that the king were informed of the demeaning of the shire, therefore I send to you a testimonial which is made by a great assent of great multitude of commons to send to the king; I pray you for the good speed thereof that in all haste possible ye like to send it to my said master if he be with the king, else find the mean to send it to the king though my master be thence; beside further that ye vouchsafe to let diligent labour be made to a sufficient number to asseal for my master alone, for if both hold not I would one held.

I pray you that it like you to send for my master, William Paston, and show him all this, and that it were hasted, for on the adversary's part Judas sleepeth not.

Berney promised to have sent, but for our Lord's love trust not that, for I see his sloth

and silly labour, which is no labour, and I would full fain speak with you, &c.

My master, your husband, will peradventure blame us all if this matter be not applied, for he may not of reason do so largely herein by his might, because he is elyted (elected), as the commons might wisely do with help of his favour if it were wisely wrought. If my master William Paston ride hastily from a x dayes (within ten days) to London, I will with him if he send me word. The Holy Trinity preserve you.

Written rudely in haste the Sunday, &c. Men say, send a wise man on thy errand and say little to him, wherefore I write briefly and little. THOMAS DENYES.

LETTER CLXXII.-(VI. vol. i. p. 237.)

[We have in this letter a very curions instance of the tendency to defamation and exaggeration, arising from limited publicity. After the press had come fully into operation, such unfounded charges as are here made could never have been hazarded, as they would have been followed by instant contradiction and the disgrace of the libeller. Fenn remarks: "Private duelling was unknown here at this period, and long after; the king's licence for a combat was necessary to be obtained; this procured, the combat proceeded publicly; in all matters of treason the vanquished party was immediately executed." The principle, however, avowed in this letter, seems to approach very closely to the modern practice; one party accuses the other of asserting falsehoods, and offers to make it good as "a gentleman."]

lords, that the said Stapylton, &c. make great gatherings of the king's rebellions (rebels) lying in wait to murder me; and in that Í may make open proof. Written in haste the 10th day of July, in the 1st year of the reign of Edward IV.

JOHN BERNEY.

To the worshipful John Paston, and William Rokewoode, Esq., and to overreach (each) of them. RIGHT worshipful cousins, I recommend me to you; and forasmuch as I am credibly informed how that Sir Myles Stapylton, knight, with other ill-disposed persons, defame and falsely noise me in murdering of Thomas Denyes, the coroner; and how that I intend to make insurrections contrary unto the law; and the said Stapylton farthermore noiseth me with great robberies, in which defamations and false noisings the said Stapylton, and in that his saying, he is false, that knoweth God, &c. And for my plain acquittal, if he or any substantial gentleman will say it and avow it, I say to it contrary; and by licence of the king to make it good as a gentleman. And in this my plain excuse, I pray you to open it unto the

Remember to take a writ to choose coroners in Norfolk.

10th of July, 1461. 1 E. IV.

1 [Elected does not appear to convey a right meaning, as, if elected, he would surely have been able to do more "largely." We think it more probably means elided-left or struck out. We think the meaning to be that if left out in the presentation of the testimonial to the king, he could not use his might so largely in favour of the commons as he could otherwise do.]

LETTER CLXXIII.—(VI. vol. iv. p. 21.)

This letter is undoubtedly written by John Paston to his wife Margaret Paston; it is therefore difficult to say why he directs to her as to his cousin. I suppose from the late change of government he was cautious of being known to correspond with any one, lest he should be suspected by either party; and as this letter was on matters relative to an election of knights of the shire, he might be particularly careful not to have his sentiments known, fearing another change might take place, as the times were so unsettled. Sir John Howard was sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk at this time, though the under-sheriff seems to have been the manager in these election disputes. J. Paston's advice concerning the election seems not only judicious, but calculated to promote the peace of the county; a thing at this period much to be desired by the new king. To my cousin, Margaret Paston,

LETTER CLXXIV.—(VII. vol. i v. p. 25.)

This is an answer to the preceding letter, and is plainly written by Margaret Paston to her husband John Paston, though it has no direction; it informs him what she had done towards executing his commands, and gives him further information. Richard Cheyne was parson of Little Snoring at this time, and John Fowler of Great Snoring. [The setting of the parson in the stocks, and the personating of Scottish soldiers in order to extort money, are two curious incidents. The Scotch had been brought in by Queen Margaret, and had probably received letters of safe-conduct for their return.]

