Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

William Paston I

JOHN STANFORD 1425

Sount duez a mon sir Will Bardolf de sez gages en lez lyuerés a + Caleys de mon treshonnuré sir le Count de Warrewyk, capitayn + illeoqes, jusqes al iiijte iour de fevrier l' an de Roy Henri Sysme tierce + ccccxiij li. xvj s. x d. qa.

To my weel beloued John Staynford of Furnyvales Inne. þe instruccion to comune of to John Robynson of Carleton bysyde Snayth. To enquerre and wyte whether þe stoon may be sawed or nought, and whether it wille chippe or chynne or affraye with frost or weder or water. Al-so þat euery pece of þe stoon be iij foote longe and þat xv tunne tyght of þe stoon be euery stoon weel bedded in-to þe walle and a foote thikke þat it ryse in heighte a foote in þe walle, and x stones of þe stoon must be ij foote brood and at þe leste a foote and an half thikke.

A stoon wil drawe þe wighte of a pipe, as I suppose. þo grete stones and nought þe smallere stones shuld be sawed so þat euery pece sawed shuld holde þe seid lengthe of iij foote and þe seid brede of ij foote, and to be, after it is sawed, half a fote or lesse on thikkenesse; and thenne þo brode sawed stones shulde euere stonde in þe werk betwen þe seid weel bedded stonys þat shuld rise but a fote in þe walle and ben ankered iche of hem with other; and þis werk shal be strong j-nowe, as werkmen seyn, and drawe but litill cariage. I wold haue swiche stoon a xxti tunne tight caried to Moneslee in Norffolk, betwen Crowmere and Bromholm and but a myle fro Bromholm. To reporte plein answere of this bylle writen and how sone I myght haue the seid stoon caried to Moneslé a-forn seid, and for what price. þis werk is for a myll. premoveer W. Paston

TO AN UNIDENTIFIED LAWYER IN ROME: DRAFT 1425, 11, 05

Do writen ij copies of þis note in papier wyde writen, and gete a copie of þe + writte in þe Eschekyr ageyn yow.

Right worthy and worshepefull ser, I recomaunde me to yow and thank yow for þe good, trew, and diligent labour ye haue hadde for þe matier betwen þe Priour of Bromholm and his commoigne apostata John Wortes, þat namyth hym-self Paston and affermith hym vntrewely to be my cousyn. God defende þat any of my pouere kyn shuld be of swych gouernaunce as he is of. Maister John Ixworth told me þat he hadde lettres fro a frend of yowres in þe court of Rome þat is of þe seyd Prioures counseill in þis mater as ye be, whos name I knowe nought, specifyeng þat þe seyd John Wortes, aduersarius Prioris, desperat in causa et co+ncordiam querit. It is told me sithen þat þe seyd John Wortes is in þe court of Rome sacred a bysshop of Irland, videlicet episcopus Corcag+ ensis; wherby it is seyd here þat his pretense of his title to þe priourie of Bromholm is adnulled and voide in yowr lawe. þe seyd John Wortes and a contréman of myn in þe seyd court, Maister John Vrry, haue sent me lettres wher-of I send yow copies and a trewe instruccion of þe seyd matier closed with þis bille, þe whiche lettres and þe matier ther-of me semyth meruaillous and straunge. A prest of Norffolk þat spak with yow in Jull or August last passed told me þat he yede with yow to þe cardinales hous Trikaricensis to espie if any swych processe were sued ageyn me as þe seyd lettres specifien, and þat ye told þe same prest at alle tymes þer was þan no swich processe sued ne had; þe which relacion I trust and beleue bettre þan þe seyd lettres. I haue, by aduys of counseill, in makyng a procuracie ad agendum defendendum prouocandum et appellandum to yow and þe seyd Maister John Vrry and þe Wynsolaw de Swysco, and also a general appelle þe engrossyng of wych þe messager of this bill myght nought abide; þe which procuracie and appelle I shal sende to yowr persone tantumodowith moneye onward on trust. My wille is ye haue þe chief gouernaunce of þis matier and þat þis article be counseill; wher-vpon I prey yow

hertily to be saddely auysed in þese matieres and, as nede is, so to gouerne hem by yowr wysdam þat þe seyd Prioures estat and honesté, and myn also, to yowr worshepe be saued, and þat in alle hast resonable ye lyke to sende me redé lettres of alle þe seyd matier and þe circumstances ther-of, and whou ye wil I be gouerned in þis mater. I was neuere somouned ne neuer hadde tydynges of þis matier but by seyd lettres and other fleyng tales þat I haue herd sithen, ne neuere hadde to do more with þe seyd John Wortes þan is specified in þe seyd instruccion.

Al-myghty God haue yow in his gouernaunce. Writen at London þe v day of Nouembre. Yowre frend and vnknowen

PROBABLY TO MASTER JOHN URRY: DRAFT 1425, 11

Right worthy and worshepefull ser, I recomaunde removeme to yow, preyeng yow to wite þat I haue resceyued yowr goodly lettres makyng mencion þat Ser John Paston vt asserit hath optyned me condempnyd to hym in ccc marcz and cs. and þat þe same John, atte reuerence of yowr right worthy persone, hath cesed of his sute of certeins processes ageyns me vp-on þe seyd condempnacion, takyng continuance of þe same matier vn-to Cristemasse next comyng; by whiche lettres ye conseille me to make ende with þe seyd John ne deterius inde contingat.

I send yow closed with this bille copie of vn frendly lettre þat þe seyd John hath sent to me late touchant þe same matier. þe seyd Priour hath sent also to yow and to Mayster Will Swan, which longe tyme hath be his procuratour, a procuracie for my persone and v marcz of moneye onward. Wher-vp in þe seyd Prioures name and in myn owyn also I prey yow hertily to sette al these matieres in continuaunce vn-to yowr comyng in-to Ingeland, and be-cause ye arn her beneficed, owr cuntréman, and of worshepe and cunnyng worthyly endowed, þe seyd Priour, his brether, and I also willen gladdely in these matieres be treted by yow; and if þis mesure be accepted and we may haue knowyng here ther-of, it shal cause þe attemptacion of diuerses matieres a-geyn summe frendes of þe seyd John to cese. And if þis continuance be refused I prey yow with al my power þat of yowr wysdom and good discrecion ye wille in þe seyd Prioures name and myn defenden þe seyd sutes, and alle other þat þe seyd John sueth a-geyn þe seyd Priour and me, in yowr best maner, and to be of owr counseill in þese matieres; and as ye lyke resonablely to write to vs so we wil be gouerned in yowr rewarde and al other circumstaunces of þe same matieres. I conceyve by yowr seyd lettres þat þe grete of þe matier conteigned in þe same ye haue of þe informacion and assercion of þe seyd John, and as he hath enformed yow I wot weel ye trewely writen; but I hope and trust verrayly þe matier of his informacion is vntrewe. þe Priour of Bromholm sued a-geyn þe seyd John and other in Ingeland a wryt of premunire facias, and I was ther-in of þe same Prioures conseill, as þe lawe of Ingelond and myn office willen, and more I haue nought hadde to do with þe seyd John; and I can nought beleue þat in þis cas þe same John myght by yowr lawe any swich sute haue ageyn me as yowr lettre specifieth, Also Will, þe prest specified in yowr removelettre, told me þat he, after þat ye told hym of þis matier lyke as ye wrremoveite, he comuned with Maister Will Swan, and he told þe seyd prest þer removewas no processe in þe courte ageyn me in no maner.

