LETTER CLXXIX. -(XI. vol. iv. p. 37.) This letter is not the only one from John Paston, to his wife, which is directed to his cousin Margaret Paston. He had therefore, I suppose, at this time some particular reasons for concealing his correspondence; it might be either for some public reason on the late change of government, or for some private reason on his own affairs. John Berney was the second son of John Berney, Esq. of Reedham, and inherited from his father estates in Witchingham; he was uncle to Margaret Paston, and died in July 1461. His worth in money and plate was considerable for that age, and the caution which was taken in those unsettled times to conceal property is worthy observation. As Thomas Holler was become, by the decease of John Berney, the only person who had knowledge of some of his property, the desire which Paston expresses that his wife should first get information, and then acquaint him with his friend's death, seems to insinuate doubts of his hoensty respecting the goods, &c. The hint, too, that he has a written account of them, any implies the same suspicion. To my worshipful cousin, Margaret Paston, be this delivered in haste. I RECOMMEND me unto you, letting you weet that your uncle John Berney is dead, (on) whose soul God have mercy! desiring you to send for Thomas Holler, and inquire of him where his good is, and what he is worth, and that he take good heed to all such goods as he had, both moveable and unmoveable, for I understand that he is worth in money five hundred marks (3331. 6s. 8d.) and in plate to the value of other five hundred marks, beside other goods; wherefore I would ye should not let him weet of his decease unto the time that ye had inquired of the said Thomas Holler of all such matters as be above written; and when he hath informed you thereof, then let him weet verily that he is dead, desiring him that no man come into his place at Reedham but himself, unto the time that I come. Item, I let you weet that great part of his good is at William Taverner's as I understand. Thomas Holler will tell you justly the truth as I suppose, and desire him on my behalf that he do so, and there is writing thereof; and tell Thomas Holler that and he be executors named, and therefore let him take heed that the goods be kept safe, and that nobody know where it shall lie but ye and Thomas Holler; and Thomar Holler, as your uncle told me, is privy where all his good lieth, and all his writings; and so I will that ye be privy to the same for casualty of death, and ye two shall be his executors for me as long as ye do truly, as I trow verily ye will. Written at London the 28th day of July. I require you be of good comfort, and be not heavy [slow] if ye will do aught for me. Your JOHN PASTON. London, Tuesday, 28th July, 1461. 1 E. IV. LETTER CLXXX.-(XII. vol. iv. p. 39.) We have here an instance of the tumultuous and desperate manner in which distresses were made; in this case corn seems to have been the object. It appears that another entry of the same kind was intended. It is not said which of his sons J. Paston had sent. [In cases of disputed right, which this appears to have been, force is yet frequently used on both sides, as the readiest means of trying the right legally, although only incidentally, upon the question of assault or riot. The levy would appear to have been intended on the crops, but "Blake had hoom the corn" before the 24th of August, a rather early harvest.] To my worshipful and right good master, John Paston, Esq. WORSHIPFUL Sir, and my right good master, I recommend me to you, and heartily I thank your good mastership that ye liked to send my master your son to Sporle with such fellowship as ye did, for which I am ever bound to do you service, praying you of your good continuance. Sir, the cause, why I came not was this, 1 I was fallen sick with an axis (access), and truly that caused me that I and my fellowship tarried, and so because thereof I caused my lady to write a special letter to my Lord Scales, but for all that Blake hath home the corn An axes, or access, from the French word acces, means the fit or paroxysm of a disease, and in this place most probably may be considered as an ague fit. in my Lady of Suffolk's name; and the cause why I sent no word of my sickness was that I would not mine enemy should be rejoiced by the knowledge of my sickness, so God help me; the fellowship that was ready to go was right sorry that they might not go farther with me, and my lord's and my lady's will was that they should have gone farther, but if I had been hele (well) and not sick, there should have come a worshipful fellowship out of Suffolk of so little warning, but truly I lay sick at Ipswich of the access both Sunday and Monday; but, Sir, since ye have showed me so kindly your good mastership, I pray you I may have your fellowship ready at another time to help to execute a commission touching Blake, and that they may be ready within two days after ye have warning; and, Sir, my service is ready to you at all times, as ye show me great cause to do you service. Written at Thelverton, the Wednesday next before St. Bartholomew's day (24th of August) in haste. Your servant, WILLIAM JENNEY.2 Thelverton, Wednesday, LETTER CLXXXI.