Agnes Paston to John Paston

LETTER XXXVIII.

            This Ire be delyu^red to John
            Paston beynge at london in the
            Jnnere in of the temple.

I Grete you well and sende yo^u goddes bliss[SYM]g and m[SYM] and
    as touch[SYM]g the mat^r wheche ye desyryd my Cosyn Clere
shulde write fore she hath doo and I sende you the Copy closed
in this Ire As for the enquerre I haue sent by Pynchemo^r to
enquere and sent myn owen men to Will’m Bakton and don
hem enquered in dyu^rse placs and I can here no woord of noon
suych enquerans I wot no^t what it menyth Roberd Hill was at
Paston thys wyke and the man that dwelled in bowres place is
oute ther of and seid to Roberd he durst no leng^r abyde ther in
for Waryn Hermā seyth to hī it is his place As for cokets mat^r
my dought your wyf told me yest^r even the mā that suyth him
will now stonde to your awarde Bertilmow White is Condem-
nyd in For^rnecet court in xl. marc as it is seid It’m as for talfas
the sherevis hau be hest to do all the favo^r thei may J sente the
p^rson of seynt Edmūdes to Gilberd and he seide ther was Come
a newe writ for to haue hī vp by the xv Day of seynt Martyn
and how caly hadde ben at hem and desired to carye vp talfas
on his owen Cost and yeue hem goode wages It’m John Osbern
seide to me this Day that he supposed thei will no^t haue hī vp
be forn Estern and Margerete talfas seide to me the same day that
men tolde hire that he shulde neu^r hau ende till he wer at lon-
don and asked me Counfell whed^r the myte yeue the sherevys
sylu^r or non And I tolde hire if she dede J supposed she shulde
fynde hem the more frendly It’m as for horwelbur I sende you
a bill of all the rescyts syn the deth of your fader and a Copy
wrete on the bak how your fad^r lete it to ferme to the seide
Gurnay I wulde ye shulde write Gurnay and charge hī to mete
w^t yo^u fro london warde and at the lest weye lete hī purveye x li
for owyth be my reknyng at myhelmesse last passed be syde
your faddes dette xviij li. xiiij^s viij^d if ye wolde write to hī to
brynge suerte for your fady’s dette and myn And pay be dayes
so y^t the mā myte leven and paye vs I wolde for yeue hī of
the olde arrerags x li. and he myte be mad to paye xx marc be
yer on that Condicon I wolde for yeue hī x li And so thynketh
me he shulde hau cause to p’ye for your fad^r and me and was
it leten in my fad’es tyme I fele by Roberd his wif is right loth
to gon thens she seide that sche had leu^r J shulde haue all her
gode aft^r her day than thei schulde go out ther of It’m John
Dam teld me that y^e lady Boys will selle a place called Halys
but he seith sche speketh it p’vyly and seith it is no^t tayled as
John Dam kno wech will she hath seide as largely of oy^r th[SYM]gs
y^t hath no^t be so It’m he tolde me as he herd seyn Ser Joha
Fastolf hath sold Heylysdon to boleyn of london And yf it be
so it semeth he will selle more wherfor I p’ye you as ye will haue
my loue and my bliss[SYM]g y^t ye will helpe and do your deu^r that
sumth[SYM]g wer p’chased for your ij bretheren I suppose y^t S^r John
Fastolf and he wer spake to wolde be glader to lete his Kensemē
hau p^rte than straunge mē asay hī in my name of suych placs
as ye suppose is most Cler it is seid in this Contre y^t my lord
of Norfolk seith ser John Fastolf hath youen hī Castr and he
will hau pleynly I sende yo^u a bill of Osbern hand whech was
the ansuer of the sheref and John of Dam Jon brynge me my
Ire hom with you and my Cosyn Cler is Copy of her Ire and
the Copy of the reseyth of Horwelbury And recomaunde me
to lomno^r and tell hī his best be loued fareth well but sche is
not yet Come to Norwich for thei deye yet but not so sor as
thei dede And God be wyth you Wretē at Norwych in right
gret hast the xvj day of Novembr.

                                                     By your moder,

                                                                 Anneys Paston.

     On the back of this Letter is written,

     “It appereth by this Irē that S^r Jo. Fastolf was of kynred to John Paston ār.”

     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, shewing 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 chil-
dren. We shall see that the Duke of Norfolk afterwards claimed Caister, and laid a
regular fiege to it.

     There are one or two expressions in this Letter which I do not exactly understand.

     Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 19.

     The Lady Boys mentioned in this Letter was Sibilla, widow of Sir Roger Boys, of
Honing; she was living in 1450.

           11 ½ by 11.

           Paper Mark,
              A Bull.
          Pl. XXII. N^o 16.

  Norwich, 16th of November,
               Between 1444 and 1459.
               23 and 38 H. VI.

LETTER XXXVIII.

This Letter be delivered to John Paston, being at London, in the
Inner Inn of the Temple.

I Greet you well, and send you God’s blessing and mine, and
    as touching the matter which ye desired my Cousin Clere
should write for, she hath done, and I send you the copy closed
in this Letter. As for the enquiry I have sent by Pynchemore
to enquire and sent mine own man to William Bacton, and done
him enquire in divers places, and I can hear no word of none
such enquirance, I wot not what it meaneth. Robert Hill was
at Paston this week, and the man that dwelled in Bowers place
is out thereof, and said to Robert he durst no longer abide
therein, for Waryn Herman sayeth to him it is his place. As
for Coket’s matter, my daughter your wife told me yester even,
the man that sueth him will now stand to your award.

     Bartholomew White is condemned in Forncet Court in 40
marks (26l. 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 home, and de-
sired 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 Horwelbury 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 debt, 18l. 14s. 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 men 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 (13l. 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 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 know, 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 faith 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
Horwellbury, 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. Written at Norwich, in right great haste, the 16th day of
November.

