Right worshipful, and with all mine heart right entirely beloved brother, I beseech the Blessed Trinity preserve you in honour and prosperity. Makestock Castle, in Warwickshire, 17th March, between 1444 and 1455; 23 and 3 H. VI. Written at my Castle of Makestock, the 17th day of March. Your true and faithful brother, H. BUCKINGHAM.1 Правнувий LETTER XVI.—(VI. vol. i. p. 21.) The image of Our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk, was in these days, and had been for ages, particularly resorted to by all ranks of people, from the king to the peasant, by foreigners as well as natives; and was held in the highest veneration for the various miracles, &c., ascribed to her. We must not therefore wonder in this enlightened age that a judge, bigotted to his religion and the credulity of the times, should ascribe not only every fortunate event which befel him to the influence of Our Lady of Walsingham, but likewise attribute his escape from every danger which had threatened him to her protection. This famous and wonder-working image was, however, in 1538, 30 H. VIII., brought to Chelsea, and there burnt. To my right worshipful cousin, John Paston, Esq. RIGHT worshipful cousin, I recommend me to you, thanking you as heartily as I can for myself, &c., and especially for that ye do so much for Our Lady's House of Walsingham, which I trust verily ye do the rather for the great love that ye deem I have thereto; for truly if I be drawn to any worship or welfare, and discharge of mine enemies' danger, I ascribe it unto Our Lady. Praying you therefore that ye will be as friendly to Our Lady's House as I wote (know) well ye have alway been, and in especial now, that I might have of you the report certainly by your letter of that that Naunton your cousin informed you and told you by mouth of all matters touching Our Lady's House of Walsingham; for methinketh by that I have heard by Our Lady's priest of Walsingham, if I understood well that matter, 1 Humphrey Stafford, Earl of Stafford, &c., was created Duke of Buckingham in 1444, 23 H. VI. His mother was the Lady Anne, only daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, youngest son to Edward III. He was firm in the interest of his sovereign, and lost his life in the battle of Northampton, in July 1460, where he jointly commanded with the Duke of Somerset. His son Stafford, mentioned in this letter, was most probably Humphrey Earl of Stafford, who was wounded at the first battle of St. Albans, in 1455, and of which wounds he soon after died; if so, it undoubtedly ascertains the date of this letter to that it should be much to the good speed of the matter, and doubt you not Our Lady shall quite (requite) it you, and her poor prior hereafter as he may, &c. Praying you also, cousin, and advising for the ease of us both, and of our friends, and of many other, that ye be at London by times this term, and if we speed well now, all well all this year after; for I know verily there was never made a greater labour than shall be made now, and therefore I pray to Our Lady, help us, and her Blessed Son, which have you in his holy keeping. Written at your poor place of Bayfield, on St. Francis's day, in haste. Your cousin, some period between 1444 and 1455. The signature is remarkable for having the initial B of the title included within the initial H of the Christian name. 2 In 1440 William Yelverton, son of John Yelverton, by Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Read, and widow of Robert Clere, was appointed King's Serjeant, and in 1444 a Justice of the King's Bench, and in 1460 he was created a Knight of the Bath. This letter, therefore, was most probably written before 1460, as had it been written after that time, he would have signed himself knight as well as justice. LETTER XVII.—(XIII. vol. iii. p. 45.) I have given this letter as a specimen of disputes which frequently arise at present, as well as in former times, when either encroachments are really made by the principal person in a parish, or when any act is done which appears such to some self-important little owner. Which party was right in this matter is at this distance of time very immaterial; it only shows human nature to have been the same yesterday and to-day. [It is interesting also, as showing the practical freedom of the people, where the yeomen could so openly and sturdily contend against their superiors in rank and wealth, and also the general rectitude and fairness of the law-courts; for if there had been any fear of indirect influence, they would not have so readily appealed to them. England appears even