J Daubeney to John Paston

LETTER XL.

     To my most Reu'ent
     and worchepfull Maist^r
     John Paston dwellyng at
     Heylysdon be y^is delyu?yd.

                                                             Ĩhs

MOST reu'ent and worchepfull Mast^r I Recōmaund me
     onto yo^r god mast^rchep please you to have knowlage on
y^e Fryday at aft^rnoon next aft^r seynt Pet?.Ther was at y^e Tau'an
in london old Debnam and yong Debnam Thom's Edmōds and
I And ther the seyd Thom's Edmonds fell jn cōmunication w^t
old Debnam and seyd that my ¹ lord Tresorer had put hym to a
gret Charge for the vetelyng of ² Mary Talbot seyyng to Old
Debnam that he hard sey y^t he had a C bulloks to selle the
wyche y^e seyd Edmonds wolle bey so y^t they may a Cord of y^e
p'c Than the seyd old Debnam Answerd ageyn and seyd he
wold so y^t he myght have good payment of ell y^e seyd Edmōds
to be bound in Abligacon to pay hym at suche dayys as they
myght a Cord and noon vpon thys same langwage yong Debnam
spake to hys Fad^r S^r I p'y you y^t ye wolle Take Avisment of
this mater tille to morowe for I trost to yo^r good fad^rod that ye
wolle late me have a s^rteyn of yo^r bulloks for the vetelyng of the
barge of Yermothe And I shall fynd you sufficiant suerte for y^e
payment therof for Edmonds I wolle y^t ye knowe J have be ther
and spoke w^t y^e owner and w^t y^e maist^r of y^e seyd barge and they
knowyn myn oppoyntment Than y^e seyd Edmōds Answered to
yong Debnam and told hym that y^e sety of Norwic and Yer-
mother hathe grauntyd and send wrytyng to y^e Kyng and to y^e
lords that they wolle manne and veteylle y^e seyd barge of her
owne Cost fro y^e tym of hyr goyng owt tylle hyr Comyng home
And thus the seyd Edmōds told hym that my lord tresor^r and all
y^e lords y^t be at london thynk they do ryght well her devy^r and
be worthey moche thanke of y^e Kyng well q' yong Debnam J
had in Cōmaundmēt for to have y^e rewle of y^e seyd barge and I
wolle be at Yermothe as thys day iiij dayys and man hyr and
bryng hyr downne to y^e Gylys of Hulle for y^t ys my Chype Also
he seyd mor w^t out y^t he myght have y^e seyd barge he wolle
note goo to see but hym self and hys xxiiij men and thus yf please
yo^r mainst^rchep he dep^rtyd from y^e Tau'an And At hys dep^rtyng
he told the seyd Thom's Edmonds thys ys Paston labor Than ye
seyd Edmonds Answerd hym ageyn and seyd playnly he was to
blame for to reporte so fo yo^r mast^rchep for he knowythe veryly
he seyd on trewly of you and of my mast^ryo^r son bothe and ther
on he wold take a hothe And so yf it please yo^r good mast^rchep
late y^e Cety of Norwic and Yermothe have knowlage of hys gret
Crakyng and bost and let hym of hys of hys p'pose by y^e Autorite y^e
the have It' my Mast^ryo^r son wolle have to hys Jakets ³ murry
and Tany and that it please yow sum of my felachep my spek
to on of ye Drapers for to ordeyn yt Ageyns hys Comyng hom

for I trowe it shall be thys day sevenyght ar he Comithe home
It' S^r if please you Skrowpe hathe sent to you to london be byng-
h'm for y^e mony y^t ye knowe of zit I spake not w^t hym but J
shall telle hym y^t I Suppose ye shall be her in y^e last end of y^e
terme and J shall send yo^r mast^rchep word what Answer J have
of hym.

     Itm S^r if pleese suche tydyngs as I herof I send you word my Lord
of Warwek hathe bein ⁴ Skotlond an take a castell of y^e Skoots
and upon thys ther came ye ⁵ Quene of Skoots w^t other lords of
her contr' as ye shall her y^e namys in basetry to my seyd Lord of
Werwek and a trews is take betwyx thys and seynt Bertylmew
day in Auguste thes is the last tydyngs y^t I knowe No mor to
yor god mast^rchep at y^e tyme but Ihu have in kepyng Wretyn on
y^e saturday next aft^r seynt Pet^r.

                            By yo^r por s^rvunt
                                                                ⁶ J. Daubeney.

              12 by 8.
         Paper Mark,
     Hand and Flower.
       Pl. XXVII. No 11.

                      Seal:
     A.W. surmounted by a Cornet.
                 Pl. XIV. No 9.

     I have given this Letter for two reasons, the first, as it shews the ease with which the
familiar conversation between the persons here mentioned is reduced to writing, and the
second, as it throws some light upon the means used for manning and victualling such
ships as then composed the navy of England.

     ¹ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, he was beheaded in October 1470.

     ² The Mary Talbot, it appears as if this Ship received her name from the blessed Vir-
gin, who most probably had been implored to protect her, and from the valiant Talbot,
Earl of Shrewsbury, who had so courageously fought in the French wars, this is merely a
coujecture, and perhaps an ill founded one.

