Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

This letter, without either date, name or direction, we may discover, from the contents, was written by one of John Paston's sons, soon after the accession of Edward IV. to the throne; and gives a curious representation of the state of affairs in the county of Norfolk at this important period. The reason for this secrecy of address was, lest some one of the Lancastrian party should get possession of the letter, and so discover the sentiments of the Pastons respecting public affairs.

I RECOMMEND me to you, and let you weet, that notwithstanding tidings come down as ye know that people should not come up till they were sent for, but to be ready at all times; this notwithstanding, most people out of this country have taken wages, saying, they will go up to London; but they have no captain nor ruler assigned by the commissioners to await upon, and so they straggle about by themselves, and, by likeliness, are not like to come at London half of them; and men that come from London say there have not passed Thetford not passing 400; and yet the towns and the country that have waged [hired3] them shall think they be discharged; and therefore if these lords above wait after more people in this country, by likeliness it will not be easy to get without a new commission and warning, and yet it will be thought right strange of them that have waged people, to wage any more, for every town hath waged, and sent forth, and are ready to send forth, as many as they did when the king sent for them before the field at Ludlow; and they that are not gone be going in the same form.

Item, there was shrewd rule toward in this

1 This shows that the king was not yet returned out of Yorkshire to London since the battle of Towton.

2 Henry VI. and his queen after the battle escaped to Berwick, and from thence retired to Edinburgh. 3 Fenu translates this engaged.

4 Battle at Mortimer's Cross near Ludlow, 2nd of February, 1460, between Edward, then Duke of York, and the Lancastrians under Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, who were routed. Henry VI. was then in London, under the direction of the Earl of Warwick.

country, for there was a certain person forthwith after the journey at Wakefield gathered fellowship to have murdered John Damme, as is said.

6

And also there is at the castle of Rising, and in other two places, made great gathering of people and hiring of harness, and it is well understood they be not to the king ward, but rather the contrary, and for to rob.

Wherefore my father is in a doubt whether he shall send my brother up or not, for he would have his own men about him if need were here; but, notwithstanding he will send up Dawbeney his spear and bows with him; as Stapleton and Calthorp or other men of worship of this country agree to do; wherefore demean you in doing of your errands thereafter; and if ye shall bring any message from the lords, take writing, for Darcot's message is not verily believed because he brought no writing.

Item, this country would fain take these false shrews, that are of an opinion contrary to the king and his council, if they had any authority from the king to do so.

Item, my brother is rode to Yarmouth for to let bribers (hinder plunderers) that would have robbed a ship under colour of my Lord of Warwick, and belong nothing to them ward. JOHN PASTON.

1461. 1 E. IV.

5 Battle of Wakefield, wherein Richard Duke York was killed, fought 31st of December, 1460. 6 In Norfolk, it is now a fair and venerable ruin,

7 John Paston, Esq.; he died in 1466.

8 Sir Miles Stapleton ; he died about 1466.

LETTER CLXVI.—(IV. vol. i. p. 231.)

By this account it appears that Lord Montagu must have marched very soon after the battle of Towton to the siege of Carlisle; but our historians are silent on this subject. J. Paston does not appear to have been knighted at the coronation, John Markham and William Yelverton were called to the degree of serjeants, in 1440, and in 1444 both made judges; the former succeeded as chief justice of the King's Bench in 1462. Below the direction of this letter, and in a more modern hand, is written, "J. Paston, wh others imbilled to be made knights at the coronation of E. ye iiijth."

To my right good master, John Paston, in all haste.

AFTER my most special recommendation, please your mastership weet; the king, because of the siege of Carlisle, changed his day of coronation to be upon the Sunday next after Saint John Baptist, to the intent to speed him northward in all haste. And how be it, blessed be God, that he hath now good tidings that Lord Montagu hath broken the siege, and slain of Scots six thousand, and two knights, whereof Lord Clifford's brother is one, yet notwithstanding he will be crowned the said Sunday.

