, in so myche that removehe auysyd my modyr to consell yow that ye shold labor to my lord Cardynall þat þe seyd Byshop shold not be amyttyd to take admynystracyon. No mor, &c. Wretyn at Norwyche the fyrst daye off Marche. J. P. I pray get vs a wyfe somwher, for 'melius est nubere in domino quam vrere' (capitulo primo). Nouerint vniuersy per presentes me J. P. mylitem remisisse, &c., Roberto Cotteler, persone eclesie de Mawtby in comitatu Norffolk et Johanni Seyue de Rollysby in eodem comitatu, executores testamenti et ultime voluntatis Johannis Dawbeney, armygeri, nuper defuncti, omnimadas acciones tam reales, &c., quas versus eundem Robertum siue Johannis Seyue habui, habeo, &c., racione alicuius debyti dicti Johannis Dawbeney iam defuncti mychi dicto J. Paston debite a principio mundi vsque in diem, &c. In cuius, &c. Datum.

As for the yer of þe Kyng, let it be set in; but as for the daye and þe monyth, let it be owt, for the day must be aftyr þe probate of the wyll and the admynistracyon takyng. I pray yow let thys be sped in all hast possybyll, and as for your obligacyon and syche ger as belongyth to yow, I shalbe swyr of it er they haue the aqwetance.
Item, as for owyr afrayis her, J. Pampyng can tell yow; but and they get me ye loose a brodyr, quod iuratum est. It is good to do by the comandment of your mastyr. Whyll I am so well boryn owte thys my lord of Norffolkys galantys send me woord dayly ad confortandum stomacum. Ye must spek wyth your mastyr and comon some remedye hastyly, or be God I enswyr yow whyll owyr Dwk is thus cherysheid wyth the Kyng ye nor I shall not haue a man vnbetyn or slayn in thys contré, nor ouyr-sylfe nowthyr, as well ye as I, quod iuratum est onys ayen. The Dwke, the Dwches, and ther consell ar wrothe that ye make no meanys to them your-sylfe.
Item, I send yow Townysendys endentwre by John Pampyng.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1470, 05, 14

To mastyr Syr John Paston, knyght, in hast.

Syr, I recomand me to yow, &c. W. Gorney and I ar apoyntyd that ther shall no mony be takyn at Saxthorp tyll thys terme be past, for he hathe promysyd me to spek wyth yow and your consell and þat ye shall tak a wey be-twyx yow so þat ye shall be bothe plesyd. He had warnyd a coort at Saxthorp to haue be kep vpon Holy Rood Day last past, and ther he wold haue gadyrd the half yer ferm; but it fortunyd me to be ther er the coort was half don, and I took syche a wey wyth hym that the qwest gaue no verdyt, ner they procedyd no ferther in ther cort nor gadyrd no mony ther, nor not shall do tyll syche tym as ye spek to-gedyr and ye be at

London thys term. But and ye be not at London I wold auyse yow to let Townysend tak a wey wyth hym, for it lyeth not in my power to keep werr wyth hym; for and I had not delt ryght corteysly vp-on Holy Rood Day I had drownk to myn oystyrs, for yowng Heydon had reysyd as many men as he kowd mak in harneys to haue holp Gornay, but when Heydon sye þat we delt so corteysly as we ded he wythdrew hys men and mad hem to go hom a-yen. Not wyth-standyng they wer redy and ned had be, and also my lord of Norffolkys men wyll be wyth hym ayenst me, I wot well as yet, tyl bettyr pesse be.
Item, as for myn ownkyll William, I haue spook wyth hym and he seyth þat he wyll make a byll in all hast of iche percell be-twyxt yow, and send yow word in wryghtyng how that he wooll deell wyth yow; but I can not se þat he besyth hym a-bowght it not wythstandyng I call vpon hym dayly for it. As for mony, I can non get neythyr at Snaylewell nor at Sporle tyll Mydsomer, thow I wold dryue all the catell they haue. I was bond to the shreuys for grenwax and for a fyeri facias þat is awardyd owt of yowyr lond wyche drawyth in all bettyr than v mark, and I am fayn to borow the mony to pay it, by þat Lord I beleue on, for I cowd not gadyr a nobyll of areragys syn I was wyth yow at London of all the lyuelod ye haue. As for John Maryot, he is payid of hys anuyté in-to a nobyll or x s. at the most but, as for all hys dettors, I can not pay hem tyll I can gadyr more mony, so God help me. I pray yow send a byll to John Pampyng that he may ryed wyth me ouyr all your lyuelood and take a cler reknyng what is owyng and what þat I haue receyuyd, that ye may haue a cler reknyng of all that ye owe in thys contré and what your tenauntys owe yow.
Item, I pray yow send me woord as hastyly as ye can how the world goothe. No more, but God lant yow, lansman; and rather then to stand in dowght remembyr what peyn it is a man to loose lyberté. The Flet is a fayir preson, but ye had but smale lyberté ther-in, for ye must nedys aper when ye wer callyd.
Item, I haue fownd Jamys Greshamys oblygacyon. Item, he comyth to London ward thys day. Wretyn þe xiiij day of Maye. J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1470, 05, 25

Ryght worcheremovepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, sertyfying yow þat I was purposyd to haue com to London to haue mad my pese wyth my lady of Norffolk, but I vndyrstand she is not in London. Notwythstandyng that is no cause of myn abydyng at hom, but thys is the cause, so God help me: I can get no mony, neythyr of your lyuelod ner of myn, to pay for my costys nor for to ease yow wyth at my comyng. Not wythstandyng I am promysyd som at Snaylewell, and if so be þat John can take eny ther he shall bryng it yow wyth þis byll. I send yow her ij of my reknyngys that I haue receyuyd and payd syn I delt wyth yowyr lyuelod, and by thes ij and by þat reknyng þat I sent yow to London ye may know what is receyuyd by me, and what I haue payid and howgh; and when so euyr ye wyll let your tenauntys and fermours at all plasys be examynd, ye shall fynd it non othyr-wyse. So God help me, as your lyuelod is payid it can not paye your dettys in thys contré, for it drawyth vp-on a x li. that ye owe yet in thys contré besyd the xij li. to Dawbney, and wyth-in thes vij dayis I shall send yow a cler byll what ye owe, for ther ar axyid many thyngys þat I knewe not of when I was wyth yow. Also I enswyr yow by my trowthe I saw my modyr neuyr sorer meuyd wyth no mater in hyr lyue then she was when she red the byll that ye gaue me warnyng in that Perker had atamyd an axyon ayenst yow and me, for she supposyth veryly þat it is doon by myn oncyll William meanys, to make yow to sell your lond. But thys she comandyd me for to send yow word, that and ye sell eny lond but paye your dettys wyth syche good as my lord Archebyshop owyth yow, and eny law in Inglond can put fro yow eny of hyr lond she sweryth by þat feyth that she owyth to God she wyll put fro yow dobyll as myche lond as ye selle. And ther-for I wold auyse yow call sharply vpon my lord þe Archebyshop, for ye ar not bond to vndo your-sylf for hym.
Item, I pray yow se þat I tak no hurt by Parker. As for myn oncyll W., I can not mak hym to send yow the byll of syche stuff as he hathe of yowyr. He seythe he woll, but he comyth noremovet of wyth it. He and I ar fowly fallyn

owght thys same day for a mater betwyx Louell and John Wallsam and hyr sustyr. Louell hathe bowt Jone Walshamys part of hyr lyuelod and maryd hyr to a knaue, and myn oncyll W. hath oft spoke wyth my modyr and me for to delyuer Jone Walshamys euydence to Louell whyche I haue in kepyng; and be-cause I wyll not delyuer Louell the euydence therfor we fyll owt, in so myche þat he seyth he wyll stryp me fro the maner of Sweynsthoremoverp. Wherfor I pray yow in eny wyse send me by John Mylsent a copye of the deed that I sent yow to London. Ther is in the same deed Gresham and Snaylewell and Sporle and Sweynsthorp all to-gedyr, I trow; and I prey yow let the date and the feoffeys namys and all be set in. And I trust to God to mak yt so sewyr that he shall do me lytyll harm. Gefrey Spyrlyng callyth oft vpon me to vndyrstand how ye wyll dell wyth hym for hys plase in Norwyche. I pray you send me woord by John what answer I may geue hym. He delyth alwey ryght frendly wyth yow.
Item, I send yow her-wyth Jamys Greshamys oblygacyon.
Item, I pray yow send serteyn woord how þe world gothe. Wretyn þe xxv day of May. J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1470, 06, 22

To Syr John Paston, knyght, or to Thomas Stompys to delyuer to þe seyd + Syr John.

Ryght worchepfull syr and my specyall good brodyr, I recomand me to yow. And for as myche as I can not send yow good tydyremovengys, ye shall haue syche as I knowe. It is so þat on Wednysday last past ye and J. Pampyng and Edmuremovend Broom wer endyttyd of felonye at the sessyons her in Norwyche for shotyng of a gonne at Caster in August last past, whyche goone slowghe two men: J. Pampyng and Broom as pryncypall and ye as accessary. Notwythstandyng Townysend and Lomnor hold an oppynyon that the verdytt is voyd, for ther wer ij of th'enqwest that wold not agré to th'endyttment, and in as myche as they ij wer agreyd in othyr maters

and not in that, and that they two wer not dyschargyd fro the remnant at syche tym as that verdyth of yowyr endytment was gouyn, ther oppynyon is that all the verdyght is voyde, as well of all othyr maters as of yowyr. Whedyr ther opynyon be good or not I can not determyne, nor them-sylf neythyr. I pray yow let not thys mater be slept, for I can thynk that my lord of Norffolkys consaylle wyll cawse the wedows to tak an apell and to remeue it vp in-to the Kyngys Benche at the begynyng of thys term. Townysend hathe promysyd me that he shall be at London on Twysday next comyng, and then ye may comon wyth hym in that mater and take hys auyse.
Item, Townysend and Lomnor thynk that and ye haue good consayll ye may justyfye the kepyng of the plase for the pesybyll possessyon that ye haue had in it mor then iij yeer. But in conclusyon all thys is doo for nowght ellys but for to enforse yow to take a dyreccyon wyth my lord of Norffolk, I vndyr-stood by R. Sothewell, for he and I comonyd in thys mater ryght largely betwyx hym and me; in so myche he tellyth me that and I be at London in the week next aftyr Seynt Petyr, at whyche tyme he shall be ther hym-sylff, he seyth þat my lady hathe promysyd me hyr good ladyshep and sent me woord by hym, in as myche as he spak for me to hyr, that she wold remembyr myn old seruyse and for-get the gret dysplesyr, in syche wyse that I shall vndyrstand that the swtte þat I haue mad to my lord hyr husbond and hyr shall torne to your auantage, and myn bothe, more then we weene as yett or shall vndyrstand tyll syche tyme as I haue spokyn wyth hyr good grace. And vpon thys promesse I haue promysyd Sothewell to meet wyth hym at London that same week next aftyr Seynt Petyr; wherfor I wold passyngly fayne þat ye wer in London at þat season, or nye abowght London, so that I myght vndyr-stand at your plase wher þat I myght spek wyth yow or then I spek wyth my lady. I purpose to go to Canterbery on foot thys next week, wyth Goddys grace, and so to com to London fro thense. I pray yow se þat I be safe for Parker and Herry Colettys mater. Sothewell told me thys, that if so be þat ye wyll your-sylff, ye shall haue bothe good lordshep and ladyshep and mony or lond or both, and all your maters set cler. What þat he menyth I can not sey. As for all othyr maters in thys contré, I shall do as well as I may, for fawt of monye, tyll I spek wyth yow. I haue many callers on, as I shall tell yow when I come. No more, bot God preserue yow and your. Wretyn at Norwyche Fryday next afftyr Corpus Cristi Daye. J. P. I ded as myche as I kowd to haue lettyd th'endyttment, but it wold not be, as I shall enform yow; and Townysend knowyth the same.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1470, 06, 25

To Syr John Paston, knyght, or to Thomas Stomppys to delyuer to the seyd + Syr John.

As I sent yow woord by a lettyr that John Wymondham browght to London, J. Pampyng is endyghtyd of felony, and Edmuremovend Broom as principallys, and ye as axcessary, for schotyng of a gonne in Awgust last past, whyche gonne kyllyd ij men; and I trowe that my lord of Norffolkys consayll wyll make on of the wedows, or bothe, to swe an apell vp-on the same endyghtment thys terme. Wherfor I pray yow se well to thys mater, that when it is sertyfyid in-to the Kyngys Benche, Broom and Pampyng may haue warnyng that they may puruey for hem-self if ther com eny capyas owght for hem. Townysend can tell yow all the mater. Also ye must in eny wyse be ware, for my grauntdam and myn Lady Anne and myn oncyll Wylliam shall be at London wyth-in thes viij or x dayis, and I wot well it is for nowght ellys but to make myn oncyll William swyr of hyr lond. Notwythstandyng, she hath reryd a fyn of it be-for Goodreed the justyse in my grauntfadyrs dayis, and my modyr tellyth me that ye haue the copye of the same fyne. I wold auyse yow to haue it redy, what so euyr betyd. I trow they wyll be the more besy abowght the same mater be-cause they thynk that ye dar not com in London nor at Westmestyr to lett them. But if so be þat ye haue not the copy of the same fynne, look that ye spare for no cost to do serche for itt, for it wyll stand yow on hand, I feell by the werkyng. Thys day seuennyght I trust to God to be forward to Caunterbery at the ferthest, and vp-on Saterday com seuennyghremovet I tryst to be in London, wherfor I pray yow leue woord at yowyr plase in Fleetstrett wher I shall fynd yow, for I purpose not to be seyn in London tyll I haue spook wyth yow. I pray yow remembyr thes maters, for all is doon to make yow to drawe to an end wyth thes lordys that haue your lond fro yow. No more, but I pray God send yow your herttys desyir in thees maters and in all othyr. Wretyn at Norwyche the Monday next aftyr Seynt John Baptyst. J. P.

DECLARATION CONCERNING THE FASTOLF ESTATE 1470, 08, 27

Be it knowen by thies presentez that where the right reuerend fader in God William Wayneflete, Bisshop of Wynchestre, oone of þe feoffés of Ser John Fastolf, knyght, and also oon of th'executoures of the testament of the same Ser John Fastolf, now sole hathe taken vpon hym th'execucion of þe same testament, and also to parfourme þe wille of þe said Ser John as farforthe as it may be parfourmed of suche maners, londes, and tenementez in þe counteez of Surré, Essexe, Norfolk and Suffolk and in the citee of Norwich, and of suche goodez of the said Ser John Fastolf which may be obteyned and cum to þe hondys of þe said reuerend fader, I, John Paston, sqvyer, son of John Paston, sqwyer, which John Paston my fader was also named oone of þe feofféz of þe said Ser John Fastolf and oone of th'executoures of his testament, remembryng the grete busynesse and trowble which my said fader had in his dayes bothe with þe maners, londes, tenementez, and goodez of þe said Ser John Fastolf which haue beene wasted, expended, and deuowred, the will of þe same Ser John in many parties and most substaunce thereof nott yet parfouremed, trustyng by the grace of God that þe said reuerend fader wol doo his effectuall deuoure to þe verry parfouremyng therof in discharge of þe sowle of my fader aforesaid, and for that þe said reuerend fadere hathe rewarded me to shew my verry gode will to my power to þe full parfouremyng of þe will of þe said Ser John Fastolf, promytt by my trouthe and faithe which I owe to Almyghty God, and also bynd me by thiese presentez, to doo trwe and faithfull seruyce vnto þe said reuerend fader, and to be aydyng and assistyng to þe said reuerend fader, his heyres and executoures, and to his college of Saynt Marye Mawdeleyne sett withoute þe est gate of Oxon., and to all officers, stiwardes, receyuoures, bailliez, and other minystrers, fermers, and tenauntez of þe said reuerend fader, his heirs and executoures, or of þe said college and theire successoures, or of any other personez or persone hauyng any thynge to th'use of the said reuerend fader, his heires or executours, or to th'use of þe said college or theire successoures, in any of the said maners, londes, and tenementez, so that þe said maners, londes, and tenementez, and euery parcell of them, shal now be occupied and leten to theire grettest

profitt and þe rentez and commoditeez of the same truly and dwly gedered and com to þe handys of þe same reuerend fadere, his heirs and executours, and to þe handys of þe ministres of þe said college for þe tyme beyng or to þe hondis of such persones or persone as the same reuerend fader wol thereto assigne accordynge to the prouysion and ordynaunce of þe same reuerend fader made or to be made in that behalf. And forthermore I, the said John Paston, vpon my said trouthe and faithe promytt and bynd me by thies presentez to delyuere to þe said reuerend fader, before þe feste of All Sayntez next foloyng aftere þe date of these presentez, all maner of chartres, dedes, euydencez, munimentez, court rollez, rentallez, and rollez of accomptes, skrowes, writyngez, and copiez concernyng or specifiyng any of þe said maners, londes, and tenementez which I, þe said John Paston, or any persone to my vse now haué; alway foreseen that þis promyss extende nott to delyuerance of any chartres, dedes, euydencez, munymentez, court rollez, rentallez, rollez of accomptes, or copiez of them concernyng sooly þe maner of Castre with th'appurtenauncez, which by couenant made betwene the said reuerend fader and Ser John Paston, knyght, brother of me the said John Paston, sqwyer, most remayne with the same Ser John Paston. And if att any tyme aftir þe said fest of All Sayntez any dedes, chartres, munymentez, court rollez, rentallez, rollez of accomptez, or copyez, other than soolly concernyng þe maner of Castre with th'appurtenauncez as aboue, com to the hondys of me þe said John Paston, or of any other to myne vse, I faithfully promytt and bynde me by thies presentez to make of þem delyuerance to þe said reuerend fader in all conuenyent hast after thay so com to my hondis. In witnesse whereof to thiese presentez I putt to my seale. Yeuen att Esshher the xxvijthe daye of August the xthe yere of þe reigne of Kyng Edward the iiijthe. J. Paston

TO MARGARET PASTON 1470, 10, 12

To my ryght worchepful modyr Margaret Paston be thys delyuerd.

