J Whetley to Sir John Paston

LETTER LII.

To the ryght Worsh^{.. ..} full S^r
      John Paston Knight loged at the
      sygne of the george At Powlys
      Wharf in london be thys delyu^red
      in hast

PLEAS it yo^r meast^rshep to onderstond the dealyng of eu^ry
thyng the wych J was charged w^t at my dep^rtyng frome yo^r
meast^rchep Fyrst yo^r suppena to Denton was delyu^red by me
on trenite sondaye in hys p^rych cherch at Matens tyme be
for the substenis of the p^rych And as for Drayton wod it is
not all down yet but it drawes fast toward I haue the names
of all the mynestres of and in that wod and more schall know
or I come yf y^t be any more Dealyng &c And as for Haylys-
don my lord of Suff. was ther on Wedensday in Whytson
Weke and ther dined and drew a stew and toke gret plente
of fych yet hath he left you A pyke or ij Agayn ye Come
the wych wold be gret Comford to all yo^r frends and dys-
comford to yo^r enmys for at hys beyng ther y^t daye ther was
neu^r no man y^t playd Herrod in ¹Corpus Crysty play bett^r
and more agreable to hys pageaunt then he and but ye
schall onderstond y^t it was aft^rnone and the weder hot and
he so feble for seknes y^t hys leggs wold not bere hyme but
ther was ij men had gret payn to kepe hym on hys fete and
y^r ze were Juged som sayd sley som sayd put hym in p’son
and forth Com my lord and he wold met you w^t a ²spere and
have non other mends for y^t troble as ye have put hym to
but yo^r hart blod and y^t will he gayt w^t his owen hands for
and ye haue Haylesdon and Dreton ye schall haue hys lyf
w^t it and so he Comford yo^r enmys w^t y^t word y^t thay haue
Dealed and dealeth w^t the wod and most pry˜cepall nowe is
Nycolese Ovye for as for ³Ferrer the meare he delys not
w^t out it be under cov’t for it is sayd y^t he be soght my lord
y^t he myght have other sygnements for hys money y^t he had
payd for playnly he wold deall no mor w^t the wod And so
my lord hath set in the bayly of Cossay and all is doon in
hys name And as for hys s^rv’nts thay dayly thret my meast^r
yo^r brother and me to slay for Comyng of y^r lords ground
and thay say y^t we made Aventr And thay beth answerd as
ye Comaunded me for many a gret chalaunge make thay to
mest^t John both meast^r Wodhowse Wysman w^t other dyu^res
y^t I know not y’ names but he holdeth hys own y^t thay gayt
no grownd of hym and thys he letts thaym knowe y^t if thay
bete hym or any of hys thay schall Aby vj for on and so
thay deall not but w^t ther tongs and as yet syth Ferrer was
at london y’ passes not iij Acres of wod down but thay Cary
fast for fere of rayn &c Also S^r I trust to bryng or send
hastely the cloth of gold for it hath ben largely tempted
but as yet J haue non playn Answer but put in hope Also J
haue spoken w^t Popy for yo^r money And delyu^red hym yo^r
lett^r the wych as he sayth is a straunge thyng to hym for as
J understond he y^t owght thys deute was uncle to thys yong
man and he sayth y^t hys Fader was neu^r Exsecuto^r to hym
nor nev’ mynestred and I told hym howe y^t hys Fader was
bound for the same deute in so mech and my meast^r wold
haue forgevyn part of the same deute he wold haue payed
it and so he will be at london thys terme and speke w^t you
and thys is hys Answer Morou^r Wyllyam Worsest^r mevyd
onto me of on˜e S^r Wyll’m bokkyng Exsecutor and brother
to John Bokkyng the whych was one of S^r John Falstolf
hys clerks the whych mater I knewe not nor had no Co-
maundement be you to deall y’in and so I told hym Neu^r-
the lesse he sayd y^t ye p’mysed hym to haue sent yo^r will
to haue ben don in that mater by me and so he troweth y^t
it was owt of yo^r mynd at my dep^rtyng yf so be y^t ye will
any thyng to be doon by me or I com to yow in y^t mater
let me haue knowlege schortly for I thynk to be w^t yow in
the weke folowyng aft^r thys wryten w^t owt I may haue more
Comford of money then I haue yet And as for my meastres
yo^r moder hath ben gretly deseased and so seke y^t she
wened to haue dyed and hath made her ⁴wyll the wyche ye
shall onderstond more when I com for y’is eu˜ry man for
hym self I know not the sercomstance of eu^ry thyng as yet
and y’for I writ no more to yow y’in but I am p’mysed to
know or I depart from thens Also I spake w^t Will’m
Barker and he sayth y^t I shall haue the stuff or I depart or
els the monye Agayn y^t he hade of Wyll’m Pecoke Also
S^r as for yo^r land be syd Bromholm y^t ye had of Bakton it
hath layn on ocupyed syth y^e were ther moreou^r my lord of
⁵Suff is remevyd in to Suff the morow aft^r y^t he had bene at
Haylesdon and my lady p’posed to remef aft^r on thys Day
Corpus crysty Evyn by the grace of Jhu who p’s˜ue yow
eu^r in worchep wryten at Norwych on Wedensday Corpus
crysty A^o Eiiij^ti xviij^o.

