Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

William Paston III

TO JOHN PASTON III 1478, 11, 07

To hys worchepful brodyr John Paston be thys delyuered in hast.

Ryght reuerent and worchepful brodyr, I recomaunde me on-to yow, desyrynge to here of yowre welfare and prosperité, letynge yow wete that I haue reseuyd of Alwedyr a lettyr and a nobyll in gowlde þer-in. Ferthermore, my creansyr Mayster Thomas hertely recomaundyd hym to yow, and he praythe yow to send hym sum mony for my comons for he seythe ye be xxti s. in hys dette, for a monthe was to pay for wheremoven he had mony laste. Also I beseche yow to sende me a hose clothe, on for þe halydays of sum colore and a-nothyr for þe workyng days, how corse so euer it be it makyth no matyr; and a stomechere, and ij schyrtys, and a peyer of sclyppers. And if it lyke yow that I may come wyth Alwedyr be watyr and sporte me wyth yow at London a day or ij thys terme tyme, than ȝe may let all thys be tyl þe tyme that I come. And than I wol telle you when I schall be redy to come from Eton, by þe grace of God, whom haue yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn the Saturday next aftyr All Halown Day, wyth þe hand of your brodyr Wylliam Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III 1479, 02, 23

To his worchepfull broder John Paston be thys delyuered in hast.

Ryght reuerent and worchepfull broder, aftyr all dewtés of recomendacion I recomaunde me on-to yow, desyryng to here of your prosperité and welfare, whych I pray God long to contynew to hys plesore and to your hertys desyre; letyng yow wete that I receyued a letter from yow, in the wyche letter was viij d., wyth þe whyche I schuld bye a peyer of slyppers; ferthere-more certyfyyng yow as for þe xiij s. iiij d. whyche ȝe send by a jentylmannys man for my borde, cawlyd Thomas Newton, was delyuered to myn hostes, and soo to my creancere Master Thomas Steuenson; and he hertely recomended hym to yow. Also ȝe sende me worde in the letter of xij li. fyggys and viij li. reysons. I haue them nott delyuered, but I dowte not I schal haue, for Alwedyr tolde me of them and he seyde þat they came aftyr in an other barge. And as for þe yong jentylwoman, I wol certyfye yow how I fryste felle in qweyntauns wyth hyr. Hir fader is dede. Ther be ij systers of them, þe elder... þe whych weddyng I was wyth myn hostes, and also desyryd by þe jentyl-man hym-selfe, cawlyd Wylliam Swanne, whos dwellynge is in Eton. So it fortuned that myn hostes reportyd on me odyrwyse than I was wordy, so þat hyr moder comaundyd hyr to make me good chere, and soo in good feythe sche ded. Sche is not a-bydynge ther sche ys now, hyr dwellyng is in London; but hyr moder and sche cam to a place of hyrs v myle from Eton, were þe weddyng was, for be-cause it was nye to þe jentylman whyche weddyd hyr dowtyr. And on Monday next comyng, þat

is to say þe fyrst Monday of Clene Lent, hyr moder and sche wyl goo to þe pardon at Schene, and soo forthe to London, and there to a-byde in a place of hyrs in Bowe Chyrche-yerde. And if it plese yow to inquere of hyr, hyr modyrs name is Mestres Alborow. þe name of the dowtyr is Margarete Alborow, the age of hyr is be all lykelyod xviij or xix ȝere at þe fertheste. And as for the mony and plate, it is redy when soo euer sche were weddyd; but as for the lyuelod, I trow not tyl after hyr modyrs desese, but I can not telle yow for very certeyn ... but yow may know by inqueryng. And as for hyr bewté, juge yow that when ȝe see hyr, yf so be that ȝe take þe laubore; and specialy beolde hyr handys, for and if it be as it is tolde me sche is dysposyd to be thyke. And as for my comynge from Eton, I lake no-thynge but wersyfyynge, whyche I troste to haue wyth a lytyll contynuance. Queritur: Quomodo non valet hora, valet mora? Vnde dicitur: Arbore iam videas exemplum. Non die possunt Omnia supleri; set tamen illa mora. And thes too verse a-fore seyde be of myn own makyng. No more to yow at thys tyme, but God haue yow in hys kepyng. Wretyn at Eton the Euen of Seynt Mathy the Apostyll, in haste, wyth the hande of your broder Wylliam Paston

TO EDMOND PASTON II 1480, 02, 22

To hys right worchepfull brodyr Edmunde Paston be thys lettyr delyueryd.