     ³ Dark red or purple, and yellowish colour.

     ⁴ This relates to the transactions in the North during the year 1463, when the Earl of
Warwick commanded there after Edward's return to London, who was now attentive to
the designs of France respecting Henry and Margaret.

    ⁵ Mary, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelders, and Mother to James III. King of
Scotland. She was a woman of heroic valour, and took an active part in the govern-
ment with the Regents during the minority of her Son. She died during this year.

    ⁶ Autograph. Pl. XXV. No 18.

LETTER XL.

To my most reverend and worshipful Master John Paston, dwelling
at Hellesdon, be this delivered.

                                                                Ĩhs

MOST reverend and worshipful master. I recommend me
     unto your good master ship, please you to have know-
ledge, on the Friday at afternoon next after Saint Peter, there
was at the Tavern in London old Dehenham and young Deben-
ham, Thomas Edmonds and I; and there the said Thomas
Edmonds fell in communication with old Debenham, and said
that my ¹ Lord Treasurer had put him to a great charge for the
victualling of (the) ² Mary Talbot, saying to old Debenham,
that he heard say that he had a hundred Bullocks to sell, the
which the said Edmonds will buy so that they may accord of the
price; then the said old Debenham answered again and said, he
would, so that he might have good payment, or else the said
Edmonds to be bound in an obligation to pay him at such days
as they might accord; anon upon this same language, young
Debenham spake to his Father, "Sir I pray you that ye will
"take avisement of this matter till to-morrow, for I trust to your
"good fatherhood that ye will let me have a serteyn (a certain
"number) of the bullocks for the victualling of the Barge of
"Yarmouth, and I shall find you sufficient surety for the pay-

"ment thereof for Edmonds, I will that ye know I have been
"there and spoke with the owner and with the master of the
"said barge, and they know my appointment."

     Then the said Edmonds answered to young Debenham, and
told him that the City of Norwich and Yarmouth hath granted,
and sent writing to the King and to the Lords, that they will
man and victual the said barge of their own costs from the time
of her going out till her coming home; and thus the said
Edmonds told him that my Lord Treasurer and all the Lords
that be at London think they do right well their devoir (duty)
and be worthy much thank of the King, "well," quoth young
Debenham, "I had in commandment for to have the rule of the
"said barge, and I will be at Yarmouth ere this day four days,
"and man her and bring her down to the Gylys of Hull for
"that is my ship."

     Also, he said more, without that he might have the said barge,
he will not go to sea but himself and his twenty-four men, and
thus, if please your mastership, he departed from the Tavern;
and at his departing he told the said Thomas Edmonds, "this
is Paston's labour;" then the said Edmonds answered him again,
and said plainly he was to blame for to report so of your master-
ship, for he knoweth verily he said untruely of you and of my
master your son both, and thereon he would have taken an oath;
and so, is it please you good mastership, let the City of Norwich
and Yarmouth have knowledge of his great cracking and boasts,
and let (hinder) him of his purpose by the authority that they have.
     Item, my master your son will have to him Jackets ³ Murrey
and Tawney, and that it please you some of my fellowship may
speak to one of the Drapers for to ordain it against his coming

home, for I trow it shall be this day sev'night ere he cometh
home.

     Item Sir, if please you, Skroope hath sent to you to London by
Bingham for the money that ye know of; yet I spake not with
him, but I shall tell him that I suppose ye will be here in the last
end of the term, and I shall send your mastership word what an-
swer I have of him.

     Item, Sir if please, such tidings as I hear of, I send you word,
my Lord of Warwick hath been in ⁴ Scotland and taken a castle
of the Scots, and upon this there came the ⁵ Queen of Scots with
other Lords of her Country, as ye shall hear the names, in base-
try (in embassy) to my said Lord of Warwick, and a truce is taken
betwixt this and Saint Bartholomew's day in August, these is (are)
the last tidings that I know. No more to your good mastership
at this time, but Jesu have (you) in his keeping. Written on
the Saturday next after Saint Peter.

                            By your poor servant.
                                                                      ⁶ J. DAUBENEY.

 Saint Peter,
         Saturday, 2d of July, 1463.
         3 E. IV.

      I have given this Letter for two reasons, the first, as it shews the ease with which the
familiar conversation between the persons here mentioned is reduced to writing, and the
second, as it throws some light upon the means used for manning and victualling such
ships as then composed the navy of England.

    ¹ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, he was beheaded in October 1470.

    ² The Mary Talbot, it appears as if this Ship received her name from the blessed Vir-
gin, who most probably had been implored to protect her, and from the valiant Talbot,
Earl of Shrewsbury, who had so courageously fought in the French wars, this is merely a
coujecture, and perhaps an ill founded one.

    ³ Dark red or purple, and yellowish colour.

    ⁴ This relates to the transactions in the North during the year 1463, when the Earl of
Warwick commanded there after Edward's return to London, who was now attentive to
the designs of France respecting Henry and Margaret.