Aftyr humbyll and most dew recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. Plesyt yow to wet þat, blyssyd be God, my brodyr and I be in good hele, and I tryst that we shall do ryght well in all owyr maters hastyly, for my lady of Norffolk hathe promysyd to be rewlyd by my lord of Oxynforthe in all syche maters as belonge to my brodyr and to me. And as for my lord of Oxynforth, he is bettyr lord to me, by my trowthe, then I can wyshe hym in many maters, for he sent to my lady of Norffolk by John Bernard only for my mater and for non othyr cawse, myn onwetyng or wythowt eny preyer of me, for when he sent to hyr I was at London and he at Colchestyr, and þat is a lyeklyod he remembyrthe me. The Dwk and the Dwchess swe to hym as humbylly as euyr I dyd to them, in so myche that my lord of Oxynforth shall haue the rwyll of them and thers by ther owne desyirs and gret meanys. As for the ofyceys that ye wrot to my brodyr for, and to me, they be for no poore men; but I tryst we shall sped of othyr ofyseys metly for vs, for my mastyr the Erle of Oxynforthe bydyth me axe and haue. I trow my brodyr Syr John shall haue the constabyllshep of Norwyche Castyll wyth xx li. of fee; all the lordys be agreyd to it. Tydyngys, the Erle of Wyrcestyr is lyek to dye þis day, or to-morow at the ferthest. John Pylkyngton, Mastyr W. Attclyff, and Fowler ar takyn and in the castyll of Pomfrett, and ar lyek to dye hastyly, wyth-owte þey be ded. Syr T. Mongomeré and Jon Done be takyn; what shall falle of hem I can not sey. The qwen þat was and the Dwchesse of Bedford be in seyntuary at Westmestyr. The Bysheop of Ely wyth othyr bisheopys ar in Seynt Martyns. When I here more I shall send yow more. I prey God send yow all your desyirs. Wretyn at London on Seynt Edwardys Euyn. Your sone and humbyll seruaunt J. P. Modyr, I beseche yow þat Brome may be spokyn to to gadyr vp my sylluyr at Gwton in all hast possybyll, for I haue no mony. Also þat it lyek yow þat John Mylsent may be spokyn to to kep well my grey horse and he be a-lyue, and þat he spare no met on hym and þat he haue konnyng lechys to look to hym. As for my comyng hom I knowe no serteynté, for I terry tyll my lady of Norffolk com to go thorow wyth tho maters, and she shall not be here tyll Sonday.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1471, 04, 30

Aftyr humbyll and most dew recomendacyon, jn as humbyll wyse as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng, preying God to reward yow wyth as myche plesyer and hertys ease as I haue latward causyd you to haue trowbyll and thowght. And wyth Godys grace it shall not be longe to or then my wrongys and othyr menys shall be redressyd, for the world was neuyr so lyek to be owyrs as it is now; werfor I prey yow let Lomnor noremovet be to besy as yet. Modyr, I beseche yow, and ye may spare eny money, þat ye wyll do your almesse on me and send me some in as hasty wyse as is possybyll, for by my trowthe my lechecrafte and fesyk, and rewardys to them that haue kept me and condyt me to London, hathe cost me sythe Estern Day more then v li. And now I haue neythyr met, drink, clothys, lechecraft, nor money but vp-on borowyng, and I haue asayid my frendys so ferre that they be-gyn to fayle now in my gretest ned that euyr I was in. Also, modyr, I beseche yow, and my horse þat was at lechecraft at the Holt be not takyn vp for the Kyngys hawkys, that he may be had hom and kept in your plase, and not to go owght to watyr nor no whedyr ellys, but that the gat be shet and he to be chasyd aftyr watyr wyth-in your plase, and that he haue as myche met as he may ete. I haue hey j-now of myn owne, and as for otys, Dollys wyll puruey for hym, or who that dothe it I wyll paye. And I beseche yow þat he haue euery wek iij boshell of otys, and euery day a peny worthe of bred. And if Boton be not at Norwyche and Syme kep hym I shall geue hym well for hys labore. Also þat Phelypp Loueday put the othyr horse to gresse ther as he and I wer acordyd.
Item, that Boton send me hyddyr the two shyrtys that wer in my casket, and þat he send me hydyr xl s. by the next messenger þat comyth to London.

Item, that Mastress Broom send me hedyr iij longe gownys and ij doblettys, and a jaket of plonket chamlett, and a morey bonet owt of my cofyr=Syr Jamys hathe the key = as I sent hyr word be-for thys.
Item, that syche othyr wryghtyngys and stuff as was in my kasket be in your kepyng, and þat no body look my wryghtyngys.
Item, that the horse þat Purdy hathe of myne be put to some good gresse in hast. And if it plese yow to haue knowlage of ouyr royall person, I thank God I am hole of my syknesse, and trust to be clene hole of all my hurttys wythin a seuennyght at the ferthest, by wyche tym I trust to haue othyr tydyngys. And those tydyngys onys had, I tryst not to be longe owght of Norffolk, wyth Godys grace, whom I beseche preserue yow and your for my part. Wretyn þe last day of Apryll. The berer her-of can tell you tydyngys syche as be trew for very serteyn. Your humbylest seruaunt J. of Gelston

TO MARGARET PASTON 1471, 07, 05

Most worchepfull and my ryght specyall good modyr, as humbylly as I can I recomand me on-to yow, besechyng yow of youyr blyssyng. Please it yow to vndyrstand that thys day I spake wyth Bacheler Water, whyche let me haue vndyrstandyng of your welfare, wherof I thank God wyth all my hert. Also he leet me haue knowlage that the Lord Scalys had grauntyd yow to be my good lord, wherof I am no-thyng prowd for he may do leest wyth the gret mastyr, but he wold depert ouyr the see as hastyly as he may. And because he wenyth that I wold go wyth hym, as I had promyseyd hym euyr and he had kept foorthe hys jornay at that tyme, thys is the cause that he wyll be my good lord and help to get my pardon. The Kyng is not best pleaseyd wyth hym for that he desyerthe to depert, jn so myche that

the Kyng hathe seyd of hym that wen so euyr he hathe most to do, then the Lord Scalys wyll sonest axe leue to depert, and weenyth that it is most be-cause of kowardyese. As for perdon, I can non get wyth-owght I shold paye to myche money for it, and I am not so purueyd. As for Herry Hallman, my brodyr wyll axe hym no syluyr tyll ye be payeyd; therfor ye may send to hym and haue it.
Item, I am sory that ye haue fadyrd my hors þat was at Caster to be my brodyr Edmundys, for I had leueer þat they had hym styll then owght ellys; wherfor thow they profyr hym yow fro hense foorthe, let not my brodyr Edmund take hym but let hym sey, whedyr they wyll let hym haue hym or not, that I haue promyseyd my brodyr Edmund a bettyr hors for hym so that he wyl not cleyme the same for hys. As for tydyngys, her be non but þat the Scottys and Walyshe men be besy. What they meane I can not seye. My cosyn John Loueday can tell yow and ther be eny odyr flyeyng talys, for he hathe walkyd in London, and so do not I. When I may I wyll com hom, wyth Godys grace, whom I beseche to send you your hertys desyeyr. Wretyn the v daye of Julle. By your humblest sone and seruaunt J. P.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1471, 07, 22

To my most worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston be thys delyueryd in hast.

Ryght worshepfull modyr, I recomand me to yow, and as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. Please yow to vndyrstand that thys Wednysday Syr Thomas Wyngffeld sent to me and let me wet that the Kyng had syngnyd my bylle of perdon, whyche the seyd Syr Thomas delyueryd me; and so by Fryday at the forthest I tryst to haue my perdon ensealyd by the Chanceler. And soone aftyr so as I can fornyshe me I tryst to se yow, if so be that eny of the Kyngys hows com in-to Norwyche. I wold fayne my gray horse wer kept in mewe for gnattys. Also, modyr, I beseche yow that Dollys and hys felawe may be sent to that I may haue my money redy ayenst that I com hom, whyche is dew to be payid, for thys mater hathe cost me the settyng ouer. Also that it

may please yow that Purdy at Heylysdon maye be sent to for the horse that he hathe of myne, and that the horse may be kept well and haue as myche met as he wyll eate be-twyx thys and þat I com hom; and þat Jakys nage haue met j-now also. Also, and Syr Thomas Wyngfeld com to Norwyche, that he may haue as good cher as it please yow to make on-to that man that I am most behold to for hys gret kyndnesse and good wyll; for he takyth full my part ayenst my gretest enmyeys, Brandons and hys brodyr William. For at my fyrst comyng to Syr Thomas Wyngfeld bothe William Wyngfeld and William Brandon the yonger wer wyth Syr Thomas, and had gret wordys to my owne mowthe, and in cheff W. Wyngfeld; and wher so euyr he may met me on euyn grownd he wyll do myche, but and we met euynly no fors, so I haue your blyssyng. I prey yow wyth-owght it be to my Lady Calthorp let ther be but fewe woordys of thys perdon. No more, but I prey God preserue yow and yours. Wretyn the Wednysday nremoveext be-fore Mary Mawdelen. By your humblest sone J. P.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1471, 10, 28

Ryght worchepfull modyr, as lowly as I can I recomand me to yow, besechyng yow of your dayly blyssyng, praying yow to take thys key, and Syr Jamys wyth yow and my broder E. or J. Pampyng, and to ondo þe kofyr þat standith at my bedys feet, and ther jn a lytyll sqware box ye shall fynd two dedys wher-of the seallys be wownd in whyght paper; my brodyr E. sye when I wond them vp. The ton ...begynyth sciant &c. quod ego Matilda Bigota, and the todyr begynyth ' sciant &c. quod

ego Rogerus .... I prey yow let them be sealyd and sent me by Radley wyth the deedys ther-in. Syr Jamys knowyth the .... But if so be that ye fynd not thys box wyth thes two deedys in þat cofyr, then I prey yow take the key...teye of the same cofyr and opyn the cofyr that standyth in þe vtter chambyr, and ther ye shall fynd ...deedys. My brodyr Syr John recomandyth hym to yow, and besechyth yow of your blyssyng. And as for hys mater ther is yet no conclusyon of no poynt, but I tryst ther shall be wyth-in thes ij dayeys. Jenney W. trowblyth ...my brodyrs seruauntys wyth old accyons and all syche thyngys as he can renew to stoppe the oblygacions whyche he is bownd in on-to my broder, but all shall be easeyd, I tryst. As for Mastres A. Hawlt, the mater is mevyd by dyuers of the Qwenys consayll, and of ferre by R. Hault; but he wold it shold be fyrst of ouyr mocyon and we wold it shold com of theym fyrst. Ouyr mater shold be the bettyr. Tydyngys, ther is a generall perdon mevyd whyche my brodyr and I trystyth to haue the preuelege of as soone as it is grantyd, whyche shall be a-bowght All Halow Tyed at the ferthest. I haue spok wyth my Lord Ryuers and wyth all myn old aqweyntance, and haue good cheer of theym, hold as it maye. When we be concludyd in eny poynte of ouyr maters ye shall haue knowlage howhe, to put yow in comfort er we haue eny ... but in veyn; when we haue comfort ye shall haue parte. Newe tydyngys, datys v ...svgyr of iij kwte x d. a li. and bettyr I tryst. No more, but I beseche God preserue yow and yours. Wretyn on Seint Symondys Day and Jwde. Your humblest sone and seruaunt J. Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1471

The very valew of Sporle wood passyth not c mark of no manys mony that I can spek wyth, and to be payid by dayis as the byll that Jwdé shall

delyuer yow rehers, and ther-ayenst ye shold loose iij li. of the ferme of þe maner yerly, whych standyth by vndyr-wood, and yet the fense must stand yow on xij mark by the lest wey; but by God, and I wer as ye I wold not sell it for c mremoveark more then it is woorthe. Syr John Styll recomandyth hym to your good mastyrshep, and seyth pleynly if ye wyll he wyll com vp to yow and awayte on yow whersoeuer ye be, coort or othyr. By Seynt Mary, he is owyng more mony then I wend, for he is owyng for a twelmonthe and a quarter at thys Crystmas, sauyng for hys boord xij d. a wek for iij quarters. And he seythe pleynly that ye and R. Call bothe bad hym syng styll for Syr John Fastolf as he dyd be-fore, but I haue bodyn hym þat he shall get hym a seruyse now at thys Crystmas, and so he shall wyth-owt that ye send hym othyr-wyse woord, or ellys that ye or I may get hym som benefyse or fre chapell, or som othyr good seruyse, whyche I praye yow enqwer for.
Item, and ye werk wysly, your mater myght com in wyth othyr maters of the lordys in ther apoyntmentys wyth the Kyng, but it wold be labord to a porpose þis Crystmas whyll ye haue leyser to spek wyth your mastyr.
Item, myn aqweyntans wyth þe Lord Reuers is non othyrwyse but as it hathe ben alweys, sauyng and he go noremovew to Portygall to be at a day vp-on the Serasyns I purpose and haue promysyd to be ther wyth hym; and that jorney don, as Wykys seythe, farwell he. He purposyth to go forward a-bowt Lent, But Fortune wyth hyr smylyng contenans strange Of all our purpose may mak a sodeyn change. I ensuer yow he thynkyth all the world gothe on ther syd ayen. And as for my comyng vp at the begynnyng of thys next term, wyth-owt ye send me othyr-wyse woord þat I myght do yow som good when I wer com, by my feyth I com not ther, for it shold put yow to a cost and me to a labor and cost bothe; but removeif ye send for me I com streyght, thow I tery the lesse whyll ther, and so I shall wyth-owt I may do yow som good, by my feythe. I purpose to make vp my byllys cler, and send yow the copyse as hastyly as I can. Yonge Wyseman, othyrwyse callyd foole, told me that Syr W. Yeluerton is abowt to make a bargayn wyth the Dwches of Suffolk or wyth my lord of Norffolk, whyche he may get fyrst, foremover the maner of Gwton. I reseyue all yet, God hold it. I praye yow recomand me to my brodyr Molyenewx and all othyr good felaws. J. P.

VERSES: DRAFT Date uncertain; probably after 1471

My ryght good lord, most knyghtly gentyll knyght, On-to your grace in my most humbyll wyse I me comand, as it is dew and ryght, Besechyng yow at leyser to aduyse Vp-on thys byll, and perdon myn empryse Growndyd on foly for lak of prouydence On-to your lordshep to wryght wyth-owght lycence. But wher a man is wyth a feuyr shake, Now hot, now cold, as fallyth by auenture, He in hys mynd coniecte wyll and take The nyghest meane to worche for hys cuyre, More pacyently hys peynys to endure;

And ryght so I, so it not yow dysplease, Wryght in thys wyse my peynys to apease. For when I cownt and mak a reknyng Betwyx my lyfe, my dethe, and my desyer, My lyfe, alas, it seruyth of no thyng, Sythe wyth your pertyng depertyd my plesyer. Wyshyng youyr presence setyth me on fyer, But then your absence dothe my hert so cold That for the peyne I not me wher to hold. O, owght on absence, ther foolys haue no grace= I mene my-sylf=nor yet no wytt to gwye Theym owt of peyne to com on-to that place Wher as presence may shape a remedye For al dysease; now fye on my folye, For I dyspeyryd am of your soone metyng That God I prey me to your presence bryng. Farwell, my lord, for I may wryght no more, So trowblyd is my hert wyth heuynesse. Envye also it gremyth me most sore That thys rwde byll shall put hym-sylf in presse To se your lordshepe of hys presumptuousnesse Er I my-sylf; but yett ye shall not mysse To haue my hert to-for my byll, j-wys. Whyche I comytt, and all my hole seruyse In-to your handys, demeane it as you lyst. Of it I kepe to haue no more franchyse Then I hertlesse swyrly me wyst, Sauyng only þat it may be as tryst And to yow trew as euyr was hert, and pleyn, Tyll cruell dethe depert yt vp-on tweyn.

Adew dysport, farwell good companye, In all thys world ther is no joye, I weene, For ther as whyleom I sye wyth myn jee A lusty lord leepyng vp-on a grene, The soyle is soole, no knyghtys ther be seen, No ladyse walk ther they wer wont to doone. Alas, some folk depertyd hense to soone. Som tyme also men myght a wageor make, And wyth ther bowys a feld haue it tryed Or at the paame ther ther plesure for to take. Then wer they loose þat now stand as tyed. I not wher to thys world may be a-plyed For all god cher on euyn and on morow Whyche then was mad now tornyth me to sorowe.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, 06, 05

To my ryght worchepfull brodyr Syr John Paston, knyght.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, sertyfying yow þat, as God help me, I wend þat William Barker had ben wyth yow thys Whyghtsontyd at London and browght yow monye, for so he promysyd bothe Judé and me þat he shold do, and also at hys comyng to London þat he shold make yow ther a clere reknyng what mony he had receyuyd and delyuerd. And tyll thys day that I spak wyth hys son I wend he had ben wyth yow be-cause I herd not fro yow the contrary syn Jwdé was her. Hys son hathe promysyd me that he shall be wyth me thys nyght or to-morow at the ferthest, and if he com syche monye as he hathe I shall cause hym to send it yow, and a vewe of hys acompte to-gedyr by the next messenger that we can get to London, I promyse yow wyth-owght slawthyng. As for

an hole acompte, Gefrey Spyrlyng can not charge hym wyth non wythowght a presedent. I trow ye haue acomptys of Wynterton and Bastwyk and Runham among your euydence of Caster, and if ye send me woord to look among your euydence for syche I schall, and then we may charge hym wyth hys hole acompte and I fynd onys a presedent. I haue yesterday sent to Herry Hallman to make your money redy a-yenst Mydsomer, and as sone as I her fro hym ayen I shall send yow suyr woord when ye shall send to hym for monye and not fayle.
Item, Mastyr John Smythe tellyth me þat Syr T. Lyndys goodys ar not abyll to paye a quarter of hys dettys þat be axyd hym, wherfor syche money as is be-left it most be devydyd to euery man a parte aftyr the quantyté, whyche dyuysyon is not yet mad; but when it is mad he hathe promyseyd me þat your pert shalbe worthe iij þe best. I meuyd hym to haue sent yow some monye befor the dyuysyon to haue pleasyd wyth the apotycary and þe freers for a season, and I haue halfe a promesse that he wyll do so; I ensuer yow by my trowthe, he nor Syr W. Marrys shall not forget it for lak of callyng on. I tryst veryly ye shall haue the most parte þat ye get of theym wyth-in thes vj dayis, for I fynd Master J. Smyth well wyllyng ther-to.
Item, as for J. of Barneys hors, who so haue leest need to hym he shall cost hym xx mark, not a peny lesse. Ye send me woord of þe maryage of my Lady Jane; o maryage for an other=ouyr norse and Bedford wer axid in the chyrche on Son-day last past. As for my systremoveerAnne, my modyr wyll not remeue fro W. Yelluerton for Bedyngfeld, for she hathe comond ferther in þat mater syn ye wer in þis contré, as it aperyth in hyr lettyr þat she sendyth yow by Thyrston. Tydyngys her, my lady of Norffolk is wyth chyld, she wenyth hyr-sylf, and so do all þe women a-bowght hyr, in so myche she waytys the qwyknyng wyth-in thes vj wekys at the ferthest. Also W. Gornay wenyth that Heydon is swyr of Saxthorp and þe Lady Boleyn of Gwton. John Osbern auysythe yow to take brethe for your wodsale at Sporle, for he hathe cast it that it is woorthe as good as ix li. Be war of Montayn, for he may not pay yow so myche mony wyth hys ease. I prey yow recomand me to Syr John Parre wyth all my seruys, and tell hym by my trouthe I longyd neuer sorer to se my lady then I do to se hys mastershepe. And I prey God that he aryse neuer a mornyng fro my lady his wyff wyth-owght it be ageyn hyr wyll tyll syche tyme as he bryng hyr to Ouyr Lady of Walsyngham. Also I prey yow to recomand me in my most humbyll wyse on-to þe good lordshepe of þe most corteys, gentylest, wysest, kyndest, most compenabyll, freest, largeest and most bowntefous knyght, my lord the Erle of Arran, whych hathe maryed the

