LETTER CCX.-(XXXV. vol. iv. p. 125.)

This letter is given as mentioning the death of one of the writers of letters in this collection, and as containing an historical fact relative to an embassy into Scotland, consisting of Richard Nevile, Earl of Warwick, Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, John Lord Wenlock, Laurence Booth, Bishop of Durham, &c. For the time of Christopher's death see Letter ccxii. P. 166.

To my right good master, John Paston the oldest, being at Heylesdon, beside Norwich, in haste.

John Paston appears, according to the commendable custom of those times, to have been brought up in the family of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, and at this time, when he was scarcely twenty years to have been an attendant upon him at his castle of Holt, in Denbighshire.

To my right reverend and worshipful father, John Paston, be this delivered in haste.

RIGHT reverend and worshipful father, I recommend me unto you, beseeching you lowly of your blessing. Please it you to have knowledge that my lord is purposed to send for my lady,' and is like to keep his Christmas here in Wales; for the king hath desired him to do the same, wherefore I beseech you that (you) would vouchsafe to send me some money by the bearer hereof; for in good faith, as it is not unknown to you, that I had but two nobles2 in my purse, which that Richard Calle took (delivered) me by your commandment when I departed from you out of Norwich.

The bearer hereof should buy me a gown with part of the money, if it please you to deliver him as much money as he may buy it with; for I have but one gown at Framlingham, and another here, and that is my livery gown,3 and we must wear them

Elizabeth Duchess of Norfolk, was daughter of John Talbot, the first Earl of Shrewsbury. 2 A noble is 6s. 8d.

3 We learn from hence that the young gentlemen

of age,

every day for the more part, and one gown without change will soon be done.

As for tidings, my Lord of Warwick yed (went) forwards into Scotland, as on Saturday last past with twenty thousand men, and Sir William Tunstall is taken with the garrison of Bamborough and is like to be headed, and by the means of Sir Richard Tunstall5 his own brother.

As soon as I hear any more tidings, I shall
send them you by the grace of God, who
have you in his keeping. Written in haste
at the castle of the Holt, upon Hallowmass
day.
Your son and lowly servant,
J. PASTON, jun.

Holt, 1st of November, 1462.
2 E. IV.

attending upon the great men were generally obliged to appear dressed in their livery gowns.

4 Bamborough Castle, in Northumberland, was taken by Queen Margaret, and garrisoned with Scots. 5 Sir William Tunstall was taken in the garrison on King Edward's part, whilst his brother, Sir Richard, was in the army of Queen Margaret.

LETTER CCXII.-(XVI. vol. i. p. 271.)

The facts mentioned in this letter are curious, as well those relative to the queen and lords, as those concerning Earl Douglas; and must have happened in 1462, or in the beginning of 1463.

To my master, John Paston, at Heylesdon.

ITEM, please you weet of other tidings; these lords in your other letter, with Lord Hastings and others, (have) been to Carlisle to receive in the Queen of Scots.1 And upon this appointment Earl Douglas is commanded to come thence, and as a sorrowful and a sore rebuked man lieth in the Abbey of Saint Alban; and by the said appointment shall not be reputed nor taken but as an Englishman, and if he come in the danger of Scots they to slay him. Item, King Harry and his adherents in Scotland shall be delivered; and Lord Dacre of the north is won and yielded, and the said lord, Sir Richard Tunstall, and one Byllingham in the said castle be taken and headed. Item,

LETTER CCXIII.-(XXXVI. vol. iv. p. 127.)

This letter, dated from Stamford (either in Northumberland or Yorkshire), appears to have been written in March 1462-3, when the king had an army in the north to act against the Scots, who had made several attempts in favour of Henry and Margaret. The letter is written in an easy and dutiful style, and the request in it seems reasonable from a young man attending his royal master in the field. In the year 1463 Easter Sunday fell upon the 10th of April, which gave a sufficient time for his father to have money ready for him according to his request. He subscribes himself the older, to distinguish himself from his younger brother John Paston. [It was not uncommon at this period, though it must have been inconvenient, to have. as in this instance, brothers or sisters with the same baptismal names.]

