Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

Elizabeth Poynings or Browne, née Paston

TO AGNES PASTON 1459, 01, 03

To my right worshypfull moder Agnes Paston.

Right worshipfull and my most entirely beloude moder, in the most louly maner I recommaund me vnto youre gode moderhode, besekeyng you dayly and nyghtly of your moderly blissing, euer-more desiryng to here of your welfare and prosperité, þe which I pray God to contynw and encresce to youre hertes desyre; and yf it lyked youre gode moderhode to here of me and how I do, at the makyng of thys lettre I was in gode hele of body, tremovehanked be Jesu. And as for my mayster, my bestbeloved that ye call, and I must nedes call hym so now, for I fynde noon oþer cause, and as I trust to Jesu neuer shall; for he is full kynde vnto me, and is as besy as he can to make me sure of my joyntore, wherto he is jbounde in a bonde of ml li. to you, moder, and to my broþer John, and to my broþer William. and to Edmund Clere, the which neded no such bond. Wherfore I beseke you, gode moder, as oure most syngler trost is yn youre gode moderhode, that my maystre, my best beloved, fayle not of the c marc at the begynnyng of this terme the which ye promysed hym to his mariage, wyth the remanent of the money of my faders wille. For I have promytted

faithfully to a gentilman called Bain, that was oon of my bestbeloved suertees and was bounde for hym in cc li., of which he reherseth for to resseyve at the begynnyng of thys terme cxx li. And yf he fayle þerof at this tyme he wille clayme the hool of vs, the which were to vs to grete an hurt . And he con not make an ende wyth noon of hys oþer suertees wythoute this seyd syluer, and that con my broþer John telle yow wel j-nough and it lusteth hym to do soo. And in all oþer thynges, as to my Lady Pool wyth hom I soiourned, that ye wil be my tendre and gode moder that she may be payde for all the costes doon to me before my maryage; and to Cristofre Hanson as ye wrote vnto my broþer John that it shuld have ben so . And þat it plese youre gode moderhode to yeve credence to William Worcestre. And Jesu for his grete mercy save yow. Written at London the Wendysday the iij day of Janyuer. By youre humble doughter Elyzabeth Ponyngges

TO JOHN PASTON II 1467, 12, 15

To the worshipful Sir John Paston, knyght, be this delyueryd jn hast.

Worshipfull and with all myn hert interly wilbeloued nevoue, I recomaunde me to yow, desyryng to here of your prosperité and wilefayre, which I pray all-myghti God maynteyn and encres to his plesour and your hertes desire, thankyng God of your amendyng and helth; forthermore certefying yow þat Sir Robert Fenys hath doon grete hurte in þe lyuelode whiche perteyned to my husbond and me in þe shire of Kent, wherin William Kene and oþer persones arn enfeffid, and gretly troubleth hit and receyueth

þe issuez and profitez of gret part of theym. And as of my seid husbondes lyuelode aswell in þe same shire as in oþer shirez, besyde myn jountur , my seid husbond whan he departyd towarde þe feld of Saint Albons made and ordeyned his wille þat I shuld haue þe rewell of all his lyuelode, and of Edwarde, his soon and myn, and to take þe issuez and profitez of þe seid lyuelode to þe fyndyng of his and myn seid son, to paie his detteez and to kepe þe right and title of þe same lyuelode which i myght nat accordyng occupie for Ser Edwarde Ponynges, myn seid husbondes brother. And so, sith myn seid husbondes departyng, I assigned þat þe seid Ser Edwarde for certeyn yereez shuld haue and take þe reuenuez of þe maners of Westwode, Estwell, Leuelond, Horsmonden, Totyndon, Eccles, Staundon, and Comebesden, parcell of þe seid lyuelode, which arn clerely yerely worth lxxvj li. xiijs.iiij d., to þe entent þat þe seid Ser Edwarde shuld paye myn husbondes detteez, for he wold not suffer me to be in rest without þat he myght haue a rewell in þe lyvelode. And after þe seid assignement made, þe seid Robert Fenes, contrary to trowth and withoute cause of right, interupted me and þe seid Ser Edwarde aswell of and in þe seid maners as of oþer maners vndirwretyn, wher-vppon þe same Ser Edwarde suet vnto þe Kynges highnesse and hade þe Kyngez honorable lettres vndir his signet directed to þe seid Ser Robert Fenys, þe tenour wher-of I send vnto yow herin inclossid. And as for residue of þe lyuelode of myn seid husbondes and myn within þe same shire of Kent wherin þe seid William Kene and oþer arn enfeffed, that is to say þe manerz of Tyrlyngham, Woluerton, Halton, Newyngton, Bartram, Rokesley, and Northcray, with th'appurtenauncez, I of them by myn seid husbondes wille shuld haue residue and take þe issuez and profitez of theym. Contrarye to right and conciens, takying away my ryght and brekyng my seid husbondes wille þe seid Robert Fenys hath doon gret wast and hurte ther, and longtym hath take vpe þe reuenuez and profitez of þe same, wherthorough I haue not my ryght and þe seid wille may not be parfourmed. Wherfor I hertely pray yow þat ȝe will laboure vnto þe Kynges highnes at yt lyketh hym addres his honorable lettres to be directed to þe seid Robert Fenys, dischargyng hym vtterly of þe menuraunce, occupacion, and receyt of þe reuenuez of þe said maners of Tyrlyngham and oþer, accordyng to þe tenour of þe lettres labored by Ser Edwarde for þe maners assigned to hym from þe Kynges highnes directyd to þe same Robert Fynez, or strayter if hit may be, and þat I and myn assignez may peasseblé reioce theym; and if eny person wold attempt to do þe contrarye þat a commaundement, yf it ples þe Kynges highnes, by hym myght be yevyn to my lorde Chaunceller to seall writtynges sufficiaunt with his gret seall in eydyng and assistyng me and myn assignez in þe same. And as for