Kyngys sustyr of Scotlon. Her-to, he is on the lyghtest, delyuerst, best spokyn, fayirest archer, deuowghtest, most perfyght and trewest to hys lady of all the knyghtys that euer I was aqweyntyd wyth; so wold God my lady lyekyd me as well as I do hys person and most knyghtly condycyon, wyth whom I prey yow to be aqweyntyd as you semyth best. He is lodgyd at þe George in Lombard Strete. He hath a book of my syster Annys of þe Sege of Thebes. When he hathe doon wyth it he promysyd to delyuer it yow. I prey yow lete Portlond brynge þe book hom wyth hym. Portlond is loggyd at þe George in Lombard Stret also. And thys I promysse yow, ye schall not be so longe a-yen wyth-ought a byll fro me as ye haue ben, thow I shold wryght how ofte the wynd changyth; for I se be your wryghtyng ye can be wrothe and ye wyll. Wretyn the v day of June. As for Rysyremoveng, I shall send hym woord to kepe hys day crastino Johannis. J. Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, 07, 08

To my ryght worchepfull brodyr Syr John Paston, knyght.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to you, sertyfying yow that I haue spokyn wyth Mastyr John Smyth for Syr T. Lyndys, and he hathe shewyd me your byll whyche ye axe to be content of. Your byll a-lone drawyth iiij mark and ode monye, for ye haue set in your byll for wax a-lone xx s., whyche to Mastyr John S. jmagynacyon, and to all other ofycers of the coort, shold not drawe past xx d. at hys berying. The byllys that be put in to the coorte of Syr T. Lynys dettys drawe xxx li. xviij s. vj d., and all the money that can be mad of hys house and goodys in thys contrey drawyth but v li. Master J. Smyth wold ye shold send hym in to the coort an jnventory of syche goodys as Syr T. had at London when he dyeid, and þat

jnventory onys had ye shall haue as comyth to your part, and more also. Ye must send þe serteynté whedyr the wax be xx s or xx d. And as for the freers, Master John wyll not alowe theym a peny, for he seyth wher þe dettys may not be payeid, set þe beqwestys at nowght. He is agreid to pay the potycarye aftyr that he haue þe jnventory fro yow. Rysyng I trowe hathe be wyth yow.
Item, as for John Maryot, I haue sent to hym for þe xl s., but I haue non answer.
Item, I haue spok wyth Barker, and he hathe no money nor non can get tyll haruest, when he may dystreyn the cropp vp-on þe grownd. He seyth ther is not owyng past v mark, and on Saterday next comyng he shall send me a vewe of hys acompte whyche I shall send yow as sone as I haue it. As for Fastolffys v mark, J. Wyndham hathe be spokyn to by me half a doseyn tymys to send to hym for it, and he seyth he hathe doon so.
Item, Syr John Styll hathe told Jwdé when ye shall haue the chalys. Ax Jwdé of your crwetys allso.
Item, the prowd, pevyshe, and euyll dysposyd prest to vs all, Syr Jamys, seyth þat ye comandyd hym to delyuer þe book of vij Sagys to my brodyr Water, an he hathe it.
Item, I send yow the serteynté her-wyth of as myche as can be enqweryd for myn oncyll W. cleym in Caster. Those artyclys þat fayle, the tenauntys of Caster shall enqwer theym and send to me hastyly. They haue promysyd and they com ye shall haue theym sent yow by the next messenger þat comyth to London.
Item, my modyr sendyth yow woord that she hathe neyther Master Robard Popyes oblygacyon nor the Byshopys. Item, my modyr wold ye shold in all haste gete her aqwetance of the Byshop of Wynchester for Syr John Fastolff goodys. She preyid yow to make it swyr by þe auyse of your consayll, and she wyll pay for the costys. Item, she preyith yow to spek to þe seyd Byshop for to get Master Clement Felmyremovengham the viij mark be yer dwryng hys lyffe that Syr J. Fastolff be-set hym. She preyid yow to get hym an asygnement for it to som maner in Norffolk or in Lothynglond.
Item, she wold ye shold get yow an other house to ley in youyr stuff syche as cam fro Caster; she thynkyth on of the freerys is a fayir house. She purposeyth to go in-to the contré and ther to soiorn onys a-yen. Many qwarellys ar pyekyd to get my brodyr E. and me ought of hyr howse. We go not to bed vnchedyn lyghtly. All þat we do is ille doon, and all that Syr Jamys and Pekok dothe is well doon. Syr Jamys and I be tweyn. We

fyll owght be-for my modyr wyth 'Thow prowd prest' and 'Thow prowd sqwyer', my modyr takyng hys part, so I haue almost beshet þe bote as for my modyrs house. Yet somer shalbe don or I get me eny mastyr. My modyr purposeith hastyly to take estate in all hyr londys, and vp-on that estate to make hyr wyll of þe seyd londys: parte to geue to my yonger brethyrn for term of her lyuys and aftyr to remayn to yow, pert to my syster Annys maryage tyll an c li. be payid, part for to make hyr jle at Mawtby, parte for a prest to syng for hyr and my fadyr and ther ancestrys, And in thys angyr betwen Syr Jamys and me she hathe promyseid me that my parte shall be nowght; what your shalbe I can not sey. God sped the plowghe! I feythe ye must puruey for my brodyr E. to go ouer wyth yow, or he is on-don. He wyll bryng xx noblys in hys purse. My modyr wyll nowthyr geue nor lend non of you bothe a peny forward. Puruey a meane to haue Caster ayen or ye goo ouyr; my lord and my lady--- whyche for serteyn is gret wyth chyld---be wery ther-of, and all þe housold also. If ye wyll eny othyr thynremoveg to be don in thys contré, send me woord and I shalldo as well as I can, wyth Godys grace, who preserue yow. Wretyn the viij day of Julle. I pray yow recomand me to my lord of Aran, Syr John Par, Syr George Browne, Osbern Berney, R. Hyd, J. Hoxson, my cosyn hys wyfe Kate, W. Wood, and all. I prey brenne thys byremovell for losyng. Your J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, 09, 21

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, letyng yow wet þat your desyer as for the knyghtys of the shyer was an impossybyl to be browhgt a-bowght, for my lord of Norffolk and my lord of Suffolk wer agreid more then a fortnyght go to haue Syr Robert Wyngfeld and Syr Rychard Harcort; and that knew I not tyll it was Fryday last past. I had sent or I rod

to Framlyremovengham to warne as many of your frendys to be at Norwyche as thys Monday to serue your entent as I koud; but when I cam to Framlyremovengham and knew the apoyremoventment that was takyn for the ij knyghtys, I sent warnyng ayen to as many as I myght to tery at hom. And yet ther cam to Norwyche thys day as many as ther costys drewe to ix s. j d. ob., payid and reknyd by Pekok and R. Capron, and yet they dyd but brak ther fast and depertyd. And I thankyd hem in your name and told them that ye wold haue noo voyse as thys day, for ye supposyd not to be in Inglond when the perlement shold be. And so they cam not at the sherhous, for if they had it was thowght by syche as be your frendys her that your aduersarys wold haue reportyd þat ye had mad labor to haue ben on, and þat ye koud not bryng your purpose a-bowght. I sent to Yermowthe, and they haue promysyd also to Doctor Aleyn and John Russe to be mor then iij wekys goo. Jamys Arblaster hathe wretyn a letter to the baylé of Maldon in Essex to haue you a borgeys ther. How Jwdé shall sped let hym tell yow when ye spek to-gedyr. Syr, I haue ben twyis at Framlyremovengham sythe your depertyng, but now the last tym the consayll was ther I sye yowyr lettyr, whyche was bettyr then well endyghtyd. R. T. was not at Framlyremovengham when the consayll was ther, but I took myn owne auysse and delyuerd it to the consayll, wyth a propocysion ther-wyth as well as I kowd spek it; and my wordys wer well takyn, but your letter a thowsand fold bettyr. When they had red it they shewyd it to my lady. Aftyr that my lady had sen it I spak wyth my lady, offyryng to my lord and hyr your seruyse, and besyd þat ye to do my lord a plesur and hyr a bettyr, so as ye myght depert, wyth-ought eny some specyfyid. She wold not dell in that mater, but remyttyd me a-yen to the consayll, for she seyd and she spake in it tyll my lord and the consayll wer agreid they wold ley the wyght of all the mater on hyr, whyche shold be reportyd to hyr shame; but thys she promyseid, to be helpyng so it wer fyrst meuyd by the consayll. Then I went to the consayll and offyrd befor them youyr seruyse to my lord, and to do hym a plesure for þe haueing ayen of your place and londys in Caster xl li., not spekyng of your stuff nor thyng ellys. So they answerd me your offyr was more then resonabyll, and if the mater wer thers they seyd they wyst what conscyence wold dryue hem to. They seyd they wold meue my lord wyth it, and so they dyd; but then the tempest aros and he gaue hem syche an answer that non of hem all wold tell it me. But when I axid an answer of hem they seyd and som lordys or gretter men meuyd my lord wyth it the mater wer your. Kepe consayle. And wyth thys answer I depertyd; but Syr W. Brandon,

Sothewell, Tymperley, Herry Wentworthe, W. Gornay, and all other of consayll vndyrstand that ye haue wronge, in so myche that they meuyd me that ye shold take a recompence of other lond to the valew. But they wold not avowe the offyr, for I anserd hem that if þey had ryght they wold haue ofyrd no recompence. Dyscwyr not thys; but in my reason, and my lord Chamberleyn wold send my lady a letter wyth some preuy tokyn betwyx theym, and allso to meue my lord of Norffolk when he comyth to the perlement, serteynly Caster is yours. If ye mysse to be burgeys of Maldon and my lord Chamberleyn wyll, ye may be in a-nother plase. Ther be a doseyn townys in Inglond that chesse no borgeys whyche ought to do, and ye may be set in for on of those townys and ye be frendyd. Also in eny wyse forget not in all hast to get some goodly ryng, pryse of xx s., or som praty flowyr of the same pryse and not vndyr, to geue to Jane Rodon, for she hathe ben the most specyall laborer in your mater and hathe promysyd hyr good wyll foorthe, and she dothe all wyth hyr mastresse. And my lord Chamberleyn wyll, he may cause my lord of Norffolk to com vp soner to the perlement then he shold do, and then he may apoynt wyth hym for yow or þe ferm corn be gadryd. I profyrd but xl li., and if my lord Chamberleyn profyr my lady the remenaunt I con thynk it shall be takyn; my lady must haue somwhat to bye hyr kouercheffys be-syd my lord. A soper þat I payd for wher all the consayll was at Framlyremovengham ij s. iij d., and my costys at Framlyremovengham, twyis lying ther by viij dayis, wyth ix s. j ob. for costys of þe contré at Norwyche, drawyth a-bowght xx s., I trowe more, by Ouyr Lady=if it be lesse, stand to your harmys; and sic$remanet v li. xiij s. iiij d. I axe no more god of you, for all the seruyse þat I shall do yow whyll the world standyth, but a gosshawke, if eny of my lord Chamberleyns men or yours goo to Kaleys, or if eny be to get in London=that is a mewyd hawk, for she may make yow sporte when ye com in-to Inglond a doseyn yer hens, and to call vp-on yow owyrly, nyghtly, dayly, dyner, soper for thys hawke. I pray noo mor, but my brodyr E., J. Pampyng, Thyrston, J. Myryell, W. Pytte, T. Plattyng, Jwdé, Lityll Jak, I mastyr Boton, and W. Wood to boote, to whyche persons I prey yow to comand me; and if all thes lyst to spek to yow of thys mater when Syr George Browne, W. Knyuett, R. Hyd, or eny folkys of worchepp and of my aqweyntanse be in your

company, so þat they may helpe forthe, for all is lytyll j-nowe and ye be not very well wyllyng, I shall so puruey for hem, and euer ye com to Norwyche and they wyth yow, that they shall haue as deynté vytayll and as gret plenté ther-of for j d. as they shall haue of the tresorer of Caleys for xv; and ye parauenture a pye of Wymondham to boote. Now thynk on me, good lord, for jff I haue not an hawke I shall wax fatt for default of labor and ded for defawlt of company, by my trowthe. Nomore, but I pray God send you all your desyers, and me my mwyd gosshawk in hast; or rather þen fayle a sowyr hawke. Ther is a grosser dwellyng ryght ouerayenst the well wyth ij bokettys a lytyll fro Seynt Elyns hathe euyr hawkys to sell. Wretyn at Norwych the xxj day of September. J. P. Rather then faylle a tarssell prouyd wyll ocwpy the tyme tyll I com to Caleys.

LETTER IN THE NAME OF JAMES ARBLASTER TO THE BAILIFF OF MALDON 1472, 09, 20

To my ryght trusty frend John Carenton, Baylye of Maldon.

Ryght trysty frend, I comand me to yow, preying yow to call to your mynd that, lyek as ye and I comonyd of, it wer necessary for my lady and you all, hyr seruauntys and tenauntys, to haue thys perlement as for on of the burgeys of the towne of Maldon syche a man of worchep and of wytt as wer towardys my seyd lady, and also syche on as is in fauor of the Kyng and of þe lordys of hys consayll nyghe abought hys persone; sertyfyeing

yow that my seyd lady for hyr parte, and syche as be of hyr consayll, be most agreabyll that bothe ye and all syche as be hyr fermors and tenauntys and wellwyllers shold geue your voyse to a worchepful knyght and on of my ladys consayll, Syr John Paston, whyche standys gretly in favore wyth my lord Chamberleyn, and what my seyd lord Chamberleyn may do wyth the Kyng and wyth all the lordys of Inglond I trowe it be not vnknowyn to yow, most of eny on man alyue. Wherfor by the meanys of the seyd Syr John Paston to my seyd lord Chamberleyn bothe my lady and ye of the towne kowd not haue a meeter man to be for yow in the perlement to haue your needys sped at all seasons. Wherfor I prey yow labor all syche as be my ladys seruauntys, tenauntys, and wellwyllers to geue ther voyseys to the seyd Syr John Paston, and that ye fayle not to sped my ladys jntent in thys mater, as ye entend to do hyr as gret a plesur as if ye gaue hyr an c li. And God haue yow in hys keping. Wretyn at Fysheley the xx day of Septembyr. J. Arblaster I prey yow be redy wyth all the acomptanttys belongyng to my lady at the ferthest wythin viij dayis next aftyr Perdon Sonday, for then I shall be wyth yow, wyth Godys grace, who haue yow in keepyng.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, 10, 16

A monser J. Paston, cheualler.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I comand me to yow, sertyfying yow that Pekok hathe receyuyd of Syr John Stylle by a bylle all syche stuff as he had of your; and as for Kendallys mater, he hathe doon as myche in it as can be doon. But as for Richard Calle, he hathe geuyn hym a pleyn answer þat he wyll not seale to the lease þat ye haue mad to Kendalle, for he seyth he wottyth not whether it be your wylle or not, notwythstandyng he sye yore sealle vp-on it. I wold be sory to delyuer hym a subpena and ye sent it me.

I send yow herwyth the endenture betwyx yow and Townesend. My modyr hathe herd of that mater by the reporte of old Wayte, whyche rennyth on it wyth opyn mowthe in hys werst wyse. My modyr wepyth and takyth on meruaylously, for she seythe she wotyth well it shall neuer be pledgyd ought; wherfor she seythe that she wyll puruey for hyr lond þat ye shall non selle of it, for she thynkys ye wold and it cam to yowr hand. As for hyr wyll, and all syche maters as wer in hand at your last being here, they thynk that it shall not lye in all oure porys to let it in on poynt. Syr Jamys is euyr choppyng at me when my modyr is present, wyth syche wordys as he thynkys wrathe me and also cause my modyr to be dyspleaseid wyth me, evyn as who seyth he wold I wyst that he settyth not by the best of vs. And when he hathe most vnsyttyng woordys to me, I smylle a lytyll and tell hym it is good heryng of thes old talys. Syr Jamys is parson of Stokysby by J. Bernays gyft. I trowe he beryth hym the hyeer.
Item, ye must sende in haste to W. Barker a warant to pay John Kook xxxjj s., and to the woman of Yermothe for otys x s., and Syr John Styll hys money, for they call dayly vp-on it.
Item, I prey yow send me some tydyngys howgh the world gothe, and whether ye haue sent eny of your folk to Caleys. Me thynkys it costyth yow to myche money for to kepe hem all in London at your charge.
Item, whethyr ye haue eny thyng spokyn of my going to Caleys.
Item, as for a goshawk or a terssell, I wend to haue had on of yours in kepyng or thys tyme; but fere fro jee, fer fro hert. By my trowthe, I dye for defawlt of labore. And it may be by eny meane possybyll, for Godys sake let on be sent me in all hast, for if it be not had by Halowmess the seson shall passe a-non. memento mei, and in feythe ye shall not loose on it=nor yet myche wyne on it, by God, who preserue yow. Wretyn on Seynt Mychell Day in Monte Tomba. J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, 11, 24

To master Syr John Paston, knyght.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, thankyng yow most hertly of your dylygence and cost whyche ye had in gettyng of the hawk whyche ye sent me, for well I wot your labore and trowbyll in that mater was as myche as thow she had ben the best of the world. But so God help me, as ferforthe as the most connyng estragers that euer I spak wyth can jmagyn, she shall neuer serue but to ley eggys, for she is bothe a mwer de haye and also she hathe ben so brooseid wyth cariage of fowle that she is as good as lame in boothe hyr leggys, as euery man may se at jee; wherfor all syche folk as haue seen hyr auyse me to cast hyr in-to some wood wher as I wyll haue hyr to eyer. But I wyll do ther-in as ye wyll, whedyr ye wyll I send hyr yow a-yen or cast hyr in Thorp wood and a tarsell wyth hyr, for I woot wher on js. But now I dar no more put yow to the cost of an hawke; but for Godys sak, and ther be eny tersell or good chep goshawk that myght be gotyn, that the berer herof may haue hyr to bryng me. And I ensuer yow be my trowthe ye shall haue Dollys and Browne bonde to paye yow at Kandyllmas the pryse of the hawke. Now, and ye haue as many ladyse as ye wer wont to haue, I reqwere yow for hyr sake that ye best loue of theym alle, onys trowbyll yowr-syllf for me in thys mater, and be owght of my clamor.
Item, as for the ryng, it is delyuerd, but I had as gret peyn to make hyr take it as euer I had in syche a mater; but I haue promyseid yow to be hyr knyght, and she hathe promyseid me to be more at yowr comandment then at eny knyghtys in Inglond, my lord reseruyd, and that ye shall well vnderstand if ye haue owght to do wherin she may be an helper, for ther was neuer knyght dyd so myche cost on hyr as ye haue doo. I meruayll that I her no woord of the lettyrs that my lord Chamberleyn shold send to my lord and my lady for Caster. It is best that my lord

Chamberleyn wryght to my lady by som preuy tokyn betwyx theym and let a man of hys com wyth the lettrys. My lord Chamberleyn may speed wyth my lady what maters he wyll, sauyng thd gret mater, and if ye inbyll me for a solysitor, I shalbe a vouster comandment a touz iours.
Item, me thynkyth that ye do euyll that ye go not thorowgh wyth my lady of Suffolk for Heylysdon and Drayton, for ther shold growe mony to yow whyche wold qwyte yow ayenst R. T. and all other, and set yow befor for euer. I prey yow, for your ease and all others to yow ward, plye thes maters. As for all otheremover thyngys, I shall send yow an answer when I com to Norwyche, whyche shall be on Thorsday, wyth Godys grace. I haue teryd her at Framlyremovengham thys sremoveeuennyght, for removemy lady took not hyr chambyr tyll yersterday. A dewe. Wretyn on Seynt Kateryns Euyn. J. P. I sye the pye and herd it spek, and be God it is not worthe a crowe. It is fer wers then ye wend. Be God, it wer shame to kep it in a cage.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, late 11

To Syr John Paston, knyght.

