The Paston Letters
Chapter 96 : W. BOTONER, _dit_ WORCESTYR.[Footnote 125.1: [From Fenn, i. 150.] Fenn states that he h

W. BOTONER, _dit_ WORCESTYR.

[Footnote 125.1: [From Fenn, i. 150.] Fenn states that he has omitted, as of no consequence, the first part of this letter relating to the holding of some courts and some other law matters wherein Yelverton, Fylongley, and others were concerned.]

[Footnote 125.2: The modern version in Fenn reads 'here being.']

[Footnote 125.3: Charles VII.]

[Footnote 125.4: Ladislaus V., who died on the 23rd November 1457, when on the point of marriage with Magdalen, daughter of Charles VII. of France. He is believed to have been poisoned.]

365

ABSTRACT[126.1]

WILLIAM BOTONER TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF

[Sidenote: 1458(?) / [FEB.]]

You shall know the governance here on Paston's coming to you better than I can write. The King is gone to Berkhamstead, 'and it is said my Lords Somerset, Exeter, Clifford, and Egremont, that rode upon Thursday last to the King, they come again to London; and the Lord of Northumberland is come to the King at this time after the Lords' departing out of London with 3000 or 4000 people, as it is said, but all toke (?) to a good peace, and reconysances made to keep the peace in great sums till Michaelmas, that in the mean time to make a throw peace final by means of all the Lords.' John Vyncent of Bentley was at the Priory of Lewes in Suss.e.x this week, and says that sixty sail of Frenchmen were sailing before the coasts, keeping the sea. The Lord Fauconberg is at Hampton with his navy. Edmund Clere of the King's house has heard from a soldier of Calais that Crowmer and Blakeney is much spoken of among Frenchmen.

'The King's safe conduct is not holden but broken, as it is voiced here, and that will do no good to merchants till it be amended.' Figs and raisins are dear at 18_s._ the croc (?), 'wherte' at 10_s._ the qr., malt 5_s._ Remains here awaiting for the com[ing of your] officers of Castlecombe to bring up your money. Expects to send 40 by Master Paston. . . . . (_Mutilated at the bottom; date lost._)

[The King was at Berkhamstead in the end of June and beginning of July 1450; also on the 3rd March 1453 (from Reading, whither he returned immediately); also in February and March 1458 (from 20th February to 13th March). This letter must have been written in February 1458.]

[Footnote 126.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 274.]]

366

JOHN BOCKING TO SIR JOHN FASTOLF[127.1]

_To my Maister Fastolf, at Castre, in haste._

[Sidenote: 1458 / MARCH 15]

Lyke it your maisters.h.i.+p to wyte that, as for tidings, the Counsell is, the fornone, at the Blake Frires, for the ease of resorting of the Lordys that are withinne the toun; and at afternone at the White Frirers in Fletstrete, for the Lordis withowte the toun; and all thing shall come to a good conclusion with G.o.d is grace, for the Kyng shall come hidre this weke, and the Quene also, as some men sayn, and my Lord Buk,[127.2] and Stafford[127.3] with hire, and moche puple.

My Lord of Caunterbury takith grete peyne up on hym daily, and will write un to yow the certeynte of suche tidings as falle; and shuld have doon or this tyme, saf for that he wolde knowe an end of the matter.

Other tidings here are none, sauf my Lord of Excestre[127.4] is displesid that the Erle of Warwyk shall kepe the see, and hath therfore received this weke m^l _li._ [1000] of the Hanupere.[127.5]

The messenger was on horsbak whanne I wrote yow this bill, and therfore it was doon in haste; and our Lord Jesus kepe yow.

Writen at London the Wednesday after Midlenton.

And my Lord of Caunterbury tolde me that the Frenche men have ben before yow, and that ye shotte many gonnes; and so he tolde all the Lords.

I have desirid hym to move the Counsell for refres.h.i.+ng of the toun of Yermowth with stuff of ordnance and gonnes and gonne powdre, and he seid he wolde.

Your humble servaunt,

J. BOKKING.

[Footnote 127.1: [From Fenn, i. 154.] This letter relates to the temporary reconciliation effected between the Lords of the opposite parties in the spring of 1458.]

[Footnote 127.2: Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.]

[Footnote 127.3: Henry Stafford, Earl of Stafford, grandson of Buckingham, who succeeded him in the Dukedom in 1460.]

[Footnote 127.4: Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter.]

[Footnote 127.5: The Hanaper of Chancery.]

367

WILLIAM CALTHORPE TO JOHN PASTON[128.1]

_To my wors.h.i.+pfull Cosyn John Paston._

[Sidenote: 1458(?) / [MAY 11?]]]

Right wors.h.i.+pfull Cosyn, I recommaund me unto you, certifying you that your man John Osberne of Walsyngham hath be with me and lete me have knowlage of a commyssion chuld be doun from my lord Chaunceler to Sir Robert Conyers, you other and me, and that ye wold have your day upon Munday or Tewesday at Crowemer, Blakeney or Walsyngham, &c. And after that he was departed from me, ther cam a servaunt from my cosyn Twyer, and seid that his maister hade a letter from you that ze have set to be at Blakeney uppon Munday next comyng. And for as much as I stande in nonn certeyn be cause of variaunce of the ma.s.sangeres, therfore I send a man of myne to you, praying yowe to sende me verray certeynte and a copy of the commyssion, that my neybures may have knowlage of the kingis entent if the case requyreth so, &c.

I hold Blakeney a resonable place, and if ye kepe youre purpose at Blakeney uppon Munday next comyng I shall mete ther with you, with G.o.ddis grace, Wheche have you ever in His intyer kepyng, &c. Wretyn at Brunham upon the a.s.sencion day of our Lord, &c.,

By W. CALTHORPE.

[Footnote 128.1: [Add. MS. 34,889, f. 163.] The date of this letter is by no means certain, but may be 1458, after the reconciliation of parties. The reference to 'the King's intent'

shows at least that it was not when the Duke of York was Protector; and it is not likely to have been under Somerset's rule or in the reign of Edward IV. If 1458 was the year, the day (Ascension Day) was the 11th May.]

368

ABSTRACT[129.1]

JOHN PASTON AND T. HOWYS[129.2] TO FASTOLF AT CASTRE

[Sidenote: 1458 / MAY 24]

Yesterday 'I and other of yours' were at your manor of Bentlay--a right fair manor, in the shrewdest rule and governance. You have had many officers there who, for ill-will, have put out the tenants, and let the lands to your hurt. Some owe for six, some for seven years, etc.

Yesterday Harry Sotehill, of your learned counsel, was with us, and has taken ways in the law, etc. As Barker sends word that the attaint held not, we shall stay the longer. The Lord Egremont sent for my brother, and told him 'he would see you homeward, as he supposed.' Take care, therefore, you make no more grants, for you have made too many. Could let Bentlay, with surety, for 500 marks a year; but will not venture, because of the trouble of letting Wyghton, 'and also till Scrope hath spoken with you,' who will be with you now, etc.

Doncaster, Wednesday in Pentecost week.

[It appears from an account of Paston's expenses, of which an abstract is given farther on, that he was at Doncaster in the 36th year of Henry VI.]

[Footnote 129.1: [From MS. Phillipps, 9735, No. 267.]]