Aftyr all dewtés of recomendacion I recomaunde me on-to yow, letynge yow wett that here is closid in thys same byll the wyll of my fadyr, suche as my brodyr hathe, and he seyth that it is the very wyll of my fadyr and that he had it owt of the regestyr. And as for towchynge of my mater, I

can haue non otheremover ende than I had whan I departyd fro yow, sauynge that my brodyr hathe gotyn a pardon for þe alyenacion þat the Bochop of Wynchestyr alyenyd. And as for the estate that I schold haue in it, I can gete non but acordynge to my fadyrs wyll, whyche is to me and to my heyers malys as is specyfyed in the wyll. And as for my brodyrs wyll is non other but that I schuld haue Runham, whyche is viij li. a ȝere ad minus, in recompense of the x merke owt of the maner of Sporle, so that I relessyd all my ryght that I haue in the maner of Sporle. And as towchynge yow in my brodyrs wyll, there is no-thyng; for I redde it ouer and woll wright it also, so that I woll haue the same for my copye that he wrote wyth hys owne hande. Also I beseche yow to recomaunde me hertely to my sustyr your wyff. No more to yow at thys tyme, but God haue yow in hys kepynge. Wretyn at London the xxij day of February, be yowre brodyr Wylliam Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III 1487, 00, 307

Paston be thys ...yuered.

Syr, I recomaunde me on-to yow, latynge yow wete that, as for John Petyrsons mater, as ȝett it is nott spedde. I spake on-to Mayster Secretory of it, and promysyd hym that ȝe badde me; and he aunswerd me that he wold nott geue yowe non cowmfortt in it for wynnyng of your money other than ye schuld fyend trew, and so he wold nott vndyrtake it thow ȝe wold spende abowt it c merke. And so vp-on thys aunswere I went on-to my lord and toke hym on of the byllys, and so he aunswerd me that at the fyrst worde the Kynge asched hym l li. And where as ȝe reqwere to haue it grauntyd wyth-owt fyne or fee, I wold ȝe had it wyth the payment of þe fyne or fee, for it schall nott coste past xx s. or iiij nobyls more than þe offerd to þe secretory; and also in nowthyr of those byllys ther is non clawse in it wherby it scholde be grauntyd wyth-owt fyne or fee, and thow ther were it is tolde me it profyte nott, they of the Chauncery woll nott lose ther dewtés for Kynge nor other. And as for the generall lycens, I haue asked my lord of it, and he aunswerde me that he wott well ther schall be non grauntyd of a gode whyle, and it schall come fyrst to your handys, for I tolde hym how that ȝe were begylyd whan ȝe were at London. As for to speke wyth Mayster Schypton, or yet wyth my lorde Treserer, I cowd not brynge it a-bowt, for my lord entendyd to ryde the next morow aftyr the makynge of thys letter; but I aduysyd Edmond Dorman to speke wyth Mayster Shypton as he went homewarde. As for my lord Treserer, he was not wyth the Kyng of all the counsell tyme, þe whyche was endyd on the iijde day of Marche. And theder came my lorde of Northethomyrlond the fyrste day of Marche, and departyd the euen afore þe makyng of thys letter, and hathe endentyd wyth the Kynge for the kepynge owt of the Schottys and warrynge on them, and schall haue large money, I can nott telle þe some for certeyn. Also theremover is an rover takyn at Brystowe, on Cowper as I wene, and he is lyke to be hanged, and he confessythe more of hys felawis. Also Edwarde Hecstowe of Douere is apechyd of treson of many straunge poyntys, and hys accusere and he were bothe afore the Kynge, and then they were takyn apert and he hym-sylfe confessyd it that hys accusere accusyd hym of, and many other thyngys more than he was accusyd of. And he had many lordys and gentylmen to aunswere for hys trowthe and hys demenynge afore-tyme, for as I hard sey bothe the Kynge in a maner, nor non of the tother lordys nor gentylmen, beleuyd not hys accuser tyl þat he confessyd it hym-selfe; and so he is in the Towre and lyke to be dede. As for the Kyngys comynge in-to the contré, on Monday come fortenyght he woll lye at the Abbey of Stratteforde and so to Chelmnsford, þan

