LETTER XLVII.-(XXXV. vol. iii. p. 147.) The writer of this letter might be sister (or daughter) of John Crane, the gentleman whose signature is to Letter xxviii., p. 20. The date must remain quite uncertain between the years 1450 and 1460, which indeed is totally immaterial, as the letter is given merely to show that young women of good families were brought up as attendants upon ladies of rank, and served them, not only in the capacity of the modern "lady's woman," but were taught all kinds of needleworks, pastry, cookery, &c., thus qualifying them to become good mothers, frugal housewives, and useful members of the community. To my cousin, Margaret Paston, be this letter delivered. RIGHT worshipful cousin, I recommend me unto you, desiring to hear of your welfare; and if it like you to hear of my welfare, at the making of this letter I was in good hele, loved be God. The cause of my writing to you at this time is this, praying you to send me word of your welfare, and how ye do of your sickness, and if the medicine do you any good that I sent you writing of last; thanking you of the great friendship that ye have done to my mother with all my heart. Also I pray you that ye will be good mean to my cousin your husband, that he will see that my father be well ruled in his livelihood for his worship and his profit. Also praying you to hold me excused that I have written no oftener to you, for, in good faith, I had no leisure, for my lady hath been sick at London near hand this quarter of this year, and that hath been great heaviness to me; but now, blessed be God, she is amended, and is in the country again. Also thanking you of the great cheer that I had of you when I was with you last with all my heart, praying you of good continuance, for I had never greater need than I have now, and if I had leisure and space I would write to you the cause. No more at this time, but the Holy Trinity have you in his keeping. Written at Windsor, the 29th day of June. Also, cousin, I pray you to send me some Norfolk thread to do about my neck,1 to ride with. By your poor beadswoman and cousin, Windsor, 29th June, between 1450 and 1460. 29 and 39 H. VI. LETTER XLVIII.-(XXXVI. vol. iii. p. 151.) We see here a terrible instance of the ungovernable spirit of a multitude raised against the chief officer of the county for a supposed offence, for it does not appear that the sheriff had secreted or delayed the writ; if he had done so, it is a treatment he might have expected in such unsettled and sanguinary times. Even in this modern age of refinement, we see election disputes conducted with an animosity, by the friends of the different candidates, which in their cool and dispassionate moments they are themselves shocked at and ashamed of. [Sir John is rather too earnest about an election row. The delay of a writ of election is not a trifle, and the sheriff's answer, he "wist not who had it," rather implies that some one had it; nevertheless the tumult went not beyond noise, the house is not forced, and nothing "sanguinary" appears to have happened. The contemplated deputation to the king, of "an hundred or two hundred of the thriftiest men,' was, probably, on the part of the corporation, to absolve themselves from any fault in this insult to the sheriff.] To my right reverend and most worshipful master, my master, John Paston. RIGHT worshipful and my most reverend 1 Something like a modern tippet seems meant, to be put about her neck as part of her riding dress. 2 Childermas day is the 28th of December, and the day of the week on which it fell was reckoned an under-sheriff had a writ to make a new election, wherefore the people was grieved because they had laboured so often, saying to the sheriff that he had the writ, and plainly he should not away unto the time the writ were read. The sheriff answered and said unfortunate day throughout the following year to begin any undertaking, &c. The same superstition at this time reigns in many places, and amongst many persons even above the vulgar. that he had no writ, nor wist who had it: hereupon the people peaced (became peaceable), and stilled unto the time the shire was done, and after that done, the people called upon him, "kill him, head him," and so John Damme, with help of others, gat him out of the shire-house, and with much labour brought him into Spurrier Row,' and there the people met against him, and so they avoided [withdrew] him into an house, and kept fast the door unto the time the mayor was sent for, and the sheriff, to strengthen him, and to convey him away, or else he had been slain; wherefore divers of the thrifty men came to me, desiring that I should write unto your mastership to let you have understanding of the guiding of the people, for they be full sorry of this trouble; and that it please you to send them your advice how they shall be guided and ruled, for they were purposed to have gathered an hundred or two hundred of the thriftiest men, and to have come up to the king to let the king have understanding of their mocking. And also the people fear them sore of you, and of Master Berney, because ye come not home. Please you that ye remember the bill I sent you at Hallowmas for the place and lands at Beighton which Cheeseman had in his farm for five marks (31. 