                                                      By your Mother,

                                                                  AGNES PASTON.

  On the back of this Letter is written,

     “It appereth by this Irē that S^r Jo. Fastolf was of kynred to John Paston ār.”

     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, shewing 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 chil-
dren. We shall see that the Duke of Norfolk afterwards claimed Caister, and laid a
regular fiege to it.

     There are one or two expressions in this Letter which I do not exactly understand.

     Autograph. Pl. II. N^o 19.

     The Lady Boys mentioned in this Letter was Sibilla, widow of Sir Roger Boys, of
Honing; she was living in 1450.

           Paper Mark,
              A Bull.
          Pl. XXII. N^o 16.

  Norwich, 16th of November,
               Between 1444 and 1459.
               23 and 38 H. VI.

222

AGNES PASTON TO JOHN PASTON¹

This lettre be delyvered to John Paston, beynge at London,
in the Innere In of the Temple.

       I GRETE you well, and sende you Goddes blissyng and
            myn. And as touchyng the mater wheche ye desyryd
            my cosyn Clere shulde write fore, she hath doo, and I
sende you the copy closed in this lettre. As for the enquerre
I have sent by Pynchemore to enquere and sent myn owen
men to William Bakton, and don hem enquered in dyverse
placs, and I can here no woord of noon suych enquerans; I
wot not what it menyth. Roberd Hill was at Paston thys
wyke, and the man that dwelled in Bowres place is oute ther
of, and seid to Roberd he durst no lenger abyde ther in, for
Waryn Herman seyth to him it is his place. As for Cokets
mater, my doughter your wyf told me yester even the man
that suyth him will not stonde to your awarde.

     Bertilmow White is condemnyd in Forrenecet Court in
xl. marc, as it is seid.

     Item, as for Talfas, the Sherevis hav be hest to do all
the favour thei may. I sente the Parson of Seynt Edmundes
to Gilberd, and he seide ther was come a newe writ for to
have him up by the XV. day of Seynt Martyn, and how Caly
hadde ben at hem,² and desired to carye up Talfas on his
owen cost, and yeve hem goode wages.

     Item, John Osbern seide to me this day that he supposed
thei will not have him up be forn Estern, and Margerete
Talfas seide to me the same day that men tolde hire that he
shulde never have ende till he wer at London, and asked me
counsell wheder she myte yeve the Sherevys sylver or non;
and I tolde hire if she dede, I supposed she shulde fynde hem
the more frendly.

     Item, as for Horwelbur, I sende you a bill of all the
rescyts syn the deth of your fader, and a copy wrete on the
bak how your fader lete it to ferme to the seide Gurnay. I
wulde ye shulde write Gurnay, and charge him to mete with
you fro London warde, and at the lest weye lete him purveye
xli. for [he] owyth be my reknyng at My helmesse last passed,
be syde your faddes dette, xviijli. xiiijs. viijd. If ye wolde
write to him to brynge suerte for your fadyrs dette and myn,
and pay be dayes, so that the man myte leven and paye us,
I wolde for yeve him of the olde arrerags xli.; and he myte
be mad to paye xx. marc be yer, on that condicion I wolde
for yeve him xli., and so thynketh me he shulde hav cause
to praye for your fader and me, and was it leten in my fadres
tyme. I fele by Roberd, his wif is right loth to gon thens,
she seide that sche had lever I shulde have all her gode after
her day, than thei schulde go out ther of.

     Item, John Dam teld me that the Lady Boys¹ will selle
a place called Halys,² but he seith sehe speketh it privyly,
and seith it is not tayled, as John Dam kno, wech will she
hath seide as largely of other thyngs that hath not be so.

     Item, he tolde me, as he herd seyn, Ser John Fastolf
hath sold Heylysdon to Boleyn³ of London; and yf it be
so, it semeth he will selle more. Wherfor I praye you, as
ye will have my love and my blissyng, that ye will helpe
and do your devoir that sumthyng were purchased for your
ij. bretheren. I suppose Ser John Fastolf, and he wer spake
to, wold be glader to lete his kensemen have parte than
straunge men. Asay him in my name of suych placs as ye
suppose is most cler.

     It is seid in this contre that my Lord of Norfolk seith
Ser John Fastolf hath yoven him Castr, and he will hav [it]
pleynly. I sende you a bill of Osbern hand, whech was the
ansuer of the Sheref and John of Dam.

      Jon, brynge me my lettre hom with you, and my cosyn
Cler is copy of her lettre, and the copy of the reseyth of
Horwelbury; and recomaunde me to Lomnor, and tell him
his best be loved fareth well, but sche is not yet come to
Norwich, for thei deye yet, but not so sor as thei dede. And
God be wyth you. Wreten at Norwych, in right gret hast,
the xvj. day of Novembr.

                                  By your moder,

                                                                          ANNEYS PASTON.

     ¹ [From Fenn, iii. 162.] This letter is certainly not earlier than 1451 or later
than 1453; for it was written some time after Lady Boys became a widow, which
was in December 1450 (see p. 198), and before Sir John Fastolf’s removal from
London into Norfolk, which, as will be seen hereafter, was in the autumn of 1454.
Probably the true date is 1452, for in the summer following, owing to Gurney’s utter
inability to pay his rent, we find Agnes Paston urging her son seriously to look out
for another tenant for Orwellbury.

     ² The modernised version in Fenn reads ‘at home.’          

   ¹ See p. 248, Note 2.                           ² Holm Hale.—See p. 248.

     ³ Geoffrey Boleyn.—See p. 277, Note 3.

1452(?)
NOV. 16

1452(?)
NOV. 16

1452(?)
NOV. 16