The Paston Letters
Chapter 207 : [Footnote 60-1: [From Fenn, iv. 412.] This is a letter desiring instructions about the

[Footnote 60-1: [From Fenn, iv. 412.] This is a letter desiring instructions about the garrison of Caister after its surrender.]

[Footnote 61-1: This expression 'for Wappys' I do not understand.--F. Perhaps Wappys may be a proper name.]

[Footnote 61-2: _Save gardys._ This is printed 'same gardys' in Fenn, but is evidently a misreading; in the right-hand copy the word is 'safeguards.']

736

SIR JOHN PASTON TO MARGARET PASTON[62-1]

_To Mestresse Margret Paston, be thys delyveryd._

[Sidenote: 1469 / [OCT.]]

Ryght worchypfull Moodre, I comand me to yow, and beseche yow of yowr blyssyng and G.o.ds. Thanke yow for yowr tendrenesse and helpe bothe to me, my brother, and servants.[62-2]

The Kynge is comyn to London, and ther came with hym, and roode ageyn hym, the Duke of Glowcestr, the Duke of Suffolke, the Erle of Aroundell, the Erle of Northumbreland, the Erle of Ess.e.x, the Lordes Harry and John of Bokyngham, the Lord Dakres, the Lorde Chambreleyn, the Lorde Montjoye, and many other Knyghtys and Sqwyers, the Meyr of London, xxij.

Aldremen, in skarlett, and of the Crafftys men of the town to the nombre of CC., all in blewe. The Kynge come thorow Chepe, thowe it wer owt of hys weye, be cawse he wold not be seyn, and he was accompanyed in all peple with m^l. horsse, som harneysyd and som nat. My Lorde Archebysshop[62-3] com with hym from Yorke, and is at the Moor,[62-4]

and my Lorde of Oxenfford roode to have mett the Kyng, and he is with my Lorde Archebysshop at the Moor, and come nat to town with the Kynge; some sey that they wer yesterdaye iij. myle to the Kyng wards from the Moor, and that the Kyng sent them a ma.s.sangr that they scholde com when that he sent for them. I wot not what to suppose therin; the Kyng hymselffe hathe good langage of the Lords of Clarance, of Warwyk, and of my Lords of York [and] of Oxenford, seyng they be hys best frendys; but hys howselde men have other langage, so that what schall hastely falle I cannot seye.

My Lorde of Norffolke schall be her thys nyght. I schall sende yow mor when I knowe mor.

Item, iff Ebysham come not home with myn oncle W., that than ye sende me the ij. Frenshe bookys that he scholde have wretyn, that he may wryght them her,

JOHN PASTON, Kt.

[Footnote 62-1: [From Fenn, i. 292.] The allusion in an unprinted pa.s.sage in this letter to the approaching marriage of Richard Calle with Margery Paston proves it to be of the year 1469. In that year it appears by the dates of the privy seals that Edward IV. remained during the whole of September in Yorks.h.i.+re, having been detained by Warwick at Middleham as a prisoner during the month of August; but he was in London as early as the 13th October.]

[Footnote 62-2: Here, according to Fenn, follow pa.s.sages touching 'an account of monies, debts, &c., a dispute with his uncle William, and a desire to defer his sister Margery's marriage with Richard Calle till Christmas.']

[Footnote 62-3: George Nevill, Archbishop of York.]

[Footnote 62-4: _See_ p. 20, Note 3.]

[[... that he may wryght them her, _text has "be": corrected from Fenn_]]

737

ABSTRACT[63-1]

[JOHN PASTON] TO [SIR JOHN PASTON]

[Sidenote: 1469]

Has reckoned with Maryot. Accounts of Bekham. Has not spoken with W.

Bakton, but will before returning to Norwich. Means to visit Bekham on his way thither. Sends copy of the condition wherein ye be bound to John Maryot. As for Sir T. Mongomere's man, etc.

