Elizabeth Poynings to Sir John Paston

LETTER LXVIII.

    To the worshipful
    Sir Iohn Paston Knyght
    be thys delu'yd In hast.

WORSHIPFULL and with all myn hert interly wilbe-
loved Nevoue I recomaunde me to yow desyryng to here
of yo^r prosp'ite and wilefayr which I pray all mighti god mayn-
teyn and encres to his plesour and yo^r herts desir thankyng god
of yo^r amendyng and helth forthermore c'tefying yow y^t Sir
Rob^t xFenys hath doon grete hurte in y^e lyuelode whiche
p'teyned to my 2husbond and me in y^e Shire of Kent wherein
Will'm Kene and oy^r p^rsones arn enfeffid and gretly troubleth
hit and receyneth y^e issuez and p'sitez of gret p't of theym and
as of my seid husbands lyuelode aswell in y^e same Shire as in oy^r
shirez besyde myn Iount' my seid husband whan he departyd
towarde y^e feld of saint Albons made and ordeyned his wille yt
I shuld haue y^e rewell of all his lyuelode and of Edwarde his
soon and myn and to take y^e issuez and p'sitez of the seid lyue-
lode to y^e fyndyng of his and myn seid son to paie his dettez and
to kepe y^e right and title of y^e same lyuelode which I myght nat

accordyng occupie for Sr Edwarde Ponyngs myn seid husbonds
brother and so sith myn seid husbonds deprtyng I assigned yt ye
seid Sr Edwarde for crteyn yereez shuld haue and take y^e reuc-
nuez of y^e man^s of Westwode Estwell lenelond horsmonden to-
tyndon Eccles Staundon and Combesden prcell of y^e seid lyuc-
lode which arn clerely yerely worth lxxvj li. xiijs iiijd to y^e entent
yt y^e seid S^r Edwarde shuld paye myn husbonds dettez for he
wold not suffer me to be in rest w'out yt he myght haue a rewell
in y^e lyuelode and after y^e seid assignemet made y^e seid Robt
Fenes cont'y to trowth and wt oute cause of right intrupted me
and y^e seid S^r Edwarde aswell of and in y^e seid mans as of oyr
man's undirwretyn wher uppon y^e same S^r Edwarde suet unto ye
kyngs highnesse and hade y^e kyngez honorable lres undir his
signet directed to y^e said S^r Robt Fenys y^e tenour wherof I send
unto yow herin inclosid and as for residue of y^e lyuelode of myn
seid husbonds and myn w^tin y^e same Shire of Kent wherin ye
said Will'm Kene and oy^r arn enfeffed that is to say y^e man^r of
Tyrlyngh'm Wolurton Halton Newyngton Bastram Rokesley
and Northcray w'th th' apprten'ncez I of them by myn seid hus-
bonds wille shuld haue residue and take y^e issuez and p'fitez of
theym contr'ye to right and conciens takyng away my Ryght
and brekyng my said husbonds wille y^e seid Rob^t Fenys hath
doon gret wast and hurte ther and long tym hath take upe y^e
reuenuez and p'fitez of y^e same wher thorough I haue not my
ryght and y^e seid wille may not be p^rfo^rmed Wherfor I hertely

pray yow y^t ze will labour unto y^e kynges highnes at yt lyketh
hym addres his honorable lres to be directed to y^e seid Rob't
Fenys dischargyng hym utterly of y^e menuraunce occupacon and
receyt of y^e reuenuez of y^e said man's of Tyrlyngh'm and oyr
accordyng to y^e tenor of y^e lres labored by Sr Edwarde for y^e
man's assigned to hym from y^e Kyngs highnes directyd to y^e
same Rob^t Fynes or strayter if hit may be and y^t I and myn
assignez may peasseble rejoie theym and if eny prson wold at-
tempt to do y^e contr'ye y^t a comaundement yf it ples y^e kyngs
hignes by hym myght be yevyn to my lorde Chaunceller to seall
writtyngs sufficiaunt wt his gret Seall in eydyng and assisting me
and myn assignez in y^g same And as for y^e man^rs of Esthall
Faukh'm Asslie and Chelsfeld w^tth' apprten' ntez in y^e seid schire
of Kent whereof my hysbond at his dep^rtur was seassed and my
Son sethens unto y^e tyme y^t y^e Erle of 3Kent wtout eny Jn-
q'ssion or title of right for y^e Kyng by colour of y^e Kynges lres
patentes entret into theym and hym therof put owte and now
my lorde of 4Essex occupieth them in lyke man^r and forme yf
eny remedy therin wilbe hade J pray yow attempt hit also for-
ther more I hertely pray yow y^t if eny genrall prdon be gruntyd
y^t J may haue on for Iohn Dane my Srunt whom y^e said Rob't
Fenys of gret malice hath endyted of felonye and y^t ze secretly
labour y^is and send me an aunswer in writtyng in as godly hast

as ze may as soon as y^t may ples yow to send me passels of
Costes and expencs ze bere and pay for y^e said causez I will
truely Content yow hit of y^e same and ou^r y^t rewarde yow to yor
plesso^r by y^e g'ce of Ihu quo haue yow in his blessed keping
Wrettyn in Suthwerk the xv^th daie of Decembyr.

