Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

Edmond Paston II

TO JOHN PASTON III 1471, 11, 18

Tho my rytgh wurshfull brothere John Paston, jn hast.

Rytgh wurshupful brothere, I recummawnd me to ȝow, prayeng ȝow hartely þat ȝe wyl remembyre soche maters as I wryth to ȝow. I send ȝow now be the brynggare here-of mony, wyche mony I prey ȝow þat removeȝe be-stowe yt as I wryth to ȝow. I wend a don yt my-sylf, but consyderyng costys and othere dyuers thynggys I maynot bryng yt abowthe; where-fore I pray ȝow hartely to take þe labore vp-on ȝow, and I trust to deservyt. I pray ȝow be-stow thys mony thus: to Crystofyre Hanyngton v s.; to þe Prynspall of Stapyl In v s. in parte of payment; also, I pray ȝow to bye me iij ȝerddys of porpyl schamlet, price þe ȝerd iiij s.; a bonet of depe murry, pryce ij s. iiij d.; an hose clothe of ȝelow carsey of an ellyn, I trow yt wyl cost ij s.; a gyrdyl of plunkket ryban, price vj d.; iiij lacys of sylke, ij of on colore and ij of an othere, price viij d.; iij doseyn poynttys, wythe, red, and ȝelow, price vj d.; iij peyere of pateyns-- I pray ȝow late Wylliam

Mylsant purvey fore þem. I was wonte to pay but ij d. ob. fore a payere, but I pray ȝow late them not be left behynd þow I pay more. They must be lowe pateyns; late them be long j-now and brod vp-on þe hele. Among alle othere I pray ȝow recummawnd me to Masteres Elyzabet Hygouns. I may sey pouerté partys feleschepe; yf þat I had ben so well purveyde as I wend, I trowst to have ben wyth ȝow here thys. Also I pray ȝow recummawnd me to my brothere Ser John. I fere lesse he wyl take a dysplesure wyth me þat I send hym no mony; I pray ȝow excuse me as wel as ȝe can. I trust to send hym sum a-bowth Candylmesse. I had a promyse of Masteres Elyzabet of a typet of welvet, but and I myth haue a hatlase I woold thynk me well. I pray ȝow sey thus myche on ȝour owyn hed, and yf ȝe can not spede of þe hatlase I pray ȝow bye me on of xij d. ore xvj d. Also, ser, I send Parkare hys mony be the brynggare hare-of, and I haue desyered hym to lend me a gown of puke, and I haue send hym a typet of welvet to boredyre yt rownd a-bowthe; and I pray ȝow be at schesyng there-of. And yf þat he wyl not, be Cryst calkestokke on hys hed! þat is schoryle in Englyshe; yt is a terme new browthe vp wyth my marschandys of Norwyche. Ser, John Pamppyng recummawnd hym to ȝow, and pray ȝow þat ȝe wyl remembyre hys harnes, and yf þat ȝe can get þe mony he pray ȝow to delyuer Parkare x s. þat he howyth hym. Also, ser, my modyre gretys ȝow wel and send ȝow Goddys blyssyng and heres, and prays ȝow þat ȝe wyl bye here a runlet of malmesey owthe of þe galey; and yf ȝe haue no mony sche byd þat ȝe schuld borow of my brothere Ser John ore of sum othere frend of ȝowers, and send here woord as hastely as þe haue yt and sche schale send þow mony. And yf þat ȝe send yt home sche byd þat yt schuld be woond in a canmasse fore brochyng of þe caryars, fore sche sethe þat sche hath knowyn men serued soo be-fore. Also I pray þow, yf ȝe speke wyth Master Rogere, tell hym þat yf he cum in-to thys cuntré thys Crystemremoveas he schal haue hys x s., and yf þat he cum not I schal send yt hym be xij day at þe fardest. I pray ȝow hartely remembyre my gere, and þat ȝe wyl desyere Wylliam Mylsant on my behalue to purvey fore þe caryage in as hasty wyse as yt can. Also I pray ȝow þat þe weluet þat levyt of my typet may be send hom a-geyn, fore I woold strype a dobelet there-wyth. As fore Masteres Blakeny, I trow sche be in ȝour quarters. I woold I had þe same entyrepryce vp-on hyre þat John Bramppton of Atylborowe had vp-on Mastere Bryston. Alle þe coorte recummawnddys hem to ȝow. I pray ȝow, and ȝe can get me any profytabyl servyce, a-saye. My brothere Ser John was meved of my

hawnt Ponynggys to haue ben wyth here. I woold haue rytgh an hesy seruyse tyl I were owthe of detys. God haue ȝow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Norwyche þe Munday nex be-fore Sen Edmond þe Kyng. Edmond Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III 1472, 05, 16

To John Paston, esquyere.