TO WILLIAM WORSTEDE, JOHN LONGHAM, AND PIERS SHELTON 1426, 03, 01

a mez treshonnurés meistres William Worstede, John Longham, et meistre Piers Shelton soit donné.

Right worthy and worshepefull seres and maistres, I recomand me to yow and thank yow with al my herte of þe gret tendrenesse ye lyke to haue of þe saluacion of my symple honesté, preyng yow euermore of yowr good continuance. I haue, after þe aduys of yowr lettre, doon dwely examyned þe jnstrument by þe wysest I coude fynde here, and in especial by on Maister Robert Sutton, a courtezane of þe court of Rome, þe which is þe chief and most chier man with my lord of Gloucestre and his matier in þe seyd court for my lady his wyff. And here aunswere is þat al þis processe, þough it were in dede proceded as þe instrument specifieth, is not suffisant in þe lawe of Holy Cherche, and þat hem semyth by þe sight of þe instrument and by þe defautes þat ye espied in þe same and other, and in maner by þe knowelech of þe notarie, þat þe processe in gret part ther-of is false and vntrewe. I haue taken aduys of Maister Robert Bruus, chaunceller with my lord of Cantirbury, and Maister Nicholl Billesdon, chaunceller of my lord of Wynchestre, and Maister John Blodwelle, a weel lerned man holden and a suffisant courtezan of þe seyd court; and alle þese acorden to þe seyd Maister Robert Sutton. Nought with-stondyng þat I herde neuere of þis matier no maner lykly ne credible euidence vn-to þat I sey yowr lettre and þe jnstrument, yet I made an appell and a procuracie and also a prouocacion at London longe beforn Cristemasse by þe aduys of Maister Dauid Aprys, Maister Symond Kempston, and Maister James Cole, and sent al þis with an jnstruccion of al þe matier to my procuratours to Rome by yowr frere my

maister suppriour, and gaff hym gold þat he was content. and ouermore now here by aduys I make þis day a newe apelle and a newe procuracie, and vp-on þis alle þe seyd worthy men here seyn and informe me pleynly I haue no maner cause in lawe ne in conscience to drede aught in þis matier. Myn aduersarie is become bysshop of Cork in Irland, and ther arn ij other persones prouided to þe same bysshopriche yet lyuyng beforn my seyd aduersarie; and by this acceptacion of þis bysshopriche he hath pryued hym-self of þe title þat he claymed in Bromholm, and so adnulled þe ground of his processe a-geyn me. And also þe tyme of his greuaunce pretendid and þe tyme of his sute he was apostata, and I trowe is yet, and so vnable to sue any swich processe. I purpose me to come homward be London to lerne more in þis matier if I may. I prey þe Holy Trinité, lord of yowr cherche and of alle þe werl+ d, delyuere me of my iij aduersaries, of þis cursed bysshop for Bromholm, Aslak for Sprouston, and Julian Herberd for Thornham. I haue nought trespassed a-geyn noon of these iij, God knowith, and yet I am foule and noysyngly vexed with hem to my gret vnease, and al for my lordes and frendes matieres and nought for myn owyn. I wot not whether it were best in any sermon or other audience in yowr cherche or elles-where to declare ought of þis matier in stoppyng of þe noyse þat renneth in þis case. I submitte me and alle þis matier to yowr good discrecion, and euere gremercy God and ye, who euere haue yow and me in his gracious gouernaunce. I suppose to se yow on Palme Sunday. Writen at Leycestre þe Friday þe thredde wyke of Lente. Alle þe seyd lerned men telle me trewely þer is nother perill ne doute in þe takyng doun of þe instrument and þe bille to no creature, which jnstrument and bille I send yow a-geyn by þe berare of this, which I prey yow to kepe as pryué as ye may. I haue preyed my maister Hamond to write yow tydyngges and smale lesynges among. Yowr man, W. Paston

MEMORANDUM TO ARBITRATORS 1426-7

Be it remembred þat where, on þe nyght next biforn þe feste of þe Circumcision of owre Lord Jesu þe removesecunde yeer of þe regne of Kyng Henry þe Sexte, certeyns maffaisours, felons and brekeres of þe Kynges peas vnknowyn, to þe noumbre of iiijxx and more by estimacion, of malice and jmaginacion forn-thowght felonowsly þe dwellyng place of John Grys of Wyghton in Wyghton in þe shyre of Norffolk brokyn, and wyth carpenteres axes þe yates and þe dores of þe seyd place hewen, and þe seyd John Grys and hys sone and a seruaunt man of hese by here bodyes tokyn and fro þe seyd dwellyng place by þe space of a myle to a peyre galwes ledden, þere hem for to have hangyd; and by-cause hem fayled ropes convenient to here felonowse purpos þe seyd John Grys, hese sone, and hys man þere felonowsely slowen and mordered in þe most orrible wyse þat euer was herd spoken of in þat cuntré. Wher-vp-on Walter Aslak, purposyng and jmaginyng to putte William Paston in drede and intollerable fere to be slayn and mordered in þe seyd forme wyth force and ageyn þe Kynges peas, on þe shyre day of Norffolk halden at Norwiche þe xxviij day of August in þe seyd secunde yeer, beyng þere þanne a grete congregacion of poeple by-cause of þe seyd shyre, in hese owne persone and by Richard Kyllyngworth, þat tyme hese seruaunt, to þe seyd William Paston swiche and so many manaces of deth and dismembryng maden and puttyn by certeyns Englishe billes rymed in partye, and vp-on þe yates of þe priorie of þe Trinité chirche of Norwiche and on þe yates of þe chyrche of þe Freres Menures of Norwiche and þe yates of þe same cité called Nedeham yates and Westewyk yates, and in othre places wyth-inne þe seyd cité, by þe seyd Walter and Richard sette, makyng mension and beryng þis vndyrstondyng þat þe seyd William and hese clerkes and seruauntes schuld be slayn and mordered in lyke fourme as þe seyd John Grys in þe seyd fourme was slayn and mordered; conteynyng also þese too wordes in Latyn, ' et cetera', by whiche wordes commvnely it was vndyrstandyn þat