þe maners of Esthall, Faukham, Asshe, and Chelsfeld, with th'appurtenauncez. in þe said schire of Kent, wherof my husbond at his departur was seassed, and my son sethens vnto þe tyme þat þe Erle of Kent, without eny jnquisremoveision or title of right for þe Kyng, by colour of þe Kynges lettres patentes entret in-to theym and hym ther-of put owte; and now myn lorde of Essexe occupieth them in lyke maner and fourme. Yf eny remedy therin wilbe hade I pray yow attempt hit. Also forther-more I hertely pray yow þat, if eny generall pardon be grauntyd, þat I may haue on for John Dane my sremoveeruaunt, whom þe said Robert Fenys of gret malice hath endyted of felonye; and þat ȝe secretly labour þis and send me an aunsewer in writtyng in as godly hast as ȝe may. As soon as yt may ples yow to send me passels of costez and expences ȝe bere and pay for þe said causez I will truely content yow hit of þe same, and ouer þat rewarde yow to your plessour, by þe grace of Jesu, quo haue yow in his blessed keping. Wrettyn in Suthwerk the xvte daie of Decembyre. By your awnt Elizabeth Ponynges

COPY OF WRIT TO SIR ROBERT FYNYS

By þe Kyng Tursti and welbelouyde, we grete yow wele; and for asmuche as we been enfourmed þat ȝe entend in hasti tyme to lewey and gader vpe the reuenuez and profitez commyng and growyng of and vppon þe maners of Westwode, Estwell, Levelond,Horsmonden, Totyngdon, Eccles, Stondon, and Comebesdane within our counté of Kent, we for certeyn consideracions vs nowe moeuyng wol and charge you þat from hensse furth ȝe laye off your hondes and in no vise entermet of or in þe seid maners or of eny parcell þerof, in gaderyng of rentes ther or other-wise,eny commaundement or writtyng by vs to you yeven or made herbefore to þe contraré herof natwithstonding; receyuiremoveng þeis oure lettres towardes you for your sufficiaunt discharge in þat partie, nat failing herin as ye wol aunsewer vnto vs at your parilie. Yevyn To Ser Robert Fynys, Knyght The copie of ȝe lettre myssyue endossid by þe Kynges awn handes