Margaret Paston to John Paston.

sheriff needeth not to fear him, nor none of his, for he said, after the election was done, he spake with him at the Grey Friars, and prayed him of his good mastership, and said to him that he feared no man of bodily harm but only Twyer and his fellowship.

Item, Sir John Tatersalle, and the bailiff of Walsingham, and the constable, hath taken the parson of Snoring and four of his men, and set them fast in the stocks on Monday at night; and as it is said they should be carried up to the king in haste, God defend it but they be chastised as the law will. Twyer and his fellowship beareth a great weight of Thomas Denyes' death in the country about Walsingham, and it is said there, if John Osbern had ought him as good will as he did before that he was acquainted with Twyer he should not have died, for he might (have) ruled all Walsingham as he had list, as it is said.

Item, William Lynys, that was with Master Fastolf, and such other as he is with him, go fast about in the country and bear men a [in]

hand, priests and other, they be Scots, and take bribes of them and let them go again. He took the last week the parson of Fritton, and but for my cousin Jernyngham the younger they would have led him forth with them, and he told them plainly if they made any such doings there, but (unless) they had the letter to show for them, they should have aley on their bodies (be beaten);1 it were well done that they were met with betimes. It is told me that the said William reporteth of you as shamefully as he can in divers places. Jesu have you in his keeping. Written in haste, the Wednesday after Relick Sunday.

If the under-sheriff come home I will assay to do for him as ye desired me in your letter; as for money, I have sent about, and I can get none but 13s. 4d. since ye went out; I will do my part to get more as hastily as I

LETTER CLXXV.-(VII. vol. i. p. 239.)

It was certainly incumbent upon the king to pay every mark of attention to those who had espoused his cause, and helped to seat him on the throne, and to make them appear with consequence amongst their tenants and dependents as noticed and rewarded by him: at the same time, it was certainly a wise measure in the prince to endeavour to attach to his interest as many as he could of those who had espoused a contrary party. This Edward seems to have been endeavouring to accomplish, though, if we may suppose the writer of this letter unbiassed, he began already to neglect those who had served him in the most critical time.

To the worshipful John Paston, and to my cousin William Rokewood, Esq. with my Lord of
Canterbury.

RIGHT worshipful Sir, I recommend me to
you, praying you heartily to labour for that
the king may write unto me, giving me
thanking of the goodwill and service that I
have done unto him, and in being with him
against his adversaries and rebellions, as well
in the north as in this country of Norfolk.
And in that the king should please the
commons in this country; for they grudge,
and say how that the king receiveth such of
this country, &c. as have been his great
enemies, and oppressors of the commons; and
such as have assisted his highness be not
rewarded;
and it is to be considered, or else
it will hurt, as me seemeth by reason; and in

aid of this changeable rule it were necessary to move the lords spiritual and temporal, by the which it might be reformed, &c. And in case that any of mine old enemies, Todenham, Stapylton, and Heydon, with their affinity, labour the king and lords unto my hurt, I am and will be ready to come to my sovereign lord for my excuse, so that I may

[The original has "they should aley on her bodys." Fenn's interpolation appears unnecessary and his explanation too precise. We have not met with the word aley elsewhere in our older writers, but think it signifies here the same as alewe used by Spencer and others for howling, crying through suffering.]

come safe for unlawful hurt purveyed by my said enemies. No more at this time, but God preserve you in grace. Written at Witch

ingham, the 16th day in the month of July,

Witchingham,

16th of July, 1461.

1 E. IV.

in the first year of the reign of Edward
IV.
JOHN BERNEY.
Please it you move this unto my Lords
Canterbury, Ely, Norwich,1 &c.

This letter was sealed with an oval seal of wax, having a braid of
twine round it, of which we give an engraving.

LETTER CLXXVI.-(VIII. vol. iv. p. 29.)

This is the letter mentioned by Margaret Paston in the previous one to her husband, and explains the behaviour of the under-sheriff, who appears to have been in an opposite interest to Berney, and in the party of the lately dethroned King Henry. The other letter sent by Berney is No. clxxii. dated the 10th of July, 1461.

To the right worshipful John Paston, Esq. in haste.