þe forgeers and makers of þe seyd billes jmagyned to þe seyd William, hese clerkes, and seruauntz more malice and harm þan in þe seyd billes was expressed; wherfore þe seyd William, hese seyd clerkes, and seruauntz by longe tyme aftyr were in gret and intollerable drede and fere by þe seyd maffaisours and felons to be slayn and mordered, wherfore þe seyd William, hese clerkes, and seruauntz ne durst not at here fredom nothyr goon ne ryde. Wher-vp-on þe seyd William for hese owyn persone affermyd a pleynt of trespas ageyn þe seyd Walter and Richard. Processe contynued þer-vp-on til þe seyd Walter and Richard were founden gilty of þe seyd trespas by an jnquisicion þer-of takyn in dwe and lawefull fourme, by whiche jnquisicion þe damages of þe seyd William for þe seyd trespas were taxed to cxx li.; aftyr whiche pleynte affermyd, and tofore ony plee vp-on þe seyd pleynt pleded, þe seyd Walter and William by Thomas Erpyngham, knyght, a myghty and a gret supportour of þe seyd Walter in alle þese matiers and circumstaunces þer-of ageyn þe seyd William, were induced to trete in þe same matier in þe fourme þat folwith; þat is to seyne þat þe seyd William schuld sue forth þe seyd pleynt and þe execucion þer-of at hese owne will, and þe seyd Walter schuld defende hymself in þe seyd pleynt at hese owne will, except þat he schuld no benefice take by noon proteccion ne wrytte of corpus cum causane of no lordes lettres vp-on þe seyd sute. And what-so-euer fortunyd in þe seyd pleynt, þe proces, execucion, or þe sute þer-of, þe seyd Walter and William schuld stonde and obeye to þe ordinaunce of certeyns persones by þe seyd William and Walter arbitratores þat tyme named, if þei myghten accordyn; and ellys of a noounpier also þat same tyme named of all þe seyd trespas, pleynt, and sute and all þe circumstaunces þer-of, so þat þe seyd arbitrement and ordinaunce of þe seyd arbitratores, or ellys of þe seyd nounpier, were made wythinne xl dayes next folwyng aftyr þe jugement yeven in þe seyd pleynt. And aftyrward, þe Thursday next biforn Pentecost þe thrydde yeer of þe regne of þe seyd Kyng, at London in þe presence of þe right excellent high and myghty prynce þe Duc of Gloucestre, and by hese commaundement, atte sute and instaunce of þe seyd Thomas Erpyngham it was accordyd bytwen þe seyd William and Walter þat þei schuld stande and obeye to þe ordinaunce and award of all þe seyd matiers of tweyne of þese iiij persones: William Phelip, knyght, Henry Inglose, knyght, Oliuer Groos, and Thomas Derham chosen on þe partye of þe seyd William Paston; and tweyne of þese iiij persones: Symond Felbrygge, knyght, Bryan Stapilton, knyght, Roberd Clyfton, knyght, and John of Berneye of

Redeham chosen on þe partie of þe seyd Water, and elles þe decree and iugement of a nounpier to be chosen by þe same arbitrores. þe whiche William Phelip, Bryan Stapilton, Roberd Clyfton, Oliuer Groos, John of Berneye, and Thomas Derham takyng vp-on hem þe charge of þe makyng of þe seyd award and ordinaunce by þe assent of þe seyd Thomas Erpyngham, þe Fryday next aftyr þe feste of þe Assumpcion of Owre Lady in þe seyd thrydde yeer, at Norwiche tokyn ensurauns of þe seyd William and Walter by here feyth and here trowthez to stonde and obeye to here ordinaunce of alle þe seyd matiers; and þe same day biforn noon maden here full ordinaunce and arbitrement of alle þe same matiers in þe chyrche of þe Greye Frerys at Norwich, and aftyrward, vp-on þe same award and ordinaunce mad, hadden a commvnicacion þer-of wyth þe seyd Thomas Erpyngham, and aftyr þe same commvnicacion þe same day aftyr noon þe same ordinaunce and award wretyn was red byforn þe seyd arbitrores and þe seyd Walter and William, and examyned, agreed, and assented, and by þe seales of þe same vj arbitrores and þe seyd Walter and William was affermed and ensealed and left in þe handes of þe seyd Ser Bryan, saueliche to be kept in pleyn remembraunce of þe seyd award and ordinaunce, þe whiche award and ordinaunce þe seyd William was at all tymes redy to obeye and parfourme on-to þe seyd feste of Michelmesse þat þe seyd Walter to holde or parfourme þe seyd award pleynly refused. And where þe seyd Walter, by iugement of þe Chaunceller of Inglond þe xvj day of Jull þe seyd thrydde yeer, was remytted to þe Kynges prison at Norwich by-cause of þe seyd sute, the seyd Walter yede at large owt of warde fro þe seyd xvj day of Jull to þe seyd day of þe makyng of þe seyd arbitrement and award, and fro þat day in-to Michelmesse þanne next aftyr, þe seyd William þat meene tyme euermore supposyng þat þe seyd Walter wold have holde and parfourmyd þe seyd ordinaunce, arbitrement, and award. And at þe comyng of þe right high and myghty prynce þe Duc of Norffolk fro hys castell of Framyngham to þe cetie of Norwyche aftyr þe seyd day of þe makyng of þis arbitrement and ordinaunce, and tofore þe feste of Michelmesse þan next folwyng, þe seyd Walter by hese sotill and vngoodly enformacion caused þe seyd Duke to be hevy lord to þe seyd William, where þe seyd William þe tyme of þe seyd enformacion was, wyth Ser John Jermy, knyght, and othre of þe counseill of þe seyd Duk of Norffolk in hys lordshipes in Norffolk and Suffolk þanne to hym falle by þe deth of þe right worthy and noble lady hys modyr, occupied abowte þe dwe seruice of wryttes of diem clausit extremum aftyr þe deth of þe seyd lady; and where as þe seyd William Paston, by assignement and commaundement of þe seyd Duk of Norffolk at hese fyrst passage ouer þe see in-to Normandye in þe Kynges tyme Henry þe Fyfte, was þe styward