68. 8d.); there will no man have it above forty-six shillings and eight pence, for Alblaster and I have done as much thereto as we can, but we cannot go above that, and yet we cannot let it so for this year without they have it for five or six years; I wrote to your mastership hereof but I had none answer, wherefore I beseech you that I may have answer of this by twelfth (6 January) for and (if) we have an answer of this by that time we shall enfeoff' him with all, &c. My right worshipful and my most reverend master, Almighty Jesu preserve you and send you the victory of your enemies, as I trust to Almighty Jesu ye shall. Written at Norwich on St. Thomas's Day after Christmas Day. Your poor servant and beadsman, Norwich, St. Thomas Becket, 29th Dec. between 1450 and 1460. LETTER XLIX.-(XXXVII. vol. iii. p. 155.) This letter, from a favourer of the Duke of York's interest, must have been written between the years 1451 and 1456, at such time as the king was under the direction and guidance of the Yorkists, as it affords us a variety of directions relative to their proceedings, and for their acquiring friends in the House of CommonsSir William Oldhall was Speaker of that House in 1451 and 1452, but it does not appear that he was so at the time this letter was written, though, from his being so particularly mentioned, if not Speaker, he was certainly a man of weight and consequence there. J. Paston also seems to have been a man of much consideration and interest in the county of Norfolk, from the requests here made to him, and the instructions given him. [The directions here given for getting up a political agitation," and for conducting an election, are amusing from their resemblance to more modern efforts for similar ends; and instructive, as showing the weight and importance which even thus early was due to the expression of public opinion. The letter is no doubt from a strong political partisan, and the opinions of, and expressions applied to, his opponents (for instance, that Lord Molyn's adherents are beasts) exaggerated, yet from previous letters, where we see complaints of Heydon,Todenham, &c., it is clear that the "agitation," though perhaps unduly excited, was not unfounded.] To my master, John Paston, in right great haste. 1 Spurrier Row was what is now called the White Lyon Lane, and leads from the castle ditches to the market-place it took its name from the shops of those who sold saddles, bridles, spurs, &c. &c. 2 [It was the under-sheriff who was attacked, although he is here sometimes styled the sheriff.] 3 It appears by this that the rents of lands were at this time declining, owing most probably to the un than my master writeth unto you of; I heard much thing in Fleet-street; but, Sir, my settled state of the nation. [Farmers were then evidently aware of the value of a fixed term, and, though rents were declining, would not take a farm at a reduced rent, except under a lease for five or six years.] 4 [He afterwards married Margery, the daughter of J. Paston. The date of this letter is uncertain, but most probably towards the latter part of the reign of Henry VI.] lord was with the king, and he visaged so the matter that all the king's household was, and is, afraid right sore; and my said lord hath put a bill to the king, and desired much thing which is much after the commons' desire, and all is upon justice, and to put all those that be indicted under arrest, without surety or mainprise, and to be tried by law as law will, insomuch that on Monday Sir William Oldhall was with the king at Westminster more than two hours, and had of the king good cheer; and the king desired of Sir William Oldhall that he should speak to his cousin York that he would be good lord to John Penycock, and that my Lord of York should write unto his tenants that they should suffer Penycock's officers (to) go and gather up his rent-farms within the said Duke's lordships; and Sir William Oldhall answered again to the king, and prayed him to hold my lord excused, for though my lord wrote under his seal of his arms, his tenants will not obey it, insomuch (that) when Sir Thomas Hoe met with my Lord of York beyond Saint Alban's the western men fell upon him and would have slain him, had (not) Sir William Oldhall abeen [been there], and therefore would the western men have fallen upon the said Sir William and have killed