WILL 1487, 05, 18

in dei nomine, amen. The xviijth day of the moneth of May in the yere of oure Lord God mlcccclxxxvij and in the secund yere of the reign of King Henry the vij I, Dame Elisabeth, late wife of Sir George Brown, knyght, being of hoole mynde and in good memorye, thanked be Allmyghty God, make and ordeign this my present testament and last will yn maner and fourme folowing, that is to say: first, I bequeith my soul to Allmyghty God, our Lady Saint Mary, and to all the holy company of hevon, and my body to be buried withyn the churche of the Blak Freris within Ludgate, with my forsaid housband Sir George; to the whiche place I bequeith xxj li. for my said housbandes soul and myne, our fadres and modres soules, and for all Cristen soules to be praid for; and for xiij trentalles of Saint Gregory to be said and songyn for us and thaym by the freris of the said place, as in diriges and masses with all other obseruaunces belongyng to the same in maner and fourme folowing, that is to wete: in the day or morow after my discesse vij trentallis, and euery weke folowing vnto my monthes mynde oon trentall, and iij trentalles at my monthes mynde biside the solempne dirige and masse that is to be requyred for me at that tyme. And I charge myne executours to see that the premisses be done and perfourmed, and also the said freris to feche me from the place where I die vnto thair said place where I haue lymyted afore to be buried. Also, I wull that, as sone as my body is buryed and th'expenses therof done and paid, that myn executours provide and see that my dettes be contented and paid. Also, I bequeith to the vicare of the churche of Dorking in the county of Surré for my forsaid housbandes soul and myne, oure faders and modres, and for all the soules that we be bound vnto to be praid for within the yere after my discesse, as in diriges and masses to be said or song by hym or his deputie, and to haue us specially in remembraunce in thayr memento by oon hole yere, xx s. also, I bequeith to the reparacion of the forsaid churche of Dorking xx s. Also, I bequeith to the parson of Saint Albans in Wodstrete within London, for diriges and masses to be said or song by hym or his deputie in like wise as the vicar of Dorking is charged as is afore rehersed, xxs. Also, I bequeith to the reparacion of the stepull of the said churche of Saint Albans xx solid.

Also, I bequeith to the prisoners of Newgate, Ludgate, Kinges Benche, and Mershallsee, to euery of those places, to be praid for, xx d. Also, I bequeith to bedred folkes and other poure housholders, aswell men as women, dwelling within London and without in the suburbis of the same, and moste specially souche as haue knowen me and I thaym, xl s., as by the discrecions and advises of myne executours it shall be thought best to be done. More-ouer, I geue and biqueith to my doughter Mary, to the promocion of her mariage, all my plate and other juelles, with all myne hole apparell and all my stuff of houshold being within my dwelling place or any other within the citee of London or suburbes of the same, that is to say: first a standing cupp of siluer gilt chaced with plompes, weyeng with the cover, knopp, and devise xlij vnces and di.; jtem, a standing cupp of siluer and gilt chaced with flowres, weying with the cover, the knopp, and devise xxvij vnc. and di.; a playn standing cupp of siluer gilt, weing with the cover, the knopp, and the devise xxx vnc.; a standing cupp of siluer and gilt chaced with half plompes, weying with the cover, knopp, and devise xx vnc. and di.; a playn standing cupp of siluer gilt, weying with cover and the knoppe and the deuyse xxvij vnces and an half; a standing cuppe of siluer and gilt, weying with the couer, the knoppe and the deuyse xxvj vnces; a saltseler of syluer and gilte, weying with the couer, the knoppe, and the deuyse xxiij vnces; a saltseler of syluer and gilt without a couer weying xxij vnces and an halfe; a litill saltseler of syluer and gilt, weying with the cover and the knoppe and the deuyse xv vnces and an half; a litell saltseler of syluer and gilt without the couer weyng viij vnces and an halfe; and vj bolles of syluer parcelles gilt weyng iiijxx xviij vnces; and ij peces of syluer with a couer weyng xlviij vnces; a dosen and a half of siluer sponys weying xxiij vnces; and iij sponys of syluer and gilt weying iij vnces and iij quartrons; and a long spone of syluer and gilt for ginger weying j vnce and iij quartrons; jtem, a chafing disshe of syluer weying xxvj vnces; and two litell crewettes of syluer weying viij vnces; a chalese of syluer and gilt with the paten weying xj vnces; an haly water stok of siluer with the lid, handill, and spryngill weying xij vnces; an Agnus with a baleys, iij saphires, iij perlys, with an jmage of Saint Antony apon it; and a tablet with the Salutacion of Our Lady and the iij Kingis of Collayn; a bee with a grete perle, a dyamond, an emerawde, iij grete perlys hanging apon the same; a-nother bee with a grete perle with an emerawde and a saphire weying ij vnces iij quarters; a pece of the Holy Crosse, crossewise made, bordured with siluer aboute; iij brode girdilles, oone of tawny silke with bokill aremovend pendaunt, a-nother of purpill with bokyll and pendaunt, and the iijde of purpill damaske with bokell and pendaunt and vj barres of siluer and gilt; and iij brode harnysed girdilles, oone white