to Syr Thomas Mongehombrey, þan to Heuenyngham, than to Colchestyr, þan to Ipswyche, þan to Bery, þan to Dame Anne Wyngfeldys, and soo to Norwyche; and there woll he be on Palme Sonday Euyn, and so tary there all Ester and þan to Walsyngham. Wher-fore ȝe had nede to warne Wylliam Gogyne and hys felawes to puruey them off wyne j-now, for euery man berythe me on hande that þe towne schalbe dronkyn drye as Yorke was whan the Kynge was there. Syr, Mayster Sampson recomaunde hym on-to yow, and he hathe sende yow a rynge be Edmonde Dorman; and besydys that he requeryd me to wryte on-to yow þat it were best for yow to puruey yow of some gentyl-manyremoves thynges ageyns the Kyngys comyng, for suere he woll brynge yow gestys j-now, and therfore puruey yow þer-aftyr. Also he sendythe yow worde that it is my lordys mende þat my syster, wyth all other godely folkys þer-abowte, scholde acompeny wyth Dame Elsebethe Calthrop, be-cawse there is noo grete lady ther-a-bowte, ageyns the Kyngys comynge, for my lorde hathe made grete boste of the fayre and goode gentylwomen of þe contré and so the Kynge seyd he wolde see them sure. Syr, my lorde hathe sente on-to þe most part of the gentyl-men of Essex to wayte vp-on hym at Chelmnysford, where as he entendythe to mete wyth the Kynge, and þat they be well apoyntyd þat þe Lankeschere men may see þat ther be gentylmen of so grete sobestaunce þat þei be able to bye alle Lankeschere. Men thynke that ȝe amonge yow wol doo þe same. Your contré is gretely bostyd of, and also the jnabytours of þe same. I beseche yow to remembre my hors that ye promysyd me. God kepe yow. Wretyn at Schene in haste þe vijte day of Marche wyth the hande of your brodyr Wylliam Paston

TO THE BAILIFF OF MAUTBY 1487

To the Baly of Mawlteby.

Mayster Baly, I recomaunde me on-to yow, praynge yow that ye woll sende me be Wylliam Kokkys, berer her-of, iiij nobylles in golde putt

in to the same boxe that thys byll is in as thow it were euydens, for I haue tolde the masengere that he schulde brynge me nothynge butt euydens; for he is in a manere departyng owt of my seruyse, wherfore I wold nott he knew so myche of my counsell. And as for the remenaunte, I wollde ȝe schulde kepe it tyll I come my-selfe. And if Bayard be on-solde I pray yow late hym be made fatte ageyns the Kynge come in-to the contré, what so euer I pay for the kepyng of hym. And I schall wete how goode a corser I schall be my-selfe at my comyng in-to the contré, be the grace of God, who haue yow in kepyng. Wretyn at Henyngham be your Wylliam Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III 1488, 05, 13

To Syr John Paston be thys lettyr delyuered.

Aftyr all dewe recomendacion, pleasyt yow to vndyrstonde that my lorde hathe ben wyth the Kynge in Wyndesour at Seynt Georgys Feste, and ther at the same feste were bothe þe jnbacetours of Breten and of Flaundyrs as well fro the Kynge of Romayns as fro the yonge Duke. But I can not schew yow þe certeyn whedyr we schall haue wyth them warre or pease. But I vndyrstonde for certeyn that all suche capeteyns as wente to þe see in Lente, þat is to sey Syr Charlys Somersett, Syr Richard Hawte, and Syr Wylliam Vampage, makythe them redy to goo to the see ageyn as schortely as they can, to what jntente I can not sey. Also, where as it was seyde that my lord Woddevyle and other schulde haue gone ouer in-to Breten to haue eyded the Duke of Breten, I can not tell of non suche eyd. Butt vp-on that seynge ther came many men to Sowthehamton, where it was seyd that he schulde haue takyn schyppyng to haue waytyd vpon hym ouer, and soo whan he was countyrmaundyd thos that resortyd thedyr to haue gon ouer wyth hym taryde there styll, in hope þat they schuld haue