Richard Calle says he has delivered to me all writings he had of you except an endenture for letting Saxthorp, which is but a j.a.pe. All but a rental of Snaylwell are but accounts, etc. He has delivered me four or five court rolls of Sir J. Fastolff's lands, of his own hand. He has done reasonably well about showing me the arrears of your lifelode. 'As for his abiding, it is in Blakborow nunnery, a little fro Lynn, and our unhappy sister's also. And as for his service, there shall have no man have it before you, and ye will. I hear not speak of none other service, of no lord's that he shall be in.' Has not yet spoken with Daubney's executors, but will on his way homewards. Sends copy of the inventory[63-2] he [John Paston] made on leaving Caister. Means to be at Sporle to-morrow or Thursday, to see what may be made of the wood, and who will give most for it. . . . . (_MS. mutilated at the bottom._)

[This letter is in the handwriting of John Paston, but the signature is lost. It is quite certain that it was written in 1469 after the surrender of Caister. Allusion is also made to the unpleasant subject of the engagement of Richard Calle and Margery Paston, who seem to have retired to Blackborough nunnery prior to their marriage.]

[Footnote 63-1: [From Paston MSS., B.M.]]

[Footnote 63-2: _See_ No. 734.]

738

ABSTRACT[64-1]

[Sidenote: 1469 / NOV. 6]

Indenture between Sir John Paston, of the one part, and Roger Townsende, gent., of the other part, containing covenants for the sale of the manor of Est Beckham, and of all Paston's other lands in Est Bekham, West Bekham, Bodham, Sherryngham, Beeston near the Sea, Runeton, s.h.i.+pden, Felbrigg, Aylmerton, Sustede, and Gresham, which the said Sir John had of the gift of John Mariet the elder of Est Bekham, for 100 marks, of which he has received already 54, leaving 12, 13_s._ 4_d._ to be paid by the said Roger at the Feast of St. Luke next coming. Dated 6th Nov. 9 Edw. IV.

_Seal, with inscription_, 'Si Dieu vuet.'

[Footnote 64-1: [Add. Charter, 14,526, B.M.]]

739

ABSTRACT[64-2]

1469, 25 Nov. 9 Edw. IV. 'In the priory of Saynt Marye Overy in Suthwarke.' Acknowledgment (in English) by Will. Yelverton, Knt., Just.

of K. B., of the receipt from Bishop Waynflete of 87, in full satisfaction of all claims on Sir J. Fastolf by Jaquet, d.u.c.h.ess of Bedford; solemnly promising also that he will not hereafter receive any sums, great or small, on account of Fastolf's goods, debts, or possessions, without the a.s.sent of the Bishop, that he will at all times be ready to seal such grants, &c., as the Bishop may require to be sealed, and that he will not himself make or seal any grant, etc., without the Bishop's will and agreement.

[Footnote 64-2: The following abstract is taken from Mr. Macray's Report on the MSS. in Magdalen College, Oxford.]

740

JOHN PASTON TO SIR JOHN PASTON[65-1]

_To Master Syr John Paston, Knyght._

[Sidenote: 1469 / DEC.]

Ryght worchepfull syr, I recomand me to you, &c. It is so that thys day ther cam a good felaw to me, whyche may not be dyscoveryd, and let me wet that my Lord of Norff. consayll hathe this Crystmas gotyn the two wydows, whows husbands wer slayn at the sege of Caster, and have hem bowndyn in a gret some that they shall swe a peel ayenst me and syche as wer ther with me within the plase, and they be bownd also that they shall relese no man within the apell namyd tyll syche tyme as my Lord of Norff. wyll lycence them.

Item, the cawse is thys, as it is told me by dyvers, that ye meke no more swte to my Lord for yourself than ye do, and therfor they do the wors to me for your sake.

Item, as for my comyng up to London, so G.o.d help me, and I may chese, I com not ther, for _argent me fawlt_, without apell or an inkyr [_inquiry ?_] of som specyall mater of your cawse it. Item, I pray yow remembyr Caleys, for I am put out of wagys in thys contre.

Item, I pray yow send me some tydyngs how the world gothe _ad confortandum stomac.u.m_.