Syme recomandyth hym to your good mastyrshep and preyeth yow that ye wyll not forget, though he be a boye, to let hym were the same lyueré that your men do. And if it pleased yow to lete hys gowne clothe be sent hym

hom, that it myght be mad a-yenst your comeing in-to thys contré, he wold be as prowd as eny man ye haue. Syr, as hertly as I can I thank yow for the hatt whyche is comyng, as I vndyrstand by your wrytyng, sent by John the Abottys man of Seynt Benet. My modyr sendys yow Godys blyssyng and hyrs, and preyes yow to get a new lycence of my lord of Norwyche that she may haue the sacrement in hyr chapell. I gat a lycence of hym for a yere and it is nyghe woryn ought. Ye may get it for the Byshoppys lyue and ye wylle. As for the lettyrs that Slyfeld shold get newe of the Kyng, whyche ye shold bryng to my lord of Norffolk, it is myn avyse that ye shall come home your-sylff as hastyly as ye maye so that ye may be at the crystenyng of the chyld that my lady is wyth. It shall cause yow gret thank, and a gret fordell in your mater. And as for the lettres, leue a man of your to awayte on Slyfeld to bryng theym aftyr yow; of whyche lettres I avyse yow to haue on dyrect fro the Kyng to yow, comandyng yow to be the messenger and brynger of the other lettres to my lord, my lady, and ther consayll, for your owne mater. And thys me thynkyth shall do well, for then shall ye mou shewe to my lordys consayll the lettre dyrect to yow, that ye haue awtoryté to be your owne solycytour; and also it shall be thought that the Kyng tendryth yow and your mater, when he wryghtyth to your-sylff for it. My lady wayteth hyr tyme wyth-in viij dayes at þe ferthest.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1472, 12, 18

To my mastyr Syr John Paston, knyght, be thys delyueryd.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, thankyng yow most hertly of your gret cost whyche ye dyd on me at my last being wyth yow at London, whyche to my power I wyll recompence yow wyth the best seruyse that lythe in me to do for your plesure whyll my wyttys be myn owne. Syr, as for the mater of Caster, it hathe be meuyd to my ladys good grace by the Byshope of Wynchester as well as he kowd jmagyn to sey it, consederyng the lytyll leyser that he had wyth hyr. And he told me that he had

Ryght an agreabyll answer of hyr, but what hys answer was he wold not tell me. Then I axyd hym what answer I shold send yow, in as myche as ye mad me a solysyter to hys lordshep for that mater. Then he bad me that vndyr consayll I shold send yow woord that hyr answer was more to your plesure then to the contrary, whych ye shall haue more pleyn knowlage of thys next terme, att whyche tyme bothe my lord and she shall be at London. The Byshop cam to Framlyngham on Wednysday at nyght, and on Thursday by x of the clok be-for noon my yong lady was krystend and namyd Anne. The Byshop crystynd it and was godfadyr bothe, and wythin ij owyrs and lesse aftyr the crystenyng was do, my lord of Wynchester departyd towardys Waltham. A lytyll be-for the Byshopys departyng my lady sent for Thomas Davers, and ther he spak wyth hyr of dyuers thyngys; so a-mong all he remembryd hyr of Caster, besechyng hyr to be good lady in that mater as she had promysyd, and as he knewe well that she had ben in tyme past, for he told hyr that it was a thyng that towchyd gretly the honour of my lord of Wynchester in as myche as he promyseid yow the pesybyll possessyon ther-of, whyche ye had not as yet. Then my lady answeryd a-yen that thys next terme bothe my lord and she shold be at London, and she knewe well that soone aftyr that they wer com to London my lord and my lord of Wynchester shold meete, and aftyr thys lytyll aqweyntance heere ther they shold haue more; at qwhyche tyme she hyr-sylff wold devyse to my lord of Wynchester syche a wey to brek in to my lord of that mater that he shold speed of hys entent. But er euer T. Dauers wold tell me what hys answer was of hyr, he mad me to be sworyn that I shold neuer dyremovescouer it but to yow, and þat ye shold kepe it secrett. And I let yow pleynly weet I am not the man I was, for I was neuer so roughe in my mastyrs conseyt as I am now; and þat he told me hym-sylff before Rychard Sothewell, Tymperley, Syr W. Brandon, and twenty more, so that they þat lowryd nowgh laughe vpon me. No mor, but God look. Wretyn at Framlyremovengham the Fryday next aftyr þat I depertyd fro yow. Thys day my lord is towardys Walsyngham, and comandyd me to ouertake hym to-morow at þe ferthest. J. P. I prey yow recomand me to mastyr Josephe in my best wyse, and Sampson dothe þe same.

TO THE DUKE OF NORFOLK: COPY Late 1472

To the right hyghe and myghty prince and my right good and gracious lord, my lord the Dwke of Norffolk Mekly besechyth your hyghness your poore and trew contynuall seruaunt and oratour John Paston the yonger that it myght please your good grace to call on-to your most discret and notabyll remembrance that lateward, at the costys and charge of my brodyr John Paston, knyght, whyche most entendith to do that myght please your hyghness, the ryght nobyll lord the Bysshopp of Wynchester entretyd so and compouned wyth your lordshepp that it liekyd the same to be so good and gracyous lord to my seyd brodyr that, by forsse of serteyn dedys, relessis, and lettrys of attorney selyd wyth the sealys of your good grace and of other serteyn personys jnfeoffyd to your vse in the maner of Castre, late John Fastolffys, knyght, in the conté of Norffolk, my seyd brodyr and I, wyth other enffeoffyd to my seyd brodyrs vse in the seyd maner, wer peasably possessyd of and in the same tyll syche tyme as serteyn personys, seruauntys on-to your good grace, entred in to the seyd maner, and therof haue takyn the jssues and profitys in the name of your seyd hyghnesse by the space of thre yer and more, to the gret hurt of my seyd brodyr and me, your seyd seruaunt and oratour. Wherfor, as I haue oft tymys befor thys, I beseche your good grace, at the reuerence of God and in the wey of charyté, that my seyd brodyr may by your hyghness be a-yen restoryd in-to the possessyon of the seyremoved maner accordyng to the lawe and good conscyence. And we shall prey to God for the preseruacyon of your most nobyll estate.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1473, 03, 08

A mysyr John Paston, scheualler, soyt doné.

w Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, sertyfying yow that, in lyek wyse as I promysyd yow in the lettyr that Playter sent yow, I haue be wyth my modyr, and as well as I cowde, and Playter bothe, we aduertyseid hyr to make cheuesance for the c li.; but we bothe kowde not remeue hyr fro hyr purpose, whyche Playters lettyr specyfyeth. Wherfor looke ye tryst aftyr non other comfort as for hyr, and so she bad me send yow woord. As for Barker, Jwdé can tell yow hys answer. As for John Kook, ye promyseid hym payment your-sylff, and to Syr John Stylle v mark in partye of payment; and therfor spake I to Barker. My modyr hathe sold hyr barlye for xiiij d., and so I told Barker. As for Master John Smythe, I meet non ofter wyth hym then I speek wyth hym of it, but I can not geet yeet; but if I can geet it by eny meane possybyll I shall assay thys week, for he shall keepe hys coortys heer in Norwyche all thys week and the next bothe. And as for Fastolff, I can not do but speke to Wymondham, hys fadyr in lawe, and that do I as ofte as I meet hym; I can no more do. But as to the gret mater that requyryth an hasty answer lest the kok be in perayle and that other shold be hyndyrd by reason of my slowthe, I wold no syche jnconuenyence shold falle thorought me. Me thynkys Edmuremovend Fastolff was a resonabyll man to Robert of Lyne, wherfor let my brodyr Edmund swe for the same, for on wyffe may serue for vs bothe tyll bettyr pesse be. So God help me, ye maye alegge a pleyne excuse, I reke not who knoweith it, that thees dyrk werrys haue so hyndyrd me that hyr lyuelode and myne bothe shold be to lytyll to leue at oure ease tyll I wer ferther befor the hand than I kowde be thys two yer, and she fownd aftyr hyr honourre and my poore apetytt; wherfor I had leuer forbere that I wold haue then to bryng hem in peyn that I wold haue. Sey bettyr for me, for ye can and ye wylle. Thys mater must be honestly handyld, for I wot well my yong lady of Oxenforthe shall heere of it. We haue here no tydyngys, but a fewe Frenshemen be whyrlyng on the coostys so þat ther dare no fyshers go owght but vndyr saue condyth.

I prey yow and ye haue eny more orangys then ye ocupye, that poore men may haue parte for a gret-belyed lady. And we shall prey to God for yow. Wretyn the fyrst Monday of Cleene Lent, Ao E. iiijti xiijo. J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1473, 03, 26

To my master Syr John Paston, knyght, be thys delyuerd in hast.

Syr, it is so that my cosyn John Blenerhasset is enformyd that for verry serteyn he is chosyn to be on of the colectours of the taske in Norffolk, wher in verry trowthe he hathe not a foot of lond wyth-in the shyer. Wherfor I beseche yow that as hastyly as ye may aftyr þe syght of thys bylle þat it may please yow to take the labore to comon wyth Syr Rychard Harrecorte, and to let hym haue knowlage þat thys gentyllman hathe nowght wyth-in the shyer, and þat ye tweyne may fynd the meane to get hym owght of þat thanklesse offyce; for I promyse yow it encomberthe hym evyll, and my mastresse hys wyffe and alle vs hys frendys here. And if so be þat ye and Syr R. Harcorte may not fynd the meane betwyx yow, that then it may please yow to meue my lord Chamberleyn wyth thys mater. And so prayithe yow Master Harsset and Mastresse Jane hys wyff also, for she lyekyth no-thyng by the ofyce. It is thowght her amonge vs þat Heydons be þe causers þat he was set in. I prey yow enqwer of Syr R. Harcort who was the cause, and þat it may be wyst in þe next byll þat ye send me; for if they wer the causers it lythe in my cosyn Harsettys power to qwytte theym. We haue no tydyngys to send but þat our Frenshemen whyche kepte our costys her ar home in-to France, for lake of vytayll we saye. Hogan is put in þe gyldhalle in Norwyche, and shalbe browght vp to London for reportyng of hys old talys; he varythe not. No more, but I prey God send yow the Holy Gost amonge yow in the parlement howse, and rather þe devyll, we sey, then ye shold grante eny

more taskys. Wretyn þe day next aftyr Ouyr Lady Day the Anuncyacyon Ao xiij E. iiijti. Yonge Heydon laborythe all þat he can to mary on of hys doughtyr to yonge John Barney by þe mean of W. Calthorpp. J. P. *as I was wryghtyng þis bylle Mastresse Jane Harsset comandyd me streyghtly that I shold recomand hyr to yow in hyr best wyse, and she sendyth yow word she wold be as fayne to here fro yow as an other poore body.

TO 'MISTRESS ANNES' 1474, 07, 22

Sythe it is so that I may not, as oft as I wold, be ther as I myght do my message my-sylff, myn owne fayir Mastresse Annes, I prey yow to accepte thys byll for my messanger to recomand me to yow in my most feythefull wyse, as he that faynest of all other desyerth to knowe of yowr welfare, whyche I prey God encresse to your most plesure. And mastress, thow so be that I as yet haue govyn yow bot easy cause to remembyr me for lake of aqweyntance, yet I beseche yow let me not be forgotyn when ye rekyn vp all your seruauntys, to be sett in the nombyr wyth other. And I prey yow, Mastresse Annes, for that servyse that I owe yow, that in as short tyme as ye goodly may that I myght be assarteynyd of your entent, and of your best frendys, jn syche maters as I haue brokyn to yow of, whyche bothe your and myn ryght trusty frendys John Lee or

ellys my mastresse hys wyff promysyd befor yow and me at our fyrst and last being togedyr, that as sone as they or eyther of theym knewe your entent and your frendys that they shold send me woord. And if they do so I tryst sone aftyr to se yow. And now farwell, myn owne fayir lady, and God geue yow good rest, for in feythe I trowe ye be in bed. Wretyn in my wey homward on Mary Maudeleyn Day at mydnyght. Your owne John Paston Mastresse Annes, I am prowd that ye can reed Inglyshe, wherfor I prey yow aqweynt yow wyth thys my lewd hand, for my purpose is that ye shalbe more aqweyntyd wyth it or ellys it shalbe ayenst my wyll. But yet when ye haue red thys byll I prey yow brenne it or keepe it secret to yoursylff, as my feythefull trust is in yow.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1474, 07, 25

To Syr John Paston, knyght, or to hys brodyr Edmuremovend in hys absence, + lodgyd at the George by Powlys Wharff in London.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, preying yow to remembyr, or ye depert ought of London, to spek wyth Herry Ebertonys wiff, draper, and to enforme hyr that I am profyrd a maryage in London whyche is woorthe vjc mark and bettyr; wyth whom I preyid yow to comone in as myche as I myght not tery in London my-sylff, alweys reseruyng that if so be that Mastresse Eberton wyll dele wyth me, that ye shold not conclud in the other place thow so wer that Eberton wold not geue so moche wyth Mastress Elyzabet hys dowghtyr as I myght haue wyth the other, for syche fantazy as I haue in the seyd Mastress Elyzabet Eberton; and that it lyek yow to sey to Ebertons wyff that syche as I spak to hyr of shalbe bettyrd rather then enpeyryd, as for my part, and if it lyek hyr to deele wyth me I wylbe at London for that cawse only wyth-in xiiij dayis aftyr the

wryghtyng of thys byll, wyth Godys grace, who preserue yow and yours. Wretyn at Norwyche on Seynt Jamys Day. Also, syr, I prey yow that ye wyll, as I desyerd yow, comon wyth John Lee or hys wyf, or bothe, and to vndyrstand how the mater at the Blak Freerys dothe, and that ye wyll see and spek wyth þe thyng your-syllf, and wyth hyr fadyr and hyr modyr, or ye depert; and that it lyek yow to desyer John Leeis wyff to send me a byll in all hast possybyll how ferforthe the mater is and whedyr it shalbe necessary for me to come vp to London hastyly or not, or ellys to kast all at the kok. Also, syr, I prey yow that Pytt may trusse in a male whyche I lefft in your chambyr at London my tawny gowne furyd wyth blak and the doblet of porpyll sateyn and the doblet of blak sateyn, and my wryghtyng box of sypresse, and my book of the metyng of the Dwke and of the Emperour; and when all thys gere is trussyd in the male to delyuer it to the berer herof to bryng me to Norwyche. J. Paston
Item, I send yow herwyth the pylyon for the male and x s. for the hyer, whyche is vsery, I tak God to rekord. Also that it lyek yow to spek wyth your apotycary whyche was somtyme the Erle of Warwykys apotycary, and to weet of hym what the wedow of the Blak Freiris is woorthe, and what hyr husbondys name was. He can tell all, for he is excecutore to the wedous husbond. I prey yow forget me not, no more then I do yow. I haue spokyn thys day wyth Jamys Hubberd and Herry Smyth, and to-morow I shall haue an answer of theym. Also, my modyr wyll labore thys mater wyth effect that the cc mark may be had for the wood. Also, brodyr Edmuremovend, I prey yow and my brodyr Syr John be not in London, that ye wyll labore all thys maters wyth effect, as my trust is in yow, jn every poynt as is aboue wretyn. Also I assartayn yow that I was wyth Ferrour thys day, and he had no leyser to comon wyth me, but I wyll be wyth hym ayen to-morow by apoyntment bytwyx hym and me; and so as I speed I shall send yow woord by the next man that comyth to London. Also, I sent John Leeis wyff a lettyr by on Crawethorn, dwellyng in Wood Street or ellys in Syluer Street at the end of Wood Street. I prey yow weet whedyr she had it or nought. And she had it not, brodyr Edmuremovend, I prey yow go to the same Crawethorn and tak the lettyr of hym and delyuer it hyr in all hast.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1475, 03, 29

To my ryght worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston, at Mawtby.

Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all humbyll recomendacyons as lowely as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. Pleasyt yow to wet that late yesternyght I cam to Norwyche purposeing to haue been as thys day wyth yow at Mawtby, but it is so that I may not hold my purpose, for he that shall pay me my quarter wagys for me and my retenew is in Norwyche and waytyth ourly when hys money shall com to hym. It is oon Edmuremovend Bowen of the Cheker, a specyall frend of myn, and he avysyth me to tery tyll the money be com lest þat I be vnpayed; for who comyth fyrst to the mylle fyrst must grynd. And as I was wryghtyng thys byll on of the gromys of my lordys chambyr cam to me and told me that my lady wyll be here in Norwyche to-morow at nyght, towardys Walsyremovengham, whyche shall I wot well be a-nother lett to me, but I had more need to be otherwyse ocupyed then to awayte on ladyse; for ther is as yett, I trowe, no sperre that shall go over the see so evyll horsyd as I am. But it is told me that Rychard Call hathe a good horse to sell, and on John Bocher of Oxborough hathe an other; and if it myght please yow to geue Syme leve to ryd in-to that contré at my cost and in your name, seying that ye wyll geue on of your sonys an horse, desyiryng hym that he wyll geue yow a penyworthe for a peny, and he shall, and the pryse be resonabyll, hold hym pleasyd wyth yowr payment ought of my purse thow he knowe it not or hys horse depert fro hys handys. Modyr, I beseremoveche yow, and itt may please yow, to geue Syme leue to ryde on thys message in your name, that he may be here wyth me to-morow in the mornyng betymys; for wer I onys horsyd I trowe I wer as ferforthe redy as some of my neyghborows. I herd a lytyll word that ye purposeid to be here in Norwyche thys next week. I prey God it be thys week. Modyr, I beseche yow that I may haue an answer to-morow at the ferthest of thys mater, and of eny other seruyse that it please yow to comand me, whyche I wyll at all seasons removebe redy to

accomplyshe, wyth Godys grace, whom I beseche to preserue yow and yours. Wretyn at Norwyche thys Wednysday in Estern week. By your sone and seruaunt J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1475, 10, 10

To the ryght worchepfull Syr John Paston, knyght, lodgyd at the George by + Powlys Wherff in London.

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to yow, sertyfying yow that I haue comonyd wyth Barnard and other your wellwyllers wyth my lord of Norffolk, whyche avise me that ye shold for your nyghest meane to get Caster a-yen labore to get a lettre fro the Kyng dyrect to R. Sothewell, Jamys Hubbard, and oþer of my lordys consayll being, and to jche of theym; and in the seyd letter to lete theym haue knowlage that the Kyng mevyd to my lord of the seyd mater beyond þe see, and hough my lord answerd the Kyng that at hys comyng in-to Inglond he wold meue to hys seyd consayll of the seyd mater and geue the Kyng an answer. Wherfor the Kyng in the seyd lettyr must streyghtly charge theym, and iche of theym, to comon wyth my lord in the seyd mater in syche wyse that the Kyng may be sertyfyed of an answer fro my lord and theym at the ferthest by crastino animarum,for Suthewell nor Jamys Hubbard shall not be at London befor Halowmass. And thys is the best wey that ye may take, as we thynk here. My lady sweryth, and so dothe Barnard on hyr byhalff, that she wold as fayne ye had it as eny body; notwythstandyng she seyd not so to me sythe I cam hom, for I spak not wyth hyr but onys sythe I sye yow last. Yet she lythe in Norwyche, and shall do tyll she be delyuerd. But I haue be seek ever sythe I cam on thys syd the see, but I trust hastyly to amend, for all my seknesse that I had at Caleys, and sythe I cam ouer also, cam but of cold; but I was never so well armyd for the werre as I haue now armyd me for cold. Wherfor I avyse yow take exampyll by me if it happyn yow to be seek, as ye wer when I was at Caleys: in eny wyse kepe yow warme. I weene Herry Woodhous nor Jamys Arblaster ware never at onys so many cotys, hose, and botewx as I doo, or ellys by God we had gone therfor. What we shall yet I can not sey, but I bere me bold on ij dayes amendyng.

My modyr sendyth yow Godys blyssing and hyrs, and she wold fayne haue yow at hom wyth hyr; and if ye be onys mette she tellyth me ye shall not lyghtly depart tyll dethe depart yow. As I was wryghtyng thys lettyr on told me that the Kyng shold be at Walsyremovengham thys next removeweke; if it be so it wer best for yow to awayte on the Kyng all the wey, and if ye haue not men and horse j-nowghe I shall send yow. Do as ye thynk best, and as ye wyll haue me to do send me your avyse and I shall accomplyshe it to my power, wyth Godys grace, who preserue yow. Wretyn at Norwyche the x day of October Ao xvo E. iiijti. P. J.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1475, 10, 23

To Syr John Paston, knyght, lodgyd at the George by Powlys Wherff in London

Aftyr all dwtés of recomendacyon, please it yow to vndyrstand that I haue spokyn wyth my lady sythe I wrot to yow last, and she told me that the Kyng had no syche woordys to my lord for Caster as ye told me; but she seyth that the Kyng axid my lord at hys departyng fro Caleys how he wold deele wyth Caster, and my lord answerd nevyr a woord. Syr W. Brandon stood by, and the Kyng axid hym what my lord wold do in that mater, seying that he had comandyd hym be-for tyme to meue my lord wyth that mater. And Syr W. Brandon gaue the Kyng to answer that he had doone so. Then the Kyng axid Syr W. B. what my lordys answer was to hym, and Syr W. B. told the Kyng that my lordys answer was that the Kyng shold as soone haue hys lyff as that place. And then the Kyng axed my lord whedyr he seyd so or nought, and my lord seyd yee. And the Kyng seyd not o woord ayen, but tornyd hys bak and went hys wey. But my lady told me and the Kyng had spokyn eny woord in the world aftyr that to my lord, my lord wold not haue seyd hym nay. And I haue gevyn my lady warnyng that I wyll do my lord no more servys; but or we partyd she mad me to make hyr promess that I shold let hyr haue knowlage or I fastonyd my-sylff in eny other servysse. And so I departyd, and sye hyr not syness nor nought purpose to doo tyll I spek wyth yow.

I prey yow bryng hom some hattys wyth yow, or and ye come not hastyly send me on by Corby, whyche shall com homward on Fryday or Saterday next comyng at the ferthest, and I shall pay yow for it a comb otys when ye com hom. My modyr wold fayn haue yow at Mawtby. She rod thydyr ought of Norwyche on Saterday last past to purvey your lodgyng redy ayenst your comyng. I haue been ryght seek a-yen sythe I wroote to yow last, and thys same day haue I ben passyng seek. It wyll not ought of my stomak by no mean; I am vndon. I may not ete halff j-nough when I haue most hungyr. I am so well dyettyd, and yet it wyll not be. God send yow heele, for removeI haue non iij dayes to-gedyr, do the best I can. Wretyn at Norwyche the Monday next be-for Seynt Simond and Jude Ao E. iiijti xvo. J. P. Myn oncyll told Calle when he payed hym the money that I had ben at London wyth hym to compasse hym. He ment that I cam thedyr to proue hys kyndness to yow ward. I prey yow tell hym that I dyd nor seyd to hym other-wyse then ye desyerd me to do. I promyse yow he is verry wrothe wyth me, by Symys seying.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1476, 01, 21

To my ryght worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston.

Aftyr all dewtés of recomendacyon, pleasyt yow to weet that as yesterday att noon my brodyr Syr John departyd fro Norwyche towardys London, for as now all the sped is wyth the Kyng for the swerté of the maner of Caster, consyderyng the dyeing seasyd of my lord of Norffolk. He trustyth to be in thys contré ayen wyth-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 thynk may be sold iff ye wyll agré. Not wythstandyng I wylle make no bargayn for it tyll ye send me woord of the serteyn some, what ye wyll haue for it or ellys ye to haue it a-yen. Syr Robard Wyngfeld offyrd me yestremoveerday xx mark for it, but I wot well ye shall haue more for it if ye wyll sell it; wher-for as ye wyll deele in thys mater I prey yow send me woord to-morow be tymys, for if thys bargayn be forsakyn I trow it wyll be longe or ye kan get an other bargayn to selle it eny thyng aftyr that it is woorthe. Modyr, in as humbyll wyse as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. I trust fro hense foorthe that we shall haue our chyldyr in rest wyth-ought rebwkyng for ther pleying wanton, for it is told me your ostass at Freton hathe gotyn hyr syche a thyng to pley wyth that our other chyldyr shall haue leue to sporte theym. God send hyr joye of it. Wrytyn at Norwyche thys Sonday. Your sone and humbyll seruaunt John Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1476, 01, 23

To Syr John Paston, knyght, at þe George at Powlys Wharffe.

Aftyr all dewtés of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to weet that I ensuer yow your sendyng to Caster is evyll takyn among my lordys folkys, in so myche that some sey that ye tendryd lytyll my lordys dethe in as myche as ye wold so sone entre vp-on hym aftyr hys dyssease wyth-ought avyse and assent of my lordys consayll. Wherfor it is thought here by syche as be your frendys in my lordys house that, if my lady haue onys the graunt of the wardshepp of the chyld, that she wyll ocupye Caster wyth other londys and ley the defaute on your vnkynd hastyness of entré wyth-ought hyr assent. Wherfor in eny wyse gete yow a patent of þe Kyng ensealyd be-for hyrs, and ye may by eny meane possybyll.

Also, I prey yow comon wyth my lord Chamberleyn for me, and weet hough that he wyll haue me demeanyd. It iss told me for serteyn that ther is non hey to gete at Caleys; wherfor if I myghremovet be pardond for eny kepyng of horse at Caleys tyll myd-somer it wer a good torne. The berer heroff shall com home ayen fro London wyth-in a day aftyr that he comyth thedyr. If ye wyll ought comand hym I prey yow send me woord by hym hough ye do wyth your maters, and I prey yow in eny wyse lete me vndyrstand by the berer heroff hough Bowen of the Cheker wyll dele wyth me; vjxx and x li. it is nough, and I wold haue vijxx li. and x li., and I to plege it ought in iiij or v yer or ellys to forfet the maner. Wretyn at Norwyche the Twysday next aftyr your departyng thens. John Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1476, 02, 03

To Syr John Paston, knyght, at the George by Powlys Wharff in London.

Aftyr all dwtés of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to wette that wyth-in thys owyr past I receyremoveuyd your letter wretyn the xxvij day of Januar, by whyche I vndyrstand that Scarlet wold haue an end wyth me; but lesse then xl s. is to lytyll, for if I wold do the vttermost to hym I shold recouer by the statwte, I trow, xl li. or more, but lesse then xxxiij s. iiij d. I wyll in no wyse. And ye may sey that ye of your owne hed wyll geue hym the ode nobyll of xl s., and if ye haue the v noblys I prey yow let Parker of Flettstret haue ther-of xxx s., and lete Pytte and Rychard and Edward drynk the xl d. As for your gownys, they shalbe sent yow in as hasty wyse as is possybyll. Thys must be consayll: it is promysyd my lady by my lord Chamberleyn that the diem clausit extremum for my lord shall not be delyuerd tyll she be of power to labore hyr-sylff her most auauntage in that mater, wherfor ye ned not to dele ouer largely wyth th'exchetour. Also consayll:

Robard Brandon and John Colevyle haue by meanys enformyd my lady that ye wold haue gotyn Caster fro hyr by stronge hand now thys frost, whyll the mote is frosyn, in so myche that she was purposed to haue sent thedyr R. Brandon and other to haue kept the place tyll syche tyme as she made axe me the questyon whedyr ye entendet that wey or not. And I auysed hyr that she shold rather sofyr R. Brandon and hys retenew to lye in Norwyche of hys owne cost then to lye at the taverne at Yermouthe on hyr cost; for I lete hyr haue knowlage that ye neuer entend non entré in-to that place but by hyr assent and knowlage, I wost well. Syr, for Godys sake, in as hasty wyse as is possybyll send me woord how ye feele my lord Chamberleyn and Bowen dysposed to me wardys, for I shall neuer be in hertys ease tyll I vndyrstand ther twoys dysposysyon. Also I prey yow let Symond Dame haue knowlage, as soone as ye haue red thys lettyr, that I wold in eny wyse that he swe forthe the axions a-yenst Darby and other for Byskley, notwythstandyng the bylle that I sent hym to the contrary by Edmuremovend Jeney, for Darby and I ar brokyn of of our entreté whyche was apoyntyd at Thettford. God sped yow in thes maters, and in all other. Ye send me woord of a good maryage for my syster Anne. I prey yow aspye some old thryffty draffwyff in London for me. Thomas Brampton at the Blak Fryers in London, wyth syche other as he and I apoyntyd, wyll helpe yow to aspye on for me on ther part. I prey yow þat I may be recomandyd to hym, and prey hym that he wyll in as hasty wyse as he can comforte me wyth on letter fro hym and fro the other persone that he and I comond of; and I prey yow, as ye se hym at the Paruyse and ellys where, calle on hym for the same letter, and telle hym that ye must nedys haue on to me, and when ye haue it breke it, and ye lyst, or ye send it me.

TO LORD HASTINGS 1476, 03, 02

To my lord.

My most doughtyd and singuler good lord, aftyr most humble and dew recomendacyon please it your good lordshepp to have knowlage that, accordyng to your comandement, jn my wey homeward I remembred me of a persone whyche to my thynkyng is meetly to be clerk of your kechyn, whyche persone is now in seruyse wyth Master Fitzwater, and was befor that wyth Whethyll at Gwynes and purveyor for hys house, and at syche tyme as the Kyngys grace was ther last in hys vyage towardes France. Thys man is meane of stature, yonge j-nough, well wittyd, well manerd, a goodly yong man on horse and foote. He is well spokyn jn Inglyshe, metly well in Frenshe, and verry parfite in Flemyshe. He can wryght and reed. Hys name is Rychard Stratton. Hys modyr is Mastress Grame of Caleys. And when I had shewyd hym myn jntent he was agreable and verry glad if that it myght please your lordshepp to accept hym in-to your servyse, wherto I promysed hym my poore helpe as ferforthe as I durst meve your good lordshepp for hym, trustyng that I shold have knowelage of your plesure her-in or I departed towardes your lordshep ought of this contrey. Wherfor I advysed hym to be redy wyth-in xiiij dayes of Marche at the ferthest, that if it pleasyd your lordsheppe to accept hym or to haue a syght of hym be-for your departyng to Caleys, that ther shold be no slaughthe in hym. He desyred me to meve Master Fitzwater to be good mastyr to hym in thys behalve, and so I dyd; and he was verry glad and agreable ther-to, seying if hys sone had ben of age, and all the seruauntis he hathe myght be in eny wyse acceptabell to your lordshepp, that they all, and hym-silff in lyek wyse, shall be at your comandment whyll he leveth. And at my comyng hom to my poore house I sent for Robart Bernard and shewid on-to hym that I had mevyd your lordshepp for hym, and he in lyek forme is agreable to be redy by the xiiij day of Marche to awayte on your lordshepp, be it to Caleys or ellys where, and fro that day so foorthe for ever whyll hys lyff wyll last, wyth-ought grugeing or contrarying your comandement and plesure in eny wyse that is in hym possibyll t'accomplishe. I shewed on-to hym that I had preyed Master Talbot to be a mean to your good lordshepp for hym, and if so wer that Mastyr Talbot thought that your lordshepp wer content to take hys servyse then, that it wold please Mastyr Talbot to meve my lady of Norffolkys grace to wryght My most doughtyd and singuler good lord, aftyr most humble and dew recomendacyon please it your good lordshepp to have knowlage that, accordyng to your comandement, jn my wey homeward I remembred me of a persone whyche to my thynkyng is meetly to be clerk of your kechyn, whyche persone is now in seruyse wyth Master Fitzwater, and was befor that wyth Whethyll at Gwynes and purveyor for hys house, and at syche tyme as the Kyngys grace was ther last in hys vyage towardes France. Thys man is meane of stature, yonge j-nough, well wittyd, well manerd, a goodly yong man on horse and foote. He is well spokyn jn Inglyshe, metly well in Frenshe, and verry parfite in Flemyshe. He can wryght and reed. Hys name is Rychard Stratton. Hys modyr is Mastress Grame of Caleys. And when I had shewyd hym myn jntent he was agreable and verry glad if that it myght please your lordshepp to accept hym in-to your servyse, wherto I promysed hym my poore helpe as ferforthe as I durst meve your good lordshepp for hym, trustyng that I shold have knowelage of your plesure her-in or I departed towardes your lordshep ought of this contrey. Wherfor I advysed hym to be redy wyth-in xiiij dayes of Marche at the ferthest, that if it pleasyd your lordsheppe to accept hym or to haue a syght of hym be-for your departyng to Caleys, that ther shold be no slaughthe in hym. He desyred me to meve Master Fitzwater to be good mastyr to hym in thys behalve, and so I dyd; and he was verry glad and agreable ther-to, seying if hys sone had ben of age, and all the seruauntis he hathe myght be in eny wyse acceptabell to your lordshepp, that they all, and hym-silff in lyek wyse, shall be at your comandment whyll he leveth. And at my comyng hom to my poore house I sent for Robart Bernard and shewid on-to hym that I had mevyd your lordshepp for hym, and he in lyek forme is agreable to be redy by the xiiij day of Marche to awayte on your lordshepp, be it to Caleys or ellys where, and fro that day so foorthe for ever whyll hys lyff wyll last, wyth-ought grugeing or contrarying your comandement and plesure in eny wyse that is in hym possibyll t'accomplishe. I shewed on-to hym that I had preyed Master Talbot to be a mean to your good lordshepp for hym, and if so wer that Mastyr Talbot thought that your lordshepp wer content to take hys servyse then, that it wold please Mastyr Talbot to meve my lady of Norffolkys grace to wryght

or send to Bernard puttyng hym in knowlage that hyr grace is content that he shall become your menyall seruaunt; wherof he was passyng well pleasyd. But that not wythstandyng, as I enformed your lordshepp, he is not so reteyned neyther by fee nor promess but that he may let hym-sylff loose to do your lordshepe seruyse when ye wyll receyue hym, and so wyll he do; but your lordshepe so pleasid, leve wer bettyr. Rychard Stratton told me that whyll he was in servyse wyth Whethyll, John Redwe mocyond hym onys myche aftyr thys jntent, but at that tyme Whethyll wold not be so good mastyr to hym as to meve your lordshepe for hym. My lord, I trust that your lordshepe shall lyek bothe ther persones and ther condicyons, and as for ther trowthes, if it may please your good lorremovedshepe to accept my poore woord wyth thers, I wyll depose largely for that. And as it pleasyth your good lordshepe to comand me in thes maters and all other, jf it may please your lordshepe to shewe the same to my brodyr Nessfeld, he knowith who shall sonest be wyth me to putt me in knowlage of your plesure, whyche I shall be at all seasons redy t'accomplyshe to my poore power, wyth Godys grace, whom I beseche longe to contenue the prosperous astate of your good lordshepp. Fro Norwyche the second day of Marche, wyth the hand of your most humble seruaunt and beedman John Paston

TO MARGARET PASTON 1476, probably late 03

Aftyr all dewtés of recomendacyon, in as humbyll wyse as I can I beseche yow of your blyssyng. The cheff cause that I wryght to yow for at thys season is for that I vndyrstand that my lady wold be ryght glad to haue yow a-bought hyr at hyr labore, jn so myche that she hathe axyd the questyon of dyuers gentyllwomen whedyr they thought that ye wold awayte on hyr at that season or nought. And they answerd that they durst sey that ye wold wyth ryght good wyll awayte on hyr at that tyme and at all other seasons that she wold comand yow. And so I thynk that my lady wyll send for yow; and if it wer your ease to be here I wold be ryght glad that ye myght be here, for I thynk yowr being here shold do gret good to my brodyrs maters that he hathe to sped wyth hyr. Wherfor, for Godys sake, haue your horse and all your gere redy wyth yow wherso euer ye be, ought or at home. And as for men, ye shall nott need many, for I wyll come for yow and awayte on yow my-sylff, and on or ij wyth me. But I had nede to vndyrstand wher to fynd yow, or ellys I shall happyly seeke yow at Mautby when ye be at Freton; and my lady myght then fortune to be ferforthe on hyr jorney or ye cam, if she wer as swyfte as ye wer onys on Good Fryday. And as for the mater in the latter end of my brodyr Syr Johnys lettyr, me thynk he takyth a wronge wey if he go so to werk; for as for the peopyll here, I vndyrstand non other but that all folkys here be ryght well dysposyd towardys that mater, fro the hyghest degré to the lowest, except Robart Brandon and John Colvyll. And it is a grete lyklyhod that the grettest body is well dysposyd towardys that mater, in as myche as they wold put yow to the labore aboue wretyn; and if they wer not, I thynk they wold not put yow to that labore. Also, here was here wyth me yesterday a man fro the Priour of Bromholme to lete me haue knowlage of the ille speche whyche is in the contré now of new that the tombe is not mad. And also he seythe that the clothe that lythe ouer the graue is all toryn and rotyn, and is not worthe ij d., and he seythe he hathe pachyd it onys or twyis; wherfor the Pryour hathe sent yow at the leest to send thedyr a newe clothe a-yenst Estern. Also, Mastyr Sloley preyith yow for Godys sake, and ye wyll do non almess of tylle, that he myght borow some of yow tyll he may bye some, and pay yow a-yen, for on the fayirest chambyrs of the Fryers standyth halff oncouerd for defaulte of tylle, for her is yett non to get for no money. And the Holy Trynyté haue yow in kepyng. At Norwyche thys Twysday. Your sone and humbyll seruaunt J. Paston

TO JOHN PASTON II 1476, 05, 06

To the ryght worchepfull Syr John Paston, knyght, lodgyd at the George by + Powlys Wharff in London.