Syre, I recummawnd me to ȝow. Please yt ȝow to wette þat my modyre hathe causyd me to putte Gregory owte of my servyse; as God help, I wrythe to þow the very cause why. Yt happyd hym to haue a knavys loste, in pleyn termes to swhyve a quene; and so dyd in þe konynere-closse. Yt foretunyd hym to be a-spyed be ij plowemen of my modyrs, whyche werene as fayne as he of þat matere, and desyerd hym to haue parte; and as kompany requereyd, seyd not nay, jn so myche þat þe plowemen had here alle a nythe in there stabylle and Gregory was clene delyuerd of here and, as he swhereys, had not a do wyth here wyth-in my modyres place. Not wyth-standdyng my modyre thynkkys þat he was grownd of þat matere, where-fore there is no remedy but he moste a-voyde. And in so myche þat at þe laste tyme þat ȝe were here removeȝe desyerd hym of me yf þat he schuld departe from me, I send ȝow þe very cawse of hys departyng as my modyre sethe. But I am in serteyn þe contrary is true-yt is nomore but þat he can not plese alle partys; but þat jantylman is hys woordys lord: he hathe seyd þat he woold lyfte whom þat hym plese, and as yt scheweyt welle he lyftyd on xiiij myle in a morenyng, and now he hathe ben cawsare

of hys lyfte I wot not how fare but yf þat ȝe be hys better master. But and we a-mong vus geue not hym a lyfte, I pray God þat we neuer thryve, and þat is hys in-tente I trowe to bryng vus to. Where-fore I requere ȝow, yf þat yt plese ȝow to haue hym, þat ȝe wylle be þe better master to hym fore my sake, fore I am he þat js as sory to departe from hym as any man on lyue from hys seruant; and be my trowthe, as farforethe as I knowe he is as true as any on lyue. I troste my foreturemovene schale be better þan euer to leue thus here, but yf I were hens wardys I ensuere ȝow I woold not schange fore non þat I knowe. He is profytabylle on dyuers thynggys, as ȝe knowe welle. There has ben a greremovet breke be-twyx Calle and me, as I schal enforeme ȝow at my comyng, wyche schalle be on Wedynsday next, be þe grace of God, who preserue ȝow. Wretyn at Mawteby on Wyteson Eue. Edmond Paston

INDENTURE FOR MILITARY SERVICE 1475, 04, 07

This endenture made the vij daye of Aprile the xvth yere of the reigne of Kyng Edward the iiij, betwixt the right high and mighty prince Rychard, Duc of Gloucestre, Constable and Admirall of Englond, on the on partie, and Edmond Paston, squyer, on that othyr partie, wyttenessith that the sayd Edmond ys reteyned and withholden with the sayd Duc to do him seruice of werre with the Kyng oure souuerayn lord now in his viage ouir the see for an hol yere at his spere, weell and sufficyently horsed, armed, and arrayed as it apperteyneth to a man of armes, and thre archers, well and sufficiently horsed, herneised, habilled, and arrayed as it apperteyneth to archers, takyng for hym-self xviij d. a daye and for euery archer vj d. by