of þe seyd Duc of Norffolk of all hese lordshipes in Norffolk and Suffolk fro hys seyd passage vn-to þe seyd feste of Michelmesse. removeAnd ouer þat as sergeaunt of lawe, thow he be vnworthy, withholdyn wyth þe seyd Duc of Norffolk all þe tyme þat he was sergeaunt bifore þe same feste of Michelmesse. And all be it þat þe fees and þe wages of þe seyd William for hys seyd seruice vnpayed draweth a gret somme to his pouere degree, jf þe seyd Duk of Norffolk lyked of hys noble and plentifous grace to graunte to þe seyd William in right ony part of þe fauour of hese good lordship, þe seyd William wold euere be hys pouere and trewe bedeman and euere in hys herte thenke all hys seyd seruice and all þe seruice þat euere he dede to þe seyd removeDuke of Norffolk plentefousely weell rewardyd. And where þe seyd Walter þe tyme of þe seyd trespas and of þe seyd bylles makyng ne longe tofore, ne neuer aftyr biforn þe seyd comyng of þe seyd Duc of Norffolk to Norwich, ne no tyme hangyng þe seyd sute, ne þe tyme of makyng of þe seyd arbitrement and ordinaunce, neuer was seruaunt to þe seyd Duc of Norffolk at fees ne at wages, ne wythhaldyn in hese seruice, ne to hym sued to be supported by hese high lordship in þis seyd matier, to þe knowleche of þe seyd William ne to no commvne knowleche in þe shyres of Norffolk, Suffolk, ne Norwiche; the sute þat þe seyd Walter made for supportacion in þis seyd matier was be þe meene of þe seyd Thomas Erpyngham to þe seyd Duk of Gloucestre, by whose reule and commaundement þe seyd arbitrement and award was mad in þe fourme aforn seyd. And not with-stondyng þe seyd trespas and greuaunce by þe seyd Walter doon to þe seyd William, ne þat þe seyd William ne is not satisfied of þe seyd cxx li. ne no peny þer-of, and hath absteyned hym of al maner of execucion, sewyng of godes or catelles þat by force of þe seyd processe or ony othyr he myght have had ageyn þe seyd Walter or hese borwes, ne þat þe seyd William hath suffred þe seyd Walter to gon at large by long tyme whan he myght haue had hys body in warde in lawefull fourme, the seyd Walter be billes in þe too last parlementz holden at Westminster and at Leycestre, and at diuers tymes in diuers other maneres hath noysed and skaundered þe seyd William vngoodly and othyr wyse þan othyr gentilnesse or trowthe wolde, and ouermore caused þe seyd William orribly to be manassed of hys deth, betyng, and dismembryng of hys persone by certeyns seruauntz of þe Lordes Fitz-wauter and othre persones and by ferefull and ouere felle lettres and sondes, wherfore þe seyd William nothyr hese frendes ne hese seruauntz in hys companye at

here fredam sithen þe seyd parlement at Leycestre durst not, ne yet ne dar not, rydyn ne goo abowte swyche occupacion as he arn vsed and disposed, to here grete and importable drede and vexacion in here spirites and gret harme and damage and losse of here pouere goodes. removeOuermore þe seyd Walter hath sued, and yet rigerously sueth, a wrytte of decies tantum ageyns x persones of þe seyd jnquisicion and ij of þe seruauntz of þe seyd William and iiij othre persones, supposyng by hese seyd sute hem to have taken of þe seyd William in hys seyd sute lxij li. and more of moneye; the whiche sute of decies tantumþe seyd Walter betwyx God and hym knowith verraly is vntrewe. And also þe seyd Walter hath sued and yet pursuyth Adam Aubré, on of þe seyd jnquisicion, in þe court of þe seyd Duc of Norffolk of hys manoir of Fornsete by cause and occasion of þe seyd matiers, in whiche sute in þe seyd court it is proceded ageyn þe seyd Adam in other maner þanne othyr lawe, conscience, or good feyth wolde. Ouermore þe seyd William, atte commaundement of þe seyd Duc of Norffolk, hath submytted hym to stonde to þe ordinaunce of diuers persones of alle þe seyd matiers: ones at Leycestre þe Wednesday next biforn Palme Soneday þe iiij yeer of þe regne of þe seyd Kyng, a-nothyr tyme atte Reed Clyf in Aprill þe same iiij yeer, aftyr þe fourme of certey+ ns billes endented þer-of made; the whiche submission wyth alle þe circumstaunces þer-of þe seyd William hath be at alle tymes redy to obeye. The cause why þe seyd Walter by þe seyd Englyshe bylles and in othyr fourme putte and sette þe seyd William and hese seyd clerkes and seruauntz in drede and fere intollerable to be slayn and mordered, and to hem trespaced in þe fourme aforn seyd, was onely for as moche as þe seyd William was wyth þe Priour of Norwich of counseill in hese trewe defence ageyn þe entent of þe seyd Walter in a sute þat he made ageyn þe seyd Priour of a voweson of þe chyrche of Sprouston in þe counté of Norffolk, wher-to þe seyd Walter hath nothyr title suffisaunt ne right in no maner wyse by ony matier by hym declared byforn thys tyme. Thys scrowe is mad only for þe jnformacion of þe worthy and worshepfull lordes þe arbitrores, sauyng euere to þe maker þe benefice resonably to adde and amenuse, &c., his ignoraunce in swiche occupacion and defaute of leyser also tendrely considered.

TO THE VICAR OF THE ABBOT OF CLUNY: DRAFT 1430, 04?