Aftyr all dewtés of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to wet that to my power ye be welcom a-yen in-to Inglond. And as for the castell of Shene, ther is no mor in jt but Colle and hys mak, and a goose may get it; but jn no wyse I wold not that wey, and my modyr thynkyth the same. Take not that wey if ther be eny other. I vndyrstand that Mastres Fytzwater hathe a syster, a mayd, to mary. I trow and ye entretyd hym she myght come in-to Crysten menys handys. I prey yow spek wyth Mastyr Fytzwater of that mater for me. And ye may telle hym, synse that he wyll haue my servyse, it wer as good, and syche a bargayn myght be mad, that bothe she and I awaytyd on hym and my mastress hys wyff at oure owne cost, as I a-lone to awayt on hym at hys cost; for then he shold be swer that I shold not be flyttyng and I had syche a qwarell to kepe me at home. And I haue hys good wylle it is non jnpossybyll to bryng a-bowght. I thynk to be at London wyth-in a xiiij dayes at the ferthest, and parauenture my mastress also, in consayll be it clatryd. God kepe yow and yours. At Norwyche the vj day of May Ao E. iiijti xvjo. J. P.

TO AN UNKNOWN LADY: DRAFT 1476??

Mastresse, thow so be that I, vnaqweyntyd wyth yow as yet, tak vp-on me to be thus bold as to wryght on-to yow wyth-ought your knowlage and

leue, yet, mastress, for syche pore seruyse as I now in my mynd owe yow, purposyng, ye not dyspleasyd, duryng my lyff to contenu the same, I beseche yow to pardon my boldness and not to dysdeyn but to accepte thys sympyll bylle to recomand me to yow in syche wyse as I best can or may jmagyn to your most plesure; and, mastress, for syche report as I haue herd of yow by many and dyuerse persons, and specyally by my ryght trusty frend Rychard Stratton, berer her-of, to whom I beseche yow to geue credence in syche maters as he shall on my behalue comon wyth yow of, if it lyke you to lysten hym, and that report causythe me to be the more bold to wryght on-to yow so as I do for I haue herd oft tymys Rychard Stratton sey that ye can and wyll take euery thyng well that is well ment; whom I beleue and trust as myche as fewe men leueing, I ensuer yow by my trowthe. And, mastress, I beseche yow to thynk non other-wyse in me but that I wyll and shall at all seasons be redy, wythe Godys grace, to acomplyshe all syche thyngys as I haue enformyd and desyerd the seyd Rychard on my behalue to geue yow knowlage of, but if it so be that a-geyn my wyll it come of yow that I be cast off fro yowr seruyse and not wyllyngly by my desert; and that I am and wylbe yours and at your comandmenremovet in every wyse dwryng my lyff. Her I send yow thys bylle wretyn wyth my lewd hand and sealyd wyth my sygnet to remayn wyth yow for a wyttnesse ayenst me, and to my shame and dyshonour if I contrary it. And, mastress, I beseche yow in easyng of the poore hert that somtyme was at my rewle, whyche now is at yours, that in as short tyme as can be that I may haue knowlage of your entent and hough ye wyll haue me demeanyd in thys mater. And I wylbe at all seasons redy to parforme in thys mater and all others your plesure as ferforth as lythe in my poore power to do, or in all thers that ought wyll do for me, wyth Godys grace, whom I beseche to send yow the accomplyshement of your most worchepfull desyers, myn owne fayer lady, for I wyll no ferther labore but to yow on-to the tyme ye geue me leue and tyll I be suer that ye shall take no dysplesuremovere wyth my ferther labore.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1477, 03, 08

To my ryght worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston.

Ryght worschepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtés of recomendacyon, jn as humble wyse as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng. Modyr, pleasyt you to wett that the cause that Dam Elyzabeth Brews desyreth to mete wyth yow at Norwyche, and not at Langley as I apoyntyd wyth yow at my last being at Mawtby, is by my meanys; for my brodyr Thomas Jermyn, whyche knowyth nought of the materemover, tellyth me that the causey or ye can come to Bokenham Fery is so over-flowyn that ther is no man that may an-ethe passe it, though he be ryght well horsyd; whyche is no mete wey for yow to passe ouer, God defend it. But all thyngys rekynyd, it shalbe lesse cost to yow to be at Norwyche as for a day or tweyn, and passe not, then to mete at Langely wher every thyng is dere; and your horse may be sent hom ayen the same Wednysday. Modyr, I beseche yow for dyuers causys that my syster Anne may come wyth yow to Norwyche. Modyr, the mater is in a resonable good wey, and I trust, wyth Godys mercy and wyth your good help, that it shall take effect bettyr to myn auauntage then I told yow of at Mawtby; for I trow ther is not a kynder woman leueing then I shall haue to my modyr in lawe if the mater take, nor yet a kynder fadyr in lawe then I shall haue, though he be hard to me as yett. All the cyrcumstancys of the mater, whyche I trust to tell yow at your comyng to Norwych, cowd not be wretyn in iij levys of paper, and ye know my lewd hed well j-nough= I may not wryght longe; wherfor I fery ouer all thyngys tyll I may awayte on yow my-selff. I shall do tonne in-to your place a doseyn ale, and bred acordyng, ayenst Wednysday. If Syme myght be forborn, it wer well don that he war at Norwyche on Wednysday in the mornyng at markett. Dam Elyzabeth Brewse shall lye at Jon Cookys. If it myght please yow, I wold be glad that she myght dyne in your howse on Thursday, for ther

shold ye haue most secret talkyng. And, modyr, at the reuerence of God, beware that ye be so purveyd for that ye take no cold by the wey towardys Norwyche, for it is the most peraylous marche that euer was seyn by eny manys dayes that now lyueth. And I prey to Jesu preserue you and yours. Wretyn at Topcroft the viij day of Marche. Your sone and humbyll seruaunt J. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1477, 03, 09

Thys bylle be delyuerd to Thomas Grene, good-man of the George by Powlys + Wharffe, or to hys wyff, to send to Syr John Paston wherso evere he be, at + Caleys, London, or other placys.

Ryght worchepfull syr and my most good and kynde brodyr, in as humbyll wyse as I can I recomand me to yow. Syr, it is so that I haue, sythe John Bekurton departyd fro hens, ben at Toppcrofft at Syr Thomas Brewse. And as for the mater that I sent yow word of by Jon Bekurton towchyng my-sylff and Mastress Margery Brews, I am yet at no serteynté, hyr fadyr is so hard; but I trow I haue the good wyll of my lady hyr modyr and hyr. But as the mater provyth I shall send yow woord, wyth Godys grace, in short tyme. But as for John Bekurton, I prey yow dele wyth hym for suerté as a soudyor shold be delt wyth. Trust hym never the more for the bylle that I sent yow by hym, but as a man at wylde, for euery thyng that he told me is not trewe; for he departyd wyth-ought lycence of hys mastyr Syr Thomas Brewse, and is fere endangeryd to dyuers in thys contrey. I prey God that I wryht not to yow of hym to late; but for all thys I knowe non vntrowthe in hym, but yet I prey yow trust hym not ouer myche, vpon my woord. Syr, Perse Mody recomandyth hym to your mastyrshep and besecheth yow to send hym word in hast hough he shall be demeanyd at your place at Caster, for he is asygnyd to no body as yet to take of mete and drynk, nor yet wher þat he shall haue money to paye for hys mete and drynk; and now is the cheff replenysheing of your waren there the auauntage of the dove howse wer well for hym tyll ye come hom your-sylff.

Syr, I prey yow pardon me of my wryghtyng, hough so ever it be, for carpenters of my crafte that I vse now haue not alderbest ther wyttys ther owne. And Jesu preserue yow. Wretyn at Norwyche the ix day of Marche Ao. E. iiijti septimodecymo. J. P.

MEMORANDUM OF MARRIAGE TERMS: DRAFT 1477

Memorandum to let my cosyn Margaret Paston vndyrstand that for a jonter to be mad in Sweynsthorp in hand, and for a jontore of no more but x mark ought of Sparham, I wylle depart wyth cc mark in hand, and to geue theym ther boord free as for ij or iij yer in serteyn, or ellys ccc mark wythought ther boord payable by l mark yerly tyll the some of ccc mark be full payed.
Item, I wyll geve cccc mark, payable l li. in hand at the day of maryage and l li. yerly tyll the some of cccc mark be full payed, vpon thes condycyons folowing: wher-of on condycyon is thys, that I wyll lend my cosyn John Paston vjxx li. besyd hys maryage money to pledge ought the maner of Sweynsthorp so that he may fynd syche a frend as wyll paye me a-yen the seyd vjxx li. by xx mark a yer, so that it be not payed of the maryage money nor of the propre goodys of my seyd cosyn John; or ellys an other condycyon is thys: if it be so that my seyd cosyn John may be suffred fro the day of hys maryage to my doughter to take the hole profites of the maner of Sparham besyde the maner of Sweynsthorp for terme of ther two lyves and the longest of theym leveing, yet wyll I be agreable to depart wyth the seyd cccc mark, payable a-yen in forme above seyd. And if thes or eny of the conclusyons may be takyn, I am agreable to make the bargayn swer, or ellys no more to be spokyn of.

MEMORANDUM ON MARRIAGE NEGOTIATIONS 1477

Memorandum to kepe secret fro my moder that the bargayn is full concludyd.
Item, to let hyr haue fyrst knowlage that in the chapell, wher as ye wold had ben no book nye by x myle, that when Mastyr Brews seyd that he wold shortly haue eyther more lond in joyntour then Sweynsthorp and x maremoverk ought of Sparham, or ellys that some frend of myne shold paye the vjxx li. so that it shold not be payed of the maryage money, that then I sware on a book to hym that I wold never of my mocyon endanger moder nor broder ferther then I had done, for I thought that my modyr had done myche for me to geue me the maner of Sparham in syche forme as she had done, but Mastyr Breus wyll not agré wyth-ought that my mastress hys doughter and I be mad swer of it now in hand, and that we may take the hole profytes what so euer fortune.
Item, to enforme my moder that, if so be that we may be pute in possessyon of all the hole maner duryng oure two lyues and the lengest of vs leveing, þat then Mastyr Brews wyll geve me in maryage wyth my mastresse hys doughter cccc markys, payable in hand l li.; and so yerly l li. tyll the some of cccc mark be full payed.
Item, that wher as he had leyd vp c li. for the maryage of a yonger doughter of hys, he wylle lend me the same c li. and xx li. more to pledge ought my lond, and he to be payed ayen hys c li. and xx li. by x li. by yer.
Item, to avyse my modyr that she brek not for the yerly valew of Sparham aboue the x mark dwryng hyr lyve.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1477

Ryght worchepfull and my most good and kynd moder, in as humbyll wyse as I can or may I recomand me to yow and beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng. Moder, please it yow to vndyrstand that tyll thys day Dame Elyzabeth Brews hathe ben so syke that she myght nevyr, sythe she cam to Salle, haue leyser to comon of my mater wyth Master Brews tyll thys day; and thys day wyth gret peyn, I thynk the rather because Heydon was ther, the mater was comond. But other answer than she hathe sent yow in hyr lettre closed her-in can she not haue of hyr husbond; wherfor modyr, if it please yow, myn advyse is to send hyr answer a-yen in thys forme folowing, of some other manys hand: Ryght worchepfull and my verry good lady and cosyn, as hertly as I can I recomand me to yow. And, madam, I am ryght sory, if it myght be otherwyse, of the dysease as I vndyrstand by the berer herof that my cosyn your husbond and ye also haue had a season, whyche I prey God soone to redresse to your bothe easeis. And, madam, I thank yow hertly that ye haue remembred the mater to my cosyn your husbond that I spak wyth yow of at syche tyme as I was last wyth yow at Norwyche, to my gret comfort. And j-wyse, madam, I am ryght sory that John Paston is no more fortunate then he is in that mater; for, as I vndyrstand by your lettyr, my cosyn your husbond wyll geue but an c li., whyche is no money lyek for syche a joyntore as is desyred of my son, thow hys possybylyté wer ryght easy. But, madam, when I mad that large grant in the maner of Sperham that I haue mad to hym and my cosyn your doughter, he told me of an other some that he shold haue wyth hyr then, of an c li. He hathe befor thys be wont to tell me non vntrowthe, and what I shall deme in thys mater I can not sey; for me thynkyth, if more then an c li. wer promysed on-to hym by my cosyn your husbond and yow, that ye wold not lett to geve it hym wyth-ought so wer that I or he abryggyd eny thyng of ouyr promess, whyche I wot well neyther I nor he intend to do, if I may vndyrstand that hys seying to me was trowthe and that it may be parformyd. But wyst I that he told me otherwyse then my cosyn your husbond and ye promysed hym, to deseyue me of Sparham, by my trowthe thow he haue it he shall lese as myche for it, jff I leve, and that shall he well vndyrstand the next tyme I se hym. And,

madam, I prey God send vs good of thys mater, for as for hys broder Syr John also, I sent ones to hym for it to haue mad good the same graunt that I grauntyd yow wyth hys assent to them and to ther issu of ther ij bodyes lawfully comyng, and he dyd not ther-in as I desyred hym; and ther-for I prey yow pardon me for sendyng on-to hym eny more, for, madam, he is my sone and I can not fynd in my hert to becom a dayly petycyoner of hys sythe he hathe denyed me onys myn axing. Parauenture he had ben better to haue parformyd my desyer; and what hys answer was vn-to me John Paston can tell yow as well as I. But. madam, ye ar a moder as well as I, wher I prey tak it non other-wyse bot well that I may not do by John Paston as ye wyll haue me to do; for, madam, thow I wold he dyd well, I haue to purvey for more of my chylder then hym, of whyche some be of that age that they can tell me well j-now that I dele not evenly wyth theym, to geve John Paston so large and theym so lytyll. And, madam, for syche grwgys and other causys I am ryght sory that the graunte is knowyn that I haue mad wyth-ought it myght take effect. And therfor, madam, fro hensforthe I remyght all thyng to yowr dyscressyon, besechyng yow the rather for my sake to be my son Johnis good lady. And I prey God preserue yow to hys plesure, send yow hastyly yowr hele a-yen, and my cosyn your husbond also, to whom I prey yow that I may hertly be recomandyd, and to my cosyns Margery and Margaret Byllyngforthe. Wretyn at Mawtby on Seynt Petrys Day. Your Margaret Paston An other lettyr to me that I may shewe. I gret yow well and send you Godys blyssyng and myn, letyng yow wet that I vndyrstand well by my cosyn Dame Elyzabeth Brewsys lettyr, whyche I send yow her-wyth wherby ye may vndyrstand the same, that they entend not to parforme thos proferys that ye told me they promysyd yow, trustyng that ye told me non other-wyse then was promysed yow; wherfor I charge yow on my blyssyng that ye be well ware how ye bestow your mynd wyth-ought ye haue a substance whervpon to leve, for I wold be sory to wet yow myscary, for if ye do in your defawt looke neuer aftyr helpe of me. And also I wold be as sory for hyr as for eny gentyremovelwoman leveing, jn good feythe; wherfor I

warne yow be ware in eny wyse, and look ye be at Mawtby wyth me as hastyly as ye can, and then I shall tell yow more. And God kepe yow. Wretyn at Mawtby on Seynt Petrys Day. Your modyr M. P.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1478, 01, 21

To my ryght worchepfull broder Syr John Paston, knyght.

Syr, aftyr all dutés of recomendacyon, lyeketh yow to vndyrstand that I haue comond wyth dyuers folkys of the Dwk of Suffolk now thys Crystmass and sythen, whyche let me in secret wyse haue knowlage, lyek as I wrott on-to yow, that he must mak a shefft for money, and that in all hast. Wherfor, syr, at the reuerence of God, let it not be lachesyd, but wyth effect aplyed now whyll he is in London, and my lady hys wyff also; for I assarteyn yow that c mark wyll do more now in ther need then ye shall parauenture do wyth cc markys in tyme comyng and thys season be not takyn. And alweys fynd the meane that my lady of Suffolk and Syr R. Chamberleyn may be your gwyd in thys mater, for as for my lord he nedyth not to be mevyd wyth it tyll it shold be as good as redy to the sealyng. Syr, lyeketh yow also to remember that I told yow that Mastyr Yotton had, as I cam last towardys London, desyred me by a lettre of attorney wryttyn wyth hys owne hand to se th'enprowment of syche profytes as ar growing of hys chapell in Caster that ye gaue hym. And at syche season as I told yow of it ye seyd on-to me that ye wold asay to make a bargayn wyth hym so that ye myght haue a prest to syng in Caster. Syr, me thynk ye can not haue so good a season to meve hym wyth it as now thys parlement tyme, for now I thynk he shalbe awaytyng on the Quen. And also, if ye myght compone wyth hym or he wyst what the valew wer, it wer the better. And I haue promysed hym to send hym woord thys terme of the verry valew of it, and also syche money as I cowd gader of it. Wherfor, syr, I prey yow that by the next messenger that ye can get to Pekok that ye wyll send hym woord to paye me for the lond in xxx acres, as it hathe ben answerd befor tym.