     It’m as for the knowleg y^t Ferrer denyed by hys othe y^t
he knew neu^r no tytle nor entrest y^t ye had in and to
Haylysdon and Dreton as yet we can not know but thys
thay will record all y^t were at the delyu˜ance of the wryt y^t
he sayd my lord had p’mysed to saue hym harmles in so
mech y^t Wysman was bownd to Ferro^r to saue hym harme-
les and he had for brygyng y^t mater About y^t Ferro^r shuld
haue the wod xx^s.

                                                           ^oYO^r su˜nt J WHETLEY.

      11½ by 13.

              Paper Mark,
           The Letter [ILL]
              with a Cross.
            Pl. xii. No. 18.

     We have here a Letter full of business, containing many curious circum-
stances relative to the manners of the times. The public delivery of a Sub-
p?na, at morning service, deserves notice, and the violent behaviour of the
Duke of Suffolk will not escape the attention of the reader; the comparing
him to the character of Herod, in a Mystery, wherein, I suppose, the Murder
of the Innocents was represented, is an humorous allusion to the blustering
and violent language and manner attributed to that personage.

     ¹ Corpus Christi day, the Thursday after the Octave of Whitsuntide, was
famous for the acting of Mysteries, particularly at Chester.

     ² The Duke?s challenge to meet Sir John Paston with a spear, and his weak
state of health accord but ill together; his weakness, perhaps, proceeded
either from gout or rheumatism, as he lived many years after this time, not
dying till 1491.

³ Richard Farrer, Farrour, or Ferriour, was five times Mayor of Norwich,
namely, in 1473, 1478, 1483, 1493, and 1498.

     ⁴ The Will now made by Margaret Paston was afterwards cancelled, as that
which was proved after her death in 1484, was dated on the 4th of February,
1481. 21 E. iv.

     ⁵ John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, &c., married Elizabeth, third daughter
of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and sister of Edward IV. They both
lie buried at Wingfield, in Suffolk.

     ⁶ Autograph, Pl. xxix. No. 9.

LETTER LII.

To the Right Worshipful Sir John Paston, Knight, lodged at
     the Sign of the George, at Paul’s Wharf, in London, be this
     delivered in haste.

PLEASE it your mastership to understand the dealing of
every thing, the which I was charged with, at my departing
from your mastership. First, your subpoena to Denton was
delivered by me on Trinity Sunday, [17th May,] in his parish
church, at Matins time, before the substance of the parish;
and as for Drayton wood, it is not all down yet, but it draws
fast towards. I have the names of all the ministers [assist-
ants, or agents] of and in that wood, and more shall know,
ere I come, if there be any more dealing, &c.