ben lycensyd to haue gone ouer, and whan they sey no lykeleod that they schuld haue lycens there was ij c of them that gete them in-to a Breten schyppe þe whyche was late come ouer wyth salte, and bad the mayster sett them a lond in Breten. And they had nott seylyd not paste vj legys butt they aspied a Frencheman, and the Frencheman mad ouer to them, and they ferde as thow they wolde not haue medylde wyth them, and all the Englysche-men went vndyr the hetchys soo that they schewyd no more but those that came to Sowthehamton wyth the schype, to cawse the Frenche-men to be the more gladder to medyll wyth them. And soo the Frencheman burdyd them, and then they that were vndyr the hetches came vp and soo toke þe Frencheman and caryed þe men, schyppe, and all in-to Breaten. Also ther was ther an jnbacetour fro the Kynge of Schottys who is now put in grete trobyll be hys son and other of the lordys of hys londe. Syr, as I came homewerde be London I spake there wyth Emonde Dormand, and he seyd that he had wretyn onto yow but he had non aunswere; wherfor he prayd me that if I knew ony man comynge towerdys Norwhyche and I wolde wrythe on-to yow þat he ferythe if ye see non other dyreccion that he schall be comittyd to þe Flete. Also he schewyd me that Herry Wyott wholde fynde the mene to haue yow condemnyd and recouer þe obligacion of xl li. ageyns yow. And soo he seythe he whote nott how to doo, for he is halfe dysmayd. He ferythe lesse that he schall neuer come home; but he intendythe to plede the obligacion fulfylyd at Norwyche, for he seythe ther is non other remedy to saue yow fro the condemnacion tyl that he herythe otherwyse from yow, whyche he thynkethe longe aftyr. Wretyn at Henyngham ye xiijte day of May wyth the hand of your brodyr Wylliam Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III, SENDING COPY OF A LETTER FROM HENRY VII TO THE EARL OF OXFORD 1489, 04

Right trusty and entierly beloued cousin, we grete you wele. Inasmoch as it hath liked God to sende vs good tidinges oute of Bretayn such as we dought not but that ye be desirous to vndrestonde, we wryte vnto you of them as thay be comen to oure knowlage, and as foloueth. The Lord Malpertuis, now late wyth vs in ambassade from oure dere cousine the Duchesse of Bretayne, shippid at oure porte of Dortmouth and arriued at Saynt Powle de Lyon in Bretayn on Palmesonday at iiij aftere noone, from whens he wrote vs the disposicion and the state of the countré there, and of the landyng and the demeanyng of oure armee. We receiued his wrytyng on Monday last at evynsong tyme, and be-cause he was of Bretayn borne and favorable to that partie we ne gave such trust to his tidinges as was thought to vs sureté to wryte to you theruppon. This day aftre High Masse comyth vnto vs from oute of Bretayne forsaid, and wyth a new ambassade from oure said cousine, Fawcon, oon of oure pursiuantes, that ratifieth the newes of the seid Lord Malpertuis, which ben these. After the garysson of Frenshmen in the towne of Gyngham had certeinté of the landyng of oure armee thei drwe downe the fabours of Gyngham and made thayme mete to defende a siege, but assone as thei vndirstode that oure seid armee jornayned towardes theim thei left the same Gyngham, where oure said armee arriued the Thursday next be-fore Palmesonday and was receiued wyth procession, logged and receiued, refreshed in the town iiij dayes; and goyng towardes the said Duchesse thei must passe to the castell and borugh of Monconter. In that castell was also a garnisson of Frenshemen, which incontinently vpon worde that oure said armee drwe towardes theym the Frenshmen did cast downe gret parte of the walles and fled from thens. In that castell and borugh oure seid armee kept thaire Estre. The castell of Chawson adioyremovening ner to the towne of Saynt Bryak was also garnisond wyth Frenshmen. That castell they set on fire and soo fled. And the townes of Henebone and Vannes were garnisond wyth Frenshmen, which breke downe the walles of the townes and putte themselff to fligth. Th'inhabitauntes a-bought Brest haue layd siege thereunto, and goten the base courte of the Frenshmen or the departyng of oure said pursiuaunt. The garnison of the towne of Concarnewe, which is oon of the grettest strenghes of all Bretayn, was besieged in like wyse and drevyn to that necessité that thei wyth-in offerid, ar his said departyng, to avoyde the towne wyth staffe in hande. How that is takyn or what is more done sithens he cannot telle. Oure said cousine the Duchesse is in her citee of Raynes, and oure right trusti knyght and counselloure Sir Richard Eggecombe there also, hauyng cheeff rule a-bowte here. And the Marchall of Bretayn arredieth hym to joyne wyth them in all haste wyth a gode band of men.