-(XIII. vol. iv. p. 43.) This letter was written whilst the Earl of Warwick was in the North Marches, endeavouring to manage matters with regard to the Scots. He went thither soon after the coronation, and before the king had called a parliament. What the matter was in which J. Paston had been so strangely treated does not appear. The account of his son is curious, and shows us that in that remote age money was in a certain degree as necessary as it would be now, for the bringing a young gentleman properly forward amongst his equals. It appears from several of these letters that J. Paston kept his children rather too strait for a man of his birth and fortune. To my right worshipful and reverend master, John Paston, at Norwich. RIGHT worshipful Sir, and my right honourable master, I recommend me lowly to you; and please your mastership to weet that my master Clement your brother and Playters wrote a letter to my master your son yesterday, the tenor of which was how ye were entreated there, and as ye desired me, so I informed them the matter along, for they wist not of it till I told them, and they wrote the more pleynerly [fully]3 inasmuch as a worshipful man rode the same day, and bare the letter to my said master your son.* The Lord Bourchier is with the king, and my Lord Warwick still in the north, &c. Item, Sir, this day came one John Waynfleet from the king straitway, and he is of mine acquaintance: and he told me there was no voice nor speaking about the king of I suppose these mean the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk. 2 William Jenney, of Knotishall, in Suffolk, was an eminent lawyer, and in 1477 was made a judge of the King's Bench: he died in 1483, aged above sixty years. I believe this letter was written in the beginning of the reign of Edward IV. On the back is written, in an ancient hand, "A friendly l're of W. Jenney, who after became a mortal enemye." 3 [Fenn translates " 'plainerly" (plainly) It is apparently from the French plein.] that matter, and I told him all the matter along how ye were entreated, which he will put in remembrance in any place that he cometh in in Suffolk or Essex as he goeth homewards, for he oweth no good-will to your adversary. And the said Waynfleet told me that he knoweth for certain the king cometh not into Norfolk till he hath been upon the marches of Wales, and so there is no certainty of his coming this many days; he told me he left the king with a small fellowship about him. And I inquired (of) him of the guiding of my master your son, which he commended greatly, and said that he stood well in conceit, and daily should increase; and he was well in acquaintance and beloved with gentlemen about the king; but he said there shall nothing hurt him but your straitness of 4 [This is a curious exemplification of the evils arising from uncertain means of communication. It would appear from this that the contents of the letter, as far as regarded matters of importance, must depend much upon the trust-worthiness of the messenger. Here, as the messenger was "a w'rchypfull man,' the letter was written "more pleynerly" than it would otherwise have been. "The matter in which J. Paston, had been so strangely treated," was proba bly the quarrel with Howard's men, alluded to by his son in Letter clxxxii.] money to him, for without he have money in his purse, so as he may reasonably spend among them, else they will not set by him; and there be gentlemen's sons of less reputation, that hath money more liberal ten times than he hath; and so in that the said Waynfleet said it were full necessary for you to remember, &c. As for tidings here be none new, &c. I trust I shall bring you a letter from my master your son, or than (when) I come, for which I shall rather than fail abide one day London, Sunday, 23 August, 1461. 1 E. IV. LETTER CLXXXII.-(XIV. vol. iv. p. 47.) This is a most curious letter, and exhibits an undisguised picture of great men in the fifteenth century. J. Paston shows himself a persevering advocate, and my Lord of Essex a true courtier. He at last mentions the business to the king, and informs J. Paston of the king's conversation on the subject, which certainly redounds much to his majesty's honour. The hint from Berners, my Lord Treasurer's man, is cleverly introduced, and the manner of making the compliment to the Earl of Essex is ingeniously contrived, and shows Berners to be one who understood his business well. He was most probably a relation of the Earl's family, as the Earl's brother, John Bourchier, married Margery, a daughter of Sir Thomas Berners, of West Horsely, in Surrey. To my right reverend and worshipful father, John Paston, Esq., dwelling in Heylesdon, be this letter delivered in haste. MOST reverend and worshipful father, I recommend me heartily, and submit me lowlily, to your good fatherhood, beseeching you for charity of your daily blessing; I beseech you to hold me excused that I sent to you none erst (no earlier) no writing, for I could not speed to mine intent the matters1 that ye sent to me for. I have laboured daily my Lord of Essex,2 Treasurer of England, to have moved the king both of the manor (of) Dedham and of the bill copy of the court roll every morning afore he went to the king, and often times inquired of him and (if) he had moved 1["The matters" is omitted in Fenn's translation.] 