     And as for Hellesdon, my Lord of Suffolk was there on
Wednesday in Whitsun week, [13th May,] and there dined,
and drew a stew, and took great plenty of fish; yet hath he
left you a pike or two, again ye come, the which would be
great comfort to all your friends, and discomfort to your
enemies; for at his being there that day, there was never no
man that played Herod in ¹Corpus Christi play better, and
more agreeable to his pageant, than he did; but ye shall
understand that it was afternoon, and the weather hot, and
he so feeble for sickness, that his legs would not bear him,
but there was two men had great pain to keep him on his
feet; and there ye were judged, some said “ slay,” some
said “put him in prison;” and forth come my Lord, and he
would meet you with ²a spear, and have none other mends
[amends], for that trouble that ye have put him to, but your
heart’s blood, and that will he get, and with his own hands,
for and [if] ye have Hellesdon and Drayton, ye shall have
his life with it; and so he comforted your enemies with that
word, that they who have dealed and deal with the wood, and
[the] most principal now is Nicholas Ovy, for as for ³Farrer,
the mayor, he deals not, without it be under covert; for it is
said that he besought my Lord that he might have other
assignments for his money that he had paid, for plainly he
would deal no more with the wood; and so my Lord hath
set in the bailiff of Cossey: and all is done in his name; and
as for his servants, they daily threat my master your brother
and me to slay, for coining on their Lord’s ground; and they
say that we made aventure, and they be answered, as ye
commanded me, for many a great challenge make they to
Master John, both Master Wodehouse, Wiseman, with
other divers that I know not their names, but he holdeth
his own that they get no ground of him; and this he lets
them know, that if they beat him, or any of his, they shall
abide [suffer] six for one, and so they deal not but with
their tongues; and as yet, since Farrer was at London,
there passes not three acres of wood down, but they carry
fast for fear of rain, &c.

     Also, Sir, I trust to bring or send hastily the cloth of
gold, for it hath been largely tempted [a great price hath
been offered for it], but as yet I have none plain answer, but
[am] put in hope. Also I have spoken with Popy for your
money, and delivered him your letter, the which, as he
saith, is a strange thing to him, for, as I understand, he that
ought this duty was uncle to this young man, and he saith
that his father was never executor to him, nor never admi-
nistered; and I told him how that his father was bound for
the same duty, insomuch, and [if] my master would have
forgiven part of the same duty, he would have paid it; and
so he will be at London this term, and speak with you, and
this is his answer.

     Moreover, William Worcester moved unto me of one Sir
William Bocking, executor and brother to John Bock-
ing, the which was one of Sir John Fastolf his clerks, the
which matter I know not, nor had no commandment by you
to deal therein, and so I told him; nevertheless he said that
ye promised him to have sent your will to have been done
in that matter by me, and so he troweth that it was out of
your mind at my departing; if so be that ye will any thing
to be done by me, ere I come to you in that matter, let me
have knowledge shortly, for I think to be with you in the
week following after this writing, without I may have more
comfort of money than I have yet.

     And as for my mistress, your Mother, [she] hath been
greatly diseased and so sick, that she weened to have died,
and hath made her ⁴Will, the which ye shall understand
more when I come, for there is every man for himself; I
know not the circumstance of every thing as yet, and there-
fore I write no more to you therein, but I am promised
to know, ere I depart from thence.

     Also I spake with William Parker, and he saith that I
shall have the stuff ere I depart, or else the money again
that he had of William Peacock.

     Also, Sir, as for your land beside Bromholm, that ye had
of Bacton, it hath lain unoccupied, since ye were there.

     Moreover, my Lord of ⁵Suffolk is removed into Suffolk,
the morrow after that he had been at Hellesdon, and my

Lady purposed to remove after on this day Corpus Christi
even by the grace of Jesu, who preserve you ever in wor-
ship.

     Written at Norwich, on Wednesday, Corpus Christi
Even, in the 18th year of Edward IV.

