James Gresham to John Paston

LETTER XX.

      To my Right especiall
      Maist^r John Paston in hast.

RYGHT worthy worshipfull S^r and myn especiall maist^r I
     recomaund me to yow And p’y yow wete yat I was
yesterdaye atte ............ my lord ¹ Chauncellers hous and y’e I
spake w^t White And he tolde me yat he hadde the lett^r yat ye
sewed for from .....................directed to the lord Mo-
leyns of yat substance yat ye hadde sued to hym for an especiall
² assi’e and an ³ oier and det^rminer and ............... yat he shuld
comaunde his men beyng at Gr to dep^rte yens and yat ye
p’fitez y’of shuld be receyved by an endifferent p^rson ....... saufly
to be kepte til y^e right were det^rmyned be twen yow and my
lord M. &c. whiche lett^r White sent forthe ... by a man of my
lord Chaunceller to y^e lord Moleyns And he sent his answer in
writyng of yis Substance yat it shuld not like my lord Chaun-
celler to g’unte Assi’e &c. for als moche as ye lord M. hadde sore
be laboured in his cuntre to peas and stille ye ⁴ poeple there to
restreyngne them from rysyng and so he was dayly laboured
y’e abowt in ye kynggs s’uyce and yat considered he trustid
u^ryly yat y’e shuld non assi’e be gr’unted to yo^r entent And he
seid farther in his answer if he myght attende to be in Norff
and leve the necessary s’uyce yat he dede to ye kyng now in
Wyltshire he wolde be but weel pleased yat ye hadde yo^r assise
for he knewe his title and his euydence so good for his part yat
he durst weel putte it in my lord Chaunceller and in what iuge
he wolde calle to hym. And wher my lord Chaunceller desired
hym to avoyde his men from Gr’ he trustid that my lord wolde
not desire that by cause he hadde his possession and yat it was
his wyffs ryght and so hym thought it a geynst reason yat he
shuld a voide utterly his possession. yis same moneday goth my
lord Chaunceller and my lord of ⁵ Buk into Kent to sytte up on
an ⁶ oier and det^rmyner at Rorchestre And Whyte tolde me yat
y’e is wretyn an gen^rall oier and det^rmyner to be in Norff And
what therfore and for ye lord Moleyns writyng hym semyth
it is not to yo^r. avayll to sewe for an especiall assi’e ne for an
oier and det^rmyner. Whan I Come hiddirward I mette w^t my
lord of Norff. betwen Berkewey and Baburgh’m homward And
whethir he shall Come agayn hiddir or noght I wot not but J
trowe rather yes yanne nay. For it is seid that alle ye lords be
sent for to be here on Moneday or tuysday next Comyng for a
counseyll the ⁷ chief justice is not here ne noon oy’ iustice ex-
cept ⁸ Danvers is now made iuge of ye Co’e place and is forth
into Kent w^t ye lords, &c. Al yis tofore was wretyn on ye
Moneday next aft^r our lady day. And yis same Wednesseday
was it told that ⁹ Shirburgh is goon and we have not now a
foote of londe in Normandie and men arn ferd yat ¹⁰ Calese
wole be beseged hastily, &c. Pynchamour shall telle yow by
mowche more yanne I have leyser to write now to yow. I wrot
to myn ¹¹ Em’ yat y’e were ix or x m¹ men up in Wiltshire and
J hadde it of ye report of Whittocks mede but I trowe it is not
so for here is now littel speche y’of ner the lesse if I here more I
shall send yow worde her after by sum loders yat Come to seynt
Bertilmews fayre ..... Wretyn in hast at london ye Wednesseday
next aft^r our lady day, &c.

                                                  Yo^r own symple S^rvūt,

                                                                         ¹² James Gr.

     After J. Paston had received this Letter, it seems as if he had sent it to my Lord Ox-
ford, for on the back of it, in J. Paston’s hand-writing, is the following direction.

     “To the rith worspfull and my rith speciall Lord my Lord of Oxenford.”

