Christopher Hansson to John Paston

LETTER LI.

To the right worshipfull S^r. and Maist^r John Paston Escuier at
Norwiche be this delyv^r in hast.

   RIGHT worschipfull S^r. and Maister I recomaund me un to
     you Please you to wete the monday aft^r oure ¹ Lady day
there come hider to my Maist^r ys plase my Maister Bowser S^r.
Harry Ratford John Clay and the Harbyger of my Lord of
Marche desyryng that my Lady of ² York myght lye her un
tylle the comyng of my Lord of York and hir tw Sonnys my
Lorde ³ George and my Lorde ⁴ Richard, and my Lady ⁵ Mar-
garete hir Dawztyr, whiche y graunt hem in youre name to ly
here untylle Mychelmas.

     And she had not ley here ij dayes but sche had tythyng of the
londyng of my Lord at ⁶ Chestre, the tewesday next aft^r my
Lord sent for hir that sche shuld come to hym to Harford, and
theder sche is gone.

     And sythe y left here bothe the Sunys and the Dowztyr, and
the Lord of Marche comyth eu^rry day to se them.

 Item my Lord of York hath dyvers straunge Com’issions fro
the Kyng for to sitte in dyv^rs townys com’yg homward, that is
for to sey in Ludlow Schrrofysbury Herford Leycetre Coventre,
and in other dyv^rs townys to punych them by the fawtes to the
Kyngs Lawys.

     As for tythyngs here the ⁷ Kyng is way at Eltham and at
Grenewych to hunt and to sport hym there bydyng the p’lement,
and the Quene and the Prynce byth in Walys alway.

     And is with hir the Duc of Excestre and othe’ with a fewe
mayne as men seythe here.

     And the Duc of Som^rset he is in ⁸ Depe withe hym Maist^r
John Ormound Wyttyngh’m Andrew ⁹ Trollyp and other dyv^rs
of the Garyson of ¹⁰ Gyanys under the Kyng of Fraunce saf-
condyte, and they seythe here he porpose hym to go to Walys
to the Quene. And the Erle of Wyltschyre is stylle in pece at
¹¹ Otryght at the ffrerys whiche is Seyntwary.

     Item Colbyne ys come home to my Maist^r is place and seyth
that at you^r departyng ouzt of London ze seid hym word that
he schuld come hedder to the place and be here un tylle your
comyng a zene, and so he is here it, and seith he wolle take no
Maist^r but be your avyce, nether the leese awaytythe uppon
Maist^r Oldhall the most parte at Redre at his place.

     Item Maist^{r 12} Ponyngs hathe enteret on an two or iij placys
uppon the Erle of ¹³ Northomberlond, and he stondyth in good
grace of the Kyng my Lord of Marche my Lord Warwyk and
my Lord of Salysbury most parte of the Contre abought his
lyflod hold aythe withe hym, and my Maisteras you^r Sister is not
delyv^rd as yet God yef hir god delyv^raunce.

     No more to you at this tyme but and ze wolle comaund me
any s^rvice y may doo it is redy, and J’hu have you in his
blessid kepyng, and I beseche you this Letter may comaund me
to my Maist^ras you^r Moder and my Maist^ras you^r wyfe and
alle you^r houshold.

     Wreten at London the xij day of Octobre.

                                                   You^r owne S^rvaunt,

                                                                        ¹⁴ Cpoter Hausson.

11 ½ by 10 3/2.

            London,
                 Sunday, 12th of October,
                 1460, 39 H. VI.

     After the Battle of Northampton, fought in July 1460, the Queen and Prince fled into
Wales, and the Duke of Somerset into France.

     The King returned with the Yorkists to London, who informing the Duke of York,
then in Ireland, of their success, he embarked for England.

     ¹ The nativity of our Lady is on the 8th of September, the Monday after was this
year on the 15th.

     ² Cicely, Daughter of Ralph Nevile, first Earl of Westmorland, she lived to see two
of her Sons Kings of England, &c. and died in 1495, 10 H. VII.

³ George, afterwards Duke of Clarence, he married Isabel, eldest Daughter of Richard
Nevile, the great Earl of Warwick, and was put to death in 1478, aged about 27 years [ILL]
be was at this time therefore about nine years old.

     ⁴ Richard; afterwards Duke of Gloucester, and King of England, by the name of
Richard III.

     ⁵ Margaret, afterwards Duchess of Burgundy.

     ⁶ He returned in consequence of the Victory gained at Northampton, over the King’s
army.

⁷ The King was now entirely under the direction and management of the Earls of
March, Warwick, and Salisbury; and by them was kept at Eltham, under the idea of
taking the Diversions of Hunting, Sporting, &c. &c.

     ⁸ Diepe, a Port Town in France, opposite to the Port of Rye, in England.

     ⁹ He was killed in the battle of Towton.

¹⁰ About this time the Duke of Somerset had been ordered to resign his Government of
Guisnes, to the Earl of Warwick.

