James Gresham to John Paston

LETTER XXII.

      To my worshipfull maist^r
      Paston at Norwich in haste
      be yis delyuered.

PLEASE it yow to wete yat I come to london y^e Wed-
     nesseday at evyn late next aft^r my dep^rtyng from yow and
it was tolde me yat my maist^r Calthorp hadde writyng fro my
lord of York to awayte on hym at his comyng in to Norff’ to
be oon of his men And yat no gentilman of Norff’ had writyng
to awayte on hym but he And sum folke wene y^t it is to yen-
tent yat he shuld be outhir Shiref or knyght of ye Shire to ye
fortheryng of othir folks &c. the Kyng is remevid from Westm^r
summe men sey to ¹ Fysshwick and sumē sey to Bristowe And
it is seid yat he hath do wretyn to alle his men yat be in ye
² chekroll to awayte on hym atte p^rlem^t in yeir best Aray. Why
no man can telle ³ Heydon was w^t my maist^r Yelverton and
desired hym to see ye recordes of his endytementz and axed of
hym if he were indited of felonye and my maist^r Yelv^rton told
hym it was and y’to H. seide S^r ye wole recorde y^t I was
nev^r thef and he seid he trowed right weel that he cowde telle
why he took Plumpsteds goods and othir words whiche were long
to write And my maist^r Y. seid to hym he cowde not knowe ye
laborer of yendytement and H. seid ageyn he knewe weel ye
laborer y’of And my maist^r Y. conceyte is H. ment yow.
Wherfor he Aduyseth yow yat in onywyse ye make Plumpsted
to take Apell accordyng for if he so do yanne is H. barred of
his conspirace and also of his damages though yat he be nonn-
sewed y’in or though it be aft^rward discontynued &c. And ellis
Ar ye in ioparde of A Conspirace for H. hopeth to haue ye
World bett^r to his entent yanne it is nowe for it is told me yat
rather yanne he shuld fayle of A Shiref yis yeer comyng for
his entent he wole spend m^l li. yis co’icacon be twene yem was on
Moneday last passed And on tewisday last passed H. mette w^t
maist^{r 4} Markh’m and he tolde H. his part how that he levid
ungoodly in puttyng awey of his wyff and kept An oy^r &c. and
y’with he t^rned pale colo^r and seid he lyved not but As god
was pleased w^t ne dede no wrong to no p^rson and y’upon Maist^r
M. reherced how he demened hym A geynst men of Court and
named yow and Genneye and H. seid As touchyng ye peple yat
rifled yow and ye doyng y’of he was not p’vy y’to for he was
yat tyme here at london And as touchyng ye Lord Moleyns
title H. enforced gretly and seid his title was bett^r yanne yo^rs
Yisterday was my maist^r Yelverton at Dyner w^t my maist^r Fastolf
and y’e Among oy^r thei were Auysed that my maist^r F. shall
write to my lord of Norff’ yat he certifie ye kyng and his
counseill how ye Cuntre of N. & S. stonde right Wildely w^towt
A mene may be that justice be hadde Whiche wole not be but
if A man of gret byrthe and lyflod there be Shiref yes yer
comyng to lede ye peple in most peas and y’to thei named Maist^r
5 Stapilton if it wole happe &c. Also yat my lord Norff’ shall
certifie the Kyng and his Counseill yat but if ye day of ye Oyer
and t^rmyner stonde it wole be full harde by cause ye peple is so
Wylde Also yat alle Knyghtes and Escuyers of ye same cuntre
shuld certifie ye same For sumē of H. part haue boosted yat
all . . . . . . . . . . . at Norwich shuld not be worth An ⁶haughe Jō &c.
It’m prentise is now in ye mydle Jnne and Dynne . . . . . . . . .
Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng Wretyn the Thursday
next aft^r my dep^rtyng . . . . . . . .

                                                                               Yo^r

                                                                                    ⁷ J. Gresham.

     Though there is not even the month in which this Letter was written, I should have
had very little hesitation as to fixing the date of it to the year 1450, did not our Histo-
rians tell us that the Duke of York was in that year in Ireland, from whence he did not
return till 1451.

     The following Letter however still fixes me to the date of 1450, as “dies Mercurij
in festo Sancti Martini,” must be Wednesday 11th of November, 1450, in which year
the Parliament met on the 6th of November, and I can find no other Parliament assem-
bled in November, till 1459, when it met at Coventry.