And John Jenney informed me, and as I have verily learned sithen (since) ye are inbilled to be made a knight at this coronation; whether ye have understanding beforehand, I wot not; but and it like you to take the worship upon you, considering the comfortable tidings aforesaid, and for the gladness and pleasure of all your well-willers, and to the pine and discomfort of all your ill-willers, it were time your gear necessary on that behalf

were purveyed for: and also ye had need hight you (come) to London, for as I conceive the knights should be made upon the Saturday before the coronation. And as much as may be purveyed for you in secret wise without cost I shall bespeak for you, if need be, against your coming, in trust of the best; nevertheless if ye be disposed, ye had need send a man before in all haste, that nothing be to seek. William Calthorp is inbilled, and Yelverton is inbilled, which caused Markham; because Yelverton looked to have been chief judge, and Markham thinketh to please him thus. And as for the matter against Pontrell, we can no farther proceed till we have my master your father's testament; I sent my mistress a letter for it. No more, but I pray Almighty Jesu have you in his keeping.

London,

2

Your THOMAS PLAYTERS.

May or June, 1461.

1 E. IV.

LETTER CLXVII.-(II. vol. iv. p. 7.)

In Letter L. we have seen that the Duke of Norfolk reported that Sir John Fastolf had given him Caister: we find he has now asserted his claim, and seems to be in possession: and though this letter contains nothing very curious, yet as it relates to Caister and to the possession of that estate, it was proper to give it to the reader, as it leads to a previous knowledge of circumstances, which a few years after brought on the regular siege of that place, the account of which is both remarkable and curious. It seems by this letter that the Duke of Norfolk was at this time keeping his secret house at the lodge, where the writer of this letter was not permitted to speak with him. The order for the establishment of the secret house is given in the Earl of Northumberland's Household-Book, where it is said that "at certain times of the year the nobility retired from their principal mansion to some little adjoining lodge; where they lived private, no longer kept open house, but put their servants to board-wages, dismissed part of them to go to their friends, and only retained a few of the most necessary about their person." Edward IV. was crowned on Monday the 29th of June, 1461; and from the mention of his coronation the exact date of this letter is ascertained. Corpus Christi day is the Thursday after the octave of Whitsunday.

To my right reverend and worshipful master, my master John Paston.

RIGHT reverend and worshipful master, I lowly recommend me unto your good mastership, pleaseth you to weet that I have been at Framlingham, and spake (with) Richard Southwell to have his advice in this matter, wherein he would give me but little counsel,

and said ye were strangely disposed, for ye

1 [There is no authority, we believe, for this translation of hight, although it here appears to be the meaning. The original may probably have been pight, to place or make ready.]

2 [Powtrell iu a previous letter.]

trusted no man; and had much language which the bearer hereof shall inform your mastership.

And as for the letters, they were delivered my lord at the lodge, but I could not speak with his lordship, and such time as they were delivered Fitzwilliam was there, which is now keeper of Caister, and what time as (when) my lord had seen the letters, he commanded him to avoid [leave], and so he did; and then my lord sent for Southwell, and in the mean time my lord sent a man to me and asked me where ye were, and I told him ye were with the king, and so he sent me word that an answer should be made by Southwell to the king, saying that two or three heirs had been with my lord and showed their evidence, and delivered it to my lord, saying they have great wrong, beseeching my lord that it might be reformed; wherefore he commanded me that I should go home, for other answer could I none have; so I abode (waited) upon Southwell to have known my lord's answer to the king, which answer Southwell told me was, that he writeth to the king that certain points in your letters be untrue, and that he shall prove (at) such time as he cometh before the king, beseeching the king to take it to no displeasure, for he is advised to keep it still unto the time that he hath spoken with his highness, for he trusteth to God to show such evidence to the king and to the lords that he should have best right and title thereto; and so he sent a man forth to the king this day;

his

it were right well done ye awaited upon man coming, that ye might know the ready intent of my lord's writing.

Bartholomew Ellis hath been with my lord, and made a release to my lord; and Sir William Chamberlaine was there two days before I came thither, I can think for the same matter; and Thomas Fastolf was there the same time that I was there, and as I am informed they have delivered my lord certain evidence; wherefore me seemeth it were right well done, saving your better advice, to come home and seal up your evidence, and have them with you to London, to prove his title nought. There be but two or three men within the place, and if ye think it best to do it send word, and I suppose a remedy shall be had.