And as for tydyngys here, we haue non, but we wold fayne here of all your royalté at London, as of the maryage of my lord of York and other parlement mater; and so I prey yow that I may doo when ye haue leyser. Syr, I prey yow that Whetley may haue knowlage that my broder Yeluerton hathe promysed me to take hym xl d. he owyth me by reason of hys fermore at Caster more then that. And syr, as for my huswyff, I am fayne to cary hyr to se hyr fadyr and hyr frendys now thys wynter, for I trow she wyll be ought of facyon in somer. And so jn my progresse fro my fadyr Brews on-to Mawtby I took Master Playter in my wey, at whoys hows I wrot thys bylle the xxj day of January Ao E. iiijti xvijo. And I beseche God to preserue yow and yours. Your J. Paston

TO MARGARET PASTON 1478, 02, 03

To my ryght worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston.

Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtés of humble recomendacyon, in as humble wyse as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng. Pleasyt yow to wett that at my being now at London, lyek as ye gaue me in comandment I mevyd to Mastyr Pykenham and to Jamys Hubart for ther being at Norwyche now thys Lent, that ye myght haue ther avyses in syche maters as ye let me haue vndyrstandyng of. And as for Mastyr Pykenham, he is now Juge of the Archys, and also he hathe an other offyce whyche is callyd auditor causarum, and hys besyness is so gret in bothe thes offyces that he can not tell the season when that he shall haue leyser to come in-to Norffolk; but I left not tyll I had gotyn Jamys Hubbart and hym to-gedyrs, and then I told theym your jntent. And then Mastyr Pykenham told Jamys and me hys jntent, and he preyed Jamys that he shold in no wyse fayle to be wyth yow thys Lent. Not wythstandyng it was no gret ned to prey hym myche, for he told Doctore Pykenham that ther was no gentylwoman in Inglond of so lytyll aqueyntance as he had wyth yow that he wold be

glader to do servyse on-to, and myche the glader for he purposeth fro hensforthe duryng hys lyff to be a Norffolk man and to lye wyth-in ij myle of Loddon, whyche is but viij or x myle at the most fro Mautby. And in conclusyon he hathe appoyntyd to awayte on yow at Norwyche the weke next aftyr Mydlent Sonday, all the hole weke if nede be, all other maters leyd apart. Also I comond wyth my brodyr Syr John at London of syche maters as ye wold haue amendyd in the bylle that he sent on-to yow, and he stake not gretly at it. Also, modyr, I herd whyle I was in London wher was a goodly yong woman to mary whyche was doughter to on Seff, a merser, and she shall haue cc li. in money to hyr maryage and xx mark by yer of lond aftyr the dyssease of a steppe-modyr of hyrs whyche is vpon l yer of age. And or I departyd ought of London I spak wyth some of the maydys frendys, and haue gotyn ther good wyllys to haue hyr maryd to my brodyr Edmund. Notwythstandyng those frendys of the maydys that I comond wyth avysyd me to get the good wyll of on Sturmyn, whyche is in Mastyr Pykenhamys danger so myche that he is glad to please hym. And so I mevyd thys mater to Mastyr Pykenham, and jncontynent he sent for Sturmyn and desyred hys good wyll for my brodyr Edmuremovend, and he grantyd hym hys good wyll so that he koud get the good wyll of the remenaunt that wer executours to Seff, as well as the seyd Sturmyn was; and thusferforthe is the mater. Wherfor, modyr, we must beseche yow to helpe vs forward wyth a lettyr fro yow to Mastyr Pykenham to remembyr hym for to handyll well and dylygently thys mater now thys Lent. And for I am aqueyntyd wyth your condycyons of old, that ye reke not who endytyth more lettres then ye, ther-for I haue drawyn a note to yowr secretarys hand Freir Perse, whyche lettre we must prey yow to send vs by the berer herof, and I trust it shall not be longe fro Mastyr Pykenham. Your doughtyr of Sweynsthorp and hyr soiornaunt E. Paston recomandyth hem to yow in ther most humble wyse, lowly besechyng yow of your blyssyng. And as for my brodyr Edmuremovend Sweynsthorp, for non jntreté that hys ostas your doughtyr nor I koud jntrete hym myght not kepe hym but that he wold haue ben at home wyth you at Mautby on Sonday last past at nyght; and as he was departyng fro hens had we word fro Frenshes wyf that, God yeld yow, modyr, ye had govyn hym leve to dysporte hym her wyth vs for a vij or viij dayes. And so the drevyll lost hys thank of vs, and yet abod nevyr the lesse. Youyr doughtyr sendyth yow part of syche poore stuff as I sent hyr fro London, besechyng yow to take it in gree though it be lytyll plenté that she sendyth yow. But as for datys, I wyll sey trowthe

ye haue not so many by ij pownd as wer ment on-to yow, for she thynkys at thys season datys ryght good mete, what so ever it mearemovenyth. I prey God send vs good tydyngys, whom I beseche to preserue yow and yours and to send yow your most desyred joye. At Sweynsthorp on Ashe Wednysday. Your sone and humble seruaunt J. Paston Modyr, pleasit yow to remember that ye had need to be at Norwych v or vj dayes befor that Jamys Hubbart and your consayll shall be ther wyth yow, for to look vp your evydence and all other thyngys redy. Also, if ye thynk that thys bylle that I send yow herwyth be good j-now to send to Doctore Pykenham, ye may close vp the same and send it sealyd to me ayen and I shall convey it forthe to hym.

TO JOHN PASTON II 1479, 11, 06

To Syr John Paston, knyght.

Syr, aftyr all dutés of recomendacyon, pleasyt to vndyrstand 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 sent it a-yen to th'exchetore Palmer by my brodyr Edmund, whyche had an other erand in-to that contré to spek wyth H. Spylman to get hys good wyll towardys the bargayn lyek to be fynyshed hastyly betwyx Mastress Clyppysby and hym. And, syr, at the delyueré of the bylle of jnquisicyon to th'exchetour, my brodyr Edmuremovend told hym that, accordyng to your wryghtyng to me, I spak wyth myn oncle William and told hym that I vndyrstood by yow that my lord of Elye had aswell desyred hym in wryghtyng as you by mouthe that non of you shold swe to haue the jnquisycion fond aftyr your jntentys tyll other weyes of pese wer takyn betwyx yow; wherfor my brodyr Edmuremovend desyred hym that wyth-ought myn oncle labord to haue it fond for hym, ellys that he shold not proced for yow. But th'exchetour answerd hym that he wold fynd it for you aftyr your byll of hys owne autorité, 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 putt my 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 slyppe not fro yow when he comyth to London and sertyfye it or ye spek wyth hym. Th'exchetor shalbe at London by Twysday or Wednysday next comyng, at John Leeis house, for he shall ryd forwardys as on Monday next comyng betymys, &c. Syr, your tenauntys 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 wyth myn oncle I had a longe pystyll of hym that ye had sent Pekok to Paston and comandyd the tenauntys ther that they shold pay non areragys to hym but if they wer bond to hym by oblygacyon for the same. Myn oncle seythe it was other-wyse apoyntyd be-for the arbytrorys. They thought, he seyth, as well my Mastyr Fytzwalter as other, that he shold receyue that as it myght be gadryd; but now he seythe that he wottyth well some shall renne awey 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 casuelté of dethe and thes other causes befor rehersyd. Wherfor me thynkyth if it wer apoyntyd be-for the arbytrors that he shold receyue theym as he seythe, it wer not for yow to brek it; or ellys if he be pleyn executor to my grauntdam then also he ought to haue 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 Edmuremovend preyid yow in hys lettyr that he sent on-to yow by Mondys sone of Norwyche, dwellyng wyth Thomas Jenney, that myn oncle Syr George may gett to my brodyr Edmund of the kyng þe wardshepp of John Clyppysby, son and heyer to John Clyppysby, late of Owby in the conté of Norffolk, sqwyr, dwryng the nonnage of my lord and lady of York, thow it cost iiij or v mark the swte. Let myn oncle Syr George be clerk of the hamper and kepe the patent, if it be grantyd, tyll he haue hys moné, and that shall not be longe to. Myn oncle Syr George may enforme the Kyng for trowthe that the chyld shall haue no lond dwryng hys yong modyrs lyff, and ther is no man her that wyll mary wyth hym wyth-ought they haue some lond wyth hym; and so te 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 Edmuremovend Clyppysbys son in recompence for takyng my brodyr Edmundys son, otherwyse callyd Dyxsons, the chyldys fadyr being alyve. Dyxson is ded, God haue hys sowle, whom I beseche to send you your most desyred joye. Wretyn at Norwyche on Seynt Leonardys Day. J. Paston Syr, it is told me þat Nycolas Barlee, the scyuer, hathe takyn an axion of dett ayenst me thys terme. I prey yow let Whetley or some body spek wyth hym and lete hym wet that if he swe me softly thys terme that he shall be payed or the next terme be at an end. It is a-bought vj li., and in feythe he shold haue had it or thys tyme and our threshers of Sweynsthorp had not dyed vpp. And if I myght haue payed it hym a yer ago, as well as I trust I shall sone aftyr Crystmass, I wold not for xij li. haue brokyn hym so many promessys as I haue. Also, syr, I prey yow send me by the next man that comyth fro London ij pottys of tryacle of Jenne = they shall cost xvj d.; for I haue spend ought that I had wyth my yong wyff and my yong folkys and my-sylff. And I shall pay hym that shall bryng hem to me, and for hys caryage. I prey yow lett it be sped. The pepyll dyeth sore in Norwyche, and specyally a-bought my house; but my wyff and my women come not ought, and fle ferther we can not, for at Sweynsthorp sythe my departyng thens they haue dyed and ben syke nye jn every house of the towne.

ACCOUNT 1479, 11, after 25

Receyuyd at Cressiremovengham the Thursday nex aftyr Seynt Edmuremovend at the corte ther v li. x s. by the handys of me John Paston, sqwyer Wherof payed to my modyr for costys don vp-on the berying of Walter Paston and whyll he lay sek, and for the hyer of a man xxix s. comyng wyth the seyd Water fro Oxn. xx d. xj d.

Item, payed to William Gybson for j horse sadyll and brydyll lent to Water Paston by the seyd William xvj s.
Item, gevyn the seyd man comyng fro Oxn. wyth the seyd Water by the handys of J. Paston xx d.
Item, payed for dyuers thyngys whyll Water Paston lay sek iiij d.
Item, for the costys of John Paston rydyng to kepe the coort at Cressiremovengham anno supradicto, whych was iiij dayes in doing for the styward myghremovet not be ther at þe day prefyxid. iij s. iiij d.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1479, 11

To my ryght worchepfull modyr Margarett Paston at Seynt Peters of + Hundgate.

Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dwtés of humle recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng and preyeremovers. And, modyr, John Clement, berer heroff, can tell yow the mor pité is, if it pleasyd God, that my brodyr is beryed in the Whyght Fryers at London, whych I thought shold not haue ben, for I supposyd that he wold haue ben beryed at Bromholme. And that causyd me so sone to ryd to London to haue purveyd hys brynging hom; and if it had ben hys wylle to haue leyn at Bromholm, I had purposyd all the wey as I haue redyn to haue brought hom my grauntdam and hym to-gedyrs, but that purpose is voyd as now. But thys I thynk to do when I com to London, to spek wyth my lord Chamberleyn and to wynne by hys meanys my lord of Ely if I can. And if I may by eny of ther meanys cause the Kyng to take my servyse and my quarell to-gedyrs, I wyll; and I thynk that Syr George Brown, Syr Jamys Radclyff, and other of myn aqueyntance whyche wayte most vpon the Kyng and lye nyghtly in hys chamber wyll put to ther good wyllys. Thys is my wey as yet. And, modyr, I beseche yow, as ye may get or send eny messengers, to send me your avyse, and my cosyn Lomenors, to John

Leeis hows, taylore, wyth-in Ludgate. I haue myche more to wryght, but myn empty hed wyll not let me remember it. Also, modyr, I prey that my brodyr Edmuremovend may ryd to Marlyremovengforthe, Oxenhed, Paston,Crowmer, and Caster and in all thes maners to entre in my name, and to lete the tenauntys of Oxenhed and Marlyngforremovethe know that I sent no word to hym to take no mony of theym but ther attornement; wherfor he wyll not, tyll he her fro me ayen, axe hem non, but let hym comand theym to pay to no seruaunt of myn oncles, nor to hym-sylff nor to non othyr to hys vse, in peyne of payment a-yen to me. I thynk if ther shold be eny money axid in my name, parauenture it wold make my lady of Norffolk ayenst me and cause hyr to thynk I dellt more contrary to hyr plesure than dyd my brodyr, whom God pardon of hys gret mercy. I haue sent to entre at Stansted and at Orwellbery, and I haue wretyn a bylle to Anne Montgomery and Jane Rodon to mak my lady of Norffolk if it wyll be. Your sone and humble seruremoveaunt J. Paston If myn vnkynd oncle make eny mastryes to gadre money, areragys or other, my Mastyr Fytzwater, Syr Robart Wyngfeld, Syr Thomas Brewremoves, my brodyr Yeluerton, my brodyr Harecort, and other of my frendys I trust wyll sey hym naye, if they haue knowlage.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1479, 12

to my ryght worchepfull and most kynd modyr Margaret Paston.

Ryght worchepfull modyr, aftyr all dutés of humble recomendacyon, as lowly as I can I beseche yow of your dayly blyssyng and preyer. Pleasyt yow to vndyrstand that, wher as ye wyllyd me by Poiness to hast me ought of the heyer that I am jn, it is so that I must put me in God, for her must I be for a season; and in good feyth I shall never, whyll God sendyth me lyff, dred mor dethe then shame. And thankyd be God, the sykness is well seasyd here; and also my besyness puttyth a-wey my fere. I am drevyn to

labore in lettyng of th'execucyon of myn vnkynd onclys entent, wher-in I haue as yet non other dyscorage but that I trust in God he shall fayle of it. I haue spokyn wyth my lord of Ely dyvers tymys, whyche hathe put me in serteynté by hys woord that he wyll be wyth me ayenst myn oncle in iche mater that I can shewe that he entendyth to wrong me in. And he wold fayne haue a resonable end be-twyx vs, wher-to he wyll helpe, as he seythe. And it is serteyn my brodyr, God haue hys soule, had promysed to a-byde the reule of my lord Chamberleyn and of my lord of Ely, but I am not yett so ferr forthe, nor not wyll be tyll I know my lord Chamberleyns intent. And that I purpose to do to-morow, for then I thynk to be wyth hym, wyth Godys leve. And sythe it is so that God hathe purveyd me to be the solysytore of thys mater, I thank hym of hys grace for the good lordys, mastyrs, and frendys that he hathe sent me, whyche haue parfytely promysyd me to take my cause as ther owne; and those frendys be not a fewe. And, modyr, as I best can and may I thank yow and my cosyn Lomenore of the good avyse that ye haue sent me, and I shall aplye me to do ther-aftyr. Also, modyr, I beseche you on my behalff to thank myn cosyn Lomnorre for þe kyndness that he hathe shewyd on-to me in gevyng of hys answer to myn onclys seruaunt whyche was wyth hym. Modyr, I wryght not so largely to yow as I wold do, for I haue not most leyser. And also, when I haue ben wyth my lord Chamberleyn, I purpose not to tery longe aftyr in London, but to dresse me to yow wardys; at whyche tyme I trust I shall brynge yow more serteynté of all the fordell that I haue in my besyness then I can as yett wryght. I am put in serteynté by my most specyall good mastyr, my Mastyr of the Rollys, that my lord of Ely is and shalbe bettyr lord to me then he hathe shewyd as yet; and yet hathe he delt wyh me ryght well and honourably. Modyr, I beseche yow that Pekok may be sent to to purvey me as myche money as is possybyll for hym to make ayenst my comyng hom, for I haue myche to pay her in London, what for the funerall costys, dettys, and legattys that must be content in gretter hast then shalbe myn ease. Also I wold the ferme barly in Flegge, as well as at Paston if ther be eny, wer gadryd, and iff it may be resonably sold, then to be sold or putt to the maltyng; but I wold at Caster that it were ought of the tenauntys handys, for thyngys that I here. Kepe ye consell thys fro Pekok and all folkys; whyche mater I shall appese if God wyll geve me leve.

MEMORANDUM OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST WILLIAM PASTON II: DRAFT After 1479

Copyes of draughtes of the wrongys don by W. Paston to J. Paston fadyr, Syr J. P. and J. P.

Thes be th'eniuryes and wrongys don by William Paston to John Paston hys nevew. Fyrst, the maners of Marlyremovengforthe, Stansted, and Horwellbery was geven... William Paston, justyce, and to Agnes hys wyff and to th'eyers of ther two bodyes, to whom the seyd John Paston is cosyn and heyer, that is to sey... son to John, son and heyer to the seyd William and Agnes.
Item, wher Edmund Clere wyth other enfeoffyd to the vse of the seyd William Paston and of hys heyres, the whyche William mad hys wyll that the seyd Agnes hys wyf shold haue the seyd maner for terme of hyr lyff, and aftyr the seyd William dyed and the seyd Agnes occupyed for terme of hyr seyd lyff ... of the seyd feoffés the seyd maner; and aftyrwardes the seyd Agnes dyed, afftyr whoys dethe Syr John Paston, knyght, as cosyn and heyer to the seyd Agnes in-to the seyd maner entred, and dyed wyth-ought issue of hys bodye ... John as brodyr and heyer to the seyd Syr John ... seyd maner entred, and is lettyd to take the profytys of the same by ... of the maners of Marlyremovengforthe, Stansted, and Horwelbery befor rehersyd by the meanys of the seyd Wylliam.

TO MARGARET PASTON 1482-84

To my ryght worchepfull modyr Margaret Paston.