To mine right reverend and worshipful father, John Paston, being in the Inner Temple.

RIGHT reverend and worshipful father, I recommend me unto you, beseeching you of your blessing and good fatherhood. Please it you to understand the great expense that I have daily travelling with the

1 Mary, daughter to Arnold, Duke of Guelders, was married to James II., king of Scotland, in 1448, and died in 1463.

2 James Earl of Douglas was banished his own country, and being received by Edward in England with honour and respect was by him made a Knight of the Garter. In 1483 he was taken prisoner by the Scots, and detained a prisoner till his death, in 1488. He is said to have entered into holy orders.

king, as the bearer hereof can inform you, and how long that I am like to tarry here in this country ere I may speak with you again, and how I am charged to have mine horse and harness ready, and in hasty wise, beseeching you to consider these causes, and so to remember me that I may have such things as I may do my master service with, and pleasure, trusting in God it shall be to your worship and to mine avail; in especial I beseech you, that I may be sure where to have money somewhat before Easter, either of you or by mine uncle Clement, when need

is; of other causes the bearer hereof can Written at Stamford, the 13th day of inform you. No more to you at this time, March. but God have you in his keeping.

By your older son,
JOHN PASTON.

LETTER CCXIV.—(XXXVII. vol. iv. p. 129.)

This letter contains nothing by which we can exactly fix the date, though it must have been written between 1462 and 1465, as it appears from it that J. Paston's son had been knighted. The hint of him and his son being out of the king's good grace would fix it about 1465, as in 1466 J. Paston was committed to the Fleet, and died the same year. The exact date, however, is immaterial, the character of the father being the object of the reader's notice. [The writer is not known.]

To my worshipful master, Master Paston, the eldest.

RIGHT worshipful master, I recommend me unto your mastership, and of one matter at reverence of God take heed, for in truth I hear much talking thereof, and that is both in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Norwich among all men of worship, as well that love you as others, and that is of my master, your son Sir John, because he is so at home, and none other wise set for (provided for). Some say that ye and he both stand out of the king's good grace, and some say that ye keep him at home for negardchepe (niggardship, covetousness), and will no thing ware (spend) upon him, and so each man say his advice as it please him to talk; and I have inquired, and said the most cause is in part for cause ye

are so much out, that he is the rather at home for the safeguard of the coasts. But at the reverence of God eschewing of common language, see that he may worshipfully be set for either in the king's service or in marriage; for as for touching the Lady Chamberlayne2 that matter is done for, I spake with the parson thereof, and I heard by him that that matter will not pre. (q. will not succeed.)

No more, but God speed you as well in all matters as I would ye should do, I beseech you that this letter be kept secret.

By your beadsman, R. C. V. C.

Between 1462 and 1465.

2 and 5 E. IV.

LETTER CCXV.-(XXXVIII. vol. iv. p. 131.)

We have here the whole process of a writ of fieri facias, and the subterfuges used by the defendants to defeat its effect, which they seem to have understood as well formerly as in these days of modern refinements and vexatious proceedings. [Master Hugh Fenn appears not to have been quite so true and trusty a friend as he has been represented in some of the preceding letters.]

To my right worshipful mistress, my mistress, Margaret Paston, at Caister.

PLEASE it your good mistress-ship to weet, that a fieri facias 3 is come out of the Exche

quer for Hugh Fenn to the sheriff of Norfolk to make levy of two hundred marks (133l. 6s. 8d.)

Wingfield, and after his decease she became the wife of John Lord Scrope of Bolton. By the name of Lady Scrope she founded and endowed a fellowship in the college of Gonvile and Caius at Cambridge, originally founded by an ancestor of her ladyship's. She was born in 1426, and was alive in 1502. At the time this letter was writing she must have been nearly forty years old, when Sir John Paston could not have been much above twenty.