him, and so he told the king. Sir Borle Yonge and Josse labour sore for Heydon and Todenham to Sir William Oldhall, and proffer more than two thousand pounds for to have his good lordship, and therefore it is none other remedy but let Swaffham men be warned to meet with my said lord on Friday next coming at Pickenham on horseback in the most goodly wise, and put some bill unto my lord of Sir Thomas Todenham, Heydon, and Prentice, and cry out on them, and that all the women of the same town be there also, and cry out on them also, and call them extortioners, and pray my lord that he will do sharp execution upon them. And my master counsels you that ye should move the mayor and all the aldermen with all their commoners to ride against (to meet) my lord, and that there be made bills, and put them up to my lord, 1 1 [More correctly towards.] 2 [The name of this Norfolk family is generally and let all the town cry out on Heydon, Todenham, Wyndham, and Prentice, and of all their false maintainers, and tell my lord how much hurt they have done to the city, and let it be done in the most lamentable wise, for, Sir, but if (unless) my lord hear some foul tales of them, and some hideous noise and cry, by my faith they are else like to come to grace, and therefore, Sir, remember you of all these matters. Sir, also I spake with William Norwich, and asked him after the Lord Molyns how he stood to my lord ward, and he told me he was sore out of grace, and that my Lord of York loveth him nought; William Norwich told me that he durst undertake for to bring you unto my lord, and make him your right good lord; and, Sir, my master counselled you that ye should not spare, but get you his good lordship. Sir, beware of Heydon, for he would (have) destroyed you by my faith. The Lord Scales and Sir William Oldhall are made friends. Sir, labour ye for (to) be knight of the shire, and speak to my master Stapleton also that he be it; Sir, all Swaffham, and (if) they be warned, will give you their voices; Sir, speak with Thomas Denys and take his good advice therein; Sir, speak to Denys that he avoid [withdraw] his garrison at Reydon, for there is none other remedy but death for Daniel, and for all those that are indicted; Sir, labour ye to the mayor that John Dam2 or William Jenney be burgess for the city of Norwich, tell them that he may be it as well as Yonge is of Bristol, or the Recorder is of London, and as the Recorder of Coventry is for the city of Coventry; and it (is) so in many places in England. Also, Sir, think on Yarmouth that ye ordain that John Jenney, or Lomnor, or some good man be burgess for Yarmouth; ordain ye that Jenneys may be in the parliament for they can say well. Sir, it were wisdom that my Lord of Oxford wait on my Lord of York; in good faith, good Sir, think on all these matters; much more I had to write unto you if I spelt Damme; but the orthography of names was at this time, and indeed long after, very unsettled.] could have remembered me, but I had no leisure by my faith; hold me excused of my lewd rude writing; let John Dam beware for the Lord Molyns; and, Sir, let the city beware for he will do them a villainy but if (unless) he may have his men; and, Sir, if he come to Norwich, look there be ready to wait upon the mayor a good fellowship, for it is said here that they are but beasts. Sir, my master bade me write unto you that ye should stir the mayor and all the aldermen to cry on my lord that they may have justice of these men that be indicted, and that my lord will speak unto the king thereof; and, Sir, in divers parts in the town there (where) my lord cometh, there would be ordained many portions (parties) of commoners to cry on my lord for justice of these men that are indicted, and tell their names, in special Todenham, Heydon, Wyndham, (and) Prentice. Sir, I send you a copy of the bill that my Lord of York put unto the king; and, Sir, let copies go about the city enough, for the love of God, which have you in his keeping. Written on Saint Faith's day in haste. By your servant, WILLIAM WAYte, 6th of October, between 1451 and 1456. 30 and 35 H. VI. LETTER L-(XXXVIII. vol. iii. p. 163.) On the back of this letter is written, "It appereth by this Ire that Sir Jo. Fastolf was of kynred to John Paston är." The date of this letter cannot be ascertained farther than that it was written between 1444, when Sir William Paston died, and 1459, the year in which Sir John Fastolf deceased. It contains nothing material, but I think it throws light upon the character of Agnes Paston, showing her in the light of one who was ever attentive to her family and her fortunes, and interested herself in having a proper provision made for her younger children. We shall see that the Duke of Norfolk afterwards claimed Caister, and laid a regular siege to it. The Lady Boys mentioned in this letter was Sibilla, widow of Sir Roger Boys, of Honing; she was living in 1450. This letter be delivered to John Paston, being at London, in the Inner Inn of the Temple. I GREET Bartholomew White is condemned in Forncet court in 40 marks (261. 