By your awnt
                                                                        sElizabeth Poynings.

    11 ? by 11  ?.

    I have given this Letter to shew the great desire which the Relations and other con-
nections of a deceased man of property, always expressed to get possession of his estates, in
prejudice to the minor and widow, and of the steps they took to obtain it.

    This Letter likewise makes us acquainted with the process the Lady wished to pursue,
through the means of Sir John Paston, to regain her property.

    ¹ This was a knightly Family, of great worth and worship, and a branch of it became
Barons Dacre, of Gillesland.

    ² Elizabeth Poynings, the writer of this Letter, and the Daughter of John Paston
married Robert Poynings, a younger Son of Robert, Lord Poynings, by whom she had
her Son Edward here mentioned. He was Lord Deputy of Ireland, and during his ad-
ministration in 1494, 10 H. VII. those Statutes called Poynings' Laws were passed, by
which the power of the Irish Parliament was restrained, and their Acts subjected to the
revisal of the Privy Council of England. He died of a pestilential Fever, in 1522,
14 H. VIII. aged about 62 years.

    These, with other Acts enacting the dependency of Ireland on this kingdom, were
repealed in 1785, 25 Geo. III.   

    ³ Edmund Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and Baron Hastings, was created Earl of
Kent, in 1465; he died in 1489.

    ⁴ Henry, Viscount Bourchier, &c. Uncle to King Edward I. was created Earl of
Essex, in 1461; he was succeeded by his Son Henry, in 1483.

    ⁵ Autograph. Pl. xxv. No 14.

LETTER LXVIII.

To the worshipful Sir John Paston, Knight, be this delivered in haste.

WORSHIPFUL and with all mine heart entirely well-
beloved Nephew, I recommend me to you, desiring to
hear of your prosperity and welfare, which I pray Almighty God
maintain and increase to his pleasure, and your heart's desire,
thanking God of your amending and health. Furthermore cer-
tifying your that Sir Robert  ^xFynes hath done great hurt in the
livelihood which pertained to my  ^zHusband and me, in the
Shire of Kent, wherein William Keene and other persons are
enfeoffed, and greatly troubleth it, and receiveth the issues and
profits of great part of them, and as of my said Husband's live-
lihood, as well in the same Shire as in other Shires.

    Beside mine jointure, my said Husband, when he departed
towards the field of Saint Alban's, made and ordained his will,
that I should have the rule of all his livelihood, and of Edward
his son and mine, and to take the issues and profits of the said
livelihood, to the finding of his and mine said son, to pay his
debts, and to keep the right and title of the same livelihood,

which I might not accordingly occupy for Sir Edward Poynings,
mine said Husband's Brother, and so since my said Husband's
departing, I assigned that the said Sir Edward for certain years
should have and take the revenues of the Manors of Westwood,
Eastwell, Loneland, Horsemonden, Totingdon, Eccles, Standon,
and Combesden, parcel of the said livelihood, which are clearly
yearly worth 76l.13s.4d. to the intent that the said Sir Edward
should pay mine Husband's debts, for he would not suffer me to
be in rest without that he might have a rule in the livelihood;
and after the said assignment made, the said Robert Fynes, con-
trary to truth, and without cause of right, interrupted me and the
said Sir Edward, as well of and in the said manors as of other
manors underwritten, whereupon the same Sir Edward sued unto
the King's Highness and had the King's honourable Letters
under his signet, directed to the said Sir Robert Fynes, the te-
nour whereof I send unto you herein enclosed; and as for residue
of the livelihood of mine said Husband's and mine, within the
same Shire of Kent, wherein the said William Keene and other
are enfeoffed, that is to say, the manor of Tyrlingham, Wol-
verton, Halton, Newington, Bartram, Rokesley and Northcray,
with the appurtenances, I of them, by mine said Husband's
will, should have residue, and take the issues and profits of them,
contrary to right and conscience, taking away my right, and
breaking my said Husband's will, the said Robert Fynes hath
done great waste and hurt there, and long time hath taken up
the revenues and profits of the same, where thorough I have not
my right, and the said will may not be performed.