3 Fieri facias is a writ judicial, that lies (at all times

of the proper goods and chattels of my master, as executor of Sir Jolm Fastolf, of which fieri facias we sent my master word, which sent us word again by Berney that we should let the sheriff understand that my master never took upon him as executor, and so for that cause that writ was no warrant to take my master's goods; and also that my master made a deed of gift of all his goods and chattels to Master Prowet and Clement Paston and others, so that my master hath no goods whereof he should make levy of the foresaid sum; and if the sheriff would not take this for none answer, that then my master would he should be letted (hindered) in Master Prowet's and Clement Paston's names; nevertheless we spake with the sheriff this day, and let him understand the causes aforesaid, and he agreed, so that he might have surety to save him harmless, to make such return as my master of his counsel could devise,' and because my master wrote by Berney that he would not find the sheriff no surety, we would not appoint with him in that wise; and so we took advice of Thomas Green, and

because the under-sheriff shall be on Monday at (Potter) Heigham, by Bastwick Bridge end, he and we thought that it was best that Master Prowet should meet with the sheriff there, and require and charge him that by colour of the foresaid fieri facias that he make no levy of any goods and chattels of the said Prowet's and Clement Paston's against the said John Paston's, letting him weet that such goods, as the said Paston had, be now the said Prowet's and Clement Paston's by virtue of a deed of gift made to them almost two years ago; and if the sheriff will be busy after that to take any chattel, that he be letted in Master Prowet's name and Clement Paston's by Daubeney and others; which business of the sheriff shall be on Tuesday or Wednesday, and, as we understand, at Heylesdon; wherefore ye must send thither Daubeney with Peacock, and they may get them there more fellowship by the advice of master Sir John

LETTER CCXVI.—(XXXIX. vol. iv. p. 135.)

(The proceeding respecting Hall, "claimed for a bondman," is curious, and in a case where the damages were so large, the details we have no doubt would have been still more interesting; but were probably too well known to have been given in a familiar letter of the time. Villenage was nearly extinct at this time, but letters of enfranchisement were granted by Elizabeth, and villenage was pleaded, though unsuccessfully, as late as the reign of James I. See' Hallam's Middle Ages,' vol. iii.]

Unto my mistress, Margaret Paston, be this letter delivered in haste.

RIGHT worshipful mistress, I recommend me unto your good mistress-ship; please it you to weet that my master your husband, my mistress your mother, my master Sir John, Master William, Master Clement, and all their men were in good health when this letter was written, thanked be Jesu, and also their matters be in a good way, for my Lord Chancellor 2 is their singular good lord in this matter at this time, and that it proveth so

within the year and day, for him that hath recovered in an action of debt or damages) to the sheriff, to command him to levy the debt or damages of his goods against whom the recovery was had.

[Fenn has, by mistake, desire.]

2 George Nevile, Bishop of Exeter (or Archbishop of York), was Lord Chancellor at this time.

he was yesterday in the Exchequer, and there he had afore him all the judges, all the barons of the Exchequer, and all the serjeants, and there argued wher (whether) that the barons of the Exchequer should award any such commission or not, and upon that the said commission shall be brought upon Friday into the Chancery, and there to be proved whether it be lawful or not, &c.

Item, and if it please you to give Daveney knowledge that there is judgment given upon the condemnation against Hall, that he claimed for his bondman, and the judgment

3 We do not learn what this commission related to. 4 [Query if this name is not intended for Daubeney.]

LETTER CCXVII.-(XL. vol. iv. p. 139.)

I have given this letter for two reasons; the first, as it shows the ease with which the familiar conversation between the persons here mentioned is reduced to writing, and the second, as it throws some light upon the means used for manning and victualling such ships as then composed the navy of England.

To my most reverend and worshipful master, John Paston, dwelling at Heylesdon, be this delivered. ÎHS