Botoner to John Paston

Add. 34888, f. 133

1 May 1457

Gairdner, Vol III, item 356; Fenn, Vol III, Henry VI item 74

LETTER LXXIV.

           To the Ryght Worshyfull S^r
           Iohn Paston Escuier beyng
           in Norwych yn haste.

RYGHT worshypfull S^r aftyr dewe recōmendacon please
yow to wete that I wrote A remēbr’unce to yow the day
that j departed owte of Norw^c by Rych rd the p^rson ys s^rv’nt
of Blofeld concernyng c^rteyn maters to be remēbred by your
wysdom for my maist^r ys avaylle whych your grete wysdom can
well undrestand ys ryght nedefull as one thyng yn especiall that
Shypdā and Spyrlyng ought to labour fyrst of onye thyng that
belongyth to Audyt the Accompts of the resseyt and despens’ of
my maist^r housold at Castr seth he came last in to Norff’ whych
aswell for the p’visyons that ys had of hys oune grownyng as in
money payd for till the seyd Accōpts be made ordynatlye whych
be of A grete charge yeerlye Wete ye for certeyn my maist^r. shall
nev’e know Whethyr he goth bakward or forward. And manye
oy’e Accomptants that maken lyv’e of p’vysyons of cornys and
catell to the household by the resseyvo^r and by the bayllyfs can
not Approve theyr liberatz just tille the seyd housold bokes be
made upp And seth it hath be kept ordynarylye seth my maist^r
begen to kepe house thys 1 yeer almoste And when he hath be
absent beyond see, &c. hyt ought to be more redelyer be doon
and made upp whyle he is p’sent and well the ray’e that hys
housold menye were not so hole to ghedr thys xl yer as be now
at Castr. Also hyz minustrs of Accompts of hys chieff maner of
haylysdon for iij yeer to make upp and to examyn And I ensure
yow full simplye Approwed hys Wollys and hys fermys And the
iij^d ys that so wold Ihs my maist’ Audyto’s wold faythfully and
playnlye enforme my maistr of the trouth of the yeerly grete
damage he beryth in debursyng hys money Aboute Shypp’ and
botes kepyng An house up at Jermuch to hys grete harme and
resseyvyth but chaffr and waare for hys cornys and wollys, &c.
and then most Abyde Along day to make money of such chaffr
takyng he shall neide be monyed ne be Aunsuerd clerly of hys
Revenues yeerly but those thyngs Abofeseyd be Amended be
tyme yn lowys days xij yeer to gheder my maist^r was wont to
ley upp money yeerly at london and Castr and now the contr’ye
de malo ī pejus I dar not be know of thys bille but ye may
question and vele of the disposicon of thys maters of oy’es and
thē undrstand yff I wryt justlye or no and ye as of your mocon
for my maist^r worshyp and p’fyt exortyng h[SYM] the stuard Shypdā
and Spyrlyng to take a labo^r and A peyn that thys be reformed
I pr’y yow and r’qr yow kepe thys mat’ to yo^r sylf.

Yo^r.

Botoner.

As for nouveltes none comth but y^t ys seyd the Sege shall com
to Calix the Erle of ¹ W’rwyk ys yhyt at Caunt^rbury w^t the
² Archbyship and the Erle yong^r ³ broy’e maryed to S^r Ead’
Yngylthorp dought^r uppon se[SYM]t M’rks day. the Erle of ⁴ Wor-
cestr broght Aboute the maryage. the Queen and the kyng at
⁵ Herford the lordes ⁶ Bokyngh’m ⁷ Shrewsbury and oy’es ther
And now it ys seyd ⁸ Herbert shall com ynne And Apper at
Leyc^r before the k[SYM]g and the lordes hys lyfe gr’unted and godes
so he make Amendys to theym he hath offended. Manye be
endyted som causelese wh^c makyth Herbert partye streng And the
burgeys and gentlemen Aboute Herford wille goo wyth the kyng
Wyffe and chylde but A pease be made or the kyng part thens
for ell Herbert and hys Affinite wille acquyt thē as it ys seyd
the Erle of Warwyk hath had the folks of Caunt^tbury And
Sandwy^c before hym and thanked hem of her gode herts and
vytaillyng of Calix and p’yeth hem of Cont[SYM]unce. I sende A
bille of the namys endyted to my maist^r and yow to see and laugh
at theyr Wellsh names descended of old pedegris Our lord be w^t
yow wryt hastly at londō the fyrst day of May.