My ryghte worthy and worshepeful lord, I recomaunde me to yow. And for as meche as I conseyue verrayly þat ye arn vicar general in Inggelo+ nd of þe worthy prelate þe Abbot of Clunie, and have hys powre in many grete articles, and among other in premoverofession of monkes in Inggelond of þe seyd ordere. And in my cuntré, but a myle fro þe place where I was born, is þe povre hous of Bromholm of þe same ordre, in wheche arn diuers vertuous yongge men, monkes clad and vn-professyd, þat have abedyn þere wythowt abbyte ix or x yeere, and be lenger delaye of here profession many inconuenientez arn lyke to falle. And also þe Priour of þe seyd hous hath resigned in-to yowre worthy handes by certeins notables and resonables causes, as it apperyth by an instrument and a symple lettre vnder þe comune seal of þe seyd hous of Bromholm which þe berare of this hath redy to shewe yow. Wher-vp-on I prey yow wyt al my herte, and as I euere may do yow seruice, þat it lyke to yowr grace to graunte of yowr charité by yowre worthy lettres to þe Priour of Thetford in Norffolk, of þe seyde ordre of Clunye, autorité and powere as yowr ministre and deputé, to professe in dwe forme þe seyd monkes of Bromholm vn-professed; and þat it lyke yow ouermore to accepte and admitte þe seyd resygnacion by yowr seyd autorité and powere wyth þe

fauour of yowr good lordshepe, in confort and consolacion of yowre pouere prestes þe monkes of þe seyd hous of Bromholm; and ther-vp to graunte yowr worthy lettres wittenessyng þe same acceptacion and admyssion of þe seyd resignacion, and al yowr seid lettres to delyuere to my clerk, to wham I prey yow to gyve feith and credence touchant þis matier, and to delyuere hym in alle þe hast resonable. And I am yowr man and euere will be, by þe grace of God, which euere haue yow in his kepyng. Writen at Norwich þe of Aprill. Yowres, William Paston

RECIPE 1430??

Pur faire holsom drynk of ale, Recipe sauge, auence, rose maryn, tyme, chopped right smal, and put þis and a newe leyd hennes ey in a bage and hange it in þe barell. Item, clowys, maces, and spikenard grounden and put in a bagge and hangen in þe barell. And nota þat þe ey of þe henne shal kepe þe ale fro sourynge. Par Sibill Boys.

TO AN UNIDENTIFIED LORD: DRAFT 1436

Paston recomaund hym to your good lordeship, willyng with all his herte to doo yow seruise to his symple power. And as touchyng þe maner of Walsham he seyth þat at your comaundement he wille be redy to shewe yow and preve þat þe seid maner and all þe vesture and crop þer-of þis yeer by trewe title in lawe and conscience is his owen, trewly bowth and

in gret partye payed for, and þat John Roys never hadde non estate in þe seid maner but oonly occupied it by suffraunce of þe seid Paston and other feffés in þe seid maner, and þat by þe bargayn of þe seid maner þ'estate þat þe seid Roys shuld have hadde in þe seid maner and in stoor ther-of shul have be condicionel to be voide and nought for defaute of payement, and þat þe seid John Roys ne kept not his dayes of þe payementz, &c., and þat þe seid Will Paston, in þe lyve of þe seid John Roys, for defaute of payment entred in þe seid maner with þe seid crop and þe vesture of þis yeer þer-of þan þer-vpon, and þat þe seid John Roys never at noo tyme payed to þe seid John Baxtere sith þe seid bargeyn, nether for þe seid bargayn ne for þe dette he aught to hym, more þanne an c and xl marcz, wher-of he borwed ageyn of þe seid John Baxtere xl li. and over þat he oweth; and beforn þe seid bargeyn aught by his obligacion to þe seid John Baxtere of trewe dette of mony borwed other xl li., and hath hadde and taken þe profitz of þe seid maner by iij hool yeer beforn his deth to þe value of xxx li. and more, and he receyved in his seid bargayn of þe seid John Baxtere xl marcz worth of stoor, the which iiijxx li. of dette and xxx li. of þe profitz of þe seid maner and xl marcz worth of stoor maketh þe somme of cxxxvj li. xiij s. iiij d. Wher-of, thogh þe lawe wille it not, were abated, if conscience required it, cxl marcz payed by þe seid John Roys and x li. for þe value of þe seid crop ouer þe value of þe verray ferme of the seid maner for þis yeer; yet remaigneth dwe to þe executoures of þe seid John Baxter liij li. vj s. viij d., and all þe title and interesse of þe seid John Roys, his heires and assignes, in þe seid maner lawfully and in conscience extincted and adnulled. Wher-vpon þe seid Paston lowly besecheth your good lordeship þat if it may be preved þis mater be trewe þat ye wille not be displesed þogh he desire to have his fre disposicion of þe seid maner.

TO JOHN BERNEY 1439-40

To þe worthy and worshepfull ser, John Berneye of Redham:+ litera Willelmi Paston + copia statu$facture Margerie nuper vxori Johannis Mauteby

þis note is not made to þ'entent þat dedes acordyng ther-to shuld be engrossed with-oute more comunicacion and sadde aduys of alle þe feffés to-gedere, or elles counseill by here comune assignement. Ferther- more þe note of þe condicion of þe reseruacion of the rent is not yet noted.

Sciant presentes et futuri quod nos Simon Felbrygge, miles, Oliuerus Groos, armiger, Johannes Berneye de Redham, armiger, Willelmus Paston de Paston, Thomas Stodhagh, Rogerus Taillour de Stafford Bernyngham, et Thomas Newport de Runham, iuxta effectum et formam vltimarum voluntatum Roberti Mawteby de Mawteby, armigeri, et Johannis de Mawteby filij sui, iam defunctorum, dimisimus, liberauimus, assignauimus, et hac presenti carta nostra tripartita et indentata con+ firmauimus / Margerie que fuit vxor predicti Johannis Mawteby duas partes maneriorum, &c., ac reuercionem, &c., que nos prefati Simon,