at this time to have been the country "Where even the meanest peasant studies law, And keeps thereby the magistrates in awe," as has been well said by Defoe in his Trueborn Englishman,' which couplet, by the way, is the original of Goldsmith's more elegant but feebler one in the 'Traveller,' "Where even the peasant boasts his rights to scan, And learns to venerate himself as man."] To John Paston, dwelling in the Temple at London, be this letter delivered in haste. I GREET you well; and let you weet, that, on Also he said that it was well done that I set men to work to owl' many while I was To owl may signify to deceive, as an owler is a person who carries contraband goods in the night; though I rather think it means in this place to oil, that is, to smooth to her purpose, but q.? [Fenn, there is little doubt, is right in supposing that "to owl" is here intended to signify" to deceive," but we know of no other instance of such use of the word: in the here, but in the end I shall lose my cost. Then 3 Paston, 17th November, after 1444. 23 H. VI. AGNES PASTON, instance given the term owler is applied to the contrabandist in reference to his night employment, and not to his deceit. It cannot either, we think, mean "to oil."] 2 [Churtley is curtly, a good old English word, meaning shortly, sharply, angrily.] 3 [i.e. her name was Mary.] LETTER XVIII.-(XIV. vol. iii. p. 49.) This letter contains a curious fact. It appears by it that the sheriff's officers had arrested a person in the church during mass, and that the priest and some of the congregation had rescued him, for which a suit was commenced against them. This shows the power of the sheriff at this time, when even a church, during the time of divine service, could not protect a person against whom his process had been issued. A murderer or robber might have claimed sanctuary, but a poor debtor seems to have had no such privilege. [We do not see how the fact is ascertained by Fenn that the arrest was for debt only. At that time the sheriff and his officers could arrest in criminal as well as in civil processes.] To my right reverend mistress, Agnes Paston, be this letter delivered in haste. RIGHT worshipful mistress, I recommend me unto you, thanking you of the great cheer that ye made me the last time that I was with you; mistress, in all your goods and occupations that lyeth in my simple power to do in word, will, and deed, I have do (done) my diligence and my power thereto, so I be saved before God; and have owen to your person right hearty love, for the which I am right ill acquit (requited) and (if) it be as I understand it, for it is do (done) me to weet that I am sued, with more of my parishioners, for a rescue making upon the officers of the sheriff; and I take God to record that it is wrongfully do (done) unto us. And the great fray that they made in the time of mass it ravished my wits and made me full heavily disposed; I pray Jesu give them grace to repent them thereof, that they that caused it may stand out of peril of soul. Mistress, at the reverence of God, and as ever I may do service that may be pleasing unto you, send me justly word, by the bringer of this bill, how ye will that I be guided; for it is told me that, if I be taken, I may no other remedy havyn (have) but straight to prison; for the which I have sold away 20s. worth of stuff, and the residue of my stuff I have put it in sure hand, for truly I will not abide the jeopardy of the swth (suit) I have levir (had rather) to go as far as my feet may bear me ; nevertheless as ye command me to do, so it be not to my great hurt, I will fulfil it. more to you at this time, but God send you that grace that ye may come to his bliss. Written at Bromholm, in great haste. By your SIR ROBERT WILLIAMSON. No certain date. LETTER XIX.-(XV. vol. iii. p. 51.) No The date of this letter cannot be ascertained, though it must have been written after 1444, when William Yelverton was appointed a judge of the King's Bench. He seems to fear a party, in opposition to him, in Norfolk, would injure him with the king and lords, and therefore wishes for Sir John Fastolf's interference to prevent it. The judge's mother was widow to Robert Clere, and by that means he was half-brother to Edmund Clere, of Stokesby. [This Sir John Fastolf, it has been asserted, was the original of Shakspere's inimitable Sir John Falstaff. This letter, however, shows a curious contrariety to the dramatic situation of the parties, for here we have the judge sueing to the knight and thanking him for his "gentleness and kindness." See a further notice of Fastolf in a