     If we suppose the Feast of St. Martin to be that of Martin the Confessor and Pope, on
the 10th of November, the day will then do for Wednesday the 10th of that Month, in
1451, but then there was no Parliament summoned at that time of the year.

     This Letter seems written previously to that which I have placed next it, and I believe
it was written about the month of October.

     We are plainly informed of the unsettled state of the Government at the time this
Letter was written, which exactly corresponds with the discontent which prevailed amongst
the people in general after Cade’s Rebellion, and in the latter part of the year 1450.
The Duke of York’s Plans too appear to be coming forward; and the hopes which
Heydon had of the World’s becoming better to his intents than it then was, hints to his
interest in the appointment of a Sheriff.

     ¹ Fishwick is in Lancashire, and Bristol in Somersetshire, these place were therefore
very far distant from each other.

     ² The Check-Roll is a Roll or Book, containing the names of such persons as are at-
tendants, and in pay to the King, or other great men, as their household Servants, &c.

     ³ John Heydon, of Baconsthorpe, Esq. was a Lawyer; and in 1431 Recorder of Norwich,
but being displaced in 1433, was succeeded by William Yelverton; he married Ellenor,
Daughter of Edmund Winter, of Town Barningham, Esq. whom he appears to have
treated very unkindly. He died in 1480.

     He appears to have been a very litigious man, and probably had made some forceable
entry and illegal distress on Plumsted’s goods, &c. for which he was indicted.

     ⁴ John Markham was appointed King’s Serjeant, in 1444, and in 1462 became Chief
Justice of the King’s Bench.

     ⁵ The Stapyltons were an ancient and knightly family, of large possessions, residing at
Ingham, in Norfolk; a co-heiress of this family married Sir William Calthorpe, by
whom the Ingham Estate came to him.

     ⁶ Haw, is the berry of the white thorn, and the Saxon word for it is Hagan, from
this it was probably called Haugh John, a fruit of no value.

     ⁷ Autograph, PI. III. N^o 28.

12 by 10 ?.

          Paper Mark,
     Cap, and Fleur de Lys.
           Pl. VIII. N^o 4.

             London,
             Thursday,
             About October 1450. 29 H. VI.

LETTER XXII.

To my worshipful Master Paston, at Norwich, in haste be
this delivered.

PLEASE it you to weet, that I came to London the Wed-
     nesday at even late, next after my departing from you,
and it was told me that my Master Calthorpe had writing from
my Lord of York to await on him at his coming into Norfolk
to be one of his men, and that no Gentleman of Norfolk had
writing to await on him but he, and some folk ween that it is
to the intent that he should be either Sheriff or Knight of the
Shire, to the furthering of other folks, &c.

     The King is removed from Westminster, some men say to
¹ Fishwick, and some say to Bristol, and it is said that he hath do
[caused to be] written to all his men that be in the ² Checkroll
to await on him at Parliament in their best array; why, no man
can tell. ³ Heydon was with my Master Yelverton, and desired
him to see the Records of his indictments; and asked of him if
he were indicted of felony; and my Master Yelverton told him
it was; and thereto Heydon said, “Sir, ye will record that I
was never (a) thief;” and he said, he trowed [trusted] right
well that he could tell why he took Plumsted’s Goods, and other
words which were long to write. And my Master Yelverton
said to him, he could not know the labourer of the indictment,
and Heydon said again, he knew well the labourer thereof;
and my Master Yelverton’s conceit is, Heydon meant you;
wherefore he adviseth you, that in any wise ye make Plumsted
to take appeal accordingly, for if he so do, then is Heydon
barred of his conspiracy, and also of his damages, though that
he be nonsuited therein, and though it be afterwards discon-
tinued, &c. and else are ye in jeopardy of a conspiracy, for
Heydon hopeth to have the world better to his intent than it is
now; for it is told me, that rather than he should fail of a
Sheriff this year coming, for his intent, he will spend a thousand
pounds; this communication between them was on Monday last
passed, and on Tuesday last passed, Heydon met with Master
⁴ Markham, and he told Heydon his part, how that he lived
ungoodly in putting away of his wife, and kept another, &c.
and therewith he turned pale colour, and said he lived not but
as God was pleased with, nor did no wrong to no person; and
thereupon Master Markham reherted [rehearsed] how he de-
meaned him against men of Court, and named you and Jenney;
and Heydon said, as touching the people that rifled you, and
the doing thereof, he was not privy thereto, for he was (at) that
time here at London; and as touching the Lord Molyns’s title,
Heydon enforced greatly, and said his title was better than
yours.