the daye, of the whiche wages the sayd Edmond hath reseyued for the first quarter of the sayd hol yere the daye of the sealing of these presentes, at whiche day the sayd Duc hath yeven knowleche to the sayd Edmond that he shal make moustres of hymself and hys sayd retenue at Portesdown in Hampshire the xxiiijty day of May next commyng or the same daye at any othyr plase vpon resounable warnyng. At that day and tyme the sayd Edmond byndeth hym by thise presentes to appere in hys propyr personne with his sayd retenue. And if it happen the sayd Edmond, aftyr the reseyte of his sayd fyrst paiement, to dicesse or be in suche sykenesse or disease that he may nat be able to come to the sayd moustresse in hys propyr personne, that thanne he shal fynd an able man in his sted with hys sayd retenue to performe his sayd seruise accordyng to the tenure of this endenture, or ellys to repaye to the sayd Duc that money by hym reseyued for hym and hys sayd retenue for the sayd quartere. And for the seconde quartere of the sayd yere the sayd Edmond shalbe payed by the sayd Duc of the wage of hym and of yche of his sayd retenue at the makyng of the mostres of hym and the same his retenue afore such comissioners as shal be deputed ther by the Kyng oure souuerayn lord, at wiche tyme shal begynne the terme of the sayd hole yere and nat affore. And aftyr the sayd moustresse and payement, with Goddes grase, to go to shyp at suche tyme as the Kyng and the sayd Duc shal comaunde theim. And for the othyr half of the sayd yere the sayd Edmond shalbe payed by the sayd Duc for hym-self and hys said retenue on the yondyr syd on the see, monethly in Englyshe money or in money there rennyng to the valu of Englysshe money, so all-waye that the same wages be payed with-in x days aftyr the end of eueryche of the sayd monethes or ell the sayd Edmond to be quited and discharged ayenst the Kyng and the sayd Duc of eny covenaunt specifeyd in these endenture, the same endenture nat withstandyng. And the sayd Edmond shal dvely and truely obeye al the Kynges proclamaciouns and ordinaunces and fulfylle the comaundment of the sayd Duc to his power, and shal make wacche and warde of hym-self and his sayd retenue frome tyme to tyme, whene and as ofte duryng the tyme aboue sayd as he ther-to shall dvly be warned and required by the sayd Duc or hys comiser. And in cas that any moustresse to be mad be-yond the see by the sayd Edmond of hys sayd retenue lakketh any of his nombre of the same othyrwyse than by dethe or sikenesse proued, thane the sayd wages of theim that so shal fayle shalbe rebated vp-on the payement to be made to the sayd Edmond frome tyme to tyme as the cas shall require. Also the sayd Duc shal haue the iijde parte of wynnynges of werre aswell of the sayd Edmond as the iijde of iijdz where-of iche of hys retenue shalbe answeryng vnto hym of there wynnynges of werre duryng the tyme aboue said, be yt prysoners,

prayes, or othyr goodes or catalles what-soeuer thei be. And the sayd Edmond , or he or thay that shal so take suche prisoners or prayes, shal shewe vnto the said Duc with-in vj dayes aftire the so takyng aswell the names of the sayd prisoners as theire estate, degré, or condicioun, and the quantité and valu of the said gettynges bi estimacion, vpon paynne of forfacture of the sayd prysoners and wynnynges aboue sayd. Also the sayd Edmond shal haue almaner prysoners to hys propre vse that shal happe to be takyn by him or by ony of his sayd retenue duryng the tyme aboue sayd, except the iijde of iijdz aboue sayd, the Kynge oure souuerayn lordes aduersary, and all kynges and kynges sonnes, his aduersariers of Fraunce, and also all lieuetenauntz and chifteyns hauyng the sayd aduersariers powere, whiche shalbe and abyd prisoners to our sayd souuerayn lord, for the whyche he shal make resounable aggrement with the takers of theym, except also all othyre kynges, kynges sonnes, prynces, dukes, erles, and chyef capitaynes nat hauyng the sayd aduersariers power, whiche shalbe and abyde prisoners to the said Duc, for the whiche he shal make resounable aggrement with the takers of theim. And if it happen the sayd Duc with-in te sayd yere to dicesse, then the sayd Edmond and hys sayd retenue shal serue out the yere aboue sayd vndyr suche a capitaigne as the Kynge shal assyne and appoynt to haue the rule of hym and hys sayd retenue; and if the sayd Duc be takyn, hurt, or diseased with-in the sayd tyme so that he shal nat be able to do the Kynge seruise of werre, then the sayd Edmond and his retenue duryng the tyme of hys enprisounment, hurt, or disease shal serue oute the same tyme vndir his lyeuetenaunt or comyser. And that all these covenauntz aboue sayd by the sayd Edmond wele and truly to be obserued and kepte the same Edmond byndeth hym-self, his heires and executours to the sayd Duc in the somme of c li. sterlynges by these presentes. In wittenesse where-of the parties aboue sayd to thise present endentures enterchaungeably haue put to theire seales the day and yer aboue sayd. R. Gloucestre