subsequent letter.] A letter to Sir John Fastolf, from Justice Yelverton.1 My most worshipful and best betrusted master, I recommend me to you, thanking you for many great gentleness and kindness that ye have showed unto me; and for the great ease that I had of your man and your horses also. As for tidings out of this country, here is a marvellous disposed country, and many evilwilled people to Sir Thomas Todenham and 1 This is written on the back of the letter, which has no direction, in an ancient hand. Heydon, and but if they be put in comfort there by the mean of a good sheriff and undersheriff, they may have remedy now by the order of law, and else great inconveniences are like for to follow thereof; therefore, Sir, for the weal of all our good country, move the king, my Lord Chancellor, and all other lords, as ye think best for this matter on this behalf. Also, 2 [Fenn gives, in error-consort.] Sir, if they noise me by the mean of my Lord Scales, or by any other mean, or by any bill sued by Brygg, or by any other man by their craft, that it please you to say for me in salvation of my poor worship, which I wot well they may not hurt but (unless) they do me wrongs to the king, my Lord Chancellor, my Lord of Winchester, my Lord Cromwell, and in other places as ye seemeth, that no credence be given to mine hurt in mine absence. Also, Sir, that William Jenney and Brayn, (q. Bryan?) LETTER XX.-(XVI. vol. iii. p. 55.) [This letter, without containing any circumstance of great importance, is so complete a detail of the events of common life, told in language of such simple truthfulness, so indicative of the secret though perhaps unconscious workings of the mind, as to be extremely interesting. The lawyer it appears had searched, not into the justice of Lady Morley's claim, but to have found writings thereof; but could none find in none wise;" and Margaret herself had induced a witness or mediator to promise that "he will hold rather with you than with her."] 1 To my right worshipful husband, John RIGHT worshipful husband, I recommend me to you, desiring heartily to hear of your welfare; praying you to weet that I was with my Lady Morley on the Saturday next after that ye departed from hence, and told her what answer that ye had of John Butt, and she took it right strangely, and said that she had told you and showed you enough, whereby ye might have knowledge that the relief ought to be paid to her; and she said she wist well that ye delay it forth that she should not have that longeth (belongeth) to her right; and she told me how it was paid in Thomas Chambers' time, when her daughter Hastings was wedded; and she said since that ye will make none end with her, she will sue therefore as law will. I conceived by her that she had counsel to labour against you therein within right short time, and then I prayed her that she would vouchsafe not to labour against you in this matter till ye came home, and she said nay by her faith, she would no more days give you therein; she said she had set you so many days to accord with her, and ye had broke them, that she was right weary thereof; and she said she was but a woman, Lady Morley was the daughter of a Lord Spencer or Despencer, and had to her first husband Sir Hugh Hastyngs, of Elsing, in Norfolk; after his decease, she married Thomas Lord Morley, and was now his widow, and must have been consider Paston, be this letter delivered in haste. she must do by her counsel, and (as) her counsel had advised her, so she said she will do; then I prayed her again that she would tarry till ye came home, and I said I trusted verily that ye would do when ye came home as it longeth to you to do, and if ye might have very knowledge that she ought of right for to have it, I said I wist well that ye would pay it with right good will; and told her that ye had searched to have found writing thereof, and ye could none find in none wise; and she said she wist well there was writing thereof enough, and she hath writing thereof, how Sir Robert of Mauteby, and Sir John, and my grandsire, and divers other of my ancestors paid it, and said never nay thereto; and in no wise I could not get no grant of her to cease till ye came home; and she bade me that I should do an errand to my mother, and when I came home I did mine errand to her, and she asked me if I had spoken to my lady of this foresaid matter, and I told her how I had done, and what answer I had; and she said she should go to my Lady Morley's on the next day, and she should speak to her thereof, and essay to get grant of her to cease of the foresaid ably advanced