Wherefore I heartily pray you that ye will labour unto the
King's Highness, that it liketh him (to) address his honourable
Letters to be directed to the said Robert Fynes, discharging him
utterly of the menurance, occupation, and receipt of the revenues
of the said manors of Tyrlingham and other, according to the
tenour of the letters laboured by Sir Edward, for the manors
assigned to him from the King's Highness, directed to the same
Robert Fynes, or straiter if it may be, and that I and mine
assigns may peaceably re-enjoy them; and if any person would
attempt to do the contrary, that a commandment, if it please the
King's Highness, by him might be given to my Lord Chancellor
to seal writings sufficient with his Great Seal, in aiding and
assisting me and mine assigns in the same.

    And as for the manors of Easthall, Faulkham, Asslie, Chelsfield,
with the appurtenances in the said Shire of Kent, whereof my
Husband at his departure was seised, and my Son sithen (since),
unto the time that the Earl of ³Kent without any inquisition or
title of right for the King, by colour of the King's Letters
Patents, entered into them, and him thereof put out, and now
my Lord of ⁴Essex occupieth them in like manner and form; if
any remedy therein will be had, I pray you attempt it.

    Also, furthermore I heartily pray you that if any general par-
don be granted, that I may have one for John Dane my servant,
whom the said Robert Fynes of great malice hath endicted of
felony, and that y^e secretly labour this, and send me an answer in

writing in as goodly haste as ye may; as soon as it may please
you to send me parcels of costs and expences ye bear and pay
for the said causes, I will truly content you it of the same, and
over that reward you to your pleasure, by the grace of Jesu,
who have you in his blessed keeping. Written in Southwark,
the 15th day of December,

By your aunt
                             ⁵ ELIZABETH POYNINGS.

Southwark, 15th December,
        between 1465 and 1471.
        5 and 11 E.IV.

    I have given this Letter to shew the great desire which the Relations and other con-
nections of a deceased man of property, always expressed to get possession of his estates, in
prejudice to the minor and widow, and of the steps they took to obtain it.

    This Letter likewise makes us acquainted with the process the Lady wished to pursue,
through the means of Sir John Paston, to regain her property.

    ¹ This was a knightly Family, of great worth and worship, and a branch of it became
Barons Dacre, of Gillesland.

    ² Elizabeth Poynings, the writer of this Letter, and the Daughter of John Paston
married Robert Poynings, a younger Son of Robert, Lord Poynings, by whom she had
her Son Edward here mentioned. He was Lord Deputy of Ireland, and during his ad-
ministration in 1494, 10 H. VII. those Statutes called Poynings' Laws were passed, by
which the power of the Irish Parliament was restrained, and their Acts subjected to the
revisal of the Privy Council of England. He died of a pestilential Fever, in 1522,
14 H. VIII. aged about 62 years.

    These, with other Acts enacting the dependency of Ireland on this kingdom, were
repealed in 1785, 25 Geo. III.   

    ³ Edmund Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and Baron Hastings, was created Earl of
Kent, in 1465; he died in 1489.

    ⁴ Henry, Viscount Bourchier, &c. Uncle to King Edward I. was created Earl of
Essex, in 1461; he was succeeded by his Son Henry, in 1483.

    5 Autograph. Pl. xxv. No 14.

692

ELIZABETH POYNINGS TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To the worshipful Sir John Paston, Knyght, be thys
delveryd in hast.

WORSHIPFULL and with all myn hert interly wil-
     beloved nevoue, I recomaunde me to yow, desyryng
     to here of your prosperite and wilefayr, which I
pray All mighti God maynteyn and encres to His plesour and
your herts desir, thankyng God of your amendyng and helth;
forthermore, certefying yow that Sir Robert Fenys hath doon
grete hurte in the lyvelode whiche perteyned to my husbond
and me in the Shire of Kent, wherein William Kene and other
persones arn enfeffid, and gretly troubleth hit, and receyveth
the issuez and profitez of gret part of theym. And as of my
seid husbonds lyvelode, aswell in the same shire as in other
shirez, besyde myn jounter, my seid husbond, whan he de-
partyd towarde the feld of Saint Albons, made and ordeyned
his wille, that I shuld have the rewell of all his lyvelode, and
of Edwarde his soon and myn, and to take the issuez and
profitez of the seid lyvelode, to the fyndyng of his and myn
seid son, to paie his dettez, and to kepe the right and title of
the same lyvelode, which I myght nat accordyng occupie for
Sir Edwarde Ponyngs, myn seid husbonds brother; and so
sith myn seid husbonds departyng, I assigned that the seid Sir
Edwarde for certeyn yereez shuld have and take the revenuez
of the maners of Westwode, Estwell, Levelond, Horsmonden,
Totyndon, Eccles, Staundon, and Combesdon, parcell of the
seid lyvelode, which arn clerely yerely worth lxxvjli. xiijs. iiijd.,
to the entent that the seid Sir Edwarde shuld paye myn
husbonds dettez, for he wold not suffer me to be in rest with-
out that he myght have a rewell in the lyvelode; and after
the seid assignement made, the seid Robert Fenes, contrary to
trowth, and withoute cause of right, interupted me and the
seid Sir Edwarde, aswell of and in the seid maners as of other
maners undirwretyn; wher uppon the same Sir Edwarde suet
unto the Kyngs Highnesse, and hade the Kyngez honorable
lettres undir his signet, directed to the said Sir Robert Fenys,
the tenour wherof I send unto yow herin inclosid; and as for
residue of the lyvelode of myn seid husbonds and myn, within
the same shire of Kent, wherin the said William Kene and
other arn enfeffed, that is to say, the maner of Tyrlyngham,
Wolverton, Halton, Newyngton, Bastram, Rokesley, and
Northcray, with th’appurtenauncez, I of them, by myn seid
husbonds wille, shuld have residue, and take the issuez and
profitez of theym, contrarye to right and conciens, takyng
away my ryght, and brekyng my said husbonds wille, the seid
Robert Fenys hath doon gret wast and hurte ther, and long
tym hath take upe the revenuez and profitez of the same, wher
thorough I have not my ryght, and the seid wille may not be
performed.