tisshew, a-nother red tysshewe gold, and the iijde a playne grene coorse; a muskeball of gold weying halfe an vnce; and ij bokilles and two pendauntes of gold, oone playne and the other pomisyd, weying an vnce and a quarter; and a harnysed girdill enameled with rowsclare weying halfe an vnce; a dymysoynt with a rubye and an amatyste weying j vnce and an halfe; an harnysed girdill of golde of Damaske, with a long pendaunt and a bokill of golde chekkyd, weying j vnce; a grete bed of a-state of verdure and a counterpoynt to the same; and iiij curteyns of grene tartron; a grete federbed; a bolstere; and vj fetherbeddys ouer-woren; vj bolsters; and iiij mattarasses lytyll ouer-woren; xij pellowes of downe; v newe carpettys of ij ellys in lengeth and yarde and halfe brode; iij fyne pelow beres; and a grete counterpoynt of tapstery werk of v yardes and a quarter longe and iiij yardes brode; a hanging for a chamber of grene say borduryd with acrons of xxxv yerdes longe; a whyte spervyour; ij counterpoyntes; an hanging bed with a lyon thereapon and the valence white, grene, and red, and iiij blew courtens to the same; and two couerlettes with lyons; a blak testour for a bed with iiij blak curtens and vj pecys of blak hanging to the same; ij cusshens of blak velvet; a cusshyn of blak damask; a cusshen of grene worstede; a long cusshen of blewe saten figure; a blak coueryng for a bed of borde Alisaunder; and xj peces of grene saye borduryd with acorns to hang with a chambre; a vestment of blak velwet with orfrayes browderyd with my saide husbondys armes and myne; an awbe; j chesyppill with a stole and all that belongeth therto; ij corporas casys of cloth of gold; j olde vestment; an awbe; an awter clothe wyth the jmage of ȝour Lorde; a corporas case of blewe cloth of golde, a-nother of blewe saten and russet; an awter clothe of staynyd werke; and iij stenyd clothes with jmagis in them to hang a chapell; ij awter clothes of white sylke with red crosses; and ij curtens with white frengis and red; and iiij curtens, ij of rayed sarsenet and two of grene; an awter clothe; a litell pece of grene tartron; a payer of fustyans of iiij breddys iij yerdys iij quarters long; a paire of fyne shetys ouerworne of iiij yerdes brede; an hede shete; and iij payer of newe shetys of iij levis of iij ellys and an half long; and two payer of shetys of ij levis and an half long; and iij hedshetys of ij bredys; and vj paiere of shetys ouer-worne of ij levis; and vj paier of houshold shetis; and two paier of wollen blankettes; and a violet gowne furryd with martrons; a blak gowne furryd with gray; a blak gowne furryd with white; a blak gowne furryd with maremovertrons; and a nyght gowne of blak furryd with martrons; a kirtill of tawny chamlet; a purfill of ermyns of ij skynne depeth and iij yardys and an half long; a purfill of martrons of j skynne deppeth and iiij yardis long; a purfill of shankes of ij skynne deppeth and iiij yardis long; a bonet of poudred ermyns;and a pece of cloth of golde with dropis which was of a duplade; and a dosen of diaper napkyns of floure delyce