     Item, as for the knowledge that Farrer denied by his
oath that he knew never no title nor interest that ye had in
and to Hellesdon and Drayton, as yet we cannot know; but
this they will record, all that were at the deliverance of the
Writ, that he said, my Lord had promised to save him
harmless, insomuch that Wiseman was bound to Farrer to
save him harmless, and he had for bringing that matter
about, that Farrer should have the wood, 20s.

                                                                       Your Servant,

                                                                             ⁶J. WHEATLEY.

             Norwich,
     Wednesday, 20th May,
         1478. 18 E. iv.

     We have here a Letter full of business, containing many curious circum-
stances relative to the manners of the times. The public delivery of a Sub-
p?na, at morning service, deserves notice, and the violent behaviour of the
Duke of Suffolk will not escape the attention of the reader; the comparing
him to the character of Herod, in a Mystery, wherein, I suppose, the Murder
of the Innocents was represented, is an humorous allusion to the blustering
and violent language and manner attributed to that personage.

     ¹ Corpus Christi day, the Thursday after the Octave of Whitsuntide, was
famous for the acting of Mysteries, particularly at Chester.

     ² The Duke?s challenge to meet Sir John Paston with a spear, and his weak
state of health accord but ill together; his weakness, perhaps, proceeded
either from gout or rheumatism, as he lived many years after this time, not
dying till 1491.

³ Richard Farrer, Farrour, or Ferriour, was five times Mayor of Norwich,
namely, in 1473, 1478, 1483, 1493, and 1498.

     ⁴ The Will now made by Margaret Paston was afterwards cancelled, as that
which was proved after her death in 1484, was dated on the 4th of February,
1481. 21 E. iv.

     ⁵ John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, &c., married Elizabeth, third daughter
of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and sister of Edward IV. They both
lie buried at Wingfield, in Suffolk.

     ⁶ Autograph, Pl. xxix. No. 9.

932

J. WHETLEY TO SIR JOHN PASTON¹

To the ryght worsh[yp]full Sir John Paston, Knyght, loged at
     the sygne off the George at Powlys Wharff, in London, be
     thys delyverea in hast.

   PLEAS it your meastershep to understond the dealyng
     of every thyng, the wych I was charged with at my
     departyng frome your measterchep.

     Fyrst, your suppena to Denton was delyvered by me on
Trenite Sondaye, in hys parych cherch, at Matens tyme, be
ffor the substans of the parych; and as for Drayton wod, it
is not all down yet, but it drawes fast toward. I have the
names of all the mynestres off and in that wod, and more schall
know or I come, yf ther be any more dealyng, &c.

     And as for Haylysdon, my Lord of Suffolk was ther on
Wedensday in Whytson Weke, and ther dined, and drew a
stew and toke gret plente of fych; yet hath he left you a
pyke or ij., agayn ye come, the wych wold be gret comford to
all your frendes, and dyscomford to your enmys; for at hys
beyng ther that daye ther was never no man that playd Herrod
in Corpus Crysty¹ play better and more agreable to hys
pageaunt then he dud. But ye schall understond that it was
after none, and the weder hot, and he so feble for sekenes that
hys legges wold not bere hyme, but ther was ij. men had gret
payn to kepe hym on hys fete; and ther ye were juged. Som
sayd ‘Sley;’ some sayd ‘Put hym in preson.’ And forth
com my lord, and he wold met you with a spere, and have
none other mendes for the troble at ye have put hym to but
your hart blod, and that will be gayt with hys owen handes;
for and ye have Haylesdon and Dreton, ye schall have hys
lyff with it. And so he comford your enmys with that word
that thay have dealed and dealeth with the wod, and most
pryncepall nowe is Nycolesse Ovye. For as for Ferrer,² the
Meare, he delys not with owt it be under covert; for it is
sayd that he be soght my lord that he myght have other
sygnementes for hys money that he had payd, for playnly he
wold deall no mor with the wod. And so my lord hath set in
the Bayly of Cossay, and all is doon in hys name; and as for
hys servauntes, thay dayly thret my measter your brother and
me to slay for comyng of ther lordes ground, and thay say
that we made an entre; and thay beth answerd as ye comaunded
me, for many a gret chalaunge make thay to Mester John,
both Measter Wodhowse, Wysman, with other dyveres that
I know not ther names; but he holdeth hys own that thay
gayt no grownd of hym. And thys he lettes thaym knowe
that if thay bete hym or any of hys, thay schall aby vj. for on,
and so thay deall not but with ther tonges; and as yet, syth
Ferrer was at London, there passes not iij. acres of wod down
but thay cary fast for fere of rayn, &c.