13s. 4d.) as it is said. Item, as for Talfas, the sheriffs have behest to do all the favour they may; I sent the parson of St. Edmund's to Gilbert, and he said there was come a new writ for to have him up by the 15th day of Saint Martin, and how Caly had been at them,1 and desired to carry up Talfas on his own cost, and give him good wages. Item, John Osbern said to me this day that he supposed they will not have him up before Easter, and Margaret Talfas said to me the same day, that men told her that he should never have end till he were at London, and asked me counsel whether she might give the sheriffs silver or none; and I told her if she did, I supposed she should find them the more friendly. Item, as for Orwellbury, I send you a bill of all the receipts since the death of your father, and a copy written on the back how your father let it to farm to the said Gurney; I would ye should write (to) Gurney, and charge him to meet with you from Londonward, and at the least way let him purvey ten pounds, for (he) oweth by my reckoning at Michaelmas last past, beside your father's 1 [Fenn translates this home.] debt, 187. 148. 8d.; if ye would write to him to bring surety both for your father's debt and mine, and pay by days,' so that the man might live and pay us, I would forgive him of the old arrearages ten pounds; and (if) he might be made to pay 20 marks, (131. 6s. 8d.) by year, on that condition I would forgive him ten pounds, and so thinketh me he should have cause to pray for your father and me, and was it let [and that it was let] in my father's time. I feel by Robert, his wife is right loth to go thence, she said that she had lever (rather) I should have all her goods after her day than they should go out thereof. » Item, John Dam told me that the Lady Boys will sell a place called Hales, but he saith she speaketh it privily and saith it is not tayled (entailed), as John Dam knoweth, which will she hath said as largely of other things that hath not been so. Item, he told me as he heard said, Sir John Fastolf hath sold Hellesdon to Boleyn of London, and if it be so it seemeth he will sell more, wherefore I pray you, as ye will have my love and my blessing, that ye will help and do your devoir that some thing were purchased for your two brethren; I suppose that Sir John Fastolf, and (if) he were spoke to, would be gladder to let his kinsmen have part than strange men; assay him in my name of such places as ye suppose is most clear. It is said in this country that my Lord of Norfolk saith Sir John Fastolf hath given him Caister, and he will have (it) plainly. I send you a bill of Osbern's hand, which was the answer of the sheriff' and John of Dam. John, bring me my letter home with you, and my cousin Clere's copy of her letter, and the copy of the receipt of Orwellbury, and recommend me to Lomner, and tell him his best beloved fareth well, but she is not yet come to Norwich, for they die yet, but not so sore as they did, and God be with you.3 Written at Norwich, in right great haste, the 16th day of November. By your mother, Norwich, 16th of November, LETTER LI.-(XV. vol. i. p. 69.) AGNES PASTON. Margaret of Anjou, Queen of Henry VI. alarmed at the report of the approach of Edward Earl of March (son to the Duke of York) towards London with a great power, endeavoured to make what friends she could; and amongst other places, on her journey for that purpose, visited Norwich; Edmund de Hadham, and Jasper of Hatfield, the king's half-brothers, attending her. Her familiarity and obliging address pleased the gentry, and shows that she understood the art of conciliating the goodwill of those with whom she conversed. To my right worshipful master, John Paston, be this delivered in haste. RIGHT worshipful husband, I recommend me to you, praying you to weet, &c. (here follow some account of money received, &c.) 4 As for tidings, the queen came into this town on Tuesday last past after noon, and abode here till it was Thursday three (o'clock) afternoon; and she sent after my cousin Elizabeth Clere 5 by Sharinborn to come to her; and she durst not disobey her commandment, and came to her; and when she came in the queen's presence, the queen made right much of her, and desired her to have an husband, the which ye shall know of hereafter; but as for that he is never nearer than he was before; the queen was right well pleased with her answer, and reporteth of her in the best wise, and saith, by her truth, she saw no gentlewoman since she came into Norfolk that she liked better than she doth her. |