2 Henry Viscount Bourchier, Lord Treasurer of England, was created Earl of Essex in 1461, in the first year of the reign of Edward IV. He was a man of great knowledge and application to business, and at different times filled most of the great offices of state. His death happened in 1483. He was uncle to the king by his marriage with a sister of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, the king's father. the king in these matters; he answered me nay, saying it was no time, and said he would it were as fain sped as I myself, oft times delaying me, that in truth I thought to have sent you word that I feeled by him that he was not willing to move the king therein; nevertheless I laboured to him continually, and prayed Baronners (Berners?) his man to remember him of it. I told often times to my said lord that I had a man tarrying in town that I should have sent to you for other sundry matters, and he tarryed for nothing but that I might send you by him an answer of the said matters; other times beseeching him to speed me in these matters for this cause, that ye should think no default in me for remembering in the said matters. And now of late, I remembering him of the same matter, inquired if he had moved the king's highness therein, and he answered me that he had felt and moved the king therein, rehearsing the king's answer therein, how that when he had moved the king in the said manor of Dedham, beseeching him to be your good lord therein, considering the service and true part1 that ye have done and owe to him, and in especial the right that ye have thereto; he said he would be your good lord therein, as he would be to the poorest man in England, he would hold with you in your right, and as for favour he will not be understood that he shall show favour more to one man than to another, not to one in England. And as for the bill, copied of the court roll, when he moved to him of it, he smiled, and said that such a bill there was, saying that ye would have oppressed sundry of your Countrymen of worshipful men, and therefore he kept it still, nevertheless he said he should look it up in haste, and ye should have it. Baronners undertook to me twice or thrice that he should so have remembered his lord and master that I should have had it within two or three days; he is often times absent, and therefore I have it not yet, when I can get it I shall send it you, and of the king's mouth, his name that take it him. 2 for I send you home Peacock again, he is not me, God send grace that he may do you good service, that by estimation is not likely; ye shall have knowledge afterward how he hath demeaned him here with me; I would, saving your displeasure, that ye were delivered of him, for he shall never do you profit nor worship. I suppose ye understand that the money that I had of you at London may not endure with me till that the king go into Wales and come again, for I understand it shall be long ere he come again, wherefore I have sent to London to mine uncle Clement to get an hundred shillings of Christopher Hanson your servant, and send it me by my said servant, and mine harness with it, which I left at London to make clean. I beseech you not to be displeased with it, for I could make none other chevisance (con 1 [Fenn has heart by mistake.] [That is, and out of or from the king's mouth, his name that took it to him.] tract), but I should have borrowed it of a strange man, some of my fellows, which I suppose should not like you and ye heard of it another time. I am in surety where as I shall have another man in the stead of Peacock. My Lord of Essex saith he will do as much for you as for any esquire in England, and Baronners his man telleth me, saying, "your father is much beholden to my lord, for he loveth him well;" Bernners moved me once, and said that ye must needs do somewhat for my lord and his; and I said I wist well that ye would do for him that lay in your power, and he said that there was a little money betwixt you and a gentleman of Essex called Dyrward, saying that there is as much between my said lord and the said gentleman, of the which money he desireth your part. It is talked here how that ye and Howard should have striven together on the Shire day," and one of Howard's men should have stricken you twice with a dagger, and so ye should have been hurt but for a good doublet that ye had on at that time, blessed be God that ye had it on! No more I write to your good fatherhood at this time, but Almighty God have you in his keeping, and send you victory of your enemies, and worship increasing to your life's ending. Written at Lewes,7 on St. Bartholomew's even. By your servant and elder son, JOHN PASTON. Lewes, in Sussex, 23 August, 1461 or 1462. 