⁹ Botoner.

11 ½ by 4.

London, Saturday, 1st of May,
1456. 34 H. VI.

We have in this Letter a continuation of Botoner’s advice concerning the manage-
ment of Sir John Fastolf’s affairs at Caister, &c. and proper methods proposed for reme-
dying them.

He seems to think that Sir John Fastolf was a considerable loser by concerning him-
self with ships, and in merchandize, &c. and hints that his corn and wool might be
turned to better account than exchanged for wares at Yarmouth.

The second part of this Letter which concerns political matters seems to refer to the
year 1456, when the King was again under the management of the Queen and her party.
The King and his Friends were now at Herford (Hereford I suppose it means) enquir-
ing after, and punishing those who had joined the Duke of York’s army raised in Wales.

¹ Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

² Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor.

³ John Neville, afterwards Marquis Montague, married Isabel, daughter and heir of
Sir Edmund Ingoldesthorpe, of Burgh Green, in Cambridgeshire, by his wife Jane,
Sister, and at length co-heir of John Lord Tiptoft, first Earl of Worcester. He was slain
in the battle of Barnet, in 1471.

⁴ John Tiptoft was created Earl of Worcester in 1449, and in Edward IVth’s reign
elected a Knight of the Garter: during that King’s deposition in 1470, the Earl of
Warwick obtained in Parliament that Worcester should be beheaded.

⁵ This must mean Hereford.

⁶ Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, killed at the battle of Northampton, in
1460.

⁷ John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, he was Lord Treasurer, and fell at the battle
of Northampton. AEt. 49.

⁸ Sir William Herbert, knight, had greatly assisted the Duke of York in raising forces,
and ever continuing a steady Yorkist, often contended against the Lancastrians; he was
afterwards deservedly in favour with Edward IV. and by him was created Earl of
Pembroke; he was taken prisoner at the battle of Banbury, in 1469, and beheaded by
the Rebels.

⁹ Autograph. Pl. II. N? 24, the first part of it.

On the back of the Letter is written in an ancient hand. “A l’re of W. Botoner als
Wyrcestr shewing y^t his M^r. had kept howse 1 yere.”

LETTER LXXIV.

To the right worshipful Sir, John Paston, Esquire, being in
Norwich, in haste.

RIGHT worshipful Sir, after due recommendation, please
you to weet that I wrote a remembrance to you the day
that I departed out of Norwich, by Richard, the Parson’s servant
of Blofield, concerning certain matters to be remembered by
your wisdom for my Master’s avail, which your great wisdom
can well understand is right needful, as one thing in especial,
that Shipdham and Spyrling ought to labour, first of any thing
that belongeth, to audit the accounts of the Receipts and Dis-
penses (Disbursements) of my Master’s household in Caister,
since he came last into Norfolk, which as well for the provisions
that is had of his own growing as in money paid; for till the
said Accounts be made ordinately (methodically,) which be of a
great charge yearly, weet ye for certain my Master shall never
know whether he goeth backward or forward; and many other
Accomptants that maken livery (make delivery) of provisions of
Corns and Cattle to the household by the Receiver and by the
Bailiffs cannot approve their Liberates just, till the said house-
hold Books be made up; and since it hath been kept ordinarily
since my Master began to keep house this fifty year almost, and
when he hath been absent beyond sea, &c. it ought (to) be more
readilier done and made up while he is present, and well the
rather that his household meny (Family) were not so whole toge-
ther this forty year as be now at Caister. Also his ministers of
Accounts (minutes or first draughts) of his chief manor of Hey-
lesdon for three years to make up and to examine; and I assure
you full simply approved his Wools and his Farms.

And the third is, that so would Jesu my Master’s Auditors
would faithfully and plainly insorm my Master of the truth of the
yearly great damage he beareth in disbursing his money about
Shipping and Boats, keeping an house up at Yarmouth to his
great harm, and receiveth but chaffer and ware for his corns and
wools, &c. And then must abide a long day to make money, of
such chaffer taking he shall never be monied, nor be answered
clearly of his revenues yearly, but (unless) those things above
said be amended betimes. In Lewis’s days twelve years together
my Master was wont to lay up money yearly at London and
Caister, and now the contrary, de malo in pejus.

I dare not be known of this bill, but ye may question and vele
(feel) of the disposition of these matters of others, and then un-
derstand if I write justly or no; and ye, as of your motion, for
my Master’s worship and profit, exhorting him, the Steward,
Shipdham, and Spyrling to take a labour and a pain that this be
reformed.