     Wherfor I hertely pray yow that ze will labour unto the
Kynges Highnes, at yt lyketh hym addres his honorable lettres
to be directed to the seid Robert Fenys, dischargyng hym
utterly of the menuraunce, occupacion, and receyt of the
revenuez of the said maners of Tyrlyngham and other, accord-
yng to the tenour of the lettres labored by Sir Edwarde, for
the maners assigned to hym from the Kyngs Highnes, directyd
to the same Robert Fynes, or strayter if hit may be, and that
I and myn assignez may peasseble rejoie theym; and if eny
person wold attempt to do the contrarye, that a comaunde-
ment, yf it pies the Kyngs Hignes, by hym myght be yevyn
to my Lorde Chaunceller to seall writtyngs sufficiaunt with his
gret seall, in eydyng and assisting me and myn assignez in
this same.

     And as for the maners of Esthall, Faukham, Asslie, and
Chelsfeld, with th’appurtenauntez in the seid schire of Kent,
whereof my hysbond at his departur was seassed, and my son
sethens, unto the tyme that the Erle of Kent¹ without eny
inquission or title of right for the Kyng, by colour of the
Kynges lettres patentes, entret into theym, and hym therof put
owte, and now my Lorde of Essex² occupieth them in lyke
maner and forme; yf eny remedy therin wilbe hade, I pray
yow attempt hit.

     Also, forther more, I hertely pray yow that if eny generall
pardon be grauntyd, that I may have on for John Dane my
servaunt, whom the said Robert Fenys of gret malice hath
endyted of felonye, and that ze secretly labour this, and send
me an aunswer in writtyng in as godly hast as ze may. As
soon as that may ples yow to send me passels of costes and
expences ze bere and pay for the said causez, I will truely
content yow hit of the same, and over that rewarde yow
to your plessour by the grace of Jesu, quo have yow in
His blessed keping. Wrettyn in Suthwerk the xv^th daie of
Decembyr.

                               Be your awnt,                          ELIZABETH PONYNGS.

     ¹ [From Fenn, iv. 266.] Elizabeth Paston, as we have seen (No. 374), had
married Robert Poynings by the beginning of January 1459. We must, however,
correct a slight inaccuracy in the preliminary note to that letter, where it is said that
by the year 1470 they must have been married several years. Their union, in fact,
lasted little more than two years; for Robert Poynings was slain at the second battle
of St. Albans on the 17th February 1461. The inquisition post mortem, taken some
years afterwards (9 and 10 Edw. IV., No. 49), gives that day as the date of his death.
His son and heir, Edward, named in this letter (who was afterwards Lord-Deputy of
Ireland in the reign of Henry VII.), was probably born towards the close of the year
1459, for he is mentioned at the date of the inquisition (31st Jan. 49 and I Hen. VI.,
i.e. 1471) as eleven years old and over. Elizabeth Poynings must have remained a
widow some years; but before 1472 she had married Sir George Browne of Betch-
worth, Surrey. This letter is certainly of later date than No. 627, for the lands which
she was then endeavouring to recover from the Earl of Kent were now occupied by
the Earl of Essex. It may perhaps have been a year or two after 1466, but it was
probably not later than 1469, as in 1470 Henry VI. was restored, and Essex, being a
Yorkist, would not have been so powerful. The year 1468 must be a tolerable
approximation to the true date.

    ¹ Edmund Grey, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and Baron Hastings, who was created
Earl of Kent in 1465.

     ² Henry, Viscount Bourchier, created Earl of Essex in 1461.

1468(?)
DEC. 15

1468(?)
DEC. 15

1468(?)
DEC. 15