     ¹¹ St. Mary Ottery, in Devonshire.—James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire, was beheaded
in 1461.

     ¹² He married Elizabeth, sister of John Paston, and by this Letter appears to have
entered upon some Estatos of the Earl of Northumberland.

 ¹³ Henry Piercy, Earl of Northumberland, jointly commanded with the Duke of Somer-
set, at the battle of Towton, in 1461, where he was killed; he married Eleanor, Daughter
and heir of Richard, Lord Poynings, &c.

¹⁴ Christopher Hausson, or Hanson, appears to have been a confidential Servant of
John Paston. Pl. III. N^o 37.

  LETTER LI.

To the right worshipful Sir and Master, John Paston, Esquire,
at Norwich, be this Letter delivered in haste.

   RIGHT worshipful Sir and Master, I recommend me unto
     you; please you to weet, the Monday after Our ¹ Lady
day there come hither, to my Master’s place, my Master Bowser,
Sir Harry Ratford, John Clay, and the Harbinger of my Lord
of March, desiring that my Lady of ² York, might lie here
until the coming of my Lord of York, and her two Sons, my
Lord ³ George, and my Lord ⁴ Richard, and my Lady ⁵ Mar-
garet her Daughter, which I granted them in your name to
lie here until Michaelmas.

     And she had not lain here two days but she had tidings of the
landing of my Lord at ⁶ Chester.

     The Tuesday next after, my Lord sent for her that she should
come to him to Harford (Hereford), and thither she is gone;
and she hath left here both the Sons, and the Daughter, and the
Lord of March cometh every day to see them.

Item, my Lord of York hath diverse strange Commissions
from the King, for to sit in diverse towns coming homeward;
that is for to say, in Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Leicester,
Coventry, and in other diverse Towns, to punish them by the
faults to the King’s Laws.

     As for tidings here, the ⁷ King is away at Eltham and at
Greenwich to hunt, and to sport him there biding (during) the
Parliament, and the Queen and the Prince abideth in Wales
always, and (there) is with her the Duke of Exeter, and others
with a few meny (followers,) as men say here.

     And the Duke of Somerset he is in ⁸ Diepe, and with him
Master John Ormond, Whittingham, Andrew ⁹ Trollop, and
other diverse of the Garrison of ¹⁰ Guisnes, under the King of
France’s safe conduct, and they say here, he purpose him to go
to Wales to the Queen. And the Earl of Wiltshire is still in
peace at ¹¹ Otryght (Ottery) at the Fryers, which is Sanctuary.

     Item, Colbine is come home to my Master’s place, and faith,
that at your departing out of London, ye sent him word that he
should come hither to the place, and be here until your coming
again, and so he is here yet, and faith he will take no Master
but by your advice; nevertheless (he) awaiteth upon Master
Oldhall the most part at Redre at his place.

     Item, Master ¹² Ponyngs hath entered on a two or three places
upon the Earl of ¹³ Northumberland, and he standeth in good
grace of the King, my Lord of March, my Lord Warwick
and my Lord of Salisbury; most part of the Country about his
lyflod (Estate) holdeth with him; and my Mistress your sister
is not delivered as yet, God give her good deliverance.

     No more to you at this time, but and (if) ye will command
me any service I may do, it is ready, and Jesu have you in his
blessed keeping; and I beseech you, this Letter may commend
me to my Mistress your Mother, and my Mistress your wife,
and all your household.

     Written at London, the 12th day of October.

                                              Your own Servant,

                                                          ¹⁴ CHRISTOPHER HAUSSON.

11 ½ by 10 3/2.

            London,
                 Sunday, 12th of October,
                 1460, 39 H. VI.

  After the Battle of Northampton, fought in July 1460, the Queen and Prince fled into
Wales, and the Duke of Somerset into France.

     The King returned with the Yorkists to London, who informing the Duke of York,
then in Ireland, of their success, he embarked for England.

     ¹ The nativity of our Lady is on the 8th of September, the Monday after was this
year on the 15th.

     ² Cicely, Daughter of Ralph Nevile, first Earl of Westmorland, she lived to see two
of her Sons Kings of England, &c. and died in 1495, 10 H. VII.

³ George, afterwards Duke of Clarence, he married Isabel, eldest Daughter of Richard
Nevile, the great Earl of Warwick, and was put to death in 1478, aged about 27 years [ILL]
be was at this time therefore about nine years old.

     ⁴ Richard; afterwards Duke of Gloucester, and King of England, by the name of
Richard III.

     ⁵ Margaret, afterwards Duchess of Burgundy.

     ⁶ He returned in consequence of the Victory gained at Northampton, over the King’s
army.

⁷ The King was now entirely under the direction and management of the Earls of
March, Warwick, and Salisbury; and by them was kept at Eltham, under the idea of
taking the Diversions of Hunting, Sporting, &c. &c.

     ⁸ Diepe, a Port Town in France, opposite to the Port of Rye, in England.

     ⁹ He was killed in the battle of Towton.