in age. She seems to have had right on her side, as the Mauteby estate in Sparham had been granted away by the family of Hastyngs, and most probably under a reserved rent or relief. matter till that ye come home; and truly my mother did her devour [duty-the French devoir] right faithfully therein, as my cousin Clere shall tell you when that he speak with you; and she got grant of my said lady that there should nought be done gainst you therein, and (if) ye would accord with her, and do as ye ought to do, betwixt this time and Trinity Sunday. Laurence Reed of Mauteby recommendeth him to you, and prayeth you that ye will vouchsafe to let him buy of you the farm barley that ye should have of him, and if ye will let him have it to a reasonable price, he will have it with right good will, and he prayeth you if ye will that he have it, that ye will vouchsafe to send him word at what price he should have the comb as hastily as ye may, and else he must be purveyed in other place. As touching other tidings, I suppose John of Damme shall send you word in a letter, as it is told me verily Heydon shall not come at London this term. It is said in this country that Daniel1 is out of the king's good grace, and he shall down and all his men, and all that be his well willers; there shall no man be so hardy to do neither say against my Lord of Suffolk," nor none that longeth to him, and all that have done and said against him they shall sore repent them. Katharine Walsham shall be wedded on the Monday next after Trinity Sunday, as it is told me, to the gallant with the great chain; 3 and there is purveyed for her much good array of gowns, girdles, and attires, and much other good array, and he hath purchased a great purchase of five marks (31. 68. 8d.) by the year to give her to her jointure. I am afraid that John of Sparham is so schyttyl (light) witted, that he will set his goods to mortgage to Heydon, or to some [It does not appear who this Daniel, afterwards called Lord Daniel, was. During Jack Cade's rebellion, a bill of indictment was found, among several others, against Thomas Daniel, but that was as a friend and adherent of Suffolk. He may, however, have been the Thomas Daniel, constable of Castle Rising, who married a sister of John Howard, afterwards Duke of Norfolk, mentioned in Letter cxxxix. 2 At this time William de la Pole, Marquess of other of your good friends, but if (unless) I can hold him in the better, ere ye come home; he hath been arrested since that ye went; and hath had much sorrow at the suit of Master John Stokes of London for ten marks (67. 138. 4d.) that Sparham owed to him; and in good faith he hath had so much sorrow and heaviness that he wist not what he might do. I feel him so disposed that he would have sold and have set to mortgage all that he hath, he had not rowth (cared) to whom, so that he might have had money to have holpen himself with; and I entreated him so that I suppose he will neither sell nor set to mortgage, neither cattle nor other goods of his, till he speak with you; he supposeth that all that is done to him is at the request of the parson of Sparham and Knatysale. I suppose it is alms (charity) to comfort him, for in good faith he is right heavy, and his wife also; he is not now under arrest, he hath paid his fees, and goeth at large; he was arrested at Sparham, of one of Kuatysale's men. Hodge Feke told me that Sym Shepherd is still with Wylly, and if ye will I shall purvey that he shall be brought home ere ye come home. It is told me that he that kept your sheep was outlawed on Monday at the suit of Sir Thomas Todenham, and if it be so ye are not like to keep him long. And as touching that that ye bade me speak for to Bacton, he saith he is well advised that she said she would never have to do with all, nor he cannot pick that she hath none right to have it, and he will say like as he hath heard her say, and if she speak to him thereof he will rather hold with than with her. I pray you that ye will vouchsafe to send me word how ye speed in your matter touching Gresham, and how Daniel is in grace. Harry Goneld hath brought to me 40s. of Gresham since ye you Suffolk, received the greatest marks of favour from the queen, and was very soon after the writing of this letter created Duke of Suffolk. 3 It appears that chains of gold were at this time worn as ornaments of dress, and that this gallant out did his contemporaries in the size of his. 4 The Sparhams were an ancient family, residing at Sparham, in Norfolk: this was the last male of that branch, and seems with himself to have finished his estate, &c. |