Also, I hear no word of Master William, nor of the writs for the parliament. Also it is told here that Todenham and Heydon have a pardon of the king, and that they shall come up to London with the Lady of Suffolk to the coronation; also as for the letter that ye sent to Thomas Wingfield, I have it still, for he is at London; some men say he moved my lord for to enter, and some say Fitzwilliam is in default, so I can see there is but few good. Also my master Sir Thomas Howes shall send a letter to the person ye weet of for to deliver you the gear at London the next week. My right worshipful and reverend master, Almighty God preserve you. Written at Norwich, on the morrow after Corpus Christi day.

Your poor servant and beadsman,
RICHARD CALLE.

Norwich,

Friday, 5th of June, 1461. 1 E. IV.

LETTER CLXVIII.—(V. vol. i. p. 233.)

The manners of the times being what I wish to point out, this letter affords a remarkable instance of the superstition of that age. Holy Innocents, or Childermas day, is the 28th of December, a day reputed so unlucky that during the year many people even now (this is observed likewise in the Spectator') will not begin any new piece of work on that day of the week on which it happens. In the year 1460 this unfortunate day fell on a Sunday; at that time therefore they must reckon forwards in the next year for the weekly Childermas day, according as it happened in the December of the year preceding; as the 28th of June, in no year, could be on the same day of the week as the 28th of December in the same year; but it would seem that at this time they observed only the 28th day of every month as a Childermas day, and therefore ominous. Supposin it to have been either way, we here find this piece of superstition countenanced by a priest and celebratexi preacher; for such we must suppose Fryar Brakle, the person appointed to preach at St. Paul's at so publis a time as the day preceding a coronation.

To my right worshipful master, John Paston, at Heylesdon, in Norfolk, in haste. AFTER due recommendation had; please it your mastership to weet, that as for Playters

he shall excuse the writ of the parliament, &c. As touching my Master Howard, I cannot

yet speak with him nor with Montgomery neither; but as for the day of the coronation of the king, it shall be certainly the Monday next after Midsummer, and it is told me that ye amongst others are named to be made knight at the coronation, &c.

Item, it is said, that the coronation done, the king will into the north part forthwith; and therefore shall not the parliament hold, but writs shall go into every shire to give them that are chosen knights of the shire day after Michaelmas; this is told me by such as are right credible.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

LETTER CLXIX.—(III. vol. iv. p. 11.)

[Commou swearing is stated by the historians to have been very prevalent prior to and during this period; but we have in these letters met with few expressions tending to oaths; in this one, however, the writer first says perde, meaning par Dieu; a little farther he writes by God;" and he concludes with a still stronger adjuration.]

To my master, Paston.

RIGHT worshipful and mine especial good master, I recommend me to you with all my service, beseeching you heartily, at the reverence of God, to help me now in the greatest extremity that I came at since my great trouble with Ingham.

It is not out of your remembrance how Twyer in Norfolk vexeth me both by noise and searching mine house for me, so that there I cannot be in quiet, and all that, I am verily ascertained, is by Heydon's craft; and here in the king's house anenst (by means of) Howard, where I had hoped to have relieved myself, I am supplanted and cast out from him by a clamour of all his servants at once; and ne (nothing) were, only that his disposition accordeth not to my poor conceit, which maketh me to give less force, because I desire not to deal there (where) bribery is like to be used, else by my truth this unhappy unkindness would I trow have killed me. you at the reverence of Jesus Christ to inform

I pray

[The foregoing sentence is very obscure, but it stands thus, without any explanation, in Fenn's translation, and corresponds with the original as he has given it. We are, however, inclined to think there has been an error in the transcription, and that it should read thus :-and nothing were (i. e. there were no causes) save only that his disposition accordeth not to my poor conceit, (i. e. that his disposition, being greedy, accordeth not to my poor wit or reason, which maketh me to give less, for because I desire, &c. The use of the word for

my Lord of Warwick of me; perde (par Dieu) I have done him service; I was with him at Northampton, that all men know, and now again at St. Alban's, that knoweth James Ratcliffe, and there lost I twenty pounds worth horse, harness, and money, and was hurt in divers places. I pray you to get me his good lordship, and that I may be toward him in Norfolk in his courts holding, or else, if anything he has to do; and that ye will get me a letter to Twyer to let me sit in rest, for now if I made any fellowship against Twyer," I can have no colour, now the sheriff and I be out; so I must keep me apart, which I am loath to do, by God, if I might better do.