Oliuerus, Willelmus, Thomas Stodhagh, Rogerus, et Thomas Newport, vna cum Milone Stapilton, milite, Willelmo Argenten, milite, Johanne Heuenyngham, milite, Johanne Carbonell, milite, Willelmo Calthorpe, milite, Johanne Boys, armigero, et Willelmo Caston, armigero, iam de+ functis, / nuper habuimus ex dono, feoffamento, remissione, et relaxacione predicti Roberti Mawteby, prout in quibusdam cartis et scriptis inde confectis plenius continetur, habendas et tenendas predictas duas partes ac reuercionem, &c., prefate Margerie et assignatis suis ad totam vitam suam de nobis et heredibus nostris, reddendo inde nobis et heredibus nostris annuatim legalis monete Anglie ad festa Pasche et Sancti Michaelis equis porcionibus, faciendi gracia inde et reddendi pro nobis et heredibus nostris, capitalibus dominis feodorum illorum, reddita et seruicia inde debita et consueta. Ita quod predicte due partes, &c., ac reuercio, &c., post mortem predicte Margerie integre remaneant Margarete, filie predictorum Johannis Mawteby et Margerie, et heredibus de corpore eiusdem Margarete exeuntibus; videlicet quod si eadem Margareta sine herede de corpore suo exeunte obierit, aut si ipsa aut heredes sui predicti donum aut talliam predictam, in forma predicta factam per feoffamentum scriptum siue factum aut alio modo, discontinuarint aut discontinuari fecerint, quod tunc due partes, &c., integre remaneant Petro Mawteby, filio predicti Roberti Mawteby et avunculo supradicte Margarete, et heredibus de corpore predicti Petri legitime exeuntibus, sub certis forma et condicionibus subsequentibus: videlicet quod si idem Petrus sine herede de corpore suo exeunte obierit, aut si ipse aut heredes sui predicti discontinuauerint, &c., quod tunc predicte, &c., integre remaneant Thome Mawteby, fratri predicti Petri, et heredibus de corpore suo legitime exeuntibus, tenende, &c., vt supra, reddendo et faciendo, &c., vt supra, sub forma et condicionibus subsequentibus: videlicet quod si predictus Thomas obierit sine herede de corpore suo legitime exeunte, aut si ipse aut heredes sui, &c., discontinuauerint, &c., quod tunc predicte, &c., integre remaneant Alianore que fuit vxor predicti Roberti, habende et tenende sibi et assignatis suis de nobis, &c., ad terminum vite sue. faciendo et reddendo vt supra. Et quod ex tunc predicte, &c., post mortem predicte Alianore integre remaneant heredibus de corpore Alianore que fuit vxor predicti Willelmi Calthorpe, sororis predicti Roberti Mawteby, legitime exeuntibus. Et si nullus fuerit heres de corpore predicte Alianore que fuit vxor predicti Willelmi Calthorpe legitime exiens, aut si aliquis huiusmodi heres de corpore eiusdem Alianore legitime exiens donum, &c., discontinuauerit, &c., quod tunc predicte, &c., ad nos prefatos Simonem, Oliuerum, Johannem Berneye, Willelmum Paston, Thomam Stodhagh, Rogerum Taillour, et Thomam Newport et heredes nostros integre reuertantur ad faciendam inde et debite exequendam predictam

vltimam voluntatem predicti Roberti Mawteby. In cuius rei testimonium duabus partibus presentis carte indentate nos prefati Simon, &c., sigilla nostra apposuimus, tercie vero parti eiusdem carte penes nos et heredes nostros remanenti predicti Johannes Mawteby, Edwardus Mawteby, Petrus Mawteby, Thomas Mawteby, Alianora que fuit vxor predicti Roberti Mawteby, et Willelmus Calthorpe, armiger, consanguineus et heres predicte Alianore que fuit vxor Willelmi Calthorpe de corpore eiusdem Alianore legitime exiens, sigilla sua apposuerunt hijs testibus, &c., data, &c.

TO PHILIP BERNEY: COPY 1441, 10

To the ryght wursheful syr and my good frende Phylyp Berney, esquier

Ryght wurshefull ser, I recummend me to yow and prey you to wete þat ye and oder arn enfeoffed in the maner of Estbecham to myn oeps; and thervpon I haue in yowre name and otherys take an accion a-yens John Maryete of Crowmer, wherfore I prey you that ȝe make no releasse therof to no man til I speke wyth yow; and God haue yow in hys kepyng. Wrete at London the xxij day of Octobre. Youres, Wyllyam Paston

INVENTORY 1444

Hec sunt hostilmenta et vtensilia domus, bona et catalla, que Willelmus Paston, in indentura presentibus annexa nominatus, tradidit et dimisit Willelmo Joye, in eadem indentura nominato, secundum formam eiusdem indenture ex communi assensu eorundem Willelmi et Willelmi per Robertum Gynne, Johannem Albon de Paston, et alios appreciata, assignata, et specificata modo subsequenti, videlicet: tres equi precij quinque marcarum; quatuor vacce quelibet precij vij s. vj d.; vna juuenca

brendit precij v s.; vnus tauriculus precij iiij s.; vna juvencula dowet precij iij s.; due sues quelibet precij iij s. iiij d.; tres porculi quilibet precij xvj d.; tres porcelli quilibet precij xij d.; quatuor alij porcelli quil+ ibet precij viij d.; vna carecta precij vj s. viij d.; apparatus carecte, videlicet vna sella, vnum par des stroppys, duo paria dez trayses precij ij s.; due caruce cum lez hokys et stappilles, vnum par rotarum, due herpice precij v s.; quatuor paria dez trayses ad aratrum precij viij d.; due furse fimose precij vj d.; vna vanga precij iij d.; vnus tribulus precij iij d. Hec sunt blada et alia hostilmenta et vtensilia domus, bona et catalla, per predictum Willelmum Paston predicto Willelmo Joye secundum formam dicte indenture similiter dimissa et non appreciata, videlicet: sex quarteria frumenti; xxv quarteria ordei; viij quarteria auenarum; quidam tassus pisarum in fine australi antique grangie mesuagij predicti, qui est altitudinis iij virgarum et iij quarteriorum vnius virge, et quidam alius tassus vescarum in boriali fine eiusdem grangie, altitudinis iij virgarum et j quarterij vnius virge, qui quidem duo tassi fuerunt vesture xij acrarum et dimidij et dimidij rode terre; iij vasa vocata kelerys; j gilyngfat; iiij stondes pro seruicia; j stonde in coquina; ij patelle cum ligaminibus ferreis; j parua patella cum ligamine ferreo; j magna olla ennea;eacute; alia olla ennea minor; j parua olla ennea;eacute; j tabula; j par des trostelles; j longum hostium iacens in boteria; j par des trostelles; j trow; ij bolles; j morter; j thede; j temse; j mashsterell; j tankard cum ligamine ferreo; j bultyngpoke; j magna trow pro farina; j cista pro farina; j fleshoke; j tripes ferreum; j veru ferreum; j aundern; j par de tongys; j lachgres ennea;eacute; j securis; j magnum lauacrum pendens; j kynderkyn; ij soos leeke; j par de belwes; j magnum planke super mensam coquine; j chargour; iij perapsides; iij disci; iij sauserys de pewter; iij perapsides; iij disci; j magnus discus; vj sissorij; iij ciphi de ligno; j chayer; duo longa scanna; j scannum mediocre longitudinis; ij scanna vocata buffetstoles; ij bankare; j gladius; ij ferra vocata aplates; j chirne; j chyrnyngstaf; j curta falx; j candelabrum ferreum; j paruum salerium; ij beryngsceppes; vnum par dez pepyrquerns; ij vteri; j cadus cum vergous; j parua cista in boteria; j selura supra seruisiam; j metesetell; j pykforke; iij longe bordclothys; j towayll; j sanap et j walet pro autumpno; j lucerna; ij vomerj et ij cultri que ponderant xvij li. et di.; j carectula, anglice a carre; j sunvectorium; ij noui rowmtrees et j curtum lignum in le carthows; ij veteres bige; j par rotarum ferratarum; ij kemell cum hopys ferreis; j frena; j peluis; viij sacci; iiij longa ligna fraxinora in pistrina; j fetyrlok.