Mony noble men of that countree repaire to oure said armee to take their partie. These premisses in substaunce we haue be wryting aswell from the cheff capytaynes of oure said armee as from oure comptrollour forsaid, and that oure said armee, blessid be God, hath among theyme-self kepte such love and accorde that no maner of fray or debate hath bene bitwene theym sithens the tyme of thair departing out this oure reame. Youen vnder oure signed at oure castell of Hartford the xxij day of Aprill. Syr, thys js the copye of the lettyr that þe Kynge sente my lorde of Oxynford of tydynges owte of Breten. Be yowre brodyr Wylliam Paston

TO JOHN PASTON III 1489, 05, 06-10

To hijs brodyr Syr John Paston.

Syr, I recomaunde me on-to yow. And where as ye desyre that I schulde sende yow worde of suche tydyng as Phylyp Lewes and Wyndesor bryngythe fro the corte, they be come thens bothe; but we here of no tydyngys that they brynge but that yondyr folkys abyde stylle abowte þe place where as thys onhappy dede was done, and not wyth no grete nowmbyr, they sey not paste wyth v or vj c when they were moste. Howbeyt they haue made proclamacions in þe cuntrey to mete wyth oder of ther affynyté as on Tuesday last past, as it aperythe in the copy of ther proclamacion heraftyr folowyng. Also they schew the Kynge intendythe to holde on hys jurney, and Phylyp Lewes is redyn ageyn to the Kyng, and schall brynge wyth hym money for all ther wagys that schall be in my lordys retynew, as yow and vj of Syr Wylliam Bolens seruauntys and odyr.

Syr, Mastyr Clopton sye yowre lettyr, and a seythe he knew my lordys mende suche that he durste not meue hym wyth it. Ther was Syr Wylliam Say, but Clopton wolde not it schulde be knowen of non other but yourselfe. He sent my lorde be a seruaunt of hys xl li. to haue excusyid hym, and it wolde not be takyn; and þat I mervell of. Howbeyt he brake thus fer to my lorde: he asched hym how many he apoyntyd yow to brynge wyth yow, and he answerde hym xxti, and than he schewyd hym yowre chargys þat ye haue had. My lorde seyd ye myght haue men a-nowe, and ther wagys schalbe payd for. Clopton aunswerde how that it wolde coste yow large money besyde þer wagys to hors them and harnes them, and how that to sey the trowthe ye were not well at ese. Not wythstandynge all thys my lorde wyllyd that ye shulde come to hym to Cambryge on Tuesday at nyght, wyth as many as yee myght, and ye and he schulde do well j-now. Soo Clopton thyngyth that and ye brynge a dosen wyth yow it is suffycyent, howbeyt þat Syr Emonde Bedyngfeld, Syr Thomas Tyrell, and Syr Rychard Lewes haue ben wyth my lorde, and yche of them haue offyrde to mete wyth my lorde at Cambryge wyth xxx men apese of them. So I wolde not ye schulde be to ferre vndyr them. Wherfor I thynke best that ye puruey yow so as and ye schulde goo forthe yor-selfe, for I can perseue non othyr wyse. My bedfelawe Cornwaleys is maryed in the northe, and he came as yesternyght to my lorde, streyt owt of the contré, and he scheythe non othyrwyse but as I haue wretyn here afore in thys lettyr. Ye schall haue for yor-self and for yche of your seruauntys horsyd and hernessyd xx s. in hande at Cambryge for a monthe. And I truste we schal haue done or xx days to an ende, wyth þe grace of God, who haue yow in kepynge. At Henyremovengham. Be your brodyr Wylliam Paston To be knowyn to all the Northe partys of England to euery lorde, knyght, esquyer, gentylman, and yeman, that they schalbe redy in ther defensable aray, jn the Est parte on Tuysday next comyng on Aldyrton More, and in the West parte on Gateley More the same day, vpon peyne of losyng of ther goodys and bodyes, for to geynsstonde suche persons as is abowtward for to dystroy owre suffereyn lorde the Kynge and the Comowns of Engelond for suche vnlawfull poyntys as Seynt Thomas of Cauntyrbery dyed for. And thys to be fulfyllyd and kept by euery ylke comenere apon peyn of dethe. And thys is in the name of Mayster Hobbe Hyrste, Robyn God-felaws brodyr he is, as I trow.