     Also, sir, I trust to bryng or send hastely the cloth off
gold, for it hath ben largely tempted; but as yet I have none
playn answer, but put in hope. Also I have spoken with
Popy for your money, and delyvered hym your letter, the
wych, as he sayth, is a straunge thyng to hym, for, as I
understond, he that owght thys deute was uncle to thys yong
man, and he sayth that hys fader was never exsecutor to hym,
nor never mynestred; and I told hym howe that hys fader
was bound for the same deute, in so mech and my measter
wold have forgevyn part of the same deute, he wold have
payed it; and so he will be at London thys terme, and speke
with you, and thys is hys answer.

     Morover Wyllyam Worsestre, mevyd unto me of onne
Sir Wylliam Bokkyng, exsecutor and brother to John Bokk-
yng, the whych was one of Sir John Fastolf hys clerkes, the
whych mater I knewe not, nor had no comaundement be you
to deall therin, and so I told hym. Never the lesse he sayd
that ye promysed hym to have sent your will to have bene
done in that mater by me, and so he troweth that it was owt
of your mynd at my departyng. Yff so be that ye will any
thyng to be doon by me or I come to yow in that mater, let
me have knowlege schortly, for I thynk to be with yow in the
weke folowyng aftyr thys wryten, with owt I may have more
comford of money then I have yet.

     And as for my meastres, your moder hath ben gretly
deseased and so seke that she wened to have dyed, and hath
made her wyll,¹ the wyche ye shall understond more when I
come, for ther is every man for hym selff. I know not the
sercomstance of every thyng as yet, and therfor I writ no
more to you therin, but I am promysed to know or I depart
from thens.

     Also I spake with William Barker, and he sayth that I shall
have the stuff or I depart, or els the monye agayn that he hade
of Wylliam Pecoke.

     Also, sir, as for your lond be syd Bromholm that ye had of
Bakton, it hath layn un ocupyed syth ye were ther.

     Moreover, my Lord of Suffolk¹ is remevyd in to Suffolk
the morow after that he had bene at Haylesdon, and my lady
purposed to remeff after on thys day, Corpus Crysty Evyn,
by the grace of Jesu, Who preserve yow ever in worchep.

     Wryten at Norwych, on Wedensday Corpus Crysty Evyn,
anno E. iiij^ti xviij^o.

     Item, as for the knowleg that Ferror denyed by hys othe
that he knew never no tytle nor entrest that ye had in and to
Haylsdon and Dreton, as yet we can not know; but thys thay
will record all that were at the delyveraunce of the wryt that
he sayd my lord had promysed to save hym harmles, in so
mech that Wysman was bownd to Ferrour to save hym harme-
les, and he had for bryngyng that mater about, that Ferrour
shuld have the wod, xxs.

                                            Your servaunt,                 J. WHETLEY.

¹ [From Paston MSS., B.M.]

     ¹ Corpus Christi Day, the Thursday after the Octave of Whitsuntide, was famous
for the acting of Mysteries, particularly at Chester.—F.

     ² Richard Farrer, Farrour, or Ferriour, was five times Mayor of Norwich, namely,
in 1473, 1478, 1483, 1493, and 1498.—F.

     ¹ The will now made by Margaret Paston was afterwards cancelled, as that
which was proved after her death in 1484 was dated on the 4th of February 1482,
21 E. IV.

     ¹ John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, etc., married Elizabeth, third daughter of
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and sister of Edward IV. They both lie buried
at Wingfield, in Suffolk.—F.

MAY 20

1478
MAY 20

1478
MAY 20

1478
MAY 20