Henry Fylungley to Sir John Fastolf

Add. 43488, f. 45

?17 July 1456

Gairdner, Vol III, item 340; Fenn, Vol I, Henry VI item 42

LETTER XLII.

To my ryght worshipfull Unkle and my Ryght good Master Syr
John Fastalf Knyght.

RYGHT worshipfull Unkull and my Ryght good Master.
I recomaund me to yow wyth all my servys.

And S^r my Broy^r Paston and I have comened togeder as tou-
chinge to yo^{r 1} Colage y^t ye wold have made, and S^r. hit ys to
gret a good y^t ys axed of yow for youre lycens for they ax for
ev^ry C m’rc y^t ye wold amortyse D m’rcz, and woll gefe hit
noo better chepe.

And S^r. y told my brother Paston y^t my Lady of ² Bargeveney
hath in dyv^rs Abbeyes in Leyc’shyre vij or viij prestes Singinge
for her p’petuell by my Brother Darcyes and my Unkle Brokes-
byes meanes for they were her Execut’rs, and they acorded
for ³ money and gafe a cc or ccc m’rc, as yey myzt acord for a
Prest.

And for y^{e 4} Suerte y^t he shuld synge in y^e same abbey for ev^r,
They had man^rs of good valew bounden to such p’sones as plesed
y^e sayd Barth^rn Brokkesby and my Broy^r Darcy, y^t y^e sayd
s^rvyse shulde be kept.

And for lytell moore yen y^e Kynge axed hem for a Lycence
y^ey went thorgh w^t y^e sayd Abbots.

And y hold this wey as sure as that other, ye may comen w^t
youre Councell therof.

And yf y^r be any s^rvyse y^t y can do for yow hit shall be
redy at all tymes w^t y^e g’ce of God who have yow in his
kepynge.

Wryten at Londō y^e xvij day of Juyll.

Yo^r Nevew and Servñt,

12 by 7 ½.

⁵ Henry Fylungley.

              Paper Mark,
Two Pales within a lozenge shield,
      surmounted by a Coronet.
               Pl. IX. N^o 13.

London, 17th of July.
Before 1459, 38 H. VI.

¹ This is the College, which Sir John Fastolf intended to have founded at Caister, by
Yarmouth, in Norfolk.

² Elizabeth, Daughter and heir of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Worcester, (Son and
heir of William Beauchamp, Lord Bergavenny,) and wife of Sir Edward Nevile, a
younger Son of Ralph, first Earl of Westmorland, who by this marriage was summoned
as Lord Bergavenny, in 1450.

³ It is a generally received opinion that the Priests were the most exorbitant in their
demands on every occasion, but here it seems otherwise, for the King (or his Ministers)
required 500 Marks for a License for every 100 Marks that were intended to be settled in
Mortmain.

It appears, however, by this Letter that Contracts might be made with the Abbots, &c.
on much more moderate terms, for the performance of Masses, &c. and equally secure,
even without the King’s License.

We are here informed that a demand had been made upon the Executors of Lady

Bergavenny of nearly as much Money, for a License to found, as it actually took to found
a Service for her.

⁴ This is a curious fact, as it shows us how security was given by the Abbies, &c. to the
Parties contracting for a Mass or Service, that it should be continued for ever in the same
Abbey, &c.

⁵ He appears from other Letters to have been a Lawyer, and was connected with the
Pastons, &c. by marriage. Pl. III. N^o 36.

This Letter was written during the latter part of the life of Sir John Fastolf, perhaps
not long before his death, which happened in 1459.

LETTER XLII.

To my right worshipful Uncle, and my right good Master, I
John Fastolf, Knight.

RIGHT worshipful Uncle, and my right good Master, I
recommend me to you with all my service.

And Sir, my Brother Paston and I have communed together as
touching to your ¹ College that ye would have made, and Sir, it
is too great a good (Sum) that is asked of you for your License;
for they ask for every 100 marks that ye would amortise (settle
by the statute of Mortmain) 500 marks, and will give it no
better cheap (grant no better bargain.)

And Sir, I told my Brother Paston, that my Lady ² Aberga-
venny hath in diverse Abbeys in Leicestershire, seven or eight
Priests singing for her perpetually, by my Brother Darcy’s and
my Uncle Brokesby’s means, for they were her Executors; and
they accorded (agreed) for ³ money and gave a 200 or 300
marks, as they might accord (agree) for a Priest.
And for the ⁴ Surety that he should sing in the same Abbey
for ever; they had Manors of good value bounden to such Per-
sons, as pleased the said Brethren, Brokesby, and my Brother
Darcy, that the said service should be kept.

And for little more than the King asked them for a License,
they went through with the said Abbots.

And I hold this way as sure as that other; ye may commune
with your Counsel thereof.

And if there be any service that I may do for you, it shall be
ready at all times with the grace of God, who have you in his
keeping.

Written at London, the 17th day of July.

Your Nephew and Servant,

⁵ HENRY FYLUNGLEY.

12 by 7 ?.

Paper Mark,
Two Pales within a lozenge shield,
surmounted by a Coronet.
Pl. IX. N^o 13.