werke and crownes; and a dosen and a half of naptkyns of playne clothe with blew pelowers; and a pece of clothe of diaper werke to make with a dosen naptkyns; a bordecloth of floure delice werk and crownes of x yardis and an half long and iij yardis brode; and a-nother bordecloth of floure delyce werk and crownes viij yardes and a half long, ij yardes and a quarter brode; a towell of diaper of flower delice werke and crownys of xxti yardys long and iij quarters brode; a-nother towell of flower delice werke and crownys of iij quarters brede and xviij yardes long; a-nother of latise werke and diaper of iij quarter brede, xiiij yerdes di. long; a-nother towell of iiij greynys and a fret of viij yerdes di. long; a-nother towell of latise werk and crownys vj yerdes and di. long and iij quarters brede; and two towellis of great diaper werk iij yerdes and a quarter long and iij quarter brode; and a pece of new creste clothe conteygnyng xxiij ellys; and two towellys of great diaper werkes of xiiij yerdes long and iij quarter in brede; and vij grete cofers, v chestis, ij almaryes like a chayer, and a blak cofer bounden with jron; vj yoyned stoles; iiij kaskettys; v litell ioynyd stoles; a litill table ij yerdes long; a rounde table; ij trestelles; ij garnysshe and di. of pewter vessell counterfete, wherof j garnysshe and di. is newe; and vj great kandelstikkis newe of laton, and iiij newe bellyd kandelstikkis ; ij litill kandelstikkes; vij basens of pewater; and v brasse pannys, of the which oon is xvj galons and two of them of viij gallons a pece; and the other ij more lesse; a grete standing chafere of laton with a lyon apon the lydde; ij chafers of brasse, and ij litill brasse pottys; ij grete cobardys and ij othere cobardys more and lesse; ij fyer pannys; a lityll skelet; a ladill and a scomer of laton; ij colondyrs; ij spyttys; ij dreping pannes of jron; iij dressing knyfys; ij lechyng knyfys; ij choppyng knyfys; a tryvet; a brasen morter with a pestell of jron; ij stone morters; ij gredyrons; j payer of potte hokys, a flesshe hoke, and a kolerake. Prouydid alwey that myn executours, by the aduyse of myn ouerseers, ordeigne and put in safegarde, to be kept after my discease in-to som religious place vnto the day of my said doughters mariage, and to the behofe and promocyon of the same, all and euery part of the forsaid plate and juelx, with all other stuffe of houshold by me to her as is aboue written yoven and bequethed, except souche stuffe as canne not be kept from mowghtes, which I will she haue the rule and gouernaunce of for the safegarde of the same and for her wele. And if my saide doughter Mary dye vnmaryed, then I yeve and bequethe all the forsaid plate, with all other stuffe of housholde, to my soon Mathewe her brothere. And if it fortune that he dye vnmaryd, as God forfende. then I yeve and bequeth all and euery part of my forsaid plate, juelx, and stuffe of housholde vnto my soon Sir Edward Ponyngis. And yef it fortune the said Edward to dye, as God defende, that then all the

forsaid juelx and other stuffe aboue written, except a playne standing cuppe of syluer and gilt with the couer, the knoppe, and the deuyse of the same, with gryffons hede in the botom wrought apon blewe asure, weying xxvj vncis, which I geve to my doughter in lawe Dame Isabell Ponyngis, be dyuydyd by th'advice of the ouerseers of this my present testament and last wille, and euynly to be departid vnto Antony Browne and Robert Browne, my brethern-in-lawe, they to do with it thaire fre wille. And as touching myne Agnus, tablettes with dyamondys, saphires, perlys grete and small, crosses , gurdillis, dymyseyntes, gownys, with all other thingis longing to myne apparayle as is aboue written, yef it fortune my said doughter Mary decease I geve and bequethe all and euery part of it to my kynnyswoman Margaret Hasslake. And if the said Margaret dye, that then all the said apparell particularly written before remaigne to my said doughter-in-lawe Dame Isabelle Ponyngys. Also, xx merc. which I lent vnto my son Ser Edward Ponynges I woll that it be destributyd by the discrecion of myn executours and ouerseers among souche as been knowen my seruauntys at the day of my discease. The residue of all my singuler goodes, catallys, and juellys, after my dettys payde and my bequestes parfourmed and fulfyllyd and burying done, I geve and fully bequeth to my sonnys Ser Edward Ponyngis and Mathew Browne, and theym to dispose and do theire fre wille to pray and to do for my soule as they wolde I sholde do for them, as they will aunswere afore God. And of this my testament and last wille I make and ordeigne myne executours my forsaid sonnes Ser Edward Ponyngys and Mathew Browne, and theire superuysours Humfrey Conyngesby and Richard Tuke. And I bequeth to euery of myne executours for thaire labour lx s., and to euery of myne ouerseers for thaire labours xl s. In wittenesse hereof I, the said Dame Elizabeth, to this my present testremoveament and last wille haue put my seale. Youen at London the day and yere abouesaide. Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum coram domino apud Lamehith xxvjto die mensis Junij anno Domini supradicto, ac approbatum, &c. Et commissa fuit administracio &c. Matheo Browne, filio eiusdem et executori, &c., de bene, &c. Ac de pleno jnuentario, &c. citra festum Sancti Petri quod dicitur Aduincula, reseruata potestate committendi &c. Edwardo Ponynges, militi, executori, &c.