I pray you and require you (to) keep this matter to yourself.

Your,

BOTONER.

As for novelties none cometh, but it is said the siege shall
come to Calais; the Earl of ¹ Warwick is yet at Canterbury with
the ² Archbishop, and the Earl’s younger ³ Brother is married to
Sir Edmund Inglethorpe’s daughter upon Saint Mark’s day, the
Earl of ⁴ Worcester brought about the marriage; the Queen and
the King at ⁵ Herford, the Lords ⁶ Buckingham, ⁷ Shrewsbury
and others there; and now it is said ⁸ Herbert shall come in, and
appear at Leicester before the King and the Lords, his life
granted and goods, so he make amends to them he hath offend-
ed; many be indicted, some causelessly, which maketh Herbert’s
party stronger, and the Burgesses and Gentlemen about Herford
will go with the King wife and child; but (unless) a peace be
made ere the King part thence, for else Herbert and his affinity
will acquit them, as it is said.

The Earl of Warwick hath had the folks of Canterbury and
Sandwich before him, and thanked them of their good hearts,
and victualling of Calais, and prayeth them of continuance.

I send a bill of the names indicted, to my Master and you, to see
and laugh at their Welsh names descended of old pedigrees. Our
Lord be with you; written hastily at London, the first day of May.

⁹ BOTONER.

11 ? by 4.

London, Saturday, 1st of May,
1456. 34 H. VI.

We have in this Letter a continuation of Botoner’s advice concerning the manage-
ment of Sir John Fastolf’s affairs at Caister, &c. and proper methods proposed for reme-
dying them.

He seems to think that Sir John Fastolf was a considerable loser by concerning him-
self with ships, and in merchandize, &c. and hints that his corn and wool might be
turned to better account than exchanged for wares at Yarmouth.

The second part of this Letter which concerns political matters seems to refer to the
year 1456, when the King was again under the management of the Queen and her party.
The King and his Friends were now at Herford (Hereford I suppose it means) enquir-
ing after, and punishing those who had joined the Duke of York’s army raised in Wales.

¹ Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

² Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor.

³ John Neville, afterwards Marquis Montague, married Isabel, daughter and heir of
Sir Edmund Ingoldesthorpe, of Burgh Green, in Cambridgeshire, by his wife Jane,
Sister, and at length co-heir of John Lord Tiptoft, first Earl of Worcester. He was slain
in the battle of Barnet, in 1471.

⁴ John Tiptoft was created Earl of Worcester in 1449, and in Edward IVth’s reign
elected a Knight of the Garter: during that King’s deposition in 1470, the Earl of
Warwick obtained in Parliament that Worcester should be beheaded.

⁵ This must mean Hereford.

⁶ Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, killed at the battle of Northampton, in
1460.

⁷ John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, he was Lord Treasurer, and fell at the battle
of Northampton. AEt. 49.

⁸ Sir William Herbert, knight, had greatly assisted the Duke of York in raising forces,
and ever continuing a steady Yorkist, often contended against the Lancastrians; he was
afterwards deservedly in favour with Edward IV. and by him was created Earl of
Pembroke; he was taken prisoner at the battle of Banbury, in 1469, and beheaded by
the Rebels.

⁹ Autograph. Pl. II. N? 24, the first part of it.

On the back of the Letter is written in an ancient hand. “A l’re of W. Botoner als
Wyrcestr shewing y^t his M^r. had kept howse 1 yere.”

356

BOTONER TO JOHN PASTON¹

To the ryght worshypfull Sir, John Paston, Escuier,
beyng in Norwych, yn haste.

RYGHT worshypfull Sir, aftyr dewe recommendacion,
please yow to wete that I wrote a remembraunce to
yow the day that I departed owte of Norwich, by
Rychard, the Parson ys servaunt of Blofeld, concernyng
certeyn maters to be remembred by your wysdom for my
maister ys avaylle, whych your grete wysdom can well undre-
stand ys ryght nedefull, as one thyng yn especiall, that Shyp-
dam and Spyrlyng ought to labour, fyrst of onye thyng that
belongyth, to audyt the accompts of the resseyt and despense
of my maister housold at Castr seth he came last in to Nor-
ffolk, whych aswell for the provisyons that ys had of hys oune
grownyng as in money payd; for till the seyd accompts be
made ordynatlye, whych be of a grete charge yeerlye, wete ye
for certeyn my maister shall nevere know whethyr he goth
bakward or forward. And manye othere accomptants that
maken lyvere of provysyons of cornys and catell to the house-
hold by the resseyvour and by the bayllyfs can not approve
theyr liberatz just tille the seyd housold bokes be made upp;
and seth it hath be kept ordynarylye seth my maister begen to
kepe house thys 1. yeer almoste, and when he hath be absent
beyond see, &c., hyt ought to be more redelyer be doon and
made upp whyle he is present, and well the rathere that hys
housold menye were not so hole to ghedr thys xl. yer as be
now at Castr. Also hyz minustrs of accompts of hys chieff
maner of Haylysdon for iij. yeer to make upp and to examyn;
and I ensure yow full simplye approwed hys wollys and hys
fermys.