     The Estates in dispute between J. Paston and my Lord Molyns, were at Gresham, in
Norfolk, where Sir William Paston the Judge, had purchased the moiety of a Manor, &c.
of Thomas Chaucer, Esq. The other moiety now in dispute, had been in the possession
of the ancestors of Ellenor (now the wife of Robert Hungerford, Lord Molyns,) who was
the daughter and heir of Sir William Molyns, Lord Molyns, who was killed at the siege
of Orleans, in 1428, and had likewise come into Sir William’s possession. The disputes
were carried on for several years, and how at last finally settled I know not.

 ¹ William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester, he was soon after succeeded by John
Kemp, Archbishop of York.

     ² A Writ directed to the Sheriff, for recovery of possession of things immoveable,
whereof yourself or ancestors have been disseised.

     ³ Is a Commission especially granted to certain persons for the hearing and determin-
ing of causes, and was formerly only in use upon some sudden outrage or insurrection in
any place.

     ⁴ These disturbances amongst the people were the remains of Cade’s rebellion, which
had been lately suppressed.

⁵ Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, fell in the battle of Northampton, in
July 1460.

     ⁶ These Commissions of Oyer and Determiner were to try those who had been con-
cerned in the late Rebellion under Cade.

  ⁷ John Hody was at this time Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.

      ⁸ Robert Danvers became a Judge of the Common Pleas 14th of August, 1450.

     ⁹ Cherburg is a port-town in France, in the province of Normandy, and situated on a
bay in the English Channel, opposite to Hampshire. The French are at this very time
(1788) erecting considerable works, and forming an extensive harbour at this place.

     ¹⁰ Calais, the capital of the re-conquered Country in the province of Picardy, in
France, was taken by the English in 1347, during the reign of Edward III. and lost by
them in the reign of Q. Mary, in 1557.

     ¹¹ Quere this abbreviated word.

     ¹² Autograph. Pl. III. N^o 28.

12 by 9 ?.

London,
           Wednesday
           19th of August, 1450.
           28 H. VI.

LETTER XX.

To my right especial Master, John Paston, in baste.

RIGHT worthy worshipful Sir, and mine especial master,
     I recommend me to you, and pray you weet that I was
yesterday at my ¹ Lord Chancellor’s house, and there I spake
with White, and he told me that he had the letter that ye sued
for from ....... directed to the Lord Molyns of that substance that
ye had sued to him for an especial ² Assise and an ³ oyer and
determiner, and that he should command his men being at
Gresham to depart thence, and that the profits thereof should
be received by an indifferent person safely to be kept till the
right were determined between you and my Lord Molyns, &c.
which letter White sent forth by a man of my Lord Chancellor
to the Lord Molyns. And he sent his answer in writing of this
substance, that it should not like my Lord Chancellor to grant
assise, &c. for as much as the Lord Molyns had sore belaboured
in his country to pease [appease] and still the ⁴ people there to
restrain them from rising, and so he was daily laboured there
about in the King’s service, and that considered, he trusted verily
that there should none assise be granted to your intent; and he
said further in his answer, if he might attend to be in Norfolk,
and leave the necessary service that he did to the King now in
Wiltshire, he would be but well pleased that you had your assise,
for he knew his title and his evidence so good for his part, that
he durst well put it in my Lord Chancellor, and in what Judge
he would call to him; and where(as) my Lord Chancellor de-
sired him to avoid his men from Gresham, he trusted that my
Lord would not desire that, because he had his possession, and
that it was his wife’s right, and so him thought it against
reason that he should avoid utterly his possession.

     This same Monday goeth my Lord Chancellor and my Lord
of ⁵ Buckingham into Kent, to set upon an ⁶ oyer and deter-
miner at Rochester, and White told me that there is written a
general oyer and determiner to be in Norfolk; and what there-
fore, and for the Lord Molyns writing, him seemeth it is not to
your avail to sue for an efpecial assise nor for an oyer and deter-
miner.

     When I came hitherward I met with my Lord of Norfolk,
between Barkway and Baberham homeward, and whether he
shall come again hither or not I wot not, but I trow rather yes
than nay, for it is said that all the Lords be sent for to be here
on Monday or Tuesday next coming for a council.

     The ⁷ Chief Justice is not here, nor none other Justice, ex-
cept ⁸ Danvers, (who) is now made Judge of the Common Pleas,
and is forth into Kent with the Lords, &c.