¹⁰ About this time the Duke of Somerset had been ordered to resign his Government of
Guisnes, to the Earl of Warwick.

     ¹¹ St. Mary Ottery, in Devonshire.—James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire, was beheaded
in 1461.

     ¹² He married Elizabeth, sister of John Paston, and by this Letter appears to have
entered upon some Estatos of the Earl of Northumberland.

 ¹³ Henry Piercy, Earl of Northumberland, jointly commanded with the Duke of Somer-
set, at the battle of Towton, in 1461, where he was killed; he married Eleanor, Daughter
and heir of Richard, Lord Poynings, &c.

¹⁴ Christopher Hausson, or Hanson, appears to have been a confidential Servant of
John Paston. Pl. III. N^o 37.

419

CHRISTOPHER HANSSON TO JOHN PASTON¹

To the right worshipfull Sir and Maister, John Paston,
Escuier, at Norwiche, be this delyvered in hast.

        RIGHT worschipfull Sir and Maister, I recomaund me un
              to you. Please you to wete, the Monday after oure
              Lady Day² there come hider to my maister ys place,³
my Maister Bowser, Sir Harry Ratford, John Clay, and the
Harbyger of my Lord of Marche, desyryng that my Lady of
York⁴ myght lye here untylle the comyng of my Lord of York
and hir tw sonnys, my Lorde George⁵ and my Lorde Richard,⁶
and my Lady Margarete⁷ hir dawztyr, whiche y graunt hem in
youre name to ly here untylle Mychelmas. And she had not
ley here ij. dayes but sche had tythyng of the londyng of my
Lord at Chestre. The Tewesday next after, my Lord sent for
hir that sche shuld come to hym to Harford [Hereford], and
theder sche is gone. And sythe⁸ y left here bothe the sunys
and the dowztyr, and the Lord of Marche comyth every day to
se them.

     Item, my Lord of York hath dyvers straunge commissions
fro the Kyng for to sitte in dyvers townys comyng homward;
that is for to sey, in Ludlow, Schrrofysbury, Herford, Leycetre,
Coventre, and in other dyvers townys, to punych them by the
fawtes to the Kyngs lawys.

     As for tythyngs here, the Kyng is way at Eltham and at
Grenewych to hunt and to sport hym there, bydyng the Parle-

ment, and the Quene and the Prynce byth in Walys alway.
And is with hir the Duc of Excestre and other, with a fewe
mayne, as men seythe here.

     And the Duc of Somerset he is in Depe [Dieppe]; withe
hym Maister John Ormound, Wyttyngham, Andrew Trollyp,
and other dyvers of the garyson of Gyanys, under the Kyng of
Fraunce safcondyte, and they seythe here, he porpose hym to
go to Walys to the Quene. And the Erle of Wyltschyre¹ is
stylle in pece at Otryght at the Frerys [Friars], whiche is
seyntwary.

     Item, Colbyne ys come home to my maister is place, and
seyth that, at your departyng² ouzt of London, ze send hym
word that he schuld come hedder to the place, and be here un
tylle your comyng a zene; and so he is here it, and seith he
wolle take no maister but be your avyce, nether the leese
[nevertheless] awaytythe uppon Maister Oldhall the most parte
at Redre³ at his place.

     Item, Maister Ponyngs hathe enteret on an two or iij. placys
uppon the Erle of Northomberlond, and he stondyth in good
grace of the Kyng, my Lord of Marche, my Lord Warwyk,
and my Lord of Salysbury. Most parte of the contre abought
his lyflod hold aythe withe hym. And my maisteras your
sister⁴ is not delyverd as yet; God yef hir god delyveraunce.

     No more to you at this tyme, but and ze wolle comaund
me any servyce y may doo, it is redy. And Jesu have you in
his blessid kepyng; and I beseche you this letter may comaund
me to my maisteras your moder, and my maisteras your wyfe,
and alle your houshold.

     Wreten at London the xij. day of Octobre.

                Your owne Servaunt,             CHRISTOFER HANSSON.

     ¹ [From Fenn, i. 198.] This letter must have been written in the year 1460, when
the Duke of York came over from Ireland, his party having been victorious at the
battle of Northampton, and gained possession of the King’s person.

     ² The Nativity of Our Lady is on the 8th September. The Monday following was
in this year the 15th.

     ³ Probably Sir John Fastolf’s place in Southwark.

     ⁴ Cecily, Duchess of York.                       ⁵ Afterwards Duke of Clarence.

     ⁶ Afterwards Richard III.                           ⁷ Afterwards Duchess of Burgundy.

     ⁸ The modern version in Fenn reads: ‘And she hath left here.’

     ¹ James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond.

     ² Paston must have left London and gone to Norwich not long before the Parlia-
ment, which began on the 7th October; and, as we have already observed, he did not
return in time for its commencement.

     ³ Redriff or Rotherhithe.

     ⁴ Elizabeth, wife of Robert Poynings.—See No. 406, p. 217

1460
OCT. 12

1460
OCT. 12