    ⁵ Mary, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelders, and Mother to James III. King of
Scotland. She was a woman of heroic valour, and took an active part in the govern-
ment with the Regents during the minority of her Son. She died during this year.

     ⁶ Autograph. Pl. XXV. No 18.

521

J. DAUBENEY TO JOHN PASTON³

To my most reverent and worchepfull maister, John Paston,
dwellyng at Heylysdon, be this delyveryd.

Ih’s.

MOST reverent and worchepfull master, I recommaund
     me onto your god masterchep. Please you to have
     knowlage, on the Fryday at afternoon next after
Seynt Peter, there was at the taveran in London old Debnam
and young Debnam, Thomas Edmonds, and I; and ther the
seyd Thomas Edmonds fell in communicacion with old
Debnam, and seyd that my Lord Tresorer¹ had put hym
to a gret charge for the vetelyng of Mary Talbot,² seyyng
to old Debnam that he hard sey that he had a C. bulloks
to selle, the wyche the seyd Edmonds wolle bey so that they
may a cord of the price. Than the seyd old Debnam answerd
ageyn, and seyd he wold, so that he myght have good pay-
ment, or elles the seyd Edmonds to be bound in abligacion
to pay hym at suche dayys as they myght a cord. And noon
upon thys same langwage, yong Debnam spake to hys fader,
’Sir, I pray you that ye wolle take avisment of this mater tille
to morowe, for I trost to your good faderhod that ye wolle
late me have a serteyn of your bulloks for the vetelyng of the
Barge of Yermothe, and I shall fynd you sufficiant suerte for
the payment therof for Edmonds. I wolle that ye knowe I
have be ther, and spoke with the owner and with the maister
of the seyd barge, and they knowyn myn oppoyntment.’

     Than the seyd Edmonds answered to yong Debnam,
and told hym that the sety of Norwic and Yermothe hathe
grauntyd, and send wrytyng to the Kynge and to the Lords
that they wolle manne and veteylle the seyd barge of her owne
cost fro the tym of hyr goyng owt tylle hyr comyng home;
and thus the seyd Edmonds told hym that my Lord Tresorer
and all the Lords that be at London thynk they do ryght
well her devyer, and be worthey moche thanke of the Kyng.
’Well,’ quod yong Debnam, ‘I had in commaundment for to
have the rewle of the seyd barge, and I wolle be at Yermothe
as thys day iiij. dayys, and man hyr and bryng hyr downne to
the Gylys of Hulle, for that ys my chype.’

     Also he seyd mor, with out that he myght have the seyd
barge, he wolle note goo to see but hym self and hys xxiiij.
men. And thus, yf please your maisterchep, he departyd
from the taveran; and at hys departyng, he told the seyd
Thomas Edmonds, ‘Thys ys Paston labor.’ Than the seyd
Edmonds answerd hym ageyn, and seyd playnly he was to
blame for to reporte so of your masterchep, for he knoythe
veryly he seyd on trewly of you and of my master your son
bothe, and ther on he wold take a hothe. And so, yf it please
your good masterchep, late the cety of Norwic and Yermothe
have knowlage of hys gret crakyng and bost, and let hym of
hys purpose by the autorite that they have.

     Item, my master your son wolle have to hys jakets murry¹
and tany [tawny], and that it please yow sum of my felachep
may spek to on of the drapers for to ordeyn yt ageyns hys
comyng hom, for I trowe it shall be thys day sevenyght ar he
comithe home.

     Item, sir, if please you, Skrowpe hathe sent to you to
London be Byngham for the mony that ye knowe of, zit I
spake not with hym; but I shall telle hym that I suppose ye
shall be here in the last end of the terme, and I shall send
your masterchep word what answer I have of hym.

     Item, sir, if pleese suche tydyngs as I her of, I send you
word. My Lord of Warwek hathe be in Skotlond, an take
a castell of the Skoots; and upon thys ther came the Quene of
Skoots² with other Lords of her contre, as ye shall her the
namys, in basetry [embassy] to my seyd Lord of Werwek, and
a trews is take betwyx thys and Seynt Bertylmew Day in
Auguste. Thes is the last tydyngs that I knowe. No mor
to your god masterchep at this tyme, but Jesu have [you] in
kepyng.

     Wretyn on the Saturday next after Seynt Peter.

                                    By your por servaunt,

                                                                                  J. DAUBENEY.

     ³ [From Fenn, IV. 138.] The date of this letter is shown by an entry on the
Patent Roll, 2 Edw. IV., p. 1, m. 7, in dorso. On the 27th June 1462 a com-
mission was given to Gilbert Debenham, Jun., Esquire, Walter Alderiche, master of
the George of Yarmouth, and John Childe, to arrest for the King’s service a ship
called The Barge of Yarmouth, alias The George, with victuals, masters, and mariners
for the same.

     ¹ John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester. He was beheaded in October 1470.?F.

     ² See Preliminary Note to No. 518, p. 41, Note 1.

     ¹ Dark red or purple and yellowish colour.—F.

     ² Mary, daughter of Arnold, Duke of Gelders, and mother to James III., King of
Scotland.

JULY 3

1462
JULY 3

1462
JULY 3