I beseech you to send me your intent by the next man that come from you; I should have come to you, but, so help me God, my purse may no farther. The Trinity preserve you.

at York, &c.

Written hastily

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

LETTER CLXX.-(IV. vol iv. p. 15.)

I think this letter was written about the beginning of Edward IVth's reign; but of that I cannot be certain. It shows Waryn Herman to be a troublesome neighbour. [Church of Burlingham seems to have been a sturdy opponent of the clergy, for though his goods are seized and himself thrown into prison, he avows what he has already done and said, and threatens damage to a greater person and to a greater extent than what he had already inflicted.]

As for

To my right worshipful husband, John Paston, be this delivered in haste. RIGHT worshipful husband, I recommend me to you, desiring heartily to hear of your welfare, praying you that ye will send me word in haste how ye be agreed with Witchingham and Inglos for that matter that ye spake to me of at your departing, for if I should purvey either wood or hay it should be bought best cheap betwixt this and Saint Margaret's mass (20th July), as it is told me. Appleyard he come not yet to this town since he come from London; I have sent to Sir Bryse to let me have knowledge when he cometh to town, and he hath promised that I shall have knowledge, and when he cometh I shall do your commandment. My mother bade me send you word that Waryn Herman hath daily fished her water all this year, and therefore she prayeth you to do therefore, while ye be at London, as ye think best. Church of Burlingham was taken and brought to the castle yesterday by the bishop's men, and all his goods be seized for that he oweth to the bishop; and the said Church saith, as for that he hath said of them that he hath appealed before this time, he will

avow it, and abide thereby; and saith that he will appeal one that hath more nobles than they have all that he hath spoken of yet, and that shall avail the king more than they have all that he hath spoken of yet, but what he is he will not name till he know more. I trow but if (unless) there be the great labour made against him, he is like to have great favour of them that have been his supporters; men think, that have spoken with him, that he hopeth to have good help; I pray God that the truth might be known.

I pray you that ye will vouchsafe to send me another sugar-loaf, for my old is done; and also that ye will do make (have made) a girdle for your daughter, for she hath need thereof. The blessed Trinity have you in his keeping.

Written at Norwich, in haste, on the Tuesday next before Saint Thomas's day. Paper is dainty.2

Yours, MARGARET PASTON.

Norwich, Tuesday,
end of June or beginning of July,
about 1461. 1 Ed. IV.

LETTER CLXXI.—(V. vol. iv. p. 19.)

This letter was written in the beginning of July in the year 1461, 1 E. IV. and relates to election matters. The multitude of commons must mean such as possessed freehold lands to the yearly value of 40s.; for in the eighth and tenth years of the reign of Henry VI. acts of parliaments passed to restrain all those from voting for knights of the shire who did not possess that property, &c. See 8 H. VI. c. vii. and 10 H. VI. c. ii. The last sentence is a prettily-turned compliment upon his mistress, Margaret Paston. It appears from the following letters that the writer of this was murdered a very few days after he wrote it, by a party in the interest of the House of Lancaster. [The Commons' testimonial seems not to have been confined to freeholders, but to be from the people generally. We have transposed this and the following letter from Fenn's arrangement, as it is clear that Berney's letter was written after Denyes' death. This letter must therefore have been written before July 10.]

To my right noble and worshipful mistress, my Mistress Paston, or to William Paston, if she be absent.

RIGIT noble and worshipful mistress, I recommend me to you with my poor service, and forsomuch as I hear nothing of my master

1 Whom Church means to appeal, or for what offence, does not appear, though it seems to be for some misdemeanor for which a fine would accrue to he king. [Appeal is here used in the sense of accuse.]

your husband's coming hastily home; and though he come or come not, it were expedient

2" Paper is deynty:" this, I believe, is the only letter in which a want of paper is complained of. The letter is written upon a piece nearly square, out of which a quarter had been cut before the letter was written.

« PoprzedniaDalej »