     All this tofore was written on the Monday next after our
Lady-day (17th of August), and this same Wednesday was it
told that ⁹ Cherburg is gone, and we have not now a foot of
land in Normandy, and men are afraid that ¹⁰ Calais will be
besieged hastily, &c. Pynchamore shall tell you by mouth more
than I have leisure to write now to you. I wrote to mine
¹¹ Em. that there were nine or ten thousand men up in Wiltshire,
and I had it of the report of Whittock’s mede, [q? maid] but I
trow it is not so, for here is now little speech thereof, never-
theless if I hear more I shall send you word hereafter by some
Loaders [Carriers] that come to Saint Bartholomew’s fair.

     Written in haste at London, the Wednesday next after our
Lady-day, &c. (the Assumption, 15th August).

Your own simple Servant,

                                                                    ¹² JAMES GRESHAM.

     After J. Paston had received this Letter, it seems as if he had sent it to my Lord Ox-
ford, for on the back of it, in J. Paston’s hand-writing, is the following direction.

     “To the rith worspfull and my rith speciall Lord my Lord of Oxenford.”

     The Estates in dispute between J. Paston and my Lord Molyns, were at Gresham, in
Norfolk, where Sir William Paston the Judge, had purchased the moiety of a Manor, &c.
of Thomas Chaucer, Esq. The other moiety now in dispute, had been in the possession
of the ancestors of Ellenor (now the wife of Robert Hungerford, Lord Molyns,) who was
the daughter and heir of Sir William Molyns, Lord Molyns, who was killed at the siege
of Orleans, in 1428, and had likewise come into Sir William’s possession. The disputes
were carried on for several years, and how at last finally settled I know not.

 ¹ William de Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester, he was soon after succeeded by John
Kemp, Archbishop of York.

     ² A Writ directed to the Sheriff, for recovery of possession of things immoveable,
whereof yourself or ancestors have been disseised.

     ³ Is a Commission especially granted to certain persons for the hearing and determin-
ing of causes, and was formerly only in use upon some sudden outrage or insurrection in
any place.

     ⁴ These disturbances amongst the people were the remains of Cade’s rebellion, which
had been lately suppressed.

⁵ Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, fell in the battle of Northampton, in
July 1460.

     ⁶ These Commissions of Oyer and Determiner were to try those who had been con-
cerned in the late Rebellion under Cade.

  ⁷ John Hody was at this time Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.

      ⁸ Robert Danvers became a Judge of the Common Pleas 14th of August, 1450.

     ⁹ Cherburg is a port-town in France, in the province of Normandy, and situated on a
bay in the English Channel, opposite to Hampshire. The French are at this very time
(1788) erecting considerable works, and forming an extensive harbour at this place.

     ¹⁰ Calais, the capital of the re-conquered Country in the province of Picardy, in
France, was taken by the English in 1347, during the reign of Edward III. and lost by
them in the reign of Q. Mary, in 1557.

     ¹¹ Quere this abbreviated word.

     ¹² Autograph. Pl. III. N^o 28.

12 by 9 ?.

London,
           Wednesday
           19th of August, 1450.
           28 H. VI.

131

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON⁴

To my right especiall maister, John Paston,⁵ in hast.

       RYGHT worthy worshipfull sir, and myn especiall
            maister, I recomaund me to yow, and pray yow
            wete that I was [yesterdaye atte]⁶ . . . .⁶ my lord
Chauncellers⁷ hous, and there I spake with White; and he
tolde me that he hadde the letter that ye sewed for from
 . . . . . . .¹ directed to the Lord Moleyns of that
substance that ye hadde sued to hym for an especiall assise²
and an oier and determiner,³ [and]¹ . . . . .¹ that he shuld
comaunde his men beyng at Gresham to departe thens, and
that the profitez thereof shuld be receyved by an endifferent
[person]¹ . .¹ saufly to be kepte til the right were deter-
myned be twen yow and my Lord M., &c., whiche letter
White sente forthe [by]¹ a man of my Lord Chaunceller to
the Lord Moleyns. And he sent his answer in writyng of
this substance, that it shuld not like my Lord Chaunceller to
graunte assise, &c., for als moche as the Lord M. hadde sore
be laboured in his cuntre to peas and stille the poeple⁴ there
to restreyngne them from rysyng, and so he was dayly laboured
there abowt in the Kynggs servyce, and that considered, he
trustid veryly that there shuld non assise be graunted to your
entent. And he seid forther in his answer, if he myght
attende to be in Norffolk, and leve the necessary servyce that
he dede to the Kyng now in Wyltshire, he wolde be but weel
pleased that ye hadde your assise; for he knewe his title and
his evydence so good for his part, that he durst weel putte it
in my Lord Chaunceller, and in what juge he wolde calle to
hym. And wher my Lord Chaunceller desired hym to avoyde
his men from Gresham, he trustid that my Lord wolde not
desire that, by cause he hadde his possession, and that it was
his wyffs ryght, and so hym thought it a geynst reason that he
shuld a voide utterly his possession.