TO JOHN PASTON III 1479, 08, 21

Suere dydyngys arn com to Norwyche þat my grandam is dyssessyd, whom God assoyle. Myn vncle had a messenger ȝesterday þat she shuld not escape, and this day cam a-nothere, at suche tyme as we were at masse fore my brothere Watere, whom God assoyle. Myn vncle was comyng to haue offered, but þe last messenger retornyd hym hastely, so þat he toke hys hors incontynent to enforme more of owur hevynes. My syster ys delyuerd, and þe chyld passyd to God, who send vus hys grace. Dokkyng told me sekretly þat fore any hast myn vncle shuld ryde by my lady of Norffolk to haue a iij skore persons. Whythere it is to convey my grandham hydere ore nowght he cowde not sey. I deme it is rathere to put them in possessyon of some of here londys. Wretyn the Saterdaye the xxj daye of August Ao E. iiijti xixo.

TO WILLIAM PASTON III Perhaps after 1480, 01

To my brothere Wylliam Paston be this delyuerd.

I hartely recomawnd me to ȝow. Here is lately fallyn a wydow in Woorstede whyche was wyff to on Boolt, a worstede marchant, and worth a ml li., and gaff to hys wyff a c marke in mony, stuffe of howsold and plate to þe valew of an c marke, and x li. be ȝere in land. She is callyd a fayere iantylwoman. I wyll fore ȝour sake se here. She is ryght systyre of fader and modyre to Herry Ynglows. I purpose to speke wyth hym to gett hys good wyll. This jantylwoman is abowght xxx ȝeres, and has but ij chylderen whyche shalbe

at þe dedys charge. She was hys wyff but v ȝere. Yf she be eny better þan I wryght fore, take it in worthe I shew the leeste. Thus lete me haue knowlache of ȝour mynde as shortly as ȝe can, and whan ȝe shall movn be in this cuntré. And thus God send ȝow good helth and good auenture. From Norwyche þe Saterday after xijthe Day. ȝour E. Paston

TO MARGARET PASTON 1481, 01, 27

To my ryght wurchypfull and especiall good mothere Margaret Paston.

Ryght worchypfull and moste especialle good modyre, jn my moste vmble wyse wyth alle my duté and seruyse I recomawnd me to yow, besechynge ȝow of ȝour blyssyng, whyche is to me moste joy of erthely thynge. And it plese ȝow to be so good and kynde modyre to forgeue me and also my wyffe of owur leude offence þat we haue not don owur duté, whyche was to haue seyn and ave waytyd vp-on ȝow ore now. My huswyffe trustythe to ley to ȝow here huswyferey fore here excuse, wyche I muste beseche ȝow not to accepte; fore jn good faythe I deme here mynde hathe ben othereweys ocapyed þan as to huswyfery, whyche semyth welle be þe latchesnes of þe tylthe of here landdys. I beseche God, fore þe forderawnce of them as now, rewarde ȝow and þe good parson of Mautby, and also Mastyre Baley, who I wende woold not haue balkyd this pore loggeyng to Norwyche wardys. I vndyrstand by þe brynggere here-of þat ȝe entend to ryde to Walsyngham. Yf it please ȝow þat I may wete þe seayson, as my duté is I shalle be redy to awayte vp-on ȝow.

Plese it ȝow þat þe brynggare here-of cam to me fore x s. viij d. whyche I shuld ow hys fadyre. Trew it was at my laste departyng from hym I owte hym so mych, but sertaynly ore I cam at Thetfford homewardys I thowt of concyence he owte to haue restoryd me as myche. I had my horsse wyth hym at lyvery, and amonge alle on of them was putte to gresse and to labure, so þat he dyed of a laxe by þe wey. I payed fore hard mete euer to hym. Plese it ȝow to delyuer Kateryn v s. wyche I send ȝow in this bylle. I am not assartaynd how she is purveyde of mony towardys here jornay. Yf here fadyre cowde not a cleymed j d. of me I woold not se here dysporveyd yf I myght, nore þe poreste chylde þat is belonggyng to hys loggeyng. Modyre, my wyffe is boold to send ȝow a tokyn. I beseche ȝow pardon alle thynggys not don acordyng to duté. I beseche God send ȝow þe accomplyshment of ȝour moste woorchypfull desyers. At Owby, þe Saterday next before Candylmes. ȝour vmble son and seruant Edmond Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III 1487, 06-1493, 02

To the ryght wurshupfull Ser John Paston, knyght, be þis delyuerid.