TESTAMENT AND LAST WILL (EXTRACTS) 1444, 01, 10

In Dei nomine, amen. Ego Willelmus Paston de Paston, sane mentis et memorie, condo testamentum meum in hunc modum. In primis, lego animam meam Omnipotenti Deo, Beate Marie, et omnibus sanctis, et corpus meum sepeliendum ad finem australem altaris in capella Beate Marie in fine orientali ecclesie cathedralis Sancte Trinitatis Norwici. et si contingat corpus meum ibidem sepeliri, lego cuilibet monacho sacerdoti ecclesie predicte qui singulis diebus aliqua septimana per septem annos proximo sequentes post mortem meam missam de Spiritu Sancto in capella predicta tempore celebracionis summe misse in eadem ecclesia decantauerit, ad exorandum in eadem missa de Spiritu Sancto et in alijs diuinis per ipsum diebus illis factis pro anima mea et animabus vxoris mee, patrum, matrum, et omnium consanguineorum et benefactorum nostrorum, et omnium quorum debitores sumus, et omnium per nos iniuriam paciencium, et eorum omnium pro quibus Deo est deprecandum, et omnium fidelium defunctorum, septem denarios. Item, lego Roberto nunc priori ecclesie Sancti Andree de Bromholm quadraginta solidos; et cuilibet monacho eiusdem ecclesie conuentus de Bromholm sex solidos et octo denarios; et executoribus testamenti Ricardi Causton nuper vicarij ecclesie de Paston viginti solidos; et executoribus testamenti Ade nuper vicarij ecclesie de Bakton sex solidos et octo denarios, ita quod remittant et relaxent in consciencijs suis animabus predictis si que per earum aliquam sibi debita fuerint. Et si hoc remittere et relaxare recusauerint, de predictis legatis nihil habeant, sed in omnibus que sibi per animas predictas vel earum aliquam deberi racionabiliter aut euidenter, in consciencia vel aliter, iuxta discrecionem executorum meorum aut maioris partis eorundem, probauerint aut verificauerint, sibi satisfaciant executores mei. Residuum vero bonorum meorum omnium non legatorum do et

lego Agneti vxori mee, Johanni filio meo, Willelmo Bakton, et Johanni Damme de Sustede, quos ordino et constituo executores huius testamenti mei, vt ipsi inde disponant prout in iustis consciencijs suis magis viderint Deo placere et animabus predictis prodesse. In cuius rei testimonium presentibus sigillum meum apposui. Datum decimo die Januarij anno regni regis Henrici Sexti post conquestum vicesimo secundo. Huius autem testamenti mei venerabilem in Christo patrem et dominum Dominum Willelmum Lincolniensem episcopum ordino et constituo superuisorem.

((Extracts from last Will:)) ... Ita quod eadem maneria de Oxenede, Marlyngforde, Stanstede, et Horwelbury, et terre et tenementa que fuerunt Roberti Salle, Willelmi Clopton et Francisse, seu alicuius eorum, cum pertinencijs, post mortem prefate Agnetis remaneant heredibus de corpore meo et corpore predicte Agnetis exeuntibus. Et predicta manerium de Shipdene et parcella manerij de Latymers ac dicta mesuagia, molendinum, terre et tenementa nuper Clementis Paston et Hugonis atte Fen, seu alicuius eorum, cum pertinencijs, post mortem predicte Agnetis ad predictas personas feoffatas seu feoffandas, heredes et assignatos suos reuertantur, ad perficiendam inde hanc vltimam voluntatem meam. Et si nullus extiterit heres de corpore meo et corpore predicte Agnetis exiens, quod tunc post mortem eiusdem Agnetis predictum manerium de Oxenede et dicta terre et tenementa nuper predictorum Roberti Salle, Willelmi Clopton et Francisse, seu vnius eorum, cum pertinencijs, ad predictos feoffatos et heredes suos similiter reuertantur, ad perficiendam inde hanc vltimam voluntatem meam. Et quod predicta maneria de Marlyngford, Stanstede, et Horwelbury, cum pertinencijs, remaneant rectis heredibus Edmundi Barry, militis, patris predicte Agnetis, imperpetuum. Item, volo quod predicte persone vt predicitur, feoffate seu feoffande, heredes seu assignati sui, paciantur et permittant Robertum Clere, armigerum, Edmundum Clere, armigerum, Johannem Pagraue, armigerum, Willelmum Bakton de Bakton, et Johannem Damme de Sustede, vel duos eorum per communem assensum eorum quinque, predictum manerium de Snaylwell et predicta alia terras et tenementa in Snaylwell in toto, per communem estimacionem, ad valenciam quadraginta marcarum per annum occupare et exitus et proficua inde percipere et habere a festo Sancti Michaelis proximo sequenti post mortem meam vsque Edmundus filius meus iam etatis xviij annorum peruenerit ad etatem xxj annorum.... Et de eisdem exitibus et proficuis predicto Edmundo filio meo, quousque ad dictam etatem xxj annorum peruenerit, racionabiles victum, vestitum, apparatum, et sustentacionem, iuxta gradus sui exigenciam sic quod non superbiat, inueniant, et eum tam ad artis dialectice per dimidium annum, iuris ciuilis per vnum