     Yesterday was my Master Yelverton at dinner with my Master
Fastolf, and there among other they were advised, that my
Master Fastolf shall write to my Lord of Norfolk, that he certify
the King and his Council how the Country of Norfolk and
Suffolk stand right wildly, without a mean may be that justice
be had, which will not be, but if [unless] a man of great birth
and livelihood there be Sheriff this year coming, to lead the
people in most peace, and thereto they named Master ⁵ Stapilton,
if it will hap, &c. Also that my Lord (of) Norfolk shall certify
the King and his council that, but if the day of the oyer and
terminer stand, it will be full hard, because the people is so wild.

     Also that all Knights and Esquires of the same country should
certify the same, for some of Heydon’s part have boasted that
all those that were at Norwich should not be worth an ⁶ haugh
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John, &c.

     Item, Prentice is now in the Middle Inn, and Dynne . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Almighty God have you in his keeping.

     Written the Thursday next, after my departing.

                                                             Yours,

                                                                   ⁷ JAMES GRESHAM.

     Though there is not even the month in which this Letter was written, I should have
had very little hesitation as to fixing the date of it to the year 1450, did not our Histo-
rians tell us that the Duke of York was in that year in Ireland, from whence he did not
return till 1451.

     The following Letter however still fixes me to the date of 1450, as ?dies Mercurij
in festo Sancti Martini,? must be Wednesday 11th of November, 1450, in which year
the Parliament met on the 6th of November, and I can find no other Parliament assem-
bled in November, till 1459, when it met at Coventry.

     If we suppose the Feast of St. Martin to be that of Martin the Confessor and Pope, on
the 10th of November, the day will then do for Wednesday the 10th of that Month, in
1451, but then there was no Parliament summoned at that time of the year.

     This Letter seems written previously to that which I have placed next it, and I believe
it was written about the month of October.

     We are plainly informed of the unsettled state of the Government at the time this
Letter was written, which exactly corresponds with the discontent which prevailed amongst
the people in general after Cade?s Rebellion, and in the latter part of the year 1450.
The Duke of York?s Plans too appear to be coming forward; and the hopes which
Heydon had of the World?s becoming better to his intents than it then was, hints to his
interest in the appointment of a Sheriff.

     ¹ Fishwick is in Lancashire, and Bristol in Somersetshire, these place were therefore
very far distant from each other.

     ² The Check-Roll is a Roll or Book, containing the names of such persons as are at-
tendants, and in pay to the King, or other great men, as their household Servants, &c.

     ³ John Heydon, of Baconsthorpe, Esq. was a Lawyer; and in 1431 Recorder of Norwich,
but being displaced in 1433, was succeeded by William Yelverton; he married Ellenor,
Daughter of Edmund Winter, of Town Barningham, Esq. whom he appears to have
treated very unkindly. He died in 1480.

     He appears to have been a very litigious man, and probably had made some forceable
entry and illegal distress on Plumsted?s goods, &c. for which he was indicted.

     ⁴ John Markham was appointed King?s Serjeant, in 1444, and in 1462 became Chief
Justice of the King?s Bench.

     ⁵ The Stapyltons were an ancient and knightly family, of large possessions, residing at
Ingham, in Norfolk; a co-heiress of this family married Sir William Calthorpe, by
whom the Ingham Estate came to him.

     ⁶ Haw, is the berry of the white thorn, and the Saxon word for it is Hagan, from
this it was probably called Haugh John, a fruit of no value.

     ⁷ Autograph, PI. III. N^o 28.

12 by 10 ?.

          Paper Mark,
     Cap, and Fleur de Lys.
           Pl. VIII. N^o 4.

             London,
             Thursday,
             About October 1450. 29 H. VI.

146

JAMES GRESHAM TO JOHN PASTON²

To my worshipfull Maister Paston, at Norwich, in haste, be this
delyvered.