Ryght wurshypfull ser, I recomawnd me to ȝow. As ȝesterday I was wyth my cosyn Clere. He lythe at Borow, and my mastres hys wyveffe, be-cause the plage reygnyth at Ormysby. And so of hys own mocyon he mevyd to me of the maryage of my nevewe ȝour soon, and as glad foolkys woold be to bargayn as euer ȝe wyste; and soo hathe shewyd me that ȝe shuld haue

as myche as Ser E. Bedyngfelld, whyche was v c marke. Moore-ouer he shewyd that he woold depart wyth it to Ser Rogere T. ore to Harry Colett, whyche he shewyd ȝe woold not of but to haue the mony at ȝour dysposyssyon. And me semys be hys report that he knowyth well that yf ȝe delle wyth Ser H. H. he wyll be in a suerté that the mony that he shuld depart wyth shuld goo to the redemyng of ȝour landys and othere ȝour dawngeres. More-ouer he shewyd me that the mony whyche ȝe skyftyd of H. Colett was thought be Ser Harry H. that Ser R. Townesend shuld haue ben contentte wyth it, whyche is knowyn the contrary, and causyd hym to geue delaye in that be-halffe to ȝow. I know well this jantylman berythe ȝow as good mynde as any man alyve, my mastres hys mothere and allso my mastres hys wyve in lyeke wyesse; and me semys he makys not the dowghttys to delyuer ȝow hys mony that othere men do of the delyuerye of thers. Foore trowthe he shewythe me hys mynde, whyche is thus. Yf ȝe wyll putt lande in feffement fore ȝeres, to the full contentacyon of Townesend, Colett, and of my vncle, whyche he and all men thynke ȝe muste be charged to ore euer ȝe goo thorow, and that ȝour next frendys haue the receyte of it tyll it be full contente and payed, thus ore suche a suere weye to be had fore the well of all parteys, I darre say he is not alyve wyll indevoure hym wyth better wyll to deele wyth ȝow, and, as my mynde seruys me, streytte hym-sylffe as it may be booryn, be-syde my mastremoveres hys modyres v c. My mastres hys wyffe on my faythe I darre say the moste harty body to ȝow wardys in this be-halffe that is alyve, and the fayneeste body woold be to haue it accomplyshyd. Ser, I thenke ȝe be to-wardys London, and well I woot ȝowur mynde is to ease ȝour-sylffe as hastely as ȝe may. I pray God ȝe do to ȝour honure and to ȝour moste well to-gederys. Marchandys ore new jantylmen I deme wyll proferre large. Noon othere dyspreysed, ȝe know the contynewance of this man and how he is alyed. Well I woott yf ȝe depart to London ȝe shall haue proferes large. Yf ȝour jornay be not but to ease ȝow in that be-halffe, be my poore avyce slake fore iij ore iiij days, fore euer me semys I shuld not haue ben brokyn to so largely but that they entend it hastely to say to ȝow. Sythe I was there I vndyre-stande yf it had not happyd me to haue seyne them as ȝesterday she woold this day haue made here cowntenance to

haue seyn here nes, Bothes dowtere, whyche is at Pallyngys fore fere of the plage, and haue comyn seyne my wyffe, and specyallly to haue de-syred vus to meve ȝow towardys them; and in trowthe so she hasse. I pray God ȝe do as well to ȝour honure as I woold do my-sylffe. Yf ȝe wyll tery thys lytell season be-foore rehersyd, yf ȝe lyste, I woott well ȝe may haue the mater moore largely comyned; and yf ȝe tary tyll Monday I wull awayte on ȝow to Hynengham, wyth Godys grace, who euer preserue ȝow and ȝours. ȝour E. Paston

CLAIM FOR ALLOWANCES: DRAFT 1489-92

billa Edmundi Paston.

Edmund Paston, receyvour of the Scalys landes, askyth to be allowed of xij li. xij s. viij d. whiche hangith ouer his hede in his accompte made bifore Robert Sharp at the Feste of the Pureficacion of Our Lady laste paste for his costes and expenses for two yeres as hyt apperith in the sayd accomptes.
Item, the sayde Edmund askyth to be allowed for his costes and expenses of this yere cxviij s. iiij d., beside his costes commynge and goynge to this accompte.
Item, for his rewarde of the saide iij yeres ad placitum dominorum, whereof ys allowed for his costes by the comandement of my lorde=x li.
Item, allowed by the