annum, ac iuris regni Anglie postea ad sufficienciam, si fieri poterit, sub sana tutela prouidenter ponant et ipsum in eisdem continuare et residere faciant prout eisdem melius visum fuerit ipsum Edmundum in hac parte sapere et intelligere et sibi in futurum prodesse; et domos, muros, edificia, et clausuras in eodem manerio nostro existencia racionabiliter reparari faciant, et redditus et seruicia et alia onera inde debita soluant, et hoc quod de eisdem exitibus et proficuis ad dictam etatem dicti Edmundi remanserit iuxta sanas consciencias suas eidem Edmundo satisfaciant tempore quo ipse iuxta hanc voluntatem meam statum de eodem manerio receperit et habuerit. Item, volo quod predicte persone prout predicitur, feoffate seu feoffande, heredes seu assignati sui paciantur et permittant predictos Robertum Clere, Edmundum Clere, Johannem Pagraue, Willelmum Bakton, et Johannem Damme, vel duos eorum per communem assensum eorum quinque, predictum manerium de Beauchamp et Hollewelhalle et dicta alia mesuagia, terras, tenementa, tofta, clausuras, redditus et seruicia quondam Ricardi Doket, Willelmi Thuxton, Johannis Patgris senioris, Johannis Whynne, et Eustachij Rows, seu aliquorum vel alicuius eorum, in Wymondham, Carleton, Bonnewell, Estodenham, et alijs villis adiacentibus, per communem estimacionem ad valenciam xxv marcarum ... et proficua inde percipere et habere a predicto festo Sancti Michaelis vsque Willelmus filius meus iam etatis vij annorum peruenerit ad etatem xviij annorum, et quod ijdem Robertus Clere, Edmundus Clere, Johannes Pagraue, Willelmus Bakton, et Johannes Damme, vel dicti duo eorum, quinque marcas annuatim prouenientes de eisdem exitibus et proficuis per octo annos proximo sequentes predictum festum Sancti Michaelis, per discrecionem ... predicte Agnetis annuatim distribuant inter pauperes et debiles predictos et pro missis, oracionibus, et suffragijs celebrandis ... in forma predicta et de eisdem exitibus et proficuis predicto Willelmo filio meo vsque ad dictam etatem xviij annorum ... statum et sustentacionem iuxta gradus sui exigenciam, sic quod non superbiat, inueniant et tribuant ... scolas ponant et ibidem ... reside+ re faciant prout predicitur de predicto filio meo Edmundo, et domos, muros, et clausuras ... repararent et redditus et seruicia et alia onera inde soluant et de residuo dictorum exituum et proficuorum dicto Willelmo filio meo satisfaciant ... statum de eisdem manerio, terris, et tenementis iuxta hanc voluntatem meam ... heredes seu assignati sui paciantur et permittant predictam Agnetem ... West Somerton, Hennesby, Martham, et Wynterton, tam illa que fuerunt ... de Reston in toto per communem estimacionem ad valenciam xxv marcarum ... gaudere a predicto festo Sancti Michaelis vsque Clemens filius meus ... xviij annorum, et quod eadem Agnes de eisdem exitibus et proficuis predicto Clementi Paston ... xviij annorum, et Elizabeth filie mee quousque maritetur, racionabiles victum, vestitum ... exigenciam, sic quod non superbiant, et de eisdem

exitibus et proficuis nutriatur honeste ... filiam predictam Elizabeth prout statui suo conuenit, ac inueniat et ponat predictum Clementem ... scolas grammaticales quam alias et ceteras erudiciones prout predicitur de predictis fratribus suis; et domos, muros, clausuras, et edificia in eisdem mesuagijs, terris, et tenementis existencia racionabiliter reparari faciat et redditus et seruicia et alia onera inde debita soluat ac annuatim quousque ... Clemens filius meus ad dictam etatem xviij annorum peruenerit distribuat manu propria in elemosinis iuxta discrecionem suam inter magis pauperes et debiles creaturas, in honore quinque principalium vulnerum et passionis Domini Nostri Jesu Christi et quinque gaudiorum Beate Marie Virginis et Matris eius, pro animabus predictis, quinque marcas. Et de hoc quod de eisdem exitibus et proficuis ad dictam etatem predicti Clementis filij mei remanserit, satisfaciat eadem Agnes iuxta sanam conscienciam suam eidem Clementi tempore quo ipse iuxta hanc voluntatem meam statum de eisdem manerio, mesuagijs, terris, et tenementis de predictis personis feoffatis siue feoffandis receperit; et quod dicte persone feoffate seu feoffande, heredes seu assignati sui, infra xl dies proximo sequentes postquam ipsi post festum Sancti Michaelis proximum post mortem meam per Johannem Paston filium meum primogenitum racionabiliter fuerint requisiti, per facta sua tripartita et indentata dimittent, liberent, et assignent predicto Johanni Paston, iam etatis xx annorum et amplius, predictum manerium de Gresham cum pertinencijs, habendum eidem Johanni ad totam vitam suam; ita quod si contingat predictum Johannem Paston aliquem exitum vel heredem de corpore Margarete nunc vxoris sue procreare, quod tunc idem manerium cum pertinencijs post mortem eiusdem Johannis remaneat dicte vxori sue, tenendum sibi ad terminum vite eiusdem vxoris. Et si predictus Johannes Paston nullum exitum vel heredem de corpore dicte vxoris sue procreauerit, tunc immediate post mortem eiusdem Johannis idem manerium cum pertinencijs heredibus masculis de corpore meo exeuntibus integre remaneat.... ((Provision for many contingencies follows.)) Item, volo quod predicta Elizabeth filia mea habeat ducentas libras legalis monete ad maritagium suum si ipsa per auisamentum predicte Agnetis

et executorum meorum maritetur, prouiso semper quod eadem Elizabeth pari sexu et etate in bona et competenti consanguinitatis linea maritata sit, et per maritagium illud habeat statum sufficientem et securum in lege sibi et viro suo et heredibus de corporibus suis exeuntibus, si fieri poterit, seu saltem ad totam vitam suam, in terris et tenementis valoris quadraginta librarum per annum ad minus. Et si eadem Elizabeth antequam maritata fuerit obierit, quod tunc dicte pecunie summa pro maritagio eius limitata in solucione debitorum que me debere contingat et in reformacione et satisfactione mesprisionum et extorcionum, si quas fecerim, et pro animabus predictis fideliter distribuatur per discrecionem predicte Agnetis et executorum meorum. In cuius rei testimonium ego prefatus Willelmus Paston presentibus sigillum meum apposui. Datum vicesimo primo die Januarij anno regni regis Henrici Sexti post conquestum vicesimo secundo. Probata fuerunt predicta testamentum et vltima voluntas coram nobis Alexandro Prowet, decretorum inceptore, ac reuerendissimi in Christo patris et domini Domini Johannis, permissione diuina Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, commissario generali, &c., vicesimo quarto die mensis Nouembris anno Domini millesimo ccccmo xliiijto ....