1 or 2 E. IV. 3 [Original, cheysaunce-perhaps choosance or choice, though chevisance may be right. But is so continually used in the sense of except that an explanation at every time of its occurrence is unnecessary.] [I am in surety where I can procure, &c.] 5 [So spelt in this instance in the original.] 6 This was probably occasioned by some election or other dispute which arose at the county court. 7 The date of this letter is, in some measure, ascertained by the place from which it is written, as the king in the summer of 1462 took a progress through several parts of his kingdom; namely, to Canterbury, Sandwich, Lewes, &c., and so along the coast to Southampton, from whence he proceeded to the marshes of Wales. LETTER CLXXXIII.-(XV. vol. iv. p. 53.) [The economy of the royal household is incidentally shown in this letter. It appears that not all the followers of the court were provided for at the king's expense, and that the cost of attending the king in his journeys was greater than when he was resident in London. The quarrel with Howard is again alluded to.] To his right reverend and worshipful brother, John Paston. RIGHT reverend and worshipful brother, I recommend me to your good brotherhood, desiring to hear of your welfare and good prosperity, the which I pray God increase to his pleasure and your heart's ease, certifying you that I have spoken with John Russe, and Playters spoke with him, both (also)' on Friday before St. Bartholomew; he told us of Howard's guiding, which made us right sorry, till we heard the conclusion that ye had none harm. Also I understand by William Peacock that my nephew had knowledge thereof also upon Saturday next before St. Bartholomew in the king's house; notwithstanding upon the same day Playters and I wrote letters unto him, rehearsing all the matter, for cause if there were any questions moved to him thereof, that he should tell the truth, in case that the questions were moved by any worshipful man, and named my Lord Bourchier," for my Lord Bourchier was with the king at that time. I feel by William Peacock that my nephew is not yet verily acquainted in the king's house, nor with the officers of the king's house; he is not taken as none [one] of that house, for the cooks be not charged to serve him, nor the sewer to give him no dish, for the sewer will not take no men no dishes 'till they be commanded by the controller; also he is not acquainted with nobody but with Wykes,3 and Wykes had told him that he would bring him to the king, but he hath not yet done so; wherefore it were best for him to [We know of no authority for such a translation of both. We think it means both of us or both together. The context supports this view, as it adds that he (Russe) told us (C. Paston and Playters) of Howard's guiding, &c.] 2 William Viscount Bourchier, eldest son of Henry Bourchier, who was created Earl of Essex in June 1461 he was cousin to Edward IV. and died in the life-time of his father. 3 John Wykes was an usher of the king's chamber, and a friend and cousin of J. Paston's. take his leave and come home till ye had spoken with somebody to help him forth, for he is not bold enough to put forth himself; but then I considered that if he should now come home, the king would think that when he should do him any service somewhere, that then ye would have him home, the which should cause him not to be had in favour; and also men would think that he were put out of service. Also William Peacock telleth me that his money is spent, and not riotously, but wisely and discreetly, for the costs is greater in the king's house when he rideth then ye wend it had been, as William Peacock can tell you; and therefore we must get him one hundred shillings at the least, as by William Peacock's saying, and yet that will be too little, and I wot well we cannot get forty pence of Christopher Hanson, so I shall be fain to lend it him of mine own silver; if I knew verily your intent were that he should come home I would send him none; therefore I will do as me thinketh ye should be best pleased, and that me thinketh is to send him the silver; therefore I pray you (as) hastily as ye may send me again five marks (31. 68. 8d.) and the remanent I trow I shall get upon Christopher Hanson and Loket. I pray you send me it as hastily as ye may for I shall leave myself right bare, and I pray you send me a letter how ye will that he shall be demeaned. Written on Tuesday after St. Bartholomew, &c. Christus vos conservet! By CLEMENT PASTON. chenment paston August, about 1461 or 1462. 1 or 2 E. IV. [Fenn translates" any service, it were," &c. The original is "ony srvie so wer yt," &c.] |