Ryght worchepfull modyr, jn my most humble wyse I recomand me to yow, besechyng yow of your dayly blyssyng; and when I may, I wyll with as good wyll be redy to recompence yow for the cot that my huswyff and I haue put yow to as I am now bond to thank yow for it, whyche I do in the best wyse I can. And, modyr, it pleasyd yow to haue serteyn woordys to my wyff at hyr depertyng towchyng your remembrance of the shortness that ye thynk your dayes of, and also of the mynd that ye have towardys my brethryn and systyr, your chyldyr, and also of your seruauntys, wher-in ye wyllyd hyr to be a meane to me that I wold tendyr and favore the same. Modyr, savyng your plesure, ther nedyth non enbasatours nor meanys betwyx yow and me, for ther is neyther wyff nor other frend shall make me to do that that your comandment shall make me to do, jf I may have knowlage of it. And if I haue no knowlage, jn good feyth I am excuseabyll bothe to God and yow. And well remembred, I wot well ye ought not to haue me in jelusye for on thyng nor other that ye wold haue me to accomplyshe if I overleve yow, for I wot well non oo man a-lyve hathe callyd so oft vpon yow as I to make your wylle and put iche thyng in serteynté that ye wold have don for your-sylff and to your chyldre and seruauntys. Also, at the makyng of your wylle, and at every comunycacyon that I haue ben at wyth yow towchyng the same, I nevyr contraryed thyng that ye wold have doon and parformyd, but alweys offyrd my-sylff to be bownde to the same. But, modyr, I am ryght glad that my wyff is eny-thyng removein your favore or trust, but I am ryght sory that my wyff or eny other chyld or seruaunt of your shold be in bettyr favore or trist wyth yow then my-sylff; for I wyll and must forbere and put fro me that that all your other chyldre, seruauntys, prestys, werkmen and frendys of your that ye wyll ought bequethe to shall take to theym. And thys haue I and evyr wylbe redy

on-to whyll I leve, on my feyth, and nevyr thought other, so God be my helpe, whom I beseche to preserve yow and send yow so good lyff and longe that ye may do for youre-sylff, and me aftyr my dyssease. And I beshrewe ther hertys that wold other, or shall cause yow to mystrust or to be vnkynd to me or my frendys. At Norwyche thys Monday, wyth the hand of your sone and trwest seruaunt John Paston

BILL OF COMPLAINT AGAINST WILLIAM PASTON II: DRAFT 1484

All-so the seyde John Paston now compleynaunt seyth that John Paston, fadyre off the same John, was seased off the manere callyd Hollwellhalle wyth th'appurtenaunces in Estodenham joyntly wyth all the londis, tenementes, rentes, and seruices whyche sume tyme were John Jerham, Ewstase Rows, John Davy, vikere off the chyrche off Estodenham, ande Watere Danyell, or any off thers, lyeng in the townys off Estodenham, Mateshalle, Mateshaleberghe, and othire townys adyoynyng; ande off all the londis, tenementes, rentes, seruices and lybertés, wyth ther

appurtenaunces, callyd Toleys lyeng in the townys off Wymondham and Carleton, and othire townys adyoynyng whyche sume tyme were William Thuxston; and off the scite off on mese wyth a pece londe lyenge in a croffte to the same mese adyoynyng wyche is accomptyde xiiij acres off londe wyth th'appurtenaunces callyd Colneys, othyre-wys callyd Whynnes in Carleton, in hys demene as off fee; ande so beyng seased ther-of up-on trust enffeffede William Yeluerton, justys, John Fastolff, knyght, Myles Stapelton, knyght, and othire to be hadde to them and to theyre heyrs fore euer, be the fores wher-off they were there-off seased in theyre demeane as off fee; ande afftyre the seyd feffment in forme afforseyd mad the seyd John Paston the fadyr disseassed. The ryght off the whyche maner, londis, tenementes, and othire the premysses afftyr the desses of the seyd John the fadyr owith to come to the seyd John now compleynaunt as sone and heyre off the seyd John Paston for as myche as the seyd John the fadyre made no wylle nor mencyon of the aforseyd maner, londis, tenementes, nore off other the premysses, whyche maner, londis, tenementes and othire the premysses the seyd William Paston hath and agenst the cours of the lawe ocupyeth.
Item, the seid John requerith an astate to be takyn in those londys lymyted to William the sone for deffaut of issu off Clement Paston by the will of there fadire accordyng to the seid will aswell as in those londis that ar or shuld be purchased wyth the ml mark accordyng to th'endenture mad by-twyn th'executors of William Paston, justice, that is to sey to the seid William the son and to the eyres of his body, and for defaute of yssue of his bodye to remayn to th'eyers of William Paston, justice, which the seid John is. All-so the seyd John Paston now compleynaunt seyth that there be decayed at Marlyngfford and Oxenhed, be meane off th'enterupsion off the seyd William, tweyn water melles, wher-off jche was letyn for x marke be

yere, and all-so othire howsyng be the same ockasion at Oxenhed, Marlyngfford, Stansted, and Orwelbury decayed to the hurt of the seyd John Paston off v c mark, whech the seyd John Paston desyreth to be recompensede.
Item, the seid John axith of the seid William for wast don in the maner of Paston for lak of reparacion xl li.
Item, the seid William hath takyn awey owth of the maners of John Paston, that is to sey of hes maners of Paston, Oxened, Marlyngford, Stansted, and Horwelburye, siche stoff and greynys, catell, and hotilementis of the seid maners as were agreyd be th'executors of the seyd William Paston, justyse, to be left and latyn with the seid maners, to the value of xl li.
Item, the seid John axith to be restored to all the euydence longyng to the maners aforesaid, and othire the premysses, which the seid William wrongfully witholdith.
Item, the seid John axith to hys possession which he hath of and in the maner of Castere and othere maners adyongnyng the relesse of all such title and interest as the seid William hath be wey of feffement in the foresaid maner and maners jn like forme as othere his cofeffés have in tyme past relassed to Sir John Paston, whoos eyre the seid John is. Also the seid John Paston desireth the performance of diuerse comenauntis and articles conteyned in diuerse indentures and writynges mad be the avise of the reuerend fadire in God William, Bisschoppe of Lyncolne, supervisour of the testement of the seid William Paston, justice, bytwix th'executors of the same William Paston for kepyng of the trewe jntent and will of the seid William Paston, justice, as by the same jndentures and writynges redye to be schewed more pleynlye shall appere, the entent and performaremovence of which writyng is jntervpted and brokyn by the seid William Paston and his meanys to the hurt and damage of the seyd John Paston now compleynaunt off
Item, the seid William hath contraremoverye to trouuth and conscience vexed and trouubled and put to cost and charge the seid John nowe be the space of v yere saffe a quarter and hath distorbede the same John to take and perceyue th'issus and profetes off the same maners to the hurt and damage off the seyd John jn defendyng of his right off and in the maners

afforeseyd of ij ml mark be-syde greffe, gret laboure and disseace that the seid John hath dayly be putt on-to by th'okcasion afforseyd.
Item, accordyng to will of William Paston, justice, the seid John axith to be restored to parth of such goodis as hath ben dispendid by John Paston the fadere, Sir John Paston, and the seid John nowe compleynaunt, in defence, kepyng, and recoveryng of such londis as were William Paston, justice, which draweth aboue the summa of ml li.
Item, where on Lomnore had a cofure in kepyng and v ml mark in the same be extymasion to the vse of John Paston, fadire of the forsayed Sir John and John, the seid William Paston fraudelently atteyned the seid cofure wyth the seyd sume off money after the dissece of the seid John the fadire, and had it in his kepyng serteyn dayes and did with it his pleasure vnknowyn to the seid Sir John Paston and John Paston his brothere, and after at Herry Colettes house the seid William brought the seid cofure to the seid John Paston, knyght, and there openyd the seid cofure, where was then lefte but cc old noblis which were by extimacion in value c li., and the seid William toke there the seid gold awey with hym ageyn the will of seid Sire John, and witholdith the same wherof the seyd John preyeth to be restored.
Item, the seid William atteynyd and gate a peyere of basons of siluer and parte or all gilt from the seid Sir John Paston and John Paston now compleynant abouuth such season as he toke the cofure and coyne aforerehersed, which basons were in value c mark; and the seid William yet witholdith the seid basons, to the whyche the seyd John preyeth also to be restored.
Item, the seid William gate in-to his possession a chargere of siluer, in value x marke, and iij bollys of siluer that were in kepyng of Bachelere Watere, a friere Carmelit of Norwich, to th'entent that a certeyn coost shuld have ben doon vpon the liberarye of the Friers Carmelites aforesaid for the sowlis of William Paston, justice, and Angnes his wiff, which chargere and bollys the seid William yet with-holdith and kepith to his owne vse, and therefore the seid charges ar not fulfylled.

Item, the seid John axith restitucion of suche jnportable charges as the seid William hathe put the forsaid Sir John on-to by the space of many yeres as in plesures doyng and rewardis, which apperith by writyng of the hande of the seid Sire John, which pleasures and charges the seid Sir John was constreyned to doo in defence of the seid William; where-of the seid John axeth to have amendys of cc mark.
Item, by the occacion and meanys of the seid William the seid Sir John was constreyned to lende on-to the reuerende fadere in God George, late Archebremoveisschop of York, ml mark, whech was nat payed ageyn by the summa of c li. The seid John axith to be restorid ther-of.
Item, the seid William hath fellyd tymbre and wodys in the maners of the seid John, that is to sey the maners of Oxened and Marlyngford, to the hurth of the seid John of xx li.
Item, the seyd John Paston complaynaunt axith to be restoryd to all syche money as hathe be takyn and dyspendyd by all siche persones as haue ben assigned by meanes of the seyd Wylliam to distorbe and jntervpt the seyd John compleynaunt of hys ryght, tyghtyll, possessyon, entrest of and in the maners, londis, and tenementes and other the premysses dwryng the seyd v yer sauff a quarter, as well as to all syche money as hathe ben dyspendyd dwryng the seyd v yer sauff a quarter by the seruauntys of the seyd compleynaunt by hym assigned to tery and abyd vp-on the seyd maners, londes, and tenementis and other the premysses, ther to kepe the possessyon of the seyd compleynaunt, whyche extendith to the some of xl li. and above.
Item, the seyd John compleyanunt axith to be restoryd to all syche money as hathe ben receyved by meanys of the seyd William dwryng the seyd v yer sauff a quarter of syche as ar or haue ben fermors or tenauntes of the maners, londis, and tenremoveementis aforseyd duryng the seyd season, as well as to all syche money as is not levyable of dyvers of the seyd fermors and tenauntes fallyn in poverté sythe the trowblows season of the v yer sauff a quarter befor rehersed, whyche extendith to the some of cc li. or above.

DRAFT LETTER FROM ELIZABETH BROWNE 1485, 09, before 23

The copye of a lettre of Dame E. Browne ayenst William Paston.

To my ryght worchepfull and hertly beloved nevew John Paston, sqwyer. Right worchepfull and my ryght hertly beloved nevew, I recomand me to yow. And wher as ye desier me to send yow woord whether my brodyr John Paston your fadyr was wyth my fadyr and hys, whom God assoyle, duryng hys last syknesse and at the tyme of hys dissease at Seynt Brydis or nowght, nevew, I assarteyn yow vpon my feythe and poore honore that I was xiiij, xv yer, or xvj yer old ande at Seynt Brydis wyth my fadyr and my modyr when my fadyrs last syknes took hym, and tyll he was disseassid. And I dare depose befor eny persone honorable that when my fadyrs last siknesse tooke hym my brodyr your fadyr was in Norffolk, and he came not to London tyll aftyr that my fadyr was disseassid. And that can Syr William Cootyng and Jamys Gressham record, for they bothe were my fadyrs clerkys at the tyme. And I remembre and wot well that Jamys Gressham was wyth my fadyr at Seynt Brydys duryng all hys siknesse and at hys disseasse. And thys wyll I wyttnesse whyle I leve for a trowthe, as knowith God, whom I beseche to preserue you and yours. And, nevew, I prey yow recomand removeme to my neese your wyff, whom I wold be glad to se onys a-yen in London, wher thys bylle was wretyn, signed wyth myn hand, and sealid wyth my seale the xxiij daye of September the first yer of the reyngne of Kyng Herry the vijth. Your loveing awnte Elizabeth Browne

TO MARGERY PASTON 1487-95

To Dame Margery Paston at Oxenhed.

Mastress Margery, I recomand me to yow, and I prey yow in all hast possybyll to send me by the next swer messenger that ye can gete a large playster of your flose vngwentorum for the Kynges Attorney Jamys Hobart; for all hys dysease is but an ache in hys knee. He is the man that brought yow and me togedyrs, and I had lever then xl li. ye koud wyth your playster depart hym and hys peyne. But when ye send me the playster ye must send me wryghtyng hough it shold be leyd to and takyn fro hys knee, and hough longe it shold abyd on hys kne vnremevyd, and hough longe the playster wyll laste good, and whethyr he must lape eny more clothys a-bowte the playster to kepe it warme or nought. And God be wyth yow. Your John Paston

TO LORD FITZWALTER: DRAFT 1487-95

Humbly besecheth your good lordshepe your dayly seruaunt and beedman John Paston, more kayteff than knyght, that it may please yow of your

specyall grace to dyrect ought your lettres sygned wyth your hand and sealid wyth your seall to the dreedfull man Jamys Radcliff of Byllingforthe, sqwyer, fermour of your wareyn ther---ought of whoys wareyn no maner of man nor vermyn dare take on hym for dought of your seyd dredfull removeman to take or carye a-wey eny of your game ther for fere of hangyd vp among other mysdoers and forfaytours, as wesellis, lobsters, polkattys, bosartys, and mayne currys=thatt the seyd Jamys shall vpon the syght of your seyd wryghtyng delyver or cause to be delyverd to your seyd besecher or to hys deputé delyuerer of your seyd lettres at hys fyrst syght of the same vj coupyll blake conyes or rennyng rabettys, or some blake and some whyght to the seyd nombre, to store wyth a newe grownd of your seyd besechers at Oxenhed, more lyeke a pynnefold then a parke. And your seyd besecher shall daylye prey to God for the preservacyon of your noble estate longe t'endure.

TO RICHARD CROFT 1500??

Richard Croft, the wedyr is siche that I wyll not jopart to ryde as yet, for I am not best at ease and a lytill colde myght mak me worse. I send yow by this berer iij byllis that John Calle tooke me, whiche shewe every receyte of John Callis and Robert Salles, and paymentys also. I can not fynde the newe fermall of Caster here, wherfor I haue takyn to this berer the key of my cofir at Yermouthe. I thynk and ye wyll ryde thedyr wyth hym ye shall fynd in my cofir the last fermall of Caster, and other bokys wyth it. And if need be, and ellis not, ye may cause Robert Salle and John Carter to come hydyr on Fryday or Saterday next comyng and end ther acomptes her at Norwyche. I sye John Wynnys byllis that his man brought me yesterday, Twysday, wherby I vndyrstand that he desyreth to be alowyd v li. for Byshoppis of

Yermouthe, and for hering delyuerd to myn cosyn Loveday; wherto I am agreid, but I wyll not that John Wynne shall selle non of my ferme barly to paye theym, for I woll haue all the barly in John Wynnys charge maltyd for my Lord Mountioye. If he haue not money jnow of myn when he hathe acomptyd to paye Byshopes ther v li. I wyll make vppe ther money ought of myn owne purse.
Item, I send yow a waraunt fro the shreve to do warne those persones in Flegge and Yermouthe that ar enpanellid betwyx the Kynge and me to be at Thettford at the assises on Wednysday next comyng. I prey yow take the warant to Symond Gerrard and prey hym in my name to send for the bayly of the hundred and to cause hym to geve warnyng to theym that be enpanellid to kepe ther day at Thettfford. And prey Symond Gerrard to speke wyth as many of the quest hym-selff as he can, and to shew theym that I haue ought my nisi prius by assent of the Kyngys Attorné, and he hym-silff comandid it ought. And if the wedyr amend by none I wyll se yow this nyght, wyth Godys grace. Fro Norwyche this Wednysday, by your frend J. Paston, K.

TO WILLIAM PASTON III AND RICHARD LIGHTFOOTE Probably 1503, after 04

To my brother William Paston and my cosyn Richard Lightfoote, and to iche + of theym.

Mastyrs bothe, I recomand me to yow and send yow closid her-in a booke of the seying of dyvers folkis whiche testyfiee ayenst Thomas Rutty and other. I prey yow shewe it to my lordys good lordshepe, and that I may know hys plesur ferther in as hasty wyse as may be that I may ordere me ther-aftyr. I had gret labore to come by the woman that was in servyse wyth Rutty, whiche sie all ther conversacyons many yeris. She is now in servyse wyth Richard Calle. And I haue Thomas Bange in prison at Norwyche wyth the shrevys of Norwych. The woman seythe he is as bold a theffe as eny is in Ingland, but he wyll nowghte conffesse, nor I handelyd hym not sore to cause hym to confesse, but and Ruty knowe that he and the woman be in hold and hathe told talis I thynke it wyll cause Rutty to shewe the pleynesse. Clerk and Roger Heron ar endightid at this sessyons at Norwyche, last holdyn on Twysday last past for robbing of the pardoner, and so is Rotty and all his felaw-shepe that the woman hathe apechid. According to hir apechement Raff Taylour is over the see, Robert Fenne is dede, John Bakor and William Taylour ar yett vntakyn. If my lord send for T. Bange or the woman some of my lordis seruauntys had need to come for theym, for I can not do in the cause for lake of men and horse, for my wyff ridith this next week in-to Kente to the wydow hir doughtir Leghe. And as for Ramesey, liek a prowde, lewde, obstynat foole, he wyll not come befor my brotheremover Syr R. Clere nor me, but he seythe he wyll be wyth my lord hastyly and shewe his mynde to his lordshepe, whiche I beleve not. The substancyall marchantys of Norwyche hathe shewid ther myndys to my brother Syr R. Clere and me that he entendith to William Bayly gret wronge in his reknyngys.

TO AN UNKNOWN KNIGHT: DRAFT After 1485

Non decet sinescallo tam magni comitis Vt Comes Oxonie verbis in anglicis Scritter epistolas vell suis in nuncijs Aliquid proponere si non in latinis. Igitur ille pauperculus predicti Comitis Magnus sinescallus magni comitatis Nuncupatur Norffolk latinis in verbis Apud Knapton in curia in forma judicis. Tibi Nigro Militi salutem, et omnibus Notifico quod Langdon ille homunculus Nullam pecuniam liberare vult gentibus, Quod est magnum jmpedimentum nostris operibus. Idcirco tibi mando sub pena contemptus Quod tu indilate proprijs manubus Scribas tuas littras quod ille homunculus Copiam pecunie deliberet gentibus. Sin autem per littras has nostras patentes Ego et operarij qui sunt consencientes Omnes vna voce pravemus suos dentes Nisi liberet pecuniam cum sumus egentes. Teste meipso apud Knapton predicta, Est et michi testis Maria benedicta, Quod vicesimo die Julij non inderelicta Erat summa solidi, res hec non est ficta.