     This same Moneday goth my Lord Chaunceller and my
Lord of Buk⁵ into Kent to sytte up on an oier and determyner⁶

at Rorchestre; and Whyte told me that there is wretyn an
generall oier and determyner to be in Norffolk, and what
ther[fore]¹ and for the Lord Moleyns writyng, hym semyth
it is not to your avayll to sewe for an especiall assise, ne for
an oier and determyner.

     Whan I come hiddirward, I mette with my Lord of
Norffolk betwen Berkewey and Baburgham homward, and
whethir he shall come agayn hiddir or noght I wot not, but
I trowe rather yes thanne nay; for it is seid that alle the
Lords be sent for to be here on Moneday or Tuysday next
comyng for a counseyll.

     The Chief Justice² is not here, ne noon other Justice,
except Danvers³ is now made Juge of the Comune Place, and
is forth into Kent with the Lords, &c.

     Al this tofore was wretyn on the Moneday next after our
Lady day. And this same Wednesseday was it told that
Shirburgh⁴ is goon, and we have not now a foote of londe in
Normandie, and men arn ferd that Calese wole be beseged
hastily, &c.

     Pynchamour shall telle yow by mowthe more thanne I
have leyser to write now to yow. I wrot to myn em’⁵ that
there were ix. or x. m^1. [nine or ten thousand] men up in
Wiltshire, and I hadde it of the report of Whittocks mede;
but I trowe it is not so, for here is now littel speche therof;
ner the lesse, if I here more, I shall sende yow worde her
after by sum loders that come to Seynt Bertilmews [fayre].¹

     Wretyn in hast at London, the Wednesseday next after
our Lady day, &c.

                                 Your own symple servaunt,

                                                                                           JAMES GR.

     ⁴ [From Fenn, iii. 86.] The date of this letter is ascertained by the news con-
tained in the last paragraph of the fall of Cherbourg, besides other internal evidence.

     ⁵ ‘After John Paston had received this letter,’ says Fenn, ‘it seems as if he had
sent it to my Lord Oxford, for on the back of it, in John Paston’s handwriting, is the
following direction: “To the rith worspfull and my rith speciall lord, my Lord of
Oxenford.”‘

     ⁶ These passages, in which the text is broken by brackets or dots, are indicated
by Fenn as illegible in the original.

     ⁷ John Kemp, Cardinal Archbishop of York, afterwards of Canterbury.

     ¹ These passages, in which the text is broken by brackets or dots, are indicated
by Fenn as illegible in the original.

     ² A writ directed to the sheriff for recovery of possession of things immoveable,
whereof yourself or ancestors have been disseised.—F.

     ³ Is a commission especially granted to certain persons for the hearing and
determining of causes, and was formerly only in use upon some sudden outrage
or insurrection in any place.—F.

     ⁴ These disturbances among the people were the remains of Cade’s rebellion,
which had been lately suppressed.—F.

     ⁵ Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, fell in the battle of Northampton in
July 1460.—F.

     ⁶ These commissions of oyer and determiner were to try those who had been
concerned in the late rebellion under Cade.—F.

     ¹ See Note 1, p. 161.

     ² John Hody was at this time Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.—F.

     ³ Robert Danvers became a Judge of the Common Pleas 14th of August
1450.—F.

     ⁴ Cherbourg surrendered to the French on the 12th August 1450.—See Stevenson’s
Reductio Normanniæ, p. 367.

     ⁵ ‘Quære this abbreviated word,’ says Fenn. It is probably eme, meaning uncle.

AUG. 9

1450

AUG. 9

1450

AUG. 9