SIR, I recommend me to you, &c. and as for my plain disposition towards the undersheriff, I will him no bodily hurt, nor (he) shall not be hurt by me, nor by no man that I may rule; but the commons through all the shire be moved against him for cause of his light demeaning towards them for this election of knights of the shire for the parliament; and I suppose, if that he will, he may be hastily eased; as thus, let him make notice unto the said commons that this their election shall stand, or else let him purchase a new writ, and let him make writing unto

LETTER CLXXVII.-(IX. vol. iv. p. 31.)

JOHN BERNEY.

This and some of the foregoing letters are very curious, as they afford a striking picture of the times, and display the misfortunes ever attendant on the people at large when so violent a convulsion happens in the government of a kingdom.

To my worshipful husband, John Paston, this letter be delivered in haste.

RIGHT worshipful husband, I recommend me to you, please it you to weet that I am desired by Sir John Tatersalle to write to you for a commission, or an oyer and terminer, for to be sent down into this country to sit upon the parson of Snoring, and on such as was cause of Thomas Denyes' death, and for many and great horrible robberies; and as for the costs thereof the country will pay therefore, for they be sore afraid but (unless) the said death be chastised, and the said robberies, they are afraid that more folks shall be served in like wise. As for the priest

and six of his men that be taken, they be delivered to Twyer, and four be with them of the country's cost for to be sent with to the king; and if they be brought up, at the reve rence of God do your part that they escape not, but that they may have the judgment of the law and as they have deserved; and be committed to prison, not to depart till they be inquired of their foresaid robbery by such

1 Thomas Bourchier was Archbishop of Canterbury William Gray Bishop of Ely, and Walter Hart Bishop of Norwich.

2 [Too in original; Fenn in error has so.]

a commission that ye can get, that the king and the lords may understand what rule they have been of, not only for the murders and the robberies, but as well for the great insurrection that they were like a made (to have made) within the shire. The priests of Caister they be straitly take heed1 at by Robert Harmerer and other, so that the said priests may have nothing out of their own nor of other men's but they be ransacked, and the place is watched both by day and night; the priests think right long till they (have)

LETTER CLXXVIII.-(X. vol. iv. p. 33.)

This letter appears to have been written in 1461, as it insinuates a suspicion of treason against Sir Thomas Todenham, &c. who was a faithful Lancastrian, and suffered on the block, for corresponding with the late queen, in the February following the date of this letter.

To the right worshipful Sir and my good master, my master, John Paston, be this delivered.

REVEREND and right worshipful Sir, and my good master, I recommend me to you; praying you to weet that there is raised a slanderous noise in this country upon my master Yelverton, and you, and my master Alyngton, which I suppose is done to bring you out of the conceit of the people, for at this day ye stand greatly in the country's conceit.

It is said by Heydon and his disciples that my master Yelverton, and ye, and my master Alyngton, should have do (made) one Sir Thomas Tartyssale" parson of the east church of Warham,3 and chaplain to the Prior of Walsingham, to put into the parliament a bill of divers treasons done by my Lord of Norwich, Sir Thomas Todenham, and John

4

["Tak hede" of the original is perhaps intended for attacked; or it may mean that they be "streyteley" watched, only that this is said afterwards.] 2 [Probably the same name, though not the same person, as the Tatersalle of several preceding letters.] 3There were three churches in the parish of Warham.

Thomas Hunt was admitted prior in 1437.

5 Walter Lyhart (or Hart, as he is named in page 138,] was declared Bishop of Norwich by papal provision in 1446. He was a man of singular wisdom, and, being of a peaceable disposition, was much beloved by the citizens. In 1449 he entertained King Henry VI. at his palace in Norwich, and being a man of great political abilities, was sent in the same year ambassador into Savoy. He died on Whitsunday,

Heydon, and ye should have set (there)to your seals; and if that Heydon had been six hours from the parliament longer than he was, there had been granted an oyer determiner to have inquired of them, &c. This was told yesterday in right worshipful audience, and among the thriftiest men of this country; and they said right shrewdly, for my Lord of Norwich hath so flattered the lay people as he hath ridden about [in] his visitation that he hath their hearts; wherefore and (if) it please you to let me have knowledge what ye would I should say to it, where as I hear any such language, I will do my part, and have done hitherward as I have thought in my conceits best, &c. and if there be any other service that ye will command me, I am and will be ready at your commandment with the grace of God, who ever have you in his blessed keeping. Written at Wighton in haste, on Saint James's day.