And the iij^d ys that so wold Jesus my maister audytors
wold faythfully and playnlye enforme my maistr of the trouth
of the yeerly grete damage he beryth in debursyng hys money
aboute shyppes and botes, kepyng an house up at Jermuch
[Yarmouth] to hys grete harme, and resseyvyth but chaffr and
waare for hys cornys and wollys, &c. and then most abyde
along day to make money; of such chaffr takyng he shall
nevere¹ be monyed, ne be aunsuerd clerly of hys revenues
yeerly but [unless] those thyngs abofeseyd be amended be
tyme. Yn Lowys days xij. yeer to gheder my maister was
wont to ley upp money yeerly at London and Castr, and now
the contrarye—de malo in pejus.

I dar not be know of thys bille, but ye may question and
vele of the disposicion of thys maters of otheres, and then
undrstand yff I wryt justlye or no; and ye, as of your mocion
for my maister worshyp and profyt, exortyng hym, the stuard,
Shypdam, and Spyrlyng to take a labour and a peyn that thys
be reformed.

I pray yow, and require yow kepe thys mater to your sylf.

Yowr, BOTONER.

As for nouveltes none comth,¹ but yt ys seyd the sege
shall com to Calix. The Erle of Warwyk² ys yhyt at
Caunterbury with the Archbyship,³ and the Erle younger
brothere⁴ maryed to Sir Eadmund Yngylthorp doughter
uppon Seynt Marks Day. The Erle of Worcestr⁵ broght
aboute the maryage. The Queen and the Kyng at Herford,⁶
the Lordes Bokyngham,⁷ Shrewsbury,⁸ and otheres ther. And
now it ys seyd Herbert⁹ shall com ynne, and apper at Ley-
cester before the Kyng and the Lordes, hys lyfe graunted and
godes, so he make amendys to theym he hath offended. Manye
be endyted, som causelese, which makyth Herbert partye
streng, and the burgeys and gentlemen aboute Herford wille
goo wyth the Kyng wyffe and chylde, but a pease be made or
the Kyng part thens, for ell[es] Herbert and hys affinite wille
acquyt them, as it ys seyd.

The Erle of Warwyk hath had the folks of Caunter-
bury and Sandwych before hym, and thanked hem of her
gode herts and vytaillyng of Calix, and prayeth hem of
contynuaunce.

I sende a bille of the namys endyted to my maister and
yow, to see and laugh at theyr Wellsh names descended of old
pedegris. Our Lord be with yow.

Wryt hastly at London, the fyrst day of May.

BOTONER.

¹ [From Fenn, iii. 298.] That this letter was written in the year 1457 appears
pretty clear from its agreement with the last, in which Botoner speaks of the expedi-
ency of getting the accounts of Fastolf’s household audited, and mentions that his
master was sending him up to London. A further confirmation of the date may be
found in the dates of the Privy Seals of the 35th year of Henry VI., which show that
the King was at Hereford during April, though he had removed to Worcester on the
4th of May.

¹ The left-hand copy in Fenn reads ‘neide,’ but the modern version ‘never,’
which is clearly the true reading.

¹ So in Fenn, but qu. ‘couth.’—See p. 41.

² Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

³ Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury.

⁴ John Neville, afterwards Marquis Montague, married Isabel, daughter and heir
of Sir Edmund Ingoldesthorpe of Burgh Green, in Cambridgeshire, by his wife Jane,
sister, and at length co-heir of John, Lord Tiptoft, first Earl of Worcester. He was
slain in the battle of Barnet in 1471.

⁵ John Tiptoft. ⁶ Hereford.

⁷ Humphrey Stafford.

⁸ John Talbot, second Earl.

⁹ Sir William Herbert, afterwards Earl of Pembroke, a steady Yorkist.

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