TO JOHN PASTON III 1492, 02, 18

To the ryght worchepfull Syr John Paston, knyght.

Aftyr all dew recomendacion, lyke it yow to vndyrstond that Syr Herry Heydon schewyd me that it is agreyd be Syr Edmond Bedyngfeld that the mater betwyx hym and my brodyr Yeluerton schalbe comynd at Norwyche, and there a dyreccion to be takyn in the same mater mete for them bothe. Syr, þe Kyng sendythe ordynaunce dayly to þe see syde, and hys tentys and alys be a-makyng faste and many of them be made. And there is also grete prouysyon made be gentylmen þat scholde goo wythe hys grace for hors, harnes, tentys, halys, gardyuyans, cartys, and othyr thyngys that scholde serue them for thys jurney that the Kynge entendythe to take on hand, soo that be lykelyod hys grace wolbe goyng sone vpon Ester. And so I entende, aftyr that I here heremoveraftyr, to goo to Caleys to puruey me of harneys and suche thyngys as I schall nede besydes hors, vndyr that forme þat my costys schalbe payd fore. Syr, I am as yet no bettyr horsyd than I was whan I was wythe yow, nor I wote not where to haue none, for hors flesche is of suche a price here that my purce is schante able to bye on hors; wherfor I beseche yow to herkyn for some in yowre contré. Syr, my cosyn John Heydon tolde me that þe Prior of Waburnes horse was rially amendyd, and that þe Abott of Seynt Benetys schewed hym ther was a bay hors off a parsons nygh onto Seynt Benetis and þat þe Abot wolde gete hym for my cosyn Heydon at a resonable price. Syr, my cosyn John Heydon woll geue me hys entrest in that hors if the Abot haue bowght hym, and so ye may lete þe Abot haue knowlege; and if he haue not bowght hym, I beseche yow sende to see hym, for I wote not how to do wyth-owt yowre help aswell in horsyng of me as in other thyngys. At the makyng of thys lettyr I canot acerteyn yow what parson it is that owythe thys hors. If I can know I wolle send yow worde in a bylle I sende to Thomas Jullys be the berer herof. Syr, as towardys my jurney to Caleys, the whyche I entende to haue tane at my laste beyng wyth yow, jt was so I was dysapoyntyd of Thomas Dey and an other man I scholde haue had be hys menys, as ye haue had knowlege of or now. And also I had went to haue had folkys a mette wyth me at Hedyngham whyche dednott. My lorde, seyng me dysesyd and also

non otherwyse purueyd, wyllyd me in ony wyse to tary on-tyl hys comyng to London, and sent myn excuse to my Lorde Dawbeney vndyr thys forme, how that I was sore disesyd, notwythestondyng I was welewyllyd to haue come to fulfyll my promesse, but he cowde not sofyr me seyng me soo dysesyd. And so my Lord Dawbeney was sory of my dysese and content that I taryd. Syr, I beseche yow to holde me excusyd for kepyng of Thomas Lynsted, yowre seruaunt, and hym bothe. It is soo that he and I bothe haue ben in hande wyth my vnkyll for hys mater, and yet wee haue hym at noo good poynt, but I troste we schall haue. Syr, if I take thys jurney to Caleys I moste beseche yow to forbere hym lenger, and jf I goo not to Caleys, thow I be lothe to forbere hym yet I schall brynge hym wyth me schortly in-to Norfolke, ye to haue hym if ye lyste, wyth þe grace of God, who haue yow in kepyng. Wretyn at London þe xviij day of February wyth the hande of yowre pore brodyr
Wylliam Paston