PLEASE it yow to wete that I come to London the
     Wednesseday at even late next after my departyng
     from yow, and it was told me that my Maister Calthorp
hadde writyng fro my Lord of York to awayte on hym at his
comyng in to Norffolk to be oon of his men, and that no
gentilman of Norffolk had writyng to awayte on hym but he;
and sum folke wene that it is to th’entent that he shuld bo
outhir shiref or knyght of the shire, to the fortheryng of othir
folks, &c.

     The Kyng is remevid from Westminster, summe men sey
to Fysshwick,¹ and summe sey to Bristowe. And it is seid
that he hath do wretyn to alle his men that be in the chekroll²
to awayte on hym atte Parlement in their best aray; why, no
man can telle. Heydon³ was with my Maister Yelverton,⁴
and desired hym to see the recordes of his endytementz, and
axed of hym if he were indited of felonye; and my Maister
Yelverton told hym it was. And thereto H. seide ‘Sir, ye
wole recorde that I was never thef;’ and he seid he trowed
right weel that he cowde telle why he took Plumpsteds goods,
and othir words whiche were long to write. And my Maister
Y. seid to hym he cowde not knowe the laborer of th’endyte-
ment, and H. seid ageyn he knewe weel the laborer thereof;
and my Maister Y. conceyte is H. ment yow. Wherfor he
advyseth yow that in onywyse ye make Plumpsted to take
apell accordyng; for if he so do, thanne is H. barred of his
conspirace, and also of his damages, though that he be nonn-
sewed therin, or though it be afterward discontynued, &c.,
and ellis are ye in jopardy of a conspirace, for H. hopeth to
have the world better to his entent thanne it is nowe. For it
is told me that rather thanne he shuld fayle of a shiref this
yeer comyng for his entent, he wole spende m¹.li. [£1000].

     This communicacion be twene them was on Moneday last
passed, and on Tewisday last passed H. mette with Maister
Markham,⁵ and he tolde H. his part how that he levid un-
goodly in puttyng awey of his wyff, and kept an other, &c.;
and therwith he turned pale colour, and seid he lyved not but
as God was pleased with, ne dede no wrong to no person.
And therupon Maister Markham reherced how he demened
hym a genst men of Court, and named yow and Genneye; and
H. seid, as touchyng the peple that rifled yow, and the doyng
thereof, he was not privy therto, for he was that tyme here
at London; and as touchyng the Lord Moleyns title, H.
enforced gretly, and seid his title was better thanne yours.

     Yisterday was my Maister Yelverton at dyner with my
Maister Fastolf,¹ and there among other thei were avysed that
my Maister F. shall write to my Lord of Norffolk that he
certifie the Kyng and his Counseill how the cuntre of N.
and S. [Norfolk and Suffolk] stonde right wildely, withowt a
mene may be that justice be hadde, whiche wole not be but if
a man of gret byrthe and lyflod there be shiref thes yer
comyng, to lede the peple in most peas; and therto thei
named Maister Stapilton,² if it wole happe, &c. Also that
my Lord Norffolk shall certifie the Kyng and his Counseill
that but if the day of the oyer and termyner stonde, it wole
be full harde, by cause the peple is so wylde.

     Also that alle knyghtes and escuyers of the same cuntre
shuld certifie the same, for summe of H. part have boosted
that all . . . . at Norwich shuld not be worth an haughe.
Ideo, &c.

     Item, Prentise is now in the Mydle Inne, and Dynne
. . . . .

     Almyghty God have yow in his kepyng. Wretyn the
Thursday next after my departyng. . . . .

                                                           Your,

                                                                          J. GRESHAM.

     ² [From Fenn, iii. 94.] This letter, though it has no date except of the day of
the week, must have been written about October 1450, after the Duke of York had
come over from Ireland, and before the elections for the Parliament which met in
November, and the appointment of sheriffs in the different counties for the ensuing
year. The references to the affair of Lord Moleyns and to the indictment of Heydon
cannot belong to a later year.

     ¹ In Lancashire, now in the suburbs of Preston.

     ² The check-roll is a roll or book, containing the names of such persons as are
attendants, and in pay to the King, or other great men, as their household servants,
&c.?F.                                                                      ³ See page 166, Note 3.

     ⁴ William Yelverton, a Justice of the King’s Bench.

     ⁵ John Markham, one of the Judges of the King’s Bench, who became Chief
Justice in 1461.

¹ Sir John Fastolf.     ² Sir Miles Stapleton.

[OCT.]

1450
[OCT.]

1450
[OCT.]